Here's that grand ol' Moral Superiority for you.
From the New York Daily News:
With thousands of Republicans set to invade the city this summer, high-priced escorts and strippers are preparing for one grand old party.
Agencies are flying in extra call girls from around the globe to meet the expected demand during the Aug. 30-Sept. 2 gathering at Madison Square Garden.
"We have girls from London, Seattle, California, all coming in for that week," said a madam at a Manhattan escort service. "It's the week everyone wants to work."
"It's going to be big," agreed one operator at a midtown escort service.
Megan and I spent a lovely week at Art Camp last week. We painted with brushes, cars, and fingers. We played with Playdough and cookie cutters. We sang songs and played in the park and had a lovely week. In the fall we'll take a art class by the same teacher but only once a week.
Saw Michael Moore's latest film, and I was fairly blown away. Not because he presented anything i didn't already know or suspect, but that it was so well put together. Sure he has a bias and that is felt in his narration, but for large parts of the film, he lets clips of politicians, armed forces, and Iraqi civilian's speak for themselves. Draw your own conclusions.
I know a great many conservative people will say its a liberal propaganda piece, but I dare them to actually see it first, then say what ever they want about it. Sit in a theater and watch as a mother of a downed US soldier stands in front of the white house deals with the loss of her son. Acknowledge that the soldiers that we are sending to fight in this and every war are making hugh sacrifices. That the majority of soldiers do come from the lowest income brackets.
This movie didn't change my mind about anything, I'm a democrat and very proud of that fact (even more so now). But it did strengthen my resolve to do everything in my power to get Bush out of office.
The New York Times 1000 best movies list is out. The pretentious lot have missed some great flicks. Of the 1000 listed I've seen 216 (maybe a handful more - I just don't remember). This is what I did this evening, while watching the bad Ellen Barkin movie "Mercy."
Our first vegetable of the season. A 1.5 foot long Cucumber
It's 3 am and I can't sleep. I got up to watch tv but am instead mindlessly surfing. The trouble is a popping sensation I've been having in my lower left side of my belly. So of course I've been doing the "diagnosis" myself route on the internet. I think I'm just going to have to call tomorrow and make an appointment with my dr to check it out.
If anyone has any ideas what it could be let me know - Its not painful, and while it feels like gas bubbles popping, I don't seem to actually have gas. It seems to almost always be there, but I really feel it more when I relax and am not thinking about anything else.
Gonna try to get some sleep now, Nothing but news and infomercials seem to be on right now.
I've been an avid reader of Loobylu for a few months now, She's funny and artistic and going through new motherhood pretty much at the same time I am. From some links on her blog I found a two other blogs I'm going to add to my list of recurring reads.
Autopsy ReportLog of experiences as a Medical Examiner Intern - he hasn't blogged in a while, but I'm sure back reading will be interesting.
Margeret Cho's BlogIf you don't know her, she's a sassy, Chinese American Comedian. One of my all time favorite people to listen to.
Motherhood is the most incredible experience of my life. The most fulfilling job I've ever taken on. But there is an aspect that I never expected and really could do with out. It's the whole "oh yuck what's in my mouth, let me spit it out and hand it to Mom thing. " today I received a half chewed grape and some veggie sausage.
I'm perfectly fine with diapers and illness, but I've always had a aversion to spit and the half chewed spit out food thing just takes my aversion to a whole new level. :)
I booked flights for Megan and myself to SC and then onto Florida for July and Aug. I was originally quoted a fare of 800 for both of us. Our credit card bill came today and we were charged 2100. When I called the airline they put me on hold for 20 mins then they agreed to give us a travel voucher for 1300. They couldn't credit us back the money because "they were non-refundable tickets"
So were getting back the money but we have to travel with it in the next year and on the same airline! I feel so duped, but I have nothing on paper just my word that the original price was 800.
Megan is currently enjoying a long 3 hour nap, after such a busy week, I had to take a nap myself. We entertained 3 times this week. Tuesday night was poker night, Wednesday Susanne and her little one Stefan came over after Little Gym for lunch and then we all played in the back yard with the sprinkler, and then Thursday I hosted a baby-shower for the first mom in our playgroup to do it again (already there are 2 more in the works). I think fun was had by all.
We've also had some confirmation that it is a White Tailed Kite in our backyard (actually a family of them) from one of the mom's in our playgroup who has taken a bird ID class with her work.
This quote kind of hit me today - probably because I've been monitoring the proceedings over on Jack's Blog
"The most outrageous lies that can be invented will find believers if a person only tells them with all his might." Mark Twain.
These guys are not the easiest to photograph, but the project sure is alot of fun.
Eureka!
I noticed this bird on the bird identification card I have, after watching it a bit more I'm convinced that this is the bird in our yard.
Megan and I were just out playing in the sprinkler and I noticed the bird flying in and out of its nest. Its alot more active during the day than night. In the evening its been pretty active so we thought it was an owl, but now I'm thinking its a falcon. Its mostly white, with some grey and black on the tips of its wings. I still haven't gotten a good look at its face. Any ideas?
Today is Jack and my 12th anniversary. Its been a good 12 years. I'm married to the most compassionate, intelligent and loving person I've ever known. I count myself fortunate that Jack not only found me 12 years ago, but still wants to be with me today. I love you Jack, thank you for 12 wonderful years, I'm looking forward to many many more.
To celebrate, Megan is going to spend the day with our friends Pam, Yvonne and Josephine and we are going to have brunch at Lark Creek Cafe in Walnut Creek. We decided our A/C for the house is our gift to ourselves, and though it hasn't been really hot since we had it installed, its been nice just knowing its there.
Something big has nested in our eucalyptus tree. Not sure what type of bird it is. Jack had found a dead mouse in the yard a week ago, and about a month ago Sadie "caught" half a squirrel. Yesterday some creature was squawking up in the tree, which made us notice the nest. I tried to get a look at one of the birds after Megan went down last night, and it may be an owl, because it went off to hunt at sundown. We'll try to take some pictures and figure out what is up there.
Its been so hard loosing Ripley. Harder than I imagined it would be, mainly because I was so unprepared for it. No warning, she just went down hill so fast. No time to accept that it was happening. Even while she was dying I still expected her to get up and leave the room with us. Now a couple of weeks later, I look for her and expect to find her. On the sofa sunday night while we were watching "Sopranos", I left room for her by Mel and sat on one of the side chairs, until I realized she wasn't there and I could moved to the more comfortable sofa.
Even though her ashes are on the mantel and I haven't heard the click click click of her paws in the hall, I still felt like she's going to be coming home soon, like she just out digging up mole holes.
Last night Jack was out and I went to bed alone in bed for the first time since Face died, and Sadie refused to cuddle for more than her usual 2 mins while hyperventilating, and t just really hit me that Silly Face is gone. Anyone who has suffered a loss knows what we are going through, you start to forget they are gone and the remember and then feel the loss fresh again.
After my mom died I kept picking up the phone to call her and tell her some little thing, and then I'd realize, sometime when dad would answer and sometimes before I even dialed the number. It's hard accepting those we love are gone. But we're better for having known and love them.
"During the administration of William Jefferson Clinton, the U.S. enjoyed more peace and economic well being than at any time in its history. He was the first Democratic president since Franklin D. Roosevelt to win a second term. He could point to the lowest unemployment rate in modern times, the lowest inflation in 30 years, the highest home ownership in the country's history, dropping crime rates in many places, and reduced welfare roles. He proposed the first balanced budget in decades and achieved a budget surplus. As part of a plan to celebrate the millennium in 2000, Clinton called for a great national initiative to end racial discrimination. "
From www.Whitehouse.gov
This latest Harry Potter movie is the best so far, and really keeps the magic of the books going. Its only a little choppy in parts unlike its predecessors. It makes me eager for the next installment. Gary Olman is an excellent pick for Sirus Black, and I loved Emma Thompson as the Divination teacher. Alan Rickman was his usual excellent self, but his character in this book was neglected. Looking forward to more of him in the coming movies.
I recommend it to fans of the books -- even you who don't like sticky floors and crowds. The movie is good and seeing it in the big screen is worth the minor discomfort of going to a theater.
