May 30, 2006

Open Letter to Ms. Stone

Dear Sharon Stone,

You must be a whore. I know that’s harsh. But it seems to be true. For you to promote sex even if it is “safe sex” is ridiculous. Promiscuity is not the answer for our teenagers. Encouraging them to masturbate as opposed to sex is also not the answer. And attacking President Bush for funding abstinence programs is so beneath you. Especially when you are soliciting money from wealthy business men in exchange for haute couture.

I don’t know if you have a child. I don’t think I care, either. But I’ll be damned if I’m going to support an actress like you for promoting casual sex. For demanding that high schools have condoms in restrooms. What kind of role model are you? I’m very aware that teenagers are curious about sex and many participate in the activity. I agree that we need to educate our teens (and most adults for that matter) about safe sex and using birth control. But the endless promotion of it is doing more harm than good.

The only cure for unplanned pregnancy is abstinence. The only way to prevent STD’s is to promote abstinence. You don’t want a baby or a disease? I’m glad to hear it! Here’s what you do: DON’T. HAVE. SEX. Period. Our kids need to have respect for the act of sex. Not do it as soon and as much as possible. I would think YOU would know that. I must be wrong.

Stupid, idiotic, liberal celebrities. You and George Clooney are perfect for each other.

Sincerely,
A Former Fan

May 29, 2006

A Blogger’s Prayer

What good is a blog if I can’t say what I think? What good is an opinion if I don’t share it?

Because I’m not a radical, left-wing, Liberal, I’m not good enough? And “they” will resort to name calling and rabid attacking of my values to prove their points and get their way?

Good Lord, grant me the patience and compassion to deal with these people who dislike me for having a different opinion.

Thank you for allowing me to have a mind to decide what I believe in, to be moral and ethical and to love thy enemies, regardless of their wrong-doings.

They simply are misunderstood. They are closed minded, when they claim not to be.

I will not be deterred.

Thank you for allowing me to learn and grow and not follow my faith blindly.

Amen.

P.S. Please grant those reading this with the knowledge and understanding that it’s okay to disagree, but the hatred is not necessary.

Happy Memorial Day

Well, it’s Memorial Day and I’m working 8 to 4 p.m. What fun. I am so excited. Okay, I’m lying through my teeth. The weather outside is not frightful, it’s freakin’ beautiful. And I’m stuck inside an air conditioned building, listening to cranky Canadian callers and wishing I could be outside with my family in the warm sunshine. Then again, it’s forecasted to be 90 degrees today, so I guess being at work with A/C isn’t so bad. Yet.

Yesterday morning, I took Murphy for a walk down the path at Little Plover River. Just before we got to the bridge, we saw a huge turtle in the middle of the paved path. The poor thing had a huge gash in it’s shell and the bugs and things were working on his poor turtle flesh. I felt very bad for him because he was still alive and trying to move into the water (to die, perhaps?) but I could tell he was probably in pain.

Later in the afternoon, we went to my parent’s house for a cookout. Dawson was so happy to see his “mumma”. I was elated. I really missed him. What a little peanut he is. He sat on my lap and hugged me for a long time. That just made my day. I gave the kids 4-wheeler rides, they seemed to enjoy it. My cousins Mikayla and Elisha had fun going through the path with me. It was a good day.

I was very tired when I got home, so I went straight to bed. I feel well rested today. I think all the fresh air and sunshine really helped.

This afternoon (after work) we’re going to a bar called Bahamas on the Wisconsin River for a Memorial Day party. It should be a good time.

I hope everyone is having a safe, happy and fun holiday!

PiC Marriage and Motherhood?

I subscribe to Human Events and I have been catching up on my reading. I read this article about Carrie Lukas’ book “The Politically Incorrect Guide to Women, Sex, and Feminism.” I haven’t read her book yet, but it’s on my list of things to do. I enjoy reading different viewpoints on Motherhood, Marriage and Career Women.

In the article written by Mandy Stoltzfus of Human Events, it describes Lukas’ view point, that women are often given bad information which lead them to make choices that are not good for them.

“Women aren’t like the women on ‘Sex and the City,’ ladies,” said Carrie Lukas, vice president of policy at the Independent Women’s Forum. This is true, but I really like SATC. It’s humorous and ironic, because in the dating world, I’ve experience similar scenarios prior to meeting my husband. It’s fiction with flair. I would hope that women in the world would know this and not try to emulate their lives based on an HBO television series.

She also states that she is a product of a pop culture that promotes promiscuity, living together before marriage and encourages that thought that “children are career killers” and that the phenomenon of living together before marriage is damaging in the long run. “Living together first often means that couples marry out of guilt, not out of love,”

Another truth! I was raised Catholic and growing up I was taught that sex before marriage is a sin. And yet, I met my husband and we dated for a year before I lost my virginity to him. I love my husband very much. And I knew that I wanted to marry him. I don’t believe that I got married out of guilt.

I sometimes wonder if our relationship would have taken a different course had I waited until marriage before having sex? Doug and I only lived together for 3 months before our wedding. This was because it was easier to move our things in the summer before our October wedding. But still, my family was not okay with it. And I lied and said we slept in separate rooms, but I’m sure they knew what was really going on.

I sometimes thing that perhaps I’m not a very good role model because of the mistakes I made. Of course I don’t think having sex with my husband before marriage was a mistake. Morally, yes. But I love Doug and we have a wonderful life together, a beautiful son and we know this is the real deal.

We are not perfect, however. We still have fights about money, household chores, different methods of child-rearing. But I think this is normal. This is what marriage is about. Our differences are what help us grow.

I won’t even go into the “housewife” or “stay-at-home-Mom” or “Work-out-of-the-home-Mom” personas because I feel that every woman is entitled to her choices in those areas.

May 28, 2006

Our Engagement

Six years ago, on May 26, 2000, my husband proposed to me. I remember the night as if it were yesterday.

We had gone to dinner at our favorite restaurant, Water Street Grille. We loved that place. We knew the owner Craig very well. He always seated us at our “regular” table and if it was in use, he’d buy us a drink at the bar until it was ready. When we sat down to order, our waitress, Karen asked if I was going to have “the usual”. This was the Baby Back Ribs with garlic mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables and the starter salad with ranch dressing. I nodded and she looked over at Doug. He ordered the blackened ribeye. We had a wonderful dinner. We talked about the weather, about my volleyball team that played on Wednesday nights at Zenoff park and we discussed going to Lake DuBay for Memorial Day as Doug’s friends were camping up there for the weekend.

After dinner we went back to my father’s tavern to have a few drinks and see other friends of ours. Deb was bartending and I sat on the corner of the L-shaped bar and talked to her, while Doug participated in a game of darts with three other patrons, Rusty, Tom & Jimmy.

As we were all mingling, Doug sat down by me for a moment and his pal Rusty said, “So, Doug when are you gonna get married?” Doug looked at him and sarcastically said, “I’m never EVER getting married. What for?” He always joked about the topic and that night I’d had enough of it. I looked at Doug and said, “We’ve been dating for two years! Seriously, if we don’t get married, we should just break up now!” He didn’t flinch, he didn’t crack a smile. He just got up and walked to the dart board for his turn.

This frustrated me and I felt like a complete idiot. I got up, grabbed my purse and walked out. I only lived two doors away and decided to go home. Doug followed me out and said, “What the heck is your problem? I was only kidding!!” I didn’t believe him. “You didn’t sound like you were kidding…” I said. “You sounded pretty darn serious to me.”

He begged me to calm down and to come for a walk with him. At first I refused. I was really mad. He convinced me to “just come on, let’s walk to the park.” I agreed.

Pfiffner park was about four blocks from the bar. As we walked, I began to tear up. Millions of thoughts ran through my head. He doesn’t want to marry me. I’m not good enough for him. He’s got someone else. What a waste of two years. I really love him. This went on for what seemed like forever. He tried to hold my hand but I pulled away.

“How was your dinner?” Doug asked.

“Fine.” I said hotly.

“Dana, you know I love you.” he said, as he grabbed my hand again.

“You have a funny way of showing it.” I retorted.

We got to the park. It was dark, about 9 p.m. and I sat down at a picnic table. Doug sat next to me and I looked away from him.

“Look at me…” he said. “I love you.”

I didn’t move. Suddenly he knelt down before me. I panicked. He’s gonna propose now? I thought. That son-of-a-bitch. He cant’ do it NOW.

“Dana, you’re the only girl I’ve truly loved and I do want to spend the rest of my life with you.” he said.

I started crying. I felt him grabbing my right hand. “What are you doing?” I shrieked.

“Nothing,” he said. “I just want to hold your hands.”

He took my right hand in his and leaned forward to kiss me. Suddenly, he slipped something on to my left hand that was on my lap. I panicked. I freaked out. I was still mad at him. I was still MAD at him for being such a jackass earlier.

“Either that’s a piece of tin on my finger or your in BIG trouble.” I said.

“Dana, will you marry me?” he asked. Silence, followed by crying on my part. I just sat there crying.

“I can’t believe you just pissed me off and then proposed to me? What am I going to tell my grandchildren?” I cried.

“So, is that a yes?” he asked. I nodded. But it was dark and he couldn’t see it.

“I’m nodding.” I said.

We hugged and kissed and walked back to the bar. He told me along the way that his plan was to ask me at Lake DuBay on Monday, but he didn’t want me to wise to his idea, so he thought that making the joke about not getting married would throw me off. But he realized he couldn’t wait that long and decided to ask me that moment in the park.

Pretty crazy story, huh? I still can’t believe he made me MAD first. How nuts! This is why we’re perfect for each other. We’re both a little goofy.