Political Rant

Politics make my blood pressure rise like bad basketball does. This really irritated me today, so it goes on the blog. Topic: Mitt Romney. Reason: He's a Mormon, so I'm supposed to believe he is honest, has integrity, is a good member of the Church and should have my automatic vote, right? Wrong. I don't like the guy. If he were in my ward, I'd think he was a pretentious weirdo who I wouldn't want anything to do with.

Watch this video. It is supposedly from a campaign stop in South Carolina. Here is the text if you'd like to follow along.

MAN: “What will you do to support the 99 percent seeing as how you are part of the one percent?”

ROMNEY: “Let me tell you something. America is a great nation because we’re united. And those who’re trying to divide the nation, as you’re trying to do here and as our president’s doing, are hurting this country seriously. The right course for America is not to divide America and try to divide us between one and another; it’s to come together as a nation. And if you’ve got a better model – if you think China’s better, or Russia’s better, or Cuba’s better, or North Korea’s better – I’m glad to hear all about it. America’s right and you’re wrong.”

Ok, now here is my political rant:

1) I think this may have been staged to make Mitt look like "Mr.-Patriotic-America-is-the-Greatest-and-as-President-I-will-not-waiver-from-that-ideal."

2) I think that perhaps the clip is taken out of context and there was more to what the man in the crowd said than was put on the video.

3) Maybe it wasn't staged. Maybe this is another example of Mitt pitching a fit. (Do you remember the Olympics traffic debacle? ) If so, here are my talking points:

A) In true politician style, he refuses to actually answer the man's question.

B) I'm not into the whole "We are the 99% thing," and as much as the Warren Buffet/Obama plan to have the wealthy in American be taxed higher to bail out our failing economy, sounded like an alright idea, I don't see anything wrong with wealthy people in the U.S. keeping their own money and doing what they please with it. I would hope that most extremely wealthy people would find ways to be generous and give back, but I don't think it should be a government mandate to do so. With that said, though, a person running for public office with intent to represent 100% of the population, should try to be a bit more understanding and sincere about helping those unlike himself.

C) We live in a nation where we have a protected right to question our government and challenge what we don't think is good and fair. If you don't respect that, can't answer a question that challenges your own beliefs, or look at both sides of an issue, you shouldn't be holding a public office. Since when does questioning your political leaders (or potential political leaders) make you un-American and make you "wrong."

D) Who is voting for this guy? He is so far removed from any sort of normal life. He's born to American aristocracy and has been groomed to be a politician. What does he know about "average" people? It's an honest question, "How are you going to help the people of the United States who aren't as well -off as you?"

E) Finally, for anyone who is still reading this, what in the world was Mr. Romney doing dropping the names of current and former communist countries? He's saying, "you better not challenge me or you must be a communist?" Duh! What is your problem. "I'm right. You're wrong. I'm 10 and going home to tell my mom that you don't like me." He was simply rude. He said flat out that the person was wrong and his opinion was not worth listening to. Who wants to be led by someone like that?

This is the problem with our country today. Any decent, smart, rational person who might actually have the ideas and know-how to get things done in our country is too decent, smart, and rational to get within 10 feet of politics, political offices, or guys like Mitt Romney.

Nice Mormon guy? Sure. Future president? I hope not.

Midnight Ramblings

It's late. It's a school night. My eyes are tired, but my brain is still going. Here is a little bit of today:

• Just checked the paper and Willie got his actual name in an article in the Deseret News:
  
  "Heath scored the Vikings' first four points in the third overtime, giving them an 81-80 lead with 1:01 remaining, but Hunter tied at the other end as Willie Petersen hit 1-of-2 free throws with 45 seconds left." It's not a great article, but it's still cool! There are no pictures, though, and they had their chances, but lost in triple overtime, so that's a bummer, but we'll go try it again on Friday. Oh, and the Viewmont team . . . at least 3 players had super ugly full-blown mullets. What are they thinking in Davis County?
• Molly was a disaster by the end of the game. Triple overtime gets you pretty late in the night for a little girl. She was disgustingly dirty and stinky (the 3rd OT didn't sit well with her tummy, I guess, and rolling all over the bleachers can't be good either) so in her tired state, I made her have a quick bath and then she was off to bed.
• James is sick. He has tonsillitis and a sinus infection. We came home to him only half living. After I got Molly taken care of, I got James medicated and off to bed (up from the living room floor). He's already called in sick for tomorrow and with some mega antibiotics, hopefully he will be feeling better.
• We were a little slower getting home tonight because I had a student in my room who is super smart and applying for lots of scholarships, but she doesn't have a computer at home. She stayed after to use a laptop in my room and work on a few things. I wish her luck. We also stopped at the grocery store to get some things for James and then a trip through the drive-up at Wendy's for dinner. Oh, and it's snowing and the MHS boys basketball team was playing at Skyview tonight. I sure hope they make it home safe and sound.
• I just read blogs. Some people whine a lot.
• Molly is crying. I'm sure her binker fell out. Back in a minute . . .Ok, I'm back.
• Mr. Custodian, Wes, today asked me "Are you sick of Obama, yet?" Apparently there was some type of oil pipeline legislation today that he didn't sign? I just said, "Hmmmm. That's interesting. I am definitely getting sick of all these Republicans trying to run against him." I didn't tell Wes that I like nature and if I bought a new car today it would probably be a Prius. I have to admit that I'm a little disappointed with President Obama and I wish he would have been able to do more of the things he campaigned for. The "hope" has definitely dwindled, but I don't want to see Pitch-A-Fit Mitt Romney in the White House either. With that said, though, does it show the progressive nature of our country if the 2012 election is between a black man and a mormon? Who'd a ever thunk that 100 years ago or even 50 years ago. Go figure.
• How about sports? Coach Krystkowiak kicked Jiggy Watkins off the Utes team today. He's their leading scorer and probably leading turnover-er. I don't know what he's done, but I think I applaud a coach for having the guts to do that. Maybe there is some hope for the future of Utah basketball. We'll have to wait and see.
• That's probably enough. I just yawned. It's late. I need to get up early. Good night.

Oh Boy!

James and I went to our halfway-point ultra sound today. And . . . . definite boy parts were seen. Above you see a cute little foot and below you see it a tightly clenched fist. "See this," he says.

I was positive Molly was girl. I wasn't positive, but I was pretty sure this one was, too. I was disappointed for a second today, but not really. I think I was more disappointed by the fact that I had guessed wrong than by the fact that he is actually a boy. James said afterwards that he was pretty sure this one was a boy, but just didn't want to say anything.

Everything looks fine. All other major organs and body parts seem to be in tact and functioning. We scheduled another ultrasound for 6 weeks from now just to make sure all other things are fine and dandy.

The only weird thing about today was that when we found out Molly was a girl, I got really nervous. Having only been exposed to boy babies (partially responsible for a little brother and then occasionally tending my nephews), I had the thought, "I don't know what to do with a girl." However, today after realizing that now I'm going to be fully responsible for a boy, I had the thought, "I have no idea what to do with a boy." Oh well. We'll figure it out, I guess.

Last thing . . .

Tonight, while in the bathtub, I looked Molly in the eyes and said, "Molly, you're going to have a little brother. You need to be nice to him and you need to be friends with him. No bossing him around." She gave me this crazy grit-your-teeth grin that could have meant, "Sure mom, that's what you think." Or, it more likely meant, "Hi mom, I love you but have absolutely no idea what you are telling me!"

That's all for today. Happy Martin Luther King Day!

It ended up being a good day!

Today started out ok, but by this afternoon it was getting pretty rough. I literally had students in my room taking tests all day. That should have been a breeze of a day for me (and yes, I did get caught up on quite of bit of end of term grading and other stuff), but it was tough. Mainly it was difficult because my SLCC 1010 kids get 2 hours to take the final, Wednesday is a short day, and we were trying to fit 2 hours into an hour and 16 minute class period. Yikes. Fourth period stayed in for lunch. Sixth period came in during lunch. Students had to sit on extra chairs I'd borrowed from the library until desks became available. They were all super stressed. It was tense and crowded. Including my TEAM (advisory) class, I taught five classes in a row and through lunch. I did have another teacher come in and ask me a question at one point. While she was there, I asked her to stay so I could run to the bathroom. It was crazy.

I don't know if it was the lack of food, or the lack of fresh oxygen, or the fact that I had a few extreme disappointments after grading the day's worth of tests, but by the time this afternoon rolled around I thought I might die. My head was throbbing (probably because I hadn't had a Coke since Saturday). I felt dizzy and nauseous (probably because I didn't eat lunch and my head was throbbing). I wasn't sure if Molly and I were going to make it home. We did. I crashed on the couch for a half hour while Molly screamed at James and then I finally started to feel better. Phew!

But, it ended up being a pretty good day. Why?

• The term is just about over and I have Friday and Monday off!
• James fixed most of our dinner. We had breakfast and between the 3 of us we ate an entire pound of real burned bacon. Delicious!
• I got a message that I sold a third used book on Amazon in about a week. These books having been sitting on my seller list for months. I'm not making more than a few bucks on each, but at least some boring books off my shelf are going to a better home.
  
• Molly finally stopped screaming and was super funny in the bathtub. She was copying everything I did except animal sounds. Every animal I asked her, "What does a ____ say?," she panted like a puppy and then giggled at me.

• And then the best news of all . . . GUSTER IS COMING TO SALT LAKE and to top that they are playing an all acoustic show with some type of string ensemble. Amazing! I am so excited. When I e-mailed my sister to make sure she read the news, she said, "Yes. I saw this and cheered. I am in!" Woo Hoo!!!!

Guster can make any day bright!

This little girl . . .

This little girl is mine.

She is my most favorite little girl in the whole world.

Today when I picked her up from school, one of her teachers told me this story. Molly and Emily (Emily and Molly are often confused by other people. Emily is a month or two older than Molly. They are both about the same size, have blonde hair, about the same length and cut, but otherwise look nothing alike.) were both sitting at the table eating their snack. Emily threw her cup of milk on the floor. She started whining for it back and Miss Sarah said, "No, Emily, you need to say, 'Help, please'." Emily continued to whine about her milk and Miss Sarah wouldn't give in, repeating, "Emily, you need to say, 'Help, please'." Finally, Molly, surveying the situation, threw her milk on the ground and promptly said, "Help, please. Help, please. Help, please." Good girl, Molly! (Ok, so maybe you shouldn't throw your milk on the ground, but at least you followed directions well.)

Also, Miss Sarah said they've been working more on sign language with the little kids. I know Molly knows "more," but that's all I've ever seen. Sarah said she also knows Please, Help, Milk, Cheese, and a few others. I've been trying to get Molly to do them tonight, but she just says all those words instead of signing them. I'm okay with that.

She's also been pretty good about going to school since we started back in January. She's whimpered a few times, but hasn't screamed at me yet. She's even waved and said, "Bye mama" a few times. It's a huge relief to not have to leave a screaming child every morning. It takes her a few minutes (it's not like she's running away from me in excitement), but usually she can find something fun to do (look at "Sal" the salamander, do the Chicken Dance, play with play-doh, put chairs around the tables) and is pretty good in a few minutes.