Christmas is Laughable

    This year was my first Christmas to spend with my own child.  Shannon was born on October 10th and the time since then has been nothing short of amazing.  Granted, there are the normal issues.... diapers, crying fits, sleepless nights, etc, but those are nothing compared to the positives.... cuddling with your baby while she sleeps on your chest, seeing her eyes light up when she looks at you, and much, much more.

    Christmas this year has been hectic but fun.  Gifts from friends and family have been great, but nothing could compare to the early Christmas gift we received from Shannon.  Late on Christmas Eve we were playing with Shannon.  I was bouncing her in my arms, bringing her close to my face and showering her with kisses.  Usually that would get a big smile, my reward for playing with my new daughter.  This time though she surprised Michelle and I with not just a huge smile but a burst of imperfectly formed but undeniable giggles.  

    Sorry everyone, we loved your gifts but Michelle and I will be remembering this Christmas for the gift of laughter that Shannon gave to us as we played with her in the light of our Christmas tree.

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Sleepless in Lehighton

Last night was the first time that Shannon managed to keep Michelle and I awake for the vast majority of the night.  She often gives us trouble sleeping, all part of having a baby, but last night she never slept for more than a half an hour at a time and she cried and fussed most of the rest of the time,  Michelle tried to calm her but she just wasn't going for it. 

We're still in the excited new parent stage.  We love seeing every new expression as it first reaches her face.  We still find ourselves entranced each time we hold her.  We're discovering the harder parts of parenting as well though.  Finding out that there are so many times that she will cry and there is nothing you can do to ease the pain that is causing it.  Michelle wondering if what she is eating is causing the stress.  My wishing that I could share some more of the feeding duty so Michelle could sleep (Michelle is breast feeding, daddy can't help there).

So far though, I think that we've had it easy compared to many parents.  Regardless, we wouldn't trade her for anything.

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QotD: President Obama

How do you feel about the results of the election?

Relieved.  Excited.  Hopeful. 

I am elated that the election turned out as it did, I believe Barack Obama is going to be a huge step in the right direction for our nation.  I don't expect him to be able to follow through on all of his campaign promises, but I do expect him to try.  I think our economy is damaged more severely than any one administration will be able to repair but I think he will get us on the right track.  I am hopeful that he will work with all Americans, Republican, Democrat, other party, or no party at all to find the best options available. 

I am not fearful of the accusations that have been tossed about regarding Obama.  I don't believe he is a socialist, communist, terrorist, Marxist, or any other "-ist" with a negative connotation.  I do believe he is a realist and will address the issues that are weighing the US down.  Energy independence, healthcare, immigration, international relations, military actions, the economy.... I believe he will surround himself with experts in these fields who will be able to give honest answers to his questions, not just parroting what he expects to hear.

I'm very excited by these results, and very impressed with the fact that my small, rural county in PA (Carbon County) also came out in favor of Obama.  While the results of the national race were not surprising to me, those results were.  I had honestly expected our county to go to McCain.  That result was a pleasant surprise.

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Remember me?

Yeah, I know.  It's been a while.  It's not you, it's just me.  Too many things going on.  Not that many of them are important, just time wasters.  But I only have so much time to waste, you know? 

There is one important thing that I have yet to share on here.  Very important!  Well, to me at least.  The birth of my daughter, Shannon.  She was born at 4:13AM on October 10th, 2001.  6 lbs 3oz, 20 inches long.  Beautiful baby girl.  My baby girl.  I am now a daddy.  I love her in that way only parents can.  All of you parents out there know what I'm talking about.

Shannon II

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This whole "bitter" fiasco has made me bitter

Wow, three days and three posts.  Can you tell I have strong feelings about the upcoming election?

Anyway, I have to rant a bit about last night's debate.  That was one of the most useless excuses for a "debate" I have seen in my entire life.  I'm including the debates staged for elections at my high school when I was a student there in the late eighties.  If anyone tries to tell me that the media is biased in favor of Obama after that fiasco I think my brain will simply cease to function.  To be fair, I do feel the media seemed biased towards Obama early on.... I felt that it was because he was the underdog.  I suppose that would explain the paradigm shift recently as well.

Wow.  I don't think I've seen Hillary so smug in months.  She knew Obama was getting blasted and was absolutely loving it!  "Obama, why won't you wear a flag pin, are you a terrorist?"  "Obama, why did you not abandon your church immediately after your minister's comments that you were not there to hear?"  "Obama, why did you associate with bad people that someone else hired to work with you?" "Obama, do you feel that your America hating minister is more of a patriot than you?" "Obama, why are Pennsylvanians so bitter towards you?"  "Obama, why do you hate religion and guns?"

Ok, it wasn't that bad.  Not quite, anyway.  But I'd be willing to bet these are the ideas that have been placed in some people's heads and will be passed around over the next week.  Hillary came under fire too.... for not coming under fire in the past.  Other than that she was given a pretty easy ride last night.  

Yes, I'm certain that debate didn't help Obama here in Pennsylvania.

All is fair in love and war.  And politics, I'm sure.  So yes, Obama answered the questions and answered them well.  He'll still win the nomination, of that I'm sure.  Hopefully he will go on to win the presidency as well.  But unless a minor miracle occurs in the next week, he'll still lose this primary and this battle will wage on for weeks to come, wasting money that could be better spent for the actual election and causing more strife amongst the ranks of the Democrats.  

Why couldn't you have brought up topics that are actually important last night?  Topics that I believe would have let Obama shine over Hillary?  Where was the discussion of the mortgage crisis (brought up by the candidates, not the moderators), the economy in general, our decaying roads and bridges, immigration, torture, wiretapping, possible crimes by members pf the current administration?  I felt like the debate was being moderated by anchors from Inside Edition, not ABC news.

No, at least that debate would have had Chelsea Clinton and Michelle Obama wearing bikinis.

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A bitter Pennsylvanian

It's so obvious that Obama is out of touch with the common man here in Pennsylvania, he has no idea what we've gone through.  Prices of gas and food are rising, taxes are always going up, many people are losing their jobs and there aren't many new ones coming here.  Beyond that, some of the area's biggest employers went through bankruptcy and backed out of their promised pension plans so now thousands of employees don't have the retirement they were expecting.  How dare he say we're bitter?  Come on!  We're ecstatic, wouldn't you be?

No, this isn't true for everyone in Pennsylvania, but it is a part of life here.  Yes there are bitter Pennsylvanians.  That isn't an insult or a threat, it's a fact.  Is he saying that we've given up or that we don't deserve better?  No, just the opposite, he is offering us hope that this will change.  Don't buy into the criticism.  Obama isn't out of touch, he seems to understand us better than most politicians on the national level.  He's financed his entire campaign with donations from people like you and me, not by accepting huge donations from corporations or lobbyists.  He wants a chance to serve US, the people of this nation, not just the corporations who can make him and his friends wealthy.  Let's give him that chance.

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End the insanity

This post is directed mainly at my fellow Pennsylvanians and other states yet to vote in this year's Democratic party primaries.

Only one more week for those of us here in Pennsylvania and then the spotlight will move on.  So, have you made up your mind?  Are you voting for Hillary?  Obama?  Someone else entirely?  Well, here's the deal.  Vote for Obama so we can end this insanity.  Face it, Hillary simply cannot win unless she convinces superdelegates to vote against the will of the majority of the people in the Democratic party.  That is her only hope at this point.  And what will that accomplish?  The most divided Democratic party we've seen in a very long time.  I honestly cannot believe she would have even the slightest hope of winning the general election. Why?  Read on.

First of all, Hillary winning the primary in this manner would be even worse than Bush's victories in 2000 and 2008.  Remember the scandals during those years?  Gore won the popular vote, what really happened in Florida and then Ohio?  Did Bush really win?  Now imagine if Bush had only won if delegates from states that had gone Democrat switched and voted for him.  THIS IS WHAT HILLARY IS COUNTING ON FOR HER VICTORY!  No, superdelegates don't have to vote along with the general populace, but if they are going to override the popular vote, we truly have lost control of our own government.  So, after the Democrats were fired up by the results of the last two elections, all we have learned is to copy the behavior?  That is sad.

Second, we know that the Democrats usually have support of minority groups.  What effect do you think it will have on that support if a small group of people override the decision of the public and hand the nomination to Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama?  Come on people.  One of Hillary's biggest arguments is that she is the more electable.  If this is the way she wins that simply won't be true.  And again, this is the ONLY way she COULD win!

Hillary is simply leading a divisive campaign at this point.  It is serving no purpose other than lowering the chances of electing a Democrat this fall.  We need to finally realize this and unite as a party behind Barack Obama.  He has earned this support by running a superior campaign.  Don't allow this to go on any longer, let's come together as a party and send the message that it is time for Hillary to end her run.  Vote for Obama on Tuesday!

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Contribute!

I believe in Barack Obama.   I think he is the one candidate that it is truly possible will bring the change we need to Washington.  Because of this, I am shouting from every place that I can about him.  I am asking that you give your support to this man, that you go to his website and DONATE!  Give him as much or as little as you can comfortably afford.  He has shown that a campaign can be run without smearing the mud that most candidates do.  He has shown that a campaign can be run without accepting contributions from PACs and lobbyists.  He has shown that a candidate CAN still be elected with the support of the people of this country.  Give him that support and let him show us what he can accomplish as our next President!

Visit Barack's website now!

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