sara with camera

Occupy El Paso

Yesterday, after school, the boys and I checked out the Occupy El Paso camp-out at San Jacinto Plaza (they have a 24 day long permit which was given to them by the city in exchange for not interrupting the Chalk the Block event on Saturday).  We chatted up this guy first.  He let me know about the nightly 7 p.m. meetings.  I finally got away to take tent photos (I'd be talkative too if I were hanging out on a street corner, holding a sign all day long). 

Right by the tents were a few guys chatting it up & they let me snap their photos (all but one anyhow).  I always ask.  Some photographers don't, and they get amazing photos.  That works for them (and I don't disapprove at all), but for me (someone who hates being photographed) it's right to ask.  Anyway, one guy said that he's there because there's only one political party: the corporations (and gave me two flyers).  Then another guy asked if the husband was military (Auden was wearing an old camo hat of Chris') & when I said yes, he asked, "officer, right"?  He said it was the way I expressed myself and flat out said that I had an easy life financially- unemployed or not (he's not had the pleasure of paying law school loans, I guess).  Then yet another guy approached and told me he was there because of the foster care system.  The government is in the business of taking kids away from families and sending them to other families (for hire). It's a racket.  I thought the first guy was tough to get away from.  On our way out, I snapped the guitar player- I forget what he was singing...

Still haven't read the flyers or read up on the Occupy movement yet- I've been busy editing (which is awesome- I got a small gig & I need to be finished by tomorrow morning).  So soon I'll get my reading in & maybe snap some meeting photos later too.  I have 20 days left, right?  Back to Photoshop.  Love, Sara

God Hates Verizon.

After a customer service call gone wrong, I was very angry and couldn't seem to get a grip on it.  I called Katherine and the plan was born.  Most anyone who has lived in Topeka awhile knows about the angry corner: 17th & Gage.  That's where (or across the street at 15th & Gage) Westboro Baptist Church holds their work week-day 15 minute protests.  You've seen the signs.  God hates this and God hates that.  I decided that it would be cathartic and funny if I could join in with a God Hates Verizon sign.  So I did (I got about 10 minutes of protest in before the cold got to me). 

My wireless shutter remote wasn't working, so Katherine snapped the photo.  My sign kind of pales in comparison to theirs, but...there it is. 

Before I followed through I thought a lot about it.  I mean, Westboro Baptist folks and I don't agree on much.  But, I am glad they have the right to express their beliefs and opinions.  That's one of the best things about this country. 

I was going to post the break-up letter I wrote to Verizon (but haven't yet sent), but I think I'll keep it simple (though seriously, when the contract is up July 26th- we're gone). 

Oh, and Jael (far right) got my photo too.  Happy Tuesday, Sara

Death Penalty

I've been volunteering a bit with the Kansas Coalition Against the Death Penalty, and last night I got to take photos of the Sister Helen Prejean event (she's author of the book Dead Man Walking). 

That's Sister Helen in the middle, Chris on the left (I would have scalped her last night to get her hair if that sort of thing could possibly work out), and Ms. Schneweis on the right. There was music, then...

Students read an act from Dead Man Walking, the play.  The actress playing Sister Helen is on the left and the actor playing a Louisiana death row inmate on the right.

I am so glad I was able to attend.  Any opportunity to break out the camera is something to get excited about (although I have much to learn about event photography), but mostly I enjoyed the discussion afterward that led to a victim's family member expressing why she was opposed to the death penalty.

Sister Helen again!

I just wrote a very compelling call to arms about how you should phone your legislator to let him or her know that you support HB2323 (if you do), a bill abolishing the death penalty in Kansas and introduced last month.  But I accidentally erased it, so hopefully the above is inspiring enough.  If you don't know who to call, you can find your legislator here: http://www.ipsr.ku.edu/ksdata/vote/

If you're on the fence; talk to me!  Hope you all have a great weekend and I'll see you at the coffee shop tonight (Gypsy jazz is playing!).  Love, Sara

Oh, and there's this if you're interested:

http://cjonline.com/legislature/2011-03-03/prejean-seeks-end-death-penalty

Vote Piper!

Figured I should watch one night of the Republican Convention- I watched two nights of the DNC (only because there was nothing else on- really: CBS, NBC, ABC, and FOX even were all broadcasting the Obama-Biden fest).  A girl has to knit, and if a political speeches are all that are available for background entertainment, then politics it is.  So tonight as I flipped through the channels, only one station was hosting the RNC and it was PBS.  Seems a little lopsided to me, so in the spirit of fairness, I sucked up my love for mindless tv and chose PBS.  Sarah Palin.

Honestly, there was something about her (in the photos I've seen) that was bothering me, and I couldn't put my finger on it (yeah, I judge books by the cover on occasion, though in my defense, all I had was cover)- it might have been that she seemed a little rough around the edges, and not in an endearing way.  Think little Republican Roseanne Barr- last few seasons.  I don't know.  After tonight though, I'm a little less concerned with that, and I don't know if that's because her speech didn't suck or because hair and make-up had an On night.  Mostly, I'm writing because as I was watching her speech, Auden (who was supposed to be asleep) came out of his bedroom and wanted to know why I was laughing so hard.  I was too lazy to knit tonight which really paid off because I would have missed seeing Palin's youngest daughter- who was holding the baby- lick her hand to smooth down baby's hair, Twice.  Thank God I have a strong bladder.  Once my fit of laughter was finally over, my first thought was to be grateful that it wasn't me up there giving the speech of my life while one of my girls was licking her hand on national television (the optimist might point out that at least it was only PBS and who watches PBS?).  The Obama girls would never have licked their hands... They must have better nannies (I know, I know, grandma watches them- we should all be so lucky).

Anyway, I'm still undecided, but definitely leaning toward the McCain-Palin ticket Because: if I get stuck watching political tv again when the major networks feel required to cover a certain speech, press conference, or whatever, there's at least a chance that something interesting will go down with kids like that Piper around.  Love, Sara

Today

There was Preschool & World Fellowship (a group of women from the world over who meet at the Presbyterian church). 

I hit my head while trying to close the truck door. 

I read a little of Midnight's Children by Rushdie.

I talked to Chris who will be home in mere weeks (we want Obama vs McCain- feel free to make any political comments you like, I love me some politics & religion too while we're at it). 

I spent an hour at the park with the boys: it was warm enough for once (Good Mom Point there).

I drank a Mocha Frapachino while watching the boys at the park (extra caffeine might prevent further head to door mishaps).

The boys played in the yard with Hana for a while (Good Mom Point #2).  All three were covered in mud- Matti was actually drinking water from the puddles until caught.  Good thing they got a little outside time because tomorrow's high is only in the teens, and I don't do teens.  Oh, and I finished a little leftover yard work (Roundup meets unwanted saplings.  I just can't wait for the spring raking [do read sarcasm into that last comment]).

I put the boys to bed without the routine (2) bedtime stories because they were acting like complete maniacs and I couldn't take any more (Subtract 2 Good Mom points).

I noticed that Boden has stolen JCrew's women models.  What does this mean?  1) I get too many catalogs  2) It is possible that JCrew bought out Boden  3) Boden is still autonomous but is a big fat copycat (the catalog layout was also reminiscent of JCrew)  4) I need a life; I am bored out of my mind & knitting isn't cutting it (no need to mention how instead of perusing catalogs comparing layouts and whatnot that I could clean house instead.  Yes, no need for that).