Distracted

I have not written in quite some time, but I usually tell my one reader, Jason, all of my thoughts anyway, so that I do not have to additionally blog it. But I have so much floating around in my head I have to get it out!

I have many bones to pick with my fellow Americans:

Former Hillary Supporters, turned into McCain Supporters:

You are at the top of my list. I find you the most ridiculous. A few questions: Do you know that the Republicans are the reason we are in this mess to begin with? Have you forgotten how important this election is? Do you realize that Sarah Palin, being a woman, is the only thing she has in common with Hillary Clinton? I thought we, with the support of Hillary, all agreed that which ever Democrat got pushed to the front, is the Democrat we would support. And now look at you, giving your support to a self proclaimed, lipstick-wearing pit bull. For shame!

I agree that Senator Clinton would have been a great Candidate, a historical Candidate, but let's get serious, this election is not about Hillary. It is not about getting a woman into the presidency or vice presidency. It is about US, all of us! Who says Hillary is done and will not have another chance to run for this office in the future. Have you thought of that? Well, have you? The Republicans are laughing at us, as once again we look like the party that can not unite itself!

If you think you are doing Hillary a solid by voting for McCain, let's look at a few key issues about which Hillary Clinton feels strongly: Do you care about "women's health"?- (as Mr McCain put it in air quotes) John McCain does not. Do you care about programs like Head Start? John McCain does not. Do you want the war to end? John McCain does not.

I would like you to ask yourself when you go to cast your vote, What would Hillary do?


Undecided Voters, I'm looking at you.

All I have to say to you is- WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR, decide already and you better make it good!

In California if you have a "Yes on 8" sign on your lawn then you are up next-
I have never understood the argument against gay marriage. I hear people saying that it lessens the value of marriage. How so? I think the divorce rate in this country might lessen the value of marriage, but not more people wanting to be married. If anything it restores my hope that people want to be committed and stick together through thick and thin, and kids and mortgage payments... Whew it is a lot of work.

Now, if you and your other buddies want to outlaw this practice in your own church, go right ahead, no one is going to stop you. Your religion however is not going to rule our country, that's just a little thing in America we like to call the Separation of Church and State, heard of it? Yeah it protects all of us from freaky churches who want to impose their will on all people. It's kinda the reason we are all here and not Anglicans in jolly old England, Cheers!

Sarah Palin-

First of all thank God for Tina Fey for offering comic relief to this ridiculous situation.

Sarah Palin is a token. I was quoted on Twitter as having said she is so token you could take her to Chuck E Cheese and have a real good game of ski ball. Seriously, ladies, is this what the Republicans think they can offer us after having known the likes of Hillary Clinton? Are we supposed to think that this is another giant stop forward for women? I don't think so! Sarah Palin doesn't even know what she doesn't know. And then Ms Palin has the audacity to blame Katie Couric for her own not knowing! If McCain and his people were to speak honestly we would hear them explain the real reason Ms Palin was chosen was that she appeared to be a blank slate, one who could easily memorize McCain's platform and get in line. She's a social climber and most social climbers will sell their souls to get what they are really after, power.

With regards to women who will support Ms Palin for the shear fact that she is a woman I have this to say. I do not want just any woman in the White House, for that matter I do not want just any man in the White House, either. I want a person whose world view is filled with compassion and empathy. I want to see an individual who knows there is life outside of small towns, and there are good people in this country who may not even be Christian- GASP! I am glad to be an American (sometimes) but we are not a perfect nation. We do not exemplify the only way to live on this planet. The kind of enthnocentrism that Sarah Palin possess is thoughtless. She has proven to be both ignorant and fearless- a dangerous combination.

I am losing sleep over this election. I am alternately excited and hopeful, then depressed and fearful. I want us all to vote our conscience and given the guidelines above, I think we may well be on our way!

As for my pick for the president I like Barack Obama because he is a real person. He grew up in the United States as a regular person, with real struggles. As the son of a single mother, a minority in his own town as a child, his life could have taken many different turns. Barack chose to stay the course of the road to success, a choice that is difficult to make, even in far less challenging circumstances. These are the experiences that shape who a person is, forever. He will not forget the families who are struggling all across this country. Let's give our county a chance to heal, it's time to change! Now go VOTE for Barack Obama!

Whew, now I feel better.

The sound of my heart breaking right in half

So I love the Super Nanny, LOVE HER. We have just begun using the 'sleep technique' with Miles as he has been struggling to stay in his big boy bed and fall asleep all alone. He is doing pretty well. This is day two and it only took one hour for him to fall asleep at nap time. That is progress, considering since last night's first attempt took 2 hours. I have faith in you Super Nanny!

Today after his nap I congratulated him on falling asleep in his bed, "just like a big boy". He smiled, hugged me, looked up at me with his big brown eyes, then he said the following:

I said I love you and you went away.

When Jason comes home from work today, I think I will have him help me put my heart back into my chest! I said it before and I'll say it again, best and hardest job EVER!

Ah, Kids today

The other day at the book store, back by the bathrooms Drew saw a strange something, paused, stared a bit and said: "What is that thing for?". It was a pay phone. He quickly decided that it must be used for anyone who needs a taxi cab ride home.

I like that he knows what an iPhone can do but imagines the pay phone to be all but obsolete.

One day he will be embarrased by this, but I have to let it out...

Miles let out a little toot last night while getting dressed after bath time. He looked at me, smiled and pointing to his diaper said "hey Mom I burped in there". Hilarious.

Troubled

I am troubled by a few of things lately.

First I am watching the View, regularly. Not the whole thing, just the 'hot topics', still I know, lame. During said topics Rosie O'Donnell debates issues with one Elisabeth Hasselback. I get crazy watching the two of them. I have been known to talk to the television(yes, while folding laundry, so! ). What troubles me is how a young, college educated, mother of one and one on the way, can defend the acts of this president. I mean what is wrong with her? She defends Mr. Bush like he is a member of her family and we Americans should not have any ill opinions about her crazy uncle or something. She actually said in a time of war we should be more loyal to our president, because he is the president. Someone needs to hit that girl over the head with a swastika. Loyalty? To what exactly? I have had it with her. This is AMERICA. The greatest parts of American history are marked by our inability, as a people, to be loyal in times of moral crisis.

The real heart of this war is what troubles me the most. It seems to me that Ms. Hasselback and other 'loyalists' like her in this country, value American lives more than any other on Earth. Who is suffering in Iraq? Who suffers the most during all times of war? Mothers and children. Some 600,000 civilians in Iraq have been killed. I cringe at the thought of not being able to provide my children with clean water, food, security. And yet thousands of Iraqi people have lived without these basic needs for how long? This is where Hasselback's compassion as a mother should kick in. We mom's are all connected at the heart of our children. We would die for our babies. Iraqi mommies do not feel differently. Why is it OK with her if others suffer so she can continue to live her life uninterrupted? One life is not worth more than another. Period.

I know I should be troubled by the fact that this person bugs me as much as she does, but I find I cannot help myself. She is on television with a microphone and everything, living a privileged life and not asking herself the hard questions. What is this war for? Business. Who is running this war? Business men, filthy rich, lying to our faces, business men. They do not deserve our loyalty, when if anything, they have earned our disdain.

I have been troubled since the moment I heard our president announce the "War on Terror". I remember I scoffed. A war on terror? Someone get that guy a cape and tights. He could have a huge "I" shield across his chest, "I" for IDIOT. Can one rid the world of evil? Not so much. Certainly not with guns. With this president at the helm I feel less safe that I did four years ago. Taking our shoes off at the airport, packing 3ounces or less of any liquid the equivalent of buying bigger locks on your door in a crappy neighborhood. It does not make us more safe, he has worsened our place on this earth and our children's future on this Earth.

I am troubled by the fact that this administration uses fear to control us. Terrorists, terror cells... How dare he and his administration try to scare us, as if men with bombs are just lurking around every corner. Who do you think Iraqi children believe the terrorists to be? The other night I was watching the Daily Show and saw an American soldier fully armed throwing a ball with a child. Am I supposed to feel this image is endearing? Yeah I would love it if a guy covered in weapons wanted to throw a ball around with the boys.

Keep in mind that we are in fact raising the next generation of Iraqi children to also hate Americans. Are we going to rid the world of that evil too? I will not be sending my children to that war.

I am troubled that Rosie is leaving The View because I wonder who will challenge that crazy loyalist and others like her? I understand Hasselback is allowed her opinions, but I hope someone with equally passionate beliefs on the side of truth will also be seated at the table. I know I will probably stop watching the show, but just knowing she and others like her are out there makes me crazy. In my opinion 2008 is WAY too late. Impeachment anyone?

Finally I am troubled about the message that we are sending our kids, those underlying, never have to say out loud because they are so ingrained in our culture messages. War is not OK with me. Hatred is not OK with me. Lying is not OK with me. So why am I standing by as my president attempts erase all of the values I am trying so hard to instill in my children? Loyalty? I think NOT!

Baby Maddie

Last night we got to see Miss Madison Grace for the first time who was three days old and just as cute as can be. At just over six pounds she is just a sweet little pea! Jason and I were pretty emotional, seeing one of dearest friends holding her first baby.

I was thinking how amazing babies and their mommies are in those first few days. I , even after having lived through two experiences of my own, am still in awe of how life changes in an instant and in so many ways. Babies... You think you have nine months to prepare for something you have wanted your whole life, and then they are really here. For those first few days, life seems to stand still. It is just you and that little creature figuring out life's most basic tasks.

I tried to rush though those days, wanting to feel normal again, until I realized normal needed a new definition. Now it seems silly to me that I wanted to move so fast. I did not realize it then, but motherhood is just not that way. Today for example we made it to the park and I have done some laundry.... that will about do it!

Looking at my dear friend and her precious little one made me realize that I think I really am all done having my babies. Sometimes I wish I could go back to those first few days where the world is at a stand still. A day that I could just sit and stare at my boys and listen to their little coos. Amazing. I think I could never get enough. It is just a precious moment that passes too quickly. So I will savor the memories, I guess. Lucky for me, my friends and family are not done having babies so I may just get in a few more precious cuddles.

AHHHHHHH

That is the sound most often uttered in my home these days. Drew, now three years old, is really sowing his oats and can often be heard yelling NOOOO at us for any number of reasons. Miles, at five months, is a very happy and mellow guy but he is still a baby and he has his own moments where he simple needs to be held or else AHHHHH.

I myself utter my own screams, silently in my head of course, as I try to traverse the path of raising two boys. For example the other day Drew who is also beginning to use the toilet had not quite made it in time and pooped on the floor! Gross, but good effort. Drew was upset because there was poop every where. In my attempt to clean up the poop and calm Drew down a bit I had to lay Miles on the carpet who then rolled over and began to cry. Then the phone rang. AHHHHHH!

Most days, however are not like this. I have two very beautiful babies who are healthy and so far they love each other. Miles is already eating solid food and sleeping a good amount. He could not be any sweeter. Drew loves to make him laugh and just yesterday he stuck his own thumb into Miles' mouth to help him stop crying.

So although I have found this transition tough I would not change a thing. My new mantra is I am going to do the best that I can. Perfect is for weird Desperate House Wives characters.

I must confess though the other day somebody asked me if we were ready to have more babies...I just looked at them straight in the eyes and said: AHHHHHHH!