tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-129761862024-03-06T21:41:16.018-07:00Our Life and TimesCarterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13998624647644062829noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12976186.post-43605775695627160592011-04-28T13:23:00.000-06:002011-04-28T13:25:03.303-06:00Been a long time...I really should be posting.<br />Since I signed on to facebook, though, I mostly post stuff there.<br /><br />I'll try to think of something new to post.<br /><br />I went back and was reading stuff I posted when Sariah and I met and were dating, leading up to our engagement and marriage. Good times... Good times...Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13998624647644062829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12976186.post-30535156231344575392009-10-19T09:48:00.000-06:002009-10-19T10:00:47.698-06:00I'm bursting!!!Do you ever feel as though you were born to be something amazing? Do you ever feel as though there is "something" deep inside of you that is just bursting to get out?<br /><br />Lately, Carter and I have been struggling with all sorts of life's stuff. Our family has really been put through the ringer, a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">rollercoster</span> ride of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">immense</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">proportions</span>. This morning however, I awoke feeling as though I could take on the world, look it in the eye and say, "do your worst, you'll not harm me today". <br /><br />It's such an empowering feeling, to know, I mean really know you are an amazing person. To truly believe you are a son/daughter of God and all that it entails. That you are entitled to all the blessings, perks and benefits of having a divine Father in Heaven. I will <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">radiate</span> today! I will shine, with everything I have, because I'm bursting to overflowing.Sariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07250037747670687310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12976186.post-14227642307437687152009-09-14T15:33:00.000-06:002009-09-14T15:34:52.775-06:00FinallyThe countdown has begun and the waiting is almost at an end. I can't wait until this is all over!!!!Sariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07250037747670687310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12976186.post-5134980581301857732009-08-20T15:32:00.000-06:002009-08-20T15:46:44.248-06:00The Bad Day<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: courier new;">So Carter and I have been having a tough time lately with some issues within our family. I came across a book we purchased a couple of years ago by Ben Goode called the Bad Day Book. It helped me realize that maybe I don't have it so bad. Here's an example of one of his stories.<br />Seven Indicators it could be a bad day if you're a Chicken!<br />1. If you wake up in the morning and find that you're hanging by your foot in China Town.<br />2. Hurrying to get dressed, you zip your feathers up in your pants.<br />3. The chicken below you, who has recently started smoking, wakes up in the middle of the night and catches your fine under feathers on fire.<br />4. You get all excited to lay another egg, but sadly, you discover that you just needed to go to the bathroom.<br />5. While you're pecking for bugs out in the yard, you notice out of the corner of your eye the KFC truck drive and stop.<br />6. the farmer messed up and instead of putting you back in with all the hens for the night, he put you in the pen with one hundred and fifty roosters.<br />7. Having overslept in the morning at your hotel, you catch the first courtesy bus that comes along. Instead of going to the Poultry show, you realize too late that you are on the bus headed for the weasel convention.<br />Have a Good Day everyone!!!!<br /></span></span>Sariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07250037747670687310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12976186.post-19090846749921459922009-08-03T13:37:00.000-06:002009-08-03T14:02:16.739-06:00Gratitude in abundance<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbTS99ylgMkK3ZfklO46BSxU0S-3iWBSyit-crfLA2T23Ibrxv2lC2yESbtvKUlrwtRPE3g5pQ9WXHEqWxZAlom_vs8Bpgm7QJohk36pqn6U5AXwq1Ib8JRHOGip-87ovyfvMiA/s1600-h/DCFC0308.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbTS99ylgMkK3ZfklO46BSxU0S-3iWBSyit-crfLA2T23Ibrxv2lC2yESbtvKUlrwtRPE3g5pQ9WXHEqWxZAlom_vs8Bpgm7QJohk36pqn6U5AXwq1Ib8JRHOGip-87ovyfvMiA/s320/DCFC0308.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365830166327591554" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-W3IQ6ArVyxsbMjHcLTJhpzyusxdZokznHLaljTVelBeaiSaIZCEQHTZ8mTR3Fi8IM0sUoJVvaQGzBagoPWCPpFyM5LKlSirxYrsxVVHcg37e3nCRvfKpNc2WRH0CHLFnQ68R6w/s1600-h/DCFC0310.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-W3IQ6ArVyxsbMjHcLTJhpzyusxdZokznHLaljTVelBeaiSaIZCEQHTZ8mTR3Fi8IM0sUoJVvaQGzBagoPWCPpFyM5LKlSirxYrsxVVHcg37e3nCRvfKpNc2WRH0CHLFnQ68R6w/s320/DCFC0310.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365829339243533906" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYUoIdLtmWIVZN7_9cl1jvPPBYhz06Vb5uLgTb79JIpKNU9q-OxXNoTw6lNAXRtBYWwQv36iMKBY_cJvbVTXNSgNu_9st9a6qNTfTASPykh9attC_JsXYEoDh7hKOfKUL7UaRsdA/s1600-h/DCFC0307.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYUoIdLtmWIVZN7_9cl1jvPPBYhz06Vb5uLgTb79JIpKNU9q-OxXNoTw6lNAXRtBYWwQv36iMKBY_cJvbVTXNSgNu_9st9a6qNTfTASPykh9attC_JsXYEoDh7hKOfKUL7UaRsdA/s320/DCFC0307.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365829221765841890" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_nO5ohBHPdqx_p1Ox2AvKUftPIqdgxcevENp4ZCYLK0hc3GjsFt8j9trxaDQ4jIXCbTVFZxIB-a4X09KNt95NtGKJRUQ4w6k8lUh9tMYJ7Erj3HvX1RKog_P4V6dJzmtZTZr9tg/s1600-h/DCFC0309.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_nO5ohBHPdqx_p1Ox2AvKUftPIqdgxcevENp4ZCYLK0hc3GjsFt8j9trxaDQ4jIXCbTVFZxIB-a4X09KNt95NtGKJRUQ4w6k8lUh9tMYJ7Erj3HvX1RKog_P4V6dJzmtZTZr9tg/s320/DCFC0309.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365828628605517970" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKv_nRt4S2NVULCndv1I4RaxmgyCTzQKZrIUdX4M8FMyNpE7pf6LImoO34AuAVCREmCjr8c6Qs3hHq3nboHTcux8ZMlRyHB_KCJb2UvF1SH_RsXYye5aTh30SCYleELKozus7ftg/s1600-h/DCFC0306.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKv_nRt4S2NVULCndv1I4RaxmgyCTzQKZrIUdX4M8FMyNpE7pf6LImoO34AuAVCREmCjr8c6Qs3hHq3nboHTcux8ZMlRyHB_KCJb2UvF1SH_RsXYye5aTh30SCYleELKozus7ftg/s320/DCFC0306.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365828455730851218" border="0" /></a><br />Recently Colorado has had some really weird weather. Recently, my favorite brother-in-law on the Carter's side was hit by a tornado. We're so fortunate that no one was hurt or injured. Here are some pictures of the aftermath.Sariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07250037747670687310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12976186.post-46556903721482907072009-07-08T09:46:00.000-06:002009-07-08T09:54:42.561-06:00Favorite Time of DayWhen I was younger (much younger) my sister Naomi and I had to share a bed. We would be sent down to bed each night with the instructions, "Go to bed and no playing around". Yeah right, like that would EVER happen!! We would spend hours sometimes playing or making up games in bed. I remember those fond memories well and they often bring smiles to my face. <br />My husband and I have reverted back to my childhood, he never had to share a bed with his siblings. We'll talk and laugh and most often will stay up much later talking and goofing off than we do at any other time during the day. Often staying up waaaaayyyy past our bedtime. We keep threatening to start recording our conversations and our giggles and reviewing them at a much later date. How incredible it is to have so much fun with your spouse. He truly is my best friend.Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13998624647644062829noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12976186.post-31866988410401219952009-06-30T11:41:00.000-06:002009-06-30T15:04:10.344-06:00Date Night .... It's a must!!!So recently our stake had a Womens Conference. The theme of the conference was the parable of the 10 Virgins. The idea was to go around to differnt booth and fill your lamp. They had all sorts of different ideas and items there. Our booth was date night. I'm proud to say that with the rare exception of just a few weeks Carter and I have continued go on a date every week for the past 2 1/2 years. We actually look forward to it. So I thought it might be nice if I posted some of our favorite cost friendly ideas for others to enjoy. I can't guarantee that once we have children we'll continue to date on a weekly basis, but we're going to give it our best shot. <br /><br />1. Play a favorite board game, or challenge each other to childhood games—such as marbles, jacks, and hopscotch.<br />2. Make cookies and take some to a neighbor’s house. Place them on the doorstep, then knock or ring the bell and run to hide.<br />3. Read a book, the scriptures, or the Ensign together. If you prefer, read a book during the month, then discuss it in depth on your date night.<br />4. Make a list of the goals you want to accomplish in one, five, ten, or twenty-five years. Seal these lists in envelopes with a “to-open” date written clearly on the front.<br />5. Make holiday (Christmas, Easter, etc.) decorations for your home. Make Christmas gifts for family members or friends.<br />6. Plant a garden or a tree.<br />7. Dance to old records or to music on the radio. Learn new steps together.<br />8. Plan a special midnight supper, barbecue, picnic (summer or winter), make-your-own-pizza party, or candlelight dinner.<br />9. Make popcorn. Watch a favorite television show, video, or athletic event.<br />10. Refinish a piece of furniture for your home.<br />11. Read past entries from journals. Look at old photo albums and high-school yearbooks. Learn about your spouse’s childhood and teen years.<br />12. Plan an upcoming vacation or a second honeymoon—even if it’s only imaginary.Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13998624647644062829noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12976186.post-57513695913131331152009-06-26T13:05:00.001-06:002009-06-30T11:40:29.114-06:00Favorite Recipe of the weekBaked Flounder<br />Ok I got this recipe off of Alton Brown and was quite "ify" at first but Carter made it and I have fallen in love with it!!!! Soooooo YUMMY!!!!<br />* 2 tablespoons unsalted butter<br />* 1 medium onion, chopped<br />* 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus extra for the sweat and for seasoning fillets<br />* 1 clove garlic, minced<br />* 1 (10-ounce package) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry<br />* 1 lemon, zested<br />* 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus extra for seasoning fillets<br />* 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves<br />* 1 cup heavy cream<br />* 1/4 cup white wine (I don't really use white wine)<br />* 10 ounces grated Cheddar<br />* 1 1/2 to 2 pounds flounder fillets<br />* 3 cups leftover cooked rice<br /><br />Directions<br /><br />Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.<br /><br />In a medium saute pan over low heat, melt the butter; add the onion and a pinch of salt and sweat until translucent. Add the garlic and continue to cook for another minute. Add the spinach and lemon zest and cook until just heated through. Season with the salt and pepper, add the parsley, and stir to combine. Remove from the heat and keep warm.<br /><br />Place the heavy cream and wine into a saucepan over medium heat. Once the mixture begins to simmer, gradually add the cheese and stir until melted. Set aside and keep warm.<br /><br />If the fillets are large, cut in half. Season each filet on both sides with salt and pepper. Divide the spinach mixture evenly among the fillets and roll the fish around the mixture. Place the rice into a 2 1/2-quart casserole dish and spread evenly. Place each roll on top of the rice, seam side down. Pour over the cheese sauce and place in the oven for 25 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13998624647644062829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12976186.post-44506570542605425352009-06-23T15:03:00.000-06:002009-06-23T15:35:55.783-06:00Frustrations of a would be "Mother"A friend of mine recently suggested I start posting a blog about the rollercoster ride of becoming a foster/adoptive parent. I thought I'd give it a shot. I think it might just help elevate some of the frustration this process has put our family and me personally through.<br /><br />In our family my husband and I play certain roles. Although our roles often switch, or ebb and flow, it's a common understanding that I'm the one that kids like best. I'm the favorite Aunt. I'm the one that children seem to flock to. Maybe it's because when they look at me with those eyes, my heart just bursts and I can refuse them nothing. <br /><br />This past weekend, we had a visit from Amanda and Jason and their three beautiful children. Liam and Harry are so fun loving and great kids. Molly their youngest is 20 months old and has stolen my husbands heart. On Friday Night, the Carter Clan went to a Rockies Baseball Game here in Denver and Molly wanted nothing to do with anyone else. She was so content to sit on Carter's lap and enjoy the baseball game with her Uncle and Grandpa. Several times I was so overcome with emotion and had to look away. I finally had my breakdown today after Amanda and Jason left. <br /><br />It seems that parenthood is so far out of our grasp. Watching my husband and seeing him interact with his young niece knowing he desperately wants children of his own is heart wrenching. Seeing him on the floor with his nephews playing legos pulls at my heartstrings in so many ways. <br /><br />I'm still not sure why we are going through this trial, or why it's been so difficult for us, but I know this, Carter is such an amazing man and I'm in awe of him on a daily basis.Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13998624647644062829noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12976186.post-44205874831282052882008-10-23T13:17:00.001-06:002008-10-23T13:17:21.942-06:00Happy Halloween!!!!<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ImnMucno1ew&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ImnMucno1ew&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13998624647644062829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12976186.post-47867481914970648252008-10-01T13:41:00.000-06:002008-10-01T13:43:04.811-06:00UpdateI've been told that I need to update my blog. So, I'll try to get something posted this weekend. <br /><br />Maybe I'll post some pictures of our new house.<br /><br />We'll see.Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13998624647644062829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12976186.post-7748708123977765522008-06-17T12:54:00.000-06:002008-06-17T12:56:02.447-06:00We're buying a houseIn Aurora, CO.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbq3lKFs_SEAXaGwcVkA8xULlgZ5v1WW-Cz7frpw5KUV2EagDa3bK5XKozfV-kZhjzBR4eMWtsgqtNrPpzHsnt73XrrdLW8NzikQhXTnoTp_LAPyM4gxYYeS5Fz_qGpyeK2fQ/s1600-h/House.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbq3lKFs_SEAXaGwcVkA8xULlgZ5v1WW-Cz7frpw5KUV2EagDa3bK5XKozfV-kZhjzBR4eMWtsgqtNrPpzHsnt73XrrdLW8NzikQhXTnoTp_LAPyM4gxYYeS5Fz_qGpyeK2fQ/s400/House.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212926055692268018" /></a>Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13998624647644062829noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12976186.post-41598407821259172432008-06-11T08:29:00.000-06:002008-06-11T11:04:08.200-06:00Why I hate broadcast radioThere's little or no variety.<br /><br />I've been keeping track of the songs played on some of the local radio stations here in the Denver area. After tracking just the songs played from 9am to 5pm Monday through Friday, I've determined just how limited their playlists really are.<br /><br /><strong>Kosi 101.1</strong> (Soft Adult Contemporary) June 2 to June 10<br />Songs rarely repeated between 9am and 5pm<br /><strong>Entire playlist = 285 songs</strong><br />(about 19.5 hours of original music during 56 hours of broadcast time)<br /><br /><strong>Alice 105.9</strong> (Hot Adult Contemporary) June 5 to June 10<br />Frequent repeats between 9am and 5pm<br />(some songs repeated 3 times within the 8 hour period)<br /><strong>Entire playlist = 118 songs</strong><br />(about 8 hours of original music during 32 hours of broadcast time)<br /><br /><strong>KIMN 100.3</strong> (Adult Contemporary) June 5 to June 10<br />Occasional repeats between 9am and 5pm<br /><strong>Entire playlist = 224 songs</strong><br />(about 15 1/3 hours of original music during 32 hours of broadcast time)<br /><br />Counting individual songs played between these stations, there's a total of 494 songs. I can fit all that on my mp3 player.<br /><br />I'll keep tracking, and maybe add some more stations, and update my findings here.Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13998624647644062829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12976186.post-21645146233371151272007-05-07T12:24:00.001-06:002007-05-08T16:40:54.567-06:00The Real Victims of the Immigration Debate<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/IedAc1pr_1U"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IedAc1pr_1U" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13998624647644062829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12976186.post-76339155944759213412007-05-07T11:40:00.000-06:002007-05-07T12:38:21.427-06:00Kateri's birthday party at Mark's house<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xlIJ7pzQveNOr9iQbbPTyt1bDuwW9lYq7-dPZ7rxrf6FtRs8t_gyZWJsGDrbeabTbX7ZK-xsph336zp-ATRbvEbOFETwQeYzKdXM2SEsJiDtc8XBbAos3EgY8X5KgLGcyRbs/s320/6.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061875358866177378" /><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwONs3ZSFO9OqDQe8QAWZxCb5mP5ErAa9wpn6KMeNBqtERr8xGnt1M3w3vLwMh5ScDtTmud1U-0qQtwle9ratWSBdvIlACoH1tl2AYoLXkLRXTpyjh9oV5ploDrg2Ri1bX-2qH/s320/7.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061875363161144690" /><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6k3mqNA_8S5vcqGxUkVZtpjKAIW1oVyRGptFe99mzYaILOfHO5VOdLIdgGAbiFf1QhUIUeg6pLs_KzHqPxqogsORbcVN9OlYRVlMWNR2WhYkKDi658AkKVg4mUVo89Xsut91/s320/8.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061875363161144706" />Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13998624647644062829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12976186.post-1166483432051563522006-12-18T16:09:00.000-07:002006-12-18T16:10:32.063-07:00Mitt Romney<a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16240571/site/newsweek/">The Country's first Latter-Day Saint President?</a>Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13998624647644062829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12976186.post-1162834704608389372006-11-06T10:37:00.000-07:002006-11-06T10:38:24.626-07:00The world still loves AmericaAn excerpt from an email I received from a close friend of mine.<br /><br /><em>We were a bit worried about visiting other countries because the media paints us as being hated by every other nation. Not so! We met people from Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Holland, Sweden, Russia, Japan, Korea, and of course, Wales, England, Ireland and Scotland. When they found out where we were from, they were thrilled. They all told us that the Americans were loved in their countries, and the only people we encountered that were unkind, were the French, and we were told that they hate everyone! So don't believe everything you hear in the news! <br /><br />Anyway, we are home, rested, recovered from jet lag, and happy to have made new friends all over this beautiful world of ours, and in spite of how we are sometimes made to feel, I'm very proud to be an American!<br /><br />love, Sue </em>Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13998624647644062829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12976186.post-1160516224009304242006-10-10T15:35:00.000-06:002006-10-10T15:37:04.026-06:00Brother President?<a href="http://www.religionnewsblog.com/16168/gallup-poll-two-thirds-of-americans-not-ready-for-mormon-president">Gallup poll: Two thirds of Americans not ready for a Mormon president</a><br /><br />I wonder how different the results would have been if the questions was asked:<br />"Generally speaking, do you think Americans are ready to elect a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as president, or not?”Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13998624647644062829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12976186.post-1159295659176570882006-09-26T12:32:00.000-06:002006-09-26T15:14:47.906-06:00He already gets my vote.<a href="http://www.opinionjournal.com/diary/?id=110008991">Romney Rides High</a><br /><br /><a href="http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,650193300,00.html">Romney called favorite of 'theo-cons'</a>Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13998624647644062829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12976186.post-1159153680823359062006-09-24T21:07:00.000-06:002006-09-24T21:08:00.836-06:00That classic song of our times<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0DTRchJ5QkM"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0DTRchJ5QkM" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br />You and I and GeorgeCarterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13998624647644062829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12976186.post-1159123403457254062006-09-24T12:16:00.000-06:002006-09-24T12:43:23.536-06:00Some wedding photos<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1616/1123/1600/008_20A.JPG.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1616/1123/400/008_20A.JPG.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Isn't my bride so incredibly beautiful?Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13998624647644062829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12976186.post-1158170151702260492006-09-13T11:53:00.000-06:002006-09-13T11:56:29.660-06:00How Time Flies...Wow, I can't believe it's been 4 months since I've posted anything on my blog. I've probably lost all my readers.<br /><br />Well, Sariah and I were sealed for time and all eternity in the LDS Temple in Las Vegas on September 2nd. It was such an amazing day, from arriving at the Temple in the morning to the reception and honeymoon afterwards. It was so overwhelming.<br /><br />I'll give some more details soon. I promise.<br /><br />Love ya all,<br />CarterCarterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13998624647644062829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12976186.post-1146842972721771122006-05-05T09:22:00.000-06:002006-05-06T07:40:24.093-06:00Moussaoui's OublietteUnlike most people I think Zacharias Moussaoui is getting exactly what he deserves. He doesn't get to be martyr, he doesn't get to make any more speeches, he gets to be forgotten.<br /><br />Moussaoui is going to be dropped into his own personal oubliette in Colorado's SuperMax prison. And when he dies in 50 years or so, no will even remember who he was or what he tried to do. Instead of a Full page layout on page one announcing his execution, at best he'll get a couple paragraphs announcing that the one time confessed jihadist died of kidney failure, and was buried in American soil because he had no family to claim him.<br /><br />On Les Aura!Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13998624647644062829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12976186.post-1146260994836288972006-04-28T14:52:00.000-06:002006-06-05T14:03:21.950-06:00I'd like to sell you a sandwich.An analogy of Gasoline prices and the American free market.<br /><br />I'm a sandwich maker, I make and sell sandwiches. I buy my ingredients, bread, meat, lettuce, tomato, mustard, mayonaise, etc., at the local market.<br /><br />I sell each sandwich for $1.00.<br /><br />The ingredients for a single sandwich cost me $0.75. Part of that $0.75 is sales tax, 8%, or 5.5 cents.<br />The government (State, Local, & Federal) requires that I collect $15.5 cents for taxes on each sandwich I sell.<br /><br />So after selling you the sandwich for $1.00, recouping the cost of making the sandwich, and taking out the taxes, I have 9.5 cents in profit. But, because that is income, the government wants part of that too. In my current tax bracket I pay 31.6% in taxes. So, 3 cents on each sandwich I sell also goes to the government.<br /><br />So, for the sandwich I made, the store that sold the ingredients got 69.5 cents, the government who did nothing at all got 24 cents, and I got 6.5 cents. So my percentage of profit is 6.5%.<br /><br />Let's say I sell 88 Billion Sandwiches, at $1.00 each. <br /><br />It has now cost me $61.16 billion dollars in ingredients.<br /><br />You might think that I would get $5.72 billion after taxes but I'm in a much higher tax bracket and now instead of 31.6% in taxes, <br />I pay 83% in taxes, or $6.9388 billion. <br /><br />So, 8% of the $61.16 billion for the ingredients is $4.8928, plus 15.5% of the $88 Billion in sandwich sales is $13.64 billion. $4.8928 + $13.64 + $6.9388 = $25.4716<br /><br />So the government gets $25.4716 billion total, even though it still hasn't done anything to contribute to the sandwich making.<br /><br />I'm left with $1.3684 billion dollars in profit. My profit percentage is down to just 0.01555.<br /><br />One day the price of Bread goes up 150%. So now the ingredients for 88 Billion sandwiches costs $70 billion instead of $61.16 billion. I don't want to make less of a profit, So the price of a single sandwich goes up from $1.00 to $1.11.<br /><br />88 billion sandwiches at $1.11 = $97.68 billion<br />Ingredients = $70 billion<br />Taxes = $5.6 (8% of $70) + $13.64 (15.5 cents per sandwich) + $7.0052 (income tax on my profits) = $26.2452 billion<br />Profit = $1.4348 (0.01469%)<br /><br />So the sandwich buyers look at the extra 11 cents they had to pay and then they look at the extra $66.4 million dollars I made selling this batch of sandwiches and accuse me of price gauging even though my profit margin is actually smaller. While behind the scenes the government laughs it up with the extra $773.6 million dollars they got (almost 12 times more than what I got) for doing nothing.<br /><br />So when 8% of that extra 11 cents you are paying is for taxes, and only a seventh of 1% of that extra 11 cents is my profit who's really gauging the average american sandwich buyer?<br /><br />Subsidies - <br />In response to Jason's question about subsidies here is a quick tutorial on subsidies as it would relate to my Sandwich business.<br /><br />One of the reasons reasons the tax on each sandwich is so high, is so the government can use the money for Sandwich subsidies. Subsidies are money that the government pays to a business so that the business will do something it wouldn't normally do on it's own, because it isn't profitable. So far as I know the amount a company receives in subsidies isn't included as part of their reported profits, but I could be wrong about that. Since subsidies are not used in any way to pay for Sandwich production I didn't mention it in the calculations above.<br /><br />In this case the government pays me a subsidy to maintain a reserve storage of bread, meats, and other ingredients. See, the government is worried that so many people depend on my Sandwiches. If there was an emergency such as a hurricane destroying the wonder bread factories, then there would be a shortage of bread and therefore sandwiches, and this would drive up sandwich prices to $3.00 a sandwich. So the government pays me to keep a reserve supply of bread, which I wouldn't normally do, because I don't make any money storing bread.<br /><br />Another subsidy the government pays me, is to help defend, service and maintian wheat and tomato crops in areas where they are in danger due to some local political unrest. For example, most of our tomatoes come from Northern California. The military invades Northern California to get that horrible dictator Arnold Schwarzeneggar out of power. This endangers tomato production, so I help to keep the tomatos safe, again insuring that the Sandwich supply remains stable.<br /><br />The government also pays me a subsidy to research ways to make Sandwiches more healthy, and ways to reduce the amount of waste produced from Sandwich consumption (wrap your head around that one).Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13998624647644062829noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12976186.post-1145565575822072492006-04-20T14:34:00.000-06:002006-04-20T14:39:35.840-06:00Baby NamesHere are names that I thought would've been better for Tom and Kate's illegitimate baby:<br /><br />Carrie Bien Cruise<br />Alice Ken Cruise<br />Carnie Val Cruise<br />Nora Weejin Cruise<br />Yuri Pien CruiseCarterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13998624647644062829noreply@blogger.com0