Lent

Ah, Lent. The modern day sacrifice of something we love to grow closer to our Heavenly Father. A subtle remider of the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert being tempted by Satan.

The decisions, the willpower, the wonderful Catholic tradition -- that somehow, this year, I found myself a part of. Thanks to my neighoubor, Kristen "I wanted to be a nun" Schell, I was snaggled into supporting her Lent with a little ditty of my own.

I know. I know. I'm Mormon. The "life-time of Lent" religion. Most of the things most "Lenters" sacrifice -- drinking, dating, swearing, smoking, buying stuff on Sunday, coffee, tea, etc -- we're already not allowed to do at anytime. It's all lent, all the time, with no Marti Gras to make up for it! We're not even allowed to pick new things every year. The Lent-list, with all its joys, goes on eternally. Or at least until heaven, where I've convinced myself I'll be allowed to drink again.

But I digress....

So what did I -- and Jeremy and Abby by default -- sacrifice this year for Lent? Our fancy new 50-inch plasma TV. For the next 40 days, my BFF (the TV) won't be on from 7-7 Monday to Friday, which gives us just enough time at night to watch the news and hit the sack by 8. Party on, oldtimers. I figure Saturdays and Sundays don't really count because we're never here anyway.

So feel free to call or email me over the next 40 days. If I miss your call I'll probably be outside drawing pictures in the sand with a stick. Rebel yell.
Jeremy's actual TV from the Panasonic website. The only difference being this one is on and ours is not.

*Tear*

Unhappy Birthday

It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to. And I do want to.

It all started off smiles and giggles as we got in our party dress and prepared for cake and presents.


Then sweet daddy tried to put on the evil birthday hat. My whole world ended. I cried so hard I smeared cake all over my face as I wiped away the tears.

It only got better when I was able to eat the delicious cake on my mom’s lap.

I smiled in the bathtub for a few minutes.

But then I got super angry when I couldn’t get my toys out of their packages. And I cried again.

Birthdays stink. I’m staying one forever.

Samurai Students

Recently I read an interesting article debating whether or not guns should be allowed on school campuses. If you know me at all, you already know how I feel on this issue. A man they interviewed, Oda, started off with some great thoughts. Near the end of the article it became apparent that he either does drugs or plays WAY too many video games.

“Oda said banning guns on campus might do more harm than good. He said people bent on violence might resort to other, perhaps bloodier methods, such as swords. "A person that's got skill with a sword in a very big crowd could put a lot more people down with a sword than a gun," he said. "They're silent. You'll have people screaming, but nobody knows what's going on."

Sure swords aren’t as loud as guns, but don’t you think they are a little more obvious to carry around? Who isn’t going to see the “crazy guy with the sword” coming a mile away?

Seriously?

I created a box for my students in my group English class to submit questions they had about Canadian/American culture. Many of my students are shy and hate to ask questions out loud, especially controversial questions.

Take a peak at their fascinating questions:

What is love?
Is there someone you like?
Why are you so cute?
What are you doing at 9 PM?

Seriously?