Then & Now

As I continue watching old episodes of Pee-Wee's Playhouse, I keep finding more "guest" stars who launched their career on this wacky show. I know I've mentioned Lawrence Fishburne before (and now the classic line - "How's your weiner, Pee Wee?" will be stuck in my head forever.) . But as I've been watching more shows, I have found a very young Jimmy Smits, Sandra Bernhard... David Letterman's part-time cohort Larry "Bud" Melman. It's very funny to watch them on that show.

It also makes me wonder what happened to other actors and actresses that I've loved in the past. Some seem to just vanish.

What a difference...

I have two girls with me on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Today we reached 55 or so and it was sunny without a cloud in sight. So from 8am on, neither girl wanted to come inside. I'm happy to be out in the sun. What strikes me as funny is that one of these girls HATES winter and often complains about being outside when it is winter. Even during the warm spell in January, she'd carry on about being outside. Today, she carried on about having to go inside to eat lunch before the school bus. It's funny how all it takes is a good dose of sun.

I'm not arguing though. I loved being outside myself. My cheeks feel slightly rosy, so I might have spent too much time out there. I'm going to have to run to the store for more sunscreen. The rest of the week is the same - sun, warming, and not a cloud in the sky.

Tracy

Weather

I love the arrival of spring. It was cool, but not so cold that you needed a winter coat yesterday. (At least by VT standards.) 50 to me is pretty warm after winter! So we got our cold weather crops in yesterday, and I can't wait for a garden full of spinch and peas.

Then as night fell, we figured it was perfect weather for our first bonfire of the season. It's not really a bonfire per se, but more a large campfire. We had a tree that we'd removed last fall and we set it all on fire with pine needles that we'd racked out of the yard. I don't think there is anything nicer than a cool night, cuddling up next to a warm fire, and then just looking at the stars. I'm so psyched that spring is here! Hopefully anyway...

My Hat Is Off To...

I'm finally over this long-lasting cold that lead to a mild case of bronchitis (always a pain.) It had been two years since I'd had a really good/bad cold, so I wasn't enjoying life. Anyway, I have also been busy with various ghostwriting assignments, so I decided to catch up on other stuff today. Meanwhile, I have a few things to be serious, AND, sarcastic about today.

So my hat is off to...

1. Guys who build houses in freezing temperatures. I'm watching a crew build a house behind us. They've been working all week in 20 to 30 degree temperatures laying concrete, putting in the well, laying crushed stone for the driveway base, getting the foundation dug and poured. I'll happily go out and walk in this weather, but stand out there for 10 hours a day and work.... NO thanks!

2. Men and women who do everything while their wives or girlfriends, husbands or boyfriends help out very little. I'm talking about the man or woman who cooks, cleans, shops, does all the laundry, tends to the children, pays the bills, etc. all while holding a full-time job. Meanwhile the significant other goes out partying or "works late". I'd loan you my husband or self to help out just cause you are such a decent role model, but then I'm afraid you couldn't afford us. ;-)

3. The mailman and UPS man. At my house, these men (I'd say women, but they are both men so...) bust butt on a daily basis toting packages to my door. I treat them as well as I can with goodies as surprises for holidays and the likes. I know they are paid to do this, but regardless of the wintery roads, they are always dependable and I bet they don't often hear it.

4. Simon Cowell. I keep watching and wonder why Paula Abdul is still on the show. Whatever she is taking (and I'm certain she's taking something), it's really starting to become overtly apparent. Toppled glasses of whatever she drinks, screwed up speech, horrible grammar, flapping arm movements (what is with last night's seal clapping--clapping just the palm of her hands and nothing else???) She's on something. I know she was/is bulimic and I'm betting she's on some kind of happy pill for depression, anxiety or manic depression. Something's up with her. Meanwhile, Simon continues to be the dose of reality to the contestants. Chicken Little (whatever your real name is) sorry but you suck. You seriously, and I'm not exaggerating here, put me to sleep last night. You hit the chorus and I was out. You may have your little girl groupies, but you don't sing fantastically! You made me miss Ace. Thank God I caught Mandesa (if that's how you spell it), Kathryn, and Chris first. If you'd been first, I'd be cursing you right about now.

Now comes the sarcasm...

5. A special thanks to the delightful teenagers in my neighborhood who hung out late on Saturday night (Sunday morning) and smashed beer bottles all over the road. That certainly adds an air of atmosphere to the neighborhood. I especially LOVE keeping my dog's paws and little kids' boots out of the glass. I have just one more kind word for you... "Remember that will eventually have a kid who is JUST like you." I hope I'm there to see it. ;-)

6. To teachers that lie to parents. What excellent role models you are for our children. I definitely suggest researching what you tell a parent first. Some of us are just shrewd enough to check the facts that you are spouting. My children may not have you yet, but when they do I hope you are prepared for battle with a little more of a factoral base than you've shown thus far.

7. Drivers using cell phones. The slick running of the stop sign certainly deserves applause. My kids appreciate your thoughtfulness too! New lesson for you, stop means stop and turn off the damn phone until you've safely (emphasis on safely) pulled over.

8. To Bob and all those who think staying hard 24/7 is what women want. I get enough emails from you, so there must be a large percentage of you out there. Guess again! It's quality not quantity! Bob from the commercials - I flip away now if I get the slightest hint you are about to make an appearance. You drive me batty and not in a pleasant way. I'd like to ship you, the Geico Gecko, and Rich Tarrant to the same island where you have no chance of escape.

9. Rich Tarrant. You may be running against Bernie. I won't vote for you. Do I even know a speck about you? No, I just know your stupid soap opera "to be continued" ads are driving me insane. So you've lost my vote due to your ads. You need to find a new campaign advisor!

School Letter, Part 2

So, I realize I never shared the outcome of the school's letter to me warning me that my son had missed too much school and that they were pushing for only 6 days off per year. I can be a very shy person at times, but come after my kids and I become the most evil she-bear you've ever encountered.

I started my quest by talking to a lawyer for the VT State Dept. of Education to find out exactly what the laws are in the state. He seemed to be enjoying himself as he read statutes. Basically, there are two applicable laws when it comes to a student being absent. 1. Any child absent for more than 10 days in a row must have a written note from a doctor and the school superintendent. So #1 did not cover my son being absent on and off at 9 times over the entire school year so far.

#2 - No child may be absent more than 21 days per school year without being considered delinquent. Again doesn't fit my son, so the lawyer told me to have fun going to battle.

I then decided to ask an expert pediatrician who works for our local CBS station. He gave me one piece of advice - find out what medical expert was consulted when this policy was enacted.

So I called the school and waited, and waited.... Nothing. So I sent a very snotty email. The next morning I got a call. So I let him speak and basically he covered his behind by saying the letter was all a mistake and never should have been sent and that I should throw it out and ignore it.

Then he proceeded to tell me that the only reason they've been taking a hard line this year is because the area high schools all have stricter policies. He proceeded to say that local high schools - BFA, Milton, Rice, Essex, and Colchester all give students 3 days off per semester and anything over those 3 days per semester, excused or unexcused, lead to automatic failure of the class. This sounded absurd to me. So after he hung up, I did some checking.

The correct policy is 7 days off per TRI-mester. Equaling the 21 day deliquent law. So now I've been lied to again...

It makes me wonder. Do I really want my child being taught by a man who first never stops to think that a parent has the intelligence to verify what he or she has been told? And two, a teacher who will LIE to a parent!!! I've lost all respect for this teacher, and hope he gets his facts straight before coming after my son for attendance issues.

In the end, I have a son who is asking to skip a grade. I know he can handle it, but I think it is pathetic that a 12 year old has now seen that some grown-ups just don't tell the truth.

Song Lyrics

Does anyone else remember a magazine in the 1980's that contained all the lyrics from the current hit songs? I LOVED that magazine, but it fizzled out in the mid-80's.

There was also a contest listing in the back..."Send us your lyrics. If they are good enough, you could be contacted by some of music's hottest music publishing companies..." Then you sent in lyrics and a few weeks later got a letter stating your lyrics were great and that they were interested. Pay $ for lessons on how to promote your lyrics to some of music's best...

I remember being about 12 and sending in a bunch of lyrics. All were deemed fantastic, and then the rest of the letter was a downer. It was an obvious scam, but kids didn't know...

So this weekend, my hubby and I went up to help my little brother install his kitchen flooring. (I say "little" brother, but in reality he's almost a foot taller and a good deal heavier, so he's not really my little brother but my younger brother.) We had on a radio station that plays 80's music on weekends. I listened to some of these lyrics and wonder what they have that I didn't....

I mean Culture Club's "Do you really want to huuuurrrrrtttt me. Do you really wanna make me cry." Pathetic.

"Oh Mickey, You're so fine. You're so fine you blow my mind." My brothers will forever hate Toni Basil because I owned that on 45 and played it a lot! Now, I look back and the lyrics sucked.

So we bought a couple CD's this weekend. Song titles - "Monkeys coming out of my head." I'm still thinking butt would have fit the band better, but I'll let it slide.

Then my husband took a liking to Dirty Vegas and it brings me back to days of New Order and some of those Canadian bands who were similar and unheard of. (The Box is one of them, but I can't remember if that was the song or the group name.) I think 80's music is going to come around again. With more modern lyrics, I think there might be something there.

With that, I'll depart with the song lyrics I actually wrote (or at least the one line I remember...) when I was 13ish. It's quite embarassing now, but please take into mind that this was during my AC/DC time...

"I've got an itch will you scratch it. I've got an urge to do it right."

Worse, if I remember the song was actually about having an itch on the bottom of your foot. :-D

War Path!

I feel like griping today. Certain things woke me up at 3:00am and I'm just not happy with the outcome yet.

#1 - People who let their teenaged daughter's homeless boyfriend live with them. The past week has been extraordinarily quiet with this kid not being around because the kid's girlfriend was visiting relatives in another state. No loud mufflers, no blaring music shaking walls and windows. It's been wonderful. So the girlfriend flew back in yesterday and didn't go to school today. The boyfriend has returned with his loud muffler and plenty of slamming doors, cranked up music, and the likes. I'm not particularly happy today!

#2 - Teachers that do not return phone calls. That just is rude and ticks me off.

#3 - While I'm on the teacher warpath... how about when a child misses a field trip due to illness and the school refuses to return your money paid for said field trip - the bus fare and the likes. I can understand keeping the $5 for the ticket to the play, it was probably non-refundable, but the $5 gas money for that student's place on the bus, that should have been returned.

#4 - Taxes. Enough said.

#5 - School districts where more than 1/2 of the voters are teachers and their friends and family. They outnumber the rest of the population, so there is no way a fair vote can be achieved.

#6 - This one goes out to my little brother. Furnace repairs that cost $500 when the parts come to around $90!

#7 - Laundry - it never ends!

#8 - Television writers. What brainchild decided to try to give the show Joey a final chance by pitting it against both American Idol and NCIS??? Like it would stand a chance??? This isn't the only show I've seen this happen with. So TV execs need to listen up. If a show is failing, putting it on against some of the highest rated shows is the kiss of death.... You're not getting anywhere by trying a show on a new night where there are excellent shows.

#9 - Speaking of NCIS what did Gibbs give Abby for her birthday? I feel cheated. All we know is that is was really glowing.

#10 - School vacations. Just when I was getting used to sleeping late and not having to get out of pajamas all day... vacations over and I have to be up and dressed again. :-( I'm not enjoying that!!

Oscars?

What on earth was last night's show? I didn't watch the entire thing but the snippets I did see while I was flipping back and forth between Iron Chef America and the Oscars horrified me.

I listened to Jon Stewart make his stupid comment about old movies would be better in color. I watched whatever those classic snippets were supposed to represent after Lauren Hutton made her speech.

Then I watched the Lead Actress bit in which Dame Judi was picked on and Reese Witherspoon was made to be the all american. I like Reese, but that whole segment made the Oscars look cheesey, overproduced and just embarassing.

What's wrong with Simon?

As past posts have stated, I'm watching the current American Idol. I have three finalists decided- Chris, Lisa, and I can't think of her name - but the black woman who sang Cry this week.

Meanwhile, I keep listening to all the Simon-slamming. I wonder why people have such issues with him? He calls it as most see it. Sure he's a little abrupt, but some of these people truly suck and think they are fantastic. The way I see it, he's offering a strong dose of reality. I happen to like Simon and think that Paula and Randy are wimps. They keep flattering away, even when someone stinks they keep up the flattery. White lies are not the way to go in a professional competition such as American Idol.

School Policies

Most of you know, I have two children. I work from home part-time. It was very important to my husband and myself that someone be home for our children. We see the problems that occur in this area with latch-key kids, and we wanted to avoid that. Money is always tight, but we'd rather live with a tight budget and know our children are not doing drugs, vandalizing houses, etc, as many kids in this neighborhood do.

My daughter rarely gets sick. I'm not sure why, but she was born almost three weeks late, and she's never sick. She avoids illness in a manner that stumps me. My son, however, is always the first in line to get whatever illness one of his classmates scares. He just had his 9th day sick this school year - he's been through a stomach flu, an ear infection, and now this chest/head cold that I am still battling two weeks later. He was born almost three weeks early - labor was induced and lasted 48 hours, so I often wonder if that plays a part in just how different my son and daughter are when someone is sick in their school...

Anyway, I got a letter a couple days ago - on my birthday no less- the school is demanding I attend a meeting on my son's extreme number of absences. Apparently, the school has a new policy in which they will not allow a student to miss more than 6 days of school per year. I'm baffled. From the time both of my children started school, we've been told not to send our children to school if they have a fever, an ear infection that distracts them from their work, are feeling nauseous or throwing up, and the likes. So I keep my children home when that happens.

My son gets A's, his homework is handed the next day after he returns from being sick, and yet I'm being told he's missed too much schooling and that a meeting is necessary. I'm ticked.

When a school thinks they are a better judge of a child than that child's own parent, I have serious issues. What's worse, the "committee" who deems how many days a child can be sick is now making it a no exception deal. All days off can no longer be allowed without a doctor's note for each day the child is sick. There is talk of my husband's company switching to a health insurance plan that will make copays for routine care rise to $50. So I am supposed to send my son to the doctor for $50 each time for anything - a stomach bug, cold, etc. I won't go into the fact that the doctor is against having to see a child for routine stuff that could be easily treated at home.

It's absurd and making home schooling my children look more appealing by the second.

Reality TV

Okay, there is very little I watch with Reality TV. I think the majority of it is inane and a serious waste of money. With that said, I do watch American Idol. Mainly because I cannot believe that people who obviously are tone deaf continue to go in front of a camera and then get upset when they are told that they really need to give it up.

Now the show is down to the final 24. I still feel a few of them NEVER should have made it in. Some, however, are very talented. I'm kind of rooting for Ayla, because she is the closest to a hometown hero that I'll get. Though I don't think she'll win, but who knows!

Anyway, as we watched last night, I began to question Randy and Paula's judgment. They ridicule Simon, and I realize that's where the money lies with reality TV, but most of the time Simon was right on track. Some of the guys picked HORRIBLE songs. That version of Queen's Crazy Little Thing Called Love was ridiculous. He couldn't have tried harder and that's what was wrong - you could tell how hard he forced it to turn it into a stage production over just getting out there and wowing me with a song.

As much as I don't want to route for the Doughtry guy, he reminds me of someone I'm not fond of, he's the best of the bunch. Ace has it for looks though.

Colds...

I've had a chest cold for the past four days. Now I hate being sick, so I'm drowing myself in juice, tea and soup.

I have had people offer plenty of suggestions on how to get over something the fastest, so I've been testing them all out. Herbs, lemon, onions... Nothing has helped. So tonight I'm going to test out the remedy that usually works best that I've been putting off because I was out of honey... Hot Toddies here I come!

The site will be updated as soon as I'm feeling better.

Tracy

Beware...

I am officially hooked up to wireless internet now, so I have the luxury of working from either my living room or my office corner. But while I was getting hooked up, the point was brought up that one of my neighbors has a wireless connection and they don't safeguard it. So for all these months, I could have been tapping into their connection without them noticing. In fact, if I go into wireless networks, they are on the list and I can click to connect to their connection, but I'm a decent person.

I have a feeling I know exactly which neighbor it is - one gets plagued with more viruses and spyware than normal and they aren't very computer aware... smart... whatever you want to call it.

Anyway, if you are on wireless, you probably should have a clue as to what you are doing or have a professional come in. Isn't your computer/personal safety worth it?

Valentine's Day

I got a present. My husband spent a little chunk of change and bought me a laptop. :-) Hopefully, with a computer downstairs now that I can use in the morning I can keep the blog updated a little more regularly!

So around here - weather, computers and beer. Those tend to be my topics of choice.

The weather is odd to say the least.

Computers - well, I love them, can't live without them, but man does it tick me off when they don't do what I want.

Beer - WHY is Amstel Light so expensive? I ended up doing some homebrewing so that I could have a supply for a smaller amount of cash!

People will buy anything

http://cgi.ebay.com/Jesus-PanCake_W0QQitemZ6251847554QQcategoryZ1447QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

You know, I just don't get it. I look at these pictures and this guy obviously used a cookie mold of some form to create that image. Which leads me to wonder WHY people with too much money on their hands can't put it to good use????? $500 for a pancake is absurd - why not head on down to a pediatric ICU or something and donate the money to a much better cause!!

So maybe I need Jesus molds and I'll start making a line of Jesus everything. Half the money can go to me and I'll happily donate the other half to some of my favorite charities.

It's weird you know?

I just learned that a former classmate of mine had a heart attack and died. We're talking former jock, but the jock that wouldn't shun the others. He was friendly, talkative, and didn't follow class divides. To hear he died at the age of 35 is kind of shocking... a widow, two young kids... Somehow, it just doesn't seem right.

At the same time, I'm watching the news and discussions of a convicted child molester whose been released from prison, booted out of the state because no neighborhood wanted him living among children, and then he flees his current halfway house to return to the area that has booted him... It makes me really wonder why scum can walk the earth and decent people move on...

I know this is one of those theoretical issues - but I still don't see it making sense. I graduated - Class of '88 from a Vermont high school. Of my classmates, one died in a boating accident, another was murdered, another committed suicide, two had heart attacks, one sits in jail for molesting female prisoners (that one still creeps me out, cause I was friends with him). We have the wife beaters, I'm sure there are some abusive females among them... one walked out on her child and never returned... I know of noted drug users and dealers now living the life of the local rich and famous, we have the lazy jerks who took the basic/easy courses to guarantee themselves straight A's. Thank God the principal called him on that and revoked his right to be valedictorian! Somedays it just really seems surreal. I hear local teenagers saying how easy we had it back then... I'm not sure I agree. It is different now, sure, but easy... I'll never agree to that.

Rain & Basements & Flooding, Oh My!

Anyone want some water? I'd LOVE to put in a pipeline from my basement to those in drought striken areas!

Thankfully the water has slowed way down. We are pumping out about 10 gallons an hour now. This is half what it was. It's still annoying though!

Top it off with glitchy Adelphia service, and you have the makings for little to no computer/internet time this week. Thankfully, it seems to be up and running fine now. I'm hoping since the truck left the neighborhood that that means they found the problem and have solved it.

I'm not fond of glitches! I'm even less fond of customer service dingbats who state there are no problems in Vermont when there is a truck sitting three houses behind me.

Politics

So apparently Americans are gas guzzlers...

Here is my response. I want to know what the thermostat at The White House reads? Does George Bush truly do everything in his own power to keep fuel costs at a minimum? I have our house set at 62. It's Vermont, in the winter a house at 62 feels cold. So I'll put on an extra sweater and I usually have slippers on my feet. I want to hear that the White House is doing the same. I want to see President Bush using public transportation! Here it is not an option - we are out of public transportation's range - so people car pool. Can the President say the same? How about that air conditioning? Is President Bush doing without? How about car pooling and stop flying with the Private Jet. Stay home - take a bus. I'd fell a WHOLE lot better about his comments if I knew he was practicing what he preached!!

Another issue - he suggested more Americans should put money into medical savings accounts. Yeah. I knew someone with one of those. She had $5000 saved up and the policy was that the money had to be used up after two years or she'd lose it. So much for saving for when she REALLY needed it. I also know people who are going to be paying $10 more a week this year and their deductible has increased from $500 to $5000. That's absurd.

I have a better idea! NO more frivolous lawsuits. No more suing for any little thing. If doctors were not so worried over malpractice suits, their premiums wouldn't be so absurd that they are charging more. The girl who sued McD's because their food made her fat - NO KIDDING. Don't eat there and stop using up taxpayers money on lawsuits that fit under the "Here's Your Sign" (Thanks Bill Engvel) category.

What kind of lesson are we teaching our kids? I'm sad to say I don't like where the U.S. is heading. We live in a "me, me, me" society - I listen to my husband who comes home after training new employees and having them walk out after two days because "It's hard work and they thought they'd be sitting around. When they found out otherwise, they said they'd be better off in the fast food industry." This is absurd. Yes, work can be hard. Get over yourself!

Homebrewing

Ten or so years ago, my husband got into homebrewing. I love cooking, so homebrewing really became a hobby for me. At the time, I didn't drink beer, so while I loved making a batch of beer for my hubby and his friends, I never sampled it.

Now I am drinking beer regularly and am finding myself branching out into what I enjoy and what I can't stand - apparently lager is my thing. I love lager. I just finished up our very first mead - it took 4 months to ferment - FOREVER - but we sampled some before bottling it yesterday and I can say that it is extremely potent and tastes like the mead we used to get for Christmas from my sis-in-law who worked for a meadmaker up in Stowe, VT. They've since shut their doors, so it was interesting to return to the world of mead. I'm not sure I'll do it again because it does work forever!

Anyway - Amstel Light has become my beer of choice, but it's not cheap. $13 a twelve-pack here. So I've decided that a clone of Amstel Light is my next goal. My basement is great for lager making as it is 55 down there year round. Now my problem is that I can't find a clone recipe for Amstel anywhere. If anyone has one, please share!

My weekly LOST thoughts...

I'm behind...

So how many others think that Locke is connected to The Others? I keep watching him and he gets creepier and creepier. Now I've been trying to remember what role he played on Millenium (another show I liked that was cancelled, but that is a whole other topic...) Terry O'Quinn was on this neat show called Millenium and I want to say his character was bad. So I'm trying not to typecast, but every time I see him, he just makes me cringe.

I really want that baby to be stolen. I want Charlie to get to thumb his nose at everyone and do the "I told you so..." bit. He needs to do it. All of the castaways are too infatuated by Locke, and other than Jack, they all seem immune to Locke's charms. I really want to see that come to an end!

Wacky Weather

Okay, I really don't want to complain, but... While I have enjoyed the warmer temperatures Vermont is seeing this winter, I'm also a little frustrated by the weather that the warmer air brings.

We've had a couple below zero days, which for mid to late January is a miracle around here. Usually by now we've had at least of week of 20 below nights and we are all wondering when the January thaw might grace us with its presence.

This year, we had a very brief below zero spell in December. And then January hit. We bounce between average temperatures to insanely warm temperatures. We've been in the low 50's which is amazing and extremely kind to our heating bills, but it also brings a down side. We've had TONS of rain. Flooding is our new weather warning. We don't get the typical blizzard watch, instead we get flood watches. Going ice fishing means risking your own life heading out on the lake - no one will do it. The ski slopes are taking a major hit.

Tonight a new issue reared its head. Years ago, the guy across the street was moving out and he arranged it so that drainage tiles would be put in for the purchasers. Unfortunately, he pointed the drainage down the hill right into the yard of the couple below him, and into my and my neighbor's yard. So as our yards fill up with water, it soaks into the water table and eventually if the water level gets high enough, it comes into our basement. Our neighbor had the foresight to tell us tonight that his sump pump had turned on. So immediately we went downstairs to check ours and sure enough the bucket was filled to the rim. Our problem comes from the fact that the "good friend" of our former neighbors who gave us a wicked deal on the pair of sump pumps almost a decade ago did a crappy job. He used a ten-inch bucket as our sump bucket and finding a new pump isn't easy. Our old pump hasn't been used in 5 years, so it wasn't working. Immediately a frenzy insued as we tried to figure out what we were going to do. The good news is my husband got the sump pump running. God bless the inventor of WD40!!! We're pumping out about 5 gallons every two hours right now, but I know from the past that that pace will pick up to 5 gallons a minute by tomorrow or Sunday.

So I guess getting back to my complaint--- Hey Mother Nature. I love the warmer temps, but could you slack up on the rain and snow now and give us a good dose of sun???

What is it with girls?

Today we had a snow (more like freezing rain, icky weather) day. So I had my son, daughter and my friend's daughter here. My daughter is 9 and my friend's daughter is 5 and usually the pair get along, however today they were like pitbulls in a dog fight!

I'm still getting use to two girls together I guess. I never had a sister growing up, so I missed a lot of that, and now my sis-in-laws and I get along fine, so we don't fight at all. These two girls today however had to argue over the dumbest things from paint getting onto clothes to who got to sit on what side of the sofa and in what position. It was absurd that two intelligent beings could find the most ridiculous subjects to argue about.

I had to turn into the evil Mom. Not something I like doing in front of any one but my own kids who have grown up to it and are well used to my dropped voice bellow. In this case, the words were simple - "SIT. WATCH THIS MOVIE. DO NOT MOVE, LOOK AT EACH OTHER OR TALK TO EACH OTHER OR TOUCH EACH OTHER." It felt a little more like commanding a dog than disciplining children. Maybe there is not that wide a difference between the two?

I still can't understand though--what makes females so much more evil when it comes to getting along. If my son has issues with a friend, he'll walk away and ignore. These two girls, however, took more to deliberately trying to ignore each other and see who would cry "Mom/Tracy" first. I know as we are older hormones play a big part of this but at 9 and 5 there are not the hormonal mood swings yet? Are there????

Today's 2nd post - LOST, I have questions now!

So we started watching my first season DVD set with a notepad in hand and I've been studying every intricate detail I come across.

Immediately, the first episode brings a question to mind. Jack lands in a bamboo patch a good distance away from the beach. However, he was sat next to Rose on that beach. Why did he land so far away? Was he really on the plane at all? I'm still studying, but I need Rose to confirm that she talked to Jack on the plane because otherwise, Jack and that other doctor Desmond, the one in the bunker, could have been on the island together before the plane even crashed and that opens up a whole new realm of ideas for me. Desmond gave up medical school because he believed in "miracles", maybe the island is purgatory and the black thing is what decides if you have made it to the other side???

Second, Jack is shown with a tattoo on his shoulder. It's the number five with a big triangle over it. In the bunker they show a symbol for The Dharma Initiative - the one in the film - now the symbols are not the same, but the triangle in Jack's tattoo looked like it was formed with a series of lines, not a solid shape, much like each "petal" in the Dharma Initiative's octagon, is there a connection there?

In the first episode, the thing in the jungle makes a whirring sound, much like a helicopter or possibly hovercraft? I don't think that thing and the black cloud which roars are the same thing. It's the whirring thing that kills the pilot, so it's as tall as a medium tree - so a hovercraft works for me...

Like this is something to be proud of???

I came across this story today in Yahoo news. We all know this means he raped and pillaged throughout his lifetime, so why is this supposed to impress people????

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DUBLIN (Reuters) - Scientists in Ireland may have found the country's most fertile male, with more than 3 million men worldwide among his offspring.

The scientists, from Trinity College Dublin, have discovered that as many as one in twelve Irish men could be descended from Niall of the Nine Hostages, a 5th-century warlord who was head of the most powerful dynasty in ancient Ireland.

His genetic legacy is almost as impressive as Genghis Khan, the Mongol emperor who conquered most of Asia in the 13th century and has nearly 16 million descendants, said Dan Bradley, who supervised the research.

"It's another link between profligacy and power," Bradley told Reuters. "We're the first generation on the planet where if you're successful you don't (always) have more children."
The research was carried out by PhD student Laoise Moore, at the Smurfit Institute of Genetics at Trinity. Moore, testing the Y chromosome which is passed on from fathers to sons, examined DNA samples from 800 males across Ireland.

The results -- which have been published in the American Journal of Human Genetics -- showed the highest concentration of related males in northwest Ireland, where one in five males had the same Y chromosome.

Bradley said the results reminded the team of a similar study in central Asia, where scientists found 8 percent of men with the same Y chromosome. Subsequent studies found they shared the same chromosome as the dynasty linked to Genghis Khan.

GENGHIS KHAN EFFECT

"It made us wonder if there could be some sort of Genghis Khan effect in Ireland and the best candidate for it was Niall," Bradley said.

His team then consulted with genealogical experts who provided them with a contemporary list of people with surnames that are genealogically linked to the last known relative of the "Ui Neill" dynasty, which literally means descendants of Niall.

The results showed the new group had the same chromosome as those in the original sample, proving a link between them and the Niall descendents.

"The frequency (of the Y chromosome) was significantly higher in that genealogical group than any other group we tested," said Bradley, whose surname is also linked to the medieval warlord. Other modern surnames tracing their ancestry to Niall include Gallagher, Boyle, O'Donnell and O'Doherty.

For added proof, the scientists used special techniques to age the Y chromosome, according to how many mutations had occurred in the genetic material over time. The number of mutations was found to be in accordance with chromosomes that would date back to the last known living relative of Niall.

Niall reportedly had 12 sons, many of whom became powerful Irish kings themselves. But because he lived in the 5th century, there have been doubts the king -- who is said to have brought the country's patron saint, Patrick, to Ireland -- even existed.

"Before I would have said that characters like Niall were almost mythological, like King Arthur, but this actually puts flesh on the bones," Bradley said.

When international databases were checked, the chromosome also turned up in roughly 2 percent of all male New Yorkers.

The past rears its ugly head and raises a question

Throughout my high school life, I was ridiculed constantly by a number of the "popular" girls. (Most of us were, so you know where I am coming from.) Anyway, when I'd started high school, I was wearing a size 16, I lost a good deal of weight and wore a size 12 from my sophomore year on. Despite that weight loss, the "fat" comments never stopped. One of the biggest offenders was one of the female jocks-we'll call her "Sue" for the purpose of this exchange.

Today is Sunday, so it is the one day of the week that we'll actually buy a newspaper. In my thirties now, I'm getting old enough that few people that I know are in the wedding/engagement announcements anymore. Sadly, I tend to see more former friends and acquaintances listed in their parents obits. Today was one of those days. One of my former classmates, and one of the people who taunted me the most, was listed as the loving daughter, but it was the next statement that caught me off guard - it said that "Sue" lived in Jericho with her Companion "Cynthia". This immediately caught my eye... "Sue" is obviously a lesbian. I'm not sure when she realized it, but after all the harassment she gave me over being "fat", I can't help but wonder, if she knew then WHY did she (knowing full well how the insults can hurt) keep the harassment up on her end. Often, her friends had to put an end to her taunting because she'd be over the top with her comments. I know I was not the only person "Sue" liked to verbally harass, but it makes me angry. I'm betting she KNEW what it was like to be on the receiving end of stinging comments, so why didn't she put an end to it? If she wanted to be respected for her differences, why not start by accepting others?

I'm sure she has her side to this little drama, but it really does make me wonder now with the intolerance she faced/faces, if she really regrets the way she treated a large number of people back in high school.

Media Likes To Spark Panic?

I was looking through the local news last night and came across this news story from our local CBS station.


South Burlington, Vermont - January 12, 2006
State officials are preparing for a widespread outbreak of influenza in Vermont.
They say a deadly new type of flu is coming, it's just a matter of time.
Right now, they fear the bird flu. A summit was held Thursday in South Burlington about planning for the next pandemic. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt met with more than 2-hundred Vermont health-care professionals and state leaders.
"Preparing for pandemics is an uniquely local task, it has to be, and at last that preparation works, it saves lives," said Leavitt.
We'll have an exclusive interview with Secretary Leavitt, a lot more information about the Bird Flu, and a look back the flu pandemic of 1918 on the Channel 3 News at 6.

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Okay, so now they have some people good and scared I'm sure. The truth is - NO ONE knows. There might be a major flu outbreak, but then there might not be. They truly have no way of knowing until it hits. In the meantime, I'm sure there are many people out there who are now frightened. In an already stressful world, what good have they truly accomplished now?

Lost

Okay, who has a guess as to what that black cloud thing is?

I'd heard that one of the show's writers made a comment about "Notice we've never stated just WHEN this plane went down. We've given no clues as to what era it is... Think of a passage to another dimension as being what the project was about..."

So having heard that, I begin to think that Walt and the others are in a different dimension and that somewhere on the island is a passageway. I at first thought the black cloud might fit, but then it moves so oddly. I'm no longer sure.

Local News Board

I was just in reading our town's "discussion board" and there is this huge battle going on between the owners of a local bar and restaurant (The Docks - I happen to frequent them) and the fact that 90% of their business is or shall I say "was" smokers. Vermont passed a law stating that smokers are no longer allowed anywhere now. The Docks has suddenly lost more than half of its clients because they had to make the bar end of that restaurant non-smoking. I've been in there numerous times and the smoke/ventilation system was more than adequate. I feel really bad for the owners now as their profits are no longer covering their expenses and they've had to put up a for sale sign.

I don't smoke and yes I am well aware of health concerns. However, I look around me... So when does the ban on diesel exhaust come into play? That stuff is gross and could choke an elephant. There are plenty of things that annoy, there are health dangers out there everywhere. Is banning all smoking bars the solution? No. How about this for an idea. Designate bars for smokers and then bars for non-smokers. The owners can decide which bar best fits their patrons. If you don't smoke - DON'T go into a bar designated for smoking only. Why has today's society made that so impossible? Women fighting like crazy to get into male establishments... I can just see the outcry if a man were to sue to become a member of say La Leche - the breast feeding organization. And for the record, supposedly with the right hormone cocktail a man can produce milk so why not men in La Leche???

So while I'm at things that bother me and are hazardous to my health:

1. Plumbers who can't pull up their pants as they work. Okay, every time I see plumber's cleavage I want to hurl. I might choke on my vomit, so that's a huge danger. Let's get all plumbers suspenders right now!

2. Teenagers wearing pant waists around their knees. They might trip and fall when I'm walking behind them and then I'd trip and fall too. Potential injury there - so I say all clothing designers need to redesign the fashions just because I say so!

3. Rap Music. That stuff is nasty and threatens to deafen me, so I say out with the rap music right now. Ban it!

Shall I go on?

Differences between men and women

You know, we recently started doing some updating to our bathroom. I am a HGTV junkie and had plenty of ideas that my husband was willing to go along with. However, work details make us completely different people. Plumbing is not anyone's friend usually. What amazes me is that my cool, level-headed husband took to cursing at anyone and anything that got in the path of his slow leak. I understand the frustration, but to go to that extreme with the grumpiness-factor seemed so out of character. It was a simple leak that in my opinion could be fixed with silicone stuff, yet he turned it into a major production of pulling the entire drain apart three times to make sure it was perfect.

So I ventured into asking him why it bothered him so much. His response - "it makes us feel less of a man if we can't complete a simple "manly" task. Is that really it? I can't sew to save my life, but does that make me feel like less of a woman? Hell, no! I don't understand the intricate details into a man's pride now. We've been married for almost 15 years, and granted I've never seen him deal with a leak after a plumbing job, so maybe it is just that it was a new situation to him, but it still strikes me as very odd.

In the end, the leak is fine. He discovered that the washer that went with one of the gaskets (I think that's what he called it) had tiny threads so that the washer was supposed to be screwed onto the pipe not pushed on.

My bathroom is complete - except for the tub which is a whole different story. (Bathroom is exactly five feet wide and 8 feet long, so I haven't decided how on earth you are supposed to remove the old tub and put a new one into place in such a small area. We're going to save up and leave that to a professional!

Things I want in 2006

1. Restrooms right off the individual movie theaters with loudspeakers so that if you have to go in the middle of a movie, you can still at least hear the action! That would be great!

2. Speaking of movies - some cities have this, but Vermont gave it up years ago. I still remember going to the movies as a Junior in high school and sitting down at this table where you could order food as you watched the movie. That theater is long gone - it's now a "concert" type club, but I really miss the format they tested back in that 1986-1987 era. Why not dinner and a movie together. You sit at tables with the movie playing as you eat? With the age of computers, you could silently press a button to alert the waiter/waitress that you need another drink of choice. The closest we have now is a gem of a restaurant, Niccos, that is next door to the theater. Spend $15 and they sell you a discounted movie pass for $5 and you can have a few beers or some wine before you go to the movies. I love it, but being able to drink as I watch the movie would be even nicer! Kind of like home!

3. While I'm still on movie theaters... if you can have neighborhoods for residents 55 or older, why not a movie theater that bars teenagers and children? I've been to R movies and had 13-14 year olds talk the entire time. Let's make it a grown-up only environment periodically. You can have your "family theater" or a "Grown-ups only..." Of course, there are some grown-ups who are just as obnoxious, so I guess in reality that would never work. So how about a movie theater that actually WELCOMES its clientele to bring their own snacks. I'd happily pay $10 a ticket if I could skip the concession stand and bring my own food and beverage!

4. Express Lanes in Costco?????? I can't name the number of times I have had one or two items or seen someone else with one or two items and had to stand in a lengthy line for hours.

5. A dome that you could have installed over your house with a door that opens with a remote to your driveway so that you wouldn't have to deal with a snowy lawn! I hate snow. Even more, I hate the neighbor's dogs and cats that feel my yard is their personal potty. (Note to the neighbor across the street. When you start finding dog poo scattered in front of your mailbox and the bottom of your driveway, it's something I've been saving up just for you since you go to work and don't feel it necessary to leash up or put your dogs inside first.)

Favorites

I have a good case of the winter blahs going. Usually it hits me earlier, so I'm quite happy it held off until the time of year when the days begin getting longer again. However, I'm also finding myself turning more to baking as a release - not a good thing for the waistline!

Years ago, my mom and her neighbors/buddies started this thing called "Herman." Now Herman was in essence a sourdough starter that they passed around, kept chilled, fed daily and then spent more time coming up with recipes to use him up. We ate Herman bread, Herman pancakes, Herman waffles, Herman you-name-it.

So a few months ago, I was handed a copy of this cookbook that I truly have come to adore. It was a "gift" from Marlboro to smokers - now you have to pay $20 on Ebay if you want to get a copy. I lucked out and was given a copy that I am wearing thin. This cookbook is exceptional and I want the second, only that means I have to bid and win for the Blue one. Anyway, this cookbook is all cowboy cooking. Chilis, stews, campfire cuisine. I LOVE IT.

In this book was a recipe for creating your own sourdough starter. I decided to give it a shot - sourdough bread is a favorite of mine. I now have the most fragrant, tangy starter out there. I'm caring for this starter on a daily basis and have run out of recipes in books, so now I'm exploring the web for more. Anyone want to share?

I'm convinced that anyone can create a starter. I have a clay crock with a lid (former crock pot dish, but the actual heating part of the crockpot died, so I only have the removable crock left which works perfectly for my starter. Take 2 cups of water, 2 cups of flour and a teaspoon of yeast. Mix it, cover it and then leave it alone. Give it three or four days and you end up with this mixture that smells like hard cider. It's incredible.

Then if anyone wants - in this cookbook is a recipe for quick and easy sourdough biscuits that is foolproof! I'll share later.

Tracy

Holiday Television Hiatus Time

I have to admit. I kind of like when TV goes on their Christmas/New Years hiatus of new shows. I have spent the past week catching up on my boxed sets - Tru Calling has been my show of choice this week and I still curse Fox for canceling the show over moving it to a different time slot and giving it another chance!

However, before falling asleep, I've been curling up to repeats of "House". Now this Doctor House is a bit of a jackass. He's very self-important, snotty even, but oh boy am I loving this show. Last night's repeat--the one with the little girl who is dying--cancer, House grew a heart. I almost swore he did the Grinch thing and that you could hear his heart grow three sizes. I'm off to watch tonight's repeats. :-)

Happy New Year!

This year, I've come across the following types of people and have realized that there are people who really need a change in 2006!

1. The supposed "buddy" who up and announces that he/she cannot come over to share an occasional drink anymore because his/her spouse/significant other will get pissy if that party goes out drinking while the spouse/significant other is out with his/her friends hitting the local bars. Obviously, I don't see the point in that argument. He/she can go out and have a good time, but the person left at home can't? Sounds a little to controlling to me. However, I have seen enough of controlling relationships to know they are doomed and will crash and burn or remain and leave a person miserable for life. I hope the people in these relationships find it within themselves to realize that a change is needed.

2. The loving parent who is afraid to leave their child at home with a sitter so they bring that child to the movies. We sat through King Kong with a two-year-old girl screaming in terror throughout the entire island segment. When her infant sister joined in, the parents finally opted to leave. I just don't get it.

3. The teenager who comes to the movies and leaves their cellphone on despite the numerous posters, on-screen displays, etc. that tell you to turn off your cellphone during the movie. Yet, during The Chronicles Of Narnia, the group of teenaged girls sitting right behind us had their cellphones ring three times during the movie. I wish management would do something about that!

4. This is my favorite! The now "too-old to still be a foster child with the State of Vermont, but I really really don't want to work, so I'm going to sponge of anyone in the neighborhood that I possibly can so that I can have free rent, free meals, and still not have to work." I've heard rumors that this kid sells pot on the side to afford his car and his gas, police have no firm proof yet, but they are looking into the complaints. Meanwhile, I remain baffled by "parents" who would let their teenage daughter share a bed with this slacker, offer to support him because they feel guilty tossing him onto the street, and in the end of it become his enabler. Free rent, free food, why should he work? More so, I wonder about the mental state of this adult-wannabe who would rather start his car, gun the engine with the horrible muffler for a few minutes to drive four houses down the street, pick up whatever it is he picks up from that house five or six times a day (again, this fits the rumors) and then come back, park, and go back inside. I have a suggest there too - WALK. God gave you working legs, so why don't you try using them!

5. The Walmart employees (three of them yesterday) who blocked an entire aisle with their cart for stocking merchandise. When asked to kindly move so that shoppers could get through, all three refused and said they needed to do their job. That's customer service for you!

6. Parents who can't or don't care to control their children. For the New Year, we offered to take our children out for breakfast. So we all went to Friendly's. Now I expect noise and kids at Friendlys as it is not an upscale establishment. Did I expect a group of ten year old boys (four of them) with their parents (six of them) to go crazy? No. These boys ordered the waitress around like seasoned pros. First, one of the boys said he couldn't eat pancakes without hot syrup. He wanted his syrup heated in the microwave. She did it, came back about 30 seconds later, and warned him it was hot. So at that point, the boy announced, "I'm done my pancakes anyway so it doesn't matter." After she returned, another boy announced his toast was cooked too much. It was crunchy and he hates crunchy toast. (I'm not sure myself how you can "toast" something and not have it crunchy!) She had to go back and have his toast redone. She returned with a new, much undercooked, version and he seemed happy enough. So the other two announced they wanted more water and one of them said he didn't get enough homefries with his meal, that the cook skimped him. So this poor woman went back to the kitchen for two glasses of water and more home fries. She was back at that table within two minutes and those little brats never said thank you. Instead, they got up announced they were done with their meals and then went over to an empty table and began squirting ketchup all over the napkin dispenser. At this point, I made a comment to the grown-ups. So what does this supposed "mother" to one of the boys say? "Hey guys. Someone has to clean that mess up and it's not you, so cool it." I mean what the hell was that? Had that been my child, I would have been asking the kitchen for a washcloth and making my kid clean up the mess he/she'd created. It was just absurd and it didn't stop these boys. The proceeded to squirt ketchup all over while proclaiming that it comes out just like "runny crap." Their behavior was horrid and all I could say to my own children is THANK GOD they know how to act in a restaurant. These little spoiled brats are part of the future of this country. Someone stop the planet now so that I can get off and take my children to a saner environment!

Christmas

So hopefully everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

We received a number of DVD boxed sets, so I've been spending time with the family and ignoring everything else. One of the sets I got - Peewee's Playhouse -- I watch that and wonder--What age group was that show really meant for?

My kids have been laughing like crazy. PeeWee Herman is not the most normal of people, yet despite his goofy antics, I've never seen my kids laugh more in my life.

I watch it now and I still find it just as amusing as I did when I was a teenager, but I see things now that were so sexually suggestive that I'm surprised I never caught that in the past.

What's more funny is "Larry" Fishburne - aka Lawrence Fishburne - as Cowboy Curtis. I would love to hear him talk about that role!

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Feliz Navidad, etc.

First, can I say that Carlos, a Mexican exchange student from my high school days, has forever ruined the song Feliz Navidad. I can't hear that song without screaming for the station to be changed. He serenaded us for months with that puppy and 17 years later I still can't listen to it.

I also have this issue with one local radio station that switched to an all-Christmas songs format right after Halloween. But that's between me and them!

My kids are officially out of school now, so I'm not going to post for a few days at least. In the meantime, I welcome anyone to go to my son's Blog. He's supposed to keep it polite, he knows mom is watching, but sometimes he cracks me up with his venting. It's kind of a "Complaints on the minds of your average pre-teen" type thing.

http://vermonterwithpie.blogspot.com/

Have a wonderful holiday--whatever you celebrate--and may it be safe, happy and full of good times, family and friends.

Haircuts

I have had long hair since I was about 14. It's varied in length over the years, but yesterday I grew sick of it. (Not the first time.) I decided that I was going to have it all cut off. I vowed that this time I would not chicken out as I have for about 5 years running. My husband needed a haircut anyway, so I managed to get 2 cuts for 7pm and we went out to dinner first. I had this game plan, I had a couple of beers and then went. I found a cut that I felt would suit me and the book said it was best for my face shape and hair texture and curl...

Watching 6 inches of hair fall to the ground is a breathtaking event. The panic sets in, but I was determined to make sure I didn't chicken out. In the end, I was totally amazed with the outcome. Not to mention having your hair dried and styled in 3 minutes is an amazing feat!

I'm kind of sad that I didn't do this when my kids were small!

Baseball

As Boston fans, my husband woke me up with screams of outrage when he learned Johnny Damon was leaving Boston for the Yankees. Me? I'm not really surprised. The sport is no longer about the fans, it's all about the money. I spent 12 hours, yes 12 HOURS, trying to get tickets when they went on sale a couple weeks ago. Every game I tried, there was a waiting room to actually be allowed in to purchase tickets, and eventually I gave up. My husband's father always shunned Boston saying it was too expensive, so he's never actually been to Fenway to see a game. In the end, he won't go this year either. After not being able to acquire tickets to the games we could make, I went onto Ebay and found numerous listens by scalpers that were already on Ebay at 9am that morning. Am I surprised? No. Again everything in baseball is all about the money - tickets, player salaries, you name it and money buys...

Thanks, but I'll stick to football. At least there I have been able to successfully acquire Patriot tickets and it hasn't set me back a ton.

"Santarchy"

Have you heard this news story? http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=47958

Okay, so I guess I'm confused. The "Santa" wannabes are tired of commercialism, I agree, but they then turn to violence to get their point across? As the true meaning of spirit is about peace, love and goodwill towards man - can they now explain their actions? I'd love to hear their excuse. Personally, I think they were looking for an excuse to become rowdy and pull off some petty theft so they used the real group "Santarchy" as a front for their juvenile and destructive behavior.

Do your taste buds change with age?

I'm curious. As you grow older, do your taste buds change? I have spent the first portion of my life detesting beer. I couldn't drink the stuff. Hops tasting like perfume just disgusted me. So I was shocked when in the past two or three years, I found beer more appetizing than a sweet wine. I can't drink zinfandel anymore, it tastes like sugary grape juice. I'll still drink a wine a few times a year, but it has to be very, very dry. Burgundy has become a favorite.

However, as the months pass, I find myself becoming more and more intrigued with beer. I've always enjoyed helping my husband with his home-brewing. Making beer is a science that is extremely fulfilling. Now as I make it, I find myself drinking beer and being able to pick out the hops that the brewer uses. This shocks me. I also am surprised that the light beers I used to love just don't satisfy me in the same manner. I'm branching out. I still can't stomach stout or the really dark beers, but my husband cracks up when I order Peroni or Moretti at our favorite Italian spot. Take me to an Indian restaurant and I'll order Taj Mahal every time.

I'm convinced that it has to be something to do with your taste buds altering as you grow older. Otherwise, I'm baffled.

King Kong

Three and a half hours... that's a long time to sit through a movie! Even for an adult. Now I do have a comment that I've made before and will make again - TODDLERS AND INFANTS DO NOT BELONG AT THE MOVIES! Especially not a movie with roaring apes and dinosaurs. I cannot believe that there was a two year old there and then an infant in a baby seat. If you really can't get a babysitter, plan it more in advance. The two year old was removed from the theater screaming because she was scared half to death. I question the thought-process of some grown-ups.

Now my husband is a huge King Kong fan, but he also believes that no one can do justice to Ann like Fay Wray. He loves the classic. However, he also finds Naomi Watts to be quiet adorable, so he felt this one might be able to top it. It didn't work for him. I'm open to anything with dinosaurs. So I was more than happy to go.

The basic premise is this: It's 1933 in NYC. A down-on-her-luck actress, Naomi Watts/Ann Darrow, finds her vaudeville act has been shut down without warning, so now she's starving and turns to petty theft in order to eat. However, a less than scrupulous director (Jack Black/Carl Denham) is pushing to film a movie at this never yet explored island - Skull Island - despite the fact that his funding is being pulled - he's got a day to hand over everything. Denham moves to get everyone onto to the ship he's hired, film the movie, and return to the U.S. with a hit before the people who are funding his movie can stop him. When his actress drops out, he needs to replace her (a size 4) in a hurry. He heads to a burlesque house and spies Ann standing in the distance. He feeds her, talks her into the project (which has been written by Adrian Brody/Jack Driscoll, a playright who she admires), and they head off, barely beating police.

Eventually, they wind up crashing into Skull Island where Ann's screaming seems to have ticked off some beast. Natives become restless, and steal Ann in order to offer her to King Kong. By now Jack is in love with her, so he sets off on a mission to resuce her. A number of other ship crew join him. Only dinosaurs roam the island and King Kong isn't about to let his new "girlfriend" out of his sight.

So the movie is action-packed. I don't think I've ever spent more time reminding myself to breathe. I will give Peter Jackson credit at the suspense in this movie. The problem is that during the whole ship voyage (which is incredibly long and really didn't need to be stretched out that far) you could tell it was green screen/computer work. It looked fake at times, so that started to ruin it. Another problem is the directors use of the speed up/slow down cinematography. Some scenes were slowed down to a crawl, almost dreamlike, and that effect grew tedious. Others may like it, I don't.

King Kong is well done. It's impossible not to fall for him, and by the end I really wanted to see him destroy the ever-whining Denham, whose character is a pain in the behind. I'm not going to say how it ends, most already know, but whether Denham gets a comeuppance (and he deserves one) is up to the viewer to find out.

Again, three and a half hours is a lot of movie to sit through. Half an hour was spent watching previews, the theater could have done everyone a favor and cut it to a 2 or 3 previews, instead we sat through EIGHT of them. Eight was absurd.

If you do go, and I recommend it because some of the "action" scenes have your stomach clenched and you do forget to breathe, plan to get up a few times. I highly suggest taking breaks during the first hour which is all the voyage to Skull Island. You won't miss anything of importance.

Okay, so help me out!

Growing up, I was always a blonde. I lived most of my life as a blonde, but three years ago I was dared to try something new - I turned into a redhead. Now surprisingly, the number of comments I got from complete strangers over the gorgeous color of my hair became absurd. I seriously had people stop me in stores to tell me they loved my hair. It seems trivial, but having been on both sides of the haircolor prism, I think redheads have MUCH more fun. I never went back and even though I've contemplated it (keeping up with red hair when you are not naturally red is a task in itself) I don't think I'll ever go back.

Anyway, so today. My son announces he'd like chicken for dinner and he even goes downstairs to get me chicken from the freezer. So I decide to put it in the crockpot for the day, I take it out of its packaging and proceed to slice my knuckle up really nicely while trying to remove the absorbant stuff that they put under all meats. (Providing you can call tearing up your knuckle NICE). It stung like mad and I was dripping blood. After I'd washed the cut (More of a huge amount of skin peeled back) I looked at my son and he started laughing. I understand the humor in this. How many people can say they've sliced their finger open on a frozen chicken breast? I've decided I must be the only person in the world. Therefore, I'm on a mission. Has anyone else ever done such a stupid thing?????

Hey it's the holidays aka GOOD will towards men.

Okay, I know I touched on this earlier this season, but I find myself needing to return to this subject. I realize that Christmas shopping can be horribly stressful. If you are the type who gets angry, then can I PLEASE suggest shopping online???

Of all insane places, I had to go to Walmart. I tried using a local photo print shop and they did a horrible job with my prints - in fact, they cut off half of a head while they went crop happy, so I refused the pictures and had Walmart do them instead. It's cheaper and I'm afraid the quality is much better with the 1 hour photos. Unfortunately, this also meant dealing with insane holiday shoppers.

While there, we bought a replacement printer for the Brother printer that died its Error 41 death. So I was in the electronic section, the clerk said the line started "here", so I looked around and not another soul was around, so I got into line. Ten minutes later, some guy comes up and starts accusing me of having cut ahead of him in line and he was getting very aggressive, so my husband suggested we just leave and go pay up front. So I did so. It's not worth getting into fist fights which is where this guy was heading from the looks of it.

So I have no fear of the "Self-serve" registers and I got into one of those lines. Unfortunately the machine balked anytime someone had something from the electronics department. It took us 40 minutes to check-out. I wasn't thrilled, but no line was moving faster...

Here is where people need a reality check. Behind me, a woman got totally frustrated with the line and decided she was leaving. I understand that. What I don't understand was why on earth she then body checked a man to the side of me. Literally shoving him out of the way so that he fell to the ground with this creepy sounding thud as he fell to the ground and whacked his head on my ankle and the concrete floor (I had good boots on so any injury to me was buffered). Everyone around us thought he'd broken his hip bone by the way he got up limping and my husband and I are betting that he had one hell of a headache that afternoon - if not a mild concussion. He took a very hard fall. It was after this that the woman suddenly said "Oh, my God I feel horrible. I'm so sorry, I never meant to hurt anyone but I was so fed up with things."

So lesson learned for her, but I don't think that's good enough. If you have issues of this nature and your anger is going to get the best of you, then just don't go out mid-afternoon on a Saturday. Someone is bound to get hurt. IN this case, I suppose it was the guy's pride that had him fleeing the store without letting store employees call in for medical treatment.

Somewhere along the way things are getting too far out of hand. It's CHRISTMAS, a time for giving from the heart - not for trying to beat each other into submission! So please, stop, take a breath and then lighten up! This isn't what I want my children learning about the holidays and I doubt many others would want their children watching adults fight over lines, certain toys, etc. It's just not what Christmas is about!

Karaoke Revolution Party for the Xbox

Okay, I admit it. I freely admit it, actually. I am a Karaoke Revolution junkie. I love that game and most people won't play anymore because they have issues trying to beat me. Apparently, I'm good... It's hard to judge yourself though.

Anyway, I have one complaint. After owning the first game and now buying the new game that mixes singing and dancing, I want Xbox to explain one thing to me... how come they set it up so that you can't add the songs from the first game to the second game. Asking people to pay $75 for the downloads on top of $40 for a quick Xbox live subscription is obnoxious, especially when the bulk of the "new" songs available for download were on the first game. I just checked over the list and there are only about 20 songs that interest me, so having to buy the packs and not being able to buy individual songs - I think I'll pass. I'll just work on getting platinum and diamond records in the Expert mode thank you very much.

So if Xbox really wants to do it right - they'll let you add songs from the first version of the game - after all, we paid good money for that game! And then how about letting people buy individual songs at the average 99 cents a piece. I think that would make a whole lot more sense!

Holiday baking

It's getting to be holiday baking time again! This year I'm going to test out some of my favorite recipes using Stevia to take some of the calories out of it. One of my all time greatest are these flourless Peanut Butter cookies. I have to toy with the Stevia to figure out the correct measurements.

But these cookies are so easy -

1 c PB
1 cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 egg

That's it. Mix together and bake at 325 for 10 minutes.

How about your favorite recipes? Get in the holiday mood and share!

Printer reliability

Can I spend today NOT recommending a printer? Sure, I can and I'm gonna!

Eight months ago, my eight month old Brother MFC3220C printer died. Literally, died. It got the error of death (though at the time I didn't know about this error from death). Basically, I turned on the printer, it beeped ferociously at me and the message on the display says "Unplug your machine and call Brother."

So as the printer was under warranty, I called Brother, they Fed-exed me a reconditioned printer at their cost stating that this error was extremely common and it is that the printhead has jammed. So after it happened, I did a little research of my own and found that thousands of owners have run into the same issue.

So eight months have passed and guess what! I just turned on my printer and again there is the kiss of death message. Only this time, it is no longer under warranty as the replacement printer is only covered for 3 months. So I have to buy a new printer. I'm not happy, nor will I ever buy a Brother product again.

My issue. If THOUSANDS have encountered this jamming printhead, then why hasn't Brother recalled the printer and created a more reliable product???

Medical Profession

Okay, after watching the news and then reading the newspaper, I have a few comments for today.

First, moderate drinkers are less likely to become overweight. Okay, well someone forgot to tell my butt that!!!!!! And at the same time, I read just last week that women who drink are twice as likely to get breast cancer as those who never drink... So which do you choose?

Which leads me to today's hot story. Shaving your armpits and using deodorant regularly can increase your risk of breast cancer. So I guess we are all supposed to be really hairy and stink really bad???

I realize that just about everything you do in today's world puts you at risk for something. So unless we all are locked away in germ resistent rooms (uh oh, no sun... lower levels of Vit. D which decreases serotonin and can cause depression, so that won't work) Hmm. You can't go hide out on a deserted island because you might burn and sunburn can lead to skin cancer... No hiding in the basement with artificial sun because they you are at risk from radon-induced lung cancer. I think we are all in trouble.

What I really want to know - why the focus on all these disagreements when there are really critical breakthroughs waiting to occur. Stop arguing over shaving and deodorant and let's find some cures!

Virus Emails

Okay, after receiving a couple of virus laden emails yesterday that McAfee happily caught and destroyed before it ever even reached me, I am left with a question. No, make that two questions.

First, why would a virus sender think that titling the subject "Warning this is the FBI, you've been entering illegal websites" will actually work. I saw that subject and laughed hysterically. Like the FBI is really going to make online arrests now???????

Second, obviously the fact that this virus is still spreading - well it makes me wonder who in their right mind would then open something that is so stupid?

I can guarantee you - no matter the crime - the authorities are not going to give you a warning online. They'll show up at your door unannounced, armed with a warrant. I can just see the next virus now -

Subject: This is the police. You're wanted for questioning in a murder. Please send in this quick survey and we'll be around later to arrest you...

;-)

Cancellations

Okay, I'm in right now reading this year's list of cancelled shows. Some of them are no-brainers.

Kitchen Confidential - sorry but I found the show pretty repetitive and dull.

Threshold - I didn't mind the start of the show, but it's up against tough competion. I think the 10pm time slot sucks for those of us on the east coast anyway.

Reunion - I can't say I've ever watched it. There is no way I was giving up CSI for this show. But even before that - you have a murder mystery spanning 20 years time in one season? Had the show survived it would have made for a pitiful second season unless they had brilliant writers.

Martha Stewart's The Apprentice. I won't even go there. I hate those shows and couldn't do enough justice to bashing them.

Alias - I can actually see that show fizzling out. It's gotten pretty lame recently.

Night Stalker - why remake a classic only to change and ruin it?


In general, my favorite shows are staying - Cold Case, CSI (the original one that even I will admit is losing its luster), LOST, NCIS and Without A Trace.

I'm happy to see the show that most critics started out panning - My Name Is Earl - has become a huge hit. That show amuses me.

Other than that, I'd like to see an end come to The Simpsons. Yes it is the longest running cartoon, but it's grown very old. And how about no more reality tv for a while? I think many of us have shown a lack of interest!

The world is going mad

Okay, last week I ran into the most absurd issue. I was asked to pick up donuts before going to my parents' house. I was going to stop at the local grocery store, but decided instead to go to Dunkin' Donuts. So I drove into the drive-up line and asked for a dozen donuts, the woman told me they were out of donuts. Absurd... So I instead drove to another Dunkin' Donuts where they heard my store and then proceeded to tell me that the Milton location has fryers and the equipment to make the donuts on site, so there was no reason for them to be out of donuts. Yet, they were...

I thought I'd heard it all until today. I went to my local post office - they close at 5 and it was a little after 4:30. The clerk refused to take my packages. She claimed she'd been too busy to accept any packages and that I'd have to drive to another location or come back another time and hope she is less busy. The post office REFUSING to take more packages? I swear the world is going insane...

Food for thought

Before I continue, let me state that a convicted child molester did move down the road from me about 10 years ago. As soon as word got out, via the school, I was outraged that a sicko of this nature was out and living in a family neighborhood. Nothing has changed, I still think it is absurb.

So with this, I sat down and watched Kevin Bacon's THE WOODSMAN last night. If you've never heard of the movie, Kevin Bacon is a man convicted for molesting two young girls, he's served a 12 year sentence and now he's back on the streets fighting the odds. He doesn't want to be one of those offenders who commits the same crime. Okay, so I'm finding his character admirable, but I have no faith in him.

What bothers me - Kevin moves into an apartment across the street from an elementary school. Enter one of those WHAT WERE THEY THINKING moments. That's like putting a plate of chocolates in front of a chocoholic and telling them not to touch. Yes, so maybe his character has gone through, no is still going through therapy, but to place him across the street from a school. That's insane, yet I also know it happens - hence the child molester who moved down the road from me a decade ago. (And in this case, he molested again, so he's back in jail. Unfortunately, the school didn't get the warning out in time. In their defense, I'm sure they didn't know. The laws protected the criminal back then.)

So anyway, there is an interesting twist. Kevin knows the tricks a molester uses. He watches the behavior of a man who parks in front of school every day and Kevin knows it means trouble. I did appreciate that. It made me like Kevin's character--almost.

In the end, I can't tell you what happens. It is a little corny, but possibly realistic. It's not a bad movie and I can say it was an interesting role for Kevin Bacon to have taken on. I've always found him to be a little creepy - now I find him even creepier, but that's not a bad thing. :-)

Happy Thanksgiving

So we've had our first really good snow storm at my house. The yard is white. My deck needs shoveling-anyone want to come do it?

My daughter finds snow magical. However, I just feel the chill in the air and want to go right back inside.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and there's supposed to be another snow storm. I'm not sure what this means for us now - as we have to do some driving. The bigger issue is that the weathermen are all over the place trying to predict how much snow we are going to get, when it's going to hit, and how long it will last. I have a feeling it's going to be another of those years when they can't make up their minds, so they don't do a forecast until it actually starts happening!

Anyway, have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving. And I'll end with a recipe that we tested out last night. If anyone drinks Sam Adams beer - there are two bottles of their Cranberry Lambic in the mixed box. Now, I like beer but Cranberry Lambic is more like fizzy cranberry juice with a dash of hops. Not very enjoyable. So I'd set aside the bottles to use in cooking. Yesterday, my son (he's 12 and just getting into cooking) asked if he could make something. So I pulled out my trusty cranberry nut bread recipe and made a few alterations. This bread came out very nicely!

SAM ADAMS CRANBERRY LAMBIC NUT BREAD

3 cups flour
1 1/3 cups sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1 1/2 cups chopped cranberries
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 tbsp orange zest
3 eggs
1/3 cup canola oil
12 oz Cranberry Lambic Beer

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Sift the dry ingredients together. (Flour, sugar, & baking powder.) Add the remaining ingredients into the bowl and mix thoroughly.

Pour/spoon the batter into 2 greased loaf pans (or I used a bundt cake pan) and place in the preheated oven. Bake for 45 to 60 minutes (depends on the type of pan used).

Holiday Shopping

My favorite time of year - NOT - is upon us. This past weekend, I went out and got as much Christmas shopping done as I possibly could, the rest I'm going to do online.

Even now, the stores were horrific. We're talking people so frantic to get a deal that they are willing to mow children down with their carts. I am certain this is why I hate the holidays. People forget all about being neighborly and go out of their way to be first at everything.

So this blog entry is dedicated to the woman who hit my daughter with her cart and then proceeded to look at me like it was my fault that my daughter got in her way. Jess and I were alone in the toy aisle, there was room to go around her, instead you pushed your cart into her to make her move. I watched you, where you were going became an important quest for me. You were in a huge rush to get to the section where they had the boxed set of Disney books and CD's on sale. I proceeded to follow you --there is the potential for stalking there, but I had something else in mind after watching how you shopped, you were one of the push it aside and come back for it shoppers-- you set aside the collection of Chicken Little books, it was the only one, and then you proceeded to look for others. I reached over and snatched up that box of Chicken Little Board books, before you could react. I tossed it into my cart and walked away while you were yelling you'd planned to buy it. The devious side of me could have cared less what box set I picked out for my neighbor's little girl, but because you'd hurt my daughter, I felt an urge to be evil. Maybe two wrongs don't make a right, but this time I'd had enough.

A little tip to others - if you are contemplating buying something, put it in your cart while you decide. Usually, and I'll say usually because I have had people snatch something out of my cart while my back is turned, if it is in a cart, the item is then off limits to others.

Meanwhile, enjoy your holiday shopping this year. All I can say is that I'm glad I'm done!

I have a new reality show...

And it is called WHAT ARE AMERICANS THINKING???

Suffice it to say, I've been watching that VH1 show - But Can They Sing? That show is like a train about to encounter a deadly wreck. No one can sing, Morgan Fairchild makes the best stab at it, and usually she's tolerable, however the rest of these saps are being told they are wonderful when the truth is they really, really, really suck.

Bai Ling - whoever told her she can sing and whoever keeps voting for her really need to have their hearing checked. When she was talking about wanting to sing in a lower tone, she was right, I could actually tolerate her then. I decided today that the only reason people vote for her is to keep laughing at just how tone deaf she is.

Carmine Gotti. As much as I hate to agree with that guest host - "Cat caught in a muffler" is just about correct. He's horrible.

Michael Copon's performance of You Give Love A Bad Name was awful.

I wasn't much fonder of Antonio Sabato's remake of Robert Palmer's Addicted To Love.

I'd like to see these actors/actresses given a chance to pick their own song. Right now, the vocal coaches aren't doing a very good job with selections.

Can a house choose its owner?

Recently, I've been watching an "event" going on in a local household with semi-interest. You see in the past, the owner of this house was a really nice guy stuck in kind of a bad situation. He ended up refusing to speak up for himself and it led to a very unhappy second marriage, fall-outs with all of his close friends, and I think lost a good piece of himself. It's all hear-say from here on out, but I've heard his daughter from his first marriage took off to live with mom because she couldn't stand her new step-mom and then he eventually lost his other daughter when his second marriage fell apart. Had he stuck up for himself many years ago, I do think things would have turned out differently.

So now the new owners - he tries to stand up for himself, but often, in my opinion, gives in too easily. He's a great guy who is in another bad situation. And that leads me to wonder, can a house draw a certain type of person to it? Is it the area? It's just odd that this one house draws people who do not have the self-esteem to stand up for themselves.

So this leads me to wonder - did my house draw me to it? Am I destined to pick houses with sinks that LOVE to leak? Leaking sinks is a whole other issue though. ;-)

Nano Writes Cont. Part 2

So, I have a little more than 20,000 words done now. 5,000 more and I'm at the halfway mark.

I'm amazed at how much I am dreaming about these characters. I'm not sure if I enjoy it or not, waking up at 1am and fighting an urge to turn the computer on is a major issue at this point.

I've gained a new respect for those who have published a book. It's a lot of fun, but boy does it eat away at you at the same time!

Human Control Experiment

I've decided that at the heart of LOST is a small group of madmen who are trying to see if they can manipulate humans to do things they would never dream of doing. Shannon chasing after the ghost of a boy.

Sayid falling in love with a white woman.

Jack being forced to save the life of an enemy.

Michael realizing the importance of fatherhood - a kid he barely knew is now his driving force.

A number of people pushing in numbers and the enter key because a video tells them to.

I do think Shannon is dead, though we'll find out for sure in the future.

I really don't care about that chick from the tail section who disappeared.

I'm still iffy on Sawyer, he's a hottie, but in reality his home was robbed and I'm sure that violation of your privacy would put thoughts of moving away in your head.

I can't stand this Ana. She just annoys me.

Terry O'Quinn (Locke) has been one of my favorite TV actors (Millenium though the network idiots cancelled it) for a while. So I'm happy as long as he is in it!

What are they thinking?

I got a notice from our health insurance agency yesterday--they are no longer paying for certain types of birth control pills--mainly all Ortho pills. Now this really doesn't affect me, thank God. But I wonder about the thousands of women who are affected? Are they now supposed to have children even if they do not want them? Are they being forced to use condoms or have their tubes tied? I just don't see the logic in this companies' thinking.

It makes no sense to me.

Being Unbiased

Unbiased was a word I heard far too much of last week.

It started with the incident surrounding the letter I received from the school. I did talk to the principal and then the attendance committee's ringleader, and they explained their case. They used to only send this notice to parents of children who were obviously skipping school. However, those parents claimed it was biased to send the letter to the children whose parents were not calling in to report that their child was sick. Those parents feel that every child should receive the letter. So the policy changed to prevent a lawsuit over biased/unbiased behavior.

I still disagree. The reasoning per the school is that the past three years has shown an increase in the number of children whose parents are either not calling the school or whose children are skipping school without their parents' knowledge. Those are the people being targeted with this letter.

As a parent, it is their duty to call the school when their child is sick. So if they fail to do so, that's their problem. The deserve the reminder.

If the child is skipping without the parents' knowledge. Again, they need the letter.

To claim the school is being unfairly biased by not sending the letter to all students is asinine. First, it is our tax money that pays for the postage used up to send out the unnecessary letters.

Second, I know people with horrible credit ratings who are then charged higher interest ratings because of it. Does this mean it is a biased world and that EVERYONE should be forced to pay the penalty of bad credit? Can you imagine if the bank suddenly declined you a loan because you live near an area known for higher levels of debt, even though your own credit rating is stellar?

In essence, that's what these complaining parents have done.

It's just like at my husband's place of employment. A half dozen workers were abusing the ruling on personal calls. Some were spending more time on their phone than they were working, so the company decided no personal calls for anyone. It's unfair. Now if I need to get my husband a quick message, the receptionist comes on and denies me access. It has to be a life or death emergency before she will put a call through. She even admits that she has only recorded me as having called him twice this past year, while he has co-workers who were getting calls 6 times a day. Yet, phone privileges were taken from everyone.

It's absurd. I'm not sure I like the message we are sending our children. Doesn't matter how you behave, you will be punished for other people's irresponsible behavior.

Nano Writes cont.

So the competition started on Tuesday. I just finished today's writing -- I'm up to 7000 words just about. So I think I'm doing well.

So to celebrate my accomplishments to date, I figured I'd post the snippet that appears at Nano Writes....


The air around me buzzes of holiday festivities. Lavish Christmas displays are going up at a rapid pace as I walk through each narrow store aisle searching for the next item on my list. Each item on the list has been suggested emphatically, I know these items are not just suggestions, though I still question the necessity.

Brilliant reds and greens practically fly off the shelves into awaiting carts. There is no doubt about it Christmas is in the air. This is where life comes to a screeching halt. Shocked faces turn towards me as I scream the next few words, following each word with a dramatic pause – “It is freaking August.”

Yes, Christmas in August. Charlie Brown® isn’t quite as simple-minded as some may think. What happens next seems rather blurry, but this is how it goes…

Here I am trying to gather all the items from the three-page list of items necessary for my children to begin school, and I’m assaulted by Christmas displays. Half a dozen workers dressed up as elves are busy stocking shelves with glimmering lights, inflatable snowmen, and electronic Santa and reindeers. I assume that the elves are store clerks, but who knows, when you assume you make an ass out of you and me. Maybe they really are Santa’s elves straight out of the North Pole.

It should be illegal to put up a Christmas display before Thanksgiving! It is at this moment that years of pent up frustration come pouring out. “IT IS FREAKING AUGUST YOU MORONS.”

“Hey, lady. Tone it down or get out of this store.” Simple words muttered by one of Santa’s supposed “Little Helpers.” All they do is piss me off more.

“August,” I yell again. August. You know the month that brings an end to summer vacation. Summer’s last hurrah before the cooler fall months arrive. Christmas is in winter. What the hell do you call Christmas in August?”

“Commercialism, lady. It’s plain and simple. So deal with it.” He grins knowingly before continuing arranging things from the top of a stepladder, leaning as far as he can without falling over. I think it is the elf’s sly little grin. A facial expression that effuses evil and not tidings of joy as some might think. A grin that tells me he thinks he has won. At this point, I realize that there is nothing left to lose.

Gripping my shopping cart more tightly than ever, I watch as my knuckles become white from lack of blood flow. I’ve had enough of the elf’s behavior. I’m sick of Christmas displays in the summer. I’m tired of people telling me how easy my life must be. I’m going to show them all.

I turn slowly, my own evil, little grin now plastered on my face. Little do the elves know it, but they are about to face my wrath. One pale, blonde elf is standing in the back of a stepladder holding it with a lackluster passion. Not thrilled with her job, she seems to be going through the motions while off in her own little fantasy world.

I’m not much for bowling, at least not until today. But, this seems like the perfect time to hone my skills. I eye the ladder, aim my cart, and run like a madwoman. Perhaps, madwoman is a little too strong. Nonetheless, I am certain I am breaking all kinds of laws here, but man does it feel good.

The squeak of the right rear wheel punctures the otherwise deafening silence as nearby shoppers gaze at me with concern. I know what they are thinking—call for a straightjacket, this woman is nuts.

Cart and ladder collide solid bang. I can feel the sting of metal hitting metal all the way to my teeth, and my hands certainly took a bit of the collision, but I don’t care. I watch as the smarmy elf falls with a bone-shattering crunch to the hard tiled floor.

“Ooh, that must have hurt like hell.” It’s my turn for the evil grin, and I follow it with a full belly laugh. A laugh I haven’t heard in years. Tears come to my eyes just thinking about it. I wonder if it’s more of a sin to now run back over the groaning elf.

“Hey, lady. Will you move your damn cart already?”

Pressure on students?

For a while now, I have been under the firm belief that some school systems push their students too hard. My son is a straight-A student. He prides himself on A's. So today, I get the mail and there is a letter warning me that my son has missed too much school this year. That the new school policy is that no child should miss more than 6 days in a school year. I'm a little steamed.

For years, the school policy was that no child could go to school if they were throwing up or had a fever. My son has always been inclined towards ear infections, even after his adenoids were removed and tubes were put in. With his ear infections come a fever, and we know if he has a cold that an ear infection will follow. He spent so much time on antibiotics that his body built up a resistance, so the doctors no longer will prescribe antibiotics unless we beg and plead.

So since August, he has missed school twice because he was throwing a fever and throwing up. The third time, he was feverish with an ear infection. I stay home, so it's not a big deal for me to care for him. I will grant that I am benefited by my working from home because it allows me the freedom to keep my kids home. I have never, and will never, send my children to school if they are sick.

His sister is never sick. When she is sick, I have to fight her to keep her home. So it's not like I push the system. I only keep my children home if they fall into the school's "never send your child to school sick"guidelines. Not many other parents do or are able to abide by that same rule, and as a parent whose has had both children come home after sitting at a table where their classmate has thrown up on their books or clothing, I'm thankful that I'm not the parent sending my very sick child to school to infect others.

So anyway, today I get this letter telling me that I am allowing my son to be sick too often. That the new school policy this year is no more than 6 days total or they will be issuing severe warnings and holding meetings to address the absent child. I am infuriated. My judgment is being questioned, and I do think I know if my child is sick or not.

So what it comes down to is now that my child goes to school and if he's sick enough to go home, the school will let me know - OR I have to send him to school with a doctor's note the next day. So I have to pay the co-pay to have my doctor write a note stating that "Yes, Chris was too sick to go to school." I find this absurd.

I think at base, it upsets me because there was no forewarning. This new "school panel" decided this year that they needed to do this. I can understand if Chris was failing, but he's still pulling straight A's. So it's not like missing a few days has caused big issues. His sister usually brings him his homework, and if he is feeling up to it, he'll do his homework in bed or the next morning if he's feeling better. However, there was no warning that the school had changed the policy, and they sent out this brunt letter telling me to call the school because he has been absent too much.

I guess it all comes down to this - Big Brother is even watching our children now. I love the new lesson my children are learning now - if you're sick, too freaking bad. Thanks, Vermont!