Goings on

1. Earlier this week Doodle asked me to write her name. I asked her what letter came first. She told me. I asked her what was next. Again, she new. This continued, and she was able to spell out her name for me! I'm beginning to think our little 22-month-old is a bit precocious!

2. I come from a stock of sturdy women. My 82 year old grandma is doing well after having surgery on one carotid artery followed by a frickin' triple-bypass in the same week two weeks ago. AND she is no longer smoking (keeping fingers crossed that it will last) after smoking for 70 years. Proof that she's back to herself? She was telling off the nurses in the hospital and being sassy with everyone. She has also started telling people that she just up and quit smoking cold turkey a month before her surgery (which is total bull. But that's grandma - she stretches the truth a bit).

3. More Doodle news: she's on a naked-butt kick. She doesn't want to wear diapers, so we let her run around naked. So far she has only accidentally peed on the floor twice - the rest of the time she has told us she needs to go potty, or just sat herself down on her little potty and gone. Wait, does this mean we've entered the land of potty-learning?

Sad goodbye

Our family has lost someone very dear to us. She was J's best friend his whole life.


Rest in peace Jessica. The world has lost a gentle, wonderful person far too soon.

Early voting, and an incentive

Alright all you Cache Valley readers, pay attention. Early voting is available this week in four convenient locations. All the info is below. There is talk that voter turnout will be huge this year, so beat the lines on Nov. 4th by voting early. Added incentive for my local friends: if you want to vote early, bring your kids over to my place. I'll watch them while you go vote. Give me maybe a half-hour advanced notice, but seriously. I want you to vote. I want to enable you to vote. Plus I like your kids. So bring 'em on over. Now you have no excuse to not vote. Check out the times and locations for early voting below, then let me know when you'll be stopping by. Happy Voting!

(to those without kids: I can watch pets or do grading too! I'm no help on the molecular-related lab work, but I can keep an eye out for cool birds in my backyard while you're busy voting if it'll make you feel better.)

Early Voting Locations and Times
Cache County Admin. Building
179 N. Main, First Floor, Logan, Utah
• Mon., Oct. 27 – Thurs., Oct. 30
8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Fri., Oct. 31
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Utah State University
TSC, Juniper Lounge (second floor by east entrance), Logan, Utah
• Mon., Oct. 27 – Thurs., Oct. 30
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Hyrum City Office
83 West Main, Hyrum, Utah
• Mon., Oct. 27 – Thurs. Oct. 30
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Smithfield Fire Station
325 W 100 N., Smithfield, Utah
• Mon., Oct. 27 – Thurs., Oct. 30
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Needed something to make me chuckle...

from xkcd.com

Done with political ranting

Y'know what? I'm done. The political craziness has hit fever-pitch. Everywhere you turn political talk is in your face. So I'm putting political talk on hold until Nov. 4th. Then I'll remind you to vote, and may have something to say post-Election Day. But until then, no politics from me.

They said it better

I watched and listened to (and re-watched on Youtube) the final presidential debate last week. I am still furious with McCain about the air quotes he put on a mother's "health" and how dismissive he was of female reproductive health, choice and freedoms. Here's a link to the clip on Youtube - the air quotes are close to the end. Two women explained their frustration with this same issue much more eloquently than I can; see what they said HERE and HERE. I implore you, think about the health and futures of our sisters, daughters, nieces and granddaughters. Then go vote.

Why I don't celebrate Columbus Day

Today, the second Monday in October, is Columbus Day. It's a federal holiday. But I don't celebrate it.

Why, you ask? Because I don't feel that the conquest and exploitation of the native peoples of the Americas should be celebrated. Because I think celebrating the "discovery" (since the people who were already here didn't discover it) of "America" (really an island in the Caribbean) by some guy is really not that monumental. Because it's racist and blatantly assumes European superiority over native Americans.

Educate yourself about Christopher Columbus and the real story of his voyage. Read "American Holocaust" by David E. Stannard. It's a real eye-opener. I have a copy if you'd like to borrow it. Take a look at these editorials from today's NYTimes and USAToday. Read the wiki page on Columbus Day. Then think about this day and what it means to you. Is it important to celebrate the "discovery" of "America" today?

I will take today to mourn the genocide of native peoples in the name of conquest and gold. Maybe someday, if enough people are made aware of the real history of the American conquest, this day will no longer be a celebration of European superiority. Someday, hopefully, it will be a day of reparation.

Simple joy

National Coming Out Day

Saturday, Oct. 11th, 2008 is National Coming Out Day. USU is having Coming Out celebration and activities today on the TSC patio. As an Ally, I encourage everyone who can to go support our GLBTQQI2SA campus community. Want to know how to be supportive of GLBT individuals in everyday life? Check out this list.

Polls

Here's an awesome link for anyone else who's compulsively checking the poll results on the Presidential race: RealClearPolitics. They compile poll results from many different pollsters. Cool stuff.

New favorite thing

Doodle's new favorite thing to do: make scary faces. This is her scary face.


Fierce, eh? She will instruct you how to make a scary face by saying "pink" which means pinkie. You must stick your pinkie fingers in your mouth and grimace right then. Papa follows directions well.


Not only does she have a mean scary face, she's got great fashion sense. Watch for this look on Paris runways in 2010.

Show tonight!

Shazadi Soirée is tonight, 7:30pm, at Sherwood Hills. I'm performing in three sets: a duet, the advanced class choreography, and our troupe choreography. Lots o' MamaBee undulations to be seen. (ooh, plus a cash bar!)

See you there!

Register!

To vote! Deadline in UT to register is Monday, Oct. 6th. Check your registration status here.

And pass this on.