Okay, so my Oscar predictions were less than perfect. I contend that this was a hard year to call. (We’ll just ignore the fact that my dad told me today that he guessed most of them right, but was off on Best Director. After all, he’s been doing this a lot longer than I have.)

I did call Best Picture, Animated Feature, Actor and Actress though, didn’t I? So what if I bombed the other three. I was really surprised that they didn’t give the Oscar to Martin Scorsese, especially considering “The Aviator” took nearly every other award it was nominated for. But, as K pointed out, perhaps they were making up for last year and not giving Clint the Best Director award for “Mystic River”. Darn that “Lord of the Rings”.

That’s the problem with trying to call these things. There’s so much more being considered than plain merit. You have to take Hollywood Politics into account and sometimes these little nuances aren’t readily apparent.

That said, in K and I’s grand bet, I got nine predictions correct overall and he got eight. It was very close. Best Picture was the deciding factor on that one. Still, maybe we’ll go to his restaurant anyhow because he was awful disappointed he didn’t win for the second year in a row. And P.F. Chang’s is pretty tasty.

It is just me or are the Oscars decidedly not interesting this year? Could be because there weren’t really any fantastic movies this year. At least none that I saw that I really, really got interested in. Last year was fabulous with the “Lord of the Rings” and all. I know a lot of people found them winning *everything* to be anti-climactic, but I love it when it’s a movie I care about. Titanic is another example. But this year?

I dunno. The only film nominated for Best Picture that I’ve seen is “Finding Neverland.” And while it was good, don’t get me wrong, I think it was a tad overrated and I don’t think it’ll stand a chance of winning. I’m placing my money on “Million Dollar Baby”. I *do* have an opinion about Best Animated Feature. Because naturally not only have I see all of those films, I saw them opening weekend, thankyouverymuch. Yes, I *do* have a five year old. How did you know??

I’d like to see “Shrek 2″ get the award because I enjoyed it so, but I think it’ll go to “The Incredibles.” It was good but I laughed more at “Shrek 2″. So if it wins, no biggie. I know it probably is the better film anyhow. Hey, as long as “Shark Tale” gets snubbed, I’ll be a happy girl.

Want more predictions? Hmm…I’m gonna say Jamie Foxx for Actor, Hilary Swank for Actress, Thomas Haden Church for Supporting Actor, Virginia Madsen for Supporting Actress and Directing will go to Martin Scorsese. That’s my predictions and I’m sticking to ‘em.

Hey, if I get more of my winner guesses right than K, I get to pick the next place we eat out. Woo hoo! That Red Lobster “Lobster Lover’s Dream” commercial has been seriously taunting me.

Is there such a thing? Can a person have too many babies? Well, from a practical standpoint, if they have to rely on the government to assist them financially yes. But what if they have no troubles supporting themselvels? First, I must speak unbiased about this: If you can support 15 children yourself while maintaining a healthy and relatively happy atmosphere, that’s your business. More power to you. That is the case with the this one family in Arkansas. You can also read more about them here.

However, I must warn you that I’m going to go off on a very selfish, self-absorbed rant here. Sure, I’m jealous. I look at that family and all their children and think, “How come they get to have all those beautiful children? Why couldn’t God have given me one of them instead?” Those thoughts turn to wondering if it is because of their devout worship of God. Maybe I haven’t gone to church enough or lived as God would like me to? Is that why I have to suffer with infertility? Now, I know those are all very silly thoughts. Not a grain of truth in any of it. I am infertile simply because I am and God is here to help me through it, not inflict it upon me. I still can’t help but look at that family and have all the dark, insecure and jealous thoughts come out to play. There’s also the part of me that thinks what they’re doing is wrong, wrong, wrong. There is no privacy in that house? Older children are responsible for younger children… but they’re just children themselves? The girls are raised to believe that the only choice for women is to stay at home and raise a large family. What if, God forbid, one of them is infertile? The chances are high and how horrible for that girl, who could possibly be led to think she has no worth in society because of it?

On the other hand, I feel sad for the children. I grew up the fifth of five children in a Catholic family. I was the youngest by an easy eight years and obviously, not planned. I’m forever grateful for the upbringing I had. I never was in need of anything. Except maybe attention. I guess by the time I showed up, my parents needed a break. Whatever the reason, I was often cared for by my older siblings and after they grew up and left the house, I was old enough to stay by myself while my parents were out playing bridge or going on trips. If there is anything I feel I missed, it’s quality time. Regardless of the amount of children they had, my parents were never overly demonstrative people. I never got a lot of hugs and kisses and can’t really recall being told, “I love you.” Now, before you think I’m throwing a pity party or you start feeling really sorry for myself, as a kid I didn’t really notice. I thought my life was just fine, thank you very much, and I couldn’t have asked for anything better.

But as an adult, looking back, it makes me sad. I can’t imagine not lavishing hugs and kisses on my little boy or telling him every day how much I love him. And my seemingly endless battle with infertility and loss has only made me that more appreciative of every moment I have with him. Do I miss the attention from my parents now that I’m an adult? You bet. So while those children may not think now that their lives are lacking anything (If they do, they do, I didn’t see the show), but they may when they’re older. And that’s just sad. Because there is no way those parents have time to spend even just fifteen minutes alone with their children every day.

Anyhow, just thought I would weigh on this topic, which has caused such heated debate at Julie’s blog. I’m not looking to start a debate here, but I did want to air my thoughts on the whole matter. More for my own self reflection than anything else. Take from it what you will.

So I feel I should warn you all in advance that I am on my third day of Clomid and I’m weepy and sappy and schmoopy as all get out. I don’t get insane, I just cry. :lol So it should come as no surprise that the following exchange with my five year old son made me teary.

It’s our first day home together for a full day while K is at work. Up until now, on the days H isn’t in preschool, K has been taking half days. But I’m feeling well enough now that I can handle the goober myself until K gets home in the evening. K simply makes some sack lunches for H and I and leaves them in a cooler up in our bedroom. At lunch today, H came in and sat next to me while I was watching “All My Children”. (I know, I know…suck it)

There is this ADORABLY cute baby on that show. She’s playing Miranda, Bianca’s baby. And dear lord, that baby could charm the wiskers off a bobcat. She’s always got smiles and seems a very agreeable sort. Well she was in rare form today, beaming that smile of hers willy-nilly and my heart just melted. So I commented on it to my son.

Me: “What a sweetie!”
H: “Who’s a sweetie?”
Me: “That baby on the tv. She’s such a cute baby.” (pause) “Let’s go to Pine Valley and steal her and take her home with us.”
H: “No. We’re going to have another baby. Sometime. I don’t know when, but sometime. I promise.” (gives my hand an earnest pat)
Me: (silence as I process these sweet words from my sweet boy)
H: “We had Baby Jackson but he died. Then he went up to heaven. There’s angels and God in heaven.”
Me: (choked up at this point) “Yep, he did.” (gives H a big hug and a big kiss on the head)

*sniff* I mean honestly, how can a person *not* succumb to such sweet words of comfort from a five year old little boy. I am *so* lucky to have him.

During one of my many refreshes of my MyYahoo page (hey, gotta stay on top of those blog updates!) and ran across this story under “Most Viewed News Stories”. Titled “Yahoo! News – Man Charged With Double Homicide in Texas“, this story just turned my stomach. The short of it is this total loser was arrested for murdering his very pregnant ex-girlfriend and her seven year old son who “interrupted the attack”. Absolutely *disgusted* me. It’s stories like these that really depress me and make me wonder, “What the hell is happening to the world??”

This guy is obviously no great shakes either. The couple apparently argued about him leaving his wife (dear lord, poor woman). *AND* they’d proken up because he had *another* girlfriend. Ladies, ladies, ladies. How this total asshat could end up with THREE women, I have *no* idea.

My only consolation in this affair? It happened in Texas. Yep. You know what that means. Now, I’m not a huge proponent of the death penalty, but in cases like these, I think it’s well deserved. But I’m just sensitive that way.

(even more disgusting = the replies to this story have denegrated into yet another political argument. Sooooo not the place.)