They just don’t get it… February 26, 2008

I often ask myself what our society can tolerate.  It seems like the envelope is constantly being pushed with what is considered too sexual for things such as ads and commercials.  For the most part it seems that if you only push a little, then you can get away with it.  So that leads to my thoughts on what we tolerate…what we build up an immunity to…what becomes the new “normal”.

I was in my back yard the other day talking with a neighbor. He asked where Jason had been deployed. When I told him the location his response was “Oh, that wasn’t that bad”.  My response to him was that “any place where there are people who want my husband and the father of my children dead is bad enough”.  He looked at me like I had just dropped the F-bomb in church.  So my question is…when did it become the “norm” and its not shocking any more when our men and women in the military only have to deal with X number of rockets coming over the perimeter instead of Y?  It leads me back to a favorite bumper sticker “If you aren’t outraged, you haven’t been paying attention”.

 On other things…today was a totally not fun day. I had to go to the dentist to get 2 fillings. Why me?  Why when I am the one in the house who flosses, and rinses, and brushes thoroughly.  Jason says the trade off is that I have good knees….he has great teeth and bad knees.  I guess that’s life.  Of course, now, my jaws are really sore and that’s a pain (literally) because it interferes with my ability to yell at the kids.  Maybe it will help me eat less at dinner too.  Not really the weight loss plan I was looking for but I guess every little bit helps!

My Toe…. February 23, 2008

Ahh…the inevitable runner’s injury.  I know…some people would point out that I wouldn’t get injured if I didn’t run. That is true, but then I would beat my kids and weigh 2,000 pounds and those aren’t exactly options either.  Anyway, so Jason has wanted to do nothing but eat since he’s been home.  Every time I turn around…McDonald’s, Starbucks, Popcorn at night, etc. I have told him I’m determined not to gain the weight back.

I was pretty busy this past Tuesday and wanted to squeeze in a run before I had to get the girls from school. I bought a pair of running shoes on line after Izzy was born. I know what brand, shoe model and size I wear so I just ordered. What I had forgotten is that my feet have grown a half size with each kid.  Before Jackie I was an 8 and now….my dress shoes are 9 but my running shoes need to be 9 1/2. So all of this time my shoes have technically been too small, but I make do by wearing thin socks.  Except for Tuesday. I only had one pair of running socks in the drawer….yes, I own socks just for running.  Anyway, only one pair left, they were thick ones and to make a long story short, I ran in them anyway and have now done something to my 2nd toe on my right foot.

I don’t think its anything serious as I can still bend it and walk on it. But it hurts for ANYTHING to touch it….even my other toes. The end of the toe…everything after the last joint…is red and swollen.  I think I just pushed the nail back in to the nail bed and now its ultra-sensitive. Its not turning blue though, which I think is a good sign.    Nothing ibuprofen can’t fix and seeing as how we go to the clinic on base for medical care, I think we have PLENTY of that around.

Busy weekend… February 19, 2008

Wow! I don’t think this weekend could have been much busier if we would have tried.  I enjoyed it though and it was our last few uninterrupted days before Jason returns to work tomorrow. After that, he will have the blackberry and/or the brick at all times. ((sigh))

 On Saturday we switched the girls’ rooms.  Jackie now has her own room…complete with new headboard, dresser, nighstand, vanity seat, quilt, sheets and dust ruffle.  Nothing fancy, just the stuff from the shabby chic line at Target.  Believe it or not, that furniture is really heavy.  Looks like it will last a good while.  We got the beds set up on Sat and then moved everything else (clothes and American girl belongings) on Sunday after Mass.  Jackie is quite content and loves being in her own room.  I think she’s old enough and its that time.  I pointed out to her that the good news is that no one can mess up her room…and the bad news is that no one has to help her clean it. I will post some pics as soon as I remember.

Can I just say it was AWESOME to go to Mass with the entire family?

Then today we started out bright, but not so early to go to Dallas for THE American Girl Store adventure.  We had a BLAST! Of course, everything is overpriced, but we gave the girls a certain amount of money and they did fine.  Jackie got another doll (Mia) and some things to go with her. She also got Elizabeth’s hair fixed. Then Katey got her first doll–Julie– and some things to go with her…like a summer dress and a pet bunny.  It was funny to watch both of the girls. We ran in to someone we know from Shreveport and Jackie and I were talking. Katey PULLED Jason over to the doll area and started pointing out everything she knew and liked…who was friends with who, who had what accessories, who did this and who did that.  Jason says her knowledge level is a little scary.  She took forever walking around to decide which doll she wanted, but in typical Katey fashion, once her mind was made up, she was ready to go. Jackie was funny to watch too. She was very carefully counting out what she could get for her money–not much in that store– and how she could get the most.  She wanted to make sure she got something for Mia and something for Elizabeth. We actually had a bit of a meltdown this morning before we left because Jackie didn’t want to “hurt Elizabeth’s feelings” when she bought Mia.

After that we went upstairs to the bistro and had a very overpriced lunch.  It was cool b/c the dolls could sit at the table in their own chairs.  Jackie and Katey were oogling over their dolls and how pretty their hair is while Izzy flashed EVERYONE her belly button as a hello greeting.  We were loaned a doll to entertain her and keep her off of the big girls’ dolls.

After lunch, we went back downstairs to spend the rest of their hard earned money and then walked around the mall the store is next to.  VERY over priced…I mean really, where do people get the money to spend $400 on a pair of shoes and $2000 on the purse to match? Am I missing something?

Oh well, we had a very good time this weekend and our girls are in their beds exhausted. Jason and I are headed in that direction……..

Sicko February 19, 2008

Has anyone else seen that movie “Sicko” by Michael Moore?   It was our Netflix movie and we sat down to watch it last night. First of all, I liked the movie and I like Michael Moore’s sense of humor.  He’s smart and he’s quick and he expects his audience is the same.

This movie did make me mad and it made me scared. All of the stories of people who cannot get insurance and the way those without insurance are treated by some portions of the medical commuity made me sad.  Not mad….sad.  We are doing something wrong in this country. 

Oh…I understand all of the arguments for those medical professionals having a right to earn whatever amount they can reach.  But they showed a dr in the UK who works for the National Healthy Service and he lives in a million dollar home and drives a provided Audi.  He says that he and his family live comfortably, save and can take vacations.  And really, US docs can’t control how much they make unless they only take patients without health insurance who pay privately.

I understand the argument that people who receive socialized medicine receive lower quality care, but I’m a recipient of socialized medicine and my care has not been more or less than those I know “on the outside”. As a matter of fact, when I had my scare in 2004, Tricare was awesome about ensuring I got what the doc and I thought I needed.

I understand the argument that Americans don’t want to pay the taxes for socialized medicine. But I researched taxes in the UK and they fall between 10 and 30% (28% come April 08).  The average tax rate for Americans is between 10 and 35%. Hmm….not such a difference and better in some cases.

But its not the numbers that made me sad.  Its the attitude behind our lack of socialized medicine.  I think most Americans have the attitude that each person is responsible for themselves. If I can get for me and you can’t get for you, then too bad for you.  That makes me sad.  Since when is it good to not care about your fellow American…..your fellow human being. Is having the newest car and the biggest house and the best clothes so important? Is it so important that we must turn our back on others?

I know there are people who would just sit on the couch and eat bon bons and take whatever they could get if society let them. But can’t there be some way to take care of those who work and try but get a serious illness and can’t work, or those who get laid off or whatever the case may be. I’m not saying we need to let the lazy folks get away with being that way and still getting a nice home and a reliable car, but there has to be some middle ground.

I know I have my affection for some expensive things.  But what would it hurt for my family to eat out once or twice less every month so the woman who can’t be insured because of a pre-existing condition can get her annual pap smear.  What would it hurt for my family to use the library a little more and Barnes and Noble a little less so that money could go to pay teachers a little better? 

The anwer is easy….it wouldn’t.

I have a dream…. February 13, 2008

Ok…so I just HAVE to talk about it.  Last night I had the most unusual dream.  And I think it’s proof that I may just be too wrapped up in this year’s Presidential Election. I had a dream about Barack Obama.  It wasn’t just any old dream.  I dreamt I was at a campaign rally and some friends and I were talking. He overheard and joined the conversation.  And the conversation was about real issues….taxes, healthcare, the war in Iraq….oh good grief! How boring my life must be that I dream about campaign rallies?  Can you tell I’m counting the days until Dubya leaves office?

I think the election this year is really hard.  Both of the Democratic front runners have their strengths and weaknesses and I don’t think either would be a particularly bad President.  Really, can we get much worse? I mean, I’m sure we could, but not before the citizens bear arms and storm Congress and the White House. 

But I’m doing my part to try and change things…I voted in the primary…not that it counted since I’m a FL resident…and on a side note, why aren’t more people mad about that?!?!? And a couple of weeks ago my oldest girls declared that when they grow up they want to be a Democrat just like Mommy…..SMART GIRLS….they make me so proud!  ((sniff, sniff))