The pot calling the kettle an exploiter of children...

Hypocrite:
Pronunciation: 'hi-p&-"krit
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English ypocrite, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin hypocrita, from Greek hypokritEs actor, hypocrite, from hypokrinesthai
1 : a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion
2 : a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings

Did you hear about Rep. Foley in Florida? Read it here. And for more indepth coverage, read here.

Here's a highlight, in case you aren't really going to click the links.

ABC News reported Friday that Foley also engaged in a series of sexually explicit instant messages with current and former teenage male pages. In one message, ABC said, Foley wrote to one page: "Do I make you a little horny?"

In another message, Foley wrote, "You in your boxers, too? ... Well, strip down and get naked."

Foley, as chairman of the Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus, had introduced legislation in July to protect children from exploitation by adults over the Internet. He also sponsored other legislation designed to protect minors from abuse and neglect.

"We track library books better than we do sexual predators," Foley has said.

I believe the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington might need to be a new favorite link for me.

I also have to say that I think it's very unfortunate that a man who exploited children over the Internet was right. This country doesn't do enough to protect our children from sexual predators. Perhaps if a spokesman who wasn't a damn predator himself stepped forward, we might get somewhere.

Oh, wait. Oprah has already done that (powerful video at that link, even if you pretend you're too cool to like Oprah. Which is a pet peeve of mine, actually. Oprah is cool now, so you can stop pretending you're too cool for her.).

Links for Ike

I found these two posts from past anniversaries. Thought it might be fun to read them...I hope I haven't been too repetitive...

8 Years

6 Years

I don't know what happened at 7 years, but I didn't blog about it. I think I wrote you a letter...

9 Years & Counting

As far as I know we don't have a single wedding picture on our computer. We got married in the years before digital cameras and snapfish.com. So I have no picture to document it (except in a big box...), but here you go, Ike. My letter to you and to all the people who read this who probably would rather see pictures of the kids. :)

Nine years ago at this very minute, I was most likely finishing up my dad's pancakes (my dad loves to make pancakes. When I was younger I didn't get that, but now I do. On weekends when I want to give my family a comfort breakfast, I make pancakes too) and preparing to hop in the shower. The bride and her entourage always have to get to the church super-early, so I'm sure I was running a little late.

Today at this very minute, I am checking my email and watching the baby pull things out of the trash can in your office. Incidentally I'm also just about to hop in the shower, but I'm not running late for anything.

What has happened in nine years? Well, as it turns out, nine years is a long time in the world. Think of how much has changed. New president, new gas prices, new terrorism alert... When we got married, there was no code orange or yellow, unless you were talking about the pollen count. Nine years ago, the whole world was just a little more innocent, although I don't think anyone realized it at the time.

We were certainly a little more naive, I think. I had just graduated from college, you had only been out a year. We had crappy jobs at the mall, but we were happy because it meant we could eat lunch together every day. We rented a house in Winston next to two good friends. All of our friends were getting married either the same year we did or the next. A couple of those marriages wouldn't make it, but we had no idea of that at the time. We had one small puppy, who quickly became a big damn dog...one who preferred eating walls to eating dog food and who licked directly from our plates.

Yuck. Yuck. Yuck.

How have we changed? Well, we've both had the opportunity (and passed on the chance) to go to our 10-year high school reunions. This year marks ten years out of college for you. We've gotten better jobs, yours with great hours and benefits, mine with never-ending hours but benefits better than any job outside the home. Who knew this Women's Studies major would decide to stay home with her kids? I'm grateful for the freedom to choose this for our kids. We don't get to eat lunch together every day anymore, but we eat together at night, with a baby who drops more than she eats and a 5-year-old who says, "Yuck, I'm not eating this!" to everything on his plate.

We own our first home and have been here three years. We love it, but we're already seeing that we will outgrow it in a few years. We still have friends getting married and fortunately, we're not seeing nearly as many marriages end. A few friends have had children and we've made new friends with children as well. (A few friends need to get on the ball on this kid thing, by the way, not naming any names...you know who you are.)

We still have two dogs, but they don't live with us right now. We also have two beautiful children, who've enriched our lives more than I realized possible. Neither of them eats through walls, but I think the baby would gladly try dog food if given the chance. And she'd happily lick our plates... :)

Now we are in our 30s. What does that really mean, when in some ways we feel like we're still 21? But...we're also a little more tired than we were then. And happier being home with a movie or a good book.

Friday night was the perfect anniversary date in my mind. We had a chance to try a new restaurant, then go downtown to what in my mind is the best city for us. Not too big, not too small. We had a wonderful dessert, got to hear live jazz, got to daydream about when we'll be able to do that sort of thing every weekend... We got up Saturday to go to breakfast and both read the paper. Well, I read the paper out loud while you tried to read it on your own.

Silly boy. Don't you know by now that I like to talk?? :)

We've survived mornings, childbirths, poverty, bad cooking, lawncare... Hell, we've had an easy life.

It's easy to have an easy life when I'm married to my best friend. I love you. Thank you.

Okay, no fries for Annie

I hate to be paranoid, but the research is out there. French fries are worse than I thought.

From drgreene.com

Preschool French Fries and Breast Cancer

The more servings of French fries that women had eaten way back when they were preschoolers, the more likely they were to develop breast cancer as adults, according to a Harvard study in the August 10, 2005 online International Journal of Cancer. We know that diet and cancer are often linked, and that changes in pre-pubertal breasts could lead to later cancer. This study was based on data spanning over forty years from the Nurses’ Health Study, which follows thousands of nurses over time. The mothers of the nurses were asked to describe their preschool. Out of 30 foods analyzed, French fries were the only food linked to higher breast cancer rates (whole milk during the preschool years was linked to a slightly lower than average rate). For every weekly serving of fries the adult risk of breast cancer rose 27 percent! Even though high fat diets have been associated with increased breast cancer risk, in this study the French fry effect is not just the fat. Other high fat foods such as hot dogs and ice cream were not associated with the increased risk. While this one study is not enough to prove that fries cause cancer, it is consistent with cancer concerns arising from the acrylamide in fries. A survey of the American diet found that for today’s toddlers, French fries are the number one ‘vegetable’ consumed. Fries are the most common side item in kids’ meals. And they are even a top seller in school cafeterias. Breast cancer strikes more than 200,000 women in the U.S. each year.

Here's more on acrylamide:

Acrylamide is in the news today!

Dr. Greene has been concerned about acrylamide since 2002 when The World Health Organization convened an emergency expert panel in to evaluate the potential health threats of acrylamide, a known toxic substance possibly created by heating starchy foods to high temperatures. The initial study in Sweden that suggested starches produce acrylamide, conducted early in 2002, was viewed with skepticism. But the formation of acrylamide in this way has now been confirmed by independent studies in England, Norway, Switzerland, Germany, and the United States.

The WHO expert panel unanimously concluded that the results of these studies are valid. They also unanimously agreed there is a major concern that the levels of acrylamide found in some potato chips and French fries could cause cancer. The amount of acrylamide varies from brand to brand, and between cooking techniques. The Center for Science in the Public Interest has commissioned testing of levels in some US brands. The acrylamide in a large order of fast food fries was at least 300 times the amount allowed by the EPA in a glass of water. One brand studied contained 600 times the EPA amount.

Besides agreeing on their cancer concern, and on the validity of the studies done so far, the panel called for urgent new research to further define the scope of the risk and the extent of the problem. In the meantime, they are urging a balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables, while decreasing the amounts of fried foods. They said it is too early to specify which fried foods should be avoided.

Based on the evidence currently available, I would go further. In good conscience, I could not recommend that children eat French fries, potato chips, or corn chips until further research is in, or until the brand has been tested and found to have low levels. I recognize that French fries and potato chips are favorite items on kids’ menus everywhere, but the benefits just do not justify the risks!

I would also like to see labeling on foods to indicate the presence and amount of acrylamide, so that people can make an informed choice about the risks for themselves and for their kids.

More Pictures from Granny & Papa's

While Ike and I were out celebrating our anniversary Friday night, Annie and Jake were celebrating "siblinghood" at Granny & Papa's house. Here are more pictures Granny sent.

 
 
 
  

Halloween around the corner

Annie and Jake spent Friday night at Granny & Papa's, where Annie got to wear her first Halloween outfit. Here she is posing in it. :) We're still debating what she'll be for Halloween...I'm voting for Tootsie Roll, Ike is pushing for spider.

Maybe she'll just go as "Cute Baby."

First Fever

Annabelle has her first fever today. She's such a quiet, nondemanding baby that it took me all morning to realize she was sick (unlike another baby I knew). She was just a little fussy and wouldn't nap. I could only tell she had a fever because she was hot when I changed her diaper.

Right before we left to pick up Jake from school, I took her temperature (under the arm. I know it's better at this age to do it rectally, but really, when you're sick, do you want your temp taken rectally???) and it read 100 degrees. I added one degree to that like you're supposed to, so it was 101. The nurse at the pediatrician office (this was the first bad experience I've had at this doctor. I had the hardest time getting through to a nurse and seemed to get conflicting information from different nurses. One nurse even acted as if Annie wasn't a patient there...which she has been since birth.) said to give it til tomorrow and if she's still feverish to call again.

She's still not cuddly like Jake always is when he's sick. But I'm finding that I have the same reaction I always do with him. I start to feel sick and I worry and I'm distracted. It's just a virus, I'm sure, but I hate that my baby is sick. :(

In other news, the "bug man" came to spray today. Somehow while he was here we got on the topic of organic foods. He said (citing the recent spinach scare) that he doesn't trust organic foods. It took me an hour or so to think, "Hey, he's the bug guy. Of course he thinks pesticides are good."

And it seems that we have a bear in the backyard. If you're like me, you had no idea a bear was loose in Greensboro. I mean, did they talk about it on The Wiggles? Maya & Miguel? Dragon Tales? If not, then I didn't hear about it. So I was completely caught offguard by the crazy neighbor who knocked on my door Sunday afternoon.

"I swear I heard that bear behind your house on Tuesday."

"Umm...okay. Hi, I'm Becky."

"Hi. Did you hear the bear?"

"The bear? Umm...the bear?"

So she and I stood looking at each other, both thinking the other was crazy. She then told me about the black bear that just conveniently decided to show its face at (of all places) a news station before heading around terrorizing the city. Or something. Smart bear. PR coverage is easy to get when you climb the fence of News 2.

Anyway, she swears she heard the bear here in my backyard last week. Although she actually thought it might be a lion before she knew about the bear...

So I feel pretty confident that we're safe. Well, safe from wildlife. Maybe not from neighbors...

The Two Dads Conversation

Tonight a question was posed while Jake was getting ready for bed.

"Mommy," he said while I was cutting his nails, "why do you have two daddies?"

Well, I went into this long indepth monologue about marriages and love and families and blah blah blah. I didn't actually think I was saying "blah blah blah," but apparently that's what came out of my mouth.

Because it came up again while we sat on the couch with Ike for storytime. Except this time it went like this.

"I think Granddaddy is your only daddy and you're just confused. Because Grandpa is Uncle Eli's daddy and Eli is too young to be an uncle because he's only 8. So he can't be an uncle, I only have one uncle. Eli is a fake uncle. And so you can't have two daddies."

Seriously, that was the logic. I don't get it completely, but in some strange way it makes sense.

I'm just glad we convinced him that he doesn't really need two daddies...

In other news (still about Jake), today was "chore day" for Jake. He worked almost nonstop on different things around the house. After he Windexed the front door, he turned to work on the tv screen.

After cleaning it, he said, "Wow, I can tell the tv is clean because it's a whole new color."

So maybe we should dust the tv more often?

Bad guy at the dinner table...

Tonight at dinner, Jake contemplated an important aspect of his personality...

"I think I am a bad guy."

Now he meant this as "bad guy vs. good guy," not as "bad boy." Just to clarify. Anyway, when we asked him why he would think that, he scrunched up his face, closed his eyes, and starting cackling.

"See? I laugh like a bad guy."

Huh. He's the cutest bad guy with the most adorable bad guy laugh ever. But he'll never hear it from me. I don't want to be his first victim in his plot to destroy the universe...

Forsooth! It's a Tooth!

Annie's first tooth popped through her gums this morning. She's been drooling and chewing on things since she was three months old, so it's been quite a wait.

Yay, we're one step closer to chicken nuggets!

Goodbye

I'm not a politically active person, and I generally keep my politics to myself (and would like for you to do the same on my blog please), but I thought I'd say goodbye to a woman I would have liked to have met.

Something for a rainy day

Having trouble getting anything done on this rainy Wednesday? Let me help make it harder. Here's just five minutes on what can be eaten on a stick.

And here are the outtakes.

I've done my part. The rest of your lazy day is up to you...

4th Annual Farm Fest

Thanks to Kimi for telling us about the Farm Festival at Rising Meadow Farms in Liberty. Today Mom, Annie and I ventured down a long winding road in the country to find a farm filled with sheep, llamas, goats and people. Actually, the people were just there for the festival, they weren't being grown on the farm or anything...

We originally planned to go because it sounded like something Jake would like, but Jake has his first cold of the schoolyear. Like most colds for Jake, this one started off with a low-grade fever for most of the day, so he stayed home with Ike. Us girls headed out on our own for an adventure.

Actually, there wasn't a whole lot of adventure to it. We had a good time and a lot of good conversation, we got to see some friends, Annie got to coo at her first sheep. She tried to eat some grass, she tried homemade root beer and peach ice cream. A very exciting day for a baby. :)

I should also record--probably in its own post--that we've decided Annie has officially said her first words. Both of her grandmothers have noted that we're just waiting for her to say what we want her to say and that she's been talking for months. (Ok, honestly, they're saying that I'm waiting for her to say "mama" first, but fine, fine, I give in.) She's officially saying, "Daddy," "Mama," and "No." She's trying hard to get "Uh oh" out and is dropping lots of toys in her effort to say the phrase, but each time she drops something she gets out either the "Uh" or the "Oh." Not the two together.

And Nana swears she's been saying "Nana" for awhile, too, but I'm not giving in on that one yet.

Here are some pictures from the day.

 
 
 
  

Apple Pictures

Here they are, as promised! Thanks, Granny & Papa, for sending them! :) By the way, we are now down to only about 10 apples...it's amazing how much you can do with an apple...

 
 
 
  

20,000 Apples!!

Jake, Annie and I spent the day Saturday with Granny & Papa at an apple orchard in Wilkesboro (actually, in Moravian Falls). What a beautiful place! The webpage refers to it as a "neighborhood orchard." You know that song, "Over the hills & Through the Woods?" You know, on the way to grandma's house? Well, if you consider your neighborhood to be over the hills, through the woods, up a mountain, along several one-way curving dirt roads, and ending just past a stream with no other houses around...then, yes, it was in a neighborhood...

Jake's ancestor, Isaac Jacob Quigley (for whom Jake was named), owned an apple orchard in Michigan. I told Jake this, so as soon as we got to the orchard, he hopped out and asked where Isaac Jacob was. I told him that he lived at least 100 years ago, which made Jake realize, "You mean he's dead??"

Thinking that maybe we'd stumbled across something potentially painful to discuss, I was worried about how to proceed. But Jake took it in stride, saying, "Okay, then let's go look at his grave." I never quite convinced him that we weren't actually at the same apple orchard owned by his great-great-great grandfather, but I guess that's not important...

We got to tour the apple orchard, where Jake got to pick two apples. The Quigleys picked this orchard specifically for a type of apple they've recently discovered: the Honeycrisp. What a good apple! Just the right mix of sweet and tart. Granny & Papa purchased two bushels of apples, which roughly translates to "20,000 apples," according to Jake. They gave us a little less than half of those, so we've been having apples for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert (this is no exaggeration. I'm not wasting those apples!). Tonight I'm going to make an apple pie and apple muffins for breakfast. Overnight I'm going to let apples cook in the crockpot to make applesauce for Annie. Tomorrow Jake is taking a bag of apples to his teacher.

We are overflowing with apples. It's the perfect time of year for it. Hopefully I'll be able to post pictures from Saturday soon.

Her Mama's Way With Boys...

Well, it looks like Annie is as hard on the boys as I always was. :) Here she is with future husband Zach while he stayed at our house this morning.













And here they are after Zach started crying. Annie obviously didn't know what to do, so right after this picture she crawled up to me as if to say, "Help, Mommy! I made a boy cry!"


Can't help you, babe. Sometimes they do that.