Experiments In Communal Living

Hi there folks! (Folk? Is there more than one of you? Have I lost all of you in my neglectful absence?) We have been off galavanting around the state for a bit, up to South Lake Tahoe, out to Kirkwood ski resort and back home again. We made the trip extra exciting by driving during a huge rain/snow storm last Saturday. But it was all worth it because the friends we stayed with Saturday night had already hired a babysitter for their kids for Sunday morning (who was kind enough to accept one more) and we all got freshies (um Dad, getting freshies means skiing in fresh powdery snow...) at Heavenly until our little legs could take no more. (Which honestly was about three hours, but a very fun three hours!)



Then the Tank Family continued on to our fancy resort condo for a two night stay with another wee sporty family. Their daughter is only two months older than the Tankster, and they got along great! We took turns watching the kiddos and skiing for the next two days, enjoying lovely snow and perfect weather. It was kind of neat having four parents and two kids around. One couple could cook dinner, while the other two kid wrangled. One person could bathe both tots while the other three cleaned up from dinner, showered, or even read a book! Aside from the other tot having a terrible cold (that I hope we do not get) and not sleeping much during the three days it was perfect!



Flash through the trip home, the hurried unpack, the even more hurried rush out the door this morning, and a long day at the office, and we arrive at our third experiment in family dynamics. A close friend of ours just had her second child 6 weeks ago. For the first time since the birth her husband had to be away for two nights. I called on my way out the door from work to see if she needed anything from town. Turned out what she needed most was to get out of the house. So we all converged on our post-trip-disaster of a house. Chaos! But honestly it was giggling rollicking chaos!

Tank Boy and Train Boy had so much fun running around, bonking into each other and bouncing off the walls. The noise level was a notch or two above the regular din here at the Hoop Ranch, but it would have been criminal to squelch their fun! The new wee one was alert and cooing and scrumptiously sweet...



So the burning (and itching, can you feel it itching?) question that comes about from all of these recent experiences is this: To procreate, or not to procreate? I have heretofore been convinced that one tot was plenty for me, why would I need to make it harder on myself? But that rusty door that I thought I had sealed shut long ago is creaking open to the idea of the possibility of the potential of possibly having another kid in our lives. And I can't even believe that I'm saying that! Do you remember how miserable I was during the first six, no maybe nine, no maybe 12 months of Tankster's existence? The no sleep the sore boobies, the vulva of mashed potato! What am I thinking?

Or better yet, what are you thinking? Environmentalism, zero population growth, adoption, siblings, rivalry, heck have a whole hockey team? Lets hear it!

If You Can Dodge A Wrench...

Hey there! This is a really random assortment of events from the past week... Hum an inspirational tune to yourself and think of it as a photo montage, mkay?

Tank Boy enjoyed playing in puddles of all sorts...



I made an awesome quiche with local organic collard greens, fresh dill and eggs, store bought onions, goat cheese, and cheddar, that was the rockin'est quiche I've ever made, but they boys pretty much couldn't have cared less, so I had to eat the whole thing myself...


I got Tank Boy to grudgingly model yet another Foliage hat...


Have you guys seen this shot from The Drudge Reportof McCain nuzzling Bush? Poor kids, had their awkward slash tender moment forever caught on the digi!


And a quick snippet of our Sunday evening. Poor Tank Hub had a wrench sort of slip while he was yanking on a pipe and kind of smack him in the zygomatic arch (aka cheekbone). Ouch! One CT scan, some laceration irrigation, an ouchy shot or two, and four stitches later we were back at home eating pizza.


How was y'alls week?!

I'm Neck Deep In It Now!

It seems that lately I am a Wednesday night/ Thursday morning blog poster. And looky there, its Wednesday night. So tonight I have to bring up the fact that back on January 22nd I missed the Blog for Choice Day. (I also missed National Pie Day, but that's another subject all together.) The reason that I'm mentioning the BfCD now is that this year's subject was political in nature: "Why is it important to vote Pro-Choice?"

Sigh, so it seems that everything is political in nature these days. I'm arguing with my sister over the IM about politics, I'm arguing with my dad over email about politics, and I'm betting on what seems to be the losing horse (again) in the latest political race. Unfortunately I am one of those people who can be rather cranky when people don't hold the same political view that I do. Or actually even crankier when the just can't make up their minds, like my neighbor. (This is what the internet is for folks! Pop on, read about the issues, watch a debate, and figure it out, fer heaven's sake!) But I digress. I really do try to remain neutral. I do, but alas...

So to put this puppy to bed (and to mix some metaphors) I am doing an all politics post. And this is why: I really think Obama would be a better leader than Hillary. They both hit similar points on my hot button issues of the environment and pro-choiceism, but the devil seems to be in the details. So here it is in bullet form, Suzie's Incomplete and Cranky List of Why Obama Rules:

- He is polite. Unfortunately I have seen some clips from Hillary's speeches where she tried to make snarky jokes, and they just come out awkward and mean. As president that could spell international incident.
- He is well reasoned. For example, in the last debate and during the issue of driver's licenses for illegal immigrants, his final comment that it could prevent hit and run accidents by those avoiding deportation, well that clinched it.
- He does not have Bill Clinton making a fool of himself on his behalf.
- Hillary's stint as First Lady does not qualify as political experience.
- He will not force you to buy healthcare, just facilitate it.
- He does not have a large part of the electorate that already hates him.
- He did not vote to support the war in Iraq.
- He supports universal voluntary public service.
- He is not as divisive as Hillary.

I am not naive, I know that it is nearly impossible to get anything done in Washington, even as president. I know that ours is a paralyzing system of checks and balances. (Unfortunately that only works with those conscientious enough to follow the laws, unlike our last administration.) I know there are some people who will not vote for Obama because of his skin color. I also know there are some who won't vote for Hillary because she's a woman. They are not reasonable. I cannot address their issues.

But I can address a candidate who would like to unite our country, not divide us into separate red and blue country states. He is diplomatic and even occasionally willing to compromise on the wording of things when it does not affect the outcome. And you know what, Hillary's voice bugs the frack out of me. That is all. Goodnight.