Because I Didn't Look Dorky Enough

I have needed a haircut for months. The last haircut I got was b-a-d, but I didn't have the time or money to get it fixed so I just let my hair keep growing and growing and growing. My husband wants me to keep my hair longer, even though I look bad with long hair. Go figure. So I have been searching and searching and searching for a long-ish haircut that I thought might work for me and I finally found one. I had high hopes. It looked so cute on the girl in the picture.

Somehow I ended up looking like this. Except not as cute.

I may think I love you, but I know I definitely hate the haircut.

Dreamers

Poll finds men want Alba as Girlfriend. All I can say is, good luck, guys. You're going to need it.

Random Thoughts

I could be wrong, but I think this whole situation is going to get a lot worse before it gets better.

If you have been following the whole Joel Stein debacle, read this. Ouch. Also this (HT: Carol Platt Liebau).

This man was our president for eight years. What were we thinking?

This article gives me hope. Just say no to Hillary.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Today is my Dad's birthday. He would have been 64. But instead of celebrating with him, all I can do is celebrate having had him in my life for as long as I did. It truly is a miracle my Dad made it to 58, so I shouldn't be greedy and wish that he had made it even longer. But I am greedy and I do wish it.

My Dad is one of my heroes. He was imperfect, but so good. And he loved his God, his wife and his children and grandchildren with everything he had in him. If all men were like my Dad, the world would be a much better place. And he would agree wholeheartedly with me that if all women were like my Mom, we would have heaven here on earth. I am so grateful for my parents. Look at them. Aren't they adorable?

The Force is with Me

I have needed to do laundry for about a week. I have nothing comfortable I can change into when I come home from work. So lately I have been wearing my husband's jeans and they're not baggy on me -- not really. I even wore them to a Pampered Chef party last night. Now whereas most husbands would be a little horrified to find that their wives fit into their pants, my husband finds it sexy when I wear his jeans.

I think I have the force. I am pretty sure I used a Jedi mind trick on my husband so he thinks I look like this instead of like this.

I have a confession to make

I am terrible at making friends. The reasons for this are numerous, but it basically boils down to the fact that I am a terribly insecure person. When I tell people it's hard for me to make friends and talk to people I don't know, they usually don't believe me. But people who have known me long enough to see me sit in a corner in a room full of people on numerous occasions know that this is true. The problem is much worse in situations where I feel like friend-making is expected. So basically, every Sunday at church is an exercise in trying to overcome my fear of being humiliated and rejected -- an exercise at which I am constantly failing.

Which is why tonight was such a refreshing and rewarding experience. I actually feel like I took a step toward making a friend tonight. I moved here over a year ago and I have not made one single friend. And despite having a great husband who always listens to me and makes time to hang out with me, I have felt lonely and isolated. Women need other women to talk to and relate to. Back in good old Arizona, I had friends, my mom, and my sisters to fulfill that need. Here I just haven't found anyone who I have felt that friend connection with. There are many great and nice people who I chat with from time to time, but there has not been that person who feels . . . like you just fit with them. I don't know, that sounds too romantic and that's not what I mean, but do you get what I am saying? The kind of friend Anne Shirley would call a bosom friend, a kindred spirit.

I went to a Pampered Chef party tonight, which was just not something I wanted to do. I hate leaving again after I come home from work, partly because I am tired, partly because I am missing out on time with my husband and kids again. I really, really didn't want to go tonight because I had a rotten day at work. Some stupid assemblyman who thinks being an elected state official means everyone should treat him like a god got all cranky with me on the phone. My computer was freaking out. My husband did a really dumb thing that made me absolutely furious. I just wanted to come home, put on some pajamas and veg out. But my mother-in-law wanted me to go with her and I told her I would. Plus the food at Pampered Chef parties is usually pretty darn good. So I went.

I sat by a girl I go to church with (who is probably not technically young enough to be considered a girl, but my grandma calls her 80-year old friends girls and I will most likely do the same when I am her age) who I have secretly admired for many months and have wanted to get to know. But being me, I had no idea how to get to know her and was paralyzed by fear every time I thought about starting a conversation with her. About halfway through the evening we somehow just started talking to each other. Turns out she's a blogger and a fledgling (yet clearly talented) web designer and that we actually have some things in common. I had a great time talking with her and her sister. I hope this means that I am on my way to making a friend.

Then again, she may think I am the world's biggest dork (and my only reply to that would be, "guilty as charged") or she may not think anything of it at all. (And hopefully she isn't reading this post thinking I am a complete lunatic.) I may return to my paralytic state the next time I see her. Or worse I may try too hard and act like a total goon. But just for now, I am going to try not to talk myself out of being optimistic. I hope we will be friends. And for now, that hope is enough.

Good Reads

I have read several good articles lately but don't have time to write about them all here. Instead, I am providing links to them in hopes you will read them yourself. Enjoy.

What would Susan B. Anthony think of all this?

New HofR Leadership

Cost of the Iraq War

Boys in Crisis I

Boys in Crisis II

Information about the NSA "scandal" you won't get from the MSM

Greatest Love Story of All Time

One of my favorite people posed a question today to her family and friends that I think is worth answering here: What is the greatest love story of all time?

I am going to change the question a little bit, however to what is my favorite fictional love story of all time. That seems much easier and less dangerous to answer. For me, the answer undoubtedly is the love story of Elizabeth Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy in Pride and Prejudice.

Elizabeth and Darcy are highly principled, moral people before they meet, but are also mutually improved throughout the book due to their association with one another. Their relationship and interactions force them both to take a more careful look at their character and behavior and to correct some of their flaws. At the same time, they both learn to turn a blind eye to the other one’s shortcomings, which is surely a key ingredient to enduring love. Darcy also sacrifices his own comfort, pride and material possessions in order to save Elizabeth from disgrace, without any intention of letting her know that it was he who had done so. His act was completely selfless, done solely for Elizabeth’s benefit. The icing on the cake is that the book is one of the most joyfully fun reads in the English language.

So what do you think is the greatest love story of all time?

Planned Parenthood's Racist Roots

If you need another reason to be pro-life, read this.

More on Love in Hollywood

I have a big problem with Brokeback Mountain -- and it's not the issue that everyone else focuses on when discussing this movie (although that is a problem for me as well). My big problem with Brokeback Mountain is that it excuses adultery.

As a disclaimer, I have to say here that I have not seen this movie. Nor is there a snowball's chance of me ever seeing it. But I have read quite a bit about it and heard it talked about on TV and seen preview after preview of it. And in everything I have seen or heard about it, people talk about how it's a great love story. In fact, one reviewer called it, "one of the greatest love stories in film history."

Of course. Certainly. I mean, all great love begins and ends with selfishness, right? And there are few things in this world more selfish than committing adultery.

I have advice for people who want to commit adultery -- if the person you are with is a kind, decent, caring human being who is worthy of respect and admiration (which I hope they are since you married them in the first place) then get over yourself and start figuring out how to love that person enough that the last thing on earth you would ever want to do is to hurt them, thus preventing your descent into this immoral choice. If you absolutely cannot be faithful to your spouse, then give them the courtesy of respecting them enough to divorce them before you start another relationship.

Adultery is inexcusable. No ifs, ands or buts. If you or anyone you love has committed adultery (or has been the "other man or woman") and you feel it is excusable and you are offended or think I am an idiot, too bad. I have seen the effects of adultery first hand and I am not fooled by the justifications people give for engaging in such damaging behavior. It hurts not just the adulterer's family but also the adulterer him- or herself and whoever they are involved with.

So when Hollywood makes these movies where I am supposed to sympathize or excuse such a deplorable act, I get a little angry. When they promote such movies to be wonderful moving love stories, I get even angrier. True love is when two people who have committed themselves to each other forsake all others and give selflessly of themselves to make the other's life better. True love makes people better, it does not drive them to commit sin and to betray those to whom they should be most loyal. True love elevates both the one who loves and the one who is loved.

Of course, Brokeback Mountain is just one in another string of Hollywood pictures which try to provide justifications for what is certainly a destructive force in people's lives. After years of brainwashing people with good writing, attractive stars, and pretty camera work, it's hardly surprising when no one notices that no matter how "nice" someone is, what they are doing is not nice at all. No, not surprising, but a rather disturbing commentary on the state of this world we live in.

Opinionated? Who? Me?

Last week, a woman I work with was talking about a segment she heard on the radio show she was listening to on her drive in from work where the DJs were discussing 5 blockbuster movies they didn't like. She expressed her astonishment that one of them was Titanic. "How can anyone not like that movie?" she asked.

Now, one of the things I have learned to do as I have gotten older is to keep my mouth shut when dictated by the situation. However, there are times I fail to correctly assess the situation. That's when you find me saying things like this:

"I don't like that movie."

And when a stunned individual then says to me, "Why not?", I say:

"I don't like the love story between Jack and Rose. It's stupid."

I then would perhaps go on to talk about how I hate the way Hollywood presents love, that I think it's ridiculous to believe that this guy who she knew for a few days is who she will spend an eternity with (apparently among strangers who died in the tragedy that took his young life) rather than, say, her husband and family. I mean, Rose has a granddaughter in the movie. I assume this means she had a husband at some point and she has children as well. But the movie ends with her death and her then returning to a doomed ocean liner to kick up her heels with a guy who taught her to spit. Okay. Whatever. (Also I might throw in something about how it was a little uncomfortable sitting next to my brother in the theater when the third major star of Titanic -- Kate Winslet's breasts -- made their appearance.)

Then someone might say, "But people don't want reality. They don't want to see people picking out cat litter together."

Then I might reply that I am not suggesting that movies have to be realistic. I have no problem with movies that are unrealistic, that my problem is with movies that promote ideas and values that I think are destructive.

Then everyone might get very quiet and look a little shocked by what I just said. Things might feel a little tense. So I might try to lighten the mood a little by saying with a laugh,

"Not that I am opinionated or anything."

And when someone says, "But he was the love of her life," I may just hold my tongue instead of saying, "Precisely my point," no matter how much it pains me to do so.

Comments about comments

Just a quick note about the comments section on my blog. It's set up so that comments will not appear until I approve them. This is not intended to stifle a healthy dialogue, but rather to prevent non-G-rated words from cropping up here. This may seem a little old-fashioned of me, but I think that is a good thing. At any rate, it may take me a while to get around to moderating the comments from time to time and I just wanted everyone to be aware of that.

How Stupid Do You Think I Am?

About once a week for the last 4 years, I have received an e-mail promising me millions of dollars from a bank in (insert name of African or Middle Eastern country here) -- money which I am receiving for doing tasks ranging from nothing to stealthily transferring the even greater number of millions currently in danger of being stolen away from some poor ex-leader who was recently overthrown by the latest in a seemingly never-ending string of coups. This kind sir/ma'am will get his/her money as soon as he/she sends on his/her social security number, bank account number (to transfer the money of course!), e-mail passwords, names of his/her last four girl- or boyfriends, college grades and the location of the lost city of Atlantis.

I am pretty sure my six year old wouldn't fall for this idiotic scheme, but I fear someone somewhere must be having success with these transparently fraudulent communications because I just keep getting them. I just delete these messages and move on, but sometimes I am tempted to reply to these people with a one sentence e-mail:

How stupid do you think I am?

Which is pretty much the same e-mail I want to write to the creative geniuses bringing us the oh so realistic Book of Daniel, who apparently are counting on the American public to be stupid enough to believe that this fictional priest's life is representative of the lives of Christian clergymen. Let's face it -- everyone's family is a mess in some way, no matter how small, but I have never met anyone whose family is as screwed up as this guy's is. I could rant and rave about the ridiculously obvious agenda driving this TV show, but I think you would be better served by reading Carol Platt Liebau's take on it.

After you've read her article, I would like you to answer these questions for me: Can you imagine the Savior of the world talking the way they have Him talking in this show? Can you imagine pouring your heart out to Him and then having Him respond to you by mocking you and trivializing the issues which weigh most heavily on you? Can you imagine the sadness Christ must feel as He sees the people for whom He suffered trying to use Him to justify their own weaknesses rather than turning to Him for help to overcome them?

The people involved in this sorry excuse for entertainment may be able to fool themselves that they are just being so cool by pushing the envelope and stirring up controversy, but I, for one, am not that stupid.

Exactly What I Was Thinking

Great post over at Memo To: regarding the Governator's State of the State address the other day (HT: Hugh Hewitt).

My husband was a transplanted Californian going to school in Arizona when the recall of Gov. Davis took place. We watched the coverage of the election in his apartment (we weren't married then) and Josh just about burst with happiness when Davis was booted and Schwarzenegger was elected. Two years and some odd months later, the excitement has been replaced by bitter disappointment. Things will change here in the Golden State, but I fear they will just keep changing for the worse.

Defending Child Raising as a Legitimate "Career" Choice

My husband is attempting to get a career going as a freelance artist but spends most of his time being a Dad to our two kids. I currently am in a better position to have a stable, good-paying job with excellent benefits than my husband is. Therefore I work and he takes care of everything else (and anyone who has ever stayed home knows "everything else" is a lot). I recently spent some time defending this choice to my ex-husband and am constantly feeling like people look down on my husband and I for the way our family runs. It's extremely frustrating.

Apparently, we are not alone. The question I have is -- why should anyone have to defend wanting to be at home with their kids? Especially when the alternative is sticking them in daycare where it is not at all likely they will receive the love and attention they deserve? Full-time child rearing is sneered at in our society, whether it is a man or a woman doing it. Considering that there is no more important job anyone will ever have than being a mom or a dad, I find this attitude disturbing.

Birthday Thoughts

I was talking to a friend at work today about my impending doom . . . I mean, 30th birthday. He informed that 30 is no big deal. The real freak out age -- the one where you say, "Omigosh, what have I got to show for my years on this earth. I am going to keel over dead some day, in fact, it could be any day now. I better get on the ball and write that great American novel everyone is always talking about or paint that masterpiece that will hang next to the Mona Lisa or at the very least learn how to balance my checkbook" -- that age is 31.

Today is my husband's 31st birthday. Happy Birthday, Sweetie!

Welcome to Slightly Peeved Conservative Mom

My first post. I guess this is a test to see if I am intelligent enough to figure out how this posting thing works.

So welcome to my blog. I'll try to post something of interest soon. BTW, if this blog stinks and is a total waste of your time and internet space, blame my husband. He's been trying to convince me to start my own blog pretty much since the day we got married. I suspect he thinks that if I get obsessed with blogging, he will be free to spend as much time playing his X-Box as he wants without me nagging him about it all the time.