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