The New West Wing

I've spent all day on the couch watching a West Wing marathon. MAN, I loved that show. It was just such good writing and character development. In addition, I read an article that said that Matt Santos was based on Barack Obama and that Josh Lyman was based on Rahm Emmanuel. This may be pure pucky made up by the liberal media (that my parents loathe), but it is interesting that it is out there.

I have many conservative friends. Many of these conservative friends are either in morning or completely pissed over the results of the election. I would like to think that had McCain been elected, I could have been one of those "Let's roll up sleeves and unite" kind of Dems, but his choice of what I see as an inept Sarah Palin ruined that for me. I hope Obama can bring conservatives around by not living up to his reputation as what friend calls "the most liberal of all current senators."

I want there to be Change. Yes, with a BIG C, because I sure as shit drank the Kool-Aid. In fact, I had my own Kool-Aid stand for over 2 years and I am still a believer. Here is why I voted fro Obama:

1. Iraq. Even though the polls say that less that 20% people voted based on their feelings on the war, it was the #1 thing on my mind. I don't think we had any business being there and I think it has basically become a civil war. I can't get my head around why American men and women are getting killed and wounded for what appears to be religious reasons in a country that is not our own. Oil? Maybe. Pride (Bush's)? Maybe. Neither a good enough answer for me when it comes to American lives. I do not believe a withdrawal = surrender. I think we did what we could and now we are should give the Iraqi people what we supposedly wanted to give them originally - independence. We cannot continue to hold your collective hand. Not at this great an expense.

2. Health Care. And this is where many, many, MANY people disagree with me. I believe there is a subset of people who a) make enough money to get by but b) don't qualify for Medicaid or WIC or can't afford the premium their employer charges to get coverage for themselves and their kids. Yes, I realize that there will be people taking advantage of the system - Welfare moms, slackers, etc. But I don't believe that is a good reason NOT to help those who really DO need it and can't get it. There will always be people taking advantage of the system (hello, Lehman Brothers. I am talking to YOU), but that hasn't stopped us from moving forward as a nation before.

3. Bipartisanship. I know, I KNOW - "the most liberal of all current senators." But in his history in the Illinois senate, Obama had a history of bipartisanship. I really, really want to see this happen on the national level. Utopian, I know. But wouldn't it be nice?

4. I'm pro-choice and fear an administration that would continue to appoint Supreme Court Justices who are not and who would seek to overturn Roe v. Wade. The choice to carry an unplanned pregnancy to term is a choice as well. I don't believe the government - state or federal - should be able to tell me what to do with my body or what may be growing within it (embryo, alien probe, tumor, etc...). I understand the opposite viewpoint. I just do not agree with when zygote turns to embryo turns to actual person.

For the record, not such a fan of Biden, although he has an excellent history on Israel, he just seems smarmy. Also for the record, I wish fellow Dems would quit belittling Republicans because they believe what they do. We may not be able to understand it, but shouldn't we take a cue from our President-Elect and try to work together?

I am just so excited with the interest and participation Obama has inspired thus far. I am hopeful of where we can go with that kind of energy.

Yes, I know many of you disagree with me and are verified anti-Obamites. That's OK. Lemme have it. I'm going back to my West Wing marathon.

Weird Weekend

OK, I realize I still need to post on the election. I was speechless for several days afterward and now we have had new drama, so Barack is gonna have to wait for me to weigh in.

I was scheduled to go to Louisville this weekend for a Sisterhood conference. That, my friends, did not happen. Instead, 15 minutes before my ride was to arrive, there was an emergency squad in our driveway.

Osi has a pretty sever case of varicose veins. He has seen a vascular specialist about it and wore compression sock for a while, but decided a bout a year ago or so that he didn't need those anymore. While putting on his socks Friday morning, he ruptured one of them. Outside of the show ER and the pregnancy scare we had, I have never seen that much blood. Thank God dad was still here from the Browns' game the night before. He was able to watch The Toddler while I called 911 and accompanied Osi to the ER.

I can now say, with authority, that hydrogen peroxide will remove mass quantities of human blood from carpet. That must be the Mob's secret.

Osi was instructed to keep his leg wrapped and elevated, ergo, I did not leave Jack with him and truck off for what I had hoped was a relaxing girls' weekend.

Poor Jack was traumatized by the whole thing. He just wanted to go upstairs and see Daddy, but I didn't think it was a good idea for him to A) be in the way of the paramedics and B) see that much blood. His angst was deepened when both mommy and daddy took off in the big red, loud trucks with flashing lights.

Oswald is OK now, but I think it will take some time for Jack to get back to normal. I took him and Donovan down to Cincy on Saturday just to let Osi have time to rest. The fact that Osi wasn't there and he woke up in a strange bed only made a mountain out of the molehill of his confusion. Poor kid. 'Wald is at the doctor now, following up.

Adding to the weirdness, there are strange Latinos in my front yard blowing my leaves to the curb. I am not accustomed to random acts of kindness in our neighborhood (see the previous post about dude scaring the bejeezus out of the toddlers on Halloween) so I don;t know what to make of this new development. It can only be the work of said dude, who owns a landscaping company. So now I've got the guilt of calling him a dumbass weighing on me. I supposed I could just go ask the mysterious Mexicans what they are doing and who sent the Angels of lawn care, but that ain't how I roll. I have taken to peering intermittently through my blinds. Smooth, no?

Anyway, let us hope that this week is much less eventful than the last.

PS Also, I brought a stomach bug back from Cincy. Hurray!