Miscellaneous Missives

If you are a closed-minded Republican, you should probably not read today's post... just saying. This weekend I had a text conversation with a friend.  It went like this: M- I'm putting a bumper sticker in the mail for you on Tuesday.  Enjoy F- Obama 2012? M- No but I have an extra one of those I can mail too. M- Do u need Obama 2012? F- Yes- I sent two to J and didn't keep one for myself. M- OK... I'll send that too. F- Is the other an NRA sticker? M- Keep your laws off my guns and on my body. F- I'll put it in my back window between the gun rack and the sticker that says, "If it flies, it dies."  The confederate flag is on the other side of the gun rack. F- I hate gays M- Marriage is between a man and a woman M- How did u get a gun rack in such a small window? M- Only sinners wear mixed fibers... Bible says so F- Only sinners eat animals with a cloven hoof.  Says so in the Bible. M- Damn, there goes my grilled pork chop I was plann...

I grew up with guns.  In fact, my father used to take my brother and I to our grandfather's farm (only field and grain bins, no houses) to shoot shotguns and pistols.  My dad reloaded shells (shotgun and pistol) in the basement of our house.  Basically, I feel as though I have some gun knowledge.  Of course I think the NRA is full of crazies and believe that it is absolutely ridiculous that assault rifles are legal, but I do feel that I am somewhat knowledgeable about average guns.  Well, this morning I realized this was indeed not the case.  A student accidentally (long story, no danger) brought a bullet to school.  When he found it, he immediately reported it to the teacher.  Teachers were asked to keep students in their rooms.  Everything was investigated, and after some time (40 minutes?) students were released to their next class.  Not long after the incident, the teachers of the involved students were being debriefed.  They...

As I was driving back from getting ice cream at Sebastian Joe's, I questioned the flag on the car in front of me. Was the driver of this car one of the fanatical Republican holdouts? Was the driver in front of me a Democrat who was finally proud to be an American? It seems over the last several years anyone flying a flag, especially from the car window, tended to be the first and not the latter. In fact, I'll be persistent with this stereotype and say they also typically had an NRA sticker someplace. Driving today, however, I felt a bit of joy. What if it was someone finally proud to be an American, proud to fly the American flag, proud of the changes and the opportunities? Unfortunately as I came closer to the car, I realized my flag stereotype (and redneck stereotype) was fitting as the car had the figure pissing on the name Obama instead of Chevy or Ford or whatever. Maybe someday I will see a car with a Peace or Tolerance bumper sticker flying from the window.

It's March!  I'm excited because February typically sucks... just saying.  I'm co-parenting Britt for the next ten days.  She's splitting her time between my house and another.  Our walks are good for both of us. Life is fairly boring.  I'm trying to ignore the lunacy of 45 and the NRA.  Although I'm a bit excited about getting a bonus for carrying a fire arm as a teacher.  What could go wrong? Students are researching products made using child labor.  We had to have a conversation about Canada.  Even though you see Canada mentioned several times, read further.  Canada is part of the solution, not the problem.  It could be interesting. I'm also looking through my Watch Your F*cking Language book.  "Today's quote:  In German, 'Dummes Huhn' means: Stupid Chicken."  It may come in useful today, or not...

I always look at bumper stickers. Immediately I make a judgment about the person behind the wheel of the car. It's fun to read the bumper stickers then pull up to see the driver. Today I was disappointed as I was not able to catch up to see the driver. In fact the driver was going to fast because I really wanted to get my phone up to take a picture of the car's rear end. It was plastered with a few bumper stickers. Two large NRA symbols adorned each side of the license plate. In middle were two bumper stickers which read Cheney/Bush '04 and Team Road Kill. Cheney/Bush, Team Road Kill... Hee Hee... I couldn't have said it better myself.

This evening my neighbor came by to discuss our broken window (broken since I moved in). I invited him in to share an e-mail address when he noticed a piece of mail on my table. "Interesting," he commented. Across the top of the rather large postcard it says, "Change is all you'll have left if Obama is elected." It surprised me when I saw it in my mailbox as much as it surprised him to see it on my table. As I pointed out the card's assertion that a box of rifle ammo would cost $500 and a new hunting rifle would cost $5000, we agreed that even if this was true, Obama was a change we could afford which was contrary to the card The piece of propaganda came for the NRA (National Rifle Association). It was actually forwarded from my previous address. I'll try catalogchoice.org to see if I can get my name off the list. Since I've never owned a gun or voted Republican, I find it interesting that I'm on the list. At least they had to pay first cl...

  Molly was excited to get a package from her friend who lives in Alaska.  When she opened the box, she was confused.  Although the shirt was actually soft and of good quality, she was upset by the guns in the flag.  When she googled Holster's, it was exactly what she thought... pro-gun.  She didn't know how to handle the situation, so she sent a picture stating she was confused. Her friend had obviously lost her mind.  During the conversation, she kept proclaiming that she hadn't sent a t-shirt.  When Molly explained it was her writing on the box, things became weird.  The friend was in a state of denial.  Molly even sent a text with a picture of the writing on the box. Molly's friend was adamant that she sent homemade condiments.  She wouldn't give up on her story even though it was clear Molly is in possession of an NRA type t-shirt.  After much deliberation, the two friends realized what had happened.  The original box, wit...

Imagine my confusion when I had an envelope in my mailbox labeled "Office of the Governor of Alaska." It reminded me of my NRA mailing. Of course I opened it to see what insanity was inside. Unfortunately it was only an invitation to send in for a free Alaska travel guide. Fortunately, it was signed Sarah Palin and of course used her "folksy" language. "This isn't some skimpy brochure..." it stated. She really is working this!

In a scene from Beloved , Baby Suggs is preaching in the clearing... "She did not tell them to clean up their lives or to go and sin no more. She did not tell them they were the blessed of the earth, its inheriting meek or its glorybound pure. She told them that the only grace they could have was the grace they could imagine . That if they could not see it, they would not have it." This quote was used during church today, so I had to use the interweb and Google to find it's origin.  First, let me say that it kinda makes me want to read Beloved again, but my stack of books (list on Kindle) disagrees.  The quote resonated with me throughout the service.  Isn't it true?  We need to imagine something better in order to have something better.  The other truth is we need to do something besides imagine.  If we are not active, we can't make a difference.  Perhaps that's my I'm disgusted that in lieu of the latest killings little is being done abou...