The good news is that I have a Jenn Air stove that has lasted almost 20 years. The bad news is that I have a Jenn Air stove that has lasted almost 20 years.
I want a new stove, but my practical husband says that we should not buy a new stove until the old one no longer works. I don't think my current stove is going down anytime soon. My husband also pointed out that the number of times that I cook in any given week has dramatically dropped over the last few years; so a new stove should not be a priority on our long wish list of purchases for our home. While I cannot deny that I don't cook very often now, I bet I would with the stove of my dreams.
I want a new stove with a double oven and gas burners. Every Sunday I look at the pull-out ads included with the newspaper to monitor the cost of my coveted stove. The price has steadily been increasing since I started my price monitoring project. I am afraid if we wait too long, we won't be able to afford the type of stove I want.
I think I can change my husband's mind by bribing his stomach. He loves to eat and is always telling someone that I am a great cook. He doesn't have a very discerning tummy, so he may not be the best judge of my cooking skills; but I do love to cook, find it relaxing and love to try new recipes.
Here's my strategy: I have committed to cooking more. I figure when my husband's stomach is happy on a regular basis, he will not be able to be practical, at least on this topic, and will one day say, "Yes honey, I agree. We should buy you the stove of your dreams and let's do it today."
Keep your fingers crossed!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
When Can We Speak Honestly About Racial Issues?
I attended a Martin Luther King Jr. celebration twelve months ago that I continue to think about, especially today as we acknowledge his birthday once again.
I continue to think about that particular event because of how others in attendance responded to the speaker after the event. The audience was racially mixed. This is relevant because it is the foundation for the responses I saw, heard, and read via e-mail.
The event I attended last year had, in my opinion, a great speaker offering truths and insights that were very relevant to the occasion. He said things that made me and others clap in agreement and even stand on our feet a time or two. His speech was just the right length, contained humor, passion, and wisdom.
During the speaker's presentation, Blacks were admonished for believing that we have arrived because some can now live in nice neighborhoods, drive fancy cars, and earn fat paychecks. He reminded us of the struggle that began so many years ago and that still continues and that we have to help our own selves out of these troubles.
He reminded us that we cannot be satisfied with the current conditions in our urban neighborhoods and schools. He chided Blacks for spending and not saving and for not creating significant wealth. He made it clear that he believes Whites are not without fault for the current conditions in Black America and that they therefore should be doing more to help.
After the event was over, hardly anyone came up to speak to the speaker and his family, I know because I did. Immediately after the program, I heard a version of this statement multiple times "Right message, wrong audience, wrong event."
For days after the event, attendees were circulating e-mails, about how embarrassed they were and that the speaker should have been vetted better, and someone even suggested that the speech text of future speakers should be reviewed before they can speak at the event.
To this day, I do not understand those responses to the speech. I kept being told that the message was inappropriate for a racially mixed audience. Whites don't want to come to an event and "hear that kind of speech."
I have several White friends that I consider our relationships to be fairly close. I would like to think that while they may have been uncomfortable with a comment or two from the speaker, they would have been inspired to do better, just as I, an African-American, was inspired to do better.
Is it OK for an African American to admonish his own, but not Whites? If so, how can we truly achieve racial unity and reconciliation? Shouldn't we be able to speak honestly, during events such as one designed to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King?
I continue to think about that particular event because of how others in attendance responded to the speaker after the event. The audience was racially mixed. This is relevant because it is the foundation for the responses I saw, heard, and read via e-mail.
The event I attended last year had, in my opinion, a great speaker offering truths and insights that were very relevant to the occasion. He said things that made me and others clap in agreement and even stand on our feet a time or two. His speech was just the right length, contained humor, passion, and wisdom.
During the speaker's presentation, Blacks were admonished for believing that we have arrived because some can now live in nice neighborhoods, drive fancy cars, and earn fat paychecks. He reminded us of the struggle that began so many years ago and that still continues and that we have to help our own selves out of these troubles.
He reminded us that we cannot be satisfied with the current conditions in our urban neighborhoods and schools. He chided Blacks for spending and not saving and for not creating significant wealth. He made it clear that he believes Whites are not without fault for the current conditions in Black America and that they therefore should be doing more to help.
After the event was over, hardly anyone came up to speak to the speaker and his family, I know because I did. Immediately after the program, I heard a version of this statement multiple times "Right message, wrong audience, wrong event."
For days after the event, attendees were circulating e-mails, about how embarrassed they were and that the speaker should have been vetted better, and someone even suggested that the speech text of future speakers should be reviewed before they can speak at the event.
To this day, I do not understand those responses to the speech. I kept being told that the message was inappropriate for a racially mixed audience. Whites don't want to come to an event and "hear that kind of speech."
I have several White friends that I consider our relationships to be fairly close. I would like to think that while they may have been uncomfortable with a comment or two from the speaker, they would have been inspired to do better, just as I, an African-American, was inspired to do better.
Is it OK for an African American to admonish his own, but not Whites? If so, how can we truly achieve racial unity and reconciliation? Shouldn't we be able to speak honestly, during events such as one designed to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King?
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Should Bill Gates be on the Bus?
I am wondering if the right "experts" are going to work on fixing our educational system in 2009. I just read a Newsweek article by Jonathan Alter titled "Bill Gates Goes to School." A take away for most readers will be that Bill Gates is an expert on what it will take for successful education reform. I am not yet convinced of his expertise or skills as they relate to education. Alter writes: "Word is, Obama may even ask Gates to serve on a new high-level educational-advisory panel he's noodling . . ."
I admit that I tend to be a bit cynical of those who heap blame on teachers and teachers' unions for the problems facing our educational system and who suggest that mayoral control of school systems is a good thing. I have seen what happens when a mayor sticks his nose in the business of educating our boys and girls and I believe that was a dismal failure by any measuring stick. Furthermore, while I would never argue that every teacher is a good one, I am very confident that teachers' unions are not the reason that our school systems are currently struggling.
I appreciate the funding that Mr. and Mrs. Gates have directed toward improving education. I just wonder if he holds the right qualifications to be on the bus that will take us to a better educational system.
I admit that I tend to be a bit cynical of those who heap blame on teachers and teachers' unions for the problems facing our educational system and who suggest that mayoral control of school systems is a good thing. I have seen what happens when a mayor sticks his nose in the business of educating our boys and girls and I believe that was a dismal failure by any measuring stick. Furthermore, while I would never argue that every teacher is a good one, I am very confident that teachers' unions are not the reason that our school systems are currently struggling.
I appreciate the funding that Mr. and Mrs. Gates have directed toward improving education. I just wonder if he holds the right qualifications to be on the bus that will take us to a better educational system.
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