TWITTERING

So, I've pretty much given up on this blog and have switched to updating on Twitter instead. It's just easier, and I'm lazy like that. If you want to know my username leave a comment, and I'll get back to you.

F IS FOR FOENIX

I'm in Phoenix for a few days. My Grandma used to live in a suburb of Phoenix before she died 5 years ago, and when we landed I got really emotional about being here.

This brings up a question: Do you think that people leave a part of them behind in the places where they once lived - not a "ghost" exactly but some sort of energy? I am starting to think that we do. What do you think?

THIS WEEK IN UBERCONSERATIVILLE

Observations/Ponderings from the last week:

The only way to get me to drink tea is if you buy the peppermint kind, put milk in it, and serve it with homemade snickerdoodles.

I will drink just about anything in order to have an excuse to eat homemade snickerdoodles.

Justice Scalia taught me that the Constitution should not be living. He says it's not illegal to burn the American flag. He also says it's ok to feel personally one way about an issue but to vote the opposite way on the issue as a judge. I'm surprised he wasn't crucified on the stage.

Why do even the shittiest of bars still have HD flat screen televisions in them? You can contract an STD from the toilet seats, but at least you get to see the game in HD!!!

Watching a big game is much more exciting in a group (even in a group of complete strangers -- say, at On the Border in the bar where you eat dinner by yourself, just hypothetically) than watching a big game by yourself.

The best time to go shopping for anything is during the big game.

If someone tells you that you're strong believe them. Even if you don't feel strong at the time, you will discover that they are right. People are always searching for weakness, so if they see strength it must be there.

I have been obsessing over the kid issue. Do we have kids here? Do I have a choice about where I have kids? If I try to hold out on having kids until we move will it be too late? What if we never move? Have we already waited too long to have kids? Do we even want to have kids? Kids, kids, kids.

How do you talk your family into going to family therapy? Do you just surprise them with a visit from Dr. Phil? Do you conspire to trick them all into going to the same therapist at the same time by telling them they're going somewhere else and taking them to therapy instead?

Is it really possible to give up on part of your family and forget about them and not care anymore? Truly?

Does family really mean so much, or can you make your own family by surrounding yourself with people you love?

Can the local newscasters get any worse? Please, let the answer be "no".

Does advertising that your company answers the phone with a West Texas accent REALLY help sell your products? Seriously?

DISCOURAGED

I'm working from bed today. If only I could figure out how to train Squeaky to bring me lunch...

TO BE FAIR, MY GENE POOL IS NOT A WALK IN THE PARK EITHER

After posting the last post, I began reflecting on my own gene pool. It consists of:

a Dad who refuses to travel outside of a one-county radius from his house;

a Grandma who declared to me last month that she doesn't 'belong here anymore', and by 'here' she meant ALIVE;

a Mom who is so on edge that she has lost the ability to find humor in everyday life

among others.

I think it's fair to say that I make Chris want to bang his head against a wall about as often as he makes me want to do the same. It's probably also fair to say that our genes would combine to make the most stubborn children the world has ever seen. Just another reason not to have kids!

THESE ARE THE GENES THAT I MARRIED

In the middle of the night last night, Chris' paternal grandma fell and broke her hip. She managed to drag herself across the room to the telephone. Then she decided that she would rather not worry anyone at that time of the night, so she lay on the floor for a couple of hours until the clock read 5 AM before calling anyone for help.

See the gene pool I'm dealing with here?

She had surgery today and is doing well. Thankfully, the break was actually below the ball and socket region, and the surgeon was able to put a pin in her leg. The recovery will still be difficult, but we are hopeful that her stubbornness will be directed toward getting better and work for her favor.

ELECTION EVE

Tomorrow is Election Day, and I wish that meant that tomorrow is the last day that we have to hear about Presidential politics for four years. Unfortunately, it doesn't ever seem to stop.

Since I live in such a strongly Republican state, I feel that my vote does not count. I hate our political system, and I especially hate that our country has become a two-party system. Our country was never meant to run on a two-party system. I have decided to vote for a third-party candidate again this year, since that is about the only way I can make a statement. It also gives me the chance to vote for a person who I completely agree with on the issues. Imagine that! You don't have to vote for the "lesser of two evils"! You, too, can vote for someone you actually believe in! No, really!

Check out votesmart.org to find out more about ALL of the candidates on the ballot in your state.

FAMILY WEDDING, ETC.

I'm sitting in a hotel room on my final of three trips in this month, and I am thinking about how I'm dreading next month when I have no where to go.

A weekend or two ago, I was home in MI for a family wedding; and I truly enjoyed every moment of my visit with maybe one or two exceptions. Family drama is the worst type of stress, but having the chance to see J & J (hi, guys!) and play with their daughters and also the chance to play with numerous other kids, including our 5 first-cousins-once-removed and our niece and nephew, made all of the other stresses melt away. Here are a few pictures, some of which feature me with not only a new haircut but also with STRAIGHTENED hair. My own husband did not recognize me at first, which led to a lot of "stranger in my bed" jokes. :)


The happy couple say their vows to one another. I was moved by the vows because I'd never heard my cousin vocalize his emotions so clearly before that moment.



Here are my aunt, uncle, and cousins. My cousin's husband is missing in this picture because he is currently serving in Iraq. He was very much missed, but we are proud of him.



Chris and I love to do self-portraits.



This little guy was my buddy at the reception. We played and danced together most of the night.



Chris and I played the piano with our niece and nephew the morning after the wedding. As my mom put it, "Good thing no one in this house has a hangover."