Just when I thought I'd slip back into my comfortable oblivion, I decided to see what was happening on MSNBC. Well, let's just say folks, it's not looking too good. At least Terri Schiavo gets to die in peace (sort of, if you don't count the obnoxious protesters), but what about the president's silence on the school shooting in Minnesota? I guess we know where his priorities lie. And a finger in Wendy's chili? Dear Lord, if there's a finger in that chili, God only know what else could be there.
On a slightly brighter side of things, there is the annual furniture races at Big Mountain ski resort to end the season with a bang. They actually race these things down a hill and try not to kill themselves. It's sure to be very entertaining. I'll try to take some good pictures to post for everybody.
Sunday, March 27, 2005
Friday, March 25, 2005
So irritated at the world
Has the world gone completely mad?! That's a rhetorical question, don't answer. I thought living in Montana, I would be immune from this crap about the world going to hell in a handbasket, but somehow, my escapist tactics have failed, and I am left pissed, and virtually incapable of doing anything because of my remoteness. Argh!!! How my plans have been foiled!
So, here is just a list of a few things that have put the proverbial bee in my bonnet:
Terry Schiavo, or "poor pawn for the religious right". Here's a good article about the Catholic Church's position on the case:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7276850/site/Newsweek/ It's an interview with a Jesuit bioethicist. Leave it to the Jesuits to make the Catholics sound sane. Are you meaning to tell me that congress, and the president for that matter, is going to overturn the decisions of the Judicial branch whenever they feel like it? And that the constitutional right of marriage means squat? What was all that hot air at the beginning of the electoral season about the sanctity and constitutional rights of marriage? Oh, right, something to get votes from right leaning moderates (Dad).
Ok, number two thing that is totally pissing me off: The whole Pro-athletes using steroid issue. Ok, these people get paid obscene amounts of money for the work they do, and they use drugs; drugs are illegal, steroids are drugs, and we prosecute normal people for using both. WE DON'T WASTE TAX PAYER DOLLARS BY HOLDING CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS OVER WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!! Throw Maguire and Sosa's ass in jail, increase teacher salaries and get on with it.
Number three thing really irking me: myopic disposition of this administration. "We're not going to do anything about global warming even though there is an overwhelming body of evidence to support the fact that this is unprecedented warming caused by human actions." I'm actually supposed to show an "Attitude of Gratitude" for the funding that the park service does get. So what they're saying is "Shut up and be happy for what you do get." Is Big Brother watching? Well, it doesn't really matter because all these places are going to be deserts in 150 years anyway. Hey, here's another link for a good article on Global Climate Change in Glacier N.P. so y'all can educate yourselves a little. http://www.nrmsc.usgs.gov/research/global.htm
Breathe Mel, breathe.
So, here is just a list of a few things that have put the proverbial bee in my bonnet:
Terry Schiavo, or "poor pawn for the religious right". Here's a good article about the Catholic Church's position on the case:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7276850/site/Newsweek/ It's an interview with a Jesuit bioethicist. Leave it to the Jesuits to make the Catholics sound sane. Are you meaning to tell me that congress, and the president for that matter, is going to overturn the decisions of the Judicial branch whenever they feel like it? And that the constitutional right of marriage means squat? What was all that hot air at the beginning of the electoral season about the sanctity and constitutional rights of marriage? Oh, right, something to get votes from right leaning moderates (Dad).
Ok, number two thing that is totally pissing me off: The whole Pro-athletes using steroid issue. Ok, these people get paid obscene amounts of money for the work they do, and they use drugs; drugs are illegal, steroids are drugs, and we prosecute normal people for using both. WE DON'T WASTE TAX PAYER DOLLARS BY HOLDING CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS OVER WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!! Throw Maguire and Sosa's ass in jail, increase teacher salaries and get on with it.
Number three thing really irking me: myopic disposition of this administration. "We're not going to do anything about global warming even though there is an overwhelming body of evidence to support the fact that this is unprecedented warming caused by human actions." I'm actually supposed to show an "Attitude of Gratitude" for the funding that the park service does get. So what they're saying is "Shut up and be happy for what you do get." Is Big Brother watching? Well, it doesn't really matter because all these places are going to be deserts in 150 years anyway. Hey, here's another link for a good article on Global Climate Change in Glacier N.P. so y'all can educate yourselves a little. http://www.nrmsc.usgs.gov/research/global.htm
Breathe Mel, breathe.
Monday, March 21, 2005
Goodnight Nana
I would like to thank all of you who gave your condolences for my Grandmother. For those of you that do not know, my grandmother, Betsy Porter or "Nana" to me, passed away a week ago Tuesday. It was not a shock as she had been ill for quite some time, but you never seem to be prepared for these things to happen. She lived a good, long life, and it was only towards the end that kidney failure slowed her down. The family is very thankful that she went quietly and peacefully during the night. I would also like to comment on the incredile care and attention paid to my grandmother and the family by the hospice workers. What a hard job, and we could not have done it without them.
She will be missed, but we all know she gets to wake up in a much better place than here.
She will be missed, but we all know she gets to wake up in a much better place than here.
Thursday, March 10, 2005
Dancthing Queen
Guess who's going to be a bonafide park ranger? That's right, yours truly. I get the Stetson hat and everything, and I'll be leading people on hikes, long hikes, not just pithy beach walks. Kick ass! So, I had the funniest kid the other day. It will be particularly funny for those of you who have seen Napoleon Dynamite. The day was Tuesday, and it was an afternoon just like any other. I didn't take particular notice to this child before, but perhaps because he was hungry, he didn't seem to talk much. Kids do that when they get hungry, they also whine - a lot.
So, we're eating lunch, and this kid gets a few calories in him, and he just starts acting. I recall that some of the phrases went something like this (imagine this dialogue though, with a thick lisp, unable to say r's or s's correctly)
Mel: Who's your favorite super hero?
Andrew: Thpider man. He hath thweet thpots on histh handsth where he sthoots out websth. (Demonstrates spiderman action) And if there were a bunch of girlsth awound we would say 'Girlsth sthep back. We'll handle thith.'
Mel: (Laughing)Oh yeah, so you'd protect the girls if you were spiderman?
Andrew: Yeah, causthe they need help sthometimesth. But you know what I weally like to do?
Mel: No, what.
Andrew: I love to dancthe.
Mel: (Humored and Intrigued) Oh yeah, let's see some of those dance moves.
Andrew: Yeah, I got thome pwetty sthweet dancthe movesth.
He then proceeds to get the kids around him to give him a beat, and starts his "sthweet dancthe movesth". I'm not kidding you, I think it was one of the funniest things I have ever seen. I should have mentioned the fact that he was wearing moonboots (Napoleon style), and very ill-fitted jeans (Napoleon style as well). The dancing consisted of some poorly executed handstands and various hip thrusts, but I don't know, there could have been stuff I didn't see because of the tears pouring out of my eyes. So then, we did the puppet show (don't ask), and went outside to play games. I was trying to get all the 1st graders around to explain the rules of the game (akin to herding cats), and little Andrew pipes up,"I don't think I want play the game. I'm gonna go over there and practithe my dancthe movesth." So he went over to the corner of the field and started dancing. He danced until he saw that the other kids were having fun, and then he came over, but it was pretty darn funny. You know, I'm totally gonna miss these kids when I don't get to work with them any more.
My parents also came and visited this week, and we had a great time. If anyone else would like to visit, I will be here through the 31st of March, and then coming back the 1st of June. Between those times, I will be in Alaska, so there will probably be some very depressing entries from my posts in Seward and Whittier, but we'll try to hang in there.
In lieu of the fact that this week's entry was entirely devoted to this 1st grader, I'm including another first grader funny quote. So here's the stats:
Weight gained: Holdin' steady at 3.2 pounds (God help me)
Wild game night menu: Antelope stew (add a new meat to the list!)
Miles skied/Hiked: 47 (5 mile hike with parents. No more snow =( )
First grader quote of the week: I have a thing with heights. (It's funny when little kids say things like adults - they have no idea what they're talking about.)
So, we're eating lunch, and this kid gets a few calories in him, and he just starts acting. I recall that some of the phrases went something like this (imagine this dialogue though, with a thick lisp, unable to say r's or s's correctly)
Mel: Who's your favorite super hero?
Andrew: Thpider man. He hath thweet thpots on histh handsth where he sthoots out websth. (Demonstrates spiderman action) And if there were a bunch of girlsth awound we would say 'Girlsth sthep back. We'll handle thith.'
Mel: (Laughing)Oh yeah, so you'd protect the girls if you were spiderman?
Andrew: Yeah, causthe they need help sthometimesth. But you know what I weally like to do?
Mel: No, what.
Andrew: I love to dancthe.
Mel: (Humored and Intrigued) Oh yeah, let's see some of those dance moves.
Andrew: Yeah, I got thome pwetty sthweet dancthe movesth.
He then proceeds to get the kids around him to give him a beat, and starts his "sthweet dancthe movesth". I'm not kidding you, I think it was one of the funniest things I have ever seen. I should have mentioned the fact that he was wearing moonboots (Napoleon style), and very ill-fitted jeans (Napoleon style as well). The dancing consisted of some poorly executed handstands and various hip thrusts, but I don't know, there could have been stuff I didn't see because of the tears pouring out of my eyes. So then, we did the puppet show (don't ask), and went outside to play games. I was trying to get all the 1st graders around to explain the rules of the game (akin to herding cats), and little Andrew pipes up,"I don't think I want play the game. I'm gonna go over there and practithe my dancthe movesth." So he went over to the corner of the field and started dancing. He danced until he saw that the other kids were having fun, and then he came over, but it was pretty darn funny. You know, I'm totally gonna miss these kids when I don't get to work with them any more.
My parents also came and visited this week, and we had a great time. If anyone else would like to visit, I will be here through the 31st of March, and then coming back the 1st of June. Between those times, I will be in Alaska, so there will probably be some very depressing entries from my posts in Seward and Whittier, but we'll try to hang in there.
In lieu of the fact that this week's entry was entirely devoted to this 1st grader, I'm including another first grader funny quote. So here's the stats:
Weight gained: Holdin' steady at 3.2 pounds (God help me)
Wild game night menu: Antelope stew (add a new meat to the list!)
Miles skied/Hiked: 47 (5 mile hike with parents. No more snow =( )
First grader quote of the week: I have a thing with heights. (It's funny when little kids say things like adults - they have no idea what they're talking about.)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)