Remember that one time?

So long, long ago I posted a blog entry where I announced that I had officially received my "you're no longer a momo" letter (the post is called Finding a daily LIFE). At that point in my exit from the church I was concerned mostly for my children, especially since they are growing up here in Utah County. I felt like other kids might be mean, or might shun them.

So. Here it is, almost 4 years since that post. My first-born is now 10 and in the 4th grade, and my baby is 5 and taller than all the other preschoolers. How is their life here in Ut. Co., you ask? Well.

I would say that for the most part, not being LDS hasn't directly affected them too harshly. L has friends that she plays with at school, and B fights with the other boys at preschool. I do have a concern though, and I mostly blame the COMMUNITY of Mormons for it, rather than the church itself:

Every day I hear kids outside playing and laughing and having a great time. L knows some of them from school, but none of them come over to ask her to play. During the summer all the kids (mine, plus my "step"-children) would participate in Night Games, but only if one of them got the courage to go up to the neighborhood kids and ask if they could play. Now I realize that part of the distance between the neighborhood kids and my kids could have something to do with the fact that my kids aren't here at our house all the time - they get carted back and forth between here and their dad's house. But they are here about half the time, and those kids go to school with my daughter, for crying out loud.

I have seriously contemplated taking my kids to church again, just so they can be more accepted by the neighborhood kids. I am pretty sure this is a church-related issue, because even the parents of the neighborhood kids make very little effort to be friendly (no wave of the hand from them!) towards me. They speak with Lee some, but mostly regarding church issues (his 15 yr old son does participate in church).

*sigh* Is it really worth going back to church just to have a little acceptance? Or do I need to once again peruse the exmo community for children of like-minded parents? I just don't know what to do, but it sure does bite when neither of my neighbors will say Hi to me, let alone wave. I assume it affects my children less than it does me, since they don't really know what they're missing.

I miss the community and camaraderie of being LDS. It seems that you have to BE one to get that perk, though. Whatever.

Nothing but WET

Someone had a great idea. Someone figured out that certain keywords draw consumers to purchase. This notion changed the world of marketing. "Natural", "Organic", "Pure"; these are some of the words we get bombarded with each day.

The chemical compound which consists of two hydrogen molecules and one oxygen molecule is probably the best example of what marketing can do for a product:

We are inundated with selection when we want a simple, refreshing drink of water. With merely a label we can be transported up to glacial heights or whisked away to a tropical paradise. Such a fantastical trip at such an unreasonable price tag, and sadly the reality is that we're pretty much having a drink of water. Water. WATER!

Well, I have an idea too. If we're going to monopolize on something as commonplace as water, then lets do it right. How about we give people what they REALLY want?! Now introducing, for the first time ever (that's right, you heard it here folks):

Ah, the Glory Days

Two days ago I got to hang out with 2 colleagues that I don't work with day-to-day, but only indirectly, as in that they work for us freelance. We sat on my back patio, on a cool afternoon, casually getting to know each other better. We talked of leaving the LDS church, and shared our individual stories (something I don't get to do much anymore).

Why do I bring this up? Well. A while back I used to write. A lot. Perhaps not a LOT, but you get the gist. I just read an old blog post of mine, and I thought, "This shouldn't be sitting in the dust. I'm proud of this. This post should be revisited."

So here I am, selling out, but loving to be able to post a link from an old "finding la" post. Good times.

http://findingla.blogspot.com/2006/07/instead-of-posting-comment-i-take-my.html

Bombarded

Being a liberal in Utah County is like being white in the Mexican supermarket on State Street, I imagine. It's like people know liberals exist, they've heard of liberals before, but it's so rare that they come out in the open that conservatives are actually surprised when they find out someone is liberal. "Someone disagrees with me? What? Lunacy."

I hear the regurgitations of Bill O'Reilly too often. Sean Hannity is a Saint around here. And what's-his-face, the guy who sobs all the time, oh yeah Glenn Beck. That guy's name sends chills up my spine.

Not that I'm confrontational, mind you. But if I hear someone say something ridiculous (mostly about homosexuals or "marriage") then I'll speak up with some sarcastic comeback. I don't bite my tongue, but I'm certainly not on the lookout for a fight.

Why has fighting always found me? Hmm...something for me to ponder on.

So, yes, the fight always seems to find me. It must be a nice thing to be able to be so open about political beliefs. Most people get nods of agreement and a pat on the back for the ideas they vocalize. But me? Liberal me (moderately liberal, by the way)? If I say something that I believe, I get jumped on. Whatever.

I'm getting sick of living here. *sigh*

Why did the Mayo Clinic remove their success story that is Shona Holmes??

I'm into universal health care. So I've been reading up on the Candian who had to come to the US to get the treatment she "needed". I've seen this link in MANY places:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/patientstories/story-339.html

It's the Mayo Clinic's story of Shona Holmes. But sadly, I cannot view their story because it's been removed. Why? Over-traffic is my guess. Huh.

Turning a New Leaf

So one of my life challenges is that I was never able to grow a clematis plant. I have probably killed 3 or 4 innocent clematis' (clematii?) in my life, something for which I feel great shame. It turns out, all I needed was the right place for them to thrive, and give them a little bit of love.

I planted 2 different varieties last year. The both did really well and I was optimistic that I might not kill them this time. I tended them very carefully, and encouraged them to climb the trellises behind them. The plant on the left has light purple flowers, and likes to climb. The plant on the right has dark purple flowers, and is more bushy, which means it hasn't grown vertically very much.

One day I was trimming the overgrown grass around the plants with a Weed Eater. I'm not very deft with dangerous tools, so it comes as no surprise that I weed whacked the left plant on accident. I was heart broken! I rushed inside the house to find some sort of tape to see if I could "graft" the stem back together. Over the course of the summer, sadly, the left plant withered and died. Oh, the bitter sorrow.

A few weeks ago I peaked my bleary eyes through the haze of winter, and into one of the warm spring days we had this year. In other words, I went outside to examine the yard. You can imagine my surprise when I saw the left plant, not only alive, but THRIVING. It's amazing.

Today when I went outside I was thrilled to see the plant had grown taller than the fence! I don't know how it happened. I had given up all hope. But it is true, the plant has risen from the grave. Here, now, are the pictures to prove it. I hope you appreciate even a fraction of how incredible this was for me! :)


The left plant, today.

The right plant, still going strong.

A close-up of right plant's new flowers.

My New Fave

Like a Sunshower by Journey

Girl, tell me what's wrong
Are those tears in your eyes
What's going on between us
I'm ready to listen
I don't care if it takes all night

We both said something we didn't mean
We lost our heads
Now I can't sleep
'Til you talk to me

We find the sun through the rain
Caught in a sunshower
We'll be all right, no one's to blame
After the storm, we'll shine
So rare you and me disagree
Love's like a sunshower

When you meet me, babe
Somewhere halfway, yeah

It's been way too long
Since we shared what's in our hearts
Let's say this charade is over
Ooh, we can't take for granted
How far we've come
Let's not lose each other

I know you care, 'cause you stand your ground
When we talked enough
I wanna make up
Wanna make love

We find the sun through the rain
Caught in a sunshower
We'll be alright
No one's to blame
After the storm, we'll shine
So rare you and me disagree
Love's like a sunshower

Baby, babe
Somewhere we'll find
We won't regret
We won't forget
Rainbows wait for you and me
Girl, we're caught in a sunshower

When we've talked enough
Can we make up
Can we make love, ooh
Yeah