What did our founding fathers intend?

Just curious, if you received this in the mail, would you complete it?

http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Downloads/questionnaires/2011/Quest11.pdf

What right does our government have to know what time my husband left for work last week? Why do they need to know if my children have attended nursery school or preschool in the last three months? What right do they have to know my mortgage payment? They are already privy to our salaries through our tax returns. Why must I complete this information again for them on a separate form? If they want to know how much our house and lot would sell for if it were to sell, then they need to do their own research or contact their own real estate agent!

And here is the best part! The following was taken directly from the U.S. Census Bureau's website.

Do I have to respond to the American Community Survey / Puerto Rico Community Survey?

Yes. Respondents are required to answer all questions on the American Community Survey (ACS) to the best of their ability. Response to this and other Census surveys is required by law (Section 221 of Title 13, Chapter 7, United States Code). This chapter also contains information regarding offenses and possible penalties. According to Section 221, persons who do not respond shall be fined not more than $100. Title 18 U.S.C. Section 3571 and Section 3559, in effect amends Title 13 U.S.C. Section 221 by changing the fine for anyone over 18 years old who refuses or willfully neglects to complete the questionnaire or answer questions posed by census takers from a fine of "not more than $100" to "not more than $5,000."

I am livid! This nonsense has GOT to stop!

Actually, I was wrong. THIS is the best part!

They felt the need to send us an initial letter to let us know that instructions on how to complete the survey would be in the mail in a few days. That folks is your taxpayer dollars at work! And, if I don't follow the instructions in this second letter to complete the American Community Survey online, they will send us a paper questionnaire in a few weeks. Go ahead and bring on the third letter! I refuse to log on and enter private information onto a website maintained by the government.

According to the second letter, "The Census Bureau is using the Internet to collect this information in an effort to conserve natural resources, save taxpayers' money, and process your data more efficiently."

Really? If they are trying to "save taxpayers' money," then why did they send the first letter to tell us the instructions for the American Community Survey were on the way?

This is YOUR government at work people! The same government who will soon control YOUR health care! The same government who is educating YOUR children! Take a look at the current state of social security and medicare in this country, and perhaps you will think twice before voting in 2012.

I am sure the government will find a way to use this information to "spread the wealth" because isn't that the right thing to do! Did you feel the sarcasm?

You weren't expecting that post were you?!?!

Yellow Peppers

Why would a four year old stuff yellow peppers from her lunch into her socks and keep them there all day long?

I watched her do it. She told me she was doing it. I just didn't think it was worth a fight as I honestly thought she'd remove them BEFORE bedtime. It isn't like she was trying to avoid eating her yellow peppers. She loves yellow peppers, and she probably ate all but the one or two that she stuffed into her socks.

I was wondering why her socks looked very yellow earlier today.

Experiment

It's been a rough week! I'd planned to blog more this week to keep hubby smiling and up to date on the girls since he left for Valdosta on business Sunday evening. But, life got the best of me, and I've been trying really, really hard to declutter our living quarters as the stuff is driving me absolutely nuts! Did I mention that I'm sick too, and I think I've run a fever every day since Sunday evening? Of course, that goes hand and hand with hubby being out of town. And of course Sophia is teething, sick and wakes me 3 to 4 quite possibly 5 times a night! I'm not complaining, just stating the facts.

If it were up to me, the purchase of toys would come to a complete halt. I have watched Sophia's first year fly by way too fast, and it has occurred to me that I haven't truly enjoyed her because I've been completely overwhelmed with the amount of toys in this house. I spend more time cleaning up Annabelle's messes than I do reading books and playing Barbies.

So this week (or this year really) I've made a commitment to simplify our lives. If we don't LOVE it, it goes! I have thrown stuff away left and right, and I filled a 70 quart Sterilite storage box with puzzles that will be used, but that doesn't need to be left out for little hands to pull out just to pull out and not even use. Hmmm...perhaps a 70 quart box filled with puzzles is too many puzzles. My goal is to dispose of all toys with little educational value and rotate those toys which instill creativity such as games, puzzles, Lego's, and Bristle Blocks.

Annabelle (nor Sophia for that matter) does not need more than two dolls. She doesn't play with them anyway. And the stuffed animals have got to go!

So we'll see how this little experiment of mine goes. I have been inspired quite some time by the author and columnist John Rosemond. I just haven't been able to dump the toys faster than they have entered our house. The thought that Sophia has a 1st birthday in less than a month makes me quite anxious. I don't want to lose momentum. But, I want ALL of us to enjoy our lives a little more instead of despising the very home we come home to and spend time in.