JoMama

Technology: How it affects my life.

2008-11-19T07:46:00.000-08:00

This is the second draft that I am writing. The blog I wrote last night about how technology plays a role in my life was erased by my computer. So I guess my first thought would be that if I had written down the information on a piece of paper instead of putting it in a computer, I wouldn't have lost all my information. That is my gripe about technology for the day. Yes, all these gadgets and things can make your life easier, but they can be an incredible pain as well.
I am probably not as techno savvy as a great deal of my peers and counterparts. It took forever for us to get a computer when we did get one, and when we did everyone else was onto the next bigger, better model. When that dinosaur of a computer did die, we were unable to fix it because they didn't make parts for that model anymore and we were told it was outdated. We did go without for several years and then our oldest son entered high school. He told us he absolutely had to have a computer to do his homework. So we purchased a computer and were back in the 21st century. He took that off to college with him and again we were without a computer in the house. Then, two Christmases ago, my husband bought me a laptop. I was incredibly surprised and at that point we really did need one. It sits on my desk being more of a computer and less of a portable laptop. I think this is where the technology has left me behind as well. I don't need to take my laptop everywhere. I will check email when I get home from work or in the evening. I do some shopping on amazon.com (I love that site). I also enjoy looking at craigslist at the pets section. Not that I need another pet (I have three cats and a dog), but you never know when somebody might really need you and be a perfect match for you. In the scheme of things, my computer doesn't affect my life that much unless it erases a blog or essay I have just written. Then I just get mad and wish it had never been invented.
The other piece of technology I use fairly regularly is my cell phone. I only got it a couple of years ago and we got one for my youngest son as well. We live up in the mountains and wanted a way for him to be able to communicate with us and vice versa. I try not to talk on the phone when I am driving. If it rings when I'm behind the wheel, I'll glance to see who it is. If it is my son or husband I will answer it. If not, they will leave me a message and I'll call them back. That is one thing I really love about cell phones. The ability for people to get ahold of you via messaging without you really having to be there. I have one of my kids that does text me when he wants to talk to me. Talking to him via text message is really the majority of the time I text anyone. I definitely don't do it in class or when something else is going on. Cell phones have enabled me to stay in touch with my family when I'm away from them.
I can't speak to all the new gaming systems because we don't have any in our house. Those would affect my sons behavior if they could only get to the next level. We borrowed one once or twice and that is exactly what happened. I didn't want distant or disobedient children, so the systems went away. My youngest spends more time outdoors or playing games that are more interactive as a result of not having a thumb exerciser in the house. Overall, technology has had an impact on my life, but not to the extent that it has taken over.

If I won the Lottery

2008-11-18T21:04:00.000-08:00

Winning the lottery is something I can't even fathom. We're talking the big super-duper grand prize jackpot here, not just a few bucks or a few thousand. I don't buy tickets since I know I won't win the prize, so I haven't spent much time dreaming about it. But if I did buy tickets and I did win, this is what I would do. First off, I would let all of that money just sit there in the bank (no stock market, just plain old savings passbook), and I would think about it and make a plan. I've heard it said that those who fail to plan, plan to fail and that could happen if out of control spending were to happen. Taking a deep breath would definitely be in order. Then taking the plunge and doing a little bit of spending.
Bills, cars, and housing would be my first order of business. I don't have alot of outstanding debt, but what I do have I would pay off. Next would be new vehicles for both my husband and myself. Mine would be either a new Subaru or a hybrid (Prius) or a Smart car (they're kind of cool looking). I'm not sure what my husband would get but it would have to be able to tow any of his trailers that carry motorcycles, snowmobiles or whatever. Housing would be next in line. We rent right now because of my husbands job, but we did just buy a house for a few years down the road. Not sure what we would do with that house, but I think we would get a piece of land in Idledale and build what we want (something very reasonable). That is what I would want to do anyway.
Then I would want to help my two adult sons out financially. School loans, some medical bills and reasonable housing for both of them and their ladies. Next in line would be my parents who live in California. I would do this for my dad and not necessarily for my mom even though she would benefit from my largesse. She is a spendthrift which is why I would give anything to dad so he could pay their bills and house off. If I gave it to her, nothing would get paid off and they would still be in trouble. A significant portion would go to my church. They would be able to do so much with some money for remodeling the buildings and bathroom (singular).
Those are the primary desires of my heart. Pretty basic stuff all the way around. Some new furniture and a bit of traveling. No lifestyles of the rich and famous though. Just normal folk being able to live a nice life. That is what I would do if I won the Lottery!

My argument

2008-11-10T12:55:00.000-08:00

My claim is that all the advertising out there is geared to make women feel perfection is the only way to be. That the most important thing about who we are is how we look. We have this ideal to live up to and if we don't, we fail and don't make the grade. If I were texting this I think I would put it something like this. Wow, I can't believe all the ads I was bombarded with just this morning. Can't believe it girlfriend. Like I can live up to the standard I see there. Right lol. No way, no how I could ever fit into what they're selling. Geesh! I feel so fat and ugly after that I should just flush myself away. Later. Jo (the not so perfect one).
I would blog it with more verbage and arguments to back up my claim. Such as: I can hardly believe it. I went to the doctors office this morning for an appointment and picked up a magazine on "health". Every single picture from cover to cover depicted women that I am not and will never be. Am I such a failure for not being that "perfect model"? It bothered me so I picked up another magazine to see what I would find. Lo and behold, I discovered the same thing as I was flipping through the pages. Images of women that I could never aspire to be. It made me think about how all this contributes to how women feel about themselves and how eating disorders have become so prevalent in our society as a direct result of that. It should be a crime to devalue women so much just to sell products.
Billboard: I would post a picture of a woman in a bikini on the beach being approached by a good looking man carrying roses and jewelry to her. Sitting maybe six feet away is a more normal looking woman looking expectantly towards the man approaching with the flowers. She wonders if he could be heading towards her. A look of expectancy on her face. The caption would read "Do you have what it takes to get this guy". That would be an example of how women are exploited in the advertising business.
The print medium can play with the message however they like. They can touch up photos, put their ideals out in the public view and post the pictures however they like.

What kind of books I like!

2008-11-10T01:05:00.000-08:00

I haven't been able to read any of the books I have on my bookshelves and all over my house in quite awhile because all I am reading are textbooks! I have somewhat eclectic tastes in reading material. What I really enjoy sitting down with in a big comfy armchair and something nice to drink at my side is a historical romance novel. That is a particular favorite genre of mine. Bertrice Small is my favorite author of that type of reading material. I have everything she has ever written. She has historical topics, a good romance (or two) and alot of smut thrown in. My favorite book she has ever written is "Skye O'Malley". The book she wrote about this character spun off into over a dozen others related to Skye in some way. Most of them were riveting and kept me pretty glued to wherever I was sitting at the time. The way she can develop a character really amazes me as I am not what I consider a writer. When she writes about the English court of Queen Elizabeth in the late 1400's, early 1500's, it almost feels like you are there. When one of the characters died of the plague, you almost feel like you are in the room with all the people there. She has a new novel out on the shelves now that I have to get. All of those books are being saved for when I am either out of school or on a school break. Another type of book I like reading are self-help books. Almost to a nauseating level since they sit on my bookshelf staring accusingly at me. I have these great intentions of trying to fix some (or all) the things I feel are wrong in my life. You do have to open the book cover and look inside to get some of that information out. But I do find it interesting. Books on how to get your children to mind you (ha, that one doesn't work), how to lose weight (in a variety of ways), how to have the perfect marriage, be the perfect Mom, etc. Well, they continue to stare at me and I continue to not have any time for extra-curricular reading right now. I am hopeful that soon I will be able to enjoy reading the extensive collection I have one lovely book at a time.

Brainstorming for Argument Essay

2008-11-03T12:52:00.000-08:00

As I try to kick my brain in gear to brainstorm for this argument essay, I feel a little lost with all the topics I could choose from. I'm not into Myspace or Facebook so I can't really do those. Not interested enough in hip-hop to go there. I'm thinking maybe talking about how advertising really does a number on women with its portrayal of perfectionism. Or talking about how gaming systems (Xbox, PS2) cause isolationism in children and young people or older people for that matter. Since this isn't my essay yet, I haven't decided. I want to be focused and clear on my stance for whatever I decide. Will I have enough information to make an argument for either of the above topics?
First, I think the advertising of womens products has been a huge factor in why anorexia and related eating disorders are on the rise and continue to be so. The standards that are set by the media and advertisers set a standard that most normal women cannot achieve. That's why you get starvation dieting, purging and bingeing. Persons of the female persuasion are bombarded with images of stick figures and told through advertising that that is where they want to be. I don't think women should be set up for failure on a daily basis. The average size for the American woman is size fourteen. Whoever heard of fitting into a size zero! Crazy. Anyway, there is one idea.
Next I was thinking about the gaming systems that you play on television. Whether it is an Xbox, Nintendo, PS2 or some other new and improved gadget that is out for sale. My argument for that topic would be that they encourage isolationism in children. From their parents, their favorite sports, or any outdoor activities; all they want to do is "get to the next level". We had some sort of Nintendo system in the house for awhile. My sons behaviors all changed dramatically. You would call them to do something and get ignored. The phone would ring for them and they wouldn't care. Dinners would be ready and all you hear is "I'm not hungry". Like coming to the table was or is an option. Homework assignments wind up not getting done because you would hear "But Mom, I'm almost at the next level". I would be thinking, "What about the next level in school?" So the secondhand system that the kids had gotten from a friends cast-offs (as said friend graduated up to the next, bigger, newer system that was out there) was thrown rather gleefully into the trash.
So, I think one of those two topics will be the one I will choose.

Blogging about my new house

2008-11-02T23:46:00.003-08:00

So, I am so excited about having closed on the first home we have ever owned, that I decided that is what I wanted to blog about. Having rented the house we are in now from the county for the past sixteen years, and renting a condo for the twelve years prior to that, we now own our very own home. It has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a loft where the master bedroom is and a basement that we have all kinds of ideas about finishing. My son Thomas has decided when we do move into our new home, the basement is his. The perfect place for a teenager to get away from Mom and Dad. There is no garage on this wonderful little hideaway, but I have ideas on how we can file variances about that to make that happen. There are cute little planter boxes on the front windows that have a variety of little growing things in them. I guess I better learn what they are and how to take care of them! Our house is in a little town just below Evergreen called Kittredge. Our best friends live only four miles down the canyon in Idledale so we are looking forward to seeing them more often.
The sad part for me though is that we cannot move into our little gingerbread house yet. My husband still works for the county and the position he is in requires an onsite ranger since we have campgrounds here. But with the housing market where it is, and when we found this house, we knew it was our time to buy. I know everyone is worrying over the state of the economy and housing but not me. We have worked hard for years (two and three jobs), and saved our money so we would have the down payment we needed. It worked. Except we can't move in yet. Needless to say my youngest son is not very happy about this turn of events. Although he does enjoy being able to ride his motorcycle up here where we are at now. So both of my older boys and their girlfriends either need a place to live now or have leases expiring within the next couple of months. We came to a decision on how to solve our dilemna. Our kids will rent the house from us, it will be an all in the family kind of deal. We are hopeful they will take care of the place like they had a vested interest in it. If not, I don't know what we will do. It has given me high hope for the future of my little family. Keeping working hard and living the dream.

Blogging about my new house

2008-11-02T23:46:00.001-08:00

I got the Music in me!

2008-10-26T00:50:00.000-07:00

As is the case with anything that I like, my taste in music runs the gamut as well. I like everything from jazz to classic rock to Christian praise and worship music to Indian flute music. And that is only a starting sampler. Tomorrow is Sunday so on the way to church I will pop in a CD of the Newsboys (my favorite Christian band from Australia) and enjoy listening to them while I drive to church. Depending on where I am going or what I am doing the music I listen to can help set the mood or get me in the right frame of mind for something I need to do. If I need to get pumped up about something I could listen to Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine for a latin beat that chases away the blues and gets the blood pumping. I love classic rock as well and spend a lot of time listening to 105.1 (KOOL-105) which plays a pretty wide variety of oldies. Everything from the Beatles, Tina Turner and Michael Jackson to Dire Straits and Earth, Wind and Fire. I really enjoy turning on that station and not being sure of which era they will hit me with. It might be the 60's, 70's or 80's. Or sometimes it can be a mixture of everything. When the radio has too many commercials or ads, I will flip to my CD player in the car and pick one of the six that are on the spinner.
I also found through my association with Boy Scouts that I enjoy Indian Flute music. I have several CD's of various artists playing this very special instrument. It is very soothing and restful and I have noticed that is what plays sometimes in the hospital where I work in the patients rooms. It provides a sense of rest and peace for them as well. I have an IPod that I listen to when I am walking or on my treadmill. It is easier to listen to the music without outside distractions or noises. Sometimes I have to turn it up a little to tune out my kids. I also play the piano and like listening to piano music on CD. Since those levels of playing are way past mine it is nice to just sit and listen to it for awhile. I also like real classical music. Composers like Beethoven, Bach and Mozart. When I am taking a hot bath or trying to read without too much background noise.
All in all my taste in music is pretty wide. Do I have a favorite? I don't think so because I like it all. Depending on the day of the week or the time of day. Wild and crazy to soft and relaxing, what a nice way to be. I think I will turn on some soft music to go to sleep by. Goodnight!

My two favorite movies

2008-10-21T10:27:00.000-07:00

Of all the movies I have enjoyed in my life, I would have to say that my favorite is a toss-up between "Fiddler on the Roof" and "The Sound of Music". Can you tell I like musicals by that selection? I really enjoy that genre of film. The storyline of "Fiddler" deals with Jews living during the time of Czarist Russia. The main focus is on a man named Tevya and his family. A traditional way of life is very important to Tevya and his wife Golda. His daughters all start balking at those traditions as they grow up and seek lives on their own outside the family environment they grew up in. The oldest doesn't want a match made for her by the local matchmaker. She wants her poor tailor that she grew up with. The next travels to Siberia to be with the rebel that she loves who was tossed into prison. The third had the utter temerity to fall in love with a Russian soldier of the Christian Orthodox persuasion. She marries him and is (temporarily) disowned by her father. The songs that Tevya and the other cast provide are fun to listen to, enjoyable and help tell the story of this family. Towards the end of the movie, an edict is issued from the government that all the Jews in their town are to leave. They are evicted from the homes they have known their whole lives. But their fortitude and good spirits are amazing and they all realize that, after all, it is only a place they are leaving and they are together and can start over in a new place. This is such an enjoyable movie for me to see over and over again. From the songs to the storyline, I never get tired of it.
My other favorite is "The Sound of Music". From the opening scene on a mountain in Austria and the song that goes with it I was hooked. The panoramic views of the Alps are breathtaking. The songs are all enjoyable, each in their own way. Whether it is Julie Andrews singing with Christopher Plummer or it is the children, they are all beautiful. The storyline involves this nun wannabe who gets called out of her convent to be a governess for these 7 children. She doesn't fit into the nun role but doesn't want to leave the convent. She sucks it up however and starts on a new adventure. She puts her whole heart into caring for these 7 children and winds up falling in love not only with them but their Naval militant father as well. The captain definitely loosens up when he realizes that he has fallen in love with this wayward nun as well. This takes place during the time of the Nazi occupation of Austria. Captain Von Trapp and Maria get married and go on a honeymoon. When they return, their town is draped with flags of swastikas and the Captain gets a telegram that he must report for service in the Nazi regime. That goes against every moral and ethic he has, so he takes his new wife and seven children and they escape over the mountains to Switzerland. Eventually, they wind up in America in Stowe, Vermont but you don't get that from the movie. From start to finish, both of these movies leave me laughing or crying in turns, but they end up with me feeling very satisfied with the outcome of the films.

Family: What I Believe!

2008-10-20T13:03:00.000-07:00

The essay I am looking at is "A Legacy of Integrity" . The summary of the belief is Integrity. The author is talking about is how he learned what he knows about integrity from his father. That is the belief. Integrity and how it either is or isn't woven into who we are. How it is part of the choices we make and how we can live up to ourselves if we have it. Growing up all he heard was about integrity. He learned through what he called hard lessons that integrity must be the driving factor in his life. Tahat he must "keep his word" and "follow through on what he says". It was beaten into him until he was sick to death of hearing the word integrity. So he decides to rebel (as most red-blooded teenagers do) and steals some change from around the house to buy himself and a few friends "Cokes". This boy was growing up in India and a coke was a big deal to him and his friends. Kids always think they can get away with things. He didn't. Mom and Dad find out, she screams and Dad just stays silent (which says it all to the son). Then his father says he wonders if his son can be a person of integrity. Always was he trying to shrug off his fathers voice. But that was the one thing ingrained in him his whole life. Then the author had kids and raised them the same way. The children would roll their eyes and tune him out. But he taught them the values and integrity he was raised with. That was his fathers legacy to him and his children.
I believe the author does strike a balance between communicating and preaching. He is really letting his audience know about all the ways he was taught integrity and values and all the ways he rebeled against it. Then he talks about how he raised his children in the same way and with the same values and emphasis on integrity. I'm sure his children would've thought their dear old dad was coming off as being preachy. If they had to listen to dad going on about integrity day after day, preaching probably would've been a nice thing for them to say about dad.
The voice/tone I am hearing is a bit of regret. Regret that maybe he didn't really appreciate the knowledge and insight his father was giving him when he was growing up. But later, appreciation. Thankfulness for the lessons he did learn and the way he was brought up. Since he did choose to teach his own children those same lessons. I thought it was a really good essay.

What I Believe!

2008-10-13T12:52:00.000-07:00

This is actually an easy one for me. I believe that God created everything and is in charge. Without Him in my life I can do nothing that I can be proud of or that is worthwhile. The catch is you have to let him be in charge. Instead of thinking "I don't need any help on this or that, I can do it all by myself", I know that when my line of thinking goes that route everything falls apart. I believe we choose to walk in love or to go a different route like blaming anyone and everyone else for anything bad that happens. That everything does happen for a reason. We don't know usually what those reasons are, but I'll get all the answers I need in the next life. What I always have to remember is not to ask God to bless what I am planning, but for me to plan what he is blessing. How do I find these things out. Prayer, quiet time with the Word (the Bible), just listening for that still small voice. Shutting out the distractions of everyday life to listen for that quiet voice can be a challenge. Everything in this world is geared to not be able to do that.
I believe God still does miracles today and did not just perform them in the Old Testament. I am a case in point. I was diagnosed 16 years ago with cervical cancer. A friend invited me to a seminar that was being given by a pastor and her church from Hawaii. During that service, which was amazing, they had a laying on of hands and prayer for my particular medical need. They had been doing biopsies and were looking at removing further parts of my insides. Two days later I went back to the doctor for further tests. The cancer was (and is) gone. I had my third son three years after being healed and have been free of that disease for 16 years now. My piano teacher was diagnosed with breast cancer a year and a half ago. They wanted to do a radical mastectomy. She is only in her early thirties. She and her husband decided against the surgery. They believed God for her healing and when she went back to the doctor six months later, the lump was gone and she has been cancer free for a year now. No medical explanation or intervention can explain either of these two miracles. My faith is what got me through not only something serious like cancer, but everything that goes on in my daily life. The reports of man are not what I choose to believe. I have seen too many miracles happen not to know that God is in charge and He always walks in love.

A Babbling Blog

2008-10-13T06:09:00.000-07:00

OK, this is a take two on this blog entry. I had written the entire thing out last night, hit some weird and whacked out button, and the whole thing disappeared. That then became the most frustrating thing that had happened to me this weekend. Not knowing what to write about I decided to just kind of babble about my weekend. Make this entry a bit more like a journal entry that I would write in. I am cramming for an exam this morning. All of my grades are important for me to get enough points to get into the nursing school I have applied for. So I'm trying my best to keep everything up and all together. An interesting challenge so far. Not sure if it is working, but I am doing everything in my power with the amount of hours I have in the day to make it happen. Picked up my son yesterday from a campout he had been on this weekend. He was one soggy Boy Scout by the time I got to him. They had had 3 inches of snow during the night and that much stuff on the tent collapsed it. Needless to say, much wetness followed that. But when I caught up with him he was in high spirits and said he really enjoyed the campout, even with the inclement weather. I missed church due to the conflict in picking him up and studying for this exam. Not a good way to start my week. I need to get grounded in the Word so I can get grounded for the rest of the week. Then there is the whole working three jobs while trying to go to school. Even though I job share one with my husband, that leaves a lot of work out there left for me to do. But it is the only way to keep body and soul together. That is the Protestant work ethic I was raised with. Put in a good days work, be honest, get an honest dollar at the end of the day and never ask anyone for handouts. That is also the reason for me to go to school. To further my education, "better myself" if you will, and be in a better paying career so I don't have to work three jobs.
Then there's work. Two are working at churches (one for over 13 years now) and I share those duties with my husband. My newest is working at the hospital. I love my new job! I am working as a CNA (nursing assistant) at a wonderful hospital that is relatively close to home. I never know what to expect when I arrive at work. I could have half the patients on the floor, leaving the other half to the other CNA, or they could "float" you to a different department if you are not needed or you can be a "sitter" with a patient who can't be left unattended as they might pose a danger to themselves or others. That is what I got to do last night. It made for a very long night in one way, but also provided some additional study time for my exam today. So I think it was a toss up as to how I felt avoiding legs and arms out to kick and punch at me, and the chance to get in several extra hours of study time. Sitting is definitely not one of my favorite parts of the jobs. Especially if you have to do it on a night shift when the lights are turned down low and everyone else is mostly asleep. But it is a case of when you are assigned to do it, that is what you have to do. I file it under "other duties as requested by supervisor". I am always busy from the time of punching in until I leave the floor. Never a dull moment, especially when dealing with such a wide range of people from all walks of life. So, before this entry disappears like my last one, I believe I will call it a wrap.

Grieving my special "beach getaway"

2008-10-06T12:51:00.000-07:00

When I was growing up in San Francisco and was troubled or needed to think, I would go down to Ocean Beach (not far from my house) and walk for miles along the shoreline. As the waves would wash in and then flow back out to sea I got the opportunity to clear my head or make decisions about life, love or whatever was bothering me. The crisp smell of the sea air in my nostrils, listening to seagulls searching for whatever snack they can find, and feeling the fine sand between my toes were the key things to getting me focused and at peace with myself and the world. When I was deciding whether or not to move to Colorado with my then-boyfriend at the ripe old age of 19, I went down to my beach, walked for hours, thought about the pros and cons and made my decision to come here and start a new life.
Whenever I would go back to California and visit my parents who are still living there in the house I grew up in, I would go down to The Great Highway, park my car, grab a sweater and flip-flops and start walking along the beach. What I discovered is that it is not the same feeling for me as it was so many years ago. Whether it is because too much time had passed is hard to say. My beach used to be not quite pristine, but lovely to look at and gaze upon. When I go back now I am appalled at the amount of vandalism, trash and grafitti that are rampant all along the shoreline. You can't take off your sandals for fear of cutting your foot on the broken glass or leftover needles that are casually hidden by the fine sand. The crowds of people now are much larger, louder and less aware of the beauty and peace around them. It seems as if they don't care about where they are or why they are there. Boardwalks that are broken. Needles in the sand that did not belong to diabetics. Grafitti which is painted on what seems like every inch of the concrete walls that are there to hold back the ocean if it were to overstep its borders. All these things that weren't a part of the landscape when I walked along my beach 25-30 years ago.
An era passed and I didn't even realize it had happened until I walked the shoreline and the peace I had once found there eluded me. No longer could a decision about life be made in this place. Too much had changed. The atmosphere and soul of what was a very important place to me were gone. Washed away like the millions of grains of sand that wash in and out with the tides. The peace I had found there had gone with the sand out to sea.

Alternative subject to Broncos blog

2008-10-06T07:30:00.000-07:00

Since I don't follow the Broncos in any real way except for a yeah if they win I decided to write about something else. Two things actually. First off, celebrating my 25th wedding anniversary on October 1st and having a party to celebrate over the weekend. We invited a few of our closest friends, our children and my husbands parents. This was an interesting combination to put together for any length of time. I was hoping that this group of people, with their polar opposite opinions about politics and religion would not generate any arguments about candidates and the upcoming election. My oldest son and his fiance did not come, saying they didn't know about the party (they were informed) and that absence alone alleviated most of the conflict that would've occurred that I was worried about. It had been over 3 years since my in-laws had been to our house and they only live in Evergreen. Lots of issues there with their disapproval of my marrying their son. They always told him he could do better than me. Which always generated lots of warm fuzzies for me (NOT)! Now that they are getting older (78 and 75) they seem to be mellowing out a little, since they did not initiate any of the conversations I was worried about. I'm all for a good discussion about differing opinions, but some of these can get downright nasty and leave a bad taste in the mouth.
The time has flown by very quickly. We have been together since we were 18 years old, have raised three sons, gone through several careers between the two of us and are just now buying our first home. The house is our anniversary present to each other. Although I am supposed to be getting an anniversary ring since we couldn't afford an engagement ring back in the day. An understated band with a few diamonds on it. We haven't been able to find the time to go shopping for it yet. Soon I hope. So, we close on our house at the end of this month. Looking to lock in a really good interest rate for the long term. The market is favoring us as buyers right now. Yeah. It is a sweet looking home in the foothills below Evergreen. No garage, but we are hoping to build one onto it. It has the right amount of bedrooms and bathrooms, and a basement that is a dream come true for my husband to use as a workshop. Our older sons will be living in it to start off with. My husbands job requires us to live on the park where he works. But maybe in a few years he will be able to change his position within the company and get a non-resident ranger position. Then we could move into our cute little house in the mountains by the creek.

"McMansion" Part 2

2008-09-30T20:12:00.000-07:00

I couldn't find the draft I saved so here goes the rest of that blog.
What I don't agree with the author about is that the sameness and bigness of houses is everywhere. Having just bought our very first house (we haven't closed yet), I can tell you that the house is not new, terribly large nor does it look like any other house on the block. None of the other houses on the dead end street it is on look like any other house they might be next too. It doesn't even have a garage, we are hoping to build one. And the house is in the foothills outside of Morrison. I suppose it would qualify as suburbs, cuz it is definitely not city dwelling. There is a park that was built because the residents fought for it. A wonderful place for children or to walk the dog. Yes, those houses and "communities" are out there in force, but it is each individuals choice as to whether they find one of those houses or something secluded and quiet in the mountains.

The "McMansion" theory of homes

2008-09-29T13:05:00.000-07:00

The author makes a point of telling us how and why the houses we live in are all the same and way too big. Statistics are given that houses are being made larger and families are getting smaller and why is this "Big Gulp" theory happening. If you pull the roof off of any house you find, no matter what the style, you will find exactly the same thing. A given number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and at least a three car garage. She supports her point by stating that the number of square feet has gone up by almost a thousand square feet since 1970. That is an awful lot of space to put less people in. That we can't get cozy if your bedroom is the size of a barn.

I would have to agree with the authors central point only because I see the huge homes being built all over every neighborhood.

A Picture from the book, pg. 260

2008-09-28T17:13:00.000-07:00

I chose a set of three pictures on page 260 of Michael Jackson. These pictures are of Michael outside an arraignment hearing after he had been accused of child molestation in 2004. In the first he appears to be clapping for himself. The second picture shows him holding up either the peace sign or the victory sign. That depends on your perspective I think. He is wearing some godawful suit to this arraignment with a white armband around his right arm. I don't understand the significance of the armband, even though I understand his pushing the victory sign up. The last shot has Michael holding an umbrella over himself as he poses for a photographer taking his picture. Michael has in the past been very much a showman when up on stage performing. It looks like he is on stage performing again. He can play to his audience when and if the need arises. With the charges he was facing, it looks like the need arose to play to his audience.
I can remember way back in the day when Michael Jackson was a young black child performing with his brothers in the Jackson Five. To see the transformation over the years from the boy he was to the man he became can be mind-boggling for me. I have enjoyed all of his music over the years except for his most recent deliveries. The change in his body make-up and his persona also changed his music. One of my favorite songs that he wrote was "Man in the Mirror". The song dealt with making changes in the world, but how those changes all start with us. That we have to look at ourselves and how we respond to people, situations and issues before we can hope to effect any real change. I can say that I preferred the Michael Jackson that used to be as opposed to what he became. Of course, that is just my personal opinion but I feel the statements he made about issues and things going on in the world were more effective coming from the before person rather than the after.

A detailed description

2008-09-22T12:50:00.000-07:00

I went downstairs to the cafeteria. I could smell the food in the warmers well before I reached the entrance. Then I walked in and it was even stronger. Wow, my stomach's growling loudly, I must be hungry. As I sit down at a round table looking at the employees and students, I get a sense of ongoing activity. The cashier whose shoulders are sagging as she is coming to the end of her workday. A frown from another employee. He sees the mess and spills left at a table by a large group of students. After the initial frown, I sense disgust and tiredness. A group of friends seated near me are smiling and enjoying sharing their lunch together. Several other tables where heads are bent low over their textbooks while their pens are writing furiously across the page. Intense concentration, maybe that assignment is due soon?
I gaze at the walls painted in yellow. A soothing color to the eye and the mind. There are trees outside whose branches are swaying in the wind. They look sturdy and strong. That breeze will not blow them over. The mountains are off in the distance looking shadowy and solid. Even more than the trees, those mountains will be there, unmoving, when I drive home later. Gazing outside at the stunning beauty around me, I am awestruck.

Joann Binkley's Acceptance Speech

2008-09-21T22:19:00.000-07:00

Thank you. Thank you so very much. I want to thank you for the privilege and honor you have bestowed on me by electing me your next President of the United States of America. I would not be here today without the support of my husband and children and God Almighty. I have treasured my family and faith my entire life, but never more than during this campaign. This has been a hard fought battle to get here, but get here we did. Tonight the voice of the American people was heard, and that voice stated very clearly we need to change the way we do things in Washington. I am not a person known to break my promises and I don't intend to start now. Sometimes being popular doesn't get the job done, and I don't care about being popular but I do care about getting the job done, which is getting this country flourishing again at every level.
Americans are losing their jobs and their homes at an all time record high. The economic and investment markets are either in deep trouble or collapsing altogether. Families sometimes have to make decisions on whether to put gas in the car or food on the table. These are choices? I think not and that is what will change under my Presidency. We are going to fix each and every one of these problems, but they weren't created overnight and it will take more than a day or so to fix them. First off, we will stop sending billions of dollars overseas to countries who don't like us very much anyway. They don't like or respect us, they obviously don't need our money. Keeping American dollars on American soil will be a good start to getting our country back on its feet. Next, I will stop outsourcing companies and jobs again overseas when we could employ American citizens and American companies for goods and services that we need. I intend to stop buying oil from other countries and paying huge amounts of money for that oil when we can use other natural resources. And yes, some of that could be for our own oil that is off of American shores. Hybrid and alternative powered cars should become the norm instead of the exception, and they also need to be affordable for all people. Employment? Any American that wants to work and is able to needs to have a job and be able to grab his own "American Dream". However, a system that enables men or women who don't wish to hold a job, but instead to live off the government must be reworked so that the people who do need assistance get it, and the people who don't can and must become employed.
Will these changes happen overnight. My friends, I am sorry to say that they will not. But, these changes will happen steadily and without fail under my Presidency. We won't have to make that choice of dinner or gas money. Or whether we will be able to keep our home. Or can we find a job to take care of our families. We will start these changes right here on our own soil. With our own dollars, our own resources and our own two hands. We will make it happen. Change is coming and it is coming now! Thank you.

Tattoos and Piercings

2008-09-15T13:02:00.000-07:00

How do I feel about tattoos and piercings? To start off with, I don't have any tattoos anywhere on my body. There are two specific reasons and a few other less specific reasons. The first reason is I don't really like pain of any kind if I can help it. Not tattooing my body qualifies for me avoiding the pain factor since that is under my control. I also don't feel the need to put something on me that might start out looking like a giraffe and in 10 or 20 years wind up looking like an elephant (or worse). Life is fluid and things change, even our interests and relationships which is a reason I don't want a tattoo. Putting something on my body today that could change tomorrow doesn't sound like fun to me.
On the subject of piercings, I have two. One in each earlobe. I got my ears pierced when I turned 16 (as a rite of passage I think). One side hurt like the devil and the other side I barely felt. They did the side that wound up hurting second which was a great plan since I would've only gotten one side pierced if I would have had the more painful ear done first. I never felt the need to get a second hole in each ear (due to the remembered ouch). For myself, I don't want any other holes in my body. Tongue rings do damage to your teeth and dental work. Piercing nipples or genitalia just sounds way too painful for anyone to contemplate doing, but again that is just my opinion. Some of the others: belly button, "Monroes", cheekbones, the chin, the nose (what happens when you need to blow?) are just foreign to my way of thinking. When you meet people that becomes a focal point for where people look (if it is visible). Do you really want a piece of metal to be the first think people focus on when they look at you?
So for me, tattooing and piercing my body are not the way to go. It can be an artistic form of expression for some people, but I will express myself in other ways.

Feelings about my Identity Collage

2008-09-14T20:54:00.000-07:00

The question was posed: how did you feel about presenting your collage to the class? Truth be told, I found it a bit difficult. I think we all came at it from the perspective of where we are at in life. Those of us that are parents focused on our children (of the presentations so far anyway) and how they affect our lives and how they are a huge part of who we are at this time. For the past 23 years I have been a parent and for the past 16 years I have been actively involved in the Boy Scouts of America. Having three sons shaped "who I am" during this part of my life. Being a Mom and "JoMama" is a big factor in what I do, the friends I hang out with (which are people who are involved in the same things I am) and how I view myself. My collage represented the one aspect that has been the biggest influence on me and in my life. My sons and being their Mom.
I really enjoyed everyones presentations on who they are. From metal music to artists, childhood educators to athletes, "Highlands Ranch snobs" to dancers, everyone shared pieces of themselves they found important or influential. We all told our stories a bit differently, but we shared pieces of who we are and what we are. Having survived two teenagers and all the associated issues that go with growing up and growing into your skin I was able to really enjoy learning about how some of the young people in our class are growing into who they are and who they want to be. How we view ourselves and who we are or can be is open to thousands of possibilities. I have had several career changes and at this point in my life think I know what I want to be when I grow up. But then again, that could change as does everything in our lives.

Body distortions and stereotypes

2008-09-08T12:53:00.000-07:00

I am going to answer question #2 about whether boys and young men are given the same messages as young women and girls, and whether they are sexualized the way girls are. Having three sons of my own I think the messages are not quite as blatant for boys but they are out there. Boys and young men are given the message they are to always be strong, masculine, never cry, never show emotion and never show a softer side of themselves. And girls are taught not to like or respect boys/men that do have a softer side.
Boys are stereotyped into being that more macho, more masculine self. Do the body-building so you can always defend yourself. Don't show an emotional side of yourself because that makes you weak. In society's eyes weakness/emotion equals femininity. They do get categorized into a certain group if they dress a certain way, act a certain way or behave differently then the expectation for them. My boys have never bought into that theory that strength equals masculinity. They are all 3 "all boy" in what they wear, what they play with and what they like to do. I don't know if the fact that my sons all liked to play "cars and trucks" and Legos was a result of media influence or upbringing. They never showed an interest in things of a different nature so it never really came up.
The distorted images and the stereotyping is out there. The media tells them to be tough. Images they see show them how they should dress. Peers show them how they behave. As with anything else, we need to put all those things they are exposed to into perspective for them. Show them it is ok to dress a little differently, act differently then this or that person. That they can be who they are while still being an important and valued member of society.

John McCain's Speech

2008-09-07T12:59:00.000-07:00

The message Sen. McCain presented in his speech was first that there is more that unites us than divides us. That he will enlist the help of any willing American to make government start working for us again. He also says he is going to bring change to Washington and change the big-spending government that exists now. His message is that he fights for American families who work three jobs and temporary jobs to put food on the table. Families who coach Little League and raise money for the disabled. Families who have children who have died serving our country. He says government (he) has lost the trust and faith of the American people. That trust was lost by making government bigger and passing a corporate welfare bill for the oil companies. He promises change and that the people of this country make up the biggest part of that change.
To support some of what he said he gave a list of what he believes in to make those changes. That everyone has something to contribute and deserves the opportunity to fulfill their potential. That he believes in low taxes and open markets. In rewarding hard work and letting people keep what they have earned. He believes in a strong defense and personal responsibility and the values of family. That government shouldn't make our choices for us but allow us to make those choices for ourselves. He wants to double the child tax exemption credit from $3500 to $7000 which will help families. He believes education is a major battlefield here at home and that parents should have the choice of how their children are educated and that schools should answer to parents/students and not unions/businesses. He promises to stop sending hundreds of billions of dollars a year to countries who dislike us. To bring back good relations with Russia to prevent another Cold War. He says he will change the way government does everything from pork-barrel spending to the way we respond to disasters.
Was this speech effective? Senator McCain promises to change the government but also says we need to look to ourselves to help in that change. If we don't like something, help fix it and don't expect the government to do everything for you. That if we find fault with programs or things going on in this country to do something to help make this country a better one. That we all need to fight for what we believe in, for what is right and for our children and the legacy we leave them.

Barack Obama's Speech

2008-09-07T12:26:00.000-07:00

In my opinion, the main message of Sen. Obama's speech (other than to vote for him) was that if he is elected, he would see to it that the American Dream would become a reality for everyone in the country. That his parents shared a belief that in America their son could be whatever he made up his mind to be. That this country is set apart by the people here with individual dreams that have the courage to make them happen. He says if he is elected this will happen. His message says that government has operated under a certain way of doing things for 8 years and under his leadership that will change. On the homefront he promises jobs for everyone, healthcare for everyone, investing $150 billion in renewable sources of energy, and ending the war in Iraq and finishing the fight against Al Qaida and the Taliban.
He supports some of what he promises by citing progress that was made under Bill Clinton's administration. He said that progress was measured by 23 million new jobs created under that administration. He says the American family saw its level of income go up by $7500 as opposed to down by $2,000 which he says has happened under President Bush. He supports his promises by saying he will stop giving tax breaks to companies that outsource jobs overseas. He will eliminate capital gains taxes for small businesses. He will cut taxes for 95 percent of all working families. He also says he will within 10 years end this countries dependence on foreign oil. That he will help the auto companies rework their companies so that the fuel-efficient cars that we need are built here in America and that it will be easier for us to afford those cars. He says he will invest in education and teachers. That if you have health care his plan would mean lower premiums, and if you don't you would get coverage.
How effective is his speech? I am sure for supporters and fence-sitters of Senator Obama his speech was a promise of change which is what he has been promising all along.

Text: How is it defined?

2008-09-05T10:39:00.000-07:00

There are so many mediums in the world that are "text". Books, newspapers, websites, phone texts, billboards, and T-shirts are just a very few of the wide variety of different kinds of text out there. I think all text conveys a message of some kind. Good, bad, or indifferent the things we say, read, wear and show about ourselves say something about us. Whether it is about something we believe or are reading to learn or protest something that text is conveying a message. Text is words, music, or images that we can use to get a point across, enjoy ourselves with or maybe learn something.

Which texts are educational and which are not? I think that question can run the gamut on whether it is or not. Is the written word always educational? Textbooks are. Newspapers and periodicals are. Books just to read (fiction, non-fiction) can be, but might not always. Written musical notes are because as I sit down at my piano to play a piece, I am looking at those notes to learn how to play the music. Text on clothing (tshirts, etc.) could be making a statement about something, but I don't think it is necessarily educational. Signs put up in various places that have information on them alerting you to a problem (hole in the street) or giving you information you need to function in the world(speed limit signs) are educational. Or they could be letting you know about a class being given in Tai Chi that you always wanted to take and you realize by looking at that information that you can take that class. We send many messages via our cell phones to everybody in our address book. Those can be educational if you are letting someone know about a time they have to be somewhere or an appointment they have. Just using it to say "Hey, what's up?" back and forth I don't believe is educational. But that is just my opinion of some of the ways we use and view text in our lives.