long day

It's going to be a long day. I've been here since the time that, on a normal morning, I would be getting dressed. And I'm not leaving early. Plus there's that whole 5+ hour ride out to Seven Springs after that. It will all be worth it in the end though, a long enjoyable weekend. And I will be taking a long lunch today to get my nails done (yippee!).

Last night was interesting. Got to the gym and halfway done changing when I realize I had forgotten my shoes. If I had been wearing my normal work shoes it wouldn't have been too much of a problem, I just would have skipped the treadmill and done weight machines the whole time... but I was wearing my boots! Big. Furry. Fuzzy. Boots. Not so great for the working out. So I changed back, headed to the train and waited for 20 minutes to head home. So successful!

Lots of packing (I hope we remembered everything!)... and then some relaxing. As a favor to Trav's dad, we taped Lost. It was actually the first time I had ever seen the show. Not bad... luckily there was a Lost special on beforehand that "explained" the show up until that point, so I was able to follow along for the most part. I don't think we'll start watching it all the time (it's on at 10 for Pete's sake, that is my bedtime!), but I'll enjoy it if I see it!

On another note...


Something else from the news:
Washington initiative would require kids for marriage

A new Initiative in the works will ask whether or not children are the point of marriage?
Last summer, the court ruled that Washington's Defense of Marriage Act -- which prevents gays and lesbians from marrying -- was legal because the state has a legitimate interest in "preserving marriage for procreation." So a gay rights group has taken that one step further creating Initiative 957, stating that if you believe the legality of the D.o.M.A. for that reason, then in fact, having kids is a requirement for marriage. If the initiative makes it on the ballot and becomes law, it would limit marriage to couples who are able and planning to have children. If no children were produced within three years, the marriage would be annulled.

Obviously their main goal is not for the Initiative to pass, but to make the point that Washington's reasoning is completely flawed in this day and age (especially since homosexual couples often do have children)! I love it... either marriage is about children (in which case you shouldn't be allowed to marry if you can't or won't have any) or it isn't just about kids, but about something more then that, of which children are only one part (in which case gays and lesbians should be able to marry).

I think you can see where I stand! What about you?


Okay, well this is it for the week... we won't have a computer or internet until we return on Sunday. Have a great weekend folks!!

for moms.

I found this one and it made me teary... so because I am feeling sentimental today, you get to read it too.

(Real quick... Snow this morning! This whole week has been busy at work, but very excited for leaving tomorrow night for the family-friend wedding. It will be great to see Trav's family, and I hope to get a nice picture of us. Ooo, and skiing too. Also talking to Rebath about our shower stuff, hopefully they'll be coming by the end of the month/beginning of March. Oh, and hopefully Trav will be painting soon... I found the color I like, he just has to approve! Sorry, this is a slow blogging week for me! Okay, now the moms thing.)

We are sitting at lunch one day when my daughter casually mentions that she and her husband are thinking of "starting a family." "We're taking a survey," she says half-joking. "Do you think I should have a baby?"

"It will change your life," I say, carefully keeping my tone neutral.

"I know," she says, "no more sleeping in on weekends, no more spontaneous vacations."
But that is not what I meant at all.

I look at my daughter, trying to decide what to tell her. I want her to know what she will never learn in childbirth classes.
I want to tell her that the physical wounds of child bearing will heal, but becoming a mother will leave her with an emotional wound so raw that she will forever be vulnerable.
I consider warning her that she will never again read a newspaper without asking, "What if that had been MY child?" That every plane crash, every house fire will haunt her. That when she sees pictures of starving children, she will wonder if anything could be worse than watching your
child die.

I look at her carefully manicured nails and stylish suit and think that no matter how sophisticated she is, becoming a mother will reduce her to the primitive level of a bear protecting her cub. That an urgent call of "Mom!" will cause her to drop a soufflé or her best crystal without a moments hesitation.

I feel that I should warn her that no matter how many years she has invested in her career, she will be professionally derailed by motherhood.

She might arrange for childcare, but one day she will be going into an important business meeting and she will think of her baby's sweet smell. She will have to use every ounce of discipline to keep from running home, just to make sure her baby is all right.

I want my daughter to know that every day decisions will no longer be routine.

That a five year old boy's desire to go to the men's room rather than the women's at McDonald's will become a major dilemma. That right there, in the midst of clattering trays and screaming
children, issues of independence and gender identity will be weighed against the prospect that a child molester may be lurking in that restroom.

However decisive she may be at the office, she will second-guess herself constantly as a mother.

Looking at my attractive daughter, I want to assure her that eventually she will shed the pounds of pregnancy, but she will never feel the same about herself.

That her life, now so important, will be of less value to her once she has a child. That she would give herself up in a moment to save her offspring, but will also begin to hope for more years, not to accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her child accomplish theirs. I want her to know that a cesarean scar or shiny stretch marks will become badges of honor.

My daughter's relationship with her husband will change, but not in the way she thinks. I wish she could understand how much more you can love a man who is careful to powder the baby or who never hesitates to play with his child. I think she should know that she will fall in love with him again for reason s she would now find very unromantic.

I wish my daughter could sense the bond she will feel with women throughout history who have tried to stop war, prejudice and drunk driving.

I want to describe to my daughter the exhilaration of seeing your child learn to ride a bike. I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of a dog or cat for the first time.

I want her to taste the joy that is so real it actually hurts.

My daughter's quizzical look makes me realize that tears have formed in my eyes. "You'll never regret it," I finally say.

Then I reached across the table, squeezed my daughter's hand and offered a silent prayer for her, and for me, and for all the mere mortal women who stumble their way into this most wonderful of callings.

Please share this with a Mom that you know or all of your girlfriends who may someday be Moms. May you always have in your arms the one who is in your heart.

This goes double for Grandma's!!

monday monday

Thanks to all who replied to my last post... those who haven't yet, do!

I can't believe it is 3:30 already, this day is flying! And freezing! Today is flying and freezing. High of 19*, got to love that.

I had a great weekend. Didn't get around to doing pretty much anything that I had thought I might do... but it was still great, especially since Trav was very productive without me and cleaned the back bedroom! What a great guy.

We went to Ro & Pat's house Saturday night for a game night with them and our other friends Kerry & Jeremy. It was definitely amusing. Scattagories when you've been drinking is highly entertaining. We spent the night and hit up Ruby's Diner the next day... where I had thee best burger. Topped with two slices of cheddar cheese, bacon, and two onion rings. So good. I also called my brother in the morning to wish him a Happy Birthday... I can't believe that he is 17!!

Then of course Sunday afternoon meant the Superbowl. I was pleasantly surprise... though I was kind of routing for the Bears, I really didn't care that much who won... so I wasn't expecting to be really into the game. But it was definitely an entertaining game! A touchdown to start the game off... 5 fumbles, practically in a row... interceptions, including two in a row at the very end... it definitely kept me watching. Which did create one problem... when to pee. Honestly, the game was good, but you can't miss the commercials!

My favorites were:

• The Bud commercial with the couple driving who see a man holding some Bud and an ax... and the guy wants to stop. "It's a Bottle-opener!"
• The Coke commercial with the coke bottles throughout the years with corresponding advances in the civil rights movement.
• The Bud commercial with "Rock, Paper, Scissors"
• The Blockbuster commercial with the mouse.
  

Yours?

I also got a few great emails yesterday. Let's see... my Valentine's Day present for Trav is done and on its way to me. I'll probably post a picture of it here, but obviously not until after V-day! Also, a friend I thought didn't love me anymore says that we are still friends! Woo-hoo! Plus I got a responce from the lady at Thousand Dollar Dress.

And today I got one that letting me know that some friends of ours had found a house, and as long as the inspection goes well, will be closing at the end of March. I'm very excited not only because this is great news for them, but also because they are the ones keeping their stuff in our basement. Once they take their stuff back, we are going to get a new couch!! :-) Lol. I honestly don't care how long they keep it there, but now that I know a date, I can start to get excited about a couch.

As for today... well poor Trav is feeling sick after a rough night of tossing and turning. I'm hitting up the gym after work and I wonder if he will still be awake when I get home or not!! My poor boy.

Well, seeing as time is flying... I should get back to work!

i'm here! and it's february!

First... Love
Then... Laugh

Now listen to me!
I actually have a few things to talk about! Sorry for the delay. Between normal busy days (yes, you guessed it... the gym!), and blogger being crappy and fitfull, well it has been hard to even want to show up! But I'm here now! And it's February!

(So please play along and delurk to post some replies! Please!)


In the news:
Harry Potter fans, of which I am certainly one, have a lot to look forward to this July. First the movie comes out on the 13th... and now it has been announced that the final book will be out on the 21st too! Click here to read more. I am really damn excited for both of those arrivals, although the last book will be a little bittersweet, since I don't really want it to be the last one! I hope it is very long.
Also, JK Rowling has said that two main characters will be biting the big one in this book. Predictions? I'm saying Voldemort and Harry Potter himself. It seems like they might both have to die for either to die... and then she could be sure that it was the last book! But you never do know.


There was also (in more serious news) the dumb, dumb, dumb remarks about Obama, by Biden. I honestly don't know what the man was thinking... it was just a stupid thing to say. There has been lots of backlash, which I think is to be expected. Honestly, if you say one of the great things about the guy is that he is "clean"... you can't expect him to be like, "hey, thanks, that's a really great compliment... it will encourage me to continue to shower daily." I read one particular Op-Ed which I thought was very dead on.
All I can picture when I read what he said, was that his speechwriter was somewhere off to the side frantically signalling that this was not his work. What a way to start a campaign! Thoughts?


Also, anyone have any thoughts on who they would like to see in the Presidential race? I know we aren't even past the primaries yet, and people are just announcing their running now, but I'm curious what people think.



In non-new related items:
I am compiling a list of "classic" books/stories that I want to read. I read A LOT... so it is hard for me to keep track of what I have and have yet to read. So, I started compiling a list. I'm sure the list will grow over time, but I want to open this up now and ask you to offer me your suggestions! I'm not asking for just good books... I'm looking for classics! Book/stories that everyone should read, that have already persisted, and will continue to be must reads.
Examples: Romeo and Juliet, 1984, The Scarlet Letter, The Island of Dr. Moreau, etc!

Anything for me?

I'm also working on my things to do before I die list (because why not! I love to check things off!)... although I am not asking for suggestions on that one.


Hmm... I don't have much more to write about at the moment... it's almost lunch time so all I can think about is food! :-) But before I go, a quick birthday roundup!

Happy Birthday to: my Pops (the 28th of Jan.), Chuck (the 29th), Willy (the 30th), Mike (today), Tucchi (tomorrow), my bro & my grandmother (the 4th), and Phil (the 6th).

I hope the day is great for all of you!! xoxo