Jessicarrot

Here is the first fully assembled cabinet.  Already my kitchen has more drawers than it did before.

Here is the new tile floor.  I actually love to sweep it.  So much more inspiring than the nasty vinyl sticky tiles with faded rose-print.

Here is one of our pantries–I’m in love!!!!

There will be 3 pamtries total…I can’t wait!!!

I am still perplexed about Obama. I did not know that the national anthem video was so old. And I honestly did not get it from a hate email. I don’t get hate emails about Obama. I guess anyone who knows me might guess I’m safe from crossing over to the dark side and voting democrat. Even when the R candidate is utterly disappointing. I’m guessing that all the stink people made about Obama not putting his hand over his heart in Iowa last year was a good lesson for Obama. People do care about symbols and gestures, especially if you are “living your patriotism.” The reasons I have found for Obama’s little gaff (in his words)

1. “My grandfather taught me when I was 2. During the Pledge of Allegiance, you put your hand over your heart. During the national anthem, you sing.” (Snopes.com)

2.”There are two places where this rumor started,” Obama said. “All right? Number one, we were at an event in Iowa and the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ was being sung by a woman and the camera caught me, not, I didn’t have my hand over my heart while I was listening and singing along with her, not out of disrespect, just because I was listening to her song and thought, ‘Boy, I was getting into the song.’ Now, I acknowledge the mistake of not having put my hand over my heart during the singing of the ‘Star Spangled Banner,’ although anybody who’s watching — I’m gonna look at all of you at a ball game one time and see if you always get it right, ’cause sometimes, we all, I just want to point that out, so that’s point number one.” (abc news political punch)

I can admit when I’m wrong. If this was just a one-time blunder I take back my sinster comment. I mean, if his grandfather taught him to sing the national anthem instead of placing his hand over his heart that is fine. It was his grandfather afterall, and lessons we learn at 2 are deeply ingrained. (sarcasm) I also regret the wailing cat comment since the rendition was so moving for Obama. (earnest) You can see that he was mouthing the words there at the end. But why then, in response to whether the hand-over-heart missing gesture was a mistake or if he habitually declines to do so did his campaign say, “Sometimes he does, sometimes he doesn’t. In no way was he making any kind of statement, any suggestion to the contrary is ridiculous.” (same snopes article from above)? It is possible to sing while putting your hand over your heart. And if it was a one-time mistake they/he should just say so. Sometimes he does and sometimes he doesn’t is a stupid way for his campaign to answer the question. It makes him seem arrogant. And Obama’s catching himself almost accusing people at ballgames seems odd to me. I’m not voting for joe-baseball fan. To be the president you are held to a higher standard, and gestures do matter.

And now, just for fun, here is a video I found on youtube when I was looking for other videos of Obama putting his hand on his heart. This is a Bollywood film song. And its not an underhanded accusation of Obama’s “secret muslim” status. I studied India in college and so I have an affinity for Indian cinema. Enjoy!

Obama sings film song in Hindi

Just standing there

Granted, the wailing cat “singing” the national anthem doesn’t really show much respect either. Maybe he didn’t know it was the national anthem. But then he’s just an aloof space cadet. Not wearing a flag pin is one thing, but not showing respect for the flag is disturbing. He’s running for president!

Utopia

I’m uneasy about Obama’s plan to cut defense spending and get rid of nuclear weapons. Hey, I’d love it if we lived in a different world… but once he pulls the troops out of Iraq and cuts defense spending the compound is going to start looking really good.

Now that Obama is the presumptive nominee for the Dems I know that the right wing bloodhounds are going to go for the jugular. I’ve tried to keep an open mind about him because I really don’t like McCain. But I don’t think I can forgive Obama for slighting the flag. It means something to me. It always has. The first two verses of our national anthem always bring me to tears:

O say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro’ the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watch’d, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro’ the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen thro’ the mists of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:
‘Tis the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

A deep and abiding respect for the men and women who fought and died for the ideals of our country was instilled in me very young. When I was in high school I protested the school boards decision to hold classes on memorial day by writing a letter and spending the day decorating war veteran’s graves with flags. (I now decorate graves with my children on memorial day.) I also won our schools voice of democracy speech contest that year hosted by the VFW. With the help of those wonderful men I was able to get flags in every classroom in my highschool. The flag means something to me. It always has. I just don’t understand a presidential candidate who won’t show respect for the flag. It feels deliberately sinister to me. Obama will not get my vote. The only good thing that can come of this election for me now is for John McCain to pick a solid, healthy running mate who actually represents the Republican party. win the election, and promptly die.

**For some reason the videos wouldn’t imbed…it must be a conspiracy!

Asher was brushing his teeth and Hila was in the family room telling me how dirty her feet were. I told her to go sit on the edge of the bathtub and wash them because it was past bedtime and I didn’t want to bother with a full bath. Then, I heard Asher say “I’ll clean them!” I wasn’t sure what he was talking about and then, this happened. I was feeding Hannah and told BJay to snap some pictures because I always want to remember this…

Asher, you are a sweetheart. I hope you remember to treat all women as nicely as you treat your sister!

I do like suvs. I’m easily influenced. I’ll never buy one though…

If I never had to worry about money I would probably like designer handbags. And expensive anti-aging creams.

I’m not really tolerant of other religions. Especially on the fringe weirdo ones. And being in a Muslim country is unnerving if you are a woman.

I don’t think I’m nice or quiet.

I think I might be done having kids…maybe

If you say, “Let me know if you need anything.” I won’t.

I’m not very humble. My husband tries to teach me stuff all the time and it gets on my nerves.

I may have learned more from the boring PBS shows my husband makes me watch than I did all 4 years of college.

If I have the time and money when my kids are grown, I think I’ll go to medical school.

I have started about 4 novels. Starting is easy.

I hate being on a school schedule… But I’m probably going to send both of my school age kids to school next year.

When people say my scar is looking so much better I really think they are just startled to see how bright and red it still is. (I usually wear shirts that cover it or necklaces but I’ve been wearing it proudly of late)

I have a hard time making friends.

I am freakishly intimidated by people on the phone. I hate making appointments. I will do everything in my power to avoid calling someone to ask for a favor. I put of phone calls until the last moment. And when its literally the last moment I won’t call because its rude. I have phone anxiety. I just learned this is fairly common.

I hate that I will never get an honest answer about whether or not I’m annoying.

Usually if I hate something to start I will end up loving it. Extreme emotions always gravitate to adoration. I guess I love things that make me feel.

I really don’t have a favorite child.

I eat when I’m upset.

I hate it when people say that I’m lucky that I get to stay home with my kids. Its not luck, its free agency and everyone has it…. (I just realized when I typed that that single moms might not have that choice…but honestly they aren’t who I’m talking about.)

I am a complete germaphobe.

I really am counting video games as exercise. (Wii fit, baby!)

I either dominate conversations or I don’t really participate.

I’m a long emailer.

I love giving gifts. For that reason I don’t think I’ll ever be very wealthy.

Its past midnight and I still have to do the dishes.