ten on tuesday: ten things I want for Christmas

I did this last night and then my computer had a "fatal error" and it didn't post, so I am trying again today.

This week the topic for ten on tuesday is "Ten things I want for Christmas".

To be honest, this year I have not even compiled a list. I know that's crazy, because I LOVE Christmas, I LOVE lists, and I LOVE presents! So now I am going to have to go on a search to check out what's out there for presents.

1. EXTREME BOP IT.

We used to have one of these and we LOVED it. We gave it away - I don't regret the decision to give it away, I just would like to have another one for us! Of course now you can't find them anywhere in stores. Why do they make great toys almost impossible to find?

2. PESSIMIST MUG from Despair.com

Last year I recieved a calendar from despair.com and I love it. I don't really need another mug. Heaven knows I hate washing mugs, but I love this.

3. I would love to buy my spouse an SLR camera. She takes great pictures. If she had a better camera ...WATCH OUT!

4. LIVERPOOL BALL CAP.

I'm a little short on ball caps. One can never have too much Liverpool gear.

5. JAMES CHRISTENSEN PRINT.

My Spouse and I came across a magnificent original work by James Christensen one year when we were shopping in Salt Lake. We have never seen a copy of this work, but we fell in love with the art of James Christensen that day and it would be awesome to hang one of his works of art in our home.

6. CROSS STITCH.

I don't think I need more, but I sure love it. Ohhhh. THREAD!

7. PRUNING SHEARS.

What would ANY gift exchange be without pruning equipment?

8. FISHER PRICE CAMERA
My son copies everything we do and he has recently become fascinated with cameras. REAL ones of course. We have an old broken on he found and yesterday he was walking around pointing and shooting. It's important for us to SMILE. I would love to give him a camera and record his view of the world.

9. SNOWSHOES.

We have been saying for years that we would love snowshoes. I know for certain that my spousal unit WOULD use them. Me on the other hand. Well. I HAVE spent more time outside this year in general, so who knows?!

10. GREAT DANE.

We need another pet like I need a hole in the head. Then again, an additional hole in my head right now may make it easier for me to breathe right now. Who can resist a great dane puppy?

Stealing from "My 2 cents"

I am stealing from here. I am a fan of his site. A silent, lurking, copying type fan.

1. Do you like blue cheese salad dressing?
Yes I most certainly do.
2. Favorite late night snack?
Salty snacks. Figure it out.
3. Do you own a gun?
I have two guns. My left arm and my right.
4. What’s your favorite drink at Starbucks or other specialty coffee shop?
Anything creamy, even though I don't think I have ever been to Starbucks in my life.
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments?
I only get nervous in stirrups - right when he says "This will be a little cold".
6. What do you think of hot dogs?
I love them, especially cooked on a stick over a fire.
7. Favorite Christmas song?
I would have to say.... I like a LOT of Christmas music, so . . . . Little Drummer Boy.
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
I prefer orange juice in the morning, if I drink anything.
9. Can you do push-ups?
I can do push up bras, but I prefer them on others.
10. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry?
It was my wedding ring until I lost it.
11. Favorite hobby?
Watching tv or reading other peoples blogs.
12. Do you have A.D.D.?
No, I lost it.
13. What’s one trait that you hate about yourself?
Nothing I would share here.
14. The last disease you contracted?
A computer virus.
15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment.
I would so shimmy with any of the 3 women who just danced on DWTS. I need to do the dishes. I have to go to bed.
16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink?
Dr. Pepper. Coke. Iced Tea
17. Current worry right now?
Are the cops looking for the hitchhiker I picked up Friday?
18. Current hate right now?
Not being able to sleep though the night.
19. Favorite place to be?
Asleep and dreaming.
20. How did you ring in the New Year?
At home. Not In the cold, not in a crowd. Just how I like it.
21. Like to travel?
I like to travel and then come home.
23. Do you own slippers?
WTF happened to #22? (that's a direct quote from My 2 cents and worth repeating). I used to own slippers and my cats dragged them around until they were no longer fit for human use.
24. What color shirt are you wearing?
Skin tone. LOL. Actually it is blue with baby puke on the shoulder.
25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets?
I like to sleep PERIOD. Have we not determined this already?
26. Can you whistle?
Nope.
27. Favorite singer/band?
I like LOTS of singers and bands. Recently I like thriving Ivory, but I ALWAYS like P!NK.
28. Could you ever make it 39 days on the show Survivor?
I could. And I would like to go on a survivor diet. it is a better option than a meth diet - which I have also considered.
29. What songs do you sing in the shower?
Whatever I am thinking of when I wake up.
30. Favorite girl’s names? Mine
31. Favorite boy’s name? Simon
32. What’s in your pocket right now?
I emptied my pockets to wash my pants tonight.
33. Last thing that made you laugh?
Watching the gay boys on DWTS.
34. Like your job?
Mostly.
36. Do you love where you live?
WTF happened to #35? (again - a direct quote) I will love it more when we have fixed it up. But I am happy it is warm and only slightly drafty.
37. How many TVs do you have in your house?
Three, but only two plugged in.
38. Who is your loudest friend?
I think I am the loudest among my friends. Sometimes I hear my voice echo. For real. And it has scared me.
39. Do you drive the speed limit or speed?
I drive the speed limit because my vehicle wont go faster than that.
40. Does someone have a crush on you?
I would love it if Cally had a crush on me. Or p!nk.
41. What is your favorite book?
Right now my favorite book is the story of Edgar Sawtelle because it is the one I am reading.
42. What is your favorite candy?
Peanut M and M's, or black licorice.
43. Favorite Sports Team?
LIVERPOOL!
44. What were you doing 12 AM last night?
Sleeping more deeply than I have slept in months.

Bullet Sunday 2

This is my second installment of Bullet Sunday. I took the idea from Dave.

• POLITICS. For the most part I don;t think people change much in their political beliefs once they reach adulthood. I have had conversations and debates and even arguments about politics with people whom I respect but whom have absolutely nothing in common with me politically. I think when I am through with these conversations, that it is very unlikely that they will say anything to sway my opinion and so I have little hope that I will sway theirs. Having said that, my own opinion on the death penalty has changed almost 180 degrees since meeting my spouse 12 years ago. My spouse and I have had some pretty heated debates about the death penalty. I was a firm supporter of it and she is not. While I still believe in it - and I still believe some people just should be put to death rather than spend my tax dollars supporting them for the rest of their lives, I think there are WAYYYYYYYYYY too many people on death row who should not be. While I am not an expert by any stretch of the imagination, here is some info on someone (Damien Echols) who I think should NOT be on death row. Link here.
• TEETH. Let us not underestimate the value of good teeth. I do not have them. I inherited bad teeth from a long line of people with bad teeth. While I am proud of my heritage, I would trade my teeth in half an instant. As much as I hate my teeth, I hate dentists more. My dentist in particular is very good at what he does, but when you are captive in the chair you are subjected to preaching hour - or more if you have crappy teeth and get stuck in the chair longer. I tend to make dentist appointments and then cancel them with regularity. I usually follow this pattern until I am caught in a situation like the one I find myself in today. The tooth I went to (and got a root canal on) has now disintegrated around the temporary filling that was put in. I was supposed to go back and get the temporary filling replaced. They said it wouldn't last long. It has lasted longer that the piece of crap tooth that had fallen apart around it and is now cutting into my gums and lip. Damn teeth. Damn dentist.
• P!NK. She is DAMN fine. Heaven only knows I am not the person one would go to for advice on clothing choice, unless you wanted to know what t-shirt slogan I liked the best. Sometimes I even manage to get a shirt and socks the same color (if they are both white). But really. P!NK in all her hotness was in sad sad shape tonight. The dress and the hair? What in lands name was that about? She's so hot I will forgive her. Queen Latifah on the other hand, I do not forgive. Not hot enough to excuse that horrible outfit.

November 19th

Today was one of those days that looks like it will just be another one to blend into the daily drag, but it turned out to be a great one!

I should have taken a hint this morning when I headed out early to work and the sun was just coming up and the sky was beautiful. I came back inside to tell SU to look at it, but I didn't think it was the mark of a great day since the only reason i saw it was because I was going to work early!

Then, I came home from work early because my spousal unit is STILL sick after almost two weeks of being quite ill. She was puking again today and she has no voice at all. She called to ask me to come home and I could barely decipher what she was saying. Having no voice seems to be more of a detriment to parenting than puking because without a voice we have a two year old who thinks he rules the world and a four month old who cries every time the spousal unit squeaks at him!

I came home from work and the baby was sleeping. This gave me some excellent playing time with Maximus. He was having a decent day and we laughed and played and giggled until it was time for me to take the baby to the doc for a follow up visit. I took the baby into town and Max went down for a nap. At one point he was sitting on me and squishing my head. I said "Bud, You are squishing my head and my nose". My SU said " Maxie, you need to get off mom's head and nose. She needs them for work." For some reason it struck my funny bone and I couldn't stop laughing. I need them for work! Of course when we laugh, Max laughs right along.

The baby slept all the way into town and all the way home...not at ALL like another little boy I know.

When I got home, Max was waking up from his nap. I went to pick him up and I could tell he hadn't slept long enough and was too grumpy. We came downstairs and I climbed into bed with him next to me and turned on " In The Night Garden". It is the only show that he is remotely interested in and sometimes stays still for. he lay next to me, snuggled into me, playing with my fingers and we watched the whole show together. That's 30 minutes. 30 minutes is the longest he has EVER laid still next to me, in fact we have never once done this before because he is always moving around so much. Earlier this afternoon I was discussing with a friend how he and the baby are SO different because he has never "chilled" one moment in his whole life, and the baby is just mellow and happy. Then, only a few hours later, the dude is laying with me, snuggling. It was a wonderful moment. Sometimes his gentle nature just comes shining through.

When the SU got back from running the dogs, she made dinner with Max in the kitchen while I held the baby. I fed him a bottle and he fell asleep on my chest. I sat in the chair, just holding him while he slept and it was fantastic.

This day seemed to be so "ordinary", in fact, parts of it were less than thrilling, but then all these little things happened along the way to make it one of the best days I have had in ages.

Max and I ate supper together, we bathed and got Max to bed, then I came and turned on the computer so I could check facebook and blog real fast. When the computer came on there was a reminder that today is our wedding anniversary. I asked my SU if she knew what day it was and she hadn't remembered either - which was totally funny. Then once we knew it was the DAY of our marriage it took another fifteen minute conversation to figure out how many years ago we were married! ( It is five) It's a pretty decent story, which I will blog about tomorrow, but I thought how crazy that I would have such a good day and it turn out to be my wedding anniversary.

Now I have blogged, Some stuff is worked out for work tomorrow, A visit we didn't want to happen has been cancelled and WE didn't do it!, I have taken the dogs out, It is my night to sleep and I hung out with the baby and laughed with him. I am going to bed FAST while this day is still so good.

you should study

Your Learning Style: Innovative and Independent

You are determined and driven. Confident in your abilities, no field is too difficult for you. You Should Study: Astronomy Biology Chemistry Design Engineering Philosophy Physics Political Science

What Should You Study?

Ten on Tuesday: ten things I am thankful for

You can link to see more participants here:


1. I am thankful for my family, my spouse and my two boys.
2. I am thankful for a warm house, especially now that the snow is flying.
3. I am thankful that my mom and my sister got to visit us at our house this year.
4. I am thankful we have a reliable vehicle so we will make it through the winter without major vehicle repairs.
5. I am thankful for a job in this time of economic unrest.
6. I am thankful for our PVR.
7. I am thankful for msn messenger which keeps me in close contact with my parents who live on another continent.
8. I am thankful that the MD will remove snow from our driveway so we am not homebound trying to dig ourselves out of our mile long driveway in the woods from now until April when the snow melts.
9. I am grateful we live in a country where we can be legally married.
10. I am grateful for laughter.

stealing from my 2 cents

Some people steal memes from random blogs, or if someone tags them. I steal memes also, but I seem to steal them all from the same place. So I am starting a new category... "stealing from my 2 cents". You can link to him here. It's worth it.

Sometimes I just need: to sleep all night through, then sleep all day, then sleep some more. Sometimes I want: food that cannot be purchased in my town.
Sometimes I like to: swear LOTS, because I can.
Sometimes all it takes: is more money.
Sometimes I picture: my home renovations complete.
Sometimes I wish: my homework was already done.
Sometimes I find: change in my pockets and it makes me happy
Sometimes I take: a powder for my head.
Sometimes I look: in the mirror and wonder who the hell is looking back at me.
Sometimes I hate: that every time we eat we have to wash dishes.
Sometimes it’s nice: to go on a vacation.
Sometimes it hurts: to stub my toe that sticks out like it is not attached to my body.
Sometimes it makes me happy: to see my son smile.
Sometimes it’s sad: when favorite television shows end and never return.
Sometimes I listen: to music while I drive.
Sometimes I sleep: but not very often lately.
Sometimes I like to watch: people.
Sometimes I feel: like I don't want period cramps EVER again.
Sometimes I rant: very loudly and then when my voice echoes it scares me.
Sometimes I never: want to work another day in my life.
Sometimes I really: wish.

What Goddess are you?

If you are interested in finding out what Goddess YOU are. Check it out here.

YOU ARE ATHENA

Animal: Owl
Color: Blue

Athena is one of the most powerful goddesses in Greek mythology. She was born from the head of Zeus. Zeus - father of all gods, and Metis - the titan of wisdom, had conceived a child. Zeus was worried about this child becoming more powerful than he was. He had the pregnant Metis turned into a fly and ate her. However, he later developed an incredibly powerful headache. He asked another god to bash him in the head to cure it, and out popped Athena, fully armored.
Athena is one of the most courageous of the Greek Goddesses. The city of Athens was named after her - a place of civilization, beauty, strength. Athena was the protectoress of the weak, the patron of warriors, the one who looked after women and children. She always liked to reason her way through an argument, but if she had to defend herself with weapons, she was extremely skilled. She was both independent and nurturing.
Athena is very good at crafts, and is most fond of pottery, spinning and weaving. She is the goddess of wisdom, and is usually represented by the wise owl.

Bullet Sunday 1

I am not a great web surfer, although I do spend a considerable amount of time doing it I tend to go to the same sites over and over and over again and I rarely see anything new or exciting.

Yesterday (while I was in class no less) I was surfing the we while participating in/listening to a conversation on white power and multiculturalism and I came across Dave at blogography.com. (If you are interested you can link to him here)

Because I was so very interested and engaged in the conversation in class, I read back over a lot of his posts and thoroughly enjoyed his writing.

In the highest form of flattery, I am going to copy his idea of Bullet Sunday. Here is my first installment.

• FOOD ALLERGIES. Right now everyone (but me) in the house is pretty sick, and I am just in denial about my illness. Usually when someone in the house gets sick we go through the regime of soup, ginger ale, crackers, etc. which carries us through to better days. Now we had to go and have a son with extreme allergies. Wheat allergy - translates to no crackers and no noodles in chicken noodle soup. Milk Allergy - no crackers, no noodles, then add no cream soups. And the list goes on. This kid is hard enough to feed on a "normal day". Sick days are straight from where Satan dwells.
• PARENTING ADVICE. In the waiting room, of the hospital on Friday I was looking at a parenting magazine. In completely unscientific reporting style I cannot recall the name of the mag, but there was a subtitle on the cover about sleep deprivation which caught my eye so I picked it up to see if they had any nifty suggestions I hadn't thought of yet. One of the suggestions in the article was to walk up and down the stairs with the baby in the middle of the night because the motion might settle the baby. While I will be the first to admit I am NOT an expert on babies OR on sleep deprivation, I have experienced both and I do NOT recommend walking up and down stairs in the middle of the night carrying baby. DON'T DO IT. I think someone who made the suggestion was deprived of something more than sleep.
• ROOIBOS TEA. When I was growing up and living in Zimbabwe, my grandmother at tea time would make me rooibos tea and toast with vegemite or marmite. I grew up loving both and they are a comfort to me when I am ill. Living in Canada and the USA I would have to rely on visitors from Africa to bring Rooibos tea when they came. Visits were not frequent and I often ran out of tea before I could get more. In college I found an online import store where I could order Rooibos and I was over the moon. If anyone has been watching television lately, Rooibos tea is all of a sudden the BEST thing since sliced bread. Apparently it has all kinds of antioxidants and other things people find desirable in tea. Now you can find the stuff EVERYWHERE. It was even one of Oprah's favorite things in an edition of her monthly magazine. While I am very glad I can walk into any store and find some. I feel in a way as though something special has been robbed from me.

Thursday Thirteen: things I never expected in my life

Here are 13 things I didn't expect from my life:

#1. I never expected I would be the jungle gym and car track and general playtoy for a 2 year old.
#2. I never expected to live in a small town.
#3. I never expected to be working on a Masters degree in Education.
#4. I never expected to live so far away from my parents.
#5. I never expected to have a 30 year mortgage. (LOL)
#6. I never expected to live to my 30's.
#7. I never expected to own a minivan and like it!
#8. I never expected that I would be living as a married lesbian woman with children.
#9. I never expected the USA to have a black president, but I am grateful it happened in my lifetime.
#10. I never expected that I would not have returned to Africa.
#11. I never expected that I would have been able to love so many children who are not my own.
#12. I never expected to know so much about babies with drug addictions.
#13. I never expected anyone would use the word "calm" to describe me.

mornings

I am not a morning person by any stretch of the imagination. My mother is very good at early mornings, actually I think probably everyone in the world is better at them than I am.
My mom can get more things done before I am even awake than I can dream of, and I can sleep through it all.
I don't like to get up. I don't like to eat breakfast. I don't like to go to bed early.
I have had - for the most part- a lifetime of jobs that do not require me to work in the morning. The ONE thing I like about coming to work early is leaving work early so I can go home and have an afternoon nap!
Last night I had to work and when I got home from work my whole entire family was sick. This time around I will NOT get ill, that is my mantra. I had to come to work today for a few hours to get some things done before I could go home and care for my family with a clear conscience. When my opening staff called last night to say she was not able to come in I thought it was perfect for me to be in at 6:30 am, get my stuff done and get out of here early.
Remind me never to do that again.
Did I mention I HATE mornings? It will take me a while to recover from the 5:30 am awake-up.
The time is almost 7:30 and I have a "behind the eye" headache already started. These bad boys bust into migraines if I am not careful. I know I won't be going home and crawling into bed because the whole damn family is sick. Last night my spousal unit was puking. My boy can hardly breathe around his soother. I'm going home to look after sickies. I hope they all want to sleep for a LONG time.

unconscious mutterings

Coverage :: insurance

Cynical :: me
Gust :: of wind
Improvised :: presentation
V :: victorious
Guests :: extended stay
Brutal :: slaying
Grant :: McEwan
Pull :: apart cheese
Streaming :: video

Friday Fill In

1. My blueprint for success includes taking chances.

2. Black licorice was the last candy I ate.

3. The best facial moisturizer I've ever used is um..water? I don't use facial moisturizer.

4. Cross stitch can be good therapy.

5. I'd like to tell you about my family.

6. My sense of humor is my strongest characteristic.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to bed early, tomorrow my plans include playing with the boys and Sunday, I want to nap, but I have to do homework and work!

Reasons why I am angry

There was a post on a GLBT website entitled "Today is the day but I am angry instead". (If you want to read it you can check it out here.) Certainly the writer is entitled to their opinion, but I disagree on one of the things that has been getting a lot of press.
Rosie O'Donnell and her spouse did not put any money towards fighting propositions in the elections that were anti-gay.
First of all, I don't know if anyone can definitively say that they DIDN'T put money to the causes, because they may have done without broadcasting it. However, even if they didn't put any money towards them I disagree that they should be lambasted for their decision.
As I see it, propositions that are anti-gay first of all are heavily supported and funded by religious organizations (like the Mormon church) and these organizations pour MILLIONS upon millions of dollars into getting these propositions passed. A monetary donation by a famous lesbian could not even come close to competing with the amount of money spent by religious organizations.
Rosie O'Donnell is a lightening rod. The people who love her, love her and the people who hate her, hate her. By putting money towards an ad she is really preaching to a choir who already know what tune she sings. I doubt she could garner support from anyone who is undecided.
I think that focusing on her and how she spends her money takes the focus AWAY from what I consider to be a more important issue and that is how a tax-exempt church is permitted to put money into political campaigns.
Churches are tax exempt because they are viewed as providing a benefit to society which the government is unable or unwilling to provide. However, there has been some incidences in the past which illustrate that the government has an opinion on what tax exempt religious organizations can spend money on.
The website http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/court/bobj_v_us.html gives some additional insight into a case in 1970 where a tax exempt school used money to promote discrimination.
Bob Jones University was a Christian university that believed interracial dating and marriage was contrary to the its faith. In 1970, the Internal Revenue Service prohibited granting tax-exempt status to private schools that practiced racial discrimination. The school school sued when the IRS revoked their tax-exempt status. The supreme court upheld the IRS decision in an 8-1 vote saying that the government has an "overriding, fundamental interest in eradicating discrimination". This case clearly demonstrated that the government's interests can outweigh individual religious beliefs. Religious belief can not be used as an excuse for engaging in behavior that violates socially important beliefs.
Let's stop excoriating people in the gay community and put the focus on religious organizations who use tax free money to buy political decisions.

"HI"

My boy has two words. One of them is "HI". He usually greets the pets with more enthusiasm than he greets humans. Today he came into the kitchen with me and got down on his hands and knees and spoke to what appeared to me to be the bottom of the dishwasher. "Hi!" he said with all the enthusiasm he could muster. I glanced down and didn't see anything and thought to myself the kid was going bonkers. A few minutes later I was back in the kitchen, this time alone, and who should come out to visit me from under the counter but a little mouse!
My boy may not be able to speak, but he's no dummy.

Thursday thirteen: numbers

Here is my contribution to Thursday Thirteen this week. I know I haven't been doing many TT posts lately, but I hope to be back on track now.

#1. One is the number I would like to see my team (Liverpool FC) finish in this season!

#2. Two is the number of dogs I have currently - Zuva and Tora (you can kinda see them in this picture).

#3. Three is the number of staff I have working at pub night tonight, though "working" doesn't really define what they are doing.

#4. Four is the number of kids we had at the house today under the age of 2. What a crazy day for me and a crazier one for my spouse after I left for work.

#5. Five is the number of assignments I have to complete for my current class. Five is the number of assignments I haven't started yet, but when I do I will "SLAVE" over them!

#6. Six is the number of keys I have on my residence keychain. I actually have three different keychains so if I happen to lose one of them I won't lose the keys to my entire life - just 1/3 of it!

#7. Seven is the number of months remaining until I work for another college and go through yet ANOTHER transition.

#8. Eight is the number of items on my list of things to do that I completed yesterday at work.

#9. Nine is the number of letters in my middle name.

#10. Ten is the number of songs I added to my blog tonight.

#11. Eleven is the number of anniversaries my spouse and I have celebrated together.

#12. Twelve is the number of plants I have in my office - actually I currently have 10, because K-Lo is babysitting two of them in her office where they have access to a window. They were suffering light deprivation. I think we are going to have to do a plant rotation. I don't think K-Lo is too thrilled.

#13. Thirteen is the number of things waiting in my email "to follow up on" folder.

Election results

Last night my spouse and I watched the results come in from the US election and shared a moment with the world of history in the making.
We are thrilled Obama won and can't wait to see what the next years will bring.
If you are interested check out this website on how the world would have voted.
Unfortunately, we think that Proposition 8 passed, I guess you can't win them all. A few steps forward and a giant step back.

what my spouse thinks I like to talk about

Yesterday for ten on tuesday the topic was "ten things I like to talk about."
When I got home from posting I was talking to my spousal unit about it and asked her to guess what I wrote. This is the list my spouse gave me of things she thinks I like to talk about:

1. sex
2. poop
3. angelina jolie
4. The idiots I work with (lollapalooza, voldemort, psycho, vomit ....)
5. What I would do if I won the lottery
6. Lazy people in my cohort
7. books I want to read/have read
8. family gossip
9. the boys
10. the pets.

I actually don't think I like to talk about poop - well, maybe I do cause it makes me laugh.

ten on tuesday: ten things I like to talk about

This week's topic on ten on tuesday is "ten things I like to talk about"
Here are my ten in no particular order....

1. I like to talk about P!nk, and Angelina, and Neve, and ... well o.k Hot Women,

2. I like to talk about Premier League, specifically Liverpool.

3. I like to talk about my boys.

4. I like to talk about Grey's Anatomy. How did that picture of Callie get on here?

5. I like to talk about my pets, especially my beloved Mukiwa.

6. I like to talk about my friends. My friends are funny.

7. I like to talk about music. Hey! It's Rob Thomas!
8. I like to talk about lesbian and gay issues.
9. I like to talk about David Beck.... I mean, I like to talk about Tattoos.
10. I like to talk about the stupid grades my professors give me after I SLAVE over assignments.

Election day

I don't think I have ever been this excited for an election in my lifetime.
We are on the verge of seeing the first African American voted into office in the USA and I can't be more thrilled. (I am almost as excited to vote for a new major in my town - LOL).
Today is my in-laws anniversary. They are dyed in the wool republicans through and through and they will vote that way until they can't vote anymore - which will be when they are dead. I wouldn't put it past my MIL to come back and haunt someone after she has passed just to get them to vote republican in her memory. I can see haunted polling booths in the future where all the votes for democrats in the computers get "miraculously" erased.
Since it is her anniversary AND voting day, I had to call her this morning to wish her a happy day on the morn of historic events in her countries history. I am sure she was thrilled to hear from me. She is a great sport and had a good laugh, even though I am certain she is sick to her stomach at the thought of a democrat in office.
I am counting the minutes to the closing of the polls and I can guarantee that we will be tuned to CNN and Fox news tonight.
(My MIL calls CNN the "communist news network" and ONLY watches Fox news. My spouse watches Fox news to see how they "spin" things, but then she also listened to Dr. Laura....)
This is exciting.
(after I wrote that this is exciting I remember thinking in days of yore that only OLD people got excited about elections. I know I am old now because my spouse pointed out to me last night I was getting not a grey hair, but a grey STREAK. AI AI AI !)

It's FATE

Angelina's daughter and my son had the SAME halloween costume. It's true. It was meant to be. Me and Angie, we are one in thought. I knew it all along.
Now if she'd just come over to chat about it.

nablopomo

Well today is the first day of national blog posting month. I love blogging and hopefully with the help of my spouse I will be able to come up with enough to say to write every day this month.
Right now I am sitting in my office at work (because my home computer doesn't work). My son and I came in to pay some bills and get some groceries he is "talking" on the phone while I am working on the computer.
Last night we went trick or treating and dressed both our boys up. We only went to five houses (only four of them were occupied) but Max had a blast. You wouldn't be able to tell if you had been IN one of the houses we visited, because he clung to his mothers legs like his life depended on it. Then all day today he pointed at his pumpkin candy holder and said "fun...fun". He wanted to go out on the porch with his bucket and knock, then have me open the door and give him treats. Not a bad game - for him!
OK. So a boring post for day one, but I made it!
Post again tomorrow.

Friday Fill in

1. My favorite food seasoning is garlic.

2. Rob Thomas is music to my ears.

3. Lucky is how I feel about my life.

4. My responsibilites are something I take very seriously.

5. Many people have absolutely no idea what is involved in foster parenting.

6. Tea lights for lighting pumkins was the last thing I bought at the store.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to trick or treating with the boys, tomorrow my plans include singing happy birthday on the phone to two nephews and Sunday, I want to nap - is there ever anything else I want to do on a Sunday?

Proposition 8

So I don't live in California, in fact I don't even live in the USA, but at one time I did and it was the US policy on gays and gay marriage that prompted our move to Canada. Don't get me wrong. I like Canada, however, I had a good job, good friends and a good life in the USA where I would still be today if the USA recognised gay couples for the LEGITIMATE unions that they are.

I worked for the State of Utah. I did a GOOD job at the place where I worked. I paid taxes. I should have been entitled to the same rights and privileges that heterosexuals enjoy without a thought. Some of my heterosexual relatives are working to get proposition 8 passed in California. I wonder if they have any idea of the negative impact it will have on hundreds of thousands of lives. I can't imagine that that have ANY clue. Not one of them has ever spoken to me about gay issues and I don't imagine they have spoken to anyone who is affected directly by this proposition.

I am astounded at the political action motivated around stopping people from being married in the USA. I am against Proposition 8. I doubt my opposition means anything to anyone who will be voting on this issue and yet I will still let my voice (small as it may be) be heard.

VOTE NO!

Manic Monday Meme

Here is my Monday meme, this time courtesy of Popping Bubbles

1. Are your parents married or divorced?They are married
2. Are you a vegetarian?No, but eating meat off a bone is something I cannot stomach. I could be a part vegetarian, what would that be?
3. Do you believe in Heaven?I don't know
4. Have you ever come close to dying?Yup, In a car with my friend Melody after Youth corrections training session
5. What jewelry do you wear 24/7? none
6. Favorite time of day?night time
7. Do you eat the stems of broccoli?I do, I love broccoli
8. Do you wear makeup?nope
9. Ever have plastic surgery?nope, but I'd take a breast reduction if someone offers.
10. Do you color your hair?Um….yes.
11. What do you wear to bed? sheets
12. Have you ever done anything illegal?not that I would admit to
13. Can you roll your tongue?Yes
14. Do you tweeze your eyebrows?I should, but it makes my eyes water too much.
15. What kind of sneakers?white ones
16. Do you believe in abortions? I believe absolutely in every woman’s right to choose what is best for her.
17. What is your hair color?reddish
18. Future child’s name?I think we have all the kids we are going to have - other than the animal kind
19. Do you snore?If I ever slept again, I would snore.
20. If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be? Today I would go to Africa.
21. Do you sleep with stuffed animals? No, real animals.
22. If you won the lottery, what would you do first? Pay off our house and buy a new vehicle.
23. Gold or silver? Silver.
24. Hamburger or hot dog? Generally I like hamburgers, but a hot dog cooked over an open fire is YUM - hence I am not a vegetarian.
25. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Uh.....rice maybe
26. City, beach or country? Since I already have more country than I know what to do with.... beach.
27. What was the last thing you touched? My Dr. Pepper Lip Balm
28. Where did you eat last? Last night I had a cheese and pickled onion sandwich when I got home from work.
29. When’s the last time you cried?Last week, when my mom was in the hospital and I felt too far to be of any good use.
30. Do you read blogs?Yes I do.
31. Would you ever go out dressed like the opposite sex?Uh... i wear jeans and t-shirts and ball caps, so I guess I already do go out dressed like the opposite sex.
32. Ever been involved with the police? Nope
33. What’s your favorite shampoo conditioner and soap?I LOVE the smell of Irish Spring soap but I don't use it. My favorite shampoo is Flex, from the USA, which I cannot get.
34. Do you talk in your sleep?On occasion.
35. Ocean or pool?Ocean
36. Who would you take on a ménage à trois for a dirty weekend?This week I thought I'd like Cally (from Grey's Anatomy) and P!nk.
37. Window seat or aisle?Window
38. Ever met anyone famous?Yah
39. Do you feel that you’ve had a truly successful life? I think I am working on having one. I have some things to accomplish yet.
40. Do you twirl your spaghetti or cut it?Twirl
41. Ricki Lake or Oprah Winfrey?Oprah, but I haven't watched her for ages.
42. Basketball or Football?Basketball
43. How long do your showers last? I take quick showers, but was just commenting to my spouse that the more tired I am, the harder it is for me to get out of the shower quickly because I am just not thinking clearly enough to get everything done.
44. Automatic or do you drive a stick?Stick.
45. Cake or ice cream?Ice cream
46. Are you self-conscious?Yes
47. Have you ever drank so much you threw up?No
48. Have you ever given money to a beggar?Yes.
49. Have you been in love?Yes.
50. Where do you wish you were? On a vacation
51. Are you wearing socks?Yes, but I don't think they are matching
52. Have you ever ridden in an ambulance?Yes, and the ambulance attendant was HOT
53. Can you tango?Nope
54. Last gift you received?A plant from my spouse and my boys.
55. Last sport you played?Is fooseball a sport?
56. Things you spend a lot of money on?Books in the past, but not lately. Lately we spend a lot of money on the boys.
57. Where do you live?In the country.
58. Where were you born? In a hospital
59. Last wedding attended? I think the last one was a reception for my sister.
60. Most hated food(s)? seafood
61. Can you sing? I think so.
62. Last place you went on holiday?The last vacation my spouse and I took was to San Francisco.
63. Favorite regular drink?Dr. Pepper
64. Current fave song? Love Lockdown. Kanye West

The smell of poop

In our home (which is really the bank's home, because we still have 29 years of payments to make), there was an odour. It's not uncommon for my TRAINED dog to leave us a fecal deposit when she decides she doesn't want to squat outside. We have been working very hard to make sure she gets out frequently, she just doesn't WANT to go outside. We live in the country and there are miles an miles of open fields in which she can run and poop, but the basement floor is simply more convenient. I take some solace in the fact that some famous people I have seen on television (the Osbourne's and Tori Spelling) also have dogs which do this to a much greater extent than our dog.

The other day it smelled BAD in our house which is the first indicator to me that Tora has pooped. So I took her to the door to force her outside - a little late I know - and when I opened the door the smell outside EXCEEDED the offending smell inside. Lucky for us, we live near a pig operation and the prevailing winds were from the northwest. We are directly in the path of pig poop odour. THEN, the farmers surrounding us decided that they would apply fresh manure to their fields. WOW. The smell is insane. The cold doesn't kill it and the 70 kmh winds we have had the past week have not dissipated it any quicker. ARG. The thing about this odour which is particularly offensive to me is the fact that I watched a special on PBS where they talked about smells and how a smell is really small particles of substance floating through the air and entering your nostrils. That's pig poop floating on the breeze. Particles of poop entering my nose. There was a time, when smells were so strong I thought it was a good idea to breathe through my mouth instead of my nose, so I didn't smell the grossness in the air. I no longer do that - since the thought of pig poop in my MOUTH is more offensive than pig poop in my nose.

I sure hope we don't have a winter of stink. Poor Tora took the blame (ONCE) for something she didn't do. I just don't know how to keep the outside smell out!

unconscious mutterings

Contemplate :: reflect
In the house :: warm
Classical :: music
Quest :: video games
Best friend :: BFF
1991 :: Long time ago, but some good music
Never will :: never say never (but I'll never eat lobster!)
Fool :: why do fools fall in love?
Unhappy :: pain
Best man :: My brother's and my dad

Friday Fill in

1. Right now, I'm feeling like I want this weekend to be over already.

2. Finished doing room assessments and in my bed is where I want to be.

3. How does one balance work life and home life when there's too much to be done?

4. My list of things to do keeps me on track.

5. Please don't make excuses for not following the residence rules.

6. Playing with my boys fills me with joy.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to getting done at work as EARLY as humanly possible while waiting on people to check out, tomorrow my plans include getting out of dodge and Sunday, I want to relax, but I have to work!

foster parent appreciation week

Apparently this week is foster parent appreciation week. We heard about it yesterday (Wednesday) when our foster parent support worker (whom has never visited our house) called and left a message saying that we were invited to a "tea" at the Provincial building where cookies and coffee and juice would be served.
I am feeling very appreciated.
It is almost as appreciated as I felt when I got my 5 year service award from my place of employment - in interoffice mail.
It's nice to feel needed.

ten on tuesday - ten favorite meals

I think I have actually posted something like this before, but I am happy to do it again. This week the topic on "ten on tuesday" is ten favorite meals.

1. When I was on my mission we would rely on church members for meals. For the most part in my mission this was very successful and we were fed well (we did eat some scary things still). One of the most memorable meals for me was prepared by an Iranian family who fed us Chelou Rice and Tadig. It was SOOOOOOOO yummy. I have never had it since, but one day I will find a way to try and recreate it. It is rice which is cooked with saffron and yogurt and the bottom of the rice makes a crust. It looks something like this:

2. From the Union Grill in Ogden, Spaghetti with browned butter and Mizithra. YUM.

3. From Ogden Pizzeria. Pizza. I have eaten all kinds of pizza from all different places and so far none of them have beaten the pizza from Ogden Pizzeria. My spouse and I would eat here and make plans on napkins. It is a "tradition" of ours to write on restaurant napkins.

4. Also on my mission, we had an appetizer of Artichoke hearts at one meal. (it is not typical to have appetizers for meals, but in one place we did!) I had never had artichoke hearts before and I was a little nervous to eat something that resembled a cactus to me, but I tried it out. Simply eating the artichoke dipped in butter was a great culinary experience.

5. I seem to be on a mission memory lane here, so either I ate good food on my mission and haven't eaten as well since, or as I prefer to think of it, there is a lot of good food in Seattle! We went to a restaurant, whose name I cannot remember but I am sure I could find it if I looked hard enough, and for dessert we had grilled peaches with whipping cream. It isn't something I would have picked off the menu and said "hey - this looks yummy" but the people who took us recommended it and I am glad they did. I would go back just for dessert.

6. My mom has three recipes which I LOVE. The first is Margie's Chicken and Nuts. I happen to really like my mom's cooking and I particularly like it now that i have moved away from home. When mom comes to visit I request these meals.

7. The second is Kedgeree. My mom says there really isn't a recipe for this and I suppose she is right. My spouse makes it and I enjoy it as much when she makes it as when my mom does. Basically it is just broiled haddock over rice. For someone who does not like seafood, I LOVE this dish. (It has been accused of being "bland" which I suppose it is.)

8. The last is one she started making after I left home but which I had in Singapore when I visited them there. It is called "chicken balls" and it is chicken wrapped in pastry with cream cheese, onions etc.

9. While I LOVE eating the tacos my spouse makes (mentioned below), we had a great meal at Diana's in Southern California. I have a bit of a Mexican food obsession.

10. Since moving to Canada my spousal unit and I have missed Mexican food TERRIBLY. We have had friends send us chorizo and corn tortillas in the mail so that we could cook for ourselves. A few years ago we went to San Francisco for my in-laws anniversary and we ate home made Mexican food EVERY day (Interspersed with El Pollo Loco). I was not sick of it at all, even though we had the opportunity to eat elsewhere, we declined in favor of home made tacos.

BONUS: Since I gave a few "home" recipes as favorite meals I am going to add two more. When I was in Singapore my family went to eat at a Thai restaurant and the meal was DIVINE. For dessert we had mango sticky rice and it was something to be remembered for sure. I am also a huge fan of thai fresh spring rolls. FRESH being the operative word. There was a restaurant in Ogden where we could get these and I did - as often as I could - and especially when I could take them to work and eat them in front of my co-workers as obscenely as I could.

25 months

Dear Max,
Wow, I don't know how the time has gotten away from me these past few months but it appears I have missed writing to you twice already. You are now a two year old and have entered this stage with fury. On your second birthday you woke up and promptly climbed out of your crib onto your change table where you got stuck and stood and called us until we came and saved you. I think you must not have liked the experience because (thankfully) you haven't done it again.
With all the time that has passed since I last wrote you would think I have a whole lot to say....
When you get up in the morning you walk with me to the back door when I leave for work. A few times you have been upset that I am leaving and it breaks my heart to close the door and walk away from you. I never thought that would happen to me!
Now that we have another little baby in the house your sensitive side has come shining through. You are so gentle with him and he is captivated by you. He watches everything you do and smiles at you constantly. You pat his back and put his soother in his mouth and are very loving with him. You rock him in his little chair, luckily you haven't yet rocked him OUT of his chair with your enthusiasm. When he arrived your mom got you a baby doll so that you would have your own "baby" to carry around and feed and burp etc. we thought it would help you to have your own baby, but you were completely uninterested in doing anything other than dragging it around by the head. Then when you were in the store with mom you picked up a stuffed tiger and you haven't put it down since. You carry it everywhere, try to feed it, you pat it's back and sleep with it, but it was the beginning of an amusing obsession with stuffed toys. Starting out with tiger you have now added to your menagerie a polar bear, a cat, and a dog. They ALL go everywhere with you and I have to pick them all up out of bed before you will get up in the morning and they all have to go with you in the van and to your naps and around the yard... everywhere. I now avoid walking you past any other stuffed animals because there soon will not be room in your crib for you!
Your mom called me at work the other day to say you had something to show me when I got home from work. When I walked in the door and you came around the corner I thought you had cut your own hair! That wasn't what your mom was talking about - she cut your hair (but I'm still telling people you did it!) - you found a hiding spot under the sink in the bathroom and think it is hilarious to hide under there and open the door and say 'HI!" when someone walks into the room.
I don't know if I mentioned your biting in the last letter I wrote to you. When you get very excited you bite. You don't do it often, and after the bite you gave me on my shoulder I have come to recognise the "bite approach" and avoid it. Poor Tora also recognises the bite approach. She isn't as fast moving as your ninja mommy and so she has been bitten a few times. So far she hasn't bitten you back, she really lets you do anything to her at all (including inspect her teeth and gums) but she is not a fan of the bite approach. I don't blame her.
Now that the weather has changed we have put away the fans in the quonset and relieved ourselves of your fan obsession. Not to be outdone, you now have an electricity obsession (to go with your phone and remote control obsession) and continually turn lights on and off and are drawn to anything which plugs in. We are trying to adapt, but you are hard to outdo! I am afraid I will never find the remotes if I put them in a place you can't think of.
Well bud. I will sign off for now.
I hope I have the strength to deal with you for the next 11 months you are a 2 year old. Be kind to your mommies!
Love mom

unconscious mutterings

Check out more unconscious mutterings participants by linking on the photo:

Magical :: mystery tour
Shrimp :: Bubba Gump
Project Runway :: haven't seen it
Economy :: Killed by George Bush
Porch :: Wrap around
State of affairs :: poor
.com :: Al Gore
Fifty cents :: not enough to buy anything
Ripping :: paper and throwing it all over the floor - as my son and spouse do for fun!
Bull :: Pukky

Friday Fill in

1. Follow the rules.
2. My toothbrush is something I always take with me on vacation.
3. To achieve your goals, you must have a goal to start with!
4. I work hard is something I'd like you to know about me.
5. I have a life.
6. According to Monty Pythonand the Holy Grail, witches (and wood) float.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to getting out of school, tomorrow my plans include Costco and Sunday, I want to nap!

Husband Meme

This is called the Husband meme and I took it from Emerald City Guy. It made me laugh when I saw it because when we came to Canada and had to fill out our marriage licence, I am listed as the "husband". Unfortunately Canadian forms are not changed at the same speed with which the laws are changed, so gay couples have to choose who will be the "husband" and who will be the "wife". I guess that's how many people think of us anyway!

What is her name? Spousal Unit
Who eats more? She drinks more Chocolate Milk and I eat more of everything else.
Who said I love you first? I'm sure it was me.
Who is taller? Moi - no matter how much she WANTS to be taller.
Who drives most when you are together? Actually, when we moved to Canada she couldn't drive so I drove all the time. Now I drive out of habit. She actually LIKES to drive more than me and I like to let her.
Who’s more sensitive? She absolutely is. I lack sensitivity.
Who does the laundry? She does, I try to help out, but don't do as much as I should.
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Which is the right side? when we are in bed she is on my left.
Who pays the bills? I do, but just because I have reliable internet access from work.
Who cooks more? She does and I should do more. She is a great cook.
Who is more stubborn? OOOOOOOOOOOOOOhhh. I think we are equally stubborn.
Who is the first to admit they are wrong? She isn't wrong much. I'm wrong more, so I will say I own up to it more?
Who has more siblings? I do.
Who wears the pants? We both do, but I am more comfortable in a skirt than she is. She is the boss but lets me think I am. The pets all respond to her and completely ignore me. I think that says it all.
What do you like to do together? Look at houses, read, watch movies, go to the theater.
Who eats more sweets? I eat more of everything.
Guilty pleasures? A day in bed with good books and some movies. We haven't done this for a LONG time.
How did you meet? We met at work. I was "straight" and I thought she was dating a dude who turned out to be her gay friend.
Who asked whom out first? I held her hand one night, she asked me what it meant and I said I did NOT want a serious relationship. That was 12 years ago.
Who kissed first? I kissed her or it never would have happened.
Who proposed? I think I did.
His best features and qualities? She is very kind hearted. A hard worker and most of all she puts up with me.

6 Random things

My friend Ranavan tagged me on her blog to post 6 random things about myself.

Here are my 6....

1. I sleep with one hand above my head. If I am sleeping in a bed with a headboard I touch the headboard while I sleep. If I am in a bed without a headboard, I touch the wall.

2. I decided this week that my absolute FAVORITE sound is when my son giggles. He has lately started copying my spouse and I and when we laugh, he laughs aswell. It is super cute and funny. He thinks he is in on the joke.

3. I can (often) change my dreams as I am dreaming them. I used to have a recurring dream of falling and hitting the ground and one night I changed the ground into a pool and didn't crash upon impact.

4. I like to make lists. I have all kinds of lists. I like to check things off my lists. If I do something that wasn't on my original list I will add it so I can check it off.

5. I don't think I will ever be the kind of mother my mother was to me. She was/is amazing and I hope I can do for my children just a part of what she did/does for me.

Obviously I cannot count. Thanks Ranavan for pointing out my error and here is number 6!

6. Lately I have craved cheese and pickled onion sandwiches. I have one every night before bed.
My spouse - and the baby - are not fans of me eating pickled onions before bed.

ten on tuesday: ten bands that remind me of highschool

1. Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians: What I Am
2. Information Society: What's on your Mind
3. B 52's: Love Shack
4. Roxette: The Look
5. Fine Young Cannibals: She Drives me Crazy
6. Janet Jackson: Miss U Much
7. Def Leppard: Rocket
8. Aerosmith: Love in an Elevator
9. Billy Joel: We didn't Start the Fire
10.Bangles: Eternal Flame

National Coming Out Day

October 11th is National Coming Out Day.

I have no internet access at home, so I won't be posting on the 11th but I think it is an important day and wanted to say something about it.

I have been "out" for a long time. I live in a country where my relationship with my partner is acknowledged as a legitimate one by the government and we are able to be married. We are even able to jointly adopt our son - which we are getting closer and closer to each day.
A LOT has changed for homosexual people in the last decade, but unfortunately not enough.
There is still widespread misunderstanding, and even hatred towards gays and lesbians.

I try to live my life without regrets. When I was in university I was pretty involved with the student association. At one point I seriously considered running for student body president. At the time, I was BARELY acknowledging my own sexuality even though I was dating my now spouse. A lesbian woman at the school had singles me out as being gay and was bound and determined to "out" me. The constant badgering and comments to me compounded my insecurities and I made a decision that I regret and did NOT run for student body president because she was going to use me to advance her political beliefs about gays in the community. There is SO much emotion for individuals who are questioning - or even KNOW that they are gay and have to "come out" to family and friends. It is life changing. It can be devastating. Although I come from a very loving family it has even, sadly, changed the relationships in my life. I am lucky now to have a supportive spouse, supportive friends and some supportive family members.

It is sad that we STILL live in a day and age when being gay is an issue. That Clay Aiken - whom I totally laugh at - has to "make an announcement on a magazine" that he is gay.

I posted about Clay - and someone commented on my post "ha ha ha i was laughing my a** off when I read it on yahoo headlines, I was like yeah...so what's new! maybe (s)he realized that "she" prefer to be a mommy to "her" son." I was shocked at the response. Being gay has nothing to do with wanting to be the other sex.

This topic for me obviously is close to my heart and I could write about it for ever. I will just leave it at this....

If a loved one comes to you to tell you they are gay, that event is HUGELY significant in their life. Put down what you are doing and give them a hug. It can't be expressed the impact you will make in their life.

Friday Fill In

Check out more participants by clicking on the logo here:

1. One of the best concerts/plays/movies I ever saw that I really didn't think I'd like was Evita. (this one was difficult because if I don't think I will like something I typically don't watch it.)

2. Home made spaghetti is a meal I recently made (or meal I recently ordered) that was delicious! (we don't have a "recipe" for spaghetti but we eat it often. Sometimes it is really great and other times just "ok". I made a GREAT one last month. I wish I knew what I did.)

3. It's time for Canadian Thanksgiving.

4. A full night of sleep is quite refreshing.

5. If I never hear the word homework again, it'll be too soon.

6. To one side of the curving road was a mountainside, and on the other was a sheer drop off.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching tv shows I recorded last night, tomorrow my plans include taking a nap and Sunday, I want to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with my family!

wiper warmer

When I was living in the USA I had the opportunity with my spouse to look after a baby girl for one of my professors. we would go in the morning while our friend would teach and her husband was at work and we would look after her newborn.
It was an interesting experience for us, because our friend is a sociologist who has published a lot on the topics of gender and work and she has some very strong opinions which she shared in class. To see the way she lived in comparison to the beliefs she so strongly espoused in the classroom was a topic of mush discussion for my spouse and I, but that's not what i want to post about.
She had a diaper wipe warmer. Oh, I laughed. Who would have a warmer for diaper wipes? I thought it was an example of the extremes people will go to for their children. I thought it was silly.
Ten or more years later and now with children of my own. I would give just about anything for a diaper wipe warmer! In fact, If I can ever find one I will certainly buy it and if any of my friends have kids I will try to find one for them as a baby shower gift. These things ROCK and I have totally changed my mind about how silly they are. I have seen the error of my judgemental ways. Babies should not ever have to experience the numbing chill of frozen wipes. I think the incidences of parents getting urinated on would be reduced of more babies had warm wipes. The shock of cold has something to do with the spurt of pee we are constantly bathed in - I'm sure of it.

gripe water

A few weeks ago I made a comment about gripe water and Janet asked what it was.
I have been meaning to answer her, but I got sick, thought I was better but I got sick again, so I haven't come back to the question.
Gripe water is a "home remedy" for babies with colic or other gastric problems. You can buy it over the counter and you are supposed to give it to babies in a dropper to relieve gas pain. According to Wikipedia it is of questionable reliability. I know gripe water from when my younger siblings were born. I loved to dip my finger into the bottle. I don't think we have ever dispensed it through an eye dropper, we just dip the babies soother into it and then pop the soother into their mouths. Max wasn't such a fan of it, but CJ seems to like it.
It basically has bicarb, dill, and some other things in it. I love the taste of it and always have. it has proven to be something that works for us with CJ -but I am very clumsy in the middle of the night and I have knocked over more bottles than I can count. Watching it spill at 3am can bring a tear to my eye.

ten on tuesday: ten great/not great things about television

I am posting a day late this week, I have been feeling very flu-ish and haven't been online much. I wish I could just go to bed and sleep until I felt 100% but having a whole family of sick people does not make this possible. It would be great if we could ALL just go to bed.

Anyway, I hate missing ten on Tuesday so here in my addition a day late.

1. Great: PVR
Taping shows and being able to search them, forward through commercials etc is awesome.

2. Great: Grey's Anatomy. The writers and the actors of this show are fantastic. sometimes the story lines get a little too "fantastical". I mean how many times can Seattle have natural disasters, ferry crashes, snow storms? Thank goodness that global warming keeps all these disasters happening.

3. Great: Reality shows.
These are in my great and my not great list. I LOVE house hunters and restaurant shows. I will watch survivor every year even though they never seem to have new or different challenges or personalities, I can't get enough of it. I have been a fan of reality television since the very first season of Real World on MTV. Although "reality" is not what I consider to be "real" I have fun watching these shows. I also like watching Jon and Kate Plus 8 (except the beginning where they show her seriously distorted belly),

4. Great: Satellite
I love that I can watch the BBC and other networks that in days of yore I had no access to. Having more than 3 channels to surf through is loverly.

5. Not great: Dr. Phil
When this show first started I enjoyed it, I am certain I have even quoted the good doctor on some occasions. however as years went on I feel the show has deteriorated into a daytime equivalent of Jerry Springer. The people he has on as guests are just there to be made fools of and they are more and more outlandish as time passes. I used to think he was a straight shooter - telling people how it is. He no longer deals with people in the same way. I think getting an invite to be a guest on his show is a set up for public humiliation. He is a bully. A television version of Dr. Laura.

6. Not great. Reality Shows.
Really? The Kardashians, hulk hogan, etc. etc. etc. who cares? I will admit I watched Jessica Simpson when she got married, but I don't think I would watch her again. These shows are a train wreck and while I don't watch any of them I think I have to tune in to Paris's search for a BFF. How funny is that?

7. Not Great: Back in the day we used to have a "season" of television. All the shows would start, they would run, they would end. Now a days you can't ever find what is starting, what is ending, what is being repeated. When the seasons DO start the shows are on for a week and then preempted for presidential debates and other things so you watch one week and then you think you are going crazy when you can't find the show again. This is irksome. (LOL at my use of an unconscious mutterings word).

8. Not Great: Shows that don't run the full hour, or are weirdly timed. I think networks are reacting the whole tivo, PVR, DVR thing because they want to get ratings for their show so they make it a minute longer, or start a minute earlier. This is VERY frustrating to try and watch or search for shows when the timing is messed up.

9. Not great: Shows I love being cancelled. ER, Third Watch, etc. This also goes for Pilot shows which start up in the fall and you watch four episodes and then they totally disappear never to be heard of again.

10. Not great: MTV.
I want my MTV. Show a video already! What happened to the "M" in MTV?

unconscious mutterings

Insight :: dreams
Irksome :: dealing with some people who never change
Maybe :: maybe not
Confirmation :: email
Bib :: drooling child
Stop! :: in the name of love
Lobster :: boiled alive
Boys :: my brothers :) Love them!
Fire away :: go ahead
Give up :: the ghost

Adoption Frustration

My spouse and I tried for years to have a child of our "own". When we were unsuccessful and we moved to Canada we decided that we would foster children as a way to impact the lives of children locally in a positive light. This process of fostering has been a frustrating one. The children that have come into our home have all made an impact on us and we hope we have made an impact on them. Some of them we have been lucky enough to keep in contact with after they have been removed from our home and others we know nothing about, nor can we "ask" about because of privacy laws.
The politics of fostering is frustrating. The "perception" which others have of foster parents has been an interesting one to encounter and not always positive. I think after having worked within this system for almost five years my spouse and I are ready to be "done" with the process.
We have been blessed through this experience to have our son. We call him "Max" but that is not his legal name.
Max has been with us since he was one month old. We picked him up the day he was released from the hospital and he knows no other family or parents than us. When he was a few months old he became "legally adoptable" and my spouse and I decided to adopt him ourselves. From that moment the process has been EXTREMELY frustrating. The only thing that keeps us "going" is the knowledge that this little dude is WITH us. I have a friend who is adopting from Ethiopia and she and her husband are still waiting to hear that they have a child and can go to pick it up. I am grateful every day that we have Max with us, however the fact that his adoption has not happened and he is now over two years old is increasingly frustrating.
In our "region" of fostering we know of at least three other families who are facing the same opposition as they try to adopt children who have been placed with them on a long term basis. We discovered this week that a family close to us, who has been fostering a child since the child was less than one year old had now had that child (at age 6) removed from their home because of other political reasons. It BLOWS my mind. It absolutely terrifies me. The truth of the matter remains that we are still "ONLY" foster parents. We have loved and cared for and worked towards adopting our boy for over a year and a half, but the reality remains that we are not entitled to him in any way and he COULD be removed from us at any time. It kills me. The system is SOOOO screwed up.
We have done everything we can possibly do and we now wait for social workers and permanency workers and case workers and others to process files and make things happen on our behalf. The reality is that they don't care about "US" and they have no motivation to do anything to move our file forward. On the day that our little man became legally "adoptable" his file needed to be transferred from a social worker to a permanency worker who worked in the SAME office building. It has taken more than 18 months for that transfer to happen. There is no legitimate reason for the file to NOT move.
My partner and I have been so very careful to "keep our mouths shut" simply because if we anger the wrong person we could lose our son. We were completely frustrated at one point and asked to meet with the supervisor to check on the status of our file. We made an appointment. She cancelled. We made another appointment, she postponed it. When we finally met we arrived in the meeting with a list of concerns and we enumerated them to the supervisor. We met with her for close to an hour when it became obvious she was ready to end the meeting. As we concluded she made the comment "well I haven't looked at your file yet so I can't tell you what the status is...." I was shocked and I think I didn't hide my surprise very well. She hadn't even LOOKED at our file? She knew what we were coming to meet about, she knew what our concerns were, she had delayed the meeting repeatedly, and yet she didn't even look at our file.
A few months ago (6), we met with a permanency worker who was transferring our file to another worker who was hired to work in our immediate community. At that meeting we were told that in two weeks the file would be transferred to our town. We waited, and we waited, and we waited. I called the new worker to find the status of our file after three months and she hadn't even seen it yet. She called last week to say she had some good news and some bad news. The good news was the file had arrived in her office. The bad news was she was leaving the office and the file was being transferred BACK OUT of our home community because there is no longer an adoption worker here since she is being transferred. The file now goes BACK to the other community and there is no worker assigned.
I think we are now looking at adoption worker number 6 or number 7.
I have been reluctant to post about this - because I fear some kind of repercussion and the possible loss of our little man. I think that people's fear stops things from ever changing. I know that I have decided to be more vocal in the fight for my family. This is my first "action" but I will keep you posted on other decisions we make and carry out as a family in our quest to permanently "bring Max home".

Palin

I spent some time watching the vice presidential debates and I was struck by the communication "STYLE" which Palin adopted. I know that all politicians do it, but Mrs. Palin was blatant in her avoidance of questions.

From the transcript of the vice presidential debate: link here for the full transcript

BIDEN: Number two, with regard to bankruptcy now, Gwen, what we should be doing now -- and Barack Obama and I support it -- we should be allowing bankruptcy courts to be able to re-adjust not just the interest rate you're paying on your mortgage to be able to stay in your home, but be able to adjust the principal that you owe, the principal that you owe.
That would keep people in their homes, actually help banks by keeping it from going under. But John McCain, as I understand it -- I'm not sure of this, but I believe John McCain and the governor don't support that. There are ways to help people now. And there -- ways that we're offering are not being supported by -- by the Bush administration nor do I believe by John McCain and Governor Palin.
IFILL: Governor Palin, is that so?
PALIN: That is not so, but because that's just a quick answer, I want to talk about, again, my record on energy versus your ticket's energy ticket, also.

This really struck me - especially as a parent of a two year old. My spouse and I are working very hard with our son to learn proper communication styles. We are emphasizing eye contact and appropriate response to questions. We reiterate with him that he must answer what we ask and acknowledge that he hears and understands our questions.

I am not yet the parent of a teenager, but I have worked with them for years in corrections. I have also been married for over 11 years. None of these things individually make me an "expert" in communication, but I know a thing or two about what makes for successful conversation.
If I were ever to have answered my parents questions in the way that Palin did, or talk to my spouse (or have my spouse talk to me) in the way that she did, we would have some severe relationship problems.

What I don't understand is how we accept this behavior from someone who is nominated to be the US vice president when we wouldn't tolerate the behavior in our children or our spouses - and can you imagine if we went to work and responded to our bosses in the way Palin responded to questions? There would be a heck of a lot of unemployed people. Why do republicans continue to defend her nomination?

city

I had to come to the city for work. I tried to get out of it. I really tried. While I don't mind being in the city, in fact I love visiting the city, however, the reason we needed to be here in my opinion was not necessary. I am feeling sick AND I had class this weekend. For me missing class is a big deal. I miss an incredible amount when I miss two classes. We only meet five times totally, and so missing one whole session can really impact me.

One thing I LOVE about coming into the city is getting to see my family. Yesterday I went across to the mall and met my brother for lunch. He is so cute and I love spending time with him. Tonight after we were done I was able to drive out to his house and see his wife and kids. I love my niece and nephew. I took them each a t-shirt which they put on immediately. I was actually surprised that I got the sizes right! My nephew put on his tae kwon do Gi for me to see him in and then took me into his room and "read" me a book. He is so smart, he has basically memorised the book and all he has to do is look at the pictures on the next page and he knows what comes next. My niece showed me her room and she let me help her put her pants on, push her on her bike, and read the notes her mom wrote for them this morning (over and over and over again -LOL!) We didn't have a lot of time to visit, we had supper and played outside for a few minutes so I love it that even my little niece did not "play strange" with me. They have piles of leaves in the yard which we buried ourselves in and I watched them ride their bikes.

I hate living so far from them because I love being a part of their lives and we only see them once a year - if we are lucky. At least we now live in the same province, so they do know who we are. Next summer we are planning on going to the lake with them for four days (renting cabins). It will be the first time that we have rented a cabin ever, and the first time we have taken a joint vacation. I am certain it will be a success and I hope it becomes a tradition for us. It was great to see them, but I am very excited to get home and see MY boys.

Friday Fill In

1. October is the best month of the year because it is my birthday month AND Halloween!
2. Horror movies scare me!
3. Leaves are falling all around, it's Gonna be a long day of raking.
4. My favorite horror movie is none because they scare me too much so I dont watch them.
5. Halloween in Singapore when I was a bunch of grapes = good memories.
6. It was a dark and stormy night when I accidentally left the puppies on the doorstep because I didn't know they were outside. .
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to sleeping in my super deluxe hotel room, tomorrow my plans include working at the open house and Sunday, I want to get back to my family!