Ranting and Raving (Warning...long)

Okay, so I watch the Dugger's on TLC. I am both appalled and captivated by that show. It is like Howard Stern, you can't stand it but you can't stop listening! Last night they had the Very Dugger Wedding where Joshua, the oldest, got married. He and his wife courted and vowed not to kiss until their wedding day. There is something to be said for waiting until marriage to have sex but the whole kissing thing has me baffled. I kissed alot of frogs before I found my husband. There were guys I thought I was physically attracted to but when we kissed there was nothing there. I would be so scared that that chemistry would not be there and then it is too late. I also do not understand why you want to share your first kiss with 300 guests. I will ALWAYS remember my first kiss with Steven. I will remember that feeling forever. It was a very special moment that was shared with just the two of us.

I was also appalled that in their wedding vows they vowed to allow God to determine the number and spacing of children they would have. Great, just what we need more families having upteen million children. Even the Catholic church condones natural family planning! I think it is very irresponsible to have that many children. And exactly how is a used car salesman (that is what Joshua does) supposed to support those children? I do think it is great that the Dugger's on not on government assistance, I don't know how but they say they aren't. In one episode, the older girls went to Florida with Joshua so they could help with wedding plans. The parents said how hard it was with the little kids without the older girls there to help. THEN DON'T HAVE SO MANY KIDS!!! It should not be the older children's responsibility to raise the younger children. I also have issues with the homeschooling aspect but we can leave that for another post :)

Going back to the birth control issue. This morning on CNN they were discussing the new economic stimulus plan. Apparantly they have stuck in some legislation regarding funding for birth control programs. They were interviewing some right wing person who made a comment regarding providing birth control without parental permission. Well, guess what folks, these kids do not have parental permission when they decide to have sex! My thought is that if they are taking steps to be halfway responsible in preventing pregnancy, why would anyone want to stop that? I understand there are side effects from the pill and other birth control methods but it is not like they would be getting it from the black market. It still has to be prescribed by a physician and they still have to return to the doctor to get refills. In my line of work, I see so many teenagers who have babies and who have no business raising a child at this point in their lives. I also see families who have multiple children and cannot support them. And who pays for this? We do, thats who. I would rather pay for birth control to prevent pregnancy than pay for other services once the pregnancy has occured.

I don't want anyone to get me wrong. Children are a blessing but I am very jaded having worked at CPS and now at Juvenile Probation. You have to have a license to drive, a license to get married, a license to own a business or cut hair. You should have have a license to have children too.

Photo Tag

The rules are simple... 1. Go to the 4th folder in your computer where you store your pictures. 2. Pick the 4th picture in that folder. 3. Explain the picture. 4.Tag 4 people to do the same.

This is a picture of Natural Bridge Caverns. For what it is worth, we didn't like it nearly as much as Carlsbad.

I tag April, Melanie, and Tory. I would tag a fourth but that would be Kelani and she tagged me :)

Two Wheeld Wonder

Today, I took the training off of Colby's bike. It took a few tries but he was off and riding with no training wheels in no time! I had to get it on video so I am posting them below. I can't believe he is riding on two wheels! The next thing I know I will be teaching him to drive a car! Dear Lord, please help me when that time comes!

Complaining...as usual!

So, yesterday as I was watching CNN getting ready for work I see this new multi million dollar recruiting center the Army has introduced in Philadelphia. The Army exceeded its recruitment goal last year but felt the need to construct this 13 million dollar recruiting center that uses virtual reality and video games to recruit soldiers. In these economic times, why would they opt to spend that amount of money? Especially when they are meeting their recruiting goals without it?! If the Army has that kind of money laying around, why not put it towards improving living conditions in base housing or developing better family support centers. In a time when many soldiers are away from their families for a year or more, wouldn't ensuring the well being of the families left behind be more of a priority? When families are well taken care of at home, soldiers have fewer worries and are safer while deployed. Rather than focusing on what is going on at home, they can rest assured their family is being taken care of and focus on their mission. I just don't understand such opulence.

On the same day, as I was driving to work, I hear a discussion on NPR regarding the closing of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. I think this is a step in the right direction. Did we really think we could keep these people prisoner forever? It is a flagrant violation of the Constitution to continue to keep these people detained without charging them with a crime. Move them to federal prisons, allow them access to attorneys, and charge them with an crime or let them go. Americans would be outraged if Americans were being held in a detention camp for this period of time without access to an attorney and without being charged with a crime.

Okay, stepping down from my soapbox.

New Year

So, I am not a fan of New Year's resolutions. I never make them because then I only get disappointed with myself for not keeping them. Over the weekend I was watching infomercials and saw Tony Horton's 10 minute trainer. I thought, "I can do 10 minutes a day". Then it occured to me that I already have a 10 minute pilates video that I bought several months ago. So, I made a deal with myself that if I will consistently use the video I already have for a month, I will purchase the Tony Horton set. Yesterday was day 1. I can do this! When we lived in North Dakota I was in the best shape I had ever been in. I was working out 5 days a week doing cardio kickboxing and taekwondo. When we moved down here I just kind of stopped everything. I have a heavy bag in the garage that I do not use because the garage is a mess and it is way too hot here to be out there working out. I have not joined a gym because it takes half an hour to get anywhere in the city. By the time I get home at 5:30, get changed and out the door, I am not hitting the gym until at least 6:30, work out for 30 minutes, get home at 7:30, then have to cook supper, get homework done, Colby bathed and put bed. That is just too much, especially with Steven's job. I hate working out at home but it seems that is my option at the moment. So, I am jumping into it and not looking back. After 18 months of laziness it is time that I do something to get myself back into shape. I am not calling this a resolution, just time for a change!

Hello blogworld!

I know, such a leming! Everyone else has one so I decided to take the plunge into the world of blogging.

I just finished reading a terrific book. It is My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. I have picked this book up several times in the bookstore but always put it back on the shelf. I didn't think I could read it. I will try very hard not to give too much away because I think everyone should read it for themselves! The topic is a teenage girl who is suing her parents for medical emancipation because she no longer wants to be a donor for her sister who suffers from leukemia. This book takes you on a roller coaster ride of emotions. I was mad at the mother but in a way understood where she was coming from. I was mad at the father for not standing up to his wife. I was mad at the attorney for being such a jerk! I loved the little girl for taking a stand. It is a great read! Like I said, I don't want to give too much away for those who would like to read it on their own. I highly recommend it.