Some things are not black and white...

I came across an article similar to this in Sports Illustrated this evening...(yes, I read Sports Illustrated.)
Minnesota Timberwolves Too White?
I.  Am.  Annoyed.

Why, you ask?

Because.
In sports, things are not black and white.
They are sports.
They are not about religion.
They are about sports.
They are not about race, class, education, status, gender, etc.
They are about Sports.

So, thank you, people of Minnesota.  Thank you for ruining sports for us.

Just think about it...
For two to three glorious hours, you are not a Christian woman with a full time job and no kids and two cats and no Mercedes Benz.
For those few hours a week, you are nothing more than a (personal example...) Denver Bronco or Oregon Duck.
You are just the same as the guy sitting at the table next to you in the sports bar.  You are a fan.  Nothing more, nothing less.
You are important.  You know everything about your team.  You eat, breathe and sleep for the blue and the orange. (or whatever team colors you rep)
Football, for instance, is my sport of choice. I don't care what color my quarterback is.  I don't care that he makes more money in one game than I will make in a lifetime. I don't give a crap what kind of car the receivers drive or where they grew up or who their girlfriend is.  I care about touchdowns. I care about beating the socks of off the Raiders, Patriots, Steelers and the Chargers. I care about the end result.  I care about the win.  Period.
And now, a shameless Denver Broncos/Peyton Manning plug...

I suppose I just don't understand why everything in life has to be about race, religion, etc.

We're all human beings and children of God.  We're people. All of us.

Why the crap does it matter what color a basketball player's skin is?
And for the record, my favorite basket ball player is white.  But, it's not because I'm white.
Nope, it's because no one plays ball like John Stockton.
My favorite QB is white...because I'm white?  No.  It is because Peyton is a hall of fame QB who is going to bring Denver back to being an elite, Superbowl winning team and runs a slick, effective no huddle offense.  That's why.  If Michael Vick played for Denver and could do that?  I'd be a fan.  Unless, of course, the QB was Cam Newton...merely because I hold grudges...

I want my three hours back.

If you have a problem with Minnesota's bball team being too white...let me let you in on a secret...it's not the owners that are racist.  It's you.  Grow up.
Phew.
Now I can go to bed and not be quite as mad.

Pack Meeting

I just got back from a Cub Scout Pack Meeting....always an interesting experience.
First and foremost...loud. (love that)
Second and most important...the theme tonight was Citizenship.  We watched a movie about the Star Spangled Banner and what it meant.  We talked about how America is like a brass band, with all different instruments that have to work together to make a beautiful sound.  We talked about respect for the flag and for our country and for the people of our country.
And suddenly...(insert bolt of lightning here...)
As I was watching these little boys learn about what it means to be an American, I felt my heart swell with pride.  I am so thankful for the Scouting program.
I have been discouraged due to the results of the last national, local and state elections.  I put my heart and soul into some of ideas and people.  I am a Republican.  I am a hardcore conservative.  That is just who I am.  It may not be a popular stance among my peers, but it's just who I am.
But, I am, first and foremost, an American.
This means so much more than just believing in Republican things or Democrat things or Conservative things or Liberal things. We are not black, white, purple, British, African, Chinese, Hispanic, rich, poor, Christian, Jewish, etc., etc.  We are AMERICANS.
While I am saddened by many of the left sides concepts and principles and beliefs, I have realized that I don't have to agree with them.
I do not need to put my energy into being angry, disappointed or trying to destroy the other parties and governing leaders.
There is no room for hate in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
My efforts are best spent praying to my Heavenly Father that the leaders of this country will be guided and directed to keep us free.  They are best used trying to make America a more beautiful place.  They are best used helping and teaching children to be good Americans, to be respectful and to take pride in their country.   I will commit now to spend less time grumbling and complaining about the government and giving them the respect that they rightfully deserve.  I will respect the choices and the rights of people who don't believe the same way that I do, because that is what America is.  It is a place of freedom, of respect, of hopes and dreams and opportunities.  And if those little Cub Scouts can take that much pride in their flag and their country....I can and will do the same. (and the students become the teachers...again.)
So, all I feel right now is that we could all do a little more praying,be a little more respecting and be a little more understanding.
Go.  Save America.  Make a difference.
And...

You know who you are...

I dedicate this song to you .

Won't Back Down

By Tom Petty 

Well I won't back down, no I won't back down
You could stand me up at the gates of hell
But I won't back down

Gonna stand my ground, won't be turned around
And I'll keep this world from draggin' me down
Gonna stand my ground and I won't back down

Chorus
Hey baby, there ain't no easy way out
Hey I will stand my ground
And I won't back down

Well I know what's right, I got just one life
In a world that keeps on pushin' me around
But I'll stand my ground and I won't back down

Hey baby there ain't no easy way out
Hey I will stand my ground
And I won't back down

Niceties...

I need this advice today...I'm not feeling super nice right now.



but because I'm being snarky...this is how I really feel.

I wish I was color blind....

I really mean that.
Not in the sense that I don't see colors...but more in this sense.
I have been struggling with my sense of black and white, right and wrong, good and bad.
I wish I could be empathetic and see the gray area that everyone always talks about, but to me, there is no gray.
Yup, no gray at all.
You're either right or you're wrong.
That's all there is to it.
Also, as much as I keep trying, I can't find it in myself to accept wrong behavior.
I don't always necessarily take steps to improve it or stop it, but I certainly don't accept it.
Does that make me an awful person?
I think it does.
I am forgiving.
I am understanding.
I accept that you are a child of God, just like me.
I accept that things maybe haven't been easy for you.
I accept that maybe, just maybe, your actions, mannerisms and choices are because you were shown a bad example.
But, I do NOT accept your poor manners, bad choices, and your disrespectful and wrong actions and/or words.
I happen to have a nasty temper and a very short fuse.
That's wrong.
I have tried to take steps to calm that temper and be more patient.
If I can work on my nasty habits, maybe you can too?
The problem here is most certainly me and I am more than willing to take action when my flaws are pointed out to correct them.
I just can't find it in me to help others see that they're being jacka$$es.  (pardon the language-yet another flaw!)
I am trying quite hard to not judge and not be unkind, but darn it! Why can't people just be nice?  And moral? And good?  It's not so hard!
AND....
As my mother has so kindly taught me, it really is okay to just be good.
It's not always the popular choice.  You don't always get recognition.  You are often overlooked and ignored and feel that you're unimportant.  But you're not.
You're just good.
And that's okay.
Phew. I feel better now.
Thanks for listening.
Now, go and be good.

Conflicted....

Because I am trying to be a more informed voter and American citizen, I watched the VP debate tonight.

First and foremost, I am disappointed in the mannerisms of our current VP.

Second, I am incredibly tired of the media biases-on either side.

Third, I am now finding myself in my own personal battle of good and evil.

Much to my dismay, I am finding myself incredibly conflicted.

Let me begin by saying that I firmly believe that abortion is murder.  Plain and simple.  No one has the right to take a life.  Ever.  I even struggle with the circumstantial abortion.

Obviously.

However, I don't feel that it is the government's place to tell me what I can or cannot do with my body.  It's mine and I will do as I feel is best for me and for my life and for my family.  Plain and simple - that's none of your dadgum business.

As a woman with my particular trial in life, I get angry when people kill babies for no good reason.  Adoption is expensive.  If you don't want your baby, please....I will gladly take him/her and love them with every fiber of my being.  

Also,what if your mother had aborted you?  Every soul has a divine purpose in life that no one else can fulfill.  How are we damaging the world, the future generations?  What are we missing out on because you don't want your baby?

But again, I don't want to be told that I have to take birth control, that I have to only have one child, that I have to etc, etc, etc by a government that doesn't know me and my life.  I believe that the concept of a government controlling my choices about my body is wrong.  How would you feel if the government required every woman to have her significant other's name tattooed on her arm or that required every person to wear a hat on Thursdays?  It may sound ridiculous, but I feel that if we give the government an inch, they'll take a mile and regulate not only women's health, but also her weight, her makeup, her cold medicine, etc.  And that  too, is wrong.

I guess it's just going to wind up being a matter of personal choice.  

But, I do have to say that I am grateful for all the mothers that I know that didn't abort their child.  Each of your children have a special place in my heart. Even the mischievous ones.  I thank God everyday for the children that I work with and can't imagine my life without even one of them. 

Katie's Watch List- Part 1

I've always wanted to make this list...I'm not saying you have to take my advice, but this is my list of classic movies that everyone must watch.

1.  An Affair to Remember- Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr
2.  Breakfast at Tiffany's- Audrey Hepburn
3.  Penny Serenade- Cary Grant (have a huge box of tissues...)
4.  Kings Go Forth- Frank Sinatra
5.  An American in Paris - Gene Kelly
6.  Singin in the Rain- Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds
7.  Charade- Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant and Walter Matthau
8.  The Bells of St. Mary's - Bing Crosby
9.  Here Comes the Groom - Bing Crosby
10. Going My Way- Bing Crosby
11. Casablanca- Humphrey Bogart
12. Sabrina- Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart
13. The Proud and the Profane- Deborah Kerr and William Holden
14. Arsenic and Old Lace- Cary Grant (be warned..this one is a touch strange...)
15. Operation Petticoat- Cary Grant, Tony Stewart
16. How to Steal a Million- Audrey Hepburn
17. True Grit- John Wayne
18. Two Mules for Sister Sarah- Clint Eastwood
19. Anchors Aweigh- Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Katherine Grayson
20. Gone with the Wind- Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh

Now that I'm looking, maybe I should have just made an Audrey Hepburn list...
Maybe next time.
Stay tuned...
Next time-it's Must Watch Musicals!
Enjoy!