Words to Live By

Two incidents have recently caught the eyes of the nation. Both are related to the upcoming anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Both are completely permissible and legal. Initiators of both events are well within their rights to move forward with their plans.

And personally, I don't think either should take place.

I am, of course, talking about the proposed mosque/Muslim Community Center near Ground Zero and the Quran Burning planned by Terry Jones, a Christian pastor in Florida. Both have met with significant opposition, as well as support.

I find it interesting that both events share the common ground of 9/11. Both organizers have publicly decried the events of 9/11. Both are proposing events that, while legal in the strictest sense of the word, are causing great controversy among Americans. On the surface, it would seem that they would be on the "same side", so to speak.

And honestly, that's really what it comes down to. The fact that one wants to build a religious/community structure and one wants to burn holy books from that same religion is really irrelevant.

Both are legal.

But with such an emotionally charged event looming large in the background of both, organizers should pause before pursuing either project.

And while great historical thinkers and doers have not necessarily been stopped by public opinion or emotion, they have certainly considered it.

And perhaps remembered two things:

Just because you CAN, doesn't mean you SHOULD.

Being LEGAL doesn't make something RIGHT.

Men (and Women) at Work (or not)

Labor Day has become one of those holidays that nobody really understands. Frankly, I don't think I was ever really TAUGHT the origins or history of the holiday. For most Americans, it's simply become a date that marks the symbolic end of summer, the time to close up summer homes, close down swimming pools, and pack the white shoes away for the winter.

I guess it's good that we have a long weekend to allow us to do all that, even though for those of us in the midwest, we're as likely to have an 85 degree day throughout September as we are to have 60 and 70 degree days.

Kids get a day off school, parents get a day off work. The federal government shuts down and the US Postal Service doesn't deliver or pick up mail.

I suppose if I'd grown up in a union family, I may have a better appreciation for the meaning of the holiday, but then again, who knows.

Clearly they're still not teaching kids the reason for the school holiday.

Yesterday The Tweenager asked if he had to empty the dishwasher on Monday, since it was Labor Day and nobody had to work.

Diva Nana told him "Sure! But then your mom doesn't have to work at all either. No cooking, no laundry, no cleaning."

I think I'd like a Labor Day like that.

These Are My People

As far as labels go, I'm a big fan. They keep things straight in my head. Not to mention it makes simple tasks like telling the difference between salt and sugar a much easier process.

As far as people go, I'm on the fence. I love my labels of "mom" and "wife". It thrills me to say that I have two "sons". And to me it's simply nothing more than a fact of genetics and birthplace that Diva Husband is "Mexican".

Over the past few years, and perhaps especially over the past several months, political labels have become a big deal. People make a huge thing over being "Conservative", "Liberal", "Democrat", "Republican", "Independent", "Socialist", "Libertarian"...

You get the idea.

While I'm not looking for a political discussion, I've made no excuses for the fact that my own views tend to run "Moderately Conservative". I vote on both sides of the ticket during the primary elections, but register as a "Republican", only because I have to declare a party affiliation, and frankly, that's where most of the candidates I support are listed. I respect the office of the President of the United States, but don't really care for many of his political stances.

I think the whole Tea Party Movement is fascinating and agree with much of what they are saying. Personally, Sarah Palin drives me batty. Her "cutesy" style of delivery seems unprofessional to me and it really makes me crazy to listen to her speak at these functions.

Recently, many polls have assigned labels to self-proclaimed members of the Tea Party Movement. White men, 45 and older, well-educated, etc.

Basically, they're saying it's an "old-boys club" and implying that certain races, genders, economic classes, etc. are being excluded. Having not attended any rallies myself, I can't speak for who participates or considers themselves members of the "Tea Party". As evidenced by this NBC interview excerpt, however, those labels may not be as accurate as the pollsters want us to think.

Nice try, NBC, but clearly there are Americans who resist the labeling.

Senator Mickey Mouse?

Today is the Primary Election in our fair state. Even if you're not familiar with much in our fair state, you probably have heard of our former Governor. He's made more than a few media appearances in the last year or so. His wife appeared on the show "I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here", when prosecutors banned his own appearance. Recent rumblings have been made that he may show up next on Donald Trump's "Celebrity Apprentice".

Our senators have been making news as well. The current lame duck Senator was appointed by the previously aforementioned Governor. HIS predecessor moved on to a different job.

Confused yet? Don't worry, residents of our fair state are just as confused. Today's election turnout is expected to be low, with perhaps 25% of voters casting their ballots.

Lest you think this is turning into a political post, let me reassure you.

I went to vote this morning and took The Manimal with me. He was unusually quiet, taking everything in. Our precinct location isn't completely new to him, as it's in our neighborhood clubhouse. I guess the "election decor" of voting booths and registration tables really threw him, though.

He wanted to know what we were doing, and I told him that I was going to vote. Then he wanted to know what "vote" meant. I told him it meant choosing something or someone.

He wanted to see what I was doing, so I showed him my ballot and ballpoint pen (we're a pretty low-tech site). Then I let him carry my ballot over to the box, where he (with surprising care) slid it into the reader.

As I was helping him with his gloves, he looked up and said, "Mommy, is this Disney World?"

Hmm...maybe the carnival of Illinois politics isn't beyond the scope of a four year-old after all!

Vote Early, Vote Often (or Not)

A friend of mine lives in Chicago. Actually IN Chicago. (She's not one of us suburbanite city wannabes.)

Chicago and Illinois have some pretty significant political races occurring this year, and our primary elections are coming up on February 2. Like many other places, we are able to vote early to help avoid some of the crowds, and give more people an opportunity to do their civic duty.

My friend went this week to vote, and as she was leaving the polling place, the election judges felt the need to remind her that she couldn't vote again.

Only in Chicago!

Dear Nancy Pelosi,

I hope this letter finds you well. The Diva family is having a busy summer, with interstate travels to visit family, swimming lessons and birthday celebrations on the docket. Even with the Diva Husband out of work for the past six months, we're doing our best to keep the economy moving!

The summer weather in the Windy City has been interesting, with Mother Nature playing odd tricks and alternating between summer storms that made me wonder if I'd wake up in Oz and temperatures cool enough to make me wonder if I'd slept through summer and woke up smack in the middle of October.

Sounds like Mother Nature has been creating some strange winds in California as well, particularly one that brought a lovely SIXTEEN MILLION DOLLAR economic stimulus windfall.

For a mouse.

While your SoCal constituents may be used to a certain mouse bringing in money to stimulate their local economy, I'm pretty sure that this SIXTEEN MILLION DOLLARS won't really do the same for the Bay Area. Those little critters can get pretty greedy, as witnessed in the epic tale "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie".

Perhaps you've not read the whole story, but it begins innocently enough, with a sweet, innocent little boy giving a cute little denim-clad mouse a cookie, but spirals quickly out of control when the mouse needs milk, a broom (to clean the crumbs), paper to draw on, tape to put his picture on the refrigerator, a pillow for a nap, etc., etc.

While I'm sure that in your infinite wisdom, you felt that giving a mouse SIXTEEN MILLION DOLLARS was a sweet gesture, please elaborate exactly HOW protecting this mouse will "stimulate" the economy.

Oh, wait! I know! It must be a simple case of mistaken identity.

You confused this mouse.



With this mouse.

Dear Sasha and Malia

It must be difficult growing up in the public eye. Children, after all, are not Republican or Democrat. They're just children.

Here's a lovely letter from the two most recent First Daughters to the two newest.

Sweet advice, and the sentiment is universal: Enjoy the ride.

Rush to Judgment

I'd just like to start out with a quick little prayer that Diva Papa and Diva Nana don't disown me after this post. The Diva Grands have a long and honorable history of voting Republican. Very Republican. Very. Very. Republican.

That being said, I've mentioned before that I didn't vote for Barack Obama as President. I didn't vote for him as Illinois Senator either, but that's another election.

I did, however, watch the Inauguration today. It was pretty cool, sitting in the dining hall at Diva U. with probably 300 students, watching history in the making. He is, after all the President of the United States of America, not just the President of the Democrats, so I'll give him all the respect due a man of his office.

Besides, I'm an event coordinator by profession and a Presidential Inauguration? Is one wicked cool event. So although Dianne Feinstein and Nancy Pelosi made me want to hurl, I could even chalk it up to professional development if I felt the need to justify my viewing.

Which I don't.

But the fact that I watched (and was impressed by) the Inauguration isn't really the point here.

On the way back to my office, I flipped on the radio to a local talk radio station. It's got a reputation for being the "conservative" station in the Windy City, and the normal show on in that particular time slot is Rush Limbaugh.

Now I realize that a good percentage of his comments are designed to elicit interest from listeners. And don't forget that I agree with a lot of his positions. But today, I was so irritated by his running commentary on the Inauguration, that I turned it off in a huff.

It's probably no surprise to anyone that Rush Limbaugh didn't vote for President Obama. And everyone is entitled to their own opinions. And the man makes his living being a bit outspoken. But seriously, Obama won the election fair and square. And while you certainly don't have to be happy that he won, sometimes it's better to follow a mother's advice.

If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. Bad form, Rush. Bad form.

Election Day

I've worked to avoid seriously discussing politics over the past several months. But now that the election is upon us, I wanted to share this video, which exemplifies one of the reasons I will cast my vote for the McCain/Palin ticket. Please watch all the way to the end. Block out the political message if you must, but watch it to the end. Regardless of your vote, it's pretty near impossible not to be touched by this veteran's sacrifice.

I will not discuss my political leanings on this blog, so if you are thinking of leaving a comment to incite discussion, fuhgettaboutit!

Go vote.

And in the immortal words of Miranda ("The Devil Wears Prada")...

That is all.

It's NaBloPoMo!

Well, November is upon us, and all you good bloggers know what that means, don't you?

That's right, it's NaBloPoMo.

For all of you uninitiated, we're not speaking some foreign language. That stands for National Blog Posting Month, and it's the time of year when we bloggers try to post every day for the whole month of November! I managed it last year, so I thought I'd try it again this year. The difference being that I have TWO blogs this year, so we'll try and double up! Of course, there are some of you out there who have been celebrating NaBloPoMo EVERY MONTH. Crazies...

Onward and upward, bloggy friends!

Election Day draws near, and apparently, nobody is immune to the hoopla. The election has been a big topic of discussion in SS#1's class this year, primarily due to the "firsts". There was Hillary, the first woman with a legitimate shot at the office. Then there was Obama, the first Black Presidential candidate. Then there was Sarah, with a whole string of firsts, and McCain...well, you get the drift.

Anyway, the other day on the way to school, SS#1 commented "So, Hillary can't vote, right?" Apparently, he felt that not winning your party's nomination was on par with committing a felony.

I explained that, no, she definitely could vote, and likely would be voting. He asked who I thought she'd vote for, and I told him that it would probably be Obama, since he's the Democrat.

SS#1 was quiet for a minute, then asked who I was voting for. Not wanting to get into a political discussion with my eight-year-old, I told him that I'd probably vote for Obama or McCain.

More silence, then he said "McCain's the old guy, right?"

Halloween Costumes

Found this over on Fussy's site and thought it was hysterically funny. Oh, what you can do with Photoshop! :)

Trivial Pursuits

I'm very excited because I just found out that I'll be able to vote early, as I'll be out of town during the primary. It's even easier than absentee voting, because I just go down to our village hall and, well, vote!

Of course, this means that I actually have to choose a candidate. In trying to be an informed voter, I checked out Project Vote Smart, a non-partisan site with all kinds of great info. I can check out biographical information, voting records, campaign finance information, interest group ratings, etc.

And in case I'm interested, I can also find out the candidates "additional biographical information." Being interested, I checked it out, and found out some, well, interesting info.

For example, did you know that Mitt Romney drives a 2005 Ford Mustang Convertible? Maybe he could give Rudy Giuliani a ride, because he doesn't drive.

Or that John Edwards earned his first paycheck as a Soda Jerk with the Tar Heel Drug Company in Robbins, NC?

Mike Huckabee must be a closet meteorologist, since one of his favorite websites is http://www.accuweather.com/. And although Hillary's not my girl for the Oval Office, we do share a love of crossword puzzles and the book, "Goodnight, Moon".

Many of the candidates are pet people, but John McCain wins the "Dr. Doolittle" award for his menagerie: Sam, the English Springer Spaniel, Coco, the Mutt, Cuff and Link, both turtles, a cat named Oreo, a ferret, three parakeets and 13 saltwater fish.

Look out Barack, Bobby Flay might challenge you to a chili throwdown! Of course, John McCain likes to grill, so being a grill man himself, Bobby might head that way.

Mitt and Hillary are both "American Idol" fans. I wonder if they would've voted Sanjaya off sooner than the rest of America?

I have to admit that knowing this information, while it may not affect my political choices, does prove that there are some normal Americans under all of that political gaming and grandstanding.

Caucus, Schmaucus

I have to preface this post by saying that I'm not trying to start a political discussion. I do have Republican preferences, but typically vote the issues and have been known to vote for a Democrat if I feel s/he is the most qualified candidate.

That being said, I have to say that I was quite entertained by the goings-on of the recent Iowa Caucuses (Is there a more absurd word?). In particular, I was entertained by one candidate Governor Mike Huckabee.

I have to say that, while I respect him as a public servant, I have trouble imagining a "President Huckabee". Sounds suspiciously, well, Mayberry-ish. The media has taken a bit of journalistic liberty (I know this surprises all of you.) with this particular candidate's surname. At any rate, the media is talking about the "Hucka-boom", evidently referencing the hubub surrounding his candidacy.

How about "Oba-mania"? Or "Hilla-rity" (sorry, that was definitely a little jab there)? Or maybe "Mitt-itis"? I guess that last one sounds like a disease...

No, it's definitely the name. "Huckabee" just lends itself to creativity. Will his supporters be called "Huckabites" or "Huckabanians"?

What about an official campaign dance? They could call it the "Hucka-Bucka". Trader Joe's could release a special wine called "Hucka-Bucka Chucka's". And what would this dance look like? I envision it something like Elaine's dance on "Seinfeld". But that's just me.

Wanna dance?

Cheers!