As I sit here typing this, my husband of 10 years and boyfriend of almost 20, sits next to me "discussing" politics; a conversation started by my previous post. The things that he is saying and writing are making me wonder. Wonder how two people SOOOO far apart on so many things can come together and have such a fantastic life!
We agree on almost NOTHING socially, I guess it is a good thing we can find some common ground on fiscal issues(money always talks louder:) It is odd to me that for two people that grew up so close to each other, we have such different opinions. I know mine have changed since we have met as I was 15 at the time with very limited life experiences. I wish I could remember back to when we met, what common ground we found...maybe it was just the sex!LOL! Whatever it was I am glad we found it and have continued to for so long.
I wonder what opinions are children will hold as they grow and of course I hope that it is true and kids tend to follow their mothers beliefs:-) But even if they go their own way or even worse their father's way, I hope that they see how very luck I am to have such a wonderful partner in life. A very misguided politically partner, but wonderful in every other way!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Flip-Flops
I have heard many people say that the Republican Party needs to reorganize, and I believe they do...or maybe they don't and a third party is needed in American politics. I never considered myself a Republican, but I did tend to vote with them, not anymore. I think that if it is possible, the party has moved so far to the right that it is scary. The party has been completely taken over by Christian Conservatives. The problem I am having is that these "Christian Conservatives" do not seem so Christ-like to me. They are un-accepting and judgmental, mean and self-fulfilling; these are not things I see as Christ-like actions.
Ya know what though, it is not just the Republicans, the Democrats are moving as far to the left as the Republicans are to the right. I just don't get it! I sometimes wonder if people ever think through the party platforms, before they vote the ticket. Do they do it by convincing themselves that they are on the side of "lesser evil", so it is okay? In several of the last elections I have voted in, I have voted for a third party. I have had many people say that I threw my vote away, but I don't feel that way. I feel that I voted with my values and for the people that I thought would best serve the people. What is funny about these third party candidates is most of them previously called themselves Democrats or Republicans, so I guess I am not the only one feeling that these parties have changed their direction.
I hope that sometime soon the majority of people will see that you don't have to vote for the lesser-evil, but for the best candidate, no matter what party they have next to their name. Maybe then we can move past the insane partisan politics we have now and onto some progress.
Ya know what though, it is not just the Republicans, the Democrats are moving as far to the left as the Republicans are to the right. I just don't get it! I sometimes wonder if people ever think through the party platforms, before they vote the ticket. Do they do it by convincing themselves that they are on the side of "lesser evil", so it is okay? In several of the last elections I have voted in, I have voted for a third party. I have had many people say that I threw my vote away, but I don't feel that way. I feel that I voted with my values and for the people that I thought would best serve the people. What is funny about these third party candidates is most of them previously called themselves Democrats or Republicans, so I guess I am not the only one feeling that these parties have changed their direction.
I hope that sometime soon the majority of people will see that you don't have to vote for the lesser-evil, but for the best candidate, no matter what party they have next to their name. Maybe then we can move past the insane partisan politics we have now and onto some progress.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
So Far, So Good!
I know it has not been long, but the changes at home and in my attitude really seem to be making a difference. The power of positive thinking is amazing. Now, the kids are moving SLOW with hopping on-board with some of the changes, but they are coming around.
Sometimes I feel like I get so caught-up in life that I forget to live. I don't want to do that anymore. I want to live my life to the fullest and enjoy as much of it as I can and I want to teach my children to do the same. I am working on reminding myself of what is important and let the other stuff go. Sometimes I have trouble with that. Sometimes I forget to look at the "small picture" and focus too much on the big one, problem with that is that if the "small picture" is out of focus, it looks worse when you blow-it-up, all blurry and messy!
No more negative! That is not to say that everything is positive, but instead of negative maybe it can just be and I can find a way to work through it. I have decided to live this everyday:
Laughter is a tranquilizer with no side effects.
-- Arnold Glasow
I am going to hope it is true and give it a try!
Sometimes I feel like I get so caught-up in life that I forget to live. I don't want to do that anymore. I want to live my life to the fullest and enjoy as much of it as I can and I want to teach my children to do the same. I am working on reminding myself of what is important and let the other stuff go. Sometimes I have trouble with that. Sometimes I forget to look at the "small picture" and focus too much on the big one, problem with that is that if the "small picture" is out of focus, it looks worse when you blow-it-up, all blurry and messy!
No more negative! That is not to say that everything is positive, but instead of negative maybe it can just be and I can find a way to work through it. I have decided to live this everyday:
Laughter is a tranquilizer with no side effects.
-- Arnold Glasow
I am going to hope it is true and give it a try!
Monday, April 26, 2010
Trying Not To Look...
Okay, I will admit it, I have been in denial. I have been unwilling to see all the awful "things" that are added to our food source. The main reason for my denial has been that I see things only as black or white, there is little gray in my life. So, in order to acknowledge that there are many things "unnatural" in our food today, I have to also acknowledge that my family often eats foods that I know are unhealthy and unnatural.
I know that I do not have the ability financially or time-wise for my family to eat only wholesome, natural foods and that is why I have been trying to ignore the facts. The facts that the food we eat today is nothing like food that was eaten 100, 50 or even 20 years ago. While I WANT to believe that most of the changes that have been made to our food source was intended to be for the betterment of people, I do not believe that is what has happened.
When you load chickens with antibiotics because the live in their own filth, that is not healthy or natural. That means that someone knows that if people eat those chickens without the antibiotics, people will get sick. So, if you are eating chicken loaded with antibiotics, how could people expect antibiotics to not become less effective and bacteria stronger? And tell me, when you hear that corn that is grown is NOT for human consumption, but is used for animal feed that is then fed to us, are we not consuming that harmful corn? And that is just cows and chicken. I am not even sure I can handle complex sugars. Complex sugars that are added to EVERYTHING! It is insane how "unnatural" the food we eat is.
I know I have family and friends that are going to read this and think I have been sucked in by Jamie Oliver or Rebecca;-) but I just cannot allow myself to be blind anymore. Does that mean that my children and I will never eat processed food, HELL NO, but it does mean that I will probably think about it every time I do.
Now I will go and finish drinking my high-fructose-corn-syrup laden soda before I head to bed;-) Remember, I only said I was ready to see it, not stop consuming it...maybe that will come with recycling:O)
I know that I do not have the ability financially or time-wise for my family to eat only wholesome, natural foods and that is why I have been trying to ignore the facts. The facts that the food we eat today is nothing like food that was eaten 100, 50 or even 20 years ago. While I WANT to believe that most of the changes that have been made to our food source was intended to be for the betterment of people, I do not believe that is what has happened.
When you load chickens with antibiotics because the live in their own filth, that is not healthy or natural. That means that someone knows that if people eat those chickens without the antibiotics, people will get sick. So, if you are eating chicken loaded with antibiotics, how could people expect antibiotics to not become less effective and bacteria stronger? And tell me, when you hear that corn that is grown is NOT for human consumption, but is used for animal feed that is then fed to us, are we not consuming that harmful corn? And that is just cows and chicken. I am not even sure I can handle complex sugars. Complex sugars that are added to EVERYTHING! It is insane how "unnatural" the food we eat is.
I know I have family and friends that are going to read this and think I have been sucked in by Jamie Oliver or Rebecca;-) but I just cannot allow myself to be blind anymore. Does that mean that my children and I will never eat processed food, HELL NO, but it does mean that I will probably think about it every time I do.
Now I will go and finish drinking my high-fructose-corn-syrup laden soda before I head to bed;-) Remember, I only said I was ready to see it, not stop consuming it...maybe that will come with recycling:O)
Sunday, April 25, 2010
I Just Wonder...
I sometimes tell people that I do not live by the highest "morals & values", what I mean by that is that I do not strive to live a "Christian" life. I have decided that I will no longer judge my morals & Values beneath others simply because I am not Christian. I think the way I live my life is just fine for me and my family. That does not mean that I don't sometimes reevaluate things I do or how I live and change them.
Here are somethings I do that I really don't feel badly about. I don't feel bad "gossiping" about people, so long as what I am saying is true. I don't feel badly when I think about wanting to smack-the-shit of of someone when they piss me off. I don't believe those things(or others I have not listed) make me a BAD person. I think they make me honest with myself and my feelings. It would make me a BAD person if I spread lies about people or did go around smacking all the people that pissed me off. Those are the values I strive to teach my children. That it is okay to get mad at people and not like people, but learn to coexist.
I believe in Karma, I know that when I do and say mean or questionable things about others that someone might be saying or doing the same to me and that is okay. What makes me feel comfortable with myself is the fact that I am not pretending to be something I am not. Being true to myself and my children is what I strive most to do.
I wonder how other people live knowing that what they teach and how they live are never in balance? Is it harder to talk-the-talk in hollowness, or to live open and honest with constant pressure to conform? I wish I knew.
That between 70-85% of Americans consider themselves Christian is a remarkable number to me. If asked, would those same 70-85% consider themselves living a Christian life? And if they answer "yes" how do they separate their affairs, lying, stealing and selfishness to themselves?
Another thing I wonder is, do people simply call themselves Christian in order to find solace? Why does God make it so difficult to "follow in Christ's steps"? Why is it so easy for people to justify away their actions or those of their leaders when those actions are so un-Christian?
Here are somethings I do that I really don't feel badly about. I don't feel bad "gossiping" about people, so long as what I am saying is true. I don't feel badly when I think about wanting to smack-the-shit of of someone when they piss me off. I don't believe those things(or others I have not listed) make me a BAD person. I think they make me honest with myself and my feelings. It would make me a BAD person if I spread lies about people or did go around smacking all the people that pissed me off. Those are the values I strive to teach my children. That it is okay to get mad at people and not like people, but learn to coexist.
I believe in Karma, I know that when I do and say mean or questionable things about others that someone might be saying or doing the same to me and that is okay. What makes me feel comfortable with myself is the fact that I am not pretending to be something I am not. Being true to myself and my children is what I strive most to do.
I wonder how other people live knowing that what they teach and how they live are never in balance? Is it harder to talk-the-talk in hollowness, or to live open and honest with constant pressure to conform? I wish I knew.
That between 70-85% of Americans consider themselves Christian is a remarkable number to me. If asked, would those same 70-85% consider themselves living a Christian life? And if they answer "yes" how do they separate their affairs, lying, stealing and selfishness to themselves?
Another thing I wonder is, do people simply call themselves Christian in order to find solace? Why does God make it so difficult to "follow in Christ's steps"? Why is it so easy for people to justify away their actions or those of their leaders when those actions are so un-Christian?
Friday, April 23, 2010
Let's See...
I have been down-and-out since Tuesday night sick! It has been BAD. So bad that I was forced to make my poor babies ride the bus home from school yesterday. In the last few hours though, I am starting to feel better. Better, but still not feeling much like getting back to work, not that I was ever completely "off" as a mom. I need to send a BIG THANK YOU to my friends and husband who really stepped it up while I was down.
So, what did I miss while in-and-out of consciousnesses...I have been reminded once again that once posted on my blog, the stories are out there for all to see. Sometimes that is good, sometimes words in print come across differently than in person. I will also have you all remember that my posts are only MY side to a story, and we all know, there is always more than onside to every story. Nevertheless, I will continue to share because most of the time it is better for me to "air" it out here than in person. It gives me a chance to think things through before shoot-off at the hip...maybe not, but at least I get to read it before it goes out;-)
I wish I had some really good stuff to write, but I have not seen the news in days. The past two days have been filled with talk of the NFL Draft in my house. All I can say thus far is "Who drafts a center in the first round"? I guess when you have lost your quarterback for 4-6 weeks, you can draft in whatever direction you please. I Fear A VERY LONG FALL in this house with members of THE STEELER'S NATION living here:)
So, what did I miss while in-and-out of consciousnesses...I have been reminded once again that once posted on my blog, the stories are out there for all to see. Sometimes that is good, sometimes words in print come across differently than in person. I will also have you all remember that my posts are only MY side to a story, and we all know, there is always more than onside to every story. Nevertheless, I will continue to share because most of the time it is better for me to "air" it out here than in person. It gives me a chance to think things through before shoot-off at the hip...maybe not, but at least I get to read it before it goes out;-)
I wish I had some really good stuff to write, but I have not seen the news in days. The past two days have been filled with talk of the NFL Draft in my house. All I can say thus far is "Who drafts a center in the first round"? I guess when you have lost your quarterback for 4-6 weeks, you can draft in whatever direction you please. I Fear A VERY LONG FALL in this house with members of THE STEELER'S NATION living here:)
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
A Small Change
My blog used to stream directly to my facebook page, but I have decided to stop that. I made this decision after yesterday's Post. What I learned was that even without putting names in my blog, the identities of those involved were revealed and brawls ensued. That is not why I blog. I use my blog as many use a journal, to talk about my day,life and how I feel about it all. My posts are my opinions and feelings and no one elses. I am happy to have people read it and comment it on, just remember that it is just me. Just me, a wife and mother in her mid-thirties, still trying to figure it out. No different than most. I just choose to make it public. And with that choice I understand that I put myself out there and that is okay with me. I just don't like when others get upset by my posts.
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