Tis the Season

Since this is the season of merriment and love and I truly do enjoy this time of year...I have decided to post some of the things I hate. Maybe it is OPPOSITE ME coming out feeling the need to spread a little hate.

List of things I really hate, not in any particular order:

1. foam packaging-especially when something you want is packed tightly into a box and then surrounded by foam and you have to pull the foam out of the box and it makes that screeching sound...yuck!

2. clowns-AAAAH...one of my scariest things is a clown, ew, they have that fake smile painted on their face but you know they are really thinking, "I am going to kill you". My aunt used to be a clown for a living and no offense but she really scared me! I do think it would be really funny though to buy a clown and pass it around to some of my friends who also share my dread of clowns...like have this clown doll stuck to their bedroom ceiling or something, just thinking of that makes my eyes water with fear.

3. paper napkins-not just any paper napkins, no the ones that try to be all "fancy" and thick, ugh, the way those napkins happen to rub together makes me sick. Again, just thinking of a picnic with those fancy napkins gives me the "shivs" (cool word my neice made up, but describes that napkin rubbing).

4. any rodent-yes even gerbils, hampsters, chinchillas(sp), but mostly rats and mice. All rats and mice were really put on earth for was medical research so I guess they serve their purpose but don't ever try to get me to pet your little rodent or I will fall down dead and it will absolutely be your fault.

And the reason for this post (that has caused my life to be a living you-know-what) and the most hated thing of all--it makes my heart beat hard even as I type is this simple three letter word--CAT.

Yes I hate cats. Sorry to anyone who ever has had a cat or presently loves a cat but I cannot stand cats. I really don't know how I developed this hatred because my family used to own a cat. I will list the reasons for my cat-hatred.

1. The cat next door is stalking me. One day I could hear this strange noise and my son Nick ran to me and said, "Mom, there is a cat on our porch". I gingerly tried to open the door and that bugger bolted for the opening! I screamed at the top of my lungs and slammed the door. I also immediately called my neighbor to get her cat and I actually told her that cats freak me out. The following night during FHE that darn cat was scratching at my back glass door trying to get in (I tried to remain calm as I threw water on it as to not bias my children)! Talk about being a prisoner in your own home. That cat has also ran into our garage. Help.

2. Everytime you hear someone talk about their cat they always say something like, "I love my cat he is so mean though, he's always scratching people and ruining my furniture." And it is OK! How could people think that this is ok?

3. Cats are evil. Just look at them. Along with clowns, you know that cats are just looking at you like you are dumb and laughing inside while they think of all the ways to kill you. If cats could talk, all they would do is tell you lies, lies, lies.

4. Cats climb all over stuff, most importantly kitchen counters, and rub themselves all over stuff...and have you ever seen a cat climb on a counter and have the owner quickly shoo it off and say, "oh silly, Sheeba (cat name) get off, you never climb on the counter, why are you doing it now?" (uncomfortable laugh). Ya Right.

5. Cats have a way of knowing who hates them and then proceed to plant themselves on that person. How do they do that?

So just to end this blog, I would like to share a couple of pictures of my favorite cats all decked out with a satin-y back ground of course, who would actually take the time to pose a cat in a picture?

Synopsis of Summer

Yes, this post is typical of my summer. I have felt one step behind this entire summer season. It could be blamed on our really wet spring. In my mind, I do not think that summer officially started for me until July 4th. That delayed me. I could not accept that my kids had to go back to school this fall, I wasn't ready for the schedule like I usually am. I didn't just sit in my backyard and water stuff this summer like I planned to. Now look, we are breathing down the neck of Christmas! Yikes! I hope to start 2009 ahead but here is a breakdown of one quick summer. Summer usually begins with Benny-boy's birthday. It seems as if we get to have his birthday party outside every other year and this year we were lucky to have it outside although it was a bit chilly as it was early May. Ben turned seven. Wow time flies. Then because I was about to go insane due to all of the rainy weather, we decided to hop in the car and drive to Capitol Reef National Park for some camping. I would not do well in a Seattle-like climate. The weather was warm and nice, we just found a spot on the side of the road and set up camp. What would a campfire be without the chanting of "kill the beast" from two young boys not old enough to read Lord of the Flies? Finally, the sun must have followed us up from the south, summer arrived. We did have some great slip and slide moments as well as plenty of swimming. Yet like I say, it wasn't enough. I wanted to be so bored of summer that I was yearning for fall like I usually do...not this year. We managed to plant our garden and go to Lagoon. My boys were extremely excited to go to Lagoon. We try to avoid that place but it was fun. Aaah, Bear Lake, need I say more? We have a little vacation with Dave's family and we have been choosing all sorts of cool spots around the state to visit but for the last couple of years Bear Lake has been the vacation of choice. We rent a cabin, go to the best kid-friendly beach, ride bikes, lounge, eat, go to a play and enjoy each other. We managed to fit in a quick trip to the zoo before school started. There you have it, then school just up and started on us. We didn't even have a choice. Time is flying too fast. Summer went by too fast. I didn't get nearly enough time to lay in the hammock and read a book or to just be bored. Now fall has passed me by and I don't know how to slow things down...can anyone help?

Humbling Haiti

My friend Perla and I have done almost everything together. So when she said that she was going to go on another trip to Haiti, I unflinchingly said that I wanted to go. I already have ties to Haiti, I have a beautiful Haitian nephew and I sponsor a few kids through Haitian Roots and as you all know, I will go anywhere. Yes, I went to France and Haiti within a month's time. The contrast between Haiti, France and my hometown were dramatic. I truly was not prepared for Haiti. I knew that it would be like no place I had ever been but it was beyond my imagination. I was not worried for my safety and my husband was supportive (only after my trip had I heard that he did not expect me to come home and that my return, in his words, was a "bonus"). My little sweet, sensitive Nick was concerned. He kept saying things like, "Mom, I know why there are so many bad people in Haiti, it is because it is called 'Hate-ee' get it? Hate-ee." or he'd say, "Mom, why can't you just go and help people in California? Why do you have to go to Haiti?" Believe me, the first day in Haiti I kept saying to myself, "What the heck has Shan gotten me into this time?" The contrast between heaven and hell is quite apparent in Haiti. I saw so many desparate people yet I saw so many willing to give. I saw total poverty yet I saw smiling Haitians all around me. I saw complete hope and utter despair. Here are some pictures from the Haitian Roots Party. I got the distinct impression that the parents of these children would rather have money for their child's education than have food to eat. Haitian Roots is a good thing, everyone! It provides a ray of hope and a way out. Please believe me, DONATE! I am sure that the bank below has not failed. Below is the room in my nephew's orphanage where he spent some precious time in his life. I was completely scared to go to an orphanage. I did not want to see more Haitian children in need. However now, I feel blessed that I did get to go and help feed these wonderful children. I felt, as my friend Heather said, that it was a sacred experience feeding these "angels". I did cry my eyes out when I left but I was comforted to know that the children in that orphanage were on a higher spiritual level than I and that all would turn out in the end. I am still shaken and humbled by the two amazing boys pictured below. They are street boys. They have no home or family to call their own, just each other. We were taking pictures of all the children after church (the children love to see their pictures). These boys approached the group of children and joined in on the picture taking. It was immediately apparent that these boys were wanderers and alone in the world. I took out a bag of my trail mix to give to the older boy and the other kids saw me give it to him. Immediately, this sweet boy had at least ten hands around him asking for some of the treasure. Remember, these boys have nothing, everything, everyday is a struggle. Without hesitation or a second's thought for himself, the elder boy began to give out the trail mix to all of the children. That boy has taught me lessons about service that I hope I never, ever forget. When it comes to serving others, never hesitate, when prompted, do it, don't even think about not doing it. Another thing that I learned from this sweet boy, is that the quickest way to be in heaven is to serve others. Thank you, you sweet, amazing, giants-of-boys, I hope I have the privilege of meeting you again. What a wonderful experience and privilege it was to go to Haiti. Thank you Shan for making it possible for me and helping all of those children. I will be going to help again.

Viva La France!

So one thing about me is that I am a walking contradiction. I love my home and to be at home, I fight to be home but when it comes to travel...it is an itch that I cannot seem to scratch. So Dave and I decided to take a non-stop flight to Paris a couple weeks ago and it was amazing! It was just so nice to be with Dave alone for 8 days and being in Paris was a plus. Besides our flag and the UK's I love the French flag. The colors stand for liberty, brotherhood and I cannot remember the other but it is cool. Here we are at the Notre Dame Cathedral. Dave and I loved walking up the billion stairs to the top. The stairs are made out of stone but they are indented due to hundreds of years of use. The windows were a beautiful addition to a rather dark and dreary interior. There are alot of arms length shots of Dave and I... My favorite place around Paris is the Arch de Triomphe at the end of the Champs Elysses. I don't know why I like it so much but it captivates me. It is huge and in the middle of an 8-lane round about. As I walked around the city in awe, I still couldn't believe that the Eiffel Tower was there. I kept saying to Dave, "Can you believe this? Can you?" He probably got sick of that! Yes, we have to laugh because in almost all of the arms length pictures Dave looks concerned or mad. It is just that he is concentrating on trying to take a good picture. Lastly, we definitely had our trip to France edified when we came upon some crazy modern art from Jeff Koons displayed in the Palace of Versailles. Who can go without Michael Jackson and Bubbles? Dave and I were really excited to get back to new, open spaces and our kids of course, but it is so fun to see other places and how other people live. This was my second time to Paris and the magic was still there, when everyone out there is up for a trip, we will definitely go again!

Ka-Boom!

Well here goes...I will start out with a bang.

Since it is election season, I often ask myself, "why are you a Democrat?" So below are a few points that outline why I am a Democrat, obviously I can't outline everything so I stuck to the biggies...

1. Being a Democrat runs in my family. Yes, I have had to confront this family tradition and decide if it is right for me. I choose to follow my parents, some of you know that they are two of the most generous, kind, and good people on earth. When we go to vote on election day, most of my family happens to vote at the same precinct so we go together. One time, years ago, when we were leaving, my dad leaned over to me and said, "Kelly, do you know what those poll workers are saying right now?" "No what, dad?" "They are saying, well there goes a fine looking group of Democrats!"

2. I am one in a long line of educators. Education I feel is a Democratic ideal. Although, the American Public School System needs a bit of tweeking, I can honestly say that it is one of the priorities that makes America great. Think of the countries that do not have a school system set up to educate everyone regardless of wealth (Haiti, other third world countries) and you will see failure and lack of hope. In fact, I was reading in the good old Book of Mormon and it actually plainly confirmed my belief, it was in 3 Nephi where the people were swaying between being righteous and wicked. 3 Nephi 6:9-14 tells the story of the righteous people who began to sway, they became prideful because of their wealth, verse 12 states, "And the people began to be distinguished by ranks, according to their riches and their chances for learning; yea, some were ignorant because of their poverty, and others did receive great learning because of their riches." I love that America gives everyone a chance, sometimes seconds and thirds. My dad was an alternative education teacher and I cannot tell you how many of his students have told him that they are what they are today because of him. Education is the key and we all should try to provide equal education for everyone.

3. I have an overwhelming sense of community. Some of you already know that. But that definitely plays to my Democratic leanings. I think we are better together. It is always better lift everyone up instead of ourselves.

4. How about immigration? Well I loved this year when our state legislature was considering taking away in-state tuition to "illegal immigrants", the LDS Church released a statement that we should be compassionate. I don't think villianizing these individuals, labeling them, making them scared, blaming them for everything that is wrong in our society, etc. is being compassionate. That is how I feel because if I were in their shoes, I would probably try to come here, "illegally", to help my family too.

5. The abortion issue is obviously a sticking point. Most Democrats are not baby killers contrary of popular belief. I would never even consider abortion an option because I value life so much. I do however believe that when it comes to abortion we are definitely arguing the wrong points, we should not be arguing the pros or cons but rather the whys. Why would someone feel that it is OK to abort a child? What happened in these women's lives to get them to the point of an abortion? We as a society should be confronting these issues and not each other.

6. Guns, guns, guns...yes we do have guns at our house and yes I have been called a hypocrite for doing so. My stance on guns is this, I do not feel more safe with everyone carrying concealed weapons, I am sorry I don't. Also if there were an intruder in my house I would not have time to go get the out gun because it is properly secured, so I need to not rely on a gun, right? I do feel that the government cannot and should not come in and take our household guns but I also say that we can create laws that might make it more difficult for assault weapons to be introduced in our streets.

7. Homosexuals, what would you want for your child? That is all that I can say about that because I know I wouldn't want my child to be called names, beat up and made fun of, and deprived the basics of a happy life, would you?

8. Health care and welfare and all those evil "communist" programs. I really think that the role of government is to help its people, what else is it there for? Again, compare countries who place high emphasis on the care of its people to those countries who don't. There are extremes both ways and the US is doing a pretty good job of keeping itself in the middle. I do not believe that all of those who receive welfare checks are evil...not my place to judge. I just want the children taken care of and to have half a chance in this world.

Anyway, that may sound a little self indulgent and you may think that I am being preachy but it feels good to get some of my thoughts on "paper". One of my biggest pet peeves is being misunderstood so maybe this inaugural post will provide some clarity... it helped me!

Love to you all, your local Democrat

Eighties

In the 80s I was a super groovy, hip chic. Psyche. No, I was. So were my friends. Here I am in front of my house on 22nd Street. This outfit was what my friend Shannon considered "perfect". Guess sweatshirt. Esprit would have sufficed as well. Jean skirt. Keds with white socks. And of course the perfectly coiffed bangs. Nice. Even the stance was just right for a modeling shoot for the famous book, "The Awesome Foursome".

The start of a beautiful thing.

I can't wait to see what gets posted for me. I totally expect Mugsy, Nance and Perla to illustrate my life. I will eagerly await each new post and perhaps add some new ones...but since Mugs has started this, she must finish it, thanks I love it.

I am Kelly!

So here it is! The start of a beautiful blog! It will take only two seconds and you will have it customized to your liking! Love ya, Meg