9 little monkeys

Bouncing on the bed, one fell of and bunked his head, Momma called the doctor and the doctor said:

No more monkeys bouncing on the bed

Most Ferociously Determined

Where did that person go? She was right here just a second ago. I know she was. I started college as a single parent with two under 18 months. I finished 153 semester credit hours with minimal help from my family. I gutted it out with studying after the kids went to bed, giving up hours studying to go on camp outs with the family, or Easter in another state. but I did it. I finished.
what happened next? was it the three special needs children and countless hours in IEP and ARD meetings? Was it living up to my own expectations of excellence that I set as the gold bar of parenthood?
I have always believed that the children that I was blessed with were truly a gift from god. that they were hand picked to be raised and guided and protected by me. If they failed to reach a milestone, that was my personal failing, if they deviated from the course, I had not given them the right guidance. If they had a personal struggle, I was to listen, suggest, guide and direct. If they were not prepared for life, I had failed my calling. I always thought if I could just get them graduated from high school I would be 'done', a success, and my job complete. then I thought, well if we can get the grand baby to 1st birthday, I would be 'done', a success, and my job complete. then I thought, if we can just get through one miltary war zone deployment, I would be 'done', a success, and my job complete. then I thought, If I can just get them through a semester of college, I would be 'done', a success, and my job complete. then I thought, okay, if I could just get them through a divorce and the grandkids safe, the daughter on the way to a healthy place, I would be 'done', a success, and my job complete. then I thought, what if I do not survive all this? what about the fact that I am going deaf? what about the fact that I am going blind? what about the fact that I know I am not going to get out of this alive, but I was sure I would be around longer than this?  
I used to think that I could do all things if I just had someone that believed in me, truly thought that I was genius. It was a short lived fleeting dream. Eventually you discover that part of being human is that no matter what, you are not brilliant, you are not a genius and even if you are technically one, no one really cares, and more importantly, they really do not like the fact that you are one and are constantly looking for situations and examples to disprove that you really are anything more than just a little less than they are. a little less smart. a little less wise. a little less healthy. a little less responsible. a little less consistent. a little less pretty. they discover what you knew all along. you are old. ugly. fat. crazy. obsessive. fallible. human. anything to take away from the talents that you posses. I want to met the girl that was Most Ferociously Determined person again. I miss her.

ButtCrack of Dawn

Little Buddy

Not every flower says love, but a rose can. Not every plant survives thirst, but a cactus can. 
Not every retard can read, but just look at you go, little buddy! I dont care if you lick windows or interfere with farm animals, you are fucking special to me. 
You hang in there cupcake, because you are my friend. Look at you smiling at the screen, you crayon eating bastard you!

Back On Track

Move to Lose:



Eat to Live:
20 oz propel
20 oz coffee
1 oz cheese stick

2 eggs
onion
1 slice bacon
broccoli
portabella mushroomsmozzarella cheese
salsa
sour cream

Our Deepest Fear

Our Deepest Fear

by Marianne Williamsonfrom A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

September Resolutions

Move to Lose: Eat to Live:

Introductions

A little about me.

I am a grand daughter. I drive my grandmother crazy. She fusses over how clean the stove is, how clean the kitchen is, is there at least 18 different dishes on the table for a meal. She saves everything, stores everything, and lives in the same house her and g'pa bought after he returned from the war in 1944. She has never drove a car, she has never had a drivers license. She did work for 3-5 years in the early 50s when my grandfather was recovering from Spinal Meningitis. Her pride in housework scares me.

I am a daughter, my mom drives me crazy. She is from the deep south, and her ideas clash with her upbringing, she was raised a southern bell, but she was a hippie with free love all San Francisco and Height Ashbury. At some point she get all religious and now HATES tattoos and body piercings, and drinking and smoking, and all those crazy things that democrats do. It is hard to keep my identity with that going through my head. Her doubt of my keeping a clean house scares me.

I am a mother. I am a helicopter parent. I worry and fuss about my kids every day. Today I watched all three of my grand kids while one daughter went to work and the other went to find work. The shift change was after lunch, I left all of them with one daughter while I had to other drive to the gas station to fill the one that is looking for work's tank with fuel. Then we drove to the college so that I could be supportive while the one that is working picked up her school books for college. The first year I showed her how, this year, I guided her through and sat in the chair if there were any questions. She is about weaned and ready to tackle it on her own. She, her husband and child moved back to Texas after his military service was over. Lived with us for 1 year while they get situated. Now they live 12 miles away, close enough to visit, but far enough that it is not a nuisance. I still see Jordan every day now.

Her twin sister just moved cross county in a broken down Dodge pickup, a u-haul trailer, two dogs and a hamster. Three months ago she delivered her two babies ages 5 months and 20 months to my doorstep to care for while she and her also recently retired marine husband tried to work out his issues. She was in school full time, working two part time jobs, he still has not found his way. I am confident that being close to her sister, brothers and family will help her weather the storms life keeps sending her. I believe that I did her and her sister a huge disservice by leaving them in public school. Jasmine struggled daily with the rigid uncompromising environment, she is an ultra rapid cycling bipolar. Think of Tigger--Eeyore--Tigger--Eeyore cycling, four times in an hour. He twin sister is her fiercest critic and her fiercest protector. After fighting through the system of I.E.P.'s, 504's, ARD meetings, They graduated, but upon entering college, had to repeat the high school level Math and English.

My third daughter was born with a triplicated sequence of the molecular structure in the q-axle arm of the 15^th chromosome. She is unique and special and fairly rare. There are about 300 kids now with Isodicentric15. Some live to adulthood, some do not. She is now 21. she has high functioning autism and can speak, is potty trained for the most part, and can write her name and phone number for the most part. She can dress her self and she has a gifted connection with animals. I love her laugh, it sounds like a hyenna when she is excited.

Erik, *sigh* Erik is my oldest son. He is eager to please and is dealing with adolescence admirably. He is very active in scouts, mostly to please me but recognizes that it is good for him. He is within a year of earning his Eagle Scout (13 years old) well within the limits of 18. I struggle with the decision to keep him home. It is extremely beneficial for his brother. He is such a social creature, I was crushed that he was bullied at school on a daily basis. The tapes from the bus rides home and the reports from the teachers were gut wrenching. But he misses the good people, it was just a few that made it impossible to remain. He is a complex person. He has an extraordinary high IQ (127) and yet, misses many social cues that would guide him to keep the friends that he makes easily. He prefers long hair, butterflies and dragonflies, and has as many close girl friends as guy friends. He is gender neutral. He is very good at chess, electronics, robotics, and computer science. He has not grown so old that he does not show affection or miss an opportunity to tell me he loves me. He does distinguish the difference between my two jobs. Tells me that he sometimes does not like me (when I am his teacher) but always loves me (when I am his mom).

Magnus is complicated. He has a very dry wit and a caustic sense of humor, he wavers from being affectionate to being completely rude and standoffish. Currently he finds my existence annoying and he wishes I would disappear. He is obedient when I am closely surveying him, but escapes the first chance he gets. He has an extraordinary high IQ (119) and yet is extremely social phobic and rarely leaves his room, we force him to get out of the house for 30 minutes a day to play with the neighborhood children. He is diagnosed with sensory integration disorder, which means that there shalt not be any disorder in our lives. 

He has one or two friends that come in to play with him, but mostly they just sit on the bed and play with him on line, which they could do from across the street. It is unusual and so far only one friend has remained willing to do this type of extreme parallel play. He is terrified that someone is going to touch his back unexpected, really does not want people that are not his immediate family to hug him. The song 'happy birthday' is so grating on his nerves that it will send him into a thermal nuclear meltdown. He does not listen to music, he hate for the volume to be up too loud, and will use headphones to muffle ambient sounds in the house. Going to the park is very hard for him, the wind on his skin is extremely difficult, as is water from a shower. 

He is orally tactile defensive, and so his diet and menu have not changed in 11 years. Rigid routine are paramount. We have the same food on the same day of the week without fail. If it is not something that is for that day, he simply will not eat. Sunday is stuffed crust cheese pizza, Monday is hot dogs, Tuesday is tacos, Wednesday is tomato soup and grilled cheese, Thursday is spaghetti, Friday is fish sticks, and Saturday is crepes. Bacon / toast / pancakes for breakfast. Ham and cheese or pbj for lunch. A smoothie for snack each day. And a gallon of milk a day. I worry about his health on a daily basis. It is a good day when I can get 600 calories in him.

Now that I am caring for / raising my three grand kids, that makes my life just a little bit more challenging. Jordan is 5 and learning sight words and could be dyslexic or left handed, it is early to tell. Lily is almost 2 and is extremely bright and just need more one on one time and she could be reading sight words as well. Rose at 5 months is a sweet baby and an old soul. She is most likely the least dramatic in the family and most likely to have her nose in a kindle all day. She is already crawling, sitting up, and just into everything. The keep the house hopping all day long.

Once upon a time I went to college, I got a degree in Natural Resource Management in Forestry, a Minor in Geology, with an emphasis in Geographic Information Systems (computer cartography). My first job out of College was publication editor for a magazine. This is when I met my husband online.  He was the European expert in pcmcia technology and I was writing an article and needed his help. We were married the next year. But I really fell in love with Photography so that was my main business career since 2002, until all the kids started to need more of my time. I have not picked-up a camera in 4 months since the girls come to live with me. I miss it, but there is just not enough time for portraits and that makes my husband sad. It puts all the strain of feeding 9 people on him alone. And there are days that he wishes we did not have the family motto: 

When someone needs help,

You give it

Whether it is convenient or not. 

Today was the 14^th time my husband forgot our anniversary. I guess he is content that he made the right choice.

I blog about homeschooling Magnus: http://magnusleeamundsen.com

I blog about homeschooling Erik: http://erikcameronamundsen.com

I blog about Jordan: http://jordanjasonmiles.com

I blog about Lily: http://lilliannpatriciapester.com

I blog about Rose: http://rosaleedawnpester.com

I blog out my struggles with weight at http://wretchedheathen.com

with a population of five children under 12 years old living in my house, most days I wonder where did all the rum go.

snap-lifted

Basic No-Knead Bread
slightly adapted from Jim Lahey’s My Bread

2 2/3 c. cool water
1/2 t. instant or active-dry yeast
1 T Local Honey
6 cups bread (recommended) or all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface
1 t. salt

In a large bowl, combine the flour, yeast, and salt. Add the water and stir until all the ingredients are well incorporated; the dough should be wet and sticky. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Let the dough rest 10 hours on the counter at room temperature. When surface of the risen dough has darkened slightly, smells yeasty, and is dotted with bubbles, it is ready.

Lightly flour your hands and a work surface. Place dough on work surface and sprinkle with more flour. Fold the dough over on itself once or twice and, using floured fingers, tuck the dough underneath to form a rough ball.

Lightly flour your hands and a work surface. Place dough on work surface and sprinkle with more flour. Fold the dough over on itself once or twice and, using floured fingers, tuck the dough underneath to form a rough ball.

Generously spray 6-8 quart heavy covered cast-iron Dutch oven with canola oil to prevent the dough from sticking as it rises; place dough seam side down. Cover with the cast iron lid and let rise for about 1 hour, until it has doubled in size.

After about 30 minutes, preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place the 6-8 quart heavy covered cast-iron Dutch oven, in the oven bake for 40 minutes, until a deep chestnut brown. The internal temp of the bread should be around 200 degrees. You can check this with a meat thermometer, if desired.

Remove the bread from the pot and let it cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.

it is BEAUTIFUL every time.

oops, forgot this on the counter, went grocery shopping, still worked out great, even though it has been brewing for 20 hours and smelled like beer. ;)

Why is the rum gone?

http://youtu.be/FTi40w0nLgo

http://youtu.be/_xR0h6FGCBY

http://youtu.be/_xR0h6FGCBY

It is Complicated

I have a couple of blogs that I post on, a lot
http://www.magnusleeamundsen.com
http://www.erikcameronamundsen.com
and for healthy eating and crazy household management and general venting:
http://www.wretchedheathen.com

my kids: (that is complicated)
(here)
Rose (25 Feb 2012) Drooler (inherited)
Lily (17 Nov 2010) DIVA (inherited)
Jordan (14 Feb 2007) K in B&M (inherited)
Magnus (27 Jun 2001) 6th TXVA [SID]
Erik (29 Sep 1999) 7th TXVA
Jasmine (25 Sep 1985) Junior Online College - ElemEdu [Bipolar]

(there)
Naomi (7 Dec 1990) graduated [Autistic] (Washington)
Chase (17 Aug 1988) (stray)(Washington)
Krystal (25 Sep 1985) Sophmore Online College - PoliSci (Texas)
Jason (4 Jan 1985) (stray)(Texas)

Bipolar

What it is like... "There is a particular kind of pain, joy, loneliness, and terror involved in this kind of madness. When you're high it's tremendous. The ideas and feelings are fast and furious like shooting stars, and you follow them until you find better and brighter ones, and then you think of even others. Shyness goes, I say the right things and do what is considered awesome and even genius, the power to captivate others I know with certainty. There are interests found in boring people. I am in control; I am in the "IN" crowd, and part of the inner circle. Feelings of ease, intensity, power, well-being, school excellence, and happiness fills my soul. But, somewhere this all changes. The fast ideas are too fast, and there are far too many, overwhelming confusion replaces what was so clear. Memory goes. Humor and interest on friend's faces are replaced by derision and confusion. I feel things going really fast and also people want this and that from me. There is so little time for me. Everything previously moving with the tide is now the tide pulling me out to sea.... I am irritable, angry, frightened, uncontrollable, and sinking in a quicksand in the blackest caves of the mind. You never knew those caves were there. It will never end, for madness carves its own reality into my mind. I hate my own ideas. It goes on and on, and finally there are only other's recollections of your behavior.... your bizarre, frantic, aimless behaviors..... for mania has at least some grace in partially erasing memories. What then after the medications, psychiatrist, despair, depression, and overdose? All those incredible feelings to sort through. Who is being too polite to say what? Who knows what? What did I do? Why? And most hauntingly, when will it happen again? Then, too, are the bitter reminders..... medicine to take, resent, forget, take, resent, and forget, but always to take. Assignments forgotten, tests flunked, explanations due at school, apologies to make, intermittent memories (what did I do?), friendships gone or drained, a ruined family. My stepdad, I love him, I hate him. And always, when will it happen again? Which of my feelings are real? Which of the me's is me? The wild impulsive chaotic, energetic, and crazy one? Or the shy, withdrawn, desperate, suicidal, doomed, and tired one? Probably a bit of both, hopefully much that is neither. I mean, what is the reality of any feeling?"

1/2 a bee

Sonny is gone, but I went over yesterday and found a friend that he had left.

Day One

6:00
finding the time to reflect with a houseful. Find the Spirit
MAKE the time - coffee with a tablespoon of caramel and one of chocolate and pb ice cream
Find the inspiration each day.

7:00
Rose: Diaper
Lily: potty
Jordan: up and dressed - Make bed
Magnus: up and dressed - Make bed
Erik: up and dressed - Make bed

7:30
Rose: bottle of boob juice
Lily: banana and chex
Jordan: frosted wheat
Magnus: frosted wheat
Erik: egg and sandwhich thin

8:00
Rose: diaper
Lily: play with magnetic letters on fridge
Jordan: feed & water dogs
Magnus: mini meeting with dad - daily expectations
Erik: mini meeting with dad - daily expectations

9:00
Rose: tummy time
Lily: coloring
Jordan: handwriting
Magnus: composition - personal narrative
Erik: composition - personal narrative

10:00
Rose: nap
Lily: Play with Jordan
Jordan: Play with Lily
Magnus: Math Tutor
Erik: composition rough draft

The Mad Zodiac

The Mad Zodiac (from Mad Magazine's "Mad for Better or Verse" by Frank Jacobs)

Aries the Ram (Mar. 21 - Apr. 19)
Kazowee! Smash! Bang! Biff! and Bam! No wonder Aries is the ram! The only way his ego thrives Is butting in our private lives; We bolt our doors, but we can't win - The Aries pounds till he gets in; And once he's entered, have no doubt, an atom bomb can't get him out.

Taurus the Bull (Apr. 20 - May 20)
When there's a party you can't stand, You'll find a Taurus right on hand Offending crowds of helpless folks With ancient, dull and endless jokes; To make things worse for one and all, The punch lines he cannot recall; Few things upon this earth can bore us Like the bull of some old Taurus!

Gemini the Twins (May 21 - June 21)
A Gemini is kind and mean, refined and rotten, foul and clean; In other words, we must confess, He's just a schizophrenic mess; But though he's filled with peace and strife, He tries to live a normal life; He'll make a faithful friend and mate - Well, half of him, at any rate!

Cancer the Crab (June 22 - July 22)
It takes most people quite a spell To know a crab-like Cancer well; And when they do, we must confide, They're often sorry that they tried; But though his outlook's gray and grim, It pays to be a friend to him; If so, you'll see his spirits zoom From deep depression up to gloom!

Leo the Lion (July 23 - Aug. 22)
A Leo comes on with a roar, And when he's through, he roars some more; He does this so we'll plainly see That in his world, there's one boss - he! He's glad to share your point of view As long as it is his view, too; If you should cross him, have no fear - The welts will fade within a year!

Virgo the Virgin (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22)
A Virgo will not hesitate To tell you that you're second-rate; For exercise he strains his wits At finding faults and picking nits; At night he murmurs soft and clear, "I love you so, my precious dear;" We know his sentiments are true, For it's himself he's talking to!

Libra the Scales (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22)
From just a brief, initial look, A Libra seems a hopeless schnook; At second glance we soon detect Our first impression was correct; His house is filled with friends who mooch, Who borrow cash, who drink his hooch; Let's hope his giving never ends; We'd hate to see him without his friends!

Scorpio the Scorpion (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21)
If you should see a Scorpio, Then, goodness gracious, say hello! For if his presence you ignore He'll soon declare a private war; However, if you're over-nice, You'll pay an even bigger price; For once he says your friend he'll be, You'll never need an enemy!

Sagittarius the Archer (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21)
A Sagittarius, you'll find, Will say whatever's on his mind; From what he says, we must conclude What's on his mind is pretty crude' He's right at home in drunken brawls, In street-gang fights and free-for-alls; He wishes he could get a job, But who can use a one-man mob?

Capricorn the Goat (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19)
A Capricorn's a hapless goat Who always seems to miss the boat; The shirts he washes end up shrunk; He buys a car; it turns to junk; His life's a roll of endless craps That even fouls up other chaps; Because of his unlucky sign, I couldn't make this last line rhyme!

Aquarius the Water-Bearer (Jan. 20 - Feb. 1)
There's little reason to discuss The fuzzy-brained Aquarius; His mind is in the stratosphere, The rest of him is barely here; Psychiatrists throw up their hands And mutter things about his glands; In truth his problem is clear-cut: He's just a happy, harmless nut!

Pisces the Fish (Feb. 19 - Mar. 20)
The ardent Pisces loves to feel He's one big mass of sex appeal; You'd think by now that he would see The girls who date him don't agree; But though he falls flat on his face, He simply can't give up the chase; No wonder life's a string of crises For the luckless, love-sick Pisces!

mommy wars

I work at home. I work outside of the home. I volunteer. I homeschool.

I think.. yes, your dying to know, it is the word "WORK" that is the hardest part. when I am 'working' regardless of when I am 'volunteering' for scouts, or 'volunteering' at the pb factory, or 'volunteering' for compassionate service, I want the labor that is involved to 'count'.when I am "working" and I am tutoring a child, any child, regardless if it is on skype and that child is 2000 miles away, or in the car and that child is only asking a question, or we are at the kitchen table and I am tutoring, I want recognition that my "time and talent" matter.

When I am "cooking", "cleaning", repotting a plant, teaching my kids about simple or compound interest, closing cost, or even going with my child to 5 different stores to price and quality compare refrigerators, I want my "efforts" to count.

When I am "working" and I have a camera in my face, or I am on the computer until 4 am deciding of two identical images, which one the eyes are just a little more open, or the sun light is reflected just a little bit better, I want that talent to "COUNT"

I wish that I could have a grain of rice for every 'job' that I have done that 'counted' so that when it all comes down to it, and someone says, how many grains of rice do you collect each year, then we all have rice to count. because while most people are truly caring and kind people, we really do not appreciate all the different jobs that each person puts as a priority, but we do want to be respected for every grain of talent that we share.

Even if you do what you do as a gift to your 'employer' it should be respected as a gift of time and talent and held sacred as the gift that it is.

Theory X and Theory Y

I almost caved. I was really close to giving up and giving in, but discovered that another child in our neighborhood got into a spat with my son, sending horribly nasty text messages of the most derogatory nature. My son blocked this child from his phone, and yet dad still wants to send him back to public school to 'teach him' how to deal with that type of people? ahem. let me think about this for 8 seconds.

I know that I stress about academics, I think that most of my issues is that I expect my son to perform on a level that may be a little more advanced than he is capable of because of the nature of TXVA.  I have little faith in myself, I do not relax and go with the flow.  I am a Theory Y personality manager, and he works better with a Theory X. However, I hate dealing with the Theory X managers when they can not coax him to be compliant. I am okay with delegation, they are not. So we continue to butt heads in methodology of education.

Last night was an optimal example, he was sent to bed at 10 pm.  he was instructed he could read until tired, he was playing on his touchpad / phone until 2 am. he was not tired. why? he sleeps until late morning, so his entire schedule is out of sync with what needs to be for function and form in our house.

I am really worried about the transition from tween to teen. he is already exhibiting that 'TEEN' 'TUDE that I really did not appreciate with his sisters.  It would be much easier if he was not so lovable when he is in his pleasant state.  Tigger / Eeyore, I am familiar with and can handle. this Jeckle / Hyde, not so much.

Roasted Chicken Pie Florentine

Prep Time: 25 minutes Cook Time: 30 minutes Makes: 6 servings Ingredients 1 pkg. (two 9-inch) refrigerated pie crusts 2 -3 Chicken Breasts, cubed and grilled 1 medium onion, chopped, carmelized 1 1/4 c. prepared Alfredo sauce, divided use 1 pkg. (10 oz.) Frozen Chopped Spinach, thawed 2 pinchs nutmeg, optional • salt & lemon pepper Instructions Heat oven to 375°F. Press one crust over the bottom of a 9-inch pie pan sprinkle with pinch of nutmeg.   In a skillet, caramelize onions in tsp of olive Oil, Add Chopped chicken with onion and cook until done, add Alfredo sauce. Squeeze spinach to remove all moisture; blend in skillet with chicken & onion.  Season with salt and lemon pepper, to taste. Spread evenly over pie shell sprinkle second pinch of nutmeg.  Place remaining crust over filling and crimp edges together. Cut three, 1-inch slits in top crust. Place aluminum foil over shell, Bake in center of oven 25 minutes, remove aluminum foil, brush with egg wash, return to oven for 10 minutes, or until crust is brown and filling is pippin hot.

Alstroemeria

humble but my favorite flower
Alstroemeria aurea (Peruvian Lily)

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Angiosperms - Monocots
Order: Liliales
Family: Alstroemeriaceae
Genus: Alstroemeria

Alstroemeria Saturne

Alstroemeria aurea (Peruvian Lily)

Alstroemeria ( /ˌælstrɨˈmɪəriə/; syn. Alstremeria),^[1] commonly called the Peruvian Lily or Lily of the Incas, is a South American genus of about 120 species of flowering plants. Almost all of the species are restricted to one of two distinct centers of diversity, one in central Chile, the other in eastern Brazil. Species of Alstroemeria from Chile are winter-growing plants while those of Brazil are summer-growing. All are long-lived perennials except A. (Taltalia) graminea, a diminutive annual from the Atacama Desert of Chile.

Favorite Riddle

You are driving along in your car on a wild, stormy night, it's raining heavily, when suddenly you pass by a bus stop, and you see three people waiting for a bus:

An old lady who looks as if she is about to die.
An old friend who once saved your life.
The perfect partner you have been dreaming about.

Which one would you choose to offer a ride to, knowing very well that there could only be one passenger in your car?

This is a moral/ethical dilemma that was once actually used as part of a job application.

* You could pick up the old lady, because she is going to die, and thus you should save her first; * or you could take the old friend because he once saved your life, and this would be the perfect chance to ! pay him back. *
However, you may never be able to find your perfect mate again...

The candidate who was hired (out of 200 applicants) had no trouble coming up with his answer. Guess what was his answer?

He simply answered:

"I would give the car keys to my Old friend and let him take the lady to the hospital. I would stay behind and wait for the bus with the partner of my dreams."

Sometimes, we gain more if we are able to give up our stubborn thought limitations. Never forget to "Think Outside of the Box."