Princess Mombi's Friendatorium

I'd like for you to meet someone...

2010-06-01T12:40:00.004-04:00

So I've been totally remiss in blogging, but I swear I have excuses--lots of them. Do they make any sense? Probably not. Do they justify a 6 month absense from blogging? Not so much.

Oh well. Hopefully I can make up for that right here and now.

I'd like for you to meet the newest member of our little family, our daughter Lillian, who I'm due with in October:

Estimated due date is October 9th, but it'll be interesting to see when she finally decides to make her arrival. 10/9 is actually 9 months to the day from my due date with Jude (this actually makes me smile for some reason) and the rest of the month is filled with lots of other birthdays and anniversaries, so it'll be interesting to see if she lands on one or is able to carve out her very own date. Some people have asked me if I want to share my birthday (10/18) with her--let me just tell you that if I'm still pregnant on 10/18, I'm probably going to be one huge, uncomfortable pregnant woman BEGGING for her child to make an appearance. LOL

This past Saturday marked 21 weeks, so I'm officially the most pregnant I've ever been. It's kinda funny to think that from here on out it is all new pregnancy territory for me. Lillian started it off with a bang, too--literally! When we were over at my dad's house on Sunday we felt our first "outside kicks" which continue to make me smile and laugh out loud.

I know there will be a point that I just want her to settle down, let me sleep, and the kicks will get painful--but for now I'm just loving every single minute of this.

From our family to yours...

2009-12-20T13:32:00.004-05:00

We'd like to wish you a Merry Christmas!
Click here for video

Holiday volunteering

2009-12-19T11:11:00.002-05:00

So I had some grand plans for holiday volunteering, but the holidays snuck up on me... How on Earth are we careening toward the end of December?

I didn't get my "holiday mail for heroes" cards in the mail early enough. I have a stack that I was too late to send last year that I was going to send this year and when I went to look up the address, I had missed the deadline. Darn it! It's sad that I'll be able to send them next year because these wars will still be going on...

So I'm headed out to spend the day at The Salvation Army's distribution center to hand out gifts. I would imagine that this is going to be a little like working retail during the holidays and less like being one of Santa's little elves, but it's work that needs to be done, so I'm going to go and do it.

We're also forgoing gifts for adults on the in-law side of the family and doing donations instead. We're sending money to the American Cancer Soceity in Lindsy's name.

(And for those wondering, the reason we're not donating to something related to the condition that affected our baby is because it's not something that can be prevented--it's just a random occurrence of nature that somehow very early on, the cells that would have made kidneys never grew. No reason, no treatment, no cure. It just is what it is.)

Maybe after the holidays the family can hook up with another organization to volunteer and give back like with did with Access shelter a few years ago. I just feel like I haven't done enough this year and despite how 2009 has been a bit of a shit sandwich, I am unbelievably grateful for the love and support of our friends and family. We truly do lead charmed lives.

xoxo and happy holidays to all!

We're still standing.

2009-12-15T12:20:00.004-05:00

And sometimes, that's all that you can ask.

I haven't been on here much lately because quite frankly the things have been going on have been things that I haven't wanted to share in such a public venue. I mean, I'm not hiding or ignoring things and if you ask me about it, I'm open to discussing it... But I'm not exactly willing to leave the gory details out on the interwebs to live on forever.

It's been 3 1/2 months since we lost our daughter and while I think we're doing very well under the circumstances, "doing well" in these terms means managing a huge amount of grief and just working through it, day by day. I've had never had anyone very close to me die, so for it to be my own child (even at 21 weeks pregnant) it has been a hard pill to swallow.

When a baby dies (as I'm sure is true with most young people), it's not just the person who dies--it's all of your hopes, dreams, wishes for them and a little bit of your innocence as well. We want to believe that we go when our time comes, when we've learned everything that life can teach us, when we have served our purpose. But quite frankly--that isn't true. Not to me. There is no reason or purpose that makes this right or okay. It just is what it is--a bum statistic and I pulled the unlucky number. I can live with that.

But for it to be my own flesh and blood... Well, I think we'll all agree that parents shouldn't have to bury (or cremate) their children, no matter the circumstances.

So the long and short of this is, we're working through it and taking care of ourselves and each other. But it's a long process--much longer than I could have imagined. And while I probably won't talk about it on here much, please do not be afraid to ask me about it. I have appreciated everyone's kind thoughts and words, even if I haven't been able to reply to you directly. I've saved all of your emails and messages.

Also, in October we lost our friend Lindsy to a battle with cancer, that she fought with unbelievable amounts of strength and grace. For nearly five years she fought not just for more time, but for a cure for a cancer so aggressive that it just kept attacking her body over and over.

Kirk and I got together with Chuck and Lindsy over the summer on the Outer Banks (or as Lindsy called it, "Her Happy Place") and talked about how she'd gone to Michigan to talk to some doctors about getting into a medical trial. She was just so amazing--she understood that they weren't promising her a cure, but at the same time you could tell that failure wasn't an option for her. She was going to do it and fight it and come out a winner.

She went back into the hospital around the time that we lost the baby and was sent home shortly afterwards because there was nothing more they could do for her. Even then--I don't think any of us thought for a minute that this would actually take her. And I don't think she ever gave up--she fought for every moment that she was going to be given.

I had wanted to write about Lindsy right after it happened, to talk about what an amazing, kind person she was, and how wrong it was that she was taken from us, but again--I didn't want to continue to be a bearer of bad news. But you know what? It's what's real in my life, so it's what I have to talk about.

2009 has been a rough one for so many people around us... Here's to 2010 bringing more love, laughter, and hope.

Spare Bedroom Extreme Makeover: An exercise in flexibility

2009-11-15T19:12:00.012-05:00

So when I started off on our spare bedroom makeover, I decided to stray from my Martha Stewart/Pottery Barn neutral color scheme in our house and try something new and trendy... And with the bright yellow/black/white/charcoal graphic color scheme being so hot this year, I decided to take the dive. Here's an idea of what I was going for:

So I selected a bright, dramatic yellow color for the walls and after rolling it on, I immediately felt sick to my stomach. What was I doing? Why was it so different from the swatch? Did I made my first color snafu?

Three coats later and it still didn't look any better. I let it sit a week and kept pondering it. Finally Kirk and I pulled out the original yellow swatches and headed back to Home Depot, where Kirk actually picked out a delightful sunny yellow which we purchased in eggshell instead of satin (What was I thinking when I bought satin? God only knows.)

Second coat goes on and I'm in the midst of The Great Bedding Debacle of 2009. With Black/white being so popular this year, you'd think it would be easy to find a black and white bedding set (preferrably a white on black damask... but who's picky?) and after purchasing/returning no less than 3 bedding sets, I gave up. I started to load in my furniture and quickly realized that with the lighter wood pieces that I had and all of my aqua lamps, fabrics, and chair that something else was happening, so I decided to go with the flow.

I began thinking of my new room as "Maynan's Candy Shop" where chaos and color reigns supreme and I'm surrounded by all of my favorite things--bright colors and fabrics, big flowers, and my crafting supplies. I decided to not spend any money on anything and recycled things that I already owned in new ways, including a vintage chenille blanket that I'd given my sister a few years ago that she thought would look great in the room (which it does!)

So here's what happened. I hope you have your sunglasses handy!

Before:

Do you like my tissue paper balls? This was my first attempt at these and I'm pretty happy with how they turned out. They're a fabulous punch of color for $2. The rest of my sewing supplies, buttons and ribbons make pretty fun accents.

I had been pondering a wall of empty picture frames all painted the same way, but after adding an apron to my dress form, I thought to myself that it would be fun to come up with a way to display my apron collection (which I paired down recently and am already regretting... Ah, hindsight!

The only thing left to do is for Kirk to install the chandelier that I bought for the room and the candy shop will be complete. My apologies in advance to any houseguests at Casa de Olmstead who will have to try to actually fall asleep in this room. Best of luck on that one! ;-)

Sad news

2009-09-04T19:32:00.002-04:00

I think most of you have heard by now, but last Saturday we had a beautiful, peaceful little girl named Jude who had Potters' Sequence, a fatal condition where the baby's renal system never develops. It's not genetic, and it can't be prevented nor treated. It affects approximately 1/4000 pregnancies and unfortunately it happened to us.

It's been a rough week and a half since we found out, but luckily we've been surrounded by friends and family who love us. We'll be okay and we're both feeling better every day.

I know I haven't been a consistent blogger lately, but I promise to try to get back into the swing of things soon.

xoxo

Rock the vote... Team pink or blue?

2009-08-20T12:13:00.000-04:00

So... We find out what we're having next Wednesday! Holy crap, I can't believe we're 1/2 way there!

Care to guess what we're having? Take the poll on the right and leave a comment with your gut reaction. To be honest, I have no freaking clue. The old wives tales are split right down the middle and I have absolutely no motherly instinct on this one. Is that bad?

Anyway, I don't have any grand prizes up my sleeve for you guessing correctly, just my love and affection. ;-) Isn't that enough?

The King of Pop, in memoriam

2009-08-14T11:51:00.009-04:00

It's very belated, but I'm finally chiming in with my MJ tribute post. Believe it or not, I've often wondered where I would be in my life when he passed and what it would be like.

(And for posterity, I'll record here that I was driving down Rt. 8 to meet Jennie Keller for dinner when she called me and told me (Howard Stern had already reported that a.m. that MJ had a heart attack, but no further word had come in) and I called Liz, Kirk and DearAdam to let them know. I was surprised that despite the fact the rumors hadn't been confirmed yet, local radio station WKDD was already running an MJ marathon and annoucing his death between songs.)

Anyway, since his passing, I've watched and rewatched YouTube videos of his performances, a most of his public memorial service on TV, and a minimal amount of news coverage (but really, how can one completely avoid it.)

Sure, it caused us all to pause and reflect on an incredibly talented performer with an interesting backstory--albeit filled with questions, inconsistencies, and seriously erratic (and quite possibly criminal) behavior. But the way it all went down and the way the news reacted allowed us to remember and celebrate the Michael Jackson we WANTED him to become, not the one who ultimately died. And for his family and his children's sake, I'm glad that's who we celebrated.

I don't know if we'll ever have access to the proper information to truly decipher who MJ had become, but if anyone is ever able to analyze all of that information and pull together a truthful narrative, I will be riveted.

I don't know if we have any basis of comparison for someone to be brought up in such a household of emotional and physical abuse, then thrown into the spotlight and treated like a god. How long can that go on before the person actually believes it, especially when they have no basis of comparison or grounding in reality available to them?

How sad would it be to live your entire life only feeling love when you're onstage performing your heart out in front of thousands of screaming, adoring fans, but yet no one to truly love and know the real you? You can't trust your family, nor business associates, nothing. While the money has a great amount of allure, I think all it was able to provide him was the financial backing to try to live like a child--since he was never able to pull himself out of his emotionally stunted rut.

Was he mentally ill? Possibly. Did he lack boundaries? Absolutely. Was he ever able to learn boundaries or were his so constantly violated that he was unable to comprehend them? That I can't say. Did he ever molest a child? I don't know either, but there had to be some boundary crossing that happened somewhere along the lines, otherwise why would he pay off lawsuits? Was he probably taken advantage of by some people who thought they could cash in? Probably.

So what do we have here? An amazing performer with a fascinatingly sad story. We have lawsuits, Neverland Ranch, and the gift of music. We have 3 children left behind by a man who loved them, now to be raised by a family with some serious dysfunctional issues (let's just hope the kids are put in therapy early in life as they try to struggle through this mess.)

But here's what I'll hold on to:

How did that much soul get stuffed into a 10 year old? (and where did it go?)

I've discussed Free to be You and Me before, but I just love Michael's participation in such a hippie, feel-good project.

Who can resist the evil of THE THRILLER???

I'd like to thank my Aunt Anne for taking us to Hands Across America all those years ago--what a cool thing to be a part of.

And as cliche as it may be, I enjoy this one probably most of all...

Two truths and a lie

2009-06-28T10:05:00.005-04:00

1. I'm going to be the only blogger in the world not planning a Michael Jackson tribute post.
2. Spending my weekend cleaning out our basement... Whoohoo! FUN!
3. I'm pregnant.

So... Care to venture which 2 are the truth and which one is a lie?

Shall we start with some hints?

The basement cleaning is going well, but not photo-worthy at this point. We for realsies need to have a garage sale this summer, but the next couple of weekends are all booked up, so hopefully by the end of July/early August I'll be able to pull one off.

Next up...

First off, I wasn't planning on writing one, but after a lengthy discussion with Wendy Darling, I realized that it was a topic that could not be ignored... So as cliche as it may be at this point, stay tuned.

So guess what that leaves as my 2nd truth?

Yeppers, you guessed it. The Norwegian Pirate and I are expecting our first baby in January. I announced it on Facebook on Friday, so it's probably not a shock to most of you, but I figured I should still give fair warning that this blog is probably going to veer baby/pregnancy related soon.

Or maybe not. Maybe I'll just stick to my neverending love for Pottery Barn and New Kids on the Block.

xoxo

Walking on nails (literally)

2009-06-16T16:14:00.001-04:00

So apparently I broke the plastic cap came off of my high heel today, so I’m literally walking around balanced precariously on the head of a nail.

One that makes a funny crunching noise when I walk on a hard surface.
One that is particularly slippery whilst making crunching noises on hard surfaces.
One that sticks in carpet.

And guess what? I just went to examine the bottom of my other heel and that was completely torn apart as well and falling off.

Even a jaunt to the restroom has become a precarious situation… Oy vey!

Kirk's (SURPRISE!) Office Makeover!

2009-06-07T18:57:00.011-04:00

So we've been meaning to get to Kirk's office for awhile--it had become a sort of dumping ground and home for hand-me-down furniture, so it had gotten a little... shall we say? Cluttered and neglected?

Kirk's been trying to get to working on it for at least a month now--he had packed up all of his stuff and he's had the paint color selected for about two years, but just hadn't had the time nor effort to paint.

So this weekend, Kirk went to play with his friends to watch The Belmont race and generally have a "boy's weekend," so I called up my sister Liz and we went to town on his office--shopping and purchasing paint and accoutrements, a ceiling fan/light fixture, new shelving and a lovely area rug. 12 hours of running around and painting yesterday, plus a good 7 hours of assembling furniture today and we're exhausted, but the room looks incredible, if I do say so myself. The only thing that still needs to be installed is the ceiling fan because frankly? We didn't want to die.

Here's the only before picture I can find (yes, you may note that the room is painted the fabled "urine yellow."

And here it is after...

Do you think he was surprised? ;-)

So here's the part on "While you were out" when they would tell the person receiving the surprise makeover why we wanted to do it for them. Well, Kirky--you're the most amazing husband ever and I love you so much. I wanted you to finally have your creative space where you are free to do all of the things that you love, surrounded by your favorite things. I hope that you enjoy it and use it well!

xoxo,
Maynan

Wanna see what I've been up to?

2009-04-25T23:03:00.015-04:00

It's been awhile since I've written (again!), but I promise that it's because I've been busy with things. Fun things. Like finding the blue dupioni silk that I coveted two years ago (but couldn't afford at $30/yard) for $4.50/yard. How, you ask? It's simple: Because I'm awesome.

But really, it's because I just happened to stop into a JoAnn Fabrics out in BFE while we were away last weekend in Vermilion and it was on sale for $9.95/yard and then all home fabrics were 1/2 off. WOOTNESS!

Anyway, I'll save you the suspense. Here is my dining room last year all set for spring with my crappy lace curtains that the former occupants left us:

And here it is now with my fabulous new curtains--and check out that hot new vintage linen courtesy of my mother-in-law and supreme linen expert, Karen:

So if you think that's lovely, wait until you see this next project! Holy cannoli!

We have this back hallway that leads to our basement, which was a total hot mess. Old 70's linoleum, the whole room was painted that awful urine yellow I abhor (even the ceiling!), old wood paneling with gaping holes in it... awful!

So one Saturday I get the bright idea that we should peel off the linoleum and lay new stick-on tile. Quick project, right?

Wrong! Under the awful 70s tile was 60's tile underneath that--but the good news is that under the rest of this mess was HARDWOOD!

Who in their right mind tiles over beautiful hardwood in good condition? Idiots! And when they did it, they put a cement product over half of the floor (not sure why not on all of it!) so we (and by "we," I mean Kirk!) had to sand, stain, and seal the whole thing. It drove me crazy because half of the landing was absolutely beautiful, but alas...

We saved a little money by reusing leftover paint from our living room, purchased some new wall shelving and hooks, and about two months later (an hour here, an hour there...) we have a lovely back hallway!

I reused baskets that I scored at Old Time Pottery for less than $5 each to house our winter woolies.

Didn't Kirk do such a good job on the floor?

The steps weren't the same kind of wood, so I gave them a painted finish.
The only thing I don't have photos of is the updated photo of the very first staircase that I showed you (with the bad paneling) because that isn't quite finished yet. We hung white wainscotting there, but we haven't rehung the handrail. And I was too lazy to walk all of the way downstairs for a photo when I realized that I forgot to take one.

Sue me.

xoxo

Why is it?

2009-04-24T14:10:00.004-04:00

Why is it that the arrival of spring and the first days of being able to roll my car window down and drive home with my arm out of the window immediately transforms me back to being 15?

The irony of this, of course, is that I didn't have my driver's license. But for some reason, it makes me think of that carefree time when I could just taste summer and freedom.

You know how there are certain rituals people go through year after year to welcome in certain seasons and holidays? You know, like listening to Christmas music and putting up the tree or dancing naked in the moonlight for the summer solstice? ;-)

Well, my ritual to welcome spring is to listen to the entire "Become What You Are" album by The Julianna Hatfield Three. Sadly, I can't find my copy so I think I'm going to have to buy a new one. But for now--YouTube will have to suffice:

It makes me want to dance in the grass barefoot, wearing a broomstick skirt and a tank top, dizzying myself as I spin around.

Awesome.

I got carded

2009-04-01T16:31:00.003-04:00

So last night Z and I headed to Chipotle after our first zumba class together (Counter productive? Yes! Delicious and deserved? Absolutely!) and I decided to order myself a beer since we were going to get to sit outside and eat.

The girl behind the counter promptly asked for my ID and as she read the date she said something to the effect of, "Holy crap, no way!" As she did a doubletake from my face to the ID, I asked her whether it was a good thing or a bad thing.

She said, "It's a good thing. You certainly don't look..." as she trails off to try to do the math.

"I'm turning 30 this year," I replied, saving her from carrying the 1 or whatever this equation required.

"Yeah. Wow. I would have never guessed."

HINT: If anyone wants to get carded, go to Chipotle in Highland Square as a sweaty mess with your hair in a ponytail and wearing an old college sweatshirt. Normally being seen like that in public causes panic attacks, but in this case it was the source of a wonderful confidence booster.

It made the beer taste even better.

I'm alive, I swear.

2009-03-31T12:19:00.007-04:00

Internets: Mombi! You haven't been blogging at all. You must be super busy.

Me: Oh yeah, sure. I've been super busy with... things.

Internets: Things? What types of things? Fun things? Furry things? Lucrative things?

Me: Um. Well, yeah, there's been some fun playing with friends, some work, some quiet nights at home with Kirky, and a small house project, but really nothing huge.

Internets: Oh. So that's why you haven't written?

Me: Yeah. I guess I haven't had much to say.

Internets: Don't you love me anymore?

Me: Of course I still love you! I've loved the Internets since the very first day I got to log on from my mom's computer (circa 1989?) and read dumb blond jokes from an .alt usegroup. But I guess I just haven't had anything to report lately. Or maybe I've just been trying to stay less logged on and more plugged into my life lately. Does that make sense?

Internets: Sure. *tear* Just don't forget about me.

Me: Never.

Anyway... A few updates for you all:

- Kirk's blog now rocks far harder than mine ever could. He's been getting really sweet traffic numbers, as well as readership all over the world. When I look at his art collectively like that, I can totally seem him being an illustrator. But just how does one get a job as an illustrator, pray tell? If you have the answer to that question, please raise your hand and you will be called upon immediately.

- I promise that you will see a continuation of my Paris trip chronicles. I had lost my notes for awhile and recently relocated them. I still want to get the rest of that trip catalogued. I didn't forget about it!

- We threw the most rad birthday party ever for my sister Liz earlier this month. In honor of her 25th birthday, we threw her a "1984 Prom" themed party. Now I know you've all seen 80's themed parties before, but seriously--my sister's house was transformed into a Pretty in Pink vision of glory.

We moved all of the furniture out of the first floor and installed ceiling and wall treatments, complete with tulle and white christmas lights, a DJ booth with light up "84" and disco ball (courtesy of DJ Dan!), a prom photo booth, hanging stars... it was amazing.

We danced all night to 80's music, drank from a glorious keg, and snacked on divine treats. I'll share a few quick photos, but if you're on Facebook you've probably seen many, many more posted from this blessed event.

The whole crew out on the dance floor:

Our prom photo backdrop:

Me and my sisters:

I must go for now, but I promise to be back soon.
xoxo,
Mombi

Respect 3.24.84

2009-03-24T13:26:00.001-04:00

March 24, 1984.
Shermer High School
Shermer Illinois
60062

Dear Mr. Vernon,
We accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it is that we did wrong. But we think you're crazy to make us write an essay telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us: in the simplest terms and in the most convenient definitions.... But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain. And an athlete. And a basket case. A princess. And a criminal. Does that answer your question?
Sincerely yours,
The Breakfast Club

VIVA LA TBC!!

An exercise in stupidity

2009-02-17T14:33:00.003-05:00

So I've caught a wee bit of a cold, which in Mombi terms means that I'm fairly convinced that its time to perform last rites. Kirk refers to it as me getting The Black Lung, as I wither and whine about the house, coughing like it's my last breath.

So pretty much, I am awesome.

Anyway, so I got this cold Monday and I was mighty impressed that I dragged myself out of bed and went to work. Usually I'm all about not infecting coworkers and taking that time to recharge on the couch, but I had some important meetings (side note: that ended up getting rescheduled) to attend.

On my way home, I talked to Kirk and relayed that I just wanted some mac and cheese or alfredo noodles and a movie on the couch. He was kind enough to pick up mac n cheese for me, so I was all touched.

Well, apparently touched by his gesture also meant touched in the head... Because as I went to finish making my Kraft creation, I thought to myself that I should use up the rest of our Amish roll butter instead of my soy butter, so I sliced off some, noting that it seemed really ridiculously hard, even for being in the fridge. It started to melt a little, but it seemed to be taking forever, so I just ended up fishing out the clump, throwing it in the trash, and then splashing in a little extra milk.

As I went to take a bite, I was equal parts disgust and confusion until I dug out the rest of the roll of "butter" out of the fridge and realized IT WAS NOT BUTTER, it was FONDANT (i.e. sugar and corn syrup) that I had made at some point and left in the wax paper, hence why it was disguised as Amish roll butter.

Le sigh...

Thursday musical interlude...

2009-02-12T09:25:00.004-05:00

Just a little something to cheer you up on this fine, fine Thursday...

Who doesn't love The Jets?
Side note: This was the first cassette tape that I owned. I think I really took their fashion sense to heart, donning brightly colored duds for most of my life. Ick.

I can vividly recall singing this one to myself, in the dark, pining over some grade school crush.

Oh and now that I Googled them, I found out they're Mormons--and that explains a lot. Holy ethnic Osmonds!

Currently listening to...

2009-02-06T12:25:00.002-05:00

A great cover of "Only you" by Yaz done by Joshua Radin. I heard it on Sirius Coffeehouse the other day and had to go out and find it. However, the studio version has this weird popping sound in the background when I listen to it on YouTube, so I found a live version.

Fast favor:

2009-02-03T12:20:00.001-05:00

Please click HERE to vote for Firestone as the cool school of the week... It's fast and easy (no signing up necessary).

What love stage are you in?

2009-01-29T13:43:00.000-05:00

My 5th blogiversary

2009-01-23T14:08:00.001-05:00

Just wanted to be an attention whore and let you know that today is the Friendatorium's 5th blogiversary. This is by far the longest that I've maintained any 1 journal/diary...

Thanks for reading and like the Golden Girls, thank you for being a friend!

xoxo,
Mombi

Splash... AAAHH! Relief!

2009-01-20T14:39:00.003-05:00

I'm not going to lie. I enjoyed watching this immensely!

Happy January 20th!

Keep it classy, America!

I have died and gone to heaven. For real. I'm dead.

2009-01-13T12:07:00.002-05:00

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20251844,00.html

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK CRUISE? ARE YOU KIDDING ME??

*faints*

I have nothing to say. Well...

2008-12-31T23:09:00.003-05:00

It's the end of the year. Usually this time of year, despite the festive holiday cheer and the feelings of gratitude, I usually still get all weepy and melancholy (i.e. sitting by myself in the dark and having a good cry.) I'm trying to pinpoint why I seem to have skipped that step this year.

Did the holidays sneak up on me, not leaving the opportunity to think about it and get all sad? Um, not really. I've been prepping for the holidays since before Thanksgiving because I knew we had an aggressive schedule with lots of parties, guests, etc...

Did I have any life changing experiences or revelations that have changed my persona to the point that I don't get all weepy and ponder the things that are absent or lost in my life? Probably not.

I don't know. But what I do know is that I'm overwhelmed by gratitude for what I have - first and foremost, the most wonderful, sensitive and loving husband a person could ever dream up (Prince Charming has nothing on my Kirky!) a healthy, loving family, a good job that treats me well, fun and fabulous friends who fill my voicemail, email and life with laughter, a wonderful cozy home and two beautiful cats who love their mommy.

I feel stability, strength, adventure, love and joy every single day. My heart has actually been filled to the brim. I wouldn't dare ask for anything more.

XOXO,
Mombi

Excessive Holiday Cheer

2008-12-28T11:51:00.001-05:00

Completely ridiculous, but totally wonderful... Enjoy this little gem from my brother-in-law, Kris.

My favorite Christmas album of all time...

2008-12-17T13:18:00.004-05:00

I've mentioned it before, but I'm way into Christmas music. I like the fun and happy stuff, I love Christmas carols and I love the traditional music of my Catholic school upbringing. But you know what I love the most? Sad, melancholy Christmas music which Dao once described as "Music to slit your wrists to." I love a good cry every once in awhile.

But this year I haven't been rockin' the sad music, but I still want to share with you one of my favorite bands of all time, Over The Rhine. They're a folksie, yet etherial band out of Cincinnati that my parents turned me onto when I was probably 12 or 13 and have loved ever since. Their live shows are always riveting, as I've been lucky enough to catch them a good 6 times or so (Note to self: check their schedule and put it on my calendar)... Here's a little sampling:

All I ever get for Christmas is blue:

A cover of "Hallelujah":

Sorry I couldn't find their version of Silent Night... Trust me, it's amazing.

And if you do still need a stocking stuffer, I could totally use a copy of "Snow Angels..."

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat...

2008-12-16T08:24:00.002-05:00

Hi all! I swear, I will have fun new things to share once A) I upload the photos from my digital camera B) I finish my holiday prep work C) Um... I actually take the time to write about either of these items or my next Paris installment.

I promise to attend to at least 1/3 items in the next day or so...

xoxo

Thanks, everyone.

2008-12-10T10:06:00.003-05:00

To everyone who saw the news yesterday (and today) - I just wanted to let you know that I'm okay at work. My heart goes out to everyone else who cannot say the same. Thank you for all of your calls and emails.

I can't say anything else about it...

It's been ten years, man! TEN! YEARS! TEEEENNN!!

2008-12-05T16:17:00.001-05:00

The Alpha Phi Creed

I believe in my Fraternity.
I believe in the friendships formed
in the springtime of my youth.

I believe in its high ideals
which lift me up beyond myself.

I believe in its earnest drive for good scholarship,
moral character, and genuine culture.

I believe in it as a shrine of
international sisterhood wherein
I may find love and loyalty,
sympathy and understanding
inspiration and opportunity.

I believe in it as a creator of good citizenship,
helping me to do my work well,
to live in harmony with others, and
to serve my country and to trust in God.

I believe in my Fraternity.
I believe in Alpha Phi.

- Annette Holt Hitchcock, Pi 1912

Have you met DearAdam?

2008-12-01T12:13:00.004-05:00

So apparently I have a friend that I've been neglecting on my blog, but I wanted to make sure that you all got to meet DearAdam. He's made brief blog appearances here and here, but admittedly, no formal introduction has been made yet.

Anyway, DearAdam and I worked together at GCC and became friends as we both made our departures from the club. We have a little group that plays Rummikub on Monday nights, which I've been on hiaitus from for most of the fall due to my election involvement, but I'm super excited to be picking it back up for the winter months. A little competitive game playing (it's not really cards and it's not really a board game, so I'm not quite sure what to call it), does wonders to chase the winter blues away--so does good friends!

You can normally catch me and DearAdam roaming Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, and Home Goods, etc or driving around, singing showtunes.

Life is good.

Paris, Day 4

2008-11-30T13:03:00.000-05:00

Sorry to keep you waiting… At the request of Leisha, here is Day 4!

Our Sunday morning trip to the Rodin museum was interrupted by an insatiable hunger and inability to find a Parisian restaurant open—a mix of us being too late for breakfast, but too early for lunch *and* it being a Sunday. After much wandering, a creperie was found.

We had traveled several blocks away and in the process had passed Invalides, the former military hospital turned French military museum, also home to Napoleon Bonaparte’s tomb and the Chapel of the King.

We quickly wandered through the military museum, passing exhibit after exhibit of all of the battles the French had been involved in. We headed over to the soldier’s church, which was very interesting with the hanging flags of all of the countries the French had conquered over the years.

On the other side of the altar wall, you could see through to another chapel on the other side—the Chapel of the King.

The soldier’s chapel had been beautiful and ornate, but of course the King’s Chapel was just ridiculous.

All of the excess of King Louis XIV & XV was so apparent, that I totally understand why there was a revolt and revolution (and note to self: maybe it’s finally time that I rent Les Miserables)!

Check out these windows! The detail is just ridiculous!

The tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte:

The Rodin museum is housed in the former Hotel Biron, which Rodin purchased and lived in briefly. It was amazing, with large windows overlooking an ornate garden of sculptures, lime trees, roses, and sycamore. I “appreciate” his art, not love it; but Kirk loved it, which was the most important thing to me.
The building was absolutely gorgeous, with tons of natural light, woodwork, and windows overlooking the amazing garden.

Kirk knocking on The Gates of Hell:

There was one room that was totally "Princess Mombi" with heads in glass cases. I totally dug it!

Us in the garden:

Thinkers

We even stopped to smell the roses!

Feet aching, we wanted to make sure that we got the most out of our museum passes, we hit up the Louvre once more. My Aunt Anne (formerly of the blog KatoChanel), had informed us that if we didn’t see the Venus de Milo, that we would not be allowed back in the States, so we were inclined to acquiesce to her request.

During our spin through the museum, we also enjoyed visiting Rubin’s room (large format paints that make you feel like you have vertigo), Napoleon III’s apartments, Roman and Egyptian Antiquities, and the underground remains of the original medieval Louvre… Amazing!
Kirk checking out paintings in Rubin's room... The scale of these paintings is ridiculous!

Here I am, saying "C'mon in!" and inviting you to join me in the formal dining room.

Kirk demonstrating how he wants to have a statue of himself on his grave where he's choking out a shark, standing on the moon. He was very inspired by the statues at Pere Lachaise cemetery...

They've excavated the base to the original Louvre, built during medieval times. It was pretty darn cool and moderately creepy.

Napoleon III's bedroom:

Exhausted, we still managed to walk through the gardens to the Champs Elysses as the sun started to set. We stopped at a side café for dinner and then continued down the street with a wee bit more energy.

I had seen La’Duree, an upscale tea house, on one of my travel videos and was mesmerized by it. It seems like just the place where Audrey Hepburn would choose to take her tea and pastry while in the city… Just a dream to us “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” groupies. In fact, upon entry I felt more than a little intimidated by the atmosphere and décor… and left empty handed! We only made it a block or two away until I decided that I was going to leave no stone unturned on this trip, so we headed back for two AMAZING raspberry tarts.

And can you believe it? All of the hullabaloo and gushing about this pastry shop and I didn’t take a single picture!

Riding our sugar high and feelings that we’d do everything, somehow we found the strength to march our happy little butts up to the top of the Arc de Triumph and hung around long enough to watch the glittering lights of the Eiffel Tower. While it seems that one might get sick of climbing/riding to the top of various structures, the different views of the city really make it worth the while.

I made Kirk play Peter Pan:

Frankie, continued...

2008-11-25T13:05:00.006-05:00

Well, I got to meet Miss Frankie Jane last evening after I got out of work, which was so unbearably delightful. It's so neat how there are things about my neices and nephews that I remember from when they were born--little personality quirks that I noticed, but have had the pleasure of watching grow over the years.

What I immediately noticed about Miss Frankie is that she seems to be the strong, silent type. Peaceful and serene. I'm venturing to guess that she will one day win the Nobel Peace Prize, but who knows? Maybe she has bigger things planned. ;-)

Here is TheBean, Miss Elliott, meeting her new baby sister:

I like how carefully she's checking her out. Gayle reported that she started stroking Frankie's forehead and talking to her, introducing her to everyone in the room (This is Gayle, that's Kris, and that's Grandma Dolli!)... So freaking precious!

I didn't get to see her with Frankie because she was on her way out of the hospital with Gayle's friend Jessica who is watching her while she's in the hospital, so I was able to give her a big hug and her "big sister gift." She was totally stoked--I've seen that kid excited before, but she was just beaming with pride... So precious...

And seriously, people? Could this be a more lovely family? My sister does *NOT* look like she just squeezed out an almost 9 lbs. baby without any painkillers, does she?

Yesterday was a good day to be Auntie Maynan...

Welcome, Frankie Jane!

2008-11-24T16:53:00.003-05:00

I'd like to take this moment to welcome my new neice, Miss Frankie Jane Carter into the world... Congratulations to Mommy Gayle and Daddy Kris. Frankie arrived this morning at 11:30 via an all-natural delivery by my older sister. She weighed in at a Markovicious 8 lbs. 13 oz. and 21 inches long. How 'bout them apples??

Holiday Community Service, Part II

2008-11-23T10:34:00.002-05:00

So Friday I got an email from Kirk, who mentioned that The Salvation Army was looking for more volunteers to cover shifts for this weekend for their Angel Tree program, so I had him sign us up. From 10-12 on Saturday morning, we went to the mall and manned their booth, explaining the program to interested parties.

I have to admit, I was actually unfamiliar with how these programs work and I think I had been under the impression that if you selected a name from the tree, that you had to shop for this person like you are their own parent, getting them tons of gifts. Since I had this misunderstanding of the program, I'll do my best to explain a little here (and Kirk and chime in on the comments section with any corrections/additions).

So the Angel Tree program is supplemental to Toys for Tots, where people and corporations donate toys to be matched up with needy children. The Angel Tree program allows for specific items to be requested, so there are clothing sizes, a wish list, and special preferences.

I have to say that I was a little disappointed in the number of MP3 players requested for infants and small children. I mean... c'mon. Really? A Dora CD player, maybe, but I doubt your toddler is navigating I-Tunes already.

However, one of the great benefits of working at the tree allowed me to see the very real need of people in our immediate area. Some of the requests were really touching - like an infant in need of 3-6 month old clothing, a rattle, any mirror toys, and diapers. Truly heart wrenching. There were also a lot of fun Dora, Hannah Montana, Shrek, Hulk, etc. licensed character requests.

It was great to also see the various reasons why people donate. Like the mom who explained to her children that these were kids in need, so each of her young boys were to pick a child to help. Or the people who had returned each year to do this program and look forward to it. Or the new people who didn't know much about it, but for some reason feel compelled to help this year, knowing we're in tough economic times.

In the end, I selected a 2 year old's request for a Sit-N-Spin, one of my favorite toys of my youth. Kay-bee Toys at the mall didn't have one, so I'll be on the hunt during my travels today.

If you're looking for a quick way to meet the little "Princess Mombi Challenge" suggested a week or so ago, where I asked my readers to make a commitment to do one volunteer item and one financial donation, this would be a super easy way to do it. Volunteer to man the Angel Tree booth at your local mall for a few hours, then go and purchase a gift for a child on the tree. You can find your local Salvation Army by visiting www.salvationarmyusa.org

Finally, in my own holiday shopping, I think I'm going to see how many gifts I can purchase from Ohio based businesses. If our economy is in the tank, I might as well see how many Ohioans I can support. I'll be sure to report in after the holiday with my success rate (the Sit-N-Spin will probably be the hardest to locate).

Holiday Community Service, Part 1

2008-11-21T11:18:00.001-05:00

Well, I mentioned that during the holiday season you're going to get various updates from me on community service projects and opportunities. This week's comes from my dear pageant friend Maria (blog link in sidebar - "Every Girl Dreams"), who would like to suggest sending holiday cards to service members overseas. Even if you've been against the war in Iraq from the beginning, I don't think anyone can disagree with the idea of supporting our troops and letting them know that we appreciate that when our government called them into action that they responded to the call.

This is a really easy program to participate in through the American Red Cross. (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS) You fill out holiday greeting cards (25 is the limit) and mail them to the address provided. No long letters, no care packages. You can make the cards yourself or buy a box or two to get this done. They don't even have to be in individual envelopes (I think this is because they have to open them before delivery anyway and read the messages to screen them). The key is getting them mailed by Dec. 10th, which is why I'm posting this now to give you plenty of time.

Let us know in the comments section if you participated, how many you mailed, and when you mailed them in and you'll get a shout-out post all of your very own, saying how awesome you are!

What I've eaten... Courtesy of Choit's Run...

2008-11-18T12:17:00.003-05:00

Here’s what I want you to do:
1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Mark any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment here with the link to your blog with you answers, I would love to see what’s bolded on your list and post a comment at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results (so far there are over 1170 comments)

The Omnivore’s Hundred:
1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos Rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile - I'm assuming alligator counts?
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush - I am like 99% certain...
11. Calamari
12. Pho - like the beef noodle stuff? Sure
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart - I don't eat hot dogs.
16. Epoisses - Isn't this just a cheese? I'm pretty sure I have.
17. Black truffle - not directly.
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes - But I'd like to point out that it's no longer wine. It's fruit flavored garbage.
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn or head cheese - GROSS.
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl - close enough
33. Salted lassi - just mango!
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects - not willingly
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel - heck yeah! Barbequed!
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal - I've never had a Big Mac or a Whopper.
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips - You just mean that chocolate-like stuff, right?
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie - Probably at some point, but I honestly cannot recall for sure.
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom Yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab - Ick.
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox - I don't do smoked salmon
97. Lobster Thermidor - Just regular lobster
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

Wizdum teeth... I no haz them

2008-11-12T13:43:00.003-05:00

So the wisdom teeth thing went okay, but not fantastic. First of all, the numbing shots hurt like hell. Secondly, they didn't tell me to breathe through my nose, so my gag reflex got triggered and I totally went berserk. Like panic attack OH MY GOD AM I CHOKING ON MY OWN TONGUE? type shit. Awesome. Believe it or not, I'm usually really calm for dental work, but this time I was ready to kill someone. They ran.

I didn't get to see/keep my wisdom teeth because I was a freaked out, gagging, crying mess. Dang it!

I couldn't sleep last night and I needed to keep ice on it today, so I'm working from home today. I don't know if I'm just going all "drama queen" on this or what, but ice and vicodin sounded like a winning combination today!

Starting early, starting anew

2008-11-11T13:17:00.005-05:00

Have you ever volunteered in a soup kitchen?
Have you ever sponsored a family for the holidays?
Do you always donate at least one day during the holiday season to a philanthropic cause?

*hangs head in shame* Me neither.

I volunteer. I donate. I try to raise awareness and generally be a good person, but I have to admit--I haven't made a personal committment to giving generously enough during the holidays. Sure, I'd like to think that I'm too busy and that giving during the rest of the year suffices, but really? It just doesn't.

We are in tough economic times. Prices are high, wages are low, jobs are scarce and a lot of people are hurting. But I have a roof over my head and a happy, (relatively) healthy family, a loving husband and two adorable, snuggily cats to come home to each day after work... so I have more than many, many people right now.

So let's do this. If all 50-some of us who visit this blog daily (yes, my numbers have gone up since I've "gone political") make one financial contribution *and* one volunteer contribution over the next two months, we can help to bridge the gap that the non-profit sector is feeling this year.

I really don't need anything for Christmas, but there are a ridiculous amount of our friends and neighbors who do. Please, please, please take this opportunity to skip me this year. I really mean it. Let's share and grow the love this season. Who is with me?

I'll post progress here, as well as list what I've signed up for, in hopes that you're available to join me.

And if you're in the Akron area HERE is a great list of holiday volunteer opportunities in the area.

xoxo,
Mombi

Big mistake

2008-11-11T12:51:00.002-05:00

I was going to do a quick post about how I'm having my wisdom teeth removed this afternoon, which means that I'm finally getting some dental work done that I've needed for a handful of years. My next dental visit on 12/2 will be my 2nd invasive procedure, but the last. After that it should just be finishing touches, adjusting, and placing a final crown. The end is in sight!

Since my dentist had explained that removing my wisdom teeth should be fairly easy to remove (he actually said, "I'm tempted to pop them out right now, but let's make an appointment with the oral surgeon anyway." to which I replied, "Since I highly doubt that any teeth just 'pop out,' let's make that appointment before I start doubting your judgement any further."), I was feeling a little flippant about the whole thing and wanted to include a funny photo or cartoon with this post... Big mistake. Google Images only showed me things that frightened the crap out of me.

Dang it! Now I'm a wee bit freaked out and I just want to get this over with so that I can get some good drugs and get home and into bed to start recovering.

Oh, and I'm not taking any vacation time to heal up. I'd like to say that it's because I'm a freaking trooper, but honestly it's because I used all of my vaycay for that amazing trip to France.

Onward and upward!

Paris, Day 3

2008-11-08T10:20:00.035-05:00

10/18/2008

The next day was Kirk's voyage to the Bastille area to visit Pere Lachaise cemetery, home of Jim Morrison's grave (in addition to Edie Paif and Oscar Wilde, but we didn't pay for a map, so we never found them).

The cemetery was outstanding (that is, if you're a cemetery hopper like us), with beautiful, ornate old graves, cobblestone streets, and the changing foliage. As usual, my attempt in photography doesn't do the area justice.

We saw some outstanding graves that were worthy of note - our #1 favorite was this one, home to two men who died in a hot air balloon accident (Admittedly, this is our French translation of what happened, so it could have been anything!).

And then Kirk had a little fun with them (I swear, he felt bad afterwards, but it was sooo funny at the time!)

Some other graves that struck our fancy:

I thought this one was particularly interesting because it's like she's posed, writing the inscription. Her boob was hanging out, which was common on these cemetery sculptures... I'm not sure what's up with that.

Kirk wants a statue on his grave similar to this one, only he wants to be choking out a shark on the moon:

A private altar inside a masoleum:

We then made a visit to the local boulangerie for a bagette and the fromagerie for some chevre with cranberries and we had lunch on the go...

We hopped on the subway over to Montmartre, an artsy area turned tourist "must see" destination up on the hill, home to several important historical churches and the best view of the city.

We started at Sacre Coeur, the gorgeous church on the hill. Which of course meant-- you guessed it--more steps!

Upon our climb to the top, we rested for awhile and enjoyed the street performers, these two "Hans and Frans" ridiculous guys spinning these huge yo-yo-like objects and randomly busting out dance moves and shouting, "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!" and then they'd clap in time with their boombox. Pretty funny.

There was another street performer, a sort of "Harlem Globetrotters" of soccer ball performance with an amazing sense of balance, who perched himself on top of a small stone rail endcap to a staircase. It was super cool, but I was apparently too fascinated than to take a photo... Oh well.

The interior of Sacre Coeur:

We continued to a nearby, very old church whose name escapes me at this moment and saw a bride on her wedding day, which was very sweet.

We enjoyed meandering through the streets of Montmartre, checking out the street artists in the square. Kirk enjoyed this section of Paris the most because it had tiny, winding stone streets, lots of quaint French buildings, etc. I felt the whole city had these elements, but this area was just more condensed with it's tiny streets. We walked to the nearby Pigalle (aka "red light district") for a quick photo in front of the Moulin Rogue (totally disappointing.

Seriously, it looked like the Highland Theater with a windmill next door or any 1970s Atlantic City casino) and then hopped on the train back to the 7th for another visit to the Eiffel Tower.

Kirk spent some time at the base of the Eiffel Tower sketching while I enjoyed the sunshine and people watching. We then decided to lay in the grass and marvel at the structure together.

We left the immediate area in search of food, but it was an odd mealtime, so we could only find a small corner cafe that had sandwiches available--and literally your choices were cheese, or ham and cheese. So a fromage and a fromage & jambon sandwich later (oh yeah and a beer and a glass of wine) and we were headed back to the Eiffel Tower for some more fun.

We arrived at sunset, which was outstanding. We brought with us a bottle of wine to enjoy on the lawn and consequently, made some friends with our lawn neighbors, as we had to borrow their wine key to get our bottle open. They were a traveling group made up of young people from the US, Bahamas, England, and China. They had been riding their bicycles for 13 months--from China to Paris--and were flying back home in a few days. They had formed a bohemian band to spread messages of peace.

The topic (of course) ended up turning to politics and they shared with us how much they and people they had met around the world were rooting for Obama and a drastic change in American foreign affairs.

We had a nice time chatting it up with them (in ENGLISH! YES! The language barrier was starting to wear on me!) and after enjoying our wine, decided to ride up to the top together.

The lights had been changed to blue from the yellow that they were on our first night:

Standing on the ground at the base, looking up into it:

The elevator ride begins!

Level 2 was reached, just as the sparkling lights went off:

Kirk reaches his photography limit, as I've been snapping photos incessantly for the past 3 days. I tell him that one day he will thank me--both he and our children will look back at these photos, admire them and how they capture his youth and their parents on an adventure. We will look at them and say, "Remember that fall we spent in Paris?" and smile adoringly at each other.

And then the top is reached. Outstanding!

We were stopped by a couple from Singapore who overheard our American accents and they started asking us about the American election, concerned that we were voting for Obama. Again... politics abroad!

While we took the elevator down from the top to the 2nd level, we decided to take the stairs the rest of the way, stopping for photos and to look at the various exhibits on each level that depicted the history of the structure.

We thought this guy in a history exhibit looked kind of like Harvey:

Kirk had become so smitten with the structure, that he declared that he understood why people try to climb it... so he gave it a shot!

Not a bad way to spend your 29th birthday, oui?

Whenever you're ready...

2008-11-08T09:37:00.003-05:00

Both presidential candidates called for change in Washington and I think that just about all of their supporters on either side agreed with them. Either one would have needed the support of the other side of the aisle and everyone on the local level to support their endeavors and find a way to make a difference. Please visit From 52 to 42 With Love. Check out the photos, submit your own, and share the love.

Great conversation and open dialogue...

2008-11-06T09:59:00.004-05:00

I'd like to share with you a recent conversation that took place in my comments section from a few days ago. I'd like to think that this is how we can begin to discuss our differences, find what common ground we have, and move on.

Susy said...
This isn’t the moment that defines us, it’s what we do with it. Will we all be able to come together & still be working at it next year at this time? Only time will tell.

Sadly I have my doubts.

Mombi said...
Susy,

Let's not be defeated before inauguration day is even upon us. This campaign has been about hope and reaching for something better.

Now it's time to turn this campaign into a movement. We can only do so by putting our doubts, fears, and differences aside and working for the greater good - not watching from the sidelines.

I don't expect the world to change overnight, but a few large steps in a positive direction can make a huge difference.

Susy said...
I'm not defeated by this, I'm just apprehensive about what change will truly come. It’s up to the American people, not the president, to make things better and we can start with our attitudes and work ethic. I however, think this won’t happen and things will remain the same. I really hope American’s prove me wrong and this is the boost they needed to make a change for the better individually.

In a year I think we’ll still be blaming others for our problems and not facing the reality that we make our own destiny. Some will have trouble respecting our new president because he doesn’t promote their beliefs (just as so many have over the last 8 years have done). When we’ve lost respect and consideration for each other, even a great moment like this will be darkened by the fundamental flaws of human nature that many people cannot seem to overcome.

I sure hope I'm wrong, but I'm a bit jaded by the past couple years and the disrespect shown on all sides to those who's opinions differ from our own. It's easy to say we can come together when you're on the winning team, so quickly we forget how we treated the current administration because they weren't on our "side" and how we couldn't put aside our differences and come together for this country then. I really really hope I'm wrong, for the sake of this great nation, I hope we really can all be more understanding and considerate of others.

Only time will tell. I'm going to be watching with bated breath, praying we can really do it this time.

Mombi said...
"It's easy to say we can come together when you're on the winning team, so quickly we forget how we treated the current administration because they weren't on our "side" and how we couldn't put aside our differences and come together for this country then."

Hmm... You do have a really great point here.

I don't have the answer to it. I guess today I just have a pocketful of hope that I'm willing to nurture into continued involvement in the political process.

Susy said...
You're the first person to actually think about my comments today and not just delete them from the comment section.

Glad your basking in the win. I'm glad there have been so many people from our generation involved in this election. Hopefully this bodes well for the future of this great country.

Mombi said...
Wow, really? People have been deleting your comments? I'm quite surprised by that!

You've always been fair and reasonable - I don't think I've even been able to put my finger on who you voted for (and of course respect your right to privacy!)

I know there's the initial post-election reaction of negativity (I admit to being a relatively sore loser in 2000 and even moreso in 2004), but then the Bush administration violated our trust on multiple occasions. I think that contributed to the negativity and hostility against the republican party and exacerbated a negative view that we have of government in general.

So hopefully this time around, the hurt/anger wears off like it normally does and we can work together to do some great things. Not all promises will be delivered on, but let's hope that the most important ones will quickly rise to the top and be taken care of.

###

I understand people who are frustrated that their candidate did not win. I understand if you're not convinced that Obama will deliver on his promises. I understand angry because you disagree with his policy stances. I understand being a little bitter and right here I will call myself out with my statement in 2004 when Bush was reelected.

But hate? I mean, real, true, in the bottom of your soul hate for another human being who has never done a single thing to you? Really? Is that necessary? Does it do you any good? Does it do anything to elevate the human condition or live god's word?

C'mon now, people.

A little musical entertainment...

2008-11-05T10:02:00.002-05:00

I'm sure some of you are surprised to come here and not see a lengthy, gloating tirade about this election. I had my moments of doubt and worry and visions of what it would be like to wake up the day after you had worked so hard, only to be disappointed. I'm fortunate to have friends on both sides of the aisle, so I don't want to make today any more difficult for you.

We must work together and we must remain engaged in the political process to ensure that our voices continue to be heard.

But today I'm sitting back, relaxing, and humming this little tune. Feel free to join in.

WE DID IT!!

2008-11-04T23:02:00.003-05:00

Barack Obama just declared the next president of the United States of America!!!

Nov. 4th... Ready or not, here we come!

2008-11-04T12:56:00.013-05:00

First of all, my thoughts go out to the Obama family, as they mourn the loss of Madelyn "Toots" Dunham, Barack's grandmother. How sad to have her pass the day before her grandson is (probably) elected the next President of the United States?

Secondly, I wanted to post some of my favorite images from Reuters today, as Obama went to cast his ballot this morning. Can you imagine how that feels to see your name on that ballot?

Now for my Halloween costume... just say, "Maverick!"

I wanted to walk the fine line of playing with the Tina Fey characture that has been developed with a little biting humor. So there I was as a gun-toting Sarah Palin with all of my fresh endangered animal "kills."

Happy Halloween!!

2008-10-31T08:56:00.002-04:00

I wasn't able to go all-out like last year with our trip to France, but we are having a few family members and close friends over tomorrow for a little Halloween party for the kiddies (and a little fire in the firepit afterwards). Gimme a call if you're in the mood for a low-key celebration.

I hope that my lack of decorations and preparations doesn't dethrone me as party planner... I promise to kick it up a notch for my next event!

Paris, Day 2: Jet lag continues, museum hopping ensues

2008-10-30T16:14:00.025-04:00

The next day (10/17), after sleeping in we went to Musee D’Orsay where we were delighted by works of Toulouse Lautrec, Degas, Renoir, Monet, Manet, VanGogh, and Picasso in addition to a vast amount of sculptural, painted, and historical arts. I was FLOORED by how much I enjoyed the exhibits, especially the Reniors.

Some of my favorite impressionist pieces:

I know that I've seen this a million times, but I could not take my eyes off of it:

Famous French artist Toulouse Lautrec depicting the bohemian lifestyle during the time of the Revolution:

Kirk sketching one of our favorite pieces:

A cool glass hand sculpture at Musee D'Orsay

After that, we hit the Louvre, which I was completely underwhelmed by the Mona Lisa. Perfect? Sure, but riveting? Not so much.

The Louvre itself is a work of art, however. It’s grandeur, size, and architectural interest is enough, but all of the priceless works makes you feel a wee bit insignificant in the grand scheme of history.

4 Seasons of art at the Louvre:

We took a quick spin through French, Italian and Spanish paintings, but stopped in Apollo's room to view the King's crown.

Dinner (or at the very least, hors d’oeuvres and a glass of wine) at home became a fairly common occurrence in an effort to remain on budget. I realized my love for wines from the Cote du Rhone region of France and reignited my love for prosciutto and cheese.

Paris, Day 1

2008-10-29T14:09:00.009-04:00

The final moments of preparation for our departure were almost too easy – everything was done, double checked, on time and planned. It was very unlike me to not procrastinate on some essential detail or cook up some last minute nutty plan to get myself whipped up into a frenzy, but this time I managed to keep my cool and after work on 10/15, we were off!

An easy departure from Cleveland to Detroit was met by a psychedelic trip into their terminal tunnel (photo borrowed from Google Images) – colorful, techno, and freaky. Kirk loved it, I felt a seizure shortly behind.
On the superbus plane to Paris, I was shocked and delighted to find Akron’s own “The Black Keys” listed as in-flight entertainment.

Upon our arrival at Charles de Gaulle (Paris Airport), we found the airport quiet and calm, so finding our luggage and transportation was pretty stress free (also thanks to killer directions from our flat-renter, Bernard and a quick lesson on the Paris subway system from my coworker, Richard). I was not expecting how the jetlag would effect us, as both Kirk and I were completely knocked on our asses and slept for a few hours (okay, like 5-6!) before heading out to explore the area and locate dinner.

Our flat was in the 1st arrondissment, the most central of Paris and about 4 city blocks from both the opera house and the Louvre.

Upon the advice of coworker Richard, we walked a few blocks away to Aux Bon Crux for our first French meal… Breaking my meat-free streak, I dined on a vegetarian’s delight of lamb with cheesy potatoes (regretted at a later date.) The service and hospitality was delightful and Kirk commemorated the occasion with a placemat drawing.

We then walked by the Louvre, admiring the façade and size of the building and then like any good tourist, felt motivated to walk all of the way to the Eiffel Tower. Some twisting and turning later and we arrived at the foot of it just in time for the on-the-hour light display. I was completely floored.

I didn’t think I would be in such awe of the structure, but I felt at that moment like I had officially been romanced by the city, but there was so much more in store…

See ya on the 27th!

2008-10-15T14:12:00.000-04:00

I'm so sorry that you'll have to suffer for the next 11-12 days without me, but we're off to France!

xoxo,
Mombi

PS - please make sure Twiggy and Raleigh don't throw any wild parties while we're gone. Auntie Liz is babysitting them, so god only knows what will happen. ;-)

For realsies?

2008-10-13T11:50:00.002-04:00

Distracted? Me? Really?
Preoccupied, you say?
Surely you jest!

So I've been a wee bit ADD lately, but I'd like to think that it's because I've just been ridiculously productive in our travel plans (and, you know, that whole election thing I've been working on). But it's all come together.

We leave Wednesday night, so there are some last minute details to attend to, but I'm proud to say that I did NOT procrastinate on getting ready for our big trip, so our house is clean, the laundry is done, we've started packing, our shopping list only consists of umbrellas (both of our small ones are broken... go figure) and shoe inserts for all of that effing walking we'll be doing.

So really, that's it. Our meals are planned for the next two days, extra kitty litter and food was purchased for Auntie Lizzie's visit with Raleigh and Twiggy, our credit card companies called, currency exchanged, the list goes on and on...

Shit. Really? So now I'm just left to twiddle my thumbs and wait for Wednesday to get here? How, pray tell, do I do that??

Happy Alpha Phi Founder's Day!

2008-10-10T12:55:00.003-04:00

I just wanted to do a quick post and shout-out to my Alpha Phi sisters on our 136th anniversary. I don't know if too many of them stop in here, but I do know of a few. Anyway, we've got to get our alum group going again 'cause I miss you guys. I love you and I trust you... AOE

And while we're at it, I'm due for my 10 year Alpha Phi pin (initiated 12/5/98), so let's just throw that on the list of things you can buy me for being awesome.

How long does it take to get into the Red Cross Gallon Club?

2008-10-09T15:32:00.002-04:00

So, I gave blood for the first time about a week ago. I had tried in the past unsuccessfully; I always managed to get myself so nervous and worked up so that when they took my temperature, I'd have a fever. I would tell them this happened before, but I wasn't sick, so they'd have me hang out for awhile and then retake my temperature. I had a fever and they wouldn't take me. Well, then I said that I'd give blood once I had to have bloodwork drawn at the doctor's, so that I wouldn't be as nervous anymore.

Well, that time had come and gone and I got lazy. Then Z and I were talking about it for some reason and I remembered again that I should do it--and lo and behold I got a notice at work that there was going to be a bloodmobile, so I signed up.

It was seriously no big deal. The needle didn't hurt any more than having bloodwork done at a doctor's office and I didn't get dizzy or sick. My veins are super easy to find, so that's not a problem either. It was kinda funny, all of the ladies in there were like, yeah--we need you to come back and donate again, this was too easy.

Is it weird that I like to ask lots of questions, watch my bag fill up with blood, and I don't mind watching the needle go in?

I'm weird, I know...

I think the blood lady attendant (what would I call her? Was she a nurse?) thought I was scared at first because I kept asking all types of questions. How many bags? How do you know when it's full? What gauge is this needle? What's that for? Why are you snapping your fingers and telling me to look over there when I want to watch?

She was finally like, "Listen. Whoever needs your blood is going to be in a helluva lot more pain than you giving it. It will be fine." I quickly explained to her that I wasn't freaked out, that I was just ridiculously curious. The fact that I wanted to watch her poke the needle in was proof enough, I guess.

I think I was just really missing my daily dose of medical TV. I was hoping for more gadgets and for it actually to take a longer amount of time so that I could hang out for awhile and watch other people donate, too (btw, they hide their bags while they're filling so you can't see other people's. Some might think it's to avoid you from seeing it and feeling sick. I like to think it's a tool to keep the overachievers from racing to fill up their bags.

So Nov. 20th, I qualify to give again, so I have it marked in my calendar and I'll be well on my way to that Gallon Club!!

Quick question...

2008-10-08T12:50:00.000-04:00

So last night's debate, for anyone who is following this election, was probably relatively boring. It's all of the same arguments and policies recycled in hopes that another undecided will finally take the time to actually listen.

Well, I hope people were listening last night, because I had a real problem with the following statement... In fact, I'm surprised that the media isn't talking about this:

Why, pray tell, would McCain assume that this audience member had never heard of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac before this crisis?

Tonight! Tonight!

2008-10-03T10:26:00.003-04:00

LA LA LA LA LA LA, TONIGHT!

Tonight is the New Kids on The Block concert and I am so freaking excited that I can barely function. I've been surfing the NKOTB news, photos, video, etc both vintage and from the current tour and all I can say is that this is going to be so much fun!

If you don't already know about my NKOTB obsession Click here for the backstory. There is much luv between me and my 5 bad brothers from the Beantown land.

L'Shanah Tovah...

2008-09-30T11:42:00.001-04:00

Happy Jewish New Year!

Wishing you and yours peace, contentment, and a sweet year ahead.

xoxo,
Mombi

Hey! Look at me!

2008-09-29T23:02:00.001-04:00

Today I'm a guest blogger over at Estivator's blog to discuss one of the 1960s-1970s tunes that I consider to have shaped my upbringing. That's the theme of Estivator's blog - the magical music from the baby boomer era that became a beloved entry on the soundtrack to our lives. Her blog is extremely well-written (unlike the random diatribes that I post here), so the task was rather intimidating and I hope that I did it justice.

Enjoy.

Did she just call Henry Kissinger "niave?"

2008-09-26T14:40:00.002-04:00

Night #2 of the Katie Couric-Sarah Palin interview.

I don't know if she'll flub the debates like this because you're not as directly challenged to actually answer questions, but I think it's safe to say that they're going to continue to keep her under tight wraps and not let her interview. Talk about being in over your head! Maybe she should have blinked and thought about it before she accepted the nomination... Just sayin'.

Pageants served her well to learn how to keep speaking with authority, even when you're just trying to dance your way out of giving an actual answer, but I think it's safe to say why she ended up a runner-up to Miss Alaska and not the winner (and should I point out that Alaska isn't known for being a particularly competitive Miss America state?)

In the pageant biz, she's what we call a "clapper" - you know, one of the surly girls left onstage, clapping while the winner is crowned. So bitterly determined to win at all costs that you lose sight of the battle and someone fresh and honest takes your place. *sigh*

Let the video speak for itself:

2008-09-25T11:34:00.002-04:00

Good times here:

Check out her reading her cheat cheet around the 2:20 mark...

The full article...

2008-09-24T16:06:00.002-04:00

So Obama extends the olive branch to begin talks and McCain creates a powerplay... I'm sorry--who is willing to win at all costs?

By BETH FOUHY, Associated Press Writer
1 minute ago

NEW YORK - Republican presidential nominee John McCain challenged rival Barack Obama on Wednesday to suspend their heated campaign, postpone Friday's debate and work together to deal with the nation's financial troubles. Obama did not immediately respond to his rival's bold political move, but Obama campaign officials say the senator is inclined to move ahead with the debate.

ADVERTISEMENT

McCain said the Bush administration's Wall Street bailout plan seemed headed for defeat and a bipartisan solution was urgently needed. The move was an effort by the Republican to claim leadership on an issue that has been troublesome for him at a time when his rival is moving ahead in the polls.

McCain said he would put politics aside and return to Washington Thursday to focus on the nation's financial problems after addressing former President Clinton's Global Initiative session in New York. McCain said he had spoken to President Bush and asked him to convene a leadership meeting in Washington that would include him and Obama.

"It has become clear that no consensus has developed to support the administration's proposal," McCain said. "I do not believe that the plan on the table will pass as it currently stands, and we are running out of time."

McCain said he has spoken to Obama about his plans and asked the Democratic presidential nominee to join him.

Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid issued a statement saying the debate should go on because "we need leadership, not a campaign photo op."

The University of Mississippi said it was going forward with preparation for the debate in Oxford. "We are ready to host the debate, and we expect the debate to occur as planned," the school said, adding that it had received no notification of any change in the timing or venue.

The Obama campaign said in a statement that Obama had called McCain around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday to propose that they issue a joint statement in support of a package to help fix the economy as soon as possible. McCain called back six hours later and agreed to the idea of the statement, the Obama campaign said. McCain's statement was issued to the media a few minutes later.

"We must meet as Americans, not as Democrats or Republicans, and we must meet until this crisis is resolved," McCain said. "I am confident that before the markets open on Monday we can achieve consensus on legislation that will stabilize our financial markets, protect taxpayers and homeowners, and earn the confidence of the American people. All we must do to achieve this is temporarily set politics aside, and I am committed to doing so."

McCain's statement was an effort to show leadership on an issue that has spread economic fears across the country and overshadowed the presidential campaign just six weeks from Election Day. The economy has not been McCain's strongest suit, and his move was an attempt to turn it into an opportunity to show he's the candidate of bipartisanship and action. Recent polls showed Obama with an advantage with voters in handling the economy.

The move put Obama in a bind. Rejecting the idea would allow McCain alone to appear above politics, but agreeing to suspend campaigning and the debate could make Obama look like he's following McCain's lead.

McCain said if Congress does not pass legislation to address the crisis, credit will dry up, people will no longer be able to buy homes, life savings will be at stake and businesses will not have enough money

"If we do not act, ever corner of our country will be impacted," McCain said. "We cannot allow this to happen."

McCain also canceled his planned appearance Wednesday on CBS' "Late Show With David Letterman" program.

A senior McCain adviser, Mark Salter, said the campaign would suspend all advertising and campaign events until a workable deal is reached on the bailout proposal — but only if the Obama campaign agrees to do the same.

___

Associated Press Writer Nedra Pickler in Washington contributed to this report.

Will one man change a country?

2008-09-23T17:19:00.002-04:00

In a word, no.

But can one man cause a country to change?
Absolutely... but how, you ask?

Barack Obama has given the jaded, disenfranchised people in America something and someone to truly believe can be their champion for the change they want to see in the world. We want to care about our government, understand, and in return have our government care about us and listen to us. Obama has inspired millions to take an active role in this election and can continue to motivate these people after the election to create change. *There* is where the change will occur.

He makes us believe that our voices will be heard. He sends the message from the top down that change must be made. Most of you know what it's like to be in an organization where change can't happen because there's no buy-in at the top.

Here is one of the major differences between the candidates - people actually care about Barack Obama. They want him to succeed. They want to make change happen with him. They respect his intelligence, insightfulness, the people that he surrounds himself with to be his advisors (a big shiny quarter says Hillary gets an amazing cabinet spot).

The opposition argues that he won't change anything and has no plan. You can't listen when you have your hands over your ears, shouting, "HE HAS NO PLAN!" Try listening, it works. Also, it's this same kind of negative attitude that has allowed our government to decompose into the sad state that it's in today. If you don't listen to what the people are saying and just keep moving forward with that smug ass grin on your grill, you will always get what you've always got--a healthy dose of insanity.

But now the McCain campaign has somehow hopped on the "change" bandwagon, but every single policy proposed is exactly more of the same - outdated "trickle-down" Reaganomics, more wars, more money to the rich. And isn't their candidate someone who has been sitting in the Senate for 22 years? Isn't he the same person who already lost a presidential race to a C+ student?

There has been no joy or hope in the Republican party, only clinging to outdated, ostricizing beliefs and cheap-shot slogans. I cannot consider standing behind a party that discriminates on the basis of gender, color, or sexual orientation. John McCain thinks women today are paid equally to men (not true, check any study on the topic), John McCain is for Proposition 8 in California which will define marriage as being between one man and one woman, and most of their economic policies benefit rich white America (what the middle and lower income families get is just a mere bone-tossing). None of this I find acceptable.

I'm all for fiscal responsibility, but I don't think the Republican party even exemplifies that anymore - especially in light of the current mortgage and ensuing financial crisis, which to my understanding is a result of Republican deregulation (oh yeah, and a ridiculous amount of greed). From where I sit, all that I see are the same people with their smug smiles paired with control over the most powerful country in the world, reigning with fear, and continually pulling the wool over the eyes of honest people who want to believe that their flag-waving leadership isn't steering them wrong. But they are, and it infuriates me.

If they truly wanted change to happen on their watch, the clock has been ticking for the past 8 fucking years. You can only hit the snooze button so many times before your ass gets booted out of bed, mmkay?

No one wants to tackle the race issue in this campaign, but rest assured that racism is alive and thriving. The heart of racism is based in fear - fear of the unknown, fear of something different, and fear that you're not the perfect person that you want to be, so you need to feel better than someone else. If Barack Obama was white, no one would be questioning his religion (To which I say, "Even if he was Muslim instead of Christian... So effing what?") If he was white they would not be calling him "elitist," "too full of himself," or "too proud." They would see him as I see him - a strong, confident, eloquent, well put-together, thoughtful man...

And that's the kind of president that I want, representing the best and brightest of our country.

A little "Monday Funny..."

2008-09-22T13:56:00.000-04:00

Is it sad that this is now what I consider "amusing?"

From a UUC reverend

I'm a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight.....

* If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you're "exotic, different."

* Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, a quintessential American story.

* If your name is Barack you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.

* Name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, you're a maverick.

* Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable.

* Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded.

* If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a
State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience.

* If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive.

* If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a real Christian.

* If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you're a Christian.

* If you teach children about sexual predators, you are irresponsible and eroding the fiber of society.

* If, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state's school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you're very responsible.

* If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America 's.

* If you're husband is nicknamed "First Dude", with at least one DWI conviction and no college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that hates America and advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely admirable.

OK, much clearer now.

Sarah Palin... Qualified?

2008-09-21T23:15:00.002-04:00

Are you kidding me?

Take the poll while there's still time.

Back to work...

2008-09-21T21:30:00.003-04:00

Today I spent a few hours canvassing the North Hill area of Akron to talk to residents about Barack Obama's plans for our country. I was a little apprehensive at first because I know how I feel when someone knocks on my door to sell me something or discuss their religion or political beliefs.

To my surprise, no one was rude to us.

To my surprise, I did not meet any John McCain supporters.

To my surprise, many people shared personal stories about how the current administration's policies have affected their lives. We only met two unregistered voters (one registered with us, the other one has no interest in voting, ever) and were able to speak with several undecided voters. Some I think we were able to discuss specific plans that Obama has that would have an effect on their lives. A few commended us on taking an active role in politics for how young we are (I went with another girl, Jane, who is 20). I was able to talk about how narrowly we lost the election in 2004 and what that could have meant for us, as well as the economic policies that Obama wants to put in place to support the middle class. Jane shared with them how important it is to her to have increased accessibility to affordable health insurance.

We also talked about the media portrayal of both candidates and how they've made it less about the issues and plans and more about image and likability (on both sides). It's more important to me that I respect my president than want to have a beer with him. I don't want someone who I can be buddy-buddy with. I want someone who is way freaking smarter than me and who will surround themselves with the best and brightest people who can understand the complex issues that our country faces.

So it was a good day and I truly appreciated getting out in the community, meeting people, hearing their stories and sharing mine. I'm sure I'll be back at it next weekend and possibly a few nights this week.

In the meantime, I'd like to share with you Obama's "Blueprint for Change."

Sorry for the political discussion interruption...

2008-09-21T11:46:00.002-04:00

Sorry for the interruption, but I just wanted to scream from the rooftops that WE ARE GOING TO PARIS!!! Leaving Oct. 15th and returning the 27th, beeotches!

Poorly timed op-ed by McCain financial advisor: It's not so bad right now...

2008-09-17T22:55:00.003-04:00

Enjoy this hullabaloo. One of McCain's advisers talks about how our economy isn't that bad and that we're exaggerating.

Good times, people. Good times.

On blinking and thinking...

2008-09-17T12:42:00.003-04:00

I just watched the entire Obama economic speech posted below (OMG, it was fabulous!), but his comments and the recent interviews I've been watching with McCain and Palin inspired the following message...

Obama's economic plan referenced in the video is clear, detailed, well thought-out, and most importantly, strategic. And, of course, this brings to mind what I consider to be a fundamental difference between Obama/Biden and McCain/Palin.

McCain and Palin continually say that they never hestitate, never blink, and react with force. Sure, that sounds brave, but what about smart? When choosing a president, I certainly prefer someone who watches trends and reacts before things hit rock bottom, someone who thinks before they speak (or act, or declare war... HELLO?!) instead of going with any random a knee-jerk reaction and then defending those actions (right or wrong) until the bitter end.

I feel like McCain has gotten swept away in this campaign - and I'm not talking in votes or polls. I feel like he came in with some decent goals. The battle between Obama and Clinton forced both of them to put more thought into their strategies and tactics, while McCain was able to just keep trotting around the country, talking up generalities and throwing the occasional barb the democrat's way.

His campaign has changed course so many times throughout this election cycle -- having to respond to the Clinton/Obama battle, rally the republicans, react to current events and disasters, to the selection of Obama as the democratic nominee--that he doesn't know which way is up, he doesn't know what policies are really the best.

Right now, I think he's just running on knee-jerk reactions in order to figure out what will get him elected and the rest can be figured out (or conveniently forgotten) if/when he gets there. He clearly has great campain strategists (read the Sep. 15th issue of New York magazine if you don't believe me), but I don't feel like he has a team surrounding him that knows how to run a country, or even to think before they act.

I feel like it's his campaign team running against Obama at this point, and not John McCain the man. And if you're not man enough to keep solid footing during a campaign, there is no way you can maintain that footing as a president.

Obama on economics...

2008-09-17T11:48:00.003-04:00

Economic speech from 9/16, in it's entirity... No creative media editing.

Hillary on GMA... Stick to policies!

2008-09-17T10:31:00.001-04:00

This interview was mentioned by my dear friend G in the comments of yesterday's post, so here's the video...

I think Michel Martin has just become my new best friend:

2008-09-16T16:52:00.001-04:00

CLICK HERE for today's installment - how the democrats are mistreating Sarah Palin - and more importantly, how they should be.

Can I Just Tell You?

2008-09-16T09:58:00.003-04:00

I was listening to "Tell Me More" hosted by Michel Martin last night during my evening commute and I was particularly struck when she made this brief, insightful commentary. In fact, I was so taken with what she had to say that I rewound it (thank god for my Sirius Sportster!) and listened to it 3 times.

It's short (less than 5 minutes), sweet, and I think you'll enjoy the different perspective. I don't think it's necessarily a liberal commentary, but rather talking about the subject of equality in our society today.

Can I Just Tell You?
Tell Me More, September 15, 2008
The Promise Of Governing Pretty

Host Michel Martin shares what's on her mind in her latest commentary. Today, she shares thoughts on how education, and the educational achievements of Senator Barack Obama, are playing out in the presidential election.

Check out my homegirl Maria rockin' the local media

2008-09-15T12:21:00.001-04:00

This email just arrived from Maria... good stuff here:

http://www.wksu.org/news/story/22355

I was interviewed at the Hillary for Obama rally in Akron yesterday. Whether you agree or disagree is fine, but just wanted to share.

p.s. Apparently I'm also on the cover of the Repository as "Hockey Mom for Obama". Palin is in town for a fundraiser at Brookside Country Club today.

http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=431219

A bedtime story

2008-09-14T21:41:00.003-04:00

Kirk felt that my post on McCain and Obama's veteran's affairs voting record wasn't an accurate assessment because he felt that it was a voting record based on the war, not what happens to veterans when they come back home. So when I saw this post that Gina (An Argument for Activism) had on her myspace, I decided to borrow the content to show you to you - It's McCain being called out by a veteran and then a comparison of McCain and Obama's veterans affairs votes, including mentions of the GI Bill and the care that they receive when they return home.

Obama, McCain back bailing out Freddie, Fannie

2008-09-14T11:33:00.000-04:00

Obama, McCain back bailing out Freddie, Fannie

Presidential candidates offer different solutions for U.S. mortgage crisis

By Bob Deans
Cox News Service

Published on Sunday, Sep 14, 2008

WASHINGTON: After months of nervously watching the meltdown of the country's two largest mortgage companies — Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae — the Treasury Department stepped in, taking control before they could drag other banks down with them.

Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain quickly endorsed the plan to place Freddie and Fannie under federal conservatorship. Each claims to want to reduce taxpayer exposure to financial losses from the mortgage giants and to trim the economy's exposure to their failings.

''They need to do something now,'' said Douglas Holtz-Eakin, an economic adviser to the McCain campaign. ''You have to insulate the financial markets from what would be, apparently, the possibility of failure for these two institutions.''

Together, Freddie and Fannie control a staggering $1.6 trillion in home mortgages. That's about 15 percent of the total market for one of the most critical cogs in the credit machine upon which much of the economy rests.

Over the past year, the home mortgage market has fallen prey to a perfect storm:

• Slumping housing prices have left some borrowers owing more than their homes are worth.

• Loans sold at deep discounts have ballooned, raising monthly payments to levels that millions of borrowers — nearly 10 percent of all homeowners — are struggling to pay.

• Sloppy banking practices resulted in loans to large numbers of consumers who bought houses they couldn't afford.

As a result of exposure to those ills, Freddie and Fannie have together lost about $14 billion over the past year. That's hollowed out the cash reserves that regulators require them to have on hand to back the housing loans they make.

With so much riding on the home mortgage markets, here's a look at the candidates' views on the issue.

Obama

Key positions

• Backs Treasury Department decision to place Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae under federal conservatorship.

• Would create a 10 percent universal mortgage credit for homeowners — primarily those earning less than $50,000 a year — who do not itemize mortgage deductions in their federal income tax filings.

• Would increase state and federal spending to enforce a crackdown on fraudulent mortgage companies.

• Would create a standardized national rating system — Homeowner Obligation Made Explicit (HOME) — to enable borrowers to quickly compare competing mortgage offers and to understand the full cost of a loan.

• Would amend federal bankruptcy law to allow judges to reduce a homeowner's mortgage payments in appropriate situations.

Record

He warned in March 2007 of a looming housing crisis and proposed legislation aimed at cracking down on mortgage fraud and protecting consumers against potential abuse from sub-prime lenders. In his four years as a U.S. senator, he has received $126,349 in campaign contributions from the employees of Fannie and Freddie and company-affiliated political action committees. He ranks second in the amount received, out of the 354 sitting senators and congressmen who have gotten money from the companies, according to an analysis by the independent Center for Responsive Politics, which relied on Federal Election Commission data for its study.

In his words

''This plan must not focus on the whims of lobbyists and special interests worried about their bonuses and hourly fees, but instead on strengthening our economy and helping struggling homeowners.''

McCain

Key positions

• Backs Treasury Department decision to place Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae under federal conservatorship.

• Would shrink their portfolios, over time, by taking trillions of dollars they hold in debt and gradually selling it to banks and other financial institutions.

• Would create measures to encourage financial institutions to work with homeowners struggling to meet ballooning mortgage payments.

• Would strengthen federal regulation of the mortgage industry to provide for greater transparency and accountability on the part of loan providers.

• Would increase the amount and quality of capital that banks and other financial institutions must maintain to back their loan portfolios.

Record

He has long criticized Freddie and Fannie, citing what he calls their oversized influence on the U.S. economy, and has pressed for broad reforms. Since 1989, he has received $21,550 in campaign contributions from the employees of Fannie and Freddie and company-affiliated political action committees. He ranks 62nd in the amount received, out of the 354 sitting senators and congressmen who have received money from the companies, according to an analysis by the independent Center for Responsive Politics, which relied on Federal Election Commission data for its study.

In his words

''Enduring reform of Fannie and Freddie is a key first step. We will make sure that they are permanently restructured and downsized, and no longer use taxpayer backing to serve lobbyists, management, boards and shareholders.''

WASHINGTON: After months of nervously watching the meltdown of the country's two largest mortgage companies — Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae — the Treasury Department stepped in, taking control before they could drag other banks down with them.

Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain quickly endorsed the plan to place Freddie and Fannie under federal conservatorship. Each claims to want to reduce taxpayer exposure to financial losses from the mortgage giants and to trim the economy's exposure to their failings.

''They need to do something now,'' said Douglas Holtz-Eakin, an economic adviser to the McCain campaign. ''You have to insulate the financial markets from what would be, apparently, the possibility of failure for these two institutions.''

Together, Freddie and Fannie control a staggering $1.6 trillion in home mortgages. That's about 15 percent of the total market for one of the most critical cogs in the credit machine upon which much of the economy rests.

Over the past year, the home mortgage market has fallen prey to a perfect storm:

• Slumping housing prices have left some borrowers owing more than their homes are worth.

• Loans sold at deep discounts have ballooned, raising monthly payments to levels that millions of borrowers — nearly 10 percent of all homeowners — are struggling to pay.

• Sloppy banking practices resulted in loans to large numbers of consumers who bought houses they couldn't afford.

As a result of exposure to those ills, Freddie and Fannie have together lost about $14 billion over the past year. That's hollowed out the cash reserves that regulators require them to have on hand to back the housing loans they make.

With so much riding on the home mortgage markets, here's a look at the candidates' views on the issue.

Obama

Key positions

• Backs Treasury Department decision to place Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae under federal conservatorship.

• Would create a 10 percent universal mortgage credit for homeowners — primarily those earning less than $50,000 a year — who do not itemize mortgage deductions in their federal income tax filings.

• Would increase state and federal spending to enforce a crackdown on fraudulent mortgage companies.

• Would create a standardized national rating system — Homeowner Obligation Made Explicit (HOME) — to enable borrowers to quickly compare competing mortgage offers and to understand the full cost of a loan.

• Would amend federal bankruptcy law to allow judges to reduce a homeowner's mortgage payments in appropriate situations.

Record

He warned in March 2007 of a looming housing crisis and proposed legislation aimed at cracking down on mortgage fraud and protecting consumers against potential abuse from sub-prime lenders. In his four years as a U.S. senator, he has received $126,349 in campaign contributions from the employees of Fannie and Freddie and company-affiliated political action committees. He ranks second in the amount received, out of the 354 sitting senators and congressmen who have gotten money from the companies, according to an analysis by the independent Center for Responsive Politics, which relied on Federal Election Commission data for its study.

In his words

''This plan must not focus on the whims of lobbyists and special interests worried about their bonuses and hourly fees, but instead on strengthening our economy and helping struggling homeowners.''

McCain

Key positions

• Backs Treasury Department decision to place Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae under federal conservatorship.

• Would shrink their portfolios, over time, by taking trillions of dollars they hold in debt and gradually selling it to banks and other financial institutions.

• Would create measures to encourage financial institutions to work with homeowners struggling to meet ballooning mortgage payments.

• Would strengthen federal regulation of the mortgage industry to provide for greater transparency and accountability on the part of loan providers.

• Would increase the amount and quality of capital that banks and other financial institutions must maintain to back their loan portfolios.

Record

He has long criticized Freddie and Fannie, citing what he calls their oversized influence on the U.S. economy, and has pressed for broad reforms. Since 1989, he has received $21,550 in campaign contributions from the employees of Fannie and Freddie and company-affiliated political action committees. He ranks 62nd in the amount received, out of the 354 sitting senators and congressmen who have received money from the companies, according to an analysis by the independent Center for Responsive Politics, which relied on Federal Election Commission data for its study.

In his words

''Enduring reform of Fannie and Freddie is a key first step. We will make sure that they are permanently restructured and downsized, and no longer use taxpayer backing to serve lobbyists, management, boards and shareholders.''

Watch quickly, grasshopper

2008-09-14T10:26:00.002-04:00

I'm sure this will be pulled from Youtube very quickly, so watch it while it's hot!

A little light evening reading

2008-09-13T21:45:00.003-04:00

Spent the day at the Tribe game, which was enjoyed after a 2+ hour rain delay... It was a lovely day with Kirk and my mother in law, but now I'm too tired to type anything of interest, so I'm posting some political diatribe and going to surf international airfare on kayak.com. And no, you can't stop me.

And Akronites? Hillary Clinton will be at Ellet HS tomorrow at 3:00 to speak. Doors open at 2... see ya there! xoxo, Mombi

Greenspan Says McCain Tax Plan Needs Corresponding Budget Cuts

By Scott Lanman

Sept. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said the country can't afford $3.3 trillion of tax cuts proposed by Republican presidential nominee John McCain without corresponding spending reductions.

Greenspan, a lifelong Republican and longtime friend of McCain, said today on Bloomberg Television's ``Political Capital With Al Hunt'' that ``I'm not in favor of financing tax cuts with borrowed money.''

McCain has said he would balance the cost of most of his tax cuts with budget reductions, while providing few details beyond eliminating earmarks and other pork-barrel spending, which have totaled about $171 billion since 2001. Democratic nominee Barack Obama is proposing fewer tax cuts and more ambitious spending programs.

Greenspan said he has ``mixed feelings'' about a second government economic-stimulus bill after the U.S. provided a $168 billion package in February. While such an action may increase the budget deficit at a time when spending on retirees' medical benefits is about to cause ``big'' financial problems, it may also boost economic growth, he said.

Greenspan has said there's at least a 50 percent chance the U.S. economy will slide into a recession.

``There is no infinite piggy bank here,'' Greenspan said today. It's ``far more important'' to use federal resources, if necessary, to shore up the financial system and end the credit crisis, as Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson did in taking over mortgage-finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, averting a possible run on the system, Greenspan said.

Economic Stimulus

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats in Congress have called for an additional $50 billion in economic stimulus. A request by General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and their suppliers for at least $25 billion in government loans to help them shift to more fuel-efficient auto models will likely be included, Democrats said this week.

Greenspan's memoir, ``The Age of Turbulence,'' was released in a paperback version this week, a year after the first hardcover edition. In a new epilogue, the former Fed chief, who retired in 2006, cited a ``critical need'' to create procedures for bank bailouts that ensure there is no impact on the Fed's balance sheet and interest-rate policy.

The Fed and the Treasury Department are helping Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. find a buyer after investor concerns about the firm's capital prompted more than a 75 percent decline in its market value this week. Paulson is adamant that no government funds will be used in a Lehman resolution, a person close to the matter said today.

`Most Critical Question'

In the interview, Greenspan, 82, said the ``most critical question'' is where to draw the line between companies that get government-led bailouts. It's impossible to rule out such actions completely, Greenspan said, citing crises such as the current one as a ``once-in-a-half century, once-in-a-century event'' that can't be avoided.

``If you want the system to stay together, there comes a time when you basically have to substitute sovereign credit for private credit to keep the system moving,'' Greenspan said. If a bailout is necessary, it's important that ``you do it in a way which essentially does not have major long-term consequences.''

McCain's proposal, outlined April 15, would extend President George W. Bush's tax cuts, reduce the top corporate rate, repeal the alternative minimum tax and double exemptions for dependents. That would be offset by eliminating pork-barrel spending, freezing a portion of the budget and saving from Medicare spending, McCain said at the time.

Politically Careless

``I always have tied tax cuts to spending,'' Greenspan said. In 2001 testimony before Congress, Greenspan was widely interpreted to have endorsed Bush's proposal to cut taxes by $1.6 trillion over 10 years. In the book, Greenspan characterized his testimony as politically careless and said his words were misinterpreted.

Paul Volcker, Greenspan's predecessor as Fed chairman, has endorsed Obama, a first-term U.S. senator from Illinois, in the presidential election, and is serving as an economic adviser to the candidate.

Greenspan said the widening income disparity among Americans is a ``very serious'' issue, and requires both raising the pay of lower-income workers and reducing higher incomes. ``The best way of doing that is to remove what is essentially protectionism for those skilled workers in the United States who are helped by keeping out their competition,'' he said, referring to the issue of ``skilled immigration.''

The U.S. education system is ``critical'' to help ``cutting-edge technologies'' replace older industries that will be phased out over time, Greenspan said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Scott Lanman in Washington at slanman@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: September 12, 2008 15:03 EDT

I promise that I will intersperse your regularly scheduled programming...

2008-09-13T09:46:00.002-04:00

But for today...

Roger Ebert on Sarah Palin: The American Idol candidate

September 11, 2008

BY ROGER EBERT Sun-Times Movie Critic

I think I might be able to explain some of Sarah Palin's appeal. She's the "American Idol" candidate. Consider. What defines an "American Idol" finalist? They're good-looking, work well on television, have a sunny personality, are fierce competitors, and so talented, why, they're darned near the real thing. There's a reason "American Idol" gets such high ratings. People identify with the contestants. They think, Hey, that could be me up there on that show!

My problem is, I don't want to be up there. I don't want a vice president who is darned near good enough. I want a vice president who is better, wiser, well-traveled, has met world leaders, who three months ago had an opinion on Iraq. Someone who doesn't repeat bald- faced lies about earmarks and the Bridge to Nowhere. Someone who doesn't appoint Alaskan politicians to "study" global warming, because, hello! It has been studied. The returns are convincing enough that John McCain and Barack Obama are darned near in agreement.

I would also want someone who didn't make a teeny little sneer when referring to "people who go to the Ivy League." When I was a teen I dreamed of going to Harvard, but my dad, an electrician, told me, "Boy, we don't have the money. Thank your lucky stars you were born in Urbana and can go to the University of Illinois right here in town." So I did, very happily. Although Palin gets laughs when she mentions the "elite" Ivy League, she sure did attend the heck out of college.

Five different schools in six years. What was that about?

And how can a politician her age have never have gone to Europe? My dad had died, my mom was working as a book-keeper and I had a job at the local newspaper when, at 19, I scraped together $240 for a charter flight to Europe. I had Arthur Frommer's $5 a Day under my arm, started in London, even rented a Vespa and drove in the traffic of Rome. A few years later, I was able to send my mom, along with the $15 a Day book.

You don't need to be a pointy-headed elitist to travel abroad. You need curiosity and a hunger to see the world. What kind of a person (who has the money) arrives at the age of 44 and has only been out of the country once, on an official tour to Iraq? Sarah Palin's travel record is that of a provincial, not someone who is equipped to deal with global issues.

But some people like that. She's never traveled to Europe, Asia, Africa, South America or Down Under? That makes her like them. She didn't go to Harvard? Good for her! There a lot of hockey moms who haven't seen London, but most of them would probably love to, if they had the dough. And they'd be proud if one of their kids won a scholarship to Harvard.

I trust the American people will see through Palin, and save the Republic in November. The most damning indictment against her is that she considered herself a good choice to be a heartbeat away. That shows bad judgment.

Adventures in StatCounter...

2008-09-12T16:51:00.000-04:00

Most popular search terms used to find my blog:

3 21.43% ran over squirrel
2 14.29% mombi nice in market
1 7.14% palin interview nervous tics
1 7.14% mombi - queen of the fated end
1 7.14% jared jewelry commercial
1 7.14% who wrote never forget
1 7.14% jared jewelry jingle
1 7.14% jared galleria of jewelry commercial video
1 7.14% reselling tjmaxx ebay
1 7.14% ball is moving
1 7.14% i hit a squirrel with my car

Can we get a gatekeeper to approve/deny ads? Seriously, people!

2008-09-12T08:28:00.000-04:00

And a pinch to grow an inch...

2008-09-11T22:12:00.001-04:00

Sarah Palin ABC interview

2008-09-11T21:55:00.002-04:00

Part 1:

Part 2:

And almost immediately following, the Associated Press posted a reply

Why I am voting (and volunteering for) Barack Obama

2008-09-11T09:39:00.011-04:00

I've been thinking about how to put this all into words and for some reason I was finally able to do so this morning...

I went through the whole Hillary/Obama debate during the primaries, as I've been a Hillary supporter for many years. If she would have run in 2004, she would still be president and I would be one happy camper--I think she just missed her window.

Early on in the campaign, Michelle Obama said something very stupid in reference to feeling like this was the first time she was proud of her country. I'm sure it was a lesson well learned for her to keep her emotions in check. But I think what she meant to say echoes how many of us feel - like this "big bad bully" of our goverment has done whatever they have felt like doing, never is truly for the people, is cocky, and corrupt. So for people to rally behind someone she truly believes in--I can understand this being the most proud she's ever felt or that this dramatic instance in her life restored some faith in humanity.

I think the very game of politics and how it is reported to us has completely spiraled out of control and it's not just the fault of the media, but the politicians themselves for never giving us straight talk. Everything is processed and boiled down to the lowest common denominator and what it really has made it is an "I like/don't like them" instead of choosing the candidate who will support the policies that effect our lives and circumstances.

Do I think that Obama is some messiah sent to save us from the evil republicans and change the very fiber of our government? Nope!

(Do I think *HE* thinks that he is the chosen one? Nope!)

Will he deliver on *every* promise? Nope! (Um, hello? The president doesn't write laws!)

But what he will do is focus our legislative branch on the issues that are important to me - ending the war in Iraq, developing our economy, and protecting the environment. I've been completely engrossed in listening to international news, watching just about every documentary that I can get my hands on, etc. You should really see "Why We Fight," "Who Killed the Electric Car?" and read both Obama and McCain's books... They're very enlightening. I've been meaning to post my review of McCain's books, as promised, but lately I haven't been able to find the words to express my feelings on these topics, so I've just been reposting articles of interest.

But here's my conclusion on McCain: He scares the shit out of me. He's a clear path to war in Iran, ignoring the negative impact we're having on the environment and depleting our natural resources, continuing to prevent alternative fuel vehicles to entering the marketplace, and continuing to give tax cuts to the wealthy in hopes that it'll trickle down to us. It doesn't work, but it does get you re-elected!

And as far as the "change" debate - Obama isn't going to be able to take on all of Washington on his own and I don't expect him to. But he is really motivating a new generation and demographic (myself included) to actually get involved in politics--and that is what will bring about true change.

This election is very important because it is about all of the jaded, apathetic, downtrodden people who have been inspired by Obama's message and actually feel the very real possibility that their voices will be heard. These are the people on the grassroots level who may become involved in politics and create change. These are the people that we cannot disappoint.

I'm glad that republicans are understanding the importance of engaging the younger generation and I think their selection of Sarah Palin is a nod toward that effort - but I think her selection was a last minute (and not well thought out) decision. It's hard to jump on the "change" bandwagon this late in the game and get any skeptics to truly believe that it's your platform. And the web of lies that follow her isn't good footing to have anyone believe what she has to say (when they finally let her give an interview).

The debates cannot get here fast enough.

Bored this evening?

2008-09-10T10:48:00.003-04:00

I'm headed to the Obama headquarters near me to work the phone banks from 6-9 p.m. if you want to join me.

xoxo,
Mombi

The candidates on Veteran's affairs...

2008-09-08T15:44:00.003-04:00

A friend mentioned that her boyfriend's father was voting for McCain because he is a veteran. Service to our country is of the utmost importance and I certainly think he deserves our admiration, but of course I need to point to a voting record to see if the support for troops remains... Again, please feel free to submit any corrections you would like.

McCain's Veterans' Affairs Voting Record:
· Keep “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy - it works. (Jan 2000)
· Voted NO on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months. (Jul 2007)
· Voted NO on preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees. (Sep 2006)
· Voted NO on requiring CIA reports on detainees & interrogation methods. (Sep 2006)
· Voted YES on reauthorizing the PATRIOT Act. (Mar 2006)
· Voted YES on extending the PATRIOT Act's wiretap provision. (Dec 2005)
· Voted NO on restricting business with entities linked to terrorism. (Jul 2005)
· Voted NO on restoring $565M for states' and ports' first responders. (Mar 2005)
· Voted NO on adopting the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. (Oct 1999)
· Voted YES on allowing another round of military base closures. (May 1999)
· Voted YES on cutting nuclear weapons below START levels. (May 1999)
· Voted YES on deploying National Missile Defense ASAP. (Mar 1999)
· Voted YES on military pay raise of 4.8%. (Feb 1999)
· Voted NO on prohibiting same-sex basic training. (Jun 1998)
· Voted NO on favoring 36 vetoed military projects. (Oct 1997)
· Voted YES on banning chemical weapons. (Apr 1997)
· Voted YES on considering deploying NMD, and amending ABM Treaty. (Jun 1996)
· Voted NO on 1996 Defense Appropriations. (Sep 1995)
· Federalize aviation security. (Nov 2001)
· Rated 0% by SANE, indicating a pro-military voting record. (Dec 2003)
· Sponsored bill giving higher priority to rail security. (Jul 2005)
· Sponsored bill banning torture of terrorists in US custody. (Jul 2005)
· Innovate intelligence-gathering for future hard targets. (Mar 2005)
· Assessments of al Qaida in Afghanistan in 2001 were accurate. (Mar 2005)
· CIA needs more focus on counterterrorism. (Mar 2005)
· So-called Legal Issues are myths; not real CIA hindrances. (Mar 2005)
· Intelligence community shares information poorly. (Mar 2005)
· CIA should work more with scientists to understand WMDs. (Mar 2005)
· Sponsored bill for Iraq budget to be part of defense budget. (Jun 2006)
·

Obama's Veterans Goals

· Improve veterans' mental health treatment & PTSD benefits. (Feb 2008)
· Address the deficiencies in the VA system. (Jun 2007)
· The cost of the Iraq war should not shortchange VA benefits. (Jun 2007)
· Make sure the outpatient facilities work for veterans. (Jun 2007)
· Comprehensive plan for our veterans healthcare. (Mar 2007)

Obama's Voting Record

· Support veterans via the Dignity for Wounded Warriors Act. (Aug 2007)
· Voted NO on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad. (Aug 2007)
· Voted YES on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months. (Jul 2007)
· Voted YES on implementing the 9/11 Commission report. (Mar 2007)
· Voted YES on preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees. (Sep 2006)
· Voted YES on requiring CIA reports on detainees & interrogation methods. (Sep 2006)
· Voted YES on reauthorizing the PATRIOT Act. (Mar 2006)
· Voted NO on extending the PATRIOT Act's wiretap provision. (Dec 2005)
· Voted YES on restricting business with entities linked to terrorism. (Jul 2005)
· Voted YES on restoring $565M for states' and ports' first responders. (Mar 2005)
· Sponsored bill for Iraq budget to be part of defense budget. (Jun 2006)
· Restore habeas corpus for detainees in the War on Terror. (Jun 2007)
· Establish global strategy to defeat al Qaeda. (Feb 2008)

The dollar and cents of it all

2008-09-08T11:09:00.003-04:00

A CNN Money article on the what the McCain and Obama proposed tax policies really mean for all of us, in dollar and cents. The article includes a response from both campaign camps.

In 2004, John Kerry lost Ohio by approximately 9-10 votes per precinct.

2008-09-06T10:22:00.002-04:00

Well, when you put it that way, bothering your friends and neighbors means a whole lot more, doesn't it?

Fall Trend Alert: PANTS!

2008-09-05T15:46:00.002-04:00

Courtesy of the marketing gurus at Victoria's Secret, this little gem just arrived in my inbox...

OMG! PANTS! With free shipping! How can I contain my excitement? I've always wanted to try pants!

And holy crap, here's another doozy

2008-09-05T00:06:00.004-04:00

FAIR WARNING:

After spending the past few months reading both Obama's and McCain's books, watching both conventions, and immersing myself in lots of media - everything from Fox News, CNN, NPR, NBC, to more non-traditional outlets such as the BBC and the Jewish News... I give up. I've lost all hope of open mindedness because I have seen everything there is to see in the Republican agenda for this election and I reject it wholeheartedly. We may have lots of similar ideals, but the strategies and tactics to accomplish these goals I disagree wholeheartedly. So the floodgates have opened, and if you're in support of the McCain ticket, you might not want to check in here for awhile...

I'd like to thank Dooce for taking note of this Associated Press ("not biased liberal media rhetoric") article. You really should read her most recent post (linky on the sidebar.)

I'm glad to see republicans starting to recognize their need to find more middle ground and connect with the common American. But I also see great value in democrats standing firm in their beliefs and recognizing their need for fiscal responsibility and smaller government. Once those two ideals are married with the already existing social agenda, I'm going to be happy as a clam.

If anything happens with Biden, I nominate Jon Stewart...

2008-09-04T23:51:00.002-04:00

Ridiculously wonderful... Five minutes of absolute glory.

If you want to play the game, put your big boy/girl pants on and just play it.

Now taking last minute suggestions

2008-08-28T17:19:00.002-04:00

Kirk and I are looking for something to do this weekend--somewhere that can be traveled to relatively inexpensively or a car trip, 5 hours or less.

We can leave Saturday afternoon and return Monday... Any brilliant ideas?

This made me laugh...

2008-08-25T14:11:00.001-04:00

I know I'm beating my political drum again, but this ad made me laugh:

One lump or two?

2008-08-23T16:58:00.019-04:00

So earlier this year I thought of having a family tea party for all of the girls in my family, young and old(er). The idea was to get all dressed up like a kid would for a fancy party and just have some fun. I was so excited about the idea when I first thought about it that I laid in bed, totally awake, thinking of ideas of things to do and how to make it fun. I had to get out of bed and write out some notes and do a few sketches before I could fall asleep.

I'm lucky to have wonderful women and delightful little neices on both side of my family, so now that I have time off of work, I like to put together days like this. The girls are at the right age to just be little girls and have fun before school and friends make them think their family is uncool. So I've been trying to get everyone's schedules coordinated this summer and it was very hard to do--well, it turned out that my grandparents were visiting this week from Florida, so we were able to schedule everyone. This was a double blessing because my Grandma Q has liver cancer and a few months ago was only given a few days to a few weeks to live, but she's here and from you can see in the pics that follow, smiling and enjoying herself. It's such a treasure to be able to make these memories with her and the rest of the family.

Also in the theme of "luck," I'm lucky that my family is a bunch of good sports, so they let me run wild on stuff like this. Here are the fruits of my labor:

Like I've said before, there are 3 elements to throwing a great party. First is decor... I made this canopy out of tulle, a hula hoop, some ribbon and some butterflies that were on wires. All leftovers from other events (So, FREE!)

Liz helped me out on the canopy and butterflies. I think it looks really cool.

This gave me an excuse to use a lot of my beloved party accessories. I used vintage sheets for the linens and tucked into the napkin is candy jewelry. The adults have a vintage handpainted mirror placecard and the little girls had felt flowers with their names on them. I used my vintage tea set that LexyLux gave to me, along with a lot of fun glassware.

We played Tea Party Bingo!

The girls decorated picture frames with stickers and I printed family photos that I put into the frames and handed out at the end of the party. Kirk bought me the time in order to do this by telling the kids a story with his puppet, Francois, but I don't have any pictures of that... I'll get some soon!

Like I've said before, the guest list is element #2 (well, technically it's the #1 thing, but I always like to show the decorations first because it "sets the stage" for the rest of it!

Ellie and Emily

The Olmstead crew, complete with Kirky as "Dash Dashington." Back row - Amanda, Jessica, me. Front row - Emily, Karen, and Malia.

My side of the family--Grandma O'Kate, me, Dao, Ellie, Grandma Q, The DolliMama, and Liz.

After lunch, everyone played dress up. Emily went tastefully vintage--I'm so jealous!

Malia, Ellie, and Emily enjoying being little girls...

Last but not least, the menu. We had blueberry scones with lemon glaze,

Petit fours with apple butter, raspberry, and passion fruit filling (they didn't turn out as lovely or as tasty as when I did them last time, but they were OK.

I also made chicken salad croissants, fruit salad, and we had iced tea, minted lemonade, and a selection of hot teas.

So that's it! Ta-Da!!

Songs I wish I had written or performed...

2008-08-16T22:47:00.003-04:00

If I had one super talent, it would probably be the ability to sing really effing well. Like Aretha Franklin, Jennifer Holiday, and Linda Eder wrapped into one powerhouse little Italian girl. But if you've been punished with hearing my singing voice--first, I apologize. Really, I didn't mean to hurt you. I love to sing, but the sound of my voice is almost intolerable.

Anyway, I digress. This song is definitely in the top 10 songs that I would want to sing if I could sing well. Enjoy.

So this theme isn't as good of a music commentary as Estivator, but since I would give anything to be able to sing, you're stuck with hearing about it.

xoxo

You don't have to agree, but you should be paying attention.

2008-08-15T08:45:00.030-04:00

I know you've all been inundated with the election at hand, and quite possibly on Obama/McCain overload. Well, I have to admit that I've always been one to skim a newspaper right before an election, watch a minimal amount of news, and vote along my party's lines. And I'm sure it's no secret to you that I'm a card-carrying democrat/liberal and third wave feminist.

Did I scare you off? I said both LIBERAL and FEMINIST in the same sentence! Whoa buddy! Good thing it's a Friday and we'll have the whole weekend to sleep off the stress from that one!

I've harbored guilt that I've never really understood the political game much beyond how the media processes it for me. I don't know if it's time, attention span, intelligence, or just plain laziness that's caused me to be the type of hand-fed, dumbed-down American that I disdain. But alas, the time has come to admit it. I'm sure you suspected, anyway.

But this year, the election coverage has had me enraged - You might remember it from our little discussionHERE, that I wanted to reject what had been fed to me by the media in 30 second snippets. They told us that McCain's an old, rich white guy who *STILL* thinks this war is an A-OK idea, Hilary was a wild-eyed, conniving bitch and "Barack Hussain Obama" is an inexperienced preacher.

But wait! Did they mention that he's a black guy with a name that sounds scary in this post Saddam Hussain/Osama bin Laden era? He's not allowed to mention it himself without warranting a barrage of "OH MY GOD! HE JUST SAID HE'S BLACK! HE'S PLAYING THE RACE CARD!"

Anyway. Tangent over. I promise to stop now. Are ya still with me? Probably not. *sigh*

So part (the other part is to read the news DAILY from a variety of sources) of my decision to find more information was to read both of his books - Lessons from my Father and The Audacity of Hope. I cheated a little by listening to them on CD in my car, but I found both to be riveting accounts of a man who is hard working, intelligent, experienced, and motivating. I suggest that you read/listen to these books for yourself--they were written about 10 and 4 years ago, respectively. One is an account of his life and his family's extraordinary origins and the other is on the current state of affairs, what he has learned about government and Washington, and how things can be done in a new way. I might just listen to The Audacity of Hope a 2nd time. I got teary at several points in Lessons from my Father.

AND... drumroll please--I have put in requests at the library for both of MCCAIN'S books (one a memoir, one a political selection), just to be fair. And I promise to give you a review on here.

But I wanted to leave you with a video from the 2004 Democratic National Convention. I'm willing to admit that at the time of this speech, he probably knew he had aspirations for The White House, but it's not campaign babble. I feel that this speech speaks to his aspirations and values that drive his focus and policies, many of which were expounded on in great detail in his book.

I'm just hoping you're willing to watch, listen, and give it some thought.

Best "Out of Office" Automatic e-mail Replies:

2008-08-14T16:26:00.000-04:00

1. I am currently out at a job interview and will reply to you if I fail to get the position.

2. You are receiving this automatic notification because I am out of the office. If I was in, chances are you wouldn't have received anything at all.

3. Sorry to have missed you, but I am at the doctor's having my brain and heart removed so I can be promoted to our management team.

4. I will be unable to delete all the unread, worthless e-mails you send me until I return from vacation. Please be patient, and your e-mail will be deleted in the order it was received.

5. Thank you for your e-mail. Your credit card has been charged $5.99 for the first 10 words and $1.99 for each additional word in your message.

6. The e-mail server is unable to verify your server connection and is unable to deliver this message. Please restart your computer and try sending again.
(The beauty of this is that when you return, you can see how many in-duh-viduals did this over and over.)

7. Thank you for your message, which has been added to a queuing system. You are currently in 352nd place, and can expect to receive a reply in approximately 19 weeks.

8. Hi, I'm thinking about what you've just sent me. Please wait by your PC for my response.

9. I've run away to join a different circus.

10. I will be out of the office for the next 2 weeks for medical reasons. When I return, please refer to me as 'Loretta' instead of Steve.

I don't know if I mentioned this to you, but I'm really, really, ridiculously important.

2008-08-13T13:13:00.000-04:00

Survey by request

2008-08-08T13:48:00.004-04:00

So I got a tag from Kirstie @ Different is Always Good and I promised to be a good sport.

Rules:
1. Link to the person who tagged you
2. Post the rules on your blog
3. Write 6 random things about yourself
4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them
5. Let each person you have tagged know by leaving a comment on their blog
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is posted.

fair enough huh?!

My random things:
1. Hearing the word "moist" makes me want to hurt someone. Not because of the meaning, as no other variations of the word "wet" bother me, but there is something about the "oist" sound that makes me shudder.

2. I was once peed on by a zebra at The Cincinnati Zoo and then proceeded to block the incident out of my mind for about 5 years. Further evidence that I am awesome (the mental blocking, not the animal evacuation). I now remember the incident clearly--standing in front of the roped off area, as the zebra turned around, shook it's butt a little (I started to laugh, there's a great possiblity that my mouth was open), and then it sprayed all over me. I was about 7. Well, then around age 13, I randomly walked up to my mother as she was cooking dinner and asked nervously/confused, "Hey Mom, can I ask you a question?" She took a deep breath, nervous that this was about to lead into a "birds and the bees" discussion, and replied, "Sure." "Um, when I was a kid... Did a zebra pee on me?" She stifled a laugh and breathed a sigh of relief and I turned and headed out of the kitchen mumbling to myself, "Huh. I guess I thought that was a dream." For the next 10 years or so, every time I had a cake for a birthday, graduation, etc. there would be a zebra sign on it with a "no sign" through it--like the red circle with the diagonal line. And then each year I would have to relive the trauma as I picked up the birthday cake and the entire bakeshop would have to come out front to meet "the zebragirl," as my mom had told them the story when she placed the order.

3. If I had to choose one thing to eat for the rest of my life, it would probably be ahi tuna. Or mac n' cheese. Man, it's a close race, but I think ahi wins because you can have it raw or pan sear it and it's amazing.

4. I can be a bit of a crier sometimes. Not all of the time, but when I do, pretty much my entire face explodes with tears. And if you're around me when it happens, it's usually a random moment when you don't expect it. Example - I decided not to compete for the title of Miss Ohio during my last year of eligibility. I told everyone that I wanted to "just age out gracefully" but in all honesty, I could not handle the torture of trying to perform a talent anymore. About a week after the last local of the year (which I attended and had no problems), I was driving in the car with Kirk when the song, "Electric Avenue" came on the radio. This song had been a production number song during one of my trips to Miss Ohio and suddenly all of the memories, the fears, and the stress came flooding back to me. I thought about it for a moment, and how excited/nervous all of the girls for the current year had to be. But then it hit me--I was never going to achieve my dream. I burst into tears, but started laughing at the same time. I kept repeating, "This is so stupid! I'm sorry! This is so stupid!"

5. I only have two cooking specialties and Kirk doesn't really like one of them. #1 is "Ta's Chicken" a garlic fried chicken with parsley pasta which Kirk didn't like at first, but has grown to love. Well, techincally, I think it's my mom's recipe but one of my fondest childhood memories was of my dad making it for my birthday each year, singing Beatles tunes in the kitchen as he breaded and floured the chicken breasts by shaking them in paper bags instead of dredging them through bowls. And I've tried to master a full Thanksgiving dinner (and I think to some success), but Kirk doesn't like a traditional Thanksgiving meal. BOOOO!!!

6. I have never been out of the country except for Canada and I consider that a major life goal that needs to be accomplished before K and I decide to start bringing children into the world. I don't know if anyone remembers my Hawaiian Honeymoon story, but it's kinda like that.

Now for my tagees--mwahaha! This is a chance to make some of you (who still may revive your blogs and not let them just sit there) blog!!
1. Dao
2. Kirky
3. Mommy says blah blah blah
4. Julie Gong
5. Coaster Punchman
6. Mariodith

10 things to know about John McCain:

2008-07-30T09:16:00.004-04:00

Courtesy of MoveOn.org...

For all the coverage this week of Senator John McCain's background, there are some important things you won't learn about him from the TV networks. His carefully crafted positive image relies on people not knowing this stuff—and you might be surprised by some of it.

10 things you should know about John McCain (but probably don't):
1. John McCain voted against establishing a national holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Now he says his position has "evolved," yet he's continued to oppose key civil rights laws.

2. According to Bloomberg News, McCain is more hawkish than Bush on Iraq, Russia and China. Conservative columnist Pat Buchanan says McCain "will make Cheney look like Gandhi."

3. His reputation is built on his opposition to torture, but McCain voted against a bill to ban waterboarding, and then applauded President Bush for vetoing that ban.

4. McCain opposes a woman's right to choose. He said, "I do not support Roe versus Wade. It should be overturned."

5. The Children's Defense Fund rated McCain as the worst senator in Congress for children. He voted against the children's health care bill last year, then defended Bush's veto of the bill.

6. He's one of the richest people in a Senate filled with millionaires. The Associated Press reports he and his wife own at least eight homes! Yet McCain says the solution to the housing crisis is for people facing foreclosure to get a "second job" and skip their vacations.

7. Many of McCain's fellow Republican senators say he's too reckless to be commander in chief. One Republican senator said: "The thought of his being president sends a cold chill down my spine. He's erratic. He's hotheaded. He loses his temper and he worries me."

8. McCain talks a lot about taking on special interests, but his campaign manager and top advisers are actually lobbyists. The government watchdog group Public Citizen says McCain has 59 lobbyists raising money for his campaign, more than any of the other presidential candidates.

9. McCain has sought closer ties to the extreme religious right in recent years. The pastor McCain calls his "spiritual guide," Rod Parsley, believes America's founding mission is to destroy Islam, which he calls a "false religion." McCain sought the political support of right-wing preacher John Hagee, who believes Hurricane Katrina was God's punishment for gay rights and called the Catholic Church "the Antichrist" and a "false cult."

10. He positions himself as pro-environment, but he scored a 0—yes, zero—from the League of Conservation Voters last year.

John McCain is not who the Washington press corps make him out to be. Please help get the word out—forward this email to your personal network. And if you want us to keep you posted on MoveOn's work to get the truth out about John McCain, sign up here:
http://pol.moveon.org/mccaintruth/

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sources:
1. "The Complicated History of John McCain and MLK Day," ABC News, April 3, 2008
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/04/the-complicated.html
"McCain Facts," ColorOfChange.org, April 4, 2008
http://colorofchange.org/mccain_facts/
2. "McCain More Hawkish Than Bush on Russia, China, Iraq," Bloomberg News, March 12, 2008
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aF28rSCtk0ZM&refer=us
"Buchanan: John McCain 'Will Make Cheney Look Like Gandhi,'" ThinkProgress, February 6, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/06/buchanan-gandhi-mccain/
3. "McCain Sides With Bush On Torture Again, Supports Veto Of Anti-Waterboarding Bill," ThinkProgress, February 20, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/20/mccain-torture-veto/
4. "McCain says Roe v. Wade should be overturned," MSNBC, February 18, 2007
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17222147/
5. "2007 Children's Defense Fund Action CouncilÂ® Nonpartisan Congressional Scorecard," February 2008
http://www.childrensdefense.org/site/PageServer?pagename=act_learn_scorecard2007
"McCain: Bush right to veto kids health insurance expansion," CNN, October 3, 2007
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/03/mccain.interview/
6. "Beer Executive Could Be Next First Lady," Associated Press, April 3, 2008
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h-S1sWHm0tchtdMP5LcLywg5ZtMgD8VQ86M80
"McCain Says Bank Bailout Should End `Systemic Risk,'" Bloomberg News, March 25, 2008
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aHMiDVYaXZFM&refer=home
7. "Will McCain's Temper Be a Liability?," Associated Press, February 16, 2008
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=4301022
"Famed McCain temper is tamed," Boston Globe, January 27, 2008
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/01/27/famed_mccain_temper_is_tamed/
8. "Black Claims McCain's Campaign Is Above Lobbyist Influence: 'I Don't Know What The Criticism Is,'" ThinkProgress, April 2, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/04/02/mccain-black-lobbyist/
"McCain's Lobbyist Friends Rally 'Round Their Man," ABC News, January 29, 2008
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4210251
9. "McCain's Spiritual Guide: Destroy Islam," Mother Jones Magazine, March 12, 2008
http://www.motherjones.com/washington_dispatch/2008/03/john-mccain-rod-parsley-spiritual-guide.html
"Will McCain Specifically 'Repudiate' Hagee's Anti-Gay Comments?," ThinkProgress, March 12, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/03/12/mccain-hagee-anti-gay/
"McCain 'Very Honored' By Support Of Pastor Preaching 'End-Time Confrontation With Iran,'" ThinkProgress, February 28, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/28/hagee-mccain-endorsement/
10. "John McCain Gets a Zero Rating for His Environmental Record," Sierra Club, February 28, 2008
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/environment/77913/
Support our member-driven organization: MoveOn.org Political Action is entirely funded by our 3.2 million members. We have no corporate contributors, no foundation grants, no money from unions. Our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. If you'd like to support our work, you can give now at:
http://political.moveon.org/donate/email.html
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Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Words I try to live by...

2008-07-28T15:06:00.000-04:00

About two years ago, I read an article (I think in Real Simple) about keeping your finances in check - How to keep spending down, make the most of your savings, the dangers of credit cards/interest, etc. It talked about how people waste money on "nothing" (also known as "the latte factor" to Oprah watchers)--a cup of coffee here, a another pair of black work pants that are on sale, etc. when they're saving for something bigger. I agreed with what they were saying, but then a line in the article really struck me - it asked, "Are you sacrificing what you want the most for what you want right now?"

Wow. That really put it into perspective for me! So much so, I was tempted to even write it on my debit card!! I had always avoided wasting money, but still at the end of the day/month, I quite often found myself wondering where the heck my money went! At the time, I wanted to save to buy a house and suddenly every time I was tempted to reach into my purse, it was all put into perspective. I wanted a house more than I wanted to run to Panera at lunch. I wanted a house more than another pair of flip flops. I wanted a house more than I wanted name-brand items at the grocery store. And suddenly I found that I indeed had more money for buying a house!

Fast forward a year and a half. Sure, I'm not penny pinching quite as hard as I was when we were saving for the house, but I still consider my purchases very carefully before making them. Most often I find myself asking, "Will this last or will I have to buy a replacement one?" "Do I *LOVE* it?" and "How much is this REALLY worth?" And sometimes I just walk around a store with an item in my hands to spend a little time "having it," but then I put it back on the shelf before I leave. It's my little way of tricking my brain into thinking that I have something for a little while without spending the money on it (and having it clutter up my home).

And this method of evaluation has run over into other areas of my life as well. Am willing to I sacrifice what I want the most (to feel healthy and good about myself) for what I want right now (maybe some fries and cajun wings from Quaker Steak?). Lately I have found that to be a resounding, "Hell to the no!" And the longer I go without eating absolute crap, the less it has appealed to me. Whoohoo! Two birds with one stone, eh?

I know we all have our triggers, turning points, and advice that resounds with us. This might not mean anything at all to you, but I share it in the offchance that this nugget resonates with you.

xoxo

"Where have I been?" you ask...

2008-07-20T23:31:00.028-04:00

So yeah. I haven't been a good blogger. And I am not going to redeem myself today with some witty observations about everyday life. But I will entertain you with photos. So here goes...

I had previously left out my other 5 neices and nephews because I wasn't sure how my sisters-in-law would feel about me putting pics of their kids on the internet, but since Amanda's joined blog-world (see my blogroll for "Family Moments"), I'll introduce them to you... these kids are a total blast!

This is Emily - Sweet, quiet, patient and thoughtful!

Emily and Zack--Zack is a hilarious handful! He loves trains and elephants and has the most vivid, wonderful imagination. When they coined the term, "Kids say the darnedest things," they were seriously thinking of him!!

I cannot believe that Mason is turning 7 this fall. I keep thinking he's turning 5 and just starting kindergarten. He was born on Halloween and Kirk and I had been together about 5 months at that point, so we were dressed for Halloween as Batman and Wonder Woman and went to visit his sister at the hospital in full costume! The nurses loved it and so did the other patients. Seriously, it is the coolest thing that I was able to be there (sometimes literally) when all 5 of these kids were born. Mason has always been Kirk's BFF and partner in pirate obsession, but he's just growing up too fast for me!!

Malia is the same age as Ellie (they're about 2 weeks apart and turning 4 shortly!) and is just as funny. She's constantly trying to keep up with Mason, all while being bulldozed my Max, who fears nothing. Oh, and did I mention that he's 2??

And in other news...

I think I've eluded to this, but it's time for my formal announcement that I started a new job in May, and one with a pretty interesting backstory. You may know the company by the logo above, but let's just safely call it "AG." Anyway, most of you know that I was a Care Bear collector from probably about 1995-2005 (I still have a ton of stuff, but I've sold a lot and I no longer purchase things. Well, I guess I should clarify that the only things that were left worth buying were the UK versions of the Care Bear cousins that ran between $500-1000... so that wasn't going to happen!) Anyway, when I was in college and getting started in PR, I would always say that my career goal was to work for AG in their PR department. I believe it also appeared on my pageant paperwork for a number of years. Well... guess where I work? Pretty effin' cool, eh?

These are the women that I need to thank for teaching me how to write. I know that I'm not doing them justice today by writing some fabulous blog about it all. I'm hoping to go into greater detail on this later, but this is a photo of me with my Grandma O'Kate and my junior high English teacher. Grandma taught me the basics and Mrs. Smith taught me the rest! I can't thank them enough.

We started the month with a trip to Myrtle Beach with the Luxes. Very good times were had and we saw a lot of random things. Here is the first, a sign that we drove past about 18 times and every time I thought to myself, "They should just call that building 'Carolina Vagina'." Mwa ha! ha!

In the same vein, this building that I spotted during the ride home must've been the headquarters for Tampax, 'cause that sh*t sure looks like a plug. ICK!

We came home to our strawberry patch a'bloomin and we enjoyed massive amounts of fresh strawberries for the next 2+ weeks. Awesome!

After my strawberry picking extravaganza, we immediately headed to Dao's house where we put Kirk's hair in tiny ponytails...

And them promptly cut it all off!

He had a HUGE bag of hair that was 10" in length, so it's been bagged and will be shipped off to Lock of Love shortly.

Humanitarian, artist, anthropologist, and total hottie... My husband!

Auntie Liz and Ellie walking through the 'hood looking adorable.

Speaking of adorable, Ellie climbed in Dao's blanket basket... I wish I could remember what she was pretending it was--maybe a car? I think it was something a little more odd than that. Dang it! I can't remember!

While I'm at it, I'm going to post some (relatively) recent family photos. They're from March, but they're too cute not to share!

This one just kills me--he's so good with kids!

Guess who cleaned out her closet?

It was time to rid myself of a massive amount of work clothes that didn't suit me, were out of style, didn't fit, and generally said conservative country club. It's time for a little more fun n' flair. Lidz came over last week and paired up ensembles for the entire week! That was awesome, but by the end of the week my feet were killing me from wearing like 5" heels for 5 days straight. But I scored some strap pads from La Tar'get Boutique today, so I'm ready for another week of foot punishment!

Have you met Francois? If not, it's time to head over ---> to The Norwegian Pirate's blog. Kirk's been working on his art and his puppet and he has some really amazing things going. I love his doodles, they're so creepy and cool!

Check out my couch cushion for the porch! I sewed it myself because I am awesome.

This one rocks as well. I didn't make the little pillows with the blue trim, but the cushion is all me! *bows*

Taking the chair cushion for a test drive with my beloved Twigga.

Me and Twiggamaroo!

Even Raleigh approves. But I guess that isn't saying much because he's pretty much a lazy turd.

While we're on the topics of my kittens, look how cute Twiggy is in his little pappoose! (I, on the other hand, look like ass. Pay no attention.)

Okie dokie... Well, I think we've covered a lot of ground today, haven't we? I promise to think of some fun things to share later, and I hope the pictures sufficed for now. I hope you're all enjoying your summer and the beautiful weather, 'cause mine is FLYING BY!!