Emails From Crazy People
Look At This Fucking Hipster
Probably Bad News
Health Insurance Consumer Protections
There's Something Stuck in EVERYONE'S Vagina
Blogging with Integrity
Lease
Worst Band Names
Google Voice Says What?
The Meat of the Problem
*If you have any great links, leave a comment. If I use your link in my next Things I'm Enjoying post, I'll link to your blog.
Today, the California Supreme Court upheld the ban on same sex marriages.
It's days like today that I am disappointed in the human race.
Sexuality is not a choice. Why would someone choose to make their life more difficult, choose constant ridicule? Why would someone choose to have less rights, less freedom?
You are born gay. There's no question.
And I'm not sure how anyone who's ever had a child could argue otherwise.
My daughter is a girly-girl. She loves dresses, and bows, and party shoes, and dolls, and all things pink.
My husband and I never steered her towards that. If anything we tried to steer her away from that.
We dressed her in mostly gender neutral clothes. We bought her gender neutral toys and books.
But, SHE IS WHO SHE IS. We can teach her right from wrong. We can teach her manners, but we can't change who she is.
This is why I don't understand how the majority of people in California went to the polls on November 4th, and voted away the rights of an entire group of people who are just trying to be WHO THEY ARE.
They just want to be with the people they love, just like the rest of us.
And, I just don't see how two other people who are in love and get married would threaten my marriage.
And if you try to use the argument with me that your religion says that homosexuality is wrong, I ask you this- Do you really think that God believes in prejudice?
I am not looking forward to the day when my daughter asks me why our friends, her aunts and uncles, can't get married in the majority of states in this country.
I don't know what I'll tell her.
Update- Read these:
You can't see her
How you sound
Instead of spending Willa's nap doing something productive, I went through all of my pictures on Flickr, and put together slide shows of each of the last 4 years.
There are certainly a lot of moments and people dear to us who weren't captured. These are not my "best" pictures- some are unflattering, some are blurry, etc., but they are the pictures that most accurately depict that year.
2005 was about me recovering from career ending shoulder surgery, tons of physical therapy, finding out my dad's cancer had metastasized, a major back injury, and my husband's internship.
In 2006 I was pregnant 3 times (!!!), had two miscarriages, landed an ad campaign with Nikon, Turned 30, had my pictures in The New York Times, traveled a bunch, and had the enjoyable part of my pregnancy with Willa.
2007 was perhaps the most important year I've ever had. I had a very rough pregnancy and was bed ridden for months, Willa was born, my husband became chief resident, and my father passed away.
2008 has been interesting. Willa was modeling, my husband turned 30, finished his residency, and started his fellowship. We moved, my pictures were published in a book, I re injured my shoulder, Obama became president elect, and Willa was diagnosed with Urticaria.
Dear Willa,
Today is a new day.
Last night Barack Obama became the president elect.
I don't know if I can properly convey to you what this means to me.
Never have I been so invested in a political race.
Having you has made what happens in this country so important to me. As your mother it is my duty to fight for your rights.
I have tried very hard to educate myself. I have done a ton of reading. I hope you will learn from me, that knowledge equals power.
For the last eight years we have had a president who is an embarrassment. He has made terrible decisions and refuses to hold himself accountable. He has disregarded science. He has made choices based on who his friends are. He has let his personal beliefs interfere with government policies.
I'm sorry that he was the president when you were born.
When I was pregnant with you your father and I met Barack Obama. He was friendly and personable, and we had a lovely chat with him. I asked him to run for president so that we would have someone we would feel good voting for.
Even the rest of the world wants Obama to be President of the United States. Polls show that as many as 90% of the people in the rest of the world wanted him to win the election.
Barack Obama is an amazing man. He is intelligent. He unites people. He surrounds himself with good, smart people. He inspires people.
He is not perfect. He will make mistakes. We will not agree with all of his decisions. But, from what I've seen of him, I believe he will admit his mistakes, he will make decisions with the country's best interest at heart, and he will be calm and decisive.
He is exactly what this country needs.
For the past eight years I have not been proud to be an American. In fact, I have been embarrassed.
But, now things will be different.
I really, truly believe that Obama will lead this country in a new direction.
Last night history was made. Barack Obama became the first African-American president elect. Now, you might not understand the importance of that, because you are being raised in a household where people are not judged based on their skin color, but it is a major accomplishment for this country. I wish that it wasn't even an issue, but it is. However, Obama becoming president elect shows that this country is changing for the better. We are moving forward.
He was the right man for the job regardless of his skin color, but the fact that he's African-American is the cherry on top.
I only wish your grand father, and your great grandmother Winnie, who you were named after, were alive to see this. They would have been so happy. They always fought prejudice.
More people than ever voted. Please know that if the people lead, eventually the leaders will follow. We really can make a difference. I believe that now. Never stop fighting for what you beleive in. Never give up the fight. Amazing things can happen.
Today, when I woke up, the world felt different. I am filled with hope- which is a pretty amazing thing considering what a cynic I can be.
I see the light at the end of this long, dark, eight year tunnel.
I cry tears of joy when I think that you will grow up with this amazing man as president.
I am excited for your future.
Love,
Mama
Here are three posts that I think everyone should read:
More wounded than eloquent, I'm afraid
Why no one with a uterus should vote for John McCain
These woman say it much more eloquently than I ever could.
Feel free to discuss this topic in the comments, but if your comment is not constructive, then it won't be published.
On a different note- My first article for Alphamom.com is up.
While hanging out and laughing with your good friends have someone tickle your back while you eat chocolate pudding and watch Barack Obama win three more states.
I'm not going to get into a whole diatribe about politics, but I will say this-
This country has been in a downward spiral for the past several years.
We have the power to change it
Please vote.
I unfortunately can't vote in the primary because I am registered as an independent.
If I could, I would vote for Obama.
He is just what this country needs right now.
Also, I've met him, and he seems like the kind of guy that I would love to hang out with and isn't that what we all really want in a president- someone we can relate to?
Please watch this video. It brought tears to my eyes.
I could never express my anger as eloquently as this.
If you live in Alabama, please email me.
I will gladly send you a "present". Nudge, nudge. Wink, wink.
The baby is "perfect"!
The baby is "perfect"!
Maybe we are actually going to have this baby!
All this AND Britney files for divorce from K-Fed, the democrats kick the republicans' ass, AND Donald Rumsfeld resigns!?
Oh happy day!
Did I mention that they said the baby looks "perfect"?
Here's a picture of the baby sucking its thumb:
To see a couple of more sonogram pictures check out my Flickr page.
Did you vote today???
1) Bagels are my favorite food.
2) I am a carbohydrate junkie
3) My husband is two years younger than me. Before I met him I had only dated older men (boys).
4) I am a strict vegetarian. It's like a religion to me.
5) I hate organized religion.
6) I've never thrown up from drinking.
7) I hated high school.
8) I don't wear bras.
9) My favorite books are To Kill a Mocking Bird and The Catcher in the Rye. I've read both of them several times.
10) I love to read.
11) I went to culinary school.
12) I used to be a pastry chef.
13) I've also been a nanny.
14) I can sing, or so I've been told.
15) I love to dance. I've got rythm.
16) In high school I majored in dance, but had to stop because of an injury.
17) The only bone I've ever broken is my pinkie. (Knock on wood)
18) My father offered to pay for me to get a nose job. I refused just to spite him, and now sometimes I regret it.
19) I've never stayed over night in a hospital.
20) I predicted the big earth quake that hit California in the late 80's.
21) I have watched the movie Dirty Dancing too many times to count.
22) I had my first boyfriend when I was nine, but didn't lose my virginity until I was eighteen.
23) I've been pregnant twice, but I don't have any children.
24) I have three cats and one dog.
25) I will not pee in front of anyone. Not even my mother.
26) I grew up in Manhattan.
27) I went to sleep away camp in the Poconos.
28) I love when it rains. I especially love thunderstorms.
29) I have a mild case of OCD. Paintings can't be crooked, things have to be eaten in a certain way, etc.
30) I was in a pageant when I was 12. I won.
31) I am a pack rat.
32) I bruise easily.
33) I have straight pubic hair. The hair on my head is wavy. This makes no sense.
34) I like to write to do lists so I can cross things off.
35) I HATE onions. They are evil.
36) I have a BAD back.
37) I love the smell of fresh cut grass.
38) I have been blogging since August, 2003.
39) I have 42 pairs of shoes. None of them are leather.
40) I am broke.
41) I hate doing the dishes.
42) David Copperfield made me disappear.
43) Jon Bon Jovi laughed at me.
44) I've had sex with two different people in one day.
45) I have a tattoo.
46) My husband has a tongue ring. I *love* it.
47) I was a camp counselor.
48) I once told Scott Hamilton to "Get out on the ice and do a couple of back flips!"
49) Two of my photos were published in the New York Times.
50) I love to learn.
51) I am allergic to cats and dogs.
52) I HATE the cold.
53) I used to be a gymnast
54) I can't watch other people fold clothes because THEY DO IT WRONG.
55) I lived in Boston for five years. It wasn't New York.
56) I have fifty billion medical problems.
57) I like to exaggerate.
58) If you tickle me I will black out and hurt you. I'm dead serious.
59) My wedding was vegetarian. The food was so good, half of the guests didn't even realize it.
60) I had the best wedding EVER.
61) Some of my favorite movies are American Beauty, Garden State, 40 Year Old Virgin, Office Space, Coming to America, and Forrest Gump. I'm sure I'm forgetting a bunch more.
62) Some of my favorite bands/artists are Coldplay, Cake, Indigo Girls, The Beatles, Eminem, Sublime, Billy Joel, Fiona Apple, Miles Davis, Paul Simon, and Radiohead. I am not ashamed.
63) Billy Joel once told me he was too drunk to remember me interrupting his meal.
64) I was flat chested until I was about 19. Now I'm a 36C.
65) I HATE coffee.
66) I LOVE tea.
67) I hate underwear. I wear them reluctantly and am constantly digging them out of my cavernous ass.
68) I hate whistling. It's like nails on a chalk board to me.
69) My father-in-law whistles ALL THE TIME.
70) I have seven nephews and three nieces.
71) I think I'm the only person on the planet who hates the TV show Law and Order.
72) I moved out of the house when I was 19.
73) If I could wish for one secret power it would be to never have to shave my legs again.
74) I am allergic to artichokes.
75) I've never been anywhere in the middle of the country. The closest I've been to the middle is Ohio or Utah.
76) I'm a good driver. I drive like a man.
78) I desperately want to go to England. I don't know why.
79) I used to have waist length blonde hair.
80) I don't chew gum.
81) I don't drink soda.
82) I don't like sex toys. That's how I roll.
83) Sometimes I like to talk like I'm from the hood. WORD.
84) Thanks to blogging, I have friends that live in states and countries I've never been to.
85) My favorite color is blue.
86) I have two half sisters and a half brother.
87) I can't say the word *fart*. It makes me cringe. The fact that I was even able to type it is a miracle.
88) I've had many crushes, but I've only been in love once.
89) I am not good at styling my hair, or anyone else's hair for that matter.
90) I wear SPF on my face every day, even in the winter.
91) I haven't "tanned" since I was 18. I look pale, but I actually have my dad's Sicilain skin and I can get quite dark.
92) Chocolate is my drug of choice.
93) I love book stores. I could spend all day in a book store.
94) I didn't learn how to tie my shoe laces until I was six, and I couldn't ride a bike without training wheels until I was almost ten.
95) I watch entirely too much television.
96) My husband is a genius. Literally. It's like living with a human encyclopedia and dictionary all rolled into one.
97) I got braces my senior year in high school. It sucked.
98) I can't eat spicy food. This is very difficult considering I'm a vegetarian.
99) I try to avoid the topic of politics because I just get upset and frustrated.
100) Writing this list was not easy.
Did you learn anything new about me?
I couldn't have said it better myself.
You have got to be kidding me!
I cannot believe this country RE-ELECTED this guy.
I often have the argument with people that I support our troops, but I don't support the war.
Some people believe this is a contradiction, but I disagree.
Our troops don't get to choose whether or not we go to war. (Although, there's a great idea. Maybe we should let our armed forces vote on whether or not we go to war.) It's not their fault they're in Iraq. From what I've read most of them oppose the war.
I support our troops. I don't support a war built on lies and greed.
I was sent this poem in an email this morning. I don't know who wrote it.
The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
a lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light.
Then he sighed and he said "It's really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers." My dad
stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam', And now it is my turn and so,
here I am. I've not seen my own son in more than a while, But my wife
sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
"I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."
"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?"
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."