Friday, August 31, 2007

Sonic

Have ya'll seen the Sonic commercial about the new cranberry flavoring for drinks? Here, go watch it:



A few weeks ago after the kids had gone to bed, Josh was telling me about the commercial and how funny it was because he could totally see himself going on and on and on and on with the whole "cran" prefix thing.

A few days later, after I have completely forgotten about the conversation (I have a bad medium-term memory-I'm okay with short term and I think I'm pretty good with long-term, but that medium-term really throws me off), Night talks us into going to Sonic to get an "AFTER DARK SHAKE" because shakes are better at Sonic after dark (YES-my family watches way too much tv). When we are there, I notice that they have cranberry flavoring that they can add to any drink. Wow-what a concept. I decide to get some in my diet coke.

As we are pulling out of Sonic, Night tries desperately to get my attention. "WHAT?!" I finally yell. He says, "Do you know who else would like this?" Still not catching on, I say, "What are you talking about?" He laughs and says, "Your CRANmother!!!"

I looked over at Josh and I could see that he has suddenly become the proudest father in the whole entire world. Night was not around when we talked about the commercial a few nights before-he is just that much like his father.

The rest of the way home, Night proceeded to ask who would like it, followed by various forms of crans. Keira also joined in by saying, "THIS?" and waiting for a response, followed by, "Mudder!!"

It is now an on going joke to anyone who comes near my children!

Here they are in full force:

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Text Message

Sent to me from my handsome husband while I was at work:

Your daughter climbed up on the couch next to me and pinched my nipple while giggling and yelling, "Dad's buttons!"

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Gay Rights

Last week on the way to work, I got myself all riled up listening to Ralph on talk radio. He is usually a bit too conservative for me, so I don't know why I listen to it--every day, but I do...

He has this lightning round section in which he asks an opinion, giving two or three options as the answer, and asks people to call in and cast their votes.

The lightning round question for Friday was: ""Which do you approve for gay marriage: Gay Marriage, Civil Union, or None?" based on the fact that at a recent political gathering, 2 of the Presidential candidates approved of gay marriage and the other 4 approved of a civil union.

97% of the people who called in (mostly from here in the Nashville area) said that there should be no gay marriage or civil union because God said it was wrong.

Whoa!

Usually, I'm not too opinionated-you live your life and I'll live mine. As long as you don't interfere in mine, I don't really give a shit what you do; however, these people were being ridiculous.

If you are not gay, how are you, personally effected by two people who are gay and love each other getting married? As for all those people who said, "God doesn't approve of gay marriage," what about the whole aspect of separation of church and state? Who are you to quote the Bible and say that we should make our government laws based on what it says? Can I quote the Qur'an and say we must follow those principles? Or heaven forbid-what if I wanted to create a law that followed a Muslim belief?

I got so riled up about the topic that I called in to voice my opinion, which I never ever do. The only time I call radio stations is when they are offering money and I'm desperate to win!! I didn't get to be in the poll because time ran out-I was next in line when Ralph said he had to stop taking calls due to time constraints. (convenient)

Since I did not get to voice my opinion then, here I am voicing my opinion now. Only, I was going to have to be brief for the lightning question on the air. Now I can ramble as much as I'd like. Here is what I was going to say:

I think YES gay people should be allowed to get married-for no other reason than non-gay-people are allowed to get married; however, I think all of the people who used God to back up their opinions need to consider this-one of the seven deadly sins is gluttony. Should people over a certain weight not be allowed to go to restaurants or buy certain foods?* How is it any different?

But now that I have a bit more room to voice my opinion, this is what else I have to say:

I think that people who look down on gays are also sinning by judging them. I am not a Bible-believer. I kind of look at it as just another book. It may have some really good principles to live by, but it isn't infallible and it has been interpreted quite a few different ways, according to what the reader or interpretor wants to get out of it. If you are a Bible-believing Christian, more power to you, but quoting the Book does not really do anything for me.

I will now use some examples to back up my opinion.

Leviticus is the book in the Bible that people use to quote, proving that being gay is wrong.

"You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination." (Leviticus 18:22)

"If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them." (Leviticus 20:13)

Leviticus has a lot of useful advise that applies to our daily living:

"For everyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. He has cursed his father or his mother. His blood shall be upon him." (Leviticus 20:9)

Since I am going to interpret the Bible in order to get my point across, I read "Anyone who talks back to their parents should be killed."

"If a man lies with a woman during her sickness and uncovers her nakedness, he has discovered her flow, and she has uncovered the flow of her blood. Both of them shall be cut off from her people." (Leviticus 20:18)

If you have sex when you are on your period, you and your husband should be disowned.

"Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard." (Leviticus 19:27)

Don't shave your sideburns or trim your beard.


Now, why is it that THESE topics aren't debated in the national election? If we are going to be a Bible-following nation, we need to follow all of the rules.




*
Sorry, Kat, I know you don't like when people pick on fat people! I'm just trying to prove my point. I have nothing against eating too much.

Sunday, August 05, 2007

Mover or a Stayer??

When I was growing up, we moved a lot. I was born in Arizona. We moved to Texas, back to Arizona, then to Michigan, and then to Ohio, all before I began 5th grade. I have no idea how many houses I have lived in. After getting married, Josh and I have lived in various apartments; we then moved to Colorado (from here in Nashville) just for a change of scene. Then we couldn't hack it (read: we were too poor to be parents) once Night arrived, so we moved to Indiana to be closer to family. We couldn't hack that either (read: I hated being so close to family), so we moved back here to Nashville.

We've lived in a few more apartments since moving back, then we moved here to Franklin. We are renting a wonderful (historic) 2 bedroom, one bathroom, house. We are near downtown, and we love the area. Our house is too small-we need one more bedroom and one more bath.

Guess what-it is time to move. Well, it actually is not time to move because our lease doesn't end until February; however, I'm feeling antsy. I'm definitely a mover. I like to see new things and have changes in scenery.

The big question is this: do we stay in Franklin, which we do like a lot-more than anywhere we've lived thus far. Or do we explore somewhere new? We are looking into Austin, TX or Seattle, WA. Of course, Melbourne would be perfect, but that isn't going to happen any time soon, probably never... Should we put down our roots here and just visit the other places or should we make an ultimate plunge and just move? That is more exciting, but more risky as well...

Are you a mover or a stayer? Did your childhood influence your present?

Friday, August 03, 2007

Yay for Mari!

I did it! I went to the YMCA BEFORE work twice this week! The first day I went was Wednesday. It was wonderful. I felt so energized and my workout was terrific. Then this morning, I got up and went. I wasn't so energized and my workout was okay, but I still worked out, and I felt so proud of myself. Maybe someone who is NOT a morning person CAN work out in the mornings.

The Y in Maryland Farms (a business district here in Nashville) was PACKED. I arrived 10 minutes after after they opened-yep 5 AM, and the place had about 50 people already there working out. That is crazy. I want to be crazy. I'm working on it!!

Thanks for all of the encouragement.