I am NOT political

I am helping my friend with a political fundraiser. He, Jeremiah Chiappelli, is actually the husband of a friend and a friend by proxy. Anyway, he is running for Delegate of District 31 in Maryland and is a Democrat. My tendencies are more Democrat than Republican, if I had to say, but I am open minded and think more about the state of the world at the minute and listen to what the candidates plan to do. I say, "plan" because political promises are like pie crust promises (as Mary Poppins says, "Easily made, easily broken").
I am helping Jeremiah because he is a good man and his plans seem to follow my vision of how things would work best in our community. He is also my friend and I have a skill set that he and his wife needed to plan a fundraiser. Anyway, we are currently at the point in the game plan that requires us to get people to buy tickets and donate prizes for the silent auction. To say that I am tempted to buy items for the auction is an indication of how much I loathe asking people to give to a political campaign. People who are in politics are built differently than me. Yesterday, I was trapped in a 15 minute one-sided conversation with a strong-opinioned Republican who believes that all of the evil that happens in the world is a direct result of Democrats. Okay, maybe it wasn't that bad but he blamed the Democrats for putting all of his neighboring businesses out of business. Umm, do you think it could be the recession that the country was already headed toward before we had a Democratic President? I don't want to get into it here but I don't think the fault of world happenings is the fault of one party or the other.
Things happen because PEOPLE, (who have been elected by US) put into motion, plans that they BELIEVE will be what is best for...whomever. Maybe they do it because someone gave them lots of pretty things and they feel obligated to do what the pretty-things-people want. Maybe they do it because they have a lot of wealthy friends and they themselves are wealthy and they want to make them happy and be happy and still wealthy. Maybe still, they grew up poor and want to do something for that sector. Finally, maybe; just maybe, they are doing it because they really think that their actions are building a better world for our children - enter Jeremiah Chiappelli. Either way, there is a limited term for many of the political offices to prevent one persons' views (and friends) to influence things beyond the point of no return.
There are cycles and ebbs and flows. We can't always have a bull market just as we won't always have a bear market. Taxes will always go up as spending does. This particular shop owner believed that the spending needs to be curbed. Who can disagree with that? When your budget gets tight, you don't start by getting another job, you start by cutting the fat around your house - at least that is what is recommended. You get rid of a cell phone, cable tv, the dog skips the groomers and you bathe her yourself, etc.
I am glad that I don't have to work on these things for the general public. I always avoided the job of payroll after my first experience resulted in near-weekly threats and disgruntled employees...that is a story for another time. When you are in a position to mess with people's money, you might as well be prepared to piss some folks off. The fuller our wallets are, the happier we are and the more we "approve" of our elected officials. Sadly, it takes a lot longer to see the results of budget changes in the world of the government than it does in our own house. It is also a lot easier to tell a teenager that they don't have a cell phone than it is to tell a government official that they have lost their funding...talk about kicking and screaming!
At any rate, I know the title of this is, "I am NOT political". I also know that the message itself sounds much like I am political. The truth is, I know how impossible it is to please the masses and I know how hard it is to change minds and attitudes. I don't want to try to do either and; therefore, I am NOT cut out for this...

Julie and Julia

I am sick in bed - again - and Chris took the day off work to watch after the boys so I could rest. BLESS HIM! He went out and picked up a couple of requested DVDs and I just watched Julie and Julia, the movie about a 30 year old woman who had lost her mo-jo and decided to cook her way through Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking cookbook and blog about it. She gave herself a deadline of one year and there were over 500 recipes to get through. It was somewhat inspiring and it reignited my love for my blog. I do want to do "something". I don't know what it may be but it surely isn't going to be something that will deplete the grocery budget, demand so much time in the kitchen, or further threaten my waiste line. I guess everyone finds their inspiration from something, perhaps mine will be a physical makeover that I can finally finish. I really would love to lose that last 15.

Early Intervention

We had our parent interview with the speech pathologist with the MD Infants and Toddler's program on Friday morning at 7:30am. Yes, it was early but I was really glad that Chris could be here and hear everything that she said, help answer the questions, ask his own questions, and experience the process instead of hearing about it from me. She was here for an hour and said that it was right for us to have called because her initial impression is that Rhys is delayed by at least 25% in his verbal communication. He has his evaluation next Thursday morning at 8:00am and Cole will be breakfasting and riding to school with a friend that day (shout out to Lawrie - THANKS!) so Chris will be able to participate in that part of the process too. After that, we will have a speech therapist come to our house to give us instruction on how to help him regularly and they will have therapy sessions with him as well. Before long, we will be asking him to be quiet!

Seeing past the end of my nose

When Mr. Banks stood up to his boss, he accused him of not being able to see past the end of his nose. I appreciate that sentiment since I sometimes fall into the trap of forgetting that there is a wide world outside of my own that is far more important than little old me. I am trying not to be wrapped up with my own life so much these days and reflect more on my place among all of the other people in the world. I have been trying to explain to Cole about where the sun goes when it isn't shining here and today I said, "The sun doesn't always shine on us." Immediately I saw the bigger meaning in the statement and I am happy to say that presently, the sun is shining on me - figuratively speaking. I am painfully aware that there will be days in my life that are bleak and it will be important for me to realize at those times that the sun will be shining on me again.
Right now, I am prayerful and concerned for those in Haiti who have lost family, homes, lives, and livelihoods in the devastating earthquake. Surely things are bleak for them. I also think of my friends, Dave and Lisa and their baby, Bodie, who are starting to see the light at the end of their tunnel. Bodie's surgery was successful and he is currently recovering in the NICU. On the other end of the spectrum, I am reading passed-along copies of People magazine (shout out to Heather - thanks!) and gaze upon the glitz and glamour of the high society folks and sometimes envy the good fortune and great fortune in their lives. It is a departure from my reality and the only thing that I am envious of are their bodies - obviously - and their money. Otherwise, I couldn't imagine a different life where I would be more content or happy.
I can certainly live without the money, I have all of my life so there is nothing new there. I can even live without their perfectly toned bodies. The paparazzi aren't following me around anyway. So, right now, I am really happy. The Beatles had it right - All you need is love. The sun is truly shining in my life and I will enjoy it as long as it continues to shine. I only hope that those who are seeing only cloudy skies have their day in the sun again soon.

walking a mile

I have a friend who is spending today, along with countless others all over the world, fasting and praying for successful open heart surgery on her newborn baby that will take place tomorrow. Their faith is so strong and, although she and her husband practice different religions (she is Mormon and he is Catholic) they attend mass and church every week and have friends, family, and loved ones of different nationalities and religious beliefs praying for their son all over the world. She is maintaining a blog to help keep everyone informed and she made an entry that included some of the places where his name has been included for prayer and I was moved by the sheer number of people who are thinking of this family during this very stressful time. They are feeling the love and strength and faith of everyone around them. I can only imagine the warmth that they get from that experience but I can also imagine the terror of the what-if and worst case scenario that could potentially play out for them tomorrow. I have no desire to walk a mile in their shoes but having two children of my own, I can easily imagine their pain, stress, and worry. I will be adding myself to the list of people praying for Bodie Piantanida throughout the day today and all day tomorrow. Bodie, Lisa, and David...my prayers are with you too.

A wobbly start

As per the trend, I am doing a really rotten job of jump starting 2010. Rhys doesn't recognize a calendar and thinks that it is already okay for him to act like a terrible two year old. I really thought we would have a few more months. Unfortunately for me, he has a strong will and a mind of his own. As a pillar of society and a corporate mogul, these skills will be priceless. As a toddler, they are just a pain in his mommy's neck. This paired with the endless questions and expectations from Cole make for a challenge in every simple task. We were all ready to go this morning to have some fun with friends at a skating rink where toddlers are welcome to ride their own cars and push toys around for $3. We got all ready to head out the door, coats and all, when I realized that Chris had my car key.
Overreaction is a word I would use to explain how I behaved immediately after learning this. I probably had what can be described as an adult temper tantrum. I shouted on the phone into Chris' ear. I was mad at the situation and frustrated with being stranded and disappointed and frustrated again when I had to explain this to Cole and disappoint him. We decided to take a stroll and roll up our street in spite of the 22 degree temperature. I was hot enough for all of us, I think. While the children toddled and played in the yard, I packed away the outdoor Christmas decorations and then packed away all of the remaining bobbles and garland that had landed in the dining room.
I really want to tackle the cupboards, closets, and cabinets this week tossing out surplus and outdated items. I will feel less cluttered and more organized if I know what I have and what we need. I expect to donate and toss a lot of things. I don't think I will consign much. I just am not sure I want to deal with it. I do know that I can start holding on to some baby things for my neice or nephew in utero. I am excited about knowing where our used things are going and that I will help contribute to their stash of baby things given that they thought they were done.
SO, Cole is back to school tomorrow and I believe I will focus on the dining room while he is away for a few hours (after the gym, of course). I believe I will rearrange things a bit and clear out some. Hopefully I can take on one room at a time and get through it all by the end of the week. Once the house is clear and clean, I will have a much better outlook on things.

New Decade Musings

I wanted to give 2010 a huge jump-start by establishing some resolutions and making some subtle but positive changes in my life and general outlook. I felt a little derailed because any diet or fitness commitments had to wait until I got back from SC. It just was too much to expect my extended family to watch the boys while I braved frigid temperatures to exercise - which I wasn't exactly jazzed to do - and I wasn't going to buy special food for myself or ask menu changes to be made to reflect my newly adopted diet lifestyle.
So, here I am on the 10th of the month having just returned from the gym to make up for the beers that I am about to drink while I sit on the couch and watch football. Surprisingly, less tv and less beer are also on the list for the new year. I expect this all is going to shake out after we do get back into a routine. Right now, the house is a mess - holiday decorations and empty boxes are still laying about and who can start on the new year when we are still cleaning up from the last one?
Anyway, I do plan on simplifying things and regaining control of other things. The bottom line is to trim the fat - on myself and in my wallet, clear out excess crap from my home, and use my talents and resources to bring more income into the house.

Best moment lately: Saying this will make all sympathy for me disappear but I have to give credit to my two little men and dog. Yesterday, I pulled them from warm beds at 4am to drive 8 hours and only stop once. They didn't complain, they sat, watched a DVD, ate snacks, and waited patiently for the car to ultimately land at home where Daddy was waiting and ready to empty the car, manage the crazy children and dog. We had a great trip and now I am getting geared up to manage what will be a wildly successful fundraiser, and embark on my own journey into the 20-teens. Let's roll!