My opinion

I've been the recipient of many people's opinions regarding the Boson Bombers. I don't know if it's because I'm a runner or not, but I've kind of kept my opinion to myself.

Here's the thing. I've heard that the explosion in West, Texas was a much bigger deal. I've heard that the Sandy Hook shooting was a much bigger deal.

And I want to know how we measure which tragedy is a bigger deal?

In these three cases it's comparing apples and oranges. Both fruits, both round, but that's the only sameness.

All of these are tragedies, lives were losts. But that's the only sameness I can find.

One was an accidental explosion. One was a mentally unbalanced young man. One was an act of terror.

And you can't really say that had the Boston Bomber's used guns we would have stiffer gun control. Because you don't know that.

Most shootings occur with illegally procured guns. Stolen guns.

Every mentally sick person is not a murderer. Every muslim is not a terrorist. Every factory is not going to explode.

And Marathon runners are not tougher than elementary school parents who are overwhelmed with the day to day of getting kids up and getting them to school and fixing dinner and doing laundry and driving carpool and overseeing diaramas of Charlotte Web (I'll never forget that one) or scale models of a 5th grade bedroom (that one either) or a high school working model of an atom (yep, top three rounded out).

Life.Just.Is.Hard.

Crazy people. Religious extremists. Accidents.

They all happen.

I am related to a mentally unbalanced person. I can't live in fear.

I work with several muslims. Who can carry backpacks into the building, the room, I work in. I can't live in fear.

There are highly combustible and flammable materials where I work. There have been two accidental deaths on the shop floor in the last year. I can't live in fear.

I also can't determine what is the greater tragedy. None of them took the life of someone I loved.

Then I read an article about the building in Bangladesh that collapsed and the lives that were lost. And the rescue efforts. And how they are blaming it on the U.S. because we buy the clothes they were making.

And I know I will never understand.

But I do know that there is hope for this world. And I'm glad to say that I know that hope.

in my corner

For those of you on the edges of your seats wondering what I did last week:

Not a whole lot.

Mostly normal stuff.

Work
Cleaning
Cooking - do you want to see pictures? lol
Laundry
Took Whitney shopping
Pedicure - it's sandal weather but mostly cause my feet get so calloused and gnarly Steve reminds me cause he hates gnarly feet.
Have several birthdays going on that I have to remember to acknowledge
Graduation cards, presents and open houses, depending on the graduate and the location of the graduate
Went to hear a friend's band this weekend, don't do that very often. Was nice to catch up.

Just an average week in the life.

Conversations with Whitney

Setting: talking about my mom

Me: You know you and Nate started eating real food at Grandma's house before you were six months old because she knew you were hungry. She also thought she knew better than the doctor. Well, I'm pretty sure she knew better than the doctor.

Whitney: And that's why Nate and I are both so strong and smart. I came from the womb eating peanut butter sandwiches.

A Baker's Bakery

Whitney had a project in her Young Entrepreneurs of Kansas class. It was very in depth. Business plan for a business. Verbal presentation. She did "A Baker's Bakery" and made cupcakes. The business plan was the primary part of the grade. The cupcakes at her verbal presentation were the icing on the cake (heeeheeeheee).

She said after school that day she was the most amazing person ever cause she had 4 dozen cupcakes to share.

Unfortunately? she was one of the top two at Heights and has to make the same presentation at Koch Industries on Wednesday. Let me explain a few things. Koch Industries is the sponsor of Young Entreprenuers. The "unfortunate" part is that while Whitney likes the idea of the cash prize, she didn't want to have to do her presentation again. But we went and got all the stuff to make beautiful tasty cupcakes and cake balls, a nice way to present them; like last time, she will decorate her box and make it look good, and for this presentation we got her an adorable pink apron. Because the box is decorated pink, the cupcakes are pink, the cake balls have pink sprinkles.

I'm very proud of her. I have to laugh at the child who doesn't want to win but just can't help herself.

No nerves giving the presentation, no fear that they won't like her cake. She's invincible. UNTIL...

My mom called, she has been sick a few times in the last couple months and has a doctor's appointment. She says she's fine, I believe her, my mom's tough, I'm tough, Whitney's tough.

But Whitney showed a chink in that 16 year old armor. Like to broke my heart. She is definitely grandma's girl.