Vote now before I forever hold my peace.
My undergraduate degree was in Asian Studies, which I bring up mainly just so I can say I've used it:) Now I'm just being facetious. There is a lot you can do with an Asian Studies BA.
Besides being able to put it in a very nice frame or use on an application for grad school, my degree has given me a lot of practical everyday knowledge too. Like I can use chopsticks; I know which country started Hello Kitty, I get the whole bowing thing; I know why a Korean should never buy a Japanese car, I can quickly pair an Asian script (and usually face) to the right country. I'll keep going but I don't want to make those of you out there with silly degrees like accounting or nursing to feel bad.
My reason for this personal confession of a lack of judgment when it comes to academic utility is to explain why I'm going to start this post with the explanation that the Chinese (atleast during traditional times) would label their inlaws with a term that translates to 'Barbarians'. While some of you might think this is a completely appropriate label for your inlaws I should preface it by saying that it wasn't 'Barbarians' in the sense of Conan the Barbarian or even a lack of all culture or manners.
The reference 'Barbarian' was used to express the reality that the family that you marry into is likely going to have a whole different way of living than the one you grew up in. Raise your hand* if this is true for you. *[Okay put your hand down while hoping you're alone in the room with your computer because it's kind of embarrassing to do exactly what I tell you to do when I can't see you.] Likely though if you couldn't have raised your hand it means one of two things. 1). You aren't married yet or 2). You married your cousin.* *[Speaking of, did anyone else have someone bring genealogical records to their wedding reception to show how you the happy couple were not so distantly related? Not that that happened to me].
Take for example my in-laws are outdoors enthusiasts. [Like other communicable diseases, I try to avoid enthusiasm] I mean I don't mind the outdoors if the weather's nice and I have to park my car a few stalls away from the door, I'm not going to complain. I think that I just don't have very discriminating vision when it comes to nature. I mean I can tell the difference between a Japanese and Chinese businessman but a mountain is a mountain is a mountain.
My 'Barbarian' moment was when on a family vacation with my in-laws naturally to a National Park. We pulled off at a lake, people got out of the car and started rummaging through their luggage for their swimsuits. Now it was July so it was a little hot, but I was more than a little uncomfortable with the idea. 'So we're just going to get in the lake?' 'Don't they need to clean it first?' 'What are we going to do once we are in the lake?'
I got in the lake. Splash Splash Splash. The water was cool I'll give you that much. Can't say it was relaxing. Have you ever stood in water and tried not to let the water touch you? Yeah it was kind of like that. But it was a new and novel experience. Who knew you could actually go jump in a lake?
All in all marrying into my wife's family has been a wonderful expansion of my life's experiences. Take just yesterday my brother in law taught me how to 'skate ski'. Those who know me best will know that I can't chew gum and walk at the same time, so combining the art of skating and skiing is a recipe to reach my insurance deductible. [It's a good thing my wife is a nurse].
But do you know what? I liked it and even more surprising I was pretty good* at it. *[This is of course a relative description. Let's leave it at saying it's a good thing that squirrels don't have cell phones or I would be a Youtube superstar with a 'Greatest wrecks' montage set to a Chumbawumba hit].
As the oldest Rachel was the first to go over to the barbarians and from everything I've seen she's been just as great as Ryan has about welcoming the challenge of discovering the new and exciting opportunities to learn and laugh with [and maybe later at ;] a new family.
The Palmer's are great people. In addition to giving us a great brother-in-law you can tell that they have a great role in in keeping Ryan and Rachel's family well cared for. Ryan's dad willing lends his expertise when it comes to maintenance projects like putting in an electrical outlet in the bathroom. [Yes there are houses without this luxury upgrade]. Ryan's mom will gladly take the kids which has let Rachel and Ryan get away for some R & R time. *[A tip for grandparents out there looking for more grandkids, parents who occasionally spend time without their kids will be much more likely to have more]. Rachel and Ryan's girls all adore all their Palmer uncles and aunts. Maintaining my distinction as 'favorite' uncle has certainly been a challenge but even if I were to lose it* I'd take comfort that I was losing to some pretty great competition.
They say that 'flattery' is poison so I'll stop, but in word, Thanks Palmers for being Palmers. We think that's reason enough to like you even if you are 'Barbarians'. Thanks for sharing your brother. Thanks for learning to love my sister. Thanks for everything in between.
Tell your in-laws you love them [or atleast like them] and keep an open mind and your swimtrucks handy because you never know when they're going to have you do more than just see sea shells by the sea shore.
Now let's fix one of the few flaws passed to him from his family tree.
Vote for Ryan Palmer to recieve Lasik by voting for My Dad's Eyes to win the Hoopes Vision video contest.
Vote Now
Vote Tomorrow.
Get your people to do the same!
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
Daily Read #16: 'C' How they Run.
Well if you are reading this you have two things to be grateful for 1) you are not in Walmart trying to get a dolphin pillow pet, and 2)you are not in Walmart trying to a dolphin pillow pet.
If you already braved the crowds and the freezing temperatures in addition to society's unbridled consumerism to save 40% on your christmas cheer, you have my respect but not my envy. It is eight degrees warmer here than it was at this time yesterday but I won't say that makes me feel much more like going out.
So while you are enjoying your warm house or the warm (or semi-warm:) house of your inlaws. Click with a purpose: Vote for Ryan: My Dad's Eyes
And send other people to do the same.
Now that turkey day has passed many of us will turn our attention from wishbones to waistbands. There is nothing like winning the family's Pound Challenge to make you feel like you need to get outside and get moving. When you can move again.
Perhaps you did what I used* to do on T-day *[put that 'used to' in a much larger font, underline it several times, make it an eye popping color that flashes] . I would go for a run and purposefully try to get lost (not a difficult goal to accomplish) I would then usually break my PR for longest run. My longest was 96 minutes and I think that about compensated for looking at my family's typical Thanksgiving day spread.
I can't say that I'm to the point as a former runner that I'm at as a former boyscout. But I definitely do not say, 'I run' if asked what my hobbies are. I try to prevent as much conversational irony as possible. If pressed I might say 'I have ran. The forest service made me quit when the sparks from between my thighs started a forest fire. '
Actually Running in our family is just slightly less important than never serving a vegetable that in most countries wouldn't qualify as a dessert. In our immediate family, there are 3 collegiate runners and then several more that could have ran in college [had we gone to a much much much smaller university like Stevens Henager].
Our family's motto has been 'The family that runs together stays together'. Now it's probably more something like 'The family that watches Everybody loves Raymond together stays together*[until mom quits bringing around treats] but that's not relavant.
We'd fill several teams each year in the Utah Summer Games Family cross country event and came away with enough gold medals that Michael Phelps didn't really impress us. We had an A team, a B team and a C team. Now the C team stood for 'C them run' C'heer them on, but we couldn't have done much without them.
Rachel spent most of her life on the C team. We all thought she could have ran but particularly in High school she was far too self-conscious to lace up her racers. I think we can credit Ryan for being the wind beneath her wings. Also helping her was the BBS research that led her to discover the 'Shock Absorber' a training bra developed using the same technology as anti-sesmic devices in the foundation of tall buildings and the most essential piece of training gear a full chested woman could buy.
Now Rachel can boast not only of being a runner but also a half-marathoner. As the below video proves she successfully compeleted a half-marathon in Vermont last year. Even more impressive was her Kerri Strug-like performance of finishing the last 5 miles on a bum foot. We were all very proud of our big sister. Not just for finishing the race but for not being afraid of starting it in the first place and for doing it with the same amount of grace, class, humor and determination that she does everything else with.
Rachel has shown that you should never fear re-invention of your self. You can be what you've always wanted to be and you can do what you never thought you could. With the right attitude and the right support system (which may include the right sports bra), the race is half run.
So before you put up the Christmas lights: watch Rachel's marathon journey.
Before you fall off the roof putting up the Christmas lights.
Vote for Ryan: My Dad's Eyes
Please, Please Please help us get out the vote this weekend. We'd like to finish with a kick. Make us your facebook status, blog about us, twitter, text or telegraph your friends family or strangers.
Send 'em here, send them directly to vote.
We are grateful to you for wielding the power of your personal influence on our behalf.
If you already braved the crowds and the freezing temperatures in addition to society's unbridled consumerism to save 40% on your christmas cheer, you have my respect but not my envy. It is eight degrees warmer here than it was at this time yesterday but I won't say that makes me feel much more like going out.
So while you are enjoying your warm house or the warm (or semi-warm:) house of your inlaws. Click with a purpose: Vote for Ryan: My Dad's Eyes
And send other people to do the same.
Now that turkey day has passed many of us will turn our attention from wishbones to waistbands. There is nothing like winning the family's Pound Challenge to make you feel like you need to get outside and get moving. When you can move again.
Perhaps you did what I used* to do on T-day *[put that 'used to' in a much larger font, underline it several times, make it an eye popping color that flashes] . I would go for a run and purposefully try to get lost (not a difficult goal to accomplish) I would then usually break my PR for longest run. My longest was 96 minutes and I think that about compensated for looking at my family's typical Thanksgiving day spread.
I can't say that I'm to the point as a former runner that I'm at as a former boyscout. But I definitely do not say, 'I run' if asked what my hobbies are. I try to prevent as much conversational irony as possible. If pressed I might say 'I have ran. The forest service made me quit when the sparks from between my thighs started a forest fire. '
Actually Running in our family is just slightly less important than never serving a vegetable that in most countries wouldn't qualify as a dessert. In our immediate family, there are 3 collegiate runners and then several more that could have ran in college [had we gone to a much much much smaller university like Stevens Henager].
Our family's motto has been 'The family that runs together stays together'. Now it's probably more something like 'The family that watches Everybody loves Raymond together stays together*[until mom quits bringing around treats] but that's not relavant.
We'd fill several teams each year in the Utah Summer Games Family cross country event and came away with enough gold medals that Michael Phelps didn't really impress us. We had an A team, a B team and a C team. Now the C team stood for 'C them run' C'heer them on, but we couldn't have done much without them.
Rachel spent most of her life on the C team. We all thought she could have ran but particularly in High school she was far too self-conscious to lace up her racers. I think we can credit Ryan for being the wind beneath her wings. Also helping her was the BBS research that led her to discover the 'Shock Absorber' a training bra developed using the same technology as anti-sesmic devices in the foundation of tall buildings and the most essential piece of training gear a full chested woman could buy.
Now Rachel can boast not only of being a runner but also a half-marathoner. As the below video proves she successfully compeleted a half-marathon in Vermont last year. Even more impressive was her Kerri Strug-like performance of finishing the last 5 miles on a bum foot. We were all very proud of our big sister. Not just for finishing the race but for not being afraid of starting it in the first place and for doing it with the same amount of grace, class, humor and determination that she does everything else with.
Rachel has shown that you should never fear re-invention of your self. You can be what you've always wanted to be and you can do what you never thought you could. With the right attitude and the right support system (which may include the right sports bra), the race is half run.
So before you put up the Christmas lights: watch Rachel's marathon journey.
Before you fall off the roof putting up the Christmas lights.
Vote for Ryan: My Dad's Eyes
Please, Please Please help us get out the vote this weekend. We'd like to finish with a kick. Make us your facebook status, blog about us, twitter, text or telegraph your friends family or strangers.
Send 'em here, send them directly to vote.
We are grateful to you for wielding the power of your personal influence on our behalf.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Daily Read #15: A Multitude of Gratitudes
Happy T-Day.
Whether that T for you is Tofu* or Turkey or **Two month old, we wish you a day of enjoyment nonetheless.[Granted if it really does stand for Tofu, we estimate that it will be more difficult for our wishes to come true]**[if it really does stand for Two month old, DCFS is going to interrupt your party].
While it is a diaspora* Thanksgiving for our immediate family. I would imagine that a prominent feather in everyone's gratitude turkey's tail would be the support we have had in this contest. Thank you for taking interest in our family, helping Ryan and Rachel, reading about our well-intentioned albeit humanly imperfect lives and hopefully voting and getting out the vote for My Dad's Eyes in the Hoopes Vision Contest.
With only 3 chances to vote remaining we hope you take advantage of every one. Also if you like personal challenges and are feeling particularly blessed with an abundance of family and friends this holiday make it a goal to see that you bring in 10 votes for My Dad's Eyes before Sunday. That's 3 from you and 7 from friends/family/strangers you either send our way or send straight to the voting page with instructions of what to do. You'll feel good not only knowing that you've magnified your ability to help but also being reminded that you're surrounded by exceptional human beings.
Like our momma always said, 'There are good people everywhere you go'. She's been proven right more times than I've got toes but I've also learned that good people can be even better when they are given explicit directions. One can't help with what they don't know about. So spread the word. Thanks.
As I mentioned we aren't together this Thanksgiving and by we I mean the Hart part of our family tree. Which we're grateful for because it means that we've married into great families and get a chance to be part of their Thanksgiving traditions. But one tradition that is likely not unique to our family is a Giving Thanks round; where after the gathering and before the gourging you go around the room with everyone having a chance to say something that they are grateful for.
The Palmer family did a little bit of gratituding last night. We stretched them by making them run 21 laps around a Thankfulness track each one with a specific question. We'll list their answers below. You are welcome to take a similar turkey trot of your own. Really make our day by including your answers in the comments. We will be grateful to know that you are grateful. You will be blessed for accounting your blessings!!
For each of the following categories list something that you are grateful for.
Something that is red
Ryan: my car
Rachel: Ketchup
Emma: Dad's Car
Sophie: Apples
Lettie: Elmo
Something you can eat
Ryan: Thanksgiving Dinner (all of it)
Rachel: Elk Meat
Emma: Pizza
Sophie: Haystacks
Lettie: Toy Story 3 Mac & Cheese
Something that would fit in your hand
Ryan: Cell Phone
Rachel: my wedding ring
Emma: Silly Bands
Sophie: Spoons
Lettie: My blue mittens
Something that you've learned in the last year
Ryan: Government Jobs aren't that bad
Rachel: How many people love and support us
Emma: Cursive
Sophie: Math
Lettie: Knock Knock Joke
Something that you've done in the last year
Ryan: Got Back into Shape
Rachel: Volunteered with Alpha Battery FRG
Emma: Got baptized
Sophie: Went to Legoland!
Lettie: Stopped wearing Diapers!
Something that someone has done for you in the last year
Ryan: All the people that voted for our video
Rachel: Judson putting together the Good Reads Blog
Emma: Mom coming with me to Gooseberry
Sophie: Dad hugging me
Lettie: My sisters playing with me
Someplace you have gone
Ryan: The wonderful trip to California
Rachel: Las Vegas for the Mr. Olympia competition
Emma: Church
Sophie: Disneyland!
Lettie: California!
Something that you cannot touch
Ryan: The Spirit
Rachel: Sunsets
Emma: The roof on our house
Sophie: Breathing
Lettie: Peanut Butter (because she'll touch Sophie ;)
Someone that you will likely never meet (again)
Ryan: The guy who bought me lunch at Subway
Rachel: ?
Emma: Annie Bangs
Sophie: ?
Lettie: ?
Something that you've bought
Ryan: running shoes
Rachel: Our new Furnace!
Emma: School Clothes
Sophie: My Princess Journal at Disneyland
Lettie: Mickey Mouse
Something that has made you laugh
Ryan: The Blog
Rachel: Brian Regan
Emma: Funniest Home Videos
Sophie: My Dad's funny face
Lettie: Sophie
Something that you couldn't have had one hundred years ago.
Ryan: Motorcycle
Rachel: Computer
Emma: Tom and Jerry Movies
Sophie: TV
Lettie: candy
Someone that you are not related to
Ryan: President Monson
Rachel: Glenn Beck
Emma: Jesus
Sophie: My friends
Lettie: Dora!
Someplace you go frequently
Ryan: the bathroom
Rachel: stores
Emma: Walmart
Sophie: School
Lettie: Nursery
Something unexpected
Ryan: The Lasik Video Contest
Rachel: The BIFF (Google the Bicknell Internation Film Festival - It's awesome!)
Emma: An awesome 3rd grade teacher
Sophie: That my peabrain hasn't rolled out of my head yet.
Lettie: Fireworks
Something you worked hard to finish
Ryan: Replacing the Coal Furnace
Rachel: A Christmas Surprise for my Family
Emma: A story I wrote
Sophie: Cleaning my room
Lettie: eating my dinner
Something you started:
Ryan: fixing my barely working Goldwing
Rachel: Building Furniture
Emma: Learning to play the guitar
Sophie: Kindergarten
Lettie: writing my letters
Something that you saw
Ryan: Mr. Olympia Competition
Rachel: Ryan biffing it on the treadmill after whistling at me in the gym.
Emma: Pillow Pet Commercial
Sophie: Pillow Pet Commercial
Lettie: PBSKids.org
Something that isn't new
Ryan: My clothes
Rachel: Our House
Emma: My violin
Sophie: school
Lettie: my pink blanket
Something you put on
Ryan: glasses* (not just saying that because of the circumstances:)
Rachel: Shoes
Emma: warm clothes
Sophie: Blankets
Lettie: Pajamas
*[I bet he'll be even more grateful when he doesn't have to put them on].
Something in nature
Ryan: Mountains
Rachel: Rivers
Emma: Cats (Every single kind)
Sophie: Butterflies
Lettie: Moon
Thanks again and don't forget the 10 to win challenge.
감사합니다, Thank yous, Malo, Danke, Merci, Thanks y'all.
Whether that T for you is Tofu* or Turkey or **Two month old, we wish you a day of enjoyment nonetheless.[Granted if it really does stand for Tofu, we estimate that it will be more difficult for our wishes to come true]**[if it really does stand for Two month old, DCFS is going to interrupt your party].
While it is a diaspora* Thanksgiving for our immediate family. I would imagine that a prominent feather in everyone's gratitude turkey's tail would be the support we have had in this contest. Thank you for taking interest in our family, helping Ryan and Rachel, reading about our well-intentioned albeit humanly imperfect lives and hopefully voting and getting out the vote for My Dad's Eyes in the Hoopes Vision Contest.
With only 3 chances to vote remaining we hope you take advantage of every one. Also if you like personal challenges and are feeling particularly blessed with an abundance of family and friends this holiday make it a goal to see that you bring in 10 votes for My Dad's Eyes before Sunday. That's 3 from you and 7 from friends/family/strangers you either send our way or send straight to the voting page with instructions of what to do. You'll feel good not only knowing that you've magnified your ability to help but also being reminded that you're surrounded by exceptional human beings.
Like our momma always said, 'There are good people everywhere you go'. She's been proven right more times than I've got toes but I've also learned that good people can be even better when they are given explicit directions. One can't help with what they don't know about. So spread the word. Thanks.
As I mentioned we aren't together this Thanksgiving and by we I mean the Hart part of our family tree. Which we're grateful for because it means that we've married into great families and get a chance to be part of their Thanksgiving traditions. But one tradition that is likely not unique to our family is a Giving Thanks round; where after the gathering and before the gourging you go around the room with everyone having a chance to say something that they are grateful for.
The Palmer family did a little bit of gratituding last night. We stretched them by making them run 21 laps around a Thankfulness track each one with a specific question. We'll list their answers below. You are welcome to take a similar turkey trot of your own. Really make our day by including your answers in the comments. We will be grateful to know that you are grateful. You will be blessed for accounting your blessings!!
For each of the following categories list something that you are grateful for.
Something that is red
Ryan: my car
Rachel: Ketchup
Emma: Dad's Car
Sophie: Apples
Lettie: Elmo
Something you can eat
Ryan: Thanksgiving Dinner (all of it)
Rachel: Elk Meat
Emma: Pizza
Sophie: Haystacks
Lettie: Toy Story 3 Mac & Cheese
Something that would fit in your hand
Ryan: Cell Phone
Rachel: my wedding ring
Emma: Silly Bands
Sophie: Spoons
Lettie: My blue mittens
Something that you've learned in the last year
Ryan: Government Jobs aren't that bad
Rachel: How many people love and support us
Emma: Cursive
Sophie: Math
Lettie: Knock Knock Joke
Something that you've done in the last year
Ryan: Got Back into Shape
Rachel: Volunteered with Alpha Battery FRG
Emma: Got baptized
Sophie: Went to Legoland!
Lettie: Stopped wearing Diapers!
Something that someone has done for you in the last year
Ryan: All the people that voted for our video
Rachel: Judson putting together the Good Reads Blog
Emma: Mom coming with me to Gooseberry
Sophie: Dad hugging me
Lettie: My sisters playing with me
Someplace you have gone
Ryan: The wonderful trip to California
Rachel: Las Vegas for the Mr. Olympia competition
Emma: Church
Sophie: Disneyland!
Lettie: California!
Something that you cannot touch
Ryan: The Spirit
Rachel: Sunsets
Emma: The roof on our house
Sophie: Breathing
Lettie: Peanut Butter (because she'll touch Sophie ;)
Someone that you will likely never meet (again)
Ryan: The guy who bought me lunch at Subway
Rachel: ?
Emma: Annie Bangs
Sophie: ?
Lettie: ?
Something that you've bought
Ryan: running shoes
Rachel: Our new Furnace!
Emma: School Clothes
Sophie: My Princess Journal at Disneyland
Lettie: Mickey Mouse
Something that has made you laugh
Ryan: The Blog
Rachel: Brian Regan
Emma: Funniest Home Videos
Sophie: My Dad's funny face
Lettie: Sophie
Something that you couldn't have had one hundred years ago.
Ryan: Motorcycle
Rachel: Computer
Emma: Tom and Jerry Movies
Sophie: TV
Lettie: candy
Someone that you are not related to
Ryan: President Monson
Rachel: Glenn Beck
Emma: Jesus
Sophie: My friends
Lettie: Dora!
Someplace you go frequently
Ryan: the bathroom
Rachel: stores
Emma: Walmart
Sophie: School
Lettie: Nursery
Something unexpected
Ryan: The Lasik Video Contest
Rachel: The BIFF (Google the Bicknell Internation Film Festival - It's awesome!)
Emma: An awesome 3rd grade teacher
Sophie: That my peabrain hasn't rolled out of my head yet.
Lettie: Fireworks
Something you worked hard to finish
Ryan: Replacing the Coal Furnace
Rachel: A Christmas Surprise for my Family
Emma: A story I wrote
Sophie: Cleaning my room
Lettie: eating my dinner
Something you started:
Ryan: fixing my barely working Goldwing
Rachel: Building Furniture
Emma: Learning to play the guitar
Sophie: Kindergarten
Lettie: writing my letters
Something that you saw
Ryan: Mr. Olympia Competition
Rachel: Ryan biffing it on the treadmill after whistling at me in the gym.
Emma: Pillow Pet Commercial
Sophie: Pillow Pet Commercial
Lettie: PBSKids.org
Something that isn't new
Ryan: My clothes
Rachel: Our House
Emma: My violin
Sophie: school
Lettie: my pink blanket
Something you put on
Ryan: glasses* (not just saying that because of the circumstances:)
Rachel: Shoes
Emma: warm clothes
Sophie: Blankets
Lettie: Pajamas
*[I bet he'll be even more grateful when he doesn't have to put them on].
Something in nature
Ryan: Mountains
Rachel: Rivers
Emma: Cats (Every single kind)
Sophie: Butterflies
Lettie: Moon
Thanks again and don't forget the 10 to win challenge.
감사합니다, Thank yous, Malo, Danke, Merci, Thanks y'all.
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