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When you're almost seven, the believing in Santa thing
2007-01-15 19:37:05
When you're almost seven, the believing in Santa thing starts to raise a lot of questions. Not so much the "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus"-type questions (yet!), but practical ones that only an almost-seven, going on 30, year-old can think up. These questions seem to be coinciding with Rachel's favorite word these days -- poop ! More accurately, she prefers 'poopie,' especially at that witching hour right before bedtime. NOTHING is funnier to an exhausted first-grader than giggling and shouting "POOPIE!" at the top of her lungs about 27 times before tumbling into bed! Appropos of that, on the way to school this morning, practical girl that she is, Rachel started a running dialogue, answering her own questions, about the logistics of Santa's job: "Mom, what if the reindeer poop on our roof? I really don't think that would be very nice. Do you think Santa has time to clean up the poop or tinkle?" As I slowly inhaled, my fuzzy morning-brain whizzing to s...
More About: Seven , Most , Thing

OK, I admit it. I'm borrowing this idea from One Weird
2007-01-15 19:37:05
OK, I admit it. I'm borrowing this idea from One Weird Mother . CrankMama sent me over there this morning and I found this -- one of my all time favorite holiday SNL sketches! I dare you not to laugh out loud! This also reminded me that it's time to pull out all the holiday videos (yes, it will be an exciting weekend in the PunditMom household!) While Rachel is clearly not old enough yet for SNL holiday classics like this or Irwin Mainway's Bag O' Glass, I do have the obligatory collection -- A Charlie Brown Christmas, the Grinch, Rudolph, and, of course, A Christmas Story ! So enjoy this little holiday treat! They don't make 'em like this anymore!
More About: Idea , Wing , Rowing

I hesitated to write this post, but something has been
2007-01-15 19:37:05
I hesitated to write this post, but something has been gnawing at me, so here goes. I read a profile in a local publication this week that focused on a woman law firm partner and mother of two, who recently adopted her third child. Nothing out of the ordinary in that scenario, especially to me, since, as a mother by adoption , I tend to read a lot on that topic anyway. The thing that I couldn't fathom, though, was this -- this mom proudly talked about the fact that when her baby contracted pneumonia and was hospitalized, the she was on the phone from the hospital room as she laid in bed with her daughter, negotiating a business deal. This woman's photo beamed with happiness and pride from the article as if to say, "See, I have it all and so can you!" As someone who never expected to give up my full-time career once I became a mother, I am totally supportive and on board with trying to find a work/life balance that works for each individual and that allows parents to h...
More About: Post , Write , Methi , Something

Living in the Washington, D.C. area, news outlets are
2007-01-15 19:37:05
Living in the Wash ington , D.C. area, news outlets are abuzz with the story about Democratic South Dakota Senator Tim Johnson having a possible stroke and being in critical condition after brain surgery. The buzz isn't so much for his health per se, but with the possible impact on the Senate if he can't serve, given the slim 51/49 majority the Dems won in November. If, God forbid, Senator Johnson does not survive, South Dakota's VERY Republican governor would be permitted to appoint Johnson's successor -- can we guess which party that person would be from? But here's the rub. There is apparently no protocol for what to do if Johnson survives, but is incapacitated. If Johnson is coherent but ill, he could resign. But if he is in a coma or otherwise mentally hampered from what people are assuming was a stroke (and subsequent brain surgery), and he can't resign himself, there is no procedure to remove him. You can bet all the money in your Christmas club account that the...
More About: News , Area

Dear Blogosphere friends, I just wanted to drop you
2007-01-15 19:37:05
Dear Blog osphere friends, I just wanted to drop you a short note to say I have been reading your blogs and trying to post comments, but Blogger is not cooperating! For some reason, for the blogs that require the poster to include a Blogger log-in and password, it is not accepting them and I have not been able to post, for example, over at LawyerMama or The Avery Lane Experience ! Is anyone else experiencing these problems? I can't seem to find an answer on Blogger and, of course, there is no hope of finding a real person to advise. Has anyone else been having these problems and, if so, have you been able to fix them! Thanks for any help, and I hope to be back to posting soon! PunditMom
More About: Friends , Sphere , Blogosphere , Just

Rush Limbaugh and his pals just can't help themselves.If two
2007-01-15 19:37:05
Rush Limbaugh and his pals just can't help themselves.If two women on Capitol Hill disagree or say anything that seems like it causes a split in the sisterhood, it's either a "cat fight" or we're setting feminism back decades.In case you missed it, this week Secretary of State Condi Rice was on the Hill for hearings before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. As Senator Barbara Boxer was questioning Rice, Boxer suggested that the administration is not listening to the voters about their feelings on the Iraq war, and in commenting on the sacrifices families across the country are making, said:"Now, the issue is who pays the price, who pays the price? I'm not going to pay a personal price. My kids are too old, and my grandchild is too young. You're not going to pay a particular price, as I understand it, within immediate family. So who pays the price? The American military and their families, and I just want to bring us back to that fact."Seems right on to me, suggesting that ...
More About: Just , Help , Them , Rush , Rush Limbaugh

It's a crazy time of year for everyone. As you can
2007-01-15 19:37:05
It's a crazy time of year for everyone. As you can probably guess, since I haven't posted for several days, our family is no exception. A couple days with the grandparents, activities to fill a week off from school before the holidays. Forget about the writing deadlines I have. I just pray I will find a way to make the assignments happen. I usually do, but this month there's so little time left. I keep telling myself 1,500 words is "do-able." Even though I committed to trying to keep things manageable, it's almost impossible when you have two religious holidays AND a child's birthday to celebrate in one week's time, this time of year. So I find myself here at the computer before bedtime, trying to figure out how I'm going to make the birthday and the cake and the gift-wrapping and the writing happen without my head exploding. (Not to mention the all-important anniversary of my first date with D., which happens to be tomorrow night). So how will I man...
More About: Time , Crazy , Ever , Everyone , Year

Hark the Herald Angels Sing. Please Come Home fo
2007-01-15 19:37:05
Hark the Hera ld Angel s Sing . Please Come Home for Christmas . O Come All Ye Faithful. Merry Christmas Darling. White Christmas. The soundtrack from A Charlie Brown Christmas. These are just a few of the many holiday classics that send me into tears. Not so much just when I listen, but watch out if I start to sing along. Not happy tears, but powerfully sad tears. And every year I ask myself, "What's with that?" If I'm walking through the mall and O Holy Night comes on, watch out. And don't get me started on just about any holiday song by Nat King Cole. So what red-and-green, ho, ho, ho, under-the-mistletoe chip is missing that makes me sad instead of joyous at this time of year when certain hummable tunes are playing? It's not like I make an effort to avoid holiday music. I love it, in fact. I have so many Christmas CD's (including a new one from a fellow blogger ), that D. just rolls his eyes when I come home with any addition to the PunditMom ...

I know I said the other day that Mr. PunditMom and
2007-01-15 19:37:05
I know I said the other day that Mr. PunditMom and I don't exchange major gifts this time of year, but I do want to get him a little something. I came up with what I thought was a good idea for the little Chanukah gift, but I'm at a loss even for a few stocking stuffers for 12/25. If you'll allow me to mix traditions, I know this is my mishigas and not his. D. says, (and I believe him), that there isn't anything he really wants that I can buy him at the mall or online -- the thing he'd really like to have is more time with me and Rachel, but at the moment job demands aren't lining up with the stars on that one. But the thought of someone not having something to open on Christmas morning, even if Christmas isn't your holiday, is anathema to me. I know the whole need to give gifts and making sure that no one feels left out is my thing, having grown up with the Santa Claus fantasy. As a guy who does Chanukah, D. doesn't have that ingrained obsession with t...
More About: Other , Hat , Know , That , Said