Anyone interested in writing a piece for The Mer Show? I know you people have something to say - let's hear it!!
Is there something in the news that irks or inspires you?
Do you have pictures to share?
Got any exercise or diet tips?
PG-rated stories about your family, friends, or even Mer to share?
Let me know if you think you might be interested in participating in the guest blogger program on The Mer Show! :)
Love, Mer
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Fun With the Sippy Cup
OK, what am I supposed to do with this thing?
Investigating...
I think I'll chew on it...
OK, I think I might get it!
OMG, there's juice in here!
Second attempt not as successful...
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
R.I.P. Blue Ball
If you've ever been to my house for a visit, you KNOW this blue ball. It's probably been stuffed in your face/hands/lap, you've probably found it on the pillow in our guest room waiting for you to throw it, or been totally annoyed by it at one point or another. This is one of the first toys I ever bought for Baci, and it has lasted the longest - this ball made it through Jasmine the Dobie (when we were roommates with Prasad), several major moves, and 2.5 years of puppyhood with a crazy, lunatic Maltipoo. It's dirty, stinky, sticky, and disgusting, but it has been the apple of my puppy dog's eye ever since it arrived, all blue and beautiful, straight from Petco off Sports Arena in San Diego, California.
But alas, it has died. This is how I found it yesterday in a corner of the living room.
Rest in peace, blue ball! Thanks for all the good times.
Love, Mer (and Baci)
-------------------------------
But alas, it has died. This is how I found it yesterday in a corner of the living room.
Rest in peace, blue ball! Thanks for all the good times.
Love, Mer (and Baci)
-------------------------------
Friday, August 14, 2009
On a Much Lighter Note...
Pictures of Patrick with his sweet buddy, Finley! We had lunch with Shan at J Christopher's (mmmmmmm) yesterday in Kingwood and got some cute shots of the boys.
Deep Thoughts on the Healthcare Overhaul
Oh yes, I'm taking this on. And honestly, I'm still trying to determine what I think about this whole debacle and am trying to decipher what all the changes really MEAN. Especially when it's being politicized so much and the message on both sides is being twisted with partisan embellishments (and I mean both sides).
It makes me very upset that Fox News and other right-slanted bodies are using their usual scare tactics to stir up partisan opposition. Someone/some group (probably Fox News, which I would love to dismantle with a jackhammer, because it's such a prime source of these scare tactics) has scared the crap out of my senior citizen parents with all kinds of twisted messages about what to expect. I guess they're telling seniors that once they reach a certain age, if they get sick, they'll receive "end of life counseling" instead of treatment and that they'll just have to die. This is just the beginning of the madness that has my parents absolutely freaking out... I could go on and on.
You know, I guess if you're freaking out about what kind of care you're going to get (or not get), you can pay for private insurance. Sure, it'll be pricy, but if it's that important to you, make it happen! Done.
And getting back to the topic of seniors, I have a tough time with the 65+ set using Medicare and cashing Social Security checks with gusto, but opposing government assistance with healthcare because they don't want to "live in a socialized country" like "Nazi Germany" (other fun phrases I learned from Fox News). I mean, do I even need to explain the hypocrisy here?
And lastly (and I feel, most importantly)... This plan is designed to help provide health care to ALL AMERICANS - rich, poor, black, white, Asian, Latino, purple, green, etc. Yes, you might have healthcare already and be happy with your coverage. Good for you, really! However, do you realize that there are millions of people in America - kids, adults, seniors alike - that do not have healthcare because either they can't afford it or are not able to obtain it? Especially as millions of Americans are unemployed right now during this time of economic challenge... we need to consider helping others, not just whether or not we, ourselves, are happy with our coverage. Please consider how (un)happy people are that don't have or can't get health coverage!
Two years ago, I was dealing with a medical issue and was working as a contractor, so my job didn't offer benefits. Therefore, I was looking at thousands and thousands of dollars in medical bills to start treatment... I was beside myself, because I could hardly pay my spendy San Diego rent - how was I going to deal with this? I could have made room in the budget for coverage, but was denied by several insurance companies for "pre-existing conditions". So there I was, stuck with no medical coverage, up a stream without a paddle. Fortunately, the great state of California saved my ass with a special program for those that didn't have or couldn't obtain insurance. Thank God for the government providing assistance to me in my time of need!!!
So I guess, for me, this debate has a personal meaning to it. I hope that you'll consider that poor and needy people also get cancer, break bones, and need all kinds of treatment just like those that are perfectly happy with the way things are now. Maybe it doesn't mean socializing medicine for everyone or what the current bill has in mind - maybe there's another solution. But I really do believe that if we can figure out a solution to provide care to ALL Americans, we'd be a better country.
Just my $.02! Mer
It makes me very upset that Fox News and other right-slanted bodies are using their usual scare tactics to stir up partisan opposition. Someone/some group (probably Fox News, which I would love to dismantle with a jackhammer, because it's such a prime source of these scare tactics) has scared the crap out of my senior citizen parents with all kinds of twisted messages about what to expect. I guess they're telling seniors that once they reach a certain age, if they get sick, they'll receive "end of life counseling" instead of treatment and that they'll just have to die. This is just the beginning of the madness that has my parents absolutely freaking out... I could go on and on.
You know, I guess if you're freaking out about what kind of care you're going to get (or not get), you can pay for private insurance. Sure, it'll be pricy, but if it's that important to you, make it happen! Done.
And getting back to the topic of seniors, I have a tough time with the 65+ set using Medicare and cashing Social Security checks with gusto, but opposing government assistance with healthcare because they don't want to "live in a socialized country" like "Nazi Germany" (other fun phrases I learned from Fox News). I mean, do I even need to explain the hypocrisy here?
And lastly (and I feel, most importantly)... This plan is designed to help provide health care to ALL AMERICANS - rich, poor, black, white, Asian, Latino, purple, green, etc. Yes, you might have healthcare already and be happy with your coverage. Good for you, really! However, do you realize that there are millions of people in America - kids, adults, seniors alike - that do not have healthcare because either they can't afford it or are not able to obtain it? Especially as millions of Americans are unemployed right now during this time of economic challenge... we need to consider helping others, not just whether or not we, ourselves, are happy with our coverage. Please consider how (un)happy people are that don't have or can't get health coverage!
Two years ago, I was dealing with a medical issue and was working as a contractor, so my job didn't offer benefits. Therefore, I was looking at thousands and thousands of dollars in medical bills to start treatment... I was beside myself, because I could hardly pay my spendy San Diego rent - how was I going to deal with this? I could have made room in the budget for coverage, but was denied by several insurance companies for "pre-existing conditions". So there I was, stuck with no medical coverage, up a stream without a paddle. Fortunately, the great state of California saved my ass with a special program for those that didn't have or couldn't obtain insurance. Thank God for the government providing assistance to me in my time of need!!!
So I guess, for me, this debate has a personal meaning to it. I hope that you'll consider that poor and needy people also get cancer, break bones, and need all kinds of treatment just like those that are perfectly happy with the way things are now. Maybe it doesn't mean socializing medicine for everyone or what the current bill has in mind - maybe there's another solution. But I really do believe that if we can figure out a solution to provide care to ALL Americans, we'd be a better country.
Just my $.02! Mer
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Update
Well, I've been pretty quiet here lately, but that's the product of one busy mama!!! Since I went back to work, I've been trying to figure out how to be a working parent, manage the household, lose the baby weight, take care of my husband, be a good friend/sister/daughter, and OH YES, be the best mommy I know how to be. Whew, it's hard work!!
Things with the house are coming along nicely. As you can see from the photos, the foundation has been laid and the walls have gotten framed too. Yay! We went over to the house on Sunday to walk the property and it now looks like the floorplan we envisioned - the rooms
are partitioned, the stairs built, and now I have an idea of the size of the place. It feels really cozy for a 3,000 square foot house! People keep saying that it's going to fly up for a couple of months and then it'll drag on and on after that... so we're prepared for the weeks to come. We CAN'T WAIT to move into our new home!!!In baby news, Patrick has sprouted 2 new
teeth (those little buggers) and is chowing on solid food like you wouldn't believe. He probably eats more than some adults! He loves carrots, sweet potatoes, applesauce, and green beans. Peas and pears seem to wreck his little stomach, so he doesn't get thos
e anymore (Can you say diarrhea and diaper rash? Ugh!), and he's not so fond of blueberries and bananas. His little teeth kept us up quite a bit last week, but now that they've cut the skin and we don't have any new ones on the horizon, I think we'll get a bit more rest. Thank God!! :) Otherwise, he has learned to SIT UP! We've been working on it and this last week, he finally got it down. The little dude is pushing 20 pounds now and is a big, healthy boy. I'm so thankful and grateful for that.Work is GREAT! I love bei
ng back at work, talking to adults about things other than teething, baby poop, and pureed food. I mean, being a mommy is the best thing ever, but I love having the combination of (corporate) work and family - it's a very full life for me, personally. This week and last week, Patrick's school was closed for vacation (it's a family-owned business), so my mother came into town to help out with Patrick while I worked. This week, I'm in Houston working from here while Mom and Dad help out with P. It's been nice sharing Patrick with the parental unit - they've enjoyed him SO much. My mother got my high chair down from the attic and restained it, along with making a special safari-themed cushion just for Patrick. Look how cute he is in his mommy's high chair... Next week, things return to normal - Patrick goes back to school, I'll be home (in Austin with no in-laws in the house), and Sheridan and I can resume our normal routine of work, baby, couple time. I'm looking forward to that, FO SHO!
So that's it from command central. I hope all is well with my Mer Show bloggies.
Love, Mer
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