Your birthday!

Happy birthday Veronica Ruth!
Welcome to the world baby girl...sorry about the state of things, but there is good stuff too. You were born in a great city. You have lots of people who already love you. You have amazing parents and a really cool big brother.
You were born on a Thursday, and it was, well, dark, because it was nighttime. I wasn't there or anything, so you should ask your Mom and Dad and auntie Lara more about it, but I thought I would tell you a little bit about your birthday.
Some people believe in horoscopes, so, according to them, you are a Libra. And according to the Chinese zodiac, you were born in the year of the Pig. Here is a list of people who have the same birthday as you, but I read that list, and you are certainly the best one on it. Meatloaf used to be much cooler. Avril rawx, but she is young yet, so it could all go sideways.
This year, the first day of the Jewish holiday Sukkot, is today. Which is kind of a neat holiday. It is a feast day, where people hang out, and eat and have fun and enjoy each other's company in a hut that they build. Which seems fitting for you, since we were all so looking forward to you and you were born at home.
The rest of the world news was kinda depressing and not suitable for babies, so, that is all for now.
We love you and can't wait to meet you. Happy birthday sweetie.

Made up

Honestly, I didn't turn it on deliberately. We were watching the dreamy Jon Stewart that we had fakevo'd and when it was over, the TV was on Lifetime. And they were showing an infomerical hosted by the two main dudes from Air Supply. It was for a Time Life record collection (Time Life on Lifetime, Oprah, Uma, Uma, Oprah) of the soft "rock" of the 1970-80's. Obviously, the problems with that scenario abound, but their was one part, aside from claiming there was good music on these cd's, that was clearly made up. One of the "real people" who just LOVED all those soft hits, was named "Vickory Hexter" and it was a woman. OH COME ON! That is worse than the names of the women in my "stories". Vickory? Hexter?
And, incidentally, whatever Air Supply had, dried up and blew away mannny years ago.

Unclear

So, today is the 6th anniversary of the attacks on the WTC and the Pentagon...which was an awful, horrible day and I really have no idea how people affected by those horrible, awful events got over it...I really don't.
But I am also not going to claim that I understand that pain. Or the confusion. Or the sense of fear. And people who claim that they do, who didn't know anyone directly affected, are liars and they dishonour the pain and memory of people GENUINELY affected by the attacks.
I was driving home the mall today and there was a group of about 15 people, dressed in red, white and blue clothes and hats, holding up raggedy-ass signs saying things like "9/11 Never Forget", which is fine, I guess. But one of them said, emphasized as I type it, "REAL Americans will never forget". And they were waving.
What the hell? What does that mean? What kind of shitty litmus test is that? Does waving and honking prove your "realness"?
And I bet not a single one of 'em knew anyone killed in the attacks or the aftermath. And I bet every single one of them co-oped the pain of true sufferers.
Why can't we be sympathetic without trying to be empathetic? Sometimes, you just don't know how someone else feels. That doesn't make you a bad person. It makes you a REAL person.
You can just say, "I am really sorry for YOUR pain" without sharing your own version, in fact, that actually helps much more.

About time

I posted again...it has been a loong time...and I hate it when people don't update their blogs...unless you don't...then, I totally understand, you are really busy.
So...New York is the coolest city I have ever been to, next to here of course...and it is great for the ego...
Traveling with my much hotter, younger sister, I was rather expecting to be forced to listen to people expounding on her looks all the live long day and night but HA...it happened to me waay more.
Admittedly, it was probably just my usual thing, that I am the physical type that appeals mostly to crazy people, present company excepted, so she was been checked out much more, but by classy people who don't feel the need to scream and yell about their attraction in the streets.
And seriously, I like to watch people and I have never, in my life, seen more checking out of people than I saw there. Men, women...everyone...constantly...I saw an orthodox jew watching an empirically attractive girl in a tiny skirt and actually turn his head to keep watching her as she passed. And he was grinning.
So, Mayor Bloomberg, I have your new travel New York campaign..."If you feel unattractive, come to New York. Someone here thinks you are hot and wants to let you know."