The Dilemma of Race

 Unless you live under a rock, you know the social issues of race, racial profiling, and the fact that the US isn't as far along in racial equality as most white people think is every where now.
The terrible  shooting of Trayvon Martin, horrible responses to Rue in Hunger Games being portrayed by an African-American actress, and other random things in the news are just the tip of the iceberg.
  All this got me thinking about The Peanut and making sure she's raised to understand no one is better than anyone because of their race. It is even more important to me since we moved to our new place and she has made new friends that aren't the same color as her. To her beautiful 4 year old mind, there is no race. It just happens that a few of her little friends have different color skin.  In fact a conversation about this went as follows:
The Peanut: My friend [name] is brownish.
Me: Yup.
The Peanut: My skin is pinkish
Me: Yup.
The Peanut: I feel treatish. Can I have something yummy?

 This filled me with joy. Then I started thinking. Right now, she doesn't care. I think we're raising a loving little girl that sees past color. But that's the problem. I assume. And that is my dilemma. How do I make sure she understands that there are people in this world that judge someone just because they have dark skin? How do I explain slavery, the Civil Rights Movement, the KKK? How do I tell her that some people are cruel and say horrible things about some of her friends?

  Then I decided, I will just do my best and use every learning opportunity to make sure she understands the best that she can.

Queue Nerd Rage NOW!

  I don't get all the nerd rage about the Star Wars prequels. At all. Seriously. The movies aren't great, but are they really  THAT bad? What, exactly makes them so horrible? I would love to find some one that has never seen any Star Wars movie and has no preconceived ideas of the Star Wars world. Then I want them to watch them all and give an actual objective review.

  Oh, just so you know,  I think JarJar Binks is awful. I thought the Ewoks were stupid when I was a kid.

"I'm doing all this to save your ass..."

 Movies that if they come on, I have to watch to the end:

Dirty Dancing
Steel Magnolias
Thelma and Louise
Finding Nemo

My husband came home for lunch and I was watching Dirty Dancing. He tried to give me a hard time. I said, "I'm a girl. I'm allowed to love Dirty Dancing."

So there's that.

*EDIT I should also add
Shawshank Redemption (Because Fowl Sorcerous is right)
Forest Gump
Brave Heart

Randolph, The Yellow Blinking Butt Reindeer

  There's this thing going around about Santa's reindeer. You know, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and the crew. It points out that male reindeer lose their antlers in the winter, therefore Santa's fliers must be female. It's an incredibly silly argument. Santa's reindeer are how old? So at least 200 years old. Also, they fly. It is quite apparent these are not your run of the mill reindeer. Obviously magical.
  In other words, they are magical, immortal male reindeer that never lose their antlers and your "Santa's reindeer are female" statement is just silly.

This photo has nothing to do with my post. I just wanted to say Happy Birthday to my big 4 year old Peanut!

Muppets!!!

The Muppets should host the 2012 Oscars! Who's with me?

A note: I haven't watched or cared about the Oscars since I was a kid. But I would totally be on board to watch if the Muppets hosted.

It's all about love.

  Sometimes motherhood is not showering for days, never going to the bathroom alone, and watching the same episode of Kipper 42 times in a row.
  Other times it is wearing a Gary the Snail headband to the grocery and not caring that people are staring.

Just Pretending.

  At times I still feel like an awkward, too skinny, big breasted, teenager.  The girl that was just a bit too loud to cover the fact that she was so amazingly insecure. The one that stood in the shadows of friends hoping against hope to be noticed by the boys, but feeling to ugly to think they would take a second glance.  The girl that wore over-sized shirts to because she was so self conscious about her body.
  I feel like I'm not really a grown up and everyone around me knows it. That all the adults around me whisper behind their hands, "Who is she kidding?" I sit quietly in groups because I'm afraid when I speak I will sound just plain silly. It is  like I'm just pretending and any minute things will become clear.

Late to the party and other rambles.

  I am officially hooked on Breaking Bad. I decided to watch an episode today out of boredom. I then spent the rest of the day having a Breaking Bad marathon. We (the husband and I) are halfway through season 2 now. Great show.
  I watched Mad Men, but just can't get into it. I feel like I'm missing out on something and will be viewed as odd for not liking the show. Oh well.
  Also, I'm glad I'm not a football fan, because my "team" kind of sucks this year.