A Few of My Favorite Things.

1.  Recently, For the past three years, Sarah Palin has been tarred and feathered by the media. With her entire e-mail history floating around the internet everyone seems to have an opinion.  As I was reading up on the debacle I stumbled upon one particularly misleading article that I thought would be an objective review of what the e-mails mean in respect to the current political scene, but instead it was an unnecessary diatribe detailing everything this author thought she had done wrong with e-mail quotes to prove it.  At the end of his article he creates a list of quotes organized by their context.  One of the many quotes that he has judiciously pulled from hundreds of thousands of e-mails in order to slander Mrs. Palin is a comment by Palin on the guidance she receives from God.

On God's guidance
"I have been praying for wisdom on this ... God will have to show me what to do on the people's budget because I don't yet know the right path ... He will show me though." 

Oh, the horror!  A politician turns to God for financial advice?! Wait, you mean the same way that so many families turn to God for guidance in every facet of their lives?  You mean, she's actually using the divine resources that 2.1 billion people on the planet believe in to solve a political issue? 

I think the anonymous person, who doesn't even have the guts to put their own name on their article, should take his personal opinions and shove them somewhere that is completely un-Christian of me to mention.  This is number one on my list of favorite things today because its one of the the first times I really have true respect for Sarah Palin.   I don't believe women should be allowed to be President, and I don't believe she's doing right by her family to be working constantly.  But anyone who consults God for their decisions has my respect.  And people who quote those God-fearing people as if their beliefs can be used against them can go to Hell.  

2.  I know little to nothing about Mr. Pawlenty.  I know he is from Minnesota, I know he has a last name that is hard to pronounce and I know he is running for president.  However, this quote from an interview with Bill O'Reilly shows more about his character than any fact sheet.

""I'm not running for comedian- in-chief, or entertainer-in-chief. If people want that, they should go to the ball park or Broadway play or a Las Vegas show. ... Being strong is not the same as being loud. ... So, if you want the clown-in-chief, vote for somebody else. That's not me."

Amen.  Mr. Pawlenty is calling out all of the politicians who think their smile and charm will get them through anything, all of the politicians who think they can do a little song and dance for the American people and with the other hand rob us of our rights. (Read the link about being robbed of our rights, its about the 5 freedoms Obama's healthcare legislation completely strips from us.)  Mr. Pawlenty, you have my attention.

3.  Last, but most certainly not least, a very good friend introduced my to Laura Wood's blog recently.  The Thinking Housewife is brilliant for a number of reasons.  First, she has an amazing mind.  She is objective and succinct, all while being considerate and polite.  Secondly, she has the gall to stand up for what she believes in, no wavering, no platform changes, no "that depends on what the definition of is is."  Finally, she forces you to review your own position, forces you to actually use the brain God gave you.  

As you know, I am a fairly opinionated person and Mrs. Wood's blog has succeeded in inspiring me, making my heart race and causing me to groan with frustration.  But through the whole journey she is causing me to check my premises.  While Ayn Rand and Mrs. Wood have little to nothing in common I believe that their dedication to the highest moral standard and the most objective assessment possible put them on common ground.  At the very least they both hold a very high position in my mind for their inimitable dedication and philosophy.  I'd also like to note, if Ms. Rand and Mrs. Wood were to have a tea party with the other women who I respect as much, they would be in very good company.

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In Other News, things in Doha are going quite well.  No job yet but I have gone on a few interviews.  I've been baking a lot and going to the gym, it's too hot out to lay by the pool (the pool, by the way, heats up to about 104 F so it isn't exactly refreshing).  I've gotten some really great reading in (mostly Mrs. Wood's blog) and my floors are clean so life is good.  Doha has been practically empty when we go out at night.  Everyone is 'on holiday' for the summer since its too hot to hang around.  Despite the lack of company, it is really nice being able to get a parking spot when we head to dinner without having to walk a quarter-mile.

I'd also like to note, while we're listing favorite things, I'm in love... again.  (See here, here, and here for previous lovings.)

The Hardest Thing You Can Do

Ayn Rand is my hero. She writes brilliantly, has an ideology that's beyond reproach and wraps it all up in the most fantastic books in the world. There have been hundreds of quotes from her books that have caught my attention but yesterday one stuck out in particular .

"But a desire to choose the hardest might be a confession of weakness in itself."

"Of course, Mr. Roark. But it's the lease offensive form of confession."

"If the weakness is there to be confessed at all."

There's always a weakness to confess, we're human it's inescapable but what if the weakness you're confessing is that of other people? What if its not your own weakness you're defining by taking the road less traveled? Is it possible to be throwing it back in everyone else's face that they are the weak ones for accepting mediocrity and not appreciating the opportunities they've been given? Lately I've been looking for post graduation jobs. I've gotten two. They both pay very well. I don't want either of them. I know I can get a job doing things that I'm "supposed" to do with my degree after college. So many communication majors are pigeon-holed into Sales jobs after school. I can't do it, I won't do it, I absolutely refuse. I'll work in a bar the rest of my life before I embarrass myself by becoming the "Sales Associate" that I've been told I ought to be. I don't care if I'm good at it, and I don't care if it's really easy money. I am not mediocre, I have not spent four years working myself crazy to graduate on time with a respectable GPA to hold a job that someone who has a GED also does.

My desire to choose the hardest path I can will lead to me being the happiest person in the world once I get it. Does that possibly admit my weakness of an insecurity about being weak? Possibly. Does it possibly admit their weakness of a lack of drive and accomplishment? Potentially.

"And it is said but for the spirit of a dozen men...none of this would have been possible."

People who seemingly admitted their weakness, a fear of possibly being weak, overcame it and built some of the greatest ideas, concepts, tangible edifices declaring their fear of being weak. I think it can be assumed that having a weakness and challenging it gives you a purpose in life. Lacking purpose is disappointing.

Either way you look at it, anytime we accept a challenge the entire reason it is the hardest thing to do is because we are provoking our weakness to try and beat us. And every time you do it you either win, and move on to another weakness or you lose and have to try again. But damn, does it feel good when you win.

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In Other News, go read the Fountainhead, it's good for you :) Also, after weeks of detestable weather the sun is out and it's 80 degrees. Thank God! I read my book in the sun on the back porch and now have a sun burn that feels good. I love feeling like I don't suck at life :)

The Reasons I Want to Marry Hank Rearden

In an effort to keep my reasons from droning on and on (because I'm obsessive over a fictional character) I have compiled another one of my ever so (almost) famous lists.

1 - Hank Rearden is the epitome of Republican Capitalist strength. He builds his entire life on the concept that he works for his own good and no man deserves anything that he hasn't earned.

2- He carries the philosophy that the most despicable kind of human being is a human without a purpose. I don't mean a purpose you serve to other people (i.e. Some people exist to make me feel better about myself because they suck). I mean the kind of purpose that gives someone the drive, dedication, passion and responsibility to take control of their own life and make something of themselves.

3- The personal relationship he maintains in the book is because it makes him happy. In turn, his girlfriend is made happy because she knows that everything he does for her is to make himself happy. It sounds ridiculously selfish but what could be more wonderful than being the something in someone's life that they want and need in order to make them happy. Being the pivotal point of happiness for your significant other should be the greatest accomplishment. They should return the favor by being the something that you desire to make yourself happy.

4- The way Ayn Rand makes Hank Rearden speak, the strength in his principles, and the unapologetic nature with which he regards his success and happiness is ridiculously attractive.

I'm perfectly alright with him being a heartless, success-driving, profit motive loving, businessman. Because when you read between the lines of all of those qualities what you get is a man who is responsible for himself and his actions and expects other people to be. He's also a man with a passion which I consider one of the most respectable but rarely encountered qualities in a person.

I'll confess, if I were a lesbian, I would totally want to marry Dagny Taggart... she's basically Hank Rearden in a skirt. For the time being, wanting to be her will have to suffice :)

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In Other News, I leave for Dallas in 21 days. How sweet is that? Work, at Tanner's Creek, is going really well. And I think next week I'm going to go and volunteer with the EquiKids program. It's been far too long since I've seen a horse. I miss Jazz : ( I'm working on that too, unfortunately my schedule and Jazz's owner's schedule don't coincide well. Finally, it's been forever since I've talked to my sister. I miss her.