BloggDogg

Sarah Palin as President!!

2008-10-17T06:31:00.000-07:00

This is really funny. Comment with your favorite. Mine is the deer in the closet. Click on the link below and see what life in the White House could be like if McCain/Palin win this November.

http://palinaspresident.com/

Is Sarah Palin a Present Day Esther?

2008-10-16T12:57:00.000-07:00

I recently received a rather lengthy email forwarded from a pastor in OH who chronicles his experience delivering a message to Sarah Palin he believes he received from God. It appears this email is receiving the sort of viral forwarding that many emotional stories do capped off with an urging to forward to as many people as possible to ensure the word gets out. The email itself recounts all of the details surrounding both the receiving of the message and the miraculous events that took place to put him in the path of Governor Palin, her husband and John McCain. His message to her: you are a modern day Esther.
I didn’t understand what this meant but the email referred to her as “anointed” and repeated a few times that she was “chosen to reign”. It included encouragement to “stay strong” and not to “fear man” for she would encounter hateful criticism in the weeks to come but would prevail in this “God-calling”. I searched the pastor’s web site looking for a clearer idea of what it meant to be a present day Esther and decided the best thing to do was to read the book of Esther myself to gain some insight.
After reading the entire book, I have decided that he is absolutely right! You see, Esther saved her people (the Jews) from slaughter at the hands of the king’s Prime Minister Haman. Not with forcefulness or intelligence. She was in no way extraordinary or exceptional but for one thing: she was beautiful. It was the king’s love for her, along with a few coincidences, that led to her people being spared.
Let’s look at the story and the parallels to today’s political environment: The king (John McCain) had fallen for her (Sarah Palin) because she was more beautiful (appealing to women voters) than any of the other virgins he had been offered (Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Condoleezza Rice, etc.). He made her queen (Vice Presidential candidate) and it was because of his feelings for her that she was allowed to approach him (join the ticket) even though he had not requested her presence (ever expressed any interest in her political career). When she did approach him (join the ticket) she wasn’t completely up front about everything (abuse of power as Governor) and had never told anyone she was a Jew. She invited him to a feast prepared by her (changes in Wasilla) and when he asked what she wanted she expressed that she wanted him to spare her and her people (Republicans) from slaughter (no explanation needed here) and he did. She was quite brave to do this for at the time approaching the king without an invitation was punishable by death and the story does point to virtues of patience and humility that made her likable. At the time though, she had no choice; the alternative to not approaching him was also death.
Sarah Palin is no different. Her party needed to attract women voters and appeal to the ultra conservative so she had no choice but to run whether she was ready or not and it requires the religious conservatives rally support for her as Esther did and ask them to pray. This rallying of the people is the true intent of this email and an attempt to fulfill the prophecy. It stirs up emotion and a belief that this woman is somehow going to save the nation in spite of the fact that she has little national political experience and is naïve about international diplomacy. Blind faith can be dangerous and Sarah Palin is in no way prepared to be first or second in command of our nation and a few months on the campaign trail are not going to change that.

To read comments on this article:

http://www.newsflavor.com/Politics/US-Politics/Is-Sarah-Palin-a-Modern-Day-Esther.299063

Why Obama? Why Change?

2008-10-12T08:31:00.000-07:00

In these uncertain times, I wonder how we got where we are and who is to blame. Every day I see finger pointing; from politicians to Wall Street executives to home buyers who overextended themselves. Who is to blame for the state of our nation and our economy? I hear fear of another Great Depression and many wonder how saddling taxpayers with more debt will solve the problem but at the moment that is the best solution the current administration can come up with and quite frankly, they had to come up with something; fast.
If we take a look back to the late 20’s and early 30’s in history, we will see that as a nation we have been in similar circumstances before. Herbert Hoover (R) was president at the time. He is said to have had a lack of charisma in relating to voters, and was not very skilled at working with his fellow politicians. That, coupled with the spiraling economic downturn now dubbed “The Great Depression” is said to have led to his defeat in 1932 to Franklin D. Roosevelt.
FDR was a Democrat who is credited with an aggressive use of government that created jobs here at home and introduced new taxes that affected all income groups, not just upper or middle class. “The New Deal “ was a program implemented by his administration aimed at affecting joblessness and it offered relief for the unemployed and the agricultural and industrial structures that were suffering not by bandaging the problem and saddling taxpayers with the tab, but by creating jobs and offering incentives for hard work. He also instituted price controls (think oil now) and rationing when the war began during his presidency as a way of managing uncertainty at home. During his Presidency, Conservatives vehemently opposed him at every turn only to be proven wrong over time.
Today we face skyrocketing oil prices, an economy and stock market that are plummeting and fear is becoming a prominent emotion in average American households. Not fear of Al-Qaeda or fear of nuclear war but a fear of starvation and homelessness as well as fear of the ability of their families to survive let alone thrive.
We currently have a Republican President who was supported for 6 out of the last 8 years by both a Republican House and a Republican Senate. He has struggled to be perceived as a strong and intellectual leader. He has often put his foot in his mouth and his legacy will be economic ruin and deceptive entry into a war that we cannot easily get out of, and that we never should have been involved in, in the first place.
History shows us that when disaster strikes we justifiably look to those at the top and demand change; a change in party, ideals, attitude, belief systems and priorities. Historically, these changes have proven to be beneficial for all.

A Soccer Mom's Take On Sarah Palin

2008-10-07T08:12:00.000-07:00

I have lived the life of a liberated woman; I am divorced, re-married and my husband and I have four kids between us. I had a career in the financial industry before I had kids at 28 and I currently have a career in real estate that allows me to juggle my time between work and family and am fortunate that my current husband supports prioritizing my kids as much as possible.
When my first child was born, I learned something very important; I realized that one of the greatest contributions I could make to society would be to nurture my child and teach her all I could about love and commitment myself. I felt that if I could sacrifice and spend as much time with her as possible, especially in her early years, being her primary caregiver would build between us a bond that would make her a better, more secure individual who could then take that sense of connection out into the world without hesitation. I am not saying that caregivers who are not parents cannot offer much love and compassion but there is no role like mother (or father who in some cases is the primary caregiver) that has so much influence over a child’s development, character and confidence.
Some parents are unable to stay home with their children. Due to financial responsibility, both parents must work to make ends meet. I know these decisions are difficult and I am sure that all mothers agonize over being unable to care for their small children on their own. What I don’t understand are women who choose not to prioritize their children and strive more for power and public recognition than to build a strong and consistent relationship with their own children.
This is how I feel about Sarah Palin. Here is a woman relatively unknown nationally until a few weeks ago who is now in line to be one of the most powerful people in the world. She has talked publicly about her choice to give birth to a special needs child but who will care for that child on a daily basis as she heads to Washington? Am I the only one who has looked at both Presidents and Vice Presidents in years past and noticed how much they age in the four years of constant demands on their time and energy? The schedules are physically grueling and mentally I imagine the pressure of responsibility for a nation might take a daily toll on someone. Add to that someone who at the end of the day has kids that cry out for “mommy” not knowing where she is and why she is unavailable to them consistently.
Don’t think that I am against a woman in a position of power in general. I absolutely believe a woman could make a wonderful leader of our nation and the last few months have encouraged me that it is only a matter of time before it happens but give me someone whose kids are grown and self sufficient, who is not abandoning small children at home. Give me someone who is nationally known and recognized; active in both national and international politics for years before they would even consider running for this high an office.
My mom’s lesson to me at an early age was absolutely true: a woman can do anything and everything. Just not all at the same time and still do it well. Where will Sarah Palin fall short? At home or in the White House? I think it is a shame either way and if she is such a great politician, she should consider running on her own eight or more years from now.

Current Events

2008-09-02T12:44:00.001-07:00

Those of you who know me, know well how much I hate the entire political environment. It is not that I think it is unimportant nor do I think that the outcomes in no way effect the lives of my children and myself or that being actively involved is not a prerequisite to citizenship. Unfortunately (for all of us) politics is primarily ruled not by those who truly aspire to a better life for you and me but who crave power and influence and I find little in everything surrounding the process, from talk radio and political advertising to the constant shift away from issues to focus on candidates personal lives, to have much honesty and integrity with a focus toward resolving issues for the good of the average person.

For these reasons you will not see me talking politics, arguing the benefits of one candidate over the other or commenting on anything brought to light in the current political environment with this one exception:

Why is it when any man is in trouble or unsure of what might happen with so much at stake he often turns to a woman to help save him?

Regardless of her qualifications or experience, all men at some point turn to women for salvation. Whether it is the unknown realm of parenting, finances, public opinion or national security (can you say Condoleezza Rice), at some point men all need a woman's perspective to make sure they are on the right track. The more dire the situation, the more reliant they become on women. Even publicly humiliated figures look to their wives for support when everything starts to crumble (think Ted Haggard, Eliot Spitzer and the like).

It has often been political fodder when powerful men looked to their wives for guidance from Lady Bird Johnson and Nancy Reagan to Hillary Clinton, and each time she was maligned for her influence.

Why is it men seek the presence of women to help them when things get rough? I would offer this; when all things seem out of balance and when there is doubt and uncertainty we all (men and woman alike) seek that which feels safe and secure for us. For most people, this is the truth and judgment of the women in their lives who both ruled and offered guidance and compassion. Good or bad, we all base our values and sense of self on the example of the women who raised us and although the men in our lives had much to offer as well, it was the women who gave us our day to day perspectives and we have learned over the years that the lessons they taught us serve us better in the long run than any other example to date.

These are turbulent times and as a nation we are seeking something different and that difference on wither side consist of men in power and women with strength no longer behind them, but standing right next to them.

Graduation Day

2008-06-11T10:14:00.000-07:00

I have to laugh that I am sitting here a bit teary that my baby girl has just graduated; from elementary school!!

When I was little we did not have graduation ceremonies from preschool, kindergarten and elementary school; not even from junior high school (or as they call it now "middle school"). Graduation and the ceremonies that surround it were saved for high school and college, then graduate school, law school and medical school.

It feels like a conspiracy to remind today's parents on a more regular basis, just how fast our kids are growing up, and time is passing us by!

My 15 Minutes of Fame

2008-05-28T07:32:00.000-07:00

I am always on the lookout for ways to use the talents I have been blessed with. Unfortunately, to date I have not been able to benefit from my freak ability to remember song lyrics; until now!

I submitted a video audition to Don't Forget the Lyrics and it is posted on the web site as the "Producers Choice" for this week.

Take a look or Google "Don't Forget the Lyrics" and click "play the online game and you will see me:

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1452197485/bctid1519678283

The New Celebrity

2008-05-21T06:04:00.000-07:00

In this day and age there is a new definition of the “15 minutes of fame” and celebrity (or as I like to call it cele-brate-me). When anyone can be a star on YouTube or MySpace with something scandalous, funny or just plain offensive it is easy for people to feel as though they are somehow relevant to the world in a way they could not be before.
In the past in order to be famous or even infamous, major news media outlets all had to agree that your content was worthy of the small amount of space available on the evening news. You needed a record deal to produce and release main stream music, a contract with a major movie studio to appear in a film or a story so amazing that it would be written about in the local or maybe national newspaper.
Now with the tremendous success of reality television and the advances of the internet and computers, you can simply photograph or video yourself, often using your home computer or inexpensive digital camera, and post it anywhere on the internet for all to see. You can also be captured on surveillance cameras doing all sorts of things you would not have been seen doing previously and billions of dollars have been made taping the escapades of college girls during their spring break drunkenness.
When anyone can be infamous for just about anything what in the years to come will be the new definition of “celebrity”? My guess is that it will be anyone who manages not to permanently sabotage their dignity in Cyberspace by getting caught or posting things that, years from now, they will regret and would likely rather forget they had done.

Oh the Pressure!!!

2008-05-19T09:33:00.000-07:00

Why do moms today put so much pressure on themselves to be and do everything?

We educate ourselves and work hard to earn just as much as men and when we have children, we strive for the label of “perfect parent”. We read every parenting book, and judge ourselves harshly for making any mistakes. We put pressure on ourselves to have perfectly kept homes and we work on our bodies so we are not seen as unattractive or having “let ourselves go”.
As our kids get older, we put them in every available sport every season and add dance, piano, drama, swimming, and anything else everyone’s kids are doing. Our kids are so overloaded, they can’t get their homework done so we add weekly tutoring sessions and because they are so strung out (as are we!) we must add the weekly therapy session to talk about how overwhelmed we all feel and why we might not be getting along.
As tough as it is we must remember that it is self-imposed and no one forced us to be this over committed. Somewhere along the way we decided that we could be both 50’s mom baking cookies for the class party and driving car pool and the feminist version of womanhood contributing equally to the household and motivating our children to be competitors. In the end we must acknowledge the toll it is taking on us, our relationships and our children and make some changes.
Here are six ways to lessen the burden and try to enjoy this roller coaster ride called parenting a bit more:

1. If you can; sacrifice: If you can find ways to spend less and have one parent stay home, do. It is such a short time that the kids are at home and it goes so fast that for a few years, live in a smaller house, eat out less or take inexpensive vacations so that both parents aren’t running mad all the time to support a bigger lifestyle.

2. Limit your kid’s activities: I know there is pressure to expose your children to everything so that they can be competitive but sometimes it is just piling on. Choose one sport per season and maybe one instrument if that is important to you. If your child loves it or shows signs of a natural ability; run with it but not every child is going to grow up to be a world class soccer player because they were signed up every season from the age of 3. Encourage them to try new things but focus more attention on what they are really good at and love and they will have a better chance of finding a way to make it a part of their lives as they grow.

3. Don’t compare or compete: The “Go Family” next door might seem to have it all under control; they are constantly running from activity to activity both parents working full time and playing full time. You may feel you should be doing the same but not only might this not work for you or your family; things are not always as perfect as they seem. This may be the family that shocks you one day by announcing they are getting divorced or one of their children ends up in big trouble. Too much pressure gets to everyone eventually however some people are better at masking it.

4. Sometimes just STOP: Every once in a while, just stop running and hang out. Don’t answer the phone, miss a baseball game or say no to a social event. Spend a whole day at home in your pajamas with your kids and play games or watch movies and eat popcorn. You might not believe it but these are the things kids will remember most fondly when they get older, not how many baseball games and swim meets they were taken to during the season.

5. Forgive yourself: No parent is perfect. We have all said or done things we regret and sometimes, more than once. When you lose your temper or forget to bring the cake for your child’s birthday, take a deep breath and forgive yourself first. Your family will survive and you can often use these moments as teaching tools if approached with the right attitude. Show your children that everyone makes mistakes and what makes a person is how they handle themselves afterwards.

6. Focus on Love: In the end it is how much your children understand about your love for them that matters, not what their extracurricular activity calendar looked like. Make sure that in the rush to do all you feel the need to do you have not forgotten to tell them every day how much they as people mean to you.

Divorce Decorum

2008-05-18T07:55:00.000-07:00

Divorce is a difficult time in anyone’s life and if you have children it is even more complicated. I liken the initial effects of divorce on children to being fired from a job you love as an adult. They did not choose this and will likely never understand fully why something they love has come to an end.

It can be difficult to navigate the first few months post divorce (or separation) but here are some suggestions on how to keep the peace while you sort out what to do next:

1. Forgive: they may have cheated, lied or just simply neglected your relationship but you have to let it go and move on. Don’t harbor any negative attitudes as you will certainly convey that to the children; they are far more intuitive than we sometimes give them credit for and in the end it will only make you look bad.

2. Draft a clear schedule: one of the big causes of controversy in a post divorce environment can be a lack of a clear and concise schedule. Taking some time to draft something that is practical and works as well as possible for both of you will keep conflict to a minimum and offer the kids some consistency which is really important for their adjustment.

3. Share responsibilities: some people think that when they get divorced all those issues they had with their spouse will go away. Unfortunately, some of them actually get worse. If you had a problem with your spouse’s level of involvement you may find that post divorce they are even worse at getting the kids to school, homework help, and showing up for recitals. Make sure they understand the role they need to play and its importance to the kids then let it go. Don’t take it all on yourself as it will only make you bitter and resentful and odds are good that is what got you here in the first place.

4. Communicate as much as possible without conflict: today we are lucky because we have many ways to convey important information. If you find that your wounds are still raw and talking with your ex (even about what time to pick up the kids) stirs anger and hostility in you, find another way to communicate for a while. Details need to be discussed and if every time you talk you en d up in an argument, just send information via email. You can still get things done while avoiding unnecessary fighting.

5. Go together: no matter what your situation make an effort to stand unified for the kid’s sake as often as possible. Be it teacher conferences, sporting events, school functions; the more you can appear civil and put the kids first, the more secure they will feel. If you insist on not attending if your ex is there, your kids will feel responsible for alienating one parent or the other and that pressure is not healthy for their development.

6. Encourage love: not matter how much you may despise your ex; your kids love them just as much as they did before. Nurture that love because it will serve you in the end. Transitioning back and forth for kids can be tough and if you have painted dad as a neglectful parent, your kids will be less enthused to go there and you will be the one handling the melt down.

7. Go together: no matter what your situation make an effort to stand unified for the kid’s sake as often as possible. Be it teacher conferences, sporting events, school functions; the more you can appear civil and put the kids first, the more secure they will feel. If you insist on not attending if your ex is there, your kids will feel responsible for alienating one parent or the other and that pressure is not healthy for their development.

Remember that how you handle yourself will speak volumes to your children. If you maintain a level of dignity, in the long run you will show them that even difficult circumstances can be handled with grace and that their needs were the most important thing to you.

Proudly Call Me Grandma (or Grandpa)

2008-05-17T20:52:00.000-07:00

Why is it some people in their 50’s and 60’s refuse to be called “Grandma” or “Grandpa” when their children have children? Now there are names like Mimi and Nana, Papa and “Uncle” whatever their name is. Isn’t it a great rite of passage to be referred to as Grandma or Grandpa? It does not in any way mask my age for me to be called anything different by a 10 year old I am clearly beyond having given birth to myself. Why is it people feel the need to avoid this ancient lable?
I have to admit if my 15 or 16 year old made me a grandma I would likely prefer not to be called that but would instead opt for something like “the little idiot” or “little hussy’s” mom as punishment for his or her lack of judgment but let’s face it; when I am 50 if my child is 25, it is totally reasonable to accept the role of grandparent and it should be done gracefully if not with tremendous pride.
Being a Grandparent doesn’t speak to age; it speaks to wisdom and maturity. It says you have years of parenting under your belt and is something you have earned. Your children actually survived childhood with you at the helm! It is to be celebrated and when all else fails, it is a great way to avoid the stares and condemnation of other mothers when you are feeding your children’s children, candy, chips, cookies and soda right before dinner and letting them run around on the playground all sugared up without discipline. You are a Grandparent; you will be dropping them off shortly and heading home to peace and quiet.

2008-05-17T12:26:00.000-07:00

It all started with a pig.

Just days before my 40th birthday I decided to throw a party and roast a pig in the back yard with the help of my handsome husband and our sweet friend Carlos who actually owns a pig roaster!

It was a great way to ring in a new decade and I decided that this was the year I was going to do things I have always wanted to do but fear and procrastination got the best of me. This blog is just the beginning.

What They Don't Tell You About Laser Hair Removal

2008-05-17T09:23:00.000-07:00

So my friends convinced me that I would LOOOOVE laser hair removal because it is no secret that I have more hair than the average female. With the exception of the bottoms of my feet and the palms of my hands I could singlehandedly support a laser hair removal technician over the next two years if I choose to be completely hairless.
I was terrified that it would be excruciatingly painful and my fear was confirmed when I was given prescription strength numbing cream for my nether regions. I was told it needed to be put on 2 hours prior to my treatment for maximum numbing. Unfortunately for me, I had to work prior to going and was running late.
I rushed home to shave myself quickly (which is never a good idea) and slathered on the cream in all the areas I wanted her to laser. Then I was instructed to put cellophane on it so it did not ruin my clothes. It occurred to me that you can’t really put the cellophane on top, you sort of have to wrap it around you; like a diaper. When I explained to my spouse why I was walking funny he squealed with glee, retrieved the camera and chased me up the stairs to document my current predicament.
In the car I began to get really nervous. I was not sure that my cream was on long enough prior to my hair scorching and I began to feel sweaty and sticky. Cellophane doesn’t really “breathe” and as my nervousness increased my stomach began to churn and I realized that I was going to have to fart. I was considering carefully what might happen when one farts and their entire groin is wrapped tightly in plastic wrap. I was sure that the fart would stay trapped and only break free once I unwrapped myself which I assumed would be in the room where I was getting lasered and, for all I knew, with the technician present. This was not really the first impression I was looking to make on a complete stranger who would soon be viewing my crotch in all its glory. It seemed bad enough that the lack of air combined with the cream had made me sweaty and sticky. Now there would be a smell she would surely find horrifying not knowing it came from nerves and not a lack of hygiene.
Shaking, I arrived for my appointment and was told to head to a room. There I reviewed the disclaimers that informed me I would be red, swollen and sore for anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks. “It will look like you were stung by a bee”. I have never been stung in the bikini area before so this was not encouraging. I lied and said I had to go to the bathroom and was relieved when she told me I would “unwrap” there. Once back in the room I introduced myself to the stranger that would be applying a laser beam to my labia and tried to smile. She lead me to the table and said,
“Ok, I need you in what we like to call froggy position”.
I panicked. “Can we dim the lights? Can I have a drink first”? I needed something as I usually don’t “froggy” on the first meeting.
She proceeded to muscle me into the position then handed me sunglasses to protect my eyes while she hit my more sensitive area with a burning hot laser beam at close range.
“So, what do you do for a living”, she asked.
“Clearly based on my comfort level and the awkwardness of my froggy, not stripping”.