It's election time!

In case you are unaware we are coming up on an election! That means that every 3 commercials will tell us all about what is wrong with our country and then tell us who is going to fix those problems. Just like they did 2 years ago, and the 2 years before that. I guess they forget what they are fixing once elected.... Anyway, today I wanted to discuss some of these commercials.

Here is my generic rendition:
"If he is elected this (insert random item or service) is going to cost more than ever! He is going to do this when we can least afford it!"( Then they say vote for this other person, or call him to tell him to vote against it.)

As you can see I have left a lot of other things they do out of my commercial. My focal point here is the "When we can least afford it" portion that is in nearly every ad I hear.

Let me see how clearly I can put this:
I am against the government raising, or changing things that are going to increase cost at ANY time. Whether I can afford it or not is irrelevant. I also don't care if someone else can afford it or not. Tax cuts and the likes are not some kind of favor or charity they give us.

I can accept there are things that they need to fund. Our national security being one. Much beyond that however is none of their business.

That is money not theirs to spend.

I find it infuriating how they use it to set us against each other. So whether I have just gotten a 20$ raise and can now afford things much more easily, it is still not a time for them to interfere and raise costs, or taxes.

Parent tactics and fails.

This evening I sent my children to go brush their teeth. I found Naomi and Caleb looking at books in a bedroom. Instead of yelling at them I reminded them that they were supposed to be brushing their teeth. I then turned off the light to give them incentive to get to the bathroom. While they were on their way to the bathroom I turned to my husband who was coming up the stairs to tell him about how I had avoided yelling and how please I was with how well it worked.

Then I walked into the bathroom.

Only to find those two sitting in the bathtub together looking at the same book.

Spoke too soon.

Toddler conversations.

Caleb:" I want the broken gun."
Me: " I don't know where it is."
C : "I want it."
Me: I don't know where it is."
C: " I want it."
Me : "Well go find it. I don't know where it is."
C, whispering : "I want it."

Anyone else feel like this conversation isn't getting very far?

This moment.

My 2 year old decided to paint the the big picture window with a strawberry.

Now I am going to eat Chinese food for lunch, while I try to watch squirrels in the backyard through my hazy window.

Church today

I am sure church today was very uplifting. I wouldn't really know since I missed most of it.

Caleb stuffed a dried blueberry up his nostril and I spent most of the meeting in the hall with some friends trying to remove it before it re hydrated and swelled larger.

I am sure it was a great meeting.

Time.

Here in this life we all get the same amount of time in the day, in the week, month and years. Everyone gets 24 hours each day, 60 minutes per hour. In this time we have things we must do.
We have things we want to do. Plus a few things that just seem to happen whether we want them to or not.
At the end of the day some of the most common sources of relaxation are watching TV and goofing off online. Both can be quite enjoyable. There are however other hobbies of pleasures that seem to have a bad rep. Obviously these are not exact quotes but you have most likely heard the same sentiments or felt them before.

• "Video games are such a waste of time."
• "What a bunch of geeks, playing role playing games."
• "Comic books are for nerds."
• "Wow, you have way too much time on your hands if you are spending it painting miniatures."

Here are some thoughts going through my head on the subject. ( I know you have been begging for me to weigh in on this for a while now... )

• When you play video games, you are actively participating.
• When a group of role players get together they are interacting with other human beings.
• Some comic books have really great stories and morals in them.
• Miniatures give you a real physical product you can handle when you are done.

Now there are people who take any of these things to extremes. We all know someone who does something to the point where they have lost balance.

I have a few questions about these past times.

• Why is TV watching considered a perfectly acceptable use of time? Please consider

1. There is no generally no human interaction
2. The morals are frequently questionable
3. There is no way to participate
4. You have absolutely nothing to show for the time you spend there

So... painting a miniature is a complete waste of time- but watching House is not? At least later on in life I could actually give it to someone. It is hard to pass on what I just sat back and absorbed.