"...feels like it's raining all over the world"

Clouds and sprinkles persist for the second day in a row, but there is nothing to suggest relief for the parched state of Georgia. Governor Perdue declared North Georgia a disaster area this week and asked President Bush for federal aid. Lake Lanier, which supplies water to Atlanta, can only be depended on for another three to five months. Having lived on the lake, I'm not sure that I can remember it ever being quite so low. I am not currently dependent on its resources, but my entire family is very much dependent on Lanier. It's a strange thought. We're so used to aid being available that it's virtually impossible to imagine the area being in real peril, but what if it is? What would it mean if the reservoir dried up? We desperately need some days of slow, steady rain. Perhaps it will be a rainy winter.

Surprisingly, I watched this weekend's Republican (candidate hopefuls) Debate. I usually stay away from the political arena, but I'm interested in this one. Money issues are a very big topic. Fred Thompson has officially joined the race, and I have been watching him despite the fact that he's not first in line for the party nomination. I suppose that Ronald Reagan has been the most popular Republican candidate in recent history, and his name was thrown around quite a bit. The one thing that blows my mind is that Hillary Clinton is the forerunner for the Democratic nomination. It scares me to think that she could be that close to the White House, but I suppose it's no different than the shock many felt at the beginning of Bush's second term. I'm stepping off of the political podium now.

Since I'm already discussing sensitive topics, I might as well address the fact that Dumbledore is gay. Author J.K. Rowling announced that she imagined the headmaster in her popular Harry Potter series to be homosexual. This announcement was met with cheers in New York, but upon reading the headline, I felt a bit queasy. If the character had been overtly gay, it might have been easier to handle. Since the character doesn't come across that way, the revelation completely changed my perception of the character and left me feeling a bit betrayed. Meh. I'll just leave this one there.

I had a nice visit with Upasna this afternoon and she made me an Indian dish. The evening passed slowly and calmly. David, Emily, and I played in the living room. It was a good evening for smiles and laughter. The only downside to the evening was a pile of crap in the bathtub. No literally. David decided to poop in the tub for the first time in a very very long time. I have never dealt with anything so disgusting in my life. Emily's teeth started bothering her around 9:30, and the poor baby fell into a fitful sleep. I'm surprised that she has stayed asleep for as long as she has. She's doing better with the crib, but I'm betting that she will wake up as soon as I turn out the light. Keep your fingers crossed for me. I could do with a night of sleep sans baby in my arms.