I was a PUMA-now I long for CHANGE!

I was for Hillary Clinton in the primaries. When she lost I was upset. I didn't think that the Obama camp treated her very well at all. I especially didn't like the way that his followers treated her. I didn't know what I was going to do or who I was going to vote for.

Then McCain decided to put Palin on the ticket. A woman who doesn't value education (as shown by the fact that her son was a high school drop out, her pregnant teen age daughter has been to high school "here and there", her soon to be son in law dropped out of high school, and her daughters on the campaign trail are not in school either),

a woman who can't put a coherent sentence together-from the ABC interview:

VARGAS: But the point being that you haven't been so bruised by some of the double standard, the sexism on the campaign trail, to say, "I've had it. I'm going back to Alaska."

PALIN: Absolutely not. I think that, if I were to give up and wave a white flag of surrender against some of the political shots that we've taken, that ... that would ... bring this whole ... I'm not doin' this for naught. (I had to paste this section word for word since I have no idea what she was trying to actually say)

A woman who thinks that her employer should pay for her kids travel expenses no matter what-
Bristol, Piper and Willow, Palin’s daughters, accrued $32,629 in travel expenses while Palin’s husband Todd raked up $22,174 - all billed to the state for a total of $54,803.00. She now has 2- count them 2- abuse of power complaints against her.

I want to vote for a woman on the ticket. But I want to vote for a woman who is qualified, who is smart, articulate, and has believes that America not only does good in this world now- but can always do better. I WILL NOT vote for a woman just because she is a woman, John McCain. I will not vote for hate and fear, for anger and contempt, for lies and half truths, for the politics of the past. I will not vote for John McCain because of Sarah Palin.

But I will vote for Barrack Obama. Hope and change vs. anger and fear. My son has never lived in an America not at war. Think about that. Never. I don't want him to have 4 or 8 more years of the same old way of thinking- of doing things. Change. That's what I want for him, for all of us. Change.

Only 5 1/2 days left of this crap!

AWKWARD!!!

"All of which, however, only makes McCain's recent lapses in judgment that much more disappointing. His choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, a person he barely knew, as running mate has proven disastrous. The darling of the Republican National Convention has been transformed in a matter of weeks — and mostly as the result of her own words and actions — into a national laughingstock"

Newburyport Daily News, part of the ultra right wing Lawrence Eagle Tribune newspaper group, has endorsed Barack Obama for President!

I am a political junkie- and I am so sick of it all. Lets just all vote and get it done with! (and send old pudinhead back to Alaska to be a grandma !)

Field museum pictures-and cure updates.

Doesn't this look like it shouldn't be real?

I loved the native Americans exhibits more than anything else. I wish I would have gotten some pictures in the artic peoples exhibits, but it's REALLY dark in there.

The doll maker in me was thrilled to see this....

I love totem poles, masks, etc... from any group or any area...

I loved that place. I am looking forward to going back- maybe without the 4 year old-I would love to spend more time with the arctic exhibit.

Cure wise-

WT- I cleaned out my closet and switched from summer to fall/winter. Some of my summer t's I kept out because with a jacket or sweater over them they will be fine for winter. I have a small list of some basics to keep my eyes open for- some long sleeve t shirts, a new winter vest, and sweaters. My sweaters are all rabbit-y or very, very old. Either way it's time to make the upgrade. Winter in Michigan almost requires you to wear a sweater, and it's high time I get with the program.

I purged 2 purses I haven't used in a while (a black canvas Banana Republic and an old Kate Spade), and a pair of Levis that I never have really like. When I feel better I plan on going through the closet again, this time trying on things. I found purging this time around was much easier than in years past.

AT-

I cleaned up the dining room, living room and most of the kitchen. I cleaned out the fridge. I made some new art for the dining room with some fabric I picked up at Ikea in Chicago. I cleaned the floors and the sinks and vacuumed the entire house. I cleaned out my closet and the front entry closet. I pulled down all my sons winter clothes and pulled out the summer stuff and the clothes he has outgrown.

That's all because I am still hacking up a lung every 2o minutes or so. I guess it's back to the Dr. on Monday.

good news and bad news.....

So the good news is that I DON'T have pneumonia- yet. The bad news- it feels like I do.

I went to my Dr.'s yesterday. There were some really sick people there, and they all seemed to want to sit by me and cough- open mouth, no hand or hankie- and sniffle (which is a noise I hate more than anything else in this entire world- except maybe for sneezes) Anyway, I try to move away from all of them- sit by myself in a corner by the fish tank- and they kept moving towards me. Sneezing, sniffling and coughing- oh my!

My Dr. (who I don't particularly like, but seems competent so I let my personal feeling slide) said he didn't THINK I had pneumonia, but it could easily turn if I didn't get some rest and sleep. That would be easier said than done though, since I am coughing up a lung every 30 to 40 seconds. He gave me a breathing treatment and I have to go back on Friday if things don't get much better. I also got a rescue inhaler. yippie.

So my plan for today and tomorrow is to simply rest. Watch a lot of tv. Play with the boy. No cure work. No WT work. No work at all.

AT quiz- re done!!

Here is my AT quiz for the cure. I am starting on Monday- I am currently blogging from a hotel suite in Chicago! We went to the Field Museum yesterday- I was blown away by some of the collections (especially the arctic peoples items - especially the totem poles they were amazing!!!)

Favorites

List your favorite in each category:
Actress: Elizabeth Taylor- in everything- but especially "Butterfield 8" style for style reasons. Vivian Leigh. The red head from "boogie nights"
Actor: Guy Pierce. George Clooney,
Artist: I like "outsider" art more than anything else. I also love my brothers stuff- (he's at http://www.mojohand.com/)
Writer: Chuck Paulenik (spelling is wrong- he wrote Fight Club) I also just got a first edition of "lost Horizon" and read that for the first time and loved it.
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Music: I like country music. So shoot me. Dixie Chicks, Melissa Lambert. Bad ass women singing.
Restaurant: I loved this place in Austin- Shady Grove for burgers, frys, etc.., the salt lick for BBQ, and there was this place growing up that was called the Casa Nova- cheesey 70 decor with great pizza, pasta and a "white"salad- iceburg lettuce, mozzarella cheese, ham, mushrooms and blue cheese dressing. .
Automobile: I want an old style pick up truck. But the new challenger is pretty cool, and I will always love jeep wranglers.
TV Show: CSI- Las Vegas not those other ones, Fringe, Lost, The Office
Clothing: I like J jill, Eddie Bauer, The Gap for certain stuff,
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How would you describe your style? (3 words)
natural, organic, timelessness

Personal History

Where have you been? Everywhere. I was a nomad for over 20 years of my adult life.
Where you were born: k-zoo .
Where you grew up: where I live now- well, close to it...
As an adult: Austin Tx, Phoenix Az, Houston Tx, Florida for a short time , Vail Co and Alaska for an even shorter amount.....
Whom would you consider a role model? I don't think I have one.
What three adjectives describe the qualities that you admire in this person?
I admire truthfullness, strength, calm headedness.

Apartment

What is the problem with your apartment: (3 words)?
un finished. cluttered, un clean



.

If your apartment could speak, what would it say is the problem? Step away from that computer! Don't just sit around, DO something!
What one thing would you like to do or do more of in your apartment? Not have to fix anything else.
Eight weeks from now, when this project is done, if friends came to visit, how would you like them to describe your home?
Welcoming
Fun
clean

Head
Does your home support everything you want to do? Yes, we have ample space for most everything we do, the layout is ok, not great but ok.

Do you use your home often?
yes, we rarely go out.
Is there room for everything you want to do at home? Isn't this the same as the support question?

Is there a good space for what is most important to you?
No, my office is a mess, there is kid stuff everywhere and I don't have a good place to paint of work on my dolls.

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Heart
Do you consider your home beautiful? No, I think it's interesting and that is more important to me than "Beautiful" .
Do you feel you have a sense of style?
Yes, but I feel over the past 5 years it has changed very much- because of all that I have gone through and changed. I guess it's only to be expected.
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Does your clothing express your style? More and more- but I also dress for what my life is now- running around doing errands in the snow in heels and a dress would be silly . I would like practical style.
Does your home express your style? Not everywhere, but it's okay. I have a husband and our styles are not similar at all. I can't just decorate to please myself.

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Breath
Do you consider your home comfortable? mostly. I would like a more comfortable sofa- but not until the dog is gone and the kid is a bit older.
Do you sleep well at night? Yes. Well, as good as I can. I am a very light sleeper and am always aware of noises- even wind, rain, stuff like that....
Is your apartment organized? Yes, it is fairly well organized. There just is a lot of it
Is it easy to clean and declutter? Sometimes. It's harder due to the kid, dog, husband etc....
Bones
Do you consider your home to be in good shape? Better now that the drainfield is fixed for sure!!.
Is everything in good working order?
Mostly- I have a shower faucet issue right now.
,

Do you take care of repairs quickly? Depends how much it costs to fix.
Do you clean your home often? Depends on what's going on in my life. Yes, I do a tidy every night. Dishes every other day or so. Laundry every other day. Bathrooms, floors etc every couple of days. It's not bad- I think I'm cleaner than 60% of the US, and that really is good enough for me. I just need to pick up my craft stuff better. 1) because I tend to leave it out until the piece is finished, 2) because most of it is pretty dangerous and I need to make sure it's out of the boys reach.

It's time to play catch up!

I brought my Dad home today from the hospital. It's been 11 days. He had a double bypass and everything is going well. That plavix stuff really messes with you though-they normally don't do surgery until after you are off it for at least 7 days, but my Dad's artery was a mere thread compared to what it should have been so they did the open heart at 5 days. My Mom has been staying with me for the past week and we have been driving back and forth everyday. I am so glad it's done. I love my Mom, but she just had to go home.

The septic and drain field are done!!!!!! Finished, inspected -the whole works- and on time and UNDER budget-( 1700$ less than we had thought) I can wash whenever and what ever I want- and flushing is no longer a luxury! YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This week I am going to Chicago- shopping, relaxing, museum going. A trip to Ikea probably. I can't wait. Anything to keep my mind off the current financial and political crisis.

oh- and the best news yet- another 8lb weight loss for me!

That's my wrap up. I will have a better post soon- I promise.

Did she just WINK at me????

This was the best woman he could find to run with him for vice president???? She couldn't answer any of the questions so she just made up her own- she just basically read from cue cards- spoke in generalities and rambled on to nowhere. That is, when she wasn't just giving the standard politicians stump speech. And the wink- what the hell was that??? Here's what I thought - "Did she just wink at me like she was America's cocktail waitress?" I swear if she were southern she would be trying to insert "kiss my grits" into her stump speeches. That little cute act won't work on me sweetie. I happen to want an intelligent, well read, thoughtful adult in the white house.

On a personal note- my Dad is going in for double (or triple- they aren't sure yet) bypass surgery on Monday. When they went in Wed. for a stent they realized it was much worse. He's been in the hospital all this week while they ween him from Plavix so they can operate. Please think about him and put him in your prayers-I'll have more later.