Oh, puh-leeze...

On the radio the other day, I heard this exchange in one of those political ads: (paraphrased)
Woman #1:"...there are just so many issues, I don't even know what's important these days..."

Woman #2: "I know what's important! Preventing dental disease in children!..."

I thought: WHAT? Preventing dental disease in children??? What about terrorism, the faltering economy, war in the Middle East, homeland security, the exponential growth of the national debt?

No -- what this commercial is promoting is that the government take on the sad state of dental disease prevention...

Like most people have no idea what to do about it already...

Like there is a shortage of toothbrushes and toothpaste...

Like there aren't enough dentists available...

No, these people are sure that we need the government to teach us how to take care of our children's teeth; and they probably want supplies and services to be provided or at least subsidized. Because some of these kids may one day be unhealthy (GASP!) due to this dread situation...

People, if you can't take care of your kids teeth on your own, you've got bigger problems...BIG problems...And mark my words, one day you're going to find you "owe your soul to the company store". Be grown-ups, and buy your own toothbrushes and toothpaste and force your kids to use them.

Prevent dental disease by being a PARENT...and save government for stuff that you CAN'T do...

Hormones and Total Depravity...

It’s not a good combination, I tell you.


And it’s pretty much the reason that I am limiting my exposure to fiendishly naughty little puppies, snoring men, and incompetent drivers of any nationality.

I’m starting to think I might hurt somebody, and I confident such exposure will at least result in sin.

That’s total depravity for ya…

I know that God knows what He is doing, but I have to admit that some days I wonder about the whole hormone thing. Those hormones surely complicate life…and some days I hate them…well, them, and everything else for some reason…or more accurately for no reason.

It seems they are making me intermittently crazy. Or maybe it’s the symptoms they produce. I’m tired of being hot all the time, with the occasional “Flame On!” moments thrown in for extra humiliation. I don’t like the new cushion I wear on my mid-section. My eyes are so dry that I fear that one day they won’t open, or close. I miss sleeping through the night – especially when someone is blissfully snoring RIGHT NEXT TO ME…I mean: right next to me. I do not suffer fools gladly – and a lot of them seem to be on the road at the same time as I am. And I tend to forget things, or not remember them, or misunderstand what I am reading, and tell one kid pertinent info 3 times, but never mention it to the others…

And some genius decided to call this the “change of life”… Well, it’s not the kind of change I’m looking for! I would prefer thinness, and fitness, wisdom and patience, clarity of mind, and a body temperature that allows one to wear sweaters. I would prefer sleeping through the night, and sometimes I imagine head-slapping Eve and saying: “You couldn’t have said “NO”? What were you thinking???”

Of course, then she would head-slap me right back and say: “Like you would have done anything differently!!” and she would be right.

So I shouldn’t complain.

But you know that I will…as I just did…

I really don’t get why this has to be part of God’s plan for women, but I do understand that it involves walking by faith when I want to hurt someone, but I remember that God says it is wrong, no matter how justifiable it may seem at the moment…and on some days it seems entirely reasonable, and necessary.

But that’s just the hormone-enhanced total depravity talking…

I’m just hoping I can remember that.

You should read this...

An amazing story about an extraordinary man...I was told by family members that they couldn't put this book down -- and I couldn't either! Laura Hillenbrand's writing makes for a absorbing read, even though she has much uncomfortable subject matter to cover in Louis Zamperini's story. The experiences of our soldiers in the Pacific theater, World War II, were at times unbelievable. On a good day, they suffered...and then there are those, such as Mr. Zamperini, who endured unimaginable pain and psychological suffering in prison camps. How he overcomes the lingering pain and mental anguish is inspiring.

As well, the capability of men to degrade and torture is appalling...I'll say no more. Some of it requires some contemplation of the difference in cultural values. Liberty -- the freedom for each person to pursue their own goals and purposes reap many more benefits than we realize. We indeed take them for granted.

If you haven't read this yet, be sure to put it on your reading list. It is amazing, inspiring, a story that we should know.