I was a 9 lb. twin. Sometimes I think Mom still carries a grudge.

My reaction to hearing about my birth has always been laughter. If M was trying to guilt me out, I'd have to say it went over my head.

It wasn't that long ago (I keep typing ages, and wondering if we've both had e-mail that long...) that my mother sent me a rambly note saying "I'm not sure why I'm up this early this morning, but maybe it's because xx years ago I was just finishing 36 hours of painful labour. Anyway, happy birthday."

She's a doll, me mam.

My brain goes graphic places with that much detail and I just don't need graphic images involving my friends.

I get the "ruined favorite pair of moccasins" trip. But then, I was a c-section baby and she was pretty much knocked out. My brother gets the "electrocuted by the call button" trip.

I don't care if it was 36 fucking hours. I was free, dammit, and how many babies get that sort of a discount?

Endorphins aren't going to get in the way of my mother negotiating with the people that damaged her merchandise on delivery.

They did the same thing with my sister, different hospital, different country--cut her head with the forceps too. She was only half price.

The only weird thing about my birth (that I know of) is that I refused to breath for a bit.

ION, Photography primer that's great for hobbyists getting more serious

I hope everyone is eagerly awaiting Dancing with the Stars (like me).

My sister and I were forceps babies. Never asked my mother exactly why.

My brother was a forceps baby (he was... oh, there's a term for the type of breech he was. He presented with his shoulder, apparently) and it didn't work. They had to stuff him back in and do an emergency C-section. Apparently he had this huge black eye when he was an newborn, and now that Mom can see the humor in that she's sorry she immediately threw away those pictures...

I had to help my dad once with a cow/calf breach birth. It involved tying a rope to the calf's hooves and pulling.

It's childhood stuff like this that made me decide to never be a doctor.

Helping my aunt dock piglets' tails put a quick end to that line of career planning, even in the face of James Herriot. One of her daughters is a vet now, though.

I wonder if this administration can do anything to surprise me anymore... because this doesn't....

The Huffington Post has learned the Bush administration recently asked high ranking military leaders to denounce Congressman John Murtha. Congressman Murtha has called for the Bush Administration to withdraw US troops from Iraq.

The Bush Administration first attacked Rep. Murtha for his Iraq views by associating him with the filmmaker Michael Moore and Representative Jean Schmidt likened him to a coward on the floor of the House of Representatives. When those tactics backfired, Dick Cheney called Murtha "A good man, a marine, a patriot and he's taking a clear stand in an entirely legitimate discussion."

Though the White House has backed off publicly, administration officials have nevertheless recently made calls to military leaders to condemn the congressman. So far they have refused.

Rep. Murtha spent 37 years in the Marine Corps earning a Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts and a Navy Distinguished Service Medal. His service has earned him the respect of the military, and made him a trusted adviser to both Republican and Democratic presidents and leaders of the armed forces.

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