My Liberal Pie Hole

The Only Way to Make My PC Go Faster is to Throw it Out the Window.

2006-09-24T15:41:00.000-07:00

I don’t know exactly how I function in this generation considering how computer illiterate I am. Don’t get me wrong, I know how to down load, attach, email, spreadsheet, and office with the best of them, but when it comes to the functioning aspects of a computer, I am the Chrissie Snow of the technical world: I just hope that I can get techies to help me using my “jiggle humor”. Recently, our computer at home had been on strike. I do not know what I did to offend it, but it was no longer working. However, it was sadistic enough to turn on and taunt me into thinking it had been a fluke each time it had crashed before. But then nothing. It would freeze then crash. I am surprised it didn’t turn its own speakers on and give it to me with sound effects. I can hear it now, ghastly screams of children being tortured mixed with car crashing noises. I was convinced: our home PC was the devil and it must be destroyed. As my friend Meegan has said, (and I so often steal) “if it worked, it wouldn’t be a computer.” No home PC, no internet. No internet, no blogging. I cannot be blogging at work and expect to retain employment. Especially with my political views. My feelings about the current administration are defiantly at odds with most of upper management.

So I told my hairier half about the issue. It took a few weeks of pleading to get him to really look at the computer (he has become immune to the afore-mentioned “jiggle humor” and sometimes takes a while to do what I ask of him). He is much more technical than me, so it took a whopping 30 seconds out of his day to fix the damn thing. He “defragged” it. Or what ever the hell that is. I really don’t care. Nor do I feel the need to know. To me, computers, machinery, large pieces of steel are not beautiful. I love food, art and books. I simply do not have the drive to learn more than I absolutely have to about technology. I know, I am living with my head in the sand. But realize this: in the coming generation, there will be less and less of us with degrees in art history and English. There will be less of us to pass on the beauty and culture we have as humans. We will all be plugged into these damn boxes typing for 18 hours a day, no longer creating or living, just existing. (and before you ask, YES, I did catch part of the Matrix on TV this morning).

Why do so few of us know anything about what is going on in the world? Why do so few of us do anything about what we see that is wrong, (and you are DAMN right; I AM talking about the current president and his collection of lackeys). I’ll tell you why. We have been brain washed by lack luster coverage by the “liberal” media, video games, Hollywood, the Faux-Fox News, and all the other crap that has been crammed down our throats while we are being distracted from activities like reading, discussing, voting and thinking for ourselves. I am just as to blame. Most of what I do is listen to Air America, and rant to the nothingness of the internet. At least I vote.

So, if I am falling behind, or find that my skills are a bit rusty the next time I enter the job market, so be it. I still think that I a more complete and fulfilling life than the loser in the next cube who couldn’t tell you if Bernini was a composer or a painter, or last year’s Secretary of Defense.

So there.

Corn Dogs and Taffy!!!!!

2006-09-22T12:18:00.000-07:00

Events for the coming weekend:

Tonight: pick the dog up from the vet and fork over a week’s pay (not joking about the cost. I would tell you how much, but then you would feel so badly that I make so little that you would send me donations, and I am not here to solicit your money).

Saturday morning: run on the treadmill then get all the unwanted hair ripped from my body. No one said making yourself pretty is a pleasant experience.

Saturday night: Puyallup Fair with hubby and dad. It is the Washington state fair, and an eating good time! I have to be careful; I do not want to put on all that weight again! But I do love a Krusty Pup. Mmmm!

Sunday: recover from the eating good time the night before by another trip to the treadmill, then football all day. I just love the fall!

What about everyone else?

***special note to Jack: you get the prize for being the first one to notice I am here again. How you doing? What is going on? I guess I could just read your blog, huh? I am so happy to be writing again.

Let me know when we need to throw our names in for the Democrat Presidential Primary. Who could resist the Green-Beer ticket????

Hello? Is this thing on????

2006-09-21T12:33:00.000-07:00

Well, dear reader (I am convinced that there is only one of you) after many months of not writing, I am back. Where have I been? Let’s just say that the last 8 months have sucked unprecedented amounts of ass. There has been on heartbreak after another, and most of my life has been a trial. Do you have those days where you just think that god is fucking with you? Well, imagine it every day for weeks on end. I don’t want to get into the details; I would like to get passed them.

So, I am back. Did we all vote in the primaries? Here in Washington, you had to pick a party for the primary (but not in the actual elections this coming November). I see why we have to do this, yet I don’t know if I agree with it. I will have to wait and see. Hopefully, we will have a new majority leader in Congress in less than 2 months (Madam Clinton, you have the floor!). I think it is an attainable position of power for Hillary. I think it holds more sway than the presidency. It would give her enough leverage to bitch slap down some of the dumber things W has been able to get by with in the last few years. Maybe, just maybe someone will be able to hold him and all his little minions accountable. Someday.

Like a good little liberal, I go to bed every night and pray to the forces that drive the universe “Dear God, please send us someone elect-able with a spouse who keeps their trap shut. And please, God, PLEASE, don’t let us fuck this one up too!”

Well, back to the grindstone. My work phone is ringing, and this is an important call. . .
Talk to you all soon!

Kathi with and “I”, Dr. & Mrs. T, please skip this post.

2006-02-05T20:02:00.000-08:00

I mean really. Stop reading right now.

You will not like it.

You have been warned.

Ok, to the rest of you, my wax girl has won the battle. I did the whole enchilada.

That is right: the Brazilian.

Now, my up-brining should keep me from sharing this with you. But my philanthropical nature tells me to share my experience with you.

Yes, it hurt like hell, but not as badly as I thought. And it was worth it. I love it. I won’t get into the details of why, but it has nothing to do with why members of the other sex would love it. It is AWESOME!!!!!!!

If you have the inkling, or have been leaning in that direction and were not sure whether to take plunge, I am here to tell you to do it. I am sorry I waited so long.

I am sorry if that was a bit much, but in the day and age where you can catch Sex and the City in syndication on TBS, I should be able to tell you that I waxed my beeve.

That is not the way I wanted to win

2006-02-05T19:30:00.000-08:00

It was wrong. It should have been clean. Chalk it up to human error, or the ref’s preference for an old school east coast dynasty; but it was wrong. They were unfair to the Hawks. I am mad for my local team, and I am mad for the Steelers not having a clean win. It robs Bettis of the honor he deserved when the win is tainted. It robs the Steelers of the pride of winning the ultimate game. There will always be a shadow over this win. The refs were wrong. They stripped us of the chance of winning fairly.

Shame on the Refs.

So, (mostly to Jack and FINY) what do you think? What did you take away from the game?

A Mixed Marriage

2006-02-05T08:26:00.000-08:00

I have little time so I am gonna make this simple: I am an avowed Steelers fan living near Seattle. My husband has been a Seahawk fan his entire life. Today is the big day. If you had told me at the beginning of the season we would meet in the Super Bowl, I would have laughed in your face!
The sad thing is, part of me really wishes I could root for the hawks. But I can’t. I will be pulling for my men in black and yellow. However, if the Hawks win, I will have a ton of regional pride that the local team went the distance.
7 hours to go!

My Beloved.

2006-02-01T11:25:00.000-08:00

I had to put my cat Porkchop down last night. It was very tough, and I am not ready to talk about it.

It was the right thing to do.

I feel empty.

The Battle for Control

2006-01-25T12:35:00.000-08:00

I hate cholesterol.
I am beginning to hate Cheerios, too. Right now I want a French dip with a side salad. But I am eating cheerios.

I hate cheerios.

And shit! I cannot think of one thing to make for dinner. Except maybe oatmeal.

Looks like chicken and brown rice with veggies.

I still hate my cheerios.

I have high cholesterol?!?!?!

2006-01-19T08:53:00.000-08:00

But I am only 27!

So, I got the letter from my doctor. It said I have to avoid egg yokes, dairy and red meat.

Steak shouldn’t be hard, but pork is my favorite! NO FAIR!
Egg yokes? Do you realize how many things they put egg yokes in? Pasta, just to name one! This means I can’t even eat lemon bars, omelets, eggs benedict, hollandaise, and a lot of other foods I love.

And dairy? Are you kidding me? Dairy? Cheese? Cottage cheese? Butter? Yogurt? Ice cream? Sour cream? DID I MENTION CHEESE????

I am in hell.

The soundtrack in my head

2006-01-11T08:26:00.000-08:00

Well, right now I am singing to myself
“……… Start spreadin’ the news. I’m leavin’ today! I’m gonn-a be a part of it, New York, New York………”

And then it flips to
“….. New York, New York, it’s a wonderful town. The Bronx is up and the battery’s
down. People travel in a hole in the ground…..”

To
“…. N –Y-C! just got here this morning! 3 bucks, 2 bags, one me!
N-Y-C! I give you fair warning! You’re big, you’re bold! Too late! I’m sold! On good old N-Y-C...”

To (the big finale)

“….. Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya, tomorrow! You’re only a daaaaaaay aaaaaaaa
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYY!!!....”

Can you tell I am just a wee bit excited???

I will see you tomorrow, Meegan!!!!!! (Let’s hope my luggage does, too.)

What is that smell?

2006-01-06T14:32:00.000-08:00

Weird beard smells putrid today! This is the first time I have ever been in an enclosed space with him. It wasn’t BO. It was a combo of the smell of his breath and the rank of dirty sweaty frat house sheets that haven’t been changed in months! Ugh, I bet that was coming from his shirt! I bet he doesn’t wash it! It was like millions of dead skin cells rotting on cotton!

Gross, it was so sour, that I can still taste it in the back of my mouth where my nose meets my tongue.

Seriously, do not be surprised if I get sick.

Time to clock back in.

2006-01-03T12:15:00.000-08:00

Sorry it has been so long guys! Mostly, this blog started as an extra way to communicate with my friend Meegan, (not that I don’t love all my new blog friends, too). Well, Meegan was in town, and when she is over at my home, or I am camped out at her parents, blogging falls to the wayside.

Don’t worry, I am here! Christmas was fine, and I received gifts to help me with my upcoming trip to NYC: spending $$$ and a new digital camera. (Yes, Lisa, this means you will finally see pics of my home).

Eva (my future legal council) was here with her boyfriend, Sam. They came up from San Diego to spend the holiday with her family. Wild times were had at the local beer hall.

I had been so tired from all the running around that I didn’t even stay up to ring in the New Year. Chris and I hit the sack at about 11 PM. (Meegan and I are notorious for having lame New Year’s Eves) Well, the motor heads that live behind us were kind enough to light off some cherry bombs and other fireworks to wake my ass up right at midnight. It was nice, though. All in one room was my family: Chris, Porkchop and Maggie (husband, cat and dog, respectively). I knew then how lucky I was and what a great year it would be.

Then next morning, Angie moved out of our guest room and into her new rental house. It is very cute and will be perfect for her and her dog, Romeo. There is a large backyard where she will be building him an agility course. The exercise will do him good.

As you can see, not much to say. I am thrilled my radio host is back from HOLIDAY vacation. I am sure she will have something that sets me off soon, as I hear that a certain lobbyist (Abramoff) has entered into a plea bargain. Hahahahah! I hope he sings like a bird!!! Rat on all his dirty little republican friends. Not that he has much of a role model. I mean, if the president can break the law, why can’t a little lobbyist? Just a thought to ponder.

Hope you all had a great holiday season! Tell me how it went!

to the No Names who trawl my space:

2005-12-22T09:04:00.000-08:00

I see you Dr. & Mrs. T! I know you are there! Quietly sitting there, wondering what I have to say about things! And yet no comment from the peanut gallery (Mrs. T, this is not directed to you, but to your house ogre who likes to fall asleep on the kitchen couch after dinner)!

Dear readers (and Dr. T.), I have discovered that Meegan’s parents are reading my blog. They asked me just last night how Weird Beard is doing (he has backed off) and Emilie’s car jacking (still pending). Who needs to stop by for a cup of coffee and catching up when we now have blogs to do that for us.

While I am flattered that they do drop in, I am a little sad that I no longer chat with them (and by “them” I mean Mrs. T.) in person.

When my mother was an adult in her 20’s and 30’s, her mother (my Nonna) was the favorite mom who developed real relationships with my mom’s best friends. Nonna and my “aunt” Peggy could sit for hours and talk with each other, not needing my mother in the room. I feel that Mrs. T is that person for me. I love talking with her, and I like to drop by and talk to when I can have her to myself. (As she is originally southern, she is very embarrassed at this moment that she is the subject of my writing). I got a good hour and a half to myself with Mrs. T last night on the way to pick up Meegan, which was great. We talked about everything from families to politics. I love talking to her. She is a wealth of experience and knowledge. She doesn’t expect me to be an obedient daughter, and I do not expect her to be motherly. In fact, she has come into some wild oats lately. The racy postcard she sent to me recently from Florence made me blush. After the shock wore off, I was so proud of her.

Ok, Mrs. T, stop being modest and say hello to our friends.

Is that clicking I hear?

2005-12-19T12:39:00.000-08:00

Well, we all knew he was slime. We all knew he was despicable, wicked, shameful, vile and loathsome.

But this is disgraceful. The prez is tapping our phones without any legal justification.

And he is mad at the “liberal” press? Just how liberal are they? The New York Times sat on the story for a year! How is that a liberal media?

He calls it “shameful”. Well, since he is on my phone, he is on my internet, too. If you all don’t mind, I would like to address the President:

“No sir, you are shameful. How dare you erode what this country was built on. 229 years of history, a democracy that was never perfect, but always strove to be better, and you demolish this in four short years. You are the reason we are in harms way. You are the reason Iraq is now full of terrorists. You are the reason people now loose not only sleep at night, but loved ones in an unlawful act of aggression for oil! Shame on you, Mr. President.”

the blah, blah, blahs

2005-12-19T11:44:00.000-08:00

I am in a major funk. This time of year is the hardest. There is too much to do, and not enough time to do it. It leaves me frazzled with no time for my treadmill. I know, there should be no excuse when it comes to my health, but I am just worn out.

The catch 22 is that I would feel much better emotionally if I got my ass on that treadmill and ran all my stress out. I need to make time for it. It is my personal Prozac. I was going to run this morning, but when the alarm went off at 5 something, I was not having it. My body needed sleep. I would love to take a day this week and catch up on all my shit, but the boss is gone for 2 weeks, and that leaves me in charge. EEK! Talk about another stress factor!

So, I have only half of my shopping done, I am quickly running out of money to shop with, and I am short on time.

So, how are the rest of you coping?

what the F*CK is that supposed to mean?

2005-12-16T08:12:00.000-08:00

Well, it has been over a week since I last posted. I have been so swamped at work and busy with Christmas, that I have had no time or brain power to dedicate to the blog. But something did happen this morning:

Last night I got a hair cut, which I think is very flattering. My stylist was excited (she and I are friends, so I don’t get any false praise, trust me) and then I had dinner with my family, and they loved it. Especially my husband.

I get to work this morning, and a coworker looks at me and says “what happened to your hair?”

So I tell her “I got it cut”

And she replies “oh, well, turn around and let me see it”

So I do.

“Oh, I guess I see it.”

See what? What the style is supposed to be? I know this is a girl thing, but if you do not like what someone has done with their hair, make up, outfit, etc., keep it to yourself! I did not ask for her opinion. I did not care about her opinion, until she spouted off. Now, I am wondering if all my coworkers think my hair is ugly.

She came back for round 2 and the conversation went the same way, only this time she asked if I was wearing makeup too. I wear makeup every day.

Some times I think people just look for ways to be mean.

The winter of my discontent

2005-12-08T22:16:00.000-08:00

I feel the way the country has been handled the last four years, it is possible we are on the tipping point of a slide into the Christian equivalent of an Islamic republic.

All civil liberties are being eroded. The religious right and self serving elite who have hijacked the republican party start with the weakest members of society, the elderly and the children, and rip away all social support to enable billions in tax breaks for all their friends. They then chip away at programs like Planned Parenthood, not with a withdrawal of funding (which hardly existed to begin with) but by revoking the basic rights and privacies of the patient. After this is done, and the women, elderly and children become second class citizens, they attack affirmative action and naturalization laws. Soon, we will return to a country where men like Chief Justice Taney can once again rule the Supreme Court (1836 – 1664).

My thoughts are drawn to this because of what is happening right now in our country. The religious shift is unprecedented in American culture, and (as President Jimmy Carter, a born-again Christian, mentions in his new book) this type of swing has had catastrophic effects on all powerful nations that try to combine “their” god and their government.

I am not speaking of “In God We Trust”, I am speaking of:
No rights (freedom of religion)
No privacy (freedom of choice)
No melting pot ( one religion = persecution of others)

As Americans, I firmly believe that what makes us great as a nation is our ability (until recently) to say “We don’t do that. We don’t torture, persecute or destroy personal liberties. That is why we are the best.”

This administration has changed everything. I used to be proud to be an American. This administration took that away from me. Men like Cheney, Libby, and Rove have stripped me of my national pride. I am the granddaughter of an Iwo Jima Purple Heart WWII vet, and I see almost no dignity left in the America of today.

I can only pray (yes I am someone who believes in God and prayer) that our system is not so corrupt that is may still work in the 2006 and 2008 elections. To continue to have faith that the democratic process will take its course and work out the fallibilities.

As a true American, I have faith in the people of my country, even if I don’t trust the leaders.

Jesus is gonna be pissed!

2005-12-07T12:04:00.000-08:00

I cannot say that I feel sorry for the Bushes. This is what happens when you align yourself with an extremist group like the Religious Right. The Bush Family issued Holiday Cards instead of Christmas cards, and every RR supporter Bush has is up in arms about it. (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10355980/)All over Fox “News” Network, O’Reilly and Hannity and the like have declared that there is a liberal war on Christmas; that we, as liberals, are trying to stamp it out of the American public culture. Being a liberal and celebrating Christmas myself, I find this odd. But, considering that they have their heads up their collective ass on most issues, I let it pass. I see enough around me to know that as long as we live in a capitalist society, Christmas will never die. Up until three days ago, Bill O’Reilly himself was hocking “holiday” ornaments, as opposed to Christmas ornaments on his “No Spin Zone” web site.

My entire problem with the RR is that they are shoving not just religion, but their personal interpretation of Christianity down our throats. Who are they to tell us not to shop in a store because it doesn’t advertise Christmas, but holiday sales? Who are they to demand of the companies operating in a free market how they can and cannot merchandise the season? This time of year, there are many reasons people are celebrating: Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and both secular and non-secular Christmas. If you feel that this is a time of year to celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus (who, if I am remembering correctly, was actually born closer to June than December) then have at it. But in America, we are supposed to be free of religious oppression. This means two things: practice any religion you want, and be free of the influence of the ones you do not.

Like it or not, not every American is Christian. Bush is the president for all Americans, and for once in his miserable career, someone on his staff made the right decision by choosing to include everyone by using the word “Holiday” over “Christmas”.

(As a side note, does anyone else find it odd that the RR never get mad about using a Pagan symbol like a tree for this most sacred holiday?)

More Like “Galaxy Sucks”

2005-12-05T12:23:00.000-08:00

Warning: I know this post is too long. Sorry, I didn’t see an obvious place to edit anymore of the story. This is the short version.

My mom treated me to a movie yesterday. The movie was ok.

You know what sucked? The movie theater. The Galaxy Six, to be exact.

As we walked in the front door, one employee was using a jig saw to do construction of some sign. Um, excuse me? Power tools in that path of children? Isn’t that what the off hours are for? Or even the other end of the parking lot? We make it past the idiot with the saw, and inside. The weird red lighting and musty smell was offsetting. The punk rock kid taking our tickets (how anti-establishment of him, especially in that little uniform) said nothing other than “screen one” directing us to the correct room. Mom and I were deciding on popcorn when we looked over at the concession counter. There was more construction going on behind the register. One of the kids behind the counter was leaning against the popcorn maker. She was scratching her head over what was clearly yesterday’s batch of popcorn. I wanted to turn around and go home, but I knew how badly mom wanted to see the movie.

So, we skip the over priced stale popcorn with the complementary coating of employee dander, and walk into the show room. There are multiple seats that are covered with black plastic garbage sacks. The rest of the seats have ripped and worn fabric. There is gum and filth everywhere. Plastic is peeling off of the seats in front of us. You can see where customers have thrown soda on the screen. It smells worse than the lobby, and is freezing.

Mom had to use the bathroom, and not only was there no paper of any kind in any of the stalls; there was nothing to dry your hands with. I wonder how the employees who are serving food are supposed to wash their hands?

The movie starts. I thought the director had done something clever: the movie was absolutely silent, as if to emphasize the quiet of the English country side. I was wrong. After a good 2 minutes, we realized the stoner upstairs never flipped the audio on (I feel that this may just be the explanation for the soda on the screen). The 12 of us in the audience wanted then to start the movie over. I was so pissed at this point, I had no problem being the one to convey that message to the usher.

I will not bore you with the idiocy of the conversation I had with him, but it boiled down to “they couldn’t restart the film”. I assured him he could, so the owner intervened. He also confirmed they have no rewind button (odd, due to the fact that they would be showing the same film later the same day). I demanded complete refunds of the money for all customers, and was guaranteed by the owner this would happen.

The film ends, and we leave the theater. That is when the assistant tried to pass out “re-admits” to us. I was not having it. I handed mine back to her and explained:

“No, no; you don’t seem to understand. We do not want re-admits. We had a miserable experience at your theater and have no intentions of returning. The owner promised us our money and that is what we want.”

She looked like she wanted to hit me, but the owner told her to refund us all.

The shame of it is that 10 years ago, it was a great theater. I will never set foot in that dump again.

Debate Issue 1

2005-12-02T14:53:00.000-08:00

Earlier, I had a post up regarding a purebred dog that is living in my home. This dog, which belongs to a friend of mine, is not fixed, as he is meant to be a breeding dog as well as a pet.

This was a point of contention with some of my bloggers. They felt that owning a dog that is not fixed for purposeful breeding was wrong.

I myself have a black lab. Maggie was inherited from my grandfather. While my family has always owned purebred hunting dogs, they have always been fixed. They have never had a problem with inbreeding, as they have always gone to reputable breeders, and not puppy mills. Not that their dogs are free from problems: Ice, a golden retriever, has a few health problems do to lineage. She also is too aggressive for the breed.

The point the bloggers were making is this: with the threat of puppy mills and the rampant killing of pound animals, why would anyone buy a purebred or designer dog? And beyond that, why would they not fix them once they become pets? Is it perpetuating breeding problems, or is it responsible breeding?

This is a contentious issue with many, and highly personal. I have close friends who are on both sides of the issue. Please be firm in your beliefs, but do not attack other bloggers. I would like all to feel comfortable stating their opinions with out feeling personally targeted.

Thanks.

Silence Kills

2005-12-01T07:59:00.000-08:00

Today is World AIDS Day. I have no words, other than it is a thought that fills me with grief and fear. I hope to see a cure in my lifetime, but I know the chances are slim to none. This is not an “us v. them” situation. We are all in this together. Remember: be aware, be safe and be proactive. Wear your ribbons and donate money. We have to win this one.

I Fucking Hate Them

2005-11-30T12:54:00.000-08:00

Why? If you need to ask, then you just would never understand. They are vile and repulsive trash. They should be divorced and broke within a matter of 18 months, if there is really such a thing as karma.

Why is it so easy for people like this to get pregnant?

Rage, rage against the dying of the light!

2005-11-30T12:17:00.000-08:00

Dear Readers,
If you click on my weather pixie, (thanks Meegan!) you will notice that sunrise today happened at 7:34 A.M. and sunset will happen at 4:23 P.M. I am at work by 7:15, and I don’t leave until 4:30 on the dot. This means I will not be seeing the sun today. And don’t tell me to leave at lunch; I brought my lunch today in order to save moolah and calories. If I leave here, I will go on a hot lunch frenzy that will leave me poor and fat.

Back to not seeing the sun for months on end: This cannot be healthy. I am beginning to feel like a mole. When I am outside during daylight hours, I squint at that bright ball in the sky with confusion and put on my sunglasses. I am so pale, that I cannot tan. I reflect the sun until the rays break through and then I turn an appealing shade of lobster. My skin is meant to be covered.

However, this complete elusion of the sun is still not healthy. God help me when we spring forward. I just may go into shock. Any of you have a case of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)?

Operation “Take Back America”

2005-11-29T14:43:00.000-08:00

The reason I have become so complacent in my political fury over the last few months is because I have discovered the antidote for the common viral republican: Stephanie Miller. (http://www.stephaniemiller.com/ )

For those of you who do not listen to Air American (ahem, Meegan) you do not know what you are missing. Sure, Al Franken is great, and Randy Rhodes gets me all fired up, but I eat, breathe and live for Mamma Steph (6 to 9 AM, PST). She is a balm for the rash that is the Bush administration. She makes me laugh at the stupidity of the neo-cons. She helps me realize the futility of Sean Hannity, the cowardliness of O’Reilly and the open bias of Fox News. The fact that I can wake up to her every morning is just what my fragile sense of being needed after 5 years of the evangelical crap Dubya has been trying to shove down my throat.

Her voice guy, Jim Ward, is the best. From Dick Vader (Cheney), to the “K to the J to the I-L” of Kim Jong Il and all the people in between, he is uncanny. Steph is the radio version of The Daily Show with John Stewart. There are not enough words to tell you how great she is. You must listen yourself. Her self-deprecatingly humor is the best, and she is completely devoid of any snooty high brow attitude. She is just a smart, real person who calls people for what they are; like when she speaks of the “noted plagiarist and transsexual” Anne Coulter, it makes me smile.

So you see, as long as I have Steph, I am not too sure how angry I will be able to get. She is like a pacifier dipped in wine. Don’t worry, if I ever feel the need to be wound up, I will turn on Randy Rhodes and blog at night.

Find your local carrier for Air America, and tune into Steph. If you cannot find her over the radio, she is available through pod cast. When you hear the notes of Twisted Sister singing through the air, and her announcer urging you to take back America, you will remember what it feels like to be on the winning team.

Here’s to November 2006! Vive La Steph!

2005-11-28T16:16:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone enjoyed all the turkey. T-day was a hit, and all 14 guests had a wonderful time. Now, it is time for the Christmas insanity to begin.

I don’t have much to say today, other than . . . . . (cue song “another one bites the dust")

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10239782/

Ah yes, once again the republicans are making too easy of a target. Did anyone else hear the Thanksgiving Day speech by Dubya? He sounded so beaten. It makes me a bit giddy. I guess we all have something to be grateful for.

May the force that guides the universe hear my prayer: please allow the neo-cons to continue to self destruct until election 2006.

Amen.

MMMMMMMM.............

2005-11-23T09:36:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow, I will start one of my favorite days of the year. Thanksgiving is a time when my father and I do what we love most, cook together. I love cooking with my dad. He always encouraged me to help in the kitchen, and because of his efforts, I am what some would call a “foodie”. I love everything about food, from the way it is prepared to the presentation, to the enjoyment of the eater. It is the most fulfillment I can find in something other than my friends and family.

Dinner starts at 7 PM. It will be a 4 course sit down meal for 14 people. This is the type of thing I live for. It is about family and tradition. All the same stories will be told, and we will laugh at them like we are hearing them for the first time. They are like warm blankets reminding us of times shared with our loved ones who are no longer with us. For example: the time my grandmother Doddie drove off the pier while returning her sailor boyfriend to his ship during WWII. Or the time Doddie somehow mysteriously lost her skirt driving to a football game with my grandfather, Jack. Or the time Doddie stopped to have a drink with her friend Nancy at a little bar in Port Townsend and forgot to set her emergency brake (she watched from the bar as her car rolled through the front window of a vacuum store). Hopefully, someone will say grace in place of my grandfather this year, and right after “Father, we would like to thank you for the meal we are about to receive” hopefully that person will say “and please, let us weather these next 2 years with that idiot in office, and send us a Democrat that can be elected as president. Amen.” That is the traditional Jack prayer. If my father is too emotional, I may have to give it myself.

I hope you all have a day that is as wonderful as mine will be. Happy Turkey Day, to you and yours.

Gobble, gobble!

Nobody loves you like your mother.

2005-11-21T13:46:00.000-08:00

Sad, but true. I have the benefit/curse of having a full blooded Sicilian mother. She is one tough cookie. No one and I mean no one messed with me or my brother. If there was a problem with Eddie or me, she took care of it. It wasn’t until I got to college that I really had to tell her to back off and let me take care of things for myself.

Don’t get me wrong, it is not that we were spoiled brats whose mother blindly defended us. Not even close. For those of you who know my mother, or know someone else’s Italian mom, there is no stepping over the line. We did not break rules. It never even occurred to me to stay out past curfew, talk back, and other normal arguments that teen’s have. It just was not an option. Period.

The other side of this coin is the intense, panic like love Sicilian mothers have for their children. If I looked even remotely sick, made one little complaint about how I felt, my mother whisked me into the doctor. Good thing he was Italian too, other wise he would have thought my mom was a complete wack job. I had the thickest file at my pediatrician’s office, and the only person who came any where close to me was my brother. This was not a coincidence. Growing up in this environment, I have become a total hypochondriac. (Meegan is very sweet when it comes to this; she calls me dramatic).

Living with her, I had grown accustomed to being treated a certain way when I feel sick. Pampered, spoiled and coddled, to be exact.

Unfortunately, my husband does not respond this way. When he is sick, he just wants to be left alone, and thinks that everyone else feels the same. WRONG!!!!! I want attention! I want to know that when he hears me dying in our bathroom, that he doesn’t just roll over and pull the covers over his head to muffle the reverberations of my agony. Unfortunately, he knows I am a hypochondriac, and treats me as such. Let me tell you this: at 6:28 AM, Sunday morning, I could have called my mother and she would have driven over to take care of me. When I call for my dear sweet husband, all he does is yell back “WHAT?”

I promised myself, while lying on the bathroom floor trying to figure out exactly when that extraterrestrial from the movie Alien impregnated me, that if and when I did recover, I was going to have to kick my husband square in the balls.

Sadly, while I laid there dying, I realized that even thought she drives me up a fucking wall, nobody loves you like your mother.

Te amo, mamma!

Volunteer Needed

2005-11-17T15:38:00.000-08:00

Found this on the web, not sure who wrote it, but damn! It is so true! Read on:

George Bush has started an ill-timed and disastrous war under false pretenses by lying to the American people and to the Congress; he has run a budget surplus into a severe deficit; he has consistently and unconscionably favored the wealthy and corporations over the rights and needs of the population; he has destroyed trust and confidence in, and good will toward, the United States around the globe; he has ignored global warming, to the world's detriment; he has wantonly broken our treaty obligations; he has condoned torture of prisoners; he has attempted to create a theocracy in the United States; he has appointed incompetent cronies to positions of vital national importance.

Would someone please give him a blow job so we can impeach him?

Katie Bug

2005-11-17T11:22:00.000-08:00

WARNING!!!!!! MAJOR SAPPY ALERT!!!!

I have a unique relationship with my cousin, Kate. We are the only two grandchildren from a very small family. Growing up, we saw each other at least once a week. Every Friday night, we would spend the evening at the home of our grandparents, listening to vinyl records of Mary Poppins or My Fair Lady. We would dance with scarves and open our own restaurant in the basement. Summers were spent swimming in the pool in the backyard (Kate would stay in so long that her perfect little lips would turn purple from hours in the icy water) and eating the exotic mini-bagel pizzas Doddie would make for us. Saturday morning, after cartoons, Doddie and I would take her to ballet class. Years later, I remember the first time she danced the lead in The Nutcracker. I cried.

In other words, there isn’t a moment of my childhood that I can recall that Kate wasn’t part of it. She even gave me my family moniker of “B”. She is still such an important part of my life, though I don’t talk to her as often as I would like (sometimes every day, but mostly once a week).

She is beautiful, thin, tall, smart, funny, talented and popular. She has never had a pimple. Yes, at the age of 10, it was easy to resent her perfection. But then you get to a point in you life when you stop comparing yourself to others and just learn to love. I remember as an adult when I realized I was just as important to her as she is to me.

She is such a strong and independent person. I admire her greatly. I am so proud that I am her B. Even though she is three years younger than me, I learn much from her. She teaches me to be calm, not to take myself so seriously, and to respect myself. She has a passion for the environment and the world as a whole. I am the overly emotional weepy one, while she is the even tempered rock. Yin and Yang. She always listens, and loves me no matter what I say or do. She is always giving. In fact, she has spent her entire life dancing ballet, and is taking that talent and creating a free to affordable dance studio in the area of Tacoma that would be considered “inner city”. Yes, she could have just been all talk, but she is action. She is employing her private school education and using it to improve the lives of people who have almost nothing. She will bring beauty and art into the lives of little boys and girls who might have other wise been over looked because of demographics and money. She is amazing.

We lean on each other, we laugh together, we talk and share. Our lives are intertwined. Not only are we family, we are friends. She is such a blessing in my life.

I love her.

NYC!!!!!

2005-11-16T12:02:00.000-08:00

It is finally happening. After close to 6 years of wishing and hoping on my part and pleading from a red headed menace, I am at long last at a place in my life where I can afford to visit New York City, and more importantly, Meegan. I am so excited, I could pee. I made the reservations this morning, and I will be in NYC on January 12, 2006.

I can hardly think of anything else. I am searching for things to do, but I want to hear from you NYC locals. What is your favorite thing to do? What will be really important for me to see? Remember, I love gourmet food, and I love art.

This is all happening because I have a very giving and selfless husband who loves me more than anything. Everyone, keep you fingers crossed for good travel weather!

As a side note, FINY, you better warn everyone, because when we meet, the universe just may implode. Hmmmm, now how do we get Jack and Girlie over the same weekend????

Caught Him!!!!!!

2005-11-16T07:23:00.000-08:00

Paul A Bryant is now in custody.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/crime/story/5336004p-4832403c.html

Thank you to the Tacoma Police Dept. You did a great job.

Update

2005-11-15T08:13:00.000-08:00

Here is the update on who they might think held up Emilie:

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/5333373p-4830325c.html

this freak needs to be caught.

Emilie, the Survivor

2005-11-14T12:07:00.000-08:00

To the Asshole who car jacked my friend Emilie at gun point Saturday night:

You better hope I never find you.

You better pray that the police get you first.

I will tie you down and find uses for a pair of pliers and sand paper that you could never even dream of. I would not only come after you, but you friends, too. I bet your friends know what you do. Someone had to be driving the other car. Someone who knows your name. Knows who you are, and where you live.

You cannot hide forever. And even if the police never catch you, remember: there is a God, and fate, and karma. If this is the type of person you are, then I can only imagine the type of people you surround yourself with. If they are as violent and unstable as you, then you are not long for this earth. You will die the way you live.

I am so filled with rage and desolation right now; I don’t know what to do. I know I was not the victim of this crime, but I am distraught. I am shaking. I am crying at my desk.

All I can ask is “why? Why her?”

I don’t know what I would have done if something had happened to her. She made it out of the situation physically ok. Mentally, she was shaken. The more she talks about it, the better she feels. I guess that is why I am sharing this with you; I hope it makes me feel better.

I won’t for a while, though.

Fuck. This sucks.

Sophadopolis and her Auntie Lizard

2005-11-13T20:02:00.000-08:00

My dear and sweet friend Emilie, whom I shall always refer to as “the Wench” (long story, another post), and her boyfriend-husband-to-be, Vinnie, just had their little baby girl two months ago. It seems like just yesterday when Em told me she was pregnant.

“You are no longer just a Lizard; you are going to be an Auntie Lizard!!!”

(FYI – the Wench is the only person who can get away with calling me Lizard.)

The Wench, being raised by hippies, refused to choose a name for her daughter until she was born and could look at her. She felt once she came face to face with her daughter, the perfect name would come to mind.

Not so much.

For over a week after this perfect little one’s arrival, I was still referring to her as the No Name Slob.

Finally, after much debate and ado, little No Name was christened Sophie. We call her Sophadopolis. No, I don’t know why. Keep in mind, this is coming from some one who calls me Lizard, and whom I refer to as the Wench.

Any way, after receiving permission, I am marking my fourth post as Sophie’s Big Debut!!!!! Ain’t she a looker???

Weird Beard

2005-11-11T12:47:00.000-08:00

I have a boyfriend.

I call him Weird Beard.

Yes, my husband knows.

Actually, this particular admirer is suffering from an unrequited love for me. (I warned you all that I am vain!!!) He is this FREAK ON A LEASH that my work hired four months ago. He is more than twice my age and becomes fanatical about anything that catches his interest: a PAC-10 football team, the local minor league baseball team, and me.

I made the mistake of being nice to him when he started where we work. You can not be nice to these types of people. I had covered his job in the interim of hiring for his position. I helped train him when he began. I gave him tips on who not to talk to, who he could trust and engaged in football banter.

Big mistake. Huge. It had been 2 months, and he had become increasingly annoying/obsessive. After realizing he was giving me just a bit too much attention, and dealing with sarcastic “when did you two start dating” comments from my co-workers, I started my hasty retreat.

Another big mistake. Even bigger this time due to the fact that when someone is obsessed, and feel the object they covet slipping away, they grasp tighter. It has become a sort of dodging game now.

Let me lay it out for you:
1) He has no reason to come to my end of the building but does so routinely through out the day. So much so that I have his footfall memorized and run when I hear the decent of his distinct cadence approaching. In fact, he just made his 3rd trip by and it is only about 10 AM.

2) He speaks in a loud voice and asks why we aren’t “bonding” anymore. He whines that I have become distant and cold. Stop laughing, I am not joking.

3) My network of spies (co-workers whom I adore) calls me when they see him coming. If they know I cannot get out in time, one of the guys usually comes to interrupt him with “vital” work for me.

4) When he does trap me in my cubicle, he stands very close. Close enough that sometimes I can feel his breath on the back of my neck when he sneaks up on me.

5) About a month ago I wore a nicer than normal outfit to work, substituting the normal slacks and sweater for a nice skirt. Old WB stopped in the middle of what he was saying, looked me up and down and told me I was “breathtaking”.

6) He leaves me notes on my desk and once a week has me cover for him when he travels to one of our out of town vendors. He is not in my department, and yes, there are much more relevant employees who could do this for him. He just enjoys the opportunity of interacting with me in a situation where I cannot run away

7) He has taken to hiding around corners and catching me off guard. No, I am not exaggerating.

So, you see, my dear reader, that Weird Beard is not only a bit smitten, but also very creepy. I have since spent the last two months being as rude as I can to him in an office setting. Neither one of us has our own office where I could close the door and tell him to “BACK THE FUCK OFF” privately, and I refuse to get HR involved in something I feel that I should be able to handle myself. I may crack someday soon, and go off on him in front of everyone.

Shit, there he goes again.

Growing Up

2005-11-11T11:31:00.000-08:00

Well, my brother turns 18 today. Which is odd, because when I picture him in my head, I swear, he is still 5 years old. I know I still want to protect him like he is 5. With a 9 year age difference, I was defiantly in charge of keeping him from getting his ass kicked. I had help; Meegan often stepped up to the plate and threatened the little bullies in the neighborhood from the driver’s seat of her Volvo. Classis Meegan style!

My brother has always had an old soul. He was always too mature for his age group and was often left out of social activities with his peers. It broke my heart when he was growing up. It was so easy for me to make friends, and his awkwardness was an eye-opener. Though I was always overprotective, with the help of my husband, I have been able to let go of the little boy I helped raise and welcome my brother into my life as a man. And a wonderful man at that. Last night, he actually made me laugh pretty damn hard when he spoke of the fact that he knew he had zero sex appeal. I never thought I would hear that phrase come out of his mouth.

Happy Birthday, Eddie! I love you!

The Grand Opening

2005-11-10T16:16:00.000-08:00

What the Hell Do I Say Now?????

For the past 6 months, I have had nooooo problem opening my progressive-liberal pie hole and commenting on other’s blogs. I have gone so far as to “guest post” for Meegan. It has been her tenacity and encouragement that got me thinking about doing this myself. With the harassment/encouragement/taunting of others (*ahem* Jack and Lisa!!!) I have been forced out of my commenter’s closet and made to open my own Blog.

The problem with writing my own blog when you are as vain as I am, is that I am afraid of boring people. That would be a fate worse than death. To have an on line diary that no one felt in necessary to comment on. The horror! Something so dull that people would actually get together and discuss what a waste of air I am. Once again, that is vanity speaking: why on Earth would I assume that people would find me dull enough to consider forming a coffee/support group? So, dear readers, all 3 of you, you must promise me that when I bore you to tears, you will let me know.

But, screw it! If you don’t know me, or have not read my comments, here is a little re-con for you:
· Very liberal (with many conservative friends and family members.)
· Love to cook (want my own business.)
· Love art history (but made the not so lucrative mistake of getting a degree in it, with supplemental minors in ancient world history and Black studies)
· Married to my husband, Chris (happily!!!)
· We just bought our first home
· My 2 best friends live on opposite sides of the country (Meegan in New York, and Eva in San Diego; I reside in the Pacific North West)
· I am the worst speller in the world (and Meegan is the best)
· Eva is my legal council, (or she will be in about 2 ½ years when she graduates from law school)
· I am dangerously close to becoming addicted to blogging.
· I have a persnickety old cat named Porkchop (adopted from the pound) and a 7 year old lab named Maggie (inherited from my grandfather).

So that is it. I am sure something will set me off in the next day or so, (indictments, anyone?) that I will need to get off of my chest.