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After being asked to design a new school logo to represent Jefferson Elementery School we where commissioned to also put the logo down on the floor of the gym. It is really cool to be a part of something like this, helping create school pride for our youth!
The average age of being ready for toilet training is 2 1⁄2 years. Girls are often ready earlier than boys. Daytime accidents may occur and night time dryness might not develop until 4-5 years. The age at which your child is ready is very individual and the more pressure that is applied the longer it takes. read more...
Sleep is valuable no matter how little you get and when asleep it is nice to sleep soundly! Sudden alarming screaming in the middle of the night is frightening for parents as well as the child. There are differences in the identification and handling of nightmares and night terrors and they usually occur at different times of the night. Lets explore these common events. read more...
The older child can be easier or harder to deal with in terms of applying a strategy for going to and staying in bed. While it may appear easy to use your parental power and negotiating skills, it is also harder dealing with the louder, more mobile, determined, sometimes manipulative child who knows how to push your buttons and verbalise their frustrations. This age group requires more time and effort in after school sports, help with homework and assignments, presentations, reading, transport to parties and play dates etc. which can be very wearing on your patience and energy leading to a situation that is common in younger babies “peace at any price”. read more...
Thread worms are thriving everyday in little children and affecting their daily activities and causing sleepless nights for many families. It's not a nice experience but easily identified and treated. I am frequently finding worms a problem for our little pre-school aged non-sleepers and mum and dad are horrified. Worms are spread very easily in the community across all social backgrounds and generations. They are spread most commonly in pre-schoolers’ because in my experience the only things toddlers share are love and germs and this age group are not always efficient at hand washing, particularly before eating...read more
There are many reasons for your baby 9 months or older waking early in the morning around 5-6am and not wanting to go back to sleep. If the early waking is upsetting for your family and you would like to try and extend the morning wake time, we need to identify the possible causes of the early waking and deal with each issue...read more
Every year when daylight saving starts the phone calls pour in with parents panicking about the transition of their baby's sleeps and the dreaded daylight saving. I say dreaded because while it may be nice for some to enjoy the extra daylight hours after work or on weekends, it is often a difficult time for parents. The extra daylight entices longer activity in the afternoon/evenings leading to later meal times and delayed bedtimes by toddlers and children "because the sun's still up mum!". This in turn leads to less sleep, overtired children, less "me time" for mums and dad's and all round frustration... read more
I wanted to address this topic because I have had a few phone calls about this recently. The parents have successfully initiated their children's new routine and were enjoying more sleep and then BAM! The baby or toddler isnʼt sleeping again. When investigating the possible reasons for this we need to look closely at your routine and the developmental stage they are going through. It doesn't mean that your 'routine' isn't working or your child has forgotten how to sleep well and yes they will sleep well again...read more
How do we know when it’s the appropriate time to use wraps or sleeping bags or move from wrapping to using a sleeping bag? Most parents appropriately start wrapping their newborn babies in hospital with the Nurses’ direction and continue the practice at home for a few weeks. Some parents report soon after “my baby doesn’t like being wrapped for sleep” and discontinue using them....read more
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When I was 22 years old, I went on a spur-of-the-moment trip to Las Vegas with two of my best friends. One of us came back with a tattoo, two of us came back with body piercings, and one of us came back with the knowledge that her friends were very, very stupid. I was not the latter. My belly button was pierced.
For a while, I liked it. I was young with a cute little stomach I didn’t appreciate enough, and the belly ring was my “I am a grown up and can make adult decisions about my own body!” statement. Which I suppose is better than a face tattoo or sleeping around.
I was crazy about keeping it clean and infection-free. But it was a belly button ring, and I was 22 and cheap. I bought a ten dollar ring that had a sparkly moon and dangling star on one end, and a ball on the other that screwed on and off for easy removal. I put that ring through my piercing, and never changed it out.
A few years later, I heard a horror story about a girl whose belly button piercing had stretched and expanded when she was pregnant. I wanted to vomit. Yeah, I was only 26, but I knew I was going to be with Mike forever and who knew when we’d want to start our family. My only way to avoid further disfigurement was to remove the ring and give my belly as much time as possible to heal.
I went to twist off the ball that secured the ring, but it wouldn’t budge. “Just a little stuck,” I thought. I tried harder, and harder, and harder. I started to get alarmed. No movement at all. During the four years I’d worn the ten dollar sparkly moon belly ring, the ball had rusted closed.
I panicked. I was going to have this stupid moon ring in my stomach forever! And it was missing a rhinestone so it was even MORE tacky! I considered calling 9-1-1, but someone talked me out of it. I tried WD-40…FYI, that stuff will burn your skin.
There was only one option that I could think of that didn’t require hospital personnel or EMTs – my parents. But there was a catch…neither of my parents were even aware of its existence. But they were my parents, and they always had the answers. I just hoped the answer they had didn’t involve murdering me..
I seriously considered going to my grave with the sparkly moon ring. Maybe I’d replace the dangling star, which had fallen off years earlier. I’d bring moon and star jewelry back into style!
Finally I got up the nerve and went to my parents’ house. My mom “tsk tsk’d” me and shook her head. My dad just looked at me silently, then left the room. I felt like I was 13 and had just been busted for climbing out of my bedroom window.
Suddenly, my dad reentered the room with a few tools. One was a pair of pliers. “What are you doing?!,” I said as he grabbed the moon between the needle nose. With his other hand, he grabbed a pair of the scariest looking scissors I’ve ever seen. “DON’T CUT MY STOMACH!!!!” I screamed. In a swift motion, he placed the bottom of the ring inside the scissors and squeezed. I shrieked.
He cut through the post like it was made of butter. I was free! I had my belly back! He left the room, having not said a word. I looked at my mom. She shrugged her shoulders.
I pulled the sparkly moon out of the top of my piercing. “Aw! I think I’ll put it in my jewelry box.”
The ring was removed in time. My belly had time to heal and the scar didn’t stretch out during my pregnancies. But I still think back wistfully to a time when I bought ten dollar jewelry and had no sense for quality merchandise.
I got my tongue pierced when I was 18. The guy I was dating at the time suggested we both get one, I thought it was SO romantic!!!! I know, I know…the things we do!! Anyway, it didn’t rust, but the skin on the under part of my tongue started to grow down around the bar! I removed it when I was 20 and my tongue is back to normal thankfully!!! Whats sad is when I got it done, I actually thought I could hide it from my parents. Even when my tongue swelled to about twice it’s normal size and I could barely talk, I thought “they’ll never know!” Yeah, it took my Mom all of like 5 seconds to figure it out!! LOVE YOU MOMMY!
I posted a few weeks back about getting my daughter’s ears pierced. We went to a proper studio and spent about $50 per child on the equipment alone… at least I know they’re good studs.
People don’t take it very seriously but they should, especially when piercing children. Mine were old enough to ask for it and want it done….
A friend of mine had the same problem with a tongue piercing, except she *had* to go to the emergency room because it was in her mouth and not her belly. It was also against the regulations at her work places so it needed to be done ASAP. Good times!
I had almost the exact same thing happen to me. I still remember the terror I felt when my dad walked back into the kitchen with tools! Dads always seem to come to the rescue.
Its true, Dad’s always know what to do in these types of situations. Except my parents, sarcastic as they are, would have been cracking jokes the whole time and making me believe the rust was leaching through my bloodstream and slowly killing me. At that age, I would have believed them!
I am not so lucky…My belly button piercing scar did stretch, and formed a weird butterfly looking scar around my navel. Oh well, between that and all the other stretch marks, I won’t be entering a bikini contest anytime soon.
That’s hilarious! I think I got mine out in time, but I was more than halfway through my pregnancy when I did. I’d never taken it out, either, and when I tried to get it out and it didn’t seem like it was going to budge, I was convinced that I would be the only 9 months pregnant lady with a belly button ring and how would I be able to hide THAT! Fortunately, I got it off. I still have it and when Hadley asks what it is, I just say it’s a ring that’s too small for my finger now.
Similar thing happened to me – except I used the tools given to me by my dad to remove my tension ring myself. Not sure that’s what he intended when he gave me that toolbox made up of all his extra tools, but it sure did come in handy! To this day, he never knew about the piercing which is great since he would have seriously kicked my ass!
This reminds me of when I got my eyebrow pierced when I was 19. I wasn’t allowed to have one at work so I had to keep changing it from a clear plastic retainer to a barbell.. which is a no no during the 6 week healing process. I ended up knocking the barbell out one night and when I tried to put it back through, my piercing had swollen and I couldn’t get it all the way through either way. I cried hysterically mostly because I was so grossed out but a little part of me was mourning for the loss of my favorite piercing. I still have a scar from the piercing. I’m also glad I no longer have said piercing for my 15 month old to, you know. Rip out of my face.
I wore mine for 16 years, I think, and through 5 full term pregnancies. I took it out for my last one just because. No scars or anything bad for me, though. I don’t regret it at all and would do it again if I ever thought my stomach would be flat again
Oh my gosh, I would have been freaked out having it stuck in me too! In 7th grade I got my ears pierced (with mom’s approval of course) but decided I didn’t like it- only try as I might, I couldn’t take out the starter earrings. I had to go to the doctor. Embarrassing. I guess I should have asked my dad! I just got up the courage to get them pierced again this year (I’m 24)!
At least you got your’s pierced at a reputable place. I pierced my own bellybutton with an earring, my girls camp Swiss Army Knife, and no numbing agent. Nothing was sterilized, I was in 7th grade and stupid. No wonder it got infected:)
Oh gosh, just the thought of anything belly-button related freaks me out. Mainly because I decided to get my belly button pierced at the age of 20 (4 years ago)… of course I didn’t tell my parents. It was fantastic, I was so grown up… I was super careful about keeping it clean, I only used surgical steel rings in it… I didnt change it actually. But I was very.particular.at.keeping.it.clean.and.doing.things.right!
So needless to say it got infected. Then worse. And worse. Eventually I could no longer stand, and if I wasnt laying on my side I was crying in agony. I had had enough, and had to get that sucker out! Being that it was so sore, trying to unscrew the ball was like a million knives of fire stabbing me in the tummy… when it finally came out it was ALMOST instant relief. However, four years later I STILL have problems with it! It still gets infected occasionally (bearing in mind there is no ring in it… nor will there ever be again!)
Belly Button piercings suck in my mind. I actually do envy others who have them and they look gorgeous and non-gross like mine did. Its sheer jealousy…. but I am glad you got yours out.
I remember I had my labret pierced and had to go for surgery so my dad had to take the pliers/scissors to it… i freaked that he was going to mangle my face!!
When you have an infected piercing, you should always leave the jewelry in place; it keeps the channel open and allows the infection to drain.
If you remove the jewelry, the skin will heal or swell closed, trapping the infection inside. This creates an abscess — a pocket of infection that won’t heal properly. That’s what you have in your belly button. Since it’s been there for so long, and the tissue has been stretched and damaged by the infection, it will never heal on its own.
The abscess is waxing and waning according to your immune system strength. The only remedy: you’ll need to have the abscess and the damaged tissue removed surgically. It sounds big and scary, but they’ll just numb it up and snip out the affected portion and sew it back up. It’ll take less than five minutes. They can do it in virtually any doctor’s office.
I’d recommend it though, as it will never heal on its own. You’ll experience flares for the rest of your life (or as long as the abscess remains.) And there’s a good chance the infection will spread and you may need actual reconstructive surgery.
So a word to anyone with a piercing: if it gets infected, DON’T TAKE IT OUT! Leave it in place (though if there’s swelling and the jewelry is cutting into your flesh, you will need to get a bigger ring/barbell/etc.
Wash it three times a day with surgical scrub (or antibacterial soap like Dial), twirling the ring as you wash for 5 full minutes. Liberally apply antibiotic ointment and cover the area loosely with a band aid to protect your clothing from the ointment (Loosely is key — the band aid is to protect your clothing, not the wound. The infection should not be bandaged, as decreased air flow promotes the growth of anaerobic bacteria.)
Then, go to your doctor to get oral antibiotics. Don’t mess around with this sort of infection. You have a 50% chance it will improve on its own; and a 50% chance it will get worse. If the latter occurs, you get a significant abscess, they will need to cut it open and insert packing to allow for healing. In severe cases, they may need to cut out the damaged and infected tissue; you may require reconstructive surgery.
I knew I was committing the cardinal sin of removing it, but once I couldn’t physically stand up anymore I had to get it out to be able to move!! I felt it was my only option!
Glad to know that a minor procedure may fix it… it was bugging me why it was still bad! I kinda wish I had have kept it in, but when I think back to it I am still glad I got rid of it!! It did turn me off piercings (haha but I got a few tattoos since… shhh, dont tell my dad!).
LOL. I had the same thing happen to me. My dad was none too pleased but it was the only way to get it off!
Oh the things we do when we’re 22 and stupid. I had a belly ring too, but then four months after I had it done, I had to wear a tight dress for my Aunt’s wedding and the little bump was protruding. I took the ring out, but I couldn’t ever get it back in. It closed up and that was it.
Lol mine almost got stuck as well. I also swallowed my tongue ring ball and freaked out! Wait till Annie comes up with stuff like that!
I was a shockingly well behaved child. I didn’t get any tattoos or piercings. AND didn’t sleep around. Didn’t do drugs or drink. Makes me want to go out now and do it all at the ripe age of *cough*.
Ha Ha You always make me laugh. This was so funny especially when you thought you father was going to cunt into you for getting pierced. I only laugh because I do would have thought the same exact thing.
The really funny thing is that when I finished reading your post, the advertisement under your story was “Half off your next tattoo in Dallas”. Too funny!
Haven’t I seen belly rings advertised in the back of my parenting magazines? Ones that dangle and say things like, “It’s a girl!”? You could have always put a new one in and gone that route.
It’s the stretchy-ness of your skin that determines whether you’ll end up with a problem. Therefore, scar tissue is the primary determiner of whether you’ll experience issues during pregnancy.
Others never really form scar tissue to begin with; they can leave a piercing in throughout their pregnancy and everything will “bounce back” to normal after pregnancy.
Some people form lots of scar tissue around a piercing, and it takes years to soften up, heal and regain elasticity. Removing your piercing doesn’t really make a difference. In fact, it can make it worse. Here’s why. You get a piercing, it heals, and scar tissue begins to fade away over time. Then, you remove the piercing. Well, the healed piercing begins to close up…any time healing occurs, scar tissue forms. So you’re creating *new* scar tissue!
The newer the scar tissue, the less flexible it is. The more prone you are to developing problems during/after pregnancy.
Also, if you happen to get an infection during healing, you’re f&$#@d. Infections result in thick, dense scar tissue.
So, if you’re pregnant, visit an experienced piercer or consult a physician before removing the piercing. If it’s healthy and fairly free of scar tissue, you’re better off leaving it in place throughout the pregnancy. If you no longer want it, wait until *after* the pregnancy.
There are other factors too, like skin type and race. Darker skin types and olive skin types tend to form more scar tissue and it lasts longer. So the darker your skin, the higher your chances are of developing issues due to pregnancy if you remove a navel piercing right before or during pregnancy; you’re better off leaving it in.
In most cases, your best bet is to leave the piercing in place. Get an appropriate piece of jewelry, designed specifically for pregnancy (wearing the wrong jewelry can cause the skin to stretch and pull in inappropriate ways).
And work to break down the scar tissue that’s present. There are all sorts of scar remedies, but I’ve found that the most effective method is the most simple — remove the jewelry for a few minutes, break open a vitamin E capsule and use the oil to massage your navel and surrounding area for about 20-30 minutes per day. Easy stuff. This will keep the skin stretchy, it will break down the scar tissue and it will improve blood flow, which improves healing.
But don’t just yank out your jewelry…in most cases, it’s the wrong choice and you’ll be more prone to problems as your belly grows!
I’m not sure if this relates to what you’re saying, but I noticed that nobody has mentioned it from what I have read yet . . .
My biggest regret with piercings is that my scar tissue became a medical condition called KELOIDS. They don’t stop scarring. It isn’t just annoying tissue, it got bigger over time. It flares up and can be irritating (only happened in one ear).
I went to piercers afterwards (it developed years later), who didn’t know what it was, and thought it was an infection and handled it poorly. I should have went to a doctor sooner. There isn’t much they can do for keloids that’s certain to help. Now, I’m hesitant to remove my piercings (ears or belly), for fear that keloids will form elsewhere in the healing process.
Ugh. Piercings are a big regret for me, and I have a tattoo! But I never could have known it would be a keloid in my future.
Keloids are a form of scarring; it’s more of a chronic issue. They’re primarily seen in individuals with dark or olive skin tone (as I mentioned previously, these individuals are already prone to scarring.) But they can occur in anyone.
They’re also more apt to occur on areas where scar tissue has already developed, so when you close up the piercing, you’re more apt to end up with a keloid. Just another reason why you should avoid removing piercings before pregnancy!!
Typically, they’re chronic and they get worse over time. And unfortunately, you’re right — you can’t do much! That’s the cruel part about them; normally, you’d surgically remove a growth, but you’d risk making it worse!
I’m so sorry to hear that you went to a piercer, but they didn’t recognize it as a keloid. That’s very unfortunate and it upsets me, as they *should* have known (they have a very characteristic appearance too). You have to take *tons* of classes before getting certified and licensed as a piercer or tattoo artist. We learn about scarring, skin structure and function, infection, skin conditions, blood-borne disease, etc. I recall that there was an entire unit on keloids; in fact, we had an exam on keloids! It seems that someone failed to pay attention in class; I’m sorry you had to suffer because of it. It makes us all look bad.
In fact, in individuals with olive or darker skin tones, I always ask them if they’ve ever developed a keloid before piercing or tattooing; if not, I mention the possibility *before* we do anything, so they can make an informed decision (just as I discuss the potential for infection). Keloids and “scarring” are actually mentioned on the fine print of the waiver sheet that you sign, but I suspect that few people actually read it.
Thanks for sharing the info! If you wouldn’t mind, I’d love if you could e-mail so I don’t fill this wall with keloid questions. It’s rare to find someone I can ask about them, even though I have been to a doctor. If not, no problem! Otherwise, you can e-mail me at bittersweetrunner@gmail.com
My 15 year old wants to get a belly ring on her 16th birthday. But she’s torn between wanting one and NOT wanting it to stretch and look ugly when she has babies one day. I think I’ll have her read this post and all the comments and she can decide for herself
I think belly rings are really, really cute. I’ve never had one, though. I’m 41 years old and have birthed 8 babies and there’s no way I want to “flaunt” my belly now. And when I DID have a cute little belly, back in the day, belly rings were not popular. So I missed that boat. Oh well.
FYI- I would much rather my kids get something pierced than tattooed. A piercing you can take out (hopefully ) but a tattoo is forever.
When I lived in FL while my husband was going to university down there I would often consider a belly button ring, but you what, I was always afraid of what would happen if it got stuck and I couldn’t get it off. I went with an earring at the top of my ear instead, it felt safer.
I love your dad’s reaction. We won’t discuss it or talk about it, I’ll just do what I have to, to get it off, and then I don’t want to hear about it again. Gotta love dads.
I wanted to get my belly button pierced for the longest time, but my mom always said I had to wait until I was an adult. 18 came and went, and I never really got the chance. On my 19th birthday I found out I was pregnant with my oldest. My belly hasn’t been cute and tiny since. Now it would be, well, gross. Oh well.
Almost 9 years later and I’m pregnant with my 3rd and last, and just found out it’s a girl. (First two were boys.) And honestly, if she wants to get her belly pierced, I’ll probably let her, if her father is in agreement. It isn’t permanent. It’s covered at times it would be inappropriate (office job or whatever) and well, I’m a little bit laid back.
Um, kinda related: When my husband and I were at the local zoo while pregnant with my oldest, we kept seeing this little boy who had to have been around 7, with spiked blue hair. We joked that we wanted a wild Caucasian blue hair of our own. This summer we are making it happen. Our 8yo is THRILLED!
A long article about rusty belly button ring. I also had belly button ring, I took i t off when I got pregnant and even if I have taken it off the hole from my belly ring became so ugly as the tummy got bigger. It’s been 5 years and I still haven’t got a new belly ring for my belly button because I am scared that the hole will just get even uglier.
Ok, this scared the bajeezus out of me because I have had my belly button pierced for several years now, and I have never taken the jewelry out. I think it’s been something like 4 years. And I could never get the ball unscrewed but I figured it was just on there really well, it never occured to me it might be RUSTED CLOSED. I’m happy to report that with some latex gloves it came right off, lol! I had another moment of panic when I thought I wouldn’t be able to get it back in but it’s back, and not screwed on so tight, haha. I’ve had my tongue pierced and my nose is pierced, I’ve actually had my nose and belly button pierced twice, my parents are used to it. Plus my 20 year old sister has 5 tattoos, so my piercings all pale in comparison
I am a total chicken and would never be able to do any belly button or other piercings, but when I was a girl I soo wanted to get my ears pierced. I was about 10 I think the first time I did and it was soo scary! Needless to say, my ears reacted to the cheap earrings I put in after the studs came out and one got infected. My dad has never been a real hands-on “daddy” type, but he was the only one that I would let touch my earrings to get them out. Not even my mom could do it without feeling like my head was getting ripped off. My mom counseled me that if I didn’t get the good studs put back in, the holes would close up again. I was so traumatized at that point that I didn’t care.
2 or 3 years later when I got the guts up to re-pierce them, it was again my dad who had to get the studs off after the healing period. I learned my lesson that time and only put good quality earrings in…..on the very few occasions that I actually WEAR earrings. And just let me tell you…..piercing over old scar tissues HURTS!
Your post reminded me of something that I often think about but never have the guts to do. I had the upper cartillage in my ear pierced when I was 18, and a decade later I still have the original loop and ball in place, never removed since that fateful day. I’ve been thinking for years about how I need to remove it, but like you, I know I will have to ask my Dad or husband to remove it with sharp tools, and well, I really like my ears and want to keep both of them. So this ring might be sticking around for a while……
That’s hilarious. I also got my bellybutton pierced–on a spring break trip my senior year of high school with three friends (one friend also pierced her naval, another got a tattoo on her butt). A trip to Breckenridge. Because it totally makes sense to pierce your belly button and then put on ski pants and a winter coat. My parents found out about it upon our return. They were relieved it wasn’t a tattoo, but my dad didn’t speak to me for three days. (Which totally surprised me because I was all “What’s the big deal, Dad?”) I took it out a couple of years ago for the same reason you did (mine was a pink rhinestone–so classy). It really was a bad decision, I suppose, but I think I’d do it again. You only get to be young and stupid with a flat stomach once….
The first set of twins to arrive to the cast of True Blood belong to Sam Trammell and his lady Missy Yager. The man who plays a shifter and his wife have twin boys named Winston and Gus who will celebrate their first birthday on August 9. Great names! And now fairy Sookie and vampire Bill are having twins, too! Well Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer are. We knew they were expecting, but twins! This is huge news.
Moyer is already a dad to two kids -- Lilac, 10, and Billy, 12 -- from a previous relationship (two more great names!), and now he has two more on the way, due in the fall. No word on if they are having girls, boys, or boy/girl. Doesn’t matter of course -- twins are magical no matter what. And I’m speaking from experience being a twin mom myself. Apparently Sam is giving Anna and Stephen tons of advice but I have one thing I've got to share with them.
When people ask if the twins were conceived naturally, tell them it was “supernatural.” Twin parents know what I’m talking about here. It’s so incredibly intrusive when very often strangers essentially ask if you had sex with your husband to make a baby, or in this case babies. And these two who play Sookie and Bill can easily say their twins were supernatural so curious minds can instead focus on the fact twins are coming! No matter how they came to be.
When people ask me if my twins were natural, I like to say, Yes! I had awesome sex with my husband and got pregnant! People usually stop asking questions then.
I would also think that Paquin, who came out as bisexual in 2010, would have no problem sharing intimate details of her private life and be outspoken about her twin pregnancy. But so far she’s stayed quiet. Sam reportedly spilled the news about two babies in her belly. Enjoy every moment of pregnancy, Anna! It's such a beautiful time in a woman's life.
Twins are so much fun -- I feel lucky to be a twin mama. And I’m sure Paquin will, too. I bet she and Moyer will give them awesome names as well. She really is a lucky woman. She gets to smooch Eric played by the Nordic God Alexander Skarsgard, Alcide played by the oh so manly Joe Manganiello, and naturally the broodingly handsome Bill who she married and helped make a twin-dad-to-be.
Following Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley's announcement that he will not seek a seventh term -- that's right, seventh -- the speculation has already begun about the mayor-for-life's replacement.
Cuing Rahm Emanuel! The White House chief of staff has already said he wanted to run for Mayor of Chicago, and since he's said he only wanted to work in the White House for two years, the timing couldn't be more perfect.
Rather than call this race before it's even begun, I'd like to toss out a few other contenders I'd like to see make a run for the mayor's office, with name recognition as big as Rahm's.
If Rahm leaves, Obama might think, "Why not me?" It's been a rough few years for President Obama, with a recession, a major oil spill, and those pesky Tea Baggers. He may be looking for an excuse to keep it local.
Again, if everyone else can bail on The White House -- why not her? I'm sure she has a utility bill with an old Chicago address on it somewhere.
The Big O is also retiring and will be looking for some work in her neighborhood. Sure, she might want to kick it in her Santa Barbara home, but if she's a true Chicagoan, she'll stand up for her city and start making some grand campaign speeches that will surely include giving everyone a free car.
That lady is just looking for a high profile race, and she probably thinks she's eligible since she can see Chicago from her house.
The former Governor of Illinois has already issued a short, sweet statement regarding the retirement of Mayor Daley. He kept it classy, which is soooo not like him. Don't be surprised if he tries to make us forget about his legal troubles that he thinks he beat (umm, not all of them Rod) and attempts a comeback.