Ten for Tuesday 9.30.08 "The Sky is Falling!" Edition

WARNING! Reed told me I should steer clear of politics on my blog so that I don't stir up fights between my friends, but today I just couldn't help myself. So, if you want to spare yourself from reading my anxious rant, skip to number 2 or 3!

1. Wow. What a week in the news world. I have to admit that I am freaking out just a little bit about the economic crisis we are facing, and I'm concerned about the ability (or lack thereof) of our nation's leaders to form and pass a bailout package. Warren Buffet told congressional leaders on Saturday that if they couldn't secure the financial system, we face the "biggest financial meltdown in American history." Perfect. Whether it is a scare tactic or not, something about the idea of returning to the Great Depression really scares me. I have visions of endless soup kitchen lines and kids without shoes or warm clothing floating around in my head.

I may be a pessimist, but the actions of our congressional leaders over the past week have hardly served to instill faith in the system. Apparently, constituents all over the country are throwing a fit about a bailout for the Fat Cats in Washington, but I am in the camp that believes something needs to done, and soon. I don't pretend to be a financial expert, and I know that this problem is extremely complex. I understand there are plenty of good reasons to not want to pass a bailout package. It's extremely distasteful to think about CEOs walking away from this mess with their "golden parachutes" while the American taxpayers are stuck with a tax burden and enormous deficit that our children will have to deal with. It's also frustrating to think of bailing out investors and homeowners who made irresponsible choices and are in over their heads. It's scary to think of the government wielding so much power in a private business sector and creating a greater moral hazard for future businesses and investors. But, I think the consequences of doing nothing are much greater. We are talking about a collapse of the world economy people! Having the credit markets close will affect everyone---even the people who have made wise financial choices, have good jobs and healthy businesses. This is my message to our leaders in Washington: Please put aside politics and work together. Pass a bill to restore confidence in the market and stabilize this financial mess.

2. Speaking of politics. . .

Did anyone catch the debate on Friday? Reed and I watched most of it together and had a few chuckles at the candidates' expense. I am really looking forward to the next debates---not to mention the SNL skit that is sure to follow this week's vice presidential debate! Seriously, could Tina Fey be any funnier?! Okay, I got a bit side tracked there. . . Anyway, I'm following the presidential election coverage, and I think that the unfolding news will be absolutely fascinating over the next few weeks and months. I'm sure I will be glued to my radio for the latest breaking news and discussions on current topics. I love NPR! Okay, now on to more personal news. . .

3. On a brighter note, I was able to get a break from my kids this week. First stop: So You Think You Can Dance tour show! It was awesome! All at once I felt like a giddy teenager and an old fogey. Lacey got us really great tickets. We sat near the front, but off to the side, so we were really close the dancers, but also close to the speakers. The speakers were honestly deafening, and after just a few minutes, my ears were throbbing and all I could hear was fuzz. Out of desperation I stuffed tissue in my ears so I could enjoy the rest of the show. Dorky, I know, but definitely worth it! It was kind of crazy to see all of these TV personalities in person, and totally exciting to watch them dance all of the favorite routines from last season. We were close enough to see facial expressions and muscles in places I never knew existed---Will was like one of those artist's drawings of the human body showing every muscle known to man, and the girls all had calf muscles that looked hard as rocks. The dancing in the show was rigorous---especially for Joshua and Katie who starred in nearly half of the numbers. Katie really lit up the stage, and all of the dancers were very entertaining. These tickets were worth every penny, and I hope they come again next year!

4. We were invited to attend the sealing of our good friends to the sweet baby girl they adopted about six months ago. The sealing was done at the Mt. Timpanogos temple on Saturday morning, and we were so happy to be there with them.

Reed's mom and dad agreed to watch the boys for us while we were at the temple, but the ceremony was early, and Michael also had an early soccer game. So, Becky thought it would be easier to have the boys spend the night at her house, and they were so excited for a sleepover! Grandma and Grandpa and Aunt Kelli sure take good care of our boys. . . and spoil them rotten. When they came home with us later in the day Michael told me that Grandpa gave them "so many popsicles!"

5. After my Saturday meltdown a few weeks ago I decided I needed to come to terms with the fact that Saturday is no longer my chore day. Somehow I've got to try to get my housework done during the week, and then if I'm lucky I'll take advantage of some free time on the weekends. I also decided to try to stop doing laundry every day, and just have one mega-laundry day (Monday) and have it be done for the whole week (my dryer can actually keep up now that we got rid of the 25 pounds of lint blocking it up!). I've been trying to take advantage of my time in the afternoon that has miraculously been freed up as a result of school and playgroups, so I've been working my tail off during the week trying to get caught up. Well, the payoff finally came on Saturday. I wasn't feeling very well, so I took a nap. A nap. On a Saturday. That never happens, and it was glorious! Later I got to go to Women's Conference and out for a Cafe Rio salad afterwards. Aaah! By Sunday morning I was actually a bit refreshed and ready to take on the kids again.

6. Sunday morning during my shower. . .

Another one of those pointless messes. The boys found a box full of packing peanuts in the basement, and it turned into a disaster. Unfortunately, I think that I may need to stop showering on Sundays. Gross, but true. BTW, Ty is actually wearing underware, although you can't see it!

7. On Saturday after Reed's flag football game he couldn't get his car started. This has happened a few times in the past, and it has always been a problem with the security system. We had to leave it in the parking lot and come back later to try to get it started. No go. finally on Sunday Reed's brother Matt went with him and got it started. He's a genius! We love him. This time it actually wasn't the security system that was the problem, it was a corroded battery. We probably should pay Matt for his services. He's helped up more than once with our car, and has become our most trusted mechanic! Thanks for your help Matt!

8. We hit the doctor's office twice this week. With all the visits we've made in the last few weeks, we've been there quite a bit recently. The doctor told me they had hung a plaque on the front desk with our names on it. Michael had a huge rash all over his body that was itchy, red and inflamed. I switched the laundry soap about two months ago, but Ty seemed to have problems with it, so I switched back to the soap that I've used for years, and then Michael totally broke out all over the areas where his clothing touched his skin. Argh! What a pain. The doctor thought it looked bad enough that he decided to run a strep test on it just in case. Luckily that came back negative and we got a cream that worked wonders over the weekend. While we were waiting for the test results I decided to get the kids' flu shots done. Michael threw the biggest fit! It took several minutes to restrain him, and he screamed so loud, I'm sure they heard him in the lobby. I don't know if I'll be strong enough to hold him down next year. He totally freaked the younger kids out, but they handled the situation much better.

During round two at the doctors Ty had x-rays, and the doctor decided he needs to keep his cast on for at least two more weeks.

9. I love this weather! I hope it will stay in the 80s until next spring! I honestly can't bear the thought of moving into another cold and dreary winter. I'll take the sunshine as long as I can get it.

10. Speaking of sunny weather, my garden is still producing. This is definitely the best year we've had so far. I still have tons of zucchini, summer squash and tomatoes, and my carrots are getting close to being ready. I don't really know what to do with all of those tomatoes, since I don't like to eat them raw, and I don't have the stuff to can them. I've made three huge batches of spaghetti sauce to store in my freezer. Which is good, since we have tons of spaghetti in our food storage, and we're going to need a break from eating our wheat patties when the economy crashes and we enter the second Great Depression. . .