american

it is weird living in a foreign country, no matter how much you get used to it or how much you consider it home. when i moved to Scotland, i was glad to be moving to be with david, but i was also glad to get away from the US, especially george w.
I am a liberal, very liberal, so liberal that some have called me the dreaded C- word (communist). I have also been a huge critic of American politics, ethics and economics, and still am. But the funny thing is, living in a foreign country does something to you. You start to miss all that you complained about and maligned. You start to see that America is good, that it is screwed up surely, but it is still home. You start to get mad at the foreign press' picking on the US, blaming it for the woes of the globe, and misunderstanding its culture. You speak loudly enough so the person behind you in line knows that you are an american when they just finished saying something anti-american to their mates. You keep your homepage on .com, not .co.uk, and you watch CNN and the Daily Show whenever you can. I am not saying that I'll stop critiquing america, but i can do this because it is MY america, as much as I am hers.
I am extremely proud of the US right now. As I look back on the last 30 years, I am amazed at how much it has changed and how incredible it can be that Obama is a major party candidate for the Presidency. It makes me believe that anything is possible, and that dreams are obtainable.

14 months

the past month has seen ruby come into one of those 'stages' that we were dreading. she has become very clingy yet headstrong. she wants held when i am cooking, but doesn't want to be touched when she is closing gratch in his crate (a favorite game of hers). She points and says "that" wanting whatever she is pointing at no matter how dangerous it might be (like a knife!). She is getting good at having little strops, she stomps her feet or shakes her fists, and might even scream. she doesn't want to get dressed when naked no matter how cold it might be.... the thing is, i laugh. not 100% of the time (sometimes my patience wears thin), but i try to. if i laugh, she laughs and it passes by. and i want to laugh because here i am watching my little baby become a toddler, becoming her own person, finding her way in the world! what could be better than that!?!?!?
Ruby is expecting the arrival of her US passport any day now! we got it in anticipation for our big trip to florida in december. Although we are looking forward to seeing friends and family, we are really looking forward to meeting Mia Bella Menster! yes, my best friend kim has had her first baby too, and we can't wait to see her.