Dr. Phil is not my hero.

I'm not a huge Dr. Phil fan but I have the tv on right now and felt compelled to post. He is talking to three young couples with kids that have rough marriages. A few of these women have gotten physical with their husbands. I'm not talking a slap fight--I'm talking bruises, cuts, broken bones.

There has been such outrage lately about Rihanna getting beat up by Chris Brown. Yet women can beat the crap out of their partners and no one really says a whole lot. Dr. Phil hasn't really even said much about the physical violence in the family. But if the men were beating up their wives it would be a totally different show.

Why is it different? Maybe this is the green light I needed to really started whooping up on Jay. Just kidding! :)

the kindle

I was listening to MPR tonight and they were talking about how the book industry is starting to take note of the success of itunes and how it can affect the way books are published. I admit, the Kindle seems awesome and I know it is almost always sold out. Jay raves about it at least once a week after seeing someone on the bus reading it.

I am torn though--I really like the feeling of holding a book and turning the pages myself. It is a nice break from using a computer. I like when a friend passes along a good book to me. I like looking at books on my bookshelf and remembering bits and pieces about them. I like pulling a book off the shelf that I've already read four times and digging in a fifth time.

I'm not sure I could get into a Kindle. I don't mind not owning CD's (I love itunes!) but not owning actual books seems wrong and weird. Like if the grid crashes no one will know how to pick up an actual book and get information from it.

What do you think? Take my poll!

AIG will never have my business...what do they do exactly?

I think it is safe to assume we are all unhappy with this AIG nonsense, with emotions ranging from irritated to outraged. If you aren't, better start reading the news. This situation is just ridiculous.

I think it is in serious bad taste for AIG to give bonuses while the company is being propped up by the taxpayers. But why wouldn't they try to get as much as they could? Some of the execs that got these bonuses are most likely some of the same ones that put the business in the crapper. Did the government really think they could just hand over billions of taxpayer dollars with no strings attached? Did no one in our government have the foresight to imagine that perhaps these companies would use the money inappropriately? Really?

The real reason people are outraged is that execs are profiting (with our money) at a time when most of us are feeling the pinch. We aren't being rewarded if our companies don't do well--why should they be? But no one is really talking about the much more concerning issue of our government acting like a bunch of chickens with their heads cut off. There is so much reaction and not a whole lot of thinking, foresight or vision. I find that way more concerning. If they would've just thought this out a little instead of rushing into a bailout we wouldn't be talking about this.

I don't know if Obama is responsible for this--I don't know when AIG got their bailout money. I suspect this was on Bush's watch (but with a democratic congress either way). I do however think the man is a fantastic speaker--seriously. He talks like a normal person--have you noticed that? He doesn't sound rehearsed or forced. I admire that. Good thing he is a good speaker--he is going to have a lot of explaining to do as things continue to fall apart.

Let's hope this downward spiral is over soon. There has to be a bottom somewhere, right?

"One day, one night, Saturday's all right..."

What jingle (TV or radio) do you find the most annoying?

I have several:
-National American University
-Empire Carpet
-Warner Stellian (duh duh duh duh, I feel free...)
-Health insurance that uses that "What have you done today to make you feel prou-DA"

I also can't stand the Watson's girl although there isn't really a jingle with that. The Menards guy made me crazy but then the woman that replaced him made me even more crazy! There is no pleasing me. :)

What's out there that makes you crazy?

interesting news today

So the quest for stem cell research is on. I'm not sure how I feel about this. I don't really know much about it so I can't really discuss it from an educated point of view. I have this idea that they will create embryos just to take their stem cells and if that is the case, I find that morally repugnant. But at the same time, I am intrigued by the potential to stop diseases. What if Jay could be made un-diabetic? It would be so hard to say no to something like that! I wouldn't have to worry about my kids getting it someday.

I heard someone on NPR today say that if you are opposed to stem cell research then you shouldn't take part in any of the benefits it may offer down the road. Thought that was an interesting comment.

What about embryos that are fertilized for IVF but never used? How does that fit into this?

What would happen to our population if we could cure all these diseases? Not to be harsh but isn't that how the population is controlled, to an extent?

I don't even know if what I am writing has any basis in fact or if it is just stuff I've put together in my head over time. Do you have thoughts on this?

little church on the prairie

I'm a member at Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie and have been attending there since I was 12. I loved it as a junior and senior high student but kind of lost my place there once I graduated from high school. Jay and I attended very sporadically (sleeping in on a Sunday usually won out!) and truthfully, we didn't see much of an issue with it. We figured that we still had our faith and what did it really matter if we went to church?

Then last summer Wooddale announced that it would be starting a daughter church in Shakopee. Hmm. We checked out a launch meeting and next thing we knew, we were knee deep in the planning. I was excited but a little apprehensive--it's been a long time since I went to a small church and leaving Wooddale somehow seemed scary. But we really started enjoying the group that was forming and were excited to see what happened when the church went live.

We went live in October 2008--it is hard to believe it's only been six months! I am totally loving going to church again. It is a part of my life that I didn't even know I missed until I got it again. I never lost my faith but I definitely didn't do much to engage myself in it. Now I feel like church is a big part of my life again. Our pastor, Rob O'Neal, teaches from the Bible but finds a way to apply those lessons to life in 2009. We have a children's program that Ethan runs to every Sunday--it has been so fun to see him involved with it. I have done a little bit of everything there--part of the fun of being at a small church! I do strengths coaching, service leading, children's programs, greeting, Connection Point...it has been fun for me and given me more confidence in what I can offer.

Best of all, I've made some close friends with good women and I feel blessed to have them. Today, three families met for lunch--it was crazy because there were 5 kids but it just felt so right. I have such fond memories of after church lunches growing up. We are also in a small group which is another great experience. Again, there are lots of kids running around but it is great to connect on a deeper level with other people in the same life stage.

If you feel so inclined, please check Brookwood out! We have two services: 9:30 (birth-5th grade programs available) and 10:45 (birth-preschool programs available). We hope to have a junior/senior high ministry available soon.

Here is our website! http://www.brookwood.net/

Oh indeed--these hotties made it into itunes tonight

a quiet saturday night with itunes

I LOVE playing computer games (nothing nerdy, just Tetris type games) and listening to my music in itunes. However, tonight I looked at the "Purchased" section and saw there are 93 songs in there--yikes! That means we've spent $93 on music in the last few months! It is so easy to grab songs and you figure they are only 99 cents, big deal right? I guess it adds up! Doesn't mean I haven't grabbed at least six songs tonight though!

Took Pibs to get a haircut tonight--it was TERRIBLE!!! The cut is fine, but she screamed like a crazy person and was getting violent with the stylist. She made me pay for it the rest of the evening and took to throwing her shoes on the floor and dropping her bear as we walked through the mall. So delightful! :)

I was thinking back to when Ethan was this age and I remember feeling annoyed and anxious a lot of the time. I think I was really concerned he was going to be difficult forever and I was somehow failing as a mother. Now I really enjoy him. Yes, he trys my patience multiple times a day but I really enjoy being able to talk to him about all kinds of stuff. I love the person he is becoming!

lighter fare...

Random bits from our house...

--I am getting a kick out of sending the kids on a mission (get their sippy cup from the other room, find their blanket, etc.) and watching them start out and then very quickly get distracted by something else or get a few feet away and completely forget what they were supposed to do. Makes me laugh.

--Ethan is suddenly able to do so many things by himself. He can get dressed, brush his teeth, get ready for bed, get ready to leave the house...it makes me proud and happy but also a little sad. He is growing up so fast!

--My ipod that I thought had miraculousy healed itself did not actually heal itself at all. Still broken.

--I had my high school girlfriends over last weekend. People are astonished when I say that I still hang with my high school (and junior high, in some cases) friends. I think it is pretty awesome--having moved so much, I never thought I would have long-term friends like this. We had a delightful time and I so enjoyed it. However, I learned not to drink martinis mid-afternoon--I was ready to sleep at about 5 PM! Save your scolding--I wasn't drunk at all, just tired. :)

--Olivia has been taking longs naps this week. It has been delightful. I have watched several fascinating shows on the History Channel whilst enjoying the quiet time.

--After many inquiries, I have decided not to get rid of my maternity clothes. If you are in need of some clothes, come over and shop! I will keep them here for you.

--How about this weather? Loving it! Keeps a person hopeful that winter will indeed be over at some point.

--Nine in the Afternoon by Panic at the Disco is a delightful song to make a Genius mix to in itunes.

strap on your magic oracles

I was approached by a Mormon missionary today outside the EP library. I understand they are on a mission but I don't appreciate them loitering outside the library. Anyway, she came up to me to tell me about the LDS and I declined to chat. She wanted to give me their website but I told her I've been to the Temple in Salt Lake City and learned as much as I felt I needed to know. She seemed a bit taken aback and let me move along.

I was thinking about it on the way home and was all prepared to do a post today about Mormonism. But then I started thinking that I might offend people, although to my knowledge I don't know anyone who is a practicing Mormon. I ultimately decided to post anyway--I hope I don't offend you. You have been warned!

A few years ago, the fam went to Utah to go skiing. We had a few hours to kill the day we left so we went down to the Temple to do the tour. Although I've been to the Temple Square a number of times (it is beautiful at Christmas!) I had never done the tour and was interested to see what they had to say. We sat through a presentation about the church and I remember thinking that it didn't seem so different from what I believe. The only thing that really stuck out is that the Mormons on duty seemed extremely interested in getting my personal information, which I declined to give. So I was intrigued and started doing some reading when I got home. I learned some interesting things and have to say that it didn't endear Mormonism to me. Like Joseph Smith digging up the magic oracles and reading the book of Mormon. Or being told by divine revelation to take up polygamy only to give it up a few years later after being threatened by the US Government. Or keeping your place of worship a secret place only for the highest up members. Or excommunicating people who leave the Mormon church. Or being required to give a certain amount of money to the church.

I have been a Christian since I was a child and I will say there are denominations of Christianity that I feel involve sketchy things much like the LDS Church. The older I get the more firmly I feel that denominations are all a bunch of nonsense anyway. Three things weird me out the most from the list above. Number one--not allowing many people into your place of worship. Most churches, synagogues, mosques, etc. are open to any and all that may want to enter. Seekers are usually not required to give out their personal information and are certainly not pressured to give it (I definitely was pressured at the Temple Square to give them my info). Number two--being required to give money at church. All churches ask for money, either directly or indirectly. But I haven't heard of many that consider a certain dollar amount a requirement for membership. I know there are probably some and I think that is wrong and against the spirit of giving. Number three--cutting ex-members out of your lives if they leave the church. Is that at all what Jesus asked us to do? No way! Love your neighbor. Period. And the Mormon church claims to believe in the Bible and its teachings.

So those are my thoughts. I could go on for a while but I won't. I know some of you reading this are thinking, "Well, Christianity is the same as Mormonism in my mind." I encourage you to speak with someone who can give you the information you need to understand the differences. I am not that person. I make decisions with my emotions rather than fact. I know that the missionary today will never convince me to go her way and I could never convince her to come mine. But I do admire their willingness to give up two years of time in order to find more converts. I don't know that I would be willing to do that.

Do you have thoughts on this? How do you deal with missionaries approaching you?