My DADT Repeal Response

Since first posting about the DADT repeal, I have talked to people on both sides of the “debate” and feel I have something to say. Now, I don’t want to get into an argument with anyone for or against DADT, but this is my post so I have the right to stand on it and use it as my soapbox in a way. If you don’t want to hear/read it then don’t. It’s very long and you don’t have to read it (that is your right). I am not a vocal person when it comes to politics. I’m a Democrat in a Republican state and family and know that you keep your mouth shut about certain things. So don’t think that just because of this one post I’m going to go all political on you. Just so many people have talked to/at me about this subject that I felt a response was in order. My posts for the rest of the year will more than likely be about my daughter and the holidays.
I was slightly surprised to hear the statistic that around 80% of the enlisted military was opposed to the DADT repeal. But even after hearing that statistic it was shown to me that the approval rating for women entering the military was even worse. Women have been in the military since it was around, but only in service positions (nurses, cooks, secretaries, etc). When women were finally allowed to serve in a combat capacity, over 95% of the enlisted soldiers did not agree with that decision. But in spite of that, women make up about 20% of the current military and are out fighting every day.
Now, I have to say this and don’t want anyone to think I’m less of an American for saying it, but I do not support the war. Having said that, just because I don’t support the war does not mean I don’t support the soldiers. The people who serve our country are very brave and amazing persons, and I admire them and will support them for their services. (They should not be treated the way the Westboro Baptist church treats them) I appreciate the fact that in today’s world we do not have the draft, and that our military is voluntary for I do not think I could bring myself to head into battle the way our current soldiers do. They are incredible and heroic people. The soldiers deserve all the “breaks” they get and more for service to our country and protecting our freedom.
That being said, I would hope the soldiers feel the same way about each other. When on the front line, I would hope they wouldn’t be worried about the idea that the guy next to him might be gay, but would see him as a soldier regardless of gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation: That the person next to him is just as brave for risking his life the same as you (the soldier) are. You may not agree with the life style this person has, but that does not mean you cannot support them as a fellow soldier.
I can see that in today’s world there is still a stigma against homosexuality, and I think I understand the roots for this animosity (and I am not going into “debate” right now for or against homosexuality, for that is not what is on trial, so to speak). But just as soldiers are taught with the gender issue to see a female soldier as a soldier and not as a woman, I believe they should view the homosexual soldier in the same way… as a soldier. They are brave for risking their lives, and should have the same rights and freedoms as any citizen. If they are willing and able to defend this country, its people, and its freedom a person can be purple with four legs and a tail for all I care. And when it comes down to it, I would hope that a soldier would feel the same way, and know that that person is there to be brave and serve their country. Much like my own views and the war, just because you don’t agree with what they stand for doesn’t mean you can’t/shouldn’t support them as a soldier.
I don’t want anyone to think I’m picking on them or anything like that (because this is for the people that I physically talked to as well). I’m just stating how I feel on my own post. I wouldn’t post this much on yours if I disagreed. But this is my forum and I am using it freely as my soapbox, and I have that freedom because men, women, handicap able persons, Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, Christians, Atheists, heterosexuals, homosexuals, bisexuals, Caucasians, Asians, African-Americans, Native Americans, etc. have fought and bravely died for it. And just as Senator Wyden said, “if you love this country enough to risk your life for it, you shouldn’t have to hide who you are.”

Chris' Birthday

For Chris' birthday this year we went down to Dallas (Frisco, actually) and purchased him the media center he's been wanting.

It's from Ikea and he's been looking at it for a while now. I figured we needed it now to cover up the cords to keep them away from Erin.
So Chris and I left Erin with her Gammy and Granpa on Chris' birthday and drove the whole 4 hours down. Then we walked around the Ikea for a few hours (due excersize after being in the car that long!). With some extra birthday money he had we were able to upgrade it a little and get a few extras we had been eyeing. We were even able to get a huge picture we had both been talking about since the last time we went (I was surprised they still had it!) to go in the living room.

We stayed the night and came back the next day. Chris had a meeting even though it was his day off, so he didn't get to jump in and work on it right away. But for the past couple of days he's been able to do little bits and pieces. Erin helps out ever so often, and I... well I just sit back and make sure neither of them poke their eye out.



I'm so excited to see what it looks like when it's done! He's off work today, with no forseable meetings (but I do have a dr. apt that he has to watch Erin during), so he should be able to finish it today... at least mostly. I'm so excited! I think I'm more excited than he is!

Excerpt from 42

I found this excerpt and had to laugh... then share it with you. It's from "Extra Virgin Olive Girl"

THE TONYS
I was sitting, eating popcorn, on the couch when Ma came in and plopped down beside me. I was in the middle of watching the Tony Awards and suddenly realized I was not going to enjoy any more of it.
“Oooh! Is that Doogie Howzer?” Mom almost squealed with girlish glee when she recognized the host.
“Neil Patrick Harris? Yeah, he’s hosting it this year.”
“He was such a bright young doctor. Remember that time you saw him on Broadway? You should have married him.”
“You do realize he’s not really a doctor?”
“Of course I do. I’m just saying he’s smart enough, he could have been one.”
“What?”
“He was so smart, always spouting those big words and getting all those people better. I’m just saying not many actors can pull that off.”
“You realize half the actors in Hollywood have played doctors.” I didn’t want to have to explain the definition of acting to her.
“Yes, but George Clooney and John Stamos are too old for you.” Of course, in my mom’s mind there were only four actors in Hollywood: George Clooney, John Stamos, Neil Patrick Harris, and Leonardo DeCaprio… sometimes there was Brad Pitt, but he didn’t really count in her mind since he’d become more of an activist. I should have known better and stopped the conversation right then.
“You do know Neil Patrick Harris is gay, right?” But Ma wouldn’t hear of this.
“Nonsense, doll, you say all these Broadway actors are gay.”
“That’s because they are!”
“Doll, if you don’t want to marry an actor, I understand. I mean they are prettier than you, but you don’t have to go around slandering them.” And at that, I just rolled my eyes and dropped the conversation. There was no winning this. I vowed that any further conversations that might follow that path would only be met with popcorn stuffed in my mouth.

COTM - Dad Life

Love this video! A friend posted it for Father's Day, and I wanted to share it with all you guys out there. Enjoy!

New Site

Ok, so I haven't been posting a lot of anything here for a few months. But I have a perfectly good excuse: Erin Elizabeth Rose Rich!
She was born February 10, 2010 by C-section and since then I haven't posted much of anything except when I can and it's all on her site. Let me invite you to join me on that site:
http://richnlife.blogspot.com/
because I'm not on this one all that much. I am doing well, but everything that is good in my little world revolves around her at this time. Enjoy her site and I'll be back on this one someday. I imagine as time goes by I'll have more time to be on the computer, enough for both sites. But there will probably be a huge time gap until then.
ta-ta for now.

Eagle Signs

It sounds a bit weird, but today we saw a good omen... at least I think. Chris and I were on our way this morning to McDonalds to get some breakfast before going to the baby doctor for the "stress tests" and saw an eagle. Not just any eagle, a bald eagle! I didn't even know Oklahoma had them! I know they had eagles and such, but a bald eagle! It was just sitting there, on what we assumed was an animal carcas, and it turned and looked at us like "well, what?" With the snow around it was hard to tell what exactly it was sitting on, but it was beautiful and so amazing!

LBG's Baby Shower