July 4th - A Little Late

Almost three months ago, my sister-in-law had her annual July 4th party. (I would have posted this earlier, but I just got a copy of the picture.) Each year, prizes are given for "best tasting," "most patriotic," "best presentation," "best side dish," and "most original." I always go for the most original and am now 3 for 3. My first cake was the face of Saddam Hussein. A round, red velvet cake with caramel icing, black icing for the hair, google eyes, glasses, nose and mustache from Party City, twizzlers for the lips, and a big cigar. I especially liked the fact that when you cut into his face, red velvet was revealed. It tasted terrible, but I wasn't going for that. I was going for most original - and I won.

Last year, Grant and I entered an air conditioner cake. I posted about it here. Again, we won Most Original.

This year, I was having trouble with an entry. My first idea, making web worms, was a disaster, and so I was scrambling to come up with something. Claire's Barbie doll and a little black licorice and about an hour later, I came up with "Paris Hilton in Prison." Here it is:

(By the way, that was her actual prison number.) Thanks, Paris, for helping me win my third in a row.

Another Claire-ism

Claire started her preschool class today, Grant started Kindergarten yesterday(unbelievable!). Anyway, last night, I was tucking Claire in for bed and asking her if she was excited about school. She said yes. She then said, "I will learn letters for you tomorrow." And, "I will send you two emails." She cracks me up.

Unintended Consequences

Every once in a while, a remedy to a problem creates a new problem in need of a remedy. Take for example, medication. A person has a medical problem and is prescribed medication. The medication solves the medical problem, but causes another problem with the side-effects. In order to counter the side-effects, the patient is prescribed another medication, which causes another side-effect that needs additional medication. Pretty soon, the patient who initially thought he or she needed just one pill is now on eight. (Of course, we shouldn't call this a drug company conspiracy or anything to sell more pills...should we?)

Well, another unintended consequence results from certain light bulbs and the environment. In an effort to curb global warming, some are pushing to ban incandescent light bulbs in favor of compact fluorescent light bulbs. These CFLs are supposedly better environmentally and will save money in the long run by lasting longer and using less energy. Sounds great. Even though they are more expensive than regular bulbs, overtime, the consumer would save money and the environment at the same time. But there's one problem: the unintended consequence. Apparently, these CFLs contain high levels of mercury, which is linked to brain damage and developmental delays in children and pre-born children. So, in order to save us all from global warming, we are exposing everyone to mercury poisoning. In the name of environmentalism, we are risking contamination of our environment with high levels of mercury, which would be bad environmentalism.

I was at Target the other day to buy light bulbs. I saw these CFLs and thought, hmm, maybe we should switch. But I didn't because I wanted the cheaper bulb now rather than the cheaper in the long run. Then I read about the side-effects to CFLs. I'm glad I didn't buy them. But this kind of stuff happens all the time. In a rush to solve one problem, we create more problems. In a society where we want immediate solutions, we need to learn to wait. There are problems that we need to solve - and the condition of our environment is a problem - but we shouldn't make the situation worse in the name of making it better.

Claire-ism

Today, Jessica took the kids shopping for some back-to-school clothes and then I met them for lunch and haircuts for Gman and me. They had just come from Old Navy and had lost a bow of Tessa's in the store. Claire proceeded to tell me, "We lost Tessa's bow in Old Maid."

A Day to Mourn the Great Game

Barry Bonds holds the record for the most career home runs in baseball. That is a painful sentence to write and read. How did the biggest scoundrel in MLB history break the most hallowed record in the game? Think about what Hank Aaron went through in his career to 755 home runs. He endured racism and death threats all while playing honestly and humbly. Watching the film of Aaron rounding the bases on his record breaking HR to pass Ruth is such an inspiring piece of film. Watching that clip makes me smile. But now...now when the video airs of the record breaking HR, we will have to endure Bonds at center stage. If you look at his numbers, his body size, and his age, there is no doubt that he cheated - that he used steroids or HGH. And he got away with it. And now he holds the record. This is a sad day for MLB. Who would have thought that there would be a day when everyone in all humanity began cheering for Arod to stay healthy. Hopefully, a few years from now, Bonds' record will be surpasses by Arod. I haven't seen the clip of Bonds rounding the bases for number 756. And I don't plan on watching it either. My apologies to Aaron. Like the Ticket promo says, even though he is alive, we are pretty sure Hank Aaron is rolling over in his grave right now.