So This Is My Life Now

I can't believe it's been over a month since I've posted. I'm sure everyone has stopped checking, and I'm probably posting to no one, but I feel like I have to explain my absence.

This may come off as whiny, but I'm really not complaining. This is my day:

5:00AM: My alarm goes off. I used to jump right up, but lately I've been hitting the snooze until 5:10AM

5:10AM: I get out of bed.

5:20AM: After giving some petting to whichever annoying, attention-starved feline chooses to accompany me into the bathroom, I take a shower.

5:30AM: Put in contacts, moisturize, put on some makeup, and all that other girl stuff.

5:50AM: Feed the fish. Feed the cats. Get my lunch together. Usually, I have laundry to put in the dryer (or take out of the dryer).

6:10AM: Eat breakfast. Usually, I will try to read a bit of the paper while I eat. Greg is usually getting up about now.

6:30AM: Finish makeup. Fix hair. Get dressed. Usually by this time Mia is awake, so I say "Hello" to her, give her lots of kisses, and give her a toy or two to play with until Greg is out of the shower & able to get her up.

7:00-7:10AM: Make my latte. Grab my stuff, kiss everyone "Goodbye", and head out the door.

7:10-8:00AM: Hellishly slow 25 mile commute to the office.

8:00AM-5:00PM Work. Typically, I do not take a lunch hour, so that I can leave on time.

5:00PM-@6:15PM: Hellishly slow 25-mile commute home.

6:15-6:25PM: Change out of my work clothes.

6:25PM: Take charge of Mia. This could mean feeding her, if she hasn't been fed, or just reading to her or playing with her.

7:00PM: If it's bath night, I'll give Mia a bath. Otherwise, I will just give her her medicine (4 syringes/3 different medicines), brush her teeth, get her into pajamas, get out her clothes for the next day, and put her to bed.

7:30PM: Take charge of Norah. Change her, and get her into pajamas, and feed her, and feed her, and feed her. Somehow, I manage to eat dinner while I'm doing this.

9:00PM: Norah finally falls asleep.

9:15-10:15PM: Most nights there is laundry to do. Every two days, it is time to wash my hair and let it air dry a bit. Then, it's time to get ready for the next day: Boiling water, making formula, opening the mail, loading up the coffee maker for the next day, and general straightening up. Occasionally, I will get to read the rest of the newspaper.

10:15-10:30PM: If it's a hair washing night, I'll blow dry my hair. Then I do the usual washing, teeth brushing, etc. Then it's time for bed.

3:30AM: Norah wakes up because she has lost her pacifier. Replace pacifier.
4:00AM: Norah wakes up because she has lost her pacifier. Replace pacifier.
4:30AM: Norah wakes up because she has lost her pacifier. Replace pacifier.

5:00AM: Alarm goes off...Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

I'm Back, Baby!

After many weeks of trying to get the time & energy to post, circumstances in our Nation's capital (and elsewhere) force me to post...

First off, just how psychotically Christian is our president when Bill Frist is supporting stem cell research? I mean, Frist is the man who diagnosed Terri Schiavo as someone just in need of a little therapy, based on a videotape! Kind of puts things in perspective, doesn't it? The pro-embryonic stem cell research crowd now has a new slogan---"Stem cell research; Even Bill Frist approves".

Second item: Is God mad at the Boy Scouts? Last week, four Scout leaders were killed by electrocution. This week, lightning strikes a group of Boy Scouts in California, leaving one child brain dead and injuring seven others. I realize that this isn't a laughing matter, but can this be a coincidence? And the manner of their injuries is sort of suspicious, too. Is the Big Man trying to send a message? Oh, and is anyone else disturbed by the casual mention at the end of the first article that the Pentagon, until recently, financially supported the Boy Scouts of America????

In related news, the electric companies are making money, oil companies are making money, why aren't we making money? Big business is booming, and studies show consumers are spending like crazy, but is it spending, or increasing our personal debts? The gold collar kids are running themselves into deep debt and then moving back in with Mommy and Daddy. Thanks, parents. You're providing us with yet another generation of whiny, Holden Caufieldesque adults who have no idea of how to take care of themselves.

My biggest story of the day, however...Speaking of Big Energy, congress has finally approved money for exploration into some new forms of energy to wean our dependence away from oil. Wow, let's see--we've got coal--COAL! Are we in the year 1870? Anyone who grew up in the "coal region" of Pennsylvania (shudder) can tell you that coal is incredibly filthy. Ahhh I can reminisce about waking up on snowy mornings, as a child, and looking out on all that pristine soot, blackening the snow in everyone's yard. Also, the scenery created by strip mining is not to be beaten! Nothing but black fields of coal dirt for miles, with nary a tree in sight--ahhhh coal! Perhaps the new jobs referred to in the article are for chimney sweeps?

And nuclear power (perhaps Bush has finally learned to pronounce it, so we are moving forward with it)...who (in Pennsylvania, again) can forget Three Mile Island? Did someone say Chernobyl? Yet I'll bet every congressman in Pennsylvania voted for this because of the powerful energy lobbies.

How about solar energy, for Christ's sake? We live in Arizona where it is sunny 364 days a year, and we can't promote solar energy?

I'm depressed now. Thanks America.

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder...I Hope

Angry Liberal Mommy has had to take a brief hiatus due to...well, becoming an Angry Liberal Mommy for the second time. My new daughter, Norah Igraine, was born June 22nd.

For my husband's humorous account of the birth (and surrounding happenings), see our other blog for details & photos of the latest angry liberal in the family. Of course, I'll still consider loving her even if she grows up to vote Republican.

I'll endeavor to find some blogging time soon!

Links To More American Stupidity...If It Weren't News, You'd Think I was Making It Up!

 

Arrrgh! Finally some time on the computer!

I've been keeping up with the news & getting pissed off about--namely this little piece of news. OK, so first it's having former oil company lobbyists changing reports about global warming, and now we're altering reports about the effects of grazing on public lands? And don't even get me started on the Downing Street memo...Honestly, congress voted to impeach Clinton for lying about having an affair?? Where's all that righteous indignation now??

Here's something I've always secretly suspected about women. Explains a lot when you think about it...like why your friend is sticking with that loser she dates...Hmmm.

Honestly, I saw this headline out of the corner of my eye & had to read the story. Mmmmm Yogi never tasted better.

Should Florida just annex itself as Land of the Idiots?? This story seems to illustrate the kind of logic the average Floridian applies for everything from voting to managing a dispute (in this case). Of course, if I lived in a State governed by Jeb Bush, I'd probably be sticking a pistol in my mouth, too.



 
Anyone else creeped out by the impending Tom Cruise/Katie Holmes nuptials? I heard some interesting & wacky things about Scientology during the discussions about Tom's indoctrination of Katie, and much goofiness can be found on the actual, official Scientology website. Check out the glossary. More fun, however, is this site, with fun photos of Tom accepting various awards from the church and steering Katie Holmes around like a ventriloquist's dummy.

Well, that's enough for me. Hopefully, I wont have to wait another two weeks to have a chance to update!

More Random Links...Can't Get Enough!

Americans poised to be number one in...mental illness! Everyone, chant with me: "U-S-A, U-S-A!"

Oddly enough this was in the "Family" section of the newspaper. Don't forget to buy a Father's Day card for your secret, married boyfriend. He may not be the father of your children, but that's no longer a reason to forget his Special Day. Maybe it could read "As you spend time with your kids on this special day, think about how we'll be screwing in your car next week on our lunch break. Maybe then you'll impregnate me and dump that bitch you married". Obviously that's a very rough draft, but the sentiment is there. Hallmark, here I come!

MORE FUN VANITY PLATES!!!
(1) I saw one on Saturday that could take the prize: Graduating high school senior girl (if the soaped "Congrats class of '05" on the back window was any clue) driving a brand new, shiny red Mustang convertible. The vanity plate read "Brit01", but the clincher was the license plate holder: "It's not easy being a princess". Awwww. Thanks Mom & Dad, but why an American car? I want a Hummer like Jamie's (insert whine here).
(2)Sunday at grocery store: SUV with "Da Momee" on the vanity plate--gorge rising...must stop. I was picturing a really square looking, middle-aged white woman driving that one.
(3) Today, driving home from work: Souped up, late model Honda Civic...vanity plate "NU Speed", with rear window professionally covered with quotes about drag racing. With drag racing causing a bunch of deaths recently, and with cops trying desperately to stop it, is it wise to advertise?? As we know from the Simpsons, Disco Stu does not advertise.

Oh sure, let this guy into the country, but confiscate my Mom's tiny nail scissors of death!

Really? Older people less grumpy?? I love the quote about people 60 and older avoiding confrontation rather than addressing problems in relationships. Perhaps they realize that no one else is going to put up with their grumpy ass. Or maybe they've just realized that the dating scene at age 60 isn't looking like a Smirnoff Ice commercial. It's so hard to look sexy when you've forgotten to put in your teeth!

That's it for now. I need to get to bed in preperation for another day of turning down--I mean underwriting your mortgages. Seriously, people, this job has made me realize one thing over the years...mortgage brokers are generally lazy idiots. Do yourself a favor & apply somewhere online.

The Ultimate In Tackiness Goes Mainstream

I don't think we can blame Star entirely for this phenomenon, but surely she bears some responsibility for making this tacky practice more "acceptable".
OK, yes I understand that people are getting married later in life these days, and often already have all the household accoutrements they need. I also understand that these people may prefer cash gifts, because it isn't customary for Mom & Dad to pay for the wedding anymore, but I think it is the ultimate in tackiness to expect your wedding guests to foot the bill for your wedding. Come help us celebrate our day...and bring your checkbook. The couple in the article seemed to be whining about spending $30,000 on their wedding---well...who said you HAD to spend that much? It was their decision to have a big wedding, so they shouldn't complain about not having enough for a honeymoon.

My husband & I got married 3,000 miles away from our home State. There were about 10 people at our wedding. We paid for almost everything ourselves despite subtle hints from my Mother-in-law about how it was "traditional" for the bride's family to pay for everything. I felt strongly about paying for it myself for several reasons: 1.) As a grown woman who had left my Dad's house and was supporting myself, I didn't think it was fair to go back to him & demand a wedding. 2.) I knew Dad didn't have the money, 3.) I didn't want to have to acquiesce to anyone else's wishes simply because they were holding the purse strings. We simply planned a wedding we could afford & put off the honeymoon until we could save enough for a trip. Greg's Mom & Dad paid for the Rehearsal dinner and the flowers because that's what is "traditional". My Dad paid for the church & Minister. We paid for the rest. My dress was off-the-rack $99.00.

The article in the paper really sounds like it is making excuses for this money grabbing trend. Sorry, I agree with Emily Post on this one. Have a wedding you can afford. If you want cash gifts, have your family put the word out, but for God's sake, don't put it on the invitations. I won't even get started on the whole "sponsorship" issue, because there is no way to make it sound like a good idea. This is the breakdown of society, people, we have to fight against this whole era of entitlement, irresponsibility, and selfishness!!

The whole point of a wedding celebration is to invite your GUESTS to share in your joy. Doesn't the word "guest" imply that you are responsible for taking care of them? They bring you gifts as a gesture, and to help you out--they are not obligated to give you cash, or even to buy from your registry.

Check out this fun website--Etiquette Hell. Read the wedding sections for true horror stories about brides, families, and weddings from Hell.

Bottom line: Stop whining! Stop feeling like everyone owes you. Be happy you are marrying someone you love, that you have your friends and family with you, and that they care enough to give you a gift.

 

Just A Few Random Thoughts...

I thought I'd cover some of the less political news today. Follow the links & enjoy!

OK, I only have one thing to say about this....EWWWW!

It's heartening to see Mike Tyson defending pigeons, but two things: 1.) Wow, I didn't know he even lived in Phoenix and 2.) He has to ask WHY people dislike pigeons???? They're noisy, messy, and disease ridden. Besides, they're vaguely creepy in flocks. If a large flock of pigeons starts swarming around for food at the park, I always have flashbacks of "The Birds"--run, Tippi, run!

I was wondering today about censorship...I was listening to my IPOD, and am still angry that I can't find an uncensored version of Harvey Danger's "Flagpole Sitta'" available to download. They bleep my favorite line from the song: "They cut off my legs. Now I'm an amputee, Goddamn you!" I was wondering why the song's blatant masturbation references were deemed OK for today's tender youth, but they had to bleep "Goddamn"?? Should I assume that the parties responsible for the censoring of the song were too stupid to comprehend the not-too-subtle masturbation references, or were too much in a tizzy of the Lord's name taken in vain to notice anything else?? Either way, it pisses me off--Goddamn it!!

I don't have a link for this, but Margaret Cho mentions in 'The Rep' (the entertainment guide, such as it is here in Phoenix) that she's seen a production of 80s TV show 'The Facts Of Life' performed by drag queens. Now, THAT sounds like fun! Just picturing "Blair" (played on the TV show by actress-turned-Christian-Rock singer Lisa Whechel) as a drag queen, makes me smile.

Just another thing for overachieving yuppie parents to freak out over. Oh my God, my baby doesn't have rhythm!!! Welcome to the world of being white--can't jump/no rhythm. Hey, at least we don't get pulled over by cops as often.

Another sign of the apocalypse. I was reading the flak about Paris Hilton's Carl's Jr ad, and was reminded of something I saw on Saturday. The gas station down the street from our home is home just about every week to one high school group or another hosting a car wash. I was driving home from the store with Mia on Saturday, and was stopped at a red light on that particular corner. There was the usual group of 15 to 16 year-olds waving signs to entice people into their car wash. One girl, who looked to be about 15, was clad in a skimpy bikini, and holding a sign that read "If you think we're sexy, come and get your car washed".

I'm presuming that there must have been some adults supervising this whole thing, so WTF?? If I were that girl's parent or teacher, she would have been hauled away to 1.) change clothes, and 2.) get rid of the sign. I'm sure she's a huge admirer of Paris Hilton. I'm not saying she should dress like a nun, but Jesus, my Dad regularly inspected what I was wearing & sent me to change if he thought it was inappropriate. I should add that my Dad isn't exactly Ward Cleaver, either.

Why Are Babies Conceived With Fertility Drugs Always "Miracle Babies"????

So what is it with these people? I've been following this particular story for quite some time(not really by choice--the newspaper was full of it). This couple agreed to pay a surrogate $25,000 for her services. When I first read the story, I thought "Oh well, it sounds like they can afford it". Now, as it turns out, the family in question is unable to afford these children. The surrogate has declined to accept payment "because she realized the financial hardship on the parents". Now, this article has the parents setting up a bank account and taking donations from strangers to contribute to the costs of caring for their children???? Anyone else find this totally obnoxious & irresponsible?

I have nothing against infertile couples seeking other options to have children, but for God's sake, they know the risk of taking fertility drugs (in this case, it was the surrogate taking the drugs). The cost of fertility treatments is exorbitant--didn't they realize that more than one child was a distinct possibility?? I'm sure the doctors covered that with the prospective parents. Maybe they should have taken a moment and said "Gee, we really can't afford more than one baby. Maybe we should adopt?"

I think the part that is most abhorrent to me is the constant references to God's will --such as the parents, friends, and even total strangers saying that "God wanted them to have these children". Hello? If God wanted this couple to have five babies, would they have needed a surrogate or fertility drugs? Maybe their infertility was God saying "Hey, you idiots can't afford to have kids, so I'm not giving you any." In any case, I feel that it is totally irresponsible to bring five kids into the world and then expect everyone else to pony up the cash to raise them.

It makes me ill to think of all the families out there that genuinely need help and are not receiving it because these morons, who chose to burden themselves with kids they couldn't afford, are receiving thousands of dollars in free goods and services simply for taking advantage of the "miracle" of modern science. What makes these people more "worthy" in the eyes of society??

 

Kind of Looks Like He's Actually Indulging In "Man-On-Dog" Acts, Doesn't he?

I really wish I could link to the latest quote by US Senator and professional tool, Rick Santorum, but the quote was in a gray box above this article, so you'll have to settle for my direct transcription:

Rick Santorum, comparing the Democrats criticism of Republican efforts to ban the filibuster to Hilter, said it was: "the equivalent of Adolf Hitler in 1942 saying 'I'm in Paris. How dare you invade me. How dare you bomb my city. It's mine.'"

Yes, the man who brought you such kernels of wisdom as saying that legalizing gay marriage will lead to incest, bigamy, and "man on dog" acts; who voted for a cap on pain and suffering lawsuits, even after his own wife sued her chiropractor and won $350,000; and, yes, the man who said "I don't hate homosexuals. I hate homosexual acts."; is currently third in command in the Senate. I'm sure the president has a cute nickname for him.

Read more about this stunning political mind here.

 

So, Are They Going To Force Us All To Marry Gays?

Seriously, that's the only reason I can think that would cause such a fuss. I'm still agog that my former lovely, liberal State of Oregon passed a law defining marriage to exclude same sex couples--what happened to you, Oregon?

I would really, honestly like someone from the other side of the fence to give me an explanation of how gay marriage is a "threat" to heterosexual marriage. My only caveat is that the explanation should not contain bible quotes, or "The bible says so". I really want to know, so if anyone has a serious explanation, please share.

My thought is that there is no threat (unless they are afraid that the gays will show us up by having more stable marriages). We heteros are doing a fine job of threatening marriage all on our own. Divorce rates among Evangelical Christians, and "bible belt states", in general, are the highest in the country. (Guess where the lowest divorce rates are?---Evil, liberal Massachusetts!) If these people really want to save marriage, they should consider a ban on adultery, or maybe making divorce more difficult to obtain. Maybe we could even make marrying more difficult--then we wouldn't have people getting married at 18 and 19 years old just because LuLu got knocked up that night after Youth Group bible study class, and then realizing (five years and three kids down the road) that a mistake has been made.

The real fear that these people have is the fear of acceptance--that gay marriage will become accepted in our society, and that our children will accept it as commonplace--it might even be more difficult to teach them how to hate and fear gays if they see loving gay couples all around them! Arrrgh! I can almost hear the wailing and rending of garments.

Seriously, I want to know why the decision about whether or not to "marry" two individuals can't be left up to the churches performing the marriages. Since religious types don't think a civil ceremony counts, anyway, why not let people marry in either a civil ceremony, or in any church that will marry them. If your religion frowns on gay marriage, your church can prohibit it--easy as cake.

Speaking of cake, my dear husband has a birthday on Thursday, May 19th. Stop by his blog and wish him a Happy Birthday.