She's Kinda Neat

This afternoon while Ashley and I were driving to the mall to get her birthday present she did something that reminded me why I love her so much (Note to self: When she makes a list of things she wants for her birthday, don't surprise her with something that's not on the list).


Ashley was telling me about the incentive/rewards system she has with her seminary students. Her students can earn points (tickets) that will go towards Operation Smile, a program that helps pay for cleft palette surgeries for children in a 3rd world countries. The fact that she gets involved in just about every charity that comes her way says so much about who she is.

But what got to me today was when she broke down crying while reading a letter from the Operation Smile asking her to donate more to the cause. Of course when she read the letter about those kids whose lives were changed with a simple surgery, she was so choked up with emotion that she had trouble finishing it. It reminded me of one of our first dates when she bawled uncontrollably during a movie about whales. Movies aren't the only thing she cries over. She's always imagining horrible scenarios where one of us gets hit by a bus or ends up in some similar tragedy and often ends up in tears because of it.

Ashley certainly isn't the first girl to get emotional during a chick-flick, but she is so caring and loving that I am constantly amazed. I'm so glad that she spends her days, nights and weekends caring for and teaching our two boys how to be thoughtful, decent little boys. I can't imagine anyone else raising Max and Charlie. I'm glad that she is so strong and firm about what she believes in, yet so tender deep down. I'm also grateful that she chose me for a husband. I can't imagine my life without her and would be devastated if she were ever hit by a bus.

STOMPER 4x4s

A little over a week before Charlie's birthday party I stumbled across a couple of old Stompers on Ebay. I was 4 years old in 1980 when these first came out and hadn't seen them since.



They're super simple motorize trucks and tons of fun. So I bought 'em for Charlie.


These two particular trucks were made in the 90's (not the originals from the 80's). When they arrived I ripped them out of their packages and neither truck worked. I was crushed - especially since this was Charlie's only gift from us. I took them both apart (something I had hoped I'd have to do) and realized that one needed some new wiring and the other just needed to be rolled around a bit to unstick its very old motor and gears.

It took me about an hour to get both trucks running.

(My best attempt at an action shot)

(Real, working headlights)

Now that Charlie has them, I'm sure they'll be broken within two or three days.

We Live in a Society

When I came home from work tonight I found Ashley on her cell phone making call after call for the Yes on Prop 8 campaign. To my surprise she said that one of the most pleasant conversations she had was with a man who disagreed with her. "He was nice and respectful, and we pleasantly agreed to disagree," she said. I think it stuck out to her because many people find it difficult act with civility when disagreeing on an issue as important as Prop 8. I was appreciative that the man on the other line chose to treat my wife with respect.
Similarly I can't stand it when people think they are justified in being rude to telemarketers, door to door salespeople or any other human being for that matter. As if the poor sap on the other end of the line wants to be on that phone call any more than you do. They're on that phone or on your door step because A) they are trying to earn a living or B) they are working for something they believe in. Either one deserves a little respect and courtesy in my opinion.

Madness

I still plan to vote for John McCain, having been left with no better alternative, but his latest proposal to buy back mortgages is madness. This whole bailout is madness.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hfHkP_o1JurPm5e9mEZEFMFKaJwgD93MGJPG2

When is someone going to have the guts to tell the American people that this is a mess that we can't buy our way out of? I've not heard a single public figure admit that the average American shares some responsibility for the current financial crisis. Here's what I WANTED to hear during last night's presidential debate:

Question: "What would you say to those Americans who are faced with losing there homes amidst this financial crisis?"

Answer: "If you are an American that currently has a mortgage which you cannot afford, we are sorry. We are sorry that low interest rates have led to over-inflated home values. We are sorry that lending companies enticed you with aggressive and risky mortgages making you think you could afford a home that was too expensive. We are also sorry that you chose to get yourself into a financial commitment that you knew was going to be difficult to honor. We are so sorry that we're all in this mess, but we may not be able to help you."

"If you are a home-owner and can't afford your mortgage payments, we recommend you sell the home immediately, because this situation may get much worse before it gets better. If you have to sell the home for less than you owe, you should continue to make payments after the home is sold until you have fulfilled your contract."

"If you own a home and can just barely make payments, please do everything in your power to keep from defaulting on that loan. If it means selling your car, cancelling cable TV and Internet, or making sack lunches, do it. We can't afford unnecessary foreclosures."

"We can get through this, but it is going to take some sacrifice."

I Think I've Found My Opinion on the Bail Out

After watching a few of these clips from earlier this year, I'm willing to do whatever Schiff says.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drJ6QxSO5gw&feature=related

Nostradamus?

At least one person is out there saying "I told you so." Who would you have believed if you had seen this clip in '06?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfascZSTU4o

You Do the Math

Have you calculated your personal contribution to the proposed $700,000,000,000 bailout? Here's a starting point: 2007 federal tax revenues were approximately $2,500,000,000,000.