Catching Up

Friday:
"Mrs. Sister... this is Ms. Mary, Kevin's teacher. He has a belly ache, has had a touch of diarhea, and he's on his cot now, saying he 'can't move a muscle'. Could you please come pick him up?"

"Be right there!"

*time warp ahead 30 minutes, when I arrive at the classroom*

"Mrs. Sister, you have most excellent timing! We just finished changing Kevin's clothes and cleaning up the barf off of the bathroom wall. PLEASE take him home... NOW"

*sigh*

"Mommy- I've been peeing outta my butt all day. I tried and tried to hold my barf in, but I just couldn't hold it any longer"

"I know baby... let's go home"

************************************************************************
Saturday:
He seems fine, except for persistant diarhea. YAY!
My Mom and I took the boys to the Cincinnati Children's Theater production of "The Wizard of Oz", which was outstanding and thoroughly enjoyable.

***********************************************************************
Sunday:
He seems fine, so off to Sunday School we go.

*time warp an hour later, at the end of Sunday School*

"Oh boy, Sis... are you in for a fun day! Kevin just threw up. We're guessing he had eggs for breakfast"

*sigh* "yep.... he did...let's go bud"

Later in the day, I left and did a little shopping. As I was on my way home, I got a call from Bryan telling me that Kevin just asked for the "Mommy Doctor", and wanted to know when I'd be home.

"Mommy Doctor"... how cute is that, eh? He eventually falls asleep on my lap about 7pm.

Then, after watching the closing ceremonies for the Olympics, I started watching the 11 o'clock news. The lead story? A head-on collision on the highway near my house kills a woman, and severely injures her 9-year-old daughter. They were hit by a 19-YEAR-OLD DRUNK DRIVER going the wrong way on the highway. The woman, Kathryn Haumesser, is the speech therapist at Thomas's school.
Oi. What a day this will be for him. Two kids in his class go to speech therapy. I know they'll have counselors available for the kids and fellow teachers, but damn it, I wish I could be there. I don't know how he'll react to this news once he's at school. Right now he's more concerned with what will happen with the daughter- there's been no mention of her father in the news, only Ms. Haumesser was a single mother, engaged to be married in four months.


So. That's my weekend. The good, the bad, the icky, and the sad.

Words fail me.

We're SELLING OUR PORTS?
TO THE UAE?

WTF?

*stunned*

How could this possibly be in our best interest? We're actually turning over control of 6 of our busiest commercial ports to Dubai Ports World- including New York Harbor. Stupid, asshat moves like this will encourage and allow future terrorist attacks. This is disgusting. I cannot believe this is happening!

UPDATE****
I like the convo going on at Rotti's place about this. It's civil, and presents a lot of info on both sides of the issue. Even though the Longshoreman will still be working the docks, and the USCG will be guarding the waters, I worry about what will happen when we relax. I worry about what kind of control an Arab country will have over something as important as our ports. It's not just all about who's signing the checks.

12 Questions

John answered this meme, prompted by SWWBO; ALa took it of her "own free will"... and then tagged me. So here ya go!

1. Black and White, or color? How do you prefer your movies?
If a movie was originally shot in B&W, I want it to stay that way. Colorization ruins the effect of a great classic B&W film. However... I prefer "modern" movies in color. The exception? I absolutely LOVE the way "Wizard of Oz" is shot it both B&W *and* color- B&W for Kansas, and color for Oz. I love that kind of artistic effect.

2. What is the one single subject that bores you to near-death?
I'm sorry? Were you saying something?

3. MP3's, CD's, Cassettes, or Vinyl?
CD's. Fo sho.

4. If you were handed a first class plane ticket to anywhere in the world and ten million dollars and told all of it could be yours- IF you leave and don't tell anyone where you are going- ever. This includes family, friends- everyone. Forever. Would you do it?
No frikkin' way.

5. What do you consider the world's most pressing issue now?
Apathy. I know- it's not an issue... but it is the cause of a LOT of major issues around the world, like terrorism, oppression, prejudice, hunger, illness- so many things that someone else just let happen.

6. How would you rectify the world's most pressing issue?
Distribute spines.

7. You are given the chance to go back and change one thing in your life, what would it be?
I love ALa's answer- I wouldn't change a thing because my past made me what I am now. However... there are SO many things in my life I wish I could declare a "do over", I can't honestly say that. I wish I could- I'd love to have that level of confidence in my "self" to admit that my good and bad experiences makes me stronger, and wiser. I know that's true, but I sure wish I could take back a lot of my actions and words over the years.

8. You are given the chance to go back and change one event in world history, what would it be?
I've always wondered what would have happened if my Dad's sister and her daughter hadn't been killed. I wonder what my name would be, since I was named after his sister, and I wonder what they would be like today. I wonder what affect it would have on my Dad too.

9. Opera, or Grand Ole' Opry?
It's a toughie, because I don't like either one, but I'd end up going to the Grand Ole' Opry. At least I could hoot and holler.

10. What is the one great unsolved crime of all time you'd like to solve?
I wish this said "mystery" instead of "crime". The only "unsolved" crime I'd like to see settled is JFK's assassination- it's somewhat solved, but there are so many conspiracy theories out there I'd like to get rid of. If the question said "mystery" instead of "crime", I would want to know exactly how our world and teh beings on it were created and how we evolved into the humans we are today.

11. What famous author would you like to have over for dinner. What would you serve?
I'd love to meet Nora Roberts, so I could find out more about how she can switch so quickly between a romance writer and a mystery novelist. I think I'd make steak fajitas for dinner (something spicy to go with her books), and chocolate lava cake for dessert (just because we're chicks, and if she's anything like me, gooey chocolate cake is damn near heaven). yummmmm!!!!

12. You discover that John Lennon was right, and there's no hell below us, and above us there is only sky. What's the first immoral thing you would do to celebrate this fact?
*I refuse to comment on the grounds I might incriminate myself*
I am PURE. Just remember that, everyone. PURE. (pure *what* has yet to be determined)

LL and Trek- you're up next!

Happy Valentines Day!

Instead of a mushy "I LOVE YOU GUYS" speech, I thought I'd give you all something to work on. It's a two question quiz, but it shows SO much about your personality and how others interact with you. Use it for any situation- work, home, play- your enneagram rating follows you in all life relationships.

the Questioner

You chose CY - your Enneagram type is SIX. "I am affectionate and skeptical" Questioners are responsible, trustworthy, and value loyalty to family, friends, groups, and causes. Their personalities range broadly from reserved and timid to outspoken and confrontative. How to Get Along with Me Be direct and clear. Listen to me carefully. Don't judge me for my anxiety. Work things through with me. Reassure me that everything is OK between us. Laugh and make jokes with me. Gently push me toward new experiences. Try not to overreact to my overreacting. What I Like About Being a Six being committed and faithful to family and friends being responsible and hardworking being compassionate toward others having intellect and wit being a nonconformist confronting danger bravely being direct and assertive What's Hard About Being a Six the constant push and pull involved in trying to make up my mind procrastinating because of fear of failure; having little confidence in myself fearing being abandoned or taken advantage of exhausting myself by worrying and scanning for danger wishing I had a rule book at work so I could do everything right being too critical of myself when I haven't lived up to my expectations Sixes as Children Often are friendly, likable, and dependable, and/or sarcastic, bossy, and stubborn are anxious and hypervigilant; anticipate danger form a team of "us against them" with a best friend or parent look to groups or authorities to protect them and/or question authority and rebel are neglected or abused, come from unpredictable or alcoholic families, and/or take on the fearfulness of an overly anxious parent Sixes as Parents are often loving, nurturing, and have a strong sense of duty are sometimes reluctant to give their children independence worry more than most that their children will get hurt sometimes have trouble saying no and setting boundaries Renee Baron & Elizabeth Wagele The Enneagram Made Easy Discover the 9 Types of People HarperSanFrancisco, 1994, 161 pages

Link: The Quick and Painless ENNEAGRAM Test written by felk on Ok Cupid , home of the 32-Type Dating Test

If you've never looked at enneagrams, you might want to. I find them fascinating and often spot on.

....and now for something completely easy. One question. One answer.

Your Love Quote

A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous.

What Love Quote Suits You?

Have you ever.....

...noticed that once your feet get cold, it's nearly impossible to warm up?

...been called an "Okay-er"? Because that's what Kevin thinks I do when I go on Red Cross runs. "Mommy's the one who shows up and says 'Are you Okay?', which makes her an Okay-er." I can live with that.

Just thought I'd ask.

NO EFFIN' WAY!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!!!!!!

... which is exactly what I blurted out to my real estate agent at 10:15pm last night to tell me that I GOT THE HOUSE!

OMG
OMG
OMG

After two days of calls from my agent with messages like "Sis, if you want to put an offer on The House, you need to do it NOW. Someone else is delivering an offer within the hour" and "OK... now the SELLING agent is writing a THIRD offer on The House" and "Are you sure you don't want to up your offer? I'd really like to see you get this house", I GOT THE HOUSE!

After several months of looking online, comparing school districts, looking at a few houses and realizing that *THIS* is the house I wanted, I was going to look at it one more time today before making an offer. I was working on getting my pre-approval letter from the mortgage company and wanted to look at one other house, but in my mind, this was already "my new house."

I was SO upset when my agent called to tell me others were making offers. I wanted to wait a couple of months due to the divorce proceedings, but I REALLY wanted the house.

After 4 tense hours last night filled with trading emails and phone calls... The One Call finally came through and I GOT THE HOUSE!

OMG
OMG
OMG


Who's coming over the the Housewarming BBQ?
WOOT! WOOT! WOOT!

Move to Ohio if you can't pay your fines

Apparently, if you're "too poor" in Ohio, you can break the law, not pay the fine, AND not go to jail for it now. And if you *did* go to jail for not paying your fines, Hamilton County now owes YOU damages.

WTF????

"Yes, yo honah, I has da monies to git gazz fo my cah, bu' I don' have da monies to pay my speedin' ticket cuz it ain't the furst of da monf yet"

BULLSHIT.

According to The Cincinnati Enquirer, "Most of the poor defendants were charged with minor infractions, such as traffic violations". You know what I say to that? TOUGH NOOGIES. If you can't afford to drive (including the cost of gas and insurance)... DON'T DRIVE. If you can afford to drive, but can't afford to pay fines for moving violations... DON'T BREAK THE LAW.

Under the proposed settlement, people who "couldn't afford to pay their fines" and were jailed for it, would be entitled to a cash settlement of $118.00 per day jailed.

Damn. Makes me wish I hadn't paid that $40.00 ticket a few years ago. I could have made money on that deal.

Thoughts on a Wendesday

* Divorce proceedings are slooooow when children and dissent exist.

* I would love to buy this house...and I'm working on making that dream a reality.

* Janis Karpinski does not deserve the rank of Colonel... unless you're talkin' about fried chicken, in which case she'd fit right in as a fry-mama, cuz that's exactly what I'd like to do to her sorry ass.

* Dogs who are hungry tend to eat whatever is around.

* Dogs who eat whatever is around tend to puke. In the car.

* Owners of puking dogs may find interesting objects in said puke... like 3 inch rocks.

* Owners of dogs who spew in their car tend to smell a bit like dog barf for the rest of the day.

* I need a bath. And so does the dog.

Boy Toy

I want it.
Who wouldn't?

(what did you think I was talking about, you buncha pervs....)

Snow in the Queen City

I went to work on Saturday morning, and happened to have the digital camera with me.


These photos show my favorite lunch spot- on the shore of the duck pond in Eden Park. On really nice days I'll go there and lay down on the grass under the trees and just relax.


This one shows my view of downtown Cincinnati on my way home from work. The "twin towers" are P&G's headquarters. The Locals refer to them as The Dolly Parton Towers. hehe!


And this one is a really crappy picture, but what do you expect from someone driving on the highway taking pictures out the front window? The bridge is the 471 bridge over the Ohio River geading into Kentucky. (The Locals refer to that as the "Big Mac" bridge, because of the golden arches. Get it??? Golden Arches. Big Mac. Yeah. I know. Midwesterners enjoy simple humor. You should see the "Purple People Bridge" off to my right- it's a big purple bridge for walking between Ohio and Kentucky. It's so frikkin' weird.) I live in Ohio, and work in Ohio, but drive through Kentucky to get to work every day. Go figger.

OK. Enough of "my Cincinnati life". Back to work, you slackers!
(oh yeah. I'm the one blogging from work. *nevermind*)

What a difference one digit makes.....

... when one is trying to sign on to Blogger, and hits "F" instead of "B".

... when sending out a global email to your co-workers, telling them to call 1-800-468-8234 to get registered for on-line access to accounts at a major US bank.

LOL!!!!

In the news

Last night I was FORCED (forced, I tell ya...) to watch the 11 o'clock news. Why? Because of this tag line: Iraqi girl in tri-state for burn care.

Cincinnati is host to several highly respected hospitals, including Shriner's, Cincinnati Children's, and Christ Hospital. Shriner's provides free care to their patients. FREE. CARE. TO. EVERY. PATIENT. All of their patients have severe burns or orthopedic conditions, and they are all children. Their patients come from all over the country, and sometimes... all over the world.

Cincinnati Shriner's is a 30 bed facility dedicated to burn care. It's one of the 4 Shriner's hospitals which specialize in burn care. The other 18 are orthopedic. It's a BIG hospital- but only has 30 beds. Much of their space is utilized for research and making the patient's stay more comfortable by making the hospital more like a little town instead of a sterile hospital with tiny rooms and white walls. I've been to Shriner's on many occassions for business and Red Cross visits. It's an incredible place- unlike any hospital you've ever been to. Many of their patients are long-term residents. They really go out of their way to make the patients and their family as comfortable as possible. It's an incredibly cool place that I hope I *never* have to go to again, but I'm so grateful that it's here in Cincinnati. I know a nurse and a researcher there.. and I don't know how they can handle it. I really don't.

Through the sponsorship of a doctor in Lexington, KY, Waghdan Al-Jayashy will receive burn care at Cincinnati Shriner's for the next year. A bomb explosion left her with second and third degree burns from her chin to her waist in 2003 when she was only 9 years old. The basic first aid care she received at the Iraqi hospital wasn't sufficient enough to allow a full recovery. She's had trouble breathing ever since the blast and her scars were not properly treated, leaving her skin extremely tight restricting her movement.

Shriner's do incredible work- they're not just all about wearing those crazy hats and riding around in tiny cars at parades. Trust me on that one.

And in other news.....
I posted about a custody battle raging in Cincinnati last week. The mother, Sharicka Watson, tried to give up her 7 week old baby boy for adoption, but the father, Glenn Spraggs, stopped the proceedings. The courts awarded legal custody to the mother, pending DNA testing of the father to prove paternity. I was SICK. Outraged that the courts would demand that this mother take custody of a baby she didn't want.
As it often turns out... there are two sides to every story. As reported by the Cincinnati Enquirer, this couple has an 18 month old daughter and the 2 month old son she tried to give up for adoption. She felt she couldn't provide the life for him that he deserved, and neither could the father, who was in and out of their lives. She gave up custody to better her child's life- not because she didn't want him as was previously reported. Both Sharika and Glenn are going to try to raise these children now. I hope they're making the right choice and get some help with parenting skills.

I feel much better now about her ability to mother those babies. She gave up the baby for adoption to better his life- not because she merely didn't want him, like this headline says "Mom doesn't want him; Dad can't have him."

It's half-assed stories like this that piss me off the most about MSM coverage. And you know what else pisses me off about this? It's the same damn reporter covering BOTH stories... with no apology issued to the mother for announcing to the world that she "didn't want" her baby.