Don't Ask, Don't Tell...Don't Get Me Started and other political musings

The Tea Party
How to make tea: steep for five minutes, then discard; or, if you are able, compost. Unfortunately, you can't compost the shit the Tea Party is coming out with. So they can have their five minutes and come November, let's discard them. Everyone is all atwitter about them changing the GOP, but I have to agree with Ed Shultz on this issue and believe they will go away. It will go one of two ways in November either: a) they get eaten by Democrats (they don't get in) or b) they get eaten by their own (once they get to the Senate they are going to have to play by the GOP's rules because that's where the money is). Hopefully, it goes the way of the former rather than the latter, because the idea of a Republican majority is repugnant. However, the fact that this reactionary movement is getting national attention and winning primaries still worries me. Fear mongering, implicative rhetoric, and bigotry are ill disguised within the party's platform of Fiscal Responsibility, Constitutionally Limited Government and Free Markets. Sarah Palin is on constant tirade about "taking back the Country." Really? Who has it now? Christine O'Donnell bandies about the phrase "We the people" in her rallies, oh- I'm sorry, I'll just go back to France.  Actually, the whole concept of Christine O'Donnell really mystifies me. If she wasn't running to become a United States Senator, I might feel sorry for her. There are a lot of stories about witch craft, snubbing Fox News (tee hee), anti-masturbation, crazy, crazy, etc surrounding her right now; but what has stuck with me was her statement that President Obama is not in step with the majority of the people. Wait...didn't he get elected President? Well, Christine, we didn't all go bat shit crazy.
Don't get mad - get Glad (ForceFlex®)!

Don't Ask, Don't Tell
This policy is archaic and people's civil liberties are being delayed because WHAMP, WHAMP -ELECTION TIME IS COMING!!! They were talking about the Senate's failure to overturn this policy all morning on Stephanie Miller (girlie crush #1). This is progressive talk radio - Hal Sparks and Margaret Cho were features today - and yet quite a few callers had things to say like "Gay America should know that this is a nation founded on Christian values" or "...showering with gay men is an issue" blah, blah, blah. I'm breathing deeply and sticking to the facts on this one. Fact # one through a babillion: you should know there is separation of Church and State here in America (including but not limited to "Gay America" and "Straight America"). Another fact, being gay is just like being straight (oh no she didn't!), sometimes it's about sex but mostly it is about relationships. Gawd forbid we humanize the people committing their lives to uphold our Country's values. The idea of a Soldier living in a foreign, possibly hostile country and not being able to openly talk about the person they love most gives me pancreatic angst... the Government should pay for my health care (socialist).

Democrats
Maybe we are all busy shaking our heads in horror at the antics to the Right of us, but it is time to move. Apathy has always been a problem with Dems; blame what you will - our bookish tendencies, bone quaking hilarity, or stunning good looks - but we can't afford apathy this November. We came in to vote in record numbers in 08 riding on hope. In the nearly two years since that hope has diminished, but it is not lost. We may not get all of our legislation through, but we cannot go backwards. If we keep working towards a better future, I'm confident that we'll get there.
See you at the polls.

Dressed to feel my best.

A little behind my fellow bloggers (mystery Bisters and FabAb - sorry about that, I'm sick... as in "been home from work for two days" not "touched in the head"...), and BFFs I will now give my much anticipated answer to Real Simple's question of "what outfit makes you feel your best?" Devotees will remember that I recently gushed on a certain outfit christened "the weekend dress", but don't worry I won't take the easy way out and re-post. Nor will I write about the outfit that is currently, in my weakened state, making me feel my best: Joe's undershirt, cut off gap sweats, and a pair of Joe's socks.

Currently, my favorite outfit to wear out is a long black cotton dress that I bought from Target a few summers ago promptly after seeing a picture of Angelina Jolie wearing a similar one. At the time Target was the only place I could find one, now they are all over the place...God I'm soooo fashion forward. Anyway this dress is all the right kinds of comfortably and sexy. Nice flowy cotton with the necessity of a bra that hikes the ladies into their element. Paired with some nice dangling green stone earrings (also inspired my Miss Jolie) or my gold sequin head band (which is quickly becoming another adult safety blanket...) I just feel so damn elegant...but casually so, like a princess flipping the bird off her sailboat to no one in particular as she mans the helm. Ahhhhhhh...maybe I am touched in the head.

Grocery Shopping

The Grocery Store is a terrifying place. There is only one thing, and one thing only, that consistently gets me through my weekly grocery shopping trip. The Holy Grail of anxious organization: The List. I love lists. No, I am a maniac about lists. Nay. I may be dependent upon lists, much like a vital organ. Whenever I feel overwhelmed about something, I make a list to soothe myself. God forbid I ever face a problem I cannot reduce to list form. But I digress.

The reason that grocery stores terrify me isn't because I am culinarily inept, it is because there is so much damn stuff in there. Wall to wall, floor to ceiling, end caps, freezers, refrigerators, produce carts, random cardboard displays...so much stuff. I am a good cook. I'm so good I make up my own recipes, but grocery stores just...overwhelm me. Sans list I'm the girl that goes in and buys 3 lbs of lemons and a box of off brand cereal. In short, I need a plan or, to make me sound less (or more?) lame, a weapon. Enter sublimation of chronic list mania. Here is a real live example of one of my grocery lists:

Meat/Protein

Pork tenderloin

Ham deli meat

Steak

Vegetable/Fruit

Lettuce

Cucumber

Mushrooms

Carrots

Dried apricots

Tomato

Navel oranges

Apples- McIntosh

Bananas

Green beans
Staples

Whole wheat flour

Barley

Olive oil

Balsamic

Peanut butter

Ingredients

Asiago cheese

Ricotta cheese

Whole wheat wraps

Blue cheese

Whole milk yogurt 

That's right, nerds, it's broken down into categories. Try it sometime, and you may just think I'm a genius. Because with this little baby all my cares disappear; because I have focus I can wander, not aimlessly, but at my leisure. Free at last to casually browse the foreign products aisle and gourmet jellies. True I still over buy citrus and forget household items like soap and toilet paper, but that is because items on this list correspond to a preformed dinner menu and who ever heard of soap soufflé? I can't be trifled with things like bread. "So what if I forget something?" I cackle, clutching my list to my breast, "I once abandoned a cart full of goods down one of these very aisles to run home to use the bathroom; and it was still here upon my return! MUHAHAHAHA!" OK, so I've never openly cackled in the grocery store but the bathroom story is true...I mean, THAT'S how close the grocery store is to my apartment. So, really it isn't a tragedy if I forget something - just a failure. In short, much like wars and  French dance clubs, grocery shopping is not to be entered into under the age of 18 or without a plan.

Read Abbigail's musings on Grocery Shopping HERE!!! NOT TO BE MISSED!!!

The LOWDOWN on the SHOWDOWN

Tomorrow,10 am EST, unto you a blog feature will be born.

Starting tomorrow and every week after that Jayme, here after named The Topic Master, will administer to Abbigail and myself a topic. We will then simultaneously post a blog on said topic. All you have to do is read my blog, then hers or visa versa. And leave comments. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY!

See you tomorrow when I will discourse on: Grocery Shopping.

Cardigans, Bangs, and 'The Weekend Dress'

These are a few of my adult safety blankets.

Cardigans
Cardigans are the cross eyed shelter puppies of my shopping experience. I just can't say no. Their buttons twinkling, giving me snugly arms, and there is something in the way they slouch on their hangers that I know we will love each other forever and ever. And we do, we do because any time I feel a little meh about going out or, indeed, going to work I pull on a trusty cardigan and remember it will be ok.

Bangs
The first thing I do in the morning is brush my hair. I then look in the mirror to determine what kind of day I'm going to have. If my bangs are winged out 8 ways to Sunday, it's pretty much going to be like every other day. BUT - if they are lying straight, smooth and are cradling my forehead like it's a precious babe, well then, THEN I'm going to have an awesome day.

'The Weekend Dress'
You know what gets me pumped up about a weekend? 48 hours of free time? NUUHH-OOOOO!! No, no, no. It's wearing The Weekend Dress! The Weekend Dress is gray cotton skinny strap dress from J.Crew and is so comfortable I want to wear it everyday. And I totally did when I first got it, but have now decided to designate it to a weekend uniform. The Weekend Dress shops with me, cooks and cleans with me, naps with me, and occasionally takes me out for a drink afterward. Incidentally, The Weekend Dress goes great with cardigans.

I hit a hole in one...it's pretty much down hill from here

There is hardly anyone in the office today and the humidity has made my bangs do something that might be described as adorable on an 8 year old, but makes me look like I don't own a brush. So! How about a post?

This week has been strange! No house projects! No impending trips to the suburbs or elsewhere! Monday night found the two of us in Wrigleyville (generally a BARF statement) having a beer at a bar with a fantastic beer list when a movie that could be described as both "Brazilian" and "Adult" was broadcast for the entire bar. It was a unique situation.

I would like to mention that I did, in fact, hit a hole in one this past Saturday, thus solidifying my seat in the house of awesome. I've been riding on that feeling all week.

I started my morning, as I start so many mornings, with coffee and the latest antics of one Miss Meghan McBlogger. And her post inspired me to create my own of list of my interests beyond the obvious of travelling, spending time with friends and family, scrabble, etc.

-Cooking. I know this is a standard one, but I feel like I get to list it because I think I love it that much more than normal people. I'm also starting to get obsessed with entertaining. I like to refer to myself as Disciple of Martha. A Martha Steward, if you will.

-Eating frozen yogurt. I've created my own "find frozen yogurt app" by always having "frozen yogurt" typed into the search bar on maps.

-Naming future pets. Someday Beaujolais the Fresian, Rooster the Labradoodle, and myself will romp in the surf while enjoying a glorious sunset...someday. Stratocatter and Gatsby the kitties may be closer to reality than you think...

-Making lists...like this one.

-Converting my inner monologue to French. It is the only way I have to practice, ok.

-Finding people who look like Harry Potter characters...the ones in my head, not the ones in the movie.

-Fantasizing about gilded rooster products, and looking for them on etsy. No, gilded rooster, is not a brand. I just love a rooster tricked out in gold. I have one camping out on my fridge. AND I am going to put a golden rooster silhouette ON MY WEDDING INVITES. Shabby chic en francais. You'll think it is a good idea once you try my oyster/bloodymary shooters.

-Planning my wedding - see above.

-Naming my future brewery. I like naming things in general. Once during a trip Up North there were a great deal of ladybugs that went by the wayside (in the lake) and I spent the better part of a day rescuing and naming each and everyone.

-Crafting. The Holy Art of M.Stewart. As of late (late, late because I have crafted in a painfully long time) stamp carving and gliding things in glitter. Martha Stewart glitter. I have the collection. Sometimes I pull it out just to be dazzled by it.

-Singing Andrew Bird songs, "ain't that a shame" by Fats Domino, and Les Miserables.

-Practicing my Beyonce moves.

-Bathing with the window open.

-Sultry heat and blistering cold. Makes me feel...alive.

-Critizing almost everything. With Joe of course.

-Clean and well designed public restrooms.

wrap.

We've reclaimed the dining room.

....al...most....there....

TA-DONE!!

Baby's first party!