Elephants and Donkeys

It's interesting how voters come out of the woodwork every four years to get their ballots in. I must confess...I can be one of those bandwagon voters. I usually am too wrapped up in life to pay very close attention to Washington politics. However, I have turned out for the occasional local and stateside elections for important ballot measures and bonds. Maybe it's the onslaught of political ads and endless mudslinging that pulls people out of their stupor. Who knows? I think it's a good thing when we exercise our right to vote and try not to take it for granted. We are indeed lucky to have such a basic right and a small say in how our government is run, whether we get our way or not...our voices can still be heard.

I am the penultimate fencewalker. It's not that I vote whichever way the wind blows, but rather I like to weigh both sides of an issue or a candidate. Call me thorough, call me picky, call me indecisive, as all are probably true (depending on the choices at hand). Another irony in my life is that I am surrounded by people from such diverse backgrounds and belief systems. My parents are pretty laid back and liberal-minded for the most part. My grandparents were always very conservative and oh don't ever get my grandma started on Clinton. My husband and best friend are both very open-minded and fall into the Democratic camp. Some of our closest family friends and even my childcare provider are steadfast Republicans with strong faiths. With all of this diversity, I feel that I've acquired a balanced perspective when it comes to politics. Maybe that is why I consider myself an Independent at heart.

So how do I make a decision about who ought to be our next President of the United States? Believe me when I tell you that I've listened to convincing arguments for and against both nominees. McCain has the experience, independent judgment, and kanunas to lead this country. There is no doubt in my mind that he could do the job. His military background certainly qualify him to understand this war like nobody's business. His age, crusty demeanor, association with Bush, and a major disconnect from a large part of the population are definite drawbacks for him. Palin could make or break his campaign. His wife is also not very likeable.

Obama has a charming presence, is a gifted orator, has the political expertise (if limited), and has a definite vision for this country. After years of a Bush administration, Obama represents what a lot of people are looking for, including a timetable to bring this war to an end. He is also smart enough to surround himself with knowledgeable advisors. No one man has all the answers. I have to add that I really like how down to earth Michelle Obama is. He also has those connections with some unsavory characters (to what extent is still in question) and has some scary tax ideas. Perhaps the most unfortunate coincidence Obama has faced in this election process has been been his association (in name only) with Osama Bin Laden (ne the Obama Biden ticket). Not necessarily a good reason to rule him out, but some people have. I have to compliment both men though for refusing to play the race or gender card as no one wants to win in such a manner. I'm sure they want to win this election on their own merit.

What makes me happy me most excited about this year is that I don't feel that either nominee is a bad choice. I think both would do a kick a little Washingto arse. That may an opinion in the minority, but that's the beauty of this country, we agree to disagree and still toast our glasses to democracy. I will not reveal here who my vote will be going to as I am still not 100% committed to my choice. While I am leaning one one direction more than the other, I plan to sit down this weekend to fill out my mail-in ballot when I can focus all my energies on it. Tuesday night will be one for the record books, either way.

Palin's Picks

For all the mudslinging this election has brought about, there are the occasional bright spots that make you smile. I completely came across this link by accident and had to share. Whatever your opinion of vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin may be, she has a knack for choosing unique names for her children. Her offspring bear the names Track, Trig, Bristol, Willow, and Piper. I'm not so sure about the first three, but the last to I actually like a lot. Anyhow, someone (with apparently an interesting sense of humor and a lot of time on their hands) created the Sarah Palin Baby Name Generator at http://politsk.blogspot.com/2008/09/sarah_13.html. If I were her daughter, my name would be Seagull Junker. For a good laugh and that new name you always wanted, give it a try and see what moniker she would bestow upon you. =)

Just say no...

I was watching TV tonight and caught a snippet of a VH-1 special on the drug culture through the years. I happen to see the part that reflected on the Reagan Administration's war on drugs. Nancy Reagan made her mark when she spearheaded her "Just Say No" anti-drug campaign. I gotta tell ya, I have never forgotten that one. Remember those some of those catchy slogans that have permeated our culture and taught us some life lessons along the way? I'm not necessarily talking about the "Where's the beef?" kind, I'm referring to some of the more meaningful ones that stick with you. I mean the ones that remind you to make healthy choices, to do the right thing and live your life to the fullest. It's interesting how many of these PSAs have become a part of our vernacular. See how many of the following you remember and what each one is about...

"Give a hoot, don't pollute!"

"Only you can prevent forest fires."

"Just do it."

"Got milk?"

"This is your brain. This is your brain on drugs. Any questions?"

"A mind is a terrible thing to waste."

"Take a bite outta crime."

"Friends don't let friends drive drunk."

"The toughest job you'll ever love."

"Using it won't kill you. Not using it might."

"You could learn a lot from a dummy."

"Looking for a few good men."

Friday Night Frights

Okay, maybe it's because Halloween is coming soon or maybe it's just because DH has a sadistic streak and likes to make me watch horror films. We winding down for the night and DH was flipping stations until he stopped on The Ring. I was content with watching What Women Want with Mel Gibson, but nooooooo...he has to freak me out with psychotic little girls crawling out of television sets and killing people. I love a good scary movie as much as the next one, but this one in particular gives me the willies. The kicker here is as we were watching crazy girl about to do her thing. As I glance over to our darkened doorway, I see my own little girl staring back at me with her long brown hair hanging in her face. I literally jump. If you haven't seen The Ring, go read the summary at imdb first. If you have already, you can imagine the irony of the timing of K coming out for an innocent drink of water. As sweet as K looks, even she looks a little freaky in the dark with her tangled locks resembling Samara.

As the movie progresses, DH decides to go downstairs to do something. Next thing I know the phone is rings once (it's after 10pm mind you). I am sure it's DH trying to scare me. He of course says he just went to get his phone. A little while later the phone rings again with him right beside me. I am certain he's got his cell on him and he's still trying to f* around with me. He gives me this "oh sh*t" look and says he doesn't have his phone. We both stay put and just let it ring. This is why I am selective in the horror films I watch. I like to sleep peacefully, not fitfully lost in nightmares.

How about them apples?!

Well, our trip to the apple orchard/pumpkin patch did not unfold quite the way we had planned. This annual family outing is perhaps the one we all look forward to the most. DH is not much of a holiday person, but October is one month he truly loves. He loves the autumn colors and crisp air as do I. He's a Halloween freak and really gets into the spirit of things, not so much around Christmastime...which is my favorite season. So anyway, we had planned on setting out early on Saturday morning to beat some of the crowds. Well, our little angel decided she was going to be naughty. She was given several chances to correct her behavior and unfortunately she kept sneaking around and not following directions.

DH felt that it would be rewarding her naughty behavior if we took her to the pumpkin patch. I really wanted to find an alternative punishment so we could go as a family. We thought okay, we'll postpone the trip until Sunday to give her a second chance. I guess she didn't get it and continued to break the rules. DH had enough and he ultimately convinced me that he was right. He stayed home with her and so just N and I went mid Saturday afternoon.

When N and I got to Oregon Heritage Farms we realized that once again we hit their fundraising weekend. The positive thing about this is that all proceeds benefit a local high school's ski team and there's lots to do and eat. The downside is that everything is more expensive and crowded. We always forget about the date, but we just go with it and enjoy ourselves. Some years we time it right, but not this year. So N and I decided to pick out our pumpkin first thing. I should preface this by saying that this farm is primarily an apple orchard business, but has a pumpkin patch as an additional bonus. Anyway, we spent about 5-10 minutes looking around at the different sizes and ultimately found one that was just right. It cost about $7, but was well worth it.

Not sure if it's the homey atmosphere or the honeycrisps, but there is just something about this place that we love. They are a fully operational apple farm, complete with packaging and processing plant, country store, and more. They produce several products in addition to just selling apples. They are open from late August through early November. Autumn is their busiest time due to the harvest. They grow a variety of apples that range from the popular McIntosh and Granny Smiths to the specialties like Honeycrisps and Gravensteins...but I digress.

So anyway, we found our pumpkin and carried it back to the car and then went to eat some lunch. It was after 2pm already, so we were hungry. We each gobbled up our hot dogs and went exploring. N enjoyed the mini farm animal zoo (pigs and sheep only). You can't pet them, but your can ooh and aah to your heart's content. N got really excited when he saw the hay maze. I let him wind around in there for a bit until he got enough of that. Then wanted to go into the covered spooky maze. I realized that one was going to cost and sadly had to say no to that. I wasn't kidding when I said everything costs more on this particular weekend. Usually it's free to do all the extra activities so we have to pick and choose carefully on this one.

Anyhow, he quickly forgot his disappointment when he saw the tractor/trailer return for the hayride. We boarded and realized this wasn't going to be your average hayride. For the next 45 minutes (actually it was longer) the tractor broke down every 20-30 feet. The tour guides did their best to entertain us, but even they couldn't keep it up (they were high school volunteers).

Several people got off and walked back. N and I kept ourselves happy by taking lots of silly pictures and visiting with the other passengers. We tried to stick it out as long as we could, but ended up getting off ourselves. I thought it was a rare opportunity to tour the apple orchard on foot, something they ususally don't allow. We had a good time on the way back and took more pictures.

We were feeling a little tired at that point and both needed a bathroom break. I checked the time and knew we needed to get going soon. Inside the little country store, we bought a bag of honeycrisp apples. If you have never had one of these juicy babies, you are missing out! I am not heavily into apples, but this particular kind is a real treat. Normally, we buy cider, apple potpourri, and some homemade jellies. Things have been a little tight, so we had to forgo the extras. N helped me fill up a big bag of honeycrisps and that was that. On our way out of the store, N spotted the huge apple bouncy house and just had to get his ya-yas out inside there. Then to cap off our trip, we shared a delicious carmel apple on a stick. All it all, it was a wonderful afternoon spent with my son, but just wasn't the same without DH and K. There's always next year I guess.

Nicky with our pumpkin.

Nicky and I in the pumpkin patch.

Nicky exploring the haymaze.

What a view from the owner's house!

These look so good!

How about them apples?!

On our way back through the orchard.

Thank for a great day! We'll be back next year!

You've Got That "Nagging' Feeling

I have been experiencing an interesting tug at my heartstrings in recent months. This feeling has haunted me ever since I first became a mother, but it has become more persistant as of late. This past summer was truly awesome because the kids and I really got to enjoy our time together. I took a cue from some a passage I once read that spoke of "making memories" with your family. This could take the form of an extragant trip somewhere abroad or could simply be a trip to your local pumpkin patch. It could also be something like volunteering everyday at your kids' school or just baking cookies with your little girl on a Saturday morning. The point is, the time we spend with our children is precious and limited, so we have to take every moment we can with them and cherish that time. The feeling I've been speaking of is the desire to be with my kids more.

I would love to be a SAHM, but it hasn't been financially possible up to this point. We accumulated too much debt and that was our own fault. DH has always understood this desire, but we both have agreed that we really want to move out of our townhome and into a stand alone house with a backyard for the kids. We also agreed before we got married that we wanted to travel with the kids as much as we could. I have learned that it is definitely a tradeoff. I realize that being at home isn't easy peasy, but you get to be with your children more often and that makes it all worthwhile. That's why summertime is so special to us.


As a WOHM, I know that I have managed to balance things the best I can and shouldn't feel guilty for it. However, that can be easier said than done. I was just chatting with a good friend of mine this afternoon (who also happens to be a SAHM). She was sharing her sacrifices and the benefits of her choice. I spoke of how I would ideally love to work part time and also stay home. It would be the best of both worlds. I became a teacher for many reasons. Among those reasons were 1) I love kids 2) help my own kids with their work 3) better benefits and pay than nonprofit social work-my old line of work 4) vacations with my children. That last reason was a big plus for me. My kids and I have come to really look forward to our time together in the summer and I try to make the most of it by taking them to do lots of different activities and adventures. My home is cleaner, meals are better, and we are all much more relaxed (especially me).

I suffer from a bit of depression every September when I have to return to work as it is a major transition for us all. It's almost like summer dangles the carrot of a SAHM's life and than snatches it away. I realize that neither side of the coin is a walk in the park. Each choice comes with its share of hardships and rewards. This nagging feeling to be home more has been aggravated by reading other mommy blogs. I find that I can briefly peer into the window of another family to catch a glimpse of how green the grass is on the other side. I admire and envy many of the moms out there in blogland. You are truly blessed. Those of you who homeschool are especially fortunate and brave for taking on such an endeavor. DH likes the kids being in a regular school. As a teacher, it would be feasible for me to do this and I think I could do a good job, but would be a monetary sacrifice we (or dare I say DH) aren't ready to make. Wow, after rereading that last sentence it hits home even more when I put that way. Grrrrrrrr (aimed at myself, excuse the venting here).

We enjoy our outings and aim to begin traveling out-of-state more often in the coming year. DH and I like to think that this will be the best gift we can give our kids. We are not materialistic in the sense that we think the kids have to have the best of everything (far from it). We just want to give them life experiences and exposure to new place and cultures with us as their guides. We make a concerted effort to do this on a smaller scale as well. I will likely continue to feel guilty and wish I could stay home more, but also have to keep reminding myself that being a working mom has its perks too. I must admit that my students often become my extended family and mean a great deal to me. So there you have it...my conundrum. Maybe someday soon DH will score a new, better paying job that will enable me to find that perfect PT position so I can be with my two monkeys and my students as well.

8 is more than enough

Over the last week, N has had a wonderful birthday. He didn't just get to celebrate it once, he got to enjoy little activities throughout the week. On the Saturday before his birthday, his Grandma Jeanne and I took N and K to Borders, where they were hosting a children's literacy event. Since his Auntie Shelley sent him a gift card for $25, we thought it would be great chance for him to use it. The event wasn't quite as festive as they had made it out to be, but it was still fun. He got to color and join in a candy walk. Mostly he looked at books he wanted to buy. I am so glad that both of my kids inherited a love for reading and can spend hours in the library and book store. My mom tells me to this day that while they couldn't always give me all the toys I wanted, they never denied me a new book. Trips to Waldenbooks was a favorite treat as a child...but I digress.

On Sunday morning, hubby woke up early to make blueberry pancakes and sausage for his birthday breakfast. He always does that for all of us on our birthdays and puts a candle to blow out. We had a lazy day and let the kids watch a movie of his choice. On Monday (his actual birthday), he had to go to school. It was also picture day, so he was dressed up. Later that afternoon, I left work a little early to come home. N showed me another whole in his grin and the case that held his most recent lost tooth. To top off his day, we had a yummy dinner of his choice and let him open up a gift sent by his Grandpa Gordon. Grandpa G sent him two Star Wars Transformer toys that he loved. I let N choose a couple of books that I read aloud at bedtime and we sang some songs (it had been awhile). N went to bed saying he'd had a great day in which he got his picture taken, lost a tooth, and got cool toys. In his mind, it was a grand time.

When the next Saturday finally arrived, I went into a cleaning frenzy to get the house in order for his birthday party. We weren't hosting anything major, but still wanted it to look nice for everyone (house needed it anyway). Some close friends and Grandma Jeanne came over. We enjoyed some good snacky foods and tacos for dinner. I had baked a cake with the help of K the night before. N had selected a devil chocolate with chocolate frosting mix. We sang happy birthday and he opened all of his giffies (not necessarily in that order). Grandma Jeanne left early and the rest of us enjoyed hanging out. We put on a tape of Jon and Kate Plus 8 as all the kids LOVE that show (as do Rosie and I). All in all, N had a blast and is officially 8 years old. My baby is growing up too fast.