Happy Halloween!

Make sure you take lots of pictures, then post them so we can all enjoy!!

I HATE INSURANCE

The bills continue to roll in for Allysa's surgery. Today, I got a new one from 2 "providers" I didn't know. They appeared to have something to do with reading xrays. WHAT! I never spoke to these doctors. They were part of the surgery. They spent 30 seconds looking at Allysa's xray and they are billing me separately! Next thing I know, I am going to get separate bills from the surgical nurses, from the janitor and from the cadaver himself. WHATEVER HAPPENS DURING THE COURSE OF A NORMAL SURGERY SHOULD BE PART OF THE SURGICAL BILL. True, my portion of the bill is only $30.21. But that's NOT THE POINT.

Christopher, Steven, Tim, Haley, Jessica, & Morgan - STOP what you are doing and become an xray technician. You can charge $258.49 for 30 seconds work. Zak, add up what that makes an hour.

Now, lest anyone out there think that this means I am in favor of a nationalized health plan. I AM NOT. Had we been under such a plan, Allysa would not have had her surgery 2 days after the diagnosis and would not have had enough time to rehab completely before track season begins, would not have been State Champ for a 2nd year in a row, the scholarships would have dried up and THAT would cost us another $50,000.

I feel much better now that I have vented. The End.

Just Trying to Help Out

I think we have some runners/walkers in the family. Have you ever gone running, come home, then hopped in your car all sweaty and drove what you just ran so you could see how far you went? Well now you don't have too. Use this site:

mapmyrun.com

It will tell you how far you ran.

Or, if you should be making dinner but would rather be at the computer, it works for that too.

Dear Family,

Witching you a BOOTIFUL Halloween!!

"For fun at Halloween I paint black widows on my spider veins!"

MAXINE'S POLITICAL WISDOM

On Elections:

"Voting is like choosing your favorint mosquito out of a swarm!"

"How's this for a political platform: Don't lie through your teeth!"

"They hold elections in Nov. because it's the best time for picking out a turkey!"

Thanks, Dawney.

A GREAT BIRTHDAY PARTY

Jessica got her hair cut a little shorter.

Haley was there with her hot pink strands.

Both, beautiful girls. So sorry I did not get pictures of the blue boys with blue hair (They had taken off their wigs) And all the Birthday Boys were somewhere where I wasn't. But we had a great time, thanks to Tatia for going the extra, extra mile, and to Dawney for her fabulous help. Her potes were delicious. And Don is always the greatest host. He had the men and boys gathering lots of wood out of the garage, he borrowed jolene's fire keeper. He made a wonderful fire right under the big trees - after scarfing down the food (and I do mean scarfing) we all sat around the lovely warm fire. Tatia surprised us with Crackers, a fun pinata, and silly string. Everybody loved using that. Except me, I quickly retired to the kitchen. It was so nice to see everybody. We missed those who could not make it.

Here is Kate and Matthew, they always seem happy. Matthew got a chance at the pinata.

On Sunday (the next day) Bumpa and I visited Tatia's ward because it was the Primary Childrens program. Allysa showed up with her very delightful friend "Teenie". Allysa wore black tights with her black knee brace and 4 inch black stilettos.(Sorry, I thought they'd be in this picture). Anyway, she looked adorable - she is adorable. Jenna and Sophia performed beautifully. Jenna gave a little talk and Sophia gave a scripture. They also sang every word or the songs.

Photosensitive Surfaces

I keep waiting to see the pictures from the party!!

I heard there was silly string!!

I heard the food was great.

Now, I want to see stuff!

Blue Cole Bros

I posted some pictures on our Cole family blog. If you think that little picture on my cell phone was funny yesterday, you'll love these: http://colesdaily.blogspot.com/2008/10/more-blue-pictures.html

BBA BP!

Attention! Attention! The location of the BBA BP has been changed to Tatia's house. 5:00 pm, Saturday, Oct. 25. Glenns and Coles - please RSVP to me! Oh, Steven - you are in California again, aren't you? How are the interviews going? Christopher, Tim, Hope, Morgan - you WILL be there, right? Haley, Allysa, Jessica and the Payson Paynes will be there! We won't be boring and sit around and talk (although, that can be very entertaining). Maybe we will have a pinata! Who will break it? I double-dog-dare you to try!

OH OH OH! I've got it... we'll have a McCain pinata and an Obama pinata and see which one breaks first!

Do I really sound that bad?

Some of you know that Haley works for Feature Films for Families to help pay the school bills. Yes, she is one of those dreaded telemarketers. She does not like it and is on the lookout for a different job, but in the meantime...

She doesn't actually talk to people. She sits at a computer and pushes buttons. The computer dials a number. If someone answers and says hello, Haley pushes a button that responds. There are lots of buttons for lots of responses. The company has tried to make the computer sound as realistic as possible, but once in awhile someone will ask, "Is this a computer talking?" Haley then PUSHES A BUTTON that responds "Ha Ha Ha. Do I really sound that bad?" The laugh sounds real, not computer generated. Sometimes people get embarrassed.

It's good to laugh at work sometimes.

BIRTHDAY FOR MARSDEN

Sherma cooked a birthday dinner for Marsden last night - it was a surprise. This made Marsden and Lynette very delighted. We had Harvest soup - Baked apples, sw pote, butternut squash, acorn squash w/ ginger, nutmeg, & cinnamon in half & half. Next course - Salad w/ homemade zesty orange dressing, then, Chix Enchiladas and Karen Estrada's rice. For dessert, a little choc turtle by Weight Watchers, 1 pt. Then we went to a movie that the men picked - "Max Payne". We had a happy evening.

Tatia dropped in just before they arrived. She helped me with last minute preparations. Dad & I were so happy to have her help. Everybody, have a nice day.

This is a test...

There is a billboard on the northbound I-15 somewhere past the 1300 South exit. It's recruiting employees for a technology company. The billboard reads:

Technology as easy as

01 10 11

The first time I saw it I was almost to the next exit before I figured it out.

DAD NEEDS HIS GIRLS!

Julie and Candice, Dad needs you for a day to fly to Salt Lake, and join us at the temple with Tatia to celebrate his birthday the same way as last year. This is his favorite thing to do. I promise, Julie, you or CMP will not have to do anything but sit through the session. Then we will eat a good meal. Dad will pay, and he will also pay for your flight tickets. Please, quickly tell us "yes".

We are celebrating BJ's 50th birthday, along with Bumpa's birthday and Adam, who will be 17 on the 1st of November. However, the party is taking place on Sat 25 Oct. That is this coming Saturday!! Please, everybody come. 5 PM at Nana's house. The dinner will be very good. Everyone is invited including Julie and Kerry's family, Dawney's family including Hope w/ Tim, Tatia's family, CMPJ & Family, Christopher and Steven and maybe someone else. Thank you, I am sooo tired I can hardly think about it. Love you all. . . This is Bart thinking about turning 50.

Here is Adam with his girl cousins.

Where In The World Is Steven

Steven has been down in CA interviewing for a summer internship for 2009. A big accounting firm put Steven up in the Biltmore Hotel for Sunday night. He took a picture of his bed. Here he is: I KNOW the picture is not so good, but it does tell you that he got to stay in a swanky hotel for FREE!

We all know that Bumpa and I have the same birthday. This year it is extra cool because I am going to turn 17 and Bumpa is going to be 71. I think that is cool because we are just flip flopped!!! This is the only time that this will ever happen.

Signs In My Neighborhood

While dropping 3 of my children off at school, I see these signs every day:

I Guess HOPE is RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT!!

I didn't know - good for you.

Motivation

I am having trouble in school... I need some advice on how to get motivated. I do want to do well in school so that i can have a future. PLEASE HELP!!!

I didn't believe but now I DO!

I didn't believe Julie at first so i had to find a picture of nana. Sadly I couldn't find the picture Julie was talking about but this is the best I could find. I like it! I do believe now. I thought also while I was here I would show you before and after.

I Must Have Visiting Rights!!

I should get visiting rights! I haven't seen Tanner for over 3 months! It's time for Candice to send him up for a weekend. I want to see him on Halloween. There are many of us up here who want to see him. We will go Trick or Treating with the Hansens.

"Her eyes and that smile is full of light!"

"Her eyes and that smile is full of light!" This is what my repairman said about Jessica when he walked by her picture on his way to repair our little porch outside of our bedroom. He wants her to meet his son who is 20. He continues to talk about her.

I Can't Live Without You!!

Christopher, I need your help with my computer. Please come to dinner and bring your Bro and Brit if she is still in your life.

So bored...

I brought Allysa to don's clinic for a quick 20 rehab. It has now been 1 1/2 hours! I ALWAYS take a book with me EVERYWHERE. Today I thought I would read lots of interesting comments on the blog. There is NOTHING! Now I know how Julie feels. The only new stuff was on the Check-in blog for the Coles. The steroid picture was VERY funny and I couldn't believe the before and after picture of your foot. I thought you were incredibly brave to show your very hairy leg.

Got Pictures?

Let's have some pictures from your Nashville trip!

Elvis

Elvis's house

graveyards

Country/western singers

Your travel companions

Yourselves

Your hotel

Share a little something

My first blog ever!!!

This is my first blog ever. I am happy to be here and contribute to this!!!

Forever Strong..Kia Kaha!

I am not a great fan of competitive team sports. To me, the focus is all on winning or losing and I HATE that someone loses. It gives me a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach when I think of how the "losers" feel. Allysa's soccer teams have lost more than their fair share of games. What good comes out of it? They leave thinking of themselves as failures, as not good enough - no matter what their parents tell them.

I have a new (or renewed) sense of appreciation for team sports because of this movie, Forever Strong.

It's a great movie. Same basic formula as all feel-good sport movies, but I LOVED it! It is Allysa's current favorite. I learned so much from that movie. It is about a HIGHLY successful rugby team here in Utah. I thought they were based in Highland, Utah because that is their name, but Haley told me the school is actually in the Sugarhouse area of Salt Lake. She knows because she filmed a movie there!

In 32 years, they have 17 national championships and a 367-9 record.

"Never do anything to embarass yourself, your family, or your teammates"

"More important than building championship teams
is building championship boys"

"Learn to be forever strong on the field so you will be forever strong off the field"

One theme that struck me was how each individual team member gains strength from all their family and team members who have passed on. They refuse to let those people down. That's why they perform the Maori Ka Mate Haka a couple of times in the film.

Watching that is a good reason to see the film!

P.S. The Highland Rugby Club of SLC do the haka with the permission and blessing of the Maori community in New Zealand.

I HAVE SO MUCH TO SAY!!!

Now I know why Beth's post was so long. It is so hard to stop! The more I typed, the more I thought of. Click on the link to talk politics...THANK YOU JULIE!

One Of My Favorite Things

Tatia has asked me to do one of my favorite things!

She suggested that I make up ANOTHER blog! Ok, don't twist my arm.

This is for ALL political conversations!

It will be a great place to exchange thoughts and ideas. We can get to understand the other's perspective, we can learn from each other. Let's DISCUSS!

Some like Politics, some don't; so therefore it will be on a different site. If you want to get into the action, go HERE, which is ppayne.blogspot.com That stands for Political Payne, get it. Pretty good. It doesn't matter what side you are on, make a post, make a comment!

You are all invited!

The best thing to remember is that we might have different ideas, that's ok; no two muffins are the same, but they still taste good.

Check your gmail accounts for your invite and compose something political.

The only 2 misspellings found by the computer were: Tatia and Ok

Pictures of the Week

This is Ranger Tim,
on his final day working the Cave





























And this is what happens when you let your kids grow up

Keep Up The Good Work

Come on, Dodgers!

Win a few more!

Leatherheads

We watched this movie last night with great expectations.

It was NOT good. Cheesy dialogue, not a good story. It so missed the mark.

I wish when the big stars make a stink pot movie they would just come out and say it is not so good - otherwise it is like they are stealing a little money out of my pocket!

Come on George!

To make things clear.

It is not that I do not care. That on the other hand is completely wrong. Yes I'm sorry to say I'm not voting in this election. I have no idea where I stand in all of it not only that but where the candidates stand in the issues. I am ashamed to say that I have not been paying attention in what is going on in the political world. My life has become crazy out of hand for me and do not have the time nor the energy to start now. I do care just over whelmed with my life and all that it includes. So in short my mother is WRONG!!!! I just don't think its fair to vote when not being fully informed as to what is going on.

Beth's First Post - A Payne Family Underdog

I am so excited that Julie has extended an open invitation to discuss our upcoming presidential election! I happen to be a proud Obama supporter and I would love to tell you why. To be honest, I viewed a comment or two in the past (on our family’s blog) when Governor Palin was announced as Senator McCain’s VP candidate and I wanted to post something then. But let’s be honest – 99% of our family is Republican and I was concerned it would start a war. So, before I begin I want everyone to know that I respect each and every one of your personal opinions on the matter.

First, my differentiating views on Julie’s concerns.

Higher Taxes? This is simply not true, at least for 95% of the American people. The typical middle class family (making less than $250,000 per year) will receive tax CUTS under the Obama plan. Obama’s plan includes a “Making Work Pay” tax credit as well as additional tax cuts specifically designed to help families afford health care, college and save for retirement. Under Obama’s plan, total federal taxes for typical families (95% of the USA) would be 19 percent lower than they were under President Reagan. Now to be fair, McCain’s direct tax cut for the middle class is an increase in the dependent exemption. While it would benefit many families (with children), it obviously will not help me, as well as an additional 101 million American families without children.

Obama Has The Right Plan For Iraq. First of all, I agree with Julie that yes, Saddam Hussein was an atrocity and yes, he needed to be dealt with. However, the way in which we justified starting the war (WMD’s ring a bell?) and have handled the war (no post-invasion plan) are disgraceful - my opinion folks, you can have yours too. The Iraqi government has not kept up their end of the bargain and we are not holding them accountable – we need to. The Iraq war has diverted resources from the Afghanistan war, making it harder for us to capture Osama Bin Laden and others involved in 9/11 (Why have we forgotten about these terrorists?) Nearly seven years later, the Taliban has reemerged in Afghanistan, and Al Qaeda has regrouped and strengthened. 2007 was the most violent year in Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion. The Iraq war has consumed the resources we need to finish the fight in Afghanistan. Obama’s plan to remove our troops from Iraq will be responsible and phased, directed by military commanders on the ground and done in consultation with the Iraqi government. It will take approximately two years. After which, a residual force will remain in Iraq to conduct targeted counter-terrorism missions against Al Qaeda and to protect American diplomatic and civilian personnel. They will also continue efforts to train and support the Iraqi security forces. There is so much more to tell you, but this section is getting too long. To sum it up, Obama’s plan takes into consideration the facts and evidence from the Iraq Study Group Report – the same report that the Bush administration ignored.

Shopping Is Part Of The Reason Why We Are In This Economic Mess. If anyone watched Oprah today, you will understand what I mean. But here is the truth about our economy: It all started with the housing market crash, which then trickled on to Wall Street and then our U.S. Banks and now affects you and me, the average American citizen. How in the world can we go shopping, in order to turn up the economic engine if we are broke, poor, in excessive dept, suffering from home foreclosures, medical bankruptcies, etc.? The truth… the average American family spends significantly more than they actually earn – we live on credit and we shouldn’t. We accepted unstable, variable mortgages that we simply could not afford, but Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac approved our loans because they were greedy, irresponsible and were no longer regulated by the Federal Government. Under the last 8 years of the Bush administration, de-regulation on Wall Street and the housing sector has proven to be a HUGE mistake. May I mention that McCain wants to de-regulate the health care system in the same manner that Wall Street was de-regulated, and look where that got us! Again, because this section is simply getting too long, I will summarize by letting you know that Obama’s economic turn-around plan includes: jumpstarting the economy, provides middle class tax relief, reforms foreign market trade, includes job creation, supports small businesses, increases minimum wage, protects homeownership, cracks down on mortgage fraud, addresses predatory credit card practices, reforms bankruptcy laws, and supports a more dynamic work / family balance. If anyone would like more information on these subjects, please just let me know.

An added thought or two...

Maverick, Huh? How in the world can you call yourself a maverick if you have voted in support of Bush’s policies 90% of the time over the last 8 years? It just doesn’t make sense to me. While yes, I do not doubt that Senator McCain has argued certain issues against his party’s line, but they are not issues that affect the average American family like you and I, and certainly not that often if he is in agreement with Bush 90% of the time! I do not want another four years of Bush’s policies, plain and simple!

Ok, I’ve rambled on quite a bit too long, but there is SO MUCH MORE I would love to post, such as why I am opposed to off-shore drilling, our need for clean energy and how green collar jobs would significantly boost our economy, Roe v. Wade, the needs of our education system in general, not to mention – I didn’t even get started on my issues with Palin. I’ll stop here though. If anyone would like to continue this discussion, simply let me know.

Oh, and this is one is for Tatia – Elisabeth Hasselbeck still drives me absolutely nuts! She always has and probably always will. Only now, it’s on a whole new level. I actually dream of jumping through my television onto her set just to get my two cents in with her – Argh.

Just one more time… I respect all of your beliefs and opinions, these are just mine.

I'm Sticking My Neck Out THERE, Want To Come With Me?

Let's talk politics!

I just can't help it, I have tried to resist, but today I am breaking free! I would REALLY like to hear from all you people out there that are voting for Obama. I know you are out there and I don't care if you are a lurker, or if you are not part of the Payne family. If you are an Obama supporter, comment - IN FACT, COMMENT EITHER WAY! Let's hear from YOU!

My biggest concern with Obama is Higher Taxes! I do NOT want my taxes raised. I am afraid that "for the good" of whoever, my taxes will go up. I feel like America has enough money handed over, the people in charge should be able to budget ALL that money much better. I have heard on Talk Radio people with small businesses really concerned with the raising of taxes which means they will have to lay people off. I also think there is a BIG difference in making $125,000 in CA and making that same amount in South Dakota.

The War: who likes it, no one. We can't change the fact that we are there, so we have to deal with it and do it right. My fear in Obama is that he will get us out, but in a way with terrible consequences. Did you hear him talk about Darfur last night? He is concerned about other areas of the world where there are atrocities. He wants to help those areas. Well, wasn't Saddam Hussein an atrocity? If I was a mother there in Iraq, I would have been so happy to see that man go. I would have been happy for the people who came and took that away. I really feel that if we leave that Iraq in a correct manner, that area will be a better place. If we leave just to get out of the war and be done with it, I really think things will be far worse for Iraq.

Shopping: Do you remember the comment about shopping last night? He made fun, (kind of), of President Bush when he told people to go out shopping after 9-11. Isn't "shopping" a way to get the economy going? People changing money, businesses selling, tourist places can thrive, banks loan money, people buy houses; the economy moves. The economy needs to move!

Ok - what do you think?
Remember, be nice, this is to help us all understand each other's perspective.

New Post

This blog hasn't had a new post in a long time, so I decided to make one. Also, this is more entertaining than doing my homework

I love LA