20 reasons to vote yes on 8

If you have an extra 20 minutes and want to read more about prop 8 go here: http://beetlebabee.wordpress.com/2008/10/26/why-preserve-man-woman-marriage/ a well thought out, and documented agrument for preserving marriage

Sign Waving for Prop 8

Tonight we went out and did the sign waving thing... If votes were counted by responses, honk for yes, obscenities for no, we would win about 80-10 (that's counting thumbs up or down as well - not everyone swore at us...). If we count sign holders we would still win about 23-4...

We did have one couple that looked like they were just waiting to cross the street. They started asking questions, like how would prop 8 take away freedom of speech or religious freedom, etc. I actually was able to give specific examples but I soon realized they weren't looking for information but for confrontation so I just left them to it and chased after my kids (always a good way to escape confrontation) One thing he tried to say, after I gave examples, was that it didn't take away his religious freedom. So I told him, "Well, if you want to completely center your thinking for how it effects you then that's fine" (I think that's when I walked off)

It reminded me of a quote I read about WWII about how they came for the Jews, but I wasn't a Jew, so I said nothing. Then they came for the ___ but I wasn't ___ ... then they came for me, and there was no one left to stand up. (You may be able to remember quotes you read once 20 years ago but I have to paraphrase - sorry)

Kelsey was a great waver...
Collin was so excited to help out. When they honked he turned to me and said, "Mom, they're all honking because I'm holding a sign!"

Other famous sign holders... don't worry- these were meant as a joke - and to remind us that there is safety in numbers...

Our good Karma led us to a new place for dinner afterwards. So, if you go out again tomorrow you should check out Snapper Jack's Taco Shack - it's really good... (Between the freeway and McDonald's - across from the High School)

PS - Thanks to Jessica for letting me call her and let me debrief... I'm barely shaking at all now. (Until I started writing about the guy I met - now it's started again... oi!)

Beach Park

On another field trip we went to a new park between Embassy Suits and Shores right on the beach. (This picture is the smaller play structure...)

We loved the cool Sea Dragon
There was all kinds of fun gadgets to play with - these were sound cannons that amplify your voice...

There were different kinds of rotating equipment. This was like an perpetual motion rotation - once you get it going it just keeps going. Collin was on it when we first got there - he finally threw himself off (onto his head and neck) because it just kept going faster & faster (so watch your kids closely on this one)

This one wasn't as bad since you could reach the ground but they were really well balanced and you could spin till you got sick and could no longer stand up - every kids dream, eh

Chad met us during his lunch break. As we pulled up Collin saw him and ran out. Kelsey was stuck in her car seat as I drove around to find a parking spot. Kelsey was crying her heart out, "I need Daddy!" I know honey, we just need to park... "But Mommy, I need Daddy! I love him! He's my best friend! Mommy, he's my best friend!!

Chad hopes she still feels that way on her wedding day...

We had a fun day in the park - it was great to see Dd, and feel the ocean breeze cool us down for a bit...

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

Another field trip - this time to Santa Barbara to see their "Giants" exhibit of African Dinosaurs (Closing Nov 2nd - so you better hurry). Here Collin has his foot in a dinosaur footprint.

This meat-eater was actually bigger than T-Rex

They even had dinosaurs Collin wasn't familiar with... There wasn't enough room for the sauropod (long-neck) so they just displayed the thigh bones to show how huge they were.
Kelsey loved the display for Day of the Dead - literally she kept going up and hugging them

The grounds of the museum are beautiful - I go to take pictures more than to see any of the exhibits - though we did actually make it to all the exhibits this time...

Behind the museum there is a little creak where Collin had an "adventure." He has a great eye and spotted 2 tiny frogs resting on a leaf...

Pumpkin Patch

Collin had Fall Break this week so we went on field trips everyday...

Collin & Kelsey at our first field trip this week to the pumpkin patch

Collin got lost for a bit in the maze
But eventually we made it to the middle

They were filming a commercial that Collin might be in. I did ask, before I signed the release, what the commercial was for... I'll let you know if he's in it

Look how big they're getting!
Collin as so excited they had the ponies today ... then they wouldn't let him ride because he was 2 inches too tall :(
But Kelsey LOVED it!

Creative Collin

Collin wanted me to come outside and take a picture of his latest creation...
He's always figuring out new combination to ride.
Kelsey just keeps stealing the neighbors' new bikes...

More Football

We had thought the OHS vs ACHS game would be close... OHS won 49-0 - YIKES!
Kelsey with the yellow jacketKelsey with the scorpion
Collin met one of his friends from school... I took pictures earlier but then when I came back around they wanted another picture because they forgot to put their arms around each other - aren't they cute :)

Some little girls came up to talk to Kelsey... It's funny that after half a dozen years of Chad working at OHS I've gotten into the habit of cheering for them - even when I go to my old alma mater...

No on Measure U

I love politics, ok, not really but there are a couple of issues that will affect me so I’ve been watching them carefully. It makes me wonder what lies they are trying to tell me when I don’t know the reality of the situation…

Luckily with Measure U I am pretty well informed by the opposition. If my husband didn’t work in the OUHSD I wouldn’t see all the lies and partial truths that I received today in the mail. Here are some of them.

What will measure U do?

Unify the schools here and those who are currently going to Rio Mesa would “be able to attend high school in the new unified district.” TRUE but they don’t even know where they would put them yet. One place is a very small middle school (which is now being used by Collin’s charter school for their school, so they would be homeless.) But it really isn't big enough or suitable for a high school - even a small one)

Why is U on the ballot now?

They say they have talked about this for the last 40 years… probably but it’s only been since they got a principal at ACHS that didn’t listen to the parents. They also didn’t tell you that before the big election come up they had already spent $14 Million dollars just to get it on the ballot – imagine what that money would do if it was actually used in our classrooms instead of the pipe dreams of some very prideful leaders…

How will it improve children’s education?

They talk about more money (but instead of the running of the high schools spread over 150,000 citizens it will be dependent on only about 65,000… you do the math) They also talk about that our students “will finally get first priority for improved facilities.” Did they get 2 new schools? Yes, one was paid for solely by the government as a replacement school so the people only bought one… Ironically they bought land here years ago and had plans to build another high school behind the new library – but they stopped when PV started to talk about unification, why should they spend all the money to build a school then just hand it over. So unification has already cost our students by postponing new facilities. By the way, OUHSD still owns the land and they (at least the last superintendent) said they would be happy to sell it to PV – at fair market value…

Will creating a new district harm other schools or districts?

“Absolutely not.” Absolute lie! Already dozens of teachers have received their “pink slips” telling them that if unification goes through that they will not have a job next year. Here’s the true deal. Up until about 6 years ago the teachers of OUHSD had life time benefits (the newer teachers don’t have lifetime benefits but they’re still better than what PV offers) So all the teachers that have been there for more than 6 years will want to stall with OUHSD to keep their benefits. That means that the newer teachers, with less seniority throughout the rest of the district will be replaced by the teachers leaving ACHS (again, if you do the math – that means that ACHS will leave its most experienced teachers) Luckily my husband should be safe, but my sister – a single mother of 3 – will lose her job (she’s already been given notice) One of the PV board members - not an educator, obviously, has said on several occasions that he thought teachers were paid too much - he has obviously never faced down a room full of teenagers!

Will it raise my taxes?

“Not one penny.” That’s true – it won’t be a penny – it will be hundreds. Last time, it cost about $7/household to build the school – over 400,000 people in the district. This time, to build a new school, it will be divided up among only about 65,000 people – you do the math. I know some of you don’t like math so I’ll just tell you that it will be a lot more than we pay now.

Who is supporting Measure U?

It names most of the leadership of the city - of course - more power. But nearly all of the high school teachers - those who know what it takes to run a high school - are against.

What can I do to help?

I'm doing it. I'm telling you all the truth - not just what they want you to believe.

Basically PV doesn’t have the money, the facilities, or the experience to unify – vote no on U!

(incidentally - you should drive down my old street, where one of the biggest supporters of U lives - there are vote no signs all over the place - except at his mom's and brother's house :)

My Smart Girl

Kelsey sees Collin go over the wall all the time so she tries to do it to... Yikes!

More Information on Prop 8

Below are seven videos produced by the Church, in support of Prop 8...

PreservingMarriage.org video page: http://www.preservingmarriage.org/videos.html

YouTube links: Proposition 8 Question and Answers:
Will same sex marriages hurt others? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-jc4ujp9Ok
Sick and tired of intolerance? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4nqtDrJI7A
Are others supporting Prop 8? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIvS7redS8M
Will courts overturn it again? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4tTRvmgZKM
Didn't we already vote on this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsHqrHoxTiM
Don't others deserve the same happiness? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZP2ERL6Xykk
Will existing rights disappear? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IGPxqHScjk

Kelsey's Hats

My nephew, Ike, loves his hats... Kelsey does too but she doesn't always have a hat handy...Lonnie's UCLA Hat

Kelsey's Easter Ears - not sure what they are doing out now...
The Bag the CD & Book from the Library Came In

Kelsey's Shirt - as soon as she took it off she wanted to put it back on as her hat
This is the hardest one - this was a book cover - she put one end on her head instead of on the book...

Did you recognise all of the different hats?? There are a couple of tricky ones...

Another Reenactment

Kelsey saw this picture in her room and said, "Kelsey!" I picked it up and showed her, "No, that's Mommy." So I had to do a reenactment. She's in exactly the same spot though the kitchen has had an upgrade, and instead of a wheat grinder there is a TV. She's sufficiently grubby but I did roll up the top of her pants so they are more of high waters :)

So, what do you think? Do you agree with Kelsey that she looks like me?