Opinion time again!
McCain has suspended his campaigning so that he could head to DC to work on the economic crisis (although fundamentally our economy is strong he insists). Let's pretend to ignore the fact it took him quite a while to get there and his ads have not stopped running nor have his campaign offices closed. (I'm personally kinda interested in knowing what his definition of suspended is).
Some thoughts by late night shows on this:
As reported by Dave Letterman
As reported by Jon Stewart
As reported by Steve Colbert
Tonight is supposed to be the Presidential Debate. I consider the debate kinda like an interview. I don't get to ask the questions, but I do get to see how the candidates answer more on the spot (vs. reading tele-prompters) together. McCain isn't so sure he can attend tonight.
Would you hire someone who didn't show for an interview, because he was stopping his interview process because something came up on DC and he needs to race back, but yet, it takes him a day to get there?
Would you hire someone who rushes back to his office to work on economics, hence causing tons of money to be wasted on the interview you aren't going to show up for?
Would you hire someone who leaves you on the edge of your chair waiting to see if he is going to grace you with his presence for an interview?
And, because I wouldn't want to give all the attention on this post to McCain, here's some attention for Obama courtesy of Sarah Silverman and The Great Shlep.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Where I get to have my opinion on politics, because in this country I can Part V
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Life Moments With A Child On The Spectrum #7
In this pencil sharpener one would find not pencil shavings, but eraser shavings. To add to the collection of other eraser stuff started earlier this month by Adam. This collection also proudly collected during school. Stay tuned to see in what other forms an eraser can be collected. Because I am definitely sensing a new line of collections here.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
The Light At The End Of The Tunnel
This past month I've been in a tunnel. It's been dark, as tunnel's tend to be. And there was a light at the end. But until now, I wasn't sure if it was a train or the sun. I think (keep fingers crossed, knock on wood, and all that other superstitious stuff) it's safe to say it's the sun again.
School started for Adam. Which means transitions for Adam. Which means stress for Adam.
First week - typically known as the honeymoon period. He loved it. Came home happy. Likes his new teacher. Enjoyed the afternoons playing outside. Honeymoon period - I should have known better.
Second week - honeymoon period over. Completely. Stomach aches in the morning. Crying in the afternoons. Arguing to do homework. Complaining about the unfairness of playground rules. Tantrums for entirely too long. Upset with his friends when they came over to play because they.moved.his.toys.
Third week - same as second week only crying after school increased. On Wednesday he was adamant that he could not go to school due to a stomach ache. I told him to eat his breakfast anyway and he could go late (hoping food would help the nervous stomach I was assuming it was). No such luck. He was adamant he was sick. Told him there would be no screentime until 2:45 (time that school is over). He agreed with no arguing (maybe he really was sick?). We spent the day talking, reading and playing games. I emailed his teacher who gave a positive report that he appears happy, plays with other kids during recess and gets along just fine during group work. That night he was told he was going to school the next day. No crying that afternoon or the next. And no arguing to get homework done.
Fourth week - the sun comes out. No more stomach aches before school. No more crying after school.
I've got Adam back and we're out of the tunnel. Going back to school is never easy for kids. But it still breaks my heart watching how stressful the change in routine is for Adam. No, I can't protect him from everything. Nor do I want to. That wouldn't be teaching him what he needs to be successful as an adult. But it's still heartbreaking while we're in those tunnels.
Friday, September 19, 2008
InsomniaWednesday, September 17, 2008
Life Moments With A Child On The Spectrum #6
New kind of TicTacs? Nope. This is what Adam had in his hand when I picked him up from school the other day. Those pink things in the TicTac container would be bits of an eraser he cut up during class. (Oh, and he was so very excited about this too)
In the past he has collected pencil tips in small containers. Looks like this year he will be expanding his collections to include the other end of pencils also.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Where I get to have my opinion on politics, because in this country I can Part IV
Yea, I'm back with another opinion. Just can't help not commenting lately!
So, Larry King had a chat with Meghan McCain (John's daughter). Seems she wrote a book about her Daddy. And while interviewing her, Larry asked her what she likes about Sarah:
First of all, she's really chill. She's really nice, really friendly. She's really up on pop culture, which I always respect. She's very smart. She doesn't act entitled, which unfortunately sometimes you get with some politicians. She's just like your average girl, like just a mom. But she's very, very shrewd, very smart. I've heard her talking about issues.
Umm. Gosh. Where to even begin.
Let's start with 'she's really chill.... really friendly'. I don't want my VP to be really chill and friendly. I want them to be knowledgeable and show leadership.
'She's up on pop culture' - that's nice. I'd kinda hope so with 5 kids, but not necessarily a requirement for VP
'She's just like your average girl, like just a mom.'
SHE IS. SHE IS A MOM. I'd like to think you'd say the same about your Dad. That he's like a Dad. But we're not talking about their parenting here! We're talking about the future leaders of our country!
and the clincher: 'just like a mom. But she's .... very smart.'
Wow. Did.she.really.say.that? Like a Mom, but smart. If she were my daughter she would be SO grounded right now.
So, us Mom's aren't smart? We can't be both? Well, at least I guess it's OK for Mom's to be really chill then.
But seriously - I'll be posting some non-political stuff soon. Real soon. Really.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Haiku Friday
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Lists, lists and more lists
Yea, it's me again. I know, this might be a record - three posts in one day. But this one isn't political. It's about getting stuff done.
Come over here and see what I mean.
Where I get to have my opinion on politics, because in this country I can Part III
OK. I'm on a roll this morning. Watch out, hear me roar!
After reading a CNN article I then hoped over to WashingtonPost.com. And saw THIS article.
Seems that McCain/Palin are having a rally right here in my hometown. Tomorrow. During the day. AT A HIGH SCHOOL. And yes, it's a school day.
Superintendent says he's making an exception because it would be a good learning experience. Sure. No argument there. But he also says that "We are not participating in a political rally. We are letting our kids have new educational opportunities."
However, further in the article Fairfax City Mayor (a Republican), who helped plan the event is quoted as saying, "it would be disappointing to me if this becomes a partisan, bickering affair where, if you are for one you are for the rally, and if you are for the other, you are against it."
Ummm...... I thought it wasn't a rally. I thought it was an educational opportunity, therefore, not in violation of how the community uses school buildings during school hours. So, is it a rally or not. Personally, I think that with 56 days left till election, anywhere McCain/Palin go to speak to a group of people would be a rally. I highly doubt they'll not be campaigning. Come to think of it, maybe they won't. Maybe they'll talk about how well abstinence works to a bunch of high schoolers.
But, back to the real topic. The Fairfax City mayor's argument is that Obama and his campaign stopped in Fairfax over the summer. At Robinson Secondary School. However, his event was held during the summer, at night time (I believe). Yes, there were students in the building having other activities held there. But those were activities they had signed up for. This was NOT during a school day.
I guess we all know who the Mayor of Fairfax City and the Superindent of Fairfax want elected.
*********
UPDATE
Washingtonpost.com is reporting the place for the McCain/Palin rally has now been changed.
Where I get to have my opinion on politics, because in this country I can Part II
There's this clip going around on YouTube (well, there's lots of clips, but now I'm getting sidetracked). So anyway, this clip inparticular is making its way around lots a few places now, including CNN.
And, (like the title of this post says), I've got an opinion on this one.
You see, originally I was thinking of writing a post about how she is now the "guardian of the nation's disabled children" . I'm also wondering is she will soon become the guardian of the nation's children born less than 9 months before their parents get married, if they do at all.
But then, last night I saw this video. And I just had to comment on it.
So, back to this video. (you'll have to excuse me, I'm not real organized this morning). In the video she is quoted as saying "Pray for our military men and women who are striving do to what is right. Also for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending them out on a task that is from God. That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for -- that there is a plan, and that plan is God's plan."
Let's think about this last part:
on a task that is from God.......that there is a plan, and that plan is God's plan
Seems to me I've heard this line of thinking before. Let me think. Where was it..... OH YEA!! How could I not remember, especially with the anniversary of 9-11 approaching so fast.
A terrorist. Don't terrorist's think this way in their justification of their violent behavior?
And this is completely aside the fact you are NOT supposed to mix church and state. Of course, she is speaking at a church, but she is talking about state stuff. As evidenced by this quote:
Her campaign says she doesn't mix her faith with government business. But Palin did ask her audience to pray for a $30 billion natural gas pipeline she is on a mission to build in Alaska. In the video Palin says, "I think God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas pipeline built. So pray for that ... I can do my job there in developing my natural resources. But all of that doesn't do any good if the people of Alaska's heart is not good with God."
Let's see. If one prays hard enough, one can get stuff done through government. And, if something doesn't get passed, it just may be because the people's hearts aren't good with God?
And she might become the VP of our country? What horror movie have I become part of? I mean really! The folks of this country are seriously considering electing someone with this mindset?
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Now that the kids are in school
and you might have some more free time on your hands, here's 2 more books to add to your reading list:
Sweet Mandarin
Walking the Rainbow
Both memoirs, but 2 completely different stories with the common theme of strength and courage.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Where I get to have my opinion on politics, because in this country I can
I've never been one into politics. I mean, I vote and find out what the candidates platforms are, but I don't get into politics. But this year has been different. Thanks to my new blogging friends I've been addicted to it. I've watched the conventions. I've twittered about them with my tweeps. I've read lots of posts commenting on the issues. I've stayed up late to watch The Daily Show (because quite frankly, I think he's got the best news show around).
And this year, I'm going to comment, out loud, in public, about my opinions. Because I can. Because, like you, I'm just Plain Jane Mom, working, raising a family, and trying to get one step ahead. But my opinion counts. Especially when I vote on Election Day. No, I haven't studied politics. And I may not be correct on all the topics. But that's OK. I'm learning.
I also think this election is historic for some many reasons. To have 2 women, one on each side, be so prominent in this election. To have a minority be on the ticket. To have had one party in office dominating it for so long. To have a son in upper elementary school to talk about politics to.
And as much as I so admire a woman for being able to balance such a high-powered job and a family, and as much as the feminine in me would love to see a female in such a high-powered job. She just isn't the gal for me. (And truthfully, her being a Republican was actually enough for me). But because she is a woman, a Mom, I feel that maybe I should be able to relate to her better. We both work. We both have kids. In fact, we both have kids with special needs. But I just don't relate to her.
You see. We aren't supposed to judge her kids. Yet, she keeps throwing her special needs child and her son going to Iraq into her campaigning. Both are important issues in this campaign. The war in Iraq, terrorists and education. Yet are we supposed to ignore the fact that her daughter is pregnant? It's considered unfair to bring this up? I don't think so. She doesn't get to pick which of her kids she can promote for her causes. Her platform and religion promotes abstinence, including not teaching about birth control in the schools. Her platform supports a ban on ALL abortion. Just because abortion wasn't an option or choice in her family doesn't mean it should be in mine. I think Jon Stewart, in his interview with Newt Gingrich last night, summed it up for me:
"She would veto abortion for women even in the event of being raped.....Respect my families ability to make this decision, and elect me so I can keep your family from having the same opportunity"
And I don't like how now the Republicans are talking about needing change. That was the Democrats phrase. And change? They are Republicans, which has been in leadership for the past 8 years. If they change how things are run, are they going to become Democrats? Because by saying the gov needs change, when you are the party that has been in office for 8 years could be interpreted as your party didn't do a good job. Not sure why I'd want to vote for more.
I personally love the fact that we can all post our opinions and talk and debate politics. I'd personally like for those freedoms to continue. And not only the freedom to talk, but the freedom to have and make choices.
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