The Final Four is set, and Tara is the NCAA Star once again. I don't like her strategy, but she certainly does well in the brackets. Every year Tara picks the higher seeds (she may mix in an occasional upset) and for the past two years she wins the pool. I think it's a sound strategy, but I hate the idea of rooting for the favorites to win. It's Un-American! Of course this year the 4 number one seeds made it to San Antonio (it's the first time that all the #1 seeds made the final four), so Tara looks like a genius. Meanwhile, I'm in 8th place due to my pick of Tennessee over North Carolina. Arrgh. I think the only chance I have to win a bracket is if I can get Alex to take our Utes to the top!
3/31/08
NCAA Star
The Final Four is set, and Tara is the NCAA Star once again. I don't like her strategy, but she certainly does well in the brackets. Every year Tara picks the higher seeds (she may mix in an occasional upset) and for the past two years she wins the pool. I think it's a sound strategy, but I hate the idea of rooting for the favorites to win. It's Un-American! Of course this year the 4 number one seeds made it to San Antonio (it's the first time that all the #1 seeds made the final four), so Tara looks like a genius. Meanwhile, I'm in 8th place due to my pick of Tennessee over North Carolina. Arrgh. I think the only chance I have to win a bracket is if I can get Alex to take our Utes to the top!
3/30/08
First Prayer
Kennedy gave her first prayer in Primary today. We talked about it this morning and I gave her a few ideas of what to say. I asked her if she wanted help and she said "no". So up she went to the microphone (she was pretty excited to talk into the microphone), and she gave her little prayer. She said she was thankful for primary, thankful that we could sing and thankful that we could go back to her house. I'm not sure what she meant with that last comment unless she was hoping we didn't have to spend all 3 hours at church. (I know I sometimes wish for that!)
I have to admit I was proud of my little girl. She didn't need any help and I thought she gave a very nice prayer, for a 3 year old.
I tried to catch a picture of Kennedy after church in her dress, but they didn't turn out, so I put up this cute picture that I took of her on Easter.
I have to admit I was proud of my little girl. She didn't need any help and I thought she gave a very nice prayer, for a 3 year old.
I tried to catch a picture of Kennedy after church in her dress, but they didn't turn out, so I put up this cute picture that I took of her on Easter.
3/27/08
Easter Double Feature
It's time for another double feature. This time we're going to watch a couple of fun videos from our Easter weekend. Let's take a peek at Alex the Dodger and Kennedy the Faller.
Alex the Dodger
Kennedy the Faller
3/24/08
Easter Fun
As always, we had to have at least 3 parties for Easter this year. We started on Friday with Candace and the kids coming over for some egg decorating and lunch. The egg decorating lasted about 30 seconds, with each kid scribbling on an egg and giving it to us to put in the dye. We finally convinced them to do a few more eggs, but they were just more interested in playing outside. In her annual tradition, Kennedy broke the first 2 eggs I gave her on "accident". For Kennedy, everything is "just an accident" now. She thinks she won't get in trouble by saying that.
Char, Jess and Dakota stopped by to have some lunch and play with the kids. It was fun having them over and the kids absolutely love them.
Saturday brought the annual Easter egg hunt and barbecue at my parents house. As soon as Kennedy found her first egg, she turned and said, "I just love Easter!" This was her saying the rest of the day. The kid loves candy and packed around her Easter basket all day. Uncle Dick tried to talk her out of some candy, but found out that Kennedy isn't too hip on sharing her goodies.
Alex had a blast finding the eggs, but decided that it was more fun to just stop and eat the candy instead of finding more eggs. For some reason, he can't eat chocolate without drooling it all the way down to his socks. I'm so excited to do that laundry.
It was fun spending the day with my family and just talking to everyone. I love going to my parents house and being with them.
They are such wonderful and caring parents and grandparents and they have an awesome yard for an Easter egg hunt!
I had to throw this picture of Kennedy and Dax on the blog. These two played in the orchard and had the best time. I caught this picture while Kennedy and Dax were chatting about people "tooting", one of Kennedy's favorite subjects right now.
Sunday was a very nice day, with spending some spiritual time at church and trying to explain to Kennedy the real meaning of Easter. I don't think she understood, but she sure understands that the Easter bunny brings treats.
After church, we spent the afternoon at Evan and Alicia's house for some delicious dinner, then we headed back to our house for another Easter egg hunt. More candy, more ruined clothes, more laundry. Love this holiday!
Char, Jess and Dakota stopped by to have some lunch and play with the kids. It was fun having them over and the kids absolutely love them.
Saturday brought the annual Easter egg hunt and barbecue at my parents house. As soon as Kennedy found her first egg, she turned and said, "I just love Easter!" This was her saying the rest of the day. The kid loves candy and packed around her Easter basket all day. Uncle Dick tried to talk her out of some candy, but found out that Kennedy isn't too hip on sharing her goodies.
Alex had a blast finding the eggs, but decided that it was more fun to just stop and eat the candy instead of finding more eggs. For some reason, he can't eat chocolate without drooling it all the way down to his socks. I'm so excited to do that laundry.
It was fun spending the day with my family and just talking to everyone. I love going to my parents house and being with them.
They are such wonderful and caring parents and grandparents and they have an awesome yard for an Easter egg hunt!
I had to throw this picture of Kennedy and Dax on the blog. These two played in the orchard and had the best time. I caught this picture while Kennedy and Dax were chatting about people "tooting", one of Kennedy's favorite subjects right now.
Sunday was a very nice day, with spending some spiritual time at church and trying to explain to Kennedy the real meaning of Easter. I don't think she understood, but she sure understands that the Easter bunny brings treats.
After church, we spent the afternoon at Evan and Alicia's house for some delicious dinner, then we headed back to our house for another Easter egg hunt. More candy, more ruined clothes, more laundry. Love this holiday!
3/22/08
A More Perfect Union
"We the people, in order to form a more perfect union."
Earlier this week, Barack Obama delivered an monumental speech about race in America. I had heard about the speech the day before it was given, so I eagerly anticipated hearing the Senator's thoughts about this important topic. Tuesday morning, I scanned CNN's website and found the transcript of the speech. Even though it was seven pages long, I couldn't put it down. Barack Obama touched upon the spoken and unspoken divide that exists within our country and he made each of us look ourselves squarely in the mirror to examine our own feelings about race.
Much of controversy prompting the speech centered on the former pastor from the senator's church. On YouTube, you can find Rev. Wright delivering a passionate, and divisive sermon about the state of country. His comments were mean, angry, and should not be tolerated. Obama addressed the issue head-on and denounced the hateful comments spoken by his friend. Still, he didn't simply throw his friend under the bus as a Hate Monger or a bigot, rather he asked each of to examine our prejudices when it comes to race and to discuss the stereotypes that affect our country so deeply.
Here's a great segment of the speech that truly echoes thoughts I've heard expressed or felt by others:
The fact that so many people are surprised to hear that anger in some of Reverend Wright's sermons simply reminds us of the old truism that the most segregated hour in American life occurs on Sunday morning. That anger is not always productive; indeed, all too often it distracts attention from solving real problems; it keeps us from squarely facing our own complicity in our condition, and prevents the African-American community from forging the alliances it needs to bring about real change. But the anger is real; it is powerful; and to simply wish it away, to condemn it without understanding its roots, only serves to widen the chasm of misunderstanding that exists between the races.
In fact, a similar anger exists within segments of the white community. Most working- and middle-class white Americans don't feel that they have been particularly privileged by their race. Their experience is the immigrant experience - as far as they're concerned, no one's handed them anything, they've built it from scratch. They've worked hard all their lives, many times only to see their jobs shipped overseas or their pension dumped after a lifetime of labor. They are anxious about their futures, and feel their dreams slipping away; in an era of stagnant wages and global competition, opportunity comes to be seen as a zero sum game, in which your dreams come at my expense. So when they are told to bus their children to a school across town; when they hear that an African American is getting an advantage in landing a good job or a spot in a good college because of an injustice that they themselves never committed; when they're told that their fears about crime in urban neighborhoods are somehow prejudiced, resentment builds over time.
Like the anger within the black community, these resentments aren't always expressed in polite company. But they have helped shape the political landscape for at least a generation. Anger over welfare and affirmative action helped forge the Reagan Coalition. Politicians routinely exploited fears of crime for their own electoral ends. Talk show hosts and conservative commentators built entire careers unmasking bogus claims of racism while dismissing legitimate discussions of racial injustice and inequality as mere political correctness or reverse racism.
Just as black anger often proved counterproductive, so have these white resentments distracted attention from the real culprits of the middle class squeeze - a corporate culture rife with inside dealing, questionable accounting practices, and short-term greed; a Washington dominated by lobbyists and special interests; economic policies that favor the few over the many. And yet, to wish away the resentments of white Americans, to label them as misguided or even racist, without recognizing they are grounded in legitimate concerns - this too widens the racial divide, and blocks the path to understanding.
Whether it is the outward anger of African Americans at past injustices or the quiet slights felt by many Caucasians, everyone has their own opinions of race in our country. I know the speech has caused me to reflect upon my ideas and the way in which I perceive race in my life. Barack Obama may not win any votes because of this speech, but he opened a discussion long over due in our country. We need to put to rest old prejudices and bring our country together in a new union, a more perfect union.
To watch or read the speech click here.
Earlier this week, Barack Obama delivered an monumental speech about race in America. I had heard about the speech the day before it was given, so I eagerly anticipated hearing the Senator's thoughts about this important topic. Tuesday morning, I scanned CNN's website and found the transcript of the speech. Even though it was seven pages long, I couldn't put it down. Barack Obama touched upon the spoken and unspoken divide that exists within our country and he made each of us look ourselves squarely in the mirror to examine our own feelings about race.Much of controversy prompting the speech centered on the former pastor from the senator's church. On YouTube, you can find Rev. Wright delivering a passionate, and divisive sermon about the state of country. His comments were mean, angry, and should not be tolerated. Obama addressed the issue head-on and denounced the hateful comments spoken by his friend. Still, he didn't simply throw his friend under the bus as a Hate Monger or a bigot, rather he asked each of to examine our prejudices when it comes to race and to discuss the stereotypes that affect our country so deeply.
Here's a great segment of the speech that truly echoes thoughts I've heard expressed or felt by others:
The fact that so many people are surprised to hear that anger in some of Reverend Wright's sermons simply reminds us of the old truism that the most segregated hour in American life occurs on Sunday morning. That anger is not always productive; indeed, all too often it distracts attention from solving real problems; it keeps us from squarely facing our own complicity in our condition, and prevents the African-American community from forging the alliances it needs to bring about real change. But the anger is real; it is powerful; and to simply wish it away, to condemn it without understanding its roots, only serves to widen the chasm of misunderstanding that exists between the races.
In fact, a similar anger exists within segments of the white community. Most working- and middle-class white Americans don't feel that they have been particularly privileged by their race. Their experience is the immigrant experience - as far as they're concerned, no one's handed them anything, they've built it from scratch. They've worked hard all their lives, many times only to see their jobs shipped overseas or their pension dumped after a lifetime of labor. They are anxious about their futures, and feel their dreams slipping away; in an era of stagnant wages and global competition, opportunity comes to be seen as a zero sum game, in which your dreams come at my expense. So when they are told to bus their children to a school across town; when they hear that an African American is getting an advantage in landing a good job or a spot in a good college because of an injustice that they themselves never committed; when they're told that their fears about crime in urban neighborhoods are somehow prejudiced, resentment builds over time.
Like the anger within the black community, these resentments aren't always expressed in polite company. But they have helped shape the political landscape for at least a generation. Anger over welfare and affirmative action helped forge the Reagan Coalition. Politicians routinely exploited fears of crime for their own electoral ends. Talk show hosts and conservative commentators built entire careers unmasking bogus claims of racism while dismissing legitimate discussions of racial injustice and inequality as mere political correctness or reverse racism.
Just as black anger often proved counterproductive, so have these white resentments distracted attention from the real culprits of the middle class squeeze - a corporate culture rife with inside dealing, questionable accounting practices, and short-term greed; a Washington dominated by lobbyists and special interests; economic policies that favor the few over the many. And yet, to wish away the resentments of white Americans, to label them as misguided or even racist, without recognizing they are grounded in legitimate concerns - this too widens the racial divide, and blocks the path to understanding.
Whether it is the outward anger of African Americans at past injustices or the quiet slights felt by many Caucasians, everyone has their own opinions of race in our country. I know the speech has caused me to reflect upon my ideas and the way in which I perceive race in my life. Barack Obama may not win any votes because of this speech, but he opened a discussion long over due in our country. We need to put to rest old prejudices and bring our country together in a new union, a more perfect union.
To watch or read the speech click here.
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