Monthly Archives: June 2008

VP Sweepstakes

Kittens -

Another short post from me today. Fret not – I have a few longer posts percolating in my mind – which I’ll get to later this week. Until then, I’m just coming out of a grassroots/advocacy conference and some of the classic “Washington Insiders/Pundits” were tipping their hat on who they think will be the VP choices. Many of the names ticked off, we’ve all heard – but a few really surprised me – most likely because I just haven’t been paying that much attention lately.

The biggest surprise to me was even the mention of Chuck Hagel as the running mate for OBAMA – no, not McCain – OBAMA.

I mean come on – this man might have the balls to vote against the Republicans on the war – but he is a CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN. I cannot believe there is any merit to this rumor but still wanted to spread it. Salon also has a piece on this rumor today:

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/06/17/hagel_veep/?source=newsletter

Now, it will surprise no one if McCain picks a Democrat as his running mate and I’m sure we’ve all wondered as much when we see images of Lieberman standing up there next to him. But the name that surprised me most about a McCain running mate is Carly Fiorina…yes..the former CEO of HP with a shadowy past and possible hand in tape-recording conversations of her board members. Could she honestly pass the vetting process? It would be very fun for the Democratic 527s if they pick Fiorina..but kind of like we all want a woman president but Hillary just really wasn’t the right one – we’d all love a viable female VP running mate and it would do much to strengthen both the R’s chances at winning and McCain’s brand as a maverick if he picks a woman…but is Fiorina really the right choice? Being a CEO doesn’t necessarily equate to being a good government leader. Not to mention having a shadowy past.

This rumor fascinates me.

More on shared parenting, why Nicolle Kidman looks like she’s 5 months along when she’s like on the verge of delivery and other KT deep thoughts later this week.

 

Life

I’m sure that all of us were really struck by the sudden death of Tim Russert on Friday. Today still, I am so sad and disturbed by it. Just thinking about Election night this year seems impossible, knowing he won’t be there with his white board.

But I’m not going to eulogize him here – I’m sure we’ve all had enough of that over the course of the weekend. Instead, it’s one of the things about his sudden death that I will write about because it could happen to anyone.

And surely it’s one of the main points of Bennett’s “Feminine Mistake” book – the fact that Russert left for work on Friday morning and never came back.

Has this been haunting anyone else all weekend – as they look over at their husband – even if they don’t really like their husband in that particular moment?

Because it haunted me all weekend long.

The fact that this man with all the money, education and resources for a top team of doctors – and WITH a top team of doctors monitoring him – still dropped dead so suddenly – gives cause for pause.

There’s not much more I can say about it, really. That’s life, right? We have no idea what’s going to happen and we are constantly told by those who have learned the hard way – that we should just appreciate everything we have – in the moment.

It seems that Russert did just that – which is partly why he was such a gregarious and beloved person – but still – I can’t stop thinking about his wife and son and the fact that he never came home from work on Friday.

 

Random Things

Once again, work is totally sabotaging my efforts at blogging. How can this be? What kind of cruel reality do I live in that it can be 110 with the humidity the first week of June AND work can be so insanely busy that I don’t have time to play? Life is so cruel sometimes.

With that, I’m going to give you some random links to wet your whistle until I have more time to play – which sadly – will be next week.

First off – we’ve all heard by now that Jessica Alba delivered a baby girl over the weekend. But why – why – why did she name her HONOR?
What the hell kind of name is that to give a girl? Especially when baby’s daddy’s name is CASH?

Is it me – or are they just begging for a twist of irony and this girl will end up being the next call girl busted with a Governor? I mean – Honor? Conceived out of wedlock? Who’s daddy’s name = MONEY.

It bewilders me. And yes, it bewilders me at a time when there are so many more important things to find bewildering. Like why is gas over $4 a gallon? And how can I get rich off that instead of pissed off when I fill up my tank? And who will Obama pick for his running mate? And does anyone even give a shit about who McCain will pick? I’m going to go out on a limb and just say he’ll pick someone younger than him. He has too.

Oh and white. And male. Those crazy Republicans.

In case you felt the need to start pondering the pleasure zone that is your marital bed o’love – then you ought to read this piece from Sunday’s NYT about two couples who did it every day for like 100 days. Or was it 365 days? I got lost in my own thoughts of trying to understand who in their right mind would sign up for that? Beyond pimply faced teens on prom night?

I’m just going to warn you though, after you read this piece, you WILL end up wondering if your sex life is really that interesting, what other peoples are like and should you be doing something more risky about it….you’ve been warned.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/08/fashion/08nights.html?em&ex=1213243200&en=d0ee9652453428ea&ei=5087%0A

For those of you who might need a laugh, here’s a link to another NYT Sunday styles piece but this one ran two weeks ago – and honestly – it’s freaking hilarious. It’s about rich people who aren’t as rich anymore because of the economy. Boo hoo for them.

Anyhow, it’s about obnoxious New Yorkers who are only going to make like $8 million this year instead of $20 million and how they are worried their wives will leave them when they learn their self-worth has dropped and that GASP – these kept women would need to go on a BUDGET.

If you are that much of a selfish wench, how can you possibly find another man who is willing to marry you? This is what I was left wondering.

Maybe those women have some bedroom tricks that the rest of us need to learn.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/01/fashion/01rich.html?scp=1&sq=Wealthy+New+Yorkers+%2B+Economic+Downturn&st=nyt

And I leave you with this, kittens, in case you are wondering what else I find myself wondering on random Tuesday afternoons, it is this: Why hasn’t some brilliant female scientist figured out a way to let men be the ones who get pregnant?

 

Second Time….Last Time

Bonjour Kittens -

First, before I dive into today’s entry, how about a shout out to Obama, finally our party’s nominee! What an exciting time. And you have to hand it to Hillary, she is tenacious and though she didn’t get the nod (THANK GOD), she still surely inspired many younger girls that it’s possible – and for that, I have to respect her.  You know I’m an Obama Mamma, so yesterday just didn’t come early enough for moi. Now it’s time for the real fun and games to begin.

Speaking of fun and games, many of you know this already, but it’s now time for it to be a regular part of the KT blog – I’m preggo again. I know, I’ve blogged about how great just one kid is and why would I need or want to go through the ordeal of newborn hell again – but I knew the whole time that I would, it was just an issue of timing. I’m 14 weeks along and due the first week of December, which means DD will have just turned three, if I actually have this baby on time instead of 4 weeks early.

I knew all along that I was the kind of gal who needed to space my kids apart. Many people have them much closer together but that’s just not the best way for me or my husband – and we are thrilled with the age difference. I am optimistic that it will be manageable. For those of you with two kids out there, I’m happy if I just amused you.

So far, this second time around has been completely different. First off, I’m totally relaxed about it. I just thought over the weekend about how I haven’t lifted up one book on pregnancy. I feel a complete sense of peace because well, I have a pretty good idea of what we’re walking into.

I also feel a lot crappier than I did the first time. Either that or I just don’t actually remember how I felt the first time, who knows.

More important, though, is how managing a pregnancy and a full-time job is impacting my time with my daughter. I am one tired gal. And most of the time, I just am not as focused and into playing with DD as I usually am. Sure, digging for worms normally ranks as high as celebrity gossip for me – but I am just so damn tired that it’s really hard to want to get down on the ground and dig for worms enthusiastically.

My point – I know she notices. She can totally tell that I’m just not all there and that I really just want to go sit down on the bench and zone out.

This is a terrible feeling. There isn’t a lot I can do about it except know that I’ll turn the corner in about 2 weeks and remind myself that she’s 2.5 years old and will never remember that mommy was distracted for a few months of her life (or probably a few years once the new baby arrives).

But this is my biggest pregnancy challenge and complaint- just trying to muster the energy and focus to give my DD that she usually gets from me. It also makes me want to just quit working because I have more energy on the weekends because I can take a nap in the afternoon when she naps. So it just feeds the fire, the constant conundrum of – what the hell am I doing and is this job really worth it?

I’m sure I’ll be wondering that one many more times over the coming months.