Tuesday, September 13, 2011
My Mother's Swedish Jubilee Cake
Hi Bakers. This is from my mother, the Swedish Chef. I haven't tried this one but will!!!!
JUBILEUMSKAKA
Bottom:
3 eggwhites
150 g almonds, finely chopped ( 1 cup)
150 g sugar ( 1 cup)
Top:
3 egg yokes
1 dl sugar (1/3 c)
3 dl heavy cream (1 c)
120 g Dajm chocholate (from IKEA) or other high quality chocolate (Skor/Heath is similar) (about 3/4 c)
Whip eggwhites and sugar til really white and stiff. Fold in finely chopped almonds.
Pour into a well greased round baking form about 25 cm ( 10 ") preferably with parchment paper on the bottom. 170 C ( 330 F) on the lowest rang for 45 minutes. Let it cool before putting on topping.
For topping whip egg yokes and sugar very well.
Whip cream until stiff and fold inte 'sugar/yoke' mixture.
Chop the chocolate corsely and fold into mix (save a little for decoration)
Put bottom back in the cleaned pan and pour over the topping.
Put in freexer for at least 2 hours. If you keep it in the freezer for a longer time, take it out 1/2 hour before serving.
JUBILEUMSKAKA
Bottom:
3 eggwhites
150 g almonds, finely chopped ( 1 cup)
150 g sugar ( 1 cup)
Top:
3 egg yokes
1 dl sugar (1/3 c)
3 dl heavy cream (1 c)
120 g Dajm chocholate (from IKEA) or other high quality chocolate (Skor/Heath is similar) (about 3/4 c)
Whip eggwhites and sugar til really white and stiff. Fold in finely chopped almonds.
Pour into a well greased round baking form about 25 cm ( 10 ") preferably with parchment paper on the bottom. 170 C ( 330 F) on the lowest rang for 45 minutes. Let it cool before putting on topping.
For topping whip egg yokes and sugar very well.
Whip cream until stiff and fold inte 'sugar/yoke' mixture.
Chop the chocolate corsely and fold into mix (save a little for decoration)
Put bottom back in the cleaned pan and pour over the topping.
Put in freexer for at least 2 hours. If you keep it in the freezer for a longer time, take it out 1/2 hour before serving.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Swedish Recipes
I have never made "sill" because we always bought it in a jar. Now, I found this recipe and I want to try it. But where do I get salt herring in the mountains of Utah?
Soak the herring in cold water for 10 to 12 hours, or follow the directions on the package. Drain them. Mix the sugar, vinegar and water in a separate bowl. Add the allspice, bay leaf and onion. Pour the dressing over the herring and refrigerate for 2 hours. Cut the herring in 1 cm- thick slices, cover with dressing and garnish with red onion rings and dill sprigs.
Variation: Instead of allspice, add 1 teaspoon whole cloves and 5 crushed white peppercorns to the dressing. Bring to a boil, let cool and pour over the herring reserving about ½ dl. Refrigerate for at least two hours. Slice the herring and place in serving dish. Add the remaining dressing and garnish with red onion rings, cloves and dill.
Now, this I can do. I usually make my meatballs plainer than this recipe below, but adding the pork and the cream does make a flavorful difference.
Meatballs - "Köttbullar"
Mix the bread crumbs, cream and water; set aside for 5 minutes. Work together the beef, pork, salt, allspice and onion. Gradually add the bread crumbs, then the egg. Blend well and fry a sample to test the seasoning. Shape into balls. Make large meatballs to be served for dinner or small meatballs for the smörgåsbord. Heat part of the margarine or butter in a skillet. Add 10 to 15 meatballs. Fry over moderate heat until the meatballs are beautifully brown and cooked through. Transfer to a serving dish and keep hot while frying the remaining meatballs. Serve with boiled potatoes, lingonberry preserve and a tossed salad.
Pippi Langstrump used her wooden floor to roll out her hundreds of "pepparkakor" more efficiently. I might not do the same, but I am going to make "pepparkakor" with A.J. this week as part of his cub scout "heritage" project.
Stir the syrup with sugar, spices and margarine until well mixed. Whip the cream till frothy and stir into the batter, a little at a time. Dissolve the baking soda in a little water and add together with part of the flour. Cover the dough which should be quite firm, let stand until the following day. Knead the dough, adding the remaining flour. Roll out a small part and bake a test cookie in a 175 to 200 C oven. If the cookie spreads, add a little more flour to the dough. Roll out the dough and cut with cookie cutters into hearts, stars, pigs etc. Let the cookies cool on the cookie sheet after baking. The cookies may be decorated with white frosting made of sifted powdered sugar stirred with egg white and a few drops vinegar or lemon juice to a thick smooth paste.
Salted herring - "Inlagd sill"
- 4 to 6 fillets of salt herring
- 1½ dl(3/4 cup) sugar
- 1 dl (½ cup) Swedish spirit vinegar
- 2 dl (about 1 cup) water
- 5 tsp. allspice
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 to 2 red onions
- sliced dill sprigs
Soak the herring in cold water for 10 to 12 hours, or follow the directions on the package. Drain them. Mix the sugar, vinegar and water in a separate bowl. Add the allspice, bay leaf and onion. Pour the dressing over the herring and refrigerate for 2 hours. Cut the herring in 1 cm- thick slices, cover with dressing and garnish with red onion rings and dill sprigs.
Variation: Instead of allspice, add 1 teaspoon whole cloves and 5 crushed white peppercorns to the dressing. Bring to a boil, let cool and pour over the herring reserving about ½ dl. Refrigerate for at least two hours. Slice the herring and place in serving dish. Add the remaining dressing and garnish with red onion rings, cloves and dill.
Now, this I can do. I usually make my meatballs plainer than this recipe below, but adding the pork and the cream does make a flavorful difference.
Meatballs - "Köttbullar"
- 1 dl (½ cup) fine dry bread crumbs
- 1 dl (½ cup) light cream
- 1 dl (½ cup) water
- 200 g (7 oz.) ground beef
- 200 g (7 oz.) ground lean pork
- 1½ tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. ground allspice
- 2 tbl grated yellow onion
- (and/or 2 crushed garlic cloves)
- 1 egg, beaten
- 3 tbl margarine or butter
Mix the bread crumbs, cream and water; set aside for 5 minutes. Work together the beef, pork, salt, allspice and onion. Gradually add the bread crumbs, then the egg. Blend well and fry a sample to test the seasoning. Shape into balls. Make large meatballs to be served for dinner or small meatballs for the smörgåsbord. Heat part of the margarine or butter in a skillet. Add 10 to 15 meatballs. Fry over moderate heat until the meatballs are beautifully brown and cooked through. Transfer to a serving dish and keep hot while frying the remaining meatballs. Serve with boiled potatoes, lingonberry preserve and a tossed salad.
Pippi Langstrump used her wooden floor to roll out her hundreds of "pepparkakor" more efficiently. I might not do the same, but I am going to make "pepparkakor" with A.J. this week as part of his cub scout "heritage" project.
Ginger Snaps - "Pepparkakor"
Makes about 50 cookies- 3 dl (1½ cups) syrup
- 4 dl (1 & 3/4 cups) sugar
- 1½ tablespoons ginger
- 1½ tablespoons cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon cloves
- 350 g (12 oz.) margarine or butter
- 3 dl (1½ cups) whipped cream
- about 2½ litre or 1½ kg (3lb. 5 oz.) flour
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
Stir the syrup with sugar, spices and margarine until well mixed. Whip the cream till frothy and stir into the batter, a little at a time. Dissolve the baking soda in a little water and add together with part of the flour. Cover the dough which should be quite firm, let stand until the following day. Knead the dough, adding the remaining flour. Roll out a small part and bake a test cookie in a 175 to 200 C oven. If the cookie spreads, add a little more flour to the dough. Roll out the dough and cut with cookie cutters into hearts, stars, pigs etc. Let the cookies cool on the cookie sheet after baking. The cookies may be decorated with white frosting made of sifted powdered sugar stirred with egg white and a few drops vinegar or lemon juice to a thick smooth paste.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
9/11
I watched a Sept. 11th remembrance on t.v. last night and was so, so sad. I did not know the people personally who died or lost loved ones that day, but they are my brothers and sisters and I want to honor them and this great country and God today. Never forget.
"We felt the great unsteadiness of life and reached for the great steadiness of our Father in Heaven. And, as ever, we found it. Americans of all faiths came together in a remarkable way.
Sadly, it seems that much of that renewal of faith has waned in the years that have followed. Healing has come with time, but so has indifference. We forget how vulnerable and sorrowful we felt. Our sorrow moved us to remember the deep purposes of our lives. The darkness of our despair brought us a moment of enlightenment. But we are forgetful. When the depth of grief has passed, its lessons often pass from our minds and hearts as well. Our Father’s commitment to us, His children, is unwavering. Indeed He softens the winters of our lives, but He also brightens our summers. Whether it is the best of times or the worst, He is with us. He has promised us that this will never change. "
-President Thomas S. Monson, in his 9/11 guest blog on the Washington Post.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/guest-voices/post/911-destruction-allowed-us-to-spiritually-rebuild/2011/09/08/gIQAbkjKCK_blog.html
Wednesday, September 07, 2011
YOUTUBE FOR SWEDISH AMERICAN KIDS
http://youtu.be/nyzLCd3qEyM BARFOTAVISAN
http://youtu.be/7tio_ZmHf4Y MUMIN TROLLET
http://youtu.be/7KpaQl9yn0Q TV SHOWS
http://youtu.be/lrJ6CRy_UAQ LILLA MY
AND THE BEST--
http://youtu.be/Earf7aMXUdM PIPPI TECHNO VERSION
http://youtu.be/mLv0dWVm98I RONJA TECHNO VERSION
SWEDISH YOUTUBE KID SONGS
http://youtu.be/7tio_ZmHf4Y MUMIN TROLLET
http://youtu.be/7KpaQl9yn0Q TV SHOWS
http://youtu.be/lrJ6CRy_UAQ LILLA MY
AND THE BEST--
http://youtu.be/Earf7aMXUdM PIPPI TECHNO VERSION
http://youtu.be/mLv0dWVm98I RONJA TECHNO VERSION
SWEDISH YOUTUBE KID SONGS
Swedish Pancakes Recipe
Svenska Pannkakor
You can find a lot of recipes for Swedish Pancakes online. You should probably read them and ignore this one.
My mother could not give me her recipe, although she's been making me Swedish pancakes my whole life.
She just says, "a little flour, about the same amount of milk or water, and some eggs. Just see if it seems about right and then add a little of what is missing." That's her recipe.
Then she insists on using real butter in the frying pan, very hot, and pour in the batter and turn the pancakes when they start to bubble. Hers turn out.
By this method, however, I have succeeded in making rubbery ones, burnt ones, crispy ones, fat ones, skinny ones, and even (sometimes) a few delicious ones. I like the textural variety, myself.
Lots of lingonberry sauce, or cranberry sauce, or lemons and powdered sugar, or raspberries, or strawberries, or vanilla ice cream, or smashed bananas, or cardamom and sugar or cinnamon and sugar or maple syrup on top make it complete.
155 Classic FREEBIES ON KINDLE
I got a kindle for my birthday. I love it. But it was after I'd bought a book for $3 which was available for free that I realized a LOT of books are on sale (even for 99 cents) that are also available for free. If you go to the kindle store and type in a key word, like "oliver twist kindle edition free" it might or might not work, but that's how I got to a list hundreds of books long that was 80% total trash (romance novels, vampire books, x rated books) but which also hid among the rubble, dozens and dozens of wonderful books by Shakespeare, Cather, Dickens, London, Austen, Shelley, Dickinson, Chekov, Ibsen, Potter, Whitman, Parley P. Pratt, Twain, Fairy Tales, Scriptures, etc. etc. etc.
Can't We Just Do the Right Thing in America?
I am reprinting this, from Robert A. Hall, an actor who plays the coroner on CSI. He's also a Marine Vietnam War veteran. I do think it should be required reading for every man, woman and child in the United States of America, which is why I am pasting it here:
I'm 63. Except for one semester in college when jobs were scarce and a six-month period when I was between jobs, but job-hunting every day, I've worked hard since I was 18. Despite some health challenges, I still put in 50-hour weeks, and haven't called in sick in seven or eight years. I make a good salary, but I didn't inherit my job or my income, and I worked to get where I am. Given the economy, there's no retirement in sight, and I'm tired. Very tired.
I'm tired of being told that I have to "spread the wealth" to people who don't have my work ethic. I'm tired of being told the government will take the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy to earn it.
I'm tired of being told that I have to pay more taxes to "keep people in their homes." Sure, if they lost their jobs or got sick, I'm willing to help. But if they bought Mc Mansions at three times the price of our paid-off, $250,000 condo, on one-third of my salary, then let the left-wing Congress-critters who passed Fannie and Freddie and the Community Reinvestment Act that created the bubble help them with their own money.
I'm tired of being told how bad America is by left-wing millionaires like Michael Moore, George Soros and Hollywood Entertainers who live in luxury because of the opportunities America offers. In thirty years, if they get their way, the United States will have the economy of Zimbabwe , the freedom of the press of China the crime and violence of Mexico , the tolerance for Christian people of Iran , and the freedom of speech of Venezuela .
I'm tired of being told that Islam is a "Religion of Peace," when every day I can read dozens of stories of Muslim men killing their sisters, wives and daughters for their family "honor"; of Muslims rioting over some slight offense; of Muslims murdering Christian and Jews because they aren't "believers"; of Muslims burning schools for girls; of Muslims stoning teenage rape victims to death for "adultery"; of Muslims mutilating the genitals of little girls; all in the name of Allah, because the Qur'an and Shari'a law tells them to.
I'm tired of being told that "race doesn't matter" in the post-racial world of Obama, when it's all that matters in affirmative action jobs, lower college admission and graduation standards for minorities (harming them the most), government contract set-asides, tolerance for the ghetto culture of violence and fatherless children that hurts minorities more than anyone, and in the appointment of U.S. Senators from Illinois.
I think it's very cool that we have a black president and that a black child is doing her homework at the desk where Lincoln wrote the Emancipation Proclamation. I just wish the black president was Condi Rice, or someone who believes more in freedom and the individual and less arrogantly of an all-knowing government.
I'm tired of being told that out of "tolerance for other cultures" we must let Saudi Arabia use our oil money to fund mosques and mandrassa Islamic schools to preach hate in America , while no American group is allowed to fund a church, synagogue or religious school in Saudi Arabia to teach love and tolerance.
I'm tired of being told I must lower my living standard to fight global warming, which no one is allowed to debate. My wife and I live in a two-bedroom apartment and carpool together five miles to our jobs. We also own a three-bedroom condo where our daughter and granddaughter live. Our carbon footprint is about 5% of Al Gore's, and if you're greener than Gore, you're green enough.
I'm tired of being told that drug addicts have a disease, and I must help support and treat them, and pay for the damage they do. Did a giant germ rush out of a dark alley, grab them, and stuff white powder up their noses while they tried to fight it off? I don't think Gay people choose to be Gay, but I #@*# sure think druggies chose to take drugs. And I'm tired of harassment from cool people treating me like a freak when I tell them I never tried marijuana.
I'm tired of illegal aliens being called "undocumented workers," especially the ones who aren't working, but are living on welfare or crime. What's next? Calling drug dealers, "Undocumented Pharmacists"? And, no, I'm not against Hispanics. Most of them are Catholic, and it's been a few hundred years since Catholics wanted to kill me for my religion. I'm willing to fast track for citizenship any Hispanic person, who can speak English, doesn't have a criminal record and who is self-supporting without family on welfare, or who serves honorably for three years in our military.... Those are the citizens we need.
I'm tired of latte liberals and journalists, who would never wear the uniform of the Republic themselves, or let their entitlement-handicapped kids near a recruiting station, trashing our military. They and their kids can sit at home, never having to make split-second decisions under life and death circumstances, and bad mouth better people than themselves. Do bad things happen in war? You bet. Do our troops sometimes misbehave? Sure. Does this compare with the atrocities that were the policy of our enemies for the last fifty years and still are? Not even close. So here's the deal. I'll let myself be subjected to all the humiliation and abuse that was heaped on terrorists at Abu Ghraib or Gitmo, and the critics can let themselves be subject to captivity by the Muslims, who tortured and beheaded Daniel Pearl in Pakistan, or the Muslims who tortured and murdered Marine Lt. Col. William Higgins in Lebanon, or the Muslims who ran the blood-spattered Al Qaeda torture rooms our troops found in Iraq, or the Muslims who cut off the heads of schoolgirls in Indonesia, because the girls were Christian. Then we'll compare notes. British and American soldiers are the only troops in history that civilians came to for help and handouts, instead of hiding from in fear.
I'm tired of people telling me that their party has a corner on virtue and the other party has a corner on corruption. Read the papers; bums are bipartisan. And I'm tired of people telling me we need bipartisanship. I live in Illinois , where the " Illinois Combine" of Democrats has worked to loot the public for years. Not to mention the tax cheats in Obama's cabinet.
I'm tired of hearing wealthy athletes, entertainers and politicians of both parties talking about innocent mistakes, stupid mistakes or youthful mistakes, when we all know they think their only mistake was getting caught. I'm tired of people with a sense of entitlement, rich or poor.
Speaking of poor, I'm tired of hearing people with air-conditioned homes, color TVs and two cars called poor. The majority of Americans didn't have that in 1970, but we didn't know we were "poor." The poverty pimps have to keep changing the definition of poor to keep the dollars flowing.
I'm real tired of people who don't take responsibility for their lives and actions. I'm tired of hearing them blame the government, or discrimination or big-whatever for their problems.
Yes, I'm tired. But I'm also glad to be 63. Because, mostly, I'm not going to have to see the world these people are making. I'm just sorry for my granddaughter.
Robert A. Hall is a Marine Vietnam veteran who served five terms in the Massachusetts State Senate.
"I'm 63 and I'm Tired"
by Robert A. Hall
by Robert A. Hall
I'm 63. Except for one semester in college when jobs were scarce and a six-month period when I was between jobs, but job-hunting every day, I've worked hard since I was 18. Despite some health challenges, I still put in 50-hour weeks, and haven't called in sick in seven or eight years. I make a good salary, but I didn't inherit my job or my income, and I worked to get where I am. Given the economy, there's no retirement in sight, and I'm tired. Very tired.
I'm tired of being told that I have to "spread the wealth" to people who don't have my work ethic. I'm tired of being told the government will take the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy to earn it.
I'm tired of being told that I have to pay more taxes to "keep people in their homes." Sure, if they lost their jobs or got sick, I'm willing to help. But if they bought Mc Mansions at three times the price of our paid-off, $250,000 condo, on one-third of my salary, then let the left-wing Congress-critters who passed Fannie and Freddie and the Community Reinvestment Act that created the bubble help them with their own money.
I'm tired of being told how bad America is by left-wing millionaires like Michael Moore, George Soros and Hollywood Entertainers who live in luxury because of the opportunities America offers. In thirty years, if they get their way, the United States will have the economy of Zimbabwe , the freedom of the press of China the crime and violence of Mexico , the tolerance for Christian people of Iran , and the freedom of speech of Venezuela .
I'm tired of being told that Islam is a "Religion of Peace," when every day I can read dozens of stories of Muslim men killing their sisters, wives and daughters for their family "honor"; of Muslims rioting over some slight offense; of Muslims murdering Christian and Jews because they aren't "believers"; of Muslims burning schools for girls; of Muslims stoning teenage rape victims to death for "adultery"; of Muslims mutilating the genitals of little girls; all in the name of Allah, because the Qur'an and Shari'a law tells them to.
I'm tired of being told that "race doesn't matter" in the post-racial world of Obama, when it's all that matters in affirmative action jobs, lower college admission and graduation standards for minorities (harming them the most), government contract set-asides, tolerance for the ghetto culture of violence and fatherless children that hurts minorities more than anyone, and in the appointment of U.S. Senators from Illinois.
I think it's very cool that we have a black president and that a black child is doing her homework at the desk where Lincoln wrote the Emancipation Proclamation. I just wish the black president was Condi Rice, or someone who believes more in freedom and the individual and less arrogantly of an all-knowing government.
I'm tired of being told that out of "tolerance for other cultures" we must let Saudi Arabia use our oil money to fund mosques and mandrassa Islamic schools to preach hate in America , while no American group is allowed to fund a church, synagogue or religious school in Saudi Arabia to teach love and tolerance.
I'm tired of being told I must lower my living standard to fight global warming, which no one is allowed to debate. My wife and I live in a two-bedroom apartment and carpool together five miles to our jobs. We also own a three-bedroom condo where our daughter and granddaughter live. Our carbon footprint is about 5% of Al Gore's, and if you're greener than Gore, you're green enough.
I'm tired of being told that drug addicts have a disease, and I must help support and treat them, and pay for the damage they do. Did a giant germ rush out of a dark alley, grab them, and stuff white powder up their noses while they tried to fight it off? I don't think Gay people choose to be Gay, but I #@*# sure think druggies chose to take drugs. And I'm tired of harassment from cool people treating me like a freak when I tell them I never tried marijuana.
I'm tired of illegal aliens being called "undocumented workers," especially the ones who aren't working, but are living on welfare or crime. What's next? Calling drug dealers, "Undocumented Pharmacists"? And, no, I'm not against Hispanics. Most of them are Catholic, and it's been a few hundred years since Catholics wanted to kill me for my religion. I'm willing to fast track for citizenship any Hispanic person, who can speak English, doesn't have a criminal record and who is self-supporting without family on welfare, or who serves honorably for three years in our military.... Those are the citizens we need.
I'm tired of latte liberals and journalists, who would never wear the uniform of the Republic themselves, or let their entitlement-handicapped kids near a recruiting station, trashing our military. They and their kids can sit at home, never having to make split-second decisions under life and death circumstances, and bad mouth better people than themselves. Do bad things happen in war? You bet. Do our troops sometimes misbehave? Sure. Does this compare with the atrocities that were the policy of our enemies for the last fifty years and still are? Not even close. So here's the deal. I'll let myself be subjected to all the humiliation and abuse that was heaped on terrorists at Abu Ghraib or Gitmo, and the critics can let themselves be subject to captivity by the Muslims, who tortured and beheaded Daniel Pearl in Pakistan, or the Muslims who tortured and murdered Marine Lt. Col. William Higgins in Lebanon, or the Muslims who ran the blood-spattered Al Qaeda torture rooms our troops found in Iraq, or the Muslims who cut off the heads of schoolgirls in Indonesia, because the girls were Christian. Then we'll compare notes. British and American soldiers are the only troops in history that civilians came to for help and handouts, instead of hiding from in fear.
I'm tired of people telling me that their party has a corner on virtue and the other party has a corner on corruption. Read the papers; bums are bipartisan. And I'm tired of people telling me we need bipartisanship. I live in Illinois , where the " Illinois Combine" of Democrats has worked to loot the public for years. Not to mention the tax cheats in Obama's cabinet.
I'm tired of hearing wealthy athletes, entertainers and politicians of both parties talking about innocent mistakes, stupid mistakes or youthful mistakes, when we all know they think their only mistake was getting caught. I'm tired of people with a sense of entitlement, rich or poor.
Speaking of poor, I'm tired of hearing people with air-conditioned homes, color TVs and two cars called poor. The majority of Americans didn't have that in 1970, but we didn't know we were "poor." The poverty pimps have to keep changing the definition of poor to keep the dollars flowing.
I'm real tired of people who don't take responsibility for their lives and actions. I'm tired of hearing them blame the government, or discrimination or big-whatever for their problems.
Yes, I'm tired. But I'm also glad to be 63. Because, mostly, I'm not going to have to see the world these people are making. I'm just sorry for my granddaughter.
Robert A. Hall is a Marine Vietnam veteran who served five terms in the Massachusetts State Senate.
What is going on today
I drove C.E. to school today. I told her she looked like a beautiful modeling princess. She does. I hope she is as happy as she is pretty.
A.J. biked with his best friend to school. They are the cutest little nonstop talkative third graders in the universe, so happy and so bubbling all the time!!!
The baby got his 1 year shots yesterday and did not even flinch or cry for the first three of them. The last two made him fuss a short while, but no hysterics. D.H. said, "This is a tough kid. This is why I wanted to name him Thor."
Today I am reorganizing. I'm putting the cleaning chemicals up high, and the baskets of clean rags, bibs and tablecloths under the kitchen sink. (The baby broke the baby-proof plastic lock that was on the cabinet.) I'm also putting his toys in the bottom two shelves of the pantry, throwing out the out-of-date boxes of rice, mashed potatoes, croutons and hot chocolate mix, and putting scissors and other office supplies up high. It's more mental work than physical, but it makes me feel better. Sometimes I want to burst into tears about the monumentality of space between what I want this house to look like, and what it looks like. But first things first: I'm making it safe before I make it pretty.
I'm mad that kids have to go to school for SO many hours every day. Wouldn't four hours do? One for math, one for reading and spelling, one for the arts, and one for science or history, per day. I think they do a lot of playing and busywork. And I miss them.
I also miss my husband, and now that he's losing his job and has interviewed for another one that's over an hour away, I'm sad that I'll lose our lovely lunches together, plus two hours a day of drive time, which means 3 hours less per day, or 15 hours less per week. That hurts! It makes me consider moving to where the new job will be. Even though I love this little town, and feel its peacefulness and hear the donkey bray on our block, see the deer coming in the cold months to our yard, see horses, cows, sheep, and llamas sprinkled through the streets of the "city" --and I love it. I just love it.
My family gave me a kindle for my birthday this week. I found over 150 free classics on the kindle store, after wading through much muck. (They don't make it easy to find the freebies, but they are there.)
Quote of the day: "There is no reason why good cannot triumph as often as evil. The triumph of anything is a matter of organization. If there are such things as angels, I hope they are organized along the lines of the Mafia." -Kurt Vonnegut. (I add: there are such things as angels, and yes, they are extremely organized. I am so glad I believe in them. I am so glad there is a Lord above. I am so glad that no matter what happens, good will triumph in the end. Just hang on!)
A.J. biked with his best friend to school. They are the cutest little nonstop talkative third graders in the universe, so happy and so bubbling all the time!!!
The baby got his 1 year shots yesterday and did not even flinch or cry for the first three of them. The last two made him fuss a short while, but no hysterics. D.H. said, "This is a tough kid. This is why I wanted to name him Thor."
Today I am reorganizing. I'm putting the cleaning chemicals up high, and the baskets of clean rags, bibs and tablecloths under the kitchen sink. (The baby broke the baby-proof plastic lock that was on the cabinet.) I'm also putting his toys in the bottom two shelves of the pantry, throwing out the out-of-date boxes of rice, mashed potatoes, croutons and hot chocolate mix, and putting scissors and other office supplies up high. It's more mental work than physical, but it makes me feel better. Sometimes I want to burst into tears about the monumentality of space between what I want this house to look like, and what it looks like. But first things first: I'm making it safe before I make it pretty.
I'm mad that kids have to go to school for SO many hours every day. Wouldn't four hours do? One for math, one for reading and spelling, one for the arts, and one for science or history, per day. I think they do a lot of playing and busywork. And I miss them.
I also miss my husband, and now that he's losing his job and has interviewed for another one that's over an hour away, I'm sad that I'll lose our lovely lunches together, plus two hours a day of drive time, which means 3 hours less per day, or 15 hours less per week. That hurts! It makes me consider moving to where the new job will be. Even though I love this little town, and feel its peacefulness and hear the donkey bray on our block, see the deer coming in the cold months to our yard, see horses, cows, sheep, and llamas sprinkled through the streets of the "city" --and I love it. I just love it.
My family gave me a kindle for my birthday this week. I found over 150 free classics on the kindle store, after wading through much muck. (They don't make it easy to find the freebies, but they are there.)
Quote of the day: "There is no reason why good cannot triumph as often as evil. The triumph of anything is a matter of organization. If there are such things as angels, I hope they are organized along the lines of the Mafia." -Kurt Vonnegut. (I add: there are such things as angels, and yes, they are extremely organized. I am so glad I believe in them. I am so glad there is a Lord above. I am so glad that no matter what happens, good will triumph in the end. Just hang on!)
Saturday, September 03, 2011
Swedish Mormon Messages
Okay, now I'm so glad I was up late tonight because I stumbled on these wonderful little videos done by Swedish Mormons. I love them.
The first one is my favorite: about how a Swedish professor --an athiest-- became converted to God and to the gospel of Jesus Christ through the Book of Mormon and an experience on September 11th in America.
http://www.jesukristikyrka.se/mormoner-beraettar-filmer/dorotea-11-september.html
http://www.jesukristikyrka.se/mormoner-beraettar-filmer/patrik-om-saknad.html
http://www.jesukristikyrka.se/mormoner-beraettar-filmer/erik-om-livets-mening.html
http://www.jesukristikyrka.se/mormoner-beraettar-filmer/sandra-om-livets-mening.html
http://www.jesukristikyrka.se/mormoner-beraettar-filmer/ruth-om-friden-i-jesus-kristus.html
http://www.jesukristikyrka.se/mormoner-beraettar-filmer/miriam-bli-lyft-av-gud.html
The first one is my favorite: about how a Swedish professor --an athiest-- became converted to God and to the gospel of Jesus Christ through the Book of Mormon and an experience on September 11th in America.
http://www.jesukristikyrka.se/mormoner-beraettar-filmer/dorotea-11-september.html
http://www.jesukristikyrka.se/mormoner-beraettar-filmer/patrik-om-saknad.html
http://www.jesukristikyrka.se/mormoner-beraettar-filmer/erik-om-livets-mening.html
http://www.jesukristikyrka.se/mormoner-beraettar-filmer/sandra-om-livets-mening.html
http://www.jesukristikyrka.se/mormoner-beraettar-filmer/ruth-om-friden-i-jesus-kristus.html
http://www.jesukristikyrka.se/mormoner-beraettar-filmer/miriam-bli-lyft-av-gud.html
Swedish Lessons
I feel like I am constantly, constantly nagging the kids to speak only Swedish. Sometimes I get energetic about the nagging and attach consequences: next kid who speaks English has to do ten pushups; next kid who speaks English has to sweep and mop under the baby's high chair. Sometimes I make A.J., who is the worst "Swenglish" offender, repeat his sentences from the beginning. If they were 70 percent English, I do that.
I found some adorable Swedish kid songs on YouTube the other day, and played them over and over for the baby. The other kids were at school. I need to keep up the brainwashing or they and I will lose this great language.
Why do I try so hard? We are third generation Swedish Americans, now. My mother was born in Sweden and emigrated at age nineteen as a stewardess hired by an American airline. I was born in Germany, only because my pilot dad was stationed there at the time. I got to go to Sweden every summer, and stay all summer, all my growing up years. But I went to American schools and my most fluent reading language is English. My kids were born in America and although they've been to Sweden, it was short and long ago and now we can't afford it. And the language gets more and more diluted. Even my own mother is guilty of Swenglish. I ask her what words mean, and she knows them, but she gets lazy or else she thinks we won't know the word, so she throws in an English word mid-Swedish-sentence.
We only speak Swedish, my mother and I, on the phone. She lives across the country. My siblings and I also speak Swedish to each other, always, unless a non Swedish spouse is in the room. But the kids, we all have to nag. I nag the most persistently and doggedly. My younger sister has given up, and only speaks Swedish around her children when she visits my mother. My brother is married to a Czech, so they speak primarily Czech, next English, and their kids only speak a few rare words in Swedish. My older sister's kids speak as well as mine do, but their Swenglish is huge. And my older sister does not force her kids to speak in Swedish to each other, like I do. She just speaks Swedish with them. Her husband speaks it, too, since he served a mission in Sweden. My husband only understands a little Swedish, although he is very supportive of us speaking Swedish. But we only speak it when he's in another room, or at work, for the most part.
I nag and I will continue to nag because Swedish is the language of great love, to me. It's the language of so many of my favorite relatives and ancestors. It's a friendly sounding, cheery and musical language. It reminds me of childhood, which for me was extremely happy.
I wonder if my kids will ever use this language when they grow up. I hope so. It's a warm and living link to the past and to countless beautiful and old traditions.
I found some adorable Swedish kid songs on YouTube the other day, and played them over and over for the baby. The other kids were at school. I need to keep up the brainwashing or they and I will lose this great language.
Why do I try so hard? We are third generation Swedish Americans, now. My mother was born in Sweden and emigrated at age nineteen as a stewardess hired by an American airline. I was born in Germany, only because my pilot dad was stationed there at the time. I got to go to Sweden every summer, and stay all summer, all my growing up years. But I went to American schools and my most fluent reading language is English. My kids were born in America and although they've been to Sweden, it was short and long ago and now we can't afford it. And the language gets more and more diluted. Even my own mother is guilty of Swenglish. I ask her what words mean, and she knows them, but she gets lazy or else she thinks we won't know the word, so she throws in an English word mid-Swedish-sentence.
We only speak Swedish, my mother and I, on the phone. She lives across the country. My siblings and I also speak Swedish to each other, always, unless a non Swedish spouse is in the room. But the kids, we all have to nag. I nag the most persistently and doggedly. My younger sister has given up, and only speaks Swedish around her children when she visits my mother. My brother is married to a Czech, so they speak primarily Czech, next English, and their kids only speak a few rare words in Swedish. My older sister's kids speak as well as mine do, but their Swenglish is huge. And my older sister does not force her kids to speak in Swedish to each other, like I do. She just speaks Swedish with them. Her husband speaks it, too, since he served a mission in Sweden. My husband only understands a little Swedish, although he is very supportive of us speaking Swedish. But we only speak it when he's in another room, or at work, for the most part.
I nag and I will continue to nag because Swedish is the language of great love, to me. It's the language of so many of my favorite relatives and ancestors. It's a friendly sounding, cheery and musical language. It reminds me of childhood, which for me was extremely happy.
I wonder if my kids will ever use this language when they grow up. I hope so. It's a warm and living link to the past and to countless beautiful and old traditions.
Tired
Is it possible to be so tired that you can't sleep? Between school starting, hours changing, and the baby still wanting to nurse around three or four every morning, I feel like I am going nuts. I force myself to not nap when he takes his mid-morning nap, because otherwise the chores and messes and to-do lists would even more completely overwhelm me and this household than they already do. Then I regret it, when I get soooo tired. But I keep getting second and third winds, because I have to, because life and driving kids and making dinner and changing diapers and being coherent with family and neighbors require me to pull up those second and third winds. But I am so tired. Sometimes I want to cry because I am so tired. But now, at 1:00 a.m., after bringing C.E. home from her first high school dance, frosting Baby H.'s three layer blue and white birthday cake--- he turns one tomorrow--- and taking a nighttime pre-bed bike ride with A.J., because he loves evening walks or bike rides as much as I do, and after cleaning up the kitchen and pushing a few more loads of laundry through, and packing the stuff we need for the lunch party and post-game dinner party at my sister's tomorrow, and preparing the marinade for Sunday's dinner, and lugging groceries and finding places for them.... and then being hit with a feeling of sadness that instead of a fun Friday night date, I only worked and D.H. played his favorite video game, and suddenly feeling very lonely and so deathly tired, and every one is sleeping in this house except me, and the baby will be waking up in two or three hours for his morning nursing, so my anxiety about not sleeping gets higher and my fear of not being able to cope gets higher and that makes me not sleep even more. It's embarrassing to be unable to cope with life in this manner. Are other people feeling this way? I think if I were more organized, more disciplined, more something, surely I could get enough sleep. Because of nursing and because of pregnancy, I can honestly say I have not slept for eight hours, or anything even nearing that many hours in a row, for about two years. This cannot be good for life expectancy.
Friday, September 02, 2011
How to Memorize the Multiplication Tables With Songs
LINK TO MY OWN SONGS ON YOUTUBE:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL55C1AB1D8C5FBEAF&feature=mh_lolz
Three Times Tables: http://youtu.be/E5-0gHvBu6Y
(They are all there-- from 3 to 9)
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
Four, Eight, Twelve Sixteen, Twenty Twenty-four
Row, Row, Row your boat gently down the stream
Yankee Doodle went to town a-riding on a pony
Forty-two and Forty-eight and fifty-four and sixty.
Stuck a feather in his cap and called it macaroni
Sixty-six and Seventy-two (Shout: "Yankee Doodle Doodle Doo!")
Yankee Doodle Keep it up (Shout: Yankee Doodle Doodle Doo!")
--Also, for fun, watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwkgNf69ihY
It is called "I got six" on youtube
Seven Fourteen Twenty-One Twenty-eight Thirty-five
Twinkle twinkle little star How I wond(er) Where you are
Rubber duckie you're the one. You make bath-time lots of fun.
Seventy-two Eighty and, Eighty-eight and ninety-six
Rubber duckie, joy of joys, when I squeeze you, you make noise
Also, check out this rap-style longer song for the 8s: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNK9Q-mDS1U
Three blind mice. Three blind mice. See how they run. See how they run.
Ninety a-a-and Ninety-nine One-Oh-Eight
Did you ever see such a sight in your life as three blind mice!?!
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL55C1AB1D8C5FBEAF&feature=mh_lolz
Three Times Tables: http://youtu.be/E5-0gHvBu6Y
(They are all there-- from 3 to 9)
How to memorize the multiplication tables with songs
(These are a hybrid mix of youtube songs, songs my friend uses in her classroom, and songs I made up or adapted myself. Enjoy! --We are skipping past the zeroes, ones, twos, fives, and tens because they follow such simple patterns.)
3 THE THREES: (Tune of "Jingle Bells")
Three six nine, twelve fifteen, eighteen twenty-oneJingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
Twenty four, twenty seven, thirty, thirty-three. (Shout): Thirty Six!!
Oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse, open sleigh. Thirty six!4 THE FOURS: (Tune of "Row Row Row Your Boat")
Four, Eight, Twelve Sixteen, Twenty Twenty-four
Row, Row, Row your boat gently down the stream
Twenty-eight Thirty-two Thirty-six Forty
Merrily Merrily Merrily MerrilyForty-Four Forty-Eight
Life is but a dream5 THE SIXES (Tune of "Yankee Doodle")
Six, twelve eighteen twenty-four thirty thirty si-ixYankee Doodle went to town a-riding on a pony
Forty-two and Forty-eight and fifty-four and sixty.
Stuck a feather in his cap and called it macaroni
Sixty-six and Seventy-two (Shout: "Yankee Doodle Doodle Doo!")
Yankee Doodle Keep it up (Shout: Yankee Doodle Doodle Doo!")
--Also, for fun, watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwkgNf69ihY
It is called "I got six" on youtube
7 THE SEVENS (Tune of "Twinkle Little Star" which is also the ABCs tune)
Seven Fourteen Twenty-One Twenty-eight Thirty-five
Twinkle twinkle little star How I wond(er) Where you are
Forty-Two and Forty-Nine Fifty-Six, Sixty-three
Up above the world so high like a diamond in the skySeventy and Seventy-seven, eighty-four stars up in heaven.
Twinkle twinkle little star how I wonder what you are.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvqTizEfrhU (link to a rockin' version similar to this one that skips 7x11 and 7x12)
Or, just for fun, watch this School House rock video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDHTJGVWgG4 It's called "Lucky 7 Sampson"8 THE EIGHTS (Tune of "Rubber Duckie" )
Eight sixteen and twenty-four, thirty-two and forty moreRubber duckie you're the one. You make bath-time lots of fun.
Forty-eight, fifty-six, and sixty-four Boop Boop Dee Doop
Rubber duckie, I'm awfully fond of you boop boop dee doopSeventy-two Eighty and, Eighty-eight and ninety-six
Rubber duckie, joy of joys, when I squeeze you, you make noise
Da ba da ba da ba ba da ba ba dah!
Da ba da ba da ba ba da ba ba dah!Also, check out this rap-style longer song for the 8s: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNK9Q-mDS1U
9 THE NINES (Tune of "Three Blind Mice" )
Nine Eighteen Twenty-seven Thirty-six Forty-Five Three blind mice. Three blind mice. See how they run. See how they run.
Fifty-Four Sixty-three Seventy-two Eighty-one
They all ran after the farmer's wife who cut off their tails with a carving knife. Ninety a-a-and Ninety-nine One-Oh-Eight
Did you ever see such a sight in your life as three blind mice!?!
Helpful "trick" to learning the nines with your fingers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPgs9LmV5wc
11 NO SONG, since they're all "twins" of the other number: 22, 33, 44, 55, etc.
When you get to 10x11, 11x11, and 12x11, there's a pattern: 110, 121, 132. The one stays the same, but the middle digits and the last digits go up one consecutive number. 12 NO SONG, BUT A SHORT CHANT: "12 x 12 = 144 ! Close the shop and sell no more!"
You already know all the 12 times tables, from the 0 through 11 times tables. --All except for 12x12, which =144. Just memorize that one. No song needed, but for fun, watch this: Little Twelve Toes from "Schoolhouse Rock" --sped up "Alvin" style: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4NjgURDT54
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
I Am A Child of God - Jag Ar Guds Lilla Barn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOrcqqpHCt8
I LOVE THIS. The new music video and new singers and music for "I am a child of God." The baby and I listen to it several times a day. Actually, so does the whole family.
I LOVE THIS. The new music video and new singers and music for "I am a child of God." The baby and I listen to it several times a day. Actually, so does the whole family.
Why Motherhood is the Greatest Profession in the World
One of my pet peeves with our society is the celebrity gossip magazines that line the aisles as you want to pay for your groceries. Why do people honor and idolize fame-- especially when that fame is so often ignoble rather than noble? Drives me crazy. Gossip, gossip. Can't we raise ourselves above this and focus on the many other important, intriguing, hilarious, and beautiful things in the world?
Also, why don't we praise mothers more than we do? I love this quote from David O. McKay:
Also, why don't we praise mothers more than we do? I love this quote from David O. McKay:
"…Motherhood is the most beautiful of all arts, the greatest of all professions. She who can paint a masterpiece, or who can write a book that will influence millions, deserve the plaudits and admiration of mankind; but she who rears successfully a family of healthy, beautiful sons and daughters whose immortal souls will exert influence throughout the ages long after paintings shall have faded, and books and statues shall have decayed or been destroyed, deserves the highest honor that man can give, and the choicest blessings of God." — David O. McKay
Imagine that instead of having billions of good moms and only a handful of famous celebrities, politicians, writers, artists, sports-stars, etc., we had the opposite. There were billions of Shakespeares, Jimmer Fredettes, Rembrandts, J.K. Rowlings, and only a handful --maybe only fifteen living women who were capable of being mothers, who were physically able to give birth to human beings and to raise them. How we would long to be one of the chosen fifteen! How we would envy that glorious experience! Think of it! Motherhood is so very miraculous. Never, never forget or undervalue this life mission so many of us are living!
Imagine that instead of having billions of good moms and only a handful of famous celebrities, politicians, writers, artists, sports-stars, etc., we had the opposite. There were billions of Shakespeares, Jimmer Fredettes, Rembrandts, J.K. Rowlings, and only a handful --maybe only fifteen living women who were capable of being mothers, who were physically able to give birth to human beings and to raise them. How we would long to be one of the chosen fifteen! How we would envy that glorious experience! Think of it! Motherhood is so very miraculous. Never, never forget or undervalue this life mission so many of us are living!
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Turning Fourteen
I'm letting my daughter go to her first real boy-girl party dance today. It's a little scary. I've grilled her about the rules-- no getting in a car with a teenage driver, dance with many boys instead of just one until you are much older, text me to come pick you up if there are bad movies, bad activities, or a bad feeling of any kind.
She is a free agent. We all are, little by little, bit by bit. Just like the baby's getting weaned bit by bit. Independence dawns too fast for this mom, though.
I just want her to be as happy, carefree, and rich in every way that she can possibly be. And I hope she can outsmart this wily world. It ain't easy.
Meanwhile, we just got back from back to school night for my third grader. He wishes school started tomorrow morning instead. He is so excited.
I miss the kids when school starts. I don't even understand people who don't miss their kids. I am not on that planet. I wish the school day were shorter.
Sigh.
She is a free agent. We all are, little by little, bit by bit. Just like the baby's getting weaned bit by bit. Independence dawns too fast for this mom, though.
I just want her to be as happy, carefree, and rich in every way that she can possibly be. And I hope she can outsmart this wily world. It ain't easy.
Meanwhile, we just got back from back to school night for my third grader. He wishes school started tomorrow morning instead. He is so excited.
I miss the kids when school starts. I don't even understand people who don't miss their kids. I am not on that planet. I wish the school day were shorter.
Sigh.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Capturing the Moment
Right now, Baby H. is playing with AJ's old shoelace. AJ is playing with Baby H's old elephant rattle. It's like, one kids' trash is another kids' treasure.
The oven's beeping. The lasagne is done. Meatless, whole wheat, homemade tomato sauce lasagne.
"Svenska, Please," I say, when AJ tells Baby H no in English. The baby was sucking on the old dirty shoelace. Now he's got the elephant rattle.
AJ can't go play with a friend until he's done his chores and he's being slow to do them, so I guess I get his company today all day. Fine with me. I love that little kid. I just got him and CE back from their father's house yesterday.
School starts this week. I will really, really miss them then. I wish school was about 4 hours long, not 6 or 7. I bet with a little efficiency, we could pull that off. Mothers miss their kids.
I would homeschool if I were more organized. But how do you get laundry, cooking, shopping, dishes, baby tending, schooling, grading, and a million other things done simultaneously? I do not know. I find it hard to even get my shower some days.
CE is home from babysitting the neighbors. She is wearing a pink shirt, a pink flowered hair thing, black shorts, and a tan. High school starts this week!!
The oven's beeping. The lasagne is done. Meatless, whole wheat, homemade tomato sauce lasagne.
"Svenska, Please," I say, when AJ tells Baby H no in English. The baby was sucking on the old dirty shoelace. Now he's got the elephant rattle.
AJ can't go play with a friend until he's done his chores and he's being slow to do them, so I guess I get his company today all day. Fine with me. I love that little kid. I just got him and CE back from their father's house yesterday.
School starts this week. I will really, really miss them then. I wish school was about 4 hours long, not 6 or 7. I bet with a little efficiency, we could pull that off. Mothers miss their kids.
I would homeschool if I were more organized. But how do you get laundry, cooking, shopping, dishes, baby tending, schooling, grading, and a million other things done simultaneously? I do not know. I find it hard to even get my shower some days.
CE is home from babysitting the neighbors. She is wearing a pink shirt, a pink flowered hair thing, black shorts, and a tan. High school starts this week!!
Jane Austen, the Economy, and Voting Notions
I find there is less and less common sense in the world, so when I find some, I collect it. Here's an example or two:
One columnist wrote this:
"... I would raise the voting age to 26. If you're still covered by your parents' insurance policies, you're not an adult. The only exceptions to the rule would be young people serving in the military. I would also require those people who aren't old enough to collect Social Security to prove they pay income taxes. If there is a screwier notion than allowing those who pay no income taxes to vote for those in a position to force those of us who do pay them to pay even more for the benefit of those who don't pay any, I don't want to hear about it. ... Finally, I would insist that anyone who wishes to cast a ballot prove he can read English by passing a basic civics exam. If you don't know who George Washington was and you have no idea what the Bill of Rights is, you have no God-given right to cancel out the vote of someone who does. I mean, for crying out loud, you have to pass a written test and prove you can parallel park to get a driver's license. In order to vote for our political leaders, shouldn't you have to prove anything beyond the fact that you're still alive and breathing -- or, in the case of Chicago elections, that you were ever alive and breathing?" --columnist Burt Prelutsky
I also liked this quote from Australia's Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, who is not as wishy washy, wimpy and politically "correct" as we in America often are. She said:
"I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians.
'This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom'
'We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society. Learn the language!'
'Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.'
'We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.'
'This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, 'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'.'
'If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.' -Julia Gillard, Prime Minister of Australia
And lastly, from Oliver DeMille:
One columnist wrote this:
"... I would raise the voting age to 26. If you're still covered by your parents' insurance policies, you're not an adult. The only exceptions to the rule would be young people serving in the military. I would also require those people who aren't old enough to collect Social Security to prove they pay income taxes. If there is a screwier notion than allowing those who pay no income taxes to vote for those in a position to force those of us who do pay them to pay even more for the benefit of those who don't pay any, I don't want to hear about it. ... Finally, I would insist that anyone who wishes to cast a ballot prove he can read English by passing a basic civics exam. If you don't know who George Washington was and you have no idea what the Bill of Rights is, you have no God-given right to cancel out the vote of someone who does. I mean, for crying out loud, you have to pass a written test and prove you can parallel park to get a driver's license. In order to vote for our political leaders, shouldn't you have to prove anything beyond the fact that you're still alive and breathing -- or, in the case of Chicago elections, that you were ever alive and breathing?" --columnist Burt Prelutsky
I also liked this quote from Australia's Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, who is not as wishy washy, wimpy and politically "correct" as we in America often are. She said:
"I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians.
'This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom'
'We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society. Learn the language!'
'Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.'
'We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.'
'This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, 'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'.'
'If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.' -Julia Gillard, Prime Minister of Australia
And lastly, from Oliver DeMille:
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that when a nation treats business badly, corporations with extra capital take it abroad and the home nation faces job losses and economic challenges.
Such nations experience widespread anxiety about their future, problems feel overwhelming, and the leaders seem unable—or unwilling—to find and implement effective solutions.
But the answers are actually quite clear, if only the people and their leaders have the courage to apply them.
When great nations struggling with debt, deficits, sluggish growth and high unemployment cultivate the most friendly global environment for business investment and economic growth, their economy booms and flourishes.
The current debate in Washington about debts, deficits, taxes, spending cuts and political parties is a lot like a Jane Austen novel.
There are attractive, well-spoken charmers who turn out to be villains, shockingly inappropriate self-promoters, and well-meaning individuals of influence whose personal flaws and arrogance cause problems around them—even as they are entertaining to the audience.
There are also regular, good people who stand to gain or lose a lot.
And, above all, there is the romance of important things happening, things which touch us on a level deeper than the intellect.
The most striking similarity, however, may be that the first paragraph of the story—and even the title—contain the whole answer.
Readers who carefully ponder the thoughts of the first paragraph of certain Austen novels get a preview and veritable overview of the whole plot to come.
In Pride and Prejudice, for example, the reader discovers in the first several sentences that the daughters of a modestly-situated family are in need of marrying well and that their prospects have just improved due to the proximity of a promising young man.
The plot is pretty much determined at this point.
The girl will get the boy, after some courtship, disappointments, major crisis, and so on.
And since we are told right off the bat that more than one girl needs to get a boy, we can be sure that at least some of them will succeed.
The title helps too: we can be fairly certain that the disappointments and crises will have something to do with pride, prejudice and misunderstandings, and that when these flaws are overcome the crises will be over and the story will find resolution.
The same is true of our current national narrative, which could be entitled Debts and Deficits.
Chapter II: A Rocket Science Conclusion
It really isn’t rocket science to conclude, even without going into detail, that deficits will be solved by spending less than we bring in, and that debt will be overcome either by not borrowing too much in the first place or by growing the economy to bring in surpluses that pay off the obligated amount.
Of course, it is in the details, dialogues, relationships and minutiae that the real fun is found.
Who will succeed?
Who will show their true colors?
Which characters will face reality and change?
How will the audience respond?
Still, whatever the particulars, the plot is generally known from the beginning.
Yes, it is within the realm of possibility that the whole thing could turn strangely off course.
The story could progress, develop and build toward crescendo only to suddenly go in some strange and totally unexpected direction, but only by refusing to overcome the debts and deficits.
These are what the story is about, after all, so dealing with them is vital—and eventually this is what will happen.
Americans want two things which seem to be in conflict with each other.
Chapter III: Greedy Americans
First, they want freedom, opportunity, prosperity, low taxes and non-intrusive government, and, second, they want a lot of government programs that provide significant benefits which they have become accustomed to enjoying—from roads and schools to trash collection, national defense, personal protection, prescription drug benefits, retirement checks, and much more.
At first glance, it seems impossible to simultaneously increase both.
Either government spending must go down or taxes must go up.
This is the crisis.
Darcy wants massive new programs that will require huge government spending increases, while Lizzie wants tax cuts and decreases in government red tape.
You can imagine the letters they would exchange on the subject.
As the disagreements escalate, both sides eventually resort to name calling: “inferior connections,” “lack of gentlemanly behavior,” “tax cuts for the rich,” “socialists,” “party of no,” “the President has no plan,” etc.
Still, the plot is basically set: overcome your pride or you won’t get what you want, realize that your prejudice has caused you to misread people and their real character, spend less than the nation takes in or see fiscal problems exponentially increase, become attractive to business investment and hiring or watch the economy and unemployment continue to sputter.
Mrs. Bennett’s behavior is shocking; no wonder Darcy feels pride in comparison.
The corporate tax rates in the United States are double those of our top competitors; no wonder jobs are scarce in the United States.
Sometimes the context tells the whole story.
David Cote said on Meet the Press:
“Right now the problem we’ve got is uncertainty of demand. Businesses don’t add until they’re sure that somebody is going to want to actually buy something. To that we’ve added uncertainty of regulation, and when you combine those two it just causes businesses to say, ‘I’m going to wait a little bit.’ And I always find it interesting when I hear government say, ‘We need to create jobs…’ Actually, government doesn’t create jobs. Government can create an environment where jobs can be created, and I think it’s important to start to distinguish between the two.”
Ohio Governor John Kasich added, in the same conversation:
“In my state, where we faced an $8 billion deficit, we wiped it out and eliminated it, and here’s the interesting thing: we have just been taken off of negative watch [credit rating]. In the middle of this we also have jumped—according to CNBC—11 places in terms of business friendly [states]. We’ve been able to cut taxes, improve and reform government, and you know why? We looked it square in the eye because Ohio was dying, and we are beginning to really become business friendly. That is what they’re not doing here in D.C. right now.”
Ohio faced a massive deficit, and overcame it by becoming business friendly, by attracting business growth.
As a result, they were able to cut taxes and drastically improve their economy.
But Washington has yet to make such changes.
As Senator Marco Rubio said on Face the Nation,
“If you talk to job creators, not politicians, not presidents, they will tell you…they’re looking for some regulatory reform….because they think these regulations that are being imposed make America a more unfriendly place to do business. When people tell you, ‘communist China is a better place to do business than America,’ you know you’re in trouble.” ... (There's more: ) http://oliverdemille.com/2011/08/debts-deficits-jane-austen-story/
The Job Hunt
Well, DH lost his job. The big boss in Vermont told him he could either move to Vermont with a pay raise, or be fired. Lovely. Since we have a blended family, and taking the kids away from their other parents is not okay, we cannot move. Nor would we. The big boss is a fickle, tyrannical, non-listener, a bullheaded leader who trusts little, and therefore is not trusted by others.
We've been job hunting. Some days, I feel fine, laugh, smile, and see it all as a big adventure. Other days, my stomach is uneasy, I am sleepless, nervous, and spend a lot of time searching for jobs-- not only for DH, but also for me. I've gone on two interviews, but I've been halfhearted. I don't want to leave the baby with a babysitter to work. I'll do it if it's the only way we can buy groceries and pay for our house, but I don't want to. At what point should I do it? I guess I'll leave that up to DH.
Funny how certain items you used to think were essentials now become optionals when you are shopping. Funny how everything doesn't cost money, and a lot of things can be done on a shoestring. Funny how you count your blessings more when you lose a couple of the staples.
We've been job hunting. Some days, I feel fine, laugh, smile, and see it all as a big adventure. Other days, my stomach is uneasy, I am sleepless, nervous, and spend a lot of time searching for jobs-- not only for DH, but also for me. I've gone on two interviews, but I've been halfhearted. I don't want to leave the baby with a babysitter to work. I'll do it if it's the only way we can buy groceries and pay for our house, but I don't want to. At what point should I do it? I guess I'll leave that up to DH.
Funny how certain items you used to think were essentials now become optionals when you are shopping. Funny how everything doesn't cost money, and a lot of things can be done on a shoestring. Funny how you count your blessings more when you lose a couple of the staples.
Saturday, August 06, 2011
Swedish Stuff From a Missionary's pov: From a Swedish Mission Website
I read the following list on a Swedish Mission website. I think it's funny, especially because it's Sweden from the point of view of a non-Swedish LDS missionary.<><> <><>
Things That Are Different in Sweden: For Missionaries |
Completely in the spirit of fun, tongue-in-cheek, self-deprecating humor, here is a list of things that are different in Sweden from what we provincial Americans might expect.
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