Did Something Good

I can't get the pictures to post anywhere except at the top, so here's one of our little lion, with her little lion.

So I have to admit, I always feel self-conscious at rallies or protests. Well, always, as if I go to one every other week. Let's start over: even back in college, I felt self-conscious. You're basically yelling at no one. I mean, I think it's important, but it's still a little weird.

But... at the No on 8 rally, Gwen's music teacher pulled up at the corner where we were - rallying, I guess you'd call it. And he's a hip, dreadlocked music-teaching-young-children loving guy, and I had literature to hand out, so I ran over to him. In his defense, he wasn't really looking around, and all of a sudden this large redhead is in his car window, yelling "Teacher Jonah! Vote No on 8!" and it's quite possible that I frightened the bejeebers outta him. But after he recognized me (one meeting, mind, even if was only 2 days before,) he looked me in the eye and said, "I don't vote."

I was flabbergasted, stammered apologies, and slunk back to the curb. But I was bummed. I really liked him, but I have a hard respecting someone who doesn't vote. I mean, honestly. Be an adult. I couldn't really think of a way to convince him to vote without being more obnoxious than I already had been, but it bugged me.

Well, today after class, he told me that he had been thinking about it a lot, and talking to his friends, and that he has decided it is really important for him to vote. So he's registered for the first time this century. And he's talking to other people, convincing them to vote this election, too. He says he doesn't even get why we should have to vote to allow adults to marry. You go, Teacher Jonah!

Score.

I'm proud of me - I put myself out there, and it made some impact.

Milestones

Here's my little girl, all dressed up for her first political rally. Her mommy and daddy are so proud!

She rocks those shades, doesn't she? And she loves her some Converse sneaks.

We hit the No on 8 rally on Sunday. I know a lot of the people I love don't always agree with my political views, and those views aren't what this blog is about. But I am compelled to speak up and stand up on this issue. Either we're all equal, or we are all diminished. Less than the people the Founding Fathers wanted us to be. Marriage rights for all citizens probaqbly isn't an issue they considered, but "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" pretty much sums it up. This is AMerica, and there should be no second-rate citizens. If the law grants Jim and I privileges, it damn well should offer them to Cutts and Theresa, and Renee and Chris, and anyone else who wants them. Period.

So we went to the rally. Mama waved a sign and handed out literature, Gwen chased the other kids and dogs at the rally, and Dad chased Gwen. Then we had pizza. And now it turns out that we get to go to a wedding on November 1st. Congratulations, Chris, Renee, Jackson and Addison!

But the other cool thing that happened this weekend is that Gwen started drinking from a cup. I''ve been worrying that I haven't given her enough practice doing this, but she and Jim made a game out of it this weekend, using shot glasses since they fit her hands better. And she did great! It's now her official preferred way to drink water, although we're hanging onto the sippies until she stops tipping the water out every second sip.

She's about due for the next night time routine, but I have to say I'm enjoying her latest distraction technique - I turn out the light, she snuggles on to her chest, and then showers me with kisses on my face and neck. Can't go to sleep, Mama, because I luuuuuvvvvv you so much!