DO Believe the hype!!!

My new favorite household tool. And I'm not making any money by singing its praises. No corporate sponsorships of this humble blog.

The Swiffer WetJet. Where has this been all my life?

Better than a mop. And I'm not just quoting a commercial.

We sweep every day, but washing the floor was the most neglected chore in this household. Why? With many children under foot, homeschooled children who don't disappear for a number of hours during the day, it's hard to find a time when mopping the floor is convenient. Maybe I buy the wrong mops, but it takes forever and a year for my mopped floors to dry. WetJet solved that. You squirt the water out, push it around with the WetJet, and it's dry moments later.

Swiffer used to make (do they still make?) wet floor cloths. But I hated the way the smelled. I'm very picky when it comes to scented items, in that I don't like most scented cleaners, candles, air fresheners, etc. While WetJet does have a scent I wish were a little toned down, it's better than the old stuff. I can live with it for the convenience of having floors that clean so well and dry in so short a time.

For anyone out there who is wondering why I can be so excited and so wordy about a simple floor cleaning instrument, you'll have to trust me that I don't impress easily. I've ignored the WetJet commercials for a long time because I don't believe most of what they say in any commercials! But, I've now experienced it first hand: the WetJet is much better than the mop. And this neat-freak who hated her neglected, dusty floors is thrilled to be able to clean up the dirt so easily, the many times a day it needs it around here. Hurrah!

Ft. Hood and the Future

You'll have a hard time convincing me that the attack at Ft. Hood was not jihad. This 'man-made disaster' was terrorism, plain and simple. It's upsetting to me, that the government and the media will sweep this fact under the rug. History will repeat itself, if it is not dealt with honestly.

But, I don't want to worry about all this. I could drive myself mad, worrying. Thankfully, my prayer for peace was answered this morning, when I found this quote:

"You are quite wrong to think of sorrows that the future may bring; it is, as it were, intermeddling with Divine Providence. We who run in the way of Love must never torment ourselves about anything. If I did not suffer minute by minute, it would be impossible for me to be patient; but I see only the present moment, I forget the past and I take good care not to anticipate the future. If we grow disheartened, if sometimes we despair, it is because we have been dwelling on the past or the future."

That's from St. Therese's "Story of a Soul."

This doesn't mean I bury my head in the sand, with regards to current events. No. Rather, I take comfort when recognizing that I can only do so much to change the world around me. I have no control over what happens to the fate of the world. So, as my blog is in my corner of the world, I hereby proclaim to all that I want to "run in the way of Love" and I don't want to torment myself about people who hate, the clueless media who doesn't get it, and clueless government officials. Because I also remember what St. Padre Pio said, "Pray, hope and don't worry."

Health Care Reform - Act NOW!

Just a reminder, in case you haven't yet contacted your elected officials about pending legislation in health care reform. Speak up now. Even if our tax dollars end up funding abortion and doctors end up being penalized for refusing abortions, you will know that you were not silent!

Here's how:

1) Our bishops have provided links, so you can send an already-written-for-you e-mail to Congress.

2) Find the contact information for your senator and ask him/her to support an amendment to incorporate longstanding policies against federally funded abortion AND in favor of conscience protection for all health care professionals.

3) Get the contact information for your representative and ask him/her to support the Stupak Amendment that addressed essential pro-lief concerns regarding abortion funding and conscience rights.

Go to it!

More on the financial front . . .

. . . comes from something I just found online.

Ex-New York City Police Chief Bernard Kerik Pleads Guilty to Lying to White House

Kerik, who was police commissioner when New York was attacked on 9/11, won glowing reviews for his leadership. He eventually was nominated for the Homeland Security post in 2004 but withdrew as corruption allegations mounted.

. . . .

Before he began formally entering his pleas, Kerik told Judge Stephen Robinson that, in addition to the White House lies, he would admit to counts that included cheating the IRS, helping to prepare false tax returns and making other false statements to the federal government.

You see, this happened because he was nominated for the post in 2004. 2004. Presidential appointees were held to standards during that year, it seems. Not so much anymore. It's almost funny, given how many Obama appointees have neglected their taxes.

Banking in our Brave New World

Because of advice from Clark Howard I heard on the radio, I began the habit of using my credit cards twice a year, once around my birthday and once around Christmas. He said that this is a good way to boost one's credit score. You use the cards twice a year and pay them right off. My score is fairly decent, but I was hoping we could re-finance the house with a different lender because I do NOT like our current lender, so I wanted the score to be even higher.

Well, apparently, this counts for nothing now that Obama has changed the way banks must do business. I received this letter in the mail on Saturday from Chase:

"In reviewing your account, we noticed that your account has been inactive for an extended period of time. We believe that this may indicate that the account no longer meets your financial needs. With this in mind, the account has been closed."

Huh? It has not been inactive for an extended period of time. The stupid account hasn't carried a balance in an extended amount of time. It's not that the account isn't meeting my financial needs. It is! It was there in case a natural disaster struck and we needed to live in a hotel for a long time because our city caught on fire -- or some such emergency. It was there to help keep a good credit rating. Nope. It's more that my account doesn't meet Chase bank's needs!

I can't really blame them, as I suppose the reason they got into the credit card business was to make money off of accounts that carry a balance. But, what if you don't want to carry a balance? One establishes a credit rating by having various accounts and keeping them in good order. Apparently, this isn't how it works anymore. Why? Go type "obama credit cards" into any search engine, you'll see why it's changed.

Oh, I know. I'm not going to present my credit score to God at the end of my life. Well, I don't think -- except that if one has been immoral with money, God will hold you accountable at the End. But, generally speaking, a credit rating is a silly man made thing that doesn't mean anything Eternal. Still, it's helpful to have a good credit rating when buying cars or refinancing with a lender who doesn't annoy you. At least it used to be that way. Maybe the new system will be different. If we aren't meant to pay our way anymore, own our own homes, drive cars, live as family units, all because the almighty federal government is going to wrap us in cotton blankets, put a pacifier in our mouth, and take care of everything, then I guess we don't need a good credit rating anymore.

Am I sounding overly truculent?

I haven't yet destroyed the card, as the bank instructed me to do. I just don't feel like giving in so easily. I feel that something must be done, in addition to complaining here. Alas, I don't think there's anywhere to find a pair of sympathetic ears! And, alas, I don't think I have a choice in the whole affair.

Not as the world gives peace . . .

. . . do I give it to you.
John 14:27

I turned on the news this morning, to find out about how the moon thing went. They weren't talking about the moon. They were talking about President Obama winning a Nobel Peace Prize! I thought the world had turned upside-down overnight. Let's forget for a moment that his rabidly pro-abortion agenda should disqualify him for any honor with the word "peace" in it. For the life of me, I cannot figure out what the man has done to earn this distinction. Did he broker an end to war and strife anywhere in the world? Has he performed some huge humanitarian act that didn't make it into the news headlines? In my mind, "Nobel" no longer holds any weight; it's a joke.

We headed out to morning Mass and I was still feeling quite mad. As I prayed before Mass started, I asked God to help me understand the backwards ways of the world. So many people I've personally met who contribute to world peace, yet will never get an ounce of recognition. And this guy gets it? I couldn't help but wonder if George Soros is behind this somehow, making big donations to someone so that his guy can get a prize.

And then something happened during my prayer. God turned it around and made me look at myself. Awards, honors, and prizes can be good things. But we don't perform good works to please people of the world. The prime motivation for any act must be for the love of God. This is such an obvious statement, I know. But it must be admitted that, too often, I do good works for my own glory.

I am very inspired by St. Therese's Little Way, and I try so much to live up to her path to heaven. Small, secret acts of mortification, given up to God. Life presents us with little opportunities from one end of the day to the other. This philosophy is very much a part of who I want to be. It resonates with me so much that I'm certain this is how God is calling me to heaven.

Nevertheless, I've got to admit that, all too often, I do wish for a pat on the back. I want someone to recognize that I've shut my mouth when I could have argued. I want someone to notice that I've picked up a mess they left behind. And, when no one notices, I allow myself to feel superior to them because I was able to hold my tongue when they weren't. Wrong, wrong, wrong. I have to learn to perform my good acts because I want to offer them to Jesus. That's all! I see how this gets better, the longer I live life; but I've got a long, long, long way to go before I'm going to be anywhere close to where St. Therese was when she was quite a bit younger than I am now!

This is what God led me to understand this morning. It's fine to feel frustrated when the ways of the world are rewarded and the higher road goes unnoticed. I'm only human. But if the good deeds go unnoticed by the world, they are not unnoticed by the Father who sees all. He is the final arbiter of justice. Not only that, I need to take a look at myself to make sure that my actions will be acceptable in the Final Judgement, not the judgement of the world.

So, getting back to John 14. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid."

Guess what? I earned a peace prize today. I was given the peace of Jesus, as I understand it. To me, His peace is the inner tranquility to put one's trust in God, regardless of what is going on in the world. And that's what happened to me. It's what will carry me through, each time I hear a story about the latest Peace Prize winner. I thank Him mightily for this consolation. It might seem trivial to those who already have this message in their hearts, but it means the world to me, who didn't! God is good. Deo gratias!

Note to Hollywood: You are CLUELESS!

Hollywood: Your moral compass needs a serious readjustment. I don’t know why we throw so much money your way. I don’t know why anyone listens to your political views, your climate change views, or your views about what foods we should eat. Really.

Imagine two scenarios, just to illustrate how blind and biased they are.

Scenario #1:

Roman Polanski has died. Suddenly, people he has abused come out of the woodwork. Even though he’s no longer alive to face his accusers or defend himself, the victims form a “survivors’ network” and rally legal help to sue Polanski’s movie studios for large sums of money. After all, they knew the abuse was going on, but didn’t deal with it and simply shuffled Polanski amongst various studios, rather than deal with the problem. The studios have to shell out big money, many go bankrupt. They can no longer afford mega-million contracts with all the over-hyped tabloid stars. Brangelina have to sell one of their houses. Would Hollywood be okay with this? What do you think?

Scenario #2:

Roman Polanski isn’t a Hollywood movie maker. He’s really a Halliburton executive who once worked for Enron. After confessing to the drugging and raping of a 13-year-old, he uses all his Halliburton capitalist pig money to flee to France, where he lives out his days. A prestigious business college wants to offer him an honorary degree and have him as a keynote speaker at their graduation ceremony. Alas, he cannot attend because he will be arrested if he returns to this country. Other Captains of Industry plead for leniency. After all, it wasn’t easy living in France all those years, and he suffered for it! Imagine the taxes he had to pay, living in a socialist country; if he’d been in the US, he’d have had a lot more money than he has had, living in a villa in the south of France! Would Hollywood be okay with this?

No, the truth is that child rape would not be excused if the guilty party happened to be a priest or a wealthy businessman. But, because it's one of them, all should be forgotten. Ancient history. Water under the bridge. Their selective outrage is maddening!!!

Longer school year?

I try to avoid being overly negative about the public school systems of the nation. I don't homeschool because I hate the schools. I homeschool because I truly enjoy teaching my children and I enjoy the time we spend together.

But I'm going to have to express my dismay at the way things are done after reading articles like this:

Extended School Year Would Have Dire Economic Effects, Critics Say

Obama says kids in the U.S. spend too little time in the classroom, putting them at a disadvantage when competing with students in other countries. The president has suggested that making school days longer and extending the school year will increase learning, raise test scores and close the achievement gap.

Sorry, Mr. President. But, no. The problem with schools today is not the length of the school day or the school year. You could take every child in America and stick them in a school-style gulag and they still would not perform as well as those children we keep hearing about in other countries. Whoever they are and whatever they are doing that is better.

America was built and became great when most learning did not happen in the formal setting we know today. The more politicians on both sides of the aisle push for standardized curricula, standardized testing, heftier qualifications for teachers, the more the schools fail! If anyone wants statistics, you'll find them aplenty in any of John Taylor Gatto's books. I've only enjoyed his books from the library; I'm going to have to own them, so that I'll have the stats at my fingertips. All this doesn't make sense anyway, given that homeschoolers do so remarkably well on standardized tests. In a sense, we accomplish EDUCATION all year long. But we don't do SCHOOLING all year.

No. It must be something else.

The problem, Mr. President, is the breakdown of the family. And no one explains this as well as GK Chesterton. Yes, I think Chesterton might do a better job than even Pope JPII at detailing the breakdown of the family, simply because he doesn't have to be tactful about it. Before the widespread of social programs courtesy of FDR, JFK, LBJ or BHO, Chesterton wrote about liberal programs that try to replace the family with governmental entities. He also writes endlessly about the capitalistic notions of getting mother and father in the workplace while the kids are raised by daycare "professionals". Things are not going to get better in America until the sanctity of the family is restored. And as family is now being sliced, diced and re-defined, I don't know what that means for the future.

No. Longer hours in school will accomplish nothing other than making family members more alien to each other. Extended School Year Would Have Dire Economic Effects? Maybe. Certainly, an extended school year will have dire societal effects!