No Need to Hate on Miss Portman

Hmm... I understand the point he is trying to make...not so sure why he thought this was the best angle to take...

In an interview with conservative radio host Michael Medved, the former Arkansas governor and potential 2012 presidential hopeful slammed Portman for glamorizing unwed pregnancy.

Portman is expecting her first child with her fiancé, Benjamin Millepied, a choreographer whom she met on the set of "Black Swan." Her critically lauded performance in the film made her a staple on the red carpet this award season, culminating in her Academy Award win for Best Actress on Sunday.

The former governor, who is also a pundit on Fox News, called Portman's pregnancy "troubling" and suggested it might "glorify and glamorize" the idea of having children outside of marriage. He argued that most single mothers aren't in the same position as Portman in terms of her lifestyle and resources.

"There aren't really a lot of single moms out there who are making millions of dollars every year for being in a movie," Huckabee said, per the liberal group MediaMatters. "And I think it gives a distorted image … Most single moms are very poor, uneducated, can't get a job, and if it weren't for government assistance, their kids would be starving to death and never have health care. And that's the story that we're not seeing."

It's the third time this week that Huckabee has made headlines for controversial remarks.

In a statement issued Friday afternoon, Huckabee defended his comments on Portman, insisting he wasn't trying to "slam" or "attack" her.

"Natalie is an extraordinary actor, very deserving of her recent Oscar and I am glad she will marry her baby's father," Huckabee said. "My comments were about the statistical reality that most single moms are very poor, under-educated, can't get a job, and if it weren't for government assistance, their kids would be starving to death. That's the story that we're not seeing, and it's unfortunate that society often glorifies and glamorizes the idea of having children out of wedlock."

Yahoooooooooo!

Waiting...as patiently as I can....

Orlando Vacation - I can't wait to meet you again.

Fun Stuff

I know, I know - it's been a few - but I am just getting around to checking it out. Pretty good, wish they were a little longer.





I so totally think Chris should go around searching for this cab driver now, lol.

Megan Rocks!

Super huge THANKS to Megan for emailing the track I was desperate for! I greatly appreciate it and am soooo happy! You totally ROCK girl!

This Song

I love this song from August Rush - Something Inside by Jonathan Rys Meyers - I just hate that I have to buy the entire album in order to get it. What a RIP! Anyone willing to help me out?

Dental Cleaning and the Y

Ahhh.... not the dentist! I just got home from the dentist and I am so happy to report no cavities! Whoop, Whoop! I do need to get some cosmetic work done where two fillings in the front are staining... (Yes, those would be fillings done by the last really crappy dentist office that made me have to have a root canal because of their sloppy work.) Good news is that the air is not getting into the tooth, just right below the edge of the filling, so it shouldn't be getting any worse - and even now it is not that bad - I notice because I look at them reeeeeaaally close in the mirror.

In other news, I'm breaking down and buying a membership to the YMCA. Time for me to get in some yoga classes and take a dip every now-and-again in a nice big pool. $25 a month, so I figure that is not too bad.

Chris is coming home!

Yeah! Chris is on his way home now from conferences in Orlando. I miss him so much when he is away, it is always nice when he gets home though. He should have been home yesterday, but the company had extra tickets to the Daytona 500, so he moved his flight and stayed an extra night to attend. =) He had a real good time, I think he took some photos so, he'll get those posted at some point f you. ;)

Put this issue in Perspective...

This is great... Read this if you appreciate or even hate teachers.
by Eedroj Remier on Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 3:42pm.

Are you sick of high paid teachers? Teachers’ hefty salaries are driving up taxes, and they only work 9 or 10 months a year! It’s time we put things in perspective and pay them for what they do - baby sit! We can get that for less than minimum wage.

That’s right. Let’s give them $3.00 an hour and only the hours they worked; not any of that silly planning time, or any time they spend before or after school. That would be $19.50 a day (7:45 to 3:00 PM

with 45 min. off for lunch and plan — that equals 6 1/2 hours).

Each parent should pay $19.50 a day for these teachers to baby-sit their children.

Now how many do they teach in day…maybe 30? So that’s $19.50 x 30 = $585.00 a day. However, remember they only work 180 days a year!!! I am not going to pay them for any vacations.

LET’S SEE…. That’s $585 X 180= $105,300 peryear. (Hold on! My calculator needs new batteries).


What about those special education teachers and the ones with Master’s degrees? Well, we could pay them minimum wage ($7.75), and just to be fair, round it off to $8.00 an hour. That would be $8 X 6 1/2 hours X 30 children

X 180 days = $280,800 per year.

Wait a minute — there’s something wrong here! There sure is!

The average teacher’s salary (nation wide) is $50,000. $50,000/180 days = $277.77/per day/30 students=$9.25/6.5 hours = $1.42 per hour per student–a very inexpensive baby-sitter and they even EDUCATE your kids!).

Facebook Depression?

Does Facebook make you depressed? Everyone (other than those few chronic debbie-downers) has a happy perfect life,and you're stuck dredging through each day wishing you were anywhere but where you are. Sucks, right? Well Enjoy this article from Cosmo which puts those perky "my life is lined with gold" status updates in their place. (Some examples below in the article are over-he-top - Maybe I'll analyze some real friends statuses later...after I finish my homework I've been neglecting.)


So, you log onto Facebook during your lunch break, and as you’re scrolling through your feed, read things like “Taking the red-eye sucks, but first class eases the pain. Miss Hawaii already!”, “It’s been a month since Dan popped the question and I still can’t stop staring at my ring.”, “Dinner at Maison Pierre, dancing at Legend, oxygen facial, Marc Jacobs shopping spree (oops!)—yep, it was an epic weekend.” Cue eye-roll and audible sigh.

With all that bragging, it’s no wonder a Stanford University study found that social networking sites create feelings of loneliness and dissatisfaction. The reason? Since we generally use FB to report only on the good things we have going on, reading status updates makes you think everyone else is happier and having more fun than you are. Rarely do we hear about people getting dumped via text or see photos of them looking like a zombie after a long Monday. Rather, we get news about their exciting career and relationship developments, and see pics of them looking their hottest. What’s more, a separate study by York University in Canada found that people with low self-esteem and narcissistic tendencies were the most likely to use Facebook to “self-promote.” Basically, what you see there is not an accurate representation of the person’s real life.

Look, a little self-promotion is not a bad thing. If someone posts a super flattering photo of you, tag that baby. If you get a promotion, by all means toot your own horn. But it’s the chicks who clog up our newsfeed with daily reminders about how crazy-great their lives are that we have a bone to pick with. Here’s a guide to the five most annoying Facebook showoffs, and truth behind their lying words.

The Type: The Smug Newlywed

Profile Picture: A klassy black and white shot of the new bride on her wedding day, staring tenderly into the eyes of her best friend and lovah

Status: It’s an Hermes and Tiffany’s birthday! My hubby is beyond.

Translation: I am willing to overlook the fact that my hubby thinks my clitoris is two inches south of where it really is because his bank account is beyond.

The Type: The 28-Year-Old Woman-Child

Profile Picture: Splashing around in tropical waters and looking so damn carefree you kind of wish she would drown

Status: Just saw that there’s another snowpocolypse hitting the Northeast. So glad I’m sitting on the beach drinking something frozen right now. It’s a rough life, but someone’s gotta live it!

Translation: Thank God I don’t have one of those “real jobs” and all the stress that comes along with it. I just have a buttload of credit card debt, absolutely no direction in life, and a big blue ocean to absorb my tears. Waiter, a third Margarita please!

The Type: Very Busy and Very Important

Profile Picture: Dancing on a bar, rocking duck lips and/or a peace sign. Extra points if she’s wearing oversized sunglasses at night in a completely serious way.

Status: ZOMG big week ahead: Gaga concert on Tuesday, dinner with the girls at the impossible to get into new sushi spot on Wednesday, private DVF sample sale on Thursday (thanks, Becca!), then mani/pedis and Lizzie’s b-day brunch on Saturday.

Translation: Dear popular girls from middle and high school who refused to let me eat at your lunch table and told everyone that I smelled like onions, Check out how VIP my life is now.

The Type: In a Relationship and Flaunting It

Profile Picture: A close up of her boyfriend kissing her on the cheek. That she took herself.

Status: Above an uploaded picture of a dozen roses: “Flowers from the sweetest boyfriend in the world. ♥”

Translation: Did you hear? I have a boyfriend. So not a big deal or anything but I just wanted everyone to know that I’m not some single loser and I have one. A boyfriend, that is.

The Type: The Easy-Breezy New Mommy

Profile Picture: Her totes adorbs bundle of joy

Status: Everyone told me I was going to get zero sleep these first few months of parenthood, but little Matty is just so amazing and lets his Momma get eight solid hours every single night!

Translation: Lack of zzzs has made me delusional to the point that I really think this is true. Did I also mention that Little Matty was born potty-trained and bilingual? Yup-sir-ee!

New Britney

Maybe a little too much Gaga influence - but I like it.

Ghost Hunter Needed

Alright, everyone. We for real have a ghost in this house, and apparently it does not have a liking for TLC. I'm cleaning to Rascal Flatts when I decide to mix things up a bit and toss in some Old School - Crazy, Sexy, Cool. Everything is going good - I'm getting work done in living room, putting photos from Brazil in an album - and suddenly the music cuts off. I'm like alright, cd has a scratch or something, but there was not skipping before hand which is odd. So...I turn it back on and jump ahead a few songs...few seconds in to the song the display reads 16 - like I had hit stop. So... again, I turn it back on and jump ahead to the song following that one. Before I even get in an upright position the stereo powers completely down. Now I'm really thinking this is weird, not even touching the power button I swap out the TLC for the Rascal Flatts cd and it powers up on its own and starts playing at track 4!!! (Mayberry) Creepy!

Has texting killed romance?

Just read this article by Ashton Kutcher in February Bazaar... Interesting...

Has texting killed romance?

ASHTON KUTCHER asks, in an Internet era, are we losing our ability to really Communicate?

I was shooting a scene in my new film, No Strings Attached, in which I say to Natalie Portman, "If you miss me … you can't text, you can't e-mail, you can't post it on my [Facebook] wall. If you really miss me, you come and see me." I began to think of all of the billions of intimate exchanges sent daily via fingers and screens, bouncing between satellites and servers. With all this texting, e-mailing, and social networking, I started wondering, are we all becoming so in touch with one another that we are in danger of losing touch?

It used to be that boy met girl and they exchanged phone numbers. Anticipation built. They imagined the entire relationship before a call ever happened. The phone rang. Hearts pounded. "Hello?" Followed by a conversation that lasted two hours but felt like two minutes and would be examined with friends for two weeks. If all went well, a date was arranged. That was then.

Now we exchange numbers but text instead of calling because it mitigates the risks of early failure and eliminates those deafening moments of silence. Now anticipation builds. Bdoop. "It was NICE meeting u." Both sides overanalyze every word. We talk to a friend, an impromptu Cyrano: "He wrote nice in all caps. What does that mean? What do I write back?" Then we write a response and delete it 10 times before sending a message that will appear 2 care, but not 2 much. If all goes well, a date will be arranged.

Whether you like it or not, the digital age has produced a new format for modern romance, and natural selection may be favoring the quick-thumbed quip peddler over the confident, ice-breaking alpha male. Or maybe we are hiding behind the cloak of digital text and spell-check to present superior versions of ourselves while using these less intimate forms of communication to accelerate the courting process. So what's it really good for?

There is some argument about who actually invented text messaging, but I think it's safe to say it was a man. Multiple studies have shown that the average man uses about half as many words per day as women, thus text messaging. It eliminates hellos and goodbyes and cuts right to the chase. Now, if that's not male behavior, I don't know what is. It's also great for passing notes. There is something fun about sharing secrets with your date while in the company of others. Think of texting as a modern whisper in your lover's ear.

Sending sweet nothings on Twitter or Facebook is also fun. In some ways, it's no different than sending flowers to the office: You are declaring your love for everyone to see. Who doesn't like to be publicly adored? Just remember that what you post is out there and there's some stuff you can't unsee.

But the reality is that we communicate with every part of our being, and there are times when we must use it all. When someone needs us, he or she needs all of us. There's no text that can replace a loving touch when someone we love is hurting.

We haven't lost romance in the digital age, but we may be neglecting it. In doing so, antiquated art forms are taking on new importance. The power of a handwritten letter is greater than ever. It's personal and deliberate and means more than an e-mail or text ever will. It has a unique scent. It requires deciphering. But, most important, it's flawed. There are errors in handwriting, punctuation, grammar, and spelling that show our vulnerability. And vulnerability is the essence of romance. It's the art of being uncalculated, the willingness to look foolish, the courage to say, "This is me, and I'm interested in you enough to show you my flaws with the hope that you may embrace me for all that I am but, more important, all that I am not."

(No, I did not type all this, I totally stole it! <3)

YES!!!!

First test in my Social Psychology class was last night, and I only missed 4 out of 50. It should have only been 3 in my opinion, but ah well an A's an A no matter how you slice it.

Photo Updates

I tried all day yesterday to upload photos to blogger, but the Internet kept going in-and-out according to the site. So, it was a big fat waste of time. Shutterfly saw no problems with the Internet connection - so you can view the pictures below. We really have been kind of lazy - so not really a bunch of new stuff. =)

11 - February

Click here to view these pictures larger

Cashing-IN

....On Christmas Gift cards!....

Nobody ever has to worry about giving us gift cards for Christmas - We (at least, I) LOVE them! Last week I cashed in the VS card from mom and dad West (New Swim Suit, Shampoo, and boulce sweater) and the Olive Garden from mom and dad Hall. Already shared the Charity Card from B-n-A-n-M (St. Jude). This weekend looks good to cash in the ColdStone card from mom and dad Hall when we head to get some CHIPOTLE. Yum!!

Rachel Pictures

So, it does not look like I ever posted the pictures from when we visited Rachel after she broke her jaw. Well, Here you go.

Poor thing is eating a smoothie through a siringe. =(

No one looks happy here.

Ski Pictures

So on January 9th - we really did go skiing at Bittersweet Resort with Penny, Jay and Donita. I didn't ski, but Chris and Emilia and they had a great time. Chris and Emilia both tried snowboarding for the first time. Emilia got the hang of it, but Chris said (and I quote) "Too late in life. I'm tired of falling down." But he gave it a good try.

New Semester

The Spring semester is underway for school. My Creative Writing class is online, and my Social Psychology class is face-to-face. Our first class this week we watched a video called "The Eye of the Storm". It is a lesson in a 3rd grade class following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. I thought the teacher was very gutsy to try such an experiment. This clip has the students back as adults, while the video we watched in class does not, because we are watching the separate film with the students as adults this coming week. Anyway, I found it interesting and thought it might be worth while to share.

New YouTube Videos

I managed to upload the two best videos I collected over th Holiday to share with everyone. I would have shared more actually, but....I really only had these two. Hope you enjoy them.

Oh yes, Resolutions!

So, I know I am not completely on my own here with resolutions - so here I go (In No Particular Order):

1) Work out 3x's a week (does NOT have to be gym-based - walks, wii fit, sports - all count) So, let's change this to "3 Physical activities a week".
2) Read 2 books a month (just missed this last year, GAME ON in 2011).
3) Volunteer once a Month.
4) Learn to Play the Guitar (er- how 'bout begin to learn).

There they are. I don't think there are any is anything on that list that is asking too much. Nothing tooo drastic. I'm looking forward to it.

Happy New Years Pictures!!!!

Here are a lot of our pictures from our New Years trip to TN. If you like what you see, and want to see some more, click-it-up with the new Shutterfly link at the top of the page. I have the Walmart site still too, but for right now I am putting them on both sites.

Ok, some more photos.

Decided I better add the photos from my camera now that I have finally got all caught up on all other photos!


Little vain?


Our Dear Sweet Makenna! How we love her!



Kris playing with part of the Harry Potter game board.

Aunt Marianne and Uncle Andy!

We managed to talk Kristina into spending the night. Santa must have known - he dropped a little off for her here too.

Hope she got enough... but if not, more to come.

Maybe my morning breath?

Chris and Bec playing on the computer.

Sweet Little Cutie Pie Blaike! Love her hair!

Rest of 2010 (264 photos), by Lara West

I'd like to share my Walmart Digital Photo Center photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.

Here are the updated pictures through the family Chistmas party in Danville. Enjoy - Next year, I vow to be more dilligent in my updates, haha.

Expanding Emilia's English Vocabulary

So... stuck at mom's house, Emilia and I decided to play a round of Scrabble Jr. All I wanted to do was expand her vocabulary. They are all real, REAL, "Real" words. How many can you find? HAHAHA, have fun and I hope you enjoy!!!!

Pictures? What are those!?!

Dad painted my nails for the colts game. I can't believe I let him do that, but they actually don't look too bad. That little basket on the table is the cutest gift that Ashley made for me. It is all blue and white/silver for the Colts. It has blue nail polish, white nail polish, a bracelet, chap stick and a pen all hot-glued to blue and silver sticks, and then a ball Christmas ornament in the middle. And... I absolutely love it.

Here we are at our seats with the Hoffman's. They are our neighbors, and they have been looking forward to this game since we got the tickets! Glad they could keep us company at the game, because they are super fun. And the Colts won - as we heard people saying - "Colts not only had to be the Jaguars, they had to beat the officials too." It was a poorly called game on several occasions. We are so sad that it was our last game of the season. My dad, brother and his kids Robert and Jenny are taking our seats for the Titans game over New Year's.

Family Christmas

One, actually two, family Christmas Parties down - one more to go.


I really love the Holidays. Just gathering together with the family that you never get to just kick back and relax with is great. Although it has been stressful up to this point... Emilia had to decorate the tree or it wouldn't have gotten done... I hope things are going to start calming down for us. Chris has one last work trip to make this year. He is in Chicago tonight, flying to Houston in the morning, and hopefully returning home on-time for Christmas Eve.... Santa may not leave his gifts here if he doesn't make it home...


And guess what? I DID get a camera from my mother and father for Christmas! Just in-time for the Holidays....well, not including the big family party, but I had it to take to the Colts game this afternoon. So, party on people - pictures will be alive and flowing from this juice box again soon. :) Meanwhile, Special shout-out to my cousin Rebecca for putting this lovely picture of all us cousins with our Grandma on FB.

We'll be seeing the rest of the family in Tennessee over New Years!

Celebration Quiz 1!

Last week of school this semester. Science Final, and two quizzes in history left till I am finished. I hear myself chugging along, "I can do it, I can do it, I can do it." Making the most of my math skills, I calculate what I need to get an A in History. I need 20 points on the last three discussion boards, which have yet to be graded. I have only lost 2 points out of all the discussion posts this semester -which is more than my average - and that was a week that I just wanted to get something done, so it was not my best work. Hopefully, I continue my hot streak and get full credit. Anyway, so I need 20 points on all three of those, and I needed at least 20/25 on both of my last quizzes. Just took my first and earned a 22/25- so as long as I don't blow this last one I should be good to go.

As for Science - I some how managed to get that D up to a 89% B. No grades on our last 2 lab reports or our only three discussion board posts, which really IRKS me, because I don't have a good gage of my grade. Just going by what is graded and a possible on the final - I can only squeeze out an A if I get a 100% - which is not likely, but something to strive for. I can get 50% and still hold on to a B...so I think it is going to be a B. Boo... but better than the D I did have.

It's boring...

to blog with out any pictures. I need a camera bad! I found one on ebay -cheapy - but it will get the job done.

Anyway - so last weekend we went to Indy and hung out with Mom and Dad West, Brent, Amanda and Makenna. Stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn - woot! Ate at The Old Spaghetti Factory - A place that Chris has been wanting to patron forever. We also took a horse and carriage ride around downtown, and swam in the pool...er... the hot tub, but it's all good. Sunday we went to Peeps for brunch, Circle Center Mall, Jillians, and then the COLTS game. Too bad the Colts lost.. bummer.

It was extremely cold, yet we all braved it. I bet it is colder now that all the snow has fallen, and wind is picking up (at least here in MC it is.) Love hanging with the family.

Chris was in Connecticut for work all last week. He came home and organized the basement, got the pool table ready to-play, set up the PS2 to the projector in the basement and washed all the dishes and started laundry.

What did I do? Well, homework.

Whew!

Twelve days of classes left at college... Twelve days till vacation at work. I am debating on classes to take next semester. I have my degree completed with the exception of the Praxis test, which I will register for at the start of the year.

My advisor...has advised me... to take a second biology class, another level 200 English class, and another Sociology class with my "free" semester to save money when I transfer. So, the Bio class is not offered at a time that I can participate in, and the only sociology class being offered that I haven't already taken is Multicultural Society... and I'm taking Multicultural Classrooms now, so I am really not interested in another multicultural class at the moment. SO... I THINK (at least at this moment) I have decided to take Social Psychology and Technical Writing. The psych classes transfers as a sociology class at PNC... so... I'm assuming it will be alright.

Christmas is just around the corner! Where has the year gone!!?!! I am so not ready for it. Shopping and Decorating left to finish in a hurry, but I think I'll be alright. Can't wait to see all the family though!