So Charlotte had gotten into the laundry room while  I was trying to get dressed. She comes into our bedroom waving an American flag and carrying a dustpan. My baby is pretty amazing; we need to clean up this great country. GO VOTE!

So there about five sites I check regularly: facebook, myspace, xanga, cnn, and my bank accounts. I spend a lot of time doing nonsense on the personal sites but I get most of my information for the week from cnn, since I don't have television. I get so frustrated sometimes though. I am sick of the election being news. I understand it is important, I do. I love the democratic process. But I was over primaries four months ago. I just read a story about a father shooting his eight year old son because he thought he was a turkey. I am a hunter. I believe people should be able to own guns. BUT EIGHT YEAR OLD CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE HUNTING. Especially if they are camouflaged. Not to mention all this controversy with the polygamist community in Texas. I know there are different religious views in this country. I really had no idea how many people were involved in these sects though. I was suspicious from the beginning about the "Sara" caller. Now it seems it was a fake caller. However now Social Services have custody of 400 children. I just hope they can assess and place children safely and quickly. The men still remaining in the compound have been quoted as saying they perhaps did not know there was a law against marrying and having intercourse with girls younger than eighteen. I just pray for these kids and families that are being separated. I know it must be hard on everyone involved, especially if you have been taught certain things will damn you to hell.
I know cnn is not the greatest news source, perhaps I should be reading the bbc or other foreign information sites to get a better perspective on the U.S. international operations. But with so much pain at home, I can't even get past the "local" stories.  The Haitian immigrants that capsized in the Caribbean, twenty dead and four survivors? Devastating. Chicago had a terribly violent weekend and I am just worried that Milwaukee is in for another murderous summer. Also I was reading the armed forces are recruiting felons. Now I do believe in rehabilitation (to an extent) and that people can have second chances. But people who have been convicted of making terrorist threats and assault being allowed into the service? How stable are these people and would they be able to act rationally in a a high stress situation?

Ugh, enough ranting.

 I am grateful that I live in a country where I have access to this information. I am fortunate that I have all of my needs met that I can take time to be concerned. I just need to get back in school so I can eventually try and make a difference. Hopefully over the summer I can find some volunteer opportunities as well. Make myself useful for once.

Do you really go blind for sitting too close to the television, because if you do, I'm an awful mother. Charlotte is standing at the screen watching her Baby Einstein signing video. But to give me some credit it is a ledge and she loves standing against anything and when anything sings and has bright colors of course she is going to do it...

We went home to Wisconsin for spring break, it was hectic. Well it was hectic for Charlotte and I, Ben just bunkered down at Elizabeth's and Aaron's for practically four days straight. But he needed a break more than me, his school work is way more intense than my job could ever be.  But he did okay with grades, not fantastic, not horrible. Now I just have to get to working on me and keeping the apartment cleanish. Ugh, so NOT my strong suit. But then again, I am not really sure what my strong suit is anyway. But I digress, tomorrow I have a trainer appointment at ten to tell me that I am still fat and what I should be doing. The guy was bored today and thought I needed some insight, but I had already been there for an hour and a half. So I let him talk me into a session. I hate personal trainers as the last time I spoke with one he was so stupid he gave me obviously scientifically incorrect information. But this guy isn't a muscle machine in fact he is quite petite and looks like a grubby college kid, so maybe it won't be so bad.

Charlotte loves going to the gym, she gets to see and maybe play with other kids. Which is great as she does not get that kind of interaction anywhere else. Plus she needs to start learning to share, she had a very hard time while I watch Milo a couple weeks ago. But that made me feel a little good too, that she was possessive of me.
Jessica has offered to watch Charlotte in exchange sometime, I need to plan a date night for us, it would be nice. But I just don't want to overwhelm her, the dueling cries was not very fun. So we'll see maybe we will wait a month or so and that way Milo will be older and Charlotte should be better with other kids around too. (and not teething)