Busy

I don't think I am getting anything accomplished, but I have been busy. I still have a few plants to get in the the ground before the next freeze. I cut the grass for hopefully the last time on Monday and managed to loose the gas cap in the process. Idiot. Chasing the kids, washing laundry that never gets put away. Cooking, cleaning, I don't know where the time goes. Halloween on the brain and orange droppings are all over the house with costumes and decorations everywhere. Uggh, such is life.

The Guy Who Tried to Mug Me

reposted from http://http://www.littlegreenfootballs2.com/2009/08/29/to-the-guy-who-tried-to-mug-me/

Posted to Craig’s List / Personals:
To the Guy Who Tried to Mug Me in Downtown Savannah night before last. Date: 2009-05-27, 1:43 A M EST.
I was the guy wearing the black Burberry jacket that you demanded that I hand over, shortly after you pulled the knife on me and my girlfriend threatening our lives. You also asked for my girlfriend’s purse and earrings. I can only hope that you somehow come across this rather important message.
First, I’d like to apologize for your embarrassment, I didn’t expect you to actually crap in your pants when I drew my pistol after you took my jacket. The evening was not that cold, and I was wearing the jacket for a reason.. My girlfriend had just bought me that Kimber Model 1911 .45 A CP pistol for my birthday, and we had picked up a shoulder holster for it that very evening. Obviously you agree that it is a very intimidating weapon when pointed at your head … isn’t it! I know it probably wasn’t fun walking back to wherever you’d come from with that brown sludge in your pants. I’m sure it was even worse walking bare footed since I made you leave your shoes, cell phone, and wallet with me. [That prevented you from calling or running to your buddies to come help mug us again].
After I called your mother, or “Momma” as you had her listed in your cell, I explained the entire episode of what you’d done. Then I went and filled up my gas tank as well as four other people’s in the gas station on your credit card. The guy with the big motor home took 150 gallons and was extremely grateful! I gave your shoes to a homeless guy outside Vinnie Van Go Go’s, along with all the cash in you r wallet. [That made his day!] I then threw your wallet into the big pink “pimp mobile” that was parked at the curb … after I broke the windshield and side window and keyed the entire driver’s side of the car.
Later, I called a bunch of phone sex numbers from your cell phone. Ma Bell just now shut down the line, although I only used the phone for a little over a day now, so what’s going on with that? Earlier, I managed to get in two threatening phone calls to the DA’s office and one to the FBI, while mentioning President Obama as my possible target. The FBI guy seemed really intense and we had a nice long chat (I guess while he traced your number etc.). In a way, perhaps I should apologize for not killing you … but I feel this type of retribution is a far more appropriate punishment for your threatened crime. I wish you well as you try to sort through some of these rather immediate pressing issues, and can only hope that you have the opportunity to reflect upon, and perhaps reconsider the career path you’ve chosen to pursue in life.Remember, next time you might not be so lucky. Have a good day!
Thoughtfully yours,Bill
P.S. Remember this motto…An armed society makes for a more civil society.

Thankfully it wasn't me who got mugged.

Cookie Trays in Ohio

I can sure relate to this article from Gormet on the cookie table at weddings and celebrations. Me being a 2nd generation American with Grandma from Italy- cookies have been a blessing at nearly every family event. My daughters 8 and 9 have already begun picking up on the traditons learning to mix abd roll the dough in eager anticipation of eating the delights.


"I first heard about a cookie table when my niece was planning her own wedding in Pittsburgh. Family members and guests, I learned, were expected to show up bearing boxes of their favorite home-baked cookies, all to be displayed on a long banquet table. Everyone would help themselves after the ceremony and also take some cookies home as party favors. It all sounded charming but also a bit humble, like a card table laden with Snickerdoodles trying to upstage the fancier wedding cake.

I simply couldn’t understand the awe the custom inspired in these parts of western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio—until I came face to face with the cookie table itself. It was a wonder, with acres of colorful baked treats, perhaps a couple thousand of them, each one more extravagant than the next. All were arranged like jewels on tiers of silver platters that had been carefully adorned with tulle and lace.

Liz Nohra, curator of a cookie-table exhibit at the local history museum in Youngstown, Ohio, traces the custom back to immigrants—mostly Italians, Eastern Europeans, and Greeks—who worked in the steel mills and perhaps couldn’t afford a wedding cake. As to where the custom originated—Youngstown or Pittsburgh—no one is certain. At Our Lady of Mount Carmel church, in Youngstown, it can take all day to set up a proper cookie table. The record number at one wedding, according to Lou Fusillo, who manages the catering for the church, is 15,000 cookies. People may notice the bride’s dress or and swoon at the flowers, he says, but it’s not a successful wedding until guests pronounce judgment on the table. “And there better be lots of cookies,” he adds.

Usually, the bride’s family does most of the baking, but everyone is welcome to pitch in. Bakers win points for creating bite-sized delicacies that come from family recipes, and the more difficult to make the better. The most popular cookie may be the ladylock, a flaky pastry horn with a silky cream filling. It’s also called a clothespin cookie, because grandmothers wrapped the pastry around a wooden clothespin that was later extracted to make space for the cream filling. Another favorite is the pizzelle, a flat wafer, round and lacy, like a snowflake, with a whisper of anise or lemon. And everyone loves the buttery Greek and Italian wedding cookies, dusted with powdered sugar, as well as the Czech kolaches, rolled leaves of dough that are either crispy with nuts or sweet and chewy with fruit.

There are wonderful tales of the angry aunt whose specialty wound up at the back of the display and a bride’s family fallen into disgrace when store-bought cookies turned up in the mix. But most of the lore surrounding the cookie table is about happy times. “It’s a way of bringing people into your celebration,” says Nohra, “sharing a heritage of family and food.” And the cookie table is spreading; she has tracked them not only to weddings but also to anniversary celebrations, graduations, showers, and baptisms as far away as West Virginia, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware. I can vouch for one turning up in Connecticut. When I got married there last summer, my Pittsburgh relatives staged a cookie table full of our family favorites. The wedding cake made quite a splash, but it was the cookies that stole the show.

http://www.gourmet.com/food/2009/06/cookie-table?searchurl=food&query=section%3Afood+AND+NOT+type%3Aitem

Mmmmm, my mouth is watering. We need a wedding folks!

Lunar Eclipse Tonight

What a nice 4th of July. From the Tea party in Hanoverton, to the parade, to the parties- fun! Lots of photos but little time to upload them.

Lunar Eclipse (Penumbral) - TODAY, Tue. Jul. 7 @ 8:38 GMT
Full Moon - TODAY, Tue. Jul. 7 @ 8:21 GMT

There are days I think the man on the moon can hear me howling and yelling at the kids- thankfully not too often!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_2009_lunar_eclipse

Ohio TEA Party Friday, July 3, 2009

Are you Taxed Enough Americans? Join a Tea Party this Independence Day.

Spread Eagle Tavern & Inn
10150 Plymouth Street
Hanoverton, Ohio 44423
Friday, July 3rd 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM~

Featured Speakers~Moderator – Presenter Mr David Zanotti CEO - American Policy Round Table Opening Prayer Pastor Becky Burke Minority Leader Ohio House of Representatives Hon. William Batchelder Robert E. Murray Founder, Chairman, President & CEO Murray Energy Corporation Bob Frederick Frederick Chrysler-Dodge-JeepWayne Herrod Constitutionalist Dave Johnson CEO - Summitville Tiles, Inc. Owner – Spread Eagle Tavern Speakers will address audience on back of 1938 Ford Pick-up Truck hot dogs & lemonade served street-side entire family welcome!

Props to:
http://agoodchoice.blogspot.com/2009/07/hanoverton-ohio-tea-party-friday-july-3.html

Happy 4th of July! God Bless America.

Soccer Season Kicks Off

2008 pix.

Soccer season has officially begun! Of course, nothing fit from last year so we again had to make our annual pilgrimage to Dick's sporting goods for shoes, shorts, etc. Got off cheap for $100 with some coupons and managed to find a cute golf shirt for me as well- no matter than it has been years that I have been golfing. Hard to believe they are wearing size 3.5!

Last night was E's first practice. She was excited and managed to make a new friend on the first night. She is normally pretty shy so I was impressed. I was also impressed that she only fell one time, which is tremendous as she is kind a clumsy. Nicole talked me into bringing the dog. I knew in advance it was going to be a problem and was warned that the league prohibited dogs. Her practices begin next week and then four nights a week of games. So much for happy hour at my house.

I met a woman who coaches for the traveling league whose daughter is on both teams and she asked both girls to join! In addition to the commitment of two games a week for the rec league for each kid on different nights, this would mean two additional nights of practice. The recreation league ends in August and the kids would still have two nights of practice and then every weekend until Halloween, would travel around the area to play against other teams. This boils down to nearly seven nights of soccer per week for a good portion of the summer. I am selfishly thinking no frigging way but I left it up to the girls.

Hurray for common sense! The girls said while they love soccer, they do not love it enough to give up every night and weekend for it. I don't know how parents sacrifice the time for baseball and football. We've got friends on All Stars who play and travel non-stop. I prefer to have a life and one with a little variety. And, I like to be home. We've got the pool and the farm with either a million toys or a million chores to occupy them. They are still just little kids and need to go out and play, not to have such rigorous schedules especially in the summer. School is tough enough, throw in homework and music lessons here and there, and where is there time for just plain old fun?

Nic and Em still like the game of soccer because it is fun. That's what being a kid is all about. Thank you God that they are not torturing us into a 5 month nightly commitment to soccer. That, is no fun. Amen.

Strip Searching Kids Unconstitutional

The Supreme Court has declared that the strip search of 13-year-old student unconstitutional. No shit, it is not okay to strip search children.

ACLU reports that 8-1, "the Supreme Court ruled today that school officials violated the constitutional rights of Savana Redding, a 13-year-old Arizona girl who was strip searched based on a classmate's uncorroborated accusation that she previously possessed ibuprofen. This is the biggest victory for students’ rights in the last 20 years."

While the girl is all grown up now, and certainly pleased that the ACLU won the case on her behalf, she must be wagging a finger at the entire justice system. Her head must be spinning around like Carrie in the move The Exorcist over Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas' ludicrous dissent: "Redding would not have been the first person to conceal pills in her undergarments. Nor will she be the last after today's decision, which announces the safest place to secrete contraband in school."

So if she had a joint it would have been okay to search her? When did undergarments become the safest place? Why not check her butt or private parts for contraband like they do in prisons? This was over Tylenol, not a gun, a knife or some other menacing threat. What is this world coming to? For heaven's sake, if the school felt she was a threat they should have at the very least called her parents and the police. My head would just about pop off like a dandelion head if one of my children were searched like this. How appalling that this happened and more appalling is the dissent of Thomas.

We are talking about children, you know- the future generation. All kids learn History and American Government. Let's hope teachers and school administrators take another look at the Fourth Amendment, the one that bans unreasonable searches.

The case is Safford Unified School District v. April Redding, 08-479.

beaches, dogs, bee bites

We were sort of tossing around the idea of a summer vacation and along comes the news that our dog needs a $2000 operation for some bladder cysts. Having to think long and hard about that and getting a 2nd opinion from the farm vet dwon the road. Our pup is only going to be 3 years old this fall. The kids are already flipping out. What would you do?

No wonder people don't want to travel anywhere between swine flu and over crowded beaches like this. And no wonder people don't want to adopt dogs and cats with thousands of dollars in vet bills to keep them pissing and shitting. http://sayanythingblog.com/entry/new_york_times_cbs_poll_says_72_of_americans_support_health_care_reform/

A crappy weather week brought 13 inches of rain last week but a few days of sunshine ahead! I got stung by a bee or some other bastard stinging bug today while cutting grass with my birthday present- a garage sale lawn mower. Yowza, hurt like hell but no allergy shot required.

OMG. It this my life??-- that I am happy to have gotten a used lawnmower to cut around the lake and thrilled that I didn't go into anaphalactic (sp?) shock over a bee bite? Yep,yippee and Happy Father's Day!

Summertime

Summer is awesome. Global warming may suck in some parts but here we love it with temps in the 80's and perfect days to swim in the pool. Happy summer, stop on by if you get a chance!

Little Birds Grow Up

Nic's 1st Communion

Last Day of School

Day old birds.

Look how my little birds have grown! We are celebrating Nic's 8th birthday today with 20 of her closest friends coming over for a pool party. Have I lost my mind? Ask me later.... Sunny and 80- praise be to God!!!!

Plainsman Gloves in The Universe of Me

How hard is it to find a fucking pair of garden gloves that actually protect the user- namely me, from getting stabbed from scrub weed and filthy dirty? I had these beautiful Justin Plainsman gloves but they have finally worn out. Help me!

Jesus Christmas, it is as if I got a lump of coal. I work in the yard, a lot. Not just like pull a friging weed: like shoveling 50 yards of mulch, dig shit up, move the shit, plant shit, replant the shit, cut the shit, and try to avoid duck and dog shit all the while. I need fucking good gloves and Justin brand did the job.

Look, gloves have real meaning in my little universe. First off I hate touching yucky shit. Dead bugs and worms skeeve me out. The day I found a nest of 10 snakes my Justin gloves saved me and for years I have worn only Justin Plainsman. Mens size small. Big hands for a little penis, eh? Goatskin, fairly water resistant, durable, form fitting, and lasting. Ripping a hole in one of the gloves tore at my soul. Not saying my nails stayed clean, but I never got that rose bush thorn injury either. And no snake ever bit through the glove, although I must admit I screamed like a girl.

Now I can't find Justin brand gloves and have bought various pieces of shit gloves from the landscpae stores that claim durability and like most- they lie and the product sucks.

At about $20 a pair unless there is a Sam's Club bonus pack which is not on the shelves this year I figure no biggie- order them on line. Well God dangit, Justin is a Berkshire Hathaway Company and apparently they make more profit on boots than gloves. I have a pair of Justin boots and they suck. Not remotely waterproof, they never conformed to my feet, the leather soles remained loose from the uppers, and they cost a small fortune. Top if off they don't really look that good nor are they as comfortable as a glove. Truth be told they smell of stinky feet. If I stepped on a snake wearing Justin boots, I'd have doubts that the damned thing couldn't sink it's teeth through to my toes.

So now what? Ya know, frig it. Let the shit grow over and I think I'll get a manicure and a pedicure too. Maybe even go for the eyebrow wax and begin to drink beer out of a glass. And frig wearing cowboy boots when my mud boots from Target at under $30 keep my feet dry and are more comfortable. Gloves $20- Manicure $20- zMaybe I was born at night- but it wasn't last night. Stupid is as stupid does....

Yeah, you know me too well.

Aw, hell if anyone finds these Justin Plainsman Cabretta Gloves, Men's Size Small and gets them for me I would be forever indebted- besides paying you back. As an added bonus I'll buy you the manicure.

National Donut Day on The Last Day of School

The day just keeps getting better.

Today is the last day of school and also National Donut Day. You can enjoy free doughnuts courtesy of both Krispy Kreme and Dunkin' Donuts! There's no purchase required at Krispy Kreme or you can hit up Dunkin' Donuts, where you get a free donut with the purchase of a beverage.

Make mine a vanilla creme stick please! Can I have my coffee with Irish Whiskey please? It is the last day of school.

School Lunches

The school year is winding down, hurray. I love Summer and having the kids around, even tho they test my patience at times.

Em in 3rd grade actually has final exams, can you imagine? Who invented the microwave? Percy Spencer of course! There is also a whole bunch of liberal questions like what is a renewable energy source and what do you recycle? These are the bothersome ones to me. Kids say the darnedest things as my friend L pointed out when her daughters and mine were discussing the merits of recycling among themselves and she happened to over hear the conversation. I would have liked to have been a fly on the wall. Just when you think your own beliefs aren't sinking in to your kids brains you find out they actually do pay attention.

In trying to explain our displeasure with Obama and his lean toward socialism we used this example. You study hard and get an A on the test but some kids fail. The teacher will take your A and give you and everyone in the class a C because it is for the greater good. This they understood.

I will have a 3rd and 4th grader! I am old enough to have kids in college but savor the little moments when the light bulb goes off on a topic. Em, can barely write her name but has fractions and square roots questions answered like a calculator and is masterful at usable geometry- like measuring up how many yards of carpet will it take to finish the basement. Nic is stubborn and is a know it all. She gets so pissed at herself for not comprehending the topic, has a tantrum, cries through the homework while we help her and then claims she knew it all along. Arggh- two kids, two distinct personalities.

My kids purchase cafeteria lunch all year long, in part so that they avoid the temptation to eat only brownies and cheese puffs. Lunch is priced fair- $12.50 each for the week and includes a drink. Today was sloppy Joe day and Em decided that she was packing her own lunch rather that eat that "crap". She picked a turkey lunch-able, apple sauce, Capri sun, and gold fish. Good for her.

Here is an interesting post of school lunches from around the world- http://interestingemailforwards.blogspot.com/2009/05/school-lunch-from-around-world.html Interesting to see the variations not only in the food but the containers they get served in.

As much as I can't stand Giant Eagle for grocery shopping we need to stock up on so much that I am forced to abandon my usual Marc's discount store. Maybe I'll be adventuresome and shop at both places. Is the aggravation is worth saving a few bucks? Oh and I need to stop at the dreaded Wal Mart for the stretch shorts my kids love but have grown out of of. Next week the children will be in tow everywhere I go so it is much easier to get the errands done without them else my buggy will indeed be filled with brownies and cheesy poofs!

May life

Woes me, more than a month without a post! Yikes. Life has just been a blur. Nic made her first Communion, the pool is open, the yard work never ends, the kids have finals for their last week of school, I turned 45, etc.

Memorial Day weather cooperated for the first time in years with temps in the 80's and sunshine. Our duck eggs hatched and we all kept peeking at them in wonderment. By morning the mom duck and the babies were gone and did not return. I figure maybe a fox but I'd like to think she took them to a different nearby lake than ours.

Thinking of lakes, looks like hubby is tired of hearing me bitch for 3 years and is succumbing to us getting a little fountain for our retention pond. For the first time he helped rake up algae and an aerator would eliminate most of that nasty job. The little 1/2 HP fountain is still around $1000 so I am not sure he will go for it when he sees the price tag. Fingers crossed tho.

For the first time my kids do not want to go to summer camp at the Y. This would have been the fifth or sixth year. It was perfect with only a few hours in the morning two or three days a week- just enough to get the grocery shopping done and the house cleaned up in peace and quiet. Growing up I guess.

Two of my favorite days are the kids last day of school and ?????? guess the other one. I am so ready to stop the morning cringe. With daylight until almost 9, the schedule has been shot to hell and no one is getting enough sleep- including me.

I am ready to kick it back for a summer of rest, relaxation and entertainment. I thought about throwing myself a 45th bday party but it seemed pretty lame to have to do it myself. Perhaps a pig roast to celebrate the fact that China is working on a Swine Flu Vaccine ahead of the rest of the world. Wandering around away from politics and news headlines saw this cool site for nifty creature comforts and recipes for entertaining. http://creaturecomforts.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/05/today-i-love-jane-mcdevitts-vintage-matchbox-labels.html. search from there...


Our favs, The Pittsburgh Pens are in the Stanley Cup so another reason for a party! Let's go pens.....

Duck Duck Goose Eggs

Wow. This is what Spring is all about!

I was out poking around in the dirt, doing the whole Winter/Spring yard cleanup and found a bird's nest last week. I almost ripped it out accidentally with the dead ornamental grass, but I happened to see something white. It only had one egg in it then.

Today, the mama duck was off swimming and I snuck a peek. Lo and behold I found 11 eggs!

Just what I need, 11 more baby ducks pooping by the pool!

I can't wait!

Easter Our Way

Having been to three places to eat today, I feel especially blessed to have so much family and so many places to visit. Three to be exact.

Like all holidays, today started out in a hurry to finish the preparations for the food to take and share. It ended with a great triumph in my heart to look at my own family and realize that they are learning the not just the traditions of religion, but of food and hospitality. What a gift someone gives when they open up there home to make you truly feel welcome. What can I get you to drink? Make another plate! Try this! Eat this! Take some home. Sharing, especially at the holidays in nothing more than another way to say, I love you.

We try to do it often in our own home, but today it worked out that I cooked no main courses just bringing side dishes, salads, Easter cheese, and cookies everywhere we went. Gratefully, relatives sent us home with leftovers.

According to the scale I gained SEVEN, yes 7 pounds in in one day! I am not lying and by the looks of my fat belly I ate 7 pound of food. Today I ate not only because I was hungry, but because the food was delicious. I understand the joy that comes from being the cook, watching people eat what you have prepared and to have your guests truly enjoy the meal and the company.

Our family is so diverse from agnostic, baptist, Protestant, to Catholic. We share in the joy of Easter and each other, and overlook differences for the day. Most agree Obama is a butt head, but the conversations are light hearted enough on a chilly sun filled day.

The children have finally wound down after rising early to find Easter Bunny baskets and treats. E had an allergy attack which almost turned into a full blown asthma attack after being in a house with a cat but is alright now. I am fat, sassy and have dirty dishes to look forward to doing tomorrow. And the kids are off school all week and this makes me happy.

The joys of Easter.

Make a Palm Cross

I pray everyone is having a lovely Palm Sunday. Sunny and 55 makes watching the crocus and other flower blooms much nicer.

We attended mass last evening. I'd forgotten about the long reading of the "Passion," but the children managed to have good behavior and not use the palm fronds as swords. My grandmother used to make the loveliest crosses out of the palms, but I couldn't recall how to do it in church. Here is how, and there is a video as well.
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Palm-Frond-Cross

Have a blessed Easter Week.

Missing kids number in the hundreds, Sandra Cantu won't be the last

The search continues for missing girl Sandra Cantu from the the town of Tracy near Fresno, California.Police are questioning a neighborhood male, aged 59 who admitted he once kissed Sandra on the mouth, "to be nice."

What the frig is this world coming to?

8 year old Sandra was last seen wearing a pink Hello Kitty shirt and black leggings.

Nancy Grace is following this and other missing children cases at http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/nancy.grace/.

Sadly there are hundred's more who's name we will never hear or see again. http://missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PublicHomeServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US

Heinous to think there are hundreds of child offenders and sex offenders released from prison everyday. They should be made into eunuchs, castrated. Lock the key and throw it away or better yet save our tax dollars and issue the death sentance. 10 years of appeals and then death. There is no cure for sex offenders, period.

Hug your kids a little tighter.

Youngstown Ohio Tea Party

Have a nice Tax Day.

Photo Update

Here we are on a great camping weekend at Lake Hope, Ohio and the girls trying to be fancy in school uniforms for St. Patrick's Day.

Jobless to Topless Barbie

Even Barbie is feeling the Pinch of the economy, but not enough to stop cheering for March Madness! The economy is so bad in these parts that my kids who have been begging for new Barbie clothes, have resorted to coming up with other creative ideas to design clothes for their dolls. What a great idea, mini-pads! Self sticking and so fashionable, eh? So glad they did not use a red marker to highlight the form fitting, stay in place outfit.

In the real world, "As a bartender and trainer at a national restaurant chain, Rebecca Brown earned a couple thousand dollars in a really good week. Now, as a dancer at Chicago's Pink Monkey gentleman's club, she makes almost that much in one good night. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090322/ap_on_bi_ge/economy_adult_entertainment

cross posted at http://ahrcanum.wordpress.com/

Jonas Brothers Rocked

Who knew the Jonas Brothers were so cool? We met up with friends and took the girls now 7 and 9 to see the new 3-D Jonas Brothers Movie. Even at 40+ years young, I enjoyed it too. Cute to see the girls bouncing up and down and trying to interact w/ the 3-D effects.

First comments after the movie from the girls was that they can't wait until they can be in their own bands. Both are taking musical lessons so I guess if the movie at the very least inspires them to keep playing, then it was worth the steep $15 ticket price. The Jonas Brothers put on a clean show with no swearing, sex, or drugs which is pretty hard to find these days. The band is coming to the Pittsburgh area and floor seats http://www.stubhub.com/jonas-brothers-tickets/jonas-brothers-pittsburgh-mellon-arena-7-25-2009-808241/ are going for about $1000 per ticket. Holy crap- I will never complain about the price of a movie again!

Barack Obama is Irish too

There's no one as Irish as Barack Obama. We still haven't seen our President's official birth certificate, only a copy that may or may not be authentic. Just because it is on the internet doesn't make it true.

Happy St. Patrick's Day.

DelSignore Family

Me with Boxing Promoter Bob Arum.

Dante DelSignore, 2008 Fundraiser.

This is Dante DelSignore. I met him briefly at a fundraiser in his honor that featured a boxing crew of Kelly The Ghost, Boom Boom, Arroyo, Arum and others. He is currently beating cancer and his mom does a terrific job of updating his progress at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/dantedelsignore. You have to register if you want to post and right now his family needs a whole lot of prayers.

Today's journal entry says- "Dante is OK…….But his big brother Sam……our oldest son…passed away in his sleep in the wee hours of the morning yesterday, Friday, March 13. The autopsy revealed heart muscles that were very thick, an indication that his heart had a hard time pumping his blood."

I can't even imagine. Send some prayers.

While your at it, the Tom Driscoll family could use some too. On January 25, 2009, Tom Driscoll was in a car accident while traveling to New York to spend the next five weeks preparing for the bar exam. He experienced injuries, especially to his head, face, and brain, and has been hospitalized in a coma since then. Tom and his wife Sue have 14 kids. http://www.caringbridge.org/cb/viewJournal.do?method=executeInit

Live while you can, before you can not.

And, if sure can't hurt to pray for others along the way.

Everything will be OK

Image from One Horse Shy Store at cafe http://rpc.blogrolling.com/redirect.php?r=6c1471863d5e5afa7c4691f4b7aebb3b&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvodkapundit.com

The doctor didn't even manage to say, "Everything will be OK," after telling me that my blood pressure was through the roof. 170/120 There is no pill to cure high blood pressure, but it will control it. All the blood work shows that I am perfect on paper- in fact, my cholesterol is even better than it was 10 years ago. Calcium Channel Blocker drugs prescribed for me- apparently forever. If it keeps me alive, or prevents a stroke why not? I have a hard head, but I am not stupid. Just pisses me off to have to take anything at all. The only other med I ever took regularly was the pill and got off of that years ago.

Ah well, cest la vie and my life is good, so I will take the meds. I went to the doctor originally to get my ears cleaned and get rid of a dizzy sort of feeling. I can hear again and am now hearing my heartbeat in my head. Shit. Everything will be ok.

Does Dyslexia Matter

Does dyslexia matter?

"I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the first and last ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can still raed it wouthit a porbelm. This is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe." http://prorev.com/2009/03/brevitas_11.html

Our nine year olds writing skills are very similar. We are into cursive this 3rd grade and we all hate it. For one thing, other than signing your name when else is cursive ever used? I am pissed that the school puts more emphasis on it than keystroking or texting. My kids have learned how to write checks in cursive as well. Stupid in a world of e-commerce, debit cards and credit cards.

Her manuscript or printing isn't much better. I blame half of her inability to form the correct word patterns on phonics. While here lettering isn't quite as bad as illustrated above she will spell things like sho=shoe, dun=done, m=am phonetically.

Thing is, while the kid is a bit of a ditzy blond, she is smart. Reading a grade level ahead has balanced the F's in handwriting and spelling with the B in reading, so what to do? We just keep practicing and hoping the light bulb will go on. I am also starting to work on keystrokes on the keyboard for her so down the road she can type her assignments, and use the spell check to fix her mistakes.

At the very least if she goes into the medical field and writes a prescription, it will be as illegible as the rest of the doctors handwriting.

FLA 09 Vacation

March Forth on March Fourth

I am not completely heartless and actually do volunteer and make donations- which I think are no longer tax deductible under Obama. Anyways, a few years ago a dear friend of ours prepared to celebrate her milestone 40th birthday on March 4th. “I wondered what legacy, a simple woman like me with no fame, no wealth and no children, could leave. "

In response to this, she looked to where her fortunes does lie - within dear friends and family scattered across the country, and asked all to help create a shared legacy. To collectively, open our eyes and really LOOK at those around us…and to reach out in kindness. The tradition continues this year, as it will for many years ahead. Until we don’t need reminded to slow down and care for our neighbors.

She challenges each of us, on March 4th, to March Forth into your communities and give of yourselves. So, dear friends, March Forth into your communities — act, commit, speak up, reach out, donate, give of yourself. Learn more by following her new blog http://wemarch4th.blogspot.com/ or check out the original website at http://MarchForth.us to see how people have lived The March in past years.

Remember, you don’t have to organize any big outings or large donations. You don’t have to sign on the dotted line to be an Obama Community Organizer, join the Army or commit commit to National Service to do something nice for someone else. No matter whom you voted for, the date March 4th is used to pause from our busy schedules to remember that we are indeed part of a larger family and community.

The site says, “March 4th is more than just a day…it’s our legacy.” The Obama administration is more than just four years…it could be the legacy that destroys democracy with complete reliance on hand outs from government, rather than the willing hand of a neighbor.
One individual person made a difference to come up with March Forth on March fourth. It might be that Hillary Clinton was right in saying, “It takes a village.” It shouldn’t take a government.

March Forth.

If Money Was Replaced With Love & Kindness

Check out this one minute ad from Absolut Vodka. Note that a hug and a kiss will not buy a bottle of Absolut. Absolutely absurd in a tree hugging sort of way.

Panda Ashes for Lent

Awe, isn't the little Panda Bear cute? Well, the cute little marsupial just about caught my whole house on fire tonight. 2-24.09.

Santa Clause, The Easter Bunny, or maybe The Tooth Fairy brought this cute little Barbie animal available at http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=9863713 to our home at some point. Somehow the damned thing managed to find its way to the top of a lamp. There he sat silently, waiting for someone to turn on the lamp, cook his ass, stink worse than a marsupial bowel movement, and scare the hell out of us searching for where the smell was coming from.

Mardi Gras. Fat Tuesday. Day before Lent. (do repent) One of the kids turned on a lamp and walked away and Panda's ass started to smolder sitting on top of the bulb- unbeknown to us. The Margarita Buzz to celebrate was over as we searched frantically for the smell of what could be burning.

The dryer? An electrical short? WHeRe? WhAT? It stiNKs to HiGh Hell. OMG--- OH MY GOD, The Panda's ass is on fire a top of a lamp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I ran to the sink with the idiotic toy still mumbling about his areas that need medical attention to run him under the water to put out his smoldering ass. You'd have thunk it would have melted his voice box but no way. Mr. or Mrs. Panda Bear will no longer laugh, sing or snore in my house.

The children got there 'lil butts reamed verbally for even thinking to put him on a lamp. They of course denied any knowledge of a panda with a light bulb up its ass. I on the other hand, put the fear of God in them- backed with hellfire for scaring me. Could he have landed there on a game of Panda football? Kick the Panda? Panda Hate? We blame most everything that smells bad on our poor Lola dog, but this was so horrendous it was hard to lay blame on her.

Panda's ass is now out- quite literally. The house stinks like melted formaldehyde and burnt plastic fuzz. The windows are open with the ceiling fans on high with the heat on to compensate for the 30 degree temps but, we are safe- sans Panda.

Of all the stupid things! A freaking stuffed animal! Weird thing is, the panda smoldering never sent a signal to our sensitive smoke alarm detectors that go off if I plug in a Glade Air Freshener. Go figure.

On other news- our little vacation get away was great and it was splendid to spend time in the sunshine of Fla. The weather was here and there, but it is hard to complain when there was no snow. A lot of great shelling at Sanibel Beach. Sunshine in Fort Myers. Work at our new hotel in LaBelle. New friends and old. The amount of homework stunk, but watching a beautiful sunset on the beach made up for it. Odd without the whole extended family in tow as in years past, but none the less delightful.

As we get ashes tomorrow for Ash Wednesday, I am grateful that they are not from the smoldering ashes of our home or lives. Whatever Lent means to you- may it grant you peace and serenity to not ever have to experience a smoldering Panda's ass.

God Bless America and you, my friends.

new year

Check us out---still enjoyng the New Year

January sort a sucked

January sort of sucked.

It got off to a grand start with the marriage of R & S and just sort of lingered on from there. The weather here pretty much sucked with miserable cold temps. Even with me learning to cross country ski, it is just damned cold and the roads full of ice and pot holes.

E was on antibiotics for the New Year and this week Nic got diagnosed with Strep Throat thanks to one of her class mates who spread the love and is on antibiotics now. I know it is just kids being kids but damned, when you are a little kid with a fever and feel like shit, and then take it out on everyone around you , it just makes being a mom all that much harder. Throw in my own sore throat and we are a home of bitchy women.

An old friend I used to work with, his daughter is rejecting a transplanted liver and by all accounts is one sick girl. Now married in her early 20's with a daughter herself- it just puts into perspective the fragility of it all. She took a Claritin or a similar OTC sinus pill that kicked her liver into hell and has fought like hell ever since. All over the sniffles. Go figure.

We are all dreaming about Florida beaches and warmer temperatures. I can't believe it myself- I gave up a trip to Vegas to go camping with the girls and hubby for a trip to Lake Hope this Spring with E's college buddies. I gave up the trip willingly. In the past it has really been a lot fun and the girls enjoy some limited freedom with supervision.

So tomorrow brings in Feb. Temps into 40 but with a foot of snow on the ground, I don't expect much transition. Hell, maybe we'll celebrate by shopping for new bathing suits. What we really need is new snow pants to replace the broken zippers, but that would be way too practical and thanks to the shit heads in marketing- there are no more snow pants being sold in the stores even tho we are in the midst of Winter. Even Wal-Mart is showing the Spring line and they can't figure out why merchandise just sits and sits until it is discounted.

If I were really smart, I'd pack us all up for a trip to see the Ground Hog fuck up my dreams of an early end to winter.

God willing, I will see the 300+ tulips bulbs I planted at Christmas -bloom in about 3 months.

Frig off January.