~~~Lara Zielin~~~

STATUS: Tetrised. Things keep flying at me and I’m trying to figure out how to make them all fit. Into my life, that is. (But it’s a good challenge.)I think my last status of Clintonistic was damn near prophetic. I don’t like to wax political, but I have a bone to pick. My brother was on the Minneapolis bridge in rush hour traffic in the morning, on the day of the collapse. I shudder to think what could have happened if he’d been on it in the evening.

I miss leaders who are responsible and even-handed in the face of disaster. In a press conference in the Rose Garden, Bush stated how “disappointed” he was that democrats hadn’t sent any spending bills to his desk to update the U.S. infrastructure. Yet perhaps there’s no money left to spend, Bushie, since it’s all going abroad to build bridges in Iraq. In a time when we’re trying to get a handle on the deficit, Bush blames dems for not spending. But what money are the supposed to spend?

For too long Bush has had his eye abroad, on the juicy oil in the Mideast, and all the while our country is crumbling. That’s not anyone’s fault but his.

On a happier note, my editor sent me a link to an author, Robin Brande, whose book, EVOLUTION, ME AND OTHER FREAKS OF NATURE, spotlights a young girl’s struggle with her church, politics, and evolution. Sounds a lot like another book I know, starts with a D and ends with an ONUT DAYS. Actually, Robin’s is a lot more about evolution specifically, but it sounds fabulous. And the author herself seems way, way cool. In fact, she’s started a new conference, Kidlitosphere, which is happening this October in Chicago. Susanna thought it’d be fun if I went and, I must say, I have to agree. Let’s pray my calendar can get un-tetrised enough so I can make room for it!

STATUS: Clintonistic. I can’t help it – I wax nostalgic for the former prez every time I hear the news. Plus I have a secret crush on him.

I haven’t quite figured out how to fix the HTML on my blog so that my “about me” page is actually interesting, so in the meantime I thought I’d post a few personal nuggets of information that will likely horrify and fascinate at once.

Ready? Here goes.

I’m from Wisconsin.

I love football and, yes, the Packers are my favorite team. I also love the food that accompanies football season, especially my fave Wisconsin dish, tater-tot hot dish.

Speaking of food, if there was only one food I could eat for the rest of eternity, it would be cheese and crackers.

More about eating: I have a secret fascination with eating that abrasive cleaner, Comet. I can’t help it, I just think it looks good.

Twice I have been so sunburned I’ve thrown up.

I went on a tornado chase in 2004, but didn’t see any twisters. I crushed on a British bloke who was in my van and introduced me to Maroon Five, a band I now loathe.

Number of times I have been in love: four.

I have spoken in tongues.

My cat’s name is Pancake.

I’m not sure if I want kids.

I started writing when I was eight years old. I had a green pencil and that lined paper you use when you’re learning cursive, and I wrote so much I gave myself a callous, which I still have to this day.

The only time I was ever able to wear a bikini was in fifth grade.

I don’t have many girlfriends.

I am wearing fake hair right now.

I am also wearing underwear. I’m not one of those girls who commandos it all the time.

My ex-husband and I are still friends.

I love where I live with Rob, but I am still searching for my true home. I believe in my heart that Australia is where I belong, though I’ve never been there.

One time, I met a woman who felt the same way about Brazil. She and her husband moved there and she loved it. She never looked back.

I drink my coffee out of a mug that says “Cowgirl.”

I once went on a cattle round-up at a ranch in Montana.

I believe in heaven — and hell.

I believe in putting yourself out there and saying “whatever” to anyone who wants to judge you.

I think exercises like this are fun.