Compartments

Ancient History

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Drowning here in summer’s cauldron

…under mats of flower lava…*

The kids and I just returned from a week in Grand Junction. I drove the bunch there and back, over the mountains, over the rivers, over the continental divide. We had a wonderful time basking in grandparental love and the Grand Valley’s steady hot sunshine. I took about 800 photos. Here’s a few, including my once-in-a-blue-moon photo of me:

8 at the pool

Joel watches divers, Lincoln Park pool

Hand-picked by Teddy

strawberry shortcake

Strawberry Shortcake

Beatrix at Moon Farm, Fruita, Colorado

Aidan at the pool

Backyard flower

Fountain fun (with Sam's hippo)

Beatrix, Botanic Gardens children's play castle

swinging

Joel swinging

roses

My mom's roses

bubble wands

Bubble wands

Backyard slip-and-slide

US flag

Downtown GJ flag, July 4th, 2011

apple pie

Apple Pie for the 4th of July

Old plane which flew over the 4th of July parade

Waiting to watch fireworks

Another backyard flower (my mom has thousands)

Botanic gardens, Grand Junction

button flowers

Button flowers, backyard garden

Me!

(song lyrics from XTC’s “Summer’s Cauldron” which is on a continuous loop in my head these days)

Questions I (still) have

What would the world look like without vaccinations?

How long would it take for diseases to spread through our population if vaccine producers halted all production tomorrow?

Do you ever make decisions for your family that are good for your family, but arguably bad for society as a whole?

If a presidentail candidate could promise peace within our borders at the expense of upheaval in the rest of the world, is that a reconcilable choice?

If a presidential candidate could promise peace in the rest of the world but division at home, is that a reconcilable choice?

Why do some people believe the wildest conspiracy theories, but when told something simple and straight out of high school physics refuse to believe?

Why do people want to believe the worst of others?

Why do women care how other women give birth?

Why do women care how other women chose to feed their babies?

Why do some think it is reprehensible for mothers to work outside the home, yet they get mad if a woman takes government assitance enabling her to stay at home?

Why is it okay for a widow to raise children as a single mother, but a single mother shouldn’t raise children as a single mother?

Is there a secret underground city beneath Denver International Airport?

Does Mexico actively encourage its citizens to cross the border illegally?

What would the world look like with universal open borders? Would it be a safer place, or more dangerous? Would relatively peaceful countries be overrun by nuts, or would the nuts continue enjoying each others company indefinately? Would peaceful people be more willing to leave their countries, filitering in to dangerous hot spots?

Limited or unlimited atonement?

How can Christianity be so simple yet so complex at the same time?

If evolution is true, shouldn’t we welcome climate change, the fluxuation of species (including extinction), and any display demonstrating the fit are surviving? If the fit see fit to mess with climate, why should they be stopped? Won’t species adapt?

What is the oldest species? What is the youngest? When was it sponteously produced, and why?

Is it possible to speak of evolution without using the words “made”, “produced”, “created”?

Is mathematics—specifically geometry—proof there is meaning and order in the universe? Where did math come from, and why?

Can you prove love exists?

Why don’t I like Greek food?

What are the inherent, important differences between males and females? What is perceived as an important difference, but really isn’t?

What is perceived as a similarity between males and females, but really isn’t?

Are males being ignored or denigrated in our society as the result of hypersensitivity toward girls being “left out” for so long?

What does a society of weak men look like?

What does a society of weak women look like?

Why are people threatened by gender roles or the possibility that genders are different?

Why are feminists threatened by the choices of other women?

Why do traditional women feel threatened by feminism?

Are public schools actively trying to undermine parental authority? Is there a hidden agenda? What is it?

Do people who homeschool share the blame regarding the decline of quality, free, public education?

Under what form of government over the course of history have people led the happiest lives? How do you define happy? Is one person’s “happy” another person’s “miserable”? If all one has known is totalitarian rule, is there something inside that tells one there is a different way?

Could World War II have ended through sheer diplomacy if efforts were made earlier in the war? Or was it inevitable? How do you decide which wars are justified and which are not? What criteria, i.e. “hoops” must be jumped through to justify war?

Is the main stream media biased? Is it possible for a journalist to be 100% unbiased or impartial? Do we want them to be?

Do my rights end where your rights begin? Do we have the right to be happy? Do we have the right to have free healthcare? Do we have the right to have free food, clothing, and shelter—since those are necessities.

Should sixteen year olds of astonishing intellect be allowed to vote? Should adults with poor reasoning and life skills be allowed to vote? Who would determine such a thing?

Is “majority rule” an outdated idea?

Why are the people who brag about how tolerant they are often the most intolerant people? If one person is mad at another for being “intolerant” aren’t they being intolerant? Is tolerance today’s piousness?

When adults realize how romance does not equal love, why do thy perpetuate the idea, especially in media the young and naive are likely to watch?

Do people who enjoy or participate in p0rn mind when their daughters and sons end up in the business?

Is Islamofascism a real threat, and what would most Americans do if directly confronted by a physical invasion of our borders? Do Americans have the fortitude, ability, and equipment to fight or would we roll over and surrender?

Is the United States dying? Already dead? Thriving?

(originally posted on June 4, 2007 and reposted today because I still don’t know the answers)

I’m a fuddy-duddy, pucker-mouthed prude

Would you allow your teenager to have a sleepover with his/her boyfriend or girlfriend in your home, with your blessing?

This debate surfaces every few years. There’s always a new batch of parents claiming it’s the safest option for their children. It’s the old “they’re gonna do it anyway…” outlook on life. It’s parenting by surrender. Wave that white flag, mama, you are no match for raging testosterone. Right? Wrong? Somewhere in between?

My full rant can be found over at Mile High Mamas. I’ve said this before: You don’t have to be gasping for air to go there. You can be at 100 feet in elevation and still participate. Love to see you there!