goody for you: something sweet to eat

Growing families and infertility

2011-04-17T22:47:00.001-05:00

While I am finished having babies, my sisters-in-law and brothers have helped fill the "baby void" in my life. I am happy with two children--never wanted any more or any less--but I love babies. Now I get to live vicariously through other family members who are just starting their families (or who started within the past few years).

The latest addition is my niece, who was born just over three weeks ago. She is the second child for my sister-in-law and her husband whose son is now 2-1/2 years old. Both of their children were adopted through domestic, open adoption. Their baby girl came from a young, unwed college student and her boyfriend. They were not ready for children because both are committed to getting their education. They made the ultimate sacrifice by giving the gift of their daughter to a family who could not have their own biological children. Their son's birth mother was on her own and made a choice to give up her son to a family who could take better care of him than she could. She, too, made the ultimate sacrifice and gave the gift of her son.

On my side of the family, I have two nieces. One is the result of IVF, the other an open, domestic adoption. My nieces are six months apart so are very much like sisters rather than cousins. My adopted niece has two older half-siblings who still live with their mother. My niece is the result of a one-night-stand, and came at a time when her birth mother could barely take care of the two children she had, let alone a newborn. She gave her third child up for adoption so her daughter could have a better life with a family who desperately wanted a child.

I am an avid supporter of reproductive rights. I am pro-choice, pro-birth control, and pro-family. That being said, I am grateful to the three women who chose to carry their pregnancies to term then give the babies up for adoption. Those three babies are now part of my extended family.

What I have to emphasize here is that each of these women had a choice. There are also women who make other choices when faced with unplanned pregnancies. Many choose to terminate their pregnancies while many others choose to raise the child themselves. Each of these women can make choices for herself. It should not be up to lawmakers to decide for these women what is best for the women. It also should not be up to any of us to judge women for the choices they make for themselves.

That is all...just wanted to get that off my chest.

IASIP (Charlie Day is my fave)

2011-04-04T22:01:00.004-05:00

For those who are not aware of that acronym, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. If you haven't watched it, you should. Right now it's in reruns every Monday night for two hours (9 to 11 EDT, or 8 to 10 CDT) on Comedy Central. It's an FX original and it's funny as shit.

Frank, Dennis, Sweet Dee, Mac & Charlie

Check it out here:

It's as wrong as wrong can be for a basic cable show. The word shit is used often, as is asshole and goddammit. Oh yeah, son of a bitch and dick are also tossed about, along with various tenses of the verb bang, so it's not for prudes. If you have a good, sick sense of humor and you have not seen it, please do yourself a favor and watch it.

It's about two siblings--twins actually--Dennis and Dee and their "dad" Frank, along with Charlie and Mac. Together they own Paddy's Pub. They are shallow, manipulative, narcissistic, and drunk. Tune in if you know what's good for you. Season 7 starts filming in about a month, so come September you will find brand new episodes. Until then, watch Monday nights or buy the DVDs.

Dennis, Mac, Charlie & Dee at Paddy's Pub

Getting it together

2011-04-03T22:10:00.000-05:00

I recently resigned from a part-time job with a local non-profit organization. After I graduated with my B.A. last spring, I searched for the "perfect" job within the non-profit sector. I took the job because it was a part-time, grant-funded, one-year gig. It sounded like a great opportunity for me to learn, gain a great deal of experience, start from the ground up, prove my abilities, network, and move on to the next gig. Well, it didn't turn out to be quite what I was hoping it would be.

It was with a well-established and highly respected organization. I worked for a fantastic supervisor and many wonderful co-workers. But my heart was just not in it. I figured it out about three months into the job but thought I would just work through the difficulties and come out stronger for it. I lasted another three months and I resigned. I just didn't have the freedom I thought I would have with the project I was hired to work on, thereby eliminating any sort of first hand experience I was hoping to gain.

While this may sound petty, I don't believe it was. I was hired to do a job and I felt I was prevented from doing the job for which I was hired. I was trusted to take the lead on a special project but I seemed to be second-guessed on many of the decisions I made. At this point in my life, it just was not worth it. I am fortunate enough to have the option to work or stay home, so I chose the latter. Until I find something that I am passionate about, I am opting to organize my home and my life.

Even working part-time made things difficult to keep things in order at home. I am a good worker, writer, employee, subordinate, organizer...however you want to label it. I'm good at what I do and I strive for perfection. If I don't have the ability to show that with my work, then why would I want to stick around?

The most divisive issue in America

2011-03-31T23:16:00.000-05:00

Wow. It has been over 18 months since I last posted. I have been a busy, busy lady but I am ready to spend more time posting about things that matter to me.

First up: abortion. Yeah, I am going there. I just saw a video on YouTube featuring an Indiana Republican suggesting that women would "fake" incest or rape in order to obtain an abortion. Yes, you read that correctly.

No offense, but a woman who would lie about either incest or rape has much bigger issues than simply obtaining an abortion. A procedure which, by the way, is legal in this country as decided by the Supreme Court over 40 years ago.

I can't even come up with the words to express my outrage. How this man could suggest such a thing is not only shameful, but immoral in my opinion. Some people seem to think a woman just decides one day to go get an abortion, much like she decides to go shopping or get a pedicure or color her hair or call her mother. An abortion cannot be an easy choice to make, but it is a choice. A choice for a woman, her partner, and her doctor. It is nobody else's business, so butt out unless you are one of the three aforementioned.

Watch the video here:

Instead of bitching, give us your solution!

2009-09-17T17:00:00.000-05:00

I keep hearing from my conservative friends, whom I respect very much, about how government-run health care is not an option. They keep making ridiculous claims of "socialism," or they shout, "Give us our country back!" Yet, none of them seems to have an answer about how to address this very real problem. They don't seem to want to give President Obama a chance, and would rather moan and groan about his "socialist policies" than actually provide a legitimate solution to the problem.

I am not suggesting I have a solution, because I do not. Nor am I suggesting we hard-working Americans pay to insure every low-life, lazy ass person who expects the government to take care of them. They are the exception to the rule. There are far more hard working Americans with good paying jobs who simply cannot afford to pay for private or employer-sponsored health care than there are leeches who suck the system dry.

Premiums and co-pays continue to rise, yet we see our doctors for shorter and shorter periods of time. I literally wait in the waiting room for an hour and actually see my doctor for less than five minutes. Is that supposed to be quality health care? I think not.

Additionally, we currently do not have a choice in the insurance my husband's employer provides for our health care benefits. We either go with the program the employer chooses, or we're on our own. That is not a good option.

So why is everyone so up in arms about a public option? It would give all Americans an equal opportunity to get insurance to cover medical expenses. Why should a middle or upper class citizen have more access than one living below the poverty line? Is there no compassion left in this country? I just don't get it. If you have a better idea, either put up or shut up.

Rush wants to save penises from Obama

2009-08-25T17:32:00.000-05:00

Wow, just when I thought I heard Rush Limbaugh say every crazy thing imaginable, he goes and says this to rapper Jay-Z, who mentions the conservative radio talk show host in a new song:

If we need to save our penises from anybody, it's Obama.

Limbaugh is referring to his assertion that President Obama wants to mandate circumcision. Listen here.

Gimme a break--I sure deserve it!

2009-06-01T19:42:00.000-05:00

Good grief, I need a break. My husband is on another continent right now and won't return for another three days. Keeping the kids entertained, fed, clothed, and happy has been a challenge for the last week since he left. It came to a head earlier tonight:

"Mom, can I have some candy?"
"No, not right now."
"You said I could have some candy! Don't you want me to be happy? Do you want me to cry?!"

Then I got smacked on the ass by the child in question. WTF?! Have they forgotten who's in charge here? You'd think they were deprived. All I know is, as soon as Daddy is back in town, Mommy is going out with her girlfriends for a mani/pedi and some drinks!

Surviving another semester

2009-05-07T22:16:00.000-05:00

I can hardly believe it myself. I made it through an 18-credit-hour semester and did not lose my sanity in the process! I cannot begin to express how happy I am that the semester has ended and I have over three months off. Well...off school, anyway. I still have the kids to entertain all summer, but we'll all have fun together. All they want me to do is play "Wario Land Shake It" on the Wii...the gaming console I have neglected over the past nine months. Instead of that, I think I will fire up "Wii Fit."

I hope to post more here this summer. In the fall, I will be taking some tough classes--but only 13 credit hours this time. That will make things better for me, at least I hope so anyway. I added an elective course this time--yoga! I hope to get back into a regular practice long before then, but either way I will have no excuse not to practice yoga at least twice a week for an hour and a half.

Mom needs to take better care of herself!

2009-03-13T22:09:00.000-05:00

I am referring to myself here, because I have been neglecting myself in pursuit of other things (kids' stuff, my studies, husband's business traveling, my mom, the dogs, the house...the list goes on and on). It seems I am busy all the time!

I have been on spring break this past week, so I made my routine appointments. Dentist, doctor, eye exam, and so forth. I weigh in at the doctor and BLAM! Hit me like a ton of bricks. Since I started back to school about three years ago, I have put on 25 pounds! What did I give up when I went back to school, you may ask? Yoga.

Yoga kept me in better shape and kept my weight down. After I had my son six years ago, I not only lost the baby weight but I lost more. I was thinner then than I was when I got married! And it was thanks to two things: chasing after a little boy (once he started crawling) and YOGA!

For those who have never tried yoga and think it's not worth anything, you have no idea what you're talking about. Yoga is an amazing physical and mental exercise...honestly the only exercise I ever looked forward to doing. I used to go to yoga class regularly and also practiced at home (I have several DVDs, mostly Gaiam-produced). The DVDs are currently collecting dust in the media cabinet where I keep them.

I know the solution to my problem. I need to get away from this computer and start moving! My eating habits are basically the same (no fast food [too gross to even think about]; home-cooked, low fat meals; fruits and vegetables [I love veggies]; no red meat--just chicken breast or fish; no fried foods). However, I tend to snack late at night when I am up doing homework. I wait till the kids are off to bed to study, and then I snack on crackers or pretzels while I work. Not a good idea. I have to keep grapes or bananas in the house at all times if I am going to lose this weight! Carbs are my weakness...oh, and chocolate.

So...wish me luck. I have to figure out a way to treat myself to 30 minutes of yoga every day without taking away what little sleep I get or slacking on my studies. Let's see, now...where did I put that Rodney Yee DVD?

I have sinned: it's been six weeks since my last blog post

2008-12-17T21:55:00.000-06:00

Boy, have I ever been busy! I wrapped up my semester this week, turning in a paper on Tuesday. After that, I grocery shopped (bare cupboards) and today I wrapped presents for my kids. Santa is being pretty generous again this year.

So what about W dodging the shoe? How funny was that??? I mean, yes, it was an assault on the President of the United States. I get it. Yet, I can't stop laughing about it. It reminds me of playing Wii Fit, trying to dodge the soccer cleats and panda heads. I get whacked by those freakin' cleats every time I play.

So, what else will I do with my time? I finally started the David Sedaris book I borrowed from my best friend, Christine...oh, let's see...about a year ago. Me Talk Pretty One Day...you should check it out. Very funny stuff. I also plan to get rid of a lot of shit I have accumulated over the past few months (years) and move my desk downstairs. Right now, it's in the bedroom and it's a catch-all for all my crap. I am unorganized enough as it is, so getting rid of the clutter will help to calm things down around here. Maybe...

The kids have two more days of school until they are off for TWO WEEKS. Holy moly, I have to keep them entertained for two weeks. Wish me luck. I have a full month off (woo hoo!) so I really hope I can do a little sewing, a lot of reading, and a whole lot of house cleaning. This place needs a good scrub.

Thank you, America, for an Obama victory

2008-11-06T21:18:00.000-06:00

WHEW!!! I am so glad this is over. Now we have some time to breathe, at least for two years until it starts all over again.

I am so grateful that we have elected Barack Obama as our 44th president. I cannot wait until January 20, 2009, when he takes over in the driver's seat. Too bad he is inheriting a clunker, with bald tires, a hole in the muffler, and a busted transmission. President-Elect Obama has a lot of work to do to fix up this vehicle we call democracy so we can get ourselves back on the right track.

I can once again believe the United States is admired abroad. I truly believe the results of this year's election made the rest of the world look at us in a whole new light. Believe what you want, but it matters what other nations think of us. What we do in the U.S. has a profound effect on nations worldwide. If we do not have the respect of our own allies, imagine what our "enemies" think? Now that we are getting some of that credibility back, things will look better everywhere.

Sure, maybe I am looking at this with rose-colored glasses. But I have to! Otherwise, I will drive myself mad and turn into a bitter, cynical, crabass. I'm already crabby enough when I haven't had my coffee, so nobody wants that. I have to look at this in a positive light because, based on this country's violent history of slavery and oppression, I am finally seeing the old die-hard racism fading as citizens age. They are starting to die off, and that has been shown in the statistics of who voted for Obama and who did not. The demographic breakdown speaks for itself.

We are not there yet, and maybe we never will be in my lifetime, but every little step we take to end racism and prejudice in this country will make us all better off.

Gateway to Change

2008-10-18T21:51:00.000-05:00

Barack Obama made an appearance Saturday in St. Louis under the world famous Gateway Arch. Here is a sample of what you missed if you were not there. About 100,000 people came to see him, and another 75,000 saw him later that afternoon in Kansas City. He is amazing.

VP debate, SNL style

2008-10-06T15:59:00.000-05:00

I missed it live, but Saturday Night Live - or rather, Tina Fey - nailed it once again. Her impersonation of Sarah Palin is perfect, almost eerie. She even has the dialect and accent down. In case you missed the show, you can watch it on NBC's website. Here ya go:

SWAP or WASP, we are all anti-Palin!

2008-09-23T22:32:00.000-05:00

If you will be in the St. Louis area on October 2nd, and you are pissed off about the way Republicans have flushed our country down the toilet, then you may want to join us for our anti-Palin rally. It will be held prior to the Vice Presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis.

The idea is that a group of women who do not support Palin will make a big statement to the GOP that we are not stupid enough to fall for their obvious attempt to gain white women voters. The bottom line is that most women cannot relate to Palin because she is not a pro-woman candidate. At first we wanted to use the acronym WASP: Women Against Sarah Palin. For our unmarried friends, we have SWAP: Single Women Against Palin. Hey...I never claimed to be creative.

I am flabbergasted by the decision to put Palin on the Republican ticket. At first, it got a lot of people fired up, thinking she was the cat's meow. As we learn more and more about her, about her policies, about her ideals, and about her lack of ethics and experience, we should not only be alarmed, we should be adamant about keeping John McCain out of the White House!

This is so important to me that I am delaying a weekend out of town in order to attend this rally. If you want your voice heard, then you have to make some noise!

What year is this?

2008-09-20T18:36:00.000-05:00

I had to check my calendar today to make sure it was the year 2008. A new survey conducted by CBS News suggests that there are people who will not vote for Barack Obama simply because of his race. I must live in a bubble or something...are people really this prejudiced? I mean, I know there are plenty of racists to go around. But is this seriously a concern for these people?

First and foremost, this is a non-issue. I don't care what race he is; Mr. Obama is the person that I will be voting for because I think he is qualified. But here's what puzzles me. Don't these morons realize that Mr. Obama is half white? Why is it the "black" part of him that makes them turn against him? I have yet to hear about an African American voter who will not vote for Obama because he is half white. I guess there may be a portion of the African American populace that will stay at home on election day because of this...but not like the redneck whites mentioned in the article.

Not only is it now embarrassing to be an American, given who is running the country right now, but it is becoming more and more embarrassing to be white.

Liar, liar, pants on fire

2008-09-12T20:25:00.000-05:00

I have been posting quite a few things about the GOP lately, and luckily they are giving me a lot of ammo. As for the vice presidential pick, Sarah Palin...she is an enigma. I cannot figure her out and, for the life of me, I cannot figure out how John McCain (whom I once liked) defends her. I found four articles on four different issues, all centered around questionable if not outright illegal practices of the mayor and later the governor. Check out the Anchorage Daily News website to read various articles on the woman who could be the second most powerful person in the U.S. in the very near future. Some headlines to grab your attention:

Wasilla rape victims billed when Palin was the mayor
It seems that the mayor thought the sexual assault victims should foot the bill for the rape evidence kits. That's one way to show sympathy...I guess.

Palin defends Alaska earmark requests
She defends it while McCain simultaneously denies that she ever requested them! The right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing.

Palin pressured Wasilla librarian
Censorship, plain and simple. Regardless of whether the books were banned, the mayor had the prudence to plan ahead "if the need arose."

Todd Palin subpoenaed in firing probe
Copying your husband on official state business? Really??? Unless he is your personal secretary, he does not need to be in the loop.

She is crooked and I don't like her. She is the type of person who always knows what is best for everybody else, or at least she thinks she does. Well, Ms. Palin, I don't need Big Brother (or in this case I guess it would be Big Sister) telling me what I can or cannot do. Preach to your family but leave everyone else out of it.

Just the facts, ma'am

2008-09-11T22:01:00.000-05:00

If you are at all confused about political ads and whether or not they are misleading, then you may want to educate yourself on the facts. What a novel idea! Please visit FactCheck.org to set the record straight.

This is a non-partisan group that examines the ads and researches the various claims made by both major presidential candidates. Both sides are guilty of misleading ads, and the information on the site will help voters clear things up. The best post on the site so far is this one, regarding how the McCain/Palin ticket used a FactCheck.org post out of context in an ad attacking rival Barack Obama.

If issues matter to you and you want to know where each candidate stands on particular issues, then be sure to check out the 2008 Election coverage on ProCon.org. This is another non-partisan group that helps analyze the candidates and the positions they have chosen on the issues of interest to most voters. This site can help you make an educated decision before you head to the polls on November 4th.

Don't become a pawn in this political game. Educate yourself on the facts and vote for the candidate who doesn't depend on lies in an attempt to scare the masses. If you read my last post, you know who I am voting for this year.

Excuse me, sir, do you have change?

2008-09-11T21:23:00.000-05:00

So here we are, fully engulfed in another political season. November 4th cannot get here fast enough! It looks like the theme this year on both major tickets is "change," yet I am troubled by the Republican ticket using (ahem, stealing) this motto.

McCain and Palin are touting change...we need to revamp Washington, get rid of the irresponsible public servants who have been at the helm for so long, who have corrupted our system of government. Mitt Romney even said that we only have liberals in Washington! Is he kidding??? He is so full of shit it's coming out his ears. Everything he said is bullshit, telling the Republican delegates what they want to hear, not what is true. I thought lying was a sin, Mr. Romney. On second thought, you might want to check the Constitution...the Bill of Rights is a real eye-opener, Mitt!

Has the Republican party forgotten who has been running the joint for the past nearly eight years? It's only been the past two years that there has been a Democratic majority in Congress yet the GOP is acting as if we went to hell in a hand basket in just these two years!! Are they fucking kidding? Have they forgotten the filibustering done by the Republicans and the vetoes by Dubya? WTF is going on here?

The thing that scares me most is that the voters in Podunk, U.S.A. are the ones who put these clowns in office...and have the power to do it again. I am talking about the evangelicals, the conservative Christian right, the prejudiced, ignorant, uneducated morons who will vote for McCain/Palin "because she is so pretty" and not vote for Obama "because he is black." Also - and this one really gets my goat - they believe that pro-choice is the same as pro-abortion. Well, it's not the same. And if you paid any attention at all the last eight years, you would want to vote for somebody who can bring something different than the status quo. Let's not have a third term for the Bush administration. Now that would be change.

Vote Obama/Biden on November 4th. Let's get some stuff accomplished...for a change.

This is why I love Jon Stewart

2008-09-04T19:38:00.000-05:00

Boy, do I love it when I see evidence of flip-flopping in the Republican party! In case you missed it, you must watch this video from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, aired Wednesday night (9/3). You will see Karl Rove, Bill O'Reilly, and others contradicting themselves regarding the issues centered around Sarah Palin and her family. My favorite is O'Reilly's comments...he is such a jackass. This is beyond hypocrisy, really. And before you get bent out of shape, the Democrats flip-flop, too...it's just so much more fun to catch some of the righties doing it!!!

Hypocrisy hits the GOP...again

2008-09-01T22:15:00.000-05:00

It's all set for November...Obama/Biden and McCain/Palin. I could not be more thrilled about Barack Obama's choice for veep, Joe Biden. He has been one of my favorites in the Senate for a while...he says what he thinks and does not tip-toe around the issues like so many politicians who are afraid to say or do the "wrong thing" in the eyes of the voters. Anyway...I am equally thrilled about the choice McCain made with Sarah Palin. She seems to be a real piece of work, to say the least. Seems to me that she is bringing a lot of baggage to McCain's campaign, baggage that the Republicans do not want or need. Yet somehow the news of Mrs. Palin's daughter being knocked up is no big deal to the conservatives who so desperately want to shield America's children from sex education (e.g. birth control, condoms, etc.). Wow, that is amazing!

I seem to remember in recent history a man who was the Vice President of the U.S., the one-and-only Dan Quayle, who stated in reference to the fictional television character Murphy Brown,

"It doesn't help matters when primetime TV has Murphy Brown—a character who supposedly epitomizes today's intelligent, highly paid, professional woman—mocking the importance of fathers, by bearing a child alone, and calling it just another 'lifestyle choice'"

(1992, as quoted in Wikipedia, 2008).

So a 17-year-old unwed girl gets knocked up by her boyfriend, but since her mother is running for Vice President it is okay, since she plans to marry the father and "keep the baby" (god, I hate that phrase...what does that mean?). Where is the logic? You can't pick and choose which impregnated unwed girl is better than another impregnated unwed girl. Frankly, this is nobody's business but Bristol Palin's but the media have to have an angle here so they are going to hound this girl and her family mercilessly. All I can say is leave the girl alone and stop being so damn hypocritical. If Barack Obama had a teenage, pregnant daughter then it would be considered immoral. Am I right or am I right?

It's a small world after all

2008-08-28T21:05:00.000-05:00

I am convinced that there are truly six degrees of separation between any two people. Pick any two people and somehow they can be connected within six other people. It works for Kevin Bacon so it must work for everyone else. This is why I am convinced...

My daughter started 3rd grade this week and is a student in Mrs. B's class (my son has Mrs. B as well, but a different Mrs. B). Anyway, I started classes this week, too, as a junior in college. I have a professor named Mr. B so I asked him if he was related to a Tracy B. He replied, "Yes, I am." I then asked him how they were related and he said, "She's my wife." I could not believe it! I told him about my daughter being in his wife's 3rd grade class this year. How incredibly weird is that?! When I told my daughter about it, she almost started to cry because she was so excited that our teachers are married to each other. She thinks it is super cool. I joked with her that Mr. and Mrs. B will probably talk about us during dinner time, just like my daughter and I will talk about Mr. and Mrs. B. Luckily, both of our teachers seem to be incredibly nice so it should make an interesting few months for us.

The night before kindergarten (and 3rd grade and junior year)

2008-08-24T22:32:00.000-05:00

My kids are headed back to school tomorrow (and so am I) and they are so excited to go, especially my son who is entering kindergarten. My daughter is jazzed to see all her friends again on a daily basis as we never seem to have enough opportunities during the summer to see everyone. My son is excited beyond words because he will have his favorite teacher, the same one my daughter had when she was a kindergartener. Tonight, we all read The Night Before Kindergarten together and we will all head to the elementary school tomorrow with new backpacks, packed lunch boxes and tons of school supplies. I have the camera ready to take lots of pictures and I have the tissues ready for all the tears - both sad and happy - that I will shed. I can't believe my baby is in elementary school already, yet I am elated that he finally is! It will make my life much easier now that both kids are in the same school during the same hours. I have my classes scheduled around their school days so I am all set this year. As for me, I have a jump start on my classes...reading textbooks and taking notes like a true nerd. Yes, I am a great student and it has turned me into one of those geeks with color-coded notebooks and highlighters in every shade imaginable. My husband laughs at me but I know that he is proud of all of the students in our family...especially our kindergarten boy!

UPDATE: Monday morning, 8/25

My son was so excited to start kindergarten that he got up in the middle of the night, got dressed in his school clothes, and went back to bed. When we woke him up this morning he was fully dressed (except for shoes). We got the kids off to school today and he is on a cloud right now. Now it's time for me to shove off because I have class in 45 minutes...

Jesus and the workplace don't mix

2008-08-21T22:30:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, my husband had an encounter with a man who claimed that Jesus sent him to "spread the word" to P (my hubby)...and this encounter happened at work. WTF!!!

This is my husband's email to his boss after the encounter. I sent this on to a couple of friends who are mental health professionals and both have said that this is a sort of "warning sign" of something worse to come. Names/locations have been replaced with dashes:

I just had one of the weirdest and most uncomfortable experiences at work - ever. Sitting here getting my day started someone comes up behind me, "Hey ----, I wanted to give you a message..." I thought it was ---- since he was speaking with a low voice, but no, it was some guy who works at ---- who I said hello to in the hallway when I walked in, but I didn't recognize him as anyone I have ever met. He had a ---- badge, but I couldn't see the name, he wore a white tshirt, jeans with a walkie-talkie on the pocket, and looked to be in the maintenance division - I'm guessing more building than garden. Anyway he told me that god had told him to come by and give me this message (insert flashing red light here), something about the meaning of life. He proceeds to crouch down and pull out a small piece of paper with the message on the top, and 3 tabs on the bottom labeled 1, 2 and 3. At this point I'm trying to be polite, he explains the first part, but I'm more trying to understand what's going on, or where the hidden camera is filming my reaction. He covers the basics like jesus is the son of god, god loves me and the way to heaven is through jesus (note that he didn't ask me if I wanted to go to heaven, which I think is completely presumptuous, but I digress). At the end he told me that he just wanted to share this with me like I could share things with him, like he could share directions to his house with me and I could share mine with him. I'm not sure if this was a metaphor for his sharing or a suggestion that I tell him where I live, regardless my patience had run out. At this point I'm just staring at him trying to decide how I want to end this. He was either at the end of his sermon or sensed I was, so he got up thanked me and left.

Anytime I've only had 1 cup of coffee in the morning I'm not 100% there yet, and while I wouldn't have been critical or engaged him in a debate, I would/should have told him I wasn't interested as I've unfortunately had to do before. I guess since I was at work and he's an employee here I felt like I shouldn't be rude. Regardless, I'm no more enlightened but a bit more peeved than I was before I talked to him; do I really look like that much of a sucker that you can just come up to me and tell me what I should think about such things?! I can only assume I'm the one he picked to fulfill his quota for the day. While I'm glad he thinks he has the answers for his life, I've already figured mine out for myself. Of course I would never be as brash to tell others to agree with what I think about the The Answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything is, so I don't think I would have brought that up, but still, dude should keep for Sunday, or at least when he's not at work if you know what I mean. If they figure out who this guy is I would like HR to explain this to him, and I would like the opportunity to drop him an email explaining my above points. Let me know how I should follow up with this, I'm actually getting a bit more pissed as I drink more coffee.

So...how would you react to such an encounter? I told my husband that he should have given the dude directions to the freeway and told him to jump in front of the first semi he saw, insisting that Jesus would save him. I'm sorry but people like this are real assholes. Save it for your church buddies who give a rat's ass because I DON'T!

Cancer sucks

2008-08-21T22:17:00.000-05:00

I just learned today that my best friend's father has been diagnosed with thymus cancer, a very rare cancer of an organ that, until today, I had never even heard of. Last year, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. I am happy to report that her mom is in remission and is doing very well after a lumpectomy and radiation therapy. Her mom is a fighter...always has been...and does not bow to anything. But her dad? Not so much. I am worried...

You see, I have been friends with Christine since the first grade. I should mention that the first grade for me was over three decades ago...yikes! At one point during our high school years, I even lived with Christine and her parents. It's a really long story that I will write about one day in another medium...so when I am ready to publish the book you will learn all about that. Bottom line is, her dad has been my dad in many ways. Her dad was more of a father to me than my own father was. In fact, Jack was the first dad to ever discipline me and set some limits...unlike my own father who wanted nothing to do with me or my brothers. But I digress...

I really hope Jack pulls through this and that he still has a few years left in him. I don't know what Christine will do without her Daddy and I really don't know was C and B will do without their PawPaw. This really sucks.

ATHF fan by association

2008-08-12T19:05:00.000-05:00

I am not sure why but my husband is a big fan of Aqua Teen Hunger Force, the very strange cartoon that runs on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. Because he likes the show so much, I surprised him with DVDs from the first two seasons for a gift last Christmas. Somehow I became addicted to the show...it runs during my down time when I am ready for bed but not quite ready to go to sleep. I watch it before I finally shut off the television even though I should go to sleep at least an hour earlier. It is the most F'd up show I have ever seen but I love it. Carl is my favorite, of course. I love the flashback scenes when he has hair...actually a mullet, to be more precise. I also love the show Squidbillies with the big cheese Dan Halen and the caps that Early wears. That is a pretty F'd up show as well, but I absolutely love it. If you are ever bored and need something completely insane to watch, tune into Adult Swim. It will leave you scratching your head but your funny bone will certainly get tickled.

EXTRA! EXTRA! Politicians are cheaters!

2008-08-09T09:44:00.000-05:00

By now we have all heard the news regarding John Edwards and his extramarital affair. It seems that the media is having a field day with this now, saying that his career is kaput and insisting that Barack Obama keep a safe distance from the cheating senator during the upcoming Democratic convention in Denver. Am I the only one who finds this to be ridiculous? If this were the case, there would be no politicians at either convention!

Everyone seems to be forgetting that Obama's opponent, John McCain, had an affair while married to his first wife, cheating on her with his current wife. Oops! I found this commentary on the Huffington Post on this issue and decided to share it. The author, Cenk Uygur, hits the nail on the head.

Me so tired...

2008-08-08T23:14:00.000-05:00

As I mentioned in a previous post, my husband is a computer geek. This is his hobby and his occupation, so he attends DEFCON in Las Vegas every August (at least for the past few years, anyway). He is there now and from there he is off to Canada on business. He would go to DEFCON anyway but somehow it is "job related" so he gets to go on the company dime. Fine by me except that means I have the kids all to myself for the weekend. The timing this year is not the best, either, since he has to go to Canada as well...right after DEFCON. The result: ten days with the kids...by myself.

Please understand that I love my kids more than anything in the world (next to my aforementioned husband, of course). They truly are great kids and they make me laugh, smile, and cry all at the same time. My husband and I made some great babies, that is for sure! (wink) I have to admit, though, those kids drive me up the wall at times. My daughter insists on always getting in the last word (she takes after me) while my son turns on the water works when he does not get his way. I am convinced that boys mature much more slowly than girls because my daughter got over that (at least on a genuine basis) a looooong time ago. She still "cries" in an attempt to make me feel bad but I see right through it. Long story short (too late!) my boy was crying about Daddy being gone, saying things like "He doesn't want to be here with us" and "How can he like his job when it takes him away from us? I want Daddy to rub my back...he's the best and he is the only one who can make me fall asleep." I know first hand that this last statement is not true as my boy fell asleep tonight as soon as he hit the pillow.

To sum things up, I am tired. So why am I still yammering on here? Good night!!!

My latest favorite band: the Shins

2008-08-07T22:12:00.000-05:00

My husband is a geek by trade but he is also a geek by hobby. He loves computers, video games, and music. He has introduced me to many excellent bands, both famous and not-so-famous. He even proposed to me at a Guided By Voices show at Austin's late, great Liberty Lunch in 1997. It gave a whole new meaning to "GBV! GBV! GBV!" to say the least.

Perhaps my favorite band he ever turned me on to is the Shins. He kept talking about the band and told me, "You'd love them." He knows my style...singer/songwriters, great harmonies and melodies, poppy but not really popular. It wasn't until my friend Kelly burned me a copy of the soundtrack for Garden State that I really heard the Shins. Then last year I loaded Wincing the Night Away onto my iPod before going on a trip with my girlfriends and I was hooked. God, they are a great band and have the best songs and harmonies. Once I returned from my trip, I loaded up the rest of the band's repertoire onto my nano so I could let it all sink in. Now I can't get enough of them. I am a Shins addict. Their best song: Australia. A close second (tie): So Says I and Kissing the Lipless. Can't wait to see them once they hit town again...their last show sold out before I even knew about it.

Back to school

2008-08-07T21:54:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year again...back to school. Both my children and I head to school on the exact same day this year, August 25th. My girl will be in 3rd grade while my boy is headed to kindergarten...look out, Mrs. B., he's a handful.

I am starting my junior year in college and I am much older than my classmates. I attend during the day while my kids are in school so I go to class with a bunch of 18-to-22-year-olds who apparently have better things to do than stay awake in class. I have to tell you, if I had gone at 18 I would have blown it off, too. But now that I am going 20 years after I should have gone I take things very seriously. So far I have pulled off an overall GPA of 4.0 and hopefully I will be able to keep up the streak through my last two years. We'll see...

Thankfully, I have a very supportive husband who keeps the kids busy when I have to study. It is tough for him sometimes but he is a good dad and does a lot of fun stuff with the kids. I know he wishes that I could participate in their many outings but I truly love school and I need to have time to myself after being so busy with the kids all the time...even if that time is spent in a library studying. I have been a SAHM (stay at home mom) since my daughter was six months old and it is the hardest job I have ever had. It is also the most rewarding, fun, and exciting job as well.

I'll keep you posted on my grades (and how my kids are doing in school as well). They are both smart and clever so they should be pretty successful in life. As long as they are happy and healthy, that is all that matters to me.

Something's got to give

2008-08-07T17:03:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you but I am sick and tired of the Bush administration and all the crimes they have gotten away with over the past 7+ years. Bush and his cronies have essentially pissed on the Constitution and the Congress has done nothing to stop them.

Take as an example the so-called Patriot Act. When my husband goes through the security check at the airport, he is scolded for not having all his liquid toiletry items in the same quart-sized plastic bag! What difference does it make whether these items are all bagged together or separate? Where's the logic? Additionally, why can't one carry on a sealed bottle of water? It is factory sealed and still has the little plastic cover in place over the top of the bottle! How is this making us more secure? Are there really people out there in this big, scary world who are going to carry out an attack with a Dasani bottle??? Sheesh...gimme a break.

My point is, don't we have bigger things to worry about? How many people has the U.S. government hired to manage airport security checks? I am not saying we don't need security checks; by all means we do. However, how does placing a 3 ounce bottle of shampoo in a plastic baggy make me safer than placing a 3 ounce bottle of shampoo in a toiletry bag? How does it make you safer? All those baggies are not going to get recycled...they will wind up in a landfill with all the rest of our trash. That is what I am more fearful of...

Sweet Sydney Sue

2008-08-07T16:31:00.000-05:00

Recently, my family lost our dear pet dog. Sydney was ten years young and had been fighting canine lymphoma for a year and a half. About a month ago, we discovered that the cancer had spread to her blood...so now she had leukemia as well. At that point we knew we were out of options. My husband and I were with Syd when she was put to sleep. We just hugged her tight and stroked her head until she was gone. It sucked to see her go but we know we did what was best for her.

She was our first dog...we got her about six weeks before our wedding. She became our first "baby" as well. We went to a friend's party and met Sydney there (we named her after the city in Australia and the character on Melrose Place). She was a stray who started following a friend while she was jogging in San Antonio, Texas. Our friend brought the dog home to Austin with her and took her to the party to see if anyone would be interested in taking the pup home. We were interested and the rest is history. We believe she was an Australian Cattle Dog (ACD) otherwise known as a blue heeler. Man, she was a good dog.

Both of our children have always had Sydney around so this was especially difficult for them. We still have two other dogs (we are dog lovers) and they have both adjusted to life without Syd. I still find myself calling for her...I guess old habits do die hard. Rest in peace, sweet Sydney...we miss you.