Sleepless in Milwaukee

It's 11 PM.  Shadow the cat and the rhythmic thump of the dishwasher are my late night companions.  Outside a fresh layer of snow covers up all the ugliness and makes the world look fresh and welcoming.  In spite of the political turmoil underlying our daily lives it has been a good weekend so far.  Family and then friends joined us for two nights in a row of tasty dinners and good conversation.  The boys have illuminated our lives with their silly antics and unconditional love.

I am avoiding heading to bed; my pre-sleep thoughts linger on finances, changes coming to our lives, and things to be done.  I am not one to let things go easily and am struggling to find a way to quell my worries.  I ruminate on all the possibilities and in the end seem to accomplish little.  So tonight I type, ramble, with Shadow resting his warm furry head on my arm.

When I was younger, my good friend Lucy told me about how her family makes a wish when 11:11 appears on the clock.  So since third grade I have been making my wish whenever I happen upon 11:11.  Tonight I shall wait for 11:11 to roll onto the clock face once more and make my wish.  What will your wish be?

News Junkie

So I have become a news junkie, squandering many hours on the internet reading up on the political situation in Wisconsin.  I devotedly check the Journal Sentinel online for updates from the Capitol, listen to Wisconsin Public Radio in the car, and have local news casts droning in the background of my life.  It is addicting and disheartening all at the same time.

I was already disillusioned with politics to begin with but now I can surely hear the great forefathers of these United States rolling in their graves.  Perhaps in a truly American fashion, we have taken our two-party political system to levels of previously unseen division.  We have lost the ability to find middle ground; instead, one party or the other steadfastly holds their position and throws mud until they get their way.  People are asked to choose sides, moderation be damned.

It is my hope that my children's generation will look upon these years with scrutinizing eyes.  May they recognize that when both sides give a little, more people benefit.   It is not about who's right but rather what is best for any given situation.   May they understand that things do not need to be categorized into either black or white; it is okay to accept a little gray in one's life.  Most of all may they recognize that we were human and we made mistakes; may they forgive us for our decisions that so greatly affected their lives.

And the news coverage drones on - Chaos at the Capitol.  No one is winning and ultimately everyone will lose.

Politics, politics, politics

I have a need to vent about what is happening here in Wisconsin.  I have an overwhelming desire to start looking into moving out of my beloved cheesehead country only to face the reality that the grass is not greener on the other side.  At a time when families, cities, states and nations are in a financial crisis it seems the distance between the democrats and republicans continue to widen leaving behind a mess in the middle.  I fear for my children's future.  I fear for my family's future.  I hope we can rise to meet the challenges in front of us; ultimately we have no choice but to try our best.

Luckily, it seems my kids are blissfully unaware of what is occurring around them.  They know their dad went to Madison on Friday because he does not agree with what Governor Walker wants.  They know there are protests but they have no idea that their life will be changing.  Do I even attempt to explain?  For now ignorance is bliss.

I've called my legislators and emailed my governor.  I've posted things I feel are relevant on Facebook and I have been praying a lot.  So I sign off with the hope that their will be light at the end of this tunnel and that my children will make it through relatively unscathed.