Get ready for "Lactalicious" ice cream!

Can you tell the new school year's schedule is hitting mom pretty hard too? I haven't written for nearly a week! This headline, though, has stopped me in my "frantically-cleaning-up-before-my-mother-in-law-arrives" tracks. PETA wants Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream to use mother's milk in their treats.

I was going to give PETA a courtesy link here, but I went to their homepage and couldn't stop myself from clicking on a video where pigs, allegedly, raised for meat in Hormel products were abused, beaten, etc, etc, etc. The video was on for a total of about 7 seconds before I had to x-out. That site is not for sensitive views, like myself. My immediate next search was for tips on how to become a vegetarian. My great-uncle had a pig farm and while those cute piglets ultimately ended up in sausage they had a good life full of sunshine, soft ground beneath them and room to, oh I don't know, MOVE! Seek out that video on the PETA site if you'd wish, but be forewarned.

Anyway, what humors me about PETA's publicity stunt...er...suggestion to Ben & Jerry's is that it makes no sense. How could they be even the teeniest bit convinced that moms providing breast milk for ice cream wouldn't eventually turn into the new form of dairy cow. Surely moms would be paid. And surely the quantity each mom produced would be monitored. Perhaps she'd feel pressure to lactate more. So she'd fill her body with every "remedy" she could find to support her family. Suddenly we have hormone-laden milk from a sack-of-bones woman whose sole purpose in her life is to produce enough milk for ice cream. Is that not factory farming?

Now I get what the PETA folks are saying. I breastfed one daughter for 15 months and another for 20. I say I'm "pro-breastfeeding" is an understatement. I do think it's the absolute best. I do get frustrated when moms are unsupported in continuing. I roll my eyes when I hear "formula is better for them anyway" or "it was just too hard." Breast milk is the ultimate in nutrition for babies and toddlers. But make no mistake. It's a bodily fluid. And folks, I don't swap those with just anyone. Ice cream filled with breast milk would be doing just that - except it would be from many somebodies. The concept of breast milk being ingested by a human is beautiful. When that milk comes from a stranger, could carry disease or the tastes of what she had for dinner the night before, I'm icked out.

The health screening used in breast milk banks is stringent. Plus, it's intended for infants, babies and toddlers. Beyond that age group, I'd love to see research that suggests there are health benefits to consuming breast milk.

If PETA was truly interested in ethical treatment, why are they not approaching Ben & Jerry's about using soy or other organic product in their ice cream?

[photo courtesy of www.benjerry.com]

In search of nanny to put up with my child(ishness)...

I'm humored by this article about a mom looking for a nanny. She describes her children as "a pain" and says "I can be a tad difficult to work for. I'm loud, pushy and while I used to think we paid well, I am no longer sure." *insert eye roll here* I think someone has seen too many episodes of the The Real Housewives of New York City and is prepping to apply for a future season.

She goes on to mention how she stacks her dishwasher and challenges her new nanny to keep up with her own passive aggressive tendencies. The lucky children in her care are being forced by their mother to endure it as it's a job requirement.

The woman who has accepted this position committed to one year with the family. It's either an extreme case of idealism or self-loathing. God bless the children and the nanny.

It's fun when adults throw up the white flag of acceptable behavior and ask others to tolerate it. My favorite quote is, "if you suspect all wealthy women are frivolous, we are not for you." LOL By blogging about it, I'm only feeding the huge attention appetite.

Good luck, folks! Tell the countess and Ramona I say hi!

Petition against "Tropic Thunder" for its hate language

While this news is a bit old, I can't not blog about it.

Two weeks ago a friend of mine emailed me about the newest Ben Stiller movie, Tropic Thunder. I'd give it some linklove, but I'm not terribly pleased about it so I'll refrain. I can't find an accurate count, but the word "retard", as a noun and label, was used so many times throughout the movie that David Tolleson, president of the National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC), stated, “To say this film is offensive is an understatement. For me, watching this film felt like sitting through an assault.” Other advocates have reported that the film is much worse than even they anticipated from the offensive promotional materials (which have been taken off of the air by DreamWorks).

Check out this letter written to Ben Stiller by Dave Hingsburger. I love you, Dave, for asking Ben to take personal responsibility for his offensiveness. They were his words, spoken by him. They'll generate a profit that fill his pockets.

I guess it's funny, Ben, to make fun of someone who doesn't have the best of abilities to fight back. I guess it's funny to crush someone with words. I guess it's funny to project the acceptability of my first two points to loads of impressionable movie viewers.

Truthfully, I'm bummed. I liked Ben Stiller. The "Meet the Parents" and "Meet the Fockers" movies are among my favorites. But I just can't look at him in the same light anymore. If he thinks it's perfectly fine to use the word "retard" with such a casual aire, I dare him to use the word "nigger" to the same extent in his next movie. Up for the challenge of taking on every African American and those against hate language, Ben, et al? I'm thinking not.

For those interested, here is a petition against Dreamworks studios and the actors in the film, Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey, Jr. I've proudly signed it. Such hate is just unacceptable in today's American society. It's bad enough someone would use language perpetuating it - but to profit from it? Disgusting.

Could I be losing my religion?

For year, and years, I have been in love with Tony Stewart. For those living under a rock, he's the Sprint Cup driver of the #20 Home Deport car, a two time championship and further a champion in ever series he's ever had a full-time ride in. In my eyes, he's a god.

What's funny is that in 1999, his rookie year in the then Winston Cup series, I loathed him. I was at the Coca Cola 600 in Charlotte that year and Stewie pulled double duty, racing also in the Indy 500. Prior to that race, I didn't have much an opinion about him. On that day, but before the race started, the sight of him made me sick.

In his defense, it wasn't entirely his fault. It had something to do with the every 30 second updates from the track promoters.

"Ladies and Gentleman, Tony Stewart has just moved up to 4th place in the Indianapolis 500."

"Ladies and Gentleman, Tony Stewart has just taken 3rd place."

"Ladies and Gentleman, Tony Stewart has just finished the Indianapolis 500."

"Ladies and Gentleman, Tony Stewart has just stepped out of his car."

"Ladies and Gentleman, Tony Stewart just peed."

You get the point.

Then when he finally got to the track, his helicopter circled around the inside with him standing in the doorway in his primarily white fire suit, waving. I flipped him off.

I think it was the 2001 season when the tides began to change. I can't remember the circumstances, but I found myself really wanting to watch his speech at the annual awards banquet in NYC. Before I knew it, we went to five races that next year and found ourselves to be card carrying members of the Tony Stewart fan club. Before you make a "dork" judgement, we did it because there used to be an annual picnic where you could meet him - which we did. My husband said I was more "glowing" in this pic than on our wedding day. Untrue.

As a result of my love, I've brainwashed my children. "Who will win the race this weekend?" They answer in unison. "Stewie". "Who does mommy love?" "Stewie." Now, I may have to take those back.

This afternoon I was reading Matt Myftiu 's blog Nascar: Beyond the Track and he referenced an upcoming article about Smoke in Rolling Stone magazine. Let me give you a few quotes from this umm...enligtening??...piece of journalism.

"My parents are afraid my dick's gonna rot off," Stewart says. and "If there's one thing I don't lack, it's pussy. Between me and Tom here, there's two things we definitely don't lack, and that's pussy and money." Stewart is standing in his relaxed pose, with his thumbs hooked into his jeans. Carnival sounds and car horns float into the lot from the other side of the vast Talladega infield. "Pussy, money and race cars. That's pretty much all I care about."

Niiiiiiiiiiiiice. I kind of feel like someone burst my bubble. I love Tony for being passionate and not being afraid to show it. To me, that gave him depth, even if his actions were sometimes deemed "unbecoming to the sport." These little quote gems, however, left me a bit disenchanted, though. Surely my racing hero doesn't have the maturity of an almost-forty-year-old-rough-around-the-edges frat boy, does he? I still want to think not, but....... *shrug*

So who splits the difference between Jimmie "Media Darling" Johnson and Tony "Pussy, money and race cars. That's pretty much all I care about" Stewart? I feel like I'm losing my Sunday ritual of worshipping my Stew.

And this is why I'm a "dog person"

My husband just came in from the patio and said "Go to CNN.com". I was in the middle of fiddling with my family blog, mildly annoyed with his interruption. "Click on the link "Abandoned dog saves baby." I scroll and can't find it. Turns out the headline is actually "Dog saves abandoned baby" but whatever. Here's the link so you can see it for yourself.

It seems a dog in Argentina saved an abandoned newborn, just hours old and with a 14 year old mother, dragged it to where her own six new puppies were assembled and kept it warm in 37 degree temperatures. The baby was soon thereafter rescued.

I've said it before in different forums. No matter the details of your life, the emotions of motherhood are universal. When I said that, I meant it with regard to socio-economic status, race, sexual preference, etc. I, now, expand that to include many four-legged friends as well. Mama knew that baby was in trouble and did all she knew to do to keep him going. I wish I could send her a big fat biscuit! Good job, girl!

The reason my husband wanted me to see the article? The dog looks EXACTLY like my sister-in-law's pooch.

Excuse me sir, my parents left me but remembered their luggage

As reported by MSN, an Israeli couple, along with their five children were on their way to Paris for a family vacation upon a charter plane. Forty minutes into that trip, the flight staff informed them they were short one kid.

It seems in all the hustle and bustle they were able to keep up with 18 pieces of luggage, duty-free goods and four of their five children. Unfortunately their three-year-old daughter got so far lost in the crowd that her family had left the country before her absence was noticed. Evidently Home Alone isn't a popular movie in Israel.

Let me not throw too much judgement as when my own children were babies, I'd have honest-to-goodness nightmares that I was out somewhere and left them in the car, on the car, in the store, in the house...you name it. I guess I was stressed about missing a details, albeit an important one, in my role as a mom. So I'm sure this incident was a true nightmare for this family and their little girl. I'll bet they'll never lose her again. And thankfully it appears all is well now. The children continued on the next flight to Paris accompanied by an airline staffer. The parents returned to claim their daughter. I can't help but to wonder...how old are the older kids? Because short of about 18, I'm not trusting an airline employee with their safety in a foreign country for any length of time. No offense to airline employees, of course, They are very likely outstanding folks. I'll hope so for the purpose of this family as they cared for all of their children at one point or another on this trip. But, yikes! Is anyone else envisioning Macauly Culkin making that face where he puts his hands on the sides of his face? "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

Life lessons via an African woman

It's this story that finally prompted me to start the blog I've been envisioning for quite some time. African women, while rich in culture and sense of duty, fall to the lower regions of the humanity scale.

As described, the woman featured in report chews on a twig, after she divides up the family's modest amount of food among two dozen children and her husband. Like most mothers, her motto is that the children come first. Even after "indulging" in her small portion of the only meal she'll eat that day, she takes only a few bites and then offers the rest to her family. She's quoted as saying, "I'm not hungry."

The problem is that there is little work. What's available pays very little and is physically taxing. The price of food and supplies has skyrocketed. A family that once ate three adequate meals a day can now only afford, basically, tasteless gruel.

It's glimpses into other's lives that put my own in perspective. This morning, as I read that article, I sipped on a lovely cup of tea and ate a banana. Thirty minutes prior, I chatted with my husband about how the astronomical gas prices have, indeed, affected my daily life. No more whimsical trips to the library, Target or beach. No sirree. I'm only out driving my SUV to spend our disposable income a few times a week. And while I'm at it, let me tell you about how my thighs and belly are too big. I have talked several times to a friend of mine who is having a cosmetic procedure to have her varicose veins erased, planning on following suit. I'm sheepishly writing this. It's almost shameful given the absolute lack of necessity that is reality for so many.

Yep, life is good. It's damn good. Now if only I can think of a way to nicely wrap that article and this post into a sentence that will politely remind myself and those around me when we get too wrapped up in problems that would only seem like a luxury to many.