JaHeRo Admirer

My Beautiful Sister

2010-12-10T13:20:00.002-06:00

Stop, Thief!!

2010-12-10T13:13:00.004-06:00

During a recent visit to my sister’s home, I had a conversation with her which has been on my mind ever since.

First, for your reading pleasure, a little background: My sister has lived in faraway distant lands for what has essentially amounted to all of our adult lives. Selfishly speaking, this has sucked. I miss her. Of course, I’m thrilled for her, and the opportunities she’s enjoyed. What’s been challenging for me is that she is the one person on this planet (the one single solitary person) who SEES me (who I ‘let’ see me?). They say that siblings share the closest relationship possible. I agree. Parents: of course, they are close – unconditional love, and all that good stuff. (And, yes, Mom, I know you see me, too. ) Friends: I know that some people’s friends ARE their families, and I surely have some of the dearest friends known to man. I adore them. Still, there’s a line that none of them can cross – a place where only my sister can be. She knows when something is wrong…if my actions don’t jive with the words that are coming out of my mouth. The fact that she hasn’t lived in the same city with me has meant that the only person to hold me accountable for the choices and decisions I’ve made has been me, myself, and I. And, therein lies the rub.

See, when you’re in a relationship with someone who doesn’t share the same level of commitment as you do, it becomes necessary to develop an ability to use a large amount of creativity when talking about said relationship. Especially when you’re someone like me, who tends to worry a bit too much about what other people think. (See? Now I’m worrying that I just told you all that, and I want to defend myself…I don’t “always” do it…I “really” know that what others think is their own perception, and doesn’t carry as much weight as my own thoughts and feelings when making decisions for myself…) It took me a long time to get to the point where I was ready to walk away from my ex, because I had worked really hard to make sure that the relationship people “saw” was what I wanted them to see. My ex was my physical ideal – tall, well built, very fit, great smile, attractive – we looked cute together. I liked that. (I actually used to joke that our relationship proved Darwin’s Theory of Evolution – because no one would put up with an ugly dude who pulled the shit my ex did. lol) When he met people he was sweet, friendly, warm, charismatic – everyone liked him. The trouble was, he had no interest in developing friendships with anyone outside of our relationship. He liked my family just fine…he just didn’t care to join us for holidays, or participate in the birthday celebrations… Because he’d met most of the family on one occasion or another (he couldn’t avoid EVERY holiday after all), they all had a perception of him based on the way he acted when they met – which was that warm friendly guy I described a moment ago. So, I made a bit of a trap for myself. Inside I knew things would never work between us if he didn’t care to be involved with my family or friends (and there was the other minor issue of his being a lying cheater) – but I needed my family and friends to believe that I was with this great guy, so I stayed a lot longer than I might have otherwise. If Kjersti had been here, I could NEVER have carried on the façade as long as I did.

So, back to the part where I was visiting my sister. The ex’s name came up in casual conversation – and I acted the way I always do when his name comes up – sort of joking around, using humor to cover the truth. She wasn’t having it. Her reaction was instant and fueled by the fierce loyalty that only a sibling can muster. She said “I don’t even want to hear his name. For you, maybe there’s grey area, but for me, it’s black and white. He stole the life you should have had.”

Those words have stuck in my mind. See…I was with him on and off – mostly on - for 10 years, from the ages of 29 to 39. That biologically ticking time bomb (er..I mean ‘clock’) ticked away the entire time. During that decade, virtually everyone I knew got married and started families, including my sister. She has created a wonderful family life for herself, and as of now I still don’t have that for me. I’ve always said I wanted kids. I’ve always assumed I’d have them “someday”. In her eyes, he took that from me. I don’t give him quite that much power – I was an adult participant who, for whatever reason (there are probably many – see follow up ‘full circle’ moment in the next paragraph) was not ready to be in a ‘real’ relationship at that time, so I settled for one that looked good on the outside. I got to do all the regular things that girls like to do: shop for a boyfriend on Valentine’s day, set my desk up at the office with cute boyfriend pictures, go on dates to the movies, snuggle up have lazy Saturday mornings at home…and I just sort of let the time pass. Her words put a whole new perspective on it for me. I’ll never know now what “might have been” had I walked away sooner than I did – but I learned that I’m not willing to settle for a pretend relationship any more either.

As things in life often do, this came full circle for me. My absent father and I have never had any type of real relationship. Over the years, on numerous occasions, I’ve reached out to him in an effort to try to know him. Although I never felt it should have been up to me to do so, I swallowed my pride did it anyway. On each and every one of those occasions, he’s dropped the ball. I call, we talk, he promises we will get together “soon” and I don’t hear back from him again. Recently, my mother got involved and suggested that we drive to meet him for brunch one day. (He only lives a few hours away…and has NEVER lived further than that in my entire life.) At first, I considered it. Then, after thinking about my sister and her clear view of the relationship I had with my ex, it all snapped into place: I’d be doing the exact same thing with my biological father – ‘creating’ some sort of relationship where really, there was none. Unless HE is the one to reach out to me, and HE is the one to say whatever it takes, I want to know you, and learn about you - - it would be pointless. He’s shown me exactly who he is. First, by being absent throughout my childhood and then, by repeatedly choosing not to maintain contact with me every time I’ve reached out to him. So, I’m not going to just offer myself to him. He hasn’t earned the right to know me. He may never earn that right. But what I know for sure is, I’m not willing to “create” another relationship for the first absent man in my life, who, with his absence, may have stolen the life I should have had.

2010-08-06T22:57:00.001-05:00

MinnPost - Meet Randi Reitan, the woman who's taking on Target over its controversial donation to MN Forward

2010-08-03T15:22:00.000-05:00

MinnPost - Meet Randi Reitan, the woman who's taking on Target over its controversial donation to MN Forward

Randi Boycotts Target

2010-07-30T10:44:00.000-05:00

The Perfect Summer Day

2010-07-17T21:48:00.002-05:00

Long Time No Blog

2010-07-12T16:58:00.002-05:00

I haven't written a new blog in so long - I thought it was time to stop by and say hello. Lots has been going on - but since I use Facebook daily (Ummm, yeah...it's really a pretty sad addiction. Don't judge me.)I've felt like it would be redundant to post here after talking about anything interesting that happened to me on my FB status already. Then, I gave myself a pep talk. I mean, come on - my life, my existence cannot be summed up in daily two sentence status updates, right? Right!

The most noteable happening on which I can report is that an event I've been co-planning for the last year has happened. The Second Annual ANT Colony BASH took place here in St. Paul, the weekend of June 25-27th. It just so happened that Twin Cities Pride was going on that weekend also. We had a GREAT turnout for our event, and I had the opportunity to meet several people from the blog that I hadn't met in person before...as well as reunite with several great friends who I met last year in Seattle (at the first BASH). It was a crazy busy weekend, and by Sunday I was so sleep deprived I was in a bit of a haze. Thanks to my cousin Josh and his company, AV for You, we had a great flat screen monitor at our party on which to display some video and online fun during our lunch - and he provided the audio (mic, speakers,etc..) for our comedy show that night, too. ANT and Jason Dudey performed and a GREAT time was had by all!!

Auntie Donna's Christmas Surprise

2009-12-28T10:55:00.001-06:00

It's so awesome to have access to see him - and to have heard this happen for the first time - YAY!!!!

The Tights That....Weren't

2009-12-17T11:01:00.003-06:00

I wrote about this on Facebook a few weeks ago; this happened during our brief but beautiful Fall season here in Minnesota. (Fall happens to be my favorite season...but I may rethink that.)

Here's what happened that fateful day:

Okay. So it's finally Fall. The season I wait for all year long. Weather that lets me wear soft fluffy sweaters, cute jeans, warm tights...and the air is so fresh and crisp. The sun shines down on the Autumn leaves and all is right with the world. So, I get up this morning and I think to myself, "Self, let's pick out something cute to wear today, it's FALL!" I choose carefully. My new cream fleecy jacket, over a cream sweater, with a denim knee length skirt, my favorite black tights (you know, ladies, the nice soft cottony/matte ones, not the shiny nylony ones) and a pair of black boots. And, tying it all together? A lovely scarf that my Mom gave me last year for Christmas - black with a grey and cream floral print on it. I set out for work feeling pretty darn cute, if I say so myself. Walk to the bus. No problem. Get off the bus, walk to Starbucks. No problem. Head down one last block to my office. Uh-Oh, we have a problem. I start to feel the waist of my oh-so-cute-and-comfy-cottony tights slide a little lower than it should. I'm thinking, okay, no biggie, they can be low riders. I keep walking. But once this starts to happen, it happens QUICK - and with each step, I feel those tights falling lower. But I'm in a skirt, and they are now so low I can't even really grab them any more. I thought surely they would have stopped near my hips, or even my bootie...but NOOOO, down, down, down they went and now I'm thinking "Good GOD I'm wearing a knee length skirt and each step brings me closer to having the crotch of my tights falling BELOW the hem of my skirt!!" Tell me this...WWYD?? (What Would YOU Do??) I thought, please please please let me make it to my building...but alas, this was not to be. I was trapped, I had to stop walking for fear that they would literally drop to my ankles. I could hear footsteps behind me, so I started digging around frantically in my purse, to give the impression that whatever I was looking for was so important that I had to halt all forward motion just to seek it out. I let the man pass me while I “searched”. So, then I'm thinking - well, I can't just STAND here all day, I have to do something - but I can't pull my tights up without lifting my skirt - and that just WASN'T going to happen. So, I did the only thing I could which was to start shuffle stepping forward, along the wall of the building, hoping for an opportunity to duck into a doorway somewhere - my kingdom for a doorway!! I ended up literally wedged next to a revolving door at the entrance of the building across the street from my office. I had to drop all of my bags, literally grab my tights and pull them the remaining 6" down to my boots, take off my boots, take off my tights, and put my bare feet back into my boots while shoving the stupid soft cotton NO ELASTIC HAVING waistband motherfucking tights back into my bag... One lucky thing is that my hair is so freaking long right now that when I bent forward, it reached almost to the ground, like a curtain blocking the view of passersby. (Not so lucky was the guard at the desk on the other side of the glass wall I was leaning my ass up against as I disrobed on the street...) Once I had my boots back on, I just picked up my bags and started walking. I sent visual daggers at the dude on the corner who had been staring at me since I first began my frantic rummage through my purse - but seriously, who was I kidding? There's no coming back from that.

Maybe Winter's not so bad after all.

A Tail of Two (Okay, Three) Kitties - 3

2009-11-17T11:59:00.002-06:00

Part 3

And then, there was Bella.

I knew when Jasmine died that I’d be in the market for a kitten. I only waited about 2 weeks. I found Bella through an online Feline Rescue group. They were hard core PRO-cat! I even had to sign a contract saying I wouldn’t feed her grocery store “cheap” cat food. They recommended all natural organic cat foods. Part of her adoption fee was applied automatically to having her spayed, and they practically set up the appointment for us. It was really handy. Bella was, as you might imagine, a very cute kitten.

She is very social – she loves to say hello to visitors. She always has something fun on the agenda and can often be heard bustling from room to room in the house; but both she and Zoey always settle wherever I am, which is nice. (Zoey, certainly, is my closest shadow. I wish I had a way to communicate with her when it’s laundry day – she follows me up and down the stairs time and time again…thinking that I’m on my way someplace fun. I’ve almost killed myself many times because she’s always underfoot, especially on the stairs!)

Bella is extremely athletic, but as for gracefulness she’s got about a 50/50 shot. Maybe 40/60. She’s the only cat I’ve ever seen fall flat on her back. Thud! It doesn’t seem to bother her, she just gets up and goes on about her business. She’s almost 3 now, and she’s still about 90% kitten, I think. She loves to play, and unlike Zoey, she’s not picky about who’s on the other end of the laser light. She’s equal opportunity all the way. I’ve resigned myself to the fact that I’ll have the hands of a 12-year old girl for as long as I have Bella. I always have scratches and battle scars to remind me of the hours we spend playing “attack the thing under the blanket” which normally leads to a quick game of “swipe the hand that just came out from under the blanket to change the channel”…which typically wraps up our play session. But she’s also a snuggler – she curls up in my arm the way Jasmine used to, which I love. (Zoey thinks she’s a scarf, and cannot “snuggle” unless she’s on my neck. As you can imagine, not super comfy but once in a while, I give her the go ahead and she climbs on board.)

I recently realized who Bella reminds me of. Growing up, I loved the cartoon Calvin and Hobbes. Calvin was always getting into something but he was so cute and earnest when he got caught you just had to love him. And he was clever. That’s how I feel about Bella. You don’t very often get to use the word “mischievous” but that word fits Bella. The markings she has on her face probably disguise some of her explorations around the house, but when she comes sauntering casually into the room, with cobwebs dangling from her whiskers, blinking innocently, I can always be sure she’s searched out another corner of the basement heretofore untouched by man or beast. We could all do well to take a tip from Bella – every day is an adventure.

Last year, I was taking some pictures during the holidays. Bella had curled up under the Christmas tree, and she looked so precious:

So, I turned to get a picture of Zoey who was perched on an ottoman next to me. I took a couple of shots where Zoey was blinking, or not looking; sadly, she’s not super photogenic, I’ve found. The room was relatively dark since I was trying out the Christmas lights, so I didn’t notice movement – but the next picture I got showed me that a certain someone didn’t want to be left out of the shot:

That’s my Bella! :o)

A Tail of Two (Okay, Three) Kitties - 2

2009-11-13T23:48:00.006-06:00

Part 2 of 3 (Scroll down for Part 1)

Jasmine and I lived a very happy life together for several years. Every once in a while, I toyed with the idea of getting another kitty. I took mental turns projecting contentment and lonliness onto Jasmine. One day, I would think how fun it would be for her to have a companion during the days while I was at work. The next, I was sure she would find the idea repugnant since she would no longer get all of the attention. (I mean, I actually thought it would hurt her feelings and make her mad at me! Oh dear.) Around that time, I had moved to a house that was located blocks away from the Humane Society. One of my favorite things to do was to torture myself looking at cats and kittens - I would stop by "just to see them" in their little cages, but always force myself to leave without any of them. But, one day, I saw this little kitty. She was a little bit bigger (about 12 weeks old) than some of the kittens I'd considered before, but like Jasmine, she just sat at the edge of her little enclosure, watching me while her siblings rolled around and played and ate. She was mostly black - beautiful long, silky black fur with a white star on her chest, white "armpit hair" under each front leg, and her most unique feature - - grey tufts of hair behind each ear. I call them her "ear flaps". I broke the cardinal rule of window shopping, I asked to hold her. She and I had a little talk, but I wanted to be sure I was ready to take on a second pet so I took advantage of the 24-hour hold rule. By the time I got home (literally 5 minutes later) I knew she should be my kitty. I went out the next morning, got a few extra toys, and some kitten food and headed back over to pick her up. When I arrived, I went straght to her little cage...and she was GONE! I asked around. The person I'd worked with the day before was off but evidently, they had neglected to perfom a key step in the 24-hour hold process, which was to actually HOLD the kitty. The woman behind the counter informed me that someone had adopted her about an hour earlier. I was really upset by this point. I'd seen her, held her, and thought of names for her (she was originally going to be "Joey" - I've always loved the Concrete Blonde song of the same name, and I thought it was a cute name with Jasmine...). She was MINE and she was GONE! They said they'd call the family who had adopted her and "ask them" if they would consider bringing her back. They sent me home and said they'd call me when they heard from them. Fortunately, this other family took pity and even though they probably loved her, too, they did bring her back. I raced back to bring her home. Within the first day, even though she was an awkward little adolecent kitten, her silky black fur (which turns to mink brown in the sunlight) and pretty markings told me that the name "Joey" was too tomboy for her. She was a Zoey.

Now, Jasmine wasn't wild about the idea, and she wasted no time in asserting herself. Zoey was fine with that, she just wanted to play play play. It took them some time, but they became buddies. I really did think they'd have a lot more time together. It ended up only being around 4 years. During that time, they each earned their very appropriate nicknames. Pukebucket and Shitass were my babies. Jasmine was famous for wolfing down her food and then puking it back up again. And, poor little Zoey...she had her first "accident" early on, when she came home to live with us she got scared and shat herself. All of that silky long fur - - and after the brief ride home, she looked like she sat in pudding. I thought - hey, it's her first time away from her siblings, I'd probably do the same thing. But it, sadly, was a foreshadowing of things to come. Fierce little Jasmine was like my Guard Cat, but Zoey was more like my Scaredy Cat. I've moved twice since bringing Zoey home that day. Each time during transit to the new place, she's been scared to the point of pooping. Poor little thing.

Since Jasmine died, Zoey has taken on the one woman cat role. She's pretty standoffish around people. Like Jasmine, though, she's so pretty, people want to pet her. A lucky few get that chance, but most of the time she hangs out in places where only I am. She will sit next to me for ages, and just wait to be petted. If she just can't take it any more, she reaches out her paw and places it on my hand, or my arm, or my shoulder - a gentle reminder, "Here I am, see?"

Here they are:

Zoey, the shadow:

They both pretend to be ignoring each other:

Then, with no warning...ATTACK!!

Followed by kisses:

They had fun together.

A Tail of Two (Okay, Three) Kitties - 1

2009-11-13T17:36:00.005-06:00

Part 1 of 3

DSCF0961, originally uploaded by d_jazmine.

One day when I was in my mid-twenties I decided the time had come for me to become a pet owner. It hit me out of the blue, I wanted a kitten. Specifically, a calico kitten. I’m not sure why, but the thought of a calico cat had always been appealing to me. Now, I’m the kind of person who makes her mind up, then puts the plan into action. No spreadsheets, no compiling of raw data, no studies of pros and cons…just jump right in. So, while I was at my desk at the office where I worked at the time, I called the Humane Society with hopes of driving straight there after work to pick out my kitty. They were closed. Some people would have taken that as a sign that this was not to be. I took it as a sign that I needed to work harder to find my kitty cat. I was lamenting the fact that my need for instant gratification didn’t match up with the funding available for staffing at the Humane Society, when one of my co-workers said “Hey, my cat just had kittens a few weeks ago, you can have pick of the litter if you want one!”. I said, “Thanks, but I was really hoping to find a calico kitty.” She said “The mom is calico, and so is one of the kittens!” So, off to the farm I drove that night, to see the babies. When I arrived, all of the kittens were piled up having supper on mommy…all except for one tiny calico kitten who marched over to the edge of the box, looked up and me, and said “MEW!”. I was a goner. I cannot tell you how cute she was. My precious baby Jasmine. She was only 6 weeks old, so I did end up having to wait a couple of weeks to bring her home, but on the designated day, I found the softest blanket in my closet, set up her litter box and kitten food, and headed out to pick her up. She was so teensy weensy. I have pictures of her at home, playing with an old 35mm film container, and it was the size of her torso. Insane! She never got bigger than 7lbs. She was petite and beautiful and extremely graceful and athletic. From day one, she was always a one-woman cat. I loved that about her. There were times that I envied people who had cats who would jump happily into anyone’s lap and purr away, but Jasmine was never that way. She had very discriminating taste. Furthermore, she used her perfect pink kitty nose and all of that petite cuteness to lure in many victims over the years. No one could resist her charms, but most wished they had. It was like she got a kick out of seeing how many people she could trick into trying to pet her, only to pay them back by taking a swipe at their fingers. I once took an online “personality” test on her behalf, and her result was: “Al Capone”, possible aliases: Biggie, Mugsy, Vinny, Killer, Claws, The Predator, and Meanie. Because most of my family and friends would agree wholeheartedly (and at least partial-fingeredly), I had a hard time convincing them that when I wanted to get comfy on the couch and watch a movie, she was always my cuddle buddy – she nestled perfectly right into the crook of my arm, with her little fuzzy head on my shoulder. If I was sad, she would come over and investigate, sandpaper licking away salty tears when necessary. Although I used my mommy-tone to “scold” her when she swiped at yet another visitor, she knew from my secret winks that deep down, I adored the fact that she loved me the best.

The hardest thing I ever had to do was say goodbye to Jasmine. She got sick when she was only 10 years old...way too young in kitty years. I had looked forward to spending another 10 years with her when one day, she just didn't seem herself. I took her to the vet, to be told she was in kindey failure. They offered to euthenize her right on the spot if I wanted, since the prognosis was pretty grim. I was shocked and in no way prepared for the news. Since they said she wasn't in pain, we got some fluids in her (I took her in every couple of days for weeks)and she bounced back for a while. I think she knew I wasn't ready, so she let me have a few more months. Then, on April 18th, 2007, I took her in for her last vet visit. They say that we know when it's time for our pets to say goodbye, and it was true. I knew. Ironically, it was my Grandma's birthday (she never was a big cat fan) and the day before my own birthday. That day, I cried the first salty tears in 10 years that she couldn't kiss away. A few slip down my cheeks from time to time, even now, when I think of her. She was my first, after all.

Stay tuned for parts 2 and 3.

...URP! (eeew!!)

2009-11-05T14:17:00.003-06:00

So, in the middle of the night last night, I woke up, uncertain at first what had interrupted my gentle slumber. Moments later, the sounds of my roommate vacating her gastric cavity orally (a.k.a. PUKING HER GUTS OUT) into the toilet cleared that up for me. I chanted mentally "don't think about it don't think about it don't think about it" and eventually, I was able to fall back asleep. A few hours later, I was again awakened by a familiar and haunting sound: ack-ack-ack-ack-HAAACK...my CAT puking up a hairball - - on my bed!! EEEWW! Throw blanket on floor (I know, that's gross, but I was trying to recover quickly without having to wake all the way up), get another blanket, "don't think about it don't think about it don't think about it" and eventually, I fell back to sleep. As the sun rose, basking my room in a soft pink glow, I was yet again awakend by the violent splashing of stomach contents into the toilet. So, I guess you could say I'm happy to be at work right now. I hosed down the bathroom with Lysol. I scrubbed myself clean, and have applied antibacterial hand cleanser several times this morning. I enjoyed what has become my standard breakfast: Airborne, Advil, and Vitamin C.

Oh, please don't let me get sick, I HATE being sick!!

Election Day, 2009: NO ON 1 in Maine

2009-11-04T14:25:00.002-06:00

So, yesterday, I was tuning in to some of the big election day “hotspots”. Specifically, I was paying attention to the “No On 1” campaign in Maine. I remember last spring, thinking – those lucky people in Maine – finally some progress being made for the GLBT community there. So, I was particularly interested in the outcome of this issue on the ballots. While I was online, I saw the Facebook status of an old classmate, (who happens to now live in Maine) and it read “Yes on 1! Stand for marriage between one man and one woman!!” As you might expect, this person had like-minded friends who posted notes supporting this stance, but the one that stood out to me was this one, which said:

“C'mon Christians! Get out there and vote... Don't vote your conscience. Don't FOLLOW your heart - it'll steer you wrong. (Above all, the heart is deceitful and wicked...) LEAD your heart, and vote according to Gods principals. That would be a resounding "YES", on 1!!”

It got me thinking – whoa! That’s really what we’re up against, isn’t it? I was glad that very shortly after I saw that, I happened upon this:

http://www.melwhite.org/blog/91

…which basically says (and I quote): “I will no longer debate the issue of homosexuality in the church with anyone. I will no longer engage the biblical ignorance that emanates from so many right-wing Christians about how the Bible condemns homosexuality, as if that point of view still has any credibility. I will no longer discuss with them or listen to them tell me how homosexuality is “an abomination to God,” about how homosexuality is a “chosen lifestyle,” or about how through prayer and “spiritual counseling” homosexual persons can be “cured.” Those arguments are no longer worthy of my time or energy.”

What I know for sure is that, someday, we will reach the point where “with liberty and justice for all” actually applies to ALL, and not “some”. I just hope and pray that we don’t do irreparable damage to each other in the struggle to get there.

God is LOVE, people. Doesn’t it make your heart sing to believe that? It does mine.

Olan, sporting his U of M gear. Go Gophers!!

2009-10-23T17:11:00.000-05:00

President Obama On Winning the Nobel Peace Prize

2009-10-09T16:27:00.002-05:00

This speech is an example of why he deserved to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. I'm amazed by all the people who ran around calling others communists and terrorists and socialists if there was the slightest question about Bush while he was in office - "YOU MUST SUPPORT YOUR PRESIDENT DURING A TIME OF WAR" was being blared over the loudspeakers... And, we now have a President who has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, and he's being torn apart by most of those very same people. My aunt Ann said it best: could we all possibly get behind our President and give him a chance to actually fulfill the potential of his election?

Matthew Shepard - 11 Years Later

2009-10-09T16:26:00.001-05:00

It is absolutely heartbreaking to see those images of Matthew as a child. Instant tearjerker. It shouldn't be any more heartbreaking than seeing pictures of him as he was when he died; but it's such a forceful reminder - he was their child. He was a human being. NO ONE deserves what happened to him, not even the people who did it to him. (Well...maybe them...but no one else!) And, as long as I'm here - can we get a WOOT WOOT for Ellen? She's one uber cool chick.

Olan's STAR themed 1st Birthday Party

2009-10-01T11:42:00.001-05:00

Seattle Brock and OLAN 435, originally uploaded by d_jazmine.

We enjoyed a fun day of celebrating, and watching all of the boys play at the park at the Pavillion at Parker's Lake. Brock, Brayden and Olan had so much fun! Rayna was precious and appeared to have a perfectly lovely time (with the exception of her brief and chilly wardrobe change, necessitated by the fact that she's got a stellar digestive tract firing on all cylinders!). There was a nice breeze, so a kite was flown, and each of the boys took turns with it. It was a beautiful day!

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY OLAN!

Make a wish!

2009-10-01T11:39:00.002-05:00

Seattle Brock and OLAN 393, originally uploaded by d_jazmine.

Brock demonstrates the proper form for candle blowing. Aren't they cute all lined up?

Olan and Brayden rocking their star sunglasses

2009-10-01T11:37:00.001-05:00

Seattle Brock and OLAN 434, originally uploaded by d_jazmine.

The Masterpiece Birthday Cake

2009-10-01T11:31:00.001-05:00

Seattle Brock and OLAN 336, originally uploaded by d_jazmine.

Created by Kjersti and Alex, who, through careful and precise measurements, used 2 9x13 cakes to create this shooting star...with NO un-used cake! ;)

Birthday Cake

2009-10-01T11:28:00.001-05:00

Seattle Brock and OLAN 388, originally uploaded by d_jazmine.

Brayden shares a "chip" with Olan

2009-10-01T11:27:00.001-05:00

Seattle Brock and OLAN 365, originally uploaded by d_jazmine.

Brock and Olan

2009-10-01T11:26:00.001-05:00

Seattle Brock and OLAN 379, originally uploaded by d_jazmine.

Brock flies the kite

2009-10-01T11:25:00.001-05:00

Seattle Brock and OLAN 339, originally uploaded by d_jazmine.

Brayden and Daddy fly the kite

2009-10-01T11:24:00.001-05:00

Seattle Brock and OLAN 343, originally uploaded by d_jazmine.

Group Shot

2009-07-08T12:09:00.002-05:00

DSC_0070, originally uploaded by d_jazmine.

In front of the beautiful church where Olan was Baptized. It was such a pretty day!

Olan's Baptism

2009-07-08T11:53:00.001-05:00

DSC_0081, originally uploaded by d_jazmine.

Daddy Alex, Mommy Kjersti, and Baby Olan on Baptism day.

Giant Baby!

2009-07-01T18:30:00.001-05:00

IMG_4053, originally uploaded by d_jazmine.

Here come those teeth!

Olan is Bendy

2009-07-01T12:43:00.001-05:00

IMG_4178, originally uploaded by d_jazmine.

This was taken during our recent visit for Olan's Baptism. I can't believe how he's growing - it's so fun to see.

Netiquette

2009-04-10T00:25:00.002-05:00

Okay, so here's the deal. Lots of people say lots of things online that they might or might not be quite so willing to blurt out in person, speaking face to face. Now, when you go to some 'neutral' site - for example, Yahoo! or CNN - and you read about something that gets you thinking...and you see that there are comments posted about the story, that's the kind of place where you just let it all out - say exactly what you want to say, use whatever kind of language you want to. You don't have to have regard for any one or anything if you don't want to. You can just focus on conveying your opinion. Super cool. Love it. Do it all the time.

However, there's a difference (IMHO) when it comes to commenting on a friend's blog, Facebook page, etc... I have lots of friends on several different social networks. Some of these friends are lifelong companions. Some of the people who I connect with are family members. Others may be more casual acquaintences, but nonetheless, people with whom I've socialized, and shared experiences. So, on those pages, it seems like it makes sense to keep things in a more "civil" tone. Let me rephrase that. If I visit someone's page, and see something they've posted that I disagree with, or that I think is "inappropriate" or "distasteful" or "just plain stupid" (lol) I don't feel it's in good taste to comment there in the same way that I might, had I seen the same information just out on the web somewhere. Today, I had a friend comment about a link and video that I had posted. Not only did they a.) misunderstand completely the point of the link, they b.) made what I considered to be very rude comments in their so-called 'discussion' of the topic. Now, I WELCOME dialogue about any subject. However, it seemed evident that this person had no interest in discussing anything. Their mind was made up, there was no changing it, so sayeth the Lord. Amen. Okay, fine. Regardless of all of that, there were much better ways to have said the things that got said. I'mjustsayin'...

In the future, perhaps we should all take on the habits of good dog walkers. If, while you're out and about online, you feel the need to take a crap on my page please be sure to pick up after yourself. I'll be sure I do the same, if I ever take a squat on yours.

Robbin Gallery Opening

2009-03-11T11:20:00.008-05:00

Robbin Gallery Opening 059, originally uploaded by d_jazmine.

Robbin Gallery Opening 042, originally uploaded by d_jazmine.

Robbin Gallery Opening 056, originally uploaded by d_jazmine.

This is my friend Raki, and her son Andrew. The photo was taken about 30 minutes after he was born. She chose it as her favorite of the ones I took that night, so I used it in my first show. It was quite an event to witness his birth!

Robbin Gallery Opening 043, originally uploaded by d_jazmine.

This was the other image I chose for the show. When I was in Atlanta after my nephew Olan was born, we took a walk one day on the patio at my sister's apartment. While we sat in the sunshine feeling the warm breeze of Fall in Atlanta, this little guy went scurrying by. I snapped a few photos, sort of as a joke, but they turned out pretty crisp and vivid and my mom loved them. So, into the show with the bug pics!

Here's one of Mom and me; her work was really stunning, too!

Equality for ALL!

2009-03-05T19:31:00.002-06:00

Randi and Phil on CNN:

Brayden's First Birthday!!

2009-02-10T11:38:00.004-06:00

We celebrated Brayden's 1st Birthday this past weekend. He's the son of my cousin Ben and his lovely wife, Emily. Today is his actual birthday, February 10th. He's been an absolutely amazing trooper in this first year of his life. Two open heart surgeries; the first of which took place on Valentine's Day last year...pretty appropriate. Here he is at his party, having a BLAST - and loving his cousin Brock.

I just had to include one more - it was just a snapshot of a moment where I happened to catch him blinking; but it's such a funny picture!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BRAYDEN!!! We love you!!

Weekend at My House

2009-01-03T15:21:00.003-06:00

I'm in the middle of a typical Saturday here at Casa Monson. I just thought I'd share this moment with you. I'm reading one of my favorite blogs (Home Fires by Lois Lane) and I'm joined, first by Zoey, and soon after, by Bella. They have a need to join me at (on) my desk whenever I'm sitting here for more than a few minutes. Pardon the redeye and the photo quality, I didn't dare roll my chair back for fear of them jumping off my desk. Aren't we cute, catching up on our favorite blogs?

And, see for yourself why I love Lois Lane!

http://nonewzhomefires.blogspot.com

Mr Blue Eyes!

2008-12-24T12:55:00.001-06:00

DSC_0123, originally uploaded by d_jazmine.

My Lucky Day!

2008-12-18T12:20:00.007-06:00

Okay, so if you know me, you know that I'm a fan of several "bloggers" out there, and that I actually created this blog, sort of "in honor" of one of one of the most well known bloggers of them all - Rosie O'Donnell. I found her blog way back when she started on the View, but by then she'd been doing it for years. I wish I had known about it earlier, when it could sort of be more "organic". By the time I happened upon it, she had so many fans visiting every day that it lost a little of it's charm/intimacy. In any case, I was hooked from the start, and through Rosie, I found Ross the Intern and ANT, the comedian - and I've been a regular at all of their blogs for the last year+. Because of that, I had the wonderful opportunity to meet ANT this past summer when he came to town for a show he was in. He could not have been more kind, gracious, welcoming, considerate - the whole evening, he made sure that we (my friend Kristy and I) were taken care of. Then, he asked me to meet for breakfast the next morning so we'd have a chance to talk. Here's a picture from that morning:

Isn't he cute as a button? He, more than any other, has been so unafraid to connect on a real level. Recently, I posted on his blog (nbc.com/ant) about some big decisions I was making about my life, and literally 5 minutes later, my cell phone rang, and it was him. "Talk to me, what's going on?" He proceeded to spend the next 20 minutes telling me how I deserved nothing but the best, and encouraging me to demand nothing less for myself. He was really something. (Especially given the fact that at the time, he was at the bedside of his life partner, who passed away about a week later. He still took the time to call me, which I think is pretty amazing.) Now, backtracking a bit, I found ANT through Ross "the Intern" Mathews (you know, the cute funny guy from the Tonight Show, who does all of the fun assignments for Jay?) If, for any reason, you don't recognize his name, you'll surely know his voice when you hear it. Here's my favorite ROSS assignment:

HYSTERICAL!!!!!
Since then, Ross appeared on Celebrety Fit Club (hosted by ANT) on VH1. He lost over 60 pounds, and to this day, he posts new blogs every day at NBC.com/rossblog. Sometimes, he does what's called a "teleblog" where he asks for phone numbers and randomly calls a few of his blogger fans (called "blog buddies") and records it for a blog. Yesterday, I was lucky enough to get a call! (It might have been because I submitted my number 50-60 times as evidenced here:

From: Ross Mathews [mailto:hellorossm@hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 2:59 PM
To: Monson, Donna
Subject: RE: TELEBLOG

Donna! Only one entry per person - you're jamming my email!
Thanks!
Ross

Subject: RE: TELEBLOG
Date: Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:59:29 -0600
From: Donna.Monson@qwest.com
To: hellorossm@hotmail.com

Sorry, I totally got addicted. I stopped a few minutes ago. How embarassing!

From: Ross Mathews [mailto:hellorossm@hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 3:00 PM
To: Monson, Donna
Subject: RE: TELEBLOG

I appreciate your enthusiasm! :)
Ross )

It turned out several of us were sending multiple requests, and so he got a bit overwhelmed by the response. Funny!

Anyway, want to see it? I'm caller #3. Check it out!!!!

SANTA HATS!!! YAY!!! SANTA HATS ARE FAMOUS NOW - hooray!! Wasn't his diagram perfect??

So, my Christmas is off to a fantastic start. And, my sister, her husband, and my baby nephew Olan will be here in a matter of days - life is good!

I, Robot Baby

2008-12-12T17:20:00.003-06:00

DSC06623, originally uploaded by d_jazmine.

Is it just me? Or does Olan look just a teensy bit like the I, Robot faces in this particular photo?

A Little Christmas Reading

2008-12-12T16:32:00.001-06:00

DSC06768, originally uploaded by d_jazmine.

Olan is catching up on his reading list. Doesn't he look smart? :-)

Olan tries out his Baby Bjorn! (and thinks about licking his Monkey)

2008-12-03T17:02:00.003-06:00

Olan's First Parade

2008-11-11T13:49:00.003-06:00

In honor of VETRAN's DAY - we thank all of the men and women who have, and continue to serve our country. God Bless the United States of America!

He Said, She Said, She Said

2008-11-10T14:18:00.003-06:00

ANT said:

"Why NOT you???"

Molly said:

"Listen to what the Universe is telling you.
There are better things just waiting for you."

Oprah said:

"When someone shows you who they are, believe them...the first time."

Letting Go

2008-11-10T14:15:00.001-06:00

There are people who can walk away from you.
And hear me when I tell you this!
When people can walk away from you: let them walk.

I don't want you to try to talk another person into staying with you,
loving you, calling you, caring about you, coming to see you,
staying attached to you.
I mean hang up the phone.

When people can walk away from you let them walk.
Your destiny is never tied to anybody that left.

People leave you because they are not joined to you.
And if they are not joined to you,
you can't make them stay.
Let them go.

And it doesn't mean that they are a bad person,
it just means that their part in the story is over.
And you've got to know when people's
part in your story is over so that you
don't keep trying to raise the dead.

You've got to know when it's dead.
You've got to know when it's over.
Let me tell you something.
I've got the gift of good-bye.
It's the tenth spiritual gift,
I believe in good-bye.

It's not that I'm hateful, it's that I'm faithful,
and I know whatever God means for me to have
He'll give it to me.
And if it takes too much sweat I don't need it.
Stop begging people to stay.
Let them go!!

If you are holding on to something
that doesn't belong to you and was never intended for your life,
then you need to ...LET IT GO!!!

If you are holding on to past hurts and pains .
LET IT GO!!!

If someone can't treat you right, love you back, and see your worth...
LET IT GO!!!

If someone has angered you ...
LET IT GO!!!

If you are holding on to some thoughts of evil and revenge ..
LET IT GO!!!

If you are involved in a wrong relationship or addiction .
LET IT GO!!!

If you are holding on to a job that no longer meets your needs or
talents ..
LET IT GO!!!

If you have a bad attitude...
LET IT GO!!!

If you keep judging others to make yourself feel better...
LET IT GO!!!

If you're stuck in the past and God is trying to take you to a new
level in Him...
LET IT GO!!!

If you are struggling with the healing of a broken relationship....
LET IT GO!!!

If you keep trying to help someone who won't even try to help
themselves..
LET IT GO!!!

If you're feeling depressed and stressed ....
LET IT GO!!!

If there is a particular situation that you are so used to handling
yourself and God is saying "take your hands off of it," then you need to...
LET IT GO!!!

Let the past be the past.
Forget the former things.
LET IT GO!!!

President-Elect Barack Obama

2008-11-05T12:34:00.004-06:00

Happy Halloween!!

2008-10-31T14:45:00.005-05:00

IMG_1734, originally uploaded by d_jazmine.

This was one of my more recent costumes. I was "DIZZY". (Thus, the stars and birdies circling around my head.)

Olan is GROWING!

2008-10-30T13:16:00.002-05:00

Here's my cute nephew, in a little onsie from Auntie Donna. I loved the polka dots, and Kjersti and Alex have dubbed it "Olan's Wonder Bread Onsie"

Hockey Mama for Obama

2008-10-27T10:04:00.001-05:00

Sing it sister!!

What the Pfuck???

2008-10-22T08:30:00.002-05:00

And just for fun, a look at "Real Wasilla"

Another fun night on SNL!

2008-10-20T11:32:00.002-05:00

The Happy Family

2008-10-08T17:24:00.001-05:00

Atlanta Baby 033, originally uploaded by d_jazmine.

Kjersti, Alex and Olan Duval.

Seriously...

2008-10-08T17:14:00.001-05:00

IMG_2960, originally uploaded by d_jazmine.

...have you ever seen a cuter face? I mean, come ON! :-) Proud Auntie Donna, holding Olan in her lap - what a treat that was!!

IMHO

2008-10-08T10:24:00.004-05:00

John McCain, for all of his "tough guy" talk, is just a tired old wimp, MY FRIENDS. He had 90 minutes last night, to go after Obama (our next President) the same way he and his partners in crime have the past few days, and he said NOTHING. Gee, I wonder why that is? He had all that time to question Obama's PATRIOTISM, to question his BACKGROUND, to suggest that he DOESN'T SUPPORT THE TROOPS...and he refused to do it. Why didn't he look him in the eyes and call him Senator Hussein, like his cronies are doing? Wait...maybe that's just supposed to be in the background, to make Obama "look suspect". But, like every punk and schoolyard bully, he can't own up to it himself.

Obama, on the other hand, landed every punch above board. All of them were fair, legitimate, and issue based - things he'd mentioned before, publicly; things he is man enough to put in his commercials, and repeat right in (down to) John McCain's face.

What a sad, pathetic small excuse for a man John McCain has turned in to as we all watched.

Oh, and incidentally, for someone who is so self-conscious about his height and physical limitations, the format last night was really not helpful for McCain either. While Obama gracefully and easily covered ground all over the stage, McCain hobbled around like a penguin, chuckling awkwardly to himself at his (completely ignored) attempts at wit and banter. Next time: Stick to the milk crate behind the podium. Just don't fall off and break a hip.

If you want to cut through the debate hodge podge, and just learn a little more about John on your own, here's the place to go:

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/make_believe_maverick_the_real_john_mccain

Unleashed, Palin Makes a Pit Bull Look Tame

2008-10-08T09:48:00.002-05:00

By Dana Milbank
Tuesday, October 7, 2008; A03

FORT MYERS, Fla., Oct. 6 John McCain is collapsing in the polls in Florida and other swing states, but Sarah Palin, God bless her, has a solution.

"For me, the heels are on, the gloves are off," she announced at high noon Monday to a group of Republican donors at the Naples Beach Club.

You betcha.

As the donors sipped their bloody marys and mimosas, she added, in a conspiratorial stage whisper, "I'm sending the message back to John McCain also: Tomorrow night in his debate, might as well take the gloves off."

Darn right.

Of course, it's not only gloves and heels; headgear has a role, too. "Okay, so, Florida, you know that you're going to have to hang on to your hats," she said at a morning rally in Clearwater, "because from now until Election Day, it may get kind of rough."

Say it ain't so, Sarah!

Sen. Lindsey Graham, a McCain confidant, told The Post's David Broder that the campaign would "go down in history as stupid if they don't unleash" Palin. Well, the self-identified pit bull has been unleashed -- if not unhinged.

Barack Obama, she told 8,000 fans at a rally here Monday afternoon, "launched his political career in the living room of a domestic terrorist!" This followed her earlier accusation that the Democrat pals around with terrorists. "This is not a man who sees America the way you and I see America," she told the Clearwater crowd. "I'm afraid this is someone who sees America as imperfect enough to work with a former domestic terrorist who had targeted his own country." The crowd replied with boos.

McCain had said that racially explosive attacks related to Obama's former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, are off limits. But Palin told New York Times columnist Bill Kristol in an interview published Monday: "I don't know why that association isn't discussed more."

Worse, Palin's routine attacks on the media have begun to spill into ugliness. In Clearwater, arriving reporters were greeted with shouts and taunts by the crowd of about 3,000. Palin then went on to blame Katie Couric's questions for her "less-than-successful interview with kinda mainstream media." At that, Palin supporters turned on reporters in the press area, waving thunder sticks and shouting abuse. Others hurled obscenities at a camera crew. One Palin supporter shouted a racial epithet at an African American sound man for a network and told him, "Sit down, boy."

McCain's swoon is largely out of his control, the result of an economic collapse that ignited new fears Monday when the Dow Jones industrial average closed below 10,000 for the first time in four years. That's why his lead in Florida polls, which once reached as high as 15 points, has turned into a three-point deficit.

But the campaign has reacted with recriminations (the St. Petersburg Times reported that the Florida Republican Party chairman, after questioning Palin's aptitude, was told that he couldn't fly on her plane) and now Palin's rage.

The angry GOP vice presidential nominee even found a way to blame the market decline on the yet-to-be-enacted tax policies of the yet-to-be-elected Obama.

"If you turn on the news tonight when you get home, you're gonna see that, yah, this is another woeful day in the market, and the other side just doesn't understand -- no!" she said at an afternoon fundraiser at the home of mutual fund giant Jack Donahue. "Especially in a time like this, you don't propose to increase taxes. The phoniest claim in a campaign that's full of them is that Barack Obama is going to cut your taxes."

Of course, Obama never promised to cut taxes for people at $10,000-a-plate lunches in air-conditioned tents on waterfront compounds. And the crowd -- among them New York Jets owner Woody Johnson -- reacted without applause to Palin's Joe Six-Pack lines. After they didn't strike up the usual "Drill, baby, drill" or "USA" chants, Palin, rattled, read hurriedly through the rest of her speech.

The reception had been better in Clearwater, where Palin, speaking to a sea of "Palin Power" and "Sarahcuda" T-shirts, tried to link Obama to the 1960s Weather Underground. "One of his earliest supporters is a man named Bill Ayers," she said. ("Boooo!" said the crowd.) "And, according to the New York Times, he was a domestic terrorist and part of a group that, quote, 'launched a campaign of bombings that would target the Pentagon and our U.S. Capitol,' " she continued. ("Boooo!" the crowd repeated.)

"Kill him!" proposed one man in the audience.

Palin also told those gathered that Obama doesn't like American soldiers. "He said that our troops in Afghanistan are just, quote, 'air-raiding villages and killing civilians,' " she said, drawing boos from a crowd that had not been told Obama was actually appealing for more troops in Afghanistan.

"See, John McCain is a different kind of man: He believes in our troops," she said.

At times, Palin hinted at the GOP campaign's troubles. "It's going to be a hard-fought contest, especially in these swing states, some maybe we would not have expected," she admitted to donors. She allowed that "John McCain and I need to do a better job" of talking about the economy.

At other times, she had troubles of her own, as when she spoke over the weekend of "our neighboring country of Afghanistan" or when she got choked up at the Clearwater rally, saying, "Some of your signs just make me wanna cry," without explaining which ones or why.

But then the gloves came off, the heels came out, and Palin was once again talking about her opponent hanging out in a terrorist's living room.

Auntie Donna and Olan

2008-10-07T16:04:00.002-05:00

I just returned from a week in Atlanta with Kjersti, Alex and their son, Olan Bertrand Duval-Arnould (and Grandma Karen, too!) Olan is so very precious. He's incredibly alert and focused for his age. He had his first doctor's appointment since returning home, and had gained almost a pound since leaving the hospital, so he's got that eating thing down! He's sleeping well (most of the time) and both Kjersti and Alex have adapted to having him home. Mom and I tried to help however we could; but it was hard to tear ourselves away from the baby. I'm already counting down to the next visit, whenever that might be. I know he will be a totally different little person, even if I can see him within the next few months. That part is hard. All of us are so far away, on both sides of the family. But, in a stunning development, Alex has created a blog for Olan. So, now all of us will have a place to watch his progress, and send comments to proud Mommy and Daddy. You'll find his blog at www.olanduval.blogspot.com

He's here! He's here!!!

2008-09-21T15:15:00.003-05:00

Born on September 20th, 2008
around 9:30 PM EST
8 lbs 12 oz
20" long

NAME TO BE ANNOUNCED VERY SOON!!

Meet my nephew.

Meet the REAL John McCain

2008-09-19T11:58:00.001-05:00

Please feel free to pass this along to as many people as you can. We CANNOT be mislead and duped into another Republican term in the White House.

The media has labeled John McCain a “moderate maverick” and a reformer. That moniker could not be more misrepresentative of the core values of the current Republican candidate running for President. The real John McCain has a history of voting against women, veterans, education and the preservation of our civil liberties, in addition to abstaining completely from voting to safeguard our environment in 2007. McCain stated in January of 2008 at the March of Life in Washington DC, "If I am fortunate enough to be elected as the next President of the United States, I pledge to you to be a loyal and unswerving friend of the right to life movement." McCain also pledged to appoint judges in the mold of conservatives John Roberts and Samuel Alito, who he feels are “jurists of the highest caliber.” And the much revered war hero was 1 of only 13 Republicans to vote against benefits for veterans, preferring to give tax cuts to the rich, rather than provide veterans with adequate healthcare.

In 2000, George W. Bush campaigned as the “compassionate conservative” and pundits praised him as the anti-elite cowboy you’d want to share a beer with. As our country spirals into a recession, as gas prices climb past $4.00 a gallon, as banks foreclose on families’ homes, as the middle class disappears and more Americans become trapped in poverty, five major oil companies reported record breaking profits so far this year, with Exxon-Mobile making a $40.6 billion windfall alone. These last eight years under the ‘compassionate’ Bush Administration, the rich have become richer at the expense of hardworking Americans. In November, the public can’t allow themselves to be duped again. The real John McCain is anything but a “moderate maverick.” Rather, he is just another deeply conservative Republican looking to continue the work of the Bush Administration…and if you want proof, just look at his voting record.

John McCain on Veteran Affairs:
2006 Rating from Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America: D

Veterans Benefits

May 2008: McCain is currently opposed to the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act (S 22), proposed by Senators Jim Webb and Chuck Hagel, to raise GI benefits to a level similar to those received by WWII vets. The maximum benefit would cover tuition for veterans for up to 4 years at the in-state public university level.
Troop Withdrawal

September 2007: McCain voted against the Webb amendment calling for adequate troop rest between deployments.
July 2007: McCain voted against a plan to draw down troop levels in Iraq.
June 2006: McCain voted against a resolution that Bush start withdrawing troops that year, but did not state a deadline to do so.
Veteran Health Care

May 2006: McCain voted against an amendment that would provide $20 million to the Department of Veterans Affairs for health care facilities.
April 2006: McCain was one of only 13 Senators to vote against $430,000,000 for the Department of Veteran Affairs for Medical Services for outpatient care and treatment for veterans.
March 2006: McCain voted against increasing Veterans medical services funding by $1.5 billion in 2007 to be paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes.
March 2004: McCain voted against creating a reserve fund to allow for an increase in Veterans' medical care by $1.8 billion by eliminating abusive corporate tax loopholes.
Troop Armor

October 2003: McCain voted to table an amendment that called for an additional $322 million for safety equipment for United States forces in Iraq and to reduce the amount provided for reconstruction in Iraq by $322 million.
April 2003: McCain urged other Senate members to table a vote (which never passed) to provide more than $1 billion for National Guard and Reserve equipment in Iraq related to a shortage of helmets, tents, bullet-proof inserts and tactical vests.
(From the Veterans for Common Sense)
John McCain on Women’s Issues
In his own words: ““I do not support Roe v. Wade. It should be overturned.”

Reproductive Rights and Women’s Health Care
2007 Rating from NARAL: Pro Choice America and Planned Parenthood: 0

August 2007: McCain voted to codify a controversial legislation that allows states to make an embryo or fetus—but not a pregnant woman—eligible for healthcare coverage.
October 2003: McCain repeatedly voted for (and co-sponsored) the Federal Abortion ban, a law that criminalizes some abortion services, with no exception to protect a woman’s health, and carries up to a two-year prison sentence for doctors.
May 2003: McCain supported the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, a law that grants separate legal status to an embryo or fetus.
March 2003: Voted against a resolution in support of Roe v. Wade and a woman’s constitutional right to safe and legal abortion services.
(From Naral: Pro-Choice America)

Equal Pay
2006 Rating from NOW: 13%

April 2008: McCain opposed the recent Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the Senate bill that sought equal pay for women. It failed to pass in the Senate by a 56-42 vote, with McCain using the excuse that it would make it easier for women to sue their employers for pay discrimination.
John McCain on the Environment
2007 Rating from the League of Conservation Voters: 0

McCain was the only member of Congress to skip every single crucial environmental vote scored by the League of Conservation Voters. When it comes to the environment, good intentions are not enough. A candidate for President needs to have a voting record on one of the most important global issues right now to show that he took a stand.
Below is a list of all the important environmental bills that McCain was absent for in 2007:

Cloture on H.R. 6, the energy bill (6/21, Vote 225)
Passage of H.R. 6, the energy bill (6/21, Vote 226)
Maintaining Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) in H.R. 6 (12/7, Vote 416)
Taking away giveaways to Big Oil to subsidize clean energy (12/13, Vote 425) Loosening public health and environmental regulations on refineries (6/13, Vote 210) Undermining the RES with coal and nuclear energy (6/14, Vote 211)
Offshore drilling in Virginia (6/14, Vote 212)
Liquid coal (6/19, Vote 213)
Environmental safeguards for biofuels (6/20, 219)
Consider global warming for water projects (5/15, Vote 166)
Appropriately prioritizing water projects (5/15, Vote 165)
International family planning (9/6, Vote 320)
Farm Bill subsidy reform (12/11, Vote 417)
Farm Bill subsidy caps (12/13, Vote 424)
Eminent Domain for public parks (12/3, Vote 429)

(From League of Conservation Voters)

John McCain on Education
2007 Rating from the National Education Association: 0

July 2007: McCain voted against a bill that would appropriate $32.9 billion from 2008 through 2017 for Promise grants to low-income and high-need students that are eligible for federal Pell Grants. The bill also proposed an increase in authorized deferments for federally insured student loans, interest subsidies, direct loans and Perkins loans from three years to six years of economic hardship
John McCain on Civil Liberties

February 2008: McCain voted to pass a bill that shields from lawsuits telecommunications companies that helped the government eavesdrop on their customers without court permission after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks
March 2006: McCain voted to reauthorize the highly flawed Patriot Act, which strips Americans of some of their civil liberites.
December 2005: McCain voted to extend the Patriot Act's wiretap provision which extends the authority of the FBI to conduct "roving wiretaps" and access business records.

McCain Ad Falsely Suggests Obama Wants Kids To Learn "About Sex Before Learning To Read"

2008-09-16T12:23:00.002-05:00

As you can see, the McCain ad says that Obama was the one who pushed the "comprehensive sex education" measure. The Obama campaign has pointed out that the bill would simply add instruction on disease prevention to already existing Illinois sex-ed standards. But the McCain campaign cheerfully turned this into Obama's support for "learning about sex before learning to read.

And "civil" and "honorable" McCain approved that message.

This new ad from the McCain camp is despicable and yet Obama will give a nuanced response in the press, send a few press releases, and so on. Damage done. The narrative becomes the damage. The press talks about it and plays right into McCain's hands. It all adds up as just more bad news and negative spin for Obama.

Why not kick some dirt in McCain's eyes for a change? He lies every single time he opens his mouth. Just show him and his quotes and have some carnival song and kids jeering, "liar, liar pants on fire." Is that so hard?

How about this as a response ad? I found this video on YouTube - and, granted it's a bit extreme, but come on, this is the kind of stuff they are throwing at Obama - LIE AFTER LIE AFTER LIE:

...and #7

2008-09-16T11:46:00.000-05:00

Sent last weekend:

Hi Everyone,

We've got 1 week to go before the baby arrives. We've been preparing and are ready for Karen and Donna to arrive in the coming week. We're looking forward to having Grandma and Auntie with us.

Donna is already making plans for crock pot meals for the freezer and we can't wait to have some Minnesota style hearty food to help sustain us.

We had two appointments this week to monitor the baby: one heart monitor test, and one ultrasound, and things checked out. Knock on wood. Kjersti saw his little hand open and close. They use Doppler radar to show his practice breathing. The 7 day outlook for the region is hot with high humidity.

We can't wait to meet the little guy.

Kjersti starts her leave from EDAW on 19 SEP. She's been working every day up until now, taking the train to work and feeling good. What a trooper!

We just bought a car and since gas prices are so high, we decided to buy an SUV: Toyota 4Runner. Not kidding. We got a good deal and since we don't commute to work it made sense for us.

We are also signed up for Bright Horizons day care which is right across the street from Kjersti's office.

The Duval family just got back from their trip to France. Bertrand, Rosemary, Caroline, Matt and Liam went to Paris and Houlgat.

Alex's uncle Gilles got married to Karine in Houlgat and it was a beautiful day and a lovely ceremony. We hope that they will share their pictures with everyone and tell us a little more about the experience.

We also celebrated our 1 year anniversary. We polished our silver wedding cup, drank from it, and remembered. Its hard to believe that just a year ago we were all together in that clearing in Minnesota sharing a joyous day.

We miss you all and hope to see you again soon.

Love,

Kjersti & Alex

PS - Please send us your news!

We Interrupt this Election...for Family Bulletins #6

2008-09-16T11:44:00.002-05:00

(Dated August 10th, 2008)

Dear family,

It's been a long time, but we've been very busy. Preparations for the baby are taking up a lot of our time. The last few weeks have been great. We've gotten to see many of you. We were in Connecticut for the Duval family reunion. It was a lot of fun. The weather was great. We went sailing, kayaking, ate lots of good food. But most of all, it was great to see everybody. We were very touched by all the gifts we received at the rubber ducky baby shower. The rubber ducky theme was really fun. The queen and artist ducky are looking forward to the arrival of prince ducky.

The baby shower in Minnesota was also fantastic. And it was great to be able to celebrate Karen's birthday at the same time. We're excited to fill the scrapbook with little orb's firsts. Kjersti had to borrow an extra suitcase to bring all of your generous gifts home. And the Combi pod bouncer has arrived. Thank you so much aunts and uncles. Our baby is going to be pimping with his iPod jams.

We did the child birthing class at the hospital last Saturday. We watched the video of a woman giving birth. Since then Kjersti has had what I call: the 1000 yards stare. Vietnam vet style. We did some work on the birthing ball. And Alex learned how to be supportive. Using phrases such as: you can do it, it's going to be OK, and we're going to get through this together.

We're getting ready to move. Just up five floors in the building. But it's a two bedroom apartment and we're going to get the babies room ready. Our new address will be the same only apartment 14 C.

We'll keep you posted. It won't be long now.

Love,
Kjersti and Alex

Sarah Palin's Churches

2008-09-16T11:38:00.002-05:00

Sarah Palin's Churches and The Third Wave from Bruce Wilson on Vimeo.

From Talk to Action:
http://www.talk2action.org/story/2008/9/13/1538/09770

"Sarah Palin was baptized at Wasilla Assembly of God and attended the church for over two and a half decades, and she has been publicly blessed by a number of pastors and religious leaders employed by and associated with that church.
Last Sunday our research team released a video, a ten-minute mini-documentary, focusing on the Wasilla Assemblies of God and the video seemed on the verge of a massive "viral" breakthrough when YouTube pulled it down, citing "inappropriate content".

At the point the video was censored by YouTube it had been viewed by almost 160,000 people. The short of it is that YouTube has censored a video documentary that appeared to be close to having an effect on a hard fought and contentious American presidential election."

...and how much time was spent digging into Obama's church and "spiritual leaders"???

Daily Show: Sarah Palin IS the Bush Doctrine

2008-09-16T10:17:00.001-05:00

Perfection

2008-09-14T14:00:00.001-05:00

This could not have been more perfect!

Matt Damon on Sarah Palin

2008-09-13T20:56:00.000-05:00

Women of the World...UNITE

2008-09-13T20:55:00.001-05:00

written by: eve ensler
09.13.08 at 1:29 pm in in the news

I am having Sarah Palin nightmares. I dreamt last night that she was a member of a club where they rode snowmobiles and wore the claws of drowned and starved polar bears around their necks. I have a particular thing for Polar Bears. Maybe it's their snowy whiteness or their bigness or the fact that they live in the arctic or that I have never seen one in person or touched one. Maybe it is the fact that they live so comfortably on ice. Whatever it is, I need the polar bears.

I don't like raging at women. I am a Feminist and have spent my life trying to build community, help empower women and stop violence against them. It is hard to write about Sarah Palin. This is why the Sarah Palin choice was all the more insidious and cynical. The people who made this choice count on the goodness and solidarity of Feminists.??

But everything Sarah Palin believes in and practices is antithetical to Feminism which for me is part of one story -- connected to saving the earth, ending racism, empowering women, giving young girls options, opening our minds, deepening tolerance, and ending violence and war.

I believe that the McCain/Palin ticket is one of the most dangerous choices of my lifetime, and should this country chose those candidates the fall-out may be so great, the destruction so vast in so many areas that America may never recover. But what is equally disturbing is the impact that duo would have on the rest of the world. Unfortunately, this is not a joke. In my lifetime I have seen the clownish, the inept, the bizarre be elected to the presidency with regularity.

Sarah Palin does not believe in evolution. I take this as a metaphor. In her world and the world of Fundamentalists nothing changes or gets better or evolves. She does not believe in global warming. The melting of the arctic, the storms that are destroying our cities, the pollution and rise of cancers, are all part of God's plan. She is fighting to take the polar bears off the endangered species list. The earth, in Palin's view, is here to be taken and plundered. The wolves and the bears are here to be shot and plundered. The oil is here to be taken and plundered. Iraq is here to be taken and plundered. As she said herself of the Iraqi war, "It was a task from God."??

Sarah Palin does not believe in abortion. She does not believe women who are raped and incested and ripped open against their will should have a right to determine whether they have their rapist's baby or not.??

She obviously does not believe in sex education or birth control. I imagine her daughter was practicing abstinence and we know how many babies that makes.??

Sarah Palin does not much believe in thinking. From what I gather she has tried to ban books from the library, has a tendency to dispense with people who think independently. She cannot tolerate an environment of ambiguity and difference. This is a woman who could and might very well be the next president of the United States. She would govern one of the most diverse populations on the earth.??

Sarah believes in guns. She has her own custom Austrian hunting rifle. She has been known to kill 40 caribou at a clip. She has shot hundreds of wolves from the air.??

Sarah believes in God. That is of course her right, her private right. But when God and Guns come together in the public sector, when war is declared in God's name, when the rights of women are denied in his name, that is the end of separation of church and state and the undoing of everything America has ever tried to be.??

I write to my sisters. I write because I believe we hold this election in our hands. This vote is a vote that will determine the future not just of the U.S., but of the planet. It will determine whether we create policies to save the earth or make it forever uninhabitable for humans. It will determine whether we move towards dialogue and diplomacy in the world or whether we escalate violence through invasion, undermining and attack. It will determine whether we go for oil, strip mining, coal burning or invest our money in alternatives that will free us from dependency and destruction. It will determine if money gets spent on education and healthcare or whether we build more and more methods of killing. It will determine whether America is a free open tolerant society or a closed place of fear, fundamentalism and aggression.

If the Polar Bears don't move you to go and do everything in your power to get Obama elected then consider the chant that filled the hall after Palin spoke at the RNC, "Drill Drill Drill." I think of teeth when I think of drills. I think of rape. I think of destruction. I think of domination. I think of military exercises that force mindless repetition, emptying the brain of analysis, doubt, ambiguity or dissent. I think of pain.??

Do we want a future of drilling? More holes in the ozone, in the floor of the sea, more holes in our thinking, in the trust between nations and peoples, more holes in the fabric of this precious thing we call life?

William Rodriguez - GOOGLE him

2008-09-12T12:25:00.001-05:00

9/11

I have heard this story so many times, and many others like it. WHERE IS THE REAL STORY? WE NEED TO KNOW THE TRUTH!!

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

2008-09-09T09:40:00.001-05:00

Jon kicks off his week of broadcasting from the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Jon Stewart on "Community Organizers"

2008-09-05T11:40:00.000-05:00

GOP "Talking Points"; what's wrong with this picture?

2008-09-04T11:38:00.004-05:00

Please visit www.averagebro.com - a new blog I found recently. I'm sharing these points because they are so SPOT ON, I couldn't resist.

AVERAGEBRO says:

A few things really bug me about these GOP Talking Points, and I'm hoping you guys can help me out with them.

(1) The GOP keeps saying Palin, by virtue of being a small town mayor, and 18 months of Governor has more "executive experience" than Obama and Biden combined. If you define "executive experience" as having "run something", wouldn't that also make Palin more qualified than even John McCain, whose entire career has been spent in the Congress and Senate?

(2) The GOP is all about "less government". How then do they explain being "pro-life"? Isn't telling a woman what to do with her own body the epitome of "too much government"?

(3) The GOP is all about "fixing Washington". Are we supposed to forget that they've virtually controlled Washington since 2000? Uhhh, shouldn't something be "fixed" by now? Could they perhaps try "fixing" their own party before "fixing" the world?

(4) The GOP is all about "reining in government spending". Their main way of remedying the record deficit is by cutting earmarks and pork barrel projects? But isn't the $10B/month war that the GOP got us into the main reason for the deficit?

(5) How disingenuous is it to keep playing the "POW Card"? I admire John McCain's service to this country, but let's keep it 100. McCain's time in Hanoi is only notable because his father's name and position made him living, breathing propaganda. He was on TV and in the news practically every night during his 5 1/2 years is captivity, which is why there's so much footage of it. He used this exposure to catapult his political career. Yet he calls Obama a "celebrity"? Obama seems like the sort of person who became famous because he was already a politician. McCain became a politician because he was already famous. Not exactly the same. The Dems will never point of this idiocy of course. They don't roll like that.

Our Next President

2008-08-29T08:35:00.003-05:00

We watched this speech last night, and we were practically standing up, clapping along with everyone in the stadium. (Which, by the way was packed to capacity with people who were, in some cases, moved to tears by the amazing speech.) When I think of Barack standing "toe to toe" accross from McCain, I am thrilled at the thought of how much better Barack will look! He is amazing. I feel sick at the thought of McCain and his patronizing "My Friends...I was a POW" (PUKE, retch) talks. As Maureen Dowd said recently: "It’s hard to believe that John McCain is now in danger of exceeding his credit limit on the equivalent of an American Express black card. His campaign is cheapening his greatest strength - and making a mockery of his already dubious claim that he’s reticent to talk about his P.O.W. experience - by flashing the P.O.W. card to rebut any criticism, no matter how unrelated. The captivity is already amply displayed in posters and TV advertisements."

For example (from his recent appearance on LENO):

LENO: “For a million dollars, how many houses do you have?”

SEN. McCAIN: “Could I just mention to you, Jay, that, at a moment of seriousness. I spent five-and-a-half years in a prison cell,” McCain said. “I didn’t have a house. I didn’t have a kitchen table. I didn’t have a table. I didn’t have a chair. And I didn’t spend those five-and-a-half years because, not because I wanted to get a house when I got out.”

Ummm...relavence?

Now, here is what a REAL LEADER sounds like. This is just one of my favorite parts of the speech Obama gave last night:

“If you don’t have any fresh ideas, then you use stale tactics to scare voters.
If you don’t have a record to run on, you paint your opponent as someone people should run from.
You make a big election about small things.
And, it’s worked before…because it feeds into the cynicism we all have about government. When Washington doesn’t work, all its promises seem empty. If your hopes have been dashed again and again, then it’s best to stop hoping, and settle for what you already know. I get it. I realize that I’m not the likeliest candidate for this office. I don’t fit the typical pedigree. I haven’t spent my career in the halls of Washington. But I stand before you tonight, because all across America, something is stirring. What the naysayers don’t understand is that this election has never been about ME, it’s about YOU! For 18 long months, you have stood up one by one and said ENOUGH to the politics of the past. YOU understand that in this election, the greatest risk we can take is to try the same old politics with the same old players and expect a different result. You have shown what history teaches us; that in defining moments like this one the change we need doesn’t come FROM Washington, it comes TO Washington. Change happens because the American people demand it. Because they rise up, and insist on new ideas, and new leadership. New politics for a new time. America, this is one of those moments. I believe that as hard as it will be, the change we need is coming, because I’ve seen it, because I’ve lived it.”

So, I agree with everyone who chanted these words in the stadium last night:

I'm NOT willing to take a 10% chance on 4 more years of the same.

8 IS ENOUGH!!

YES WE CAN!! YES WE CAN!!! YES WE CAN!!!!

Obama supporters keep good company:

Funny e-Cards that I just happened upon...

2008-08-19T16:10:00.006-05:00

http://www.someecards.com/

FINALLY a picture!

2008-07-24T11:54:00.000-05:00

Isn't she beautiful? YAY!

“One is like a glass-half-full kind of guy and the other is an expert on the economy.”

2008-07-17T16:24:00.001-05:00

Criminals in the White House

2008-07-17T16:03:00.002-05:00

Six Questions for Jane Mayer, Author of The Dark Side
By Scott Horton

In a series of gripping articles, Jane Mayer has chronicled the Bush Administration’s grim and furtive dealings with torture and has exposed both the individuals within the administration who “made it happen” (a group that starts with Vice President Cheney and his chief of staff, David Addington), the team of psychologists who put together the palette of techniques, and the Fox television program “24,” which was developed to help sell it to the American public. In a new book, The Dark Side, Mayer puts together the major conclusions from her articles and fills in a number of important gaps. Most significantly, we learn the details on the torture techniques and the drama behind the fierce and lingering struggle within the administration over torture, and we learn that many within the administration recognized the potential criminal accountability they faced over these torture tactics and moved frantically to protect themselves from possible future prosecution. I put six questions to Jane Mayer on the subject of her book, The Dark Side.

Please use this link to access the article, and read it. How is it that I can still be shocked and amazed by the things I keep learning?

http://harpers.org/archive/2008/07/hbc-90003234

McCain is Evil

2008-07-16T16:14:00.002-05:00

This is absolutely disgusting - here are some of John McCain's gems:

John McCain made this odious joke about Chelsea Clinton back in ‘98.
"Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because her father is Janet Reno.”
– Sen. John McCain, speaking to a Republican dinner, June 1998.

But this 1986 joke during his Senate run is just off the wall.
I managed to dig up this gem from his 1986 race for US Senate, as quoted in the Tucson Citizen:
"Did you hear the one about the woman who is attacked on the street by a gorilla, beaten senseless, raped repeatedly and left to die? When she finally regains consciousness and tries to speak, her doctor leans over to hear her sigh contently and to feebly ask, ‘Where is that marvelous ape?’ "

Jon Stewart at his Best (As Always!)

2008-07-16T15:35:00.001-05:00

Beautiful

2008-07-02T15:54:00.000-05:00

we pray
from rosie o'donnells blog
www.rosie.com

with the intention to attain
the ultimate supreme goal
that surpasses even the wish granting jewel
may i constantly cherish all living beings

whenever i associate with others
may i view myself as the lowest of all
and with a perfect intention
may i cherish others as supreme

examining my mental continuum
throughout all my actions
as soon as a delusion develops
whereby i or others would act inappropriately
may i firmly face it and avert it

whenever i see unfortunate beings
oppressed by evil and violent suffering
may i cherish them as if i had found
a rare and precious treasure

even if someone i have helped
and of whom i had great hopes
nevertheless harms me without any reason
may i see him as my holy spiritual guide

when others out of jealousy
harm me or insult me
may i take the defeat upon myself
and offer them the victory

in short - may i directly and indirectly
offer help and happiness to all my mothers
and secretly take upon myself
all of their harm and suffering

furthermore, through all these method practices
together with a mind
undefiled by the stains of conceptions
of the eight extremes
and that sees all phenomena as illusory
may i be released from the bondage
of mistaken appearance and conception

-buddhist prayer-

The Advocate; READ THIS Article :-)

2008-07-02T10:40:00.003-05:00

This is the story of Sam Harris his partner Danny adopting their son, Cooper. It's so well written, please check it out!! Sam is a wonderful writer. You all may remember him as the winner of Star Search, back in the day (dude has a set of pipes on him that you would not believe!!) and since then he's been on Broadway, on TV, recording CD's, etc... So, use this link, and read the story. You'll be glad you did!

http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid56418.asp

Note to the religious right: auto-replace is not your friend!

2008-07-01T17:53:00.002-05:00

By: Steve Benen on Tuesday, July 1st, 2008 at 12:01 PM - PDT

Auto-correct can be a very helpful feature of any word-processing program. But when conservatives use it, they run the risk of embarrassing themselves.

The American Family Association’s OneNewsNow website, for example, takes its AP articles and replaces the word “gay” with the word “homosexual.” I'm not entirely sure why, but it seems to make the AFA happy. The group is, after all, pretty far out there.

The problem, of course, is that “gay” does not always mean what the AFA wants it to mean. My friend Kyle reported this morning that sprinter Tyson Gay won the 100 meters at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials over the weekend. The AFA ran the story, but only after the auto-correct had “fixed” the article.

That means — you guessed it — the track star was renamed “Tyson Homosexual.” The headline on the piece read, “Homosexual eases into 100 final at Olympic trials.” Readers learned:

Tyson Homosexual easily won his semifinal for the 100 meters at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials and seemed to save something for the final later Sunday.

His wind-aided 9.85 seconds was a fairly cut-and-dry performance compared to what happened a day earlier. On Saturday, Homosexual misjudged the finish in his opening heat and had to scramble to finish fourth, then in his quarterfinal a couple of hours later, ran 9.77 to break the American record that had stood since 1999. […]

Homosexual didn’t get off to a particularly strong start in the first semifinal, but by the halfway mark he had established a comfortable lead. He slowed somewhat over the final 10 meters-nothing like the way-too-soon complete shutdown that almost cost him Saturday. Asked how he felt, Homosexual said: “A little fatigued.”

Gay Marriage

2008-07-01T17:25:00.001-05:00

I just LOVE these! LOL

True Colors, Minneapolis MN

2008-07-01T14:26:00.002-05:00

Mom and I rocked it out at the True Colors concert in June. It was so much fun! We saw Tegan & Sara, The Cliks, Rosie O'Donnell, The B-52's, Cyndi Lauper and the whole evening was hosted by Carson Kressley (Queer Eye ring any bells for you?)

More videos can be found here:

http://www.youtube.com/user/jzbelle03

WTF?!????

2008-06-23T09:44:00.001-05:00

Bush pardons...himself?!? STOP THE INSANITY!!!!

An Oldie but a Goodie

2008-06-16T10:40:00.001-05:00

Family Bulletin #5; Alex's 1st Father's Day

2008-06-16T08:28:00.001-05:00

Dear Family,

I am big. It's true, I can't imagine how the belly will manage to grow any more!! The baby is kicking and moving a lot - he put on quite a show for daddy the other day - Alex could feel the energy in his hand from the baby as he moved around inside. I took a little video of the "belly horizon" while he was moving - you can see the sudden bumps of the skin outward as he kicks away. We're both amazed.

This week was quiet. The collaboration of our offices on the Korea project is intensifying - Kjersti is over at Alex's office every other day it seems - which is nice because we get to have lunch together once in awhile. The CEO of EDAW, Joe Brown, presented some initial ideas for the site to the Portman team this week, and it was well received. The idea is that the tower podium becomes a great living "mound" - the building as landscape so to speak, accessible as a park environment, a "radial green grid".

We are celebrating Alex's first Father's Day today. Thank you to all who sent "father to be" gifts and cards! We appreciate it, and so will the baby, who is the beneficiary of your generosity. We had a nice breakfast with our good friend Matthew today, who lost his father two months ago. It put things into perspective, and it was good that we could spend some time with him on this emotional day.

Love,

Kjersti & Alex

Where does McCain stand on women's health issues?

2008-06-14T19:46:00.000-05:00

EEEEEKK!!!!!!!!!!!

On biggest issues, McCain said he’s been ‘totally in agreement’ with Bush

2008-06-13T11:32:00.001-05:00

Looking over the transcript from the June 19, 2005, episode of “Meet the Press,” the context of the video is actually slightly worse for McCain. Tim Russert read off a list of issues on which McCain and Bush appear to disagree and told the senator, “The fact is you are different than George Bush.” McCain responded, “No. No.”

One could argue, I suppose, that this was in 2005, and McCain has reinvented himself since then, but then again, looking at his Senate voting record, McCain voted with Bush’s position 95% of the time in 2007 and 100% of the time in 2008.

McCain gets pretty annoyed when his critics talk about a “third Bush term,” but it’s hard to deny that McCain has already made the argument for us. He not only shares Bush’s agenda and platform, but McCain spent years telling national audiences that no one agrees with Bush more than he does.

McCain's Pottymouth, NOT pretty!

2008-06-13T11:12:00.004-05:00

Book: McCain temper boiled over in '92 tirade, called wife a 'cunt'Nick Juliano
Published: Monday April 7, 2008

John McCain's temper is well documented. He's called opponents and colleagues "shitheads," "assholes" and in at least one case "a fucking jerk."

But a new book on the presumptive Republican nominee will air perhaps the most shocking angry exchange to date.

The Real McCain by Cliff Schecter, which will arrive in bookstores next month, reports an angry exchange between McCain and his wife that happened in full view of aides and reporters during a 1992 campaign stop. An advance copy of the book was obtained by RAW STORY.

Three reporters from Arizona, on the condition of anonymity, also let me in on another incident involving McCain's intemperateness. In his 1992 Senate bid, McCain was joined on the campaign trail by his wife, Cindy, as well as campaign aide Doug Cole and consultant Wes Gullett. At one point, Cindy playfully twirled McCain's hair and said, "You're getting a little thin up there." McCain's face reddened, and he responded, "At least I don't plaster on the makeup like a trollop, you cunt." McCain's excuse was that it had been a long day. If elected president of the United States, McCain would have many long days.

The man who was known as "McNasty" in high school has erupted in foul-languaged tirades at political foes and congressional colleagues more-or-less throughout his career, and his quickness to anger has been an issue on the presidential campaign trail as evidence of his fury has surfaced.

As Schecter notes, McCain's rage is not limited to the political spectrum, and even his family cannot be spared the brute force of his anger.

Schecter, who also blogs at The Agonist, said in an interview the anecdote is "an early example of his uncontrollable temper." In the book he outlines several other examples of McCain losing his cool and raises the question of how that would affect a McCain presidency.

What should voters make of this pattern? In February 2008 Tim Russert succinctly described McCain on MSNBC's Morning Joe. A devilish grin spread from ear to ear as Russert, no McCain hater, leaned forward and spoke in a whisper, "He likes to fight." Russert got it right. But the big question isn't whether McCain likes to fight: it's who, when, and how.

The exchange between McCain and his wife was not reported anywhere when it happened, Schecter said (a LexisNexis database search confirms this). In 1992, McCain's mention in the national media revolved mostly around his involvement in the Keating Five scandal, and only local reporters closely followed his re-election bid.

McCain is well known for his rapport with the national media covering his presidential bid (he's jokingly referred to the press as "my base"), but Schecter said this incident was buried not out of fealty to the Arizona senator. Rather, it was uneasiness about how to get such a coarse exchange into a family newspaper, and he didn't fault the local press for not covering the incident.

"Members of the media are squeamish covering stuff like this so they let it go," Schecter told RAW STORY in an interview Monday. "Back in '92, when people use naughty words, [reporters] don't know as much what to do with it."

Much has changed since then. President Bush's reference to a New York Times reporter as a "major league asshole" was reported in at least 47 newspapers during the 2000 campaign, when the off-color remark was overheard, according to a database search. And more than a dozen newspapers have reported Dick Cheney's recommendation that Sen. Patrick Leahy "fuck yourself."

McCain and his aides have brushed off suggestions that his temper could impede his ability to perform the sometimes-delicate tasks asked of a president. The candidate was asked about his legendary temper last week on "Fox News Sunday," where he cited his ability to work "across the aisle" while in the Senate.

"You can't scare people or intimidate them if you're going to reach agreement with your colleagues and your contemporaries And I've worked hard at that, and that's what the American people want," McCain said. " The second thing is if I lose my capacity for anger, then I shouldn't be president of the United States. ... When I see the waste and corruption in Washington, I get angry."

McCain's campaign did not return a call from RAW STORY seeking comment Monday morning.

Schecter says McCain's anger is much more than a passion for the issues. One can only imagine what would happen if McCain were to try to squeeze that temper into the tight confines of diplomacy.

"The public certainly has to know what this guy might do as president," Schecter says. Examples like the ones in his book "should worry people, quite frankly."

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/McCain_temper_boiled_over_in_92_0407.html

Family Bulletin #4; Daddy has a Birthday!

2008-06-13T11:09:00.001-05:00

Dear Family,

We just returned from Six Flags Amusement Park. The Portman company picnic was there and they paid the admission fee. So we went. Unfortunately, Kjersti couldn't get on any rides because she is considered "disabled". We did go on the "Monster Plantation" haunted boat ride, where we were the only riders over 3 feet tall. It was awesome.

Yesterday was Alex's birthday. Thanks to everyone for the cards, gifts, emails and calls. I appreciate it. The birthday was great. This year has been very good and I am thankful for a wonderful family, the baby on the way, the Colony Road architecture project and the chance to spend time with you all.

For the birthday dinner, Kjersti made meatloaf and mashed potatoes, the meal I always would request for my birthday as a kid, and we had cheesecake for dessert - again the traditional dessert. Except this time Kjersti spiced it up with mango and it was delicious.

Some of you have asked if anyone can write / respond to the Family Bulletin and the answer is: Yes! That would be great and that's why we've left the distribution list visible. We've really enjoyed hearing from those of you who have responded and its good to know what you're up to. I'm sure everyone on the list would like to hear from you too.

Well, we have to hit the pool. Its 95 degrees here in Atlanta and muggy to boot. Then we're going to the chiropractor to undo what Six Flags has done. Alex did go on a few roller coasters, namely "The Ninja" and "Goliath". And they both whipped him good.

Love,
Kjersti & Alex

Harvard Right To Serve Tour - NY Protest - JAKE

2008-06-02T16:08:00.003-05:00

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/30/students-protest-dont-ask-dont-tell-policy/index.html?partner=BREITBART&ei=5123

Harvard Right to Serve Tour Promotion

2008-06-02T16:08:00.001-05:00

The Times, They Are a-Changin'

2008-06-02T11:53:00.008-05:00

I'm still hoping to incorporate this blog into my "Daily Routine". So far, I've managed to post occasional updates along with just some fun things that I find online and want to save. Starting today, I'm participating in a sort of "Book Review" with another blog group. The book is "The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz. The book lists the agreements, as follows:

Agreement 1
Be impeccable with your word - Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

Agreement 2
Don’t take anything personally - Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.

Agreement 3
Don’t make assumptions - Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

Agreement 4
Always do your best - Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.

So far, I've read the Introduction and the first chapter. It's amazing the feelings that it stirs up. Part of our first "assignment" for our review was to think of "untrue" words that someone spoke to me that I heard and made true for myself. (The example given by the forum leader was as a child, he overheard people he loved talking about "filthy faggots". At this time, as a child, he knew he was gay and it was years and years later that he realized he believed those words and brought them to life in his own journey.)

Looking back, I truly don't remember any specific words ever being spoken to me that weren't loving and supportive. Along the way, I did have insecurities; ESPECIALLY and PARTICULARLY around boys. Much of my childhood and adolescence is like a big black hole to me. I hardly remember anything about my life from before my parents divorced (which was when I was 7), and the fleeting memories I do have are like flashes in a dream sequence in a movie. I was a combination of PAINFULLY shy with my peers (emphasis again on boys) but warm, outgoing and even funny with my Mom and sister. I remember loving to make people laugh, and with my family it was easy. At school I was terrified to say anything out loud for fear of being made fun of, or laughed AT, instead of WITH. So, I was quiet a lot. But with my girlfriends, I was funny Donna, so it became odd and awkward, like I was two different people. I think, more than someone's words shaping me, it was people's actions. A few people in particular. There was this group of boys who were popular. They were smart, and in reality we had very similar senses of humor. Because of my shyness and insecurity, they had no way of knowing that, of course, but I always "got" their jokes when they thought they were being so subtle and getting away with things in class. You know the movie "A Fish Called Wanda"? Kevin Kline's character always said "Don't call me stupid!" He didn't care about almost anything else, but STUPID he couldn't take. That's what bothered me so much as a teenager. I thought that those boys thought I was STUPID, that I couldn't understand their "superior" and witty banter, and it drove me crazy. As a result, I would get even more uncomfortable around them because I was frustrated and angry at the same time as I was terrified to say anything. Since then, I've gone to class reunions. I've talked to everyone I knew in High School - jocks, cheerleaders, valedictorians, scholars...but to this day, if I ever got locked in a room with (I'll call him Brian - since that's his name - blogging makes me brave! LOL) I feel like I would revert back to that same scared girl I was then. I guess, the best way to describe it is that they were simply "dismissive" - I wasn't even a blip on their radar. I'd be willing to bet that not a single one of them would have anything (postitive or negative) to say about me today. That's almost the worst feeling yet - that I allowed them to have such power over me all those years ago, and they probably barely knew I existed.

So - not every post will be so long, but I'm hoping that using this book review as a guide will help me to post more regularly, and that putting the words on "e-paper" will help me make the most of this process.

Family Bulletin #3 from Kjersti and Alex

2008-06-02T08:34:00.000-05:00

Hello Family,

It was nice to have a short week after Memorial Day. The holiday weekend was fun and relaxing. We spent it with friends at a BBQ on Saturday and went to Piedmont Park on Sunday and hung out at our Italian friend's house on Monday.

We're gearing up for Alex's birthday on the 6th. We're going to a Braves game, indulging in $7 pretzels and doing the "tomahawk chop" with the rest of the tribe. We're taking our norwegian friends from church who have never been to a baseball game. They have a six month old baby named "Signar" (Donna per your blog, you'd like that name) who was born in the States and therefore must be indoctrinated MLB style.

In collateral family news, Kjersti's cousin Jake was arrested in New York City this week while leading a gay rights protest, called the Harvard Right to Serve Project, at the US Armed Forces recruiting station in Times Square. The event was featured in the New York Times and covered by MTV. We are proud of Jake for his efforts.

Finally, we have decided to postpone our honeymoon to Paris because Kjersti is too rotund. We don't want to take any chances. As people experienced in international travel, we have resolved to wait until mom and baby are individual units. We're looking at the fall of '09. If anyone is interested in traveling at the same time to Paris, it would be fun to coordinate something. Just let us know.

Love,

Kjersti, Alex & Orb

Kjersti and Alex's Family Bulletin #2

2008-05-27T11:08:00.002-05:00

Hello Family,

It was good to hear from those who replied. Dad - the history of the Duval-Arnould Family Bulletin in France was very interesting. We were glad to hear about it.

This week, as we mentioned in Bulletin #1 we've attached a "Belly Pic" This is Kjersti at 5 and 1/2 months. The baby is kicking a lot. We're considering calling him Jackie Chan Duval-Arnould. Or Bruce Lee Duval-Arnould we can't decide. Kjersti is feeling good and her energy level is high. I am thrilled to see what I lovingly and architecturally refer to as "The Orb" grow. Its very satisfying.

On the professional front, Kjersti and I will be working on a project together. EDAW has been selected as the Landscape Architect for the site that Portman is designing a Tower for. We were in a meeting yesterday together trying to remain seemingly unassociated, but our secret is out. There was a lot of interest in the baby and both teams were happy and supportive. One of our colleagues was joking that the baby was going to work on the project next.

We hope you are all having a good week and hope to hear from you.

Love,

Kjersti & Alex

PS we sit and write these emails together.

Please see attachment for front elevation view of Orb.

Kjersti and Alex's Family Bulletin #1

2008-05-27T11:05:00.002-05:00

I've taken the liberty of posting these bulletins which I'll be receiving (perhaps weekly?) in anticipation of the arrival of my nephew in September.

Family Bulletin #1

Hello everybody,

Kjersti and I are starting up a family bulletin email so that we can stay in better touch and keep you up to date with the goings on in our lives.

The first big announcement - and you've probably already heard - is that we are expecting a son! He is due sometime between September 12 - 22, 2008. We are thrilled. We've been preparing for his arrival by reading all the baby books, of which we have - well probably all of them.

Thanks to those of you have already sent baby gifts. Donna, we really appreciate the cute newborn outfits and the little shoes which are adorable. Rosemary and Bertrand, the little "prince" onesie and bib are very cute. Randi and Phil, thank you so much for the onesie that says "thank heaven for little boys" - we couldn't agree more! And the bib. Karen, we love the little ceramic boy figurine and his Boston terrier. We have it sitting in front of our first ultrsound picture.

We are so grateful and blessed to have such a loving family and we can't wait to introduce "Captain America II" to you all. We'll keep you posted and look next week in the bulletin for "Belly Pictures!"

Countdown Special Comment to President Bush: “Shut the hell up.”

2008-05-15T09:25:00.000-05:00

It's a BOY!!

2008-05-01T10:12:00.003-05:00

Well, it's going to be a boy, anyway. We still have a few months to wait. But, it's official. My sister and her husband will be parents of a baby boy. Isn't that fantastic? I can't wait to be an Auntie. The next fun process will be finding a name for the little guy. They are looking/hoping to find a name that ties in with our Norwegian heritage. With names like:

*Geirleif
*Gnup
*Bergthor
*Boerk
*Kugald
*Thorberger
*Skum
*Smid
*Ragnar

...how could they go wrong? LOL Kidding - there are some beautiful names to choose from, and I can't wait to meet my nephew!

The Happy Couple.5

2008-04-20T19:37:00.001-05:00

Atlanta April 2008 375
Originally uploaded by d_jazmine

Here are Mommy and Daddy to be. So darn cute!

My Pregnant Sister

2008-04-20T19:35:00.001-05:00

Atlanta April 2008 066
Originally uploaded by d_jazmine

Isn't she adorable???!?!?

My Birthday Dinner

2008-04-20T19:34:00.001-05:00

Atlanta April 2008 369
Originally uploaded by d_jazmine

We had dinner at a place called the Vortex; I was in the mood for a good burger, and BOY, did I get it. DELICIOUS. And, in Atlanta, what could I have for dessert, but PEACH COBBLER; they put a candle in it and everything. How fun is that?

Kjersti and Donna

2008-04-20T19:31:00.001-05:00

Atlanta April 2008 282
Originally uploaded by d_jazmine

My lovely sister and her wonderful husband played host to me in Atlanta for my Birthday Weekend. It was a GREAT time! They were/are amazing. AND, they are almost 5 months pregnant! YAY, I'm going to be an auntie. I can't wait. I'll post a few pics from the weekend.

Sam with my heRO

2008-03-21T16:15:00.000-05:00