My First Costume

Gabby is now the same age I was of the first Halloween I remember. I went to preschool at the Methodist Church in downtown Hot Springs. It was 1982 and I was 4 years old. I showed up to my class only to discover that I (or my mom, but we can't really blame her, she had 4 very young children at home) had forgotten to wear a costume to school that day. Ms. Bundy must have noticed how upset I was feeling. She pulled me aside and told me she thought they had an extra costume in a closet I could borrow. I was so excited. I remember walking with Ms. Bundy to the closet absolutely certain that it was a beautiful princess costume. I was secretly glad I hadn't worn a costume since I just had a feeling this one in the closet would be spectacular.

Ms. Bundy goes into the closet and brings out: a Luke Skywalker costume. It wasn't even Princess Leia. I was very disappointed but it was still a costume. It even had a mask. Ms. Bundy helped me get changed and we went back to class. I was embarrassed that I was dressed up as a boy. The worst part of the day were the recesses and picture time. There was a "big" boy dressed as Darth Vader and another boy dressed as Yoda. Darth Vader had the advantage of me as he had a light saber. Unfortunately, my impromptu costume was not similarly equipped. He kept knocking me on the head with it and insisting we fight. I had to play with Darth Vader and Yoda all day without a light saber to defend myself. The mask didn't exactly fit either so I never saw the blows from Vader coming. I tried using the force but Yoda was unwilling to properly tutor me in its intricacies. And I was dressed as the young Skywalker of Star Wars, not the Jedi of Episode VI so I couldn't technically defeat Darth and stay true to my character. If only there had been an Obi Wan Kanobi, I would have had some help defeating Darth Vader.

I wonder what Gabby's memories will be. She is dressing up as a penguin. She was quite insistant on getting that costumer. She completely rejected the ballerina outfit I made for her. I just hope that there's not a big boy dressed as a polar bear at her school who she has to fight.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Happy Birthday Jen!

Jen is the ripe old age of 24! We went to Joe's Crab Shack to celebrate. The best thing about it is they have a playground off the patio so us adults can carry on mostly uninterrupted conversations. I think Jen welcomed the interruption of me going on one of my political rants. To be fair though, David brought politics up

Jen and Me. Just think, we'll be same age this time in a year!

Gabby and David busy coloring

The fabulous playground that makes eating out with kids do-able!

Gabby likes trying on my clothes from time to time. She loves my new jammy pants. Actually, they're fleece and so warm and comfy.

It'll be a while before we can start sharing clothes!

My Vote

I cast my vote yesterday. Well, I mailed it, but it's a done deal! I love politics. I hate politics. They're so fascinating while being incredibly frustrating. I admit that I love election season and really look forward to it, especially presidential elections. Almost as much as I love college football. I watched almost all the debates during the primaries and general election. I watched both conventions (as much as I could stomach of the DNC anyway). I'll even admit that I yell at the tv during reports, debates, and speeches almost as much as I do during a football game. I seem to do a lot more laughing though, especially when Obama and Biden open their mouths. Joe Biden is absolutely hilarious. My favorite section of any newspaper is the op-ed and I read the opinions from all points of view. Yes, I know I'm NERD, but a proud patriotic one! Anyway, I'd describe myself as a Conservative who generally votes Republican. I have a few Libertarian leanings as well. I know I'm very opinionated about my political views and I enjoy debating them with those who think differently.


I'm voting for McCain-Palin for the same reasons I voted for Bush, national security and Supreme Court nominees. Those are the 2 most important issues to me for any presidential nominee. All the rest of the programs and platforms they promise and campaign for have so much more to do with Congress and what a President can actually get done there (I shudder to think about the further havoc that would be wreaked by a Democrat Congress and President). The courts have incredible power today. Unfortunately, "laws" that would never be passed if put to a public or even congressional vote, are issued from judicial benches all the time. Even when a law is passed, like it was in California by a majority of the people to uphold marriage between a man and woman, judges overturn it and write new law. I want strict constructionists in the court system and I think McCain is the best one to get them there.


I think history will be more appreciative of President Bush then the media and his opponents would have us believe. He has strengthened our military, fought our enemies, and I think he's been incredibly successful in keeping this nation much safer since 9/11/01. He has put the right kind of judges on the Supreme Court. That is generally the most lasting legacy a President has. I'm a big fan of John Roberts. My biggest complaint about Bush is that he's pandered to liberals too much and not been conservative enough.

Now, I've never been a fan of John McCain. He wasn't my pick in the Primaries. I feel like he became a media-whore after the 2000 Primaries. Being the maverick-darling of the liberal media for so long got him a bit off-course from conservative principles. I think those days are long gone and I like him better now for not trying so hard to keep in favor with the media. I trust McCain to be Commander-in-Chief and to continue fighting our enemies no matter how unpopular it would be. I also love that he selected a true conservative for his Vice-President.


I'm also voting against Barack Obama. I get that he's a charismatic speaker, but what has he actually done? His major accomplishments are writing not one, but two autobiographies and being elected to public office. As soon as he's elected, he's set his sights on the next higher office and is off campaigning rather than actually doing what he was elected to do. It is as plain as day that Obama is a socialist (see a fabulous article at http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/10/why_obamas_socialism_matters_1.html ). What makes me crazy is how few Americans seem to care or understand just how destructive socialism is in practice. Obama does his dead level best to disguise it, but it slips out. It slipped out when he said that it is a "right" for every American to have affordable healthcare. This coming from a constitutional law professor! It's been a while since I read the Constitution in its entirety but I'm certain affordable healthcare isn't mentioned anywhere. It's a privilege. Obama actually said that taxes should be higher on the wealthy to be fair and "spread the wealth around." That is as stark a socialist principle as I've ever heard. And that's just the tiny tip of the enormous iceberg of reasons not to vote for Obama.

The following is from my favorite political website, http://www.americanthinker.com/. And in the spirit of fairness, here are a long list of reasons another voter will be voting for Obama.

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2008/10/why_im_voting_democrat.html
Why I'm voting Democrat

letter to the editor


I’m voting Democrat because like most Americans I trust lawyers more than anyone else; I think only lawyers should run the government, and all the Democrat Leaders are lawyers: Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Joe Biden, John Edwards, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Leader Harry Reid, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, and John Kerry, to name just a few. (Al Gore dropped out of Law School, so I don’t trust him as much, except on Global Warming.)

I’m voting Democrat because the Democrats support the trial lawyers and I think this country needs more lawsuits and less tort reform. And I don’t believe the trial lawyers’ contributions have a thing to do with it. I’m voting Democrat because Congress has done such a wonderful job under Democrat leadership the last two years, that I want a lot more of the same.

I’m voting Democrat because I want to get my health care from the same competent, efficient, cost-effective, customer-service-focused folks who run the US Post Office, the Pentagon, FEMA and the state Registry of Motor Vehicles.

I'm voting Democrat because I'm way too irresponsible to own a gun, and I know that my local police are all I need to protect me from murderers and thieves.


I’m voting Democrat because Sen. Obama has promised to cut the taxes of 95% of the people, including the 30% who don’t pay taxes.

I’m voting Democrat because Sen. Obama has promised to take away the secret ballot in union elections, and I think the union bosses should know if a workingman or woman is with them, or against them.

I’m voting Democrat because Sen. Obama has over three years experience in the Federal Government, and “Hope” is a great strategy.

I’m voting Democrat because Sen. Obama voted “present” instead of “yes” or “no” over 120 times in the Illinois State Senate, and I think we need a decisive president.

I’m voting Democrat because I think that drilling for American oil is foolish, when we can buy oil from the Middle East. I’m voting Democrat because I think windmills (except off Hyannis) are a better answer to reliable, clean energy than Nuclear Energy.



I’m voting Democrat because I don’t think we give enough to other countries in foreign aid.

I’m voting Democrat because I’m for putting up barriers to free trade, as they did in 1930 with the Smoot-Hawley bill. That made things much better then.

I’m voting Democrat because I miss the high unemployment, inflation and interest rates of the Jimmy Carter years. I’m voting Democrat because parents shouldn’t get to choose the school their kids go to. Parents should leave their children’s education to the teachers and stay out of it.
I’m voting Democrat because I think this is the perfect time to raise the Capital Gains tax and drive investment money out of the stock market.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe oil companies' profits of 4% on a gallon of gas are obscene, but the government taxing the same gallon of gas at 15% isn't.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe the government will do a better job of spending the money I earn than I would, and I want to spread my wealth around to those who earn less—or nothing.

I'm voting Democrat because freedom of speech is fine as long as nobody is offended by it.

I'm voting Democrat because, when we pull out of Iraq, I trust that the bad guys will stop what they're doing because they now think we're good people.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe that people who can't tell us if it will rain on Friday CAN tell us that the polar ice caps will melt away in ten years if I don't start driving a Prius.

I'm voting Democrat because I'm not concerned about restoring partial birth abortions so long as we keep all death row murderers alive.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe that small businesses should not be allowed to make a profit. They need to break even and give the rest away to the government for redistribution to people who didn’t start businesses.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe the law is what judges say it is, and not what legislators say -- or the constitution.

I’m voting Democrat because the media would call me a racist if I didn’t.
Robert A. HallDes Plaines, IL

Couple of Cougar Fans

I'm all about BYU Football. I was hooked after my freshman year in 1996 when BYU went 14-1, won the Cotton Bowl, and finished #5. I love college football in general. I cheer for the Hogs, Woo Pig Soooie, but I'm really all about the Cougars. I'm an ESPN junkie on Saturdays and read the Sports page, basically soak in all the football I can. It's just so much fun watching what can happen on any given Saturday. The frustration and craziness of the BCS system actually adds something to the addiction.

Of course I'm teaching Gabby a proper love and appreciation for BYU Football. I think I scare her a little when I watch games. I yell and clap and sing the Fight Song. Gabby tells me I'm too loud and that I shouldn't be angry. She's a very optimistic fan. Tonight's game made me especially angry, but I still love BYU and won't ever give up on 'em. It was actually the first time Gabby yelled, "Go Cougars!" Normally, she'll say, "Go Tigger, Go Pooh Bear, Go Piglet!" So even though the Cougs lost tonight, I feel pride in the small victory of finally Gabby getting it that it's the Cougars we cheer for and not Tigger. She watched most of the first half with me and I tried explaining the basics to her. She knew we were cheering for the guys in white, but was a little confused that they weren't in blue. I think she's catching on. It's a start.

So another thing I'm quite proud of is Gabby's dream. Everytime I ask her what she dreamed about, she says, 'I dreamed I played basketball, it was raining, and I made a pizza." Everytime. I think she may have actually had that dream once and it just stuck with her. It does my heart good that she dreams of basketball since I'd kind of like for her to play and love that as much as I did. So that's what she's talking about in the first part of the video.

Gabby is THAT kid!

It's barely October and Utah has already had its first snow. It hasn't lasted very long, but it definitely feels like winter. Gabby was so excited when it snowed yesterday. She proclaimed that Santa is coming and we had to get ready for him. She had me pour him a glass of milk first thing in the morning. I threw it out later and Gabby noticed. She told me Santa would be angry with me and I'd be on the naughty list. So we made him cookies late last night to make up for me throwing out the milk. I spent the whole day telling Gabby that it was too early for Santa to come, but she knows best. Here's the thing, I NEVER talk about Santa. Not since last Christmas and I'm a bit surprised about how much she remembers about it all.

Now I should clarify. Snow in and of itself isn't that bad nor is winter. I like a change in seasons. Snow can be beautiful and it can be fun to play in at times. It's October. The last snow was May 1st. I could handle most happily 2-3 months of winter, but October to May? It was barely summer! It seems that the predictions are for another snow-filled winter so lucky us! I'm trying to be more positive, but if it's still snowing and cold in April, expect some rants!

Today was the Primary Presentation at church. We were in Arkansas for the last 2 Sundays that they were practicing. There was a practice yesterday from 10-11:30 but it was 11 am before I noticed the flier on my door. I wasn't sure what to expect from Gabby. After the Sacrament, all the children were invited to go sit on the stand. Gabby ran up there and quickly returned to me after not knowing where to sit. I saw her teacher and tried to tell Gabby to go back up pointing where to sit. She kept refusing. I finally said, "Gabby, you have to sit right here with me and you CANNOT go sit with your class." Being my little rebel, she ran right up there. She just stood there at the top of stairs in her own little world. She'd wave to me, dance around, pick her nose, and other such things that make every mother proud.

It was her turn to say her lines and she did great with that. After she was done, she yelled, "Mommy, I did it! I did it!" I was near the back of the chapel and I heard her all too clearly. She kept running back and forth to me. I wanted her to be apart of the program otherwise she would have been out in the hall in BIG trouble. I kept hoping she would just settle down and stay with her class. She tried singing a couple of songs, waving to me throughout. She finally decided she'd performed enough and sat with me the rest of the program. Every other kid sat up there so reverently. I know every Primary Program has THAT kid, I just wasn't expecting Gabby to be her.

Oh and Soapy II and Sola didn't last the week. Fortunately, Gabby found a dead cricket and seems content with that for now.

Pumpkins and Pets

Gabby is so excited for Halloween. She's been asking me every day if it's Halloween or Christmas yet. She seems to get that Halloween will be first. We had to get a pumpkin when we were at the grocery store the other day. I'm not too fancy with my Jack-o-lanterns and fortunately Gabby's not picky.

Gabby fine-tuned my drawing of the face before carving commenced. This pumpkin is already starting to rot so maybe I'll try a more elaborate carving on the next one.

Meet Sola and Soapy II. Sola is the white fish and Soapy the gold. We did go to the pet store on Saturday to make up for me throwing Gabby's dead bug away. Gabby picked out gold fish this time around. She wanted to name them both Soapy but I insisted on 2 different names and she came up with Sola. I was downstairs watching Conference on Sunday when I heard Gabby shrieking incoherently. I could just make out fish. I dash upstairs certain that she has overturned the tank or some other such disaster. Gabby is in hysterics. I manage to catch such words as, fish, hand, jumped, bed, gone. I go into Gabby's room and Soapy II is not in the tank. I look behind her bed and see her on the floor. I grab Soapy and quickly put her back in the tank. She immediately began swimming. She's still alive so I don't think she was irreparably harmed by falling behind the bed for a couple of minutes. It took a while for Gabby to calm down, she was pretty scared about harming Soapy.

Gabby and I share an interest in fish. I had fish while I was at BYU. Lynn bought an enormous tank from DI and we both became obsessed with fish. Our other roommates moved out mid-semester taking the tv so we would watch our fish instead for entertainment. My favorite was Wally. He looked like Sola. There was some kind of disease that wiped out all the other fish. Wally survived, but lost an eye so he would swim in circles and hit the side of the tank. It was quite endearing. My favorite game to play with the fish was "Ursula". For those of you not familiar with Little Mermaid, I would take a large spoon to "command and control" the sea as Ursula did. So I suppose it's not that surprising that Gabby tries to command and control her fish!

Time for a New Pet?

Gabby's fish Soapy was sent to a burial at sea a few months ago. She noticed that Soapy was gone, but being a bit of a coward, I told her she was visiting family. She seemed to have forgotten about Soapy for the most part and has been great being pet-free.

Yesterday, Gabby and I went on a bug catching adventure. Utah is not a great place to catch bugs. We were outside for a while and didn't see any bugs. Gabby gathered leaves and mushrooms in her bug-catching net instead. We came back in the house so Gabby could make soup. I was curious as to what she would come up with. She stripped out of her clothes, donned her hat and apron, and the Naked Chef began her magic.

She pushed a chair to the counter, got a pan out, put it on the stove and added the leaves, mushroom, and a rock. She then said she wanted to make egg drop soup. She discovered it last week in Arkansas. So she got the eggs out, and broke 2 in the pan (yes, i was a mere observer) and began stirring. She was quite intent on eating her creation. I literally tore the pan and spoon from her and threw it in the sink before she could taste it.

In the mean time, I noticed a fly buzzing in our house. I pointed it out to Gabby and she threw off the hat and apron, grabbed her net and hunted that fly down. I actually caught it between my fingers with my ninja-like reflexes and slightly disabled the fly and let it go. Gabby recaptured it a few moments later. The fly was trying to escape the net when Gabby terminally disabled it. She said, "There, now you'll never get away."

Little did I know that she had big plans for this fly. She scooped it out of the net and told me she needed a house for it. I gave her one of her plastic teacups. She then stated that her fly was hungry and needed some dinner, especially soup. I let her poor a little water in the cup. She added some crackers and M&M's. She wanted to give the fly salsa, peanut butter, and marshmallows, but I felt there had to be some limit. She talked to that fly and carried it around in that cup full of water, crackers, and M&M's the rest of the night.

I threw it all away this morning while I was cleaning. Of course she noticed and this fly is "visiting his family" now as well. She told me we needed to go to the pet store today to get a new pet. I think we'll be making that trip. A dead bug is just too pathetic of a pet!