Checked out July 24, 2008

I have been having the hardest time the past few weeks.  I’m tired of my full time job, I’m hoping I can quit it soon and go back to being a traditional Guardsman (that means I’ll only do my one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer, as opposed to being in uniform all the time, like I am now).  I’m dieing to go back to school full time (I was not cut out for online classes, especially not online science classes).  I’m sick of my hour long commute.

A friend of mine wrote to me a few days ago and said he had “Senioritus” (the condition that seniors get a month or two before graduating) because he was quitting his job in a few days to go back to grad school, and his head just wasn’t in it anymore.  I guess I’m experiencing the same thing, only I don’t know if I can quit my job to go back to school full time, so I really shouldn’t be feeling this way.  I also have just lost motivation for my work in general, and its affecting the quality of my work.

I hate my job.  It blows dogs for quarters.  They’ve been really supportive of me through my pregnancy and everything, but I have no benefits, no opportunity for advancement, and I’m not taken seriously around here anymore.  Its time to move on.

Plus I’ve been under a lot of stress lately.  My daycare provider fell ill and is no longer going to be able to care for Elijah.  I’m sad, mainly because Elijah loves her so much, and I felt so good about leaving him there.  I also feel bad because she is going to be moving in with her daughter now, and I know that she doesn’t want to lose her independence.  I am very glad that she is not seriously ill though.  She was in the hospital for a while, and we were really worried about her.

Also, Elijah is sleeping worse and worse at night.  I’m working on getting him to sleep better, but its hard.  A bunch of people recommended the No Cry Sleep Solution to me, and it seems pretty good so far (I’ll write a book review on it once I can report as to how well the solutions it presents works), but I’m worried that Elijah is one of those babies the book talks about that will never sleep through the night until I move him to his own bed/crib.  Some nights I think it would be really nice to have my bed to myself again, but I know I’d miss snuggling up to him.

There are other issues stressing me out as well, but I don’t want to write about them for fear they will jinx me.  I’m a very superstitious person.  Hopefully I will be able to report on some of them tomorrow.

Anyway, my brain is just not in it today.  Nor has it been in a week or so.  I’m totally checked out. If I could lay in bed all day and snuggle my son, I would.  Seriously.

Wow, there’s a streak on my computer screen that’s shaped like a penis.  That’s weird.

Everyone, please, say a prayer or whatever for me to be able to quit my job after the DNC and go back to school full time.  If I finish my degree, I can get out of the Army.  I want out.  I want to stop worrying about how many push ups I can do (its not much).  I want to re-pierce my nose and start wearing ear rings again.  I want to have the weekend of my birthday off every year (I always, always, always have drill over my birthday weekend).  I don’t want to leave my son for a year to deploy. 

Plus, and I almost hate to write this down for the whole world to see, but I know I’ll never get married if I stay in the military.  Marriage isn’t my top priority, or anything, and God knows I certainly don’t want to go rushing into anything, but one day I’d like to get married and have more kids.  I don’t want to marry a man in the military because there is too much adultery going on in the military.  Sorry to all you service members who are faithful.  You know that, sadly, you are vastly outnumbered.  I don’t want to take chances with that one.  The trouble is, not a lot of civilian dudes are willing to wait around for a chick during their deployment.  So there, I said it.  I want to get out so I have a chance of getting married one day.

I need to get some glass cleaner for my screen, this is really bothering me.

This is going to sound more sudden than it really is July 13, 2008

I have decided that I want to get certified as a doula.  I am beginning my required reading (some of it I’ve already read!) and am taking my class in November.

I’ll keep everyone posted.

Meet the Press will never be the same again June 15, 2008

I’m probably the biggest dork in the world, but I’ve been really sad about the death of Tim Russert.  Since I was a little girl, my mom and I would always watch Meet the Press before church Sunday mornings.  Remarkably, we had just been complaining that our church changed the time of our late service from 10:45 to 10:15, which meant that we would now have to be getting ready while we were normally watching Meet the Press.  When I heard the news about Tim Russert on Friday, I thought, “Well, I suppose now it doesn’t matter what time late service is.”

I suppose Tim Russert wouldn’t want people to stop watching the show just because he’s not on anymore.  Maybe I’ll give whoever they choose to be the new host a chance, but I won’t be able to give them my full attention, since I’ll be getting ready for church while its on.

Did anyone else watch the remembering Tim Russert episode of Meet the Press this morning?  Wow, it made me cry.  Is it just that I still have all those new mom hormones raging in me?  Why is this hitting me so hard?  Its not like I knew Tim Russert.  Although, I probably could have met him at the DNC in August.  Sadness.

One more thing May 24, 2008

If you guys want, you can check out my facebook page and my myspace page.  The myspace page is private, but send me a message and I can add you.  If you look at my facebook page, check out the group I started, People Before Cars in Denver, Colorado.

Now seriously, I’m going to go do something productive with my day off.  Like washing cloth diapers.  Yeah!

Most of you have probably already read this, but I’m posting it anyhow May 23, 2008

This is No Impact Man’s blog post today.  Most of my readers, I’m pretty sure, are also avid No Impact Man readers, so you’ve probably already read this, but he asked that everyone post this on their blogs too, so I am.  Who knows?  Maybe it will reach someone here who doesn’t actually read his blog (and if you don’t, you totally should, because its rockin like Dokken).

I really, really need support from all of you today (and I’m unashamedly bribing you with the offer of free Reverend Billy DVDs). But first I have to give you some background. Just read the bits in bold if you’re in hurry.

Next Friday, May 30, Representative Jerrold Nadler of New York’s Eight Congressional District has kindly agreed to meet with me in his New York office. As one of his constituents, I intend to ask Representative Nadler to support an effective global warming mitigation policy that is based not on what is politically possible but on what is scientifically necessary.

More specifically, I intend to ask him to:

• Introduce, as soon as possible, a non-binding resolution to the House of Representatives asserting that we need a climate change mitigation policy with a goal of no more than 350 ppm of atmospheric carbon dioxide (read why here). Furthermore, the resolution should say that the United States must collaborate with the international community to achieve an effective successor to the Kyoto Protocol that will achieve the 350 goal or better (depending on how the science progresses).
• Pledge to support the 1sky.org policy platform that also includes creating five million green jobs (through, for example, weatherizing our buildings and manufacturing solar panels and windmills), and placing a moratorium on the building of new coal power plants.
• Pass on to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi a letter addressed jointly to her and Representative Nadler, in his position as Assistant Whip, asking them both to push for the introduction of new and the strengthening of currently pending climate change legislation to reflect the crucial 350 goal. This means, at the very least, aiming for an 80% reduction in climate emissions below 1990 levels by 2050 and a 25% reduction by 2020.

Now then, here’s how I was hoping you could help. My dream is to present Representative Nadler and Speaker Pelosi with between 350 and 3,500 (10 x 350) emails of support for these policy objectives.

Can you help? All it requires is a cut and paste job (see below).

Fellow bloggers: would you be willing to pass this request onto your readers?

Everyone: would you email this around and get your friends to pitch in?

Two bits of good news:

1. Representative Nadler has been an ardent supporter of environmental issues ranging from the thorough cleanup of the World Trade Center site to securing federal funding for state conservation and wildlife grants. He received a score of 95% for his voting record in the 1st session of the 110th Congress from the League of Conservation Voters.
2. Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping have provided me with five copies of their new DVD, What Would Jesus Buy (watch the trailer here). I’m going to give the DVDs to people who send in their emails of support (the 1st, the 35th, 100th, the 350th and the 1000th).

Here’s how to send in your email of support:

Simply cut and paste the below, making sure to substitute in your name, mailing address and email address, and send it to noimpactman+nadler+pelosi@gmail.com (it looks like a weird email address but, don’t worry, it will work).

Dear Representative Nadler and Speaker Pelosi–

Thank you for your hard work on behalf of the people of the United States. It is indisputable that the health, happiness and security of the American people depends upon the well-being of our planetary habitat. It is also indisputable that the anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases is causing changes in our habitat that will adversely effect Americans on every level–from our health to our economy.

On May 30, Colin Beavan aka No Impact Man will visit Representative Nadler to express to him support for a number of climate change mitigation policies that are much stronger than those currently passing through Congress. Please consider this a letter of support for the measures Colin Beavan will be advocating.

Specifically, I support Colin Beavan in requesting that Representative Nadler and Speaker Pelosi both, together or separately:

• Introduce, as soon as possible, a non-binding resolution to the House of Representatives asserting that we need a climate change mitigation policy that accords not with what is politically possible but what is scientifically necessary–a goal of no more than 350 ppm of atmospheric carbon dioxide (read why here). Furthermore, this resolution should assert that the United States must collaborate with the international community to achieve an effective successor to the Kyoto Protocol that will achieve the 350 goal or better (depending on how the science progresses).
• Pledge to support the 1sky.org policy platform that also includes creating five million green jobs (through, for example, weatherizing our buildings and manufacturing solar panels and windmills) and placing a moratorium on the building of new coal power plants.
• Push for the introduction of new and the strengthening of currently pending climate change legislation to reflect the crucial 350 goal. This means, at the very least, aiming for an 80% reduction in climate emissions below 1990 levels by 2050 and a 25% reduction by 2020.

Yours sincerely,

<Your Name>
<Your Mailing Address>
<Your Email Address>

I’m not replacing all his links, because I have a lot of things to do today and there’s at least one other blog I want to post.  If you want to go to the links, check out his page, theres a link in my blog roll.  Also, there’s a link to 350.org on my blog roll.

Feminism May 21, 2008

I know I said I was going to write in more detail about my responsible eating goals, but real quick first I want to touch on something else entirely.

Feminism.

I don’t know why this is perceived by so many as such a bad word.  I mean, I can kind of understand why men don’t like it (though not really, if they stopped to think about what it really means), but I cannot for the life of me fathom why women would be opposed to the concept.  I can only guess that its because of some gross misunderstanding of the word.

Let me lay a few things out.  First of all, feminism does not mean that I want to grow a dick and beat down the natural born men with it.  It does not mean that I hate men, or want to become like a man, or that I don’t want men around.  Feminism doesn’t mean any of these things, for your information I LOVE men, I LOVE being a woman, and if I grew a dick I’d be horrified (although it might be cool to be able to pee standing up while camping). 

All feminism really means is that I want equal pay for equal work.  It means that I want the right to vote, drive, get an education and anything else needed to provide for myself and my family.  It means that I should be able to marry who ever I want, and that I get to decide when, how and if I want to have children.  And it means that if someone beats me, rapes me, or in any other way abuses me (or my children) I should have a right to press charges, even if that person is my husband.

I don’t think there are many people left in the first world who are not feminists.  Even the people who use the term derogatorily are, for the most part, feminists.  Even Anne Coulter is a feminist.  If she weren’t, she wouldn’t be on TV blasting her bull horn or writing books.  She would be at home taking care of her children, whipping up a three course meal and blowing her husband.  She would do nothing else with her miserable, angry life.

Not that I’m saying that taking care of your children, whipping up a three course meal, and blowing your husband are bad things.  These are great things to do, things I enjoy doing (except for that last one, since I obviously don’t have a husband to blow).  But I choose to do them.  I do not allow anyone to force me to do these things.  That makes me a feminist.

Oh, I still love to dress up pretty, wear sexy lingerie, shave my legs (actually, I prefer to wax, but I just cant find the time since my son’s been born).  But I’m still a feminist.  I prefer a man who will take charge, take me out for dates (which means he pays), and opens doors for me.  But I’m still a feminist.  I expect to be treated like a princess - not property - and in return, I fully intend to treat any man I’m with like a king.

Because another thing that feminsim does not mean is that men no longer have to work.  Sorry boys, but if anything, it means you have to work more.  In a day when women can bring home the bacon and fry it up in the pan, men really aren’t worth much of anything unless they are contributing at least as much as we are to the household, either in money or in house work.  Frankly, since women these days are expected to contribute both financially and through housework, I expect a man to contribute to both as well.  Call me a traditionalist, but I prefer to stick to classic gender roles and my contribution can be heavier on the housework side if his is heavier on the finances side, but whatever way you want to swing it is fine, as long as both sides are contributing. (which makes me think of something I’d like to blog more about later, the priceless value of being a stay at home parent) 

Just like no man wants to marry a woman who doesn’t work or keep up the house (unless she’s really hot and horny) no woman wants to marry a man who doesn’t work or keep up the house (unless he’s really hot and horny.  What?  Women like sex with hot partners too).  Honestly, if we want to sleep with something that doesn’t bring in an income or take care of the house, we can sleep with a vibrator.  It will get us off more reliably and we don’t have to talk to it when we’re done with it.

Honestly, I don’t know why so many people have a problem with this “Lets help each other out” philosphy that is feminism.  Is there really a man out there that doesn’t want a wife who’s going to take over half of the work of living?  Isn’t that the whole point of getting into a long term relationship, to combine strengths in order to make living easier?  Its just that now, thanks to feminism, women have more options for how they want to contribute to the household.  There is nothing saying they have to do any of them, feminism just means we now have the right to choose between them.

 

PS  Seriously, does anyone even know who Anne Coulter’s husband is?  Man, that dude is pussy whipped, isn’t he?  I mean, maybe he’s famous too and I’m just not up on the conservative radical superstars, but who is at home taking care of her kids while she’s out being a loudmouth?  I can only assume its him.  That’s not very anti feminist of her, is it?

PPS  Wait a minute.  Does she even have kids?  I thought I heard that she does, but I don’t know.  I’ve got to confess that I don’t listen to her much.  But you’d think someone so anti feminist should be more submissive to her husband and would show up pregnant more often.  Theres a whole slew of insults I could get into on that one, but I’m going to let it go for today.

 

Oh my May 9, 2008

I just realized that in one of my earlier posts I actually said “more cheaper”.

Actually, I noticed a lot of errors in grammar in that post.  And plain old typos.  Yikes.

Please forgive me when these slip ups arise.  I should know better than this, but I suppose I get all passionate when I’m writing some of these, and all my knowledge of grammar and spelling goes right out the window.

This has nothing to do with anything May 1, 2008

But its fun.

http://jacksonpollock.org/

My babyfit page April 19, 2008

I notice a lot of you guys are visiting my babyfit page.  Its a great site.  I have updated my page with more pictures of me and Elijah.  I hope you all enjoy.

GREAT NEWS!! April 17, 2008

I know I’ve done a lot of posts today, but I just have to celebrate this one!

I JUST GOT QUALIFIED FOR A HOME LOAN!!!

I’m going to buy a home.  Well, my mom and I are buying a home together.  It sounds crazy, but this is good.  It will improve both of our credit scores (mine needs it more than hers), and when the time comes in a few years, one of us will buy the other out.  That means one of us will keep the house we’re buying now, and the other will be able to buy a new house.

Now, shopping begins.  Will keep you posted.