MysteryMommy

Holy Guacamole, it's been a week!

2009-11-27T09:59:00.002-05:00

What have I missed telling you about?

The LCDC Harvest Dinner was bountiful and a lovely chance to thank all the volunteerific volunteers.

Driving to my mom's was a rain-fest, but fine.

Thanksgiving at my mom's is a wonderful family-filled food-fest. It is still on-going, so I will leave you with that.

Happy Thanksgiving week to you all.

Thinking about Hunter Mill & Sterling & DAD

2009-11-20T10:30:00.003-05:00

And what they have in common:

Welcoming all comers who share their sense of purpose.
Making excuses to get together rather than making excuses not to attend
Enjoying the journey as well as looking forward to the destination
Looking for ways to pitch in
Speaking up
Finding solutions
Encouraging enthusiasm
Growing membership even in tough political years.
(Sterling and DAD) Holding meetings at local restaurants - helps local businesses as well as boosting attendance.

What do your organizations do to boost membership and attendance? What could they be doing better?

I can't tell you WHY this is funny

2009-11-19T09:21:00.002-05:00

But take my word for it, it's totally hilarious that there was a lack of a quorum.

I am laughing and laughing and laughing.

And speaking of District Committees...

2009-11-18T10:31:00.002-05:00

The Sterling District Committee is the hardest working, most enthusiastic, most volunteerific committee in Loudoun. They have a crew of people who staff the polls. A crew of people who walk and call and stuff envelopes and work back-to-school nights. A crew of people who work their butts off. MS and I never had to ask them for anything, every time we thought of something for them to do...we'd turn around and there they were

ALREADY DOING IT.

I was honored to work with you all.

You swine!

2009-11-16T16:37:00.002-05:00

No, I haven't got it, but many of my friends do, so here is a list of books to read while feeling swinish.

Josephine Tey, The Franchise Affair. Also, Daughter of Time.
Georgette Heyer, A Lady of Quality, also Frederica
Charlaine Harris, Shakespeare's Champion
Reginald Hill, The Wood Beyond
J.F. Federspiel, The Ballad of Typhoid Mary
Laurie Colwin, Home Cooking

I love the Hunter Mill Democratic Committee

2009-11-15T21:27:00.002-05:00

I love it. LOVE. IT.

The enthusiasm and genuine excitement of that committee is just infectious. I can't kvell enough over them, and hope that I get to work with them a whole lot more in future.

Photo Goes Here

2009-11-12T23:11:00.002-05:00

MM got a haircut on Saturday, but before going to get it cut, he got into his Halloween costume and we took pictures. Because we didn't get any pictures of him in his costume on Halloween.

He was Harry Potter.

According to my mom, he was Harry Potter. As they went around DC and to museums and into restaurants, people stopped them and took pictures. Little kids squealed with delight to see him. It was like being with a rock star.

So before his hair cut, we took pictures of him and then he said, "Mommy, I don't want you to put these up on your blog."

...

So, submitted for your approval, this word picture: A slender seven-year-old with shaggy dark hair, a lightning-shaped scar drawn tastefully on his forehead with lip-pencil, wearing Gryffindor robes, a white shirt, a rep tie, dark pants, dress shoes, and over-sized round glasses.

This was a comment in reply to Josh, but it got a bit lengthy.

2009-11-12T09:24:00.002-05:00

Actually, Josh, what I want is everyone to have access to health care. Everyone. All over the world. With no barriers caused by financial issues.

What I want is Universal Health Care.

I don't care if it's government provided, though that's the easiest way to get there.

I want what Sweden has. I want what Japan has. I want what, yes, France has.

I want a country where no one has to choose between necessary health care and their next meal.

And I have to tell you, Josh, that coverage of abortion, and pelvic exams (not covered under the new law) and birth control is necessary health care to 51% of Americans. Especially when prostate exams are covered.

Not to mention that EVERY OTHER INDUSTRIALIZED NATION has government sponsored health care, and that, therefore, their businesses are at a financial advantage over ours since they don't have to pay outrageous sums to cover their employees.

Now, you may say, "Yeah, but look at their taxes!" and then I say: add up every penny you pay for things that their taxes cover and please realize that you are paying MORE than they are. As a nation, we are all paying more than any other industrialized nation for coverage with fewer people covered, shorter life spans, and poorer health outcomes.

Paying more for less? That's the American Way!

Thank you

2009-11-11T10:23:00.002-05:00

Thank you for wearing the uniform. For going through training. For risking your lives and bodies.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Dear Democratic Members of Congress

2009-11-10T09:59:00.004-05:00

I'm not sending this to my own congressional critter, Frank Wolf, because he's a tea-bagger. I'm making it an open letter to you instead.

I am a woman.

I am a hard-working Democratic advocate.

I ring doorbells. I make phonecalls. I hand out literature at the polls and on back-to-school-nights. And not just for my husband, but for every single democratic candidate for the last eight years.

I want healthcare reform. Actually, what I really want is universal health care, single-payer style, but I'll take what I can get.

I can get better than this.

You say your bill covers 95% of Americans.

But the Stupak amendment leaves me, and every citizen capable of getting pregnant, uncovered.

I am FURIOUS that you would vote for this amendment and this bill. How DARE you bargain with my body, my life, my health.

And what did you get for it? This bargain? Did Republicans come flocking to vote for the bill? No.

You are not going to get the Republicans to vote for any health care bill. You're not. Just face that and move on. Since you're not going to get that, why don't you try this: Go back to Square One. Universal Health Care. Single-Payer style. Medicare for Everyone. Starting at Birth. And women's health covered too.

Don't make me regret working to get Democrats elected. All Democratic candidates, not just the one I'm married to.

Not on the word-study list...

2009-11-09T16:40:00.002-05:00

The word "pour".

But we did have "poor". "Poor is?" I asked.
"Not having any money!" they said.
"Okay. It also means 'not doing well.'" I amplified.
"It also means pouring water!" said AnxiousToPlease.
"Oooh! That's a homophone! A word that sounds like this word, but isn't." I said. "Here's 'pour'. P-O-U-R. We're not doing this one this week but I'll show you a trick. See that 'u'? That's a cup. Fill it with water and pour it out. Now look at 'poor'. P-O-O-R. Those two Os are pennies."
Nods all around.

We had a similar discussion over "four" and "for". If you are curious, "four" has four letters.

Made a TON of new friends over the last few months

2009-11-09T15:30:00.000-05:00

See?

Went on a walk with a friend

2009-11-09T15:25:00.002-05:00

When we got back, my friend was winded. Not a very long walk either. I think I need to put him on the Political Activist Workout.

Snark attack

2009-11-05T10:52:00.003-05:00

So an ex-neighbor of mine at the old house sent out a snarky email to a neighborhood email list about us. I replied to the entire list with maximum cheerfulness and a side of snark (aggressively ignoring that he meant to be a meany, I mean)...

...and he took offence.

Which leads me to ask of you, my friends, what causes people to get offended when the person they are trying to attack takes the middle road of neither ignoring nor lashing out? Is it because responding with good humor makes the attacker look ridiculous?

Your thoughts?

Dammit, Maine!

2009-11-04T10:59:00.000-05:00

How can civil rights be something that can be put up for a vote?

Well, There's Always 2011.

2009-11-03T22:21:00.004-05:00

We didn't quite make it. We did better than the top of the ticket in the precincts I checked, but we didn't do well enough.

Our ground game was phenomenal, and I just can't even begin to describe how blessed I feel to have worked with so many terrific people. Our wonderful staff, the Unions, the Young Dems, NARAL, the volunteers of all ages, and everyone who helped in any way. Including many of you.

Thank you.

Today's the Day!

2009-11-03T06:00:00.003-05:00

VOTE

Or suffer the wrath of The Doorbell Queen

I've already blown NaBloWriMo

2009-11-02T09:51:00.003-05:00

Yesterday was a whirlwind of meeting-and-greeting, walkingwalkingwalking, and dialing-and-smiling. My computer only saw me when I Googled up a map and the weather and checked my email.

Today, I'm at work. MM & QuiltsAlot are out on the town, probably going skating. Tonight we're having Midnight Madness - our phenomenal volunteers are going to do a last minute GOTV push.

If you're in VA, NJ, WA, NY-23, and ME, don't forget to vote tomorrow!!

My endorsements*:
VA: Deeds for Governer, Wagner for Lt. Gov., Shannon for Atty General, and (in the 86th) Miller for Delegate. Everywhere else, please vote for the Democratic candidate (if there is one) for the House of Delegates. Remember that redistricting is coming up!

NJ: Corzine

WA: YES (approve) on Ref. 71

NY-23: Owens

ME: No on 1

*DISCLOSURE NOTICE: I am married to this guy. I have no close ties to any of the other candidates I'm endorsing.

Our ground game is phenomenal

2009-10-31T22:16:00.002-04:00

Our campaign knocked on over 5000 doors TODAY.

FIVE THOUSAND doors TODAY.

Four thousand of those were knocked on by Young Dems from 3 nearby universities. I am so grateful to everyone who came out.

I did 106.

Then I made some calls to Obama voters.

Now I'm going to bed.

In my car right now

2009-10-30T13:56:00.002-04:00

Is everything MM needs for the weekend. He's spending it with QuiltsALot and TellsDonaldDuckStories. They'll be ~~canvassing~~trick-or-treating with TellsDonaldDuckStories youngest brother's family (my cousins are MM's age); going to museums; and swimming in the hotel's indoor pool.

Am I jealous? YOU BETCHA!

Meanwhile, I'll be ~~trick-or-treating~~canvassing my heart out.

MM & QuiltsALot will rejoin us Sunday night (TDDS is going back to work in The City) and will be exploring our area until Tuesday evenings Watch Party.

I miss him already.

It's a BUY-cott!

2009-10-27T13:16:00.002-04:00

Please ask your school's library to order Love Ya Bunches for their Scholastic Book Sale. And then buy it. Buy two. Buy seven.

Because Scholastic needs to learn that families come in all shapes and sizes: some have a mom and a dad; some have just a mom or a dad; some have no mom or dad, but a grandparent or other guardian; some have two moms or two dads; some, like my family of origin, have two moms AND two dads. They are all still families, and they should be represented in books for sale at the fair. Especially if a book WOULD have been represented if the family had heteronormative parents.

When I was young*, I loved reading Paula Danziger's books, especially The Divorce Express (I still have my autographed copy), because it was such a joy to see MY FAMILY represented in a book (the main character, Phoebe, has parents who share custody - and their starting custody arrangement was the one my family had for my entire childhood)

So join the BUY-cott! Ask for Luv Ya Bunches, and then buy it.

*Who am I kidding? I still read it at least once a year!

7 days left

2009-10-27T11:07:00.002-04:00

Holy guacamole.

The Governor was a total sweetie last night. Talked with Muffin Man and made him laugh.

We had about 60 volunteers show up for the event and then boom! it was a walking/calling/envelope stuffing extravaganza!

Did I mention that thing about there being only SEVEN! DAYS! LEFT!?

Holy guacamole

Meet the Governor!

2009-10-26T11:57:00.002-04:00

Where: Miller for Delegate HQ 22360 S. Sterling Blvd. in Sterling
When: Monday 10/26 (TONIGHT!) @ 4:30 PM

Come on out and rally for GOTV!

Putting People First

2009-10-22T09:45:00.004-04:00

With thanks to my many friends who have talked to me about this, both in person and on various blogs - especially Dave from Rolling Around in My Head and laureldhel from Hoyden About Town.

Putting people first means saying "children with autism" instead of "autistic children" and "people with disabilities" instead of "the disabled".

Remember, just because someone has autism or is disabled doesn't mean that that is the be-all end-all of that person's existence. Zie may also be a baseball player, or a brilliant writer, or love music, or be a die-hard Skins fan, or root for anyone who plays against the Yankees, or all of the above. Zie may have problems unrelated to disability or have an otherwise perfect life. But the point is, zie is a person.

I have found, facing my own biases, that this word order matters. The more I use person-first language, the more I am able to recognize that there is more to a person than the thing that makes that person different from me, whether that difference is in gender, or mobility, or sexual orientation, or heritage, or education level.

Everyone has their own "I Am..." list. Putting people first is a good way to acknowledge that.

More MM

2009-10-19T10:55:00.003-04:00

He's become fond of a certain singer who was embarrassed on national tv recently. I, getting sick of hunting for her music on the radio for him, bought him her CD and we are listening to tracks 3 and 6 ad nauseam. When I was his age, I was obsessed with The Monkees, and wished my name were Valleri, so I now owe my mom an apology.
It turns out he had homework this weekend (work he hadn't finished last week) and didn't do it. He did inherit my genes after all.
He's gotten blase about my volunteering in his class, and did the eyeroll at me when I kissed him goodbye. Well, excuuuuuuse me, Mr. ClungToMeLikeABabyChimpWhenILeftLastWeek.
He opted to bring his lunch today, which would have been fine if we'd discussed it yesterday MORNING instead of yesterday evening. In his bag, 2 hard-boiled eggs, some bread-and-butter, some Halloween candy (yeah, yeah), a juice pouch, and some grapes for snack. Not bad as it goes, but it's a darned good thing we had eggs in the house.
He's a great big ham and I love him to pieces.