Good morning! Aahh..... Sunday morning. My favorite. A typical Sunday morning involves terrific coffee, special breakfast (still special, even though I get to cook it) and sitting with the love of my life watching Meet the Press and Chris Matthews. Can it get better?
I talked to a friend of mine last week about some political stuff, exactly what I don't recall right now, but it's irrelevant anyway because it isn't the reason for this comment. The comment is that I saw a segment on Chris Matthews or MTP (Meet the Press) that related to her issue. She cringed - visibly - when I mentioned their comments, which I thought was a weird reaction. She explained that she avoids all of 'those shows' because all they do is argue. What an interesting comment.... I suppose that I hadn't considered that before, but since she said it I decided that her reason for not liking those shows is precisely the reason that I appreciate them. I certainly don't like argueing but I don't think that they do. I see it as a free exchange of opinions, typically differing opinions, with no resolution - just banter. I pick and choose through their comments, secretly thinking to myself that their opinion has no basis in fact, or that their opinion is a point of view that I hadn't seen and is now my personal point of view. I have used - as a method of deciding issues - to listen to all of the information available and choose one way or the other. There are occasions, the economic bailout (the topic on MTP right now) for instance, where every time I hear more information, typically because it twists and turns every time I hear it, I get more irritated. Perhaps because of my extensive accounting background I 'get it' more than most.
I wish I could just ramble on here about how irritated I am at this guy being interviewed right now, and I'm not irritated because he's on TV, or because he's not smart (he appears to be), or because he seems to be bickering with David Gregory (which is just silly). He irritates me for the same reason that most politicians irritate me. He subscirbes to the theory in this country that if you just tell people what you want them to believe they will believe it and ignore what they actually can see. And the people buy it! He was one contradiction after another. He was confronted with all of the issues and just twisted and turned and got out of the 'choke hold' that he was in, changed the subject, went on to something else, and the subject was supposed to change. That's why I love MTP, because Tim wouldn't give up on a question. After Tim died, David has taken over as moderator and perhaps doesn't know how far he can go. They are questioning right now about the governor of IL, who has some 'issues' and it reminded me of the interview I watched two weeks ago when the Senator being interviewed, when asked if they would welcome the new senator appointed by the aforementioned governor, said 'No, we don't want him here.' then went on to say the really surprising thing, which was 'Listen, this is our choice, we (the senate) decide who sits on the senate, and we don't want him here' (Certainly not a quote, but pretty close). Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but don't the people choose thier senators? Hhmmm.... Food for thought.
If any of you want to discuss politics, let me know, otherwise its on to another subject!
I totally relate to poor Crystal and J at the gym. The only things that I can tell you is that this poor embarrassing person has no friends. If she had friends, they wouldn't let her out of the house. Remember when you were a kid and your mom asked you the dreaded question "You're not going out in that, are you?" Well, clearly this woman has no mom living with her, but at some point her friends take over that job. I'm sure that Crystal has, on occasion, asked Joe, "are you wearing that?". Just feel bad for her, because she lacks that critical component of a sane life - the checks and balances of wardrobe.
I chuckled when I read the 'sunbeam' comments too, because I got accused of being half Norwegian and half Siamese for years! I would sit in the sunbeams and you could almost hear the purring. My favorite chair sat in the sunbeams, staring out on the mountains, and the cat would be on my lap and the dogs at my feet. Life was good. It reminds me of when Crystal and Tadd were little, and Crystal's cat 'Susie' would lay on the carpet, in the sunbeam, and would somehow, mysteriously, always be in the sunbeam. I think she slithered, so slowly that you couldn't see it, to stay in the beams. Crystal would lay on the floor and just watch her to see if she could see how she did it. If Crystal and Tadd, and now Dane, inherit that love of sunbeams, it will make them happy. It sure did me. When I first moved in here, I thought I was living with a bunch of bats. All of the window coverings were always closed. No windows were opened - ever. Doors only opened when needed. Weird. I used to go up to Morgan's room and, at noon, it looked like a tomb. Depressing. Needless to say things changed. I am very much solar powered and don't even fight that. Sometimes I will just sit for a few minutes in the car when it's been baking in the sun for a while. Aahhh........
OK, change thoughts here. Now MTP is discussing the upcoming inauguration, which I am anxious to watch. I talked to Crystal about the televised inauguration and she said that they wouldn't watch it. Weird,..... why in the world wouldn't you watch it? This is definitely on the list of the most important 'occasions' in our lifetime. Here's why.... Deb told me this one, and she probably didn't even realize how significant it was when she said (or maybe she did....). She said that Dan was choosing Obama, because it was empowering to think that somebody from his background (no silver spoon, single parent, not the best schools, etc) could become president, so could he. I've heard that several times since, from varying sources. He is empowering inner-city kids to 'be something' and giving kids from every background the reason to try a little harder. I think it's pretty cool. I'll be watching as 'one of us' becomes the most powerful person on the planet, the leader of the free world. Maybe even cooler than when Condi became the most powerful woman in the world. Yeah, I dig it.
Anyway, back to MTP. They are discussing the advancements that this country has gone through, especially with the MLK holiday upon us, and how amazing it is that we are willing to elect a black man to the highest office. I disagree. I don't seek tolerance with respect to this topic, but instead seek a change of attitude. Rather than thinking that we have come so far that we will put somebody of color into that office, almost as though to prove a point "See...., we're not racist any more..." I would much prefer the idea that the American people have come so far that they will choose the right person for the office - with no regard for anything other than their qualifications. It irritates me that somebody would be seen as inferior or superior because of their tan. My tan changes with the seasons, and I know other northern European decendents with better tans with our incoming Prez (store-bought tans, no doubt) and they are not considered different (weird maybe, but not 'colored'). I guess I take it personal because, as a woman, I've had to deal with being considered 'different' my whole adult life. In our lifetime, if a woman is intelligent, well-read, outspoken and assertive, she is considered a bitch, or at the very least arrogant and unacceptable, whereas a man would be powerful and destined for higher office. I want the days of "Yeah, she's pretty smart ..... for a woman." to be over. I want them to go to the same place that "Wow, he's pretty well-spoken and intelligent .... for a colored man." goes to. Crystal, J, Anne, Laura, all of your friends of that same age group, help me with this one. Deb and I have little chance of living in a world where those statements are not heard. In the 50 years that we have left, the public thought will probably not evolve that far. Your children though, can be taught differently. Never give up, I think it's worth it.
Now, back to Chris Matthews. This one goes so fast I have to leave you here. I have more to say though - which is why I haven't blogged in a while. I knew I'd get finger-cramps! lol
Here's the proud mama and her
I waited a long time for little miss sleepy head to wake up for pictures!
Auntie Amanda didn't want to wait, she'll take a sleeping baby too!
Back to little sleepy princess again
and look who woke up! Crystal was just getting ready to feed her before she and Joe went to a barbeque (Joe missed all the pictures today, he was out working in the yard with a power washer so I didn't want to get wet. 
Here is Uncle Dane holding his new niece. He's a good Uncle, even if he will make her irritable and mean.....lol.....
Lots of people came to greet Austin into the world, but as all of the moms reading this will attest, the baby doesn't just show up, there's a lot of pain between now and then. THis is the fun part. Soon-to-be dad, Joe, being a dork and using the bed well.....
This is Adam, Dane and Tadd playing with Morgan on the floor.
This is right after they got done working on Crystal, and Joe gave baby Austin back to her. Not her best picture maybe, but possibly her best moment..... :-)
... and before everybody left for the evening, one parting shot with the doctor, Crystal, and Joe. I tried to get baby Austin in the picture, but through clenched teeth, Crystal said "just take the *^#@ picture....." I think someody was a bit exhausted??? 
Quite an evening.......
