Our Guests

We have had some guests for the last month. We found little momma and little girl about a month ago in the pool room of our apartment complex. The baby was only about 2 weeks old when we brought them home. They were both dehydrated and starving. Little momma must not have left her baby to seek food and water and so she was not able to feed the baby very much. I brought them home because I thought they were only going to stay for a little while. I am such a softy when it comes to animals. I wish I could have a safe farm where I could rescue animals. But I have a 3 bedroom apartment.

Anyway, I was under the impression that a neighbor was going to take the cats to a no-kill shelter a few weeks ago. A month has passed and they are still staying with us. Unfortunately little momma does not want to get along with all of the other cats. I am trying to find a home for both of them and it is so hard. Many people think cats are kind of a disposable pet. When they get inconvenient then they can just be released and put outside. There are so many animals at shelters that some are having to turn people away. Rutherford county has so many animals that they almost euthanize immediately because they can not find homes for all of the animals.

I have spent the better part of this morning trying to find a no-kill shelter that has available space. So far no luck. It is really tearing me up. I know they can't stay here even though I would love them to, maybe if they got along. But even then the money situation and having 5 cats in such a small apartment is not really helping them. Sometimes I really get angry at the world, at the people that are so insensitive and uncaring about animals.

Final Conference Happenings

Wednesday Recap:

After the uncomfortable luncheon speech we went out for a night out on the town. We met in the lobby of The Peabody. This hotel is so nice and has so much history that I could go on and on. But I won't - if your interested go to http://www.peabodymemphis.com/about_us/history.cfm

Anyway, we met in the lobby and then went out to eat at Rendezvous - a Memphis historic restaurant. Another place that has a lot of history. http://www.hogsfly.com/TheRestaurant.php or http://www.slate.com/id/2118542/entry/2118541/ I wasn't thrilled with the ribs or the food but you mileage may vary.

Then it was on to Friday's for dessert and some interesting conversation. ... It's amazing what you learn about people once they've had a couple of beers and their tongues become loose.

Then of course it was snooze time.

Thursday Recap:

More conference. Part of the conference are social events that the judges can sign up for. They could go off on their own, go golfing or to the Memphis Zoo. A staff member had to go to the zoo with them to get the tickets, lunch and make sure they get on the bus. (Cause you know we can't have judges running around all willy nilly). I got assigned to the zoo because I didn't want to lose 4 hours of pay because they got the afternoon off. So to the zoo I went.

After the zoo we went up to the hospitality suite to drop off some extra lunches and I finally got to see Elvis. Two of them to be exact. They were on their way to Graceland for the tour.

For dinner we went to Denny's. I love their clam chowder and we don't have a Denny's in Nashville. Did they have clam chowder? Of course not.

After that I was so worn out I went back to my room, called my family and then crashed.

Friday Recap:

Last day of conference. (Yeah!) If I had to stay another day I think I would have totally lost my mind. A week away from home after 3 days away from home at another conference was quite enough for me. Last day was uneventful, drive back was uneventful. Just the way I like to end a conference. Coming home and seeing my family, my cats and my wonderful comfy bed. I love my bed. I really think I could write poems about my wonderful, soft comfy bed.

Well that was my week in Memphis. Pics coming soon. As soon as I go to bed and then sleep late.

Conference Happenings 2

Wednesday was an interesting day. We had a speaker at the luncheon. His name is Peter Irons. Mr. Irons is considered an American political activist, civil rights attorney, legal scholar, and professor of political science. He was asked by one of the judges to come and speak. I found him to be very intelligent, well spoken and knowledgeable. However, and this is my opinion, I also found him to be a tiny bit evil. Now this is only based on me listening to his speech at lunch. What research I did online has him as being very well educated and highly recognized. However, I have to say my first thought was evil. Not just misled but promoting evil. I would like to do further research and I am thinking about going to the library to read one of his books to see whether or not I was just overreacting. His topics and books seem to be highly thought of and usually have to do with court cases dealing with the separation of church and state.

His speech too was regarding the separation of church and state. He mentioned that he was a card carrying member of the ACLU and mentioned several of his books. One of which is "God on Trial: Dispatches from America's Religious Battlefields". His main goal in my opinion was to have the judges remember that church and state need to be separate and this was the goal of the "framing forefathers". He mentioned that actually non-Christians are the ones that are in the majority and Christians tend to try and make things go there way without the consideration of other groups. He also mentioned that history proves this. Which in certain past events have been the truth - witch hunts and the inquisition come to mind. He does bring in both sides and tries to make statements that show that he is not choosing a side and yet I clearly felt that he was very against religion and more so Christianity. If I hadn't had to stay because of work I would have walked out.

After the lunch I really had him in my mind for the rest of the afternoon. I couldn't even make any comments because the people around me kept saying how highly he was thought of as a speaker. To my shame I wanted to say something and I didn't. I work with and for some people that are very anti-religion. So I said nothing.

Later that afternoon I got a close up with him as he picked up his speaking fee and gathered around the registration desk to have a mini-conversation with a few judges who think his way. I really felt this presence of him working for the devil and just doing the ground work. Smooth intelligent talker that is pretending to be fair to both sides and is yet promoting an underlying evil.

Again, if you have read his books or have heard him speak and you like other people think that he is wonderful, I say I'm sorry but I respectfully disagree. And since this is my blog and I am allowed to express my opinion, I thought I would.

Conference Happenings

I have to say conferences are hard when it comes to the socialization part. First I'm not the greatest person when it comes to conversation. Especially if I don't know you very well. I'm good if I have known you for awhile but I just get very self conscious and nervous around new people. Second I don't drink. It's a personal choice and kind of a long story. Third I don't know much about football, college or professional or apparently all things that are hip, cool or trendy.

So with those 3 things I'm a social misfit when it comes to conferences and the hospitality suite. I also don't fit in very well with my co-workers because they all are into football, all things trendy and all things alcoholic. Basically I feel like an Amish girl that just got dropped off at a fraternity/sorority during rush week.

Conferences are one of my biggest tests as a Christian. I'm a social non-alcoholic non-trendy outcast. But I'm saved. So I'm good.

On the Road Again

Well I'm on the road again. Actually I'm in a hotel room, but you get the idea. This time we are in Memphis. The home of the blues, Elvis, corrupt politicians and Beale Street. Not necessarily in that order.

Our conference is at The Peabody, home of the infamous ducks. I am staying next door at the DoubleTree. Why? Because it is WAY cheaper.

Tonight we are walking to Beale Street to have dinner. If I had enough guts I would take my camera - but I don't want it stolen or anything to happen to it. Ok, ok. Truth is I don't want to act like a tourist around my co-workers.

So here I go out on the town in Memphis. If I'm not blogging tomorrow send a search party. :-)

Whirlwind

I have started my whirlwind of activities again at work. I am so charged and to be honest I think I am bouncing off walls and acting like speedy gonzalez. At least it feels like that. This week once again I am at Paris Landing State Park for a conference. So that is what this post is mainly concerned about.

So that I have stayed in many different hotels for this job and to be honest state park inns do not rank really high. It is a lovely park and right on the water. They have a beautiful rose garden that is right next to the pool. However room wise I think some funding should be sent their way. A lot of it has to do with being spoiled. I don't mean to sound like I am complaining. I have a king size bed, cable tv, a nice view of the lake and pool and the people are very nice. But, I have no cell phone service. The hotel and the conference center are dead zones. You actually have to walk up a small hill to get service. There is no internet in the rooms. The only place that has internet access is the Lobby and the conference rooms. I am here in the lobby, which has very nice couches and box chairs to sit in. They also have a large screen tv, which to my regret is playing the presidential forum on Fox News. Tangent: Isn't that considered an oxymoron - it contradicts each other - Fox and News. Anyway, I would rather be watching something full of fluff - something where brain cells can take a vacation.

We just finished having a fish fry out at a large pavilion right on the lake. I had a good attendance, around 90 people showed. We had fried catfish, which at a state park seems to be mandatory, clam strips, white beans, coleslaw, potato salad and more importantly cherry & peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream. I could have done without the mosquitoes but I guess they have to eat too.

Tomorrow is our last day of conference and hopefully there will be no more snags. Every conference seems to have it's own little issue. When I was in Gatlinburg in June it was not having A/C, this conference has been a speaker canceling 2 hours before she was supposed to speak and some things that I asked to be done and weren't. But in the scheme of things All is good.

Well, that is my boring conference life so far or at the very least all I can remember right now. I'm tired so I can't be held accountable for my memory.

Next week Memphis..... Ooooooooooo

Interesting Article

This is an interesting article regarding Sarah Palin and being a working mother. I'm not saying anything more on that subject I think I made my position perfectly clear. :-)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26645070

Politics & the Media

Raise your hand if you wish the elections were over. Yeah me too. I am so over listening to the media try and act like the moral majority. They may represent a majority but I don't believe it has anything to do with morals.

It is amazing what we as viewers/readers of news will put up. I wonder how many people are as fed up as I am. When the media makes up it's collected mind on a subject, heaven help the person that it is attacking. Right now it is Sarah Palin. She is a working mother and of course now there is all this big deal about if she is being selfish by putting her profession above her children and her husband. Ok - now I do not know this woman and I do not know if she can actually be deemed selfish. But HELLO! We are in the 21st century. Women have always worked whether it is a home or in an office. Just because you work does not mean that you are putting your career ahead of your family. Oh and another thing. What about her husband - is he not expected to carry the weight as well just because she is a mom that means that she has to drop everything for her children or even put it on hold. So she works, AND? In this day and age women have to work to help the family make ends meet. This in NO way effects her feeling for her children or her husband. It is not a sin to be a mother and work or even to enjoy working.

In a perfect world women would still stay at home while the man of the house would work and bring home the money. Now again I do not know this woman and do not know her circumstances. I do know me and I know that if I had a choice I would not work I would be a stay at home mom in a heart beat. But I also know that as a working mom I do my best. When my son was younger I would make sure that I knew in advance any special events that I needed to attend or any important dates. I've even been on several field trips. I know some stay at home moms that have never been on a field trip let alone a parent/teacher conference. Having said that of course it is all relative. There are good moms and not so good moms and I don't think blaming the working mom is the answer. How about the dad, they work and I notice it's not mentioned about how they may be selfish for not spending enough time with their children.

It just REALLY ANNOYS me how the media is really trying to play up that she is a working mom. She has a newborn and a teenager that is pregnant. Let's blame her working. Can we get a broader picture? Where was the dad when his daughter was looking for love from some boy? A strong male role model will limit a girl from looking for love from someone else. Is that mentioned? Of course not let's blame the mom because she is running for VP.

Is it mentioned that children and teens who come from homes where parents (not just Mom) provide little emotional support for their children and fail to monitor their activities tend to have more emotional problems and get in more trouble than children who come from a home where there is emotional support whether from a single family home or with a mom working. Children from single parent homes, homes where both parents work and homes where one parent works can ALL have children with problems. To singularly blame a working mother for the downfall of humanity is reaching. AND yet media likes to portray that aspect.

Now I am not saying that if she was at home more that her daughter might not be pregnant but we don't know. So blaming her for working is reaching and a ploy to discredit her and in my opinion needs to stop.

I mean whatever happened to the issues - gas prices, the economy, the war. HEY media people - remember those. Let's hear about where the candidates stand on THOSE issues. C'mon are you news organizations or papparazzi.

The Church and its People

God is perfect, just, loving and forgiving. People are not. God keeps his promises. People do not.
So what do you do if you become disappointed with the church? Or more accurately the people/members/staff of a church.

The people of a church are its representatives. When they falter or make mistakes it can cause doubt and hurt feelings. When they act in a "non-christian" manner it can sometimes effect other members in a negative way. Overall we look at church goers to have a higher standard and to behave differently than the general population, even though they are only human. To a certain extent this is true, it is also true that the person looking at those church-goers should also realize that the people they are looking at are not perfect and have faults like everyone else.

So how do you overcome disappointment and hurt feelings relating to a church?

I guess you look at them as human and having their own struggles. But giving someone a second, third, etc. chance can be very hard. It's a struggle. But you need to set it aside and let it go. Easier said than done. But trusting God and not people is the way. On a higher level and thinking psychologically, disappointment in people helps take them from any elevated status to making them appear more human. This is so you trust in the Lord and not in people who may fail you. Sure it hurts, sure it weighs you down, but trusting in the Lord can lighten that load and be the help to lead to forgiveness.

Now I could go into "We are the body" and of course we should act like children of God. But again we are human and we have that basic human nature and fall very short of perfection. As Christians we strive to be more Christ like and that is our goal and yet we are imperfect. That is why we need Christ. Without Christ we can not reach our goal or be forgiven for being imperfect. So, it boils down to forgiveness and trust. Forgiveness is what we can give to other people and what God gives to us and trust that each experience is given to us by God.

Hebrews 12: 1-3
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

Hebrews 12:12-15
Therefore strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees, and make straight paths for our feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but healed instead. Pursue peace with everyone and holiness, without it no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and by it, defiling many.

SOTT 22

Anger issues - Caution