Read this article and tell me who wins…Globe-Miami needs the jobs but this would destroy a beautiful area:
http://www.azcentral.com/community/pinal/articles/2009/04/24/20090424coppertour04224.html
Filed under: Kid
Sometime last June, I celebrated a special day. It was the exact point in time when I was in Aliyah’s life longer than I have not been. Jenn and I started dating when she was a little over 2 and now she is almost 5.
I know I missed so much during that time; first steps, first word, first tooth. But the exciting part is thinking about how many more firsts I will be around for; her first date, first day of Kindergarten, first time she breaks curfew.
If life were a bargaining system, I would propose trading a year off my life in order to spend a week with her as an infant. I do my best to make the most of my time with her – since we share custody with her father, that time is even more precious. Seeing her as a little baby would be a wonderful thing but I know that is not a possibility.
Building my relationship with Aliyah has had its challenges, especially in the beginning. But soon after we passed our “midpoint” this past June, things started to change. She comes to me now for comfort, she asks for me on the phone and every now and then, she mistakenly calls me mommy. Even though I know I am her “moma” and not her mommy, I don’t correct her because it feels so wonderful to be called that name. Sometimes when we are together and mommy slips out of her mouth, she looks at me with this cute smile like we are both in on the slip and we both like the sound of my honorary name for that one moment in time.
Forever her other mother. Forever her one and only moma.
Filed under: Stimulation
‘Tis that time of year again. We will be celebrating Thanksgiving this week in Globe/Pinetop with my wonderful family. Snow would be nice but being with my family is more than enough to make it a great holiday.
I have so much to be thankful for:
· Ten fingers, ten toes, a little squishy-ness in between but overall, I am healthy and glad to be so.
· My family, including my home-unit, my mom, bro and grandparents and those that may not share my blood but forever have my heart.
· A challenging, rewarding career with a great organization.
· My newly discovered love of beets.
· My mind – I continue to amuse and entertain myself on a daily basis.
· Roof over our heads, cars that work, food in the fridge. The abundance is not always apparent but when I stop to look at it, I grin with thanks.
· The group of girls that I have been friends with since I was about 9 years old. Lifetime friends are few and far between and I am blessed to have each of you in my life.
· Those that have loved me and taught me how to love in return.
Hope you and yours have a wonderful Thanksgiving
Filed under: Politics
This commentary says so much:
Thanks to my buddy Whitney for sending it my way.
Filed under: Food
I am going to New York next week and decided to pick up a new book for the trip. I purchased The Omnivore’s Dilemma and it has been a great read so far. As timing would have it, the author of this book, Michael Pollan, was on the radio show Fresh Air today and in a recent issue of The New York Times Magazine.
I should say that the book has been better than a good read – it is revolutionary so far.
A few thoughts on food from the book:
- I was struck by Pollan’s comments on corn. It seems like everything we possible eat has corn in it in some way. Corn is so cheap and seems to find its way into many items. I found it interesting that salmon farmers are training salmon (who are natural carnivores) to eat corn because it is a cheaper source of feed.
- Americans spend a small amount (I believe it was around 4%) of their income on food. Europeans spend about 18%. They buy better food and make an event out of preparing a meal instead of thinking of it as a kitchen chore. Many Europeans are healthier than Americans and there is a direct correlation to the way we grow and process our food.
- Food stamps should be changed. You can buy soda, candy bars, popcorn…just about anything you want with food stamps. Why not change the system to allow for the purchase of staple items? Make it like WIC – a system that has strict limitations on what you can buy.
- Shorten the food chain and we all win. It helps the local economy, reduces the carbon footprint it takes to grow and transport food and fresh stuff just tastes better.
Filed under: Sports
A few months back I wrote a post about the Cardinals and stated that my only wish was for them to beat the Cowboys this year.
In spite of the poor officiating, the number of Cowboys fans in our “home” stadium and the overall feeling that the Cards would blow it – they actually won!
I am going to gloat, boast, brag and enjoy this win during their bye week and the next few weeks to come (sorry Mom).
Filed under: Politics
Yes, I have failed at my weekly writing goal. I have been busy with a new position at work and all of the happenings in our life. Excuses, excuses.
First things first – Have you checked your IRA/401k lately? Holy cow! I don’t think I should have done that. now I am a little worried about the drop I have experienced. I think the recent drop in the stock market may cause me to work into my 60’s.
We had a couple of friends over to watch the VP debate last night. I was both surprised and impressed that Biden didn’t go for the jugular and tear Palin to shreds. He attacked McCain but was overall very easy on Palin. In my opinion, Palin exceeded expectations. Biden was solid as well.
Our debate watching group did agree that it was pretty darn cute when Palin winked at the camera. That will get her ticket quite a few votes.
Two key items that I really disagree with from the debate:
- Palin stated that we do not need to worry about the cause of global warming and that man isn’t the biggest contributor of the destruction of our environment. Instead we should all ban together to clean up the planet. According to Palin, the main cause is the cyclical waves of temperature rise and fall that we experience ever few thousand years. I call bullshit on this one. Man is making a huge impact on the environment. Period. It is pointless to clean up the environment without knowing the cause. And it is also ignorant to think that man is not destroying Earth.
- Biden stated that he and Obama support an initiative that would allow bankruptcy courts to lower interest rates and the overall principle on “bad” mortgages. I also call bullshit on this one. I personally know people that earn just over $40,000 a year and have gone ahead with a purchase of a $350,000 home. If they did not have a car payment, the need to eat or the desire to have electricity in their house, they just might be able to afford their mortgage. After struggling to meet their mortgage, they foreclosed. This foreclosure was THEIR FAULT. They should have known that they were buying more house than they could afford and no bankruptcy court should adjust the principle so that they could stay in the home that they could never afford in the first place. Jenn and I were approved for a loan three times the amount of our purchase price. We could have purchased a McMansion but at the end of the day we knew we had to buy a house that we could actually make the payment on. People should actually READ their closing documents to know what they are getting into. If a predatory lender did not show them the proper documentation then shame on them. But if people just bought the fancy house without considering the repercussions, too bad.
Biden and Palin are both “tolerant” of the gays while still opposing gay marriage. I am tolerant of many things in my life including: Phoenix traffic, summer heat, paying taxes, people that do not know the difference between their, there and they’re, etc. Tolerance is a tricky thing. It isn’t a like or dislike. Tolerance isn’t support of something. I do not need may relationship labeled as a marriage but I do need equal rights that married couples receive. I am tolerant of calling it something other than marriage – I really don’t care what it is called. I hope and pray that the next president gives consenting adults in committed relationships some legal rights and protections.
On a happy ending note, I really want to see Rachel Getting Married this weekend. Anne Hathaway is one of my favorites!
Filed under: Arizona
A very intense storm hit the valley last night…seems like Central Phoenix felt the full impact of the 75 MPH wind, crazy amounts of rain and lightning.
No major damage at our house but it is a mess out there. Hope you and yours are safe today.
A few pics including electrical line throwing off sparks in our driveway, neighbors yard light stuck in electrical line above our house, lightning, shutters blown off our house, tree and fence damage
Filed under: Food
Man, I love Fate. I loved Johnny’s food in Tempe and I was there the first week he opened the place in Phoenix. Check out this article about his focus on downtown and the mention of his new place that recently opened.
I am listening to the rain pour down outside – what a great sound. Seriously, I love the rain.
Filed under: Misc.
Link just added to subscribe to Skeptical Guide To Optimism via e-mail.
I saw an ad for this t-shirt and it may be the case with my blog but I like to write it anyway 
