Veritas.

I just entered to win a FREE Phonics Museum curriculum worth $210 at RaisingHomemakers.com! #VeritasPress #homeschool
for my nephew. I did this because my sister-in-law told me to. I am listening. I also posted something on my blogsite in order to increase my chances. AND I "liked" Veritas on FB.

Ground Zero

I'm becoming a tad troubled because I am unable to really see either side of this debate clearly. Why put a mosque there, or for that matter a Christian chapel? Why not put a mosque there, or for that matter, a Christian chapel? It was muslim extremeist radicals, not the muslim faith that caused this tragedy. Many wonderful, kind, caring muslim citizens were wiped off the planet on that horrible day along with Christians, athiests, Bhuddists, agnostics, and everybody else. Why allow anything at all contentious to be constructed at ground zero? Why can't it just be an undeveloped green area in the city for us to all go and reflect on just how horrible things can turn out if we can't accept that NONE OF US believe ANYTHING exactly as ANOTHER of us.

I have friends and family that belong to the radical right wing conservative fundamentalist faction, so I receive posts containing inflammatory anti-muslim rhetoric on Facebook and e-mail for me to attempt to digest. I have friends and family that belong to the radical left wing liberal left, and receive posts containing inflammatory anti-conservative right wing rhetoric on Facebook and e-mail for me to attempt to digest. In my mind that places both groups in the same mold of intolerance as the perpetrators of 9-11. I realize that intolerance of evil is good. What then, is intolerance of intolerance? Because I, for one, am SICK and TIRED of having to sift through all of the strongly worded opinions that brand one side or the other as just plain dumb and wrong.

I proudly served my United States of America in the military. I pay my taxes. I have my own opinions, beliefs, desires and dreams. I do not feel entitled to trample on the dreams of others simply because their beliefs are counter to my own. I am willing to fight for what I believe in, should it come to that, God forbid. I feel righteous indignation when the poor, weak, and innocent are trampled upon, not just by the rich, strong and powerful, but also by the other poor, weak, and innocent. I will defend freedom and what I believe to be right based on my religious beliefs, and the law of the land in which I (thank GOD) live.

Perhaps I just do not wish to force everyone to believe as I do. Perhaps there are no answers. Perhaps there will always be wars and rumors of wars. Perhaps I will now receive one hundred thousand e-mails full of opinion. In that case, I shall simply continue to do the best I can.

Gap-tooth.....

I went to the dentist yesterday for my bi-annual cleaning. I am not afraid of the dentist - in fact, I like my dentist. I bring them homemade salsa. We chat. I get to watch my partner, Keri have endodontal surgery and ask questions, etc. Here's the thing, though. I'm 40 freakin years old and still have 4 primary molars (baby teeth). When the line was formed and teeth were being handed out, I was shoved out of line. There are 4 other teeth missing that just never developed, so I'm REALLY missing 8 adult teeth. (not counting the wisdom teeth that were removed compliments of the US Navy) So during the exam and x-ray process yesterday we noticed that as usual, the roots of the baby teeth aren't exactly huge, and the teeth are barely held in by the gum. AND the cavity on one of my baby teeth has, in fact, grown larger over the past year. This explains the sensitivity I've been having. They recommend having it pulled and having an implant put in. Now, I'm not afraid of the procedures - not bothered at all. The problems are that I'm kinda attached to the little thing - it has been there for 40 years. Also, I'll admit it, I'm slightly vain and I'll have to be missing a tooth that will be visible when I smile. That gap will be there for over 4 months during the implant process. Sigh.

Selected posts from "Learn from my fail"

These were posts I could relate to. Enough said. Here's the link, for those of you who need to learn more things from the failures of others: http://learnfrommyfail.com/

If you own pets and there is an unidentifiable object on your floor, don’t poke it to try to figure out what it is. Just don’t.
If you have an article of clothing that becomes covered in fiberglass insulation, do not wash said article of clothing with your underwear.
While in a public bathroom, do not giggle at the lady in the stall next to you because she is having an explosive movement, you might find that you are out of toilet paper and now need to ask her for some.
When you’re helping your neighbor in the garden and he says "Get me the hoe," you shouldn’t call his wife over.
If your doctor surgically removes something from you and asks if you want to see it, unless it’s a tooth or a baby, the answer is always NO.
When on a slip-and-slide, never take a drink of water from said slip-and–slide, especially if your neighbor's five year old daughter is upstream and giggling.
NEVER, under ANY circumstance, accept a "How many Taco Bell tacos can you eat in 5 minutes" challenge from your ‘friends’ especially the night before your XX hour flight to ANYWHERE. They know what they’re doing.
A gulp is not a sufficient unit of measurement when it comes to cough syrup. In fact, one large gulp can lead to being awake at 4 am making new friends with shadow puppets. Always measure.
When your young neighbor asks, "what’s a f–k?" don’t hurriedly reply that it’s a female duck. They will use the term to refer to the ducks they see on the pond during a school trip.

Just pray

Please pray for my son, Sam. That's about all I can say right now. My heart is devastated.

To "let go" does not mean to stop caring; it means I can't do it for someone else.
To "let go" is not to enable but to allow learning from natural consequences.
To "let go" is to admit powerlessness, which means the outcome is not in my hands.
To "let go" is not to try to change or blame another; it's to make the most of myself.
To "let go" is not to care for but to care about.
To "let go" is not to fix but to be supportive.
To "let go" is not to judge but to allow another to be a human being.
To "let go" is not to protect; it's to permit another to face reality.
To "let go" is not to deny but to accept.
To "let go" is not to nag, scold, or argue but instead to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.
To "let go" is not to adjust everything to my desires but to take each day as it comes and cherish myself in it.

Assumptions

His request approved, the CNN News photographer quickly used a cell phone to call the local airport to charter a flight. He was told a twin-engine plane would be waiting for him at the airport. Arriving at the airfield, he spotted a plane warming up outside a hanger. He jumped in with his bag, slammed the door shut, and shouted, 'Let's go'. The pilot taxied out, swung the plane into the wind and took off. Once in the air, the photographer instructed the pilot, 'Fly over the valley and make low passes so I can take pictures of the fires on the hillsides.' 'Why?' asked the pilot. 'Because I'm a photographer for CNN' , he responded, 'and I need to get some close up shots.' The pilot was strangely silent for a moment, finally he stammered, 'So, what you're telling me, is . . . You're NOT my flight instructor?