Government needs to get out of the way of business.

"There will be time for them to make profits, and there will be time for them to get bonuses. Now is not that time." - Obama

Excuse me, Mr. Obama, but are you effing kidding me?

And, will someone please tell me where in The Constitution the government is given the right to tell businesses what they should and should not do?

What if a company was forecast to lose $10 million and one of the executives was told that he (or she) would be awarded $.25 on the dollar for losses LESS than the forecast $10 million? In my opinion, that person deserves a hefty bonus if he or she is able to save the company money. That's my opinion. And government officials are entitled to their own opinions. In fact, they can have all of the opinions that they want but when I get upset is when they spend MY money on their opinions. I can choose how to best spend my money. Afterall, I earned it and the key part of my money is that it is mine.

So, can the government puhleez refrain from investing MY money (and yours...and your kids money) in companies that they know nothing about? I mean, they can't even run the government effectively or efficiently, so how can they expect to run businesses in which they have no expertise? And, I don't know about you, but the "b" word has been thrown around way too many times lately - with no substantial results to show for it - in the name of a so-called stimulus plan. Stop the out-of-control spending!

Surprisingly, the typically very liberal Atlanta Journal-Constitution hinted at the need for tax cuts for those "evil" people (or companies) making over $250,000 a year. We need to keep them spending! If they spend less, the economy suffers more, and we continue to see more job losses and the economy continues to weaken. Whether you are one of those "evil" people or not, I want you to be taxed less. The less you are taxed, the more EVERYONE benefits.

Sike-a-dilly, your mama eats chili...

I started writing this post about how I cannot wait to send our kids to school with ziploc bags that look like this. Or how I am going to buy these bags and put food in them and just take them over to peoples houses. I'll bake some cookies, put them in this bag, and then see the uncomfortable reactions when I hand the bag of moldy-looking-cookies to the unsuspecting friend. All the while, of course, I will find a way to refrain from laughing. Yeah, like that is going to happen.

So, here I am, writing about fake moldy bags and Dennis decides to tell me what movie arrived in the mailbox from the Netflix fairy. He said he ordered a political movie, so of course my ears perk up and my head tilts to the side (kind-of like dogs do when you say one of the few words that they know). He smiled and said, "I think you'll like it. It's An Inconvenient Truth".

"What? I don't want to watch that. That movie is crap."

Dennis was still smiling and said, "Krista, we need to watch both sides. Are you one of those people, who has their opinion and doesn't want to at least see or hear the opposite view of things?"

"I can't believe you ordered that movie. It means we're giving money to that stupid idiot." I am so good at keeping my true feelings to myself. And not over-reacting.

Dennis walked over and put the movie next to me on the end table. He said, "I'm not as crazy as you thought. I wouldn't order that movie. I ordered a movie that is supposed to be good: Swing Vote." The trailer for this movie (below) suggests it will fall somewhere between lame and really lame. But, Josh reccomended this movie...and he is somewhat of a movie expert. So, we'll see. I'll keep an open mind, as always. ha

And, regardless, this fictional movie has to be better than Al Gore's fictional movie.

Defining Moments

As a pregnant woman, there have only been a few times that I've felt like my appearance was normal, much less sexy. Two of my most defining non-sexy moments occured in the last week.

When I was shopping for maternity clothes, the realization that I was not only shopping for "large" and "stretchy" clothing but that I was better suited to look in the petite maternity section was one of those moments. Shopping for clothing that would fit my short and wide body was definitely a self-esteem booster.

Then, this afternoon, Dennis told me that I "look sexy for a pregnant woman". I know he was trying to be sweet and I appreciate that, but I consider this to be another defining (non)sexy moment. Isn't sexy pregnant woman an oxymoron?

To top it all off, I am posting a picture of my belly at 22 weeks. You've gotta love the tag hanging out from the back of the pants. At least the lighting makes me look tan but I can't tell much difference from the 16 week photo shoot.

An Important 'FIRST'

When I first met Dennis, he didn't like to run. Or workout, really, for that matter. Since we've been together, he has started running and working out on a regular basis. I might be going too far to say he likes working out, but, he is definitely more aware of being healthy and the importance of going to the gym or running down the street. And, he signed up for his first half marathon several weeks ago. Yes, you heard me right: DENNIS IS GOING TO RUN 13.1 MILES ON PURPOSE.

He will do a tremendous job, I have no doubt, and I am confident that he will finish much more quickly than he anticipates. He's in better shape than he gives himself credit for. And, he has this great new heartrate monitor that is he using on a regular basis to motivate - and track - himself throughout the training process. I wasn't surprised...he always needs a new gadget. I am actually shocked he hasn't mentioned wanting the Nike shoes that have the little chip inside of them that allow you to track your distance, path, calories burned, and workouts online. As soon as he reads this post, I bet that there will suddenly be one more "must have" item that is absolutely necessary for him to train properly.

We watched part of "Running the Sahara" and all I can say is that these people must be slightly (or completely) crazy. They run about 40-45 miles A DAY and continue across Africa until they complete a running expedition of nearly 4,300 miles. While their adventure is nothing short of amazing (and the footage is beautiful), I just gotta say: that sh*t ain't right.

It does make me miss running, though. Because of starting out with a high risk pregnancy, I wasn't allowed to workout at all for the first month or two, much less run. Then, as things got better with the pregnancy, I still wasn't allowed to run. Especially since I tend to get distracted (who, me?) while I'm running outside and have come him with bloody knees on more than one occasion (ok, way more than one occasion but who is counting?). As you can probably guess, I'm looking forward to running again once little Connor arrives. Until then, though, I guess I have to practice being patient.

It looks like this year is going to be another one that is filled with many firsts. And they won't all be for Connor. It'll be the first time that I am waiting (and cheering) at the finish line as my husband completes his first half marathon.

Love (before) First Sight

I'm in Dallas for an oh-so-exciting meeting for work all week. And, to be perfectly honest, this is the first time that I've had a little bit of time to sit down and relax. Time flies when you are busy, so I appreciate that part of the schedule, but I am pretty much falling asleep at night BEFORE I hit the pillow because of all of the running around we're doing.

There are several girls here - Stephanie, Alysia, Sherrie and Leigh - that make all of our company meetings much more fun than they should be. I would not be able to survive without them here - making me laugh and keeping me on my toes. When we're together, it's hard to take much of anything too seriously because we always find something to laugh about (like red-haired mullets). Connor (I think that is going to be his name) has kept me entertained throughout this meeting, as well. At 20 weeks I started to feel this little fluttering in my belly and it seems to get a little bit stronger each day. While it's incredibly reassuring to feel him moving around, it's also very distracting when I'm trying to pay attention and then I feel this little movement inside of me. How can anyone concentrate with a miracle taking place inside of them like what is going on inside of me?

I haven't even met the little guy yet, but I love him so much. My day is so much better because he's with me all day long...we're a team, already. I worry about him if I don't feel his movements for a few hours, so I guess the worrying starts even before the baby is born. One thing that is for sure, too, is that the love starts before the baby is born. It's a strange thing to love someone you've never met - or even seen. But I love him so much and cannot wait to meet him later this year.

Unbiased Media?

Most everyone heard the news a week or so ago when Ann Culter was "banned for life" from NBC. Yes, she gets a lot of people really riled up, but let's step back for one second...I'm not saying that she isn't crazy, extreme, and at times hard to listen to, but I'm also not saying that she is full of sh*t, either. She has some very important points...and being extreme has earned her the celebrity status she now enjoys.

What bothers me the most is the fact that an NBC insider was quoted as saying, "We are just not interested in anyone so highly critical of President-elect Obama, right now," explaining that "it's such a downer. It's just not the time, and it's not what our audience wants, either." So...news is subjective to what people want to hear, is that what this NBC insider is suggesting? Apparently so.

You are probably thinking...wait, I thought that this was NBC news that we were talking about? And yes, you are right. "News", as I have learned, is a matter of opinion. Not a matter of fact. And, I challenge anyone who believes that unbiased media exists. It is nothing more than an oxymoron.

A Resolution Worth Keeping

On New Years Day 2009, Dennis and I jumped on a flight to Missouri to go to Kates wedding. It was a beautiful wedding and one of the things that I enjoyed - and appreciate - the most was the chance to see and re-connect with some of my best friends from high school.

The pictures below are all from 1997 when we were on Homecoming Court together. We had so much fun that year, but that week in particular really sticks out in my mind as being an incredibly good time. As you can tell from the pictures below, each day had a different theme and on one occasion we were to dress like the opposite sex, and on another we were supposed to wear our pajamas to school. It's a total surprise, I know, but I LOVED wearing my pajamas to school. I would love to wear my pajamas to work now, too, if that was deemed appropriate.

As the clock strikes midnight on New Years Eve each year, we are all supposed to look back and assess the previous year while setting goals for ourselves for the year to come. One of my New Years Resolutions for 2009 is to be better about keeping in touch with people that are - or were - very close to me. It's very rare in life that you find a truely good friend, and when you do, you'd better hold on to them with all you've got.

So, here's to 2009 and keeping in better touch with all of the girls that made my high school years so memorable!

A Simple Question

Last night, Dennis came into the house after a quick run to the grocery store. I was sitting on the couch, with a non-so-happy look on my face. As he unloaded the groceries, he asked me a seemingly simple question. "What's wrong?"

And then the tears came. "Nothing. Nothing is wrong, Dennis."

"Krista, you are crying, please tell me what is going on."

"I'm tired. My feet hurt. And I'm stressed."

"About what?"

"About everything. Did you see all of the cribs today? There are so many things that we need to do before the baby arrives. We haven't registered for anything yet. And everything is so expensive. We need to get new jobs because we are going to need lots of money. And I'm tired of getting unsolicited advice. EVERYONE and there brother has advice for me - and for us. I'm sore from the pregnancy workout (DVD) that I did the other day. I'm fat. And my feet hurt." Really? Is that all that was on my mind?

"Krista, everything will be OK. I promise. We have plenty of time to get things together and organized and don't worry about all of the advice. People are just trying to be helpful." He was trying so hard to be sweet and listen to all of my concerns. I admire him for that. I would've told me to get a grip and quit worrying so much.

"But it's not helpful! It's overwhelming! And I'm worried about our country. We need to do some type of campaign educating people before it's too late. I mean, people think that the republicans have been in charge of congress for the last 8 years. I cannot stand it anymore! And my feet hurt." And then more tears came.

Back in the normal world, now, here are a couple of things that you need to know:

(1) We'll be able to get everything completed before the baby arrives. Hell, we still have 20 weeks left. Maybe only 19 if we are lucky. So, we're really going to be OK, no need to worry (especially since I am doing enough worrying for all of us these days).

(2) My job is fun but it is very different because I see different customers every day. Since I've started wearing maternity clothes, it's obvious that I have a little bun-in-the-oven and every single person that sees me offers me unsolicited baby advice. When I say everyone, I mean EVERYONE. Imagine seeing different people all day, every day, for several weeks in a row. Then you go back to the people you saw a few weeks ago and they are so excited because they haven't seen you to give you any advice for several weeks. Little do they realize you've been receiving advice from EVERYONE you've seen every single day since you last spoke with them. Imagine that.

(3) The pregnancy workout video is actually a pretty funny story. I decided that I would try an at-home-workout while Dennis was at the gym. I figured it was safest to see how (un)coordinated I really was when he wasn't here to witness it.

The lady on the cover of the DVD had on a sports bra and shorts so I dressed accordingly. And she looked to be at least 8 months pregnant. The workout attire that I had on made me glad that Dennis wasn't there to see me. I looked slightly ridicilous.

Then, this DVD starts and she is speaking in some very difficult-to-understand-accent. And there is oriental music playing in the background. I knew at that point that I was doomed. Surprisingly, though, it turned out better than expected. For some reason, her accent lightened up and I was able to understand her throughout the video. I had to do the "beginner" moves in most cases but was proud to tell Dennis when he got home that I was able to do a few of the "advanced" moves. Look at me, Mrs. CO-ordination!

(4) I probably do not need to change the world when I'm pregnant. Or ever. But it obviously weighs heavily on my mind.

This little story details my first departure from reality. I heard it would happen. And it did. I completely lost it. Luckily Dennis was there to hug me and tell me that everything was going to work out.

I imagine Dennis' learning from this is that he will always be careful when asking a simple question. Because he may not get an equally simple answer. Especially when talking to his pregnant wife with sore feet.

My Favorite Things

This is a short list of my favorite pregnancy things (so far...and subject to change without notice).

Since I feel like I am growing EVERY SINGLE DAY, I have tried several outfit-adapters (nice word!) to make my life a little more comfortable. I am pretty sure that I am going to have to give in and start wearing maternity clothes very, very soon. And these gizmos have helped me to be a better person because for some reason, I feel like I am a tiny bit stronger for each day that I can postpone wearing official maternity attire.

Here's the run down so far:

1. The Bella Band. Al I can say is: LOVE IT. It doesn't out-rank icing but it is definitely up there.

2. Power Mama Spanx. These things are expensive and don't do anything for me. Maybe they will as my belly grows...but as of right now, they get an OVER-RATED rating.

3. Spanx Tight-End Tights. These are just normal tights with a hefty price tag. Not sure if they squeeze me in any more than normal but they are cute, comfy, and they kept my legs warm. So, I'd recommend these - pregnant or not.

The next few items are reading material. So, I obviously didn't attempt to wear them.

4. Your Pregnancy Week by Week (6th edition). I thought that this book was really good until I got #5. I would suggest buying the next book on the list rather than this one.

5. The Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy. This is a very detailed week by week and month by month description of what you, your baby, and your body are going through throughout the process. It also serves as a tremendous resource for any other baby related question you might have.

6. Belly Laughs by Jenny McCarthy. It's just what you'd expect from her. A quick, slightly humorous read. Plus, it's nice to know that beautiful people get pregnant and fat too.

7. Last, but not least, the book of 100,000 names. Very thorough. I could do without some of the hyphenated and first-names-with-two-capital-letters-in-them suggestions but maybe I'm just being picky. The choosing a name thing has proven to be more of a big deal than I anticipated.

That's all I have right now. Please feel free to share any suggestions you may have...

Do you see the bandwagon?

Because we're on it.

Yes, we have 2009 season tickets for the Falcons. And, I plan on the team making it to the Super Bowl. Not just the playoffs. We also plan to join forces with the Harris' to expand the size of our tailgating crew from 5 to ... um, well, more than 5.

I guess I need to buy a jersey. Now THAT is something that I never thought that I would say.