More Arbitrary Chatter

So the other day my five-year-old asked me if I wanted to hear a story. Sure, I said. OK. The title of this story is "Calamity at the Castle." What? What did you say?

FYO: Do you know what calamity means?
Me: Well, yes, I do. But do you?
FYO: Yes. Calamity means when something very bad happens.
Me: Wow. That's a great word, buddy.
FYO: I know. So do you want to hear the story now?

Apparently my son has been picking up all kinds of new words while playing on the online Noggin website. Recently he has been using some pretty big words and is able to recite the definitions to the following (now remember we're talking a five-year-old): exhilarating, calamity, commotion, ferocious, labyrinth and enthusiastic.

Seriously, when he used the word exhilarating the other day he made my sister feel bad because she now thinks he has a better vocabulary than she does. I guess it just goes to show you (again) that kids' brains ARE like sponges (I wish mine was these days!) so be careful what you say!!

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OK it's been disgustingly hot since yesterday - Mid-90's and VERY humid. So we went and got ice cream yesterday. My kids went with the good, old reliables chocolate and vanilla. My husband got a chocolate soft serve and I got a flavor known as cake batter. Yes, cake batter and let me tell you that it was phenomenal!!

It really tasted just like licking the cake beaters when you bake a cake. It was so good! It was a yellow cake base with some chocolate cake batter chunks mixed in. I just had to share that. If you're looking for something a little new, and really, really good - go for the cake batter ice cream.

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I am reading a CRAZY book right now. (A lot of capital letters today. Don't know why.) It's called "It Can't Happen Here," and it was written by Sinclair Lewis. Published back in 1935 it's the story of fascism oozing it's way into U.S. democracy. Now it doesn't creep in like some quiet cat that sneaks up on you. Oh, no. In this tale fascism comes right down Main Street with bands playing and politicians endorsing its tenets without, of course, calling it fascism.

The greatest part of this book though is that although it was written more than 70 years ago, the world Lewis describes VERY MUCH resembles the United States of 2007. That's right. He might as well be writing about the Bush Administration and the liberties that they are taking like extending the rights of executive privilege (to the status of king) and promising people they'll have more money in their pockets if citizens vote for a particular candidate. (Remember those tax cuts a few years back?)

Like I said I'm only about 100 pages in, but the similarities are already freaking me out. I promise a full review when I'm finished. (A shout out to my husband for peaking my interest and suggesting the book. We're both reading it right now and I'm hoping to have some great discussions.)

All right. It's getting late. Have a great Monday everybody!

HodgePodge

So I've been in a writing mood lately and because of that my reading has fallen quite behind. In fact, I have a stack of magazines I need to catch up with. And books? Forget it. That's why I'm hoping that reading a few banned books this week will give me a jumpstart.

Anyway, as I'm catching up I've found quite a few excellent articles that I want to share. I won't offer up too much commentary, but do encourage you to check out the links. I'm only putting the good ones out there, so if you find that you have some time be sure and give at least one or two a quick read:

• Here's a great article from the New York Times about one of my favorite organizations, MomsRising.org. It's a good introduction for those of you still not familiar with the organization, founded by some of the same people who started MoveOn.org, who are really working toward making a change in how the U.S. treats families (and mothers in particular) with grassroots movements to change and create legislation. In fact, they have a documentary that illustrates the need for such an organization and I'm contemplating hosting a screening party of my own to get the word out. Details to follow on that since I don't even have the DVD yet. (Don't worry, Cheryl, I'll be inside so there's no worry of my canceling due to rain or cold :)


• Also the Virtual March to Stop Global Warming has some interesting things happening over at their website. They've teamed up with the Natural Resources Defence Council to create a Beat the Heat interactive map, "that highlights the global warming solutions and consequences . . . and concrete actions that will drastically cut global warming pollution." This is one of those things that will take minutes to investigate, but provides valuable information and easy solutions for people like you and me in doing our part to slow global warming.


• I found a similar article in my inbox a few weeks ago (but am just getting around to reading) from the NRDC's "This Green Life" publication. Author Sheryl Eisenberg points out that while we can each do a little something to promote energy efficiency, waste reduction, etc. the most important thing is to get others involved as well. Her metaphor is that we should act not individually but as levers to assist others in making changes to their lives and that by acting as levers we can make that change easier and have a greater effect on the environment. (Reminds me of you, Shannon! Great idea to carpool to Parents Night Out - why take two cars when you only need one?)


• And finally, (for this installment at least) you must read this short blurb on The Progressive's website about Bush's proposed cuts to public television. The Administration has tried this move before, but previous attempts have been thwarted by a viewing public that said, "No Way!" Well, that time has come again as Bush has proposed a 25% reduction of federal funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. If you don't even need to read the article to know that this is a bad idea and want to do something about it, click on over to MoveOn.org and sign their petition now.

I guess that does it for now. I'm sure I'll have all sorts of things to add in the coming weeks as I try to make some headway in my backed-up reading department. Yes, it will probably take weeks :)

While My Brain Synapses Reconnect

It's been quite a week here at our new homestead. We moved in officially a week ago today and on Sunday morning my four-year-old woke up puking and it's been a blur of toxic illness ever since. So far my husband is the only one who hasn't suffered the germ warfare that has been waged in our precious new home and if he makes it through tomorrow unscathed we should be in the clear. (For a couple of weeks at least . . .)

Anyway, I'm still a little scattered at the moment, but was feeling a bit of withdrawal having not written more than a grocery list this week. So here are some random thoughts floating around in my head -

• I just read this amazing column by one of my favorite authors and political activists, Howard Zinn, in this month's edition of The Progressive. Truly, it was inspiring. While Zinn's call for the impeachment of Bush and Cheney is not new, his ideas about how to go about it are. He believes in a grassroots effort - individual communities holding their own impeachment meetings across the country - in order to persuade those on Capitol Hill who are unwilling, for whatever reason, to do what is necessary in holding these war criminals responsible for their actions. He points out that the American Revolution did not just instantaneously begin one day in response to tyranny, but it was ordinary people holding town meetings and writing pamphlets about the injustices they were all suffering that brought about the conflict by which the U.S. gained its independence. I guess what I'm saying is, if you get the chance, read it.

• I read another "interesting" piece today . . . Apparently, Exxon Mobil sat at the top of the capitalist pyramid in 2006 recording (read stealing) the biggest profit of any company last year - a whopping $39.5 billion. And while you and I shelled out over $3/gallon for gas this summer Exxon Mobil buddies in the oil and gas industry Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Marathon Oil Corp. and Valero Energy Corp. "also reported best-ever full-year profits. The four companies combined had earnings of $75.6 billion last year." And ConocoPhilips topped its 2005 profits by about $2 billion in 2006. Well, isn't that nice. Excuse me. I think I'm going to be sick again.

• NEWSFLASH: Global Warming Isn't a Hoax!! Yes, yet another panel of "experts" have come forward, this time in Paris, to announce that global warming does in fact seem to be happening and that, yes, it appears that human beings are to blame for it. Imagine that. If only someone had told us sooner . . .

• And last, but certainly not least, I want to make everyone aware that February is American Heart Month. Heart disease is the number one killer of women and in the U.S. someone loses a mother, a sister, an aunt or a cousin every minute to cardiovascular disease. So it's time to start taking care of ourselves, ladies! Many of these heart conditions are preventable by maintaining healthy eating habits, getting plenty of exercise and getting regular checkups with our doctors. I don't know about any of you, but I'm 0 for 3. There never seems to be the time. There's always something else to do. Well, if we don't take better care of ourselves our time will run out much too soon. For more information check out this article or visit the American Heart Association for suggestions on how to create a more heart healthy lifestyle for you and your family.

Take care of each other ;)

P.S. Imagine my disappointment when I recently learned the following:

HowManyOfMe.com

There are: 3 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

And all this time I thought I was the only one.