Okay, so I've been on hiatus. Since we have this big ice storm and I'm home sick...here's a TT for you. Just 13 random things that come to mind.
1. My mom now has the internet..dial up. That means I can't dog her too much because she does read the blog now but at least she appreciates a good, snippy remark.
2. Best OU / OSU joke of the season: What's the difference between an OU fan and an OSU fan? 75 miles and a college degree!
3. My voice is coming and going at odd times since I've got strep. Currently I sound like Michael Jackson with his nuts stuck in a vice.
4. I am watching Fox News and they are talking about giving plastic surgery as a gift for the holidays. She was talking about men buying a gift certificate for breast implants and face lifts. Personally, if The Cop Magnet gave me a gift certificate for a face lift, I'd give him a certificate of my own...a certificate of divorce! Don't call me ugly - if my boobs are sagging, you got kids to thank for that. LOL
5. I am spending my day playing on pogo since I am supposed to be in bed.
6. This morning when I tried to put my dog out, my storm door was iced shut. The Cop Magnet had to go out the back door, go around to the front, and apply some de-icer.
7. The kids are dying to go play outside but the snow hasn't started - it is still pelting ice and frankly, I don't feel like spending the day in urgent care.
8. Killer whales are called "killer" for a reason. Apparently an orca bit its trainer and taken to the bottom of the pool. It was a girl orca...must be PMS.
9. I got some butter cookies at the pharmacy for $1.99 for a three pound tin.
10. I just told a friend about pretrieve.com and she is going nuts playing with it.
11. I am reading one of the new Tim LaHaye books...I read the entire Left Behind series. I am reading Secrets of Ararat or something like that.
12. The Cop Magnet doesn't seem to understand that wet wood won't burn.
13. Next term I am taking Algebra and Family Law. This term I am taking Legal Research and Writing (in week four) and Interpersonal Communications.
Okay, so I've been on hiatus. Since we have this big ice storm and I'm home sick...here's a TT for you. Just 13 random things that come to mind.
1. My mom now has the internet..dial up. That means I can't dog her too much because she does read the blog now but at least she appreciates a good, snippy remark.
2. Best OU / OSU joke of the season: What's the difference between an OU fan and an OSU fan? 75 miles and a college degree!
3. My voice is coming and going at odd times since I've got strep. Currently I sound like Michael Jackson with his nuts stuck in a vice.
4. I am watching Fox News and they are talking about giving plastic surgery as a gift for the holidays. She was talking about men buying a gift certificate for breast implants and face lifts. Personally, if The Cop Magnet gave me a gift certificate for a face lift, I'd give him a certificate of my own...a certificate of divorce! Don't call me ugly - if my boobs are sagging, you got kids to thank for that. LOL
5. I am spending my day playing on pogo since I am supposed to be in bed.
6. This morning when I tried to put my dog out, my storm door was iced shut. The Cop Magnet had to go out the back door, go around to the front, and apply some de-icer.
7. The kids are dying to go play outside but the snow hasn't started - it is still pelting ice and frankly, I don't feel like spending the day in urgent care.
8. Killer whales are called "killer" for a reason. Apparently an orca bit its trainer and taken to the bottom of the pool. It was a girl orca...must be PMS.
9. I got some butter cookies at the pharmacy for $1.99 for a three pound tin.
10. I just told a friend about pretrieve.com and she is going nuts playing with it.
11. I am reading one of the new Tim LaHaye books...I read the entire Left Behind series. I am reading Secrets of Ararat or something like that.
12. The Cop Magnet doesn't seem to understand that wet wood won't burn.
13. Next term I am taking Algebra and Family Law. This term I am taking Legal Research and Writing (in week four) and Interpersonal Communications.
Biggest question in the universe is now answered..
Ever wondered what Darth Vadar would sound like if you gave him a wedgie? Well, we did. When we went to Sprawl-Mart last night to prepare for the winter storm (which so far has yielded no snow but enough ice that our door was iced shut for a while), they had Darth Vadar voice changers on sale for $10! That's a huge markdown.
The boys have wanted one forever but I couldn't fork over the $30 to buy a toy... Yes, I'm cheap.
So we bought one. DS3 was playing with it (school is closed - still expecting about 6" of snow...which may not seem like much to you but to Oklahoma, it is a lot) and he had the voice changer on to where when he would talk, it would kind of sound like Vadar. The Cop Magnet walked up behind him and wedgied him. It was a very deep and echo-y "oooowwwww!!!" We both started laughing and then DS3 hit the button on the voice changer that makes it say, "Your powers are weak!" So The Cop Magnet did it again!! ROTFLOL
On another note, yesterday was the first day in my 28 years that I've been in a tornado, severe t-storm, and severe winter weather storm watch...all at the same time. Ever seen it pour freezing rain with lightening and thunder? Quite interesting and freaky.
School was cancelled and my supervisor called me this morning (before calling anyone else because I don't have a key) to let me know not to come in because of the roads. I wasn't planning on going in anyway. I didn't sleep all night. My throat hurt so much.
Remember that cold I thought I had last week? I was crying this morning and praise the Lord the doc was in. Maguire Rd (my main rd) was pretty bad but Main wasn't. I made it to the doc in about ten minutes. I have a strep infection.
Have I ever told you how wonderful The Cop Magnet is? I was going to save this for its own entry but what the hay... How many men do YOU know that, in the freezing rain, will put windshield wiper fluid in your car in the middle of a Sprawl-Mart parking lot, without gloves...and then will change your windshield wipers out too? On top of that, goes out to start your car to defrost it for you...and scrapes your ice? I have such an awesome husband!!
Now I know that radiation is a proper treatment for things such as cancer. I know the a microwave makes a pretty good "baked" potato. I've never known either one to be used on a healthy child. Microwaving does not make for good children. It makes for dead children.
People like this make me sick. Why? Because she will inevitably get off with some lesser sentence or charge.
The meal was beautiful. While most people would consider 14 people and one bathroom torture, we did okay. Unkey Monkey, before the meal, cleaned up the rest of the above ground pool and moved it so we could set up the volleyball net. The Cop Magnet's uncle gave the prayer to bless the food. We had a wonderful, wonderful meal. BIL and his wife went down a couple of hours later to her parents. The Cop Magnet, kids, and myself went out to see my mother and her beau.
We took them a peach cobbler. The apartment they have now is much nicer than the last place they had.
When we got back to Noble, we went back to the in laws'. Once it got good and dark, we went out back...for some night time volleyball!! It is an interesting game when you have three kids running under foot. I love to play volleyball. The Cop Magnet threw a glow in the dark football at me. I'm usually a fair catch (better than your average girl) but The Little Miss was in line to get hit by it. I gave her a little push and it got me right in the lower left quadrant. It wasn't too bad. We went back to playing (girls against guys) pretty quickly. I made the kids mad when I told them all to go in and play. The Little Miss kept under foot and got dinged in the head. DS1 was sulky (you have to remember it's like 11 at night). Mean ole Aunty Practical Chick / Mom made them all cry when I made them all go in and play where Papa could watch them. About that time the ball came over our net, my SIL kicked it, the ball hit Unkey Monkey square in the eye and bounced over the fence. He retrieved it...we are all busting up from laughter. He throws the ball aiming for the SIL and hits me in the same place as the football previously hit. I went promptly in and lost my turkey.
Now, here's where it gets fuzzy...I don't remember if it was that night or Friday night I think it was Thursday night...we had one heck of a food fight. I was in the dining room with The Little Miss so I am not quite sure how it started. All I know is that my MIL was eating a piece of black forest cake and she ended up wearing it. Eventually, The Cop Magnet filled her shirt full of whip cream (I was so jealous), and DS1 gave her a big old hug to smush it in which resulted in him being sprayed with whipped cream too. The Little Miss and myself just kind of hid in the hall. Grandpa is laughing so hard I'm afraid he's going to damage his pace-maker...black forest cake, whip cream, chocolate cream pie...every where. Unkey Monkey ran outside to get away from my husband (he had helped with the whip cream incident) who was intent on smashing some pie in his face. Lo and behold on the table...set the lonely little left over piece of black forest cake. I know the timing of running around the house pretty well - including climbing the fence. I handed it to my MIL. All she had to do was hold it up. Unkey Monkey was looking over his shoulder at my husband and he ran...right into the cake.
Good thing my carpet cleaner was over there. New tradition?
We went bowling on Friday night...cost a cool $86.00. Okay, or heart attack inducing. I was glad to see my MIL pull out her debit card.
Did I mention that The Cop Magnet decided to go out in the madness on Friday morn? Him, his brother, and his wife got to Best Buy about four in the morning...saw the line wrap all the way around the building and back to the Wal-Mart parking lot and they went home and back to bed! They went back later that day. The Cop Magnet got me a 1 Gig chip for my MP3 player for $15! I was ecstatic.
Did I ever tell you how good my kids are at cleaning house? Friday, they tried to kill each other with the croquet set...so since I couldn't leave them alone to play nicely and couldn't do my housework, THEY got to do it instead...and a lovely job they did.
My favorite part of that was, quite possibly, when DS1 was doing the dishes. I was supervising. I watched him wipe his wet hands down the front of my white cabinets. "Don't wipe your hands on the front of the cabinets!! You are making more work for yourself." "But mom!! They were WET!!" He's doing the dishes...imagine that.
I have a new guideline coming up tonight. I've been majorly sick with sinuses since Thanksgiving. Been living off of sinus medicine. Took DS1 to urgent care Saturday morning because he was puking...his sinuses were draining terribly. His throat was very red. The doc thought it was strep. I told him I knew it wasn't. (A) No fever; (B) He isn't lethargic; (C) Last time he had strep he was 3, ran a fever of 104, and wouldn't move. They did a rapid test and it came back negative. I felt kind of smug. Zithromax to play it safe; tonsilitis and upper respiratory infection. He's feeling better - taking PediaTan D. I was so tired that I went home to prompty check my husband's tonsils (because his throat was sore too as is mine)...he dutifully opened his mouth and then it dawned on me.. He doesn't have tonsils!! He had them removed as a child. LOL
A little while later, my two younger cousins ages 14 and seven are at my house...then (in case I didn't say it in the last post) The Little Miss's parents come over too.
By this time, I've already made the rolls, the peach cobbler, and the chocolate cake layers for the black forest cake. The cake layers sunk in the middle because The Cop Magnet and the kids went stomping and rough housing through the house. No big deal though (I thought) because they'd be covered by frosting.
So my 14 year old cousin watched me melt down almond bark and add chocolate chips to it to make Dalmation bark. I guess everyone finally went to bed around 1 or 2 in the morning.
Seven year old cousin is up by seven and wakes up my boys plus me. Not too big of a deal since we had to run to Sprawl-Mart anyway. We went and got dough nuts, heavy whipping cream, and some other junk. Once we get home, he takes two bites out of his dough nut and declares he's full (same kid that whined all the way to the store, in the store, and all the way home about how hungry he was).
The boys went out to play and then came in to draw since they realized it wasn't even after 8 in the morning and it was still cold out (we had just come in - don't ask me why they had to go out and do that). I made the frosting for the black forest cake, got it all frosted, whip creamed, and cherried. I put it in the ice box (which can freeze eggs) and went to wake up my other cousin and husband to show them my cake... That took about 10 minutes.. We all go to the ice box and guess what? It melted. It was EVERY WHERE. Not too big of a deal, I tell myself, I'll just fix it when we get to my MIL's.
While The Cop Magnet took his shower, I went on over and took the kids to my in laws'. Then I went back to get him (with 14 year old cousin still with me so she can hold the cake on the second trip). We stopped by storage to get our volley ball net and croquet (I typed crochet twice before finally typing croquet) set out.
Okay, so I am doing this in parts because you know how I can ramble on and on and on...
I had four blissful days of no work (at least not in the law office). Wednesday night, the baking festivities started. I stopped by MIL's to get the boys. She had a houseful: my two boys, both BILs, one SIL, and the little niece (2). I told her that I was going to head on home (The Cop Magnet was at home) and start baking. The USAF BIL replied, "Well why can't you do that here?" Oh gee, I don't know...maybe because there is one oven and two women are already in the kitchen trying to use it. He said, "Well then bring your oven over here." Sure, I'll get right on that. I'll just strap my electric range to my back. LOL Well, the little niece decided she wanted to come with. No problemo. We put her car seat in the middle of the back seat and headed to my house.
By now, it was about 5:45 PM (the good higher ups let us go home a few minutes early which was a blessing because I avoided a ton of traffic). So, I get home and start to take inventory. One husband: check. Two sons: check. One niece: check. Two cats: still alive so check. One dog: check. Peaches: check. Flour: plenty of that so check. Vanilla: what the? Where'd it go?! Cherries: Lite? Who the heck bought lite? Probably me - just not reading the labels. So, I start the bread-from-a-box (hey, I only have so much time on my hands, here), pack up the kids and head to Super C for some necessities.
Oh, and by that time I added another goody to my list of baking: Black Forest Cake (even though I'd never made one before but how hard could it be, right?). So, the Little Miss is in the cart, DS3 is standing on the end, and DS1 is just a cruising along beside me. We get lunchables and TV dinners because I'm about to heat the whole house up. There is ONE container of vanilla left. Waaaaayyyy at the back of the shelf. So I pick up DS1 to reach it (his arms are longer than his brother's). My back is still thanking me for that one. We get to the check out and of course the cashier seems to think that he needs to scan Little Miss's lunchable (even though it was the exact same kind as DS3's). That little lip starts to quiver and I know we are IN for it.
We get out of the store relatively unscathed and back to my house. Little Miss needs her diaper changed so of course she runs to hide. DS1 finds her and I take it to task. All the while, the bread-in-a-box is still covered on the table. When I finally got back to it, it was so big that I thought my kitchen was going to do a remake of the Blob. Then The Cop Magnet's cell phone rings.
76. You shall not attempt to mail bomb your plastic surgeon.
Look, if you aren't happy with what God uh...endowed you with downstairs, then maybe you need therapy. This is why you don't get penile enlargement surgery. You will more than likely be unhappy.
What I find so funny is that the guy had a sudden urge of remorse and called the doctor to warn him because he was sorry. Now he pleads insanity? No, more like finally came to his sense.
Just thought you guys might like a game...to use it, type one letter and choose from the drop down box. You can make him say all kinds of things.. ha ha ha
And I am so glad. It is my favorite holiday. Part of the reason is because it is so often overlooked. My little town already has a Christmas tree lit up, the wreaths are on the light posts, and our radio stations have already started the Christmas music.
My neighbor was putting up his Christmas decor around his house this past weekend. My husband thoroughly ribbed him for it. His wife wanted the stuff up already. Can you believe it?
I like Christmas. I like what it is about. I think we should celebrate Christ all year long. I honestly believe in honoring what we perceive to be His birthday (even though it more than likely isn't). I just think that we've let Sprawl-Mart and all the other merchandisers hook us way too early.
Okay, so back to what I really wanted to talk about - Thanksgiving!
I love Thanksgiving....even Grandpa Joe's long winded prayers which end up with him in tears missing his beloved late wife...and he quits crying, forgets we said grace, and does it again...and again...and again. Well, he is almost 90. He loves being around "the babies" too. Keep in mind that "the babies" all range from 18 years old (Unkey Monkey) to 3 years old (my niece). He's going to have a fit when he sees his truck out in the backyard...where Unkey Monkey cut the muffler off of it...I suspect with a hacksaw. Yes, we are down right classy.
Let's talk food.
Deep fried turkey (there goes the five pounds I lost) Two kinds of mashed potatoes (the real ones and then my garlic mashed potatoes) Pea Salad Tomato and onion salad (if I start feeling frisky) Macaroni and Cheese Two kinds of stuffing (home made and some out of a box) Two turkey gravies (because I hate giblets, that's why and no it does not offend my MIL when I bring my own gravy in a jar LOL) Candied yams (just for me!!) Homemade bread (made by me - DS1 will probably help. His class made wheat bread the other day and he did an excellent job) Cherry pie (from MawMaw) Pecan pie Peach cobbler (courtesy of yours truly) Dalmation bark (white chocolate melted with chocolate chips in it) Deviled eggs (probably - we have them every year...why change?)
That's just at my in laws'. My MIL does most of the cooking. I go to help out but she takes a certain pride in being the matriarch. I just do what she needs me to do and I do some desserts. I really want a rice and broccoli casserole so I'll probably be the one that throws that together.
We usually eat around 1. Around five-ish, we'll head over to my mother's house.
The kids made great centerpieces in Children's Church last Thursday night. We'll be using those. I'll be behind the camera, as always.
01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink 02. Swam with wild dolphins 03. Climbed a mountain 04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive 05. Been inside the Great Pyramid 06. Held a tarantula 07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone 08. Said I love you and meant it 09. Hugged a tree 10. Bungee jumped 11. Visited Paris 12. Watched a lightning storm at sea 13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise 14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game 16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa 17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables 18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars 20. Changed a baby's diaper 21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon 22. Watched a meteor shower 23. Gotten drunk on champagne 24. Given more than you can afford to charity 25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope 26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment 27. Had a food fight 28. Bet on a winning horse 29. Asked out a stranger 30. Had a snowball fight 31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can 32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster 35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking 37. Adopted an accent for an entire day 38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment 39. Had two hard drives for your computer 40. Visited all 50 states 41. Taken care of someone who was drunk. 42. Had amazing friends 43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country 44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign 46. Backpacked in Europe. 47. Taken a road-trip 48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach 50. Gone sky diving 51. Visited Ireland 52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love 53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them 54. Visited Japan 55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs 57. Pretended to be a superhero 58. Sung karaoke 59. Lounged around in bed all day 60. Played touch football 61. Gone scuba diving 62. Kissed in the rain 63. Played in the mud 64. Played in the rain 65. Gone to a drive-in theater 66. Visited the Great Wall of China 67. Started a business 68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken 69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class 71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight 72. Gotten married 73. Been in a movie 74. Crashed a party 75. Gotten divorced 76. Gone without food for 5 days 77. Made cookies from scratch 78. Won first prize in a costume contest 79. Ridden a gondola in Venice 80. Gotten a tattoo 81. Rafted the Snake River 82. Been on television news programs as an expert 83. Got flowers for no reason 84. Performed on stage 85. Been to Las Vegas 86. Recorded music 87. Eaten shark 88. Kissed on the first date 89. Gone to Thailand 90. Bought a house 91. Been in a combat zone 92. Buried one/both of your parents 93. Been on a cruise ship 94. Spoken more than one language fluently 95. Performed in Rocky Horror 96. Raised children 97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour 99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country 100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over 101. Walked the Golden GateBridge 102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking 103. Had plastic surgery 104. Survived an accident that you shouldn't have survived 105. Wrote articles for a large publication 106. Lost over 100 pounds 107. Held someone while they were having a flashback 108. Piloted an airplane 109. Touched a stingray 110. Broken someone's heart 111. Helped an animal give birth 112. Won money on a T.V. game show 113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari 115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears 116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol 117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild 118. Ridden a horse 119. Had major surgery 120. Had a snake as a pet 121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon 122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours 123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states 124. Visited all 7 continents 125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days 126. Eaten kangaroo meat 127. Eaten sushi 128. Had your picture in the newspaper 129. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about 130. Gone back to school 131. Parasailed 132. Touched a cockroach 133. Eaten fried green tomatoes 134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey 135. Selected one important author who you missed in school, and read 136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating 137. Skipped all your school reunions 138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language 139. Been elected to public office 140. Written your own computer language 141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream 142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care 143. Built your own PC from parts 144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you. 145. Had a booth at a street fair 146. Dyed your hair 147. Been a DJ 148. Shaved your head 149. Caused a car accident 150. Saved someone’s life
That was our sixth anniversary. Needless to say, it will be remembered.
We went to see a Blazers hockey game. We had ring side seats. The game was great! We were down until the third period - then we tied Lubbock 3 to 3. Not only was there overtime...they also had to do a shoot out to determine a winner. The Blazers won!!
They do this little contest where they hand out rubber hockey pucks to children to throw onto the ice between period 2 and 3. Whomever hits a certain bull's eye wins something. Some of the drunk adults got their hands on some of the pucks. I got hit with one in the wrist pretty hard. I was going to grab it and give it to the little kid sitting in front of me but the drunk idiot about four seats down literally rushed over and grabbed it. You wouldn't think a little rubber puck would hurt...but let me tell you, it did. It's kind of like what hurts worse: getting hit by a baseball or getting hit by a tennis ball? Does it really matter when it hits while traveling over 50 MPH? Both hurt like the dickens.
Nothing broken or sprained or the like. So, we start back to Norman to go Midnight Bowling (at 10:00 PM). Of course, The Cop Magnet is driving. We pass this white Impala and it gets right on our tail. I look over at the speedometer. 60....65...I look away for a few seconds and the Impala is still there. Back to the speedometer 75...80...look away - Impala is still there. Look back over - 110!!! Good gravy! The Practical Chick no longer feels Practical...she now feels homocidal from fear. If I kill him for going that fast, is it a crime of passion?
Anyway, we zoom off the high way and the white Impala is STILL behind us. He pulls a major U-ie and I screamed at him, "How do you know it isn't Brandon [The Cop Magnet's brother that is stationed in Nebraska that was coming down next week]?!" "Because Brandon would have called me!" "Are you sure?"
Zipped into a 7-11 and I realized I missed a call on my cell phone. It was Ashlie (Brandon's wife) and that's when I knew...it was indeed Brandon. He came home early. Brandon came in behind us to the 7-11 and just like typical men, they had to make a scene. They were up in each other's face. Of course, they weren't fighting - they were exchanging pleasantries. You should have seen the looks we got.
Then we went Midnight Bowling...and The Cop Magnet beat me (I was shaking from his driving...and you people wonder why I take sedatives) and I also blamed it on getting hit with a puck.
We went home...I got no sleep (and not just from THAT). I didn't get any sleep last night either. Matter of fact, I spent all day yesterday doing my Legal Research and Writing for Paralegals reading. Other than class for Interpersonal Communications at 7 tonight, I am going to read some brain candy (reading The Perfect Husband by Lisa Gardner) and I am going to bed right after class.
I also cleaned my kitchen, did the laundry, posted in my classes, started working on my homework, and made a peach cobbler.
I am such a domestic goddess.
Did I mention DS3 decided to put carpet freshening powder on the LR floor before I vacuumed. The box was full...was being the keyword. By the time he was done, it looked like my house had seen the first snow of winter.
Who is stupider: the idiots that stood outside for five days to pay $600 for a PS3 sans games considering that after Christmas the price will probably come down to less than $300 (which is still too much for me) or the idiots that buy them off ebay for three to four times that amount?
I've reached the decision of which son I shall make miserable by living with them during my elderly dementia filled days. The choice is: DS3. Yes, Mr. Urgent Care. I tell you, I've taken that kid to the doc more the last two weeks than in DS1 has been in the last two years. I figure, he can return the favor.
After school yesterday he was apparently waiting for his bus to arrive when another brat tried to hit him with a stick. He raised his hand to block. The stick went UNDER his thumb nail. So we were once again a guest at Urgent Care. I'm telling you - I'm just going to move in up there and let them charge me rent. They got the stick out and prescribed some anti-biotics...just in case - seeing as how it was a dirty stick.
I also think Friday should be declared, "Primal Scream Therapy Day". Every Friday - not just today.
Since when did it become the PARENT'S job to call the bus line every day (school bus not a metro transit) and remind them to pick up the kids at a SCHEDULED stop???
On the flip side - both of my personalities would like to wish, and therefore will wish, my mother in law (faithful reader that she is) a VERY happy birthday!! Is that a forest fire? Oh...wait, that's just her cake. Yes, mama Pat, I know I will pay dearly for that.
1. I can't seem to make blogger behave today. 2. This term I am taking Legal Research and Writing for Paralegals and Interpersonal Communications. 3. I almost had a panic attackw hen I saw the size of the research and writing book. 4. Now that I've read three chapters, it's not so intimidating. 5. I am actually reading a novel for fun. I used to do it all the time but just kind of got out of the habit when the kids were really small. DS1 reads practically all the time. 6. This weekend is the UPCI's Oklahoma Ladies Retreat in Tulsa. I want to go for at least Friday. 7. Sooners against the Red Raiders this Saturday. I'm at a total loss. I love my Sooners but I love the Red Raiders, too. Either way, for me it will be bitter sweet. 8. During the two weeks I was really sick, I went from 121 to 118. 9. I forgot my lunch at home today and I am too cheap to eat out. 10. Only 45% of registered voters turned out in Oklahoma for mid term elections. 11. I wasn't even ID'd when I went to vote (how scary is that). 12. We still use paper ballots here. 13. I've been having some severe mood swings / personality switches since I've been sick. They are getting better now that I am recovering but they were brutal. I pretty much holed myself up completely last weekend after my little stay at urgent care.
I found this site in my LR&W reading: http://www.plainlanguage.gov/index.cfm
It seems that in 1998, Clinton authored a Presidential Memo stating that all federal agencies must write clearly to their customer...basically incorporating three rules:
1. Reader oriented; clearly showing the author is writing to the customers (ie, writing appropriately for the audience...I talk to yall differently than I talk to Jacob or my two year old neice).
2. Use commonly known words
3. Visually appealing (I guess this could be kind of ambiguous...some might find black with hot pink blinking letter attractive and appealing, personally I find it blinding).
Is it kind of ironic (or just plain sad) that when I visited that site I received an OOPS! 404 Object Not Found error message? Has the government ran out of common words? Yes, I know, they've already ran out of common sense!
Today's theme is X-Ray Discovery Day. Say what? Ok, forget that one, I'm making an executive decision and declaring this 80s day.
1. What 80s song makes you want to get up out of your seat and dance like a fool?
Well, let's see...probably Prince's 1999. See, I was only born in 78 so that made me 11 when the 80s ended so just about any Prince song or Cyndi Lauper. I remember being about 5 and wearing a little tape player with head phones that belong to my brother and dancing to Cyndi Lauper's Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.
2. What 80s ballad (new wave or hair metal or any other) makes you cry behind your Ray-Ban sunglasses?
Gosh, like I said...I wasn't even a teenager. I do have a copy of Guns N Roses Appetite for Destruction. Uh...I don't know if it was in the 80s (I think it might be early 90s) but the one song that still makes me cry is Poison's Give Me Something to Believe in.
3. What's your favorite movie from the 80s?
The Breakfast Club. Cliche, I know.
4. What stage of life were you in during the 80s? Was that a good or bad decade for you?
Do pre-teens have a "stage" other than "incredibly awkward"?
Why? Because otherwise, I have no right to gripe and moan. If you didn't vote, then you won't have that right for the next two years either. Yes, I am one of those people that ask you if you voted when I hear you griping.
It's just terribly sad that people in newly democratic countries will stand in line for hours upon hours and yet...here we are - we won't wait 15 minutes and we won't look at the issues because we don't think the politicians are "talking to us". The younger generation, college kids, think the politicians are only gunning for the baby boomers. The baby boomers think most politicians are gunning for my generation - generation X. Generation Y and, soon enough, Generation Millenia will be up and raising families of their own. Here's a thought - figure out what the issues are for your area and research the candidates. Then, regardless of who you feel the politician is talking to, go and vote!
When blogger quits being a pain in my butt, I'll post a picture of what everyone needs on election day...besides a stiff drink.
I was going to go on this huge tirade later today about the civic duty that we all have to vote (I still will - probably after I vote later today). Matter of fact, I logged on to foxnews.com just to read up on some headlines since I've been swamped all day.
Now, can someone please explain to me why on earth Brittany Spears filing for divorce from her redneck husband (yeah, I know...like she has a whole lot of class, huh?) qualifies as a breaking news alert?
75. You shall not attempt to dig up the body of a 12 year old girl to take her home and "have fun" with her.
Prosecutor Dan Hall says of the offendor, "He had seen the name of the little girl in the obituaries in the paper. He thought she was cute and wanted to take her home."
Pardon? Are we talking about a puppy or a dead girl?
People like Garcia should be taken out into the street and shot. It's just...sad isn't quite the right word...so I'll use....unfathomable. It's just unfathomable that our children are neither safe playing in their front yard or, Lord forbid, in their grave.
Okay, so maybe blogger will behave later and let me add the graphic I wanted. Until then:
1. I just paid $3.25 for a cup of coffee.
2. I like to eat red onions...raw - as in, nothing else with it.
3. Restoril is my new best friend.
4. My kids drove me to insanity (not really - but they did help push me along the way).
5. I am perfectly happy being a receptionist at the law firm I work for.
6. I only eat one food on my plate at a time (I think I've told yall that before).
7. I am kind of like a guy...cause I like playing games like Dungeon Siege and Neverwinter Nights (even though the stupid zombie leader keeps killing me).
8. I still have the crazy belief that some day I will be a Virtual Assistant with more business than I can handle.
9. I still have the crazy belief that some day I will give seminars about my book (I am actually working on a power point for it).
10. I look forward to my ten year reunion - because I am still skinny and look the same as I did in high school sans the purple hair.
11. My parents are crazy (well my dad was but he's dead). They made me crazy.
12. The state of Texas said I was crazy.
13. The state of Oklahoma would probably concur...Arkansas does.
74. You shall not substitute duct tape for a babysitter.
Okay, so my best friend and I have joked about doing this with our children on more than one occasion (coupled with Nyquil) but that's all it has ever been - a joke. Of course, she is a SAHM and homeschools. She has two sons and two daughters ages 7, 5, 2, and 13 mos. So you can see where the duct tape might sound like a good idea.
Now we can't even joke about it anymore...people might think we'd do it (as tempting as it is - but hey we planned on being home and enjoying the peace and quiet).
What I don't get is that this chick was in the military. All bases have great home daycare (okay, wait, did I really use the word great and daycare in the same sentence?) facilities. I used them a time or two for emergency situations. The moms that run them are all licensed.
Is it really necessary to duct tape your children together? I know military members don't get paid a whole lot; my husband was in the Air Force. But I never had to resort to duct taping my kids together in lieu of daycare...
