today's news

- Phew, I voted. Did you? I feel like I just took a final. I'm sooooo glad this election is over and now ready to hear the results. I read up as much as I could on the candidates and all the propositions. I am sooooooo glad I did, because some of the propositions were worded in a way that seems, hmm, not so different either way. I was glad to have known already my thoughts on each. I am happy to not have to see any more mudslinging ads. At least for a little while. I'm sure there are going to be a whole lot if the 2008 O.C. (Obama/Clinton) really happens.

- Saint Bono continues his good work. I love him. Although, I think technically, if canonized, he'd be Saint Paul.

- FINALLY!

- I bought Cars for Alec today. I predict that I am going to have to watch it about 75 million times. In the first week.

feeling: HOT!
listening to: Barefoot Music or Harold Barefoot (Doggy Fun)

bad, bad Brianna

Yes, I love my daughter. Yes, I'd do anything for her. Yes, she's usually nice but every now and then, wow, my daughter can be sooooo bad. She loves drama. Always has. We're pretty much used to it and don't make a huge deal about it. Tonight, though, she made me quite angry.
She was getting ready for bed was already in pajamas and had already brushed her teeth. Then she asked me what she was going to be wearing for school tomorrow and I showed her. When she saw the outfit, she wanted to sleep in curlers because "her hair had to be pretty with those clothes". I was putting the curlers on her and she kept fidgeting and whining. I started making conversation with her but she was in an arguing mood. I told her I was proud of her and her class for passing some tests. She started arguing saying that they weren't tests but instead "things they have to do". I was talking to her about an upcoming field trip and she said she didn't care. I knew she must be really sleepy since she gets in an "everbody is my enemy" mood when she's realy sleepy. She started moving her head away and was stopping my hand, so I told her to go to bed. I wasn't done placing all the curlers and I was sort of bluffing. I'd have gone into her room a minute later and finished but right then she stood up. She started removing the curlers one by one and saying, "Good. I. Didn't. Want. To. Wear. These. Anyway." At the same time she was throwing the curlers to the floor all over the living room. I was shocked! All I thought was "Oh no she didn't". In a calm voice I told her to pick them up and she almost screamed "No!". I told her again, this time in a firmer voice. She threw herself in a pseudo-faint worthy of an Oscar nomination, started picking them up all while crying and saying "It's not fair! It's not fair!". I don't know what wasn't fair, but I guess it wasn't. She went to bed. I followed a few minutes later to tuck her in and kiss her knowing she'd be over it but she was fast asleep. I felt horrible for not tucking her in but I kissed her anyway. Yikes. I wonder how the teen years are going to be.

feeling: sleepy
watching: Conan O'Brien

botanical garden

We took the kiddies to the botanical gardens today to see a butterfly exhibit. They LOVED it! I did too, of course. Ok, time to upload the pictures.

feeling: tired
listening to: Incubus (Anna Molly)

arizona autumn

It seems almost impossible for me to believe that we are already in November. I'm LOVING this mild Arizona weather. I know that I've said this before, but you would really have to be here to believe it. People are still walking about comfortably in shorts and tank tops. You can wear a light jacket really early in the mornings, but you better be wearing something summery underneath. The afternoons are at least in the mid 80's. Brianna and the rest of the cheerleader girls are still not cold in their uniforms. This picture was taken earlier today. Yes, today. In November.

On Arizona: Mountains. Blue skies. The air was like wine and the winters were like spring. - J.R. Moehringer

feeling: sleepy
listening to: Cary Brothers (Ride) <-- I listen to this song a lot

hacking democracy

Did everyone catch the premiere of the new HBO documentary, Hacking Democracy last night? Wow. We were speechless and very, very concerned. Rodrigo and I were talking about what could be done. I suggested a sort of receipt. You know, like a "just in case" sort of deal. I mean, you get a receipt for everything else, why not for something as important as this? Rodrigo, the techy surprised me by saying that the best solution would be strict paper ballots. He says that fake receipts would start popping up all over. My solution to this is some sort of transaction number and the person's id number printed on the receipt as well. I don't know, but something has to be done. I feel so unsafe heading into next week's elections. Anyway, if you didn't watch it, you should. It played on HBO, so I'm sure it'll be on heavy rotation for a while.

As NaBloPoMo continues, expect daily posts. . . .

feeling: concerned
watching: Law & Order SVU

black, white and red

While combing Brianna's hair, she told me this. . .

Brianna: You look nice today
me: Thank you, birdie
Brianna: you're welcome mama. yeah, you look different
me: different?
Brianna: yeah, I like your pink blouse. and your skirt
me: thanks
Brianna: and you're always wearing black.
me: oh
Brianna: or white. and red. but you look nice today
me: uh, thanks
Brianna: I wear all the colors, mama, not just black and all my friends always like my clothes. you should try it
me: (thinking: sheesh) thanks, birdie. I'll try it

I started thinking about the clothes I've worn the past few days and I have to admit that she is right. Yesterday I wore a red skirt and blouse outfit, Halloween I wore a black pantsuit (to my defense, I was wearing kitty ears, so I had to wear black), Monday I wore black slacks and a black Polo blouse (the Polo logo was torquoise, though) Sunday I wore a black skirt and a black, gray and red blouse, Saturday I wore khaki colored pedal pushers (a-ha!) and my favorite black Banana Republic blouse. I can't remember past that. Yikes, I do wear a lot of the same colors. Little does Brianna know that I am the lost member of the White Stripes. I know that black is slimming and all, but that's not the reason why I choose it. I mean, I'm just attracted to black clothes. I love the way they look like really classic. Plus, there are a few pieces of jewelry that I've been wearing for a while now and I like how they look against black. This is a common issue, right? I'm not the only one, am I?

feeling: I can't believe my 7 year old is giving me fashion tips
listening to: NPR

trick or treaters

I was amazed at how many trick or treaters were out last night. If I'd never been to this area and someone told me that the elementary school had just let out and all the kids went directly to trick or treating, I'd have believed it. The area was PACKED! It was also good to be able to see all the costumes. The weather was very pleasant and there was no need for even a sweater. A lot of the parents were out in shorts. Our house looked nice. We had pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns, some eerie music, and a few skulls. There were some really nicely decorated houses around here. One house had jack-o-lanterns all over the lawn. They had 14 total, just laid out on the lawn. It looked NICE. Another house had about a million jars with tea lights hanging from their tree. That looked very creepy but I LOVED the idea. Other houses had fog and many, many houses had creepy music. I loved how the whole neighborhood got into the spirit. Last year we were one of about three houses on the block that were even giving out candy. I am also happy to report that we are in the "good candy" area. The kids are pleased.

feeling: nervous about actually completing nanowrimo
listening to: Breaking Benjamin (Diary of Jane)