Lawyer Mama

Strange Coincidence

I have a new review up for Hanes Comfort-Fit underwear for kids on Lawyer Mama Reviews.  I know you're just dying to hear about my little nudist (Hollis) and whether he actually kept the underwear on!

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I also have a new post up on D.C. Metro Moms, detailing the rules of the world according to Holden, my two year old.  He's quite a dictatorial ruler.

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The strangest thing just happened to me as I was pulling up Typepad to write a new post.

My cell phone rang and I answered it without checking the number.  The woman's voice on the other end said "This is your Aunt Lisa!  Ryan wanted me to call and let you know that Peyton Matthew was born 33 minutes ago.  He was 7 pounds and 5 ounces!"

My cousin Ryan is in the Air Force and currently stationed in the Azores, where he's living with his wife.  I found out they were expecting their first child at my grandmother's funeral in March.  It actually helped a bit, knowing that my grandmother had heard the news before she died.

I was so excited for Lisa and congratulated her and asked how she was doing and if she was excited about being a grandmother.  We chatted for awhile and she sounded a bit hoarse, as if she'd been screaming all day.  I asked her if she'd been sick and she said "No" and sounded a bit puzzled.  Then I asked her if Ryan was back from the Azores for the birth or if he would be back in the U.S. soon.

Puzzled silence.

Then Lisa asked, "Why would he be where?  What is Azores?"  "Hold it.  Who is this?"

Me: "Umm...this is Stephanie.  Is this Lisa L___?"

Lisa: "No. You aren't my niece, Shannon. I must have dialed a wrong number!"

Then we laughed at the incredible coincidence that this "Lisa" called me, with a phone number ending in a 2 instead of a 6, and a cousin named Ryan expecting a baby very soon.

I congratulated her again on her new grandchild, and she congratulated me for my new cousin-to-be, and we hung up with smiles in our voices.  I could hear someone howling with laughter in the background.  It just reminded me how much we all have in common on this third rock from the sun.  Despite differences in background, politics, or culture, the human experience is universal.  The joy we feel in new life always amazes.

Read At Your Own Risk

I have a new post up on D.C. Metro Moms:

Read At Your Own Risk

SEX

The D.C. Metro Moms are talking about sex today. In fact, allllll of the Silicon Valley Mom sites are discussing sex. Nothing but sex, sex, and more sex all day long.

If that doesn't intrigue you, I give up!

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I also have a review of a new Discovery Channel Store game, Rapido, up on the new and improved Law(yer Mama) Review. Well, it's almost new and improved. I got it up and running but none of my bells and whistles and shiny badges are there yet.

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I have one more action item, due to my airheadedness.  (Like how I made up a word.)  I listed the URL for the New and Improved Lawyer Mama Dabbles incorrectly a few days ago.  Oops.

I have new pics up if you'd like to check it out in the CORRECT location!

What Are My Words Worth?

Before I get down to the nitty gritty, I have a review up at Law(yer Mama) Review.  Did you read the book, The Three Martini Playdate?  I read it; my husband read it; we both loved it.  So when PBN gave me the opportunity to review Christie Mellor's latest book, Were You Raised By Wolves? I had to do it.  So head over to Lawyer Mama Review and see what I thought.

Because you know the world revolves around my opinion....

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A few weeks ago, the bloggers on D.C. Metro Moms blog had some interesting news.  We're being syndicated.  The founders of Silicon Valley Moms Blog, and all its various regional offshoots, negotiated an agreement with the McClatchy Group to syndicate three to five posts a week from the SV Moms Blogs. The McClatchy Group selected the first three posts about three weeks ago.  My post about Sexism in Advertising was one of them.

 

Here's the kicker: none of us, not even the founders of Silicon Valley Moms, are being paid.

 

Until now I've pretty much stayed out of the controversy over paid versus unpaid blogging.  I can certainly sympathize with freelance writers who pay their rent with their words.  This is what they do for a living.  They are highly trained journalists and wonderful writers.  If I accept an unpaid blogging "job" am I simply lowering the market price for the words of the professionals?

I know that a few bloggers, some who are freelance writers, have opted out of the syndication on the SV Moms blogs.  I can completely understand that.  The syndication has no value to them aside from gaining name recognition or resume building.  If you already have that as a freelance writer, why give your words away for free to print publications that normally pay you?

So what do I get out of an unpaid syndication of my words?  Name recognition?  Maybe.  Although I doubt that I'll be syndicated so regularly that people will start demanding my posts!  An ego massage?  Maybe.  It is nice to see your words, your byline in actual cellulose and newsprint.  Resume building?  Definitely.

For those of us who write (as opposed to Write) for fun, therapy, or recognition, the idea of being a freelance writer or (gasp!) writing a book is heavenly.  I've been saying since law school that I want to be a Writer when I grow up.  Granted, my job already involves a lot of writing but it isn't writing that feeds my soul.  Of course, there's no guarantee that free lance writing or even writing a book would do that either.  Publishers will only pay for what sells.  And who wants to pay to read my narcissistic rambles?

I don't pretend to know the answer to the paid versus unpaid blogging and writing debate.  I do know that business models for mainstream media are changing because of the blogosphere.  People are fleeing traditional media for the web and many of the providers of news and information on the web are doing it for free.  With print publication budgets plummeting, is it any wonder that MSM wants to get in on the free stuff?

 

I got my first hits on my syndicated article a few weeks ago, via my automatic "Lawyer Mama" Google Alert, from the Centre Daily Times in Centre, Pennsylvania and the Modesto Bee in Modesto, California.  I've gotten more since then, but I'm too lazy to link them all.  So clearly there is a market for my sort of writing, just apparently not enough to pay me.

 

Whether this increases my blog traffic (So far, no, but it might help if I posted something here on occasion!), or enables me to add "professional writer" to my resume remains to be seen.  Maybe I can even start calling myself a Writer with a capital W.  All I know is that I think it's pretty cool.  So if you happen to see me in print somewhere, for God's sake, cut it out and send it to me!

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Speaking of unpaid blogging, don't forget to read my review of Were You Raised by Wolves? over at Law(yer Mama) Review!

 

 

Three for the Price of One

New post up on Lawyer Mama Dabbles. It's all about where I live, in case Jenny wants to stalk me.

New post up on DC Metro Moms. The sexist commercials just finally went too far!

New post up on MOMocrats. Want to read about the Evolution of a MOMocrat?

Missing Her

I have a post about my grandmother with some very personal photos up on Lawyer Mama Dabbles. No, it's not that kind of "personal." Get your mind out of the gutter. (I'm talking to you, Jenny!) I don't post porn on the internet. (Although I bet my ad revenue would dramatically increase if I did. Hmmm....)

Missing Her

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Also, the D.C. Metro Moms are discussing education today, all day. I have a rant about public schools that should be up as the introductory post by Wednesday morning. Go check it out!

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Joanne, aka Pundit Mom, will be on Blog Talk Radio for Kristin's Motherhood Uncensored podcast to talk about how moms are getting involved in the elections. A few other MOMocrats may be calling in too and I know you won't want to miss it. (I may even call in myself. Ahem.)

Iraq: Five Years Later

I'm over at MOMocrats today spouting off about the Iraq war today. Actually, all of the MOMocrats are. Check it out.

I was also spouting off about Mommy guilt yesterday at D.C. Metro Moms Blog. Something I know nothing about. {/sarcasm} Actually, all of the D.C. Metro Moms were. Check it out.

I'm also spouting off at Lawyer Mama Dabbles about my discovery and love of color and such. Check it out. I like that photo essay so much, I may post it over here.

And you thought I'd just been slacking lately!

Yes, my readers, comments, and Technorati rating are starting to approach zero, but that's just because I don't have time to comment on all of your lovely blogs. I've been doing the "drive by" a lot lately and I apologize. I'm not doing a very good job of holding up my end of the conversation. But I'm trying.

Our Newest Family Member

Her name is Patches. Hollis picked her out, so he named her Patches, despite the fact that she really doesn't have any patches. But the name seems to suit her anyway.

Yes, she does look an awful lot like Pandy, with white whiskers, white socks, and a white belly. But her cutest feature is totally unique - a little white diamond between her eyes. I thought of all sorts of clever names for her, but I guess the days of actually getting to name our pets are over!

Patches is a rescue kitten and comes with a host of health problems. Our vet tells us she has roundworm, lungworm, and a respiratory virus. We have to keep her isolated from Hilly until she's better. But Patches has made a little boy very happy.


If you're interested, I'm pissing off people left and right on D.C. Metro Moms Blog. I seem to have started a small mommy war. Oops.

Early Childhood Education From A Military Perspective

A lovely piece ran in our local Virginian Pilot today about early childhood education. It was written by a retired Vice Admiral and applied his own brand of "military logic" to the arguments against state funding of early childhood education. It was so refreshing, I had to share it:

A Military Perspective On Preschool

As a retired military officer, I am concerned with the debate about whether to fund the proposed expansion of the Virginia Preschool Initiative. I am concerned because opponents are often vigorous, employing one of two tactics, neither of which seems defensible.

One of these tactics is political - the attempt to stir partisan opposition to the proposal solely because it is championed by a governor from the opposing party. This tactic, of course, is contrary to a military way of doing business, where decisions are based on reason and empirical evidence rather than political motives.

The second tactic is the "yes, but" approach, as in "we think expansion of preschool is a good idea, but it's too costly," or "but there are too many practical barriers to overcome," or similar yes-but evasions.

To a former officer, "yes, but" has the ring of excuse-making or lack of commitment to the objective, both of which must be overcome to stay on course.

So why should you care what a retired sailor like me thinks about preschool?

You should care, because the military cares, and deeply, about this topic. So deeply, in fact, that starting nearly two decades ago, the Department of Defense launched a services-wide initiative to increase the availability of high-quality early education programs for its youngest dependents.

The military took up this mission to ensure that children of military parents would start kindergarten ready to succeed. Military leaders championed the cause, funds were allocated, programs were made available so all parents could afford high-quality programs.

The effort proved so successful that government and private-sector policy experts began lauding the military's initiative as a model that should be emulated in the civilian sector.

Why such a strong commitment by the military to quality early education and school readiness? Quite simply, the decision was prompted by the following circumstances:
* A large number of military spouses working outside the home
* Half of today's service members have one or more children under age 5; this amounts to nearly 500,000 across all the branches

But there was another commitment, a common-sense one: to do the right thing for children and their parents in uniform.

So, from the perspective of an observer who has seen how this can succeed, I must now ask why some Virginia decision makers seem so reluctant to follow the lead of their military counterparts.

To borrow a naval phrase, we need all hands on deck. Vote to use the lessons learned in the military as a shining example. Access to high-quality, affordable child care for all should be expanded in our state so that all our children have a fighting chance to succeed.

Jim Metzger
Vice Admiral, USN (ret.)
Suffolk

Amen.

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There was a political rally for Obama in Virginia Beach here this evening. Unfortunately, what with the kiddos and all, I didn't think it was a good idea to attend. (It's T's Navy Reserve weekend, so I'm on my own with the kiddos.) I hear it was a good time with lots of noise and lots of people. I have to admit it's kind of nice to hear Virginia's primary described as "pivotal" even if it is the local paper doing it. I'll just try to forget that we were all but ignored before the Wednesday after Super Tuesday and enjoy it while it lasts. I know all the politicians will evaporate from the Commonwealth after Tuesday's election.

Speaking of politics, the D.C. Metro Moms (and all of their sister sites) are writing about politics and voting today. Head on over and check it out. I'm sure there will be some entertaining and controversial pieces going up throughout the day.

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I have some pictures from the zoo up on Lawyer Mama Dabbles. You can see what a hellion my Holden is when allowed to roam free from the confines of his stroller....

Driving Public Policy

Edited: Well, it seems that the AP is reporting that John Edwards is dropping out of the race. So much for my steadfast loyalty. I still think that he's played an important role in this campaign. I know he says he won't be the vice-presidential nominee, but a girl can hope, right?

I know you want to know who I'm supporting now. I don't think I'm going to decide yet. Virginia's primary is a week after Super Tuesday, so I don't have to decide until then. I know which way I'm leaning, but I want to see where HRC and Obama's policies lead me.

One of the bloggers over at Chicago Mom's Blog drafted an open letter to the Democratic Presidential candidates. You can see it on all of the sister sites, including the D.C. Metro Moms Blog that I contribute to. Veronica's letter is a wonderful idea. Several of the D.C. Metro Moms have been trying to get through to the presidential candidates for awhile. We even started topic days on all the sister sites to increase awareness of the political motivations of parent bloggers.

To a certain extent, it worked a bit. We had a wonderful meeting/teleconference with Elizabeth Edwards. We had some feelers from Senator Dodd's campaign. The Obamas basically told us, "thanks but no thanks," and I don't think we ever even heard from the HRC camp or anyone else. As for the Republican candidates? Bubkus. (Granted, I could really care less, but I do understand that not every mom who blogs is a Democrat.)

The problem I have with Veronica's letter is that it ignores my candidate, John Edwards. People can say whatever they want about his campaign being essentially over, but he is still in the game. CNN can pull him from their polls, but that doesn't change the fact that John Edwards has been driving policy in the Democratic primaries.

Even if Senator Edwards doesn't have a chance at the nomination any more, he's staying in the race to hold the nominee's feet to the fire. To make sure that Senators Obama and Clinton don't kill each other in a toddler temper tantrum, to make sure they don't forget about poverty, and health insurance, and economic reform, and environmental policy, and all those other things that we care about.

So let's not leave John Edwards out because, based on past experience, he's the candidate most likely to listen to us. Edwards does still have a role in this election. If I didn't truly believe that, I wouldn't still be beating the John Edwards drum over at MOMocrats.

For all we've heard about the presidential candidates *cough*OBAMA*cough* being socially media savvy, moms who blog have been pretty much ignored, except by the Edwards campaign. While companies and PR people can't wait to market to us or hear what we think about the latest mop or kid video on the market, nobody besides Edwards seems to give a flying fart what we think about public policy.

And it's not that no one cares what bloggers think. Hop on over the Daily Kos or the Huffington Post. Oh, the politicians care. They just don't care unless they can directly see a result in terms of political support or money. It's not so clear cut with us, the mothers who blog about anything and everything. But make no mistake, we vote, we're well educated, and we talk and write about politics in a personal way. People read our blogs. Some people actually do care what we think.

So, here's what I say:

Take heed, politicians. The internet is viral. If one of our fellow mom bloggers can get thousands of women across the country heading to the gym in an attempt to replicate her Big O on the treadmill, just think what we could do for your ideas and your campaign.

Ignore us at your peril.

Sincerely,

One Pissed Off Mommy Blogger

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As usual, I have new photos up at Lawyer Mama Dabbles. Is anyone other than my mother even reading that site? Give a gal some love, would you? Mwah!

Edited to add: Nancy, babe. I added an O link just for you! I meant to link it, so thanks for reminding me.