So, the competition has put up at least 2 billboards with his shiny, happy face looking down on me. I am not happy. He has also lined all the main streets with his little campaign signs. He must have about 3 million of them. I have decided that politics really is all about who has the most money. I think I need to watch a Jimmy Stewart movie to restore my faith in the political system.
We had a "Meet the Candidates" night tonight at the local junior high. It was very interesting. As of now, I only know of two candidates whom I will definitely vote for, and one of them is my husband. Everyone made good points, but they all made good points about different things. I was hoping for one clear candidate (other than my husband, of course) who made good points about EVERYTHING. But that didn't happen.
Sigh. Tomorrow I will hit some more elementary schools with my brochures and "Big Kevin" sign. I have discovered that elementary school kids love "Big Kevin." One group gave him high-fives until his fake arm almost bent off. I finally had to say, "Hey, guys -- be careful! This is a $300 sign!" I'm telling you, though, if elementary kids could vote, we would have this thing in the bag.
Now I'm going to go back to bed and see if I can actually fall asleep this time. Maybe I'll try saying "20 more days" over and over until I either fall asleep or drive myself insane.
Goodnight, and God bless.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Saturday, October 10, 2009
He brought me chocolate - Reason #6
Okay, anyone who knows me knows I have a thing for chocolate. Ask any of my old college roommates. They'll tell you the first thing I would do in the morning after waking up would be to go to my stash of chocolate chips and eat some.
Things haven't changed much over the years, only now it's frozen Junior Mints that I reach for. I have one or two in the morning and one after each meal. It's chocolate, it's minty, it's cold -- what's not to love?
But what I really have a passion for is dark chocolate. The darker the better. Exotic flavors are good, too. Like chocolate chili, or chocolate orange, and so forth. Now my mouth is watering.
For some reason, my husband was always good about giving me chocolate for Christmas, birthdays, and sometimes just for the heck of it, but it was always the wrong kind. He would give me MILK chocolate, which only qualifies as chocolate in a pinch. I think once he might have even given me white chocolate, which has to be some kind of venial sin or something. (Reverted back to my Catholic roots for that term!)
Finally, after several years of watching my less-than-excited attitude when I would receive a well-meaning but diluted chocolate gift, he finally got on the dark chocolate boat.
Which brings me to Reason #6 why you should vote for my husband: Today he came home with a bar of Lindt dark chocolate -- just for me, and for no reason at all! How could you not vote for someone like this?
Things haven't changed much over the years, only now it's frozen Junior Mints that I reach for. I have one or two in the morning and one after each meal. It's chocolate, it's minty, it's cold -- what's not to love?
But what I really have a passion for is dark chocolate. The darker the better. Exotic flavors are good, too. Like chocolate chili, or chocolate orange, and so forth. Now my mouth is watering.
For some reason, my husband was always good about giving me chocolate for Christmas, birthdays, and sometimes just for the heck of it, but it was always the wrong kind. He would give me MILK chocolate, which only qualifies as chocolate in a pinch. I think once he might have even given me white chocolate, which has to be some kind of venial sin or something. (Reverted back to my Catholic roots for that term!)
Finally, after several years of watching my less-than-excited attitude when I would receive a well-meaning but diluted chocolate gift, he finally got on the dark chocolate boat.
Which brings me to Reason #6 why you should vote for my husband: Today he came home with a bar of Lindt dark chocolate -- just for me, and for no reason at all! How could you not vote for someone like this?
Friday, October 9, 2009
I am a bad, bad mom -- Reason #5
Well, today I almost pimped my daughter out to gain votes. She went to a CD signing at Gray Whale for one of her favorite heavy metal groups. When I came to pick her up, she was inside the store, but there was a loooong line of people standing outside, waiting for their chance to go in.
Whenever I see a lot of people gathered in one place, I immediately think, "Ooh! Campaign opportunity!" So I grabbed a handful of my "little Kevin" fliers and went up and down the line asking people if they were from West Valley or knew anyone who lived in West Valley. (Keep in mind that most of these people were heavily tattooed, smoking, and using very interesting language.) But hey, a vote's a vote, right?
One guy, who did NOT look like he belonged in the line (he was wearing a button-down shirt, tie, and sweater vest -- not to mention horn-rimmed glasses) unfortunately did not live in West Valley City, but we talked for a little bit about why I was there, which is when Kelsey's name came up.
I told him I was waiting for my daughter, so he said, "Is she single?" I said, "As a matter of fact, she is!" Then he asked what she looked like. I said, "Oh, she's really cute, and she's got long red hair, and, oh, hey! Here's a picture of her on this flier!"
He took one look at the picture and said, "Can you send her back here when she gets out?"
I said, "You got it."
So after a little while Kelsey finally came out, and before we headed back to the van, I said, "Walk down here with me for a minute. There's something I need to do."
So I found my little friend in line, caught his eye, and pointed to Kelsey. He waved and said, "Hi! I'm Don!" Kelsey just gave one of those "I don't know what's going on here but I'll play along with it" smiles and a half-hearted wave, and then we headed back to the van.
If only Don lived in West Valley. We'd have his vote for sure.
So, reason #5 to vote for my husband: 1) he has actually listened to the band in question even though he's a Beatles kind of guy, which only goes to show he has an open mind and is willing to entertain different ideas. Plus, if we get enough votes, Kelsey will probably be safe for a while.
Whenever I see a lot of people gathered in one place, I immediately think, "Ooh! Campaign opportunity!" So I grabbed a handful of my "little Kevin" fliers and went up and down the line asking people if they were from West Valley or knew anyone who lived in West Valley. (Keep in mind that most of these people were heavily tattooed, smoking, and using very interesting language.) But hey, a vote's a vote, right?
One guy, who did NOT look like he belonged in the line (he was wearing a button-down shirt, tie, and sweater vest -- not to mention horn-rimmed glasses) unfortunately did not live in West Valley City, but we talked for a little bit about why I was there, which is when Kelsey's name came up.
I told him I was waiting for my daughter, so he said, "Is she single?" I said, "As a matter of fact, she is!" Then he asked what she looked like. I said, "Oh, she's really cute, and she's got long red hair, and, oh, hey! Here's a picture of her on this flier!"
He took one look at the picture and said, "Can you send her back here when she gets out?"
I said, "You got it."
So after a little while Kelsey finally came out, and before we headed back to the van, I said, "Walk down here with me for a minute. There's something I need to do."
So I found my little friend in line, caught his eye, and pointed to Kelsey. He waved and said, "Hi! I'm Don!" Kelsey just gave one of those "I don't know what's going on here but I'll play along with it" smiles and a half-hearted wave, and then we headed back to the van.
If only Don lived in West Valley. We'd have his vote for sure.
So, reason #5 to vote for my husband: 1) he has actually listened to the band in question even though he's a Beatles kind of guy, which only goes to show he has an open mind and is willing to entertain different ideas. Plus, if we get enough votes, Kelsey will probably be safe for a while.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Behind every great man... Reason #4
They say, “Behind every great man is an even greater woman,” but when it comes to this campaign I would have to say, “Behind every mayoral candidate is a wife who is slowly going crazy.”
Case in point: Tuesday is laundry day in our house. Which means Monday night I am busy collecting and sorting all the dirty clothes and hopefully getting a load or two started before bedtime. Then on Tuesday, it is the responsibility of whoever is in the vicinity of the laundry room at any given moment to make sure the laundering process is proceeding as scheduled.
This last Tuesday, I woke up to discover that my dear husband had taken the clean clothes out of the dryer and put the next load in. Except that the next load was one towel. ONE towel. Who puts one towel in the dryer? So then I looked in the washing machine and what did I see? The rest of the towels! Now I’m thinking, “Why didn’t he put ALL the towels in the dryer? What is wrong with that man?!!”
So when my husband came home that night, I was all ready to say, “Why did you only put one towel in the dryer? Do you know how much electricity that wasted?”
Before I could say that, though, my husband asked, “How come there was only one towel in the washing machine this morning?”
After much pondering, we finally figured out the mystery of the lone towel. Apparently, I had put the towel in the wash the night before because it was already on the laundry room floor. Then I went to get the rest of the towels, which were in a pile only TEN FEET AWAY, but somewhere along the route I thought of something else I needed to do, so I totally forgot about putting the rest of the towels in the washing machine.
I blame it all on the campaign.
Other things every person should know before his or her partner decides to run for public office:
• You will not see your kitchen table again for months. The only reason I know I even have a kitchen table anymore is that I know piles of papers can’t float in mid-air.
• You will eat more fast-food during the campaign than you have in the previous ten years. Home-cooked meals become something you only see in television commercials.
• You will feel compelled to always look your best in public. No more running to Walgreens in your pajamas.
• If you have teenage children, do not count on their support. By putting your name out in the public eye, you have made everyone aware that you are your children’s parents—a dirty little secret they’d been trying to hide for years.
• If you do ask for your children’s help, be prepared to pay. Telling them volunteering for a political campaign will look good on their college application means nothing to them unless it is backed by cold, hard cash.
• You will discover attributes you never knew about yourself (I am a champion honk-and-waver), as well as weaknesses (“Love your neighbor” is really hard to do when they’re running against you).
Above all, you will discover there are few things that can bring a husband and wife together more than supporting each other in a cause they believe in. Even if it does drive you crazy at times.
Case in point: Tuesday is laundry day in our house. Which means Monday night I am busy collecting and sorting all the dirty clothes and hopefully getting a load or two started before bedtime. Then on Tuesday, it is the responsibility of whoever is in the vicinity of the laundry room at any given moment to make sure the laundering process is proceeding as scheduled.
This last Tuesday, I woke up to discover that my dear husband had taken the clean clothes out of the dryer and put the next load in. Except that the next load was one towel. ONE towel. Who puts one towel in the dryer? So then I looked in the washing machine and what did I see? The rest of the towels! Now I’m thinking, “Why didn’t he put ALL the towels in the dryer? What is wrong with that man?!!”
So when my husband came home that night, I was all ready to say, “Why did you only put one towel in the dryer? Do you know how much electricity that wasted?”
Before I could say that, though, my husband asked, “How come there was only one towel in the washing machine this morning?”
After much pondering, we finally figured out the mystery of the lone towel. Apparently, I had put the towel in the wash the night before because it was already on the laundry room floor. Then I went to get the rest of the towels, which were in a pile only TEN FEET AWAY, but somewhere along the route I thought of something else I needed to do, so I totally forgot about putting the rest of the towels in the washing machine.
I blame it all on the campaign.
Other things every person should know before his or her partner decides to run for public office:
• You will not see your kitchen table again for months. The only reason I know I even have a kitchen table anymore is that I know piles of papers can’t float in mid-air.
• You will eat more fast-food during the campaign than you have in the previous ten years. Home-cooked meals become something you only see in television commercials.
• You will feel compelled to always look your best in public. No more running to Walgreens in your pajamas.
• If you have teenage children, do not count on their support. By putting your name out in the public eye, you have made everyone aware that you are your children’s parents—a dirty little secret they’d been trying to hide for years.
• If you do ask for your children’s help, be prepared to pay. Telling them volunteering for a political campaign will look good on their college application means nothing to them unless it is backed by cold, hard cash.
• You will discover attributes you never knew about yourself (I am a champion honk-and-waver), as well as weaknesses (“Love your neighbor” is really hard to do when they’re running against you).
Above all, you will discover there are few things that can bring a husband and wife together more than supporting each other in a cause they believe in. Even if it does drive you crazy at times.
Monday, October 5, 2009
I want my kitchen table back! Reason #3
For anyone wondering what it is really like to run for political office, I will tell you: It's messy. And I don't mean messy in the sense of rumors, innuendos, name-calling, and that sort of thing. I mean your house gets messy! As I sit at the only corner of my kitchen table that isn't covered with papers, I am looking at: my husband's campaign letterhead, campaign envelopes, MapQuest directions on how to get to someone's house who wants a Fayles sign in her yard, my "to do" stack, his "to do" stack, newspaper clippings of articles of importance, and my son's MP3 player. (The latter has nothing to do with the campaign, but it is on the kitchen table. I hope he retrieves it before it is buried and forever lost.)
One of the kitchen walls is covered with maps of different voting precincts, which does not fit into the "Italian Kitchen" vibe I was aiming for when we redecorated.
The rest of the kitchen is filled with stuff that is not campaign-related but is there because I have no time to put it away since I'm busy scheduling volunteers, drafting articles, sending thank-you letters and managing campaign finances.
This is why we do most of our eating in the family room. This is why I have no Halloween decorations up. This is why we hold no campaign events in our home: I would kill myself trying to clean it up. We have let a volunteer or two into the front room, but only because we had no choice. (I would have left them standing on the doorstep--or better yet, sitting in their car--while we brought information out to them, but my husband said that would be rude.)
There are 29 days left until the election. Twenty-nine days until I get my kitchen back. Which brings me to Reason #3 of why you should vote for my husband for mayor --do you REALLY want me to go through all this for nothing?
One of the kitchen walls is covered with maps of different voting precincts, which does not fit into the "Italian Kitchen" vibe I was aiming for when we redecorated.
The rest of the kitchen is filled with stuff that is not campaign-related but is there because I have no time to put it away since I'm busy scheduling volunteers, drafting articles, sending thank-you letters and managing campaign finances.
This is why we do most of our eating in the family room. This is why I have no Halloween decorations up. This is why we hold no campaign events in our home: I would kill myself trying to clean it up. We have let a volunteer or two into the front room, but only because we had no choice. (I would have left them standing on the doorstep--or better yet, sitting in their car--while we brought information out to them, but my husband said that would be rude.)
There are 29 days left until the election. Twenty-nine days until I get my kitchen back. Which brings me to Reason #3 of why you should vote for my husband for mayor --do you REALLY want me to go through all this for nothing?
Sunday, October 4, 2009
So I was chopping onions ... Reason #2
So I was chopping onions for salsa out on the deck this afternoon, which was this brilliant idea I came up with to avoid "onion eyes." And it worked really well, too, except for the fact that it was cold and raining. I didn't have onion eyes, but I did have frozen fingers.
Anyway, the sudden change in the weather and the sight of snow on the mountains made me think of the white cat, which made me think of Reason #2 why you should vote for my husband for mayor. I mean, really--it doesn't matter what religion you are (or aren't)--you gotta love a guy who can talk about a cat like this!
Anyway, the sudden change in the weather and the sight of snow on the mountains made me think of the white cat, which made me think of Reason #2 why you should vote for my husband for mayor. I mean, really--it doesn't matter what religion you are (or aren't)--you gotta love a guy who can talk about a cat like this!
Loving the White Cat
About six weeks ago, a hungry, very dirty-looking white cat came to our back porch. I would guess it was about a year old – older than a kitten but not a fully mature cat. Big clumps of hair were missing. Parts of hair were soiled. It was scared and very wary of getting close to us and being touched. But it had beautiful blue eyes.
My son and daughter were the first to gain its trust. They set out food and water. Gradually, they would calmly and gingerly pet the cat. My son named her Isabelle. Now, not knowing if she ever had a name before, I find his naming the cat somewhat presumptuous and just call her the white cat. “Have you seen the white cat this morning?” I’ll ask. Or, “Did anyone feed the white cat tonight?” Unfortunately, she can’t speak her name and resolve this uncertainty.
Most mornings, when I get up and let our cats, Tigger and Gracie, into the house, the white cat will be at the back porch waiting.
After I get our cats settled, I take care of the white cat, putting out fresh food and water. She now allows me to pet her as well.
I don’t know what kind of upbringing this white cat has had. I don’t know if she felt loved before. I wonder if she was deliberately abandoned or mistakenly left behind. I don’t know what kinds of trials and tribulations she has endured in her young life.
I don’t know what led her to our back porch.
But I do know that my family cares for her. We want her to get stronger. We want her to be happy. She’s already put on some weight. She doesn’t seem quite so sad to me.
I don’t know if some of you feel like this white cat. Perhaps you’ve felt abandoned emotionally or physically. Perhaps you’ve been hurt. Perhaps you don’t like the way you look or the type of clothes you have. I know some of you have already had trials and tribulations to endure.
But I hope you find the chapel a safe, comforting place – just like our porch has become a safe, comforting place for the white cat. I hope you receive spiritual nourishment and love. “Everybody wants to be loved,” a high school teacher once told me. I believe that to be true.
I’m reminded of President Hinckley’s counsel that every new member needs a friend, a calling and to be nourished by the good word of God. I hope you know that you will always have friends in the Church. You may need to reach out a little bit to find these friends, but that’s how it should be. You can’t expect people to always reach out to you if you don’t do anything.
I also hope you have a calling or will shortly receive one. It’s important that we all serve in and out of the church. To paraphrase the Savior, “Inasmuch as ye have [fed the white cat], ye have done it unto me” [Matthew 25:34-40].
Sometimes, as I watch the white cat eating her food or drinking her water, I’m reminded that Heavenly Father is watching me – and you. He is aware of us. He is concerned for us and He blesses us. He has often brought people and opportunities into my life to bless, strengthen and encourage me.
“All things denote there is a God,” wrote the prophet Nephi. For me, helping and coming to know this little white cat has reminded me that God lives and He has shown me and my family great mercy. Never forget how much your Father in Heaven loves you and wants to bless you. He is here for all of us – even small, white cats.
YSA Sacrament Meeting
18 May 08
About six weeks ago, a hungry, very dirty-looking white cat came to our back porch. I would guess it was about a year old – older than a kitten but not a fully mature cat. Big clumps of hair were missing. Parts of hair were soiled. It was scared and very wary of getting close to us and being touched. But it had beautiful blue eyes.
My son and daughter were the first to gain its trust. They set out food and water. Gradually, they would calmly and gingerly pet the cat. My son named her Isabelle. Now, not knowing if she ever had a name before, I find his naming the cat somewhat presumptuous and just call her the white cat. “Have you seen the white cat this morning?” I’ll ask. Or, “Did anyone feed the white cat tonight?” Unfortunately, she can’t speak her name and resolve this uncertainty.
Most mornings, when I get up and let our cats, Tigger and Gracie, into the house, the white cat will be at the back porch waiting.
After I get our cats settled, I take care of the white cat, putting out fresh food and water. She now allows me to pet her as well.
I don’t know what kind of upbringing this white cat has had. I don’t know if she felt loved before. I wonder if she was deliberately abandoned or mistakenly left behind. I don’t know what kinds of trials and tribulations she has endured in her young life.
I don’t know what led her to our back porch.
But I do know that my family cares for her. We want her to get stronger. We want her to be happy. She’s already put on some weight. She doesn’t seem quite so sad to me.
I don’t know if some of you feel like this white cat. Perhaps you’ve felt abandoned emotionally or physically. Perhaps you’ve been hurt. Perhaps you don’t like the way you look or the type of clothes you have. I know some of you have already had trials and tribulations to endure.
But I hope you find the chapel a safe, comforting place – just like our porch has become a safe, comforting place for the white cat. I hope you receive spiritual nourishment and love. “Everybody wants to be loved,” a high school teacher once told me. I believe that to be true.
I’m reminded of President Hinckley’s counsel that every new member needs a friend, a calling and to be nourished by the good word of God. I hope you know that you will always have friends in the Church. You may need to reach out a little bit to find these friends, but that’s how it should be. You can’t expect people to always reach out to you if you don’t do anything.
I also hope you have a calling or will shortly receive one. It’s important that we all serve in and out of the church. To paraphrase the Savior, “Inasmuch as ye have [fed the white cat], ye have done it unto me” [Matthew 25:34-40].
Sometimes, as I watch the white cat eating her food or drinking her water, I’m reminded that Heavenly Father is watching me – and you. He is aware of us. He is concerned for us and He blesses us. He has often brought people and opportunities into my life to bless, strengthen and encourage me.
“All things denote there is a God,” wrote the prophet Nephi. For me, helping and coming to know this little white cat has reminded me that God lives and He has shown me and my family great mercy. Never forget how much your Father in Heaven loves you and wants to bless you. He is here for all of us – even small, white cats.
YSA Sacrament Meeting
18 May 08
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Vote for My Husband: Reason #1
Let me tell you a little bit about our first meeting. It was in a church gym. I was finishing up my aerobics class and he had just arrived for a basketball practice that ended up being cancelled. A mutual friend introduced us. We started talking. And talking. And talking. You have to know that I was not a one-on-one conversationalist. Put me in front of a group of people and I can talk for hours. But talking to just one person has never been easy.
But with this one person it was. Gradually, the only two people left in the gym were the two of us. We sat down on the edge of the stage and shared (as I remember it), our innermost thoughts, ambitions, hopes and dreams. I found myself thinking, "This could be the one." How else to explain that instant connection?
It wasn't until a while after we'd been married that I discovered he talked to EVERYONE like that. If we hadn't already been married, I might have felt a little less special. But by then it didn't matter. And he's definitely the kind of person you want to have next to you at parties or other social gatherings where you don't know anyone.
That's one of the reasons why I think everyone in West Valley should vote Kevin Fayles for Mayor. If you talk to him (and anyone can), you will feel special. You will feel listened to. You will feel understood. Isn't that the kind of mayor you want?
But with this one person it was. Gradually, the only two people left in the gym were the two of us. We sat down on the edge of the stage and shared (as I remember it), our innermost thoughts, ambitions, hopes and dreams. I found myself thinking, "This could be the one." How else to explain that instant connection?
It wasn't until a while after we'd been married that I discovered he talked to EVERYONE like that. If we hadn't already been married, I might have felt a little less special. But by then it didn't matter. And he's definitely the kind of person you want to have next to you at parties or other social gatherings where you don't know anyone.
That's one of the reasons why I think everyone in West Valley should vote Kevin Fayles for Mayor. If you talk to him (and anyone can), you will feel special. You will feel listened to. You will feel understood. Isn't that the kind of mayor you want?
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