I've got some questions

Again, no post last week.  Clearly, my year of productivity is not quite as productive as I would have liked (can you say unrealistic expectations?).  So for this week's installment, I'm going to share with you some things I have been thinking about lately and some questions that I have.  This is truly a sneak peek into my brain (consider yourself warned).

1.  Exactly how low can the stock market go?  I will be the first to admit that I know next to nothing about economics, but what will it mean if it drops below 7000?  At what point would we consider our economy "collapsed"?  And would that mean our country would get invaded and taken over?  Exactly how does this work?  Do I need to start learning a new language?

2. On a somewhat related note, and I'm really not trying to be political here, but when is someone in Obama's administration going to realize that every time he speaks, the stock market drops.  Isn't it time to send him to Camp David for the weekend??

3.  Who is the stylist for American Idol?  I'm assuming there is one.  But did I see someone wearing, like, pleather stretch pants under a dress on Tuesday?  And, I'm sorry, but shorts and high heels are not a fashion statement.  People used to make fun of southerners for doing it (Daisy Dukes comes to mind).  Apparently, she was just ahead of her time.  Is it a sign of getting older that I think "what the kids are wearing" looks terrible?  Seriously, like a bunch of rags thrown together?

4.  I really liked the Academy Awards this year.  I thought Hugh Jackman did fantastic.  I really liked the host not being a comedian-it seemed to take the pressure off to be funny, so it was.  I loved the previous winners introducing the nominees in the big categories.  That really felt honoring to all the nominees.  I can only imagine that the ones who didn't win still left the night feeling honored to have a legend say something flattering about them.  But I still have to ask...why are people who basically play "pretend" for a living seen as spokespeople for political issues?  I don't get the corollation there.  And frankly, I don't care what they think.

5.  Again, on a related note, what did you think of the Jen/Angelina face to face?  Could they possibly have hyped that a little more?  Were they expecting Jennifer to run at Angelina and pull her hair, or what?  As far as I'm concerned, she can have Brad.  That they're now touted as these wonderful parents is laughable.  I did think that Angelina adopting Maddox as a single woman was a cool choice-she clearly has means and has no doubt has given him a better life.  But, then she basically stole a married man and has been churning out babies since.  And are they even married?

6.  If Tatiana makes the top 12, I'm done with Idol.  That was a ratings ploy.  She is utterly ridiculous and should be completely embarassed.  That she made it to where she is and some other people didn't just plain isn't fair.  Her and the dude that walked off the stage in the middle of his Hollywood audition-did not get that.  Jason just pointed out that there's no question in here because he's reading over my shoulder as I type (my favorite thing). So here's a question, do you think the backup singers on Idol are bitter? 

7.  I had a really terrible moment with Harper this week.  She threw a fit worthy of a two year old in the library on Monday.  It was epic and really one of the most embarassing moments of my parenting life.  And I don't really get all that embarassed by my kids, I mean they're kids, what do you expect?  But this was awful.  I had to literally throw the books that Garrett had picked out on the reshelving cart and storm out with her flailing and screaming under my arm with Garrett trailing behind us also in tears because we didn't get his books.  On the way to the car, all I could think was "I hate you, I hate you, I can't even go to the friggin library"  (would you be a little impressed with me that I really thought the word "friggin" and not what it is a substitute for?).  Now I did not tell my daughter that I hated her, but I sure did think it.  I have had a very small amount of patience lately with both my kids and feel, on the whole, very put out with being a mom at present.  I try VERY hard not to show this to my children.  I know it's a phase and I know these feelings won't last, but is it bad that I thought "I hate you" about my own child?  I do not subscribe to mommy guilt, but I have felt very guilty about this incident all this week.  And not about anything I did or said to Harper, but what I thought.  Is that weird? 

8.  What, exactly, does bed rest mean?  My friend, who is expecting twins, has been put on it.  The babies are fine, her cervix has shortened, thus the bed rest.  But does that mean she can't put a plate in the dishwasher or sit at the computer?  Why is it that the very act of being forced to do something makes it awful?  Think about it.  If someone said to you for the next 12 weeks, lay around.  No work, no housework, no caring for your child, just fill your days with TV, books, magazines, and phone calls.  Doesn't that sound divine?  But call it bed rest and suddenly, it's not so enviable.  I guess there's a big difference between don't have to and can't.  As in, I don't have to cook supper or I can't cook supper.  I remember in the first few weeks of Garrett's life when I sat for an hour feeding him eight times a day, I longed to do housework.  Because I was trapped on the sofa, I wanted nothing more than to get up and clean the kitchen.  Say a prayer for Candy, this is going to be tough.  But I've been telling her all along, my motto for her pregnancy and life with twins is Home Depot's..."You can do it.  We can help."

9. How old are your children when taking a vacation with them is really a vacation and not just trying to play house without all your stuff?  Or is my idea of vacation just going to change?  And can you really call it a vacation if you pay $750 to sleep in the same bedroom as them for a week?  Granted, that bedroom is at the beach, but it's still just the one bedroom.  Can you tell I'm not all that jazzed about our week at the beach this summer?  I will tell you I'm excited about my sister-in-law and her husband bringing their Wii.  Then we can see if we really want to spend the money and get one.

10.  My husband rocks at his job.  He was told a couple of weeks ago that he was one of two top performers at his company.  He and the other guy were told they were getting the biggest raises of anyone in the company.  He found out today what that means specifically (because they didn't talk money when they told them the top performer thing).  It's fairly awesome.  And when you factor in the economy and the fact that people are losing their jobs all around us, it becomes almost miracle like.  He's going to be embarassed that I posted this.  He didn't even want to call his parents and tell them the top performer thing!  But he's given up on me and gone to bed, so I can!  I am so proud of him.  It is so fabulous to know that the people he works for see his awesomeness and are in a position to reward it.  Sorry, no question on this one, just a lot of pride.

Thanks for hanging in to the end and let me know if you have any answers.