i know i have been absent for...a year and a half now? but last night all i could think of was my fellow mamas and what an awesome time it is to be alive.
WE DID IT!

how are you all? i've been absent.........big changes 'round here.
john and i split up for good at the end of january. max, stella, and i are moving into an apartment in the next city over on march first. i am starting school in the fall. so, big changes here. i've missed you all, and wish i could get a group hug from you all, 'cause hell knows i need it.
xoxoxoxoxoxxoxo

is there a new little baby in your home yet???????

alright, in the heated blog o' the day, sisterstu had the idea of making a recommended reading list for hipmamas. i am all about educating myself, especially lately, and am looking for good books. i've read a a lot of really great ones, and was wondering if you mamas would like to post your favorite race/class/womens issues/human issues books on this thread for future(or present) reference. i would hate to have a really great one slip through the cracks...you know the book that you read and then say "why did i only find this book now!?!?!?!"

and i'm going crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
someone, and i'm pretty sure it was leighanastasia, posted a recipe for enchiladas with a tomatillo sauce, that is the recipe of some friends who own a restaurant. i've been dying to make this, but can't find the recipe. i've been looking on here for 3 DAYS for it. i can't find it in the recipe section, or any blogs. i'm in a hurry too, tomatillos are on sale *super cheap* this week. can anyone direct me to the right place?

just passing this email along. go get a dog!

Huntington Beach Newland Humane Society is closing! Please read!

Please be advised that Huntington Beach Humane Society is closing down for good on January 8 and ALL DOGS MUST BE ADOPTED OR THEY WILL BE EUTHANIZED. The shelter is not publicizing this very well (probably for fear of the bad publicity) so we need to spread the word. Please share this information with other animal lovers in the hopes that more animals will be adopted from there. If nothing else, maybe your funds can help move them to another humane facility....like in Irvine or San Clemente. The shelter is 'selling' the dogs for 50% off to move them out.

from utah. we had a really good time(seriously, thats not even sarcastic)!!!!!
(warning, vent ahead)
SO and stepdaughter did not go........all because stepdaughter and ds were playing tag and stepdaughter fell down. apparently my 30 pound kid pushed 80 pound stepdaughter down- even though she later said he didn't push her, she fell. SO said all ds does is lie and bully her....please. anyhow, we all know how this story goes since its the same shit i vent about all the time.
for another vent- my mom called me while i was in utah. she wanted one of my older brothers to drive back to phoenix with me, because we all know girls can't drive for 7 hours alone. this wouldn't have been a problem, but it was my brother who molested me for 9 months when i was 12. i don't really talk to him, i don't want to. i know he was only 15 when it happened and i've forgiven his actions, but i'm not over it. the last thing i want is to be in a car alone with him and my kids for 7 hours. so i called my mom and told her i would be driving back without him. her response? "get over it amanda, its not a big deal. he's your brother. just get over it already". it was all i could do to hang up on her without giving her a big "fuck you".

on my list of things to bring on our trip to utah, i have included bottled water and making sure that the sole grocer there sales food that is not grown or raised locally.
i was laying in bed last night, feeling guilty that i've never felt it was safe for my kids to go to my hometown, to meet their cousins, my sisters. being mad at the governments denial that nothing is wrong there.
so this year, we're going, but we're taking precautions, despite the claim of safety.

"Is cancer Utah mill's legacy?"
Deseret News (Salt Lake City), May 24, 2006 by Elaine Jarvik

MONTICELLO -- The children called them "sand hills," a name that in retrospect is one of the heartbreaking details about this town's not-too-distant past.

1. SO's parents bought me a kick-ass espresso machine for xmas. one that i've been pining for but would never ever ever be able to afford. he let me open it early so i can start saving money immediately(by not going to starbucks).
2. SO. combined families are hard, and we have some rough patches, but we're doing it.
3. hipmamas. the advice on combined families is amazing(thank you especially, selahsmom). it helps me step away from the situation and get to the source of the problem.
4. taking my kids to my hometown in utah after xmas.
4a. it will be their first time seeing snow and doing all snow related activities

did you get a baby for your birthday?!?!?