Week Two: 

Been a week since posting.  Very little changes in my days and yet every day differs.  The minutae of the days fades.  What stands is general thought-process.  Wear sticker to preschool everyday.  Wear sticker to pick-up line everyday.  Find self vacillating between elation with America and deep concern for Americans.  Think of teachers in other state wearing blue to support O.  Angry that school gets politicized.  Wonder if wearing sticker falls in same category. 

Not a single comment about sticker since man at Sam's Club.  Liberal friend has withdrawn some.  Not too worried, though.  Friend is friend through kids and not necessarily friend of heart.  Deeply concerned people don't think of Supreme Court nominees.  Worried people don't think of judges at Federal level.  Thrilled with Palin at debate.  Annoyed that independent friend sends SNL clip of Palin/Couric interview and says shows how bad it is, despite not having seen real thing.  Feel like constant teacher.  Did enjoy watching SNL (dvr it) and seeing "Clinton" on Weekend Update. 

Amazed that since declaring Conservative status in June that have learned immeasurable amount of truth from FOX and independent sites.  Had watched MSM and read whole paper whole life.  Learn that much in five months?!  Confession: voted for O in primaries.  True.  Did.  Then heard Michelle Obama.  Then heard Rev. Wright.  Not getting over toxic combo.  Then thought of O's stance on judges.  How can O not consider the Constitution and adherance to when choosing judges?  How can base decisions on "compassion".  Outrageous.

So.  Sticker-wearing bringing much joy as listen to talk radio in van as shuttling children hither and yon.  Many opportunities to talk to own children and happy to see a yearning for information.  Deeply troubled by what average people think.  Concerned that many voters only vote for last sign seen before walking into booth.  Have to remove self from tv periodically because so upsetting.  Know am lightening rod with sticker.  Did see a mom glance at sticker at preschool drop-off and then ask friend if watched debate.  Maybe causing talk elsewhere.  Good.  Still trying to be upstanding citizen and know forever more will be known as Republican.  Fine.  Know that could be labeled political junkie from now on.  Not sure care. 

Not sure sticker always wise.  Did wear at pediatrician appt.  Dr glanced at it and not comment.  Find reading blogs comforting.  It's political home.

Will continue to wear Sticker.  Odd how a circle with a dab of adhesive can cause such an adjustment in one's perceptions.

Sorry not so funny anymore. 

Day Seven: Wednesday - Packed Day

Get up v. early to make promised-pancakes for boys.  Guest and DH may eat them, too.  Is too early to think of sticker, although am thinking how wearing sticker would have nullified gauging moments last night.  Talk politics v. briefly with guest.  Same side determined.  Both v. pleased with Sarah Palin.  Good.  Many smiles.

Boys up v. early to see Daddy and friend.  DH lifts baby out of bed to snuggle before leaving.  DH has not seen baby since Sunday.  Children up more than an hour early.  Long morning.  Boys kerskuffle before school.  Grrr.

Load boys and baby.  Finally drop off DS1.  Take home other two.  Play and keep baby busy so not nap until back from DS2 drop off.  Drop off DS2.  Go home.  Finally.  Put baby in crib.  Reluctantly climb on elliptical.  Talk to friend on speakerphone.  Stretch.  Shower.  Remember new friend coming over with babies soon.  Oops.  Miss drying hair and wearing sticker.  Oh, well.  New friend is mom of two babies 13 mos apart.  Understands and does not care.  New friend seems to appreciate new friend not put together.  Maybe potential here.  Forget about sticker until putting DD in booster seat.  See strip of round stickers on desk, in broad view.  Talk in kitchen as watching baby feed self.  New friend cannot miss stickers.  No comment from either mom.  Time left to talk.  Election not hear yet.  Not want to politicize friendships.  Or is this a wuss moment?

Friend leaves.  Put baby down for nap.  

Finally slap on sticker.  Wake up baby.  Again.  *Sigh*  First two babies had it easier as world revolved around sleep schedules.  Poor third baby.  Load in van.  Turn on Hannity on radio.  Hear live feed John McCain suspending campaign.  Think McCain has class.  Can almost hear McCain say would rather lose election than lose the economy.  Doesn't actually say it, but imagine it.  Think McCain has class and does do what said he does.  Cross party lines.  Instant thought same as announce Sarah Palin pick and Sarah Palin speech - he just won.  Hannity asks about Obama.  Obama source says no need to postpone debates.  Huh.  Classic.  Had hoped for more from Obama.  Pick up DS2 and want to tell everyone in halls about classy McCain.  Don't.  Not many moms there.  Pick up DS2.  Get in car.  See teacher drive away.  Teacher smiles and waves.  Feeling very proud of McCain and happy to wear sticker.

Home.  Watch FOX.  Go pick up DS1.  Turn in stuff from teacher and get more stuff from teacher.  Home.  Turn on FOX.  Watch Obama give press conference.  Obama seems petulant.  Cannot help thinking if IL constituent, would be angry that Senator not in Washington.  Also thinking that Obama irrelevant in Senate.  Seems as if party leaders patted on head and said things taken care of, don't need you.  How play out if Obama President?  Face of party, but not brain, not consulted, only as important as puppet?  Seems treated as not helpful or influential.  How could be?  Ahh, has not been there.  Has been campaigning for two years.  No real relationships.  Also thinking, how can Obama be Senator, one of only 100 in American and not - NOT - think part of solution?  Where is loyalty to IL?  Really not want this man for President.  Watching Obama's face during press conference.  Can see unbridled ambition for White House.  Care not for USA.  Care for self and title.  Wants to win.  No matter what.  V. disappointed in him.  Thought that deep down was a better man.  Deep down just ambitious.  Sad so many Americans will miss this moment of seeing behind the Obama mask.

Slap on sticker.  Load kids in car.  To school.  To grocery store.  Funny.  No weird glances.  Some moms seem to skirt basket more than just in polite way.  Odd, though.  Feel taller.  Feel back straighter.  Feel as if daring contrary person to make snide remarks.  Check list.  Mark list.  Smile.  Laugh with DS2 and DD.  Pay.  Pleasant.  Leave.

Home to put groceries away and clean like crazy lady. 

Finally get house clean enough for guest.  Have removed stickered shirt for shower.  Somehow don't remember to put on new sticker.  Baby in crib.  Boys sleeping in same room as guest taking DS2's room.  Sit with boys for almost an hour, reading to boys to relax and have sleep.  DH and guest finally arrive at 10:00.  Am tired.  Ready to tuck self in.  Must stay up and be friendly.  Like guest v. much.  Friend of DH, now missionary.  Chit chat.  Tip-toe around politics.  Face off over discussing where getting information.  DH staying out of it.  Feeling need to not alienate DH friend.  Made email gaffe several months ago by sending McCain link to Liberal DH friend.  Clicked by mistake in contacts list.  Got friendly-ish slapdown.  Not willing to mess with DH friends.  Only makes life hard for DH.  Love DH.  Not worth messing with friends.  Guest and sticker-less mama gauging one another to determine where stand.  DH interjects with sports talk.  Danny Ainge.  Wife no longer part of conversation.  Good.  Easy out to go to bed.  Check on babies.  Go to bed.

Have spent many hours debating OB/GYN appt and sticker.  Still thinking about how sticker is becoming personal.  Need more time to articulate.  Realize that Dr. has minimal time to discuss lady problems.  Not interested in paying money to Dr. to talk about politics.  Need time to discuss misbehaving body.  No sticker until after appt.

Have appt.  Find workable solutions.  Drive home.  Place sleepy baby in crib.  Put on sticker!  Finally.  Starting to feel nekkid without sticker.  Will have withdrawal on Nov. 5?

Call friend-neighbor and ask if can sit in house while baby sleeps while go get child from preschool.  Friend-neighbor agrees.  Baby had ten minute nap in AM because finally fell asleep just before had to leave for appt.  Now baby asleep for 30 minutes.  Friend-neighbor buys time and baby can sleep longer.  Friend-neighbor comes over.  Knows loves Sarah Palin.  Good.  But problem.  Wonder if friend-neighbor votes.  Always some complication.  Maybe seeing sticker will inspire action.  Will be seeing sticker more times before voting day.  Patient.  Slowly work up to encouraging voting action.  Not enough to talk.

Drive to pick up oldest at school.  Picked up sleeping baby from crib.  Not a fan of waking sleeping baby.  Go through pick up line.  Interesting.  This time not even think about sticker.  See Liberal friend.  Big smiles.  Waves.  Not think once about sticker.  See teacher.  Hand teacher sorted class materials was asked to sort.  Ask for more work from teacher.  Teacher stunned.  Pull over while teacher gets more work to send home.  Not think once about sticker.  Have load of work to help teacher.  Drive home.  Realize through reading and posting on blog, more comfortable with talking about politics.  Have not had chance, yet.  Surely time will come. 

Going grocery shopping in morning in pink shirt.  Will see how goes with pink shirt and sticker at store.  Not feeling skittish.  Feeling somewhat emboldened. 

Also tomorrow night, having house guest from west coast.  Surely will see sticker page on wall in office nook of kitchen.  Surely will see sticker on shirt.  Childhood friend of DH.  Now missionary.  Suddenly mad that Obama wants to take more of personal money.  If less money, cannot support missionary friends as wish.  Why cannot Democrats see that not heartless, simply want personal money to spend where person feels necessary.  Missionary friends in Africa.  Other missionary friends in Africa, now back, waiting for next assignment. 

Have inkling of what taking sticker personally means: This is MY country.  This is YOUR country.  If I don't speak up for it and if you don't speak up for it, even with a sticker or sign in a yard, we leave our country to those who get heard.  Don't like what I see and want to be heard. 

Amen for that lady at the McCain/Palin rally who took the mic and spoke. 

Woke up.  Dressed.  Slapped on new sticker.  Sticker now becoming comfortable.  A little like a bra.  Only worn outside shirt.  Wonder why wearing sticker at home when not going anywhere today.  Missed window of opportunity to grocery shop.  Must wait until later in week.  Now remember why wearing sticker at home.  Have 50 stickers.  Silly to wear stickers after Nov. 4.  Maybe start taking stickers to offer to admirers.  Must also show sticker to DH as often as possible.  As Sticker is placed in strategic male-interest area, chances good that DH see sticker often.  DH saying undecided.  Not believe him.  Still, must show him seductive power of sticker.  Perhaps elaboration not appropriate.

Spend majority of day with family inside house.  Boys and DH go outside to play baseball.  Baby brings shoe to Sticker-wearing mama.  Yells.  Wants to go outside.  Have been outside three times already with shoe-bringing baby.  Don't want to go.  Suddenly feel desire to hit whiffle ball with plastic bat.  Stickered mama and shoed baby join testosterone delegation of family.  Outside, ask for bat.  Hit homerun into shrubbery.  Run.  Sticker must be helping baseball prowess.  DH running and laughing.  Baby wobbling around yard, laughing at joy of family.  Big boy grinning and swinging bat.  Not-as-big boy relishing being catcher.  Family having wonderful memory-moment.  DH and sticker-wearing proud mama lock eyes and smile.  Perfect.     

Sticker somehow making things more personal.  Must ponder.  Take off sticker at bedtime.  Place on paper taped on wall by computer. 

Husband (DH) grouchy about sticker on wife's shirt.  Declares will get a second cart and meet outside.  Humph!  Walk into Sam's.  Must renew card and get replacement card for DH.  Girl behind counter does not act strangely when confronted with McCain/Palin sticker.  Can do this.  DH does not get another cart.  Good man.  Feel need to be good mom at Sam's and exhibit best behavior with DH while wearing sticker.  No snapping at good man.  Walking aisles.  Using calculator.  Marking list.  Forget wearing sticker.  Forget until in aisle with Harley Davidson-shirt man and wife.  Smile and apologize for taking up whole aisle.  Harley-man and wife smile and say no problem.  Surely have seen Sticker as shirt is plain pink and sticker is blue.  No comment about Sticker.

Boys need to move.  DH takes boys on tour of store.  Boys eat cookies.

Ask sample lady walking by for a few napkins as baby is wearing most of cookie.  Sample lady seems distracted by task, not put off by sticker.  Thank for napkins.  Wipe off baby.  Wipe off cart.  Wipe off baby clothes.  Pick cookie out of baby shoes.  Amazed baby manages to grow.  Some people notice Sticker as walk by.  No cursing.  No overt smiling.  Did see man with Texas Aggie shirt and told him shirt was excellent.  Aggie shirt is excellent.  Clearly.  Talked about game today.  No comment about Sticker. 

In check-out line.  Couple with two preschoolers get in line next.  Not very friendly.  No smiling.  Seem wary.  Couple Dad goes to get samples.  Little girl drops meatball and dad tells her to be careful, not in Nice-Dad voice, but in Grouchy-Dad voice.  Notice Dad does not bother to look for meatball and leaves it on the floor.  Surely not a Republican.  Offer them extra napkins as clearly napkins are needed.  Smile thank you but don't clean up mess.  Don't comprehend that kind of behavior.  Maybe are Liberals and Sticker has sapped them of powers? 

Woman in front has tried to use formula coupons at Sam's.  One cannot do that.  Poor thing.  Embarrassed.  Taking a lot of time.  Finally finishes. 

Smile at check out lady.  Check out lady is African American.  Big smile received.  Very nice, happy lady.  DH and boys go to van as boys are losing minds and DH has had enough.  Check out lady tells me baby will have no problems when older as baby has vvvv long eyelashes.  Much smiling and laughter and small talk. 

Leave building.  DH getting van to load.  Holding long-eyelashed baby as she is now fussy, long-eyelashed baby.  Can't load or move cart expertly through parking lot without DH when fussy, long-eyelashed baby in arms.  Cart very heavy.  Baby not aerodynamic.  Talk to stranger while waiting.  Stranger has 3 flat-bed carts preparing for concession stands for ball games.  Says "I really like that sticker."  "Thank you."  "I like her a lot better than I like him."  "I like her, too.  I've been concerned about getting cursed at wearing this sticker."  "Nahh, not here, maybe somewhere else, but not in Texas."  *Gasp*  First actual exchange about Sticker is good! 

Put non-aerodynamic, fussy, long-eyelashed baby in car seat.  Load van with DH.  Chatter with boys.  Drive home. 

So, took three days for sticker to warrant comment (without help of baby trying to eat sticker thus necessitating comment).  No negative comments.  Yet.   Feeling emboldened.  Can have conversation with stranger about sticker.  Hoping Sticker will inspire votes for McCain/Palin.  Not going anywhere but to couch this afternoon.  Maybe grocery shopping tomorrow.

Day Two con't:

Pick up second child at preschool.  Sticker still anchored.  Hold baby in front of sticker.  Wonder if wearing a Packers shirt in Cowboys territory would feel this odd?  Feel gutsy and move baby to hip.  Collect my child, drive to library.  Notice people notice, but no vile words or visual daggers.  Pass two teen girls who notice and seem to be taking stock in me.  Feeling pressure to be upright citizen wearing Republican badge.  Realize need to calm down.  Many vile and awful shirts on people.  Sticker not so bad.  Feel like a big, brunette chicken.  It's only a sticker!  Feel as if walking naked with huge sandwich billboard that screams "I'm a Republican!"  Check out books and Dan in Real Life.  Leave to get in pick up line for oldest child.  Make it through line.  Wonder if teachers see Sticker and if there is a clash over vouchers.  See Liberal friend.  Realize seat belt obscures sticker.  Take four children home.  Playdate.  Liberal mom comes over to hang out before collecting her child.  Sitting on floor, baby running back and forth between us.  Baby grabs sticker.  I say to baby, "are you going to vote for John McCain?"  Hand baby sticker.  Liberal friend says, "it's quite a race this year."  Looks at me as if daring to bring up points.  Simply reply "It is.  Whoever wins will be breaking new ground.  It's an exciting time."  All true statements.  She replies in the affirmative.  Like this woman and don't want to lose friendship over nasty exchange.  She'll see stickers for 46 more days.  Plenty of time to talk.  Working up to having spine.  Sticker now on paper with Day One sticker.  Day Two ends.