Thursday, October 30, 2008

Inspiring. . .

I am very concerned about the direction in which our country and it's . . policies are headed. In order to stop this onslaught of evil, we need to band together, buoy our faith, and become united in our efforts. We cannot break ranks. Vote for Conservative values on November 4th. Let your voice be heard.

5 More Days. . .

http://matthewwildertanner.blogspot.com/2008/10/marriage-between-man-and-woman-is.html

Below is a letter from the financial director of protectmarriage.com.

Dear Friend,
This is it.
Right now, we are making the final decisions on where best to expend our resources to win next week. And since our campaign manager Frank Schubert sent you this urgent appeal to save the institution of marriage, thousands of you have generously donated $1,138,134 online through ProtectMarriage.com. Combined with our $1 million matching challenge (which has now been met – thank you!), we are within sight of our $3 million goal.
Because of your generosity, we were able to add significant funds to our advertising buy over this past weekend and this week. Because people are now seeing our ads more often, they are responding, and we have recaptured momentum. We're starting to see an upward climb in the polls!
But we aren't there yet.
Even with this amazing outpouring of support, WE ARE STILL BEING OUTSPENT BY THE NO ON 8 CAMPAIGN BY AT LEAST $1.5 Million. If this continues through Election Day, the institution of marriage WILL be lost in a multi-million dollar blizzard of lies and distortions funded by a last minute flood of cash to the No on 8 campaign.
We cannot allow this to happen.
We have come too far, and fought too hard, to let this election slip away from us in the final week. Now with Prop 8 a dead heat. Right now, whatever you are doing, we need you to stop and make whatever gift you can to preserve the institution of marriage. We cannot fall short -- or the truth will be drowned by millions of dollars paying for the No campaign's lies in the last 7 days.
Please read the message below if you haven't done so. Forward it to everyone you know. And most importantly, please ensure you act right now, with whatever gift you can make to save marriage.
The time to act is now.
Steve Linder
Finance Director
ProtectMarriage.com - Yes on 8

I have to admit, I find myself becoming more emotional, the closer we get. . . Better get on our knees, people.

This is it.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Whirlwind Weekend!

Where to begin. . We just got over one crazy weekend! I suppose it's typical for everything -all your activities, plans, events- to fall on the same couple of days, but this was way over the top ridiculous. Aaaahhhh!

Friday afternoon, I came home after picking up Tommy and Aleia from piano lessons, and flopped on the couch, exhausted, only to realize that my weekend . . had just begun. No relaxing pizza/movie night for us! First, there was dinner. (Ha! More like grab a bowl of cereal or a sandwich and run.) Then we got to taxi all 3 big kids off to their respective places of employment. Opening night for High School Musical 3, so Eric was in for a long evening. . . Aleia and I went over to the church for the big Craft Night. . She had a lot of fun making hair bows from ribbon. I had a lot of fun hanging out with adults, sanding blocks of wood, and turning them into Halloween decorations. Tried to get to bed early, with no such luck. Of course McDonald's had Laena stay late, even though she was taking the ACT Saturday morning. . Buncha punks. Thankfully, Charlie was around to pick up Eric some time after eleven, cause I was passed out cold with the baby and Jefferson.

Saturday morning, we were up early. I ran to the gym, and ran back. Charlie dropped Laena off at the school, armed with pencils, calculator, and words of encouragement. Clint, Eric, and Tommy were herded out of their beds, much to their vehement disgust. (It's the weekend after all. . we should be allowed to sleep in!) They were made to don Scout shirts, round up some boxes, and we were off on a quest. Eric's Eagle Scout project kick-off, a food drive for the Utah food bank. While we were out picking up donations, with the help of our good friend Jack, we noticed that one of our neighbors had left a case of beer on his porch, presumably knowing that we were out collecting . . food. Pretty funny! Charlie and Lea headed off to the church for the big Daddy/Daughter activity/brunch. Poor Chuckster had to sort of bounce back and forth, for the next 3 hours, between grocery store and church gym, trying to pull off some serious multi-tasking. Clint and Eric wanted to go check out the Anime convention Saturday afternoon around 1 pm, but Charlie put his foot down when we found out that it was $20 a ticket, just to get in. . Wrongo!  : ) Then it was off to Orem, for the big wedding! We scrambled to get ready. . . hopped in the cop car, and took off. Laena, Clint, and Eric naturally bowed out, claiming other plans. . (Teenagers these days!) Our Laenabug's the Belles Voix Choir VP, and didn't think she should miss the big Choir Halloween Party, which she had organized/put together. From all accounts, she had a lot of fun! Complete with plenty of high school drama, punch and cookies. : ) Clint had forgotten to ask off work at Pizza the Hut, and Eric had another big night at the movie theatre. Yeesh. Well, if we didn't get to have so much family time, at least we only had to take one car down south to Narhea's nuptials. . . Old friends of the family, those. . It was nice to see everybody again. . Her dress was beautiful, the church was quaint, (built in the 1800's) good food, etc, etc. I just felt bad that we hadn't been able to get down to Manti earlier that day for the actual temple ceremony. . Sigh. I guess when you're this busy, you can't do everything. . gotta pick and choose.

Saturday night, we dragged back in the front door, void of much energy, having fought and chased a cranky 2 yr old most of the evening. . A 2 yr old, I might add, who recently has been prone to regular car sickness. .  : ) Yay! Did we collapse into our beds, you ask? Were we finanlly able to call it a night, and get some rest?! Sadly, no. We had to wait up for the teenagers, who as everyone knows, love to take their sweet time coming home at night. . One of the joys of parenting . . that I could seriously do without. Yawn. . . Anyway, baths, stories, picking people up. . . a little political debating on Facebook, brushing of teeth, and we were finally there! Bedtime ritual over! Glorious, beautiful sleep! But wait! Tommy the Tominator simply has to stay up and watch . . The Incredible Hulk! And can't seem to remember to keep the volume turned down. . . At this point, I just didn't care. ZZZZzzzzzzzz. . . .

Somehow we survived Sunday. . . I'm sure you've all heard the old saying: "You can take the family to church, or you can stay home and keep the Sabbath Day holy." I honestly thought, a couple of times, that I was gonna crack up. Just get me through this meeting, I prayed. And Charlie. . Help me not to kill these kids!   : ) Chuckle. Anyway, we made it. And, through a fun twist of fate, we got to hang out with our good buddies Mike and Jamey Rail, who were up from Alabammy! Well, and . . Salt Lake. . . Their brother Dave got married again this weekend. I'm assuming Saturday. It's been way too long!  : )

Yesterday I had an eye appointment. I really need something for dry eyes. . It's just way too much of a desert out here. The good news is. . I still don't need glasses!  : ) Yippee! Last night we carved pumpkins for Family Home Evening. . It was a lot of fun. Tommy went to town on one of 'em, carving out a perfect rendition of my least favorite Star Wars character, Darth Maul. Yuck. Pretty cool pumpkin though. . . Or should I say . . spoooky Jack O' Lantern. . . . : ) Charlie's friend Joeshi, from Vienna, is in town this week, sister city, Coca-Cola software. . . So big C, with some of his work buddies, ended up taking him out to dinner. Those punks. Out on the town, livin' it up. . Sniff, sniff. . without me. . . (Ha ha ha) (Really, I'm not into office politics.) smile_wink Charlie's wanting to go out again, on Halloween, but we can't decide where. . I'm all for Park City, personally. . . Also, check this out! He scored 4 - eight hundred dollar apiece - tickets, court side, to the Jazz game Thursday! First game of the season. Those PUNKS! He was supposed to get 6. So guess who's staying home. Grrrr. . . Guess you gotta entertain the Viennese colleagues. . .

But hey, it's okay. I don't much like basketball anyway. (pout, whine) Hee hee. JK!

Now, On to the rest of my day! On to more adventures, with Super-Mama!

Sure. . . Smile

Friday, October 24, 2008

Back Rubs and 'Smart Cars'

Earlier today I was picking Tommy up from his piano lesson. He mentioned something about needing a back rub. It went something like this:

"Aarrgh. ." (stretching) "I need a massage."
"Really. . Piano lessons that rough today?" (Ha ha) "Hey, Jenny gives back rubs. . . 'Course she's down in Springville. ."
"Jenny. . ."
"Yeah! You could give her a call. . ."
" 'Jenny' ", he warbled in his best grown voice. " 'Could you come up and give me a massage?' (More stretching and grinning) We were driving now. . " 'And could I get some fries with that?' Ha ha ha."

Tommy is such a little jokester. : ) Like father, like son. . .

One minute later, we had to stop for a red light. Across the intersection, directly in front of us, a couple of cars back, sat one of those 'smart cars'. It seemed oddly out of place, like an over-zealous 8th grader at the Senior Prom. I snorted audibly. Or maybe it was more of a chuckle.

"What?" Tommy asked tentatively. .
"Look at that tiny little car." I snickered.
"Where?" For all his quippy little comebacks, he sometimes doesn't catch on right away. It was bright yellow, for Pete's sake! If not incredibly small. . .
"Are you kidding me?" I gestured toward it with my left hand. "That crunch-box of a roller skate! There! Across the street! I was thoroughly amused. "How can you miss that?"
He caught a glimpse of it and grinned. It' s fun to tease Tommy. He's a hoot. :)
"It's a good thing we're not driving the Suburban, on a dark and stormy night. . . If we hit it, it'd be like, 'Look, another squished soda can! That's one crusty piece of metal! Boy, oh Boy!' "
That's my Tommy! He's just cute. : )

Sigh.

And I'm just tired. So we'll see ya later! Signing off for now. . .

I think I could use a back rub. . . "Jeeennnnyyyy!"