Below are the most recent 24 friends' journal entries.

Friday, September 5th, 2008
livsmama	9:44a	If you haven't seen it... Form pegkerr who says "please link widely!" (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, September 4th, 2008
djymm	5:48p	chinaparamilitarysegway chinaparamilitarysegway Originally uploaded by warrenellis stop! or I gotta pee! (Comment on this)
livsmama	8:50a	life charges on. First grade is "Great!" even though Miss M is not on her bus like I thought she would be. She is riding the bus both too and from school and mama is calm about it. She bought milk to go with her packed lunch yesterday and today I didn't even send a juice box. I am slowly figuring out how much food to send. the don't have lunch until 1pm! and they get out of school at 2:55. Jim is picking her up today to get her to piano lessons on time this afternoon. His last day of driving her to piano lessons, my last Thursday of work--at least until January (who knows what that will bring?) I am doing childcare for baby AAR (who is now 20 months old!) tomorrow. What will we do? (4 Comments |Comment on this)
livsmama	8:32a	Folksy Populist bleck Ok, I tried last night, I really did. I wanted to hear what she had to say from her own mouth, but I was sober an alone, so I only lasted 20 minutes. You know when "elitist" is code for smart, it makes me angry. We *want* smart people dealing with the most difficult decisions on the planet, because they are *smart*. I know I am preaching to the chior, but look what folksy "aw shucks" crap got us for the last eight years. But, as with many other things (like I would be happy to pay more taxes for more services) I am a statistical outlier. At least I can surround myself with mostly like minded people. My poor sister thinks no one else thinks like her. I don't know which is worse. At least she isn't surprised when the bad outcomes happen, while Jim and I look around and say "who are those people?" Why do I sit in my chair and drink my tea quietly? Because blogging about politics raises my blood pressure--I can feel it. And I like to be calm and serene, so I can call Saint Paul officials and yell at them about who they have in jail! (8 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008
livsmama	7:57p	from my friend Emily--Action needed "Hey all, I've got people I care about in jail right now, being treated really badly. Please read below, take a minute to defend democracy and help these folks out. Thanks, emily ------------------------ Support 300 people arrested in Saint Paul! Demand an end to illegal detention and brutality in Ramsey County Jail! 9/3/08, St. Paul - Approximately 300 people have been arrested for participating in demonstrations since the beginning of the Republican National Convention. The majority of arrestees remain in custody and are being held in inhumane conditions. Of the 300 arrested, approximately 120 have been accused of trumped-up felony charges by police; many of them are being held illegally beyond Minnesota's 36-hour limit on detentions without formal charges. All people who value democracy and fear for the erosion of our constitution, regardless of political affiliation, are called upon to demand an end to this egregious denial of constitutional and human rights. Prisoners have reported being denied medical treatment and essential medications, and many are engaged in a hunger strike to pressure the sheriffs to give them critical care. Many are being held in 23 hours/day lockdown and/or have not been allowed to meet with lawyers or make phone calls – especially transgendered prisoners. Several prisoners have been able to reach legal support to report brutal physical assaults by multiple corrections officers. The constitutional and legal rights of all prisoners are being denied across the board, with no apparent end to this outrageous treatment. Please call the following offices and continue calling until all arrestees have been released: * St. Paul Mayor – Chris Coleman (651.266.8510) * Head of Ramsey County Jail – Capt. Ryan O'Neil (651.266-9350 ext 1) * Ramsey County Sheriff – Bob Fletcher (651.266.9333) * County Chief Judge Gearin (651.266.8266) Demand the following: * Immediate medical attention as needed for ALL arrestees; * That the prisoners who haven't given their names (Jane & John Does and Jesse Sparkles) have access to group meetings with a lawyer in jail; * Dismissal of all charges; * Release of all minors; and * Ensure trans prisoners have access to phone and attorneys, and are held in gender group of their choice. Donate! Money is needed to help cover legal costs and get people out of jail. Any amount you can give is greatly appreciated. To donate by Pay Pal visit https://coldsnaplegal.wordpress.com and click on the donate button. For more details and up-to-date information about jail conditions and prisoner status, please see: http://coldsnaplegal.wordpress.com/ http://twincities.indymedia.org/ (2 Comments |Comment on this)
livsmama	3:49p	I love ads Sometimes I think I should have gone into advertising. I get hooked so easily... I just saw a pro-HFCS ad. High Fructose Corn syrup is good for you! Ok, not really, but it is not bad for you...From the corn growers! Because people just aren't eating enough corn! (5 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008
livsmama	4:51p	another march I cannot go to Dear St. Paul/Minneapolis-Area MomsRising.org member We'd love to see you tomorrow at 3pm! As you likely know, MomsRising members are meeting up tomorrow at 3pm at the Minnesota Children's Museum in St. Paul to showcase the Power of ONEsie display at the Republican convention, and we'd love to see you there. Here's the Lowdown: Members from across the country are decorating baby onesies with their message for the leaders of this country. These onesies represent the moms, dads, kids, grandparents, and communities who can't be in St. Paul for the convention, but must be heard by our leaders. MomsRising had dozens of members at the convention in Denver last week - and we got noticed! This short and media-savvy event at the Republican Convention will be sure to draw attention -- with your help! We've been busy bees nailing down all the details, so all you need to do is show up on Wednesday afternoon in downtown St. Paul. Prepare to show the pundits, the press, and the lucky people walking by the display that moms are on the move and making a difference in our nation. *Bring friends, family, and neighbors. The more, the merrier. Take a moment to forward this email to them right now! Here's everything you need to know to come join us on Wednesday: When: 3:00 pm on Wednesday, September 3 (the event will end at 4:30 pm) Where: We're planning to meet at the front entrance to the Minnesota Children's Museum in St. Paul, 10 West Seventh Street, St. Paul Who Can Come: EVERYONE!!! Bring friends, family, kids, and your favorite coworkers! The more, the merrier! What to wear: Comfortable shoes. We'll provide everyone with a beautiful MomsRising.org sash to wear as a part of the Power of ONEsie event. What to bring: Just yourself and as many people as you can fit in your car! If you would like, you are welcome to bring hand made signs or onesies you've made and haven't sent to us yet, but this is totally optional. We'll have a giant banner and onesies for everyone. How to contact us: Call Katie's cell phone at 206.650.1333. She'll have her phone all day. *email any questions to katie@momsrising.org--any time! What will happen: You will hold our Power of ONEsie display, full of hand-decorated onesies from women across the country. Each of these onesies represents the moms, dads, kids, grandparents, and communities who can't be in St. Paul for the convention, but must be heard by our leaders. You are ambassadors for a mothers' movement! (Really!) **Watch your email on Wednesday for any last minute details. About the Media: We'll be inviting the press to come and take lots of pictures of our event--the more coverage the better! As a part of their coverage, reporters may like to talk to you. Don't worry--we'll have talking points that we will go over together. The main thing to remember is MomsRising is nonpartisan and doesn't endorse any candidates or political parties: We're just there because we want our leaders to pay attention to the issues that moms and families care about. We're so excited to see everyone on Wednesday for this fun, quick, and important event! Can't wait to meet you. If you have any questions, just email katie@momsrising.org. --Katie, Joan, Kristin, Laura, and the MomsRising.org Team. P.S. If you'd like to read ahead, below are some simple talking points about MomsRising and MomsVote (We'll also bring printed out talking points to you tomorrow). * Women comprise more than half of all voters in the U.S. and eight in ten women are mothers by the time they are 44. We can be a powerful voice for change - mothers across this country are concerned about their children's health and welfare, their families and fairness, no matter where they live, what their socio-economic standing is or what their cultural or ethnic background is. * We believe that when organized as a voting block, mothers will play a critical role in this presidential election. After all, there are more than 80 million moms in America. * We are mobilizing moms by focusing on the issues that matter most to us and our families - these issues can be powerful tools to increase voter registration and turnout mom voters. * Candidates and others need to hear from moms and they need to hear from us now. Right now moms make only 73 cents for every dollar a man earns and single mothers make only about 60 cents. Mothers are less likely to be hired than non-mothers. And even though three quarters of U.S. moms are in the labor force, our country is far behind most others in family friendly policies like paid family and sick leave. * We want to hear the candidates address the issues that matter to moms and families - like children's health care, affordable child care, paid sick leave, paid family leave and afterschool programs - and tell us how they will support those issues as president. * One in twelve women did not register to vote in 2004. (That's 36 million women.) Most of these women are moms. 36 million women can change the outcome of many elections. And, here is MomsRising's Policy Platform: M. Maternity/Paternity Leave (Paid family leave to care for new children and seriously ill family.) O. Open, Flexible Workplaces (Work structures that support child rearing without jeopardizing job security and career tracks.) T. Television, Technology, & Other After-School Programs (Only a fraction of parents have access to affordable after school options. Moreover, parents have too little control over television programming choices when children are home after school.) H. Healthcare for All Kids (Provide healthcare coverage for all children; parents should not have to go into debt to pay for healthcare. E. Excellent and Affordable Childcare (Compared to other industrialized nations, much of our childcare is sub-standard. Access to affordable early childhood development is critical.) R. Realistic, Fair Wages (Mothers should earn equal pay for equal work and we need realistic wages that enable workers to support their families.) S. Sick Days for All, Paid (Allow parents to care for themselves and sick kids without risking loss of income or jobs.) **I cannot make it myself, but I would love to hear about anyone who is going! (2 Comments |Comment on this)
livsmama	9:53a	First day of school My big kids Getting on the bus At school (21 Comments |Comment on this)
livsmama	7:48a	It's the first day of school here in Minnesota and that is trumping all else in my mind right now. Liv is going to ride the bus to school and then I am going to drive down and meet her. After that, when all is well, I am going to try to hook with a mama and see if there is any cooking to be done for the people in town or if they are all in jail at the moment. Pictures later. I've got everyone on my mind but I have shoved them to the back for another hour or so. (Comment on this)
Monday, September 1st, 2008
livsmama	10:30a	100 pushups I was posting this on facebook, but I keep everything else here, so I am putting this here as well. initial test= 3. I did my first day Sunday (8/17) and my second day today (8/19). Second day=4,3,2,2,5 Third Day(8/19)=5,4,4,3,5 Week 2, Day 1(8/24)=4,4,3,3, 7 Week 2, Day 2(8/26)=6,5, 3,3, 9! week 2 day 3(8/28)=5,5,4,4,10 I'm going to do the second test on Saturday. I hope i get to 16, at least! OK, My shoulder was messed up so I didn't do the second test until today. Only 12, so I am going to do week two again, starting on Wednesday. I was hoping to get to 16 today, but the right side of my body has been unhappy for a few days, so I am actually happy to get to 12. (4 Comments |Comment on this)
livsmama	6:32a	I think I will have to turn the radio off soon. ANd perhaps ignore the interent for the day. It will be hard, but between weird rumors and obsessively checking the Coldsnap Legal twitter updates, I am already stressed out this morning. Gustave is hitting this morning, caterers are going to be stuck with piles of food in Saint Paul, crazy rumors are easy to find once someone mentions them. And I have piles and piles of work to do. I think I will take TNTs prime tiem in the daytime and turn NPR off. The weekend was good, laid back and relaxed. We had some family adventures and some grown-up playing around after the kids went to sleep. School starts tomorrow. I think it will be good. I am fairly relaxed about it. Turns out the school anxiety dreams I was having were much more about my stuff at school rather than Liv's. This is my last early long Monday, at least until the spring semester. Nine am to three pm three days a week is the new work schedule for this mama. My boss is worried it will be "too corporate" for me and I will have to change part way through. But I think it will be great. Oh! The kitchen goddess at my house decided it had been too long since coconuthead had given the last blood sacrifice (she often grates her fingers on my cheese grater) so I have band aides on two of my fingers. I tried to slice them off. No, not on purpose. What else? We spent a lot of time in the park flying a kite this weekend. I think I need to eat breakfast now. Have a good first day of September. Happy labor day, or something like that... (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Sunday, August 31st, 2008
cursethedark	10:03p	HOLY CRAP. I was planning on hanging up the plastic guitars for a few weeks so that I could rest up my arms before diving headlong into Rock Band 2. Then I found out what comes out as DLC tomorrow. Jonathan Coulton, "Skullcrusher Mountain." YES. A THOUSAND TIMES, YES. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
livsmama	12:40p	Police raids article This Salon article has a good rundown of the raids so far, and it looks like they are updating as things happen. http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/08/30/police_raids/index.html (5 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, August 28th, 2008
livsmama	10:42p	Poll #1249951 late night Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All who's your late night guy? View Answers dave 0 (0.0%) jay 1 (6.2%) nightline 1 (6.2%) I'll take british comadies 4 (25.0%) ha! I've got netflix! 11 (68.8%) Should i read or watch a movie? View Answers read 7 (41.2%) movie 2 (11.8%) sleep!!! 8 (47.1%) (6 Comments |Comment on this)
livsmama	10:07p	Pawlenty watch I just flipped on the local news. "Here we are at the mansion. we think, we think he is at the mansion..." Good golly. Get it over with. Kerfluffle in MN whichever one he chooses. Seriously, all the news is Pawlenty (MN gov) all the time. crazy. (2 Comments |Comment on this)
livsmama	10:04p	sshhh! I am sprouting wheat berries. (Comment on this)
livsmama	9:49p	Do you all use the rich text tab to post? I have always used the HTML tab, but I bet Rich Text would make my lisfe easier. look at this nice bullet pointed list... I could even write everything in purple. Interesting (1 Comment |Comment on this)
livsmama	9:35p	Kool-aid* I think they made more. I think they put it in my wine. I am always a sucker for marketing. that video before his speech was pretty good. It is a very nuts and bolts speech. And he did not make the Dukakis mistake. He promised to lower taxes. he looks so young. I am afraid to hope and have my heart broken. I am a pragmatist, a realist, a jaded member of generation X. It is probably just too much wine. *Perhaps I need to stop using this phrase, because Xav wants to know what Kool-aid is and why I might drink it. Considering the Origin of the phrase. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
livsmama	9:09a	To do today: Fold laundry/put laundry away wash dishes Make lasagna Make chicken enchiladas make split pea soup Write/revise class rep recruitment letter feed kids workworkwork go to packet stuffing meeting come home rest and sleep Last night, my body wanted more yoga. I did a yoga video yesterday morning because the kids got me up early and I decided if I was going to have a two-meeting lots of energy day, I was going to need some grounding. And then, at the end of the night, after the ice cream social and talktalktalking and the grocery store, my body said "more yoga." Seriously. I said--you can have some scotch and my body said "more yoga!" I said, you know you have to do push-ups tomorrow. And the answer I got was "more yoga!!!" So I pulled out the a.m and p.m. disc I have and did the p.m. version, which had a nice Savasana at the end. Then I stayed up to late because every time I thought about going to bed, it would thunder and lightening right over my head again. So I would stay up some more... Today--off for some cookcookcooking. Oh, and I did do my push-ups! (11 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, August 26th, 2008
livsmama	9:46p	Best horoscope ever SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You've reached a phase in your astrological cycle when you have special power to expand, deepen, and enhance your web of allies. My advice? Don't just schmooze and party, but rather schmooze and party with an evangelical sense of purpose, taking advantage of the fact that people are more likely than usual to see you as attractive, be sympathetic to your cause, and lend you their support. The connections you forge and the synergetic collaborations you ignite in the next three weeks could be major factors in your success in 2009. That is exactly what I need to do for the next few weeks. Schmooze people and get them to work with me in the MFN. it may not be the sexiest Scorpio horoscope you have ever seen, but it will certainly do for the duration. (2 Comments |Comment on this)
livsmama	9:38p	Things I love When it is cold--bitterly cold for days on end--seeming to never end you will hear me bitch about the weather. And I know for the past couple years I have moaned about the dark returning. But I love when it starts to cool off a bit** and I can wear jeans. And drink hot tea comfortably. And Scotch. My dad says Scotch is an anytime drink, but I don't think it is for warm weather. And soup. It is time to start pulling out soup recipes and making biscuits to with it. The leaves haven't started to turn, really. It is still August and the start of school is still a week away. But this year, I am ready. *This poetic waxing about cool weather when you in the southern climes are still a couple months away from it is just desserts for telling us about your daffodils in March, your red Tomatoes at the end of June, beginning of July and your 50 degree days when we haven't seen the upper side of zero for more than a week. Forgive me, and realize you probably still have the better end of the weather deal. (12 Comments |Comment on this)
livsmama	9:07p	Politics Liv: There's an Irac Obama sign! There must be smart people that live there. I bet they like children. Later in the day Xav--listening to the Rilo Kiley song "portions for foxes" where the lyrics say "bad news, bad news, bad news..." "This song is probably about John McCain." My dad (a stanch Wyoming republican and a Vietnam War vet) says he isn't voting for John McCain, he's just skipping the President line on the ballot. In the very local politics, I have agreed to be nominated for the position of Parent Council Chair. Yes, that is in addition to the Facilitator position for the Marcy Family Network (hereafter referred to as MFN. I'm tired of typing it!) (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, August 25th, 2008
livsmama	12:19p	monday morning on a monday afternoon Well, I gave my small talk to the teachers and I survived. A couple of them really liked the unicorn drawing of Liv's I threw on there. At least I've got that going for me. Otherwise, working, and stuff. Jim starts his lab classes tonight. He says he has finished this week's work in English already. I think he might like these on-line classes! Liv has a piano lesson today that should go well, except that we didn't get to the note-speller this week. But last night she played all her songs perfectly while I shopped for a lunch box for her on-line. I think it will be a good year. Hopefully. (7 Comments |Comment on this)
Sunday, August 24th, 2008
livsmama	7:59p	The Fair We went to the fair. The Minnesota State Fair--"The Great Minnesota Get-together." I know there are some around that can go to the fair again and again and again--perhaps my kids will become that kind of people--but for me, once is enough. I like the fair, I do. But the humanity! The Humanity! I could do without most of the humanity. I didn't eat much interesting this year--breakfast at the Ragin' Cajun, root beer, the kids had corn dogs, a chocolate malt from the Kiwanis--we always seem to need something just then--later, mini-donuts and a giant Rice Krispie bar. The kids rode three rides and we saw pigs, horses, sheep, goats and rabbits (no, we do not go to the Miracle of Birth building. I repeat--the Humanity!) I gave the kids the opportunity to have "all the milk you can drink" but they declined. I did do a couple new things. LIv wanted to go into the Reptile building, so we did that and Xav wanted to ride the Giant Slide, so liv and Jim stayed on the ground and Xav and I* climbed to the top and slide down. Xav was so excited. He would have done it over and over given the opportunity. Then, we saw the crop art, which was kind on uninspiring this year. Also, I was annoyed. Last year, the kids' crop art activity didn't start until 1. This year it went from 10-1--which we didn't know until we got there at 2. But there were no fits. By then, we were mostly done in. We crossed the parade route in front of a marching band to get to the shuttle bus home, and Jim bought some cheese curds outside the gate. Can you believe, when I got home, I still did Week 2, Day 1 of the 100 push-ups project? I did. It didn't involve standing! Tomorrow, I get to meet with the teachers of Marcy Open for about five minutes to introduce myself as the new face of parent engagement there. tuesday, I have two meetings, Wednesday is the school open house and ice cream socail. thursday is another meeting and then it is the weekend again. I can't wait ;) Somewhere in there I need to find a dress to wear to the two weddings we have been invited to this fall. But I bought Liv's lunch box tonight--on-line. And a couple pairs of tights and a skirt while I was at it. Now, we are watching the closing ceremony on the Olympics, though I really want to be reading the newest mystery I picked up. I think I have a thing for Scottish writers. *I am sure those around me were annoyed by my self pep talk, but it had to happen: It's just like sledding, Thousands of people do this every year. I can do this. It's just like sledding. (11 Comments |Comment on this)