I’m going blog-wild here. Three posts in one day. I am reluctant to do this because I feel like if there are too many at once, it diminishes the value of each one. (Do I flatter myself?) Especially with wordy posts like this, one is usually plenty to digest. But oh well. I’m in the mood.

Before I had an epiphany this is what I was GOING to post about Black Friday:

I love Black Friday. The last few years I have gone shopping with my mom (and sisters/sister-in-law here and there) and have really enjoyed it. We wake up early, not the earliest of the earlies, but about 5:30am and off we go.

I love it because I think that the buzz in the air is the perfect kickoff for the Christmas season. I have heard stories about grouchy people and grumpy women fighting over dishes, but to date I have not witnessed such scrooginess myself.

I also love it for the good deals. Oddly enough I rarely buy Christmas presents on BF. I usually splurge on something for myself (justifiable because it’s so CHEAP) or clothes for the boys (outfitting their entire winter wardrobe for half price).

Ultimately though, I love it for the same reasons we all love traditions.

This year all the girls met up for breakfast at Goldy’s in downtown Boise and it was a great way to wrap up a LONG morning.

BUT THEN this morning I had an epiphany and now I want to say THIS about Black Friday.

I heard on the news that it is official that we are in a recession. I know that wasn’t exactly a shocker, from my point of view it was obvious. People I know have lost their jobs, the dental office where I work is having a high rate of cancellations, homes are in foreclosure, wall street is diving. Hard times.

Next on the news came word that Black Friday sales had not only exceeded expectations, but they were higher than last year. Wait…

America, we have a problem.

No matter that President Elect told us to “tighten our belts”. We are addicted to spending. We are consumed with consumerism. We are greedy for a bargain. My sister declined the post-Thanksgiving shopping frenzy this year. She said that because she loves good deals, shopping on BF for her is like sending an alcoholic into a bar.

Unfortunately I think I have that problem too. I think as a nation we have that problem. A man lost his life because of that problem. I think my sister was wise to exercise restraint before she lost control.

Now I’m not sure what to think of Black Friday.

I’ve totally neglected recent tags by blogger friends. Sorry friends. I need to check my blog etiquette book on the acceptable time frame for posting after being tagged. Oh wait. There isn’t such a book. Anyone interested in tapping into that market?

THE OLDEST FRIEND TAG:

I’m assuming this means who has been my friend the longest, not which of my friends has spent the most time on earth. Once again I wish I had a scanner. Things like this are so much more fun with pictures. But alas, I still live in the dark ages apparently.

I’ve narrowed it down to three friends based on the following criteria.

1. We were close for a lengthy amount of time.
2. We met in childhood.
3. We (sort of) still keep in touch. (If blogging counts.)

KRISTI: I don’t recall meeting Kristi, she was just always there. We must have met in 1st or 2nd grade. We lived in the same neighborhood, our moms to this day are still friends, we did
4-H together, the memories are endless. I won’t type them all, but Kristi, just know that as I sit here and let them come back to me I am nostalgic and thankful at the same time. Thanks for everything, especially helping me get through the awkward years of jr. high.

MELISSA: She was my next door neighboor. Need I say more? I will. At times during the summer we were inseparable. Jumping on the trampoline, sleeping on the trampoline, walking to the school bus and getting a ride from her mom when we were late. She is such a good person. If I have something in common with Melissa, I am on the right track.

LEAH: I remember distinctly the day I met Leah. It was the summer before fourth grade. Once again, I can’t begin to share everything here. She is a loyal friend. When I moved away for a year she wrote faithfully. She is kind hearted and optimistic. I miss her.

Wow.

I love it when blogging coaxes me down memory lane.

Okay, I am giving a theme to the people I tag this time.

Wendi & Wendy
Kristina & Christina
Sara & Sarah
Lacie & Lacey
Brooke A. & Brooke W.
Lindsay & Lindsey

So clever.

I was tagged- this is a repost, so for some of you, no you are not experiencing deja vu.

THESE.

Go ahead and ask my sisters if I am the “heels” type.

Well, you don’t even have to. I will tell you right here that I have never owned, borrowed or tried on anything like these.

Tonight after putting the boys to bed I shut all the blinds to practice walking in them.

Whoa.

Friday is my office Christmas party and Saturday is Richard’s.

I also got a not-so-flattering black dress to go with them. (It was only $10.)

What do you think, bright pink nylons to tie it all together?

This last week was a whirlwind of relatives. Bryan (brother who recently returned from Iraq) and his wife Brit came last Sunday and Adri (sister in Vegas), Will, Charlie and Antonia arrived somewhere between sunset on Monday and sunrise on Tuesday.

It was an exceptionally great week. Being the sentimental type, I thrive on get togethers like this. And though I’m not sure why, this week will hold especially fond memories.

We just found some ways to have a really good time. A holiday wouldn’t be a holiday without a service project instigated by my mother. I’m not sure how she got the fellas to tie a quilt…

Lori and Sean, being clever as they are, came up with a personalized version of JEOPARDY that no explanation here would give justice to. It was awesome.

Cameron and Charlie strengthened their cousin bond. Each morning Cameron begged to go back to “Baca’s” house to play with Charlie again. Today was the sad day that Charlie departed.

And of course we spent many hours in the kitchen preparing and then devouring. One night Richard hooked his computer up to the “big screen” and we spent hours watching our favorite YouTube videos. One of these days I’ll share some of the best laughter-producers.

So friends, another holiday season has begun. If I can get a picture from Brittany I’ll do an entire post about Black Friday. I bet you can’t wait!

Meanwhile, I am LOVIN’ ME SOME HIPPO SONG.

Not much ruminating for me lately it seems. And very little picture taking as well.

I think I have mentioned that I subscribe to the “Best of YouTube” podcast so I thought I’d share my favorites over the last few months. Don’t be deterred by my short descriptions, just trust me that they are all worth watching. (Most are pretty short.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41gWUkVQ-9U
This one is of a scientific nature, and it is also the longest. But it totally blew my mind. Wow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDobmzc-DnQ
This is just plain hilarious. I’m guessing it was a security camera because it is poor quality. But you’ll get the idea.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCnAjel02lM
Adorable. Great for the puppy-lover. (This one is for you Dad.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZBHZT3a-FA&feature=related
Really short. Moderately entertaining.

Enjoy! Let me know what you you liked most. I’m curious if the YouTube videos I enjoy are enjoyed generally.

Awhile ago my MIL, Julie, tagged me and the subject of the tag was pet peeves. I’ve been thinking about it for a little while and today it hit me.

Sadly, I discovered my pet peeve by noticing it in myself and being very annoyed.

We were having a staff meeting this afternoon and it was resembling a family dinner. We were all making jokes/points/arguments and the decibal level was gradually rising as each person tried to be heard over the chaos. (For anyone who has to attend staff meetings you are probably predicting that this meeting was inefficient and looooong, and you are right, it was. Most staff meetings are.) But anyway.

Back to the point-

My pet peeve is when someone says something in a situation like this and if they don’t get the response they wanted (everyone’s attention or laughter) they keep saying it. They say it again because they delude themselves into thinking that they didn’t elicit the desired response because people didn’t hear. Well, people did hear but they just didn’t care or think it was funny. So the person repeats it.

And tries again, a little louder.

And then says it one more time.

That’s what I did today. After I left the meeting I was annoyed and embarrassed. Most likely all my co-workers have forgotten about my pathetic persistence. But it is my pet peeve. I know better.

So let’s hear them people. What are your pet peeves? Time to name names. I tag Jaymie, Jill, Katie, Lisa, Jodi, Chandra, Kristina and Liberty.

Whenever I have a post that just flops, meaning I get little response, it is almost painful to let it just sit there, doing whatever it was that silenced the readers. So just for the sake of pushing that yawner/offender down the screen I dug up a couple pictures to change the scenery and the subject.

(Boy are we glad his eyes straightened out…)

Today I saw this quote and I panicked. “Blogging – Never before have so many people with so little to say said so much to so few.”

Have I gotten too carried away with myself? Is it time for another hiatus?

Well.

Okay.

This is getting a little personal.

I never thought I would be this type. The “granola” type who shops at the co-op and has a compost bin in their backyard. My parents taught me to recycle, and once when I asked my dad “If the Earth is going to be restored to its paradisiacal glory, why bother?” He responded “I still believe the Lord holds us accountable for how we treat it.”

Recently I have a read a book that has made me start to think. Will the Lord hold us accountable for the way we treat animals too? I have tried various levels of vegetarianism but I never felt like I could defend my choices with either logic or principle. But now I think I have sorted it all out. I have based my choices on two ideas:

1. I can eat an animal if I know that the animal has had a good life. “For, behold, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which cometh of the earth, is ordained for the use of man for food.” (D&C 49:19) For me this means I am willing to pay more for animals who weren’t raised in stacked cages in warehouses.

2. The Word of Wisdom suggests that the “flesh of beasts…are to be used sparingly”. All things in moderation, no?

So, while I am not yet a member of PETA, because obviously I still plan to eat animals, I suppose I’ve evolved in my eating habits. I can’t promise that I won’t eat meats at a restaurant, or when offered to me as the guest at someone’s home. But I’ve resolved to do something.

I’ve signed up for a local CSA. (Community Supported Agriculture.) And yesterday I took the boys out to another local farm to buy some free range chickens to freeze for the winter. Giving Cameron the chance to put on his boots and see horses and cows is just an added bonus.

Like I said, this is personal, these choices are personal. Why am I sharing this? The same reason we share many things on our blogs. To broaden each other’s horizons and cause us to think.