Oh sara, sending you hugs and wine. Sounds like this trip is a bit over the top. If you are really worried about your dad, I think it's worthwhile to bring up your concerns with your mom. (Forgive me please if the totally unsolicited advice is out of place, it's just that new concerns about parental behavior tend to set off a warning buzzer for me.)

Man, I missed all the thoughtful political discussion last night! (True story: I was at a thing with some friends last night, and we were talking about the election [because, you know, IT JUST HAPPENED], and one guy got all belligerent and yelled -- literally raised his voice and yelled -- "It's OVER! STOP FUCKING TALKING ABOUT THE ELECTION!" And we all kind of looked over at him, gave him the stinkeye, and kept talking.)

I am past the schadenfreude of Romney's campaign being SO confident they were going to win, and into the part where I feel bad for the regular people who got such a terrible shock.

I really do feel bad for people who are devastated. That's how I felt in 2004. Just gutted. It's a shitty way to feel, and I feel sorry that they feel that way.

One of my students asked whether I was anti-abortion or pro-choice and I actually snapped and said, "Every person I know is anti-abortion. No one thinks, 'Abortions are awesome! One for everyone!'" Then I went on to say that abortion is probably the most horrible choice any person can make, but it is their choice to make it.

Man, I had this conversation with Tim (who is WAY less pro-choice than I am), and it was so frustrating. I don't run around telling pregnant women to have abortions! I wish everyone got good sex ed and access to affordable (or free) contraceptives and this wasn't a sex-shaming culture, and THAT would vastly reduce the number of abortions. Win-win, damn it. (Except for the sex-shaming jackholes, I suppose, of which Tim is definitely not one.)

I just get frustrated with the people who complain that the issue of contraception and abortion isn't a "economic" issue and shouldn't be debated during the election. As if controlling reproduction doesn't directly affect a woman's economic situation. Imagine my eyes rolling forever on this one.

ALSO a conversation I had with Tim, because I'm not sure he totally got the idea that me not being pregnant means I keep working and therefore earning money, damn it.

I've voted for Republicans. They had the better positions in my estimation for the offices they were seeking.

I voted for a handful of Republicans this time around, mostly incumbents for local judgeships (is that a word? I want it to be), because they are doing an excellent job.

Hee. I have! The little penguins at Cincinnati Zoo are quite awesome. 

And adorably dumb.

I'm pro-abortion. In the real world, it's a great choice for a lot of people. Of course I wish human behavior and contraception methods were perfect, but they aren't. And people I know who have had abortions don't think they were horrible.

I don't recall the last time Australia was as ill-served by its politicians.

billytea, I assume you've seen the thing where some wacko said they were moving to Australia because their president is a man who lives his Christian values or some shit?

Stay strong and have fun, sarameg!

Guide is a lovely gent ( notlikethat)

Uh huh.

Also, I slept so late I missed the early movie! And now have to hustle to make it to the vet's office before they close! I mean, I guess sleep is good, but that was ridiculous.

...and I just unfriended someone on Facebook for sharing some Americans for Romney link and then adding her own commentary that "this is just how Hitler got started."

She was annoying during the election, but seriously? It's not even that I'm offended by her invoking Godwin; it's that such a statement is SO DAMN IGNORANT.

I never get to sleep in when I'm dog sitting. Well, okay, the St. B woke me up at 4:30 and I put him out for a while, then let the Golden out, and then managed to go back to sleep by listening to an audiobook over the occasional barking of the Golden. BAH.

So ready to be done with this. I love the St. Bernard, he's really a good-tempered dog, but he's a real burden to deal with. Demanding and loud.

And I'm now down three pairs of socks since this gig started: but at least the Golden didn't eat one of the new socks I bought last weekend to replace the ones she'd already eaten...

Cereal:

You all are not doing much to make me reconsider my no-Facebook stance. I haven't logged in there since sometime last spring, I think...

Oh Sara, that sounds incredibly frustrating. Can your brother and SIL or your mom help back you up, or are they too busy with their own stuff? Also, what someone else said about discussing concerns with your mom. I can only hope this vacation turns into the same fun touve had on other family vacations, eh? :)

I am awake. But may go bak to sleep. It is so warm in my bed and so freezing outside it, I don't want to get up.

Sheesh, Jesse, I need to remember I have 11:00 tickets for Skyfall. Seats were more taken for a first matinee than I've seen in a while.

After I buy my ticket for the wedding, I clearly need to work out where I'm seeing The Hobbit, and get on that or I'm going to be SHAFTED.

But first, I need to go buy cereal. It seems I cannot keep a week's worth in the house. DELICIOUS.

And I also bout 2 taster ounces of Teavana's Youthberry flavoured white tea and I can't get enough of this. Not today, though. Well...not before the movie, anyway. Walking past Teavana on my way back to my car is proving I'm weak.

You all are not doing much to make me reconsider my no-Facebook stance.

All of my Facebook people are fine! But my family is Democrats on both sides, and I did grow up in Massachusetts, so.