What I Learned In College

Any comedian worth his/her salt can make a crack about the $700 Billion bail out, so I am not going there. But it reminded me of a very important fact that I often forget:
Don't ever, ever vote for the candidate, in a political race, that says "I am the new one, not a political insider, and I have no experience-we just need fresh people."

Ugh! New ideas are one thing but does anybody realize the breadth of topics a politician deals with? They all make comments about Health Care, Prisons, and Schools. I call those topics "The Big Three". Very Creative. But some of the other topics a politician of any level (City, State, or Federal) may have to deal with, but are not limited too, include:
Farming-fruit, seed, animal, nursery stock
Land Use Issues-zoning, parks, developement
Environmental-pollution, recycling, parks (see also Land Use Issues), water quality
Public Health-disease control, sewage, water quality (see also Environmental)
Health Care-services for the elderly, disabled
Social Services-services for the unemployed, homeless, children,
Financial-taxes, fees
Public Safety-prisons, criminals, disease control (see also Public Health)
Miscellaneous-trading, job retention, tourism, popultion growth, roads

Those are just the issues I can think of in my sleep-dprived, new baby at home state I know there are a lot of things I know I forgot, and Political Science was my minor in college. The truth is, as much as we may hate to admit it, Government is complicated and it requires the people running it to know a lot. (It also means the voters should know who they are voting for, and therfore the issues, but that is another blog.) So when I vote, I always look at all the candidates, regardless of party affliation, but to the candidate who's claim is no experience but lots of ideas, forget it. And as my current representatives grapple with these huge financial issues, I am again reminded that experience and knowledge will go along way in finding a solution.

And The Story Continues...

Well, anyone should be able to tell from my lack of blogs that we are still adjusting to a new baby at home. The hardest adjustment has been the division of time-as in I have the same amount of time, but one more person to share it with. Like I told my husband after he asked me if I really had wanted a little girl, I honestly replied I was okay with my boys, but it meant my husband was now the third pee-pee in line in this house. And if I thought I could multi-task before, because women naturally do that skill well, I am a total rock star now. Nick looks all happy if he holds Noah. Thank-you, it helps, but I hold Noah, I put away toys, unload the dishwasher, read to Asa, feed Asa, answer the phone, put away laundry, etc. etc.
This past week we took our first real vacation as a family and went up to visit friends north of Seattle, and then continued on to Canada and spent 5 nights in Vancouver, BC and the surrounding suburbs. Traveling with young children is...educational. When they asked at the border if we had any weapons, I was serious when I answered no, but I wanted to say that we didn't have any because it was to tempting to use them on the children. Of course I don't hurt my children but when you are stuck in line with a crying baby, a whining toddler, and a grousing husband, you think some nasty thoughts.
Still, it was a good trip-Asa saw that we are premanently a family of four, Nick saw why it can take me so long to get ready in the morning with two kids, and we all saw some cool tourist stuff. I got to geek-out at Ft. Langley, Asa loved the animals at The Aquarium in Stanley Park, and Nick liked the Tram ride up Grouse Mountain. Noah slept through Canada but he seemed to have a good time.
Now we are back to the real world, and Nick has started a new schedule at work. He is now working nights, starting at 7:00p and getting home about 7:00a. It isn't like winning the lottery but it came with some perks like the week we just took off for vacation, so you make do and call it good. I am no where near going back to work, despite the fact that I miss it. Being a mommy is fun and all, but I can only talk to small children for so long. And watching me nurse has created all kinds of neat conversations with Asa about boobs. I keep telling him to save it for the therapist he gets as an adult but he won't listen. He has told me that babies eat boobs, he sang that Old MacDonald had boobs on his farm, and he asked a woman with a newborn where her boobs were. I don't know whether to be proud that he is so observant, or cry because he sounds like a pervert in training. We just remind oursleves he isn't three yet and hope the damage isn't profound.
That is our life in a nutshell right now. GO DUCKS!

I Don't Care

Okay, I beleive Science when they say that you really can't catch anything from a toilet seat. I am not denying that little fact at all. But as I am wiping down the seat at Burger King today, I am reminded that regardless of whether I can actually catch anything, I DO NOT WANT TO SIT IN SOMEONE ELSE"S URINE!!! Gag, gag, gag. Call me picky or Felix Unger; they both work for me.

Just To Make Sure....

I think I e-mailed everyone personally but just to make sure:

Please join us in welcoming our second son. Noah Andrew was born Aug. 22 at 1:45p. He was 8lbs. 5ounces and 20 inches long. People ask me what he is like and I will tell you: he is a baby. He has a schedule: eat, sleep, cry, spit up, poop, repeat.
I am very surprised to report that you are no more prepared for the second kid, than you are for the first. The number of "things" I have forgotten is ten-fold and I am very lucky that the first time we left the house, we weren't gone very long because I forgot A LOT! Extra outfit, enough wipes for 2 KIDS-not just one, my warm shirt, nursing blanket to cover up with, plus a bunch of other stuff.
One thing though that I did learn is that the first kid makes you "immune" to certain things. First week home, Noah spits up about a dime size on the sheets. Nick asks if I am going to wash the sheets and I looked at him and said "Is that any more gross than the junk Asa gets on the sheets just with his feet?" Point made-if it dries clear and has no chunks, it can wait.

A Broken Record

I think I have blogged about this before, but it has been awhile and I am just to happy that I have to share my joy with world. Um, no-I did not have the baby.
I am a geek. Slef-proclaimed, but geeky nonetheless. News reports Toma Cruise is in town-big yawn. Presidential candidates coming to town-I would go if there weren't so many other people but it isn't worth it to fight the crowds. Rock concerts, tv personalities, and teen-y boppers get the same treatment. I just don't care.
Geek, Geek, Geek, Geek, Geek.
Now let's pretend that, oh say, one of my FAVORITE children's author's, Eric Kimmel, is giving a free presentation in Decemeber and let's pretend that I am bringing one of his books with me in hopes of getting an autograph and you have a very pregnant lady acting like some teenage groupie! But truly, we don't have to pretend because after numerous tries (I always hear about his group events AFTER the fact), I have my calender marked!!!! Eric kimmel is giving a presentation in December!!! Nick is already tired of hearing about this but I am so excited!!!!!!!!! Ha-ha Alina-that is what you get for living so far away. Oooo-I am a mean groupie to boot!
I just get so excited about meeting authors, it is pathetic. I stood in line for over an hour so Janet Evanovich could sign my sister's book (and so I could say I saw her). Eric Larson, spoke on the westside of town and so I schlepped over there on a rainy night with baby in tow so I could hear him speak as well. I just bought tickets to hear Michael Pollan speak in January. This is what get's my boat not only floating but spinnning around and around and around!
So, for the public record-I am very excited to attend future functions with some of my favorite living authors and I am rubbing it in for other geeks out there who may care. And if you don't care, I am excited enough for both of us!!!!!!
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.