Oh, and as for Germany, my husband is in the military. We are stationed at Ramstein, Germany for one more year before heading back to DC (Landstuhl is right here so we regularly see all the wounded troops coming in and out). I am taking time off from being a political consultant (was a pollster) to take care of my kids - my son is autistic and every moment of my day is consumed with how to pull him out of it. As soon as he can be in a regular school, I plan on going back to work since I miss it terribly. Being on this site has definitely helped me see the other side of issues and the passion behind it. It will make me a better consultant and more willing and able to work with Democratic consultants on various projects (the firm I worked for does the Battleground poll w/ Celinda Lak. The Battleground poll is still THE best poll to be watching for changes in the political environment). Off to run errands.

Thanks so much for your kind message. That means a lot since I really was beginning to question whether or not I should stick around. With the election getting closer the tone of the comments are becoming increasingly heated. And while I can understand given the importance of this election, I wish there could be fewer attacks and more talk on the issues. Thanks again! - Chrissy

She apologized, said she meant no ill will- and I told her I was just a bit jumpy.
I'll leave you alone now. Au revoir.

Funny, but it took less than 24 hours for the nastiness I spoke of to return. This popped up in me messages already, Sacre Bleu!:

taxbaby on Aug 30, 2008

FYI, the first black man on the Supreme Court was NOT Clarence Thomas (as your comment on the Sarah Palin thread implies); it was Thurgood Marshall, appointed in 1967 by Democratic President Lyndon B. Johnson.
So, uh, watch out for those political assertions. The Dems had the first female vice presidential nominee too (Geraldine Ferraro in 1984).

Zut!, I don't speak Haitian Creole! Don't speak French, either, for that matter. (That was just a general exclamation of frustration, it wasn't a curse directed at you.) I realize that's not good for a lwa, but........ I kind of got the gist of what you said, and you seemed to be welcoming....
That is appreciated very much. I did wander over to Jezebel much more in the past, but the environment seemed to get pretty hostile, so I wandered off for a while. Don't know for sure, but I decided to wander back; you're welcoming again was appreciated, your friendship will be valued, and I'll see how commenting goes- I do try not to turn into Legba Antibon if I can help it, or if I'm not provoked. S'il vous plaît, do keep in touch, Madame, and merci.

Thanks for the recommendations! It may be a while before I get to them (I have a book queue of about 100), but I'll let you know when I do.

I knew that it would happen eventually. I may be the one person on this site who hates being wrong more than SinRoo; that said, I'm willing to admit when I'm wrong, and I always try to be gracious and reasonable, as I think I was with her. I just wish she could have been the same with me, instead of dealing in condescension and self-righteousness (not to mention error).

Hello there Madam. Thanks for the message! And right back at ya.

solar is totes the way to go! or at least one easy way to being to address our energy needs. nuclear, as much as i dislike the waste, is another clean-sih, efficient, short-term fix. however, it's going to take until the end of the bush admin to make that happen. he's so deep in the pockets of the oil companies, it's not even funny.

i hope they charge bush with high crimes when he leaves office, b/c let's face it, he can't do what other evil dictators do when they fall from power-- move to the south of france-- b/c they hate him even more there!

Oh I totally blame a lot of kid's troubles with attention etc on high fructose corn syrup being in EVERYthing. I really hate it when my daughter's daycare will have "parties" and load them up on soda and candy. I try to teach her that sugar isn't good for you and doesn't help you grow smart but she IS 7, so she takes that in moderation when surrounded by peers gorging themselves on candy lol. However I am glad she takes the info to heart at all.
What I CAME here to mention was along with the HFCS horrors, I've read a lot of studies on how Omega 3-6-9 suppliments are just as good, if not more effective than ritalin. As a vegetarian (and so my daughter doesn't eat a LOT of meat) I worry she doesn't get enough of those so I have her take suppliments. They make them for kids and I really think they're important for kids.
Just thought you might be interested if you hadn't already heard about that.
oh and ps, I totally sympathize with the "when she goes to her dad's" dillema. When my daughter's biological dad was in her life, it was HELL getting her back from him. His idea of being a good dad was buying her cotton candy and letting her watch tv 24/7.
Hang in there. You're heartening to hear from in a parenting standpoint. Raising kids is tough but I firmly believe our effort will pay off.

Thank you for your kind words. :)

And no, not all men are reprehensible -- and those of us who aren't are trying to find a way to eliminate those who are.