WE and I drove through the great state of Kansas on our way to Colorado this weekend. We got a kick out of the propaganda billboards – most of which mentioned Jesus in some way, shape, or form.

But my favorite, however, was the huge billboard declaring

“Happiness is a Crock of Beans!”

On our way back from CO, we streamed the BYU vs Utah game on WE’s iPhone. So that was pretty exciting. I actually turned it off right after the game even though WE insisted we listen to the post-game and revel in the victory. I’m kind of glad that we didn’t listen considering M. Hall’s super poor post-game performance (not to mention the 4th qtr). Not that I condone the crazy fans that do horribly mean things to the opposing fans during this the most unholy of ‘holy wars’, but I certainly don’t think that “making it personal” is a justifiable excuse for using the h*** word I do agree with Bronco – that M. Hall let out his emotions – but “speaking from the heart?!” Come on.

We also practiced notes for our upcoming choral Christmas performances. Check out our 2009 winter Evening Song performance schedule here.

And we started an all-comprehensive study on parenting. (Everyone always says that you’re never ready to be a parent, but I think this is THE #1 most popular excuse for NOT preparing) ***Note: We are currently accepting recommendations on great reads***

Of the books and articles that we have read so far, this one about helicopter parents I found particularly interesting. And for the funniest thing I’ve read so far, here’s a summary of the anti-beatitudes found in a book written by one of my old college professors.

Beatitudes for an Unhappy Family:

1. Blessed are they who tell the truth 99 percent of the time, for they shall be known as “basically” honest people.

2. Blessed are the deceitful, for they shall avoid disappointing others.

3. Blessed are they who use sarcasm, for they shall be known as funny and humorous people.

4. Blessed are the critical, for they shall look good in the eyes of others. Yea, confess thy spouse’s sins.

5. Blessed are the selfish for they shall have the most toys at the end.

6. Blessed are they who shout the loudest, for they shall be heard.

7. Blessed are they who are right, for they shall win arguments.

8. Blessed are they who insist on getting their own way, for they shall obtain their independence.

9. Blessed are they who swear for effect, for they shall influence others.

10. Blessed are they who are the biggest, for they can intimidate others with their size. After all, might makes right.

However humorous, unfortunately for most of us, these come a little too close for comfort and are good reminders of what NOT to be.

Okay, so after yesterday’s post about ants for pets (lame!) I just have to write about the kind of dog that I really want for a pet. I’ve been researching online a little and I think that I’ve come to a conclusion about the breed of dog that would be best for our family. Here’s the basics to look for:

1. Doesn’t need a big yard…since we don’t have one

2. Good temperament and great with kids (no this is not an announcement!)

3. Little to no dander…for WE and since the dog will be inside

4. Toy to medium sized

That said, I’m thinking about a Cockapoo (Cockerspaniel/Poodle Mix). Ideally you get the poodle’s smarts/fur and the cockerspaniel’s temperament! I’ve read that they are easy to train and very good dogs. But I guess that’s what people say about every kind…I’m sure it depends on how they are raised/trained.

I can’t decide if I want chocolate, gold/white, or spotted, or black. Since they won’t shed I’m not too picky. Here’s some pics.

PS. For those of you that know Hugo, doesn’t the chocolate pup look almost exactly like him?!? (Hugo was my bestest stuffed friend in the whole-wide world growing up)

I found a breeder here in Dallas that has litters twice a year. Since I’ve never done this before – I really have no idea how to judge whether a breeder is good or not. WE says we should just go to a rescue and find one. But I don’t know about that. I guess I’d rather know more about the dog (i.e. parents) and error on the safe side. But I’m up for suggestions from any of you dog lovers out there. Here’s a picture of the parents if we decided to go with this breeder.

(Ha, it looks like the Mr. Poodle told a funny)

This breeder’s website doesn’t say a price, but I read that they can go from anywhere between $250 and $750. Again for any of you dog owners out there, I’d be interested to know approx. how much you spend a month (or year) for your dog on food, vet, grooming, dog sitters, etc. I wouldn’t want any surprises for WE

Ha, I’m totally kidding myself.

I’m pretty sure it’s gonna take an act of congress for any of this to actually happen. But hey, there’s no harm in dreaming, right?

With all my wishing and hoping for a pet dog, I thought that today I’d blog about the most common backyard companion in Texas…

(more…)

WE and I planted this tree in the back yard soon after we got married. And it’s grown about 2 feet and has more than one branch now! Compared to all the trees we saw in Connecticut, this little guy’s still got a lot of photosynthesis and growing up to do. But it’s fun to watch it happen!

Based on what I’m see here: I figure in about 50 years we might be able to compete with A1′s front yard tree for ‘Best Fall Colors!’ =)

My Quote Of The Week this time is an extended comment on WE’s post. And since I’ve missed a QOTW once or twice, I’ll even throw in a bonus =)

Just recently I discovered a verse in the Old Testament that I hadn’t noticed before.

“The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.”

Isaiah designed a striking image for the reader to understand guilt/shame and how difficult (and un-worth-it) it is to try and live a lie – always intending to cover up the dirt inside. But just one storm and suddenly, the litter on the beach is disgusting. To WE’s point – all choices have consequences and being free certainly isn’t about confining your every energy to hiding and/or justifying those natural consequences.

On a related but separate note, I am fascinated at the increasing number of ‘confession memoirs’ making the top-sellers list in recent years. It’s almost like the more dirty laundry you air, the more money you make.

Walls’ “The Glass Castle: A Memoir” is stunningly repulsive and yet captivating enough to make you strangely connect with a set of characters that you think surely must not be real, rational people making such incredibly irrational and poor choices.

This week Mary Karr, author of “The Liars’ Club”, has written and released her 3rd memoir – “Lit”.  Although I’ve not read this telling of her after-high-school life, this week I read the following excerpt from the book:

“Only an alcoholic can so discombobulate her insides that she might weigh in her hands two choices – (a) get drunk and drive into stuff with more molecular density than she has, and (b) be a present and loving mother to her son – and, on picking the latter, plunge into despair.”

I wonder if memoirs similar to these are such good sellers because readers are drawn to stories about others with similar problems to their own  – or if they just like to read them to feel better about their own lives. Either way, I’m sure that if you were to paint a picture of Karr’s new book – it would look just like the beach shot above. I guess the best we can hope is that readers (especially young ones!) are smart enough to learn from the mistakes of others and wisely choose good over bad. As Isaiah so poetically penned, it’s the good choices in life that give the soul ‘peace like a river!’

This little tree caught my eye.

It’s so rare to see roots developing outside the soil like that and I wonder how many winter blizzards in New England this tree will last.

There’s nothing fair about life, you know.

The only equality is that we are all equally mortal. The real challenge seems to be accepting what you are dealt and making as beautiful of a life as you can out of it.

One cool thing about getting married and being adopted into a new family is getting more Grandparents!! WE has a particular Grandma that I’ve noticed is extra special. Everyone in his family either whispers or tears up when they think or talk about her because she is so incredibly special to them. Honestly, I was rather taken a back by it at first because everyone else in the extended family is fair game for a little teasing here and there or some good ol’ fashioned gossip, but not Grandma R. She’s just too kind and perfect and loving for any of that nonsense. And as I’ve come to learn more about her I understand why. I look forward to meeting her one day and until then she’ll be for me like this tree was:

A reminder to take whatever you get and make something really beautiful out of it!