And it continues...

...sorry again for the absence. Being Mommy, wife, full-time director, and part time grad student has not left a lot of time for blogging. My sincere apologies to anyone actually reading this blog! I am attaching a link to an article that furthers my point from earlier blogs. I had half jokingly mentioned to Mr. LR that I'd like to leave this area for Peanut's sake. He very correctly stated that all we need to do is NOT be the silence mentioned at the end of the article.

We regret the disruption in your regular programing...

So sorry I've been absent! I know. You've all been waiting breathlessly for me to say something, anything....uh huh. There is a reason I am on that mediocre listing. I'm probably the MOST mediocre of all. Maybe I'm not even mediocre. Maybe I'm "just okay." At any rate, I am so so glad I have a blog tonight because I need to rant. Just full blown WTF. Seriously. For those of you who do follow my blog, you will remember my annoyance at some of my husband's extended family and their penchant for sending close minded, ethnocentric, ridiculous crap my way (I'm trying to clean up my language now that I'm a parent and all). I received an e-mail earlier in the week with some miss-information shall we say about Obama. I responded with two links. One to snopes.com and one to Obama's own debunk the rumors site. So tonight, I open my e-mail and there are not one BUT TWO of these crappy things. The first had to do with his record / experience / etc. Seriously? Haven't we been over this? And now that you have Caribou Barbie on your ticket shouldn't you just shut the hell up? Then, the second was bemoaning the fact that we have more than just Christians in our country now and isn't that just awful? Yes folks, you read that right. This is the gene pool my poor daughter is a part of. They want us to vote for McCain because we "have to have" Christians running the country. First, I'm not sure what that has to do with anything and second, Obama is a Christian. I am not even going to get into the we're a global world; everyone is entitled to his or her beliefs; we never, ever, ever push our beliefs on others...etc., etc. that I was taught. I am happy to report however that there was no family reunion this year. Good thing. Now I just have to plan to be sick or have an emergency at the hospital anytime there is an extended family get-together. Well, that isn't totally true, I can use them to show Peanut just what a bigoted, backwards, moron looks like and how to deal with them. If you have to learn that lesson somewhere, why not start with the family? Yeesh. Do I sound mad? It is because I am. And disheartened. I just keep hoping that someday respect will make a huge gain in this country. Yes, this blog entry is just one hugely disrespectful message aimed at the very people I am vilifying. However, I can very maturely state "they started it."

Teaching your children new traditions.

I always said I would allow my daughter to make her own decisions about what she believes in. My own growing up experience was open to different groups on Sunday. My husband had a different one, you believed in one group every Sunday and it was the same as your parents'. I had really wanted Peanut to chose, but since she's still young, I am willing to bend to my husband's wishes...for now...until she's old enough to make her own informed choice. I myself converted (somewhat) when we got married, even attending an event the day after our wedding. That isn't to say I go back to my own earlier choices from time to time, or chose new ones...and I hope to instill that openness in Peanut in time. But, as I said, for now...this is what we'll have in our home:

Something I said I'd never do...

...I promised myself when I started this blog that I would stick to what I was comfortable with. Doesn't the saying go "write about what you know?" At any rate, I'm going back on my word. I am not politically savvy. Not well read on the subject. Not particularly clever, witty, or intelligent with regards to political views. However, I am so very pissed off about Palin that I HAD to say something. Yes, I wrote that. I'm pissed off. Granted, I guess I'm really pissed off at the RNC speech writers, but the woman said the words, so I therefore blame her.

There are a lot of things she said that have a lot of people angry or excited, depending on their own personal politics. What I choose to comment on today was the dig at community organizers. I took it personally one, because I am currently involved in some community organizing in a small way and two, I know people who are much better at it and much more involved who are really, really making a difference in the lives of others in our area. And yet, apparently, they have no "real responsibilities." Huh? Did I read that correctly?! Yes, yes, yes, I know, all they really care about is slamming Obama. But did they have to attack good people?

For example, there is a woman who heads a free clinic / place to go (you need not to have a medical concern to visit her place) in an area of Harrisburg, PA that many have given up on. Her clinic offers the only free prenatal care to those in need in the entire State. Yes, you read that right, the only free prenatal care in the State. They help 10,000 individuals a year ... many who would go without any sort of care, kind word, warm coat if it were not for her and her staff...many many who are simply volunteering. She is organizing that community around this caring place slowly but surely. The link I provided was the best I could do, she's very private and humble...it is hard to get her to talk about her work.

Just so you know, I am planning on voting for Obama. I believe in his ability to pull communities together. I do not believe that his work as a community organizer should be discounted. I believe that everyone is entitled to their opinions. You just heard mine. Please keep that in mind if you are moved to comment.

Another company to avoid?

I hate blogging first thing in the morning...I can barely speak, how am I going to write something? However, I read this article, and was appalled. From the article:

SFCA Inc., the company which purchased all of Simplicity Inc.'s assets in April, "has refused to cooperate with the government and recall the products," CPSC said in a release Wednesday. "SFCA maintains that it is not responsible for products previously manufactured by Simplicity Inc."

Can you believe this? I mean, seriously. SFCA does not wish to insure their products are safe for the babies and children will use them? So. You buy a company, but since those products were made before you purchased the company so therefore you aren't responsible? Uh huh. Think about what that says about your company. I believe I will make sure I do not buy anything under this company's brand. Of course, I looked up the SFCA website, and it is a group of shippers. No store, it talks about shipping. ?!? I couldn't even find an official Simplicity website (other than my bookmarked Simplicity Sewing, in no way connected with this mess). Odd. I guess more research is needed...unless someone else can shed some light on this?

Wordless Wednesday...One Day Early

Friday Hodgepodge

I really didn't have a lot to say, I just haven't posted anything in a week...

I'm sad the Olympics are coming to a close this weekend. It was nice to know there was something always on...watching the athletes and supporting Team USA made it feel virtuous rather than what it really was (couch potato-ism).

I'm even sadder (?) that while we are on "vacation" for the next week, we really aren't going anywhere. We had a great trip planned to Maine, but the economy and revolving credit debt got the better of us. Oh damn you Home Depot and your 12 months no interest. Not that we're hurting, we both work, we just like to be a little more fiscally responsible. I got myself in a load of trouble when living outside of Boston. I will never, ever, ever do that again. Therefore, we do not get to go on a trip, we pay bills instead. Rats. There's always next year. And truth be told, since Amtrak did away with the family car option on the Eastern route, I was not totally looking forward to 10 hours in a car trying to keep an 8 month old safe and happy. Was I totally looking forward to seeing a woman who is not only a friend but someone I have always looked to to help ground me? You better-freakin'-believe-it. But, as she said, we'll get caught up sooner or later.

So, here I sit, listening to my daughter babble and coo contentedly in her crib - excited that for the next 10 days we get to all hang out together and take in the sights nearby. You'll find us under an umbrella in Mt. Gretna, or maybe on a hiking trail in Pine Grove Furnace, or maybe even introducing our daughter to Chocolate World. Who knows? I won't get to see a moose, but there's always that damn groundhog in our backyard.

Yeah. Didn't have a lot to say today at. all.