yet another reason living is Utah is awesome

extra fireworks!

Yesterday was Pioneer Day here in Utah, which is a huge deal. No, really, it is bigger than Independence Day here. I had no idea, so I had to rely on wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pioneer_Day_(Utah). [Aside: I really need to learn some html, people.] Every town in our county had some sort of parade with cute little kids dressed in pioneer garb pulling little red wagons with conestoga tops, and this:

white dudes on horseback dressed as Native Americans throwing candy

historic re-enactment, y'all!

sub-cultures

So I was up for a few hours in the middle of the night. We've been blessed with a kid who doesn't normally have sleep issues, so I shouldn't really complain. Last night was no fun though. It started around 1 am. I heard whining through the monitor. (We still use a monitor because Thomas is tube fed overnight & we need to hear if there are any problems.) So I went in to check on him. It went a little something like this:

me: What's wrong?
T: I want my blanket.
me: So get it from the floor.
T (whining): But there's a shadow on the wall.
me (laughing):There's nothing in here to be afraid of.
T cries
me: Why are you crying?
T: You laughed at me.

So at this point I felt pretty low & much apologizing & comforting ensued. After T was settled back in I went back to bed. I was almost asleep when the whining began again. This time it was a stomach ache. After a trip to the bathroom, a drink of water & instructions about not getting out of bed too early in the morning, T was settled back in.

I went back to bed but could not get back to sleep very easily. My mind wandered to weird places. Among them . . . the similarities between the FLDS and the Travellers (i.e. Irish Gypsies). This probably won't interest anyone beyond Seanna & Sheila, feel free to tune out now.

• clannish to the point of inbreeding - check
• child brides - check
• distrust of higher formal education/ state schools - check
• settlement on a state line - check (easier to escape state-level authorities??)
• mode of dress/hairstyle that distinguishes them from outsiders - check
• use of fraudulent means to sustain their lifestyle - check Travellers will swindle anyone they can. FLDS "bleed the beast" through use of welfare programs.
• distrust of outsiders - check They both have a reputation for following outsiders who enter their enclave & running them off. Sheila, remember our little jaunt around Murphy's Village in the Caddy?? Ah, good times.

Totally weird where the mind wanders sometimes. Not sure why I wanted to post that other than I thought Sheila & Seanna might appreciate it.