Thursday, August 2, 2007

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

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.

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

Comments

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.

Monday, July 30, 2007

Eventful!

Demand it!










bored much?

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.

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

And now to negate anything intellegant i have to say

Cyanide and Happiness, a daily webcomic
Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net

Harry Potter and the great dissapointment

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.

Friday, July 20, 2007

Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3.

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

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!

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Stooping to the same level. My bulletin on myspace.

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.

Monday, July 16, 2007

Man oh man

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.

Friday, July 13, 2007

some things are just not okay

but come on...this is funny



The Last Word.

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

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!

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

Thursday, July 5, 2007

The need to Blog.

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.