Quick Takes

• I loved El Presidente's address to Congress. He breathed some life, and truth, into that chamber.
  
• Nancy Pelosi does look a bit like the cat who got the canary, though.
  
• Man, I love Michelle Obama.
• Wow, given his reputation for being such a hardass, I would have thought that Rahm Emanuel would have a more commanding voice.
  
• My niece is going to be traveling to Africa late next week to spend most of March working with an organization that helps orphans whose parents died of HIV/AIDS. That's pretty damn awesome.
  
• After nearly two months, there's finally a new trainer at the gym. I met him yesterday and I think his goal is really to be a gym teacher, so I'm not too sure how well he's going to work out (no pun intended), but I'm going to make sure that I get all of my appointments in with him. I'm conflicted about the gym at the moment and have a lot of thinking to do.
• I've decided that my long-term goal for the year is to finish the basement. It'll mean organizing the unfinished side better so that I can facilitate the massive undertaking that will be clearing out the finished side. Then, we need to settle on a heat source, strip the wallpaper, paint, and get new carpeting in there. It'll be a huge, huge job but I really would like to have it done by the time it gets cold again. Finishing the space up the way I want it would give me space for a quilting corner, more play room for the kids, a dedicated area to workout at home and it would just be awesome to utilize a third floor of living space.
• I went out to very nice dinner last Friday night with some ladies that I knew from middle school. I'm loving facebook - it's totally giving me a life! I've really enjoyed reconnecting with people, but am most enjoying getting back in touch with the middle school crowd.
• We had to have our DVR replaced. J had noticed that the reception was choppy, especially if we paused something and then tried to watch it later. Over the past couple of weeks, the signal just became awful and I couldn't take it anymore. I could almost live with the choppiness, but the sound would go out too and I was about to lose my mind. I called comcast last Thursday night (actually, it was 12:30 in the morning and would you believe I was on hold for over 20 minutes?!) to complain and they were going to send someone out yesterday, but ended up having a tech in the area on Friday. J was hesitant and thought maybe I was being too picky (he tends to expect the negative and doesn't ever rock the boat). Within 3 minutes of his arrival, the tech declared that the box was indeed defective and he replaced it. I was bummed to lose all of the stuff we'd recorded (mostly, I was bummed to lose the Imagination Movers episodes...as were the kids), but I'm thrilled to have clear service now. We're re-recording the Movers as quickly as we can :)
• I'm simulataneously craving peanut butter and chocolate dipped strawberries. Instead, I'll be good and head to bed.
  

Inauguration Day

I didn't cry during the oath itself. When the cameras first cut to Obama walking through the halls, on his way to be announced, and he looked so calm and yet also entirely aware of the gravity and awesomeness of the moment...that's when the tears just flooded my eyes.

I am so thrilled to be an American right now.

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"And I realized that my own life wouldn't count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours. In the end, girls, that's why I ran for President: because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation.

...

I want us to push the boundaries of discovery so that you'll live to see new technologies and inventions that improve our lives and make our planet cleaner and safer. And I want us to push our own human boundaries to reach beyond the divides of race and region, gender and religion that keep us from seeing the best in each other.

...it is only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you will realize your true potential.

These are the things I want for you—to grow up in a world with no limits on your dreams and no achievements beyond your reach, and to grow into compassionate, committed women who will help build that world. And I want every child to have the same chances to learn and dream and grow and thrive that you girls have. That's why I've taken our family on this great adventure."

- from Barack Obama's letter to his daughters, Parade Magazine, January 18, 2009

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"On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

...

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake.

...

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake.

...

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

...

What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

...

Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations."

- from President Barack Obama's Inaugural Address, January 20, 2009

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"What if the mightiest word is love, love beyond marital, filial, national. Love that casts a widening pool of light. Love with no need to preempt grievance.

In today's sharp sparkle, this winter air, anything can be made, any sentence begun.

On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp -- praise song for walking forward in that light."

- from Elizabeth Alexander's Inaugural Poem, January 20, 2009

Snippets

• While flipping through my most recent Everyday Food, I saw a recipe for a cheddar-crusted apple pie. Although I know that people combine cheese and apple pie, I have never tried it in my life. It just doesn't seem like a logical food combination to me (so says the chick who has been known to combine french fries and hot fudge sundaes and sour cream and onion potato chips and tomato soup). The recipe seems tempting, though, and I may just try it this year for Thanksgiving. Tell me, though, have you done the cheddar and apple pie thing? Is it really as good as everyone says?
• The other day, while out for a drive, a large truck cut across 3 lanes of traffic and I was taken aback. I exclaimed, to no one in particular, "Dude, what up?" From the back seat I then heard, "Dude, what up little man?" Take a guess which kidlet it was (hint: she's quite the talker, just like her Mama).
• Hey did you see this?
  
• I honestly think that Sarah Palin is toast (certainly, the finger pointing is pretty much all aimed towards Alaska). Yes, she fired up the 'pub base and she is a solid conservative, but I don't think she's got much of a future beyond this point. I'd be shocked if she is reelected as governor of Alaska when the time comes. We'll see, I guess.
  
• I'm jonesing for chinese food. Maybe Saturday night...
• I'm a rather snarky people-watcher at the gym. If I see someone coming into the gym, say, when I'm getting on a machine for a 60-minute workout and then I see that same person leave before I'm through with my workout? I invariably think to myself, "why even bother coming in?" Bitchy, I know. I should put the spin on it that at least that person is coming in and moving at all and any exercise beats no exercise, right?
  

My Own Little Piece Of History

I don't know exactly where my fervor for voting comes from, but I distinctly remember my mother taking me along with her to vote. In fact, sitting in a polling place on a bright November morning as my mother disappeared behind a red, white and blue striped curtain for a few moments may be one of my earliest memories. So, I attribute my firm belief that voting is vital and that if you don't vote, I will refuse to listen to you complain about our governing officials to these early memories of participating in our political process.

Despite one of my sisters exhorting everyone she came in to even distant contact with to "bring water, bring lawn chairs, and dress in layers" when heading to the polls today (and my reminding her that, hey, we live in NEW HAMPSHIRE where uhm I can't honestly foresee any major voting issues arising), we had no issues at our polling location today (and neither did anyone I spoke with). In fact, we waited in line longer when voting in the primary in January (when it was pretty damn cold). She was adamant, too, that we not bring the kids with us because it would just be too much for them to take. Needless to say, she was wrong...sort of. But, even though they may not remember it, I was determined to have our children with us as we cast our votes for Barack Obama.

As we waited for all of two minutes in line to announce ourselves, Ella suddenly became possessed by evil Republican spirits or something and became nearly uncontrollable. I switched kids with J and he was strapped with wrangling the inexplicably insane one. Liam was pretty well behaved until he decided that he just had to touch the boot of the man in the booth next to me because he was convinced that it was Daddy's boot. I told him repeatedly that it wasn't in fact the foot of his father at all and hastily filled out the rest of my ballot (while also listening to Ella freak the hell out two booths over). Despite a complete stranger offering to hold Ella while J voted (hello? who would ever do that? offer and/or accept the offer?), we both placed our ballots into the machine and left the polling place, happy to have played our tiny roles in history.

Yes, we did.

Get It?

See how much I love you, my Internets? I'm willing to post of picture of me first thing in the morning in order to encourage you to get out there and vote! Not that my fatigued visage should be the inspiration...it's the message on the shirt. Now, get out there and vote (even if it's for the other guy, damnit!). DO IT!

Yes, We Can

I'm A Winner!

Jenn from Jenn's Journal and No Lemon Juice recently breathed new life into No Lemon Juice and held a giveaway to celebrate the relaunch of her site. And...I won a cookbook! Just for leaving a comment! Awesome!

I've been drooling over some of the new recipes that Jenn's been posting and am dreaming of the day when I have the time to try some myself. Also, I won the Barefoot Contessa At Home and I'm psyched b/c I don't own any Ina yet and am looking forward to it.

Woohoo for me!

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We had a quiet day around here, but it seems to have flown by. The kids wanted to go for a walk this morning, so we gave in, even though it always turns into a battle of wills with Liam. If allowed to, the boy would run wild forever. Finally, he agreed to head towards home when we offered to go out to eat. Restaurants are a big hit with the kids. Restaurants = crayons. In Liam's case, restaurants = french fries. It was still early when we went for our ride (oh yes, every morning includes a ride by the local airport and National Guard unit to check out the airplanes and helicopters), so we ended up in Tilton, just in time to hit someplace as it was opening. We opted for the 99, which is decent enough, but is a Pepsi place, so I'm never too jazzed to go there. Diet Pepsi sucks.

After lunch, we surprised Mom with a visit and she was thrilled, as were the kids. Before we even get off the highway at her exit, Liam knows it's the way to Nana's house and he gets sooooo excited. Her house wasn't kid-proofed, but the Muffins managed to not make too much of a mess and Mom managed to press J and me into some hard labor, having us move some seriously heavy storage totes from an upstairs bedroom to the room farthest away from it in the house. I guess that was my pre-gym workout.

All in all, a quiet and good day.

Hey, did you hear about Sarah Palin being pranked? Brilliant!

Good Lord It Just Gets Nuttier!

OK, it's just wrong that Cloris is still on. She seriously needs to go.

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On a serious note, this proposed bailout is just wrong. And McCain's suspension of his campaign? What a show! I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that the economy just isn't his thing, or that he can't debate worth shit, or even the handy little fact that he's clearly behind in the polls right now.

Ugh.

I wonder if Sarah Palin is at all resentful of how micro-managed she is. Photo-ops only while meeting with foreign heads of state? I could almost buy Olbermann's suggestion that McCain's display is a ploy to wipe the VP debate off of the map (about 6 mins into the video). It's clear the woman can't hold her own. I wonder when she'll get back to Katie Couric?

I'm viscerally disgusted by all that's going on.

Swelling With Pride and Hope

Barack Obama was perfect tonight! Just perfect.

Let's Talk Politics

I've been a little disappointed with the Democratic National Convention up until this point. It's seemed very tepid and lacking in bite. I think Michelle Obama was alright, but tame. Perhaps they're trying to polish her "First Lady" image and tone down the strong woman aspects of her personality. I will say that I think Hillary did a great job last night and I appreciated her speech. Calling for the suspension of the roll call and nomication of Obama by acclamation was great, too. What do you think she'll get in the Obama administration? Attorney General? Secretary of State?

I was thrilled that New Hampshire's delegation unanimously cast their votes for Obama. Last week, on The Exchange, some delegates who were initially Hillary supporters said they felt obligated to cast their first vote for her. I'm glad they listened to her message last night and presented a united front.

Joe Biden did very well tonight and I am so excited that he's the VP nominee.

I hope Obama comes out guns blazing tomorrow night and really fires the party up. Everyone needs a massive jolt of caffeine or something.

I'll be very interested to see McCain's VP pick...I'm thinking Kay Bailey Hutchison's stock is rising...but, overall, I think his options suck.

Oh, Hello There!

Yes, I'm still alive. I've kind of fallen into the Facebook abyss. I get it now. Reconnecting with people hasn't been as terrible/uncomfortable/awkward as I thought it might. Plus, there's a fantastic word game application that is beyond addictive to play.

That said, let's catch up, shall we?

Needless to say, I'm thrilled with the results from the primaries last night in North Carolina and Indiana. Now, even if Florida and Michigan delegates are seated (which I don't think they should be), Obama still has the pledged and elected delegate votes to win. Howard Fineman and Chuck Todd did a great job last night of discussing how a back room deal can be worked out where FL and MI are counted and Hillary steps down graciously and Obama is the nominee. Even before last night, I've been working with the kids teaching them to say "President Obama." And, don't you think Michelle Obama will be an amazing First Lady?! But, I will not be pleased if Hillary is VP. I don't think it'll happen, but a lot of people seem to think it'd be a good compromise. Uhm, no! She wouldn't settle for VP and, while I do think that Obama needs to select someone older, but not her.

I do think Spring has finally arrived. We got a little bit of a teaser a couple of weeks ago (during which I had J install the air conditioners in our bedroom and the kids' room - it gets hella hot up there, even with a couple of days in the high 70s), and then it was back down to rain and temps in the 40s. It's been nice since Monday, though, and the forecast looks good, so I think we're in the clear. And, this isn't to say that I really like Spring, either. I don't. I'm not looking forward to the heat and humidity and the grossness of Summer. But days in the mid-70s and no humidity do hold their appeal for me.

I honestly don't know where the time has gone for the last couple of months. It feels as though the days have just been melting into one another. I look at the calendar and shake my head in confusion. How the hell is it May already?!

#1 and #2 are terribly funny. #1 seems to be going through another stage of not wanting me to leave the room and throws a pretty good fit if I'm not around. Sometimes it's a little discouraging, but I know he'll outgrow it. #2 is talking up a storm! Oh, she is funny! We went to visit Mom last Friday and, when we returned home, I told #1 that I needed to change his diaper. Well, #2 clearly thought that the diaper change - 4 hours earlier at Mom's - was sufficient enough and she loudly proclaimed to me, "No, Mumma, no change diaper! Diaper change Nana's house!" To which I explained that more than one diaper change is necessary in a day. The Muffins also seem to be loving each other a lot more now and it's so sweet. They play together so nicely and #1 just adores his sister.

Oh! I almost forgot! I had my hair cut on Saturday. For the first time in a year! It's cute. I went with shorter, but still long enough to pull back in a pony tail and got bangs again. I really do need to take better care of myself and get into the salon more than once a year.

OK, time for a kid pic. They had just given each other a kiss...

Oh, what's that? You want to see the new hair? Oh, well, since you asked nicely...

Life, Recently (In Bullet Points, Of Course!)

• Elton John was good. C's man, Jeeps, gave her tickets to the EJ show at the Verizon Wireless Arena for Valentine's Day. C invited me to go and it was a nice night. It was a pretty mellow show for the most part, which was fine with me. It was just the man and his piano and, let me tell you, he's making a mint off of this tour. The ticket prices were outrageous, but he did perform for ~ 2 1/2 hours straight and came back for autograph signing and a two-song encore. Sometimes, though, I feel like a little old lady. As nice of a time as we had, I missed being home with J and the kids. (Plus, the Verizon sucks as a concert venue. It was built to be a sports arena and the acoustics are muy terrible for concerts. We saw barenaked ladies there years ago and you could barely make out a thing they said. That said, it did work out better when it was a solo performer and one instrument - except for the songs I wasn't familiar with...then I couldn't tell what the hell he was saying.)
• I'm getting really tired of Cirie on Survivor. Was she really a favorite? She's running the game and is driving me nuts.
• Mom stayed with us for most of the week because she fell last Sunday trying to remove some snow from her well cover. Her left knee already gives her problems and no one wanted her to be alone in her house. It worked out well and the Muffins were in love with having their Nana here. She got some much needed rest and her knee was doing much better by the time she went home. I'm feeling...overwhelmed isn't the right word, but I suppose it'll do...anyway, I'm feeling significantly more pressure to get Mom out of her house sometime this year and I have a post brewing about that that I need to find the right words for. I'm struggling with finding balance between my desire to care for my mother and my husband and children.
  
• We bought a wet vac last night and J is having a blast (I think) using it in the basement. We've had issues with seasonal wetness downstairs since we've been here, but with the intense snow this winter and now a ton of rain coming down, the wetness is kicking into high gear and J is trying to get it under control so we can work on redoing the finished part of the basement this summer. Hopefully, our plan will work. I would love for the Muffins to have a larger play space.
• I think I developed some form of Stockholm Syndrome about winter. I'm very used to the snow and don't mind it at all. Now that it's been milder and we're getting rain, I almost feel fooled by Mother Nature. I don't like the ugly end to winter. The dirty snowbanks and the debris of winter is depressing. Plus, some of our snowbanks are massive. For a while there I didn't think they'd fully melt until June. Now, maybe, we're looking at late April. And, damnit, we have to lose an hour tonight. Daylight is overrated. Ugh.
  
• Tomorrow marks one month until the Muffins turn 2. I cannot believe my babies are almost 2! Where has the time gone?! I'm planning an Elmo themed party the Sunday after their birthday for grandparents, Godparents, C and Jeeps and J's sister and her family. I'm hosting Easter in a couple of weeks, too, so I need to get cleaning!
  
• For the record, I will not vote for Hillary if she is the nominee.
  
• I really want noodles.
  

I Have A Headache

J and I checked out the new independent movie theatre in town and it is gorgeous! We caught Persepolis and really enjoyed it.

Mom came down to be with the kids and it made for a lovely afternoon. I think we may try to have a standing once-a-month date to hit the Red River while the kids get a hit of Nana time.

Tonight's dinner was orange and sweet potato turkey breasts with brown rice. Pretty yummy.

Does anyone really care about the Oscars? For that matter, I didn't really miss much TV while the writers' strike was going on (thank you, Netflix). Although, we did catch the first post-strike SNL last night and it had a couple of funny bits. I didn't care much for Tina Fey's pro-Hillary screed during Weekend Update, though. I do happen to think that having a Billary co-presidency would not be beneficial to this country. Go Obama!

Now, I'm going to hopefully relax this headache away.

Right On

Check out Maureen Dowd.

UGH

I don't respect Hillary.

Don't trust the tears. Apparently, though, enough people were moved but I wanted to gag. They better not call it The Comeback Kid, Part 2.

All around, it's been a cruddy day, despite the optimistic beginning. #1 has a fever and #2 threw an hour long fit tonight. I'm tired and disappointed in the election results (though very pleased with the voter turnout) and I haven't been able to sleep for the last couple of nights.

Please let sleep find me tonight.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if, in the morning, the final numbers showed an eeked-out Obama win?

Underway

I'm excited.

I'm glad the day's finally here and we'll know the results by tonight.

I was giddy as I filled in the little oval ever so carefully.

I feel as though we're a part of something big.

I feel hopeful for our country for the first time in a long time.

Is It Tuesday Yet?

Man oh man, I cannot wait for January 9th.

I love New Hampshire and feel a certain sense of pride at living in the home of the First in the Nation Primary, but this campaign has been overkill for quite a while. I'm eager to see what the final turnout is given how many people caucused in Iowa on Thursday and I'm very eager to see the final numbers (and hope my man comes out on top, of course), but I'm more eager to be left alone starting Wednesday.

Surprisingly, the phone hasn't rung much (well, it's not that surprising given that we're unlisted); the doorbell only rang once (and that wasn't until nearly 2 pm), and J told the young Hillary supporter at the door that we're both voting for the O (he only made up his mind in the last couple of days). I'm hoping tomorrow is even quieter.

The back-to-back debates on ABC have just finished and, though I've been a firm Obama supporter for a long while, it's been interesting to watch (those 'pubs got snarky!). I appreciated Charlie Gibson's moderating and enjoyed the format of the debates.

On Wednesday, though, it will once again be quiet here. We'll be left alone for another 3 years, until potential contenders begin taking the political temperature of the granite state.

Dear God, let time go slowly...starting Wednesday.

Speechless

Benazir Bhutto has been assassinated.

It's a sad and scary day.

A Thought, A Woohoo, And A Vote

My sister A sent me this link tonight.

Over the summer, NH's governor signed into law a bill opposing the mandatory separation of multiples in the classroom and I was all in favor. As the mother of twins, I want to be able to have input into my children's education and wasn't pleased with the idea that #1 and #2 faced the prospect of compulsory separation when they went to school (if we don't homeschool, that is).

When Eldest Sister sent her two oldest (also b/g twins) to school, she wasn't made to separate them and I think it ended up being a great thing that my niece and nephew were able to stay together throughout school.

I'm very glad that I have the choice, too.

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In other news, thank Christ (or should I thank Joseph Smith?) that Marie did not win! I was fully prepared to turn the tv off right then and there if she advanced to the final two. If Sabrina couldn't win, then Helio deserved it and J and I were both thrilled that he got it. Woohoo!

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In other, other news. I took this political quiz (link originally from Oro) and I lined up 80% with Dennis Kucinich. Sorry, Dennis, I'm not voting for you. I must say, I'm more than a little burnt out on politics at the moment. But, in case you're wondering, Obama's my man.

Thankful

I am thankful for my husband. He is my best friend, a true partner, and the best father our children could ever ask for.

I am thankful for my children. For their health and happiness and their laughter. They are the loves of my life and I am grateful for every moment, delightful and challenging, that I am blessed to be their mother.

I am thankful for my mother. She is strength and beauty and love personified. I am thankful for her health and her music and that I am her daughter.

I am thankful for my family. We all have our own little insanities, but we are strong and unique and really great together. Today was a wonderful reminder of how amazing it is to be part of a large family. I wouldn't want it any other way.

I am thankful for C. She is my friend and loves the Muffins and is a really great young woman. I am proud of her.

I am thankful for my friends.

I am thankful for my life.

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Winning quote of the day?

"I'm thankful that George Bush will be out of office soon." - My 9 year-old nephew, when it was his turn to say what he was thankful for.