Pictures and Presidents

[altarflame]

This isn't the best picture to showcase it, but Elise was looking REALLY cute when we got back from that Mardi Gras thing last week.


At the theater to see Wizard of Oz - Ananda, Karen, Jeffrey, Isaac, Joanne, Aaron.








Yesterday Grant got a work order down in the Keys, so he left VeriFone and we all went down and when he was done, went over to Anne's Beach. While he was working, the kids and I were just hanging out and decided to go get some floats.

We decided to get Extreme Floats.

It was not easy to cram them in the van, even with the sliding side doors.

I LOVE this picture :)



















Then today, Nancy came and hung out with us - which was great. Ananda ran to her with arms thrown wide as soon as the door opened. She came in with big bags of presents, and I made a big lunch of veggies and chicken and things with orzo. She brought an uber-crunchy boxed mix for monkey bread that I baked this afternoon, too, so yummy. It was so awesome to just sit and catch up. There've been phone calls and emails - a dozen of each at least - since I left Boston, but it's different, you know? Especially with both of us being too busy to ever really go in depth through long distance communication. It's good to be "friends" now, too, and not have her keeping me at Professional Midwife Level Conversation, i.e., not saying anything that would be unprofessional about anyone or anything else. My sister came and met her. And I managed to get her to agree to pictures knowing I'd post them on my blog, which she sees as famous or something because within her circle of birth people, apparently everybody reads.


Elise loves her. And she cried when Elise walked to me, and waved to her, and backed down our step to the dining room, and all the other little things Elise does that are not just normal but double-take advanced for a 9 month old. She's holding her, here, and that's the back of Brian's head down in front. Look at this organized crowd :p



Grant got the job I talked about a few days ago, except the day shift, which is an added bonus. It's every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and every other Wednesday, 12 hour shifts (7:30am-7:30pm). $38k a year plus benefits after some period or other passes, with hours that will allow him to keep VeriFone, and the bank, and have whole uninterrupted days with us.

I don't know much of anything about Mike Huckabee except that he was on the Colbert show tonight, and cracking up with some double entendres as he played air hockey to try to "win Texas". That might be enough for me O_o I suppose I have to look up some more stuff. I've avoided bringing it up here thus far, but I am really anti-socialist policies. I want to keep my homeschooling freedoms, and I want women to have more birth freedoms, and I even prefer my own personal healthcare situation (choosing to pay out of pocket for our ped of choice who rocks, fighting for Medicaid but getting it in the end for Elise, her and I both getting all the emergent care we needed with bills coming later, all of it) than what I've heard of government health care. I really really REALLY like SMALL government more and more, the more I learn, even when it means that things I'm "Against" get to be done/legal/whatever (like abortion or guns). I don't want a draft, I don't want insane property taxes and death taxes on estates you leave to your kids and on and on, I don't want anyone up in my business. I'm a freewheeling libertarian Ron Paul supporter. I think :p Whenever I hear Obama or Hillary talking, they sound so freaking socialist and the end result is inevitably peoples' freedoms being taken away, in ways that scare me. It's like everyone's forgotten what we all learned in high school history - communism only works in theory. Capitalism DOES take care of (almost) everyone in the end because of the trickle-down effect wealth in a nation like ours has, and it gives everyone the opportunity to strive and reach further and achieve that American Dream if that's what they're after...

I think of really liberal, progressive areas of our country where people like Hillary are popular, like New York City, and it's like...people in New York have no birth freedom at all. They imprison midwives, Nancy told me when I was in Massachusetts that if I were to go into labor while she was in Syracuse for the ICAN conference, she'd have to cross back over to do my birth. They have all these seemingly great initiatives in place for new low income mothers, too...where they strongly discourage co-sleeping and widely teach that you must vaccinate and all this. Moms who do things in "unusual" ways that are ignorantly thought to be unsafe are reported to CPS. Homeschooling is extremely rare, it's just...crap, as far as I'm concerned. That's not what I want.

But of course you can't find a likely candidate who is small government AND cares about the environment (which I do). Enter Ron Paul. Who is not likely :/

I have to wash ye olde dishes.

Comments

[altarflame.livejournal.com]

I think that's a really cold, hardass way of putting it, BUT it brings me to another point of my own...

My father in law is totally against being taxed for "random slackers", he doesn't want to be FORCED to help pay strangers' ways. But, he never for one second minds opening up his house for our family, or giving a ride or a meal or a check to Grant's sister, or paying for a whole semester of G's cousin's college...the man has a huge heart, he just wants to be able to direct his own giving as he sees fit.

And I understand that.

I think it's your right as an American to say you don't want subsidize slackers if you see it that way, and Lindsay's right to do whatever she can to help people she sees as being less fortunate. But socializing it into government policy? That doesn't seem American at all...

[altarflame.livejournal.com]

But both parents working is not one person on one minimum wage job. That's TWO incomes. And yeah I think it would be great, obviously, if it was easier to stay home with kids, but that is a whole other debate...

Of course some people have minimum wage jobs, I just have never personally known ANYONE who was working a minimum wage job, living alone, trying to make it work with no other income. I've known college kids living 2 to 4 per apartment, and I've known couples with a roommate, like you guys, and a single mom who also got welfare and food stamps and medicaid, but I've never met anyone who tried to pay bills all on their own that way with nothing and nobody else.

If you think I'm wrong that's fine but I don't see what's "Shocking" here...

[the-leh.livejournal.com]

In the show, both people were working a minimum wage job. They ended up $1,200 in debt because of the health issues that came up while they were doing the show.

I don't know how to tell you why I am so shocked by your position without being rude or whatnot. I just thought you would have a different take on it.

Re: scarcity: look it up.

[the-leh.livejournal.com]

So you think being denied due to socioeconomic class is better?

Re: scarcity: look it up.

[the-leh.livejournal.com]

I don't think that's true. I think that's one person's opinion, and I find that system to be much better than our own.

[altarflame.livejournal.com]

Honestly I saw it a long time ago, and not all the way through.


I have an idea that what you're implying is, you thought that as a Christian person I would be Christ-like and about helping people, not leaving them high and dry. I understand that, but I don't think you're seeing that I am ALL ABOUT helping people - individual people I come across and local places that give aid to those who walk in through the door. I think everyone should do that. Whether it's handing the homeless guy a $20 and a hot chocolate, taking all your used stuff to donate rather than throw out, volunteering at shelters, giving 10% to tything, supporting a family because they need it and you can, paying your niece's way through college, organizing something in your town that does something for people that you care about - I love all of those things and try to teach my kids to love them.

I think that politicians, though, are always in it for personal gain to some degree, and governments are always going to be slow moving, inefficient machines...It's like the way a small business is a beautiful thing, but blow it up into a big business and you end up with something horrendous, like Walmart. I don't shop at Walmart. Ever. Even if it means we wait til the next day when something else is open, or do without because we can't afford it somewhere else. Because they push and promote treating low income workers horribly, and I can't stand that. I don't buy Nestle, even when I have a craving or it means I have to make the mousse from scratch, because they hurt poor mothers and babies in places where those mothers don't know any better or have options.

I care about people a whole lot. I just have a different opinion about how to put that into action. I think if people reached out, as Christians or just as caring human beings, to each other, on a local level, a LOT less people would fall through the cracks than will in a nationwide program of any kind, which will by it's very nature not be able to take individuals into account to the same extent. And which will likely, by it's very nature, make local support networks dwindle away as people feel this other thing is taking it's place (and their dollars).

[the-leh.livejournal.com]

But everyone doesn't reach out on a local level. Not everyone is like you and me. Just because we are good people, doesn't mean everyone else is.

SOMETHING has to be done about our health care. It's crazy wrong for them to be making millions off the backs fo the American public.

Sure, there are plenty of flaws in socialized medicine, but what we have going on now, is so much worse. Sometimes it's a matter of choosing between to evils.

I don't shop at Wal Mart either, and, afaik, I don't buy Nestle (they own a lot of stuff, so, I'm not sure about everything I buy but I don't buy processed food and I think my water isn't Nestle, but it might be. Most of the bottled water here is made by them, unfortunately).

[the-leh.livejournal.com]

Btw, and I should have mentioned this in the first place, I really liked your pictures and I'm glad you got to see Nancy. Sorry for not saying that, I was just distracted by the end part of your entry.

Re: The book looks interesting in a hard to wade through way.

[erinmdmd.livejournal.com]

:) This was the secret to my enviable hair too at one time:) Don't cut, wash sparingly, only brush while wet. Touch as little as possible.

[heavynleigh.livejournal.com]

I'm a huge Ron Paul fan and I really wish he stood a chance of getting on the Republican ticket and winning the election. I voted for him on Tuesday in the primaries, not that it did much good. :-p

[altarflame.livejournal.com]

What would happen, though, if every left-wing liberal person who is outraged right now in this country stopped pumping money, blogging time, and free ads via signs and stickers into their politician of choice, and started donating their money instead to...
-Lions Clubs, that provide free glasses and lasik surgeries to people like my poor grandpa in Key West that just had it done for free
-Planned Parenthood, if that is what they believe in
-the Make a Wish Foundation

and the gazillion other things like that out there? Why are we putting all the money, the ads and the energy into selling candidates for months from now while right now, TODAY, each and every one of us has people in our town who could benefit if we just shifted our focus? I know it's supposed to be as an investment in a president that will ignite change that will benefit everyone, but what happens if, in the end, the president either A. is not the one they're hoping for, B. doesn't do what they promised, or C. CAN'T do what they'd like because of being veto'd or otherwise held up by all the hooplaw that holds up presidents' good intentions? Then all the money, the time, and the energy went to waste, and the needy are still without help, because when the government can't do it, we hold up our hands and say, "I guess we're all out of luck".

OR, say the investment IS a good one. The new president does INCREDIBLE things and starts up socialized healthcare, raises the miminum wage, pumps money into education. BUT, as a result, companies are no longer sending samples to doctors because they don't have a "product to sell", so doctors no longer have free samples to distribute. People no longer have the freedom to say what care is necessary for them, or when they should get it, or even in some cases to choose their own doctors. The price of everything goes up in response to the raised wages such that we're right back where we started again, like it always has in the past. And we see that, while more money helps schools for sure with some things like paying teachers better and getting supplies that they need, it hardly solves the problems we're having with violence, testing-based curriculums and so forth.

What I like most about capitalist society is my ability to "vote with my dollars". I can boycott companies I don't support. I can spend my money at places I feel good about - the local family owned bookstore, for instance, and tithing, and cruelty-free animal products that will create more of a demand for same at the grocery store. When everything is based on taxes and legislated, though, my ability to "vote with my dollars" is being taken from me, and suddenly I am responsible by law for PAYING FOR everything from unecessary cesareans and routine circumcisions to formula samples and the crap they give (most, I know some programs are improving) WIC moms. While it's true that hospital revenue accounts for some birth policies in the US, it is as bad or worse in parts of Canada where it's socialized. I don't think peoples' ingrained, society-based fears will suddenly go away if healthcare changes, I really don't. Not this generation, at least.

Off topic, but wtf is UP with Nestle's trillions of covert operations? Geez. They own most of the Fl bottled water companies, too. And Lancome, which used to be my favorite (and only) makeup!

[altarflame.livejournal.com]

Thanks :)

I was starting to think that nobody would ever mention the pictures :p That is what I get for always doing multi-topic entries.

I was bizarrely dissapointed last time around when nobody commented about Snoop Dogg.

[the-leh.livejournal.com]

Well, Hilary was mostly funded by lawyers, the health care industry, and some from her husband. I think the outraged liberals funded Obama :P

In all seriousness though, I don't think we're going to agree on this, we just won't.

Yeah, Nestle is really annoying. I seriously can't find a bottled water company that they don't own. at least, not in my local stores.

[the-leh.livejournal.com]

I didn't see an entry about Snoop Dogg! LOL.

[altarflame.livejournal.com]

I guess I am jaded, but it's hard for me to feel like votes matter at all anymore. Living in Florida our votes seem to always turn out to be shadily managed or get disqualified somehow, and we've been under a president who didn't win by popular vote at all for two terms now :/

[altarflame.livejournal.com]

Yeah, on the 4 day a week days it will be a pain in the ass, but on the 3 it's not so bad. He's thinking of doing VeriFone every Monday and the Wednesday's he not at this gig, and then the bank is a really easy low maintenance customer to keep happy. One thing that sucks a lot is he has a bit of a commute to the new one - it's up by the Dolphin Mall, if that means anything to you.

How did you picture Nancy?

[altarflame.livejournal.com]

I encounter a lot of vehement Hillary hatred but never really hear WHY people hate her vehemently. I wonder if it's just a charisma thing - she is not (in my mind) an especially likeable persona. She seems sort of shrill and by our society's standards is not very attractive, and I even have a sort of general idea of her as being a little sarcastic. But I know very little about her in real concrete terms. I know I liked her husband a lot as a president and that her marriage has had some trouble. I know she likes socialized health care and wants to bring the troops home.

I think the sad thing re: parties is that the republican party CHANGED at some point...it went from being the small government, protect American rights party to being the right wing evangelical Christian pro-war group. I mean really, who wants that? I'm registered to vote as an Independant but really do dig this whole Libertarian thing more the more I learn about it.

[theneolistickid.livejournal.com]

1st of all - sorry for jumping in, but this is a hot topic.

I don't think it should be easy to get rich. That's the American Dream - you have to chase it and bust your ass to get it. I think the fact that rich kids get into better schools or whatever is part of becoming rich. I know that if I can work hard and somehow get rich, my children and their children will benefit from it. For every rich person, there has to be one person in their family history who made it happen. It's part of the whole allure of making it.

What about the huge number of immigrants (Asians and Indians come to mind right now) that come over here dirt broke from poor families and work harder than most Americans to eventually own a businesses and make it happen?

Yes, I know that's a horribly generalized and almost racist thing to say, but I'm only speaking from personal experience from people I know or have seen.

...Just my 2¢.

[mommydama.livejournal.com]

Well, I agree with every word you said about politics. Thats all I'll say about that...except after reading all the comments about socialized medicine, I must add that we do have a example in our country of what socialized medicine in America would be like. It is the military health care system. I could tell you stories that would make your hair curl. I get outside that system every opportunity I have. I do take advantage of it, but the referral system and the lack of choices and the wait time, etc. all add up to something I would hate to see take over our entire health care system in this country. Because we DO still have a free market system, I can CHOOSE to go outside the military and pay out of pocket. And we've done that numerous times. I'd hate to see that choice disappear. In fact, it makes me feel a bit panicky. I do struggle with this issue a bit because I cannot stand the thought that there are kids out there not getting health or dental care they NEED...but I'm not entirely sure who to blame for that, you know?

I got all misty eyed at the pics and story of Nancy's visit. That has to be so bittersweet for both of you. What a neat lady! She looks like such a comforting presence too. If I ever get pregnant, I'll be looking for someone like that to help me.

I loved those beach pics. I want to go to the beach. I'm totally fed up with the snow and cold here. By the way, I called you last night, but I must have used the wrong phone number again. I left a message. Can you e-mail me the right phone numbers?

[medland.livejournal.com]

The last picture of Elise in the buggy is amazing. I love love love Nancy's ice cream top and matching earrings!

from eBirdie

[(Anonymous)]

Your pictures, as ever, are adorable. I'm amazed at how many things you manage to get out and do that are fun and out of routine...I don't get out with my daughter as much as I should, and I only have one - it should be easy! Of course, it's February in Illinois and we have about 2 and a half feet of snow out front, but still! Anyway...I'm sure Nancy was *so* happy to see Elise!

And I'm with you on the small government thing.

[medland.livejournal.com]

In the UK all medical care except the dentist and eye tests are free at the point of use for everyone. You can get free dental care and eye tests if you're young, old, pregnant or sick with specific conditions. There are set costs for the dentist (£15/$30 for a check up) and for eye tests (£20/$40). Prescriptions are £6/$12 a time. I've used the UK health system a lot and I have to say, it's really good. Sure, there are waiting lists especially for 'non urgent' things and their mental health provision is not at all as good as it could be but it's good. My 94 year old grandmother spent time in hospital late last year and I was amazed at the treatment she got it was so good. She gets home medical care as well. We don't have ID cards or social security numbers here so 'all' you need to register with a doctor is a fixed address. However there are clinics where you can get treatment, for free, without having even that. If you go to the emergency dept of the hospital they'll treat you even if you don't give your name. A lot of people here bitch about the NHS but learning about the American system, mostly through LJ has made me realised how amazingly blessed we are to have it.

[medland.livejournal.com]

The thing is, "poor people" in this country still have it better than "middle class" people in many other countries, and it is BECAUSE of the trickle down effect of capitalism...

But why can't you have both? In the UK we have a capitalist system but we also have a social care network far more advanced and far reaching than the US. If you're sick or poor or disabled or old or young or whatever then the government will provide for you. And they're able to do that because the people who are able to earn money pay their taxes. Do you really think that'd be a bad thing to have in America? Not trying to start a fight or be a bitch, I am really interested to know what you think.

[medland.livejournal.com]

nobody really tries to live on their own on one minimum wage income

I do.

To hell with Huckabee

[redcosmic-earth.livejournal.com]

The man equates homosexuality with beastiality in terms of sexual deviance. Is this someone you want for president?