Emailing with Tuna the Fish

Anne: "John's growing like a weed. You?"


Tuna: "I'm growing like a weed too. You wouldn't believe how I've changed since the last time you saw me. Pretty soon I won't fit into any of my clothes and I'll be off to school."

Shame on You, Massachusetts

I understand Democrat Martha Coakley coasted along in her campaign until she saw the poll numbers and many fault her for that. But Massachusetts has spoken and it's chosen Republican Scott Brown for Senate. Teddy Kennedy? Most definitely twisting in his grave.

Tuna and I were texting about our utter disappointment last night. Massachusetts, the state that led a brand new nation with the Minute Men, created the first public school, the first post office, and the American Navy decides to turn its back on healthcare and other progressive reform and elects a backward conservative? I wasn't even a fan of this concession-ridden healthcare plan by Obama in the first place; working with the Republicans on it had backfired, making it crappy anyhow. Mom's right; Obama should have stuck to his guns and steamrolled ahead without "working with the other side of the aisle" just like the Bush administration did so well. Compromise in this case has gotten us nowhere.

I'm one of the very few and lucky in this economy to be employed and have healthcare insurance. And yet being insured in this country, I spent over 3K dollars out of pocket in addition to what I paid monthly for benefits in 2009. Additionally, with my benefits, unless I use personal and unpaid time off, I will receive 6 weeks of maternity leave. 6 weeks. Six. Weeks. Surely the baby should be able to take care of itself by then, no problem, and not only that, take care of Doodle when I'm at work.

America embarrasses me sometimes.

Okay, more than sometimes. If we can't do anything about healthcare reform right now, can we please, as Americans, promise not be so fat when we go to Europe and wear those dumb white sneakers? I can't take it.

Anne Reviews Avatar

Tuna and I went to see Avatar last night. I was reluctant to go for a few reasons:

1. Don't care much for CGI
2. Never first in line for science fiction let alone blockbuster science fiction
3. I hate crowds
4. This movie is LONG (how many times will I have to use the ladies' room?)

We got our 3D glasses and while Tuna bought some popcorn and water, I remarkably scored two seats in the center of the theater, one being an aisle seat. Later arriving people had to sit in the front row, which I imagine was super rough for a flick like this.

I liked Avatar. It was wild. Beautiful, loud, violent, a bit funny, sad. The baby was kicking up a storm during the part where the dude has to go up to the side of a cliff to choose a horse bird to fly.

And there you have it; my review of Avatar. Hope I didn't spoil it for you.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Tuna (left) and Me (right)

I'm spending this snowy afternoon with Tuna on a great adventure to get our pictures taken with a Santa Claus based in a Forest Hills, Queens. Talk about an exotic field trip! I'm stoked.

Cat Shiz for Today

Dave and I tried to explain to Tuna (someone who didn't grow up with cats) what they do when they see prey they want to munch on. Doodle does it at flies and moths, and Iris, Dave's cat, would do it at birds. They make this high pitched chirpy, chattering noise which is involuntary for them and hilarious for us. Here's an example I found on YouTube, it's slow going, but then it peaks in the right place. You'll see. 

And while we're here, let's check out a video of two cats doing some plain old meowing. It's cute. They totally dig each other.



And finally, someone twist on the same vid, it's clever:



Ok, I hope these blew some of the doom and gloom out of your room. You're welcome.