Haha, love it!

Ah, I knew there was more to this story than just the "Obama administration is persecuting this family because they homeschool" angle presented on Facebook.

LOVE this song! Thanks for featuring it. Great road trip song, too.

She:

"Now, if I'd been in charge of plotting this out, last night's atrocity would have involved a Fenian coming over from Ireland, chasing after The Marxist, and mistakenly taking out someone else.  So much potential for angst, familial distress, discord, and survivor guilt . . ."

Ooh, that's good. So much more understated and well-thought out than what happened. 

"Much Too Young to Feel This Damn Old," by Garth Brooks."Amarillo by Morning," by George Strait.

One sentence: feces in plastic bags. So, yes, I do feel bad for the passengers, and even worse for the crew (who had to go around collecting those bags).

Yes to Downton! Even if it were ever to stall (and there have been some silly plot points), the beauty and writing of the first season is completely worth it.

"Making Memories of Us," sung by Keith Urban. It was our first dance song at our wedding, and it never fails to move me. 

Oooh, Felicia, that's horrifying! I will always remember that one! 

Wow. I just want to thank everyone on here for all  your kind words and thoughts. I can't say some of it isn't sobering, but it's all helpful. I plan to print this out to read over it more carefully, and save it for rereading in the future. I also plan to ask my husband to read it. 

I have done some information-gathering: noting local moms' groups and the breastfeeding and postpartum support groups at the hospital. That way, I won't be scrambling to gather that information when I need it the most, or worse, feeling like I have no options at all. 

If you have other bits of advice you'd like to share, especially concerning how to stay connected and organized, and you don't want to add it to the comments, feel free to PM me anytime. 

Off to my breastfeeding class now! Yes, my hospital offers that. I'm hoping to learn enough to head off potential problems as well as to, yes, network. 

As my friend reminded me today, people must like having babies, because they keep doing it! So the rewards must be great in spite of the work. 

Five Guys or In N Out? In my opinion, completely overrated. In N Out has their delicious shakes and friendly service going for them, but I enjoy a Burger King Whopper much more that one of their burgers. And after trying Five Guys this fall (St. George, Utah), I'm in no hurry to get one down here. The guy behind the counter didn't even try to make eye contact, and I've had much, much better burgers and fries. 

Do they have good taco shops in Northern California? How about a massive carne asada burrito, leaking hot sauce down your chin? A plate of taquitos piled high with guacamole and cheese? A bean and cheese burrito dripping grease from all the melty cheese? 

Amy Schley:

Completely agree. Check your age and then ask if that fits into the age group the trend is being marketed at. 

And what's with the knee-high boot hate? As long as they're not patent leather stiletto worn with miniskirts, those things are classic and can look stylish on almost anyone. I have several  pairs myself. Worn with a twill or denim skirt, or tucked in skinny jeans and a blazer....classic and sophisticated. 

Being over 35 now, however, I have gotten rid of the short skirts. 

Someone I know was a 11 year old boy attending a summer camp run by the local diocese when he was sexually abused by his counselor, one of their seminarians. It was reported to the diocese, who said they would "take care of it." I seriously doubt that "taking care of it" involved law enforcement. It has been many years, but my friend is affected to this day. 

These people need to rot. 

Too funny, here's a screenshot of how this post showed up on my Iphone: 

On a different note, I'm surprised any red-blooded straight males find Natalie Portman attractive. She seems far too skinny and waif-ish, like a underfed little girl, to appeal. 

But I concede that I am not male. 

Clandestyne, I commend you for your honesty and sincerity, and want to encourage you in your journey. Don't stop asking questions and seeking. God doesn't play games with us. In addition to the reading recommended so far, I would add Dr. Francis Collin's "The Language of God," detailing the years in which he journeyed from atheism/agnosticism to Christianity.

John Stossel, all the way. I love myth-debunking.