Circle of Friends

First Swim

I was surfing the web when Linda came in and said, "You have to see this, it's so cute!" I followed her into the family room and realized what was happening -- Tomas was in the pool for the first time ever! I ran back and got my camera.

Tomas didn't seem too sure about all this. He didn't start to complain until after I'd shot a whole bunch of pictures. The air was starting to get cool and that probably made him uncomfortable too!

TB's nephew Alex is spending the week with us. He's a great kid and we've been having fun. I think that Alex and Kristin in particular are enjoying themselves. At 13 and 12, they are half-kid and half-teen.

I couldn't get a single serious picture of Kristin. I think she'd be great on stage. She can do accents and all kinds of faces!

TB's got more pictures on his photoblog

You Know You're From New Jersey When...

Holy cow! I can relate to all of these!

You've been seriously injured at Action Park.

You know that the only people who call it "Joisey" are from New York (usually The Bronx) or Texas.

You don't think of citrus when people mention "The Oranges."

You know that it's called "Great Adventure," not "Six Flags."

You've ordered a hard roll with butter for breakfast.

You've known the way to Seaside Heights since you were seven.

You Know You're From New Jersey When...
You've been seriously injured at Action Park.

You know that the only people who call it "Joisey" are from New York (usually The Bronx) or Texas.

You don't think of citrus when people mention "The Oranges."

You know that it's called "Great Adventure," not "Six Flags."

You've ordered a hard roll with butter for breakfast.

You've known the way to Seaside Heights since you were seven.

You've eaten at a diner, when you were stoned or drunk, at 3 am.

Whenever you park, there's a Camaro within three spots of you.

You remember that the "Two Guys" were from Harrison.

You know that the state isn't one big oil refinery.

At least three people in your family still love Bruce Springsteen, and you know what town Jon Bon Jovi is from.

You know what a "jug handle" is.

You know that a WaWa is a convenience store.

You know that the state isn't all farmland.

You know that there are no "beaches" in new Jersey - there's "The Shore," and you know that the road to the shore is "The Parkway" not "The Garden State Highway."

You know that "Piney" isn't referring to a tree.

Even your school cafeteria made good Italian subs, and, you call it a "sub" not a "submarine sandwich" or worse yet, a "hoagy" or a "hero."

You remember the song from the Palisades Park commercials.

You know how to properly negotiate a Circle.

You knew that the last question had to do with driving.

You know that "Acme" is an actual store, not just a Warner Bros creation.

You know that this is the only "New..." state that doesn't require "New" to identify it (like, try ...Mexico, ...York, ...Hampshire (doesn't work, does it?).

You know how to translate this conversation: "Jeet yet?" "No, Jew?"

You only go to New York City for day trips, and you only call it "The City."

You know that a "White Castle" is the name of BOTH a fast food chain AND a fast food sandwich.

You consider a corned beef sandwich with lettuce and mayo a sacrilege.

In the 80's you wore your hair REALLY high.

You don't think "What exit" (do you live near?) is very funny.

You know that the real first "strip shopping center" in the country is Route 22.

You know that no respectable New Jerseyan goes to Princeton - that's for out-of-staters.

The Jets-Giants game has started fights at your school or local bar.

You live within 20 minutes of at least three different malls.

You can see the Manhattan skyline from some part of your town.

You've gotten on the wrong highway trying to get out of Willowbrook Mall.

You've eaten a Boardwalk cheesesteak with vinegar fries.

You have a favorite Atlantic City casino.

You live within 20 minutes of at least three different malls.

You refer to all highways and interstates by their numbers.

Every year you have at least one kid in your class named Tony.

You know the location of every clip shown in the Sopranos opening credits.

You know that people from North Jersey go to Seaside Heights, and people from Central Jersey go to Belmar and people from South Jersey go to Wildwood.

You weren't raised in New Jersey -- you were raised in either North Jersey, Central Jersey or South Jersey.

You don't consider Newark or Camden to actually be part of the state.

You remember the stores Korvette's, Two Guys, Rickel's, Channel, Bamberger's and Orbach's.

You also remember Palisades Amusement Park.

You start planning for Memorial Day weekend in February.

You've never pumped your own gas.

You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends from New Jersey.

Hey, yinz guys!

This is me all over... any youz wan' some chipped ham outta my fridge?

I posted it "inside" to save space in the blog... just click...

You Know You Are From ...

A friend sent this to me and I got a kick out of it! I figured that TB or Linda might like to claim NJ so I picked LI cuz I was born there and that will always be special to me.

Click on the link to find out what "you know you are from ..." says about your state. More fun: post it here!

Mommies who work rejoice!

New diapers help parents with preschools' deadline | The Arizona Daily Star ?

New diapers help parents with preschools' deadline

By Sarah Ellison
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

For millions of toddlers, August is crunch time.

Because of strict no-diaper rules at many preschools, toilet training must end.

In Overland Park, Kan., Kerri Heller has until Sept. 2 to toilet-train her 3-year-old son, Jack. Heller started training in earnest earlier this month, and says she has barely left the house since.

On a Monday, she bought an egg timer and set it to ring every 30 minutes to remind Jack to use the toilet. Tuesday, her husband got a neighbor to call and impersonate Mike Sweeney, first baseman for the Kansas City Royals, and encourage Jack to keep potty training and be a "good little slugger." Wednesday, Jamie Walker, relief pitcher for the Detroit Tigers (aka Lance Harshbarger, her husband's office colleague), gave similar encouragement. Sammy Sosa (Heller's father) called Thursday.

Jack, a big baseball fan, has bobble-head dolls of two of the players sitting on the sink in the bathroom facing the toilet, as if observing his progress. "You lose all your inhibitions with this process," says Heller, who rewards Jack for good performance with M&M's and an occasional trip to Chuck E. Cheese's. "The clock is ticking and it's really stressful."

Deadlines dent diaper business

The no-diaper deadline for preschools is a big business issue for the $6.5 billion U.S. diaper industry, driving away good customers every year. It's "the biggest force at work in toilet training," says Thomas J. Falk, chief executive of Kimberly-Clark Corp. It makes Huggies, the No. 1 brand in the U.S.

Preschools often discourage diapers because of burdensome health regulations and legal concerns. Those schools that do change diapers often require two adults to be present during diaper changing, to prevent child abuse and forestall lawsuits.

The Weekday Nursery School in New Rochelle, N.Y., strongly encourages all 3-year-olds to be trained. It takes about 12 minutes for a teacher to change a child's diaper, says director Sara Arnon. That's if the teacher complies with state health regulations such as placing fresh disposable paper on the changing table (like at a doctor's office), using latex gloves and double-bagging dirty diapers. For a 2 1/2-hour morning preschool, that means a lot of teachers' time would be spent changing diapers, she says.

Besides, the school found out years ago that changing older children when some of their classmates are already toilet-trained doesn't work. "It didn't last two months," said Arnon. "The other children called the untrained children 'babies.' "

Advanced trainers hit market

Preschool enrollment is rising as more mothers head to work, and finding the right school is an ever more competitive enterprise. Heller lined up a year-and-a-half ago at 6 a.m. to get Jack into a "pre-preschool" program to help him get into the preschool he's about to attend.

The preschool deadline is one reason that Procter & Gamble Co., the No. 2 U.S. diaper maker, has developed a new product. It aims to smooth the way for potty training by essentially reversing years of diaper engineering. Instead of instantly absorbing liquid, the diaper holds a small amount of liquid next to a toddler's skin for two minutes or so before drying out.

The P&G product, called Pampers Feel 'n Learn Advanced Trainers, started arriving in U.S. stores in June. The goal is to establish enough discomfort that a toddler notices when he or she has an accident. P&G says feeling the wetness will help toddlers recognize that they should have gone to the bathroom. Of course, the same result could be achieved using regular underwear, but with the Feel 'n Learn diaper there's no mess for parents to clean up.

Age of training slowly rising

The idea isn't new: A Japanese company has sold a diaper with a similar concept in Japan for years, and P&G itself tried it in the mid-1990s as part of an unsuccessful diaper line for older toddlers.

Babies used to graduate from diapers at a younger age in the U.S., and still do in some parts of Europe and Asia. People there tend not to make such a big deal of the process, says Kimberly-Clark's Falk. "Some European cultures don't have a word for toilet training," he says. In rural China, most babies wear underpants with a split in them and quickly learn how to use the toilet.

But American parents have grown more tolerant since the parenting philosophy of Bos-ton pediatrician T. Berry Bra-zelton swept the country in the 1960s. Brazelton urged parents to adopt a "child-centered" approach to toilet training rather than imposing a schedule.

Thank you

You all are so good! Thank you all for posting all the recipes.
The cook out is at John's brother's home at the end of september.
I have decided that between now and then to try all the recipes.
Then which ever two John likes the best, those are the ones
I'll take to the cook out.
Plus I get the fun of preparing new dishes and eating them too

Kristin's cake

Oh boy! Kristin to the rescue! Heidi and I were feeling low, craving chocolate and ice cream. I was fighting off the cravings by telling myself that we couldn't eat the stuff if I didn't get in the car and go. :P So I kept trying to convince myself I didn't want to go out ... no, not for delicious ice cream, so cool, so tasty, so ... yeah, right! Then Kristin came in and asked if it would be okay if she made caramel apple cake. And I said sure.

Kristin's made this tasty dessert before. In fact, she really should put it into 'Favorite Recipes'. It's low fat and is good for diabetics because you use Splenda instead of sugar. She cut up a couple of apples, added nutmeg, the cake batter and then put it into the oven. She made homemade caramel to drizzle over the cake when it cooled ... but it never got the chance. Yes, folks, we ate the whole thing before it was cool. And it was delicious!

Why is it?

Why is it that no matter how hard we housewives clean the kids never keep it that way? It seems that all I do is clean. They help with the house work, but I think that they make more of a mess than anything. The cats are cleaner than they are. At least You don't have to tell them to take a bath. I couldn't believe the kids bathroom when I went to clean it. I said to myself boy am I glad that I don't let them use my bathroom. Boys are SLOBS!!!!! Taylor is so neat and clean. She hates to get dirty. The boys would go days without a shower or clean clothes if I let them. I've even caught them pulling a Michele and Linda. That is stuffing stuff under the beds and closet. I remember all to well. Mom or Dad would say if I find stuff stuffed under the bed or in the closet you are in so much trouble. Now I find myself saying that.

People say why don't you let the boys do the dishes? I think they are crazy! When they are a little more responsible than maybe, but until then NO WAY.... I allow Ryan to wash his own laundry, but I never let him put in the soap. Can you picture what it would look like if I did? I told Brandon to use the new flushable toilet brush and clean his bathroom and he used it to clean the sink. So it left the sink blue and the toilet was still dirty. I can only imagine what it would have looked like if I didn't check on him when I did. ALL I have to say is WHY?????????????? Why don't they follow directions? How do people keep their houses immaculate? I try but it never seems to work.

Cat town

I came across this very cute website whilst surfing. : : If you like cutesy pictures of dressed up kitties be sure to check this out.
Click the link
CAT TOWN

Here's a sample from the web site:

The name game!

Oh yeah! Well I turned a Rademacher into a Hussey. I also have a Hussey Daughter, the other one changed her name to Phillips. My mom's a Hussey, and I have a bunch of brothers and a sister who are Husseys. A gaggle of nephews and nieces are still Husseys. I think that pretty much beats a "Bland" or "Boring" bride! : :
TheDenverChannel.com - Family - Boring Bride Gets Bland

Boring Bride Gets Bland
POSTED: 9:30 am EDT August 27, 2004
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. -- While single life was Boring, marriage is going to be Bland for one new bride.
Katie Boring married Nathan Bland on June 12.

Boring was actually looking forward to the name change. She said she was subjected to a lot of kidding growing up. But her children may have it better.
She said not many little kids use the word "bland" in conversation. But her friends found Katie anything but boring.
Her sorority sisters started calling her "Katie Exciting," a nickname that stuck. She says she never considered using the hyphenated name Katie Boring-Bland.

a favor

I didn't post this on the recipe blog because it is a recipe request.
We're going to a cook out in september and I want to bring
something to wow them. I'm suppost to bring a cold side dish or a salad.
I want to bring something other then the usual potato salad.
Any suggestions?

Something that makes me think

This is a song that makes me think of Linda and all the trouble she went through with Kennan and her decision to leave.
It is sung by Martina McBride

There's a boat, I could sail away
There's the sky, I could catch a plane
There's a train, there's the tracks
I could leave and I could choose to not come back
Oh never come back

There you are, giving up the fight
Here I am begging you to try
Talk to me, let me in
But you just put your wall back up again
Oh when's it gonna end

[Chorus:]
How far do I have to go to make you understand
I wanna make this work so much it hurts, but I just can't
Keep on giving, go on living with the way things are
So I'm gonna walk away
And it's up to you to say how far

There's a chance I could change my mind
But I won't, not till you decide
What you want, what you need
Do you even care if I stay or leave
Oh, what's it gonna be

[Chorus]

Out of this chair, or just across the room
Halfway down the block or halfway to the moon

How far do I have to go to make you understand
I wanna make this work so much it hurts, but I just can't
Keep on giving, go on living with the way things are
So I'm gonna walk away
And it's up to you to say
YeahI'm gonna walk away
And it's up to you to say how far

No Dumping allowed!!!!

Life sure does offer some strange suprises. I am constantly amazed at the idocy of some people, check out this news story I saw on Yahoo. Let this be a warning to anyone who waits too long to use the facilities, especially in Toole County!
: :

Yahoo! News - Student Charged With Clogging Toilet

Student Charged With Clogging Toilet

Wed Aug 25, 6:09 PM ETAdd Strange News - AP to My Yahoo!

PORT OF SWEET GRASS, Mont. - Jesse Huffman insists he didn't do it on purpose, but the toilet he left plugged after "nature called" at this border crossing in north-central Montana has him facing criminal charges.

Toole County authorities charged the 19-year-old college student from Great Falls with criminal mischief after a border agent accused him of intentionally clogging the toilet.
Huffman said the clogged piping was completely unintentional, the result of an urgent, but natural bodily function.
"I've never been arrested before or anything like that, and I get arrested for taking a dump," said Huffman, a student at Montana State University in Bozeman.
Huffman was returning to Montana from a trip to Lethbridge, Alberta with four friends Saturday. Port authorities stopped their car for what was apparently a random search. The car's 19-year-old driver was cited for illegally possessing alcohol.
Huffman said he asked to use the bathroom while waiting for the driver.
A short time later, a port inspector discovered the toilet was clogged and threatened charges, Huffman said.

Cory Grayson, one of Huffman's friends, said he couldn't believe it when border agents first threatened charges.

"I didn't think they were serious at first, I was just laughing so hard," he said.

Port Director Larry Overcast said he could not comment on the case.

Huffman said he has hired an attorney and intends to fight the charge.

"THE CLASS OF 2007."

With college about to begin a new year, we were wondering about the "mindset" of this year's incoming freshman.

Here is this year's list:

The people who are starting college this fall across the nation were born in 1985.

They have no meaningful recollection of the Reagan Era and probably did not know he had ever been shot.

They were prepubescent when the Persian Gulf War was waged.

There has been only one Pope in their lifetime.

They were 10 when the Soviet Union broke apart and do not remember the Cold War.

They are too young to remember the space shuttle blowing up.

Tiananmen Square means nothing to them.

Bottle caps have always been screw off and plastic.

Atari predates them, as do vinyl albums.

The statement "You sound like a broken record" means nothing to them.

They have never owned a record player.

They have likely never played Pac Man and have never heard of Pong..

They may have never heard of an 8 track. The Compact Disc was introduced when they were still babies.

They have always had an answering machine.

Most have never seen a TV set with only 13 channels, nor have they seen a black and white TV.

They have always had cable.

There have always been VCRs, but they have no idea what BETA was.

They cannot fathom not having a remote control.

They don't know what a cloth baby diaper is, or know about the "Help me, I've fallen and I can't get up" commercial.. Feeling old Yet? There's more:

They were born the year that Walkmen were introduced by Sony.

Roller skating has always meant inline for them.

Michael Jackson has always been white.

Jay Leno has always been on the Tonight Show. They never took a swim and thought about Jaws.

The Vietnam War is as ancient history to them as W.W.I, W.W.II and the Civil War.

They have no idea that Americans were ever held hostage in Iran.

They don't know who Mork was or where he was from. (The correct answer, by the way, is Ork)

They never heard: "Where's the beef?", "I'd walk a mile for a Camel," or "De plane, de plane!"

They do not care who shot J.R. and have no idea who J.R. was.

Kansas, Chicago, Boston, America, and Alabama are places, not bands.

There has always been MTV.

They don't have a clue how to use a typewriter.

In two years, this will be about Billy's class!

Question of the Week

I answered this on Scribblings and thought it was fun, so I figured, hmmm, let me share it on Circle of Friends and see my friends and family would say in answer to The Question of the Week:

If a movie was being made about your life and you could choose any living actor or actress to play you in the film, whom would you choose? Would that choice be different if you could pick any actor or actress, living or dead?

I would choose Kathy Bates. I kind of feel a strong affinity for her. Maybe it?s because I feel that we look somewhat similar and seem to have similar characteristics. Of course, that could be because she is such a good actress. I don?t think my choice would be any different if I could pick anyone, living or dead.

Networking your pet

My pets are important to me but spending $300 bucks on something our dog "Buddy" would just destroy is a little ridiculous. Cassie and I spent over a $100 bucks on a bark collar. The collar would send a shock that increases with intensity the longer the dog barked. I swear the dog liked it! Buddy would bark get a jolt and then his body would twitch and then he'd bark again and go through the whole routine again. He never did learn to stop barking. And he ended up breaking the collar. At this point if he ran away, I would hope he loses his collar because if animal control gets him, it's a $150 dollar fine for the first offence.
Here's the article that prompted this entry.

Globetechnology

Networking your pet

By ANNE EISENBERG
New York Times News Service
In the Walt Disney film The Incredible Journey, two dogs and a cat are finally reunited with their owners after a long and dangerous cross-country trip.
For many pets, there is no such happy Hollywood ending. In the United States, only a small percentage of animals separated from their owners are reunited, according to the American Humane Association. But wireless technology may one day provide some help both for animals and the humans who cherish them, whether the pets have strayed across town or across the border.
In one emerging technology, owners can keep track of their dogs by way of miniaturized Global Positioning System receivers and mobile modems attached to the dogs' collars.
"If the pet leaves the yard, you'll get a call on your cellphone, PDA or any other two-way wireless device," said Jennifer Durst, chief executive officer of GPS Tracks in Oyster Bay, N.Y., which has devised a GPS-based system called the Global Pet Finder.

Ms. Durst said the system would be on the market by the end of the year and would fit dogs of all sizes except toy breeds. The receiver will cost about $300 (U.S.) and there will be a monthly "monitoring fee" of about $13, she said.

"Cats will be next year," she said, "in version 2."

People who use the new system can set the boundaries for their dogs at a website or on the miniaturized device itself, specifying how far their pets can roam. It might be a back yard, Ms. Durst said, or, if both owner and pet are on vacation, a section of a beach, perhaps, or the area around a motel.

Software checks the pet's position constantly, she said. When it passes the default boundaries, an automatic alert is triggered and owners receive a text message. "It will say, 'Your pet has left' and send the exact location," Ms. Durst said. Locations will be identified by street name and number or, for certain cellphones, by maps.

"In rural areas with no street signs, you will be given directions from where you are," Ms. Durst said. The GPS receiver calculates the position, and the co-ordinates are translated into a readable position.

The system is designed for any area covered by a GSM cellphone network. Prominent in Europe and Asia, GSM networks are becoming more common in the United States, where they are used by T-Mobile and some other providers.

Another application of wireless technology may help reunite pets with their owners even when the animals are in another country.

Implanted microchip transponders have been used for years in the United States and elsewhere to identify dogs, cats and other pets. The tags include a glass-encased microchip with a unique identification number that cannot be altered but can be read by a low-frequency radio scanner. The number is then matched to a database to find the pet's owner.

The problem has been that the American and overseas systems are incompatible. So some organizations in North America that maintain identification databases are switching to the international system in the hope of one day linking North American pets and owners to a global database.

The use of microchips has increased steadily, said Sue Richey, who directs the American Kennel Club's Companion Animal Recovery program. The program keeps a national database in Raleigh, N.C., in which people can enroll their microchipped or tattooed pets.

"We're getting 55,000 to 70,000 animals a month," she said, "with a live recovery every eight minutes 24/7."

Right now, most pet microchips and scanners used in the United States operate on a radio frequency of 125 kilohertz. But the chips used in much of the rest of the world operate at an international standard of 134.2 kilohertz, Ms. Richey said.

That disparity can lead to problems when, for example, an American loses a pet while travelling in a foreign country.

"Their scanners can't read our chips," said John Snyder, director of companion animals for the Humane Society of the United States, in Washington.

Several groups have already begun using the 134.2 kilohertz chip, including the Oregon Humane Society in Portland, which started implanting them in January, said Sharon Harmon, executive director of the society.

But many shelters do not have scanners that can read the new chips. "It's not a good thing if we don't have the scanners in place," Mr. Snyder said, "because animals are being missed."

Scanners that can read both kinds of chips will be needed, said Jodi Buckman, director of animal programs for the American Humane Association in Denver.

"It's a mistake to have a technology used only in the U.S.," she said. "One worldwide standard will provide the ultimate protection for pets."

Pet chips of the future may be different in other ways, too. For one thing, they may be updatable. At this point information on the microchips cannot be changed, meaning that new developments in a medical history, for example, can't be added.

But Dr. Walt Ingwersen, a veterinarian in Whitby, Ont., who has served as chairman of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association's microchip committee, said that smarter, read-write chips are on the way. Mr. Ingwersen is now a member of a technical committee that is developing international standards for the advanced transponders. "The animal's ID number will remain the same on the chip," he said, "but the contents will be updatable."

Sue Sternberg, a shelter owner and dog trainer in Accord, N.Y., said she welcomed GPS -based tracking devices and implanted microchips.

"We get a dog sometimes and we know it is a beloved pet that has traveled a long distance," she said. "In that case, a microchip would be a great thing."

Norma Bennett Woolf, editor of Dog Owner's Guide, an on-line magazine, agreed. "Too many owners are heartbroken at the loss of their pets," she said. "Technology has a lot of potential here to get dogs home to their families."

Some day I'll get to it.......

EEEWWWEEY!!!!!
I just saw a picture of me when I was like wow! thinner that I am now. I have been sayin' I want to loose weight but gettin' around to doin' it is like wow! a stuggle for me. I have always been a few extra pounds since puberty, and it was alright with me. Man, now that I have alot of thin's to worry about, LIKE my health, I'm startin' to not feel so alright!

Five months ago, I was like, ya know, a heavy smoker and since then I have gain weight and I totally don't like it cause I'm 23 and I feel like I'm 80 yrs old. I hope and pray that I can gain some strenth to loose thia weight, like I did when I quit smokin'.

I am opened to any sugestions!!!!!
Please feel free to do so!

My little cutie pie! :cutie:

Michele sent me some pictures of my Granddaughter Taylor affectionately know to me as "Taylor Hannah Squarepants."

Wanna see more? CLICK ME!

OnStar commercials they didn't show you

The Morning News - Transcripts of OnStar Service Conversations Not Selected for Commercials
18 August 2004 | STORIES

You?ve heard the spots, where the helpful voice of the OnStar satellite representative rushes to the aid of the panicked motorist. But have you heard them all? John Warner digs through the transcripts that didn?t make the final cut.

You?ve heard the spots, where the helpful voice of the OnStar satellite representative rushes to the aid of the panicked motorist. But have you heard them all? John Warner digs through the transcripts that didn?t make the final cut.

OnStar: Hello, OnStar.

Customer: My ice cream, it?s locked in the car, and it?s melting.

OnStar: Your ice cream is melting?

Customer: Yes, please hurry! It?s like 200 degrees in there!

OnStar: What kind of ice cream is it, ma?am?

Customer: Rocky road!

OnStar: I?m unlocking the vehicle now, ma?am.

Customer: Hurry! My three-year-old is in the car, too! I?m worried he?s going to eat the ice cream! I don?t want him to get fat! That would reflect poorly on my parenting skills!

OnStar: OK, the vehicle should be unlocked now, ma?am, and I?m just going to go ahead and notify child protective services right now, too.

Customer: Oh my God! Darn it! God please!

OnStar: Ma?am? Ma?am? Is everything all right? Should I dispatch an ambulance?

Customer: Ambulance? No, but I could use a Good Humor man, this stuff?s totally cashed.

* * *

OnStar: Hello, OnStar.

Customer: Hey, so, I got an important package in the trunk, but I think I locked my keys in with it when I was dispatching?er?loading it.

OnStar: Not a problem, sir, I?m unlocking the trunk now.

Customer: [sound of trunk opening] Whooo---man, that stinks!

OnStar: Are you OK, sir?

Customer: Yeah, yeah. I just got to get rid of this package as soon as possible. Say, can you give me directions to an abandoned quarry, or maybe some remote wooded spot where I could leave my package?

OnStar: Sure thing. I?m showing that there?s an empty shaft at an old silver mine three miles southwest of your location.

Customer: Perfect! That?s great, perfect. I?m going to need a car wash, too. Someplace discreet, if you know what I?m saying.

OnStar: Absolutely, sir. You and OnStar are speaking the same language.

* * *

OnStar: Hello, OnStar.

Customer: OnStar, let me explain the situation. I gotta truck filled with 400 cases of illegal Coors beer that I gotta have in Atlanta, Ga., in four hours, and I?m running solo with a smokey on my tail! What in the hell am I gonna do?

OnStar: Uh? Snowman?

Customer: You know it, Bandit good buddy! So are we gonna hit this thing or what?

OnStar: Yee-hah!

"I turn to you"

When I'm lost in the rain,
In your eyes I know I'll find the light to light my way.
And when I'm scared and losing ground;
When my world is going crazy, you can turn it all around.

And when I'm down you're there; pushing me to the top.
You're always there; giving me all you've got.

For a shield from the storm;
For a friend; for a love
To keep me safe and warm,
I turn to you.
For the strength to be strong;
For the will to carry on;
For everything you do;
For everything that's true,
I turn to you.

When I lose my will to win,
I just reach for you and I can reach the sky again.
I can do anything,
'Cause your love is so amazing; 'cause your love inspires me.

And when I need a friend, you're always on my side;
Giving me faith that gets me through the night.

For a shield from the storm;
For a friend; for a love
To keep me safe and warm,
I turn to you.
For the strength to be strong;
For the will to carry on;
For everything you do;
For everything that's true,
I turn to you.

For the arms to be my shelter through all the rain;
For truth that will never change;
For someone to lean on;
for a heart I can rely on through anything;
For that one who I can run to....
I turn to you.

For a shield from the storm;
For a friend; for a love
To keep me safe and warm,
I turn to you.
For the strength to be strong;
For the will to carry on;
For everything you do;
For everything that's true,
I turn to you.

For a shield from the storm;
For a friend; for a love
To keep me safe and warm,
I turn to you.
For the strength to be strong;
For the will to carry on;
For everything you do;
For everything that's true...

For everything you do;
For everything that's true,
I turn to you...

By: Christina Aguilera

I was reading about who Christina was singing this to and she said it was for her mother.....aaawwwhhhh!
Just wanted to share with everyone

Stubborn Relatives

Has anyone noticed that as their elder relatives begin to get health problems that they also become really stubborn about going to the doctor? Right now I'm obviously thinking about TB's mom. She was supposed to have a cardiac catheterization on Thursday but called to say she'd cancelled it. Doctors don't schedule these things routinely so I asked her why. She said because she's allergic to the iodine and didn't want to have to go through taking benedryl etc so that she could have the procedure. Besides, she said, she feels better.

I thought about how frustrating it is to get a loved one to go to the doctor when they need to and they don't want to admit it.
It almost always seems like we have to push our parents or other elder relatives to go to the doctor. Or maybe it's just that my family is extreme? :0

Take my dad. One day I get a call from my brother that dad's been taken to the ER. My mom called (by relay services for the hearing impaired) for an ambulance after she found my dad on the floor, unable to get up. It turns out he'd had a series of TIAs (AKA mini-strokes). During a conversation with the ER doc, it turns out my father had been having these things for like six months. He'd be partially paralyzed but then he'd recover. My mom pushed him to go to the doctor but he always refused saying he 'felt better' ... until that morning he fell to the floor. Even then, he didn't want my mom to call for help!

Take my mom. She had an accident and "fell on some stairs" she said. She was having trouble breathing and was in a lot of pain so I wanted to call an ambulance. She said no, she didn't want to "bother" the doctors. I called for an ambulance anyway and it's a good thing because she'd broken her ribs and one of them punctured a lung!

Take my own sweet grandma. As she became older, she was more frail ... and more stubborn. She needed someone to stay with her around the clock and she resented it. She got an infection in her leg and didn't tell the health care aide or any other member of the family until it was almost too late. She got a septic infection in her leg and could have lost it!

I can tell you about 10 other relatives and about Rich but you all get the idea. So do you all notice this problem or is it just me?

New taste sensation

Saturday John and I went to visit his parents. John and his Dad went golfing.
His Mom and I visited and she made coffee. Their neighbor had given
them a Gevalia coffee. Mocha. Boy! I am hooked. Chocolate coffee!
I take it without sugar. Just a little milk. The flavor is rich and creamy
without being fattening. My father in law gave me the rest of the bag of coffee.
I've look Gevalia up on line and I am going to order some more.
Another flavored coffee I love is Pumpkin spice coffee. You can only get it
at certain times of the year. A friend told me how to have it any time
I want, by adding pumpkin pie spice to the coffee grounds before brewing.
And it's great!
What are some of your favorite coffees? I usually stick with decaf myself.
Oh, another good flavor of coffee is this. A couple of teaspoons of cinnamon
in the grounds and after brewing add a teaspoon of vanilla to the coffee.
Yum

a not so happy day

New didn't start out so well for me. I slept in late and woke feeling
something was wrong. It was easy to discover what that wrongness
was. The power was off. One lucky thing though, a few months ago
I had asked John to buy us a regular phone. The cordless kind won't
work if the electric goes out. So I was able to look up the power
company number and called to hear the recording that there was
a power outage and they hope to have the power restored sometime
after 1.
Ugh, a rotten morning. No coffee! No computer! And it was raining.
So I got a glass of juice and sat on the couch and read by the light
coming in the window. Tell me tell you if time is flying by too fast
for you, doing without electric power slows it down. LOL
Friday afternoon, the power came back on.
John came home from work and we did the usual friday errands
and met our son for dinner at O'Charley's.
We got home about 8:30 and as we were bringing in the groceries
and putting them away, the phone rang.
I thought it was Melissa calling. She had left at 3:15 that afternoon to visit
her fiance and his family. They live 2 hours south of us in a town called
Princeton. But it was Trent, her fiance asking if we had heard from her!
He said she had called and left a message on his cell phone that she
had taken a wrong turn and ended up in the another town. That she had
gotten directions and had gotten to Princeton and was waiting at a co-op in
Princeton. He said he and his parents couldn't find her. That that call had been
left at 6:30.
Here it was over 5 hours since since she had kissed me good bye and left
for what should have been a 2 hour drive! Needless to say John and I were
very upset. The next call came from Trent saying he and his dad were at the
police station asking for help. The next hour dragged by with me thinking all
the worst things that could have happened. I thought of Jill Berman, a girl
who had disappeared a few years ago. She was to going to IU at the same time
as Melissa. She went out for an early morning bike ride and was never seen again.
Finally Trent called again. The police had been looking for Melissa's car and had
found her at the Taco Bell. She was trying to to use the pay phone there.
They escourted her to the police station where Trent and his dad were waiting.
A few minutes later Melissa called us.
She was crying. She'd been scared and embarassment was overwhelming her.
The stress had gotten to John, He was lecturing her and asking how this could
have happened. I picked up the other phone and cut in. At that moment I
didn't care how she got lost. All I cared about was I was talking to my baby!
I talked to her, trying to calm her down. After a few minutes John was too.
She and Trent assured us they'll call the next day.
After all I could do was hug John and be thankful that my child was safe.
My heart breaking again for the parents who didn't get the call. Whose
child would never come back to them. Who didn't have to wait for a few
hours of worry, but instead days, weeks, months of never knowing.
Fearing the worst. Hanging on to hope as time passes.
It really made me stop and count my blessings.

New smiley cheat sheet

I added some new smileys to the comments section and you can use them in the entrys too here's a new cheat sheet to reference them. Click the link to view, right click image, then click save picture as and save it to your harddrive then print.
Click me

And now for something completely different ...

Wasn't there a law passed so that we wouldn't have to deal with telemarketers? I seem to remember something about going on a list. So why are we still getting calls? Darn, wouldn't you know, some businesses are exempt from the ban! Well, here is an oldie but a goodie that suggests ...

Ways to Get Rid of Telemarketers

Pretend you don't speak English.

Say "Hold on," then scream to a nonexistent person: "If you try to take the knife out, it'll just hurt worse!"

Burst into tears when money is mentioned.

Ask if the deal is good for all your personalities.

Tell them you'll accept their offer if they can guess your color of underwear.

Repeat everything they say in the form of a question.

As soon as they identify themselves, say, "You guys are still in business? Well, I guess the bomb has another 30 seconds."

Tell them the restraining order applies to phone calls as well as physical distance.

Mutter: "Aww, damn. Not another one. The last Jehovah's Witness almost got me the death penalty."

If they want to loan you money, tell them you just filed for Bankruptcy and you could sure use some money.

If they start out with, "How are you today?" say, "Why do you want to know?" Or you can say, "I'm so glad you asked, because no one seems to care these days and I have all these problems, my sciatica is acting up, my eyelashes are sore, my dog just died..." When they get try to get back to the sell, just continue your problems.

If they say they're Joe Doe fro the XYZ Company, Ask them to spell their name, then ask them to spell the company name, then ask them where it located. Continue asking them personal questions or questions about their company for as long as necessary.

This one works better if you are male:

Telemarketer: "Hi, my name is Judy and I'm with Canter and Siegel services....

You: "Hang on a second." (few seconds pause) "Okay, (in a really husky voice) what are you wearing?"

Crying out, in well-simulated tones of pleasure and surprise, "Judy!! Is this really you? Oh, my God! Judy, how have you BEEN?" Hopefully, this will give Judy a few brief moments of terror as she tries to figure out where the hell she could know you from.

Say, "No", over and over. Be sure to vary the sound of each no, and keep an even tempo even as they're trying to speak. This is the most fun if you can keep going until they hang up.

If MCI calls trying to get you to sign up with their Family and Friends plan, reply, in a sinister a voice as you can muster, "I don't have any friends...would you be my friend?"

If they clean rugs: "Can you get blood out, you can? Well, how about goat blood or HUMAN blood.

Let the person go through their spiel, providing minimal but necessary feedback in the form of an occasional "Uh-huh, really, or "That?s fascinating." Finally, when they ask you to buy, ask them to marry you. They get all flustered, but just tell them you couldn't give your credit card number to someone that?s a complete stranger.

Tell them you work for the same company they work for. Example:

Telemarketer: "This is Bill from Watertronics."
You: "Watertronics!! Hey I work for them too. Where are you calling from?"
Telemarketer: "Uh, Dallas, Texas."
You: "Great, they have a group there too? How's business/the weather? Too bad the company has a policy against selling to employees! Oh well, see ya."

Answer the phone. As soon as you realize it is a telemarketer, set the receiver down, shout or scream, "Oh, my God!!!" and then hang up.

My personal favorite: put the phone done and go about your business, vacuuming, washing the dishes, etc. Come back in 10 minutes to hang up the phone.

Official list of demands by Palestinian Prisoners

I saw this article while surfing, It is apparently a true list of demands by the Palestinian prisoners. I read the list and thought, these people are terrorists, murderers, and assorted criminals, they gave up their rights the moment they committed crimes against innocent people. What makes them think they should live as good or better than hard working people.

I'm all for human rights, I support freedom and personal liberties for all people, no matter their color, religion or country of origin, except when those people turn against our society and violate our rights. Please people don't give in to these demands. Maybe if we stopped treating criminals with kid gloves and started actually punishing them, giving them punishments that actually fit the crimes the world might become a safer place.

IMRA - Friday, August 20, 2004 Document: Official list of demands by Palestinian Prisoners [Not a hoax]
Friday, August 20, 2004
Document: Official list of demands by Palestinian Prisoners [Not a hoax]

Document: Official list of demands by Palestinian Prisoners
[IMRA: When IMRA first saw this list of demands being circulated by third
parties on internet it did not distribute it as the list is so absurd that
it might possibly have been a hoax. These demands are being made by
prisoners who have already have a record orchestrating numerous murderous
terror attacks from within prison using telephones, weapons, etc. smuggled
into the prisons via family members,]
August 15, 2004
Palestinian Prisoners Demands Presented to Israeli Prisons Service (IPS)
www.addameer.org/hunger_strike/demands.html

One: Family and/or Lawyers Visits
1. To remove the glass/plastic barrier between prisoners and visitors
2. To increase the period of family visit to one hour
3. To allow personal contact with children as in the past
4. To allow all family members and relatives to visit
5. To allow brothers and sisters to visit as in the past
6. To allow private visits (without barriers)
7. To allow second and third degree relatives to visit
8. To relocate detainees/prisoners in areas close to their residential areas
9. To relocate prisoners who are immediate relatives in one prison
10. To allow personal belongings and clothes to be brought during visits
11. To allow prisoners to take photos with family members and children
12. To allow family visits for Arab prisoners once every 6 months for at
least
four hours
13. To allow visitors to bring with them an unlimited number of photographs
of
relatives
14. To allow visitors to bring with them bed-covers, watches, Palestinian
head
scarves, head wear, etc.
15. To make family visits on Fridays as in the past
16. To bring in families to visit as soon as they arrive to the prison. No
delays
either at the prison or at checkpoints.
17. To allow prisoners to take out cantina (canteen food and drinks) to the
visit
without limitations
18. To allow prisoners to take to any kind of drinks to the visit and not
limit
it to "Sprite"
19. To allow prisoners to be in plain clothes during the visit and not
restricted
to uniforms of certain colors or design
20. To allow prisoners' handwork to be given out at the visit after
coordination
21. To allow bringing in all kinds of cigarettes, audio-tapes, and
video-tapes
during the visit

Two: Phone Calls
1. To install pay phones in prison sections and/or yards and/or cells or
allow
mobile phones in every cell or for every prisoner
2. To allow prisoners representatives to make phone calls to prisoner's
organizations
and lawyers and to Palestinian Ministry of Prisoners Affairs.
3. To remove all signal-distortion equipment - known to cause various health
problems including cancer

Three: Food
1. To prepare and define a list of quantities of all sorts of food that
prisoners
have the right to receive and to provide this list to prisoners
representatives
2. To change the basket of vegetables and fruits and end the practice of the
administrations taking part of it
3. To allow prisoners to buy vegetables, fruits, fish, and meats of all
sorts on
a monthly basis
4. To allow prisoners in all prisons to prepare their own food according to
their
customs and religions
5. To give back kitchen equipment that was taken away from prisoners in all
"security" prisons
6. To change old kitchen utensils and replace them with new ones
7. To open bakeries and allow Palestinian prisoners to work at them; to
allow bread to be brought in during visits

Four: Health Care / Treatment
1. To develop and expand clinics and equip them for emergency cases
especially at Nafha prison; A practicing physician should be at the clinic 7
days a week
2. To allow a Palestinian prisoner to be present and working at the clinic
3. To conduct surgery for prisoners immediately (without the usual
intentional
delay)
4. To allow physicians from outside to be able to check prisoners and ease
the
procedures in doing so
5. To widen the range of physicians to include all specialties
6. To allow dental surgeries/ teeth implants at the expense of prisoners by
their
own doctors
7. To perform kidney, cornea and prosthetic transplants for those prisoners
who
have been waiting for years.
8. To allow the purchase of medical mattresses, pillows, shoes and some
pharmaceuticals through the cantina
9. To solve all problems related to the hospital in Ramleh
10. An overall medical checkup for every prisoner at least once a year
11. A optician visit to every prison on a regular and constant basis; eye
checkups
for every prisoner once every 6 months, changing of glasses when needed,
allow the use of eye lenses; and to provide all needed supplies to solve
health problems related vision
12. To allow prisoners to have the equipment necessary to measure blood
pressure and sugar levels where needed

Five: Counting
1. To end all practices and policies accompanying counting the prisoners;
allow
all those prisoners in isolation back to regular sections

Six: Collective Punishment
1. To end all collective punishments
2. To end the policy of fines
3. To end the policy of confiscating personal belongings and punishing
prisoners
by denying them family visits
4. To return all money confiscated from prisoners accounts to be able to use
them in enhancing the health care and the education of prisoners
5. To compensate prisoners for every item that was damaged intentionally
through raids on cell-blocks
6. To define the maximum isolation period as a punishment to a week and to
provide humane detention conditions in isolation cells: access to toilets, a
washing sink, a two hour recreation period, to allow a fan, to allow books
and radio and cantina, not to handcuff prisoners inside the cells, to end
the policy of handcuffing prisoners while meeting prison administration

Seven: Education at Universities
1. To allow prisoners to study at Palestinian, Arab, and International
Universities
2. To end the policy of punishing prisoners by denying them the right to
continue
their education
3. To allow newspapers, journals and magazines without any delay
4. To allow purchasing different electronic dictionaries not limited to one
brand
5. To allow all cells to have access to a computer and not only students
6. To allocate study rooms and halls and to reopen all libraries
7. To allow stationary without limitation in type or quantities
8. To allow photocopying research material, educational material

Eight: Cantina
1. To allow buying from Arab sources and end the monopoly
2. To cancel the additional 17% tax
3. To unify the prices for all prisons
4. To end all restrictions on the items allowed
5. To form an investigation committee to check on the legality of the 17%
additional tax and on the right of prisoners to benefit from the profit of
the cantina

Nine: Movement within each section and the recreation area
1. To increase the recreation time to four hours a day as used to be the
case
2. To restore visits between section and cells to day-long visits
3. To leave cell doors within each section open all day
4. To restore the right of elderly, ill prisoners, those who spent over
tenyears
of imprisonment, and prisoners with special needs to get to yards and
recreation
areas freely
5. To allow university students to choose recreation time suitable for them
6. To allow prisoners representatives to be able to visit sections,
recreational
areas, and to be present at family visits in order to be able to follow up
on issues
and concerns and solve any problem without making this right dependant on
the mood of security guards
7. To open the gate to the recreational area every half an hour to enable
prisoners to get to the area or back to sections
8. To allow freedom of movement within each section without restricting the
time
or period
9. To install water pipes in each section
10. To restore the weekly general cleaning day as in the past
11. To install water pipes to the recreation area and the yard as used to be
the
case
12. To restore the recreation time from 15:00 to 17:00 and from 17:00 to
19:00
13. To allow working prisoners to stay at the recreation area until 20:00
14. Not to transfer a prisoner from any prison before spending 2 years in it
unless
the prisoner applies for a transfer
15. To cancel the policy of moving certain prisoners constantly around the
prisons, never settling in one
16. To allow Friday Imams to be able to move from one section to another
17. To allow having events, debates, celebrations in the recreation areas
and yards as in the past
18. Freedom to transfer among cells within one section without any sort of
restriction
19. To remove the ban on practicing Karate during the recreation period

Ten: Tools, Instruments, private and general equipment
1. To allow the following to be purchased at the cantina by every prisoner:
a
light-bulb for reading, electronic dictionary without restricting the brand,
electric
shaving-machine, and electric fan
2. To install air ventilation in the cells and section as well as air
conditioning
3. To install air conditioning at the visiting area and waiting cells
4. To provide electric kettle
5. To provide an electric toaster for each cell
6. To provide a small refrigerator in each cell
7. A small photocopier in each section
8. To install an Antenna for the radio
9. To allow winter jackets
10. To allow waist belts
11. To allow sport ropes
12. To allow to have cameras in each section and to be able to take
collective
photos
13. To allow fruits knife in each cell

Eleven: Searching and Security Checks
1. To end the practice of body search by hand and to restrict it to
electronic scanning
2. To stop searching children 14 years old and under during visits
3. End totally strip search
4. End night searches and the practice of Matsada unit, dissolve it or end
it's services
5. Not to handcuff prisoners during the search
6. Never to damage or confiscate personal belongings while searching
7. To stop searching prisoners each time they leave to the recreation area
or to prayers
8. Security search be limited to only once a day maximum and not to force
prisoners outside the section during the search
9. Security search to be conducted during the recreation period
10. To limit the overall general search to once every 6 months

Twelve: Working Facilities
1. To increase the number of working prisoners in the various facilities
2. To restore kitchens, laundries, and sewing and allow Palestinian
prisoners to work at these facilities
3. To allow at least two prisoners to work in the section (corridor) outside
the cells till 22:30 and extend their recreation time till 20:00
4. To re-allow a prisoner to work in yard and recreation area as in the past
and to make available a storage room and a room for working and working
tools
5. To allow a prisoner to work at the clinic
6. To restore the special recreation period for workers
7. To raise payment for workers
8. To allow an additional worker at the library
9. To allow a worker to fix electric equipment in each section as in the
past
10. To allow all tools for hairdressing and to change them once every 6
months

Thirteen: Counting
1. To allow prisoners in the upper beds not to step down at the morning
count and to limit to them just raising themselves up in their beds
2. To be content by showing the hands for those who are in toilets at the
time of counting taking into consideration to avoid using the toilet around
the time of count unless it's urgent or to pass the cell and return to it
later
Fourteen: Transfer, Travel and waiting (passing) sections
1. To allow prisoners to have cantina with them while being transferred
(canned
food, etc.)
2. To be moved directly to the buses without being held and delayed in
waiting
rooms
3. To change seats in the buses to more comfortable ones
4. Each prisoner to be handcuffed separately from others and to stop using
the plastic handcuffs and replace them with the metal ones
5. To allow prisoners representatives to meet newly transferred prisoners at
the bus as they arrive
6. To improve all conditions at the passing (waiting) sections in each of
Asqalan, Ramleh, and Birsheva prisons
7. To remove the darkened windows of the buses

Fifteen: General Demands
1. To return to prisoners all the cans (canned food) and cups and all what
was confiscated in Asqalan and Nafha after the last raids
2. To allow handwork and to be able to purchase all needed at the cantina or
to be able to get it during visits
3. To remove asbestos from the cells to improve ventilation in cells and
sections
4. To provide once again what the administrations used to provide at their
expense: tooth paste, tooth brush, soap, cleaning and hygiene provisions,
etc.
5. To make available lists of IPS rules in every section in Arabic
6. To increase the number of allowed TV channels
7. To re-install wooden boards to all beds, change the beds each year, paint
cells each year, and to install sides to the beds
8. To remove all male guards from female sections
9. To improve all conditions and to meet all needs of imprisoned minors
10. To end the use of arbitrary transfer of prisoners from one prison to
another
11. To remove one bed in each cell
12. To end the use of the special classification of certain prisoners
"prisoners sentenced for serious offences" and end all unjustified
punishments against them and to allow them to be able to work at various
facilities in the prisons
13. To implements the Geneva Convention and all international human rights
standards and agreements
14. To use only the buses to transfer prisoners between prisons and/or to
and from court hearings
15. To allow visits on special occasions as religious holidays
16. To double the number and the period of visits during holidays
17. To allow prisoners to send out written material: diaries, poems,
studies, prose, etc. during visits
18. To define the life sentence as in the case of Israeli prisoners and to
consider seriously the provision of parole
19. Not to interfere in Friday prayers and/or preaching and not to punish
preachers for whatever they say
20. To allow hard covers for books and never to remove them
21. To separate shower area from toilets
22. To provide prosthetics for those prisoners with amputations

The Unified Leadership of the Hunger Strike
11 August 2004
Freedom for Prisoners

ADDAMEER Prisoners Support and Human Rights Association
P.O.Box 17338, Jerusalem
Ramallah Office: Al-Isra' Bldg., 7th floor, Al-Irsal St.
Tel: +972-2-2960446 Fax: +972-2-2960447
E-mail: addameer@planet.edu

Had to post this ...

Young children respond to the question WHAT IS A GRANDPARENT?

"A grandfather is a man grandmother."

"Grandparents don't have to do anything except be there when
we come to see them. They are so old that they shouldn't play
hard or run. It is good if they drive us to the store and have
lots of quarters for us."

"When we take them for walks, they slow down past things like
pretty leaves and caterpillars. They show us the color of
pretty flowers and talk to us about them, and also why we
shouldn't step on cracks in the sidewalk."

"They don't say 'Hurry up.'"

"Usually grandmothers are fat, but not too fat to tie your
shoes. They wear glasses and funny underwear. They can take
their teeth and gums out."

"Grandparents don't have to be smart. They only have to
answer questions like, 'Why isn't God married?' and 'How come
dogs chase cats?'"

"When they read to us, they don't skip pages. They don't mind
if we ask for the same story over again."

"Everybody should try to have a grandmother, especially if you
don't have television, because they are the only grownups who
like to spend time with us."

"They know we should have snack time before bed time, and they
say prayers with us every time, and kiss us even when we've
acted bad."

"My Grandma lives at the airport, and when we want her we just
go get her. Then when we're done having her visit, we take her
back to the airport."

Today I got a book I'd ordered from Writer's Digest, called You Can Write A Column. I'd ordered it because I noticed I have less trouble scribbling little essays than writing fictional stories. When I started flipping through the book, though, I thought I must have been nuts. What could I write a column about? But now I've got some ideas! It just might work!

I still have this bug and am still feeling very lethargic

"You from Jersey?"

New Jersey just gets better and better, now we have Joe Piscopo!

New York Daily News - Home - Rush & Molloy: Piscopo entertaining a run for gov

Joe Piscopo gave the Garden State a new slogan with his "You from Jersey?" routine on "Saturday Night Live."
But would voters elect him as a replacement for Jim McGreevey?

The comic confirms that "some prominent business guys" are trying to persuade him to run for the disgraced governor's seat.
Piscopo won't say who they are, but tells us,

"They've suggested I run as an independent. They have the financing, but they've assured me I wouldn't be beholden to them."

Like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Piscopo (who's almost as brawny and speaks better English) has dipped his toes into politics by supporting privately financed recreational programs for "at-risk" minority children.
The comic is a "lifelong Democrat" but admits that his party has "been so embarassed" by McGreevey's disclosure of a gay affair, believed to be with former aide Golan Cipel.

My heart goes out to Jim and his family," says Piscopo, who got to know them over the years. "Frankly, everybody knew [he was gay]. But I figured, 'What's the big deal? He and [his wife] Dina have an understanding.' I thought he was doing a good job."
But he can't overlook his giving Cipel a $110,000 job as homeland security adviser "when he wasn't qualified. It was really dangerous."

Piscopo says his wife, Kimberly, has threatened divorce if he runs for office but admits he's "listening" to would-be backers.

"We have to stop the special interests," says the Passaic-born entertainer, taking a page from the Schwarzenegger playbook. "We have the highest property taxes in the nation. We're not getting enough back."

Though he concedes that Democratic Sen. Jon Corzine would be better qualified for the job, he says, "the career politicians are killing us."

"I'm such a Jersey guy," he says. "We're so disrespected. It's time someone stepped in. So out of love, I might try it - as a fun run!"

Forget Al-Qaida, There's a new terrorist group in town

The Advertiser: Monkeys attack women, children [20aug04]

Monkeys attack women, children
From correspondents in Khartoum
20aug04
HORDES of monkeys are running wild in the Sudanese state capital Kassala, attacking women and children and looting shops for food, Al-Anbaa newspaper reported today.

The groups are going on the rampage in two suburbs of the city, close to the frontier with Eritrea, the newspaper said.
The monkeys launch "organised attacks which last several hours", targeting "bakeries and grocery stores".
They attack women and children, run into homes, "breaking kitchen utensils and snatching food from the children" and open the doors of refrigerators to get at the food inside, according to one resident, Salah Osman al-Khedr.
He put the phenomenon down to the wholesale cutting down of trees which has deprived the monkeys of their sole source of food. The attacks start at dawn and sometimes last until dusk, he said.

Ya wanna be a citizen ya gotta pass the test!

NEWS.com.au | Poms want Aussies to talk proper (August 20, 2004)

Poms want Aussies to talk proper
August 20, 2004

STONE the bloody crows! Wotcha mean, we can't speak English?

Australians wanting to become British citizens must prove they can speak English under new rules introduced by the British Government.
The rules will also apply to other nationalities that claim English as their first language, including Canadians, Americans, New Zealanders and South Africans.
According to one report two Australians ,including a knight who has lived in Britain for 44 years and a writer with a degree in English, have been rejected under the new rules.
Australians have needed five years' residence in Britain to go through the naturalisation process, one that has a seven-month waiting list. But the language test is a new hurdle.

"Just because someone's born in an English-speaking country doesn't mean to say they're exempt from these standards of proof," a Home Office spokesman said.

Two of my grandchildren

Here's a pic Michele sent me of two of her children Taylor and Ryan.

Taylor is showing off her new bike and Ryan is goofing off.
I miss those guys.

Wanna see more? CLICK ME

Peace at last

The kids finally started school yesterday. It is so quiet in the house. David and I are taking it all in and taking advantage of it. It is so easy with just Taylor here. She is usually in her room playing with her dolls or coloring. It is so much easier to lug around 1 kid than 3. I know that it is only going to get worse that is why David and I are taking advantage of it. the kids came home with a bunch of papers for us to fill out. It was like I was signing my life away. Ya have to fill out this for the office and that for the teacher and so on. Does it ever stop?

I went to the doctor today(again). He checked to see if I was dialated and nope. He said that in 2 weeks we are going to talk about induction if I am ready. Well I hate to tell him but I am ready NOW!!!! He laughed and said you have to be patient.. that is something that I lack. I think that the 2 weeks are flying by so I can wait.

The recipe blog is going great! I see alot of stuff that I am going to try to make. David makes this awesome summer berry pie and I want him to put the recipe on there but he says he doesn't remember how to make it. That is like my Mom she never wrote any of her recipes down she kept them in her head. So when it comes to trying something that she made for us that we loved we have to wing it.

Bug

Blah. We have a bug in the house today. It's bitten Billy and me. He's been sleeping nearly all day and I've slept several hours away. Sometimes that's about all you feel up to doing. We've been pretty much staying away from the other family members, especially Little T. It's hard because he is so cute, it's hard to resist picking him up! Hopefully we'll be all better tomorrow.

Here's an easy meme:

Thursday?s Tattle:

Hair

What color is your hair?

Brown

Long or Short?

Short short

One length or layered?

Layered in the back

Curly or straight?

Straight

Permed or natural?

Natural

Ever cut your hair super short and regretted it?

Nope

Are you happy with your hair right now?

Yes

Are you letting it grow out?

No I like it short

Stay healthy everyone!

A moment he'll never forget...

Is anyone else awake and watching Olympics??????

I am putting the rest of my entry into the "extended entry" category so as not to spoil it for anyone who taped it or whatever and doesn't want to know yet... if that's not you, read on...

After sitting down on the landing of his vault earlier in the evening, Paul Hamm won the gold in men's gymnastics all-around by the smallest margin in history, that being 12 THOUSANDTHS of a point - with a HUGE score for an extraordinarily difficult AND well-executed high bar routine!!! :dance:

I am SO happy for him... I can't believe it worked out that way... but I can't quite decide in my own head if he "deserved" it or not because of the vault. And yet, his high bar routine was SO superior to anything that anyone else did...

What do you all think? Did he still deserve it after "sitting" the vault earlier in the evening? Or should that have precluded him from winning the Gold? Should one totally out of character mistake cost someone a medal? And the really hard question: do you think the judges knew what he needed for Gold and scored him accordingly??? :10:

Silly things women do...

Ok, as I was ooo-ing and awwww-ing over the duckie towel picture, I remembered something... my had a little duckie raincoat like that, that I had bought before she was born... well, before I was even pregnant... ok, ok - it was at a time when I wasn't even seriously dating anyone! But I saw it and bought it from an Avon catalog in the smallest size, praying that someday I'd have a baby to put it on!

Anyone else ever do something silly like that?? Bought clothes before you were actually pregnant? Bought pink or blue before you knew which it was? Decorated the nursery one way or the other - then had to re-do it? LOL (I know someone - not me LOL - who did that based on an ultrasound... and her hubby was home repainting the day after the birth! And a cousin of mine had to return a truckload of pink clothes she bought because she was convinced she could WILL her grandchild into being a girl! The little fellow was not impressed with ruffles and lace...)

C'mon - fess up - I know I can't be the only silly female in this circle who fell into the "baby gear" trap!

Tomas' new duck towel :D

Linda got Tomas a new bath towel and Tomas just had to model it for us!

Wanna see more? CLICK HERE

"End It On This"

Written and sung by: No doubt

You see in the past
I had a dream
A fantasy
I thought that we would last
Become a little family
Then one, two, three, four
The years were flying by
They soared
And it's my gut feeling
It's not happening for me, so...

Let's end it on this
Give me one last kiss
Let's end it on this
Let's end it on this

You see it's hard to face
The addict that's inside of me
I want to fill my glass up
With you constantly
I've been here before
But I've never ever felt this sure
And now I know I've been dreaming
And your actions
Have inspired me, so...

Let's end it on this
Give me one last kiss
Let's end it on this
Let's end it on this

I open up, you ignore me
You're not the same at all
And if I could turn back
The pages of time I'd rewrite you point of view
Washed up to the shore
Given one last chance
To try some more
But I'm tired, I'm freezing
Let's stop and call it history

I found this song and it Made me think about what I am going though this past three years.
Just wanted to share it with everyone.

Olympics

Does anyone else enjoy watching the games? I enjoy watching the athletes -- no, not just cuz they are buff but because they are all so good. Last night Kristin and I were watching some of the men's gymnastics and we just sat there in shock at how well they were doing! I enjoy rooting for the Americans but I don't limit watching just to when they are on. I was watching the Japanese play volleyball against Poland (I think) and that was pretty exciting.

Anyway, for those who watch, who are your top ten favorite Olympians? I happened to just pick Americans and just during the years I watched the games. In no particular order:

Elise Ray, gymnastics

Dominique Dawes, gymnastics

Sugar Ray Leonard, boxing

Mark Spitz, swimming

Carl Lewis, track

Bruce Jenner, track

Mary Lou Retton, gymnastics

Florence Joyner Griffith, track

Matt Biondi, swimming

Shannon Miller, gymnastics

Pizza Call

This is the future of Big Brother messing with us.

Click to view Big Brother and calling for Pizza

What is wrong with the world today?

It is nice to be able to sit and watch the new and not see a lot about Murder and Rape. The one problem down here that I do see is child abuse. This disturbs me. What causes a parent to want to hurt a child or a newborn baby? What makes them think that it is OK to do this? I must see that on the news everyday. It sickens me to see that a 3 year old has been burned by cigarettes or chemicals. A 3 month old baby has been shaken to death. A 5 year old has been forced to sleep in a dog crate for punishment. I don't know if it is just the way the world works or have parents not realized how precious a child is. I know that every time I look at my children I get that warm feeling. They have their way of pushing my buttons, but I never let that get out of hand. They go their way and I go mine. Why can't the government come up with some kind of program that teaches parents to be about how children will test their parents and how parents can and will loose their tempers? I don't know maybe while a woman is pregnant with her 1st child. Prevent the abuse from happening. There are also a lot of sexual assaults on children in the south. I do have to say that I never hear about it in My county. They seem to be in the lower class areas. I am in 1 of the richest areas in the state. My concern is that these poor children don't stand a chance. They are the purest things is humanity and here adults have to hurt them. Why does the government let them continue to allow them to reproduce? If a child abuser abuses a child whats to stop them from ever having a another one? I see it all to often. They should be castrated. That's how I feel and I think that we as citizens should protect the Innocent children.

This land is our land

Even though this is one of the funniest parodies I've seen in a while and after having to watch and listen to this every time I loaded this page I decided to make it a link instead. I should have done this first of all. Sorry folks!

Click to view This land is our land

New Olympic Sport

Dowbrigade News:

New Olympic Sport
Neighbors and Animal Control officers alike were stumped by the recent rash of dog shootings in our area. Twisted kids on crack, some speculated. Gang members, killing the attack dogs kept by opposing gangs, others opined. Imagine our surprise, returning early from the office one day last week, to discover Fluffy in flagrante. Needless to say, we hide the guns when the catnip comes out. No use asking for trouble...

Recipe Blog!

I just created a Recipe Blog. If you wish to be able to post their recipes there, send me an email or let me know in a comment
The link to the blog is HERE

What a great web site

Now this is worth blogging about
Click to view

Blue Roses & Amateur Athletes

I fell in love with blue roses after I saw one while vacationing in Ocean City, MD. This was years ago, when I was 16 or 17. I was browsing some of the shops for souvenirs and tee shirts when I saw it. No, it wasn?t a living blue rose. It was a decal printed on a tee shirt. It said: ?a touch of class.? I had to get it.

It was so beautiful. I looked in other places for blue roses and discovered there weren?t any living ones! No one had ever been able to grow a real blue rose. They had to be sprayed which, to me, just wasn?t right. A living blue rose would certainly have ?a touch of glass? ? elegant and rare.

A few days ago, I read this and I felt kind of excited. It?s amazing what scientists can do with flowers and foods. A real blue rose! This is something I?d love to see!

Years ago, I also fell in love with the Olympic games. I always admired the athletes and how hard they trained and how amazing they looked when they were performing. I grew up with the idea ingrained that the Olympics were for amateurs. I must have seen the movie Jim Thorpe countless times. I remember thinking it was so unfair to strip him of his medals when, in the communist countries, the government supported their athletes. Ours didn?t have that luxury. They had to pay their coaches out of their own pockets.

Since our athletes weren?t supported by the government, it meant they couldn?t spend hours every day practicing. In the other countries, that was the ?job? of the athletes and that?s all they did. In our country, though, the athletes had to depend on whether they could afford it or get off work. It would also depend on the parents? ability to pay. I always gave our athletes a great deal of credit when they?d win a medal.

Some athletes and their amazing achievements stand out especially for me:

Mark Spitz, swimming, the Munich Olympics in 1972
The entire basketball team, robbed of a gold by officials, Munich, 1972
Dorothy Hamill, skating, winter Olympics in Innsbruck, 1976
Sugar Ray Leonard, boxing, the Montreal Olympics in 1976
Bruce Jenner, track & field, Montreal, 1976
Ice hockey team (?Do you believe in miracles??), winter Olympics, Lake Placid, 1980
Eric Heiden, speed skating, Lake Placid, 1980
Scott Hamilton, skating, winter Olympics, Sarajevo, 1984
Mary Lou Retton, gymnastics, Los Angeles Olympics in 1984
Bonnie Blair, speed skating, Montreal Olympics, 1988

All of them and so many more were totally outstanding.

Then, in 1992, the International Olympic Committee said that professional athletes could compete too. I wasn?t sure how I felt about that ? disappointed, very! I realized that I wouldn?t see any more amateur kids on the basketball or hockey teams and I felt sad. I enjoyed being on the edge of my seat cheering and wondering if we could beat the big bad communist block teams.

The first American ?dream team? in basketball just slaughtered their competition. So what? It wasn?t exciting, it was expected. Four years later, 1996, the team ran over all their competition again. Zzzzzzzz. Well?this year is a little different. The ?dream team? this year got run over by the Puerto Rican team. I mean, they will still probably go on to win the gold but this little setback was something different. I?m not rooting against the basketball team, I guess I am more rooting for the amateur athletes because of the deeper sacrifice and commitment they have.

Still another Brick!!

I'm not a doomsayer but...
Read Another article I found about Big Brother watching us

Then there's this:

The Sun Herald | 08/15/2004 | Facial, finger scans emerge as way to ID

Posted on Sun, Aug. 15, 2004

Facial, finger scans emerge as way to ID Biometrics eases into everyday life
By BRIAN BERGSTEIN

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK - Stuffing something in a public locker usually isn't a memorable experience. You drop a coin, take the key and move on.
But at the Statue of Liberty, recently reopened after a two-year closure, stashing a package offers a glimpse into the future. To rent, close and reopen lockers, visitors touch an electronic reader that scans fingerprints.
"It's easy," Taiwanese visitor Yu-Sheng Lee, 26, said after stowing a bag. "I think it's good. I don't have to worry about a key or something like that."

Like nearly every other tourist at the statue that day, this was Lee's first experience with biometrics - the identification of an individual based on personal characteristics like fingerprints, facial features or iris patterns.

While the technology is not new, having seen use for years to restrict access in corporate and military settings, it is only now creeping into everyday life. Over the next few years, people currently unfamiliar with the technology will be asked to use it in everything from travel settings to financial transactions.

The Nine Zero, an upscale hotel in Boston, recently began letting guests in its $3,000-a-night Cloud Nine suite enter and exit by looking into a camera that analyzes their iris patterns. Piggly Wiggly Co. grocery stores in the South just launched a pay-by-fingerprint system, though pilot tests elsewhere have had lukewarm results.

"All these customer-facing applications, they're emerging," said Joseph Kim, a consultant with the International Biometric Group, which follows the industry. "We'll be seeing a lot more very, very soon. Whether that sticks or not depends on how customers feel about it."

Feelings seemed mixed about the lockers at the Statue of Liberty on a muggy New York afternoon last week.

Some people were befuddled by the system and had to put their fingers on the reader several times before a scan was properly made. Others forgot their locker number upon their return, or didn't remember which finger they had used to check it out. One young woman accidentally put her ticket to the statue in the locker, requiring her to open it and then re-register it all over again with another finger scan.

With all the confusion, lines at the three touchscreen kiosks that control the bank of 170 lockers frequently stretched six or seven people deep, requiring a five-minute wait.

"I think it's overly complicated. It takes too much time," said Stephen Chemsak, 26, who lives in Japan. To him the old-fashioned key system would have been much better.

The lockers were made necessary by new security measures at the statue that include a ban on large packages. Brad Hill, whose family business, Evelyn Hill Inc., has run the island's concessions for 73 years, decided that the usual public lockers would be problematic because people often lose the keys. And that seemed to become even more likely now that tourists have to empty their pockets for a metal detector on their way into the statue.

"Biometrics seemed the most logical choice," he said. After all, he added with a laugh, people "don't lose their finger."

Hill expects visitors will find the lockers easier once they get used to them. Representatives from the locker maker, Smarte Carte Inc., say the biometric aspect often requires a fair amount of coaching, especially for people who aren't very familiar with computers.

Smarte Carte's fingerprint lockers were introduced two years ago at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport, and also can be found in Chicago's Union Station and the Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure theme parks in Florida.

The company adopted the biometric system for the airport lockers to assure the Transportation Security Administration that the bins could not be rented by one person then opened by someone else.

Fingerprint biometric systems generally work by reducing the image of a print to a template, a mathematical algorithm that gets stored in a database and can be checked when the person returns for later scans. In applications like the biometric lockers, the print itself is not stored or sent to authorities.

However, prints are being run through terrorist watch lists in the biggest deployment of biometrics yet - the federal government's new system for tracking foreign travelers.

Now in its early stages, the program, known as US-VISIT, calls for visitors to go through biometric scans to ensure that they are who their visa or passport says they are. Passports issued by the United States and other countries are getting new chips that will have facial-recognition data, and other biometrics might be added.

Separately, iris-scanning systems have cropped up in European airports as a way to speed immigration controls.

But you won't have to be a jet-setter to encounter biometrics more and more. For one, it's increasingly being used to control access to computers.

And scattered grocery stores have tested systems that let consumers check out with a touch of a fingerprint scanner. Piggly Wiggly recently installed such a system at four South Carolina stores and expects to expand it to 116 other outlets, saying it offers speed, convenience and protection against credit card theft.

Other pay-by-fingerprint systems, including one tested several years ago at a McDonald's in Fresno, Calif., haven't met with much enthusiasm.

But that could change now that credit card fraud and identity theft have emerged as bigger problems, said Dean Douglas, a services vice president at IBM Corp., which is handling the back-end technology for Piggly Wiggly's finger-scanning system.

"Within the next five to 10 years," Douglas predicted, "we're going to see biometrics play an increasingly large part of consumer transactions."

A very happy day

This was a happy day
I was going to let John sleep in as late as he wanted, as it is his only day off.
But he surprised me by popping up and out by 7:30 to go get new tires on the car.
Before he left he made a pot of coffee for me. He's a very good husband.

My Mom and Dad called to wish me a happy birthday. We had a wonderful talk.
My Mom was upset though. Her card hasn't arrived yet and she took care, as
she usually does to get it in the mail early.

John was home by 10:30 and we talked over what to do. He wanted to take me out
to a movie and dinner for my b-day. Along with Robbie, Melissa and her fiance Trent.
We'd seen all the movies I wanted to see that are out, so I picked a movie I knew
John wanted to see. Collateral. I didn't think I'd like it. But I did. A very good, edge
of your seat movie. I won't give away any details, in case any of you will be going
to see it. As always we had good pop corn and sodas

After we went to Outback. They're know for their steaks, but I wanted a big deluxe
hamburger. I had that with a baked potato. yum! We had a fun time at dinner.

Then home for gifts, cards and chocolate cake! My sister surprised me by sending
a card this year. I got 3 DVDs, a gift card for a clothing store I like, Dark Shadows
videos and a book.

Then the kids wanted to play cards. We had a high old time playing a game that is
sort of like UNO. Laughing and cutting up. I couldn't believe that John and the kids
would eat salsa and chips after everything we'd already had to eat, especially after
cake and ice cream, but they did! I have all these tomatoes from the garden, so
I thought, why waste them. This was the second half gallon of salsa Melissa and I
have made. And it's almost gone. I'm tickled my family like it so much. And it
is a healthly snack too.;)
This is a day to tuck in my memory box.

Yikes!

My goodness! I just saw the weather forecast and the remnants of Charley are headed towards NJ! Be safe, you guys!

Another brick in the wall!

If anyone has read the Bible, Particularly Revelation's, they might remember reading about the "Mark of the Beast." It tells about the Tribulation period where no-one may buy or sell unless they bore the "Mark of the beast." It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see the parallel between that and this article:

A Blue Tooth Implant :: Blueserker :: Berserk about Bluetooth

A Blue Tooth Implant
Posted by: haraldking on Aug 12, 2004 - 01:03 PM

The industrial design firm Creganna has submitted a prototype to the IDSA "Untethered Body" design contest that ends Nov 12, 2004. The device, called the dDrive, is a Bluetooth enabled 512mb hardrive that can be implanted as a tooth.

"The Bluetooth enabled hardrive allows an individual to store critical personal information that can be accessed by any other Bluetooth enabled device. We believe the dDrive will revolutionize medical records, security, and other personal information."

Corporate security consultants are already warning that this will create a major problem for many corporate information security policies.

Airlines in the US have already indicated that they will completely support and promote the dDrive, even offering expedited checkins and discounted tickets to individuals using the dDrive.

Blogging helps

I read an article today that said blogging helps strengthen memory
and brain cells. Also playing word games, getting enough sleep
and of all things chewing gum.
That is one thing I fear about aging, that my mind will go.
I'd like to be the type people will say about, "84 and still
sharp as a tack."
I guess I am thinking about aging today, because it's my birthday.
46 isn't so old, but the years are flying by faster and faster.
I used to think ok, let's get thru the week and on the weekend
we can have fun. Or once this or that is done, then I can relax.
Instead now I am trying to make the most of each day.
Taking the time to tell the people I love what I'm feeling.
Trying to enjoy even chores. Especially when the work is being done
with someone else. Like working in the yard with John. Cooking
with Melissa. Helping Robbie clean his room. etc
It makes the work a pleasure rather then a pain. And another plus
is, my family are quicker to pitch in and help do chores and projects.

867 5309 I got it!

This is a cool story and a blast from my past!

Remember back in 1982, (for those of you 'older folk' born before then) Tommy Tutone's song 867-5309 Jenny
The following story is about a woman who wanted to make it her Vanity license plate.

Daily Herald

867 5309 - Jenny gets her number
By Eric Peterson Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted 8/12/2004
It all started with a phone number.
A seemingly random combination of digits that served as the inspiration for an early '80s pop song and a recent TV commercial is now the license plate number for Schaumburg resident Jennifer Fletcher's Jeep Cherokee.
But the endless efforts of mathematicians to calculate the final digits of the geometric formula Pi almost pale in comparison to Fletcher's persistent pursuit of her preferred permutation.
"867-5309/Jenny" was Tommy Tutone's catchy 1982 hit about the possibility of true love found in a girl's phone number written on a wall.
Although Fletcher shares the name of the song's celebrated heroine, the thought of making the number her license plate didn't occur to her until last year.
Idling in traffic, she noticed that the new random Illinois license plate numbers featured all numerals. As the numbers started getting higher in sequence, the thought of getting that number got too good to pass up.
"I've been inquiring to the secretary of state's office for over a year with phone numbers, e-mails, everything," Fletcher said.

The excuse most people used to get rid of her was that the numbers are only released in sequence, and the sequence hadn't reached the number she wanted. Furthermore, all-digit combinations aren't recognized as vanity plates and can't be specially requested.

Still, no one ever told her it was impossible, and that kept her going.

Finally she was sent to the voicemail of the woman who would ultimately help her. When they first spoke, the woman couldn't understand what the attraction of the number was. Then Fletcher told her to read it again as if it were a phone number.

"She said, 'Oh my God, it's the "Jenny, I've got your number" song, and you're Jenny!'?

Though the woman seemed sympathetic to Fletcher's cause, she said the department would still be unable to break the sequence of the numbers.

But she kept track of where the new numbers were in the sequence and stepped up her efforts as they got closer.

In a last ditch effort, Fletcher asked that she at least be given info about whomever the plates were issued to in order to negotiate a swap. But even that was unlikely, she was told.

But then, in late July, she got the phone call she'd nearly stopped hoping for, from the woman at the secretary of state's office.

"When she called, she shouted, 'Jenny, I've got your number!'? Fletcher laughed.

Only because the number was part of the next batch and only because Fletcher had expressed so much interest in 867 5309 did she get her wish. It was really a combination of both factors, rather than the state changing its policy on requests, she said.

In other words, it's still next to impossible to request the license plate you want unless you shell out the money for a vanity plate.

"Vanity plates and personal plates are defined by statute," said Randy Nehrt, spokesman for the secretary of state's office.

Anything outside of that definition is a standard plate. Plates are produced and stored in bulk as an economical measure for the state and its taxpayers. To start breaking up these pre-produced sets before their regular release would be a costly effort that isn't permitted, Nehrt said.

"That's definitely a coincidence that that worked out that way for that individual," he said of Fletcher's story.

During the week that Fletcher's plates were waiting on a desk at the secretary of state's office, nearly everyone who walked by started singing the song, she was told.

Now that the plates are on her vehicle, Fletcher said her two teenage sons see the whole thing as embarrassingly retro. For her older 17-year-old son, Dan, borrowing the Jeep Cherokee has definitely lost its appeal in the last week, she said without a trace of regret.

"But everyone who grew up then and remembers the music from the '80s has said, 'That's cool!'?

Happy Birthday Donna!

me me me me

Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday dear Don-na
Happy birthday to you!

I found this card at: Care 2

Have a wonderful Saturday, everyone!!!!

New book

Well we attempted to go to splash country but it was cold and rainy. the temp only got up it 63. So we took the kids and got them Sneakers for school. Then we walked around the outlets for a little while. We went to a book store and I was looking around and found a book that I thought would be good to read. It is called Belly laughs from Jenny McCarthy. It is about Pregnancy and child birth. The truths and what she went through. I saw her talking about it on TV and thought that might be a fun book to read. Well it is the funniest thing I have read in a while. This girl cuts right to the chase. She tells it how it is. I haven't been able to put the book down. David thought I was nuts cause I was laughing so hard. It is a great book for someone who is pregies(as she puts it) for the first time. Great shower gift Idea ladies!!!!

Anywhoo... I have been feeling contractions most of the night, but they seem to be winding down so they are most likely Braxton Hicks. Bummer! I was hoping to pop the baby out. I called Dad to find out how my uncle Jon in Florida is and I was having them. They were quite regular for a bit, then they are coming more sporadic. They were quite strong too. Instead of every 7 minutes they are every 15-20 minutes. Well I'll just have to wait some more and see when he is ready to pop out.

Oh Gosh! I just came in from out side and there are some BIG bugs around here. The spiders look as if they can drive trucks. We had one hanging on the side of our house. Thank God for bug spray. Brandon and David aren't afraid of them, but as for Ryan, Taylor and myself EEEEWWWWWW.. They are weird looking too. I also discovered that we have Lizards and frogs here too. Those I can handle. No wonder I don't go outside that much... Too many wildlife and yucky insects. There was a song that my Dad used to sing with us when we were little and it goes I hate Bugs. Worse Creatures Even made by God, I hate bugs. Well that is some of it at least. Well that' my motto .

Friday The Thirteenth!

Howstuffworks "How Friday the 13th Works"

Main > People > Culture

How Friday the 13th Works

by Tom Harris

Table of Contents
Introduction to How Friday the 13th Works The Christian Tradition Other Traditions Lots More Information Shop or Compare Prices

Let's look at this objectively for a second:

In order to organize time, human beings created calendars.
As part of today's dominant calendar system, every year is divided into 12 periods called months, consisting of roughly 30 days each.
All days are also grouped into sets of seven, called weeks.
In the Western world, a significant chunk of the population suspects bad things will happen whenever the 13th day of a month occurs on the day of the week called Friday.
Like many human beliefs, the fear of Friday the 13th (known as paraskevidekatriaphobia) isn't exactly grounded in scientific logic. But the really strange thing is that most of the people who believe the day is unlucky offer no explanation at all, logical or illogical. As with most superstitions, people fear Friday the 13th for its own sake, without any need for background information.

The superstition does have deep, compelling roots, however, and the origins help explain why the belief is so widespread today. In this article, we'll look at some of the interesting stories behind this unluckiest of days.

Click to see next page

Click to see last page

This is ridiculous!

8-year-old's first Holy Communion invalidated by Church (phillyBurbs.com)

I saw this article in the Philly Burbs today.
Can you just imagine what Jesus would have said in answer to this? Communion is supposed to be a symbol, a remembrance of what our sin cost Jesus. What difference does the type of grain matter? It sounds to me like the Pharisees and Sadducee's described in the New Testament have invaded the Roman Catholic Church. Didn't Jesus say, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, for such is the Kingdom of Heaven." Being a Baptist, I don't agree with the Catholic version of communion, but obviously the 8 year old girl does, and wants to be obedient to the doctrines of her faith. Because she has a serious condition that prohibits her from consuming wheat the Catholic church invalidates her profession of faith! That's just wrong!! This makes me mad.

8-year-old's first Holy Communion invalidated by Church
By JOHN CURRAN
The Associated Press

BRIELLE, N.J. - An 8-year-old girl who suffers from a rare digestive disorder and cannot consume wheat has had her first Holy Communion declared invalid because the wafer contained none, violating Catholic doctrine.
Now, Haley Waldman's mother is pushing the Diocese of Trenton and the Vatican to make an exception, saying the girl's condition - celiac sprue disease - should not exclude her from participating in the sacrament, in which Roman Catholics eat consecrated wheat-based wafers to commemorate the last supper of Jesus Christ before his crucifixion.
"In my mind, I think they must not understand celiac," said Elizabeth Pelly-Waldman, 30. "It's just not a viable option. How does it corrupt the tradition of the Last Supper? It's just rice versus wheat."
It's more than that, according to church doctrine, which holds that communion wafers must have at least some unleavened wheat, as did the bread served at the Last Supper.
The Diocese of Trenton has told Waldman's mother that the girl can receive a low-gluten host, drink wine at communion or abstain entirely, but that any host without gluten does not qualify as Holy Communion.
Pelly-Waldman rejected the offer, saying even a small amount of gluten could harm her child.

Gluten is a food protein contained in wheat and other grains.

"This is not an issue to be determined at the diocesan or parish level, but has already been decided for the Roman Catholic Church throughout the world by Vatican authority," said Bishop John M. Smith.

"Hosts that are completely gluten-free are invalid matter for the celebration of the Eucharist," Smith said in a prepared statement released Thursday by the diocese.

Celiac sprue disease, an autoimmune disorder, occurs in people with a genetic intolerance of gluten.

When consumed by celiac sufferers, gluten damages the lining of the small intestine, blocking nutrient absorption and leading to vitamin deficiencies, bone-thinning and sometimes gastrointestinal cancer.

It isn't the first such communion controversy. In 2001, the family of a 5-year-old Natick, Mass., girl with the disease left the Catholic church after being denied permission to use a rice wafer.

Some Catholic churches allow the use of no-gluten hosts, others don't, according to Elaine Monarch, executive director of the Celiac Disease Foundation, a Studio City, Calif.-based support group for sufferers.

"It is a dilemma," said Monarch. "It is a major frustration that someone who wants to follow their religion is restricted from doing so because some churches will not allow it."

Memes for Mommies

I found a new meme last week that I am sure would appeal to the mommys on our group. It's called Oh Mother and it was started by ... no surprise here! ... a new mommy! With a meme, you can either copy the quote and talk about it on your blog or go to her website and answer it in her comments section. I think the one daddy on our group would be interested because it's a whole different perspective!

This week's comment:

In motherhood a woman exchanges her public significance for a range of private meanings. (author Rachel Cusk)

Before the kids were born, my "public significance" was in being a proficient sign language interpreter. I would go and interpret in hospitals, in court, even in a jail lockup. Once the kids were born, though, being a competent or popular interpreter wasn't so important anymore. I wasn't available to run around and interpret in emergencies. It was more important to be a mom, which was just so much more of a joy and something to take pride in because my kids are so wonderful. Being a mom doesn't seem to have much public significance but that's because nonparents don't get how important it is.

Hope your area isn't affected by these rainstorms too badly!

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!!

I can't believe I didn't do a bio!

Well here it is....

My name is Linda, I am 23 yrs old and I have one son named Tomas a.k.a. Tk. I am a stay at home mother....for now...My interests include, music, singing (we always sing in this house!) dancing, playing with Tk, mental wellness (for myself) and TV!!!! I try not to watch as much tv as I use to and its much easier now that I have Tk to take care of.

I moved in with my Dad and with Cassie in april of this year and so far I feel so loved and supported in everything I do, even if I shouldn't do it!!!
I love my family, Dad, Cassie, Billy, Heidi, Kristen, Mouse, Amber, Buddy, and save the very best for last Tk....xoxoxoxo.....I love you too Michele....she is my beloved sister. I love and miss her and Brandon, Ryan and Taylor. HINT....HINT....HINT!!!!!!(Michele) lol

I hope one day I'll be able to go and visit them but for now I'm stuck in NEW JERSEY!!!!

Off to Dolly wood splash country

Well it is going to be a big day tomorrow. It is Sevier county week at Dolly wood splash country and that means we get in free. David told the kids that we would go and that is all they have been talking about all week. Taylor especially. The weather is going to be great in the high 70's. I am glad because I don't take the heat very well. I really hate to go to amusement parks, but it is for the kids. As long as I don't have to do allot of walking We'll be OK. It isn't a really big place either. We have to go to Walmart on the way and buy Taylor a bathing suit cause I can't find the top to her suit from last year. That is what I hate about 2 pieces. My gram said to make sure that I drink plenty of water and rest when needed. Well water is all I drink lately. I have completely given up soda and sweet stuff. I only drink Tea when we go out. So I'll be fine. The drinks there are cheap too. When we went to dolly wood we bought a big cup and you can fill it up for 1.00. I want to take a cooler but you can't bring food into the park. It is too much of a hassle with the kids to go out of the park to eat. I'll keep y'all posted on our day.

In the mean time I went to the doctor today and the baby is great. I told him that it couldn't go fast enough for me. He said that he is looking to induce me on or around the 10th of September. Wow! that's great. I said to David on the way home, Why does it seem like time has come to a stop? He said because I want it to be done and over with. Then when we got home I looked at the calendar and it is only 3 and 1/2 weeks away. Holy Cow!!!! That is soon. Before we know it I'll be holding my baby boy in my arms. I can't wait to see what he looks like. I wonder if he'll have red hair like Ryan. I have had dreams about what he looked like and he was so cute. Out of all of my children Taylor came out the cutest. Except for her feet. My Dad used to say that she could swing from trees with them things. They were are still are big. (She takes after Pop-Pop)just kidding!!!!
No matter what he looks like We'll love him and as long as he is healthy thats all that matters.

Good to be Back!

Boy, I felt almost totally lost without my computer yesterday and today! My computer needed a transplant of some vital parts and luckily TB knows how to do that stuff.

I just wanted to bring Emily's survey about the Olympics to the top:

Survey

The more answers she gets, the better picture she gets about who watches the Olympics.

Well, in addition to that Close Encounters type story, I have one about a terrorist cat. There's no picture, but apparently a cat got loose on an airplane, attacked the pilot & others in the cockpit and forced the plane to turn around!

Also in the realm of the strange, the Argentian ants are coming, the Argentinian ants are coming!. It seems like every time we import or export other countries' bugs and other creatures, we get a new form that is even more dangerous or more pestier. These ants have gotten themselves from Argentina to Australia and have built themselves a huge condo community under Melbourne. They're probably not harmful to people but there are disrupting the food chain there.

The same thing is happening in Minnesota with these Chinese carp that escaped from a Lousiana fishery. The Chinese carp were brought in to gobble up algae or what ever -- they are voracious eaters. Well, the Mississippi has overflowed during storms and these carp have gotten out and begun migrating. Since they do like to eat everything, they are also disrupting the ecology in waters in Minnesota. Some tourists come to Minnesota to fish the waters. At this rate, maybe all they will catch are the carp. They might not have to try hard either! The carp are agitated by motor noises and they start leaping, sometimes right into the boat.

Pretty amazing. Pretty scary.

Hiya

This is.. the first time I'm writing on this board, so I think I'm doing this right. Umm I'm still not really used to a shared bloggy-thing, and this is all very different from Diaryland
But I know how to put up messages, and that's the important part.

Yeah! And I know a bridge for sale!

Yahoo! News - Russian scientists claim discovery of alien spaceship wreck in Siberia

Offbeat - AFP

Russian scientists claim discovery of alien spaceship wreck in Siberia

Thu Aug 12, 2:51 AM ETAdd Offbeat - AFP to My Yahoo!

MOSCOW (AFP) - Russian scientists claim to have discovered the wreck of an alien device at the site of an unexplained explosion in Siberia almost a hundred years ago, the Interfax news agency reported.

AFP/File Photo

The scientists, who belong to the Tunguska space phenomenon public state fund, said they found the remains of an extra-terrestrial device that allegedly crashed near the Tunguska river in Siberia in 1908.
They also claim to have discovered a 50-kilogram (110-pound) rock which they have sent to the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk for analysis.
The Tunguska blast, in a desolate part of Siberia, remains one of the 20th century's biggest scientific mysteries.
On June 30, 1908, what is widely believed to be a meteorite exploded a few kilometers above the Tunguska river, in a blast that was felt hundreds of kilometers (miles) away and devastated over 2,000 square kilometers of Siberian forest.
But the exact nature of the body that exploded and its origin remain a mystery wwhich has spurred countless theories and controversies.

Posting Links!

Nancy tried to post a link in the comments but it didn't work.
The reason is the weblog has a sanitize plugin that won't allow HTML code to be posted. This is to prevent malicious code from being launched.
The only way to include a link is in your blog entry's. When you want to make a link, highlight the text you wish to make as a link, then click on the URL button just above the text entry window, and paste or type in the URL there. The other buttons are B=Bold, I= Italics, U=underline and then the URL Button.
If you have a favorite link you want to share just post it on the blog. If it's something you think we should place in the links section, either email it to me or post it with a note. This is our Circle of Friends and we can do what we want, make it anyway we want. It is going to grow and evolve., so let's have fun with it. I welcome any suggestions.

Send all suggestions to: Suggestions@twhgrafx.com

Cassie's PC is fixed

Cassie is back in business! With a much improved PC. The computer store didn't have the same motherboard so I had to upgrade to a P4. I think she'll be very happy with it, except maybe for the price.

Help with our fun project!

My is doing a survey/graphing project about how popular Summer Olympics sports are with different ages of people, and we were wondering if you guys would answer three survey questions (actually anyone in the household can answer if they want to - the more, the better!). Thank you very much!

1. What is your age group? (We're not just being nosy, it's to make the graph correctly!)
?12 or under
?13-18
?19-29
?30-44
?45-64
?65 or older

2. How likely are you to watch any of the Summer Olympic sports on tv this year, on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being Not Likely, 5 being Very likely)

3. What is your *ONE* most favorite Summer Olympic sport from the list below?
? Archery ? Badminton ? Baseball ? Basketball ? Beach volleyball ? Boxing
? Canoe / Kayak ? Cycling ? Diving ? Equestrian ? Fencing ? Field Hockey
? Gymnastics ? Team handball ? Judo ? Mtn. biking ? Modern Pentathlon
? Rhythmic Gymnastics ? Rowing ? Sailing ? Shooting ? Soccer ? Softball
? Swimming ? Sync. swimming ? Table tennis ? Track and Field ? Taekwondo
? Tennis ? Trampoline ? Triathlon ? Volleyball ? Water polo ? Weightlifting ? Wrestling

BOOOOOOO!

Cassie's computer had a hissssy fit yesterday and is broke. I'm gonna try to get it fixed today for her, but she may be out of the loop today for a bit.

My Collection

I like to collect animated stuff, off the wall things,stuffed animals, especially ones representing movie an TV characters I liked. I have a bunch! I even have a rare Wyoming Jackalope hanging on my wall. The other hobby's are my computer which is always evolving and photography. "These are a few of my favorite things." When the kids yell, when the dog barks, when I'm feeling sad, I simply go into my office and hide, and suddenly I'mmmm alright!
There were a couple of sites where the members were asked to show their desktops, so I thought I'd post a few shots of my "space."

How do we get into such Hobbies?

Hi all.
I am sitting here thinking. How do we all get into such interests and hobbies? What causes us to like certain things. I love dolphins and collect allot of dolphin stuff. Recently Taylor has gotten into loving elephants and Ryan Turtles. When My brother in law was here to visit us Taylor got an elephant beanie baby and his name is Jimbo. Ryan got a turtle (stuffed) and he named it Sheldon. They take these things every where with them. Recently Taylor got another elephant and she named him Rory because he roars. She loves to watch animal planet and if there is anything about elephants you are gonna hear about it. I don't know why they have taken in such fascinations with these animals, but they can tell you anything that you want to hear about them. I think that the most fascinating thing is that they are interested in wildlife. What kids of things are you all into collecting? I am interested in knowing.

This is me...

Hi all! Here is my "bio" for the record:

My name is Nancy; I have been married to my terrific husband Jeff for 12 years, and we have one daughter (who hereafter will be represented as because that smiley immediately made me think of her ).

I am a full-time wife and mom, and most of my daily energy is devoted to raising and homeschooling . It's the best job I've ever had, and homeschooling is a great lifestyle choice for our family. We also are very involved with our church, and with our homeschooling support group and co-op program. I love music (listen mostly to Christian artists like Twila Paris or Michael W Smith, or 1960's-70's like Peter Paul and Mary or John Denver), reading (esp. Mary and/or Carol Higgins Clark books), and crafts. And I have been trying desperately to learn to play the guitar All those years of flute lessons in my childhood have done nothing for me in this area, I am afraid.

I got to know Cassie about 4 years ago (wow, has it been that long? ) when she and I were writing for an online fanfic series based on the old show "Falcon Crest". As we've traveled the cyber-road together and shared the joys and tragedies of life and the world, I've watched her family move from realtively "normal", to unbearable sorrow, to the unexpected joy of growing to include Ted and his family. It's been a great, wild ride so far, and I'm happy to still be in touch with you guys and to be included in "the circle"

Spell Checker

I discovered a great free spell checker for Internet Explorer. It's called IESPELL and I am including a link to download it.
Click here
After you download it, double click to open setup follow prompts and you will have to close your browser and then open it again. To use the program, make an entry then before you publish it go to your file menu at the top of the browser click Tools then click Iespell. it will give you all kinds of options have fun.

As always before you launch any file run your virus checker!!!

This is very disturbing to me!

When does life begin? When does God place a soul in us? If at the moment of conception as some theologians say, then this is murder.
It is not inconceivable to imagine the next phase where people are cloned and used for "spare parts." What if the governments of the world decide that clones have no rights and that they are property. Will they be sold as slaves? Treated with less dignity? Used as soldiers?
How much is too much? How far will this go?

TB

Scotsman.com News - Latest News - Go-Ahead for Researchers to Clone Human Embryos

Wed 11 Aug 2004

12:43pm (UK)
Go-Ahead for Researchers to Clone Human Embryos

By John von Radowitz, Science Correspondent, PA News

British scientists have been granted permission to clone human embryos for medical research, it was announced today.

The controversial move means researchers at the University of Newcastle will be the first in Britain to carry out therapeutic human cloning.

They plan to duplicate early-stage embryos and extract stem cells from them which can be used for radical new treatments.

The embryos are destroyed before they are 14-days old and never allowed to develop beyond a cluster of cells the size of a pinhead.

The green-light was given by the research licensing body the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority after weeks of discussion.

Dr Miodrag Stojkovic, from the university%u2019s Institute of Human Genetics, said: %u201CWe are all set up and ready to go immediately as soon as the paper work is sorted out.

%u201CIt has taken a year of work, and I am most pleased that the HFEA has recognised the potential of this technology in modern medicine.%u201D

Cloning to create copies of human babies is outlawed in Britain but therapeutic cloning has been legal since 2002.

In May the Stem Cell Group at the International Centre for Life in Newcastle applied for a licence to permit human cloning as part of its research programme.

Rumbly in her Tumbly

Like most parents, I became thoroughly ingrained in the culture of the Hundred Acre Woods when my daughter was a toddler, and every time someone expresses hunger around here, I immediately think of Pooh Bear's lamenting about the "rumbly in his tumbly." So I thought that would make a good title for my entry because, after a very sulky and uncomfortable night as far away from us as she could get, my kitty-child woke me up with a serious rumbly in her tumbly! She has been muching steadily away at the 10 or 15 pieces I give her at a time. So I want to say thanks for the prayers (and for the advice, Michele!), and thanks Lord for the healing of my kitty - may it please continue!

I'm noticing that most of you posters are relatives of Ted and Cassie, and I met you at the wedding! Nice to be able to talk with you all again.

Hey, btw, how do I do all the cool smileys?

Checking in...

Hi all! I just wanted to check in and say hi and thanks for the warm welcome By way of introduction, my name is Nancy; Cassie and I used to write for an online fanfic series based on the old show "Falcon Crest". It's pretty dead now, but I'm thankful that Cassie and I became friends and still get to keep in touch I'm really glad to have been invited to join the circle I guess that's about it for right now... except that I'd like to ask that everyone please say a prayer for my cat because she is pretty sick right now and we've been going back and forth to the vet (which she hates - the ride AND the vet) and he's not sure what's wrong with her. She had to get fluids tonight because she's not eating right, and it's all settled in her one shoulder right now and she's really ucomfortable. I'm really worried about her Thanks!

Do you believe????

Today I took thuh kids to thuh flicks and saw M. Night Shamalahn's "The Villege". It was like wow! a super cool flick that will diffinitely make you think. As we were on our way home, I could smell Tk around me or on me it was weired and then all of a sudden I didn't smell it anymore. I walked into thuh pad and Tk was like, ya know, sleepin' on Nana. That dude looked so peaceful. I had told Cassie my experiance, and she said it happened because Tk and I have a super strong connection.

Well, I had a bitchin' smile after that. It was like someone was ya know, like, fillin' my cup and it was overflowin'!
I have known about this connection but never totally hit me until now.
Boy! I can't wait till Tk gets older!!!!!!

Do you believe that we all have some sort of ESP??

I do!

I fit a lot of these,

JANUARY:
Stubborn and hard-hearted.
Ambitious and serious. Loves to teach and be
taught. Always looking at people's flaws and
weaknesses. Likes to criticize. Hardworking and
productive. Smart, neat and organized. Sensitive
and has deep thoughts.
Knows how to make others happy. Quiet unless
excited or tensed. Rather
reserved. Highly attentive. Resistant to illnesses
but prone to colds.
Romantic but has difficulties expressing love.
Loves children. Loyal.
Has great social abilities yet easily jealous. Very
Stubborn and money cautious.


What does your birth month say about you?
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Welcome

Circle of friends is growing!
WE have gained two new members, Nancy and Heidi.

Can you say chernobyl!!

I followed this link from Fark.com. I wonder if the little kitty's mama got a bit close to Chernobyl

Winged Cat From Hell Put to Death in Central Russia - NEWS - MOSNEWS.COM

Winged Cat ?From Hell? Put to Death in Central Russia
Created: 29.07.2004 12:06 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 14:49 MSK

MosNews

A winged cat has been killed by villagers near the Central Russian city of Kursk. The locals drowned the deformed puss after believing it was a messenger of Satan, the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper reports.

On entering her yard, Nadezhda Medvedeva saw how a stray cat stood up and, just like a chicken, stretched out two wings. She said that at that moment her hair stood on end. The locals had no doubt the unlucky cat was a messenger of the devil, the Vlasti.net website writes.

Where the cat came from and why it appeared in the village of Bukreyevk nobody knows. Nadezhda Medvedeva, whose home is located on the edge of the village, said she initially heard a soft meowing.

?We poured some milk into a bowl,? Medvedeva recounted. ?A tom cat came out ? ginger, huge, twice as big as normal. He drank greedily and started meowing again?asking for more. We started feeding him. After a couple of days my daughter came running in all scared and whispered: ?Mom, come and look at the cat! He?s got wings!??

Nadezhda Medvedeva went out and saw how the cat slowly moved its wings exactly as a chicken would. The woman immediately came to the conclusion that the cat was sinister, ?just like a sort of devil?.

The daughter, having already named the cat Vaska, claimed he was affectionate and had obviously been a pet.

The rumor of the winged cat soon reached Kursk, but by the time a correspondent got wind of it the cat had already been killed by a local drunk, who drowned the unique feline. A sack with the animal?s body was recovered later from a pond near the Medvedev?s home. Despite the fact decomposition had already set in, the correspondent form the local Komsomol newspaper confirmed the cat did actually have wings.

More Fooling Around

Dis is a stowy I wwote a yeaw ow so ago and I just wanted to test aww dese diffewent "voices" we have now!
Kitty Wittew Nuggets

Why is it dat dogs wike to eat kitty wittew nuggets? I don?t get it. It?s bad enough dat ouw Wab puppy Buddy wouwd eat his own puke but I suppose I can get past de gwossness to undewstand it. I don?t undewstand what de attwaction is fow dis pawticuwaw type of cat tweats. Now dewe is so much heaving-up in de cwate dewe is no way Buddy couwd keep up wif himsewf. At de wate we awe going, we?ww have one sewiouswy sick puppy and no fuwdew need fow cat wittew.
You dink you?we sick to youw stomach? Twy getting neaw Buddy?s cwate! We need to take him to de vet because he?s ovewdosed on wittew tootsie wowws.
It?s not wike we haven?t twied to stop him.
When he discovewed dis ?dewectabwe? hows deouwve, my husband TB and I decided de easy ding to do wouwd be to put a hawf doow to de mud woom, which is whewe de cats have been toiweting. TB made a weawwy coow doow compwete wif a shewf and a dwaw-acwoss bowt. It wowked gweat! Except ?
De cats, Mouse and Ambew, awe not used to de doow! TB didn?t have de wight size stapwes to way down a piece of cawpet on de doow-shewf. I showed dem how dey couwd get in and out of de mudwoom wif de doow cwosed. Mouse caught on pwetty qwickwy. I dink Ambew undewstood, too, but she was highwy offended.
Why shouwd I have to accommodate dat cawpet bagging puppy? She seemed to wondew. I didn?t evew see hew twy to vauwt de hawf doow. She?d wait and wait untiw she wooked wike she was going to pop and as soon as someone unwatched de doow to go in, she?d make a mad dash fow de wittew box.
I wemembew one time I was twying to change de wittew box. I?d just put down a new wining and was about to pouw wittew into de box when Ambew weaped wight ovew my awm and into de wittew box. ?Hey!? I excwaimed. Usuawwy cats want pwivacy when dey pee but Ambew just wet go wif a deep puww of wewief. About a qwawt went aww ovew de winew befowe I couwd pouw de wittew in to absowb it.
Den dewe was de day when Buddy chased Ambew into ouw bedwoom and she jumped on de bed. Appawentwy she?d been howding it aww mowning again and was waiting fow de second I unwatched de doow to de mudwoom. Buddy got to hew fiwst. De chase and de effowt of howding hew watew was too much fow hew. Aww of it went onto ouw bed, dwough de sheets, dwough de mattwess pads and into de mattwess! Ugh!!!
Okay, so now we had to do someding. Meantime, we?d decided to get a washew/dwyew and we had it instawwed in de mudwoom. TB took de doow off so dat de men couwd get in and he didn?t bodew to put it up again, uh-hah-ha-ha. Evewyone was happy, except fow TB and me. We wewe back to guawding de kitty dwoppings.
De wast coupwe of mownings, we?ve been sick wif fwu wewated stuff and neidew of us can chase an agiwe puppy down so weww. We hewped each odew, twying to twap Buddy between us. We?d wisten fow de teww tawe scwitch scwatch sound of an animaw digging in wittew and go on awewt, awweady jumping up. One of us wouwd wush de mud woom and Buddy wouwd weap out wif puppy gwee and take off.
I awways had to pause a moment when I saw him. Usuawwy dewe was someding (and hewe I feew my stomach heaving again) dangwing fwom his moud. He?d wiggwe his weaw end wike he was taunting nyah nyah you can?t catch me! And off he?d wun, uh-hah-ha-ha. Sometimes he?d ciwcwe de house once ow twice befowe we finawwy got him between us. And just as we?d weach him, we?d heaw a big woud guwp! De sweet tweat was headed down his dwoat.
Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww?.
But now he is sick fwom it. He began to puke yestewday. TB got him cweaned up, cweaned up de cwate, and we gave him watew.
You?d dink he wouwd know bettew. But ohhhhhhh noooooo, he was wight back at it again!
Dis mowning, he is uttewwy and totawwy misewabwe. He doesn?t want to get up, not even to eat. He?s cuwwed up in a wittwe baww and when he wooks up, he has de saddest expwession, uh-hah-ha-ha. Why did you wet me do dis to mysewf, Mommy and Daddy?
TB is buying wongew, widew stapwes. We awe weintwoducing de hawf doow.
Why do dogs wike to eat kitty wittew dwoppings? It?s not just Buddy. Aww of de dogs I evew owned have done it. W wawned me about it when we got ouw fiwst puppy, and TB awso mentioned it. Wed finawwy did get an expwanation fwom de vet dat tweated Buddy: cat food is highew in pwotein and so, dewefowe, awe de nuggets dey weave behind.
Maybe dis is why dogs dwoow and cats wuwe?*
*fwom de Disney movie, ?Homewawd Bound?

What does your birthday month say about you?

MARCH: Attractive personality.sexy. Affectionate.Shy and reserved. Secretive. Naturally honest, generous and sympathetic. Loves peace and serenity. Sensitive to others. Loves to serve others. Easily angered. Trustworthy. Appreciative and returns kindness. Observant and assesses others. Revengeful. Loves to dream and fantasize. Loves traveling. Loves attention. Hasty decisions in choosing partners. Loves home decors. Musically talented. Loves special things. Moody

What does your birth month say about you?
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Blah, Blah, Blah

A week has gone by since I said bitchin' bye to Kennan, and thuh loneliness is startin' to creep up on me. I tell myself to stay strong and stand your ground, I just hope that it was thuh right thin' to do. I don't know if I'll know right away if it was, but in thuh end Tk and I need to have happiness. I know for a fact that if Tk knew me thuh way I was before he wouldn't be as happy as he is now. The only time Tk cries or fusses is like wow! when he needs somethin', and I wouldn't want that to change!

Anyway, I think that our relationship had to come to an end, because it was ya know, like, three years and no rin'! I'm not thuh kind of person that is like wow! goin' to wait forever and I shouldn't have to. All he kept sayin' is, "why are you in such a hurry, and why do you feel you need this right now?"

I'm askin' everyone is that not a retarded question or not, because I have repeatedly told that dude that I want a family and told that dude all of my needs that he didn't want to complete unless I got a JOB!
Now I'm all for gettin' a Job, BUT.....I would much rather stay home and take care of Tk. That dude is ya know, like, only 6 months old and he needs his mother. Like, ya know, this is ya know, like, just some of thuh thin's that have come to mind everyday when I thought if I totally did want to marry Kennan.

I hope that I can teach Tk to know how and what to look for in a mate, and to make wise decisions. Man, of course I know he will make mistakes cause we all do. I'll love that dude no matter what he does!!!

If you thought it looked funny then awesum I used thuh text formatin' thin' and it turned thuh paragraph into this!!!

What does your birth month say about you?

DECEMBER:
Loyal and generous. Sexy. Patriotic. Active in
games and interactions.
Impatient and hasty. Ambitious. Influential in
organizations. Fun to be
with. Loves to socialize. Loves praises. Loves
attention. Loves to be loved.
Honest and trustworthy. Not pretending. Short
tempered. Changing
personality. Not egoistic. Take high pride in
oneself. Hates restrictions.
Loves to joke. Good sense of humor. Logical


What does your birth month say about you?
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The real speech!

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all very much. Please be seated. Thanks for the warm welcome, and thanks for inviting me to join you in this 20th anniversary of the National Endowment for Democracy. The staff and directors of this organization have seen a lot of history over the last two decades, you've been a part of that history. By speaking for and standing for freedom, you've lifted the hopes of people around the world, and you've brought great credit to America.

I appreciate Vin for the short introduction. I'm a man who likes short introductions. And he didn't let me down. But more importantly, I appreciate the invitation. I appreciate the members of Congress who are here, senators from both political parties, members of the House of Representatives from both political parties. I appreciate the ambassadors who are here. I appreciate the guests who have come. I appreciate the bipartisan spirit, the nonpartisan spirit of the National Endowment for Democracy. I'm glad that Republicans and Democrats and independents are working together to advance human liberty.

The roots of our democracy can be traced to England, and to its Parliament -- and so can the roots of this organization. In June of 1982, President Ronald Reagan spoke at Westminster Palace and declared, the turning point had arrived in history. He argued that Soviet communism had failed, precisely because it did not respect its own people -- their creativity, their genius and their rights.

Example of Texas Drawl!

This excerpt wuz cut an pasted frum uh speech President Bush made concerning Iraq uhwahl back.
My apologies tuh thuh President.

THE PRESIDENT: "Thank yawl all very much. Please bay seated. Thanks fahwar thuh warm welcome, an thanks fahwar inviting may tuh join yawl in thus 20th anavarsry uh thuh National Endowment fahwar Democracy. The staff an directors uh thus organization hav sayn uh lottuh history ovur thuh last tew decades, you've been uh part uh thuht history. By spakeing fahwar an standing fahwar freedom, you've lifted thuh hopes uh paypul around thuh warld, an you've brought great credit tuh America.

Ah preshate Vin fahwar thuh short introduction. Ahm uh man who lahks short introductions. And hay didunt let may down. But more importantly, Ah preshate thuh invitation. Ah preshate thuh members uh Congress who iz hare, senators frum both political parties, members uh thuh House uh Representatives frum both political parties. Ah preshate thuh ambassadors who iz hare. Ah preshate thuh guesss who hav come. Ah preshate thuh bipartisan spirit, thuh nonpartisan spirit uh thuh National Endowment fahwar Democracy. Ahm glad thuht Republicans an Democrats an independents iz working together tuh advance human liberty.

The roots uh our democracy can bay traced tuh England, an tuh its Parliament -- an so can thuh roots uh thus organization. In June uh 1982, President Ronald Reagan spoke at Westminster Palace an declared, thuh turning point had arrived in history. He argued thuht Soviet communism had failed, precisely cuz hit didunt respect its own paypul -- thuhir creativity, thuhir genius an thuhir rots."

New format filters!!

I have installed a set of filters that when you click on the text formatting link at the bottom of the entry page some fun options will be available. They are:
1. Swedish Chef
2. Cockney
3. Hunting Wabbits
4. Jive
5. German accent
6. Texas drawl
7. Valley girl

A word of caution!
These text filters will change the entire entry to the format you choose. If you add links in your post they may not work. Also the smileys won't work in that entry. They will work in the comments though. I will include some examples in another post.

Hooray!

I went to my first physical therapy session today. The therapist checked my range of motion and said that it was excellent for someone after a surgery less than two weeks.
She admonished me to do nothing with my arm even though I am not in pain. I need to heal completely. I don't want to go through this again so I'm gonna be a good patient and listen to their good advice.

Now to "Stir the Pot"

Would anyone like to add another family member or friend to Our "Circle"? If so I need their name and email addy.
Also I have 60 more email addresses available to me as part of my registered domain.
It can be set up in Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express or any other Pop 3 mail program. Your email address would be "yourname"@twhgrafx.com The email addys will be free to members of the group or to their immediate families.
It will be fun to see our blog grow and evolve. I also have an Invision Message board that we can use, If you have any suggestions as to "forums" or "lists" you might be interested in let me know.

Atlantis Is Ireland 2

TB encouraged me to post my thoughts on the article he wrote about yesterday. There probably will be more to come on this as I learn more about the origins of my ancestors' country.

I have had some fascination with Atlantis for years. I learned about it first from a song called ?Atlantis? and sung by Donovan:

Since then, I?ve read stories about Atlantis and the disaster that sank it into the ocean. I got into reading a series of books about King Arthur and Merlin. The first book recounted the story of Merlin?s mother, an inhabitant of Atlantis. Some of the Atlanteans escaped the island and settled into the British islands.

That story merged with Irish folk tales that I read a couple of years ago for a fanfic I was writing. From what I remember, Ireland was originally populated by the Tuatha De Danann. The name means ?Followers of Danann?. There was a great flood (which I thought might be the Noah & the Ark story) that wiped out the whole population except for one. He goes forth and multiplies but not in Ireland. Eventually, the descendants of this one branches off into different groups of Tuatha De Danann.

Meanwhile the Fir Bolg moved in to Ireland. They were somehow descended from the Tuatha but ended up as slaves in Greece. They escaped from there and sailed to Ireland. Once there, they divided the country up into five provinces, each ruled by one brother. They lived there peacefully until the Tuatha De Danann returned to Ireland.

The Fir Bolg and the Tuatha went to war. They had several battles on the plains in Ireland (the center of the country). The Fir Bolg were defeated but the Tuatha allowed them to live on the western shore of Ireland, in the Connaught province. That?s where my family originated, although they?re not descended from the Fir Bolg?at least, I don?t think they are.

Everything was peaceful until a new group invaded Ireland. This group, the Sons of the Mil from Milesia. This group is the ancestors of the Irish people, not the Tuatha or the Fir Bolg. The Tuathas were considered gods. They lived long lives and seemed to have magical powers that made them especially skilled in music, magic and the arts. They were very technologically advanced. You wouldn?t think it, but they lost the battle. After the Tuatha de Danann people were defeated, they were forced to live underground with the fairy people ? or they became the fairy people.

When I read Stephen Lawhead?s Arthur series, I remember thinking to myself that the Atlanteans sure sounded a lot like the Tuatha De Danann. According to a Swedish scientist named Ulf Erlingsson, that could very well be entirely correct! He says that Ireland is Atlantis! Plato originally wrote about the lost city of Atlantis in 360 B.C. Erlingsson thinks that the geography and landscape of Ireland matches Plato?s description of Atlantis. He?s also made some comparisons and has matched burial sites and monuments from Atlantis to Ireland.

Ireland was formed during the last Ice Age. When the ice began to melt, Ireland was still connected to Britain and the rest of Europe by a land bridge. All of that became flooded. There is a section of land that was called Dogger Bank and it was a forest. When the water rose, though, all of it was wiped out. Ireland, Britain and Europe weren?t all connected any more.

Well, how about that! I always knew there was something very special about the Irish!

What a beautiful day!

Wow it has been wonderful here the past few days. Our weather has been in the 70's and not hot. I can actually go outside and breathe. I have even gotten Ryan to go out and ride his bike without force. I think that since school let out for the summer he has been out a total of 3 times. I do admit that I don't go out that much either, but I weigh a lot more than he does. It is weird to see that summer has come to an end. So fast.

David and I miss soft serve ice cream so bad that we were joking about going back to NJ to New Egypt just to get some. The kids were like that is a stupid ride. If we go back there we should see family. We said they'll understand. I also miss the shore. We always made sure that we took the kids to the boardwalk once a week. I miss the smells of the food cooking on the boardwalk. MMMMMMM. I can smell them now. I am too close to having the baby to go anywhere. Although we are tempted. Every time we make plans we get side tracked by something else. I would like to go home for Christmas so that we aren't so alone. I don't know how a ride like that would be for a newborn. I know it is rough on me so I can only imagine what it would be like for him. We'll have to see what the future has in store for us.

Atlantis Is Ireland

News
I discovered this little tidbit this afternoon.
Cassie is not surprised(she is my"Wild Irish Rose")

Scotsman.com News - Latest News - Atlantis Is Ireland - Book

Fri 6 Aug 2004

Atlantis Is Ireland - Book

By Senan Hogan, PA News

The mythical underwater empire of Atlantis is actually the island of Ireland, according to a new book.

Swedish geologist Ulf Erlingsson, who is due to visit Ireland next week, makes the claim in a book to be published next month.

Greek philosopher Plato claimed Atlantis was an island in the Atlantic Ocean 11,500 years ago but it sank after being hit by a giant flood-wave.

The myth also sparked a TV series, The Man from Atlantis starring Patrick Duffy, in the late 1970s.

But Professor Erlingsson claims in his book, Atlantis From a Geographer?s Perspective: Mapping the Fairy Land, that Plato?s description of Atlantis matches Ireland perfectly.

The academic said: ?Just like Atlantis, Ireland is 300 miles long, 200 miles wide, and widest over the middle.

?They both feature a central plain that is open to the sea, but fringed by mountains. No other island on earth even comes close to this description.

?I am amazed no one has come up with this before, it?s incredible,? he added.

The book also claims that the capital of Atlantis is Tara, the legendary seat of the high king of Ireland in Co Meath.

The temples of Atlantis also correspond with the passage tombs of Newgrange and Knowth, the book suggests.

Prof Erlingsson, who has a PhD in Physical Geography from Uppsala University in Sweden, specialises in geological processes, underwater research and natural disasters.

He claims the island Plato said had sunk was Dogger Bank in the North Sea which was struck by a disastrous flood-wave around 6,100 BC.

Controversy has raged for decades whether Atlantis actually existed. Previous theories suggested it may have been around the Azores islands or in the Aegean Sea.

Smiley cheat sheet!

I added a ton of smileys to the comments section this am. They can also be used in your entries. Right click on the graphic when it pops up, select save picture as, save in "My Pictures" or a folder of your choosing, then print it out and tape it in a convenient location for easy reference. To add smileys in your entry just add the "code" shown under the smiley (include the colons!)

Click to View image

TB

Ineffective Affirmations

I got this in the mail from a jokes list I belong to.

Ineffective Daily Affirmations

Feeling blue or insecure? Losing sight of what's important? Still searching for the real "you"? In this self-help age of soul-searching, daily affirmations have been known to do the trick. But you probably shouldn't try these.

I have the power to channel my imagination into ever-soaring levels of suspicion and paranoia.

I assume full responsibility for my actions, except the ones that are someone else's fault.

I no longer need to punish, deceive or compromise myself. Unless, of course, I want to stay employed.

In some cultures what I do would be considered normal.

Having control over myself is nearly as good as having control over others.

My intuition nearly makes up for my lack of good judgment.

I can change any thought that hurts into a reality that hurts even more.

I honor my personality flaws, for without them I would have no personality at all.

Joan of Arc heard voices too.

I am grateful that I am not as judgmental as all those censorious, self-righteous people around me.

I need not suffer in silence while I can still moan, whimper and complain.

When someone hurts me, forgiveness is cheaper than a lawsuit. But not nearly as gratifying.

All of me is beautiful and valuable, even the ugly, stupid and disgusting parts.

I am at one with my duality.

Only a lack of imagination saves me from immobilizing myself with imaginary fears.

I honor and express all facets of my being, regardless of state and local laws.

Today I will gladly share my experience and advice, for there are no sweeter words than "I told you so."

A good scapegoat is nearly as welcome as a solution to the problem.

I am learning that criticism is not nearly as effective as sabotage.

Becoming aware of my character defects leads me to the next step -- blaming my parents.

I will find humor in my everyday life by looking for people I can laugh at.

~#~#~

Which classic movie are you?

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

Things to ponder on a Friday night

THINGS TO PONDER
1. Why do banks charge you a "non-sufficient funds fee" on money they already know you don't have?

2. Why do you press harder on a remote control when you know the battery is dead?

3. Since light travels faster than sound, isn't that why some people appear bright until you hear them speak?

4. If it's zero degrees outside today and it's supposed to be twice as cold tomorrow, how cold is it going to be?

5. Isn't Disney World a people trap operated by a mouse?

6. Should you trust a stockbroker who's married to a travel agent?

7. Why do they call it the Department of Interior when they are in charge of everything outdoors?

8. Why is the alphabet in that order?

9. Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?

10. Why buy a product that it takes 2000 flushes to get rid of?

11. If vegetarians eat vegetables, what do humanitarians eat?

12. Why is a carrot more orange than an orange?

13.How come Superman could stop bullets with his chest, but always ducked when someone threw a gun at him?

14.When I erase a word with a pencil, where does it go

15. Isn't the best way to save face to keep the lower part shut?

and the meme du jour, Friday Q:

FQ TOPIC: Childhood.

FQ1: Where did you live out your childhood years?

On Long Island until I was 10 and then Baltimore, MD until after I graduated high school

FQ2: As a child, what was your favorite toy, book, television show, and cartoon character?

Toy: my stuffed cat, Meow, which my grandma made for me
BooK: Lad: A Dog
TV Show: Combat --I was a tomboy
Cartoon Character: Bugs Bunny

FQ3: Charm us with a favorite childhood memory...

My favorite Uncle John used to visit us from NYC, taking the bus out to our home on Long Island. He made up a special song for me, calling me "Cassie May". He would wake early in the morning, before breakfast, and he, my brother and I would walk to the bakery. It was about a mile from home. He'd buy donuts and rolls for breakfast. He told funny stories and jokes as we walked along. He was definitely someone special.

What's your Bloginality!

A fun personality test!
BLOGinality: weblogger personality types

What's your personality?
How much do you know about yourself? Because many webloggers enjoy personality tests, this is a portal for your bloginality!

Are people with a certain personality type more apt to take personality test?
More importantly, are they more likely to have a weblog?

You will find quite a bit of reference material here about personality tests, as well as a place for you to find other people who are the same personality as you!

Are you ready to take a test?

Enjoy!

My Bloginality is ISTP!!!

As an ISTP, you are Intraverted, Sensing, Thinking, Perceiving.
This makes your primary focus on Introverted Thinking with Extraverted Sensing

This is defined as a SP personality, which is part of Carl Jung's Artisans (Sensation Seeking) type, and more specifically the Crafters or Mechanics.

Because of your desire for action and independance, you will change the format of blogging or design frequently to keep it interesting and different. Your loyalty may have you reading the same blogs over a long period of time. Even though you could be easily bored with blogging, you might find that because you like following a project through, this is a good way for you to use your alone time to sort the facts you pick up through the day.

Wow what a day

Boy what a relief to hear the doctor say, "I think you are fixed this time." And it's a relief that TB isn't in all that pain.

Today was a driving day but Linda took up some of the burden and boy do I appreciate it! She drove Billy to karate this evening.

Billy was getting a ride home with another person in class, Gary. But Gary can't drive Billy anymore because his job has changed (or something like that) and he has to get up really early. Oh well.

In November Billy will take his driving test and if he passes, he'll be able to drive to karate. Yay!

The meme du jour: Midweek Music Meme:

Mommy and Ryan time.

Today was great. We went grocery shopping and at walmart and then came home and rested. David went to work and it was me and the kids. Well I usually only get to spend allot of time with just Taylor, but tonight was different. Taylor and Brandon were off in the house doing their own things and Ryan helped me make dinner. He loves to cook and wants to be a chef when he grows up. We made Chicken parm and Eggplant parm. He did most of the messy stuff. We were up to our elbows in gook. It was cute. Ryan loves to watch food network. His favorite shows are Emeril, and Iron Chef. He likes Iron Chef because it is Japanese. Ever since he went to Japan he loves anything to do with it. When we go to sushi bars people are in awe when they see a little boy eat raw fish. It's gross but he loves it. He is the one child that I can say is almost 100% Japanese. It is so nice to be able to spend 1 on 1 time with Ryan. He has always been a Mommy's boy. Since he is getting older he wants more to do with Dad. He is into cars and stuff that I just don't care about. He wants a red eared slider turtle and I hate reptiles! He can't have on because they are illegal in TN. Now he has his sights set on a fresh water shark. It's all good if they want to take care of fish. I like just having the 2 cats. Ryan says the cats aren't fun. They just sleep all day.

Well I hope that I get to have just Brandon and mommy time but he is getting older and doesn't want to do stuff that I do. He likes taking things apart and watching stuff about cars. He loves to go out and help David mess with something. I guess that is the price of kids getting older. At least I have Taylor that is a girlie girl. For now at least. Till she grows up and gets into boys. I cringe at that thought. I know what I was like then and I hope that my kids aren't like that. It's like my dad always says what you do your kids will do in excess. I must say THANKS DAD! I AM CURSED!!!!

Mommy and Ryan time.

Time goes by fast

I've been watching Donald Duck for almost fourty years.
Happy 70th Birthday Donald!

NCBuy Weird News: Donald Duck To Get Star On Walk Of Fame - 2004-08-04

2004-08-04 - Wireless Flash Weird News
Donald Duck To Get Star On Walk Of Fame

HOLLYWOOD (Wireless Flash) -- Donald Duck will soon have a real feather in his cap: A star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.

The sailor-suited cartoon star is set to receive his honor on Monday (Aug. 9), with Hollywood's honorary mayor and other Walk of Fame dignitaries presiding over the ceremony.

Tourists will be able to waddle all over the duck's name, which will appear -- fittingly -- on a star in front of Hollywood's Disney Store.

This year also marks Donald's 70th birthday. He started ruffling feathers in the cartoon world on June 9, 1934, when he first appeared in the animated short, "The Wise Little Hen."

I got a good report!

I went to see the surgeon today for a post-op. He usually sees his patients after two weeks, but because of my diabetes he wanted to make sure I was healing properly. The O.R. nurse saw me first and was amazed at how well I am healing.
I have been using some powerful pain medications (they make me high and unsteady) since June of last year. two days after my third rotator cuff surgery (which was on Friday of last week) I was able to stop taking the pain meds! Now I am going to start physical therapy and hopefully go back to work soon.
My surgeon said that I had a hard band of scar tissue that caused the tear this time. He fixed the tear and removed the scar tissue. I hope it doesn't form again.
Now I have to fight with the Workman's comp Insurance company so that they will continue paying for the time out of work. I have heard and read all kinds of horror stories about how they treat people. In my case they took care of everything until this past May. The second opinion doctor (Dr. Roboto) told them that there was nothing more could be done to help me with the pain. Now I can go back and rub it in their faces.

Favorite links

Do you have favorite links or webrings or helpful sites you would like to share on our blog? Post the URL in the comments section of this post or email me and I will place them on our site.
email me at administrator@twhgrafx.com

Back to school

Michele entry about back to school shopping brought back to mind what has been
running in the back of my mind for the last week or so.
Back to school time. When I was a child that was the tuesday after Labor Day.
For my kids it came earlier. Now it is august 12. Which in my view is wrong.
Kids should have the full summer free from school. Time just to be kids.

Back to school always makes me think of autumn. By the time you get over the thrill of new clothes, you couldn't be bummed out for too long, because Fall
would be there. Leaves changing colors and dropping down to be raked into
piles for jumping in. Crunching under foot as you walked or ran. And the
plotting for Halloween! What or who to dress up as. How much and what
kind of candy would you get. Watching the halloween specials on tv.
And all the old monster movies. And it was even better to have all that fun
with my children. Plus adding our own traditions to boot. We still decorate
the house, watch the movies and specials. On Halloween I fix two big
pots of chili. A veggie one for my daughter and the regular kind for us
meat eaters. This way when anyone comes in food is ready.
We make carmel apples and bake cookies.
We carve at least 4 pumpkins. And we all rush to the door to
pass out candy to all the trick or treaters and see their costumes.
Even our dog Rascal has to see them. He usually gets petted and some times hugged.

I always enjoyed back to school shopping for my kids. I have been seeing
the back to school items in the stores and have been feeling just a little
bit sad that I haven't had to buy pencil boxes, crayons, glue sticks and such
for so many years.

The effects of bonding

Today was an interesting day. Cassie and I took her son Billy to work and then did some shopping together. On the way there and back home, (this also goes with the whole family) we usually play a game while driving. The first person that spots a punchbuggie has to say "punchbuggie and then the color of the car and then say no punchbacks."

After Cassie had gotten her shot at it, it hit my memory, an article I read about how to bond with you children. Now normally this would not effect me in anyway, (playing this game that we do) but today it did because I think it brought Cassie and I a little closer

Tk and I have had a connection since the first time I saw him on the Sonogram.
But I just recently got to understand better, how to bond even more with Tk.
Everytime I do something different the bond grows deeper, and so does the seperation anxiety.

Tk's father wants to take him for a day or two, to find a way to bond with him. I think that it is great, but what would Tk think if I did this.
Some psychologists say that if you take the infant away from their comfort zone that they would begin to show signs of distrusting the main caretaker.
I myself have to deal with my trust issues, why should I put my son in that postion?

I know that what ever happens in Tk's life he will be albe to overcome it someway somehow, cause he has so many people he has bonded with, who love him. Popop, Nana Cassie, Uncle Billy, Aunt Heidi, Aunt Kristin, MOMMY of course....Aunt Michele, Brandon, Ryan, Taylor, and Uncle David, and that's just to name a few.

Its just amazing to me to think that it doesn't stop when you an infant. Bonding sticks with you, your intire life.

Have you hugged your kids today?

A poll was taken about how many times a day do you hug your kids.
Here is what it said:

50% said everyday
20% said once a month
20% said not enough
10% said why should I

Thats reality!!!
It stinks to think that a
child is not shown any affection.

Almost ready.

Wow it feels so good to almost be ready for the baby. We bought a crib last month and waited for the mattress. Well we went out school shopping today and went to babies r us. We got a nice mattress and a travel system. All I need to get for Nikolas is a swing and we are set for the big stuff. My Aunt Pam is sending a care package and my aunt Lynn is bringing stuff down with her when she comes at the end of the month. All I have to get now is little things. Thanks to Linda I have all the 0-3 month clothes I need. I have some older clothes for her that I'll send back with My aunt. That's if she doesn't fly out here.

One bad thing about living down here is that we have to spend allot of money in school supplies. The teachers sent us letters telling us what we needed to buy. Brandon who is going into 4th grade had a shorter list than Ryan who will be in 3rd.We must have spent 50.00 a piece on supplies. Then they ask for us to send in 30.00 for each child for other supplies. We never had to send them to school with anything in NJ. Now I know that it is only going to get more expensive with 4 kids. What have I gotten myself into. LOL.....

It was a hot day here and we took the kids out all day. All the shopping has gotten me pooped. I feel old. Even though I am not. All this extra weight is killing me. My promise to myself is to loose weight after the baby. Now that I don't smoke anymore it should be easy to drop some pounds. I can plop Taylor on her bike and the baby in his stroller and walk around our community.
I'll keep everyone posted on my progress....

Yes We Have Some Smilies!

Yay, We Have Smilies!!!!!!

You know, back when I first heard Lori Hacking disappeared I felt bad because I knew she'd probably not come back alive. The weird thing is, as soon as I heard she was 5 weeks pregnant, I immediately thought of Laci Peterson. My second thought after that was that Lori's husband Mark Hacking killed her. Over the last 2 weeks since she went missing, a lot of information has come out and now a cell mate says Hacking confessed to killing his wife.

What is it about pregnancy that can cause a boyfriend or husband to snap like that? In Hacking's case, his whole life story was coming unravelled. He'd told a whole bunch of lies to his wife and to his family. He claimed to be a therapist. He claimed to be going to medical school in North Carolina. It turns out that he never finished college. Maybe if things happened differently, if he'd been honest about dropping out of school, things might have gone better.

This explains more reasons why pregnant women can be at risk from their own husbands, boyfriends, and significant others.

Well, that was gruesome. I am grateful that I had such wonderful experiences with my own pregnancies. I think of Michele and I see Little T and I think, we are blessed.

Now for something more light hearted:

Meme Du Jour: Tuesday Twosome:

Your two favorite....

1. Brands of shoes:

Reebok
Hush Puppy

2. Brands of clothes:

Just My Size
Lee

3. Restaurants:

Prospector's
TGIFriday's

4. Brands of electronic equipment (Sony, Toshiba, JVC, etc.):

Sony
Emerson

5. Department stores:

Walmart
Sears

Ten On Tuesday:

Ten Underappreciated Actors/Actresses

David Selby ? from Dark Shadows and Falcon Crest

Jason Bateman

Ed Harris ? from The Right Stuff and The Truman Show

William H. Macy ? from just about everywhere! He?s a great character actor!

Kathy Bates ? from Titanic and Fried Green Tomatoes

Jessica Tandy - she & her husband (right below) have been terrific in their movies

Hume Cronyn - One was Cocoon and another Foxfire

Cate Blanchett

Holly Hunter

Alan Rickman

How about you-all?

Posted by Cassie at 09:34 PM | Comments (1)