"Expelled" Gets Two Thumbs Up From Us!

We saw "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" last night. It was Fascinating! Very well done - and eye-opening about what is happening with science education and research about evolution . If you can, go see it, and support Ben Stein in his effort to create acceptance for open dialogue about Intelligent Design. Has anyone else seen it? What did you think?

Our bedroom is all painted, and we LOVE it! The color is "ivory sampler", but it seems much darker than an ivory to us - more like a very light brown. We also rearranged the furniture, and now it feels like we have an entirely new room. Funny how a couple simple changes can be so exciting and feel so different.

Spring Break Week

It's Spring Break! Wahooeee! Rocky's surgery on Monday went well. The vet recommended lab testing be done on his tumor. We decided against it. We'll just let things run their course and hope the surgery took care of it. Rocky was a little mellow on Monday, but he has acted totally normal since then, and he's not scratching or biting his stitches, so we're doing good!

On Saturday we painted our garage floor. It looks awesome! It is a gray paint with speckles. Should make it much easier to keep clean - you can wipe grease off it.

Today I'm painting our bedroom! But I still haven't decided on the color. I really like a color for a couple hours, then I decide I'd like something else better. Then I worry I won't like that color and decide on a different one. I haven't been set on anything for longer than a few hours. Hmmm. Indecision is one of my vices.

We're excited to go see a movie my sister-in-law Jen told us about. "Expelled" stars Ben Stein (sp?) and comes out this Friday, April 18th. It's a documentary on scientists who support, research, and/or dialogue about the concept of Intelligent Design and the discrimination they receive because of it. He advocates for including this concept in our dialogue about evolution and the origin of man. Definitely something we want to support.

Rocky's Surgery

I took Rocky to the vet, and she said his lump needs to come off. He's scheduled for surgery on Monday (April 14th), and we'll find out that day whether there is enough concern about it to warrant doing some lab tests. She said the lump had some discoloration she was concerned about. I hope it's okay to pray for guinea pigs, because that's what I'm doing. I've gotten kind of attached to him.

Update: April 9, 2008

We had a wonderful General Conference weekend, spending Sunday at my grandparents' house in Salt Lake with extended family. I love the spiritual boost we get every 6 months!

Rocky, our guinea pig, has a large cyst on his back (about the size of a quarter). I've made an appointment with a vet to find out what is going on. Suddenly I have motivation to give Rocky a bath, clip his nails, trim the matted fur. It's like looking at your house when c0mpany is coming over and seeing dust and clutter you never saw before. We're crossing our fingers that everything is okay and hoping we don't have to put a dollar value on our little friend (how much do you justify spending on guinea pig surgery???).

Earthquake Preparedness

Before an Earthquake:
1. Secure heavy items, furnaces, water heaters, etc. in your home. Hang heavy pictures and mirrors away from beds and couches as they can fall on you in an earthquake. Make sure valuable items on display are protected by a lip on the shelf if possible. Place large, heavy objects on lower shelves. Know how to turn off the gas and water in your home. Store flammable materials (weed killer, pesticides, etc.) in low cupboards with latches to secure them closed.
2. Have a 72 hour kit ready to go in your home and emergency supplies in your car.
3. Designate safe spots in each room of the house in case of an earthquake. These could be under heavy furniture, against an inside wall, away from windows and heavy bookcases.
4. Determine a meeting place outside the home and one outside the neighborhood in case you are away from your home when the earthquake hits.
5. Determine an out-of-state contact that family could call who can coordinate information about members of the family (long-distance calls may be much easier to make in an emergency).

During an Earthquake:
1. If you are inside, do not go outside.
2. If you are in a car, pull over to the side of the road when it is safe (away from power lines, tall buildings, etc.). Stay inside your car.
3. If you are outside, go to the middle of an open area. Stay away from tall buildings, freeway overpasses, bridges, wires, etc.

Family Emergency Meeting Plan:
Location: Bell Tower Chapel on North Temple in Provo
Out-of-State Contact: Kelley Ashcroft

Links to a few internet resources:
http://seagrant.uaf.edu/features/earthquake/index.html
http://www.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake/index.shtm
http://www.weatherwizkids.com/earthquake.htm

Fiscal Awareness

Here is some information we feel is worthy of sharing with all our friends and family about the financial state of the union and the implications for the future of the United States.

www.meridianmagazine.com/ideas/080306danger.html

This link is to a Meridian Magazine article by Stephen Studdert, a former whitehouse advisor to presidents George W. Bush, Reagan, and Ford. Here are a couple excerpts from the article:

"Studdert lists ten dangers including the triple threat to our global economic dominance posed by China, India and Russia; the time bomb of American debt; our unfunded entitlement programs; radical Islam and terrorism; federal government stupidity; the bursting of the housing bubble; our unquenchable thirst for oil; immigration insanity; pandemic plagues; and America’s failing infrastructure."

"His intent is not to frighten readers, but help them assess the risks and dangers that exist from following the policies America is currently pursuing. He says, “We need to hear the real facts and the plain truth even if it hurts.”