A Mish-mash

I just thought I'd write today a little bit of everything. Cherie is so sweet to me. She has a very self-deprecating sense of humor sometimes. She makes me out to be better than I am most of the time, too. I love her for that, though. I had a wonderful birthday, and thanks to you all who commented. I ended up taking the day off - it really wasn't planned but I figured, what the heck, it's my birthday! We obviously didn't have any plans due to my impromptu vacation but it was nice to just have a quiet day at home and to take a ride with the one I love most. She bought me a birthday cake from the lady who did our wedding cake. I had been watching some show the other day and they were eating wedding cake and I commented on how wedding cake sounded really good. Don't you just love wedding cake? There's something soft and moist about most wedding cakes that you don't get with other ones. Anyway, she ordered me a birthday/wedding cake! It was great. I have to be careful of the things I mention around her when it comes close to birthday time or Christmas because she listens intently and will try her best to accommodate any wish I have. She is wonderful that way, too. What a great woman I have in my life. She forgets how wonderful I thought she was when we were out at school, too.

I remember one year I wanted my hair frosted - remember this was the 80's! LOL She put this little cap on my head and pulled my hair through the little holes in it. My hair turned out more platinum blonde than frosted, but I loved it! It was very Billy Idol, very "White Wedding"! The bad part was that I was trying out for a part in the musical "Oklahoma" and my blonde hair stuck out too much. I didn't get the part. That was the Fall of 1987. My how time flies. I can't believe I'm 43 either.

What is 43 supposed to feel like? I remember my mom at 43 - I was 24 then. WOW! Weird, huh? I guess most people my age have children at home or in college or both. I have neither. Most have been working for years at their careers. I haven't been. Most people probably have a house, mortgage, and take family vacations. I have none of those either. Oh well, I'm an anamoly for someone my age. I guess the "norm" was never to be me. Hence the title of our blog..."Life is a Roller Coaster". I remember telling Cherie before we were married that she better hold on because my life was not a Merry-go-round. I tended to have the kind of life that was a roller-coaster, filled with ups and downs and scary turns and flips. Needless to say, that's exactly how our lives have been these last 13 years together. I'm glad I have someone on the ride with me, though. It would even be more scary and lonely without that extra passenger. I have always loved roller-coasters, so I guess that's what you get when you are a thrill-seeker such as I. However, sometimes, in retrospect, it's hard to feel a part of regular everyday life when you don't exactly fit in. It's hard to find those commenalities with others because you don't have the same reference points. It does make things difficult sometimes and it does take a great deal of conviction to live a life such as ours. Although it may not be ideal for most, it's mine and it's all I know. Good or bad, that's how it has been for me.

Even though the idea of comparing life to carnival rides is exciting, living it can be a challenge. I was thinking the other day of the few posts I've made on this blog. I was thinking of the one specifically of the Obama's. My sister-in-law told Cherie that she thought I was only voting for Obama because his wife had a good sense of style! LOL I was at first a bit put off by that, but then figured I should have mentioned other things that have drawn me to him as a potential president. Remember, I said this was going to be a mish-mash of thoughts today so bear with me...I just really feel very strongly that we need change in this country. I love being an American. I love our country. I wanted to say that at first because I also want to say that I get really upset with our country and sometimes I am not so proud to be an American. I feel that our leaders over the last eight years have ruined our reputation as a nation globally. I feel that attitudes even among everyday Americans have become twisted and complacent. We need change. We need better health care for our citizens. There should never be someone in this country who is in need of health care. I don't care what the disease or the cost, we are living in the one of the wealthiest and most progressive countries in the world and the idea that people have to sacrifice everything just to be made well is very sad to me. I believe that the McCain campaign is of the attitude that many are - that we should just take care of our own lives without government help. I think that's fine to a degree, but there are many who do not have that ability. I have seen and been witness to many people who suffer unnecessarily in this country. It's interesting that they want government out of some things yet want it in others, i.e. a women's right to choose...I'll say no more.

Also, our middle-class is suffering horribly. My neice has to take out massive amounts of student loans and be stradled with debt because her parents make too much money to qualify for student aid, they cannot afford to pay for the high cost of her education. She is a smart, witty and talented young woman. She does not deserve to start her life post-college being indebted.
When I was in college I remember working with a young woman who was from Korea.
She was an international exchange student and our country, yes the good 'ol US of A, was literally paying her to go to school in our country. She was not given as much as others and I remember her telling us of students from Japan who were at BYU who were able to buy fancy cars with the extra money they were being given by our country. Even she was appalled. We have to educate our own people. This was also in the late 1980's when this was happening, guess who was President then? You got it...George the 1st. We should be educating our own children. One of the things that makes a civilization progress and exist is the value it places on education. Not just on learning to read and write but to be productive, trained and skilled individuals with strong communication and cognitive skills. These things are intrinsically important.

Along with change, healthcare and middle class rejuvenation, I also agree with Barack Obama on his stance for change in the economy and also with the war in Iraq. I feel like we really have our work cut out for us as a nation in patching up our alliances throughout the world. It's important that we remain a member of our world community and not be lost. I don't mean we should compromise our beliefs, but there are ways of diplomacy that have been ignored during this last administration. We are all human beings on this planet and we have a responsibility to one another. When one country has more than another, they should share. I know that's idealistic and rather utopian in thought, but it's a good idea in theory. I'm not sure the Obama campaign has taken that stance, but I do feel that there is a chance for better foreign relations if he were elected President. This mess of a war that is going on Iraq, too, needs and deserves attention. We need to get our people out of there. We are beginning to turn this war into another Vietnam where we are fighting other countries' wars for them. This is not right and it costs everyone. We cannot just pull out now - I realize that, but I think the whole thing was started on false pretenses and most of the United States went along with it because of 9/11. We were all hurt and confused about those tragedies on that day seven years ago so we were vulnerable. I feel that the Bush administration took advantage of that to begin it's attack on Saddam Hussein and his regime. Was Saddam Hussein a monster? Yes. There's no question of that, but the pretense that there were weapons of mass destruction was proven to be false. I know that he was a tricky person with no morals, but are we the world police department? We have to be wise in these decisions and we have a current president who can't even say "nuclear" correctly!

One more thing before I abandon my political viewpoint, is about Sarah Palin. I have to comment on all the hoop-la about her. I think she's fine, ok. Fine. I, however, do not want her as our Second-in-command. It is not because she is female. I believe there will be a female president one day. However, I feel she is unqualified and I am not impressed with her family relations. Why is this woman running for VP when she has a newborn child with Downs Syndrome and now has a 17 year old daughter who is pregnant? Would you, as a mother or father, subject your 17 year old to the eyes of our prying world when she is in this state? I mean she knew before she accepted the nomination that her daughter was pregnant. Is Alaska so far-removed from the rest of the United States that she didn't think the media would have a hey-day with this? I mean honestly, come on! There were many other more qualified individuals who John McCain could have chosen. Let's just say I feel the whole thing is very seedy. I feel like his motivation was nothing more than an attempt to get the "Hillary" voters. Sarah Palin in my honest opinion, was a fool to fall for this request. Being Governor of a state would have been enough for anyone with her family responsibilities, but to go on such a national stage is ridiculous. What about the boy who is the father of this child and his family? Did they consult with him or his parents before she made this decision? They will be drug through the mud along with her daughter as well. Just one more thing I have to say in this regard, too, is that I am absolutely shocked at the blatant hypocrisy of those in the Republican party for acting like everyone should be supportive of her. I have known many people who are Republican and lived in Utah (Republican-ville USA) and you can't make me think that they are all so holier-than-thou that they are thinking this teenage pregnancy isn't appalling. They are, and to ask us to believe them is ridiculous. They were "stuck" with this situation and now they are trying to be more "liberal" in their own show of acceptance. Believe me people, this is all a big show and I feel sorry for those who are falling for it.

OK, I've gone from birthday to politics. I guess I've said more than enough, but I am definitely passionate about some things in this life. I do not believe that one way of thinking is better than an another, but I believe that honesty and compassion go a long way. Even though I may be for Barack Obama, I do not vote a straight ticket. I vote my conscience and vote for who I believe is the best candidate. For example, and I will put this plug in, too, I really like Mitch Daniels, the Governor of Indiana. Even though he is a good friend of W, who I won't comment on, I still think he has done a good job here in the last four years and unless something changes, he will probably have my vote in November. So, you see, I feel that we should all examine the issues and be careful in our choices. I just happen to believe one way.

We are all citizens of this planet. We have to think before we act. It's hard and I'm not perfect either, but we have to be thoughtful and careful with who we choose to lead our countries. We, who have a right to vote, should do so. I love being an American today. How exciting a time we live in to have history being made as we live! I'm glad to be 43, too. I wouldn't want to be a teenager again - been there, done that one! LOL I love my wife. She's my world. I guess no matter what happens we have our two kitties and each other. I'm glad for that. I can at least lay down at night with the knowledge that I'm with those I love. I just want a better world for us all to wake up to the next morning.