And when it comes to sense you don't have none

Hey, Megs,

Just wanted to point out that there is an addition to the "other awesomeness on the internets" list over there. One Andrew Sullivan writes for The Atlantic Monthly and he has a blog on the mag's website. Sullivan is a conservative, but he has been pretty anti-Bush for about five years now.

I discovered Mr. Sullivan's blog one day while reading Deadspin. (Deadspin is also on the list over there, but I may have to rethink it. Since the site lost its original editor [Will Leitch] to New York Magazine, it has turned in to mostly dick jokes, posts about Philadelphia, and jokes about poop [their word] and/or masturbation. It has lost much of its original appeal.) Mr. Leitch does write the occasional (hilarious) post for the site, including a weekly wrap-up of the previous weekend's NFL slate, the "Weekly Buzzsaw Countdown." (He calls the Arizona Cardinals "The Buzzsaw That Is The Arizona Cardinals," for reasons that people who have been reading the site for longer than a year probably know, but that I do not.) Anyway, one day, I was reading this post, when I came upon the following:

Honestly, the [Carolina] Panthers' schedule is ridiculous. I am outraged about this — outraged! — but not nearly as outraged as the brilliant and psychologically fascinating Andrew Sullivan is about Sarah Palin. Still. Andrew Sullivan is one of the best political minds working right now, and Gov. Palin has reduced him to a sputtering fountain of empty, wonderfully entertaining fury. He actually responded to news that the VP debate would not have a "loose format" because the McCain campaign worried it would "leave Ms. Palin, a relatively inexperienced debater, at a disadvantage and largely on the defensive" by saying, simply, "Are you fucking kidding me?" If President Palin ends up starting World War III in a couple of years because she saw an image of Christ in a yoga mat during a Pilates class, Andrew Sullivan is going to be one satisfied piece of nuclear vaporized particles.


I thought to myself, "If this guy Sullivan hates Palin enough that it gets mentioned randomly in a sports blog, then this is someone I need to be reading!" And thus, the (one-sided) love affair began. I highly recommend the site, especially if you are feeling maddened by the non-vetted one (could it be . . . Palin?!?). Like I am today, for example, by her criticism of the press for violating her First Amendment rights. (If you click on the link, there, make sure to read through at least Update I.) This is Sullivan's response: Yes, she is that dumb.

So, read and enjoy. And make sure to vote.

love, molly

previous post title source: "Parents Just Don't Understand," DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince

I asked her for Adidas and she bought me Zips

Hey, Megs,

So, I'm having a bit of a crisis today. Kevin called me twice around lunchtime. The first call was to state that a) our heater seems to be broken, and right in the midst of a cold-snap, and b) his father called and he and Kevin's mom were on their way to our house, where they will be spending the night on their way to visit Kevin's (mean) sister in Texas. The second call was to ask if it would be okay for him to take down the Obama sign in the yard.

Sigh.

I eventually said it was fine, after minor protestations. Now, I feel like a jackass. I can't even take a stand against Kevin's parents? It would be one thing if I thought that this were another election that was just a sad choice for the lesser of two evils. But I don't feel that way. I believe that Obama is the much, much, a million times much better choice. I think that McCain is a poor candidate who totally fucked up his VP pick and deserves to go down big for foisting Palin upon us. I think that he has no clue about how to deal with the financial crisis. I think his foreign policy is dangerous and I believe that, should McCain win the presidency, we would be at war with Iran within two years. And really, just don't even get me started on Palin. I loathe that woman with the heat of a thousand suns.

Are these not things that I could discuss rationally with Kevin's parents? (I mean, besides the Palin issue. I admit that I am totally irrational when it comes to that woman.) It looks like the answer is no.

On top of this existential crisis, I have to deal with the thought that my anonymous McCain- supporting neighbor will think he's won me over.

I guess I just feel like a big wuss. It's the whole, "If you won't stand for something, you'll fall for anything" meme come to life.

Blerg.

Do you think this would change the Thompsons' mind?:



Hope.

UPDATE: How cool is this:

photo via burntorangereport.com

A woman in Austin got tired of her yard signs being stolen. Awesome.

Over and out,
Molly

previous post title source: "Carolina," M. Ward

Now I feel like Carolina

Hey, Megs,

photo via hbo.com

Just spotted this on HuffPo. Apparently, several members of the cast of "The Wire" campaigned/will be campaigning for Obama (I can't figure out the timing):

Tomorrow, members of the cast of the Peabody Award-winning drama series The Wire will attend a Backyard Brunch for Barack in Raleigh. Seven of the show's cast members will visit the Tarheel State in support of the change Barack Obama will bring across the country and in North Carolina.

Chad Coleman (who plays Dennis "Cutty" Wise) [Cutty!], Deidre Lovejoy (who plays Rhonda Pearlman) [she got to sleep with McNulty AND Daniels!], Jamie Hector (Marlo Stanfield) ["My name is my name!"], Clarke Peters (Detective Lester Freamon) [Lester!!], Sonja Sohn (Detective Shakima "Kima" Greggs) [Kima!], Seth Gilliam (Sergeant Ellis Carver) [Carver!], and Gbenga Akinnagbe (Chris Partlow) [you frighten me!] will all appear at the backyard brunch on Sunday.

Why can't I live in a swing state?

Since we're on the topic of politics, I got yet another missive from the mysterious McCain fan in my neighborhood. He just does not like my Obama sign. This one was about Obama's audacity at running for president at such a tender age and with so little experience. The mysterious one didn't even take the time to put this one in an envelope. Amateur!

I am definitely going to get more signs now. Yes We Can get more yard signs!

It was great to see you this weekend and great to see the Funbar get married. I'll have to post pictures soon, but for some reason we never got one of us all together. We are dumb. The wedding post will also include pictures from the bachelorette party in Nashville, so you can see Joey Ramone in all of his glory.

love, molly

previous post title source: "Yes We Can," various artists, feat. Barack Obama

We are not as divided as our politics suggests

Hey, Megs,

photo via yeswecarve.com

Big happenings on the home front. Yesterday, I got my first anonymous letter from a neighbor who is displeased by my Obama sign! First and foremost, let it be known that said neighbor broke the law by placing an unstamped letter in my mailbox. The envelope said "Please Read. Stay Informed," so I knew exactly what was coming. It was a printout of this "article," with the Obama parts highlighted.

The best part was that the anonymous letter-writer (I am assuming that said writer was a man, for the purposes of this post) noted that the article was from the San Francisco Chronicle. (He claimed that since even the liberal media was printing it, it had to be true.) It's not. It's an opinion piece from ChronWatch, whose site description reads as such:

ChronWatch.com is a counter force to the liberal advocacy so dominant in today's media. ChronWatch provides articles from a group of in-house writers, in addition to carefully selected material from the Internet. As a result, ChronWatch is your one-stop site for the conservative point of view.

LOL. At least he didn't do anything to my sign. I'm thinking about getting a second sign, just to piss off this anonymous "concerned citizen."

Just in time, though, I got my VOTE OBAMA shirt in the mail today. Maybe I'll hang it on the mailbox.

photo via barackobama.com

Hope all's well with you.

love, molly

previous post title source: "Surrender," Cheap Trick

Your mother's right, she's really up on things

Hey, Megs,

Yesterday was Ella's 5th birthday. That means that I've been a mom for five years now. (It was also Tyson's 31st birthday.)

Kevin and I asked Ella where she wanted to eat for her special birthday dinner, and she chose sushi! She had a California roll for dinner. She never ceases to amaze me. To end the dinner, we got a free green tea ice cream sundae. Yum-E! (I am going to start using that term to describe delicious things in the hopes I can get Oprah to give me a magazine, a la Rachel Ray. My term for extra virgin olive oil will be XV-double O.)

When I put Ella to bed last night, I told her the story of when she was born. My mom always did that on our birthdays. I told her about how we went into the hospital at about 10 a.m. on the 12th, but that she wasn't born until just after midnight on the 13th. At this point in my little tale, Luke walked in to listen. Ella asked, "Did Luke wait a long time to be born?" "Yes, he did," I said, "even longer than you. Because," I explained, "Luke was a stubborn baby and he was upside down and backwards."

Ella thought that was hilarious.

I remember several things about Ella's birth more clearly than the rest. First, the CD player in my delivery room was broken. So, instead of listening to Ray Charles during the delivery as I had planned, I had to listen to Alan Jackson. His was the only music available to me, via video on CMT. Then, when the nurse showed Ella to me, I couldn't help but to exclaim, "Oh, she looks just like her father!"

But probably my clearest memory (most likely because it is not shrouded in a haze of the epidural) was the night of the 14th. Kevin was sitting with me in the room, and we had Ella with us. My mom had treated us to dinner from Ruth's Chris and had just left. We were watching the Cubs play in the NLCS. They were five outs away from the World Series, as we all know, when Steve Bartman reached out to try to catch a foul ball.

I couldn't believe it when I saw it.

I think about motherhood a lot when I look back on that moment. It's a tough spot to bring a child into. I mean, if even something so inconsequential as sports can be decided by such a cruel hand of fate, what chance have the rest of us?

But Ella doesn't care about that. I don't even know why I cared about the Cubs that year. (Actually, I do. It's because, before I met Kevin, I briefly dated a guy that liked them. Sue me.) So, I guess my issue is not so much with the cruel hand of fate, but with my own lingering doubts about my ability to raise my children without coloring their worldviews with my own superstitions and neuroses.

I gotta tell you, it's tough!

I hope all is well with you.

love, molly

previous post title source: "Tell It To Me," Old Crow Medicine Show

Drink the corn liquor, let the cocaine be

Words to live by, those.

Hey, Megs,

Just had to write to tell you that I got to see Walker yet again! It just doesn't get any better than that! (Lord help me on the day he randomly stumbles upon this blog. I sound like a total freak. It's just that he reminds me of the good ol' college days. Which, as he and I discussed last night, were a terrifying ten years ago. [Cue Jeremy Piven in Grosse Point Blank: "Ten years. Ten years, man, ten years. TEN YEARS!"] Plus, I mean, I'm sorry, but anytime I run into someone that you dubbed "The Crown Jewel of Sexual Achievement," [note to other reader{s}: jewel never obtained] that is a moment that begs to be blogged.)

Kevin and I went to see the Old Crow Medicine Show last night. It was a decent show. We've definitely seen better from them, and they pretty much got pwned by the opening act, the Carolina Chocolate Drops (so awesome). It was just an odd show. The band seemed . . . off, somehow. Plus, the new guy is no Critter. (Critter [Fuqua] is/was the banjo player, and he used to [in]frequent the Villager. I don't know what the deal is, but he was not playing with them last night.)

NOTE: The hippies all loved it. They were noodling away up in the balcony.

It just made me think about other times that I've seen them and seen them much better than that. The first time I saw them was at the Ryman, too. They opened up for the Del McCoury Band. They played "Wagon Wheel" (this was back in 2000, I believe, so well before they released the O.C.M.S. album on which the song was featured), and it gave me chills and made me cry. Kevin and I saw them play at the Station Inn on our first date, and I still remember stopping our lovely conversation so that he could be wowed by the song, too. I guess the band had a lot to live up to last night. There was no magic there.

An odd moment happened before the concert. Kevin saw a couple that we know, so he ran up and started talking to them. Cindy (the woman half of said couple) started introducing their friends to Kevin, and when she got to their single friend she said to Kevin, "You can kiss this one on the neck." What?!? I just stood there flabbergasted for a few moments. Then, I guess she realized that I was there and was overly enthusiastic in her "hey, there!" Umm, no.

So, Walker is apparently the band's stage manager or something. He says he's their jack-of-all-trades, their Guy Friday, their . . . well, he's like their stage manager or something. We went to Robert's after the show and visited with him for a while. I told him that you asked after him last time you were in town. I also told him your Safeway tale of woe: about how he used to tell all these great stories that usually ended at Safeway. And when you were planning to move to Colorado, you were so excited to go to a Safeway. And then when you got there, it turned out just to be a regular grocery store. He thought that was great. He says "hello!"

I'm overall feeling like crap today. We stayed out too late. But it was great fun. Sadly, there are no more shows in my immediate future. It's been a great ride these past few weeks, though. I'd have to rank the shows like so: Old Crow Medicine Show < The Raconteurs = ZZ Top < Swell Season.

For now, I'll have to entertain myself with college football. VU is at Mississippi State this weekend (does that bring back memories?). It's not televised, unfortunately, but we are considering getting the game on pay-per-view. Can you believe that?

I hope all is well with you. I miss you!

love, molly

previous post title source: "Signed, Sealed, Delivered," Stevie Wonder

You got my future in your hands

Dear Megan,

I got the kids involved in politics yesterday. It was great fun. First, Ella and I went down to the Obama headquarters to get a yard sign:


(Ella also picked out a rainbow-themed Obama button. She's for gay rights, too!)

Then, Luke helped us put the sign up:


Kevin . . . not so involved.

When we were at the Obama HQ, one of the ladies behind the desk was regaling us with her plans for after the election. She said she would cry, regardless of the outcome. Then, she would throw a party. It would either be a victory party, or a bon voyage party, because she's moving to Canada.

But my favorite "What if McCain actually wins?" discussion came courtesy of my favorite weekly radio show, "Best of Bread." The two Crofton brothers do enjoy talking about politics. On Tuesday, the possibility of McCain winning came up (I think because of the whole Obama-is-a-terrorist bent that the McCain campaign is taking these days). Chris (the main guy, I guess) said that if it happens, he's moving to Guatemala to become a coffe farmer. "Then," he said, "I'm going to send a gift basket to McCain that says, 'Step off.'" Eric (I think), the other brother, interjected, "I'd rather be in America. Thanks a lot." So Chris continues, "Yeah, yeah! I'm going to move to Guatemala and send a package that says, "Eff you. I hate Guatemala. I'd rather be in America and it's all your fault."

That about sums up my feelings on the matter. Although I think I'll just move to Honduras, since you speak so highly of it. Maybe the market has crashed for Caribbean islands of the Honduran coast, too?

love, molly

previous post title source: "T.N.T," AC/DC

Oi, oi, oi, oi, oi

Hey, Megs!

Big times here in Nashville! As it turns out, my giddiness was totally justified. What a weekend!

ZZ Top was awesome. Kevin and I were shocked about how good they were. It was a much different crowd than at the Swell Season or The Raconteurs, for sure. The redneck-to-hipster ration was at about 210:1. They played all the greats, and even busted out the fuzzy guitars for "Legs!"

Friday night bonus: I ran into Walker as we were leaving the Villager. I took a picture for you, but I was trying not to be too obvious, so it's pretty bad.

That's Walker in the back there, with the brown shirt. You can't say I didn't tell you it's a bad picture.

So, Friday was good times. But, not as good as Saturday. I mean, really. Can you believe it? Vanderbilt? 5-0?!? I can say without equivocation that I never thought I would see the day.

(Before I get to the recap, may I just say that one of the reasons I love you is that when I mentioned that College GameDay was in Nashville, you got excited and said, "No way! College GameDay is in Nashville?!?" Because that is definitely the appropriate response.)


What a game! First, you would not have recognized the area around the stadium. It was packed. There were people all over the place. I mean, my God, we left the tailgate half an hour early and barely made it the block and a half to the stadium before kick-off. I mean, double my God, we were at a game for kick-off!

I think I told you that our seats are smack dab in the student section for sold-out games. I asked the ticket agent to get our season tickets as close to the student section as possible. He delivered. I am so glad, too, because now I get to stand up and yell to my heart's content. The only problem is that sometimes we have to deal with asshole students. I had an Auburn fan standing next to me (he came with his VU buddy), and he was really getting it from the students two rows back. That's all fine and dandy, except that there was an old lady sitting in the row between them. Well, I can handle a lot of crap, but I will not sit for kids cussing in front of an old lady. I had to turn around and tell them to can it. The drill sergeant was at full volume, and it shut 'em up good.

(I swear, it brought about flashbacks to my second-to-worst date ever, when whatever that dude from SC's name I dated [UPDATE: his name was Cole] got us kicked out of the Clemson game for cussing up a blue storm about how much better the SEC is than the ACC, insulting old women, and smoking in the stadium. God, I dated some real winners. [But he sure was pretty.])

(By the way, the people who usually sit behind us are AWESOME, but they got in late. Again, because it was freaking insane at the stadium! Once they got in their seats, everything was fine.)

Auburn's first possession gave us reason to hope. Fourth and goal from the 1 yard-line, and we stopped them. I thought the defense would have the momentum from that point on. I was wrong. I blame our friend, Bono (his last name, it's pronounced "Bo-no," not "Bah-no"), who came to visit after the goal-line stand and then proceeded to watch with us as the wheels came off. The 'Dores went down, but quick. We finally told Bono to go back to his own damn seat, but it didn't help much: Auburn TD, Vandy INT, Auburn TD. Our only hope was the missed PAT. Auburn's lead, 13-0.

And then it happened. It was like we were watching some other football team. We got a new QB and he started throwing decent passes and then, right before halftime, he threw a shot into the endzone and the receiver caught it! An amazing, did-he-just-do-that catch! Even the Auburn guy next to me had to give props. And there were high fives all around. (BTW, Kevin LOVES the high five. It cracks our neighbors up, but they definitely get into the spirit. They also call Kevin "Grizzly," because of the beard.)


After the touchdown, you could feel it. You could sense that people thought we could win. That sort of waned during halftime. The only thing I remember about the beginning of the third was when one of the guys behind us shared his sweet iced tea/vodka/sprite concoction with us. That was one tasty beverage.

The second missed field goal had us all slumped a bit. But the defense kept it up, and then we got the second touchdown and it was sheer insanity in that place.

For the rest of the third quarter and the entirety of the fourth, I spent my time gnawing on my fingernails. It was so stressful! And then, when the QB fumbled the ball, on our 4o-yard line, with two and a half minutes to go? Well, we've all been to that game. Cue recovery by Auburn and six points the other way.

But it didn't happen! The QB recovered it. Sure, we didn't get the first down, but we didn't lose the ball, either. And then, the punter--I mean, of all people, the PUNTER--comes through with a beauty of a punt down to the 3-yard line! Madness. I'm telling you, it was total madness in the stadium. That was followed quickly by an interception and then we didn't even screw up the kneel-downs.

What a game! Incredible. Totally, utterly unbelievable. Hell, even Evan mentioned it today.

Okay, now for the breakdown of the best GameDay signs that I saw. First, of course, was "The Geeks Shall Inherit the Turf" (later amended in a text message to one of our stadium neighbors to "The Geeks Shall Inherit the SEC East"). I haven't found any t-shirts* for that one yet, but I'm looking.

photo via talesfromtheroad.southernliving.com

*As for t-shirts, the best one I saw had this on the back:

WELCOME TO THE TERRORDOME

NO ONE GETS OUT ALIVE!

Other great signs included "Lee Corso Scores More Than Auburn," "This Game Is the Only Way an Auburn Fan Could Get Into Vanderbilt," and this one that made it to the tailgating area:

(Of course, see Friday's post for the best sign ever. In fact, what the hell? It's so good, I'm posting it again.)


And that concludes our journey through the weekend's festivities. In addition to Vanderbilt, the Titans are also 5-0. Heady times here in Nashville.

I hope all's well with you. I miss you and I love you.


--Molly

previous post title source: "Sharp-Dressed Man," ZZ Top

Every girl's crazy 'bout a sharp-dressed man

Hey Megs!

I just have to say that I am most excited for this weekend to start! I can't remember being this giddy about a weekend in a while. Tonight, ZZ Top:

photo via about.com

(Note: I have to admit that I was really not as excited about this show up until a few days ago. Then, when e-mailing back and forth with Jenna about her visit this weekend, I mentioned that Kevin and I would be downtown for this concert and we could meet up after she and Mark got into town from Auburn. She told me to give her a call because she didn't want to call in the middle of "Sharp-Dressed Man" or "Legs," and then I was all about it.)

Good news: Ella's soccer game tomorrow is at 11 a.m. instead of 9:45 a.m.!

Then, Kirk Herbstreit:

(He's the one on the right.)

Finally, the 'Dores storm the field at 5 p.m. (central), for a momentous game against Auburn.

This greeted us as we came to work today. The funsuckers had it removed by 10:30 a.m. Bastards.

I have a good feeling about this game, for the first time in a while. I think they can pull it out. Prediction: 'Dores 17, Tigers/War Eagle 14. VU's defense will have at least one touchdown. Look for me on ESPN!

And the best part of the whole weekend? Kevin's parents will be in town. Free babysitting!!

Alright, I gotta head. I'm going to try to check out the GameDay set on my walk today.

UPDATE: Walked past the GameDay set.

Good sign:

Educated
Students
Pummeling
Numbskulls

Best sign . . . ever?:

(It's funny because it's true.)

Did not see Kirk Herbstreit. :-(

Go 'Dores!

love, molly

previous post title source: "Rock N Roll High School," The Ramones. (BTW, I have a hilarious picture of Heather and Carrie with a Joey Ramone look-alike [his actual name: Pink] at Robert's from Heather's bachelorette party. I'll get it up here one of these days.)

Well I don't care about history

Hey, Megs,

So, I went for my usual lunchtime walk today. I went on a path that I hadn't been on in a while--mostly because it's been freaking hot and I needed a path that would keep me in the shade for the summer. Today, however, was a gorgeous day. I spent my walk in the sunshine and, but for the death march that I had to make through the hospital smoking corps (they've outlawed smoking at the medical center, so all the smokers hang out on 21st Avenue), it was quite a delight. And then, right toward the end, I was walking through campus when I looked up and saw a guy who I would have sworn in that instant was Eric Byassee, my mad high school crush. Of course, it wasn't Eric Byassee, why would it be? The guy was probably a sophomore and Eric doesn't look like that anymore (at least according to his facebook picture). But I still had the same reaction that I had every time I saw Eric in high school: a total punch to the gut.

Why is that?

Hope all is well. I miss you, mostly because when I told you stories like this in person I didn't feel as silly as I do typing them . . .

Oh, by the way, I have decided I will not be watching the VP debate tonight. The only thing it could do is make me more angry at Palin. Instead, I will be drinking a beer and watching baseball. God Bless America!

love, molly

previous post title source: "Level," The Raconteurs