First, a student gets called out of class twice. The second time she asks when I come back, can I talk to you? I say sure. She comes back and says to me, if I am acting strange in your room will you please let me know? So I probe a little more and ask what does she mean (I am thinking is she having seizures? Diabetes? What). So she tells me she may be pregnant. I am starting to lose count with my students. I think this is number 8 or 9 in the last two years. She hasn't had a test yet and she's going to the doctor's on friday. Her mom knows (no dad in the pic) and basically gave her an ultimatum...abort or go someplace else. I think it is probably just the shock of it all because I think she and her mom are pretty close. She is not going to abort and says if she has to she'll live with her boyfriend's family (I don't know who it is but that can't be the optimal situation). Anyhoo. The most heartbreaking part was she looked at me, started to cry and said I just didn't want you to think of me differently. :(
So, remember when Dan Quayle criticized the Murphy Brown show when she got pregnant and decided to keep her child and raise it as a single parent? You know, it was the downfall of family values and all that. I know that Juno came out way before Palin's daughter got pregnant but now that she is a celebrity and has paraded her daughter out in public why can't we criticize her and the way she has justified having just another lifestyle choice?
BC in schools. At the very least, condoms!!
Second. I get this damned email criticizing illegal immigrants, the banning of the 10 commandments, and stupid patriotic/tyranical BS. I will copy it down and then my reply...
Everyone concentrates on the problems we're having in this country lately -- illegal immigration, hurricane recovery, alligators attacking people in Florida ..... ..... not me -- I concentrate on solutions for the problems -- it's a win-win situation. * Dig a moat the length of the Mexican border. * Send the dirt to New Orleans to raise the level of the levees. * Put the Florida alligators in the moat along the Mexican border.
Any other problems you would like for me to solve today?
Yes! Think about this:
1. Cows
2. The Constitution
3. The Ten Commandments
COWS
Is it just me, or does anyone els e find it amazing that during the mad cow epidemic our government could track a single cow, born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the stall where she slept in the state of Washington? And, they tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wandering around our country. Maybe we should give each of them a cow.
THE CONSTITUTION
They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq .... why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it has worked for over 200 years, and we're not using it anymore.
THE 10 COMMANDMENTS
The real reason that we can't have the Ten Commandments posted in a courthouse is this -- you cannot post 'Thou Shalt Not Steal' 'Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery' and 'Thou Shall Not Lie' in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians ... it creates a hostile work environment.
Also, think about this ...
if you don't want to forward this for fear of offending someone -- YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM! It is time for America to speak up!
Yep, I passed it on!
Great! Now I am also going to pass it on without regard to who I offend. So I replied to all (as I am likened to do when I get these nasty emails telling me how I should believe....
I am not part of the problem… We can track cows because we have strict regulations on beef. People have rights and are not regulated like cattle. Should everyone who looks Mexican be targeted and interrogated to see if they are illegal? A better comparison would be why can’t we find Osama?
As for the 10 commandments, if it were only Don’t steal, don’t commit adultery, don’t kill people, and it was left generic without any religious overtones such as commandment one where it says,
"I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before Me..."
Or two where it says: Do not make an image or any likeness of what is in the heavens above
Or three: Do not swear falsely by the name of the LORD..."
Four…
Remember [zachor] the Sabbath day and keep it holy" (the version in Deuteronomy reads shamor, "observe")
Then I would agree with you. However, there is this thing called separation of church and state. Not only that, point the fingers to religious leaders. They steal, they adulterize (why yes, I did just make that word up), and Christianity, as with other religions, has used G_d to slaughter millions of innocent people throughout time. Regardless of what I believe, I like the separation. I support the rights of those who believe differently. I certainly wouldn’t be happy if the 10 commandments of Pastafarianism were implemented nor do I care to impose the majority rules on others. I like the all inclusiveness of the USA. I think that makes me even more of a “Patriotic Citizen”.
Because I believe differently and have the freedom to speak out does not mean I am part of the problem. It means I am an AMERICAN!!
There! I spoke up!
Monday, September 29, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
I took this picture in June after we had a bit of rain. The drought hasn't been as bad as last year, but it is still bone dry. I hope it rains soon but not a down pour before I can get my basement waterproofed. The other pictures were taken at or about the same time. I love how bright the moon looks and how the street lamp casts a greenish glow.
My basement where it has leaked.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Moving Forward
by Rainer Maria Rilke
I stole this poem from another website. I liked it and wanted to remember it.
Two weeks in and the fog, the anxiety, the black dog is back.
by Rainer Maria Rilke
The deep parts of my life pour onward, as if the river shores were opening
out. It seems that things are more like me now, That I can see farther into
paintings. I feel closer to what language can't reach. With my senses, as with
birds, I climb into the windy heaven, out of the oak, in the ponds broken off
from the sky my falling sinks, as if standing on fishes.
I stole this poem from another website. I liked it and wanted to remember it.
Two weeks in and the fog, the anxiety, the black dog is back.
Monday, September 15, 2008
The wind storm of 08...
We had major gusts of wind but no rain, thunder or lightning. Lots of tree limbs down in the back and I spent most of today burining the mess (I am quite proud of the amount that I was able to clean up). I even cooked a can of soup on the fire since I had no "simple" foods that could be eaten without cooking. Thankfully I hardly had any food in the refrigerator anyway. The stuff in the freezer seems to be ok. Chicken was still cold, a few of the frozen dinners were thawed but still very cold. There was a little damage to the gable of the house, a small piece that was flapping. Number 16 came over today and he got up on the ladder and fixed it for me. It was scary. I had to get up high on the ladder to hand him something.
We lost power about noon yesterday and it came back on about 5:30 today. Everything was closed down. 90% of the tristate area was without and there are still about 500,000 customers that have no power. We're off school tomorrow too. Very good since I have a bunch of stuff to catch up on. I just finished vaccuming and mopping the floors but the wash has been on hold for the last couple of days. I am finishing that off right now. I would like to have some time to relax tomorrow. I am pretty beat today.
We lost power about noon yesterday and it came back on about 5:30 today. Everything was closed down. 90% of the tristate area was without and there are still about 500,000 customers that have no power. We're off school tomorrow too. Very good since I have a bunch of stuff to catch up on. I just finished vaccuming and mopping the floors but the wash has been on hold for the last couple of days. I am finishing that off right now. I would like to have some time to relax tomorrow. I am pretty beat today.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
It's time...
It is time for me to start taking my end of the year inventory, you know, since I don't make New Year's resoloutions. September always seems to be a good time to do that. It is like a push to see how much I can accomplish by year's end. What have I accomplished? Well, let's see...
By the end of October, the house improvements will include:
New washer and dryer
New lawn mower
new weed eater
Waterproofing the basement
Getting new gutters
By the end of October I will have been smoke free for a whole year.
By the end of November, I will have been divorced (and still surviving) a whole year.
By the end of December, I will have lived on my own for two years and I am starting to settle in quite nicely.
As of yesterday, I have been at my gym for a whole year and aside from the week that I had kidney stones, and the week that I had strep, I have been at the very least, once a week but most often at least 4 times a week. You'd never know it because instead of losing weight, I gained it. As much as I have been eating, I probably would weigh 250 or more if I hadn't been exercising. Sigh.
What I did not do this year....
I didn't travel. Well, i went to Bloomington Indiana but that is only 150 miles away. I am thinking of taking a drive down to the Caves. I have never been to the western half of my state. I know it isn't like real traveling but who knows, I might get all froggy and cross the border to Missouri. I just might. I need a long weekend for this though. In Oct. I have a long weekend but it is going to be taken up with water proofing. perhaps spring break.
By the end of October, the house improvements will include:
New washer and dryer
New lawn mower
new weed eater
Waterproofing the basement
Getting new gutters
By the end of October I will have been smoke free for a whole year.
By the end of November, I will have been divorced (and still surviving) a whole year.
By the end of December, I will have lived on my own for two years and I am starting to settle in quite nicely.
As of yesterday, I have been at my gym for a whole year and aside from the week that I had kidney stones, and the week that I had strep, I have been at the very least, once a week but most often at least 4 times a week. You'd never know it because instead of losing weight, I gained it. As much as I have been eating, I probably would weigh 250 or more if I hadn't been exercising. Sigh.
What I did not do this year....
I didn't travel. Well, i went to Bloomington Indiana but that is only 150 miles away. I am thinking of taking a drive down to the Caves. I have never been to the western half of my state. I know it isn't like real traveling but who knows, I might get all froggy and cross the border to Missouri. I just might. I need a long weekend for this though. In Oct. I have a long weekend but it is going to be taken up with water proofing. perhaps spring break.
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Today's Gemini Horoscope:Sep 06, 2008
If you feel you have been looking toward the past recently, dear Gemini, you have been doing it in order to liberate yourself from it. You may feel like revisiting your childhood or rekindling certain relationships with old friends. But the planets are making you a bit too romantic, and you will be disappointed by the reality of things. Looking backwards isn't really the best way to move toward the future. Nostalgia just isn't what it used to be!
If you feel you have been looking toward the past recently, dear Gemini, you have been doing it in order to liberate yourself from it. You may feel like revisiting your childhood or rekindling certain relationships with old friends. But the planets are making you a bit too romantic, and you will be disappointed by the reality of things. Looking backwards isn't really the best way to move toward the future. Nostalgia just isn't what it used to be!
Thursday, September 04, 2008
My gutters...
They look Fabu! I don't have a pic yet but I will post a before pic.
As you can see the gutters are white. The new ones are brown and I think it gives the house a more sophisticated look. More streamlined. I am thinking I am going to be in need of siding soon. If I do, I may go a more taupey colour. I didn't do any landscaping this year because all that is going to be torn all to pieces when they water proof the basement. I would like to eventually get a larger front stoop or maybe even a small porch. I also need some driveway repairs. That Rose of Sharon bush is overwhelming as is the burning bush. I will hate to be rid of the Rose bush because mom planted that. Truth is I never cared for those purplish flowers on it. They're not hideous or anything just I have seen some really pretty pale pink ones and I also like the white. I wouuld like to have a simplified landscape with pops of white. For colours, I can plant annuals (if they live).
When i start thinking about all the progress I have made on the house it makes me excited to do more. I have to pace myself.
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Random thoughts.
Toddlers remind me of drunks.
What makes leaves change? Is it lack of light or is it the temperature? The leaves seem to be changing now but not for lack of temp.
Why hast thou forsaken me? why did people speak like that and why don't we still? Who uses the word shall anymore. SHALL?? I bet that sounds really funny if you're stoned. Kinda like Penguin. Penguin sounds funny regardless. Ok, so I have this issue with words. I keep meaning to make a list because some are just normal words that aren't all that offensive but for some reason make me want to hurt people. Here is an incomplete list....
Panties
moist (especially with the above)
Nipple
Vagina Everytime I see the name Gina, I think of Vagina too.
Volvo
Vulva
Christmas (don't like the esses or the mus sound)
Sippie
pimple OMG, I realize it must be the ipple thing I don't like
ripple
Chunk
rigor
That is all I can think of now but I will add to it when they come to mind.
In other news. Palin. How about that situation? Teen daughter gets pregnant and is marrying the baby daddy. Not horrible and certainly not stone cast worthy, HOWEVER...Do you wonder about someone who supports and pushes policies for abstinence only even when it fails in her strong family values home? I sure do. They call this a blessing. People are saying how great it is that her daughter is showing "pro-life" values and Palin is such a trooper for carrying her pregnancy to term knowing she would have a baby with down's. Great for them. But they're not any more heroic than the woman who choses differently because she needs to make something of her life to get out of the hell she might be in. And really, aside from abortion, the main issue is PREVENTING pregnancy. Abstinence only programs DO NOT WORK! I know six girls and one boy who have all become parents in the last three years before they graduated from high school. Guess what KY schools teach? Yup. Abstinence only. Our rate of teen pregnancies is higher than the national average. What kind of future do many of these girls have? These weren't girls that were sluts. These werent' kids that were bad. Some of them were promising athletes, artistically gifted, and intelligent kids that had wonderful futures ahead of them. They could have escaped their less than perfect home lifes but now they've trippled the odds of never getting out of there. It angers me.
I am tired and grumpy. It is 9 oclock and I haven't been able to focus all day. Even though I went off on a quasi coherant tangent, I am going to go back to being random.
Open letter to....the person I am thinking of.... Sorry you are having a rough time right now. Don't get pissy with me because I have responsibilities and can't drop them for you. You're making me feel used and that is leading to problems.
To the other you that I am thinking of. Your boyfriend called you a stupid whore. I was honest and told you I could not understand or wrap my brain around that. Today you complained because our friend sorta questioned the sanity of letting him move in with you. You're insulted that we don't like him. Your insulted that she doesn't think you're thinking things through. You're mad that some people aren't expressing happiness for you. Today i told you that it will be a long time before i would be able to look at him the way I did before. You acted shocked and asked why. When I told you he called you a stupid whore you forgot???!!!!! You will get mad at me too. I understand that. I am sorry that I just can't fake enthusiasm for you. Go to your other younger unmarried girlfriends for that kind of drama and pats on the back. When you want reality FOR REAL, then you can talk to me about J again.
Did I mention i was tired and cranky? Good night.
What makes leaves change? Is it lack of light or is it the temperature? The leaves seem to be changing now but not for lack of temp.
Why hast thou forsaken me? why did people speak like that and why don't we still? Who uses the word shall anymore. SHALL?? I bet that sounds really funny if you're stoned. Kinda like Penguin. Penguin sounds funny regardless. Ok, so I have this issue with words. I keep meaning to make a list because some are just normal words that aren't all that offensive but for some reason make me want to hurt people. Here is an incomplete list....
Panties
moist (especially with the above)
Nipple
Vagina Everytime I see the name Gina, I think of Vagina too.
Volvo
Vulva
Christmas (don't like the esses or the mus sound)
Sippie
pimple OMG, I realize it must be the ipple thing I don't like
ripple
Chunk
rigor
That is all I can think of now but I will add to it when they come to mind.
In other news. Palin. How about that situation? Teen daughter gets pregnant and is marrying the baby daddy. Not horrible and certainly not stone cast worthy, HOWEVER...Do you wonder about someone who supports and pushes policies for abstinence only even when it fails in her strong family values home? I sure do. They call this a blessing. People are saying how great it is that her daughter is showing "pro-life" values and Palin is such a trooper for carrying her pregnancy to term knowing she would have a baby with down's. Great for them. But they're not any more heroic than the woman who choses differently because she needs to make something of her life to get out of the hell she might be in. And really, aside from abortion, the main issue is PREVENTING pregnancy. Abstinence only programs DO NOT WORK! I know six girls and one boy who have all become parents in the last three years before they graduated from high school. Guess what KY schools teach? Yup. Abstinence only. Our rate of teen pregnancies is higher than the national average. What kind of future do many of these girls have? These weren't girls that were sluts. These werent' kids that were bad. Some of them were promising athletes, artistically gifted, and intelligent kids that had wonderful futures ahead of them. They could have escaped their less than perfect home lifes but now they've trippled the odds of never getting out of there. It angers me.
I am tired and grumpy. It is 9 oclock and I haven't been able to focus all day. Even though I went off on a quasi coherant tangent, I am going to go back to being random.
Open letter to....the person I am thinking of.... Sorry you are having a rough time right now. Don't get pissy with me because I have responsibilities and can't drop them for you. You're making me feel used and that is leading to problems.
To the other you that I am thinking of. Your boyfriend called you a stupid whore. I was honest and told you I could not understand or wrap my brain around that. Today you complained because our friend sorta questioned the sanity of letting him move in with you. You're insulted that we don't like him. Your insulted that she doesn't think you're thinking things through. You're mad that some people aren't expressing happiness for you. Today i told you that it will be a long time before i would be able to look at him the way I did before. You acted shocked and asked why. When I told you he called you a stupid whore you forgot???!!!!! You will get mad at me too. I understand that. I am sorry that I just can't fake enthusiasm for you. Go to your other younger unmarried girlfriends for that kind of drama and pats on the back. When you want reality FOR REAL, then you can talk to me about J again.
Did I mention i was tired and cranky? Good night.
Monday, September 01, 2008
No dishwasher, but....
I did buy a new washer and dryer at Lowes. I got a pretty good deal I think.
Here is the washer and pedastal http://www.samsung.com/us/consumer/detail/detail.do?group=homeappliances&type=washersdryers&subtype=washers&model_cd=WF328AAW/XAA
and here is the dryer http://www.samsung.com/us/consumer/detail/detail.do?group=homeappliances&type=washersdryers&subtype=dryers&model_cd=DV338AEW/XAA
So, altogether I got the washer and dryer, two pedastals, a warranty, and delivery/haul away for 1500. and some change. Not bad. They guy gave me 175 off of the clearance price and the two pedestals for 50 dollars each.
I also adopted a special needs rat. I didn't want to but I figured noone would take her. Besides, it gives Josie a companion. I swear this will be my last one.
Here is the washer and pedastal http://www.samsung.com/us/consumer/detail/detail.do?group=homeappliances&type=washersdryers&subtype=washers&model_cd=WF328AAW/XAA
and here is the dryer http://www.samsung.com/us/consumer/detail/detail.do?group=homeappliances&type=washersdryers&subtype=dryers&model_cd=DV338AEW/XAA
So, altogether I got the washer and dryer, two pedastals, a warranty, and delivery/haul away for 1500. and some change. Not bad. They guy gave me 175 off of the clearance price and the two pedestals for 50 dollars each.
I also adopted a special needs rat. I didn't want to but I figured noone would take her. Besides, it gives Josie a companion. I swear this will be my last one.
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