Sunday, November 11, 2012
Meal Planning
So lately I have not been doing a very good job at eating well. Part of the problem is that there are many nights that I am not at home. I have kind of stopped stocking up on groceries because things kept going bad on me. Then on nights that I am home, I don't have anything to cook. The other problem is that I get tired of trying to decide on what to cook. So to try to solve these problems, the other day I looked through my cookbooks and wrote down the names of some of the recipes that I really like or that I would like to try. Then, on a card, I wrote down what ingredients are needed for each recipe. The plan is that any night that I will be at home to cook, I can just pull out one of the cards. If I don't have all the ingredients on hand, I can quickly go to the store and buy what is needed for that meal. The card will be my shopping list. I am hoping this will help me be better at cooking good meals when I'm home. Wish me luck!
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Small Town 4th
There's nothing quite like celebrating the 4th of July in my hometown. The day begins with a parade. The whole town turns out and it lasts for about 10 minutes. This year's parade consisted of the ambulance, the fire truck, some kids on bikes, some kids on horses, and a couple of home-made family floats (that were mostly just the family piled in the back of a truck with some signs and flags). It was awesome. Then we all went to the church were we have a program. The program this year was very good. We started with a prayer. The boy scouts posted the colors and we all recited the Pledge of Allegiance together. There is something powerful about that many people reciting the Pledge in unison and really meaning it. There were several musical numbers and dance numbers. An original poem was read and we watched a patriotic slide show with narration. Then we had the main speaker which was a state senator.After the program everyone moves to the park to have lunch and enjoy games and races. Then everyone goes home for a few hours. We get together again in the evening. The boy scouts sell hotdogs and hamburgers to raise money for scout camp. This year one of the men in town made kettle corn for everyone. Then we have fireworks, paid for by donations of people in town. Everyone brings out their camp chairs and blankets and sets them up a couple hundred yards from where they're lighting the fireworks. It's so fun.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Some Things Kids Say
Before Christmas we had a test in my class on body systems. The students worked for ten minutes and then they were allowed to use their notes for ten minutes. One of my students who obviously had not studies nor bothered to take any notes, filled up her test with comments about her trip to the dentist the previous day and how her teeth were still hurting so she couldn't think of what to write on the test. At first I was kind of disgusted, but then I thought it was kind of funny. I wish that I had made a copy of it before I gave it back to her to take home.
During the Christmas break, my sister and her family came to stay with my parents for a few days. After discovering that they had forgotten to pack their mouthwash, my 4-year old niece exclaimed, "Oh no! Now I'm going to get activities!"
This week I have been teaching a new song to my students called "Put Your Hand Over Your Heart." It is about all of those who have given their lives for our country and that one way to remember them is to honor the flag. After we sang it today I overheard a conversation between two of my boys. One of them said, "That song literally warmed my heart. It feels very warm." The other responded that he felt like his heart was "burning." It was awesome.
During the Christmas break, my sister and her family came to stay with my parents for a few days. After discovering that they had forgotten to pack their mouthwash, my 4-year old niece exclaimed, "Oh no! Now I'm going to get activities!"
This week I have been teaching a new song to my students called "Put Your Hand Over Your Heart." It is about all of those who have given their lives for our country and that one way to remember them is to honor the flag. After we sang it today I overheard a conversation between two of my boys. One of them said, "That song literally warmed my heart. It feels very warm." The other responded that he felt like his heart was "burning." It was awesome.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Some Thoughts on the President's Speech
Where to begin...Well, first of all, I was pleasantly surprised that he didn't play the blame game as he usually does. There were some thinly veiled remarks that implied that Republicans are to blame, but nothing about "inheriting" this economy. I did get a little tired of the mantra "pass it right away."
The President talked a lot about tax cuts, which I thought was interesting given the fact that many Democrats have been fighting Republicans on this question for a very long time. But then he also talked about how the rich aren't paying their fair share. I was a little confused, because it had seemed at first that he was proposing tax cuts for individuals as well as businesses, but I guess if your business gets to be a certain size you don't deserve that. At what point does your business get too big for you to keep the money it produces? He said that we can't afford to both cut taxes for the rich and make sure teachers have jobs (or something like that; I didn't write down the exact quote). Huh? Then he said that this is "not political grandstanding or class warfare, it is simple math." We could try maybe cutting spending. Oh, I guess that's how this is going to be paid for, through the trillion dollars that is supposed to be cut over the next 10 years. I'll come back to cutting spending in a minute. One thing that I did like was his proposal to give businesses that hire veterans a tax credit. Oh, here's another one I agree with: "The tax code should give an advantage to companies that invest and create jobs right here in America." Good one. Although I'm not convinced he really means that.
I thought it was interesting that when he said that we would need to reform medicare and social security, many on the Democratic side of the aisle were clapping. Interesting, because any time a Republican suggests that very thing they are demonized. So political party trumps principles, again, even though the President repeatedly indicated that we need to stop the "political circus" and work together.
Here's one that I found somewhat disturbing: the "Administration can and will take some steps to improve our competitiveness on our own." What does that mean exactly? So, he is saying he will circumvent the congress if he "has to" and if he can get away with it to do what he wants to do. Coming from this particular president that could be a very dangerous thing, and could set a dangerous precedent for future presidents of either party.
He talked about how we need more things that are "Made in America." Agreed, but I would like to know how he plans to do that. It's still cheaper to produce most things in other countries. I was just reading today that Ford is opening a new factory in India or somewhere. The President said that to do this we have to ease the regulations on businesses. Agreed. The problem is that I don't believe he is sincere. Up to this point in his administration, regulations and government spending have increased, not decreased. He indicated his continued support for labor unions even though the unions in many ways make it more difficult for companies to produce things here in America and to compete in a global economy.
Wow, this note is getting long. Just a few more thoughts. He said that he rejects the notion that we should dismantle government and tell everyone they're on their own. I assume he was implying that is what many conservatives want. I don't believe that is true. Conservatives do not want to dismantle government and pull the safety nets our from under everyone. What they do want is for the government to live within its means and its Constitutional limits. There are plenty of spending cuts we could make that would not in any way dismantle the government or fail to provide needed help to people.
"What kind of country would this be if this chamber had voted down social security or medicare just because it violated some rigid idea about what government could or could not do." Think about that quote for a moment.
Just a little more. I promise.
"This plan is the right thing to do right now." OK, so despite how many times he said that this wasn't about an election, we all know that is false. This plan is to get some people to work in the coming months building faster railroads, fixing roads, and renovating schools. (Are these the same kind of shovel-ready jobs we were sold before that turned out to be not quite so shovel-ready?) So the President's plan is to get people back to work and decrease their taxes so that they feel happy and hopeful about the economy as election day approaches. What happens when those projects end? Potentially, the economy will have improved enough that those people will be able to keep those jobs, but what if it doesn't? The problem with our government right now (OK, one of many problems) is that they are attempting to address the symptoms without acknowledging the disease. That kind of reactionary thinking will not help us in the long run. Near the end of his speech, the President said that we should pass this right away and that he intends "to take that message to every corner of this country." So, clearly he is going to use this to further his reelection bid while simultaneously setting the Republicans up to take the blame. How convenient. He also said: "I urge every American who agrees to lift your voice." I guess anyone who doesn't agree should stay silent?
So, I guess that's all. The President did say some things that I agree with. The problem is that I don't trust him. I don't believe he is sincere. I believe he is saying the things that he believes will help him get reelected. He is not alone in those actions. Nearly all politicians on both sides of the aisle do the exact same thing. That is because, unfortunately, we have failed to elect people of principle. We have elected people that know how to say the right thing to the right group at the right time, but who don't stand on principle when tough decisions need to be made. Hopefully that will not be a mistake that we continue to make.
The President talked a lot about tax cuts, which I thought was interesting given the fact that many Democrats have been fighting Republicans on this question for a very long time. But then he also talked about how the rich aren't paying their fair share. I was a little confused, because it had seemed at first that he was proposing tax cuts for individuals as well as businesses, but I guess if your business gets to be a certain size you don't deserve that. At what point does your business get too big for you to keep the money it produces? He said that we can't afford to both cut taxes for the rich and make sure teachers have jobs (or something like that; I didn't write down the exact quote). Huh? Then he said that this is "not political grandstanding or class warfare, it is simple math." We could try maybe cutting spending. Oh, I guess that's how this is going to be paid for, through the trillion dollars that is supposed to be cut over the next 10 years. I'll come back to cutting spending in a minute. One thing that I did like was his proposal to give businesses that hire veterans a tax credit. Oh, here's another one I agree with: "The tax code should give an advantage to companies that invest and create jobs right here in America." Good one. Although I'm not convinced he really means that.
I thought it was interesting that when he said that we would need to reform medicare and social security, many on the Democratic side of the aisle were clapping. Interesting, because any time a Republican suggests that very thing they are demonized. So political party trumps principles, again, even though the President repeatedly indicated that we need to stop the "political circus" and work together.
Here's one that I found somewhat disturbing: the "Administration can and will take some steps to improve our competitiveness on our own." What does that mean exactly? So, he is saying he will circumvent the congress if he "has to" and if he can get away with it to do what he wants to do. Coming from this particular president that could be a very dangerous thing, and could set a dangerous precedent for future presidents of either party.
He talked about how we need more things that are "Made in America." Agreed, but I would like to know how he plans to do that. It's still cheaper to produce most things in other countries. I was just reading today that Ford is opening a new factory in India or somewhere. The President said that to do this we have to ease the regulations on businesses. Agreed. The problem is that I don't believe he is sincere. Up to this point in his administration, regulations and government spending have increased, not decreased. He indicated his continued support for labor unions even though the unions in many ways make it more difficult for companies to produce things here in America and to compete in a global economy.
Wow, this note is getting long. Just a few more thoughts. He said that he rejects the notion that we should dismantle government and tell everyone they're on their own. I assume he was implying that is what many conservatives want. I don't believe that is true. Conservatives do not want to dismantle government and pull the safety nets our from under everyone. What they do want is for the government to live within its means and its Constitutional limits. There are plenty of spending cuts we could make that would not in any way dismantle the government or fail to provide needed help to people.
"What kind of country would this be if this chamber had voted down social security or medicare just because it violated some rigid idea about what government could or could not do." Think about that quote for a moment.
Just a little more. I promise.
"This plan is the right thing to do right now." OK, so despite how many times he said that this wasn't about an election, we all know that is false. This plan is to get some people to work in the coming months building faster railroads, fixing roads, and renovating schools. (Are these the same kind of shovel-ready jobs we were sold before that turned out to be not quite so shovel-ready?) So the President's plan is to get people back to work and decrease their taxes so that they feel happy and hopeful about the economy as election day approaches. What happens when those projects end? Potentially, the economy will have improved enough that those people will be able to keep those jobs, but what if it doesn't? The problem with our government right now (OK, one of many problems) is that they are attempting to address the symptoms without acknowledging the disease. That kind of reactionary thinking will not help us in the long run. Near the end of his speech, the President said that we should pass this right away and that he intends "to take that message to every corner of this country." So, clearly he is going to use this to further his reelection bid while simultaneously setting the Republicans up to take the blame. How convenient. He also said: "I urge every American who agrees to lift your voice." I guess anyone who doesn't agree should stay silent?
So, I guess that's all. The President did say some things that I agree with. The problem is that I don't trust him. I don't believe he is sincere. I believe he is saying the things that he believes will help him get reelected. He is not alone in those actions. Nearly all politicians on both sides of the aisle do the exact same thing. That is because, unfortunately, we have failed to elect people of principle. We have elected people that know how to say the right thing to the right group at the right time, but who don't stand on principle when tough decisions need to be made. Hopefully that will not be a mistake that we continue to make.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Allergies
On Saturday night I ate dinner and then went for a walk. About 20 minutes into my walk the palms of my hands starting itching. I had eaten a peach earlier with my dinner, and thought maybe it was from that, and I didn't worry that much about it. I just figured I'd wash my hands when I got home and it would be fine. By the time I got home, my whole body was itching and breaking out in hives. My eyes were swelling up and I was having difficulty breathing. I took some allergy medicine, got in the shower, and said a prayer. After a while, my body started to calm down a little, although my eyes are still a little puffy. I'm not sure what triggered that. I hope that it was some random thing outside, and not the peach (I love fresh peaches!). This happens to me on occasion. The last time I had a severe reaction like this was about 3 years ago. I was never able to figure out what caused that one.
Monday, December 13, 2010
The Finished Quilt (Finally)
I have finally completely finished Walter and Ay's quilt (the unfinished one I gave them for Christmas two years ago). I think this is my favorite one of the quilts I have made so far.
Christmas Candy
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