Witch School Opens in Midwestern Town
City Residents Petitioned and Prayed to Keep it Away

By DURRELL DAWSON, ABCNews.com

(June 30) – In the “Harry Potter” series, the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry sits in a mystical Scotland location, shrouded by magic that hides it from unknowing humans. Starting Saturday, in the unlikeliest of places, a real witch school opens its doors to the public in a place known as the Sweet Corn Capital of the World.

Full Article Here

I usually don’t talk religion here… I may actually discuss my personal feelings, and my personal struggles – but I don’t do any debating, or prostelytizing. It’s about struggles I’m personally having.

I’m a Wiccan who converted to Christianity. So – I do have some insight into their religion. That insight gave entre to some things that I saw during my 2 year rebellion that I almost wish I hadn’t seen. Not from Wiccans… From “others.” The things that I saw in my 2 year delve into this other world actually is what convinced me to convert to Christianity.

That has nothing to do with the article – it just made it difficult for me to read. The Christian side of me says fight them every step that they can. The civil side of me says that they have every right, as a religion, to set up shop. I’m very conflicted by this article and I certainly don’t pretend to have any answers as to what’s “right.”

Newsweek
Fast Chat: Managing Mommies, June 19, 2006 issue

In “Get to Work: A Manifesto for Women of the World,” Linda Hirshman, a retired philosophy professor, argues that women should stop wasting their expensive degrees in the nursery. She spoke with Peg Tyre.

full article here

Go read the article. I’ll wait.

Okay, so here’s the snippet that REALLY chaps my hide.

You really think stay-at-home moms can’t lead honorable, risk-taking, intellectual lives?
Right. And don’t hit me with those fantastical volunteer jobs. They don’t exist.

I want to be a stay at home mother. Desperately. But, money blahblahblah student loans blahblahblah heart surgery blahblahblah health insurance blahblahblah preclude that at this time. I think both working out/in the home and staying home without working for income are both valuable choices. It just depends on your family situation, your personality, what it is that makes you complete, what your definition of family is, what is fulfilling to you.

Me? I want to be home. Always have.

But don’t you DARE tell me that my life wouldn’t be honorable [what if I’m raising the next president?], risk-taking [bare hands over a gushing head wound requiring plastic surgery – result of a pillow fight], and intellectual [do YOU remember all the planets in order?].

All kidding aside, if my life isn’t honorable, risk-taking, or intellectual – what the hell am I doing raising participants of the next generation?? My life better be that way if I’m going to raise one. Oh Wait! I can only do that if I have a career too! Because it takes a village! I might take work away from the Americans raising my child in daycare!!

Truth? I want to be a stay at home mother. I want to make a caring, fun, intellectual, honorable, risk-taking, loving home for these little humans (and my husband too) for their environment. Always there. For them. I can’t do that right now, and that tears me up.

I suppose that would make me a dishonorable, safe/mundane, inept moron. According to Ms. Hirshman anyway.