A correction re: Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies

http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/sboe/e_attachments/2010/may/full_board/thur_3_ss_economics_a2.pdf

Hi Everyone;
This is to further compliment my original post at Teach Me to Be Uninformed.
From my inbox, comes this note:

Hi Anne,
I see under 113.2 Social Studies, Grade 8, b) knowledge and skills, 4 then B : "explain the roles played by significant individuals during the American Revolution, including Abigail Adams, John Adams, Wentworth Cheswill, Samuel Adams, Mercy Otis Warren, James Armistead, Benjamin Franklin, Bernardo de Gálvez, Crispus Attucks, King George III, Haym Salomon, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, the Marquis de Lafayette, Thomas Paine, and George Washington"
Note the name "Thomas Jefferson".

In your pursuit of the truth, make sure you go to factual sources and not Rachel Madow!"


Admittedly I do not know who Rachel Madow is.
The underlying, and perhaps most significant part of the note is a request to play fair. It is with that same spirit that I am posting this link to the "Text of Proposed Revisions" where the Texas school code is concerned.

Not being of legal mind, I am still quite flummoxed by the possibility that "something" stinky is happening in Texas. (It is a cruel wind that blows northward at times).

I have found one theme repeated a few times- It is reference to the "Texas Education Code - Section 29.907".  And "Celebrate Freedom Week"
The link, and explanation to those activities, can be found here.

Granted, I am not through reading this entire code, but thus far, I am not seeing anything to get my panties in a bundle.
Please let me know what you think?

XOXO
Me

Comes The Trainwreck

What the hey...
I began writing this on Mothers Day.

Happy Fookin' Mothers Day to me.
I raised 4 daughters, basically alone. I would also like to believe that I had a hand in shaping Reianna and Daniels worlds too
Hey boys, the child support means very little compared to having a real father.
My 1st ex, (whom I disrespectfully call "AssFace")- not only left the US, he left me with a 3 year old, a 2 year old, and a newborn.
Ordered to pay $600.00/month child support, he of course left that obligation behind.
The US had no jurisdiction in Germany at the time.
(Since it has ceased to be important to me when he returned to the states, specifically Michigan- I have no idea if one can collect now).

My 2nd ex- also has violently (and loudly) complained about having to pay child support.

How would I have known that with my last divorce, as with my first, both "fathers" had also divorced their children?
Maybe if these sperm donors had actually known their daughters, they wouldn't have felt so poorly.
Besides, anyone who collects child support knows the feeling of being reduced to dollars and cents. (The "Hooker~Aspect" of a divorce when children are involved).

Yes! My heart tells me to forgive and forget.
I have always had a problem doing so. (Not so much one, but the other). hehehe

And yes, I did everything that needed to be done. ON MY OWN. No excuses expressed or implied.
It was tough, but we had fun. Truly we did.

So how has it come to the fact that none of them are here on Mothers Day? 
Let me say that Casey is excused.  Greg has been very sick- missing Thursday and Friday work. (Not like him). And whatever he has I do not care to have.
NOTE: Added 5/18/10...  YES! Casey showed up on Mom's Day. Even though she was the only one who probably shouldn't have been out driving!
And Casey, you have NO IDEA what that meant/MEANS to my heart.

Time was, (a long time ago), that I was so smirky that I actually believed it would be days like this that my table would be filled to needing many extra chairs. (Perhaps even an extra table or two)?

Odd- that as time has passed, I can not only toss the dining room table, I can also lose the high chairs. Those, that I had held onto- From "pasghetti faces" to all the rest of the stained clothing and seats...

But it was all worth it, I told myself. The tough times would pass, and with all these children, I would never be alone; most especially on these days. It is just one of the things I had dreamed of back when.

  ♫
  ...If your time to you  is worth savin' -
Then you better start swimmin' -Or you'll sink like a stone.
For the times they are a-changin'.
Come mothers and fathers -
Throughout the land -
And don't criticize -
What you can't understand...
♫

And it's these days that I am complaining. Sinking like that proverbial stone.
And it is because I do not understand.
I have never been told the "why" of it all. If anyone knows, please let me know?

I have never kept these children from their father(s). 
Besides, anyone that knows any of my daughters will know that there is NO trying to keep them from anything if it is within their hearts to do something.

Comes The Trainwreck.    chugga chugga choo choo

To fill you in:

1. Jenné called me on Mothers Day.
2. Zoé is getting married.
3. Jenné is Matron of Honor Zoé's eldest friend Sarah is Maid of Honor.
   
   1. Not sure if Roberta will be standing, going, or even if she is invited. Last I heard, from one of her most recent Facebook entries was that she had just gotten out of jail.

Jenné called me on Mothers Day. In the course of that conversation she let me know that Aaron's mom was going to be watching Wyatt while she was in Wisconsin. Either she leaves him in Texas, or she "would have to pay a babysitter for 4 days straight."
Isaiah's father, Brad, will have Isaiah for the duration of her visit and for 6 weeks after (to the best of my knowledge).

Baby Wyatt.
I have never met this grandson of mine- He was born in Texas last October.
Jennifer does know I cannot lift Baby Wyatt for any extended period of time. (Thus she knows better than to ask me to care for him fr 4 days straight).

My invitation to this wedding must have gotten lost in the mail. hehehe (We all know better than that).  While I couldn't give a shit about the wedding etc, it would have been nice to have at least gotten an invite so I could attempt to sell it on eBay or Craig's List. (Dead serious).

Again in the course of the conversation with Jenné, I did tell her that since I won't be meeting Wyatt it seemed like such a wasted trip.
I did not raise my voice. And I stated it very matter~of~factly.

Later that day, Jennifer told Casey that I had "yelled" at her. Honestly, has she really forgotten "how" I can really "YELL"?
She also never told Casey she wasn't bringing Wyatt, just that she was "working on it.").

WTF/H?

Clicking on my own Trainwreck Tag, you will see that Zoé lost her marbles about 3 and a half years ago.
Jenné has always followed her big sissies suit. (They are 14 months apart).
Zoé will be 33 next month. Jenné will be 32 this summer. Berta will be 30 in July.

Roberta's recent entry on Facebook was this:
"Free at last, free at last. Lord almighty, I am free at last. Jail sucks by the way. don't go there!"

Jennifer's own MOTHERS DAY entry on Facebook (posted after she'd called), was this:
"The commonest fallacy among women is that simply having children makes one a mother—which is as absurd as believing that having a piano makes one a musician."
That my own blood-cousin replied in kind was devastating to my heart soul.
But I digress.

But hey, Talk about a kick in the teeth!

Was it really all worth it?

To you who are reading and receiving, know that you are my most trusted and intelligent family and friends. And I know that I have already asked questions in this note, but the real question is this... 
...When is a 'child' old enough to stop lying?

Blessings to all who receive, read, and reply to this.

XOXO
Me

♫   And baby, I remember
All the things you taught me
I learned how to laugh
And I learned how to cry~
Well I learned how to love
Even learned how to lie~
You'd think I could learn
How to tell you goodbye
'cause you don't bring me flowers anymore   ♫

Huh?

HELP! (Um... Pretty please)?
My own explanation will follow... But first your own input is needed.

In the course of conversation today, I was told the following... (and I quote).
"We have not ever seen this in a long time."

What's that mean?

1. Does this mean we have never seen it?
2. Or does it mean we haven't seen it in a long time?

Things got hairy just about then, and I didn't catch it right away. I didn't ask... And cannot do so until tomorrow. Those words are just resonating.

I am eagerly awaiting your replies.

XOXO
Me

Ending My Day (with a few giggles)...

Rating:	★★
Category:	Other

  

DEAF  WIFE

  A man feared his wife wasn't hearing as well as she used to and he thought she might need a hearing aid.

  Not quite sure how to approach her, he called the family doctor to discuss the problem. The Doctor told him there is a simple informal test the husband could perform to give the doctor a better idea about her hearing loss.

  "Here's what you do," said the Doctor, "stand about 40 feet away from her, and informal conversational speaking tone see if she hears you.   If not, go to 30 feet, then 20 feet, and so on until you get a response."

  That evening, the wife is in the kitchen cooking dinner, and he was in the den.
He says to himself, "I'm about 40 feet away, let's see what happens."

Then in a normal tone he asks, 'Honey, what's for dinner?"

  No response.

So the husband moves closer to the kitchen, about 30 feet from his wife and repeats, "Honey,  what's for dinner?"

  Still no response.

Next he moves into the dining room where he is about 20 feet from his wife and asks, "Honey,  what's for dinner?"

  Again, he gets no response.

So, he walks up to the kitchen door, about 10 feet away. "Honey, what's for dinner?"

  Again there is no response.

So he walks right up behind her.  "Honey,  what's for dinner?"

 

"Ralph,  for the FIFTH time," I said, " CHICKEN!"

*** 

WIDDLE WABBITS

A precious little girl walks into a PetSmart store and asks,in the sweetest little lisp, between two missing teeth, "Excuthe me, mithter, do you keep widdle wabbits?"

As the shopkeeper's heart melts, he gets down on his knees so that he's on her level and asks, "Do you want a widdle white wabbit,or a thoft and fuwwy, bwack wabbit, or maybe one like that cute widdle bwown wabbit over there?"

She, in turn, blushes, rocks on her heels, puts her hands on her knees, leans forward and says, in a tiny quiet voice:
"I don't think my python weally gives a thit."

Good Night All!


XOXO

Me

Oxfords English

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	Reference
Author:	Oxford?

Did you know that the Oxford English Dictionary lists three different spellings for the word gullible?

Don McLeroy's Texas Education Changes Don't Go Far Enough!

http://www.thespoof.com/news/spoof.cfm?headline=s2i74910
hehehe
Just do the click.

Teach Me to Be Uninformed.

http://tfninsider.org/2010/05/14/it-gets-even-worse/

Image from here

Hi all;
I am stealing this link from Will, (and remembering to take my Micardis (telmisartan) as I read).
In Will's own words:
"I really wouldn't care much if Texas was the only state affected.   It's not.
Those books are used in most of the nation's secondary and high-school classrooms. They affect literally everything.  {Every one in every state}

The extreme Right is close to winning this one - and it'll be a MAJOR victory for them; something that Joe Average Moron American won't even BEGIN to understand for a decade or more, until the little FundieRobots (TM) start making genuine decisions for America...."

My questions ~What in God's good name is wrong with Texas?

• What CAN they be thinking???

My daughter, Jennifer, lives in Texas. (Politically, her husband runs to the right of Rush Limbaugh).

This makes me ill. Especially where my 2 grandsons are concerned!

XOXO
Me

"Publishers have tailored textbooks to Texas, {} because [TX] has been an enormous customer with a reliable source of textbook funding from the $22 billion Permanent School Fund." B. Cassel

It Gets Even Worse on Social Studies

By TFN

State Board of Education member Don McLeroy, R-College Station, is circulating new changes he wants to make to proposed social studies curriuclum standards for Texas public schools. We didn’t think next week’s state board meeting on the standards could get any worse than what happened in March. But McLeroy’s proposed new changes have disabused us of that hopeful thought. We just issued the following press release:

New changes a Texas State Board of Education member wants to make to proposed curriculum standards represent a stunning rewrite of American history on issues ranging from religious freedom to civil rights and would politicize public school classrooms, the president of the Texas Freedom Network said today.

“Even at the eleventh hour, board members are trying to rewrite history and promote political agendas in our kids’ classrooms,” TFN President Kathy Miller said.
“The education of our schoolchildren should be based on the work of academic experts and scholars, not the political biases and fringe ideas of dentists, realtors and other politicians on the state board.”

Don McLeroy, a Republican board member from College Station, has circulated to board colleagues changes he plans to recommend next week when the board resumes debate over proposed new curriculum standards for social studies.

*** Among the changes McLeroy wants to make:

• Add a standard to the eighth-grade U.S. history course that maintains separation of church and state was not the intent of the Founders who drafted the Constitution and Bill of Rights: “Contrast the Founders’ intent relative to the wording of the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause, with the popular term ‘Separation of church and state.’”

• Strike from a standard in the high school U.S. history course a 1948 court decision, Delgado v. Bastrop ISD, that barred segregation of students of Mexican descent in Texas public schools.
  
  • McLeroy proposes replacing that decision with 2009 Supreme Court employment discrimination decision involving white firefighters in Connecticut (Ricci v. DeStefano) and a 2005 decision dealing with the government’s powers of eminent domain (Kelo v. City of New London).

• Change a high school U.S. history standard to downplay the positive impact of Progressive Era reforms and suggest that the work of the era’s reformers like Upton Sinclair, Susan B. Anthony, Ida B. Wells and W.E.B. DuBois created a negative portrayal of America.

• Add a standard to high school U.S. history requiring students to “evaluate efforts by global organizations to undermine U.S. sovereignty.”

• Add a standard to high school U.S. history having students “discuss alternatives regarding long term entitlements such as Social Security and Medicare, given the decreasing worker to retiree ratio.”

CLICK: The full text of McLeroy’s amendments and his justifications for each are available here.

Proposed changes like these make it even more important that the board delay a final vote on the standards and appoint a panel of real academic experts and classroom teachers to review changes board members have made since January, Miller said.

This entry was posted on May 14, 2010 at 2:39 pm




Link to: "It Gets Even Worse on Social Studies « Texas Freedom Network"

As I Mowed...

Nuff said.

Love to all.

XOXO
Me

Timing is everything!

Pretty, no?


Good Morning All;

When Kelli and Tim's house was razed, I took a few breaks to come home and hang clothes on the line.  Just 2 loads, nothing much. Towels. Jeans.
I forgot all about them when I got back home.

As luck would have it, yesterday was another day of getting nothing constructive done, though I had good intentions, dreams, of getting the lawns cut decent. Oh, would that I could move enough to get that done.
But hey, I did get my garbage and recycles down to the end of the driveway yesterday morning.

I'd woken at midnight.
Unable to go back to sleep, I was determined to get all of my photos from the demo posted to the Flickr website. One or two at a time I did get them there. And got them in the "Kelli" set. I even mapped them out.  I then sent all the info to Kelli.

Last night, the weatherman called for more rain overnight. Some storms that could possibly be significant too.
I chanced to peek out at my now darkened clothesline.  At that point, I could only see my housecoat and a pair of jeans.
Uh~Oh.

I promptly went back to sleep, figuring I would retrieve my towels in the rain today. I don't have a yard~light in back by the clothesline; although the light from the back entrance would have provided enough light.
So.
Truth be known I was too tired and lazy, and too much pained to be bending over and picking up anything.
Waking this morning, I let Punk outside. 
Then remembered my clothesline. I went out at first light.
It had not yet rained!
My towels had been blown down, as had a blanket. As I started to grab them, it began to rain.
Like I said, timing is everything.

Casey and Greg had come out Monday night after I had defragged my computer. As it did the defragmentation, it also removed a few programs.
Wordpad for one. I save my "thoughts" from various websites as I am reading news, etc- Then, suddenly, all of my thoughts were gone! I was robbed! By pushing that darn button, I robbed myself! hehehe

"Oogah Boogah", Greg will fix all. (AND, he will speed up my computer as well). 
Such faith I have in Casey's young man!

So out they came that evening... (Just what Greg wants to be doing after working all day programming computers).
He said almost nothing as he began to work on this... this... this... 'machine' of mine...

Having to upload a new copy, he restored my Wordpad. (Greg, I don't care if it is in Spanish, I need to brush up on my skills in that language anyway). hehehe

He even restored my old Solitaire game; again by uploading a new one.
This one in French! (I know next to nothing of that language, but Lord knows I have played enough Solitaire to know what button says what). hehehe
(If you have dialup, you know why I need Solitaire).

Casey drove out then yesterday, bearing Jimmy Johns sub sandwiches for lunch!!! Mmmmmmmm!
(If you have never had a Jimmy Johns sandwich, you have no idea what you are missing)! 
They are SO good.

Casey and I ate, then watched a bit of TV And I promptly fell to sleep on her-  Oops.  (In my defense I had been up since midnight).
She had just left me a note that she was leaving. And that she had fed the pup her supper.
A smooch and a hug, and she was on her way home!

5 short minutes later she returned...
She had brought my garbage/recycle bins back up the driveway. (Yeah, I'd forgotten about them too). She tried to call. And that is when she decided to come back inside.
Seems as though my phone was disconnected.
WHAT?!

Though I haven't even tried to get online this morning, I suppose it is off; as I cannot even recall the last check I'd written to the phone company. Crap. I will drive to Pulaski soon  and get that taken care of.
Knock on wood, at least I still have electricity... hehehe

*************

Good Late Morning now...
I'm B-A-C-K!!!!!!

CaseyAnne is still feeling poorly- It takes a while, (could even be a few weeks), some say for her blood to make her feel even a little better.

A note she had sent this morning:
"I don't know if you'll get this with the phone situation, but I hope you do!
I've been up since 2, my migraine woke me, and I decided to take a Cafergot about an hour ago...
I am hoping it lets me sleep for a while- Hoping also that sleep will make this go away...
Must be the weather, you were right: it is raining! It's been the only thing keeping me calm as I can hear it on the roof. Not as nice as your tin roof sound, but still calming. 

Kelli called last night, she was going to stop over and see you after realizing that your phone was out. She was quite worried! I assured [her] that everything was fine, we just didn't realize that it was out before the phone company closed up for the day.
I will try to make it out there today when I wake up, it shouldn't be too late. I do have a chiro appointment, but that's not until around 5 so it gives me plenty of time :D

You were sleeping so well yesterday that I didn't want to wake you up...
I hope it wasn't me that woke you, you did grind your teeth a bit, and I stifled a laugh when I told you about it as your response was "Good!" LoL!

Well, I will call/email or just come over when I wake up... Hope your migraine subsided for you and you got a good night's sleep...

Love you MUCH MUCH!

~CaseyAnne

So what does she do instead of going to sleep? She calls in and pays my darn bill.
Imagine my surprise as I was typing this onto my (foreign) wordpad and my phone rang!
Casey had paid my bill and now I will run to the credit union and make good on that for her.

Still raining as I type.
I am happy that nothing leaks.  ~Not even me! 

Love to all

XOXO
Me

Kelli and Tim's. Demolished, Part One

   Our weather today.  Mostly...
It is a good day for sewing.



My apologies-
It has taken me over 2 hours just to upload a few pictures to Flickr.
Greg will probably kill me, but I tried to fix my dang computersaurus, and I am afraid I have only made it worse....

Sorry Kelli... As you know, I took over 200 pictures yesterday. I have only even gotten through resizing a few of them at this point.
So... For now, these 2 for you-







Yes those were both taken with Kelli standing in the same spot!

XOXO
Me



PS to Kelli:
I found your Christmas Tree stand...



hehehe

Busy Today...

Casey and Kelli, after walking the dogs.

Good Morning All;
Frost advisory still going on- It is currently 34 degrees.  Brrr...

Casey begins her infusion treatment for her anemia this morning.  Friend Marsha will be bringing her.

Also Kelli and Tim's home and barn being razed today to make way for construction to begin. 

Hope your Mom's Day was super special! Mine was with Casey coming out, bearing food and gifts!  My magician animals (not sure which) made my food disappear. Heads will roll when I see sprouts in poop. hehehe
Jenné called. Boys are good.
Did not hear from Roberta or Zoé. (No surprise with those two, right)?  Oh well.

Must get ready to face the day!
Have a good one!

XOXO
Me

My Kids! 1991

He who teaches children learns more than they do.
German Proverb



They only look quiet. hehehe

From left to right-
Back row:
Reianna M., 12
Jennifer H., 13
Zoé C., 14

Front Row:
CaseyAnne L., 4
Daniel B., 10
Roberta M., 11

* Not pictured: "I dunno", and "Not Me" (and "Sweet Pea") hehehe

"Growing up is never easy. You hold on to things that were. You wonder what's to come. But that night, I think we knew it was time to let go of what had been, and look ahead to what would be. Other days. New days. Days to come. The thing is, we didn't have to hate each other for getting older. We just had to forgive ourselves... for growing up."
The Wonder Years

Happy Mothers Day to all.
Whether a gift of God, a gift of nature, or a gift of your society; if you've loved the child you've become its mother.


Children are not casual guests in our home. They have been loaned to us temporarily for the purpose of loving them and instilling a foundation of values on which their future lives will be built.
Dr. James C. Dobson

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone. People love that human touch - holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

I've learned that no matter what happens or how bad it seems today, life goes on, and it will be better tomorrow.

I've learned that, regardless of your relationship with your parents, you will miss them when they are gone from your life.

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and a late friend.

I've learned that making a living is not the same thing as making a life.

I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work, and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.

XOXO
Me
aka Mom, Mommy, MA!, "MUH~THER!", Mama D.

Kokopelli/OLOLOWISHKYA image/legend from here

Rain. Snow. Sleet. (And Dark of Night).

"Dogs just wanna have fun!" hehehe


Happy Saturday All;
It's been a busy week. Busy, but not industrious either. Just one of those weeks where nothing has gotten done.

We had some nasty storms on Tuesday evening. Then it cooled off-
But the winds did not die down. It has been chilly- The "bone" kind of chilly.


I brought Casey to the doctor because she could not get a return call from his nurse.

(Of course Miss Punk came along).
.
.

 
hehehe.

Yes, it was warm enough that day to open windows and drive fast.



She waits patiently in the car for us to return...

Then comes funtime for her.
In the field by the hospital, she knows she gets to play with her new toy again.








She seems to love it when Casey gets her new toys! 
This one, a bottle holder, to give it oomph as it's thrown.
.

.

Casey. In the daffodils.
.
.
That evening, Miss Kelli had stopped by on her way to Michelle's to feed the horses.

(Refer to top picture again). hehehe
It was warm enough to have all the pups outside playing too.

Sputty is not afraid of these beasts of ours either. As they play, he just rambles between Kelli and myself, or sits on the Cub Cadet. (Methinks he is smitten by that lawnmower of mine).

He even got thirsty at one point.

.
.
.
 
This cannot end well! 
(Kelli's old washtub being 1/2 full of rainwater).  hehehe


.
As we looked to the South, we saw the first of the thundertops heading our way
.
.

 
... and moving ever so slowly.
I have heard it said that the slower they move, the stronger they grow.
.
.
.

Which seemed to be the case that night...

I have my NOAA weather radio. It began to sound the tornado warning. (And yet, even then, there had not been a severe thunderstorm watch or warning issued).


Mr. Sputnik heard the TV weatherman warn us to get under something sturdy...

.

.
.

While Miss Punk waited by the back entrance.




.
.
ALL of the tornadoes hit south and east of Green Bay. In fact, the TV picture above makes our own storms look much worse than they were on the ground, thank God.

I was awakened by a strange noise on Friday morning...

Good Freakin' Grief, my furnace had kicked in! (I had long since turned the thermostat all the way down, so this told me it was less than 62° in the house).
No wonder I had been chilled, even in my pj's...

Punk woke me last night- (rather "early" this morning). She had been asleep in her chair when I'd gone to sleep.  Quite regularly she wakes me up so she can steal my pillow...

But first to put her outside on the off chance I might be able to go back to sleep myself.

Funny noise out there too...  Drip. Drip. Drip. Plunk.
.
.



Oh but check the right handle...

Yeah Baby, that is snow...





Punk ran around a bit in search of her toys...

It has all since melted.

And that's all the news (that's fit to print). hehehe

Have a 'wunnaful' weekend my friends!
My love to all

XOXO
Me

Happy Cinco de Mayo

From:
CatsThatLookLikeHitler.com

hehehe
Feel free to steal and share.
(Credit to www.CatsThatLookLikeHitler.com please).

BP. And wagging the dog...

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Other

"Ironic that BP's oil rig exploded, killed 11 workers, will devastate the Gulf Coast economy for years to come, and will destroy 25% of protected U.S. wetlands... just weeks after Obama announced support for offshore oil-drilling. Ironic that the oil rig picturesquely sunk on the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.

Painfully ironic that the rich oil industry has no idea how to cap the 7-inch hole that's spurting millions of gallons of oil into a patch the size of several New England states."

quote by D. White

*****

Is it irony?

XOXO
Me

Tuesdays 10+ (Questions). Windmills. Bream. We. Dog Food Recall.

NOTE: Head was sent in for "scientific research".
We await results from the necropsy too...



Hi Everyone;
I should be shot for not blogging.  My apologies to all.
Due to the restrictive pain in my back, I have been physically unable to blog...  I can/do go from site to site. I tip my screen to accommodate standing or sitting- Just can't sit long enough to even get my thoughts together, let alone to bring my pictures down to size.
Yes, my back has been THAT bad. Kelli comes and takes the pups to the woods for me. Thank God for Kelli.

I have a few questions for you today...


1.  How dangerous are windmills, aka wind turbines to our health?
(I found the following article here).
.
.
.


Can all that be caused by living near to a wind turbine or wind farm?
I ask because there is a rather ugly debate growing in our county about this matter.
While I am all for conservation of any kind, and most especially the conservation of fuel, I do not know enough about this all to make an honest point.
I know a few of you have a bit of experience with this matter. Please let me know.


2.  Is the pet food recall beginning all over again? Did it ever end?
Nothing has come through on my own list from the FDA, and so, I am trying to find out more info on this all, thanks to Sweet Pea's quick thinking (CLICK) as her own dogs have been refusing to eat their usual Pedigree Dog food.


   ....   
Sput and Punk
Though not happy to hear of this recall BS, they would use any reason to go to the woods.
Foraging is only one of those excuses.

"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog and a man." - Mark Twain

Menu Foods has NOT updated their recalled products! Sadly, that only makes me wonder why not?


3.  Are dog food labels too ambiguous for you to read?
CLICK HERE to learn how to interpret ingredients and nutrition panels.
Know and realize exactly what you are feeding your pet!
Punk gets "Taste of the Wild" dog food. CLICK. Her formula has no grains.

4.  How do I get past this awful back pain?
I even went in to the pain management doctor last week. My option is to "up" my pain meds.
I will learn today whether my Xrays show any additional breakage.  I must sleep, but really don't stay comfortable for long enough to even rest. I did nap for a while today, missing out on a simply gorgeous day.
By the way, I do not take these pills unless I am in some awful pain. Then it is time to make sure I keep it at bay as I can.

My sister Barbara wrote that her and her hubby's backs are bad too. I nodded and smiled when I read her words, "Haven't read much about your back lately.  How's it going? Rod's continues to get worse. His lower spine is just crumbling. We need someone who can VACUUM. It kills our backs."
If I look around here, I can see a few fur balls- both grey and blond, that need to be gotten rid of.  Like the vacuuming, Sweet Sister of Mine, they will keep until we can" get 'er done"
Until then, if people are coming to see me they will also see a few of those dust bunnies and fur balls. Such is "Life in Flintville"
I have all I can do to keep up with my dishes.  I pull a weed or three. The animals and I get a bit of exercise. Most days of late that is all we do. I told Punk I would understand if she hates me.

5.  How does Casey even function? She will be receiving 6 weekly infusions for her anemia. Her counts have consistently gone down since her most recent surgeries in January, and at this point in time, are nowhere near to acceptable at a mere 5~point~something.
By contrast,  if I remember correctly, Dr. Sutherland gave her whole blood when her counts went below 9 when she was in Minnesota.  (It amazes me that she is still up and walking around)!  She has had any number of transfusions already since her TP/AIT in December 2008.

She also received an injection of B-12 yesterday.


6.  I am deathly afraid of storms. Are you? The ones we are to get tonight could be "potentially dangerous". (Those are the worst kind). Maybe  the storms will miss us, although the flower seeds I'd saved and planted could use a bit of watering. 



I am in part of the 6-15 area.  (That is not a comfort when their tornado sirens are going off).

7.  Do you have a garden? Nothing fancy this year as far as my seeds go. I found a bag of seeds that I had saved from last year and 'scattered' them around. We'll see if even one or two survived the scatter. hehehe

8.  Does this menu board make you smile?




Mean of me I know, but I giggled a while when I saw it


9.  How about this picture?



Are you smiling now?!?
I have seen (and had) many 'rolls' in my life, but have never seen one on top of anythings head!
Leave it to Punk.

10.  Does this make you hungry?




YAY! And ATTABOY!

Lawrence and his dad went fishing last weekend.
William said Lawrence had a great day, catching 2 bass and 2 bream.






11.  What's a bream? (If you say 'fish" I shall swat you).

12.  Was this an awful waste of gas to drive to Pulaski to order one of these last night?



hehehe
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

Hope all is well in your little corner of the world.

Love to all.

XOXO
Me

Free Sample Purex 3-in-1 Complete Laundry Sheets

http://www.trypurex.com/email
THANK YOU SWEET KRISTIN!

Hi Everyone-
This is the detergent, softener, and anti-static all in one...
I would guess that supplies are limited, so sign up fast.

I have heard of this product on TV- But I sure wasn't willing to waste my $$$ on something new that may/may not work. (Now that it's FREE, that's a no~brainer)! hehehe

Site claims "In about 6-8 weeks you will receive a sample pack with two Purex Complete 3-in-1 Laundry Sheets."

Use the link above to get your own free offer.

XOXO
Me

Pass it on!
Tell your friends so they can get a free sample too!


Safe for septic tanks too by the way...

Also, I cannot find where it is manufactured.
(But I figure if it not in USA then it is already on the boat and waiting to be sent to me).

Apple Blossoms. Allergies. (And all else too).

Apple Blossoms (Picture taken 4-19-10).
Wish you could smell them!

NOTE:
I began writing this yesterday (Saturday) morning when Casey suddenly showed up on my doorstep.  And Casey always takes precedence over my silly blog!


Good Morning Everyone!
It is to rain today- I hope they are right. Although my lawns do not need to grow any faster, it is very dry outside, and we SO need these rains.

Punk. She really IS quite well, even though there is still over a week of meds left for her to take. (Yes I will give them all to her until they are gone).

Casey has been having a few lingering problems-
Pain.
Nausea.
And for some strange reason she is anemic always. 
She has been on added iron pills for a while now- She has adjusted her diet accordingly.
Still anemic.
So Friday her doctor had ordered even more blood tests. One of those tests will not come back for a week. (Your little prayers are always welcome).

As for me, my toe is just fine! I am SO happy I had that done.
My back a trial. To put it nicely...
(Really bad these last 3 days and it was SO good for a few days before this?).
My latest MRI showed that I am absorbing the calcium and all- Those fractures are healing!
I am so upset that they still hurt. More~so that the dang pain is so restrictive. When my pills work, they work well. When they do not, I am just stuck with it...
I will never get used to not being fully flexible (and I will not go down without a fight). Grace? Not a chance.
I have already had this lingering, sharp, awful pain explained six ways to Sunday.
I don't understand it all, just enough to know it will just always hurt. Grrr....

Other than that, my hay fever is threatening, but I have never really 'suffered' from allergies either. Not like some. The worst for me being the "bzzzz" stings.

I remember when the doctor had diagnosed me with 'allergies'... I was in my mid 30's and had finally gone in because my face had hurt like heck for about a month.
He took his knuckle, knocked on my forehead, and then on my cheekbones.  OUCH! What the hey?
He looked in my eyes, my ears, and up my nose. (Why must doctors look up your nose anyway, I hate that)!
He then stated 'you have allergies'. 
No.  I proudly reminded him that I was not allergic to anything!
He explained that allergies can/do develop at any point in our lives. That was that. 
Achoo!

So, like many, I do have these darn allergies. I take Claritin when my face starts to ache, and for a few days after. I repeat this in a week or so if they bother me more.
Still, I don't think I am the only person who thinks their allergies are worse this year? I don't know why this would be.  Maybe it's just me...
Perhaps there are more "floaties" in our atmosphere/air now too. Maybe that would be thanks to Iceland.
Sorry. I know I shouldn't make light of that when I know that the wildlife and the farm animals are dying by the 1000's, and there is nothing anyone can do about it. So sad.




When I see pictures like this, it amazes me that anyone/anything can live through it!


As you know, many flights were canceled- Better always to err on the side of caution!
My friend, Mrs. G,  absolutely needed to get from Canada to the UK for her sons wedding. I believe they have arrived safely.

Closer to home are the storms in Alabama- Not sure which part of Alabama, and I have yet to hear back from William... I had written him earlier to make sure that they are all safe and sound. I will add his reply when I hear back from him.

I can't remember if I have shared this with you or not? I believe I have, in part anyway.
Young Lawrence is going to be genetically tested for Marfan Syndrome, and others. But they can't even get him tested until December!  Here is a 10 year old boy, with a potentially dangerous heart condition, and they can't get him in?!?  In the meantime he is not to do sports or the like. I feel so badly for him.

Also I received a note from Charles (Baby Sam's dad). I can't remember if I'd told you about this earlier either...
Charles writes, "I had a E.G.D which is a throat scope. I have Barretts throat which turns to cancer sometimes and can kill you other ways. But whatever will be will be. Other than that things are great. Sam is fearless and fast..."
I am hapy to hear that Sam is doing well.
As far as Charles goes, I believe that this is the same condition as "Barretts Esophagus"?  (Click).

I haven't heard anything further...
But I do have an article to share also.

• Wine May Protect Against Throat Cancer Posted: March 2, 2009

  • Study finds that a glass or two a day lowers risk by more than half

I feel badly for Charles-
(This family of mine is sure giving me one heck of a medical education)!

It is windy here.   SO very W~~I~~N~~D~~Y...
The "hold onto your hats and your small children" kind of windy. My screens are up on all the windows, and they whistle like the dickens when the wind comes from the SE. Sounds like a blizzard out there! Such is NOT the case I assure you.
It is currently rainy and soggy. Nice to have that moisture! I can relax a bit now knowing I don't have to water anything.
But I'll bet my chives have all blown over! hehehe  I will go out next time Punk does, cut them and get them dried.

I have last nights dishes to do, and still to get in the shower.
Much wash to catch up on also.

What a great morning so far! I have been emailing back and forth to both Casey AND to William (now that he's up).
All is well at the Gaither household! YAY! Truth be known, they are getting ready to go fishing! (Wish I was there, I haven't gone since I went with my dad).
William had no idea what I was even talking about- But he did say they were under a warning all night long. Said the sirens were going off- (He added they don't even hear them anymore because they go off all the time).  Not me, I told him, being that I am so paranoid about Mother Natures fury.

I'd better close for now and get busy. 
The wind is still blowing fiercely, (and I haven't heard that much whistling in years)! hehehe

Love to all.

XOXO
Me

Hay-fever sufferers, know your enemy:
Scanning Electron Microscope pictures of grains of pollen

.
.

Grains of pollen come in all shapes and sizes. The large object in the centre of this image is pumpkin pollen; the tiny speck just below and to the right of it is forget-me-not pollen.

Cool picture, right?

This article from the UK states "The number of hay fever sufferers could reach 30 million [people] within 20 years as city living, pollution and climate change exacerbate symptoms, experts have warned."  Read more.
I believe there is my explanation. And I am sure this is applicable worldwide.

Also our Green Bay records and averages
  

Records and Averages

   

Daily Records and Averages at weather.com

____ 

Month	Avg. High	-Avg. Low	-Avg. Precip	Rec. High	Rec. Low
January	24.0 °F	7.0 °F	1.21 in	56.0 °F (01/26/1944)	-31.0 °F (01/30/1951)
February	29.0 °F	12.0 °F	1.01 in	61.0 °F (02/26/2000)	-33.0 °F (02/10/1899)
March	40.0 °F	23.0 °F	2.06 in	82.0 °F (03/29/1910)	-29.0 °F (03/01/1962)
April	55.0 °F	34.0 °F	2.56 in	89.0 °F (04/22/1980)	7.0 °F (04/03/1954)
May	68.0 °F	45.0 °F	2.75 in	99.0 °F (05/31/1934)	21.0 °F (05/09/1966)
June	77.0 °F	54.0 °F	3.43 in	101.0 °F (06/01/1934)	32.0 °F (06/06/1958)
July	81.0 °F	59.0 °F	3.44 in	104.0 °F (07/13/1936)	40.0 °F (07/06/1965)
August	79.0 °F	57.0 °F	3.77 in	100.0 °F (08/24/1948)	38.0 °F (08/22/1967)
September	70.0 °F	48.0 °F	3.11 in	97.0 °F (09/10/1931)	24.0 °F (09/29/1949)
October	58.0 °F	37.0 °F	2.17 in	88.0 °F (10/06/1963)	12.0 °F (10/30/1925)
November	42.0 °F	26.0 °F	2.27 in	74.0 °F (11/09/1999)	-9.0 °F (11/29/1976)
December	29.0 °F	13.0 °F	1.41 in	64.0 °F (12/05/2001)	-27.0 °F (12/19/1983)

____

Hope that all turns out...

Have a good one!

Well, Bless Me Father...

Oh no!  He did NOT just say that!
Oh wait... 

By now, most of you know that for many years I have not been a practicing Catholic. I do, however, consider myself quite Christian and more than spiritual.
I have gone to the annual Sts Edward and Isidore church rummage sale as time and circumstances would permit.
I kind of 'have' to, (I have always gotten really good deals). hehehe

My back is awful -and Casey is pretty sick, (She is OK, and I will fill you in later). Since this sale is a 6~hour event, and only once a year, we went anyway.

They (the church) had blocked off the handicap parking stalls. I was in no shape to walk any further than necessary, nor was Casey-  And I had chosen to leave my cane at home (knowing there would be ample tables to lean on).
Knowing that it is illegal to block off handicap stalls, I parked 1/2 on the torn up lawn, and half in the stall- perpendicular to the way the stalls are set up. I must also metion that I was not the only vehicle that had done so.
(They had put 3 orange cones in the 3 stalls).
Lots of people outside, but nobody said a word as I hung the DIS tag up on my rear-view mirror and we walked in.

The church sale is in 2 parts.
The 1st four hours are for regular business- The final 2 hours are the $3.00/bagful. You check out between the sales.

While carrying things out to the car from part one, one man (my age) came up and told me that I couldn't park there. He had a real badass attitude about it, (when I have moo~koo pain, I am not the right person to "tell" anything to).
I said, calmly, "But you blocked off the handicap stalls."
He replied, louder this time, "You have to move your car or leave. You can't park here."

I opined that it was illegal to blocked off these stalls in the first place, and then mentioned that I would think state law would trump his little orange church cones.
Mad as heck at my calm replies, he went on to holler something else... (I do not know what he said as I was way past listening to the ranting person).
So I just told him "Well, call it in to the sheriffs dept. then" -as I walked back into the sale.

Casey, still behind me, suffered the worst of his wrath.
He demanded to know what "f***ing" law I was referring to. She simply replied for him to 'please take it up with my mom.'
He chose not to, and continued to holler at her- She came in near to tears and related the conversation to me.

Spying an old friend of my moms, I went to the Mrs. and told her what had happened. Another lady overheard and suggested we speak to Father Dave about it.
There he was, across the room. The 2 nice ladies walked over with us.

After filling him in, he looked us both straight in the face, and said, "Maybe if you are so handicapped, then you shouldn't be out shopping."

I kid you not. He was dead serious. (This is the same priest that, 23 years ago, had refused to baptize Casey because I was not married to her father).

I would have left then and there. (I think that might have been his angle anyway). But I would not be giving him that satisfaction.

My question is this.

1. Does state law trump this?
2. What would you have said?
   To the guy? To the priest? To Casey?

As soon as I realized he was serious, I smiled, (smugly then). We simply turned and walked away.

They have the nerve to wonder why I don't grace them with my presence?!
Really?