Rise and Shout--I am a Utah Man

In the spirit of Rivalry Week and in the spirit of the famous Max Hall statement, “I don't like Utah. In fact, I hate them. I hate everything about them. I hate their program, their fans. I hate everything. It felt really good to send those guys home.” I am going to take this Red vs. Blue moment to state, “I hate Bronco Mendenhall.” And during this Holy War, that is strictly in a biblical football coach type of way. (I am sure if he were my neighbor, I would take him cookies at Christmas and wave at him from the mailbox.) I just think, on a football level he is a candy butt (edited for my sensitive readers).

His” Football is Fifth “philosophy goes totally against my core values and beliefs. You are a head football coach for crying out loud—Football should be Numero Uno in your life! I can’t even fathom being married to such a marshmallow! I guess your “blue blood” like that of Prince Charles allows you to prance around on a pony and cross you legs while you give media interviews. But this America Bronco-not England--football, apple pie, Chevrolet-grow some balls and be a man.

When a man wants to put his family first—he puts his heart and soul into his career. Can you imagine Steve telling “Noahs” that they come fifth in his life? I know that Steve loves me dearly because no matter the weather, the financial ups or downs, the “crisis’s at work, the bickering between employees, the missed flights, the TSA groping, the bad hotel rooms, etc. etc. Each and every morning, his feet hit the floor and he puts on his “helmet and pads” and goes to work. When a man puts his friends first it is because he put his career first, and then a late night call from a teenager in trouble can be solved. When a widow needs help; there are the means to help. When a single mother needs a place to have a wedding, we have a place because someone put “football” first. And don’t even get me started on putting “ faith before football.” Faith is an action word. Faith is having a friend come to you with a sketch of a building on a napkin and saying, “I will help you” make your dream come true—let me go home and call my dentist, he might be interested in helping.” Faith is watching an empty field turn into a building. Faith is pleading on your knees, day after day, week after week, for God to help you to “win the game.” Football always comes before faith unless you are so secure in your cushy Cougartown life that you don’t have to play by the “sweat of your brow” anymore.” I am glad that my Dad was a “ football” player, even when he had to play the swing shift or graveyard. I am glad that my father in law was an All-American Teamster truck driver.I am glad that my boys and sons-in –law have their heads in the game!

I agree with the words of a great, winning football coach that I can respect, Vince Lombardi:

It is a reality of life that men are competitive and the most competitive games draw the most competitive men. That's why they are there - to compete. To know the rules and objectives when they get in the game. The object is to win fairly, squarely, by the rules - but to win.

And in truth, I've never known a man worth his salt who in the long run, deep down in his heart didn't appreciate the grind, the discipline. There is something in good men that really yearns for discipline and the harsh reality of head to head combat.

I don't say these things because I believe in the "brute" nature of man or that men must be brutalized to be combative. I believe in God, and I believe in human decency. But I firmly believe that any man's finest hour - his greatest fulfillment to all he holds dear - is that moment when he has to work his heart out in a good cause and he's exhausted on the field of battle - victorious.

(Boy, that was close game, my heart is still beating.)

Come Ye Thankful People Come--

Jessica asked me to please take pictures because she would not be here to do it. So here are the pictures that I Picassed. I am a little impressed with myself this very moment--I am also sitting in my pajamas at 6:00 in the evening after a meal of left-overs, recovering from all the excitement. It was so good sharing the day with friends, relatives and children--I think I counted 39 of us! Plus Grandma on Skype--

Freedom Fighters-Putting a Smile on My Face

Wed. November 24, is Opt Out Day for all of those flying around the country. People are being asked to Opt-Out of airport scanners and put themselves through the humiliation of groping pat downs to clog TSA lines and bring attention to the extreme violation of fourth amendment rights against search and seizure. Certain groups have become very creative in their protest, one group will be going without underwear and flying in their kilts. The airways are a buzz with anti-TSA discussions and the internet has connected people on this issue in ways that have not been seen before. Going to WeWontFly.com andFacebook each morning, puts a great big smile on my face. Finally, people are waking up. Finally, people are saying enough is enough, Finally, people are looking to the founding documents of our country and remembering what people who gave everything for our freedom understood.

They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."-- Benjamin Franklin

If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom — go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains rest lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen!-- Samuel Adams

A 'No' uttered from deepest 
conviction is better and greater than a 'Yes' merely uttered to please, 
or what is worse, to avoid trouble."- (Mahatma) Ghandi

The reason I am smiling so much as I read this (besides the fact that Steve travels a zillion miles a year and I don’t like him passing through radiation and groping—and I certainly don’t want to have to do it!) is because, it is the “rising generation” who is making all the noise! My generation is a bunch of pansies! I love seeing the youth making websites, exercising civil disobedience, passing out fliers, calling their congressman. Tomorrow’s leaders are taking the reins of freedom today, because my generation woosed out. So this Thanksgiving, I raise a toast to the new “sons and daughters of liberty!” Thanks for taking your clothes off so I won’t have to!

Carolyn Tagged Me!!

Four Shows I Watch:

1. Dancing with the Stars

2. Dancing with the Stars-Results Show

3. Good Morning America-Review of Dancing with the Stars

4. Parenthood—it follows Dancing With the Stars

Four Things I'm Passionate About:

1. My husband

2. My children

3. My grandchildren

4. Learning new things

Four Phrases I Say A Lot:

1. Drive careful!

2. Pick up your clothes!

3. WTF—I don’t say it but I sure think it a lotJ

4. I need to pull myself together—Dave told me I say this a lot

Four Things I've Learned from the Past:

1. Be a light; not a judge

2. There is no such thing as being “unworthy”

3. Nothing stays the same

4. Use Sunscreen!!!

Four Places I Would Like to Go:

1. Boston

2. Post-graduate school

3. Rome

4. Hike the Appalachian trail

Four Things I Did Yesterday:

1. Drove to St. George

2. Six loads of laundry (thank goodness for two machines)

3. Visited with my parents and watched family videos

4. Coordinated my children’s, dog’s, husband’s, lives via cell phone while traveling I-15.

Four Things I'm Looking Forward to:

1. Thanksgiving

2. Completing 10 Noahs’ buildings

3. a reunion with my Dad (not in the near future)

4. Writing another book

Four Things I Love About Winter:

1. My children are all gainfully employed

2. cross/country skiing

3. reading by the fire

4. Christmas music

Four Things on My Wish List:

1. Freedom

2. Peace

3. Understanding

4. To be able to hike in the mountains until the day I die.

1. Four People I Tag:

1. Cathy

2. Cheryl

3. Laura

4. Chelsea-In Canada

5. I thought Lindsey tagged Heather--your're it Heather. I have no idea why this is in giant letters--it's the blogger boogeyman!

Going Postal--

New post at Seeking Peace plus don't miss Heather's new daily posts at Growing Heather!

Tai-a-Phobia

When we put Luke in the car, he starts howling and panting. He hates the car even though in one hour he will be in the mountains, where he can run to his heart’s content. In the past, I have tried to take Andy to a Jazz game, but his fear of heights will not even allow him to put one foot inside the arena. I understand this fear of confined places and nosebleed seating, because I have the same physical reaction to my own unfounded fears. There are phobia institutes that force people to confront their fears. I saw an advertisement for a clinic to help “handwashers” and others germaphobes. They promised that at the end of the session you would be eating your lunch in an outhouse (in my case that could also cure my claustrophobic tendencies—although our hotel in Paris helped me in that regard). This week I was once again feeling sympathy pains for Luke and Andy as I temporarily forgot how my body begins to sweat and shake when I succumb to the temptation of “running into” TaiPan Trading Company. I had barely passed the discounted turkey platters at the front door when I could feel my underarms getting moist. I quickly passed the dishes to just “get an idea” of what a new Christmas tree might cost. It wasn’t the 850.00 price tag that gave me heart palpitations-it was wondering how, with 30 different varieties of pinecones, one could ever choose. I decided to glance at the garlands and my eye started twitching. Maybe I should find a restroom. I looked around, no one else seemed to have white knuckles as they pushed their carts towards the ornaments. I debated with myself, “should I run now?” Between me and the front door was, the BIG display, the themed trees-gingerbread, peacocks, elves, snowflakes, old world Santas, new world Santas, Santas in spacesuits—breathe in, breathe out, I reminded myself. Don’t pass out next to all these breakable items! Oh, what was this, a new section? Does TaiPan now sell clothing accessories too? Don’t stop, I was almost to the door—then out of the corner of my eye I saw the cellophane-a big roll 6.99. I really needed some, it makes the cheapest gift look like you actually care—no I can’t. I can’t stand in line behind all those happy mother/daughter teams with their baskets filled to overflowing. I can’t stay here any longer. My presents will just have to be wrapped in the K-mart Big Roll. I see the door. I see the blue sky. I see my car. I pull out my cell-phone. I call Heather—no one else understands like Heather.

But maybe Jessica understands too. Because she is the one that taught me about the decorating “Bible”-- the Pottery Barn catalog. “Look but don’t buy!” She is one that showed me that anything and everything you need for decorating can be found in three aisles at T.J. Maxx. So until next year, when that weird urge to be like my neighbors, overtakes me again, I will gather pinecones in my backyard and spend 1.69 on real apples and corn at Smiths and I will let Zac cut me a tree on his snowmobile. And always, when passing the 90^th South exit, I will remember to keep on driving.