Occupy Wall Street

What are they doing on Wall Street? Why are they Occupying Wall Street? It's a mystery...not only to me, but to many other American's and even to some degree to those that are doing the "occupying". And what's amazing to me is how long it took for this "movement" to receive any media attention. Why? you might ask...well, 6 major corporations own 90% of the media so they can decide what they want the American people to know. Anything that hurts their profit margins might not be such a good "issue" to report on. I don't fault the Corporations. This is America, last time I checked we are a Capitalist society. Work hard, do well, end up on top, RIGHT? I do however agree that corporate/political corruptions is a major concern. What's up with their ridiculous salaries and bonuses??? Come on, now. The top earners in this country have seen major increases in income over the course of the last few decades while American Middle-Class wages have stagnated. I thought there was something called "cost of living" increases...Oh wait, not for the middle or lower class.

One of the biggest downfalls of the Occupy Wall Street movement is that they are not "organized" so to speak. They disagree with American Income Inequality, to quote them "We are the 99%" Okay, Great...but what do they want done about it. You can't just join up in numbers, stand on a piece of ground in public and yell that you want change. What kind of change do they want? You have to come to the table with an agenda. If I tell my husband that I am unhappy with something in our relationship (totally hypothetical), he will say "what do you want to do about it?" If I say "I don't know"...all I have done is made us both unhappy and worried about the nature of our relationship. What's the plan??? You have to come to the table with goals in mind. Easier said than done, I know.

I'm a little apprehensive of the whole situation, and I wonder how many people actually know what they are standing up for. Or is it one of these instances where people are jumping on the bandwagon uninformed. "bad corporation, bad, bad!" When really, they are just Americans living the American Dream. It's as if the 99% want us to move in a socialist direction. Tax the rich to feed the poor...but what did the rich do wrong. A majority just worked hard to get where they are financially/economically. Shame on them. I don't think that equal distribution of wealth is the answer. However its clear that something needs to be done.

How about we start with more campaign finance reform. How about our politicians in DC "ACTUALLY" make decisions based on the best interest of their constituents and not based on how much money they need from the corporations for their next ridiculously expensive campaign. Better yet, Lets get some solid term limits for both the House and the Senate. Maybe if they knew that they could only be in office for a pre-determined amount of time they would be more willing to create and pass policy that benefits society as a whole. But why one Earth would they vote yes on term limits....talk about the ultimate job security and padding your pockets all the while. I'm just saying!!!

As for the Young American's Occupying Wall Street...good for you! It's great that you are standing up for your cause. It's great that your are passionate about something, FINALLY. Just prepare a mission statement, outline your goals. Right now it just has the appearance of a bunch of radicals with no real common interest. And LASTLY...GO VOTE! For Christ's sake, America is historically rich with attempts to increase the vote. IN 1870, we gave African American Males the right to vote. In 1920 we gave American Women the right to vote. In the late 60's or 70's they lowered the voting age. So what's your excuse. Exercise your democratic freedom...or don't come crying to me when things don't go "your" way.

BEAR Down!

CHICAGO BEARS!!! So last week, was the big game. Remember...I bought tickets for my wonderful husband and surprised him for his birthday. We took the girls to Charleston, and my brother and sister-in-law watched them for the day. Mitch and I made the trip up to Chicago, and it was a gorgeous fall day. When we arrived around 4 pm, the temp was in the 60's. We walked around Michigan Avenue a bit, and Grant Park. We took in an early dinner at Bennigan's and then headed to the game.

We made sure to get to the stadium plenty early...the line was non-existant when we arrived, but it didn't take long for it to look like this:

We walked around the stadium. I talked to some people (imagine that). I actually met a lady from Marshall, Minnesota (where Mitch went to College), and she traveled to Montevideo, Minnesota (Mitch's hometown) a few times a month...small world. I, of course, discovered all of this while Mitch was in the restroom. A girl has to occupy herself, right?!?!

We both had really high hopes for the game. Afterall, neither of our teams is off to a great start this year. We figured the game had pretty good odds of being close. Well, it was obvious by the half that the Viking's didn't have a chance. They really looked pretty pathetic, and I actually feel bad writing that, knowing how much Mitch loves them...but lets call a spade a spade. Mitch even commented that it was time to bench McNabb and let the rookie QB have a shot so they could see what they had to start building with and by fourth quarter that is exactly what they did. I missed a 3rd quarter return for a touchdown by Devon Hester...standing in line for HOT CHOCOLATE of all things. Oh well! The final score was 39-10, and I was happy...Mitch, not so much :)

NLCS 2011

I <3 the St. Louis Cardinals...(I heart the STL Cardinals)! And it's October and all is well. My dad is so awesome, he shares his post-season tickets with us time and time again. Matt and Cynthia got to go to the NLDS Series, Mitch and I got to go to the NLCS and loved it! EVERY.MINUTE.OF.IT!

There is just nothing like Busch Stadium in October. The fans are amazing, the atmosphere is electric and the baseball can't be beat. The Cardinals are on fire, and we were definitely happy to be at game 5 of the NLCS between the Cardinals and the Milwaukee Brewers this past Friday night. The Cardinals started things off right, putting some runs on the board in the 2nd inning. They held the Brewers back pretty well. The Final Score was 7-1, and the Brewers had 9 hits, 9!!! So they were strong on offense and defense...just what a World Series bound team should be. I hope someday my girls love the Cardinals as much as I do. Even Mitch has hopped on my bandwagon...he says the Cardinals are just his NL team, but we'll see about that.

A Bushel and a Peck

This was our first summer in Decatur, and it's also our first Garden. Mitch did a great job. Our garden was certainly plentiful and it is so satisfying to be able to eat produce from our own yard...talk about organic! Our garden started out really strong, but the deer had other things in mind. We had a momma white tail deer with 3 fawns, and they REALLY enjoyed our garden. We didn't get ANY of our green beans, they ate squash blossoms, and even tomatoes. We ended up putting a fishing line fence around the perimeter and it helped so much. By July we had so much zucchini I was baking loaves of zucchini bread for everyone. Our jalapeno plant was plentiful, and our cucumbers and butternut squash did wonderfully too. Mitch found a butternut squash soup recipe that I LOVED, it was velvet and amazing so we will definitely be planting those again. We even have pumpkins...so far we have 3 little ones, and 4 or 5 more about to turn orange. Our tomato plants have done well and Mitch just made his 3rd batch of salsa along with all our jalapenos. And we can't forget the carrots. Leah was so excited to pull her first carrot out of the ground that she ate the whole thing, dirt and all! The next time around Mitch made her bring it in and wash it first. It's awesome to see how excited the girls get about the garden. Kiersten walks around it happily yelling "Punkin"...definitely the best part!

Picking Pumpkins and Ice Cream Too!

Picture overload...but they are just so cute. And you have no idea how difficult it is to get a picture of all 3 of them. We started out our afternoon by checking out the animals. Kids just love animals!!! We got to hear them mimic the turkeys, the pigs, the sheep...they had what I assume were Llama's. So Leah shared in some Llama, Llama, Where's your Mama humor (Children's literature). We saw some awesome pumpkins...one that weighed 1092 lbs. Her name was Bertha. They had white (albino) pumpkins and lots of others. It was crazy to see the variety. And did you know that Arthur's Great Pumpkin Patch was featured on the Martha Stewart Show last year AND they decorated the White House back in 06 or 07...that's no small potatoes, or pumpkins if I may :)

We did the animals, we did the maze and then we did the ever popular hay-rack ride tour, only it was more of a trolly than a hay-rack, but it was fun and there was a guide that talked about the different variety of pumpkins and he told us all about Broom-Corn too, go figure! He told us how they have to import in bees for pollination because the crop is so big...who knew! Mitch did some tour-guiding of his own, filling me in on some different plants and trying to explain to me what ADM was trying to do with them. I paid attention, really I did...but I couldn't repeat a sentence of it if I tried.
I LOVE this picture of the kids. Isn't is just so "See no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil." And it isn't posed at all. I digress, but anyway...after the ride we headed out to the patch with our wagon. We were on a mission to find the perfect pumpkin. To be honest Mitch was on more of a mission than the rest of us. Cynthia and I just trampled around with the kids while the Daddy's did the looking. Occasionally, Kiersten would bend down and pat the pumpkins as if they were puppies. And of course she would say "punkin." I just love my girls! After we found our pumpkin Mitch put it in the wagon. He was starting to go back towards the entrance, but Colby interjected.



This picture kills me. Colby is laying down the law with Leah. He is telling her a thing or two. Matt says that he is telling her to stay seated and keep her hands in the wagon, ha ha. After our "punkin" picking was done, we decided to get a snack. The kids were so well behaved we gave them a really special ice cream treat. And can you believe it...they even had pumpkin ice cream! It was ORANGE and it was good. I think Kiersten got more on her face and hands than she did in her mouth, but that's all part of the fun. It was a great day!

A.MAZE.ING!

So many things about our weekend were great, but our trip to the pumpkin patch was top notch. The weather was fantastic. Mid-80's in October is hard to come by, but we'll take it! The Great Pumpkin Patch in Arthur certainly delivered and surpassed our expectations, but the best part about the weekend was that we got to spend it was family. Afterall, that was the driving force in us wanting to return to the midwest. We hated being so far from family. Saturday did not disappoint! Matt, Cynthia and Colby met us in Arthur for lots of family fun!

The Great Pumpkin Patch was awesome. Lots of fun and who knew there were THAT many different types of pumpkins and squash. Mitch was carefully checking it all out and making mental notes for things to try in our garden next spring/summer. And the kids were super excited...excited to see each other, excited to be playing outside and excited to find the perfect pumpkin. These are some of the pictures of the kids in the "Children's" Maze. It was a hoot seeing them run around and try to figure it out. Sadly, we didn't give the big one a try. Yes, they have a huge cornfield maze that you can "navigate" your way through but we didn't want any part of that. Maybe in a few more years.

Going, Going, Gone!

And No, I'm not talking about Baseball!!! Even though it is October and the St. Louis Cardinals are on their way to the NLCS...Woo Hoo!!! I AM talking about my weight. This weekend I stepped on the scale and I am down 23 pounds in almost 5 months. Exercise...who knew?!?!

Mitch and I have been on a health mission. We always have eaten healthy. In fact it would be difficult for us to eat much healthier than we do, but since having my babies we had become pretty sedentary. That changed when we got to Decatur. And it's paying off. I love using ADM's wellness center. The Les Mills Body Attack, Body Step and Zumba classes are not only a good workout, but most days I consider them to be a lot of fun. I don't want my girls to grow up thinking that it is okay for them to live sedentary lives. We try to get outside and play a LOT and they love jumping on the trampoline. In fact, it makes my heart melt when Bug says "Tampoleeen" and then tries to climb up on her own. Leah loves to "Bounce on her tush, tush" as she says. We have got to start working on the bike riding, but today they had races down the driveway and back.

In addition to showing my girls how important it is to be active I KNOW I am doing so much for my own health. The benefits include weight control, better sleep, better moods, more energy. I am fighting off heart disease, high blood pressure...Not to mention it can battle depression, fend off strokes and help prevent certain cancers. YAY, me! I feel good, I look good and I intend to keep it that way.

Are you Aware?

I've thought a lot about what I want this blog to be. In the beginning it was just a useful tool for sharing our daily lives and activities with our family members that lived so far away. And a diary for my girls of their childhood. I read other blogs, some by friends and some not...and I can't help but think that sometimes, it wouldnt' hurt for my blog to have a purpose. For instance a friend of mine, blogs about her family (she has 4 kids), she blogs about recipes she is trying, and she blogs about political issues (she was a poly sci major in college). Teaching this semester has done wonders for me and I am SOOO enjoying talking about social problems and issues. Nevermind the fact that when I tried to talk about the terror attacks of 9/11, most of them couldn't relate because they were 8 years old. I digress, but maybe I can use this blog as a platform as well as a place to share our lives.

October for instance...yes, I love October. But did you know that October is a phenomenal month for awareness on women's issues? Of course we all know the PINK campaign. Susan G. Komen and the Breast Cancer Awareness campaign can be seen everywhere. Even NFL players wear pink athletic shoes to raise awareness about breast cancer. It's huge and totally important. We all know people, women, families affected by cancer. I personally don't have any family members that have been diagnosed with breast cancer, but three very important women in my life have battled the big C. Both of my grandmother's fought cancer and won their battles. Sadly my Aunt Karen was taken from us much too young and much too early.

October is also Pregnancy and Infant Loss awareness month. No one tells us as little girls, just how difficult the plight of motherhood can be. You think you fall in love, get married, have babies and live happily every after. That's just not the case for so many of us. Women struggle with infertility, they have partners that struggle with infertility....sometimes you can do everything by the book and still be left childless. And while again...I don't have personal experience in this realm, I have so many friends and family members that do, and the odds are you do too. So take the time to stop and say a prayer for all those mothers and the babies that they have lost, their grief is very real. And I know I will never take being a mother for granted.

Lastly, October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This one hits home!!! I struggle with this one all the time. If you don't know...I was married once before Mitch, it was short-lived (Thank GOD!) and I'm one of the lucky ones. But once in awhile my past has a way of creeping into my life and reminds me that someday I will have to tell my girls about the fact that there was someone before their father. And how will I do that, how will I share that story? It will be a lesson. A lesson in life and how NOT to let others treat them or anyone else for that matter. It will be a lesson in self-esteem and self worth, so that they know they deserve to be treated with love and respect and nothing else will do.

It's so fitting that October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month...it's also the anniversary of my first marriage. A marriage to a "man" and I use the term very loosely, that found pleasure in causing pain both physical and emotional. He fed off of verbal assaults that left me feeling useless and they often times hurt more than the physical pain he inflicted. In fact I credit his words with being the fuel that lit my fire. He told me time and time again that I was stupid and would never get into the University of Illinois. I proved him wrong and applied to graduate school and in 2008 I graduated with my Masters in Social Work. I've worked in foster care, adoptions and in advocacy for the March of Dimes. I met with assembly members and senators and pushed the agenda of maternal and child health issues. Those are tough jobs for little old me. And while I don't wish what I went through with him on anyone, it made me who I am today. It made me strong. Strong enough that I was able to file for a divorce, get him out of my life, and walk away from the mess that he was trying to make of my life. And now I am grateful. Grateful for the courage and wisdom attained. Grateful that I had the opportunity to start over again, and grateful for where I am today and that is what I will tell my girls. Love shouldn't hurt and words shouldn't either.

So this October let's be aware: remember the victims, celebrate the survivor's and pray for all those that have shared in the journey. Cheers, October....you do my soul good.

OCTOBER, BABY!!!

There are so many reasons to love October. I really LOVE October...but this post is all about Major League Baseball Post-Season. The St. Louis Cardinals, in all their glory, have made it to October yet again. And I am feeling nostalgic for the post-season of 2006. What a great time that was. I keep reminding people that the Cardinals were the wildcard that year too!

In fact, Mitch and I had been together 4 or 5 months and it was the last weekend of September.
We went to St. Louis for the weekend, did the Budweiser factory tour, had dinner and drinks out on La Cledes landing, went up in the Arch and took in a St. Louis Rams game. I think they played the Seattle Seahawks...don't remember who won, but I do remember hearing the crowd erupt in cheers when the Cardinals won their game in the nearby Busch Stadium, to clench their spot in the playoffs.

The weeks that followed were crazy! We went to St. Louis 3 times, for a NLDS, NLCS and a World Series Game. We watched as the Cards won the NLDS, we didn't miss a beat when they took on the Mets for the NLCS, and we watched every single pitch of the World Series when they beat the Detroit Tigers. It was amazing! The vibe, the fans, the atmosphere in general at Busch Stadium in October is intense. It can't be described and there is nothing like it.

And who knows, right now the NLCS is tied 2-2 between the Cards and the Phillies. The Phillies are tough, they have been on a roll...there is a reason that they have been in 2 of the last 3 World Series and have taken home the trophy. If the Cardinals can bring home a win on Friday night in Philly, maybe we will have a chance to celebrate St. Louis in October again, GO CARDS!

World Series 2006

Daddy Love

This past Friday Mitch took Leah on a camping trip with some friends or ours and I stayed home with the Bug. We went shopping at Target, and dined on a fabulous happy meal a la McDonalds. She really didn't notice that Daddy and Leah were missing until bedtime. I think she really enjoyed her evening bath and I let her stay in for a long time...she was relishing not having to share the toys with Lee Lee. We came downstairs and had apple slices for a bedtime snack and watched an episode of Bubble Guppies (her fave) and then went up to read a bedtime story. That's when it hit her that they were gone. She asked for Daddy a few times but overall went down to sleep just fine and slept through the night per the norm.

The next morning we indulged in some wonderful cuddling in my big bed, wrapped up in the comforter and played on the iPad. Daddy and Leah got home just after 9 and she was so excited to see them. She snuggled her daddy and cuddled him and gave him plenty of kisses, the real kind and the blown kind. Later that afternoon she was still attached to her daddy. We have all been struck down by colds so after lunch Daddy laid on the couch to take in some football. Bug decided to join him. She HAD to have a pillow and a blanket and she settled in and got mighty comfy. But she didn't last on her end of the couch for long before she just had to give her Daddy a few more snuggles. She is such a sweetheart...we should call her the "Love Bug"!