Crazy Politics

I don't know if you've seen this yet.  I found it on my friend, Vivian's blog.  I can't get it out of my head. Regardless of whether you fall in the liberal or conservative camp, you gotta admit, this is sad.

Capsize?  Really?!?!

TV

When we spent a year in Korea, some of you know we coined it our "year without TV." This didn't start out as an intentional decision. Our TV is not so very new, and we were allowed a small weight limit for our move (we were unaccompanied for you military folks). We decided our TV wasn't worth it's weight in entertainment, and we figured we would upgrade to a flat screen while we were closer to the land where all things electronic are born. Patrick got to Korea a few weeks before Adeline and I arrived to find us an apartment, buy a car, and receive our shipment of goods. He didn't have a TV during those weeks, so he downloaded episodes of LOST and an occasional movie. When we arrived, I was busy setting up our home. After a few weeks, we realized we didn't really miss our TV all that much. I started blogging, and that gave me a whole new outlet for any spare time....can I get an amen?!? I caught up on LOST during the weeks that Patrick worked nights. We downloaded movies or episodes of LOST and The Office (to watch when WE wanted to watch them).

I've been asked to post about this experience and write about what our family is currently doing as far as TV usage. I must say, I REALLY thought I would miss TV more than I did. When it wasn't an option to turn it on, I eventually stopped thinking about it. I should mention that we were never huge TV watchers, but I went through seasons where I would turn it on most evenings (when Patrick was studying every night or working crazy long hours during residency). I think in general we watched less TV than the average family, but those hours still add up! I found I was much more efficient without the distraction of the TV. Even when I thought I only turned it on for background noise, it really did take me longer to get things done. In that year, I read more than ever before, started blogging, and made some serious scrapbooking progress. Patrick and I spent more time playing games and talking. I also found that I was less tired.

Now we are home. We have been reunited with our not so very new TV. We decided we didn't want to pay for cable. Patrick bought some special disc thing (um...yeah, he's the techy one here) so we can get several channels through our computer. We almost never watch it. When we do, it is to watch something specific. We don't turn it on just to "see what's on." That being said, Adeline starts out most mornings watching a movie. Donut Man, Cedermont Kids, and the occasional Veggie Tales. She has learned songs and stories about Jesus from these movies. They give me a few minutes to check my email, read blogs, or take a shower. She likes it. I like it. It works. If I may share one more opinion, I think we do our kids a serious disservice by having a screen in front of them in the car (if the journey is less than, say, two hours). It is not healthy to have constant over stimulation, while using little to no imagination. Now, what do you think? How much time do you spend watching TV? How about your kids? Is TV time the same as time on the Wii or playing video games? What about computer time (ouch, now we're getting personal!)? Take my survey on the sidebar. I won't know who says what (in case you are a closet TV addict).

Grrrrr....

I don't get it. Road rage. I. don't. get. it. People who are perfectly nice and normal when you meet them on the street are suddenly transformed when glass windows and metal are separating you. People who can usually see the good in others suddenly assume the worst of everyone. "That person is a #&^#%*)@....he just cut me off!!!" Why is the first assumption that he is a mean spirited person with a personal vendetta against you? Do the same people who tailgate, hold up Mr tall man, and mouth profanities do the same when someone does something they don't like face to face. I know there are probably some that feel the world is out to get them and are just plain mean most of the time. However, I know people who struggle with road rage, and they are as genteel as can be when you meet them in person. Why do angry drivers take things so personally, and why do they feel they need to punish all other drivers when offended? Do they really think their rage is going to change the driving habits of the world?

I don't struggle much with anger. I am not a push over. I can be passionate, strong willed, and even stubborn, but it takes a lot to get me angry. When someone drives aggressively and offends me in some way, I may give them a stern look, but I have never (no really, I mean N-E-V-E-R) flicked someone off or swore at them in retaliation. It just seems immature. On a recent drive, I was flicked off TWICE. I am a good driver. I admit I drive fast, but I don't drive angry, and I don't think I deserved such treatment. I'll describe one of the incidents to explain...

There are two lanes turning left at a light. After both lanes round the corner, they soon merge into one lane. Driving protocol is that each lane takes turns merging. The person driving to my left was on the tail of the person in front of her, but the lanes are designed to facilitate the merge, and I merged when it was my turn. She laid on her horn and both she and her passenger had their middle fingers high in the air. It didn't ruin my day, but it did ruin a few minutes. I just don't get it.......why can't we all just get along?

PS. If you are in the angry driver camp, please remove the Jesus fish from your bumper. No really, you are not witnessing to anyone.

A Book Review and a Soapbox

If you are looking for something light and springy, then you came to the wrong blog today.  I'm fired up, and I feel another soapbox coming on (what is happening to me?!?!).  To start, I will give you a glimpse into my latest reading venture.  Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert was a book club selection.  To be honest, I didn't expect to like it based on some of the reviews on Amazon, but a friend in the book club told me she was really enjoying it, so I picked it up.  

Basically, the author is living the American dream (great husband, job, home), and then after an "open and exploratory dialogue" with God, she decides to divorce her husband.  "Following (the) divorce and a crushing depression, Gilbert set out to examine three different aspects of her nature, set against the backdrop of three different cultures: pleasure in Italy, devotion in India, and on the Indonesian island of Bali, a balance between worldly enjoyment and divine transcendence." 

The book is divided into three sections, based on the three places she visits.  I was pleasantly surprised that I really enjoyed the first section.  I don't agree with her life view AT ALL, but her writing style is witty and fun, and she is a great story teller, so I kept going.  It is not the type of book I would have picked up on my own, and that is the beauty of a book club.  You expand your horizons to discover things you wouldn't necessarily read otherwise.   I was so frustrated with her through the second section where she tries to "connect with God" in an Ashram in India.  There were just WAY too many pages of her meditating and discovering complete bunk that I finally gave up a few chapters before the end of that section.  You need to know that as a general rule, I always finish the book....I can only think of a hand full of books that I haven't finished.  I am of the opinion that if you don't finish it, you don't have the right to criticize it (goes hand-in-hand with my view that you can't complain about the president, or politicians in general, if you don't vote).   I realized I just didn't want to spend any more of my time pouring the lies from that book into my brain.

This New Age view that is so pervasive in our society just makes me ill.  I was just coming down from my soapbox about the book when my friend sent me an email with a link to this video on You Tube.  Take a few minutes to watch it.  They teach that God is in us (which for those who have accepted Christ is true), but they twist this truth to teach that God in you means that God is a feeling in you, and you can know God's will based on what you feel is truth for you.  What is true for you may not be true for someone else and there are many paths to God.  These are LIES, ALL LIES!!!  Oh Father, forgive us, for we know not what we do......

Fellow readers, please join me in praying for our nation, for our elections, and for our churches.  Spread the word that there is danger in these teachings.  May the world come to know the ONE true God.