National debt

A copy of an email I just sent Texas Representative, Jeb Hensarling;

Regarding the Sequester and national budget, I have two comments/questions. First, Rudy Giuliani mentioned last night that what the Sequester is supposed to do is cut additional spending, but what the President is saying is that it will cut into current spending like education and military. How is that right? Second, instead of cutting into things like education, military, medicare, etc. why don't we cut foreign aid? Why do we continue to give so much to other countries, especially ones that have respect for us, and yet continue to take away from our own nation? Why is it more and more taboo to be openly patriotic? Why must we have gay pride and Mexican pride and Muslim pride but no American pride? How much and for how long are we going to allow China to own us? Is there any hope for our country? Ok, I realize that was way more than two.

I am from California. Gender equality is a common concept there.  I knew things would be different when I moved to Texas, but I was not prepared for how truly different it is. Last night I had my eyes opened to the reality of the male/female roles here. I am a mom to three boys, and for the first time I wished this morning that I had at least one girl. (ok, that's not entirely accurate. I have always wanted a daughter.) Today, I wished that at least one of my sons was a daughter.  It was only for a moment, but that moment lasted long enough to almost knock me down.
Because I have three sons, I find myself immersed in a man's world.  We have done soccer.  dinosaurs, Legos, Star Wars, etc. Mostly, we have been participating in Scouts. We are on our sixth year of scouting.  Ian is a boy scout, Tristan is a cub scout. I have been a scout parent, a den leader, and now assistant Cubmaster  This is the second pack we have been with. The first was in California at Camp Pendleton. Great group of leaders. Really had it together there.  Now here we are in Texas, and I am finding out just how much of a man's world this is.  In our pack, currently half of our leaders are women and half are men.  I do believe that Boy Scouts should be guided mostly by men, as it is boys they serve.  However, I am a mom who has only sons.  My husband works long hours and is not able to serve as a scout leader in any way.  (Also, it's just not his thing.) A spot needed to be filled, and I filled it. So I do what I have to do for my sons.
In the past week I have been talked down to, corrected, interrupted, chastised, brushed off and very nearly patted on the head and told 'not to worry my pretty little head about such matters. Let us deal with that.'  All this by the male leadership in our pack. I work my butt off for this Pack, am placated in my efforts and then thrown under the bus. If this is the attitude out here then find someone else to fill my shoes. Find someone else to do all of the things that myself and the other Moms in this pack have done and are doing. I am not a scout leader because I love the outdoors or enjoy spending much of time in a testosterone laden environment.  I do it because I have sons, I do it for them, and if I don't who will?

Keep BSA faith-based

This week in the news there is much talk about the BSA's decision to revisit their own stance regarding a ban on homosexuals within the organization. For the sake of funding and wanting to fit in, the Boy Scouts of America is considering lifting this ban. I am going to come right and say it.  I am against this decision. I believe the ban should remain intact. I do not think that we should have to increase the exposure our sons experience of homosexuality in their every day life.  It isn't scriptural, which BSA is faith-based. It isn't natural. It isn't right. You know, our children get this pushed on them all the time. We joined BSA because of its moral grounding.

How dare others who don't believe as we do, come in and try to force us to change our belief system. If you want to be included in scouting, then accept our choice or go start your own organization.  Do not try to change what scouting has been about for 100 years! It is not archaic. We are trying to teach our sons what is right. Not confuse them. BSA, PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE THE POLICY!!!  

I have every right to NOT accept homosexuality.  And I am not a bad person for that choice.  If BSA is made to change this policy, then you may as well strip every core value as well. For me, it's all or nothing. I am standing up for what I believe here. 

Birthday blah

I have determined that being home alone on one's birthday is sad and depressing. I wonder if this is all my life is. If it weren't for the automatic pop up on facebook, how many people would have thought to send me a message today? How many of those handful of people really care? I have to frost my own cake. There will be no gift. No lunch with a friend or family member. No party. But that is how it is every year. Just another day, nothing special. I got a call this morning from my Mom, and she sang her warped version of "happy birthday". I love my Mom. My kids made me cards. They are fantastic. My husband baked a cake last night. It's still sitting in its pans on the counter.  All of the chores still need to be done.  I have a den meeting to take my 7 year old to this evening. Kids are at school, husband is at work. Once again, I feel insignificant. I think I hate my birthday.

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Last night was our Pack meeting and an after-action report/meeting for the Troop.  I think both went really well.  I was able to get my laptop to cooperate for a slide show at the pack meeting, giving the families the opportunity to see our camp out we just had.  It was well organized, we had great discussions on fundraising possibilities and talked about upcoming events.  It was really great to get the parents involved in the decision making.
After both meetings were over, the Cubmaster sat down with the Scoutmaster/Committee Chair and myself to go over a few things.  That was a good meeting too.  We were able to discuss some things that really needed to be addressed (mostly scheduling issues).  Finally, Cubmaster brings up a proposal that I had heard from him previously and tried to brush off.  He wants to step down as Cubmaster and have me take his place.  Scoutmaster agreed.  I don't know if I am ready for this.  I told them that I am a behind the scenes person.  I don't lead.  In the end, I said I would have to talk to my husband and God about this and see what they say.  This could take a while.

Election aftermath

    Well, time to pack my bags and move to Australia.  I prayed.  I voted.  But apparently bullying, intimidation, denying the military vote, threats of riots and violence and rigging the voting machines to select Obama regardless of who you vote for is the American way.  I hope you are all happy that your arrogant, pampas, disrespectful "black man" who 'gives you stuff' won.  Enjoy the financial penalties for not being able to afford medical coverage.  I'll be sure to write you from prison when I can't pay the fines.  Enjoy our nation being sold off to China because our government can't manage to come up with a functioning budget.  Enjoy your grandparents being denied health care because they're considered too old to matter. Enjoy the continued reports of military being denied backup in hot spots.  Or small businesses being told that they didn't build that.  
    You democrats, who are no better than a playground bully.  You who see nothing wrong with killing a brand new baby because mommy doesn't want to be a mommy and doesn't want anyone else to have that baby.  It's murder!!!!  You are killing a human being because you can't keep your legs together.  If you are OK with aborting babies, because you just aren't ready to be a parent, then why do you have a problem with parents who kill their children?  It's the same thing.  They've just been alive longer.  You get appalled at a teenager giving birth in a toilet and returning to prom, but it's OK to do it at an abortion clinic.  I'm sorry, I don't see the logic here.
    You people who voted for a man based on his skin color and then cry foul if a white person  says or does something that you think is racist.  You have just proven that racism will never end in this country because you don't want it to.  How long before your daughters are killed under sharia law?  How long before we convert our useless American dollar to yuan, because China owns us?  You think I am full of it?  You think I am way off base?  Do some research. This is what you voted for.   Enjoy the fruits of your labor.

    (Disclaimer:  It is late and I am tired.  Anything I say here is most likely tainted by fatigue and thus cannot be taken offensively)

    Please excuse me as I go on a rant here.  

I would love to find a "home" church here in Texas.  One where you don't have to be a big financial backer, don't have to be part of one of the main families that dominate the church, one where I can send my kids to children's church while I get spiritually fed with other adults.  A church that when I am absent, someone actually notices.  I want the "church next door".  Do you hear me?  This is good stuff.  (Note: tone of sarcasm there)  I also am not ready to deal with a church that has constant "issues".  

    Yes, I am from California.  Get over it.  No, I don't already know where everything is here, or how things are done.  I tire of people assuming that I should already know, or they assume that I must be a snob since I am from California. (ok, so maybe I am a bit of a snob)  I also find it rude that so many people think that nothing good exists in California.  Yes, I miss my home state.  I am here now and trying to make the best of life.  I sure as heck didn't "get here as fast as I could".  Texas isn't perfect either.  

    I admit I find it slightly distressing that before my sons start dating (which we have a few more years to go before they hit that stage) we have to find out if they are related to the girl first.  Yes, the town is that small.