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January 31, 2006
Ducks
If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's probably not really a Democrat.
They needed 60 votes to end debate on Judge Alito. They had all the Republicans (53- two were absent). So if the rest of the ELECTED DEMOCRATIC SENATORS voted HOW THE PEOPLE ELECTED THEM TO VOTE, there would be no Judge Alito. At least not today.
I've sent emails to them (contacts below) and also contacted the DSCC (202-224-2447) and the DNC (http://www.democrats.org/page/s/contact) to express my concern about ANY of them receiving any more money that the DEMOCRATIC party has raised, when they are not voting as Democrats. I also contacted my own two Senators to express how I feel.
Here are the 18 Senators' contact pages or email addresses. I suck with calling, so email is easier, but they all can be reached at 888-355-3588 or 888-818-6641. And hey, if you are Republican, you can contact them to say thanks.
* Daniel Kahikina Akaka (HI)- senator@akaka.senate.gov
* Max Baucus (MT)- baucus.senate.gov/contact/emailForm.cfm?subj=issue
* Jeff Bingaman (NM)- senator_bingaman@bingaman.senate.gov
* Robert C. Byrd (WV)- byrd.senate.gov/byrd_email.html
* Maria Cantwell (WA)- cantwell.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm
* Tom Carper (DE)- carper.senate.gov/aemail.htm
*Byron L. Dorgan (ND)- senator@dorgan.senate.gov
* David K. Inouye (HI)- inouye.senate.gov/abtform.html
* Tim Johnson (SD)- johnson.senate.gov/emailform.cfm
* Herb Kohl (WI)- kohl.senate.gov/gen_contact.html
* Mary L. Landrieu (LA)- landrieu.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm
* Joe Lieberman (CT)- Joe doesn't take letters from anyone outside of Connecticut, so I made sure to use his name personally when I contacted the DSCC and DNC.
* Blanche Lincoln (AR)- billnelson.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm
* Benjamin E. Nelson (NE)- .senate.gov/contact/email.cfm
* Mark Pryor (AR)- rockefeller.senate.gov/services/email.cfm
* Ken Salazar (CO)- salazar.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm
Posted by Debbie at 08:35 AM | Comments (0)
January 25, 2006
One funny then sick
So first the funny. It's only funny if you are not Signa, though. She was quite the monster at dinner- being pouty and bratty and not eating. So Marc got her down and said, No dessert. As is the rule in our house. She went over to the tv and just sat their pouting.
Marc got his ice cream and brought it to the couch. She worked her way over so that she was NEAR him, but not NEXT TO him and pouted closely, while slyly watching him through her peripheral vision. Her eyes were all the way to the side of her head and her lip was in prominent pouting position and I thought I was going to die of (mean) laughter.
Now to tell you that we've all had a nasty cold/flu thing. It's the worst sick that Signa has ever been and I can't remember ever feeling this horrid. It hit fast and hard, but luckily is nearly gone now. Ick.
I am sure I have more to write about, but I needed to jot the dessert story down before I long forgot it.
Posted by Debbie at 07:14 PM | Comments (0)
January 18, 2006
Things I Heard
At the dinner table last night:
"I need to tell you something, Guys."
"Okay, Signa. What is it?" I felt forboding feeling like you would when your boss says that. Are we closing up shop? Having a mass layoff? What?
"I love you, Guys." And a big smile at each of us.
What a great boss we have.
This morning while getting ready for work:
"You're going to be Batman, I'm going to be Robin, Momma's going to be the Joker and Will will be Penguin."
"For Halloween?"
"Yes. And you could make a Batmobile for me! Out of cardboard! With wheels!"
Tall orders. Even for Dad.
Oh, and she also wants the Ramones action figures now, too. Her "work-'em-for-it" line is now, "I will share [whatever] with the new baby. We can share [whatever]."
Posted by Debbie at 04:10 PM | Comments (4)
January 13, 2006
Television
Just a couple of quick observations about television.
1. Marc noted, "Doesn't she ever change her clothes?" about Melanie, the Sprout channel's spokesperson.
2. There is a commercial for Ruby Tuesdays that drives me bonkers. The first 200 times I saw it, I was merely annoyed. Now I just hate them and see Ruby Red whenever it comes on. This man is having a great time at the bar with his buddies when he hears a familiar laugh. He looks over and sees his wife. He goes over and, clearly trying to make her feel awful, says, "Where are the kids?"
Like she'd leave them home alone? Why does he ask this? Does she have a history of ditching the kids and going out to (Oh my GOD!) EAT with her girlfriends?!?! SHE wasn't the one sitting at the bar. And if he's so darned worried about his children, why is he out drinking and not home playing with them? Doesn't she deserve to be out as much as he does? She answers that the children are with her mom (a much nicer answer than I would have given, sorry Marc- "Locked in their rooms with knives and guns, why?")
And then he says, "Okay.." but you can tell it's not. Does he think she's following him? Having too much fun? What? Then they look over and see Grandma and the kids also eating there. Does he go over and give a guilt trip to Grandma, too? I know I don't have all the details, but unless there is a lot of really bad history with this family behind the scenes, this is a stupid, annoying commercial.
If this were Marc and me, first of all, we'd both know exactly what the other was doing. Second, if Gramma unexpectedly came by and could babysit, we'd be trying to reach each other frantically so that we could meet up and have fun together. Or at least call each other so that we knew where we were. But these people are just too weird and I think I hate them for all the unanswered questions it leaves. And I hate him for being such a weenie.
And it's made worse because we don't even have these restaurants here so why does the commercial show every 1.2 seconds on every channel?
That's all I have today. Note below- December pictures are up.
Posted by Debbie at 12:28 PM | Comments (2)
December Pictures
Are up. Visit them here:
www.mascotmanor.org/Pictures/dec05/index.htm
Email me at:
debbie (at) mascotmanor (dot) org
if you need a username and password
Posted by Debbie at 07:13 AM | Comments (0)
January 10, 2006
Straight or Curly?
Signa's comfort thing is elbows. I have to put my arm straight out as straight as I can get it. Then she takes her little hand and pinches it and massages it until she is relaxed or asleep. If I have it at all bent, she says, "NO! Straight elbows, not curly elbows!" And I must straighten or pay the consequences. She does this before bed or when she's tired or just needing some comfort. And it's very difficult to fall asleep with your arm all straightened out stiff.
Last night I was just too beat. I joined the local moms' and the meeting went until 9pm last night. Ugh. Anyway, I was too tired to give Signa elbows and I tried to go to sleep and make her do the same. But then I had this conversation and it was just too cute to withhold elbows.
Signa: Momma, I have elbows?
Me: No, Signa. I'm just too tired tonight. I just want to go to sleep on my side.
Signa: But Momma! You don't want to be late with giving me my elbows!!!
So she had her elbows.
Posted by Debbie at 10:12 AM | Comments (0)
January 09, 2006
I've Fallen and I Can't Get Up
Signa and I were lying in bed watching FoodTV (she likes Emeril) and a commercial came on for the LifeAlert thing ("I've fallen and I can't get up" necklace that sends help). When it was over, Signa said, "I get one of those button necklaces?" I laughed and explained that those are mostly for old people. She answered, "Daddy's old," as if it explained why we should have one.
Her playing has really (to quote Emeril) been kicked up a notch. She is into imagination play now, which is relatively new. We have tea parties with her (get this- a GIRL thing!) Hello Kitty tiny tea set (sometimes it's actually with dolls- but usually it's monsters or Godzillas, but still- a GIRL THING!). And yesterday she put on her very first show for Marc and I. A puppet show conducted behind her sofa with her arms (and head) sticking up holding a mouse puppet and a kangaroo puppet. She grinned her oh-no-I'm-the-center-of-attention-happy-grin and then froze and said, "I can't remember the words." But it was still an adorable puppet show. They are going to practice today and do a new show tonight
Signa has also graduated to the teen years. I asked her to put something in the garbage and she stomped her foot, frowned and said in a snotty, whiny voice, "It's not my job!"
In William news, he is blipping around inside so diligently. I can count on him to move if I: 1) eat sweets; 2) sit near Signa; 3) lie on my back. Every. Single. Time. It's how I now do my "I hope he's okay" check. It's funny, though, because with Signa, I felt her more on the OUTSIDE with my hands, but with Will, I feel him on the inside and holding my tummy with my hands barely registers his movement.
He also seems to really enjoy setting up shop right under my left second-to-the-bottom rib. It's permanently bruised and every once in awhile, he kicks it or hits it or head-bashes it or something and I nearly yell. But for the most part, he seems much less violent (so far) than Signa was in-utero.
Oh, and many have asked what my due date is for William. May 5 is the official date.
Posted by Debbie at 09:48 AM | Comments (0)
January 05, 2006
Product Comparison
Nabisco Wheat Thins- $3.98
Safeway Brand Thin Wheats- $1.99
Wanna know the difference? It's not taste. The Safeway cheapo crackers taste just like Wheat Thins. It's the breakability. All it takes is one nasty look and Safeway Brand Thin Wheats shatter into 8.3 kajillion pieces. Good luck to you if you planned on using cream cheese on them.
Posted by Debbie at 03:13 PM | Comments (0)
Seymore
This morning, Signa was particularly cute. She first called Gramma on her pretend phone to tell her about all her toys. Then she was playing with her new spider. Aunt Gin sent her this plastic spider in a plastic dome. When you pull a string, a magnet makes the spider "crawl" around the inside of the dome. Signa is in love with her "pet spider, Seymore."
So this morning she asked Marc to write down Seymore's name on a piece of paper. Because she wanted to show Seymore what his name looks like. Oh, also, did you know that "spiders don't have thumbs" and that "spiders have exoskeletons"? Signa does.
And yesterday during the day, Signa told Marc, "When I was a baby in Momma's tummy, I used to have boobies." Marc asked why she had boobies and she answered (like he was stupid), "Because I was thirsty."
In other news, Baby Will is apparently doing just fine in there. Growing and doing great. I'm feeling awful still some days, but others are okay, so it's better than it used to be. I got to hear his heartbeat again at yesterday's doctor appointment. That's my favorite sound in the world.
Posted by Debbie at 03:02 PM | Comments (1)