Political Outrage from an Uneducated Person

I have just finished watching the first presidential debate and I have come to a very strong conclusion. I cannot be involved in politics...EVER. Every once in awhile I feel guilty about not being up to date on politics. I feel bad because I would rather watch an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond than the news. "What is wrong with me?" I wonder to myself, "I am an educated person, I should care enough about our country to learn about the goings on that effect my daily life." But after participating in politics for one hour, I remember why I shy away from politics: I get too emotional, I get frightened for our country's future, and I am exasperated by the stupidity of the people that make up our voting pool.

After the debate was over I was interested to hear what the public response would be so I continued to watch the media coverage. I became more and more irritated as I listened to political analysts and "average" voters comment on the debate. Every analyst has a political agenda already in mind and regardless of what happened, spins the candidates' comments to sway the public in their favor. I don't understand why we should cover up the weaknesses of the candidates? If they have strengths we should talk about them and if they have weaknesses we should talk about them. Why should we pretend that they are something they aren't? Shouldn't we know all the facts and then we can make educated decisions? I would prefer the American people make voting decisions based on facts rather than mind games and political strategies.

I was further agitated when the program jumped to Las Vegas to poll a random sample of "undecided" voters. I was appalled to hear the basis for their new found "decided" vote. Phrases like "He seemed bumbly", "He was too sentimental" and "He touched my heart" were thrown around. Are these people idiots? I understand that they probably have been pulled away from the slot machines or on their way to a Celine Dion concert, but honestly I hardly think some stuttering is going to really effect the dismal economic situation or foreign policy.

I recognize that I don't know much about politics, and after tonight I prefer to stay that way. Regardless of how I vote in November, I'm sure I will still have to pay enormous amounts of taxes, gas will still be expensive, and Celine Dion's heart will still go on.

Oh and Adam's thoughts are, "Leave my guns alone."

Boo Hoo!

I saw the saddest thing on my way to work this morning. Some unlucky person accidently dumped a huge costco sized box of candy bars right in the middle of the one round-about we have in Rexburg. The box was split open and tons of sad little 100 Grand candy bars were being crushed by all the cars. They were hidden in such a way that you couldn't see them until it was too late to swerve. Oh the sad and cruel irony!

Its cold!

September 22,2008 Rexburg, Idaho: The Mittens have come out...

Dress Code Blues

So after my first week of being a professor I would just like to say: I LOVE LOVE LOVE my job! It is so fun to be a professor! I feel like I am playing dress up and just pretending to be a professor. I hand out syllabi, I stand in front of my class and say important things, I stay after class while students ask me questions and all the while I am thinking to myself "Are they really taking me seriously?" And they are! Its awesome! Despite all this gaiety, there is one draw back to working for a church school. The faculty dress code is VERY strict i.e. I have to wear skirts past my knee and nylons at all times. I have never once watched What Not To Wear and heard Stacy and Clinton tell someone that skirts that hit them mid-calf are flattering-oh yeah because they aren't. Hence Exhibit A, the photo of my first day as a professor. I would just like to point out my adherence to BYU-I dress code and how it makes me look like a sister missionary...

Oh yeah, I lost 2 more pounds last week-10 lbs total so far!

Broulims

There are many things I love about Rexburg. For instance, the fact that the gas tank in my car has been on empty for two weeks, I can bike anywhere in the city, everyone seems to know each other, and it feels like fall for the first time in 5 years. However there is one thing that is perplexing to me: Broulim's Grocery Store. There are few grocery shopping choices here in Rexburg, and since it always smells like doughnuts, I choose to shop at the local Broulim's. I have witnessed a few strange things so far that have disturbed me...Last week I saw a little boy with his mother leaving the store in his underwear. Not a diaper mind you, real honest to goodness underwear. Whatever happened to "No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service"? I'm pretty sure pants are implied there.

Furthermore there is a checker girl there who has the strangest hair I have ever seen, it looks like a box. It is a very artificial color of black with the back teased up and then covered with a thin layer of hair creating a very severe square shape. All the checkers have name tags that say "Ask me about (Fill in the Blank)" to help strike up conversations at the checkout. Of course all this really does is make me mad that I have to wait in line longer while people chit chat about disney movies. Anyway, as I look at this girls name tag (I wanted to see what a person with hair like this is named) it says "Ask me about...my hair"

Hmmmm...Ok I will... "What is wrong with you hair?! What inspired such a geometric hair display? Could a person feasibly rest a house plant on your hair without it falling? Do you like the movie Edward Scissorhands?" I didn't really ask any questions, perhaps I was still in shock, but needless to say the square hair haunts me still.

And finally yesterday, I was again in the check out line being helped by friendly checker Dan, who found it necessary to yell out the numbers for produce to the girl next to him rather than scan my food efficiently. As I was waiting somewhat impatiently for them to debate the number for watermelon, I happen to glance down at Dan's name tag. It says "Ask me about...Fire"

What??? That is your favorite hobby? Lighting fire? Of all the things you would love to discuss, fire is your number one?
Even "Ask me about...produce numbers" seems more appropriate than fire!

Oh well...At least it smells like doughnuts...

W.W. Update

It is with great sorrow that I inform you of my gainage of .6 lbs...It is true, the losing streak had to be broken at some point. In my defense however I did go on vacation last weekend, where I pigged out like only true little piggies can. Adam went camping with his brother so I went down to pay homage to my peeps in Utah County. Whenever I go to Provo, I have to eat at all my favorite restaurants: Thai Chili Gardens, Bombay House, Cafe Rio, Taco Bell...(jk, Taco Bell is the one restaurant we DO have here in Rexburg). They were delicious and worth every little tenth of a pound. God Bless Yummy Food! Anyway I was at 8.6 pounds lost, but now I am only at 8.0, but I am back on board and heading off to the gym today!