All over again!

Just as I got back to 115 lbs from my first pregnancy and bought clothes that fit,
V and I found out that I'll be getting a lot fatter again soon! Our second baby is
on the way. Fortunately, Kenneth loves other babies, so I know that he will be a good
big brother. Here he is! My big boy:



I haven't paid as much attention as I ought to to politics lately. However, I was amused
to see Bill Clinton campaigning for Hillary. According to him, Hillary should be president because
she's popular in Germany, which is important, because it's the biggest country in Europe.

That's nice. Maybe she ought to run there then. Or perhaps every country ought to pick the leader Americans like best, since the United States is the biggest country in North America.

So far, I'm not fond of anyone who's running. Hopefully that will change by November.

Simmering Down

Kenneth is one-year-old and taking his first steps. My parents will be visiting me in a little over a week. Things have changed dramatically these last couple years. Before Kenneth was born, the tension between my family and me was nearly unbearable. I can still remember my mom's almost hateful looks when she would see me, my dad's obvious disappointment and the financial struggles of a tough year. And I can remember my husband's mother's kind face as she tried to make everyone feel happy, even while she was sick. And then seeing that she was gone and feeling a cloud over just about everything.

Some of the disappointment will always be there, but my parents have been wonderful to Kenneth and included V in Christmas cards and letters and, yes, they're even visiting! Most of the things that I used to think were important haven taken a back seat to getting a smile out of my son.

If someone would have told me this is how things would be two years ago, I'd have thought they were crazy. But this is life and I'm thankful to have such a good one.

A familiar (albeit grumpy) voice

I listened to Michael Savage today, because V was gone, and it makes me think of him. As usual, Savage spent the day criticizing the president and promoting gold. Usually, this sort of thing would irritate me, not just because I like the president, but because I hate listening to the same material over and over. Three times is reasonable. Spending over a year saying the same thing is a little bit much. But today it was pleasant, because it was familiar.

This year I've begun a number of new things. I am now working as a freelance writer, tutoring math (anyone who knows me knows how funny that is!), attending a womens' bible study, and helping my son through his separation anxiety stage. I'm also getting used to V working 12 hour days. So, with the house a little emptier, and some things being so foreign, it's nice to have a familiar voice about, saying familiar things.

Side note:
One fun new thing I've recently discovered is CBS's Shark. It stars James Woods, who I'd like even if he weren't a Republican. The show is a law-drama that mixes wit with crime and tragedy. The characters are likable - at least, some of them - and the plots are pretty intricate.
In my opinion, it's the best newshow on right now. It just may replace Monk as my favorite! Although, if Tony Shalhoub would start turning conservative, he'd secure my love ;).
But more seriously, Shark is a little more realistic than Monk. I haven't decided whether that makes it better or worse.

If I don't eat, your car won't run!

I recently came across an interesting news story, headlined, "Liposuctioned fat could be biodiesel fuel".

Here's how it begins:

"One person's liposuction is another person's biodiesel fuel, as a Norwegian businessman wants to use suctioned fat to develop an alternative fuel source."

So, the question is, would you use it? I don't think I would. Some things are useful that shouldn't be. It's not quite the same as making someone into a lamp shade. After all, the people are still, presumeably, living. But I still see visions of skiny people having liposuction done for money. Or it might encourage a temporary obesity fad. If being fat means making money, hey, bring on the oreos! On the other hand, maybe it would allow people who might otherwise pay a great deal to have the proceedure done for free. And maybe it would help them boost their self-esteem while helping cars run.

Christmas Past

Almost Christmas I can remember has been happy. This year was no exception. I was nervous about it beforehand, as we had planned to spend it with my husband's ex-girlfriend and possibly mu grandma. Neither one has much in common, and V's ex and I are usually awkward and quiet around each other.

But Christmas wasn't awkward at all. We spent it alone as a family and spent a very pleasant evening with V's ex at Mimi's diner. For once, she and I talked, and we agreed on a number of things. When it was time to leave, we said goodbye, almost as friends and smiled genuine smiles.

Kenneth charmed everyone in the stores when we did some last minute shopping, and he smiled at the old, the poor, and the sad looking.

It was nice to have Vern home on Christmas Day. But now he's returned to work, and I am back battling with a messy house, with Kenneth clinging to me as tighly as he can! Hopefully, tomorrow, I'll get ahead in the battle.

Senator Johnson

Today I saw my old state senator's face on CNN. To me, his face is familiar - he'd often come to speak to school kids when he campaigned. But to see him on national news was a surprise. He always sort of took the back seat to Tom Daschle. And so I knew, even though the television was muted, that the news must be negative.

Sure enough, Senator Tim Johnson went to the hospital today. The press says that if something happens to keep the senator from staying in his position, control will go back to the Republicans. It is ironic that the man who never got top billing is now in the spotlight, due to a misfortune.

Even though I am a Republican, and would other other circumstances, be glad to have my party in control, I cannot be happy about the prospect. I hope whatever is wrong with Senator Johnson will quickly be right again - and that, if my party does gain contol, it is because citizens have voted for its candidates.

A little more organized - but not really

Changes made:
I've separated this blog into two parts to keep it more organized.
This is the main blog, and littlemug.blogspot.com is where I will
keep posts about Kenneth.