My write in candidate

I HAVE DECIDED TO BECOME A WRITE-IN CANDIDATE.
HERE IS MY PLATFORM:
(1) 'Press 1 for English' is immediately banned. English is the official language-- speak it, or wait at the border until you can.
(2) We will immediately go into a two year isolationist posture to straighten out the country's attitude. NO imports,?NO exports.
We will use the 'Wal-Mart policy, 'If we ain't got it, you don't need it.'
(3) When imports are allowed, there will be a 100% import tax on them.
(4) All retired military personnel will be required to man one of our many observation towers on the southern border. (six month tour) They will be under strict orders not to fire on SOUTHBOUND aliens.
(5) Social security will immediately return to its original state. If you didn't put nuttin in, you ain't gettin nuttin out. The president nor any other politician will not be able to touch it.
(6) Welfare - Checks will be handed out on Fridays at the end of the 40-hour school week and the successful completion of a urinalysis test and a passing grade.
(7) Professional Athletes --Steroids - The FIRST time you check positive you're banned for life.
(8) Crime - We will adopt the Turkish method. The first time you steal, you lose your right hand. There are no more life sentences. If convicted, you will be put to death by the same method you chose for your victim--gun, knife, strangulation, etc.
(9) One export will be allowed; Wheat. The world needs to eat. A bushel of wheat will be the exact price of a barrel of oil.
(10) All foreign aid using American taxpayer money will immediately cease, and the saved money will pay off the national debt and ultimately lower taxes. When disasters occur around the world, we'll ask the American people if they want to donate to a disaster fund, and each citizen can make the decision whether it's a worthy cause.
(11) The Pledge of Allegiance will be said every day at school and every day in Congress.
(12) The National Anthem will be played at all appropriate ceremonies, sporting events, outings, etc.
Sorry if I stepped on anyone's toes but a vote for me will get you better than what you have, and better than what you're gonna get. Thanks for listening, and remember to write in my name on the ballot in November.
This is credited to Bill Cosby but I doubt its really him. I just liked some of the points.

What's in a name?

Funny Name Tag- Got this from my friend, Jody. Love her. Miss her. We should hang out soon. I love my TV newsanchor name and my Spy name the best!

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car)
Muffin Accord

2. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR'S NAME: ("The" + Your fave hobby/craft, fave
weather element + "Tour")
The Scrapbooking Sunshine Tour

3. YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie)
Cinnamoo Chips Ahoy

4. YOUR "FLY Guy/Girl" NAME: (first initial of first name, first
three letters of your last name)
A-Rob

5. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal)
Yellow Dog

6. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)
Catherine Salt Lake

7. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2
letters of your first)
Robam

8. SUPERHERO NAME: ("The" + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink)
The Yellow Milk

9. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers)
Allen Wilson (that works well!)

10. STRIPPER NAME: (the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent,
favorite candy)
Lovely Snickers

11. WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names )
Jeanne Wayne

12. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a
major city that starts with the same letter)
Phipps Philadelphia

13. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower)
Christmas Daisy

14. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing
right now + "ie" or "y")
Apple Sweatie

15. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree)
Toast Evergreen

Yep- that's my dad

A New Kind of Sugar

You know what I teach, right? Junior High. So keep that in mind as I relate my favorite jr high funny. My kids had a test today. We've been studying carbohydrates- complex and simples- which include starches and sugars. They had to match up the scientific sugar name with the "nickname." For example, glucose is commonly known as blood sugar.
I'm correcting tests and get to this Fill in the Blank sentence: _________ is the principle carbohydrate found in milk. It is also known as ________ sugar. Here's what my 9th grader wrote down: Lactose is the principle carbohydrate found in milk. It is also known as lactation sugar. (correct answer: Lactose is the principle carbohydrate found in milk. It is also known as milk sugar.)
I suppose if you think about lactation, there IS milk involved.....whatever. :)

Let's sing this one together

I had a fantastically unexpected treat this evening! My friend invited a few of us to a fireside where Sister Kristin Oaks was speaking. She was running a bit behind and we were all chatting while waiting for her. I asked a couple of my friends where they thought Elder Oaks was in the world on assignment and, of course, none of us knew. But less than 10 minutes later, here he comes, rushing into the chapel with a box full of something and sits himself down on the stand to await his wife who was coming in from the other side after speaking with the presiding Bishop. lol Needless to say, I was a little surprised to see him there!
Back to Sister Oaks- she was a delight! Honestly, you just want to take her home and have her follow you around and remind you of the wonderful things in the world. She gave such an inspiring talk about testimony and spoke of her testimony gloves, which you can find highlighted in this month's Friend.
But I have to relate my favorite story of the evening. She said last week in their ward the primary gave the program. A little girl was supposed to stand up and sing I am a Child of God. She started to sing and promptly started crying! The primary chorist, a tender older man, walk up beside her, put his arm around her and said "Let's sing this one together." She then related that to the Lord and how He sings together with us in our trials. Such a tender story.
The evening was simply delightful! She gave her husband some time to speak and he reminded us of the importance of constant learning. Not necessarily of worldly knowledge, but celestial knowledge.
The two of them together were so tender and cute. It was such a different light for Elder Oaks- I would dare say at some moments he was laughing harder than we were. I don't relate this so it can become church folklore somewhere but just because it was a great experience and I had to share!

Great Big Sea

Last summer some friends and I went to Seattle for a concert. Really I just went along for the ride to see places I've never seen. I'm a fan of that. Anyway, "we" drove there to see a group that calls themselves Great Big Sea. They were playing a benefit concert at the Seattle zoo. In the drive up there, I happened to finish Pres. Hickley's biography and didn't have anything to read. So Maryann hooked me on Twilight! I got so absorbed in the book, I read through the entire concert! lol Everyone is dancing around me and singing about Newfoundland folk songs and such.... there I sat, reading about Edward in the field of sunlight hahahahaha!
Anyway- fast forward to present day. My friend's birthday was this past week and to celebrate, we went to the Great Big Sea concert here! However, I did NOT take a book with me this time. I listened and was pleasantly surprised! I have to admit, I was not enthralled enough with them in Seattle to quit reading so I didn't. But for my friend's birthday? Gotta give it a shot. And they were good! Apparently they're HUGE in Canada! I really quite enjoyed myself and their mainstream music. So go check them out. They're new cd was just released and it sounds a little GooGoo Dolls (*sigh*).

The Fruit Stands

Here's one of the fruit stands I worked at this summer. A little sample of the fall harvest. I was at a stand today instead of the market- totally different vibe in both locations. I prefer the market. The pace is different- the people are different; but the cold is still the cold wherever you're at! :) I've thoroughly enjoyed my little job. I'll probably do it again next summer. I've learned so much- especially that I prefer Red Haven peaches to all others- even Albertas; that cherries are disgusting to sort; corn isn't just corn; you can't beat fresh peas and finally that heirloom tomatoes are divine! Thanks to Cari and Thayne!

Millcreek Canyon

I suppose I was feeling nostalgic today or something. I had visited both my sisters blogs and they had lovely fall pictures on them. It reminded me of when we were younger and my parents would "take us for a drive." Maybe I was thinking about it because it was conference and I swear we used to go inbetween sessions- probably remembering that wrong- but anyway, my mom would say "We're going for a drive just to get out of the house." *sigh* Just what a youngster wants to hear- let's go sit in a car for an indefinite amount of time with the entire family while your mother looks for chokecherries....it could take awhile but enjoy the scenery.

lol I have to laugh at myself because while I was sitting at work today, I thought "Hmm- wouldn't it be nice to go for a drive and enjoy the scenery. I wish I knew what chokecherries looked like although I wouldn't have the faintest clue what to do with them even if I did!" So I emailed my friends to see if any of them wanted to drive with me. and YES! Kris took the bait! The two of us drove up Millcreek Canyon tonight and took pictures of the leaves. It was beautiful, as always! I've always liked Millcreek Canyon the best because it reminds me of being a kid. My dad's family would come up from Texas and we'd have a picnic up the canyon. We'd play in the creek and eat and I just remember it as good times.

Anyway, on our way home, we stopped at Nordstrom for some hot chocolate- my favorite. I became addicted to their mint after working downtown. Kris actually mentioned that we weren't listening to Andy Williams so was this really the first official hot chocolate of the season? lol My sisters would be proud! It was a lovely evening and a great way to welcome fall!

Thanks for conference weekend!

My family usually gets together for conference weekend. My mother always had a huge spread and 5 tv's going, along with all the neighborhood kids we could fit into a house. There was bingo for everyone- back in the day when cards were laminated and kidney beans were tokens. As we got older, we had roommates and college friends come join us for those two weekends. It was quite a circus sometimes. But somehow there was always enough to go around...kind of like feeding the 5000. haha

Well, with the parentals across the ocean, Meg in some state I'm not supposed to mention and Herc in another place I probably shouldn't say, that kind of left me and Emi's family to carry on! without the rest of you. I spent the night at their house and learned Mariocart is harder than expected- especially the mine track. I learned that my neice and nephews have grown so much we can no longer fit the 4 of us in a self-portrait. And I also learned that I still love conference weekend because we all hear the same messages and are still together even miles apart. :)

Here's a few pics of me and the individual kids with our hats on ready to go visit great grandma!

Curious George gets curious again!

Gratitude

My sister, Meg, put something up on her blog the other day about being thankful for hot water. Her brand new water heater apparently went out and being in the woods of their new state, the water was 'refreshingly' cold. Anyway, you can go read her story about it- this is MY post. ;) lol She got me to thinking about all the things I'm grateful for in my life- things that may seem silly to you or whoever reads this thing- but things that make me grateful in my life, nonetheless. With that in mind, here's my grateful list for now:
1. My dear family- we all just take care of each other regardless of where we are in the world. circle the wagons- as my madre puts it.
2. All my favorite kids that have become part of my life because of what I do for a job- Alison, Derek, Meash, Riley, Spence, Kev, Jaycee, Carter, The entire Norton Family haha
3. Ceiling fans- thanks to Spence
4. My home- I may not get to travel anymore like I used to and I wish I had more money at times, but wow I have a cute place where people always say they love to come hang out
5. Knowing I'm a child of God- watching kids who don't know that or who walk away from it really helps me appreciate it all the more
6. My girlfriends- they get it
7. Being comfortable with me
8. All my neices and nephews spread all over the place :) I will just have to bring gum WITH me when I come visit.
9. New recipes for what to do with zucchini
10. Opening my windows and having fresh air through the house- ahh! nothing like it
11. Kool-aid and popcorn with a movie
That'll have to do for now :)