my life: Would you like to be on your favorite TV show?

My kids were watching the movie the other day, Pleasantville. What a truly quirky movie in my opinion.....but it got my kids asking. "Would you want to live your favorite TV show?" What an interesting notion, don't you think? My 16 year old son came to the conclusion he had no problem with idea but then he mostly watches reality shows on M-TV or sports. Both he concluded, he would not mind living out. My daughter on the other hand, the older more mature brain, came to the conclusion she was not so sure. She truly enjoys the unscripted ER shows or 'Medical Incredible' and such......not so sure she would want to be a character on them however. The shows like 'Family Guy' that she likes, her conclusion was definitely not! I on the other hand, of late, my favorite shows currently all seem to be law enforcement type dramas such as 'Numbers' or 'Ladies Murder Club' - none of which I could say I would enjoy being a participant in. I would however, enjoy being on the show from the late 90's called "The Pretender". There was something about that show, rooting for the underdog that appealed to me. Plus, I believe the underdog always won on that show and that definitely appeals to me. So I ask you, is there any TV you would like to become a character on? (1) Comments

Posted: 2/29/2008 1:40:00 PM

my life: 25 Ways to Know You're Grown Up!

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Posted: 2/21/2008 9:20:17 AM

my life: 10 Things We Ponder As We Get Older

Ten Thoughts to Ponder as we get Older... Number 10 Life is sexually transmitted. Number 9 Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die. Number 8 Men have two emotions: Hungry and Horny. If you see him without an erection, make him a sandwich. Number 7 Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day, teach a person to use the Internet and they won't bother you for weeks. Number 6 Some people are like a Slinky ... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs. Number 5 Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing. Number 4 All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to Criticism. Number 3 Why does a slight tax increase cost you $200.00 and a substantial tax cut saves you $30.00? Number 2 In the 60's, people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird and people take Prozac to make it normal. And The Number 1 Thought: We know exactly where one cow with Mad-cow-disease is located among millions and millions of cows in America but we haven't got a clue as to where millions of illegal immigrants and terrorists are located. Maybe we should put the Department of Agriculture in charge of Immigration. (Thought we could all use a smile on a Monday) (1) Comments

Posted: 1/28/2008 12:24:19 PM

my life: Goodbye Childhood Home...

I had a unique opportunity this weekend to say goodbye to my childhood home. I must say, it leaves me feeling a bit empty. We actually sold the home I grew up in 4 years ago to a gentleman in the county that buys older homes and fixes them up. His intention was to get the house back up to his original grandour but unfortunately, he took severely sick shortly after buying the place so he had only gotten as far as some of the demolition when work came to a screeching hault! For almost 18 months, he worked to get back on is feet to finally finish the house and a month ago, he put it on the market for sale. Wow, how wierd is that? So Saturday, my sister, my kids and myself are given a tour through the house as he is completing the last repairs before the house closes with the new buyer on Tuesday. The room my sister and I shared all those years has a whole bank of windows along the north side of the house now - how wierd looking is that? And the board that had all our hack marks of growth was covered over in a stunning new coat of paint (we didn't think about taking that with us until well after the house had closed...) That was definitely a little sad... I must say, the oddest thing of the whole experience was to see the CA/CH unit outside the house. We used gas heaters in the rooms and only the central family room was air conditioned. At least the new family will be able to reside in much greater comfort than we ever considered but then, it didn't seem as hot back then as it does now during the Texas summer... Well, goodbye house. It will certainly be wierd to see cars parked in the drive as well as Christmas decorations up and them not belong to us but..... I'm a big girl.....I think this too I shall get over! :) (1) Comments

Posted: 1/27/2008 7:21:16 PM

funnies: Some Grins For Your Friday....

I can already tell this is going to be a long Friday......my sister sent me this and it made me laugh so maybe it will do the same for you. Hope you have a great weekend all..... A bus carrying only ugly people crashes into an oncoming truck, and everyone inside dies. As they stand at the Pearly Gates waiting to enter Paradise and meet their maker, God decides to grant each person one wish because of the grief they have experienced. They're all lined up and God asks the first one what the wish is. "I want to be gorgeous," and so God snaps His fingers, and it is done. The second one in line hears this and says "I want to be gorgeous too". Another snap of His fingers and the wish is granted. This goes on for a while with each one asking to be gorgeous, but when God is halfway down the line, the last guy in the line starts laughing. When there are only ten people left, this guy is rolling on the floor, laughing his head off. Finally, God reaches this last guy and asks him what his wish will be. The guy eventually calms down and says: "Make'em all ugly again." NEXT TIME YOU'RE LAST IN LINE. BE HAPPY Blessed are the Cracked, For they are the Ones Who let in the Light! (1) Comments

Posted: 1/25/2008 8:57:56 AM

funnies: National "No Name Calling" Week?

This has been an incredibly stressful week for me....taking a mid-term on phonics on top of the almost 80 pages of reading that still had to be accomplished..... My patience level is at an all time low! Enter - National No Name Calling Week! When I read on a bulletin board this even was scheduled this week, I laughed. "No name calling", how juvenile I thought to myself. I went on to read about their expectation for the week and I must admit, I quit laughing. For this week, you are supposed to work to control your anger so that when alone in traffic, you don't call the guy that just cut you off 'a few choice names'. After all, in your car, you're safe and no one can hear you, right? I found this to be an interesting challenge. Just think, if everyone during this week actually worked to control their anger.... wow! New skills brought to light and put into practice.....lowering the blood pressure, lowering the anxiety level, lowering the number of family arguments.... But then next week there will be twice as many road rage reports or the homicide rates will spike across the country :)...Oh well, it's nice to dream of a perfect world, isn't it? (2) Comments

Posted: 1/24/2008 7:37:20 PM

funnies: Ever Been Made To Feel Like A Computer God?

Now before anyone gets their ire up, this is not that kind of blog. In fact, I think it is rather funny.... Most of you know I'm at a new job. This is "the kingdom over which I reign...." It's not a large county in which I live nor is the territory over which we have jurisdiction very large either. Some 15 years ago, the county bought computers for every justice of the peace office to use to keep track of their materials. Apparently the folks in this office were given very little training and every time the computer or software was upgraded, no one bothered to see if anyone in the office actually knew what the software could do. Enter ME, Oct 1st. One the first day, I'm explained that by the end of the year every JP office in Texas is supposed to be online with how they process death certificates for their jurisdiction - and the JP I work for, hates the computer, he'll never do it. That being said, we were the first in the county to complete and transmit our death certificates via online. :) I was told the Judge would never allow us use the computer generated citations for civil process - we now use those citations as well as the civil docket is maintained via computer in it's entirety. :) One of the state troopers that I secretary for had a complicated report he completed due to a major felony arrest he had made. Page two of the document he had edited and changed a number of times before he finally had it reading as he liked. When I go to print it, I only printed that page.... why print the entire document again when only one page is altered. He had mistakenly shreded the other document, having been told over the years that it could only be printed as an entire document. Wrong! All I did was go through File - Print - Current Page..... Magic! And yesterday, I truly impressed my Judge when he had a press release he needed faxed to a number of newspapers only he did not know their names or the numbers. All he had was the cities/town name. I took the press release, told him not a problem and left the room. He said I only had 35 minutes (until he was having to leave the building) to get it accomplished. Not a problem. I found three of the five online and the other two, their Chamber of Commerce offices gave me the phone numbers.....done in under 20 minutes. I will not soon forget the look of surprise on his face when I returned the papers to him with fax confirmations attached. My departing comment to him was "Next time, if you get the press release to me as a word document I can send it out by e-mail and not cost us anything...." His look of amazement turned to a smile as I closed the door behind me. I am, by no ones standards, a computer person but there are certain skills and knowledge I have picked up over the years. Plus, I will admit, I'm not afraid to at least try new software or new avenues of doing the same things. So they put me on a pedistal for a while..... I guess I can live with that for a while....(((evil grin with a wink)))! (4) Comments

Posted: 1/17/2008 8:09:20 PM

all other rants & raves: I'm the parent, it's my job to say NO!

OK people. I'm approaching my soap box and am prepared to bare my soal for the moment.... consider yourself warned! A tragedy befell my community this weekend and sadly, a tragedy that probably could have been prevented. A senior in high school was the victim of an alcohol related motor vehicle accident. Everyone you talk to seems to say the same thing....he wasn't a bad kid but certainly no angle either. He definitely didn't deserve this. Car loads of classmates driving past the scene, each eager that surely one of them will awake and prove this is all a bad dream. It has to be a dream after all, kids don't die when they are only 17 or 18 years old...... But They Do! The truly sad part of this entire ordeal is that the perpetrator, the cause of all this misery, is none other than the victim himself. No one else was involved! He drank, he drove too fast, he lost control, he over-corrected.....he's dead! My soul just hurt when I typed that line. For the parents that will never get to see that child graduate or the grandchildren that will never be....for them, I share their hurt. But I'm ALSO PISSED OFF beyond all belief! I realize I'm from Texas and Texans have their own opinions on drinking while driving. Hell, I did not know it was not legal anywhere but Texas to drink and drive. Anytime we went on any trips as kids, Mom packed the car and the kids and Dad packed the cooler and put it in the back seat where we could reach it easily to give him a new beer. Times may have changed. Laws may have changed. But unfortunately for this family, the mentality of rural families regarding drinking and driving has not changed! Teenagers by definition make mistakes. Their bodies and their ideas outweigh and out-act their minds.......a sure fire recipe for possible disaster. When I became a parent, I took on the persona that I would not always get the be the good guy.....sometimes I had to be the 'meanie' too. Rumors are afoot that this young man had been drinking at the first dance he went to and was headed to the 2nd beer party when the incident occurred. Mom's response after the initial 'NO' was "I have to go to that party and tell those kids not to drive drunk. My son has just been killed in an accident!" Now she gets it!:( (3) Comments

Posted: 1/14/2008 10:06:30 PM

funnies: Six Reasons to Think Before You Speak

Here are six reasons why you should think before you speak - the last one is great! Have you ever spoken and wished that you could immediately take the words back... or that you could crawl into a hole? Here are the Testimonials of a few people who did.... FIRST TESTIMONY: I walked into a hair salon with my husband and three kids in tow and asked loudly, "How much do you charge for a shampoo and a blow job?" I turned around and walked back out and never went back. My husband didn't say a word... he knew better. SECOND TESTIMONY: I was at the golf store comparing different kinds of golf balls. I was unhappy with the women's type I had been using. After browsing for several minutes, I was approached by one of the good-looking gentlemen who works at the store. He asked if he could help me. Without thinking, I looked at him and said, "I think I like playing with mens balls!" THIRD TESTIMONY: My sister and I were at the mall and passed by a store that sold a variety of candy and nuts. As we were looking at the display case, the boy behind the counter asked if we needed any help. I replied, "No, I'm just looking at your nuts." My sister started to laugh hysterically. The boy grinned, and I turned beet-red and walked away. To this day, my sister has never let me forget. FOURTH TESTIMONY : While in line at the bank one afternoon, my toddler decided to release some pent-up energy and ran amok I was finally able to grab hold of her after receiving looks of disgust and annoyance from other patrons. I told her that if she did not start behaving "right now" she would be punished. To my horror, she looked me in the eye and said in a voice just as threatening, "If you don't let me go right now, I will tell Grandma that I saw you kissing Daddy's pee-pee last night!" The silence was deafening after this enlightening exchange. Even the tellers stopped what they were doing. I mustered up the last of my dignity and walked out of the bank with my daughter in tow. The last thing I heard when the door closed behind me, were screams of laughter.. FIFTH TESTIMONY: Have you ever asked your child a question too many times? My three-year-old son had a lot of problems with potty training and I was on him constantly. One day we stopped at Taco Bell for a quick lunch, in between errands. It was very busy, with a full dining room. While enjoying my taco, I smelled something funny, so of course I checked my seven-month-old daughter, she was clean. The I realized that Danny had not asked to go potty in a while. I asked him if he needed to go, and he said "No". I kept thinking "Oh Lord, that child has had an accident, and I don't have any clothes with me." Then I said, "Danny, are you SURE you didn't have an accident?" "No," he replied. I just KNEW that he must have had an accident, because the smell was getting worse... Soooooo, I asked one more time, "Danny did you have an accident?" This time he jumped up, yanked down his pants, bent over, spread his cheeks and yelled "SEE MOM, IT'S JUST FARTS!!" While 30 people nearly choked to death on their tacos laughing, he calmly pulled up his pants and sat down. An old couple made me feel better, thanking me for the best laugh they'd ever had! LAST BUT NOT LEAST TESTIMONY: This had most of the state of Michigan laughing for 2 days and a very embarrassed female news anchor who will, in the future, likely think before she speaks. What happens when you predict snow but don't get any? We had a female news anchor that, the day after it was supposed to have snowed and didn't, turned to the weatherman and asked: "So Bob, where's that 8 inches you promised me last night?" Not only did HE have to leave the set, but half the crew did too they were laughing so hard! Now, didn't that feel good? (5) Comments

Posted: 1/12/2008 7:29:21 PM

my life: Today is 'Make Your Dreams Come True Day'!

The last several months, I have belongs to a bulletin board for teachers. I actually do more reading than participating at this point and I find the information contained absolutely fascinating. One of the other perks they offer, is a calendar of writing prompts for student's journal writing. I usually just read them and smile at the innocense of the question but today, the question has really gotten under my skin. Today reads "Today is 'make your dreams come true day'. What are your dreams? Write about the drams you have for your future. Explain how you are going to make them come true." Wow! So, since I can't seem to stop thinking about the question, here is my journal entry for today. Friday, January 11, 2008 What are your dreams? At this point in my life, really I have one dream and many that fall out of that one. I want to be financially secure enough that when I sit down to pay my bills, I don't have to hold certain ones until my ex-husband sends his child support check or to not mail my bills off until just before pay day so they are covered by the next check. When I read that statement back it seems kind of funny that I choose to go into student loan debt to become a teacher (oh joy- more debt and everyone knows teachers don't make much money). To achieve this goal, I've gone back to college to finish my degree. With this degree, even if teaching does not work out for me, many other doors are sure to open. I understand and agree that money can not buy you happiness. I just hope to have it ease my stress levels as it relates to finances. That alone I believe will be a dream come true. (2) Comments

Posted: 1/11/2008 10:32:44 AM

my life: We call him Mister

I grew up in a place and time when it never occurred to me to call an adult by their first name. Whether they were my parents best friends or the mother of my best friend - to say "Hey Ben or even hey Miss Lucille, would be certain to get me spanked and grounded and my parents viewed as radical or just different from the status quo. Yesterday, a gentleman came to see my Judge that I've literally known all my life. His name is Mr. Sustr (pronounced Shoe stir). He was my principle when I was in elementary and when I hit junior high, he was named the school superintendent. He gave me my diploma when I graduated high school. He was on city counsel for years and a close friend of my parents. Anyway, yesterday when he came into the office I greeted him the exact same way I have for he last 40+ years I've known the man....."Hello Mr. Sustr, how are you doing today?" His repsonse with a smile, "Fine, fine. (sits down in the chair beside my desk) "I think we've known each other long enough now that there is no longer any reason you have to be so formal around me, please call me Wayne." I sat there, my mouth floundering open and closed like a fish trying to catch his breath. I was shocked. I thanked him for his generous offer and I will try however, I'm not sure I'm going to be able to do that. It goes against my upbringing and the light with which I view the man. I stumbled through trying to use his first name in the conversation but it sounded so forced and uncomfortable. I hate that now as an adult, I still struggle with calling people by their first name, even when being asked to. My father was adamant about being 'respectful' to adults (we owned one of two grocery stores in town when I was a kid and he did not want to loose business to the other store by his own kids being disrespectful) and it was one the few rules in my household that to break it brought swift and painful consequences.... (7) Comments

Posted: 1/10/2008 9:54:37 AM

my life: Oh God, I hope that won't be me.......

OK, now I'm a little freaked out. Tonight One Tree Hill had it's season premier, finally new episodes. The show picks up four years after their high school graduation (which was how last season ended). Now, here is what freaked me out. The character, Haley Scott became an English teacher at her old school. Now there is a difference here, I hope to teach fourth graders while she has high schoolers. She told them this was her first class/first year teaching and they sent her running from the classroom in tears. Oh my, what an eye opener. I truly have the fear that the same thing might happen to me. I tell myself I'm strong enough to deal with these kids but you know what kids are like......kids can be mean! I know.....I used to be one of them. I've had people screaming on the phone at me because of the traumatic events they are witnessing and I keep myself together....I will get one loud mouth kid in my class refuse to do as I say or worse and I fear it will send me running to the ladies room.... I have 18 months to grow me some brass ones..... I hope I have enough time!?! (4) Comments

Posted: 1/8/2008 9:29:32 PM

People Being Stupid: Poor innocent plants...

UGH!!! Enough already. I've had it with people today and it's only Tuesday. Today, I actually had a lady come into our office wanting to speak with the Judge. She looked what my Dad would describe as "rode hard and put up wet". Her complaint was her husband....she is mad at him because he will drink and then they fight.....they fight, she will not let the matter drop. Now he gets mad and goes outside and pulls all her plants out of the ground. Poor innocent plants. This lady just happened to come into the office when she caught the judge just entering the building and he could not get away from her. They had a lengthy conversation, most of which I could hear....(shame on me)...he asked her why she did not just leave him already - long history of alcoholism on both sides - she told Judge flat out - it's her home and she's not leaving. The husband called the office while she was still here and Judge agreed to speak with him on the phone. Asked him if maybe he could leave for a night or two to let things cool down....he said the same thing - it's his home and he's not leaving. I can see a 'war of the roses' developing here, can't you? I'll give him this, at least he doesn't hit her anymore. They both agreed, it has been some two-three years since either have struck the other. They just throw plates, glasses, CD's (basically anything not nailed down) around the house and now they've moved to the outside and up-rooting the poor perennials..... Why can't people just learn to get along and stop taking out their frustrations on poor innocent plants! (5) Comments

Posted: 1/8/2008 3:51:48 PM

my life: Survived the holidays!

Glad to be back here and hope all had a pleasant holiday. It was nice not to work New Years Eve for a change, I must say.... I just finished a literacy class and passed with an A. It was unexpectedly quite a hard class...who knew that just talking about reading had such a language of it's own. Well, good part is that it puts me one class closer to my goal.:) I can finally say I graduate next year (May 2009) - yeah. Basketball season is in full swing here - we are 1-1 in District so far. Not too bad considering we are mostly a underclassman Varsity but we will continue to hold our own, I think. Just stopped by to say hello, I have to get back to work now. These silly people, they expect me to work on their stuff while I'm in the office....:) (4) Comments

Posted: 1/4/2008 11:08:48 AM

my life: My Christmas wish to my friends here...

Ya'll are absolutely terrific with your suggestions and I must admit, I saw myself in some you said. But we are still talking so that's something. This holiday turns out, not only am I off for the holiday this year but my sister and her husband are actually going to be in town too. We are having a meal with everyone bringing a dish to my house. I am so excited about it! It's been 8 years since I got to spend the actual Christmas day in it's entirety with my family. I don't know if I will make it back here before the 25th so I bid you all a safe and happy holiday now. I wish you all nothing but the best for this Christmas season. I leave you with a funny that my best friend sent me to 'ease' me through this difficult time...... IF MY BODY WERE A CAR ... If my body were a car, this is the time I would be thinking about trading it in for a newer model. I've got bumps and dents and scratches in my finish and my paint job is getting a little dull .... But that's not the worst of it! My headlights are out of focus and it's especially hard to see things up close. My traction is not as graceful as it once was. I slip and slide and skid and bump into things even in the best of weather. My whitewalls are stained with varicose veins. It takes me hours to reach my maximum speed. My fuel rate burns inefficiently. But here's the worst of it – Almost every time I sneeze, cough or sputter..... either my radiator leaks or my exhaust backfires! (Don't you just love friends like this....MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TOO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!) (1) Comments

Posted: 12/21/2007 11:55:38 PM

my life: OK parents out there, I need your help with my teenager.....UGH!

I need your help with my teenage son! He continues to bust curfew. I've grounded him, I've taken the car away from him....the one thing I have not done is to lock him out. I just can't bring myself to do that. I'm too afraid I won't hear him home and it's too cold outside. The only one that act will punish is me when he gets sick. The bad part is that it's not like he just misses curfew by a few minutes......sometimes he's as much as 45 minutes late. When I text him to get his butt home, he tells me alright and he's on his way. It just takes him 30 minutes to get here (which it doesn't!). When he gets home, he apologizes for being late but then, here we go again! He's a good kid - this is the only problem I seem to have with him and it is a doozie! He has three more days of school with exams and I've already told him he's lost vehicle privledges for the weekend. Any other suggestions??????? (9) Comments

Posted: 12/17/2007 10:20:17 PM

my life: Now I have proof I'm getting older...

High school basketball season is in full swing. The proof of that was a tournament my son's team played in, in a neighboring community. The drive took me about 45 minutes to get there and when coming home it was already dark. I could not help but notice the large amount of Christmas decorations people have put up outside their homes this year. I don't know if that is the same elsewhere, but in my part of Texas, people are really into the decorating this year. From having the blow up snow globes to the lighted metal deer in the yard. House after house after house are decorated. That's what brings me to my conclusion that I'm getting older! I was born in the 60's which means I was of school age but not yet driving during the infamous "energy crisis" during Richard Nixon's reign upon this Earth. I can remember people would hoard gasoline for fear there would not be enough to go around. With that same principle, people were encouraged, no almost ordered, to reduce the number of Christmas lights they put up and used that year. I remember my father not putting the outside lights up that year at all and the lights we did have on the tree, we only turned on Christmas Eve and Christmas night. Kind of sad really....... Once 'the crisis had passed' families just didn't go to putting up lights like they had right away. This has been a real gradual increase and now, some 30 years later, this person has finally noticed the increase. I wonder if these people have equally increased the number of lights and decorations inside their residences as well? Maybe one of these nights I'll get up the nerve to walk up and ring the doorbell and ask. My ex-husband was the one who liked to put up the outdoor lights especially when we lived up north and we could expect the snow as well. In Texas not much chance of snow for Christmas but I do like to put lots of lights on the tree and holly with lights across the fireplace mantle and of course, the all important sprig of mistletoe in the doorway. I guess it just goes to show you how plainly that time marches on. (2) Comments

Posted: 12/16/2007 11:25:40 PM

my life: Suggestions Needed to Aid Chemotherapy Patient...

Oh dear friends how I've missed you all. Been so busy with life - this time of year gets crazy now that high school basketball season has started. My son is playing on varsity. Each week at least one day is a game and then every other weekend a varsity tournament. Keeps us hopping I am happy to say! So far, we have been playing all schools larger than ours so have met with limited success with wins. The coach believes this sets his team up to play well when they play schools of the same size and strength. Must be doing something right, he has moved past district in 7 of the last 10 years here. Cross the fingers! I do have a question for you though. The lady I work with has begun her chemotherapy treatments but still works part time. She says she can not afford to take off and so far, with medication and vitamins, she is maintaining enough "steam" to work her 4-6 hours a day. I've been blessed in my life to have not had to deal personally with anyone undergoing chemotherapy. Does anyone have any ideas of what I could do to help her, ease her burden some? I've asked her direct - she won't ask for help but allows me to help when I offer (but she wants me to be specific with my offer - work related only not personal). I thought about making her and her husband a casserole to bring to her residence or send her home with. Please, suggestions please.... I hope everyone is staying well (my daughter had caught that nasty bug last week but we managed to get her well without spreading it to the rest of the family). I will try to be back more frequently but if not, know I do think of you often and will come back more frequent once basketball season is over. (1) Comments

Posted: 12/7/2007 11:03:30 PM

funnies: Just when you have your doubts.....

This class I'm taking right now is concerning literacy and is the prep-class for learning how to teach reading. That is a really wierd sentence but that is what I want it to say. So, this literacy stuff is tuff. My first exam was a real witch but I passed. Today, my sister sent me this and now I remember again why I want to teach. Enjoy! Children's Science Exam Answers: Q: Name the four seasons. A: Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar. Q: Explain one of the processes by which water can be made safe to drink. A: Flirtation makes water safe to drink because it removes large pollutants like grit, sand, dead sheep and canoeists. Q: How is dew formed? A: The sun shines down on the leaves and makes them perspire. Q: How can you delay milk turning sour? A: Keep it in the cow. Q: What causes the tides in the oceans? A: The tides are a fight between the Earth and the Moon. All water tends to flow towards the moon, because there is no water on the moon, and nature hates a vacuum. I forget where the sun joins in this fight. Q: What are steroids? A: Things for keeping carpets still on the stairs. Q: What happens to your body as you age? A: When you get old, so do your bowels and you get intercontinental. Q: What happens to a boy when he reaches puberty? A: He says good-bye to his boyhood and looks forward to his adultery. Q: Name a major disease associated with cigarettes. A: Premature death. Q: How are the main parts of the body categorized? (e.g., abdomen.) A: The body is consisted into three parts - the brainium, the borax and the abdominal cavity. The brainium contains the brain; the borax contains the heart and lungs, and the abdominal cavity contains the five bowels A, E, I, O, and U. Q: What is the fibula? A: A small lie. Q: What does 'varicose' mean? A: Nearby. Q: Give the meaning of the term 'Caesarean Section.' A: The Caesarean Section is a district in Rome. Q: What does the word ' benign' mean?' A: Benign is what you will be after you be eight. I'm thinking there might be a place out there for me after all....:) (1) Comments

Posted: 11/12/2007 8:46:18 PM

my life: Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Fire!

Well, things are plodding along just fine around here these days. I had my first "chew out" session this week. I had been warned that this judge has a very "thin skin" and to mind my P's and Q's around him. Texas is changing the way JP offices handle death certificates and as such, most of it will now be accomplished online, via secure connections. I understand that completely. To get the necessary passwords, of course, takes applying with hard copy signatures and e-mail addresses. "My Judge" had filled out the form himself and asked me to fax it. When I took it from him, I noticed several '*' blanks (required fields) were left blank and, silly me, I brought those to his attention. I didn't do it in any mean way or anything, just that we needed to fill those blanks in. Unfortunately, his response was less than excited at best. I didn't say anything but apparently my facial expression gave away my thought process. Now, I have an 8 year history of working with state agencies and when they say required fields, they mean required fields. His answer was to deal with the consequence of correcting the form if they decline it but not before. That means - duplicating my work when I didn't feel it was necessary. An hour later, I was in his office listening to a speech about watching how we speak to co-workers. UGH!!!!!! When I was hired here, the judge had gone into a long speech about watching his back and bringing it to his attention if I see him about to make a mistake...... I didn't realize that bringing it to his attention was NOT an indication he intended to change his action path..... oh well! It's his name on the paperwork not mine so if the state 'gets crunk' with him over not being online with the new system by the due date....well...shouldn't be my A** now, should it? On to the lighter side of things - tonight is the last regular season district game of football (already)! We play at home which is nice. Unfortunately, whether we advance is all resting on the game in a neighboring town. One of those if this team beats that team and so and so looses to so and so when we win district - something like that. Personally, I'm ready for it to be over already. Have a wonderful weekend! (2) Comments

Posted: 11/9/2007 10:28:48 AM

Inspirational: Brings Home "Veterans Day" For Everyone!

A dear friend of mine who has been quite supportive of me finishing my degree sent me this very powerful story. I felt compelled to share it with you. I can only hope to make such a difference in my own teaching career.... Now this is real teaching........ Back in September of 2005, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren, a social studies school teacher at Robinson High School in Little Rock, did something not to be forgotten. On the first day of school, with the permission of the school superintendent, the principal and the building supervisor, she removed all of the desks out of her classroom. When the first period kids entered the room they discovered that there were no desks. Looking around, confused, they asked, "Ms. Cothren, where're our desks?" She replied, "You can't have a desk until you tell me what you have done to earned the right to sit at a desk." They thought, "Well, maybe it's our grades. "No," she said. "Maybe it's our behavior." She told them, "No, it's not even your behavior." And so, they came and went, the first period, second period, third period. Still no desks in the classroom. By early afternoon, television news crews had started gathering in Ms. Cothren's classroom to report about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of her room. The final period of the day came and as the puzzled students found seats on the floor of the desk-less classroom, Martha Cothren said, "Throughout the day no one has been able to tell me just what he/she has done to earn the right to sit at the desks that are ordinarily found in this classroom. Now I am going to tell you." At this point, Martha Cothren went over to the door of her classroom and opened it. Twenty-seven (27) U.S. Veterans, all in uniforms, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk . The Vets began placing the school desks in rows, and then they would walk over and stand alongside the wall. By the time the last soldier had set the final desk in place, those kids started to understand, perhaps for the first time in their lives, just how the right to sit at those desks had been earned. Martha said, "You didn't earn the right to sit at these desks. These heroes did it for you. They placed the desks here for you. Now, it's up to you to sit in them. It is your responsibility to learn, to be good students, to be good citizens. They paid the price so that you could have the freedom to get an education. Don't ever forget it." This is said to be a true story.... (0) Comments

Posted: 11/3/2007 11:18:30 PM

my life: We Shouldn't Need to Buy Toilet Paper for a While...

Well, I come home last night stressed from taking a final and doing a verbal presentation to find a yard covered with: Yes, that's what happens when teenagers live in the house. This is actually a cleaned up version....my son actually grabbed and pulled down long trails of it that were linked through his basketball goal out front. They had also wrapped TP around the door mirrors on his sister's car but the real prize was that some of his team-mates from football "saran wrapped" his car shut. I was actually a little ticked off at him he hadn't bothered to take a picture of that one but oh well. At least no one did any permanent damage to anything. A few branches got pulled down but nothing that was still alive anyway..... Hope things are well in your world....we have football game again tomorrow night. Burr, I expect with the north wind blowing here. Stay safe all and have a terrific weekend! (3) Comments

Posted: 11/1/2007 5:57:49 PM

People Being Stupid: Update on Earlier story....freedom of speech!

Well, the verdict is in as it pertains to my last story. FoxNews.com Reports.... BALTIMORE — The father of a fallen Marine was awarded nearly $11 million Wednesday in damages by a jury that found leaders of a fundamentalist church had invaded the family's privacy and inflicted emotional distress when they picketed the Marine's funeral. The jury first awarded $2.9 million in compensatory damages. It returned later in the afternoon with its decision to award $6 million in punitive damages for invasion of privacy and $2 million for causing emotional distress to the Marine's father, Albert Snyder of York, Pa. Snyder sued the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church for unspecified monetary damages after members staged a demonstration at the March 2006 funeral of his son, Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, who was killed in Iraq. The defense said it planned to appeal and one of the church's leaders, Shirley Phelps-Roper, said the members would continue their pickets of military funerals. Church members believe that U.S. deaths in the war in Iraq are punishment for the nation's tolerance of homosexuality. .........couldn't have happened to a "nicer" group of people! (0) Comments

Posted: 11/1/2007 12:05:58 AM

all other rants & raves: Freedom of Speech has to Have it's Limits!

Today, FoxNews gave a brief headline on something I was surprised had taken this long to occur. I have a tremendous amount of tolerence in my system - enough to go around a life-time...but these guys, make my blood boil and my stomach turn.....So, to elaborate: The last couple of years, we have been hearing bits and pieces of this "Westboro Baptist church" that has begun picketing the funerals of fallen soldiers. Yes, I said picketing the funerals. Local VFW groups have begun to take a line of sentury to keep these protesters far enough back that the family does not have to hear them when they are burying their dead. But still, they have to drive past to see the like's of this... There is one dominant family at the head of this "wacky church", the Fred Phelps family originally from Kansas. Phelps is now 77 years old and has 14 children of his own, most of whom remain loyal to his way of thinking. According to the organization, they claim "the deaths are punishment for the country's tolerance of homosexuality." So, they carry signs that proclaim "Roman Catholic monstrosity" and "United States of Sodomy". Today, FoxNews.com brings word of a lawsuit filed against the 'church' in Maryland for "invasion of privacy and intent to inflect emotional distress" stemming from the protest at the funeral of Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder March 2006. Trial is now beginning. This is the first such case filed against the group and will be the tester for the limits of the First Amendment right to free speech. The jury is being charged with determing if the defendant's actions "would be highly offensive to a reasonable person, whether they are extreme and outrageous, and whether these actions were so offensive and shocking as to not be entitled to First Amendment protection." My opinion ---- I think this qualifies in spades! (3) Comments

Posted: 10/26/2007 9:46:49 PM

my life: Does every state require a state history class to graduate?

Thanks again, NB you have come through for me. I got my project completed and it will be on time. Used a combination of things that make you think Texas as well as the people. Looks not too bad, if I don't say so myself. Taking this Texas histor class, has gotten me thinking. Texas history starts early in the school systems. Even pre-K'ers get a taste of it, although they don't understand that is what the are doing yet. Texas requires that you pass a Texas history class your senior year to graduate from a public school. I wonder, do other states require such schooling on their states? (2) Comments

Posted: 10/24/2007 7:41:59 AM

my life: I could use some help here...

Greetings to all! As most of you know, I am taking college classes right now. I'm taking a class right now in Texas history and this is where I need your help. Tell me - when you think of Texas what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Most people say big and wide but I'm looking for nouns. Something.....that makes you think of Texas. I need this for a project due Wednesday so feel free to speak up! I thank you, in advance, for any and all answers. (0) Comments

Posted: 10/19/2007 11:22:42 PM

my life: What's with all the twins?

I can remember when I was pregnant with my first, my mother and grandmothers repeating the "old wive's tail" they had always heard - "If there are a bunch of boys being born in any one time, then 18 years later America will be at war." Their point being, God plans ahead! If that is indeed true, then what does that mean about all the twins being born these days? Certainly, some can be attributed to mothers taking hormones to achieve pregnancy....but certainly not all........ In my little world, I have a cousin pregnant with twins now (ultrasound read as boy/girl set). One of my best friends, her daughter is expecting twins (not far enough along yet to determine sex). My old college roommate's son (daughter-in-law) is expecting twins any day now. They only found their second baby a few weeks ago (sounds wierd the way I said that but can't figure out how to fix it) on ultrasound when because of her size, they felt certain they were mis-calculating... Are we about to suffer some horrible disaster and this is just a running start at repopulating the Earth????? My imagination can run away with me, I fear. I remember my mother and grandmothers teasing me when I was pregnant that I would end up with twins - after all twins run in my family (maternal side). Even from the perspective of a grandmother, I think -how sweet- twins; realistically I think - "Thank God, that wasn't me!" (1) Comments

Posted: 10/12/2007 9:47:52 AM

my life: Survived Homcoming 2007

Had a terrific time Friday night at the Homecoming events. Turns out we won the game, homecoming and it is against our long time rivals (always tastes that much sweeter). New job is clicking right along....turns out Wednesday I'm going to be answering the phones alone all morning. Everyone in the office has someting either out of office, doctor apt etc. Somehow, I think I'll be able to handle it (I think). Worst thing that can happen, is I take a message and some guy doesn't know how much his ticket for going 101 mph down the interstate is going to cost him.....ohhhhh, scarry! Our internet was out of commission this weekend (of course, it was something we did :) so just now getting around to answering my e-mails and updating this blog. Hope this finds all well and will be back later for more juicy info. (0) Comments

Posted: 10/8/2007 9:53:10 PM

my life: Homecoming already...

Well, survived my first round of work/school/work. Can say I feel a bit tired but overall, I think this is going to work. Late today, the office came to a screeching stop, phones quit, traffic stopped and I'm getting paid to stay here. Not sure I want to do this every day, but today - I'll take it. Tomorrow should be a busy one - homecoming 2007! Woohoo...... If this works, I'm going to post a picture my sister took of my son in his football uniform a few weeks ago. I'm excited about this....work till 4pm. Dine out with my family (sister/father/daughter) and then all will head to the football game together. My son's not a senior this year so he will not be much involved in the homecoming festivities but it will be fun to watch the "old students" who might show up. This is actually the first homecoming I have been to in 26 years (since the year after I graduated - told you I was old....). Have you ever gone back to your high school homecoming game and/or festivities? (0) Comments

Posted: 10/4/2007 4:15:15 PM

People Being Stupid: Survived the first 16 hours...

Well, it is actually going pretty good so far at the new job! Monday was completely crazy with the end of month reports on top of it being new week but I think I actually understood what I did (I think?) Did my first accident report today - oohhhhh, one down who knows how many more before I'm done????? One thing for certain, the better the weather the more accident reports I'll do (not sure why that is exactly)....... Tomorrow will be the real test - work all day then school that night and get up and do it again on Thursday......do I have the fortitude to do this routine......we'll see!?! Well Cindy, I thought of you today. I had my first wierd caller - seems Sheriff's Offices are not the only ones who talk to the gray matter challenged ones.......lady calls asking for municipal court. Mine is JP court not municipal, she assures me she needs municipal court so I give her the telephone number. She says, "Let me ask you this, what is your policy on deferrments and taking drivers education?" I inquire, "Is this an academic exercise or are you wanting specifics to the ticket in question?" Her answer, "No, I need to know about the ticket in question." I can feel her blondeness through the phone..... "If you need municipal court then how we handle things is irrelevant. You have to call that court for instructions." Her answer, 'Oh!' Would you believe not 30 seconds after we hung up the phone, she called back again.....must have been a mix up in the phone lines because she was certain she dialed that number I gave her - not the same number she called the first time..... All I could do was smile...... :) (1) Comments

Posted: 10/2/2007 8:19:02 PM