Racism is real, and it’s probably in your family somewhere, just like someone’s probably gay, too, somewhere in the family tree. Better we talk honestly about it, I think.

Hubby’s grandmother refuses to vote for Obama because he’s black. She flat out said so. She knows she shouldn’t say it, so she’s embarrassed when she does so, but she won’t own that prejudice enough to put it aside and vote for him. Let us all rejoice and give thanks that she’s not in Florida.

I know many people in Hubby’s family are embarrassed. I wish they weren’t. I don’t think having a grandparent who is 91 years old, born in 1917, who has a racial prejudice working against her better judgment (she’s not voting for McCain either) reflects on them. It’s not like they think the same way she does. I’m appalled, but I also know that one cannot reason the prejudice out of someone, because it wasn’t reasoned into them in the first place (I forgot who said that. Time out for Google ---- Sydney Smith, English essayist and clergyman. Yay) (I love essayists. What are bloggers but 21st century essayists?)

HOWEVER, thanks to Jason Alexander, I may have come up with the best possible last-ditch-effort offense against her prejudice: “In the Jewish religion, you’re a Jew if your mother’s a Jew. By that standard, Obama’s a white guy.”

I did a recipe mass email forward this week, and someone sent a recipe that I swear I used to eat when I was a little kid. I’m so excited. Now to Google to make sure I know Every! Single! Variation! in the recipe. Wheeee!

Meanwhile, I hunt for a babysitter. I will find one.

A good one. 

Baba O’Riley was home sick with me yesterday. A trip to the ped revealed no ear infections, no signs of Coxsackie (worst virus ever), and no congestion. But he is cutting 3 molars, and our ped’s own children (she has five) spiked fevers of 103+ when they cut molars.

Cue Baba: 103+ in the evening, with extra bonus vomiting in my car. My car now smells like Goldfish crackers and vomit, and Baba-Moose is home with Hubby, having a day of quiet playing, Baby Einstein, and hopefully, good long naps with extra Motrin.

Poor kid.

Freebird, however, is very careful and kind to Baba, and Hubby says that he even let Baba hold his Bear (the most important stuffed animal in his world) when Baba was crying. He is so kind to Baba when he knows that Baba doesn’t feel good, it makes me all weepy and proud.

Now: to Google “how to get the world’s worst smell out of my car upholstery.”

It’s not a good day when you realize the Statue of Liberty has better upper arm toning than you do. She’s a few hundred years old, and yet, no under arm wattle?

Shit. 

Here’s your quote of the day:

Feminism is not simply about achieving the power and status typically held by men. It’s about protecting and supporting the rights of women of all classes, races, cultures, and beliefs.

From the Women Against Palin blog, collecting women’s responses to Palin’s nomination as VP candidate.

That pretty much sums up my reaction to her as a candidate, particularly after seeing a big lawn sign in Glen Ridge that said, simply, “Sarah!”

My initial reaction: “What?”

My second reaction: “Oh, fuck.” It’s a sign that the momentum of his campaign rests on prodding voters to pay attention to the Cole Haan-boot clad lags of an attractive female. I said after her nomination that it was like he picked Britney Spears to fascinate the American populace. All of the gloss, with less of the depth.

I can’t even tell you how much sharing a gender AND a first name bothers me. Seriously. It’s infuriating. I’m still waiting for someone to say that those TWO elements in common should resonate with me.

I’m starting to think ahead to holiday gifts, and I’m making rules for myself. Money is tight in Casa Wendell this year, as the addition to our house, the new kitchen, and the collapse of the financial market have all put the squeeze on our nest egg. So I’m thinking creatively.  Here are my rules so far:

1. No clutter, tschotckes, or things that will do nothing, add nothing, and amount to nothing. Jewelry is different. Jewelry lives in a jewelry box (if you’re me) and is a simply, happy way to decorate yourself. But things that serve no purpose: not happening.

2. Useful.  MUST be useful (see above re: jewelry)

3. Recycled. That would be awesome.

4. Inexpensive, or, if expensive, going toward the creator, manufacturer, or artist as much as possible.

5. Consumable or otherwise experiential enjoyment (see “useful” and “not cluttering")

6. Simple. I’m not going crazy this year.

7. Charitable: some of the organizations I’m thinking of include Heifer International, the utterly destroyed Rosenberg Library in Galveston, and Feeding America formerly known as America’s Second Harvest, the national food bank. Any others you love? Let me know. And if you know me personally and have a charity you adore, don’t be shy. Let me have it. I have to put together a “Got $5 you wanna give, here are some ideas” entry on The Other Site, so I’m happy to have more links.

Honestly, when it comes to gifts for my own children, I’d most like to give them the money that they lost in their 529 college funds back. But that ain’t happening. So I’m hoping I can at least encourage easy, simple, enjoyable gifts. I know Freebird loves to cook with me, so cooking stuff for him would be easy and fun. I could paint a set of bowls with his name, and get him a personalized apron for cooking. As for Baba O’Riley, he loves books, music, and everything his brother has. I have to do some more thinking there.

As for me, I want the vise that’s around my life to ease up a bit and stop squeezing the time and energy from me every day. I’m so incredibly blessed and so incredibly busy! I need to breathe more.