The Video

Snowball's Chance

In case anyone was wondering, I did in fact apply for that Island Reef Job. I do not know if my application was received in good order. I did have to re-submit once, but then I never heard from them again. It was in those last few days before the application deadline, so I'm sure things were a bit crazy there in Australia.



The good news is that there were ONLY 34,000 people interested in the job. That makes the odds much better than a lottery win. They announce the 50 short-listed people on March 2nd, so if you hear any squealing on the East Coast on Monday, perhaps I made it to Round Two.



I couldn't get the video to load via Blogger, and I couldn't get it to load on Facebook. Photobucket took it, though, so I posted it to Blogger through that site.

Shrove Tuesday

My church had a Mardi Gras party in the basement and confession going on in the church. It's a great way to start off Lent.

Billy's birthday is tomorrow. This is the first time I can recall it has fallen on Ash Wednesday. Fortunately, he is old enough to understand and accept relocating his celebration to a non-fasting day. We had some friends over today for pancakes with toppings like strawberries, blueberries, chocolate chips and whipped cream.

I'm not much of a cake decorator, but every birthday I give it another shot. For Billy, I made a cake to look like a Cincinnati Bengals jersey. I do not approve of his fondness for this team (hello, Cleveland Browns? GB Packers?), but because I love him, I will decorate a cake the way he likes. I think it came out ok.

Carson Palmer is the quarterback for the Bengals, and Billy wrote him a letter inviting him to his party. We never heard back. Carson, you missed a lot of fun, especially once the boys started playing with Billy's new double barrel Nerf shotgun.

For Lent, I'm limiting my time online to an hour a day, so I probably won't blog every day...not that I currently blog every day. I'm also turning comments off, but my email address is up top.

Have a blessed Lent.

Get Ready, Get Set...

And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. And the people of Nineveh believed God; and they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. Jonah 3:4-5


This Wednesday begins Lent where all Christians, from the greatest to the least, are called to proclaim a fast. It is a time of atonement. A period where we stop, admit our sins, and beg for God's mercy, a mercy which has been promised to us, but which we may not take for granted.

Should not we be mindful of our sins at all times? Yes, but. Knowing our human failings, the Church does not demand a constant hyper-awareness of our sinfulness, nor expect ongoing exceptional sacrifices. Such deeds are noble, but not required. The Church merely asks that we remember Our Lord's suffering on all Fridays, and during this special time of year.

Why is Lent so long? 40 days is a special time period, recurring in the Bible. It rained for 40 days. Jonah gave Ninevah 40 days notice of impending doom. Jesus fasted for 40 days in the desert. To sacrifice for one day is easy. To sacrifice for a week, maybe two, is not too difficult. But to sacrifice for 6 1/2 weeks is hard. In fact, after 6 weeks of dedicated sacrificing (no cheating), humans will tend to have developed new habits. If, for example, you opt to take very short showers as a sacrifice, by Easter you will have to remind yourself that a long shower is now permitted. If you give up snacking between meals, you will forget to be hungry at 3 pm. And if you give up cream and sugar in your coffee, after 6 weeks, your taste buds will think coffee is meant to be drunk black.

In other words, you will have successfully detached yourself from those earthly things, which is, after all, the main point of Lent. "Growing closer to God" is merely another way of phrasing "Putting things of the earth behind you."

You can not do too much, nor pray too much, nor sacrifice too much during Lent. Our prayers and sacrifices are to be united with the prayers and sacrifices of Christ. Imagine yourself keeping Jesus company in the desert. Could you eat a bountiful meal while he fasted right next to you? Could you watch Oprah while he prayed?

Obviously, we are limited in what we are capable of doing. But at the same time, we should not behave as though Lent were barely different from any other time of year. Does the 4 year old need to attend the birthday party that the entire preschool class was invited to? Is a drive-through run on that busy night necessary or could everyone make do with PB&J sandwiches eaten en route?

Life does go on and the Church does not expect everyone to become hermits during Lent. But at this time of year, we are called to keep Christ's suffering in the very forefront of our minds. Just as when a loved one goes unexpectedly into the hospital - chest pains, a possible stroke - and the day progresses but the mind turns repeatedly to prayers for his health, hope for his longevity, and a desire for an update of his condition, so, too, should our Lenten thoughts be ever "distracted" by Christ, His Passion, and our unworthiness.

If the only time of day you think about suffering is after dinner when you wish you could have some dessert, you are missing out on the great Lenten opportunity. The chief means by which we satisfy God for the temporal punishment due to sin are: Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving, all spiritual and corporal works of mercy, and the patient suffering of the ills of life. (Baltimore Catechism Q.221) This is the time of year when we focus on our souls, on eternity, and on what really matters in this life. Our small penances, such petty gifts when compared to the magnanimity of God, are the least we can do in humble gratitude.

Pre-Lenten Debate

Do I give up the expensive, yummy coffee in favor of cheap, yucky coffee and give the cost savings to the poor?

OR

Is that a really stupid idea, since I buy fair trade coffee so the extra cost is already going to the poor?

Any thoughts?

A series of misfortunes

I saw this at Charlotte's blog and thought it was too funny to pass up. You type in "Unfortunately (your name)" - don't forget the quotation marks - and see what comes up. Here is a short selection of what I found for me:

Unfortunately Michelle couldn't make a four foot putt when she was fourteen and still can't at (thirty-seven).

Unfortunately, Michelle thought she didn't need any help. (Humility is a virtue with which I struggle.)

Unfortunately Michelle had now begun to associate with known-gang members. (Oh, my.)

Unfortunately Michelle has nearly ZERO power over the rest of the operations and less than zero power over NAVL's sub-contractors. (Wow. Less than zero? Does that mean if I use reverse psychology, I do have an influence?)

Unfortunately, Michelle is unable to blog from her location in Guatemala. (If you don't see me posting for a few days, this explains it.)

Unfortunately Michelle showed all the style savvy of Queen Elizabeth -- not good. (Hey! If you can't say something nice...)

Unfortunately, Michelle also began using drugs and alcohol and did not limit her use until late in her pregnancy. (That's what happens when you hang out with gang members.)

Unfortunately, Michelle’s father, Ruben, was often blamed by her mother, Juanita, for their daughter’s aversion to the Church. (Water under the bridge, Dad.)

Unfortunately, Michelle is getting a bit fussy, and starting to whimper. (I'll be better after my morning coffee.)

Unfortunately, Michelle’s commitment to her family, friends and career ties her to Manchester and would not be able to move to Australia. (Island Reef People, don't you believe this for a minute.)

Unfortunately, Michelle's prediction proved quite prophetic when disaster struck during the party. (Gang members + drugs = disaster. Prophecy or just common sense?)

This is the best one of all:

Unfortunately Michelle was made redundant in July 2007. (Now that hurts.)

got milk?

alternate title: why I'm not bothering to weigh myself this week.

alternate title: Fat Friday-Saturday-Sunday-Monday-Tuesday

alternate title: will Lent never come?

Strange Boy

Is it normal for non French-speaking three year olds to use the term voilà in conversation?

New Haircut

A little shorter than I imagined, but okay.

Belly Belly Button, You're Oh So Fine

I think Sandra Boynton is a genius, and this extends past her clever books to her music. These CDs make great gifts for the 99 and under crowd. My post title refers to the Belly Button (Round) which you can hear here (6th one down).

If you notice, Mary's hair is slowly filling in. In 10 1/2 years of going to pediatricians, both civilian and military, I've mostly felt like just another anonymous face. Except for times of crisis (starving baby), I rarely feel there is the slightest flicker of recognition from doctors, nurses and staffers who have seen hundreds of other families in the intervening months from one well baby check up to the next.

When I took Mary in last week for her ear infection, the nurse exclaimed, "Oh! I barely recognized her! She has so much more hair now!" I wanted to hug her. Mary is such a cutie, it's easy to see why someone would remember her. Or possibly, the trail of siblings following behind served to jog her memory...

Dichotomy

Periodically, I have the kids attempt to copy some work of art. It's a good exercise in attention to detail, as well as simply helping the kids remember artists and their works. So when I saw this post, and it just so happened that The Creation of Adam was in the art card set Billy was using (Step 5), it was natural for me to assign him that painting to copy.

Here is his result.

Katie also made her version, but I don't know where it is offhand. Maybe another time I'll post it. They're both okay (better, probably, than I could do!).

Anyway, a neighbor girl is over here today, and Katie proudly displayed Billy's drawing. It's nice when the kids admire each other's work, I think. Katie also filled in Neighbor Girl with all the facts about the painting that she knew (on a ceiling in some church somewhere, Adam being created by God, that Billy left out Eve and the angels around God, but that she included them in hers). Neighbor Girl's comment?

"I think he should have put a fig leaf on him or something."

Meanwhile, Peter, hovering nearby begins belting out his favorite beer drinking song. For the record, I am not proud that Peter knows any drinking songs, let alone has a repertoire. I'm even less happy that he prefers songs about beer to any other, and that he chooses to sing them loudly in public. But he's three, and I keep hoping that if I just ignore him, he'll quit on his own. Still hoping.

Neighbor Girl hears the boy's song and makes a comment about its appropriateness.

Great, I think. Now I've got a 9 year old judging my mothering skills. What kind of a house are you running here, lady? Nudity...beer...just call Child Services on me already.

But what's interesting to me is that this girl is the one who's been telling my girls the "truth" about the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus. This girl, is in fact, so much more worldly than any of my children, that I closely monitor their interaction and have had a number of conversations about how not all families are alike. It's a delicate situation, with no easy answers, when the only child in the neighborhood is not the best suited for your children.

It reminds me of something I read somewhere (but have forgotten where, so if you know please tell me), that says that to the innocent, all things are innocent, but to those who are not innocent, nothing is innocent. Although my five older children are aware that it is unacceptable, in general, to run around without clothes on, and are also aware, in general, that drunkenness is sinful, their knowledge of such matters is more "book knowledge" than experiential. Adam was naked in the Garden, so of course, he would be naked in his Creation. No big deal. And singing about drinking? It's just something that grownups do. They've never seen anyone drunk, and certainly never seen the ramifications of alcoholism or binge drinking. Nakedness and drinking are innocent things to their innocent eyes.

But Neighbor Girl lives in the Real World where sex and drugs have such a grip that parents and teachers feel they need to teach children from a young age to avoid them. And there is no way to do that without educating them about what they are in the first place. Eat the apple so you have knowledge, so you know what you shouldn't know, you know? I don't blame the system. That stuff is out there, and I see why parents want to teach their children what to avoid.

It's just sad that we have to destroy their innocence in order to protect it.

Confusion

Me: You kids better go to sleep right away or the Valentine Bunny won't come!

Billy: Oh! That's right! St. Valentine is coming tonight!

Me: ?

After that, I wasn't sure if I should put the 4 little chocolate hearts per child in a basket or in a stocking so I just left them on the dining room table per usual.

Note: the kids went to sleep right away!

On the radio

My mother-in-law sent us the first two CDs in Michael Medved's The American Revolution First Person History Series. The first disc explains why they fought and the second covers the Boston Tea Party. We've finished the first one and are half done with the second. (Thanks, Mom!)

These discs are nicely done. The target audience is adults, which is good. There isn't anything offensive for children, but it covers the myriad of issues to give a broader (more complicated) view of what was happening in those days. My boys may not understand how all the details intertwine fully, but I think them half understanding the full story beats them fully understanding the half story. Does that make sense?

I blogged a few years ago about not being sure if I would have supported the American Revolution. The Boston Tea Party, in particular, seems to be more an act of shameful vandalism than noble civil disobedience. These discs have changed my mind and helped me to understand better how the colonists went from being loyal British subjects to insurgents.

The primary theme I took from Disc 1 was that the colonists fought to preserve their way of life, not really to make a new social order. England, in massive debt after the French and Indian War, turned to the comparatively wealthy colonists to pay what really was their fair share of the cost. But England's methodology was tyrannical, and the colonies balked at having their autonomy taken away.

Right now, our government is poised to vote on a massive "stimulus" bill. Besides the billions of dollars in pure pork, there are other questionable provisions, most especially the ones involving government interference in health care. The Democrats seem gleefully eager to rush money in every direction finally seizing an opportunity to shove down America's throat a tablespoon of bitter elixir guaranteed to cure every ailment. They would do well to tread more lightly. I do not think the American spirit of independence, including freedom from governmental interference in our daily life, is quite dead.

As Medved said on his first disc, a people are always more willing to fight to defend their way of life than for new ideals. Socialists may "hope" for big changes and may see their measures as fair, reasonable, or good. In the 1770's England thought their taxes were fair, reasonable and good as well. And the more they insisted on telling the colonists how it was going to be, the angrier the colonists became. It will be interesting to see how insistent our Congress gets in the next few years. And just as interesting to watch how resistant the average American gets.

Good Night's Sleep

It is amazing how much better the baby sleeps (and how much better I sleep) when she finally gets some antibiotics for a double ear infection.

Progress Reports

At school this week, we're working on Week 19 out of 32. I think Week 20 is one of my favorite weeks, because 20 seems so close to the end. We're well past half-way at this point, and it feels so good.


It's also a good time to do progress reports. How are my students doing, and how am I doing as a teacher?



Reading:


Fritz finally seems to enjoy reading just to read. Of course, there are a million better ways to spend an afternoon, in his opinion, but it isn't torture to get through a book. And bedtime reading is just fine. He still rushes and guesses words, and reads to get the gist more than full comprehension, but it's definitely better. (Grade: B)

Billy is a strong and diligent reader. We have finished his Language Arts book already, and I'm just supplementing with other things for the rest of the year. (Grade: A)

Katie was having enough difficulty with her reader (Reader D of the Little Angel Reader series) that I stopped two weeks ago and made her go back to the beginning. She will read a word list with "aw" and "au" words just fine, and then completely forget how to pronounce those vowels three days later when we move on. It's frustrating. I guess she just needs more practice. (Grade: C)


Jenny is starting to remember the names of letters and the sounds they make. She is nowhere near to being able to put those sounds together to form words. She is young, and I would not have put her in kindergarten this year if she attended a traditional school, so I'm happy with her progress. (Grade: VG)



Writing:


Fritz is working hard on formulating coherent paragraphs. He is learning how to use an outline to lay out his thoughts. He's doing okay, depending on his mood and the assignment (if the subject is history, he enjoys the assignment; if it's creative writing - "imagine you are a drop of water" - he mentally digs in his heels and seems unable to come up with a story). His handwriting is as neat as he wants it to be. His spelling is atrocious, but he's progressing. (Overall Grade: B)

Billy is mostly doing copy work and retelling stories which I write for him to copy. He does fine, but has cleverly figured out that the shorter his oral narration, the less writing he has the next day. His handwriting is fine and his spelling is progressing. (Overall Grade: B+)


Katie is working on writing single sentences. She is capable of coming up with answers to her assignments, but asks how to spell every word. Her handwriting is getting better, and her spelling, when left to herself, is...creative. When she does writing on things not for school, she is freer in her expression and works independently. (Overall Grade: B)


Jenny is working on forming letters. She is progressing. (Grade: VG)



Arithmetic:


I pushed Fritz into 6th grade math this year (don't tell him that though). It is challenging, but he is learning the material. (Grade: B)

Billy, like Fritz, has been pushed up a grade and is doing 4th grade math. Same difficulties, same results. (Grade: B)


Katie is progressing nicely in 2nd grade math. Some days she does better than others. (Grade: B)


Jenny has made progress in counting, identifying numbers, and in writing numbers. She had been forming most numbers backward, but now self-corrects most of the time. She is learning to add numbers, and is having no trouble with that concept. (Grade: O)




Other:


Katie seemed completely unable to memorize the states and capitals using flashcards. I tried to use written reinforcement, but even after printing "Montgomery, Alabama" three times a day for two months, she still could not tell me Alabama's capital on a consistent basis. I just bought a states and capitals wooden puzzle with the capitals named under the pieces. She seems to be doing better, although I started on the West Coast.


Billy is able to do his science and history reading independently. This is tremendously helpful to me.


I am trying to get Fritz to work independently, but it is harder for him. He does well on history, average on science, and is terrible on Latin (note, in case Fritz reads this: I do not think Fritz is terrible in Latin, I think he is terrible in working alone on Latin). This week, we went all the way back to Lesson I and II to review the material. I do not think we will finish Latina Christiana I this year. That's okay.




Teacher Self-Review:


Having four students plus a preschooler and a toddler is rough. The imperative goal for a diverse classroom is that older students be able to function on their own more and more. This requires me to let go and my students to pick up the slack. We're muddling through. We're better now than we were at the beginning of the year, but I still want to check that every i is dotted and t crossed. It is easier for me to let Billy work alone, since his reading skills are stronger and I read that material when Fritz was in 3rd grade.


It is also hard for me to accept that my children are not straight-A students. (Not the math grades, with which I am quite pleased, but in other subjects.) I was reading many grade levels ahead of my peers throughout my own schooling, and writing, especially creative writing, was never difficult. Memorization came easily, too. When my children do not behave the way I behaved as a student, I take it personally and consider myself a failure as a teacher. As unreasonable as it truly is, I think the one-on-one attention my students receive should boost them to near-genius level. Homeschoolers all begin college when they're 15, right?


{sigh}

I am working on using more praise and less criticism. I'm trying to appreciate their talents while being patient with their struggles. Hardest of all, I'm trying to ensure that everyone gets the uninterrupted face time with me they need. There are many times throughout the day when I have 4 or more little people asking me for help all at the same time. It is frustrating for me, rude behavior for them, and completely counter-productive for us all. I do have methods I employ to minimize or prevent this, but we're imperfect people here and we fail to follow the rules sometimes.

My overall grade: C+

For future reference

It is interesting to note that dog saliva is just as difficult to wash off the mixer's paddle as is dried mashed potatoes.

Gratitude (Or Lack Thereof)

One day last fall, Billy ran in, deposited a pile of rocks on my desk, then dashed into the kitchen and rummaged in a drawer for a ziplock bag.


"What are you doing?" I fairly shrieked. My desk is always the dumping ground for everybody's stuff. It was a bad habit that had to stop.


"I'm getting a bag for the rocks," he said.


"Why?" I yelled. We already have way too many rocks in the house. Everybody seems to have a collection of them. Silly me, I think rocks belong outside. It is a battle that I lose constantly. "Just put them in the baskets in your room with the rest of them."


"But these are for you," he explained as he put the rocks in the bag.


"I don't want any rocks," again, not politely spoken. "I don't need any rocks. Rocks belong outside."


"You're supposed to say 'Thank you' when somebody gives you a present," he said kindly while zipping the bag closed.


I paused. I'm always good at showing appreciation for the ugliest of weeds brought to me clenched in little fingers. I proudly display coloring book pages filled in monocromatically with a child's favorite color. A child's gift to his mother, no matter how seemingly useless or unattractive, deserves special recognition.


Any gift from any person, human or Divine, deserves special recognition.


Even if it is a pile of rocks.


I humbly said my thanks, and the boy scampered back to the great outdoors.



The rocks are still in my desk drawer although I've considered often that I ought to get rid of them. When I did my recent office clean-up, I transferred them to a small plastic container, but in my drawer they remain. They remind me to give thanks in all things, even if I don't really think it's such a great gift.


That unwanted present just may contain a vital lesson in humility and gratitude.

Real Women, Real Saints

I have finally finished reading Real Women, Real Saints by Gina Loehr. This book compiles brief accounts of the lives of 100 people (99 women and one husband) and concludes with a short chapter on the Queen of All Saints. The saints (*) surveyed come from various backgrounds, from all vocations (single, married, religious), and from all time periods (early martyrs to 20th century models of virtue).

Unlike many compilations, this book arranges the saints thematically based on how they exemplify the virtues of faith, hope, charity, prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance. Although the information about each saint is limited, it delivers a targeted message on how real women have managed to live virtuous lives.

Gina Loehr's subtitle, Friends for your Spiritual Journey, is apt. In these pages you will find women who suffered joyfully. Many were the victims of violence (torture, rape, incest), many were notorious sinners, many came from or inherited dysfunctional families. All encountered the same trials that make the command 'Love thy neighbor' so difficult to follow. Their steadfast adherence to the virtues encourages us to do the same.

As an example, Blessed Anna Maria Taigi (1769-1837) was married to a man of such violent temper he was known to grab the corner of the tablecloth and yank the entire meal to the floor if something displeased him. Although I doubt I would ever be as patient in my response if my husband pulled a trick like that, her devotion to making her home a calm and loving one is worthy of emulation, and any wife facing a tantruming husband can find spiritual support in Anna Maria.

This book review was a long time in coming, because I do not think this book is best when read quickly. I imagined myself like a teacher grading 15 student essays that all answered the question, "How does your saint demonstrate the virtue of charity?" when I sat for an hour and read that chapter all the way through. It is better taken one saint at a time, perhaps one a day as part of one's spiritual meditation.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book for any woman's library, and I think it would make an excellent gift for teachers, or lay ministers, or perhaps that new mom who needs something to read while she's nursing her infant.


This review was written as part of The Catholic Company product reviewer program. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Real Women, Real Saints.

(*) The term "saint" is broadly applied in this review. Some of the women are "Servants of God," some are "Venerable," and some are "Blessed", official Church titles for the stages preceding "Saint." Each person's "rank" is clearly given in her biography and the table of contents.

Book Giveaway

SFO Mom is giving away Michael Dubruiel's book, The How To Book of the Mass.

Enter to win, or buy your own.

All proceeds go to an education fund for his children.

YOU are GREAT!

Really! You are amazing!

Take the time, 16 1/2 minutes, to watch this video. It's a love story that will make you smile and make you want to make other people smile.

"You paid for parking, just for me?" (Trust me. It's a romantic line.)

It's Friday. Perhaps work or the kids or life in general has been beating you up this week. Watch this video. Instead of yelling at the kids to get dressed for the 5th time this morning, you will generously point out shirts that complement their eyes. Instead of being annoyed at their blankets and robes being strewn about the house, you will praise their creative tepee building skills.

Really. It's an awesome video. And I saw it first over at June Cleaver After a Six-Pack who is, herself, an amazing woman. Funny. Strong. Incredible. Amazing!

Solidarity

In an effort to have greater empathy for the suffering unemployed in America, I have turned my thermostats down to 50 degrees. The four older kids huddled in one bedroom with an electric heater, and the little ones snuggled in my bed with the electric blanket cranked on high. We're cold, but our hearts are warmed with fraternal love.


OK, apparently, we're out of heating oil.

I thought the company said they would return automatically and fill us up when needed, but I guess not. Of course, one never discovers things like this at a reasonable hour, say, noon. Nope. Bedtime is a better time, right?

I sure hope they'll be able to make my delivery before lunchtime. Solidarity has its limits.


**Update: After bottoming out around 51 degrees, we're on the way up.

Heating Oil Delivery Man: Wow. I can't believe you guys have gone since October without a fill. It's February!

Me: Yeah, I thought you guys were supposed to come automatically?

HODM: We are!

Me: Okaaaay......???????

See, honey, it's not my fault.

Sad news

Several years ago, I flippantly blogged that a book by Michael Dubruiel was "doing nothing" for me. I was embarrassed when the author left a comment. Blog Lesson #427: do not write anything that you wouldn't say to a person's face. I could have been more diplomatic.

Later that year, I redeemed myself by highly recommending his novena book, (Mention Your Request Here): The Church's Most Powerful Novenas. I do love this book, and it is the first place I turn in times of desperation. Michael kindly sent me the newer edition when it was released.


This morning I learned that Michael Dubruiel died suddenly yesterday. My condolences to Amy Welborn and her children. This is such sad news.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.

Embarrassing...

When you have to get the 5 year old to help the 3 year old load the right coloring page on Nick Jr because you have no idea how to do it.

Name that Poem

Peter says, "the crowing of the cock, and the barking of the farmer's dog...what comes next, Mommy?"

And I say, "And felt the damp of the river fog."

He repeats, then asks, "What comes next?"

"That rises after the sun goes down."

And we continue through the next stanza, until finally I say enough.

No cheating. Who can name the poem and author?

Apology accepted

Daschle Apologizes for Tax Errors, Faces Grilling

Everybody makes mistakes, Tom. As an American citizen whose country is in an economic crisis so frightening that my Congress is planning on spending HUGE amounts of money we don't have to try to "fix" it, I accept your apology.

And I submit to my Congress, in the best interest of all Americans, that the $900 billion pork bill include funding to the IRS for extra auditors who will start with the current roster of Representatives and Senators, and then work back through the last decade of all elected federal officials, just to see if there might not be two or three more mistakes - honest ones, I'm sure - in their filings.

Ten honest mistakes in ten years the size of Daschle's $146,000 oopsey is $1.5 mil in uncollected taxes. Does anybody really think that only 10 members of Congress in the last ten years made a mistake? If Obama's cabinet choices yield two tax evaders (so far), then surely a look at all of Congress could get us a tidy sum of dough.

And if these are all honest mistakes, we can blame the oppressive tax system which is onerous and complicated and difficult for truly honest people to follow (and easy for dishonest people to cheat). And who is responsible for the tax system? Apparently, the biggest tax evaders of them all.

New Month's Resolution for January

I promised that my New Month's Resolutions would reflect back to my New Year's Resolution to be more organized and to take the running of the household more seriously. Last month, the plan was to organize the office and the school room. I got the office done, except for printing out five labels for the clutter-management boxes I bought. It's been days and days, and I can actually see my desk most of the time, a vast improvement over its usual condition. It is unrealistic for busy, involved people to completely avoid a certain degree of paperwork clutter. Better to make it all pretty, or at least hidden, and retrievable.

The schoolroom is a big task, and I just didn't get to it last month. This month, I will.

I also need to sit down and plan out meals for the month, something I have been trying to do since October with fairly good success. But since Lent begins this month, I think I will go ahead and plan out most of the meals through the beginning of April. I'll leave one day a week for "something new," but the rest of the days will just be simple, inexpensive, and routine (perhaps a two-week repeating cycle). Then I can focus on buying the ingredients in advance, so they are on hand, and perhaps even doing some prep work in advance (like cooking and seasoning taco meat and putting it in the freezer), so that crunch time meals are stress-free.


What is a New Month's Resolution? Every month I look at where I need to focus my attention. Perhaps I've been procrastinating on certain chores. Perhaps I need to spend some extra time with one or more of the kids. Perhaps I'd like to try a new habit. New Month's Resolutions are not grandiose plans to lose ten pounds or declutter the entire house or give up smoking (of course, I don't smoke, but if I did, this would not be the venue in which I would give it up). New Month's resolutions are short-term commitments; they are easily attained goals; they focus on what is needed right now, instead of what is best for a lifetime.

Do you have a new month's resolution?

Republican is the New Punk

My sister sent me this link. I'm surprised Bill didn't see it first...or maybe he did, but yesterday was just a really busy crazy day.


...The arts have failed. They no longer keep mass culture in check with thought-provoking art that challenges the establishment. Now they’re in charge of spreading the mainstream mandate of the Liberal Vatican. There isn’t an original thought among them, just a thousand-mile stare, a blue logo and the drone-like vocabulary of emotive, vaguely inspiring chants.

We’re the new rebellion against the majority juggernaut that doesn’t take kindly to dissent. Make a fist and show them what happens when they tell you what to think, feel and believe.

If you want me to unite to your cause, then end abortion, give the people back the money they earned, fight terror, keep your hands off free speech on the radio and enable job creators to make more jobs. Until then, screw your hope and screw your change.