What a Wonderful Example

Okay... so, your 6 year old daughter wants to win tickets to a Hannah Montana show.... as her mother, what do you do? Well, if you're this mother, you tell her to lie through her teeth.

What a great example. This woman told her daughter to write an essay about how her father died in Iraq this year. And then the woman gave the contest people false information. When they were caught, the mother had to come clean. The child's father had not died in Iraq, in fact, no one with the information she gave has died in Iraq. Thankfully, the contest people decided that lying was not going to get this child what she wanted... a lesson her mother apparently missed somewhere along the way. Another child is getting the tickets.

We wonder what's wrong with our society. Why we have children and young adults who have no personal sense of right and wrong... no moral compass. It's a disgrace to be sure, but when these children have no adult over them... showing them the right way, then what do we expect? If adults are not willing to govern themselves, then how do we expect our children to? When we teach our children, by our actions and words, that the ends always justify the means... then what? When we teach them that anything goes and that there is no clear right and wrong... what do we expect to happen?

I think we loose our credibility. I know we loose our moral authority. And, in the end, when we've lost our moral compass... our ability to know and do what is right and honorable... then what do we have left? What is there left to honor and cherish? Precious little, I think.

But if you look around, there are very few around who will take any kind of moral stand.... and those who do are labeled as bigots... or worse. When did this happen? When did the idea of universal truth go by the wayside? When did we sell our souls? When did we decide that someone's feelings were more important than their moral code of conduct?... I thought what we do defines us.... not what we happen to be feeling at any given moment.

Alvin and The Chipmunks: The Christmas Song

One of my fav Christmas songs! A true classic!

Natalie grant held

One of my all-time favorite songs... Enjoy

Some Thoughts...

(Thanks, Mom.)


Number 9 Life is sexually transmitted.

Number 8 Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.

Number 7 Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day; teach a person to use the Internet and they won't bother you for weeks.

Number 6 Some people are like a Slinky ... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.

Number 5 Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing.

Number 4 All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism.

Number 3 Why does a slight tax increase cost you $200.00 and a substantial tax cut saves you $0.30?

Number 2 In the '60's, people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird and people take Prozac to make it normal.

AND THE NUMBER 1 THOUGHT FOR 2008: We know exactly where one cow with Mad-cow-disease is located among the millions and millions of cows in America , but we haven't got a clue as to where thousands of illegal immigrants and terrorists are located. Maybe we should put the Department of Agriculture in charge of immigration.

Stargate Sg1, The best clip ever.

Evanescence

Peaceful Religion... yeah, right

Crowd Calls for the Death of Jailed Teacher

It is unbelievable to me that this poor woman was convicted! People want to get up in arms about injustice??? Well, here you go. Get up in arms about this. These people are some of the worst humanity has to offer and they have the gall to say that this woman incited hate and insulted their "prophet." What a crock! All they know it hate.

All because she let her classroom full of kids name their teddy bear, Mohammad.

This is beyond crazy. This is evil.

This

Are we doing this right?

By this, I mean life... and all the stuff that gets thrown into the blender. Are we really living? Or are we just following the pattern, like a world full of over-grown lemmings?

I don't know... but I can't help but think that we've missed the boat, somewhere along the way. When is the last time any of us just stopped to ask, "Why?" Why do both of us have to work? Why do my kids need the newest and best? Why is that vacation in the new 'it' place to vacation so darn important? Will I really "just die" if I don't get the latest whatever?

What are we teaching the people around us? Perhaps, that all we care about is ourselves?

I heard it once said that you can identify some one's priorities by how they spend their money. And, I think there's something to that. I've checked myself on more than one occasion by what was written in the subject line of by check book register. We spend our money on that which we love the most. And, I think, more often than not... it's ourselves.

And in the mean time, what are we sacrificing? Who are we sacrificing?

Can Anyone Explain This to Me?

9 Year Old Suspended for "Hate Crime"

Who am I - Casting Crowns

Alrighty then,

Cross Dressing Day at School

This Poor Little Boy

Student defends his teacher over naming of bear.

Eww! Eww! Eww!

California town starts to turn toilet sewage into drinking water

The World Doesn't Hate America, the Left Does: By Dennis Prager

New Fiction Book in the Works

Kennedy agrees to pen memoirs in lucrative deal

Find a Rope & a Tree

Mother of 'Baby Grace' Told Police She Tortured, Beat Daughter to Death, Court Documents Show

This is Sick

British Teacher Facing 40 Lashes for Naming Teddy Bear 'Muhammad' Awaits Judge's Ruling

Well... this is a problem.

Mideast oil state now top shareholder of largest U.S. bank

Fleetwood Mac Gypsy

Leann Rimes - Probably wouldn't be this way

I'm not gonna tell you how to raise your kid, but I've always found that sticking your fingers in your ears and humming loudly solves a whole slew of problems.”

Let it Snow...

This was awesome. It snowed a little bit here in the Dallas, Texas area.

My God...

Iraqi school guard & wife beheaded while their children are forced to watch.

Wow... I'm Kinda Speechless

Eco Warrior Sterilized to Protect the Planet

Happy Thanksgiving

glitter-graphics.com

Croakin' The Toads

I'm sorry, but why haven't we croaked these toads? Seriously? Why is this such a radical thought??? If someone wants to kill you, you kill them first! I do not know why in hell we haven't made a parking lot there! This is frickn' ridiculous!

Suicide Bomb In Iraq Kills 6

Yeah, I Feel Safe...

Good, Lord.... if we can't even have security in the body of officials who are charged with our security and safety....

Double Agent at FBI and CIA

My favorite part? The fact that we paid this chick no small amount of money to bend us over the table.

Why don't we just put out a frickin' big sign at all the borders....

"Welcome to the United States. Spank us. We like it."

What seems wrong here???

Why Saudi punished the rape victim

If this isn't barbaric, I don't know what is. Do we really need to be aligning ourselves with a country that treats its' women in such a fashion???

Church Bulletins (Thanks Mom)

Thank God for church stenographers with errant keyboard skills. These sentences actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services:

Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at St. Martin's Church. Please use the large double doors at the side entrance.

The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.

The sermon this morning: "Jesus Walks on the Water."
The sermon tonight "Searching for Jesus."

Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale.
It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house.
Don't forget your husbands.

The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.

Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say "Hell" to someone who doesn't care much about you.

Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.

Miss Charlene Mason sang "I will not pass this way again," giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.

For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir.
They need all the help they can get.

Barbara remains in the hospital and needs blood donors for more transfusions. She is also having trouble sleeping and requests tapes of Father Jack's sermons.

The Priest will preach his farewell message after which the choir will sing "Break Forth Into Joy."

Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church.
So ends a friendship that began in their school days.

At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What Is Hell?"
Come early and listen to our choir practice.

Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.

Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled.
Proceeds will be used to cripple children.

Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.

The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.

Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM -
prayer and medication to follow.

The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind.
They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.

This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church.
Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.

Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM.
All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. is done.

The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.

Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM.
Please use the back door.

The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.

The Priest unveiled the church's new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday:
"I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours!"

Stargate Quote of the Week...

JACKSON: You said Hell, right?

O'NEILL: Well, I'm going to end up there sooner or later. Might as well check out the neighborhood, huh?”

Her Eyes - Lorelai and Luke

A note to those who comment:

Every once in a while I get a comment from someone who takes issue with something that I have said or posted.

Let me tell you something, I have a really hard time taking someone seriously when they criticize and then don't even have the intestinal fortitude to sign their name. I have no respect for drive-by "shooting" in the blog world. And I have even less respect for people who hide behind "Anonymous" postings.

So, here is what I have to say to the lovely person who tried to police my blog, "Grow up. If you have nothing better to do than to try to pass judgement on me, then you need a hobby... Quick. And if you want to be taken seriously, then sign your damn name & take responsibility for what you say."

Jeff Dunham - Achmed the Dead Terrorist

Memo...

School is kicking my butt.
Our refrigerator crapped out.
and...
Facebook is highly addictive.

That is all.

Postcard from the edge of "Nanny-dome"

I love being a nanny. I really do. Sometimes, it drives me up the wall. The hardest part, by far, is being helpless when you see your "family" steering into the crazy skid.

As faithful readers of this blog know, my 'family' is currently dealing with some issues with their girls. They have 3 of the smartest, talented and beautiful (inside and out) girls ever to walk this earth. (I might be slightly biased, but not by much.) But there are problems o'plenty. The oldest girl, M, is bulimic and has cutting issues. She's just a few months shy of her 16th birthday now, but I can remember when she was 12 and she would ask things like, "Is this healthy?" "How many calories are in this?" "Will this make me fat?"

The only 12 year old I knew who would ask those things. And I remember telling my mom that she was on the fast track to an eating disorder.

The hardest part of what I do is not being able to help sometimes. I HATE that because I don't have children, my advice is rejected out of hand. If there is one thing in this wide world that will send me so far out of this galaxy that NASA can't track me, is being disregarded. Drives me NUTS!

No, I don't know what it's like to raise a child. But I do know what its like to have to deal with that child when the parent is off doing whatever it is that they do. I do know what its like to have to teach obedience to children who run their households. I do know what its like to teach respect to impudent children. And I do know what its like to teach children about kindness and gratefulness... qualities that are sorely missing from children today.

From this side of the fence these are the most important things parents can teach their children:
Respect
Kindness
Obedience to those in authority
To be appreciative

Trust me on this... life is hell for those of us charged with taking care of your children when they don't know these things. And it shouldn't be up to us to teach them. It should be the most important task of the parents. Because, if you don't get those traits into your children, then what the hell was the point in having them? I mean, really?

And let me tell you, the best time to teach those qualities is when they are still in nappies. Because, when they get completely mobile & good with their vocabulary... game over.

I am over the top done with parents who insist on giving their kids "choices." GRRRR!!!! Little kids (most kids, truth be told) DO NOT NEED CHOICES! They need to know what is required from them & what will happen to them if they don't follow through with their tasks. They need structure and they need clear guidelines.

Kids need to know what to expect. Kids don't do well with life's little surprises. They must learn cause and effect when they are little.

Do kids need time to run and play and be kids? Yes! Of course they do. But the only way they can have that time is when they are allowed to be children, not forced to be little adults. Children need discipline, guidelines, clear expectations... they need parameters. Will they try them? Well, duh. But that's how they learn what behavior is acceptable and what's not. That's how they learn what they can and cannot get away with.

Is this any easy job? Hell, no. This is the hardest job, parenting. (Just ask my mom, I was a hellion. But she did the hard work & I thank her for that.)

If you want something low maintance and easy to take care of, get a turtle. If you are not willing to do the hard work, then you need a kitty... not a child. If you want a friend and companion, get a dog... don't have a child.

Anyway... sorry for the rant. Just needed to get that off my chest.

I Gotta Agree

Education Is Not the Answer

Thanks Mom

The Little Red Hen

Slightly different story.

Once upon a time, on a farm in Texas, there was a little red hen whoscratched about the barnyard until she uncovered quite a few grains ofwheat.She called all of her neighbors together and said, "If we plant this wheat,we shall have bread to eat. Who will help me plant it?"

"Not I," said the cow.

"Not I," said the duck.

"Not I," said the pig.

"Not I," said the goose.

"Then I will do it by myself," said the little red hen. And so she did. The wheat grew very tall and ripened into golden grain. "Who will help me reap my wheat?" asked the little Red hen.

"Not I," said the blue duck.

"Out of my classification," said the blue pig.

"I'd lose my seniority," said the blue cow.

"I'd lose my unemployment compensation," said the blue goose.

"Then I will do it by myself," said the little red hen, and so she did.At last it came time to bake the bread. "Who will help me bake the bread?" asked the little red hen.

"That would be overtime for me," said the cow.

"I'd lose my welfare benefits," said the duck.

"I'm a dropout and never learned how," said the pig.

"If I'm to be the only helper, that's discrimination," said the goose.

"Then I will do it by myself," said the little red hen. She baked fiveloaves and held them up for all of her neighbors to see. They wanted someand, in fact, demanded a share. But the little red hen said, "No, I shall eat all five loaves."

"Excess profits!" cried the cow.

"Capitalist leech!" screamed the duck.

"I demand equal rights!" yelled the goose.

The pig just grunted in disdain.

And they all painted "Unfair!" picket signs and marched around and around the little red hen, shouting obscenities.Then a government agent came. He said to the little red hen, "You must not be so greedy."

"But I earned the bread," said the little red hen.

"Exactly," said the agent. "That is what makes our free enterprise system so wonderful. Anyone in the barnyard can earn as much as he wants. But underour modern government regulations, the productive workers must divide the fruits of their labor with those who are lazy and idle."

And they all lived happily ever after, including the little red hen, who smiled and clucked, "I am grateful, for now I truly understand."But her neighbors became quite disappointed in her. She never again baked bread because she joined the "party" and got her bread for free.

And all the Democrats smiled. 'Fairness' had been established. Individual initiative had died, but nobody noticed; perhaps no one cared..... as long as there was free bread that "the rich" were paying for.

Small example: Bill Clinton is getting $12 million for his memoirs. Hillary got $8 million for hers. That's $20 million for memories from two people, who for eight years, repeatedly testified, under oath, that they couldn't remember anything.

"IS THIS A GREAT COUNTRY, OR WHAT? " said the Little Red Hen . . .

Yeah, this is charming.

Note to self... never move to Germany.

Yeah... this sucks.

Iran Justice?

Three Witches from Macbeth
by William Shakespeare

Round about the cauldron go;
In the poison’d entrails throw.
Toad, that under cold stone
Days and nights hast thirty one
Swelter’d venom sleeping got,
Boil thou first i’ the charmed pot.
Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the cauldron boil and bake;
Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
Adder’s fork, and blind-worm’s sting,
Lizard’s leg, and howlet’s wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.
Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

Out Loud

I'm just thinking out loud here...

How many of us are actually good about getting outside ourselves? What I mean is, we all know how easy it is to get completely wrapped up in our own particular brand of crazy. So much so that we can't see anything that's in front of us. I read an article in my christian woman's mag yesterday about following through when you say you're going to pray for someone.

... and the thought hit me. A lot of the time I have a hard time just looking up from my junk to see that someone else needs my prayers... much less follow through in a meaningful way.

That kinda caught me off-guard. I mean, I've always thought of myself as a fairly compassionate person & I do make it a policy to never let someone cry in my presence without my arms around them.

I became aware, very startlingly, that every day there are chances to be someone's comfort. To say to them, "I know it hurts. I believe you. I wish I could fix it, but all I can do is hold you and love you." I think, sometimes, that may be the best thing we can do when faced with pain that we can't fix. And that's hard for me to say... I always want to fix it. I always want to make it better... to rescue if I can.

And I realized how many of those chances I have squandered because I was "too busy" to look up.

Anyway. Just wanted to say, look around. There are people who could use a hug. There are people who could use an intercessor.

People who desperately need to be carried to Jesus.

I think that's up there on that list of stuff that makes life worth it.

Geez...

Homeschoolers in Germany

Insanity

Hello, people! Yall might wanna take a look at this and then scream a few choice words to your friendly Washington Representative. This is bad, bad news. We CANNOT let this happen. And, while you're at it, be sure to let your Rep. know that voting to continue the '01 and '03 tax cuts would be a really good thing!

The Mother of All Tax Increases

I'm Just Saying...

Okay, I'll be the first person to admit that I'm not some sort of genius here. There are a ton of people who are way smarter than me... however, I've been doing some thinking about the state of our Union. I thought I'd share some of my musings.

1. How hard is it to get our brains around the thought of defending the borders of the U.S.? I mean, really? How frakin' hard is this? After 9/11 I would think that closing the borders to the bad guys would be like, oh, I don't know, NUMBER 1 on the 'to-do' list!!!! Let's get real here... there are bad people in the world who want to kill us... and guess what? IT'S NOT OUR FAULT! These jerks want to whack us because they are EVIL. End of story. But for some strange reason, that doesn't seem to really sink in with the stiffs up in the Beltway. Maybe because they don't live in the real world? Perhaps because they are surrounded by body guards and massive security?? Hmmm???

Here's a thought, close the stinkin' borders, deport the people who are here illegally and make them do it the right way. Why is that so hard? I am over the top tired of hearing about "immigration issues." It's not that difficult a concept to grasp... If you snuck over here without proper papers... you get to leave. You broke our law. You don't get to stay. I don't care what sob story you have. You have to do it the legal way.

The End.

And don't get pissed at me. If you want to get pissed at somebody, then get pissed at the jokers at INS.

That may sound mean, but look... the number one job of the U.S. government is to protect its' citizens. That would be the people who were born here, or who have become citizens by doing it the right way. And guess what, we live in a pretty dangerous world. We don't have the luxury of giving people the benefit of the doubt. I remember 9/11 like it way yesterday... and now, a little over 6 years later, I'm still pretty hacked off. But this time, I'm pissed at my government for not protecting me. It's shameful that so many politicians put the so-called rights of people from other countries in front of the safety and well-being of the citizens of this country!

And that brings me to another point... Why is it that when some people from other countries come over here, they start demanding stuff? I'm a little confused as to why we have to have signs in languages other than English (the language of the United States, whether anyone likes it or not). And, I find it a little (okay, a lot) galling that someone from another country would start demanding anything. They came here... They left their homeland and made the choice to move here.... So, why are they demanding to be catered to??? What am I missing here? It strikes me as more than a little ungrateful and petulant.

But, you know... as long as the citizens keep hitting the snooze button, nothing is going to change. It's going to keep getting worse. The ACLU and other so-called "special interest" groups are running this country, whether anyone wants to admit it or not. The concept of government of the people for the people has been lost somewhere along the way. And I fear that we have sold our collective souls.

I'm just saying...

Wake UP ...

Christian Parents... I would read this.

The Atheist Indoctrination Project

My Lola

Jumping the Shark... Kinda

Okay, does anyone else here think we've jumped the shark just a little (read: ALOT) here as of late?

For those of you who don't know, the House of Rep's defeated the override of President Bush's veto of the SCHIPS. (The Republicans who actually care about the people they represent got the 2/3 majority needed... whoo-hoo.) And brilliant man that he is, Rep. Stark makes a lame (and really offensive) remark about President Bush.

Does anyone out there think there's something kinda goofy about this?

Anyone?

At all?

First of all, let me say that I (and most Republicans) support the SCHIPS program... as it is. I am all about extending it for children of poor and working poor families. But I am NOT, repeat, NOT is support of extending it to families with an average annual income of $61,000... not when the average ( AVERAGE EVERY DAY, ACROSS THE NATION, AVERAGE) family income is $48,000.

That's just poor business. And let's face it, running a country is a business.

And I don't buy the line that the extra $31 mil will come from a $1 tax on cigarettes... Yeah... that's great. Really comforting. The future dead person's family can comfort themselves that their loved one killed himself with death sticks... but, gosh darn, he was helping middle class children.

Please don't miss the sarcasm dripping from that statement.

And one more thing... I thought that SCHIPS was for POOR kids. Not middle class kids.

Good grief... Thank you to the Congressmen and women who used their heads and kept the President's veto intact... Shame on the pinheads who tried to override it... and shame on Rep. Stark.

Words Aren't Enough...

Yeah, here's one of the 'best and brightest' spouting off... I am stunned.

Stark Raving Mad: Congressman Accuses President of Deriving ‘Amusement’ from American War Dead

MasterCard MacGyver

Ahh... my hero...

Prayer Request

Hey, I have a prayer request. My Aunt Carol has been battling tongue cancer for a while now. She went to a cancer specialist place today and found out that the cancer has spread & is much worse than even her primary doctor had thought it was. She was told that her entire tongue would have to be removed... along with her voice box AND part of her jaw bone (it has spread into her jaw bone). And even then, they are not sure that this is really going to save her life. It's a bit like burning down the barn to kill the mice, in a way. She'll have to be fed through a tube for the rest of her life. This is pretty devastating news to us. My aunt is in her late 40's. She's the youngest of 7 kids.

Please pray for Aunt Carol.

Please pray for my family, especially my Grandparents. They are both in their 80's and this is going to be very hard on them. Carol has two children who are both under 20 and one granddaughter who's not 2 yet.

Thanks

The Bangles - If She Knew What She Wants

I've got Amanda listening to the Bangles... Oh, happy day!

Funniest Stargate SG1 Prank

SpiderPig FULL version! (from simpsons movie)

My Childhood...

So, many long time readers know that I have started back to school here in the last month or so. Just to catch all up, I'm taking classes on-line. (a wonderful thing for me) But, geez, my first class is a research paper (5-7 pages) and a video taped presentation (5-7 minutes). Do you know how long it's been since I've written an actual research paper??????

Way too long, apparently.

I think my brain is rusty.

Okay, end of mini-rant.

On to other things...

I have, lately, been reading a copious amount of biographies and autobiographies. Don't know what caused this reading kick, but hey... its fun. At the moment, I am reading a book on Amy Carmichael written by Elisabeth Elliot. I was at Family Christian Bookstore the other day and saw a new biography on June Carter Cash. (I heart the Carter family as well as Johnny Cash) Her son, John Carter, wrote it & my fav fav fav fav actor in the world, Robert Duvall wrote the forward for it. I really want this book. (hint, hint to those who love me and support my reading addiction)

Some friends of mine got to travel to the Holy Land here recently... cool huh? I'm trying very hard not to covet that trip too much. I would LOVE to make that journey myself. I think it would be amazing.

Oh, I'm writing my research paper on homeschooling. Just FYI.

I'm listening to the sound track of Spamalot... if you haven't heard it.... I highly recommend it. It's hilarious!

Well, that's all for now, faithful bloggies.
Later.

Vegas/California Pics

Me and my Dad at the Reagan Library

Me and my Mama.

Home from the hospital

Well... it looks like that cyst that they thought had "resolved itself" had "resolved itself" by bursting inside on me. Ick. The doc is thinking that that, combined with scar tissue and adhesions from a prior surgery caused me all that pain.

My throat is killing me- It's like the worst sore throat EVER. The only other time I have had a sore throat this bad was when I had strep & MONO at the same time. It's from them having me intubated (sp?) during the procedure. I HOPE it's better tomorrow, cause this is for the birds! It hoovers, big time.

The incision sites are kinda achy right now. That's with a couple of happy pills in my system. It's extra strength Vicodin & it just takes the edge off the pain- doesn't really take it away. I'm thinking about upping the dose to 2, instead of the 1 every 4-6 hours that I was trying to start out at. But I'll deal with that tomorrow.

**Special note, please keep the family for whom I nanny in your prayers. The oldest girl, M, who has been battling an eating disorder & severe depression took a rather large step back a week or so ago. She's tried to kill herself by shredding her wrist and arm while her mother and I were both gone from the house. I came home and handled the fall-out that went along with M calling for me and showing me what she had done. She's back in the hospital now, but the whole family (mom, dad, and 2 younger sisters) are in need of every prayer they can get.**

I'm off work tomorrow, but plan on returning on Friday. Thanks for stopping by!

Updating...

Well, I have good news & then some not so good news.

FIRST- the ovarian cyst that was found 2 weeks ago has resolved itself! It's gone. Whoo-hoo!!! Praise God, I am so happy about this. HOWEVER, the bad news is that I am still having some pretty intense pain in my left side. Nothing out of place was found last night at the ultra-sound, so my doc has decided that the best path to take now is a diagnostic lapriscopy (sp) surgery. Doing this, he'll be able to see what's going on inside. And let me tell you, I'll be happy to see this come to some kind of resolution. I'm getting pretty darn tired of living on Vicodin. Being a nanny and having a permanent foggy feeling is not the best thing in the world.

On to other news, I am going to (FINALLY) finish moving in this weekend. Ya, I know, what's it been... 5 months?! With the help of wonderful friends and family, we're going to move my bedroom set from my mom and dad's to our house and it will go in our bedroom & then we're going to set up the guest bedroom so it's no longer going to be a way station in the middle of our house! :-) Yea! I don't know who's more excited... me or the hubby.

Writing projects are trucking along.

School has started back up for me & I am super excited. I was bouncing in my computer chair on Sunday when I ordered my school books. Yeah, I know... dork.

That's all for now. Thanks for checking in!

We're Back!

And we had a wonderful time!

Pictures will be coming soon. But today, it was back to the rat race for my dear hubby and me.

One cool thing, we went to the Reagan Library in Simi Valley (I am a good little Republican, after all) and it was AMAZING. I highly recommend going. They even have the President's Airforce One that you can tour. I purchased some postcards & a cd package of some of the President's speeches. I started listening to it this morning on the way to work. GREAT stuff!

**** Side note, met Walter Koenig (Checkov) when he signed my poster... He looked at Michael and asked if I was his girlfriend. Michael said, "She's my wife." Then Mr. Koenig looked at me and then looked back at Michael and said, "She's very pretty."... That's my kinda cool story from the convention****

You Are Destined to Rule the World

You have the makings of a very evil dictator... Which is both kind of cool and kind of scary! Will you rule the world? Maybe. Maybe not. But at least you know that you could.

Are You Destined For World Domination?

You Are An Apple Tree

You are quiet and shy at times, but you have lots of charm and appeal. You are quite attractive: your pleasant attitude, flirtatious smile, and adventurous spirit draw people in. Sensitive and loyal in love, you want to love and be loved. You are a faithful and tender partner - who is generous in sharing your many talents. You love children, and you need an affectionate partner.

What's Your Celtic Horoscope?

Your Star Wars Name And Title

Your Star Wars Name: Tayva Frenn Your Star Wars Title: Nahlil of Rehtom

What Is Your Star Wars Name and Title?

Your Superpower Should Be Mind Reading

You are brilliant, insightful, and intuitive. You understand people better than they would like to be understood. Highly sensitive, you are good at putting together seemingly irrelevant details. You figure out what's going on before anyone knows that anything is going on! Why you would be a good superhero: You don't care what people think, and you'd do whatever needed to be done Your biggest problem as a superhero: Feeling even more isolated than you do now

What Should Your Superpower Be?

You Should Rule Jupiter

Huge and hot, Jupiter is a quickly turning planet with short days and intense gravity. You are perfect to rule Jupiter, because you are both dominant and kind. You have great strength and confidence, but you never abuse your power. You are always right. Even if you make mistakes, you compensate for them... before anyone knows it. Headstrong and ambitious, you always have a goal in mind. You are optimistic and believe thing things will always work out.

What Planet Should You Rule?

August already

I can't believe that it's August already.

That's just crazy. The days and months fly by so quickly & each and every one of them become more and more precious. I look at the girls that I keep and just kinda shake my head at the way they want to hurry up life... knowing how much they'll want to slow it down in just a few short years. They have no clue of how it flies by. But then, neither did I when I was their age. I guess that's one of the milestones of growing up- knowing how fast it goes & how precious every single second is.

For those doing the Happy Vegas Countdown with me: (drumroll, please) 5 MORE DAYS!!!!!! Whoo-hooo!!!!! Yes, gentle readers, in only 5 more days yours truly will once more be in the happiest city on earth! I can't wait! I am soooo excited! (I know, you can't tell can you?) There is a little fairy inside my head doing the 'Running Man' and 'The Moonwalk' as we speak.... I can't wait to show my sweet husband the city that I love so much...... and, of course, to geek out at the Star Trek Con.!

I got most of the laundry done (it never seems to end... just multiplies like bunnies on meth) yesterday. I want to be all packed by this weekend.... or as close to all packed as I can get. I work 8am-6pm Monday and Tuesday & we leave on Wed. I do not want to be running around like a crazy person Tuesday night trying to get everything packed. No way.

So, with that in mind, I'm hard at work on my beloved lists. Those faithful readers out there will remember my great love of list making and how I owe what little organization there is to my life to my excellent list making skills. I have lists for EVERYTHING. Not kidding. I am the List Making Queen... and, interestingly enough, I married the List Making King.... we just don't make lists for each other...... yet... very often. :-)

Hello everyone out there in bloggie land.

It looks like surgery is in the Flowerchild's near future... again. I found out on Sat. that I have another ovarian cyst... oy... A 5cm complex septiated cyst. Since there is no way on this green earth that I am going to miss my long awaited Vegas trip, I'm going to wait until I get back and then go back to the doctor, most likely for another ultra-sound and we'll see what's going on with it... if it's grown, shunk, whatever.... Then, we'll make the decision.... But, my gut feeling is that I'll be checking in to the hospital at either the end of August or the beginning of September. ::sigh:: Oh, well, I've been down this road before and I'm making a list (I do love my lists) of all the things I need to remember for this surgery.... and I'm looking on the bright side. Bright side? Yes, there's a bright side. I get to play with the morphine clicky thingy! :-)

Bubble, Bubble, Toil & Trouble...

Sometimes I REALLY hate writing!

GRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, breath.... I'll explain. There is something gut-wrenching about the entire process. It's painful. You carve out this little world with little people whom you grow so attached to. You love them. Completly. They really do become people to you. You know them inside and out. They are like old friends... and sometimes you paint yourself into the make-believe world & that only adds to the.... craziness of it.

I am writing a little world of my own at the moment &, let me tell you, I love these people. They are wonderfully flawed, nutty people. And I want so badly to tell everyone their story. I want others to know them like I know them.

And I have spent the past 6 hours or so (give or take) staring at the blank, white screen of death that is WORD. Driving me crazy. That's what it is doing. I find that I have fallen into the trap of over thinking EVERYTHING that I am writing. And over thinking leads to second guessing & that is death for my poor Muse.

Speaking of my Muse, she seems to have run away. I keep trying to bribe her back with promises of Dr. Pepper and Skittles... but, alas, to no avail.

::sigh::

Okay, back to work. Just wanted to blow off some steam.
Thanks for listening.

The Vaughan Family at Rest

You didn't see anything........

Southern Living

Well, the Southern Living is up and running. For those who are just tuning in, I am an independent consultant for Southern Living at Home. I really, really love this company. I grew up in the "south" and, as every good southern lady does, I always have a Southern Living magazine on my coffee table. :-) I love, love, love the products.

For those who are not familiar, we sell home decorating products. I think just about everyone in my family has Southern Living decorative items in their home.... I know I do.

For anyone who is interested, please follow the link to the right on this page. It will take you to my personal Southern Living website.

Moving on to other news, 13 days till Vegas! Whooo-hooooo! I am so excited.

Some Family Photos....

Katie

Uncle Butch & Michael in our back yard.

Me, Aunt Charlotte & my Grandmother

My Dad

Grandmother & Uncle Phillip

The only time any of us are quiet..... FOOD!

And it's still not all that quiet! :-)

Jenn, Kennedy, Me & Katie

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You Are a Visionary Soul

You are a curious person, always in a state of awareness. Connected to all things spiritual, you are very connected to your soul. You are wise and bright: able to reason and be reasonable. Occasionally, you get quite depressed and have dark feelings. You have great vision and can be very insightful. In fact, you are often profound in a way that surprises yourself. Visionary souls like you can be the best type of friend. You are intuitive, understanding, sympathetic, and a good healer. Souls you are most compatible with: Old Soul and Peacemaker Soul

What Kind of Soul Are You?

You Are Big Bird

Talented, smart, and friendly... you're also one of the sanest people around. You are usually feeling: Happy. From riding a unicycle to writing poetry, you have plenty of hobbies to keep you busy. You are famous for: Being a friend to everyone. Even the grumpiest person gets along with you. How you life your life: Joyfully. "Super. Duper. Flooper."

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

You Are Jean Grey

Although your fate is often unknown, you always seem to survive (even after death). Your mind is your greatest weapon, literally! Powers: telepathy and telekinesis, the ability to project thoughts into the mind of others, communication with animals

Which of the X-Men Are You?

You Are a Cappuccino

You're fun, outgoing, and you love to try anything new. However, you tend to have strong opinions on what you like. You are a total girly girly at heart - and prefer your coffee with good conversation. You're the type that seems complex to outsiders, but in reality, you are easy to please

What Kind of Coffee Girl Are You?

What Your Latte Says About You

You don't treat yourself very often. You find that indulging doesn't jibe with your very disciplined life. You can be quite silly at times, but you know when to buckle down and be serious. Intense and energetic, you aren't completely happy unless you are bouncing off the walls. You're addicted to caffeine. There's no denying it. You are a child at heart, and you don't ever miss the opportunity to do something playful. You are expressive and friendly, but you are never pushy.

What Does Your Latte Say About You?

Your Score: Katharine Hepburn

You scored 21% grit, 33% wit, 38% flair, and 14% class!

You are the fabulously quirky and independent woman of character. You go your own way, follow your own drummer, take your own lead. You stand head and shoulders next to your partner, but you are perfectly willing and able to stand alone. Others might be more classically beautiful or conventionally woman-like, but you possess a more fundamental common sense and off-kilter charm, making interesting men fall at your feet. You can pick them up or leave them there as you see fit. You share the screen with the likes of Spencer Tracy and Cary Grant, thinking men who like strong women.

Find out what kind of classic leading man you'd make by taking the Classic Leading Man Test.

Link: The Classic Dames Test written by gidgetgoes on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

Viva Las Vegas!

Yes, Loyal Readers! I'm going to Vegas!

Whooo-hoooo!!!!!

My dear sweet & (at times) long suffering mother and my wonderful husband are coming with me. It will be the first (of many) trips to the fab-o Sin City for my Darcy. We're thrilled!

I love Las Vegas. It is my all time fav place to vacation. And I don't even gamble!

The reason for the journey, you ask....

The Official Star Trek Convention!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yippee!
And I am so excited. I only have one autograph left of my Next Generation photo.... yes, that's right 1.

Viva Las Vegas!
Viva Las Vegas!

Greatest Quote Ever...

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

Lola Belle

Introducing the newest member of our household........

Lola Belle

'Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl...'

Yes, we got a cat over the weekend. And yes, I named her after a Barry Manilow song!

I'm thrilled! She's a doll. She LOVES to play and to love on/be loved on... and she didn't seem to mind Braden and Bailey too much today either! :-)

My little corner of the world...

So, long time, so post.... lot's going on in my little corner of the world.

First- exciting news. I'm going back to school! Yea!!! I (should) start June 1st if all goes according to plan. Which, let's pray it does. I have to get my community college transcript (frightening thing that it is) to my brand new university & finish filling out financial aide info & talk to my dad about tuition. ::sigh:: lot's to do within the next week or so. Yikes! But I am so excited!

Next up- I'm stepping in as a Bride's Maid (though kinda not a main anymore.... mere technicality) for my dear Beth & the Cap'n. Unfortunatly her original Matron of Honor had to bow out because her little boy had a rather serious injury. Now, Beth's friend Connie is stepping in as Matron and I'm stepping in as Bride's Maid. The wedding is June 2nd, by the way. I'm thrilled, not only to stand up with Beth (whom I love dearly) but also for my Cap'n too. So that makes 3 Browncoats in this wedding shindig... :-)

My job situation is nuts right now. ::BIG SIGH:: I don't know if I'm going to still have a job when the girls get out of school. There's just so much going on. The oldest is battling an eating disorder... I think she needs to be hospitalized & one of her parents needs to quit working and stay home with these girls... I know that puts me out of a job with them, but, you know, these girls emotional well-being is more important to me. I was talking with the girls' mom and I still don't think she gets it. She doesn't see how and why the eldest has an eating disorder. It's horiibly apparent to me & to others who know of the details... but it's just not yet to this family. I worry about the girls... especially the youngest of the 3... she's only 11 and she's watching her oldest sister with an eating disorder & the middle one... well, let's put it this way... the mom said to me that they were putting her (the middle one) on a diet and exercise program b/c she didn't want 'a fat, smart daughter.' I couldn't even form a response to that.

Oy, kinda went on there. I'm just very frustrated.

Anyway- I think my dad may have me come work for him at his company. I'm actually kinda excited about that. I really love my dad, but I don't really get to see and interact with him a whole lot. So, I hope this would be good for us... I just need to make a certain amount of money! The coffers get bare.... and I don't make squat at my current job... and I'd really love to pay off my credit cards & get a new (to me) car. And I'm kinda tired of raising other people's children right now.

Oh, sad news.... as many of you know, Gilmore girls is no more.... There was much sadness around my world when that news came down. But, we had a send off for our favorite girls that, I think, was worthy of the Gilmore girls title. We ate junk food and watched the pilot & then the series finale with several Stars Hollow wannabees!:-) It was fun.

Okay, gotta run!
Till later!
Taylor

So, my shadow, Bailey just came running into the computer room to tell me that her chicken nuggets were in her tummy. That may not sound like a big deal, but my neice and nephew are VERY picky eaters & meal time can become nightmare time for the grown-ups around them. (And, for the record, Braden and Bailey are both under 5.)

I'm watching them a couple of days a week for their mom and dad right now. So, my days consist of running around with them, feeding them, 'potty' breaks (and, btw, I hate the word "potty"), unpacking the boxes that NEVER seem to go away, and other household chores.

Right now, they are watching Blues Clues... so I get a break to eat my lunch and get on the computer. Whoo-hooo...

And this morning, we had the fun of a very dirty pull-up on Miss Bailey... She hasn't quite got the whole bathroom thing down yet. Oh, she will come up to you and say, "I gotta go potty." The problem is that she tells you... AFTER she's gone 'potty.' Yeah... that's right after. So, she came running up to me and told me she needed to go to the bathroom... and I knew. So, I checked & yep, sure enough. So, we had to call in the hazmat team, but after that- all is well.

Though we had an amusing moment, Braden came running in to see what we were doing. He took one look and smell & said, "Eww. I don't want to see that." To which his Auntie Taylor replied, "Then go back and watch the rest of Cinderella." He promptly turned and ran the other way.

Ahh, kids.

And it looks like we have another "poo-poo" problem. So, I'm off.

Watch this....

This is Eliot's video... you should watch it. The voice you hear is Eliot's father.

http://www.ignitermedia.com/products/iv/singles/570/99-Balloons

I'm Back...

Well, I'm back!

As anyone who's gotten married can atest, it's been a crazy couple of weeks. I never realized how hard melding two lives and two houses can be... yikes! I had a little bit of an idea, but I've been pretty unprepared. The good news; it's getting better & my sweet Darcy and I are getting it together.

By the way- anyone interested in the Orlando trip should skip on over to his blog. My Darcy is doing a wonderful job of giving a little playback.

Considering starting an eBay business with my Mummy... we'll see.

We moved PoD into the home that he and Babs will share after their wedding. They are just about 5 streets away from us & all four of us are thrilled by this! There is a bike trail that starts by PoD's estate & brand new bikes are next on the shopping list.

Played a card game for the first time this past Friday night with the Elfin Princess and the Lord of War... it's called Apples to Apples. Great game! I highly recommend it. Tons of fun for hours!

I'm currently reading 'Lord, Change Me.' by Evelyn Christenson. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to grow more and more, little by little into the person that our GOD wants us to be. I'm looking forward to starting 'What Happens When Women Pray' when I finish with this one.

Oh, really exciting news! We found our Sunday School class!!!!! And, let me tell you, it's like a homecoming! Many of the couples that we knew several years ago (and have since married and moved on) are in that class. I knew all but, like, 4 people. It was wonderful. The only down side, is that we had to switch worship services.... that means we no longer get to see the Princess and LoW in church. That stinks, but I suppose it's all part of moving on. And it just means that we must work harder to keep our friendships stronger. I think PoD and Babs might be joining us when they get back from their honeymoon.

Well, the dryer just kicked off... I better get busy!
Thanks for reading!
Taylor

New Link

Arabs for Israel

Some Holiday Pictures

Me and my Grandpa. My Grandpa is 86 years old and still drives! He walks down every morning to get a cup of coffee and read the newspaper at a place a couple of blocks from his house.

I am proud to present Mr. and Mrs. Norman Pentino at their 65th anniversary party. Yes folks, that's right, my grandparents have been married 65 years. They have 7 children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

For more pictures, head on over to my Flickr site. It's been updated. Just follow the link to your right!

Request

Hello Bloggies!

Long time, no post...

Today's post will be a short one. Actually, it's more of a prayer request than an actual post. I am currently on a quest, of sorts in my relationship with GOD. I feel that my Father is leading me in new and challenging ideas and deepening my walk with HIM. I'd like to ask those who read this blog to keep me in their prayers. With a wedding, a move, an unwell Grandmother and being as much of a help to my mom as I can right now (along with my job, my friends, my fiance!... and a writing partnership with POD that is still in it's infancy)... I am under the gun.

But I am very excited to see what the LORD has in store for me. I can't quite explain the sense of wonder and urgency I feel. Please pray that I can and will make the time to spend with GOD and for the wisdom that only HE can provide.

Thanks!
Taylor