My Morning.....

....SUCKED.

I live off of a very busy street. The morning commute is clearly no exception. This morning, I pulled out onto the busy street, and immediately saw something crawling around on the side of the road. As I got closer, I saw it was an orange cat. For those who know me, I love cats. I slowed down to figure out what was going on with the cat, and it was obviously in distress and crying - not open/close mouthed like it was meowing. Just opened mouthed, like it was wailing. I felt so bad. It was POURING down rain. I had my child in the car with me. I didn't know what to do because I wanted to help the cat because it was weaving in and out of traffic and I didn't want it to get hit even more, as I suspected that's what happened in the first place. I didn't know what to do. However, some A-HOLE in his big, jacked up truck, came roaring up behind me, laying on his horn and flashing his lights. So I decided I better just get on my way and stop slowing down traffic for a wounded animal. So I took the child to daycare and decided to drive back by where the cat was, to see if it was still there. And if it was, I was going to pull back onto my street, and walk out and help it. When I drove back by, which was less than five minutes later, I couldn't spot the cat. It wasn't lying in the road, run over. So I at least felt a little relieved at that. I just hope it managed to get back onto the sidewalk and back to safety. I feel horrible that I didn't stop and try to find it.

And then, as if that wasn't enough to deal with, the drive in to work was horrible. The downpour of rain impairs people from good judgment while driving. I don't understand this. It's not cold enough for the roads to be slick, and there's not enough rain to where people are hydroplaning. But it's enough to cause wrecks and cause people to be freakin' idiots. And apparently rain causes people to forget how to USE THEIR DAMN BLINKERS as well. I had to slam on my brakes this morning to avoid rear ending someone that was clearly in too much of a hurry to use his blinker.

*sigh*

At least I have Starbucks. The one bright spot in my morning.

Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith

I have started a book that is nowhere near my usual pick of genres. I am usually found with my nose in a good crime drama/suspense. However, this book came highly recommended by two of my co-workers. And since the topic of religion is one that really gets me fired up, I decided to give it a shot.

This book is a true story. It is based on many, many disturbing events that occur within the LDS and F (fundamental) LDS religions. While I am of the opinion that the LDS religion takes its beliefs a tad far, the FLDS followers push it to the extreme - and then some.I am only 77 pages into this book, but I have already tagged numerous pages to dissect here in my first analysis of this book.

Here are some excerpts from the book that run a chill up my spine.

"I want to tell you that the greatest freedom you can enjoy is in obedience. Perfect obedience produces perfect faith."

Polygamy is illegal in both Utah and Arizona. To avoid prosecution, typically men in Colorado City will legally marry only the first of their wives; subsequent wives, although "spirtually married" to their husband...remain single mothers in the eyes of the state. This has the added benefit of allowing the enormous families...to qualify for welfare and other forms of public assistance. ...their polygamous community receives more than $6 million a year in public funds."

"We're taught that it's the Lord's way of manipulating the system to take care of his chosen people. FLDS call defrauding the government "bleeding the beast" and regard it as a virtuous act."

"According to UEP dogma, wives do not belong to their husbands, nor do children belong to their parents; all are property of the priesthood and may be claimed at any time."

Women thinking for themselves and asking questions are not considered attributes to the community.

Only prophets may receive reveltations that determine how the faithful are to conduct their lives, right down to the design of the sacred undergarments individuals are supposed to wear at all times.

The primary responsiblity of women in FLDS communities is to serve their husbands, conceive as many babies as possible, and raise those children to become obedient members of the religion.

Sexual education consists of teaching children that the human body is a shameful vessel that should be veiled from the eyes of others at all times.

According to the Law of Chastity, sexual intercourse is officially forbidden even between husband and wife unless the woman is ovulating.

The book goes on and on about the arranged marriages, most often between girls as young as 13, to men twice or three times their age. And at age 13 or 14, the girls begin having babies. They are often subjected to rape by other members of the religion, even members of their own family. And "family" is a term I use loosely, since most daughters are eventually married off to their own fathers, uncles, stepfathers, etc.

The facts in this book disgust me. Because they are real. These communities are real. This brainwashing is real. The horrible things being done to these children and women are real. And for some reason, the government continues, as it has done for decades, to look the other way.

Fall

Fall is here in The Treasure Valley.

Here is a shot right outside my office.

New Book

So I started a new book yesterday. It was recommended by a co-worker. It is called Under the Banner of Heaven. It's pretty much a documentary about the killings within the LDS and FLDS religions. Far from my normal genre of reading. However, the co-worker told me it was an eerie (sp?) true story that would make my blood run cold. Another co-worker saw that I was reading it, and said she couldn't finish it because it was so disturbing and pissed her off. So I'm thinking this is going to be a good read.

Right off the bat, there was an entry that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up:

Polygamy is a divine institution. It has been handed down direct from god.
The United States cannot abolish it. No nation on earth can prevent it, nor all
the nations of the earth combined, ...I defy the United States; I will obey God.

~John Taylor (January 4, 1880), President, Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints~

This ought to be a good read.

Happy Birthday to Me

So today is my birthday. 27 whole years of age. We had a pretty low key weekend. Friday night, my brother babysat the child while the hubby and I went out for a fancy dinner. Everyone had a good time - even though my brother wasn't subjected to a dirty diaper. Dang it!!

Last night, we had frozen yogurt. The child cried. It was too cold and all he wanted to do was play with the tops of the containers. Go figure. Kind of like having all the toys in the world, but playing with the remote is his favorite thing ev-er.

Then we played. It made the crying from the coldness stop. All was right in the world again.


And today, we were extra love-y. I love it when he wants hugs. It absolutely melts my heart. And then he snuggles into my neck...*sigh* Being a mom is the best.

But this, this breaks my heart. He walks outside all on his own. Doesn't need mama's help at all. Off to discover what is out there in the world for him.

Off we went to my parents' house - where a delicious meal of manicotti awaited us. Even Brittany got to go.....and since it was raining, she got to ride inside the truck. Lucky girl!!

Birthday girl and the hubby.

Uh oh - he has learned how to hide from the camera. I doubt this will last long - we all know how much of a ham he is.

And he found a new toy. The yellow bat. The infamous yellow bat. Which is used to keep my parents' .... let's call her .... HYPER .... dog in check, lol! Just a warning tap, relax. ;)
And gee, who would have thought that he would find the remote at grandma and grandpa's? Shocking.

Reminiscing

So I decided to clean out our closet today. Well, just my side. I have clothes in there that have not been worn in.....well, I don't know how long. I plan to take all the clothes to the Goodwill, which is less than half a mile from our house.

I pulled out a box and inside was my Letterman's jacket. Ahhh memories. I was fully decorated, lol! Lots of pins for softball, National Honor Society, and my medal for winning the District Championship. I had forgotten about the medal. It was in one of the pockets on the jacket. What memories!! I keep going back and forth on getting rid of the jacket or keeping it. I only wore it a handful of times, but it seems wierd to get rid of it. So I guess it'll go back in the box where it came from, to be pulled out again in a couple of years.