As a general rule, I am not too fond of Republicans, although there are always exceptions, especially when a person forges their own path, rather than following their party straight down the line. Though I never heard his name before this week, I am going to have to add South Carolina’s Mark Sanford to my “cool” list.

For those who are not abreast of this minor hullaballo, Gov. Sanford went MIA for four days, from last Thursday through Monday. Apparently, neither his staff, nor his wife, knew his exact whereabouts. In reviewing this storyfrom the Associated Press, it is said that the Gov is a little offbeat in general, known to take solo excursions after particularly draining legislative sessions. So where’s the problem? Apparently, Governor Sanford’s staff, out of a misguided notion of “saving face” erroneously informed the press that the man was hiking on Appalachian trails. In reality, he made book for Argentina, allegedly to “write and drive along the coastline.”

I would say this must be a slow news week, but that’s not true. Obama is battling it out over health care, the flare ups on the streets of Iran are still at the forefront, and Jon and Kate are divorcing for God’s sake! So why is this getting so much attention? Well, in my opinion, it is simply because we expect our politicians to behave in a buttoned up, predictable way. When they go off the rails and show they are not just sound bite drones, it is intriguing. The good people of SC, or at least other State officials, are “angry” that Governor Sanford’s staff purposely mislead them as to his whereabouts. A political staff lying? Shocking!!!

Further research shows that Governor Sanford is far from afraid to irritate members of his own party, and frequently does things that are a bit unorthodox. This quote from the AP story makes this point clear:

“The governor has long been known as a loner — bucking GOP leadership during three U.S. House terms and casting the only dissenting vote on Medicaid coverage for some breast and cervical cancer treatment. He clashes often with the Republicans who control both chambers of his state Legislature, once famously carrying two piglets to the door of the House in opposition to what he said was pork-barrel spending.”

Call me cynical, but I suspect Gov. Sanford’s real “crime” is his failure to be controlled. Bravo sir!

Retraction

Two posts in one day, campers! I told you I feel giddy. Ok, so I think we all need a break from hearing about me, so let’s take up something important. What do we make of the events in Iran? I have been doing some informal polling of my friends and neighbors, and many of them seem to think we are on a path to war. I am not sure I agree with that. For those of you who may not have ingested any news in the last few days, waiting with bated breath for the “announcement” promised by Jon and Kate Gosselin later tonight, allow me to give you a brief synopsis.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the President of Iran, the cur of a gentleman who has repeatedly denied the existence of the Holocaust, and who never misses an opportunity to promise the total annihilation of Israel, has recently won re-election. However, there are more than a few suspicions of electoral foul play afoot. Recently, demonstrations have broken out across the globe, and most promisingly, inside the reclusive nation itself, demanding a recount, or stronger still, a regime change entirely. Personally, I find Ahmadinejad to be a repulsive and dangerous individual, but particularly in light of the Iraq debacle, I say the U.S. needs to step back and let the people of Iran make their own decisions.

That said, President Obama has received a large amount of criticism, in fairness, not only from the right, for taking a relatively measured, hands off approach. I want to know what you think. Why should the Sunday morning talk show pundits have all the fun? I’d like to take this moment to issue a special plea to Jen of All Trades. For God’s sake, talk to us woman!

Whoo wee! It’s hot as a mug out there, isn’t it kids? I couldn’t be happier. I am a heat person for certain. Makes you wonder why I choose to live and work in Chicago doesn’t it? If I can convince Eddie, we will surely be that old couple retiring on Miami Beach. He says that minus the bikinis and hot cars, it’s a bit too much like India for his taste. I’ll work on him. Nonetheless, the sun is shining, temperatures are soaring and Boop is on the mend.

I was back on solid foods as of yesterday. A.D. had a backyard gathering for Eddie’s folks in Wisconsin. I still had to steer clear of beer and dairy (two things I love dearly), but I was able to stand upright for more than a full hour without feeling woozy or nauseous. This is definitely progress. But the best reason for my upbeat mood today? I am alone, alone, alone. Eddie’s folks have left for a three day sojourn to Buffalo, NY, and my hubby is in South Carolina for the workweek as usual. How did I celebrate this giddy state of independence? By doing almost nothing!

I desperately need to turn in a piece to the Life Coach, catch up on housecleaning, and other chores. Instead, I slept in, did some grocery shopping and caught up on my back of issues of Entertainment Weekly and episodes of One Life to Live. Mock me if you will, but Eddie is an even bigger fan of the daytime drama than myself. 2009 calls for a heavy dose of escapism, and the citizens of Llanview with their baby swapping, booty calls and “very special” teen episodes are just what the doctor ordered. I promise that tomorrow I will finally settle down and get to work. This taste of freedom unleashed the slag in me.

I met Rob the trainer at the gym at 1:30. I hadn’t worked out in five days. I wish I could have. I simply wasn’t able to due to sickness and family crap. I have never felt so old in my life as I did huffing and puffing during relatively simple exercises. I guess it will take me some time to get my groove back. With the parents in town, I have consumed very little protein in the last 10 days (they are die hard vegetarians), so I helped myself to some Whole Foods sushi and then went home for a nap. Who knew that freedom could feel so decadent?

The Edge shipped my first book today. I am now a book reviewer in addition to a theater critic for the online publication. Pretty cool right? I will finally get to use the long dormant, literary analytical skills I honed, completing my Master’s in English at Northeastern. I have ten days to get through this vampire tome and write a review of it. Is it just me, or anyone else finding this vampire craze to be a bit played?

I also managed to pick up a copy of StreetWise today. The damned thing had been out five days already, and I still hadn’t seen my story. I was kind of surprised to discover I had landed the cover again. Sweet! The vendor who sold it to me seemed rather impressed. It’s a well known facts that writers, with their various demons and self-esteem issues, are in constant need of reassurance that they don’t suck. Thus I was very nigh to beaming from the praise of vendor number #205.

I am still not making money from this writing thing, but slowly but surely, I am getting placement and attention. That is enough for now. I have suspended the search for a “real” job, at least until Eddie’s Mom goes home on the 8th. I will update my resume and get back to it at that time. For the moment however, I do feel at peace.

I will try to keep this short, as I am decidedly still unwell. I have come down with a combination bacterial/viral gastrointestinal infection. This on top of dealing with the politics of caring for my in-laws while my husband is absentee, trying to keep my career afloat, etc. My latest StreetWise has been out for two days already, and I haven’t even seen it. I was forced to turn down a fairly lucrative academic writing project this week due to my sudden illness, and I am left hoping that professional relationship isn’t permanently soured, as I couldn’t deliver on their first request. I suppose if it is, it will be alright somehow. If this post sounds somewhat depressed, noncommittal and and exhausted – well, that’s about how I feel right now.

I started developing a headache on Tuesday evening, which later progressed to some violent vomiting (and other intestinal pyrotechnics). I was sort of up and down the next two days and nights, but around 6 PM yesterday, I started to worry something was really amiss. By that point, I had been able to hold nothing in for three days. Eddie’s folks were downtown at the Art Institute, and of course my husband, as usual, was out of town on business. I rang up my BFF Gary, always dependable, always a friend, always a giver, and we hightailed it to Weiss Hospital at Wilson and Marine drive via taxi.

Four hours, one IV, several blood and urine tests later, I was pronounced the victim of an awful virus. One would think I’d be unhappy to hear this, but in fact I was relieved. This is because the resident on duty had initially scared the crap out of me with words like “aneurysm,” “stroke” and “spinal tap.” Eddie arrived at my bedside from O’Hare just as I started to shriek that I wasn’t undergoing a spinal tap, no way, no how. When I was finally released, I had to sign a form stating that I was rejecting both a cat scan and the tap “AMA” – against medical advice. Honestly, I don’t think it’s that bloody serious, but that 1% doubt in my mind is playing with me a bit.

The good news is that my head still hurts, but feels much better, and I have successfully held down the plain boiled potatoes and Gatorade that are to make up the bulk of my diet today. In the evening, I have a hearty meal of Swanson’s Chicken Broth in a can to look forward to. Beside turning down the well-paying writing job, I had to contact my Life Coach and give him the 411. He has been kind enough to extend my deadline until Monday.

Mummy and Papa have just gone off on a trolley tour of downtown, so I am able to snatch a few hours of uninterrupted peace. I need a bath, that’s for sure. I may walk around the house with my now-scrawny body naked for a few minutes, well just because I can. It seems it’s been forever now since my life was my own. It’s shameful, but the weight loss is the one part of this week that pleases me. How vain and stupid, I know.

We have another full round of family visits this weekend. I will be sitting out the delightful eating portion of things, but at least folks will understand if I am a bit quiet.