No More Pessimism For Me

I don't know if my family would agree with me, but I have always seen myself as an optimist (that is if you overlook the times I run around yelling ,the sky is falling). Lately, however, my world views have expanded and pessimism began to creep in. I am probably just spending too much time watching the news.

Well, no more for me. I still plan on staying informed with things that are going on in the world and especially our country, but I will no longer be pessimistic about our countries future.

While sitting in church this morning I read a quote from Harold B. Lee, a prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The quote was printed in nice bold letters on the back of our program. This is what it said:



"Men may fail in his country, earthquakes may come, seas may
heave beyond their bounds, there may be great drought,
disaster, and hardship, but this nation founded on principles
laid down my men whom God raised up, will never fail. This is
the cradle of humanity, where life on this earth began in the
Garden of Eden. This is the place of the new Jerusalem. This is
the place that the Lord said is favored above all other nations
in all the world. This is the place where the Savior will come to
His temple. This is the favored land in all the world. Yes, I
repeat, men may fail, but this nation won't fail. I have faith in
America; you and I must have faith in America, if we understand
the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are living in a day when we must pay
heed to these challenges. I plead with you not to preach pessimism.
Preach that this is the greatest country in all the world. This is the
favored land. This is the land of our forefathers. It is the nation
that will stand despite whatever trials or crises it may have to pass
through".

So, I'm changing my ways and converting to optimism. I think life will be a whole lot more pleasant.

The Census

I'm going to be 60 years old this year. Oh my gosh, did I just say that out loud? Oh well, now that I have actually admitted it I may as well own it. With my older and wiser age I feel like I have finally come into my own. I'm feeling just a little rebellious, I don't want to do things a certain way just because people say I should. The source of my rebellion at the moment is the 2010 census.

I am not opposed to the census in theory but I will not be filling out the census form that came in our mail this week, as a matter of fact, it's already in the garbage can. What do "they" want to know about me that they don't already know, anyway? First of all, last year we were not important enough to get anything in the mail to fill out, so what changed about us this year? This year, however, we did get a form to fill out but they will not be getting any information via the mail from me. What does the government need to know, anyway, that they don't already know about me from all that intelligence they gather from those satellites that orbit over my house? I know I must sound a little paranoid and I only sort of mean it, really!

A source of my rebellion against the census is the census takers themselves. I have nothing against them personally, I am sure they are hardworking people! An information gatherer (I'm sure they have a real title) makes $15.50 an hour, plus mileage and who knows what other perks are attached. I know that many of you will say that $15.50 is fair pay for a person who has to tromp through the backwoods of wherever and go to some scary houses with scary people and it may be. I am still going to hold out until one of those census takers comes to my house to gather my information. I do feel a little bit bad because I know that it is not their fault that I am feeling disappointed by our government and this is the only way I can think of to express it. But, what the heck, they asked for the job, right?

So, come on ahead census taker, come to my house and stand on my porch and ask me all the question you want. I may or may not answer depending on what dumb things our government officials have said in the news that day.

Some of my Idaho and Washington family. Well, all except the cows, but they are cute, aren't they? The live at the University of Idaho, on the farm. Erin and I got to take a tour, fun!

Billy's Back

I was a happy TV viewer last night, Billy is back. Billy's full name is Billy the Exterminator. Billy is a man's man (well, if you have any type of unwanted varmint invading your personal space...and I don't mean an old boyfriend).

Billy and his brother, Ricky are from Louisiana and are exterminators for the family business, animal hitmen if you will. Every Wednesday night they tackle a new and exciting extermination, from bats to snakes and everything in between.

Last night they went on a call to a funeral home where they were having a little bitty problem with an extremely large and venomous rattlesnake. During a storm the night before the snake had slithered in under the door of the crematorium and was hiding in a corner. Now that would frighten any of us mere mortals to death, I was actually holding my breath and recoiling on my couch. But Billy and his slightly less brave brother handled the situation without too much screaming.

The conversation went a little like this: "Dude, that was a big one, Dude he almost bit me, Dude, that was a little scary". But, Dude, they did it. my heroes.

I know that many would call Billy, his big-haired mama, and the rest of his family rednecks. Well, I can't really deny that they are, but, boy, do I love taking a peek at their weird lives. Anyone who will travel for hours to trap and relocate a nasty little creature is welcome in my living room, via the television set, any day of the week.

So, if you happen upon unwanted varmints in your home or thereabouts call Billy, he won't let you down. He even gives the Verminators a run for their money.

Persona Non Grata

I went from being a favored grandma to persona non-grata in just one evening. My, but those little beings under the age of two (or perhaps under the age of 60) can be so fickle.

Steve and I watched three of our little granddaughters all day yesterday and into the evening. I had so much fun and I think the girls did too. Janie, who is the youngest and who has always been just a little leery of me , loved me yesterday. I was the one she wanted to be with and to hold her and yes, even to change her diaper.

I thought we had turned a new page in our short relationship (short because she isn't even two yet). So when Janie walked into church this morning with her parents and sisters I was sure she was going to reach her little arms out to me and cry for Grandma. She didn't reach her arms out, so when I did I had no doubt that she would want me, but all I heard was NO!!!!!!

Although my hopes were dashed I am not feeling totally rejected. I have four other little granddaugthers and three grandsons who seem to like me pretty much. And, thinking back a few years, Emma (who is now 9 years old) didn't like me much until she was about 4 or 5 years old. So, I'm okay. I'm pretty sure Janie will come around too, especially when she grasps the idea of bribery.