Lobby Day in Olympia

Went to Olympia Sunday afternoon for Reproductive Rights Lobby Day, and had an interesting time. Took 10 hours to get to Olympia, as there was an avalanche on Snoqualmie, which required us to backtrack to Yakima and then take White Pass over the mountains. But yesterday, despite little sleep and a terrible breakfast, was very interesting and informative. My colleague and I went to Lobby for the Healthy Youth Act, which would set guidelines for schools districts' sex education programs. Thanks to GW Bush, the current sex education model is supposed to focus on abstinence, in fact when we present on HIV, we can not bring up condom use unless we are asked by the students, much less show people how to use them. So, the Healthy Youth Act also emphasises abstinence, while also setting guidelines for teaching prevention as well. Novel thought, isn't it?
So we get to the capital, have a rally on capital steps. I was about 20 feet from Governor Gregoire (take that Dino Rossi!), and it was exciting and interesting, blah, blah blah. Then we got to our first meeting, with our local Senator Mike Hewitt, newly appointed Senate Minority Leader. Unfortunately, the appointment was "cancelled" 2 weeks ago, supposedly by email. Hmmmmmmm..... well, the organizer from Planned Parenthood guilt-tripped the Legislative Aide (and appointment canceller) into meeting with us. Yeah, Hewitt will get a nice, yet pointed note from me. We have 2 very smart and savvy Wa-Hi students with us, and they made quite and impression on us, and hopefully on the LA for Hewitt as well. Too bad he wasn't to meet with people from his own district. Was there to see the firefighters scheduled after us, but oh well. Then we went to meet with the Senator from our neighboring district, Jeromw DEvlin, who might as well be a card carrying homophobe. To his credit, he was receptive of us, very polite and appeared to be listening to us. His office was full of all kinds of republican propoganda, which gave me the heebie-jeebies, but I am none the worse for wear. Had no less than 4 books written by Newt Gingrich, and couple by Bill O'Reilly too. Sigh....... sad isn't it?
So, would I do this again? Absolutely. I love meeting with people and telling them to think outside their narrow little world, and of course also like meeting people who are politicians because they want to make a change and haven't yet been seduced or jaded by the power and partisan bullshit. It was very interesting, and since I like to spout off my opinions loudly, I might as well do so with a purpose.

long time, no blog

I realized I haven't blogged in ages. I blame the exhaustion and nausea brought on by pregnancy, and since I am now beginning to feel consistently more like myself, I thought I should jump back into blogging. At least until June, when Jude Robert will arrive. We learned last week at our ultrasound (very cool experience, despite having to drink a quart of water and then not pee) that the baby is 95-99% chance of being a boy. Since I have thought for some time now that we are having a boy, I was pretty excited to learn that perhaps I am psychic! Lance was absolutely convinced that we were having a girl, but when he saw wee Jude's wee willie, he was convinced that Jude is indeed a boy. We are both pretty darn excited, to say the least, and of course would have been equally thrilled if Jude turned out to be Elizabeth. So now we are heavily involved with collecting stuff for a nursery, and all the varied items that come along with babies. I am, however, determined to not want everything out on the market for babies. For instance, we only need 1 stroller, we don't need every toy marketed for infants, and I am not going to buy him tons of clothes. Of course, we are being given baby stuff and clothes from various friends and family, which helps alot. Already have a cradle/bassinett (made by Lance's dad and brother when the oldest niece was a fetus), a crib, a swing, a changing pad thingy, some kid clothes, some toys, and a dresser that we will make over into something cuter than it is right now. I am determined not be a horrible materialistic example of a parent. May be challenging at times, but it is do-able and hopefully will help raise an altruistic, compassionate child.
So the kicker right now withe being pregnant it I still have yet to look convincingly so! Sometimes I kinda do, depending on the clothes, but I am afraid I just look like I have gotten a little fat. Shallow, I know, but it is true. However, I am glad to I not enormous, as I have quite a way to go (19.75 weeks), and would like to feel not like a beached whale until the very end if possible. Guess the "child-bearing hips" I have been told I have do have some benefit. Sure, all the other people I know who are pregnant actually look it, but I know I eventually will. At least the weight gain has been reasonable, and my health is good so far, so I will be glad things are going smoothly, even if I just look a "little fat" right now. The hubby says my butt hasn't gotten any bigger, yeah he's a good hubby. Pregnant ladies do get a lot of attention, everyone oh's and ah's over you, asks how you are feeling, wants to know all the details. The attention whore in me will probably miss that after Jude arrives and becomes the center of attention, but I can live somewhat vicariously through him.