The Toy Society

I am sooooo excited to do this.. I am actually giddy.. I found this blog the other day called The Toy Society. It is people all over the world, making toys of every kind, then putting them in a baggy with a note (the tags, letters and stuff they send to you when you sign up) and then "drop" it off, somewhere random for someone to find... It is anonymous toy bombing... How cool is that?? Soooo, guess what I plan on doing very very soon?? I keep on thinking of places to drop, toys to make, etc... OH, and a cool part is, that whoever finds the toy can email the blog site or whatever to alert them it has been found.. The site is here:

www.thetoysociety.blogspot.com/

If you can make a toy, DO THIS!!!! 

Wishes

Wishing. 

People wish for things ALL the time.

 I used to too. Now days, I try hard not to wish for anything, unless I really really want or need it..  I used to think I wanted and needed a lot! I have come to realize a few things about wishing.

 
1.  Most of the things people wish for, neither need, nor ended up really wanting or appreciating.
2. Some wishes that come true, have unforeseen consequences. For instance, the wish I struggle most with, not to make is "I wish I were rich!".. I think a lot of people wish that, in fact it might just be the #1 wish in the world, whatever the currency is.. But, you look at a lot of people who win the lottery and their lives usually are worse for it.. Yes, they may have fancy cars, and never struggle to pay a bill again but, they lose something too. From that point on, they never know if people are their friends for genuine reasons or just because they want some of the loot. Shoot, they never know whether long time friends are still actually friends or not.. Money tends to bring out the worst in others. AND they end up with people they haven't seen or heard from, in YEARS, coming out of the woodwork...  
3. People seem to bargain with God for their wishes.. And if their wish comes true, then seem to forget their end of the bargain. For instance (and this sort of ties into #1) someone is struggling hard and prays and bargains that if they are granted a winning lottery ticket and become rich, that they will never forget what it is like to be where they are now and promise to do good and help others, with some of that money! They happen to win the lottery and once out of that low position, don't do anything for others in that position.. Instead they  find themselves without any real friends, buy a fancy car and scoff at the person begging on the street corner they once occupied.. 
4. Wishing allows people to be unhappy if it gets out of control! Wishing is very often a result of a persons unhappiness. I think that the more a person wishes, the less happy they are.. Duh, right.. but what I mean is this.. I think wishing can kind of become a cycical thing.. A person is unhappy about something and wishes for whatever they think will make them happy.. If the wish comes true but has unexpected consequences (possibly including it just not making them happier), then the person is all the more unhappy so wishes for something else to make them happy.. If the person's wish doesn't come true than they are unhappy because they feel unlucky or whatever..

I used to wish that I would someday be able to travel. I wanted to go to Italy, mostly, but India and a few others were on the list too.. It is a dream I have given up. See, to me, my husband is FAR more important than traveling. I wouldn't want to travel with anyone but him, or maybe the kids, but a trip to Italy with your husband is a much different trip than one with your kids.. Both memorable but different. My husband, love him to pieces, but he is a BAD traveler! I know that traveling with him would most likely lead to my throttling him... Ergo, it is more important to have him and NOT travel than to push him into something that will lead to his being throttled!

In any case people wish for so much, all the time.. I am always afraid that we all have a certain allowance, in our lives, for wishes.. I don't want to waste my allowance on stupid crap like ice cream or something... Don't get me wrong, I like ice cream as much as the next person, but is it really worth wishing for?

Oddly attractive

I think there is something very oddly attractive about a person who can be openly silly, even outrageously so.. Some examples of this are Amanda Bynes, Shane Dawson, Christine Gambito (aka HappySlip), and Brittani Louise Taylor... All of these people have had shows or vlogs or skit based things.. All of them are attractive for some reason. I don't know how to explain it, it isn't like a sexual attraction.. I think it is more of a envy type thing.. For most of my life, I was very very self conscience. I was always afraid of being embarrassed over stuff. I was also very afraid I would offend someone else.. I still struggle with these issues from time to time but not as much. These people, though, can just do whatever AND post it on-line. To me, it almost looks like a freedom that I have never possessed. On the other hand, I know that there are a lot of freaky people out there and being a "celebrity", of sorts, could be quite scary at times.. 

At this point in my life, any kind of skit or vlog type thing I did, would probably not be all that entertaining.. I am just too old! So blogging it is... I hope that it is entertaining, meaningful (or whatever) to someone out there.. 

For you viewing pleasure, here is a sample of work from Brittani Louise Taylor... She has other stuff too, be sure to check it out!

Sur-realistic Life Lessons.

I am always amazed at what lessons life gives us. Sometimes they are so subtle that they don't seem like lessons and sometimes they are just little reminders of things we already know..

My uncle recently passed away. He had planned on coming up on July 2nd and called to say that he had fallen and wouldn't be making it. I had train tickets to go down to help him on Aug. 17. On July 27th, I received a call from my aunt telling me that my uncle was in the hospital and wasn't expected to make it much longer. This was sort of a shock since he had just been planning on coming up a couple of weeks prior. I changed the tickets out to go down that day. He passed away 2 days later. While I was there at the hospital, waiting for the elevator to take me to the cafeteria, I looked down the hall and noticed a man walking down the hall with a baby car seat. He was followed by someone carrying a handful of balloons for a new baby... In that moment, things were so surreal. How strange it is that a single place can hold new life and imminent death within its walls at the same time.. One place can hold immense happiness, and grief within its walls at the same time... How the circle of life can begin and end within the same walls. It is hard to explain how odd a sensation, that was. Yes, I knew these things on a surface level.. but it was almost like time kind of slowed for a moment while I watched that man taking the car seat to where there was certainly a new life, while my uncle was laying in a bed that he was not going to be leaving, alive. I am not angry or jealous or anything.. I just find it very surreal. In the line of work I am in, I know that not everyone dies in the hospital... Likewise, not everyone is born in a hospital.. However, a hospital holds both ends of the life cycle within its walls, and much more, as well..

Hooked on this song!!!

He says to blog about him, so I am.... This is just one of many many, many funny songs that he has....

ENJOY!!!

What to do?

Trying to decide what to do. I think I want to go back to school, but don't know what for. I suppose I should talk to someone at the college and see what my options are. I think I would enjoy Occupational Therapy, but the local college only has a Physical Therapy program.. I gotta do something though... Get a new job or go to school to get a new job, doesn't really matter as long as I change direction from where I am... I love working with elderly people. I hate stupid politics that come from the office.. I don't understand why they continue to hire people when there are many people who work for them, already, that aren't getting as many hrs as they would like.. Including me! I hate feeling like crap every time I read the stupid news letter. It makes me feel even worse that I am not as happy for the people who get recognized, as I should be... I want to go to work and enjoy it, not feel used, abused, and a lot of times guilty... Guilty? yes... Although, my work charges about the same as a lot of other companies that provide the same service, it is still for an elite population... I suppose this is sort of out of my control because, like I said, my work doesn't really charge more than other companies, but still... There is no reason for me to feel used and abused though... I dunno where I wanna go from here. I really don't.. I just know that I don't want to be here, in this position, any more... When I first started working there 5 years ago, my husband had a good paying job and I didn't NEED to be working but for now, *I* am the main bread winner. Otherwise, they would have had my 2 weeks notice a while ago... I don't get paid nearly enough, don't have any benefits AT ALL, no paid time off, or overtime... Yet, year after year, I have put up with what they dish out...

When I last went to college, I took a poetry course and there was a poem in the text book, that I wish I could find again. In the poem there was a line that went something like "don't let people walk all over you and leave footprints on your forehead"... I had that book for a long long time, I might still have it packed away somewhere, hope I do.. It was a great poem... 

Anyways, I suppose that is enough "poor me" for now. I hope all is well with everyone else...

Been a little bit

It has been a little while since I have blogged... Blogging is a blast and I love doing it but it does take a bit of concentration so that what you say makes sense... What has been going on in my life? Well, my hubby has been coming off of some meds that he has taken for about 10 years... 

About 12 years ago he was in a car accident. He was at a stop in a 55 zone because of a very small unremarkable accident in front of him... There was a girl coming up behind him that didn't see what was going on because she was putting make up on. Therefore, she hit him at 55 mph while he was sitting there. The impact totaled our car. It didn't look bad from the outside but the bolts holding the back seat in the car, were stripped and the engine was killed as well... My hubby's head hyper extended backwards over the head rest and resulted in all the fascia in his upper back being torn.. We have always been very grateful that our 3 month old baby wasn't in the back because the chances of her surviving would have been slim to none...  

My hubby was down for a bit to recover. Eventually he went to physical therapy. However, because of inactivity while he was down, we learned he had a birth defect that results in bone loss of his lower back.. Every time he went to PT for his upper back, it would kill his lower back and vice versa.. Obviously, he had pain meds... Those started to make him sick so the Dr. suggested a couple of alternatives of which my hubby (always thinking ahead) chose the one that cost the least, in case we lost our ins - which we eventually did. 

In any case, he recently decided to give up the pain meds to see just what kind of shape his back was in.. Also because over the years he has lost some time, probably due to the meds.. By that I mean he has periods of time that he can't remember and such... The withdrawals have been harsh at times.. I am amazed he has done so well but I wouldn't want him to go through it again... I am so proud of him though. He is an amazing individual that has overcome many things that a lot of others would not have been able to. I love him so much and I hope that when all is said and done, that we find that his back is not as bad as feared and that he can live his life better than he could while medicated... at least to the extent that he was... 

So, that is what I have been up to, mostly... I hope all of you are doing well!

Junior Mints

By my declaration, Junior Mints are the best candy you can find in your average everyday market or movie theater. They are versatile in how one can eat them. Straight up with nothing done to them is fine, but my favorite way is frozen. If you have never tried frozen Junior Mints, I hereby give my official order for you to do so. Frozen Junior Mints are particularly good at movie theaters because they don't melt together as fast... And, unlike Bon Bon's, if and when they do melt, they won't pour all over your lap like the melted ice cream. Also, Junior mints don't make your breath stink like some other candy does because of the yummy minty center... They are also low in fat per serving. The serving size is decent and by the time you eat that many, it is possible to stop, unlike other candies. So there!

Money Maker?

So, as I was taking out some cans to the bag outside, at work, I came across a little frog sitting on the exposed cans.. So I grabbed my camera and took a picture of him.. What do you think? Think maybe 7-up's advertising team would spend big bucks on this pic?

BTW, notice how his leg comes just above the "100% natural flavors"!!! LOL

Angela McAnulty's jury verdict.

Recently Angela McAnulty was sentenced to death by the jury at her trial. In case you are not familiar with the case, this mother killed her 15 year old daughter. She had tortured, starved, and beaten her. Her actions towards her daughter were atrocious and sickening. You can find the basics on it here. If you want to read more, you can search her name on that site.. It should be mentioned that DHS had been called multiple times and after a brief visit, dismissed the case. If they would have asked to see her room, I don't see how they could have dismissed it and therefore Jeanette would still be alive.

According to the news, the jury was to decide the following...

1. Did McAnulty deliberately kill Jeanette Maples?
2. Is it likely that McAnulty will re-offend? Meaning, will she be a danger to society? 

3. Did McAnulty kill her daughter without being provoked by her daughter?

These first three questions had to be answered beyond a reasonable doubt.

If the jury unanimously answered yes to all three questions, they would then have to answer a fourth:

Should McAnulty be sentenced to death?

To make that decision, the jury had to take into account factors from McAnulty's life and answer another question:

Were there mitigating circumstances? For example, should her punishment be less severe because of troubles in her own life, or mental health issues, etc.

I have been reading in the news forum on KVAL's site and am saddened. First of all, I want to make it known that I do not condone what this woman did to her poor child. I think it is sick and despicable and unimaginable... I don't believe in the death penalty to begin with, never have... Now that I am working to follow a Buddhist path, it is even more so that I think sentencing her to death was the wrong thing to do. It was reported that when the verdict was read, many of the jury members wept. Angela McAnulty seemed unaffected. Two of the prime beliefs in Buddhism is to practice compassion and to see a potential Buddha in everyone. I was not part of the jury and I was not in the courtroom to hear the testimony and see the evidence.. I realize that that would have been very hard to bear witness to. I have thought long and hard about what verdict I would have fought for. Let me go through the options and the things that I considered about each.

-Death penalty- 

Death is really kind of an easy way out for someone. Part of me says that what she did is deserving of horrible retribution. Then the part fighting to become a better, more compassionate person, says that that thinking is not good. In any case, my biggest debate on this option was whether it was more compassionate than the other options.. However, I also believe that all the people involved in making that decision, do not deserve the heart ache that it would (and did) cause them. Not to mention the Dr. who would (maybe) eventually carry out the execution.. He/she got into that job knowing what it would entail, and maybe thinks their ok with it, but I still wouldn't want to be a part of putting them into a position to take someones life. If they really were ok with it, that is even worse... for the jury members and the executioner.. So, NO on the death penalty.

-Life in prison without possibility of parole- 

I was pretty sure on this one being the one I would choose, for quite some time. I question myself because of my feelings about what she did vs my Buddhist belief that there is a potential Buddha in everyone. This verdict, in my honest opinion, is the least compassionate. It would mean that she would be locked away somewhere for the rest of her life with not a whole lot to do or think about but what got her there. The less compassionate side of me says she deserves that. The more compassionate side of me says that maybe after 30 years she will have changed her life around and decided to dedicate her life for good. My hubby said that there are convicts that do that from the inside, that she does not have to be free from prison walls to accomplish that. In any case, that inner debate of mine got me to thinking about the more compassionate sentence of life in prison with possibility of parole after 30 years. So lets explore that

-Life in prison with possibility of parole after 30 years- 

Like I said above, this is the more compassionate verdict for Angela McAnulty than life without parole. In 30 years, when her chance for parole came up, she would be something like 72 years old. The chances of her re offending would be slim to none. I took a criminal justice class and they said that anyone over a certain age is statistically unlikely to re offend. With a 'NO' answer to whether she was likely to re offend, the death penalty would be taken off the table, so one of the life sentences would be the only options. In this case, I have to agree with the defense that her crime was sort of limited to a certain situation and person, as far as the physical abuse was concerned anyways. The other kids being around for it and directed to gather things for the abuse, was in essence, abuse in itself..

In the end, I decided it would have to be one of the life sentences.. I can't say for sure which one though. It sort of changes day to day and sometimes moment to moment, even, depending on how compassionate I am feeling. Either way, I think that the other jurors and I would have been able to sleep better, knowing that she wasn't going to hurt anyone again and we didn't have to take part in her death to ensure it.

Next up: Why the comments on this story made me so sad!

Family acceptance

It always amazes me how different my family and my husbands family are.. This blog is about acceptance. I think my husband's family had some reservations about me when we first got together.. I don't blame them, I was young and I had a kid. They didn't know if I was serious about my future husband or if I was just looking for a daddy for my daughter, or something else.. Hubby had his fair share of ex-girlfriends that could make a family question any future girlfriend and her motives, not to mention sanity... Alas, my name doesn't start with 'A', which seemed to be a running theme in his ex's. I digress. After a bit of time and the realization that we were serious, his family welcomed me (and my daughter) into the family with open arms.. 

This is something that I didn't know how to accept. 

You see... MY family is just the opposite. My grandma never really liked any of who her children married, with the possible exception (at least at times) of one of my aunt's husbands. Furthermore, I am not so sure she cared too much for most of my cousin's spouses either... She especially disliked my spouse.. My aunt once told me that my grandma's view of my purpose in life was to care for my mother after she was gone. My mother had Spina Bifida and was divorced... They had a pretty strong bond that I think may have made for some resentment from my mothers sister's. In any case... growing up I was the miracle child of a miracle child.

My mom, actually worked pretty hard to introduce and get me together with my future husband, just to freak out when she realized that things were actually getting serious. After that, she did everything she could to sabotage it. My husband put up with a lot as far as my family was concerned... I think most guys would have either given up on the relationship or just not bothered with his in-laws at all.. After my grandma and mom passed away, I was summoned to a meeting with my aunts. My mother had left me a letter disclosing a rather juicy skeleton she had hidden in her closet. My aunts suggested that my husband go to another room to which he told them that that was my decision to make.. He asked me if I wanted him to go or stay... I had no reason to want him to go, so I said stay.. My aunt, the one who told me of grandmas plans for me, had always been a big supporter of my husband and it shocked me when she wigged out and said something to the effect of "this is family business". I swear, if I didn't know better, my mother jumped in her body and possessed her for a time. It was weird... Anyways, it occurred to me (much later and after a lot of thought on it) that my family seems to view spouses as outsiders. It doesn't matter how long someone has been married, the person who married in, is still an outsider... Whereas, my husband's family, when you marry in, your in. In my husband's family, even if you later divorce, you are still accepted, or most are anyways... (As a side note, ironically, this does not seem to include children who were adopted into my family. My mother adopted children who always were accepted and never made to feel like they didn't belong, by anyone. In fact, after she died my aunts even visited my brothers for certain occasions...) Growing up in a family like mine with those views, which weren't outrightly taught like a moral or something but yet just being the norm, made it very weird for me to be accepted into my husband's family. I never have really called his mom, dad, grandma, etc by mom, dad, grandma, etc.. Of course, he never had the chance to do that with my family.. I have recently been working on accepting the fact that their acceptance is real and that I can accept and enjoy it. Especially since I really have no family on my side anymore.. Aside from my Uncle.

I have an uncle in Ca, who I have become fairly close to as he is the only one of my mother's siblings that really acknowledges my existence.. My aunts?? I don't know what to say about them.. I have seen one of them once since my mother died about 8 years ago.. The other I have seen 2 or 3 times but only once that wasn't just running into her somewhere...Sometimes I have moments of great sadness over these  things, it is like when my grandma and mom died, I lost everyone... Even though I didn't see or hear from most of them regularly, I still felt a part of the family. 

Like I said, I do still have my uncle... I am friends with my cousin's (my aunt's daughter's) 2 kids on facebook and they are great people... I talk to them occasionally and for that, I am grateful for... As for the rest of them, I do not wish any ill will towards them and I hope they are happy.

My kids

Apparently, last week was spirit week at my daughter's middle school. I used to love spirit week, particularly P.J. day! On P.J. day, I could sleep in and just roll out of bed and go to school... In any case, things have changed, like they always do.. I realized today, probably for the millionth time, how grateful I am that I am not embarrassed of my kids. As I was driving off I saw these two girls in boy cut undies like the ones Cameron Diaz wore in Charlie's Angel's, over black nylons.. I didn't see what they were wearing for a top other than blankets tied on like capes.. The thought popped into my head that they looked like they were some type of tomboy super hero prostitutes or something... Sad since they are only in middle school! The next thoughts that followed were that the attire they were wearing would probably not be accepted at school. I started wondering about their parents. I would never let my kids out the door looking like that, maybe their parents work and don't see their kids in the morning.. Or maybe they wore long pants or P.J. bottoms until they got to school. I wonder if the latter is the case, if the parents would even be alerted to the fact that their kids were at school in nylons and underwear only, from waist down anyways... I think I would want to know that... as much as I really wouldn't! It kind of amazes me that those girls had no idea how uncool they looked. However, they reaffirmed my thankfulness that my kids are who they are. I feel for their parents, although it could be that their parents aren't much, if any, better. I, for one, would be horrified!

UPDATE!

I asked my daughter if she saw those girls. I didn't really think she would unless they had their 1st class together because surely the teacher would have sent them to the office to call their parent's or at least get some pants on.... But, she didn't have 1st period with either of them and she told me they were allowed to go the whole day that way! WHAT!?! Now, I might add that on picture day, my daughter went to school in a nice summery type dress. It was kind of Hawaiian-ish. It came up and tied around her neck so her shoulders and part of her upper back was bare, but it was not trashy or inappropriate. The teacher AND the photographer made her put her jacket on because her shoulders were exposed! These girls get to go to school in their underwear and nothing is said? I am a tad bit ticked off! I am seriously thinking of contacting the principal over this but I haven't yet decided if I am going to or not... Anyways, just thought you would all like to hear what happened!

I am a fry snob!

I admit it... I am a fry snob... as in french fries.. My favorite fast food fries used to be Wendy's. They have recently changed them to natural cut fries with sea salt.. They SUCK! I am pretty ticked off at Wendy's for they way they switched to the new fries, as well. They brought in the natural cut as an "option" and then one day just got rid of the old fries... Some option! Not only that, but the natural cut "option" was more expensive and when they did away with the original fries, they didn't change the cost of the natural cut ones... It was like a dirty political move or something.. So, now, the only option is the natural cut with sea salt fries at a higher price. I don't even get why they are more expensive.. It would seem to me that not having the step of skinning them should make for cheaper fries... I suppose they would say sea salt is more expensive, thus the fries are more expensive.. who knows! My son likes them, but I refuse to get them for myself. I pretty much will only eat fries from Twin Dragon, which is a Chinese restaurant, but has the best fries in town, in my opinion... I know, weird, huh!?! Just up my alley! I also like the natural cut fries at Carl's Jr, but so far at only one location out of 2 I have tried... Then again, the one that I didn't like, the sandwich sucked too, so it may have just been that site... I can't stand Burger King's fries at all.. McDonald's are ok, I guess, in a pinch... Same with Dairy Queen's, although I prefer McDonald's fries to Dairy Queen...

Anyways, it is getting hard to find good fries... I mean, if the best fries around are found at a Chinese restaurant, that is pretty sad...

Awesome Art

I have decided that I want to make one of these... Or something similar... This looks like it would be such a blast!

This guy, Holton Rower who does these paintings also does other art.. His website is here. I highly suggest you look through all of his pages, but especially this one. I wonder just how much money is in all of that art work.. Look at the hanging fence thing and the detail! Awesome, although I would rather have all that money in my pocket or bank... It might take a little bit to load.

favorite commercials

 http://media.photobucket.com/image/oreo/pazadordeespiral/oreo_Full.jpg?o=24

What is your favorite commercial of all time? My favorite commercial of all time was an Oreo commercial. I finally found it online.. So excited! My favorite of all time is below!

 These days, I have kind of taken a liking to insurance commercials.. Progressive and Geico, in particular. I think Flo and the Geico Gecko are hilarious. The new Progressive guy, and the Cave men, not so much... Although I will also say that the Allstate Mayhem commercials, are pretty good...

So, how about it, any takers? What is your favorite of all time... I wanna know!

Just part of my charm!

 Yesterday morning when I was taking my daughter to school, I did something that I do fairly often; I got annoyed. I am a fairly patient person most of the time. In fact, one of my hubby's friend's says I am a saint. However, get me behind the wheel of a car and suddenly my sainthood goes on vacation... Really, although I get annoyed, I am still not what I would call an entirely insane driver, my road rage is self contained in my car.. 

http://media.photobucket.com/image/grrrrr/meurrenske/grrrrr.gif?o=11

Anyways, this morning, the driver in front of me was taking a left from the express way onto Beltline (it will never be called Randy whatever beltline by me!) and the guy drove on the line between the expressway lane and the turn lane for like EVAAAR! It wasn't even a Toyota, I will write on my theory on that later! I told my daughter "I hate it when people do that! (then with a stereotypical hillbilly accent mimicking them) 'I think I'll just stay here in the middle for a bit' "

My daughter chuckled and asked me "mom, why do you do that?"

To which I replied "Well, it is annoying!"

Then she said "yea, but why do you give them accents?"...

This kind of took me by surprise because I do it often and almost always give them accents... I told her "I guess I do it because it seems like something a hillbilly would do or something"... lol

Later, I was telling my older daughter this story and that I didn't know why I gave them accents and she said to me, "it's just part your charm, mom"

Did I mention that I have great kids who are sweet and bright! It amazes me how they can make me look at myself and reflect on the things I say or do. I am grateful for them everyday, even on the days I want to give them away, I am still grateful for them.

My goal is to be Self Centered - Yours should be too!

Self Centered

"engrossed in the self, with little regard for others"

Why? Why is that the definition of those 2 words together? Self simply is "The distinct individuality or identity of a person or thing". Centered (amongst many other definitions) means "mentally and emotionally confident, focused, and well balanced"

So then, shouldn't it be a good thing when a person is self centered? I think we all should change the current definition of self centered. I propose we all strive to be "well balanced individuals".. the new definition.. 

http://media.photobucket.com/image/centered/StageThisPhotography/Centered-Print-C13451961.jpg?o=89

It is no wonder that the American English language is so hard to learn with things like this... Not to mention the many multiple definitions to so many words... I feel bad for people trying to learn all the words, slangs, sayings, meanings, etc... I mean, for those of us who grew up here, we even sometimes have trouble with our own language... Imagine trying to learn it from scratch from where you are right now in your lives...  And yet, so many do learn it, fairly well, in fact... It amazes me... I know a lot of people don't or they prefer to talk in their native languages, especially around those that speak their native language.. I know a lot of people who grew up in America get annoyed that those people haven't "learned the language" of the country they are living in... But really, I don't blame them so much for that, especially considering how hard it is and how intolerant some Americans can be about it... Anyways... thats it for now.. My random thought for the night.

V-day

Valentines day is approaching quickly. To which, I would like to say a heartfelt Happy Valentine's Day to my husband, whom is also my lover and best friend! I love you honey.

http://media.photobucket.com/image/valentines%20day/angwbc/Happy%20Valentines%20Day/valentines-day_156.jpg?o=33

 Here are a few ideas for goodies you can make at home.. Whether they are for a Valentine of your own or just for yourself this year...

First of all, we go back to visit Happyslip again for some chocolate covered strawberries.. They are easy to do guys!

For a fun addition to that clip, here is the aftermath and testing the emergency chocolate with her son...

If you are feeling a little more courageous, I saw this recipe for Rum Raisin Truffles on The Barefoot Contessa yesterday. They look really good and actually fairly simply put together once you get everything measured... The fact it calls for measuring out everything by grams on an actual scale is a little intimidating though.. Never the less, you can find the recipe here! I always like to read the reviews as well. I found this one in the reviews, tackling some of the questions people had

"After reading two of these reviews, I contacted Brigitte Browney before trying to make her truffes. Her responses:

Thanks for your email ...

On keeping the coating melted, use a bowl of water underneath.

1. not hot water - more like 70 degrees

2. guittard chocolate is a good chocolate & can be found at Williams Sonoma

Thanks,

Brigitte "

I think if one knew enough, or was brave enough, to experiment, they could change up the recipe a bit to maybe a mocha or white chocolate filling, those would be good too..

For other recipes fit for V-day, I highly suggest Food Network's site. Lots of good stuff here!

And don't forget allrecipes site!

I love blogging

However, this past week, I haven't felt like doing much of anything... Not exactly sick, just some other things... Far more important things... Anyways, I am sorry for not having anything new, exciting, funny, entertaining, or insightful to share with my full handful of followers (I have 5 now- YAY)... I hope in the next week or so, that I maybe will be back to going on and on and on... lol I hope all who read this are well.. and even those who don't... but I am off now..

Happy Slip

There is a lady named Christine Gambito who does all these skits based on her family, on youtube.. Her username is happyslip. Her skits include 6 characters. They are all played by her. She portrays herself, her mom, dad, grandma, aunt and cousin. There are a few skits in which she plays someone random like in her home shopping skit, Plop and Shop.. Sometimes she has other people in her skits but all the main people in her family are played by her... She has also done a few random videos of her singing songs and other stuff... She has a really good voice, by the way... This is not her only channel, it is just the one she does the funny little skits and misc stuff on.. Her other channel is more of a diary and touches on her home life and is also very well worth the time to check out..  Anyways, I am posting a few of my favorites below.. You can find others from those I post, or I also have a "bar" at the bottom of my main blog page... 

This one is probably my absolute favorite... Warning: you WILL find yourself singing this song from now on with these lyrics!

This is another favorite one of mine

Another Christmas themed one, but I like it because it has grandma in it..

From her other channel at.. http://www.youtube.com/christinegambito

A video about her oldest son, Micah, and what he likes to sleep with.

And a "make you feel good" video of (mostly) her new baby boy Ian.. 

Be sure to read my Valentines day Blog, as I will be posting a couple more of her videos in it!

Good bye un-named scorpion

 http://media.photobucket.com/image/scorpion/amskater87/scorpion.jpg?o=144

 (I had a couple of pictures of my scorpion, but I don't know where they are right now, so until I find them, this one gets to stand in for it.)

A couple of months ago while I was at work in Blue River, I had quite the experience. I sat on the toilet and looked at the oil heater (the old kind is part of the house but sits kind of off the wall, radiator maybe?) and found myself staring down a scorpion. Actually, not really staring it down, he was sort of sitting on the edge towards the door, but that doesn't sound nearly as exciting, now, does it? I got up and found a container to flick him into with the lid of the container... I missed him altogether the first flick and he just sat there, not moving... Second time was a success but he just plopped into the container, at first glance, still not moving.. I thought maybe he was dead, but upon closer prodding, found that he was actually alive... I put the lid on and called my husband to completely freak out, or at least ask him to get online to do some research for me... I didn't know that scorpions lived in these areas.. Sure, we have some warm weather, but mostly it is pretty cold for scorpion standards... Sure enough, there are a few types that can survive and do live around here, but they are not a super common site, and certainly not in bathrooms... I did, however, find an ad for an exterminator of scorpions...It made it sound like some people really have a problem with them, much like cockroaches... I decided to take the scorpion home to show the kids... After that, I thought maybe I would take it back to work and let it go... After I showed the kids, I got to thinking.. This scorpion and I had kind of an intimate moment there in the bathroom, maybe it means I should keep him... So, keep him, I did... 

About a week ago, he hid under some paper I put in his aquarium (although without fish and used for something like a scorpion, I think it is called something else) and he was still alive but not eating... And in a couple of days after that, when I checked on him, he had died... I found myself pretty sad over that.. I try not to value one life over another, but one could still say that he was just a scorpion for heavens sake... It was kind of cool having a scorpion and he was actually a really pretty one as far as scorpions go.. He never got very big, probably would have fit on a dime, nickel for sure.. I think the cold weather did get to him as our house is pretty cold..  

Anyways, may you RIP un-named scorpion from Blue River... Someone here will think, well, of you often so that you will not be forgotten!

Events and Inventions through the years!

http://media.photobucket.com/image/redwood%20tree/katysue/redwood_tree_rings.jpg?o=32

 I care for elderly people, for those who didn't know.. It often crosses my mind what all they have seen happen or invented, for better or worse, in their life times... My current client will be 100 years old in a couple of months.. A whole century old! In the last 100 years he has seen WWI, WWII, plus numerous others, the great depression and this current one, the end of segregation, and a ton of other events. He has seen the inventions of planes, cars, the bra, T.V., antibiotics, velcro, slinky, microwave, Polaroid camara, credit cards, fusion bombs, instant noodles, and that is only up to the end of the 50's... 

 http://media.photobucket.com/image/top%20ramen/BFlores7210/top-ramen-enhancement-reque.jpg?o=8

It makes me think of the things that have happened or been invented in my lifetime.. Of course, there have been a couple of wars. I was born in the midst of the Womans Lib Movement where woman earned the choice to work. I have seen the AIDS epidemic from start to where it is now with a possible cure, I survived not only the 80's but also the 90's. I have seen the rise of school violence including events such as Columbine and Thurston, leading to an almost ridiculous crack down on any type of infraction where it comes to even the possibility of a weapon or intent in schools.. I have also seen TV programming go from sit coms to reality TV.

http://media.photobucket.com/image/reality%20tv/cristyano/reality_tv.jpg?o=6

Closer to home I can find things that were not invented yet when I was little.. Razors have gone from disposable 1 blade razors to reusable multiple blade razors. Aerosol cans are still around but far far less so. How about Teflon non-stick pans? The reinvention of non stick pans. Computers, they continue to evolve. When I was a teenager the computer monitors were black and green and big... Now you have flat screens, that goes for TV too. Someone extremely computer savvy could talk "on line" when I was a teen ager, but now it is just voila, anyone is able to, and quickly. Remember dial up? It used your only phone line and took forever.. In my life I have seen the rise of cellphones, and laws to go with them. My mom was excited to get a cell phone when I was pretty young.. It was HUGE and there were limited towers thus limited signal... When I was little there were vinyls, then 8-track tapes, then cassette tapes, now we have CD's and Mp3's for our CD players and Ipods.  When I was young all we had were VHS tapes, now we have DVD's, not to mention Netflix and Redbox. I suppose I could say that I have seen the downfall of video stores too... 

http://media.photobucket.com/image/8%20track/keithkauspedas/8-track.jpg?o=14

Anyways, my daughter is nagging at me that I am writing too much, but it amazes me that just in the 34 yrs I have been alive that I have seen so much. I wonder if I live to be 100 what it might be like then? Maybe we will have implants that we can just download our music and movies to!?! I could come up with other weird examples of what might be, but I am getting the stink eye from the daughter... 

What do you all think? I would love to hear ideas from all 3 of you... lol

http://media.photobucket.com/image/invention/LipGlossJnkie/invention.jpg?o=7

Gangs and Government

I was reading a story the other day about a guy, here in town, who robbed a coffee Kiosk last November. They finally found him and the story was a follow up based on his arrest. His partner in that robbery was shot and killed by an employee of the coffee shop. It was mentioned in the comments that the guy they just arrested was a gang member.. This led my thoughts to an interesting idea... When "gangs" is mentioned, most people automatically think 'Bloods' and 'Crips'... The colors for those gangs are red and blue... Red and Blue? Where else do you have those 2 colors currently competing? 

http://media.photobucket.com/image/bloods%20and%20crips/blood826/BlaaozandCrips.jpg?o=49

Democrats and Republicans, that's where...

http://media.photobucket.com/image/democrats%20and%20republicans/kenoshamarge/Adonkeyandanelephant.jpg?o=31

When you really think about it, Government parties are really just a different flavor of gang mentality. Of course, the Bloods and Crips don't use Donkeys and Elephants as representives for their symbols... They have hand signals and tag symbols instead... Generally speaking, it is probably safest to stay clear of all gangs, including the government flavor!

I know, there will be some who read this and be all offended and stuff... I mean no offense, just another random rambling.

South Carolina

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I was looking at pics and info on South Carolina today (the pic above is somewhere in S. Carolina). I really think that I need warmer weather and more sun in my life. I have been a few places in my life and have decided that Louisiana is Hell on Earth, while Hawaii is Heaven on Earth. When my hubby and I went to Hawaii about 8 years ago, I was apprehensive because I have a terrible fear of large bodies of water. Therefore, it was a shock, even to me, when I decided that maybe we should move there. As you all know Hawaii is a small island in the midst of the biggest large body of water out there, the ocean... It was so beautiful though, and I loved it a lot. Moving there would mean being very separated from all of our family though, of course moving to South Carolina would too... Why South Carolina? Well, in talking to a friend of mine, she suggested it.. She said that it is warm but not like Louisiana. From the pictures I looked at, it is a beautiful area as well.

I have have lived here from the time I was born. I am a true Oregonian. I like that it doesn't get super super hot here, even in the summer... I know that all that rain provides for all the green scenery, but still, sometimes it gets old..  I enjoy listening to the rain while going to sleep.  I don't mind the rain at all at night and to be honest, even during the day it is not the biggest problem.. The gray skies kill me, though.. I feel like I am in a shoe box when the color of the sky matches the color of the pavement.. I find that I am more tired on those days and it is just harder to do anything. When there are quite a few of those days that run back to back, it is even harder. I don't know that I would actually say that I get depressed, it is more like a hibernation thing. Everything is gray? Oh, well, better go to sleep until the sun comes back out...

For any of my family that might read this, no moves are planned anytime soon, if ever. It has just been kind of gray for more time than I like and I felt the need to go elsewhere to a sunnier and warmer place. So, don't fret!

A word on the disadvantage of big dogs

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I have a friend that always posts things on FB regarding large dogs, usually pits or pit mixes. I have looked at the sites local shelters post their available animals for adoption on and many of them are pit or pit mixes, amongst quite a few other large breeds. Now, if you haven't been reading my blog (1st of all, shame on you), you might not know that we just recently adopted a Husky. He is about 60 lbs.. so pretty big. In talking to my insurance agent I found out that most ins companies will not cover you for ANYTHING if you have a large breed dog, with the exception of Labs and Golden Retrievers..  Some will cover a few at a higher rate, some will write an exclusion for the dog... Most just will not bother at all if you have a large breed, and especially a few types in particular such as German Shepherds and Pits (there were 2 more on the highly "naughty" list, but I can't remember which)... I asked like 5 times, "how are people supposed to own a large breed dog and still have ins then?" To which all I really got was silence... (chirp chirp).... I feel so bad for those dogs. I know pits have a bad rep as it is because of the idiots who use/train them for bad things... Then on top of that, if a person wants to adopt one, they have to decide if they are willing to do so at the expense of their home owners insurance.. I don't get that at all, by the way, if your house starts on fire or something, it is no more likely that it was the big dogs fault than the little dogs fault if it was either of their fault to begin with.. Let's face it, it could have been faulty wiring... Anyways, my heart goes out to those dogs and the good people who would love to adopt one, but can't risk their home to do so..  To my friend on Facebook, keep up the good work.. Hopefully someday, things will change for the better for those poor dogs who were born big (with the exception of the 2 breeds mentioned earlier) with or with out a bad rep to go with it... 

As for my insurance, I am going to have to have a new policy written up. It will be a bit more expensive but luckily Husky's are not on the No No list through Progressive.. Bless them for that... If he had been a Shepard we would have been out of luck..

Baked Potatoes

I really like baked potatoes! 

I wonder though, what toppings a person chooses says about that person? I also wondered if people who read my blog could guess what I choose to put on my potatoes? Now, you might be thinking that that is ridiculous. How could someone guess just by reading a blog, what a person puts on their potato? Well, if you think about it, it really isn't all that ridiculous. We make judgments about people all the time, even those who we have never met. It is said that it is hard to read peoples emotions and the true tone of a post... I don't think it is as hard as people say, even for those people. In a post, you don't have inflection of voice like you would even over a phone. You don't have any facial expressions to go with it either... However, I think that when posts are made online, particularly somewhat anonymously, people are more honest with their words. Therefore, the other indicators of mood or tone are not as needed.

Back to potatoes! I thought about asking people what they thought I put on my baked potatoes but then I realized that I only know of 2 people who read my blog.. So far only one of those 2 people have commented (Thank you Kim). So I will just go ahead and tell you. Now, a warning, my kids think it is really gross so others might as well.. I take no responsibility for anyone who can't handle it! I like a lot of stuff. In no particular order of absolute necessity... but must have the 1st 3!

1. Sour Cream
2. Shredded Cheese
3. Salsa
4. Cottage Cheese
5. Sauteed onions and mushrooms.

With all of the above I don't really need butter, salt and pepper but sometimes I throw those on as well. My potatoes look more like some sort of soup with a potato in the middle somewhere... Kind of like 'baked potato surprise'... lol.. Anyways, maybe I will add a picture some time... 



By the way, baked potato bars rock! They are fun and easy for parties too.. Just get a bunch of potatoes and either throw them in the oven, or microwave... Set up a bunch of toppings for people to choose from and let them have at it...  What do you like on your baked potato?

New posts very soon

I have not forgotten about my blog or my single certified follower (welcome and thanks for following me... ya stalker... lol) and my Kim.. lol! I have one ready to post but my laptop that it is saved on, is kind of freaking out at the moment. I am not feeling real well right now or I would go off on some random idea in my head... Anyways, don't anyone change that channel for good, because I will be back and there will be more... Just not today.. after this one anyways.

Rock Star INXS part 4- jordis Unga

Jordis Unga came in at 5th place in the competition... She was, by far, my favorite female preformer on the show. She has an almost raw, smokey, voice that draws you in.. Below is the video of her doing Imagine. Generally speaking, the original of a song is always better than a cover of it. For some reason, Jordis singing this song almost brought me to tears because it was so heartfelt, I think... 

.

I enjoyed just about all of Jordis's performances, although she did kinda butcher Aerosmiths Dream On... but I think it is just because his voice reaches higher than hers in parts of that song. She was in a girly band for a while, sometime after the show.. I am not sure that they are actually together anymore though.. I kind of like her voice solo anyways.. The next video is her singing The Man Who Sold The World.

One of my favorites of her songs, though, is called Try Not, I think it is a Jordis Original

Rock Star INXS part 3 - Suzie McNeil

Suzie McNeil wasn't actually one of my favorite of favorites but she did make it to the top 4.It wasn't that I did not like her, she was good, just not my favorite.. Since the show, however, she has made an album and quite a few videos for the songs on said album... Here is an example of her on the show doing Suicide Blonde.

I really like some of her post show music videos such as the two below.. The first song, I really like but I hate the make up she has on in it... 

This next song, is again, one I really like.. Then again, it seems that I like most of the songs on her album... Anyways, this one is called Supergirl

Next up is Jordis Unga

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