Random Topics That Make Me Smile

Last night when I was tucking Harper in bed, she tells me that if she had to go to a desert island with only four things, she'd take Mommy, Daddy, Polly (the dog) and Lovey (the well-worn much-loved blanket with a teddy head attached). But if she were allowed five things, she'd also bring a backpack. And she'd stuff a pillow in it.

In a couple of weeks, I head to SC for Anne Marie's "40 is Fabulous 80's Prom." My look will be decidedly Suddenly Susanesque. Black lace coctail dress. Looking for fishnets. Satin pumps. Maybe a rad headband. Need some Final Net for my hair. Must transform middle age curly 'do for high-bangs 80's 'do.

Tried on the black prom dress last week. Fits in some areas and not in others. Harper's observation: "Mommy, you look good on top. And you just look a little fat on the bottom." Something I've been trying to come to terms with for years.

The Dance for Democracy

...Otherwise known as the Democratic Caucus, which I attended last Saturday. In fact, for our left-wing entertainment, a 4th grade boy performed a little number entitled "Dance for Democracy," pictured here. Notice in the foreground that the elderly delegate found that Democracy was a little loud for his taste. Surrounding said dance was a two-hour period during which the delegation attendance was tallied, the old fashioned way sans computer, to determine how many alternates should be seated. The rather lengthy tally time was filled with a few informational speeches and inspirational songs played over the loud speaker (i.e. Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'") while delegates chatted and ate lunch. A very cute toddler walked around smiling at everyone with her "Hillary cares about me!" t-shirt on.

I had an interesting conversation over lunch with one woman from my church and some nice folks I met at the table. I confessed to being a lifelong Republican (felt I had to, especially since I've been seriously considering John McCain of late). One person made the comment that in the past, Republicans were more like Libertarians in their call for less government, but that today, they were more interested in controlling everyone's lovelives and uteruses. I mentioned that a lot of Christians had felt disenfranchised by the Democrats in decades past, and thus the Republican party had become a religious right magnet. However, I found it quite interesting that my new Democratic friends supported governmental control over certain aspects of the marketplace, specifically the healthcare industry, so as to reduce the effects of greed on the average working class American. Then in the next sentence, there was loud agreement that the government NOT control any other aspects of morality. Seemed unbalanced to me. But, finally, I could see the difference between Reds and Blues: one says government should not control the marketplace but it should control social norms, whereas the other says the opposite. Given that definition, I think I'm moving more and more to the left. But, still, Republicans seem to have their feet more solidly placed in economic reality. Democrats seem more idealistic. I'm trying to dance around in the middle. Ah, the Dance for Democracy!!