Zu and I were listening to Christmas music. Song after song. Bouncing from baby Jesus to Frosty to Santa to snow and going home. Now that Thanksgiving is over, I feel no shame indulging in holiday appropriate tunes.
Then came Jingle Bell Rock. This song confused my daughter, particularly the bridge of the song. She felt compelled to make one clarification.
We listened through the lyrics that sang,
"Jingle bell time is a swell time
To go gliding in a one-horse sleigh
Giddy-up jingle horse
pick up your feet."
It wasn't so much clarification she sought, but more of a correction.
"Daddy," Zu interrupted the song, "they said 'jingle-horse.' There's no such thing as a jingle-horse. They're called reindeer."
11.29.2012
11.26.2012
Sore Throats & Lullabies
Dear coworkers,
If tomorrow is anything like today where I am unable to speak any louder than a choking whisper, I'm sorry. I did not make enough effort to whittle down this head cold into something that sounds less humorous. Trust me, I'd rather be curled up in bed with a Stephen King novel and a steaming mug of Theraflu. Instead, I spent the late evening singing my daughter to sleep.
There's a funny thing about five year old girls. They usually don't care if you're sick. Mommy or Daddy being exhausted or ill is a difficult concept to understand. My little girl might have more empathy than a typical kindergartener, but certain things are lost in translation when she's sad or upset. It's moments like these that my own pain or my own sadness is irrelevant.
So please excuse me. When my little girl wanders into my office and curls up in my lap like a 40 pound kitten, my plans for rest take a back seat.
I turned out the lights, pulled a blanket around her shoulders and began to sing. Well, I'm not sure if you'd call it singing. Raspy, rattling, off key buzz, interrupted by an occasional wheeze or cough. It hurt but I made my best attempt to sing.
And why did I choose to sing and cuddle over taking medication and finding a cool pillow? Because I believe there's healing in music. Maybe not the kind of healing that will chase away my sore throat, but the kind that fixes wounded hearts and mends broken spirits.
So I sang.
Songs like Switchfoot's Don't Be There - "You be around and I'll be square." Like Pedro the Lion's Lullaby - "You can lay down your armor and have no fear, 'Cause I'm always here when you're tired of running, And I'm all the strength that you need." Songs like The Scientist by Coldplay - "Nobody said it was easy, No one ever said it would be this hard." Or Are You Sad? by Our Lady Peace - "Oh just stop pretending when they say you're nothing." Songs like Much Afraid by Jars of Clay or Sarah McLachlan's version of The Rainbow Connection. And finally wrapping it up with these words: "I got nothing of my own to give to you, but this light that shines on me shines on you and makes everything beautiful again, it'll be all right, it'll be all right" from Stars by David Crowder Band.
And honestly, what message could be better? I'm sick, my daughter is sad. Are there any better words to hear than "It'll be all right, it'll be all right"?
Tonight, I chose emotional health over physical health. But tomorrow it will be cough drops and DayQuil. I promise.
If tomorrow is anything like today where I am unable to speak any louder than a choking whisper, I'm sorry. I did not make enough effort to whittle down this head cold into something that sounds less humorous. Trust me, I'd rather be curled up in bed with a Stephen King novel and a steaming mug of Theraflu. Instead, I spent the late evening singing my daughter to sleep.
There's a funny thing about five year old girls. They usually don't care if you're sick. Mommy or Daddy being exhausted or ill is a difficult concept to understand. My little girl might have more empathy than a typical kindergartener, but certain things are lost in translation when she's sad or upset. It's moments like these that my own pain or my own sadness is irrelevant.
So please excuse me. When my little girl wanders into my office and curls up in my lap like a 40 pound kitten, my plans for rest take a back seat.
I turned out the lights, pulled a blanket around her shoulders and began to sing. Well, I'm not sure if you'd call it singing. Raspy, rattling, off key buzz, interrupted by an occasional wheeze or cough. It hurt but I made my best attempt to sing.
And why did I choose to sing and cuddle over taking medication and finding a cool pillow? Because I believe there's healing in music. Maybe not the kind of healing that will chase away my sore throat, but the kind that fixes wounded hearts and mends broken spirits.
So I sang.
Songs like Switchfoot's Don't Be There - "You be around and I'll be square." Like Pedro the Lion's Lullaby - "You can lay down your armor and have no fear, 'Cause I'm always here when you're tired of running, And I'm all the strength that you need." Songs like The Scientist by Coldplay - "Nobody said it was easy, No one ever said it would be this hard." Or Are You Sad? by Our Lady Peace - "Oh just stop pretending when they say you're nothing." Songs like Much Afraid by Jars of Clay or Sarah McLachlan's version of The Rainbow Connection. And finally wrapping it up with these words: "I got nothing of my own to give to you, but this light that shines on me shines on you and makes everything beautiful again, it'll be all right, it'll be all right" from Stars by David Crowder Band.
And honestly, what message could be better? I'm sick, my daughter is sad. Are there any better words to hear than "It'll be all right, it'll be all right"?
Tonight, I chose emotional health over physical health. But tomorrow it will be cough drops and DayQuil. I promise.
11.23.2012
5 Stages of No-Shave November Grief
Denial: "It's just a little stubble. It's nothing really, no big deal."
Anger: "Aaaaauauarrrrghh. Everything itches! Get this hideous thing off my face."
Bargaining: "How long has it been? OK, I think I can do this. Maybe. It's only a couple more weeks."
Depression: "Ugh, I feel disgusting. I look like a homeless person. This month is never going to end."
Acceptance: "I have a manly beard."
Anger: "Aaaaauauarrrrghh. Everything itches! Get this hideous thing off my face."
Bargaining: "How long has it been? OK, I think I can do this. Maybe. It's only a couple more weeks."
Depression: "Ugh, I feel disgusting. I look like a homeless person. This month is never going to end."
Acceptance: "I have a manly beard."
11.22.2012
Gratitude: Love
This Thanksgiving was a first in our clan. It was a gathering from both sides of the family.
As long as Bekah and I have lived in North Idaho, we've shared the holiday with her parents and one (if not both) of her sisters. As her sisters found love and marriage, their husbands have joined as much as possible. For all practical purposes, holidays for our family are largely events with Bekah's side of the family tree.
This year was different. My folks drove up from Cheyenne with my niece as an extra passenger. A stowaway or something like that.
The dining room table at my in-laws place was full. 10 adults with 4 kids around a card table in the living room. Bekah's family and my family combined. That house was boisterous and filled with laughter, love, turkey, apple pie, and a competitive round of Pictionary.
And it is here that I consider myself blessed. I have a good relationship with my in-laws. My father-in-law and I have a similar sense of humor, we'll occasionally go to the movies together or play video games together. My mother-in-law is one of the most caring and compassionate persons I've ever met. My wife's older sister and brother-in-law are two of my favorite people in the world. Bekah's younger sister and I have a shared work history and a shared interest in geek culture so it's easy to swap stories and jokes with her.
I know that I'm lucky. I know that there are people out there that do not get along with their in-laws. I know that there is animosity between many spouses and their in-laws. I realize that my relationships with my wife's family is rather unique. I get it.
But there's more. My parents feel welcomed as a part of my wife's family. Her parents and my parents get along with each other. When Bekah and I were dating (and still living in Boise) my folks drove from Seattle to Coeur d'Alene to meet Bekah's parents and the four of them went out for dinner together. They share a mutual respect for each other and a common interest in the family that Bekah and I have created.
I know that's rare. I know that most people wouldn't dare placing their parents and their in-laws in the same room. I've DJ'd for weddings where the family bride's side and the family on the groom's side don't like the each other. I've even DJ'd for weddings where the two sides made zero effort to hide the contempt they felt for the other side.
I can't imagine living life like that. I can't imagine how I would be able to maintain a healthy marriage if I didn't like Bekah's family or if she didn't like mine. I know that mother in law is an anagram of woman hitler, but I'm glad that the moms in our life don't resemble that description.
It amazes me that people think that it's normal to not get along with the in-laws. I think it's strange that people could approach marriage with the perspective:"I hate your parents but lets get married anyways." It boggles my mind. I think it's weird. That might make me weird, and I'm OK with that.
There is a lot of love in our family. I am grateful for that. And I wouldn't want it any other way.
As long as Bekah and I have lived in North Idaho, we've shared the holiday with her parents and one (if not both) of her sisters. As her sisters found love and marriage, their husbands have joined as much as possible. For all practical purposes, holidays for our family are largely events with Bekah's side of the family tree.
This year was different. My folks drove up from Cheyenne with my niece as an extra passenger. A stowaway or something like that.
The dining room table at my in-laws place was full. 10 adults with 4 kids around a card table in the living room. Bekah's family and my family combined. That house was boisterous and filled with laughter, love, turkey, apple pie, and a competitive round of Pictionary.
And it is here that I consider myself blessed. I have a good relationship with my in-laws. My father-in-law and I have a similar sense of humor, we'll occasionally go to the movies together or play video games together. My mother-in-law is one of the most caring and compassionate persons I've ever met. My wife's older sister and brother-in-law are two of my favorite people in the world. Bekah's younger sister and I have a shared work history and a shared interest in geek culture so it's easy to swap stories and jokes with her.
I know that I'm lucky. I know that there are people out there that do not get along with their in-laws. I know that there is animosity between many spouses and their in-laws. I realize that my relationships with my wife's family is rather unique. I get it.
But there's more. My parents feel welcomed as a part of my wife's family. Her parents and my parents get along with each other. When Bekah and I were dating (and still living in Boise) my folks drove from Seattle to Coeur d'Alene to meet Bekah's parents and the four of them went out for dinner together. They share a mutual respect for each other and a common interest in the family that Bekah and I have created.
I know that's rare. I know that most people wouldn't dare placing their parents and their in-laws in the same room. I've DJ'd for weddings where the family bride's side and the family on the groom's side don't like the each other. I've even DJ'd for weddings where the two sides made zero effort to hide the contempt they felt for the other side.
I can't imagine living life like that. I can't imagine how I would be able to maintain a healthy marriage if I didn't like Bekah's family or if she didn't like mine. I know that mother in law is an anagram of woman hitler, but I'm glad that the moms in our life don't resemble that description.
It amazes me that people think that it's normal to not get along with the in-laws. I think it's strange that people could approach marriage with the perspective:"I hate your parents but lets get married anyways." It boggles my mind. I think it's weird. That might make me weird, and I'm OK with that.
There is a lot of love in our family. I am grateful for that. And I wouldn't want it any other way.
11.19.2012
Gratitude: Silence
Today was a bad day. Crazy busy hectic day at the office complete with an hour and a half interruption to drive out to Post Falls to pick a kid up, into Hayden to drop him off, and then back to the cubicle. Complex work day with conference calls, technical difficulties, and a complete reformatting of a regular report to match a client's new expectations. One of those days where everyone wants something from you.
Today was a bad day. Hard rain, extra driving, failures in communication, and missed appointments. A bad day that culminated in an empty tank of gas and hungry kids demanding dinner the moment we got home.
After days like today, there is little that I cherish more than one thing. A rarity.
Silence.
You won't often find silence in our house. We're a loud family. Three kids who wrestle and roughhouse and fight and play together. Three kids who love each other with joy and vocal abundance. They also loath one another with the fiercest of grade school sibling rivalries. They scream and laugh and shout and giggle through almost every waking hour.
You won't often find silence in our house. Noise seems ever-present, be it a primary source of entertainment or a background distraction. It's the TV. If not the television then there's music playing. And if not the MP3 jukebox, then one of the kids is playing the Wii. And if they're not broadcasting the soundtrack of some Nintendo game, they're playing with the dogs, or on the trampoline in the back yard, or jumping on the furniture.
We are a loud family.
After a day like today, silence is a blessing. Silence is a warm fleece blanket wrapped around you while watching the rain fall outside the window and drinking a mug of Baileys and hot chocolate.
Not that I did any of that today. I wasn't drinking Baileys and cocoa. I drove through the rain, but didn't spend much time observing it. There were no blankets involved.
But there was silence. Glorious silence.
Bekah was still out between meetings and errands. I had made dinner for the kids and fed them. They changed into their jammies, brushed their teeth, and crawled into their beds a few minutes earlier than normal.
And then there was silence. Nothing but the sound of the ticking clock on the wall and the fridge's droning hum to distract me from my thoughts. Peace. Stillness. Silence.
I needed that. Today was a bad day. After days like today, I am grateful for silence.
Today was a bad day. Hard rain, extra driving, failures in communication, and missed appointments. A bad day that culminated in an empty tank of gas and hungry kids demanding dinner the moment we got home.
After days like today, there is little that I cherish more than one thing. A rarity.
Silence.
You won't often find silence in our house. We're a loud family. Three kids who wrestle and roughhouse and fight and play together. Three kids who love each other with joy and vocal abundance. They also loath one another with the fiercest of grade school sibling rivalries. They scream and laugh and shout and giggle through almost every waking hour.
You won't often find silence in our house. Noise seems ever-present, be it a primary source of entertainment or a background distraction. It's the TV. If not the television then there's music playing. And if not the MP3 jukebox, then one of the kids is playing the Wii. And if they're not broadcasting the soundtrack of some Nintendo game, they're playing with the dogs, or on the trampoline in the back yard, or jumping on the furniture.
We are a loud family.
After a day like today, silence is a blessing. Silence is a warm fleece blanket wrapped around you while watching the rain fall outside the window and drinking a mug of Baileys and hot chocolate.
Not that I did any of that today. I wasn't drinking Baileys and cocoa. I drove through the rain, but didn't spend much time observing it. There were no blankets involved.
But there was silence. Glorious silence.
Bekah was still out between meetings and errands. I had made dinner for the kids and fed them. They changed into their jammies, brushed their teeth, and crawled into their beds a few minutes earlier than normal.
And then there was silence. Nothing but the sound of the ticking clock on the wall and the fridge's droning hum to distract me from my thoughts. Peace. Stillness. Silence.
I needed that. Today was a bad day. After days like today, I am grateful for silence.
11.16.2012
Christian makes a joke
*In the car, driving around town*
Christian: "Daddy, when I'm 17 I'm going to buy a whole bunch of random stuff."
Me: "Oh, really? Where are you going to get the money to buy that random stuff?"
Christian. "I'm just kidding. I'm not going to spend all my money. I was making a joke."
Me: "Oh. Are you going to have money to spend when you're 17?"
Christian: "I'm not going to spend it all. I'm only going to buy what I need and then I'll save the rest."
Me: "When you're 17?"
Christian: "Yes."
Me: "Where are you going to get all of your money when you're 17?"
Christian: "What do you mean?"
Me: "Are you going to have a job?"
Christian: (sounding incredulous) "Yes. Of course."
Me: "OK, that's good."
Christian: "I'll be working from home."
Me: (surprised) "Really? What kind of job are you going to have at home?"
Christian: "Chores. Duh."
Me: "You're going to make enough doing chores to buy everything you need and save money?"
Christian: "Yes."
Me: "Haha... Now that's funny."
Christian: (has no idea why I'm laughing)
Christian: "Daddy, when I'm 17 I'm going to buy a whole bunch of random stuff."
Me: "Oh, really? Where are you going to get the money to buy that random stuff?"
Christian. "I'm just kidding. I'm not going to spend all my money. I was making a joke."
Me: "Oh. Are you going to have money to spend when you're 17?"
Christian: "I'm not going to spend it all. I'm only going to buy what I need and then I'll save the rest."
Me: "When you're 17?"
Christian: "Yes."
Me: "Where are you going to get all of your money when you're 17?"
Christian: "What do you mean?"
Me: "Are you going to have a job?"
Christian: (sounding incredulous) "Yes. Of course."
Me: "OK, that's good."
Christian: "I'll be working from home."
Me: (surprised) "Really? What kind of job are you going to have at home?"
Christian: "Chores. Duh."
Me: "You're going to make enough doing chores to buy everything you need and save money?"
Christian: "Yes."
Me: "Haha... Now that's funny."
Christian: (has no idea why I'm laughing)
11.14.2012
11.07.2012
Oh, Idaho. You are a funny little state.
The election is over. The votes have been tallied. Campaigning has ended.
Are you happy now?
Of course, your answer to that question probably depends on which side of the political spectrum you buy into. Unless you live in Washington, then your happiness might exist because you're high.
Yes, Obama won the presidency, but Mitt Romney can stand proud knowing he won the popular vote in Idaho. Then again, that shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. I could have told you Romney would garner Idaho's electoral college votes as soon as he earned the Republican nomination.
But I'm not here to talk about the president that is or the president that could have been. I really don't care about presidential politics as my choice there is clearly insignificant. In this reddest of red states, I can pick the winner or cast a vote that will have zero effect on how the rest of the state swings. As for the national picture, as far as DC is concerned, Idaho is of little worth. We'll never have a population strong enough to sway any presidential contest.
The local and state races are of much more importance, and it's in these races that my vote actually counts for something. It is in the state wide initiatives that we saw some very good news.
The Luna Laws were repealed. In other words, the wizard had given the scarecrow some brains.
Senate Bills 1108, 1110, and 1184, appeared on the ballot as Props 1,2, and 3. Tom Luna called them Student's Come First. Everyone else called them the Luna Laws because the reality of the legislation is that the Luna Laws put Luna's campaign donors first. These laws were horrible in more ways than I have the time and/or patience to list. Thankfully, we won't have to splunk the depths of how deep these laws would have cut into Idaho's tax revenue, nor will we see it's detriment to the nature of public education.
Yay! Chalk that up as a win for the people of our fine state. Lets take a look at some of last night's other winners.
Marv Hagedorn (R) of Meridian. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Mike Moyle* (R) of Plummer. Voted yes on SB 1108.
Reed DeMordaunt (R) of Eagle. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Lynn Luker (R) of Boise. Voted yes on SB 1108.
Chuck Winder (R) of Boise. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Joe Palmer (R) of Meridian. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Cliff Bayer (R) of Boise. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Steven Harris (R). Newly elected member of Idaho's House of Representatives stated "I like the objectives of the Students Come First initiatives."
Russell Fulcher (R) of Meridian. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Monty Pearce (R) of New Plymouth. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Speaker of the House Lawerence Denney (R) of Midvale. Did not vote on SB 1108 or SB1110. Voted yes on SB 1184.
Judy Boyle (R) of Midvale. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Ken Andrus (R) of Lava Hot Springs. Voted yes on SB 1108.
John Tippets* (R) of Montpelier. Voted yes on SB 1184.
Marc Gibbs (R) of Grace. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Tom Loertscher (R) of Iona. Voted yes on SB 1108.
Steve Bair (R) of Blackfoot. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Steven Thayn (R) of Emmett. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Lenore Hardy Barrett (R) of Challis. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Eric Anderson (R) of Priest Lake. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Sheryl Nuxoll (R) of Cottonwood. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Shannon McMillan (R) of Silverton. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Paul Shepherd (R) of Riggins. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Dean Mortimer* (R) of Idaho Falls. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Jeff Thompson (R) of Idaho Falls. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Linden Bateman (R) of Idaho Falls. Voted yes on SB 1108 and yes on SB1110.
President Pro Tempore Brent Hill* (R) of Meridian. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Dell Raybould* (R) of Rexburg. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
JoAn Wood (R) of Rigby. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Monty Pearce (R) of New Plymouth. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Patti Anne Lodge (R) of Huston. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Christy Perry* (R) of Nampa. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Curt McKenzie (R) of Boise. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Brent Crane (R) of Nampa. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Gary Collins (R) of Nampa. Voted yes on SB1110.
Scott Bedke* (R) of Oakley. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Fred Wood* (R) of Burley. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Jeff Siddoway (R) of Terreton. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Bert Brackett (R) of Rogerson. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Pete Nielsen (R) of Mountain Home. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Jim Patrick (R) of Twin Falls. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Maxine Bell (R) of Jerome. Voted yes on SB 1108 and voted yes on SB 1184.
Steve Vick (R) of Datlon Gardens. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Vito Barbieri (R) of Datlon Gardens. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184. Vito also went on the record calling public schools a "Godless institution" and urged all parents that believe in Jesus to pull their kids out of public education.
Bob Nonini (R) of Coeur d'Alene. Voted yes on all three and was the sponsor of the bills in the House.
Frank Henderson (R) of Post Falls. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
John W Goedde (R) of Voted yes on all three, helped Luna write the bills, and was the sponsor in the Senate.
Kathy Sims (R) of Coeur d'Alene. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Jim Guthrie (R) of McCammon. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Lee Heider (R) of Twin Falls. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Stephen Hartgen (R) of Twin Falls. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
* Ran unopposed
All of those listed above (except Steven Harris) voted yes to one - if not all three - of the Luna Laws. All of these Senators and Representatives (except Steven Harris) were up for reelection yesterday. All of them won another term in Boise.
So it seems that Idaho has healed the symptom (bad legislation) but hasn't cured the disease (bad legislators). Now that Luna's laws have been overturned, he's doubling down. He is convinced that the citizens of Idaho still wants radical reformation in public schools. Lucky for him, he still has the same group of people around to pass whatever pile of dung he presents during the next legislative session.
I can collectively hear the people of Idaho singing, "I would dance and be merry, Life would be a ding-a-derry, If I only had a brain..."
Are you happy now?
Of course, your answer to that question probably depends on which side of the political spectrum you buy into. Unless you live in Washington, then your happiness might exist because you're high.
Yes, Obama won the presidency, but Mitt Romney can stand proud knowing he won the popular vote in Idaho. Then again, that shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. I could have told you Romney would garner Idaho's electoral college votes as soon as he earned the Republican nomination.
But I'm not here to talk about the president that is or the president that could have been. I really don't care about presidential politics as my choice there is clearly insignificant. In this reddest of red states, I can pick the winner or cast a vote that will have zero effect on how the rest of the state swings. As for the national picture, as far as DC is concerned, Idaho is of little worth. We'll never have a population strong enough to sway any presidential contest.
The local and state races are of much more importance, and it's in these races that my vote actually counts for something. It is in the state wide initiatives that we saw some very good news.
The Luna Laws were repealed. In other words, the wizard had given the scarecrow some brains.
Senate Bills 1108, 1110, and 1184, appeared on the ballot as Props 1,2, and 3. Tom Luna called them Student's Come First. Everyone else called them the Luna Laws because the reality of the legislation is that the Luna Laws put Luna's campaign donors first. These laws were horrible in more ways than I have the time and/or patience to list. Thankfully, we won't have to splunk the depths of how deep these laws would have cut into Idaho's tax revenue, nor will we see it's detriment to the nature of public education.
Yay! Chalk that up as a win for the people of our fine state. Lets take a look at some of last night's other winners.
Marv Hagedorn (R) of Meridian. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Mike Moyle* (R) of Plummer. Voted yes on SB 1108.
Reed DeMordaunt (R) of Eagle. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Lynn Luker (R) of Boise. Voted yes on SB 1108.
Chuck Winder (R) of Boise. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Joe Palmer (R) of Meridian. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Cliff Bayer (R) of Boise. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Steven Harris (R). Newly elected member of Idaho's House of Representatives stated "I like the objectives of the Students Come First initiatives."
Russell Fulcher (R) of Meridian. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Monty Pearce (R) of New Plymouth. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Speaker of the House Lawerence Denney (R) of Midvale. Did not vote on SB 1108 or SB1110. Voted yes on SB 1184.
Judy Boyle (R) of Midvale. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Ken Andrus (R) of Lava Hot Springs. Voted yes on SB 1108.
John Tippets* (R) of Montpelier. Voted yes on SB 1184.
Marc Gibbs (R) of Grace. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Tom Loertscher (R) of Iona. Voted yes on SB 1108.
Steve Bair (R) of Blackfoot. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Steven Thayn (R) of Emmett. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Lenore Hardy Barrett (R) of Challis. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Eric Anderson (R) of Priest Lake. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Sheryl Nuxoll (R) of Cottonwood. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Shannon McMillan (R) of Silverton. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Paul Shepherd (R) of Riggins. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Dean Mortimer* (R) of Idaho Falls. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Jeff Thompson (R) of Idaho Falls. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Linden Bateman (R) of Idaho Falls. Voted yes on SB 1108 and yes on SB1110.
President Pro Tempore Brent Hill* (R) of Meridian. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Dell Raybould* (R) of Rexburg. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
JoAn Wood (R) of Rigby. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Monty Pearce (R) of New Plymouth. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Patti Anne Lodge (R) of Huston. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Christy Perry* (R) of Nampa. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Curt McKenzie (R) of Boise. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Brent Crane (R) of Nampa. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Gary Collins (R) of Nampa. Voted yes on SB1110.
Scott Bedke* (R) of Oakley. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Fred Wood* (R) of Burley. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Jeff Siddoway (R) of Terreton. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Bert Brackett (R) of Rogerson. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Pete Nielsen (R) of Mountain Home. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Jim Patrick (R) of Twin Falls. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Maxine Bell (R) of Jerome. Voted yes on SB 1108 and voted yes on SB 1184.
Steve Vick (R) of Datlon Gardens. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Vito Barbieri (R) of Datlon Gardens. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184. Vito also went on the record calling public schools a "Godless institution" and urged all parents that believe in Jesus to pull their kids out of public education.
Bob Nonini (R) of Coeur d'Alene. Voted yes on all three and was the sponsor of the bills in the House.
Frank Henderson (R) of Post Falls. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
John W Goedde (R) of Voted yes on all three, helped Luna write the bills, and was the sponsor in the Senate.
Kathy Sims (R) of Coeur d'Alene. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Jim Guthrie (R) of McCammon. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Lee Heider (R) of Twin Falls. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
Stephen Hartgen (R) of Twin Falls. Voted yes on SB 1108, yes on SB1110, and voted yes on SB 1184.
* Ran unopposed
All of those listed above (except Steven Harris) voted yes to one - if not all three - of the Luna Laws. All of these Senators and Representatives (except Steven Harris) were up for reelection yesterday. All of them won another term in Boise.
So it seems that Idaho has healed the symptom (bad legislation) but hasn't cured the disease (bad legislators). Now that Luna's laws have been overturned, he's doubling down. He is convinced that the citizens of Idaho still wants radical reformation in public schools. Lucky for him, he still has the same group of people around to pass whatever pile of dung he presents during the next legislative session.
I can collectively hear the people of Idaho singing, "I would dance and be merry, Life would be a ding-a-derry, If I only had a brain..."
11.02.2012
Tidbits
Religion
What if God didn't cause Hurricane Sandy as a punishment to the heathens (AKA liberals) along the East Coast. What if He allowed it to see if those that claim to be Christians would demonstrate love and compassion in the wake of the storm. If the latter is true, are we as Christians living up to the values we profess?
Politics
The only person in the world that is capable of governing this nation the way that I think it should be ran is me. No president ever will measure up to my standards. I will never agree with every policy of any president. There will always be a member of a presidential cabinet that I think is unqualified to hold that appointed position. No matter how likable the president is, I will believe that my ideas are better. And if by some strange twist of fate I were to become president, I won't measure up to everyone else's standards. Someone out there will believe that I'm doing everything wrong, that my policies are worthless, and that they would be a better president.
Be honest, you could take me out of that above paragraph and replace it with you. The only person qualified to run the USA the way you think a president should is you. I think this nation would be much happier if everyone lived and voted with that understanding.
Holidays
I was a priest for Halloween. Or, rather, I wore all black with a white priest's collar that a coworker made for me. Most of my coworkers appreciated the look. A few laughed. And more than one said I make a convincing pastor.
There was one odd remark. An employee - whom I've never met before - passed me in the stairwell and gave me a dirty look. "What, are you making fun of Catholics now?" She asked.
I couldn't help but think of the half dozen women in our office that dressed up like witches. Were they mocking Wiccans?
Noshember
November has arrived, which means No-Shave November started yesterday. I shaved everything off Halloween night so that I could start the month with a fresh slate. Yesterday, some of my team members commented on how boyish I looked without facial hair. Today, my face feels like sandpaper.
Any one else observing No-Shave November?
NaNoWriMo
It is also NaNoWriMo - or National Novel Writing Month. This is the month where crazy people write an entire novel in 30 days.
I'm not brave enough to participate but even if I was, I wouldn't have the time to devote to that much writing. However, my sister-in-law is participating. If you live in the Boise area, buy her a coffee. She'll need it. And make sure to buy her debut novel when it comes out in February.
What if God didn't cause Hurricane Sandy as a punishment to the heathens (AKA liberals) along the East Coast. What if He allowed it to see if those that claim to be Christians would demonstrate love and compassion in the wake of the storm. If the latter is true, are we as Christians living up to the values we profess?
Politics
The only person in the world that is capable of governing this nation the way that I think it should be ran is me. No president ever will measure up to my standards. I will never agree with every policy of any president. There will always be a member of a presidential cabinet that I think is unqualified to hold that appointed position. No matter how likable the president is, I will believe that my ideas are better. And if by some strange twist of fate I were to become president, I won't measure up to everyone else's standards. Someone out there will believe that I'm doing everything wrong, that my policies are worthless, and that they would be a better president.
Be honest, you could take me out of that above paragraph and replace it with you. The only person qualified to run the USA the way you think a president should is you. I think this nation would be much happier if everyone lived and voted with that understanding.
Holidays
I was a priest for Halloween. Or, rather, I wore all black with a white priest's collar that a coworker made for me. Most of my coworkers appreciated the look. A few laughed. And more than one said I make a convincing pastor.
There was one odd remark. An employee - whom I've never met before - passed me in the stairwell and gave me a dirty look. "What, are you making fun of Catholics now?" She asked.
I couldn't help but think of the half dozen women in our office that dressed up like witches. Were they mocking Wiccans?
Noshember
November has arrived, which means No-Shave November started yesterday. I shaved everything off Halloween night so that I could start the month with a fresh slate. Yesterday, some of my team members commented on how boyish I looked without facial hair. Today, my face feels like sandpaper.
Any one else observing No-Shave November?
NaNoWriMo
It is also NaNoWriMo - or National Novel Writing Month. This is the month where crazy people write an entire novel in 30 days.
I'm not brave enough to participate but even if I was, I wouldn't have the time to devote to that much writing. However, my sister-in-law is participating. If you live in the Boise area, buy her a coffee. She'll need it. And make sure to buy her debut novel when it comes out in February.
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