Movie Madness...Of Course

Of course, we took the kids out for dinner and a movie last night for anything but turkey and Cars in order to not have to eat turkey and watch Cars for 4 nights in a row. Four because we had a Thanksgiving "practice" with our friends the night before Thanksgiving, then the real Thanksgiving at home and with J's dad's family, then after Thanksgiving with J's grandma, no need for leftovers, we're all turkeyed out, that and we don't actually have any. Our house was visited by the horde of locusts while we were out and WE HAVE NO LEFTOVERS and no one wants to cook anything for awhile after all the Thanksgiving cooking. During the time we were stuffing ourselves with turkey, the Sweet Pea decided that Cars is his new favorite movie to add to Classical Baby, Finding Nemo, and the Les Miserables Tenth Anniversary Concert because he's really into cars, fish, and music (opera) at the moment. Anyway, for dinner before the movie the kids had baked chicken and broccolini and a tiny Hawaiian pizza where the Little Goose tore off all the ham and ate only the pineapple, separate, I might add, from the pizza itself...minus the crusts (note to self, when she says she wants a "pineapple pizza" just order her a dang pineapple pizza instead of Hawaiian) and we had chicken waldorf salads. One would think with all the turkey we've been eating that we'd be sick of poultry in general, but alas, no. Where was I? It was the Sweet Pea's first time at the movies. And of course, J expressed some concerns that 19 months old might be too young but I was confident that he'd be ok as long as we had an ample supply of popcorn and juice. The Sweet Pea's been pretty good at watching movies at home being both attentive and relatively quiet for the most part. Although, he does like to get up and dance when he hears music that he likes, he's been known to just bop quietly on my lap when we watch movies together at home. It's rather cute, he sways his whole body from side to side, although I always have to be careful as he sometimes does it rather suddenly and I end up getting my head butted (I don't know about your kid, but if my kid ever went into construction, he'd NEVER need a hard hat.) We saw Happy Feet, and yes, of course, I got hit. And alright...this is the part where I say, :sigh: hmmm...well, while I had well founded reasons and examples of WHY I thought the Sweet Pea was ready to see a movie in an actual movie theater...J was right and I was wrong...ahem. The Sweet Pea was actually quite good for the first hour or so. He was attentive and quiet and the popcorn and juice did indeed keep him very happy. Unfortunately, the first hour or so contained roughly 40 minutes of ads and previews and of course we had to come a bit early for all that because the theater was packed and we wanted decent seats (aisle seats thank goodness). And then, well, first I got smacked in the chin with his hard head because it was in the way of his bopping, then he decided that he'd rather go touch the screen, which of course we couldn't, to which he flailed his body and screamed "NO!!!NO!!!NO!!!" And damnit, for a kids movie, there were certainly a LOT of adults and couples without children there (maybe the fact that the movie was directed by the same man who did all those Mad Max movies had something to do with it). So, I sheepishly took the Sweet Pea off to the side where he ran up and down a little ramp on the side of the theater. After he was tired of that, he wanted me to hold him and pace with him while he watched the movie. Any standing and holding was not allowed as he whined whenever I stopped. Of course, whenever J tried to come and take over the toddler watching duties, the Sweet Pea would scream, "MOMMY! MOMMY!" This is where I explain that the Sweet Pea is MUCH bigger than his sister was at the same age, being some 23 lbs of wriggly hyperactive toddler boy, and my weak arms were already aching from all the Black Friday shopping, AND I was still wearing a heavy sweater and did I mention the theater was packed with childless adults? Yeah, fun fun. Yes, J, you were right, I was wrong. Of course, where mommy and the Sweet Pea are, the Little Goose must follow, and so she kept coming over and pacing with us and whispering LOUDLY that the Sweet Pea shouldn't be so loud, because of course, he was talking to the characters on the screen. He commented excitedly in baby and pointed at the screen. He yelled, "LIGHT! LIGHT!" when he saw the rope lights edging aisles on the floor. He commented, "WOW!WOW!WOW!" for parts of the movie where even I have to admit, were pretty cool. And of course, whenever some character on the screen said, "Hello" the entire theater could hear my little boy screaming, "EHWO?!EHWO?!" And oh yes, he pooped...a little less than two hours after he had already pooped when we were not watching a movie, let me mention that two poops within a 6 hour time frame have been very unusual of the Sweet Pea as of late. Of course, there were people who did not have any children and who were obviously not of child bearing age in the family restroom with the changing table. And of course, as soon as I return to the theater with the fresh bottomed boy, the Little Goose would whisper loudly that she too needed to go to the restroom. :sigh: At least they enjoyed it and there were a few other toddlers and babies in there. Perhaps because they're my kids that I felt that they were extremely disruptive. We should have just left, but for some reason I felt as if the Sweet Pea would sit still on my lap and shush if I were a little more patient. Eventually, he did...for the last fifteen minutes of the movie. He wasn't too much trouble when I was pacing with him, and none of the other moviegoers gave me ugly looks when we were leaving and so perhaps he wasn't quite as disruptive as I had thought. But of course...no more movie going until he's much older. ******************************** Of course, I have to make some mention of Happy Feet the movie. It was actually quite good with good music, great animation, and elements of a great story with themes that touched upon tolerance, environmentalism, the exclusionary aspects of religion, and while you view the main character from egg to young adulthood, it's not the normal bildungsroman where he changes, but rather his community who changes. There is still a journey and a homecoming. From what I was able to watch, these themes didn't always mesh well, and in some respects, perhaps they should have picked maybe one or two and not the kitchen sink but I really came away with a respect for the movie makers for some really high ambitions. This was NOT the movie I expected from the trailers. As such, a note of caution; while the Sweet Pea was too young to be at the theater, both he and the Little Goose were too young for this movie. It is PG and not G for very good reason. You will never look at Shamu the same way again as it helps one understand a bit more why they're called Killer Whales. There were definitely some very scary parts for little ones. 7 and up is probably appropriate. I wish I had read the reviews prior to going.

'Twas The Night Before Thanksgiving

...Ah forget it. I was going to write a silly poem, but I'd much rather eat. My aunties and uncles have begun to arrive and already the men have started a poker game in the living room, the children are running around screaming and laughing (bedtime? yeah right), and the kitchen...dear GBH the kitchen! Is filled to the brim with food, glorious food. My sister is making the turkey and bringing it over tomorrow but the aunties have provided us with the above traditional fare. Fresh homemade pork cha gio (eggrolls) and bun bo (beef vermicelli noodle soup). Diet? What diet? Let the gorging begin! Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Now get off the computer and go spend time with your families!

10 Things

Rachel over at Kitchen Fire tagged me for this meme, which is a good thing as this blog has gotten a bit dreary.

10 Shallow Things I'm Grateful For

1. A tie between Starbuck’s triple mocha hazelnut frappacino and Vietnamese crack iced coffee– Oh dear beloved caffeine, what would I do without you? Many an assignment would not be complete without your inspiration and influence.

2. Chick’s Donuts and Coffee Shop of Concord, CA – To call your delectable delights “donuts” raises the status of donuts everywhere. I wish I knew how to quit you!

3. My mom and grandma – Thank you for the almost free babysitting, you are worth far more than the $400/month I pay. (However, please do not ask for a raise until the house sells.)

4. My paycheck – Although, you could be bigger, as soon as the house sells, you’ll be ALL mine (well, almost, dang car payments).

5. J’s paycheck – You could be bigger too, but many a frappacino was made possible by you. For that, I am thankful.

6. NBC – Thank you for making Heroes and for giving the hubs and me something to watch together each week. It truly is the best show I’ve seen since the first season of Lost. And thanks for letting an Asian Indian guy get kissed on this show.

7. Hollywood – Thank you for investing in the interest of geeks. It is truly a good time to be alive for a grown up fan of The Lord of the Rings, Marvel Comics, Transformers, His Dark Materials, and The Dark Is Rising. Now, if you could redo the Earthsea series and not fuck up (like the SciFi channel did), I’d greatly appreciate that, and while you’re at it, please don’t screw up Transformers, His Dark Materials, and The Dark Is Rising, you gave us SO much hope with LOTR and the Spiderman movies (unlike some fans, I always thought it made more sense for Spiderman’s web to come out of his wrists rather than some contraption Peter Parker made. I mean, it makes the character so much more believable and I’m glad you dumbed him down a bit). The X-Men trilogy was ok, and although you screwed up the Phoenix Saga I’m not mad at you, Hugh Jackman and James Marsden were hot enough that I didn’t care.

8. Related to number 7; thank you to Phillip Pullman, Jonathan Stroud, JK Rowling, and others, for making the “Young Adult Fantasy” genre more respectable. This genre has a special place in my heart as it contains the books that first got me hooked on reading. I’m glad that these books are now not just for kids and I cannot wait to share them with my children as they get older.

9. The San Francisco Bay Area food scene – I have traveled to the heartland, and there I starved. Nothing says home to me like a breakfast of pho, lunch of bulgogi, and dinner of Zachary’s Chicago style pizza.

10. Broadband Internet – I cannot remember life before you. Days when you don’t work because the pimp ISP refuses to make you available are days when the world seems black and silent. I feel so cut off when you’re not working. You are my entertainment, my enrichment, my crutch, my bane, my ability to go to school and work at the same time. It is because of you that I am able to work from home occasionally. Without you, I wouldn’t be able to spend any time at all with my children. I don’t remember how I lived before you, I can’t imagine life without you.

10 Things I'm Genuinely Grateful For

1. My family (ie my parents, siblings, uncles, aunts, cousins) – Sure, you’re all a bit crazy but that’s what makes you interesting and that is why I love EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU.

2. My job – You keep my family fed and clothed. You don’t necessarily keep my brain working all the time, but that’s because I’m an engineer, an instigator of technical progress, and therefore lazy. To paraphrase Robert Heinlein (a former engineer), “Progress is made by lazy [women] looking for easier ways to do things.”

3. My commute – I complain about you a lot, but in all honesty, you are the only time I am able to find to have for myself, so that I could think, sing, scream, or dream.

4. “Home”- I am grateful, that I always have somewhere to go to where I am surrounded by people I love and who love me in return.

5. My in-laws – I am so blessed to have married into a family full of good people. You guys are great, how could you not be? You produced J.

6. My friends – What can I say, you guys rock. You’re always there for me, and you don’t mind that I’m a neurotic, hypochondriac, geek, who drinks too much coffee.

7. My J – Of course I’m grateful for you, duh.

8. My Sweet Pea – My darling little boy, before you were a twinkle in my eye, I dreamt of you, or rather, I dreamt of having a son; and here you are. I grew up in a family full of girls and never thought that I’d really ever have a son. You have my eyes and your daddy’s face, and a spunk that came from out of nowhere. I love you so much it hurts to see you growing up so fast. I hope I can do right by you provide the upbringing you deserve.

9. My Little Goose – You’re a big girl now, but you always stop for hugs and kisses. I see so much of myself in you, a fact that has your grandma laughing so hard every time you throw a tantrum or phrase your comments like an old woman. I love you my darling girl; for now, for ever, for always; you made us a family.

10. Tomorrow – I am grateful, that there is a future to look forward to, that no matter what wrong happens today, there is tomorrow to make it right.

And of course, I’m thankful to you dear readers; for dropping by and reading what I have to say. You are a category all your own. ^_^

Many thanks to Rachel for tagging me, and lessee, I tag Daddy in a Strange Land, Eliaday, and Mama Nabi.

Better Than Bush

Hurray! Hurray! I got a B on the midterm in one class and an 88% (B+) on the midterm for my other class. As my friend S would say, I'm a straight B student. Back in the old days before children, hubby, and job, I would have cried for shame, but I'll take a B now. =) Any grade above C is ok by me. It really just goes to show how much my priorities have changed and how I've been able to reasonably balance all the stuff I have going on. Yay. I'm seriously glad I did ok on the test since I had thought that I failed my midterms miserably. I haven't honestly been devoting enough time to studying and had to cram quite a bit right before. I think if I had actually prepared and studied a bit more ahead of time, I could have gotten an A on both. Hopefully, I'll be able to remember to do that for my finals and final papers which are happening in about two weeks or so. I'm going to try to not worry about those for now because I shall treat myself to something wonderful. Like an extra hour of sleep, I deserve it I think. This of course, being the first day in DAYS that I'm sleepy before 2am. Sweet sweet sleep...my true love and hobby, I wish I had more time for you. (I have an 8:15am meeting and a report due for work at 11am that I've barely gotten started on. :sigh: Always something. I think I'm a B worker now too. Oh well.)

Brain Drippings

I swear it’s just one of those weeks. You know the kind. It’s the kind of week where nothing actually happens to you directly, but you just feel so down and out that you can’t think straight, your eye sight feels fuzzy, and your brain just doesn’t seem to work correctly. Ok, so maybe you don’t know and it’s just me and my need for a new prescription…eye glass prescription. I mean, I feel like I’m just in a funk and am having random weird thoughts that have absolutely nothing to do with work, school, or parenting, and more to do with my own selfishness. I’m just recovering from a cold/flu/illness viral pain thing so maybe this is my body’s way of telling me that I need to lay low and just chill till I feel better (and hearing about people dying is not good on the central nervous system either).

So anyway, here are a few things I’ve been thinking about this week:

THE SOUTHPAW SHTICK

As if I didn’t have the persecuted minority shtick down pat, I realized that I’m indignant about being another type of minority. Yes folks, I am a lefty, a southpaw, I shamelessly eat my food with my left hand and have good handwriting in the face of all odds. If you don’t have a clue what I’m talking about, all you have to do is look at some encyclopedia entries on left handedness and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

Just a summary here:

Only roughly 15% of the population WORLDWIDE are left handed. Indeed, in many cultures left handers are discriminated against and are forced use their right hands to eat and write, and the left hand is only good enough for wiping one’s ass. In fact, in many cultures, children’s hands are smacked to try to deter them from using the left hand and the whole of their language for referring to the left side of anything could be literally translated as the “wrong” side. Articles and studies have been written and conclude all sorts of negative results of left handedness such as societies who higher percentages of left handers tend to be more violent, that left handedness is caused by mild retardation, and left handers may or may not have a shorter lifespan since the incidence of left handedness diminishes with age. I mean, seriously, we’re a persecuted minority we left handers. Thus, to share the pride and pain, I wish to pass along my left handedness to my children. Unfortunately, my daughter is a uses her right hand, but I still hope for the boy (if my dang parents didn’t keep trying to take utensils from his left hand and put them in his right, I might get somewhere with this).

IF I HAD A TIME MACHINE

If I had a time machine that could go back in time (rather than one that would just travel at the speed of light and take me to the future but not back, as per the laws of quantum physics that Einstein put forth). I mean, honest to goodness, the stuff of sci-fi dreams time machine; the ONLY thing I’d do, is take some money I have now, go back a few years, invest in some stocks that I know will go through the roof, come back to today, and cash in. THAT’S IT. No side crusades to perform some altruistic act that would save a million lives or even one life or anything. Why? Not only because I feel selfish this week, but also because I would be scared of messing with the space time continuum and coming back to the wrong timeline and thereby stranding my babies over in some other future/present or changing our current lives too much. I mean, to change anything negative in the past would force you to be in a constant loop to go back in time to change that one thing because then there’d always be some impetus to go back. Here, I’m going back to make my future better. Only one trip necessary; no muss no fuss. Although, I think I’ve been watching too many time travel movies.

LES MISERABLES MEANS THE MISERABLE

Maybe, now just maybe, if one is in a funk, one should try to find something more cheerful to listen to other than Les Miserables (Tenth Anniversary Concert version, of course). I mean, seriously, listening to the musical where the majority of the main characters DIE is not good. So what if Michael Ball sounds fantastic (a little chubby but I love a man with dimples who can sing) and you idolize Lea Salonga? Seriously, for good times listen to something else…now if someone could suggest something that would be nice.

INSANITY KNOWS NO BOUNDS

Check out what I’ve been doing over at Bento and Babies and then look at most of the post times. (Although I haven’t been doing much of it lately, ditto on the blogging and commenting on other’s blogs. I’m booked for 60+ hours/week at work and have a final to study for along with two research papers to write. Argh!, the more I have, the more I procrastinate.) Yeah, I think I should get my head checked too.

THAT BRAT BORAT

Is it just me, or did we REALLY not need to see Borat? Ok, so I know Americans are unfriendly hypocritical, racist, bigoted, prudish, religious fanatics but did I REALLY need those facts beaten into my brain through a movie that contains that much male nudity?? Seriously, yeah, I’m a prude, and that’s EXACTLY why. Men have no business being nekkid in public. (Sexy is a good lookin’ man in a great suit, not standing next to one.) Sorry, I think Americans have something going there with our prudishness on male nudity. I think we’ll keep that bit of close mindedness; you can take the others though.

Note: Not to deter you from seeing it if you haven't already, I DO recommend seeing Borat, it is definitely something to see once.

LESSEE WHAT ELSE The Sweet Pea is has unofficially entered the terrible twos and the Little Goose has leveled up to the f***in fives. >_<

Yada yada yada, that is all.

Questions Without Answers

My coworker G's son died in a car accident on Saturday. It's been raining quite a bit in the Bay Area and the authorities blame the accident on the wet roads. This particular coworker and I have mutual friends outside of work and one of our friends told me that the son was going to work. He was just doing something routine and ordinary. He was 23. I didn't know him, but I know a bit about his father. G is a tall, soft spoken man, extremely kind and helpful. I can only imagine that he is a great father and I can only imagine how much he is suffering now. I sent flowers and a card. All my sentiments outsourced to Hallmark. I know I can't soothe any hurt here or alleviate any grief, I mean, I'm just a coworker and I wish I could do more, but what can I do? I didn't know his son, what words could I really say? However, I still grieve for the idea of him as a son. I grieve for the fantasy that parents don't bury their children, for the illusion that death cannot come to you, it only comes to others. Strange fantasies and illusions I have, for G, is the fourth person I've known since becoming a parent, who has had to bury a child. The first child, I felt denial; the baby was born ill, my babies are both incredibly healthy. The second child, I felt self righteous, the death was a preventable accident, we can prevent accidents if we're careful. The third, like the first, the babies were born too soon, we don't have that problem. Always the same words were spoken, "We are sorry for your loss." This time, I have to face up to a some things. Things that have nothing to do with G's son, who he was, what he thought, what he felt, what he was like; but rather, things that have to do with mortality in general and my own fear of death and dying. My own fear, that my life means nothing, has made no difference, leaves nothing for anyone to remember; because I'm self absorbed like that. There are also, of course, the fears that something will happen to my children, to my husband, to my parents. Irony being the foster mother that beat me, when I was young, I wished my parents were dead, not understanding that death was permanent. I perceived I was miserable because of them, rather than my raging teenage hormones and melodrama, and now, I can't imagine life without them. I cannot imagine life without my husband, I cannot remember life before my kids. They are my life, my breath, my being, my reason for existence; what would I do without them? Would there be anything left for me? Every Tuesday and Thursday I make a long drive down a dangerously winding road to go to class. So far, it hasn't rained on these drives, but now the rainy season has begun for Northern California and I can't help but fear for my life. What would happen to my little ones if I weren't around to take care of them? Would they move on without me? Would they forget me? Would they cry too much and if so who would comfort them? What would J do? Would he remarry? Would he be able to be happy again?...And now I must STOP, and take in the fact that these fears will always be here, these questions do not need answering and I must tuck them away to the back of my mind in order to live a rational life. I can't live my life in fear and I can't throw these questions into the void because they would only echo back. I can only take them for what they are, necessities for mental equilibrium; the fuel for the idea that life could be worse, the impetus to tell my children I love them everyday, to hold them and kiss them as much as possible. Indeed, the other side of fear, could be love, without this fear of our own destruction and the loss of the people and things we love, would we truly have the drive to do what we do? Would we truly believe that life is worth living, if we did not fear to lose it all? Perhaps I should stop typing now and hug my children and tell my husband I love him, and then, perhaps I should read the Tao Te Ching again. Or even better, a bit of Calvin and Hobbes.

CONGRATULATIONS DEMOCRATS!!! YAY!!!

I love the Colbert Report, "You people have one more chance. Don't screw it up this time!" EXACTLY!!!!!

10 Things

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE TODAY!!!! (If you are in the US, a US citizen, and above the age of 18.) Lien's Top 10 Reasons for Voting 10) Because you can! -- I can't vote as I'm not a US citizen (long story that has much to do with irony, laziness, money, and the LONG slow wait for the ultimate bureaucracy that is the former INS, former BCIS now USCIS...no, I'm not an illegal, sheesh). 9) Because contrary to what many people think, you are not an individual and you don't really matter if you don't vote! -- Your voice does not count, it will not be heard, and no one will truly care for your best interests if you can't or don't (hence all the laws affecting illegal immigrants and children). 8) Because, according to P. Diddy, you'll die! 7) Because you can't complain about the state of the country unless you do. --And if you do anyway, it doesn't matter what you say because you didn't vote and therefore have no say. Which is why it doesn't really matter that I like complaining about the god awful schools or the crime rate or how I can't believe that a man who looks like a white hairless chimp (with the brain of one) could be elected president. (No offense to any chimps who might be reading.) 6) Because the state of the country depends on you. -- Related to 7. 5) Because it's your money they're spendin'. -- TAXES ARE YOUR MONEY. If you want to have a say in how it's spent, vote! 4) Because the laws and lawmakers affect your life or the lives of your loved ones. -- Duh! 3) Because you have to be a role model. -- Thanks Eliaday. 2) Because you need to take a break from work. -- I'm ready for a beak, are you ready for a break? Great! Let's go! 1) Because Starbucks is bound to be on the way. -- Mmm...coffeee, must have coffee...my child can spell frappacino.

18 months, 3 weeks, and 1 day

We had a family haircut day today as the Sweet Pea and J were looking pretty fluffy. We went to a family friend’s salon in the middle of Oakland. The Sweet Pea was his usual sweet self and was generally well behaved throughout the whole thing. He fussed only the tiniest bit while his hair was being cut and waited relatively patiently while his sister and daddy had their hair cut. On the way out, we passed by a car that had a dog in it. The dog barked at the kids and the Sweet Pea started babbling back at it. A few feet away, there was scruffy looking white man sitting on a bus stop bench. As we passed by, the Sweet Pea was still babbling and the man yelled at him, “Shut the fuck up you little chink; go back to China where you came from!”

It took me a second to register what the man had just said. And I looked at J, who was visibly upset, and I looked around us to make sure there was no one else the man could’ve been addressing. I mean, we’re a few different flavors of Asian but Chinese we are not. Then it hit me, this fucking racist piece of shit had just called my 18 month old baby boy a chink and told him to go back to China. All I could muster was to yell back, “Hey asshole, they were born here!”

18 months, 3 weeks, and 1 day. That’s how old my baby boy is, and that’s how long it took for him to have his first racist slur thrown at him. I was so angry I couldn’t even think straight. It doesn’t matter if the Sweet Pea couldn’t understand what was going on. He and his sister understood that their mommy and daddy were upset. I’m angry that despite my children being 5^th generation Japanese American, 3^rd generation Korean American, and 2^nd generation Vietnamese American and living in a diverse city, they still heard and will hear this kind of bullshit as if this country didn’t belong to them just as much as some fucker who felt it necessary to yell racist epithets at a baby. I’m angry that someone took away the peace of our day and introduced an ugly reality into my child’s life so soon; that J and I couldn’t get up the courage to beat that guy’s ass right then and there; that we were put in a position to explain to our 5 year old why we were upset and why this man’s words affected us so much. I’m angry that no matter how much I make, how much I try educating myself and my children, how Buddhist I try to be, I still let some asshole’s words reduce me to a pile of tears because he attacked my innocent child verbally.

J and I ended up discussing race on the way home and he mentioned that some white Americans just don't seem to understand what white priviledge is or deny that it exists. I urge you, if you don't understand and if you don't believe, please read what happened to my 18 month old baby one more time.

Prop 85

(Update 11/08/2006 12:54am: Per CNN.com with 75% of precints reporting, it looks like Prop. 85 will NOT be passing. Thus, barring any freakish events that I shall not name less I jinx it all, let me throw up my arms, dance a little dance, and scream at the tops of my lungs, "YAY!!!!!!!!!!") If you live in California and are a citizen, please vote no on proposition 85. You can click on the picture for more information. Prop. 85 would require teens to notify their parents at least 48 hours before obtaining an abortion. Why should you vote No on prop. 85? Here are a few reasons (and Citymama has an excellent, better written post on why we should all oppose). THIS IS NOT ABOUT YOU. Because I will not accuse you of anything (you’re reading my blog after all). Let’s admit one thing, that most of us have a fairly benevolent attitude towards the human race and assume that most people are decent. Maybe you think that a law that would prohibit teenagers from getting an abortion without notifying their parents at least 48 hours ahead of time would be a great idea because, gosh, what parent WOULDN’T want to know. Indeed, if it were my child, I would want to know if she were pregnant, and I hope that I would be a good enough parent to deserve her trust and confidence. I hope that I would be the type of parent who would understand enough to help her make the decision of whether or not to keep her baby on her own through counseling and medical care. I hope that I would be the parent who would not yell, scream, berate, or beat my child if I found out she were pregnant. And I hope, that any perceived disappointment from me, would not be a deterrent for my child to come and speak to me if she were in this sort of trouble. No law is going to help me have that kind of relationship with my daughter and there are many parents out there don’t have that relationship with their daughters. There are many people out there who would harm their children if they heard this news either physically or mentally, and indeed, I have known some girls who have suffered blows and emotional abuse from parents who were not so understanding or welcome of the news that their daughters were pregnant. Prop. 85 puts girls in these types of families in danger. THIS DOES NOT STOP ABORTION. Contrary to poplar belief, abortion is not new and has been practiced in societies world wide for as long as societies have existed. When someone wants to get an abortion, they will find a way including ways which might not be safe; forcing a teen to confront her parents when she feels that it is not a viable option could force her to attempt to take a more dangerous route to ending her pregnancy. THIS DOES NOT STOP TEENAGE PREGNANCY. What’s that? A law says we shouldn’t have sex because if we get pregnant we have to tell our parents if we need to get rid of the baby…ppffffft, we’re teenagers, what could happen?? Teens will have sex no matter what laws are out there. And in case you don’t, I remember all sorts of crap when I was a teen about how it was impossible to get pregnant (the first time, if you do it a certain way, blah blah blah). You will have better luck stopping teen pregnancy through the advocacy of your birth control method of choice (including abstinence if you’re into that) than with Prop. 85. One of my pet peeves is laws aimed at preventing teenagers or children (ie people who cannot vote) from doing such and such. Why? Because they almost never solve anything and only provide the perception of action, this is been shown time and again with curfew laws for example. My point is not that we should do nothing, but again, if you want to prevent teenage pregnancy and thereby abortion, then please, support education regarding birth control. I cannot stress that enough.

Halloween Happiness the Aftermath

Need I say more??