I’ve heard the quote: “Dissent is the highest form of patriotism” attributed to Thomas Jefferson a lot in the past few months.  That particular quote has never made sense to me.  Why could dissent in and of itself be considered patriotic?  However, it’s how many Democrats justify their anti-anything-and-everything-remotely-connected-in-any-way-possible-to George W. Bush-and-Republicans attitudes, rhetoric and actions.  Darren, at Right on the Left Coast has done a little research to find that the ones who parrot that quote and say it is from Thomas Jefferson are WRONG.  Go read the post. 

(1) I just wrote my Sunday Seven, clicked “publish”, and got that #!%#$!%#!! message about “enabling referrers” - and the post was lost forever in cyberspace.  So now I must re-write it.  I really REALLY hate that WordPress doesn’t have a way to preserve posts like that to give the writer a chance to go back and do whatever it is that must be done before posting.  GOT to remember to click “Save and Continue Editing” frequently as I write.  Now my feeble brain doesn’t even remember what I had in that original Sunday Seven.

(2) Tonight we’re going to a fifth Sunday gospel singing at our church.  I think we’ll take Sunshine and Sweet Stuff with us.  I really enjoy these services.  I love the old gospel songs such as “Trust and Obey,” “When The Roll is Called Up Yonder,” “I’ll Fly Away,” and “Standing on the Promises.”  They remind me of going to Camp Meetings with my father when I was a child.

(3) I haven’t seen Sunshine and Sweet Stuff since our impromptu family get-together on Tuesday.  So I’m looking forward to seeing them again this afternoon.

(4) On the flight home yesterday in PawPaw’s Bonanza airplane, there was a lot of turbulence.  At one point, PawPaw had to request permission to go from 6,000 feet to 8,000 feet.  At 6,000 it was a bumpy ride.  At 8,000 feet it was as smooth as could be.  I had never thought about the HEIGHT of wind before.

(5) I’m so fortunate that on that trip to and from Georgia I was with PawPaw for his two MOST difficult landings!  (That was a sarcastic remark, by the way).  There was a strong crosswind each time.  PawPaw handled the plane very well, and I was never worried.  I really enjoy flying with him.  I was sorry, though, that because of the level of wind and the fact that it was going to get worse as the day progressed, that we couldn’t stop for a few hours in Rome to visit with my mother.

(6) Tomorrow is the first of May, and I MUST get serious about the Monthly Marathon!  I will get up and walk at least four or five morning each week during May.  I HAVE to!  There’s the beach in July, and then there’s the trip to Alaska in September. 

(7) There are less than four weeks of school left before summer vacation.  It’s incredible how quickly time goes by. 

I just recently passed the 500 mark for posts. Can you believe it?  Who would have thought I’d write that many posts since I started this blog in mid-September.  There have been highs and lows.  A few posts are pretty darn good, and others are questionable. I spend literally hours on some posts, and others seem to write themselves in a matter of minutes. It has been a good experience, though, and I hope to continue for a long time. Thanks for stopping by and reading THE MEDIAN SIB.

I don’t use the Friday Forum meme every week because often it isn’t a topic that “grabs” me.  This week, though, it’s about traditions, and I love traditions.  So here goes:

1. Do you have any family traditions? If so, what are they? We have lots of traditions.  On the birthdays of my children and grandchildren, I call them early in the morning and sing happy birthday to them.  On Christmas Eve, we always open one gift.  Then on Christmas morning, we take turns opening gifts - one at a time.  Before meals, we hold hands for the blessing.  Each summer my extended family gets together for a family reunion - and each Christmas we get together for our Christmas gift exchange and dinner.

2. Do you think having family traditions are important? Why or why not.  Yes, family traditions provide a bonding experience for family members, and they emphasize the qualities of our family that makes it unique.

3. What traditions do you wish your family had?  The only thing I can think of right now is that I’d like to have a weekly family dinner - for my branch of the family tree - my two children and their families.  We get together fairly often, but I’d like to make it a weekly occasion.  With everyone’s busy schedules, though, that’s difficult to do.

4. Do you have a tradition that you wish was more common among the United States population?  If so, what is it and why?  Can’t think of one now.

5. Do or will you pass this traditions down to your own kids?  YES - Without a doubt!

Look at Michelle Malkin’s latest post about anti-military vandals at the UNC-Chapel Hill ROTC headquarters.  The limited vocabulary vandals wrote some venomous epithets on the doors:  “We won’t fight your wars!”  and “F*** Off.”

Fortunately for them, we have wonderful and patriotic soldiers who love our country, freedoms and rights so much that they WILL fight this war for all of us.

The Education Wonks has a story about a young Texas teacher who came up with a unique way to address a common problem.  One thing I’ve learned in my current teaching position is that even in the wealthiest school systems there are pockets of poverty.  In the midst of million dollar homes, there are children who come to school hungry, with no books to call their own and no jackets to keep them warm in cold weather.

  

 

When I first read about Andrea Clarke I figured it was one of those tales that make its way through the internet - a story someone fabricated and sent around to see how far the story would go.  It turns out, however, that it is a true story - an unbelievable and horrifying one.  And it’s happening right here in the United States - in Texas.

When Terry Schiavo was killed last year, I couldn’t believe that despite the fact that she had parents who wanted her to live and who were willing to take care of her for the rest of her life, her husband - who already had another girlfriend and children - was allowed to prevail in making the decision to kill her.

There is something seriously wrong and inhumane about a society that not only allows such things to happen but even supports it.  And now it appears something very similar is happening once again.

Beth at My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy has several posts on Andrea Clarke’s story.  I won’t repeat what she’s written - click HERE, HERE, and HERE and read it for yourself. 

This makes me sick.  There ARE boundaries to what is acceptable and ethical.  Every “orientation” is NOT okay.  Just because you feel a certain way does not mean that it is normal and all right. 

As I was driving home from work today, I planned a quick stop at Wal-Mart to pick up some things that I needed.  However, at the last minute I kept driving and went on home instead - planning on a quiet evening alone.  Within fifteen minutes of arriving home, there was a knock on my front door.  It as my son!  He owns a landscaping business, and he had been working on a yard in my neighborhood.  And since he was in the neighborhood . . .  What a nice surprise. I’ve never been so thankful for NOT going shopping!

I fixed him a cup of coffee and we sat down and started chatting. My phone rang.  It was my daughter.  She and Sweet Stuff and Sunshine (my two granddaughters) were just leaving from the pool where my granddaughters had  had their swim lessons.  She wanted to drop by for a quick visit and to pick up the two books I bought for the girls at the book fair at my school.

Then PawPaw called.  He had just gotten in from his  business trip to Knoxville.  He had planned on staying overnight but decided to come on home early instead.

So less than 45 minutes after I got home from work, my evening alone had turned into a mini family reunion - with only my son-in-law and daughter-in-law missing.  We ended up having such a great time visiting before everyone left for their own homes again.  Sometimes unexpected occasions end up being the best ones.