Winter Fun

Every day there are dozens of things I think I'll blog about. But then I never seem to get down to it. So here are a few pictures of Jack enjoying the snow this winter to keep up the appearance of blogging.

Jack, Georgia and Gracie on a fabulous new sledding hill at Jolley's Ranch up Hobble Creek Canyon.


Jolley's Ranch also has great trails for cross country skiing so Jack will get lots of practice with the skis Gramps gave him for Christmas.


Coming home to a cozy warm house at the end of the day.

Who Should You Vote For?

Went online to this site and confirmed my voting instinct. See my results after answering a series of questions below.

I do want to say for the record that I believe Mitt Romney is a good person. I just don't agree with him on many issues. On a gut level, if I had to choose between Mitt Romney and John McCain, I'd go against the results below and vote for Romney. McCain's views on national security, which seem to come from a place very deep inside him, make me a little nervous, and I think Romney would be more capable of turning the economy around.

I can't remember where I heard this, but the other day some pundit defined Democrats as people who want "to fall in love" with a candidate and Republicans as people who want "to fall in line" with a candidate. I'm registered as unaffiliated, but am coming to the realization that I may actually be a Democrat. However, I really don't like fitting into a box, so I think I'm going to remain unaffiliated.

I am happy to admit that I have fallen for the aura of Obama. Yes, I have been swept up in the emotion of his rhetoric and his ability to inspire. But I wouldn't have fallen if I didn't also think that he has skills and plenty of substance as well.

Who should you vote for? (my results)

Barack Obama				66
Mike Gravel				57
Hillary Clinton				36
Ron Paul	-24
John McCain	-24
Mitt Romney	-63
Mike Huckabee	-84

Two and a Half Hours

Wow. A presidential primary with the chance to vote for a woman, an African-American or a Mormon. How cool is that?

I didn't choose my candidate because she was a woman, or he was an African-American, or he was a Mormon. I chose my candidate because I believe he is the best person for the job.

So I stood in line for two and a half long, long hours, asked for a Democratic ballot, and cast a vote for president that will actually make a difference here in Utah for once.

I haven't figured out why youtube won't accept my login, so I'll send you to this link for a video that captures the emotion of this vote for me today.

1963

I'm not sure why I seem to be obsessed with my birth (see here and here), but two stories I've been following in the news are linked to 1963, the year I was born.

The events unfolding in Kenya have been of personal concern to me because my brother has made his home in Nairobi. I've been following the news there mostly through BBC news. I learned today that Kenya gained independence from Britain in 1963.

Also of personal concern, but closer to home, we've been waiting for an announcement about the new presidency of the LDS church. President Hinckley, who led the church since 1995, passed away last week. Today Thomas S. Monson was announced as the new president. President Monson was originally called to serve as an apostle in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1963.

On a lighter note, I was browsing Wikipedia for other events that occurred in 1963 and discovered that 1963 was the year Tab, often my soft drink of choice, was introduced. According to Wikipedia, it seems I am a member of a cult after all (see halfway through the fourth paragraph).

713 Revisited

I came across our birth certificates while sorting through some papers today. Considering this post, it was a bit startling to see that I weighed 7 pounds 13 ounces when I was born.

I Like Hillary

It's true. It's sure (as heck) not a popular opinion here in Utah, but I like Hillary Clinton. I think she has a good mind and a good heart. She reminds me of some of the strong, intelligent women I've known and admired through the years, especially growing up back east. I think it would be interesting to hang out with her.

When her autobiography came out a few years ago, we carried it in our bookstore and at least half a dozen times some offended customer would turn the books around so people couldn't see the cover. A few months ago I was at a book club meeting and someone called Hillary ugly. I was genuinely surprised at how many people in the group nodded their heads in agreement. Ugly? Really?

I can understand having a visceral reaction against someone. I fight that every time I hear President Bush speak (and am pleased to report that I have tried to be mature about putting my feelings aside to really listen to what he's saying, and I do actually agree with him sometimes).

I can understand why people don't agree with Hillary on the issues. I can understand why people don't want her to be elected because of all the Clinton baggage. I can even understand why people find Hillary a bit offputting.

But I just can't relate to the visceral hate people feel toward her. Because I like her.

That said, I'm going to vote for Obama on Tuesday. I think it is very significant that he didn't support the invasion of Iraq. I think he is our best hope for moving forward together and finding our way as a nation in this new world of ours.

P.S. Though I'm not voting for him, it sure ticks me off that the media is basically writing off Mitt Romney (especially when the economy is such a critical issue). If all delegate votes counted regardless of states, Romney would be actually be the "clear" front runner. Also, I'm offended on Wyoming's behalf that their primary results were totally marginalized. No wonder people in this part of the country are suspicious of the eastern establishment. What a truly bizarre system we have!