There is a new sign posted on my office door. It is a blatant warning to all who approach that if the door is closed, it must remain so upon penalty of death, screaming and object-throwing.

I am breastfeeding, or at least attempting to. (After a bout of food poisoning a few weeks ago, my milk supply has not been very adequate and we’ve had to supplement heavily with formula.) Anyway, doing so requires me to take about 15 minutes once or twice a day to pump, so that my daughter has a supply for the next day while I’m at work. Hence the closed door.

Today was the THIRD time one of my bosses has walked in on me with my shirt pulled up and my boobs exposed. THIRD.

The first time, Boss A kocked, I said DON’T COME IN, and he came in. He then proceded to talk to me as though he didn’t notice that I was trying to hide behind my monitor. I think he really didn’t notice. So I chalked the situation up to ignorance and blindness on his part and didn’t harbor any hard feelings.

The second time, Boss A repeated the above scenario and got yelled out of the office. I then had a conversation with him about the fact that I was breastfeeding and unless he wanted to see THIS EXPRESSION, he should not open the door. He agreed. We had reached an understanding and he has since stayed away from the closed door.

Today, I had the door closed and Boss B just opens it and comes strolling through. No knock, just open and in he comes. DOES IT NOT OCCUR TO ANYONE THAT A CLOSED DOOR IS NOT AN INVITATION FOR ENTRY???

The first time I didn’t think anything of it, besides grattitude for a well-placed computer monitor. The second time I was irritated. TODAY I AM PISSED. And even though it was technically his first offense, Boss B got an earful.

Just for clarification, I don’t work with any perverts. They really aren’t malevolent. Just stupid.

For those who don’t know, American Idol is my reality TV weakness. I think it stems from the fact that I always wished I could sing really really well in front of an audience. Unfortunately, my nerves always got in the way and bungled any opportunities I might have had for acclimade. I faked teary eyes at my brother’s wedding to hide the high note that my nerves mangled.

I’m a little disappointed. In general, with the guys this year. They seem unusually unimpressive. It’s as though the judges went solely for individuality this year, rather than for true talent. Individuality doesn’t sell CDs if you can’t sing.

Bobby’s rendition of Copacabana was almost entertaining, but too reminiscent of a third-rate lounge performance. Kevin is a cute kid, but he doesn’t have any business making records at this point. is like watching a bad Elvis impersonator in Vegas. Oh, and Bobby Brady needs a new haircut. Out of the whole country, they couldn’t find anybody better than these guys?

I’m also disappointed that Stevie is going home instead of Heather. True, her performance was pretty…out of place…I don’t know what she was thinking by trying to sing an opera song to compete in a pop contest…but based on her previous auditions the girl can SING. I wasn’t so convinced that Heather had the same calibur of talent and thought her performance was singularly average and boring. I was really hoping that Stevie would get a second chance.

This thrills me. As someone who by many standards should have been one of those unnamed aborted children, I tend to take it a little personally when I hear advocates out there exclaiming that their convenience is more important than my life and right to live.

Yeah, I get that this law will include rape and incest cases. But frankly, sometimes you have to think about the greater good. There are always going to be the individual exceptions to every rule, bar none. It frustrates me when people are willing to sacrifice the good of the greater whole for a case here or a case there.

Less than .5% of abortions are actually a result of rape or incest. LESS THAN HALF A PERCENT. 98% of abortions are just for convenience. I think it’s more than worth it to save and protect all those lives. And if it takes a mandate to do so because the women of America can’t see past their own situation to save a life, then so be it.

Ok, I’m stepping off the soapbox now.

This is the problem with not coming up with a detailed list of birthday wishes. My mom just called to see what kind of chairs I wanted for my birthday.

Chairs???

Ports deal delayed, reaction mixed

For the most part, I suppose I’ve been pretty supportive of the president through the last several years. Though he’s a bit cavalier, I have agreed with many of his decisions this far.

But this. This I do not understand.

Mr. Bush - the leader on the war on terror and beefing up homeland security - has drawn the comparison between the UK company that previously controlled the ports, and a UAE company, saying they are interchangeable because both countries are our allies.

I don’t think so.

The UK has been our ally for 250 years. The company was a public company in a capitalist society similar to our own.

The UAE - if they are our ally - have been so for, what, like 2 years? We would not just be giving control of our ports to a company in the UAE. This is a government-owned company. We would giving control of our ports TO THE UAE. A country through which money for 9-11 was funneled would now be in charge of what comes into and leaves this country.

Mr. President, why does that make sense to you?

And I have yet to hear a really good reason for which Mr. Bush is so gung-ho about this deal. Unfortunately, “Just trust me, it will be OK” doesn’t quite cut it.