Celebrating 35 years

After a fabulous weekend followed by a much-needed extra day to recover, my week has gotten off to a great start. As you can imagine, my work day was a little hectic since today was the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, but it's days like today that remind me how lucky I am to have a job I love.

Here are a few highlights from Roe day 2008:

--As usual I stayed up too late, but once I got my ass out of bed, I was very pleased to see my boss quoted in a front-page story in the Post.

--Last week I worked with one of our members in Pennsylvania to write an op/ed and have it placed in their local paper. Not only was the member thrilled, but also the paper liked it and agreed to print it today as part of their Roe coverage.

--In addition to handling press calls, I was able to break up my day by accompanying my boss to FOX News to tape a segment for their evening news broadcast. Usually my boss goes on these calls alone so it was a really unexpected outing, but a lovely learning experience.

--I wrapped up my night catching up with friends and toasting each other and the day at a happy hour in Adams Morgan. Walking home, I couldn't help but be thankful for all the blessings in my life and the wonderful week ahead.

Don't drink and dial...or text...or email...

So tragic...so true.

I. FEEL. HER. PAIN.

Grace is Gone

I went to a screening of the new John Cusack film “Grace is Gone” last night, and I have to say, I wasn’t wowed. These days, I’m really looking to be wowed.

I had high hopes. This event was at the National Press Club and sponsored by TAPS, a nonprofit organization offering assistance and support to survivors who have lost loved ones in military service. At the beginning of the night, they asked all the people who had lost a loved one in the military to stand, and the number of people was astounding. Before the film, we were addressed by Warren Pellegrin, a father of four who lost his wife and had consulted with Cusack as he researched the role. With all this in mind I was expecting to be moved. I was expecting to not just cry, but sob. I was expecting to not just see a fictional family, but a personification of Pellegrin and the other families sitting around me. I had an image in my head of the real people who have answered the door and heard that their loved ones were truly gone.

Throughout the relatively short film (running time: 85 minutes) I kept waiting for it to hit me. We had each been given a goody bag complete with popcorn, snacks, and tissues so I expected I would need them. It didn’t take long for people around me to start sobbing. I have to say, I am a pretty emotional person and it doesn’t take much to make me tear up, but it just wasn’t happening. I started to wonder if something was wrong with me. Am I jaded and bitter to the human experience? Does death—the death of a beloved wife and mother no less—not move me? Out of guilt I started to think about my own mother (who has never served in the military, but is still my mom…I was reaching here to relate and experience the pain!) and then it dawned on me: if it really took all that effort, it wasn’t worth it.

I wanted a real experience. I wanted to leave with renewed frustration about the war and heartbroken over the loss of life. Don’t get me wrong, I am truly humbled and devastated by the brave men and women who serve, and in some cases give their lives for our country. I attended a military funeral at Arlington National Cemetery last week and was impressed with the honor and ceremony, and perhaps I hoped to see something similar onscreen. But, maybe that wasn’t the purpose of the film. What “Grace” does do is portray pure blinding, immobilizing grief. It depicts the type of sorrow that renders you helpless, irrational, and unable to function. In that capacity, Cusack shines.

HUCKABEE/CHRIST '08

In honor of Mike Huckabee's victory in Iowa, this is a few weeks old, but still made me chuckle.

Via The Huffington Post:

Huckabee Chooses Jesus as Running Mate

In a bold move that could dramatically alter the playing field of the 2008 G.O.P. presidential race, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee today named Jesus Christ as his vice presidential running mate.

Governor Huckabee has made an increasing number of comments about his relationship with Jesus in recent debates, but few Republican insiders expected him to announce that he was anointing Christ as his vice presidential pick.

"This could be huge for Huckabee," said Stenson Partridge, a veteran G.O.P. consultant. "Among Republican voters, Jesus Christ is even more popular than Ronald Reagan."

The Reverend Pat Robertson, a supporter of former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani, said he was "blindsided" by the news of Huckabee's decision: "I talked to Jesus last night and He didn't mention anything about it."

At a raucous Huckabee rally in Davenport, Iowa today, supporters of the former Arkansas governor could be seen holding signs reading "HUCKABEE/CHRIST '08."

It is "highly unorthodox" for a presidential candidate to select a vice presidential running mate who is a prominent figure in the Holy Bible, says Davis Logsdon, dean of the School of Divinity at the University of Minnesota.

But according to Mr. Logsdon, if the Huckabee-Christ ticket makes it all the way to the White House, it could be historic in more ways than one: "If Huckabee is elected and then something happens to him while in office, we would be looking at our first Jewish president."

Fetus Gifts - Just in Time for the Holidays

Oh, the things I come across at work...

Via: MissPoppy.com

Unborn Baby Ornament - US Troop Model

Protect our troops - from the womb to the war. What if the fetus you were going to abort would grow up to be a soldier bringing democracy to a godless dictatorship?

Plastic replica of an 11-12 week old fetus, 3" long, holding a firearm in its precious little hand, with an assortment of other military paraphernalia, encased in a translucent plastic ornament, with a patriotic yellow ribbon on top. Includes a metal ornament hanger. If only a womb were this safe, attractive and reasonably priced!

Show that you support the "culture of life" by buying and proudly displaying one of these patriotic unborn Americans.

Also available in a "Brown" model

Note to the confused:This is a real product, from a real site. The product is a satire, but it is also a real product - FOR SALE. This is a real store.

Price:
$ 14.95

Southbound 35...to hell?

I don’t know if I’m more disturbed or entertained by this.

I came across an article today about the “Highway of Holiness” campaign in which a group of Christians are holding prayer vigils and "purity sieges" to save those at bars, gay clubs and abortion clinics in cities along I-35 from Laredo to Duluth. The group claims the highway is specifically mentioned in the Bible and it is their job to reclaim it for Christ.

According to Light The Highway, the worldwide movement is driving thousands to prayer on the interstate. Christians said the Old Testament's book of Isaiah prophesizes I-35 will be the United States' "Highway of Holiness."

Still, all hope isn't lost: other Christians even think this campaign is a little off:

Pastor Greg McDonell of Central Presbyterian Church advertises a congregation accepting of all, including homosexuals. McDonell said though he loves all his Christian brothers and sisters, the Isaiah connection to I-35 is not only absurd, but the movement is misguided. He said so much prayer should go toward helping those who are hungry and sick.

Read the full story here: http://www.kxan.com/Global/story.asp?S=7446247&nav=0s3d

It's late and I'm feeling so tired...having trouble sleeping...

Life is full of beautiful complications. You’d think I’d be used to it by now, but more and more I can’t fight the feeling that I just don’t know the rules. I feel like my friend Adrian who once evaded a ticket from an undercover TABC officer breaking up a party at his apartment by explaining that “he was not from this country…he didn’t know the rules.” Years later I can still hear him saying those words, and lately I find myself laughing inside and crying out “I don’t know the rules.”

How did I get here? Where am I going? If only I could pick a course and focus…but I am driven to distraction.