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Political Sex Scandals

Let me start with a lot of eye rolling. First of all, other than the fact that being a cheating spouse makes you a despicable human being - I don't really care. I am sure that the sex scandals we have been seeing in the news lately are only those who are dumb enough to get caught. I am not naive enough to believe that everyone from the President down to the man who sweeps the floors of the House of Representatives is faithful to their marriage vows. A sad fact, though. And if they are silly enough to remain in office I probably (probably) would not vote for them again.

What flabbergasts me about these situations is the WIVES WHO STAY. Not only do they stay at home, married to these men - but they stand next to those podiums as their husbands admit to the whole world that they betrayed them. I mean, really? Then its the voters, fellow politicians, and the media who appear more betrayed and scandalized than the wives of these men!

I tell you what - There is not enough money in the world for me to do that. He can stand up there by his damn self while I stay home packing my shit.

It makes me wonder if these wives really love their husbands and if they are in the marriage for more than connections, money, and whatever fame or reputation you get as a politician's wife? Is it in a pre-nuptial somewhere that if your husband publicly gets caught cheating that you must publicly stand by him or risk walking away from the marriage with nothing? Personally, I see that clause in a pre-nup and I am going think twice about the man I am marrying...but then again I think we have already established that I am nothing like those politician wives and the biggest reason is that I have not stood in their shoes - so all if this is very easy for me to say in confusion.

A part of me judges harshly any woman worth her salt who lets herself be used that way for political and financial gain (because I would be surprised if they were doing this to try and save their marriage - its just too public) and then another part of me has to admire the strength it must take to stand there and listen and smile. I think I would be a puddle on the floor.

I could go round and round on this topic forever. I could be very wrong. Are these women any different from the every day, average woman or man who catches their spouse cheating? I have to say yes - outwardly. Very different. The every day average husband or wife is thinking of their family, children, household, finances, future, etc. The politican's spouse has a lot more to consider and I cannot decide if that is a good thing or a bad thing - I mean, at what point after you lose your mind once you discover this betrayal do you agree to brush off the pain and stand by that podium?

That is the flabbergasting part.

Disappointment

Disappointment is having everything in place to move back to your hometown (the new job, house on the market, details all set up, etc... ) only to come to the hard-as-hell conclusion that due to the situation in the housing market right now that you just cannot do it.

The market has screwed us over bigtime on this one. It may be the time to buy for a lot of people - but its not the time to sell unless you are willing to take a BIG hit. And we aren't.

This realization came to me amid a river of tears and a broken heart. I realized, too, that I am spoiled. I am very used to things working out the way I need them to. Even when life has closed some doors for me - new ones have opened almost immediately. So, to not see any quick resolution to this issue other than patience is hard for me.

The one good thing is that I am pretty adaptable. I am slowly getting used to the idea. I do not like dwelling and complaining about what I cannot control and I refuse to. I am so adaptable to new situations and changes that my husband looked at me last night and actually said that I looked relieved. No. I am not relieved. If we could win the lottery tomorrow and be able to afford a downpayment on our dreamhouse I would jump at the opportunity to move in a heartbeat. What I am is realistic. What I refuse to do is dwell. If the situation has to be a certain way, even if it is not my #1 or even #3 choice - then so be it. Complaining and crying and dwelling is not going to help me do anything by stay depressed and sad. I have a lot more to live for than that and that is what I am going to do.

And even though it still sucks - its not over. The plan is still to move. It just may be closer to two years from now than two months from now.

Hope is my worst enemy.

I know, that is a terrible thing to say, right?

Its just that when I want something really badly - my hopes shoot to the moon and that "something" is all I can think about. I sleep, eat, and breathe it. Every night and all day long.

Right now my dear hubby and I are working on something BIG together. A big change for our little family - and while I realize there are a lot of factors involved that make this change more of an IF then a WHEN at the moment I cannot help but move full speed ahead. My goal is to turn that IF into a WHEN really quickly before the chance slips through our fingers. My hope is so strong that it is like a rock in my belly that bounces about throughout the day.

People say to me all of the time, "Don't get your hopes up." Yeah, well how the hell does one do that? If someone HAS to say that to me - its because they know I am going to. They know the situation warrants it.

And that is where I am now. With my hopes way, way, way up - with no drop in sight unless its a crash of disappointment.

My goal at the moment, instead of working on keeping my hopes low, is to think positively, PRAY, and turn my hope into reality. I am going to make HOPE my best friend in the end. Just you watch!

My favorite Super Bowl commercial

Thanks Mel D for the link up!

Santa's Dilemma...

'Twas the night before Christmas and Santa's a wreck
How to live in a world that's politically correct
His workers no longer would answer to "Elves",
"Vertically Challenged" they were calling themselves.

And labor conditions at the North Pole
Were alleged by the union to stifle the soul
Four reindeer had vanished, with out much propriety
Released to the wilds by the Humane Society..

And equal employment had made it quite clear
That Santa had better not use just reindeer.
So Dancer and Donner, Comet and Cupid
Were replaced by 4 pigs, and that sure looked stupid.

The runners were removed from his sleigh;
The ruts were termed dangerous by the E.P.A.
And people had started to call for the cops
When they heard sled noises on their rooftops.

And to show you the strangeness of life's ebbs and flows
Rudolf was suing o'er the unauthorized use of his nose
He'd gone to Geraldo, in front of the nation
Demanding millions in past compensation.

Half the reindeer were gone, along with his wife
Who suddenly said she'd had enough of this life.
She'd joined a self-help group, and left in a whiz
Demanding from now on her title was Ms.

And as for the gifts, why, he'd ne'er had a notion
That making a choice could cause so much commotion.
Nothing of leather, nothing of fur,
Which meant nothing for him. And nothing for her.

Nothing that might be construed to pollute.
Nothing to aim, nothing to shoot.
Nothing that clamored or made lots of noise.
Nothing for girls. Or just for the boys.

Nothing that claimed to be gender specific.
Nothing that's warlike or non-pacific.
No candy or sweets…they were bad for the tooth.
Nothing that seemed to embellish the truth.


And fairy tales, while not yet forbidden,
Were like Ken and Barbie, better off hidden.
For they raised the hackles of those psychological
Who claimed the only good gift was one ecological.

So Santa just stood there, disheveled, perplexed;
He just could not figure out what to do next.
He tried to be merry, tried to be gay,
But you've got to be careful with that word today.

His sack was empty, limp to the ground;
Nothing acceptable was to be found.
Something special was needed, a gift that he might
Give to all without angering the left or the right.

A gift that would satisfy, with no indecision,
Each group of people, every religion;
Every ethnicity, every hue,
Everyone, everwhere…even you.

So here is that gift, its price price beyond worth
"May you and your loved ones enjoy peace on earth."

Unsolicited advice NOT needed.

I went to the mall today with my friend Alie who was visiting from San Francisco. We took Sophia with us who did really well the first half of the time we were there. Then proceeded to be a bear the rest of the time. If that kid does not get a good nap - there is hell to pay. The problem is that she does not nap for very long in carrier and her short "recharges" only last so long.

Those of you with children understand how stressful it can be to be out and about with a screaming child. You are parenting for the whole, judgemental world to see - or so it feels like. Sophia was fine if I took her out of the stroller. The problem is - she needs to learn to be fine in the stroller so I was trying to sooth her while leaving her in it. Finally, I had to just let her cry because the reality of it was - she was dead tired and would not fall asleep if I picked her up.

Aside: Let me just say that when I was single, childless, and had nothing but childless friends I used to be one of those judgemental people who would think, "that baby needs to be at home", when I would see a mommy struggling with a crying baby out in public. I guess this is karma biting me in the ass, huh? Now I understand. Now I so totally understand.

Back to me, with my crying daughter standing outside of CVS waiting for my friend to emerge. As I stood there just slightly rocking the stroller back and forth (had to do something) this old lady comes right up to me and says, "She probably has a gas. You should burp her." Hmmm. Well, if looks could kill - this lady would have dropped flat where she was standing when I told her, "she does not have gas." Well, it was probably closer to: She. Does. NOT. Have. Gas.

THE NERVE. Yeah, thats what my mood needed. Unsolicitated parenting advice from a perfect stranger. It also took balls. The last thing one wants to do is get in the path of a frustrated mother when they are looking for someone to strangle. What is it about some women and their short term memories. Why don't they remember what it was to be the mother of a newborn?!

A few minutes later Sophia fell asleep in the car and slept the whole way home. Sweet relief.

I am still a social butterfly, dammit!

My daughter is 7 weeks old now. I am finally springing up and getting into more of a routine with her. Well, on somedays. Others I feel like the day shoots past without my having gotten a thing accomplished. This includes being social by phone or email. I am (or used to be) such a social person that this is beginning to get to me a little. Okay, it is beginning to get to me a lot.

I have always been a social butterfly. Always. I am friendly and charming and fun. Right? Aren't I? I have friends from all walks of life and backgrounds. I keep in touch with those friends by phone and email. I do. Or rather, I did. Then I had a baby and it has all seemed to change. I am still me - but well - I guess the only word I think of to describe myself at the moment is DISTRACTED. Extremely so. Even when I talk to people, the only thing I really have to talk about is my daughter.

I get phone calls quite often. Sometimes I get to them in time but other times - if I am busy with the baby - the machine gets it. Sometimes I remember to call my friends back and most times I forget until they call me back. Why is it so hard for me to pick up the phone lately? I feel like the only time I talk to anyone is if they call me. Either I have really persistent friends - or they have all been where I am and completely understand.

Thinking back, I remember that most of my friends became first time moms around the same time approximately 2 to 3 years ago. I vaguely remember, at the time, being that persistent caller and visitor. Now here I am, years later, walking in their shoes and being the one busy with a newborn and trying to set a routine while they are old hands at it. Some even on their second child by now.

All I can do is hope. Hope that a few things are true.

#1 - That this will pass and that I will get better at the phone calls and emails very soon.

#2 - That my friends who are moms remember what it was like and really do understand and are not just making believe that they do.

#3 - That my friends who have never been parents don't write me off as lost to the world of mommyhood and never invite me out.

Keep calling! Keep writing! Keep coming over! Keep inviting!

Don't lose hope in me yet!

Are you Tigger or Eeyore??

This is a great question and it is totally YOUR choice. I saw this guy and the full lecture on Oprah. I was more impressed with this man and his resolve than any one in recent memory. His positive thinking blew me away. Why??? Because he is DYING from Pancreatic Cancer. One of the things he talked about was that you can choose to be a Tigger or an Eeyore in life. That was pretty self explanatory. But he said something else in addition to that which was that its amazing how much quicker people are to step up and want to be involved and help you in your time of need if you are a Tigger about it rather than an Eeyore. That if you are negative people will still help - but they will walk slowly to do so. If you are a Tigger - people will surprise you by how quickly and how generous they will be in their resolve to be there for you.

And I AGREE! I know people who are negative and do nothing but complain. Who expect bad things to happen - and when they do they get even more negative and complain even more! Then I know people who think positive - even in the face of situations and hurdles tougher and more all consuming than those who are negative are dealing with AND THEY STAY POSITIVE! This has always amazed me. And this man really put it all into perspective and laid it out there. And he says it a lot better than me....so be sure and watch when you get a chance. I promise, you will not regret it.

This is the WHOLE lecture.... almost 10 minutes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HqdnjgkExY

This is the condensed version he gave on Oprah...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0aO64aKqek

Six Years Later.

This blog is a few days late but since I do not think that 9/11 is a day that should be remembered only on its anniversary I think that is okay. I think about what happened on that day all year long. Its not something that I think will ever be erased from my mind - not only those famous images you catch glimpses of on television but the feeling and emotions that were brought up by all of the events of the day and the week following.

Let me just admit right now - I am an Oprah fan. Yes, I TIVO her show every day and watch it when I can - which is basically when my hubby is not home because he really cannot stand it. Yesterday I caught up on her 9/11 special and have to say that I was so impressed with the way it was done. It was set in NYC. And it focused on the children of 9/11 - 6 years later. It was heartbreaking and humbling. These children who lost mothers and fathers are stronger and more resilient than most people I know. They are honoring their lost mothers and fathers every day by being the best that they can and hoping to still make those parents proud.

A few of the moments were more heartbreaking to me than others. There was a young girl who was very young, maybe 6, in 2001. You would hope things would be better or easier for the young ones who maybe do not remember as much. This is not the case. She talked about how it actually gets harder every year because she realizes more than she did and as she grows up some of the emotion brought on by that day actually gets stronger. Whether its her little mind growing up and gaining adult emotions and realizations or the media when it replays the events of the day over and over again. I felt for her in a way that I cannot even describe as she sat in front of that camera and described, in tears, all of the above. It surprised me and shook me and broke my heart all over again.

Another thing I wanted to point out is the answer to this question that Oprah posed to the kids. She asked them what September 11th means to them. Their answer? That is just a date. Its just one day. Its just when it happened. They live with the aftermath of September 11th and every day of every week of every month. To them, this is not remembered as, "oh what happened on that day." To them, its an every day thing. And it actually seemed so much harder for them when the world suddenly wakes up around the anniversary and remembers. Because they always remember. Its always with them. They do not have all year long to put it aside and go on with their lives. But the amazing thing? They do. They have grown up. They still live. They all admitted that they enjoy life and remember their fallen parents or family members in ways that would make the lost ones proud and not sad.

If you are interested in seeing some clips of the show, and I would really recommend it, here is a link to the website:

http://www2.oprah.com/tows/pastshows/200709/tows_past_20070911.jhtml?promocode=HP21

Pow-chaka-pow-wow...

Yes, yes - cue the super cheesy porn music in honor of the newest sex scandal. Larry Birkhead and Howard K. Stern. Did they engage in gay sex? Hmmm. I am going to go on record and say that I believe they did. I can see it. You have hot, pin up Anna Nicole Smith and her two beaus. I think of the drugs that were floating around. Combine all of that and you have a steamy session of experimentation.

Enter the DUMB moment, though. Supposedly, there is a tape of this. Idiots. I never get this! So many of these celebrity types are always getting caught having sex on tape. Are they morons? WHY record it? WHY? Why do famous people always record their sexcapades and think that no one will ever see it? Sure, record a graduation or a birth or a wedding on video - those are events you want to share with others and events where you would want to remember every little detail. But taping a moment where you decided to indulge in some extra kinky sex? And then expecting no one to ever see it? Puh-lease.

Its one thing for any of us normal, average people to tape ourselves - no one cares about us - but when you are a celebrity or having sex with a celebrity - its gonna come out eventually, people! And even us normal, average people never know if the person you are having sex with today will be (I wish) the Brad Pitt of tomorrow. So, I would honestly recommend never taping yourself. But that is another blog for another time...

Back to Birkhead and Stern - Do you think they did it? I do! That's my story and I am sticking to it...

Camel Toes.

A friend made me think of this today and I decided that I needed to blog about it because it is seriously a big gripe I have. You know how you look at other women or people and the way they act or dress or wear their hair or care for (or not) their skin? You know how you sometimes wonder HOW anyone could go out looking like that or wearing that or get away with even saying that?

My, "oh my GOD, would she STOP" moments always happen when I see a woman walking around with a Camel Toe. Do you know what a Camel Toe is? Have you heard this expression?

For those of you who have not, let me clue you in: It is when a woman wears her pants jacked up so high and so tight that it basically creates a wedgie in her woman's area. Seriously, push aside the fact of how ugly it looks for a second and think about how uncomfortable that is. I can excuse a woman for the goof of wearing red or black panties with white pants - because she cannot feel how it looks. But a Camel Toe is not something that you can walk around and say, "wow, I never even noticed that." Many of the women who suffer from this delusion are the same ones who refuse to wear thong underwear due to the fact that they are undies that go up your butt.

HELLO???? And those pants are more comfortable?? I say we start a movement.

JUST SAY NO TO CAMEL TOES!

Tell your friends and neighbors. Show your girlfriends the light and say YES to buying pants the correct size for every part of your body.

A Quiz for Fun....

What 2004 HIT song are you?

Do you even remember what was keeping you busy or entertained in 2004?

This Love by Maroon 5

"I was so high I did not recognize The fire burning in her eyes The chaos that controlled my mind" You were so great in 2004 that you make everyone a little bit sick!

What 2004 Hit Song Are You?

What if you had 16 siblings?

I only had one growing up and sometimes that was a little too much. Well, latest news on Yahoo! is the birth of the Duggar Family's 17th child. A little girl. The oldest child is 19. You may have seen this family featured on the Discovery Channel (I haven't seen the show).

Lets hit the first hurdle - what they consider "fun" facts. Just a few, I am sure there are others.

1. A baby has been born in every month except June
2. The family has gone through an estimated 90,000 diapers
3. The mom, Michelle, has been pregnant for 126 months (approx 10.5 years of her life)

Can I get a moment of silence, please? These people deserve a HUGE amount of respect (or therapy and a mental evaluation). Especially since they are saying, even after the birth of their latest, that they would love more children. Apparently, with only 7 girls - they are out numbered. Can't let that happen.

The idea of my husband and I being parents and caregivers and the financial support to seventeen kids boggles my mind. I think it would boggle almost anyone's. But really - when I thought of it - think about living with 16 brothers and sisters. Of being one of 17 children who all need love, care, and attention. Of needing help with your homework, dating advice, fashion advice, a lesson in bike riding. Who is providing all of that? My guess is that it is the older siblings and not the parents.

I don't know. I am not trying to be judgemental - I think large families and children are a beautiful thing. But I also think that it can all be taken just a little too far....

Everything happens for a reason

I am obviously in a contemplative mood today...

Everything Happens for a Reason

Sometimes things fall apart just so

other things can fall together;

but in the end, what is meant to be,

will always find its way.

It is true that we don't know

what we've got until we lose it, but it is also

true that we don't know what we've

been missing until it arrives.

Buzz Kill

There is nothing more depressing and frustrating than having a nice little happy bubble that you have been carrying around get obliterated in a matter of seconds. I am a really cheerful, up beat, happy go lucky kind of girl. I really am. Ask anyone. So, when I am looking forward to an event or an occasion or anything of the kind I really look forward to it. Especially when it is something that is close to being a milestone - maybe one that people do not agree with or even get - but still its my milestone. I really don't expect everyone to agree or "get" it. What I do expect is that my idea of a milestone be respected.

I don't know - maybe because I am so happy go lucky and up beat for everyone else I expect the same in return. I really, truly understand that everyone is different. That there are so many different types of people in this world and that it is because of this that there are so many different ways to bring pleasure to the billions of people world wide. Seriously, if the same thing brought everyone pleasure this world would be an incredibly dull place. At least that is the way I look at it.

Why then is it so easy for one thoughtless word or phrase or action. Or a series such to ruin in minutes something that I can say I was looking forward to for more than weeks, more than months even. Buzz kills suck. Especially when they come from people you love and respect and expect more from - especially when you feel you give so much to them that you expect a smidgen of understanding. Just a speck. Buzz kill moments are those that if you could go back just thirty seconds - such a tiny amount of time - you know that you could fix it all. It could be as simple as the person never saying what it was that killed the moment or, when you call it to their attention, it could be more than an apology that makes them feel better. They could actually say something in a way that lets you know for sure that they are sorry and that they meant it. Apologies - really, people - we have got to work on them. "I am sorry" just does not cut it sometimes. Its the way you say it, its your body language, its possibly even holding the person whose feelings you hurt - whether it is in a hug or just their hand. It is not how well you can change the subject afterwards to something bigger and better and completely different. Buying time afterwards does not make the original hurt go away. Neither does, "I said I was sorry. What more do you want?"

I know that I while some of you are curious that I do not have to go into great detail about my buzz kill. I know for sure that even without giving any details at all that most of you have been where I am sitting at this particular moment and that most of you have also put someone you cared about where I am sitting at the very same moment. And I know you do it without meaning to and that you are sorry. But guess what? The job is done. The buzz is killed.

What to do now? The milestone occasion is coming now whether you are psyched for it still or not. How do you pull yourself out of the funk you now find yourself in? I have no idea but I do not know I have an hour and a half to figure it out. My hope is that venting in this blog in the complete and total hypothetical will be cleansing. Maybe once I hit save and publish this I will feel much better. Not completely - but somewhat. Enough to smile pretty and be my usual upbeat self. And maybe the person/people who made me feel this way will realize it all on their own without me having to say one more word - which they do not want to hear anyway (because seriously wouldn't the world be a great place if problems got fixed on their own?).

Maybe. But I doubt it. I sincerely doubt the weather report is calling for flurries in hell today.

A bright idea gone bad....

As everyone is probably aware, a holiday is upon us! 4th of July - our country's birthday and, for me and my husband, a day that kicks off our last official vacation before our daughter arrives in October. Women will understand me when I say that us women go through a few rituals before preparing for a beachy vacation. We purchase an updated bathing suit, get our eyebrows waxed, maybe start on our base tan. Above all, we make sure our toe nails are trimmed and polished and worthy of all of the cute sandals and flip flops that will be donned on said vacation.

My bright idea was to do my own feet. I had been indulging in pedicures since well before I got knocked up and I thought, "yeah, I can switch it up a bit". So, I stopped at Walgreens on my way home yesterday and picked out the brightest Coral/Orangish nail polish I could find. One that will compliment my impending tan to a tee. Exciting stuff. Then I get home and realize something. I completely forgot about this pregnancy belly and how hard it is making it for me to just shave my legs. Hell if I can even reach my feet! What the hell was I thinking? Do my own feet? Brilliant! Talk about getting kicked in the head with a realization... I explained my dilemma to my husband. Up until this point he has been really helpful with all of those sticky situations I find myself in. But I realized quickly, probably even before that look of utter horror crossed his face, that I do not want him anywhere near my feet with a nail polish brush. Am I crazy?! I saw what happened the first time he painted a wall and there was no way I was going to waltz around Key West with clumpy toes. Hell no.

Possible last resort - baby sister to the rescue! She arrives tonight and I am already thinking of a few different ways to bribe her into helping me out.... :o)

Until next time on, "Adventures of a Preggo."

Oh, thats pretty. And so popular right now!

GRRRRRRRRRRR......

A word to the wise. A little advice, if you want it - which you should. When you ask someone what they are naming their child, no matter how popular that name is at the moment or even how pretty you think it is inspite of that, never, ever reply with, "that is such a popular name right now, too!"

Its annoying and it doesn't help. I don't care if the name I have chosen is number 50 or number 3 on the current year's most popular list of names. I want to feel original. At the moment the baby in my belly is the only one whose name I care about and if I have gone ahead and chosen a name in spite of its current popularity than I have a good reason. I do not want to think about how many kids of the same name will be starting kindergarten with her in 5 years, okay?

So, think before you speak, people!!!!

Thank you for your consideration. :-)