It's a Wonder

Right, so I didn't blog yesterday. But I have a really good excuse - I had nothing to write. It occurred to me that part of the reason that I haven't been writing much is because I haven't had a heck of a lot to say. And sadly, that is still the case. But I said I was going to write, so I'm going to do it (even if it is a bit lame and regurgitated).

A couple of things I've been wondering...

I wonder why I love the shallow moments of being a girl - nail polish, lip gloss, new shoes, whatever!

I wonder when the wrinkles in my forehead decided to take up permanent residence.

I wonder why leftover dinner tastes so yummy late at night.

I wonder why my husband can't manage to put an empty soda can in the recycling bin.

I wonder why everyone here has to call it "pop" instead of "soda" like everyone else.

I wonder why the first day I look for airfares they're super cheap, but the day that I go to buy the tickets everything goes up $50 to $75.

I wonder why it takes so long to get an appointment with a new doctor, really are there that many people that need check ups?

I wonder why sitting in the sun has to be so bad for you when it feels so wonderful.

I wonder how I always manage to get one cat hair in my newly painted nails (all right that one isn't really a wonder as much as an irritation).

I wonder how much longer I can manage to duck my sister's calls.

I wonder if I'm the only person kind of freaked by the new Prius commercials.

I wonder what "Adult Hits" are on satellite radio - sounds kinda scary.

I wonder if they can do laser hair removal on the bikini line, 'cause I'm tired of waxing and shaving - not one of the brighter points of being a girl.

I wonder how bad the new G.I. Joe movie is going to be and why I really want to see it.

I wonder what I'm going to think of to write for tomorrow...

Current Music: Careless Whisper - Seether (I'm not much for remakes, but this one isn't too bad)

Tomorrow I Will Blog

Right, so last month's theme for NaBloPoMo was "routines" - and I had high hopes of getting back into the routine of blogging. I miss reading, I miss writing. But then there are so many things that I miss lately - lots of things that I haven't been doing that I should be.

The new theme for the month is "Tomorrow". So tomorrow I will blog (and go to the gym and clean my house). I'll do my best to do the NaBloPoMo thing, sometimes I just need a little self imposed guilt to get me back into the swing of things.

See you tomorrow...

Current Music: Killing the Blues - Robert Plant and Allison Krauss

I'm Here...Kind Of

Just checking in quickly.

In the good news category:
- Scott got a real job (well kind of).
- That real job comes with real health insurance (instead of the expensive half-assed version that we had before).
- Because of that insurance I've finally decided to get my sorry ass into therapy.
- I got to drive off to DC to meet up with my dear friends to go to the Big Gay Hoedown again.
- I got a sassy new hair cut a month ago, and the bangs are good (I know, I can die happy now, right?)
- It is finally green here, mostly.
- I'm still employed, for now.

In the bad news category:
- The real job that Scott got only helps us go broke more slowly.
- The therapist as diagnosed me as clinically depressed (which I really didn't think I was, but hey, now I can get some cool drugs if I want to).
- I got a ticket on my way back from DC - that sucked.
- It's still freaking freezing here, we've had like 3 warm days and I've either been out of town or in the office.
- I'm not sure how much longer I'm going to be employed, or how much longer I want to be employed.

Other than all that I'm soooo in the middle of my little mid-life crisis. Darn it, I started it without you guys, now I'm in the middle of it and you all don't even know about it. Let's just say that I've done some less than healthy things (less than health for my emotional well being and possibly for my marriage) and am now reaping the rewards. Once I get my head clear(er) I'll report back.

But know that I'm here, mostly. I'm reading your blogs, checking in with you all - even though I'm not commenting much. Really I'm trying to dig out of this hole I've found myself in.

Current Music: We Made You - Eminem

Speaking of Secrets

I was going to wax philosophical about how great Tuesday's BlogSecret was (and it was, don't get me wrong - I loved telling my secret and sending it out there - not to mention reading other people's).

But then I started thinking that this blog is nothing but secret. Hell, I'm sitting right next to my husband, and he has no idea that I'm writing on my blog. He knows I read them, he knows I comment on them, but somehow he's either never considered that I have one or never thought to ask. Now I know Scott's not the brightest, but I also know that I'm not exactly truthful with it when it comes to this blog. Though I wouldn't lie and tell him that I don't have a blog, I certainly would be somewhat evasive if he asked.

So that got me to wondering why I keep this a secret from him. And I don't truly have the answer to that one. I'll have to ponder that.

Current Music: Let Me Out - Ben's Brother

The Morning After

Usually the morning after an election is like any other for me - breakfast, work, lunch, work, home, dinner, bed. Never anything to write home about, just another day - no real changes to speak of. Sure there might have been an election the day before, but nothing had really changed.

Until this morning. This morning I woke up with a sense of excitement, a sense of change - even (dare I say it) a sense of hope.

Sure, there has been plenty of talk about hope, talk about change - and oh, how I wanted to believe it. But I just couldn't let myself. What if I bought into it, only to be let down by the American Public? What if I let my expectations get the best of me?

In the days leading up to the election I started to let my excitement get the better of me, thinking that perhaps the voting public wouldn't let me down yet again. I thought maybe, just maybe the people of the United States could see this candidate for who he is - a smart man, an amazing orator, an inspired leader of communities, a young man with a family, a man who's story is so very American. But I still wondered, could they see all that, see past the color of his skin?

So I put that little spark of hope away. But I kept hearing the buzz, seeing the signs and that little spark kept growing - enough so, that when I went into the elementary school gym to vote yesterday I found myself grinning stupidly. I was actually about to vote for someone, not just vote for the lesser of evils (or worse yet just vote against someone else). I practically skipped out of the polling booth I was so pleased!

When the first results started coming my heart sank. Thank you Kentucky, clearly the nation is not ready to be hopeful again, not ready for change. Thank you New Hampshire for your help, but your 3 electoral votes just aren't going to get us there. Then votes from Pennsylvania came in and I found myself saying, maybe "we can". Then the flood gates seemed to open as state after state turned blue, states that hadn't been blue in a very long time, states that you would never have expected to turn blue (not even if they collectively held their breath) were turning blue. And the spark grew and grew, like the Grinch's heart on Christmas morning.

And now here we are on the morning after. We all have a new President, and I have hope. Hope for our country and it's future - something I've not had for a very long time. I have something else as well, I have pride. I'm so proud of my countrymen and women, I'm proud that we were all able to come together and choose hope, I'm proud that it was the best voter turn out in 45 years, I'm proud that we have all been able to share in such a hugely historic moment.

Current Music: Fanfare for the Common Man - Aaron Copeland (feeling a bit classical today - but seriously, go listen to it. It will give you chills to go with your hope.)

Still Broken

"There should be a statute of limitations on grief. A rule book that says it is all right to wake up crying, but only for a month. That after forty-two days you will no longer turn with your heart racing, certain you have heard her call out your name. That there will be no fine imposed if you feel the need to clean out her desk; take down her artwork from the refrigerator; turn over a school portrait as you pass - if only because it cuts you fresh to see it. That it is okay to measure the time she has been gone, the way we once measured her birthdays."

My Sister's Keeper
Jodi Picoult

Today would have been the 2nd anniversary for my Dad's new heart. That sort of sucks.

I'm still here, but still broken. I haven't had any good days, most days are okay at best and some days are just pain bad. Strangely enough, work days tend to be better - even as much as I'm disliking my job these days. It seems that weekends are just to open and empty - easy for my brain to get lost in the pain.

Obviously I am not doing NaBloPoMo - it did seem like a good idea at the time, but I just couldn't do it to you guys. You have no idea how many posts I've tried to write, but they were all such serious downers (they made me more depressed and that ain't easy) I couldn't bear to post them. Trust me, you'll thank me for it one day.

Yesterday was Scott's birthday and I almost forgot it completely! I managed to pull it off by making his favorite cake and one of his favorite dinners - and got him a couple of movies. I'm not sure how long I get to use the "Dead Dad" excuse, but it worked for now.

On the upside of things - the grief diet is good, though eating as much fast food as we've been eating can't be good in the long run. And I'm getting into the office earlier, since I can't sleep much.

I'm trying to get back into the swing of things - I'll get back to reading and commenting on blogs (I miss you all!) and twitter as well. As everyone keeps telling me, it's all just a matter of time.

Sorry for the big bunch of randomness, but it seems to be par for the course lately.

Current Music: I'm watching the debate, which is as depressing as this post.

I Remember...

I remember waking up to the news on the radio and wondering what was going on.

I remember waking Scott up, screaming and crying over the things I was seeing on the television screen.

I remember watching in horror as the towers collapsed under their own weight.

I remember thinking that the whole country seemed to be under attack.

I remember going to work, but not wanting to leave the car for fear I would miss something on the news.

I remember wondering if my Uncle was in D.C. for work, and feeling selfishly thankful that he no longer had an office in the Pentagon.

I remember hearing that another plane was missing and later hearing that it had crashed en route to Washington.

I remember being glued to the television, absorbing the images of destruction and heroism.

I remember seeing video of people streaming from Manhattan.

I remember sitting with my friends in the evening worried about loved ones and feeling guilty for being safe on the west coast.

I remember lighting candles at night for all the lost souls and those that were trying so hard to recover them.

I remember how strange it was to not hear or see planes in the sky for days.

I remember feeling so injured by the attack on my country even though it didn't actually touch my life as closely as it did others.

If you didn't read this last year, it's a good story.

Current Music: Stronger - Kanye West

Pop Quiz

Today we have a multiple choice quiz, let's see how you do...

1. It's Monday, you've left work early to get your hair done, but that leaves some extra time when you get back. Once you get home do you:
    A. Start the ginormous pile of laundry that needs doing.
    B. Get on line and do some blogging ('cause you are really behind).
    C. Sit on the deck in the sun, read a book and have a glass of wine.
    D. Work on the cards that you've been needing to get done for ages.

2. Tuesday rolls around, you have to take the cat to the vet and go grocery shopping. But after all that you've got a little more time, so do you:
    A. Do the laundry that you still haven't done.
    B. Weed the garden, it's over run (again).
    C. Curl up on the sofa with the sick kitty and watch TV.
    D. Do the work you took home to do.

3. Happy Hump-day! Your boss made you want to run screaming from the building, so you did - an hour early. Should you:
    A. Do the laundry, it's still on the hall floor.
    B. Sit around playing on the laptop and watching the Olympics.
    C. Go for hot dogs and a movie with your husband.
    D. Medicate the sick cat then go to bed.

4. It's Thursday, the weekend is in your sights, but you've got a ton of work to (from leaving early all week). You could:
    A. Still do the laundry, it hasn't magically done it's self.
    B. Make your husband a lavish meal in true June Cleaver fashion.
    C. Work late and get things done, but be really pissy about it.
    D. Clean up the two piles of cat puke that you found down stairs.

If you answered C to each question, then you had the same week I did - see, it doesn't always suck to be me.

If you answered B or D to each question, way to get things done!

If you answered A to each question there's still plenty of laundry here for you to do, come on over (I still have wine left from Monday).

Current Music: It's Five O'Clock Somewhere - Alan Jackson

"Thinking of You"

I love to make cards, but I've never made a Sympathy card. I've always just gone and bought one when I needed one. I mean, who wants to have those around - it seems like borrowing trouble. Not the mention the fact that I hate Sympathy cards - they never really say what you are thinking. But then, given the circumstances, what can you say?

I made my first sympathy card today. I had to make it, it was to send my condolences to a family that just lost their infant daughter, not yet three months old. Hallmark doesn't make a card for that, do they.

All I could say was "Thinking of You" - because that much is true. I am thinking of them, thinking how unfair it is for such a horrible thing to happen to such nice people. I'm thinking that I'm angry that a sweet little baby had to leave this planet way too soon.

But what else could I say? I couldn't say that the universe sucks and there is no way that they should have to be going through this. I couldn't say that what ever deity they believe in has let them down by not answering the prayers of many who had hoped that she would recover from her fall. I couldn't say that they would be okay, is anyone ever okay after the death of a child?

So I'll think of them, and maybe I can bear some of their sorrow, because right now they have too much to bear.

Current Music: Wasted - Brandi Carlile

Any Port In A Storm

I was driving a lot today - I had a bunch of things to do for clients, so I figured I'd get it all done at once. But I was feeling a bit lost, a bit disconnected, missing people and places long gone.

As I drove, I passed a number of different cemeteries, and "Memorial Parks" - it got me thinking about the fact that my Grandmother is buried so far away. I thought about the fact that I couldn't stop and sit by her grave and talk to her, I couldn't tell her what's new or anything that was going on with me. Then I thought, well why do I have to be there - why can't I just pull into any of these cemeteries - will any "body" do? Why do we feel the need to sit by "our person" - when we know that they aren't really there, just what is left of them?

So I tried it - I parked and sat on a bench and thought about all those people, pets and places that I don't get to see, or talk to, or go to. And I talked to those random people there instead of my people - and it was ok. In fact in some ways it was better.

I could tell those folks lying there all about how I miss being a little kid hanging out with my Grandmother, or how I wish I had known my Grandfather better. I told them all about how I think of and miss my friends that died of cancer. I told them how I miss all those pets that made my life a better place and are gone now. They learned about all the friends that I left behind when I moved and how I miss the place I grew up and lived for so many years. And it was nice.

Maybe I'll get a chance to go and talk to my people soon, but for now these people will do.

Current Music: Eulogy - The Hereafter

Ohio Magnetism

No really, Ohio speaks to me (and not just through blogs). It must, because what else could explain my third trip to the Buckeye State in two months?

I can honestly say that I have never been to any state (that I haven't lived in) as many times as I've been to Ohio (well, there's Florida - but once was for business and once for a funeral, so let's not count those). So why do I keep going to Ohio this summer? Is it really "the heart of it all"? Am I just drawn to the giant Longaberger Basket? Perhaps I am destined to move to Ohio and do great things, or not.

I suppose trips to Ohio (or at least through Ohio) are pretty much a foregone conclusion living in Michigan - there's really no other way out (unless I go through Canada, which really would be the long-way round to most places - well, except to Canada). But still - it does seem odd to be headed back there again...

Current Music: Ohio - Bowling for Soup

Things That Make Me Happy

So, as it usually happens, I've been in a bit of a funk - feeling that I've not the best blogger, pet mom, friend, wife, sibling or child. I've decided to not be in a funk anymore (well, till the next one happens). I've also decided that the best plan of attack is to think about the things that make me happy, little and big things that get me through the day.

1. Scott - yeah, he's a pain, but you've just gotta love a guy that will put up with me (well, I do anyway - you guys are on your own). He's been a champ lately, doing a surprising number of chores and things around the house and being very supportive of cranky, moody me. He's even gone so far as to suggest I go buy shoes to make myself feel better!



2. My Nieces - these two little girls make my heart swell. I think they are spectacular, they can do no wrong and they are most definitely the cutest things on the planet. All right maybe not, but they make me about as happy as I get - even when they are busy being awful and their mom is reconsidering giving them up for adoption.


3. My four-legged kids - These little buggers make me smile like nothing else. And even when they aren't make me laugh they're helping me out in other ways.
Bad day? Well at least the dog is happy to see me.
Don't want to wake up? 16 pounds of Maine Coon sitting on you bladder will solve that.
Sorry you didn't have kids? Cleaning the litter box is way easier than diapers.

4. This blog - yep, you all rank in my things that make me happy! I love having my own little corner of the Internet to bitch and whine and then have you all tell me 'it's okay, you're not the only one'. So thank you all.

5.My iPod - shallow, yes but I love it and it makes me smile and dance around my house like a dumb commercial (yes, an iPod commercial!).

6. Scrapbooking - oh I know it's a bit silly, but I find it so relaxing and fun. How can it be bad playing with beautiful things and looking at all your favorite pictures?

Sadly, I can't think of a full top ten, but 60% isn't bad. I guess I still only get a D for happiness, but I'll study harder next time.

Current Music: Molly's Chambers - Kings of Leon

I Would Walk 500 Miles

Well, it's not really 500 miles, it's more like 280. That's 5 miles a day for 8 weeks, or 10,000 steps for 56 days. What ever way you want to break it down, that's what I'm doing.

The 5th Annual WOMAN Challenge started on Mother's Day. I did it last year for the first time and had a really great time. My sister, Mom and a couple of friends all joined the same team and we encouraged each other (via email) to walk our butts off! Of course it's just a self-enforced thing, sort of like NaBloPoMo - it's all about the ability to say that you did it!

So for the next 8 weeks I'll have my handy dandy pedometer on my belt, making sure that I'm doing all my steps! And if I'm running a bit short one day, there's always shopping or "Dance, Dance Revolution" (I don't see why that can't count)!

Now for the standard "I'm a sucktastic blogger lately" speech - but the whole work thing is taking up waaaay too much of my time (like I don't have personal things to do during the work day!). I have succumb to the Twitter phenomenon, so if you're desperate for more Mandy Lou - you can follow me there!

Current Music: I Would Walk 500 Miles - The Proclaimers (on The Graham Norton Show - are you watching this, cause you should be!)

There's No Fiesta Here

When did it become necessary for soda companies (right, I know I live in Michigan and I should call it "pop" - you can take the girl out of California, but you can't take California out of the girl. I also overuse the word "Dude") to sell their beverages as a lifestyle enhancement?

I read about Pepsi's new "zero calorie sparkling beverage" - really they had me at sparkling (oh and zero calorie). But then they had to make up lame flavor names like Mediterranean Fiesta, Brazilian Samba and Tahitian Tamure, now I was a bit worried, but the reviews had been pretty good and it was on sale - who am I to say no.

As I look at the bottle I'm about open my bottle of Mediterranean Fiestaand see this:

Zig when you're expected to zag.
Don't look before you leap.
Sushi. Try it.
Get lost on your way home. Intentionally.
Take the train to the art museum.
Admire the graffiti on the way.
Realize that can't and won't are four letter words.
See. Wonder. Believe.
Or you can open the bottle.
Is your Tava open?

And while I may agree with some of it (especially the sushi bit, sushi is good!) it's like I'm about to drink a Mac commercial or a Mini Cooper ad! I also felt the need to check my zipper.

Undaunted - I opened the bottle. I can honestly say there's no fiesta here!

I realize that there are lots of beverage options out there now a days, and it's a tough economy and companies need to sell their product, but really - it's either good or it's not. This is not.

Current Music: Mi Swing es Tropical - Quantic & Nickodemus

And for those that are curious - The tāmūrē is a dance from Tahiti and the Cook Islands and although denied by the local purists, for the rest of the world it is the most popular dance and the mark of Tahiti. Usually danced as a group of boys and girls, all dressed in more (the Tahitian grass skirt, however not made of grass but of the fibers from the bark of the pūrau (hibiscus)). Courtesy of Wikipedia!

You Asked

Alright Lori, you asked and (finally) I'm answering. Not that it's a difficult answer, though on some levels it is, but I wanted to do it justice.

Lori asked me why I'm 35 (well it was the day before my b-day, so now I'm 36) and no kids. The answer is I don't know. I'm not being flippant, actually quite truthful.

When I was really young I always saw myself married, 2 kids, dog, white picket fence - you know the suburban Disney fantasy. Into high school and college I wanted to get a degree, go to New York City, work on Wall Street, be a career woman and make some money (I even had a poster that had a picture of a mansion and all these amazing cars and said "Justification for Higher Education") - I was a yuppie in the making.

Not long after that phase I met Scott, 10 years older than I was and yet about the same maturity level. Neither of us wanted kids, he wanted to sail around the world and I figured I'd fly to meet him where ever he landed (not a big sailor). We dated for a number of years, working, playing enjoying our lives. Then we got married and spent some more years working, play and enjoying.

The new year's eve before I turned 27 my alarm clock (that would be the biological one) went off. I told Scott and he was less than thrilled. We had never planned on kids and now I was reneging on the deal. It took a while, but he finally wrapped his brain around it and decided maybe it wasn't the worst idea (this also coincided with his best friends adopting their first child).

But it wasn't a good time, we were trying hard to get out of debt and figured that it wouldn't be the best time to have a kid. So I stayed on the pill and looked longingly at any cute little bundle in a stroller.

We managed to get our spending and debt under control, but moved into a very small apartment to make it work. So I stayed on the pill, we adopted another cat and I would go look at maternity clothes for no good reason.

Then we got another apartment, but I was working full time and going to school full time. So I stayed on the pill, we fought a lot and I stopped going to friends baby showers.

Finally we bought our house here in Michigan, great neighborhood, good schools, huge yard, and a fence for a dog (it's chain link, but you can't have it all). So I went off the pill!

At that point we still had somewhat decent health coverage, so we had the preliminary tests done, just to make sure that the basic plumbing was working, and it was - so we got started trying. And now we've been trying for almost two years.

Of course, at this point, we should go back to the doctor and get more tests done, but not long after we moved our budget went in the tank and we had to switch to the most basic health coverage - if I get hit by a bus I'm in great shape, but if I want to go to the doctor or have tests done I have to fork over cash I don't have. So needless to say, testing is on the back burner.

Every month I take my temp, pee on sticks, check all my fertility signs, have uninspired sex (Scott likes to call it "Science Sex" or "Booty Duty" - that one actually cracks me up), then wait, pee on some more sticks, get my period, cry a bit then have some wine and start the whole thing again.

In the end, I'm not so sure how sad I really am. I love kids, but I love my life as it is. I love that I get to sleep in (or sleep at all), I love that I can come home late and not worry how much extra I have to pay the sitter. My friends and relations with kids tell me honestly that it is hard work and frequently a complete pain in the ass. I've had women say how jealous they are that I get to sleep in on Sunday or not have anyone interrupt them in the bathroom. I also know that I get tired of scrapbooking my cats and dog and nieces - or not being able to chime into a conversation with a bunch of moms as they discuss kid things. I know I'm missing out on certain things in life, but it doesn't make my life experience any less (that took me a while to be able to say).

Scott is adopted, and our dearest friend's kids are both adopted, so we've talked about adoption, but our options are limited by both age and financial issues. You can be any age or financial bracket to have your own kids, but to adopt you've got to be "pre-approved".

So we'll keep at it for a bit more, then hang up the basal thermometer and go back to being a normal couple and I'll enjoy other people's babies and kids and learn to be ok with it all. Maybe we'll get some more cats, that could be the answer...

Current Music: Tears Dry On Their Own - Amy Winehouse

And I'm Back

The cold is almost gone, and happily I'm no longer in a Nyquil induced haze (not that it's bad mind you).

In other news, it's "Paczki Day" here in Southeastern Michigan. All these years I'd always thought of today as "Fat Tuesday" or "Super Tuesday", but here it's all about the Paczki (pronounced "poonch-key" apparently). I've lived here for going on three years and only last year found out that all the to-do was over a big jelly doughnut! So here I thought is was something cool and special (well jelly doughnuts are pretty cool, but you know what I mean) - and it's just another reason to add to your waistband.

Though just down the road a bit (well, quite a bit) they have a Paczki Day Parade - apparently it's bigger down in Hamtramck than St. Patty's Day - they even sell Jagermeister filled Paczki!

Happily we don't take it all that seriously here, but I did pick up a box last night - might as well make it a real fat Tuesday!

Current Music: Running on Sunshine - Jesus Jackson (even though we have been sunshine free for at least a week!)

Resolutions

Every year I make up a list of resolutions - and every year they die a sad and early death. Some years I have a bunch, some years I have very few, sometimes I write them down to make them more real, sometimes I keep them in my head - doesn't really matter how many there are or where I keep them - they all have the same fate.

You would think that I wouldn't want to make any more, but nope - I'm that dumb! I'm making them this year too (maybe it's like a bad holiday tradition, like fruit cake). So here they are:

1. Floss everyday - I'm really a once or twice a week girl and I'm so tired of listening to the dentist about my "pockets" (not that she's not right or anything).

2. Drink more water - I seriously dislike water, it's just not very tasty. But it's good for you, so I'm gonna do my best.

3. Eat better portions - less, not more. When I serve up dinner I have a bad habit of putting as much on my plate as I do on Scott's. Since he out weighs me by a hundred pounds (well maybe 90 pounds, but it sounds better as 100 right?) that's a bad dietary choice.

4. Eat more fruits and vegetables - just trying to be healthy. More fiber, vitamins and all the other good stuff - can't be bad right?

Ok - that's it. Four should be do-able, right? And even if I manage to keep one I'll still be at 25% - not too bad!?

Oh yeah - one more, I'm gonna try the photo a day thing, we'll see how that goes...

Current Music: All That I Want - The Weepies

Happy Boxing Day

Is that what you say? Or do you just say it's Boxing Day? Being here in the U.S. it's hard to know, since it's not something we celebrate.

This comes up though, because last night we all sat around an put together a billion little boxes, they were actually cardboard boxes made to look like bricks to build a fort. But the point is someone said "Oh I though Boxing day was tomorrow?!"

What is Boxing Day you ask? Well here's what Wikipedia has to say about it:
"Boxing Day is a public holiday celebrated in the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and Australia and many other members of the Commonwealth of Nations on December 26, the day after Christmas Day;".

Apparently in the UK as well as New Zealand and Australia it's a day for family and an extension of Christmas. In Canada however, it seems to be much more commercial - it's all about shopping. In either case, it sounds like a great thing to have an extra day off to enjoy the season - whichever way you prefer!

Reason Number 72

Yep another reason why it's probably a good thing we don't have kids:

Me: What's that noise?
Scott: What noise?
Me: That noise.
Scott: Oh that? Umm, Pearl's into something.
Me: It doesn't sound good - what is it?
Scott: She's chewing on the basket
Me: Well stop her, she shouldn't be chewing on that.
Scott: Oh she's got some kind of plastic thing. Wait, no that's bad she shouldn't be chewing on that - I think.
Me: Well stop her.
Scott: Oh, should I?
Me: Ya think?

Yeah - kids might not survive Scott, there are some days I'm not sure the animals can.

Current Music: You Know I'm No Good - Amy Winehouse

A Day To Remember

Today is Pearl Harbor Day, the "Day that shall live in Infamy". There have been plenty of wars since then, and we've since worse attacks on American soil, but we can't loose sight of this day just because of the newer, fresher wounds.

Every anniversary there are fewer and fewer survivors. Imagine, those that were 18 would be 84 now - we're loosing a generation of heroes and survivors.

December 7th 1941, my Dad was about to turn six months old and my Mom wasn't even born yet. My Grandparents we're living in Oakland, my Grandfather a family surgeon, my Grandmother a housewife.

I've been to Pearl Harbor, and I've seen the Arizona Memorial - it was moving, even at the age of 16. I'd love to go back though, it seems as I age that history means more.

Current Music: The Ocean - The Bravery