Mother Talkers

Monday Open Thread

by Elisa

Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 08:30:10 AM PDT

In case you missed it, Sen. Barack Obama won the Wyoming caucus on Saturday, 61 to 38 percent, according to CNN.

Also, I missed watching the returns as I sat on a panel with BlogHer CEO Lisa Stone and Silicon Valley Moms Blog editor Jill Asher to discuss the broad topic women in blogging. We spoke about how we started our blogs and where we saw it all going.

The event in San Francisco was put on by Yahoo, which plans to enter this space. The online behemoth plans to launch a website for and by women, which will include the content of bloggers, including parenting blogs. Yahoo encouraged all bloggers to register with the new portal, dubbed "Shine," and contribute content with the promise of possibly being promoted to the front page -- similar to the diary function on MotherTalkers. (Hey, the more, the merrier!) Shine is to launch by the end of this month.

What is up with you?  

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Tags: Wyoming caucus, Sen, Barack Obama (all tags)

Permalink | 60 comments

  • Explosive diarrhea (0 / 0)

    That is what my child was stricken with last week. It was very sad for all involved. He ended up staying home most of the week and missing his school field trip to Nemo on Ice, which he'd been looking forward to for MONTHS. Since he missed his school field trip, and was really a brave trooper about the whole thing, I had to bring him myself this weekend. Which meant we had to endure the assault of extremely overpriced merchandise (which would not have happened if he were on a school trip-- no kids would bring money, no parents would be there to ask for money, etc.). TEN DOLLARS for popcorn? How could I explain to my child that there is no way I'd spend ten dollars for a bucket of popcorn? I did the best I could but he still cried during intermission. The woman next to us felt so sorry for us she gave him some cotton candy, which made everyone happy. She had bought a $6 bag of cotton candy for each of her four kids, and only two ate theirs, and she couldn't eat it because she was diabetic, so it worked out well for all involved. Thank you, kind stranger!

    by minnmom on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 11:31:32 AM PDT

    • Ugh (0 / 0)

      Awful!!!  And missing Nemo on Ice!  How nice for taking him and making it up to him.  I heard that show is awesome.

      by NJmom on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 11:37:33 AM PDT

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    • Stomach illnesses (0 / 0)

      That's a miserable week. Poor you guys. Now, hopefully, you're all stronger for it.

      Last winter our whole town got 6 or 7 different stomach flus
      . People were even testing their water to see what was up, but it was just flu. This year, everyone seems to be resisting the stomach flus.

      by tarantula on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 11:40:39 AM PDT

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    • Poor guy... (0 / 0)

      stomach bugs are no fun. But here's a pat on the back to you for braving the mobs at the show and merchandise sales. I swear, all those vendors are out to get parents!

      MotherTalkers moderator and mom to Aristotle "Ari", 11/03, and Elisandra "Eli", 04/07.

      by Elisa on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 12:04:03 PM PDT

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    • OH man (0 / 0)

      stomach things are the worst. Sorry for your little guy and hope he is feeling well now.

      Mom of twins, DD and DS, born 12/96

      by Lisa in Austin on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 01:57:45 PM PDT

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    • gotta agree (0 / 0)

      with everyone else, stomach bugs are the worst. kudos to you for taking him to the show over the weekend. i'm sure he appreciated it and the gift of cotton candy. i still love cotton candy, btw. i love the way it melts in my mouth. yum!!

      by Stacey on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 07:44:32 PM PDT

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  • Dry wall and gardening. (0 / 0)

    Tis the season in CA for home improvements and hikes. It's gorgeous around here.

    by tarantula on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 11:41:49 AM PDT

  • Wallpaper: Why oh why? (0 / 0)

    We bought my MIL's house, which is about 20 years old, and half-filled with pastel, 80s style wallpaper.  It hurts my eyes to see it.  I finally got it down in the entryway and repainted and I'd like to pull the couch in & live there for awhile.  Now I'm up on a ladder pulling down the country blue baskets & flowers that line the wall above the cabinets in the kitchen.  Please, for the love of Nate Berkus, step away from the wallpaper, people!

    Gus (7/06), Susanna (due 11/08)

    by cynmill on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 11:59:32 AM PDT

    • the worst! (0 / 0)

      Oh lord, wallpaper. We just bought a house and came off of a six-month house hunt.  Most of the houses were about fifty years old in the towns we were looking at.

      OMG.  The wallpaper in those houses.  Layers upon layers.  It was out of control.  Not just one room.  Or two, or three.  All of the rooms, the ceilings.  

      No offense to anyone who has wallpaper, we have one room of it right now actually, but it really needs to never come back in style.

      by NJmom on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 05:09:06 PM PDT

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      • we have painted over wallpaper (0 / 0)

        in some of the rooms in our old house. you can see the seams. i did have one satisfying day of pulling the floral wallpaper off the walls in our bathroom. i was amazed at how easily it came off. i know it can be a real pain. hope yours comes off easily too cynmill!

        by Stacey on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 07:49:03 PM PDT

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      • wallpaper is making a comeback! (0 / 0)

        article in sf paper over weekend.  however wall paper co's are making them easier to put up and take down...

        my 2 NJ houses were filled with it..and yes i was responsible.  both victorian houses and i loved the papers.  west coast...never see it, but i think that will change given above trend.

        by parentalunit1 on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 08:31:08 AM PDT

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        • I saved that article! (0 / 0)

          I was totally thinking, what can I wall paper around here?

          I have a wall that is quite large and not too close to any furniture groupings. I have long had a fantasy of papering it a large overexposured or filtered (so it's not too in your face with too much color) photograph of a field of California poppies. My husband thinks I'm completely crazy. But our house is mid century modern in style with two glass walls in this room, with views of those perfect California hills, so I think it could work. The ladies in this article might agree with me ;).

          Victorian houses cry out for wallpaper. I helped my cousin paper her dining and living rooms in her Victorian down on her family farm. It looked great.

          by RachelD on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 01:33:32 PM PDT

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  • Spitzer! (0 / 0)

    Oh my holy hell...

    Mom of two - Sally (4-02) and Sam (8-04). Sam has a central I.V. line & a g-tube.

    by GiGi on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 12:01:40 PM PDT

    • I just heard about that... (0 / 0)

      holy CRAP!

      MotherTalkers moderator and mom to Aristotle "Ari", 11/03, and Elisandra "Eli", 04/07.

      by Elisa on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 12:04:38 PM PDT

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    • Holy hell is right! (0 / 0)

      For $5500 per hour, I could pay off my student loans in 15 hours! :)

      by minnmom on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 12:19:44 PM PDT

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    • Jaysus! n/t (0 / 0)

      Mom to Grant, 8 and Madeline, 5 1/2

      by 1plain1peanut on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 12:38:05 PM PDT

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    • Yet another thing I don't get (0 / 0)

      I have no doubt he could get a perfectly good mistress who wouldn't kiss & tell, for free.  

      What in the world are these people thinking?

      Katherine, mom to two boys 7/00 and 1/04

      by pat of butter in a sea of grits on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 12:40:49 PM PDT

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    • So disappointing (0 / 0)

      I thought he was going to make a great pres or vp nominee at some point.  To throw it all away for hookers is disgraceful.  It's b.s. like this that has gotten me out of politics.

      by coobert on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 12:47:40 PM PDT

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    • was so going to post on this (0 / 0)

      I'm just so damn disappointed. This is the US where adultery is the worst sin a politican can commit. You may not like the rules, but rules they are. And the irony of this is this is a guy who went after prostitution rings as AG. I gotta say, if I was one of those defendents put away, I'm asking for a retrial because of a suspicion that Spitzer could have been biased (prosecutorial misconduct).

      What an effing, effing idiot. How sad for his children.

      by Rachel on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 02:37:59 PM PDT

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    • what a g/d moron. (0 / 0)

      That man had a bright, bright future in the Democratic Party, and he just blew it over sex.  Jeez, man, have you never met your hand?  HONESTLY.

      For the record, I would NEVER stand up on the podium for this, good political wife or not.  He doesn't deserve that type of loyalty.

      Idiot.

      Mom to DD, 3yo, and DS, on the way (Sept 08)

      by tessajp on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 02:52:24 PM PDT

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      • snort... (0 / 0)

        Tea coming out of my nose...

        Mum to DD, born 6/04 and DS, born 4/06, and no more!

        by aussieyank on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 03:48:02 PM PDT

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      • felt so bad for her and the children (0 / 0)

        this is something no kid ever deserves to have happen.

        Seriously. How effed up is that!? He's finished; even if he doesn't resign, the state Republicans have him by the short and curlies. Senate Minority Leader John Bruno is probably ecstatic.

        Moron.

        by Rachel on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 04:42:05 PM PDT

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      • I wouldn't either (0 / 0)

        Where did that horrible tradition come from anyway? What would be so bad if the wife sat down with the staff or the lawyer, or whoever.

        Sheesh.

        by RachelD on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 09:17:18 PM PDT

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        • I've read the affidavit (0 / 0)

          on The Smoking Gun. OMG, he's a total sleaze - didn't like to wear condoms! OMG, I'd so divorce him. I'd so divorce him and maybe even emasculate him. Hi honey: here's the bad news: I've been sleeping with prostitutes. Here's the worse news: I've gotten caught and you have to do the walk of shame with me. Here's the worst news: You're gonna have to go get yourself tested because I don't like to cover Mr. Lover.

          by Rachel on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 09:33:04 PM PDT

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      • ITA (0 / 0)

        The only way I'd be on that podium is to serve him with divorce papers.

        by minnmom on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 05:14:28 AM PDT

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      • the wife standing by.. (0 / 0)

        you know that almost enraged me more than anything.  i get so sick of having to watch politicians stand up before the press with their wife by  their side.  i can't help but think it is abusive.  as i was watching it on tv i told my dh that there would be no effing way i'd do that.  it makes the guy look even worse.  whether she stood by him willing or not, to me it looks like he's forcing his wife to face the music with him.

        turns my stomach.

        by parentalunit1 on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 08:23:56 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        • SIL (0 / 0)

          told me Dr. Laura was on the Today show commenting on Spitzer affair and basically saying men only cheat if their wives push them into it. Nice. Apparently, Ann Curry went apoplectic!

          I didn't bother to watch the clip since Dr Laura makes me ill.

          Mom of two - Sally (4-02) and Sam (8-04). Sam has a central I.V. line & a g-tube.

          by GiGi on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 08:51:54 AM PDT

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          • wife standing by a signal both are responsible? (0 / 0)

            is that what this is about? i'd love to find out what women who watch this walk away feeling. possibilities:

            1.  stand by my man, as in forgiveness.
            2.  wife standing by confirms that he didn't do it.
            3.  dr laura's philosphy...if wife put out more he wouldn't have done it...all her fault really, poor guy.

            talk about feminism. do we think this contributed to some women being uncomfortable with HC?

            by parentalunit1 on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 09:44:58 AM PDT

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            • maybe I'm in the minority (0 / 0)

              HRC gained my solid respect when she stood by Bill - she did the right thing.  When your husband is president of the United States and his enemies are gleefully salivating over his downfall, you don't walk away no matter how personally painful.  She showed strength and character and the ability to put the presidency above any feelings of betrayal.

              I don't know whether Spitzer merits the same loyalty - there's a big difference between walking out on a governor vs a president surrounded by sharpened knives.  But whether she chooses to leave or stand by her husband is a decision I don't question.  I don't think this has anything to do with feminism.  This is her life too.

              mom to DS1, 7 yr old frat boy, and DS2, 5 yr old engineer

              by lyn on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 10:33:21 AM PDT

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              • agree...just wonder about (0 / 0)

                the overall underlying feeling it leaves with women.

                by parentalunit1 on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 10:41:52 AM PDT

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              • I think there's a difference too (0 / 0)

                between sex with prostitutes and an affair with a consenting adult. One is illegal and also potentially dangerous (think STDs). I can't say what I'd do if my husband ever had an affair-- there's so much that depends on specific circumstances-- but sex with prostitutes? I KNOW I wouldn't "stand" for that.

                by minnmom on Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 05:43:20 AM PDT

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                • emotionally (0 / 0)

                  An affair is an emotional entanglement; hiring a prostitute is fee for service.  One is a relationship, the other is nothing more than getting one's rocks off with a professional who at that price is probably very very skilled at her job.  STDs aside, I would feel much more betrayed by the affair and have a harder time forgiving it.

                  mom to DS1, 7 yr old frat boy, and DS2, 5 yr old engineer

                  by lyn on Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 10:06:05 AM PDT

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    • fascinating (0 / 0)

      I'm fascinated by these uber-successful people (usually men) who do outrageously dumb things.

      They have everything going for them, and then these things come out.  

      Are they so egotistical they think it will never be discovered?

      by NJmom on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 05:11:40 PM PDT

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  • A New Earth? (0 / 0)

    Is anyone reading A New Earth by Eckart Tolle?  A friend of mine is reading it and following along w/Oprah's weekly classes.  Our UU Church is also doing a book discussion on it.  

    I'm leery because Oprah was big on The Secret and that was a bunch of hooey.  I'm curious to see what others think of A New Earth.

    Mom to Grant, 8 and Madeline, 5 1/2

    by 1plain1peanut on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 01:05:25 PM PDT

  • We went roller skating (0 / 0)

    I am so proud of my little girl.

    She wanted to go roller skating; it was a school fundraiser. (Of course, hardly anyone from her school went, but oh well.) 2 1/2 hours of skating time. We've been twice before, with birthday parties. We don't have pavement, so there's no roller skating at home.

    Well, there is nothing to test your patience and your core body strength like trying to help 55 lbs of 7 year old roller skate while wearing roller skates yourself. She grabbed and pulled on me from all kinds of strange, sudden locations. I only fell on her once. :-)

    She remembered that she had done it before, and was trying too hard. She must've fallen 50, maybe 100 times, maybe more. And a lot of those falls HURT.

    But she kept getting up. I offered that I was tired... no dice. She'd fall, she'd cry, and she got up and tried again. Eventually I figured out we were better off in the center rather than on the edge near the wall. That helped, because we were out of traffic then. She still fell many times - but by the end, we did maybe 20 laps without a fall.

    We only left at the end of the 2 1/2 hours, when our time was up. And she was still game for more.

    I am so proud of her that the buttons would've burst right off my shirt, had I been wearing a shirt with buttons.

    by shenanigans on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 01:24:47 PM PDT

  • Pouring rain (0 / 0)

    for the first day of our spring break. It's hard for us to get out in the rain, because floors become slippery and hazardous for crutches. We had planned to go see "College Road Trip" today.

    Oh well. It's fun to have a totally vegged out, TV watching and board game playing kind of day, too.

    Mom of twins, DD and DS, born 12/96

    by Lisa in Austin on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 01:57:11 PM PDT

  • PINK EYE (0 / 0)

    I swear to jeebus. Lily and I BOTH have a case of Pink eye. Luckily we caught Lily's on Friday so she could go to school after 48 hours of antibiotic drops, but mine just surfaced today. Can I recommend the Walgreen's Clinics? They are great.

    At the same time, Lily's in the big girl bed! She actually falls asleep in it. She goes to bed like this:
    title=
    aaand, this is how she ends up!
    title=

    and THIS is what Grandpa taught her. Thanks Daddy.
    title=

    by lilianna28 on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 06:23:18 PM PDT

  • yahoo (0 / 0)

    Ugh.  I've had a yahoo email address for 10 years that I don't want to give up.  Every time they downgrade my service (excuse me, they call it upgrade) it gets harder and harder to use.  I used to use the my.yahoo webpage to hold a whole bunch of random stuff I like to check, but it just kept getting harder and harder to navigate through the morass.  You can't refuse their "features".  Bleh.  

    I don't think those guys have any idea what they're doing.  

    mom to DS1, 7 yr old frat boy, and DS2, 5 yr old engineer

    by lyn on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 08:50:34 PM PDT

Permalink | 60 comments