Dayton's Legs

Here is an inspiring video that will give you goose bumps- and possibly a tear or two. What an amazing 13 year-old.

Dayton's Legs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwwxBjpvDVQ

Reality Relief

A conversation recently held in our car...

My Son: "Mom? What does 'sooki' mean?
Me: "Sooki? Use it in a sentence."
My Son: "Hello. My name is Sooki."
Me: "Where did you hear that name?"
My Son: "In 'The Saggy Baggy Elephant' the elephant's name is Sooki."

This conversation brought me great relief as 1.) It was a question I could answer, and most of all, 2.) My son's school friends were not exposing him to tales from "Jersey Shore" (think Snookie). How much longer do I have to be fielding questions from Golden Books?

My feeling is, not long enough.

Ponderings During the World Series

It took me about 23 years of life on this earth to buy a pair of white pants. Until then- while I was often tempted to buy them- I could hear them taunting me from their clothing racks, "Buy me, I dare you. I can't wait for you to stain me within the first 10 minutes of wearing me! What will it be first? Spaghetti sauce? Ink? Dirt? Bwahahaha!"
Contrast that with...
Major League baseball teams, who have chosen white as their pant color of choice for playing a game that involves diving around in grass and clay.

Obviously, they don't clean their own uniforms.

Design Friday: Then & Now

I saw this commercial while watching the World Series the other day (Go Cards!). I thought it was such a creative idea. In my research on the commercial, I also became aware of this website - dearphotograph.com. So cool. It is amazing to ponder on the passing of time, how  things change (or don't), and the memories we are walking in everyday.

A Lettero

Dear Dora, Diego, Handy Manny, Maya & Miguel, etc.,
I am writing this letter to inform you that your efforts to teach my son Spanish by interjecting random Spanish words/phrases/expressions into your English dialogue is not working. In the past 4 years, I have never once heard my son use a Spanish word as a result of viewing your program. (Which isn't really surprising when you consider that most people can't remember a lick of Spanish after studying the language for 2 years in high school). I'm not sure why you are trying to teach my son Spanish, but I find your methods questionable. To be honest, I think the language you are teaching would be more accurately described as "Spanglish".
Until your program includes an exchange program allowing children total immersion in the language and culture of Latin America or Spain, including classes on navigation/orienteering or home improvement (in Spanish), I just don't think you will have any success. Lo siento.
Sincerely,

I'm a Mormon

After seeing the "I'm a Mormon" commercials on my T.V. a while ago, I decided to visit the site and see what it was all about. I love watching the "I'm a Mormon" videos. It is so fun to see how different people are, who share the same religion and beliefs. I find them to also be very inspiring. Here are a few of my favorites:

Cassandra
Jenny Hess (you'll need tissues)
Emily

Truth Inspired by Fiction??

Over the last year, news of millionaires willing their fortunes to their pets has increased. These headlines always cause the majority of people to shake their heads in disgust and ask themselves, "Who are these people and where do they get these ludicrous ideas? Willing their money to a pet. Crazy."

But, when you think about it, it does have a familiar ring to it.... doesn't it? Yes, the plot does seem oddly familiar- only a little bit jazzier. Can anyone say, "AristoCats"??? It seems to me that this 1970 Disney hit/"classic" just might be to blame for inspiring the seeming trend in pets becoming independently wealthy. It's not so cute in real life, is it? (I'm willing to bet there was a butler that mysteriously arrived in Timbuktu in a trunk via airmail after each of these stories broke, too.) If this trend continues, we'll all be singing "Ev'ry body Wants to Be a Cat".

And don't be shocked if one day people start using their dogs as nannies.

A Spoonful of Sugar Helps the Medicine Go Down

I think anyone would agree that gay characters are becoming more and more prominent in TV programming. In fact, in a recent MSNBC article "Ugly Betty" is credited for opening the doors for other shows to "come out of the closet" so to speak (e.g. "Glee", "Modern Family", basically every show). Jarrett Barios of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation called the show "groundbreaking" in this respect. He particularly admired the show's depiction of a gay teen. America Ferrera (Ugly Betty) is also quoted as saying,

"There are certain things that people just don't expect anyone on television to talk about and whenever we dared to go there, it would make some people uncomfortable. But the only way to really make an impact and to inspire people to think is to venture into risky territory,"

This quote fully supports my belief that TV, like any other art, approaches its craft with a story to tell and elements are used to fulfill that intent (questioning traditional values, pushing the envelope, tolerance, "inspiring people to think", etc.). Writers include certain lines in the script for a reason, characters are introduced for a reason, plot lines have a purpose... except maybe for "Lost". Can anyone tell me what what happened to that show?? These days, I think it would be naive to believe that you can relax in front of the TV and accept it only as entertainment that bears no relevance to our world. People are in the business because they see an opportunity for influence.

To me, there is no question as to what TV producer's motives are in introducing gay characters to shows that are popularly entertaining. In general, I think people are more forgiving of controversial elements of a show, if it means they'll be entertained. The question is, how much garbage we are willing to swallow for a few laughs?

Family History- It's Bringing Sexy Back

I had been waiting for the premiere of NBC's "Who Do You Think You Are?" with great anticipation. Not only did I think it looked interesting (as it follows 6 different celebrities doing genealogy), but I was intrigued by the promo's statement that the show "makes looking for ancestors so hot". That statement jumped out at me, because its an angle I would have never thought to use to encourage people to do their family history. I've heard people use guilt, personal responsibility, and begging as methods to get people to trace their ancestry.... but never the claim of it being "so hot". It's genius! It was right there in front of our face the whole time, too! Everybody knows you have greater success if you market something as "sexy" or "hot". I think we've hit on something here.

I just might rewrite the "Family History" song...

Groundhog Day

In honor of one of America's strangest traditions, and for those of you disapointed by Phil's prediction of 6 more weeks of winter, I give you a clip from the movie "Groundhog Day".

Exactly.

The next time you or your husband sit down to watch an NFL game, perhaps you'll find these facts interesting. The Wall Street Journal recently broke down how NFL games use their time on TV. I found it... enlightening.

67 minutes: Players standing around/huddling
60 minutes: Commercials
17 minutes: Replays
11 minutes: Actual playing time!
3 seconds: Cheerleaders

(**WARNING: If you present this information to your husband, you may be met with irritation and denial**)