Delivery people...

I get shipments almost daily. I also happen to have this odd driver for one of the large overnight services who yesterday truly crossed the boundaries. So while this isn't book related, per se, I hope some publishers out there who read this might begin to think carefully about whom they choose.

The company in question is Fedex. And I do have complaints in with the company and hope they will be dealing with the matter immediately, they said they'd contact me as soon as they'd discussed the situation... haven't heard a word, yet.

Anyway, there are three drivers in this area. Two are really nice, the other is also really nice, but he's a letch. Flat out, he is a sick pervert who should NOT be delivering packages to women.

When he first took the route, he would tell me how he had close ties to the local courthouse because of his former military career in which he was pretty high up. But he'd retired and wanted a part-time job with flexibility that allowed him to be out and about, Fedex fit his needs.

A few months later, he told me how he was a major league umpire. He then proceeded to tell me that he'd been on the field during the Curt Schilling bloody sock game, that I could check out - we have that game on DVD. It was no surprise, he wasn't there, so my husband and I started to realize that this guy had an issue. Later he told me that he and another driver were always fighting over who got to come see me. It was odd again, but I still figured it was all him bragging over silly things.

The end of August, my hubby had the first full week of school off. The Fed Ex guy came and didn't see Dave putting in a new kitchen light. He made a comment that sounded suggestive about quickies but I wasn't sure if I just was taking it wrong or hearing it wrong, when Dave came out and made it known he was home, the FedEx guy took off faster than I've ever seen him move. That's when I realized that maybe it wasn't all must my making something more of it. Dave made a comment back that he didn't want to see this guy on our route anymore and that he'd be watching.

A full month went by and never saw the Fed Ex guy again. So I figured it was over. Until yesterday, he came right up and started asking how I'd been. I tried to blow him off by saying I was busy and had to get back inside. His response, "Turn around and I'll show you busy honey." I am 99.9% certain that there is no other way that that statement could be taken. It was suggestive. Thankfully, Dave is home for his birthday and he immediately contacted Fedex and told them that this guy is just not mentally stable and shouldn't be driving a route where women are home alone working. He also suggested going outside with a bat, but I told him as sweet as his wanting to defend me is - that's not the solution.

I'm hoping Fedex takes immediate action and either fires or at least puts this guy on a route where he has to enter fully staffed businesses. He's certainly not fit to be delivering to any establishment where a woman is by herself. In the meantime, I'll be locking my doors all day again and making sure that I have my 9-iron next to the door just in case. Again, the 9 iron isn't a great answer, but it's that or a really mean dog... with kids I don't like the dog aspect. Though I'm truly starting to think otherwise.

Books and food

I was discussing the link between books and food with another reviewer. Oddly enough, my daughter came home that same day and was looking over my shoulder at emails. She saw that and said, "Everyone knows you read a book with tea and biscuits."

That led me to wonder, if my ten year old knows it, is it something that she picked up because my mom is British or is it just as common here in the U.S. So I asked her why she said that. Her response was that in all the television shows she sees where a character is having tea, there is always a plate of cookies. (Cookies are biscuits in England). This led me to believe that the practice may be just as common over here.

I'm often disturbed by the lack of true coffeehouses/Used book stores in this area. We can go to Borders or Barnes and Noble and have a cup of coffee and a tart or something similar while you read, but I want a place like I've seen in smaller English towns where the coffee shop has racks of used books or is very close to a used book store and they invite you with comfy chairs to come sit down and read while you enjoy your coffee.

Some day that is my dream. I'm going to open up a small cafe type establishment with coffee served a special manner that I'm not posting with book shelves full of used books. Kind of a home away from home where you know the service will be friendly and the treats are always exquisite.

Hidden Gifts Of The Introverted Child

A month or so ago, I had the opportunity to review a book about introverted children. http://www.roundtablereviews.com/roundtable/Archives/laneymartiolsen82906.htm

Now this book really made an impression as I tend to be introverted, and I've noticed both of my children are the same way. One of my sticking points in school was the teacher who always insisted on calling on the shyer children--the ones who wouldn't make eye contact or raise their hand. That was me!

In this book it suggests that forcing an introverted child to answer a question before they have had time to think an answer through is actually damaging to their self-esteem. I would again agree. Mr. Carney, my 8th grade history teacher, did this to me. I will never forget the question, "In the 1970s, the US came up with stricter regulations allowing the entry of these people into our country?" History was never my subject. He called on me and I said the first thing that came to my head, "aliens". Meaning illegal immigrants. The class and Mr. Carney spent a good 15 minutes laughing hysterically over my answer. Carney admitted he knew what I was saying, but he still had images of the spacemen in his head. Meanwhile, I was humiliated and it reinforced my thoughts that calling on students who do not want to be called on is rather destructive.

This leads me to a question for teachers. Why can't you lead a class without calling on others in a sneak attack mode? The night before, announce to all the students that tomorrow's discussion will be on whatever subject. Everyone will be expected to give their opinion on ... and that they will be taking turns offering their thoughts. This gives the introverted kids a night to prepare their arguments. It takes some of the stress off the sneak attack that many teachers currently use.

My son's science teacher last night said my son's biggest thing is that he doesn't always raise his hand to volunteer an answer. SO WHAT. He is pulling straight A's so they know the material is being learned. Try a different approach and you may find he jumps right in - IF he's had time to plan things out.

Favorite Authors

Every year, a huge harvest market is held very close to my childhood home. We will drive to my parents' home, park for the day and walk to the harvest market festivities. This year the Harvest Market was a bit of a bust, due to the weather (I think) many booths were absent or missing completely.

At the Harvest Market, local libraries, preschools, and other organizations hold huge flea markets, book sales, and food booths. So we all go to eat french fries, fried dough, onion rings, and various other bad for you foods. Then I always look for cookbooks and a few other goodies that I feel the urge to purchase for a ridiculous amount. This year I was looking for two books specifically - both by Diane Mott Davidson.

Now if you are unfamiliar with this author, she writes a series based on a caterer (Goldie) who always seems to stumble across a dead body. Diane Mott Davidson was my introduction to the world of the culinary mystery and all of her books sit in my kitchen where I am always game to try out her recipes from time to time. Unfortunately, I had not been keeping up and I'd not purchased her last two books until recently. Now I have some catching up to do.

Since my introduction to Diane Mott Davidson, I have found so many other delightful culinary mystery writers - Joanne Fluke is another I can't live without.

To me, getting hooked is what it is all about!

Rainy Days

While it may have started out relatively clear, it is now pouring rain. I have to admit, even when it is dreary and gray, the sound of rain falling on my back roof is also so relaxing.

Today is one of those days when I got my freelance writing done, so now I'm just waiting to hear if I will need to do rewrites or not. The rest of the day, I can get some reading done. I have a bunch of books pulled out. I'm not sure where to start first, but with it so grim outside, I am in the mood for a glowing, scented candle, and then a number of books. Hey, I may even pull out some more classics... the stuff I HATED reading in high school. Quite a few of them are rather intriguing now that I have a little more experience in the world. :-)

Children and Reading

A reviewer and I were talking about school imposed reading. Adults will remember those high school days when you were handed a book and told READ IT. This was followed by essays, tests, and lengthy discussions about symbolism, themes, metaphors, etc. I hated being told what to read. Shakespeare--I had no use for him and his speech that always ended with -eth. What he did sayeth never meanteth much to me.

In high school, there are a few books I did keep. To Kill A Mockingbird. I loved that story, just as much as I love the movie with Gregory Peck. George Stewart's Earth Abides - can you imagine being one of a handful of survivors to a major plague? I never minded reading Judith Guest's Ordinary People either.

Romeo & Juliet, I've never understood why we had to read it in both Freshman and Junior year. Worse, my grades on the tests given after reading the book never improved! Same goes for MacBeth or Hamlet.

John Steinbeck, I have all of his books and love reading them from time to time. But George Orwell's 1984 - no thanks.

With this my son is starting his 7th grade year. They have to finish 25 books in order to pass the class in June. To my amazement, I actually heard his teacher announce that they get to pick the books they read. She'll do some anthologies with them, but all of their other reading is on their own. Textbooks, magazine subscriptions (a full year of magazines counts as one book)- they all count as reading. It's ABOUT TIME. My son has two magazines that he will not let me miss - Consumer Reports and X-Box Magazine. He does read and reread these magazines all the time. I can't imagine any teacher saying a magazine counts, but I'm glad someone finally acknowledges it!

So far, my son is almost finished the first book in Phillip Pullman's trilogy. (Can't think of the name - but Golden Compass is one of the books - possibly the first, possibly not). He tends to be drawn to sci-fi/fantasy type books. He's working on The Hobbit in another class.

A question arose though - what books would you recommend to fussy readers?

Here are the answers I've come up with:

Romance -

Try Lavyrle Spencer. Her books are gentle enough to be teen friendly, the historical detail won't overwhelm a young woman, but the romances are incredible. Lavyrle is the writer who introduced me to romance.

General Fiction:

I'm hooked on authors like Steinbeck and Salinger. Not everyone agrees though.

Sci-Fi/Fantasy-

C.S. Lewis hands down. George Stewart of course. Stephen King (though he can be horror too). My son will add Eoin Colfer, and JK Rowling to this list.

Lois Duncan, Judy Blume and Ann Rinaldi are winners for the middle school ages in my mind. Lemony Snicket books are another big hit in my house.

Jane Austen

As a romance reader who also loves a wide variety of other genres, I expected to love Jane Austen. She's touted as the genius to invent the romance, so what's not to love?

I dove into Sense & Sensibility and was instantly making cracks about Fanny living up to her name. :-) Unfortunately, as time passed I found myself become bored in a sense with the writing. Jane Austen and her heroines did not rush to do anything. I can understand it perfectly, but it is not in my lifestyle to slow down sadly. I always run from deadline to school function to errands to appointments in a frenzy of activity. Toss in normal every day things and I don't see how single working mom's ever find the time to breathe! I'm happily married with older kids, working from home, and I still struggle to handle everything on my plate.

Does this mean Austen isn't worth reading? No, I don't think so. I thoroughly enjoyed Lady Susan and her disconcern about polite society's rules. It's a dog eat dog world out there and Lady Susan seemed to be a woman with whom I'd enjoy gossiping!

I do think that what has happened is that in my world of having no time to myself, I want that tidbit of time to be fast paced and entertaining. Jane Austen can entertain, of that there is no doubt, but her pacing was just a little too slow for me to be able to connect with it.

New Year - Changes Being Made

Starting today, this blog will only be related to books. I'll update when I can. I do some freelance writing, so on some days I'm busier than others.

Today, I want to talk about reading. The school recently sent home a newsletter discussing reading. Children who read at least 20 minutes per night prove successful in school. Is there truth to that?

My children see me with a book in hand regularly. My son and daughter both read nightly. So I am an advocate of reading to or pushing your child to read. However, there are points where I disagree! It is a big thing at school that the kids should pick a different genre every month. If they start with sci-fi, they can't read a sci-fi again until they've read an award winner, non-fiction, general fiction, adventure, human interest, etc.

No child should be forced to read a book. I never agreed that our English teachers got to choose what we read. I hated Shakespeare. Few books ever appealed to me if they were forced into my hands. The only two books that I still keep on my bookshelf - TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD and EARTH ABIDES. I love and reread those books constantly. As a note to others, if you loved Stephen King's THE STAND read George Stewart's EARTH ABIDES it is the same premise.

Now that I am no longer forced by teachers to read their choices, I have picked up many classics. TWELVE ANGRY MEN is a great classic - short but entertaining. I'm working my way through the complete collection of Jane Austen novels. Those are taking me a while to get into, but once they hit the key element, I can't put the novel down.

At home, my children can read what they want. I don't limit them. Even though some of their teachers don't like that attitude. To me, my son picking up an Alton Brown cookbook (one of his favorite chefs) counts as reading. He is fascinated by this man and will sit and read the cookbook from cover to cover. He does the same with Giada di Laurentiis cookbooks. In fact, he makes the best Chicken Picatta I've ever had. He loves reading cookbooks and I'm not about to tell him that a cookbook "doesn't count." Some teachers need to get over themselves and change with the times. He's also hooked on Harry Potter and Artemis Fowl books, so it's not like he only reads cookbooks. He has other likes.

My daughter loves Junie B. Jones. She has just about every book out there and reads them over and over. I've had teachers tell me that she needs to broaden her selections. I disagree. She's reading and enjoying it, what more does she need?

I will never understand the education systems push to get children reading a different genre every month. Why? There is plenty of time for them to do that when they enter high school and college. For now, let them be kids!

Back to School with serious hesitation

My children head back to school next week. Neither my fourth or seventh grader is happy about the return to school. This is pretty typical you'd think. Unfortunately, I understand their hesitation.

I received my 7th grader's temporary schedule last year. It seems that with the start of 7th grade, they try to mimic a high school schedule. The schedule is given to them on the first day of school and then any changes have to be made by Monday (they return to school on Thursday.) His big issue is that they are given 15 minutes for lunch this year. Can you imagine? Fifteen minutes to stand in the lunch line, eat your lunch, and then it is a school rule that students at each table clean their own area. So this means the students at the 6-person table have to wipe down chairs and table surfaces, bring up trays, deposit any litter, eat, and get their lunch within 15 minutes. It's absurd. The government blames video games and TV for children's growing waistlines - I have my own ideas about training childen to wolf down an entire meal within at least 10 minutes. Then the 7th graders all go to their student advisor instead of recess where they will discuss bullying, peer pressure, and any educational concerns. My son has already announced that he does not want to bother bringing a lunch to school this year because he doesn't like having to eat it in record time. I can't blame him...

Meanwhile, my 4th grader will have a 20 minute lunch this year and then 10 minutes of recess. Every year, the recess gets shorter and shorter for these kids. Better yet, if they don't get their work done in time they have to skip recess and sit in their classroom and finish any school work instead. This happened last year to my daughter. She'd gone to one of her gifted classes and didn't have time to complete her writing assignment. So she was forced to skip recess. I was ticked and the school had to deal with my wrath. I'm not a popular person at that school - not at all.

Thicker skins

Some people in the world today need to toughen up. I came across an email yesterday that was insulting, poorly writtten in terms of grammar and punctuation, and contained enough bad language that it made the author of said email look childish.

Those who know Jen and I know that we founded Roundtable Reviews on the premise that we would not rate books...we would tell readers what we thought about a book. The question on our mind while reading a book is "Would we be willing to spend the money needed to buy this book?" That is what we ask of our reviewers and ourselves.

Last week, I reviewed a non-fiction title that was okay, but the principle behind the book bothered me. I'm part Irish and am not about to hold my tongue--never have, never will. My review stated that the book was well-written, but the fact that the author (a former police officer sworn to uphold the law) states clearly that he broke many laws he is sworn to uphold bothered me. He waited until the statute of limitations ran out, released this book, and is now profiting. That does bother me regardless of his reasoning for breaking the laws. Sorry, but as a mom, I find anything glorifying breaking laws and stating "To beat a criminal, you must becomea criminal" is not something for which I would be willing to pay money. Hence the answer to my question - "would I be willing to buy this book if I were in a bookstore today?" That is what I based my review on. http://www.roundtablereviews.com/cearobert80106.htm

The author states he is disgusted by my "Dan Rather Gorilla Type" journalism tactics and that I make money by twisting the truth. My response to this - book reviewers are not paid despite what you proclaim. Online review sites do it for the love of books, not for money. I've never profited off my reviews - in fact, I wind up shelling out personal money to cover things like shipping, website fees, etc. So in no way am I biased by money. Secondly, one thing all authors need to realize, and most do, is that reviews are OPINION. This review is MY OPINION of your book. If you don't agree, so be it. That's your right.

I, however, still stick by my first opinion. People got hurt. Laws were broken. And now a profit is being made. I do believe that the author himself stated that his years as an officer provided him with the resources to "pad his pockets". Sure, the author knows what he did was wrong and has turned his life around. I do not debate that. However, if you look at the definition of "padding pockets"...


pad 1 (pd)
n.
1. A thin, cushionlike mass of soft material used to fill, to give shape, or to protect against jarring, scraping, or other injury.
2. A flexible saddle without a frame.
3. An ink-soaked cushion used to ink a rubber stamp.
4. A number of sheets of paper of the same size stacked one on top of the other and glued together at one end; a tablet.
5.
a. The broad floating leaf of an aquatic plant such as the water lily.
b. The flattened fleshy stem of a cactus such as certain varieties of prickly pear. Also called paddle1.
6.
a. The cushionlike flesh on the underpart of the toes and feet of many animals.
b. The foot of such an animal.
7. The fleshy underside of the end of a finger or toe.
8.
a. A launch pad.
b. A helipad.
9. A keypad.
10. Slang One's apartment or room.
tr.v. pad·ded, pad·ding, pads
1. To line or stuff with soft material.
2. To lengthen or increase, especially with extraneous or false information: pad a lecture with jokes; pad an expense account.Idiom:
on the pad Slang
Taking bribes.

This suggests that the author realizes he is now profiting from his past by a. Providing false information or b. taking bribes. Either way, I still find it wrong.

Driving Rules

I have a new rule. This blog entry goes out to the two drivers who beeped and gave me the finger yesterday! Perhaps you'll read this and learn something.

Exit 14 on the interstate has led to some one-lane issues which means the traffic is backed up for a long time. I was on the interstate yesterday and got caught in it. After spending 30 minutes moving from Exit 16 to the bridge over the Winooski River, I was getting hot and tired. My kids were no different. On the bridge, a sign stating "Merge Right. Left Lane closed in 1/2 mile" appeared. That means people had 1/2 mile to get over. So two drivers raced by on the left right when I was about 10 car lengths from the barrier with the lane closing. They then expected to be let in immediately. No one in front of me did and I wasn't about to either.

If you have had plenty of warning that you need to merge, then don't expect those who have merged in advance to suddenly feel sorry for you for ignoring the signs. I'm not about to let you in, not if you wait. If I had my way, you'd be sitting until the wee hours when traffic finally eases enough for you to get over without issue. If you can't follow the signs, you don't get the perk of getting on with your day. Sit and wait like the rest of us had been doing!

Back To School Shopping

My son finally got his back to school list from the school (7th grade). I guessed almost completely wrong. I'd bought him pencils, which were needed, pens (again necessary), notebooks (not needed at all)...

So I get the list - 2 inch binders - four of them. I checked Staples and Walmart. For 2 inch binders, we are looking at at least $5 a piece. Staples has them on sale this week 3 for $21. I'd bought him 1 inch binders, but apparently that won't do. I'm slightly ticked because that's a lot of money to have to spend on binders that he is certain he could have used 1 inch and made do with them by cleaning out the old from time to time and 1 inch are what he's used in the past.

We also have to buy him a scientific calculator, a metric ruler, colored pencils, computer disks (not that they mentioned the size, I'm assuming they mean 3 1/2 inch disks, though blank CDs would be much handier to me as I always have those on hand), reinforcers for the binder, and dividers for the binders. He will not get his schedule until the first day of school, so the rest of the list will be given to us when his full schedule is set. I'm ticked about that. That means parents will have to do a mad dash to get the rest of the items that weekend.

Our daughter, they still haven't sent her list yet.

Kudos

If you read my blog ever, you'll have seen that my children's pool fell victim to some ATV riders. Anyway, there was an article in the local paper a few days later regarding some ATV trails that are being shot down by one of the state agencies. So I fired off a letter to the editor about this...

Would an ATV trail really be that bad?I have to say that the NRPC is wrong. I have no tolerance for ATVs in most cases, but I would much rather have ATV riders on a trail than where they currently ride - my yard. We awoke Wednesday morning to ATV tracks across our yard, and one of the ATVs had run over my children's 10 foot by 6 foot pool, destroying it. Police say that there is little that they can do to prevent these wee hour of the morning ATV activities because there is only so much of a police force to go around throughout Franklin county. Perhaps if ATV users had somewhere to actually go, they'd get off of other people's yards. In the meantime, if anyone has a pool to donate, I'm sure my children would appreciate it. - Georgia, VT - July 23, 2006

I tried to remain civil. And I've been told I didn't sound as witchy as I could have been. So I guess I kept the civil tone throughout. I have an update to this story now!

The local ATV Assocation (the North Country ATV Association) contacted me after seeing my letter. Not only did they find a replacement pool (not an easy feat, I'd gone to four stores and couldn't find a pool that was the same size), but they also went out back and talked to the kid we feel is responsible. His ATV tracks are still visible, they saw them and said it looks like the kid steered for the pool. They warned him that there was going to be more patrolling and ticketing by not only the police, but also by fish and game wardens who now have the authority. They suggested he join their association and get out on the trails where ATVs should be. Since Friday, the kid has not been out ONCE on his ATV. Things have been quiet. I appreciate everything Steve (the president) has done for my children!!

Responsibility

I think I've had it with the kids in my neighborhood who own ATVs. I actually had it a long time ago, but the final straw came some time last night. Two ATVs apparently decided my yard was good for racing and then ran over the pool we purchased for my kids. It wasn't a huge pool, but at 10 feet by 6 feet and then 3 feet deep inflated, it was a good spot for them to cool off during these hot days. This, however, is all that is left.

http://www.roundtablereviews.com/damage.htm

There is no need for ATV riders to be on private property. I'm sick of it and wish the police would do more, however, they have repeatedly ignored neighborhood complaints. Part of me wonders, maybe it is time for taxpayers to stop chipping in to pay for the yearly salary we pay for sheriff patrols!

Cost of Living

I was watching House Hunters last night. I tend to enjoy watching the show to see other houses and see what the market is like in other states. Last night, the home buyer was in Manhattan trying to find a larger flat. OMG! The housing was absurd, but it was the "assocation fees" that shocked me. No wonder rents are so high there.

This home buyer is a voice actress. Not sure what someone in that field makes, but it would have to be a small fortune! She looked at three flats - all around 600 square feet. That's a little over half of my house. It's probably close to my downstairs. She needed one bedroom near her work in Manhattan.

The first place was puny. It was not glamourous and the views were awful. Yet, it was $500k and assocation fees were an addtional $750 a month. Another $750 a month is over my mortgage payment!!! The next place was $485k and the association fees were the same. So the final flat is $495k, association fees are $720 a month. I'm thinking with a mortgage on a flat that costs $500k, you are looking at a mortgage payment of around $2700 if you can afford 20% down. Under 20% down with PMI, I'm sure the payment would be around $3300 - $3500. Add on your association fees and you'll be paying $3400 to 4200 per month. That's absurd! If I realize that the housing prices in many areas are going to force people to work themselves to death, why can't the government???

The only news you'll need to read!

Yesterday, I logged on to read the news and was assaulted by bad news layered upon more bad news. Tunnels collapsing in Boston. Two more planes crashing this week (Russian, Pakistan, Mexico.) Subways derailing in Chicago. Bombs in some of India's railways. The suspicious death of a Vermont woman. Everything I read was depressing. Today the news was that a woman was found stabbed to death near Safeco Field in Seattle. The Vermont woman appears to have been beaten to death... A local realtor dropped dead while jogging. Nothing is happy anymore. I need the uplift, so I'm going to find some happy news.

Port boy’s battle with rare disease has happy ending By Christopher CamireTHE DAILY NEWS (NEWBURYPORT, Mass.) http://www.athensreview.com

On July 22, Brady O’Donnell will celebrate his third birthday. For his family, the milestone marks a happy ending to a medical ordeal that once had no end in sight.Although Brady looks like a happy, healthy child today, it was not long ago that his family questioned whether he would ever experience a normal life.Brady was born with an extremely rare disease called linear nevus sebaceous syndrome. Doctors said he would probably never be able to walk or speak. Huge birthmarks covered his face, head and neck. The left side of his brain was smaller than the right side, and he was susceptible to seizures that threatened to leave him developmentally disabled.


How about this one - a man missing since WWII has returned to his country. http://www.happynews.com/news/732006/man-missing-since-wwii-returns-to-japan.htm

There is far more at www.happynews.com Enjoy!

Changing Fate...

My daughter yesterday was playing in the backyard. She stopped to check the pond (just a small kit that we put in a few years back) and discovered a baby bird stuck in the water and it was near death. She was so upset, so I decided to go in, grab the bird and see if I could save it. Sometimes, animal rescue shows are a great form of education!!

My husband grabbed a junky towel and we wrapped the bird up. It wasn't acting scared, never made a move to peck me, it was shaking something fierce though, so my daughter and I took shifts and held it against us wrapped in the blanket hoping to get it warmed back up. Eventually she grew tired of it, so I took over and used the towel to dry off as much of the bird's feathers as possible. It was a small grackle and the mother sat watching me from the tree, not attacking, so I'm guessing she'd figured her baby was a lost cause.

Two hours passed and suddenly the little guy started squirming just a little. So I moved him/her to a sunny spot on the deck (hawks are common around here and two were overhead, so I made sure he was hidden from sight). Another hour passed and he suddenly stood up by himself and started watching us. He still made no move to attack, so I figure all was well and my husband and I sat back and watched him.

At this point, Jess was excited because his breathing seemed back to normal and he'd stopped shaking. He started squawking about 20 minutes later and his mom flew to the bird feeders, repeated his noises, flew off to the tree and kept repeating that pattern. To our amazement this little bird that I figured was going to die, stretched his wings and flew over the deck rail to join his mom in the tree.

I know they say if you see a wild animal in trouble - leave it be. I guess it isn't in my nature to just let something like a bird die. Jess is overjoyed that she saved this bird's life and I have to say, it is an amazing feeling to see something go from limp and gasping for air to alert and flying.

Click

We went to see Click last night. Now I am a fan of Adam Sandler. Sure he's goofy, but there is something about him that comes off as extremely sexy - maybe his grin...

I think Click is one of his better movies. He's a family man this time... he's also a workaholic. The bratty kid next door is always rubbing it in how his family has better technology, cars, lifestyle... So in desperation one night, Sandler heads off to Bed, Bath & Beyond to at least get a universal remote so that he'll be capable of turning on his television. Christopher Walken gives him a brand new product-- a self programming remote - just point and click. The thing is the remote works on anything and anyone. Suddenly, Sandler has the power to control his life - fast-forwarding through the bad and freezing the screen when things are good!

While this is a great comedy, there is also the emotional drama aspect when he finds he is using the remote so much that life is whizzing buy. I found myself laughing, shedding a tear or two, and then knowing by the end that this is a movie I'll have to own. I could watch it again and again without tiring of it.

Who are the people in your neighborhood?

Remember that old Sesame Street song. :-) I find it sad that not many people can name the people in their neighborhood. One of my neighbors just dubbed me Capt. Snoop. So I figured since I'm still snickering over that, I'll share my neighbors.

To one side of me, I have the Disablity Man. Do I actually know his name? Sadly, no, though I do know all of his kids. Disability Man has been here since before we moved in. He doesn't work, yet drunken he can get up onto his roof to fix the antenna during a football game. He can't work, but he is clever enough to tie a push mower to the back bumper of his sedan and drag it behind him so that he has a riding mower. His kids are sweet, but I think they've suffered too much verbal abuse by their father to actually do any better in life. The daughter is 21 now and has just had her second baby while living at home. The older son, haven't seen him in a while, so I'm hoping he got out. The younger son, he's our local graffiti artist. He thinks he gets away with it, but I've shared his name with the local officers when they ask who sprayed Nate all over the place. Hint to graffiti wanna-be's, don't use your name or nickname, I can guarantee your neighbors will know it's you.

I've spoken endlessly about my other next-door neighbor. The good news is, the 21/22 year old girlfriend is gone. Now the son never leaves his house at all. The daughter is still there, and she and her boyfriend have wonderful screaming matches at all hours.

Across from me, there is a family of lovely people (friends of my mom's actually) and then up the hill kind of behind them is this family who feel it is truly acceptable to go to work for the day and leave your two dogs loose outside. I'm still waiting for a paint pellet gun with skunk odor pellets. Every time one of those dogs charged me or my kids, I'd make it stink really, really bad!

The next few neighbors down the road are quiet, unassuming people who pretty much keep to themselves. Though one of them cracks me up, he has an abundance of wild plum trees and will chase you down the road begging you to take some. We hit the house on the corner of our block (opposite my corner) and their sons can be rowdy, but thankfully they are moving, so no more screeching tires at 1 A.M!!

Going out back, there is a nice older couple. Across from them is this awful woman whose dog bit I think it was 4 kids. She still keeps the dog (part Chow), even though one of those kids was her own son. She always acts high and mighty, never works (her ex-husband owns his own lighting company, so I assume he foots her bills), and in general doesn't talk to anyone. Suits me fine - her kids are obnoxious (I've had plenty of dealings with them when I spent a year riding the bus to help the driver out with student control.)

The next few neighbors, besides their obnoxious 4-wheelers, really do not bug me. A childhood friend (nextdoor neighbor growing up) is next in line. She is lucky and gets to live next door to this guy who can burp and fart at 100 decibel volume levels. I've never heard anyone able to carry a burp that shakes the windows of the house next door!

Beyond them is a younger family who are apparently moving to NC where life is cheaper. Then another divorcee who is sweet as anything. Across from her is the family with a really obnoxious 4-Wheeler fan (the daughter's boyfriend), the very pregnant daughter, their semi-troublemaking son who toned down when he got a job, and then the parents who never seem to have gained any control over their children. They live behind me in the road that circles behind us.

I do know most of my neighbors. I think it is a good thing to be aware of the comings and goings of traffic in your area. I know when a suspicious car is in the area, and after two local girls were raped by a released child molester about 10 years ago, I'm more than happy to keep my nickname! I'd rather know who is in my neighborhood and if I should be warning my children about them.

What is wrong with the world today?

I watched my neighbors after a death in the family. These are nice people. Quiet people who will do anything for anyone if asked. So after the elderly mother died, the police sat there at the house for three hours waiting for the coroner to arrive. Now I understand, the officer has his job, apparently they cannot leave family alone with a body, not sure on the logistics of that, but whatever.

One officer left after an hour and a half - meanwhile, I kept thinking why two officers? They are so shortstaffed that they cannot properly patrol the streets and interstates, but they can have two officers sit with a body for hours? Seems to me there is something wrong with that picture...

Motherhood...

So today's topic has to be Britney Spears. I am not a Britney Spears fan, nor will I ever be (though I do still love the cover Dweezil and Ahmet Zappa did of Hit Me Baby One More Time.) However, I think the media is going overboard with her. Sure she's young, she's possibly inexperienced, but she's also HUMAN. She has made mistakes, haven't we all, however every time the press has been right on her tail ready to catch her and then proclaim that she's a horrible mother and that the child welfare department has been called in.

So the first time, she was trying to escape paparrazi with her young son on her lap. That was a mistake, she admits it. But why are the idiots who were chasing her not held to blame? Where does the stalking law come into play? Any mother's gut instinct is to protect her child. If I had photographers chasing after me I think the first response would be to get your child to safety. These same idiots then turn around and sue for getting their feet run over. I want to see the stars grab cameras and then start hounding the hell out of the paparrazi. That would make for a fun show!

The next occurrence, her nanny dropped her son while lifting him from the high chair. I'm still unsure why this was Britney's fault. The nanny admits she dropped him. The kid was checked out and he was okay. Move on. He's not the first kid to squirm out of a caretaker's grasp. Meanwhile, there are kids out there who are being beaten on a daily basis and child welfare never show up to help. How about that kid in I want to say it was Chicago who was watching his mother die and 911 refused to believe him? That child suffered tremendous trama and the 911 operator and her boss state they had every reason and right to tell him he was going to be in trouble for lying. I find that far more detrimental!!

The last thing that happened, a pregnant Britney tripped on a curb and almost dropped her son. The key word here is ALMOST. So again she's a horrible mother to the media. I shudder to think what they would have said when I was carrying my squirming 2 1/2 year old out to the car in the garage. The steps into our garage are narrow and there is no rail. She squirmed, I tripped, and instinctively put her on top of me so that I'd take the brunt of the fall. Regardless, she got up and was fine, I was scraped and bruise, but was fine. However, I find that far scarier than tripping on a curb. The point is - we are all human and mistakes happen. Tripping on stairs, a curb, etc. is not an uncommon event.

Other things that I've done that would have created a media frenzy had I been a star. I put my 2 month old on the sofa while I was folding laundry. I turned my back for about ten seconds to fold a sheet and he rolled off onto the pile of clothing I had folded and had sitting on the carpet. I still don't know how a 2 month old could roll, but he did and I bawled for an hour after that. Meanwhile, he was fine and my pediatrician at the time said to get used to things like that because kids are full of the unexpected. I still shudder at the thought of that, he was fine, he landed on a cushion of clothing, but I felt like a heel.

Another time, my daughter was playing on the deck. She was about 3 and we had a heavy swinging gate on the deck. My son had forgotten to latch the deck gate. Jess got her hand trapped in it and her fingers were swelling up. I rushed her to the doctor to make sure they had not broken. She got interviewed to make sure someone hadn't hurt her while I was out of the room. That disheartened me, and in the end her story gave them all the proof they needed to know for certain that it was an accident. This was a first time we had to take her to the doctor for an injury, and here in VT they waste no time thinking it is abuse and then disproving it after. Guilty until proven innocent. That's what happens with Britney, I'm sure, and it's not right.

What's wrong with the world?

In the past week, I've been watching the morning news and making notes of stories that tick me off.

1. So apparently if you are strict with your children they will be fatter. Too many parents already shy away from discipline lets help fuel their fire... sigh. http://today.reuters.com/news/newsarticle.aspx?type=healthnews&storyid=2006-06-05t040600z_01_n01372730_rtrukoc_0_us-parents.xml


2. A number of anti-the death penalty people have been protesting the death penalty handed down in the Donald Fell case (in a nutshell, Fell and his buddy kidnapped a woman on her way in to work one morning, took her across state lines where they beat her to death. I realize that the death penalty is a touchy subject for some, but I personally want all of these people who say "No one close to me has been murdered, BUT I know Fell's death will not relieve their suffering." If you have never been in the King family's shoes, do not even bother trying to state how they will feel after Fell dies.

3. Another case is really getting on my nerves. Last year a minor got into the car his mother bought him (he was 13/14) and drove it into a rock wall killing his two passengers. Now the boy's mother is suing the parents of the two boys saying their actions were just as much to blame and the media attention over this case has cause injury to her reputation. First, why on earth would anyone buy their unlicensed/not even close to the driving age child a car??? Second, give it up. Those boys paid with their life. You son could have said NO, I'm not driving without a license. He didn't, he drove the car that killed two others, get over it and if the negative attention from those in your small town is too much for you, learn to parent a little more responsibly. Handing a kid car keys before they are licensed isn't great parenting.

Even the geese have had enough

I spent yesterday swimming in my basement. With the rain, rain, and even more rain, my basement is seeping nicely. In fact, you can watch water spurt from a hole at the top of the sump pump bucket much to my kids delight.

I've had my fill of rain. The basement is toast. Thankfully, the sump pump keeps up with it, but the rugs I had down near my washing machine are toast. Water has never made it beyond the front portion of the basement, now it has. So today's goal is to throw the rugs out. I have a plan on how to control this much seepage in the future, I just need to find the right things and get my basement to dry out completely.

In the meantime, I went grocery shopping yesterday and took my son with me. My husband and daughter spent the morning vacuuming up water and squeegeeing it to the sump pump area. (Whoever invented the long poled squeegee should be knighted!)

So as we were driving by the swamp, we saw six or seven geese sat on the banks with their heads tucked under their wings. Even the geese have had it with the rain.

My car has a boyfriend

Okay, here is my question of the day...

So can anyone please identify this bird for me?

We kept seeing down the road in the swamp near us from around March to mid-April and then it disappeared for a month. This morning it was in the neighbor's yard and waddled over to our yard when it saw my kids and I come outside to look at it (which makes me think it is domesticated.)

It let me take pictures for a while. And then, it saw its reflection in the car and it would not leave for the longest time. Kept squawking at the reflection, ruffling its feathers, and then gently pecking at the car. I had to go meet my husband at the garage, and then we ran errands at the same time. We've come back and its nowhere to be seen right now, though we did find its muddy duck/goose footprints up on the deck and the bag of dog food was all over the place. We'd bought a different food to try and it contains dried banana pieces, those were missing from the pile of food that dumped out.

We've been through our bird book and the closest we see for coloring is a snow goose, but the beak is really, really lumpy at the top, so snow goose no longer fits. We're puzzled to find out if anyone can identify it?

Okay, reality check.

I was cleaning things out because of the water in the basement. Had to move our homebrew to higher ground... actually, after seeing how much beer we have stocked up in the basement, I realize my next party needs to be a homebrew party just to drink some of it up... I can't drink as much as is stocked down there, but anyway...

I came across a Town Meeting Guide from 1998 - so it would have covered the year 1997. I am so SHOCKED at the differences between teachers' salaries then and now. Our Town Guide lists the current salaries for the public to see. These are base salaries and don't accomodate the paid vacation and benefits. So I grabbed the guide we got in March and did some comparing. One of the 3rd grade teachers went from 34k to 48k in this 8 year span. A special ed teacher went from 28k to 52k. The Middle school principal went from 52k to 78k. One of the Kindergarten teachers went from 29.5k to 57k. I find these pay raises absurd. I have no issues with slight pay raises, but it seems to me that these increases are far over the "minimal" 5% pay raises that we've been voting on. They also are not in accordance with the average person's pay raise.

Rain, rain go away...

Don't come back for a few months.

We've had too many days of straight rain. Rivers are flooded. Grounds are sopping wet. Plants are drowning. My husband and I were married 15 years ago. I've been waiting all spring to sit outside and smell the lilacs when they bloomed. So now they are finally open and the trees are sagging to the ground because the water has weighed down the flowers.

So yesterday morning, the dreaded water in the basement occured. I knew it was coming. I had to--we've had nothing but rain for almost three weeks. Apparently, we've had more rain than Seattle. I now know I could NEVER live in Seattle.

So if anyone wants to put in a pipeline from my basement to the south where they are dealing with a drought. I will happily let you hook the pipeline up to my sump pump. If you can handle five gallons every couple of minutes or so, the water is ALL yours!

Because one post is not enough...

I graduated from high school just about eighteen years ago. I still remember bumping into one of my favorite teachers after I took a job in mortgage banking -- her words to me were "Just remember that life isn't always fair and sometimes you have to just accept that things do not go your way."

Okay, so it's time to bring those words to the surface now. In today's economic times, I do not feel it is unfair for teachers to be paying 10% for their health insurance, nor do I think 15% a few years down the road is absurd to ask. Sure it's a good chunk of money, but come on, who doesn't pay that much in most cases??? I know some people who are now paying $50 co-pays and paying 25% and they are thankful to at least have health insurance.

So to that teacher who gave me that advice, I am shocked and disheartened that the teachers giving us advice such as this are throwing a hissy fit and striking because they feel more than 10% for health insurance is too much to ask. I'm sorry that I held you in such high esteem back then. You behavior now disgusts me. Get over yourselves.

I listened to the whole "We tried to negotiate at the last minute but the school board wouldn't accept our proposal." Why would that be? I'll let you know, because you were still planning on fighting, you were just going to take two years to do your battle.

The students are going to pay now. For ever moment you are on strike, the kids will suffer. The high schoolers will understand that your unwillingness to bend and at least meet the taxpayers halfway are going unnoticed.

When it absolutely has to be there...

AVOID FEDEX LIKE THE PLAGUE.

Dear FedEx:

This is the fifth time you have failed to deliver. Service in this area is pathetic and inexcusable. The first time, my new printer died unexpectedly. I put a call in to Brother and then sent me a replacement. Brother has this pathetic policy about taking a credit card during a warranty exchange because they want that original printer back and will charge you if you fail to return it. The printer arrived perfectly, and then Brother wanted the old printer packed into the same package returned within three days or the charge would go through. I called FedEx on the 2nd day when I had the new printer up and running. The delivery guy drove right by my house and never stopped. I called the 800 number and was told he'd definitely be there the next day. I explained the whole credit/charge issue and was told he would definitely be there. So I stayed home that next day and surprise, surprise he never came. Brother's Customer Service had to intervene and fight it for me, which thankfully they did, and also deleted the charge for me. The next morning the FedEx guy came and then never apologized, even after I made comments.

So the second time, I'd ordered some necessary items for a wedding and was guaranteed by the company that they could send FedEx and I'd have them on time. The FedEx shipment was set for two days before the wedding. They never showed up the day they were supposed to, nor did they show up on the day before the wedding. I spent more time on the phone with their stupid automated system than I should have. (KEY- As soon as that computer answers say "REPRESENTATIVE" and you can bypass the whole system). So I spent hours talking to the reps at the 800 number, and they had to page the truck driver who said he had the package, but he'd already delivered it. The address wasn't even close to mine - I still remember it was Cherry Street in a neighboring town and we live on Stone Bridge Road. The FedEx driver said he'd return to the Cherry Street location and try (emphasis on the word TRY) to retrieve the package.

So the day of the wedding, I had to leave no later than 11:00am, but was willing to push it to 11:30 and be a little late for the reception set up. By 10:30, there was no sign of the driver, so I was already on the line. 11am came and went. The driver finally agreed to meet us at a local gas station at noon. PATHETIC. So I decided after this that I was no longer going to use FedEx if I could possibly avoid it.

A year later, we were refinancing online and the bank only used FedEx. I told them I'd had horrible luck with FedEx, but they said the package with documents needing signatures would arrive on Wednesday at the latest. The loan was going to be cancelled if they didn't have documents by Friday at 5pm. The documents never came Wednesday, so I started calling. FedEx couldn't locate the package at all. I did get them Thursday at 5:15pm, turns out a truck never got unloaded. It was too late to send them back that night, so I'd already arranged with the bank to get an extension, which they did grant given FedEx's screw up.

So it's been well over a year since I've bothered dealing with Fedex. Then we decided to start the renovations on our kitchen this year. I have a small kitchen and we are trying to piecemeal it so that we aren't paying a load of money all at once. So my husband found this marble topped buffet that he loved that would give us extra counterspace and provide us with colors that we liked and could now rely on for the refinished cabinetry. The buffet left FedEx on Friday and two day delivery was the only way the company will ship. So the furniture vanished on Monday - but they quickly found it and guaranteed delivery on the 3rd. I made sure I would be home all day yesterday. I watched the truck sail by my house at 6pm, but I figured he'd go down the road and then back up like usual. By 7:30, still no sign of him. So I started calling. I finally got a live person at 7:45 and she has to have been the most idiotic airhead known to man. Her first response was that he was running late. I told her I'd rearranged my day because delivery had been assured. So she responded by saying that mistakes happen and that I would have to make sure someone is home all day today because she has no idea what time he'll come. I told her I wanted delivery first thing in the morning. Flat out, I was told they do not guarantee delivery times and that I'd just have to reschedule my day to make sure I was home until 7pm. So I started getting mean - by this point I really didn't care-- she went into her computer system and then said that she'd found a driver note stating "The furniture is too bulky to deal with tonight, so I'll deliver when I have more time this week." What kind of pathetic excuse is that??? They will accept the money for the delivery but then hold off delivering because it is too bulky?

Save yourself the hassle - UPS has never let me down.

Nashville Star

Congratulations to Chris Young. I knew he'd take the contest, so I am thrilled to find out I was right.

I can't say I was a huge fan of his singing (though he is rather nice eye-candy). What impressed me is that he went out on a limb and played songs that HE wrote. He didn't do the karaoke bit that everyone else did. He showed guts and proved he had talent to spare. His voice is a little twangy for my liking, but then that's my issue with most country. I don't like the twang. However, his song is certain to become a country hit - it has all the right components. And did I say he's certainly not bad to look at? I'm curious to see if he can go all the way once he has his record finished and in the stores.

Okay, telemarketing people, listen up!

Sure you have a job to do. I won't argue that, but I still won't be nice.

For the past two weeks, I have been getting phone calls from the same 801- number. It is a company called Western Research. Now Western Research is my target for this evening. They need to get over themselves, get a life, and stay the hell away from my phone lines. I'm past the point of being polite now.

Let me start by saying that I am on the Federal Do Not Call Registry, for as little good as it does. Survey people are not covered, they can still call when they choose.

Western Research has called me as early as 7:10am and as late as 9:30pm. I have caller ID so I ignore them. They called again this afternoon - and for the third time, they left me this message--

"This is so and so from Western Research. Hello? Is someone home? Hello? Please answer the phone, we need to talk to you. Hello? We know you are home, please answer."

I'm not freaking kidding. Three times and they've left creepy messages saying they know I am home. So I changed the message on my answering machine and I thought they might get the hint, however they still didn't. They still left that message. So next time, I will be answering the phone.

If Western Research is the company I am thinking of, they did the same thing with my parents a couple years ago. They were calling about the movie and television industry and how wrong it is that more violence is being shown on TV. So I've decided I'm going to answer the phone and when I'm done, I KNOW they won't call me again.

NASCAR

I never was into Nascar until last year. Then while flipping channels one day, my husband and I came across a Nascar Poker Championship. I LOVE Texas Hold'Em. I'm a Hold'Em addict. So we watched the championship not knowing who the players really were. So I watched and soon found myself entertained by the antics of Ryan Newman and Elliot Sadler. My husband was amused by Tony Stewart, so from that point on we started watching portions of the races. Now we tend to watch the majority of the races. He roots Tony Stewart on and I root for Ryan and Elliot, though preference usually goes to Ryan. (Thanks to my hubby's front office for supplying me with a world of Alltel goods thanks to their new wire contract!)

One thing amazes me. People can watch for the crashes or whatever draws them into the world of Nascar. Jimmie Johnson - don't like him - I went to school with a Jimmie Johnson that lived here for a couple years in middle and high school and then he moved south. Though I'm sure that this is not the same person, I can't stand him on name alone. And then his behavior on the track fits well with the Jimmie Johnson I knew, so it's a double whammy for him. Everyone's little poster boy - Dale Earnhardt Jr. Don't like him either.

The Busch brothers drive me nuts.

The drumroll for most obnoxious has to go to Jeff Gordon.

I realize those guys have their fan bases, but you won't hear anything in praise of them from me.

So, it comes down to why I have begun watching Nascar. Those guys are amazing drivers. They drive in high speed traffic jams that would have me wetting myself, yet if a crash occurs they magically happen to steer around the crashed cars in my cases. Their skill is mesmerizing. I think I'd be fine with Ryan or Elliot behind the wheel. I'll happily put myself in their hands!

Parenting 101

Okay, I feel the need to point this out. I would HOPE that the majority of parents out there have a clue, but I'm starting to learn that not everyone has the common sense one would think they inherited at birth.

If you have two children - one 14 and one 17 who have proven themselves to be very unreliable via drug use, poor friend/boyfriend/girlfriend options, episodes with huffing that come close to a terminating a life, etc., don't think these same kids will be PERFECTLY fine without adult supervision while you go off to Italy for a week.

I'm sorry but these responsible children have been having what appear to be mass orgy sleepovers. The 14 year old's 21 year old girlfriend moved in without hours of your departure. The 17 year old's drug dealing boyfriend moved in the next day. There have also been two other cars there all night - who knows who they are.

The banging on my door last night at 11ish proves that these irresponsible idiots need supervision all the time. I didn't catch them this time, but when I do I will call police and press charges if necessary. You may not care what your children do, but I will not have them harassing my family.

Summer Obstruction

They can try to call what they do to roads and interstates "construction" but to be "construction" it should be constructive. I find it is more obstructive, so I long since dubbed construction as obstruction, hence my bitch of the day.

We had to go to Home Depot and Walmart last night which means getting on the interstate. The interstate here sucks and is usually very rough. Thankfully, the state has deemed our section awful and they are repaving. So for a five or six mile stretch the road is scarified and nasty. So we went through the section where they were working. It is closed to one lane. We finally got through the first batch and found a sign that increased the speed limit to 65, yet signs stating that work zones are 55mph and double fines are given if you are caught speeding. So we became confused - not that we were going to go 65 on scarified pavement anyway.

A 1/2 mile down the road more signs warning 55mph and double fines appeared which make us wonder what the 65 sign was all about?

Anyway--- after 6 miles the zone actually came to an end. Why we were one-laned for 6 miles baffled us too. There were one set of workers near the interstate on-ramp - there were no others. The on-ramp is right near the beginning of the work zone. Why not close it to one lane in the one stop they were working? Why go 6 full miles when you are not touching those other 5 1/2 miles???

News from around my area...

So, I've been told I can be a pretty amazing gossip. Maybe it's all the chick lit I read. :-)

Anyway, so today is going to be gossip day. Ready? (Remember that these are my observations so maybe I'm missing something more to the story--maybe...)

1. Action heated up on Saturday night in my back yard when I watched a local 14 year old sneak off with his 21-year-old "They're really only friends" girlfriend. Sure... and I'm a virgin who happens to have two kids through childbirth. Only friends.... At midnight when a 21 year old pulls off on the side of a nearby road and waits for her 14 year old "friend" to sneak out of the house, you know there is much more going on than friendship. There is a whole other term for that kind of buddy. I'm not sure what disturbs me more (not that it really is any of my business and I do know that) that this 21 year old female is interested in a 14 year old boy whose mental age is probably 10 tops or that the mother seems so blind to it. I'd be throwing down statutory rape charges so fast it would make her head spin!

2. So a rare frog has been found in the area where Walmart has been trying to build a store for 15 years now. Funny how this "rare frog" was seen recently and comes from Africa orginally. Five bucks says that hippie environmental firm from MA who wants Vermont to be Walmart free planted it there. Why does an organization out of Massachussets who doesn't pay VT taxes get a say anyway?

3. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes had their baby. Anyone know if she screamed during birth? I really hope she did! If not, hopefully she embedded her foot up his behind and then told him to expel it without making any noise.


Anyway... it's sunny outside and I want to be out in it. So I'm off for now, but I plan to share more gossip soon.

Movies

So we went and saw Scary Movie 4 on Friday night. It has its good and bad points. Obviously, this is a spoof, anyone going to the movie thinking the humor will be high class is wrong. I'm still surprised at the number of reviews I read where the critics were disgusted by the use of crude humor. Anyone knows that these spoofs rely on crude humor - think Airplane with the blow-up pilot... If crude humor is not your thing then don't go!

Carmen Electra's scene was so out of character to me that it was rather amusing. The spoof of Tom Cruise was a highlight and so close to the truth that he must be steaming mad right now. :-)

Now seeing Leslie Nielsen naked... that still makes me cringe. It's kind of like another movie where Jack Nicholson and Kathy Bates were naked together. I enjoy them as actors/actresses, but seeing them naked is a whole other ballgame.

Meanwhile, there is something I noticed that has me pondering the fate of screenplay writers everywhere. While the previews were playing there is a strong leaning towards remaking movies of the 70's and 80's. Are there no good screenplays out there? Screenplay writers must suck wind. The Omen is being reissued. Superman is coming out yet again. The Poseidon Adventures.

Another trend is making movies from video games -- Doom, Lara Croft, now Halo and Castlevania are joining the action.

Today's News

I have a couple of issues that I've heard on the news...

First, what was up with Andy Rooney's segment last night. Why on earth did CBS cut him off so abruptly? I was cheering him one (he was discussing elementary school/middle school testing thanks to No Child Left Behind) and all the sudden it went to ads right in the middle of his sentence and they played ads for five minutes. When they returned credits were rolling.

Here we have the NECAP tests. My son and daughter's scores just returned. Now a couple of weeks ago, we went to parent/teacher conferences and were told that my daughter is having problems with reading comprehension. This really surprised me as she reads all the time at home and seems more than capable of retelling me the key parts. So I looked over her NECAP scores for reading comprehension. She got 11 right out of 13. That means she's having problems??? I find that disturbing. What kind of pressure are these kids under if two wrong equates to having difficulties?

I've had my fill of NECAP tests and want to see the education system overhauled. Children doing well in school get the money - the kids struggling find themselves in schools being cut off from federal funding because the kids can't pass these ludicrous tests. Oh, please. It comes down to the whole rich get richer principle that seems to dominate the world. Take the money from those who need it the most and give it to those who don't necessarily need it.

Another news story (this morning) truly ticked me off. A thirty-seven year old man was found guilty of molesting a 15 year old girl. It turns out this fifteen year old had the molester's baby and now he is suing for custodial rights. The fact that this is tying up the court system is absurd. He admits he molested her, though he says he thought it was consensual and he thinks he should get to see this baby. No freaking way!

Brokeback Mountain

So... I watched Brokeback Mountain a couple of days ago. I wanted to see if the hype was worth it. Typically, I don't trust Oscar nominees--- Crash bored me - it flipped around too much, yet it won best picture. I'm renting or going to the movies for entertainment not to have some artsy-fartsy director/producer/writer create some "vision" that borders more on art than on entertainment.

So with that in mind, I'm perhaps already biased. So Brokeback Mountain started. The setting is gorgeous and seeing Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhal's behinds on camera isn't such a bad thing - men can have breasts, I'll stare at a nice tush anytime. ;-)

Brokeback Mountain started out boring me as usual. Day in and day out of moving a herd of sheep up in the mountains. It's tedious work in real life I'm certain, it's plain boring on screen. Then the two men decide they need sexual release and the action (if you don't mind me calling it that) begins. Now I have no issues with gay romance in reality---to each his/her own---but watching it was kind of pornish and creepy to me. I wound up skipping through those scenes. Gay sex just is not something I care to watch... and I am certain there are homosexuals who find man/woman sex to be just as icky. Again, it's a to each his/her own type deal.

Anyway... then the movie goes back to more sheepherding - again boring. Eventually the pair are pulled out of the mountain by Randy Quaid who knows what they've been doing and he's disgusted and doesn't want them working together ever again. Heath Ledger marries (Michelle Williams) and is miserable. Jake goes off and hooks up with one of my favorite actresses (Anne Hathaway) and has a son--he's miserable too. So the pair take off periodically for a "reunion fishing trip" and keep up their romance.

Now I realize times were different, but I still get pissy that these men toy with women. If you know you can't totally give your heart to a woman then do her a favor and don't marry her. From that point on, I know longer liked the characters. In the end, I did watch the entire movie and felt it was a waste of my time. It's one of those artsy films that just doesn't entertain me.

Music Industry

Okay, so it ticked you off that people were downloading. As someone who has over 1000 cds, albums, cassettes and 45's, I think you should stop hosing the public. I've supported your industry for years. I am, however, furious over your latest action and think it's time the public fights back.

For years, greatest hits albums added one or two new tracks ensuring that fans would wind up buying the greatest hits regardless of the fact that it was those one or two new tracks that made the album worth purchasing. That always steamed me, but I accepted it.

However, the new trick they are using should be illegal. I like Shakira's music. So when Oral Fixations Vol. 2 came out, I bought it the same day of the release. Now her new song - Hips Don't Lie - just came out, but it isn't on Oral Fixations Vol. 2. At least, not on the version they released a number of months ago. No, they have recut the album, added two tracks and are expecting those who have already bought it to go out and buy it again. This is absurd. Why not offer a huge discount/trade-in to those who bought it when it first came out.

Shakira is not the only artist whose record company is pulling this trick. Trisha Yearwood's record label has pulled the same trick. Is this a new trend? Probably. It's the way for the music industry to now punish fans. Am I going to buy the new Shakira album? Hell no. I'll find a way to get the additional two songs, and meanwhile, I am now boycotting Epic. Hopefully, other fans will follow suit.

Spring Ahead...

I hate the time change. I really hate the time change. Profound, I know, however, I watched the hours pass yesterday and at 11pm, I was still wide awake. Knowing I had to be up at 5:30am, I was not happy that my body was so freaking perky. So what happened?

Well, I finally fell asleep at about midnight. Then come 5am when my husband's alarm went off, I rolled over and fell into a deep sleep again. So come 5:45 I'm still sound asleep and showing no signs of coming to. In the end, I'm pooped and ready for bed - yet it's only 3:15. I see no need for the time change anymore, so let's do away with it for good!!

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!