This week our children helped us clean up a church building. At one point, a garbage became incredibly heavy so we asked Maggie and Tim to take it out together. When they returned, Tim had in his hand a roll of garbage bags that had been under the bag they dumped out.
He innocently asked if they were supposed to be garbage, to which we replied, "Thanks for bringing them back in."
In a very giddy tone, he responded, "Good, when they fell in, I knew we had to get them out."
"Wait a minute. Tim, did those fall in the dumpster?"
"Yes"
" How did you get them out?"
" Maggie gave me a boost and I dove in. It smelled nasty!"
"Tim, are you kidding me?! Don't touch anything! Get to the bathroom and don't touch anything until you are fully sanitized head to toe."
I never thought our kids would be dumpster divers. There's another parental hope dashed...
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
State Delegate Review
I enjoyed the opportunity yesterday to represent the 5th precinct of Utah Legislative District 56 at our Republican Party Caucus meeting. Some of the highlights of this experience:
1. Having the opportunity to meet, talk with, listen to, and ask questions of many of our leaders political leaders.
- As in times past, Jason Chaffetz impressed me more than any other individual of interest. He answered the questions I and others ask in a straightforward manner; he explained his position clearly and why he believed as he did. Though he has not made it official, there is little doubt he will challenge Orin Hatch for the Senate seat in 2012.
- Speaking of Senator Hatch, I listened to him speak for a while and spoke directly with his chief of staff. Sadly, I was more impressed with his chief of staff than the senator. It is clear that he is not willing to be pushed around in Washington, or by listening to the opinions of his constituents. His unwillingness to commit to specifics or his ideas on issues demonstrated 1) his intelligence as a politician, of which there is little doubt and much good he has done; 2) how his current Washington-centric focus has moved him away from many of the local issues of Utah, 3) that the service he is rendering has become more of a game of power than representing the people. ie - he seemed more concerned about what power he wielded as a senior senator on the budget committee than the issues affecting our state directly; and 4) he knows how to speak to a crowd, but is not as interested in listening.
- With the word on the street that Mark Shurtleff planning on NOT running again, I paid particular attention to those campaigning openly for the position of Attorney General. Sean D. Reyes outclassed the other candidates I spoke too. He understands the limits of the position, and also the need for enforcement without witchhunts. Of the many attorneys I have conversed with, he seemed more sincere and real (insert any random attorney joke here) than most.
- Another highlight of the day was Grover Norquist, the Keynote speaker. I have not been able to find his speech online, but it was hilarious. His wit was high-brow-low-blow awesome. He discussed how we do not have a budget problem (which would mean we need to raise taxes), we have a spending problem. His analogy of stirring the waters with stimulus was great. If anyone finds the speech online, please sent it to me so we can get a link.
Only the Precinct Chair and I were able to make it to the State Delegate Meeting, but we believe we represented those in our area well. Our separate inquiries to the local feelings on issues and our personal research resulted in the same conclusions on each of the issues when we met to discuss and vote. It is good to have a united voting precinct.
This concludes my formal duties, of which I am happy to report I have completed without missing one, for this current delegate term. I of course will continue to act in the position on the informal responsibilities. I look forward to our next caucus meeting. Those in the precinct who would like more details are welcome to contact me via email for more information and if there are any questions.
1. Having the opportunity to meet, talk with, listen to, and ask questions of many of our leaders political leaders.
- As in times past, Jason Chaffetz impressed me more than any other individual of interest. He answered the questions I and others ask in a straightforward manner; he explained his position clearly and why he believed as he did. Though he has not made it official, there is little doubt he will challenge Orin Hatch for the Senate seat in 2012.
- Speaking of Senator Hatch, I listened to him speak for a while and spoke directly with his chief of staff. Sadly, I was more impressed with his chief of staff than the senator. It is clear that he is not willing to be pushed around in Washington, or by listening to the opinions of his constituents. His unwillingness to commit to specifics or his ideas on issues demonstrated 1) his intelligence as a politician, of which there is little doubt and much good he has done; 2) how his current Washington-centric focus has moved him away from many of the local issues of Utah, 3) that the service he is rendering has become more of a game of power than representing the people. ie - he seemed more concerned about what power he wielded as a senior senator on the budget committee than the issues affecting our state directly; and 4) he knows how to speak to a crowd, but is not as interested in listening.
- With the word on the street that Mark Shurtleff planning on NOT running again, I paid particular attention to those campaigning openly for the position of Attorney General. Sean D. Reyes outclassed the other candidates I spoke too. He understands the limits of the position, and also the need for enforcement without witchhunts. Of the many attorneys I have conversed with, he seemed more sincere and real (insert any random attorney joke here) than most.
- Another highlight of the day was Grover Norquist, the Keynote speaker. I have not been able to find his speech online, but it was hilarious. His wit was high-brow-low-blow awesome. He discussed how we do not have a budget problem (which would mean we need to raise taxes), we have a spending problem. His analogy of stirring the waters with stimulus was great. If anyone finds the speech online, please sent it to me so we can get a link.
Only the Precinct Chair and I were able to make it to the State Delegate Meeting, but we believe we represented those in our area well. Our separate inquiries to the local feelings on issues and our personal research resulted in the same conclusions on each of the issues when we met to discuss and vote. It is good to have a united voting precinct.
This concludes my formal duties, of which I am happy to report I have completed without missing one, for this current delegate term. I of course will continue to act in the position on the informal responsibilities. I look forward to our next caucus meeting. Those in the precinct who would like more details are welcome to contact me via email for more information and if there are any questions.
A matter of Death and Life.
Cinder died a slow painful death. I blame the filter. With the live plants, biological filters, two shrimp, and snail, the algae growth was insufficient to produce enough food. Fairwell our little ottosynclid. You are number 64.
On the bright side. Vesper is pregnant. Bond - you sly dog you... Guppies have live births, so it will be interesting if the other group in the tropics allow the children to grow or if live dinner is served.
On the bright side. Vesper is pregnant. Bond - you sly dog you... Guppies have live births, so it will be interesting if the other group in the tropics allow the children to grow or if live dinner is served.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Accomplishments and rewards
The school year and soccer season ended this week with some excellent results. Our children performed to the level of their capabilities.
Tim and his teacher.
Maggie and Tim received a total of one "3" out of about 50 to 60 graded abilities and the rest "4"s.
Maggie on her farewell walk as she is leaving Pony Express for the district's A.L.L. program.
As rewards they each chose an activity and were able to pick out another fish for the tropical tank.
Maggie chose to go to the dinosaur museum and a picnic, and Tim chose to go shopping with Dad (which, strangely, resulted in a new bike).
For fish, Maggie and Tim each chose a tropical glo-fish. I added a few more fish to the tank as it is ready for us to fill it up. Here are the additions:
Mario - A star-fire red glo-fish.
Luigi - An electric green glo-fish
Cinder(rella) - an Ottocynclid (sucker-fish for cleaning)
Bond - A male fancy blue-yellow tuxedo guppy.
Vesper - A female green-tailed guppy.
Recon - A ghost shrimp
Buster - A ghost shrimp
Unfortunately Katniss is looking ill and should be dead. Probably would be if Maggie weren't praying so hard for her incessantly.
Maggie's soccer season ended in a well fought victory. Tim's season ended with him putting the ball in the upper corner of the goal on a youth that stopped everything else in the game.
Tim colliding with his best friend Jaxon, Tim's in white, you'll notice he won that round because of where the ball is. The best part of this was the death-by-crusty look each of them gave one another as they both arose from the ground. The whole sideline laughed at that. (The other team was short-handed at the beginning of the game so Tim had joined their ranks as a spy for a few minutes).
Tim doing his thing.
Tim receiving his medal.
Maggie looking athletic.
Maggie receiving her medal.
Team pizza party and awards followed. One of my teams (the first ever to do this in about 14 seasons) got me a very kind coach's present of a signed plaque and ice cream. That was a very pleasant surprise. Melissa particularly enjoyed the fact that ice cream was part of the equation.
Tim and his teacher.
Maggie and Tim received a total of one "3" out of about 50 to 60 graded abilities and the rest "4"s.
Maggie on her farewell walk as she is leaving Pony Express for the district's A.L.L. program.
As rewards they each chose an activity and were able to pick out another fish for the tropical tank.
Maggie chose to go to the dinosaur museum and a picnic, and Tim chose to go shopping with Dad (which, strangely, resulted in a new bike).
For fish, Maggie and Tim each chose a tropical glo-fish. I added a few more fish to the tank as it is ready for us to fill it up. Here are the additions:
Mario - A star-fire red glo-fish.
Luigi - An electric green glo-fish
Cinder(rella) - an Ottocynclid (sucker-fish for cleaning)
Bond - A male fancy blue-yellow tuxedo guppy.
Vesper - A female green-tailed guppy.
Recon - A ghost shrimp
Buster - A ghost shrimp
Unfortunately Katniss is looking ill and should be dead. Probably would be if Maggie weren't praying so hard for her incessantly.
Maggie's soccer season ended in a well fought victory. Tim's season ended with him putting the ball in the upper corner of the goal on a youth that stopped everything else in the game.
Tim colliding with his best friend Jaxon, Tim's in white, you'll notice he won that round because of where the ball is. The best part of this was the death-by-crusty look each of them gave one another as they both arose from the ground. The whole sideline laughed at that. (The other team was short-handed at the beginning of the game so Tim had joined their ranks as a spy for a few minutes).
Tim doing his thing.
Tim receiving his medal.
Maggie looking athletic.
Maggie receiving her medal.
Team pizza party and awards followed. One of my teams (the first ever to do this in about 14 seasons) got me a very kind coach's present of a signed plaque and ice cream. That was a very pleasant surprise. Melissa particularly enjoyed the fact that ice cream was part of the equation.