NEVER FORGET

Thanks for the constant reminder, iPledge! I can't wait for my next pregnancy test.

Modest Extremism

Take a minute to look at this photo.

What do you see? What do you feel? If you are a man, are you stirred to inappropriate feelings because the "skinny jeans" are too tight? If you are a woman, are you rolling your eyes at the lack of tact and dignity presented by these clothes? Are you offended by this outfit in anyway?

No?...
...Really? ...

Why not?

I'd like to venture a guess. I'd say it is probably because there is nothing wrong about this outfit. There is nothing immodest about it. It's probably because your thoughts don't immediately turn to wayward, inappropriate thoughts at the sight of a cute, fully-clothed female. And oh, also, because those aren't skinny jeans.

Unfortunately, we live in a world where extremism is all over the place and I would argue, especially within our culture. I attended BYU and saw extremism all the time on campus, but never did it reach the heightened proportions that I have discovered and heard about as is found on the campus of BYU-I. Why is it that people feel it necessary to call out others in self-righteous judgment? Why do these people always land jobs in the testing center? It's so strange to me. The story goes: The girl in the above photo met with her bishop for her calling then headed over to the testing center in the same outfit and was turned away because her pants were "too tight". Now, BYU and BYU-I both have a dress code that limits the clothes you can wear on campus. Mostly they are the obvious: no bare midriffs, no butt cheeks hanging out your shorts. No sleeveless shirts, etc. But from what I can tell, there is nothing too "form-fitting" or again, immodest about this outfit.

If it were me, I'd be outraged.

The whole story can be found in this article here. I'd like to point out my favorite part: the flier.

A flyer was posted by university employees instructing students who felt that “skinny jeans” might be permissible to “go home and prayerfully visit with your Heavenly Father and recommit yourself to being a true disciple.”

Er...

It should be noted, that according to the article I linked to above, the flyer was removed a few days later and the school made a statement on their Facebook page that said, "

Wondering if skinny jeans are allowed on campus? They are. BYU-Idaho's longstanding dress & grooming standards promote principles of modesty and restrict formfitting clothing, but skinny jeans are not singled out or prohibited. In addition, the Testing Center issue reported in Scroll has been corrected and is no longer in force.

 ABC News also posted an article on the whole thing. They didn't really find students that had flattering things to say. While generally, I do not think that the dress code at BYU or BYU-I is "ridiculous" as the student quoted said, I do think that there are some who take it to extremes. From what I've read, mostly it stems from guys who probably think that girls at school should be dressed in a shapeless muumuu worn down to our ankles, not to be completely confused with a burqa. (I personally think that these guys need to go talk to their bishops about their porn addictions, because let's get real for a second: if you are completely turned on by the "shape of a girls leg", then you probably have some dirtier things going through your head, stemming from activities taking place in your bedroom. Just sayin'.)

The argument is modesty.

In junior high I owned two tanks tops that I wore to school. They had straps that were at least four or five inches thick and showed *gasp*shock* my shoulders, but that was all. I attended a broadcast with my mom, and the president of the church announced a new For the Strength of Youth pamphlet that encouraged us to not get that second pair of earrings that I had been working up my nerve to ask my mom for, and to not wear any item of clothing that was sleeveless.

Oh the arguments that I put forth! The sarcastic and belligerent comments I made towards my SHOULDER being put down as an object of lust! I hated it! Absolutely. My mom talked me down, told me that showing a little bit of obedience was more important than putting on display of my shoulder. Etc. etc. And for the most part, I have lived without that second pair of earrings. I have worn the Shade and the Downeast tops and put shrugs and cardigans to cover my shoulders. My shorts are all knee length. For a long time, my dresses and skirts were at my ankles. (Now... they might be quite a bit shorter, but in general, are still "modest".) I have no problem with modesty and the general dress code with which we are asked to adhere to. My problem is with those that turn it in to an extremist movement.

One of the quotes from the aforementioned article was from this blog. She talked about a specific Friend article involving a disappointed four year old and her grandmother's gift of a spaghetti strap dress. And she left with this thought,

I don’t want my daughters equating “modesty” with how much skin they choose to reveal or to cover. Sure, I’d like them to be modest, but modesty encompasses so much more than how much leg or cleavage or, okay, shoulder you reveal. Modesty is about attitude, demeanor, dispositions. It’s about moderation. It’s about avoiding extremes. It’s about feeling comfortable in your own skin.

I think that is the principle with which we should judge on what we choose to clothe our bodies with. For those of us not wearing garments, I know we should keep in mind that one day we will be wearing them, and shouldn't need to have to buy a whole new wardrobe for when we do. However, thinking that we need to dress in pioneer dresses or feed sacks is not the answer. And judging girls who choose to be a little more trendy, or whatever, is not up to us.

Men in Wheelchairs Need Not Apply

Sorry. I know it's shallow.

But not having two functioning legs is kind of a deal breaker for me.

And YOU (yes, you three guys all in wheelchairs trying to hit on me) can't make me feel bad about not being interested.

Forty

• The rains (in Noah's day) fell for 40 days and nights (Genesis 7:4).
• Israel ate Manna for 40 years (Exodus 16:35).
• Moses was with God in the mount, 40 days and nights (Exodus 24:18).
• Moses was again with God 40 days and 40 nights (Exodus 34:28).
• Moses led Israel from Egypt at age 80 (2 times 40), and after 40 years in the wilderness, died at 120 (3 times 40; Deuteronomy 34:7).
• The spies searched the land of Canaan for 40 days (Numbers 13:25).
• Therefore, God made Israel wander for 40 years (Numbers 14:33-34).
• 40 stripes was the maximum whipping penalty (Deuteronomy 25:3).
• God allowed the land to rest for 40 years (Judges 3:11).
• God again allowed the land to rest for 40 years (Judges 5:31).
• God again allowed the land to rest for 40 years (Judges 8:28).
• Abdon (a judge in Israel) had 40 sons (Judges 12:14).
• Israel did evil; God gave them to an enemy for 40 years (Judges 13:1).
• Eli judged Israel for 40 years (1 Samuel 4:18).
• Goliath presented himself to Israel for 40 days (1 Samuel 17:16).
• Saul reigned for 40 years (Acts 13:21).
• Ishbosheth (Saul's son) was 40 when he began reign (2 Samuel 2:10).
• David reigned over Israel for 40 years (2 Samuel 5:4, 1 Kings 2:11).
• The holy place of the temple was 40 cubits long (1 Kings 6:17).
• 40 baths (measurement) was size of lavers in Temple (1 Kings 7:38).
• The sockets of silver are in groups of 40 (Exodus 26:19 & 21).
• Solomon reigned same length as his father; 40 years (1 Kings 11:42).
• Elijah had one meal that gave him strength 40 days (1 Kings 19:8).
• Ezekiel bore the iniquity of the house of Judah for 40 days (Ezekiel 4:6).
• Jehoash (Joash) reigned 40 years in Jerusalem (2 Kings 12:1).
• Egypt to be laid desolate for 40 years (Ezekiel 29:11-12).
• Ezekiel's (symbolic) temple is 40 cubits long (Ezekiel 41:2).
• The courts in Ezekiel's temple were 40 cubits long (Ezra 46:22).
• God gave Nineveh 40 days to repent (Jonah 3:4).
• Jesus fasted 40 days and nights (Matthew 4:2).
• Jesus was tempted 40 days (Luke 4:2, Mark 1:13).
• Jesus remained on earth 40 days after resurrection (Acts 1:3).
• Women are pregnant for 40 weeks (time of testing). 
• http://www.ecclesia.org/truth/40.html

Apparently, you do not have to be pregnant to go through the 40 days of testing. But I think I have been very patient for these past 40 days and 40 nights. And I highly doubt that there is any special significance to this particular 40 days of testing...

Of course, it could be worse, it could be 40 weeks.

But I really don't think my patience will last that long.

Dear Harman Apartments

We've been having a bit of a problem at our apartments.

Our parking lots, sidewalks and street have become a death trap of ice and more ice. Four of us went around collecting signatures last night, and not a one of was made it back inside without having almost totally biffing it. Luckily, we were walking at a snail's pace and seem to be very balanced creatures.

Still.

It seems that our property management company cares more about our rent checks than actually providing a safe, comfortable place to live. As we walked around, several residents mentioned that they had talked to the manager - or at least the girl in the office, who guards the manager as if she were secret service and he were in protective custody - and they say that they are not obligated to remove snow.

REALLY?

I'm not sure how they can justify sitting back and doing nothing while their residents are getting stuck and defying injury or death, or property damage, and they aren't responsible to do anything? It completely boggles my mind that they think it is in their right to make us responsible for clearing whole parking lots, when they really just don't want to spend the money in maintaining anything.

I did a little research, which is indicated in the letter above, and found that legally they are supposed to. Hopefully the letter does something. I can't imagine that 32 signatures isn't enough to do something. Not only that, but those were just the ones home and awake at 10:00 p.m. If we had gone sooner, or spent another day collecting signatures, I know we could've gotten more.

Furthermore, not a single person thought this was a bad idea. We got a lot of "Thank Yous" for doing this. So there you go. I'm taking civil action to get this changed, and I hope it works.

I don't think I can handle another snowstorm, knowing that I'll be trapped and dealing with ice for weeks after.

Hate Mail

I was going to post my rebuttal, as well, but I see little point in it.

Shelli,

This is a notification to inform you that we have refunded $17.45 to your PayPal account, as we will not be shipping you a copy of The Pirate Ruse.  

It has come to our attention, that although you once claimed to enjoy books by Marcia Lynn McClure, your purpose in purchasing and reading them now is little less than to find reason to criticize the work and successes of others...to spread contempt, hatefulness and ugliness in the world.  We at Distractions Ink have thus decided that, since you are not the sort of person for whom Marcia writes, we will no longer do business with you.  

The personal nature of your hateful remarks about Marcia in your most recent book blog are not only unfathomably cruel, but disgustingly ignorant.  Marcia Lynn McClure actually avoids compliments, and adulation.  She is very uncomfortable with any of sort of admiration.  You do not know her at all...not in the least...and we will testify (as will any who have met her) that she is your exact opposite.  She is kind, caring, empathetic beyond belief and gives joy and hope to thousands and thousands!  She has helped people endure the most tragic circumstances imaginable!   Her works have helped people through the loss of a loved one, the loss of life!  What have you done, Miss Armstrong, to better the world?  To spread joy and hope?

To address the self-publishing issue, there is not on record any other person in the world who has had the success that Marcia Lynn McClure has had in this venue...typographical errors, too many 'chuckling bucks' or not.  When your little book that you've self-published makes half a million dollars through the self-publishing venue, let us know...for if there's one thing that holds true, it is that an author's very nature cannot be hidden...it will reveal itself in his/her work.  It might also interest you to know, that of the 3,751 friends Marcia has on Facebook (as you so precisely noted) YOU are the only 'friend' that does not have another friend in common with Marcia.  This is very telling, Miss Armstrong.     

In conclusion, we have determined that you must be a terribly unhappy person.  Someone so bitter and hateful can not know true happiness.  Marcia Lynn McClure writes her stories (imperfect or not) for good, happy people who what to enjoy life, uplift others and appreciate the simple things God has created for us to enjoy.  I will also forewarn you that, should you post any slanderous remarks on your part against Marcia Lynn McClure or her work, such evidences will be forwarded to the proper authorities.  

We wish you luck, Miss Armstrong...in finding peace for such a battered soul...happiness in the Light of Christ...and your endeavors to leave a positive footprint in the world.

Sincerely,

Shannon

Michelle

Sandy

And Everyone at Distractions Ink