Our Smurfy New House

Yes, you read that right, we have a "smurfy" new house. While I haven't been blogging for the last couple weeks, this is what I have been doing.

This is stage one... The foundation. A floor framed out of 2X8s. I was so fortunate to have the kids help me prime and paint it to protect it from ground water.

Stage two... Framing. A solid 2X4 frame with just enough cross supports, that would be 3 between each stud.

Stage three... Here I am installing the roof. Plywoood on top of a 2X8 frame for a future second story deck, complete with ladder, rock climbing wall, slide, monkey bars and swings.

Stage four... Putting up the exterior plywood walls. Typically after the roof is on and the walls are up, insulation would go inside, but who needs warmth?

Stage five... Priming and painting. Boy, was this fun! The kids ended up covered in paint! By the end of the day, Tacey had managed to paint her hair.

And finally the finished product. A smurfy new, Dinoco blue playhouse. (You should have seen Tacey after we painted the blue! She had a huge glob of blue paint covering her forehead and all through the front of her hair. I thought her hair might stay blue for the next three weeks! I missed the picture.)

So, we now have a playhouse! YAY! The kids are thrilled. All that is left is to furnish it and build the accessories sometime in the future.

The color is incredibly bright, the pictures don't quite do it justice. All I can think of when I look at it is, "Laa laa lala laa laa laa lalalaaa...." The funny thing is that the kids don't even know what the Smurfs are. They have never seen that cartoon. But, somehow I managed to get them to agree on "Dinoco" blue, from the movie "Cars." I had to preface the decision by saying that orange and pink were not allowed, since I knew they would both want their favorite colors. (I bet you can't guess which color is whose favorite.)

Test 1, 2, 3, 4

This is a test to see if I was able to fix the paragraph break problem.

Test

Test

Test

Test

Sunday Service

Last week the pastor at my church asked me to allow him to interview me during the service. I was reluctant to do so at first, as I really don't like speaking in front of large groups and prefer to remain anonymous, despite my Speech Communication minor from Cal Poly, as Josh so lovingly pointed out. I took time to decide, relying on my faith to point me to the right direction and reflecting on a previous message that that the pastor offered discussing how we should lift our weaknesses to God and He will help us to prevail over them. I did this and felt very good about my decision to do the interview. It was the right decision. The congregation was very accepting of what I had to say. People were introducing themselves to me and offering to help my family transition into this new community. There was an amazing outpouring of support for my family.

I found Highlands at the lowest point in my life about three months ago. I love the atmosphere, the newness, the modern feel, the messages that are not preachy but conversational and relative, the modern music, the references to our modern lives, everything. I feel as though God really brought me to this place to help me through this low time in my life. And now, I don't know how I could have ever made it through without this assurance and this support. I have decided to become a member of this church, something that I have not done in my adult life. I am greatful for the opportunity and feel a new security in my life.

The Great Oreo Debate

Josh and I tried the new Golden Oreos last night. They were good. But not as good as Double Stuft Oreos, as Josh pointed out. I, however, prefer the Mint or Peanut Butter Oreos. I've even tried the Half n Half Oreos. But, I prefer chocolate with complementary flavors. I'm not a huge fan of chocolate on chocolate. I can think of a couple exceptions: Chocolate Fudge Brownie ice cream and truffels, off the top of my head. Okay, this topic is just too philosophical...

"My left ear is my good ear and half of my right."

On my way home from the store today, the kids asked to listen to Rascal Flatts on the iPod. So, I put it on. After about the third song, Taylor says, "Mommy, this sounds like Rascal Flatts."

I said, "You are right, buddy. It is Rascal Flatts."

He said, "Do you know how I knew it was Rascal Flatts?"

I said, "How?"

He said, "All the songs sound like the same singer."

I said, "That's right, they all do. You have a good ear for music."

He replied, "My left ear is my good ear." Pause. "And half of my right."

Well, it was all I could do not to laugh at his completely serious comment. But, how stinkin' cute!

The Oil Crisis and Alternative Energy

Check out the article by CNN correspondent, Frank Sesno, about the oil crisis in this country and alternative sources. http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/05/14/bts.sesno.gas/index.html

It is my opinion that we clearly have alternate sources of oil and energy, so why in the world are we suffering from record high gas prices and energy prices? I just don’t get it. From educated and intellectual conversations that I have had with friends through this entire gasoline debacle, we have the technology to convert our greedy, oil-consuming country from a gross-polluting enemy of the environment to a friendly, green, environmentally conscious society. Check out the You Tube video and the ticker tracking the cost of US Oil consumption: http://water4gas.com/2books.htm. Check out the battery powered sports car: http://www.teslamotors.com/.

So why don’t we use this technology? Do you think that it is some conspiracy to keep the American people in the dark about alternative energy solutions that will not only save our environment for future generations but also save our pocket books? How many of our elected officials really care about us, the middle-class little guy? My personal opinion is that our elected officials are currently thriving on the high prices we pay at the pump and the thermostat. They are sitting on the Boards of Directors for the oil companies and making the highest dividends they have ever made on their shares. Why in the world would they propose legislation to stiffen the fuel efficiency requirements on vehicles as Jimmy Carter did in the 70s?

According to the CNN article, Brazil, another industrialized nation, has become completely independent on foreign oil, using 40% ethanol. I don’t see why we couldn’t reduce our oil consumption to 25% immediately if we implemented the use of ethanol, water powered cars, hybrid and battery operated vehicles.

The flip side of this coin, however, is that these sources are not necessarily renewable sources. So in another 100 years, do we put ourselves in the same boat with water? During years of drought we are already struggling with enough water to drink, bath, cook and water our lawns. Our reservoirs (at least here on the west coast) are at low percentages of normal capacity due to our relatively dry winter. Water is a renewable resource, but can it renew fast enough for our gluttonous usage?

Ethanol, made from corn, is definitely a renewable resource. We can grow it and process it, all in the course of months. Of course with corn, we are at the mercy of the growing seasons and the crop yields. We can import it. But does this defeat the purpose of independence? Will the cost of corn eventually sky rocket as in the case of gas? Yes, I think this will occur. That’s free enterprise.

Hybrid energy, I think, is a great start to independence. I don’t think that we are developing this fast enough. I know that had my car (remember, the expensive gas-guzzling SUV) been available in a Hybrid when I bought it 2 years ago, I would’ve opted for the Hybrid. Now, of course it is: http://www.gmc.com/yukonhybrid/index.jsp.

In my less-than-expert opinion on energy sources, the most renewable source possible, that will never diminish is solar energy. It is my limited understanding that our current problem with solar power, is how to store it. This would be the idea energy source for all of our needs, should we ever develop a way to store it in a convenient usable way.

I guess my point to this entire post is simply this: I truly hope that one day soon, we will be a country free from the economic control of the Middle East.

I do use paragraph breaks! I do, I really do!

Just so you know... I am capable of using paragraph breaks and in fact I put them in my posts. However, when the blog actually posts to the page, the paragraph breaks disappear. Anyone know how I can fix this? It's beginning to really annoy me now.