Give and Take

In life there are givers, there are takers and there are complainers. I think most people are a combination of all three but some lean stronger one way or the other.

Case in point. We have two sons ages 21 & 17 and both have gone from Tiger Cubs (first grade) in Cub Scouts up through to Eagle Scout in Boy Scouts. My husband was a den leader for both boys and is very active in the Boy Scout troop, over the years holding several committee posoitions. This is all done on a all volunteer basis. Getting other parents to be envolved has always been an ongoing problem. Like any organizations, it's always the same parents that do the volunteering and the same ones that do nothing.

One of the things that hubby and another father have done is plan a spring trip for the boys for the last 6 years. These trips are also open to the family members. They've gone to West Point, Baltimore, Boston, Washington DC, Toronto and New York City. It takes a lot of work to plan these trips from the transportation, chaperones, lodging, meals, attractions and itinery. Being responsible for someone else's kids is more than enough work.

This is the last year that these fathers will be planning the trip as both boys are going to college in September and will be done with scouts. This fact was brought up in several parent meeting and they suggested that some of the younger scout parent's help plan the trip with them so they can do it in the future. No one stepped up to the plate and it has been simmering on the back burner. It came to light that the scouts were bummed that no trip was being planned. The two guys decided that they'd plan one more trip so their boys could enjoy one last hurrah.

Don't forget that going as far back as October they asked for help or ideas of where the trip should be. They now decided that they would take the boys to Ottawa, the capital of Canada. It's a five hour drive and would last three days. Hubby sent out an email the other night to get a headcount as to who might be interested.

He received this email from a parent, word for word;

*Your Poor* planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part. what have you been doing since October when the spring trip was first raised in the parent meeting? why did you not ask for input or at least present a couple of different places to go other than an icebox city with very little to do unless your into shopping of fine arts. What scouting activities do you have planned?

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

WTF. My response, not my husband's.

My husband responded:

Ouch!

XXXX, that's gonna leave a mark in the morning. Do I detect some sarcasm there?? On behalf of John and myself, we do appreciate your comments though.

There is so much more to this as well as more emails. I just get so frustrated with people like him. Sit back and let others do all the work but complain when it's not to your liking. Plus Ottawa is a great place, I've been twice. Being the country's capital it's rich with history, sites to see, things to do. They're staying in a hostel that used to be a jail. How cool is that for a kid?

I've said it before and I'll say it again, it's not the kids that are bad, it's their crazy parents. I'll deal with kids any day over adults.

On another note, I'm off from school for the next week for February recess. Yahooo.

VD

No I don't have VD but I suppose some people may catch it today. I'm not a big proponant of Valentine's Day. Of course I like to be told "I love you", get cards, flowers and all that jazz. I guess I don't like all the marketing out there telling people you need to buy their goods to tell your significant other that you love them. I'd rather be surprised on a random day then on the day you're "supposed" to. I must be a rebel. I actually feel bad for men that have to produce something on Valentine's Day or they're in the dog house. The pressure must be nuts. I see the price of roses and see the diamond commercials on TV. Yikes.

So while my husband I don't ignore this day, he gets me a card, it's just not a big deal. What I do like about this day is how my kindergartners get excited about it. There's nothing better than a homemade valentine. Guys, why spent upwards of 4 -5 bucks on a card when a homemade card will mean more. This is one that I received today from a student. She couldn't wait to give it to me and the smile on her face was priceless.

There was a letter to the editor in our paper the other day from a woman who was complaining that she can't say Merry Christmas anymore because it's not politically correct so why are we celebrating Valentine's Day? It was named after a saint. Why do kids get to celebrate it in school but not celebrate Christmas? Plus why are we allowing kids to celebrate a holiday that has to do with sex and lust?Do some people have nothing else in their lives to use their brain cells on? First, if she wants to wish someone Merry Christmas, who the hell is stopping her? It's not a punishable offense. Second, sex and lust? Yes, some gentlemen use this as a reason to shop at Victoria's Secret and buy themselves something. And let's be real, it may be something they give to their woman but it's really for them to enjoy. Kids celebrate it as a time to be nice to each other and tell them with an innocent card.

I like that you can find hearts in nature.

These are bleeding heart in my garden last spring.

A heart shaped nebula.

For all of you coffee and latte drinkers out there.

The human heart sure doesn't look like the heart shape that we're familar with. Maybe if you took off the arteries.

Blue

As I sat here on the couch at 5:34 pm reading Stephen King's Duma Key I looked out the window and realized that it's the Blue Hour and very pretty and peaceful. I call it the Blue Hour but it's not always an hour, sometimes less. Tonight it will be more like the Blue 30 minutes. What the hell is this woman talking about you may be thinking. I'll explain.

There's a time in the late afternoon or early evening mostly in the winter and the conditions have to be right. There's a cloud cover with snow on the ground and in the air as it is right now and everything outside seems to be awash in blue. It's like you're looking through a blue filter. Not that sunshiny blue you get when it's bright out. This is more a faded, washed out blue. The sky, snow,trees, everything has a blue tinge to it. Now at 5:45 it is quickly turning to a deeper blue but it's still light out. I really can't tell if it's blue or a violetish color. It will darken to a deep blue by 6:00 and then to black. I've tried to take a picture of this before but the camera doesn't do it justice. It can't capture that shade of blue. I wish I was an artist, I would paint it for you. Have you ever noticed this yourself? If not, slow down, take time to notice your surroundings and become more attuned to what's out there. Become one with nature. Gee, I sound like John Tesh and his new age drivel. Now it's a dusky, smokey blue, the Blue Hour is almost over. 5:59, fade to black.

This is the best photo of it that I could find.

Dogs Rule

I am a dog lover. I don't really understand how someone can not have a dog. Sure they can be a hassle sometimes. They shed,they poop,they bark, the stink sometimes, they get in the garbage, are dependant on you for everything and can sometimes be oh, so very gross. But the rewards you reap in return are priceless. A dog knows when you're sad or not feeling well and gives you that little extra attention to make you feel better. They protect you, greet you at the door when you come home like you've been gone for weeks and love you unconditionally. It's proven that petting a dog releases the feel good chemicals in your brain and lowers your blood pressure. From Winky, my very first dog when I was a kid to Cody the dog I have now and the 3 dogs in between, Charlie, Sam and Shelby, I've loved every one of them and treated them like a loved and valued member of the family.
Tonight I'm watching the Westminster Kennel Club dog show and enjoying all the different breeds.

Some are cute...

some are beautiful...

some are so ugly that they're cute...

some have haircuts that no self respecting dog would want ...

and some are just plain strange looking...

but the one thing they all have in common is that they all look so happy to be there. I'm such a sap when it comes to children, old people and dogs. The Pedigree dog food commercials are making me tear up. The

voice over for most of them is David Duchovney (sexy Mulder of X-Files fame) but the best one is narratted by Trace Atkins and stars Lennox Lewis and a homely bulldog. We saw how this commerical came to fuition on Celebrity Apprentice. If you are also a dog lover I urge you to go to http://www.dogsrule.com/ and donate what you can to help dog adoptions. Pedigree will match the donations up to a quarter of a million dollars. Please click here.

And then there's my dog Cody.

These two dogs look like they're trying to tell me something.

I hate when Blogger does this to my posts. I don't know how to fix it. Please scroll down to leave a comment. Thanks.

What Do You Believe?

I am not a religious person although I am a spritual person I guess. I do subscribe to the theory that all things happen for a reason we just don't always know or never know what the reasons are. I believe in signs from a higher power. I sometimes wish I was religious and wish I had the faith that some have. I know it gets people through a lot of hard times. I thought for a while after 9/11 I would go that way. It didn't happen. I like to believe that I will see the people that I've lost and will loose again someday.

As far as organized religion goes, it's not me for several reasons. I think so many problems in the world today are caused by religious fanatics that think theirs is the best, the one and only that should be followed. I don't understand why people can't agree that people can worship different Gods and beliefs. To say that yours is the surpreme and every other religion is wrong is the root of many evils. If you want to think that, go ahead but don't force it down the throats of others around the world. Live in your own egotistical world. I don't see how flying planes into buildings or blowing up people make you victorious in the eyes of your God.

Some organized religions discriminate against people that aren't like they are. If God loves everyone what's wrong with being gay? They're just like you and I only attracted to the same sex. I believe that one is born wired that way. It can be a hard road in life, why would someone choose that?


Pro life lunitics. Have I or would I ever have an abortion? No, never have and when pregnant with son number 2 had some very funky test results. I was asked if I wanted more invasive tests to find out definate things as well as genetic counciling so we could make an informed decision, I refused. I wasn't going to "do anything" about it anyway. It was my baby and would love it and take care of it. Turns out there wasn't a problem at all and I was worried sick over nothing. But what if I had arbitrarily thought, "hey, I'm not taking any chances here, let's do it." This is just my opinion on the subject. I believe that all women should be able to make informed choices, I just wouldn't do it. It is a very private and emotional thing, you don't need people calling you a baby killer. Now I'm speaking about early abortion not late term abortion. That I am highly against. For the life of me I don't understand why a woman would do that or doctors would preform them. If you've carried the baby that long, people know you're pregnant why not go the whole way and give the baby up Some of the most vocal abortion protesters are men and I can't figure that out either. I can understand a man having a problem if he wants the baby and the mother does not but these guys are not using that as a platform. Just the killing part. Have they seen a child that is not wanted by parents? That is not shown love and affection? That is physically or emotionally abused? It is heartbreaking. Are they going to support these unwanted children that are just thrown into the system? Will the baby change their life? No but to them it's a sin but it's okay to harrass, terrorize and bomb clinics and to kill doctors. Hhhhmm, don't kill the babies but kill the doctors. In a perfect world every child would be welcomed by loving parents and would lead a perfect life but let's face it, that doesn't happen. Some people should not be allowed to breed.


What brought me to these thoughts today was an article I read in the paper this morning. The tornadoes that hit the southern region of the country this last week were devistating. People lost their loved ones due to "an act of God". In one town in particular, Lafayette, Tennessee, the town minister, Rev. Michael L. Welch has been helping people cope and opened his church as a family crisis center. Three days after the tornado struck his town, Rev. Welch and his family were killed when a tractor trailer slammed into their van. Why did this happen? This town needed him and he was answering that call. To have their lives snuffed out at this time is a question I would ask any man of the cloth.


In my life I try and live honestly, be kind, treat others with respect and the whole golden rule thing. I don't need to be religious to do that. If that makes me a heathen so be it.


I just have to spout my opinions every now and then.

As Comfortable as an Old Shoe

There is something I've noticed for years and it makes me wonder everytime I see this. Maybe you've noticed it too. I can't tell you the amount of times I've been driving down the street or on the expressway when I've seen a lone shoe on the side of the road. Where do they come from? How can you not notice that you've lost one of your shoes? And if you do notice wouldn't you retrace your steps to try and find it? How can so many people lose a shoe? What good is one shoe? I don't get it. I'm going to start keeping track of how many I see.



I did once see a person driving down the road with his foot out the window and he didn't have a shoe on. I could hear my father's voice in my head telling me never to do that, if you got in an accident it wouldn't be pretty.



I have actually lost a shoe once but not along the side of the road. While at an amusement park as a teenager I was on a ride and one of my Dr. Scholl's exercise sandals flew off. Unbelievibly my girlfriends and I managed to find it but all I could think of was that there was someone out there looking for a chick wearing one shoe so they could beat me with the other one. Those things are made of wood and would hurt it you got hit by a flying one.

Did anyone say party?

Maybe you watched the Superbowl, maybe not. I did. Maybe you're a football fan, maybe you're not. I'm not. But I did go to a Superbowl party and didn't think I cared who won until the Giants were working on that last touchdown. I always pull for the underdog. I didn't really see any great commercials either. I did like the first E-Trade baby that spit up.

Speaking of parties, teenagers can come up with any reason to party. Number 2's latest party is a "Super Tuesday" party. A bunch of kids in his AP American Government class are getting together to watch the election returns Tuesday night. He's already told me that he'll be late since the polls in California close at 12:00 am our time. He just passed his road test and I won't have to go pick him up in my pajamas. Apparently the teacher is putting in an appearance at the party. I hope when he arrives someone turns off Guitar Hero and switches the channel to CNN.

More Britney

Today on A Summer's Day: Britney Spears

While Ms. Spears certainly brings a lot of the attention she receives upon herself I am feeling sorry for her now. It's hard not to follow all her ordeals as they're splashed all over every form of media. I was watching CNN in the wee hours of the morning today and the top story was Britney's latest trip to the hospital.

Of course I know who Britney is but I'm not a fan. Her music isn't on my radar, I don't even know if I'd recognize one of her songs. All I know of her is that she started out in show biz on the New Mickey Mouse Club at age 11 and at age 18 had her first hit, Baby One More Time. I had to look that up in Wiki. Whether it be from lack of good parenting or poor business decisions she seems to have had too much too soon. I feel she became too sexualized at a young age. I don't know if I'd want my talented daughter referred to over and over again as a "Poptart".

Maybe I don't get it but it seemed like Britney could have been a role model for young girls, had the opportunity to present a wholesome image but went the way of sleaze. I don't mean that she had to wear long pants and turtlenecks but have you seen the clothes out there for young girls? Try and find a pair of shorts that don't end at the butt cheeks or a shirt that doesn't show the belly. Seven year olds do not need to be dressing like that. I blame that on the influence of the Poptart.

Okay, her life is a total mess. She has two children that I'm sure she loves but didn't know how to take care of from the begining. Her marriage has failed and she's spiraled into the depths of addiction. I am actually feeling sorry for her now. Imagine no matter where you go you're followed by hoards of photographers documenting your every action and word you say. What I saw on CNN was disgusting. The constant flashbulbs, the yelling. No wonder this girl is falling apart. Britney may have been an attention whore at one time but I can't believe she enjoys it now. I think that everyone should leave this poor girl alone. She seems to be on the edge if not over it. I for one will turn the channel anytime there's a story about her. What kind of people are we when we seem to almost take pleasure in her termoil, to be so entertained by her crisis. My God, the entertainment shows are giddy. I think they may have contributed to the state she's in. I say leave her in peace. Unfortunately that will never happen.

Cough, Sniffle, Achoo

I hate to keep complaining about this but damn I'm still not feeling good. This cold just will not go away. I spent Sunday in bed, went to school on Monday and am home in bed today feeling like I got run over by a truck.

As I said before, I've not been completely healthy since October. It's amazing that germs that barely slow down a five year old can wreak havoc on an adult. My lymph nodes are tender and I am just plain bitchy. I'm laying in bed right now watching Planet of the Apes on AMC. I saw this movie at the drive-in with my parents when I was a kid.

One thing I've noticed is that the sponsors must think that their audience this time of the day are senior citizens. There's many commercials for denture adhesive, diabetes supplies, AARP, insurance older people can get without a physical and medicines for sick people. Hey wait, that's me.

Signs, Signs everywhere a sign

On another note, I was out for trip to the store last night and saw some signs. Signs of what you may wonder? Signs of what's to come. Hanging from an overpass across the expressway was a big sign promoting sign up times for softball leagues and in the grocery store they had some daffodils for sale. Sure signs to me that winter's grip will soon be loosening. That makes me feel a teeny bit better.

My favorite commercial. I try and do this every week.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npQC7v73TXg

I Don't Want Any Company

Don't you just hate it when uninvited guests show up? They don't call before they come, they expect you to drop everything and tend to them. Pretty soon they've asked all their friends to come and join the party. You want nothing more but for them to leave peacefully and take their baggage with them. But they just loll around doing what they do best, spreading their crap all over the place and making you miserable.

I can tell when they arrive. My throat starts to get a little scratchy, my nose starts to tingle and as more of their friends show up I start to really go downhill. Today these pesky germs crashed the party at exactly 12:27. I was having lunch at my desk when I got that feeling. I looked at the clock and announced, "I'm getting a cold, shit"

It seems like this school year I haven't been really healthy since October. I get over one virus, have a good week or so then back to not feeling good. The last 5 years I've been very healthy up in fifth grade. This year I moved down to kindergarten and all hell has broken loose. It doesn't help that they are sneezing, coughing and putting their hands all over everything. But how do you not accept their hugs and high fives. I wash my hands about 10 times a day.Those little cherubs have some powerful germs that are sucking the life out of me. I hope to soon build up some sort of immunity against them.

I hope that you're healthy at least.

Oh TV

With the writers strike never ending I've turned to some different TV watching. I'm embarrassed to say that I'm becoming hooked on reality TV. After watching different shows I've come to the conclusion that my life is like, totally boring. Our family isn't extreme enough in any direction to go on Wife Swap, I'm not married to a celebrity so no drama there, my kids were perfect angels compared to the kids on Supernanny, I don't need to go into rehab and have Dr. Drew get me through withdrawal and I'm not single so no hot dating shows for me.

I'm usually left shaking my head after watching these shows. I wonder are these people for real?? A family of clowns? This was an actual episode of Wife Swap. Dad made about 37k a year and wife was attending clown college for 36k a year. Mom, Dad and 7 yr old daughter dressed like and wore clown makeup. She swapped with a wife that ran her house like military boot camp.

Celebrity Rehab has Dr. Drew trying to help celebs kick the habit. The most disturbing celeb is Jeff Conway formerly of Taxi and Grease. I was shocked. He is in a wheelchair and totally wasted. Recently I heard grumblings that this show was exploiting these people and going too far. Hell no, young people and even older peeps should see the nitty gritty of drug and alochol addiction. Some of it is raw.

My Fair Brady, another train wreck that I can't stop watching. Christopher Knight aka Peter Brady is married to an America's Top Model winner Adriane Curry. He's over 20 yrs older than her. I tried to watch "Scott Baio is 47 and Pregnant but he is just too whiny and his girlfriend is annoying. I'm anxiously awaiting a new season of Family Jewels which is the Gene "kiss" Simmons/Shannon Tweed reality show. Oh and then there's American Idol, Survivor and Amazing Race. Help me before my mind turns to mush!

If you're looking for something new and like dark comedy check out Dexter on CBC starting Sunday, February 17 at 10:00. It's about a serial killer but a good serial killer. I know that sounds like an oxymoron but trust me, it's good. It's originally from Showtime. We bought the first season on DVD, loved it and switched from HBO to Showtime so we could watch season 2. LOVE IT! If you're looking for a few good laughs rent the Fox sitcom Arrested Development it is hilarious. I laugh almost constantly. You won't be disappointed.

Now just so you don't think I'm a total air head I do watch National Geographic, CNN and the History Channel.

The Allure of the Voice

Is this not one of the sexiest guys around?? I love that he's not a pretty boy, doesn't have perfect features and the voice, oh the voice. What made me think of him was while watching the Green Bay/New York Giants football game there was a commerical for Coors. Sam Elliott was the voice over. I'd buy anything he was hawking.

Wee, I Mean Wii

I've been remiss putting these Bushisms on here,

but here goes:

"I think-tide turning-see, as I remember-I was raised in the desert,

but tides kind of-it's easy to see a tide turn-did I say those words?"

Washington DC 6/14/06

HUH?

In other news number 2 son bought a remote charger station for his Wii controllers. Hallelujah. Every time I needed to use a rechargeable battery from the charger either they were half charged or wasn't even any in the damn thing. Now he can keep his controllers at the ready.

Trust me, they're worth the money.

See below for description of them.

Compatible:

Nintendo Wii
Part #:

M04184
Name:

Nintendo Wii Double Remote Power Pack Charger Stand (M04184)
Description:

The Nintendo Wii Double Remote Power Pack Charger Stand allows you to quickly charge your Nintendo Wiimote in two hours. The Double Remote Power Pack Charger Stand allows you to charge up to two Nintendo Wiimote simultaneously thru any USB port. The Charger Stand also features auto shut-off function when charging is complete, and it is compatible with any AAA rechargeable batteries.Specifications:
Designed specially for Nintendo Wii
Charges up to two Nintendo Wii remotes simultaneously
Power from any USB port
Compatible with any AAA sized rechargeable batteries
Includes:
Charger Stand
Two battery covers
USB power charging cable
Four AAA sized rechargeable batteries

The "Eyes" Have It

Number 16

"Home is important. It's important to have a home."

Crawford, Texas 2/18/01

Look into my eyes...

Come closer...

Please ignore the wrinkles...

closer still...

Close enough!

I went to the eye doctor this week and he has a new camera that can take a picture of the back of your eye. Being a diabetic these pictures can give him an up close and personal view of my blood vessels. When he first showed me the pictures my first words were, "are those dark spots supposed to be there?" Thank goodness they are. It's called the macula and this is the area that has the largest density of cones.

I may have high cholesterol, type II diabetes

and sucky knees but my eyes are in great shape!

Weather

I missed yesterday's Bushism so here's 14 and 15.

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we.

They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country

and our people, and neither do we."

Washington DC 7/5/04

"One of my hardest parts of my job is to console

the family members who have lost their life."

White House 4/13/04

I realize that this quote didn't come out of Bush's mouth the way he wanted but I do believe that it was from the heart and it is indeed one of the hardest parts of his job.

My mother-in-law sent me this cartoon. I thought it was funny and what made it even funnier is that she sent it to me, totally not what I'd expect from her. Click to enlarge it.

I know I whine constantly on this blog about how I miss the warmth and sunshine during the winter. Actually I can deal with the cold if only we can have more sun. I swear the sun only shines about 10 days during the winter leaving the rest of the days dreary. It seems like the colors of the world have been leeched out, the sky is gray, the trees are bare, the road is whitish from the salt. Maybe I'm suffering from SAD.
The photo below is from my garden last summer. I like it because the one flower looks like its waving.

I will say that today there is a covering of snow that makes it look like a mad pastry chef came by and frosted everything with powdered sugar. But no sun. This time of year I pull out my flower books to drool over and the garden catalogs start arriving. I wonder how far south I have to go to get to where it's green all year long and the trees don't shed their leaves?

My parents live in a retirement golf course community in Lakeland, Florida (right between Tampa and Orlando) during the winter and son number 2 along with his best friend are flying down in February. Those lucky 17 yr. olds get to hang out with a bunch of senior citizens. Some of the old timers don't like it when kids come down to visit but they put up with it because they're someones grand kids although they both won't pass as my parents grandchildren, the best friend is black. My parents will take them where ever they want to go within a few hours drive, they'll get to drive my father's golf cart around the complex, swim in the pool, play shuffleboard and bingo. Why didn't I send myself instead??

I woke up this morning to a beautiful morning. The sun was shining, my window was open and a nice breeze was wafting through. I could hear a lawnmower off in the distance, the air smelled fresh and clean, just the way I like to wake up.

Then I really awoke from my slumber to a cold, dreary, grey, sunless day. I had actually dreamed that I woke up to summer. Cruel, but nice while it lasted.

Bad Knees and a Soap Opera

Number 12

"I can look you in the eye and tell you I feel I've tried to solve the problem diplomatically to the max, and would have committed troops both in Afghanistan and Iraq knowing what I know today."

Irvine, California; 4/24/06

I've had knee trouble for years. Not only am I losing knee space, my knee cap is rotting away from the inside due to arthritis. The doctor could go in and scrape the underside of the cap but there wouldn't really be enough healthy knee cap left. Compounding this problem is that the knee space issue isn't good. Eighteen months ago I only had 30% space left. I get by with shots of some medicine that is at least 25 letters long and isn't cortisone under my knee cap. The last one in July 2006 was extremely painful and my knee hurt for weeks afterward. I am not going to have that done again.

A healthy knee above with normal knee space. Below a bad knee with not much space left. I don't know what mine looks like to compare.

Now this chick has a pretty high pain tolerance. My doctor is always surprised that I'm not begging him for meds. My knee has been pretty bad lately so I'm going to see my orthopedist on Monday morning for new x-rays and to discuss replacement options. There is now partial replacement and replacements just for women. I am tired of my knee hurting and having to baby it. He has told me in the past I am much too young for replacement but I'm much too young to feel this old. We shall see what he says.

An interesting thing about my orthopedic doctor (to me anyway) is that he has the same name as the OB/GYN character from the soap opera that I used to watch. The women were always going to see Dr. XXXXXX because of pregnancy, female illness or whatever. Thing is, we never saw the mysterious Doctor. This was 20 plus years ago but it makes me giggle. I think up plot lines while waiting in the exam room.

Love Doctors

Number 11

Today's Bushism is good one. When I put these up on the blog I don't want you to think I'm a mean, vindictive person. I don't like this man, I think he has done an awful job as president but I freely admit it's a very tough job that myself or any sane person would ever want. Imagine everything that comes out of your mouth being scrutinized and written down. That being said here goes...

"Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB/GYN's aren't able to practice their love with women all across the country."

Poplar Bluff, Missouri; 9/6/04

Told ya.
On to the rest of my post. I know that some bloggers do those pay per post thingies but not me. It's enough for me to come up with stuff for the blogs I have let alone even more. The wonderful Fab has so much stuff goin on in his head he can manage it and do a good job at it. My head must be semi empty. But I have come across two products that I cannot live without so this will sound like a ppp.

First up; Oil of Olay's Microdermabrasion System. Ladies and even gentlemen if you like soft skin this is a must try. When you're finished using it your face will be so soft, glowing and younger looking. I will say that I have been blessed with great skin. I'm fair skinned with freckles, green eye, auburn hair. I've never really had any problems with acne or rosacea. I do have some "life experience" lines on my face though. Try this product, it's reasonably priced compared to what you could spend, easy to use, takes maybe 15 minutes tops and the results are fabulous. I will say while I've never had a problem with it, test patch first if you have very sensitive skin.

Next up; Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. I was skeptical but tried it and wow, it does a bang up job. It cleaned marks off the walls, my cruddy baseboards, the bathtub and I could go on. I will say that the first ones I tried were Wal-Mart brand and they did a great job but seemed to fall about fast. These beauties are worth every cent! My house never looked so sparkly clean. They've changed my life, I have more self confidence. I'm kidding about the last part, I just remember the commercials about yellow waxy build up on your floors and how it seemed like the advertisers wanted to make you feel like a failure if you had that condition.
Make it a great day or not, the choice is yours.

We tell that to our students every day.

Number 10

"We ended the rule of one of history's worst tyrants, and in so doing, we not only freed the American people, we made our own people more secure."

Crawford, Texas 5/3/03

Number 9
"This morning my administration released the budget numbers for fiscal 2006. These budget numbers are not just estimates; these are the actual results for the fiscal year that ended February the thirtieth."
Referring to the fiscal year that ended on September 30. Washington DC 10/11/06


The last 2 days we have enjoyed end of April type weather with temps in the 60's. Today the party is over. This morning waking me up out of a sound sleep, a cold front roared into town. I got up to look outside and could see in the distance the pink flashes of transformers blowing. Once I was satisfied that I wasn't heading toward the land of Oz I returned to bed but not to sleep. I have this strange fear of wind. I don't like it and am nervous at times like this. I'm not talking about a breeze, I mean wind 30 mph or more. Even as a kid when it got really windy I would be on edge. I don't know why. I've never been or even seen a tornado. When I'm anxious about something knowingly or subconscienciously (sp.) I dream about tornadoes or being stuck in a broken elevator. OOHH, just now my neighbor across the street had a huge tree come crashing down, smashing their fence and blocking the road. Several schools are closed but alas not mine. This means the students will have indoor recess today. Back to cold weather, this interlude was just a cruel joke.

Speaking of cruel, sometimes life just bitch slaps you across the face. A sad story here. A 15 yr old boy from our high school had an argument with his dad over video games on Dec. 23. He then left the house at 10 at night. When he didn't return, dad called police. I knew this wouldn't have a happy ending. What kid (by all accounts he was a good one, no troubles) would stay away over Christmas? Yesterday his body was found in a wooded area just 1/4 mile from his home. He had surrounded himself with some brush like a nest apparently to keep warm. I assume he went into the woods for whatever reason and became disoriented and lost. I pray to God that he didn't suffer, just maybe went to sleep. My heart is aching over the senseless loss of a child and for his parents that will have to live with the guilt forever. As a parent you never know how your teenager will respond and what may or may not have been a foolish argument, all their lives are irrevocably changes. Up at the high school they had pleaded with students to come forward if you know anything about his where abouts and now is the time to tell. It's okay to break that confidence. The principal had to break the news yesterday. When number 2 told me, I just had to hug him for about 3 minutes. My heart breaks for this family.

Morning Has Broken

Bushisms number 7 and 8



"Recession means that people's incomes, at the employer level, are going down, basically, relative to costs, people are getting laid off."

Washington, D.C. 2/19/04



"I want to remind you all that in order to fight and win the war, it requires an expenditure of money that is commiserate with keeping a promise to our troops to make sure that they're well paid, well trained, well-equipped."

Washington, D.C. 12/15/03

This morning I awoke to a beautiful sunrise. See above, really, out my bedroom window. While I love a good sunset I think a sunrise is prettier. Something about the soft colors and the breaking of a new day. I'll be honest, I don't see many sunrises. I am not a morning person, never have been. Which leads me to this; every alarm clock I have ever had in my life has an interval of 9 minutes for the snooze feature. Why 9? Who picked that number and how was that decided? It's like paying $3.27 9/10 for a gallon of gas. Do they think we're stupid? For all intents and purposes we're paying 3.28 but it must be something about not seeing that price. Why not pay an even dollar amount for things, not $9.99. Why not 10 bucks?

Anyway back to me, I am one of those people that wait until the last minute to get out of bed, my morning is timed to the second. I hit the snooze button 3 times every morning. Now for some that seems like torture. Going back to sleep only to be so rudely awoken 9 minutes later. Not me, I can't, don't and won't jump right out of bed. I have to be cajoled and eased out of my slumber. I should be happy I wake up every morning but the first word into my mind is #*@k. If I'm really tired I say it out loud. I'm a night owl. I do laundry at night, grocery shop at night, clean at night, I need my beauty rest in the morning.

How about you?

Jeff Foxworthy

Here it is just the sixth day of the new year and already I've missed a day of Bushisms. How reliable am I? Don't answer that. Anyway, here's number 6.

"And I want those who are questioning it to step up and explain why all of a sudden a Middle Eastern company is held to different standards that a Great British company."

Defending a plan to allow a company from the United Arab Emirates to manage ports in the United States; aboard Air Force One on 2/32/06

I do get a laugh from Jeff Foxworthy and his red neck jokes. Maybe because I'm not a red neck but I also had a laugh when I read this bit he did about upstate New Yorkers. Now he lumped all New Yorkers north of NYC as up-staters but that's not true. For your convenience I've doctored a NY state map to show you the different regions. It took me a long time to do this so click on it to enlarge and appreciate my talents! (?)

Here it is with my comments in black.

If you consider it a sport to gather your food by drilling through 36 inches of ice and sitting there all day hoping that the food will swim by, you might live in Upstate New York.

True, many like to ice fish but not me. I'm not into freezing my ass off for a few perch or bass.

If you're proud that your region makes the national news 96 nights a year because Saranac Lake is the coldest spot in the nation, and Syracuse gets more snow than any other major city in the US , you might live in Upstate, NY.
True, in my area of NY the three cities of Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse have a competition to see who gets the most snow. We've all had our turn of being the lucky winner. These 3 cities get copious amounts of lake effect snow. The benefit of living in Rochester is that we often get lake effect snow off of both Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.

If your local Dairy Queen is closed from October through May, you might live in Upstate New York .
That's not true. We don't have Dairy Queen around here. We do have Abbott's, a frozen custard ice cream and yes they are closed October through April Mr. Foxworthy.


If you get 131 inches of snow in a week and you comment that 'winter's finally here', you might live near Oswego in Upstate New York.

True, enough said. That really happened.


If you instinctively walk like a penguin for six months out of the year, you might live, bundled up, in Upstate New York.

True for most, but I hate to wear a winter coat so I usually wear just a fleece jacket unless the temp goes below 0 degrees.

If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance, and they don't work there, you might live in Upstate NY.

True, we're a friendly bunch.

If your dad's suntan stops at a line curving around the middle of his forehead, you might live in Upstate New York.

True for many.


If you have worn shorts and a parka on the same day, you might live in Upstate New York.

LOL, this can happen.


If you have had a lengthy phone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you might live in Upstate New York.

I don't get this one.


YOU KNOW YOU ARE A TRUE UPSTATE NEW YORKER WHEN:


'Vacation' means going South past Syracuse for the weekend.

Not true for me anyway. I go north to the 1000 Island/St. Lawrence River area.

You measure distance in hours.

Doesn't everybody?

You know several people who have hit a deer more than once.

True.

You often switch from 'heat' to 'A/C' in the same day and back again.

It can happen.


You can drive 65 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard, without flinching.

Uh, hhhmmmm, yes we do.

You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.

Not true for me. Our house has been broken into twice over the years and countless things have gone missing from our yard and garage.

You carry jumper cables in your car and your girlfriend/wife knows how to use them.

True, I know how to use them, don't know about the girlfriend.

You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit.

A resounding true!

Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow.

I hate to admit this but this is true.

You know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction.

Not true. While we do have a long continuous road construction season, we often have a week long spring and summer lasts a few weeks.

You can identify a southern or eastern accent.

I love a southern accent, an eastern, not so much.

Down South to you means Corning .

Not true.

Your neighbor throws a party to celebrate his new shed.

Not true in my neighborhood, maybe in the next county over.

You go out for a fish fry every Friday .

True and I love them!!

Your 4th of July picnic was moved indoors due to frost.

Not true but it seems to rain often on this day.

You have more miles on you r snow blower than your car.

Some weeks, yes.

You find 10 degrees 'a little chilly.' and 55 is shorts weather.

LOL-true.

You actually understand these jokes, and you forward them to all your Upstate New York friends and to those who used to live here and left.

True and this will be me someday. Moving to someplace warm and sunny!

I've figured out how to be left alone and have the television to myself. Turn on the Lifetime television network. Right now I'm watching "How to look good naked with Carson Kressley". No one with testosterone is coming with in 25 feet of me.

Bushism number 4

"The march to war hurt the economy. Laura reminded me a while ago that-remember what was on the TV screens- she calls me 'George W.- "George W.'-I call her 'First Lady.' No, anyway- she said, we said, march to war on our TV screen."
Bay Shore, NY 3/11/04

Huh? All I could think of after reading this was what are their intimate moments like?

More later if I get time.

ho hummm

Bushism number 3

"I think there is some methodology in my travels."
Washington DC; 3/05/01

I'm just not feeling it today. I'd like to go to bed for about 5 days. Alone.

Back to Work

Bushism number 2

"I'm not going to be rushed into making a difficult decision, a necessary decision, to say to our troops, 'We're going to give you the tools necessary to succeed and a strategy to help you succeed.'"

Washington, DC 12/13/06

It's back to school for me today after 11 days off. I got into my bad habit of staying up late and sleeping late. One night it was 3:30 when I turned off the light. I wish that I was as tired at bedtime as I am when I get up in the morning. While I love my job, I hate getting up. As a matter of fact, the first word in my brain when my alarm goes off is F@*#. If I'm really tired I say it out loud. Today, really tired and I'll tell you why.

Son number one, age 21, home from college goes out to friends house last night. Said son is working in the cardiac care unit at a local hospital while home on break. Same job he had over the summer in the nurse residents program. Well, I can't go to sleep partly because he has to work at 7 am today and here it was 2 am and he wasn't home yet. I wanted to call him very badly and say, "get your butt home, you've got to work in the morning" but hubby said, "don't do it, he's a big boy." While I totally agree, next time I'm calling because I can't deal with it. I can't go to sleep and I had to get up for school this morning. Is it wrong to tell him that even though he's 21 on work nights he has to be home at a certain time? When he's at school I don't worry about this. He has clinical in the morning and I don't know when he goes to bed. I'm getting more grey hairs by the day.

I almost forgot on the very first day of the new year, my daily "Bushism" from my calendar. Here goes;

"I aim to be a competitive nation"
San Jose, California; 4/21/06

New Years Day

I just finished watching the Rose Parade and while I'm not a parade watcher at all I do enjoy this one. Mostly because I'm flower crazed. The floats are amazing, the marching bands with their precision are awesome and the horses adorned with their fancy saddles and tack are just beautiful. But I'm still afraid of them. This parade is on my to visit and to do list for the future. I'm not a football watcher so I won't be watching the Rose Bowl, son number one says USC will beat Illiniois. Speaking of USC, this university was recruiting son number two and what they don't tell you is that the cost of attendance is $49,800 per year. Yes, for one year. Even with scholarship money it's out of the realm of possibiity. How do people do it?

What I will (and am) watching is the Buffalo Sabres play outside on a rink built on the Buffalo Bills playing field in Ralph Wilson Stadium. I'm so excited for this! I'm a rink rat from way back. I'd love to be there, it's only 60 miles away but 73,000 tickets went fast and are sold out. It's typical western NY weather with snow falling and the wind chill at 20 degrees. Ryan Miller, the Sabres goalie is wearing a tuque.

I'm not one to make New Year's resolutions but I am going to make a concentrated effort to keep the house picked up and to eat at least a little bit healthier. We'll see, ask me a month from now.

I hope everyone has a 2008 that is happy, healthy, safe, prosperous and peaceful. As for me, I'm not getting dressed today. Hhhmmm, starting off the new year being lazy.