Prince Harry

Since I have yet to watch any wedding coverage yet...like I said yeaterday...I'll watch it next week...but I have looked at some pics and all looked to go well. I was reading some of my faves this morning and found this...love it!

via Tyler at Rants, Raves, Ridculous

All things current...my random thoughts

My apoligies for my rant at the end...I understand that some people believe differently than I do...my hope is that everyone can read this and understand (not agree with) my opinions on some issues.

So I'm sure (not really) that you are all wondering what dear ole' Sara thinks about currents events in the world...let's go through them one by one...shall we?

#1: The Royal Wedding:

I love the pic above...btw.

Okay...while I think it is CRAZINESS the amount of press this thing is getting in the US, I somewhat understand the obsession with the event. The US does not have any royals (thank goodness and the Kennedys don't count) so people like to follow the pretty people that England does have. plus, who can resist all the history!?

While I will not be getting up to watch the wedding, I will be DVRing it tomorrow morning. I will watch it sometime next week when there is NOTHING else on. I think Kate Middleton is a pretty girl. I think they are deeply in love. I think that she is NOTHING like Diana (I mean, they lived together...they probably did it once or twice...last week...sorry for my crudeness :)) I have NOT been watching all the TV covereage, which is probably the reason that I am NOT tired of it. But I am ready for it to be over. Sunday will be a good day...and then I guess, we can go on to wonder when Harry and Chelsey are going to get hitched. :)

#2: The Donald:

Y'all know that I am pretty open about my political views. At least I try and be.... I'm not a democrat or a republican...I'm not a liberal or a conservative. I'm a moderate. I don't stick with party lines on all the issues. I actually have a brain of my own and I like to use it. (every once in a while) I choose to...not judge...but decide what I think on issues and about people on my own morals and by using my own brain waves.

I don't think ANYONE in Washington D.C. is doing a GREAT job...some are better than others...but almost all of them suck in one way or another. I mean, I'm not happy with our district's representative or our state senators. I'm not happy with the president or the house speaker...but guess what...they are our leaders and they (I'm hoping at least) are doing the best job they can. But that's just it...I actually don't think some are. I think some were elected b/c we wanted "change"...change from what? Who knows? 2 1/2 years ago, I voted for the presidential canidate I thought could lead our country out of the recession. And the guy I thought was most connected to the people he served...US. We elect our representatives. (minus the president of course..that's another blog post though) President Obama has done the best job he could in the current politcal world in Washington...a volitile, blaming game, sespool of deception.

I digress, but I say all that to say this...

When we are constantly attacking each other, how can we attack the problems that our country is facing? The Donald has made a lot of ripples in the press with his "birther" talk. He's gotten people all amped up b/c he thinks that the president should show us his birth certificate. So, Mr. Obama did yesterday!

My questions are this...
1. Why did ask him to do this?
2. Did the previous 42 president HAVE to do this?
3. Would we do it for someone who's father (or mother) was an immigrant into the US?

Mr. Trump...if you are considering a run for the presidency...maybe you should focus on issues like, I don't know, national security, the Middle East unrest, Unemployment, etc. Just a thought. Shut up and sit down.

#3: As a constituent...

There are a lot of problems in this country. Problems that need to be worked on. (I hesitate to say "fixed" b/c I'm not exactly sure that they can be fixed at this point)

a. The economy = this included gas prices, housing prices, and unemployment

b. Health Care reform = now folks...back off a bit...at this point, i'm sure those of you that are still reading are screaming that I am a LIBERAL!!!!! I'm not...I didn't say socialized health care was the answer...I said that health care reform needs to take place! I'll give you an exlample.

At the beginning of this year, we were "forced" to change our daughter's doctor. While we like her new, current doc...we LOVED her old one. We were forced to change, b/c my husband's insurance coverage changed. In Springfield, MO, we've got two choices of hospitals. Both are GREAT...but employers pick an insurance provider based on the hospital and best (cheaperst) coverage. My husband's employer (my dad) picked the best (cheaper) choice. It just happened to be out of network for Molly's old doctor. This is a small example but I'm frustrated (still) that we can't pick the doctor we wanted.

I emailed (twice) my new representative, Billy Long, to inform him of the situation. I know, "more imortant issues Sara"...but as our representative (a new one even) I wanted him to hear from me. I got a reply today. I have copied it below.

Dear Sara,

Thank you for contacting me regarding H.R. 2 and H. Res. 9, two legislative measures which will begin the process of repealing and replacing the current health care reform law; I appreciate hearing from you regarding this important issue.

As you may know, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act, respectively, became law in March of 2010. While the law has some positive components, it would increase spending by $2.6 trillion and does little to reduce health care costs.

The United States offers the highest quality of health care in the world with the best doctors, nurses and hospitals available. Folks from all over the world come here for health care, which reflects how fortunate we are to have such talented people in our health care system.

I firmly believe health care decisions are best left up to patients and doctors, and Washington bureaucrats have no place interfering with the patient-doctor relationship. We need to reform health care in a manner which allows the United States to maintain its top quality care while not causing our national debt to spiral out of control.

Additionally, claims that the health care reform law will reduce the deficit are inaccurate as the current law would eventually bankrupt the system. The current health care reform law relies on budgetary gimmicks, such as not taking into account the $115 billion needed to implement the law, counting the $521 billion taken from Social Security payroll taxes twice instead of once, and cuts in the Medicare program. The law also failed to account for the Medicaid reimbursements Congress annually allocates for doctors, which costs the U.S. Treasury billions of dollars each year.

I have no doubt the health reform law would severely damage our economy and our quality of health care, so I voted for H.R. 2, known formally as the Repeal the Job-Killing Health Care Law. I also voted for H. Res. 9, which instructs various committees to produce legislation which would improve the nation's health care system. Specifically, I would like to see reform which provides people with pre-existing conditions access to affordable health care, protects the doctor-patient relationship and allows students to remain on their parents' health insurance. It is my hope that any new health care reform will achieve these goals while preserving the first-class quality of our health care system.

Again, I certainly appreciate you contacting on this important issue. Hearing from all Missourians allows me to better understand your perspective on issues and how they impact the future of Missouri and the nation. For additional information regarding current legislation and my representation of the Seventh District, I invite you to visit my website... Signed Representative Billy Long

The return email was a form letter!!! I was blown away. While I didn't expect him to sit down and write a heart-felt email back to me...I did (somewhat) expect him (or someone that works for him) to READ the email that I had taken time to write. AND...his email back to me goes against EVERYTHING that I said to him!!!! I am fried up over this...I'm tempted to call his office. I doesn't represent me...if is representing his party...no wait...his wing of his party! Shame on you Mr. Long. This is the guy my area elected to represent us! Oh...and to add insult to injury...he's working to get rid of agricultural subsidies! We live in an agricultural district!!!!

Ok...rant over.

God Bless!

Happy birthday to my wonderful mom!

My mommy turns 50 years old today!

Happy birthday pretty lady!!!

Happy Easter 2011!

Tomorrow is Miss Molly's second Easter. I have to say, I did better this year. I got the dress much more in advance than last year. AND I love it. Mom and I got it at the Gap Outlet in Branson a month or so ago. I'm so proud of myself b/c I ironed it BY MY SELF!!!!

The shoes came from Target for a whopping $12! They are the cutest white shoes I could find. Oh...and the sweater was $14 at Target as well. I can't wait to show it to you on her! It's totally cuteness!

I think I went a little overboard on the Easter basket this year...but considering I didn't do one last year...

It actually turned into three baskets! :)

I will show it all tomorrow when she pulls it all out!

Happy Easter y'all!!

God Bless!!

Prayer for My Daughter - by Tina Fey

Tina Fey's Prayer For Her Daughter First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches. May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the Beauty. When the Crystal Meth is offered, May she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half And stick with Beer. Guide her, protect her When crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called “Hell Drop,” “Tower of Torture,” or “The Death Spiral Rock ‘N Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,” and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age. Lead her away from Acting but not all the way to Finance. Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes And not have to wear high heels. What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I’m asking You, because if I knew, I’d be doing it, Youdammit. May she play the Drums to the fiery rhythm of her Own Heart with the sinewy strength of her Own Arms, so she need Not Lie With Drummers. Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen. Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long, For childhood is short - a Tiger Flower blooming Magenta for one day - And adulthood is long and dry-humping in cars will wait. O Lord, break the Internet forever, That she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers And the online marketing campaign for Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed. And when she one day turns on me and calls me a Bitch in front of Hollister, Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, For I will not have that Shit. I will not have it. And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, that I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 A.M., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back. “My mother did this for me once,” she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck. “My mother did this for me.” And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental Note to call me. And she will forget. But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes. Amen.

What's been going on?

I haven't updated the blog in a while...okay...let's be honest...in a LONG time! It's because I haven't wanted to though. It's because I've been sooooooooooooooooo busy! So what's been going on? There's so much to tell.

After Molly's birthday party, I began gearing up for IB training in Houston, TX. I was chosen as one of two teachers from my department to teach an IB class. You may be asking what IB is....well, it's an international education curriculum. The idea is that all Ib schools will teach the same thing, so if I kid moves from school to school, they would not be above or below the students at that school. Since I'm so far behind, I don't want to give you too much info but you can go to their website and read all about it! IBO.org

I will be teaching IB psychology...I'm super excited! But I'm super nervous! I've never taught Psychology...in fact, I didn't do that well in psychology in college. :) But I'm going to go take a class this summer. I will be taking Psych 101 at Drury this summer! I'm super pumped about that as well!

Anywhoo....I, along with 3 other teachers from my school, went to Rice University the first week of March. SO AWESOME!!!! I cannot explain how much I enjoyed the conference. It was really training on how to set up and teach a IB psychology class. But more than that...It was awesome b/c of the people I went with and the people I met. Rice University and Houston were very welcoming! We ate a some great resturants... Goode Company BBQ (true TX BBQ), Pappadeaux's Cajun Seafood place. We went to the Houston Rodeo (where Janet Jackson performed), we hung out at some really chill places at Rice Village...we laughed so much my belly hurt. The 3 other people I went with (2 guys and a woman...whom I actually did my student teaching with...oh and was my study hall teacher in high school...I love her!!) were three of the funniest, hardest working people I know. I was blessed to get to go with them!

The 2nd week of March tuned into me playing catch up after being gone for 4 days! Three days was for the conference, 1 day was for a Rascal Flatts concert!

I've seen them once before but they were so good!! I love their music and they were so entertaining.

So anyways...I played catch up for a week and then I got to go on spring break! Sounds good right? NOOOOOOOOOOOO! It started with me breaking my little baby toe on the first Saturday and the continued with sickness! I actually got bronchitis!!! Holy crap right? I mean, "put me down-stayed in bed for three days" broncitis. I went to urgent care...that's how sick I was. Antibiotics helped though...but wait...since I layed around for three days, my back and neck started getting really stiff. So much so that I couldn't sleep. I ended up having to see the chiropractor for 4 weeks. Thank you Dr. Witt though! Gosh, that man's hands do magic!

Speaking of sickness...Molly was diagnosed with her 4th ear infection in late February. The doc suggested we see an ENT doc. (ear, nose, throat) They want to put tubes in her ears. While we were at the ENT doc, he diagnosed her with the start of a double ear infection!!! I know, right? HOLY CRAP! One per month = that's what we've been doing. We scheduled surgery for April 28th. Justin and I are not too comfortable with it though. I don't think either of us want to put her out. It's just gas but it's scary!! We actually might try to take to the chiropractor first. My hair lady suggested it...after the chiro had suggest it. Less envasive! Kinda scary though too...have you ever ben adjusted? Weird! But they don't do that with kids! :)

So, March pretty much sucked (after the IB conf. and RF).

In other news:

1. Connecticut won the national championship and I won $180 in the bracket challenge for the 2nd year in a row!! My dad's new firm had a huge pool and I entered two brackets! I got 1st and 2nd place! HEHEHE! They probably won't let me in next year...maybe they will let me in the coaches pool at school. I'd really hate to kick all those boys' asses! :)

2. We celebrated my granddad's 80th birthday, my brother's 20th birthday, my niece's 5th birthday, my SIL's 32 birthday, my cousin's 4th birthday...along with a number of other family members with March and early April birthdays! HOLY COW!!

3. Speaking of birthdays...my mom turns 50 at the end of the month...I don't have anything planned yet. Better get on that! :) Let me know if you have any cool ideas!

4. I went out with the high school friends (HSF) club in March. Luckily, I felt better! My friends are so talented! I'm so blessed to have all of them in my life. I haven't told you guys much about them but I promise I will someday!

April has been super busy too though....I've been to the eye doctor! I can't see and must get glasses (speaking of which, I need to do!)

I got my hair done yesterday. I put some blond and bright red in it. I'll post a picture soon!

I'm supposed to work a track meet this Tuesday PLUS..I've got a huge IB project due next Wednesday. It's about a 17 hour project. I'm about 10 hours into it....so right in the middle. It's why I'm on the computer right now. I've been working on it and other shcool work but needed a break! Back to it I guess...

I'm going to try and do my best to update again this week! Molly will be 14 months old on Saturday. PLUS....this week is the last week of Tax Season!!! WHOO WHOO!! You know what that means...PARTY!!!!

Easter is coming up...Molly's dress is so cute!!! Can't wait to show it to you!

I love the spring time! I hope you are having fabulous weather like us. If so, I hope you can get out and enjoy it (minus allergies).

God Bless!