Pop culture has really been doing a good job lately of reminding me how far America has come.  Take the new TV show Life On Mars (KGUN 9), and the new Clint Eastwood movie Changeling...

Yeah, me either, until 2 weeks ago when the most excruciating headache EVER along with a 103 degree fever sent me to the emergency room...

Took the dog out for a walk after dark last night.  There was a nice breeze and we ran into this HUGE frog!

Truthfully, it must work, otherwise politicians wouldn't do it year after year.  But I and it seems everyone I know wish it didn't have to be that way.  Who can you trust?  The candidates themselves surely aren't going to tell us the truth about their opponents.  Maybe you side with some of your friends or co-workers opinions (even though they can't remember when your birthday is or what they did last weekend, they're probably credible on the issues right)?  How about your boss, your mother, your pastor...what are they saying?  Everybody has an opinion and some seem to be working their own spin to get me to side with them, like being back on the playground in 3rd grade..."C'mon, just try it...all the cool kids are doing it."

I had an epiphane when I was out walking the dog tonight.  The sunset was beautiful but my mind was racing...

"Not for nothing" (as my back east friends like to say), but it's only been 7 days and this beard is driving me CRAZY!  I must confess, I never planned on growing my facial hair out, but over the weekend, I decided to give my skin a break and by Sunday night, I thought, "hey, maybe I could be one of those cool GQ lookin' guys."  Y'know, bearded but kinda casually, more unintentionally-intentional, (if that makes any sense).  So...

When was the last time you had to do a double take to make sure that your eyes weren't deceiving you?  It happened to me at an "unnamed electronics super-store" over the weekend.  There I was, amongst a world of high-tech LCD's, plasmas, Hi-Def, 5.1 digital surround sound, HDMI goodness when I looked up and saw above one of the displays a rack of....(wait for it)...

Now I love Thanksgiving (food and fun without buying gifts) and of course Christmas is good (colder weather and still plenty of food and time with family).  But I gotta tell ya', 4th of July is giving those two a run for the money.  I love American history (especially the colonial period) so I get all nostalgic and start watching the History Channel 24 hours a day at this time of year.  I love all of the patriotic displays in our neighborhood, people flying Old Glory and various red, white and blue things in their front yards.  One of our neighbors even...

Now, I'm not bitter, but let me say this:  Some of you more "experienced" parents are driving me crazy.  Many of the tips and stories you have to share have been helpful and entertaining and I'm grateful you care enough to want to help.  However, if I hear one more person say, "oh wait till you're on your 3rd" (4th, 5th, 6th--you get the idea).  "You won't care if they're eating cigarette butts and drinking old motor oil."  Now I'm sure to all of you more experienced folks that's true, but I am a newbee.  Our daughter, Maddie, is only 9 months old and yes, she's our first, but come on--let me freak out and work my way through it naturally.  Every toy, book, and stuffed animal she has goes right in her mouth (and I'm fine with that) but I'm not going to avoid rinsing off her pacifier after she drops it in a box of kitty litter just to ease your mind.  She's MY child.  I wouldn't put that thing in my mouth without washing it off, why shouldn't I clean it off for her? 

At some point I'll relax--and chill out.  But until then, just let me freak a little.  You can sit back and laugh as I say and do silly things, just don't tell me how I should or will do them in the future.  Sound good?  Great--thanks! 

June 22nd:  I keep reading the news stories about all of the poor Tucsonans who have lost power over the past few days.  Can you imagine going without some form of cooling in your home?  Espcially with the higher than average temperatures we've been experiencing lately...I'm so thankful for the "little things" that in this case, aren't so little.  Our poor dog, Josie, doesn't seem to mind (too much).  She still demands to go outside and lay around for a few hours, then come in and cool off for a few minutes before heading outside again.  She must be so disappointed that we're not out there with her---"you wimps" she must be thinking.  "I'm wearing a fur coat and I can handle it."  Well, dog, when you've got AC and a Red Sox game on TV, you're not looking for excuses to go outside.  Particularly when it's 106 degrees!  I'll catch up with you later!