V-O-T-E

Today is election day and I cast my ballot. I didn't vote FOR anyone, but in the races that I voted in, I voted AGAINST certain candidates. Utah politics are quirky and my views don't really fit in anywhere. I'm not an extremist... that's the problem! I don't believe the government is inherently evil, that the world is going to end in 26 days, or that scare tactics should be used in politcal campaigns. I don't believe that the "R" next to a candidate's name means "righteous" or that the "D" stands for "damned". I also have never voted a straight party ticket because I don't believe in the party system because both major parties have sold themselves to every special interest group out there so neither party really stands for anything at all. But I still exercised my right to vote.

Miles and I walked to our polling place... the junior high. We walked in and were greeted by a very perky older gentleman who first wanted to show me where to stand in line and then tell me all about his grandsons. Next, I showed my photo ID (new thing in Utah... showing ID to vote!) to a sweet grandma-type lady who signed me into her book and told her next-door-neighbor-chairmate my name. That lady wasn't listening at all, but the "debit card" voting machine lady was. She had my card ready in a flash, but I couldn't take it because lady #3 hadn't done her job and still hadn't heard my name. Finally she tried to find my name... in the "M" section. I told her that Belnap started with "B" and she wouldn't find me in the "M" names. She started leafing through her tabs... L, K, J, I, H... until she finally came to "B". Then she asked me what letter came next... I told her "E, Be". So she starts running her finger down the page of "Ba" last names. Page by page she ran her finger down her ledger until she finally came to the "Be" names. "What the next letter?" she asked. At that point I wanted to scream "Let me find my own name!!!", but I didn't and I patiently replied "L; Bel". Finger scroll again until she tells me that I'm not in the book because I'm not listed with the "Bells". Deep breath. I help her find my name and I signed my name in her book.

I got my voting card and went over to the touch screens. I love touch screen voting. A few seconds later I'd picked my candidates, voted on the Utah amendments, and ignored the judges sections (except for the one who signed Aly's divorce papers... he got a YES from me). Then I printed my ballot, cast my ballot, returned the voting card and got my sticker!

So while I do not expect anyone I voted for to win (except the judge should retain his seat), I voiced my opinion. Mr. Sandstrom... do you really think that every person who is not a minor should be able to carry a concealed weapon without a permit? Mr. Lee, do you really think that I am not smart enough to vote for U.S. Senators... you want to change the US Constitution to take that right away from me, but you first need my vote to send you to D.C.... sorry, you didn't get it. Mr. Chaffetz, your 15 minutes of fame has been up in my book for a real long time. Mr. Herbert, are you a crook, or just really, really dumb... or do you think I'm the dumb one? Mr. Corroon, I really did not like the style of campaign you ran. You should have allowed Mr. Herbert to implode himself. Mr. Granto, Mr. Baugh, and Ms. Hyer, just because you are the other major party's candidate does not mean you earned my vote either. To earn my vote, you must go out and act like a candidate. Good luck to all who are elected tonight; but try to remember those who gave you your office.

Halloween Revisited

More tidbits about Halloween that I omitted last night...

First, it was raining, no- POURING! during the initial prime Trick-or-Treating hour. Nolan wore a rain slicker to try to stay dry. His shoes were soaked through by the night's end (and probably within 100 yards of the house).

Second- the low point of the night was our LAST group of beggars... I mean Trick-or-Treaters. It was a group of 3... a young (6? 7? year old) girl with 2 adult females with her. Knock, knock, knock; Dan opens door; "Trick-or-Treat"; Dan starts giving the girl candy; woman #1 (who speaks English as a Second language) shouts out "No! Chocolate!!!" and reaches into bowl and grabs what she wants; little girl is taking what she wants by the handful; woman #2 holds up her pumpkin to make sure Dan know she needs candy too. Now, by "women" I mean "Grown-ups"... middle aged mother/aunt/friend out Trick-or-Treating with young trick-or-treating age appropriate child, then rejecting what is offered and demanding and taking what they want. RUDE!!!

Third- The Costume that Made ME Laugh the Hardest!!! We had a lot of teenagers this year, probably because the weather didn't bother them! Most wore some type of costume. Some actually said "Trick-or-Treat", and a few even said "Thank You". One group of teenagers came to the door... I was on the phone at the time and I told the person I was talking to that at my door there was a skeleton, a Green Bay Packers Fan and a kid wearing a white garbage sack. I handed the kids the candy; they started to walk away, and Mr. White Garbage Bag turned around and in a very quiet voice told me "I'm White Trash". I started laughing so hard! He won simplest, but funniest costume of the night!

Halloween 2010

Halloween 2010 is in the history book! Nolan went through a crisis identity trying to decide what he was going to be for Halloween. First he was going to be a gorilla, then a "crypt creature" then an Indian, then a sultan, then a pirate, then back to the Indian (which he did end up being for Trunk-or-Treating), then a "hobo" (for group piano lessons), then a "child eating shark" (which he wore for school), then back to the "hobo" for Trick-or-Treating. He went Trick-or-Treating with 3 of his friends, got 5 full sized candy bars, then spent an hour scaring kids at the "haunted garage" down the street. He said it was the "best night EVER".

Jonathan went with his marching band friends to the cornmaze on Friday. Last night he hung out over at his friend's (Ethan's) house watching "Ernest Scared Stupid".

Miles thinks costumes are lame and that the only thing redeeming about Halloween is candy. I thought he'd be a Howler Monkey for Trunk-or-Treating, but he refused to wear his monkey costume. Yesterday before the trick-or-treaters started coming, I noticed the bowl of candy was missing. So was Miles. Here is what I found. Last night we actually got Miles into a costume. He would wear his buddy's (Kimball's) monkey costume. He hated the headpiece, but really loved the tail! Miles went Trick-or-Treating to 4 houses then went to see his local grandparents. He got a lollipop at the first neighbor he visited and was happy with that!

Happy Halloween! Now bring on Thanksgiving!

My Mean Side

Like (almost) everyone else in the world, I get irritated by things people do. If I'm really, really bugged by something someone did/does, I compose a lovely little note to that person in my head. That way, I feel I have addressed my issue with whatever my problem is with that person, but it's in a way that offends no one and I feel better. For example, the other day I saw a lady helping her child with a Halloween costume. The child, although very little of stature, was old enough to not need mommy to help dress him... the boy has got to be around Nolan's age! The costume was a super hero suit and it was maybe a size 6. It was skin-tight-perma-wedgie fit on this boy. I could not believe that a mother would allow her son out in public in such a revealing outfit. In my mind I thought,

"Dear Clueless Mother, Did you look at how that costume fits your child? Would you ever walk out in public with something that clingy/Saran wrapped on your body in public? Do you not realize that that costume leave no doubt in any observer's mind that your child is indeed a male? Also, dear Clueless Mother, why are you still dressing your 'Tween? Let him grow up and make some of his own choices. They may be better than the choices you make for him. Sincerely, Me"

Or another mental letter...

"Dear Rude Lady, I'm sorry that my screaming child annoys you. Guess what? The screaming annoys me too. However, unlike you, I realize that my child's naughtiness is less than charming and I choose to deal with the breech of etiquette as it is occurring while you seem to think that we find your child's naughtiness adorable. She who is without fault may cast the first stone. Sincerely, Me"

Does this form of passive/aggressive behavior really solve anything? No, but it helps me to move on. Ideally. Maybe. Sometimes.

Masterpiece

Miles still loves markers. We've had to move them to a new location because he loves to get them out and release his creative energy. Yesterday he found two markers and I didn't know he had the markers. Check out his masterpiece.... Yes, those are my sheets! Thank goodness he didn't find a Sharpie!

Halloween Costumes

The child who changes his minds as to what he is going to be for Halloween on the morning of Halloween costume day at school should be severely punished... or at least have to scrub the kitchen floor...

Deals!

I haven't done a "real" grocery shopping for several weeks. Today I ran out and got some "must have" deals. Nolan will be thrilled with the 2 Hungry Man TV dinners that I "bought" him... they were free. I got 6 bottles of Gain dish soap for... free, okay, really they were -.03 cents each. But here's my awesome/surprise score of the day! I had 5 BOGO coupons for M&M/Snickers candy bars. They are on sale for .50 this week. I figured I'd go buy 10 candy bars and pay .25 each. I got to the register and the 20 oz Coke products were $1 and there was a sign that said "Save $1 when you buy 1 20 oz. Coke Product and 2 M&M/Mars candy bars". SWEET!!! I got 5-20 oz. bottles of Diet Coke and 10 candy bars for a total of $2.50! The only problem with this deal is that I don't drink soda, so I've got a treat for McKenzie, if she lets me come visit her this week!