Jul. 21, 2009 - Thank Goodness he told me what the United Nations was!
This is just too delicious to even merit comment. Form your own; I know I had much fun in reading it. Enjoy Senator Burris' response to my letter asking him not to support the UN Rights of the Child Treaty if it ever came up for a vote and remember, these are the folks wanting to redefine health care in America!
Blessings, Holly
Dear Mrs. Ramsey:
Thank you for writing me with your legislative inquiry concerning the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child and the sovereignty of the United States of America. It is important that citizens take an active role in the governmental process, because ultimately my colleagues and I are here to serve you.
As you may know, the United Nations is a multifaceted international organization that works primarily to fund humanitarian efforts and promote peace worldwide. The very existence of the United Nations hinges on the willingness of all parties to work together for the peace and prosperity of the global community. Without trying to be intrusive, the United Nations seeks to make the world a better place – although sometimes it may question the sovereignty of a nation.
I firmly believe that we need to stand in the interest of the United States of America in all dealings foreign and domestic, but we need to cooperate with the rest of the world in promoting issues of equality, justice, and prosperity. After all, the United States was, in fact, a charter nation for this international organization and its goals and interests are often linked with our own.
I will continue to listen closely to what you and other Illinoisans have to say about matters before Congress, the concerns of our communities, and the issues facing Illinois and the nation. My job is not about merely supporting or opposing legislation; it is also about bridging the divide that has paralyzed our nation's politics.
Sincerely,
Roland W. Burris
United States Senator
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Jul. 16, 2009 - Quick! Someone give this man a NY Times!
This CBO guy must have missed the NY Times headline I discussed in my morning blog entry.
The salient quote from the CBO today for those too lazy to click:
In the legislation that has been reported we do not see the sort of fundamental changes that would be necessary to reduce the trajectory of federal health spending by a significant amount. And on the contrary, the legislation significantly expands the federal responsibility for health care costs.
Blessings, Holly
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Jul. 16, 2009 - Quite Possibly the Most Stupid and Least Honest
headliner the NY Times has ever written...and that is really saying something! Is there one person in America who honestly believes this? If so, contact me...I have some great real estate deals for ya!
Blessings, Holly
A Strong Health Reform Bill
Republicans may balk, but a bill proposed by the Democrats could solve the nation’s health care problems without driving up the deficit.
To put the consideration of ANY new program into context:
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Jul. 14, 2009 - And speaking of grown-ups
What is with the complete Republican implosion and crazy person antics of Sanford and Palin?
What is with the Obama person in charge of GM having to resign because of the little ole pension fund scandal back in NY?
Is there not a Republican who can stay out of the tabloids and be faithful to their spouse? Is there not a Dem who can be financially clean and pay their taxes before advocating our own go through the roof (and is there any other way to pay for our now $1 trillion budget deficit for just this year?).
Does anyone else think we really do seem to be back in the time of Judges when each did right "according to their own eyes?"
Do we honestly think our salvation or change will come from the hands of a political leader? Did anyone else laugh when the G8 commanded the earth not to warm? Who do we think we are?
And do we honestly think we will escape judgment for all this?
Full morning rant over. Off on my morning waddle and to use the silence to remind myself that acting like Jonah when the vine dies is not my best quality. Remember that? Jonah was actually pretty ticked that God chose to save those no good Ninevites and pretty ticked that God who gave him the plant for shade also took away the same plant shielding Jonah from the hot sun. Basically, Jonah was just one ticked dude.
Despite it all, God is still on his throne and still calling people to Himself. Even Jonah.
Even Jonah Blessings, Holly
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Jul. 14, 2009 - So I'm a bit confused...
I've been tracking the "lies" the CIA supposedly told in developing stories in both the Wall St. Journal and NY Times.
The timing of the "lies" revelation strkes me as extremely suspect, coming as it does days before Congress tries once again to limit executive authority (Obama admin has threatened veto of that bill).
Pelosi took a beating in the spring when she accused CIA of lying and Panetta gave her a smack down. Pelosi's lies accusation came at the precise time that her waterboard witch hunt backfired as it became clear she herself was briefed early on it and apparently approved or at least was silent about it.
Reading today's NYT account, the "lie" the CIA told was in not informing Congress about a never operational program to assassinate top Al-Qaeda officials. CIA maintains no specific plans were ever put forth and helloooo, they aren't required to brief on this anyway. Al Qaeda leaders are not heads of state (these are a no no to assassinate).
Bush admin. maintains killing Al Qaeda leaders with a drone from a plane or a gun on the ground is the same thing--they are enemy combatants.
The Obama admin, btw, agrees with this position.
Does anyone feel any safer knowing Panetta killed even the musings of these ideas when he became aware of the program back in June? Do the well-coordinated Congressional Dem leaks about "lies" make anyone think the Congressional Dems have grown up at all when it comes to not playing political games with our safety?
Nope, me either. Oh well. At least we have Al Franken on the case now too. Rest easy, America.
Blessings, Holly
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Jul. 13, 2009 - Strong Willed Mommy.
I love this 7/13 column by Julie Bogart of Bravewriter. Good reminders to at least *this* strong willed mommy!
http://blog.bravewriter.com/
Blessings, Holly
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Jul. 7, 2009 - The Indignities of Pregnancy.
I am bound and determined to keep this pregnancy under 200 pounds. You snort, but I have shattered this mark often with the other kids. How a fairly normal sized person blows up to such great proportions, I don't know. It just is. As I had achieved Total Hottie Status--dedicated readers will recognize that as the weight at which I married Mr. Wonderful lo these 18 years ago--just prior to this pregnancy, I think I have middlin' chance of success.
To that end, I jogged and joggled my ever expanding belly around the neighborhood for 18 weeks. For the past four, I've transitioned into walking and waddling it around.
This past week, a new indignity struck. I couldn't waddle 30 minutes without needing a potty break. Thank goodness, the centrally located elementary school is open and has an accommodating secretary who lets me hit the loo.
Still, something a tad humiliating with having to pop your head in the office and say, "It's me, the preganant lady. Can I use your bathroom?"
Today, it finally occurred to me to secure future permission. "I think this may happen a lot this summer. If you see me buzz in, can I just go to the restroom without coming to the office first each time?"
While I may have to pee in the first grade potty, at least I no longer feel like a first grader by having to ask to do so.
Blessings, Holly
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Jun. 27, 2009 - Lost in Thought
We had a rare companionable silence in the mini-van. Whatever a family of six is, it is not generally quiet. And whatever silence ensues in the van is usually imposed; as in "I don't want to hear anybody else! Zip it; stop the arguing, just be quiet or {insert threat to take away media or Pokemon cards here}."
But this silence was truly companionable and even without the background uber-cheerfulness of the ubiquitous purple dinosaur and his inane and incessant songs. Why the preschool princess allowed us that small mercy, I have no idea.
After several moments, a small wondering three year old voice piped up from the car seat:
"I sure would like to go to London and see that bridge that is falling down."
Blessings, Holly
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Jun. 26, 2009 - Cool Cousin Time
Some or all of the cousins have engaged in some or all of the following activities since their arrival 24 hours ago:
Writing a Story
Telling Spooky Tales
Playing Risk
Playing Stratego
Playing Life
Dancing
Making a Cake
Drawing
Playing Wii
Playing GameCube
Playing Whole House Hide and Seek
Water War
Slip-n-Slide
Outdoor Showers
Walking 2-3 miles with Their Aunt
Opening Presents
Consuming 3 Gallons of Milk
Eating no less than 6 pounds of Fruit
Phoning their Folks
Creating a Polymer
Extending the Concept into Cornstarch and Water Concoctions
Contemplating Devising an Experiment with Electricity and Water (nixed by responsible adult on hand)
Having a Tea Party
Playing Dress Up
Playing on the Swing Set
Playing Soccer
Playing Ladderball
Building with Legos
The next 24 entails shipping the whole crew off to a Harry Potter Exhibit at Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.
Blessings, Holly
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Jun. 23, 2009 - Idiocy Abounding, Collective Wisdom of Our Times, or Both?
"My job is being the best, most supportive and loving father that I can be to my kids, and not being married to Kate doesn’t change that." --Jon Gosselin
"My goal is peace for the kids." --Kate Gosselin
Pop culture troglodytes will be wondering, "Who are the Gosselins?" Don't worry, it doesn't matter. Their statements are as universal in divorcing couples as they are idiotic.
On what planet does being the best, most supportive and loving father not include, second on the list after loving God, loving the childrens' mother in a committed stable relationship? And since when is love at all conditional on what one gets in return? Why do men seem incapable of understanding that the immediate and inevitable result of an unloved wife is one who demonstrates significant anger and control? How can a man underestimate the incredible lifelong impact of a real man who works through difficulties rather than engaging in any of our society's preferred methods of escape and avoidance? How does any man expect their children to respect them when at the moment that mattered most, they were willing to transfer their own frustration, disappointment and intense hurt from their own adult frames capable of bearing them to their childrens' small shoulders? And no, you can't tell me for a moment that divorce doesn't do exactly that to children. Of course it does.
And on what planet does a parent arrive at the notion that smashing a family to smithereens results in peace for children? Silence, distance or lack of communication are not synonymous with peace. Every study in this galaxy shows kids of divorce lead far from peaceful lives by any measure one cares to use. And sorry, but the "it's better than listening to us fight" measure doesn't hold water either. Kids from marriages in which the kids report significant discord (but not abuse) between the spouses still do better on every measure than kids of divorce. Why do women seem incapable of understanding that the immediate and inevitable result of a disrespected husband is one who demonstrates a significant "checking out" from the relationship?
I'm not trying to bash Jon and Kate. They are all of us in our worst moments. And truly, but for the grace of God, there goes me or you or anyone else. Nor am I advocating that families can or should remain intact in truly dangerous situations that abuse or addiction typically produce. But the marriages close to me that have failed have done so on the basis of overwhelming selfishness, usually with an accompanying unwillingness of one partner to give up an affair, even as they deny that the affair has anything to do with the core reasons their marriage is failing. Praytell, do they think it helps chances of reconciliation?
The ugly companion to the overwhelming selfishness is the self-righteous delusion that this isn't REALLY overwhelming selfishness, that the person is somehow noble, doing this for their children's long term benefit. Only one father is served by those twin companions: the Father of Lies. And it irks me how often and how effectively he can use the same old tricks to destroy God's plan for the family.
Blessings, Holly
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Jun. 13, 2009 - Teaching the Controversy or "I don't know."
One of the best books I have ever read is A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson. This hilarious and informative romp through the history of science teaches nothing if not the fact that it takes about three questions of any scientist to get to "I don't know" as the answer. The book, btw, is thoroughly evolutionary in its perspective and a must read for any evolutionist or creationist or intelligent design theorist.
Evolutionists out of Oregon State just noticed something in bird morphology that no one else has ever noticed. And it throws into question the whole "standard consensus" that birds evolved from dinosaurs.
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122395783/abstract
http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2009/06/12/birds-did-not-evolve
This is pretty funny. Why does it take a doctoral student to notice something nobody has ever noticed about bird morphology and it's radical difference from dinosaur morphology? Kudos to these two for looking with truly scientific eyes rather than the eyes of standard, accepted scientific theory!
Another thing on this topic that always make me laugh. If you go to the Field Museum, you will see a whole Evolution Hall where you get a 5 billion or so year overview of life and a fairly neat, orderly progression of how folks think that happened. It's presented with a fair degree of certainty.
What makes me crack up every time is just outside that hall you'll see a little display case with some bones from Sue. Why aren't they *ON* Sue, the TRex, downstairs? Well, read the sign and you'll find out that while the scientists are sure the bones belong to Sue, they don't know where they attach or what their purpose was.
To me, this is the ultimate moment of Teaching the Controversy. I always pause dramatically in front of this display case. I point out the humbleness and honesty of whomever put the display together in admitting "I don't know." I think realizing even experts have a lot of "I don't knows" is very liberating for our kids. I then wonder aloud something along the lines of "Gee, if they don't know how these bones fit on to this ONE dinosaur, I wonder how they are so sure they have the whole origin and scope of the development of life right in the fossil hall? Oh, well. Let's go take a look-see."
Blessings,
Holly
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Jun. 9, 2009 - Much to Tell
But at 18 weeks pregnant and tending to my Mr. Wonderful who just had neck surgery on C5 herniated and ruptured disk, I'm too darn tired to tell it. We're both doing well in that "all things considered" type o' way. Hope to post more soon!
Blessings, Holly
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May. 20, 2009 - Welcome to My World.
I notice a quite curious phenomenon each May. My friends with kids in school begin complaining about the steep step up in school projects due. Being a home educator and taking an attitude of benign neglect much of the time, I find this curious. It's the kid who has the project, right? So why are the parents stressed?
Actually, I know why the parents are stressed. Few of us have the wherewithal to really let our kid sink and sink deep. You can see this in the soapbox derby commercial currently running on TV. It's a great ad because any of us who have ever had a kid in an AWANA or Cub Scout derby event knows it's true that many kids have little to do with the design and execution of their cars. On the fairy tale commercial ending, the kid with the obviously kid made and clunky car wins and the child who is handed the fancy and obvious adult designed car to race loses.
Real life isn't quite that way, is it?
A small scale example. We signed our kid up for an enrichment science class at a homeschool co-op. In my mind, this class is purely "extra" and I gave nary the first second of attention to what he did in it. He's middle school aged and old enough to handle his own assignments and commitments.
Which he mostly did. A few weeks he didn't have his homework prepared. That's embarassing and he didn't like that much. So he learned to write down assignments. He picked and designed his own experiment concerning light and heat. About half way through, he came to us completely stoked about a cooking idea he had involving a box and a light bulb. It sure burst his bubble to learn he was 40 years too late for the Easy Bake Oven. No matter, he is now thinking of halogens to cook chicken. I'm sure he'll come to some ideas about energy efficiency on his own, given enough time.
Not to brag, but this kid routinely ranks in the top 1-2% nationwide on achievement tests reflecting science knowledge. But his board for the last day of class Science Fair? To say that the board did not reflect that fact would be kind, far too kind. It was a kid generated board of a kid generated experiment by a kid doing this for the second or third time ever. Don't get me wrong, I offered some friendly advice on how to jazz up the board. He chose not to. Whether he noticed a discrepancy between his and the other kids' boards, I have no idea. If he did, it didn't bother him.
From here, I would like to jump straight to the moral high ground. It's such an easy leap for me to do, having practiced my self-righteous flip straight into a holier-than-thou double back many a time. The fact is, if this class was going on my kid's "official transcript" and the grade affected his "class rank," I'd probably be cutting and pasting and insisting on Excel spreadsheets with the rest of the bunch.
I'm glad we homeschool because we can resist a lot of that pressure and really concentrate on student as worker, teacher/parent as facilitator without those lines becoming quite so blurred. But I wonder about the world we're sending our kids out into, a world where your best honest effort often isn't valued or rewarded. So, no moral gymnastics, just futher pondering on our nation's educational system.
Blessings, Holly
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May. 13, 2009 - Good Enough for Mr. Wonderful?
I wonder if my honey gives in to requests such as the one I just received from the three year old princess: "May I please have a piece of chocolate just because I'm cute?" Methinks he might. Softie. Everyone knows you have to be pregnant to get chocolate around here.
Blessings, Holly
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Apr. 29, 2009 - Mark the day.
12 weeks pregnant. That's still first trimester. And this week I donned maternity clothes. Sad, isn't it? Yet so comfy.
Blessings, Holly
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Apr. 25, 2009 - Hey, wait, ain't that a splog?
So, you muse to yourself, how can this chick be anti-splog one moment and hawking something the next?
First off, I am pregnant. I can do anything I want and it doesn't have to make sense. Rational and I are only nodding acquaintances at this point. Queasy and Sleepy are my new best pals.
Second off, I am way too unimportant for anyone to be trying to get product placement on my blog. I am an influencer only in my own mind. I honestly think these are the coolest coatracks ever and if I get some of them, it will be at the stupid $29.99 full retail price. I am raving about this in the same way I would rave about my $2 maternity clothes a friend found for me at a garage sale. Not in the way Truman's wife raved about cocoa on The Truman Show.
Third off, this probably explains why I was a total flop as a Discovery Toys consultant years ago. I'll yip yap all day about things I have absolutely no investment in, but throw that business element into my personal world and I get all freaked out.
Fourth off, lots of things bother me in theory that I can overlook in myself. John Ortberg describes it thusly, "Human beings have a remarkable capacity for self-deception." Consider this my disclaimer for any future splogging if I ever do become an influencer to voices other than those in my own head.
If none of this makes any sense yet, go back up to the all sufficient reason #1.
:)
Blessings, Holly
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Apr. 25, 2009 - The only question is how many of these to buy!
I noticed these super cool coatracks at the church where my homeschool co-op meets. I tracked them down on the internet. Note, these come in both espresso and natural wood. I want to rip out the towel rack in the kids' bathroom and install these instead. And in their bedrooms, and in my mudroom, and in my entry way.
http://www.organizeit.com/pofliphookrack.asp
Maybe after the kids are in bed, I will peruse the whole site. What's not to love about a site called Organize-It?
Blessings, Holly
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Apr. 23, 2009 - Lobster Guy and Fried Clam Lady
I believe it's the deconstructionalists who claim all language is essentially meaningless. Or maybe some other group; philosophy sometimes delivered me a hard earned B in college. And I really must reread Martin Buber. After 20 years, all I can remember is that he contends most of us have I-it relationships with people rather than I-Thou relationships; relating to others as objects rather than sentient folks, impersonal v. personal.
Moving from the esoteric to the daily gritty, here's a couple of ways that plays out. I moderate a list of 170 homeschoolers and we recently had a big dust-up and many bruised feelings over the term "overachiever." This discussion began with the various connotations the word can present and devolved from there. Around the same time, I received a note of concern about my previous blog title. While I intended "Exploit" in the noun sense (the dictionary likens that to the feats of Alexander the Great), it was received in the verb sense of taking advantage of. Any verb intentions I harbored certainly were meant to apply to wringing out every advantage from a product placement to maximize good in the world, but much to my dismay, my message was received differently.
An easy conclusion to draw is that no one should ever say anything. There's some biblical support for that notion. Proverbs 10:19 warns, "When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise."
I once waitressed at a Red Lobster in Durham, NC. A large party of diners, all African-American, came in and all ordered lobsters. The patriarch sent the lobsters back twice, convinced I had selected for them some smaller lobsters from a back tank rather than the ones on display in the front tank. And he loudly presupposed that I did this because he was black. Now, there WAS no other tank of lobsters other than the front tank on display. We eventually put marker marks on the tips of the ones he personally selected so that he would know they were the very same lobsters. I ran all over for that party (you can imagine the bill for 8 lobster dinners and my potential tip!) and they stiffed me.
That was a great lesson for me at 22. Why? Because somehow God gave me the clarity to see that it had nothing to do with me. That man was probably 65 and likely raised in the area or somewhere else in the South if the southern accent was any indicator. He grew up in a time and culture that did not let him "see" the reality of the present situation. But it wasn't personal; it was him exercising an I-it rather than an I-Thou relationship toward me. It had everything to do with his past hurts and injustices.
Another example. I also once served a single lady who ordered fried clams (our cheapest dish) and water. I served her grudgingly and with scant attention, knowing there was no tip money to be had at that table. I know; I'm ashamed to admit that myself, even now. But tis true. Sometimes we're the ones who can see and sometimes we're the ones who can't. I did stop by and ask her how her meal was, probably inwardly congratulating myself for deigning to do so. Her words are burned into my brain, even 20 years later, "Oh, honey, I am just sitting here praising the Lord for this delicious meal and for His provision in providing it." I might add she left a tip perfectly in line with her bill total. Now that lady obviously had her primary I-Thou relationship--God to her--in close and proper working order. And wow, did I carry a big lesson out of that one. Namely, that I am a creep. Recognizing that, of course, is a first step toward getting one's own primary I-Thou relationship in proper working order.
We can be Lobster Guy or Fried Clam Lady. I hope my story shows that at least I can be both, depending on the day or circumstance. I think we all can be. But can't we all forgive each other for our Lobster Guy moments and encourage each other on to the Fried Clam Lady aspirations? That's far better, in my estimation, than the bland conformity of never risking to present our opinions.
Blessings, Holly
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Apr. 21, 2009 - A Splog/Murketeering Exploit with a Purpose
I'm not a huge fan of the "splog," that is, using a blog for product promotion purposes. Maybe it's my real-life hangover from too many Longaberger basket party invites.
I don't mind promoting events or sites I find value in--The Responsibility Project by Mr. Wonderful's employer, Liberty Mutual, for instance or events at the Chicago Humanities Festival.
Some call this social network marketing "murketeering" as it really blurs the line between personal and business. I suppose this has been going on in many forms forever and many would argue it's what makes the world go round. I just don't like it; more often than not it comes across as crass.
A shout out goes to my cousin's wife for twisting the splog into a worthy cause. Be sure to read about it here: http://subdivablog.blogspot.com/
Better yet, since you didn't score an invite, take whatever money you would spend on hotdogs this summer and donate it directly to Attention Home. You should be able to find their charity on www.justgive.org and if not, write the Suburban Diva directly and I am sure she will provide a direct addy to Attention Home for donations.
Mr. Wonderful and I have made Attention Home one of our regular charities since my cousin began sharing his volunteer experiences with the extended family. Truly, the folks there are doing God's work. Why not join in?
Blessings, Holly
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Apr. 14, 2009 - Another Reason to love Ari Fleisher
This makes so much sense that of course our hapless pols of both parties will never enact it.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123958260423012269.html#mod=djemEditorialPage
Blessings, Holly
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