Partyin Like It's 1989!

Went out at lunch and picked up a pair of skinny leg jeans.

Too bad I don't actually have skinny legs to put into them!
Now my ipod is rockin some Bananarama.

Please excuse me while I go tease my hair.

Fundamental Generational Differences

Yesterday is struck me that no matter how much people believe they will turn into their parents, it just isn't true.
My mom was eager to be my Friend.
I know that my children need rules, discipline and love from me. They already have Friends. I need to be Mom.
My mom took little interst in my obsessions likes.
As much as I hate it, I sit through Naruto, Legend of Zelda and Chowder games and thorough explanations, because THEY are excited about these things.
My mom spoke openly in front of me, assuming that kids don't see/hear/understand what's going on around them.
I know that little pitchers do indeed have big ears, whatever the hell THAT means. I don't speak about sex, finances or family drama in front of my kids.
My mom thought it funny to tell obscene and off color jokes in front of me. I won't even tell you the first joke I repeated, and I didn't even understand it at the time.
I won't allow hurtful, mean or racist jokes or comments - not just around my kids, but around anyone.
Now, this is not meant in any way to bash my mother. She has a lot of fantastic qualities, she has the biggest heart I've ever seen, and she'd do anything for anyone in need. I'm simply saying that the old adage about turning into your mother doesn't have to be true.
Oh, and the biggest fundamental difference of the week:
My mom thinks the music my sons listen to is "obnoxious"
I think Barry Manilow is obnoxious.

Unpopular

Seriously, people, I know that in some circles, talking politics is unpopular. People don't want to openly share their views. What are they afraid of? Disagreement? Being asked questions they can't answer about why they support their candidate? LIKE SARAH PALIN?! I realize that not everyone is in agreement, and that's fine. After all, this is America, and you can have your opinion and be wrong, too.

So, the election is just a few weeks away. This is IMPORTANT, so pay attention.

BARACK OBAMA is the right person, right now, to lead our country. For all the people who say they don't vote, then since you don't give a rat's ass anyway, go out and vote for Obama.

For any Hillary supporters who have defected to the McCain camp because you are bitter..... Hillary herself would be ashamed of you. Do what's right, you don't choose a leader out of spite. This isn't 7th grade where your friend didn't get picked for class president.

If the last 8 years worked for you, and you're in the top 2% of income earners, and you believe the economy is "fundamentally sound", take a look at Freddie, Fannie, Merrill and AIG before you come back with your comments. Fundamentally sound, my ass.

If MY TAXES are increased in order to build a government that works FOR me, instead of against me, I am okay with that. If MY TAXES can help change the public school system into one that I can actually send my children into, then I am okay with that. If MY TAXES are increased to create programs that help my fellow Americans who are hungry, who have no health care, who are disabled..... So that those who make far less than I can still survive and pay a lower percentage, I am okay with that. We rise or fall as one.

In November, take some responsibility for your country, learn the issues at hand, and vote accordingly. If you truly believe that John McCain can change the dismal course our country is on, and that Sarah Palin can step in and be commander in chief should McCain be rendered unable to continue, then God help us all. And coming from an Atheist, that's quite a statement.

Natural Disasters

Floods make me sad :(

My heart goes out to so many people who lost everything. How do they pick up the pieces??? Colleen, is it time for another fundraiser?!

9/12

Yesterday was a day of collective remembrance in our country. It marked a day of horrific losses, the day our lives changed. It was a turning point. Everything gets lumped into two categories, before and after. The day before 9/11, I was worried about finding a job. I spent my time alternating between online job hunting, and playing with my son. We read books, went to the park, watched tv and sang a lot of songs.
For me, Sept 12th was the day it all sunk in. I'd spent the night before wondering what it all meant. How much the world was going to change. Wednesday, we woke up to a new reality. For the first time in my life, I was fearful for our general safety. I was absolutely petrified for my son's future. What kind of world was he going to grow up in, and inherit from us? A world of clashing ideologies, terroristic threats, and fear?
I remember how suddenly patriotism was all the rage. Long before 9/11, we'd taught our son the Pledge of Allegiance. I remember the flags, everywhere. For a few weeks, Americans loved each other and it was good. But soon after, we started blaming countries and groups based on vague information we got from the news. We started hating again. Calling for war and blood. When we couldn't find the people responsible for that terrible day, we went after others, just plain eager to start a fight. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not for or against war, per se. Too long to explain.
All I know is that MOST people simply want to live their lives, and be left alone. Left alone to work, raise children, watch baseball, fall in love, worship their chosen deity and at the end, be able to look back and smile. Really, is that too much to ask? Doesn't everyone on earth deserve that much?
These are my thoughts on 9/11, jumbled as they may be.

4 Things

RLM tagged me - redlotusmama.blogspot.com Visit her awesome page today!

4 things I am passionate about
* Duh - my boys
* Safe Haven Education
* Books
* History

4 books I’ve read and enjoyed
* Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
* The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
* My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
* The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory

4 words/phrases I say often
* Ummmhello?
* Yes dear? (In response to kids calling me)
* Not yours! (To the dog)
* I have nothing to wear!

4 things I want to do before I die
* Complete all pending home improvement projects
* See the bioluminescent lagoons in Puerto Rico
* Get hired by CPD
** See my sons graduate from great colleges, and eventually play with my grandchildren

4 things I’ve learned in life
* Love shouldn't be hard work
* Kids are not mini adults
* Never give a cat a bath
* It's okay to leave people behind (some people deserve it)

4 places I want to see
* My kids rooms, clean
* A bowling alley in Canada
* 7-11 in Hawaii
* Europe

4 people I want to tag
* You!
* You!
* You!
* and YOU!

Monkey See, Monkey Do

Belly is always pretending to be a daddy. At my friend's house, he and her little girl adopted a baby doll, and they took turns feeding it and rocking it. At home, he makes elaborate dishes in his pretend kitchen and tells everyone they have to at least try it before saying they don't like it. At the store, he always pretends to put a baby in the cart, and pretends to chase it when it gets away, and picks out things that it likes. Yesterday at the beach, he found a dinosaur egg, and proclaimed it his new baby. He took it on the swings and the slide, and sat it next to him on the way home.
*light bulb*
I told my husband that Belly has a good daddy role model, and that's why he does these things when he's pretending to be a daddy.
That makes me happy :)