I expected Kris to take the top spot, but wow, I wasn't expecting
her husband to take second place! (Way to go Rog!) So Llamie and Roger,
I'll either mail you something sweet, or the next time you come up
guys, I'll send you home with my specialty, an entire double chocolate
espresso cheesecake. You choose!

Courtney your the top spot knitter, so send your snail address to carla at mylittletribe dot com and I'll mail out your Opal Petticoat.
Mom (peeps, "Nana" is my mother in law) I have some blue Cascade
Fixation for you since you can't use wool (that cotton lycra yarn you
were oogling when you came to visit)

Now, as for the explanations... see the extended entry

I admit, I was a cheerleader. Most people don't believe it, and Kris makes
fun of me (hee!) But I was damn good at it, won several awards, captained, and it was FUN. For what its worth, where I went to school, the cheerleaders
were not the stereotypical flighty rah rahs. We were smart, athletic
and not at all "the mean girls". Seriously, take my word for it. I hate
mean girls

My hometown, Factoryville Pennsylvania. Funky name, very small town. But I love it, and its "home'

Favorite song. Yes, "Cassidy" is in my top five songs for obvious reasons. But "In Your Eyes" will always, be the end all, be all. Its me and Richard's song

I was 29 when I had Cassidy, just a few months short of the big 3 0. I always said I wanted a baby by the time I turned thirty. Damn we cut it close!

Birkenstocks. While its true, I do like being bare foot, you are more likely to see my feet dressed in one of my multiple pairs of birkenstocks (a style for every occasion!)

Martha's Vineyard. I know y'all are thinking Ireland would be the obvious choice for this Irish gal. But, MV, specifically, Oak Bluffs, remains, and always will be, my favorite place on earth. I spent many summers there at my Grandfather's summer home, which was situated within the Camp Meeting area near the tabernacle. This "neighborhood" was the founding village, which grew around its very large outdoor tabernacle. Most of the homes in this section are vividly ornate and colorful, and very much resemble "gingerbread houses". Grandpa's house was not colorful, but it certainly was ornate. We would sit on his front porch in one of the many rockers he built and hand caned himself, while he told me wickedly funny (and sad) stories about his many years on the island. He knew EVERYONE on that island, mostly from being commissioned for his stunning rocking and dining chairs. He was particularly fond of John Belushi, who became his friend. My grandpa would tell me about how sad John's drug use made him. Perhaps this was his way of giving me the "don't do drugs talk".
My step grandmother, even with her sweet side, could be a demanding old coot, and "this" side of the family, err, Grandpa's "first family" were never really a priority. So when she and my Grandfather passed away (several years ago), my dad's step brother sold the summer home, for an obscene amount of money.  Its not the money. I would never sell that house if it were mine. Never EVER. Am I bitter? Why yes I am.

Althea. If we ever had another baby girl, she would be named Althea. In fact, Cassidy was nearly Althea (also a Grateful Dead song) but my mom seriously protested.

The zoo. Dylan, Connor and I made our first of many trips to the Rosamond Gifford Zoo yesterday. We purchased our family membership and will be spending many days there over the next year!

Civil Rights Attorney. Indeed my dream job is an attorney for the ACLU. I'd make a horrible politician, seriously! I prefer the real work in political campaigns...selling the candidate I strongly believe in (Feingold for President - 2008!)

Ok..the real mystery question.
I cringe as I type this, but the answer as you all know by now, is Rick Santorum. In my defense, it was his first senate run, and at that time I was very anti partisan. He sold a lot of snake oil running up to that election, and I had some high hopes for him. Turns out not only was he a typical Republican, but the worst kind.. the one who wants to take away my rights as a woman and mother, and shove his bible down my throat. Don't you worry, I REGRET that vote every day of my life in which he holds office in the great state of Pennsylvania. He is a hypocrite and a liar, or your typical GOP politician these days.
The one thing that gives me solace over that vote? It wasn't a close election. My vote did not take him over the top. This year however, he has a real battle keeping his seat in the senate. 
Most of you guessed Arlen Specter. And really, I do like him for the most part. Except for that whole Kennedy assassination "magic bullet theory", he really is a pretty logical guy.  (hee!)

Thanks for playing guys!

Around a year ago on this day..

• Its been a banner day here at Chez Martin.. - 2007
• OMG, did I do it? - 2007