I don't care that this was published more than 5 years ago--this is the best explanation of why having a perfect plan or solution does not lead to a perfect outcome that I've ever heard. Here's the best paragraph:
"Thomas Sowell likes to say that reality is not optional. But we oh so want it to be. We want to change outcomes without consequences with the ease of adjusting the thermostat on the wall of our house. We want to dial incomes upward and gasoline prices downward. We want to blame Wal-Mart for the fact that its employees earn below the national average. We want to blame China (or Mexico or Japan or India) for our trade deficit. We want to blame or honor the occupant of the White House for whether new jobs are high-paying or low-paying. This worldview that flies in the face of reality and that ignores the inherent complexity of the real world is the bread-and-butter of journalism and the breeding ground for unintended consequences. "
Find it here: Russell Roberts "The Reality of Markets"
Read this one too: Russell Roberts "Pigs Don't Fly: The Economic Way of Thinking About Politics"
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Copy of my email sent to all my GLF supporters
Here it is, a whole month after the GoodLooking Foundation Strides event and I am only just now writing my formal thank you letter! Please accept my apologies for the delay as our family has been experiencing both lingering illnesses as well as a lot of transitioning between preschools for Miranda who has finally moved in to her new digs in the Mt. Laurel Township Pre-School Disabled program at Springville Elementary (just down the hallway from Alex-yeah!) only last week.
I am a little embarrassed to admit that I didn’t read the fine print when I signed up for the 5K in May after the inspiring speech from the leaders of GLF, Joe Ciampoli and Penny Page: the traditional 5K in similar fundraising events is for RUNNERS and boy, am I a WALKER. I spent the summer working up to 5K walks in our neighborhood (being mostly confined with Alex and Miranda has left me without the opportunity to exercise, so the walks did double duty). I felt great during this training for having turned the kids over to someone else for the evening and gone out to prepare myself for this event, knowing that all of you had contributed so generously to this cause.
So, imagine my surprise on that Sunday morning, October 4th, to learn that I was expected to be running the 5K (many people do it in about 20 minutes--Yikes!) instead of walking. Running (briefly) and walking, I did the 5K in about an hour, finishing about half an hour after everyone else. (And re-aggravating knee injuries suffered in high-school.)
What I have since discovered about traditional 5K fundraising events is that many running enthusiasts will pay the $25 fee toward the organization as their primary contribution, show up for 20-30 minutes to run, and go home. That barely covers the cost of the event for the organizers.
So while I played tortoise to everyone else’s hare, with your help and overwhelming generosity, I was able to raise $3,535 for GLF, the event’s largest single contribution towards the $45,850 raised by the entire event. Thank you so much!!
I'm also very grateful to my father-in-law, Rick Webber, who counts a wheelchair as his primary transportation, for coming to the event itself and encouraging me even as I fell farther and farther behind the pack. You can see pictures that he took of the event here: http://tinyurl.com/yl59p7g
In addition to my deep gratitude to all who contributed financially to Alex's Angels and The GoodLooking Foundation, and the many more who prayed for my efforts, I am deeply thankful for my husband and my mother who watched Alex and Miranda for me and did bed-time duties, night after night, while I was out in the neighborhood walking my three miles. Without their constant graciousness and encouragement, I don't think I could have managed this at all.
I am a little embarrassed to admit that I didn’t read the fine print when I signed up for the 5K in May after the inspiring speech from the leaders of GLF, Joe Ciampoli and Penny Page: the traditional 5K in similar fundraising events is for RUNNERS and boy, am I a WALKER. I spent the summer working up to 5K walks in our neighborhood (being mostly confined with Alex and Miranda has left me without the opportunity to exercise, so the walks did double duty). I felt great during this training for having turned the kids over to someone else for the evening and gone out to prepare myself for this event, knowing that all of you had contributed so generously to this cause.
So, imagine my surprise on that Sunday morning, October 4th, to learn that I was expected to be running the 5K (many people do it in about 20 minutes--Yikes!) instead of walking. Running (briefly) and walking, I did the 5K in about an hour, finishing about half an hour after everyone else. (And re-aggravating knee injuries suffered in high-school.)
What I have since discovered about traditional 5K fundraising events is that many running enthusiasts will pay the $25 fee toward the organization as their primary contribution, show up for 20-30 minutes to run, and go home. That barely covers the cost of the event for the organizers.
So while I played tortoise to everyone else’s hare, with your help and overwhelming generosity, I was able to raise $3,535 for GLF, the event’s largest single contribution towards the $45,850 raised by the entire event. Thank you so much!!
I'm also very grateful to my father-in-law, Rick Webber, who counts a wheelchair as his primary transportation, for coming to the event itself and encouraging me even as I fell farther and farther behind the pack. You can see pictures that he took of the event here: http://tinyurl.com/yl59p7g
In addition to my deep gratitude to all who contributed financially to Alex's Angels and The GoodLooking Foundation, and the many more who prayed for my efforts, I am deeply thankful for my husband and my mother who watched Alex and Miranda for me and did bed-time duties, night after night, while I was out in the neighborhood walking my three miles. Without their constant graciousness and encouragement, I don't think I could have managed this at all.
Friday, October 2, 2009
It's the Big Weekend!
Many of you have already contributed to my fund raising campaign for the GoodLooking Foundation, and I am so grateful for your help. My original goal was $2,000.00, which I made almost immediately, so I raised it to $3,500.00, which I am within $60 of reaching. Again, thank you to all of you who have been so incredibly generous! Every weekend that Alex and Miranda start on Saturday morning with GoodLooking activities is a good one. And when we start the weekend well, it makes life so much easier. If you've been considering a gift or forgot all about it, you can still give. Click here to reach my page.
So, on Sunday morning at 8 am, I will report to Connolly Park in Voorhees, prepared to walk my 5K briskly. (I'm not much of a runner, but I've been practicing all summer and 5K takes me about an hour, with my iPod.) I plan to bring my camera to take pictures of the event and will write up a summary for y'all next week.
Marshall and the kids won't be attending the event because we decided changing their Sunday routine would be more trouble than it's worth.
Remember, Sunday is Alex's 6th birthday! Woohoo! We will be celebrating Alex and Miranda's birthdays jointly later in the month with family. There are advantages to having had two October babies, like having to host only one party. Although, I will have to make cupcakes for the first time in my life for Miranda's last day at Tomorrow's Hope Preschool on October 28th. I'm hoping my sister-in-law will share her secret recipe. Leah's cupcakes are always mouth-wateringly delicious.
Both kids are doing well at school. Many blessings upon Miss Kim and Miss Niki.
So, on Sunday morning at 8 am, I will report to Connolly Park in Voorhees, prepared to walk my 5K briskly. (I'm not much of a runner, but I've been practicing all summer and 5K takes me about an hour, with my iPod.) I plan to bring my camera to take pictures of the event and will write up a summary for y'all next week.
Marshall and the kids won't be attending the event because we decided changing their Sunday routine would be more trouble than it's worth.
Remember, Sunday is Alex's 6th birthday! Woohoo! We will be celebrating Alex and Miranda's birthdays jointly later in the month with family. There are advantages to having had two October babies, like having to host only one party. Although, I will have to make cupcakes for the first time in my life for Miranda's last day at Tomorrow's Hope Preschool on October 28th. I'm hoping my sister-in-law will share her secret recipe. Leah's cupcakes are always mouth-wateringly delicious.
Both kids are doing well at school. Many blessings upon Miss Kim and Miss Niki.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
And now it's Thursday
I really need to dig out the camera and post the pictures of Miranda from the first day of preschool. Our children don't really pose for pictures though (yet another reminder of the dominance of Boyle genes--all real Webber children seem to come out of the womb knowing how to pose for a photograph!) so you're really not missing out on photographic excellence or yet another "I'm SO cute" picture of Miranda. Besides, my mother takes most of those anyway. I am an indifferent photographer.
Anyway, Miranda and I have spent the morning doing mostly nothing (I think she spent 90 minutes in the tub this morning) so that she can recover from her busy week. Pesky child took a nap yesterday at 4:45 pm so didn't go to bed until 8:30 pm and then was up from 4 to 5 am. I know why she's waking up in the middle of the night: hunger because she's refusing to eat dinner. She had a small cup of vanilla pudding for dinner last night which I offered out of desperation because if she ate that, at least she'd have some calories in her. I still remember the nights when Alex at this age would have tortilla chips for dinner. But he was a better sleeper then than she is now. Ugh. Marshall and I are really struggling to stay awake during the day. But it is an effort. I was really hoping all the fun and excitement of school this week would mean she'd sleep better. Boy, was I wrong.
Miss Cathy comes for speech therapy in an hour and then we'll lie around some more until Alex come home from school. I don't even have any laundry to do.
Anyway, Miranda and I have spent the morning doing mostly nothing (I think she spent 90 minutes in the tub this morning) so that she can recover from her busy week. Pesky child took a nap yesterday at 4:45 pm so didn't go to bed until 8:30 pm and then was up from 4 to 5 am. I know why she's waking up in the middle of the night: hunger because she's refusing to eat dinner. She had a small cup of vanilla pudding for dinner last night which I offered out of desperation because if she ate that, at least she'd have some calories in her. I still remember the nights when Alex at this age would have tortilla chips for dinner. But he was a better sleeper then than she is now. Ugh. Marshall and I are really struggling to stay awake during the day. But it is an effort. I was really hoping all the fun and excitement of school this week would mean she'd sleep better. Boy, was I wrong.
Miss Cathy comes for speech therapy in an hour and then we'll lie around some more until Alex come home from school. I don't even have any laundry to do.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
So it's Tuesday
Miranda had her first day of preschool yesterday and it seemed to go well. I told my friend Lisanne that her daughter, Addy, is going to have to give me the daily reports of what happens in class because, well, Miranda can't.
Yesterday was a get it done day. Marshall took the day off of work since Miranda's IEP meeting with her case worker was at 10 am and he wanted to be there and he had rehearsal at church last night for next Sunday's service (he runs the sound one Sunday a month) and it just seemed easier for him to stay home. So we put Alex on the bus at 8:20, Marshall left in his car to drop it off for an oil change, 5 minutes later Miranda and I got in my car to go pick him up and head for church. He was delayed at the car place but we still made it to church on time because, amazingly, we hit green lights all the way down 73. That never happens.
We dropped Miranda off in her class room with Miss Nicki (she must have liked Miss Nicki since she asked for her by name this morning) and Miss Megan, went to the lobby to chat with friends, raced off to the Child Study Team office, had the meeting, dropped Marshall back at the car place where his car was finished. Then we split up. I went on a quick shopping spree to Kohl's to return the size 5 pants I'd bought for Miranda a week ago (she's size 5 shirts, size 4 pants and size 10 shoes), stop at Trader Joe's for groceries, run to Target to take back some more size 5 pants and made it to church in time to pick Miranda up at 12. We were good until we walked out the front door and Miranda tripped and landed on the concrete, scraping both knees and palms. So, I left all our stuff there on the concrete so we could go back in the church and find Miss Heather and her stash of bandaids. And while Miranda's sitting on the counter in the bathroom and I'm cleaning her up I'm promising her a lollipop to make it all better and then realize my purse has many things but no lollipops! Of course, it being a kid-friendly church, someone in the office has one and they are happy to give it to Miranda.
Marshall spent the afternoon with his to do list which included changing the oil in my car (and then cleaning up afterwards) and then hanging up a picture and the new mirror in our powder room. It's not completely completely done in there, but it is getting closer.
Miranda's therapist is sick this afternoon so we raced home from MOPS for no good reason. We'll probably sit around and relax as she got me up this morning at 5:30 am. Pesky girl. There's always laundry to fold.
Yesterday was a get it done day. Marshall took the day off of work since Miranda's IEP meeting with her case worker was at 10 am and he wanted to be there and he had rehearsal at church last night for next Sunday's service (he runs the sound one Sunday a month) and it just seemed easier for him to stay home. So we put Alex on the bus at 8:20, Marshall left in his car to drop it off for an oil change, 5 minutes later Miranda and I got in my car to go pick him up and head for church. He was delayed at the car place but we still made it to church on time because, amazingly, we hit green lights all the way down 73. That never happens.
We dropped Miranda off in her class room with Miss Nicki (she must have liked Miss Nicki since she asked for her by name this morning) and Miss Megan, went to the lobby to chat with friends, raced off to the Child Study Team office, had the meeting, dropped Marshall back at the car place where his car was finished. Then we split up. I went on a quick shopping spree to Kohl's to return the size 5 pants I'd bought for Miranda a week ago (she's size 5 shirts, size 4 pants and size 10 shoes), stop at Trader Joe's for groceries, run to Target to take back some more size 5 pants and made it to church in time to pick Miranda up at 12. We were good until we walked out the front door and Miranda tripped and landed on the concrete, scraping both knees and palms. So, I left all our stuff there on the concrete so we could go back in the church and find Miss Heather and her stash of bandaids. And while Miranda's sitting on the counter in the bathroom and I'm cleaning her up I'm promising her a lollipop to make it all better and then realize my purse has many things but no lollipops! Of course, it being a kid-friendly church, someone in the office has one and they are happy to give it to Miranda.
Marshall spent the afternoon with his to do list which included changing the oil in my car (and then cleaning up afterwards) and then hanging up a picture and the new mirror in our powder room. It's not completely completely done in there, but it is getting closer.
Miranda's therapist is sick this afternoon so we raced home from MOPS for no good reason. We'll probably sit around and relax as she got me up this morning at 5:30 am. Pesky girl. There's always laundry to fold.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Day 3 (or, I really hate rainy days)
It has been raining since early yesterday evening. I almost sent Alex to school in his rain boots. I hate the rain. I am so much more easily discouraged when the sun is not shining.
I am really having a tough day. I just wrote a long email to the preschool director at Miranda's new school where she starts class on Monday.
[Here in NJ, the state and the feds pay for therapy until the age of 3, when the children are turned over to their individual township's care. So, Miranda isn't eligible to start at the public school until October 30th, her third birthday. So, Tomorrow's Hope Preschool has graciously said they would take her in their 2 1/2 year old class until November. So that is what we are doing.]
In the process of writing the email, I realized what the source of my panic is. I have become accustomed to protecting the world from my children, instead of the reverse, because they do not behave or react in ways typical to other children. Tell Alex no (for a perfectly good reason) and he'll slam himself into the nearest wall. Tell Miranda no (for an equally good reason) and she'll throw whatever is handy straight at you (including furniture).
So, how do I protect the other kids in Miranda's class from her? Yes, there is a perfectly wonderful teacher and another perfectly wonderful aide (2 adults in the classroom) who's jobs include protecting the children from each other. But do they know how to restrain her effectively? Or is Miranda going to use the skills she's learned in therapy for the past 15 months as well as many hours in the church nursery (God bless Miss Brynn, Miss Beth, Miss Rachel, Miss Sarah, Miss Kim--who am I forgetting?!) and behave herself in a relatively normal manner?
I think you can gather from my abject terror that I don't trust her to be a good girl and not beat up the other students. But it is possible that I am wrong.
I am really having a tough day. I just wrote a long email to the preschool director at Miranda's new school where she starts class on Monday.
[Here in NJ, the state and the feds pay for therapy until the age of 3, when the children are turned over to their individual township's care. So, Miranda isn't eligible to start at the public school until October 30th, her third birthday. So, Tomorrow's Hope Preschool has graciously said they would take her in their 2 1/2 year old class until November. So that is what we are doing.]
In the process of writing the email, I realized what the source of my panic is. I have become accustomed to protecting the world from my children, instead of the reverse, because they do not behave or react in ways typical to other children. Tell Alex no (for a perfectly good reason) and he'll slam himself into the nearest wall. Tell Miranda no (for an equally good reason) and she'll throw whatever is handy straight at you (including furniture).
So, how do I protect the other kids in Miranda's class from her? Yes, there is a perfectly wonderful teacher and another perfectly wonderful aide (2 adults in the classroom) who's jobs include protecting the children from each other. But do they know how to restrain her effectively? Or is Miranda going to use the skills she's learned in therapy for the past 15 months as well as many hours in the church nursery (God bless Miss Brynn, Miss Beth, Miss Rachel, Miss Sarah, Miss Kim--who am I forgetting?!) and behave herself in a relatively normal manner?
I think you can gather from my abject terror that I don't trust her to be a good girl and not beat up the other students. But it is possible that I am wrong.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
The Saddest Sign of the End of Summer
We started emptying the pool last night. It hasn't been warm enough to swim since Saturday.
When I first moved to NJ, I thought it was the strangest thing that community pools were only open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. We used to swim in Fresno from April until October. However, it's only barely warm enough here to swim from June-August. The first of September here is really when the weather cools off. I still find it strange, though.
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