Sunday, March 29, 2009

Earth Hour - The Lights Are Out

Truthfully, I don’t totally subscribe to the theory of Global Warming. You can't find a real scientist anywhere in the world who can look you in the eye and, without hesitation, without clarification, without saying, kinda, mighta, sorta, if, and or but...say "yes, global warming is with us."

Scientific research through U.S. Government satellite and balloon measurements shows that the temperature is actually cooling - very slightly - .037 degrees Celsius.

You will not see me buying any carbon credits in the near future.

However, I think we can all agree on reducing energy consumption and energy dependence. Dependence on foreign energy is an attack upon the wealth of the United States.

So, last night at 8:30 P.M. we turned off our lights for one hour. We lit the candles and gathered in the family room. For the first couple minutes I felt sort of, lost, without the computer, without the TV, in a room without electricity.

However, it didn’t take long before my eyes started to adjust.

We talked about what we did that day. Remembered those who were not with us. We talked about what we wanted to do this spring and summer. Where we would like to be a year from now. We talked. We listened. We shared.

Before you knew it 9:30 had passed and we were still sitting there without electricity, but not in the dark, seeing each other better than we have for a long time.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Happy Birthday John

Wondering where time went…

Today my oldest child turns 36 years old. Wait, it that right? I can’t really believe it. Could this be the same little baby boy that I brought home from the hospital in 1973? It can’t be. He was so little and helpless. So cute with lots of hair. It just doesn’t seem that long ago.

Memories take me to so many places in time -

· To that little baby boy that kicked all the time while playing in his crib.
· He would throw his baby bottles into Amy’s bed and stack up blankets and climb into hers.
· He loved sitting in the high chair eating Cheerios in Grandma’s kitchen.
· He loved a stuffed teddy bear named, “Tedwin”.
· John and Amy out in the yard catching lightning bugs and riding big wheels down the street.
· John loved Santa Claus (he strongly objected to the song which says, “Big Fat Santa is on His Way”, because that was so mean to his best buddy, Santa!)
· How smart he was in Kindergarten, I knew that he would always be at the top of his class (he knew all the names of the planets, for crying out loud!)
· Swimming in the pool Grandma bought.
· Building tunnels in dirt in the back yard for Matchbox cars.
· Playing Legos
· John and Robbie playing with firecrackers and blowing up Amy’s toys.
· Going to the Dari Bar
· Building camps
· Loving Star Wars
· Reading lots of books
· Highlands High School
· Playing the guitar
· Having a band
· Competing in German at UK
· Getting Married

Well, John IS celebrating his 36th birthday today with his lovely wife Angie, and their two wonderful little boys, Jacob and Josh.

John is all grown up now, strong and independent. Still smart, reading lots of books, and yes, still loves Star Wars. And Tedwin now lives at his house...

Oh yeah, he is still just as cute and still has lots of hair...

Happy Birthday John! Love, MOM