Who knew crunches could be bad for your health?

So yesterday I was watching a show before I had to pick the boys up from school. Unexpectedly I had the thought, since I'm just sititng here maybe I should do a few crunches while I'm watching this.

And so I did...

Except after about 4 I started to feel a little funny. So I sat up and was feeling pretty woozy. Not like totally dizzy, but the world definitely didn't feel right.

It didn't get any better after a minute so I got up and sat in the chair. Then I started to get really hot and was sweating and slightly nauseous.

After a few minutes it just wasn't going away and I had to get K up from her nap so we could leave. I decided to take some Excedrine Migraine because of my recent issues with vertigo and migraines. My head didn't hurt, yet, but I wanted to ward off any pain that might start. Anyway, as I walked into the bathroom I saw that I was totally pale and with the sweat pouring off my face I really looked like hell. And I still wasn't completely stable. By the time I got back from the school my head was hurting and the diagnosis of a migraine was complete.

I went from feeling totally fine to feeling like total crap in the matter of about 30 seconds...all from doing crunches. Isn't exercise supposed to make you feel better??

I. Am. Unbelievably. Excited!!!

My parents came to visit last week and they said they wanted to buy us a new dining set. The one we had was pitifully small. They actually got that one for us too because we didn't have a table (we didn't have children then so it wasn't a big deal to us to just sit on the couch and eat, ya know.) Anyway, we outgrew it long ago. K was still in a high chair for the singular reason that we didn't have a real chair for her. When my parents do come visit meal time is always fun. Someone sits on a step stool and another on the computer chair and we're all scrunched together thinking it'd be easier to just eat off our lap.

Anyway, back to the important part. My new table and chairs were delivered TODAY!!! I immediately wanted this set the moment I saw it, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!! The wood is this caramel-y brown, there is a slate design on the backs of the chairs. AND, when I showed it to C he actually liked it too, woot! Honestly I didn't care if he liked it or not, it spoke to me, it was meant to be mine. I do feel bad about how much my parents spent on it, really wasn't expecting them to shell out a ton of money, but they are awesome and really wanted to get it for us!

So now I feel like an actual grown up, with real grown up furniture! Who knew I'd ever be so excited about furniture. Its so pretty I'm almost tempted not to allow my kids to eat on it, or touch it, or walk by it, or breathe near it...maybe I'll just kick them out of the house just to be safe. I'd post a picture of it, but I have no idea what happened to the memory card dealy that C bought after we got our new camera. I thought it was like *right here*, but its not, so now I'm wondering if I imagined the whole thing. I was sure it was there before... *scratches head* I suppose I could *gasp* read the directions on how to upload them directly from the camera...but I'm too dang euphoric about my table to be able to concentrate on something like that!!!

I. Am. Desperate.

Or I've just lost it completely, which is more likely. Yesterday we're driving down the highway, the radio was on quietly. And I hear the words "Are your children disrepectful like mine were? Do they blah, blah, blah??"

Yes they are, and YES they do!! Let me turn this up!! Some woman goes on to explain how James Lehman and his Total Transformation system changed her life. How she couldn't take her children out in public for fear of their behavior, and now everything is wine and roses. I sat there listening with rapt attention. I almost got out my cell phone and started dialing when she rattled off an 800 number several times. (I might have except for the fact that I couldn't hook up that hands free thing fast enough!) It felt like this radio commercial was changing my life!! Wow!!

Once it was over my 7 yr old from the back of the van says "I'd like to have that so....." Well its not important why HE wanted it, I don't just want it, I NEED it!!

In the past I would have scoffed at it and said, yeah right...your kids were probably angels compared to mine lady, it probably didn't take much to turn them around. In fact, I have done that...I've heard of this program before, even looked at the website, BUT didn't want to shell out money for something to sit on my shelf with my library of parenting books on kids who are spirited, strong-willed, difficult, defiant, etc. Obviously they've done me so much good... If anyone out there would like 1 or 2 or 10, just let me know, they're yours!

But for some reason, THIS time I didn't scoff at it, THIS time it spoke to me... I haven't been able to get that lady's voice out of my mind telling me that my life could be so much different if I just try this guy's system, it would be a miracle.

Well, damnit, I need a miracle! So I went to the website...I was enticed and drooling...I knew I shouldn't, its not actually going to be a miracle, and the cost, well, we just won't talk about that...but, but...there is a 30 day trial period! When it doesn't work I can just send it back, right?

So before I really even knew what I was doing...I ordered it.

I know, I should probably be ashamed of myself. I am kinda ashamed of myself. But yet, there's the tiny part of my brain that KNOWS that our family can't go on the way it is, my children can't go on behaving they way they do, their issues go way beyond C & I totally screwing up as parents. You know its bad when every time your own parents visit you they ask something along the lines of "how are you not an alcoholic or a drug addict by now??? Seriously, how do you do it???" The answer is: I would be if only I could afford it. Dang, maybe I should rethink the whole getting a job thing...

So what the heck, lets give it a try, if by some tiny chance it actually DOES work, it will be the best money I have ever (and will ever) spent. I may even build a shrine to James Lehman right in the middle of my living room.

I heart Keith Olbermann

He says it much more eloquently than I, but this sums up EXACTLY what I feel!

Just watch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21xdFUp-vVU

Well, unfortunately the closed-minded and judgemental have won.

Its a sad day for the states of California, Florida, and Arizona (Arkansas as well for a related but different reason) as the gay marraige bans passed in all those states.

I would like to extend my apologies to the gay and lesbian community, I know it probably doesn't mean much, but I really am sorry that this is the state of our society.

I would like to extend my apologies to my children and all the young people of this country for that fact that they are growing up in an environment of such bigotry. I hope you will find a way someday to do what the "adults" of this country couldn't.

So bravo "traditional marraige", you have been "restored"!! I really must say though...I don't see how it can be called traditional when there isn't any sort of non-traditional allowed. And seeing as how marraige between a man and a woman never went away, I don't see how it needed to be or could be restored. But whatever...

Prop 8

**Taking a break from regularly scheduled posting to change things up a bit.**

I live in California so I have been hearing about Prop 8 (trying to no longer make it legal for people who are gay to get married) for a while now. Of course with election day coming closer it has been on my mind more and more lately. It irritates me SO much, like I'm almost obsessed with my disgust, I don't really know why. Maybe because of all the "Yes on 8" signs that are up around my neighborhood that I have to look at every day and want to vomit every time I see one. As the days go on I just keep getting more and more annoyed by this...so annoyed that, well, I just had to blog about it and vent my frustrations. Some readers may be offended and that's just fine with me!

To be perfectly clear, I am a gazillion % against prop 8.

First there's the stupid, and I mean STUPID commercials with these horrid parents saying something like "my poor johnny went to school today and learned that boys can get married *gasp*". Give me a break. Please. Are there really parents out there that are that ignorant of the school system and what our children are learning? We do not send our children to school to learn about marriage, plain and simple. Its not part of the educational standards of the state of California to teach the legalities and specifics of marriage. Sure, its possible children could hear something while they are there about people who are gay. But its most likely going to be from their friends and classmates, not their teachers. In fact, there's a good chance that your kids will notice all the irritating "yes on 8" signs around and ask what they are for...what are you going to say then?

And really...shouldn't we be teaching our children our values and beliefs about such things AT HOME??? So that way when they hear things at school they already have some idea of what is valued at home...and when they ask us about it we can remind them of what we believe and that other people believe different things. Take some responsibility people.

Of course there are also the people against gay marriage because of their religious beliefs for however many reasons. Now I freely admit I am not a religious person in any way shape or form, its not for me, never has been, never will be. I respect people who are, I don't get it, but I commend them for the ability to have faith like that.

But here's the thing...just because you believe something, just because your god, your church, your religion believes something...it doesn't make it true and it doesn't make it right. Its YOUR belief, but there are other people in the world that are equally entitled to THEIR beliefs. There isn't one right religion, or one right way of thinking. No matter how strong your convictions are, that is a truth that won't change. Go ahead and put all your faith into your religion, but do not discredit others. Diversity makes this world beautiful, don't taint that by being so self righteous.

Thankfully there are plenty of people who do have religious faith who are not judgmental and discriminatory of people based on who they choose to love. I'll never understand the others who do have a problem with this. Its not your life, it doesn't affect you. Your church isn't going to crumble to the ground. Your schools aren't going to close. The civilized world as we know it isn't going to end. So mind your own business and leave people alone.

We're not talking about rapists, murderers, child abusers, the scum of the earth here, getting to walk around free doing whatever they choose. We're talking about PEOPLE...mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, sisters, brothers, friends. People who simply should be afforded the same rights as everyone else in this country.

Would you tell a black person they couldn't marry another black? Or 2 Jewish people, would you disallow them to get married? How about someone who is fat not being able to marry another fat person? Or a diabetic, can't have them marrying each other, right? Sounds pretty ridiculous, no?

"Oh, but its not the same thing!!!" I can hear "them" crying. Oh yes, it is exactly the same thing. We are all people, we all deserve to live our lives the way we choose without being discriminated against. Just because YOU think its wrong doesn't actually make it wrong.

I suppose I should mentio that there is a population of people who have a problem with it because the judges decided to pass the law when so many people voted against it. I don't know all the specifics of that exactly, I've just read a few things in passing...but isn't the role of the judicial system to determine what is right and just, not just uphold the supposed will of the people? Obviously "the people" aren't always right, that's why we have a judicial system.

It really saddens and disgusts me that this is even an issue in today's society. Especially when there is so much else to worry about and put our time and energy into. It's 2008 people, we should have gotten rid of the shovels and pitchforks long ago. Why can't we all accept people for who they are? What are you so afraid of?

Happy Birthday to my "not so" baby girl today!!

Its hard to believe that just a short 2 years ago I was heading to the hospital to be induced. The baby inside me decided it was much more peaceful in there so she was going to just stay put. But, my parents were in town to visit and help and I was past 40 weeks and we all really wanted them to see her before they left...so I agreed to the induction. I had the nurse from hell and I really wanted to scream such horrible things at her that she would run crying from the room and never come within a mile of a laboring woman again...but I restrained myself, much to the surprise of both C and I.

And now she's a full blown toddler. She's always got something to say, she talks in sentences and you can understand a good amount of what she's trying to get across. She's a total drama queen. I knew from other people and my own preschool experience that girls were more dramatic...I was not prepared for THIS much drama so soon. Man the girl is going to put me in an early grave. She's got the red-headed temper that is engraved into her genetic code. She makes us laugh all the time. And she is absolutely adorable, still.