School supplies are labeled and packed for the first day. School clothes, however, did not get all laid out. Mac and I are both adjusting to 2 less people being around.

Change is hard for my little noodle, but he is keeping it together so far.

Hope that he keeps on keeping.

I am working on being more present and not making "angry voice". He really is progressing at defusing himself if I don't get angry (which escalates him). Being silly helps if I catch him early enough. Being still and a soothing voice seems to help if he gets too far down the path.

That's good! Hard, but good. Acting as his center until he can find it himself.

Matt

I don't know... I know nothing about Palin, but my impression of Alaskan residents in general doesn't scream "ultra-conservative." I thought McCain might be taking that demographic for granted (whatever his maverick reputation, surely those voters won't switch their support to Obama) and presenting a more modern, women's rights-friendly running mate.

You can check out this Newsmax interview [link] to see she is anti-choice, a Global Warming Denialist. Incidentally I think she screwed up as Mayor as well, wanted a legacy, so pushed through a bunch of expensive overpriced projects that left Wallisa in debt. The more I think about it the more she looks like a very appropriate choice for the Republican party.

my impression of Alaskan residents in general doesn't scream "ultra-conservative."

Libertarian or Republican for the most part. Very much a gun-lovin', independent, I-do-what-I-want-and-feds-get-out-of-the-way mindset. (Which is HILARIOUS considering how much the state is subsidized by the federal government.)

Much calm~ma to you, msbelle.

Libertarian or Republican for the most part. Very much a gun-lovin', independent, I-do-what-I-want-and-feds-get-out-of-the-way mindset.

Yeah, I think this is fairly true of a lot of other western states as well. More independent than value-oriented.

I think this is fairly true of a lot of other western states as well. More independent than value-oriented.

Yup. Very much a "well, if they're so damned poor they should get off their butts and get to work, they're probably illegal immigrants who don't want to work, I don't my hard earned tax dollars going to support layabouts" and "why the hell should my hard earned tax dollars go towards that, I don't give a damn about that" sort.

Yup. -to bon (immigration is a little more complex personal issue on this border.) I sometimes laugh at national pundits talking about NM politics. It's its own creature that they usually just don't get. You've got hippy communes colluding with gun-toting survivalists and ranchers and environmentalists fighting together against the gummit. Sometimes. And then there is the whole family thing. Hey, it is a state of under (I think) 2 million. Family connections COUNT. One friend was nephew of the guv when we were born, and man, is that family connected. Another friend's grandmother ALWAYS had the personal # of the governor, regardless of who it was. And WOE if they didn't take her call. And she wasn't even that public. You just TOOK Nana S.'s calls, is all.

Somewhere there is a map showing who gives more and who gets more from the federal gubment. Guess who tends to clean up?