I went to Second Life to escape the stresses of my Real, or "First" Life. I wanted to be an elf – a desire held since I was a child. Second Life was the chance to do that. It was a chance to be seen and accepted as an elf – to fly and leave behind the stresses of life in the condition.

Then I found myself involved in a science fiction role playing game and all of that changed.

For it was there that something strange happened. Between dancing and fighting robots, I found myself drawn back into what I do in real life – nurturing, counseling and supporting young people.

More below the virtual divide.

I frequently engage in verbal fisticuffs with a right winger at the Albany Times Union Capital Confidential blog.

We go at it over just about everything – right wing vs. left wing, the war in Iraq, religion, abortion – there is no topic that we have not debated to one degree or another.

He hates Daily Kos (we are KKKos Klanners to him) and rummages through the posts here looking for comments that "prove" we are a hate site. He stalks me and devtob, cutting and pasting from our diaries and comments here to prove his point at the other site. (I would not be the least bit surprised if he signed up here just to attack me in this diary. Gosh it would feel good to troll rate him out of existence, if only here!)

So what does this have to do with "republican motherhood" and "how I raised a liberal"? I’m glad you asked.

We (LuLu and devtob) waited a bit to write up our diary on YKos. As former weekly newspaper reporters, we know when you can’t break the story, you have to try to get a different angle.

So here is our unique YearlyKos story about the view from a sailboat.

More below deck:

The closer the number of Americans killed in Iraq has gotten to that number, the more the lyrics to the song from Hair have been going through my head – Three-Five-Zero-Zero.

There is some controversy about what those numbers stand for in the iconic anti-Vietnam War musical. Some say it is the number of Americans who died per week, or month, at the height of the war. Others say it is the number of the first American combat troops sent into Vietnam in 1965, marking the beginning of the escalation of our involvement.

There is no controversy about what those numbers mean this time. It is the number of young, and not so young, Americans who have lost their lives to this latest military folly – the Iraq War. And even as you read this, the counting continues. Ten over the weekend, the bloodiest month ...

OK, that might  be a bit of an overstatement, but when Erica Massa (congressional candidate for NY 29) showed the documentary Taking the Hill and spoke at the DFNY convention dinner last night, that is what I saw. Rahm telling Massa to be less animated, less passionate -- well, less ITALIAN, for crying out loud!

What is a populist? For me, it is someone like Kirsten Gillibrand, the Congresswoman-elect in NY-20.

Someone who keeps saying "I represent you" when she speaks to her constituents.

Someone willing to put her appointment calendar online for all to see and lets the chips fall where they may if her future challenger tries to use her meetings as political fodder.

Someone who is already looking for ways to best represent the people in her district, including meeting with prospective Republican challengers who hold state elective office.

More after the jump:

Yup, it is a wonderful life here in the LuLu household. So much to be thankful for, so much that makes me know LIFE IS GOOD.

Most of you know how down-right nasty John Sweeney has been to Kirsten Gillibrand in her quest to unseat him in NY 20 CD.

But did you know he scares little kids and makes them CRY?

Please see the proof after the jump:

The Miami Mob Boss is circling the drain. As reported in other diaries recently, a police incident report came to light a few days ago that indicated Sweeney had roughed up his second wife back in early December. His responses to reports in three newspapers began a dive so steep he can't possibly pull up before he crashes and burns.

`Tis the night before...Bill Clinton does a fly-in for Kirsten Gillibrand. Gillibrand who is running against John Sweeney (Thug, NY 20), has scored the biggest name she could in Democratic circles, and boy are we happy.

Yeah, I am excited. I missed Bill the one time he stopped into New York's Capital District several years ago and I still haven't gotten over it.

But I digress.

I just got off the phone with my 88-year-old aunt. She moved to Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania from Long Island about eight years ago.

She tells me she and her friends in the senior citizen apartments don't like Rick Santorum. Not. One. Bit.

KO is warming up and it looks like it is going to be another memorable "special comment." In the words of Emily Latila, "Never Mind" deafmetal is live blogging... Think I'll pour myself a glass of wine and watch "Oddball"

The other day I posted a challenge to help raise money for Kirsten Gillibrand and today I do the same for Eric Massa.

Last night I tried to help Kirsten Gillibrand raise funds before today's cut off.

I said I would donate $100 if others would collectively donate the same.

I didn't make my goal.

Would it help it I posted pics of my puppies?

I admit it, I am not a "power blogger." I have lots to do and I don't often sit to write down my thoughts and opinions. Until recently.

That is when a friend steered me to a blog on our local newspaper's website www.timesunion.com/capitol

I come here to read, and occasionally respond to what other write. I'm not much of a "blogger."

But I am writing today to ask for a little help here in New York's Capital District.