My hamper floweth over

The next post I write will be titled "Self loathing: Why I hate my blog". Rereading my previous post reiterates that feeling.

The problem is, I never spend more than ten minutes on any given post. That gives a final product full of typos, poor grammar usage, and half baked thoughts. If I didn't know me and I read my previous post, I would think I was pretty anti gay. That is not the case in the least. My only problem with Dumbledore's outing is the impact it will have on the books for future readers, mainly due to ignorant twits.

I read this article and can see it from a different perspective, how people should apply the new discovery. "Oh, he's gay? I wouldn't have known. It really has no impact on the person he is." I am just sad that the percentage of people who feel that way I fear will be low. The percentage of people who declare him a pedophile and question his relationship with Harry will be ridiculously high.


Alright, now that that's cleared up (I hope) I need to ask for some feedback. I know that not many people read this, but my stat counter says that about twenty a day actually glance at it, and while I don't usually mind the lack of commenters, I could really use some feedback here. Jordan is old enough now to be involved in the youth at church, which we were both pretty excited about, until I found out that their new curriculum is affiliated with this website. If you have a minute to check it out, please look at this page
as well.

How would you feel about a card promoting this website being handing to your child in a pamphlet? How would feel about curriculum associated with this site being taught to your child? Really, I would love to hear some viewpoints.


My ten minutes are up, let's see what mess has been created at the expense if this post :)

If you've read the Harry Potter books, you know there is a lot more going on in them than Quidditch matches and potion classes. J.K. Rowling recently stated that she has always viewed the books as "a prolonged argument for tolerance." I see many parallels between Hitler and Voldemort (though J.K. has said there isn't meant to be) and Jordan, who is fascinated by books on the holocaust, has noted them on her own right. There are also the house elves, and Hermione, who is a strong female character, and her fight for their rights. I think that it makes sense for J.K., who doesn't try to hide the sexuality of teenagers and their fondness of "snogging", to have a homosexual character in the book.

I was, however, saddened by the press release.

We have already had our run-ins with anti-Harry Potter folks. And, quite frankly, I don't care much about what the think at all. It is an evil book in their minds already. But I would hate to see it become labeled as a gay rights book. Because to me it much more than that. I am sure, as well, that Dumbledore's fondness for Harry will also be questioned. Evey word he spoke to him, glance he gave them, touch between them will be over analyzed to death.

Even Harry potter fans will view the book differently. When studying the books, I can see a question "What do you think Dumbledore meant by that?" followed with "Remember, his character is gay".

J.K. has said that Dumbledore's love for Grindewald was evident. I read the last book, and didn't catch it. Yes, Dumbledore acts uncharacteristically to seek his approval, but that is par for teenagers regardless of sexual attraction. Seeking approval of peers is not always sexually driven. Even now, I dress up as much when I'm going out with the girls as I do when I am going out with my husband.

The characters of a book are born from the authors mind, and I respect that.I know that this is not my story, and I'm not about to go all "Misery" on J.K. Rowling (though I would have if she had tried to stop the books before the series was over, me and my pig named Hermione) but I hope that people still are able to see the books for all that they are. I am glad that at least one of my children was able to read it untainted.

And by the way, how dense am I? I always though it was Professor McGonagall that was gay!

I loved Lizzee's idea for the caption contest, and I think I will start having "fun with caption" posts frequently. Actually, with as busy as we have been lately, that may be all I post for a while. (You may need to click on the photos to enlarge them in order to get the full effect :)



As I am sure people who don't live in Oklahoma suspect, this is one of our favorite forms of transportation.



High five, anyone?





Is it me, or is that Mr. Hanky with a cowboy hat?




Run, Forest, Run!!!








You are ants! I squash you all!


Please feel free to leave your caption ideas, unless they are way wittier than mine.

My kids love Where's Waldo books. And they love jigsaw puzzles. So imagine my excitement when I found this jigsaw puzzle at a consignment sale for the low, low price of one dollar!







A combination of two things our children enjoy. Hours of family fun, right?

After the kids had finished the puzzle for the first time, they were looking at the details in the picture. From the other room, I hear "EWWWWW! That is so gross! I can't believe they did that!"

Yes, they found this image in their puzzle:



Yes, after you have found Waldo, look for: A man who is overdressed, a human stepping stone, a cowboy, two odd friends, and the side view of a boob.

Where is Waldo's brain? Apparently right below his belt buckle.

For shame, Waldo, for shame.

Tonight was our yearly pet blessing at church. We bravely took three of the Keith pets tonight, though we didn't get a picture of the blessing of the hamster (which really stinks, because Lillian carried him up in his pink ball to be blessed. Too cute).

I would love to say it went smoothly, but you know how you have those days when you take your kids with you to the grocery store and you leave hiding your face the way Paris Hilton does from the press?


Let's just say Otis was not on his best behavior. He was very hyper, and very yappy.



And Scabbers, the guinea pig, peed on me.



I love this picture! Doesn't it look like they are taking the Tasmanian Devil to be blessed?
Actually, it's just that cute little kitten we found this summer.

I found these pictures that the girls took of Otis on the camera while I was downloading tonight's pictures.




The girls really love him. So I guess he can stay, for now :)