New Talents

Hazel has been learning so many new things. I already mentioned that she can crawl; well, she just keeps getting better at it! She follows me or Anthony around all the time. It's really cute to look down and see her sneaking up on me, looking up at me--so happy with herself!

She also uses her crawling abilities to stand up on everything. She pulls up all the time, and sometimes she doesn't even keep leaning on something. That's right; she's getting some balance! :)
Basically, she's just the cutest ever.

A bit of a rant (just a little!)

Sorry this post isn't anything like what I usually write. If you were hoping to hear about a certain adorable baby, you will be disappointed. But I've been thinking a lot about health care, especially since I, personally, need to get on a new health insurance as soon as possible.

Things I'd like to see in health care in America:
*opening up state boundaries so that health insurance companies have to compete with each other (capitalism isn't always evil!)
*a few basic regulations for insurance companies: no lifetime maximums, no discriminating based on preexisting conditions
*government health care as a backup, not as something everyone is forced into; also, I think this should be run by the states, not by the federal government
*less expensive. Last year, we paid over a fourth of our income just for my insurance premiums. I am glad I have such good insurance, but we can't really afford that much. But (I know, a lot of buts) we can't afford not to have it for me, since I have one of those pesky preexisting conditions and need the continuous coverage.

Oh, yeah. And people shouldn't be forced to have health insurance if they don't want it.

There are lots of generous people. Helping others should not be compulsory; it should be done because people see the need and want to fill it.

I want everyone to be able to get health care, I do. But...they can. Hospitals don't turn people away even if they can't pay (for emergency health care). So, people who can pay are subsidizing those who cannot. That's not ideal. I want things to be better. But people who can't afford to pay for health care or health insurance do not have to die.

The bill that has just been passed has some good things in it. But it is not nearly good enough. Far too many congressmen voted for something their constituents didn't want. I am sure they could have come up with something better.

So, even though it is a little dramatic, I feel that a quotation from one of my favorite authors is in order:
"...[S]omeone had to act!"
"No one had to act! There is never a time when it's better to do something terrible than to do nothing at all!"

Sorry for the disorganization. Good night!

Sign Dancers: Why?

Why do businesses hire people to dance by the street holding signs? When Anthony and I drive anywhere, we always seem to see these people. It's not really working as advertising for me, because I see them and am unable to even look at the sign they are holding because I am so transfixed by how embarrassing it is. Many of them just wave the sign back and forth, preserving some dignity; however, there is one woman who dances incessantly (and not particularly well) with her pizza-place sign. Dance, dance, dance.

*sigh*

Hazel is doing many wonderful things. She learned to crawl about two weeks ago.


Also, she babbles like crazy now. And blows raspberries in new and exciting ways.

Unfortunately, we are both sick right now. I've been sick way too often since she was born. I wonder why that is.