No really, it was that bad

I was killing time waiting for Russ to be done with homework so we could watch our new obsession, Dexter (love it! But more on that later), when I came across some SNL clips making fun of Sarah Palin's CBS interview with Katie Couric. As I was watching them, I couldn't help thinking they must be being hard on Palin. Yes, she scares me, but no one can sound that ridiculous. So I decided to check it out the interview for myself. See the clip I found on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nokTjEdaUGg

And here is all I have to say: Yes, it really was that bad.

COME ON! Didn't we all have a good laugh a year ago when that Miss Teen USA contestant couldn't answer the question about maps? Am I wrong, or are we dealing with a 42 year old Miss Teen Frickin Alabama?

I am so frustrated that Sarah Palin has even had 2 people stand up and say she is qualified to be our potential President. People have told me "I like that she's not a typical politician, you can tell she is for the people." Which people- the ones that lived on earth with the dinosaurs 6000 years ago? Or us, the ones that have brains that clearly have not adapted much since then. Haven't we been through enough embarrassment with Bush for the last 8 years? Must we have this pandering to the female vote slapped in our face and worse, maybe even succeed?

Please see the equally infuriating article about John McCain as he reacted to the backlash from Palin's interview:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080929/ts_alt_afp/usvotepalin

Yes, this article states that even some Republicans are asking for her to step down. Now I think I should stop this rant or my Republican friends will never forgive me. After all, some of them have told me they think Sarah Palin is "a kick!" (She loves Moose Stew! Isn't that adorable? Ahh!!!!) All I can say is I officially can not wait until October 2nd's Vice Presidential debate. Bring it, Biden!

My favorite food groups-- candy, candy canes, candy corn and syrup

Yes, that's right folks! Bring on the ice cream because I'm going all out- Elf-style- and eating nothing but sugar to celebrate passing my diabetes test!

For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, I got gestational diabetes when pregnant with Josie. This time around the doctor's are being really cautious and testing me way earlier and more often. My doctor predicted I would be diabetic as early as 13 weeks, so I had my test yesterday. (For those of you doing the math, I put it off for a week because I was trying to avoid it... I know, I know...) After the test I spent the whole afternoon miserable at the site of any lone potato chip or noodle and loathing the return of my depressing carb-less diabetic diet.

But great news came today when I learned I passed my test with flying colors! Now its nothing but cookies for another 3 months until I have to take it again. Here's hoping I can be diabetes free at least through Christmas!

Rock 'N Roll

A few cool pictures from this weekend-- Josie learning to play the "guitar"

Two things to ignore

1) Its a Barney guitar 2) Russ clearly hasn't combed her hair in weeks!

Dad gets in on the action. What a couple of hippies!

As I sheepishly return to my blog...

Every time I have taken a long hiatus from blogging I imagine all these catchy titles to get all 4 of you who read this to love me again and forget that I am the worst for barely blogging. But I won't try to be cute, I'll just get to the point. I have not been blogging lately because I have been busy with a much bigger project--- growing a baby!

That's right folks, Oops I did it again. Russ and I are expecting Baby #2 on March 25 and we are so excited! It has been a very interesting 14 weeks so far as I have done nothing but lay dying on the couch and Russ has done pretty much everything else imaginable. In fact, as I write this Russ and Josie are hanging in Sycamore and "giving me a break." I have a feeling he chose an escape because he can't take my psychotic mood swings and pregnancy rage, but I'll try to focus on the positive.

Also now that Fall is in full swing, Russ is back to the books and working on two classes for his Masters. This means that I will hopefully have more time to update everyone on the riveting details in the life of Gmax, even if they are completely non-riveting.

So with that, I hope you all will pencil March 25 on your calendar as my new favorite date and I will keep you updated on the progress of Russ or Gena Jr. as we move along!

Lincoln Park Zoo and Johnsons, too!

It has been a non-stop fun factory for the Johnson family! We've had friends visiting, my 29th birthday, and some excellent dessert. But an even more special treat came yesterday when we went to the Lincoln Park Zoo.

One perk of my job is getting invitations to special events at other Chicago destinations. So, when we were invited to a family event at the Lincoln Park Zoo we were all about it! There was one stipulation- the event was for Legislators, so I had to attend with my co-worker, a 40-something lobbyist and known to be a bit of a Debbie Downer. But I was worth it for the free parking, free food, and free run of the zoo that was closed for all but about 100 Illinois politicians-- and us!

One of the most memorable thing was going to see the Polar Bears. Josie was running down the path to get there like a mad woman screaming "Polar Bears! I'm coming!!!" We arrived just in time for the animal feeding. A totally unglamorous experience, the feeders basically threw chopped fish over the fence for the bears to scavenge. At one point, a grody bloody fish landed on one of the bears and blood and guts got all over its white fur. Sick! Luckily Josie was distracted at that moment by one of the other Polar Bears dropping a giant deuce. Josie yelled out "Mommy, that bear is going poop on the potty! What a big boy!"

At one point we passed a table of volunteers showing off some kind of crazy alligator purse. Turns out it was illegal (was it the alligator head that gave that away?), and they told us about all the other random things, including that purse and their full table of other stuff, police are constantly confiscating at O'Hare airport. They had a huge stash of things including a rhino horn, some boots made from the fur of endangered animals, and other creepy stuff. Who knew Chicago was a hotbed for that kind of thing?

Before we went home, we made a final stop at the carousel. We were the only ones there, so there was no line-- again, awesome! The guy let Josie walk around the entire carousel to pick out her favorite animal to ride. But of all the choices, she picked a red bench! Basically the handicapped seat! And so Russ, Josie, my random lobbyist co-worker, and I sat on the bench together and rode around. Not quite the youthful abandon I'd been expecting. When it was done, Josie said she wanted to go again, so I had grand hopes for round two. But after walking around and inspecting every animal again, she came back to the bench! The lamest! I guess you can't predict what's exciting to a two-year old...

Finally it was time to go home. On our way out, we found a mother bunny and 5 tiny baby bunnies playing on the sidewalk. Josie was totally psyched! (And lets be honest- I was psyched. Baby bunnies are the cutest!) We were watching them and at one point it seemed like Josie was going to pick one up. That's when the lobbyist said "Josie, you don't want to touch the baby bunnies. If you touch them, your scent will get on it, and when it goes back to its nest the mother will eat it."
AH!!!!!!!

Good one. Thank you for that. Hey lobbyist, look over there! I think I see Obama!

All in all it was the best free entertainment we'd had in a while. I can't wait to go back!

Josie + Asher = Love

Okay, don't judge. There have been a lot of pictures of Josie's suitors on this blog lately. But Josie is young, cute, and happenin.' You can't blame her for wanting to play the field a bit. Besides, I think I agree more with the Smith's political views than I do with baby Goo-goo's. Don't hate, Mona. If I'm creating an arranged marriage, I have to take these things into consideration.

Anyway-- on to the pictures! The Smith family came all the way from Iowa to help me celebrate my birthday. Which meant a reunion for best friends (and possible love-match) Josie and Asher! The two spent the weekend together sharing goldfish crackers, naptimes, and sweet nothings. Check out the photos below!

Look at these big kids just having a snack at the table. What could be cuter?

For a blast from the past, here's a picture from one of Asher and Josie's first dates-- both of them are two months old. I can't believe how time has flown.

Here are the lovebirds on Asher's first birthday. Neither of them could walk yet, but they could already say "I do."

Three cheers for arranged marriages!

Have you missed me?

Well folks, I'm finally back to my blog! My internet has been broken for 3 weeks. I've become best friends with half of India in the time I've spent on the phone with tech support. They finally told us they would fix it, but it would cost us our firstborn child so, forlourn, we decided to delay it a little longer. Then today we turned on the computer and everything was working again. WTF! But I'm not complaining. Just blogging again!

So let me get you all up to speed. June has been fantastic! Beautiful weather, time as a family, and I'm even starting to get a respectable tan. But the best part of June was the visit from my BFF Mona and her baby, Andrew!

Mona and Andrew (or "little monkey" as Josie started calling him) were here for three days and we had so much fun. We took the babies to the lake, the park, watched cheesy movies, and generally lived it up.

We did have one dark moment, however. When going for a walk, we were gossiping and giggling like the old days when we were distracted by something amazing-- as our heads jerked to the right, and our strollers crashed into each other, and we drooled over the thing across the street.

Hot guy?
No.
Dairy Queen?
I wish.

It was a neighbor out for a run with a fancy new jogging stroller. How humiliating! Mona and I made a pact to burn our sweat pants and try to get a life. Yikes!

While I work on my anti-aging technics, feast your eyes on some of these recent pictures.

Mona and Baby Goo-Goo

One of the few moments when Josie wasn't yelling "Oh no, Gogo's toys!"

Gogo and Drewski in the bathtub (edited for internet appropriateness, duh) Can you see the look of love in their eyes? This will be great for the photo montage at their wedding!