If you live in the DC area long enough, you get used to the myriad of government acronyms. I have friends who work for the CIA, DEA, ICE, BATF, IRS, DOT, OMB, FEC, DOJ and a host of others.

I learned about yet another new acronym today. Emily and Cooper over at The Motherhood pointed me to a recent announcement by the White House calling for Congress to form the CFPA or the Consumer Financial Protection Agency. You can read more about it here and here.

The White House, in an effort to expand online engagement, is reaching out to a variety of online communities–including mom bloggers–to take our questions about financial regulatory reform.

FINALLY, someone who wants to talk to me as a mom blogger about something besides diapers! And its The White House no less! I couldn’t be happier that our elected officials are beginning to understand the role of mothers (all parents, really) as financial decision makers and the effect stable markets have on our day to day life.

Upon Emily and Cooper’s encouragement, I submitted the following questions.

1. What effect will the proposed Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA) have on current regulatory agencies? Will regulators and rules be consolidated under this new umbrella? Which agencies in particular will be moved? How long will it take to streamline the process? How will overlapping regulations or loopholes be closed if contradictions exist?

2. Which, if any, provisions will be put in place under this new agency to protect those Americans who practice fiscal responsibility? In other words, which specific provisions will be put in place to make it more lucrative for financial institutions to conduct honest business with financially responsible clients rather than what they can stand to gain by exploiting those who are in desperate financial situations?

Tomorrow, the Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, Dr. Christina Romer, a mom of three herself, will answer our questions directly by video.

I wonder if mine will make the cut. You know I’ll keep you posted.

Congratulations! You’ve found the sixth blog in the SHARE the LOVE Scavenger Hunt!

Can’t tell you how happy I was to be asked to be a stop on the road to one of the coolest sites around. You just need to find one more blog for your final clue.

If you’re just hearing about this scavenger hunt for the first time here, click on over to Mommy Needs Coffee to get started. There are cool prizes like goodies from Orville Redenbacher, Rice Krispies (wonderful treat kits) and Wendy’s and also handcrafted jewelry, bags; and more!

You have until Friday to finish The Hunt.

So let’s get you moving on to the next awesome blogging mom.

To find her, you must travel to New Jersey, get past the chocolate lab and possibly wade through 2 piles of laundry. If that doesn’t work, you could just ask John Stamos or the Olsen twins for directions.

Good luck!!!

Edited to add: HOLD UP a moment! Some of the other moms on the hunt are reporting that you’re telling them they’re beautiful. Why am I only getting “found you”? Is it my hair? Do you hate my hair? Wait, no! It’s the eyebrows. I knew it. Guess I do need a wax.

I’ve treated my body and face as the enemy for so long. They always disappointed me. I’m always trying to change them. I’ve never been willing to love them for who they are.

It’s pretty hard to properly nurture someone you don’t love.

Over these past few weeks, I’ve been more dependent on parts of my body I hadn’t given much thought to previously. Not being able to use one part has forced me to develop a relationship with others.

And you know what I discovered? They were here for me all along, and I took them forgranted.

…April, May and thank goodness November!!

I have to say I love the challenge of NaBloPoMo. What I need to admit is that it completely drains me of any worthwhile posts.

I’ve been exhausted this month. Each night, I’ve waited until after 10:30 p.m. to even begin writing. It’s no wonder you’ve had to put up with the schlock I’ve been shoveling out.

So enough, I say. Enough!

I’m a political consultant. That’s what I do in real life.

Today I attended a conference about “innovative advocacy.” A panel of Congressional staffers spoke about the types of contacts that gain their attention. They discussed faxes and emails phone calls and personal meetings. They described the overwhelming amount of information they must process on a daily basis in an attempt to stay on top of the issues they cover. An audience member asked them if they read blogs. Across the board, each one of the staffers said no they didn’t have time. Bloggers, they said, were just rogue folks spewing out whatever their whimsy. They also said they discouraged their bosses from reading blogs.

I was a bit put off.

But then the next panel came on.

This panel was comprised of grassroots practioners who were there to present case studies of some of the more innovative grassroots programs they had seen. Obviously these two panels hadn’t talked. The very first presenter is now involved in internet advocacy BECAUSE of a post he wrote for DailyKos that eventually led to the Congressional Committees Project. Each of the panelists discussed blogs in one manner or another, especially underscoring the value of advertising on blogs and how economical it is.

Now I realize the first panel was talking about the grassroots efforts that got their attention and there is no reason to believe that they are out searching the blogs to see what folks are saying, but they seemed to discount them so thoroughly. But I’ve witnessed the viral nature of blogs. As someone who has worked for an advocacy organization, I’m constantly amazed by how quickly bloggers can get information out and gin up support for issues in a matter of days.

I was mad that bloggers didn’t seem to have the respect of folks who are essentially in charge of making the laws of our land. But I didn’t get too angry because I know something they don’t. And they have no idea how wrong they are to ignore such a source of power.

By now you must be getting that there is no way I can visit each of these blogs every day, but there are just so many terrific blogs out there. I’d love to have a career that let me play on blogs all day. If you know of anything…

So, continuing on, I bring to you K-O.

Kellyology She lives in Oklahoma. She’s a warm-blooded liberal.
Kerflop I sat in front of two gorgeous women at my first panel at BlogHer. And, it wasn’t until later that I realized I had been in the presence of blogging royalty–not that they’d admit it. She also has an incredible design sense.
Kevin Charnas Stop reading now. Click over and read whatever he’s written last. NOW!! This man is a comedy genius posessing one of the biggest hearts in all the world. I’ll scream it from the rooftops. I LOVE KEVIN CHARNAS! And he better attend BlogHer next year–just sayin’.
Kim’s Notebook When your first date with a blogger is drag BINGO, how can you not fall in love?
Lawyer Mama Don’t let her short stature fool you. This woman is an intellectual powerhouse and always up for a roadtrip.
Life Goes On, I Think To all you publishers out there, offer this woman a book deal now! You’ll be kicking yourself later if you don’t. To everyone else, read her now while her words are still free. Her writing is amazing!! Oh, and she’s not so bad to hang out with either.
Mama Mia No Sabia Another Mama. You know how I feel about Mamas.
Meanwhile… There are just some blogs you shouldn’t miss. This is one.
Midwestern Mommy She has beauty. She has grace. She’s real and she’s fun. I dare you not to like her. Plus, you’d miss those bunny ears next to her comments.
Mitch McDad’s World I think we started blogging about the same time. I have the boys. He has the girls. And then there are the vibrator talks.
Mom-o-matic The world would be a sad place without Lotta around. This mamma regularly makes me snort Diet Coke through my nose.
Mom Voyage One Weird Mother is back!! Can I get an amen?
Mommy Need Coffee I have no idea how this woman does it all.
Moosh in Indy Another one who makes me snort regularly.
Mr. Big Dubya He might love the Sox, but I just can’t seem to hold it against him.
Tales from My Tiny Kingdom Give yourself the blog last name Glamore, and I’m yours forever.
NOLA Notes I know what it’s like to miss New Orleans, and here’s one place I can get my fix.
Notes From The Trenches It’s really not fair that one person can be blessed in so many ways. Okay, I guess it is.
Oh My Stinkin Heck So this was the other royal beauty I sat near at that BlogHer panel.
Oh, The Joys I’m sure you’ve never heard of her.

How many mommybloggers does it take to change a lightbulb?

Who cares? Last night, we had a girls’ night out.

I was the lucky recipient of a dinner invitation from one of the coolest of coolio moms around, Sarah.

Dinner here at 7:00 with a few other mom bloggers, and sometime around midnight I climbed into bed.

So who was there?

Well there was Becky from Deep Muck Big Rake. And she brought Florida goodness for the kiddos. Thanks Becky!! This blog of Becky’s is on the newer side. You definitely have to go check her out. She’s definitely uncovering some stories that deserve your attention.

Then there was Mommy At Work. Like Sarah, MAW knows football. I also got to see her teensy weensy pedometer (oh yeah, she showed me her pedometer–jealous much?) which is very clearly not counting all of her steps.

Hitching a ride with MAW was Lumpyhead‘s Mom. She loves beer, poker and corndogs, so how could I not love her?! She also shared a secret with us–a secret that tested the laws of physics and frankly was very funny. And, it shall remain safe with me.

As if these women weren’t enough fun, our group was joined by Devra of Parentopia and DC Metro Mom fame. Let’s just say that once again I was blown away by how much energy and determination are packed into her tiny little frame–and she was wearing heels.

You might think that putting six mommybloggers together at the same table would lead to many words spoken and none heard, but that wasn’t the case at all. Conversation flowed easily, we talked sports and parenting and blogging and politics and kiddos and geography, and five hours flew by.

Thanks ladies for a terrific evening. I hope to be invited again.

I am thrilled to have had the experience to hear Elizabeth Edwards answer our questions in our meeting with her today. My thoughts are racing after the call.

I would love to have the opportunity to talk to the other candidates. I wonder if I would be as excited about their campaigns after listening to them. If they don’t reach out to us, we’ll all be left with only this very positive experience upon which to make our decisions about who we’ll vote for.

I have to say the Edwards campaign is not only the only campaign that’s responded to our request to meet with them, they are the only campaign that has extended an invitation to have us blog for them…or the only invitation I’ve received as a mommy blogger.

I still haven’t made up my mind. But if you aren’t willing to talk to us Senators Obama, Clinton, Biden, Dodd or McCain, Mayor Guiliani or Governors Romney and Richardson how will we know that you deserve our vote?

Still waiting.

But Shakey is so sweet. He started to mow the lawn and then came up to make sure it wasn’t too loud for my call. Not sure if was looking for an excuse not to mow or not.

Okay it’s 4:30 and I think she just walked in. Hard to hear on the phone.

With Elizabeth (she insisted we call her Elizabeth):
Hargrave McElroy–teacher and travels with EE
Ryan Montoya–does some technology for the campaign

Jill Asher welcomes Elizabeth.

How did you find out about the post Rebecca put up? You responded so quickly…
She responded first and then sent the campaign a link and said oh by the way you might want to know.

“I know you need to respond to blogs right away. You can’t wait 36 hours. It’s out of date by then.”

Jill: we had to check and confirm it was you.

EE: I do have a static IP. The guy from Whole Foods should have had a dynamic IP.

Q: How do you see yourself in the role as First Lady.
EE: “I have no idea. I have nothing to reference it to. I talk about the things I do now…I don’t have grand ambitions. After school programs, stuff on breast cancer, fairer elections, trying to register women on ironing boards. Trying to get more women with busy/complicated enough lives who don’t have time. Trying to improve the electoral process with more participation and better practices.”

“I will not be sitting in cabinet meetings.”

Health care: “I know you want a should, but it’s hard. Truth of the matter, for profit insurers have been more innovative than govt providers. Looking for new way to provide services. There is a role for the for-profit companies in the process. The competition creates innovation. Single-payer eliminates. If we really do what we need to do w/respect to preventive med, screening and prev cures we’ll be in better place in 15 years in terms of need for coverage.”

Cancer: “if we find the cures for cancer, think about what that will do to the cost of long-term care. We’ll be looking at a whole different picture.”

“If we continue to let ourselves age without investing in developments and research for chronic illness we’ll have a huge problem on our hands.”

“would like to see a proliferation of public health care facilities. Would like to see them in elementary schools. Right now they’re stigmatized….we need to take that away. We would have an aggressive public health care system but still have private providers. “

“Under universal care we’ll still see the bigger providers but we’ll see the smaller companies to go away. It’s not bad to continue to have private companies to drive innovation.?

As we’re waiting…

I had the opportunity to hear Mrs. Edwards speak at BlogHer the summer. She was articulate, open, honest and well-versed on the issues. She was strong and yet felt approachable. Personally, I walked away from the experience wishing she were running. Talk about a candidate I could get behind!

I was lucky enough to have the chance to shake her hand and say hello at the cocktail party that followed her session. She’s tiny and very pretty in real life. She has a warm presence–especially when you consider all she has been through in her life. Obviously she has embraced a positive outlook.

She still has not entered the room. Ah, campaign timelines…

Tracy Russo is on the line. She is the blogging and online outreach for the Edwards campaign.

She said EE insisted on meeting with the SV moms again–scheduled be damned.

Personally, I had to lock myself in my bedroom to make sure that none of my three boys ran through the room as Mrs. Edwards was speaking. Ah the challenges of a mommy blogger.

This and the next few posts will be live-blogged. Please ignore any typos as I try to get this all down quickly.