Where?

The question of "where were you" on 9/11 has come up a lot this week and my answer is different than most people's, I was my honeymoon, as I had just gotten married.  But I'm not really sure where you were matters, because we all felt 9/11 differently, but we all felt it.  What I remember was feeling out of place.  I couldn't get in touch with my friends and family in NYC and DC. Should we come home?  Is it okay to stay on our HONEYMOON when this just happened?  Luckily, we had driven to our honeymoon because even before 9/11, I always hated to fly.

We spent that day, like most everyone, watching the tv coverage.  And the next day, and the next day. At some point we went to the beach again, and drove to Williamsburg.  We immersed ourselves in history, while history was being made. We came home and I started a new job, ironically, the same job I still have.  There were anthrax reports.  My friends in New York City were having a really hard time.  I felt helpless.  I caught a really bad stomach bug and had to go the hospital.  I couldn't stop shaking from the vomiting.  The nurse told me I had "PTSD from 9/11."  I didn't, but I couldn't help wondering how many she saw that did.

The next year, in the Fall, DC was terrorized by snipers trying to kill us.  Somehow Fall became associated with terror, something I think this area still feels.

I haven't even begun to explain 9/11 to Michael yet, he is only 6 and I can't even imagine processing that.  But we were listening to the radio in the car on the way to the farmer's market this morning, our favorite Sunday morning activity, and a news report came on about the war in Afghanistan and Michael said "why is there a war?" and I said "because sometimes our country fights wars."  Because I simply didn't know what else to say.  

I would never tell you to "remember" or "never forget" because how can we?  We all felt it and experienced it differently but we all experienced it.  And to this new generation of children that we are raising that doesn't even know about it yet, what do we tell them?  How do we make them understand the horribleness that was that day?  No matter where you were?

Why I Think Oprah Was Wrong

I confess, I watched the Oprah with all the Mommy bloggers.  I have no idea why.  I don't watch Oprah.  I take that back, I rarely watch Oprah.  I don't read Dooce, and I have never idea who the rest of them were.  And I've never seen a Momervasation.  But I got sucked in by the ad and I DVRed it.

And feel free to flame me now, and yell at me in the comments, but I hated it.  I thought it was a bunch of people whining for no reason.  You don't want a mini van?  Don't get one.  You don't want to do arts and crafts?  Don't do them.

Of course motherhood is hard.  I would never say it wasn't.  But sitting around and whining about it and joking about it isn't going to make it any easier.  Oprah has an amazing platform to talk about things we could do to make motherhood easier and she wasted it on on not showering and wanting take out.  So take a shower and order dinner.

Let's talk about public breast feeding laws, and the fact that in Canada you get a year of leave, and the difference between paternity and maternity leave.  Let's take about health insurance coverage and whether school schedules actually allow moms to work.  Let's talk about why moms are so competitive with each other and why when kids come into the picture we stop paying attention to our partners.

Let's talk, let's really talk.  Because whining is not going to make a difference. 

I'm not anti talking about it.  I'm not saying we always have to be positive and never speak the truth.  But let's be constructive.  I don't let my four year old whine, and I don't think moms should whine either.

And yes, I fully expect none of these people to talk to me at BlogHer.  And I'm okay with that.  I'm entitled to my opinion.  That's why I have a blog. 

I'm One Of The Few Who Have Not Mentioned The Inauguration

And It's not because it did not matter to me.  It did.  Oh it so did.  I've written about Obama here and here, and I believe this Inauguration was a long time coming.  In fact, I wanted him Inaugurated the day he was elected, or the day after, like they do in the British system.

We listened to the speech on the radio driving back from the beach, and as much as I would have liked to have seen it, listening to it felt right somehow.  It seemed old school, like FDR's fireside chats.  The speech was brilliant, everything we have come to expect from Obama's rhetoric.  And I loved that he did not deny that we had problems in this country, that not everything was Jim Dandy.  But he vowed to help be part of the solution.

After Michael went to bed I got on my elliptical and worked out to the video on CNN.  And watching it was just as moving as listening to it.  Tears mixed with the sweat on my cheeks and I no longer knew which was which.

I could not be prouder of my country, of my president. then I was at 12:10 p.m on January 20th, 2009 listening to Barack Obama take the oath of office as the 44th President of the United States.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

You can read the full text of the speech here.

Well, That Was Easier Than Anticipated

5 minutes, total. The walk over took longer. I didn't want to drive because I was worried about parking. I was the only one in the place at 1:15 and they gave us two stickers.

I actually got a little choked up voting. This is such a historic moment. Even if he losses, and I don't think he will, I just voted for an African American to be President of this country. I'm proud of America. I don't think racism is dead, but I think we've come a long way baby! I've got a long day ahead of me waiting for results. But I think I like the way things are looking.

As an aside, I actually used my legal education for good today. Devra was having difficulty voting and she twittered the issue and I told her what to do. Yeah! Democracy in action.

Because It's Important

I've already ranted about Obama once, well twice, but election day is tomorrow and it's too important to ignore. This election determines so much. Our economy has fallen apart, social security is going to run out of money in 30 years, our health care system is a disaster, and we are likely to lose one, if not more, Supreme Court justices.

To the undecideds, I ask this. What do you want out of our country? Do you want a country that is respected by other countries? Do you want a Vice President who actually understands the constitution and freedom of speech? Do you want a Vice President that could actually lead if the unthinkable were to happen? Do you want someone who can explain the financial crises in a way that does not sound like they are talking to a 5 year old? Do you want a health insurance plan that could actually work? $5,000 would not buy a family anything, and people like me, who are sick, would not be able to get any coverage.

This election is not about race, or socialism, or whether Obama is Muslim or anti-semitic (both of which he is not). This election is about picking the right man, the right person, the right team, to lead this country at a time when we are the most vulnerable, the most fragile, we have been in years.

I'm voting tomorrow for Obama and I'm taking my 3 year old with me. I know it may take hours. I know the lines will be long. I've got my iPhone filled with kids tv shows and a purse full of Halloween candy.

I believe it's necessary and important.

I'm voting for hope.

Are You Smarter Than Sarah Palin?

Let's play a game. Recently, Sarah Palin was not able to name one other Supreme Court decision besides Roe v. Wade. Now, I agree Roe is very important, but come one, one more decision? And the best part, she was a party in a recent case and could not even name that one. So, we are going to play a game, with prizes. Leave a Supreme Court case in the comments. The most obscure one wins a Starbucks gift card. Leave me a valid email please. I'll start, Marbury v. Madison. And for more Palin goodness, go here. I mean, I know I'm a liberal and all, but seriously, this stopped being funny a long time ago and has moved into the theater of the absurd.

I'm Breaking A Promise to Myself

I had promised myself not to use this place to talk politics. Anyone who reads me knows what side I am on, and you don't come here to hear me spout off on my beliefs (well, you do, but you know what I mean.) I'm not judging others that use their blog as a political space, but, that's not really me. But, something happened yesterday that made me change my mind.

I work in a building that houses most of the social welfare programs for my county. WIC, food stamps, energy assistance, you get my drift. And, I need to point out, I work for an incredibly rich county. I pulled into my building at 9:15 am and the parking lot was full. The satellite lot next door was also full and I parked on the street. This has become a usual occurrence in the past few months.

When the elevator doors opened to the second floor, where the programs are located, the waiting room was packed and the line snaked around the room. These are people, in a rich county, who need help. Help to pay for food, help to pay their electrical bill, help to secure the down payment for an apartment or else be homeless. Help.

The Republicans have cut these programs so much there is not much money there. And with this economy, more people need help. Anyone who does not think the economy is in trouble is sorely mistaken (John McCain, Sarah Palin, George Bush), and I urge you to walk into my building any weekday at 9 am.

I understand not everyone believes in social welfare, not everyone believes we should pay taxes to help people. That it is more important to fight unnecessary wars than it is to make sure people do not have to chose between gas for their cars or feeding their family. I am not that someone. I was talking to a Republican (yes I know some) yesterday who was telling me the economy was not in crisis, that this was all made up by "the liberal media." That the "liberal media" is turning everything Sarah Palin says around to make her look unqualified. Um, Sarah Palin is unqualified. If she is qualified to be VP then I am qualified to be AG. Hey, she was PTA president and I work in the County Attorney's office.

Fox News and the Republicans have done a very good job in convincing people that every other media outlet is biased. That when someone has the audacity to speak the truth that they are out to get them. It's a calculated effort and I'm terrified that it's working and will work come November.

A McCain/Palin ticket terrifies me on so many levels. I believe firmly in a woman's right to choose. Interestingly, McCain said in an interview, 2 days before he picked Palin, that he believed the Republican platform should be amended to allow abortion in cases of rape and incest and when a mother's life is at risk. That never happened and he picked Palin who does not believe that. Hypocritical much? Pander to your base much?

A McCain administration goes against everything I believe in. As an American, but also as a human being. We should not be invading countries when people in our own country are starving. When people cannot afford health care. When people can not afford their electrical bill.

I want to pull into work in the morning and have my pick of spaces.

Some People Never Learn

I think Elliot Spitzer should resign, but not for the obvious reason. I actually don't care that the Governor of New York solicited prostitutes. Yes, it's illegal, and I believe our elected officials should follow the law. But, I actually think prostitution should be legal. What two consenting adults do in their own time is their own business. And, if you legalize prostitution you have less problems with rape of prostitutes and you can control better for disease. Yes, he ran on a "law and order" platform and he is hypocrite, but I don't care about that either. Aren't all politicians? Why are people so surprised? I think he should resign because he is a MORON. Don't politicians ever learn? Do they really think they are going to get away with it? News flash, if you are a politician, and you have an affair, it will come out. Doesn't matter if you pay them to have sex, pay them to be quiet, have a same sex affair, or have sex with an intern. It will come out. Have you been living under a rock for the past ten years? Seriously, keep it in your pants until you finish your term. Then you can do whatever you want. Cross posted on DC Metro Moms.

If I Became President

the first thing I would do is outlaw daylight savings time. Why? Because it's dumb. And I like to know what time it is, not what time it was yesterday before we arbitrarily decided to move the clocks forward. I have a screwed up toddler for weeks every time we do this. (After next week I'm going to have to say preschooler ohmig-d he is not a toddler anymore!) And construction during rush hour, that would also go too, because that, also dumb. Oh, and yeah, I would bring the troops back from Iraq, outlaw torture, legalize gay marriage and all that other stuff. But daylight savings, FIRST on my list.

Quote Book Saturday Goes Political

Someone wrote on the birth board I frequent, this message about Obama. I could not agree more. Whoever the next president is, has an unbelievable job ahead. They have to repair America, Americans, the Economy, our image, our allies and then our government. These tasks are going to be a great challenge, any change at this point will be a step in the right direction....the next president has to heal a nation that has lost it's faith in the leadership! No small task! I think that Obama inspires people to believe not that he can fix it all, but that we as a nation can pull ourselves up from our bootstraps and we, as a nation can rise above and make the choices to heal and change together...... ______________________________________________________________________ And, don't forget MamaPop talk's Oscar party. It will be a blast!

Labels: Quote Book Saturday, Random Bloginess