Party!!!!

I've always found myself to be pretty moderate in my political beliefs.  I agree with some issues on both sides of the aisle.  At election time, I find myself choosing "the best man for the job", or the "lesser of two evils".  I have voted both Democrat and Republican.  But now I find out this interesting fact:

Our 4th president, James Madison was a "Democratic Republican".  Can that be a new party for the moderates?  Or a revival of an old one?

Gastro-itis?

About 3:30 yesterday I started to have really bad stomach pains.  They were excruciating to the point of me crying-a lot.  I thought it might be my gall bladder.  I went to the ER and they gave me some green foamy stuff that tasted like scope to "calm" my stomach (didn't help).  Then they gave me a pain medication in my IV which took the edge off the pain, but it came back full force after about an hour.  The doctor poked and prodded me and decided it was stomach inflamation, rather than my gall bladder or appendix.  Then they gave me morphine-which worked within minutes-and sent me home.

So, I can't eat spicy food, caffeine, chocolate, alcohol, acidic foods, etc.  But at this point I don't really want anything.  I had some plain past last night and did OK.  This morning my raisin bran made the pain come back and has been here all day.  I will try soup tomorrow.

I was given a prescription antacid (plavorix?) and vicodin.  I am still in some pain, but at least it is bearable today.  

I was very upset, however that I missed girls night to see The Women!  HOW WAS IT???

I LOVE fall!

Autumn is such a beautiful word.  It flows nicely off the lips, don't you think?  I love the silent n.  It is a much more beautiful word than fall.  Autumn encompasses my love for this season so well!  

It has been so hot here that I didn't even realize autumn began two weeks ago!  Finally some respite.  Today it is cool. It is sprinkling.  I am wearing my pumpkin colored sweater.  The kids are wearing long sleeves.  Only Dan is unaffected.  He was still in shorts today.  (But, for those of you that know him, you have to give him credit for wearing pants to work every day!)  

Last Saturday I got up and, instead of starting the usual weekend chores, I decided to make some pumpkin bread in the hopes that it would bring autumn temperatures and colors to our house.  I guess it worked!!!

Maybe I will find a new "autumn layout" for my blog . . .

"I'll have the manipulative shrew."

Watching the VP Debate made me think of a scene from friends where Monica manipulates Chandler into having sex even though they are in a fight.  At dinner, when placing his order, he says "I'll have the manipulative shrew".  

I recalled this episode because as I watched the debate I found myself thinking how manipulative Sarah Palin was.  Don't get me wrong, I think she did her job very well that night.  However, she has a way of manipulating her audience by saying things like, "The American people want to hear ..." or "What the American people want right now is ..."  I found myself thinking, "If I didn't know any better I would agree that the American people DO want this!" Manipulative.

She has a way of looking directly into the camera and talking about being a soccer mom that makes you feel like, "I relate to her.  She's one of us.  She's a normal gal.  She could be my neighbor."  I just don't think that being relatable or being "just like me" makes her qualified to be the Vice President or, God forbid, the President!  I don't think I am qualified to be the president, nor are 98% of other joe-shmoe americans.  Why would I want that?  No!  I want someone who is qualified.  Who is very intelligent.  Who is level headed. Who can make good decisions and who surrounds him/herself with people who help him/her to do these things.  

I don't know if any candidate can live up to these high expectations, but I sure hope they will try.

I was a little dissapointed that Joe Biden was not the attack dog he is known to be in DC.  I hope he was not being chivalrous so as not to look like he was attacking a woman.  He did "man-up" after a bit, but by that time she was on a roll.  She even ended up attacking him in such a nice and genial way that you ended up chuckling along with her (and the audience who was supposed to be silent).  Luckily the polls showed that it did not help her. 

The Joker likes Greenday!

Once in a while we take our kids to McDonalds for a Happy Meal, and tonight was one of those nights.  Connor's Happy Meal Toy was a fake-lego Joker.  As we are driving along, a song by Green Day comes on and Connor says, "Oh!  The Joker likes Green Day!"

Don't kids sometimes say the funniest things!  

Speaking of, Kelsey is finally learning how to "Use her words".  Yesterday she said Connor was mean, which got him very upset (like sad upset).  Then today she told me when he kicked her.  Yeah for using your words!  Now if we could just do something about that kicking . . .

Disclaimer: Connor is a very nice boy who usually treats his sister very kindly.  But they all have their moments!

TMI

        There is soooooo much political info going around right now (which is good).  But, I know the overload is coming!  As soon as Season Premier Week begins (9/22) I am sure we will be inundated with ads.  Thank goodness for the DVR!  I can fast forward through all of that crap and make my hour long program 42 minutes like it should be!!! 

          Here is a link I received to a video about McCain lying about Obama in his TV Ads.  Once on YouTube I decided to search for videos about Obama lying.  I like to be thorough in my research.  It's always good to hear both sides.  There is also a video about Palin's views on shooting an endangered species.  Then I've included Palin's interview with Charlie Gibson (I don't know whether to laugh or cry at this one!).

McCain Video

Obama Video

Palin Video

Palin Interview

Now I am the one inundating YOU with info!

No matter who you are planning on voting for it is important to be well informed. People often look over their preferred candidate's faults.  I have been guilty of this too!  Unfortunately we end up voting for the "lesser of two evils".  Either way, find out all you can about both candidates.  Visit their websites.  And make sure EVERYONE you know is registered to vote!

I am an Olympaphile

Apparently I am an Olympaphile, according to Bob Costas.  I have really enjoyed watching the olympics this year.  I, of course, would have liked to see more coverage of some of the less popular sports, but have enjoyed it nonetheless.   Sorry Trebs I thought the olympics were great!

Hopefully the IOC can fix the gymnastics scoring as it seemed heavily NOT in our favor.  It seemed we got ripped off quite a bit in the scoring.  If you saw ANY of the many interviews with Bela Karolyi you could know this.  :-)  I've got to rent Nadia again!  If you did not see this on TV back in 1984, you've got to put in on your Netflix!

What???? It's over already????

I was back to school today for a bit.  I needed to organize my classroom.  I moved rooms this year after 10 years of being in the same classroom!  Our staff had 2 sixth grade teachers leave due to downsizing, so I was sent over to the sixth grade quad from my cozy little home in the 7-8 quad.  I was not very happy about it because that may mean I will see less of my friends from that quad.  So I am hoping for a good lunch schedule!  (We have two lunches, so I am hoping to be with those friends!) 

My cupboards were quite the "hot mess".  (It's the new catch phrase, apparently).  So I went in to organize.  I had a very productive four hours of work.  I feel like I have most of the stuff in my room in place.  I just need to do some decorating.  And untangle the mess of cords that are attached to the sound system in my room.  I pulled out two cords from that mess that aren't attached to anything and don't go to anything.  Weird.  

It's sad to be back to school already.  Summer was quite shorter due to the fact that I taught summer school this year. There are technically 11 weeks from the time school got out until the time school starts.  Four of these weeks were taken up by summer school and half of the last week is a work week.  But, I can't complain right? At least I had time off.  Dan has been a temp at his company for almost a year and so he doesn't earn any sick or vacation time.  He is on the list to be hired, but they are in a hiring freeze right now, so we are just waiting.  "Wishin' and hoping and thinkin' and prayin'.  Plannin' and dreamin' each night . . . "

I am Emma!

Take the Quiz here!

You are Emma Woodhouse of Emma! You like being the queen of your social circle (small and provincial as it may be), and feel it's your duty to help those less influential than you. You often meddle in the affairs of others, though you do it with a pure heart. You are often deluded in your flights of fancy, but your good intentions and creative spirit make you someone anyone could like.

Survivor La Verne

Dan and I perform at the Beijing Olympics.  We were in the rhythmic gymnastics competition.  

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To clean or not to clean

I'm trying a new hair product.  I bought it after seeing an ad on TV!  I know, CRAZY, right?  But I actually LOVE it! It is called Wen by Chaz Dean.  (Check it out by clicking on the pink link) It is a "conditioning cleanser".  His idea is that you should not use shampoo to clean your hair because it is too harsh and strips the good stuff from your hair.  Anyway, I LOVE the way my hair feels.  And it feels really clean!  I can't believe I bought something from an infomercial.  It was pretty cheap!  AND I can't believe that I really love it!

Happy Birthday

Here are some pictures actually taken on Kelsey's B-Day.  She got a pink cowboy hat from her Noni and Papa that she LOVES!  She wore it out to her birthday dinner at Red Robin.

Classic Kelsey face!

A little apprehensive of the servers singing to her at the restaurant!

Fun with brother...

Two

    

My baby turns 2 today.  I can't believe it!  She is amazing.  She loves to talk (although most of you have not heard her) really loud.  She loves baby dolls and cars.  She sings off key and skips 7 and 8 when counting to 10.  She know most of her ABC's and loves guacamole.  She has big, beautiful blue eyes and thinks all of the characters on Little Einsteins are named June.  Her hair is finally long enough to put in pony tails and she is finally starting to stand still for this (which means I will have to get up even earlier come fall).  Her favorite activities are closing doors, pushing her stroller around, and putting lids on water bottles (no toys required!).  She finally can say Tinkerbell and now screams it at the top of her lungs when any Disney movie begins.  She is a gem.  I love her and I love being her mommy.

You Know You're A Mom When . . .

your dashboard looks like this.

New Look

Decided on a new look for the blog.  Comments?