On having children ** I read a letter to msnbc.com yesterday that really upset me. It was from a couple that had decided before 9/11/01 to start trying for children. After 9/11, they decided they didn't want to have children after all, because they didn't want to bring a child into such a messed-up world. You know, this troubles me. I made a decision after 9/11 that our having a child is one of the best things we can do. By Christmas, we'd decided to start trying in the new year. In a world where evil people can terrorize innocents and cause such confusion, we need more good people. We need to continue the hopes we have for a good life and a good future by ensuring the evil don't win. I can't tell you what my unborn baby will do as it grows up, what course of action it will take. But I guarantee that it will have the foundations of love and faith in a home and world where its life is valued and cherished. That's the beginning of a positive future not only for my child, but for our nation, and our world. So get on out there and make some babies. :-)
Posted 8:28 AM by Kerry O.

May God Bless and Protect Us **

9/11/01

-------------------
One year ago, I was new to blogging. And I was new, like everyone else, to the notion of terror on our own land. I was unable to write for a long time... I was unable to process rational thought for a long time. You'll notice in my archives a blank time from 9/8 to 9/16. When I wrote again, it was on 9/19, over a week later. It was far from eloquent, but reading it, I remember ever so clearly what I felt during that time. We should all remember what we felt, and never minimize our loss. But as each day passes with us stronger and more complete for all our flaws, we can rejoice in our faith, hope and love.
Posted 8:51 AM by Kerry O.

Aaaaaahhhhh ** My comments are back. I feel complete again. As much as I enjoy your comments, I was mostly just annoyed with the fact that every visitor to my site got a million pop-up error messages. Sorry about that. :-) Looks fixed now.
Posted 3:42 PM by Kerry O.

So very wrong ** Every time I see a story like this one, I am sickened beyond words. It reminds me that there are truly hideous people in this world. I think about them laughing at a family gathering, praying in times of personal crisis, dreaming of what they want to do tomorrow... And it seems a great big hoax played on our world that people like this should be allowed to experience any semblance of life. If only, for one second, we could hook them up to true virtual reality and let them witness the physical pain of their victims, the emotional pain of their victims' loved ones. What a justice it would be to literally feel their heart break when their world comes crashing down around them. And to never give them the freedom of release from that pain. I just have to hope that is the hell that awaits this antithesis of a human being, and hope that he gets to find his way there sooner, rather than later.

My prayers are with these men and their families, and I hope yours are too.
Posted 1:52 PM by Kerry O.

Don't say anything at all ** Sorry, the comments are down again. I'll see if I can figure out why. Hope you're all having a lovely day. Anyone who cares about the pregnancy stuff, I updated the baby journal with my doctor's appointment. Nothing too exciting, just thought I'd let you know!
Posted 10:46 AM by Kerry O.

Ford and Firestone ** We have this nice new wagon of a car, right? Well, I noticed a couple of weeks ago that it was shaking just a little. Then when we went to Flag, I noticed it was shaking more, sometimes a lot. Since then it's gotten worse and worse. We've looked at the tires, and never could figure out what it was. Finally, yesterday, Joe saw the front right tire in the right light, and saw a big bubble in the tire and some cracking. Alas, our culprit! He took it in today to Firestone, figuring there was a chance it was covered under a recall or warranty or something. Turns out to be much worse that. Of course. The Firestone Affinity tires (original to the car) were not recalled, and therefore are not covered. Furthermore, the prior owner appears to have driven either over a bed of nails, a stop stick or those "Do not reverse" spikes. All four tires had multiple punctures, which had been plugged. Every plug had blown out bubbles in the tire, and resulted in cracking. He/She also apparently drove it forever on low tire pressure (though it's fine now), and horribly wore out the tires. All four were deemed dangerous and in need of replacement, and because of their dreadful condition, Firestone would not pro-rate or otherwise assist with this cost. Joe wouldn't tell me how much it cost, but his hints indicate to me it was around $500 to replace them. Oh, but they have a 70,000 mile warranty now, and it drives perfectly (I noticed the VERY first time I drove it that it was pulling and Joe said not to worry about it). Great. That's much more comforting. 500 fricking dollars later. Grrrrrrrrrr.
Posted 2:50 PM by Kerry O.

Sweet baby talk ** I found this beautiful entry today. It's a letter to her daughter on the eve of her birth, and it just brought tears to my eyes. What a sweet note! Thanks to Liz who pointed people there.
Posted 10:08 AM by Kerry O.

5 days and 20 degrees ** Wow, I was looking through my posts. Five days ago it was 110 degrees. Today? It's supposed to be 88-90 degrees, and rainy. I drove to work this morning, and for the first time in longer than I can remember, it rained from before I pulled out of my driveway until after I was safely in my work building. In fact, it's still raining. That never happens. When we get rain here, it's usually a splatter of rain, then nothing, then more, then nothing. It's not usually this steady, relentless rain. It could do this for a week or more, and I'd be in heaven!
Posted 8:58 AM by Kerry O.