GFC 6

Here is your new Good Force Challenge. Go on a date night! Too many spouses don't take enough time together, (myself included) and we need to put the time in to make our relationships work. My hubby and I are celebrating 12 years this weekend and I'm excited to say he's got something planned he's keeping a secret. So everyone, spend some time with the one you love, reconnect and have a good time.

You'd think I'd get it right

Why is it after twelve years I still put the beaters to my KitchenAid hand mixer in the wrong way? You know the little bar that is on one beater and not the other? Here's a news flash, it goes in the RIGHT hole! UGH!

One Sided

I've been reading about the letters being exchanged between Senator Clinton's office and the Pentagon recently. The latest is a letter from Def. Sec. Gates trying to convince Sen. Clinton that his undersecretary Eric Edelman didn't mean to impugn her patriotic honor.

In Mr. Edelman's letter (his response to her suggestion for congressional oversight of the pentagon's war policies) he scolded Sen. Clinton saying "that public discussion of withdrawal 'reinforces enemy propaganda that the U.S. will abandon its allies in Iraq' and exacerbates sectarian tensions there." (MSNBC, July 26) (I happen to agree with Mr. Edelman) Unfortunately the partisan monster has reared it's ugly head and now we are having a debate between a woman who got her had slapped and is miffed and a guy who got a little hot under the collar and fired a round into the air to prove his strength. What we have is a classic case of two children fighting over who's fault it was. If I were Secretary Gates, I'd have just put them both in time out.

Kind words

I had two missionaries of another faith come to my home this morning. I don't know what faith they respresented but I was moved by their message. The woman was very kind in sharing some uplifting thoughts about what she believed and although I opted not to read her material, I let her know I appreciated her kind words. I was particularly impressed by the fact that she was there not to convince me that what I believe is incorrect but that she sincerely wanted to share what she believed because she was truly devoted to it. I am glad to know that there are people in the world who are interested in sharing what they believe in a kind way and are happy to know that it's alright that we agree to disagree. Isn't that what this country is all about?

Moved to tears

Have you ever heard a song and sat in utter awe of the way it moved you? I love hearing something that makes me feel completely and utterly weak to the core with emotion. Do performers who are capable of evoking such strong reaction realize that there are many who sit in silence and ache with the desire to create within themselves what seems to flow so effortlessly from them? I wonder, does it come like tap water? I realize that hours of training are involved but when they open their mouths or pluck the strings, are they merely releasing what was placed in them from birth? Does the sound simply find it's way out? They seem to be the keepers of music, holding all of the sounds, notes and chords only to organize them at their whim. I used to feel envy for those with such talent but I have grown to appreciate them. Perhaps I am not gifted like they are but I have found a talent within myself, that of an appreciative listener. I would wager that perhaps the appreciation would be reciprocated.

In Memorium

My neighbor's son was killed in Iraq last week. The funeral is set for this Saturday. I have been surprised by how this news has affected me. Maybe it's because I know this person and have participated in several functions with him but I can't help but feel the hopelessness of it all. His son was 23, he was part of a helicopter crew and as they were landing, they opened the doors to deploy and he was killed by small arms fire as he tried to exit the craft. Even reading that sentence I realize the surgical language I've used to make it less personal. I've spoken with my friend and extended my heartfelt condolences but even as I was expressing my thoughts to him I realized how absolutely small my words were. What do you say to someone who has lost a child to war? How do you let them know that even though the words you say have been used a million times by a million people, you actually mean them from the bottom of your heart? I find myself lacking in the ability to provide comfort. I pray that this family who has sacrificed so much will find solace in the knowledge that they will be together again, in another place and time.


Here are some statistics: Over 42 million men and women have served in the defence of our country throughout it's history. Of those, over one million have perished and another million have been wounded.

pooper duty

I'm taking our puppies to Colorado this week for "hunting school". They will be gone for 3 months so we are feeling sad around here. But here's the upside, no pooper duty!

The Parade is Done!!!

It's over! I managed to pull off a city parade yesterday and I think it went pretty darn well. There were a few hiccups (the police blocked off the wrong street and were sending people the wrong way) we delt with them though and guess what, everyone had a good time. I had a great committee who made sure things went smoothly and the staging I had designed worked like a charm. I was happy with the end result. I'm going to spend the next week playing with my kids and getting caught up on the movies I missed.

thought for the day

"Wringing your hands only keeps you from rolling up your sleeves."

(unknown source)

the super hero within

I know, I know. It's been way too long since I posted. The parade is next week and I'm freakin' busy. I hope everyone had a great holiday and stayed safe.

I decided to post today because I needed something to distract me from parade duties and because I went to a movie with my boys and it prompted some thoughts I wanted to express. Now I realize that my credibility will totally be shot when I tell you what movie prompted my thoughts but hopefully you'll forgive me. We went to see Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer and to be honest when my boys asked if we could go, every negative review I had read flashed before me. Reluctantly I said OK because I owe them for putting up with me these past few days. I will admit I was surprised by the fact that I liked the movie. No, it wasn't the best movie I've ever seen but I liked it still the same. My thoughts stem from the super hero idea. As human beings I think we all have a love affair with super powers in general. I believe it is for one reason, it's our simple round-about way of acknowledging our divinity. I know I will lose some people there but I like this idea. To believe that we have some undiscovered power that allows us to exceed our day to day abilities and help others is necessary. Too bad we get so caught up with the notion that unless we can do something that truly astounds people that we miss the beautiful qualities that make each of us who we are. I think that if we can get past the need to do one big, highly visible deed we will see our ability to do many deeds that add to the big picture. I really believe that each of us has divine qualities that make us super and that when we watch a super hero movie or read a comic and we get that little wistful feeling in our chest that it's just our spirit saying-"see, you can do that too."