The Downsides of Political Involvement for Me

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If you know me, you know that I am patently anti-Tea Party (silly hobbits), would rather chew ground glass than vote for any of the GOP candidates in the field, wish that the GOP would at least *try* to put up someone that’s 180 degrees from Sarah Palin (why the heck did they put her on the ticket in 2008 — she screwed any chances of McCain being elected), and have to turn off the TV when Senator Mitch McConnell comes on because I have severe temptation to throw heavy objects at it whenever the [insert words not printable on this blog] opens his mouth. This means that I am, like, totally stumping for Obama, right? And I’m totally going to put one of his 2012 bumper stickers on my car? And I’m going to bring Daniel down to the local campaign headquarters to answer phones and do whatever needs to be done?

Ummm… no.

While I can’t fathom how any of my parishioners can call themselves Christian and vote Republican, they are entitled to the right to do so and they do pay Jon’s salary. They are the people who I can’t afford to piss off right now so there’s a lot of smiling and nodding and removing myself from political conversations that takes place. Not attending worship (combination of two year old plus fibromyalgia plus no cry room) makes that somewhat easy in that I only deal with the women once a month and there hasn’t been a political conversation thus far at those gatherings.

So why am I not more forthright in my support of Obama? Again, we have some die-hard Republicans who think Fixed News FOX News is the Gospel and I’d prefer not to piss them off. Otherwise, I’d totally be rocking a hash-tag t-shirt and have Obama’s 2012 bumper stickers pasted all over my car.

Oh yes… I thought this was interesting.

Oh… are the comments disabled? Oops!

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: September 26, 2011

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY September 26, 2011

Outside my window… dark. I blanked on doing this until 11:45 p.m.

I am thinking… that I hate Lion Brand Homespun. Just sayin’.

I am thankful… that Daniel decided not to scream until 11 tonight.

From the learning rooms… Daniel is working on walking, fine motor skills, and some signing.

In the kitchen… kitchen? What kitchen? Oh yes, I got my copy of the book of breakfast food from Peggy and there are some recipes I’m dying to make from it.

I am wearing… charcoal shirt and boxers.

I am creating… this entry and some emergency crocheting.

I am going… to shut down the TV once Pauley Perette is done on Leno.

I am wondering… if there was a baby yarn that would have worked better for what I’m doing than Lion Brand Homespun.

I am reading… the Lumby books. What can I say? I’m not feeling A.J. Jacobs at the moment.

I am hoping… my joints hold up until my crocheting project(s) are done.

I am looking forward to… the zoo trip that got rescheduled to Friday.

I am hearing… Leno and the cats being nocturnal.

Around the house… next question.

One of my favorite things… mango-pineapple smoothies from McDonalds. (Hello breakfast for tomorrow!)

A few plans for the rest of the week… the insane Tuesday gamut of speech and physical therapy, occupational therapy on Thursday, and assorted errands.

Hosted by The Simple Woman’s Daybook

7 Quick Takes — Seven Finds via Quick Takes

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7 Quick Takes

I was supposed to be at the Sacramento Zoo on Friday with the family but it’s supposed to be 98F here tomorrow and heatstroke isn’t on my list of things I love. Anyway, I decided to do my Quick Takes this week about people and blogs I’ve discovered from doing them. Enjoy!

–1–

Kathleen @ so much to say, so little time: She actually found me and we’ve bonded over discussing Easter Seals and my love of snark. I read her because she talks about disability issues and just life with little kids. She’s also a FASCINATING person.

–2–

Angie @ The Jammie Girl: Angie is hysterically funny. I recommend her post on the top ten things not to do in the carpool line. She is one of the few blogs where I can laugh to the point of tears at her writing.

–3–

Katie @ Blessed with Full Hands: I’m living life vicariously through Katie because she’s an amazing runner and I wish I could run. She’s also training for a marathon and not whining about doing it like Heather of Dooce.Com is. (Heather, you’re getting to run said marathon with Christy Turlington Burns and it’s for charity. Stop whining.) Katie also homeschools her kids and I love reading about what they do.

–4–

Dwija @ House Unseen: Dwija and her husband bought a house sight unseen and moved their kids from southern California to Michigan. Can we say “has serious faith and guts”? Things are tough for them at the moment because her husband is having problems finding a job so please pray for them in that direction. Having said that, I love seeing the various things they’re doing to remodel.

–5–

Ed @ Catechesis, the Clown, and the Circus: Ed is a DRE (Director of Religious Education — note: this does not equal “youth minister”) at a Catholic church in Minnesota and he seems to have a sense of humor similar to mine. We’ve had some conversations across our respective blogs about life as church workers. He makes some excellent points and I recommend reading his blog for the perspective.

–6–

Jamie @ A Year in Skirts: Jamie embarked on an experiment starting in August in which she will wear a skirt or dress every day for a year. (You can read about the reasons on her blog.) I love finding her entries in my feed reader and seeing what she happens to be wearing that day.

–7–

George @ Convert Journal: George and I met over his blog — or rather he met my snarking pseudonym first and I introduced myself when he responded back gracefully. Truthfully, we’re on opposite sides of the spectrum politically and he has a convert’s zeal about the Roman Catholic Church. He does, however, keep me honest.

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.

Music Wars

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I was in the drive-through line at McDonald’s a few days ago and the truck in front of me was blasting some kind of R&B song that involved expletives and the words “pimp” and “ho”. It was a bit distasteful for my ears so I did something I always wanted to do: TURN MY MUSIC UP AND DROWN IT OUT!!! I was going to use whatever I had on at the time and it turned out to be “The Way” by Jeremy Camp. (I was listening to KLOVE at the time.) It hit right during the chorus:

Shine, bright
Let Your glory fill this land
Lift high, the King of Kings and great I am
Jesus, You are the way

The other truck turned his music off and laid a patch of rubber once he got his food.

I regret absolutely nothing.

Words to Ponder

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I’ve had pieces of this in my head today.

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
— Philippians 2:1-13 NASB (via The Unbound Bible)

I frequently quote the bolded part (v.12) to people because I believe that we’re all in this together and we’re all trying to serve and glorify God as we journey through life. I know that there are things that did not make sense to me 10 years ago that I understand now and things that will probably make sense to me in another 10 years.

(Why yes, I was having a late night theological conversation on Facebook. How can you tell?)

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: September 19, 2011

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY September 19, 2011

Outside my window… sunny and in the 90’s. I’m seriously jonesing for four distinct seasons here — 97 F in September is unacceptable.

I am thinking… that I hope “the Buffet plan” passes and the millionaires and billionaires start paying their fair share.

I am thankful… for our “Winnie the Pooh” DVD. It kept Daniel quiet last week and it’s allowing me to get some web work done.

In the kitchen… nothing exceptional. Lunch for me was a baked Yukon gold potato. (I prefer them because they’re smaller and they have a better flavor than the russet ones.)

I am wearing… black Arabic shirt and black shorts (my “around the house” clothes).

I am creating… details for my NaNo piece.

I am going… to Walgreens today if my doctor’s office calls in my prescriptions.

I am wondering… where my regular cookbooks are and when I’m actually going to feel like cooking from scratch again.

I am reading… Stealing Lumby by Gail Fraser. The A.J. Jacobs book isn’t keeping my attention and I have the Lumby books until October so I’m re-reading them now that I’ve read the first one.

I am hoping… that I’m over Daniel’s bug though I haven’t had the issues that he has — in my case, it’s just a fever.

I am looking forward to… the fall season priemieres on CBS this week.

I am hearing… the refrigerator humming and “Winnie the Pooh” on the DVD player.

Around the house… echoing Dawn on this: don’t ask.

I am pondering… how people can call themselves Christians and yet support Tea Party politics. I’m not trying to start a fight here — the Tea Party rhetoric goes against EVERYTHING in the Bible about taking care of each other in both the Old and New Testaments. They truthfully disgust me.

One of my favorite things… the quiet time I get after Daniel goes to bed.

A few plans for the rest of the week… Daniel’s various therapies on Tuesday and Thursday and the Sacramento Zoo on Friday with my parents.

Hosted by The Simple Woman’s Daybook

A Complete Lack of Parenting

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Next door to Metanoia, there are a bunch of housing units and the kids of the families use the church parking lot as a playground. It’s not an issue… except that there are some 9-11 year olds who have decided to use the church walkways as their own personal skate parks. I happened to be at church a few of the times they were doing it and I called them on it… which resulted in one of the boys using some really foul language toward me. I got my revenge when they were having a party and I followed the boy home and dared him to tell his parents the things he had said to me. Needless to say, he was not too happy.

Well… our next door neighbor came over today and asked if something was going on at the church. We replied that there wasn’t and she dropped the bombshell that there were several kids on the roof. Yes… THE ROOF. Jon went over there and lectured them because none of them would admit to it. Holy insurance nightmare, Batman! All we need is one of the punks to fall off and we’ll have a lawsuit on our hands even though we didn’t tell the boys to be on the roof and they weren’t supposed to be there in the first place.

I’m sure the parents are working multiple jobs to get by and all that but I’m wondering if Metanoia shouldn’t send a letter to them telling them the boys’ behavior and telling the parents that they need to discipline their kids. Daniel would NEVER be allowed to get away with the stuff that these kids do but I have a feeling that the parents don’t really care. They’re probably so burned out by trying to make a living that they tell the kids to go play and don’t pay attention to them.

I’d love it if the police happened to be driving by and cited the kids with trespassing/loitering/whatever. I think it would get the message across a lot better.