Mrs. O

Photo from Mrs. O blog

Another fashion-forward blog I'm enjoying--Mrs. O. Yes, Mrs. O spends lots of money (sometimes) on her clothes, just like Mrs. P supposedly did. But Mrs. O paid for them herself! No wealthy donors footing the bill or unsuspecting aides surreptitiously using their own credit cards to throw off the trail. (Mrs. O is a Harvard-education lawyer who worked for a living, for God's sake--she probably has some money in her bank account, unlike the used-to-be Miss Alaska.)

Photo from Google Images

And according to the Mrs. O blog, sometimes Mrs. O just likes to buy off the rack like everyone else, even online in the middle of the night like I do! J Crew on sale! (I can relate to that. I can't relate to $150,000+ spending sprees at Neiman's for my entire family paid for by someone else. Not that it wouldn't be nice. But nice doesn't make it right or ethical, does it?)

Then there's Mrs. Obama's "dress" from Tuesday night's victory speech. It was the kind of dress that made you cock your head to the side and say "huh?" It's also an expensive dress--Narciso Rodriguez. The next day I saw the dress on a runway model; it looked awesome on her. On Mrs. O's very tall frame, not so awesome.

But this is America! She can wear whatever she wants! And I'm hooked on her clothes blog anyway. I think Mrs. O's style will be a nice change from Mrs. B, who for the past 8 years has pretty much looked like a very sweet, slightly boring librarian.

Photo from Google Images

Decisions

Excerpt from the New York Observer, 9/1/08:

Palin and her husband, Todd, said their daughter plans to marry the child's father - who sources said is Levi Johnston - and that both "are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family." Johnston, 17, who is entering his senior year at Wasilla HS, plays on the school hockey team and was once teammates on a youth squad with Palin's older brother, Track, 19, who is now in the Army. Despite suffering a cracked bone in his shin last season, Johnston scored 24 goals in 24 games. "We don't want to talk about this," said a woman who answered the phone at the Johnston home. On his MySpace page, Johnston boasts, "I'm a f - - -in' redneck" who likes to snowboard and ride dirt bikes. "But I live to play hockey. I like to go camping and hang out with the boys, do some fishing, shoot some s- - - and just f - - -in' chillin' I guess." "Ya f - - - with me I'll kick [your] ass," he added. He also claims to be "in a relationship," but states, "I don't want kids."

I'm happy for Bristol Palin that she has made the very grown-up decision to keep her baby. I just hope she isn't being pressured into marrying the father, instead of someone she really loves and wants to spend her life with. Choosing to have a baby doesn't ruin your life. But marrying the wrong person can. Her intended hasn't said anything on his MySpace page that would be considered unusual for an 18 year old boy, and he's probably a nice enough guy, but still . . .

I wish them well.

MOM: a PALINdrome

An actual letter from an actual conservative Republican. And I absolutely agree with the writer. Who says liberals and conservatives can't see things the same way? Text is word-for-word from the Dr. Laura (Schlesinger) website:

2008-09-03

Dr. Laura,
I am aghast with the McCain VP selection. As a voting Conservative Republican, the proud mother of children that include a soldier and an airman (my soldier is deployed), and who is raising 3 additional children 13 and 6 year-old twins who have various disabilities, HOW IN THE WORLD DO YOU LEAVE A DISABLED INFANT TO GO BACK TO WORK THE THIRD DAY, when you do NOT absolutely have to????? What kind of serious mother does that? She said her family came first. SHE LIED. I am so totally outraged with this I could scream. Did we want to win so badly that we would absolutely destroy the values of HOME, motherhood, family values? I am sickened by it all. Soccer mom? Unbelievable. Even the dad wasn't holding the baby. The child was carrying the baby. I'm sorry, was I foolish enough to have accepted such a nomination, I would have been carrying my baby. I think she is emotionally detached from the baby, personally. God Save America from itself and the craziness we do.ABTW, I gave up a career in corporate America to stay at home and raise these other little ones. A REAL MOM would have given up governorship, too. But that's my not-so-humble opinion.

The Palin nomination has made me feel many emotions and think many different thoughts in the space of just a few days. But ultimately, I think it just makes me feel sad. Sad for a 17 yr old girl whose entire life is now an open book for the hungry press. Sad for a special-needs infant who has already been toted around on various stages in the public eye in his own short life.

I absolutely believe that any woman should have the opportunity to have a career outside of the home AND have a family if she so chooses, and to create and maintain a balance that is liveable for all. But I also believe that you can't have 'everything' all at the same time. Because sometimes, or should I say often, what is 'liveable' isn't exactly perfect or easy for everyone involved. Does this woman from Alaska want too much for herself and her family all at once? Yes, I know that only she has the right to answer that question. And I realize that offers of the vice-presidency don't exactly land in your lap on a regular basis. But also this: To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1) All evidence of political inexperience aside, is this a good time for the self-proclaimed hockey mom to take on the job of being a heartbeat away from "leader of the free world"? Just my Mom's-eye view on it.