Oh Noes, Another Political Rant

Some of the few people who read this blog may remember my first post, in which I offended many with my thoughts following the presidential election. After that post, you moved on and I moved on. My expressions that I hoped the new president would do well were sincere, and my attitude was "the guy won, fair enough, now let's see what he can do."

As it turns out, what he can do is to offend me deeply within just a few days of taking office.

So we're closing the Guantanamo prison camp. What now? What do we do with all the guys there that want to kill us? Where are we going to put new prisoners? (unless you are just telling the army to not accept surrenders any more, that's fine). Are we going to bring them back home and give them lawyers and trials? Set them free on technicalities and let them out to plot how to kill us some more? This one is a victory for the bad guys. And I believe it was President Obama's first official act, first significant one anyway.

Oh wait, that wasn't even the point. The prison closing wasn't even what I was writing about.

What really offended me was that now our chief executive has ordered that my tax dollars must go to pay for abortions. This isn't even here at home. This is "foreign aid" that will go out to third world countries to kill unborn babies there. And I have no say in it. Why does this allocation of funds even fall under exclusive executive authority?

At a time when America can barely afford to help itself, we're going to continue to spend untold millions to help people around the world. In my opinion, this is something that private organizations should be involved in, not the federal government (not that it's anything new). But the new President wants to help them by killing their babies. And there's nothing I can do about it. This is offensive to me on multiple levels.

He said he wanted to unite us. He said he wanted to bring about change for good. He said it's not about politics, it's about doing what's right for America. So he starts off by not even being able to wait a week to make the most extreme liberal policy change possible on one issue, and the most idiotic, short-sighted, endangering-America policy change possible on another issue.

I had an open mind, but I don't know how open I am to four years of this, if this is how it's going to be.

Multiple choice: Whose rights should we value and prioritize more?
(a) Innocent unborn children
(b) Terrorists who want to kill us just for being Americans or non-Muslims

Obama's preference is clear.

Can America change? Can we start right now and open up the floodgates of wrongheaded policy? You know the answer: YES, WE CAN.

Let it snow!

Well, it snowed again. After all the rain the last few days, it was only fitting that we should be dumped on some more. We woke up to about a foot of snow. I like snow. I really do. But I like it in the mountains and other pretty places, like Salem pond. These are just a couple of pictures at the pond that I snapped today. I love all the snow in the trees!


This is my street... not so pretty!  Please let it snow in all the pretty places and not on my street.  Thank you!

Beautiful Music

The big recital day has now come and gone! The kids are glad it is over. They did a great job, even though they think they didn't. I am constantly amazed at their talents. I have seen great improvements over the years. They have surpassed my abilities in fewer years and demonstrate great skill and potential! Now if we could just improve the attitude!
Jayson played "Chromatic Polka."  He did a great job even if he forgot a couple of notes!


Bryce played "100 Years."  For a minute, we wondered if that was how long it was going to take him to set up his music!
Amaya played "Waterfall."  I love this music... it is beautiful!

Keep practicing kids and keep playing beautiful music!

Arrow of LIght

Last night Jayson and his best friend Kyle were awarded Cub Scouts highest award... the Arrow of Light. They have a wonderful leader who makes cub scouting a lot of fun. Last night's ceremony was no different.

Bro. R. has this magical urn. As he talks to the boys about their accomplishments, he has them put things like "Powdered Bobcat", "Essence of Wolf", "Crushed-up Bear" (all powders) and so forth into the urn. There is no water in this urn, but when they start to stir it, it magically becomes a liquid.

Then they get to "CHUG" it down! They love it!
Congratulations Jayson! We are so proud of you!

New Year's Multiple Choice Quiz

A prize will be awarded to the first reader who gives a correct answer to how this happened to Bryce.




Here are your possible answers:
A. Got hit in the eye in latest cagefight match (but he won).
B. Was trying to catch a Brett Favre bullet pass.
C.Put his eye too close to the scope on his first time shooting Dad's high powered rifle.
D. A high speed sibling chase through the house caused Mom's potted plant to fall off the archway in the front hall.
E. Got a little crazy with the Wii Remote trying to make the Mario Kart go faster.
F. Mouthed off to Mom, and Dad had to put him in his place.
G. He stole an old lady's shopping cart and she hit him with her purse.
H. Wiped out on a snowboard which then hit him in the face.
I. Was trying to do this trick.
J. Attacked by sharks with frickin' lasers on their heads.
K. Tripped and fell down the stairs while walking around with his shoes untied.
L. Bryce and Jayson both got those big green Hulk fists for Christmas and this is the result.
M. Hit in the eye by a canned ham dropped from the top of a building by David Letterman.
N. Elbowed in the eye by his dad starting a leaf blower (this really happened, but to Jayson not Bryce).
O. It turns out you're not supposed to put marbles in those mouth-powered marshmallow guns (Jayson is now grounded).
P. New model Super Soaker Zero Degree shoots icicles instead of water.
Q. Bowling injury, related to tragically poor bowling skill.
R. Was attacked with a broom by crazy old Mr. Bartleby down the street while collecting fast offerings.
S. It turns out this is the tragic potato gun accident foreseen by Grandpa Bingham.
T. The pool volleyball scene from "Meet the Parents" was accidentally reenacted at this week's Scout activity.

Make your guess and check comments for the correct answer.

Happy New Year

Our New Year's Eve was spent with Jared's family this year.  We had a lot of fun, but it was a little crazy for a few hours.  We had six kids under the age of 4 running around.  We started off with a wonderful dinner of pizza for the kids and sukiyaki for the adults (some of which were not very adventurous and a little negative about the whole thing).  We then played some Rock Band and Cookin Mama.  About this time, most of the little kids left for the night.  The rest of us played games, Wii, and had yummy, chocolate fondue!  At midnight, we continued the tradition I began almost 20 years ago on my mission in Spain.  The traditional stuffing of grapes!!  You stuff one grape in your mouth with each of the twelve strikes of the clock at midnight.  If you can accomplish this, you will have a very good and prosperous new year!   This year, the only grapes I could find were a little larger than normal.  This made it especially challenging... and messy!  Amaya and her friends participated prior to the youth new years eve dance.  They got them in, but couldn't chew.  

Sorry there aren't more pictures of our evening, but everyone knows how bad I am at taking pictures!

Happy 2009 everyone!!!