Hey Baby, what's your sign?

Have you ever noticed all the signs that people put up on the road? Of course there are the yard sale signs and the garage sale signs and the estate sale signs. Because I live in a “historical” area (the Spanish conquistadores settled Espanola as the first capitol in what we now consider the United States before moving it to Santa Fe well over 300 years ago…and you’re welcome for the history lesson) there are often signs pointing out special historic tours. There are however, once in awhile, some signs that are intriguing. Not too long ago there was a sign up on the highway by my house that said “barn sale.” What the heck is a barn sale? I had kind of imagined a sale of barns or maybe a sale of barn type animals…you know, a table full of baby chicks…4 for $5. I know, it’s a little sick, but it does make for a funny mental image. Well it turned out to be an art sale (not that I went, but I heard the buzz around town). How lame is that?...an art sale disguised as a cool barn sale (there are also a lot of artsy fartsy weirdoes around here…sorry, I mean creative geniuses…okay, I really mean artsy fartsy weirdoes.) Well for the last couple of days there have been signs out around town that have “O ’ K” with an arrow pointing in what I assume is the direction of whatever that sign means. I’ll be honest, I’ve been tempted to follow the arrows just to see where they lead and what the heck that sign means. So, I was thinking that maybe I should make up some weird signs with arrows and paste them up around town. I was thinking that I could either stick them up so that they lead in just a big circle or have them lead to a really strange destination (I don’t know, maybe the city dump or something). I wonder how many people would just follow it to see (probably all the people like me). Anyway it was just a thought.
On a completely different note, my homegirl Bettie had a totally scary encounter at the Little Caesar’s the other night. So like any city of respectable size, Espanola has its fair share of vagrants. Every so often one is approached for spare change or whatever else a vagabond may need. Well in this manner, she was approached by a guy who asked for change…she gave him a couple of dollars. Well, he proceeds to tell her that he is trying to get to Albuquerque because he just got out of prison and was staying with his brother…but, that was working out because he just beat his brother up. She said that as he got closer she saw that he was all bloody and he then started following her to her car until a different car drove up. Totally freaky. Of course, when she got home she was totally an emotional wreck…which is way better than I would have been. Needless to say we will not be venturing out of our car at night alone anymore.
That reminds me, a couple of months ago there was a guy in Santa Fe with a sign that said “Trying to get to San Francisco, I’m Korean.” I’m glad this guy has aspirations, but really, do we need to bring race into it? I think if I were going to make a sign for myself, it would say “Need a vacation, every penny helps" or maybe "Need a new pair of shoes, please help."
So, what would your sign say?...And avoid bloody men in dark parking lots...or just in general.

Paranoia, paranoia, everybody's out to get me..

Although I hate to admit it, I find that I am something of a conspiracy theorist. Now don’t get me wrong, I generally don’t think that the government is out to get me (most of the time, but I’ve had to bust out my evasive driving tactics a few times…okay not really, but I sometimes take an unnecessary turn if I feel like someone has been following me too long which is totally not a joke)…and I’m pretty sure that the moon landing actually happened (I watched a Myth Busters about that one). When I see an abandoned car on the side of the road I automatically assume that there is a dead body somehow involved…particularly if the car is in a remote place. I’ve also noted that there haven’t been very many low riders around lately. In fact, I haven’t seen one in quite some time. My homeskillet Bettie and I were discussing this fact over the weekend. We finally concluded that just as video killed the radio star, gas prices may have killed the low rider. Don’t get me wrong, I am ecstatic over the recent price dropping (I hear the gas is down to $2.05 in Albuquerque…its still $2.39 here) but I wonder if there is a greater conspiracy at work. Perhaps there is a granola/tree-hugger environmental rage which has many a cholo upending their roots and heritage. Maybe this is why there is such an advent of the previously mentioned low-rider bicycles (see blog posted 9/11/08). I don’t have the answers, but it’s one of those things that make me go hmmmm.
I also wonder if many of these small so-called used car dealerships really are what they say. In these hard economic times I question their staying power. There are two particular ones that I am thinking of, one in Santa Fe and one in Espanola. These two “dealerships” have been around for many years…probably as long as I can remember (which isn’t saying much since I can’t really remember what day it is most of the time). Anyway, both of these “dealerships” (I’ve decided to use quotes to emphasize the fact that I don’t really think they are…if I were talking to you I would probably even do air quotes) frequently have high end cars (and I’m not just talking BMW/Mercedes high end, but like Astin Martin high end) in their crummy buildings that I’m sure were built post WW II to be gas stations. Add to that the fact that I never see anyone actually frequenting these places, I’m pretty sure that they are front for something. Mind you I don’t plan on stopping by to find out for what…like I need some guy named Guido pulling out a nine and “taking care of me” (Okay, so I watch too many movies…and maybe I’m a little less gangsta than I think I am).
So, as I was pondering my conspiracy theories I started to wonder what other people have paranoid theories about. What are some of yours?...and kudos to those of you who got blog title! (hint: it's a song)

As for me and my house...

I know that I can be a little silly and often make jokes (albeit lame ones) on my blog. But this is something I am passionate about.

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. -Joshua 24:15"

I stole the following from my friend Kera's (who lives in California) blog. I couldn't have said it any better so I did a little cut and paste.

"As most of you know, California voters passed Proposition 8, banning same-sex marriage. It suprised me to know there were still many people who were willing to stand up for their morals. It also surprised me to see the anger and hatred from other people. There are people who are "blaming" the fact that this proposition passed on the Mormons. The one thing that doesn't surprise me is that the Church is being attacked once again. Yesterday there were protesters marching in West Hollywood, and somehow they ended up at the Los Angeles temple grounds. There were so many people, carrying signs calling the church bigoted, and saying go back to utah, so many people that the temple had to close. I haven't heard anything today about it, because I don't always follow the news, so I don't know if they are still there or if the temple is open again. It makes no sense, because there were so many other churches and organizations backing the amendment. But of course, they chose the true church to hate on... Anyway, here are some words from Elder Neal A. Maxwell. They gave me a renewed perspective and motivation, and confirmed my own personal faith. Like I said, very powerful and prophetic. (this is from 1978, by the way)

From Elder Neal A. Maxwell:
"Make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters, in the months and years ahead, events are likely to require each member to decide whether or not he will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions. President Marion G. Romney said, many years ago, that he had 'never hesitated to follow the counsel of the Authorities of the Church even though it crossed my social, professional or political life..'


"This is hard doctrine, but it is particularly vital doctrine in a society which is becoming more wicked. In short, brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Christ. . . . Your discipleship may see the time when such religious convictions are discounted. . . . This new irreligious imperialism seeks to disallow certain opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religious convictions.

"Resistance to abortion will be seen as primitive. Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as untrendy and unenlightened....

"Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes will be lost. Even in these, however, let us leave a record so that the choices are clear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel.

"There will also be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems probable, but others will step forward, having been rallied to rightness by what we do. We will know the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds which was, till then, unconscious of itself.

"Jesus said that when the fig trees put forth their leaves, 'summer is nigh.' Thus warned that summer is upon us, let us not then complain of the heat."

A More Determined Discipleship By Elder Neal A. Maxwell"

Liar liar pants on fire

Is it just me or has everyone been having a crazy life lately. Mother Teresa said “I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much.” (even though I’m sure that that is a translation, I wonder if you’re supposed to put quotes around a translation…hmmm) That is definitely how I’ve been feeling the last week or two or three…Anyway, lest you think that I’ve fallen off the face of the earth or am hiding under a rock, I’ve decided to post on my blog today. Which totally reminds me that my parents used to tell us that they found us under a rock…I wonder what kind of psychological damage that has had…thanks a lot guys!...I think I will use that, sorry I’m such a weirdo but my parents told me they found me under a rock. That has me thinking about some of the other lies that parents tell their children. I don’t have any children, but I’m not exempt from lying to children. My nephews have been told many a tall tale by me (sorry sis) and I’m sure that any future nieces or nephews will also be subject to stories. I even lie to the little kids at church. I had several of them convinced that my sister was a real vampire at the ward Halloween party. I’m sure this builds confidence for all the parents of my future students. I have yet to tell stories to the kiddies at the school where I am doing some of my student teaching so that has to be promising.
So, today is Election Day! Woo-hoo! It’s almost over! I hope you all have voted or are planning to cast you vote sometime today! Today I’m wearing a “My Vote Counted” sticker that I got when I voted this morning. When I was voting there was a guy there with his son who looked at his dad and said, "Is this boating?" in a very disappointed way. Apparently he understood boating when his dad told him they were voting today. I won’t get all political on you but as part of being an American I urge everyone to take advantage of your right and to take responsibility. On a sadder note, because it is Election Day all the regularly scheduled TV is out the door. I for one don’t care to listen to all the political commentary on every single channel. I do care who wins, just tell me when it’s all over.
On a completely separate note, Happy Birthday to Ralph Macchio! Can you believe the karate kid is 47!?! Which means that he was 23 when they did the first karate kid!!! More like Karate Man…I suppose that doesn’t have the same ring to it.
So, I’ve written a broad range of thoughts today…so I expect a lot of comments! Tell me some of the lies you tell your kids…or you can tell me about your voting experience…or about your feelings on the Karate Kid!...And go vote!