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August 31, 2006
Enjoy Your Children
I went over to Stacey’s blog last night and read THIS story in horror.
I hate hearing stories like that. It makes me sick that there are humans walking among us that have the potential to be that uncaring. It makes me wonder what made them think this was okay, acceptable behavior. Were they on drugs? That question sounds just like something my mother would ask, but were they? Normal people don’t do things like that. It would seem they would have to be on something to behave that way or else they’re just crazy.
After reading that and being horrified, I checked my email to find that a friend had sent me this:
The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140 for a middle income family. Talk about sticker shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition.
But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into:
* $8,896.66 a year,
* $741.38 a month, or
* $171.08 a week.
* That's a mere $24.24 a day!
* Just over a dollar an hour.
Still, you might think the best financial advice is don't have children if you want to be "rich". Actually, it is just the opposite. What do you get for your $160,140?
* Naming rights. First, middle, and last!
* Glimpses of God every day.
* Giggles under the covers every night.
* More love than your heart can hold.
* Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.
* Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.
* A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate.
* A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites
* Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.
For $160,140, you never have to grow up. You get to:
* finger-paint,
* carve pumpkins,
* play hide-and-seek,
* catch lightning bugs, and
* never stop believing in Santa Claus.
You have an excuse to:
* keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh,
* watching Saturday morning cartoons,
* going to Disney movies, and
* wishing on stars.
* You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay or Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day.
For $160,140, there is no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for:
* retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,
* taking the training wheels off a bike,
* removing a splinter,
* filling a wading pool,
* coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.
You get a front row seat to history to witness the:
* first step,
* first word,
* first bra,
* first date, and
* first time behind the wheel.
You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great grandchildren. You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match.
In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits, So . . one day they will like you, love without counting the cost. That is quite a deal for the price!!!!!!!
Love & enjoy your children & grandchildren!!!!!!!
Posted by tami at 8:06 AM Comments (1)
August 30, 2006
None Of My Business
Some parents just amaze me.
I’ve always been the kind of parent who wants to be involved – who wants to know everything that goes on with my son or daughter. However, there are parents out there who could care less and prefer to not know anything. They would rather be in the dark than have to face reality and I for one think this is sad.
Back when Andrew was in fourth or fifth grade, he kept getting into trouble at school for talking. Come to find out, another boy was bothering Andrew and he was just trying to respond. He was trying to tell the other boy not to talk to him during class.
So, I called this boy’s mother. We were very good friends and I figured I could gently tell her about her son and she would take care of him and he would leave Andrew alone.
Yea, right.
Do you know that she had the nerve to say to me, “Tami, do you think that I would call and tell you about Andrew if he were bothering my son?”
I told her that I would want her to call me. I would expect her to call me. I would want to know.
She went on to say that, she couldn’t believe I would bother her over something like this. In other words, she didn’t care about what her son was doing. She didn’t care that he was getting my son into trouble. She didn’t want to know and she wasn’t going to bother HIM with it.
Her son has since dropped out of high school because, “It was just too hard for him.”
Maybe he needed some guidance. Maybe he needed a parent and not a pal. Maybe he needed some rules and guidelines set before him. Too bad, he never got any of those things.
Why am I telling you this? Well, I heard another mother who sounded just like that one this afternoon and it amazes me.
Some parents just don't care.
Posted by tami at 7:03 PM Comments (8)
August 26, 2006
The Arboretum
Today we visited The Arboretum on the University of Kentucky campus. You will find the photo gallery HERE. There are 50 photos on five pages. As always, click to enlarge.
I was happy to find out that we can take Guido from now on – he just can’t go in the fenced areas. It really is a beautiful place to visit and it’s FREE.
Posted by tami at 11:47 PM Comments (2)
August 25, 2006
Dear Abby
I think this is the scariest and most shuddering Dear Abby Letter I have ever read. It was in yesterday’s newspaper:
DEAR ABBY: I'm 26 and have never wanted children. Last year, however, two lines appeared on a pregnancy test and 41 weeks later the girl was born. I pleaded and begged my husband throughout the pregnancy to sign adoption papers with me. He refused. He is in the military and was gone through most of the last seven months. We now live thousands of miles from my family, and I am miserable, stuck with a colicky baby who still doesn't sleep through the night.
I find no joy, no pleasure and no love being a mother. I can't sleep knowing I must wake up to a crying baby and the same routine of feeding, diapers, baths and bottles. I have become more and more detached from the girl and have nothing to enjoy. Showers are short. Dinners are rushed and usually cold. I can't even enjoy a cup of coffee without looking over my shoulder to see where the girl is. I don't want her to touch me, and I can barely hide my revulsion when I have to pick her up.
I am exhausted beyond belief, and my thoughts are turning darker every day. It's not the girl's fault she was born, but I can't help feeling resentment and anger toward this little person who more and more resembles a block of concrete on my feet.
We can't afford day care, and we have no friends or relatives remotely close by. I can't stand to wake up much longer, and these long stretches of crying have my nerves shot and my hands itching to shake the girl until she shuts up. (I have never shaken her.)
I'm scared of my feelings. What's wrong with me? Why can't I love my child? Should I put her in foster care? My husband can't stand her, either, but he's adamant that we keep her. Yet I'm suffering, and so is she. She deserves a mother who loves her. -GOING CRAZY IN
SAN DIEGO
DEAR GOING CRAZY: It is not a crime not to feel maternal -- not everyone is. In a case like yours, adoption might have been the better option. I wish you had included your name, address or a phone number so I could have contacted you directly. Because you didn't, I can only recommend that before another day goes by, you contact the doctor who delivered your daughter, or her pediatrician, and repeat what you have told me. You may be suffering from post-partum depression, a hormonal condition that is treatable, and you may need a respite from motherhood.
Once your chemistry is balanced again, consider making a trip to visit your family for a few weeks. If you leave the baby with your husband, and he must assume responsibility for her care in your absence, he may begin to see the wisdom of placing her with a family who really wants her and is willing to accept the responsibility that goes along with having a baby. Please don't wait.
*Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Write Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
Posted by tami at 3:20 PM Comments (1)
August 24, 2006
Me and Posters
I guess you wouldn’t think of someone my age as having a poster hung up, but I do. I’ve had it for so long that I rarely even notice it. In fact, we’ve lived here ten years and it has hung in the same spot all those years.
I’m thinking though that it may come as a shock to some people; they may be caught unawares by shutting the door to my bathroom. That is where this poster hangs – on the back of my bathroom door.
It is rare that visitors would use that particular bathroom as we have another, more convenient bathroom just off the hall, but it is a possibility.
My sister and I had one poster each when I was in fourth grade. I had Tom Selleck hanging on one door in the room and my sister had Rick Springfield on the other. Years later, I went through a Christian Slater phase, but I never had his poster. I guess it was the movie Heathers that made me fall for him.
This is the one and only poster that I own:
It’s from the movie Interview with the Vampire.
I can’t imagine buying a poster for myself now. My son, Andrew, has fantasy-type posters hanging on his walls. Ashley has butterflies among others. They don’t know it, but every time I look at those posters, I think about how I would love to take them all down and see clean walls.
They don’t ask anymore either. It’s like, once you give them the okay to hang one, suddenly there are five others that were hung while the door was shut. Thank the Lord; I can always close the door.
Posted by tami at 12:08 PM Comments (2)
August 23, 2006
Five Weird Facts
Church and Guido have been tagged by Lori-Lyn!
List 5 weird things about yourself or your pets. Tag 5 friends and list them. Then, those people need to write on their blogs about 5 weird things, and state the rules, and tag 5 more people. Don’t forget to let the people you tag know by posting a comment on their blog!
5 Weird Things About My Pets
1. Church, the cat, will only drink water from a sink. He prefers running water.
2. This same cat loves orange foods. I.E. Cheetos, Cheese Nips, Cheese, etc.
3. Church has a fascination with Kevin’s shoe inserts. He digs each one out of the shoe and then carries one, using his mouth, onto our bed. How lovely!
4. Guido Da Pug sleeps on Kevin’s pillow every night. Kevin is down to a small corner of the pillow since Guido has grown.
5. Guido hates it when we take the garbage out! Anytime we fool with the garbage at all he starts getting nervous, but when Kevin grabs that bag and says, “Garbage!” Guido barks, snarls and nips at the back of his knees! It’s really comical to watch.
Church and Guido are going to tag Gardenwife, Stacey, Liz, Ellice, and Dana.
Posted by tami at 8:24 AM Comments (4)
August 22, 2006
Armpit Allergy
Guido has been scratching at his armpits for a while now. Yes, I know, this is a lovely subject. Anyway, during the summer, he caught some fleas. We rectified this problem by using FRONTLINE. It took a little while, but they finally died off. The scratching, however, continued. We checked his fur for flea poop or fleas, but there were none to be found.
He now has no fur under his armpits – none. You can see it good in this picture:
I took him to the vet this morning and the vet told me he has allergies. He said he wouldn’t know what Guido was allergic to unless he did a blood test. He said Guido could be allergic to anything from grass, mold, weeds – anything. He said a shot would take care of it for a while. He didn’t recommend doing the blood test, so I’m not going to worry about it for now.
He gave Guido the shot and then gave me some antifungal spray that I’m supposed to spray under his armpits twice a day.
I hope that this gives him some relief.
Posted by tami at 9:07 AM Comments (7)
August 21, 2006
The Weekend
Unfortunately, the book section on my sidebar has decided to go kaput. It’s a shame because I enjoyed it and I could keep track of the books I had read all year. Now I wish I had written them down somewhere else!
My aunt had surgery, so we visited her Friday evening in the hospital. She is doing fine and should be out in a few days.
Saturday it poured. We had grocery shopping to do and I didn’t want everything to get wet from the car to the house, so I decided to wait it out. Bad idea. It kept raining. After going through the junk in the top of my closet, I finally decided we had to go shopping rain or not. We did pretty well though; it was raining when we went in the store, but by the time we came out, it had stopped. Dry groceries are always better in my opinion.
We came home and Ashley played with my paper dolls:
I probably shouldn’t let her play with the Princess Diana Paper Doll. I should put her away for eBay.
Sunday after church, we visited my aunt in the hospital again. They had her sitting up in a chair. I asked if she wanted me to take her picture and post it, but she said no. (I was kidding with her.) When we left, we filled Kevin’s truck with gas. It was $1.57 a gallon at the Speedway in Lexington. When we got back in Winchester, we took my car out to get gas in it. Here in Winchester at Speedway it was $1.75 a gallon. I wonder why Winchester is buying more expensive and such different gas. Ha! Ha!
We stayed in the rest of the day. I folded laundry and Kevin made his famous fried chicken.
Posted by tami at 8:48 AM Comments (4)
August 16, 2006
Amazing
These two photos were sent to me in separate emails, but I thought they were both amazing enough to share.
This was at the stand of Brenneman's Produce. Vicky Brenneman had sliced open a Tomato and this is what she found. Photo by Dennis Ober
You can’t help but smile when you see something like this:
Posted by tami at 11:10 AM Comments (5)
August 15, 2006
Pope and Rabbi
From email:
Several centuries ago, the Pope decreed that all the Jews had to convert or leave Italy. There was a huge outcry from the Jewish community, so the Pope offered a deal. He would have a religious debate with the leader of the Jewish community. If the Jews won, they could stay in Italy, if the Pope won, they would have to leave.
The Jewish people met and picked an aged, but wise Rabbi Moishe to represent them in the debate. However, as Moishe spoke no Italian, and the Pope spoke no Yiddish, they all agreed that it would be a "silent" debate.
On the chosen day, the Pope and Rabbi Moishe sat opposite each other for a full minute before the Pope raised his hand and showed three fingers.
Rabbi Moishe looked back and raised one finger.
Next, the Pope waved his finger around his head.
Rabbi Moishe pointed to the ground where he sat.
The Pope then brought out a communion wafer and a chalice of wine.
Rabbi Moishe pulled out an apple.
With that, the Pope stood up and declared that he was beaten, that Rabbi Moishe was too clever, and that the Jews could stay.
Later, the Cardinals met with the Pope, asking what had happened. The Pope said, "First, I held up three fingers to represent the Trinity. He responded by holding up one finger to remind me that there is still only one God common to both our beliefs. Then, I waved my finger to show him that God was all around us. He responded by pointing to the ground to show that God was also right here with us. I pulled out the wine and wafer to show that God absolves us of all our sins. He pulled out an apple to remind me of the original sin. He had me beaten and I could not continue."
Meanwhile the Jewish community was gathered around Rabbi Moishe "How did you win the debate?" they asked.
"I haven't a clue," said Moishe. "First he said to me that we had three days to get out of Italy, so I gave him the finger. Then he tells me that the
whole country would be cleared of Jews and I said to him, we're staying right here."
"And then what?" asked a woman.
"Who knows?" said Moishe, "He took out his lunch, so I took out mine."
Posted by tami at 8:36 PM Comments (0)
August 14, 2006
Decorations
We had a fun weekend! Ashley got the Halloween Barbie from Target:
We saw some awesome decorations and costumes at Halloween Express:
They’re gearing up for Halloween and the place looks amazing.
At Garden Ridge we saw a red tree:
I have to say, they have a beautiful selection of ornaments. I had three, carefully selected ornaments in my buggy. After walking around the entire store, I decided not to buy any of them and we walked out empty handed. I’m not sad about it though. I reasoned with myself that I have more than enough ornaments already and these three would be three more that needed packing up at the end of the season.
They have a Christmas carousel:
And many more of these inflatable Christmas decorations:
I think I’ve said it before, I wouldn’t want any of these in my yard. But, I especially wouldn’t want Spiderman squatting and wishing my neighbors a Happy Holiday. Mmmm, no, I would never want that.
Garden Ridge has their share of inflatable Halloween decorations also, but you know what I haven’t seen anywhere?!
The candy!
I’m in the mood for some candy corn and pumpkin candies! I can just see my candy dish filled with these little, orange things. I guess I’ll have to wait a little longer. Normally I would be griping saying that they were putting out the decorations and candy too early, but not this year. This year I’m ready!
**Just in case you’re wondering, my web host ran out of space on the server I was on, so they moved me to a new one and it took a while to get everything back up.
Posted by tami at 8:11 AM Comments (1)
August 8, 2006
Her Room
Ashley has attended the same school since kindergarten and the first day has always been a complete mess. Parents have no idea where their child’s class is and the child doesn’t have a clue either. Even if the child knew where the room was the year before, that teacher may have moved into a different classroom for the new year. Therefore, on the first day of school it has always behooved the parents to park their cars and go in with their child to see where their class will be. Trust me; this has created more than parking headaches.
This year is different though! Can you hear the angels singing Hallelujah? Even though this is Ashley’s last year in elementary school, I am still appreciative for what they did. What was so spectacular? Well, they had an OPEN HOUSE. They had an open house BEFORE the school year began so parents including myself could take their child to their classrooms. I met the teacher before the first day of school and asked questions. I saw Ashley’s room.
It was wonderful. I was grateful.
Here’s what I saw:
View 1:
View 2:
View 3:
I will be much more confident sending her through those doors on her own tomorrow.
Posted by tami at 10:31 AM Comments (0)
August 6, 2006
Happy Birthday Mom!
Here’s the gallery from mom’s celebration.
Posted by tami at 10:51 PM Comments (2)
August 5, 2006
True Colors
I finally finished painting my gnome!
Before 1:
Before 2:
After 1:
After 2:
After 3:
Now that he’s finished, I need to get back to my reading!!
Posted by tami at 10:35 PM Comments (5)
August 2, 2006
Among Us
From email:
Beware! They Walk Among Us
One day, I was walking down the beach with some friends when someone shouted, "Look at that dead bird!" Someone looked up at the sky and said, "where"?
***
While looking at a house, my brother asked the real estate agent which direction was north because, he explained, he didn't want the sun waking him up every morning. She asked, "Does the sun rise in the north"? When my brother explained that the sun rises in the east, and has for some time, she shook her head and said, "Oh, I don't keep up with that stuff."
***
I used to work in technical support for a 24/7 call center. One day, I got a call from an individual who asked what hours the call center was open. I told him, "The number you dialed is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week." He responded, "Is that Eastern or Pacific time"? Wanting to end the call quickly, I said, "Uh, Pacific."
***
My colleague and I were eating our lunch in our cafeteria when we overheard one of the administrative assistants talking about the sunburn she got on her weekend drive to the shore. She drove down in a convertible, but "didn't think she'd get sunburned because the car was moving."
***
My sister has a lifesaving tool in her car. It's designed to cut through a seat belt if she gets trapped. She keeps it in the trunk.
***
My friends and I were on a beer run and noticed that the cases were discounted 10 percent. Since it was a big party, we bought two cases. The cashier multiplied two times 10 percent and gave us a 20 percent discount.
***
I was hanging out with a friend when we saw a woman with a nose ring attached to an earring by a chain. My friend said, "Wouldn't the chain rip out every time she turned her head"? I explained that a person's nose and ear remain the same distance apart no matter which way the head is turned.
***
I couldn't find my luggage at the airport baggage area, so I went to the lost luggage office and told the woman there that my bags never showed up. She smiled and told me not to worry, because she was a trained professional and I was in good hands. "Now," she asked me, "has your plane arrived yet"?
***
While working at a pizza parlor, I observed a man ordering a small pizza to go. He appeared to be alone and the cook asked him if he would like it cut into four pieces or six. He thought about it for some time before responding. "Just cut it into four pieces. I don't think I'm hungry enough to eat six pieces.
Yes, he walks among us too!
Posted by tami at 4:21 PM Comments (1)
August 1, 2006
Remembering Ally
For as long as I can remember we have had a cat named Chocolate running around our neighborhood. The kids up the street told us what her name was when we moved in.
Chocolate used to travel all the way up and down the street daily. Bikes, children, loud noises, and cars didn’t phase her. She was a veteran of all that. For a long time, we had no idea who was feeding her or even if she was being fed. Then my neighbor, Martha, decided to become Mom and take control of the situation. She fed her and gave her a new name: Ally.
Once Martha started feeding Ally, she stayed down at our end of the street. Granted, she still roamed, but I never saw her return to her old stomping ground. Martha let her do as she pleased. She went inside when she wanted, but most of the time she stayed outside where she had grown up. Ally was a true predator who caught mice and birds. She wasn’t afraid of anyone and would let child or adult pet her. The thought that a kid could be mean to her never seemed to enter her mind.
She loved scratching her claws on the trunk of our Weeping Willow tree and anytime we were outside for an extended period, she would walk over so we could pet her.
This morning, Martha, took Ally to the vet because she hadn’t been eating or acting herself. The vet found a large mass on Ally’s side and another mass on her throat. The vet explained that no matter what he did, her quality of life wouldn’t be what it had been. He also told Martha that Ally was about 14 years old.
Her age really came as a shock to me. Even though we have lived here ten years, I always looked at Ally as a kitten. The years passed, but in my eyes, she stayed the same.
I’m sure you know the rest. The vet put our sweet, innocent Ally to sleep.
She will be missed.
Posted by tami at 10:53 AM Comments (4)