I'm Speechless

When it rains it pours...............I blogged a few days ago about the actress Amanda Peet's comments regarding unvaccinated children being "parasites" and indirectly attacked the current experts thoughts on one of the causes of autism and now a radio host has been making outragously awful comments about autism. The comments are so awful, hateful and insensitive I am speechless. Here are comments about autism/autistic kids made this week by Michael Savage a syndicated radio show host:

"In 99 percent of the cases (of autism), it's a brat who hasn't been told to cut the act out. What do you mean they scream and they're silent? They don't have a father around to tell them, `Don't act like a moron. You'll get nowhere in life. Stop acting like a putz. Straighten up. Act like a man. Don't sit there crying and screaming, you idiot.'"

Mr. Savage, said he was trying to "boldly awaken" parents to his view that many children are being wrongly diagnosed with autism. According to Mr. Savage's website rained as a scientist, he holds master's degrees in medical botany and medical anthropology and earned his PhD from the University of California at Berkeley in epidemiology and nutritional science." The university said yesterday that Savage's doctorate, earned in 1978, was in the field of nutritional ethno medicine. So he has a medical, scientific background and may have throughly researched the current autistic epidemic discovered it to be unfounded (which I don't think so.........) however, for such a learned man he doesn't seem to have learned any MANNERS at UC Berkley. How is he "awakening" parents by offending them? If he is truly concerned about parents being led astray by the medical community over diagnosing autism why not do something constructive about it instead resorting to simple name calling and being cruel? Oh, because that wouldn't make him any money or make him famous. Stupid, stupid "shock jock". Mr. Savage for someone with so much education you seem to have obtained no wisdom in this life.

If your stomach can take it, here is a link to the story http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j6X8F7Dkk2QieMRUQfAXl-pDyCvgD922S8P00

Top Five Favorite Comedies

Here are my top five movies that made me laugh so hard I almost peed myself...............

5. Jumping Jack Flash--Whoopi Goldberg at her finest.

4. Meet the Fockers--As the child of Hippy parents I really, really relate to Ben Stiller's character. Barbra Streisand is a hoot!

3. Nine Months--I think Hugh Grant is the funniest man alive. I crack up at every comedy he makes. However, the person in this movie I laugh the hardest at is Joan Cusack. The scene where she's in labor leaves me gasping for air.

2. Galaxy Quest--It's an amazing satire of Star Trek. Being the daughter of a "Trekie" I find this movie HILARIOUS. The entire cast does a supurb comedic job.

1. 40-Year Old Virgin--I didn't want to see this movie from the previews but my husband rented it and I reluctantly agreed to watch it. I figured I would fall asleep 1/2 way through. Instead I laughed till my sides hurt in just about every scene. My favorite one is when Steve Carell gets his chest waxed.

Just Because You are Famous Doesn't Make You Smart

I've been getting this new magazine called "Cookie". I love it! It's meant to be a hybrid of a women's and a parenting magazine. It's great Women's Day meets Parents. The cover is always a female movie star who is also a parent and they do an article on that stars thoughts on motherhood. Last month was Liv Tyler. This month they interviewed Amanda Peet about her experiences being sweet little Frankie's mother blah, blah, blah fine........but then she gets into vaccines. Aparently when Ms. Peet was pregnant she decided to research vaccinations, very wise Ms. Peet and she came to the conclusion that she would fully vaccinate her child, fine, fine that's your choice.......but then she takes it a bit too far. Here is a direct quote "Frankly, I feel that parents who don't vaccinate their children are parasites." PARASITES MS. PEET?!?!?!?!?! Oh dem's fightin' words! I of course took it VERY PERSONALLY since I have not fully vaccinated Josh and Alita's skin has never been touched by an inoculation. It's an inflamatory statement regardless but what really infurates me is Ms. Peet only talked to ONE DOCTOR before making her decision. AND this doctor is the co-creator of the rotovirus vaccine. So, Ms. Peet do you think you may have gotten your info from someone who stands to gain FINANCIALLY from vaccinating children?!?!?!?!?! What ignorance! At the very least talk to a doctor with a differing opinion or read an article or two.

I have chosen not to vaccinate my children and I RESENT someone, much less a Hollywood starlet who is using her fame to call me a PARASITE! I don't call her a FOOL or say she is abusing her child by vaccinating her. Ms. Peet's little girl is only 18 months old. I hope and pray that she won't have to eat her words if her dear darling girl suddenly loses her speech and socialization skills in the next year due to those precious vaccines.

Mad Men (and Women)

I have discovered the AMC show "Mad Men" and I'm totally ADDICTED! I'm able to watch last season's episodes "on demand" and I have to force myself to only watch a couple of episodes a day. The new season starts July 28th so I'm anxious to "catch up" on last season's 13 episodes. If you haven't seen it or heard of it, Mad Men is a drama about the "Madison Avenue Advertising Executives" (nicknamed "Mad Men") set in the early 1960's. It centers around the life and times of one particular Ad man, Don Draper (do you LOVE the cheesy name or what?) The show is basically a thinking person's soap opera, tons of relationship drama, hidden pasts, secrets, sex, even a face slap in the last episode I watched. But carefully woven into all the drama is substance too which is of course the perfect formula for an addictive TV show. Intelligent drama............West Wing anyone?

I love all the drama but several times a show I have deeper thoughts. The show explores the concept of advertising creating and then fueling the unquenchable thirst for heavy product consupmtion in the US. Discussing how advertising was a driving force behind how we live our lives even today.

Also I'm intriuged by the characters. They are real people who aren't all "good" or all "bad". Each one of them is a complex mix of hero and villian as are we all. I listened to an interview with creator and writer of the show Matt Wiener on NPR this week and he stated that he wanted the people to seem "real". He has them do things that are unpredictible and don't seem to "fit" but that's how real people are. You can listen to the interview with Wiener at: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12626662

The role of women in society is a dominant theme in the show. Misogyny is of course rampant and at times digusting. I wonder as I watch, was it really THAT bad? But I know it was at times otherwise the women's movement wouldn't have been nessesary. I'm obviously facinated by the SAHM's. How different things were and yet how little things have changed for the woman who is a homemaker. I have had several thoughts brought on by watching the show. I need to just let them gel for now and I'll blog on them later.

Anyway, I'm devouring this show like a good book and am sure I'll have lots to blog about it.

Personal Ad

When I was single and had a good, healthy group of girlfriends all I wanted was a boyfriend and get married. Well, I caught my Prince Charming and have had 10 (almost 11) glorious years with him and I find that as wonderful as he is I really miss my girlfriends!!! I'm actually not just noticing this now, I noticed the hole an absence of female friends made in my life in my first year of marriage. But it's just not that easy to make good female friends as a grown-up and we moved around a lot as newlyweds which makes it even tougher and then once you have kids, well FORGET IT! I barely have time to shower each day much less seek out fabulous women who "get me". Many times you have to spend a great deal of time with people before you know if they are kindred spirits or not. Time I don't have to spend or if I do find the time, the would-be BFF and I are trying to get to know each other in between managing our children on the playground, "Oh, I LOVED that book too, did you read.....Sammy! Get down from there before you break your neck!..........her second novel?..............Jane please don't eat the grass doggies go pee pee and poo poo there...............it was a terrific summer read.........excuse me I have to stop my son from showing his penis to those little girls in the sandbox, he's going through a phase............." So with the constant interruptions it's hard to get to know a person. And then say you do get to know her and you find you don't have that much in common or she just doesn't "get you". Perhaps you do have a lot in common but she's weighed down with personal problems and wants to lean on you too much (I had a girlfriend a couple of years ago that I had to "assign" her own ringtone on my cell phone because she called with a personal crisis several times a DAY!). You may discover she's in a bad marriage and bashes her husband constantly or dishes out unwanted advice at you all the time. And then there are people who are just plain psycho, needy or weird (hmm, some may put me into that last catagory....). I know we have all spend several hours with a friend who seems to be a great find for a while but then you seem to have a weird vibe between you during a coffee date at Starbucks and the conversation isn't flowing like it has before and things fizzle out from there. Or after you've spent some time with her you start to get annoyed that she keeps telling you how to deal with your 5 year old when her oldest is 6 months old. Perhaps she shows her green side and gets mad at you for spending time with another friend (if you are lucky to find a second friend!) The worst is when it becomes obvious that she likes you more than you like her and you are having to create some distance between the two of you but she keeps calling and calling and making it hard for you to say "no" without hurting her feelings. Sheesh! Finding friends as a grown up is a lot like it was trying to find a boyfriend was except without the romantic stuff AND I was only trying to find ONE boyfriend, now I'm seeking a few girlfriends to keep myself well balanced and it seems like an impossible task. A very important task none the less, my sanity is dependent on finding at least two women who I can develop a deep friendship with. I'm tempted to run a personal ad to find girlfriends, here's how it might read..........

Wanted a handful of gal pals for long walks to the local playground, the occasional girl's night out with moijtos, discussions about the latest children's book and current New York bestsellers, laughter, tears, more laughter and more tears, private jokes, honest opinions, casseroles when I'm sick and vice versa, a ear when I need to vent and vice versa, shared babysitting, shopping buddies, pedicure pals, stroller sisters and lots more laughter. Respondants must have a good sense of humor and a good sense of themselves, able to have a meaningful conversation with constant interuptions from little people under 5 ft tall, open, honest, considerate, forgiving and less than perfect. Fans of NPR, the Laurie Berkner Band, good books, strong coffee and old movies a plus. Martha Stewart wanabees, Denise Austin worshipers, know-it-all advice givers, gossip gals, I-weigh-110-pounds-but-think-I'm-fat, I-can't-leave-the-house-without-full-makeup-and-wardrobe, my-house-is-always-spotless and my-children-are-perfectly-behaved NEED NOT APPLY! Also, I have 3 children already so no Needy Nellies please. Contact Lonley SAHM 555-9176.

Cool Kiddie T's

I just found the CUTEST website for baby and toddler t-shirts. They are a bit pricey at $18 but they are sooooo funny/adorable/inventive that I think they are worth it. I just ordered 2 of them for Alita. One of them is pictured above. Yes, I spent $36 on 2 t-shirts that she will wear for about 6 months but I couldn't help myself!!!! Check it out http://www.sandboxthreads.com/.

"Me" Time

I spend ample time on my children's physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. Heck, not just ample I spend almost ALL my time on this. Like most SAHM's and WAM's I neglect my needs and feel guilty when I do things for myself, but as I spend more days, months, years of my life being a mom I realize that it is true wisdom to make sure I'm taking care of myself or I can't take good care of my family very well. I still fight feelings of being selfish when I spend time on me but I just gotta GET OVER IT! And I say that to myself and all moms out there GET OVER IT AND SPEND TIME MEETING YOUR NEEDS TODAY!!! Your (my) family needs you (me) to be there for them 100% and you (I) can't do that if you (I) don't take care of you (me)!

Here is my list of things I need to do to take care of myself. They are in no particular order. Many are things that I have done routinely for myself in the past and hope to make habits of again in the future. I realize that my children's physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health depends on mine. It will take time and practice to make these things habits and I make a promise to myself right now to not feel guilty for NOT doing these things. These things are meant to make me feel better not worse.

1. Drink plenty of water.
I just don't like to "drink" period. It's not like I drink soda or something instead of water, I just don't drink anything except coffee on a regular basis. I know this is a really important one! I heard somewhere that one of the best things a person can do first thing in the morning is drink a glass of water. I was in this habit for a while and it really did feel good.

2. Exercise for 30 minutes 3X's a week.
I have had several periods of my life where I have exercised regularly and it makes me feel SO GOOD you think I would make this a HUGE priority. Actually, it is the #2 thing I am trying desperately to find time for right now. For the #1 thing I'm trying to find time for see #4 on this list.

3. Spend 15-30 minutes "putzing" each day.
I'm a "putzer" and I need to putz. I need to allow myself some time everyday to ignore my "to do list", let go and putter around aimlessly doing whatever strikes my fancy. I have to make sure my kids are not around for this as I get very testy when my putzing concentration is broken. So first thing in the morning or after they go to bed.

4. Spend time in prayer and read the Bible everyday.
This also is something I have been in the habit many times in my life and it is my #1 priority right now because it makes just absolutely everything better. It's almost impossible to find a consistent time for this everyday but in the past I have prayed each morning for God to help me carve out time in my day for Him. Seek and ye shall find.................

5. Meditate.
I mostly want to spend time mediating on God's word. A period of time each day 5 minutes or more where I lock out everything in my mind but scriptural truths.

6. Eat a diet low in sugar, high in fiber and protein.
Duh.

7. Eat lots of fruits and veges everyday.
Duh again.

8. Breathe deeply.
I'm a shallow breather, I need to remember to spend time breathing deeper and slower. It needs to be a conscious effort.

9. Go to a spa regularly for some pampering.
My hubby sent me to a spa on my birthday this year. He went all out as he always does for my birthday and spoiled me with a full day of treatment. I kept thinking during my extreme day of pampering that I really should do some of this on a regular basis. You know, every couple of months go for a facial, massage or pedicure. It doesn't have to be all or nothing. Last week I actually did this and went for a massage. I found that a little spa-ing goes a long way.

10. Take frequent walks.
I love to walk. It clears my head. I need to do it more often, period.

11. Turn off the TV.
The boob tube just zaps my energy and kills brain cells. I feel better about myself when I spend my time on other things.

12. Sleep at least 7 hours each night.
Gotta just do it!

13. Take at least one relaxing bath a week.
I find the #1 deterrent to this one is keeping my master bathroom clean.

14. Have sex with my husband 2-3 times a week.
Gotta just do it!

15. Go out on a date with my husband 1X a week.
This will make #14 easier.

16. Spend time often with girlfriends and other SAHM's with and without our kids. (Preferably with lots and lots of laughter)
Okay, first I need to FIND some girlfriends. Making friends needs to be a priority.

17. Keep my house decent and sanitary.
And BE HAPPY with decent and sanitary and not beat myself up when my house isn't picture perfect.

18. Have a good cry every once in a while.
It seems like I fight the tears back until I'm at the end of my rope and can't hold them back any longer. I think it would help me stay at the top or at least in the middle of my rope if I allow the tears to flow sometimes and release a little pressure.

19. Learn and practice Tai Chi.
I really, really want to learn Tai Chi, there's a class a our local community center I will take advantage of.

20. Spend time gardening, I hear it's good for the soul.
We have a beautiful backyard at our new house that needs some TLC, it's time to enhance it a bit and plant a few flowers in my soul at the same time.