I stopped doing weekly round-up posts a couple of months ago because I was sporadic at best, and honestly, I didn’t think the interest was there. But I’ve gotten tons of requests for them recently, so I decided to resurrect them. The majority of my weekly articles are usually published by Thursday, so I’m marking Thursday on my Google calendar as Elsewhere On the Internet Day.

Let’s dive right in, shall we?

This Week at The Stir:

I wrote about author Charles Murray and his ‘elitist bubble’ concept published in his new book, Coming Apart, The State of White America, 1960-2012. I scored a 37. I think that number, like my age and my weight, is just a number.

Apparently food stamps are going to fix the economy. They’re going to fix it so well that the government is giving out $75,000 grants to groups that devise ways to sign more people up for food stamps.

This one on Susan G. Komen defunding Planned Parenthood got such a hateful reaction that Mark Davis’s producer Susan contacted me to be on the show tomorrow morning to talk about it. Some people are just mean. If you’d like to listen in, I’ll be on at 7:04 Pacific, which means I’ll be locked in the garage or something while poor Leif wrangles the kids to get ready for school. I love you, Honey!

The Latest on Moms Matter:

This State of the Union Analysis is technically from last week, but seeing as CafeMom hasn’t posted this week’s article yet, I thought I’d include it anyway. Hey, it’s my site, I can post what I want to!  (Even emoticons!)

What Happened on Glee:

Glee was new this week, which means I shut everyone out of my bedroom at 8pm on Tuesday to watch high school musical drama, write about it, and call it ‘work.’ My job kinda rocks. I ended up talking more about my marriage than the show though.

Happy reading!

I got to spend Friday afternoon hanging out in Hugh Hewitt’s office. His radio office, that is, not his law office, which I have no desire to visit as I hope to never need a trial attorney. But if I did, I’d try to get Hugh Hewitt to represent me, because dang that dude is smart.

But I’d rather not need a trial lawyer.

Anyway. I got to bum around the recording studio for the Hugh Hewitt Show, which was being guest-hosted that day by my friend Larry O’Connor. Friday morning, when I was in the middle of doing Top 7 with Ashley, Larry pinged me to ask if I wanted to do a segment on the show. Um, hello, yes please.

So I said something along the lines of, “YEESSSSS!!!” and then told him that next time he hosted to give me some notice because I wouldn’t mind driving up to LA to go in-studio. Larry told me that it was Irvine, not LA, and I had an invitation. Irvine is way closer to San Diego than LA. It just so happened that Leif was working from home, so I didn’t have to worry about the kids, and I asked him if he minded if I went, and he said, “Go! Be smart. Be funny. Be cute. Be you.”

Side note – I love that man.

Wrapped up Top 7, hopped in the shower, did some quick hair and make-up, then hit the road. When I got there, it was 2:55, and the show started at 3. I called Larry to find out where exactly I was going, and he came out to get me, and then we RAN back to the studio, where he fell into the chair behind the mic just in time to start hosting a nationally syndicated talk radio show.

Sometimes my timing is impeccable.

Hugh wasn’t there, but his crew was, and it was lovely to meet them. I’ve been following his producer Duane Patterson for a while on Twitter, but I didn’t think he’d have any clue who I was, because really, why would he?

“Hi, I’m Jenny! Nice to meet you!”

“Duane,” he said, shaking my hand, and then added with a wink and a smile, “This is Salem. You can’t say dipsh!t on air.”

In case you didn’t know (and I didn’t until last summer), Salem is the Christian broadcasting network that runs The Hugh Hewitt Show. And on Thursday night, Duane had been on Larry’s regular Internet radio show. And Thursday is when I do my weekly Quickie with Jenny on The Larry O’Connor Show. And I had said that particular cuss word on that particular show, which is actually pretty unusual for me. I rarely cuss on air or in print, saving those words for the most impact when the situation calls for it. It totally called for it on Thursday.

So now I’m apparently the girl that says dipsh!t on the radio. But I do know better than to do that on a Salem drive time show. Give me some credit, Duane!

It was all kinds of awesome watching the behind the scenes stuff … Adam with the hand signals from the room with all kinds of technical-looking equipment, Duane with the 30-second warnings in the headphones, Larry forgetting to push the button to bring a caller on, because he’s used to his producer Meredith Dake doing that for him … it was very cool.

During the second hour, a real-live congressman came in for a live interview, and I got to sit right next to him. Representative John Campbell was a peach, and it makes me happy that there are people like him in Congress. When he came in, Larry introduced me as a Mom Blogger, which is basically what I am, which also means that while I was listening to the show in Hugh Hewitt’s office, I was on my laptop tweeting, chatting in the Hughniverse chat room, and taking notes for an article I have due Monday morning on the whole Newt vs. Mitt thing since that’s what they were talking about.

When we cut to break, Congressman Campbell looked over at me and asked, “I don’t mean to be nosey, but what are you doing over there?”

‘This? This is what I do. Talk to people on Twitter and in chat rooms. Write stuff. I’m going to be on the radio in the next hour, I do that too. I. Love. My. Job.”

Then we talked about Twitter a little bit more, and I told him he should use it more to communicate, and also warned him against ever sending DMs, because as Anthony Weiner knows, sometimes you mess up and send pictures of your junk out to the world instead of as a DM. It’s better to just avoid it if you’re a public figure.

Then again, John Campbell doesn’t seem like the type to do that anyway.

So I finally got to go on the radio with Larry, and what did I end up saying?

“I’ve been lobbying my husband for a sister wife.”

“Newt makes my eye twitch.”

“She insists on looking like a dude, and I don’t understand it.” 

Clearly, I am a ridiculous person. But y’all already knew that, right?

Happy listening!

Jenny on Hugh

It’s 5:15 a.m. and I’m awake. I’ve been waking up at 4 recently, unable to go back to bed after my third bathroom trip of the night (thank you, childbirth) because by that time I’m no longer exhausted enough to drown out my darling husband’s snores with sleepiness.

Side note: Isn’t snoring the worst sound in the world? Ok, maybe the third worst, following nails on a chalkboard and cats in a blender. Not that I’ve ever heard cats in a blender. But I can imagine, and it’s not pretty.

Sometimes I can jam earplugs in and throw a pillow over my head and find a couple more hours of elusive rest. But I’ve had this cold recently, and the stuffy nose and the cough and poor tender head make me ache while I wait for the meds to kick in, and by the time they do … I’m pretty much awake.

By the time the clock hit five, I knew I was done, so I threw the covers off and headed down the hall to write this very post. The light was on. Huh. Strange. Stranger still was the sound of the TV. Ok, no longer strange.

Here’s what I found:

This little goober didn’t go to sleep until nearly eleven last night, even though she was put to bed before nine. It was the same old But I Need game, which (I’m pretty sure) children have played since the dawn of time. You know the one.

But I need a drink!

But I need to go potty!

But I need my night light!

But I need socks that don’t bother my feet!

But I need a hug!

But I need a different song on the ipod!

But I need to be tucked back in!

You get the idea. Anyway, my little non-sleeper was out in the living room watching TV. Which she is not allowed to do on school days. Apparently, she thought that rule only applied to afternoons and evenings, so she forced herself awake after six precious hours of sleep to enjoy some tunes.

New rule: No getting up until 6:30.

Except for Leif. If he wants to get up pre-crack of dawn and leave me to sleep in peace … I’d be ok with that. Love you, Honey!

So I wrote some stuff last week that I’d love for you to read. Click, read, comment, share – especially share. Word-of-mouth is where it’s at, baby. Plus, I really can’t afford fancy advertising. It’s ‘spensive.

The Occupy Wall Street goons are still on display. President Barack Obama feels their pain and understands their frustration. Iran thinks they’re swell. Iran also stones rape victims for ‘sexual immorality.’ As a general rule, I like not to agree with Iran on pretty much everything.

Obama called Mitt Romney a flip-flopping flip-flopper, which is completely true, of course. However, there’s this saying that come to mind about glass houses and throwing stones…

Priorities in Topeka are messed up, y’all. Social welfare programs and inflated benefits and pensions are not more important than legally protecting victims of domestic abuse.

This week, Ashley and I talk about:

1. Occupy Wall Street’s Sanitation (or lack thereof)
2. Obama’s Jobs Bill, Confusing Cloture, and Mainstream Media Fail
3. Iranian Space Monkeys and Assassinators
4. Crazy California Bans Open Carry of Unloaded Guns
5. The DOJ Hotline for Alabama Immigration Policy
6. Topeka Choses Skate Parks Over Prosecuting Domestic Violence
7. Baseball (Or as I like to call it: Cute boys in tight pants)

Plus we have a rant, a dirty joke from Eli, and and awesome Dude of the Week.

Happy listening!

This week, Ashley and I talk about:

1. College Football & American Craft Beer
2. Obama’s Jobs Speech vs. GOP Debate
3. Jobs vs. Bugs
4. The Taxpayer Funded Strip Club
5. Policing the Chicago Police
6. Rapists Getting Paid by Taxpayers to Babysit
7. The Texas Sonogram Law

Plus we have a rant, a dirty joke from Eli, and an awesome Dude of the Week!

Happy Listening!

So it’s been two weeks since I’ve done a roundup for y’all. What can I say? This summer his kicked my hiney. Between the heat and the kids and the chores and Leif’s crazy work schedule … sometimes not everything gets done. Like the laundry. But that’s another story for another day.

So go click my links (my editors like web traffic, yo!) and maybe even give my articles a glance. You might even learn something! I know I did writing them.

Just after Governor Rick Perry announced his run for the presidency, I wrote about his jobs record in Texas. Spoiler alert: It’s better than Obama’s.

I wrote about the truth behind those ‘budget cuts’ we keep hearing about. They aren’t cuts at all. They’re an increase in spending. Only in Washington … sigh.

I never thought about this problem before, but how do women get bras in Saudi Arabia? They’re not allowed to work, and men aren’t allowed to fit them. My breasts salute America!

We need Social Security reform. The Ponzi scheme is going to collapse, and soon.

In Idaho, a man is being prosecuted for killing a grizzly bear that was on his property. The bear was approaching his family, which includes six children, aged 10 months to 14 years. Bottom line: People > Bears.

Environmentalists are now going after our clean clothes. Leave my fabric softener alone!

Happy reading!

If Thing 2 were here, she’d say, “I on dah airplane!” Because that’s where she would be. Isn’t technology cool? I’m zipping through the sky right now on my way home from the Red State Gathering in Charleston, SC, and I’m posting stuff on my blog. Wonders never cease.

Also? I’m easily amused.

So I wrote some schtuff last week, and I’ll love you forever if you read it all. Or at least I’ll feel amicably toward you. I may even give you a hug next time I see you. I’ll probably give you a hug anyway. I’m one of those people.

Why make laws if they’re not going to be enforced? Even more so, why make laws that only some people have to follow? Way no fair!

The United States’ credit rating got downgraded. Does it mater? Maybe.

30,000 college students in Michigan were on food stamps. And I’m sure none of them had cell phones. Gah.

And lastly, but certainly not leastly (apparently that’s not a word – oh well), Rick Perry formally announced his candidacy for President. Finally something exciting for the Republican primary field!

Happy reading!

So yesterday I was sitting and chatting with a fellow blogger, and since we both traveled to the Red State Gathering in Charleston, we started talking about airplanes. Yeah, traveling these days is a pain in the hiney, but once I’m sitting on the plane, I can get my laptop out and work my fingers off until the battery dies.

“Really?” My (single male) blogger friend asked me. “I just can’t work on planes. How do you do it?”

I laughed. Just like any work-at-home-mom would. Because the idea that we can sit somewhere for a few hours and just work, without getting up every few minutes to pour juice or wipe noses or break up sibling squabbles or make pbj’s for lunch and then telling your children they can choose to starve if they don’t want sandwiches … well it’s kinda amazing.

Working from home is a both a blessing and a curse. I get the best of both worlds. I’m home with my kids, to play with them, care for them, kiss their boo-boos, and make sure they practice the piano for twenty minutes a day. Yet I still have a job that I love, interesting and engaging people I get to interact with, and maybe the best part: A paycheck.

Of course the flipside to that is that I also have the downfalls of both worlds. Are my kids getting enough attention? Is my work good, or is it disjointed because I literally had to jump up 47 times in the course of writing a single 500-word article? Am I going to lose my ever lovin’ mind?

One of my favorite parts of my work is traveling. I really, really love business trips. Here are some of the reasons why:

1. The Peace I know it sounds crazy, since conferences and various meetings always seem to go a mile a minute, but to us moms, this pace is nothing compared to our everyday lives.

2. The Cool Factor What am I doing this week? Oh, just jetting off to South Carolina to chat with Governors Nikki Haley and Rick Perry. Did you hear Rick Perry might be our next president? Yup, I’ve met him before. We’re buds. Probably.

3. The Legitimization I have a real job, even though I don’t have a real office. I do not just sit and play on the internet all day. Ok, maybe I do, but that’s my actual job, people.

4. Maid Service That is all.

5. Face Time When you freelance, it’s important for people to remember your face, and more importantly, what you can do. Conversely, it’s good to connect with people that can help you grow professionally. I have contact info for dozens of experts in different fields that have saved me huge amounts of time in research by rattling off some resources for me just because I asked.

6. Eating Whatever I Want At home, I have to watch myself. And the bag of chips in the cupboard. And the ice cream in the freezer. And the block of pepper jack in the deli drawer. When I’m on a trip, opportunities for eating are few and far between, so when I finally do sit down to eat something; I don’t have to worry about the calories so much. You can eat a lot if you use your day’s worth in one shot.

7. Room Service See #4 and #6.

8. My Friends Due to the nature of my work, I have fabulous friends that live all over the nation. I don’t get to call up Ashley in Texas and see if she’s free next weekend for a girls’ night. But we got to lay out by the pool yesterday before the conference started in the evening. It was lovely.

9. Airports Where else can you have a beer and people-watch at 10am without any judgment?

10. Coming Home As much as I love traveling, there is something so sweet about coming home, with two little blond heads running full force toward me screaming, “MOMMY!!!!” And then there’s that guy I kinda like, the one I share my life with, the one that always picks up the house before I come home, the one that kisses me right there next to the baggage claim because he missed me so much that the regular PDA rules don’t apply.

So thanks, Red State, for hosting this annual gathering. I’m thrilled to be here.

Wowee wow wow! What a week! Leif turned 32, America turned 235, and someone got away with murder. In between celebrating, being glued to the news out of Florida, the beach with the kids, a mental meltdown, and no less than 47 cans of Coke Zero, I wrote some stuff. Which you should read. And pass along to your friends. Because my livelihood depends on it.

Of course I had to write about the Casey Anthony trial. Why do some people believe humans only have a right to life after they’re already born? I often ponder if abortion is age or location discrimination…

President Obama needs to shut up or put up about shared sacrifice. His staffers got significant raises. In other news, this week marked 800 days since the Democrats have passed a budget. I wish *I* could spend other people’s money on crap to make myself feel good.

And last but not least, teachers in Atlanta were caught in a huge cheater-cheater-pumpkin-eater scandal. Because nothing says I care about the kids quite like changing their answers on tests so your district won’t lose funding. Three words: School choice now.

Happy reading!

I tapped some keys last week. Some words were strung together. You should go read it all because its like totally thought-provoking and schtuff. And also because page views make me feel good about myself, and as a child of the 80s, I know that’s way more important than math or reading skills.

Some of the comments on my Obamacare Spies piece are so ripe with naiveté that I don’t wonder how Nancy Pelosi gets reelected. Maybe basic comprehension skills are more important than self-esteem after all. Oh well.

Also on Obamacare, I wrote about how the individual mandate bullies Americans into buying health insurance. I used the Obama admin’s own guidelines for recognizing bullies to prove my point. I love hoisting people on their own petards. I hate the words hoist and petard. I promise not to use them again. At least not with cringing.

Remember a few weeks ago when ATMs destroyed the economy? Well last week it was corporate fat cats and their private jets. Pick a scape goat and stick to it, Mr. President.

And then there was that study that suggested Republicans are more patriotic than Democrats. Uh … duh. Democrats need to abandon the Harry Reids of their party and get back to pride in their country. It’s a rockin’ place to live, work, and play.