Not everyone is excited today, I'm fine with that.  Not everyone thinks Obama will be good for this country, fine with that too.  But what pisses me off is that some people want to dismiss and are even angry that race is being mentioned. 

Well I happen to think it would be even weirder if it wasn't.  Barak is half African American.  He looks African American.  They look like an African American family.  African Americans and other Americans are proud of this.  As they should be.  Not to long ago this really wouldn't have been possible.  Not even close to being possible.   It doesn't matter if he is half European or white, He looks black and has African roots.  Which means that less than a hundred years ago he wouldn't even be able to drink the same water as most of the people in the country much less lead.

Ignoring the historical significance of that, or diminishing it, is a disservice to anyone who has suffered at the hands of bigotry and intolerance.  It's the elephant in the room, of course it should be talked about.

And celebrated.

Does his skin color have anything to do with his character, or ability to lead the country?  Only in so much as everything you are helps define your character and your priorities and view of the world.  But no, his skin color and ancestry are only a part of who he is.  And no, I didn't vote for him because he is black.  And no one I know voted for him because he's black. And no one I know did NOT vote for him because he is black.   But being black, even if he was raised in a white household did shape who he is. 

I am reasonably sure that President Obama has encountered racism in his life time.    And that will make him more aware of the importance of being judged by ones character.  And it I'm sure has shaped him in many other ways as well.

We have our first black president and that's an amazing thing.  And it's okay to think that's amazing. 

I am just appalled at all the people who have no empathy towards African Americans and what this might mean to them as a people. 

And just because he wasn't raised in the hood or has a white mother should in no way diminish the fact that  this is  an important day for all Americans but especially the African American community.  Because sixty years ago he would have been a colored man, period.  Not half white, just Negro or colored or that other horrible N word.

He is black.  Why should anyone ignore that?  It is about race to some degree, so lets be honest about it.  People are excited about it and others, racists, are upset.  Lets put it on the table and stop acting like it's a bad thing to be excited that a black guy is president. 

I am also disappointed in the people who feel they have to rain on everyones parade.  Yes, the media likes Obama, they liked other presidents too.  The media is just reflecting what most of the world are feeling.  Why is it a bad thing to have hope for our country?  What is wrong with being moved and excited for the possibilities?  So what if people are going over the top a little?  We need some joy around here.

" People are getting caught up in the hype, people think he's the Messiah" Bla Bla Bla.  That is also the minority of people.  No one I know feels that way. 

The President himself has said he can't do it alone and that it will take time. 

Some of us are just hopeful that we may start moving in a new direction.  That we have a president who is thoughtful and has integrity.  Someone with a vision that goes beyond his ego.  Who tries to be fair and inclusive. 

Quit insulting the majority of Americans who voted for this man.  We are not stupid.  We are not mindless followers. 

Let us have our hope and excitement.  And instead of bitching and saying erroneous things about the president before he even gets started why not try something else.  Maybe try being part of the solution instead of the problem.  Maybe you could do something in your corner of the world to help improve the lives of others. 

Maybe try and be fair and give the guy a chance.  Who knows he might surprise you. 

PS.  Loved the color of Michelle's dress but she needs a padded bra or needs to stand up taller.  Her boobs looked funny ( not that I was looking)

PS again.  I am pretty sure the older daughter was taping her dad's speech.  I wonder if she will post it on you tube.  Although someone pointed out she probably has no Internet access for security reasons. 

Featured grown up topic 2009.  As America experiences a changing of the guard (so to speak) next week, I am wondering: if you could talk to a world leader, past or present, who would you talk to, and what would you say?

Not as interesting as the title sounds but here it is.

 So I go out to breakfast with my friends Diana and Karin ( not their real names) for breakfast this morning and we had our usual kind of chat.  We talked about our kids of course and cut down other parents parenting skills ( always a good time) and then moved on to sex.  Nothing too exciting, mostly about if our kids ever caught us doing the deed and if we ever caught our parents.  It was a pretty lively conversation, and one that I don't think the guy with the collar on and his prissy looking wife and daughter at the next table appreciated.  And by collar I mean the religious kind.

  Which reminded me of a story my mom told me.  Apparently when I was just a tot I had a big mouth.  I know hard to believe.  So we were out for Sunday breakfast and everyone was the restaurant was packed with people who obviously just came from church.  I decide this is the most opportune time to ask how babies are made.  And just when the restaurant has a quite lull, I yell in my loudest voice "but how does the sperm get to the egg ?"  Which would be pretty embarrassing back in the day.  That was when Lucy and Ricky didn't even share a bed and you couldn't say pregnant on TV.

  We also talked about any sexual items we found while snooping in our parents or our friends parents room.  You know, books, Playboys etc...  Then we started to get grossed out and changed the subject.  There is nothing like picturing your parents having sex to ruin your appetite, even at our ages.  And the restaurant is REALLY good, so we wanted to eat.

 Totally off the subject, I think I am turning into one of those old people who just says what's on their mind, even if it's mean.  You know how mean old ladies are blunt and don't care if your feelings are hurt?  I am finding that my thoughts which used to be buried under my niceness are coming closer to the surface.  I think I might need to watch that.  Or maybe not, it could be very freeing.  Just thought I would mention that.  I don't know why.

Anyway, after breakfast we were leaving and Karin was driving.  She pulled out of her spot and on both sides of her there was a person who wanted the spot.  The problem was Karin couldn't go anywhere unless one backed up.  That was NOT happening, because they were men and they were obviously competitive about the spot.  So Karin is yelling,  (even though we were the only ones who could hear her) things like "F you jerks, one of you has to back up, where am I supposed to go?"  And although I have a new found bitchiness I still avoid confrontation so I say "  just pull back in, they are getting mad, pull back in."  Instead she lays on her horn which is broken and does nothing.  So she yells out the window "  one of you has to move"  just when she is yelling that her horn goes off and keeps going off.  But not a continual beep, more like beep, beep, pause, beep, beep, pause, beeeep, beeep, pause, so then it seems like she is beeping at the people.  Now they are mad, because the one guy is backing up and he is glaring as if to say "  Okay lady get a grip, I'm moving."

Diana and I are hysterically laughing at this point because she can't make it stop and everyone is getting all road rage on us.  We pull onto the road and everyone is glaring at her now.  You know how when someone beeps at you and you feel like you didn't do anything?  Or you know how you do make a mistake and someone lays on the horn and it startles you and you say " OKAY!  I made a mistake ass h#le, why don't you give me a heart attack?"  Well that's what I say at least.  Anyway, I am sure that's what the other drivers were thinking, because if looks could kill... 

Finally, she pulled over and turned the car off and it still kept doing it, but when she turned the car back on it stopped. 

Back to the beginning of this blog when I said we cut down other parents parenting skills.  You might think that's kind of bitchy, but seriously some parents?  And it's not like we say it to their faces or anything, and I'm sure we have all been talked about too.  And yeah, I guess that's sort of bad on a Sunday when we should be more Christian like, but I'm Jewish so really they are the ones who sinned really bad.   I'm pretty sure Jews are allowed to gossip, so until I hear differently...

 I feel bad for the Bush daughters.  It must suck to have everybody hate your dad, and have everybody celebrating the fact that your dad is almost out.  Diana and Karin and I decided the littlest Obama girl is going to be the type who says something embarrassing on the air.  Maybe how she caught her mommy and daddy doing it in the White House.  Well, I guess that's better than having your daddy do it with someone else in the White House.

That's all I have guys.  Off to take my nap, this day has worn me out already.

Obama Countdown
created by James Miller

Illinois Governor Rod Blago:  My what big balls you have!!!!  I seriously get embarrassed by people like him.  Why doesn't he get how hated he is.  He just needs to go away.   But he doesn't, he stays and makes an ass out of himself.   If he had any real friends they would tell it to him straight, " dude, you're busted, no one likes you in IL. or anywhere, just be cool and step down."

Kevin Federline ( Britney's ex):  Just because he is the possible " better" parent does not make him a good parent.  Has everyone forgotten about his 10 or whatever other kids he had with that black chick what's,her,name?  I haven't.  Wasn't she pregnant when he went to play house with Britney?  Not cool Kev.

Speaking of not cool.  It really wasn't cool of Angelina to say that about the Mr. and Mrs. Smith and her kids.  Listen Angie,  Brad, was married no matter how you guys try and twist it.  Even if it was only an emotional affair, I'm still pretty sure you were part of the break up of the marriage, so, yeah, you need to stop acting like Jennifer didn't exist.   You can adopt and pop out 100 more kids, you can be a REALLY good looking couple, but it's pretty obvious what went down, so stop being so self righteous.

Sarah Palin's new grandchild: Tripp?  Seriously, can that family ever choose normal names?  And Tripp's dad?  Poor kid , looks scared to death.  I am all  for you play you pay, but I don't think he should be pressured to get married.  Just have Sarah hook you up with a good paying job, and be there for your kid emotionally and financially. 

Barak:  My sister says I am in love.  She may be right, but that's kind of gross since my 22 year old daughter has already confessed her love for him.  But I definitely have a crush on Obama.  I have noticed that anyone who does not like Obama, always says his middle name.  For example, Barak Hussein Obama, is the anti Christ.  The guy can't help what his name is.   My middle name is Hale.  I didn't pick it, and I don't really like it, talk to my mom.  It doesn't define me as a person, so get over his name.

Casey Anthony:  Killed her daughter.  Is there anyone who thinks she didn't?  If so please comment here so I can hear your theory, ridiculous as it is.

New season of American Idol and Big LOVE ( finally!!!!) make a very happy Laura.

I am sorry I missed Sharon Osborn throwing wine and pulling out the hair extension of the former contestant on Charm School.  I did enjoy watching it on the computer though.  I wish Rosie and The Donald would get in a fist fight as I would enjoy that too.

Weekends:  Go way too fast.

Dear Safeway,
You and 99% of the people who work for you SUCK.  I quit, I'm done, and I don't care.  That's right you arrogant piece of crap, I am giving up 10 hours of work a week, when there are people who have no job at all. 

You never thought I'd do it, but screw you, I did.  You will no longer be speaking gangsta to me in a " professional" staff meeting.  Because I will no longer be there.  I don't have to put up with any of you people anymore.  You can never call me onto the carpet in front of the boys because YOU screwed up.  You can never force me to write things in the relate book when I wasn't even there, because you can't write or you are too lazy. 

We will NOT be kicking it at a club, and we were never going to.  How you have even kept your job this long should be a mystery to me, but after six years at your crappy establishment, I'm really not surprised.

Today at lunch when I saw you having a hard time with a kid?  I laughed, I loved it.  And guess what else?  I got on my cell phone, which as an employee of the school, I can do.  Oh and I might miss work three times in four months and there is not a damn thing you can do about it. 

I no longer have to be micro managed anymore.  I don't have to follow your rules, that were made because all you hire is ex cons and " former " addicts as employees.  People who call off work every other day, people who are constantly late, people who lie like they are breathing. 

You never appreciated my integrity because you have none. 
That's right, keep hiring your child molesters and your back stabbing thieves.  You want private pay insurance kids?  HA HA HA!

Those are going to be the clients that bring you all down.  These poor, gang banging, medicare kids, even realize you all suck.  Unfortunatly they have loser parents who can't or won't fight for them.  Wait until you get a parent who cares.  One whos child is not in the legal system.  Maybe their kid just has a little Marijuana problem. They bring them to  Safeway for treatment.  Sure they are put off by the staff not speaking proper English, but they are desperate.  But then they get a call from Jr.  and they hear what you people are really like.  You think they are going to keep their kid in the care of you ignorant, thug mentality, pricks?

No, normal people are not going to think you what you do is okay.

So, yeah.  I'm done.  And if I decide to try and bring you down, I will.  So I would wipe that arrogant smirk off your face.  I have the power now.  And I'm gona treat you like the bitch, ass ho, you are.

My Niece Natalie 3 years old:  Daddy sing me a Hanukkah song

My Brother David:  sure honey, Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel, I made you...

Natalie interrupts: NO!!!!  Not that one ( very agitated by now)

David:  Oh Hanukkah oh Hanukkah  Oh light...

Natalie:  NO!!!!!!  ( starts to sing)  Guess who eats together at the Cawnagie  dewi
Bowser at sha na na and Arfur Fonzewelli

Jennie: ( finishes)
Paul Newmans half Jewish, Goldie Hawns half too
Put them together, what a fine lookin Jew

HA HA HA...

The poor kid is half Lutheran, so I guess that's the extent of her Hanukkah repertoire.

I have to say though, it was the cutest version of the Adam Sandler Hanukkah song I ever heard and it was very cool that a three year old knew the words.  At least sort of.

I decided to be Jewish this year and forgo Christmas at expunges family and get Chinese and see a movie.  Unfortunately, the Chinese restaurants in my home town don't realize they are supposed to stay open on Christmas for the Jews. 

Thank goodness for I Hop. 

I saw two movies, The Benjamin Button one and Slum Dog Millionaire.

Reviews:

Button movie:

Brad Pitt is gorgeous.  I mean the man is seriously hot.  The movie was weird, and long, and the end kind of gave me the creeps.  But it was different and good, and Brad is REALLY good looking, even if he did dump poor Jennifer Aniston and then have five hundred kids.

Slum Dog:

Really, REALLY, good even though it had some sub titles.  Usually I don't like to read my movies, but there were only a few so it wasn't that bad.  Stay through the credits even though that was VERY strange and had NOTHING to do with the tone of the movie, or the movie itself.  Ok. fine, here is a spoiler, they do this strange Indian line/show choir dance in a train station during the credits..  Odd.

Both Movies got claps, but I thought that was because it was Christmas day and people were just happy to have the day off.

Movie one I got an aisle seat and no one sat next to me and it was great.

I snuck into movie two ( yeah whatever, like you have never done that) and got punished by getting stuck between two elderly loud couples.

This prevented me from seeing movie three which was going to be Doubt.  I was cranky by then so I came home.

We had a very white Christmas and Matt and his friend started to make a very cool igloo.  Today it is a huge puddle.

Igloo making

 

Igloo making tool

Slacker

Almost done, but never to be completed : (.  They were too lazy to put on coats.  And as I said it is now a puddle.

I have to work New Years Eve and Day.  Yeah, Thanks Safeway.  Way to screw over the one Jewish employee who wouldn't work Christmas.  And by one Jewish employee, I mean I am the one Jew who works there.  The other one molested a boy and is now in prison.  But hey, I had movies to see and I Hop to eat!

I did work Friday and the boys complained about Christmas dinner.  I'm sure it was much better than the prison food they could have been eating, but try telling them that!  Well actually I did and it didn't go over too well.  : sigh:

My favorite Chanukah present was money.  Expunge gave the kids two big change jars for Christmas, I got nothing, but it might be because we are divorced and I'm Jewish.  Anyway, I thought the change jar thing was funny and kind of clever.  Unless it doesn't add up to much, then it's dumb.

That about sums it up.  Happy 2009.  See, all you you freaks who thought the world was ending in 2000? well we are still here and everything is relatively fine.  

So there, weirdos.

1) Because it's been a min. since I have blogged ( Note my gangsta term min.)
2) No one is around, everyone is shopping with money they don't have.
3)  People may not be interested in what I have to say...

However I am writing it anyway.

Subject one: Britney can't make a comeback until all her hair grows back .  And I don't mean hair extensions.

Subject two:  It's okay that Lindsay is a lesbian, but it's not okay that she hangs around clubs all the time.  I just don't think she will be staying straight.

Subject three: Speaking of lesbians, my fellow tenant, the lesbian who I heard goes for EVERYONE, has not made any overtures towards me.  Big disappointment.  I mean I know not all lesbians like every woman they see, but according to her ex, this one does.  Well, ex, not true, because I have tried to flirt and have gotten NOTHING.

Also, I think Prop 8 is stupid and it pisses me off.  No one wants to change the definition of marriage?  Hey people, move with the times.  Single can now mean a 12 year old who just broke up with her boyfriend.  Married can mean anything.  Seriously, who cares.  I hate the analogies like " well then people will want to marry their dogs"  Not even worth discussing.  Ridiculous argument.  Dogs are smart they don't want to get married.

Seriously, if gay couples want to make it legal, let them.  What the hell do you care?  It does not effect you at all. Worry about your own problems.  I'm sure you have plenty, you Anita Bryant clones.

Subject four:  My Governor here in IL. sucks and is a bad person.  I want him to go away.  

Subject five:  Never stay married for the kids.  Just don't have kids and your relationship will be fine.

Subject six:  I am off to celebrate Hanukkah, the holiday no one can spell.  Here is a wonderful song to get you all in the mood for Chanukah. 

When I was a kid only the best a brightest were rewarded with trophy's and ribbons.  Of course your own mother put your picture on the fridge and said it was pretty, but it was understood that, duh, that's your mom.  

This gave me a true sense of what I was good at and what I wasn't.  I knew that I sucked at drawing and crafts.  After all, I'm not blind.  But had I had a teacher tell me "  Great job Laura, I like how your Popsicle stick house looks like a tear down"  I might have thought I had talent. 

And that would have been a bad thing.  Because eventually kids need to be in the real world, where it is competitive and you really do have to be good at what you do.

And here is another shocker, there are winners and losers in life.  Hard work doesn't always mean good.   I worked damn hard on my crafts, maybe even harder than other kids, but in the end, they, well, sucked.

So I learned, I am not an artist, or a baseball player.  I could work my ass off, but I was never going to get an " A " in geometry. 

Because back in the day, we got what we earned, and I never got a trophy even if I tired.  And although I was a cute girl, I was never going to be tall, or a super model.  And although I could sing on tune, I was no Barbara Streisand.  

And sometimes I really was the best, but someone else disagreed, and so I accepted that, because life isn't fair and no one told me it was.

And I knew that sometimes you had to be in the right place at the right time, or you had to look a certain way, or just have really good luck.

And all that was and is okay, because that's how it goes.  And some people seem to get everything and some people get nothing.  And some of those people that get everything are not nice, and I try and be nice, but life isn't fair.  

But you keep working hard at what your good at because it gives you self satisfaction to keep going and not quit.  And you realize you're not entitled to anything, but you hope when opportunity knocks you are there to open the door. 

And maybe opportunity will never knock, but that's because life isn't fair and whoever told you it was, lied.

On that note, my kid was one of two students nominated from Northwestern University for a Carnegie endowment for international peace.  Which means lots of other REALLY bright kids were NOT nominated.  Because it is very prestigious and sought after.

And they may have deserved to be nominated.  But Northwestern could only pick two and THEY were not one of them.  And now she is competing against hundreds of kids from other colleges and Universities.   And of course I think my kid is the best.  But, duh, I'm her mom.

And she may just be the best person for this fellowship, but someone might disagree, and she will accept that, because life isn't always fair.  But she will be so grateful and so honored that her hard work has been validated by her school.  And if she is lucky enough to move forward in this process, she will appreciate it, because she knows there are hundreds of other kids who are working just as hard for this.

Because I raised my kids to know they are not entitled to sh#t.  And that life isn't fair.  And when it works out, you appreciate it and hold onto it, because someone else is saying " life isn't fair."  But, today it worked out for you, so be grateful.

 Because next time it might not be you.

Dear Mr. President Elect Obama,
Wow, it feels kind of weird calling you that because even though we never met, it feels like we are friends.  You know, kind of like the whole Oprah thing.  That wasn't a racial comment by the way, just that you seem accessible, like her.  Especially, after I saw you and Michelle on 60 min.

Anyway, here's the thing, I'm pretty sure we, as in ex husband, my son, and I , have to take out more loans this semester for my son's college.

Now admittedly, I didn't really pay a LOT of attention during your campaign, (  I did listen more than other years though) I seem to remember you saying something about more affordable college. 

I'm thinking you did not mean if your kid CHOOSES to go to an out of state school.  But your from Illinois so maybe you'll get why he didn't want to stay here.  OK, U of I, great school, but I'm not even sure he could have gotten in.

 Well he probably could have, but it's in a corn field! 

 Illinois State?  I heard the dorms are really gross there, and what I saw of the campus wasn't that exciting.   The school he choose, Indiana?  Beautiful.  And you know, I'm pretty sure the students helped you win that state.  I know Matt ( our son) voted for you, right there in Indiana.  If we would have made him go to ISU?  Wasted Illinois vote.

Not that we are snobs or anything, but how can I tell one kid they can go to Northwestern University and another they can't go to the school they love?  And he loves Indiana.
 
You have two kids, you know how it is.

Besides he has almost two years in at Indiana, and he just made president of his frat!   And since you just made president of the US.  you know what an honor being president is.  Wouldn't you be upset if someone just took that away from you? 

Speaking of which, it's a small world Barack.  Guess what frat he belongs too?  Alpha Sigma Phi!  Yep, your friend Warren's old frat!  Yes, Warren Buffet, is there another Warren?  Anyway, I think that is like karma or something.

Maybe during your talks about money and stuff, Warren may have mentioned wanting to give some of his billions to a frat brother?  I know he's really big on philanthropy, and really, can you think of a better cause?

I feel like, come on Warren, help a brother out, ya know?  Spread some wealth. 

Whoa, I am not accusing you of being a socialist, like other people, I was a HUGE supporter of yours.  It's not like I think Warren should give away ALL his money, a million would be fine.

No, it does not cost a million for him to attend Indiana University, I'm not gonna lie.  However, I think you would agree, that as the mother of the president of the Indiana chapter of Alpha Sig, I could use a handout bailout. 

I have a really stressful job.  Not as stressful as yours is going to be, but I work with boys from the Chicago hood.  I bet you have met a couple back in the day when you were doing good stuff for Chicago.   So you can imagine.

Not to depress you or anything, but whatever you were doing, it did not help.  Seriously, some of these boys?  If you want to hear the F word more times than you have ever heard it in your life, come visit me at work.  But I know you tried hard in the Chicago community.  But some people, just don't want the help.  To be honest, I'm not exactly sure what you did in Chicago, were you in the hood?  Anyway...

It's not just the cursing though, I curse a lot too now.  It's just a bummer of a work environment, you know what I mean?  Even the staff are losers.  It's draining.

So, I was wondering, could you talk to Warren?  Or congress or something? 

By the way, I am forced in this crappy economy to live with my ex husband.  We just moved.  I know, weird right?

 If you are ever back in the Chicago area, we live in the suburbs.  I would love to have you come to one of our gatherings around the fire pit.  We all voted for you, well a couple people in our group did not, two republican friends of ours did though and that was HUGE,  I am sure you could charm the few other hold outs.  I think they secretly like you a lot.  They just didn't want to step out of their republican box, you know?  You know how those republicans can be.

We are all pretty much friends from Show Choir.  I bet your girls would like show choir.  Do they sing and dance?  They take ballet right?  Anyway, I have to tell you, I really got into it with our show choir director in defense of you.

He was one of those bitter Hillary lovers.  Then he pretended to like Sarah, but I don't think he really did.  I mean Hillary and Sarah have nothing in common, except their gender.  I'm sure you agree.

I can tell you this though, if you came to one of the concerts, it would go a LONG way in mending fences.  In fact, I think the director would change his tune REALLY fast ( did you like my play on words?).  The next concert is on Dec. 11th.  You guys haven't moved yet right?  Take a limo, 45 min. to an hour tops.  Great Holiday music, a little show choir, sounds nice right?

Hey, by then you will have given Hillary her really cool new job!  This is perfect!

We'll talk more at the concert.  Bring Warren.  And a check.

Pretty soon!!!!!!!!