As I have said before I do not go to locations to shop at holiday time.  The combination of assholes and holiday music is more than I can bear, and well with my sanity perpetually hanging by a thread, it’s just not a good idea.  I was proven right today, sadly, as up in New York, a Walmart employee was trampled to death (allegedly) by a mob of riotous shoppers.  And when the shoppers were asked to vacate the store, as someone had been killed, many refused.  Nice.  Then out in California, 2 people were shot and killed in a Toys r Us.  My God.  Are we all so angry and selfish that we are willing to stampede to get a deal in WalMart?  Seriously, what are these people going to tell the recipients of these gifts.  “Hey man, I stepped over a dead guy for this.”   This shit pisses me off, not only because of it’s blatant asshole-ness, but also it continues to ruin my idea of the holidays.  There is no more holiday cheer, no more good will toward man, in fact as Christmas gets closer and closer, people get angrier and more selfish.  It disgusts me, so much so that I even entertained the idea of going without a tree and decorations this year…basically having an Un-Christmas, but my 4-year old wouldn’t understand, so tomorrow we’re off to chop down the tree, and try to cross a busy street to do so, where the motorists are too selfish and caught up in their own bullshit to stop and allow people to cross, and even try to run down the crossing guard dressed as Santa, all to get to the WalMart before anyone else, and maybe get the opportunity to try and trample another poor soul just trying to make a living.

Good morning people!  First and foremost, after being a wife, and a mom, I am a crafter.  I create with my hands, through crochet, some pretty cool stuff.  Give me a ball of yarn and I can whip up a pretty kick-ass blanket.  One of my latest creations came in the form of “Super Monkey”.  I created him as a gift for Lil’ Echo’s birthday. 

Now before I go any further let me first say that as a crafter, to have your creation appreciated and enjoyed is the best reward.  In a world where expensive “toys” and electronics rule, that appreciation is hard to come by.  For a lot of people receiving a handmade gift means the giver is cheap, it’s the equivalent to getting a card with macaroni glued to it.  Some don’t realize the hours of work, and creativity that go into a crocheted item.  Not to mention, that in the crafting world, crochet is even looked down on by other crafters, as more or less being knitting’s retarded cousin, even as knitting can be done by a machine, while crochet can not…anything that you buy that has a crocheted component, someone did that with their hands.  Nevertheless, that’s not the point here.  What was I talking about?  Oh yea…Super Monkey…

Last night Lil Echo’s mom told me that he sleeps with Super Monkey, AND Super Monkey even flies around the room…under little boy power of course.  That brings me tremendous joy.  Knowing that something I made brings happiness to another, especially a child, that is what gives me the inspiration to continue creating.  It keeps me going when deadlines are approaching, and I’m buried under projects.  It reminds me why I love to crochet. 

So thank you Lil Echo, simply for loving Super Monkey…you have made this crafter very happy. 

Alright…last night’s episode of Heroes was just stupid.  The time tripping is really…REALLY starting to piss me off…and this flashback crap…ooh how everything started…are you kidding Heroes?  It smacks of LOST.  All this recapping and whatnot.  Sure it was interesting to see how everyone crossed paths prior but still…hello…LOST anyone? 

They keep rehashing the same.old.dull.plot lines over and over again.  And the lines between good and bad are so blurred you don’t know who’s what.  And we got to see SUPER whiny Peter, I didn’t think he could be more of a little whiny bitch…but damn…he pulled it off. 

Alright I don’t even want to talk about it anymore…much like Supe, I have no investment in these characters, I don’t care what happens to them, I’m not interested in what happens to them next…(although that is a lie, because I will watch it next week). 

Speaking of next week, after watching what was obviously the worse episode so far this season, I didn’t think the writers could outdo themselves on the…well…badness…until I saw the previews for next week.  An eclipse (supposedly gave them their abilities…okaaay) now It’s happening again…oooh what does this mean?  Will they LOSE their abilities?  Will it get dark out?  Will they become vulnerable to kryptonite?  Will I stick a crochet hook in my eye?  Find out the answers to these questions and more next week on Heroes…Villains…oh whatever…

Ok, now that the election is over…thank God…I can go back to talking about one of my favorite subjects…idiots.  While I am surrounded by them on a daily basis, this comment I heard on the newscast of my local NBC affiliate last night was quite possibly one of the dumbest things I’ve heard in a long time.

They were reporting on how our ilustrious governor is planning on dissolving the turnpike authority, blah, blah, blah…and that “it could be put to a vote as early as Friday…that’s the end of this week” I was momentarily stunned…Friday?  The end of this week?  Wait a minute…HOLY SHIT! Friday is at the end of EVERY week!  If only I had learned that years ago…somewhere around the 1st grade…oh…wait…I DID.  But hey, I’m not one to be ungrateful…so thanks local NBC affiliate for pointing out the blindingly obvious…

Well gang, it’s finally over, we have a new president, and an historical one at that.  I voted for the man, I don’t mind saying, an honestly it took a long time for me to come around to it.  I was on the other side, sort of.  I was the one, as some of you can attest, that referred to Obama as the “Antichrist” and that we were all doomed.  The other side of this, the McCain supporters refer to us as lemmings, sheep, just following the flock.  To an extent they’re right, many of the Obama, AND McCain supporters out there were and are just sheep, following what sounds good in these desperate times, and if you ask any of them what their man stands for, they can’t really give you a conclusive answer.  War, a failing economy, and an ultimate sense of hopelessness has a way of doing that.  People desperate for something to believe in, for a light at the end of the tunnel will look for anything…and in this case it was Barack Obama.  But it could have easily been Mickey Mouse, if Mickey had Barack’s phenomenal orating skills.

That being said, I’m not one of them, in fact, as you know, I think everyone is an idiot, or an asshole, or both, and I am not easily swayed to believe in anything.  And like I said 2 years ago I was wholeheartedly against Obama.  What turned me around?  Listening to McCain for one.  The more I listened, the more I realized he was more interested in telling us what Obama couldn’t do, than what HE could.  And then 2 words totally turned everything around, and I’m sure Senator McCain is kicking himself for it now too…those 2 words…Sarah Palin…  There’s only one thing worse than being inept at foreign relations, and a complete dolt when it comes to the economy…and that’s selecting a running mate whose experience in those areas is in the negative digits. 

So here I am, thinking Obama is the antichrist, and McCain is a moron…I’m a man woman without a country.  What do I do now? I decided that instead of being a complete moron myself, I should educate myself about each of these guy’s plans, and decide for myself instead of listening to the media who seemed to have an incessant hard-on for Obama.  So I read up, and Obama and Biden have clear cut ideas, and plans about this country’s future, and are very clear to point out that it won’t happen over night, and anyone expecting miracles needs to get a clue.  I thought that was very cool.  And no, I didn’t agree with everything he had to say…but overall I thought…wow, this guy really wants to turn things around, and I think he can actually do it.  Then I went to McCain’s site…and instead of really outlining his plan, he more or less bashed Obama’s plans, and covered how Obama’s been telling lies about his plans…um ok…but what are YOU going to do…um…uh…sure.  

Anyway, all of this is moot now, the point is the people have spoken for change, and you can actually feel the sense of hope in the air.  If I remember correctly I was # 1498 to vote in my district, or something like that.  That’s remarkable.  You could even feel it in the polling station workers, they were excited.  And the young people, who I still count myself among thank you very much…coming out to vote, some of them for the first time, knowing that their vote will change the future, their future.  It’s huge, exciting, and historic. 

To Mr. Obama, Mr. Biden and their families, with the long and difficult road ahead, I wish you good luck and godspeed.

Ok, so this morning I made my usual weekend trip to Wally World. It’s not too bad early on a Sunday morning. Now bear in mind, today is Nov. 2, just a day after Halloween…I enter the store to find all the Halloween spangle gone, replaced by Christmas trees and the like…but the most offensive of this was the music…Christmas music.  Now correct me if I’m wrong but I can remember a day when the holiday tunes didn’t start until after Thanksgiving…it’s freakin’ Halloween.  Is this like a black hole that’s just going to continue to expand until we hear and see this crap all year long?  Dear God!

Now don’t get me wrong, I love the holidays just as much as the next guy who hates human interaction and thinks everyone is an idiot.  It just seems that this time of year brings out the real morons.  The holiday season is supposed to be a time of good cheer, giving and kindness (or so I am told)…but to me it only brings the assholes in people out.  And when you combine the elements of morons/assholes, Walmart, Christmas music, and me all in the same place, at the same time…remember when Peter went nuclear on Heroes…yea…something like that…

Well people Halloween is over…thank God. All this hullabaloo for 1 night. This was our boy’s first time trick or treating. Yes, I know, he’s 4, I’m a horrible mother. We don’t live in a neighborhood that’s particularly conducive to safe trick or treating, so this year we went out with the Echo’s. They have a lovely neighborhood, and there were a TON of other kids…holy crap!

Now let me just say this…when it comes to Halloween, I’m hardcore. You’d better come to my door in a costume or you’re getting a rock in your bag. Sorry kid. As for the candy quota, Mrs. Echo’s a little liberal with the candy distribution (that reflects her kind-hearted generosity, I’m pure evil, remember)…I say 1 treat per kid, then get the hell off my porch.

We even had a kid passing out Jesus. Yes that’s right, a child came up to the house, turned down the candy, and gave us a Jesus pamphlet. Pass out all the stuff you want kid…but hey, take the candy. I think even Jesus, if given the opportunity, would have tried out a miniature Snickers. I know, I’m going straight to hell.