The Fun Continues

Looks like I finally found an interesting topic! I guess healthcare is more exciting than electrifying stories of our family's daily life. So let's keep on this topic one more day. By the way, here are the candidates positions:

Barack Obama

John McCain

Ron Paul

What are your thoughts?

p.s. Victory for the Bailout Bill being DEFEATED! (At least for now.)

Lucky Numbers: 15-19-24-26

Just indulge me. Please.

So, I have really been thinking a lot about this political race (despite my best efforts,) and feel the need to make one of my opinions publicly clear. You may get the idea that I am being fed this information by right-wing conservatives; Rest assured, I have not been exposed to that since before the NDC/NRC and this is a product of my own research. Before I do that, however, I want to point out the fact that people will vote for what is advantageous to themselves, not anyone else. That's a blessing that comes from our 15th, 19th, 24th, and 26th Amendments of the United States Constitution.

So, here you go:


Not many people are upset with an idea like socialized medicine. Free healthcare for everyone sounds pretty enticing given that medical bills are not exactly "a drop in the bucket." I believe that there are some serious problems with the current healthcare system, but changing over to a socialized plan would be disastrous!

Juan was on the subway one day when he noticed a button on someone's backpack that read, "Healthcare is not a privilege, it's a right!" Using that logic, having food is also a right, correct? Does that mean that the government should buy food for everybody?! Well, when someone doesn't have the means for food, what happens? The government provides ways for them to get it (i.e. Food Stamps, WIC, soup kitchens, shelters.) Back to healthcare; when someone doesn't have the means for proper healthcare, the government also provides ways for that to be afforded to them (i.e. Medicare, Medicaid, WIC, etc.)** I know this sounds harsh, but I have to be blunt: people are capable. It is an innate quality of being part of the human race. Although it is difficult sometimes, people are capable, and if the government does not give them the chance to be capable, they will constantly use it as a crutch. I know it would seem a lot easier if the government would handle all of the medical expenses that one may incur, but consider the results if people didn't take care of that responsibility to the best of their ability:

• If you knew you could get free healthcare, it would be more likely that with every cough and sneeze, you would want to go see a nurse. And it wouldn't just be you, it would be everyone you know. This happened in the Soviet Union, and they had to abandon that form of healthcare. Lines in Canada for Medicare attention are so long it takes many months to be seen by one doctor.
• Materialistically, the system will deteriorate. Everything will be cheaper--and I do not use the word "inexpensive", I use the word "cheap". Innovation will be turned from creating something new and better to how can I make this with less money? Why? Because the government will be paying for it so research will just become a way to get a paycheck, not a race to success.
  
• Our economy is not exactly thriving at the moment, and the effects of the socialized system would eat away the value of a dollar like acid. The catch-phrase could be, "Who is going to pay for it? Not the government--the people!" Taxes. It's the only way to do it. Higher taxes are not good for an economy in the situation ours is in right now. What gets us out of this mess? Consumers spending money. (Econ 101, Dr. Wimmer, I did learn something!) higher taxes = less spending money = lower economic net income = we're in a worse place than when we started. So if you are no longer in charge of your medical bills, you spend less, and the "...Comes around, goes around..." starts.
• This is the part that affects me and Juan, so this is why I have to vote against socialized healthcare: We will remain hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt if this goes through. It's not funny and it's not right. Anyone who has gone through 4 years of college doing undergrad work, plus at least 4 more years of professional school can tell you that it is not easy. This country is run under that understanding that a man or woman will reap the rewards of their own labor. So why should anyone put in 8+ years and thousands and thousands of dollars into their education just to earn a low, government-based salary which will never allow them to climb out of the great hole of debt?
• That brings me to the results that will affect everyone: healthcare workers will no longer be professionals. Trade and technical schools will produce the dentists who will perform your extensive root canals or the doctor who conducts Coronary artery bypass surgeries. Another thing I learned in my Econ. class was that there are incentives for everything. Garbage men are paid quite well, as well as construction workers. Why? Because not a lot of people like to do that work, so the incentive is a higher paycheck. Why would someone invest thousands of dollars into his/her education without an incentive? They wouldn't, and we will be left with downgraded care and less-educated technicians.

I don't know what the answers to our healthcare problems are, however, if we implement a socialized medicine plan, it would be a definite step backward.

As you can imagine, I could go on; however, I will just finish this post by saying that I hesitated in publishing it because I know that not everyone thinks the same way as I do (and it could possibly expose myself to some heated, yet friendly, debates.) I hope that you know that even if you don't agree with me, that's okay. Like I said, people agree with what is advantageous to themselves, and you may not see my point of view as advantageous per se. However, it is important enough to me that everyone is informed about this that I want to spread the word, even if it is in my own little blog-o-sphere. And don't forget:

(I just had to throw that in.)

**I would like to clear up the third paragraph that some may read in a different way than intended: I believe that the government help that people receive is good and right when used as intended--as a temporary help through very hard times. My squabble is with permanent uses of government aids when people are still physically capable of earning a paycheck that provides for their needs. Hope that clears up any misunderstandings.

The budget held us back a bit, but at least that obtrusive shrub is out of the way. I'm off to go plant my bulbs now.

"Almost Done!" Update:

Oops, I just broke the saw while trying to decapitate the hideous evergreen. Shrub removal delayed.

Almost Done!

I've been working (working hard!) the last two days on our front yard. It's not perfect and I didn't follow my plan, but it is BETTER and that's all I really needed it to be. Give me one more day to finish up the last few details (i.e. remove the shrub) and I'll post pictures.

Nothing Better to Write... So I'll Post This:

Today I had a lapse in judgment while cooking; I know better than to put something cold and watery into hot, hot oil. I was just too excited for sauteed onions on my burger, I didn't stop to think.

Now might be a good time to deal with the poison oak in our backyard.

Wanna Visit Us?

Roundtrip Airline Tickets from SLC to PHL are now $239 (taxes included!) DIRECT FLIGHT! Click Here if interested. (Must be bought at least 14 days in advance with very, very FEW black-out days.)

Anybody in the mood for a Philly Cheesesteak and a Water Ice?

Smells of the Season

Apples
Pumpkin Pie... well, any pie for that matter
Wet dirt
Burning Ditches (only found in farming areas)
Straw
Silage (I like that smell for some odd reason)
Pears
Cloves, Nutmeg, Cinnamon
Glazed Doughnuts
Candles
Rain
Mulch
Citrus with spices
Decaying Leaves
Smoke from wood-burning stoves
Apple Butter... Mmmmm

Pictures to Prove She's Growing Up

I haven't edited these yet, but I still think she's cute enough for another spot on the Internet.

I love the gummy smile; it's so Siena.

Exploring nature

Making a funny face, and not on purpose

Mr. Raincloud came to threaten our fun

We love her to pieces!!

Professionally Locateable

Guess who finally took a proactive approach to her floral business. Yep, intimidated, little ol' me. I drove out to New Jersey today while Juan was at school to take a look at a floral wholesale company, then meandered my way to another floral supply store in South Philly. After touring each facility, I opened accounts and was on my way. Whew! The first big step in starting (or re-starting) a business is finding suppliers, and I'm glad I can finally check that off my list.

Next, I have to organize the basement into a home studio; this is one task that I am not ready to tackle because it takes money and a lot of patience, both of which I lack at the moment. Once that is complete, I will be ready to advertise. Where?, What?, How?... all questions running through my mind. It didn't seem this difficult when I first began my business, probably because I had a lot of help along the way (Britnee at Bloomers was a great help, among many other wonderful people.)

Anyway, one of the last things I need to do is get a website that is legit (which is in progress... fingers crossed,) and we're up and running.

Here's to the American Dream!

Sat. Morning

I feel the need to blog about this, even though it's pretty stupid. So skip this post if you have a weak stomach for "used items".

I went yard sale hopping yesterday and had some pretty good finds; actually I am so proud of what I bought that I can't stop myself from blurting it out (which I do too often anyway.)

(Drum roll)

• Craftsman Professional Drill + 2 batteries and charger
  
• Craftsman Professional Jigsaw
  
• Microscope (...and a childhood dream fulfilled!)
  
• Olympus film camera- bad choice: film and batteries cost more than the actual camera
  
• 7 classic novels + 1 Bathroom Book to let me cheat on the rest of the novels I haven't read
• 6 tartlet pans to promote my inner "Ina"
  
• 2 brand new pair of shoes for Siena because her feet are growing too rapidly
  
• 1 German bowling bag (free... I needed "something to help carry the books to my car," said the nice German oma.)
  

Everything I got was in near new condition and under $50, which made the morning an even greater success. Should I have spent that money on yard sale items? No. However, when I brought home the drill and the saw, the blow wasn't so hard on Juan. How did I justify it? Well, for his birthday, I got Juan a raincheck for a drill at Sears... remember? He never actually bought it, so now he has one. Used and for less moolah. I'm a horrible wife.

Is She The Only One Who Does This?

Siena likes to scream. No, no... I mean she really likes to scream. She does it when she is in her happiest mood, and sometimes that is not always convenient. Today I was getting some grocery shopping done and isle after isle, she spurted out shrieks of joy. I was so embarrassed... and deaf. At one point, one of the workers in the meat department looked over at me and the expression on his face was as if he were saying, "Look lady, either you make your baby shut her yapper or I'll take you out with this Porterhouse!" Needless to say, I stuck to the shopping list today--in and out in 15 minutes.

Thanks to Emily, I have more pictures to post:

Palin Update:

So after watching the RNC, I am reassured about Gov. Palin and feel that she is a good pick for the White House. However, I still think McCain could have done better by choosing someone with more experience and economic strength. That's my two cents.

OBX (as the cool crowd calls it)

Our OBX Crew
(Camera lens didn't de-humidify in time.)

First things first-- there are only a few pictures of our latest adventure. If there is one thing I can be counted on to do, it is to take pictures. Guess not this time....

The Outer Banks of North Carolina are now one of my favorite places to vacation. Maybe it's because of the warmer-than-40-degrees ocean water, the relaxed atmosphere, or the Super Wings Beach Stores... no, scratch that. It's because, like the brochure said, "you track time by the sunrise and sunset, blah-blah, blah-blah."

The 7-hour drive didn't seem too long, and once we were there we walked straight into the ocean without unpacking first. Sunday, we got all of our sight-seeing done; after church, we drove over to Roanoke Island to visit the Lost Colony. We skipped the Elizabethan Gardens and just drove straight to the Bodie Lighthouse. (Thanks to Mike & Marin, we have proof of that.) Day after day, we built sand bucket castles with Siena, jumped into the water with the boogie board in tow, honed our beach volleyball skills, ate delicious food, stayed up late into the night playing the Wii, and watched the NRC on MSNBC with the rest of the OBX crew. (One day, we even saw a sting ray jump out of a wave near us.)

So, I honestly was going to take pictures on Friday, while we were enjoying our last day on the beach. That didn't happen--"Hurricane" Hanna was on her way. The beach patrol people cleared the beach of the few people who wanted to brave the storm and that was that. It was exciting to us to think that we were going to be driving home in a hurricane the next day. If it had been up to me, I would have waited it out at the house, but since check-out time was 10:00 am, we had to pack up and get out of there. Luckily, Hanna was downgraded to a "tropical storm", and we only caught about 30 minutes of horrible, windy downpour on the road. Want to catch a glimpse? (It's only one second long because I thought I was taking a picture.)

OBX or BUST next year!

By the way, here and here and here and here are some friends who went with us. They've got pictures and such to demonstrate the beach, house, etc.

Okay, One More Thing....

Check out who is running with McCain as his VP candidate! Is anyone else shocked at this? I can't help but ask myself, "WHY?!" I'm sure it has nothing to do with her youthful spirit and the fact that she is a woman--certainly not. No, I think McCain chose her because of her two years of experience as Alaska's governor and lack of strength in foreign policy.

I don't care which party you are affiliated with, I don't think the future leaders of our country should just choose people who fit in as "wild cards" on the ballot. Candidates should be chosen for the character, knowledge and experience they don't have singly from nature--like being a female born in the 60's.

I'll probably change my mind... as I am willing to do sometimes, but I can't help but be frustrated with the little knowledge I have of this current event.

And We're Off Again!

Wow, this week went by entirely too fast.

...and we're leaving again tomorrow bright and early for North Carolina's Outer Banks.

Creativity is lacking and there is nothing new to post anyway, so....... goodbye for one week more.

Back On It.

Network of Life-Support

I have to take a break in the fun and exciting photos of our trip to Utah for something I think deserves a prayer and a pondering moment.


Many people in my "web-of-blog-stalking" already have brought this piece of information to their own blogs for others to see, but I feel that it remains primarily in the "Utah/Arizona Blog-o-Sphere"; So, I hope this is informative for those of us who are on the Eastern side and hope that through your blogs, this news (and more importantly, prayers) will spread.

Stephanie Nielson and her husband, Christian, were injured in a small plane crash in Arizona the beginning of this month. I have never met either of them (although I did go to high school with her and her sister,) but I have come to know their family through Stephanie's (NieNie's)blog, NieNie Dialogues.

I know, it sounds silly to say that I have come to care for her family simply through blog-stalking, but she invites everyone in through the blog-window of her life and you can't help but fall in love with the Nielsons. They are a fascinating couple making day-to-day life look like bliss. Just from the way she writes and the photos she posts, she reminds me of June Cleaver, aka Mom of the Year. At first, I have to admit, her blog threw me for a loop when I saw a woman in a vintage dress, high heels and bright red lipstick in the kitchen with an apron on. "What world is this woman living in?" I thought. But I couldn't help but go back a week later.

Over the time I have been reading her blog, I realized that she has her own style, and it's cool, but more importantly, she's just trying to make her children's lives wonderful and full of good memories. She makes events like birthdays and Back to School special with fancy meals, flowers and banners. She inspires creativity in her home and I'm always looking forward to finding out what her next mantle display is... strange as that sounds. I can honestly say that I have thought to myself, "I hope I am a wife/mother/homemaker like her when I grow up...."

So when I read that she and her husband were severely burned and that she will be in a coma for the next few months, I was stunned. With four children and a dog, plus the countless friends and family who are suffering with them, they need much support and countless prayers of faith and hope. I hope by spreading this through all of our blogs, we can demonstrate a "life-support" of strangers that could help buoy a family in need of some good news. Although you may not know Nie nor her husband, please take a moment to send a prayer for two wonderful parents, two examples of faith and good principles, and two quality human beings which the world needs more than ever.

Round One of Pictures

To Start Off:

Thanks to T who first mentioned this blog to me, and Dani, who led me to the link, I have another constant source of entertainment: Seriously, So Blessed... So before I catch up on what we've been up to, I want to say this: I admit that I have written a couple entries worthy of a spot on that blog. (For example: refer to this entry, which I unabashedly will admit to having penned.)

I guess I just have to laugh.

iVamos!

We'Re oFf To UtAh!!!

...maybe I'll blog... maybe I'll not blog...

I'm already looking forward to the 3-hour blog spree I will go on when we get back. To all of our friends who have blogs: don't post anything juicy until I return! ;^)

Last Friday: Beach

Juan didn't have to work last Friday, so we packed up and left for the beach. Since we had never been to an Atlantic beach before, we relied on our GPS to show us the way. Instead of taking us to Rehoboth Beach (our original plan,) we ended up in New Jersey near Cape May. So we rolled with it and went to Wildwood Beach. After a packed lunch of crab sandwiches garnished with sand, we played to our hearts content in the ocean. It was a perfect day for going to the beach-- actually, too perfect. Juan and I got sunburned. I actually don't mind it because I now don't blend in with the white caps in the ocean tide (refer to picture #3... on second thought, don't.) Siena just received a more envious skin color, and dodged the sunburn altogether. We ended the day outing at Cape May's Lighthouse. The East Coast has a different "vibe" than that of, say, Seattle/Victoria. Although the architecture and landscape are similar, it definitely makes you feel more hoity-toity... take what you will from that. Names like "Kennedy", "Martha Stewart", and "Barefoot Contessa" keep running through my mind. I think I prefer the West Coast over the East Coast, but both are fun and hold their own little gems.

(That dragonfly was as big as the palm of my hand and it refused to detach from Juan's swim shorts. He had to walk into the ocean waves to get it off.)

Siena with Papi

Siena with Mommy
ps. "Thank You" to Photoshop.

Breaking Dawn is HERE!

Guess who went to the bookstore at midnight last night for a BOOK... yep, Amber and I are the guilty Edward fans. Okay, I didn't actually buy the book, but the party was fun! We got to Barnes and Noble at about 11:50 pm and didn't get home until about 1:00 in the morning. The store was PACKED, and girls (the majority around the age of 16) were decked out in "Team Edward" and "Team Jacob" t-shirts. Every minute of the countdown, there were shrieks of excitement and when they finally counted down to zero, I thought I had lost my hearing. The first girl in line went to pay for the book and as she was handing the money to the cashier, she was shaking like a leaf. It was pretty funny. We started reading it on the way home and I can't wait to finish it. I've just got to think of a really good bribe for Amber so I can borrow her copy when she's done reading it.

Rental Car

We started off with this little number while our car is getting repaired:

...the last car on the planet that we would have willingly chosen. (No offense to those who own one.)

Let's just say that the PT Cruiser comes with a little "label" that automatically is stapled to the forehead of the male driver. We found out that Juan was no exception. While he was driving by himself, another man on the road caught his attention and winked at him! Eww! I don't want other women looking at him, let alone men!

Luckily, we were going to exchange it anyway because it was giving us headaches from the intense smell of cigarette smoke. We searched near and far for another Enterprise that had available cars, and eventually we found one. When we got there they told us they only had 2 cars left--PT Cruisers (Groan....) However, they tried a little harder and were able to find a Dodge Avenger. GONE are the days of the PT! Now Juan can drive around with his head held high.

Juan's Surprise Party

This year, I decided to throw Juan a
surprise birthday party
- something I had never done before. The whole week was spent lying to him, trying to cover up what was really going to happen. But it was all worth it.

First, the invitations. I printed some as 4x6 photos for the people in the Spanish Branch and handing them out last Sunday was NOT a piece of cake. It seemed like he was always there when I gave them out. I have NO idea how they all got to the safety of purses and coat pockets without him finding out. That was my first lucky break.

Oh, it gets better.

Since we only have one car, and since he drives it to work (even though it's ONLY 4 blocks away,) I walked to the store to get all of the supplies for the party. This was the hard part. I needed the car to take all the bags home, and lucky for me, his work is near the store. So I walked with bags and baby in tow to our car, sneaked them into the trunk (not baby, of course,) and walked in to Sears to see him. I told him I was going over to Ross to look for a couple of things (web of lies!) Lucky break #2: his shift was over and he offered to walk Siena back home in the stroller while I browsed in Ross, then I could drive the car home. Wow! That worked out well. Anyway, long story short-- he was locked out AGAIN (or so he thought,) and had to come back for the keys. Meanwhile, I was in Sears, trying to find this drill that he wanted. I had stolen his wallet so I could use his employee discount card and finally had Sears to myself, "no Juan" to see me buy his gift. ;^) Unfortunately, they were out of those drills, so I had to give him a raincheck... a little anticlimactic.

I had to have pretty much everything ready by Friday night because we were going to be in NYC all of Saturday and at church on Sunday. While he was working Friday night, I was rapidly beating cake batter, decorating cupcakes, preparing a cheese tray (which I forgot to serve,) and getting the rest of the decorations ready. When he got home, I had to come up with an explanation for the foil-covered platters. I told a little lie and told him they were cupcakes for a "cupcake cake" I had seen on Martha Stewart, or something like that. I told him that it was a cake in lieu of the birthday cake I hadn't made yet. Lucky Break numero tres: he believed me.

Lastly, and most importantly, I had not yet figured out how to get him out of the house so everyone could come without him knowing. Wow! He happened to have a mandatory meeting at work exactly one hour before people were supposed to show up. Could I have been more lucky? I think not.

Thanks to two wonderful women from the branch, everything was ready to go in time, and it all went over well. Thanks to all 43 people who came! Now, I know you want pictures, and although I didn't take a lot, here are the pics I do have:

Everyone: "Surprise!"