Breaker, Breaker, What’s your handle?

In April just as I was about to sign the family’s tax returns I received a call about a survey. I played a long and answered all the questions – as I came to realize the caller wanted my opinion on my state’s U.S. Senate seat that will be up soon. Opinion about politics….OF COURSE! As with all surveys at the end they needed some information to make sure that they were getting a random sample like age, married status, household income etc. Then came the question that when posed I wasn’t sure how to answer “Ok, we are almost done, can I ask you for your occupation?” I quickly shot back “My job is my 3 year old son” to the inquirer’s reply “ok we will put homemaker. Thank you for your time, bye, bye.” *click*

Hold on a minute! Do I identify myself as a homemaker? Is that what I am? When did I go from a married woman with a family and a Masters Degree to a homemaker? The label of homemaker is bothersome and is so out of date that I cringe when I see the word and have even crossed it out on my tax returns when my occupation is labeled as such. I would much rather not have an occupation that be given one. No woman or man should be labeled as such, and don’t go giving me the politically correct b.s. about domestic engineer either. It means the same thing, someone just used the Thesaurus to come up with a fancy translation. (and my Masters degree isn’t in engineering)

Individuals that work, man or woman, have a label and occupation. They are doctors, teachers, executive directors, secretaries, truck drivers etc. but what happens on that day that you decide you are going to stay home or, in this economy, get laid off and stay home with your children. All of a sudden you aren’t unemployed (that’s a different category), but rather something else. It’s kind of a gray area since technically you get paid for your occupation. Those who stay at home do not.

Look. I am a mother and I stay at home. So that makes me a SAHM – understandable. But I also am a blogger, which is seems there a lot of SAHM out there that do the same. But is that how I identify myself or occupation? Still the answer is no – I have yet to find someone to fund my blog. I also volunteer for several organizations, one through the community I live in and one through my church. Does that make me an activist? Sure, but still not my label or occupation. It’s called volunteering for a reason.

So where does someone who stays at home voluntarily, without any income stand in the world of labels and niche categories? I have yet to come up with a name or category for people like me, but please, please, please don’t label me a homemaker, domestic goddess (although I will take the goddess part) or anything else that will simplify who I am.

Let's Talk

Dear fellow holiday card senders

We need to talk. Some of you may know of my "holiday card" book. It's the book I keep that has everyone's name and addresses along with if I have sent you a card and if I have received a card from you. I enjoy holiday cards I receive but lately I have become very disappointed in what I have found in my mailbox. These are the labeled cards.

Labeled cards, where you label the recipient's name, your address is labeled and then the card is pre-printed with your holiday message inside. I understand that it is the thought that counts, but really is there any thought process to these cards, other than to wonder if you should sent a card to your perspective recipient. I don't ask for much, but how about a little hand written "Happy Holidays" + your signatures. At least I know then that you genuinely care or took the time to think about about me or my family during the holiday season.

I understand that people are busy and also understand that there might not be a lot of time to actually send out cards. I just hope that holiday card sharing hasn't become something of a necessity but rather something you want to do to share a your hope for a safe and peaceful holiday season with those you care about.

Blue State

This morning I as well as other Illinois residents woke up to the news that our governor was taken into custody by FBI agents on charges of corruption. Information and rumors of what was going on in the Governor's office have been brewing for the past several years. Listening to U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald this morning I was shocked and baffled by the extent of what was happening and exactly who, what, where, when and why.Since the news broke, I have listened to talk radio and NPR to hear more about the charges as well as what will happen next.

I am not sure where to start in this blog, so I guess I'll just tell you my feelings on the whole thing. This was said this morning by someone else, I can't tell if Governor Blago is arrogant or ignorant. For a man who has been under investigation and was named several times during the Tony Rezko trial he should have known his head was on the chopping block. To listen to the press conference today with Patrick Fitzgerald I am shocked by the arrogance of a man who thought that he could sell the President elect Obama's senate seat to the highest bidder and then also try get himself AND his wife a better higher paying job either with the Obama administration or with a union. It's the audacity of this man that has me baffled. Not only was this man screwing with the senate seat he was also screwing with the well being of the United States!

Additionally, the allegations of trying to get Chicago Tribune editors fired over bad press that he was receiving in exchange for help selling the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field is mind blowing. Who thinks they have that much power?! Usually a way to get bad press to go away is to not do things like hmmm let's say sell US Senate seats!

I am glad that the federal government stepped in when they did rather than wait until the spring to bring charges against the governor. Unfortunately other than having his name plastered all over world as being charged in corruption that is all that will happen. He goes back to being Governor of Illinois until the Illinois Legislature takes measures to impeach him. I just hope that the State of Illinois can get it together before January 20th and find ourselves a good hard working Senator that will not have this looming over their head and won't be tainted by all that has happened.

Oh yeah, one last thing. Former Illinois Governor George Ryan is in prison, found guilty of corruption and sentenced to I think y7 1/2 ears in prison. Over the past couple of weeks, there has been a lot of back and forth regarding asking President Bush to pardon or at least commute Govern Ryan's sentence due to his age (72) and the health of his ailing wife. Many politicians in Illinois have weighed in on the opinion of commuting Governor Ryan's sentence; asked a few weeks ago Governor Blagojavich stated that Governor Ryan should not have his sentence commuted and if he was convicted of the crime, he should do the time. Karma?

Update: I just finished reading the 76 page complaint against Governor Blagojavich and Chief of Staff, John Harris, it's official. Governor Blagojavich is delusional and definitely has a very big opinion of himself and the power/influence he may wield.

Yeah, I've got a question.

Realpolitik Mama had a few hours to herself yesterday morning. Not enough to finish all of my coffee or the Sunday paper but enough time to get through some of the paper as well as watch a few minutes of my favorite Sunday morning talk show. Now we've been listening to a lot or rhetoric from the McCain camp about shutting down the pork barrel spending that happens in the Congress and how dare Senator Obama look out for his own constituents and approve a bill that allowed the Adler Planetarium to purchase a new projector. Which by the way was incorrect, read the real story here.

Earmarks or pork barrel projects are where lawmakers insert money for special projects into congressional appropriations bills. These special projects are for the most part designed to happen and benefit the congressional district or state that said representative is from. I remember when I was in college there was a big to do over several federally funded projects that Loyola University of Chicago received because of former Congressman and Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, Dan Rostenkowski's influence.

Now before I pose my question, don't get me wrong I am not saying that earmarks are a good thing. There are plenty of special projects out there that are unnecessary and probably shouldn't be funded and there is a way to weed those out.

So my question. Are we supposed to believe that John McCain has NEVER voted for a bill or asked to push an appropriations bill through to help his great state of Arizona? In his 24 + years as a Senator his has done NOTHING to help bring jobs and money to his constituents and his state?

I think I found my answer or answers.

Facebook

I would like to think I have my finger directly on the pulse of new technology, music, restaurants in my fair city, etc - which means that I've known about Facebook and MySpace for several years. The boom of social networking sites has been huge, and lately more and more people have been talking about these sites to me and all the people they have reconnected with after joining.


Ultimately, I am not a person who likes to be "found". The people I am friends with from high school and college, have been my friends for a very long time and I've chosen to keep them in my life. Others, not so much. I am the person you see at the mall when you go home for the holidays who will actually turn around and go in the opposite direction if spotted. I am not sure why people feel a need to bond with you because you've gone to the same high school/college. Yes, I am as curious as the next person when it comes to "where are they now" but I think that is where it ends. I don't have much of a burning desire to connect or reconnect with individuals in my past. I'll be the first to readily admit that I have issues and this would probably be the main reason why I haven't yet signed up for Facebook or My Space, until today and I am still not convinced.

Some, not all ,of my friends have Facebook pages. In fact I got a call from my cousin in Greece who asked me if I Facebook. The deal closer for me and Facebook was one of my favorite artists sent an email that he is now of Facebook. So I thought I would give it a try. Filled in all my information, registered for Facebook and away I went. It took me a while to get the information inputed and actually couldn't find a decent picture of myself to put on my page, so I skipped all that and went to "Find people" I started with my high school. Of those from my graduating class, only one person I cared enough about to see what they were up to, but not enough to make them my "friend". College. The same thing. I didn't get any farther than that, because Realpolitik toddler woke up from his nap. So the jury is still out if Facebook will be in, or "ouft".

I couldn't have said it any better.

After watching the Sarah Palin be paraded in front of the media and the McCain campaign doing everything in their power to protect Mrs. Palin from any rogue questions, I am glad someone else has come out and say what I've been thinking!

Bitter Unity?

Ok, so while on vacation I've given myself 15 minutes of surfing. After going to a few of my favorite blogs, I moved on to the news of the day (I have my priorities you know). Well I am not sure exactly what day yet, since an 8 hour time difference makes my days and nights all disconbobulated at the moment, but I digress.

My local paper not giving me all the information I was looking for - except to see that my beloved Chicago Cubs are winning on the road, I purused the New York Times, and came across an article of how the Obama and Clinton campaigns are trying to work together to bring unity to the party. So let's discuss blow by blow.

1. Harden Hillary supporters are still up in arms over Obama clinching the nomination and will not support Obama. my response.....get over yourselves! What are the reasons? Is it policy or experienced based? Or is it that you just don't like him. We, as democrats, need as much support and unity as we can get if we want to win in November. Let's all remember the end result.

2. This "symbolic" gesture of Obama writing a check to the Clinton campaign to help her out with her $+12 million debt. Seriously?! Like this woman and her husband don't have enough money to pay off their own debt. Didn't they start a website to ask people for money to help them with their Whitewater legal bills? Why not do the same now? Quick question, would she write him a check, symbolicly showing that she is behind him?

3. Obama hiring Clinton's people for his own campaign. One gripe Clinton supporters have is that " Mr. Obama’s campaign had made only a perfunctory effort to hire Clinton staff members; the Clinton campaign payroll is ending for most employees in less than a week." Don't we all know that when we work for a campaign that there is a 50/50 chance that you'll be out of a job? Isn't this the chance to take when working for a campaign. Surely they can't be claiming they are poor.

4. I am going to end with this, because I could go on and on and on about this article but this one struck me as a little off. "They are discussing whether Mr. Obama’s campaign will provide a plane and staff for Mrs. Clinton as she travels on his behalf." Does this sound like she wants to be paid off for endorcing Obama. To me it sounds as though she is thinking "well, if he wants me to go away and support him, then he is going to have to pay me for it" Who talks like that?! Do any other people who endorse a candidate get their own plane and staff? Hitch a ride with Obama?! I am sure the DNC has some money to help her out, but maybe it's beneath her to not only endorse the soon to be Democratic nominee, but also any other democrat that might be in that particular state, district, etc.

Obviously I have my own unity issues with Hillary Clinton and her supporters. Hey, if they want to have their own party- go ahead. They seem to know what's better anyway. But come November when we are still going to be stuck in this war, our gas is going to cost $6 a gallon and we aren't any better off, you'll see a "don't blame me my mam voted for Obama" bumpersticker on realpolitik toddler's Sit and Stroll.

Come on people, it's the Mouse!

I love magazines. I just do. Realpolitik husband mocks my reading and subscription of magazines, but I just like them. The two that I probably couldn't live without are Vanity Fair and People magazine. Ok, huge spectrum on the scale of magazine reading but I've got People to keep me in the loop with the latest celebrity gossip and Vanity Fair for the extra long articles on everything and anything. So, this week when many of my new SAHM friends are wondering who Miley Ray Cyrus is, and what is the big deal over these Vanity Fair pictures, I've got the inside track.

Here is my take on this whole situation. From everything that I've read and seen, it appears to me that The Mouse, aka Disney, was very unhappy with what photos Vanity Fair chose to place in their magazine and turned the screws on Miley to put out this statement after initially she had stated that the photos were natural and very artsy. Why all of a sudden the change of heart Miley? Seems like the Mouse is very unhappy with your photos, which don't conform to the squeaky clean image that you and the rest of the Disney employees are supposed to exude both personally and professionally - except for Jamie Lynn Spears.

So first there is the controversy over these pictures and what exactly Miley thinks about the pictures. Then there now is the controversy over what parents of Miley fans think of these pictures. First off, these people need to get a grip! Vanity Fair is an adult magazine! AN ADULT magazine, not Playboy, Hustler adult, but a over-18-years-old-to-understand-it magazine. What pre-teen girl will be going out and purchasing Vanity Fair? If you don't like the pictures and what you think your child assume from those pictures then don't buy the magazine or if you have a subscription keep it out of the hands of your daughter. If you are so concerned, then have a conversation with your kid, BE A PARENT! We all know what kind of pictures Annie Leibovitz takes, remember a naked, pregnant Demi Moore and the controversy over those photos. I think there are 15 year old models that have taken similar pictures but haven't gotten as much flack. I am chalking this all up to the Mouse.

Shame on me!

Ok, ok, I know I've totally slacked the last week or so. I think I was so excited to have Realpolitik husband home for a week straight without having to go away for work that I got all out of sync with my blogging, laundry, baby duties, etc. So let this be my virtual slap on the wrist.

On several occasions, I have started to blog about a particular topic but didn't do so because I wasn't sure how to bring up the issue without adding more flame to a now smoldering fire, but in the past couple of weeks much has been discussed in my personal conversations as well as in the blogosphere about the unconscious discrimination of religion and religious holidays that I need to put in my two cents.

It all started with a discussion with Realpolitik husband regarding one of the groups he tours on the lecture circuit (he is an entertainment agent that tours almost anything around the country). One of the the individuals within this team, has requested that there are not any lectures scheduled on any of the Jewish holidays, as she does not want to discriminate against these individuals by not given them the opportunity to see the lecture. So I asked my husband, "Does that mean that they also don't schedule any lectures between sunup and sundown for the month of Ramadan?" His answer, "No, but she just wants to make sure none of the Jewish participants are discriminated against, since she is Jewish." Ok good point but aren't you discriminating towards other who may want to attend and cannot do so because of their religious holidays?

Then through the month of March there was some serious uproar over several companies inviting mommy bloggers to attend their events that fell over Passover. I have to agree with these moms who were appalled by the fact that these companies/PR people didn't look at a calendar to realize that maybe it wasn't a good time to schedule an event and expect good attendance. I know that those companies apologized up and down and from what I have read everyone was happy with the apology. I just hope that other religions and holidays get the same consideration.

Maybe I am a little sensitive this days as Eastern Orthodox Easter is not for another 3 weeks, (and I am craving a patty melt) but people still ask me how my Easter was and have tried schedule things during my Easter weekend. (oh, it's not a one day only experience for us Orthodox- try at the minimum three days!) While in this case Eastern Orthodox, specifically Greek Orthodox, make up only 1.5 million people in the United States and pales in comparison to the population of other religions, I just hope the same consideration is given to everyone.

You've got to be kidding me!?!

It's the second day of spring and I am wearing, a coat, hat, boots, and as of 20 minutes ago, gloves. Why you ask am I wearing such apparel? Because it is snowing, yes Snowing! But this is what has me specifically bothered this afternoon.

Loving realpolitik husband bought me a pair of fingerless gloves from Banana Republic for Christmas. I have a tendency not to wear gloves in the winter because I am always too warm with them on, or I am never able to handle things very well when I do have gloves on. So fingerless gloves are the best thing for me, they keep my hands protected from the elements while also allowing me the flexibility to handle groceries, keys, etc without any problem. I have worn said gloves since Christmas, not everyday, but the majority of the days for the past three months, until 20 minutes ago. To much to my chagrin, my gloves have started to disintegrate. (See Exhibit A)

I've been asking myself all morning, what is worse, having my beloved Banana Republic gloves be unusable, or the fact that it is March and I am still wearing gloves!!!!

Allergy Rant

Realpolitik baby has an egg allergy. I know I am not the only mother dealing with allergies, and I knock on wood that it isn't anything worse like gluten or anything like that, but please allow me a few moments to vent about the difficulties of an egg allergy. Specifically breakfast.

Realpolitik husband and I enjoy breakfast and on occasion enjoy going to a restaurant to partake in breakfast. For the past 22 months, this has included bringing baby with us. So, this is where I being to get frustrated. Here are my top 5 frustrations with food allergies and restaurants.

1. Unless you only want to feed your child french fries, grilled cheese and macaroni and cheese each and every time, there are very little eggless options on the children's menu.

2. Not only do you have to be careful what you choose for your child, but you also need to be conscience of what you order, because 9 times out of 10, your child will want what you are having.

3. Decoding a menu to figure out what ingredients are used usually takes up the first 10 minutes of your dining experience. This usually includes several questions to the server who doesn't have a clue.

4. A simple yogurt, that is all I would like, a simple yogurt. And I don't want to pay more than $4.00 for it!

5. The constant fear that there will be a hint of egg, peanut, etc in something my child has eaten which might entail digging through the diaper bag looking for the benadryl, or better yet a mad rush out of the restaurant leaving a table full of food untouched to insure child lives through an allergy attack without whipping out the EpiPen.

Going out to eat is supposed to an enjoyable experience, while I don't begrudge my child, or my husband and I for our genes that may have contributed to the allergy, I wouldn't say going to eat is as relaxing as it was or should be.

Celeb Rant

The argument of celebrities and celebrity gossip is a two headed monster. I am not even going to address the why do we care and if we don't buy the magazines that then there wouldn't be a market for this stuff. Honestly, a celebrity magazine, particularly People, is my guilty pleasure.

The rant is on the price tag for the first pictures of celebrity babies. I guess not yet celebrities yet, but then again aren't you a product of your parents. Anyway, I digress. So here are all these celebrities lately having children and selling their baby's pictures to magazines. Christina just did it, it is rumored that JLo and Mark are in talks, and then there is the Cruise baby that made serious news by finally being photographed for public consumption. While I am a member of Team Aniston (us Greek girls need to stick together), I think the Jolie Pitt team did it right by donating the money that was given to them for the first pictures of Shilo to charity. I am sure that there are other celebrities that have done the same, but have maybe not made it public.

Come on now, these celebrities have gobs of money, why are they not doing something better with the funds that they do get from selling their first born (baby pictures) to the media. How come we haven't heard of Nicole Richie, or anyone else for that matter of donating money from their celeb baby photo shoots to an organization that helps single moms or for that matter a handful of single moms that were possibly in the hospital at the same time when they delivered. I know I haven't totally thought this out, but seriously, there are children and parents that are more deserving of a large sum of money.