U-G-L-Y You ain't got no alibi... *UPDATED*

It's gotten ugly these past couple of days. I recently saw two ads that were so disturbing, I can't even believe that our society would use such ridiculous fear tactics and call them "moral" values - but I don't want to get started.... I was going to post the awful direct mailer I received, but I am so offended by it, I couldn't begin to subject my [4] regular readers to it...SO, I will just say that I am glad that after today at least that ugliness will be over either way.

BUT, I am nervous today, jittery even - and not just because of the free Starbucks I got for voting. I want the candidate I'm supporting to win so badly. I'm sure John McCain supporters feel the same way. It's such a strange thing really, that people can feel so strongly on different candidates, but without getting too mushy political here (is that even possible?) that's what I think is great about this country. We can all voice our opinions (some of us more loudly than others) but in the end, the country as a whole gets to say who will take over and what direction we will go. Personally, I don't want another four years like what we've just been through. I do want change, I do buy into Obama's rhetoric at times, but I truly believe he is the better choice of the two. I don't think he's perfect and I personally wish I was casting my vote for Hillary today, but I still believe he can make a difference and I personally do hope Dixville is a small sampling of how the rest of the day will go, but enough, we've hashed this out plenty over the past two years and there's not much left to do now rather than sip on my FREE coffee and let the country do it's thing.

So, lastly, on this historic election day, I leave you with the 47th picture of me with a Starbucks cup - did I mention it was a FREE one? Here's to being an American and being able to cast your vote for YOUR favorite candidate, regardless of who that might be. Now, get out and VOTE!


ps - Does anyone actually research all those judges? Man alive, did I feel stupid when it came to all those. I hope I'm not in the minority on that.

WOO HOO! I can't believe I just witnessed Barack Obama become president. This is certainly just the beginning of what will be a very difficult and challenging road, but I'm so excited to have witnessed this and to be a part of it - I feel very excited to be an American right now! Cue the "Proud to be an American" music.....

Oh, how I've missed you big green...

Welcome back, we missed you! Nevermind the fact that this is decaf, but that's another story for another time.

Do you think Guinness has a world record holder for most photos taken with a Starbuck's cup? Cause I could totally beat it.

It's been a little hectic around here lately, but I thought I owed it to Shane to mark his 4 week birthday with a little recap of how things have been going this first month adjusting to a new family member in the house. With Bridget, I remember four days could seem like four years at times (sorry babygirl, you were quite the handful and, at the risk I could somehow do you reprehensible damage, I will follow that up with the fact that I wouldn't have it any other way) but this time has been flying by and, dare I say it, knock on wood, has been completely and totally manageable and you know what, not just manageable, but ENJOYABLE!

Yes, there are times it is extremely hard - beyond hard - but in between those times there are the moments when Bridget cries because she didn't get to give "the baby" a kiss goodnight and then promptly lets out an "oooohhhhh" signaling she is about to give him a big bear hug - albeit this is sometimes dangerous for an 8 lb being, but adorable as hell nonetheless. Then there are the times when I actually figure out what is wrong with my little man and I feel like such an empowered, can-do-no-wrong mommy... well, that is until my daughter comes home, flops on the ground in a fit of rage over the fact that I DARED TO LET THE DOGS OUTSIDE - didn't I know that the dogs needed to stay inside, that the world was about to come to an end if I let the dogs out the back door? Luckily, I am usually able to chalk this behavior up to little daycare sleep and 21 months of age. Lastly, as we had hoped and have come to find out, this time is unequivocally, without a doubt, so much more relaxed. We are so much more okay with things and not overcome with questions, worry and guilt 24/7. Now, that certainly doesn't mean I don't experience all three of those things daily, multiple times a day, but in a much less stressful and overwhelming manor.

Bottom line, things are going really well. I've only hid under the bed eating burritos once - twice maybe - okay, six times at the most, but it's still been a great experience so far and having this new little person in our lives is working out pretty well, I think we'll keep him.

On an unrelated note, I've been totally remiss in not thanking Mark and Kim for the best new mom present ever - a Starbucks giftcard. I look so forward to this little treat in the morning and it's become part of Shane, Bridget and my's morning routine. Forgive me if that grammar is totally wrong in the last sentence, I always mess up my I's and my's - yes, I am an english major. Thanks guys - cheers to you!

I Smell a Controversy Brewing.. ha ha get it? Brewing! Isn't that clever how I used brewing like that?

Does this new Starbucks cup freak anyone else out?

It's making me not want to get my Grande Skinny Mocha every morning... mwahhhahahaha... evil laugh... it so IS NOT making that happen, tpd.

New Cup

Old Cup

Starbucks drinkers, or whoever feels like it -take my poll to the right - and yes, maybe I should be polling about boy/girl, Hillary/Barack, or other more pressing things in life, but right now I'm thinking about Starbucks, so that's what we're polling about today.

PS - BOO KANSAS, sorry about Memphis Big D!

Day #2 - Treat-a-Rama

Cheers Muldrow for the BEST friend gift exchange present EVER
(at least for me).

Day 1 (yesterday) = McDonalds - small coffee with two splendas & one cream and a Bacon, Egg and Cheese biscuit. I know, I know bad for the sludge that has taken up residence in my Gull Bladder (another post for another time) and my ever-expanding waistline, but sometimes a pregnant girl just has to have some bacon. Which, if you don't read Dooce and haven't seen this funny skit on bacon - check it out here, in fact, I blame this skit for the whole Bacon, Egg and Cheese debacle in the first place.

Day 2 (today) = Grande Mocha, non fat, no whip. How sad is it that I have more money left on the McDonald's gift card then the Starbucks one?

Lastly, for those going, what the hell is she talking about now? We had our friend Christmas gift exchange over the weekend and I ended up with 6- yes 6 beautiful gift cards all with $5 each on them. This was perfect timing for me since I am a big fan of "treats". An Erin treat can come in many different forms; morning coffee not made in my kitchen, an ice cream cone on the way home, a 7-11 slurpee, and my favorite, when not growing a human being in my stomach, is the oh-so-special "treat beer" - you know, the special Winter Brews or Summer Ale's that pop up seasonally... mmm beer. So, when Tim and I decided to work on a Debt Diet after the first of this year, the treats were one of the first things to go.

Well, thanks to A-Le - I Rock - Muldrow, the treats (minus the beer for a couple more months) are back - at least for 4 or 5 more days.

Let's hug it out, Starbuckers

Okay, I am over my apparent extreme bitterness with Starbucks and wish to apologize to any Starbuckers that I may have insulted. While I still think we can all take a lesson in politeness and hold the doors for people and say excuse me a little bit more, I must have been a little too bitter about the client not showing and my cell phone being put in a diaper bag and having said diaper bag leave the house before I realized the error. Regardless, I am here to say today was a much better Starbucks experience and I am not going to pass judgement any longer on each and every individual SB estblishment.

Other than that, in the three minutes I had to spare today I updated the template. Hope you all enjoy.

I guarantee you ARE not the most important person EVER

When in a Starbucks alone, it must be an unwritten requirement that you talk VERY loudly on your cellphone in some sort of effort to prove that you are the most important person in Starbucks at that very moment. There is definitely an "i'm big-time" person complex in that place. They are all trying to out do each other in importance level. Here is what the three people sitting in too close proximity to me might as well have been saying:

"I must be a VIP because I am talking very loudly and very sternly on my cellphone right now and saying things like 'now, right now - get him on the phone' ."

"No, I must be the most important person in here because I have one of those phones that makes that annoying beeping sound and then someone says my name as if paging me for everyone in the store to hear, then I answer them loudly and wait for them to reply all the while leaving the whole thing on that annoying beeping speakerphone."

"Well I have you all beat because I am talking on the phone VERY loudly with that ultra-yuppy Bluetooth thingy in my ear and simultaneously typing with such intensity and fervor that obviously this email must be sent immediately or my entire company's existence is at stake"

I, on the other hand, sit at my little table, drinking my delicious coffee*, typing emails (and blog entries) and cussing out Starbucks for making me pay $10 for internet access while just two doors down I could get this for free at bread company.

I watch 5 (yes, 5) people in a row exit Starbucks, piping hot coffee in one hand, cellphone attached to the ear with the other hand and not ONE single one stops to hold the door for the one behind them. It was really quite unbelievable. Not ONE person held the door often making the door close rapidly on said Starbucker (copyright eej 2007) with hands full. Yet that was not enough to make that person hold the door for the one behind them. It was probably one of the saddest commentaries on humanity that I've seen in a while. I'm sure I can't capture the real rudeness of it in a blog and had I had my cell phone this morning (another long story adding to my bad monday morning) I surely would have videotaped this just to document on youtube or something.

Well, I am off to another client site as the client that insisted we meet at Starbucks, thereby making me waste $10 on internet access and get a lesson in human indecency decided not to show... happy freaking monday.


*Regardless of the selfishness and rudeness that I often encounter in Starbucks (not to say that all Starbuckers are this way), this post is in no way meant to reflect the true love I have for a Grande (sometimes Venti) non-fat no whip Mocha and should not discourage anyone from drinking their lovely beverages (lord knows I don't need any bad Starbucks karma.)