Quickie 108

Well, the weekend is here. Once again, the week has flown by.

Work is the same. I have a great day for 16 hours then I go to work.

I am hoping some rain will come along and turn the grass green once again. However, it is fun not to have to cut and trim it.

Vacation plans underway for a weekend trip to the Ocean for some swimming and in the case of the girls, guy watching. Hmm, how quickly do we forget? The fun part is finding a weekend convenient to everyone.

Looks like #2 likes the 97 Honda so I will sell the van now. It is a nice car and should prove to be a good learner car. I put the caddy into the shop to catch up on some repairs that it needed. I think that is good since I have put 26000+ miles on since last August.

Wild Mom continues with the ditch wars and is trying to get the County to do something. Cutie bug is planning another trip to Atlanta.

Lady is having fun getting some tests (over-50 tests) done. Notice that she is getting them first. I the young whippersnapper will have to break down some day and get them done too. However, I always say, “Put off today what you can do tomorrow.”

Yeppers

Vacation Bible School is over. I believe everyone had a great time though by the end of the week the Teachers and Workers were pretty well worn out. I know I was dragging a bit. Work sucks with no light at the end of the tunnel.

Wild Mom is keeping Cutie Bug occupied and running around. Now Cutie bug is driving her around. That should present a few laughs. No idea if Brother #1 will come and spend some time with Wild Mom.

Lady is busy. However, she finds time to go to Baby and wedding showers. Maybe I can convince her to wear a bikini on the cruise. She has plenty of time to make it fit (I think she is ready now.)

#1 still getting over a sinus infection and working long hours. Will not be long until he is ready for another vacation.

#2 was a tremendous help at VBS. He also went with me to the Father/Son dinner and that was very nice.

Peanut got a new car. Do not know much about it since she has kept us out of it. You have to be special to get a ride in it. Work goes on and now with the car, she can get more hours.

Princess is the same. She spends most of her time with Davis and Brooke. She is going back toBuckhall some though not all the time as before.

Missy had a shower for the baby and got many goodies. Now we just have to wait for her arrival.

Clear as a Bell

Lately people have said they don't understand me. Well, here are some handy rules to understand me. We always hear "the rules " from the female side. Now here are the rules from the male side. These are our rules! Please note ... these are all numbered "1" ON PURPOSE! If after this you still don't understand, then talk to me and take your chances.

1. Men ARE not mind readers.

1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.

1. Sunday sports. It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.

1. Shopping is NOT a sport. And no, we are never going to think of it that way.

1. Crying is blackmail.

1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it!

1. Yes and No are perfectly Acceptable answers to almost every question.

1. Come to us with a problem only If you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.

1. A headache that lasts for 17 months is a problem . See a doctor.

1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 Days.

1. If you won't dress like the Victoria 's Secret girls, don't Expect us to act like soap opera guys.

1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us.

1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one

1. You can either ask us to do something Or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.

1. Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to say during commercials.

1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.

1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not! A color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.

1. If it itches, it will Be scratched. We do that.

1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," We will act like nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.

1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, Expect an answer you don't want to hear.

1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball, the shotgun formation, Bowling or golf.

1. You have enough clothes.

1. You have too many shoes.

1. I am in shape. Round IS a shape!

1. Thank you for reading this. Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight; But did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping.

Author Unknown ...

0 and 9

It amazes me how much backstabbing goes on at a Christian Radio station. They claim to be Christian and do everything to “get ahead” or to insure they look good. Their motto is “can’t be my fault, it has to be yours.” I would expect there be some “Christ like” attitudes and work with others to get the job done. However, sadly, being Christian is relegated to the time you are at church and nowhere else. That is unless you are trying to impress someone and then you act it out.

Bible School continues and everyone is learning and having fun. My poor knees really complained about kneeling down as much as I did. Thanks to #2, Kritty, and Josh for their help. It is fun watching them act out the parts.

##### ##### #####

Way to Go Orioles, changing the manager really helped extend your losing streak to nine. Today the added another layer of front office. Geez, just what they needed. Don’t fix the problem just add to it.

Congrats Nationals for another sterling performance.

This last beltway wreck gets interesting. The Family says alcohol was not a factor though alcohol was found in the car full of underage kids. WTOP says their source says alcohol was not a factor but the autopsy will not be done for a week or so. Then the VA police open a criminal investigation into the source of that alcohol. The presence of alcohol is a mute point if there was none in the passengers or driver. So what gives?

9 to 8

I took a break last night to go to the Nationals – Tigers ball game at RFK. I had a great view as I sat on the third base side with a direct line of site to home plate. The best part was the Nationals lost. Now it is back to reality and its demands.

Wild Mom is partying away with Cutie Bug.

Lady is busy with VBS but I do love her.

#1 must be sleeping a lot because of the meds he is taking. Now I have to figure out what he changed on the sound system so my DVD’s will have audio. Kids!.

Today is picture day for Princess and believe me; it looked like she was moving with all the bags she took with her. I think NCL will have a tender follow us in December just to carry all her clothes. All I needed for my Senior Pictures was a shirt and tie and the cap and gown.

Well, Virginia highways got a little more crowded as Peanut got her operator’s license. Not that she is not already an operator but now she can drive too. I wonder how long until the “daddy, can I use the car please” start up. Actually, the phrase "I need a car" will come first. I am proud of her and hopefully this will be just another step in turning the corner to a better life that she has some control over.

Vacation Bible School went well for the first night. Tonight, your’s truly will get his turn in the barrel. I think there were about 24 kids there. I know Princess, Peanut and #2 were there to help. It took all we could do to keep #2 from being a class member of the nursery class. It was tough convincing them he was really an adult in disguise.

##### ##### #####

Way to go Orioles. After 10 losing seasons, you fired the manager, just like the previous 9 times. Isn’t it about time you consider that you have a bad team and should get rid of the deadweight? The manager can motivate a bad team just so far. Why not get rid of Flanagan, obviously he can’t find quality players to draft. But then again, Angelos runs the show and we all know he is a loser. Maybe he will wake up and fire the whole Front Office!

Make Nifong pay for all the damages.

Summer Vacation 1

Why does time have to fly so fast? This weekend was over so fast.

Friday we had dinner at “Sweetwater’s” and celebrated our friend’s 33^rd anniversary. I just cannot imagine being married that long! The same person! The food was great and we laughed a lot.

Saturday started with a shopping trip for new tops to wear for senior pictures. Princess made it interesting. This is twice now we started looking for tops and such on the right hand side of the store and finished buying from the left hand side. Next came Mexican food with the bowling prodigy and her family. We wanted to roll a few games on “real wood” lanes. Therefore, we made it an outing to Warrenton. The evening ended at the “Father and Son” dinner at church. That was fun and I was able to spend some time with #2. Unbelievably we even had a casual and civil discussion of several things.

Sunday was Father’s Day. We ate lunch, grilled burgers and dogs, with our friends. Peanut, Kritty, Lew and #2 went with us. Their being there was special and something I had not expected. There must have been something in the air over there since my right eye tended to get cloudy. It finally cleared up. Bowling was ok as the two kids finally started bowling again and we went 3-1 so our record is back to .500. The night ended with me setting up my classroom for vacation Bible School that starts tomorrow and runs until Friday.

Travel:
--- Trip to Florida (August) is still up in the air.
--- Trip to Indiana (July) is in the cooker.
--- Cruise to Western Caribbean (December) is booked and now we are trying to save enough money for it.

Wild Mom is working on her tan for the next cruise. Cutie bug is there and entertaining her. They must be busy since Cutie bug has not called me yet.

#1 is fighting with a sinus infection and sure could use some chicken soup. Not exactly the best time to get sick with the summer work crunch coming up fast.

Mormonville has responded with a CD of pictures of the new kid. She must be almost 5 months now. Gee, next the people will be banging on her door asking for a date.

Hot Hot Hot

Well, Friday is here and the week is done. Of course, it had to be hot (mid-90) but some rain will come in a few hours or so the weatherman says.

Last night, Bible Study turned into a go out to dinner night since 50% of the people were not there.

Today was taking Lady and Peanut to lunch day at Red Robin and naturally, they ate their share. I am glad they brought back their A-1 Peppercorn Burger back. I was a bit tired today after Peanut talked my ear off for almost 2 and one half hours last night. She has a lot of skills and talking ranks high on the list.

Sunday is going to be a full day with church, bowling and Max’s birthday cookout. Best part of this cookout is that I do not have to stand over the grill. Those three and four burner rigs really generate the heat and my poor arms and hands do not like it.

Wild Mom is getting ready for cutiebug to arrive next Thursday from London. Sure, wish I could be down there to see her but who knows … maybe in August we can. Mom is getting ready for the big yard sale next weekend. That should net her enough to qualify as a millionaire with all the junk she will have to sell. Mom is one of a kind. Most son’s have to deal with moving furniture around when they are there … I have to move storage sheds around. She has passed by an Alaskan cruise next month because of some issues but her Western Caribbean one is locked in stone.

Peanut is learning to drive so she can get a license and that means buying a car. OH boy. She has even volunteered to drive me to Warrenton tomorrow to check out some cars over there. We might even find some time for some Mexican Food while we are there. I guess I best buy some Grecian Formula on the way home tonight to cover up the gray from that experience.

Turn California into a Penal Colony

Can you believe it … Paris is out of jail because of “unspecified medical reason.” How many people are in jail or prison with major medical problems? Do they get out to go home?

In an article, about 30 states and the federal prison system have either a "medical parole" law that is overseen by the state parole board, or a "compassionate release" procedure, that is legislated or part of an internal department of corrections procedure that allows for the early release of dying prisoners. Just fewer than 100 inmates were released under medical parole or compassionate release laws in 1997, according to the National Institute of Corrections. That number is down from 143 inmates released in 1996 and 214 released in 1994, according to the National Institute of Justice.

In another article, while talking about primarily HIV, they list numbers of other inmates with other illnesses. Do they get to go home to deal with it … NO; they stayed locked up and cared by the medical staff in prison. Here is a brief excerpt:

According to a recently completed national survey of county and municipal jail inmates, an estimated 229,000 had a medical problem other than a cold or a virus. About 26 percent reported having had a dental problem since admission, 13 percent said they had been injured while in jail, and one percent said they had undergone a surgical procedure. Among the current medical problems reported, jail inmates were most likely to report having arthritis (13 percent), followed by hypertension (11 percent), and asthma (10 percent). Other specific problems were heart conditions (6 percent); kidney problems and tuberculosis (4 percent each); stroke, diabetes, and hepatitis (3 percent each); as well as cancer, paralysis, liver problems, HIV, and STDs (about 1 percent each). About 6 in 10 jail inmates age 45 or older reported having a current medical problem, compared to 1 in 4 inmates age 24 or younger. Since their admission to jail, more than 40 percent of all inmates reported having had a medical examination. One-third of jail inmates reported an impairment including learning, speech, hearing, vision, or mobility. Eight percent of jail inmates reported a mental or emotional condition that kept them from participating fully in school, work, or other activities.

The bottom line is MONEY MATTERS. Be famous and have a lot of money and you do what ever you want. How many celebrities in Southern California have bought their freedom (OJ, Blake, Crowe). Hollywood is a sad excuse for role models. While we are at it, get rid of the judge that was so corrupt he allowed this to happen.

Another good blog about Paris.

American Citizens should raise the roof over how the Justice System has been subjugated to Money and Fame. If you are one of the few who live in that social class, then don't worry. But if you do not, you should be screaming on how wrong this was, because I can assure you when you get in trouble, you will go to jail for the full sentence.

Ba Humbug!

Do you realize it is Thursday and the weekend is 1 more day away? I had better go find the turbo button and get us there faster. That also means only 4 days until Cheng returns and I don't have to deal with the "stupids" anymore.

Maybe I will desert the "Us" generation and join the "Me" generation. Just blow off anything that doesn't benefit me and the more it benefits me and not you the better. It will be fun only worrying about me because I am satisfied with what I am doing and where I am going. If everyone else wants to get lost or struggle, so be it. I will learn to laugh at adversity especially if it effects you and not me. I will work hard to be a dysfunctional person that doesn't care about anyone else. Just like the ones on TV. Of course, I will have to learn to be callous, uncaring, selfish, and exploitative. But it seems everyone else has a head start so I must be even more aggressive in order to make up lost ground.

Well, time to run and get this started.

Munchkins at work

Gulp! I can finally see the light of the day. I think I have enough hours to last me until next week. Sometimes I swear a knucklehead won the job of being boss. Not too much to say since the “stupids” have been running loose and fudging everything up.

The December cruise is booked and down payments made. The countdown to party time is on.

Wild Mom is ready for us to come down and see her. The Family Christmas Party is being done in a couple months. That is a long drive just for dinner one night. However, who knows I might get bit by the “stupids” and just go. By the way, she is just fine still sorting out her vacation pictures.

Lady is busy with work. Peanut has helped but there is still too much to do. Vacation Bible School is in two weeks and that is always good for a lot of work. She teaches and I get to run the synagogue.

I sometimes wonder if I could stand opening up Pandora’s Box and getting everyone’s answer to the question, “What does Family mean to you.” I get the sneaking suspicion the answers would boggle my poor tired mind. I read an interesting article about how the value of the Family has declined and some of the causes. Leading the pact was the loss of the Family dinner at the dinner table. That hour of time meant so much to the fabric of the family and its formation. Close behind is the concept of “Me”. Take all I can get and then move on. Give only enough back to get what you need and never make a commitment for more. After that one, the contributors to the family decline seemed to drop off. However, the one that interested me was “The word “love” became trivialized. Like the word “sorry”, the word “love” was used without consideration for what it meant. The feeling behind the word became hollow and meaningless. The phrase “I love you” became nothing more than “Here is a treat” to get what I wanted. Sorry and Love were rote responses to any question. Love being for some affection or just to be liked while sorry was a quick way to pass blame or avoid it. There is a loss of connection if the words mean nothing or they are used to deflect anything of any importance. Where did it crumble, when did it slip? I do not know and I do not like it. It makes you feel like mom and dad are nothing more than motel clerks in a busy city. The Family dinner is something that is shared only by mom and dad while the others race off for the fast food joints to get their daily fix of fat and calories. The diet becomes nothing more than slimming down of your connections with those you claim to love. Family Time becomes nothing more that a way of self-gratification or an expression of love and sorry. It is almost like a trophy because most other friends have nothing. Whose fault is it or where to place the blame? One could look away, accept less even if it is 5 minutes or say something. You cannot say much since if the love and sorry have no meaning then it will not be much of a loss if you get pissed and walk off. If it is wrong then call the mouse a mouse. However, that will not work either because it is “me” that means the most. Trivialize the family to nothing more than a stolen minute from what really matters to you … everything else.” Perhaps the best thing is to get drunk and then your imaginary friends will soothe your spirit but then again in an hour, they would vanish and you would be alone once again. Ok, whose bright idea was it to go down this road or is this just a dream concocted by the Democrats?

I love the one ... I want to be your friend but you are not good enough to be my friend. Go find another idiot to sucker in.

It's Hot

Can you believe June is here already? The year is almost ½ gone. This weekend was pretty much the same as the others before it. Too many chores and not enough time but I will take care of that this week.

Work maintained its level of irritation and even added some as Cheng was on vacation. How long do you have to work before you learn the basics of your job? As we always say – you cannot fix stupid!

Friday was dinner with friends. No kids but not because they were not invited, they swear they do not like Chinese food. Oh well.

Saturday turned into a BBQ and homemade ice cream affair at some friend’s house. Once again, no kids. I wonder what happened to doing things as a family. With everyone, working or going to school during the week, the only free time is on the weekend. I guess it make real sense to spend the weekend everywhere else.

Sunday was the normal church in the morning and bowling later in the evening. Most of the afternoon was spent watching the golf match. I love that combination since it allows me to relax my eyelids and decrease some of the daily stress. Lil-bit was clipped, dipped and powdered so he was extra frisking especially since he can see now that his bangs are very short.

Wild Mom is readjusting to life on the land after her cruise. Must be tough. She is already planning another on to the Western Caribbean in February 2008.

Lady is going to baby showers and wedding showers. Therefore, she is in major party mode.

#1 is at home and after all the activity and excitement of our house he is readjusting to the slow and quiet life in his apartment. I believe the plan is for him to visit again in September when his leave time builds up.

One good thing was Lew and his mom, missy, are spending more time with us. That has been nice. Let us keep that good stuff up.

Smooch!!!

You Are a Passionate Kisser

You are the most likely type to kiss a sexy stranger Your kissing style is unpredictable and free spirited You could kiss anyone at a drop of a hat It's all about where your passion leads you

What's Your Kissing Style?

Slurp!!!

You are White Chocolate

You are White Chocolate You are sweet, caring, and truly very innocent. Whether your naive ways are a bit of act or not, people like to take care of you. You are a quiet flirt, and your power is often underestimated!

What Kind of Chocolate Are You?