And So it begins

Call me Ranty McRanterson

2011-08-31T10:53:00.000-04:00

I know I don’t blog much. I also know I don’t have readers so at least I’m not letting anyone down. Today though, I have a rant. However, before I begin the rant let me preface with the following:

1.) My manfriend, boys, and I have moved into Manfriend’s childhood home due to the duplex we were renting being foreclosed on.
2.) Our friends were booted from the same duplex community for similar reasons. They are staying with us for a while.
3.) Work has been increasingly stressful and I force myself to get through it.
4.) As always, money is tight.
5.) The boys are finally going back to school tomorrow.
6.) Sometimes I think my manfriend forgets we are in a relationship and not just roommates.

Lets start with point one, shall we?

Point one: The boot and the house

In October of last year, Manfriend and I decided to co-habitate. Due to budgetary restrictions we decided on a nice little duplex right next to some good friends of ours. We paid our rent on time every month and kept the place in good condition. We liked it there, even if it was a bit small for two adults, two kids, a dog, and two cats. That’s fine. We are cool with that. In May of this year, however, we received a letter from a lawyer saying that the property was foreclosed on in May of 2010 (for those of you keeping count that means we signed a lease to someone claiming to be the owner five months after he lost the property). So we were paying rent to the wrong people.

Because we needed to move out fast Manfriend and I reluctantly agreed to rent Manfriend’s childhood home from his parents. At first this didn’t seem like a very big deal. Yeah, the ceilings are only 6ft high…yeah the a/c was currently disassembled, yeah we had to move a bunch of junk out of there…but it was shelter! It has three bedrooms! It has a fenced in back yard! Definite pros. But now we have the cons…busted water pipes, a/c is completely caput, mice, ants, light fixtures that are not flush to the low ceiling, gaps in the fence that have to be stacked with all the random crap to keep the dog in the yard, and lets not forget all the random crap that’s around. OR the fact that mumsy and daddy think that they can come in the house whenever they feel like it, if we are there or not.

We have three sinks in the house. The cold water works on two of them…no hot water at all runs to them do to pipes having to be capped off because as great as it is to have a flooded yard, we can’t afford the $200+ water bills. (that means one sink doesn’t work at all). There is a shower…but it doesn’t work…at all. The tub, fortunately, has hot and cold water, though the faucet is too wide to attach an adapter to turn it into a shower.

We have managed to borrow three window a/c units so at least the bedrooms are cool. But the electric bill definitely gets a hit. I’m looking forward to cooler weather so we can just open windows and hope my cats don’t pop out the screens.

I’m also having to deal with gas appliances which are new and scary to me. It’s also expensive. And did I mention the gas clothes dryer died and the pipe to the clothes washer leaks so bad we have to go to the Laundromat now? Yeah. It’s that kind of place.

But we do have a sweet front porch and a nice back deck. The back yard is also pretty. It’s also a place we don’t have to worry about being booted from and it does provide shelter and there is enough room for us all. So it’s not all bad. Most days I just pretend to be Laura Ingalls.

Point number two:

When the boot is on the other foot.

After we found out about the deception involved in our duplex renting our friends became worried they would suffer the same fate since their landlord was the same guy. So, reasonably, they expressed their concerns to the property manager who told them to wait to pay rent until he knew what was going on. Some how that turned into a court day and an eviction.

What kind of human would I be if I let my best friends be homeless? Really world, compassion still exists over here. Male friend has health issues related to pre-birth complications (morning sickness pill anyone?). Disability isn’t much these days. Female friend has been trying to find a job….have you seen the economy lately? If you didn’t have a job before the last elections GOOD LUCK! Not blaming the prez by the way, I’m not political, that’s just a time frame that I’ve noticed, even as non-political as I am. So I cleaned out the “storage room” and finally found an old A/C unit and moved them and their two little dogs in with us.

At this point I should probably explain that I am a village person. No not like YMCA dress like an Indian chief kind of village person. What I mean is, I was raised in a home with two grown ups and four kids. My grandparents were very involved as were my aunts and uncles. We even had an Aunt live with us for a while. Village living to me is a great thing. Ideally its in more of a small community type deal and not under the same roof. But we aren’t set up for that yet. I like the idea of the hippy commune but with out the hippy aspect. Group dinners, everyone working together but still taking care of their own needs, kids playing together, ext.

So I don’t mind having the extra folks around and really it works out well for me. If I need a bath I no longer have to wait until I’m absolutely sure the boys are asleep so they don’t get into something. Or if I need help cleaning up, it’s there. Or if I need someone to talk to or just sit and watch movies with me, I’m covered. I’m not big on alone time and like to hang out with friends.

El numero tres:

16 tons and what do you get?

Ah work! That thing I do to barely be able to pay the bills.

It’s not just that I don’t make enough money. Heck, that’s mostly my fault for not finishing my degree and racking up so many bills. It’s the lack of job satisfaction. I know this isn’t the kind of work I want to do the rest of my life. I try to find creative outlets at work such as taking over our webpage but I don’t really have the background to do all the really cool stuff on it that I’d like. (oh how I’d love to get educated in that!) I also don’t have the time. I generally do stay busy (as I should) my full 8 hours each day. It’s the extra stuff that annoys me. Things that if other people would just do what they are supposed to do then I wouldn’t have to waste my time fixing or finding it.

And there is the drama. I suppose all offices have drama and yes, I do find it entertaining. I do, however, resent it when it actually does start to effect job performances. Business spirits watch over anyone I ever get to be manager over. I’m fun, I’m chatty, but I’m deadly serious about team work and doing the best you can.

I’m so sick of people saying (unjustly, believe me) that they have too much on their plates or my ultimate peeve “that’s not my job”. There are those here that do have too much on their plates. It’s funny though, those are the people that rarely complain and DO go above and beyond to be helpful or to resolve an issue unrelated to their position. “that’s not my job” is the anthem of the lazy and the selfish. I’d like to point out to all of those “that’s not my job” folks that, at least with our company, all job descriptions end with “and other responsibilities as needed”. That means anything you’re asked to do job wise, is your job.

On to point four:

Can you spare a little change?

We had money put away in savings. Thanks to the gas not being hooked up for almost two months (there was a leak that had to be fixed first). We had to eat out…a lot. Then there were the expenses of buying items to try to fix the plumbing to no avail. Plus the increased water, electric, and gas bills do to the leaks, lack of a/c, and well, gas is expensive anyway. All that savings…gone. Bills keep coming in and I’m finding it hard to put anything back. I am guilty of purchasing items that are not needed but believe me, I’ve cut that WAY back. Maybe in a month or two I can fix the savings if I work really hard at keeping under budget.

But hey, times are tough for everyone right? That’s nothing new. At least I have income and shared bills.

Point 5:

Schools out for summer!...still…

This is a quick point. I love my children dearly and I love spending the evening with them when I get home from work. By the end of summer though, they are bored to death and start fighting and getting into things more than normal. Plus my poor mother (who watches them while I’m at work) is flat worn out! School isn’t starting till September 1st this year. OMG! But that’s tomorrow so hopefully the boys will get back in the swing of things quickly and their temperament will improve since they will get some time apart each day.

Point 6:

Sugar pie, honey bunch.

I knew certain things about my Manfriend before entering into a relationship with him. Things like verbal affirmations are not something he is comfortable with. This I can deal with. I’m savvy enough to know an “I love you” in actions as well as words. And let’s face it, talk is cheap. He actually does things to show he cares…well…did…does…heck I don’t know. He’s still here. He still stays with me and the boys. That’s something. He’s very good to us. We don’t fight. But we don’t communicate much either. We’ve reached this weird plateau in our relationship. We always have people around. Dates don’t happen. I feel uber special if we actually go out for drinks alone. I don’t know, but I’m starting to think that I’m more in the relationship than he is. He works third shift so we really don’t see each other much. And he has a very stressful and physically draining job so I don’t want to bug him or stress him out more.

To get to the heart of what’s bothering me- Last night, for the first time in weeks, I was going to have alone time with Manfriend. Alone time does not inherently mean “adult time” which is pretty rare anyway. But time to spend just together was finally going to happen. The Roomies were meeting with some friends and the boys were fixing to go to bed. Yay! Time! I love time! (have you ever taken the love languages course? My love language is quality time) And then! And Then! Random Friend stops by. No call. No text. No “hey roomies aren’t here…maybe they are enjoying an empty house and I would be a total DB for just barging in”. Nope. Instead we get “hey guys lets hang out, hey I just bought this thing and it’s over at so and so’s house, want to go see it?” at 9 at night. Yes, please, barge into my house and take not only the only time we’ve had in weeks but make sure you actually go do something while you’re at it. That’s cool right? Yeah sure it is.

So I tucked the kids and bed and went to bed myself. There was no point left in the evening for me. (I do like Random Friend by the way; he’s a fun little dude. I just didn’t like my fantasy of quality time shattered). I didn’t make a scene or anything. I just quietly went to bed. I did get the “hey did you go to bed?” check up by the Manfriend. But since I was actually upset enough to cry a little I didn’t respond nor did I want to roll over when he was trying to check on me…I assume that since he was trying to get me to look at him it was to see how upset I was. But I didn’t want him to know I was sad so I just acted what I hope came off as “sleepy grumpy” and he left the room. This morning he asked how I slept and if what was making me pissy. (he did this in a nice voice not an angry WTF is wrong with you voice.) I admitted that I didn’t like someone just showing up when we had our first time together in a while. No real response from him. I don’t think he got it.

I feel like ships passing in the night.

Oh well. He’s way to good a person for me to let stuff affect our relationship like this. I just need to perk up and cross my fingers that at some point we will have a better life together and things will work out.

In the mean time, a list of pluses in my life:
My boys!!!
My manfriend is awesome, even if we aren’t in honeymoon mode
I have great family
I have great friends
I have a job
I have shelter
I have hobbies
I have food
I have awesome pets.

The unsupported Change

2010-09-13T15:53:00.002-04:00

It's hard for me to maintain excitement about a possible change in my life when the people that know me best don't support it. Am I such a failure at life that I really can't make it on my own? Really? I suck so badly that I should avoid any chance of even trying to make it?

Here's the deal.

I have applied and interviewed for a job 2 hours away from home. If I were to get it, then it would mean a pay raise and more opportunity to serve my company. I'm totally stoked about even the possibility!

But I get things like "How could you?" from my mother and "I just don't know how you will take care of those boys" or "I don't know how I feel about you moving that far away" from my aunt. Even my childrens' father makes it sound like I'm moving across the contenient.

Of course, I feel like I can do this. My co-workers at least say that they think I can pull it off. My friends are supportive, my boyfriend is even encouraging.

So how am I supposed to feel about the non support? My children are healthy, well cared for, smart, and loved. Yes, they would have to go to after school care instead of their Nana's. Yes, I would have to cook every night. Before I started working full time, I took care of them 24-7. Even after I started working I still cooked dinner almost every night.

But apartently I fail.

Well, if given the opportunity to take the job, I am. I feel confident in my abilities to do well for the company. I feel even more confident in my ability to 100% take care of my kids.

Oh god, they'll be in after school care...you know,... with other kids...doing stuff. oh the horror!!!

really.... Really?.... REALLY???

Well sha-Damn!

2010-08-20T15:11:00.004-04:00

Guess I should concider updating this a bit more often.
I dumped the husband. Long story short, he lied from the moment I met him about who he was. I fell for it like a complete tard. He was arrested Oct. 1st 2009 for cooking meth in my house while I was in a hospital bed at my moms. Also found lots of evidence to support the theory that he was never faithful to me. Gross. It is now also my belief that he was never off drugs. This thread of thought has been supported by interviews with people that knew him.
Hope he enjoys his 15 years in jail.
Anyway...
Life is much better now. I am walking just fine. I have some nasty scars from the wreck on my knee, but that's fine. I get to make up stories for new people, usually invovling a vintage harley and a trip to las vegas....and orphans...haha.
Lets see...at work I have been moved to Accounts Payable, which I enjoy a lot more than my old job. Still wanting to finish my degree though and be a teacher. Am resuming that treak in October.
Divorce has been final for a while, thank pete.
Kids are doing really well. They have adjusted to our new life in the tiny duplex and so far seem not too much worse for the wear. They are much like me in their ability to bounce back, though I truely dispise myself for testing their ability to do so.

I do have a new fella. One I've always "crushed" on or whatever...am I still young enough to crush? Anyway. To my very, incredibly great surprise, he returned my "crushiness". So far so good. Not getting carried away and trying not to make him something in my mind that he's not. Luckily he's been a friend for years, so I know his goods and his bads.

Hard to trust my feelings though. I mean, how can I take myself seriously? Two marriages? really? at 27? I rushed that last one because of some need to make myself complete...or some such nonsense... maybe i just really wanted a wedding...who knows.

I am trying to trust them though, but not let them overwhelm my sense of reason. Which is totally working for now since I'm terrified of being hurt again. I've not lost my faith in people completely though, so I have positive feels about how this will turn out, even if I don't have definative dreams, which I figure is really good.

I've had a lot of time to examine who I am. All the time in the hospital bed...all the time trying to figure out what I was thinking with the last ex, why I let myself be fooled, what i really believe about soul mates and life long partners and love...

I don't think it's a bad thing that I still assume the best about people. I don't think it's bad that I still want to trust, or put faith in people. Yes, they will still let me down, and yeah, I'll let them down too. but some day, some one down the line (should it really be in my destany) someone is going to pull through for me and I will for them also. It won't be magic, or fairy tale wonderment. It will be equal efforts, equal respect, and equal love for one another.

I am trying to be more in tune with my children also. Not that I feel I am a bad mom. I made a mistake. I've learned a valuable lesson. They are such sweet little boys. They do act out when they are tired or stressed, but for the most part, I don't think you could find two more well behaved, sweet natured boys that aren't totally creepy. I mean, you know those kids that don't even look at their parents the wrong way...there is always something so robotic and weird about them... you get me on that right?

well, that's all for now.

Love and hugs!

Humpty Dumpty Sat on a Wall

2009-07-03T19:52:00.007-04:00

Okay, so here's the story behind what has recently occurred in my life, should any one care to know.

Saturday (the 27) was my husband and my 3 month wedding anniversary.

Now, we realize that three months is no big deal, we are just celebratory kind of people. Well, the snafu was that on that day I was to attend my company picnic at Lake Winnie , so we decided to put off a special "just me and him" activity for Sunday (the 28th).We had loads of fun at Lake Winnie, saw some friends from work, got over heated and left for a while and got ice cream, went back for the company door prize event where we didn't win anything. Hank from work kept saying he was going to win the mini lap top and I'll be danged if he didn't actually win it. Power of positive thinking I suppose.

It was too late to go swimming over at mom's after we left the park (and there was a storm coming in) so we popped off and picked up some rum for me (low proof) and some scotch for the hubby. We invited our good buddies Jessica and Alex over for a few drinks and to watch a movie. Jessica and I got to go rent the movie. The redbox didn't have much of a selection so we went over to block buster (where it is retardedly expensive to rent a movie). We rented what has to be the best B movie of 2009. Mega Shark vs Giant Octopus!

Oh, it's terrible! We loved it!

We didn't get plastered or anything like that, not even buzzed. That wasn't the point. It was just a fun relaxing evening with friends.

Then came Sunday.....

The weather was lovely and we woke up late, so we decided to start our day with lunch at Captain D's. Well, it being Sunday and lunch time, Captain's was packed! So we booked up back up two blocks to Long John Silvers where the crowd was much smaller. Upon entering Ft. O we passed a sign for horseback riding through the Chickamauga Battlefield. That definitely sounded like something neat we could do together! So we jotted down the number to call later. We also passed a place that rented motor scooters for $15 an hour for a self tour of the battlefield. We jotted that one down too!

Having just eaten and it being such a pretty day outside, we decided to go to my mom's to swim for a while. (don't worry, it took us at least 30 minutes to get there and get settled, so we didn't break that rule about swimming). We swam for about an hour and talked about which we'd rather do, ride horses or scooters. Josh (my hubby) called the horse back riding place and they wanted $45 dollars per person for a 45 minute to one hour guided trail ride. Ouch that's pricey! We don't have money like that for such a quick trip, plus it's guided and that takes out some of the adventure! Luckily Josh's friend Phy had done the scooter thing before with his dad and they said they had a blast. So we call up the place and confirm that it is an hour ride for $15 dollars and you got to go anywhere in the park as long as it was on road. No guide, go as fast or slow as you are comfortable with (and with what is legal). All right! We had a plan and I was giddy with anticipation! This was going to be my new adventure. I've never been on anything more than a bicycle and Josh said if you can ride a bicycle you can ride a scooter. So, yeah, I got this, I'm all OVER this.
So we tell my mom we'll be back over later to pick up some squash she'd just picked from her garden and we run over to our house. I put on some longer blue jean shorts (my favorite pair) and a green shirt that wouldn't show clevage and put on some sneakers. We rode back over to the scooter place and picked out our scooters. The owner said that since we seemed like such nice responsible people he wouldn't charge the security deposit of $100, which I thought was just uber sweet of him.
I picked out a red one and Josh picked out a black one. Helmets were included. They gave me a quick educational in the parking lot, which I did fine with. I went around four or five times with little trouble. So we took off toward the park! I followed Josh into the park and we turned left at the first red light. It was sooo much fun! So outside my normal safe zone. Josh stopped just down the road to let me stop and make sure I was comfortable driving. My arms were starting to get a little tired but I was fine. This was just too cool.
So we took off again. We went over a couple of little bumps and I handled them just fine. I'd been on my scooter probably 7 minutes by this point and only going about 20-25 miles an hour. Now into the park proper!

So there I am, pretty as you please, following my husband around the bend. Suddenly there is a dip in the road, the front wheel starts going crazy! I can't control it! OH SHIT!

To be continued...

Every so slowly down the proverbial drain

2008-07-05T21:59:00.002-04:00

Unemployed, behind on every bill, completely out of money. My temper is way too hot and the fuse is way too short. Did I mention my health isn't that great either? between the upper respiratory infection and the cervical problems I don't know what to do. it's not like i can run over to the doctors office or anything. Child support is just enough to keep me from getting medicaid. If there is anything more I could screw up I'm sure I'll find it.

To say i'm down would be a huge understatement. Huge.

Not to say that there aren't good things in life too. My kids are great. A little wild at times and stubborn as all get out. The boyfriend situation is still good. My bad mood is probably f'ing that up though. I really try but sometimes I just can't stop myself from mouthing off when i know i shouldn't. Goes along with me being a moron I guess.

At this point,if I didn't fuck something up I'd think the world might explode.

So, after all the complaining I need a course of action.
I'm still looking for a job. I have a week to apply to about 20 more places to keep my TANF standings, which I won't be approved for btw. I make 7 dollars too much....in child support.
1. Look for a job.
2. Call mortage company and see if I can get a deferment
3. Call car loan company and see if I can get a deferment
4. Call contractor again and try to get the air cond. fixed so we can stay home.
5. Contemplate life and figure out what it is that I want.
6. Try very, very hard to watch what I say and how I say it.
7. Try very very hard to get more depression meds.
8. Look for a doctor that will see me about my cervix knowing I can't pay for it.
9. Try not to run away.

I'm just saying is all.

2008-04-25T13:06:00.003-04:00

Shark kills triathlete training at Calif. beach

Attack happened near Solana Beach in San Diego County, authorities say

Okay, so guys, lets train for a race by swimming in one of the nations most shark inhabited waters!
Really, I feel for this guy's family. But at the same time I'd like to point out that perhaps, just maybe, you shouldn't swim in someones food bowl. Just a thought.

Explanation

2008-04-23T12:46:00.002-04:00

I was writing too much on myspace, so I moved it all here again. Thanks!

Does anyone else ever wonder what happened to the people...

2008-04-23T12:46:00.001-04:00

Current mood: contemplative

You spend 9 of your most informative and personality developing years with pretty much the same group of people. I wonder sometimes about those other people.
The grammar school I went to was k-8 so you'd think we'd all be pretty well bonded. Alas, that is so not the case. From what I remember the area was fairly affluent and to say it kindly, my shopping wasn't done at the GAP.
It's sort of sad to know how completely unrememberable I am. I wasn't the strangest, by far I wasn't the prettiest. Hell, I wasn't even the poorest. Does anyone remember odd little Lindsey from grammar school? I died my hair pink once if that helps.
But I guess it doesn't matter. I remember lots of people. I remember playing sax with Cassidy and Curtis played trumpet. I remember goofing off with Ariel, Alex, Billy, Chris, Doug, and Alex. I remember cussing Jered. I recall how every girl fancied Tim and Randall and Charlie. I remember the popular girls, Ashely, Linsey, Tiffany, Danielle, Kelly, Courtney, and Brittany. I remember some of the girls that weren't so popular like Kia, Edith, and Naomi, they were all extremely nice people. Do you remember Michelle? how crazy smart she was. And Tall Sara. I couldn't even be the tallest girl. Rachel was a good pal of mine. Then there was Kristin. There was another Sarah that moved.
I remember Joey and Jeremy. I'm certain there are more that cross my mind, but those are some that I periodically think about. OH and Daniel, I didn't forget you either, I heard you got taller by the way.
I wonder if it's weird that I think about people like that. But then I remind myself that it was 9 years. Why shouldn't I wonder about them?

Currently listening :
Life Is a Grave & I Dig It!
By Nekromantix
Release date: 10 April, 2007

Joe Strummer

2008-04-23T12:45:00.000-04:00

This article was brought to my attention. By god this man is right!

John Cusack|

Thanksgiving Calling

Besides family, health and friends, here's another thing I'm thankful for. I was asked to write a little something for a Joe Strummer tribute in Scotland... Doing so, I remembered just how grateful I was he showed up on earth while I was around...

There was no one like Joe Strummer. There is a lineage, of course. Woody Guthrie, Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan...I was always staggered by his voice. It was like a shaman should sound. If Roy Orbision sang for the lonely, Joe sang for the hungry.... His voice was liquid desire and it ignited as it left his mouth, his body shaking to contain the heat, like a rocket in the first phase of lift-off.... He was a pioneer who demanded art and politics be fused in the interests of humanity and truth. Often the truth was painful, just as often it was liberating, transcendent, and just plain fun. He was an icon of unrivaled integrity... Billy Brag said if it weren't for The Clash, punk rock would be just a sneer, a safety pin and a pair of bondage trousers... it sounds right to me... It's been said Strummer reinvented rock. That sounds right too. I know for certain he challenged, inspired and demanded us to think and feel in ways we hadn't before... demanded we use rebellion and anger as fuel for the journey to other, better worlds, never as an end in itself. Demanded we reach for the transcendent in everything and everyone, and to never suffer those fools who will not think and feel their way home. He was a guiding light and he got us out of many a tough jam. Knowing him, I was always humbled by his grace and intelligence, his passion, and the sheer ferocity of his will... and Jesus Christ that man could fucking rock.

Food for thought, Animal Rights vs. Animal Welfare

2008-04-23T12:44:00.002-04:00

Info found here.
I found it VERY interesting.

Animal Rights?.......WRONG!

For the amount of money raised and spent by U.S. animal rights groups
every animal in America ought to have its own condominium.

Why then, do more than 15 million pets a year end up in under funded local humane shelters with overworked staff who are frustrated that they cannot even adequately feed and care for them?

Animal rights activists cannot blame researchers, hunters, circus owners, meat-eaters, fur-and leather-wearers, breeders, fishermen or zoo keepers for the sorry condition of shelter animals. It is the animal rights movement which has turned its back on the suffering of these animals.

But the animal rights agenda goes far beyond the narrow issues. Animal rights groups such as PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) want a nation-wide ban on fishing, for example, and an end to all meat eating, which they consider cruel. Opposing hunting is just a way to get a foot in the door. PETA is so committed to the rights of animals that it even advocates an end to keeping dogs and cats as pets.

The animal rights movement's main goal is not, and never has been, to save or help animals.
Its mission is to market its philosophy and lifestyle to the American public. Shelter animals are sacrificed in the short-term so that animal rights groups can gain the money, power and influence needed to sell their view in the long-term.

ARA Tactics :

ARA (Animal Rights Activists) propaganda routinely makes fictitious claims, in order to win support, and of course money, from people who have no access to other information. They utilize terrorism to propagate their narrow, ignorant views as fact to uninformed members of the public in order to achieve their goals.

The Department of Justice says there have been more than 313 instances of animal-rights violence in the United States.

The A.L.F.(Animal Liberation Front), which has caused tens of millions of dollars in damage to U.S. research labs, factory farms and fur farms in 15 years of existence, has been branded a "terrorist" organization by the justice department and the FBI. Alex Pacheco, chairman of PETA, told The New York Times,

'Arson, property destruction, burglary and theft are 'acceptable crimes' when used for the animal cause.'

Rodney Coronado, a member of the Animal Liberation Front, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 57 months in prison for the destruction of an animal diagnostics research lab at the University of California, Davis in April, 1987 (total damage estimates: $4.5 million).

PETA sent $ 45,200 to Coronado's 'support committee,' which was a sum 15 times greater than what PETA spent on animal shelters nationwide in all of that year.

This is what happens when social movements self-righteously believe they are so obviously correct that they may break the law with impunity and attack indiscriminately both persons and property who get in their way.

ARA taking care of themselves, not animals :

PETA :
Eleven million animals are destroyed annually for lack of facilities. Yet PETA spent less than $ 3,955 of its $ 12 million in fiscal 1995 and $ 6,100 of its $ 10.9 million in fiscal 1996 for shelter programs, according to its nonprofit tax forms filed with the IRS.

So what has PETA done to help these homeless, hungry and sick animals and others that suffer and die in shelters each year? According to its FY 1995 tax documents, next to nothing.

Less than $5,000, or .03%, of PETA's $13.4 million budget was allocated to shelter or spay and neuter programs in the U.S.

90% of the $1,485,076 PETA donated, or $1.3 million, went to itself-that is, PETA's satellite offices in Germany, The Netherlands, and England. Next to PETA's overseas offices, the next largest donation, $45,200, was sent to animal rights terrorist Rodney Coronado to help him avoid going to jail for fire bombing medical research facilities. Coronado is now serving a 57 month jail sentence.

The Humane Society :
HS, for its part, raises and spends close to $50 million, enough to bank roll at least one well-run animal shelter in every state and have enough left over to spay, neuter, feed and save the lives of tens of thousands of dogs and cats every year. So how many HS-run animal shelters benefit from the HS budget? ......None.

The Humane Society does not operate a single shelter, despite a $ 40 million budget.

Yet ...

The HS managed to pinch enough of its precious pennies to pay its president, Paul Irwin, $237,831 and its chief executive officer, John Hoyt, $209,051 in addition to providing tens of thousands of dollars in bonuses to the pair.

These figures alone should be enough to convince you that your time and money would be better spent elsewhere.

ARA and medical research :

Would you be willing to sacrifice your child's life so a rat may live?

That is what the ARA are asking of you. Without animal research, life saving treatments and vaccines for everything from diabetes to polio would not exist. Most Americans support and benefit from medical research involving animals. In the United States all drugs must be tested in animals before being tested by human beings. Typically, animal rights activists are often ignorant of even basic scientific and medical concepts.

Animal research has provided

50,000,000 prescriptions for antibiotics
30,000,000 prescriptions for asthma
3,000,000 operations under local or general anaesthetics
180,000 diabetics kept alive with insulin
90,000 cataract operations
60,000 joint operations
15,000 coronary bypasses
10,000 pacemakers implanted
6,000 heart valve repairs or replacements
4,000 congenital heart defects corrected
2,500 corneal transplants
2,000 kidney transplants
400 heart or heart/lung transplants

ARA says "Most animals used in research are cats, dogs or monkeys."....Not true!

The real figures are:

Rats and mice 83%
Fish , birds and reptiles 12%
Other small mammals 3%
Large mammals (cows, etc.) 1.3%
Dogs and cats 0.4%
Primates 0.2%

* NOTE.....Animal Welfare is not the same as Animal Rights. Animal Welfare provides information for improved animal care and use in many fields. Animal Welfare's goal is the improvement of the standard of living of ALL animals, no matter their purpose. Animal Welfare is also of value to legislative and regulatory authorities and other organizations responsible for the welfare of animals. Animal Welfare does not support/condone the beliefs or tactics of the ARA.

Please DO NOT support Animal Rights Activists.

No cat anywhere ever gave a straight answer...One of those meandering self indulgant blogs.

2008-04-23T12:44:00.001-04:00

No cat anywhere ever gave a straight answer...One of those meandering self indulgant blogs.

"I would tell you what you want to know if i could mum, but I be a cat. And no cat anywhere ever gave a straight answer."

That is one of the mottos i go by. that and my favorite live for the day slogan "carpe jugulum".

Sometimes i wonder if mine should be "carpe testiculum". you figure it out.

I often wonder if i'm really all that compatable with anyone. sure i can get along, and play nice, but how much is that just me acting. Or am i acting, how is it that i don't even know. How can I be myself and not really know who i am.

I have always felt lost, and at times sinking, not so much the latter right now.

my thoughts on D.I.D. (damsel in destress) :

I am not a D.I.D. I'm not about to be gobbled by a dragon. I don't need a knight. and I'm not broken. I'm just not put together quite right. Everyone, i mean everyone, needs to stop trying to fix me.

I keep making poor choices. What's up with that? Really? At some point or other you'd think I would learn something.

work is still going very well though, and for that i am very thankful.

I can only give so much. So much time, so much money, so much ego boosting. This goes for anyone. I run out. So if you use me up don't be all suprised when I turn into a moody broke bitch.

but yeah, i give straight answers about as often as a cat does...

Nothing puts me quite such a good mood as V.

2008-04-23T12:43:00.002-04:00

Current mood: vibrant

I'm not questioning your powers of observation I'm merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is.

But on this most auspicious of nights, permit me then, in lieu of the more commonplace sobriquet, to suggest the character of this dramatis persona.

Voilà! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of Fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin van-guarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition.
The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous.
Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it's my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V.

Currently watching :
V for Vendetta
By Steve Moore
Release date: January, 2006

I’m curious like a ferret

2008-04-23T12:43:00.001-04:00

so, on the side of my page it says "meet tattooed singles in your area".

really, there's enough for a web page?

my curiousity won't let me not click the button. Fortunately all my little internet safety things didn't beep and flash at me. I'm still going to scan in just a sec.

Anyway. so i sign up cos I just have to see this. So, it turns out that tattoosinglesnet.com is just singlesnet.com. All the tattoo stuff is dropped right away.

So, LIARS! hahaha.

Anyway, here's a part i found crazy. By the time I had my profile filled out and a really terrible picture of myself thrown up (check out the pictures of me with my ferrets, it was one of those) I had no less than 9 emails from guys or automatic matches or something like that. If it wasnt' automatic...What the hell are these guys doing? "omg, someone new! *pounce*"

so, that experiment complete I promptly deleted my account. I got the free peek inside the world of singlesnet.com . sooooo not impressed.

Pointless little adventure I thought I'd share with you all.

Later!

Tattoos and the bible

2008-04-23T12:42:00.002-04:00

Just doing a little research. here’s the first finding that I wanted to share.
Sacred Ink: Tattoos and the Bible

My favorite Unhappy ending movie

2008-04-23T12:42:00.001-04:00

some lines from "Closer"

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dan: Didn’t fancy my sandwiches?
Alice: Don’t eat fish.
Dan: Why not?
Alice: Fish piss in the sea.
Dan: So do children.
Alice: Don’t eat children either.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Dan: You love her like a dog loves its owner.
Larry: And the owner loves the dog for so doing.
Dan: You’ll hurt her. You’ll never forgive her.
Larry: Of course I’ll forgive her. I *have* forgiven her. Without forgiveness we’re savages. You’re drowning.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Anna: Why are you dressed?
Larry: Because I think you may be about to leave me and I didn’t want to be wearing a dressing gown.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Larry: I think you owe me for deceiving me so exquisitely.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Dan: When I get back, please tell me the truth.
Alice: Why?
Dan: Because I’m addicted to it. Because without it, we’re animals. Trust me.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Alice: I don’t want to lie. I can’t tell the truth. So it’s over.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Larry: There’s a girl out there who calls herself Venus, what’s her real name?
Alice: Pluto.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Alice: Where is this love? I can’t see it, I can’t touch it. I can’t feel it. I can hear it. I can hear some words, but I can’t do anything with your easy words.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Anna: Love bores you.
Dan: No, it disappoints me.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Its a very rare person who is taken for what he truly is.

2008-04-23T12:41:00.002-04:00

You think on that for a while.

If the right shows mercy, I’ll use the left hand

2008-04-23T12:41:00.001-04:00

Current mood: breezy
Category: Life

Man, tax season is finally over! I've been working sixty plus hours for a few weeks now and tomorrow is my first day off since Easter! Whew! What a ride.

I've missed my kids more than anything. People don't understand that they are pretty much the reason for my continued existance and if I can't see them my battery runs down. We are watching Bear in the Big Blue House right now. It's awesome.

Anyway, while this season was harder than last year, I found it more enjoyable.

What made it better? To put it simply. Friends.

This year I have put myself out there and made new friends at work. So to Geannie, Ruthie, Julie, Jonathan, Lydia, Kandy, and Heather,THANK YOU SO MUCH!

And though I wouldn't exactly say we are boosum buddies, thanks to Steve, Jamie, Brian, Dan, and Marshall too! Little pointless banter now in then does me a whole heck of a lot of good!

Life is looking up!

And to my outside work friends, Jessica, Alex, Katie, and Noelle, you guys rock too. Thanks for being there for me!

You guys make work something to look forward to!

And Who Could Tell the Dogs from the Men

2008-04-23T12:40:00.001-04:00

And who could tell the dogs from the men
Current mood: adored

"I've seen their faces and I know where they've been. I know I'm with them but I ain't like them!"

Man oh Man was the Murder by Death show everything I hoped it would be! Wow!

Lets recap the weekend shall we? Here Here!

Friday-
After not being at work since Tuesday night, I was feeling pretty darn good! Tax season wore me to peices and I am so glad thats over with. So, it's time to celebrate! My friend and co-worker Geannie and I went out for a night on the town along with her main squeez Dr. Terry.
We started the evening by me showing up late to her house and then going to FoodWorks for dinner. Expensive, yet oh so yummy. The she-crab soup was divine and the candied shrimp was delectable. The asian dumplings were also quite tasty once you got past the fact that it looked like a pregnant squid died in a basket and you were going to eat it with chop sticks. Had a BlueMoon or two and saw a guy drink Konyak (sp?) with this cool glass holder thing. And then to top it off Dr. Terry paid! Rock and Freakin' Roll! It was much appreicated and unexpected.
Then we went to Big River for more beer and carrot cake. Zooooomg... You guys know how much I love me some carrot cake.
Next it was on to the Big Chill, i think that's the order anyway. It was so packed though we just hung out by a pin ball machine for a drink and then bounced out.
Last stop Hair of the Dog for a beer or two more and then we were all getting tired so after we found out that Hair lost Dr. T's debit card we took a ride back to Geannies were I crashed for a couple hours before getting up again.

Saturday-
6 am and trying to navigate my hungover self around someone elses home, quietly! Not certain I accomplished that. But I did get my dry blanket and made it to the Riverfront on time. DRAGON BOAT RACES! whoot. For me this day included me sitting in the sun all day and hanging out with Biker Jon and his busty redheaded sister Ruth, both of which are my new work pals. (haha, I called ruthie a busty red-head!) It was a fun day, being in the sun, being around people who make me happy. Just an awesome day. Then (finally) I got some dinner over at Big River. Biker Jon and I had a couple beers with our pizza and I got totally buzzed. It was funny.
Then it was drive like hell to pick up my peeps to go to Murder by Death.
Now my sister, my brother, and my psuedo little brother are on our way! Made it to Atl in an hour and 15 minutes. Don't try that. We missed the first band, but that's okay. O'Death was really good and had a interesting sound. I dug it. Then, the main event.
at this point i've had three more beers after being out in the sun all day. so i'm trashed. And I'm singing and dancing and enjoying the complete extasy that is MBD. Oh heavenly father, thank you for this band!
After the show my sister had to drive home. She did well!
Copped out on letting ZBP stay the night with me for which i feel really, really, really guilty. Sorry guys!
Sunday-
Slept til 11:30
Then picked up the lil' bros and took them to the skate park and took my dog betty to the dog park. Lovely sunny day!
Home by 5:30, got the boys, had dinner, and watched Bee Movie for the 800th time in two weeks!
Grand Weekend indeed!

I'm always swimming against the flow of the tide

2008-04-23T12:27:00.002-04:00

For now though, I'm happy with that. Perhaps I'll just float along for a little while, content with all these happy feelings.

Something in me has changed. I don't know what it is. The lord has flipped a switch and suddenly I've found myself at the edge of that desert I've been lost in. But where to now? I'm holding two tiny hands and two little faces look up to me already knowing that I'll take care of them. On my own? No, with family, they've followed me here as well. With friends that I've picked up along the way, they've joined this caravan for a while too.

At the edge of the desert what have I found? paths. ocean. mountains. woods so dense that the light barely shines through. Here I am with all these people and still no idea of where to go.

This is a thought that used to terrify me. How will I do this? How do I know what to do?
Now though, with this utter peace that has settled upon me and this new happiness that I can help but let shine through, I know everything will work out. I have FAITH that everything will be fine.

So with a tune in my head that no longer holds darkness, I venture forth, content with what I've been allowed to have and happy with my life.

Music

2008-04-23T12:16:00.002-04:00

I'm working on a speech a presentation for school. The instructor told us to pick any word and write about it. Well, obviously it needs to be a word I feel something about. It needed to be something I can talk about with strength and conviction. So, besides my children, God, and my family what is there? What is one word that drives my passion for life?

Music

It drives most of us doesn't it? To some degree I hope that is true. Music has a rich history in human society. Tribes celebrated with drums and reed flutes. Percussion drove their feet to dance and pray. In high Europe artist such as Bach and Beethoven set the world on it's heels with the pure genius of what they could produce. All over the world there is music. If there have been people, there was music. I would wager that Eve and Adam even sang while living in the Garden of Eden.

Music reaches into our souls. It touches us and guides us in so many ways. When you drive down the highway on your motorcycle don't you hear music? Even with out the stereo? What did you listen to the last time you were heart broken? Or in love? When you were a teenager and felt that no one understood you, where did you turn? To your music if you were like me.

Music bridges gaps between us. We may like similar music or share similar tastes or it may even be the difference in taste that intrigues us and brings us together. It may be the message with the music that binds us and keeps us driven.

God even speaks through music. When you go to church and the lord fills your senses and you open your mouth to rejoice, what do you do? You sing. When the angles announced the coming of Jesus Christ, they sang. Choirs of Angles. Oh, angles we have heard on high! Can you even begin to imagine the glory of heaven's music?

We can go places with music that free us of our earthly worries. My imagination soars through unknown realms when I open my mind to music. Instrumental or with lyrics your mind is free to walk along paths that your feet may not follow.

There is a diversity in music that directly reflects our world. Literally hundreds upon hundreds of genres. Anyone anywhere is bound to find something that touches them and inspires them.

Can music be misused? Of course it can. Because music affects us so strongly it can be used to send negative, poisonous messages. For some people the passion that they find in this music can become overwhelming. So here I have a word of warning, enjoy your music, but keep that logical part of your mind aware of the dangers that could lurk.

Most importantly though, find music that moves you! Through music you can find a passion for life, love, God, EVERYTHING!

Now I'd like to encourage you to go here.

Close your eyes, listen and let your mind wander.

This is the starting point for my speech. All out of order and such, but for a nice 3 minute rant, not too shabby.

The Tennesse-Georgia Land/Water Dispute

2008-02-27T11:08:00.003-05:00

I feel that since most everyone else has thrown in their two cents that I should as well.

As I'm sure you are aware, the Georgia government has made the most blunerous announcement that they want the border between Tennessee and Georgia revisited with the intent of taking a bit from Tennessee in order to procure some water.

First off, I'd like everyone who has, to unwad their panties. It won't happen. The federal government is very unlikely to allow this to occur.

What Georgia has managed to do is to ignite a small border dispute that will be fought out by the most ridiculous people for the most ridiculous reasons. In my head I imagine a blur of mullets and flannel. Of course it won't just be them. NEVER GIVE HUMANS A REASON TO FIGHT! We'll take it and run all over the place with it.

It takes but a leap

2008-02-07T15:40:00.001-05:00

Today I read a bittersweet story in the news. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23050298/
To summarize, an 11 month old baby boy was found alive in a field after the terrible tornado yesterday. His mother died in the same storm.
This tiny being survived among crushed houses and tossed cars. To me this is confirmation that there is a higher power. To me, it's God/Jesus. To you, maybe not. That's not really the point now is it.

Good things do happen. That baby survived something enormous. It is sad that his mother did not but at the same time we don't know if she was good or bad or how this will effect the boy. Maybe it will end up advancing humanity. Maybe it will just make him hold his own children someday when it storms and comfort them. We have no idea.

What this did bring up though with a co-worker who was "playing the devil's advocate" was the ever popular religious high downer "then why do bad things happen to good people?".

My answer is short and simple. Take it or leave it. If being a faithful follower of God (which ever religion) was easy then everyone would do it. No questions asked. If every Christian had a terrific life and never had a care in the world because nothing bad would ever happen to them because they believe in Jesus Christ, then everyone would want to be a Christian because it'd be a charmed life and provide proof that it is the correct religion. (I only use Christianity because I'm Christian, but you can insert ANY religion).

If times are though, if bad things happen, if evil is in the world, then you have to have faith that God knows what he's doing. It's all a test of faith.

I'm no expert though. I don't question it all too deeply.

That's it though.

Simple enough?

Rest in Peace (or pieces as the case may be)

2008-01-18T19:30:00.000-05:00

RIP little bunnies
	In a sad turn of events today a mother rabbit's unrelenting desire to leave the safety of the bathroom resulted in the death of two kits. Already morning the loss of one kit a few weeks ago, this comes as a hard blow to the rest of the house hold. The two surviving kits were returned to the bathroom and seem to have only suffered emotional scars. Therapy will be provided to them to return them to the tame loving pets that they were meant to be. Kit care services will be interviewing the mother to ascertain whether charges will be filed against her. A suspect has been apprehended and charges are pending. However, defense has already released a comment stating that the ferret is a born mouser. But really, two dead bunnies and a proud ferret. What's a girl to do?

RIP little bunnies

In a sad turn of events today a mother rabbit's unrelenting desire to leave the safety of the bathroom resulted in the death of two kits. Already morning the loss of one kit a few weeks ago, this comes as a hard blow to the rest of the house hold. The two surviving kits were returned to the bathroom and seem to have only suffered emotional scars. Therapy will be provided to them to return them to the tame loving pets that they were meant to be. Kit care services will be interviewing the mother to ascertain whether charges will be filed against her.

A suspect has been apprehended and charges are pending. However, defense has already released a comment stating that the ferret is a born mouser.

But really, two dead bunnies and a proud ferret. What's a girl to do?

24 minutes

2008-01-03T16:36:00.000-05:00

I just have a few minutes til i'm off work til tomorrow. I've been at the top of an never ending stack of paper work for days now. Finally I've made it to the bottom.

I read a horrible story today. A 2 year old boy froze to death because he got out of his house in the middle of the night. What a nightmare it must be for the mother. My heart goes out to her.

Alternately, I got to listen to some little prissys at work talk about getting married. At 19 they know all about marriage you see, and know that they are SO ready for it. How cute. I was married when I was 19. It's not fun. Not even a little. It's stressful, and lonely if you end up with someone like my ex.

Hm.

Well, I really don't have much insightful to tell you today. Sorry. But then we'd be going on the assumption that I ever said ANYTHING insightful.

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-24T12:37:00.000-05:00

For God so loved the world that he gave his only son. Who ever believes in him shall have ever lasting life!

Celebrate the birth of our lord savior and give thanks for what you've got and worry not about what you don't. The greatest gift in the history of the world has already been given to us! God's uncompromising love!

My family and I are having a rocking Christmas even though things may not be as we would prefer them. All is up and up when you've got those you love around you, friends and or family or just your pets if that's what you've got.

Forget the lights and the trees! Feel the season in your soul! Now it's time for our Whobilation!

100 things about me that you should know, maybe

2007-12-20T08:39:00.000-05:00

100 Things You Might Not Know About Me...

1. ONE OF YOUR SCARS, HOW DID YOU GET IT?
I have a tiny scar just under the finger nail on my left pinky. When i was a wee tot i was standing at an open window and my brother came by and slammed it shut. Sliced the tip of the pinky clean off. It was reattached with little to no trouble. Worry not, my pinky is quite functionable.

2. WHAT IS ON THE WALLS IN YOUR ROOM?
a painting of a spanish mamacita with a guitar languidly proped up with lots of clevage. A map of Middle earth, a cubs pennant, comic books, pictures of my kids...i think that's it.

3.DO YOU SNORE, GRIND YOUR TEETH, OR TALK IN YOUR SLEEP?
i snore when drunk or sick, i grind my teeth when i worry about grinding my teeth and only talk when not all the way alseep.

4. WHAT TYPE OF MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO?
Rock, rockabilly, punk, hardcore, emocore, old country, oldies, motown, jazz, folk, indie, new wave, 80's pop, easy listening, pop, your mother, whatever else.

5. DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME YOU WERE BORN?
8:48 pm Eastern

7. WHAT DO YOU MISS?
my friends and not being broke, and most of all, spending all day with my kids. i miss school too.

8. WHAT IS YOUR MOST PRIZED POSSESSION(S)?
okay, they aren't exactly possessions, but, my kids. Most prized things in my life to say the least. Up next? My tattoos.

9. HOW TALL ARE YOU?
5'10"

10. DO YOU GET CLAUSTROPHOBIC?
Not really, unless i'm somewhere with lots of people in a small area. Thats no fun!

11. DO YOU GET SCARED IN THE DARK?
Not so much, I get sleepy. Only scared if i'm somewhere unfamilar.

12. THE LAST PERSON TO MAKE YOU SMILE?
Work. They just gave me a christmas present! Flip Video! Whoot.

14. THE LAST THING YOU COOKED:
Cheese cake at thanksgiving i think.

15. WHERE CAN YOU SEE YOURSELF PROPOSING/PROPOSED TO AT?
I don't. :)

16. COFFEE OR ENERGY DRINK?
coffee coffee coffee coffee coffee...oh how i love you!

17. FAVORITE PIZZA TOPPING?
tomatoes. i just love them.

18. IF YOU COULD EAT ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
well, now i'd like a tomato and cheese pizza from lupis. damn it.

20. HAVE YOU EVER EATEN A GOLDFISH?
no, but i've gotten other people to.

21. WHAT WAS THE FIRST MEANINGFUL GIFT YOU'VE EVER RECEIVED?
I don't know. Lately the nicest thing someone got me was a Signed copy of Brian Frouds Good fairies Bad Fairies

22. DO YOU LIKE ANYBODY?
i like lots of people. i'm only romantically involved with one, however. (i'll just keep that the same as the person before me.)

23. Are you double jointed?
my elbows bend alot. more than usual in the wrong direction.

24. FAVORITE CLOTHING BRAND?
i'm a pretty big fan of goodys clothing line. the Good Clothes or whatever it is. They're kinda cheap and they're pretty sturdy.

26. DO YOU HAVE A PET RIGHT NOW?
oh gosh. 2 dogs, 2 rabbits, 2 snakes, and a ferret. Hopefully soon to be 2 ferrets. I've got the ark started in the back yard if you want to come over and help.

27. WHAT KIND IS IT?
oh, specifically? a male miniature schnauzer, a female Australian Shepard, a male french lop, a female mini standard, two unsexed (as in i have no idea) ball pythons, and a female siamese ferret.

28. WOULD YOU FALL IN LOVE KNOWING THAT THE PERSON IS LEAVING?
Love is like that think i don't want to discuss. yeah.

29. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO TELL SOMEONE HOW MUCH THEY MEAN TO YOU?
with whatever you know means something to them.

30. SAY A NUMBER FROM ONE TO A HUNDRED.
93

31. BLONDES OR BRUNETTES?
Whatever works. I'm a redhead at the moment.

32. WHAT IS THE NUMBER YOU CALL MOST OFTEN?
2, 3, and 4. ex-husband, boyfriend, mom.

34. HAVE YOU BEEN OUT OF THE USA?
nope.

35. YOUR WEAKNESSES?
pretty things, fun things, tasty things

36. MET ANYONE FAMOUS?
i met roy. From Siegfried and. he was very nice. pre tiger attack.

37. FIRST JOB?
Burger King! I rocked that place.

38. EVER DONE A PRANK CALL?
when i was 8 or so.

41. WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE YOU FILLED THIS OUT?
reading someone elses answers to it.

40. HAVE YOU EVER HAD SURGERY?
i had my tonsils out.

42. WHAT DO YOU GET COMPLIMENTED ABOUT MOST?
my uber coolness....

44. WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY?
A tattoo or two...sleeve?

45. HOW MANY KIDS DO YOU WANT?
Just two. unless i adopt a girl. that's all.

46. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
some actress my paternus had the hots for. gross huh?

47. DO YOU WISH ON STARS?
not really.

49. WHAT KIND OF SHAMPOO DO YOU USE?
Aussie Moisture

50. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
yeah, it looks like a grown up's.

51. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Peppered Turkey.

52. ANY BAD HABITS?
Spending money.

54. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOURSELF?
ah, eh, i don't know. maybe.

57. HOW DO YOU RELEASE ANGER?
arguements.

60. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A CHILD?
My little pony

61. HOW MANY NUMBERS ARE IN YOUR CELL PHONE?
60 or so

63. DO YOU USE SARCASM?
only in a sense that i use it only a daily, hourly basis.

66. WHAT ARE YOUR NICKNAMES?
mom, sugarfoot, mommie, there was a time when i was known as Bob...(ew, not like that fool)

68. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW?
There is not one currently. However if i had showtime, it would be Dexter.

70. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR?
French Silk by Edys.

71. HAVE YOU GOT ALL YOUR FINGERS AND TOES??
you betcha! close call though!

72. DO YOU HAVE A COMPUTER IN YOUR ROOM?
it's a lap top, i can have it anywhere i like.

73. PLANS FOR TONIGHT?
Paint Fletch's skate board, pack to go to my aunts, sleep, talk to the boyfriend.

74. WHATS THE FASTEST YOU HAVE RIDDEN IN A CAR?
probably around 100, i don't like speeding.

75. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO?
the sounds of the office. not the show, but the place i work.

77. LAST THING YOU DRANK?
coffeeeeeeeeeeeee

78. LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
patrick...maybe...mom...no, no, the ex husband. haha. We have kids damn it i have to talk to him, he's an actual honest to god INVOLVED father. I realize there are only a few of them out there so it's hard to believe.

81. FAVORITE THING TO HATE?
people who betray me!

82. FAVORITE MONTH OF THE YEAR?
October.

85. WHAT IS YOUR HAIR COLOR?
right now it's Ion number 7RR. or red if you prefer.

86. EYE COLOR?
blue/green/gray with a little yellow right around the pupil. Mostly they look gray...

87. FAVORITE SHOES?
i have these little canvas shoes that look like wingtips. i love'em.

88. FAVORITE FAST FOOD PLACE?
Burger king. it's what i've grown accustomed to. and it reminds me of sundays in Gray.

89. FAVORITE RESTAURANT?
oh i have several. Right now its Hair of the Dog though. ....best burgers EVER!

90. DO YOU LIKE SUSHI?
i've only tried it once and it was not quality stuff....

91.LAST THING YOU WATCHED?
Surf's up.

92. FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR?
It's a tie between Halloween and Thanksgiving.

93. PLAY ANY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS?
not really. there was a time when i played the Saxamaphone.

94. REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT?
certified ticket splitter.

95. KISSES OR HUGS?
from who? my kids? both and lots. Strangers? neither.

96.WHAT'S THE LAST THING YOU BOUGHT?
a waffle from aretha frankinstien's

99. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING?
sadly, i'm not at the moment.

100. DESCRIBE YOUR LOVE LIFE:
stress, kids, work, shows, debt, busy, and a resounding, LIFE.

people read too much into stuff

2007-12-18T16:10:00.001-05:00

Sometimes a person just likes and shares a song because they just like it. Not everything is a secret out pouring of our feelings!
Why do people like to dig into stuff like that?
Several people have today, it's odd.
* rolling eyes *

uhuh

2007-11-26T16:43:00.000-05:00

Five tips for a woman.....

1. It is important that a man helps you around the house and has a job.
2. It is important that a man makes you laugh.
3. It is important to find a man you can count on and doesn't lie to you.
4. It is important that a man loves you and spoils you.
5. It is important that these four men don't know each other.

hahaha...but seriously... monogamy is good.

My mom hates tattoos

2007-11-20T11:58:00.001-05:00

She's such a conformist...haha. But no, really. She really get disgusted with me about mine. Fortunately she doesn't say much about them. I had the feeling though she was going to hurl when she saw the one on my arm. Poor lady.

No one else in my family has them, with the exception of my Uncle's TKE ankle tattoo. I specifically remember him telling me that if I ever got a tattoo that I would regret it just like he does. I've had tattoos for going on 10 years now...I wonder when the regret kicks in... I find it really odd though that I am the only one in my family that diggs the ink. My bio dad is a theatre actor and thrives on being odd and excentric. Perhaps being a 6'9" tall man is enough of an oddity. My mother goes between super hippy, native medicine woman, and eclectic artist several times a day.

Where do I get if from then? My bluesy other uncle has no tattoos. My aunts are all buisness women. My grandmother is a very proper lady and my granny is an old school farm chick.

I don't know.

Even my sisters, only 4 years younger than me aren't into tattoos. Sure, one is all for crazy hair, which I also love, but that's pretty much it. The other is extremely straight laced. And my little brother? Nah, he's too busy with the emo skater thing.

Maybe it's my friends...but no...most of my friends don't have tattoos. Even my boyfriend (who is actually into tattoos) just got his first one. My ex-husband, he had several. That was one thing we actually did have in common.

I don't think I like them for shock value considering that 90% of the time I'm in a long sleave button up shirt, so you can't see them.

Regardless of where it comes from, I love them. I want more of them. They make me feel different and pretty. Not different because I have tattoos, but different in that my tattoos are not the same as someone else's tattoos. It's like birthmarks, everyone's are different.

Yeah, I think that's all I've got to say about that at the moment. Just a ponderance...

I've been elfed!

2007-11-16T11:31:00.000-05:00

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9522997338

haha, it's uber funn!

Hey Carta woe carta!

2007-11-13T15:19:00.000-05:00

They might think theys somebody (trips on the carta)
Current mood: devious

I like the carta bus thing.

wow, i just got off the bus with some grade A trashiness :) You have to love it.

Picture yourself a nice 5'4" 80 pound white girl in a midriff shirt and her 220 pound overall wearing boytoy. I've nothing against this look mind you, just setting the scene.

She was so proud of herself, bragging to the black woman with her jazzy bound old man. Apparently she is no longer allowed on a certain downtown business's property. Why? For cussing a woman and threatening to cut her with something in her purse (which was one of those shiny silver tiny clutch bag things).

And then, I quote her boyfriend, "boy, you give somebody from the ghetto a little authority and they think theys somebody"
to which she responds "if they made ME manager of the taco bell i'd shut that hell hole down"
"and fire that nasty bitch"

It was classy. Of course they continued. This was a monumental ordeal!
They were talking about the woman that she cussed and apparently she said something like "nobody raises their voice to me".
Well dear oh dear! She did not just tell little trashy to back off!
The guy mocks her in their grand story telling saying "oh no body raises a voice to her, she's somebody!"

Indeed.

It was funny the white trash redneck trying to explain to the trashy black people about how people from the ghetto can't get authority with out thinking "theys somebody"

To add to the flavor of the situation they continued into a story about how the trashy fight girl and the good ol' boy are getting married so she could move into his halfway house.

Apparently that's a step up from where she is currently

Then to top it off i pulled the string to signal i want the bus to stop at my stop
so the driver turns it off and says "does anyone want off at the library" so i said yes. Not loud enough it seemed because he drove past the stop.
So at the redlight we stood up to get off even though it wasn't at an official "stop".
The driver said "I asked if anyone wanted off"
so i said "and i said yes, that's why i pulled the string" as I was leaving the freebee bus.

I wouldn't have pulled the string if i didn't want off there. The driver was the one who turned off the signal. Why else would I have pulled it? To listen to the pleasant ding?

Anyway, interesting 5 minute ride.

How bored do YOU get?

2007-11-09T14:01:00.000-05:00

man do i wish!

2007-11-09T11:36:00.001-05:00

Your Daddy Is Patrick Stewart

What You Call Him: Pops

Why You Love Him: He knows best

Who's Your Daddy?

Read me a story pops!

It's about that time again

2007-11-08T10:48:00.000-05:00

Hello thought dump? and how are we today?
I'll tell you right now that I'm sore. I got a pmnomia shot monday and my arm has been in pain ever since. and then on my other arm i have this dandy
which is awesome, but that leaves me sleeping on my back, which i hate doing.

i had a dream last night that i was having another baby. It was kinda sad because i wasn't excited about it, more resigned to my fate. So, I'm glad that i actually can't have anymore. I don't ever want to feel so lack luster about my offspring.
Then I woke up this morning and my Moon cycle had started. so i'm all sore around the phlopian tubes.

Speaking of moon cycles and fertility. for you ladies who are done birthing children and are terrible about birth control, let me introduce you to . that's what i did. it's great.

blarg, i need coffee. I'm going to go get some now. Love you all! (sure i do....)

Whoa Whoa Whoa Whoa, back this shit up!

2007-10-26T08:50:00.000-04:00

Latest update on one of my obsessions. The Missing McCann Case.

..................................................................................
The parents of Madeleine McCann have released artist's impressions of the man they think abducted their daughter.
(Advertisement)

The images were drawn from the eyewitness account of one of the couple's friends, Jane Tanner, who was with them the night the four-year-old disappeared in Portugal.

They depict a man of southern European or Mediterranean appearance holding a child.

The man is drawn by the artist with greasy, straggly hair, wearing a purple or maroon top and beige chinos. He is aged about 35 to 40, 5ft 6in (1.7m) tall, and of slim build.

Crucially, the child, with her legs dangling, is wearing the same pyjamas as Madeleine on the evening of May 3.

To ensure accuracy, where Jane Tanner could not be certain, the artist left details blank.

The McCann's spokesman, Clarence Mitchell, said the release of the images was given the "tacit approval" of Portuguese police.

Mr Mitchell said: "This is another important phase of our investigation into Madeleine's abduction and we hope that this picture will be a very important reminder to anyone who was in the area on that night who may have seen this man.

"We believe that this was Madeleine being carried away by a man from the apartment, so we place great importance on having these pictures produced.

"Anyone who knows this man should contact our confidential phone line immediately."
..................................................................................

Okay....so, what you are telling me is that one of the McCanns friends saw a man carry off a child with the same PJ's as Maddie and did nothing? WHAT? WHAT? !!! I don't even know where to begin!!! ARG! What is wrong with these people? Is it the Brits or just this particular group of morons?

Oh Goodness

2007-10-23T12:19:00.000-04:00

Okay, so I've decided to only blog here, I'm not moving the old one's over to my new my space page

so, what to talk about today? hmmm....Good think my mission 101 doesn't go into effect until November 1st. I'm not doing so well.

Gawl. I had a terrible personal moment today. I went out side for my lunch break. and there was this old homeless woman not doing much of anything around the subway. I had five dollars in my pocket. And yet, I could not find the courage to go up to her and ask if she wanted a sandwhich. I'm such a coward.
I did pick up someone's name badge/building key and return it to them. that involved more courage on my part than I usually put forth. But why couldn't i get that lady a hot meal? I wanted to. She needed it. I looked right at her, but I couldn't be brave enough to form the words. I think she knew i wanted to ask.
That makes it worse.

I can't get my snake to eat.

I think he has mites. I'll have to soak both him and Ami.

On the upside, Bathroom Bunny has proven to be a fairly good pet. He goes pooty and pee in his kennel. So there is almost no clean up. We plan on switching to a litter box soon for even less clean up. I highly recommend Bathroom Bunnies to everyone.

As for the dogs...
They bark way too much. But are still quite sweet. I just don't know what to do with them.
Any suggestions?

temp dump for myspace blog for durring move

2007-10-18T08:59:00.000-04:00

The Take a Glance Campaign

I've been thinking about it and I'm going to start a campaign. There already is one about not leaving your kids in the car, so I'm going for the social responsibility side of the coin. For now I'm going to call it "Take a Glance", simply because thats all it would take to save a baby left, forgotten in a car. I'm going to post things year round. When I get the funds I'm going to make stickers and flyers.

It can happen any time of year. We hear most of the stories in the summer, but it happens in the fall too, when the temperature of a car rises above that of the outside air, just as it does in the summer. It also happens in winter, when the reverse happens to the children.

So, to reiterate my last blog, Take a glance in the cars you pass as you go to work or cross the parking lot into walmart or wherever you might be.

It's so insainly simple.

3:56 PM - 3 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Easy Fix

In the news I have heard far more than is reasonable stories about children being left in hot cars all day to die. It is, of course, the responsibility of the parents of said children to prevent this. However, that isn't enough for the children who have already suffered their fates.

There are millions of people on myspace. Suppose we all take the time while walking into work, wal-mart, or where ever, to casually glance in the back seats of the cars we pass. How many of us would find a small child? How many of us would save lives?

So far this year more than two dozen children have died this way. I'd like to think that we can stop this. It's such a simple thing to glance in a car. I'm challenging you, the reader, to do just that.

Thank you, and if it suits you, please repost this. Imagine if one million people took the time to glance.

Thank you.

3:05 PM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

08/16/2007

I’d gladly pay you tomorrow for a sticker today
Current mood: annoyed
Category: Life

Okay, my eldest started kindergarten recently. Things have not gone smoothly. Everyday he comes home cranky and every morning its a battle to get him to go back to school.
He went to head start for the past two years, so I know he can handle school.
My child is a very bright, yet very stubborn child.
With the exception of the first two days of school he has been sent home everyday with a note in his agenda about his behavior. "not minding" "not paying attention" "tried to strangle a child in line" (yeah...he got a whoopin for that one) "misbehaving in line, and lagging behind the class" and my favorite "poking holes in his work"
He also writes his name in the shape of a rainbow, on purpose, and the teacher is none to happy about that.
So I talk to him. Tell him school is important and he should listen to his teacher. That, natrually, does no good.
So finally we ask "What, if anything, do you do when he misbehaves"
I consider this one mystery solved.
"first warning, no sticker, second warning five minutes from recess, third warning ten minutes from recess, ect. Today was better, but still not sticker behavior."
She actually expects my child to obey on the promise of getting a little cheap ass sticker in his agenda for the day. Well, hell, he knows he can take a dollar down to the dollar tree and get a hundred of those stickers. And a few minutes out of recess? What does that matter when he does what he pleases all day long? Where's the time out? Where's the trip to the principles office? Heck, where is that quick smack on the butt? Not that I want them to beat him senseless, but the boy is used to people backing up their demands, and a sticker just isn't going to cut the mustard.
The teacher has failed in his eyes to establish herself as an authority figure. I can do all I want at home and it won't help her out any. He knows that's a different place with rules he is creating himself because so far the worst that happens is that he goes back inside early. Come on! That might work on the other kids, but not mine! He knows how to work the system. That's my kid.

5:50 PM - 3 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

06/28/2007

i feel like yoko

I can't make friends. It's pointless. It seems I'm too head strong and opinionated and pushy. I had a really great group of friends, that i loved, that made me so happy to be around, and now, it's not the same. I started seeing one of them. Which shouldn't be a huge deal since the other two are a couple. to we were two pairs instead of one pair and a couple wheels. But then, there was a situation that escalated very fast based on facts that were presented. Then, like with all things that escalate, it went to far. Now, I just can't make myself want to face one of the others. who is part of a couple. so it makes it hard to see the one I'm not mad at. And out of loyalty or personal disgruntled-ness "my" quarter of the group won't see the same person. again making things difficult for the...hell. It makes it hard on Jessica. I know she's going through a lot what with taking care of Nathan, but I'm just still so mad at him. More than mad. I'm disappointed that things turned out this way and i can't help but blame him. And now it looks like i betrayed Jessica. Which was not my intent. but I'm sure it doesn't matter.
the thing is. I saw this band, twice, and spoke with them. I said that I'd like to try to do a write up about them in enigma. they said cool. Well, through a case of mistaken Identity they thought Jessica was me, and instead of admitting it they said I referred her to them. Which I didn't. I'm sorry. I never brought Jessica up. Because I wanted to do the write up. Because I was the one who spoke when them and saw them live. It just makes sense. Well, I emailed them to see if they still wanted to do the interview. They made no mention of Jessica. She has a ton to do anyway and I'm sure they don't want to wait til she has time, and besides, let me say this one more time, I saw their performance, and listening to their recordings is nothing in comparison. I could be wrong about the mistaken identity part, i don't know what was said to whom. Just that Jessica told me that they said I referred them to her. Yes, at this point i should have said something. but i had already emailed them my questions and i honestly didn't think it would turn out as well as it did. I put off telling her for when I knew if it would go in the paper or not. No point in bringing it up until then, that's what i thought anyway.
Well, I didn't get confirmation that it would get published. I didn't find out until she emailed me about it.
So, I feel like Yoko. I've broken up the band.

There's more, but that's enough for now.

5:12 PM - 2 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

06/04/2007

There is simlpy no excuse

The disappearance of Madeleine McCann occurred on the evening of Thursday, 3 May 2007, when a then three-year-old British girl Madeleine McCann went missing from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in the Algarve in Portugal, in which she was staying with her parents. Madeleine, who was in a bedroom with her two two-year-old siblings, was initially thought to have only "wandered off" by Portuguese Police, but further investigation by Portuguese police suggested an abduction.

To read more about this google it or just go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Madeleine_McCann

1:58 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Blog

Because it's easier for me to blog at work with a diff. site, check here to read my stuff if you so choose.
http://grayhermia.blogspot.com/

5:24 AM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

05/30/2007

Exactly! Genius!
Current mood: Insuperable

**Never mind man biting dog ...**

Artist eats Corgi to protest British royals' fox hunt; Yoko Ono also tastes it

..> ..>

LONDON - A British artist has eaten chunks of a Corgi dog, the breed favored by Queen Elizabeth II, live on radio to protest against the royal family's treatment of animals.

Mark McGowan, 37, said he ate "about three bites" of the dog meat, cooked with apples, onions and seasoning, to highlight what he called Prince Philip's mistreatment of a fox during a hunt by the Queen's husband in January.

"It was pretty disgusting," McGowan said of the meal, which he ate while appearing on a London radio station on Tuesday. Yoko Ono, another guest on the show, also tried the meat.

"I've never tasted anything like it — it was grey and had a very funny smell. It was horrible," McGowan told Reuters.

Queen favors Corgis
McGowan said he was angry that the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, of which the royal family is a patron, had not prosecuted Prince Philip for hunting and killing the fox. The RSPCA said the fox did not suffer.

Corgis are the favored dogs of the queen, who has owned more than 30 of them during her reign.

The dog died of natural causes at a Corgi breeders and was prepared and cooked by others for McGowan.

McGowan is well known for his outlandish performance stunts. He ate a swan in another protest against the queen. Swans are protected by the monarchy

7:15 AM - 5 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

05/25/2007

ATTACK!
Current mood: silly

***I have sores on my feet. I think it's nice to have a good story to tell people about visible wounds. So, when asked "Lindsey, what did you do to yourself?" I reply "I tried to reconsile with my mortal enemy the flip flop. Negotiations failed and a battle ensued where the flops did flip, gravely wounding my feet. Did the wretched shoes survive? Nay, they have paid dearly for their betrayal!"***

6:08 AM - 2 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

05/24/2007

GET HIM FRANK!

There are no words, nothing, that can describe how I feel about this.

One Charge Dropped Against Robert Reid
Criminally negligent homicide charge remains

Richard Simms

WTVC-TV NewsChannel 9

May 23, 2007 - 12:45PM

Prosecutors have dropped the most serious of two charges against a Chattanooga man whose 15 month old son died when he was left in a sweltering car outside the family's business. Hamilton County District Attorney, Bill Cox, agreed in a court hearing today to dismiss an aggravated child abuse charge against 43 year old Robert Reid. A charge of criminally negligent homicide in Timothy Reid's May first death will be presented to a grand jury. The boy's father remains free on a $1,500 bond. Dozens of the family's friends, and members of their church, attended the court hearing. Reid was accompanied by his wife, Beverly, and a brother. Defense attorney Jerry Summers said the justice system can't punish Reid the way he is being punished inside.

Police have said the boy was unresponsive when discovered in a car seat in the father's BMW M5 sedan parked outside the family's business. Tests showed the temperature inside the car reached 142 degrees. The car's interior motion alarm went off four times because the child was moving inside, according to a police affidavit.

Police have said Timothy was left in the car after he rode along as his father drove three other older children to school. We'll have the latest beginning on NewsChannel 9 at 5:00 p.m.

7:15 AM - 3 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

05/22/2007

In defense of a friend

Granted, I do not know exactly what was written or said. But what I do know has infuriated me. So I shall lash out in the same manner as the villain who hath slenderized one of the kindest, most resilient people that I have ever had the privilege to encounter. My good friend has been attacked by a malevolent man, who seems to vitiate all that is good around him. Someone whose own reputation should have been enough to prevent him from attacking anyone, especially my compassionate friend.

This uneducated bombast will not be tolerated. My friend is doughty, intelligent, witty, and loyal. None of these qualities can be found in the perpetrator. He should be humbled that he even knows my friend.

3:17 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

The Mission should you chose to accept it....

2007-10-17T10:10:00.000-04:00

I'm borrowing this idea and format from Angel…okay not so much borrowing as stealing with presumed premission.

Anyway, maybe if I have a list I can get my life in order. Lets see.

The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria: Tasks must be specific with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on your part). Cross them off as you do them, and add the dates. Include the date you started the list and the finishing date. (You can use this to help figure out the finish date.)

More about Mission 101.

Start Date: Thursday November 1, 2007
End Date: Thursday, July 29, 2010

Finance:
001. Pay off credit cards. (hopefully with Tax Refund money)
002. Pay off car loan (or at least half of it)
003. Get six months ahead on house payments.
004. Make a donation of at least $50 to a charity.
005. Save $2 per day for the duration of the mission and deposit into savings account.
006. De-junk my house, many trips to the dump.
007. Use better money management, keep detailed records, use Accounting knowledge.

008. Have a clearly defined Monthly and Yearly home budget.
009. Start paying mom back.
010. Deposit at least $10 a month into both boys savings accounts and pay back what I have taken out in the past..

Health/Beauty:
011. Drink only water (at least 6 glass per day) when thirsty. Juice and milk only with meals.
012. Be healthy and weigh between 135-140 at the end of the mission.
013. Eat out only twice a month (this includes fastfood or dining resturants).
014. Participate in at least one awareness walk every half year.
015. Run a mile in less than 10 minutes.
016. Exercise for at least 20 minutes per day, if finances allow, join a gym.
017. Brush teeth in a.m. & before bed every night for duration of the mission.
018. Whiten teeth.
019. Wash face in a.m. & before bed every night for duration of the mission.
020. Apply lotion in a.m. & before bed every night.
021. Get back into Belly dance, practice at least 10 minutes daily, be a performer by end of mission.
022. Quit nail biting.
023. Have two full sleves of tattoos if finances allow. If not, do what you can.
024. Learn to stand up straight and walk like a confidant attractive lady
025. Get 8 hours of sleep every night and get up on time.
026. Look nice for work everyday.

Hobbies:
027. Master Belly Dance (Tribal Fusion and American Tribal Style)
028. Start and Finish 7 paintings. (acrylic or oil)
029. Fill one whole sketch book with life drawings.
030. Fill another sketch book with still lifes.
031. Do pastel poitraits of both boys.
032. Fill yet another sketch book with imaginative images.
033. Have a killer portfolio.
034. Fill one more sketch book with cartoon images for childrens book.
035. Finish fantasy adventure novel.
036. make no less then 5 volumes of children's books.
037. Read at least 2 books a month.
038. Every quarter year allow someone else to pick out a book for me to read.
039. Every quarter year read a book that is educational.
040. Sew my own really kick ass bedroom stuff.
041. Blog daily.
042. Decorate my house uniquely, whimzically, and thriftily.
043. Start a family tree.
044. Learn to swing dance.
045. Make and keep up a garden.

Education:
046. Take some art classes.
047. Look into getting bachelors. (in something…I need to pick)
048. Learn another language.

Family/Relationships:
049. Adopt or be ready for adoption.
050. Be in a secure, happy, loving relationship.
051. Be an even better mom.
052. Be a better daughter.
053. Have family portraits done.
054. Have portraits done of all kids (my generation) together for parents.
055. Have homework time with boys each evening during the school year.
056. Go on trips/adventures with my kids and make travel jars/books/boxes for each journey.
057. Express my gratitude to family more solidly than I do.
058. Make better efforts to visit friends and family.
059. Reconnect with some old friends.
060. Be active as a family.
061. Eat dinner at the kitchen table as a family every night for one month.
062. Go on a "date" with just my boys once a month.
063. Learn to go with the flow and relax.
064. Take family to church regularly.
065. Read a book to the boys every night. Pick something long with no pictures and read a chapter every night.
066. Establish and maintain a “chore chart” for all household members.
067. Write one letter each week to a friend or family member out of town.
068. Spend one day with sisters every quarter year.

Purchases:
069. Buy a projector.
070. Buy a couch.
071. Buy/obtain all new bathroom towels, including a set for guests.
072. Buy holiday decorating stuff.
073. Buy a really nice set of cookwear.
074. Buy a bookshelf or two…or twenty…
075. Buy a Flemish Giant.
076. Buy a family vacation.

Other:
077. Renovate new home.
078. Rock the vote.
079. Attend my 10 year high school reunion in June 2011 and look rockin'.
080. Have people over on a more regular basis.
081. Pray everyday.
082. Read & ponder one Bible verse per day.
083. Make dinners ahead of time and freeze.
084. Send out a Christmas newsletter updating the family on my boys, include pictures and christmas card..
085. Find at least one thing a day that makes me happy and record it for a year
086. Do dishes daily.
087. Wash one load of laundry per day.
088. See one show every month and buy a t-shirt.
089. Turn off tv and computer for one week straight.
090. Print all photos on disk using free promotions
091. Keep clutter off of the kitchen table and desk.
092. Learn better time management.
093. Help Owen everyday to speak clearly and confidently.
094. Teach Fletcher a "big" word every month(not only speaking but how to read and write it.)
095. Make gifts for people.
094. Be thrifty.

095. Make home more energy efficient.
096. See a musical at the Tivoli.
097. Adopt a child from the “Angel Tree”
098. Have about 20 button up shirts, 10 dress slacks, and 5 pairs of flats for work. (and that's all!)
099. Make our bed every morning for one month.
100. For every item on list not completed donate $2.
101. Create a new list and begin again!

You know what i CAN spell?

2007-10-13T12:43:00.000-04:00

okay, so i'm at work, working my butt off mind you, and some people are talking about how to spell something and i ask "what are you trying to spell?" and one lady turns around and very rudely says "Oh, you wouldn't know"....yeah, well, I know how to spell bitch.
Just because I'm not of the same religion doesn't mean i wouldn't know how to spell one of your dishes. But thanks for thinking i'm that dumb. Really. I guess us Christians just don't understand.

Meez

2007-10-04T13:27:00.005-04:00

Stop being pathetic!

2007-10-04T09:33:00.000-04:00

Mr. Mooshy Mooshy Googoo Pants!

just had to get that out....

Love, love, love, love....mmmmmm

2007-10-03T13:31:00.000-04:00

Wow. I am so glad that I'm not any age between 14-23. Wowzers!
Granted, I don't get all the hype because I didn't date around in high school or college. I was with my ex husband (dating and marriage) 7 years. So it really tickles the hell out of me when someone has been dating x amount of days/weeks/months and they "love each other". What really gets me is how moody they get when a fight or break up happens. Dude! You're 20! get over it!

Looking back, I don't think anyone under 22 needs to be in a completely exclusive relationship. Don't roll up into a ball of drama!

It's too easy to drop the L Bomb and not mean it. I'm guilty of it myself. BUT I've learned not too and that's important.

Do you know what it reminds me of when people rave on profile pages about how great and fabulous their guy/girl is? High school. What is more sickening (to me, as this is just my opinion and you know what they say about those) are the girls who make their display name "Bobby's Girl" or "Chris's Love!"....Really....that's your great claim? That is all of who you are? Your parent's never bothered to name you because they knew you'd be a sheep and take on such a lowly title?

Another thing that gets me, and i believe its just because people sling the l word as much as they sling leg, is how every person they are with is "the one" or "the love of my life". Oh get over it.

yeah, i should get over it too. But you know what? YOU'RE READING MY BLOG!
so, yeah, i get to say what i want. Just as the Love Dumb masses still get to say what they want.

I'm not saying in anyway that you can't care about someone deeply. i'm not saying that you can't fall in love that young. But real love doesn't look, act, and sound like the hallmark valentines section.

And there are people who do meet the loves of their lives early on. But i would wager that THAT is EXTREMELY rare.

So, girls, when you are 20 and you start feeling like you love someone, try the phrase "I really care about you" or " I feel so good when I'm around you". And get on some birth control. And when your fella of a year dumps or or cheats on you...YOU ARE ONLY 20 ...and that was just a year. no time at all. Ask the old folks who've been married 60 years.

Boys, you can use the same phrases. But when you are starting to get stressed out because your girl is acting weird or flying off the handle...don't mope about how you thought you'd be with her forever. Girls are crazy, (yes girls, we are), if you weren't expecting it you are a moron. Not every relationship is peaches and cream. And if all she's dated before you are assholes and you treat her nice...she'll most likely dump you if she's young because guess what turns her on? Jerks.

So, Girls, find that female empowerment or what ever, be glad you have your very own identity that is based on YOUR personality, YOUR interests, YOUR skills, YOUR life, and NOT that of the status of being with a man.

Boys, some of you need a kick in the balls just to remind you that you have them.

Right, well, that's my high horse on that. Now to improve myself just a little bit more by observing people and reading their thoughts. Because it's so much easier to identify someone else's splinter and then locate it in myself for removal.

:)

2007-09-27T11:29:00.001-04:00

2007-09-27T09:45:00.001-04:00

Help find this child. The police need to know who she is so they can save her. If she looks familar to you please call. It a Police station in navada. MSN gave this contact info:

If you have any information that might help police in this case, you are urged to call Crime Stoppers. That number is 385-5555.

You can view the story:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,298016,00.html
and
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20973893/

Heroes Season Premier

2007-09-25T09:39:00.000-04:00

Warning, if you didn't watch it, don't read this...I spoil everything!

Wow, did you see that last night? Was it everything we hoped for all summer?

No, but it was still pretty good. I'm a bit disappointed that none of the characters stayed dead. I understand that it doesn't feel good to have your favorite character axed, but on the other hand, it feels way to soap opera-ie to keep raising them from their dooms.

I'm really interested to see how the Hiro thing pans out. I think it's already horribly obvious where that is going. But, I love Hiro so I'm very happy he is getting his very own "coming to" adventure.

As for what occurred in Ireland (it was Ireland right?), sure, we all hoped that the situation was not what it was, but it made sense. That development last night, sure you can pull it off logically, but I don't know. I feel cheated a dramatic death.

Poor Hiro's Dad, he was finally coming back to the light side. Oh well. And Mrs. Petrelli, Oh how I will enjoy her demise.

Lets see...Sorry about Matt and his wife, I guess it had to happen though, who wants to live with a man that can read your mind? besides, that hussy cheated on him.
And beautiful, beautiful Suresh (spelling? eh, it's a blog, sound it out). Clever little thing working with Mr. Bennet.

OMG Claire will have a high school romance with someone who flies just like her daddy! I guess they needed to draw in the teenie boppers. Funny if it turns out to be her brother (Nathan you scallywag!)

Speaking of Nathan, you should be dead too! Where the hell is my tragedy?!

I like the new characters. Hope everyone kept up with the graphic novels over the summer!

Sylar......I'm so pissed you aren't dead...that's what one of the commercials indicated.
He was a great one season psycho. After that its redundant and annoying. I'm ready for that super bad, clever master mind that molly (or whatever her name is) sees in her sleep.

And really, two guys that are trying to save the world have time to raise a little girl? So I suppose halfway through the season we'll get a lesson on DFACS and how to keep a kind of adopted kid.

I don't know. I'm still excited over the season, and I still really enjoyed last night's premier, but I can't help but feel that the sophomore slump is looming ahead, ready to strike. I hope the writers have some serious cadbury bunnies in their hats.

Temporary Post Until I get home to do the whole myspace thing.

2007-09-24T15:22:00.000-04:00

If you opened it, you have to do it! Now start. (No, you don't, not really. And if you don't, the boogie man won't bother you, Promise)

19 LOVE QUESTiONS

1. Four Names You Go By: (Love question?)
A. Lindsey
B. Mommy
C. Sugarfoot
D. Selfish Bitch (oh I feel the love off that one )

2. Three Things You Are Wearing Right Now: (again, this is love related?)
A. gray pants, pinstriped with pink and black
B. Pink collared shirt.
C. Pink and gold flats

[01] Do you still have feelings for your ex?
A: Not really, I shut those things off. I mean hell, I probably imagined them in the first place knowing my crazy ass.

[02] Have you ever been given roses?
A: yeah, that's standard dating fare.

[03] What is your all-time favorite romance movie?
A: garsh, I don't know. The Princess Bride.

[04] How many times have you honestly been in love?
A: I love my kids. If it feels anything like that only towards a man, no, not quite. I love, but so far, hindsight shows I wasn't "in" love.

[05] Do you believe that everyone has a soul-mate?
A: No. I think you could match yourself up with any number of people. It's a right place right time sort of deal. If you live in china, more than likely you'll find someone to love, that doesn't mean that if you had been in America instead of china that day that you couldn't have met someone else that would make you equally as happy. Too many people for the whole soul mate business.

[06] Whats your current problem?
A: Same old same old. Money.

[07] Have you ever had your heart broken?
A: No. I've been emotionally torn up for a bit, but nothing that i would say is heartbroken.

[08] Long Distance Relationships?
A: They don't work if you are both broke and only one person is willing to travel. awe, hell, they don't freakin' work anyway.

[09] Have you ever seen a friend as more than a friend?
A: It happens on occasion. If you are committed to your exclusive relationship, you cool it with that friend for a while to reduce temptation. Why even put yourself in a situation where you could loose, even if you don't. I i know what I mean even if you don't.

[10] Do you believe the statement, "Once a cheater always a cheater"?
A: Yeah.

[11] How many kids do you want to have?
A: I don't know. Thats and idea i like to toy with, but will not seriously pursue through thought until i have my finances a little less....financigooie.

[12] What is your favorite color(s)?
A: I refuse to pick one. Yes, I'm the sort of person that lives on the fence. Deal with it or get over it, i'm not budging.

[14] Do you believe you only have one true love?
A: I believe i explained that with the whole "soul mate thing".

[15] Imagine you're 79 and your spouse just died, would you get re-married?
A: arg. Probably not. It's more fun to date anyway.

[16] At what age did you start noticing the opposite sex?
A: You mean like actually attracted to it in a sexual way? 15? or just boys are different than girls? cos that be like 2.

[17] What song do you want to hear at your wedding?
A: I don't know. That's not really something I think about. I'm not all that sentimental.

[18] Do you know someone who likes you?
A: and here you claimed this was a love survey. liar. yeah. people like me, some of them. others can't stand me. fine by me. one side out weighs the other. and either way, i'm fine with me and so is my family.

[19] Do you like anyone?
A: Billy Davis is the schools hottest quarterback, i totally like him! Seriously....I enjoy the company of many people in a completely platonic way. if that wasn't the answer you wanted, you should have asked your question better. "Say your right words"

Not mine, obviously, but a good lesson

2007-09-20T16:07:00.001-04:00

The sun was shining on the sea,
Shining with all his might:
He did his very best to make
The billows smooth and bright--
And this was odd, because it was
The middle of the night.

The moon was shining sulkily,
Because she thought the sun
Had got no business to be there
After the day was done--
"It's very rude of him," she said,
"To come and spoil the fun!"

The sea was wet as wet could be,
The sands were dry as dry.
You could not see a cloud, because
No cloud was in the sky:
No birds were flying overhead--
There were no birds to fly.

The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand;
They wept like anything to see
Such quantities of sand:
"If this were only cleared away,"
They said, "it would be grand!"

"If seven maids with seven mops
Swept it for half a year.
Do you suppose," the Walrus said,
"That they could get it clear?"
"I doubt it," said the Carpenter,
And shed a bitter tear.

"O Oysters, come and walk with us!"
The Walrus did beseech.
"A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,
Along the briny beach:
We cannot do with more than four,
To give a hand to each."

The eldest Oyster looked at him,
But never a word he said:
The eldest Oyster winked his eye,
And shook his heavy head--
Meaning to say he did not choose
To leave the oyster-bed.

But four young Oysters hurried up,
All eager for the treat:
Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,
Their shoes were clean and neat--
And this was odd, because, you know,
They hadn't any feet.

Four other Oysters followed them,
And yet another four;
And thick and fast they came at last,
And more, and more, and more--
All hopping through the frothy waves,
And scrambling to the shore.

The Walrus and the Carpenter
Walked on a mile or so,
And then they rested on a rock
Conveniently low:
And all the little Oysters stood
And waited in a row.

"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings."

"But wait a bit," the Oysters cried,
"Before we have our chat;
For some of us are out of breath,
And all of us are fat!"
"No hurry!" said the Carpenter.
They thanked him much for that.

"A loaf of bread," the Walrus said,
"Is what we chiefly need:
Pepper and vinegar besides
Are very good indeed--
Now if you're ready, Oysters dear,
We can begin to feed."

"But not on us!" the Oysters cried,
Turning a little blue.
"After such kindness, that would be
A dismal thing to do!"
"The night is fine," the Walrus said.
"Do you admire the view?

"It was so kind of you to come!
And you are very nice!"
The Carpenter said nothing but
"Cut us another slice:
I wish you were not quite so deaf--
I've had to ask you twice!"

"It seems a shame," the Walrus said,
"To play them such a trick,
After we've brought them out so far,
And made them trot so quick!"
The Carpenter said nothing but
"The butter's spread too thick!"

"I weep for you," the Walrus said:
"I deeply sympathize."
With sobs and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket-handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.

"O Oysters," said the Carpenter,
"You've had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?'
But answer came there none--
And this was scarcely odd, because
They'd eaten every one.

Excuse me while I blend in with the scenery

2007-09-19T10:27:00.000-04:00

More and more I come across people who want to be "the next big thing"
Name in lights, best sellers on the shelves, videos on MTV, fans desperately searching google for a new picture, men drooling at their heels, women flinging panties at their feet, ect.

Sure, the money would be nice. But even then, would it? I can't imagine how stressful those kinds of lives must actually be. How unhealthy they are.

I'm not sure why I don't join in with that fame seeking frame of thought. I believe we should all shine and succeed in life, but is that really success?

I can't help but wonder what the lives of histories most famous artists, musicians, writers, political minds, and war time heroes were REALLY like. Not just the way history was reported but the way it really was. Did they consciously think about being famous? or did they just do what they loved and were lucky enough to be recognized for it? Where they even really recognized for it while living? Oh sure some of them did. Little snippets of glory here and there for some and more so for others.

Was fame back then like fame is now? Surely not. Seems like anyone can be famous these days. Specifically the trashier you are. Yes, there are non-trashy famous people that do great things for the world, but even some of them went through their trashy phase (Angelina Jolie).

So, I don't understand this drive. This lust for the spot light. But I also understand that no two people are exactly the same, so I would never expect some people to be happy with the same things that I'm happy with.

What makes me happy? This question has been raised to me recently by an un-named source. Apparently some people think I'm not happy or am hard to make happy.

I don't need people to make me happy. I make me happy. I find joy in other people but don't expect them to do things for the explicit reason of my happiness.

I find joy in impressing my mother. I may never have my book published, and I don't really care if I ever do, but my mom loves what I've written and that is a far greater award for me than if I were a New York Times best seller for 92 weeks in a row. I know my mother, there is no greater book critic I'm sure. But she likes what I write. And she isn't the mom that just gives praise simply because I'm her child.

I find joy in simply sitting with my children. Just their existence is joy. I worry for them, I work for them, I live for them. And that is as much as I could ever want. The love that they have brought into my world is beyond words, beyond feeling almost, certainly beyond understanding. A love so strong and so bold that at times I wonder if it won't burn out my soul with its brilliance.
That is enough for me.

I find joy in eating dinner with my aunt and uncle. In making them proud. For there are no two other people in my life that have shown me what hard work, proper planning, and real marriage are.

I find joy in my friends. Though friends do come and go and I no longer invest myself quite as much as I used to, I find enjoyment and peace in their company. I am learning to save myself the pain and frustration that often comes with friendship by keeping things casual. No more "best friends" or only one or two friends that I spend my free time with. I suppose you give up the idea of a sole bosom companion as you get older.

I find joy in life in general. How could I see my friends and family if I'm blinded by the spot light?

Where am I going with this? Just that while it's fine for others to seek that center stage position, I'm more than happy down stage among the throng of extras, for my place and effect in this world may not be wide spread, it has its effect none the less. What care I if I'm remembered by people 500 years from now. My boys know I love them, what greater fame could I ever hope to achieve?

RIP Patcat

2007-09-18T10:41:00.000-04:00

Okay, so this the the second time we've been through this.

Date: Sep 17, 2007 11:36 PM
Subject: RIP Patrick
Body: For those of you who do not know, Patrick was hospitalized early this morning for intestinal pains. After x-rays an infection was found in his kidneys. Rush surgery was admitted. Unfortunately he had allergic reaction to his anesthesia. He could not be saved. I don't really know what else to say, but I will keep you all posted.

RIP buddy...you will be missed :(

Of course the first time it was a single prank on one victim. This time, we'll call him Tom, Tom decided to prank anyone willing to fall for a myspace bulletin.

I got a call at midnight because some one fell for it.

Granted neither Patrick nor myself knew of this prank, but come on! First, do you really think that we are going to have a third party post a bulletin on myspace? And if someone did, don't you think that they'd be a little more heart felt? Maybe I can only see the ruse because I knew for a fact that Patrick was fine.

The most annoying part was who called. What were the odds that they really thought I'd pick up for them? After what has happened between that party, Patrick, and myself? No. I had Patrick call back simply to prevent more phone calls.

So, There you go people. Patrick is very much alive, getting ready to start a great new job, and as far as I know, generally healthy and happy.

But I'd really like to thank everyone's concern for his well being when he really was badly sick.

You care if he's dead, but not so much if he might need someone to drop off some chicken soup.

Now that's devotion.

I like to feel like i'm being interviewed.

2007-09-11T11:27:00.000-04:00

That's why I keep doing these inane myspace questionnaires. Who comes up with these anyway?

57 Girl Confessions ( I personally don't think that this will be that insightful, but what the heck.)

1. Is it cute when guys kiss you on your forehead? Yes'm, it is cute.

2. A big poofy dress or a short party dress? Well, right now i'm wanting to buy a big poofy short party dress, so i guess i'm somewhere in the middle.

3. What would you do if you received a long love letter? Read it, try not to laugh, feel awkward the rest of the day.

4. Group dates or single dates? Group dates. You can always still go home with your date with out the rest of the gang...unless you are into that kind of thing...

5. Do you hate it when guys act different around their friends? Yes, but I don't really ever have that problem. I'm pretty well one of the guys anyway, so they can fart, burp, swear, ogle breasts, whatever.

6. Are diamonds a girl’s best friend? No, but that's not to say I wouldn't like to make one's acquaintance.

7. Is your hair up or down today? It's up because i didn't have time to straighten it.

8. Do you straighten your hair? I do when i want it straight....

9. Favorite mascara? That one that i steal from my sisters...you know...whatever they bought that week.

10. Do you get your nails done? I've tried it. I'm not good at the up keep.

11. Small or large purses? Large enough to carry a small Winnebago

12. In your purse, what are your must haves? Drivers License and other various info cards, phone, keys, lip gloss, lighter...dunno, what ever ends up in there.

13. Jeans or sweats? Jeans, I get to hot in sweats.

14. Do you wear clothes/shoes/jewelry that’s uncomfortable? That's really a pointless question. We have all worn, at some point in our lives, some thing uncomfortable. However, as a general rule, no I dress in clothes that are comfortable.

15. Do you text message a lot? No, periodically, but not enough to come close to "a lot"

16. What would you do if you got pregnant? The same thing I did the last two times I got pregnant. Did I mention that my kids are awesome?

17. What’s your favorite color? The artist in me wont allow me to choose a favorite color. I see the validity of all colors.

18. Heels or flats? I mostly wear flats even though I love heels because I feel self conscious of my height.

19. Did you ever cry during a romantic movie? Not really, no.

20. Would you ever leave the house without make-up on? Oh yeah. I look like crap, but i'll go out.

21. Walmart or Target? I go to wal-mart only because it is closer. I prefer Target though.

22. Do you wear collared shirts? Almost daily to work.

23. Do you like preppy boys? I like funny guys. i don't really care what style they choose to abide to.

24. Do you think lip gloss is the best!? Eh, it's alright if you remember to put it on, but it's alright if you forget.

25. Do you own any big sunglasses? I do. Not just because of the style but they actually do keep the sun off my eyes better.

26. How long does it take you to get ready in the morning? if i didn't lolly gag? 10 minutes unless i have to dry my hair then 20 minutes.

27. Do you like to wear band-aids? only when it stops the flow of blood...

28. Do you like skater boys? Again, I like funny guys, if they also skate, well, that's fine too.

29. Do you often wish there was something you could change? There are many somethings I wish I could change.

30. Gold or silver? Silver

31. Do you like to receive flowers? I do indeed. But just as a casual "I got these for you today" kind of thing, not in a "to show my deep, true, powerful love for you" because that makes me uncomfortable.

32. Do you like surfer boys? boys boys boys....gah, I'm starting to think I should have taken this survey when i was 8.

33. Do you dress up for the holidays? For church or something, yes, i do.

34. Do you like to wear dresseses? I love to. I just wish i had a reason to wear them!

35. On a scale of 1-10 how much do guys confuse you? guys don't, particular males do. but the degree varies.

36. In the last 48 hours have you hung out with a guy? yeah

37. Would you date a guy shorter than you? No.

38. Do you like to hold hands? eh, it's alright.

39. What is the youngest you would date? apparently its 3 years..

40. What is the oldest you would date? 4 years. but it's all relative to how much i like the guy.

41. What do you notice when you first meet a guy? if he's funny...how many more times will i have to reiterate that.

42. Is it hott when guys sweat? no, not really.

43. What is the best feature in a guy?A sense of humor. and nice eyes.

44. Do you like making eye contact? not really.

46. Would you kill for chocolate? Probably not. Murder is awful serious and i can get chocolate pretty cheap.

47. Did you ever spend all day/night getting pretty for a guy? no. not even on my wedding day. just got ready a few hours before.

48. On a scale from 1-10 how fun is shopping? about a 5.

49. Do you freak out if you miss your favorite show? why would i do that...it's just tv

50. Do you yell a lot? Gosh no.

51. Do you wear sweatpants/pajamas to school/work? That wouldn't be very professional now would it?

52. Have you ever dressed unlike yourself to impress a guy? I don't recall doing that, but i'm not going to claim its out of the question.

53. Do you write a lot of mushy love poems? NOOOOO....

54. What makeup could you not live w/ out? eyeliner.

55. Do you fall in love easily?I think i used to, or used to trick myself into thinking thats what i was doing. Not now. I care about people easily and I love people easily, that will never change, but actually "falling in love" I want to take my time about.

56. Do you have cramps? not really.

57. Do you think you have the bestest friend/friend(s) ever? n/a.

My space bulletins

2007-09-10T15:49:00.000-04:00

I like them as a general rule as long as they aren't threatening. For example, I really hate the ones that say "I'm checking to see who my real friends are on here, repost this or I'm going to delete you". Well, first off, hopefully, your real friends are the ones with whom you have contact with out side of myspace and you'll already know not to delete them. Secondly, if you have to threaten to remove people just to be sure they still want to be your friend you may need to seek some kind of therapy. And if I am on the end that is expected to repost that, go right a head and delete me. there are several million people on myspace, any one of which can take your slot on my friends list. I won't be heart broken.

Another one that bothers me. It ends up something like "Repost this if you love god and want to prove it". I'm sure the lord is up there keeping tallies of who reposts that. My feelings and beliefs about god are not going to be summed up by a short zealous bulletin.

The last one is more something that bothers me on a different level than the others. The one's previously mentioned just annoy me. This one, it bothers me deeply. The one with picture after picture of abused children and it reads "stop child abuse". I'm sorry, I really don't see putting pictures of those suffering children out there like that. And it doesn't even offer any tips for prevention. No lists of what to look for, who to contact, available resources. If it is just asking me not to beat my own kids it needn't have bothered.

On another note, I really enjoy my on-line journal/blogger thing. I know many people do. I'm just glad that mine really only appears here.

Just about one of the most retarded questionaires...still gonna do it though.

2007-08-23T11:57:00.000-04:00

How well do you know your husband/ fiance'/ boyfriend?

His Birthday?
July 16, I think. pretty sure.

How long have you been together?
dunno...3 months? less? more? matters not.

How long did you know each other before you started dating?
couple months.

What physical feature attracted you to him first?:
oh it was totally the hair.

Hair color:
Dark Brown

How did you meet?
well, the first time was at walmart sometime last year, but i didn't look at him, litterally, men make me nervous. The second time was at the hospital.

2) RELATIONSHIP STUFF:

How serious is it?
The antibiotics seem to be clearing that up.

Are you "in love":?
LOOK!!! a shiny new nickel!

Do your parents like him:
Mom likes him, Step dad is alright with him

Does it matter?
of course it does. Family first.

Does he let you wear THE pants?
I don't think we are that definitive.

Do you have a shirt of his that you sleep with?
with? no.

Can you picture having kids with him?
You know, that isn't how all women think.

Does he have a temper?
neh.
he's pretty light hearted.

Are you happy to be with him:
sure nuff.

3)SOME OTHER STUFF:

Does he have any tattoo's?
no :( he better get one soon... (oh no i didn't! oh yes i did!) what?

Does he have any piercing's?
No. That is not a requirement.

Does he have any scars that you know of?
a couple.

Is he a party dude or stay at home kind of guy?
some of column a, some of column b

Is he Outgoing or Shy?:
Very Outgoing. Thank god! I'm such an introvert!

Would he hang out with you and YOUR friends?
yeah, i don't see why not. i mean, all my friends rock.

Does he sing?
um...in like a blood curdling way, yes.

Does he snore?
Not so much, no.

Habitual Demolition

2007-08-22T14:40:00.000-04:00

It is soooo freaking hard to break a self destructive habit. And I'm not talking about a chemical one. I'm talking about personality traits and vices that you have to consciously make an effort to mask and deal with. I want so much not to screw something up and yet, because I can't seem to reign in my temper when I haven't slept well, I screw it up. go me.

Well, I'm doing what I can do. I have lots of important people in my life. I can't live on eggshells, but I'll try not to be a raging bull either.

Not that any of this matters. Well, to me it does, and that's what this blog is all about. Making me feel validated in my thoughts. Because, some how, you are less crazy if you write to yourself then if you talk to yourself.
Figure that one out.

It's just the view.

2007-08-21T11:09:00.000-04:00

Terry Pratchett is by far my most beloved writer. His works are the inspiration to at least two tattoos that i want to get. now possibly a third. Please enjoy this clip taken from "Eric"

" It was a tiny piece of matter popping into existence.
Death stalked over to the point of arrival and watched carefully.

It was a paper clip.*"

curious huh? yes, well, now we need some info. A paper clip? lets see what Pratchett tells us in a foot note!

"* Many people think that it should have been an hydrogen molecule, but this is against the observed facts. Every one who has found a hitherto unknown egg-whisk jamming an innocent kitchen drawer knows that raw matter is continually flowing into the universe in fairly developed forms, popping into existence normally in ashtrays, vases and glove compartments. It chooses its shape to allay suspicion, and common manifestations are paper clips, the pins out of shirt packaging, the little keys for central heating radiators, marbles, bits of crayon, mysterious sections of herb chopping devices and old Kate Bush albums. Why matter does this is unclear, but it is evident that matter has Plans.
It is also apparent that creators sometimes favor the Big Bang method of universe construction, and at other times use the more gentle methods of Continuous creation. This follows studies by cosmotherapists which revealed that the violence of the Big Bang can give a universe serious psychological problems when it gets older."

GENIUS!

My online thesis

2007-08-15T11:10:00.000-04:00

I read an article today about how employers are looking up potential employees on Facebook and Myspace to get an idea of what they are hiring. Brilliant. I'm all for it.

Here is a segment from the article.

"Risqué pictures are not the only way a job applicant can be tripped up. Pictures of illegal behavior like drug use or heavy alcohol use could disqualify a candidate too. Some also suggest poor writing and bad grammar in Facebook profiles and in blog entries can raise a red flag about communication skills. Derogatory comments or complaints or radical political positions also can draw the scrutiny of a prospective employer."

Well, obviously dirty pictures boots you right out of the hiring pool. But lets think. If you want to post trashy pictures of yourself, dandy, do it. Don't get mad when someone you don't want to sees it, Like your mom or your dream company, when you weren't clever enough to put your photos on private or limited veiwability. So, I completely support that aspect of business investigation.
Pictures of drug use and heavy alcohol use. I can see that too. Don't want to hire dr. dave if dave still hits the bong. Or that new architect can't seem to hold his booze.

I have two stances on the next part. Poor writing and bad grammar. First, this isn't a formal forum. No one is out blogging their life and thoughts as a thesis. There may very well be some very grammar savvy people out their blogging away. But to most of us, this sort of writing and communication is the most informal way to let those thoughts out and keep up with friends.
Having that said, I completely understand not tiring someone who writes like :
Hey Gurlz, watup 4 real. 2 buzy to talk. LMAO, ROTFLMAO. I runs over 2 da stoe 2 see U.
and all that equal nonsense. Unless they need code breakers.

But if there are companies seriously not hiring people for random misspelled words and sentence fragments, that is unreasonable. These aren't term papers.

As for the comments, yeah, people really shouldn't leave really nasty tasteless ones. but, you know, it is a place for young people to communicate, what do you really expect. Same with the political views...it's young people...

Still, Kudos to companies for using readily available unprotected public information to do hiring due diligence.

Not too bad, though I was hoping for 93

2007-08-14T13:24:00.000-04:00

Lindsey: At age 76 you will die fighting the Global War on Terrorism in Canada.

http://evil.berzerker.net/death_predictions.php

Oh canada... maybe i'll be stoned when i die. it's legal there for medicinal purposes i think.

GET ME OUT OF HERE

2007-08-06T10:28:00.000-04:00

I've noticed, and been guilty of myself, people complaining about getting out of this town. This town being any town anywhere. As I've aged I've still had the impulse to leave. But in fact what I wanted was not just to leave, but to run away. So, instead of leaving, I have found that making new friends and dumping (quietly and in a non official sort of way) the old ones. This doesn't mean that you start some huge fight with the old friends or anything, but sometimes you just need something fresh. Sometimes its those friends that are making you want to run. Maybe not them, maybe people or situations related to them. All you have to do is stop going to the same old places. There's no where else to go? at all? not a different coffee house in the next one red light town over? Not a park? No close cities? I different field? Come on!
Hell, cut your hair and dye it black or red or go blonde. Any change to help regulate yourself.

Tattooed Freaks!

2007-08-03T11:30:00.000-04:00

I'm really getting tired of seeing that. I'm really proud of my tattoos, but they in no way make me a freak! It's a cultral thing, tattoos. Sure some people just get a couple because they are cool or pretty. But for some of us, it is a cultural commitment we are making. I don't like that there are people in that culture that insist on claiming themselves "freaks" for having tattoos. Maybe the tattoos have nothing to do with your bad attidude! Don't blame the tats and make those of us who are good, polite, educated people get stuck in the same social gracings as your crude, loud self.
Yes, Be proud of your tattoos. But why Freak? Such a negative term.
Here is a breif history of tattoos that i came accross.
a brief history of tattoos

the word tattoo is said to has two major derivations- from
the polynesian word ‘ta’ which means striking something
and the tahitian word ‘tatau’ which means ‘to mark something’.

the history of tattoo began over 5000 years ago and is as
diverse as the people who wear them.

tattoos are created by inserting colored materials beneath
the skins surface. the first tattoos probably were created
by accident. someone had a small wound, and rubbed it
with a hand that was dirty with soot and ashes from the fire.
once the wound had healed, they saw that a mark stayed
permanently.

despite the social sciences' growing fascination with tattooing,
and the immense popularity of tattoos themselves,
the practice has not left much of a historical record.

---
bronze age
in 1991, a five thousand year old tattooed man ‘ötzi the ice man’
made the headlines of newspapers all over the world when
his frozen body was discovered on a mountain between
austria and italy.
this is the best preserved corpse of that period ever found.
the skin bears 57 tattoos: a cross on the inside of the left knee,
six straight lines 15 centimeters long above the kidneys and
numerous parallel lines on the ankles.
the position of the tattoo marks suggests that they were probably
applied for therapeutic reasons (treatment of arthritis).

---
pazyryk culture
in 1948, 120 miles north of the border between russia and
china, russian archeologist sergei rudenko began excavating
a group of tombs, or kurgans, in the high altai mountains of
western and southern siberia. mummies were found that date
from around 2400 years ago.
the tattoos on their bodies represent a variety of animals.
the griffins and monsters are thought to have a magical
significance but some elements are believed to be purely
decorative. altogether the tattoos are believed to reflect the
status of the individual.

---
egypt
written records, physical remains, and works of art relevant to
egyptian tattoo have virtually been ignored by earlier egyptologists
influenced by prevailing social attitudes toward the medium.
today however, we know that there have been bodies recovered
dating to as early XI dynasty exhibiting the art form of tattoo.
in 1891, archaeologists discovered the mummified remains
of amunet, a priestess of the goddess hathor, at thebes who
lived some time between 2160 BC and 1994 BC.
this female mummy displayed several lines and dots tattooed
about her body - grouping dots and/or dashes were aligned into
abstract geometric patterns. this art form was restricted
to women only, and usually these women were associated
with ritualistic practice.
the egyptians spread the practice of tattooing throughout the world.
the pyramid-building third and fourth dynasties of egypt
developed international nations with crete, greece, persia,
and arabia. by 2,000 BC the art of tattooing had stretched out all the
way to southeast asia .
the ainu (western asian nomads) then brought it with them
as they moved to japan.

---
japan
the earliest evidence of tattooing in japan is found in the form
of clay figurines which have faces painted or engraved to
represent tattoo marks. the oldest figurines of this kind have
been recovered from tombs dated 3,000 BC or older, and many
other such figurines have been found in tombs dating from the
second and third millennia BC.
these figurines served as stand-ins for living individuals who
symbolically accompanied the dead on their journey into the
unknown, and it is believed that the tattoo marks had religious
or magical significance.
the first written record of japanese tattooing is found in a
chinese dynastic history compiled in 297 AD.
the japanese were interested in the art mostly for its decorative
attributes, as opposed to magical ones. the horis - the japanese
tattoo artists - were the undisputed masters. their use of colors,
perspective, and imaginative designs gave the practice a whole
new angle. the classic japanese tattoo, is a full body suit.

---
china
from southern china the practice spread along the silk route.

---
polynesia
in pacific cultures tattooing has a huge historic significance.
polynesian tattooing is considered the most intricate and
skillful tattooing of the ancient world.
polynesian peoples, believe that a person's mana, their spiritual
power or life force, is displayed through their tattoo.
the vast majority of what we know today about these ancient
arts has been passed down through legends, songs, and ritual
ceremonies. elaborate geometrical designs which were often
added to, renewed, and embellished throughout the life of the
individual until they covered the entire body.

in samoa, the tradition of applying tattoo, or ‘tatau’, by hand,
has long been defined by rank and title, with chiefs and their
assistants, descending from notable families in the proper birth order.
the tattooing ceremonies for young chiefs, typically conducted at
the onset of puberty, were elaborate affairs and were a key part
of their ascendance to a leadership role.
the permanent marks left by the tattoo artists would forever
celebrate their endurance and dedication to cultural traditions.
the first europeans who set foot on samoan soil were members
of a 1787 french expedition. they got a closer look at the natives
and reported that ‘the men have their thighs painted or tattooed
in such a way that one would think them clothed,
although they are almost naked’. the mythological origins of
samoan tattooing and the extraordinary cross-cultural history
of tatau has been transported to the migrant communities of
new zealand, and later disseminated into various international
subcultures from auckland to the netherlands.

the hawaiian people had their traditional tattoo art,
known as ‘kakau’. it served them not only for ornamentation
and distinction, but to guard their health and spiritual well-being.
intricate patterns, mimicking woven reeds or other natural forms,
graced men's arms, legs, torso and face.
women were generally tattooed on the hand, fingers, wrists
and sometimes on their tongue.

the arrival of western missionaries forced this unique art form
into decline as tattooing has been discouraged or forbidden by
most christian churches throughout history.

---
new zealand
the maori of new zealand had created one of the most impressive
cultures of all polynesia. their tattoo, called ‘moko’, reflected their
refined artistry - using their woodcarving skills to carve skin.
the full-face moko was a mark of distinction, which communicated
their status, lines of descent and tribal affiliations. it recalled their
wearer's exploits in war and other great events of their life.

---
indonesia
borneo is one of the few places in the world where traditional
tribal tattooing is still practiced today just as it has been for
thousands of years. until recently many of the inland tribes had
little contact with the outside world.
as a result, they have preserved many aspects of their traditional
way of life, including tattooing.
borneo designs have gone all around the world to form the
basis of what the western people call ‘tribal’.

---
india / thailand
hanuman in india was a popular symbol of strength on
arms and legs. the mythical monk is still today one of the
most popular creations in thailand and myanmar.
they are put on the human body by monks who incorporate
magical powers to the design while tattooing.
women are excluded because monks are not allowed to be
touched by them and because thais believe women do not
need the extra boost as they are already strong enough on
their own.

---
africa
in africa, where people have dark skin, it is difficult to make
coloured tattoos as we know them.
but they want to be tattooed anyway, so they have developed
another technique - they make scarifications (this is not really
tattooing, but it is related to tattooing). made by lifting the skin a little,
and making a cut with a knife or some other sharp thing
special sands or ashes were rubbed in to make raised scars
in patterns on the body, it can be felt like braille lettering...
these patterns often follow local traditions.

---
ancient greece and rome
the greeks learnt tattooing from the persians.
their woman were fascinated by the idea of tattoos as
exotic beauty marks.
the romans adopted tattooing from the greeks.
roman writers such as virgil, seneca, and galenus reported that
many slaves and criminals were tattooed.
a legal inscription from ephesus indicates that during the early
roman empire all slaves exported to asia were tattooed with the
words ‘tax paid’.
greeks and romans also used tattooing as a punishment.
early in the fourth century, when constantine became roman emperor
and rescinded the prohibition on christianity, he also banned tattooing
on face, which was common for convicts, soldiers, and gladiators.
constantine believed that the human face was a representation of the
image of god and should not be disfigured or defiled.

---
the celts
were a tribal people who moved across western europe in times
around 1200 and 700 B.C. they reached the british Isles around
400 B.C. and most of what has survived from their culture is in
the areas now known as ireland, wales and scotland.
celtic culture was full of body art.
permanent body painting was done with woad, which left a blue
design on the skin. spirals are very common, and they can be single,
doubled or tripled. knotwork is probably the most recognized form
of celtic art, with lines forming complex braids which then weave
across themselves. these symbolise the connection of all life.
step or key patterns, like those found in early labyrinth designs,
are seen both in simple borders and full complex mazes.
much in the way that labyrinths are walked, these designs are
symbolic of the various paths that life’s journey can take.

---
central and south america
in peru, tattooed inca mummies dating to the 11th century
have been found. 16th century spanish accounts of mayan tattooing
in mexico and central americareveal tattoos to be a sign of courage.
when cortez and his conquistadors arrived on the coast of mexico
in 1519 they were horrified to discover that the natives
not only worshipped devils in the form of statues and idols,
but had somehow managed to imprint indelible images of these
idols on their skin. the spaniards, who had never heard of tattooing,
recognized it at once as the work of satan.
the sixteenth century spanish historians who chronicled the
adventures of cortez and his conquistadors reported that tattooing
was widely practiced by the natives of central america.

---
north america
early jesuit accounts testify to the widespread practice of
tattooing among native americans.
among the chickasaw, outstanding warriors were recognised
by their tattoos. among the ontario iroquoians, elaborate
tattoos reflected high status. in north-west america,
inuit women's chins were tattooed to indicate marital status
and group identity.
the first permanent tattoo shop in new york city was settled up
in 1846 and began a tradition by tattooing military servicemen
from both sides of the civil war. samuel o'reilly invented the electric
tattooing machine in 1891.

---
middle-east
during the time of the old testament, much of the pagan world
was practicing the art of tattooing as a means of deity worship.
a passage in leviticus reads:
‘ye shall not make any cuttings on your flesh for the dead nor
print any marks upon you’. (19:28)
this has been cited as biblical authority to support the church's
position. biblical scholar m.w. thomson suggests, however, that
moses favored tattoos. moses introduced tattoos as a way to
commemorate the deliverance of the jews from slavery in egypt.

---
vikings
it is very likely that the vikings were tattooed.
at around year 1100 the arab ibn fadlan described a
meeting with some vikings. he thought them very rude, dirty
- and covered with pictures.

---
england
explorers returned home with tattooed polynesians
to exhibit at fairs, in lecture halls and in dime museums,
to demonstrate the height of european civilization compared
to the ‘primitive natives’.
after captain cook returned from his voyage to polynesia
tattooing became a tradition in the british navy.
by the middle of the 18th century most british ports had
at least one professional tattoo artist in residence.
in 1862, the prince of wales, later to become king edward VII,
received his first tattoo - a jerusalem cross - on his arm.
he started a tattoo fad among the aristocracy when he was
tattooed before ascending to the throne.
in 1882, his sons, the duke of clarence and the duke of york
were tattooed by the japanese master tattooist, hori chiyo.

---
france
in the 18th century, many french sailors returning from voyages
in the south pacific had been tattooed.
in 1861, french naval surgeon, maurice berchon, published a study
on the medical complications of tattooing.
after this, the navy and army banned tattooing within their ranks.

stereotypical and sensationalised association of tattoo design
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
sailor
sailors on their ships returned home with their own tattoos...
usually of a very basic style that only uses a minimum amount
of details making the tattoos look quite two dimensional and flat.
this often gives a cartoonish feeling and typical motifs would be flowers,
hearts, mermaids, ships, anchors, snakes, birds, and names.

criminality
for a long time, tattooing was the preserve of sailors and...
criminals!
in prison, the tattoo - professionally done and homemade-
indelibly imprint on their bodies what these men desire in their
souls: autonomy and identity.
the ultimate symbol for gang members are their gang tattoos,
getting a permanent mark is a sign of showing total commitment to
the gang. these tattoos can reveal lots of things, like,
who you are/what gang you're in/ what your beliefs are (racist etc..),
what you have done, where you have been, how many years
you have been in jail (also referred to as ‘dead time’) and even
things like how many you have killed.
known symbols include teardrops under the eye as well as spider
webs on the elbows to symbolize people killed.

circus
the popularity of tattooing during the latter part of the nineteenth
century and the first half of the twentieth century owed much to
the circus. when circuses prospered, tattooing prospered.
for over 70 years every major circus employed several completely
tattooed people. some were exhibited in sideshows;
others performed traditional circus acts such as juggling and
sword swallowing.

---------------
tattoo flash
as with other artistic mediums and cultural developments,
vocabulary continually evolves, reflecting the depth and potential
of body marking and of the contemporary imagination.
in recent years tattooing has emerged to the forefront of popular
consciousness. today a tattoo ‘flash’, is a folder of tattoo-artwork by
tattoo artists. styles range from the traditional and vernacular to
the sacred and innovative.

Eh, why not.

2007-08-02T11:33:00.000-04:00

These are supposedly 40 questions no one would EVER think to ask. This is of course a myspace bulletin survey, and knowing me, I doubt any one of these is going to throw me off.

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you said?
haha, my hair is all crazy in the back.

2. When is the next time you will make out?
Probably tonight. :) You so didn't want to know that.

3. What's a word that rhymes with "LUCK"?
Muck. Like muck rakers. Quit being shitty people.

4. What's your favorite planet?
Jupiter. I like the big eye part. I think it's the most artistic looking of all the planets.

5. Who's the 2nd person on your missed calls list?
Patrick.

6. What is your favorite ring tone on your phone?
hmmm.... The "Come on Eileen" cover.

7. What shirt are you wearing right now
White. Like your skivvies.

8. What do you "label" yourself as?
My butt itches...

9. Name the brand of shoes you're currently wearing?
Old Navy. Cheap, Flat, and good for office junk.

10. Bright or dark room?
For what? I mean, you don't exactly give a lot of explanation. What if you mean for murder? or sex? or painting? I'm going to say I prefer a room with task appropriate lighting.

11. What do you think about the person who last took this survey?
Eh, she's all right for a chick. Kidding. or am i?....

12. If you're alone in a room with two beds, which one do you sleep on?
The one furthest from the door. I want my attackers to have to put forth effort.

13. What were you doing at midnight last night?
I was asleep. I think the baby came in about that time, which was fine. Me hates to sleep alone.

14.What did the last text message on your phone say?
That's good.

15. What just so happens to be the best song in the world?
In the world? I hardly think I am well versed enough in Music History to make that call. There are a ton of songs that I love, from many different genres. No, I refuse to award best song in the world to any song.

16. What's a word or phrase that you say a lot?
ARG! (like charlie brown, not captain jack)

17.Who told you he/she loved you last?
Fletcher :) Today was his first day of kindergarten :( and :)

18. Last furry thing you touched?
There was something weird in that sippy cup i found behind the dryer...

19. How many drugs have you done in the past 3 days?
I took a Tylenol yesterday and the day before.

20. How many rolls of film do you need to get developed?
probably 5 or 6 from a while back. Now I have my broken digital camera! just the LCD screen is cracked. other than that it's fully functional.

21. Favorite age you have been so far?
6...yeah...that was some good times.

21. Hats or beanies?
Boleros. old school, not emo.

22. Your worst enemy?
The four horsemen

23. What is your current desktop picture?
it's a Marvel x-men collage I got from Marvel.com. It's very actiony and has lots of colors. Makes finding icons fun!

24. What is the last thing you said to someone?
Sure thing! I'll get right on it!

26. Do you love someone?
That I do. Many someones.

27. Last song you listened to?
Oh boy- Buddy Holly

28. If the last person you spoke to on the phone was getting shot at, what would you do?
I'd call 911 fool. Even if i hated them. It's your duty to do that. Karma and Christ, yo.

30. Do you do the games in the ads on myspace?
on occasion if it's something funny like shaving a leg or something.

31. What are your favorite Pjs?
Over sized shirts. Especially if they smell like coconut.

32. What do you do when you pass graveyards?
Look to see if there are any old, big, pretty tomb stones or monuments.

33. Have you ever seen a shooting star?
Oh yeah. lots.

34. How old do you think you'll live to be?
93 if i stop smoking again. unless i get et by sharks. and i'm good on that unless the land shark finds me.
or unless i get shot, hit by a car, wreck on a motorcylce, raped and murdered, ect...

35. Song lyrics stuck in your head?
" I'm a goofy goober Rock!"

"Rolling down the sand dunes"

"On my hands and my knees
Lost all my dignity
Just made a pathetic prayer
Need someone to hold my hair
A fearsome substance abuse
But there's so much to choose
Can't even crawl straight home
Can't get the keys in the door "

"If I cut off your arms and cut off your legs, would you still love me anyway?"

"You make me want to walk like a camel"
sorry you asked me this yet? I'll save you from the rest of it. My brain is always like 15 juke boxes playing simultaneously.

37. What do you put on your hamburgers?
Cheese first off. Then I like Ketsup and Dill Pickles. If i'm feeling fancy we'll add some lettuce and tomato, and possibly, if the mood hits me just right, some bacon and mustard.

38. Do you eat raw hot dogs?
not in a long time. My kids do though.

39. Do you like sushi?
not what i have tried. Way to chewy. Gives me time to think about what i just put in my mouth.

40. How much salad dressing do you put on your salad?
So much that one wonders if there is indeed salad.

Buddhist Wisdom

2007-08-02T10:21:00.001-04:00

Better
than if there were thousands
of meaningless verses is
one
meaningful
verse
that on hearing
brings peace.

And better than chanting hundreds
of meaningless verses is
one Dhamma-saying
that on hearing
brings peace.

Why I don't typically buy my kids "new release toys"

2007-08-02T10:12:00.000-04:00

or any toys for that matter except at Christmas or birthdays. Oh don't look at me like that. You don't know my kids. They don't even play with toys. They dump them out so they can play in the toy chest. My kids have these things called "imaginations" they don't need preprogrammed toys that do all the mental work for them. Give my boys some dirt, spoons, pots and pans, a couple squirt guns, and a really simple race car or two (no remotes, no sounds!) and they are good to freakin' go! They don't need Elmo to sing and dance for them!

Anyway:
News from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, D.C. 20207
For Immediate Release Firm’s Recall Hotline: (800) 916-4498
August 2, 2007 CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
Release #Final 8/2/2007 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
Fisher-Price Recalls Licensed Character Toys Due To Lead Poisoning Hazard
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer products. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. (To access color photos of the following recalled products, see CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.)
Name of Products: Sesame Street, Dora the Explorer, and other children’s toys
Units: About 967,000
Importer: Fisher-Price Inc., of East Aurora, N.Y.
Hazard: Surface paints on the toys could contain excessive levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Description: The recalled involves various figures and toys that were manufactured between April 19, 2007 and July 6, 2007 and were sold alone or as part of sets. The model names and product numbers for the recalled toys, which are all marked with “Fisher-Price,” are listed below. The toys also have a date code between 109-7LF and 187-7LF marked on the product.
Sold at: Retail stores nationwide from May 2007 through August 2007 for between $5 and $40.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled toys away from children and contact Fisher-Price. Consumers will need to return the product and will receive a voucher for a replacement toy of the consumer’s choice (up to the value of the returned product).
Customer Contact: For additional information visit the firm’s Web site at www.service.mattel.com or contact Fisher-Price at (800) 916-4498.
Product List:
33662 ELMO LIGHT UP MUSICAL PAL 33663 ERNIE LIGHT UP MUSICAL PAL
33664 BIG BIRD LIGHT UP MUSICAL PAL 34658 ELMO STACKING RINGS
39038 ELMO TUB SUB 39054 SESAME STREET SHAPE SORTER
87946 ELMO KEYBOARD 90267 ERNIE SPLASHIN' FUN TRIKE
90609 ELMO COLLECTIBLE 90611 COOKIE COLLECTIBLE,
90612 ZOE COLLECTIBLE 90613 ERNIE COLLECTIBLE
90614 BIG BIRD COLLECTIBLE 90745 CONSTRUCTION PLAYSET
93068 ELMO BOOM BOX 93107 ACTION FIRE ENGINE
93307 PRESS N GO ELMO 93308 REV & GO COOKIE MONSTER
93492 COOKIE SAXOPHONE 93493 ELMO'S GUITAR
93615 SPLASH TUB PUZZLE 93780 MUSIC AND LIGHTS PHONE
B7554 COUNT TO BEAT ELMO B7888 SHAKE, GIGGLE & ROLL
B7987 ELMO IN THE GIGGLE BOX B7989 SILLY PARTS TALKING ELMO
B9620 DORA'S TALKING HOUSE
C6908 DORA, BACKPACK, PERRITO FIGURE PACK
C6909 DIEGO FIGURE PACK C6910 SWIPER FIGURE PACK
C6911 BOOTS, TICO FIGURE PACK G3825 DORA TALKING VAMONOS VAN
G5112 SING WITH ELMO'S GREATEST HITS G9717 GIGGLE DOODLER
H2943 GROW WITH ME ELMO SPRINKLER H3343 COUSIN DAISY
H3344 BIRTHDAY DORA H5569 ELMO & PALS (ELMO, COOKIE, ERNIE)
H5570 ELMO & PALS (ELMO, ZOE, BIGBIRD) H4187 DORA FIGURES IN TUBE,
H4628 WATER FUN TOTE H8236 DORA 3 PACK FIGURES IN TUBE,
H8237 BLUE 3 PACK FIGURES IN TUBE H8238 SPONGE BOB 3 PACK FIGURES IN TUBE
H9124 CHEF DORA H9125 BEDTIME DORA
H9186 GIGGLE GRABBER ERNIE H9188 GIGGLE GRABBER OSCAR THE GROUCH
J0338 DIEGO TALKING FIELD JOURNAL J0343 GO DIEGO GO ANTARCTIC RESCUE
J0344 GO DIEGO GO DEEP SEA RESCUE J0345 GO DIEGO GO MOUNTAIN RESCUE
J0346 GO DIEGO GO TALKING RESCUE 4 X 4 J5935 GIGGLE GRABBER SOCCER ELMO
J5936 GIGGLE GRABBER CHEF COOKIE MONSTER
J6537 SESAME STREET GIGGLE TOOLBELT J6762 QUEEN MAMI
J6763 ROYAL BOOTS AND TICO J6765 PRINCE DIEGO
J7983 SESAME STREET TUB POTS & PANS J9518 SESAME STREET GIGGLE DRILL
J9692 DORA'S TALKING PONY PLACE K0617 TWINS NURSERY
K3414 DIEGO - TALKING GADGET BELT K3571 GO DIEGO GO MOBILE RESCUE UNIT
K3580 FAIRYTALE ADVENTURE DORA K4139 GO DIEGO GO DINOSAUR RESCUE
K4140 TOUCAN MOTORCYCLE RESCUE L0305 DORA FIGURE
L3194 SURPRISE INSIDE DIEGO EGGS L3215 SESAME STREET ELMO JACK-IN-THE-BOX
L3488 SESAME STREET BIRTHDAY FIGURE PACK
L3507 SESAME STREET - SUPER BOOM BOX
L5202 BIRTHDAY DORA L5813 DIEGO TUB TRIKE
L8905 PABLO & PALS M0351 DORA FIGURES DORA & KITTY
M0352 DORA FIGURES DIEGO & BEAR M0524 GO DIEGO GO TALKING GADGET
M0527 SESAME STREET GIGGLE DOODLER M0732 DORA'S TALKING HOUSE
M2051 LETS GO RESCUE CENTER M2052 FAIRYTALE CASTLE
Above are three examples of the recalled products
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals – contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC’s hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC’s teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270 or visit CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

Comments

2007-08-01T15:30:00.000-04:00

Why does no one leave them? not a hear hear! hurrah! or You're stupid! anywhere!
oh well. as we all know i do this for myself most of the time anyway. that's cool.
Camel Turkish Jades are horrible. They are rough going down! I don't like it! I have about 7 left...i'm soldiering through. Every few No. 9's i force my way through a Jade. Such pretty packaging for such a mean cigarette.
Smoking is bad. Don't do it.

Eventful!

2007-07-30T10:25:00.000-04:00

bored much?

2007-07-30T09:57:00.001-04:00

What 80's Metal Band are you? (with pics)

Judas priest

Report this image

You are Judas Priest. You rock hard and ride free. You love leather, studs and singing metal, with the occassional motorcycle.

And now to negate anything intellegant i have to say

2007-07-25T11:39:00.001-04:00

Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net

Harry Potter and the great dissapointment

2007-07-25T08:59:00.000-04:00

I obtained a copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Saturday afternoon. Well after the anticipated rush. I don't know why people are so fanatic about releases. I didn't have to stand in line, fight people, or hope there were enough left. But I digress. I finally finished it last night. It took me so long because I had to read during lunch breaks or after my family went to sleep or were napping. I rather felt like I was pushing through muck just to arrive at the end. I wanted to know what happened. Oh, sure I could have googled it at this point, but where is the earned satisfaction in that? The book was okay. Just okay. There wasn't nearly as much tragedy as I had thought there would be. Books five and six began to lead down a rather dark path which I believed were precursors to a devastating seventh and final novel. It was predictable. And worse, every instance that Harry got out of trouble was through shear luck or out side intervention. Right up to the final battle. Sure he offed Voldy in a lone fight, but only because Dumbledore was a master of dominoes. I wanted to see Harry rise on his own. To take the reigns. And honestly, he should have died. The tragic hero, the magician martyr.
The final chapter entitled "Nineteen years later," was pure dribble. It was stiff and forced. Everything tidied right up. The two couples you wanted together were, and they were happy, and they had kids all named after the true tragic figures of the story.
Anyone who has discussed Harry Potter with me knows that I have said from the beginning that Snape was essentially a good guy. I think it was after book 4 that i knew he was in love with Lily. A lot of people knew that. I'm glad that we Snape supporters have at least been granted proof that we were correct.
This book left a lot to be desired for me. It could have been so much more and it fell short.

Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3.

2007-07-20T14:07:00.000-04:00

Whew. So it's certainly been an eventful week. I miss Carmen.
I miss Natalia too.
I lost faith in people when i was 8. That's just a fact to point out. Yes, there is a story behind it, but I'll not burden you with it. Just giving you a reference point.
Do you know what would suit my fancy right now? Chocolate cake. Not just any chocolate cake. It must be from Rembrandt's. But, alas. No cake for me today. In a short time though that wont be so completely out of the question. Things are straightening out. My outlook on life is better.
I don't know. I suppose i must have had a sudden mood swing. I get those sometimes. It's not a huge burden or anything. Right now, I feel refreshed. I want to go home and clean out the garage, cook dinner, play tag, groom the dog, weed the garden!
I'm grining to myself at this moment because I know I have something joyful to go home to. Bills fade from thought, work slips from memory, everything is better. Little smiling faces await me with love in their eyes and wild squeals of joy. Nothing tops that. Nothing at all. Things happen for a reason. I'll take the reasons I have my children any day. I wouldn't go back and change a thing. No matter how traumatic, how awful, how lonely, or great, fun, entertaining. good or bad.

What is my purpose

2007-07-20T08:53:00.001-04:00

For that matter, What is yours?

What is it about humanity that grates at me so?
And why don't some people know when to shut up?
They just keep talking and talking. And every syllable crashes against my last nerve until i feel like a crumbling cliff!

Stooping to the same level. My bulletin on myspace.

2007-07-19T13:18:00.001-04:00

Subject: Slander and Gossip

Want to know what pisses me off? Some one who says she doesn't want to argue or cause hard feelings and yet feels the need to post erroneous bulletins saying that some one I know hacked a web page and for no one to add him. Well, here' s the skinny people.

He did not "hack" into anyone's myspace page. It was a page she and I shared together for our "studio". She used that page to vote for herself on a beauty contest myspace page, which is both unprofessional and unethical. I gave him my info to access the account and remove the votes. So, as you can see he did not hack anything. I wonder how she thinks that posting slanderous bulletins will in anyway keep the peace?

So, please feel free to add Patrick, he won't hack you. He has no desire to even learn how to hack. He's my second on my friends list.

Man oh man

2007-07-16T10:14:00.000-04:00

boredom seems to sweep in like a flood these days. It's kinda hard to believe how one can go from so busy they can't stand it, to barely doing anything all day long. Why am I here if I'm not going to do anything? What difference am I making?

I'm starting to see what I want out of life. Now to work toward achieving that.

some things are just not okay

2007-07-13T16:47:00.001-04:00

but come on...this is funny

The Last Word.

2007-07-13T12:44:00.000-04:00

Have you ever really messed with someone who just HAD to have the last word? i have! here is a continuation of the book emails!
if you haven't figured it out yet, I'm bold! and if you are lost, read this first! http://grayhermia.blogspot.com/2007/07/that-damned-book.html

Re: Book
It is fine that it is no longer your issue. And I realize that I have spent a great deal of money. I did at one point try to find that book on ebay and could not. You had lead me to believe it was some "hard to find" item. I will not be contacting Joey, though I'm sure you'd both love it.

Re: Book

http://www.handsomefamily.com/Nmerch.html#anchor867272

It was the first link that appeared when I did a Google search for the book. It is a rare book by typical production standards, but is easy to find if you actually take a moment to look.

Joey would, in fact, be happy if you contacted him. It would be the proactive and, truthfully, adult thing for you to do in this situation.

Re: Book
Wow, I can't believe that I'm being told how to act adult by Trey Stephenson. Wonders never cease.
If he contacts me in a polite manner I will see what arrangements can be made. I believe at the time I did try to google it, of course I didn't know who wrote the thing.
Have a good day sir.

Re: Book
Well neener neener neener. It's something you obviously need to learn, regardless of the source. God knows it wasn't anything you were exposed to growing up.

Since the book was in your care, basic logic would dictate that you don't have any leveraging power in it's return. Maybe that's something else you should bone up on as well.

Re: Book
Oh, a shot at my family. Clever.
You are as trite and expected as always.
Well, since the return of the book is no longer your concern, I don't see how it's any of your business as to the ability or lack there of to make arrangements.

Re: Book
I was only returning the pointless personal attack in due kind. I've been more than patient and understanding with you during this entire year long ordeal. This is still my business because it involves a good friend of mine who is rather upset with both of us due to your refusal to accept responsibility for your neglegence. Stop the name calling, stop the smarmy attitude, suck it up, work an extra hour or two and replace the book.

Re: Book
It has been well over a year since you asked for that book. And it isn't like we've been in constant communication. This has come out of the blue as far as I can tell. So don't act like you've been at my heels begging for this book.

Re: book
Joey forwarded me your email. It has indeed been closer to two years since I first asked for the book, but it was far from the only time. I have mentioned it to you a number of times since then. Regardless of our levels of communication, you have known that the book needed replacement and that it was up to you to do that. I have no involvement in you returning/replacing the book now, but I'm still involved in the situation itself. Stop skirting the issue and take care of it.

Re: Book
The issue is now being handed by Mr. Joey and myself. I have no further need to discuss this with you.

Re: Book
Good. Take care of it.

Re:Book
I believe that's what I said I was doing.

Re: Book
I'll still remind you from time to time so that you don't blow Joey off. Again, handle it.

Re: Book
So you don't think that Joey can handle this situation on his own? That's some faith you have in your friend. Again, I'm doing just that.

Re: Book
I'm sure that he can. He's a corporate lawyer. He handles situations for a living. You've had more than enough time to take care of this, but haven't, even when you've had the means to. It isn't his ability to take care of this that concerns me. Its yours.

Re: Book
How wonderful for him that he is a corporate lawyer. Must be a fascinating job.
Hm, that's interesting. It's almost sweet that you think that I keep you in mind enough to remember something about a book you lent me.

Re: Book
Speaking of trite and expected...

Anyway, just take care of this. I could give a shit if you like me or not, or the reasons behind it. That isn't the issue. The issue is replacing the book.
--

Re: Book
What do my opinons of you have to do with anything? I've made contact with your friend so the matter is on its way to resolution.

Re: Book
'Hm, that's interesting. It's almost sweet that you think that I keep you in mind enough to remember something about a book you lent me.'

You brought it up. You tell me.

Re: Book
You are the one that keeps saying I had all this time to take care of it. With that you are assuming that I would even think about it. Which I didn't. I don't know how you expect a person to keep something so meaningless in mind.

Re: Book

Eh, guess it's just me, but usually when someone repeatedly asks a person the same question over a period of years, they tend to remember. And you did have ample time to take care of this.

Re: Book
Well, I don't recall repeated attempts. So, yes, it must just be you. And if it really ment that much to you, you would have replaced it yourself years ago.

Re: Book

(the next one was some kind of computer code junk, so i have no idea what it said)

Re:Book
I'm not sure what that last email was supposed to be since it didn't come over in english. So I deleted it before it opened. Have a lovely day!

Yeah, I'm not perfect

2007-07-13T10:16:00.000-04:00

I know I screwed myself and my family over when i racked up the bills on the credit cards. I know I've made huge mistakes in the past year financially. I'm now in counceling to correct this spending behavior. I'm also hurting for money, which is fitting punishment. My point? Telling me you know how I've spent my money, that I've blown a big bunch, in no way gives you power over me. I have admitted to my personal problem, I have sought help. Given that, it still doesn't change the fact that because of my actions, I have no money. Nor am I asking people for money that is related to those expenses. If I am owed, lets say, Child support, I am with in reason to ask for it. Not for paying of my bills, that's what the second job will be for. but to provide for my kids.

That damned book!

2007-07-13T10:00:00.000-04:00

Okay, so about 4 or 5 years ago my brother-in-law lent me a book. A book I didn't really want, a book that I didn't even read. I also want to mention that we were all living with my husbands mother at the time, so it wasn't like I took the books to some far off land. I took it down stairs. I probably took it right back upstairs later. I don't honestly remember because I didn't care about the book. It looked terrible, I couldn't get past the first page.
When we moved out of her house and into the apartment, I didn't see the book in our belongings, which leads me to believe the wretched thing is still at her house. I also didn't see it when we moved out of the apartment over two years ago. I looked quite throughly for it then because the brother-in-law wanted it back. I didn't find out that it wasn't his until this point. So, there's something right there. He lent me a book that wasn't his to lend.
So here it is 4 or 5 years later and i get a 3 minute long voice mail demanding the book back with in a week. Either the copy that was pushed on me or a copy that I could purchase.
Turns out the thing is only 12.50, so it's not like it's a priceless find. Secondly, as you all know, I have debt up to my ears. I'm short $735 a month, I don't get child support, and I'm awaiting results on the severity of my cervical cancer. So, excuse me if I just don't have the funds to get a book that I don't even believe was in my posession after leaving that house.
So, i get to work this morning and this is in my email in box. I've included all communication up to this point.

Subject: The Book

Lindsey,

I found out that you can order 'Evil' directly from The Handsome Family website. I've included a link to make it easier for you.

http://www.handsomefamily.com/Nmerch.html#anchor867272

I needed to return the book a year ago, so you either need to replace it or find the one you borrowed and return it in the same condition it was in when I loaned it to you.

I need a response post haste.

Regards,

Trey
-------------
Subject: RE: The Book

I haven't seen the book since we moved out of your mom's house. I looked for it when we moved out of the apartment. I don't have any money either, so I can not replace it at this time.

Subject: Re: The Book

Lindsey,

You've had well over a year to scrape up $10 + shipping. You need to find the book or replace it within the week.

Regards,
Trey

Subject: RE: The Book

It's not going to happen.

Subject: Re: The Book

I'm send your email addresses and phone numbers (work, personal & family) to the book's owner. As this is your responsibility and you refuse to deal with it because of personal issues, you can deal with him. He stopped being friendly about this well over a year ago.

Subject: RE: The Book

You can send out my information all you would like sir, but that still does not change the fact that I do not have the book or the money for the book. So, your threat to notify the book's orignal owner has no weight.

Subject: Re: The Book

The book was left in your care and is your problem to deal with. I did not threaten to give out your information, I gave it out. The owner has known that the book has been in your possession & that you have refused to find or replace it. I'm tired of dealing with him.

Subject: Re: The Book

I'll deal with him the same way I'm dealing with you. You can't squeeze blood from a stone. What is come down to Trey is that you had no right to loan it out in the first place. And giving out my information, in my eyes, is harassment. Your aggressive demeanor may intimidate some people, but not myself.

Lindsey

While I do appreciate your effort to turn this around and make it my fault, it is no longer my issue. I let you read the book while we were living in the same house. Once the book left the house in your possession, it became your responsibility. You have refused to accept that responsibility since I first asked you to return the book.

I'm sorry that you feel like you are being harassed, or that I'm being aggressive. The truth of the matter is that neither is actually the case. You've heard about this about a tenth as often as I have. You have had ample opportunity to resolve the matter, but, again, have refused to. It is no secret that you have spent a great sum of money on numerous flights out of town, as well as on personal entertainment (i.e., iPod, going to shows out of town, etc.) in the past year. A mere $10 + shipping should not have made a dent in your seemingly limitless finances at that point.

As I've said before, this is no longer my issue. If you feel the need to, please contact Joey (the book's owner) at superdeluxejoey@hotmail.com I'm quite certain that he'd love to hear from you.

Regards,

Trey

The need to Blog.

2007-07-05T12:06:00.000-04:00

So, I've manage to utterly and completely screw myself. I spent money I didn't have, against all logic and values that I know to be true. And now, after nearly a year, I thought I was about to get some child support to at least help make a dent in the debt so that in a few months I'd be on the level again and not have to worry about who's calling me, but no. It's not going to happen. Nothing can go smoothly. The Ex has to develop high blood pressure when he finally gets a job.
So, I'll trudge through these next few months and see if i can get a part time job. I've learned my lesson, believe me. I'm having professionals set up my budget and I will NOT stray from it. I can't provide for everyone anymore. No trips, no smokes, no dresses! nothing. not for me, not for my friends.
I'm having the TV cut off. No more renting movies. Not even going to be able to go to shows in chatt town because that's too much gas. Hope my friends enjoy visiting me and watching movies i already own! because that's all that i'll be able to afford.

hells yeah

2007-06-29T09:32:00.001-04:00

I'm glad i'm not the only one.

clipped from winnipegsun.com

"The last time I saw him he was in pretty rough shape mentally," said Bruce Hart, son of the legendary Stu Hart. "I didn't know all the details but I knew it wasn't good. I was not at all shocked (by what happened).

Hart was also deeply angered that the WWE aired a three-hour tribute to Benoit on Monday night.

"I kept hearing 'He was a nice guy, a great guy' and I knew him when he was a kid. But all I know now is he's a murderer," Hart said. In my opinion, "for them to do a tribute show was disgraceful."

mmm...lyrics.

2007-06-29T09:23:00.001-04:00

You walk like a zombie
You talk like a zombie
Its not in your head
You're a living dead
Whatever you're gonna do
You're gonna make me cry

And you wanna hold hands
In the cemetery
And you wanna be lost
For all eternity
And everything is dark
And kind of scary
And you crave the full moon
But i don't care

And you want a mountaintop
With a little castle
And you wanna name our kids
Morticia and fester
And all the flowers you bring
Are always dead
And you howl at the moon
But i don't care

Six feet under
You make me wonder
You wanna be undead
So you can be hunted
But whatever you're gonna do
I'm gonna follow you

I feel like Yoko.

2007-06-28T15:59:00.000-04:00

WHAT?! NO!

2007-06-26T09:40:00.001-04:00

HE KILLED HIS FAMILY! DO NOT HONOR HIM IN ANY WAY!!!!!
I don't care what he accomplished in his life or how swell a guy he seemed. He murdered his 7 year old boy and his wife. He does not deserve to be morned, commemorated, or honored. That's just sick that he should be treated as anything other than a beast!

clipped from www.msnbc.msn.com

The WWE canceled its live “Monday Night RAW” card in Corpus Christi, Texas, and USA Network aired a three-hour tribute to Benoit in place of the scheduled wrestling telecast.

So, I'm taking this right off my todo list!

2007-06-21T08:55:00.001-04:00

I'm sorry for the family of these two people....but ....hahahaha... my morbid sense of humor just can't stand how funny this is. God I hope the sex was worth it!

clipped from www.msnbc.msn.com

Coitus interruptus?

Naked couple who fell from roof to their deaths may have been having sex

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Police on Wednesday were investigating how a naked couple fell 50 feet from the roof of an office building to their deaths.

The bodies were found on the road by a passing cabdriver around 5 a.m. Wednesday.

Clothing was discovered on the roof of the four-story building, leading authorities to suspect the man and woman, in their early 20s, may have been having sex. Their identities were not released.

"It's too early to rule out anything," Columbia police Sgt. Florence McCants said, but McCants said a preliminary investigation did not show any sign of foul play.

They are dropping like flys

2007-06-14T11:20:00.001-04:00

The more I learn about people, and more importantly, what they believe about me, the more I really don't like them.
Since it has been brought to my attention that the people whom I had thought up until now enjoyed my company have in fact, not. Well, then don't act like you do! And if by chance I have offended you by say, I don't know, letting your wife/girlfriend know that you are having an affair, or at least confirming what she already knew with information that i was given (even if i present it in a "i don't know this is factual" manner) then let me know. And as for timing, well, sometimes I have to take what's given. and you know what, that doesn't mean that a day/night was ruined for everyone. 15 minutes of weird. that's all it was, then it was over. BAM! that's so worth calling me out for. But hey, lets still think the guy that did the deed is still the shit.

And maybe they think I'm hypocritical. Yeah, I started talking to a guy AFTER my marriage deteriorated. But i sure as hell didn't sleep with him till after the divorce. And believe me, I've learned a great lesson about all that. The point though, is that it was AFTER my marriage was over, not during, not while we went to counseling. After all that. When i was just crazy.
and yeah, i go crazy. So what! Don't you all? Don't you wonder if your life should be different? Don't you question the choices you've made? if you say you don't then you are so full of cow dung that it's ridiculous.
I've made poor choices. My divorce was not one of them. My relationship after that was, my trying to be friends with the ex sure feels like a bad idea since he manages to piss me off on a daily basis.
I'm even over making new friends. It's all so pointless. I don't feel like i can trust any new people. Especially when i have a saboteur out there.
So, here's the notice people.
I'm the way I am. I try to better myself, but short of that, I'm not really going to change.
You can take me the way I am and stop bitching about it, or you can stop acting like you are my friends and then discussing how much disdain you have for me when I'm gone. I will not be that person.
Don't say hi to me if you feel that you are having to fain a pleasant conversation. Don't worry, I hate talking in grocery stores, and i don't go out for coffee anymore.

Speaking of Stupid

2007-06-13T10:38:00.001-04:00

i'm not even gonna start on this one, it speaks for itself.

Five Year Old Boy Drowns

Karen Zatkulak

June 10, 2007 - 6:14PM

A North Georgia group is mourning the death of a five year old boy, who drowned on a family trip to the river. It happened in Trion Saturday night. Tragedy struck when a boat carrying nine people overturned in the Chattooga River. Police tell us the boat made for two, was holding three adults and six children. Emergency responders say they the saw eight victims laying on the bank, many barely breathing. Unfortunately, five year old Dakota Avans was still in the water. The Chattooga River flows on a beautiful summer day, much like yesterday when two families took their children to play by the River. Chattooga County Sheriff's Office Detective Eddia Strup tells us it was a good idea, but bad decisions were made. "They were coming here to camp out, enjoy the River, and have a good Weekend."

But it was anything but when this boat they were riding in flipped over around six o-clock Saturday night, sending it's nine passengers, including six young children into the water.

Sturp says the boat should never hold that many passengers. "That's unbelievable to me, that they would try to put that many people in a boat."

Strup says all three adults AND each child made it to this bank, but five year old Dakota Avans someone slipped back in. "A deep sad feeling, I was very concerned that this child was possibly still in the river, that's troubling, it would be to anyone."

Investigator Strup says the Department of Natural Resources dragged the section of the river for several hours with no luck. Finally, another unit arrived with a thermal camera and they were able to find Dakota's body at three in the morning.

They found it right next to the where the boat lay, nine feet under the surface...

Strup says it's an accident that shouldn't have happened. "It's bad enough when this type of thing happens to an adult, but it's just horrible to see a young child like this lose his life this way."

Police tell us Dakota's mother, the other two adults, and a three year old were airlifted to Erlanger. They are all doing okay. NONE of the passengers were wearing a life jacket. Investigator Strup says no charges have been filed at this point.

Out of order, i know. Here are my thoughts.

2007-06-13T09:46:00.000-04:00

Basic Human Instinct. Procreate and protect your offspring. That's one of the standard fundamentals of being a mammal. A dog would try to pull her babies out of a fire, a whale would protect her baby from a shark, a Human should put their baby's life before there own.
That child is lucky to have not died from heat exposure. I sincerely hope that he never has to go back to his mother. There are families that would, and could take much better care of him. Regardless of his behavior he should not have been treated that way.
It irks me that i have actually ran across someone defending these people, of course, work has that blocked so i can't give you a direct quote, but the gist of it was that these people are Christians (i'm supposing that this person must know them, because no where in any of the reports have i seen this mentioned) and that he will put in a good word for them with the DA, and further more, his church backs them too! To make a point of how innocent these people's actions were he states that he has left his children in the car on many occasions and has never gotten in trouble for it.

In this day and time it is not only CRUEL to leave a kid in the car (not to mention tied up as this poor boy was) but insanely unsafe! How many stories do I come across everyday about a child being taken, raped, and murdered? How easy would it have been for someone to have done that with this boy? To think that his mother would risk him ending up like that poor 6 year old in Savannah just so that she can finish her meal in peace is utterly disgusting.

I have kids. I'm not just on a soap box with out some life experience here. Do you think I wouldn't LOVE to eat a meal out in public uninterrupted? of course i would. But do you know what i love more than a peaceful meal? My children. I would rather them spill the soda on the old lady behind us than them have anything evil done to them.

I really hope that the system doesn't fail this time. I'm still angered that the local father who left his baby in the car (it died of course) isn't really in trouble. Who wouldn't go check there car if the alarm kept going off? Who forgets their kid in the first place?

I see parents everyday making what i believe to be dangerous decisions with their kids. I'm holding my breath about a few in my neighborhood. I hope nothing ever happens, but when i see a 4 year old girl outside for extended periods of time with out an adult, i can't help but worry.

I'm not a perfect parent. But I'd like to think, and hopefully those who know me will agree, that i do as much as i can to keep them safe. In the end, for all i know, all my efforts could fail, but that won't ever stop me from trying.

I'm begging parents everywhere to be more attentive. not just to your kids. Keep your eye on that kid across the street when you notice a car pull up and talk to him, slow down when you see that tot on a tricycle in his driveway and no one appears to be making sure he doesn't beeline for the road, and Glance into other cars in the parking lot as you are walking by, you never know when someone could have "forgotten" their baby! NEVER be afraid to call the police!

Thank you for reading this. Now, go to the next two items to see what i'm talking about.

Hot Car

2007-06-13T09:45:00.000-04:00

http://news.mywebpal.com/partners/730/images/news/hotcar.jpg

to look at the horrible mother and her "companion" from the story below.

He're is the Story about idiots that i have most recently found.

2007-06-13T09:42:00.000-04:00

RINGGOLD -- Investigators discovered a crying 6-year-old boy tied up in a sweltering car at a suburban restaurant after employees saw a man take the child outside and then return without him to finish eating.

An employee at the Cracker Barrel restaurant called Ringgold police after staff witnessed the incident Saturday, Sgt. John Gass said Tuesday Gass said investigators believe the child, whose name was not released, was likely tied up for about 30 minutes while outside temperatures were in the 80s in Ringgold, about 13 miles southeast of Chattanooga.

‘‘He was sitting up in between the two front seats and he was crying,’’ Gass said. ‘‘He had a rope tied to one of his ankles. The child was just sweating, just soaking.’’

Gass said he and a county investigator ‘‘untied him and took him inside where it was cool.’’

The boy’s mother, Rachel Gilchrist, 35, and her companion, Raymond Minchew, 61, both of Sandy Springs, Ga., were arrested Saturday and charged with cruelty to children and concealing a weapon. Police found a handgun in the car.

Gilchrist remains in custody today at the Catoosa County, Ga., jail. Records show Minchew was released late Monday on a $5,000 bond.

The mother and her companion contend the boy misbehaved, although witnesses disagreed, Gass said.

‘‘It doesn’t matter what the child did. No child needs to be taken out and put in a vehicle, left alone and put in the heat,’’ Gass said.

He said the boy was placed in state protective custody.

An employee at the restaurant said today that company policy would not allow staff members to comment.

‘‘I am glad somebody called,’’ Gass said. ‘‘We don’t know what else might be going on. I’m just glad the little man is not with them anymore.’’

Gass said the boy’s mother and her companion were in northwest Georgia for sightseeing.

County court officials declined to provide any schedule of hearings for the mother and her friend.

ALL THESE BLOGS IN ONE DAY?!?!?!

2007-06-13T09:39:00.002-04:00

are taken off my myspace blog, just the ones i wanted to share on here. hope you enjoy.

old mean blog off myspace that i did a while back

2007-06-13T09:39:00.001-04:00

his smile was infectious, but then again, so are measles...
Current mood: SPOON!

i'm sooooo tired of seeing little "goth" kids. now, i'm not talking about 'goth' kids, see the difference in the " " verses the ' '. here is my beef with the "goth" kids. A pentagram, penta being 5, haS FIVE points. and it's upside down if you're trying to be all "evil". What i keep crossing paths with are "goth" kids with the star of david. That is a jewish symbol. Now, I don't know much about the devil other than he is 'evul' (haha) but i don't think he typically can be exchanged with judism with out anyone noticing.

And there is this band, or this guy or something called H.I.M. man that sucks.(the music, lyrics and vocals that is, I'm sure he or they are lovely people) any way, that whole heartagram thing has to be the biggest pansy (not the flower) looking thing eva! nothin' says dark bad ass like a heart, awwweee. so, there are my thoughts on that.

I was just reminded of another band. Avenged sevenfold. first what ever could need avenging seven times over? anyway. Awesomely great sound. there music rocks soooo much. that is, until the guy starts singing. Who IN ThE HELL SINGS LIKE THAT TO THAT KIND OF MUSIC?!!!! it's like all whiney and bitchy and moany. I want to have the impulse to headbang or breaksomething or just yell and throw my arms about when I'm listening to rock. I DONT want to have the impulse to change a diper cos somebody is whining like a baby. COME ON! and also, i'm anti-drugs, illegal and misused, so the lyrics don't typically sit well with me either. but i could totally overlook and even enjoy the lyrics if they were sang by someone hard and edgie and didn't go "woe oh oh oh". ARRRGGG!

i'm cool with people having different religons and beliefs so long as they actually have them. i don't think either god or the devil fancy being a fashion accessory. that's just me though. i'd have to ask to get offical conformation.

Not that i'm one to shove Jesus down throats or anything, but i saw a nice bumber sticker the other day (yay bumpersticker wisdom) and it said something to the effect of "give jesus a try, if you don't like him, satan will always take you back".....yep......."Shit happens" is also a fav. I do hate the ones with the man figure (like on bathroom door signs) the woman figure (same thing only with a skirt, cos all gals where a skirt ***) = marriage. where's the love in that little equasion? (i can't spell) I don't care what you have in your pants, if you love each other and only each other and want to live a good life together, you have my blessing. of course my blessing doesn't really count for anything cos, ya know, i'm not the government.

*** they should just post genitals. it's much more specific.

lets see, what else.....my kids have a stomach virus and cos the peachcare website is set up stupid they don't have insurance right now. that big part time job i have (haha) put us over the income limit for medicaid. arrggg...

have you ever cleaned up really runny mucusie poop? it's not as fun as it sounds. the wipes just kinda push the stuff around rather than get it up. hurray for a deep sink and a spray nossle. (and bleach, for after of course, in the sink, not the babies, geez)

i had to miss most of a day of work today...yep..if it hadn't been for the poop it would have been pleasant. stupid poop.

the weather totally rocks today. it's all warm and pretty.

i saw a commercial for my school on tv last night. SUPER cheese. i'm gonna have a chat with the pr guy. i mean come on! who falls for that. (yes i realize that i go to that school, but its convienant.) they should put me in a commercial. "Come to NTC 'cos its cheap, close and easy!" Right now there slogan thing is "what did i get out of NTC? A JOB!" yeah, i don't have any complaints about that....but it could be better! I'll let you know if i think of anything. And the guy on the bilboard! AHHHH the teeth are sooooooooo white!

so, by this time you might be wondering "whose smile is infectious?" it's a funny line from a book. the blog title that is .

i'm 'sharing' music on limewire...so very addictive. i just want so many songs i don't know where to begin.

okay, i guess that's it. oh, does anyone know of any places to go in atlanta when you're not 21? k. thanks.

old music survey i did a while back

2007-06-13T09:38:00.000-04:00

mmmm music survey (drool)

1.Of all the bands/artists in your cd/record collection, which one do you own the most albums by?
the smashing pumpkins

2. What was the last song you listened to?
the thong song, I dont have to explain anything to you!

3. What's in your record/CD player right now?
the darkness, permission to land

4. What song pretty much sums you up?
i believe in a thing called loveseriously I have no idea. Pour some sugar on me? I like big butts? The possiblities are endless.

5. What's your favorite local band?
the rounders and the orange julians

6. What was the last show you attended?
some show at rythem and brews. The bouncer said that it would sound like a combination of dave matthews and pearl jam. I should have known better but I just had to hear what that train wreak sounded like. Dave Jam = Not Good.

7. What was the greatest show you've ever been to?
2. hankIII & the reverend horton heat in Athens, sweet moses that was good stuff

8. What's the worst band you've ever seen in concert?
see question six. Of course there was this really awful band called f.o.p. once (just teasin guys)

9. What band do you love musically but hate the members of?
metallica

10. What is the most musically involved you have ever been?
i dated a couple of band guys in high school. I was also in the high school marching band in 8th grade and my freshman year.

11. What shows are you looking forward to?
Seeing the Orange Julians, finally and without my kids getting sick last damn minute

12. What is your favorite band shirt?
I dont think I have any anymore..sometimes I sleep in my husbands metallica shirts

13. What musician would you like to hang out with for a day?
david bowie

14. What musician would you like to be in love with for a day?
Ill pass thanks.

15. Pat Benatar or Cyndi Lauper?
Pat! Always Pat.

16. Sabbath or solo Ozzy?
eh, Im not so into either as to have a preference. Either works for me.

17. Commodores or solo Lionel Ritchie?
..see 16..

18. Punk rock, hip hop or heavy metal?
3. metal, sweet sweet metalof course all kinds of rock are goodness to me

19. Doesn't Primus suck?
suck on this.Im told this is the proper response. Sorry, I never really jumped on the primus boat.

20. Name 5 flawless albums:
I have no bloody idea.

21. Did you know that filling out this survey makes you a music geek?
maybe Im just a partial geek, I dont know nearly as much stuff as I should.

22. What was the greatest decade for music?
80s

23. How many music-related videos/DVDs do you own?
one

24. Do you like Journey?
why not?

25. Don't try to pretend you don't!
what, are you going to stop me, I retract my answer to 24, I hate journey. What are you gonna do about it?! Thats what I thought.

26. What is your favorite movie soundtrack?
the nightmare before Christmas and the phantom of the opera, yeah I know thats two, wanna rumble?

27. What was your last musical phase?
whats today..

28. What's the crappiest CD/record/etc?
you got what I need..come on sing along, you know you want to.

29. Do you prefer vinyl or CDs?
cds cos I can play themI dont own a record playerI just dont ok!

30. All totaled, how much do you spend on music a MONTH?
oh, so this was a survey for people who dont have kids and a mortgage. I see, sorry to waste your time.

MAKANI

2007-06-13T09:37:00.000-04:00

so there is this really really funny artist, mostly she does harry potter stuff, anyway she goes by makani. She's super talented and I suggest that everyone who has any idea what the harry potter world is about go and check her out. go to http://acciobrain.ligermagic.com/ so, there ya go. Super funny. Super. Later.

Funny Story from a while back

2007-06-13T09:36:00.000-04:00

let me paint a picture for you.

It's nearing five a.m. Black friday blitz is about to begin. The aisles of the local walmart are brimming. Desperate parents gather around a flat of highly desired toys, waiting eagerly for the frenzy to begin. A nervous associate stands guard over the precious cargo, it's plastic cocoon keeping the consumers at bay. The second tick by. And then comes the voice over the intercom. The moment everyone has been waiting for. The timid wal-mart employee begins to cut away the wrapping, exposing the care bears with in. The customers pounce. One man begins to ruthlessly rip away the offending plastic, tossing his stuffed bear booty into his awaiting buggy. But wait. He's not the only one hunting care bears this night. Out of no where an elbow connects with his face, sending him backward. The female attacker begins to unload his buggy in to her own. A vicious fight ensues. Black Friday has begun.

Where is a care bear stare when you really need one?

my Phonbias.

2007-06-13T09:35:00.000-04:00

okay, so i'm sitting here typing to someone who may or may not exist when it occurs to me that I am chalk full of fears. okay so here is just a brief list of things that scare me or just kinda freak me out. Read them over and enjoy.

humming birds, showing my clevage, showing my stomach, sex with the lights on, trampolines, dogs, the ocean, crowds, theme parks, my neighbors, men, large machinery, electrical outlets, sharks, jelly fish, chicken bones, sickness, shaking hands with strangers, the mall, perfume, being home alone, random people talking to me, having to make an appointment with my adviser at school even though he's the same teacher i've had for all my accounting classes for the past 3 quarters, being considered sexy, looking like a bad mother, my kids being outside (our yard isn't fenced in yet (update, it is now, so they can go outside!) ), anyone else watching my kids, the constant nagging fear that someone somewhere is going to do something awful to one of my kids, that i look gangly and weird, that I am weird, that I can't get everything done that needs to be, that I'm just not enough, that i'm jaded, that I'll die before my kids can remember me,and lastly that someday i'll really tick my friends and family off and they'll leave.

so there you go, I'll be glad to elaborate on any of those should anyone request it. haha, i'm crazy. good to know eh?

Disclaimer

2007-06-13T09:34:00.002-04:00

I reserve the right to be wrong, overly opinionated, and obnoxious. I also don't own the rights to anything and mean no copy right infringements by posting something that belongs to someone else. Also, if I bash a band you like, just remember that I am notorious for my 'poor' taste in music.

I just thought I ought to say all that before I whip out my soap box again, though I'm not doing that now. All right, later then

Other Mothers Part Duex

2007-06-13T09:34:00.001-04:00

I was just reading through some other people's blogs and came across one that really kinda got to me. This person was bitching really about being a mom and how depressed and poor she is. I want to know why it is that women seem suprised by the fact that being a mom is hard work. Yes, when you spend all day cleaning the house the kids will come right behind you can mess it up again, yes they need at least three meals a day, yes they sit and cry when your busy. So what? You can teach them to help out..haha i'll have to finish this later,.. the baby is crying. see, it's normal

anyway..lets see where was i, oh here's my soap box, okay i'm ready. My oldest is only three and he's learning to fold clothes, load and unload the dishwash and can already pick up toys. He can't do these things with out help but he will eventually. My youngest is just destructive, but you just pick things up when he's done. Another year or so and he'll want to be helpful too.

My kids drive me insane sometimes. I'll loose my temper and yell at them. I am by no means a June Cleaver. But I love them, play with them, make time for them. I have homework every night, I work a little at school, I attempt to keep the house relatively clean, I cook most nights, and I like to read a book a week if I can. How do I do all this and still have time for my kids, I have no idea.

My point is that if you really want to be a good mom to your kids you can be.

My rant on bad mothers, Part 1

2007-06-13T09:33:00.000-04:00

Mostly inspired by myspace. In no way is this intelligently written. Angry is not always eloquent.

First I would like to say that I can't spell and I'm all angry and stuff so it's just going to get worse.

Okay, I understand that a lot of people use the internet to hook up or whatever, thats cool, but damn if there aren't a lot of a$$ shots for profile pictures. I mean, have they f-d everyone within a 50 mile radius so now they have to post their skanchy a$$es on the net. Arrg. There should be a special place for people like that, oh wait, there is. Porn sites. You'd think that'd be the perfect place to hook up with a horny whatever. Or maybe they should just add another section to myspace. It could be myspace/raunchywhoreswithclap.com or something.

Now, that was really just a tangent off of what really ticks me off.

OH, I'm just so damn angry I can't think straight. Okay, If you get pregnant and don't want your baby, then don't keep it. Now I'm not saying go out and have an abortion. (of course if you're a psycho and really will keep your kid with you until you kill it later or raise another you, I will understand if you take that route.) I would like to say now that I do not have an official position on abortion. If your going to just leave your baby in a car seat until DFCS takes them away because they're 18 months old, their heads all whoppergawled sitting lopsided on their necks and they can't walk, then you should just walk away after birth. In GA you don't even have to sign any papers. Just deliver the baby (at the hospital, not the girls bath room) Stand up and walk out to your methed up boyfriend's car and leave. I know that it's really hard to be a parent but you can just decide that you've 'raised' your kid for 6 years or so, on and off, so now it's time for you. Especially when you've been smoking pot, whoring around, and randomly leaving your kid with your parents while you go off to 'find' yourself on the streets of a west coast city. You shouldn't just wake up one morning and say 'hey, the weed is cheaper on the west coast, I need some me time anyway.' and take your kid cross country away from his/her family, then marry a doped up boyfriend, have another baby, and hardly ever call your other kid , that was taken away, because you're too busy. All the while your kid is going through all the custody battles, wondering what he has done wrong to make you not stay here with him. There is of course a whole paternal side to this, but I'm on moms today.

Now, for the part that really ticks me off. There is a certain someone who, though she has had several children, most by the same man, insists on being a whore. I think this part really should stand out. Rule number one in the Lindsey's Big Book Of Rules :IF YOU ARE A MOTHER, YOU CAN NOT BE A WHORE. Rule number two. IF YOU ARE A WIFE, YOU CAN NOT BE A WHORE. mind you, these are just my rules, i just think everyone should follow them.

Bad mothers beware! I'll talk behind your back and make snide comments to your face and i'm not above calling dfcs.

And just as a closing thought. You are just a moron if you think your kids don't know what your up to, they may not understand it, but they will. And they do understand that you arn't acting the way you should.

a few more rules, though unnumbered, from my rule book

if you are pregnant, don't smoke. someday i'll work up the courage to punch a pregnant smoking mother right inthe ear.

Grandmothers are Grandmothers, not mothers in waiting. Take care of your own damn kids and striaghten up, crack whore.

love you all

bye

The Wayfarer Redemption by Sara Douglass

2007-06-13T09:32:00.000-04:00

The Wayfarer Redemption by Sara Douglass

Oh, how I enjoyed this book. The first of six books The Wayfarer Redemption (which is actually the name of the whole set, in everywhere but the US the title of the book is Battle Axe) starts us on a truly epic adventure.

We begin, as do most adventures, with a prophecy. It has three parts and each of the first three books deals with a separate part. At first the story revolves around the Battle Axe, which is the leader of the army for the Seneschal. The Seneschal of course being the religious figures in Achar (the region in which people live). Our Battle Axe goes by the name Axis. He was raised by two brothers of the Seneschal, his mother having died in childbirth and his father being unknown. He of course has a deadly bad relationship with his half brother, whom was legitimate. The story, well the main part, starts simply enough. Axis has to take his half-brother's fiancé to him, you can see where that will be going. They are attacked along the way by a very powerful, well we'll say mage for now, and he evidently has a huge grudge against Axis. Also by now they have picked up two vary unusual brothers of the seneschal. Axis has to detour so Faraday (the fiancé and the odd brothers make their own way to Bornheld. Along the way we learn about two other races of peoples and meet a girl named Azure. She will be more important in book 2. Also we will meet Goldfeather who has a familial connection to Axis. There really is just so much that happens that it is hard to convey it all in a simple review.

The prophecy speaks of a Starman that will unite the three races of their world. Men have been living for years fearing the forbidden people, who turn out to be the Itari, a winged people, and the Avar, a short woods dwelling, stocky kind of people. They are both fairly peaceful races of beings, but the religion of the Acharites names them as forbidden. Now, I have barely even touched on that subject. In the book there is a whole your gods my gods disagreement.

NOTE: The book has some really developed religions and beliefs. If you're one of those people who think that all stories should only the religion of Christianity then this is not the story for you.

Sara Douglass has really developed the different religion and cultures. The depth of story is truly astounding. I believe if I tell you anymore it will really ruin the story for you. It has some fairly nice surprises in it. But be warned, this is not a fairy tell, well at least not the first three, not every thing ends up happily ever after. People die, people we like. The story takes some dark turns. But all in all everything ends up better.

You can read the first three books and stop if you like. They are story enough and really the last three while well written and really detailed, just really lacked something indefinable, and there was some serious cheese

Oh hell yeah!

2007-06-06T10:26:00.001-04:00

That's freakin' Awesome! I love old people!

clipped from www.itv.com

It is hoped that their charity single will help the band highlight the plight of elderly people who struggle to find a role in contemporary society

Zimmers storm the charts

2.51, Mon Jun 4 2007

A group of pensioners have outperformed expectations, gliding to 26 in the singles chart with their version of The Who's My Generation.

The band, The Zimmers, was formed as part of a BBC documentary to show the isolation felt by many of the nation's elderly.

The 40-strong Zimmers are led by 90-year-old lead singer Alf.

The help of U2 producer Mike Hedges and pop heavyweight Geoff Wonfor (who shot the Band Aid video) was also enlisted.

It is hoped that their charity single will help them highlight the plight of elderly people who struggle to find a role in contemporary society.

Profits from the sale of the single go to Age Concern.

First the dog eating, and now this

2007-06-05T10:53:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure where people are learning to protest. Oxymoron Institute? Irony University?

First I came across a story about a man eating a dog to protest animal cruelty.

Now i find this: http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/27/205428.aspx

A bookstore owner is protesting America's lack of reading....by burning books.

Really people! come on! If i wanted to protest animal cruelty I'd make a sign or something, and then burn it so people will read it....craziness.

Reminds me of my neighbors

2007-06-04T14:40:00.001-04:00

This makes me want to scream. Who leaves a 3 year old and her siblings alone in a resort room while they go out for dinner?

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk

Madeleine disappeared on 3 May from the family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, a resort town in the Algarve, while her parents were at a nearby restaurant.

Overlooking Blantant Child molestation!

2007-06-04T11:10:00.001-04:00

This is so deeply wrong, but do they call her a molester? A MONSTER! no. sex with a student. that's how they refer to it. She gets 10 years. That boys gets a life time of messed up'edness. Forget the racial side of this thing. I could care less. AN 11 YEAR OLD BOY WAS MOLESTED. NUFF SAID!

clipped from www.msnbc.msn.com

S.C. teacher gets 10 years for sex with student

Case involving white woman, black boy enflamed racial tensions

LAURENS, S.C. - A former elementary school teacher pleaded guilty Friday to having sex with an 11-year-old student and was sentenced to 10 years in prison, a prosecutor said.

Wendie Ann Schweikert, 37, was arrested in May 2006 and charged with criminal sexual conduct with a minor and committing a lewd act on a minor. The case inflamed racial tensions because the student is black, and some black residents had argued that the teacher was getting lenient treatment by the courts.

She pleaded guilty and read a three-page apology to the victim, his family, E.B. Morse Elementary School and the community, Laurens County prosecutor Jerry Peace said.

Does it MATTER if the windows were rolled down? NO. Does it MATTER how long the child was in the car? NO. It MATTERS that the child was TIED in the car and could not leave although it was hot. Peanut77, I certainly hope you don't have any kids. Or is this article about you?
SR - Jun 13, 2007 08:10:10 AM	Remove Comment


How dangerous and utterly irrisponsible. chidren are not dogs! Even if it's not hot outside he could have been kiddnaped, raped and murdered! it is the job of the parent to protect their offpring It's a genetic predisposition If you neglect and abuse your child like this, i have to wonder about your humanity. And as for the Christian bit, I believe Jesus said to care for the little children, not put them in fatally dangerous situations. I truely hope that the justice system takes care of this. Feel free to read my blog i'll write about this later today at grayhermia. blogspot. com. look for my rant after lunch.
Lindsey Stephenson - Jun 13, 2007 06:47:41 AM	Remove Comment


Maybe I missed this but where did it say anything about them being christian or going to church? Sorry to be a bother but I was just curious what that was all about. What did the child do that caused him to be punished in the first place? Also, are the police sure about how long he was out there? Were the windows rolled down? Was air able to circulate through the car at all?
peanut77 - Jun 13, 2007 12:32:27 AM	Remove Comment


Perhaps they were just trying to excise the devil from the unruly spawn. Yes, it's true. Nothing will happen to them. I'll put in a good word to the DA for them. Good christians stick together.
Bob Reid - Jun 12, 2007 07:56:00 PM	Remove Comment


I left my child in a hot car also, and nothing happened to me. These parents have nothing to worry about.
Robert Reid - Jun 12, 2007 07:48:01 PM	Remove Comment


Maybe they should tie them up put them in a car in the middle of the afternoon and see how they like it
chuck Taylor - Jun 12, 2007 05:01:07 PM	Remove Comment


I am sure they are good christian people, so all charge should be dropped immediately. members of my church will vouch for them.
bob reid - Jun 12, 2007 04:46:08 PM	Remove Comment


Hang those parents from the nearest tree. Then ask God what the hell he was thinking when he blessed those mofo's with a child in the first place.
Pitiful Parents - Jun 12, 2007 02:59:55 PM	Remove Comment


Seriously, what is wrong with these parents? I can't believe they did this to their own flesh and blood.
Me - Jun 12, 2007 02:56:05 PM	Remove Comment


I am outraged by this story. I cannot believe that someone would be so stupid. This is pure evil. THis child-and any other child these people have need to be taken away from them and never be returned. They should be charged with attempted murder and spend the rest of thier lives in prision.
Soddy-Daisy Citizen - Jun 12, 2007 02:47:29 PM	Remove Comment


I heard about this on my way to work this morning. It is such a shame and it makes me so angry. I hope the boy is taken away from those people and placed with someone who will love him!
Jamie Creason - Jun 12, 2007 02:17:10 PM	Remove Comment


Another example of why some people should not be allowed to reproduce! This just makes me so mad! Poor child! No telling what else he has been put through!
Are you kidding me? - Jun 12, 2007 01:14:32 PM	Remove Comment