Social media is more than a chance to catch up with old friends. It is a chance to communicate with people, businesses and even the government.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HM7CGt6PZj8/SWZJ4yznX2I/AAAAAAAAASg/-wTxeN-Tgu4/s1600-h/government2.jpg">Social media is not for every government. If a municipality has a tendency to be hush-hush about its goings on, then forget Social media. If the government cannot even update its website or make things easy to find and navigate, then forget it. Social media is not for the easily insulted, intimidated, or for those looking for the latest cool thing to do. It takes time and patience. But the outcome and government transparency is well worth it.

Man, I am showing my age with the <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078623/">blog title</a>.<br /><br />Anyway, apparently my coworkers know about this blog and that I am the blogger. I still will not reveal my workplace for now, but I do want it known that the opinions expressed in this blog are NOT the opinions of the company for whom I work or other employees.<br /><br />I wasn't asked to say that, but I did anyway.<br /><br />So there.

Don't get all riled up. This is not a post about abortion. There are more choices in life to be pro-choice about.<br /><br />Yesterday, I was watching <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/2020">20/20</a> with my hero with the horrible 70s porno mustache, John Stossel. He was not featured that much in this show since it was about pregnancy, babies and breastfeeding. The <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=6120045&amp;page=1">pregnancy story</a> was, um, interesting. It featured moms who gave birth and, well, did so very pleasurably. Leave it at that.<br /><br />There is also a group of women out there who get these <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=6517455&amp;page=1">fake babies</a> and treat them as if they are real. To each their own.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HM7CGt6PZj8/SWOrr4iCfwI/AAAAAAAAASQ/MU9mMEbjLh4/s1600-h/eightmaidsamilking.jpg">And for those of you without children, yet, just you wait.

Over the Christmas and New Year, we traveled over 1000 miles.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">First stop - P-Town (represent)</span><br />We stayed with my 'rents from Monday - Saturday. There was not much of in the way of adventure for us, just a daughter who had nightmares every night and a son who was on a nursing kick.<br /><br />It was wonderful hanging with the family, as always. I had my fill of collards. DS discovered the yumminess that is green bean casserole.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_HM7CGt6PZj8/SWLJ16XySxI/AAAAAAAAARw/5mnRCm7iXd4/s1600-h/colemans.gif">

It's one of those days. I just am in a funk and can't get out. I just want to sleep. I am disgusted with myself on so many levels. I know I will snap out of it, but I hate it when I get like this because it comes out when I speak to my family. I have been snapping at the kids and they have not been doing anything wrong.<br /><br />I need to get over it.<br /><br />Stupid depression.

I really questioned my daughter when she wanted her hair cut short. I mean SHORT. The stylist cut it just below DD's ears. It was cute, but I thought she should have let it grow out. Then I saw her in her various <a href="http://www.e4hats.com/">beanies</a>. She looked like a little flapper! Adorable!<br /><br />She has more fashion sense than her mommy, not that is saying much. She will not wear jeans, but prefers stretchy pants. She knows what looks good and feels good.<br /><br />Of course, that could all change when she hits the teen years.

DS turned 18 months old yesterday. You would think he would be chattering up a storm, but no. He can say "Mama" and "Up" and his sister's name, but that is about it. For "nurse" he says "naaaa." He uses some signs like eat, drink, please, all done, where is it, and yesterday he started doing the chicken dance to ask for more chicken. Other than that, "uh uh uh" is his communication method. Grrr.<br /><br />We do not give in to the "uh, uh, uh" unless he is inconsolable.<br /><br />He understands us, but the lack of words from him is annoying.

I am sick of the blandness of our home. I do not like our house to begin with, but the lack of decor is annoying. We are in a bind because we want to keep things neutral because we will want to sell in a couple of years, but then again, some things need changing. <br /><br />For example, I was looking at something to replace the blinds we have in the living room that will fall when breathed on wrong. I could get some curtains or maybe some <a href="http://www.paylessdecor.com/windowshades/bamboo/">bamboo blinds</a>. Anything to replace the el-cheapo stuff the builder used. Same in the other rooms. We still have a temporary blind downstairs in the basement.<br /><br />Of course, a home makeover would be nice, but we have no great sob story to get a free home.

I met my one month goal - to blog every day this month and use a lyric or song title for the title of the post. <br /><br />Go me.<br /><br />I now return you to my normal blogging.

Beginning Thursday, I will have to reprogram my children to remember life before vacation.<br /><br />- No sleeping in our bed, unless invited by one of us for a nap. <br />- Chocolate is not a bedtime snack.<br />- Just because you want it does not mean you get it.<br />- Bedtime is before nine.<br />- For DS once you are nursed, you will go in your crib. You will fuss it out since there is no one that will be affected other than those of us used to it.<br /><br />Perhaps I will get them programmed by the next vacation.

On this trip we decided to leave Northern Virginia early and head to Hershey, PA for <a href="http://www.christmasinhershey.com/hershey_sweetlights.php">Christmas in Hershey</a>. <br /><br />Last year we went to Hershey about this time of year, but knew nothing of these other events. Since it is about 3 hours from where we are, I thought, eh, why not! From there it is 6 hours home. We will be home Wednesday night and it will give us time to wind down before work and school starts up again. <br /><br />Has anyone been to Hershey for the Christmas stuff?

We just went to the Pentagon memorial.<br /><br />There is a bench for each of the people killed at the Pentagon on 9/11/<br />01. The youngest was 3; The eldest in their 70s. The benches that face inward represent those in the Pentagon; The outwards ones representing those in the plane.<br /><br />It was eerie and beautiful. I was in tears.<br /><br />I also got chilled and freaked when planes flew overhead.

DD has a really sweet personality, but sometimes I worry about her. Is she too sensitive?<br /><br />Last night she asked me if she could go to Heaven the same time as me. This was very important to her. What was I to say? <br /><br />She is obsessed with Heaven right now. I wonder if this is normal for a 4 1/2 year-old.

You know it is time to lose weight when you have two people in one day inquire as to when you are due. <br /><br />Thanks.<br /><br />I know I have been out of control with the eating. I want to workout, but am too tired with the kids. Excuses, excuses.<br /><br />My goal is to be healthy and not thin. I was thin in college, but was not healthy. <br /><br />I remember when we applied for <a href="http://www.wholesaleinsurance.net">term life insurance</a>, I was overweight and pregnant. Even though I had lost weight, the insurance cost us more because we were overweight at that point and had been in the past. It doesn't pay to be fat I guess. Look at how hard it is to find inexpensive fat clothes that do not consist of velour or sweatpants material. <br /><br />Whine, bitch, moan.<br /><br />Let me get through the rest of this year and then I will work on it. Promise. Especially after I see my SIL this week. She is a physical trainer and is really fit. Oh, and by some standards, she would be overweight, but it is all muscle. <br /><br />Here's to our health for the new year. Who is joining me for a more healthy lifestyle?

As Christmas is over and as Hanukkah winds down, there is one thing both Christian and Jews can celebrate year-round and that is God's love.<br /><br />For Christians, God loved us so much that he gave us Jesus, whose birth we celebrate at Christmas and whose death and resurrection we celebrate at Easter. <br /><br />For the Jews, God's love and provisions for His people are celebrated at Hanukkah. His promises are celebrated at Passover. <br /><br />So as the holidays end, never forget the love of God.

I am trying to post this from my phone. I need a nap. The kids had to wait to open most of their gifts until after 11. They were so patient. They have been going non-stop. I need to stop. Too many collards and green bean casserole. <br /><br />It has been a good Christmas.<br /><br />Thank you God for Jesus.

I heart my hometown area. <br /><br />I went shopping at Wal-Mart last night and my cashier was one of the nicest people I have ever met. Here she was, working at one of the busiest stores two days before Christmas and she was so pleasant!<br /><br />Today we went to Circuit City and Kroger, (yes, we are crazy). People would leave gaps in traffic to let us and others in. The cashiers were pleasant. One woman came up and tickled DS and started talking to us. She asked if I was pregnant and I told her, "No, I am just fat." She laughed and said that she gets the same questions asked of her. <br /><br />All in all, it is nice visiting a busy, urban area and seeing people be civil to one another!

Why is it that when someone becomes an elected official that their minions want to do all in their power to prevent them from getting their feelings hurt? There is this fear with creating blogs and using social media that if commenting is allowed that someone will take the opportunity to insult those in office.<br /><br />So what?<br /><br />If someone runs for office and they cannot handle negative comments or the fact that someone may not like them, then why are they in office to begin with?<br /><br />Look at the <a href="http://www.tsa.gov/blog">TSA</a>. It is one of the most hated government organizations out there, yet they have a blog, run by lower-level employees, and they allow comments. Yes, they moderate, but they will post negative and anonymous commenting. <br /><br />And when someone does post something negative and idiotic, (something along the lines of "They are stupid"), then other posters will play the role of moderator and tell that person they are stupid for not supporting their comments with facts.<br /><br />Get a backbone people.

One thing I have noticed over the years is that when a founder of a company dies, the company's customer service or their quality seems to go downhill. <br /><br />When Sam Walton died, Walmart seemed to go away from the Made in America theme to cheap stuff.<br /><br />Wendy's quality of food and customer service sucks now that their founder died. <br /><br />I am sure it is that way with other businesses as well.<br /><br />Maybe it is that too many businesses stray from what has always worked for them into doing what they think is cool or will bring in more money. <br /><br />Have you guys noticed anything similar in businesses you frequent?

DD left this afternoon with her aunties to go to my parents' house. Tonight I wrapped some gifts with DS "helping." Tomorrow I need to get out all our <a href="http://www.luggagebase.com/">luggage</a> together and pack. Then we will head out to my parents' for Christmas and then on to DC after that to meet the in-laws.<br /><br />I will try to blog daily and keep up with folks on Facebook. <br /><br />Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!

I live in a small town with a population of about 20,000. Now that the college kids are mostly gone, the town and the surrounding areas have lost more of its population.<br /><br />I grew up in a city that at one time was 13th in the nation in homicides. So living in a small town is a nice change.<br /><br />But you know, even in a small town, you need to watch <a href="http://www.thinkchristiansburg.com/confoundedinchristiansburg/tis-seasonto-robbed.aspx">what is going on around you</a>.<br /><br />I'll be the first to admit that I have really been slack when it comes to staying safe and not giving the criminals an easy opportunity. I walk around with my purse open all the time. I would never do this in my hometown, but here, I don't think about it.<br /><br />Now I will.<br /><br />Now let's be careful out there.

I have been a little grouchy today. I got up late, got out the door late, forgot my cell phone and DD's dress for tonight's Christmas program, and just was not doing well. Then at lunch, I ran to the local shoe store to get tights for DD's dress. They don't sell children's tights. I went to Kroger. They don't sell children's tights. I went to the Dollar Tree - BINGO! (Aside: I am glad the Town is not allowing big box stores in Town, because it will take away business from local merchants - like the ones who don't sell children's tights or onsies like I needed a few months ago).<br /><br />I was a little grouchy at the imbeciles driving around the store's parking lot. I was frustrated I was late. I was frustrated that I wanted a Frosty. Frustrated that I was considering taking some <a href="http://www.researchdietpills.com/">diet pill</a> in hopes of losing weight. I was just, well, frustrated.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_HM7CGt6PZj8/SUvoJfDhe-I/AAAAAAAAARo/_R6kl23wPuw/s1600-h/hotrodsanta.gif">I am still smiling.

<span style="font-weight: bold;">How to Tell if your Cat is Plotting to Kill You</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://divisibleby0.com/cat_kill/png/kneading.png">

As a parent, I blame a lot on my kids - the weight gain, the Momnesia, the lack of sleep, the drug use. A lot of it is in jest, but I really DO have Momnesia. I cannot remember the following:<br /><br /><ul><li>All the great things I decided I was going to do when I became a parent, before I was a parent.</li><li>All the great things I decided I was NOT going to do when I became a parent, before I was a parent.</li><li>All the great advice I had for parents before I was a parent. </li><li>Going to movies with a rating higher than PG.</li><li>Going to the movies.</li><li>Taking my time grocery shopping by looking at labels and prices as opposed to taking twice as long to go grocery shopping to pick up milk and a few other things with two kids.</li><li>Going on a date that does not involve some form of shopping because it is easier without kids.</li><li>Going on a date. </li><li>Finishing a book in a day.</li><li>Going to the bathroom uninterrupted.<br /></li><li>Lonely nights.</li><li>Not having someone to snuggle with.</li><li>Not having someone do a happy dance every time they see you after you have been away for only a little while.</li><li>Not enjoying the peace and quiet of a child asleep in your arms.<br /></li></ul>