Stupidest Campaign Survey EVER

It's campaign season again. It seems we have to suffer through this every year. The ads on TV. The ads on radion. The incessant calls from campaign drives to sway your vote one way or the other.

I was cooking dinner the other night, when I received a phone call. I picked up the phone.

ME: Hello?
Automated Campaign Survey Voice (ACSV): We would like to ask you a quick two question survey.
ME: (thinking) *oh yippee*
ACSV: Have you heard of or do you know about Ballot Initiative E1? Press 1 for Yes, 2 for No.
ME: *press 2*
ACSV: Would you be willing to vote in favor of Ballot Initiative E1? Press 1 for Yes, 2 for No.
ME: You are SO fucking stupid. *click*

I mean, honestly!! I very distinctly pressed '2' for 'no'. If I don't know about the stupid ballot initiative, how am I going to know if I'd be willing to vote yes or no on it?? And we wonder why politics has gone to hell in a handbasket.

Red Cards and Whatnot

So - we're at Kidlet's game on Saturday. This is probably the only one hubby will be able to go to, since he works Saturdays. But, he left work early to come see her play. We're sitting there, having a good time, yelling encouragement, and generally embarassing the crap out of her. It's the second half of the game, and the ball's just been kicked out of bounds. All the players on the field are huddling around the sidelines, waiting for the ball to be kicked back into play. Kidlet is slightly in front of a boy from the opposing team. From where we sat at the other end of the field, we could tell they were talking back and forth. Suddenly, we see his arm dart out and smack her on the ribs.

WTF?

Hubby and I saw her say something back to the kid, and I guess she didn't like his response, because she then turned around and PUNCHED the kid in the shoulder. Actually, it wasn't so much of a punch as she brought her fist down on his shoulder.

Whistles blew and out came the red card.

My daughter. Red carded.

I was so proud.

I know it sounds strange, but Kidlet is about the meekest, mildest, most unassuming child on the face of the planet. She won't say 'shit' if she's stepping in it. She's very emotional, and is more likely to go cry in a corner than fight back.

But not Saturday. Nope. She defended herself. The boy, it turns out, actually punched her in the ribs. Of course HE didn't get red carded. Nope. Just my kid. Stupid refs. So, she's suspended for one game. We lodged a complaint, stating that they should both be suspended, since they both struck each other. However, the refs seem to be blind when it comes to things like that, especially since our team has made alot of noise as to the unfairness of who plays whom. There wasn't enough girls for an all-girl team in our town, so we had to go co-ed. As it turns out, there are only two boys on our team. The rest are girls. We thought we would be playing only other co-ed teams.

Nope.

It seems our league consideres boy/girl teams co-ed. Logical. However, they also consider ALL BOY teams co-ed. And guess what the majority of teams we've played are? You guessed it - all boy. The team we played Saturday had the most girls on it that we've played so far. Three girls. That's it. The rest were boys.

So, the coach, the assistant coach, and some of the parents have been lodging complaints with the league. And it was evident Saturday that the league is fed up with us. Most of the fouls were called on our team, and the fouls that should have been called on the opposing team "weren't seen" by any of the refs. SO FUCKING CONVENIENT.

We've given Kidlet permission to quit the team. I hate that it's come to that, and we're actually hoping she'll stick it out, since there'll only be about 6 games left for her to play (after her one game suspension). But I wouldn't blame her if she does quit.

How can we teach these kids good sportsmanship with rules like that?

Soccer Babies

They're both in soccer this year. Their first game was September 9. This is Kidlet's second year of soccer and Munchkin's first. Munchkin is super happy about playing. She LOVES it. Kidlet . . . not so much. But, like I told her, she wanted to play again, I paid, so she's doing it. (I'm such a mean mama.) Here are some pictures from their practices and games.

Damn Networks

Why is it that when I find a couple shows that I like, the very next season, they put them on opposite each other, so I have to choose?

*snarl*

That being said - House totally rocks so far this season, and Dancing With the Stars is completely cute and cheesy (what I saw of it during commercial breaks on House, that is), and I'm so happy the Fall TV season is back.

Next Post - SOCCER BABIES!!!!!!!!! (with pictures!)

5 Years Later

I remember the morning very clearly. I was about 5 months pregnant with Munchkin. That morning, I didn't watch news, which is unusal. I had a class that day for work, and I remember thinking I need extra energy to get me through the day. So I was watching videos while I was getting myself and my oldest daughter ready for work and school. When we got into the car, I had a CD in the player, so I just left it there. About halfway to work, I popped the CD out, and that's when I heard the news. The second tower was falling. I remember being at the stoplight, getting ready to get on the freeway, and hearing the news for the first time. The planes, the hijackings, the towers. I broke down and cried right there. I didn't know what to do. Should I take my child to school? Should I continue on into work?

I did both. The school wanted the kids to maintain as much of a normal atmosphere as possible. I went to my class, but not much got done. At noon, we heard that all state workers were being sent home for precautionary purposes. Rather than go home, I went shopping, because I knew I had to pick my daughter up in two hours. Walking around the store was like walking in a morgue. People were trying to go on with their normal lives, but their expressions were blank. They weren't smiling. They were just existing.

I remember thinking - if it affects us this much 3,000 miles away, what must New Yorkers be going through. I couldn't imagine it. I still can't.

I remember a few other things. I remember signing onto the forum I belonged to, and everyone worrying about our friends in the area. I remember checking the board every couple of minutes to make sure people were accounted for. I remeber sending out e-mails to people who didn't check in on the board. I remember trying in vain to call my friend who lived in New York, and not being able to get hold of her for three days. I remember Dani being stranded in LA for a week, because she was supposed to fly back home on 9/11.

I remember being scared about bringing a new child into a world where this could happen. I remember wanting to hold Kidlet until she fell asleep, just to make sure she was safe. I remember "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan being played over and over again, and every time I heard it, tears would fill my eyes.

Now, 5 years later, we're seeing movies and fictionalized accounts of this event which has affected our country so deeply. And I think - isn't it too soon? Do we want to reopen these wounds so quickly? But maybe we should. Maybe we shouldn't be allowed to heal, when the threat is still there. Maybe we should learn to be less complacent, and more vigilant.

Best Quote from a TV Show Ever

Well, it may not be the BEST quote, but it's damn close. Saw the ep this AM, and was reminded why I liked it so much.

"Well, personally? I kinda want to slay the dragon."

That's totally how I feel today.