the domestic zoo

He plays electric, acoustic and slide guitar. He rides a motorcycle. He makes a mean cup of coffee.

But back off, ladies. He’s only 17.

I know his new parents named him “Schilling”, but to me he’s still our little Andy. Of course, he’s really not so little anymore (and he looks so much like his siblings).

from: his dad

This is the one and only Schilling!

I think she could have been great.

I think she’s well equipped for her role as a governor. I think she knows Alaska, knows what the state needs and does her best to address those needs (within a political framework that I do not entirely agree with, but that’s beside the point)

And I think that right now, she is in WAY OVER her head.

She wasn’t ready for a national office. She wasn’t ready to address the needs and concerns of an entire country. If she’d had more time, say five or ten years, to prepare for the national stage then she might have been the right woman for the job. But she was thrust into the spotlight too soon.

Her recent interviews have been nothing short of painful. When I watch her I can almost feel the panic, when she’s asked a question to which she clearly does not know the anser, I can understand that urge to say something – anything – and before you realize it your mouth is going and you’re not entirely sure what’s coming out of it. It’s bad, and with a debate right around the corner, I really hope it doesn’t get worse.

She’s not stupid. She is not an unintelligent woman. I disagree with her on many issues, but I won’t denigrate her intellect. It is becoming clear that, quite simply, she was wildly underprepared and she’s suffering for it. Someone pointed out that keeping her away from the media might have hurt, rather than helped, because she wasn’t kept on her game.

I don’t know if that’s the case. What I do know is that she needs to prepare herself, she needs to learn as much as she can about these issues, and she needs to be ready with quick and solid answers.Because she’s going to bolster the notion that she was chosen for her gender, not her wits. Because the media is going to start tearing her apart, and it won’t just be sexist B.S. Because if she doesn’t step up to the plate, she is going to drag the whole campaign down and McCain’s support won’t ever recover.

Don’t get me wrong – I don’t really want her within a heartbeat of the presidency. But I don’t like to see anyone so publically humiliated when they do not entirely deserve it. So where’s the Sarah Palin Recovery Plan?
 

Will you have bunnies again sometime?

But why do you have to close that chapter of your life? Why not plan for new pets soon?

I won’t be having a bunny again anytime soon. I won’t be having any small animals again, at least not for awhile. I’ve always thought it a ridiculous notion that small animals are good “starter” pets. They need a lot of time, a good amount of space, quite a bit of equipment (cages, toys, etc.) and a lot of specialized care. And thanks to poor breeding they are, more often than not, sickly and prone to very short lives. It’s that last part especially that I’m feeling too tapped out to deal with.

As far as other pets, I’d say we’re pretty well covered in the cat department. Given their young ages and extraordinarily good health, we can expect to have them around for at least another ten years or so. And the cats have been so well blended into the household and the family that they are a natural part of our lives. I’d hate to force that with a new addition.

Now…I do want a dog. But here’s where the most pressing reason comes in, the reason for me to ‘close that chapter’ for the time being: my parents do not want anymore animals. I’m a young woman, a college graduate, and I live at home. I love living at home and I love my parents, so I really must respect their wishes. Even if I felt I could take on a new animal, it’s going to have to wait until I move out. And that probably won’t be happening for awhile.

There are other reasons too. Financially I’m not in a position to take on a potentially large investment (I’m still dealing with the several hundred dollar legacy dear Peanut left). I need to be more stable, and focus on the pets I have now, before I commit to a new animal. I also need to consider the pressure it would place on my time. I try not to overbook my life, and I think I’ve found a good balance for now. On top of that, I’ll be gone for a whole month next summer, and that gets harder to do the more dependents you have.

So there are my reasons. Things may change, and I hope that they will. But for now it’s just me and the feline posse. Pass the catnip…

I’ll tell you what you should be doing: you should be eating at Chili’s.

No, I don’t work for them, and no, I’m not getting any endorsements.

But this Monday, September 29th, Chili’s is donating 100% of their profits to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

I think that’s pretty cool.

So…aren’t you in the mood for some Baby Back Ribs?