Month: June 2009

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On Healthcare Reform

Why doesn’t everyone have health insurance? Shouldn’t we make a law like the one that requires car owners to carry car insurance? Seems simple enough right? I have health insurance therefore everyone must have it. Those 50 million people without it are just bums unwilling to pay their premiums or welfare abusers who won’t get a job right?

If only it were that simple. Take Jen for instance. She has a job with an employer who offers health coverage. That employer happens to be a hospital but Jen is still uninsured. Why? Because pre-existing conditions cause her to be uninsurable (possibly NSFW). That’s criminal.

Please get involved! Talk to your representatives. Look at options such as Standing with Dr. Dean. (I’ll update here with other options as they appear in comments below or I find them)

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Can you donate some antlers?

The Center for Peace is in need of some new antlers for their sweat lodges. The Center for Peace is located in Seymour, TN and people travel from all over to visit.

We offer many opportunities, such as: Visionary Dances; Sweat Lodges; Fire Ceremonies; chanting/drumming gatherings; young people’s ceremonies and activities; Core Shamanism; Huna Shamanism; Vision Quests; teachings on drumming and working with fire; workshops on various topics such as numerology, fire walking, Druidic traditions, sound healing and chanting, shamanic studies, and many more; initiation ceremonies; supporting ceremonies in the local, regional, and international communities; and a safe, family-like environment to grow in. [Source, CenterforPeace.us]

If you have a set of antlers that could be used to say pick up a football and move it and are willing to donate them, they would be very useful to the Center for Peace.

I personally have attended several sweat lodges at the Center for Peace. Mostly recognized as a Native American tradition, non-Indian sweat lodges can be found in the fifth century BC. My personal experience has been that a sweat lodge is a ritual of spiritual cleansing not limited to a particular belief system or religion. The attendees has always been a diverse crowd religiously as well as professionally. I have met artisans, lawyers, philosophers, educators, land developers, environmental activists and others at the sweats. I believe the Center for Peace is yet another East TN treasure that few may know about. If you are so inclined, I highly encourage you to experience an activity at the Center for Peace.

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Oh no! No energy!

I’ve been neglecting my family and household duties in the name of work. Household repairs such as rehanging Sarah’s shelf that Evan pulled down upon himself have been left ignored. Yesterday I made great progress on cleaning up the driveway and cleaning up the garage. Today I am going to work on Sarah’s room. But alas! My Ryobi cordless power tool 18v batteries won’t charge! Today may be all about dissecting battery packs, testing cells, and combining two battery packs into one. Wait a minute. What are these tools with cords hanging out of the handles? They look like they just might plug into extension cords and wall outlets!

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Go green! Give your old iPhone to someone.

All the cool kids are upgrading to the newest iPhone. I remember the day I purchased my gold Motorola RAZR v3xx. Ah! I was ahead of the game with the newest and slickest cellphone on the block. That’s the phone I’m still using. So as you excitedly unbox that new iPhone and relegate your old iPhone to the back of your desk drawer, think about how your e-waste could help free someone from the confines of WAP and instead help them join the hordes enslaved to JOBs. Give me your old iPhone! I mean, find someone in need of an upgrade and let your e-waste become e-useful.

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The kids are off to steal the nuke codes

The grandparents have taken 4 of the 5 children off to Oak Ridge for The Secret City Festival. (The socialite teenage girl has plans) Did you know you have to take proof of citizenship if you want to tour the plant? That means a photo id and a birth certificate or passport or something comparable. I’ve wanted to see The Secret City Festival since I heard about it but frankly my body and mind are still decompressing after being so tightly strung for the past several weeks. I’m more relaxed but literally still shaky like a tuning fork is playing in my head. I’m taking this day away from the computer and doing some things for myself that I’ve been neglecting. I have an important project in the batting box and I need to clear my mind so I can start fresh and strong tomorrow or Monday.

I find Oak Ridge’s history beyond fascinating. I love it when people tell their stories. I’ve only been to the Museum of Science and Energy (once) professionally so I have yet to see the exhibits. I’ve never seen the children’s museum (the kids go with the grandparents). I’m vowing to attend next year’s Secret City Festival!

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Great siblings

I love watching my children play together. Evan loves his brother and Noah is so patient with him. This morning as Noah practiced his drumming, Evan crawled into his lap and Noah relinquished the drum sticks. He has great patience. Now Amy and Evan play with Play Mobile in the living room. (Granted, they have a time limit before their play devolves into fussing) I really enjoy these guys.

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My Wife: Guest Blogger/Bad Parent

My wife is a guest blogger at Scholastic Parents and a bad parent. Share your thoughts with her.

Read all her Scholastic Parents guest posts. Jump in and feel free to comment on each topic.