Discrimination against the LDS (Mormons)? No that doesn't happen in 2008?!?!?!

In a recent Washington post article, you can find out that the neighborhood on 16th street (near the U.S. Capitol) is protesting the building of a new church building.
Full Up, Fed Up On God's Avenue - washingtonpost.com

Here's the interesting thing, it seems that most LDS churches and temples are protested - and yet they only drive up the value of homes in the area. This happened in DC (Bethesda is where the DC temple is) and Boston. I don't think most home owners complain that their house values double in value. I know I wouldn't.

Most people buying a property would need to demo (especially if the original building is a nunnery). If a disco, dance, night club had moved in, I don't think they would have cleared the building and started over too. Actually, I complain about the construction happening in my neighborhood - but they're putting up houses - so there's nothing I can do about it. Someday I believe they will be done. I have to believe that. At least in the case of the 16th street neighborhood, you know it's only one building and a parking garage.

In regards to parking: I don't think a nightclub would have cared about the street parking being taken up. It sounds like the LDS Church is limiting the parking to a parking garage and street level parking lot. I know they do that in other neighborhoods (Alexandria, King Street Chapel). Here's the funny thing about the King Street chapel, down the street, the Baptist church takes up one lane on the street for parking and hires a cop to direct traffic. Does anyone complain about that? How can someone complain? If anything, the church building will only help the neighborhood. In Boston, near Harvard yard, there is free church parking that I know has only helped the neighborhoods. If anything, church members often are without parking because someone has taken advantage of the open spots.

If you hear the numbers (10 stories high) that does sound like a lot. And yet, the architect that the Post interviewed, said that the LDS church should have aimed higher. If you look of the map of where churches are, what is seriously wrong with one more church?

Maybe a sign like the Baptist church in Olde Towne Alexandria should be put up: "Church Parking, violators will be baptized" then maybe the neighborhood should complain.

I think it's interesting that a pastor taught falsely about what LDS people believe. Thankfully, the Post printed a retraction - and yet - I read the article first and didn't see the retraction until later. So I will emphasize here that Mormons (Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that Christ is the Son of God. He is our Savior. We believe in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. If you haven't read either book, I highly recommend them.

People need to find something else to complain about - or maybe not complain - just get moving and helping people in the world instead of concentrating on things that really won't affect them negatively.

Note: Picture found on www.pastorbloopers.com/signs.html

Girls are not meant to live together

I firmly believe that women should not live together for long. I believed this when I moved to the NW but decided that having roommates was better than living sola. I don't know if that was a good decision. I have fun with my roommates but I often think that it would be better to have my own complete space where we didn't get on each other's nerves. I have lived with the same girl for about 12 months. Most of the time we have fun.

It seems, lately, that all we do is get on each other's nerves. It's been interesting. I am sometimes a sarcastic person and some people can't handle it as a joke. I know this - and yet.... I still said a sarcastic comment over and over about an American idol contestant that my roommate likes. It's part of who I am and I really have tried to work on this. Well, today, it "hit the fan" or well, message received that i was ticking my roommate off... she flipped me off today. Hmmm, that's a great experience. I really don't take that as a joke. I really hate anything to do with the F word. I don't like being told "f you" especially when it's someone who is your friend. It's really offensive to me.

Maybe it is like the time I said shutup in my friend's presence and it offended her. To me the F word is very offensive.

Well... Message received.

Oh the joys! Can living with women end soon? I hope that some man will want to move in and take their place sometime in the near-ish future. Someone who preferably can handle sarcasm or tell me to stop without flipping me off.... In the meantime, I resolve to only be sarcastic in a building up kind of way. I wasn't being sarcastic in a derogatory way about her - but about a celebrity that she likes. So, I need to remember that it goes beyond just a person's own circle but to their likes and dislikes.

Happy Memorial Day All! Hope you had a great weekend!

When Harry met Sally

Do you like the movie "When Harry met Sally"? I've only ever watched this movie in pieces but I realize that I don't like the feeling of the movie. It frustrates me. Some of the emotions are just real... it's frustrating that the relationship takes so long to develop. And then, the sleep together - that only messed up their relationship more! eventually, they get together. It wouldn't be an American/Hollywood movie without the happy ending. Still it's frustrating.

Go to Tri-Stake FHE's and mid-singles dance - it's worth the chance

So, I went to a tri-stake FHE for single-Adults a couple weeks ago. I walked in and was just looking around at the set-up. My friends had gone to the ladies room so I was solo at the entrance to the gym. The theme for the night was board games. I was looking at all the tables to see what games they had set up. Well, I guess I looked shy or unsure... so out of the cluster of a few people, this guy yells "you can come in - we're just talking about other ward and how we don't like them". Well, that's a great opening. He's kind of a punk but for the rest of the night it was total flirtation! I loved it and it was great to have for a change. His name is "J".
After FHE, we went to dinner/snacks at Applebees. I ended up switching tables and going over to J's table. My roommate and friend were at another table with a guy named "B" who shows up later :).
So there was all this joking about J and I (my friend Mo is a good friend of his). and since that night, she always comes up to me to say "I saw your boyfriend tonight" -

Well, a couple weeks later, I go to a party at B's house. J is there. I asked him what he was doing with his life (i know it's the typical question) and he motioned for me to go with him and find a corner - so we ended up talking for a while. At the end of the night, when I walked away, he got my phone #. It's been 2-3 weeks. He hasn't called.
But here is what I think is great - he's the complete opposite of K. He is 5 years younger, he's totally an extrovert. He's still in school (or going back). He loves to dance and be crazy and just talk out-loud. Honestly, I don't think we're a "perfect match" but I'd love to get to know him and hang out with him. I think we'd have fun. He has my number....

So I ran into B at the mid-singles dance and he told me I looked like Donna from the 70's show. Good thing, I've been told that before since I never watched the show. I've tried to see the show and really don't see the resemblance... apparently she's really known as "Hot-Donna" so it can't be a bad thing to have a resemblance :)

Well, B told me he'd like to ask me out sometime and I said I'd like that. It's nice to have a guy just tell you that. He emailed me that night (4AM) to get my phone # and then we talked the following day about when we'd go out and what we'd do. I chose wrong but I'll have to tell you that story in another posting.

it's just fun to be flirty and fun and just put yourself out there - scary but fun.
Deep thought: If you define cowardice as running away at the first sign of danger, screaming and tripping and begging for mercy, then yes, Mister Brave Man, I guess I am a coward. - That's from Jack Handy and I think it's pretty funny. I just wish you could hear it in my old roommate's voice - she's amazing with her deep thoughts!

So it's been two months...

I guess I'd have to say life moves on. And I love it. I haven't heard from K and that's okay. If things can end that suddenly - we really aren't meant to be anything. I'm looking for better - actually the Best. There's a talk about Good, Better, Best. "K" isn't the best - for me. Maybe he will be for someone else. I think, at this point, his ex has too much control over his life.

I do have a funny story - or embarrassing... I'm still "online" and well, I have a different profile now. I wanted to go back through and answer the questions differently. When you get matches - they base it on how you've answered "who you are". Well, since the multiple choice questions usually have more than one answer for me - I thought I would see if there were any changes. Well, guess who I was matched with: "K". Ha! too funny. So here's the bad shallow thing about me - I've decided or I refuse to open his profile - which means I can't close the relationship. I want him to make that decision.

Is that bad? I know he's looked at my profile but he hasn't closed it. Why not? I know he knows it's me. Hmmm. Strange man.