Atlanta Adventures

Last Friday I flew to Atlanta. I was able to have a little bit of down time during the days, but early mornings and late nights greeted me viciously the rest of the time.

One of the highlights, in addition to a wonderful International Food Extravaganza and an evening at the Atlanta History Center (exhibits of Norman Rockwell and Jim Henson were there), was a formal dinner (you know, the kind where you aren't quite sure what you are eating, all the youth around you ask 20 times which utensil they should use, and the majority of the people are wearing fancy dresses I only wished covered more of their bodies...).

I decided to get a little dolled up for the occasion. I wore a new pink blouse (I know, a shocker for all of you--I never wear pink) (Target special while I was in California), with some sparkly hair pieces, AND I curled my hair. AND it stayed curly. The trick: curling it with a straightener. Who'da thought? Amazing. You can kind of see it here:
The best part of the formal dinner was definitely the guests. Not only did the one and only Miss America 2008 speak and sing Christmas songs to us, we had the unmatched presence of these fine fellows: assorted varieties of fish,
a few ominous looking sharks,three humongo whale sharks--gentle giants that look harmless,and, the best guests of all, three beautiful glowing beluga whales, who danced to the music and greeted us warmly behind the glass. Such are the treasures of a formal dinner in the ballroom at the Atlanta Georgia Aquarium. It is simply so hard to be away from home and travel...(sigh). :)

Motivational Speaker

Last Wednesday evening I attended a motivational presentation at the AFCPE Conference in Garden Grove, CA. The speaker was John Hope Bryant, who is the vice-chairman of the U.S. President's Council on Financial Literacy (among other things).

He was indeed a motivational speaker. Knowing that notes will not do the presentation justice, I feel it might still be worth something.

Here are a few of my notes from his presentation:

- Fear is bringing down our country. Fear's 1st cousin is greed. Greed's roommate is laziness. Laziness' best friend is "me" not "we."

- You don't need to be conceded, just convinced. Don't be cynical, but skeptical--to be cynical is to not have hope.

- John spoke about how his associates couldn't believe that he agreed to work under Pres. George W. Bush. This is what he had to say about this: It's the stupidest thing to wish your president to fail. If he's doing bad--assume he is being given bad counsel, and go and give him good counsel. If he fails, WE ALL FAIL. (Amen to that!)

- Re-imagine the world you want to live in. Sometimes it takes a re-thinking of things in order to make our world what we want it to be. Re-imagine the world you want to live in.

- 5% of the population as (good, positive) role models is all that's needed to stabilize a community.

- I think this was my favorite part (along with the above comment about a President failing): We're living in a historical moment but it doesn't have to end bad. We are going to make it through.
Barack Obama isn't going to save you.
The Senators aren't going to save you.
The republican party isn't going to save you.
The democrat party isn't going to save you.
Your Mayor won't save you.
Your employer won't save you.
YOU are going to save you!

- You don't get credit for what you are supposed to do...be proud of what you gave and not what you got.

- Even badness is failed goodness.

- My next favorite part: Instead of being an expert on what we're against, be an expert on what we are FOR.

John stated he'd have this speech put online for us to listen to. I haven't been able to find it yet, but when I do, I'll post the link. It was a great presentation, and I am grateful for his optimism and example of how we are to be true citizens of this great, God-given country. The constitution truly is inspired, and our country is about "we the people."

Proposition 8

In light of the recent protests on prop. 8 I feel the need to publicly express my values on the matter. First, I have been living in Colorado and was unable to vote on prop. 8, but if it was an issue I clearly would have voted in the affirmative. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints I would be lying to myself and my God if I chose the contrary. The Family Proclamation clearly states that "marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God."

Recently I have been involved in various discussions on the matter of prop. 8 and gay "rights". I have been accused of close-mindedness, intolerance, forcing my religion or beliefs on others, and bigotry. Some argue to “live and let live”, and that “it’s time to accept that other people have free agency”.

I hear much on the matter of gay “rights”. I say “rights” because I firmly believe that being gay is a choice; therefore, on that argument I have certain “rights” as a Mormon. I could argue that I was born with the “Mormon gene”, and because of this condition I have my rights. Special treatment is necessary because I cannot control myself. People not only need to accept me for who I am, but they need to support my efforts to be a good Mormon. Of course, this is absurd. I don’t expect anyone to support me because I’m a Mormon, a trombone player, or a good whistler for that matter. Civil rights do not base themselves on individual choice, or agency.

“Live and let live” is a tricky phrase. I believe in agency, the ability to act for oneself, no matter that sometimes the consequence of such choices are not considered seriously, neither how it affects us, or more importantly how it effects those around us. We all use agency unwisely at one time or another, the problem occurs when it profoundly affects innocent bystanders.

I agree that forcing any belief on someone is not good, on my part or on the homosexual movement. But the problem is clear (especially due to the recent protests), if a homosexual is forcing his belief on me and my family I will stand up for myself and my values; in this instance I am not being intolerant or forceful, merely standing for my values, which are under attack. If there is an opportunity to voice my values I should take it, just as they should, even if we are in contradiction. That is agency at work, and thankfully it is our system in this country. That is why prop. 8 got voted on, if I did not voice my value on the subject I would be a liar to myself. In essence, prop. 8 is asking my advice, and if I lived in a CA or FL, AZ, etc. I would have given it.

Now, I can be accused of close-mindedness all day without it being a bother. I agree with them, I am close-minded. When it comes to marriage and homosexuality, I know of what it consists and I will not compromise my value of that sacred rite. That doesn’t mean that I am intolerant. I know gay people and work with them side by side everyday. I treat them no differently than anyone else, with respect and kindness.

In conclusion, I disagree with homosexuality and simply view it as a sin. We all sin in one way or another, and we are all people—God’s children. I do not discriminate against God’s children, but I do against sin. I do not have to tolerate something I plainly know is wrong. I am not forcing my belief on anyone, rather I feel that the contrary is true; which leads me to wonder how I am the one labeled a bigot. I have to accept you, but you won’t accept that I view it differently? I am merely standing for what I value and hold dear to my heart. I will stand for the truth that I know!

Goodbye with Sweet Sorrow

This is the last bottle of like-items we received as part of our bridal shower and reception gifts from our wedding (3 years and 5 1/2 months ago).

And, to give this even more "umpf," we've never lived in an apartment with a dish washing machine (woe is us, I know). So, for 3 years and 5 1/2 months, we have washed our dishes by hand, with the help of numerous bottles of colorful, sweet-smelling dish soap we received as gifts.

That's a lot of bottles. I remember laughing as we unpacked all our loot after our honeymoon because we had stacks of dish soap under our sink. Stacks.

And now, to think I have to go to the store to buy a bottle is...strange. But quite timely, I think. We received enough dish soap to get us through our "starving college student" phase in life. And this bottle will probably last for another couple weeks, and beyond, and at that point our little family will no longer be classified as a student-household. (Hooray!)

So, cheers to years of stocked dish soap. And to the new responsibility of purchasing dish soap forever more.

Out and About

Phew. I sure have been out and about lately. I won't bore you with details of work-related activities, but here is some proof that I've done much more than work.

Last Wednesday I woke up to about 2 inches of snow at my brother's house. By the time I left for work, there was about 4-5 inches piled nice and thick on my car. Here's little Mason gettin' ready for some time in the snow.

No snow in Greeley (or Denver), but it was sure cold! My parents and my parents-in-law visited the U.S. Mint and the Molly Brown House Museum in Denver.

(Trivia question: what is Molly Brown's real name, that she went by while she lived and roamed on earth?)


Sam's Master's recital was excellent. He did a wonderful job, and looked great, too! It's all down hill from here!

































Sunday my niece was blessed (she makes the 16th grandchild on my side of the family). Her name is Jerilynn Elizabeth, named after a close family friend of my brother's.

She's beautiful. She was born 6 lbs 15 oz, and has plumped up a bit, though still small. Jerilynn will be 2 months old tomorrow.

The Disappearance of My Money

I previewed my paycheck stub yesterday, anxiously awaiting the $600 overpay I am supposed to receive in November. Turns out, while I should have been paid $600 more dollars this paycheck, my actual paycheck was only $374 more dollars than last month.

What? Why? How does $600 = $374??
Oh yeah, because of income taxes.
37.6% of my "increase" was taken. (And my income is nowhere close to the highest tax bracket... Sure, I probably will get this back come tax return season, and I can change my withholdings... but still! Urgh!)

That got me thinking (again) about where I stand in regard to taxes.
Do I like taxes?
I can't say I hate them all (in fact, Utah needs to increase their property taxes so teachers can be paid more, I think), but this 37% thing irks me (just a little).

And then this morning I saw this post on taxes and how each of us should truly contemplate where we stand in regard to taxes before we vote this coming Tuesday (and I don't just mean for the Presidential nominations--local and state delegates have a large role in this, too!!). Ditto to that blogger.

Where do you stand in regard to taxes? Think it over while reading this blog.

Autumn Beauty

Much of this has passed, and now we are stuck with icky brown and grey. But, just a few weeks ago, the leaves were this beautiful (pardon the window reflections of my watch...haha...I took this while driving). This is just a few miles away from Strawberry Reservoir and Daniel's Summit on Highway 41. And this is in an alley-like way behind Sam's apartment.