A Little Bit Ruthless

Blizzard #2 (Yes, the second blizzard in less than 2 months).

2010-02-06T18:19:00.003-05:00

By popular demand (also known as: hey, I can't figure out how to email videos):

What did you do today?

2009-05-31T23:13:00.004-04:00

I did this:

And it was fab. And you better believe my souvenir shell casings are going in my office.

Now, must scrub off gunshot residue before bed.

This is why I have friends at work.

2009-05-05T21:27:00.003-04:00

To: [Awesome coworker]
From: Me
Subject: Can we...

...all have a collective vom over the sad Elizabeth Edwards story and move on with our lives? Kthxbye.

To: Me
From: [Awesome coworker]
Subject: RE: Can we...

Dear Elizabeth Edwards,
I'm sorry your husband cheated on you when you have terminal cancer. However, I'm also sorry you didn't back over his good-for-nothing ass with the minivan and then do something with your life before it's too late. If you want to stick around in your ginormous mansion and eat caviar all day while writing a tear-stained book that will make you huge sacks of cash, I find it a little incredible that you expect us all to feel sorry for you.
Stay sweet!
[Awesome Coworker]

Ah, city life.

2009-04-19T21:12:00.005-04:00

Taxi driver 1: After spending the entire 15 minute drive telling me about all the passengers he's slept with, ranking them by ethnicity (for some reason he only listed "Asian," "black," and "American." Interesting since he was "Indian." Anyhow.), he turns around, winks, and says: "Do you need a ride home after? I didn't charge you the $2 surcharge."

Overheard on the street corner outside of the gay bar by my house:
Guy 1: I hope you didn't just do to my ear what I think you just did to my ear.
Guy 2: Silence.

Taxi driver 2: "This one day I was really really tired so I nodded off a bit. I was wearing sunglasses so no one could see I was sleeping, but I almost killed a cop and her dog in a crosswalk. Say, did you know you could go to jail for that?"

I snuck away from work Friday afternoon to take Maggie for a jaunt in the park. We had a delightful time frolicking with the schoolkids, meeting other doggies, and then we headed home and ran into a man peeing on the sidewalk. Not on the grass. Not in the very nearby trees. On. The. Sidewalk. I had to sidestep his stream. Viva la spring.

Overheard walking home from work late on Thursday night:
Frat Guy to his date: No, it's not a Nazi uniform. It's a German military uniform.

Every once in awhile I'll realize how very little time I spend in my apartment. A few weeks ago, I noticed that I have not purchased dish soap since I moved in. In September. The small bottle that I moved in with? More than half full. Today, eight months after moving in, I realized that my fridge dispenses cold, filtered water. Score.

Ah, city life. Ain't it grand?

Seven Hours

2009-04-10T11:18:00.006-04:00

...and counting until the reunion with this sweet puppy/spawn of satan.

And, all three sisters in the same state? Means that shenanigans will go down. Right, Kermit?

Word.

How (Not) to Have a Rockin' Saturday Night

2009-04-04T19:55:00.004-04:00

1. Decide to bring work home to enjoy at least some of the day's sunshine.

2. Actually leave work minutes after the sun sets.

3. Stop for wine on the way home.

4. Get stuck in line behind young 20-somethings buying boxes of wine, cases of beer, and supplies for gallons of jungle juice.

5. Consider following them to the party.

6. Come home instead, realize corkscrew is AWOL.

7. Attempt to uncork wine with scissors and/or screwdriver.

8. Slice the crap out of finger with said scissors and/or screwdriver.

9. Feel pain and bleed when typing and mouse-clicking, given gash in right pointer finger.

10. Smack forehead on laptop.

Deep Thoughts from the Dairy Section

2009-04-02T23:45:00.003-04:00

Is there anything less organic than "batter blaster," a processed pancake mixture you squirt out of an aerosol can?

On a lighter note...

2009-04-02T23:38:00.004-04:00

I was able to sneak away this week for a very quick picnic at the Tidal Basin (don't tell!) with my friend EB. Crappy as things may otherwise be, it's nice to have lunch with this view:

And this overhead...
Nope, can't complain about that one bit.

The Breaking Point

2009-04-02T22:23:00.004-04:00

I'm not there yet, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't close.

I should start by saying I love my job. Love it. And I am grateful for having it, and for having work to do. Very grateful.

But.

Let's do a little simple math.

Fewer People (layoffs hit hard and close to home) + More Work + Increased Pressure = I'm tired.

I'm tired to the tune of 284 work hours in one month. My body is tired. My eyes are tired. My brain is tired. I'm tired of never seeing the sun. I'm tired of eating every meal at the office, at my desk. I'm tired of stacks of magazines that go unread, TV shows that go unwatched, and drycleaning that can't be picked up because it turns out they close at a reasonable hour. I'm tired of dreaming about work -- including the dream where, I kid you not, the firm was on a cruise and a part of me just knows the ship's name was Titanic. I'm tired of missing Maggie (who is, by the way, quite happy in Indiana. At least when she's not eating two socks at a time. Or other "unmentionables." And then throwing them up whole. Ahem, Katie.), and tired of still not knowing whether I'll get to go see my family and my dog over Easter, or if some crisis will explode the day I'm supposed to leave. I'm tired of resenting the people who leave work by 6:00, who walk along so happily outside my window because really, who gets to go home at 6:00???

I'm tired of feeling tired. And bitter. And grumpy. And mostly...mostly I'm tired of feeling guilty about feeling tired and bitter and grumpy, because I know that I'm much better off than my friends who have no job and no prospect of getting one anytime soon. I'm tired.

Friday the 13th, The Fallout

2009-02-13T16:50:00.004-05:00

Let it be known that on this day, Ruthless fell just a teensy bit in love with John Boehner. Or at least his hissy fits.

Another day, another failed Cabinet nomination...

2009-02-12T17:12:00.002-05:00

How long before we declare this a failed presidency?

On second thought...

2009-02-11T20:55:00.002-05:00

If I had known I would still be at work at 9pm, with no end in sight, I would have gone back to sleep.

One thing is certain: I will be very ready for some baby snuggles on Saturday.

I love my job.

2009-02-11T08:24:00.002-05:00

This is the only rational explanation for billing 2 hours of doc review before 7am. And to not be bothered by that fact.

Off to acquire a pot of coffee and contemplate whether an expansive reading of 'business casual' includes sweatpants.

Also, the 70 degree weather? In February? LOVE IT.

For You, Baby Sister

2009-02-08T22:12:00.001-05:00

The sand between my toes...

2009-02-08T21:12:00.006-05:00

So as awesome as traveling alone is, it's a little hard to get pictures of yourself. Therefore, my tootsies got lots of time in front of the camera.

At the beach.

At the beach. In color.

Wearing sandals! In January!

Ahhhhhh. In the water.Poolside.

Millions of beaches, beaches for me.

2009-02-08T20:52:00.006-05:00

So, the real reason I went to St. Croix: the b-e-a-c-h.

There were three.

A small rocky cove with the best sunset views:

A secluded beach that was well worth the hike (past the misty morning lily pond) to get to:

And my favorite: Mermaid's Cove, where the water was crystal clear, always gentle, and warm enough to swim in before 8am.

The Trip, Part I

2009-02-08T20:07:00.011-05:00

When I left D.C. on Saturday morning, it was 8 degrees. Mere hours later, I was relaxing on my balcony, barefoot, sipping rum punch and watching the sunset over the ocean.

The resort was beautiful. It was originally Alexander Hamilton's childhood home, which of course the historian (ok, nerd) in me loved.

And it was pink!

Mountains! Fountains!

This is (I believe) part of an old sugar mill on the property. I have no idea what that means, but isn't it pretty?

The wrap-around terrace, where I had breakfast each morning. Hot cappuccino and a side of ocean.

And BY FAR the best part of the resort:

The safe, which locked up my blackberry for the duration of the trip. If only I'd "lost" the key in the ocean...

Thirty Seconds of Paradise

2009-02-03T23:35:00.004-05:00

Crank up the volume.

Well, ok. It's 29 seconds of paradise. Pay no attention to the unfortunate fellow who wanders in at second 30.

Dear lady next to me on the train,

2009-01-29T13:56:00.002-05:00

I will admit this is partly my fault. I passed the quiet car, still scarred from The Unfortunate Quiet Car Incident of 07. And really, the problem isn't your talking. No lady, your conversations on your pink Bluetooth (to which I say: bravo) are just weird. Your mortgage? Personal health? Propensity to call yourself Little Girl? Put it in an email.

And. The outfit of fur, side ponytail, and shoes made of yarn? Unfortunate choice.

What? Did something happen while I was gone?

2009-01-21T14:35:00.003-05:00

Back from an absolutely AMAZING trip. Photos and stories to come, but I will say for now: factoring in the wind chill, I was 70 degrees warmer yesterday at breakfast.

On top of it being freezing, I was greeted this morning by a rather large pair of tightie whitey underpants on the sidewalk. So there's that.

Glad you missed me, D.C.

"My" "New" "Favorite" "Blog"

2009-01-07T20:45:00.004-05:00

The Blog of Unnecessary Quotation Marks.

Good, clean, dorky fun.

Our Time Has Come...early.

2009-01-05T22:44:00.004-05:00

Apparently, the party has already begun. My hopes of fleeing town before The Crazy have been dashed, weeks ahead of schedule. If you have "the audacity" to buy a Metro card...

Or to step foot in a station (and get smacked in the face with an Ikea advertising campaign - really, Sweden?)...
...You will see we have already entered the magical land of lollipops and unicorns. Wake me on the 21st.

Christmas 08

2009-01-03T22:08:00.002-05:00

Yeah. This pretty much sums it up.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-03T21:23:00.003-05:00

Maggie decided to start the year off on a clean slate by giving herself a bath.

Have sunblock, will travel

2008-12-22T10:35:00.007-05:00

Millions of Americans may be flooding the streets of D.C. to witness next month's coronation (er, inauguration). But, dear patriots, not me. I am fleeing the city. Good-bye land of empty grocery shelves, cattle car metro trains, and failing cell phone service.

Instead of here:

I will be here:

And here:

Lest you think I am a sore loser who threatens to flee the country because her candidate lost (looking at you, Kerry supporters), rest assured I am traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Happy belated bar trip, self.

All she needs is a bow...

2008-12-22T00:56:00.001-05:00

Merry (week of) Christmas!

Little Elf

2008-12-19T07:26:00.002-05:00

I'm not the only one with a Santa suit.

Be Careful What You Wish For...

2008-12-19T00:12:00.004-05:00

By Portia's request, I am back from an extended blogging hiatus to take part in the Fourth-Fourth photo challenge. Lucky for you, my fourth folder is Christmas, and this gem was fourth in the fourth subfolder from 2004:

I'm not sure it needs explanation, so I'll just leave you with the thought that this picture doesn't even capture the best aspect of the sequined Santa suit: boot covers.

Olympic Pooch

2008-09-15T22:33:00.007-04:00

Maggie spent many hours watching Michael Phelps last month, and was inspired to compete in her own puppy games.

There was soccer...

Football....

Basketball...
Tennis...

And some lesser-known canine Olympic events:

Car-gazing...
Hide & Seek...
Stick-chewing...
And finally, the lost art of rock-gathering...

All that playing is enough to make a pooch tired. Carrying those ears around all day is exhausting enough.

Stay tuned for more Maggie updates, including the fun times when she overpowered a picket fence and a late-night trip to the puppy ER.

Brain, Scrambled.

2008-07-25T14:51:00.002-04:00

I just spelled reasonable "reseanoble" not once, but twice.

Adventures in Moving, Part I

2008-07-22T21:48:00.002-04:00

1. Catchphrase, otherwise known as a 17 pound hunk of plastic, leaped off the top shelf and landed smack on my head. Color me concussed.

2. My clock radio box contained not a clock radio but rather a chic pink rocker wig from Halloween 2006. Am now wearing said wig whilst I pack.

2008-07-15T01:04:00.011-04:00

Taking a study break to finally upload some pictures from graduation week.

Riding the Swan Boats at the Public Garden. This is something I've wanted to do since reading Trumpet of the Swan in the second grade. I was giddy with anticipation, and the swans did not disappoint. It was FANtastic.

Fun on the Duck Boat. We thought we'd try all the bird-water-mobiles.

Splashdown!

Dinner in the North End:

Maggie wore a new sundress for the special occassion:

All the ladies in Plymouth, on our way to the Cape.

Moments later, Maggie chose to stop right next to Plymouth Rock in order to pass the ear from a stuffed animal she had eaten. This was highly traumatic - for Maggie, for me, and for the cars that stopped to stare at the monstrosity that was Terror Poop 2008.

Finally - the beach, Maggie, and The Hat.

Pirate golf. Awesome, but difficult with The Hat.

How many faces?

Actual cap & gown photos:

Um. What?

2008-07-11T09:34:00.004-04:00

So I haven't been sleeping well. At all. And I hate to complain about this, because certain people with babies probably want to sleep more, and it's obnoxious for me to be ranting from my supercomfy bed in my superquiet apartment.

Of course, it's no wonder why I can't sleep. Between worrying about the Bar and the Move, plus the general stress that comes with making a major life change, I've diagnosed myself with restless brain syndrome. Which is fine, except it's extra-hard to study when I'm falling asleep over my flashcards. Boo.

Which is why I was excited to be so bone tired last night that I fell asleep before 10. I then proceeded to wake up twice before midnight, dying of thirst. Then around 2, the power went off. Then at 3, it came back on and went back off. After this, there was no way I was going back to sleep. The sun finally came up and I figured it was acceptable to get out of bed and start the day.

The upside: I had time to whip up a delicious strawberry smoothie before class.

Also, my cable bill is for $.01 - as in, a penny. I'm really too tired to try to figure out why. All I know is my account needs to be paid in full before I can schedule moving my service, so I guess I get to charge one cent.

Summer of Shame

2008-07-10T16:42:00.003-04:00

I think I have a problem.

Two years ago, my roommate and I, heads hung in shame, admitted that we had downloaded Paris Hilton's rockin' ditty. Don't worry, we told ourselves. It's not that bad of a song once you've heard it over and over on the radio. It didn't mean we were bad music people.

Last night I downloaded (read: paid money for) the new New Kids on the Block song. And I <3 it.

I'm addicted to bad summer music.

There are any number of reasons this song should make my ears bleed.
The sheer volume of grammar mistakes in the 3 minute song.
The opening shout out to Jones Beach 1988.
The lyrics certainly violated the anti-stalking legislation of several states.
The idea of the New Kids "touching your body all soaking wet" is nothing short of pedophiliatastic.

And yet, the song is on repeat in my music-I'm-listening-to-now playlist.

Don't judge.

Actually, maybe you should. Interventions should be scheduled so as not to conflict with the Jonas Brothers concert or Hannah Montana.

Fourth of July

2008-07-08T11:00:00.004-04:00

The last day of non-studying came and went far too fast. It was a lot of fun, but sadly the last Thomason-Greer extravaganza for the foreseeable future.

Patriot Babies! As you can see, Eden wasn't too thrilled about her first American celebration. She might have even recoiled at her first American flag.

Greg testing out his newly discovered baby-rotating skills.

Success!

Yummy trifle, courtesy of Martha Stewart. The dish later met an amusing (and violent) ironic end.

Stormin' Through

2008-07-07T19:58:00.004-04:00

No one ever told me that summers in Boston = vicious thunderstorms nearly every afternoon.

Although beautiful, the rain brings along terrible, ruthless headaches. It's kind of hard to study with a jackhammer in one's already-aching and, quite frankly, over-capacity brain.

Harvard Square in the early evening

Water Wars

2008-07-03T17:50:00.003-04:00

So, on Tuesday the Apartment People put a note in the "lobby" to notify residents that they would be coming around this weekend to install new shower heads and sink faucets to "save water" or some nonsense. I thought it odd they would schedule maintenance projects for a weekend - a holiday weekend, no less - and was annoyed that I would have to be decent and somewhat sober the morning after one of my most favorite of holidays.

Imagine my surprise when, Wednesday morning, I'm lying in bed watching the news and I see some strange man appear in the doorway of my bedroom. Not. Cool.

The first thoughts that run through my head, in order:

I'm in my nightgown.
I haven't brushed my hair.
Who the hell is that?

I open my mouth to (one would imagine) scream or yell or something. Instead, I look at him and say "hello?"

HELLO?! What is the matter with me? My years of watching crime shows on TV and enduring hours of self-defense class in college have apparently taught me nothing. When a stranger appears in my bedroom, instead of going all ruthless on him, I instead channel Martha Stewart. Let's be thankful I didn't offer him coffee and scones.

So of course Intruder Man is there to change my fixtures, which he does in record time, and then runs away. No apology for being 3 days early, for showing up in my apartment without the required 24 hours notice, and for being in my bedroom pre-9 a.m.

To top it off, the new "fixtures" have robbed me of my once glorious water pressure. Well guess what, Apartment People? Now I just leave the water running for the heck of it. You can steal my water pressure, but you won't get any water savings out of me.

In sum, I've lost my dignity, my water pressure, and any hope that I will be able to adequately defend myself in the event of an actual home invasion. Time to start training Maggie to be a ferocious guard dog.

The Many Faces of Eden

2008-06-27T10:21:00.002-04:00

More Gratuitous Baby Pics

2008-06-17T17:29:00.004-04:00

I just can't help it.

First car ride, leaving the hospital.
Home!
First diaper change at home, with extra "business" for her dad.

Day Two

2008-06-16T23:53:00.002-04:00

Yep, still gorgeous.

Just look at her little feet and her legs all crossed and lady-like.

Prettiest Girl in the World

2008-06-15T16:05:00.001-04:00

I’ll post photos just as soon as I get some uploaded, but I wanted to pass along the fantastic news.

Baby Eden was born today (Father’s Day) at 12:15pm. She weighed 8 pounds, 10 ounces, and was 20 inches long. She has a head of dark hair, including some gorgeous little curls. All in all, she’s marvelous.

Mom and Dad are also doing very well, and are just in love with their little girl.

Stay tuned for pictures!

- One deliriously happy auntie.

AH!

2008-06-12T11:08:00.002-04:00

Not that federal jurisdiction was particularly interesting on its own, but news has come that baby E will soon be here. Like, in a matter of DAYS.

And. I. Cannot. Stand. It.

I'm beside myself, fidgeting uncontrollably, and undoubtedly annoying all those seated around me. But I don't care. And I really don't care about counterclaims and the Erie doctrine.

I Peaked Late

2008-06-03T09:46:00.003-04:00

After missing 5 weeks of class this semester, and after spending just two weeks cramming for and taking 3 exams, I came out with the highest grades of my law school career. Maybe I should stay in school forever.

And NOW I'm ready for graduation

2008-05-24T21:49:00.003-04:00

Shiny new marvelous shoes.

Also, a fabulous new dress to match. But aren't the shoes more exciting?

Maggie Speaks!

2008-05-22T18:32:00.002-04:00

And then attacks.

Bar Exam Studying

2008-05-22T18:29:00.002-04:00

It has begun.

Accidental Bath

2008-05-18T23:27:00.004-04:00

More vintage Maggie video, finally uploaded.

One of Maggie's favorite pastimes is peeling the bathmat up from the tub - she likes the popping from the suction cups.

Unfortunately for her, Maggie decided to jump in the tub right after I had filled it for a bath. As you can see, she was not prepared for the water.

Off to the side is Katie, rolling on the floor.

Spa Day

2008-05-18T21:05:00.003-04:00

This afternoon my parents took Maggie to have her nails trimmed.

When they went back to pick her up, this is what they found:

New spokespuppy?

Puppy Love Redux

2008-05-14T13:53:00.005-04:00

Because I'm especially missing her today.

Working on a paper:Playing hide & seek under the couch:
Taking a nap on Hillary:
Watching her horse on Ellen. She tivo'd the show and LOVES to watch it over and over.
Playing with her favorite shoe to unlace:
Chewing on something actually meant to be chewed on:
Napping in her gangsta hoodie:
Seriously adorable head tilt:
Morning snuggle under the covers:

Odd things I've dreamt about lately, and their interpretations

2008-05-13T15:06:00.003-04:00

If it makes me any less bizarre (ok, crazy), know that these all came from different dreams.

Drinking a Tall Glass of Milk:

To see milk in your dream symbolizes maternal instincts and motherly love. It also denotes human kindness, wholesomeness, and compassion for new acquaintances. To dream that you are drinking milk signifies domestic bliss and inner nourishment. It may also imply your need to strengthen your ties and relationships with others.

Dead Owls:

To see an owl in your dream symbolizes wisdom, insight and virtue. The owl is also synonymous with death and darkness. To see a dead owl, signifies a narrow escape from desperate illness and death. Death in this sense may also represent a symbolic death, as in an important transition in life.

Shootings:

To see a shooting in your dream, indicates that you have a set goal and know what you are aiming for in life. Your plans are right on target!

Look what showed up on my doorstep yesterday...

2008-05-13T10:47:00.004-04:00

Bee-utiful. Now, if only I had that 2nd piece of paper to complete the set. Just 24 more days...

Puppy Love From Pittsburgh

2008-05-07T07:25:00.003-04:00

Maggie snuck under my dad's desk and destroyed Nancy Pelosi. So cute.

What I love about America

2008-05-07T00:52:00.004-04:00

It's well after midnight, and I am far too tickled to try to sleep. Best night of election returns. Ever.

News anchors are rambling incoherently.
Some podunk mayor from a small town in northwest Indiana is blabbering about something I can't follow.
The commentators, who surely expected to be off the air hours ago, are sneaking bites of cornbread(!) from under the desk.
The mayor of Gary, Indiana is the most sought-after interview of the 1am time block.
Rumors and gossip fly without caution. Will she leave the race? She canceled morning show appearances! Oh the insanity!

Can it please be election season all year round?

Things I Did Before 10am

2008-05-02T10:01:00.003-04:00

1. Watched an unhealthy amount of news.
2. Sorted laundry.
3. Made my bed.
4. Ate a bagel and 2 cups of coffee.
5. Make said bagel and coffee.
6. Washed dishes.
7. Took a shower.
8. Shopped online.
9. Prepared and started a roast and veggies in the crockpot for dinner.
10. Caught-up on blogs I missed while studying/exam'ing yesterday.
11. Started a million lists for baby shower prep.
12. Looked through cookbooks for baby shower hors d'oevres ideas.
13. Took out the trash.

Can you tell I'm still on "hospital time"? The surgeons rounded between 4 and 6am, and my internal clock has not shifted back to normal-people-time yet. I might be destined to keep my 9pm bedtime...

Reason #458 I'm not going to ace tomorrow's Administrative Law Exam

2008-04-30T08:50:00.004-04:00

There's bird sex going on outside my window. Yes, they're getting down n' birdy.

The view from my desk:

And the afterglow:
Any other distractions?

The End of an Era

2008-04-25T11:55:00.001-04:00

Sitting in the last five minutes of my last school class ever. A meaningful post will come, but at this moment, all I can think is: "This is all they're going to teach me? But I don't know any law."

Home

2008-04-08T13:13:00.002-04:00

Thank you so much for all of the thoughts, prayers, phone calls, visits, care packages, flowers, and love that you've shown.

I'm very happy to be home, albeit much later and in considerably more pain than I would have anticipated.

Like most aspects of this little "ordeal," the surgery and recovery carried their own special sets of complications, and my focus now is to keep eating, drinking, and maybe even taking a shower every other day or so.

Incidentally, little miss Maggie had her own little operation yesterday, so we are both home recovering from abdominal surgery together. Despite her woozy state, she insists on being near me and is curled up on my feet soundly dreaming. My dad says we make quite the pair.

A Month In Numbers

2008-03-31T14:17:00.002-04:00

Thus far:

7...Doctor's Visits
3...Trips to the Hospital
9...Different Doctors
1...Liter of ingested barium
4...Liters of ingested "colon cleanse"
2...High radiation CT scans
10...Needle sticks
12... Classes missed
188...Dollars paid on astronomical cell phone bill
0...Percent improvement

Hillary's New Ad

2008-02-29T10:40:00.007-05:00

A montage of innocent children - your children - sleeping warm and snuggly in their beds. Who can save them from the "dangerous world"? Of course, only Hillary Clinton will be around to "answer the phone at 3am."

As a preliminary matter, why exactly is Hillary up at 3am? Waiting for Bill to come home from a date? Finally filing those tax returns?

More importantly, we see clearly that democrats have no problem playing the politics of fear. Can you imagine the uproar if Bush had run this ad? Only because Hillary isn't regularly accused by the press of using fear to scare up votes can she actually continue to use fear to scare up votes.

This is hardly new. Liberals scream and holler that oh-my-god-we're-all-going-to-die-horrible-deaths-if-we-don't-
criminalize-SUVs-and-styrofoam-cups-and-use-corn-to-power-the-
planet. They constantly foist upon the public the picture of an imploding earth, icecaps a' melting, and universal destruction. How is this not politics of fear?

Now that Hillary has so confidently asserted that your children will die unless she is elected, any force that the fear criticism once carried has been most assuredly lost.

Maggie Found A New Toy

2008-02-28T14:30:00.002-05:00

The dog thinks she's a cat. Ignore her eating dust there at the end...

Spa Day

2008-02-23T20:44:00.002-05:00

Maggie had a delightful beauty day: bubble bath, and a professional nail trimming. Because she was such a good girl, and because she has destroyed a good number of her playthings, she was allowed to pick out a new toy. She chose a very cute stuffed elephant with a powerful squeaker...and promptly pulled the tail off of it:

Here Maggie shows off her very pretty, very frilly new pink collar; she was tired of people telling her she's a pretty boy:

Harvard Dog

2008-02-20T22:14:00.001-05:00

Maggie studies Admin. Better than I do.

And Another Toy Bites The Dust

2008-02-18T23:10:00.001-05:00

Talking Heads

2008-02-15T11:02:00.003-05:00

In a tit for tat generally reserved for the playground, Putin responds to Hillary's swipe that he has "no soul" by snarking that "At a minimum, a head of state should have a head."

What are the odds that this will soon be spun into an anti-feminist penis reference?

Apparently the "two-headed monster" now has none.

Babies, babies, everywhere.

2008-02-14T20:55:00.005-05:00

My mom today asked cautiously how my Valentine's Day was going, as I seem to have an incredible penchant for awful Valentine experiences dating back to high school - quite ironic when you consider how much I love the idea of pink, flowers, and everything pretty that goes along with it. Happily, I realized that this has been quite a delightful day. For one thing, I got to meet and snuggle with the incredibly handsome week-old Soren:

The kid is seriously adorable. What better Valentine to have than one who snuggles up on your chest, makes breathy little baby noises, and smells like heaven?

It was also incredible to think that in 115 days, little Baby E will be here to snuggle with. It's so easy to fall in love with any baby, I can't imagine what it's going to be like to meet the little girl who's equal parts two of the best people I've ever known. I'm all teary just thinking about it.

Ok, pull yourselves together. 115 days! There's so much to do! This weekend: stripping the crib, and making some much-needed progress on the baby book.

Finally, an update on my baby: went for a check-up today. I told the vet about Maggie's newfound (or at least newly discovered) penchant for eating objects. At first, he assumed that she had eaten a baby sock. He seemed both horrified and impressed that she in fact swallowed whole one of my socks. Although if I hadn't seen it come out, I wouldn't believe it myself. The verdict: keep anything 'swallowable' hidden or nailed down, and she "should" grow out of. I was kind of hoping to treat the puppy pica with a prescription for puppy prozac.

Obama wins...

2008-02-13T00:41:00.001-05:00

...Latino Voters By Six Points: 53-47
...All Religions (Including Catholics)
...All Age Groups (Including Seniors)
...All Regions
...All Education Levels
...And Women by TWENTY ONE POINTS

That's what we call a frontrunner.

The dog who would be comfortable anywhere.

2008-02-12T23:55:00.003-05:00

Including in a glass mirror tray on my coffee table, on top of a pile of magazines and the remote.

Anatomy of a Maggie Attack

2008-02-12T23:45:00.004-05:00

My sister will never be the same.

Unconditional Love

2008-02-12T23:36:00.004-05:00

I'm no expert, but perhaps the pulling of dangling poopules from your dog's butt qualifies?

From Maggie's perspective, I think it's that she no longer flies around the apartment until it falls off - no, now she comes over, shows it to me, and waits for me to "rectify" the situation. That's love.

Two Weeks Later...

2008-02-09T09:03:00.000-05:00

...the sweatband reappears.

Mid-Lick

2008-02-08T15:46:00.001-05:00

This dog seriously cracks me up.

Big Pimpin'

2008-02-08T14:55:00.000-05:00

Mama Clinton is supposedly hot and bothered about an MSNBC comment that the campaign is pimping out Chelsea. Perhaps the comment wasn't the most tasteful, but it certainly drives at a larger, important point. The Clintons are well-known for "protecting" their daughter from media scrutiny and refusing to allow media interviews; they even go so far as to demand photographs not be displayed.

This would be fine a) if the former first child were indeed a child, or b) if Chelsea hadn't asserted a very visible and prominent role on her mother's campaign stage. The woman is almost 28 years old, far old enough to stand up -- and speak for -- herself. Moreover, she chose to leave a rather quiet and private life to traipse around the country, to stand on stage after stage behind her mother mindlessly clapping along, and to actively campaign for her. First children should get a break from the media, but former first adult children who seek out the attention of media and voters don't get to hide behind Mommy's skirts (or pantsuits) forever.

UPDATE: But suspending the journalist is utterly absurd.

It's (Essentially) Official

2008-02-07T22:10:00.000-05:00

The first time I get to participate in this great institution called democracy -- in person, pulling the lever, punching the ballot -- it will not be for a Republican. Strange feeling.

Maggie Does Her Best Bloodhound Impression

2008-02-07T22:07:00.001-05:00

Super Duper Pooper Scooper Tuesday Partay

2008-02-07T21:57:00.001-05:00

Stars, Stripes, CNN
Rabid Ron Paulites:

Uncle Sam himself:

Good food, good friends, hundreds of delegates. Fun was had by all. Best part: I got to feel Baby E kick! It's about time, little one.

Crazy Eyes

2008-02-03T00:13:00.000-05:00

Do these eyes say I'm-insane-and-just-decided-to-pee-in-
the-bathtub-for-the-hell-of-it?

They should.

Another McCain Top Ten List

2008-01-30T10:26:00.000-05:00

Straight, or Dirty Talk? This is what McCain thinks of conservatives -- conservatives so masochistic, it seems, that they ask for more:

1. Defending His Amnesty Bill, Sen. McCain Lost His Temper And "Screamed, 'F*ck You!' At Texas Sen. John Cornyn" (R-TX). "Presidential hopeful John McCain - who has been dogged for years by questions about his volcanic temper - erupted in an angry, profanity-laced tirade at a fellow Republican senator, sources told The Post yesterday. In a heated dispute over immigration-law overhaul, McCain screamed, 'F--- you!' at Texas Sen. John Cornyn, who had been raising concerns about the legislation. 'This is chickens---stuff,' McCain snapped at Cornyn, according to several people in the room off the Senate floor Thursday. 'You've always been against this bill, and you're just trying to derail it.'" (Charles Hurt, "Raising McCain," New York Post, 5/19/07)

2. In 2000, Sen. McCain Ran An Attack Ad Comparing Then-Gov. George W. Bush To Bill Clinton. SEN. MCCAIN: "I guess it was bound to happen. Governor Bush's campaign is getting desperate, with a negative ad about me. The fact is, I'll use the surplus money to fix Social Security, cut your taxes and pay down the debt. Governor Bush uses all of the surplus for tax cuts, with not one new penny for Social Security or the debt. His ad twists the truth like Clinton. We're all pretty tired of that. As president, I'll be conservative and always tell you the truth. No matter what." (McCain 2000, Campaign Ad, 2/9/00; www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHoXkCprdL4)

3. Sen. McCain Repeatedly Called Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) An "A**hole", Causing A Fellow GOP Senator To Say, "I Didn't Want This Guy Anywhere Near A Trigger." "Why can't McCain win the votes of his own colleagues? To explain, a Republican senator tells this story: at a GOP meeting last fall, McCain erupted out of the blue at the respected Budget Committee chairman, Pete Domenici, saying, 'Only an a--hole would put together a budget like this.' Offended, Domenici stood up and gave a dignified, restrained speech about how in all his years in the Senate, through many heated debates, no one had ever called him that. Another senator might have taken the moment to check his temper. But McCain went on: 'I wouldn't call you an a--hole unless you really were an a--hole.' The Republican senator witnessing the scene had considered supporting McCain for president, but changed his mind. 'I decided,' the senator told Newsweek, 'I didn't want this guy anywhere near a trigger.'" (Evan Thomas, et al., "Senator Hothead," Newsweek, 2/21/00)

4. Sen. McCain Had A Heated Exchange With Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) And Called Him A "F*cking Jerk." "Senators are not used to having their intelligence or integrity challenged by another senator. 'Are you calling me stupid?' Sen. Chuck Grassley once inquired during a debate with McCain over the fate of the Vietnam MIAs, according to a source who was present. 'No,' replied McCain, 'I'm calling you a f---ing jerk!' (Grassley and McCain had no comment.)" (Evan Thomas, et al., "Senator Hothead," Newsweek, 2/21/00)

5. In 1995, Sen. McCain Had A "Scuffle" With 92-Year-Old Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-SC) On The Senate Floor. "In January 1995, McCain was midway through an opening statement at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing when chairman Strom Thurmond asked, 'Is the senator about through?' McCain glared at Thurmond, thanked him for his 'courtesy' (translation: buzz off), and continued on. McCain later confronted Thurmond on the Senate floor. A scuffle ensued, and the two didn't part friends." (Harry Jaffe, "Senator Hothead," The Washingtonian, 2/97)

6. Sen. McCain Accused Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) Of The "Most Egregious Incident" Of Corruption He Had Seen In The Senate. "It escalated when McCain reiterated the charges Oct. 10 in a cross-examination, calling McConnell's actions the 'most egregious incident' demonstrating the appearance of corruption he has ever seen in his Senate career." (Amy Keller, "Attacks Escalate In Depositions," Roll Call, 10/21/02)

7. Sen. McCain Attacked Christian Leaders And Republicans In A Blistering Speech During The 2000 Campaign. MCCAIN: "Unfortunately, Governor Bush is a Pat Robertson Republican who will lose to Al Gore. ... The political tactics of division and slander are not our values... They are corrupting influences on religion and politics, and those who practice them in the name of religion or in the name of the Republican Party or in the name of America shame our faith, our party and our country. Neither party should be defined by pandering to the outer reaches of American politics and the agents of intolerance, whether they be Louis Farrakhan or Al Sharpton on the left, or Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell on the right." (Sen. John McCain, Remarks, Virginia Beach, VA, 2/28/00)

8. Sen. McCain Attacked Vice President Cheney. MCCAIN: "The president listened too much to the Vice President ... Of course, the president bears the ultimate responsibility, but he was very badly served by both the Vice President and, most of all, the Secretary of Defense." (Roger Simon, "McCain Bashes Cheney Over Iraq Policy," The Politico, 1/24/07)

9. Celebrating His First Senate Election In 1986, Sen. McCain Screamed At And Harassed A Young Republican Volunteer. "It was election night 1986, and John McCain had just been elected to the U.S. Senate for the first time. Even so, he was not in a good mood. McCain was yelling at the top of his lungs and poking the chest of a young Republican volunteer who had set up a lectern that was too tall for the 5-foot-9 politician to be seen to advantage, according to a witness to the outburst. 'Here this poor guy is thinking he has done a good job, and he gets a new butt ripped because McCain didn't look good on television,' Jon Hinz told a reporter Thursday. At the time, Hinz was executive director of the Arizona Republican Party. ... Hinz said McCain's treatment of the young campaign worker in 1986 troubled him for years. 'There were an awful lot of people in the room,' Hinz recalled. 'You'd have to stick cotton in your ears not to hear it. He (McCain) was screaming at him, and he was red in the face. It wasn't right, and I was very upset at him.'" (Kris Mayes and Charles Kelly, "Stories Surface On Senator's Demeanor," The Arizona Republic, 11/5/99)

10. Sen. McCain "Publicly Abused" Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL). "[McCain] noted his propensity for passion but insisted that he doesn't 'insult anybody or fly off the handle or anything like that.' This is, quite simply, hogwash. McCain often insults people and flies off the handle... There have been the many times McCain has called reporters 'liars' and 'idiots' when they have had the audacity to ask him unpleasant, but pertinent, questions. McCain once... publicly abused Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama." (Editorial, "There's Something About McCain," The Austin American-Statesman, 1/24/07)

What Conservatives Think About McCain

2008-01-30T10:19:00.000-05:00

Myself included.

[O]ur most liberal, least trustworthy candidate...And the worst part for the Right is that McCain will have won the nomination while ignoring, insulting and, as of this weekend, shamelessly lying about conservatives and conservatism.

You think he supported amnesty six months ago? You think he was squishy on tax cuts and judicial nominees before? Wait until he has the power to anger every conservative in America, and feel good about it.

Every day, he dreams of a world filled with happy Democrats and insulted Republicans.

How about:

John McCain is Bob Dole minus the charm, conservatism and youth. Like McCain, pollsters assured us that Dole was the most "electable" Republican. Unlike McCain, Dole didn't lie all the time while claiming to engage in Straight Talk.

It's going to be a long 9 months.

Pretty Puppy Pic

2008-01-29T19:59:00.000-05:00

I's loves me snowflake.

Last First Day

2008-01-28T20:44:00.000-05:00

Today marked the last first day of school. Ever. Not a bad feeling.

In honor of the occasion, I made it to both classes, mostly prepared, and even participated in both discussions. What a rock star am I.

I think I'm really going to enjoy my Family Law class. We started off with polygamy and same-sex marriage. Professor Suk seems pretty brilliant. For once, we got beyond the racist and bigoted overtures of the Reynolds opinion, and talked about an actual legal theory for prohibiting plural families: that polygamy threatens democracy. I'm still not convinced. You can't be for same-sex marriage but opposed to polygamy. I know, I know, 2 consensual adults (gay or straight) are different than 3. But that's as arbitrary a distinction as saying marriage is only between 2 heterosexual adults, or 2 same-race adults. Where does the distinction come from? I'm more and more convinced we should move marriage (or civil unions) wholly to the "state" side of the wall of separation, and let churches make their own decisions about what constitutes a godly marriage (which is, ultimately, the most important thing). The Reynolds court set it up so marriage fell on both the church and state sides of the wall - they had to in order to uphold the ban on the "barbarous practice" of polygamy - and this is why the religious and governmental aspects of marriage are so intertwined today.

On a lighter note, in my Death Penalty class, we took an opinion poll:

Number of students who support the death penalty: 13
Number opposed: 65
Number who don't know: 8 (seriously?)

Gonna be a fun semester.

Nonetheless, I also spent all day worrying about the lovable pooch's ability to digest one of these that she gulped down last night. Still anxiously awaiting a terrycloth-filled poop. Puppy parenting rocks.

Insane in the membrane

2008-01-25T12:57:00.001-05:00

Maggie forgets that she hates being wet, in order to play in draining bath water:

And then freaks out when she remembers:

The beast is home...

2008-01-24T23:19:00.000-05:00

...and Hillary is dead.

I'm so proud.

Bumpers For Hillary

2008-01-23T23:03:00.000-05:00

Top 10 Reasons I Will Not Vote for Senator McCain

2008-01-20T14:51:00.000-05:00

10. I would vomit in the voting booth.

9. His inability to stand still. Ever.

8. His constant lamenting the spending habits of Congress without mentioning that, oh I don't know, he's been in Congress for over 20 years. Oh hey, let's give you another branch of government to screw up.

7. The 3,743,238 times I've had to hear that he was a POW. I get it.

6. His stupefying (yet ever persistent) insistence that he was the only one who predicted the surge would work. Because no other Republican voted for it, after all.

5. His sheer inability to tell a joke/crazy-old-man-sense-of-humor.

4. Immigration. I'm less concerned with the idiocy of his position than the fact that when he pissed off the entire Republican party (including anyone who ever voted for a Republican, or ever considered voting for a Republican), he stuck his fingers in his ears, hummed a little song, and pretended it didn't happen. Douche.

3. He's old as dirt. Born August 29, 1936, McCain would be 72 upon inauguration -- which means that he would could potentially be in the White House at 80 years old. An octogenarian has a one in five chance of suffering from dementia. One in five.

2. McCain-Feingold. Unconstitutional. Ridiculous. Communist.

1. McCain's inability to realize that he is the problem with this party.

Winter Wonderland

2008-01-17T23:40:00.000-05:00

One of the prettiest snow storms I've seen in New England came Sunday night.

The view out my window Monday morning:

Walking home from campus that night:

And my walk the next morning:

Pretty law school library reflection:

Not that I'm especially happy about it...

2008-01-08T23:30:00.000-05:00

...but my New Hampshire predictions were pretty darn close.

A Guide to Appropriate Reactions Following Tomorrow's Primary:

2008-01-08T00:39:00.000-05:00

Hillary wins:Obama wins (and therefore in accordance with the terms of The Bet, must streak down our street):

Ron Paul wins:

Romney wins (haha - take that KT!):

Only YOU can prevent forest fires. Or, the other national disaster -- McCain wins:

Fantastic (New Hampshire) Voyage: Manchester NH

2008-01-08T00:20:00.000-05:00

Deciding it was time to move on to the "big time," we headed into Manchester, where we found even more Kucinich signs and saw a fight at a ghetto gas station (yes!). As we were about to give up, we stumbled across the Manchester Radisson, aka election central. Signs everywhere, TV vans and cameras lining the streets, and a flurry of Kucinich crazies rallying by themselves on a corner.

The C-Span bus!

The lobby of the Radisson

The news stage set-up just outside of the hotel.

Even better, the Radisson = sign jackpot.

BT finds the Ron Paul sign of his dreams:

...and the Ron Paulmobile

...and his very own sign (emboldened by the power of the sign, BT soon after impersonates a real Paultard and gives fake directions and rally information to a hapless pedestrian).

Though I never could find a Huckabee sign (gee Huck, could that be why you're polling at third place?), I did find something awesome, which now proudly rests on my fridge. Even better.

Fantastic (New Hampshire) Voyage: Bedford NH

2008-01-08T00:00:00.000-05:00

Due to a combination of January Term-slowness, boredom, and the novelty of a major election event just 24 hours and a short drive away, I went with some friends to check out the scene in New Hampshire. Admittedly I'm a big dork, but I found it awesome.

And we're off!

We started in Bedford, NH. Population: approx. 27. Candidate sign count: approx. 7 million.

One of these things is not-like-the-other...

Once in Bedford, we had dinner at the brand new and mostly empty Casa Blanca (interesting name choice, eh?).

Yummmmmmmmm

For dessert, we looked for yard signs to "borrow" and to bring back to the Commonwealth. Unfortunately, our efforts were thwarted by: curious onlookers, an abundance of Dennis Kucinich signs (seriously.), and the mountains of snow:

Christmas Apartment III

2008-01-07T16:50:00.001-05:00

Non-Christmasy pics to come...

Christmas Apartment II

2008-01-07T16:40:00.001-05:00

Christmas Apartment I

2008-01-07T16:22:00.000-05:00

By popular demand...

Christmas Puppy

2008-01-05T23:01:00.001-05:00

My NH Predictions

2008-01-05T22:58:00.000-05:00

On the record:

Democrats: Hillary over Obama, less than 3 points

Republicans: McCain over Huckabee over Romney

Impossible

2007-12-19T21:15:00.000-05:00

How is this studying business supposed to work, when little puppy insists on curling up on my lap, stepping on my laptop and chewing on my casebook? Good luck studying for the bar, KT.

Prettiest Little Girl

2007-12-03T09:46:00.001-05:00

You're A Damned Old Flag

2007-11-12T10:35:00.001-05:00

Remember when liberals thought it oh so funny that the Supreme Court was literally falling apart? Well, now we have one Democratic candidate who won't wear the American flag on his person, and another who causes the stars & stripes to leap to their doom. Four of them. On Veterans Day.

Four large American flags came crashing in front of Senator Clinton as she headed for the door. In a controlled panic, the staffers and the Senator attempted to catch the flags before they fell to the ground.
"I think the bases are not weighted enough." Clinton said as she propped flags back up. One of Clinton's aides quickly summoned the advance man in charge to assist in the crisis.

Clinton's spokesperson shifted back and forth between the cameras and the flag commotion before looking right at the cameras and saying "thanks everyone."

There were no planted questions to worry about, but on this Veterans Day - the flags dropping all around the Senator created quite a stir among the press before Clinton fled the scene.

Not to be outdone, Edwards plans to fashion a ball gown from Old Glory and then set it on fire.

Wrinkles And All

2007-11-12T09:55:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite Sunday pleasures, which was been neglected of late, is the Washington Post magazine in the Sunday Post. In particular, I find endless amusement in the Date Lab column, where the paper pairs two hapless souls for dinner and drinks and then writes about it.

By far, my favorite Date Lab came last week, when WaPo set-up two very...um, feisty septuagenarians.

Libby (71): I saw an older man in a jacket standing outside on the sidewalk and went out to get him. He greeted me with a kiss on the cheek and told me I was beautiful. That set the tone of the evening -- old-fashioned and gentlemanly...To be honest, I'm sort of seeing someone now. I don't know if we're serious, but he saw me in my bathing suit, with my wrinkles and everything, and he's still around...Douglas walked me to my car, told me how to get back onto the highway to get home and then tried to kiss me. He was going for the mouth.

Douglas (72): I'd hoped she'd say: "I've fallen madly in love; let's go home and go to bed."

I'm not sure what tickles me most about the story: that he drank an Old Fashioned, that his dream date is Carol Burnett, the llama farm reference, or that he thought she was 45 years old.

"Blow, blow, thou winter wind."

2007-11-12T09:30:00.000-05:00

How is it that year after year, winter sneaks up on me? I know, I know. It's been weeks since I've gone without a jacket, more than a month since the leaves started changing, and the burble gurgle of the radiator has long become a steady feature of my apartment. And yet yesterday morning, I was wholly unprepared for the cold slap of winter across my face.

So the afternoon was spent cleaning out the closet, swapping tanks for turtlenecks, and dressing the bed in its winter best (including freshly ironed sheets, of course).

I have to admit, I'm not as morose about the impending winter as I usually am. Perhaps its excitement about decorating the apartment for my first adult Christmas. Perhaps its a twinge of nostalgia for my last New England winter. Perhaps its the freedom of not worrying about winter exams. Perhaps its the joy of having a little cuddly puppy to snuggle with at night. Or maybe it's just the knowledge that winter = primaries = a naked bum darting down Irving Street in the snow?

Is that a pedal in your pocket?

2007-10-30T09:46:00.000-04:00

A man has been placed on the sex offenders’ register after being caught trying to have sex with a bicycle... They used a master key to unlock the door and they then observed the accused wearing only a white T-shirt, naked from the waist down. [He] was holding the bike and moving his hips back and forth as if to simulate sex.

Not that I'm pro bike-lovin, but if a man wants to do the dirty with his ten speed in private, should this really be illegal?