An Extra Tidbit

I had another funny thing happen yesterday that I totaly forgot to mention on my blog.

Well, you know that I went over to the college to sign up for a class. While I was there I had to get a hold on my record removed. Something about a missing graduation date, but it was a mistake.

After I got that taken care of I had to talk to an advisor. She was so helpful and told me all about how to pick a class and later how to register. Before she got me registered though she asked me about payment and financial aid all that good stuff. This is how it went:

Advisor: If you choose to do financial aid you are going to have to give your parents' financial information.

Me: No, I shouldn't have to do that. I'm old enough to where I can be considered independant.

Sister-in-law: She has five kids

At this point the advisors eyes got as big as dinner plates, and her eyebrows shot up into her hairline.

Advisor: Really? There's no way you old enough to have that many kids.

Me: Well, yeah I'm 29.

Advisor: You look so much younger than that. That's a good thing!

At this point I was grinning from ear to ear. In order for a person to have to fill out their parents' info on a finacial aid form they have to be 22 or younger.
Did everyone hear that? I look 22 or younger! Even if I'm getting older I don't look like I am. Haha! This was probably the best compliment I have received in a while. *does another happy dance*


I'll end with some pictures of me from baby to now.

Baby me


kid me


teenaged me


me at 22


me now

Goals and Progress

Most of you might not know that I have been going through a rough time lately. I think everyone goes through stages where they feel dissatisfied with how their life is going. For, I think, about two years now I have wanted something more and haven't really had the energy to figure out why. That has all changed.

I'm going back to school! About 8 years ago I did take a class at the communtiy college, but I wasn't then working toward any specific goal. Now that I know what I want it's going to be a lot easier to stick with it. I'm going to plow through nearly every photography class I can get my hands on. How about that!

I thought I was going to have to wait until Saturday to get over to the college, but as good fortune would have it my beautiful sister-in-law called me up and asked me if I wanted to go this morning. My father-in-law agreed to watch my three boys while she took me over there. I registered for my class and took care of the rest of everything I needed. I have just one more thing I need to turn in. I'll be doing that on Saturday.

I'm so proud of my progress that I could do an Irish jig. That is if I actually knew how to do an Irish jig. *settles for the happy dance*

Pink!

Today I'm going to talk about the color pink and it's place in Tucson and probably the rest of the Southwest.

To many people the color pink is a perfectly acceptable color to paint a little girl's room. They will dress their little girls in it and it will be many of those little girls' favorite color for a long time. I know it was mine when I was little.

For those of us who grew up in a place other than the Southwestern US pink is NOT a color for buildings. No indeed, it is rare to see buildings of a light shade of pink and that building is an oddity. Here in Tucson and probably most of the Southwest pink is a perfectly acceptable color for a building. In fact, It's down right normal.

The following are a few photos I found on the Internet of some lovely pink buildings that are absolute landmarks here in Tucson.


The courthouse


The Benedictine sanctuary


Another view of the sanctuary


The multicolored building complex downtown (this color pink is actually not the norm)


And I would like to end with a picture I took of a pink flower on a plant that is found all over place here.

My Mother's Day

Yesterday was Mother's day and I was going to try and post. To be quite honest I was being lazy all day and I was happy to stay lazy all day. My husband didn't ask me to do anything around the house and I only got mad at him once. You'd know the accomplishment there if you spent 10 minutes in my house on any given day. Haha! Anyway, It was a good day.

Here is a little tidbit I came up with yesterday while thinking about motherhood.

To be a mother is not to have your heart divided. It is to have your heart multiplied and individualized for each one of your children. In that way, a mother is very much like God.

You hear that moms? You are like God. A concept I would love to have each and every mother own. It was not only man that was created in the image of God it was also woman.

Let's take a moment and consider the big bang and the Bible. Completely compatible in my opinion. God said, "Let there be light" and all of a sudden there was. Then God began the slow process of creation. Imagine that explosion and then slow creation. Sounds quite like the human creation process to me except a lot more cosmic. *cough cough* What if God is Father/Mother. Together and seperate at the same time. Something to think about.

Now that you've seen how my thought process works I think it only fair to share some photos to take your mind off how nuts I am.....

The kids when they were younger in order from oldest to youngest.

Isabella


Roxanne


Gabriel


Elijah


Noah


After all that I want to say how excited I am that I got another award! The Alliterative Allomorph http://thealliterativeallomorph.blogspot.com/ gave me the Beautiful blogger award. Thanks so much!




So now I'm passing it on to some other bloggers. Both put a smile on my face, truly.
Rayna Iyer From Coffee Rings Everywhere
http://coffeeringseverywhere.blogspot.com/

And Ruby from The Blabbin' Grammy
http://rubyndub.blogspot.com/

Sorry about the lack of links. I still haven't figured out how to do that in HTML mode and I have to use HTML mode to post pictures without a big amount of hassle.

Hate (again)

I Strongly dislike getting political on my blog, but today I have quite a good reason, and I hope people will read.

I responded to a comment made by a friend on Facebook today asking him to clarify what he meant by "Deport them All" It was in regards to the students who were reprimanded for wearing American flag tee-shirts on Cinco De Mayo. I made it clear that I thought this situation was absolutely ridiculous, and made my position clear. At least I thought so. I was not disrespectful and nor was he. His friends however were positively salivating like mad dogs. You'll see:


L______ Absolutely..... Deport them all and let the chips fall where they may...


Marjorie Napier Deport all of who? The kids at this school are Completely misguided in wanting the other kids suspended, and it is completely unacceptable what the staff at the school did. However the article did say these kids were Mexican-American. Is anyone suggesting that any child of an illegal immigrant be deported along with their parents? I'm sure some people think so, but I do not. Though my mother is an American citizen my father was not. I object to any legislation that may call into question my status as an American. It is a slippery slope I would rather not go on if it's all the same to anyone else.

I do not take issue with this next comment. I feel it is perfectly just to feel the way he does.


R____ This is absurd. We live in America and "should have freedom" of choice. The 200 kids that walked out in protest waving the Mexican flag are not facing suspension, for using the American right of protest, so why are these 5 kids facing ridicule for publicly showing their patriotism??

This person has every right to her opinion and every right to ask me in a civil discussion to clarify my position.


L_____ Why WOULDNT children of illegal immigrants be deported with their parents? The anchor baby law needs to go- the parents are ILLEGAL!!!!! If I do something ILLEGAL- I go to jail or suffer the consequences. This consequence is being deported. Parents take care of their own children- so why wouldn't they go WITH them? Who else is going to care for ... See Morethem??? How absurd! Legal -fine, stay here. Pay taxes. Be decent. ILLEGAL? Go home and come back LEGALLY or don't come back. Plain and simple. So what's the slippery slope here?????them??? How absurd! Legal -fine, stay here. Pay taxes. Be decent. ILLEGAL? Go home and come back LEGALLY or don't come back. Plain and simple. So what's the slippery slope here?????


L_____ Oh and uh- it's NOT all the same to me. No disrespect intended!

Really? No disrespect intended? Because that particular comment tastes strongly of sarcasm and disrespect.

Was I disrespectful in my reply despite this?


Marjorie Napier I take it you don't see the problem in taking citizenship status away from people. I do see the problem there. Which is why we disagree on this point. Under current law these kids ARE Americans. More than likely not all these children are children of illegal immigrants, and yet the phrase "deport them all" seems to suggest that they are.

I AM the child of an illegal immigrant. Should I be deported? Perhaps there are some who think so despite my own mother's citizenship status. There is the slippery slope that I was talking about. I am no less the patriot because of my father's immigration status. I am no less American.

Now we can create a myriad of laws to try and round up illegal immigrants or we can start shoving people in vans and carting them across the border. Either way injustices WILL ensue. Do you think for one moment that my very brown little children could not be mistaken for illegal "anchor babies?" I assure you that by looking at them you would not be able to tell if their parents were born in Mexico or not.

I do not pretend to have the answers. I only state what I know to be the truth as I see it. This is an issue that has people very divided. It's even more true here in the border states.

I meant to make a point after this next statement,(which I disagreed with on one point at least) but my comment was lost. That's when I saw the absolute hatred spewing that ensued and decided to comment on the hatred itself here.


K_____ We need to get rid of the anchor baby loop hole. The problem we have is lack of assimilation. We can not have 2 America's which is what we have. Either you are an American citizen or you are a Mexican citizen. You can not stand in an American school in an American city paid for by my tax dollars wave a Mexican flag in my face and threaten the kids wearing American flag shirts expect everything to be okay.


Sadly 90% of Hispanics put race before they do the Nation that feeds them, clothes them , teaches their kids and gives them health care. Sadly 90% of Hispanics put race before they do the Nation that feeds them, clothes them , teaches their kids and gives them health care.

So, next what J____ would like to say is that My children and I should be harassed for papers or documentation on a whim.


J_____ So, what would you suggest we do with a minor child (because minor children of illegal immigrants is what the article was referring to) that was born here if their illegal immigrant parents are being deported? Split up families? Separate children from their parents? Who will take care of all these children? Keeping the families together is the answer, letting millions just stay is certainly not. And you're right nobody would be able to tell for sure if your children are illegal immigrants or not UNLESS they showed proof or asked their mommy for proof of citizenship. The same kind of proof that you would have to show if you were an immigrant (illegal or not) in any & every other country. I guess the entire world is racist because you might have to carry a piece of paper. I wish I could feel sorry for you but I really just don't. I have to keep my I.D. on me at all times, what's the big deal. If you're here legally there should be no problem. If it wasn't costing Americans millions every year nobody would care but illegal immigration is a huge drain on society and getting something for nothing is usually called stealing.

I don't recall saying I supported the anchor law only that the law exists and citizenship status should not be ripped away.


L______You support the anchor law and yet you support the illegals? THAT'S not a problem? It doesn't matter what u look like- can u tell if someone is Canadian? No- but if they are illegal they should be deported. If u can't prove u r a citizen, as we r o ligated to do in ANY other country, then u r deported. ILLEGAL is the important word here. And please- do you not see any injustices going on now? Hardworking, law abiding citizens supporting illegal people who are taking jobs away from friends and family and even ourselves????? That's not an injustice? And why would you be deported if your mother was legal? Doesn't make sense. If u wanted to be with your father if he were deported then u go, in which case- it's simply a choice. We are probably not going to agree since I believe in upholding the law. Plain and simple. Sorry but I'm really tired of this issue. It's clear cut... No slippery slope here. Choices. Life is about choices and consequences. I just don't think I should suffer the consequences of someone else breaking the law and then people such as yourself condoning it. That's all. But it IS America and apparently u CAN break the law----if ur illegal that is.

L______ Deport them all- referred to the illegals- no matter where they come from. If those children stay with legal family or go with their illegal parents, is up to the parents. I'm just saying if u r here illegally, u should suffer the consequences- not those who are law abiding citizens.

So now my intelligence is being insulted. How about I just have a different opinion. Plus profanities are now being spewed despite the fact that I had not insulted anyone. I certainly don't think I said anything to anyone so bad as to "make them sick."

J_____ = The slippery slope here is that she does not know any better. She does not realize the immigration laws in every other country. She thinks it's ok for one group of people to live off of another, cost the country millions each year, break the laws and be a burden on society. If these kids are American or not...if they are here they should not be getting offended over OUR FLAG! If they have a problem with it, they should go somewhere else. Why is it ok for them not to respect the American flag? I'd like to see you pull an answer out of your ass for that question. You make me sick.

The "they" being? This person really does not see how racist she is being.

L____ I totally agree J____. They feel entitled BECAUSE their skin is brown! Seriously- this isn't a problem with people from Canada or Sweden, Germany or England! Makes me really sick. And I'm tired of it!!!! HERE- they seriously feel they own everything....

K____ certainly sees the nastiness

K_____ HEY....EVERY ONE IT IS AN EMOTIONAL ISSUE, BUT LET'S NOT GET MEAN OR NASTY OVER IT. Every one just chill out because we can agree on 99% of the stuff doesn't mean we should let that 1% tear us apart.



J_____ Do you know why? because most of them are hard working, law abiding and respectful. We have enough criminals and dead beats to take care of over here. We have too many good law abiding American Citizens that need help right now and those resources should not be stretched or all spent on illegals.

Disgusting really? Okay......


J____ Ok. I agree. That 1% is so disgusting sometimes I can't look past it. But anyone who truly cannot understand why illegal immigration is an issue or has a problem with having to show I.D. either has not informed themselves entirely of the situation or has something to hide. Being P.C. and accomidating to others has gotten us nothing but disrespect and cost us millions.

Now crossing a border is justification for murder? Really? WOW just wow.

M_____ .50 cals on border walls every 20 ft.,put up signs that say"stay 100ft. away,any closer and you get free bullets"

I thought it was American to disagree. To do it peacefully is also American.

L_____ Amen Mark!!!! I agree Kyle but I do feel emotional about my country , I think we all do!

Capturing Light

I've had a request. Rayna Iyer from Coffee Rings Everywhere http://coffeeringseverywhere.blogspot.com/ asked me to post these photos. Do you suppose she likes them? I thought that a poem would be nice to go along with them.

Capturing Light

I stand at the wall staring across the desert

Into the void of night

Waiting.

The peak of the mountain will soon be alight

But no one will be looking when it is.

Their eyes are trained on the sky.

A small pop

A line of light

And eyes follow it upward.

I put my camera on full zoom.

Violent explosions give birth

To delicate and temporary works of art

I press my shutter button.

-Marjorie Napier-

Playing Tag and an Award

So I was tagged By Lisa at http://arrogantrat.blogspot.com/ for this blog thingy where you answer 5 questions 5 times. It's pretty cool so here it goes.

Where were you five years ago?

1. I had a nearly one year old son.

2. I was being the mother of four year old and three year old daughters.

3. I was once again trying to lose the baby weight.

4. I was getting immersed in the Harry Potter fandom (HPANA).

5. I was feeling a tad overwhelmed.

Where would you like to be five years from now?

1. Working on a fiction book that is based on reality.

2. Being the best mom I can be

3. Have some sort of job in photography

4. 35 pounds lighter

5. handling teenage girls with finesse

What is on your to do list for today?

1. Get Gabriel caught up in his school work (he's been sick).

2. Keep Noah out of trouble

3. Vacuum the floor and do the dishes (UGH)

4. Help Roxanne and Isabella with their homework

5. Try to start some work with Elijah on reading

What 5 snack do you enjoy?

1. Chips and salsa

2. Diced avocado with lime juice and salt

3. Yogurt with granola

4. Cookies (my downfall)

5. Sliced tomato with salt and pepper

What would you do if you were a billionaire?

1. Set up a trust fund for my kids that they can't touch until they finish school or turn 30

2. I would want to throw my money into a worthy cause of some kind. Maybe I would start some sort of campaign for education in which not everyone was forced to learn the same way.

3. Set something up for all my siblings.

4. Make sure my mother never wants for anything

5. Buy a house and probably a car

Okay so I have to tag 5 people, but most have already been tagged so I'll tag as many as I can.

How about Cruella Collette From The Giraffability of Digressions http://thegiraffabilityofdigressions.blogspot.com/

UMMM Also Tara Smith From Princess of Procrastination http://procrastinatewithtundiel.blogspot.com/

Also Yvonne from Welcome to my World of Poetry http://welcometomyworldofpoetry.blogspot.com/

And I think Stephen From Stephen McCarthy Stuffs http://stephentmccarthysstuffs.blogspot.com/

Four is all I've got for now. Sorry :-(

AWARD!

I was given an award by Rayna Iyer over at Coffee Rings Everywhere http://coffeeringseverywhere.blogspot.com/ . It's the "From Me to You" Award. She gave it to me because she likes the photos I post on my blog. She was interpreting it and I think that's what I will do too. I am giving this award to bloggers who have created images with their words and/or their cameras.

Lisa at Bombastic Bandicoot http://arrogantrat.blogspot.com/

Yvonne at Welcome to my World of Poetry http://welcometomyworldofpoetry.blogspot.com/

Jessica at The Alliterative Allomorph http://thealliterativeallomorph.blogspot.com/

Ruby at Blabbin' Grammy http://rubyndub.blogspot.com/

Purple and Yellow

I love complimentary colors. There is something very cool about know that every color has an opposite. Two colors that if mixed together will make muddy, murky, brown slop. BUT If you put them side by side they stand out against one another so well. They clash magnificently. They sing.

My favorite of these color combos is purple and yellow. Why? Because when you see something like this in nature It makes you appreciate just how beautiful this world of ours is.







I took these pictures the day before yesterday when the sun was almost completely set. It was a much cooler evening than we are sure to get tonight, and I thought the wind might blow me away, but I'm glad I rushed up to that little wild area right in front of the wall that separates my neighborhood from the main street. I had vowed that this spring I would get a picture of these flowers growing on these cacti. I'm so happy with the photos I got.

Reflections on the April A-Z Challenge

Reflections on the A-Z Blogging Challenge

Most of you know that I took part in the April A-Z blogging challenge. Arlee Bird over at tossing it out http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/ (sorry I have no idea how to make link) started it as a celebration of reaching his goal of 200 followers. Which brings me to his questions about the challenge:

•What attracted you to the Blogging From A to Z April Challenge?

I first saw there was a challenge for April when I read a post by my friend Hart Johnson over at Confessions of a Watery Tart. http://waterytart23.blogspot.com/ She indicated that she would be participating. I don't know what made me decide to join, but it could be because Hart is one of the cool kids. Naked kids are the coolest kids.

Maybe it's because I knew that getting in on the challenge would only help me become a better writer/blogger or whatever it is I am. I could have just been a whim, but I rarely decide things in advance. That's the true Aquarius' way.


•Did you feel intimidated by the Challenge? and •Did you ever feel like quitting? What kept you going?


In a word YES. When I first joined I wasn't sure that I should have committed myself to blogging for 26 days in a month. Before I had only blogged about once every three weeks. Now I was getting into blogging almost daily. I wanted to look in the mirror and smack myself so I could see the red mark appear, BUT I don't like to back out of commitments. I don't like to disappoint. It would have really bothered me.

Thankfully the feelings of regret about joining the challenge went away quickly. I threw myself into it with gusto and never turned back.

•What do you think was your biggest contribution to the Challenge?

Hmmm. I suppose I provided a fair amount of entertainment? I know I tried to comment on plenty of blogs and I also tried to be encouraging.

•In finishing this challenge, will you be more apt to try other blogging or writing challenges (e.g.--NaNoWriMo)?

That's a good question. Maybe. I'm not going to say absolutely yes or no. Like I said before I rarely decide things in advance. If I do decide to do another challenge it will be a snap decision I didn't think through. haha!

•Do you feel you did your best in the Challenge? What could you have done better?

I did do my best. I sometimes thought of better ideas a day late. That can't be helped. Perhaps I could have commented on several more blogs, or blogged earlier in the day instead of in the afternoon. All things considered I think I did pretty good. I don't think I get an A+, but I think I at least get a B+.

•What did you learn from the Challenge?

I learned that there is really a fountain of creativity in my head that I just don't let out most of the time. Maybe I think I'm too busy or I spend a lot of time thinking about a story or poem and just never write it down. Most of my ideas get lost in my head. Mostly I learned that creativity doesn't just go away. It waits. One only has to keeping pushing one's self.

•Will you be blogging any more now than you used to?

I will. I enjoyed this month more than I thought I would. Even when it was hard I was always proud to have finished another entry. I like that feeling. I like that there are other bloggers willing to read the jumbled contents of my brain.

Special thanks

First, I'd like to thank Arlee bird for this amazing challenge. Second, I'd like to thank everyone who became a reader and follower over this past month. I really hope that you all will continue to read. Last but not least, I would like to give thanks to my 6 original readers. Without you I wouldn't have blogged at all.