Random thoughts...

So, I must be a weird mood or something, but I'm watching Curious George with Jason and it's an episode where some farmers bring in a gopher exterminator to get rid of some gophers. The exterminator is digging holes and going hog wild on this farmers field and destroying the crop just to get rid of some gophers. I'm sure this doesn't really apply to what it made me think of - but it occurred to me that if it were the farmers making the decisions they would have weighed much more carefully the value of the crop vs. the value of having the gophers gone. There's a lot of work that goes into planting and raising a crop and while gophers are damaging to a crop, there's a point at which getting rid of them would damage more of the crop than the gophers would have. So, my thought was that if the decisions about pretty much anything in life (crops, kids, etc) were left up to un-invested parties the results could be disastrous. Of course, that goes both ways. Sometimes people are too attached to see how much damage is really being done and make bad decisions... I think I just lost my point and talked myself into a circle with no real good way out... Oh well - I did say it was random didn't I?

Gay Marriage

So, living in CA with this whole issue at the forefront of our days, we as a ward (and I'm assuming this is happening elsewhere than just our ward) have been constantly reminded of how important this upcoming vote will be. There have been dozens, if not more, e-mails sent around with examples of what gay marriage is already influencing and how we can expect it to effect our lives in the future if Prop 8 doesn't pass. There's the story of the 1st grade class that took a school sponsored field trip to see their gay teacher get married, and the 'pro-gay' assembly where they had 14 year olds sign confidentiality waivers disallowing them from telling their parents (that one REALLY bothers me!! - I'm not nearly as worried about the gay issues as the fact they're trying to hide it from parents!), and the father who was arrested because he wanted to be informed about when they were teaching his child about gay issues, and many, many more... There have also been e-mails with links to several different articles written with intent to persuade people to vote for Prop 8, written by people with a wide range of political beliefs, from liberal to conservative and very religious to purely social. I've avoided sending any of them on because they all seemed to only address one or two of the many issues that's I feel are at stake here.

I got one this morning that I think is worth looking into. It's a 25 minute video (it's also probably my computer, but the visual and the audio didn't sync, so I played solitaire while I listened) that I think does a very good job of addressing most of the issues that I believe are on the line. Even if you don't want to spend half an hour playing games on your computer :-) - I think the first 10 minutes or so are probably the key issues for me. It talks about the legal side of things and how we're losing the right to govern ourselves.

For me (personally), while I feel strongly that the best way for people to be happy and raise healthy children is far and away in a traditional relationship - I would be more willing to accept the situation if it wasn't done so obviously against the constitution of the US. If the people of the state of CA had decided that gay marriage was what they wanted, I would have little to complain about (mourn, yes - but not complain quite so much) - but instead the liberal community are making a mockery of our justice system, checks and balances, and constitution; and at the same time abusing that mockery to create the life they think all of us should be forced to endure. What ever happened to government of the people, by the people and for the people?! What's happening here is government of the people, by the judges and for the few. I think it's a shame that too many people either agree with what they did, don't care enough to try to fix it, or - even worse - don't even realize it's wrong! Have we been so indoctrinated with the idea that the judges have the end say that when they start creating legislature (not their job!) that we just let it slide and completely forget about the concept of checks and balances?

Ok, enough from me on that one - I could go on all day! Here's the link to the video I found worthy of passing on. Or if that doesn't work - http://www.afa.net/prop8video/index.html

Confusion...

So, I'm watching this show called 'Pushing Daisies' that my sister and aunt said was entertaining; and I must say I'm am thoroughly confused! The narration reminds me of 'Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy' and I'm in the middle of the story and they talk so fast! I struggle with names and faces and apparently someone's supposed to be dead, but alive and has an aunt or something... This is one of the most random things I've gotten my self into since Dr. Who! I think I need to start considering my sources when it comes to tv shows :-) (yes, Katie - I mean you!)
I was however impressed with myself for being able to recognize the original G'linda from when we saw Wicked on Broadway! Go Me! And I swear that Aunt Vivian (maybe that's her name?) is the girl from Little Shop of Horrors...

I just looked them both up - thank goodness for imdb.com. I was right on both counts!! I'm still trying to decide if this is a good thing or a bad thing... How come I can recognize an actress in a movie that I haven't seen in over a decade, but I have trouble recognizing a face 3 minutes after I've seen it? Am I the only one?

Back to UT

So, the kids and I are back in Utah again. Grandpa passed away on Friday night and we're up here for the funeral. The kids and I hitched a ride with my parents and arrived way to late last night (or was that way to early this morning? I can't tell anymore...). We got here safely, even if it took longer than it usually does for the parental units. Mark wasn't able to make it with school, so my parents had pity on me and helped us get up here so that I didn't have to miss it too. It all went well, except I neglected to take into account the lack of entertainment available for humans under the age of 5 in the house. I had brought some toys for the car, but if I had remembered I needed toys and books for them in the house, I'd have brought more... Thanks heavens for large fenced in yards! Too bad Shelly is now dreaming of swimming! It's not even 10 in the morning; it's freezing outside; and she wants to get wet! Crazy child!