"It doesn't matter if we're poor as long as we have our freedom and free markets. Then we can rebuild our prosperity. But if they take away our rights, then we're really in trouble..."

--Ron Paul, this morning on the Alex Jones show

I dropped by the midwives' center today to have my TB test results read.  Thankfully, I am negative for TB, we can all rest assured. 

As I was turning around after signing in, I saw our next door neighbor.  I had the chance to meet her once before, a couple of weeks ago.  She is pregnant with her seventh, I think, and her youngest is Ben's age.  Anyway, when I met her she struck me as the type of person who I would not be friends with in a million years, to put it politely.  Nor would I be excited to let her kids play with mine.

Upon recognizing her, I said hello and gave a little small talk.  Yadda, yadda, yadda.  And then she catches me with a, "Now I don't mean to offend you," disclaimer to her next phrase, "but you should be eating cucumbers.  DO you eat cucumbers?"  It takes me but a moment to realize that she is talking about my puffy feet and ankles and is offering a word of advice. 

"Not really.  They make me burp like crazy.  I'm always a little puffy."  Hoping that will close the subject.  Besides, it's already time to go and I am trying to gather the three kids up and go.  (Of course, it's like trying to herd cats on crack.  Not working.)

"Well, if I didn't eat cucumbers, I'd be looking as BAD AS YOU right now." 

Now, the part of me that is not pregnant and hormonal can rationalize that she may just not be the best communicator.  That she probably didn't mean it the way that I took it.  However, that other part of my psyche was instantly offended, and yearned for a retort.  Hey, I look freaking awesome for a woman about to give birth in three weeks.  You probably don't even know when you're due.  People don't have to be told that I am pregnant because I am not obese.  I have good hair.  I care about my appearance and know how to expertly apply my makeup, thanks to Mary Kay.  I know how to dress myself.  I even shave my legs still and paint my nails.  I understand the necessary physiological reason for puffiness a.k.a. edema in pregnancy, and can differentiate between the normal kind and the dangerous kind.   So shut up, Lady.  Who asked you anyway?  If a little puffiness is the only thing between me and perfection, I'll take it.   Because in about 3-4 weeks, puffiness is no longer going to be holding me back.   What's your excuse?

And that's why I keep my mouth closed.  Mostly.  

Another interesting opinion article...

I had forgotten that I had been a part of a survey for adults who had been home-schooled as children.  I took it at least a year ago, maybe two.  It was a large study to see 20 years later what kind of people home-educated children actually grew up to be.  So now we have more to go on than dubious speculation or emotional response, that home-schooled children can and generally do grow up into great adults!  Like me!
Check it out!

Here are a bunch of blogs and sites that I have been reading as of late. 

On parenting and theology:
http://parentingfreedom.com/
Arms of Love Family Fellowship
TulipGirl

For fun and laughs:
http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/
http://stufffchristianslike.blogspot.com/

For health:
http://www.mercola.com/

Latest research news:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/
I've been receiving the pregnancy feed.

And homeschooling:
http://californiahomeschool.net/blog/
Just Enough and Nothing More

Some thinkers:
The Last Psychiatrist
White Washed Feminist



Yep, I'm a nerd.