Just another day in paradise

School is out today. Not for spring break, that's not until the very end of March/first of April. Hunter has three friends over and so does Hayden. Hunter wanted me to take everyone to Subway...are you kidding? Luckily, one of the other Moms took the boys instead. I have finished lunch and cleanup for everybody else and wanted to veg for a minute. Too much stimulation!! Hannah's friend doesn't come over for a little while, then she is sleeping over. Fun fun times over here, let me assure you. Amazingly, Hope was able to fall asleep for her nap. Miracles never cease.

Since Hunter was home, I was able to go outside and run this morning(instead of a treadmill). I have been running on the treadmill during the week (outside on the weekend) and it gets pretty boring. But with the right music, or a friend to chat with, it's not too bad. It was beautiful this morning, a little cold, but very sunny. I took a particularly hilly route, and just about died. I'm thinking I will have some severe butt soreness tomorrow. Maybe tonight if I'm lucky ;)

Hope has done so well with the potty training. My girls were so easy. Not that the boys were haaaard, it's just those girls were CAKE. She wakes up dry from naps and nighttime 95% of the time. She is getting to the point where she says she has got to go...and she goes in all by herself!! Heaven.

It's been funny, but with the time change, Hope is finally sleeping in until about 7-7:30! That's been nice. The time switch was easier for me this time around...maybe Hope never switched over from "fall back" ha. But the darkness helps her sleep. It wasn't so much fun having the 2 year old up at 6 demanding stuff, like food. I like a quiet morning. Hope has been turning into a TV Ted recently. The more TV they watch the MORE they want to watch. Today, I decided she needed to do other stuff-NO TV. She asked this morning, and hasn't asked since. Oh my goodness, she was busy playing.

I'm off to go read a book, Hope is asleep, Hunter+friends are still at Subway, Hannah is busy making lemon poppy seed bread, Hayden+friends are being loud (but in the basement) so I'll go close that door and treat myself.

Could it be?

I am a by the book kind of gal. My pregnancies were kind of text book...nothing too exciting to report. 1 out of 4 pregnancies ends in a miscarriage. I miscarried baby number 4. I make sure to eat my daily servings of fruits and vegetables, daily, thank you. After I had blood work done everything looked great, except the thyroid. And even that was okaaaay. It was within my lab's "normal range" (although on the high side of their scale), although when I talked to my friend Jennifer she said it would have been flagged at her doctor. So, I started paying attention. I looked up symptoms...I kept saying yes yes and yes to most of them. Mostly, with tiredness, mental fog, and mild depression. I stress mild. Things would bug me when those things used to not bug me. The mental fog thing-that was pretty noticeable. Like when I forgot about the Christmas present exchange at book club. Like, totally forgot it, like didn't think another second about it until I saw people getting out of there cars...with presents! Any even then, I was confused, and still not remembering anything about an exchange. Granted I WAS really sick that night we discussed having an exchange, but still. There was definitely some fog going on in there. And tired, hello! I "needed" a nap daily. But I have been on the pill since Thursday, it's like the lowest dose available, and I'm feeling better. I don't know what's going on with my heart rate. This week I have been running harder, and my heart rate is lower. What's up with that? Could it be all that training is paying off, or could it be thyroid related? Hmmm, don't know. But now, I am a pill taker. The girl that used to not want to take too much Tylenol. I'm over that, and I'm back on regular deodorant. Cuz, aluminum or not...that crystal stuff didn't work, and I was tired of stinking.

Happy Birthday Scott!

Here is Scott doing what he does best...being a Dad (at Hayley's wedding, there is Hope after her temper tantrum, asleep!) He is out of town today, so we did most of our celebrating yesterday with his family. Happy Birthday, Scottie!! xoxo

Maybe I don't have early Alzheimer's after all

I swear if I got paid a dollar for every sock I picked up (well really, I don't usually "pick up"...I put into a pile for my children to pick up) I would be a very rich woman. My in laws are on their way here so I'm trying to pick up. Scott has gone to pick them up, so they should be here any minute.

I went to the doctor for my yearly "exam"- oh so lovely. My new doctor is a doctor of Internal Medicine. Did I say that right? Who knows, but it is kind of nice, now that I'm not planning on having anymore kids, to go to one doctor and get everything taken care of. For instance, she is the same doctor I saw for my physical in January. I went in for my "exam" today, but I also talked to her about my thyroid levels. I was slightly high, and showing symptoms, so I'm now on a hyperthyroidism medication. When I started looking at the symptom list, and saying yes, yes, yes to just about everything... I said hey wait a minute. So, we will see. Maybe my mental fog isn't early Alzheimer's after all.

This economy and the current President's spending plan has me worried. Worried like when I watch the news I get a little sick feeling. Worried when I hear he is spending more money, and that he already has spent more money at one time, than ANY other human being in the history of the planet...I want to throw up in my mouth a little bit. Oh our poor kids! I realize we didn't get into this position overnight, but I don't agree with how it's being handled either. I saw this ad the other day and thought it was interesting.

Click on the link below, I can't remember how to load the U-Tube thing and I don't have time to mess with it!! :) My company is here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K90Zpjvdlko

Happy Birthday Hayley!

Happy Birthday to my sister with very healthy gums-she flosses everyday and is proud of them. You get a little sampling of her personality, I think, with this picture hahahahahahaha. Happy Birthday Hayley, I hope you have a great day.

a year ago this week...

A year ago this week we moved! That just seems crazy crazy to me. Here is our last family picture taken on Brush Canyon Drive. Just in the last little bit have I started peeking at the pictures from that time. A year ago, we were 3 days into packing up our house. It took professionals that long to pack us. And yes, we had a lot of stuff. The third day was the worst day. We finally got all loaded up and had to say our goodbyes. Probably the worst day in my life (aside from putting Scout to sleep, that now ranks up there pretty high too). Oh goodness, I had better get off now. I just spent a few minutes looking at pictures and before things gets ugly, I'm off to take Hannah someplace and pick up Hunter. Life goes on! I will sit back and think as I drive how thankful I am we landed in such a great spot, with such great friends!!

Happy Birthday Hannah!

Little girl Hannah

This morning-Hannah and her new bike!!

Hannah at Christmas with her new Easy Bake Oven. There have been some delish treats coming out of that bad boy ;)

It's Hannah's birthday today, she is 10 years old. Where does the time go? I remember just like yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital. Hannah hated the car when she was little...so little...like the first time she EVER rode home. She screamed the entire car ride home from the hospital. I remember turning to Scott and saying that this was not a good sign. She stayed unhappy in the car until she was about 1. Unhappy=screaming the entire car ride :) It was a lovely experience to be with her in the car. It really only bothered me when others were in the car, I had grown to ignore it. But other people still felt the need to help her...there was no helping haha. She still gets car sick today, poor girl. Luckily, the screaming has stopped.

She is a beautiful strong, smart, good girl that is a little on the stubborn side. I have no idea where she gets the stubborn part, haha. Happy Birthday to my Hannah Banana Girl.

Friday's report

On Friday, Scott and I went to Chipotle for lunch. We always get guacamole to share...with chips of course. Hope has really decided she likes the guac. So much in fact, we might need to order two from now on ;) I don't like to be gipped on my guac. Anyway, she was calling it "sauce". "I need more sauce" "More sauce!" "Give me the sauce!" You get the picture. Today, we were driving home from Costco, and Hope was getting tired. She had been sucking her thumb, when all of a sudden she started crying and said she had sauce in her eye. Sauce?? Like guac sauce? I didn't get it. Luckily, we stopped at a red light and I turned around. She must have rubbed her eye with a spitty hand. She got spit in her eye and was calling it sauce. Spit=sauce, guacamole=sauce BUT spit does not equal guacamole. Hope, don't you know anything??

Friday, we celebrated Hannah's birthday party. She invited several of her friends over for a big old bash of a party. She has very nice friends, so it was a good night. I love how she pretty much plans the whole deal, and tells me what needs to be bought. I did come up with an idea all on my own. We made these crepe paper flowers. So, lovely. Plus, it kept them busy for a while. Parties are getting so much easier for the older kids. Ahhhh!! Tomorrow is her real birthday-10 years, I can't believe it.

Apparently, Friday was a big day. Right after Hannah's party (that ended at 9) we went to my friend's party. She had a surprise birthday party for her husband. She threw a PROM! Everybody was supposed to dress in cheesy prom attire. I borrowed a lovely full length formal dress from my friend Julie, I looked gor-geous-for sure!! We were only able to make about an hour, but it was fun. She had a ton of 80's music. Forever Young was the theme. It was held at the church in the gym, where else right? There was a disco ball, smoke machine, and a punch bowl. Good times!!

Scout has been gone for one week today. We are all doing fine. Scout was cremated...he is sitting in a box on my mantel. Yuck, I know. He will be buried up on the hill. Believe me, it's better than what Hunter wanted.

new music

I got this new CD after the grammies and I like it, just thought I'd share.

Farewell

Scout: May 1994-February 16, 2009

Our new little puppy.
Taken today, right at the end.

Farewell to our doggie Scout. He will really be missed. We were all there until the end. It was as sad as that darn Marley and Me movie. Sadder. We were all doing the ugly cry, but I know we did the right thing. It was time.

Here's to rocking 36

So, on Monday morning I was sitting at play group chatting it up with one of the Moms there. I hadn't really talked to her much-so we were getting to know each other. She asked if Hope was my only child, Oh heavens no I say back...she is the baby. I have a 12 year old, a 9 almost 10 year old and a 6 almost 7 year old. She then asks how old I am. Oh, I'm 36 turning 37 this year. Why did I have to say I'll be turning 37 this year, good heavens my birthday is in October I just barely turned 36 ;) Anyway, then the girl on the other side joins in with, you are 36? You don't look 36. Oh, yeah, the other lady replies, you don't look 36!! I start to smile to myself...thanks...I think. When did 36 get to be old anyway? I wasn't aware that at 36 it would be such a shocker. You'd have thought that I announced to the group I was turning 50 and was in menopause. Really, I was not offended AT ALL, but it did strike me as funny.

I got married so young, I have always felt so young. I even lied to people when I was in PTA school about how old I was. I gave myself a few years, so people wouldn't comment about how I was freakishly young to be married. Believe me I heard it, I didn't care I was happy...I just lied a little to avoid the attention.

Then today, I go on Facebook and somebody has suggested I be friends with someone. Okay, I look at the picture, it's a picture of the girl I know, Her husband AND HER BABY. WHAT??!! When did that happen? I remember when her mother was pregnant with her, and if it wasn't her then it was her little sister. BUT still, she can't be more than a couple years older. I remember when she was a baby!! I eventually came to grips when my YW from Houston started getting married, and then having babies. It was a gradual progression. But, when out of nowhere, something like this hits you, it's almost too much to bare. Okay, so I might be over-reacting just a little, but I did keep trying to convince myself, that that couldn't possibly be who I thought it was. Maybe, I got the names mixed up and really this girl is her older sister. But no, it's not. Her older sister is as old as Holly and probably has as many kids as I do. Goodness.

Here's to rocking 36!!!!!!!

We were all up late last night, so the kids slept in until 7:30-ooooh, right? I was in the mood to stay IN bed and read, so I sent Hunter down to check on Scout and take him out. He came up with a happy report, Scout got right up, went potty and came back in and ate some food. Hannah helped by feeding the hungry beast (Hope). I stayed in bed until 8:30 and finished my book. It was a nice morning.

Then the work began. Saturday=work day in our house...I tried to get everyone in the spirit by singing a little song (of my own creation). It was lovely I assure you. Much to my surprise, Hannah joins in. Hmmm. Then all of a sudden she stops and says, "Mom that isn't how that song goes?" What, I made that song up, it goes how I want it to go. "Ohhhh..." was her response. I'm talented I know.

I'm off to the gym before it gets too late and I should be embarrassed showing up at the gym with bed head and no make-up.

Elder Care

I have mentioned before, but Scout is not doing good. Scout is our soon to be 15 year old Golden Retriever. He hasn't been doing great for some time, but this week he has definitely taken a turn for the worse. He didn't eat for 4 days, yesterday he ate some from Hunter's hand. This morning, he got up from his bed and was going to go with me to the bus stop with the kids. He got about half way there, and his back leg started going all weird. He fell over and had a seizure. It's his third this week...that I know of. I called the vet, because I wanted his opinion/advice about when to say when. He doesn't seem to be in much pain...he is getting some good meds for arthritic pain. But he is getting close, and it's sad. I was talking to my friend Shelley this morning at the gym (she has a Golden named Heidi) and she was reading someplace about how Goldens will hang on, past their prime just for their owners. She asked me if I had said bye yet. And it might be kind of weird, but I already had. In fact, it was kind of interesting, I had a good talk with Scout over the weekend about just that. Wouldn't you know it, he has gone down hill since then. The vet thinks that he has a brain tumor, not sure and we'd have to have an MRI done to be sure, but that's what he thinks.



Scout has been the best dog ever. Hunter wants to bury him in the backyard...I can't do that. I don't want parts getting dug back up, gross! All of the kids have really stepped it up helping with Scout and loving on him, but this has definitely been the hardest on Hunter. I'd let that kid take care of me anytime I was sick. Every morning I hold my breath...thinking this could be the morning we find him. I'm not quite sure I'm ready to take him in...but it's getting close.

I never knew...

I never knew football cards could be so stressful. Hayden is into football cards, he likes looking at them, he likes trading them. Sometimes, he trades with older boys and sometimes he gets ripped off. But you know what...they are his cards and if he is happy then...until he trades cards that aren't his cards but his brothers...then we have a problem. Not that Hunter "collects" football cards anymore. But heaven forbid you trade his Tom Brady. :) Oh my goodness. I'm tired. I'm tired of hearing about football cards. Hopefully, the trade can be undone tomorrow. Why is it that some 5th grade boys want to rip off a 1st grader. Meany boys.

I was at Hunter's basketball game today and Hope pooped. Hope pooped so bad, my eyes started watering. On facebook today, I mentioned I still like her morning breath. It's still baby sweet. BUT NOT HER POOP. That, ain't so sweet. Before I knew it, she had poop all up her back. I had a poop emergency on my hands. I had not had a poop emergency on my hands for a long time. I didn't even have clothing back-ups. Poor girl had to ride home in just her diaper. I did have the heat blaring (I was sweating) for her. It's all good...now anyway.

Is it bed-time yet? For my kids, not me. I want to park it and watch a good show, what's on?? American Idol, Hollywood week. That's a goodie. Oh good, I hear Hunter and Hayden talking about what makes a good card- he is being nice to Hayden. Ahh, music to my ears.

I LOVE BOOKS

I have been reading the best books lately! I've been loving them so much I thought I'd share with you. If you aren't on Goodreads yet, you should be. It's such a fun way to keep track of what you've read, what you want to read and what your sisters/Mom/friends are suggesting. As a kid, I loved to collect stickers, sometimes I find myself flipping through books on Goodreads like they are my sticker collection. I know I'm weird. But here are some goodies that I have really enjoyed over the last month or so.Seriously, if you are in need of a good one, any of those would keep you entertained. Currently I'm listening to 1776, a book that I have wanted to read for a while, but haven't had a chance. Now I'm listening to it and it is good. But the book I'm reading right now, is In Defense of Food.

I wish everyone in our country would read this book. It reminds me of Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, but I think I like In Defense of Food is even better. If you are in the least big interested in the food you eat, it's a must read! Here is what Goodreads had to say about it:

What to eat, what not to eat, and how to think about health: a manifesto for our times "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." These simple words go to the heart of Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food, the well-considered answers he provides to the questions posed in the bestselling The Omnivore's Dilemma. Humans used to know how to eat well, Pollan argues. But the balanced dietary lessons that were once passed down through generations have been confused, complicated, and distorted by food industry marketers, nutritional scientists, and journalists-all of whom have much to gain from our dietary confusion. As a result, we face today a complex culinary landscape dense with bad advice and foods that are not "real." These "edible foodlike substances" are often packaged with labels bearing health claims that are typically false or misleading. Indeed, real food is fast disappearing from the marketplace, to be replaced by "nutrients," and plain old eating by an obsession with nutrition that is, paradoxically, ruining our health, not to mention our meals. Michael Pollan's sensible and decidedly counterintuitive advice is: "Don't eat anything that your great-great grandmother would not recognize as food." Writing In Defense of Food, and affirming the joy of eating, Pollan suggests that if we would pay more for better, well-grown food, but buy less of it, we'll benefit ourselves, our communities, and the environment at large. Taking a clear-eyed look at what science does and does not know about the links between diet and health, he proposes a new way to think about the question of what to eat that is informed by ecology and tradition rather than by the prevailing nutrient-by-nutrient approach. In Defense of Food reminds us that, despite the daunting dietary landscape Americans confront in the modern supermarket, the solutions to the current omnivore's dilemma can be found all around us. In looking toward traditional diets the world over, as well as the foods our families-and regions-historically enjoyed, we can recover a more balanced, reasonable, and pleasurable approach to food. Michael Pollan's bracing and eloquent manifesto shows us how we might start making thoughtful food choices that will enrich our lives and enlarge our sense of what it means to be healthy.

Read it then let's discuss!

Hot Dog

Heather Kindergarten 1977

When I was in kindergarten I walked home, not surprising because we were walkers and we lived close to the school. It wasn't ever a problem except for a few weeks when I was in kindergarten. There was this little boy that would call me "hot dog". It started taking me a looong time to walk home from school because I was trying to hide and or avoid the little boy. I was a shy little kid and it about made me sick everyday worrying about the walk home. My Mother quickly had enough of the teasing...and marched on down to Thomas Jefferson Elementary School with me to confront the little offender. I remember the confrontation as clear as day. "Why do you call my little girl "hot dog", said Mom. "Because I like her," was the sheepish response from the little boy. "Hot dog" was never a problem after that, in fact we became good little friends on our walks home.

But nobody likes to be called names or be made to feel weird or different. Hunter's 7th grade has been discussing pioneers and moving out to the West in social studies. As you can imagine the subject of Mormons has been coming up. Well, there are 2 boys in his class, one at lunch and then one on his basketball team that have been giving him a hard"ish" time. So, Hunter won't talk about it, and then something will happen and he will flood me with all these feelings. Last night was one of those floods. Yesterday, in class, they were discussing polygamy. The way it was presented to the class, I'm not sure if it was the teachers fault or the text book...it sounded like polygamy was still practiced today. Hunter raised his hand and told his teacher and his class that "you know Mormons don't practice polygamy any more, right?" The teacher promptly told him that, "yes some of the fundamentalist Mormons still practice polygamy and it's illegal". Case closed? I wanted to know if he set her straight. He hadn't, he just didn't say anything after that. So, today he is going to go in and clarify- yet again, that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints are not the same as those other fundamentalist groups-they aren't Mormons. Grrrrr!!!

As far as the kids that say stuff to him well...there is the kid at lunch that told Hunter yesterday he couldn't sit there because he was Mormon. There have been questions in the past like are those Mormon chips? Is that what a Mormon sandwich looks like? The kid on the basketball team wanted to know how many Moms Hunter had among other things. Usually pretty harmless, although yesterday Hunter said he was particularly annoying. So annoying Hunter said he felt like punching him. I think yesterday was a bad day. The kids in class likes to debate Mormonism. Not a bad thing. I don't think there is anything wrong with questions, granted we are different.

But it's the thing with the teacher and then the thing that happened at lunch (saying he couldn't sit there because he was Mormon) that really have me ticked off. I appointed myself pray giver at breakfast this morning...five minutes later I think I had everything covered. I do realize 5 minutes can be a longish breakfast prayer, but there were things that needed to be said. There may have been a sigh or two and a possible nudge. Just saying. Hunter is a popular kid, I'm not worried he doesn't have friends, he isn't even the only Mormon in his circle of friends. There are a lot of LDS kids around. Although, Hunter feels like he is the only one singled out-typical feelings for a pre-teen I'm sure. The reason I'm tell you all of this, and my hot dog story is, I want to be like my Mom, I want to march in there and talk to the teacher (I still might if things don't get resolved) and to those dumb kids and tell them to leave my kid alone. I realize with the gay marriage debate as of late, LDS people haven't been seen in the best of light. It's so hard to see your kids go through hard stuff. You want to make it go away, but you can't. It's part of life, it makes them stronger people, it makes them figure out what THEY truly believe. They begin to realize what they believe and stand for aren't always popular. But still it's hard.

To end on a somewhat happy note, I was giving him advice on things to say, particularly to the kid at lunch. I told him to say, "wow (insert kids name) it sounds like you are really interested in my Church, if you aren't careful I will stick the missionaries on you". Hunter just laughed, I don't think he will be using my advice.

an Aqua Globe report

I have seen these Aqua Globes at Bed Bath and Beyond (well, also infomericals, but I would not lower myself to buy them there ;) even though I may have wanted to ha). Anyway, it was before Hayley's wedding, I went in there to get a neck pillow for the drive-I didn't care what I looked like or that only old people buy neck pillows-I was going to be comfortable on the drive. The neck pillow was a huge success-I bought two, one for me and one for the kids to share. So, I saw those aqua globes, just sitting there, AND I had many 20% coupons in my purse... I figured why not? I have several ferns that need watering ALL of the TIME-so I bought them. I must say they have worked like a charm for me. I've had to fill some of the globes up since I've been home, but those are the plants that require a lot of water anyway. Very handy. I don't think they even look all that bad-I kind of like them. Hmmm.

Hope and I played playdough yesterday. I like playdough, I do. I like to play with it, and I like that it keeps my kids (around her age) busy for so darn long.

It is snowing this morning, I love the snow. I was away from snow for too long. It snows the perfect amount here. I've heard it has snowed more this year than in the past, but who knows I'll be the judge. I don't think the rain is as bad as I had heard either. The snow is stopping now, but it snowed for about 2 1/2 hours straight. Enough to keep me home this morning, in fact when I'm done here I'll go do a P90X video. I love having a back-up!

Oh the joys of a 2 year old. She loves to get into my shoes and clomp around-all around upstairs. She'd ruin the hardwoods, so I'm glad she is content to stay upstairs. This morning, in this picture she was singing ABC's at the top of her lungs.

Hayden has lost 2 more teeth. This is one sweet boy, he is making a turn for the nice. He played at a friend's house yesterday and the Mom remarked about his good manners! Hayden's good manners!! I was happy :) He is so into football these days. He has just discovered football cards and carries them all over.

Happy Birthday to my sister!

It's Holly's birthday today. Hunter took this picture of her at Hayley's wedding. This is one smart and talented woman! I love you Holly, Happy Birthday!!

Wheat flour does not belong in corn bread

So, it seems perfectly logical that the kids have the day off of school today, right? NOT. On the calendar it's "winter break". I think that it's a teacher in service day, but still. It's days like this they should be making up those days we have to make up...not days tacked on to the end of the year-when the weather is nice and warm. Oh well, we will have a fun day no doubt. AND it was nice sleeping in this morning, eating blueberry muffins and watching a little Redesign on HGTV. I'm not sure how my muffins went over this morning. They were whole wheat AND they had flax seed...Hannah's comment "do you have to put wheat flour in EVERYTHING?" Well, I did try wheat flour in corn bread once...it was not good and I won't be trying that again. But baked goods, yeah pretty much get used to it :) Cookies for instance, you put wheat flour and you throw some oats in there, it's practically a health food. No guilt.

It's now 8:43 and Hope is telling me she is "hongee" (hungry) again. She "needs" two breakfasts in the morning. She is telling me it's "lunchee" (lunch-you could figure that one out though, right?) I'll go give that girl another muffin, just what she needs...more fiber. Goodness.

Whaaaat???

Just for the record, I didn't watch American Idol last night. I watched the news and Grey's instead. I hadn't gotten enough of the Obama fest, so I tuned in.

So there is this kid (he is Asian) in Hunter's class, and whenever he doesn't understand something in class (which seems to be quite frequently) he yells out really loud "Whaaaaat!?!" It's gotten to the point that even the teachers giggle when he does it, I think they have tried talking to the kid (according to Hunter) about other ways to ask questions but it's not helping. Hunter is a funny kid. He will throw that "Whaaaat!?!" out there at exactly the right moment. He does another impression of some kid, I won't' name names...just in case...but every time he does the impression I get to laughing so hard I almost cry.

But the real reason for Whaaaat is I found myself saying it this morning as I turned on the news. They were reporting about Timothy Geithner, the dude that has been nominated as the Treasury Secretary. Have you heard of him perhaps? The dude that a few years ago...didn't pay some $34,000 in taxes...the Treasury Secretary...doesn't that have something to do with the IRS? Isn't that a big Whaaaat! to you too? Either this guy is dumb, he said he used Turbo Tax and it was an honest mistake...(although Scott and I use Turbo Tax too and seem to do just fine) or he is dishonest. Which is it? Now, I only spent about 10 minutes watching the news this morning, I haven't studied the issue out, but it just seems to me there should/would/could be a better pick. I'm sure the guy is smart, but still, come on. There's gotta be somebody out there that can do just as good of a job as the Treasury Secretary that wasn't behind/didn't pay taxes from 2001-2004. I'm just saying.