tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29729170516233831562024-02-07T04:33:14.207-07:00My Crazy LifeThe word from my fingertips to your eyeballs.RachelWritinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316732652272212480noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972917051623383156.post-70747733936613148822012-09-26T00:59:00.000-06:002012-09-26T01:03:38.825-06:00Looking Beyond The Nest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9dUhFUVysv-mLqB_vQmggvzeGtjODw4z_avkmBdKC6eZ12kwL3b4DRqauN5LSgua_IFc2K6m6yeIxFv4S05Jj5U4E3IkVAtSnoewhryQptRx5zfvjEv06crOnnwPtiZlY-1592UrQJM/s1600/6Harmonious-VisionBoard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9dUhFUVysv-mLqB_vQmggvzeGtjODw4z_avkmBdKC6eZ12kwL3b4DRqauN5LSgua_IFc2K6m6yeIxFv4S05Jj5U4E3IkVAtSnoewhryQptRx5zfvjEv06crOnnwPtiZlY-1592UrQJM/s320/6Harmonious-VisionBoard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I'm working on my next book and as a little preliminary research, I've put together an informal survey for mothers of children who are ALL five years or older. If you fall into this category, I'd love to get your anonymous response to a few questions...<br />
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.9331541850697249" style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://kwiksurveys.com/s.asp?sid=vukgs87b1bta2hp23504"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://kwiksurveys.com/s.asp?sid=vukgs87b1bta2hp23504</span></a></b>RachelWritinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316732652272212480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972917051623383156.post-35835435336588534992012-09-26T00:53:00.001-06:002012-09-26T01:05:04.776-06:00Here's to the Mamas!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifobMArL9ij1NGpP9Hopbs17AdcM_ukp4pnfdMl-WTgU7GFvFrLfhAGyhLm4B42NUAEkCQ41AAjcSUfqbeO1l_t8cu6issl46-t4lfF2mJ7pz5fTbrc-daJAs-l2o2it7tVpmlmIKeLb0/s1600/5Loving-VisionBoard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifobMArL9ij1NGpP9Hopbs17AdcM_ukp4pnfdMl-WTgU7GFvFrLfhAGyhLm4B42NUAEkCQ41AAjcSUfqbeO1l_t8cu6issl46-t4lfF2mJ7pz5fTbrc-daJAs-l2o2it7tVpmlmIKeLb0/s320/5Loving-VisionBoard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I'm working on my next book and as a little preliminary research, I've put together an informal survey for women who are CURRENTLY raising small children (under age five). If you fall into this category, I'd love to get your anonymous response to a few questions...<br />
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.9331541850697249" style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://kwiksurveys.com/s.asp?sid=gvyrh72ggdnqwlm23448"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://kwiksurveys.com/s.asp?sid=gvyrh72ggdnqwlm23448</span></a></b>RachelWritinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316732652272212480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972917051623383156.post-62625722984131888582012-09-26T00:46:00.004-06:002012-09-26T01:05:39.892-06:00For the Footloose & Kid-Free Among Us...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXpfaocc63v-1wvlWns6cNK4-Bcx5ihahlWmCvce1EPsSkqW0rtiS6XWElPuPqc0FEfmbMaFePZ5KDV2bjHdUYHIcJTipAluwf8VPBp-LelHZ1EeWyHhWr21ZL_JePbunW7-XWPShgQI/s1600/2Perfect-VisionBoard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXpfaocc63v-1wvlWns6cNK4-Bcx5ihahlWmCvce1EPsSkqW0rtiS6XWElPuPqc0FEfmbMaFePZ5KDV2bjHdUYHIcJTipAluwf8VPBp-LelHZ1EeWyHhWr21ZL_JePbunW7-XWPShgQI/s320/2Perfect-VisionBoard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I'm working on my next book and as a little preliminary research, I've put together an informal survey for women who haven't had children at this point in their lives. If you fall into that category, I'd love to get your anonymous response to a few questions...<br />
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.9331541850697249" style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://kwiksurveys.com/s.asp?sid=kxrdcho8c2hax9123386"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://kwiksurveys.com/s.asp?sid=kxrdcho8c2hax9123386</span></a></b>RachelWritinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316732652272212480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972917051623383156.post-51152574017671088422010-10-05T09:06:00.001-06:002010-10-05T10:17:25.178-06:00How Can We Bring About Positive Change from the LDS Conference Rhetoric?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSX-Ez6A3C_kTxjoPYlU7MRmodeblI4LTqKrNC9GCFUl8IniA0BM_p0O3UDrBCPs_bqes7saerSs8BXCE6t46E5GqZmpE8kBV9UVUGI0l2qCI2cy5M4CsD6s_W4isrpCIwF8j8VZbVIHg/s1600/blogpic-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSX-Ez6A3C_kTxjoPYlU7MRmodeblI4LTqKrNC9GCFUl8IniA0BM_p0O3UDrBCPs_bqes7saerSs8BXCE6t46E5GqZmpE8kBV9UVUGI0l2qCI2cy5M4CsD6s_W4isrpCIwF8j8VZbVIHg/s320/blogpic-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I'm so alarmed by the recent rash of suicides among the LGBT youth in America, and after this weekend, living in Salt Lake and being fully exposed to the information disseminated at this weekends General Conference, I'm very sad that the leaders of the LDS church, the default religious leaders of <i>my</i> community, are still encouraging division among brothers & sisters. It's just so wrong! And so I, like so many others, am once again driven to speak out about my own feelings.<br />
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The widespread dissatisfaction with the LDS church leadership I am currently witnessing is not a new phenomena. It's been this way since the very inception of the LDS church - the public at large didn't like what Joseph Smith was doing with his new religion & congregation. This disapproval (though it was mostly disapproval at what Joseph Smiths did with others' wives and various con jobs he was wrapping up on the side) is what led to the mobs that drove the Mormons from every city they settled in until they ultimately turned to the inhospitable Salt Lake valley. Surely there have been spikes in the negative public image at various points in history. Things were pretty bad back in 1978 just before blacks were gifted with the priesthood through a new revelation. Certainly things have been heated since Proposition 8 came along, thrusting the involvement of individual members (at the encouragement of church officials from the pulpit) into the limelight. So this recent rash of youth suicides I mentioned... It has brought this newest chapter in the long civil rights path of our young country to a head once again.<br />
<blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Justin Aaberg, 15, Anoka, Minn., July 9, 2010<br />
Billy Lucas, 15, Greensburg, Ind., Sept. 9, 2010<br />
Seth Walsh, 13, Tehachapi, Calif., Sept. 19, 2010 <br />
Tyler Clementi, 18, Ridgewood, N.J., Sept. 22, 2010<br />
Asher Brown, 13, Cypress, Texas, Sept. 23, 2010<br />
Raymond Chase, 19, Monticello, N.Y., Sept. 29, 2010</blockquote>Children are killing themselves because they are alienated from their peers in every way. And their peers alienate them because their own parents and leaders have taught them to fear and scorn anyone that is different from them. And this back-to-school trend is absolutely not the beginning of youth suicides. I got a mailing from the Human Rights Campaign that talked about the suicide of Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, an 11 year old Massachusetts boy in 2009, due to bullying because he "acted like a girl". There are so many. It's truly tragic and alarming. My own 11 year old son is the victim of bullying and ridicule at school this year, simply because he has long hair. Kids call him a girl and tease him mercilessly, just because of their perceptions about sexuality!<br />
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This weekend was the LDS church's fall session of their General Conference. This is an opportunity for the membership to hear messages from the top leadership of the church. And as is typical at this time each year, things are heating up. I've read a few news articles yesterday and today, excerpting Boyd K Packer's talk, but after several LDS members claimed his message is being taken out of context, I decided to listen to the entire talk on the church's own website <a href="http://new.lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2010/10?lang=eng">lds.org</a>.<br />
Packer begins by proclaiming the fear and confusion facing the young people of the church today. He refers to the churches revelation "The Family: A Proclamation to the World", issued 15 years ago. He quotes it in part by reading the following:<br />
<blockquote>We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children.</blockquote>He then further quotes LDS scripture to define union between a man and woman as a commandment from God. He goes on to discuss the concept of free agency, so prevalent in this religion. He talks about how sacred is our ability to create life. He talks about obedience and prayer. He promises that an obedient, willing & prayerful husband and wife will be gifted with children, happiness & a personal relationship with God. These blessings, including children, may come now or in the hereafter. He also stipulates that "pure love presupposes that only after a pledge of eternal fidelity, a legal & lawful ceremony and ideally after a sealing ordinance in the temple, are those life giving powers released to the full expression of love. It is to be shared only and solely between a man & woman, husband and wife with that one who is our companion forever." He warns that Satan is miserable and impotent, and that he can not stand any happiness and seeks to tempt us to sin and therefore, into misery. He likens pornography to a plague, "relentlessly trying to invade every home mostly through the husband and father". He talks about the spiritual fatality caused by this plague. He then promises that the priesthood can protect us from this plague, or any other bad habits and addictions. He warns parents to protect their families from these plagues. He warns not to succumb to these counterfeits for marriage. His next quote lays out exactly how he feels about homosexual tendencies, and the italicized portion is the quote which has sparked so much upset and so many claims of being taken out of context.<br />
<blockquote>Any persuasion to enter into any relationship that is not in harmony with the principles of the gospel must be wrong. In the Book of Mormon we learn that wickedness never was happiness. <i>Some suppose that they were preset and cannot overcome what they feel are inborn tendencies toward the impure and the unnatural . Not so. Why would our heavenly father do that to anyone? Remember, he is our father."</i></blockquote>He quotes more scripture and goes back to talk of breaking addictions through the power of the priesthood. Then he goes on to tell a story of a child who brought a kitten to class with him. the children asked if the kitten was a boy or a girl and the teacher quickly asserted that it didn't matter. But the children persisted and finally one boy said he knew how to tell - they could vote on it!<br />
<blockquote>You may laugh at the story. But if we're not alert, there are those today who not only tolerate but advocate voting to change laws that would legalize immorality, as if a vote would somehow alter the designs of Gods laws & nature. A law against nature would be impossible to enforce. For instance what good would a vote against the law of gravity do? There are both moral & physical laws, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundation of the world that cannot be changed."</blockquote>He warns that if the membership does not protect the LDS idea of family, the very foundation of civilization will be threatened. He begins to wrap up his address with a message of repentance for your unworthy habits and addictions. He promises peace & happiness for families who are obedient to these laws.<br />
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Now, after going over the entire address, I can safely say nothing is taken out of context. With that in mind, here's what I think of his words. I've noticed that President Packer tends toward this theme. He harps on homosexuality, intellectuals, feminists, morality, pornography, etc. I wonder what sins he sees in himself that make him so fearful of these things. In a facebook note linked below the comments suggest Packer is gay and another commenter, a church member, is insulted at the "disgusting things" implied about President Packer. I was far more offended by the statement that being gay is disgusting, than I ever would be, were it implied that my religious leader was gay! Her paradigm demands that she see that as disgusting. I see it not as an inflammatory remark to imply such, but simply an obvious possibility based on human behavioral psychology.<br />
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Anyhow, skipping further speculation on Packer's sexual tendencies, I see Packers early comments about the family and free agency as a way to ensure that his congregation perceives homosexuality as a choice. His provision that a husband and wife may be gifted with children only in the hereafter is typical of the LDS church's advice of delaying blessings & happiness till the next life, in exchange for suffering in this one. Just as they counsel their homosexual members to live celibate lives now in order to possibly be free of these desires someday, maybe not till the next life. <br />
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When he quotes the scripture "wickedness never was happiness", he implies gays are miserable. He mixes together references to homosexuality as this "fake unnatural love" with the feelings of shame & guilt associated with pornography in order to confuse his congregation and make them fearful of homosexual relationships. Packer's switch from addictions to homosexuality & back again works to suggest to the congregation that homosexuality is somehow a bad habit or an addiction to be overcome. <br />
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When he talks about voting on natural laws, my blood really starts pumping. Gravity is indeed an irrevocable law that can not be changed, even if we were to put it to a vote. The ridiculousness of this statement is unmatched in his talk, since gravity is a proven scientific fact, demonstrable in every aspect of our daily lives. Morality however, is a fluid social agreement, based on the times we live in. For instance, it used to be moral for a Mormon man to have several wives. Currently I believe several wives is considered immoral among the Mormon leadership. Until someone can prove to me a constant, unchangeable law of morality, I won't have this conversation. <br />
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It just makes me want to cry for these manipulated children when he ends with an admonishment to repent. The entire message of fear is couched in language of parental love and concern. Well I'm not buying it!<br />
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As a personal side note, that from-the-pulpit fear mongering couched in fake love, and dripping with old-man creepiness I might add, is a large reason for my departure from regular church attendance, and a contributing factor in my decision to "resign" from their membership officially.<br />
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This sort of fear mongering and hate rhetoric fan the flames of homophobia. My 11 year old son, the same boy who gets teased for his long hair, has 3 friends. Today he came home and informed me that his parents told him he can no longer have sleep overs. His parents told him yesterday evening that sleeping over with friends led to temptations they need to protect him from. Wow.<br />
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So now we see stuff like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1178979547&v=wall&story_fbid=113616125366565&il=0#%21/note.php?note_id=442380428758&id=725525203&ref=mf">this facebook note that very closely reflects my own feelings on Packers address</a>, as well as fantastic official statements like <a href="http://www.hrc.org/14955.htm">this one from The Human Rights Campaign</a>. Joe Solmonese, president of HRC says:<br />
<blockquote>Words have consequences, particularly when they come from a faith leader. This is exactly the kind of statement that can lead some kids to bully and others to commit suicide. When a faith leader tells gay people that they are a mistake because God would never have made them that way and they don’t deserve love, it sends a very powerful message that violence and/or discrimination against LGBT people is acceptable. It also emotionally devastates those who are LGBT or may be struggling with their sexual orientation or gender identify. His words were not only inaccurate, they were also dangerous.</blockquote>Educated LDS friends talk about how they don't agree with Packer's statements about homosexuality not being preset. I don't understand how someone can pick and choose which tenets of their gospel they can agree with. If my religious leader is preaching something that rings false to me, this is a red flag for the entire belief system in my opinion. One very telling comment touched me.<br />
<blockquote>When I hear the words of President Packer, my heart hurts and I feel uncomfortable. I interpret this as a departure of the spirit. When my own leaders counsel causes this departure of the spirit, what am I to make of it?</blockquote>As Duane Jennings, co-director of the Salt Lake chapter of Affirmation says... this weekends conference comments about gays are "evidence that the church hasn’t really changed, and that its positive moves [like supporting Salt Lake City’s anti-discrimination statutes] have been just an attempt to improve its image in the wake of Proposition 8.” I'm afraid of what may come from this latest log on the firey civil rights debate. I don't think we've seen the last of our losses unfortunately. And like Isaac Higham, I feel that "the blood of the innocents drips from the hands of those who strangle the life and the hope out of them through their bully pulpit." But as renown author John Krakauer extensively demonstrates in his book "Under The Banner of Heaven", the LDS church has a rich tradition of violence and separatism. Their leadership believes in the blood atonement and it could be that none of this even bothers these men.<br />
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All I can do is hope more people will feel the truth and see how false this message is. I believe that someday we will move past hate, and even past tolerance, and past acceptance, into a real and complete love of each other, for all our similarities <i>and</i> our differences! And I think this message of fear from President Packer is just the sort of vehicle to bring about some of that change! I have faith that at least some people will instinctively want to move away from this message of division and fear, and find something that feels closer to God, without the strings of fear and brainwashing attached. And what a wonderful thing it is, when we start our quest for a higher truth! Some beautiful journeys have just begun!RachelWritinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316732652272212480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972917051623383156.post-12649482615739079372010-09-21T12:13:00.000-06:002010-09-21T12:13:26.395-06:00Current ProjectsI know I haven't posted on here in a while. Either that means "my crazy life" just isn't quite crazy enough to be post-worthy, or it's too crazy to get around to posting. I'm not sure which. But I AM writing regularly these days and if you'd like to follow me there, you can check it out <a href="http://reality-rachel.blogspot.com/">here</a>. Right now I'm covering the current season of Dancing With The Stars and having a great time. I've got bigger plans so I'll keep you posted as things develop!RachelWritinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316732652272212480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972917051623383156.post-58987472649351207542010-09-03T14:28:00.000-06:002010-09-03T14:29:11.132-06:00Is God part of The Grand Design?In "The Grand Design," by eminent British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking and U.S. physicist Leonard Mlodinow, Hawking asserts that a new series of theories makes a creator of the universe redundant, according to the Times newspaper which published extracts on Thursday.<br /><br />"Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing. Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing, why the universe exists, why we exist," Hawking writes.<br /><br />"It is not necessary to invoke God to light the blue touch paper and set the universe going."<br /><br />He refers to the 1992 discovery of a planet orbiting a star other than our sun when discussing the possibility of a creator. "That makes the coincidences of our planetary conditions -- the single Sun, the lucky combination of Earth-Sun distance and solar mass, far less remarkable, and far less compelling evidence that the Earth was carefully designed just to please us human beings,"<br /><br />These simple elegant statements are opening my mind up wide. I'm getting more and more Atheist by the minute! Hahaha Okay not exactly. But I am more and more comfortable letting go of the idea of a father/God figure, so similar to the Mormon God I was raised with. And stated so simply, it is all so clear to me that there was no need for a God in the creation of the universe. I never bought the "created in 7 days/6000 year old universe" theory, and I never bought the premise that God zapped Adam & Eve into being like magic. I was always much more comfortable with the idea that God worked with the laws of science & nature to facilitate the creation of our world over time. But this was an unexamined premise that only lived vaguely in my mind. And when I do examine it more closely, things don't fit together quite right. If God existed before anything, out in the ether of space, floating in the darkness, and God created all the universe... well then we aren't on the same evolutionary path and we'll never progress to where God is now. And that just doesn't feel true to me. I don't know, but I feel the rightness of the idea that we continually evolve and progress. There may or may not be a god in some form or another. I definitely don't think there is an old man, clothed in white robes, watching over us all, keeping a tally of our good and bad choices every second of every day. And while it feels like my beliefs have been unconsciously drifting this way for some time, bringing these thoughts into the light now, I definitely agree more and more that is is unlikely a supreme being set the creation of the universe in motion. What do you think?RachelWritinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316732652272212480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972917051623383156.post-50319620791170638912010-04-09T23:48:00.002-06:002010-04-10T00:10:30.323-06:00TV ManiaInspired by <A href="http://joyiseverywhere.wordpress.com/2010/03/29/listography-television-shows-i-am-currently-hooked-on/">Sus</a> I thought I'd throw a little blog out there - something simple. A list of the TV shows I'm currently hooked on.<br /><br />Dancing With The Stars<br />Dexter<br />Flashforward<br />Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution<br />Nurse Jackie<br />Secret Diary of a Call Girl<br />The Tudors<br />United States of Tara<br />Weeds<br />Who Do You Think You AreRachelWritinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316732652272212480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972917051623383156.post-33927309481633760512010-01-01T22:00:00.000-07:002010-01-02T10:05:43.507-07:002010: The Year of MiraclesThis week my husband and I are starting a 10 week seminar to continue the work we started in our Landmark Forum. Landmark was pretty amazing for me, simply because it helped me open my eyes about all the non personal things I was taking personally (Okay that's a super-simplification, but all the same, it was great for me.)<br /><br />The seminar leader told me last fall that he is calling 2010 the year of miracles. I could use some miracles this year! I see amazing things coming our way this year, really. But I definitely have some work to do. So in the spirit of the new year, I've decided to reevaluate the tasks I refuse to compromise on, as well as set a couple new goals to work on.<br /><br />The last time I reevaluated my tasks, I came up with these three: Listen to my Seed Capital CDs (a set of instructional discs I really needed to listen to), workout on my lunch break and update the wiki my ex-husband and I use to communicate regarding our sons homeschool progress. I had set a standard for myself that I would be bigger than any of my reasons or excuses and do each of those things every single work-day. And my goals served me very well. Until I left eBay in November, I was very good about keeping my commitments. But now that I've finished the CDs (several times) and am no longer at eBay, I think they need a little retooling.<br /><br />So what am I going to be unreasonable about now? What will I do each day no matter what kind of small reason (read: excuses excuses) comes to mind? Well, my larger goals tend to influence my daily tasks since I like to look at the overall things I want to accomplish, then break them down by what I need to do each day in order to reach my goals.<br /><br />So what are my big-picture goals? Hm... that's a good question. <br />I'm in the middle of my clutter-purging project, so it would be great to get the main floor of my house done in the near future. It would also be nice to have all the walls painted. Right now, we have a room here or there done, but completion would be awesome.<br /><br />I still have my book half done. And of course it's not going to finish itself!<br /><br />We started a new school curriculum late this year so we will likely finish in mid-July unless I can really steam through all this material with Dante. That includes not missing any available school days, not having any "light" days with fewer lessons, and skipping anything optional or redundant. Dante's language arts skills are a bit below where they could be so he tested into LA4 instead of LA5 (he's in 5th grade this year). But that means, while a lot of it is new to him, several of the lessons are on things he already knows. So we should be able to complete the rest of it in time for his summer break if I can keep us on task all year.<br /><br />To clean up our house, we broke it down into small sections and assigned one section to be cleaned and organized each day. A shelf, a table, a dresser drawer etc. So Anthony and I are going to do the same for the main floor - split it into manageable portions and do them one day at a time. Sometimes it's hard to just keep up with the regular dishes, laundry, toys etc that need picking up each day, but I'm going to give up all my reasons and excuses and make sure the one assigned extra thing gets done each day. Before March, my house will be ready for painting.<br /><br />I'm going to write 20 minutes every day, no excuses.<br /><br />I'm going to be uncompromising on our school lessons each day. If the lesson is scheduled, it will be completed. By mid-June we'll have well over 80% completed and can easily move on to the next levels in the fall He's starting 6th grade math this month already so that's one I don't need to worry about, and Science and History are on track - I just wish there was a way to catch him up in his LA courses... I'll continue to think on that but at least we can ensure that despite our late start last fall, he will be ready for summer break on time!<br /><br />I also want to join my husband in one of his goals. He exercises with Dante a lot of days but we also do yoga pretty regularly and I think any night he does yoga, I'll join him in that. It's good for me and I love it.<br /><br />Also, there are a couple of social events my BFF and I have begun to organize pretty regularly and I'd really like to continue with those. So I want to commit to continuing the monthly dinner-party we've been hosting over here, as well as organizing the next of our Mutual Facebook Friends Girls Brunch. It seemed kind of a trivial goal to me at first, but I am naturally a homebody and pushing myself to spend time with my larger social circle is really good for me emotionally.<br /><br />It really is going to take a small miracle to get my closet cleaned out, but I'm ready for the challenge! <br /><br />So here's my list:<br /><blockquote>1. Complete 1 task beyond the usual house-cleaning chores each day.<br />2. Write 20 minutes on my manuscript each day.<br />3. Complete each days scheduled lessons in History, Science and Language Arts.<br />4. Join Anthony for Yoga.<br />5. Continue to organize a dinner party each month and plan our brunches for January April, July and October.</blockquote><br /><br />There are some things that may seem to be missing from my list. For instance: we wanted to move out of this house a while ago but things seem to be moving more slowly than we would like and at this point it feels more reasonable to work at being ready to move (all this house cleaning and painting is really a step in that direction) and just take it when it comes.<br /><br />It's going to be a good year!!!RachelWritinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316732652272212480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972917051623383156.post-5496736670873727782009-04-16T08:16:00.000-06:002009-04-16T08:16:42.525-06:00Is That The Mouth You Kiss Your Mother With?My mommy made the most awesome dinner last night: Garlic steamed spinach greens, lemon & walnut rice pilaf and almond crusted chicken breasts. Oh it was so yummy. Later we had a little conversation about it on Skype and since I've been such a blogging deadbeat latly, I thought I'd take the easy road and share the amusement here for all to enjoy!<br /><br /><blockquote><span style="color:#ff1493;">Wonder-Rachel says</span>: Noah still has spinach in his mouth.<br /><span style="color:#8fbc8f;">Pastry Mama says</span>: OMG!<br /><span style="color:#ff1493;">Wonder-Rachel says</span>: I bet Kristiina and Mummu would like the lemon & walnut rice pilaf...<br /><span style="color:#8fbc8f;">Pastry Mama says</span>: yeah - probably......<br /><span style="color:#8fbc8f;">Pastry Mama says</span>: and Mummu would probably like it with the brown rice that is called for.<br /><span style="color:#ff1493;">Wonder-Rachel says</span>: Yep<br /><span style="color:#ff1493;">Wonder-Rachel says</span>: She loves all that shit.<br /><span style="color:#8fbc8f;">Pastry Mama says</span>: are you calling brown rice, shit?<br /><span style="color:#ff1493;">Wonder-Rachel says</span>: Only in the sense that anything that is a noun is in peril of being called shit by me at some point, yes.<br /><span style="color:#8fbc8f;">Pastry Mama says</span>: LMMFAO</blockquote>RachelWritinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316732652272212480noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972917051623383156.post-65972940309770120412009-03-29T09:58:00.004-06:002009-03-29T10:07:29.432-06:00Why I Hate The Snow (F words involved)FUCK! I never should have posted <a href="http://wonder-rachel-my-life.blogspot.com/2009/03/why-i-dont-always-hate-snow.html">yesterday</a> and now the universe is punishing me!<br /><br />Would you like to know the next weeks forecast?<br />Today: Blowing <b>Snow</b><br />Monday: <b>Snow</b> Showers<br />Tuesday: Chance of <b>Snow</b><br />Wednesday: Chance of <b>Snow</b><br />Thursday: Rain and <b>Snow</b><br />Friday: Rain and <b>Snow</b><br />Saturday: Rain and <b>Snow</b><br /><br />Reason number <i>whatever</i> why I <b>hate the snow</b>: Because snow's a <i>fucking bitch</i> with a sick sense of humor! Gr.RachelWritinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316732652272212480noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972917051623383156.post-61099401887644494092009-03-28T20:02:00.000-06:002009-03-28T20:16:27.522-06:00Why I (don't always) Hate The SnowThere are <b>exactly 2</b> times I like snow. If snow comes in any other forms I curse it with the mouth of the foulest sailor and I despise it with all my heart.<br /><br />One form of acceptable snow is only possible on one day each year. This is obviously Christmas snow. Despite my issues with Christmas, I still celebrate and <i>even I</i> would rather it be white.<br /><br />The second form of acceptable snow came today in Salt Lake City <small>and some may say isn't actually snow in the way I seem to be saying, but let me remind you this is my blog and I can say whatever I want</small>. Today it was 60 degrees. The sky was a beautiful blue backdrop, the sun was shining, and the mountains jutted into the air: dark and jagged, dusted with crisp white snow <small>the only place snow stays white</small>. And I was driving: windows down, t-shirt on, radio blasting <small>my favorite way to drive</small><br /><br />Now I have to post this so I can shut everything down for Earth Hour! :)RachelWritinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316732652272212480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972917051623383156.post-3239222809825857752009-03-18T13:52:00.002-06:002009-03-18T13:58:59.347-06:00Happy Birthday to MeSo I'm beginning to question my sanity after agreeing to do this 50,000 word writing project in March. My boys turned 10 and 2 this week and today I'm 32! You have no idea how many birthday cakes are being baked in this house this week! But I'm pressing on and it's going well. I'm behind but not too badly.<br />I thought I shouldn't let my birthday go by without posting - even though there's no way I can actually crank out a meaningful post today! I will tell you though that I have several blogs in me, waiting to get out:<br /><blockquote>1. The story of Bear and the cream of coconut<br />2. The story of Bear and the toilet swim.<br />3. The coconut cream tart escapade (boy am I glad I didn't do those, only helped a little),<br />and of course<br />4. Stuff about all the birthdays this month!</blockquote> <br />So there you have it. Now I have to get my kid to piano lessons and get going on all this birthday cake baking! I'll be back in April!RachelWritinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316732652272212480noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972917051623383156.post-20724686371934606242009-03-07T01:27:00.002-07:002009-03-08T01:05:53.766-07:00A Dream So RealSome of you may know my sister invited me to join her in National Novel Writing Month (four months after the fact) and I agreed to also write a 50,000 word novel by the end of March. It's been an interesting beginning, I'm very optimistic, and only a tiny bit behind so far.<br /><br />But I've decided a good way to be a little more accountable for my writing is to do as my sister is doing and update my blog daily with a word count of how much I'm writing. Please ask me how it's going, check for updates etc. I need the encouragement.<br /><br />3/1: goal-1670 actual-1774<br />3/2: goal-1670 actual-1708<br />3/3: goal-1670 actual-634<br />3/4: goal-1670 actual-0<br />3/5: goal-1670 actual-0<br />3/6: goal-1670 actual-4226<br />3/7: goal-1670 actual-1020<br /><br />week 1: goal-11,690 actual-9362RachelWritinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316732652272212480noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972917051623383156.post-25993590629453222252009-02-24T12:56:00.002-07:002009-02-24T13:26:39.239-07:00Busted StuffI'm learning as I go. It would be nice if we could learn our life lessons without having to deal with the broken mess we make along the way... but I guess that's how we benefit from all this mess in the first place is when we have to deal with it.<br /><br /> Last week I had a brief and ugly exchange with someone I used to be related to. It wasn't something I'm particularly proud of, even though I still feel I handled things fairly well. Even feeling I had a right to stir the pot I stirred in response to a slight at me, I can admit there are aspects I would have changed. But if that was it, the whole thing would be forgotten by now.<br /><br /> Here's what's still got me chewing my cheek over this: Here we are in this messy life, all jumbled up together, loving and hating each other. So when something goes on between two people, wouldn't it be wonderful if it was just between the two of you? But it never is. Because we're all tied in together, we're all involved in it all. When we say and do things to someone, we say and do them to the other people who make up that portion of the web of our lives. And the things we might not regret saying, we end up regretting anyway. I may have lost another piece of my family this week.<p><center><img src="http://photos-h.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v1977/165/18/1049081222/n1049081222_303639_8330.jpg"></center><p>RachelWritinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316732652272212480noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972917051623383156.post-22829220143522097842009-02-18T10:05:00.000-07:002009-02-18T10:06:06.422-07:00Weight of the WorldBeing a writer <small>this is a classification I've come to believe comes from within, as opposed to resulting from any job description</small>, having a story inside, trying to free itself onto the paper, wanting with a life of it's own to come out into daylight feels like an obligation. I don't just <i>want</i> to write my stories, I <i>need</i> to write them.<br /><br />Some stories press harder at the edges of our unconscious, desperate to come to life. I think the biggest stories are the ones that come from our own experiences, our own trials and suffering - the things we know about most intimately from our own past. I think these stories need to be told. As writers, we need to give these stories life, almost like children. It's compelling, cathartic, educational. I have so many stories in my head and heart waiting to get out and of course publication is a future goal, but completion must come first.<br /><br />A friend of a friend has reached that stage. She's completed her story. I'm sure the journey was healing and illuminating and insightful for her already. But what real writer would want to stop there? Of course as I said, we strive for publication. The true birth of that baby we've nurtured for so long. Her story is intense and compelling - the story of growing up in a home where Mom was only <i>sometimes</i>Mom. Sometimes she was someone else entirely. Reading her story, it was clear she had a heavy burden to bear. I've had my own heavy weights to carry in life, my own experiences with a mother who needed us as much as we needed her, my own story bubbling to the surface. So I know that need to bring it to life.<br /><br />Tiffany is ready to give her story to the world but needs to convince publishers that readers are interested in a story from a regular not-famous girl just like anyone else. So she's posted a little bio and the first two chapters on <a href="http://motherhadasecret.blogspot.com/">her blog</a>. Someday I'll be posting my own first chapter on my blog. What an exciting day that will be. I encourage you to go read her story - for your own enjoyment as well as to support another writer striving to finish her project! Go read and <b>leave a comment to show support</b>, post a link on your own blog encouraging others to have a look, and maybe she'll be able to get the whole book out! Finishing a book is a huge accomplishment that a lot of writers <small>yes even unpublished, you can be a writer</small> never reach! When one does hit this huge milestone, we should all rush to support and celebrate that achievement! Yay Tiffany - Congratulations and good luck!RachelWritinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316732652272212480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972917051623383156.post-77984053829430928202009-02-08T16:07:00.005-07:002009-02-09T00:17:00.460-07:00Remember Two Things<b>FIRST</b><span style="color:green;"><br />Last night I was sitting on my bed around 1am eating a Big Fat Steak Taco from Del Taco, dreading the moment I crawled into bed to go to sleep. Alone<br />It's strange since I slept alone for years in California and it was awesome. I loved it and really wondered if I could share my bed with Anthony when we moved in together. As much as I adore him, there was a moment in the beginning when I wondered if I could make a case for separate beds... But no more. I was not excited about going to bed alone. Probably mostly because I had no choice in the matter. When Anthony used to work Friday nights at Bricks I <i>loved</i> having those few hours in bed all by myself to really sprawl out and take up space. But sitting there on my bed facing the first of probably 4 nights apart, I didn't like the idea much. So I sat at the <i>end</i> of my bed <small>I never sit at the end of my bed - this is just plain strange for me</small> flipping through channels and landed for a minute on the show <b>Going on 17</b>.<br />Have you seen this show? Or one of it's predecessors? I can't remember what the show was called before but they have to keep changing it because Jim Bob & Michelle Duggar just keep having more babies!!! Well they were planning a float for the Christmas parade in this episode! And whadaya know? They want to do a live nativity! So they start building a little stable frame on a trailer, covering it, placing some bales of hay etc... They're going to tow it with this monstrous rock-band style tour bus they have. Someone gets the bright idea to decorate the bus with huge <i>Happy Birthday Jesus</i> banners and outline it all in Christmas lights! So they do this and at one point as Jim Bob is hooking up all the cords inside the bus, he starts to talk about the new low voltage, low heat LED lights they have this year and how much they spent on all the over 2000 lights, etc, and he said something that <i>really</i> got me thinking... Ready for it?<br /><i>The Duggar's are going green</i> he boasts as he tells of the lower energy usage of the LEDs etc.<br />And I'll tell you it blew my mind <small>even before considering the absurdity of that statement as a father trots in and out of his <i>huge tour bus</i> that he uses to haul his family <i>nineteen</i> around in.</small> Because in that moment I thought to myself: </span><blockquote><span style="color:green;">And what is the carbon footprint of a whole person that lives to old age? <small>or of <b>18 people</b> that live to old age - did I mention Michelle is pregnant again? In fact I don't think I've seen her NOT pregnant in a season unless you count the episodes where she gives birth!</small></span></blockquote><span style="color:green;"><br />I am <i>not</i> going to make any pronouncements about how many children someone should have. But I am going to say right here for the whole world, that the Duggars are <i>not</i> going green.<br /></span><p><br /><b>SECOND</b><span style="color:green;"><br />Because this sounds fun and I don't have enough on my plate already, I think I'll add some requisite crafts to my near future! Comment and get a prize! Just because I love my readers so much. :)<br />This comes from my pal <a href="http://joyiseverywhere.wordpress.com/2009/02/08/a-little-thank-you/">Sus</a> and I thought I'd see what I get from her and try my hand at a few projects myself.<br /><br />The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:<br /><br />1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!<br />2- What I create will be just for you.<br />3- It’ll be done this year. (might be a little while)<br />4- You have no clue what it’s going to be. It may be a story. It may be poetry. I may draw or paint something. I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that’s for sure!<br />5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange. <br /><br />The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must re post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog.<br /><br />The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!<br /><br />And since a lot of my readers are non-bloggers... the first 5 non-blogger comments will also get something.<br />Wow. Did I just double my commitment? Oops. :)</span><br /></p>RachelWritinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316732652272212480noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972917051623383156.post-8181505061898049032009-02-06T14:27:00.005-07:002009-02-06T17:37:37.176-07:00Deed Is DoneSo I got tagged in a little housekeeping photo-blog yesterday by my friend <a href="http://joyiseverywhere.wordpress.com/">Sus</a>. Lucky for me I didn't catch up on my reading and see it till this afternoon! Noah has been sick & needy for three days so my house is kind of a mess. But again, lucky for me, last night was my night off and I did a couple dishes! lol So I have taken the pictures, the deed is done. Now I shall post them here and then you can be sure I'll spread the love. Hehehe<p>The rules are to take the pictures just as they are right now. If I'd had creamer for coffee today I'd have taken pictures of an unmade bed and a girl in PJs.<br /><br /><b>1. My Kids</b><br /></p><center><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3332/3258912952_aa3e700e40.jpg?v=0" /></center><br />Like I said Noah is sick so he's a little cranky and just wants to watch Playhouse Disney shows on DVR. Dante is taking an afternoon break from his school work to keep him company while I take pictures. <small>Yep Noah is clutching a mini-Mater in his hand. He Looooves Mater.</small><p><br /><br /><b>2. My Closet</b><br /></p><center><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3350/3258912968_8cea3c5d59.jpg?v=1233950997" /> <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3388/3258938048_2687f6f87a.jpg?v=1233951819" /></center><br />My closet can only be seen in halves so here they are. I need more hangers. Most are holding two or more shirts each! <small>Do you know what this many visible hanger ends says? It says <i>We are all sleeveless shirts and we belong in California or Las Vegas!</i></small><p><br /><br /><b>3. My Favorite Shoes</b><br /></p><center><img src="http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1283/9419668/20672089/353928316.jpg" /></center><br />This is SO hard. I'm a girl - I love <i>love <b>love</b></i> shoes. But of the dozens I own, the "favorites" are probably at the top of the heap so let's have a look. You can see my Sketchers slip ons <small>the third pair I've owned and loved since nursing school</small>, a pair of black leather lace-up boots <small>I got these from the Gap over 10 years ago and wear them all the time</small>, my silver dancing shoes <small>HAHAHA Where did <i>those</i> crawl out from! I don't <i>know</i> the last time I went dancing LOL</small>, my tiny thin flip-flops <small>these feel like I'm not even wearing shoes</small>, my memory-foam slippers <small>since I teach and work at home, I wear slippers a <i>lot</i>.</small><p><br /><br /><b>4. My Kitchen Sink</b><br /></p><center><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3432/3258875148_bb26836209.jpg?v=0" /></center><br />I'm just lucky it doesn't ask for a picture of the oven range <small>dirty</small> or the kitchen counter <small>a few more dirty dishes than in the sink</small>!<p><br /><br /><b>5. My Fridge</b><br /></p><center><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3298/3258839612_7b12c96545.jpg?v=1233949056" /></center><br />We have no light in our fridge. We replace the bulb and it burns out <small>sounds like a bigger problem than just the bulb to me... I'm hoping for a new fridge in the next year</small>! But with the flash on my camera you can see it all amazingly well. I should just take pictures whenever I want to see what we have!<p><br /><br /><b>6. My Laundry Room</b><br /></p><center><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3358/3258875064_b25328a562.jpg?v=0" /></center><br />as I've said <a href="http://wonder-rachel-my-life.blogspot.com/2008/11/why-i-hate-snow.html">before</a>, hubby does the laundry more than I do so it's all his doing that this room isn't a complete wreck!<p><br /><br /><b>7. My Favorite Room</b><br /></p><center><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3099/3258212873_3301deed47.jpg?v=0" /></center><br />That's the bedroom hands down. I've always loved my room best. And lets face it: all the best things happen in the bedroom anyway!<p><br /><br /><b>8. Self Portrait</b><br /></p><center><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3413/3258212869_de519f1907.jpg?v=1233955202" /></center><p><br /><br />So I'm gonna tag my friend Val! Let's see it Val. Get out that camera and take some pictures. xoRachelWritinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316732652272212480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972917051623383156.post-23169305708439767042009-02-04T09:44:00.001-07:002009-02-04T09:49:16.916-07:00So Wonder-Rachel... tell us about Mr. Right.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylGWGc1BsvW0mzpsci8DxqUSkVgwyAXqOEp1YchPtNTLfKsGrOco5zDaiXJjJ-o_SqPfdTsttH1CHWTw8A9xt3Lyy8maeVdGuq763DQs2kevV8gOMiivNNld8LTniD1RnznmWUQUnEl4/s1600-h/Key2myHeart.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylGWGc1BsvW0mzpsci8DxqUSkVgwyAXqOEp1YchPtNTLfKsGrOco5zDaiXJjJ-o_SqPfdTsttH1CHWTw8A9xt3Lyy8maeVdGuq763DQs2kevV8gOMiivNNld8LTniD1RnznmWUQUnEl4/s320/Key2myHeart.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298860045936545058" border="0" /></a>I got this fun Meme from my cousin at <a href="http://belcantomom.blogspot.com/">her blog</a>:<br><br /><span style="color:#663300;">Where did the two of you meet?</span><br /><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(219, 112, 147);">We met at <a href="http://www.theobt.com/">The Off Broadway Theater</a> when he was performing in Quick Wits, their original improv-comedy show.</span></blockquote><br /><span style="color:#663300;">What was the first thought that went through your head when you first met him?</span><br /><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(219, 112, 147);">Wow. He is <i>so</i> cute! Oh he's looking at me! <small>smiles</small> And oh my gosh now he's coming over here - I think he's going to talk to me!!!</span></blockquote><br /><span style="color:#663300;">Do you remember what he was wearing?</span><br /><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(219, 112, 147);">Nope. But I remember one thing I saw him in a lot in those days: his black GAP polo shirt - his uniform for bar-backing at Bricks. And I thought he looked so sexy in black.</span></blockquote><br /><span style="color:#663300;">Where did you go for your first date?</span><br /><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(219, 112, 147);">We had a late dinner at the Applebee's in Taylorsville on Redwood Road. He waited tables there at the time.</span></blockquote><br /><span style="color:#663300;">Where was the first time you kissed?</span><br /><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(219, 112, 147);">I don't remember our first kiss. It was 13 years ago and it's a little fuzzy. I do remember I wouldn't kiss him till I had broken things off with my boyfriend. <small>Yes, I was seeing someone else that night our eyes locked in the lobby of The OBT. And said significant other was out of town so there was waiting involved!</small> But the significant kiss I <i>do</i> remember is the kiss we shared about 5 years ago. After breaking up and going our separate ways almost nine years earlier, I looked him up when I was in town visiting family at easter and we met for coffee. Sitting in his jeep in a parking structure near Starbucks, we kissed just a little. He smelled the same as I remembered and I was smitten all over again.</span></blockquote><br /><span style="color:#663300;">When was the first time you realized you liked him?</span><br /><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(219, 112, 147);">Oh the first time I spent any time talking to him I knew I liked him. He's intelligent and funny and entertaining and inclusive... I liked him right off.</span></blockquote><br /><span style="color:#663300;">How long did you know him before you became a couple?</span><br /><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(219, 112, 147);">Well I guess I only knew him a few days before we started dating but we never really defined it as an exclusive relationship back in '95. Then all those years later we were seeing each other but living in different states so we weren't really a "couple" then either. I guess I would say the Las Vegas trip in Spring of 2004 was the defining moment. We had planned a weekend in Vegas since it was a good half-way point and he had friends going that particular weekend. When I got to his hotel room he pulled me inside and we commenced reunion kissing. At one point when we were pausing for air he just beamed at me and said "I love you." and at that point we decided it was kind of silly to pretend we weren't a madly-in-love-couple any longer. So I guess it was several years.</span></blockquote><br /><span style="color:#663300;">How did he propose to you?</span><br /><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(219, 112, 147);">It was so romantic. I was seriously stressed, dealing with my ex and co-parenting our son. Anthony took me out for a drive the day <i>after</i> Valentines Day <small>I <i>love</i> that part</small>. We ended up in the parking lot at the base of the trail up Mt. Olympus <small>an old make-out spot for us way back in '95</small>. It was quiet, dark, snowing, we got out to look at the lights and he pulled out a ring. It was perfect.</span></blockquote><br /><span style="color:#663300;">Do you have kids together?</span><br /><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(219, 112, 147);">Yep, we've got the toddler-tornado, and we do a pretty damn good job parenting Dante together as well.</span></blockquote><br /><span style="color:#663300;">Have you ever broken the law together?</span><br /><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(219, 112, 147);">Yes.</span></blockquote><br /><span style="color:#663300;">Do you trust him?</span><br /><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(219, 112, 147);">More than I trust myself</span></blockquote><br /><span style="color:#663300;">Do you see him as your partner in your future?</span><br /><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(219, 112, 147);">Absolutely.</span></blockquote><br /><span style="color:#663300;">What is the best gift he gave you?</span><br /><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(219, 112, 147);">It's a toss up between Noah and his patience & understanding. <small>Yes, seriously I am <i>that</i> difficult to deal with!</small></span></blockquote><br /><span style="color:#663300;">What is one thing he does that gets on your nerves?</span><br /><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(219, 112, 147);">There's really so little... I'm sure he could come up with a long list of character flaws for me <small>actually he <i>should</i> be able to come up with such a list but he probably couldn't (see previous answer)</small>, but I can only think of how he bounces his leg all the time. It bugs me when we're at our computers in the loft since it shakes the floor and feels like an earthquake, or if we're sitting next to each other it vibrates me. It's pretty trivial though! lol</span></blockquote><br /><span style="color:#663300;">Where do you see each other 15 years from now?</span><br /><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(219, 112, 147);">15 years from now we'll still be seeing each other in bed quite often. <small>Hehehehehe</small></span></blockquote><br /><span style="color:#663300;">What causes the most arguments?</span><br /><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(219, 112, 147);">My short temper, hands down.</span></blockquote><br /><span style="color:#663300;">How long have you been together?</span><br /><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(219, 112, 147);">Such a tough question! I guess about five years if we don't count the mad crazy romance right after I graduated, and the 9 years apart in between...</span></blockquote><br /><span style="color:#663300;">Who Do you Tag?</span><br /><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(219, 112, 147);">Oh lets see...<br />Well <a href="http://markedanthony.blogspot.com/">Mr. Right</a> of course... And how about my pal <a href="http://joyiseverywhere.wordpress.com/">Susan</a> if she's got the time in her busy mommy life... and maybe <a href="http://www.startswithanx.com/">X</a> wants to get personal... I'd love to hear how my sister Melanie met her husband since I wasn't around for it <small>but her blog is private so you can't see it</small>, I know absolutely nothing about <a href="http://rants2revelations.blogspot.com/">NUGO</a>'s relationship, being as we're online-only buddies... and last but not least, I like this kind of story since I'm a hopeless romantic so I tag anyone else who reads this & wants to play! :)</span></blockquote>RachelWritinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316732652272212480noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972917051623383156.post-38016228807963473502009-02-02T13:14:00.001-07:002009-02-03T09:12:21.281-07:00The Space Between<span style="color:#191970;">I have this pink ceramic box that's shaped like a book. I keep spare change, a special necklace that's broken, my debit card, Drivers license, Costco card, Library card etc., scraps of paper, receipts, hair bands... It sits on a bookshelf by my bed. I came into my room and didn't notice it was missing, but I noticed <i>Noah</i> was missing. I looked around and didn't see him right away. Then the curtains at our sliding glass door rippled. Our bed sits about 15 inches in front of the doors and Noah loves to pace round & round the room going behind our bed in his circuit. So rather than walking around to see if he was behind the curtains as we usually do when he hides, I peeked straight over and behind the headboard - what do you think I saw?<br /><center><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3117/3176166808_42ab5a753d.jpg?v=0" /></center><br />Noah had somehow snagged it off the shelf and was checking out the contents behind my bed! As soon as he realized he'd been spotted he made a break for the open spaces of the bedroom but I cut him off. Still he was clearly very pleased with himself.</span><br /><center><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3536/3175332555_0e83e99824.jpg?v=0" /></center>RachelWritinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316732652272212480noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972917051623383156.post-14302751639745054602009-01-31T11:29:00.005-07:002009-02-01T00:15:28.165-07:00Someone somewhere is sitting on a giant pile of money...I saw this today while reading a comment on an archived post in my cousins blog <a href="http://belcantomom.blogspot.com/">The Profound Thoughts of a Frivolous Mind</a>. "Don't you feel like someone somewhere is sitting on a giant pile of money?" This was in reference to dealing with insurance companies. And I would agree that there are some Insurance top-dogs that are surely hoarding the cash. This economy seems to be killing everybody. We're all in the same boat and we're all feeling it. Oh except for some. And I found out yesterday who is sitting on the biggest pile of OUR money...<br /><br />Exxon Mobil Corp.<br /><br />Yes, you can read all about it at Yahoo News or anywhere else I'm sure. Here it is: <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090130/ap_on_bi_ge/earns_exxon_mobil">Exxon Mobil Corp. on Friday reported a profit of $45.2 billion for 2008, breaking its own record for a U.S. company...</a> So the record for the most a US company has EVER made in a year was just set by Exxon Mobil, pushing the old record down to the number two slot - old record ALSO set by Exxon Mobil.<br /><br />Am I allowed to say "Greedy fucking bastards" on the radio? No? Well I guess it's good I'm not on the radio anymore and this is my blog huh? Because that's exactly how I feel about Exxon Mobil right now.<br /><br />And lets not forget about credit card companies either. I have only SLIGHTLY less disgust for them, and this is only because I myself (<small>we can't include the few small credit cards I married in this statement</small>) have no credit card debt and haven't for several years. Here they are screaming & crying for bailout money. Federal interest rates are at record lows and credit card companies are charging record high interest rates. Now that federal interest rates have dropped, do you think card rates will go down? Don't bet on it. Do you think they'll lower rates when they get all that sweet bailout cash? Don't bet on it.<br /><br />I can think of quite a few people that are sitting on huge piles of money.RachelWritinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316732652272212480noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972917051623383156.post-62159576627778661062009-01-23T16:32:00.003-07:002009-01-23T16:39:14.102-07:00Who knew Showtime would eventually bring polygamy back in vogue?<span style="color:black;"><a href="http://www.startswithanx.com/">X</a> has been kind enough to pass on five fun and thought provoking questions so that I may entertain all you readers with something other than pictures of my munchkins, ramblings about my writing project and unprovoked political diatribes. This comes from my request after <a href="http://www.startswithanx.com/?p=427">her own revelations</a> last week - fun post, you should go take a look. For all interested in their own "Hey read all about me" interview questions, I would love to send you a few. Now here are my answers to five questions I never expected to answer!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(92, 64, 51);">1. If you became a polygamist tomorrow, who would you want your second wife to be and why?</span><br /><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(47, 79, 47);">I had to think about this one for days but when the answer came to me I thought "Oh duh. Why didn't I think of that sooner?" You think I'm about to say <a href="http://thesuperficial.com//bfm_gallery/2009/01/0122%20Alessandra%20Ambrosio/gallery_main/gallery_main-0122_alessandra_ambrosio_bikini_00.jpg">Alessandra Ambrosio</a> don't you? Well yeah, that would be one option... but I think I would go with my girl Cindy. Why? Because she's the closest I've had already to a female partner and I think we'd do better together than anyone else. I love her and think she's amazing. And maybe one of these days she'll actually come for a visit. And really that's as close as it would get to this strange polygamist fantasy. sigh</span></blockquote><span style="color: rgb(47, 79, 47);"></span><p><br /><span style="color: rgb(92, 64, 51);">2. What do you think happens when we die?</span><br /></p><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(47, 79, 47);">I am finally in a place in my life where I'm content to not know. It's a comfort that I <i>don't</i> hold to any hopes that may not come to be, especially after losing loved ones - I would hate to operate all my life under the assumption I would see my dad again and then be wrong.</span></blockquote><span style="color: rgb(47, 79, 47);"></span><p><br /><span style="color: rgb(92, 64, 51);">3. If you could bestow your children with one talent, what would it be?</span><br /></p><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(47, 79, 47);">I would make them charismatic communicators. Being able to speak to others, get your point across, sway opinions to align with your own... these skills are invaluable.</span></blockquote><span style="color: rgb(47, 79, 47);"></span><p><br /><span style="color: rgb(92, 64, 51);">4. When was the last time you felt true jealousy and what caused it?</span><br /></p><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(47, 79, 47);">Anthony and I had an understanding about the exclusivity (or lack of it) in our relationship early on while I was still living in Ventura. We were so far apart, it wasn't reasonable to be alone all the time. So I think the last time I felt real jealousy (not the kind I felt last week as my mother attended the presidential inauguration ceremony) was toward the end of that arrangement, right <i>before</i> we finally admitted to each other that we were more than just FwB's, were madly in love, and wanted to be together.</span></blockquote><span style="color: rgb(47, 79, 47);"></span><p><br /><span style="color: rgb(92, 64, 51);">5. If you could change just one thing about the Mormon religion, what would you change?</span><br /></p><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(47, 79, 47);">Okay there isn't one thing that if changed, would bring me back, so I had a hard time thinking what one thing could possibly be important to me at this point. Since I'm pretty live & let live... but then it came to me. I would only have them stop knocking on my door. :)</span></blockquote><span style="color: rgb(47, 79, 47);"></span><p><br /><span style="color:black;">****<br />Here are the meme details:<br />If you'd like to play along, just follow these instructions:<br />1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me." (And realize I might take a while to get back to you.)<br />2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions. (Eventually!)<br />3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions. Be sure you link back to the original post.<br />4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.<br />5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.</span></p>RachelWritinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316732652272212480noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972917051623383156.post-40348340064486934662009-01-20T16:59:00.003-07:002009-01-20T18:40:17.995-07:00My Experience at the inauguration of Barak ObamaThis post was guest written by my mother, Michele Bennett. I will return to post more after the envy-green fades & I can see enough to type again.<p><center><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3360/3214382094_f908748105.jpg?v=0"></center><p>Hello My Friends and Family!<br /><br />Through the serendipity of being related to a senator, I was able to score some tickets to the inauguration of our 44th president, Barak Obama. I realized that because I am currently living in this area, it was an opportunity that I might not have again and I should take advantage of this chance. Any inauguration is a moment in history, but this inauguration seemed like an especially pivotal moment, so I felt particularly compelled to make the effort to go.<br /><br />For those of you who don’t live here in the area of Washington DC, let me tell you – IT IS COLD! There had been predictions of the largest numbers of people ever to attend an inauguration, of extreme cold temperatures and of snafus in an aging and overcrowded public transit system (while at the same time almost forcing us to use this aging system because cars were not allowed in the downtown core). I toyed with the idea of spending the night at the spa where I work, so that I could avoid the metro system and just walk to the ceremonies, but I don’t sleep well in my own bed. Sleeping on a massage table was unappealing in the extreme. So, I decided that I would sleep at home and brave the transit system with the masses. I went to REI the day before to obtain some cold weather gear. (I know, you are all exclaiming that I come from the snow belt and should already be outfitted for the cold, but alas, I am not. And, somewhere in my move from Utah to Washington DC, I lost my gloves.) My trip to REI was strange. REI originated in the pacific northwest, so those of us from the west think of REI as the ultimate store for outdoor gear – complete with a rainroom to test out your wet weather gear. Many people here have never heard of REI and the store here is very small. But, those that have discovered REI had cleaned it out of all things made for cold weather. There were no hand & foot warmers left, no long underwear, and two pair of boots, neither of which were my size. So, I left the store with some new gloves (complete with liners) a hat, some over-the-knee socks and a couple of probars (sustenance for the long wait inside a perimeter without food available), and grateful that I found that much.<br /><br />I awoke to a weather report that said it was 9 degrees out and wouldn’t get much warmer when the sun came up. I do tend to be a little claustrophobic, so the thought of a crowded metro was a little daunting. I lay in bed at 5AM debating with myself. I could watch the ceremonies on TV. I didn’t really need to go out. It would be much warmer. For half an hour, this debate went around in my head. Finally, the argument that no one else in my family or circle of friends would be able to see this event won out and I dragged myself from my warm bed. I put on tights, long-johns, over-the-knee socks, pants, walking shoes, a sweater, a light quilted jacket, a heavy wool coat, a big scarf, a hat and gloves with liners and headed for the train. I felt like the small child in the movie “The Christmas Story” who is so bundled up that he can’t put his arms down. At 6:30 AM, the train was filled to capacity with a noisy group of cheerful and excited people all headed to watch history made. No one was sleeping. No one was complaining. All were grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the moment. When I arrived at Union Station, I headed toward the yellow security checkpoint. I had a yellow ticket and we were all assigned to our color-coded checkpoint. The line to get to the checkpoint was several blocks long but moved fairly well. With so many thousands of people moving through the line and all excited, we were all conversing with others in the line. I was standing near a young couple, just married talking about this – the first time they voted, their first time to witness an inauguration, their first time ever in Washington DC. It was so cold, but they had big furry parkas and were excited that they had tickets in the seated section. I began to inquire how they had been able to come by their tickets. The young man said “I’m an intern for Senator Bennett from Utah.” Turns out that they are from Logan and he is a senior at Utah State. What a small world it is. We shared some stories and the comraderie of the occasion. Once we were through the checkpoint, they went to their seats and I went toward mine. By the time we reached our seats, it was still only 10AM and we had over an hour before the ceremony started. I decided to take a few pictures. I went to a stairway to get higher to take some pictures, but since the only camera that I have is my cell phone, I got two pictures (attached to this email) before it wouldn’t work anymore (too many cell phones for towers to be able to handle all the service, so it just shut down). I headed back to my seat and realized that I had lost one of my gloves (yes – one of my newly purchased gloves – complete with liner). But, I still had one glove and the other hand stayed firmly in my pocket. We sat and visited with the people around us. Sitting in front of us was a cute family with two daughters, approximately 8 and 12. The 8-year-old was bouncy and happy to be there. The 12-year-old was not happy at all. For half an hour, she complained about the cold, about her parents forcing her to come out way too early, and that she wished that she were home. Her mother gently chided her about her complaining and her father tried to lighten things by taking pictures of the girls. He tried to get her to stop crying, saying that she wouldn’t want to be crying in the pictures, but she just explained that she would remember this as the “worst day of my life!” At one point, she turned around and looked at me, so I took the opening to say to her that someday – and in the not-too-distant future, she would be proud to brag to her friends and later to her children, that she was here at this particular event, whereupon, she gave me a very dirty look.<br /><br />Then the ceremony began. Aretha sang – sort of underwhelming. Then Nancy Pelosi, who conducted the ceremonies, introduced the “esteemed senator from Utah, Robert Bennett.” I of course cheered. I was the only one who did so and realized that everyone around me was staring, wondering who was this strange woman cheering for some republican senator from Utah. But, hey! He’s family. One must cheer! Senator Bennett then introduced the supreme court justice who administered the oath of office to Joseph Biden. Then there was a quartet, a piano, a violin, (Itzak Perhlman) a clarinet and a cello (Yo Yo Ma)! I was astonished that any of them could make their fingers work – and work so well in the cold. They did and it was astoundingly beautiful. Then it was time for Barak Obama to take the oath of office. The reverence was palpable. It was like being in church. The oath is 35 words, uttered by every president since George Washington said them for the very first time. After he gave his oath, he gave his address to the nation. What a truly inspiring orator! He called us to service. I haven’t been LDS for a very long time, but one of the things that I truly admire about the religion of my heritage is that it is founded on the cornerstone of service. This man, whom we now have as our president, is defined by his affirmation that we all have the opportunity and the responsibility to be of service, whether it is the fireman who charges into a burning building or the parent who nurtures and teaches a child. He demonstrated that impetus the day before his inauguration by spending the day in service. His wife was at a soup kitchen handing out meals and he was in his jeans and tennis shoes at a teen shelter, chatting with homeless and/or runaway teens while painting the shelter. One of the girls at the shelter made the comment that she hoped to be moving soon to a real house, and President Obama said “I’m moving tomorrow. It’s an old house.” So unassuming, yet so at ease in his ability to inspire – and he does inspire. He has inspired me and I have run into others who have never given a thought to volunteer for anything before, who are moved to volunteer, to do something – anything – to be of service to others.<br /><br />I left the ceremony in a crowd of people as we sang the National Anthem together. We all felt moved and inspired. We all felt as if we are truly bound together by hope and common purpose. We returned to Union Station to make our way home again. At the station, we decided to find a little lunch. So had thousands of others. There was almost no place to sit, so we invited an older woman who appeared to be alone to sit with us. She told us her story. She came from Detroit on a bus with others from her church. They had no tickets. They were so far back in the crowd that they couldn’t see or hear anything. Yet, they still felt blessed to have been here to bear witness to this moment in history. There was another young woman here with her three small children – one a two-month-old baby, who came here from Texas. She also had no tickets, and couldn’t see or hear anything, but felt compelled to be here. There were so many like that, who came from far away, just to be here, just to share the moment with others.<br /><br />Yesterday was Martin Luther King day. Dr. King said that he wished for his children that they be judged not for the color of their skin, but for the content of their character. I saw that take shape today. I was here. I was witness to it. I am blessed for having participated. <br /><br />I have attached two pictures – the only two that I was able to take before my phone shut down. But, you will get an idea of just how close I was. It was truly wonderful!<br /><br />Love and cheer to you all from Washington DC<br />Michele<p><center><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3325/3213538713_ac0df67d12.jpg?v=0"></center>RachelWritinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316732652272212480noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972917051623383156.post-69389421139257566992009-01-15T16:20:00.002-07:002009-01-16T16:37:57.656-07:00Gun Safety and GrandmaI wanted to get this posted in a timely manner since the questions I got are so pressing... <small>or maybe I'm stalling because I've hit a rough spot in my other writing.</small><br /><br /><a href="http://rants2revelations.blogspot.com/">OGUN </a> asks: Wonder-Rachel, what's the color of your favorite trigger-lock?<br /><blockquote>Well I guess the logical answer here would be pink. But I'm not really sure if a pink trigger-lock exists. And the trigger lock that came with my gun is blue. So I guess that's my favorite. Though thinking more about it, maybe blue should be my <span style="font-style:italic;">least </span>favorite trigger-lock color since I really hate mine and never use it. In fact, I couldn't even tell you where it is! The thing about trigger-locks is that if a kid monkeys with it enough or if it's not on just right, the gun can go off. This is why I bought a cable lock. It's black. The revolver chamber rolls fully out of place & the cable threads <span style="font-style:italic;">right down</span> the barrel - no chance in hell that baby's goin off.</blockquote><br /><br />And <a href="http://joyiseverywhere.wordpress.com/"> Sus</a> wanted to know: When can I hear some of that hot "Rachel Sings Whitney Houston" that I remember from so long ago? :)<br /><blockquote>Alas, now I only sing in the shower. If you want to come over & hop in sometime, I'll try to remember a few bars of <span style="font-style:italic;">The Children Are Our Future</span>. <a href="http://markedanthony.blogspot.com/">Anthony</a> was always trying to get me to sing Karaoke when we were dating (before my awesome eBay night job)but here's the thing: The last time I sang in public was the final of many recitals Grandma Stamm made me sing in. So I sang Mozart to friends, family, neighbors & strangers at countless recitals for years. Since then no one has been able to prevail upon me in quite the way that Grandma was capable, and I have never performed since - quite happily I might add. Now I sing at home and leave the public performance to my capable and willing cousins and as always, my beautiful & talented Grandmother.</blockquote><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wbo1Nmy3W7I&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wbo1Nmy3W7I&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />And that's all we have time for today folks.RachelWritinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316732652272212480noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972917051623383156.post-42615566252939741012009-01-13T23:06:00.004-07:002009-01-16T16:37:24.028-07:00Why are we here?<Small>Procrastinating Blogger Update: I have written almost two chapters (or possibly well over two chapters but I've still only broken it into two parts. hahaha). Perhaps, when it's all all done I'll put something up here.</Small><p>So back to business...<p>Why are we here indeed... <small>I'm sneaking up on you with this one because I already know the answer I'm going for here.</small><p>I'm wondering what we take with us when we shuffle off this mortal coil <small>see I'm feeling all authory so I'm throwing in cheesy quotes from my own fave</small>. I know I won't be taking the paintings on the walls <small>much as I love 'em</small>, or the awesome collection of baking pans I've been slowly amassing, or even my damn wedding ring! But does it matter that when I die I don't take the ring?<p>No.<p>Why?<p>Because I take the man.<p>No, I don't mean when I die I'm going to murderously haul my husband into the great unknown with me. I mean that in whatever form we find ourselves on the other side, I'll have the experience & enrichment of our relationship to take with me.<p>So why would we be here but to learn & grow and take as much as we can with us into the next phase/era/dimension/whatever? And how do we do that? By enriching our lives with as many personal and social relationships & interactions, by always striving to learn more and more <small>about whatever you want just as long as your mind is active</small>, by being open to anything new that comes your way <small>I'm not saying be accepting of everything, I'm just saying open to the possibilities</small>.<p>I think I'm feeling irritated by a glaring & recent lack in this department. I've been guilty in the past of neglecting personal relationships and have, in the recent past, tried very hard to be better about maintaining communication, being a better friend... It's hard for me. A combo of depression & busy life makes for days that fly by but I'm better than I was. So it surprises me when other people seem so unwilling to be friendly at all. Are you so selective in the people you speak to that I don't make the cut? <small>I hate to harp on it, but this feels seriously like it's because of that certain club I don't belong to. Hm.</small><p>Well, I think I've hit on something <small>besides the hot cocktail waitress at Fridays last weekend</small> with this idea that we're here to know people - as many people as we can know. It's just a thought I guess, but it seems to ring true and I've found that to be reliable for me.RachelWritinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316732652272212480noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972917051623383156.post-47914377734945934572009-01-12T11:08:00.008-07:002009-01-16T16:39:02.156-07:00Wafa Sultan interviews on Al Jazeera televisionI got a link to an interview shown recently on an Arab financed TV station in Dubai, Al Jazeera television. The woman is Wafa Sultan, an Arab-American psychologist from Los Angeles and I've included the link because her tone of voice and body language is wonderful - I recommend everyone watch it if possible. As well, the body language of her male colleague is very telling - he is so dismissive and condescending. <br /><a href="http://switch3.castup.net/cunet/gm.asp?ai=214&ar=1050wmv&ak">Arab TV Broadcast</a><br /><br />The clip has been edited - I think the interviewer may have said a few things that were taken out due to being repetitive or inconsequential once she made her reply. So it's mostly Wafa Sultan speaking about the clash between Western & Eastern culture and some back & forth with the obnoxious bearded turban guy who clearly will never agree with her.<br /><br />I've also included a transcript of her interview since popular opinion is that the clip from Arab TV won't be around for long. So I'm sorry if it's gone. I'm amazed at the things she says, and that they were broadcast on that station. I think it's something that needs to be said and needs to be heard. I admire her for saying it because this sort of logic is completely dismissed by eastern traditionalists when delivered by a westerner. Likely, it will be dismissed coming from her as well because she's "a heretic" as her condescending colleague points out. I respect her for saying what she says - she has every right to say it, coming from that heritage. I don't know that I have the right to be so outwardly critical, or would I then be making myself into what she criticizes when quoting her colleagues terms for us... But I do hope to always be an example to other humans in how I live & interact with my fellow man, and I am really at a loss as to how to be an ambassador to the Muslim nations at this point in time. How do you befriend someone that doesn't want to be your friend? (Gee, I feel like I know a little about that one, living here in Utah) I guess my approach would have to be an attempt to get rid of the "us & them" idea. But it's hard to be friends with isolationists. And this battle going on is serious, with no end in sight. There's no reason for those intent on making war to stop. The only thing that will change the situation is a shift in thinking. Hopefully with enough people speaking out, it will slowly occur.<br /><br /><blockquote><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wafa Sultan</span>: The clash we are witnessing around the world is not a clash of religions, or a clash of civilizations. It is a clash between two opposites, between two eras. It is a clash between a mentality that belongs to the Middle Ages and another mentality that belongs to the 21st century. It is a clash between civilization and backwardness, between the civilized and the primitive, between barbarity and rationality. It is a clash between freedom and oppression, between democracy and dictatorship. It is a clash between human rights, on the one hand,and the violation of these rights on the other hand. It is a clash between those who treat women like beasts, and those who treat them like human beings. What we see today is not a clash of civilizations. Civilizations do not clash, but compete. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Male Arab Muslim Interviewer</span>: I understand from your words that what is happening today is a clash between the culture of the West, and the backwardsness and ignorance of the Muslims?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wafa Sultan</span>: Yes, that is what I mean. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Interviewer</span>: Who came up with the concepts of a clash of civilizations? Was it not Samuel Huntington? It was not Bin Laden! I would like to discuss the issue if you don't mind...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wafa Sultan</span>: The Muslims are the ones who began using this expression. The Muslims are the ones who began the clash of civilizations. The prophet of Islam said: "I was ordered to fight the people until they believed in Allah and His Messenger." When the Muslims divided the people into Muslims and non-Muslims, and called to fight the others until they believe in what they themselves believe, they started this clash, and began this war. In order to stop this war, they must reexamine their Islamic books and curricula, which are full of calls for takfir and fighting the infidels. My colleague has said that he never offends other people's beliefs. What civilization on the face of the earth allows him to call other people by names they did not choose for themselves? Once, he calls them Ahl Al-Dhimma, another time he calls them "People of the Book," and yet another time he compares them to apes and pigs, or he calls the Christians "those who incur Allah's wrath." Who told you they are "People of the Book"? They are not the People of the Book, they are people of many books. All the useful scientific books that you have today are theirs, the fruit of their free and creative thinking. What gives you the right to call them "those who incur Allah's wrath," or "those who have gone astray," and then come here and say that your religion commands you to refrain from offending the beliefs of others? I am not a Christian, a Muslim, or a Jew. I am a secular human being. I do not believe in the supernatural, but I respect others' right to believe in it. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Male Arab Muslim Colleague she refers to</span>: Are you a heretic?... Are you a heretic?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wafa Sultan</span>: You can say whatever you like. I am a secular human being who does not believe in the supernatural...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Male Colleague</span>: If you are a heretic, there is no point in rebuking you, since you have blasphemed against Islam, the Prophet, and the Koran...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wafa Sultan</span>: These are personal matters that do no concern you! Brother, you can believe in stones as long as you don't throw them at me. You are free to worship whoever you want, but other peoples beliefs are not your concern, whether they believe that the Messiah is God, son of Mary, or that Satan is God, son of Mary. Let people have their beliefs. The Jews have come from the tragedy (of the Holocaust), and forced the world to respect them, with their knowledge, not with their terror, with their work, not their crying and yelling. Humanity owes most of the discoveries and science of the 19th and 20th centuries to Jewish scientists. 15 million people, scattered throughout the world, united and won their rights through work and knowledge. we have not seen a single Jew blow himself up in a German restaurant. We have not seen a single Jew destroy a church. We have not seen a single Jew protest by killing people. The Muslims have turned three Buddha statues into rubble. We have not seen a single Buddhist burn down a Mosque, kill a Muslim or burn down an embassy. Only Muslims defend their beliefs by burning down churches, killing people and destroying embassies. this path will not yield any results! The Muslims must ask themselves what they can do for humankind, before they demand that humankind respect them. </blockquote>RachelWritinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316732652272212480noreply@blogger.com1