(Un)Believable Ignorance

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Colored-Only-Sign-Posted-Over-NY-College-Drinking-Fountain-134028098.html ~ stole this from a friends (and former roomate at the college in question) facebook page.

Its nearly 2012 and we have made little to no progress towards tolerance in the world. As an intelligent, free thinking, rational person, I can not fathom the thought processes of some people. What makes a person so hateful? How do people become so racist and only see color, and not the fact that its just another person? A simple answer? Parents. Kids learn this behavior from their parents, and if its not a direct result of a parents racism, its their indifference to others racism that allows it to continue. How, in 2012, at a College campus does this happen. Im sad. It breaks my heart to think about the person that did this, and it breaks my heart that my daughter will grow up in a world where this exists. All I can do as her mom, is teach her. Teach her that racism is not acceptable, teach her to love others and be kind (within reason, obviously), teach her to stick up for those that need her too. I want her to know and understand that this kind of behavior is just not ok. Its childish, its hurtful, and its wrong. I want situations like this to make her as angry as they make me and I want her to never back down from something she believes in. I know that it is very rare that a person's mind can be changed: people born into racist beliefs will likely always feel that way. Thats why we need to start from scratch, teach our children the RIGHT path to take.

Im really angry and frustrated right now, having read this article just minutes before I wrote this. Hopefully it makes sense...

Karma Shmarma

So, what happens after I pronounce my faith in good karma and making others happy? My apartment building has a massive fire! And Reillys room smells like a camp grounds. My poor girl is sleeping in her pack n play in the spare room.

I will say that she has been sleeping like a rock in there! 12 straight hours two nights in a row! A mom could get used to that. So, here is the thing, the title of the post is just for giggles. Karma is definitely real... This fire was unbelievable, and there is a hallway that leads to an "emergency door" in the nursery and all we got was an offensive smell. My complex is repainting Reilly's room, cleaning the carpets AND installing an ozone filter in there. We were lucky indeed. No significant damage to our things, and no one injured. A neighbor in the building, who noticed the fire, ran through knocking on doors and telling people to get out....Good Karma is coming his way for sure.

Worst. Blogger. Ever.

Seriously, I am. Until yesterday, I honestly totally forgot that I had even started a blog. Let me just say that even the most awesome, put together, intelligent, strong woman (me) cant be perfect. This has been a really crazy year for me. I've been raising a truly amazing little girl alone while Eric is away. He is due home in a matter of weeks now, just an FYI. I cant wait for him to really get to know her, and vice versa. I have done my best to post pictures and videos and keep him updated on her life and progress, but it doesnt even come close to being with her. More about Eric and Reilly in another post though. Today I want to help a friend help the world :) I have this pretty awesome friend back in NY who is so thoughtful, soulful, eloquent and kind. Everything she says, writes, thinks, and dreams is so inspiring to me, and its refreshing to be inspired by ANYTHING when so much is wrong with the world today. She is really amazing at finding the good in the world and i'd like to do the same. She has a blog (that she actually writes on) and Im going to steal one of her ideas (that she stole from someone else). Random Acts of Kindness. She is doing 27 before her 28th birthday. Im going to tweak it a bit, and after the holidays I will do 31 acts before my 32nd birthday. For now, Im going to focus on 10 Acts. So that is about 1 per week until Christmas. I figure that is a good start. I hope that this will inspire someone else to be randomly kind, like my friend inspired me.

Happy Friday!!

class of '98

The other day on the radio they were talking about prom songs, so of course I started trying to remember mine. I cant be sure, but i think it was either the pretenders or billy joel. Regardless, that made me start thinking about high school and the awesome friends I had. One of the worst things that can happen in high school happened to me: I had to move and switch schools. I, honest to God, could not have thought than anything more horrible could happen to me when I had to move to a new school at 15. It really did suck for a little while but I got lucky and met some wonderful kids who group up to be equally wonderful adults. I'll admit that I really suck at keeping in touch with people, but I think about these people often. So, I'd like to thank a few of them. I'd like to thank Kate for being just generally awesome, and for liking tank girl and bio dome as much as I did. Erin for being a really great person, and for loving music and jazz choir as much as me and putting up with me yelling at rehearsals. Tyler for being one of the funniest people I have ever met, and making me laugh often. Drew for putting up with me and letting me into the group even though he thought I was a bitch at first, and for the OUTBACK! John for countless things, but mostly putting up with me and Michelle :) and Michelle for being my friend through everything. And thank you to everyone out there who has been a part of my life, even in the smallest aspect, because everything I've done, and been through, and every person I've met has made me who I am today...and I'm cool with that.

So, he is gone again. Now I'm in for the loooooong stretch...can you even imagine not seeing your husband/wife for 7.5 months straight? I cant, and its happening to me right now. The worst was when he first left (it didn't help that he left me from the hospital where I was with our brand new baby), but this time was hard because that was it....last visit, last time we see each other until this is over. I know I have to take it a day at a time. I know I have to focus on our daughter. I know I have to think positive thoughts, and I know I should stay busy. I know. But, I've always been better at giving advice than taking it (because I don't usually need it). :) I found this great quote today though, that made me feel just a tiny bit better. "Know that you too are a soldier of sorts. Take pride in knowing that very few women are woven from the kind of cloth that shrouds you. You were made strong when you were made for him." It was on the blog of a fellow army wife, and I really like it. I honestly don't think that everyone could handle this (though I do know a few military wives out there that have). I honestly don't know how I am. I guess thats the best way to describe it, really. I'm handling it. Beats the alternative I guess.

Two and a Half Lunatics

I'm starting a petition to bring the death penalty back for a one time event starring.....charlie sheen. OK, we get it...your life is so hard with your fans and your own TV show and your millions of dollars. Its easy to see how you could go COMPLETELY INSANE from having it so easy. When I starred in my own TV show, well...ok, I don't have a tv show, but i do have adoring fans....if you count children under age 6 at my childcare center. And I don't have a 2 million dollar a week paycheck, but i have been known to spring for starbucks every so often, and boy that $3 cup of coffee really sends me over the edge. jeez, i think i need a drink. How crazy do you have to be to drink, do drugs, cheat on your wife with hookers, give crazy interviews, get arrested, do it all again the next week, and then think you are going to get away with it. I don't care how famous or rich you are...you got fired Charlie!!! There obviously is a chance he is actually, legitimately crazy...however when asked about the possibility that he has bipolar disorder, he responded "Not gonna happen," "I'm bi-winning. I win here. I win there." Wow, Charlie, guess that clears that up. So fine Mr. Sheen, keep being crazy, keep thinking you have tiger blood and that the world is out to get you. Keep saying crazy things and inviting "Goddesses" to live with you and your children. I'll stay in normalville where people are accountable for their actions, make middle class wages, and are far, far superior to you. Just sayin'.

happy baby

I, for sure, have the happiest, cutest baby. She is getting bigger, cuter, more animated everyday, and I love it. I love watching her "talk" and squrim and flail, and try to suck her thumb even though she hadn't quite figured out how to get just her thumb and would end up licking her whole fist. I love watching her kick and splash in the bath tub, and I love watching her watch me when I walk to a different spot. I love the way she pinches my neck when I hold her, even though it kind of hurts. I love how, for some reason, she laughs every time I take her arms out of a shirt, and how she smiles so big when I sing and dance for her. I love dresses her in cute little girl outfits and giant headbands. I love the crazy faces I catch her making when a take a picture of her. And I really love how happy it makes Eric to see those pictures and the videos I try so hard to send. But I would REALLY love if he could see all of these things first hand. Im glad Reilly wont remember this part of our lives and doesnt have to feel what I feel. I dont want to rush my little baby through her first year, but I will be glad when Daddy is home.

I'm back in Colorado, and its 5 below 0 here...It was 70 here while I was in NY...wtf? Anyway, the visit home was great, Reilly got to meet her grandmas, grandpas, great grandparents, cousins, & great aunts/uncles. She was WONDERFUL on both flights, and I am so grateful that I have such a good baby. :) I'd love her either way, but it makes life easier with Eric gone. Reilly and I got together with an old friend and her son, and its really amazing how your life changes when you have a kid. Everything you do and say revolves around that child. Your life is divided into two distint sections: before the baby, and after the baby. And even when you manage to have an adult conversation, one not about your kids, or their kids, you are doing "mom things" without realizing it. Bouncing your baby on your hip while you take a sip of coffee. Wiping drool/spit up/boogies off of their faces while talking about going back to work. Stopping and starting conversations based on their needs. Its a whole new world. I'm in love with this world :)

a little late, a little early

Eric and Dad have been waiting for blog posts...it took me a little longer than I would have thought/liked to get back on here. Lets get caught up...slowly. I'll start with the birth of the cutest baby in the world. Reilly wasn't due until Halloween and Eric had to leave on Oct. 11th, so I was all geared up and prepared to have the baby without him. The morning of Oct. 10th our plan was for Eric to pack all of his gear, and then just hang out and relax before I had to take him to the airport the following morning. Reilly had other plans. Eric packed all morning while I laid on the couch because I wasn't feeling great. I started to think around 1pm that "maybe" I was having contractions, but it seemed too crazy. Around 5:30pm we took a drive to the hospital "just in case". One nurse hooked me up to some monitors and said "yep, you're having contractions"...really? another came in and said "hon, your water broke...you are having your baby"....oh crap! So we were whisked up to my room, where time seemed to FLY, and when Eric left to get all of his stuff from home for his flight in morning, my contractions got bad. That was around 9pm...and I got an epidural, don't judge me. Reilly was born at 12:47am, it was a fast, easy labor with no complications even though she was 3 whole weeks early. She just wanted to see her daddy before he left. I was so unprepared to have that baby. I mean, I had my "hospital bag" packed, but mentally not ready. It happened so fast and I am so so so grateful that Eric got to be there...that was such an unexpected blessing. Now, at almost 4 months old, she is the absolute coolest thing I've ever made. Its really amazing how there are no worlds to really describe the feeling of being a mom. You have to wait till it happens to really get it. :)