Okay, I lied about that being my last post for the week. Todd and I went out to eat to celebrate his promotion (!!!!) this evening. Okay, okay, we were actually just too lazy to cook and we're running out of food.

On the drive northbound on I-71 we noticed countless police cars with their lights flashing that were parked over every bridge and near every exit. Was it a manhunt? Was it an amber alert? Was it a lion escaped from the zoo and roaming the streets?

It didn't take long to realize that there was no traffic on southbound I-71. We remembered that the President was in town for a factory tour and a fundraising dinner. And everything started to make sense.

After driving a few miles we saw oodles of police cars with their lights flashing going down I-71 southbound. Then about 4 limousines with mini-American flags then about 8 white unmarked vans then an ambulance then about 25-30 police cars. We saw the President's entourage going in the opposite direction on the express way! Pretty cool, huh?

This is where I would normally say something snide about him being in town and wasting community resources but I will hold my tongue because I don't want to get flagged the FBI. You never can be too cautious these days.

Herman Dune 'I Wish That I Could See You Soon'

How do the Swedes do it over and over? Here is another adorable video and catchy song to tide you all over until I come back from California. It's a pretty appropriate song, isn't it?

There have been many news reports today that Osama bin Laden may or may not be dead. I believe that CNN's headline was "Bin Laden: Dead or Alive?" I find it annoying that these 24 hour news stations are in such a frenzy to break a story that they spend all day repeating the same non-story over and over. I mean, there's no news if there is no confirmation. Are they going to begin a daily who's-still-alive report now? "Our top story today is that Condoleeza Rice is still alive today. She had a bowl of oatmeal and a banana for breakfast. In other news, Dick Cheney may or may not be dead. Haven't heard from him in a while..."

So IF Osama is dead I think it's pretty good timing...for the Republicans. I'm curious to see how the Republicans are going to spin his death as a victory for them. How will they link his (possible) death from typhoid to our military operation enduring freedom?

In completely unrelated news I am terribly excited about going to Disneyland on Wednesday. I feel like a cross between an 8 year old gleefully anticipating Disneyland and a drill sergeant plotting out our attack plan. First we hit Space Mountain and the Matterhorn then we need to get on Splash Mountain before a brief lunch in New Orleans Square. After lunch it's the Mad Hatters Tea Party and the Flying Dumbos. Wait...the Mad Hatters Tea Party isn't a good idea after lunch, is it?

Just 1 1/2 days left for work. That's it. Then it's vacation time!

Here is my top 10 today.
1. Life - Sly & The Family Stone
2. Julie - Jens Lekman
3. Smash the Beauty Machine - Future Bible Heroes
4. What How When Where - Ani DiFranco
5. Wear Your Love Like Heaven - Donovan
6. The Consort - Rufus Wainright
7. Invisible Ink - Aimee Mann
8. Because - The Beatles
9. Twenty-One - The Cranberries
10. Stage Persona - The Embassy

While walking home from work today I remembered a story from my youth that I wish to share with you all in order to illustrate just how crazy my mother is.

I went to a friend's sleepover birthday party when I was about 8 years old. We decorated plain white T-shirts with puffy paint in the evening. Among other 8-year old decorations like flowers and hearts and stars I put a peace sign. I love New Kids on the Block at the time and Donnie Walberg always wore a gold peace sign medalion.

The next morning I went home wearing the shirt I had made the night before that I was very proud of. I asked my mom if she liked it and she pointed to the peace sign and said: "Do you know what that is?" I replied that it was a peace sign. She said: "Do you know what it means?" "No" I answered. Then my mom said something like, "It means that you don't respect authority and you don't love your parents." WHA? Then, when I got upset about it and wanted to change my shirt she wouldn't let me and made me wear the shirt all day. I was so scared that people would think that I hated my parents that I covered the peace sign with my hands the whole day.

To this day I'm not wild about peace signs.

Yes, Bobby, you are the only one who has every said Todd looks like the lead singer of Panic At the Disco. He has gotten Ewan McGregor and Topher Grace before as well. In any case, he looks cute to me. :)

Now let's get down to business:
Pope Benedict - Let's face it, you're no JP2. You're a divider, not a uniter. I understand that you were reading 14th century scholarly text about Islam but you're the freaking POPE. The Pope doesn't get to play devils advocate. (No pun intended) Lest I remind you about a little thing known as the Crusades? So before you go on and on quoting some guy who existed before the RENAISSANCE remember the violent history of the Catholic church.
Radical Extremist Muslims - Wow. Um, do you even know the definition of irony? Perhaps the best way to show the world that your religion is tolerant and peaceful is to...hmmm...not vow to cut the throats of all Christians. Just an idea.

This weekend was the annual Oktoberfest Zinzinnati festival. Since everybody is German for the weekend we decided to make the trek downtown to partake in the fine German cuisine being served from tents. Todd ate a bratwurst (without sauerkraut because it's gross) and a cup of fine German beer.




We then listened to some entertaining music. I am quite shocked at how many Polka bands they were able to find. Here is a picture of the "Polka Dots." Har-dee-har-har!

Of course no trip to Oktoberfest is complete without the sight of people dressed in their traditional Germany finery.

Of course the traditional German Who-Dey Bengals Chicken Hat:

And....this traditional outfit....

You stay classy Zinzinnati!

Jim Gaffigan

This video had Todd and I in stitches. It's a bit of potty humor but hilarious nonetheless.

Today I was walking outside to buy a bottle of water and a stick of rollos for my lunch and I walked past the most adorable children walking with their mom. First I saw a little girl, maybe about 2 1/2 and she was pushing a tiny pink baby stroller with her baby doll strapped inside. Then I saw her older brother, maybe about 4, pushing a tiny blue baby stroller with a little baby strapped inside. Absolutely adorable, and they made me smile.

Yesterday my friend Persephone and I went to go and see the Melissa Ferrick concert in Kentucky. I was a really great time and her opening act, Dayna Kurtz, was phenomenal! I was certainly tapping my toes quite a bit and I wondered why I never got into Melissa Ferrick. Lord knows I hung out with enough lesbians in college.

When I got home I had a cd from lala.com waiting for me in my mailbox. It is the Imani Coppola CD, Chupacabra. I bought it in high school and it, along with Ani DiFranco helped me get through my sophomore year of high school. It's really fun and it brings back all sorts of nostalgic feelings.

I am totally ready for this weekend. Then I have to go to work for a week and then I am on vacation! Woohoo! I have to send 25 postcards from Disneyland - to places like Hungary, Hong Kong, Australia, Germany, Netherlands, Finland, Italy, New Zealand. It's kind of amazing how small the world really is.

Only 13 days until my birthday...and coincidently the day we fly to California. Let's hope the plane doesn't crash because that would make a horrible birthday.

I'm completely ready to go on this vacation. It will be the first real vacation with Todd and I. We've gone to his cottage and to his cousin's wedding in Houston but it's never been just the two of us. I think I know why - good lord is it expensive! In any case, it will be a great time and we are looking forward to being at the wedding of our friends James and Melissa. Mostly, though, I am looking forward to our day trip to Disneyland! Woohoo! I can't wait to ride on the Haunted Mansion...it's my favorite.

I need to get a good knitting project started before I leave for the trip. I found a pattern for a baby onesie that looks like an ear of corn. I'm going to make it for my new cousin. Maybe I should get started on it before I leave. I certainly hope I can knit on the plane because it will be quite tragic if I am forced to surrender my knitting needles at the gate.

My mom and I were talking about my knitting for my cousin (they don't know the sex of the baby). My mom was so worried that I was going to make something too feminine or masculine. We had a brief tift about genderizing children from birth and now my hypothetical son will be wearing the pinkest, frilliest, laciest dress I can find when he goes to see my mother. (Just to drive her crazy.) Apparently my mom worries that my son will turn into a "sissy" if he wears pink. I think that's the way my mom says "gay." So I said, "If I have a sissy for a son I will love him no less. And if my son or daughter are gay that's fine, too!" That shut her up.

Despite this I'm finding myself strangely anticipating Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. After such a long period of time with no changes in our family it will be nice to have two new official adults (my aunt's husband and Todd) and the baby, due right after Christmas. I think Todd might be entered into the family X-mas gift exchange this year. Let's all keep our fingers crossed that people have the decency to keep their mouths shut about making critical comments about our wedding not being held in a church. At lease I know Patty will have my back.

Todd and I learned that it is free to get married in the Empire State Building Chapel on Valentines Day so we considered it this week. Oh well, no turning back now.

The song of the day is Napoleon by Ani DiFranco. God I've missed that raw anger. I actually sat on the floor of my office today (with the door shut) and sobbed like a baby. I can't take these control games anymore. I feel like I'm in an abusive relationship with my co-worker.

I just found this tool on the NY Times website and it is so much fun! (I'm such a politics geek.)

http://www.nytimes.com/ref/washington/2006ELECTIONGUIDE.html?currentDataSet=senANALYSIS

I've been really apathetic toward the Ohio senator and governor race this year. I was called last month by a polling place and they asked who I would be voting for and I didn't even recognize the names of the democratic candidates. I'm so embarassed!

I am happy to know that my move to Cincinnati was not in vain. Looks the like the Democrats have a chance to pull this one out after all! We're really in contention for the governor's race and the senate race. I don't want to jinx myself!

The ads are getting really nasty. The Republicans and producing commercials bashing the Democrats and the Democrats are producing ads that defend themselves. I guess the good thing is that the it's getting the Democrats NAME out there. It seems to be the only NAME that is discussed. I actually laughed out loud when I saw a commercial that said: "Sherrod Brown voted AGAINST marriage.......as between a man and a woman." The words "VOTED AGAINST MARRIAGE" in huge letters across the screen. Way to take things out of context, douche-bag. If anything he voted FOR marriage...For marriage equality...it's mind boggling how people really feel that the institution of marriage is being threatened by two people of the same sex when you can currently go to vegas and get married in a DRIVE THROUGH WINDOW. Yeah, that's so sacred...you want a side of fries with those vows?

I was also happy to learn from this website that Debbie Stabenow (from Michigan) is in the lead in her senate race. Way to go Heather! I just love Debbie Stabenow. Jennifer Granholm is, however, not doing so hot. I also love Jennifer Granholm...not as much as Debbie Stabenow but she's still wonderful. Come on ladies! Let's step it up a notch in Michigan. I didn't move away only to see you drop the ball!

I'm From Barcelona - We're From Barcelona

Adorable

Yesterday night Todd and I watched the entire made-for-TV Movie about the cast of Diff'rent Strokes. It was riviting. I was especially fond of the look-alike guys they found to play Gary Coleman. I miss E! True Hollywood stories. Did you know that the woman who played Kimberly died of a drug overdose?

Really, I wish there were more made for TV movies. I'm getting sick of Crime Dramas. I need something different to spice up my TV watching schedule. Todd and I are super excited for the show Heros to start on NBC. I'm also looking forward to the next season of Survivor.

Tonight Todd and I are going to a Reds game because he won tickets from his work. He also got an interview for a promotion at work! Hurray for Todd! I'm so happy for him!

I've got so much new music on my iPod it's time for another iPod shuffle!
1. Zebra - The Magnetic Fields
2. Hot Rod Hotel - Billy Bragg & Wilco
3. Heartaches - Patsy Cline
4. Slippery People - Talking Heads
5. We're From Barcelona - I'm From Barcelona <--- Seriously, they are so adorable.
6. Har Kommer Lykan For Hundar 5 - Hakan Hellstrom
7. Opera Singer - CAKE
8. I don't wanna be learnerd - The Ramones
9. It's Your Thang - Jackson 5
10. What Makes You Happy - Liz Phair
11. I'm Straight - Modern Lovers
12. Bang - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
13. Smoke Signals - The Magnetic Fields
14. Falling In Love With Wolfboy - The Magnetic Fields
15. Auf Achse - Franz Ferdinand

The long weekend is wrapping up. Even though I was playing hostess to Todd's parents I spent most of the weekend sniffling and nursing the cold that I got on Friday night. (Thanks Todd for getting me sick.)

Todd's parents, being the caring people they are bought me 11 different types of medicine. You think I'm exaggerating? Claratin D, Chloraseptic lozenges, Robitussin honey cough drops (2 flavors), Extra Strength Excedrin, Tylenol Sore Throat, Tylenol Cold multi-symptom, Alka-seltzer plus, Tylenol Allergy complete, Day-quil and Ny-quil. I am stocked up for the rest of my life. I think I should open a pharmacy.

We had a nice time this weekend We visited Lebanon Ohio and all the bric-a-brac shops. I think I found my wedding ring in a random store - who knew! It was really unique and pretty much everything that I wanted. It's an eternity band made up of sideways marquise diamonds and square sapphires. I've never seen anything like it and it fits perfectly. We all went to see Little Miss Sunshine (again) and then had a minor fiasco when we couldn't find a place to eat dinner on Saturday night.

We took it easy on Sunday - I was even able to take a nap. We watched the lovely fireworks from our roof deck. There were an estimated 500,000 people in Cincinnati to watch the fireworks on Sunday; it was very nice to be able to avoid all the crowds.

I'm really dreading going back to work tomorrow. I'm working at least one day each weekend this month. Only 3 more weeks until I am on vacaton.

It's SEPTEMBER!

The best month in the world - and only 25 days until my birthday. I'm looking forward to auttumn (even though in Cincinnati it doesn't turn to fall until late October). Todd's parents are coming down to Cinci this weekend in order to spend the weekend with us. We'll go around town, eat some yummy food and have a good time enjoying their company. I'm sure by Saturday afternoon they'll be driving us crazy, but I am really looking forward to having them around. It's nice to have company. This is an open invitation. If anybody wants to make the trek down to Cinci to visit us, please do!