Japan, Sendai, and Learning Japanese

Last month was a major earthquake and tsunami in Sendai.  It was really horrifying to see the damage and suffering of the wonderful people there.  Whole villages wiped out, no food or water, no gas or heating fuel, whole families washed away, and people who cannot find loved ones.  Homes gone, living in shelters, and now nuclear problems.  Despite having been the most prepared and technologically (when it comes to earthquakes and tsunamis) advanced nation on the earth, this major disaster was too much to handle.  Still, if any third world country would have had this happen, they may have lost perhaps millions of people instead of 20-30 thousand.  It is strange to see pictures of places I have been in the pictures of the disaster.  The strangest was watching the Sendai Airport being overtaken by the tsunami.  Wow.  Creepy and amazing and scary.

The people of Japan are truly wonderful.  It is hard to watch them suffer so.  But in watching things unfold we can see the true greatness of these people come out.  Looting is almost non-existent, people are only buying what they need, so others can have some.  They wait nicely in long lines with hours long wait.  They look out for each other and help each other.  Not only were they the most prepared in the world, but perhaps they are one of the best at handling the situation while it is happening. Things are still really bad there.  People all over Japan and all over the world are available to help, but because of the tsunami, it is almost impossible to get supplies and help to all those who need it. However, in the long run, Japan will probably also be the best country to recover from it.  Some of the freeways, and bridges are already fixed and rebuilt.  They will recover faster than any other country.  After world war 2, Japan was so badly damaged that the US military flew all over the country to find a place to land their plane, but could not find a place, yet 15 years later, Japan was a thriving country on its way to being a super power.  Freedom, and the Japanese culture come together to make a tiny 3rd world country into a world wide technologically advanced super power in a short time.  They are loosing their super power status, but they are still modern and safe.  There are problems with Japan (some are major - debt, and not enough children being born), but every country has something.  I hope that some how this disaster helps the gospel grow in this wonderful land.

After watching the horrible earthquake and tsunami in Sendai (where I served my mission).  I came to realize that even though I love Japan, I had let my self become separated from it.  I am forgetting the language, and I don't take time to study it or practice it.  So, I decided that it is time to get back to it, and try to become good at Japanese.  I was searching the internet, and I came across this website: www.ajatt.com. (All Japanese All the Time.)   The guy who made was born in Africa, raised and England, and then about HS age moved to America.  He is kind of crazy.  He wanted to learn Japanese, but didn't have any Japanese background, and he was here.  After reading a lot on learning languages, he decided the best way was to completely change his environment (buy only Japanese music, movies, books, etc), have fun, and at first, only memorize about 2000 Kanji meanings (not sound).  Once he learned the kanji meaning, he learned full sentences little by little (about 10,000), and that is how he learned grammar (through usage), and the proper pronunciation for the kanji.  In other words, he learned like kids do, not memorizing grammar rules, etc.  In 18 months, he went from knowing no Japanese, to being fluent in speaking, reading and writting (all while in America), and he was going to school getting a degree in computer programing at the time.  Of course he had to do english in school, etc, but any other time it was only Japanese.  He did so well that after 18 months, (during which he graduated from college), he got a job as a computer programer in Japan.  Wow!  After reading this, I thought that maybe my goal of just being OK at Japanese, could grow to be fluent in Japanese.  I mean after all, I have a minor in Japanese Studies, and I lived there almost 18 months, it is kind of embarrassing that I am not better than I am.

One good thing about living today is that if you look, it is not too hard to do get Japanese stuff.  I mean when I got home from my mission in 1994, any kind of Japanese  anything was hard to get.  There was an internet, but not really.   Computers didn't do Japanese.  I remember going into the UCSD book store and coveting the Japanese language pack for the Mac that was about $100 that I could not afford.  Today if you have a Mac, you just do a few clicks, and everything is in Japanese.  You can even write letters in Japanese, and the Kanji is there, so you just pick the correct word.  It is truly amazing.  Anything printed in Japanese was treasure because it was hard to get, today you can go to a million Japanese websites.  Also, because Japan is so technologically advanced,  they are really into the internet, and because they love America and English (but can't speak it), there are lots of websites and tools that are easy to find and use.  Also, manga (comic books) and anime (cartoons) are becoming really popular, and lots of younger people are trying to learn Japanese on their own so they can better understand manga and anime.  So there are even more resources to learn Japanese.  Also, the Church is becoming more advanced as well.  Yesterday was April 2nd, 2011, the first day of conference.  By Saturday before I went to bed, I was able to get all of Saturdays conference talks (audio) in Japanese on my iPhone.  That was amazing.  When I was in Japan, we never had conference Sundays.  We had normal church, and then wait a few months for the Liahona in Japanese that the members would read.  Now people in Japan can get it as it happens, and listen anytime on their iPhone or MP3 players.   Things like this just make me in awe of the modern world.

If anyone ever wanted to learn a foreign language, now is the time to do it.  You can immerse yourself an any semi major language now days.  There are lots of websites that show you how to do it without classes, and while having fun.  Antimoon.com is another one.  Just a warning though, some of the people who make these websites are young adult males and not necessarily the most tactful or conservative people on the planet, so just remember that.  But they have good methods.   You also don't have to believe the hype about how only kids can learn foreign languages.  The only reason they do is because they are immersed, and have no choice.  When we have fun (no pressure), immerse our selves, etc, we can also learn as well.  I have read about some people who have learned 20, 30 languages.  I am sure the first few are hard, and then it gets easier.  If they can learn 20-30 languages, I surely can learn 1 more.  It would be great to learn Japanese.  If it works, my next goal is to learn Tagalog (and get the kids to learn as well), then Spanish (have the kids learn this one as well), and if all this works out, maybe Korean (for TaeKwonDo) or Chinese.

Anyway, I am really excited to get back to Japanese, and see how I am in a year or so.  I think I do have an advantage over many people learning Japanese, and that is that I already have lots of Japanese exposure, and Just in the past day or two of immersing myself, I am already remembering a lot.  I started reading the Book of Mormon reader (like a comic for kids), and in a few sections, I didn't have to look up any words.  There were a few words I didn't really know, but I could get the meaning out of context. It was neat.  The rhythm, speed, and listening skills are still there.  These are sometimes the hardest to get.  So, as along as I am having fun and doing something in Japanese almost all of the day, and reviewing Kanji daily, I am on my way.  

An "almost 40 year old" woman's thoughts on sports.

As I approach my 40th birthday (not for several months), I have been thinking about about getting older.  One thing I have really been thinking about is sports.  I have always liked doing athletics.  I loved swimming, bike riding, stilts, pogo stick, and roller-skating, football(with the kids in the neighborhood) as a kid, and volleyball.  In High School I did some hiking and back packing, lifeguarded and taught swimming lessons, and swam on a swim team (I was pretty good, but not great).  I got discouraged that I was not better.  I was also busy with school and my job etc, and didn't try too many other sports.  In college I did a few triathlons, took a surfing class, and took a volleyball class.  I even joined the LaCrosse team (a sport I knew absolutely nothing about, but they needed players, and I saw a flyer, so I joined), I didn't do particularly well, but I sure learned a lot!  

As I am getting older, I am realizing that my ability to do sports won't last forever, and I better get to all the sports that I have always wanted to do.  I need to get to them now, and not wait until I am old to try them.  So, ever since my son started kindergarten, I have started little by little to do more and more sports.  I used to just walk or run or do workout videos (boring), to try and stay in shape, I also had a gym membership for a while, also boring).  But now I am hiking, biking, and doing taekwondo, and in the summer, I try to get some surfing in, even though I am not good at all (when I can schedule a 2 hour drive to the beach).  I am realizing that doing these things really make me feel good.  I now find physical activities that are fun, and go for it.  I love being older and doing these things.  There is no pressure, I do them because I want to be good at them for myself, and because I want to have fun.  I don't do them because a big championship meet is coming up.  I have no preasure to be the best.  I know I will never be the best, and I could care less, I just want to be my best, and have fun.  I guess that is the blessing of getting older.  I am becoming less self conscience, and learning to overcome the feeling of embarassment when I mess up, or look awkward because I am learning a new skill.  If I want to do it, I have to start at the bottom, I might look silly, but it is better than sitting on my behind and watching everyone else having fun doing it while I am not.  Also a great benefit of getting older - less and less care for what others think about you.  When I first started Taekwondo, I was the only woman in the class, and there was one younger man (20's).  Everyone else was a teenager or kid.  I felt very akward, but I wanted to learn it so bad, so I got my courage together and just did it.  I am glad.  I am sure I looked so silly but I kept telling myself it was better than sitting there and watching.  And yes, old dogs can learn new tricks!! (It might just take a little longer, and they might look a little silly.)

I found this quote which kind of sums up what I am feeling "Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skin in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally warn out, and loudly proclaiming 'Wow! What a Ride!'" (Hunter S. Thompson).  

Now I don't mean wild and crazy dangerous stuff, or things that are quite bad for you.  I mean working hard, and sweating and taking the reasonable chance of falling down or getting a few bruises and scrapes here and there.  Trying new things, and taking reasonable chances.  For example, in Taekwondo class, in sparing, I often get my shins bruised up, or a particular opponent might accidently hit me too hard.  I love it,  it makes me tougher, and it won't kill me.  Pain that doesn't indicate a life threatening problem, and is temporary, that you know the cause of, is fine.  It can be very good for you to learn to get past it and endure.  I actually learned that giving birth.  When I learned to just relax and feel the pain and walk around a lot, and not try to fight it, it wasn't as bad, and I didn't have to be afraid, because it was just part of giving birth.  But when I tensed up and tried to fight it, it was almost unbearable, and I felt I would not get through it.  Often when we are doing a hard exercise, I tell myself, "I had three babies, this is easy compared to that, I can do this!"  

It feels good to sweat hard after a ton of physcial exercize, or hard physcial labor.  The natural feeling is to avoid it, but after I do it, I always feel good.  It also feels good to go from sweaty and gross and exhausted, to being cleaned up and looking nice.  Like you can be two different people, you are not stuck with one identity.  

I am also starting to care less and less about my imperfections.  Yes, my chin still bothers me, but aside from jaw surgery, there is nothing I can do about it.  My tummy is not as flat as it should be, but It got stretched out having 3 wonderful kids, so it was worth it.  I have 10 pounds to loose, but my BMI is still in the normal range, so I am not super motivated to loose it.   I guess I am liking my body more and more the way it is, wrinkles, bad chin, and an extra 10 pounds and all.  I like it because it does the things I need it to to have fun, and fulfill my responsibilities.  It rode 25 miles in the Tour de Palm Spring yesterday.  It hikes up the bump and grind trail for me (a hard local hike), it surfs for me, it punches and kicks my opponents for me, etc.  I am so glad it does these things.  I need to use it, and use it as much as I can until I am too old or unable to do these things.  I don't want to look back and say that I regretted not trying something.  

The other added benefit to lots of physical acitivity:  not getting super over weight.  I am about 10 pounds overweight, and I love to eat.  I would probably be really fat it I didn't exercize so much.  Food just tastes so good.  I can enjoy it more because I do a lot of exercize.  I try to eat healthy, but even when I eat healthy food that tastes good, I can eat a lot.  

Another thing is that when you accomplish something hard physcially, you feel fantastic.  I remember the first time I finished a triathlon (shorter distance).  It was such a big accomplishment for me.  I didn't come in first, I didn't have a fantastic time, but I knew I did something most people had not.  I felt great.  I felt the same when I went to a Taekwondo competition.  It is especially nice to do well when you are nervous about it.  

One thing that I don't understand is why there aren't more women my age in martial arts.  I have been to a few taekwondo competitions, and I have been the only one in my age/gender division.  With so many kids in it, why don't more moms do it?  They bring their kids and sit there for an hour when they could be doing it with them.  I guess I am an oddball, but I would rather be like this than not.  Maybe some people just think it is not normal.  Or they have to fit a certain cookie cutter type life, or they are afraid of looking silly (that is one of my weaknesses).  I know some people are just not interested, or they physically can't do it or their schedule doesn't permit it.  But at a large competition, there should be more than one person in the 30 to 40 year old women's age group.

I am seeing more and more senior citizens doing athletics around here.  There were a lot of older folks doing the Tour de Palm Springs.  Also two weeks ago they had a sports festival (like a mini-olympics) for people 35 and up.  Tons of seniors were doing that.  It is great.   And sports events like triathlons and the Tour de Palm Springs, you have fun, don't care if you were first.  You just want to do your best, and enjoy it.  So really any age can do it and love it.  

It also makes you feel young again.  Of course you feel good when you exercise a lot, but kids love to ride their bikes and explore, we as adults can do that as well with hiking and biking.  Kids love to play in the mud, etc.  There are fun races with obstacles for adults of all ages.  Wouldn't it be fun to climb up a hay bale, jump over fire and crawl through thick mud?  YES!!! We don't have to stop having fun just because we grown up and get respectable.  We can actually get younger by doing physical exercise as well.  I lifeguarded in High School, and one man who always came to lap swimming was one particular very healthy older doctor.  Before I knew him, he was fat and very unhealthy.  He found out that he wouldn't live long just because of his weight and all that.  So when he reached a certain age (60 I think), he decided he would get younger instead of older.  So he started exercising.  He swam all the time.  He also ran and rode bikes.  He became a great triathlete.  He was so good, that one time I was watching the Hawaiian Iron Man (one of the top races in the world) on TV, and they did a 10 minute spot on him.  He was one of the oldest men in the race.  I was amazed.  

I don't think you have to be "athletic" either.  I am kind of "athletic", but not super athletic.  I know lots of "athletes" who were really good in college, and High School, but now they really don't do much.  Other people I know are not particularly "athletic", but they are always swimming, doing martial arts, biking, etc.  So I ask this question, who is truly the athlete, the one who is talented and does nothing, or the one who is not particularly athletic (or maybe very unathletic), but does it anyway.  There are many kinds of athleticism (endurance, speed strength, etc).  Maybe the most important kind is stick-to-it-iveness.  The ones who do it daily, no matter how talented, or untalented they are.  But enjoy it and love it, and feel good.  As I get older, that seems to really be the most important and perhaps the only qualification to be an Athlete.  Therefore, I am an athlete!

Pawning off kids on others

     Today I got a call from a lady in my ward who has befriended a family that we have also befriended.  This family has a daughter that is the same age as their daughter and one of my daughters.  

     I guess my friend offered to let the daughter say with her family for a few weeks while they had to go out of town for work.  The girl is very nice, and she is not the problem.  The problem is the parents.  They left her there for a month.  They also leave her at the my friend's house for weekends and school nights all the time.  They also never give her any money for food or taking care of her.  My friend is getting tired of it.  In fact, they just asked her if she could take their daughter for the rest of the school year.  My friend said no, but the dad keeps following my friend around begging her to take their daughter.  He was so desperate that he said maybe if I (Lisa) took the daughter on weekends and picked her up for school everyday, would they agree to it.  So she called me to warn me that he or the wife might be calling to ask for this.  

     I guess both of the parents are nurses that work for one person in their home, a personal nurse. The mom works all day in one person's house (practically lives there), and the dad is out of work, but got a job out of town for another individual.  They have a beautiful huge home in a nice neighborhood (that they are literally never at), and they really need money, so they want to pawn their child off on other people.  The daughter is great, I really like her, and having her would not be too bad, but the poor girl feels abandoned.  Her parents are continually dumping her on other people, like she is portable, like a possession.  She has even begged her parents to let her stay with them (her parents), because she is always with other people.  

     I think the best thing for them to do is sell the house at a loss, and move into a small apartment with their daughter, and get jobs that only require them to work during the day, or opposite schedules of each other so one of them can be with her weekends and nights, etc.  It is so sad.  My friend also said that they often leave her for hours longer than they agreed to, and even drop her off at places that my friend is at so she will be forced to take her.  

     My daughter is in the same class as their daughter, and at back to school night, the mom asked me if I could take their daughter in an emergency.  I told her that I would only in an emergency, for a few hours.  I didn't know all this was going on when I told them that, but I knew that they worked alot and sometimes had people watch her.  I am so glad that my friend called me.  If they even ask me to take their daughter at all I will say no.  If they keep begging, I will have to tell them that it is for the good of their daughter, and that she needs them.  That they need to quit their jobs and sell their house and spend time with her.    They seem like such nice people, but clearly the have really screwed up principles.  Their daughter doesn't care about nice stuff, she just wants to be with her family.  Poor girl.  

     I am so thankful that even though I am not the best mom, at least I am there.  Even moms who work all day are better than what these people are doing to their daughter.  I am thankful that my parents were there for me, and I have a husband who agrees that I should be home with the kids as well.  No job or career or big house is worth pawning off your children on someone else.     

It is the little things...

Today I had a really really bad day at church.  I am the leader of the children's organization.  I often feel overwhelmed and inadequate.  I am just not very good of it.  Anyway, in the midst of this bad day, someone said that with my hair longer, I looked like I was in my 20's.  Um, that was a wonderful thing to hear!  So I may be having a really bad day, but, at least I look good (just kidding).  It may be kind of silly, but I feel really thankful to Heavenly Father that I finally found a hair cut that I like.  Even though it might be vain,  I think us women folk like to look pretty and nice.  It just makes us feel better, even when things are difficult.  It is just a little thing, but I really appreciate it.

The Amazing iPhone

Today I am writting my blog from my bed. I just finished making dinner, and I am taking a 
break.  I decided to try some things on my iPhone. I haven't written in my blog for a while, 
so today I thought I would do that. I have had an iPhone for about two months now, and I 
love it. It is like a little computer that you can hold in your pocket. I have used it for so many 
things I never would have thought I could do before. I have looked up and used primary 
lessons to teach a class when the primary closet keys got lost and a teacher didn't show up.  
I have emailed people from various locations, read the news, looked up websites to tell a 
friend about during an assembly. Looked on line to find the closest franchise of a partcular 
store, and down loaded the map. Another time I wasn't following the map, got lost, opened 
the map app, found out where I was (like GPS) and within minutes found my way. The list of 
things that I have done with my iPhone is pretty cool. What a great invention. It can probably 
do many more things I haven't heard of yet. I can't believe it took me so long to give in to 
my husband. He has been bugging me for over a year to get one, but I never gave in. I am 
glad that I finally gave in. I like it because it fits in my pocket.  


I think I would like the ipad, but it is big, and so i could not just throw it in my purse.  
Because it is big, you can probably do a lot more, but since it is harder to carry with you, and 
just pull it out, I would probably not use it much. Besides, I am very happy with my iPhone.  
It seems that if you are creative enough, you can do just about anything a computer can do 
(you just have less space to do it in, and it may take longer).


The Church (LDS church that is), just came out with a new app. I just got it today. It is free.  
You can highlight, book mark, etc. You can download various books and lesson manuals as 
you need them. I already downloaded a few of the primary lesson books. And the best part 
is that it is free. I like it alot. You can carry volumes and volumes of scriptures and other 
church books, and it just slips in your pocket or purse. I also figured out today how to get 
my patriarchal blessing on there, as well as a chart for my daughters' Faith in God goals that 
they are working on. It is amazing.

Art or Porno?

Yesterday I went with Christyne on a field trip to the PS Art Museum.  I was excited, because I like that museum.  They have some great things there.  Well, we get there, and I was with a group of 6 kids and a docent.  The docent was an 80+ year old lady who was named Ms. Rose.  She seemed nice, and she was good with the kids, so I thought it would be a great time.  We got onto the elevator and went up to the top floor.  I was in the back of the group, making sure no kids wandered off.  The first thing Ms. Rose took the kids to was a statue that was life size, natural skin colored nude woman who was laying on her side.  I could not believe it.  The most offensive piece of art in the whole place, and it was the first thing we saw.  Because I was at the end of the  group, I didn't get there until they were all staring at it.  And then I thought if I protested, the kids might focus on it more, and we would be staring at it longer.  So I kept quiet, and hoped it would end soon.  We were only there for a little while, but it seemed like eternity.  When we left that statue, the kids kept trying to look at it, I would help them focus on what was ahead, not behind.

Needless to say that was not good, and it bothered me all day long.  I thought about the term "art"  and what a stupid word it is.  Apparently anything anyone feels like doing is art.  The Mona Lisa, a child's drawing, beautiful music, a simple circle on a canvas, two swings hanging in a museum, a realistic statue of a nude woman, pornography, garbage  (there was an exhibit there of filled black garbage bags), heavy metal music, dirty clothes, etc.  To call all of these things art is an insult to the truly good works of art.  I understand that some people may call each of these things art.  So the fact that the statue is in the museum is not the problem.  My problem is that there were no warning signs "Rated R" etc.  Also, that the docent thought it was appropriate to take 8 year olds to see it.  When I signed the permission slip, I never thought they would see something like that.  I am not a prude, I know some art is controversial.  And sometimes you see a little nudity like the back of a woman, or someone kind of blurry from far away.  But this was disgusting.  If a woman had gotten naked and laid on a bench across the street from the museum at the park, and looked exactly the same, she would have been arrested for indecent exposure.  Why is it OK to show it to kids in a museum, but if they saw the same thing outside, it would be against the law.  Even some movie works of "art" are rated R.  Just because it is art doesn't mean children should see it.

Anyway, my daughter's teacher is on the same page as me.  She has taken kids to that museum for 20 years, and has never had that happen.  That statue is new, and she didn't know about it.  She was upset when I told her what happened, and was on the phone with the museum to voice her complaint.  Just a warning to all parents.  Before you send your child to that art museum, go there yourself and check it out, or go on the field trip and tell the docent what you expect of them before they take your group.  Then scan ahead of the kids to stop them from coming into contact with "artistic pornography".  And be ready to deal with the docent if she gives you any trouble.  I was caught off guard.  That will never happen again.  It is sad when a museum is a dangerous place.  I am going to let the museum know how I feel.  The museum is so nice and big, we could have seen so many other wonderful pieces of art, but instead we got disgusting trash.

Important Job: Sci-fi TV Actress? / First 18 Months in a Trailer

     The other day I was watching an interview of some women who were actresses on a certain TV show.  They started discussing motherhood.  They are all working moms.  One of them jokingly said that her child spent the first 18 months of her life in a trailer at the studio.  When I heard that, I was sad and disgusted.  They talked about how they would shoot a scene, then run back to the trailer, and breast feed for 20 minutes then run back to the set.  Wow, I don't think these women get it at all.  It seems like they think that they can be gone all day long, and work long hours, but they are good moms if they run back to the trailer and breast feed for 20 minutes every so often, or they pump their breast milk so the nanny can give it to the baby later.  It is not the breast milk that baby's really need (it is good and nice), but what they really need is mommy there all day long, and the cuddling and the closeness while they breastfeed or bottle feed.  Yes breast milk is healthy for your baby, but more important for a baby is the cuddling and kisses and love.  Knowing them so well and being there everytime they need you.  I don't know, but I think this is actually helps a baby's physical health more than a pop-over for some feeding.  Don't get me wrong, I do believe in breast feeding, but I feel that many working mom's get duped into thinking that they are good mom's if they pump, or work all the time, but only show up to breast feed.  Today we have great formulas, and even in Moses' time it was a job hired out if someone could not do it.  Yet a woman can still be a great mother and have healthy children even if breastfeeding isn't an option.  Baby's need to be with mommy most of the day (hey, mom needs a little time off ).

They also all were working before they had kids, then got pregnant while they were working on the show.  So, in my opinion, they should have waited to have kids, or worked until the child was born and then quit.  It just seems incredibly selfish.  I would hate to have my child spend the first 18 months of life in a little trailer at the set, with a nanny all day and night.

These women also talked about how their priorities had changed.   I guess their priorities changed from taking a nap or getting a snack during their break to breast-feeding during their break.  I don't really see much change in priorities.  Their career and their own selfishness still take center stage.  I mean what is it that is sooooo important that they have to work and treat their children like this.  Are their families going to starve, no.  Are they curing cancer or saving the world, no.  Are they saving lives, no.  What is this great world changing work they do - they work on a sci-fi tv show.  I would hate to tell my children that the reason they lived in a trailer at the studio for the first 18+ months of life is because I wanted to be in a sci-fi- tv show.  As far a important jobs go, that is near the bottom.  When I was teaching I was doing a more important job then they do now, and it was no where near important enough to not stay home for (is there a job that imporant, no).  Being a mom is the most important job a woman can do.  All other career aspirations and work should be sacrificed or postponed.  When a woman chooses to be a mom, it is a big life changing choice.  Do it right.  I think that many of these actresses are not so much into "acting" they are into themselves and their career.  Even if you stay home with your kids, you can help the school put on a play, or volunteer in the local community theater, etc.  You can still do what you like a little of the time, and be a mom.  Their love is not acting, it is being famous and making lots of money. There are lots of ways to have personal goals and aspirations, and still be a Stay at home mom.  You just have to make sure they don't get in the way of the the needs of the family and the children.  Also, when the kids are grown, go and act again, they won't get the same jobs again, but that is the price to pay for motherhood.  Other carrers it is much easier to get into a little later in life.  

I remember when I was pregnant with my oldest.  I was teaching at Indio Charter School.  I worked until I was 8 months pregnant, and then I quit.  I quit even though things were going well.  I quit because I wanted to have a baby for years, and I wasn't going to not take good care of my baby.  I planed ahead also so I would be able to stay home.  There was never a question about not quitting.  Not once did I think about nannys or day care or "balancing" work and family.  Even when a women stays home, it is so hard to be a mom, and feel like you are really doing it right.  The only way a woman with little babies or children can work and be a mom, is if she absolutely has to, and then I think Heavenly Father helps her out (like if her husband died or couldn't work etc).  Otherwise, I think it just really messes up the kids.

I am thankful for a husband who feels the same way as me, and parents who were good examples of this for me.  And the gospel that teaches this, as well as other people in society to believe and do the same thing.  Being a mom is the most important job in the world.

Sorry this is all disjointed, I was kind of tired when I wrote it.

Things I am Thankful For

It is about time I write on my blog. I am thankful for: my husband, each of my children, friends, my cat, God, the gospel, a living prophet, the temple, the Book of Mormon, the Bible, missionaries, my mom, my dad, the sacrifice they made for us, the lessons they taught us, the example they were to us, each of my siblings, my siblings' spouses and their children. My husbands family members, the fact that my husband is from the Philippines, the food and wonderful traditions of his family. Living in the desert, that my children go to a good school, good friends, that my husband has a good job, that I can stay at home with my kids, that we are all now healthy. I am thankful that my kids love books and reading - really thankful, and that they are well behaved at school. I am thankful that my kids are taking piano lessons at a reasonable price, by a fantastic teacher, that we also get to take taekwondo by a wonderful teacher close to home for a great price. I am thankful that I get to work with the kids in church, they are great, and so much fun. I am thankful for clothes and a safe place to live. I am thankful for finally after 38 years of life discovering a hair cut I like. The opportunity I had to go on a mission to Japan, the Japanese people and the Japanese Language, the wonderful food and culture of Japan. I am thankful for the seasons, the hot and the cold. Food!! Exercise!! The exercise keeps me from getting too fat, and the food keeps me from losing the 10-15 pounds I want to loose. The chance I got to swim in HS. All my past good teachers who taught me a lot, and the bad ones I also learned from. I am thankful for colors, and the sense of sight, touch, hearing, tasting, and being able to smell. I am thankful for sleep, and when my children sleep. Gardens and fruit trees, farmers who work magic in producing so much food. That my kids like to draw and color. Education. The chance to learn. Being able to go to COD and UCSD. The jobs I have had in my life. Learning even with out school. Math, and science. Learning to do things on my own. Beading, cooking, soapmaking, sewing, crocheting, home improvement, etc. My computer! Electricity, running water, showers, baths, toilets, air conditioning, heating, clean water, irrigation. Mountains, the ocean, the beach, snow on distant peaks visible from my home for several months each year (but not on my home). Good people who I know well, and those who don't know me who are great examples to me. Past trials that at the time were really difficult, but looking back were wonderful chances to grow and learn. Cars and bikes, running shoes. Hiking, swimming, surfing (eventhough I am still learning). The many many people who have selflessly helped me in various times in my life. Food. Desks, chairs, tables, couches, dressers, swingsets. Humor, laughing, good clean jokes. Sci Fi, star trek, star wars, SG, etc. Nice weather. Being outside. Really well written well made clean movies and tv shows. Preying mantis's, Lady bugs, all the amazing life around us that is so common place and that we are used to, that we might not even think twice about. Good deals and sales, being frugal, getting prepared. Card and board games to play with my family. History! The sacrifice of all the men and women of the military who have fought and died for our country since the revolutionary war. Also their families and others who have sacrificed for freedom and for the future posterity of this and other nations. The chances I have to serve others. My ancestors.

These and countless other things I am truly thankful!!! (I will think of many many more after i finish I am sure!)

That Evil Walmart

Yesterday, one of my facebook friends put up this article about Walmart. The title,"Project Impact: A Move to Crush Competition." (Link is below.) So before I read this article, I thought, oh, maybe they are forcing suppliers to charge less, or they are cutting prices below wholesale temporarily so they can put other companies out of business, and then when those other companies are out of business, they can jack up their prices. I thought the article would be about that, or some other nefarious business practice that was unfair, but legal. That is also how my friend made it out to be. (She wrote, "Watch out all you small businesses, they are coming after you!!")

But, you read the article, and you find that the evil empire of Walmart is going to crush its competition by ...(ready for it)...making the stores cleaner, more logical in their organization (store layout), better clothes, a better pharmacy, more crafts, and friendlier staff. Wow, that is so evil. They should advertise such horrible plans. They may get more shoppers. The spokesperson for Walmart said that they were just listening to customers.

When did improving yourself as a company become evil. When did listening to customers become so bad. I just don't get it. Don't misunderstand me, I don't worship Walmart or anything, and I think they have a lot of faults, but where are the horrible acts in this article. When has it been evil to give the customers what they want, and have a cleaner, more organized store with nice clothes in it? How dare they!! They have a lot a 'splaining to do!!!

Go for it Walmart!!! The more you improve, no matter what the media says, the more shoppers will go there. You really can't listen to the media, you just listen with people's wallets. If it was so horrible, people would not be there. That is capitalism for you. I am a big fan of that!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20090909/us_time/08599192069800

Great Day at Church

Today was a great day at church. I got a call an hour before church that one of my teachers would not be there (she got sick), and it didn't bother me. (I am the Primary President.) I didn't have enough time to prepare a lesson, but I knew her class was small and they could just go in another class. Then at church, 2 more teachers didn't show up. Usually I get frustrated when that happens, but today it didn't bother me. I just took all three classes into a classroom (10 kids, about half our primary), grabbed last years lesson book (all the ones for this year are being used), happened to open the book to the lesson on choosing the right. It was the perfect lesson for the day before the first day of school. I think it was the lesson Heavenly Father wanted these children to have. We talked about a story by one of the 70 who was dared when he was 7 by a friend to run in front of an oncoming car. He did it, was it, hurt, and learned how bad it is to give in to a dare. The only dares we should give in to are "Dare to do good, dare to do right". I think we can do some harmless fun ones as well, but that is just me. Anyway, I recently saw the movie Valkarie, and it reminded me of a quote I had heard by a Nazi soldier who was in on the attempt to assassinate Hitler and start a new government that would stop the killing of the Jews and the innocent Russians and immediately give up to the Allies. (Kill Hitler to stop the killing of the innocent). The attempt failed, and most of these men (many of whom were active, devoted God fearing Catholics) were killed for treason. A few of them were not found out. One of them was commanding troops somewhere far from Berlin. His job was to take his troops to Berlin, and help keep the new government in control from Nazis. When he heard the attempt failed, he was on his way over, but stopped his troops and got them back into place before he was found out by Hitler. His family had a motto engraved over the entrance of his home, it said, "Even if all, not I." I told my class this story, and we discussed the meaning of this quote. Even if all (my friends are cheating, etc, ) not I. Even if all (the kids at primary are being irreverent), not I. Fill in the blanks. We talked about many other things. The kids who sometimes have a hard time focusing really liked it, and were active participaters. We talked about peer pressure, and how doing the right thing all the time takes more strength and courage than giving into a dare to do something bad. And how sometimes it is so hard to do the right thing because a bad thing might happen to you like the Valkarie men. But even then they will be setting a good example for others. Those men in the movie Valkarie tried and failed to overthrow Hitler to save millions of future victims, and to save their country. Unfortunately they failed and died because of it. However, these mens families, their posterity, and Germany can be proud of such men and many others who would have done the same if the had the opportunity. They are a great example of doing what is right, even if....

We also talked about how Christ was tempted by Satan and never gave in. How they can also just walk away when they are tempted as well. I also shared some experiences about how doing what is right can help others to choose the right. Then we played a game where they had to answer questions based on the lesson. It was a lot of fun, and I could feel the spirit.

"Frequent Flyer" points for the ER?

This week has been a very interesting week with regards to health issues. On Monday, Christyne caught a cold, and started having some moderate asthma problems that were starting to get worse, so I called her doctor, and he saw her right away, gave her some medication, and sent her home. She started feeling better, but she was still coughing a lot. About 9 or 10 pm, she started to complain that her neck hurt really bad and her back also. So I was worried that it might be meningitis or something else bad, so Ossil took her to the ER. They said it was strep throat and gave her some antibiotics and sent her home. Then in the morning on Tuesday , the ER called us and said that a Radiologist had looked at her Xray and had seen a little space of air between her lungs and the wall of her chest, and she had to come back in to get it checked out. So ER visit number 2. The next few days, she rested, took her medication, and since our doctor was on vacation, she had to go back to the ER on Friday to make sure she was OK. ER visit number 3. She was fine. It turns out that sometimes when someone coughs a lot, they can get a very small tear in their lung, and a little air can escape. So it can heal on its own, the person just has to rest, not fly in an airplane, or go under water (pressure issues). So by friday, it had healed, and she was ready for a swimming party. While she was in the ER, they took her temperature many times using an ear thermometer. On Saturday, I had left the thermometer on the counter in the kitchen Christyne found it, and tried to take Ayden's temperature. The only problem is that it was a normal digital thermometer, not for ears. She pushed it right in. Ayden ran into me screaming and in a lot of pain. I looked in his ear and saw a little blood. We called the ER, and they said he should come in. ER visit number 4 in 6 days. His eardrum was OK, and he did have some blood in his ear, but it was just a little cut or something. They gave us some eardrops. He can hear fine out of that ear, and it only hurts a little when he yawns, etc. Well, you can imagine we gave our children the "don't stick anything into your ears or anyone else ear" lecture. It is a good lecture to give to kids. If you haven't done so, do it.

I am sure the bills will be expensive, but I am happy to pay them. After all, with this big Universal Health Care debate, I would rather pay out of my own pocket than have the government pay. That is what our money is for, the health, safety and welfare of our families. Not for things we don't need. First priority of money is the above, any left over - have fun with it or use it any way you want.

That reminds me of something that happened a few months ago. I was told that Andreya was to attend summer school. It was manditory, but there was only so many spots, so I needed to register her soon. How can something be manditory when there aren't enough spots for everyone? Also, it said that breakfast and lunch would be free. I felt insulted by that. I really feel that they should only give free food to those who are in need of it. Ossil is making a good living, making more than ever before, we have money, we want to buy our own children's food. Why is the government just handing out free stuff to those who don't need it. It really annoys me. They should make everyone fill out the form with how much money they make, if they don't have much, give them food, I have no problem with that. But why waste tax payer money, and lay off good teachers because they don't have enough money to keep them, and then pay for food for those who can afford it. Parents should be paying for their own family's food, unless they are poor. That is a basic responsibility of parent hood. Taxes go up, good teachers loose their jobs, classes are more crowded, but the kids whose parents make a good living get free food. People should pay for their own families unless they are really struggling financially. In that case, it is OK to get help when you really need it.

I ended up not putting her in, because her math skills are fine, it is just that she has some reading and writting learning problems. We just kept her home and worked on it herself. We will see how she does. We are also reading scriptures as a family, each person reading. I think this will help her reading also.

Fun Summer Ahead

This summer, we haven't really planned on doing much. And we spent the summer so far doing things locally. We have gone to the cheap and free movies, piano lessons, library programs, swimming, taekwondo, and we even went to two shows at the McCallum theater. We have also been doing school everyday. It doesn't always work out, but I try. We do math, reading, etc. I want to do more, but there is just not enough time. Ossil has been teaching summer school, so we had to stick around for most of the summer.

Six years ago we took a train to San Jose and Monterey. It was so fun, and we only had the girls, and they were almost 2 and almost 3 at the time. It was a long train ride, but the seats folded down almost flat, and no car seats were needed. Also, there is alot of area to walk around. And the scenery was beautiful. It went along the coast, and we got to see the ocean for some of the way.

We were planning to go camping at the beach for a week, but that was just about it. Ossil just decided to see what kind of prices they had for train trips to Oregon to see Mindy. We found some round trip tickets for 5 for only about $650. I am so excited to go. My kids are so excited, that they have already packed. We are not leaving for a while. We are also going to the beach a few times, the Nisei Festival in LA, hopefully a Filipino festival some where, and camping with the ward for a night. Also, we are hoping to hit one amusement park this summer as well if we can get a good price. Last summer near the end of summer Sea World had a "buy one day for full price, get the rest of the year and next year free". Unfortunately we got our tickets at a good price a few weeks before that sale, but then we bought one for Diane (our family friend), and she came with us the second time we went. So she has one of those tickets for all of 2009. If we go to Sea World again this year, we will take her with us since she has a ticket. Last year when we went with Diane, we went in Nov or Dec. It was rainy and cold, but a lot of fun!! Sea World is a great place for the price.

Even though our summer has been a little boring, It will get busy soon. And then we will only have a few days before school starts. We are going to have a really fun second half of summer. I guess I better start school shopping soon, especially the uniforms. If I wait until the week before school when we are less busy, they will all be gone. They don't sell uniforms the rest of the year, so summer is the only time to buy them.

Education is Good, but....

Don't forget about marriage and family. I know many women that I love and respect, who are starting to get older and older, and are not married and have no kids. Some of them have high educational goals and career goals. Most of them have already graduated from college and will soon have 2nd and 3rd degrees. I am very impressed by them and how well they do. They talk about how they will get all these degrees and then have these wonderful careers. I have no doubt that they will be successful, but they are getting older and the window of marriage and reproductive years seems to be slowly slipping away. It really amazes me. I wonder why this is going on.

I think some of it is that education and careers are very very important in some families. It is very important in my family, but, it has to be balanced with other things. I think some people think that if you don't have a great career and lots and lots of education, you aren't a successful person. But what good is all that if you are alone. I think a small number of them don't want to grow up, and enjoy the parting on evenings and weekends, and the money that they can just spend on themselves. Others maybe think a good man is hard to find. Maybe they think they need to finish all their education before they marry. Maybe they haven't thought that sacrificing some education and career for a husband and children is a good idea. Many of them are approaching their 30s, or already in their 30's. I remember that my oldest was born when I was 29yrs old, and I felt that was kind of old for my first child (which is why I had them so close together). It also takes time to date a man and know if he is good marriage quality. If he is not, you need to look again. It can be a long process. Also, sometimes it takes a long time to get pregnant, especially the older you get, the harder it is.

Some women are just not lucky, and are open to all this, but the opportunity doesn't come, so they work on their career and education. That is a good thing. I would have done that myself. However, it seems like this is not the case with most of them. Some of them seem like they want to stay 22 forever. Others just put a high value on career and education, and put off the commitment of marriage.

I feel sorry for these women. I feel like they are missing out on so much in their lives. It is good to get an education, but there is so much more to life. Having a husband and children is a wonderful (and exhausting) thing. I think having these experiences really change a person. The burden of big responsibilities can make a person grow. It is hard, but the rewards are wonderful.

Don't get me wrong. This is so much better than girls who get pregnant at 16, drop out of HS, and get on welfare their whole lives. Or people who get married too early when they are not ready. They are on the opposite side of the spectrum.

I wonder if maybe they don't see the value of marriage and family. It seems like the world is not very respectful to this. I went to another gathering, and everyone kept asking me what I did for a living. I told them I was a mom. They seemed surprised. Maybe the idea of staying home with your kids is strange to many people. It seems to not get a lot of respect. That is OK, I don't care what other people think because I am a stay-at-home mom. I like it, and I know it is the right thing to do. I like it because I am the guardian of my children. I know what they are doing, and I can protect them and teach them correct principles. I also usually like being with them. They are wonderful people. (Although there are those days when I wish they were all in day care all day long - only for one day. Those days are very rare.) It is wonderful to see them grow and learn. I would hate to be so busy working that I would miss all this.

Most of my friends are they same way. I have many friends who are not Mormons who are stay at home moms, or they work very few hours so they can be with their children. Some of these women were highly paid professionals, but now they are moms, and love it, and have no desire to go back to a career. I have a good friend who used to be a pharmacist. She was making a lot of money. She doesn't work, but keeps up her credentials (in case she ever needs to work again), but has no desire to ever work again. Her husband is a doctor, so she doesn't need to work for money. I really respect her for it. I have another friend who does work, but she wishes she did not need to. I also respect her, because I can tell that her children are the center of her life, and she sacrifices a lot for them. Her career is just for financial survival, but her children are the most important thing. I can tell, I think she is a wonderful mother. They never have day care, and I think she is really the one who suffers. Some of my friends are Full time moms now, but want to go back to a career someday. I may end up doing that myself in 12 years. We only get 18 short years with each child. I am too selfish to have someone else raise them. Once they are grown, we can do what ever we want.

I like what Dr. Laura says about this. Someone asked what to say when other people criticize them for staying home. She said that it is not worth arguing over, because they won't listen any way. The best thing to say is something like, "I know working is great, but look at him, he is so cute when he coos (insert favorite thing baby does here), and I am just too selfish to not be with him all day long. I just can't help myself. He is so cute."

I think as members of the church that being a stay at home mom is like tithing. If you do it, along with keeping the sabbath day holy, tithing, etc. you will be able to make the money you need, and save money, and do what is necessary to survive financially. Maybe that is something my friend doesn't understand. Of course, part of it is not spending too much money, and marrying a man who can support a frugal wife and their children.

I see this with my parents. They live down the street from a family they have been close friends with for years and years. The mother and father both worked, and they made more money than my parents. Yet years later, my parents are not in debt, and have an equally nice home. How could my parents come out equal or above them financially when they made more money than my parents. I think it is a kind of miracle combined with obedience, and frugality. Also, because my mother stayed home, none of the 5 children went inactive. Yet this other family has had problems with some of their children. That is not to say that children whose moms stay home and have nice homes don't go inactive, because it can happen. But I think it is less likely if you do these things.

Also, if a woman stays home, or at least makes children the absolute priority, her children will be much more likely to stay home (female) or have a wife that stays home (males). They can see the benefits of this in their lives growing up. Maybe these daughters won't end up like the women I mentioned at the beginning of this blog.

Sometimes I look at the situation I am in now, I am amazed. How could we be so prosperous with husband who is a teacher and me who doesn't work, also stupid financial mistakes of the past that have cost us tens of thousands. Maybe we have a money tree growing in the back yard. It think it is a kind of miracle. (Also, I think Heavenly Father is forgiving, and know we will make financhial mistakes as well.) Kind of like what I wrote about a little earlier.

Ossil is a good provider. I am really proud of him. I think it makes him feel good to be the provider. He is what a true man is. A man who stands up for what is right, has respect for women, provides and protects his family, and is a good father and husband. He does a great job. It seems that that is what really makes a man happy, not lots of money and lots of partying. These kind of men are heros to their families.

I hope the women I mentioned above can figure it our earlier than later. I wish them all the best, and hope that they don't miss out on the blessings of a family. I am thankful for this chance to be married and have children.

P.S. I was falling asleep tired when I wrote this. I am sure the grammar etc, is really bad. Sorry!

4 Years Ago Today...

...Ossil was diagnosed with Leukemia. It was a horrible day, but today is a good day. He has been in full remission for about 18 months to 2 years. I spent a lot of time this weekend thinking about these experiences, and lessons learned. I also spent lots of time thinking of my blessings, and all the people who suffer so much more and ultimately succumb to cancer. I feel sad for their families and for them, yet I feel thankful Ossil is fine. I feel very blessed. It is a good day.

Kids' Blogs

Christyne has a blog now.  It is:

http://tynetiny.blogspot.com/

Andreya also has a blog.  It is:

http://minimackids.blogspot.com/

I have links to them in my blog on the right side.  You can also add them to your blog for easy access.  They would love to have you read it and comment.  

Finally PC Free!

My husband got me a really nice iMac in January, and ever since, he has wanted one really bad.  He is a PC guy, and knows all about how to fix them and put them together, but he is tired of it.  He wants something modern and easy to use with out all the problems.  Kind of like a "car" guy wanting a nice new sports car, because the old VW beetle keeps breaking down. He can fix it, but does he want to??  

Anyway, his PC finally died last week, and he tried to fix it, but hoping he could not, because he wants a Mac so bad.  We can't affort to buy a new one (almost $2000), so he searched around Craig's List, and found one that was $450.  It is the model before mine, but it is almost the same, it just is white instead of aluminum.  He is going to pick it up on Monday.  It was owned by this Techie, who has a whole bunch of computers.  He is moving to San Diego, and can't take all his computers with him.  He took good care of it.  I am so happy for Ossil.  He has been completely converted.  He even has an iPhone now.  Soon we will have no PC's what so ever in our home.  Macs are just so much better, that my throughly PC husband is now a throughly Mac man.  He does have a small PC net book.  A small laptop that he can use when he goes places.  But I am sure that when that dies, it will eventually be changed for a Macbook.  Sometimes, even the deeply PC can see the light and be converted to the true OS (operating system) - Mac!

My family's first ever computer was a Mac.  Back in 86 or 87.  The one with the tiny screen that was small, but it did amazing things.  I remember doing a report for one of my classes, and putting a drawing of a frog on the front (printing it from the computer).  My teacher was amazed.  I thought it was nice, but not great.  He was amazed.  He could not believe a computer could do that.  Let alone a kid.  My 5 year old brother knew how to do everything on that computer.  Of course those were the days before the internet, so you could just let kids try everything.  I have been a Mac user ever since.  I actually had a PC laptop once, when Ossil got his new laptop, but I never used it, so I gave it away.  I have always had a Mac desktop, and I always will (unless something better comes along).  

If anyone is ready to try it out, you might consider a Minimac - a small cheap mac that you can use your own screen and keyboard, or try getting a Mac at Craig's list, the penny saver etc.  My dad even got an older one (blue) at a garage sale for $25.  My smart husband wanted one really bad, realized we didn't have the money, and found a way to get one we could afford.  Great job Ossil!!!  Actually, we may end up buying all our future Macs from Craig's list.  There were some really good ones at really good prices.  

School Talent Show

Last night was the elementary school talent show.  The kids had to try out a month ago.  Andreya wanted to be in it, and she wanted to sing, "God bless the USA".  So we searched iTunes and found a karaoke version that sounded nice, and we burned it to a disk and put it all together.  She practiced over and over, and then we went to try out.  At tryouts, she sang so nicely.  She is not one of these ultra talented kids that you see on TV, but for a 3rd grader, she did pretty well, and just her little girl sweetness, made it very touching.  After the tryouts, she was told that she could be in the talent show, but she could not sing that song, because someone else at the previous day's tryouts had that song and were already accepted into the talent show.  She could be in it if she came up with a different song.  Of course we were disappointed, but we had a long time to figure out what song we would do.  

I thought of every nice Disney and Barbie song I knew, as well as every kid, or fun song I could think of.  She could not decide, then she said she wanted to do a song about America.  We went through a whole bunch, and she picked "America the Beautiful".  We found several karaoke versions and instrumental versions of it.  The only problem was that they were too high, or too long.  So finally we found one that was a kid's karaoke version.  I learned a lot from this, for a kid, always look for the Children's Karaoke version first.  It will best match a kids voice, without being too high or too low.  So we downloaded it, but it was way too long, and she didn't think she could memorize all those words in the week (we took a while picking a song) she had to learn it.  I had downloaded this free program called Audacity that you can use to edit music you already have.  It is not like garage band, you can't make music, but you can slice it up and use parts, or extend it if you need it to last longer, etc.  It is really good for making videos if you need the music just the right length, and many other things.  I have used it for DVD's before.  Anyway, using this program, I took out two verses but made it sound like it was not choppy or unnatural.  Then she practiced and practiced.  In the car everywhere we went she was singing that song.  She actually learned it very fast, and when it came time for the talent show, she was prepared and not nervous at all.  

The talent show had a dress rehearsal for all the students on Friday morning.  There was almost no parents there, and it was really hot (outside).  I came to watch her, and I video taped her at that time.  It was quiet, and I could get upfront and get a good video.  So I will upload video, but it is from the performance for the students, not the one last night.  

The actual talent show is a big money maker for our PTG.  People can come and only spend $1 per person to get in if they want to bring their own chairs and blankets (that is what we did).  Also, people in the talent show get in free and so does one parent.  If you get there early enough, you can get a good spot for your blanket and chairs.  (it is kind of on a hill looking down at the "stage".  People who wanted upfront seats (parents video taping the performance etc.) Could pay $7.00 a ticket, and people who wanted chairs, but not right up front, could pay $5.oo per ticket.  We ended up only paying $3 total to get in.  Also, people could bring their own food if they wanted.  So for some families it was a very inexpensive evening.  There was lots of ways to spend money however.  We had pizza, nachos, ice cream, sodas, juices, water, glow bracelets, etc.  Then there was a raffle of donated items, and a silent auction of donated items as well.  We got a lot of nice things donated.  They also were selling the last of the yearbooks, too.  I was manning the food ticket table.  It was just too hot, and we made a ton of money just from selling food tickets.  At the beginning of the night, the food was $1 for each item, except pizza was $2.  Then about 10 minutes before it ended, pizza was $1 a slice.  About the time the talent show ended it was free.  Then the other items were 2 for $1.  Then about 15 minutes after it ended and everyone was cleaning up, the ice cream and nachos were free.  Some people had boxes of ice cream sandwiches and were just passing it out.  We ended up with about 5 on our way out the door.  We hurried home to put it in the freezer.  It was so funny.  So if you go to an event like this, its a gamble, but sometimes if you wait and they have left overs, you can save a lot on food.  Maybe even get it free.  Sit by the food area, or loiter there alot.  We paid about $23 dollars for our family for food.  Of course it was all junk, but it was fun, and it was for the PTG.  

As for the talent show itself, it was pretty good.  Because Andreya was singing, "America the Beautiful," They wanted to have her sing first, right after the pledge to the flag.  It was nice to have her first, because I could stop what I was doing and watch her sing.  She sang very nicely, even better than the morning.  I really think she did, not just because I am her mother either.  I am not that kind of mom,  I tend to be a realist when it comes to my children and their abilities.  I am not in parent la-la land.   Most of the kids did a good job as well.  There was singing, violin playing, piano playing, guitar playing, a comedy act, dancing, break dancing (that kid was amazing), the blues brothers act (funny!), and clarinet playing.  The blues brothers act, and the break dancing were really good, and not your typical talent show acts.  At the end, all the kids in the talent show did a song together.  There was one thing that drove me crazy.  All the people who sang did pretty well, and some were really good (a boy who used to be in my ward sang "Rockin' Robin" really well), but the brother and sister who sang "God Bless the USA" were horrible.  I mean people were covering their ears horrible.  They were way off key, and they were screaming into the microphone at some parts.  It reminded me of American Idol - the first few weeks.  I could not believe they were allowed into the talent show.  Lots of kids who tried out sang better then them but were not allowed to be in it.  I wonder if their mom was friends with the people organizing it.  It made me frustrated, because Andreya really wanted to do that song, and they did it, but totally butchered it.  She can do it next year.  I wonder if their mother realized how horrible they sounded.  It was just embarrassing.  I think if my child sounded like that, I would not even let them try out.  Just being honest with them.  And if they did try out, I would hope that the judges would be honest with them, and not let them in the talent show.  

We had a similar situation with Tae Kwon Do.  The teacher said only certain students could try for their yellow belt.  I asked her if Andreya and Christyne were ready and what they should know.  She said that only Andreya could try out, and that Christyne was being kind of lazy.  She was right.  Sometimes when it is time to do the push ups, sit ups, etc, Christyne does a few, and when the teacher isn't looking she stops, and when the teacher is looking, she starts again.  I like it when people are honest.  I was glad she told me that.  I told Christyne.  Now she knows that she can't get away with being lazy in Tae Kwon Do, and still advance.  I would rather someone tell me that my child isn't ready, or not good enough, then to have them lie, just to not hurt my feelings, or my child's feeling.   

Any way, the night was a lot of fun, Andreya did great, and we were very proud of her.  It was a lot of fun.  Christyne liked it too, maybe she will be in it next year as well.  It is all up to them.  

Friday the 13th! Our lucky day!

I know today is not Friday the 13th, but Friday the 13th is my favorite day.  It is one of the most special and wonderful days, because 15 years ago on Friday the 13th, Ossil and I got married, and it has been wonderful. 

Actually we didn't get married that day because it was Friday the 13th.  We did it because that was the date that best fit our schedules, with my school and his work.  And the temple was packed all the other weekends in May, so that was the only day open.  Gee, I wonder why nobody wants to get married on Friday the 13th.  May 13th was also his mother's birthday.  So it was special for that as well.  

I like it, because not only do we have our anniversary each May 13th, but we also consider each Friday the 13th our special day as well, no matter what month it falls into.  

I married a wonderful man, and we have had a great marriage.  Is it because Friday the 13th is lucky for us, or is it because we made good choices?  It is because we made good choices.  We don't have any kind of superstitious beliefs.  It is kind of fun to go against the superstition though.  It makes it memorable.  

Ossil, I love you, and I am so thankful that you are my husband.  Thanks for putting up with me all these years.   You are a wonderful man.  I am so glad you are the father of my children, and my sweet husband.  

Thoughts on a Few Movies and TV Shows: Communism and Swimming

Today I saw a movie called "The City of Ember."  It was kind of a kids adventure.  It was OK as far as writting, and acting, etc.  It actually wasn't a great movie.  There were several plot holes, and important things that aren't explained, but I absolutely loved it.  The reason I loved it, was because it is a perfect example of what happens when capitalism is shut down, and a type of communism takes over.  Things slowly start to fall apart, nobody does a job that isn't theirs, and no one tries.  No one knows how to or tries to solve problems.  Every one gets poorer and poorer, except for the corrupt government officials.  People just live with everything the way it is.  If you ever want to explain to your kids why capitalism is good, and socialism/communism is bad,  show them this movie.  I loved it just for that.  It is also fine for kids as far as language, sex, violence, etc.  There is none of that at all, just a touch of violence as part of the adventure.  

A few days ago I saw the movie, "The Guardian."  It is about the National Guard ocean rescue teams.  They are called "swimmers",  and they drop from helicopters and swim out to people, grab them, and hook them to a cable and help them get up to the helicopter.  Usually they work when a boat or ship is going down in heavy storms, etc.  Pretty scary stuff.  There were also a lot of them during Katrina.  Sometimes they don't swim, they just grab the person.  Anyway, the movie talked about he training they go through.  It was really interesting.  these people are incredible swimmers.  Again, the movie is OK.  Some plot holes, the ending could have been better.  But very interesting, because I learned about a branch of the military that I didn't really know about before.  In the movie, there is a lot of swimming.  Mostly with them fully clothed, because they are swimming in the cold ocean or practicing to swim in the cold ocean.  I was watching the skill of the swimmers, and I was really impressed.  The quality of the swimming was great.  I found out later that they hired olympic swimmers as body doubles and minor cast roles, and extras.  I could tell.  

I also like to watch "The Amazing Race."  This last episode, they were in China where they had to do a swimming or diving challenge.  The diving challenge was that they had to do a synchronized jump from two 3 meter boards.  I thought that was pretty hard.  The other option was to swim a 2x200 meter relay, 100 meters at a time (400 meters total) in a new speedo super fast olympic swimming suit.  I could not believe how hard people thought that was.  These two sisters who are college athletes were the worst ones.  One of them could barely swim.  She started crying and freaking out.  It was pitiful.  She could have just pulled herself across on the lane line.  Everyone in the show made it seem like the hardest challenge they had ever had.   Their strokes where so bad.  400 meters is a warm up, a short warm up (each person only had to swim half of that).  They didn't have to swim fast either, they just had to complete it.  I guess my expectations of swimming are really high since I swam for years on a team.  Even when I am out of shape, I know I could swim that in my sleep.  They could have just floated with some kicking and finished it.  It was really pitiful.  It made me realize how much I miss swimming, and how important it is for me to make sure my kids are decent swimmers, wether they join a swim team or not.  So if they ever find themselves needing it, they can do it easily.  

On the topic of swimming, I hear that the CC 24hr Fitness is probably going to build a new building when their lease runs out, and put in a pool.  I hope that information is correct.  CC really needs a swimming pool of some sort.  As of now, RM, CC both have nothing.  When that happens, I will probably join that fitness center.  We will see.  I will have to think about the price, and distance etc.  

A "COPS" Episode in My Neighborhood and My House?

Today we had an interesting experience.  For FHE we were going to a good friend's home.  She had invited us and our childrens' Martial Arts teacher over for dinner.  We helped provide some of the food.  Anyway, Around 4 pm I was preparing the food I was going to bring when I went outside to clean up a little of the court yard and I saw out on the street, a Sheriff's deputy with a riffle.  So I came back in and peaked out the window.  Then I heard a knock on the door and another sheriff was there.  He asked me to stay inside, and asked if he could go into my back yard.  I invited him in.  Christyne was in the back yard, and he said that everyone had to stay in the house.  So I quickly hurried Christyne into the house.  Then I made my children play in my daughter's room, which is the room farthest from where the problems were, brought them snacks, and told them not to come out.  I was nervous, so I started to clean the house.  It makes no sense.  My vain side, kept thinking about how people are in my house, and it is not clean.  So dumb.  I also continued to prepare the food for dinner.  I had just barely started when one of the deputies came in.  I asked what was going on, and he said that they had a felony warrant for arrest for our neighbor.  He would not come out, so they were going to force him out.  He went into the back yard, stood up on our patio table, and watched the back of our neighbors house.  At the same time another officer was standing at our courtyard gate, rifle in hand and ready, pointed at the neighbors house.  They were there for about 30 minutes, just waiting, and calling for our neighbor to come out.  

As a side note.  I live in a very, very quiet, and safe neighborhood.  Many of the homes are vacation homes for professionals in LA and Orange County.  Other people who live in our neighborhood are professionals and retirees who live here.  It is not the getto at all.  My neighbor (who got in trouble) is married to a woman who is a member of an Indian tribe, and she gets $30,000 a month just for being alive.  So they can afford to live in any neighborhood.  Also, He is in trouble with the law a lot.  They are respectful to us, and we treat them with respect, because we have learned that no matter what your neighbor is like, or what you think of them, you have to live with them, and you do not want them to be your enemy.  Especially a gangbanger.  Making friends with Mammon (I learned that from my dad).  They have never ever caused us trouble.  They are very quiet, and keep to themselves.  In fact, they even gave us some birds once (they died, the topic of another blog maybe someday).  I get the feeling that he is one of those people who was deeply involved with drugs and gangs, and keeps trying to get out, but he isn't strong enough.  They have a 2 year old son, so he wants to be a good dad, but the whole 'keeping on the straight path' thing is hard for him.  

So when the police man came in from the back yard and I started talking to him, he asked if our neighbor had ever given us trouble.  I said, "no".  I then told him that we were planning to go somewhere in about an hour, and if it was possible for us to leave.  He said that that was good, and that we should leave now and not come back for a while, and leave the gate open so they could have access to our back yard.  Apparently since our neighbor was refusing to leave, the swat team was being called, and they were going to be there any minute.  (I was afraid I would be blocked into my drive way by all the cop cars etc, so I was glad to leave.)  So I put my ingredients in the pot, and put everything in the car.  I called my friend and asked if I could come over early and cook at her house, and we left.  It was really weird.  I wasn't scared, just full of adrenaline. 

Our neighbor was not leaving his house, and they were all set up with riffles, cars and guns, telling him to get out.  Right as we were leaving the garage, the officers were sending in the dogs.  

I was glad to get out of there.  I was mostly worried because I didn't think my kids could understand, and I knew they could not stay in that bedroom for hours and hours.  I as afraid they might try to go outside and get in the way of the police.  Don't mess with anyone with a gun drawn.  The front and back doors were open so the officers could come in and out as needed.  So I was afraid Ayden would run out to see what was going on etc.  

My friend and her husband were nice enough to let us come over early and cook there.  The dinner was good, and it was a lot of fun.  The kids' Sensei is a really nice lady.  She is 21 years old, but she is great to have a conversation with.  We are so used to seeing her in her gi, but she can dress very nice.  It was a fun evening.  

Then we came home, and everything in our neighborhood and our home was quiet and looked just as if nothing had ever happened.  Maybe it was a dream?  Anyway, I hope justice is served, but I also wish the best for that family, especially the wife and 2yr old son.  I hope the husband learns a lesson, serves his time, and becomes the man his son needs him to be.  I hope for these things, but I don't have a lot of faith that it will happen.  He has been arrested before.  Police have been in our neighborhood 2 previous times with several cop cars and guns to search his home and take him in.  Each time, he did something stupid and deserved it.  He says he will change, but he won't.  I think he needs to move, and not tell any of his old friends (the cause of his downfall) where he has moved to, and just cut all communication with them.  That would be the best thing for him and his family.  He needs to concentrate on being a good dad and husband.  I think that is what he wants, but isn't strong enough to be.  

For my own selfish reasons, I hope he goes to jail for a while.  I am tired of the cops always showing up.  I like cops, I just don't like criminals living next door and needing cops to come over and arrest them.  Also, sometimes I don't like the people he has over.  I am sure he will be back soon.  Hopefully a changed man.  Out of all the houses in our neighborhood, that is the one that gets all the police calls.  Only one other family lived there before them.  And the husband beat the wife, and called the police, and said she was beating him.  Then he hurt himself to make it look like she did.  The police took her away.  She believes that they had to investigate, even if they thought he was lying, and it was keeping her safe at the same time.  Anyway, in court she was cleared of all charges.  It must be the house.  

We moved into this neighborhood to get way from gangs, etc.  I guess every neighborhood can have problems.  Sometimes I feel like our house is a magnet for neighbors with this kind of trouble.  When we lived in our other house, almost all of our neighbors were nice nuclear families (mom, dad, kids).  Nice, hardworking people.  Except our neighbor to the left.  Her adult sons were gangbangers.  They were always partying outside real loud.  Leaving beer bottles on our yard.  One of their enemy gangbangers drove by and shot their house.  And many many other problems.  The mother was such a weak, weak person.  She basically threw up her hands as if she could do nothing.  I guess 'doing nothing' got her sons to be like that.  I thought leaving that neighborhood would fix that.  Oh no,  it follows us.  Maybe now it is finally gone.