i'm freakin' myself out

so i'm sitting in the hallway up at school, i just finished taking a test when the thought occurred to me.  i like school.  i like studying.  i like learning.  i even like taking tests.  i kind of feel like my body has been invaded by extra terrestrials or something.  if you've known me for very long at all, then you will know that jordan does not like school.  jordan does everything he can to avoid school.  jordan does everything he can to talk his friends into avoiding school.  so what the heck has happened?  i think this might be just another little clue to let me know that i'm finally starting to grow the heck up.  glad that only took 33 years...

politics

so i woke up early this morning (sammy was up before 6am) and flipped on the tv.  i happened to catch a live interview with barack obama in which he was asked about the timetable for troop withdrawal from iraq.  obama stated that he is going to visit iraq and talk with the general on the ground before he decides when our will begin coming home.  the interviewer then played a clip from one of obama's primary speeches in which he emphatically stated that he was going to get us out of this war and have our troops home within 16 months from the start of his presidency.  the interviewer asked him if he was worried that this change in stance might alienate his supporters who backed him due to his aggressive stance on troop withdrawal.  obama then claimed that he had been totally consistent on this point.  WHAT?  within one minute i heard obama state two different positions and then claim that he was completely consistent in his stance.  now...yes...it is possible that he talks with the generals on the ground in iraq and they agree that a 16 month withdrawal timetable is feasible, in which case obama can claim that he was consistent.  on the other hand, it is also feasible that a 32 month timetable is agreed upon, in which case obama will have totally backed away from his original claims.  now...if you know me, you know how conflicted i am about our political system right now.  i don't like obama....and i don't really like mccain either.  i feel like my decision is going to be made based on who i feel is the lesser of two evils (not literally evil...well...maybe).  my problem isn't just with obama either, that was just an example of the double-talk that these politicians (democrats and republicans) constantly spew.  i really feel like you can't believe a single thing you hear.  am i the only person in America who wants to elect leaders who speak frankly and honestly?  a leader who is willing to offend?  a leader who doesn't just say what he/she thinks i want to hear?  is it too much to ask for a politician who holds to a set of beliefs that define his/her character? beliefs that they live out unapologetically?  i'd almost rather vote for somebody who i totally disagree with, but fits this description, than vote for a man or a woman who stands for nothing.

watching him learn.

this last month has been a blast.  sammy seems to be learning at least one or two new "things" a day and his little personality is beginning to burst forth.  while he is still a bit of a late bloomer as far as his speech is concerned, he is making some amazing progress.  heather went out and bought him some balloons for his 2nd homecoming celebration, and has walked around the house ever since saying "baa-oon" every time he spots one.  he's also started to point out and identify things.  he'll walk through a store and point out elephants and make his elephant sound, then he'll babble as if he is telling you everything he knows about elephants.  it's amazing to see his little mind growing!  he has also become increasingly affectionate.  he now gives out hugs and kisses with great frequency.  heather dropped me off at work yesterday and we brought sammy in to see his grandpa.  as soon as he saw grandpa, he starting making his kissing sound and then planted one right on the old man.  what a kid.