So I voted today. Surprisingly, for the first time I voted Straight Democratic ticket. I usually try to pick the best person for the job, this time it just seemed a lot easier. For the first time ever, I was not 100% for either candidate. I am always more Democrat than I am Republican, I always vote against Bush, I loved Al Gore. This time though... I'm not saying that I was pro-McCain, goodness no. But I am by no means 100% comfortable with Obama. There's just something uneasy about him. But I will say this: I made history today. And so did you if you voted for Obama. Today, for the first time in history, the United States has chosen a president who is not a middle-aged white man. Barack Obama has become the first of 43 men to be different. And what does that say about this country? We have elected a President who over 100 years ago could have been born into slavery (or at least servitude with a white mother,) who over 50 years ago would have had to sit at the back of the bus, drink from a different water fountain and attend a different school. In World War I & II, Obama could have enlisted but he would have had to serve in a segregated unit. This is an amazing day if for no other reason than that we have changed the history of our country. From this day forward, race will no longer have an impact on our politics. We could soon have a Hispanic- or Asian-American president. This is amazing, this is the first step. Soon, gender will not matter either.
I hope that President-elect Obama keeps his promises. I hope that the changes he wants to make can be accomplished and that he can make America a better place for all of us. I wish him well; I wish him good health, and I wish him luck. For John McCain, I also wish good health; but I also wish that he keeps his promises about bipartisan dealing. I think he could continue to be an influential and important part of the future of our country.
So... God Bless America and Good Bless our President.
November 4, 2008
He's growing up!
My favorite picture ever! 9/28/08 He is just gorgeous!
Weston attended his first wedding October 25th! Shannon's BFF Dee Ralston married her long-time love, Eric Dickerson. It was an awesome wedding! To check out the amazing video, click here: http://mediainnovationsblog.com/2008/10/27/deanna-eric-highlights/
This is the best wedding video I have ever seen and it's just the preview!
Our family in front of the church!
He looks almost 3 years instead of 3 months old!
Scott and I dancing our only dance.
Shannon and I fooling around. Shannon was a bridesmaid and she made all of the bridal party jewelry! Isn't she amazing?
Weston with Eric. There's a great pick of him with the bride, but it's still on my camera. Oops.
Weston and I enjoying our first dance! He's got more rhythm than Scott and I put together.a tribute...
I'm going to be MIA this week. Scott's step dad, Hugo, passed away early Sunday morning. Hugo had been fighting a weakened heart for many years now, but it's still a big loss for Scott's mom, Lila. We were able to go to Cherokee last Thursday through Saturday night to spend some time with Hugo and to say our good-byes.
Hugo lived 82 years and had a very full life. From what I have heard, it took a heart attack 40+ years ago for him to truly appreciate his family, but once he saw the light he became a wonderful father and grandfather. Hugo was there for Scott and I whenever we needed him. I will admit that for the first 2 years of my relationship with Hugo, he was a little "touchy-feely." Everyone knew about it, and we laughed about it. About 3 years ago, Hugo became too weak to do much of anything, but his persistence and perseverance to live his life as he chose was a great inspiration. I was looking for pictures of Hugo last night and became aware that I didn't have a single picture of Weston with "Grandpa Hugo." I about cried. It still makes me sad. Weston has been held by Hugo every time we went to Cherokee. Hugo looked forward to Weston's birth just as much as Lila did. This was the only Grandpa that Weston would have on Scott's side, and we have no proof of them together. It's the most upsetting part of this.
I know that Hugo went onto a better place where his body could finally keep up with his spirit. We're very sorry to see him go, but we're also very relieved that he is finally free of the pain his body caused him.
We will be in Cherokee Tuesday evening through Sunday morning, with a brief Friday in Sioux City for West's first hockey game (planned before all this.) Thank you for your thoughts.
Hugo lived 82 years and had a very full life. From what I have heard, it took a heart attack 40+ years ago for him to truly appreciate his family, but once he saw the light he became a wonderful father and grandfather. Hugo was there for Scott and I whenever we needed him. I will admit that for the first 2 years of my relationship with Hugo, he was a little "touchy-feely." Everyone knew about it, and we laughed about it. About 3 years ago, Hugo became too weak to do much of anything, but his persistence and perseverance to live his life as he chose was a great inspiration. I was looking for pictures of Hugo last night and became aware that I didn't have a single picture of Weston with "Grandpa Hugo." I about cried. It still makes me sad. Weston has been held by Hugo every time we went to Cherokee. Hugo looked forward to Weston's birth just as much as Lila did. This was the only Grandpa that Weston would have on Scott's side, and we have no proof of them together. It's the most upsetting part of this.
I know that Hugo went onto a better place where his body could finally keep up with his spirit. We're very sorry to see him go, but we're also very relieved that he is finally free of the pain his body caused him.
We will be in Cherokee Tuesday evening through Sunday morning, with a brief Friday in Sioux City for West's first hockey game (planned before all this.) Thank you for your thoughts.
October 24, 2008
Twisted Fairy Tales
Still on a reading kick...
I love Fairy Tales. I think that they are the building blocks for society.
But, I also love the Twisted Tale... it's the fairy tale told in a different manner, either in the opposite direction or from a different point of view. Or from different source materials. Everyone in the reading community has heard of Gregory Maguire, and if you haven't, then you've heard of his most famous work... Wicked. Basically the more in depth story of the Wizard of Oz from the Witch's point of view. I love this book. I want to see the Broadway show, I am loving that marching bands have been acting out this book/play for over three years now. Any time a book can take the world by storm like this, it encourages reading. And I love that.
Gregory Maguire has taken on other fairy tales too... Snow White, Cinderella, etc. You just have to look for them. He has also written a sequel to Wicked - Son of a Witch, which is amazing.
So, I was obviously more excited than surprised when I read on the South Side Confidential blog this morning that Maguire had written a third book in the Wicked series. A Lion Among Men is brand new and available (I hope) to move into my house as soon as possible. It is obviously written from the point of view of the Cowardly Lion (real name? Brrr.) Check it out.
Red Rover, Red Rover, send a good book right over!
Anyone who has known me for any given amount of time (even the early years) knows how much I love to read. I am voracious with books. And I hate to part with a good book, it's the main reason that I don't go to the library. Sad, I know. You can always tell when I am really poor and really desperate for a new read... I'm at the library and not Target or Half Price Books.
I was so excited when Scott and I started dating (over 6 years ago!) and I spotted a book on his bedside table. First thought, "He reads!!!" Next thought, "He reads a lot!!!" (It was a series book.) Scott and I talk about books a lot. I've read his, he reads mine. I'm a speed reader who can read, watch tv, and talk to people at the same time (which drives him nuts.) He's a slow reader who mutters the book out loud (which drives me insane!) Scott and I have been reading to Weston since before he was even born. We started his library when I was 6 months pregnant with Scott reading to him all the time. I'm sure Weston loved it, since he always kicked when Scott was reading. Weston's library is growing too. He got 6 books as gifts from friends and family. He got knight-head bookend banks from our friend Traci just the other day. He's well on his way too!
Along the same line of thinking... if you haven't heard, I loves Weston's daycare. They are wonderful, brilliant and by far the best a mother could hope for. Weston and all the other kids are so happy there and I can see the progress each other them makes daily. So obviously, Kris and Todd read to the kids every day. But, they also have someone come into once a month to read to the kids. A program called Red Rover comes into their home and reads a few books to the kids every month. Sometimes she drops off bags of library books for the kids to enjoy until she comes back. Red Rover is a group effort by Scholastic Books (where I just bought Weston his first shipment!!!), local public libraries and Children's Services. It's a wonderful program, and if I didn't need more money to live on, I would so totally do it as a career. Get this - they also leave one book for each child to take home to build their library! Very exciting!
I was so excited when Scott and I started dating (over 6 years ago!) and I spotted a book on his bedside table. First thought, "He reads!!!" Next thought, "He reads a lot!!!" (It was a series book.) Scott and I talk about books a lot. I've read his, he reads mine. I'm a speed reader who can read, watch tv, and talk to people at the same time (which drives him nuts.) He's a slow reader who mutters the book out loud (which drives me insane!) Scott and I have been reading to Weston since before he was even born. We started his library when I was 6 months pregnant with Scott reading to him all the time. I'm sure Weston loved it, since he always kicked when Scott was reading. Weston's library is growing too. He got 6 books as gifts from friends and family. He got knight-head bookend banks from our friend Traci just the other day. He's well on his way too!
Along the same line of thinking... if you haven't heard, I loves Weston's daycare. They are wonderful, brilliant and by far the best a mother could hope for. Weston and all the other kids are so happy there and I can see the progress each other them makes daily. So obviously, Kris and Todd read to the kids every day. But, they also have someone come into once a month to read to the kids. A program called Red Rover comes into their home and reads a few books to the kids every month. Sometimes she drops off bags of library books for the kids to enjoy until she comes back. Red Rover is a group effort by Scholastic Books (where I just bought Weston his first shipment!!!), local public libraries and Children's Services. It's a wonderful program, and if I didn't need more money to live on, I would so totally do it as a career. Get this - they also leave one book for each child to take home to build their library! Very exciting!
October 23, 2008
PORK
When the political humdingers... or Republicans, talk about "PORK" are they referencing Iowa? Or is this something completely different? No one I ask seems to know. And honestly, every time I hear the word "Pork" coming from a Republican mouth, I think I feel a little offended.Can anyone help me out? What's "PORK" other than "the other white meat?"
ANSWER:
Ok... so after asking almost everyone, and not finding any answers, I went to the one person that would know. I went to Onthank's owner and Super-Republican, David Fisher. And I honestly think he was very excited to answer my question! So... here is the answer for "PORK."
PORK is a political term used by both parties and all independents to describe a popular practice in government. Everyone does it, some better than others. David made it sound like PORK was an acronym for something, but couldn't think of it.
PORK is the art of "You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours." Better explained by, if I were and Iowa Senator in session and the Alabama Senator had a bill in Congress asking for $50 million to build a dam in Alabama, I would tell the Alabama Senator that I would give my vote to his $50 million Bill if his Bill gave me $500,000 for the museum I want to build in Des Moines. Basically filling his Bill with my stuff to get it all passed.
Thanks, David!!!
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