Voting

This morning I sat down with my ballot and voters guides. I looked over all the candidates, I thought over all the ads I have seen, the debates, the websites and the personal opinions of my family and friends.

I could only fill out 3 spots on that ballot. And they were not the big 3.

I simply cannot bring myself to vote right now. I want to just rip up my ballot and toss it away. But I live in a country with a vote for a reason, and I need to uphold my end of the bargain.

When it comes to president, I was always mad at people who voted for John Kerry simply because he wasn't Bush. I have always thought it is a stupid way to make a choice, "well, he isn't the other guy" but that is exactly how I feel about McCain. To me that is the only reason I see voting for him, he isn't Obama. I mean, sure I agree with some of the ideas he has for this country, but on the things that really matter to me, on the things I think are most important for this nation, I just want to beat him upside the head!

And I have considered 3rd party candidates, but the only ones close to what I believe in call this country the "American Empire" and tout a isolationist mentality similar to those who wanted us to stay out of WW2. I don't want that! I don't want McCain, I don't want Obama, I don't want Smith, I don't want Merkley, I don't want Shrader and I don't want Erickson!

I feel like writing in "Jesus Christ" or something similar, I want to write in Mitt Romney for pres, since, as you know if you have read my other post, I never got to vote for my candidate due to the f***ed way the nominees can be kicked out before every state gets a freaking vote. I wish I was 17 again, just so I wouldn't have to think about it.

America is going to Hell in a hand basket and if we look at our voting options we just might see why.

I WANT THIS!

This is so cool! It is a bike and a stroller, they hook together and look all cool. Plus it's all forward facing so your kids (or your puppy!) can see where you are going, plus all the space can be used for shopping and such! Only real issue is that it costs almost $4,000.00. I bit too much for me. I hope this becomes super popular and cheaper versions will come out.

http://www.triobike.com/

John McCain

AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGG! I could scream right now. "Until this bail out is figured out, I wont do anything to prove I should be president." I mean come on, does he think he can't stand up to a debate with Obama? Cause that is what it sounds like. Maybe he should have Palin do it, she is more the nominee than he is anymore.

Not to mention these bail outs are absolute crap! I mean, it's the Liberal mentality, "Oh crap, I made stupid and in some cases illegal decisions" Oh Mr.Ceo, don't worry, you shouldn't be held responsible for your actions, let me bail you out with the hard earned money of our taxpayers! Seriously. Or bailing out those who took adjustable rate mortgages and now can't pay. "Oh, you made a poor choice with the knowledge that this could happen, and you could lose your home. Here, we the gov have so much money lying around..." No, let's not help the people who got into something they could afford and then were hit with losing a job, or a health crisis, who are trying to do right by their choices, they should have to go it alone. But Dumb Butt over here who ignored the potential risks should get it all.

This election is making me sick, I think one of the noms is an idiot who could potential destroy this country and everything that makes us great and the other will continue the idiot policies I am ranting about and maybe die in office leaving the Presidency to someone I think I would like as a person but I am simple unsure of her abilities. I almost want to NOT vote, but that is against what I stand for and I can't just give up. Honestly though, come November I will mark that ballot while trying not to puke.

planes, trains and automobiles

I have decided on a theme for Vinny's 2nd birthday but I need some help. Planes, trains and automobiles is the theme but I am having a hard time finding generic things in those categories. If you see anything or have any ideas, please, pass them along! Thanks!

Politics!

Gag a freaking maggot! I am so sick of everyone, I am not a fan of Michael Savage but I agree with his idea to move the election up to early October, like the 4th? I would love to just have it over with. I am especially ticked as I really don't like either candidate or what they say they will do in office and I don't think either is very trustworthy. I think McCain will drop his own morals to appease the other side of the aisle and I think that Obama will outright ignore the other side unless they agree with him. Neither is a quality I think we should have. And a huge point of importance to me is abortion and neither can be pinned down on what they feel and it uber pisses me off. I can't stand all the screaming to cover the truth or the mindless info we are getting, like the cost of the prospective first ladies outfits, or who matched better. It is absolutely idiotic to focus on that. Or how the Dems are saying experince means nothing when if comes to Obama but everything with Palin or Rebs saying the exact thing only reverse persons. Does it matter or doesn't it? I think it does but not as much as history. If you have only been in office a year but changed the place for the better you are better off than a person in for 100 years who passes nothing but crap on to be voted on. People need to prove to me what thry will do and have done and not what they say in pretty speeches.

Music

Vinny is getting more and more interested in music. The other day I heard him playing his 4 key piano and it almost sounded like a tune, he was obviously trying to make music. We are hoping he has his Grandpa Gary's gift to play by ear because neither Dan or I can play music so we can't teach him very well.

Diversity

I might alienate a few people with this, but I can't help it. Diversity as it is defined and treated in the world today is evil (as in I want to bash it with hammer as it runs around comically avoiding me).

My husband recently was hired by the state and had to go through some diversity training. He brought home the packet so I could see why he wanted to jump out a window after the first 2 minutes. What they called "Diversity" was anything but. It pretty much stated that those with "traditional" values, morals and ideals need to not only acknowledge but accept and embrace other peoples values even if they outright mock their own. On the other hand those with the aforementioned "mocking" values are not asked to do anything about the "traditionals". (T is now traditional and M is mocking). The feeling the packet gave was that Ts are wrong and you (M) are right and can do what you want and they need to get with the program. Um, how is that diverse? Shouldn't everyone have to respect everyone?

I mean, I am all for harmony and respect. My last supervisor at T-Mobile was openly gay. He had pictures of himself with his BF and his BF's daughter on his desk just as I had pics of Dan and myself. I didn't care. He knew I was LDS, he knew The Church's beliefs on homosexuality and we got along fine. We chose that it was not our place to judge (or vocalize judgement) at work. We would just let it be as we mutually respected the other's right under law and heaven to act as they chose and it did not affect our jobs respectively.

But if I was told I needed to accept and celebrate his homosexuality because I was wrong and closed minded, but he was told my beliefs meant nothing and to ignore them I think I might have become violent.

Here is a little article I really like from Glenn Beck's Newsletter. It is called arguments against idiots: Diversity and I like the points it made.

The Argument Against Idiots: Diversity

August 21, 2008 - 10:46 ET

How to win the argument de jour with logic and facts

The issue:

"Diversity"

What the liberal whiners say:

'What we need in America is to celebrate our diversity, the more diverse we can get, the better'

'Who's to say that a "melting pot" is better than a nice potpourri?

'Multiculturalism is the key to an enlightened society'

'You're dangerous! There is NO PLACE in America for your kind of thinking!'

Your winning, logical, reasoned arguments

1. Why? I mean, I know that shocks you right down to your Birkenstocks, but seriously, didn't we used to seek unity, not differences? Didn't we look for commonality? Weren't we at one time in this nation, considered a "melting pot"? We were encouraged to come together with our different backgrounds, and blend in to form a unified society. How can it be a good or desirable thing to promote separate languages and cultures within the same country?

2. I'm to say. Try eating potpourri. It won't go down real well.

3. The ancient Romans could tell you about the enlightenment of diversity and multiculturalism…well, they could, had it not destroyed them and their civilization. A little closer to our time, ask the Yugoslavs how well the multicultural thing worked out. Actually you'll have to side-step the rocket attacks from the break-off Republics of Serbia and Croatia, and dodge the incoming fire between the ethnic Albanians and Kosovars; the Bosnians and Slovs. Plus diversity has worked wonders in South Essetia, Georgia and Russia hasn't it? I mean, with the possible exception of the 3rd world war it threatens to touch off. How about the diverse region of Quebec? Other than wanting to secede from the rest of Canada, that seems to be going quite smoothly. And has anyone ever heard the term "Balkanized" or "Balkanization"? The terms come from the very divers region of the Balkans.

4. I see. So, you worship at the altar of diversity, only as long as it doesn't diverge from YOUR point of view? I guess that explains the effort to reinstate the "Fairness Doctrine" to shut down talk radio?

If you agree with that or what I have said you should check out this essay by Professor Robert P. George called (I think) Self-Mastery, Academic Freedom and the Liberal Arts, if you can't find it I can e-mail a portion of it to you.

Olympics and Idaho

Wow, I haven't posted in a month! Well, 2 weekends ago we went to Idaho, so I thought I would post some pictures and tell you some of what we did. My cousin's new wife had a baby the second day of the reunion (that re-onion is why we went), Gabe. My aunt and uncle were VERY excite, it's their first grandchild. Also my other aunt made Vinny shirts to wear each day that said "Vincent Twice, Vincent Twice" (for anyone who doesn't know, Vinny was named for my cousin and they share the same birthday) The quote is from an old Sesame Street sketch. They were very cute.
Playing Ladder Golf
In bapa and papa's trailer
Playing in the grass
Daddy and Uncle Tom playing ladder golf
Sleeping in the van, I did that a lot! :)



On our way back we stopped by Malad Gorge near Twin Falls, ID. These are some of the gorgeous pictures we took. We also stopped at Multnoma Falls, which was fun as I haven't been there in at least 6 years. It was a lot of fun.






Now, on to the Olympics. Vinny is watching with us and he gets so excited when Sync diving, swimming and gymnastics are on. He points and squeals and dances. It is so cute, and it only reinforces my desire to get him into some basic gymnastic classes so we can keep him flexible and active. I would hate to waste his love of those things.

Wow

Remember when you were young and your parents could only ask if you have done drugs or are having sex? Not this generation, check this out http://www.brickhouse-childsafety.com/drug-detection-test-kits.html

It is nuts! Another sign of the times, they have bullet-proof backpacks. But they have some child locators. I am really interested in the little brown bear one. Vinny usually stays within sight but if I lost him, or someone grabbed him, it would be nice.

Blonde

I am going to get my hair done in the next month and I am thinking about going blond. I want to know what people think about the idea. I am thinking a honey or caramel color, not platinum or anything. So let me know what you think! Oh, and don't tell Dan, I am going to surprise him!

Rant

I haven't written on here in awhile and I have been wanting to, but I have no idea what I want to write, so this will pretty much be a hard to follow crazy rant.

I have been stressing lately about the current state of the world. I think about how bad things can get today, but what will be like in just 5 years, and how will it be when my son is older. I think about when he is dating and I am so worried. I mean, the pressure to dress filthy for little girls starts at birth, have you seen the swim suits they have for newborns? I wouldn't wear some of that in public even if I wasn't LDS. It is so bad and getting worse. People are trying to make it legal for any age to look at pornography on the internet. Monsters who are after our kids are being protected more then the kids are. I have the right to know if you have done something to a child, especially if you live next door to me.

Sex has become as common as breathing, and as pointless as soap opera wedding. I mean that term alone says it. Shows like Desperate Housewives and Swing Town are being praise and there is a new reality show ever minute but good, family entertainment is falling by the way side. Have you ever watched some of the stuff on ABC "Family", drunken college kids, sleeping around, scantily clad prom girls, a show about a prego teen created due to the popularity of Juno. I just, ACK! I am horrified thinking about the future my kids are going to face.

Although that makes me think of visiting teaching this last week. (I know, we were pretty late.) We talked about how those who were strongest in Heaven were saved to come her to earth in this time of turmoil, and we know that we are not tested above what we can handle. I look at my little boy, all 23 lbs of him and think "Wow, you have powers in you that could, and very well may, change the world." He could be one standing against the most powerful forces of evil even known to earth. He could be a prophet or apostle. He could lead millions. He has that power, the soul of a warrior in his tiny little body. It is amazing.

More on sampling

If anyone would like in on these kinds of offers check this out, this is a portion of the e-mail I received from Pete, my corisponant with the samples:

"Please feel free to let any other bloggers know that I'll send them samples of Gloves In A Bottle to try if they are willing to post a review on their blog if they like it. All I need is their blog URL and mailing address. They can contact me at
petegrimaldi@earthlink.net ."

I have had two awesome samples through him already, full bottles plus small samples to share. So send him a message if you'd like!

Sampling

Hello again, as I have mentioned in the past I am addicted to samples. I got another great product I was ask to review on here and give my honest opinions. So here it is, Glove in a Bottle lotion (Can be found on-line at www.glovesinabottle.com)

This is a great lotion that I am now in love with! It is a really powerful lotion for really dry skin. The best thing is that although it's name suggests that it's only for hands it works all over, especially feet! Which is why I love it so much. I have really dry feet, they crack every other day. I mean, it is bad. This lotion keeps that from happening and they actually feel soft after just the second application!

Also, even though it is really powerful it has a very light sent, and after application you can't really smell it at all. It's isn't greasy either!

I guess the only real cons are that 1. It is a little more expensive than my usual (dollar tree) but extremely worth it. And 2. As far as I have seen it is only available on-line and I prefer in-store shopping.

Overall 5 out of 5!

Prayer

First off, I definitely have a testimony of the power of prayer. I have prayed many times and had my prayers answered in ways I never imagined, but they did exactly what I needed. But you have to do something, not just pray.

I am so upset by the deaths of children this past year who's families just prayed to cure them from minor illness. One 15 month old girl only needed some antibiotics for pneumonia but she is now dead. Another just with childhood diabetes and I know from family and friends that it is treatable, and you still live a long and happy life.

Christ did not just pray, he acted. The apostles and prophets prayed for guidance, then acted on what the Lord told them to do. They didn't just pray to be heard, they went out and searched for those who would listen. It reminds me of a story that I know is over used but I love and it really applies.

The Flood Story

A flood threatens a town, forcing everyone to evacuate, But Joe thinks,
"I'm a devout man, God will save me," and stays
put. As the waters rise, Joe's neighbor comes by and says, "Joe come with me, we've got to go." Joe declines,
"I'm a devout man, God will save me."

The waters keep rising, Joe scrambles to his second floor. A firefighter in a rowboat comes by. "Get in the boat or you'll drown," he says. Joe again declines, saying,
"God will save me."

Finally, the flood waters force Joe to his roof. A police helicopter comes by and throws down a rope. "Climb up or you'll drown," the policeman yells. "No, I'm a devout man,
God will save me," Joe replies.

Soon, Joe drowns.
He arrives in heaven and challenges God.
"Why didn't you help me?"

"What do you mean?" God says."I did help. I sent a neighbor, a firefighter and a helicopter."

And that is my little rant.

Fair Share? Hmp.

My husband just had his first day at the state today and we found about something that has me pretty upset.

To give you a bit of back ground on my upset, I hate unions. I think there are very few places they have any use anymore and I think in most job fields they should be eradicated. They are pushy people who really don't care about you, just furthering there little group. I know this from personal experience at T-Mobile when they jumped in front of cars trying to get the workers to join a union and yet the "benefits" we would have had through them were nill compared to what we already had at T-Mobile, but they kept on trying. It got to the point that Dan was ready to literally run them over if they got in front of our car again. They made people late to work who asked to be left alone!

Well, now with the state even if we don't join, which we WILL NOT!, they are making us pay $50.00 or our "fair share" since they represent the state and we might happen to get benefits from their actions. Ugh! That's like paying your neighbor because they might build a mutually used fence, but they might not. I want nothing to do with them and the crap those people pull but I am stuck PAYING THEM! What is wrong with this picture!?

Big Boy

Vinny has reached another milestone in the baby to big boy transition. He is sleeping in a toddler bed! He can get out on his own, having a little trouble getting in, but he is sleeping all night in a big boy bed! Next step, Potty Training! He can also say book and blue.

His first night he got out and cried, when he got quiet we came in and found him like this.
Day two he slept all night in the bed.
After his first day in nursery he can fold his arms if you ask. (And he's in the mood)
The big bed

Vinny has reached another milestone in the baby to big boy transition. He is sleeping in a toddler bed! He can get out on his own, having a little trouble getting in, but he is sleeping all night in a big boy bed! Next step, Potty Training! He can also say book and blue.

Poems

I have some of my poems posted on this site. Check it out if you like, and let me know what you think. http://www.goodreads.com/story/show/17385.Poems

You Never Know

There was a guy I knew in high school who seemed to have things pretty well together. He was very talented, he excelled in theater and was such a nice guy. He was constructive and if you completely messed up he would make you feel better and help you figure out how to fix it. I had come to expect some great things from him, especially in theater.

I got a call yesterday from a mutual friend. This young man was in the Air Force and something happened, he didn't pass a test or didn't get into a speciality area, I am not sure, and he hung himself. I was absolutely shocked and scared. He was one of the last people I would have expected that from. It left me so sad and confused.

This Sunday there is a memorial for him. I am going, but it is so sad knowing that the first time I will see some of my friends in 4 years is for this. That we are gathering for this solemn event, and that he will never be there when we all meet in the future. It just has me really off.

New Camera

I got a new toy today and I am having way too much fun with it. These are a few of my favorite shots. I just thought I would share them with you all.

Enrichment

I forgot, I am teaching a computer class in Enrichment next month and I need ideas of what things the sister would like to learn to do or do better. If you have any ideas let me know!

Walking

I know it has been almost two weeks, but I forgot to add it here. Vinny is walking now. All around the house in fact and it is so cute! Her likes to go outside now, and play with his ball. Only issue is he wants to play on the nice flat street. Luckily he is still small enough and slow enough that I can stop him.

His favorite thing to do is pick up our basketball and walk around the house with it. Then he throws it randomly, chases it and picks it back up. The sound of it scares me sometimes.

Snow

Vinny made me so proud this morning. I had OBP on in the living room, some show about gardening. At one point they were talking about keeping plants healthy and safe in winter. I wasn't watching until Vinny pointed at the T.V. and said "Shue" (His word for "look" or "see") then out the window and repeated "Shue" so I looked, it was snowing on the TV, and out the window! He kept pointing back and forth "shue"ing, then walked (okay, hobbled with a hand on the coffee table) to the couch to get a better look out the window and said "wow."

I was so excited to see him not only telling me something so clearly but also realizing things can be happening in two places at once, and that what you see in one place you can seen in another. I just can't believe what he is doing. He communicates with me really well. He will point at what he wants and say, you guessed it, "Shue", then if I pick up the wrong thing he will quickly shake his head and point again until I get it right. He only gets mad or fussy if I am obviously giving him the wrong thing on purpose, or he is sleepy. When I get it right he smiles or giggles. It is so cute.

Law and Order

Jack McCoy on Law and Order had a great quote on an episode tonight, I really liked it, so I thought I would share it with you all.

"The Constitution should be used less as a shield for the guilty and more as a weapon for their innocent victims."

Seriously, "LIFE, liberty and the pursuit of happiness". I am so sick of "justice" letting people get away with murder and the destruction of lives in the name of the constitution. KKK incites people to commit crimes, but it is freedom of speech. But if I say I am Christian I am forcing my religion on people and I should be silenced.

Oh, and on the topic of freaking freedom of speech, a Candidate's pastor can have, just in the last year, say horrible things about his country DURING SERMONS and people say "Don't hold it against the Candidate, he doesn't believe that." The same candidate's wife can say embarrassing things I don't like hearing from a potential first lady, but we should all ignore it.

But if a Candidate has a religion that says others might not being doing what they should, or that you might be wrong, just saying, he is ridiculed, mocked and judged on what happened in his religion 100 YEARS AGO! And that's okay, no wait, more than okay, it's right. Come on!

Now I am not saying Obama is a radical like his pastor. I have no idea if he is, and I think his wife just said something stupid and probably thought "Shut up! Shut up!" after her comment, but it is the way people reacted to it and treat it. I am just sick of all this "Liberty and Justice (and freedom of Speech or religion) for some. It's getting really old.

Baby Loves Chocolate

This is a video from this morning.
Last night I took Vinny's easter basket and put it beside his crib, on the floor, this morning he had been very quiet for about and hour so I went in to get him. I could smell chocolate as I walked in, but I thought the basket must have been left near the heater. This is what I found.

8th Grade Education

I found this on-line and I was just shocked to think about it. Nowadays people talk about how we are so much smarter and better off than 10, 20, 100 years ago, but this proves other wise to me. I had to look up a bunch of this on Google just to understand the questions. I know Kari will do better than me, being a teacher and all, but for the rest of us, try it out without looking anything up first and see how you compare. (And we are doing this after a full High School and College educations)


What it took to get an 8th grade education in 1895

--Remember when grandparents and great-grandparents stated that they only had an 8th grade education? Well, check this out. Could any of us have passed the 8th grade in 1895?
This is the eighth-grade final exam from 1895 in Salina, Kansas, USA. It was taken from the original document on file at the Smokey Valley Genealogical Society and Library in Salina, KS, and reprinted by the Salina Journal.

8th Grade Final Exam: Salina, KS -1895
Grammar (Time, one hour)


1. Give nine rules for the use of capital letters.
2. Name the parts of speech and define those that have no modifications.
3. Define verse, stanza and paragraph
4. What are the principal parts of a verb? Give principal parts of"lie,""play," and "run."
5. Define case; Illustrate each case.
6 What is punctuation? Give rules for principal marks of punctuation.
7 - 10. Write a composition of about 150 words and show therein that you understand the practical use of the rules of grammar.

Arithmetic (Time, 1.25 hours)


1. Name and define the Fundamental Rules of Arithmetic.
2. A wagon box is 2 ft. deep, 10 feet long, and 3 ft. wide. How many bushels of wheat will it hold?
3. If a load of wheat weighs 3942 lbs., what is it worth at 50cts/bushel, deducting 1050 lbs. for tare?
4. District No. 33 has a valuation of $35,000. What is the necessary levy to carry on a school seven months at $50 per month, and have $104 for incidentals?
5. Find the cost of 6720 lbs. coal at $6.00 per ton.
6. Find the interest of $512.60 for 8 months and 18 days at 7 percent.
7. What is the cost of 40 boards 12 inches wide and 16 ft. long at $20 per metre?
8. Find bank discount on $300 for 90 days (no grace) at 10 percent.
9. What is the cost of a square farm at $15 per acre, the distance of which is 640 rods?
10. Write a Bank Check, a Promissory Note, and a Receipt.

U.S. History (Time, 45 minutes)


1. Give the epochs into which U.S. History is divided.
2. Give an account of the discovery of America by Columbus.
3. Relate the causes and results of the Revolutionary War.
4. Show the territorial growth of the United States.
5. Tell what you can of the history of Kansas. (Sub. in your state, Oregon for most of you)
6. Describe three of the most prominent battles of the Rebellion.
7. Who were the following: Morse, Whitney, Fulton, Bell, Lincoln, Penn, and Howe?
8. Name events connected with the following dates: 1607, 1620, 1800, 1849, 1865.

Orthography (Time, one hour) Do we even know what this is??


1. What is meant by the following: Alphabet, phonetic, orthography, etymology, syllabication
2. What are elementary sounds? How classified?
3. What are the following, and give examples of each: Trigraph, subvocals, diphthong, cognate letters, linguals
4. Give four substitutes for caret 'u.' (HUH?)
5. Give two rules for spelling words with final 'e.' Name two exceptions under each rule.
6. Give two uses of silent letters in spelling. Illustrate each.
7. Define the following prefixes and use in connection with a word: bi, dis, mis, pre, semi, post, non, inter, mono, sup.
8 . Mark diacritically and divide into syllables the following, and name the sign that indicates the sound: card, ball, mercy, sir, odd, cell, rise, blood, fare, last.
9. Use the following correctly in sentences: cite, site, sight, fane, fain, feign, vane, vain, vein, raze, raise, rays.
10. Write 10 words frequently mispronounced and indicate pronunciation by use of diacritical marks and by syllabication.

Geography (Time, one hour)


1 What is climate? Upon what does climate depend?
2. How do you account for the extremes of climate in Kansas?
3. Of what use are rivers? Of what use is the ocean?
4. Describe the mountains of North America
5. Name and describe the following: Monrovia, Odessa, Denver, Manitoba, Hecla, Yukon, St. Helena, Juan Fernandez, Aspinwall and Orinoco.
6. Name and locate the principal trade centers of the U.S.
7. Name all the republics of Europe and give the capital of each.
8. Why is the Atlantic Coast colder than the Pacific in the same latitude?
9. Describe the process by which the water of the ocean returns to the sources of rivers.
10. Describe the movements of the earth. Give the inclination of the earth.

Notice that the exam took FIVE HOURS to complete. Gives the saying "he only had an 8th grade education" a whole new meaning, doesn't it? Also shows you how poor our education system has become... and, NO! I don't have the answers

MET SOME GOALS

If you look at my first post you will see that I had a goal of loosing 5lbs by April first. Weighted myself this morning and I am 5lbs lighter! I am so happy. I have also started a garden, basic and may die with all this nutty weather, but I am trying. Meeting goals makes me happy!

Weird Dreams

Have you ever had a dream that made no sense then later that day you find something out for the first time and the odd things fall into place?

Last night I had a dream in which I was me, but I looked like Drew Barrymore. Then I fell in love with a guy named Moe, who was just like Dan but looked like Bruce Willis. So I wake up wondering why in heavens name I put those two together, I couldn't remember a movie they were in together, let alone as a couple.

So this morning I searched Google for both there names, hoping to find a movie, but instead I find out they were making out at a Golden Globe party. I don't follow celebrity relations unless I see them on the news or I am really bored in the check out at the grocery store. So I can't imagine where I would have heard this if I ever did.

I think I might be psychic :)

Anyways, it was just weird. But I do have to say Dan mixed with Bruce Willis is strangely alluring.

IBC

Have you ever heard of Inflammatory Breast Cancer? It isn't a lump, it's like a bug bite or a sore spot, and people don't know about it. My mom sent me a You Tube video that I would like to share with you all because it is incredibly important. So please, watch the video, it really could save your life.

http://www.youtube.com:80/watch?v=3s9_UrVtc6c

Weight Loss

I am sick of these commercials saying "I am back into my favorite bikini" or "I am the same size I was in High School." I DON'T want to be he same size I was in high school, I was heavy in high school. I wasn't healthy. I don' want to be a 14 again, I want to be about an 8 ish, that fits my hight and my build so that is what I want. I just wish there was a decent workout or diet plan or idea of those that was about ridding you of your bad habits you have had since childhood. It really annoys me. Anyways, yeah, if anyone is a stay at home mom or is home in mornings and wants to get together and work out, or play date or anything, let me know. I go stir crazy. My mom and I walk in the mornings at the mall during the colder weather, but it is starting to drive me nuts. I'd like to do something a little more active, or at least a change of scenery. Oh, and I am looking for a baby bike seat and a infant helmet. If you have one you aren't using or know where to get one I would appreciate it.

Oh, and if anyone knows anyone who can cut down and haul a big rotting tree, let me know.

Helping Others

You know what? Helping people feels good. Daniel and I have a deal with Salem Hospital that we get electronics they are just going to throw away and give it a new life. Well, we got these barcode scanners with a LCD screen and we were able to give them to two local people with small businesses who really needed them. It just feels so good to help people. The one guy was so excited he e-mailed me twice and when I called him he almost sound giddy. It was so wonderful knowing we made his life easier when we could have just taken them to the dump with all the broken things we took today. Anyways, I just have a happy glowing feeling and thought I would share.

Freebies and Samples

I have a confession, I am addicted to free samples and free promotions. I used to search Google all the time to try and find something good, then I found a site that makes me excited for Fridays (as a stay-at-home mom the weekend doesn't really fire me up) so I thought I would share the bounty with you all (who at this point I think are two):

http://www.momadvice.com/blog/labels/Freebies.htm

Every Friday they post on the blog their "Freebie Friday" post which list samples and freebies from all over the Internet, some really great things like toddler dish set, teaching tools, lotions, foods, pet supplies, magazine subscriptions and all sorts of stuff, they post around 10:00 am PST, I usually go at night when Dan gets home.

I just wanted to share a little passion with you all. OH! And as a part of one of those offers, Skin MD, I was asked to review their product on my blog. The lotion was great, it worked really well and it had a clean un-oily feeling, I really liked it, plus the sample was a whole bottle, so I always like when they aren't stingy. Check it out. Here is their site if the offer is still up, www.skinmdnatural.com

FIRST STEPS!!

Vinny took his first steps less than an hour ago, he has take about ten steps now and 3 different times! I am so happy. You might have already heard if I have your cell number. I am just so incredibly happy right now. My mouth hurts from all the smiling. I just thought I would pass along the good new!

YEAH!

My first happy post! That's what happens when you give a 15 month old a bath and he splashes all over you! I have had a great day today. My booger buns (Vinny) his grandma and I went out and did a little shopping. Vinny got some new clothes and balloon, which is his favorite. I got some much needed shopping done and I got one of those slicer things with the little storage compartment to catch the mess. I was REALLY happy about that.

Also, today was the birth of SUPER VINNY and SUPER MOM! I tied a little receiving blanket around Vinny's neck and another around mine and we "flew" around his room. It was a lot of fun.

He is getting so big now, he got a new tooth last week and another started poking through today. He already had 8 so he is on to 10 now. And boy can he bite! Ouch!

It's so odd thinking of him as MY baby, it's more like I am constantly babysitting. It is just so weird seeing me as a mom, I still feel too young. Ah well, I am and I know it, but the booger butt is fussing, so I better go!

I miss my friends

I miss my friends from the old days. I only talk to Mary Tedders much any more. It's so dull. I have very few friends anymore, so I get a little depressed when I think about High School and past. Facebook and MySpace are nice to keep in touch, but that is about all the socialization I get. Meh, I am done depressing everyone.

ACK!

Hello again. I am so irritated right now with the stupid election crap. There was a woman on the radio today who was saying how we should have everyone vote for the primaries within a 2 week period so every state counts. It makes sense to me. I was a Romney supporter and he was kicked out earlier on, but what if (completely hypothetical here) everyone in Texas and Ohio, Oregon and all the other states would have voted for him? How is it fair that if one group didn't like someone everyone else is screwed into choosing what they did? Seriously.

And I agree with this ladies idea that they could only campaign for a few months too. She said something to the effect of "If they can't say what they stand for and what they would do in 5-7 months, they have no business running." Which is so true, I am sick of all the hemming and hawing from everyone.

Oookay, I'm new at this, so please forgive.

Like I said, I am new at this, but I thought it would be a fun way for people to check in on my little fam.

So to start, currently the fam is 3 members, My husband Daniel, who will be 27 this April, Me 22, and Vinny, the cute one, 14 months. We live in our own home in south Salem and love BBQ's.

Daniel (Dan) works at T-Mobile and runs Customer Computers of Salem (ccofsalem.com) out of our converted garage. Check out the site, he made it himself.

Vinny is just plain darling. He is almost walking, so close! He can say mama, dada, daddy and up. He says gma and bama. Loves mirrors. My gosh does he love mirrors, and escalators.

And I am... alive. I am a stay-at-home mother, what I always wanted to be. I go out walking with my mom 4 days a week, church on Sunday, shopping here and there, and other than that I check e-mail, clean house, watch TV and read. Right now I am reading Raymond E. Fiest's "The Magician's Apprentice" and the vampire series by Stephanie Meyer, but I am waiting for the 3rd book, borrowing from a Friend.

Speaking of friends, I need more, and one's to do things with. Most of my friends are too far away, too busy or too different. By the last I mean they are friends for years but unmarried and no kids so our goals and dreams are a bit different and it can be hard to get together and do things, so I would like to have some more mommy friends who know where I am coming from when I talk about teething and such. So if you are looking for more friends I'll give you my resume.

Okay, now that the "intro" is over with, let's get with the yakking. Today was great, we have a part of the business called "No Part Left Behind" where we take old unused parts and recycle the unusable and rebuild the decent ones, we then resell them for the cost of our labor and any inventory we have used. Works really well. So anyways, today we sold 4 systems mixed inventory and used and made some seriously needed cash. It feels great paying towards a loan and paying off our butt-headed CitiBank card. Ugh, I hate CitiBank.

But also we recycled a ton of crap taking up space in our living room, got some donations and free stuff, like 3 bar stools to use in our shop, free! No better price than that! And some other odds and ends that are really nice. Then we went out to dinner, which is always nice to have a date, even at Carl's Junior. We spent time with Mum, my mother-in-law, which is always nice, brought her a burger.

I am going to take a page from Kari's Blog and list my goals on here. Maybe if I put them in a public place I'll do better with them.

GOALS:
1. Lose 5 lbs minimum by April 1st.
2. Clean House (and keep it clean) to Grandma's standards by the time she gets here in April.
3. Start a garden.
4. Write chapter one in the Rucardian Novels.
5. Send Miskers in to a publisher.

Okay, enough for tonight. Luv Ya!