Two Things I'm Irritated About

1) The weather. Holy cow. It's 0 degrees Fahrenheit in Chicago right now. We've been having single-digit highs for a week. I can't stand much more of this! (Why isn't this extra body fat insulating me better?)

2) Orthopedic surgeons. I like to avoid making sweeping generalizations, but in this case it is true. And deserved. All orthopedic surgeons make their patients wait for ridiculous periods of time before spending 30 seconds in the exam room with them and then sending them on their way. Yesterday, I had my routine annual checkup with my doctor, a very talented and intelligent medical professional. I waited TWO HOURS in his office. TWO HOURS. And the sad thing is that this didn't surprise me a bit. Been there, done that. This doctor, other doctors, they're all the same.

In Which I Am a Threat to American Society

I'm extremely disturbed by a recent study that finds atheists are America's least trusted minority. According to the American Sociological Association, "American’s increasing acceptance of religious diversity does not extend to those who don’t believe in a god." Not only do we atheists not share religious folks' "vision of American society" -- we're also "the minority group most Americans are least willing to allow their children to marry." According to Penny Edgell, the study’s lead researcher, “Our findings seem to rest on a view of atheists as self-interested individuals who are not concerned with the common good.”

The point of this post isn't to promote or defend atheism. I try not to be an evangelical atheist. I don't want you shoving your religion in my face, and I try to return the favor by not shoving my lack thereof in yours.

No, I'm writing today about tolerance.

I don't think of myself as being part of a distrusted, discriminated-against minority (even though my personal belief system is illegal in some states) because you can't identify me as an atheist just by looking at me. (Unless you spot me in my car and notice the Darwin fish.) I don't encounter religious discrimination on a daily basis. Or ever, really. I have many friends and family members who share my atheism. And many who don't. And that's how it should be. I don't care what my friends' beliefs are. Of course, if they share mine, I'm happy to discuss that fact with them. And if they don't, I love to have friendly conversations about our differing world views. Doesn't that make us all better people? Shouldn't we be trying to open ourselves up to other viewpoints?

And those of you who know me, either in the real world or through visiting my blog now and then: Do I strike you as a self-interested individual who isn't interested in the common good? Do you believe that I don't love my children, my family? Or America? Because if I've given that impression, I need to seriously reexamine my ability to communicate.

This is one idea about atheism and atheists that really burns me -- that, because we don't believe in a moral authority figure, we have no morals. Nothing could be further from the truth, and nothing is more insulting to an atheist. Atheists are just like every other group of people: Most of us are great people who love our families. Some of us are not. Lots of us are intelligent, thoughtful, caring, upstanding members of society. Some of us are not. I challenge you to name a group of humans for whom these statements aren't true.

I know that most (all?) of my readers aren't atheist-haters. So maybe I'm preaching to the choir, so to speak. But this has been on my mind lately, and I wanted to share my thoughts with all of you. I'm curious to hear what you think about the topic. Please comment and let me know.

You can't really pin down atheists as a unified group, because we're anything but. However, here's some suggested reading for those who want to read a bit more about atheism:

Wikipedia's Atheism entry.

Sam Harris's excellent 10 Myths -- and 10 Truths -- About Atheism in the LA Times. Be sure to read number 10, which is perhaps the most damaging and disturbing myth about atheism.

I really love Penn Jillette's contribution to NPR's This I Believe series, found here. (I recommend listening rather than reading -- Penn is a compelling speaker.)

And, just for fun, check out this interesting list of celebrity nonbelievers.

Watch My Baby Daddy on Jerry Springer

One of Airan's many appearances on the Jerry Springer Show with the BS Brass Band is airing today. (He's the hot saxophonist.) The episode is titled "Music and Maniacs I." In Chicagoland, it's on UPN at 2:00 pm CST. I'm not sure whether that's true elsewhere. Sorry for the short notice -- I just found out myself! I'll try to give y'all more advance warning for future appearances.

Consumerism By Proxy

Evie and Sophie went to the kiddie salon for their first real haircuts on Saturday. (See before and after pics here.) Mind you, I've been dying to pay a visit to the salon for a trim and some highlights, but I guess my needs come second (er, make that third).

This got me to thinking about all the many, many things I do/buy for the girls that I'd also like to have for myself but put off because I don't want to spend the money on me. What up with that?

For example, I would love a new pair of shoes. If I got one, I'd wear them for years. YEARS, I tell you. But I don't want to spend money on that. However, I'd rather not tell you how much I spent on two pairs of these adorable boots that the girls will outgrow in another two or three months, max. Don't even get me started on the Gymboree.com bills. Ouch. And all the toys these kids continue to accumulate! We'd need a mansion to have storage space for all of it.

It's madness! Why can I exercise restraint when it comes to buying things for me (or Airan or the household), but all bets are off when it comes to the kids? I hope these girls have no interest in obtaining a higher education, because if this trend continues, there will be no college fund.

An Honor to Be Nominated

I've been nominated in the Best Commentor category for Share the Love Blog Awards at One Woman's World. I'm honored! Like the way I comment? Consider voting for me -- voting runs February 1-6. (Nanette, do I hear you laughing?)

Freeze Frame

I don't want to sound like a broken record, but I've been thinking a lot lately about how quickly the twins change and grow, and how desperately I want to hold on to right now, this minute. I've been reading a lot of similarly themed posts at other blogs recently, which is leaving me even more consumed with the knowledge that this will pass, whether I want it to or not. These precious girls will grow and change, and there's nothing I can do to stop it, and I don't really want to stop it. Not really. Well, maybe just a little bit.

It boils down to this: Sure, the girls are super cute and fun and entertaining now. And they still will be in a year. And it two years. And three years. But soon enough, I'll blink and they'll be 15. They'll have their own lives, their own interests. What if they don't want to hang out with me anymore? What if they don't like the things I like, such as classical music and board games and science fiction? Will we drift apart? Will they think I'm a big geek? I know our relationship will change as they get older -- it already has. And that's a good thing. I think. I'm just scared of where this progression will take us, and I fear it's largely out of my control.

So I continue to struggle with this nostalgia for the present. I think I just need to relax.

Just Another Citizen of the Colbert Nation

I WILL stay strong, Stephen.

I believe I've mentioned before that I have the coolest husband ever. He has a history of obtaining autographs for me from people I admire and respect. This latest addition to the collection was meant to be a Christmas gift, but Mr. Colbert was running a little behind schedule. (I'll forgive you, Stephen.)

For those of you who might not be familiar with Stephen Colbert (I can't imagine who doesn't know and love Mr. Colbert, but I suppose I'll entertain the possibility that you exist), he is the host of The Colbert Report on Comedy Central. As much as I love The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, I've come to love The Colbert Report even more. Mr. Colbert is insightful, thought-provoking, and hilarious. In fact, what I consider to be the funniest moment of television ever was perpetrated by Mr. Colbert back in his Daily Show days. And his address at the 2006 White House Correspondents Dinner had me laughing until I cried.

Now I need to get a nice frame for this gem so I can hang it above the mantel -- those pictures of the twins will just have to go into storage, I guess.

(Many thanks to Jules and Peter for helping Airan obtain this treasure!)

For Two

I've been reading up on the Daimler-Chrysler Smart Fortwo, a super tiny "city car" that's been successful in Europe and Canada and will soon be making its US debut. There's much debate about whether Americans will buy such a tiny car. This micro car seats only two people and is all of 98.4" long (just over 8 feet, if you're willing to trust my math). This car is crazy small.

Me, I'd love to get one -- parking in my neighborhood would get so much easier! The problem, of course, is that there's no room for the twin car seats. (Do you think I could strap them to the roof?)

But will my fellow Americans really be interested in such a car? I don't think so. Here's why: (This is the part of the post when you get to laugh at how stupid I am.) What's with this "Fortwo" business? Who's going to buy a car with such a queer name? How do you even say that? Fort-woah? Fort-wuh? Fort-wu?

What's that? You say the car seats two?

Azeroth Addiction

The new expansion for World of Warcraft, Burning Crusade, came out yesterday.

One sacred rule I hold myself to is that I am absolutely, positively not allowed to play video games when I'm home alone with the twins and they are awake. This afternoon, I seriously considered parking the twins in front of Sesame Street so I could spend some quality time leveling my new blood elf mage, Qwghlm. It might be time for a twelve-step program.

(I think she kind of looks like me -- dishwater blond with ears that stick out and some out-of-control hair. Except that she's anorexic.)

Obama '08

Barack Obama, my favorite senator, announced that he's starting a presidential exploratory committee, the first step toward a bid for the White House. I have mixed feelings about this. I love, love, love Senator Obama. Love him. How can you not love that skinny kid with a funny name? I actually felt a swell of pride when I cast my vote for Obama back in '04 -- it might have been the first time I didn't feel as if I were merely choosing the lesser of two evils.

I think Senator Obama brings a fresh new perspective to politics, which our political landscape needs in a bad way. I can't even begin to tell you how much I prefer him to Hillary Clinton, who's generally considered the front runner for the democratic nomination.

Is it too soon? Is Senator Obama too much of a newcomer to really make a creditable run for the presidency? Or is his status as newcomer, outsider, fresh voice exactly what we need now? I don't know. I just don't know. But if Senator Obama needs volunteers in Chicago (like there's going to be a shortage!), he should feel free to give me a call. (But not after 8:00 pm.)

Will you still need me, will you still feed me?

I was just watching an ad for the Discovery Channel's "2057," about how scientists today are shaping the future and what life will be like in 50 years.

I thought to myself, "In fifty years, I'll be 81. Will I remember sitting here on the couch, watching that promo? Will I laugh about how absurd and off-base those predictions are? Or will I be amazed by their accuracy?"

Who am I kidding? I can never remember where my keys are NOW. In fifty years, I'll be lucky if I remember my own name and to chew with my mouth closed.