One Reason I Love My Sister

My sister told me today that she doesn't think I'm ridiculous. The world is turned right side up again. I'm good. But this cartoon illustrates what my brother-in-law is probably thinking while we're talking.

Applying Internet Safety

So I discussed internet safety with a member of my family (they will remain nameless but I will say that they are in their late 20's and have two kids) and I asked them how they applied this to their children (both of whom are under five). He--whoops, I mean "they"--laughed at me. Just as I thought they would.

(Obviously this kid is internet safe.)

But when I asked them to please stop mocking me and explained that this was for an assignment they were very agreeable.
I started my research by checking out AdCouncil.org. They have an article on there about sex offenders and how to avoid them online, as well as who's being targeted. They talked about some Public Service Announcements that have been put up concerning this issue and I went back to YouTube to find another video. This one is called Think Before You Post.
It's probably wrong of me to say that I thought a little bit of this was funny. But I might as well just admit it now that I asked. But in all honesty it struck me more than the others that I looked up. I think it's simply applicable to anyone; to all ages.
So as I was talking to my family member, I asked what they do to protect their kids. They said that right now they don't even have the internet on the computer the kids use. It is only used for the educational games they have installed onto it. We then talked about what to do when the kids are older. The answers seemed obvious--don't give anyone your full name, don't meet up with anyone you met online, don't tell them how old you are. An interesting one I found in a video was to never use a screen name that tells your gender. But I think internet abstinence for their youngsters is key. I personally don't think it is necessary for kids to be chatting online with anyone they don't know and so I also think that would be a great way to avoid tricky situations.
We finished up the conversation talking about Elder Bednar's talk that I mentioned in my last post. I think the biggest safety issue for us (meaning my family and I) would be more closely related to spending too much time building up our cyber worlds instead of focusing on our family life. That isn't to say that that is actually a problem now, that would just be the more likely problem, I think.
They were very nice to me once I told them I was doing an assignment and we had a more serious talk when we brought the Gospel into it.

Internet Safety Assignment

I remember watching Elder Bednar's fireside "Things As They Really Are" when he gave it this past Spring or Summer (whenever it was). It was such an interesting topic and my friends and I just sat and talked about it for a good half hour to an hour afterward.

His point was seeing things as they really are. I remember not knowing what to expect as he began his address. He talks about our bodies being temples and I expected him to proceed along the lines of chastity and physical virtue. But he talked specifically about technology and the internet and the effect that these have on our reality.

He very poignantly describes what he is talking about. He discusses alternate lives online and games that are taking up hours and days of peoples' lives at a time. The scary part was what he said about these people seemingly choosing their fake lives over their real ones. You can't substitute the tangible, physical, human interactions for an Avatar life or World of War Craft.

It just makes me want to be very careful about how much exposure I allow my kids to have to these kinds of things. I even get nervous when it comes to deciding how much television to let them watch or video games to play. No offense to my brothers, but I remember how they used to zone out when they started playing freaking Zelda! (I love you both.) My mom had to turn the game off in order to get any response from either of them.

And then I've witnessed the very problem that Elder Bednar is pointing out in my adult life. Here at college, in a Brigham Young University ward, I have seen ward members choose World of War Craft over social activities, church, and even work. I knew of one guy imparticular who would spend probably 40 hours a week on his computer and only come out for a microwave dinner occasionally.

I don't have kids now and I don't have any close friends or family with internet or video game addictions. As far as my future children are concerned, it certainly can't hurt to think about these things ahead of time. As I watch my siblings raise their kids I can take what they're trying and try it myself later on. As far as my friends and family are concerned I think the best thing to do is just spend real time with them. This class is about technology and its usages but I know there is a limit. My sisters and I like to blog and we keep up with each other quite often using this medium but when I can, I choose to visit with them in person rather than posting random comments on their blogs.

So I began searching on YouTube for some "Internet Safety Videos". After watching a slightly creepy and slightly not well done video I came across this one. The first video actually made me really appreciate this second one but I won't put anyone else through that.

Click here to view a short clip
For another, slightly longer video click here

This video seemed so self-explanatory to me but perhaps my parents just did a good job! I was a little bored as I was watching but then I looked at all the posts beneath that were thanking whoever posted the video. Apparently they really needed to know. And as long as someone got something out of it, it's worth it, right?

More information can be read about internet safety topics by checking out Ad Council online. Just type that into google. They have an informative article about avoiding online sex offenders (yikes!)

I think kids have a lot more things to handle now that are less obviously wrong. The internet can be used for so many good things! But then it can really be twisted into something harmful. We just have to be careful how much time we spend on it ourselves and how much information we give. And then we have to make sure kids understand that too.

Teeth

I know, the title for this is gripping. But seriously, the stories of my teeth are legendary. I want to know what people did before we had dentists! I suppose they just ripped them out, right? Well that was probably cheaper.

So about a year ago I visited a dentist who discovered ten cavities in my mouth. Sick? Yes, I know. So I vowed from that point on to brush my teeth every day. Oh, wait, I already did! I am not homeless and without a toothbrush. In fact, if the every day dental hygiene habits were effective on me I'd be a great spokesperson for dentistry. Except that I hate dentists. They incite such irritation in me! Every time I go in I get the lecture about having good brushing and flossing habits. Dude! I floss every day. I bet that's more than most, let's be honest here. And even after I began that I still went back to be told I had two more cavities on top of the ten from the last checkup. I am not a child. I take care of my teeth. And no, I don't drink soda ten times a day either. But they give me this condescending "dentist" look that says, "Do you want your teeth to look like this?"

Nice.

So now I have to have a root canal this afternoon. I have to tell you though, even if I have to sit there drooling all over myself for two and a half hours and spend an obscene amount of money on it, at least I will be able to sleep tonight--in theory, that is. And I can stop taking Lortab. Curse that medicine. I wasted my entire Saturday because of that junk. But at least my tooth didn't hurt for those six hours that my stomach did. Way to take the hit, stomach.

<-----My arms look like that after I brush too.

 I wrote a poem about my tooth this weekend just to illustrate how unfortunate it is.

To pull the tooth or spend exorbitant amounts to save it?
Spending money on my teeth is against my religion.
I hate teeth.
I think I’ll let it rot.
I hope I marry a dentist.

The moral of the story, kids, is brush your teeth and visit your local dentist so he can make his fortune by cleaning your pearly whites. In ten years it'll be my veneers he'll be cleaning. Maybe they'll be easier for both of us- he and I. But he'll be able to retire after that anyway.

 

Google Sites

It is interesting to notice that as I began taking this course (kicking and screaming against technology) I also received a very involved calling in a ward that uses nothing but google docs. Hello crash course to technology! My bishop texts me when he needs things, it's hilarious to me. But also helpful. Yesterday I forgot about one of my weekly meetings (in my defense, I don't even remember being told about this one) and he was able to text me and remind me and I was there only about fifteen minutes late! Yay for texting! But as for google docs, bless them! They have saved my life! Our ward directory is on a google doc, our calling list is on a google doc, visiting teaching is on a google doc, and the list goes on.

I chose to use a google site for my class site because I'm so familiar with google. I think the google sites are a little more user friendly, but that's just an opinion. Most of the things I've done on my blog have taken some time and study to figure out (yes, I am aware that I sound pathetic) and I knew I wanted something a little easier than Blogger is for me. It was also very simple to add a google calendar to a google site and since I knew how to do a google calendar already my choice was pretty cut and dry. But just to make sure no one thinks I hate Blogger, I tried to do one on WordPress first and it was even more complicated to me. So yay for Blogger : ) I also wanted to try out a different site than what I'm using for my blog. We're supposed to be exploring different sites and options, right?

"My Job In Relation to the Topic of Hell" and "Stop"

 I've been slacking on my poeming lately but here are two of the latest. If you're not feeling slightly serious probably don't read the second one.

"My Job In Relation to the Topic of Hell"
Endless typing, typing, typing.
Hold. No hold. Loan. No loan.
Country music in the background.
Oh and that phone ring!
“Is that a fire alarm?”
“No it’s just our phone”
Count your drawer
Count your coin
Count the number of times you’ve said,
“Hi, I’m Ashlee. How can I help you today?”
Count the number of times you’ve said,
“I’m sorry sir, I can’t do that.”
“That’s against our policy.”
I know, you hate me, I get it.
I’m the devil.
I know.

"Stop"
Sometimes you have to stop moving with the world.
Going backward isn’t the answer–never was.
But your body seems to lack the strength, hurled
Against a wall that seems to block your attempted withdraws.

I remember crying and you asked me to stop.
And I couldn’t.
Couldn’t stop from fearing that potential drop.
And I wouldn’t.
Wouldn’t let go because it felt good somehow.
I realize that’s all wrong now.

Temple Hair

I look forward to a period in my life when I no longer have to get wet when I attend the temple. (If I have any readers that are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints I have posted a link so you can read up on the church's sacred ordinance of Baptisms for the Dead.) I do not mind sacrificing at all but my hair suffers from the chlorine. . .  And from my lack of a desire to fix it afterward.

This morning Kati and I went at 5:45 (ok it was more like six by the time I dragged myself out of bed. I keep turning off my alarm unknowingly. I'm going to have to relocate it I think) and seeing as how I hadn't gone to bed until two last night there was no way I wasn't going back to bed when I got home.  Lately the evening wait time has been close to two and a half hours. I didn't know the baptistry had an overflow until this semester started. Now I know.

With this in mind, Kati and I have rearranged our schedules and try to make Saturday mornings our time. Even at six in the morning it took us an hour!
I wish that it could have gone a little faster if only for the fact that I looked hideous. And for all of you nice people that are thinking, "No Ashlee, you couldn't possibly": first, bless your hearts and second, it's sadly true. Blood-shot eyes and lack of cover-up on the annoying left-over-from-picking-stupidly-at-my-blemishes marks come together to make me quite a sight at six a.m.
I think the best part of my appearance by far was after going to sleep with semi-wet hair and being woken up by my roommate at about 10:30. I was a sight. Now that I think about it I really wish that I'd taken a picture. So I have provided the next best thing-- an action figure version that I found on google.
So the whole point of this was so that I could post a picture of this. I have a roundabout way to get to the point, don't I?

I'm the one on the left.

Sonnet 2- Mine, Not Shakespeare's

I enjoy being humorous and when I look over my blog I like to think I'm fairly amusing. Sometimes I'll give myself a little chuckle and say, "Oh Ashlee, you've outdone yourself this time." Just kidding.

Although I enjoy humor I've been in a pensive mood today. Thus I wrote a poem that doesn't quite have the funny edge to it that most of mine do. No, it's not about flowers. I just like visual aids. Plus I took that picture on Temple Square in Salt Lake so it kind of fits.

My thoughts move fast- they’re raging in my mind.
I crave the kind and numbing drug of sleep.
For such sweet castles built in sweetest time-
Dreams. Would that I should sink so fast and deep.
But attain that rest I certainly cannot.
Decisions loom and agitate my heart.
I’m wearied, worried, heartbreak not forgot.
Anxious, I rise and tears begin to start.
Then I’m compelled to fall upon my knees
And feel the comfort hardest to describe.
For on this earth there is no greater peace
Than that from Him who once for us did die.
       My faith restored I climb back into bed
       And happily I gently rest my head.

I'll Never Grow Up

I woke up at the crack of dawn this morning to attend a teaching convention in Sandy, Utah. I mean no disrespect to educators or to our keynote speaker, but that was boring. Goo. The real problem was that I've already read the book by Wong & Wong that Doctors Wong and Wong both presented and I didn't need it reiterated.
There were a few highlights to our early morning expedition, however. Number one being the eight dollar meal voucher (I didn't pay for the convention so it was pretty much an extra eight bucks in my pocket) and number two being the little bit of time I had to write a poem. Thank you Daily Poetry Club for guiding my creativity : ) The title of this post is based upon the fact that free food and dinosaur poetry gets me more excited than lectures. If that's what the choice is between, though, I choose to remain a child.

Prehistoric Heroes is what we'll call this bit of genius.

These giant creatures roamed the earth
Before the dawn of man had had its birth.
It’s a good thing you and I were not around
Cause they’d have squished us like pancakes real flat on the ground.
Or bitten our limbs off with very sharp teeth
Or knocked us about like a twig or a leaf.

But truth be told I wish I could see one right now.
This two hour lecture makes me furrow my brow.
Of course over notes I choose poetry instead.
But after I’ve finished poeming please shoot me in the head.
Or maybe this is where those big guys would be handy
Their massive destruction would really be dandy.
I can think of nothing that would clear a room faster
And there I’d be sitting just filled with wicked laughter.

I don’t even care if the T. Rex eats me first
Cause sitting through this lecture is absolutely the worst.