Tuesday, March 31, 2009
This makes me a little uncomfortable
So last night DTB and I were relaxing when the guards called that we had a visitor. Since I don't known anybody DTB went to see our uninvited guest. He was a young man we had met briefly a week ago (once) who had traveled by bus for three hours to ask us if we would pay his rent for the month, because he'd lost his job. I don't even know his name. Is it me, or is that weird?
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Free to Choose
A few years ago Dad-the-bad gave me the book Free to Choose by Milton Freedman for Mother's Day. Since then I have become an advocate of the free market. Ashley Fernashley sent me this great video, which sums up his philosophies on economics. Milton, where are you?
http://www.nmatv.com/video/1115/Milton-Friedman-and-Phil-Donahue--1979
Go to this site if you want to view the video. Apparently, nobody in Washington has seen it.
http://www.nmatv.com/video/1115/Milton-Friedman-and-Phil-Donahue--1979
Go to this site if you want to view the video. Apparently, nobody in Washington has seen it.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Happy Birthday Bexie!!
Here are some of the reasons I love Bex:
1. She's a great mom.
2. She copes with stress quite well. I don't know how she survived Caroline's first year.
3. Can anyone find better coupon deals? I don't think so.
4. Bexar is the queen of baking.
1. She's a great mom.
2. She copes with stress quite well. I don't know how she survived Caroline's first year.
3. Can anyone find better coupon deals? I don't think so.
4. Bexar is the queen of baking.
5. Although she was somewhat of a couch potato when young, she turned out to be quite athletic.
6. She gets excited about little things - like going to Target.
7. She loves to sew! (amazing to me)
8. She stays home all day with two kids and then can manage a room full of toddlers in nursery every week.
9. She is amazingly mature and doesn't even stomp anymore.
10. She is a great daughter and a wonderful person.
Happy Birthday Bex. I love you!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Benito Juárez
Thanks to Benito Juárez, we had a day off today. Dad-the-bad and I painted the living room and it looks great! Since we're obliged to him for the holiday, I thought I´d enlighten you a little.
Benito Pablo Juárez García (March 21, 1806 – July 18, 1872) was a Zapotec Amerindian who served five terms as president of Mexico. For resisting the French occupation, overthrowing the Empire, and restoring the Republic, as well as for his efforts to modernize the country, Juárez is often regarded as Mexico's greatest and most beloved leader. Juárez was recognized by the United States as a ruler in exile during the French-controlled Second Mexican Empire, and got their support in reclaiming Mexico under the Monroe Doctrine after the United States Civil War ended. Benito Juárez was the first Mexican leader who did not have a military background, and also the first full-blooded indigenous national to serve as President of Mexico and to lead a country in the Western Hemisphere in over 300 years.
Today Benito Juárez is remembered as being a progressive reformer dedicated to democracy, equal rights for his nation's indigenous peoples, lessening the great power that the Roman Catholic Church then held over Mexican politics, and the defence of national sovereignty. The period of his leadership is known in Mexican history as La Reforma (the reform), and constituted a liberal political and social revolution with major institutional consequences: the expropriation of church lands, bringing the army under civilian control, liquidation of peasant communal land holdings, the separation of church and state in public affairs, and also led to the almost-complete disenfranchisement of bishops, priests, nuns and lay brothers.
"La Reforma" represented the triumph of Mexico's liberal, federalist, anti-clerical, and pro-capitalist forces over the conservative, centralist, corporatist, and theocratic elements that sought to reconstitute a locally-run version of the old colonial system. It replaced a semi-feudal social system with a more market-driven one, but following Juárez's death, the lack of adequate democratic and institutional stability soon led to a return to levels of centralized autocracy and economic exploitation under the regime of Porfirio Díaz :( that surpassed anything from the colonial or conservative eras; a conservative government under liberal gowns. The Porfiriato (Porfirist era), in turn, collapsed at the beginning of the Mexican Revolution.
His most famous quote: Entre los individuos, como entre las naciones, el respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz, meaning "Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace."
Benito Pablo Juárez García (March 21, 1806 – July 18, 1872) was a Zapotec Amerindian who served five terms as president of Mexico. For resisting the French occupation, overthrowing the Empire, and restoring the Republic, as well as for his efforts to modernize the country, Juárez is often regarded as Mexico's greatest and most beloved leader. Juárez was recognized by the United States as a ruler in exile during the French-controlled Second Mexican Empire, and got their support in reclaiming Mexico under the Monroe Doctrine after the United States Civil War ended. Benito Juárez was the first Mexican leader who did not have a military background, and also the first full-blooded indigenous national to serve as President of Mexico and to lead a country in the Western Hemisphere in over 300 years.
Today Benito Juárez is remembered as being a progressive reformer dedicated to democracy, equal rights for his nation's indigenous peoples, lessening the great power that the Roman Catholic Church then held over Mexican politics, and the defence of national sovereignty. The period of his leadership is known in Mexican history as La Reforma (the reform), and constituted a liberal political and social revolution with major institutional consequences: the expropriation of church lands, bringing the army under civilian control, liquidation of peasant communal land holdings, the separation of church and state in public affairs, and also led to the almost-complete disenfranchisement of bishops, priests, nuns and lay brothers.
"La Reforma" represented the triumph of Mexico's liberal, federalist, anti-clerical, and pro-capitalist forces over the conservative, centralist, corporatist, and theocratic elements that sought to reconstitute a locally-run version of the old colonial system. It replaced a semi-feudal social system with a more market-driven one, but following Juárez's death, the lack of adequate democratic and institutional stability soon led to a return to levels of centralized autocracy and economic exploitation under the regime of Porfirio Díaz :( that surpassed anything from the colonial or conservative eras; a conservative government under liberal gowns. The Porfiriato (Porfirist era), in turn, collapsed at the beginning of the Mexican Revolution.
His most famous quote: Entre los individuos, como entre las naciones, el respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz, meaning "Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace."
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Fun in Houston
We went to Houston last weekend to attend Surf's baby shower. We're always looking for excuses to go visit kids. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get any good pictures at the baby shower. My camera wasn't cooperating. Fortunately, dad-the-bad wanted a new camera for his birthday, so we were able to get some pics of the rest of the weekend.
We had fun playing with the kids . . .
swinging. . .
riding bikes . . .
It was a great weekend. Ryan cooked a brisket for dad's birthday, which was the best I've ever had (including restaurants.) Sorry I didn't get pics. Bethany bought him a cake from Ooh La La! with which we each gained 5 lbs. (oops!) Thanks Bethany and Brandon for letting us stay at your house. Thanks Ryan and Brianna for hosting the party - again. And thanks Carrie and Shawn for making the trip out to Katy - twice!
We had fun playing with the kids . . .
swinging. . .
riding bikes . . .
It was a great weekend. Ryan cooked a brisket for dad's birthday, which was the best I've ever had (including restaurants.) Sorry I didn't get pics. Bethany bought him a cake from Ooh La La! with which we each gained 5 lbs. (oops!) Thanks Bethany and Brandon for letting us stay at your house. Thanks Ryan and Brianna for hosting the party - again. And thanks Carrie and Shawn for making the trip out to Katy - twice!
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Feliz Cumpleaños!!!
mi amor!!!
I love dad-the-bad because he
I love dad-the-bad because he
- is proud of his gray hair
- can get a stain out of anything. - he's actually better at laundry than me . . . actually more than just laundry.
- never complains (hardly)
- es muy guapo!!
- always thinks outside the box.
- has great legs!
- loves the latinos
- calls me guerita
- doesn't care if I have dinner ready
- stops at Target for my "necessities" every time he's in the US
- put together my elliptical
- let's me think I'm the boss
- is the best husband ever!
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Baby and Zion's
The two best things about last weekend - I spent the day with Shady, and we went to Zion's National Park, which I'd never seen. Awesome! The best thing about the previous three days was that they were spent with dadthebad in Las Vegas -aka Sin City. We had a great time!
Here are some of the pictures Lindsey didn't post. (too bad I didn't have my camara in Las Vegas, there we some fabulous displays at the Billagio Hotel)
the Harpdogs . . .
the fam . . . (the reason for coming)
a "waterfall" which was more of a "snowfall
and another beautiful picture of Zion's - taken by the Harpdogs
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