Autumn, Snow, and Ice? Oh My!

"-8c." That's what the bank sign blared as I got Madeline to daycare this morning. We stayed in until I was sure that the roadways were absolutely clear enough for the Princess (that's Madeline, BTW, I know that I am well past the stage where calling myself a "princess" in unacceptable. I'm now the Queen). I do not mind driving in and on ice and snow. My car handles well, and I've had some practice. However, I do not like driving on it with Madeline in the car. She is an added distraction, that angel. Anyway, we stayed home until after lunch, just in enough time for me to make it to my 12:30 class.

After parking in a great spot, I had just enough time to check my hotmail account for news about working over Christmas break, then rush to class across campus. Class was cancelled. Really. I rushed all the way over there in this freaking cold weather, which I dislike to a major degree, and class was cancelled. Growl. I want bonus points!

To top it off, I'm near the "bull's eye," as Brian Busby put it during the weather report last night. The 'Burg, which I now call my home, is set up to receive up to 16 inches of snow. Who need that much? I'll take 3, please. That's plenty. Especially considering that I don't have a shovel to clear my porch and steps! Though, I do look forward to seeing my daughter all bundled up in her pink coveralls with her purple coat, bright pink mittens, striped tassel fleece hat, and Princess boots. We will play in the snow... We might build a snow friend or make snow angels or have a snow ball fight or just run around in circles like crazy people. That is what I am looking forward to. The only thing that I can handle looking forward to on this freezing cold day.

It's a Boy!

I haven't officially shared this news until now, because I did not feel that it was my news to share. But now, I'm just too dang excited not to share... Are you ready?

Really?

Matthew (everyone's favorite little brother) and his girlfriend Andrea (who is wonderful) are having a baby. Not only that, but they had a sonogram today and found out that they were having a healthy baby BOY!

I am very excited for them. I know that they will make great parents. Congratulations, Kids! (well, maybe I shouldn't call them kids any more...) I'm very happy for you!

And the Mother-of-the-Year Award Goes To...

Yesterday, I decided to try out the local public library with Miss Maddie in tow. We had not been there yet, and I thought I'd had enough of Cat in the Hat for at least a day. We parked in the smallest parking lot ever, only because someone else was leaving. Then entered the new looking library. When we got to the children's section, Madeline spotted a puzzle table and a play house and big bean bag chair; she spotted them rather loudly. After I got her shushed, I went on a search for "rhymie" books. This is not easy. I have not been in the children's section of the library since I didn't have to lean down to pick the books. I found five that seemed like they'd work well for her. I let her test them at the cutest little person table I think I've ever seen, then we were headed to the check out counter.

Madeline did not want to leave the children's section of the library. She let me know by "going limp," you know, the start of a fit when a child refuses to listen to her momma by simply sitting down on the floor while her momma tries to pull her along, that kind of "going limp."

Finally, I coaxed her to the checkout counter, and I started filling out the paperwork for a library card and getting the books ready to go.

"Mommy! Down!" which translates into, "Mommy, put me down right now, or I'll scream!" So, I put her down with a threatening warning (the kind you talk through your teeth to sound "meaner"), "Stay RIGHT HERE!"

"Okay, Momma, stay right here!" She was playing along the counter, then started heading toward the front, the glassed in entry-way to be exact. The kind of glass that you can see all the way outside to, yeah, that kind.

Yes.

She ran, head on into the wall of glass thinking that she was about to escape into the great outdoors.

"TWAPP!" then all the AARP-lovin' ladies behind the counter went, "AHHH!" (in a loud whisper, of course). She didn't cry until they did that.

I scooped her up, filled out an accident form for the librarian, took the books, and ran.

...A mother who keeps better track of her two-year-old at the library.

On The Election

Dear Missourians (and others who may stumble upon this):

I really don't know where to begin. My state let me down on Tuesday. I'm not even talking about democrats taking control of the house and senate. I know that those people will be held accountable by the people of this country and issues will eventually work themselves out. I am strangely okay with that.

What I am not okay with is amendment two. I'm really not. How can anyone (especially 60% of Missourians who voted) think that this is okay? Don't get me wrong, I am all for finding cures to cancer and Parkinson and all the other diseases that plague the people, but is it really worth killing embryos to get it? Did people really know that scientists would be creating embryos not with sperm and eggs, but with purchased eggs and adult stem cells? Do people really know what that means for research? Did people know that this was already legal in good ol' Missouri and that this amendment just makes sure that we can never make it illegal? This is an AMENDMENT to the CONSTITUTION of Missouri, People!! Not just some "question" that we can come back to and change later.

Did voters educate themselves on the risks of egg donors? Donors could suffer anything from kidney failure to death after donating eggs to this research. Is this something that I want to pay for as a taxpayer? Nope.

The research is bad enough, but knowing that my tax dollars could go to fund this research is outrageous. It makes me not want to pay taxes for the rest of my life, but I will.

It's so sad that we no longer link church and state, but we can pass this kind of research into our constitution. Sad.

Here's a conversation I had with a fellow sad person regarding the election on Tuesday:

KG: I cannot believe that McCaskell got elected! How can people not see through her??!!
Me: Well, I watched some of the debates, and Talent didn't look so hot himself...
KG: How watches those things anyway?
Me: [huff] I do!
KG: That's right! Informed voters! That's who! How many people do you think are uninformed voters?
Me: I don't know? 50% or 75% maybe?
KG: I'll tell you, over 60% because that's how many voted for Amendment 2!!
Me: [trying not to laugh] I see what you mean...


It's not funny, but it is. And, BTW, darn you people who voted for Amendment Two because you felt sorry for the people in the commercials. Darn you.

Sincerely,
Former Embryo, Rachel

on behalf of former embryos everywhere, including my daughter Madeline Grace

Trick Or Treat!

Last night was a blast. Madeline was on top of her game as a princess. She had the pink dress, the clip on ear rings, the septor, and (of course) the tierra. We walk to downtown "The 'Burg" and followed a huge line of trick-or-treators around the block. Local business (and local politians campaigning) opened their doors (and cars... weird, but strangely normal, I think) to kids looking for a safe place to get candy. I was happy to see that the kids came with adults/parents; so the place wasn't just overrun by kids. Maddie didn't really get into saying, "Trick or Treat;" she more or less just held her bag up for people to put candy in. The funny thing was that if she didn't see them put the candy in she would just leave her bag up there... and if there was more than one person in a location handing out candy, she was sure to put her bag up for both people!! It was very cute. Toward the end (note that we walked about 4 blocks there and around was another 4 blocks or so), I would ask her if she wanted to get in her stroller, "No Thank you, Momma." But she was so, so tired. I'll post pictures when I get them developed. She was too cute. We got more candy than we needed for sure... so if you come visit us, we'll give you candy, probably until Christmas!

Oh, yeah. I dressed up as a pirate.