I know it's been a few weeks, but I've got a rant.

What the hell is America coming to? When Disney blocks its Miramax division from releasing a Michael Moore movie, there is a problem. Is there such a thing anymore as freedom of speech? Or are we so wrapped up into trying to figure out exactly what 'freedom of speech' consists of that we fail to see the real reason our Founding Fathers created it? I know that we still have it better then most people in the world, but I get more frustrated every day I watch the news or read the paper. I pride myself on trying to see both sides of the picture. Yes, I am a Democrat. But I still try to make a decision based on the facts, not on partisian sides. But each day, especially this week, I find myself getting angrier with this administration and the crap that we are being fed. And I'm not just mad at Bush and his cabinet, I'm mad at the Senate, the House, everybody. I'm getting tired of career politicians. I'm starting to wonder if there are many individuals out there who honestly 'care' about the average Joe. We can't get our budgets balanced, we can't pull our soldiers out of conflict, we can't stop our gas prices from rising, it goes on and on.

I miss Paul Wellstone. 'Nuff said.

The finale of Friends last night wrapped up everything into a nice little package, the way I think we all hoped and knew it would be. I will miss this show. Hands down, this is my favorite show of all time. I quote it frequently. I still don't think Matt LeBlanc's spinoff will do well, but hey, give it a try.

Still unpacking and getting settled into life at the new house. Thanks to Mom, who came up last Saturday for a few hours, she was able to get some things organized. I was so tired of unpacking, things had just started to lay around and not get put into any kind of semblance of order. Thankfully mom's are very good in this area. Or, at least mine is! Mike was also gone up North last weekend, so I hung out on my own which was really nice. I slept, I read, I unpacked. Just needed a little alone time I guess.

I received the results to my sleep clinic study, which were very interesting. They have identified that I have a mild sleep apnea. This means that I am waking up (my brain is waking up) about 20 times an hour from snoring. The snoring is causing me to stop breathing or have shallow breathing. Apparently, I have a very long uvula (the hangy ball thing at the back of your mouth) and it lays on my tongue when I go to sleep. This creates a suction affect and closes down the air ways! Fun. I also stay in the REM sleep about 15% more then the average person, indicating that I dream a lot. Yep, could have told them that one! The REM sleep is the mentally refreshing sleep, the stage before REM is the physically refreshing sleep. I am not getting enough quality in either of them. The answer is to where a mask over my noise that pumps oxygen into my brain. It keeps that air ways open and should prevent snoring. We'll see if I can tolerate wearing it while I sleep! I should hopefully get it next week. All I know is that I have slept very little this week (I have restless legs as well) and I'm ready to tip over today. TGIF

Last, our visit from Pat & Paige was great. It was short and went fast, but we're so glad they were able to make it. Paige has grown so much and has such a great personality. She cracks me up! And, I've got someone to defend me from my brother at last. When Pat was picking on me she said, "Um, excuse me Dad, but you're not the boss of Aunt Kristin." YAY! And, she had to tease Mike so when she saw him she said, "How's Crusty doing?" This is in reference to Rusty Wallace, who has been Crusty for so long since he's an aging NASCAR driver. Crusty, however, finally won a race recently, so he's not so Crusty anymore. But, Paige is a big Bobby Labonte fan, so she had to tease Mike.

We also spent time with Grandpa and Grandma Webb. Paige and I tracked down the Uncle Wiggly board game, Monopoly from 1953 (I think), Spinner Winner (which we never really learned how to play), the puzzle of the United States, and some of Grandma's old school books and papers. I think Grandma got a kick out of watching us play the games. The old Grandma popped up at one point when she said, "I think you might need some more light over there." She used to always say that when we read or played games. :) Altzheimers is a strange disease. On a rare occasion the old Grandma does show up and it's always a treat when she does. Even though she is still here with us, I really miss Grandma the way she was.

*Music* The Doors Greatest Hits