Early Out

I really detest the early out days at H's school. Since she is in kindergarten on Early Out Wednesdays she had to go to school at 12:15. Usually class starts at 12:40. We generally remember to leave for school at 12:30. Two weeks in a row now I have forgotten about Early Out, and H has been late two Wednesdays in a row. If I hadn't happened to look at the calendar today to see what was going on after school and noticed the 12:15 notation for school today, she would have been much later. Since I noticed that at 12:15, we got out the door and H was only late by 5 minutes.

Instead of getting out at 3:15, she gets out at 2:20. So why even take her to school for 2 hours? By the time I start getting anything done, it's time to go get her. And after we get home and have snack time, it's time to leave for gymnastics. Which I also forgot about today. Which makes me wonder if there is any point to having a calendar, since I don't always remember to check it. We even have daily schedules for each day of the week to keep this from happening! Of course, the month-long sinus infection I've had has completely thrown us off our schedule. Perhaps if we got back on schedule we could handle this early out nonsense. Hmm…

On Books

So today is the beginning of Banned Books Week. Apparently the American Library Association supports the First Amendment by calling attention to books that are banned or challenged at libraries and schools around the country. I will have to find out if my local library is participating, and if not, encourage them to do so.

To the best of my knowledge I have never suggested that a book be banned. I've read a few that were stupid. I've read a few that are offensive in some ways. I've read many books that I wouldn't recommend to people who are extremely fastidious about what they read. I've read some absolutely fabulous books. And I have read a good portion of the books on the banned books list.

Some of the reasons that books are banned or challenged do make some sense. But some others don't make sense at all. I'm sorry, but the Harry Potter books do not promote Satanism, are not anti-family, and if you have ever tried any of the spells you know they don't work. What the Potter books do is get people to read them. My brother Mike, who doesn't read anything, not only read all 7 of the Potter books, he also read the entire Lord of the Rings series. You will never find me agreeing with anyone that these books should be banned.

R.L. Stine, author of the "Goosebumps" series, and other creepy books that I used to read in junior high and high school has been banned for being Satanic. Those books get kids to read. I don't care what the content is, other than step-by-step instructions for bomb making, anything that gets kids to read is good.

The Twilight Series has been challenged for being too sexy—the book promotes abstinence until marriage. The only reason I could think of to challenge Twilight is for the poor editing job.

The Kite Runner was challenged for sexual content and being age inappropriate. That book was written for adults. If adults can't handle reading a book that accurately depicts life in Afghanistan under the Taliban, including a traumatic rape of an 11-year-old boy, then they shouldn't be reading anything that's on the adult shelf, other than Christian lit.

Some of my favorite books were on the list, including The Fountainhead, Atlas Shrugged, Catcher in the Rye, Gone With the Wind, a Wrinkle in Time. A lot of books I had to read in school are on the list, including Of Mice and Men, Grapes of Wrath, As I Lay Dying, Fahrenheit 451. Why? I'm not sure, although language is often cited. The Grapes of Wrath was banned in California because of how it depicted migrant workers during the Great Depression.

In high school I had to get a signed note saying it was okay if I read Catcher in the Rye. It's got some swear words in it. Whoopie freaking do. It's a fantastic book and I feel it should be required reading.

My personal philosophy on books is that I can read whatever I want, my husband can read what he wants, and if my daughter wants to read something I am going to let her—unless it's the Kama Sutra. I do have my limits, after all.

On Shopping Malls

There are things I love about malls, things that make no sense, and some things I flat out hate. I like that there are numerous stores so you can get several things in the same place. I like when there are more than three choices in the food court.

I really am not a fan of the little kiosks in the mall. I understand the need to fill that space so it isn't wasted. But I hate it when the people working at the kiosk basically accost you and try to drag you into a sales pitch. The hand lotion people seem to be the worst. I do my best to not make eye contact with them, and sometimes even go into stores that I don't necessarily need to go into just to avoid these people. The Living Scriptures are the worst.

Why does a store like Express which caters to thin, young trendy people have a plethora of floor space and wide aisles between clothing racks, while Motherhood Maternity is crammed into a small space where a pregnant woman is bound to get stuck between to racks of clothing?

I love going to Gymboree because the clothes are so cute, and H loves going because there is a tv showing children's shows in the back. This buys me a lot of time to peruse the discount rack.

I don't enjoy walking past Victoria's Secret. I don't like having to explain to my daughter why ladies are in their underwear—or hardly in their underwear as the case may be.

When a mall has a play area that's fantastic. I really miss the play area in Provo Towne Centre. It only had one way to get in so you only had to keep an eye on one exit. The Orem mall has an okay play area, but it's hard to find a place to sit where you can keep an eye on the entire perimeter.

It annoys me when the pretzel stand doesn't have parmesan cheese as an option. I know it's messy, but if the mall isn't carpeted who cares?

The glass block walkways at the Provo Towne Centre (PTC) freak me out. I know that the walkway is structurally sound—I was the Project Secretary when the mall was built and I saw every piece of that building go up. I even helped get the stars in the floor in the main entrance to the mall—I handed them to one of the executives who ended up installing them just to meet the grand opening deadline. Getting back on track, the walkway still freaks me out.

I am not a fan of outdoor shopping centers. In the summer they are too hot, and the in the winter too cold.

See's Candies will give you a free chocolate just for going in the store.

When they don't have an As Seen on TV Store. What if you don't want to pay shipping for your Snuggie or Perfect Brownie?