I am not cut out to be a stay at home mama.
I have the utmost respect for those who can do it; even more for those who can juggle keeping the house clean and the kiddos content. Me, I have a hard time just getting the energy to get dressed some days. To be fair, I have been ill and mostly housebound, but still. I miss being able to walk out my door and down the street on the sidewalk to a park or a running track to jog, or to a store, or even to be able to rely on city transit to save money.
The Bald man FINALLY got a good job, pending a background check and TB test (medical support technician), with the VA, so our money issues are hopefully going to be seriously less severe, but when you don't drive and you live in the middle of nowhere, money doesn't do a whole hell of a lot. Luckily, I am working on getting my license and we do plan on getting a second vehicle, so I can travel around with little man as needed. I miss being able to get around alone!
I guess what I miss most is a city environment in general. I miss being able to go to a 24 hour store if needed, or being able to catch a bus every half an hour or so, etc. If only I could convince Bald Man that a city may be an option. We talked about our options after getting to Albany for his background check and TB test, and while a city is out of the question, we are talking about moving further south, closer to his work place, and close to the freeway. He won't consider Plattsburgh (although I don't consider THAT a city anyway...), but anything south of this evil hellhole is better than nothing!! I wish he'd consider Albany, but that would only be an option after I finish my master's and hopefully get a job at the VA...and even then, he's bound and determined to buy his grandmother's old property about 20 minutes away from Albany. Not my favorite place in the world even though the view is great. Still, it would be better than here. What am I saying....ANY place is better than here. Maybe it'd be different if we lived in the village proper, where there are at least sidewalks to walk on safely, maybe not....but after a trip to Albany I know what I do miss.
Lilypie Third Birthday tickers
Monday, July 19, 2010
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Indian sovereignty
Yes, this deviates from the usual mommy stuff, but it's big in the news up here and I've been thinking a lot about this.
If you don't know about the Iroquois Lacrosse team issues, here's a link to tell you more about the issue Iroquois Lacrosse issue, but to cut to the chase: the team from the Iroquois Nation was invited to compete in an international competition. The US Initially refused to honor their Iroquois nation passports and would deny them re-entry into the US on the way home, which led the UK to deny them visitor visas. As such, they could not compete in a competition in a sport that they invented thousands of years ago!
This all boiled down to recognizing the Iroquois Nation as a sovereign nation with recognition for their documents that equal passports. While I understand that the US and Canada have both offered to issue passports to the Iroquois people, the Iroquois are recognized as being separate from both countries, especially since both countries have reservations along the border.
Do I understand the need for more security for both nations, and more technologically advanced passports? Yes. However, I also feel that there could have been an alternative presented to help the Iroquois nation preserve their rights and freedoms as a sovereignty and keep up with security advances.
Why not have the security administration work with a liaison for the Iroquois nation in creating new passports that recognize the sovereignty status and still have the security encryptions needed for travel in the world. While it may be seen as some as an invasion of the Government to try and take over the Iroquois, perhaps there is a way to show how it can preserve the sovereignty status.
Maybe I'm naive, but it just seems like a lot of Sturm und Drang over something that can easily be rectified.
If you don't know about the Iroquois Lacrosse team issues, here's a link to tell you more about the issue Iroquois Lacrosse issue, but to cut to the chase: the team from the Iroquois Nation was invited to compete in an international competition. The US Initially refused to honor their Iroquois nation passports and would deny them re-entry into the US on the way home, which led the UK to deny them visitor visas. As such, they could not compete in a competition in a sport that they invented thousands of years ago!
This all boiled down to recognizing the Iroquois Nation as a sovereign nation with recognition for their documents that equal passports. While I understand that the US and Canada have both offered to issue passports to the Iroquois people, the Iroquois are recognized as being separate from both countries, especially since both countries have reservations along the border.
Do I understand the need for more security for both nations, and more technologically advanced passports? Yes. However, I also feel that there could have been an alternative presented to help the Iroquois nation preserve their rights and freedoms as a sovereignty and keep up with security advances.
Why not have the security administration work with a liaison for the Iroquois nation in creating new passports that recognize the sovereignty status and still have the security encryptions needed for travel in the world. While it may be seen as some as an invasion of the Government to try and take over the Iroquois, perhaps there is a way to show how it can preserve the sovereignty status.
Maybe I'm naive, but it just seems like a lot of Sturm und Drang over something that can easily be rectified.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
A Flat face = "retarded"?!?!?!
This has been nagging at me for awhile, so I need to vent. SuperGrammy's sister recently told her that because Monkey Child has a flat face that he is likely to be "retarded".
First of all, this thinking and assumption is based on ignorance and stupidity. The shape of one's face does not dictate mental retardation (eye shape and other particular features can be indicators, but not just having a flat face). and calling someone "retarded" is very outdated. It's "developmentally disabled".
Second, he underwent genetic testing when he was born because of the spina bifida, and that was one of the first things he was screened for! and he came back with a normal chromosomal mapping with no trisomies or anything.
Third, she did not have the balls to say this to our faces, but told my mother in law, who quickly defended our son and told us when it happened.
Lastly, why would it matter if he was developmentally disabled? He's still a sweet, lovable child, and is deserving of love.
This is the same aunt that, when we announced we were pregnant after seven years of trying, shouted "Finally! It's about time!" While I try not to take anything this woman says with a grain of salt, this just pissed me off. She's not the brightest bulb in the sign, and even her daughters admit she has some serious mental issues that require commitment to a psych ward but she will never get the help she needs, but this....this was the last straw. We told SuperGrammy that from now on we would prefer that she not take Monkey Child to her sister's house, and that if that becomes an issue to please let us know and we would make other arrangements for child care, and she agrees to that completely. I am hoping that we do not have to see or deal with this woman ever, but since she lives in the area it might not be possible to avoid her. We do plan on boycotting any family events involving her, and Bald Man's dad would not go if we don't go, which means a lot.
GRRR!!!! How can ignorance like that be combated if the person who is ignorant is unwilling to listen to reason, logic, and scientific proof????
First of all, this thinking and assumption is based on ignorance and stupidity. The shape of one's face does not dictate mental retardation (eye shape and other particular features can be indicators, but not just having a flat face). and calling someone "retarded" is very outdated. It's "developmentally disabled".
Second, he underwent genetic testing when he was born because of the spina bifida, and that was one of the first things he was screened for! and he came back with a normal chromosomal mapping with no trisomies or anything.
Third, she did not have the balls to say this to our faces, but told my mother in law, who quickly defended our son and told us when it happened.
Lastly, why would it matter if he was developmentally disabled? He's still a sweet, lovable child, and is deserving of love.
This is the same aunt that, when we announced we were pregnant after seven years of trying, shouted "Finally! It's about time!" While I try not to take anything this woman says with a grain of salt, this just pissed me off. She's not the brightest bulb in the sign, and even her daughters admit she has some serious mental issues that require commitment to a psych ward but she will never get the help she needs, but this....this was the last straw. We told SuperGrammy that from now on we would prefer that she not take Monkey Child to her sister's house, and that if that becomes an issue to please let us know and we would make other arrangements for child care, and she agrees to that completely. I am hoping that we do not have to see or deal with this woman ever, but since she lives in the area it might not be possible to avoid her. We do plan on boycotting any family events involving her, and Bald Man's dad would not go if we don't go, which means a lot.
GRRR!!!! How can ignorance like that be combated if the person who is ignorant is unwilling to listen to reason, logic, and scientific proof????
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