Have You Ever...?

...tried to find a dark space on campus to take a nap for a bit...

...then wake up in the middle of a lecture???

Just curious...

(xoxo babe)

PTA = _____

= Parents Who Have More Time On Their Hands Than They Know What To Do With So They Create Organizations That Nudge Their Way Into Public School Systems and Tell The Teachers That They Can't Function Without It and Even Have Legislators' Fingers In Tax-Free Money To Fund These Programs and Now I'm Sucked Into The Whole Mess...

...yah, I volunteered to be the Treasure, thinking that was a pretty benign and safely controlled choice, thinking that if I was doing something, I wouldn't get the constant phone calls to help with this or that when I'd have to say no anyway, because outside of my family, I HAVE A LIFE. We'll see how that works.

Don't get me wrong. I want to help. I want to be involved. But the largeness of the program is nauseating.

I really do believe that the kids would still function and education would not cease if there were no Reflections (art shows) or Meet the Masters (doesn't anyone really go?) or Parent's and Pastries or Jog-a-thon's and fundraisers (to raise money for said activities). Seriously people? What happened to the parents or the students supporting their student's teachers, sending the needed supplies, putting together their own class parties, etc.

Kids who are homeschooled don't have PTA. (Gasp) I know!! How do they even get through their school curriculum??

They don't have PTAs...They have parents.

I remember submitting a story for Relfections when I was in the 5th grade, but none of this other fluffy stuff. And that's what it is. PTA has gotten so out of hand. By allowing this program to become as large as it has, at a national level, it has actually taken more accountability away from parents, when their creed is to help get parents more involved. If anyone has more PTA insight, then by all means enlighten me. But I had NO IDEA that there are chapters and Commissioners and more Commissioners and so many people involved. Kind of superfluous, I think. If I find out any of them get any kind of financial compensation, I may seriously spontaneously combust.

Now, people think, "Oh, the PTA takes care of that. I don't have to." Yup, thanks to socialized liberal school propaganda and more governmental programs that brainwash us into thinking we need all these programs to have a functional school system. Thus we don't have to be responsible for our children's education or extra activities because the government should just take care of it all.

The Principal was almost crying at Back to School night when she was saying how we almost had no PTA president for this year (thus no PTA) when a Dad picked up the baton. Kudos to him, honestly, though.

But really. We should have given it a year and then said, "Man, that saved a whole lot of people a whole lot of headaches."

Totally Random Dinner Conversation With a Two-Year Old

Daryl: Sit down, please. Don't stand in your booster seat.

Lydia: (looks at Dad, smiles at Mom)

Daryl: Sit

Lydia: (looks at Dad and sits)

Daryl: Stay

Lydia smiles at Dad

Daryl: Good girl (pats her on the head)

Lydia: Ruff!! (pant, pant)

We all almost fell off our chairs laughing!! :)

Being better than Yourself...

...is something I just made up.
Learning to appreciate yourself takes time.
Beating yourself up for past mistakes is usless, but it still happens.
Moving on is difficult.
Learning to love yourself starts when you are little.
Seperating the illusion of yourself and who you really are takes talent and honesty.
That last statement gives me a headache.
My life changed drastically seven years ago.
There is nothing I can do about the past.
There is no point in asking "What if...?"
I know I can only control what lies ahead, but it doesn't make the past hurt any less.
This will make no sense to any of you.
That's okay. It does to me and it's good to get it out in black and white.

TTA

Summer Blockbusters...What are your favorites?


Well, since our budget only allows us to view movies from the sticky row at the local Dollar Theater, our movie choises so far have been limited. :) We did see The Hulk last Saturday night. Pretty intense. Apparently we should have watched Iron Man first. We'll see that next week. :)


So, I can tell you want we are anxious to see as soon as it gets to Our Theater:

Dark Knight (I know, I sware we are the only people on the face of the planet!)

Mama Mia (more me than Daryl)

Email Letters

Two names you go by:
1. Rachel
2. Mama
Two Things You Are Wearing Right Now:
1. Earings
2. Rings
Two Things You Want Very Badly At The Moment:
1. Financial Freedom
2. Housekeeper
Two People Who Will Fill This Out:
1. Teresa
2. Miriam
Two Things You Did Last Night:
1. Watched Michael Phelps and team win a Gold medal! (3 more to go for Phelps!)
2. Drove to the Draper Temple after dinner
Two Things You Ate Yesterday:
1. Fish
2. Rice
Two People You Last Talked To:
1. Husband
2. Phone Salesman (bless his heart)
Two Things You're Doing Tomorrow:
1. Working
2. Riding the train to and from work
Your Two Favorite Holidays:
1. Christmas
2. Thanksgiving
Favorite Vacations:
1. Camping
2. Someplace with a beach
Favorite Beverages:
1. Diet Mt. Dew
2. Hot Choclate

Not to Distract from the Main Event, but...

...like I said in my TTA, competition is good, it's healthy, it's human. I love the Olympics. I love everything about the Olympics, how naturally human competition can bring the whole world together for a few weeks...unless it involves China (here's where it gets dirty).

Watching the opening ceremonies last night was moving. It always is, seeing all those athletes, getting pictures of each other, groups of nations just so excited to be together. Again, good healthy competition bringing out every one's best. For two weeks, we root for the underdog regardless of their nationality. We are excited when someone wins, beating all odds. For most of us, the Olympians are the 'best of the best.' And I love it all.

And then I watch the Chinese officials and leaders and just want to throw their books and flags and any other piece of paper they've touched the last 10 years out a very high window and throw them over my knee and paddle their bottoms!!!

My skin was crawling and I'm watching the Ceremonies and thinking about all the stories I've read these past few weeks and how these "games" came to be. They took everything good and honorable and natural human out of these games, trying to force their country to put on a facade of perfection, even with all their problems in Tibet, not to mention the neighborhoods they forced out of their homes in order to bulldoze to make room for their precious Stadium.

Yes, all the hype is just hype for me this year. I root for the athletes; I really want Michael Phelps to win those Gold Medals because that would just be so cool! There are so many great athletes.

It's just too bad that the rest of the nobility to the Games is all a cover-up for bigger problems no one is willing to look at, least of all China.

That's my soap box until October and I get to vent about the Presidential Candidates. :)

Childlike Sincerity

Driving home after a work party hosted by D's company this evening:

J: Where is Dad?

Me: He's up ahead of us (he was on his motorcycle).

E: He's up by the gray car (not really, I couldn't see him, he was so far ahead).

Me: Yah, he's up there somewhere.

J: Oh! See the red and blue lights? Is that him?

Me: He better not be with the red and blue lights (chuckle to myself).

E: Yah, that's a police car. Dad's not a police man.

J: Oh...maybe next time.

Dear, you have no idea how hard I tried to NOT laugh :)

TTA

Are you competitive? Which event would you choose to participate in?

Am I competitive? Hmm...naw! :) Oh, okay, you got me! Yup, love to compete, but don't always care if I win. The competition is what gets the blood pumping. The desire to do anything to win takes all the fun out of any game. Also, can't stand poor/sour losers. Nothing ruins a fun night of games/sports faster than someone who is mad/pouting because they lost, for whatever reason! At one time in my life, I wanted to be on the Olympic Volleyball team, but that was a very long time ago. Oh, that would have been fun. And yes, I would have wanted to win, but I would not have been a poor looser. :)

Yup, love games. All kinds of games. Love to learn new games. Yup, love sports. All kinds of sports. Except Shuffle Board. Have absolutely NO desire to learn to play shuffle board. I'd rather read a boring book, or maybe even take a leisurely walk. I'd get more exercise that way, too.

Daryl's photomantage?

Here's how it works:

1. Go to http://www.photobucket.com/ (don't sign in)

2. Type in your answer to the question in the "search" box.

3. Use only the first page.

4. Copy the html and paste for the answer.

What is your first name?

What is your relationship status?

What is your favorite color?

Who is your celebrity crush?

What is your favorite movie(lately)?

Who is your favorite disney princess?

Name a beverage?

Where is your dream vacation?

What is your favorite dessert?

One word to describe yourself:

I was born in:

My eye color is:

Last book you read:

Favorite song at the moment:

Basically if you read this your tagged! :)

Did I tell you where I put my keys???

Forgot to plan to make the Chore Chart...

Need I say more?

(Sigh) But, I did make a peach cobbler in the DO yesterday!! I was so exceited to have it done and get it eatten (with vanilla ice cream, mind you) that I forgot to get a beautiful picture!! Oh, well. Until next time...