Welcome Senator Specter

As a resident of PA, I always thought that Arlen Specter was not that bad for a Republican, but maybe that was because PA's other senator was that wacko Rick Santorum - thank goodness he's gone! Anyway, welcome to the left, Senator Specter!

New Relative

My cousins Gail and Mike have videos and pictures of their new son Adam on their Facebook pages, so hopefully that means they won't mind if I post a photo of the little guy here on my blog:



What a cutie he is and how exciting it is to have a new addition to the (extended) family! Our family is pretty small, and Gail is the first one in our generation to have a kid, so even though Adam is technically "only" my first-cousin-once-removed (right?) I think it's a big deal! I feel like an aunt (but Alicia, feel free to make me a real aunt anytime!). Yay babies!

Selfish Thief

In my previous post I sort of rhetorically threw out there the idea of calling Sarah Palin a "heartless thief" for her political desire to take away a woman's right to choose. However, after reading this column, I think "selfish thief" is a better description. As Marcus writes "Abortion is a personal issue and a personal choice. The government has no business taking that difficult decision away from those who must live with the consequences." How dare Palin assume that the choices she made are the right ones for every woman out there, or that we don't deserve to have available to us the choices that were available to her. But maybe, just maybe, she'll reflect further on how fortunate she was to have such choices, and Sarah Palin the Politican will see the light. More broadly, I hope everyone with the political power and desire to one day govern my uterus will see the light and finally understand.

Strong Words for the World

Given the comments on my last post, I need to get some things straight here. I am afraid I am coming across as someone who is brash, thoughtless, and full of liberal anger to spew. Although I am a liberal and I am angry at times (who wouldn't be?) the rest of this could not be further from the truth.

I am an intelligent, thoughtful, and fair woman who tries to stay informed as best she can. Of course I do not know Sarah Palin or any politician personally. All I know is how she portrays herself as a political figure through her words and actions. I try not to let the "spin" of the "liberal media" influence my interpretation of those words and actions. I try to think for myself before I form an opinion, and especially before I post that opinion for the entire world to read. Yes, CG, you're right when you say "for all we know, Barak Obama is a homophobe asshole while Palin enjoys the friendship of homosexuals". But we don't know that. What we do know is that Sarah Palin expressed her support to amend the United States Constitution to unjustifiably single out one group of Americans and put them at a disadvantage (and Obama has made it clear that his administration DOES NOT support such an amendment). To me, the idea of such an amendment is scary almost beyond words, and thus, in my attempt to come up with strong words to express my strong opinion, I arrived at "homophobic bitch". Again, these words are not describing Sarah Palin the mother/wife/daughter/grandmother/person, as I do not know that Sarah Palin - they are describing Sarah Palin, the former candidate for Vice President of the U.S. Maybe "bitch" is inaccurate, as I use it to describe exceedingly mean people, and what she had given support for is more scary than it is mean. So maybe I should have said "homophobic monster" to describe a powerful (or potentially powerful) politician who seeks to amend our U.S. CONSTITUTION to put same-sex couples at a permanent disadvantage throughout the supposed "Land of the Free". Are you going to attack me with silly comments if I use "ignorant clod" to describe Palin's denigration of and desire to cut funding for the biological sciences? Or "heartless thief" to describe her desire to take away my right to choose abortion? Would it make you feel better if I called Obama an ignorant greenie-wannabe for supporting ethanol as an alternative fuel (his advisors aren't ignorant, and hopefully they'll change his mind)?

I shouldn't go on and on about Palin, because, thank goodness, she's back in Alaska for now, so her damage is relatively confined and we have other things to worry about. But I think the media's portrayal of her and my response to that portrayal provides a good example of what I'm talking about here - how some of us liberals can, indeed, think for ourselves:

~ Attack on Palin #1 - the Katie Couric interview and other gaffes. Yes, it was fun to make fun of, and yes, some of us took it as an indication that Palin doesn't know what she's talking about. But I think she completely redeemed herself by later speeches, especially in the VP debate, in which I thought she was very well-spoken. I just disagreed with everything she spoke about!
~ Attack on Palin #2 - her daughter is a teen mother. So? Our nation has the highest teen pregnancy rate of any developed nation, so it's to be expected that this happens even to families like Palin's. Yes, I disagree with the way that Palin wants to spend my tax dollars educating America's youth about sex, but this is based on data, not Palin's daughter.
~ Attack on Palin #3 - the expensive clothes. If I was her, I would do the same thing - allowing the RNC to fund my campaign wardrobe. When in the spotlight so much, it's important for politicians to look nice, especially when their platform is so horrible that they may need to rely on their good looks to get votes :)

Although here's an attack I kind of agreed with:

~ Attack on Palin #4 - on a visit to NC (and maybe there were others too?) she said something like (I'm not getting this exactly right) "It's nice to be here among REAL Americans, folks who care about our country". The point was, it seemed like she was implying that Obama supporters were not "real" Americans and do not care about our country. This is one case where I can understand why people initially called her a "bitch". It was a bitchy thing to imply, and I don't think her follow up statement (not really an apology) really cleared this up. Still, though, there were lots of bitchy things flying around during this campaign, by both sides.

The point is, there are people of both political parties who do indeed think for themselves (and there are way too many who don't). I try to look at an issue or a political candidate as a whole package - everything or everyone has positives and negatives. The only positive I could think of for Palin was her interest in supporting "special needs" children, but even this "positive" was negated by her stance against genetic research that could potentially help special needs people (which I understand is a result of her ignorance, so is partially excusable) and her running mate's stance against improved family leave and childcare policies. We liberals were angry and frustrated after the last 8 years, and the thought of at least 4 more years of the same was, at times, terrifying and depressing. Let me call Sarah Palin a homophobic, right-wing bitch in peace, and I'll let you call Obama a tax-and-spend, baby-killing terrorist. We'll both feel better! :)

More on Gay Rights

CG, your ignorance on GLBT issues is showing through your comments. It sounds like you need to educate yourself. My blog is not enough - check out Pam's House Blend (link on the left sidebar) and http://www.hrc.org.

Keep in mind, CG, that the Human Rights Campaign endorsed Obama because even though he doesn't support federal gay marriage, at least he supports civil unions and other pro-gay issues (anti-discrimination legislation, etc - see here). Obama was the only Presidential candiate I know of who specifically referenced his concern for his "gay brothers and sisters" in his speeches. I don't know about McCain, but Palin is indeed a homophobic bitch...remember this? And this? Those right-wing, Christian conservative, Jerry Fawell types are all alike - to them homosexuality is still a sickness, a disease, and God doesn't love them because of it! WTF? This attitude has got to stop, and I would think even YOU would agree with this since I assume you want your precious Republican party to make a comeback! A platform based on "anti-gay" will no longer be sustainable - you GOPs will have to find another way to bring your voters to the polls. I'm sure this is what the Log Cabin republicans have been trying to say for years.

D.C. to Recognize Gay Marriage

I have GOT to stop reading the newspaper & blogging and GET BACK TO WORK, but there is just so much exciting news. From the Washington Post:

D.C. Council Votes to Recognize Other States' Gay Marriages

The decision was unanimous. Focus on the Family, your agenda is going DOWN like the Titanic! Take THAT, Christian Right!

From the New York Times...

"Vice President Joe Biden, who threw the ceremonial first pitch, had better control" than C.C. Sebathia! Great article.

One State at a Time

I told you (April 3 post)! Vermont Legalizes Gay Marriage.

Orioles Home Opener

Baseball season has begun! The Phillies fell to the Braves on Sunday, but the Orioles figured out CC Sebathia:

Visitor

Today's an absolutely gorgeous day, and so I let Madeline outside where she and Pudding (the cat next door) are sitting in their respective yards having a nice, peaceful staring contest. But I am keeping a careful eye on them and the backyards just in case our furry visitor from yesterday decides to return. So when I got home from work on Friday afternoon, Madeline was yowling to go outside, but because it was windy, she was yowling to come back inside after just a few minutes (wind makes her undecided). I was in a good mood, so I indulged her, letting her in and out, in and out. I was grading a paper in the living room and heard her meowing on the deck, but I wanted to reach a stopping point, so I didn't come right away. When I did, I saw that she wasn't meowing to come back inside, but rather she was fixated on something in the yard. I was expected a neighborhood cat, but instead it was a possum with at least three babies! Luckily I grabbed Madeline just as she was making a move to bolt into the yard. I think possums are rather icky, but the possum was just ambling along in no hurry to leave my yard, so I went in and grabbed my camera. By the time I returned, it wasn't as close, but I still got some decent pictures.



This Canon PowerShot has a nice zoom for the money! See the babies?





The possum left my yard momentarily, slipping under the fence and actually leaving behind a baby in the process (who wandered just a bit before it finally scrambled under the fence after its mother). But then she came back, this time with the babies on her underside instead of back. They hung out by the fence for a while, before crossing my yard and heading over to Rachel's yard.

Progress!

How exciting! This just in:

Iowa Court Says Gay Marriage Ban Is Unconstitutional

If this had happened yesterday I would have sworn it was an April Fool's joke. And it's a unanimous decision! In Iowa! Equality is indeed happening, even in the Midwest - one state at a time.

Busy!

I've been busy! I meant to blog about the Land Between the Lakes trail runs, but I'll just refer you to Rob's blog - he has a nice race report and pictures. Since LBL, my running has been really blah, even after a five (!) day hiatus. So I decided that was a good reason not to push it this weekend, combined with the fact that this weekend has been work work work (though I did run about 8 miles this morning). I'm taking another break now because my head hurts - mentally and physically. I have 18 papers graded, and 17 to go! And then a bunch of other stuff!

Anyway, Madeline has interrupted my work with comic relief. Once again, licking the soap (but not as vigorously as she licked the candles):



Not budging while I sheeted the bed:



And just posing like the little darling she is:

Umstead Trail Marathon

As you can see from my March 3rd post, last week began with enough snow to close down schools and lows around 11F. But the week ended much differently, weather-wise. On Saturday in Raleigh, N.C. it was bright and sunny with a high temperature of nearly 80. It was a beautiful day to be outside...except for those of us running the Umstead Trail Marathon. I've certainly done long runs in temps this warm, but I've never raced long in such conditions. Well, I guess there were those two Mahomet half-marathons, but at least they were flat and over with in a couple hours!

I actually have no idea how I was able to finish in 4:39:47. That's 10 minutes faster than I did LBL last year, and Umstead was way hillier and hotter (LBL had snow, but heat is even worse), and I was just as poorly trained. I started worrying about whether or not I could finish at mile 11 - ELEVEN! My stomach felt like it usually does at the end of a marathon, where the thought of another gel makes me want to barf and nothing seems to quench my thirst. The Gatorade on the course tasted really concentrated, which was good - it's sometimes watered-down on race courses - but I still had trouble staying hydrated. My friend had salt tabs at the mile 21 aid station (thank you Mickey!). I've never used salt tabs before, but the way I was feeling I figured they couldn't hurt! It's hard to tell if they actually helped because I still felt lousy the rest of the race, but maybe I would've felt even worse without them.

Anyway, I don't have any pictures from the race itself, and if any get posted on the website, I probably won't re-post any of me here, because I am sure I looked awful. I got splotchy sunburn and my arms and back still ache from my hunched-over, trying-not-to-collapse running form. But I do have a picture of my...handmade frog award! In this race they give awards to the top 15 male and 15 female finishers. Somehow, I just made it - I was number 15!



Also, all finishers got a pint glass:



And our goody bags had some of the best schwag of any races I've done. Socks perfect for Sandra Cooke, Ph.D.:



Gels, chews, lotion, organic lip balm, and a body glide sample:



Speaking of body glide, I have never used it because I have NEVER had major chafing issues...until this marathon. Andrew says I've been lucky. But I am worried that it means my thighs have gotten fatter! Anyway, I am totally gonna be a body glide user from now on (but I'll also try to slim my thighs!)

And then of course, the technical race tee-shirt:



Also, the post-race food was pretty good - veggie and chicken burritos, chips, fruit, oreos, and more. So all in all, it was a good race. Besides the usual soreness (and chafing and sunburn!), my left foot hurts today, but it's better than it was yesterday. So hopefully I'll be able to start AND finish the LBL 23K this Saturday!

Kitty weed

You all know I love cats, right? So hopefully you don't consider me cruel because I think what this man did is hilarious rather than abusive.

Snow Day!

We actually had a snow day on Monday! 2-3 measly inches is all it takes for Duke to cancel classes. I was mostly cozy and productive at home, but I did take a couple walks around the neighborhood. Here is my snow-covered street (well actually the snow-covered vegetation bordering the street):



I thought my neighbor's snow-covered trees across the street looked really pretty:



My house doesn't look that exciting - I need to get a shrubbery! (but not too expensive, haha):



I walked through Northgate park near my house. It wasn't as pretty as I thought it'd be - the snow was melting pretty rapidly - but this little creek looked kind of nice:




This March snowfall caught some of the flowers off-guard. My daffodils aren't blooming yet, but lots of my neighbors' flowers were. I saw quite a few snow-covered blooms on my walk. I should have gotten a close-up shot of my next door neighbor's flowering bush - it's in the picture to the right of my house - all the egg-yolk-yellow flowered were frosted with snow.

Speaking of flowers, Andrew's mom gave me this lovely pink bouquet for my 30th birthday:

Scariness

I did not listen to Gov. Bobby Jindal's speech last night, nor have I read any of the recent articles about him. But the recent headlines and news radio snippets I've heard that mention "Jindal" and "President" in the same sentence are quite scary, if for no other reason that this. That crap will only pull our nation backwards on the educational and science trajectories, when we need to move forward.

Lilly Ledbetter, again

Here's a great op-ed piece from the NY Times on Lilly Ledbetter and other women who have fought to end gender discrimination in the workplace.

Lilly Ledbetter

Since Obama was sworn in, nearly every day has been - as a friend of mine remarked recently on her Facebook page - "like a liberal Christmas". Today, President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act into law. Lilly Ledbetter filed a lawsuit against her employer, Goodyear, after she discovered she had been paid less than her male counterparts, but her lawsuit was thrown out because it was filed more than six months after the discrimination occurred. The Act makes it clear that the 180 day statue of limitations begins with each new discriminatory paycheck. I think that the 180 day statue of limitations is still too short, but at least it is now clear that it begins on pay day, not on the day the pay was agreed upon.

Of course, all Senate democrats voted for this Act, but it is especially noteworthy that all female republican senators also voted for it, whereas only one male republican voted in favor (Specter).

Homemade Minestrone

I don't usually cook with meat, but last week I got inspired after thumbing through the Joy of Cooking, and I decided to roast a chicken. Then this week I was about to throw the chicken carcass away when I stopped and thought "hey, I should make stock!" So I did, and the chicken stock actually turned out pretty well, so from it I made minestrone soup:



It is not too bad, if I do say so myself. I put in almost twice as many macaronis as the recipe called for (you can probably tell from the picture) because I like a lot of pasta in my minestrone. I also put in twice the fresh herbs, and a little less broth than the 10 cups the recipe said, so it is quite flavorful.

So. Today begins the last week of my 20s. I am slightly bummed, because I feel like as long as I'm 20-something I can still pretend I'm a kid sometimes. But it's gonna be hard to feel like a kid when I'm THIRTY. I was boosted a bit this morning by some lady at church asking me "how school was going", and when I mentioned I teach at Duke rather than take classes there she said "oh, you don't look old enough to be teaching!" (I've had this conversation with at least 4 people at church, and it always makes me feel better). So I guess as long as I don't look 30, maybe I can get away with continuing some of my 20-something habits. Like wearing a short skirt. According to some magazine or something I read somewhere once (Glamour? Washington Post fashion column?) only women under 30 should be wearing short skirts. At 30 you've supposedly reached some level of maturity that is above the teen/collegiate/20s-look-at-me-I'm-so-sexy look of short skirts. Well, that's a fashion rule I'm gonna break because my legs are too fabulous to not show off once in a while!

At last

After 8 long years, the abortion football has once again been thrown. Obama has repealed the Global Gag Rule. An excellent start in the process of undoing the damage of the past 8 years.