RefneyWorld

Moving to Wordpress

2009-05-05T14:59:00.001-05:00

Moving on to Wordpress if anyone would like to follow. The title holds the link.

Sonya

It sounds like a Lifetime movie...

2009-01-29T20:32:00.002-06:00

Without divulging every detail...

There was a woman coming to our La Leche League meetings, and asking to join several local mom groups, that is a fraud.

She claimed she was a nurse at a local hospital, in the L&D department. She claimed to be married with children, with a set of twins on the way.

She lied. She is none of these things. She entered our groups under false pretenses, even offered to assist if one of us in the group wanted a home birth.

She is not a nurse. Not any sort of medical professional. She is not married. She has no children.

Several of us had a gut instinct about her. It turned out to be more than we could have imagined.

Trust your instincts when it comes to people around you and your children.

My PSA for today. :)

The Lily Ledbetter Act passed!! Woohoo!!! :)

2009-01-22T19:19:00.003-06:00

The Senate has easily passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act by a vote of 61-36. This act ensures equal pay for women working the same jobs as men. This could be the first bill President Obama signs into law.

Repubs say this will just lead to more lawsuits. Hell yeah! Women have been fighting and fighting and fighting...it's about time we were recognized in the workplace.

Blog For Choice Day

2009-01-22T11:09:00.003-06:00

Today is the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade.

Thankfully, I've never lived in a world where choice wasn't a option for me. To be honest, I've only known two people (of course, it isn't something you bring up during tea time) who have made the choice to terminate a pregnancy. I've never known anyone who was not allowed a certain form of contraception because it was against the pharmacist's/doctor's religion.

No, I'm not "pro-abortion". That term is ridiculous. No one goes around advocating "Abortions for all! Come and get your abortion here!!". That's absurd. I am avidly Pro-Choice. The decision is mine and mine alone whether to use contraception, the "morning after pill", have an abortion or carry a pregnancy to term. Pro-choicers do not go around to pregnant women and say "Humph, you should have had an abortion! What's wrong with you?" We don't force our belief in choice upon anyone. We believe the choice is ours to make. When old white men decide what is best for women, we are truly NOT being served.

The question asked for this year's Blog for Choice is "What is your top pro-choice hope for President Obama and/or the new Congress?"

My answer? Keep the choice in the woman's hands. Do not allow pharmacists and doctors to refuse medical attention/medications because of their personal beliefs. They are in the wrong profession if they see fit to force their religious dogma on patients. Disband the abstinence only sex education. It doesn't work. Period.

There is so much more I want to say, but I'm not feeling particularly eloquent right now. My last word on this is LEAVE MY BODY TO ME.

Welcome, President Obama!

2009-01-20T09:20:00.003-06:00

What a wonderful day to be an American!

It is an historic day, and one we have been waiting on for quite a while. An end to the disastrous W. era. A new hope shines in our country. Yes, I'm a little sappy today.

Though, I am cautiously optimistic. I hope with every fiber of my being that Barack Obama is the man he has portrayed himself to be over this campaign. Millions upon millions of us put our hopes for the future upon his shoulders. It will be a tough road, but we are looking to him and his administration to bring us out of this recession, to create new jobs and technologies, to end the freakin' war in Iraq, to insure quality health care and education for our children.

Don't let us down. We know you are human, and you cannot possibly come through on every promise you made. Please, please, be honest with the country, and lead us into a better tomorrow.

Goodbye, George. Don't let the door hit you where evolution split you. Enjoy clearing brush in Crawford and hobnobbing in Dallas. Good riddance.

Whole Foods...how I love thee

2009-01-13T15:36:00.003-06:00

I went to Whole Foods for the first time ever today. I had to go into BR to pick up a sweet, used wagon for the girl-child ($15 - score!), so I decided to finally see what all the fuss is about.

I loved it. The produce, the fish, the meat cuts...the wine...AWESOME. The prices??? Not so much. Yikes.

I walked out with 4 Lady Apples (teeny tiny things...had to try them), a bag of Arborio rice (can't find it in the feckin' grocery stores around here, for some reason), a fruit cup, and some beer. Mr. Refney loves his Old Rasputin, and it was cheap. So, there ya go.

I also heard the Abita Brewery got itself blowed up this morning. Thank FSM, they'll be back in production tomorrow. I thought I was going to have to make a run on some Restoration Ale and Jockamo IPA. :) Also, we have a friend who works there, so glad no one was hurt. Doubly glad the beer is fine as well. :)

It's already Thursday???

2009-01-08T13:46:00.002-06:00

Where does our time go? How did it get to Thursday without me noticing? Granted, I've been a little off this week with my killer hormonal shift, but this happens all the time now. I guess not working outside of the home, not really talking to anyone other than the kid and the husband and the grocery clerk really changes perception.

One of my goals for this year is to create a more structured routine for our home, especially for me and LilMiss. For 17 months now, I've just been "going with the flow"; wake up when baby wakes up, take a shower/get out of my pajamas when she goes down for a nap, around noon...hurry up and make supper before Mr. gets home from work...no routine. Just, flowing. I don't think it's been that great for me or for the girl.

So, in an effort to be a bit more structured, I've come up with a tentative schedule. I really hope Mr. Refney isn't reading this...he will laugh and laugh at me. And then poke me in the mornings to get me out of bed.

7:00 am: Wake up time for me. Take temp. Chart. Make coffee, shower, email and internet time.

8:00 am: Wake up LilMiss. WE need a better nap and sleep schedule. Maybe getting her up at the same time will do the trick. So she's not napping at 5:30 in the evening.

Breakfast (an actual sit down breakfast, not just nursing), get dressed, and either:
Run errands
Go outside and play (weather permitting)
Go to park
Playdate
Read and play learning games inside (if bad weather)

12:00 pm: Lunch. An actual sit down lunch. Not nursing.

12:30 pm: Naptime. For LilMiss, not me. If I'd just go to bed at a decent hour, maybe I wouldn't be so damn tired.

12:30 pm until LilMiss wakes up: Laundry. Dusting. Decluttering. What's for supper. Paperwork (tax season...yuck). Bill paying.

Afternoon: Playtime. Put in a movie or video game for LilMiss. Go back outside if weather is good. Continue with the laundry, because you know what happens if you throw it in a basket. It just multiplies, and then Mr. Refney is waking you up because he can't find a pair of socks.

Evening: Daddy's home!!!! Hand off girl, finish supper. Family playtime. KEEP THE DAMN TV OFF!!!!!! Bathtime for baby, reading, bedtime by 8:30.

Night: Good ol' snuggle time for the adults.

Now, I do realize I'm being a bit ambitious with this. After all, I'm a self-proclaimed internet addict who could spend 8 hours a day here and still not get enough. Lil'Miss will not always cooperate. She is getting to be quite the sassy toddler.

But...we'll see. At least I have something written down.

Gotta run. Mr. Refney is home. I need to go look busy.

LilMissRefney...the finder of lost stuff

2009-01-02T09:04:00.002-06:00

The weekend before Christmas, I lost my wedding band. It had been too big for some time (that's what I get for getting married while pregnant...haha), to the point I could just fling my hand and it would fly off. So, one morning, I went to take it off to moisturize my face, and...it was gone. Nowhere. I searched and searched and came to the conclusion it got thrown into the trash or down the shower drain. I was upset, but it was easily replaceable. I mean, I got it at HellMart, ffs. It was the ring Mr. Refney had given me, though, so I was still upset about it.

Anyway...

fast forward until yesterday. New Year's Day. LilMiss gets up early, while we want to sleep in, of course. After getting her breakfast, she's quietly running around our bedroom while Mr. Refney and I are dozing. I hear a clicking noise on the table...I think she has gotten a hold of some coinage, so I jump up to grab it out of her hand before she decides to eat it. No, it wasn't a coin...it was my ring. I don't know where she found it. I turned that room upside down looking for it. And here comes miss indigo child with her beatific smile on her face, holding my ring.

Now if she could only find where I stashed that million dollar lottery ticket....

I'm an Average 1930's Housewife...I knew it.

2008-12-31T14:43:00.000-06:00

As a 1930s wife, I am
Average

Take the test!

Happy Holidays!!!

2008-12-29T20:42:00.000-06:00

Yes, I know I'm late. I'm tired. I'm unmotivated. I have a ton of stuff to do this New Year...and I'm feeling overwhelmed. I'm trying, I'm trying...

We had a wonderful holiday, but I'm glad it's over. Lil'MissRefney got too much, of course, but she was a trooper through all the traveling and the upset routine.

Have a very safe and Happy New Year!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

2008-11-28T14:37:00.000-06:00

We enjoyed great food and tons of swinging in the fog... :)

Freedom of Choice Act

2008-11-20T14:24:00.002-06:00

I recently saw some of my Facebook friends joined a group called "Fight FOCA!". I jogged on over to see what it was referring to. It is a group formed to fight the passage of the Freedom of Choice Act, a bill that has been introduced to Congress and one that President-Elect Obama has said would be the first bill he would sign into law once in the Oval Office. The Facebook group states, in part:

"Basically anything goes, partial birth abortions, ridding of babies born after botched abortions, and any other "unrestricted" type of abortion. Not only that but this act would hold TAXPAYERS responsible for the nationwide costs of abortions. That means YOU AND ME. This act isn't too far away from becoming a reality in the United States, but we CAN stop it, so please sign the petition! Obama may have won this election, but it is ironically up to the youth of the United States to fight for those without a voice! WE CAN CHANGE THIS!"

A good summary of the bill reads as this (from govtrack.us):

Freedom of Choice Act - Declares that it is the policy of the United States that every woman has the fundamental right to choose to: (1) bear a child; (2) terminate a pregnancy prior to fetal viability; or (3) terminate a pregnancy after fetal viability when necessary to protect her life or her health.
Prohibits a federal, state, or local governmental entity from: (1) denying or interfering with a woman's right to exercise such choices; or (2) discriminating against the exercise of those rights in the regulation or provision of benefits, facilities, services, or information. Provides that such prohibition shall apply retroactively.
Authorizes an individual aggrieved by a violation of this Act to obtain appropriate relief, including relief against a governmental entity, in a civil action.

Take a smart, responsible bill and trash it with overtly anti-choice propaganda to gain support. Did they not even READ the bill? It states a declaration that every woman has a right to choose to bear the child, terminate BEFORE fetal viability, and/or terminate in third trimester WHEN NECESSARY TO PROTECT HER LIFE AND/OR HER HEALTH!!! Where does it say it will "make taxpayers pay for abortions" and encourage an "anything goes" attitude?

This bill may overturn the Partial Birth Abortion ban which in actuality only bans one certain procedure of many. It may also impact waiting periods, trigger laws and parental consent laws (Thanks Mac, for your excellent summary).

Fewer than 1% of all abortions are performed after 20 weeks, and are typically limited to cases of severe abnormalities. No healthy woman, after carrying a pregnancy for 20 or more weeks, decides to just up and have an abortion for the hell of it. Please, people.

People, do your research. Be you pro-choice or anti-choice, be smart and do your research.

Watch lame duck Pres. Bush very carefully these last two months he has in office. He is pushing to redefine contraception as abortion.

2008-11-17T09:15:00.006-06:00

The family spent the day at the local Renaissance Festival with two of our closest friends. We had a wonderful time! I can't believe Lil'Miss lasted for 6 hours out there...she got pretty fussy toward the end of the day, but all in all she was wonderful!

She took lots of walks with Daddy:

From The Renaissance Fair

Cheered on the jousting knights:

From The Renaissance Fair

And had an all around wonderful day. The weather was gorgeous; the company comforting.

We were at one of the stalls trying princess hats on Lil'Miss when a cameraman came up to us filming her. Handed us a release form and said it may be used in next year's commercial!!! A Star is Born!!!! hahaha :)

The Renaissance FairCheck out the rest of the pictures here

HUZZAH!!!!!

Yes We Can

2008-11-03T16:26:00.001-06:00

It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation.
Yes we can.
It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom.
Yes we can.
It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness.
Yes we can.
It was the call of workers who organized; women who reached for the ballots; a President who chose the moon as our new frontier; and a King who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the way to the Promised Land.
Yes we can to justice and equality.
Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity.
Yes we can heal this nation.
Yes we can repair this world.
Yes we can.
We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change.

We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics…they will only grow louder and more dissonant ……….. We’ve been asked to pause for a reality check. We’ve been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope.
But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.
Now the hopes of the little girl who goes to a crumbling school in Dillon are the same as the dreams of the boy who learns on the streets of LA; we will remember that there is something happening in America; that we are not as divided as our politics suggests; that we are one people; we are one nation; and together, we will begin the next great chapter in the American story with three words that will ring from coast to coast; from sea to shining sea –

Yes We Can!

NOW endorses Obama for President

2008-10-19T22:05:00.000-05:00

While I don't agree with every facet of NOW, I can definitely get behind this endorsement.

Please share this with as many people as you can.

Interesting that for the first time ever, the NOW has endorsed a candidate. The reasons are boldly spelled out in this email.

FYI, The National Organization for Women has endorsed the Obama-Biden ticket for just the reasons listed below.. They usually do not endorse, but in this case believed it was absolutely necessary to take a stand. if you agree, please pass this on.

Subject: Women and Sarah Palin

Friends,
We are writing to you because of the fury and dread we have felt since the announcement of Sarah Palin as the Vice-Presidential candidate for the Republican Party. We believe that this terrible decision has surpassed mere partisanship, and that it is a dangerous farce on the part of a pandering and rudderless Presidential candidate that has a real possibility of becoming fact.

Perhaps like us, as American women, you share the fear of what Ms. Palin and her professed beliefs and proven record could lead to for ourselves and for our present or future daughters. To date, she is against sex education, birth control, the pro-choice platform, environmental protection, alternative energy development, freedom of speech, gun control, the separation of church and state,and polar bears; to say nothing of her complete lack of real preparation to become the second-(and possibly first)-most-powerful person on the planet.

We want to clarify that we are not against Sarah Palin as a woman, a mother, or, for that matter, a parent of a pregnant teenager, but solely as a rash, incompetent, and altogether devastating choice for Vice President. Ms. Palin's political views are in every way a slap in the face to the accomplishments that our mothers and grandmothers and great-grandmothers so fiercely fought for, and from which we've so demonstrably benefited.

First and foremost, Ms. Palin does not represent us. She does not demonstrate or uphold our interests as American women. It is presumed that the inclusion of a woman on the Republican ticket could win over women voters.

We want to disagree, publicly. If you agree that Palin is an irresponsible, even dangerous, choice for VP, please consider participating in this drive. Gentlemen, send this to the women you know and care for. I know it's tough to understand the way this choice is impacting women, but I have never seen so many women so outraged, angry and distraught in my entire life. We'd like our voices heard.

changed my mind...

2008-10-17T09:31:00.002-05:00

I'm so not creative. Send me ideas for a new name for my blog. I may even change the url!!! :)

Lining up my thoughts coherently...

2008-10-16T15:45:00.003-05:00

Yay, It's my birthday!!!! But I'm not changing the name of the blog...I'm sneaky like that. :)

I'm working on a blog post. A political one. A personal one. I've never been very good at getting points across with great eloquence, so I'm taking my time on this. Hopefully I'll be able to get it all out by Election Day.

One quick thought:

I almost leaped out of my chair last night watching the debate. The moment? When McCain put my health in his smartass air quotes during the abortion discussion.

McCain: Just again, the example of the eloquence of Sen. Obama. He's "health" for the mother. You know, that's been stretched by the pro-abortion movement in America to mean almost anything.

You just lost the few middle of the road women voters you did have. You patronizing, misogynistic old goat. You just showed your true disdain for women everywhere. I shouldn't be surprised. He voted against Equal Pay for Equal Work, told horrible jokes about Chelsea Clinton, even (documented, not hearsay) called his own wife a "cunt" in the presence of others. His own running mate, when she was mayor of her tiny little town in Alaska, supported charging victims of rape for their own rape kits.

Yep, he's exactly the president I want my daughter to grow up under.

More later. I have to make a doctor's appointment, ya know, for my "health". Because I'm sure in your mind, postpartum depression can mean just about anything, right? It's all in my delicate little head...

Gah.

Sarah Palin

2008-09-10T13:31:00.002-05:00

Ms. Palin:

Your use of the sexism card is insulting to women everywhere.

Put on your big girl panties and answer some questions. Truthfully. Unlike your pat "Thanks, but no thanks" you lied about on the Bridge to Nowhere. You sure did keep the money, didn't you?

Republican Party:

You really think putting a vagina on the ticket will woo the Hillary supporters? Really? REALLY?????

Your party has been insulting to women for years, what with voting against Equal Pay, reproductive rights, etc...but we ain't stupid.

Women:

RISE UP AND VOTE FOR CHANGE. VOTE FOR OBAMA/BIDEN!!!

Ok...I'm off my soapbox now.

Degree? Nope, not yours.

2008-08-14T16:27:00.002-05:00

I had to drop my classes today. No cashola came through for school. Yes, I know I should have been trying to save more throughout the year, but dammit, we have to eat too, ya know?

I'm just depressed about it. Some days my brain feels like mush. I feel like my one year old is smarter than me.

Fuck.

Moving forward...in more ways then one.

2008-06-12T10:02:00.002-05:00

Well, Aislinn is walking. Full-throttle motion. She is so cute to watch. It's hard to believe she'll be a year old in 2 months. Where does the time go, really? I never understood the axiom "They grow up so fast" until I had Aislinn. Every day she is doing something new and it makes me wonder where that little newborn I brought home is.

Mama is also moving forward. I'm finally going back to school this fall. I was advised yesterday (by someone with the worst personality for advising) and have only 15 hours left to graduate with my General Studies degree. So I'm taking 9 hours this fall (Career Planning (haha), Spanish 101 and Philosophy 314-History and Principles of Evolution...I'm sooo excited about that course!) and will take 6 in the spring and then I'll be graduated!!! Finally. I started college all of 12 years ago...I coulda had a doctorate by now!!! :)

Steve is still working hard. Finishing up a large project this week and moving on to another busy calendar. He works so hard to allow me to stay home with our child. I love him to bits!!!

So, that's just a little update on us. Maybe I'll get to writing here more often...but I can't promise it.

:)
Cheers!
Sonya

Gah!!!!

2007-12-18T11:01:00.000-06:00

Hopefully with the new year will come motivation to continue this blog.... :)

Happy Holidays!

Happy Halloween!!

2007-10-31T09:20:00.000-05:00

It was a be-you-ti-ful weekend...

2007-10-22T22:10:00.000-05:00

Saturday, the weather here was gorgeous. PooButt and I brought out the blanket and lay beneath the trees while Refney and his dad worked on my Silver Surfer (aka: the mom-mobile). I lay there with PooButt napping on my chest and reflected how lucky I am. :)

LSU and the Saints won this weekend, so that was bonus!

Today the weather was horrible, though. Rained all day...so I didn't get out to the store today. Probably won't tomorrow either with the forecast saying 90% chance of rain. The unbelievable thing is the temp is to be 63 tomorrow!!!! Why can't it be a clear day with those temps??? I'm so ready to get out into the fall weather. I need to start my walking routine. Though I lost all the baby weight (within a week and a half, thank you very much), I was about 20 pounds over my limit to begin with. I'm ready to be a MILF (or would that be "MYLF"????).

PooButt was exceptionally good today. I think she cried maybe twice? She did want to nurse all day...must be a growth spurt. Ah well...I didn't get any housework done today, but I'm sure I'll get it all together in the hour before Refney gets home from work tomorrow...heheheh.

Thoughts go out to the San Deigoans...must be hell to live with such helplessness due to fire. Scary.

Peace,
Sonya

PooButt

2007-10-20T16:36:00.000-05:00

Enjoying a most beautiful day. And her giraffe. :)

To Vote or Not to Vote?

2007-10-20T10:59:00.000-05:00

So today is Election Day for the governor's race here in Louisiana. I'm so tired of all of the campaign ads on television. Seems like today may be the last day for them though. Bobby Jindal is expected to win the majority. If he doesn't, there will be a runoff election in November. A Republican governor is not what this state needs, but anyone is better than freakin' Blanco. I'm Democrat, and I didn't even vote for her last time. She's a bumbling idiot.

I don't know who to vote for. I don't really like any of the candidates. Honestly, none of them are well known enough to even compete with Jindal. It's sad, really. But, this is Louisiana. No matter who is in office, the status quo will continue. Corruption, nepotism and general laziness.

But, the food is AWESOME!!!!

What am I doing?

2007-10-18T16:36:00.000-05:00

I turned 30 a few days ago. Hence the name of the blog. So I'm starting some new things during my 30th year. Maybe this will be a good one.

I'm telling my husband (Refney) that I think I'm losing my mind. Literally. Since becoming pregnant last November and giving birth to my daughter, the ever-beautiful PooButt, in August, I feel dumber. I can't think of the correct words to use in a sentence. I can't remember what I said 5 minutes ago. If I don't write it down, I forget. And of course most of the time I forget where I put that damn list.

I read mommy shit on the internet. I could tell you whose kid in my due date club is rolling over and whose isn't (mine isn't. Good. She doesn't need to be mobile yet). I find recipes yet I can't find time to cook (Laugh it up, Refney). I could tell you how long breast milk lasts in the fridge, not that PooButt will take a bottle. Ask me what day it is...I probably can't tell you. Nor can I tell you what 3x6 is most days. I do watch the news....Headline News. That way at least it repeats every hour and I might remember something they said by the end of the day.

Not that I sit around doing nothing all day. That's another post.

Shit, I'm already losing focus. Alright, back to what I was saying...

So, I told my loving Refney, I need to do something that feeds my mind. Teaches me something new.

I told him to buy me a Nintendo DS so I can play that BrainAge game. That'll work, right?

Refney gave me a few suggestions. Read a textbook. Learn a language. Start a website. Things I can do in between laundry, dishes, diapers, errands and getting PooButt fed.

So, I picked up his old college texts. History, which I absolutely love. I'll read this, and then do some chapter exercises. Sounds good. Latin. Oooo, maybe I can learn latin. Sounds cool. Biology? I may be pushing it there.

Haven't opened the book yet. Except I did read Anthony Bourdain's "Nasty Bits" last week. Loved it!!!

So, while reading my mommyblogs this morning, I came to one hosted here. Hmmm, I can start my own? What would I write about? Is it easy?

Why the hell not? PooButt is asleep, not on me for once, so I'll give it a shot.

So yes, I'll talk about my lovely little girl a lot. My hunky husband sometimes, if he's lucky (or would that be unlucky?). My grammar sucks, so no comments on punctuation, please.

Feel free to bring the snark, just don't be nasty. My hormones may kill you.