For those of you who missed it.....

This . . . .

http://teachinfourth.blogspot.com/2010/05/contest-entrants.html



Turned into this . . . .

http://teachinfourth.blogspot.com/2010/10/autumn-shoot-3-and-feature.html



Interested in seeing some more of the picts... click on the link above. You can also check out (the photographer) Jason's awesome photo website here: http://www.alongthebackroads.com/

This is funny - freaky

I've known girls in the past who fit this profile. Most of them were from when I was in the dorms. Freshmen..... Uber-Eager.

LOL - Enjoy!!

My heart aches

I co-teach a neighborhood preschool twice a week on rotating months. It's a small fun group of kids. I have noticed some pretty major improvements in several of the kids already. Not only are the kids learning their alphabets (reading and writing) but they are learning quite a bit about being social. Taking turns and realizing that the world simply does NOT revolve around them are some of the biggest things I've noticed they need to learn and have improved the most on. It's so much fun to see them succeed.

At the same time... they can also be the most frustrating. They each have their whiny days. Days they just don't want to follow the rules anymore. Today was my daughter's turn to hang on to my leg and be very independent from what everyone else is doing.

My teaching partner (Lori) mentioned how she doesn't know how regular school teachers "do it". Half the kids followed the directions and are done and ready to move on to the next thing while the rest of the class is either just slower than the rest or didn't hear the instructions and need some extra help. This makes our co-teaching situation really nice. She takes on the kids who are ready to move on and I stay behind and help the stragglers. Everyone gets what they need and the day moves quite smoothly.

Today we also noticed something interesting. Something that made my heart both happy and ache at the same time. One of the little girls in the group has a father who is in the military. He's gone a LOT for extended periods of time. Normally she is very quiet. Doesn't talk up very often. She tends to just simply move with the flow of children without standing out at all. I thought some of her shyness was due to a language barrier. Her family speaks another language at home most of the time. She frequently misses class time because she just didn't want to go that day. Her daddy was able to come home this week. She has become a TOTALLY different little girl. She is happy, singing, talking, interacting with everyone. She looked so bubbly and involved with life. Not shy at all. Her daddy brought her to school this morning and she was BEAMING. On a few occasions today I was a bit annoyed with how loud the group had become and I looked up to see who was the loudest to try to get some control on the volume.... I was surprised to find it was this little girl's singing that was the center of the voices.

I've always known that families of military people suffered from the extended periods of separation. I have never seen such a young child up close who is having to cope with life without a parent. I've known a lot of people who grew up with a military parent. They were all teenagers or older before I met them. My dad was in the military but he was stationed at the local AFB. He lived at home and drove to work. He was never stationed elsewhere.

I wish there was something I could do to help her be this same bubbly and happy little girl when her daddy is away. I know she feels more safe and complete when their family is whole. My heart aches for these little children who have to grow up in an imperfect world. I can now better understand the sacrifice that the military men and women make when they offer their lives in service for their country. Thank You to those serving as well as to their spouses and children. What an incredibly HUGE sacrifice you ALL make.

Sorry

I know I've been off the board for quite a while. Sometimes I get so wrapped up into my Facebook account that I forget about this one. We've been swamped being a family lately. My husband and I burned the midnight oil many nights making the twins their Halloween costumes. Then again the next week when they had big school projects due. They both decided to do 3D sculptures and we had to help (make them strong enough to not collapse etc..).

I'm about to go make some more bread. More because I have to and less because I want to. When finances get tight I make everything from scratch. I LOVE eating REAL food - not some store bought reheat or fast food. Home made food just tastes better. BUT - I do get tired of cooking EVERYTHING all the time. I would love a break. We also have family food issues (things that can't be eaten etc..). I have to be picky about what we eat / where we eat (when we can go out).

Well.. I'm off to do life some more. The bread doesn't assemble itself.

YOU can make a HUGE difference in my life!!!

Ok, if you've read any of my blog over the years you may have read about how hard life is at my house. Between my husband and children's health problems and our severe lack of income, etc.. We have been at the greatest financial LOW of our married lives - "living" on less than what most of you pay for a single mortgage payment.

Well, if you have ever wanted to make a real difference to someone... NOW IS YOUR CHANCE. See, our current client is raising money to fund the project we are slaving on. If they don't have the money... we can't get paid for the months of work already invested. Read the column on the right at their website to see what kind of "thank you" gifts you can receive for your donation.

HERE IS THE OFFICIAL LINK:
http://kck.st/cEICm8

Some of the items you can receive:
- a FREE copy of the movie
- tickets to the private cast/crew screening
- Autographed poster
- Your name in the film's credits listed as an "Associate Producer"
- The opportunity to have "a member of the creative/executive team will travel to your town to present a special advance screening of "Jonah" in your home or other arranged venue for your invited guest list."

You can do two things at once! Help out a great film project and help us get paid for our efforts! Please SPREAD THE WORD!!! Even if all you can donate is $1. It all adds up!!!

Rain

This totally awesome video is for my friends who love a good rain storm. The next time you have one of those dang bright and sunny days... where not a single cloud limps across the sky... invite a few friends over and make your own storm.

Enjoy!

Modesty

Interesting video on modesty.

Reality Sucks

I'm spending some time nurturing my relationship with my computer because reality sucks. Right now I'm getting about as much warmth and feedback from my computer as life is giving me. (Please take notice that I have 0 comments on my blog - FB is not much better).

My computer doesn't ignore me. It will pop up a fun and stimulating game if that's what I want. It will just sit here and listen to me without contradiction as I droll on and on about whatever is ailing me. It helps me take mediocre and bad photos into beautiful masterpieces when I want. It even helps me look smarter than I really am by correcting my spelling.

Not sure if I'm heading to a world of fun and games or turning away to get yelled at or ignored by kids. Husband... what's that? I seem to be married to a guy I talk to over the phone. I don't know who the guy is stomping around upstairs.

Perspectives

I've recently looked at pictures posted by family members who live far away. They're always pictures of them in exotic locations doing fun and different things. My first feeling is "Oh, I wish I could do that too." "I'll never have enough money to do something like that." Then I stop and think about things clearly. I realize that I am where I am the happiest.

Ok.... I don't have nearly enough money to make ends meet. We're financially in the toilet and it has nothing to do with overspending. Any money we get is spent on necessities, the kids, business needs etc. We don't vacation, rent movies, buy new clothes, go to the movies, eat out, spend money on extra activities for the kids. We do free stuff and get creative.

The family members I was referring to are not married... do not have children and spend all their money on themselves. They do what they want, when they want, yes, but they also don't have what I have. I have a husband who loves me. I know where our relationship stands - no guessing. This might be a bit odd to read but I know that we don't have any STD's. Don't have to worry about that path. I have 5 amazing children who are more entertaining than most tv shows. At the end of the day I get to kiss them all goodnight and hear them say they love me. I get to watch these little people grow into amazing grown-ups. I have the ability to pass on wisdom and insight that I wished I had while growing up. I can make someone's life less stressful and worrisome.

When the time comes, I get to be a grandmother. I get to watch my children raise their own families. I also won't have to be a super old grandma because we've had all of our children before I turn 40. I am leaving something (someone) in this world to hopefully pass on some bits of wisdom to others long after I'm gone.

Right now we have to put exotic vacations and the theatre, movies, fancy items on hold. We may never be able to afford any of that but I have the most important and amazing additions to my life that I could ever want. I am grateful for my husband and my children. I am truly blessed to have this life. I know this life is not for everyone. Some do not want children, do not want to be married. I would cease to be me if I did not. My family fills my life and enriches it beyond anything I could have imagined. I look forward to each day that I get to see the growth and development in everyone - even my husband and myself, not just the kids.

Having my family - I have been able to work through a lot of my anxiety. I'm co-teaching a small neighborhood preschool class. 10 years ago I would have laughed in the face of anyone who said I would do this someday. I've been able to hold a real person to person conversation with an actor I had a huge crush on as a kid... and I didn't implode (although I thought I would any second). I've learned all about life under the sea with a sponge.... how to bend things like air, earth, fire and water.... I've learned that a little girl named Dora can really talk in a yelling voice for her entire life.... I've learned that with the help of clone's, Star Wars will never run out of sub plot lines. I am grateful for the person I have been shaped into as a wife and mother. I am so excited to see the talents and abilities I acquire in the years to come. None of this could have happened if I had stayed single.

The Mum Song

This is all the phrases a mom says in a 24 hour period of time condensed down to 2 1/2 minutes.

We need to do something different

I have the best husband in the world. He's kind, playful, smart, clever, fun, loving and handsome. He has helped me to become a much better person. He "gets me". He has helped me to deal with my anxiety disorder. He has a very good heart and wants to help out others. He's a very talented artist. He listens to people and helps come up with solutions. He's the person I want to grow old with. Women often times say they want to curl up with a good book... I want to curl up with my husband. LOL.

But, Not everything is sunshine and roses. . . .

My husband's lifelong illness has always been a problem. It springs up at random times. He'll be doing great one minute then the next he'll be "out of commission". He can't be a husband or father during these "episodes". He can't help watch the kids so I can work, he can't be left alone because he makes irrational decisions sometimes when he doesn't feel well. I honestly don't know what to do. I can't be in 2 places at once.

He's self employed. No one will hire him as an employee (so he says) because his health is so random. I've watched this man go from strong, smart, clever, lively, flirtatious, and simply totally awesome to the complete opposite. It's quite scary to watch the first 100 times. Then... I've learned to look the other way. I HATE whatever it is that takes him away from me. His eyes look dead - lifeless during these periods of time. It's scary to look at. Other times he looks like he just killed someone. Thankfully he has a very gentle spirit inside this messed up body. He simply balls up and hides in the bedroom.

He's been to nearly every type of doctor trying to get this figured out. Ophthalmologists, Neurologists, General Practitioners, Homeopaths, Naturepaths, Gastrointerologists, Endocrinologists. He's had tests done from as simple as a finger stick to the expensive CT and MRI. He's been doped up on things from anti-depressants to IV chelation all with their own set of glorious side effects. He's been on crazy diets trying to isolate foods he eats. He's eaten no wheat, no dairy, no protein, no nuts, no fat to all protein, all fat, all nuts, all vegetarian. Next on the list is a genetic metabolic specialist. IF he gets accepted by the doctor (Doc has to approve all his patients) and IF we can afford him. See, all the things listed here cost money. Money that he can't earn when he's not doing well. Money that we simply don't have.

Think of that brand new pair of shoes you bought your kids for school to start. It would take several pairs of shoes to pay for just 1 lab. Think of that brand new back pack, pants, shirt, school supplies..... we didn't buy any this year. It all went to our local health food store buying supplements to find SOMETHING that will help. The money you spent on your last date with your significant other.... that went to one of many late fees we have from bills we can't afford to pay.

I'm only writing here because I'm sooooo frustrated. I need to blow off some steam and get this out of my system. I feel like I'm going to explode or simply die from a heart attack. It's about 3:30pm and we've had our water turned off today. Again... Tomorrow they will turn off our power if we don't pay. Our Gas should be shut off in the next day or two. Our mortgage is late... again! I need to get to the grocery store and get some bare essentials with the money we don't have. I wish I could find a job working at home so I could take care of everyone and earn something to pay our bills with.

It's so hard to see a glimpse of the person/life I could have if we can just get his illness figured out only to have the door slammed in my face. I'm grateful for these small windows. I may only get to see him at his best for an hour once a week or so but it's what keeps me going. Since he CAN achieve this state of "normal" I know it can be acquired LONG TERM. IF we can get him figured out.

He has recently discovered that taking 2 simple supplements can help keep him "normal" for EXACTLY 3 hours. Then he crashes again. I don't know how long this new system of supplements will work. Typically changes only work for about 2 or 3 days. We're at about a week now. Don't think bad of me if I don't hold my breath this time and throw a "he's cured" party. Cautiously optimistic.

Oh Kid!!

A friend of mine posted this on her facebook page. I think it totally applies to kids in general... and mine specifically. LOL!!!

If you're just a little exhausted at the end of this... you have the idea of what being a parent is all about. Now times this by the number of kids and BINGO!

Darth Vader Voice Over

Must Watch!!

1 Year

Dad

I love you

Excited

I am so excited!! My mom is only a couple of hours away from arriving at my house. I haven't seen her since my dad's funeral last year. She is the most amazing woman, great friend and simply a lot of fun to be around. I feel so privileged to be able to have her for about a week. My brother and a couple of my other brother's kids are also coming up. Great opportunity for a few of the cousins to get to know each other.

Looking forward to all the fun we're going to have. 24th is my bro's 40th b-day. Birthday = CAKE!!! Yum! I get to do my mom's hair - perm and cut - maybe color. We will be heading to the "beach" next week, exploring a new cave we've never been to, swimming, setting off some fireworks. So exciting to get a break from the regular day to day stuff.

Read the book . . . Watch the movie

Ok . . . I have always been plagued with the question of which to do first. Read the book that a movie was made about or watch the movie that was made from the book?

I watched all the currently made Harry Potter films first (4). I was impatient to find out how it all ends so I read the entire series from the beginning. It was a nice refresher of the plot and subplots. I have now read all 5 books and am quite interested to see how they decide to pull off the last book. I thought they did an adequate job transferring the book into a film. Granted, a lot of little "extras" can only be found in the books.

Because I had seen the films already, I knew quite well how the different characters walked and talked. When I read the books I was able to "hear" the characters speaking their lines as the film played on in my mind. It was neat to read the scenes that were cut from the film. Like getting a bonus track on the DVD only in book form. It is an easier read for me to already have the character created than to have to come up with my own visualization based on what was written. There are details in an image of a character that books simply cannot supply. The opposite is true about the details a book can give about a character's mental state/thoughts that a film cannot.

At times it can be a bit distracting though. I spent too much time comparing my memory of the film with the book I was reading. I would make mental notes where the film or story deviated from one another. Sometimes I was pleasantly surprised while others I was bummed that one or the other was not the "real" presentation.



Not too long ago I went to the theater to watch "Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1: The Lightning Thief". Visually it was a lot of fun. The story moved along well. Sometimes I thought they rushed it a bit but over all opinion was positive.

Well, now I'm reading the book:



I am only about 1/4 of the way into the book but it almost feels like a completely different story. I am even more excited to read the book. I realize that despite the fact that I have seen the film, I have no clue how the story is supposed to go. While Harry Potter's screenwriter (Steve Kloves) did a great job working with JK Rowling to get the movie to be quite close to the books I feel that Craig Titley (the screenwriter for the Percy Jackson film) did it all on his own without consulting the author. He has a rather short filmography and I believe he simply lacks the experience to take a big action novel and turn it into a true to the book movie. I'm bummed that I saw the movie first.

Do you have a preference when there is a book and a film out and you have neither read the book nor seen the film? Which gets your attention first?

1 Year now...

It's been 1 year since I joked with my dad...

Since I saw him smile at his last grandchild...
(she was not quite 2 months old yet - his eyes lit up and danced as she laid on his chest... sharing each other's warmth. Dad always loved babies.)

Since I helped him get a drink of water...

Since I watched him laugh...

This was the last week I saw my dad alive.........


I miss you dad . . .

The Penguin

Cast:
Jabber Box - Age 10
Power Ranger - Age 7
Tinker Bell - Age 4

Location: Children downstairs in family room. Mother in the kitchen. Father in his office. Both parents are upstairs.

Time: Evening - preparations for dinner have commenced.




Tinker Bell: *** Wahhhh!*** (crying loudly with the intention of being heard by all)



Jabber Box: (Yelling from the family room to gain the attention of either parent)

"Power Ranger just hit Tinker Bell in the eye with a Penguin!!!"



. . . . (House goes completely quiet for 3 seconds) . . .



Jabber Box: (Yelling up a clarification to his recent statement)

"A TOY Penguin, not a real one!"




WHEW!! What a relief!!
I thought we had a band of marauding real penguins aiding in the abuse of our 4 year old at the hand of our 7 year old. Whew! Glad to know it was only the devious handy work of a passive penguin.

Happy 4th Birthday "Tinker Bell"

Yup! Another birthday! This time it's Tinker Bell's turn. She gets to be a BIG 4 year old!! WOOT!!

Here's a short trip through her life:

Birth ~


1 Year Old ~


2 Year Old ~


3 Year Old ~


4 Year Old ~
I asked her to go stand "there" and pose for a picture. She gave me this (and more)....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TINKER BELL!!!
You sure are a fun daughter!

Blackadder - Don't mention Macbeth

This is for all my theatre geek friends out there.

The School Master

Oh.. I just love Rowan Atkinson. I love his qwerky style of comedy.

Rowan Atkinson as a schoolmaster taking attendance at a British school for boys.

Why?!?

I want to know why....

Why does a cat think that the BEST place to hang out is at the top of the stairs . . .

. . . in the middle of that hallway that leads to many important rooms.

Depending on where you are and where you want to go... pretty much everyone trying to go ANYWHERE in the house MUST pass over this "intelligent" cat.

In other words.... THIS cat seems to think that being right in the middle of where everyone has to walk (and trip on him) is the BEST place to hang out (and blend in with the carpet).

Again . . . I ask you . . . WHY?!?!

Bohemian Rhapsody

I seem to be on a muppet craze these days. (I need to get out more)

Enjoy!

If you think things are at their worst . . .

Just when you think life is as bad as it can possibly get.... watch this!!

It will help you feel worse. LOL!

Quindecennial Anniversary

Quindecennial

What is that huge word you ask?

15 amazing, crazy, silly, artistic, photographic, stressful, fun, happy, sad, euphoric, creative, healthy, sick, quick, eventful, boring, exhaustive, rejuvenating, educating, blessed, loving, awesome years together!!!!

(and... he still thinks it's funny to pinch my bum while taking a picture)

HAPPY 15th ANNIVERSARY TO US!!!

Facebook

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY TO OUR "SQUEAKY"

Our baby isn't as much of a baby anymore. Today she turns 1!!! I can't believe how fast this year has flown. I have enjoyed having her so much that I forgot to experience time.

She's been a blessing from the start. Such a beautiful little baby (2 days old).

I love to watch my children grow up. I love watching them learn and get excited about the simpliest things.

She has a smile that lights up the room and eyes that shine with her sweet spirit. She finds joy in finding things that I have learned to overlook.... a ant crawling on the floor, the speck of fuzz on the sofa left by the blanket, the tiniest piece of paper even the vacuum cleaner might not catch.

A couple days ago she was fussy for an hour. I finally poked my finger in her mouth to check for any new teeth. When I found that #8 tooth decided to finally show up she laughed and clapped her hands at my discovery. It was as if she was saying "Wow! It's about time you found it! I was trying to tell you it was there!"

Here are some pictures from a fairly recent photo session I did with her one morning (she's still in her jammies).

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY SQUEAKY!!!

Japanese Commercials

I just can't get enough of these. Some are so creative and some are just very odd.

Enjoy!!

This first one is for Tuna... with a definate Star Wars influence.



This is...

Well.... You just need to see it.

It is a commercial about high blood pressure.

Advertising and creative money earning.

Ok.. I caved. I swore that my blog would be ad free and not public. Then life came screaming in my face. My huband's health has been getting progressively worse and his ability to put in a full day's work is hit and miss. Paying just to survive from one month to the next is very stressful most of the time. I want to help out.. I've taken on small jobs from time to time that I could do from home. Why don't I "just go get a real job" you ask? I've taken all this into consideration: The age of my kids, the number of children, cost of day-care, the fact that I would rather be the one to teach my kids about life and morals and religion than some stranger, fact that my husband shouldn't be alone when he's at his worst, and any job I would get would be at a "newbie" pay scale rather than the "experienced" pay scale that my husband gets for all his years of working. All these and more add up to the fact that we're better off if I stay home and help my husband be as stable as he can be and assist him in getting his work done as quickly as possible. I save us thousands of dollars by raising our kids myself.

So..... I had to start getting even more creative in attempting to bring in more cash - or saving even more. I find coupons online and in mailers to my house when and where I can. I've saved $11 in the past 2 weeks with coupons for items we use normally. I wish I could find more for the items we use. There are TONS of coupons for products that I could never bring into this house (wrong ingredients etc...). My husband's health prevents a lot of the junkier ingredients most people have no problems digesting.

About 2 months ago I joined Swagbucks and I now have $15 sitting in my Amazon account and I have enough earned Swagbucks to get another $10 in gift cards to apply to my Amazon account. I'm saving up for a rather expensive luxury Christmas gift for the family. At the rate I'm earning points... I think it will have to wait until Christmas 2011 rather than 2010 though. Unless I get more recruits to join through my link. I'm grateful for what I have so far. It's money that doesn't have to come out of my pocket.

I'm not sure how long ago I brought advertising to this site but I have now acquired 1,011 page impressions since installing the adservice. That means my blog has been looked at 1,011 times since then. 10 times ads have been clicked on (that's where the REAL money is) and I have earned a whopping $4.22! It might be another 3 or 4 years at this rate before I get a check but we'll get there. Just know this... if you come to my site and see ads you are helping me out financially. Might only be a tiny fraction of a penny but each fraction turns into something eventually.

I also opened a "stuff" site on Zazzle.com (myth's conceptions). I noticed that someone has OFFICALLY purchased 2 small items off my site. I am in total AWE! I have TONS of ideas for more products and a reorganization of what is where. I need to get back on that site and get busy.

Until being a tall, qwerky, slightly nerdy, good hearted woman gets the bills paid I will have to resort to creative methods to save as well as aquire money. I'm not sure if what I've listed here can help anyone else. Just in case it can I decided to write about it. It's not much of an income right now but I know it will pay off in the future. I'll keep you posted if I figure out how to do things better or if I find something even more helpful for a stay at home mom.

Space - The Final Frontier

I LOVE Star Trek!!!!!

When I was a kid I would have thought someone must have been severely delusional if they attached that statement to ME.

You see.... I am the youngest kid (a girl) and I grew up with 2 brothers. We are very close in age. They are 1 and 2 years older than myself. When we would play (anything) together we were typically split up into "teams" - intentional or not we ended up this way. The brother in the middle is deaf. Sometimes the oldest brother would overlook the deafness and want to play with his brother for the sole reason it was another boy to play with. Other times the deaf brother would be "cast off" and be teamed up with the little sister because it was easier to play the way he wanted without these 2 speedbumps.

I was often frustrated with one or both of these brothers. I was quite a tom-boy and I did like to play with match-box cars, cap guns, my dad's tools, etc... I played on a baseball team for 2 years (girls only team) and loved to go camping, to Luke Air Force base for the air shows, loved car shows and loved "programming" our Commodore Vic20 computer when we finally got one.

My brothers had Scouts and I would get so frustrated that I couldn't get to do the fun stuff they were doing and get credit for it like they did. For example. One year my dad let me make my own pinewood derby car. He was one of the scout leaders and his job was to weigh the cars and get them to the correct weights. When all the racing was over and the awards were handed out I got to race my car. I was so frustrated to race against the top winners (the guys who got the real shiny gold pinewood derby shaped trophies) and my car was nearly a full foot in front of theirs with every run. THEY got the trophies... I wasn't "allowed" simply because I was born a girl.

This never ending list of frustrations kept building up from day 1. Because of this I found that I would often "choose" to be the opposite of anything male related. My mom spend most of her time in the kitchen so my dad and brothers typically ruled the television. They loved to watch baseball games, football games, westerns and war movies. I use to roll my eyes every time any of these programs would come on tv.

It was one of the times I was being overly frustrated with my brothers for something (who knows what or why) when I decided to hate everything they loved. I hated westerns and army movies (don't get me started about John Wayne), sports on television and basically anything they liked. One day a new (to us) show came on and I KNEW my oldest brother loved this show because he could recite the opening monologue...

(the voice of Captain James T. Kirk) Space... the Final Frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds; to seek out new life and new civilizations; to boldly go where no man has gone before.

Well, if my brother loved this show so much... I MUST hate it. I refused to sit down and really watch it. It was on when I was in the room but I found it easy to make fun of the drama of Captain James Tiberius Kirk with his "hurry up and wait" type of speaking. I would reprimand myself if I discovered that I had enjoyed the episode that just aired. I would secretly imagine myself as one of the characters - typically one of the multi-colored vampish women who seduced Captain Kirk. I wished I could be the one girl alien who could ruffle the stoic exterior of Mr. Spock.

Many years passed and I had swept Star Trek under the rug. Life continued and the show had come to an end. Then one day a deep sexy male voice with an accent I found intoxicating came on and the all too familiar monologue came wafting out the speakers of my television.

(the voice of Captain Jean-Luc Picard) Space... the Final Frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its continuing mission: to explore strange new worlds; to seek out new life and new civilizations; to boldly go where no one has gone before.

The old feelings of "I MUST hate this show" immediately surfaced. But, that voice.... was so different. Hey, wait a minute, this Picard guy didn't talk in a "hurry up and wait" mode. Matter of fact his voice was like nectar - pulling me in and holding me captive. No one was regurgitating the same phrases "I'm giving her all she's got Capt'n!" or "I'm a Doctor Jim, not a ___(put ANY word here)!". They actually had more than 1 woman in the crew. I decided this new show needed some investigation. When I discovered that my brother HATED this show (he was Uber loyal to Captain Kirk) I (of course) decided that this was the BEST SHOW ever!!!! I was able to create my own relationship with the characters separate from my brother. I quickly discovered this was an amazing show with quite a lot of depth to it. It provided me several scenarios that made my brain hurt (alt. universes etc.). The women were not all blue or green. Matter of fact they actually got to wear clothes and have brains.

I have since watched every Star Trek creation weather done as a first-run or a rerun. Only one exception to this... the more recent series "Enterprise". I eagerly awaited it's airing. A little skeptical since they were pulling a "Star Wars" on us all and going back to when space exploration was new (prior to James T. Kirk). After watching the steamy and unnecessary decontamination episode I decided that this new show was trying for the shock value and not sticking to the typical Star Trek formula that worked so well. I quit watching... the show continued for 4 seasons... I didn't watch. I don't know what planets they discovered, what adventures they went on, who they shared technology with.... Bummer. I'll keep the sweet memories from the other shows in my mind.

The Original Series (80 episodes)
The Next Generation (176 episodes)
Deep Space Nine (173 episodes)
Voyager (170 episodes)
Enterprise (98 episodes)
There are TONS of movies and a few other spin offs that I've left off this list.

Let me say it again.... I LOVE STAR TREK!!!

Star Trek Video Favorites

Just in a Star Trek mood....








I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!!!
(I've seen an AMAZING fan video verion that blew this one out of the water. I've been searching for over an hour and have given up to get this posted. This video is the best alternative I could find.)

I have the funniest 3 year old!!

I posted these on my Facebook page. I thought I would post them here since not everyone who comes here has access to my Facebook page. Enjoy!
_______________________________

These were all posted Thursday April 8th:


Last night we had Breakfast Burritos (scrambled eggs with onion and celery) and lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, green peppers, sour cream etc... all rolled up on homemade flour tortillas. This dinner is not hard but it takes time to chop everything up and to make the tortillas.

After everyone had 1 or 2 - family members started pushing themselves away from the table. Not our 3 year old. She decided to make another one herself. Round tortilla goes on the plate first.... large spoonful of sourcream spread all over... top with whatever toppings she could reach. Looked pretty good. Then she did something that made my husband and I gasp. She picked up her cup of water (that she had just asked daddy to refill) and was just about to dump it over her plate. We put on the breaks and prevented a great floodding of good food.

Daddy said, "I don't want to see you pour water over your food."

Tinkerbell said, "Well, then just don't look."

(My husband corrected me and said that Tinkerbell really said: "Well, then don't watch me.")

_____________________________________

Lunchtime... today.... I made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I said that everyone who ate their sandwiches could have grapes. Tinkerbell was the only one still eating (I gave her the smallest sandwich). I did cave and let her have a small handful of grapes - hoping this would be incentive for her to finish eating.

I said, "When your sandwich is gone you can have some more grapes."

She ran out of the room with it and came back empy handed. Smiling gleefully.

I noticed she no longer had a sandwich and knew there was no way a little girl her age and size could finish off 1/2 a sandwich in 3 seconds (her 10 year old brother could - LOL). I asked her to show me what she did with her sandwich.

She ran down the hall to her bedroom and retreived it.

Tinkerbell said, "I just didn't want you to see it."
__________________________________

Ok.. I have to add another one from her today.

She and I opened the window blinds on opposite ends of the room to let light in and open the windows for air. She jumped up and excitedly said, "Mommy, we turned the windows on!"

Happy Birthday to my Main Squeeze

Want to wish my sweetheart a very Happy Birthday today!!!

Happy 10th Birthday to my TWINS!!

10 years ago today our little family of just 2 doubled to a family of 4. This was a day I never thought I would see. After 4 years of trying, praying, hoping, doctor visits, lab tests and multiple miscarriages we were able to conceive not 1 but 2 little miracles.

Just when we thought all was well - I had quit throwing up and was starting to feel a bit better - my body decided to evict these tiny and delecate tennents. For those of you who don't know or forgot... a pregnancy typically lasts about 40 weeks. At 26 weeks things started happening. By the end of 27 weeks the journey was picking up speed at an alarming rate. At 28 weeks I went in for a check-up for what I thought were "braxton hicks" contractions (the ones for "practice" that don't hurt). I was ambulanced to a hospital with a NICU that could handle such early babies. They put me on some major meds to get things to stop. Magnesium Sulfate = best friend and worst enemy.

One week later . . .

"Dragon Girl" came first 2lbs 10oz 14 1/2" and 4 minutes later "Jabber Box" made his way into this world 2lbs 14oz 14 1/2".

The Journey begins . . .



Eventually we brought them home. Laid them on the sofa and said.... "Now What?"



In no time our hands were very FULL.



They were acting just like other toddlers. Fighting over who got to smack Cookie Monster on the TV. Well... it looked like that. Perhaps they thought they could touch him or something. Who knows what toddlers think?



They have always been each other's best friend.



It has not always been fun and games. We have had several "hiccups". From 2000 to 2007 we were "frequent fliers" at the local ped floor of the hospital.



But, don't let their rocky start and "hiccups" fool you. They like to have fun just like all the rest of the kids....



The neat thing is... no matter what has happened.. or will happen.. they are each other's BEST FRIEND FOR LIFE!!! I can't wait to see what they will do next!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my BIG 10 YEAR OLDS!!!!

SwagBucks

On the right you will see a NEW ad for SwagBucks. To earn FREE prizes including Gift Cards.

Use SwagBucks to search like you normally do in Google or Yahoo. You will occasionally earn a few SwagBucks. When you get a particular amount you can get things or you can get a Gift Card to Amazon (to buy WHATEVER YOU WANT that is sold there). You can also get your SwagBucks turned into CASH in your PAYPAL account and use that money to buy ANYTHING ANYWHERE (pay your utilities, mortgage, car payment, airfare, vacation etc..).

Once you get into the "groove" you will find other ways to earn a few SwagBucks here or there. I've also found a neat place on the site to print out coupons for products I purchase all the time at my local grocery store (cereal, baby shampoo, cat food etc...). You get SwagBucks for checking out the coupon section.

Click on the SwagBuck ad in the right column (or click HERE) and sign up.

The Woes of being FREELANCE

This is a GREAT example of what freelance work is like.



The only thing they left out of the video is when a "client" (aka moocher) asks for a "freebie" this time "But I promise that I'll send all my friends to you the next time they or I have a project like this". "I'll send a lot of business your way."

If it's business like what he's asking for, NO THANK YOU!!!!

Greatest Invention - Will change the world for the good (hopefully)

My friend Alex found this video and it is totally AMAZING. If this can be put to good use for the world... imagine the difference it could make in so many people's lives.




More detailed version of this story from 60 minutes. It is in 3 parts. Not the best quality.

Part 1 of 3


Part 2 of 3


Part 3 of 3

SUCCESS:

At age 4 success is . . . not piddling in your pants.

At age 12 success is . . . having friends.

At age 17 success is . . . having a drivers license.

At age 35 success is . . . having money.

At age 50 success is . . . having money.

At age 70 success is . . . having a drivers license.

At age 75 success is . . . having friends.

At age 80 success is . . . not piddling in your pants.

GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD:

1) Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.

2) Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.

3) When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you're down there.

4) You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.

5) It's frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.

6) Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician.

7) Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.

GREAT TRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED:

1) Raising teenagers is like nailing jelly to a tree.

2) Wrinkles don't hurt.

3) Families are like fudge..mostly sweet, with a few nuts.

4) Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.

5) Laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside.

6) Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fibre, not the toy.

GREAT TRUTHS THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED:

1) No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats.

2) When your Mum is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair.

3) If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person.

4) Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.

5) You can't trust dogs to watch your food.

6) Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.

7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.

8) You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.

9) Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.

10) The best place to be when you're sad is Grandpa's lap.

On the phone

I truely LOVE talking with my mom on the phone. We have some of the best conversations. She has been my best friend for a long time.

Now that I'm a mom with a few years of experience under my belt our conversations have changed and become even more colorful. I think I have helped her come out of her shell a bit. Very few topics are off limits. I think I have single handedly taught her to laugh at potty humor. Well.. when you've had as many years of failure at potty training as I have had I find that I have to laugh about something.

We recently had another of our side aching conversations. Topic had something to do with kids and the silly things they do. (One of my personal favorites). I often times bring up when I had the same "rational" mode of thinking. Of course.. I've always been the smartest, sanest, most rational person in the room regardless of age.

After getting off the phone I sat and wondered why can't I get a ripping conversation on my blog? I've read my blog. It's not always the most exciting thing to be alone in a room with.

I think my biggest problem is I don't have anyone to talk to. I'm great at responding to someone.. I'm horrible at starting up a topic.

I seem to have a plank loose on the bridge between my talking voice and my writing voice. I'll see if I can find it and tighten a bolt or two.

The "in box" is open for suggestions for future topics. In the meantime I need to go strap on my tool belt and find that plank.

Gravity

Gravity - you can't touch it, taste it, smell it, or hear it rustling in the trees. Some say it's HUGE while others make claims that it is nothing.

Most people feel it's effects in the same way while others seem to live outside the "laws" that scientists claim are connected to it. Take Shaun White's recent performance in the half-pipe at the 2010 Olympics. Shaun seems to be able to pick and choose when it will have an effect on him and to what degree.



There are some who seem to be effected by it's pull more than others. Adults seem to be pulled back down to the Earth with more force than children. It also seems to effect humans more with greater age. Take my father for example. When I was a child he was up and down a lot. He would climb up stairs with ease, ladders were not even a thought and even being thrown in the air by a bucking bull seemed fun. But, in the years he gained the label "grandpa" gravity seemed to pull harder upon his frame than before that title was bestowed on him. I found him sitting or reclining in a chair far more often. He would put off taking an item upstairs to his bedroom until he could combine it into another necessary trip up the same mountain.

Even though it is a force that cannot be measured itself, it is something that scientists can measure the result of it's existance. Some have coined the phrase "What goes up must come down". It makes things fall to the Earth... snow, rain, hail, confetti, vomit (thank goodness), leaves and even people. It does seem to have a greater effect on humans when they are doing a task that requires some skill: walking on a slippery surface such as ice, stepping over something or simply walking down a flight of stairs.

I have recently been privlidged to experience the effects of gravity with all its force while performing a task that required some skill. This brings to mind a possible future topic for discussion: "Bruises, why we get them and can they really be fun?".

Baby Boys...

This is the funniest thing ever!!! You MUST watch!

Sharing

Sharing...

–verb (used with object)
3. to divide and distribute in shares; apportion.
4. to use, participate in, enjoy, receive, etc.,

–verb (used without object)
5. to have a share or part; take part (often fol. by in).
6. to divide, apportion, or receive equally.

Sharing is generally a good thing. As children we are taught to share our toys. We are told to share our food, a seat, a table. As adults we hope others will share the wealth, share the love, and get our fair share.

There are times when sharing is not appropriate.
- Sharing answers for a test.
- Sharing the blame when only one person is guilty.
- Taking a share of credit for work that you did not do.
- Sharing your ABC gum
- Sharing your opinion at inappropriate times




My 3 year old LOVES to share.
She is doing her best to share every cough and sneeze her little body can produce.

Thus far she has sucessfully shared with her older brother.

Let's see if he knows how to share like she does.

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Valentines Day.... 1994.... Hubby and I got engaged... on a small iceburg.

When he proposed he gave me a beautiful ring that I (of course) forced on my finger. It wasn't too extremely difficult to do so... I was completely frozen and forgot that things tend to shrink when at that level of cold.

When I got back to my apartment I felt a painful throbbing in my finger. I looked down and noticed that it was looking quite swollen around the sparkly indention in my finger. Oh.. I mean the ring. I grabbed some shampoo - poured some all over my finger and began to pull and twist until I was able to remove the ring. I was quite nervous that it would have to be cut off since it took me about 30 minutes to remove it.

Meanwhile my roommates were watching me rather closely. See.. my husband was a complete dork. He insisted that I NOT tell anyone that we were engaged. Not until he said that I could tell people. I had to act like nothing happened on Valentine's Day... when they see me trying to extract a diamond and ruby ring from my finger for half an hour.

I actually played along with his idiotic plan for a week and a half. I finally said that either we were going to tell people or I would. (He didn't have much of a choice at this point). He gave me "permission" to tell my mom. I did.. the next day I told my roommates and everyone else who would listen.

Yeah, he was a dork.... still is... but I love him.

Lunch prayer by my 3 year old...

It's lunchtime. Peanutbutter and Jelly sandwich cut into 4 squares.... 3 cookies for dessert and a Minute Maid Juicebox. Squeaky (the baby) is napping, Daddy is in his office working, 3 older siblings are at school. It's alone time for Tinkerbell and mommy for lunch. Normally Tinkerbell asks Mommy to say the prayer. Today she decided to say it herself.

[imagine the cutest little girl voice you have ever heard]

Tinkerbell: "Dear Heavenly Father. [A bunch of mumbling due to her praying with her arms folded over her face and her face bent low into her raised knee. Mommy then taps her on the shoulder and says that she can't hear Tinkerbell's prayer.] Please bless Jesus to come to our house after we clean it up. Please bless everyone to be healthy so the germs go out of their tummies. Bless me to eat my lunch so the germs will go out of my tummy so the food can go in and make me healthy. We ask this, in the name, of Jesus Christ, Amen."

[Mommy is currently gritting teeth and holding her breath trying to hold in a giggle]

Tinkerbell: "Mommy, I love Jesus!"

Mommy: "I know you do. I'm glad you do."

[Mommy walks away quickly so she doesn't hear the giggle from the cuteness of the prayer]

Elmo's bedtime lullaby

This is one of my favorites! You have to listen to the words!

"Bring on a horse, bring on a pig, because in Opera we like things big!"

Kermit News And Boston T Party

A little history lesson...

Outdoors with Jason Mraz

This song makes me wish it was Spring already!!

Preschool Musical

Spin Doctors Of Two Princes With Zoe, Telly, And Elmo

The Goo Goo Dolls and Elmo Sing Pride

I wish someone would give me a job at Sesame Street!!! I would have LOVED to have been on set this day:

Celebrity Lullabies

This is sooo AWESOME!!!

Andrea Bocelli sings Elmo to sleep

I love Andrea Bocelli's voice!
Here's the original song with Sarah Brightman:

Feist sings 1,2,3,4

Muppets make me feel better right now...

The King and I

Gone With the Wind

When it Rains... it Pours!!!

If that's the case... we have a flood at our house. My husband has worked for a local company for 7 or 8 years now. My husband gets hired as contract labor. He typically has 2 projects a month with them and works for other clients the rest of the time. They have always paid the work invoices within 2 or 3 weeks after submitting. Well... about 1 1/2 years ago - probably 2 years ago now they started getting flaky on making payments. First payments were pushed to the max of 30 days. Then they got pushed to 2 months... then 4-6 months.... Recently my husband has had to hold projects for "randsom" (payments for work he has already finished and turned in).

We now have 3 outstanding invoices (enough to live on for 2 months).... ALL are more than 30 days past due. We have been living on NOTHING for months. Credit card is now maxed - I haven't used a credit card in about 8 years (trying to get it paid off). All checking accounts (family and business) are either near $0 or are a negative amount (small overdraft protection loan).

Husband went in to this company Friday and asked if he could get paid. Their response was "You have between a 0% and 0% chance of getting paid right now". (Oh JOY!!!) To add insult to all this.... we got conned into "loaning" the company nearly a grand when my husband drove their dumb hummer out to California to "show it off" to government officials. They did not give us a credit card to buy gas and they made us use our own money to pay for their trip (including hotel rooms). We thought they were giving us their money for this trip... not part of a payment for one of our outstanding invoices.

Here we sit with ALL of our bills nearing 2 months late - nearing shut-off status. Mortage late (again)... Lawsuit on a medical bill (again)... collections calling for payments (also medical bills). FYI - we can't afford medical/dental insurance.

Yesterday I got a call from my husband "Come get me. The Van is overheating." He was able to get to a repair shop - racked up a repair bill (don't know how to get that one paid)... They let him leave with the promise of getting paid the next day. As he was leaving it over heated again within a couple of miles. We drove it back to the shop and parked it in their lot. We'll deal with that headache later. Our truck is out of commission... not registered and in dire need of a very expensive break job.

Even if we got paid what is owed to us... it's all GONE (and then some).

I feel so defeated.

I wish we had a reset button and I could start this "game" all over again. I sit here and wonder why we are being "punished". If my husband has his health he can get an amazing amount of work done in a day. When he's not feeling well he can't work at all. He barely worked a day or two in 2 consecutive months at the end of the year last year. Neither of us want me to go get a job while we have such young children. When they're in school I can get a job and either sleep during the day while they're in school and work nights or work while they're in school. Who knows what we'll do. I've been looking for work I can do from home.... No luck yet.

We know many people are praying for us... so far, I don't think anyone is answering the "phone".

We want to earn our $. Not looking for loans. We HAVE earned a lot of money that we may never see. Life is very frustrating right now. My husband is working for about a week at a job he does every year. They do pay but it's not enough to live on. He will be looking for a "real job" and not contract work soon. Only problem is his health. He never knows when he will be ok to work and when he can't work. Most employers like their employees to actually do something when they come to work. It's been about 9 years since he had a "regular job". His health has been going progressively downhill. He gets paid FAR more per hour than I could ever earn due to his knowledge and experience.

My husband's health is a whole other post.... it's so unpredictable. We're soooo tired of being the "needy family"... barely making it month to month (or not making ends meet). On top of my husband's health we have to deal with this dang economy. We believe the economy slowing down is the entire reason we're not getting paid for the work he's done.

This is what has been going through my mind lately... the reason why I haven't posted much here. I have not had anything positive to say. Being sick and broke doesn't make for much of an interesting post. I hope things will look up soon. If you've read this far... bless you. I appreciate your concern and attention. Keep saying prayers for my husband's health to stabalize so he can work.

Pogo

One of my favorite places to goof off online is Pogo.com. LOTS of games from traditional card games to old stand-by's like Battleship, Boggle and Scrabble. They also have chess, checkers, jigsaw puzzles, Trivial Pursuit and Monopoly just to name a few.

You can sign up for a free account and play a good portion of the games at no cost... you can also sign up for a paid account and play all the games available for a single fee (per year).

I have 3 free membership trials for anyone who wants to have access to the entire site for a limited time (5 days). Of course they will try to upsell you on purchasing a membership when the trial is over. You don't have to do that. Just getting the word out that I do have the passes if anyone wants them. First come first served. I just need your e-mail and the pass is yours.

Sick

I'm wheezy,
And sneezy,
And feeling kind of queasy.
My head feels like an overstuffed balloon.



I'm tired,
Perspired,
And feel like I’ve expired.
But I wish Instead:
To get well soon!



(I'm not a poet... I altered one by Denise Rodgers)

Household Projects

Today was a typical Saturday... clean, repair etc. A couple of months ago I bought 2 new faucets. I got half way through installing the first one and noticed a leak within the faucet... me being me, that was not good enough. I tend to refuse to take things at face value. I don't quit until I feel I have exhausted all my resources.

After tearing it apart a few times and seeing how the thing works.. also comparing the one with the leak with the other new one that was still in a sealed box I noticed a missing rubber washer. The leaky one was an opened box unit I purchased since they were the last 2 available.

I returned to the scene of the crime... I asked an employee in the plumbing section if they had a replacement part. He told me they don't sell that size washer - it had to be acquired from the manufacturer... he then proceded to pop open his box cutter and open the last box of this faucet and remove its rubber washer and hand it to me with a smile. I thanked him a million times.

I hope no one else ends up with a washerless faucet.

The first bathroom in need of repair has finally been fixed and I have been able to remove all the tools (pipe sized pliers, bucket, faucet packaging etc.). It is no longer a tool storage room.... It is now back to just a bathroom. When I enter I find a peaceful place to "visit".

One project down... one more to go.

This is for Doctor Who fans!!

An amazingly fast and funny skit by David Tennant and Catherine Tate.

Embedding has been disabled so you will have to click on the link and view it on facebook directly. You won't be disappointed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHAJ4VFStUE&feature=PlayList&p=02S10GTJgXE