May 2007 Archives
So today's a new day, and I'm feeling better. Except for my damn back. Last night my daughter and her two best friends were over at my son's house taking care of Celia, his dog (he's gone working), and then called me to come get them when they were finished. So I get up, put my shoes on, grab my purse and I'm out the door. Everything is fine. I get in the car, drive to Dave's house and pick them up. Everything is fine. We drive straight home, I park the car, shut it off, everyone opens their door, we step out of the car, and OUCH! My lower back is completely whacked out and HURTS! Now, can you tell me what happened from my house to Dave's and back again, when I didn't even get out of the damn car? This is totally stupid. It still hurts today like crazy, too. I just want a whole new body. Does anyone know where I can buy one? 
We're under another dumb tornado watch today. Typical May weather for Colorado, though. Is this really the last day of May? Geez! This month went way fast! My sisters, daughter and I are going on a train ride on the 6th of June (happy birthday, Debbie! *wink*). I'm really excited about it! The Railroad Hubs and my sons all work for is giving 2 hour rides to Railroaders' family members. I've never ridden on a train, so I'm really looking forward to it! I have no idea where they're going to take us for 2 hours around here, but I'm sure it will be interesting. LOL
Well, I better go grab some lunch. Hope ya'll are having a great day! 
Ladies, do you wear perfume? What kind? Do you wear the same scent every day, or do you have several you alternate between. I'm a creature of habit and happen to only use 2 different fragrances. My daughter, on the other hand, has many! She always smells really good, too. I should raid her room and try some of them out. ;) I wear either Sand & Sable or Vanilla Musk (I totally love this musk!). When my daughter and a couple of her friends were out shopping the other day, they had used a spray sample of a fragrance that smelled really woodsy. I loved it! But the silly kids couldn't remember what it was called. LOL Anyway, what's your favorite?
(this is a sponsored post)
Wow, we just had an awesome thunderstorm go through! Some fantastic mega lightning and thunder! I love that stuff. Especially at night. It was the perfect thunderstorm: lots of lightning and thunder, very little wind, the perfect amount of rain and no hail. Totally cool. 
Have you ever known or lived with someone who is always critical of what you do, no matter what? Like if you do one thing you think they want, it's either not right or not good enough? So you do something else, then that's not right, or it's inconsequential and just not important at all? So then you move on to something else that should be considered important, but all you get is belittling and disrespect? So that regardless of what you do in your life, it's never right, enough, or important? Yeah, me too. And you know, after a while, you get to where your walls are built so high and your heart hardened so much that what they think becomes totally irrelevant, and no matter what they say, it holds absolutely no meaning anymore. Sometimes I think it's my fault for allowing someone else to have that kind of power and influence over me that it would tear me apart like it did. But no more. I've come to realize that the only person's opinion that really matters is my own. The only validation we truly need is the kind that comes from within. If we depend too much on what others think of who we are or what we contribute, then we're only asking for pain, especially if it's from an insecure, hard-hearted person to begin with. I think the only people in this world whose opinion really hold significance for me are my children, my sisters, and my closest, closest friends. Other than that, I really couldn't care less - especially from ignorant, self-impressed, self-righteous people! They're just pathetic and can bite me!
So, that's my tangent for today. 
What's yours?
I am having one enormously shitty day. I don't really want to talk to anyone; I don't really like anyone; I wish I could just go to sleep and stay that way for at least 24 hours; and I wish people would stop bothering me and asking me to do shit! How 'bout you actually call when you DON'T want anything from me! Hey, what a novel idea! 
Until then, I have a few emotional issues to work out (no, really. I know you're surprised, but's it's actually very true). 
lol
Recently I found yet another way to make some money simply by using my blog - it's called Bloggerwave. It's very similar to others I use, but in some ways it's a lot fancier, making it feel almost "automated" in a way. Another thing that sets it apart from the others is that it technically "resides" in Copenhagen, Denmark. So as you can see, this way of making money from blogging is sweeping the entire world! I'm really looking forward to working with Bloggerwave!
I had the nicest thing happen last night. Well actually it wasn't something that happened; more like something I heard.
My daughter and her good friend, Brittany, were looking over the Dr. Phil website, kind of joking around that they were going to write in about something so they could get on the show, and were reading aloud the topics the Dr. Phil staff are interested in for future shows. You know, stuff like "Do you know someone who is extremely annoying" and "Is your adult boyfriend treating you like dirt" and other strange, weird and funny things, when they came to one that read "Do you know someone who is extremely inspiring and would like to recognize them for what they do?" .... they both looked at each other and almost simultaneously said "Mom!", then Brittany told Callie to hurry up and start writing about me. 
I was at once both deeply touched and totally thinking they were nuts. LOL But they truly wanted to do it (I said no, though. I do NOT want to try to get on TV! I told them it was enough for me that they felt that way). Isn't that just the sweetest thing ever? It almost made me cry, the softie that I am. Later when Callie was alone I asked her if they really felt that way, and she said "Of course we do". Wow. Not only is it the coolest thing imaginable to have your own kid think you're an inspiration, but one of her friends, too? That's a double Wow! I gotta say, that lifted my spirits like you wouldn't believe! 
I'm a very lucky mom. :)
If you're an MT user like me, then you definitely want to know about this (just in case you missed it on your main menu page). It's a very simple fix for catching all that nasty comment and trackback spam:
1. Login to Movable Type. (Your account will need to have System Administrator privileges.)
2. Click on the “Plugins” link in the main navigation on the left hand side.
3. Look for the “SpamLookup - Lookups” plugin set listed among your other plugins.
4. Click “Show Settings.”
5. Under “IP Blacklist Services” highlight and replace the text “opm.blitzed.org” with “zen.spamhaus.org”.
6. Click “Save Settings.”
For more information on why this fix is necessary, simply go to the web page linked above.
Oh.My.God. I had NO idea The Police were going on a new worldwide tour!! Are you kidding me? They're like one of the greatest bands EVER! I have sooo many memories tied to their music! When I hear their songs, I am instantly transported back to High School and even the years after that when Hubs and I were just dating. A funny story - when he and I would get in a playful argument, I'd either play or start singing "Don't Stand So Close to Me". LOL! Don't you just love their music, too?! I bet you have your own memories brought to life by their music, too, don't you. ;)
And guess what! The most exciting of all is that they have a new police cd out!! Oh man! You can bet your life I'll be getting one! It's a double CD release, and just look at all the great music we get:
Disc: 1
1. Fallout
2. Can't Stand Losing You
3. Next to You
4. Roxanne
5. Truth Hits Everybody
6. Hole in My Life
7. So Lonely
8. Message in a Bottle
9. Reggatta de Blanc
10. Bring on the Night
11. Walking on the Moon
12. Don't Stand So Close to Me
13. Driven to Tears
14. Canary in a Coalmine
Disc: 2
1. Do Do Do de da da Da
2. Voices Inside My Head
3. Invisible Sun
4. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
5. Spirits in the Material World
6. Demolition Man
7. Every Breath You Take
8. Synchronicity I
9. Wrapped Around Your Finger
10. Walking in Your Footsteps
11. Synchronicity II
12. King of Pain
13. Murder by Numbers
14. Tea in the Sahara
Totally.Awesome! Now c'mon, you're not going to tell me you're not excited about a new police cd, are you? Of course you're not! And OMGosh, I just looked and they're going to be playing in Denver on June 9th and 10th! Yippee!! You better go see when they're playing a city near you!
Hey :)
So how's it goin'? Do you have any special plans for the Memorial Day weekend? We don't, but it coincidentally turned out that almost everyone in my family ended up with either all or part of the long weekend off. Seeing as that doesn't happen very often, we should plan a barbecue or something.
My days-long headache is still with me. Not enough to be horrible, but just enough to be annoying and painful. Bah.
Speaking of barbecues, there's a stainless steel grill on sale at Ace Hardware that I think we're going to get today. It's a really good price for stainless steel - only $400! Usually those things are WAY more expensive than that. Count this as one of the things my paid blogging is buying us.
My son's dog has been staying with us for the last 3 days while he was out on a trip (he's a Railroader). She gets along well with everyone, but she didn't know the universal rule of not trying to eat any of Riley's food while he's eating it. She tried, he started growling and nipping at her, then she went off on him and grabbed him by her mouth around his tiny little neck! Thank goodness we were right here to stop it! For the rest of the night he was scared of her and wouldn't go anywhere near her, poor guy. He's over it now, though, and Celia has learned to stay away from the King while he's eating.
I've been either really busy lately or down with this damn headache, so have been slacking in the blog-reading department. Sorry. 
I'll do better, I promise.
I'd really like to know what's been going on in your world! Hopefully everyone is quite happy. 
I also hope you all have a GREAT weekend!!
Memorial Day, Barbecue Grills, Barbecues, Dog Food Aggression
Yep, it's that time of year again. Time to get out the gool ol' reliable mower and cut that grass! Oh wait ... if your mower is anything like ours, you can't quite do that yet. You see, Hubs loves to buy "previously owned" mowers and "fix 'em up". Cheaper, right? Wrong! And needless to say, our lawn doesn't get mowed on a regular basis, either!
But now I've found a great place where he can order lawnmower parts we can count on! Browse through the catalog at MowParts.com and find exactly what you need, inquire about a specific part you may be looking for (they have a variety of parts for all the major name brands), or even cruise their Classifieds. And don't forget to check out their "Discover the Difference" page, either. After doing so, you'll understand why I said I found a place for mower parts we can count on! They even have a toll-free number you can call for information and assistance. What more could you want?
(this is a sponsored post)
The news tonight is that the mother of a little 2 month old girl is going to be allowed supervised visitation with her daughter even after her 19 year old husband tried to kill the baby, and she says "the devil made him do it". Um, yeah, right. Let's just have a look at the story:
Last Thursday, Joshua Mauldin, 19, was alone in the motel with his baby when he called for help.“The father called down here, asked us to call 911, claimed that the child had a bad sunburn and was bleeding,” hotel manager James Marx said.
Marx said he didn’t seem distraught at all.
Mauldin later told police it wasn’t a sunburn, but that he had accidentally spilled boiling water on the child.
Then his story changed again.
“The first time, he tripped,” Galveston Police Sgt. Annie Almendarev said Wednesday. “Then he said, no, he was drinking it and spilled it. There were just too many inconsistencies. He just couldn’t keep his stories straight.”
A tip then led investigators to the hotel room’s microwave, where they discovered the baby had been placed inside.
Mauldin then confessed, saying stress had driven him to burn his child.
“There was no expression. There was no expression at all. No remorse,” Almendarev said.
The baby girl was rushed to Shriners Hospital, where she’s undergone two skin graft surgeries and is in critical but stable condition.
She suffered severe burns to the left side of her face and left hand.
“I’ve been doing this for a lot of years and actually it brought tears to my eyes,” Galveston Police Sgt. Annie Almendarev said. “The baby is burned on the left side here and it’s just really bad. Her hand is so swollen – if you’ve ever touched something hot you know you get that big boil on your hand – it looks like she’s holding a ball in her little bitty hand. It was just heartbreaking.”
Investigators believe the child was in the microwave for ten to 20 seconds.
“I’m sitting there looking at the pictures and I’m sitting there looking at him, and there’s nothing I could really do about it but just keep my composure,” Almendarez said.
Mauldin had checked into the hotel last week along with his baby, his wife and his mother.
Police said he came to Galveston from Arkansas in search of a job as a minister.
“He’s the worst scum of the earth. I can’t … It makes you want to have cameras in the rooms,” Marx said.
At the time of the incident, Mauldin’s wife and mother were reportedly picking up dinner at a nearby restaurant.
According to police reports, he told investigators God ordered him to go to Galveston.
Mauldin was being held in the Galveston County Jail facing felony charges of injury to a child. His bond was set at $250,000.
Prosecutors said, if convicted, he could face anywhere from five to 99 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
I hope to God he gets 99 years!! And I don't care if the devil made him do it or not - he did it, so he pays for it!! As far as I'm concerned, he IS the devil! Not only did he microwave that poor child, he also put her in the motel room refrigerator and shut the door, then put her in the room safe and shut the door, then finally in the microwave - and all of that AFTER he had beaten her in the groin!! He's a sick son of a bitch and deserves to die! But first, let's beat HIS groin and put HIM in the microwave! And PLEASE let them be smart enough NOT to give any kind of custody back to that worthless so-called mother! She's making excuses for her teenage husband and only talks about him and herself, never about the baby - except in the context of when she's talking about herself and their "family". Did you know when she gave an exclusive interview to a Galveston TV station she would only do it if they didn't show her face? You know why? It wasn't because she was ashamed, guilt-ridden or afraid. She told producers it was because she "doesn't look like the old pictures they're showing on TV anymore". VANITY!
Take the baby away from that woman FOREVER!!
Joshua Mauldin, Father Microwaves Own Baby, Galveston, Texas
If you pay attention to what's in my sidebar, you'll see I have some pretty exciting new badges. Yes, I have my price, and thanks to a fantastic new feature released by PayPerPost for those of us who do paid blogging, there is now PayPerPost Direct! And I'm not just blowin' smoke here, guys - this really IS exciting! Let me be more specific:
When I do a post for Sponsored Reviews, I only get 65% of the marked price for the review. What PPP Direct does is completely cut the middleman out of the process, including themselves, for transactions dirven by my blog! So that means I end up paying MUCH less for generating my own advertiser leads! Doesn't that make a lot more sense? PPP Direct only charges a 10% service fee, and nearly 5% of that is PayPal and credit card fees. What it boils down to is that I make more money for the same amount charged for a review on my blog! I feel like I've found a buried treasure or something! lol
PPP Direct makes it super easy to use! The widget makes the entire process fast and easy for both parties, particularly advertisers. Advertisers can use their credit cards and don't need to go through the painful PayPal process. They can also access their existing PPP account balance to easily make purchases.
No need to worry about all that nasty tax stuff, either. Every PPP Direct offer is accounted for in your year end tax statement from PPP. How simple is that?
Go have a look for yourself -- you can check out all the details here (read all of this! great info!), watch the overview video here, and see it live in action here.
YAY PayPerPost! You've done it again!! 
Day four and all seems well. I had a 3 day headache which was about to drive me bonkers. Sinus headaches - what a bitch they are! You see, my head is more like a barometer than a head. It tells me when the air pressure and weather will be changing. We had a pretty powerful low pressure system move through here very slowly over the last few days, and boy did I pay the price! Plus my allergies are rearing their ugly head and making life difficult, too. Bah! I wonder why it is I still say Spring is my favorite season! LOL
So how are you doing?
I want to tell you about Lulu.com! This is something I am really excited about - something I wish had existed a long time ago, but am totally stoked about it existing now! Lulu.com is an online self-publishing website that allows users to create, publish and sell their content with no upfront fee. NO upfront fee! Apart from the personal fact that there is now a way I can publish my poetry, let's look at some of the various formats in which one can publish:
Paperback Books
Hardback Books
Photo Books
Brochures
E-books
DVDs
That's just a partial list of what you can create, folks! The Lulu.com print-on-demand marketplace allows users to determine the price they wish to charge for their content and sell to over 1 million members worldwide. At Lulu.com, you own the copyright (do you know how important that is?!). You control the content (again, very important!). You set the retail price and you collect 80% of the profit. Unlike traditional publishers who hold and review your manuscripts for months and collect the bulk of your profits, Lulu.com allows you to control your content and publish within minutes.
They also offer a very cool tour you can take which shows exactly how easy it is to publish with Lulu.com. Additionally, if you are looking for help, support and/or information, you may access their Lulu Community Forums, Lulu Blog and Lulu Workshops! It's truly everything you would need or want in an online self-publishing website. Finally! :)
Did I tell you guys about my little boy losing his virginity? Oh man, I can't believe I forgot to tell you! It was such big news in my house! 
OK, so this is how it went down:
Pippin was in season, and whenever that is the case with her and/or my daughter's dog, Sage, Riley goes nuts (don't worry, he's neutered!). But you see, he's so doggone small that no matter how hard he tries - and believe me, he tries!! - he can never quite seem to get the job done (and it's totally hysterical to watch, too! 
). Until a couple of weeks ago, that is. He was humpin' away as usual, when suddenly my daughter exclaimed, "Oh my gosh! Are they stuck?!" 
Hubs and I quickly turned to look, and sure enough, the little dude had finally completed the task, and boy did he look confused!! 
He was trying to walk away but couldn't! Hubs told daughter to "hurry up and hold Pippin so she doesn't try to run off and pull him by his little wienie!" 
Oh I tell ya', people, it was the funniest thing I've seen in a long, LONG time! Riley didn't know what was going on, Pippin just wanted to get away, and there was my daughter holding her there so she wouldn't hurt poor Riley. LMAO! When they finally "parted ways", my daughter was so grossed out she almost took a shower. 
I wish I had taken a video of it. I so would've won on America's Funniest Home Videos! I'll tell ya' what, when it was all over and done with, Riley sure was a happy camper! 
Well now, I got some very interesting news in my inbox today. As if the conservative right wing wasn't already upset enough at the attention and support Ron Paul is getting, the following is really gonna get 'em goin'! 
ARLINGTON, VA – The United Republicans of California (UROC) have unanimously endorsed Congressman Ron Paul for president of the United States. UROC, formed in 1963 to support Barry Goldwater, represents the traditional conservative wing of the California Republican Party."The unanimous endorsement from the United Republicans of California proves what the campaign has been saying all along," said campaign chairman Kent Snyder. "Ron Paul is the only true conservative and real Republican in the race."
In their official statement endorsing Dr. Paul, UROC called him "the leading advocate for freedom in our nation’s capital" and recognized that:
Ron Paul's voting record demonstrates that he has voted against:
· raising taxes;
· unbalanced budgets;
· a federal restriction on gun ownership;
· raising congressional pay; or
· increasing the power of the executive branch.His voting record demonstrates further that he voted against:
· the USA Patriot Act;
· regulating the Internet; and
· the war in Iraq.Dr. Paul is the only candidate with a record that matches the UROC’s platform.
"Whether the issue is life, the Second Amendment, foreign policy, spending or taxes, Ron Paul is the only traditional conservative candidate," continued Snyder. "Traditional conservatives across the country should support Ron Paul for president."
Suh-weet! 
If mainstream media has their way, you're going to hear as little as possible about Ron Paul, but thanks to this wonderful world we belong to called the Blogosphere, PLENTY of attention is being paid to him, and rightly so! Listen people, the huge political machine - on both sides - doesn't like Ron Paul or what he's saying to the American people, which in and of itself should make you realize how really important - and true - it is! Please go here and watch the latest Ron Paul video, and then tell me what you think. In my opinion, he makes the kind of sense I've been waiting and waiting for years to hear! Oh, and thanks in large part to us on the internet, as of this morning he has the most YouTube subscribers of all presidential candidates -- Republican AND Democrat. Right on! You can subscribe to his YouTube channel here.
I'd really like to hear your opinion after you've watched the video!
Guess what I did? I created a totally fun daily trivia game for us all to play called Thoughtprints Daily Trivia! I think it's fun to challenge myself to see just how much I actually do know, opposed to how much I think I know. I think it would be completely fun to have a friendly competition between friends, too!
Right now I have it set up to where there will be a different category every day, except Saturdays and Sundays, which will be the "Fun Trivia Mix" category. This is how I have the Category Schedule currently set up:
Sunday - Fun Trivia Mix
Monday - Celebrities
Tuesday - General Knowledge 5
Wednesday - Movies 2
Thursday - World Trivia 2
Friday - Music 2
Saturday - Fun Trivia Mix
So now what you have to do is go play every day for a week (yeah, that's an order! 
) and then let me know if you like it the way it is, or if there is one category you enjoy more than the others and would like to have more often during the week. OK? Alrighty then! 
I already played today and didn't do all that great. Go see if you can beat me!!
Be assured that mainstream media spoon-feeds us what THEY want us to know about all politicians, ESPECIALLY presidential candidates! They decide who we hear about, and who we ultimately vote for!
BUT NO MORE!!!
In this technological age and this booming and ever-growing community we bloggers call the blogosphere, OUR voices are being heard over THEIRS!!! Now let's keep it that way!!
If you want the truth about what is happening, and I know you do, visit (daily!) PropagandaMatrix.com and The Raw Story.
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD, AND YOUR VOTE COUNT!!! Let mainstream media know we are not drones they can "program" any longer!!!
rawstory.com, propagandamatrix.com, Mainstream Media, Presidential Candidates, Presidential Election
I went out of town yesterday with my sister so she could see the Pulmonologist. She's the sister I told you about around a month ago who was on her 3rd bout of pneumonia, remember? Well, she actually got what turned out to be good news from the Specialist yesterday. She (the Doc) looked at all my sister's test results and announced that there is absolutely nothing wrong with her lungs OR her heart, and the reason she's been getting pneumonia is because she's aspirating acid during the night when she sleeps because of her hiatal hernia and severe acid reflux! Can you believe it? She saw THREE doctors here in town and not ONE of them mentioned that as even a possibility! After the doctor said that, it all made sense to her, as she remembers times when she would wake during the night choking and coughing, and feeling the burning in her chest and taste it in her throat (sorry to be so graphic). Anyway, she has to have surgery to repair it, but it's done Laparoscopically so is minimally invasive. She was SO relieved! After the surgery, she probably won't even have to take her acid reflux medication at all anymore, and no more pneumonia! YAY!!
I didn't sleep worth a darn, even though we got back fairly early. Then this morning my daughter and I had to be at the salon by 10:00 for haircuts and highlights. Two and half hours later, we were on our way to pick up my son's dog from the Vet's office. Apparently she was ill yesterday so Dave took her to see the Vet and he wanted to keep her overnight to check her out and run tests. Well in the meantime Dave was called to work (he's a Railroader - a Conductor for BNSF Railroad) so he wasn't able to pick her up today. Turns out she has a bacterial bowel infection. Eww! Poor thing. She's mucho better today, though, and is staying with us until he gets home tomorrow morning. She's playing tug-of-war with Daisy right now. It's so cute! :) She's on meds for a few days, but she's going to make a full recovery.
Three or four hours later we drove to Dairy Queen to pick up some dinner since none of us felt like cooking (between my daughter, her best friend and me. Hubs is working, too). I noticed when I got up to leave that the front of my shoulder, right around my collar bone, is really sore. I have no idea what I did to it, but it sure hurts. I've had the heating pad on it for a couple of hours but it isn't helping. It's just one of those things that will take a couple of days to heal, I guess. ANYway, it's been BUSY around here the last couple of days! Hopefully the weekend will be much ... umm ... slower. LOL
So how are you doing? :)
Pneumonia, Hiatal Hernia, Laparoscopic Surgery, Dogs, Veterinarians
You guys know that I recently started blogging for PayPerPost, right? Actually, it was February 18th, to be exact. PPP puts consumer generated advertising to work for both the blogger and the advertiser! So far, in just 3 months, doing nothing but blogging - which I was doing before for nothing - I have earned almost $1,000.00! Not only that, but I have also discovered new products and services which I otherwise would not have found (yes, I honestly have bought and used some of those products I've reviewed!), and have "met" some pretty awesome people. I love it because I get to choose which opportunities I want to take - nothing is ever forced on us and I can post about things I believe in or which "fit" with my blog content. That really does make all the difference!
Why is it always right when I think things might be settling down that something else happens? You'd think I'd learn by now not to grow complacent! It's one of those high anxiety days. The kind that not only wreaks havoc on your emotions, but also on your physiology - almost immediately! It really is amazing how fast one leads to the other, isn't it? The intricacies of the human mind and body .... fascinating stuff. Of course, it would be much MORE fascinating if I didn't have to experience it! LOL
So how's your day been so far?
Do you read your horoscope? I never do. Until now, that is. I have found the best horoscope web site! No really, it's great. It's called Guru Monkey and by visiting their site you can find your weekly horoscope. I just couldn't believe how accurate it is! I'm a Pisces, and my horoscope for this week said that going out dancing this week is a much better idea than eating sushi and drinking tequila shots! Well duh! I hate sushi! So see? Isn't that just uncanny? ;)
Now this is all in fun, folks - literally. Perhaps it should be called horoscope satire? Regardless of what you call it, it's just simply funny. As Guru Monkey says, "Guru Monkey may not get all the facts right, but they will surely make you smile." Now that IS accurate! I got a big laugh out of everyone's horoscope! :) Go check it out for yourself!
(this is a sponsored post)
Yeah, you read that right. In Illinois, a father registered his 10-month-old son for a Firearm Owner's Identification Card, and got it!
Daily Southtown columnist Howard Ludwig registered his son —- Howard David Ludwig, nicknamed "Bubba" — online after the child's grandfather bought him a gun shortly after the baby's birth. Ludwig chronicled the road to gun ownership in a story that appeared in the Southtown on Sunday."Anyone who wants to own a firearm or purchase a firearm needs a FOID card," Ludwig told FOX News. "I applied for one of these for my son. Now ironically he can’t buy a gun until he’s 18 years old, but if he wants to own one -- which he does thanks to Grandpa -- he needs one of these cards anyhow."
The ID card, complete with a photo of the tot, allows the child to own a firearm and ammunition, and legally transport an unloaded weapon, even though Bubba has yet to learn how to walk.
(read the rest here)
Oh.My.God. People, that is messed up! So let's see, if you're under 18 and living in Illinois, and you want a gun, just have someone older buy it for you, apply online for your FOID card -which apparently anyone can do for five bucks and a song - and then go out and do God knows what with it! Yeah, that makes sense. Idiots!
P.S. What kind of person buys a gun as a first gift for a baby, anyway?????
Have you ever heard of Cornhole? I hadn't either - until now - and it looks like fun! Cornhole is a game similar to horseshoes except you use wooden boxes called cornhole platforms or boards, and corn bags instead of horseshoes and metal stakes. It is a game catching on all across the country and has been featured on the Today Show, Letterman and ESPN. When I was little I would play horseshoes at my Grandparents' and loved it. I bet this is just as much fun! You can find everything you need to play at MyCornhole.com, including corn hole bags for just $17.95 for a bag of eight (the best price on the net!). Now that summer is just around the corner, this would be the perfect outdoor game to have!
this is a sponsored post
Televangelist Jerry Falwell has died. He was 73.
Wow. I would've so loved to have been a fly on the wall when he met his Maker. Well, you know what I mean. I know, I know, there probably aren't flies there. There may not even be walls. Oh shut up! I just would've like to have heard that conversation, OK! In my imagination it went something like this:
Jerry Falwell: 
God: 
That would probably be the extent of it.
I shouldn't make fun that way. The man has died, after all. He did and said what he thought was right, which is what any of us do. So, rest in peace, Jerry.
I had a pretty nice Mother's Day on Sunday. I got to speak with all 3 of my kids, and see 2 of them. Ryan, my oldest, called from his home and I got to hear my adorable, perfect, gorgeous, brilliant and enormously ornery grandson say Happy Mother's Day to me. :) He's 2 1/2 years old and runs all his words together, so it sounded like this, more or less -
"happymomsdaynana"
That kid is something else! 
I need to go see them and get fresh pictures of him. He's such a little brute! And he completely exhausts his father! I must say I really do enjoy that fact! My son knows it, too!
Anyway, my 3 kids say they have a surprise for me, but it won't be for a few more days. That's cool. I like having something to look forward to.
We had awesome rain tonight - not too much, not too little - with totally impressive lightning. I loved it. Unfortunately, there were pretty bad storms, including some with tornadoes, in other places around eastern Colorado. Denver had a deluge! Tragically, some very fast-moving water along one street washed away a stroller with a toddler in it, and only the stroller was later found. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.
Oh, and speaking of prayers, I watched an amazing TV movie on Lifetime last night called "What If God Were the Sun?", starring Gena Rowlands and Lacey Chabert. Last night was the premiere. I don't care what your faith or belief is, just watch it for the fantastic performance by Gena Rowlands. She is an impeccable artist! I've never seen anything she's acted in that wasn't great. The only other time it's on this month is this Saturday, the 19th, at 7:00PM. Watch it!
OK, that's it. Have a happy Tuesday! 
Gena Rowlands, Lifetime Television, What If God Were the Sun, Thunderstorms, Lightning
Have you ever seen homes with what looks like wallpaper on a single wall, except it's a huge picture of perhaps their child, or of the mountains or something? And you wonder how in the world they did that? Well, I have, and I never knew how it was done until I discovered Wallhogs. I have been pouring over their site, and have decided it's one of the coolest things ever, and at a very affordable price to boot!
At Wallhogs, you can shop their prints or create your own! There are three media types from which you can order your prints:
1. Reusable Vinyl, which has a semi-adhesive backing, giving it the ability to stick to your walls but can be moved anytime you want without damaging the wall surface or paint.
2. Posters, which are printed on the best glossy poster paper available to bring your photos or graphics to life.
3. Canvas, which is a print on an artist-grade, 18 mil, semi-gloss, fine art canvas that is water resistant with a guaranteed 10 year indoor durability.
Now let's get to the affordable part! Let's say you want to decorate your daughter's room with a big Reusable Vinyl picture of her from her latest dance recital. They can actually isolate her from the the background in the picture you provide, and create a beautiful and huge vinyl print of her measuring 84" tall X 52" wide for only $79.99! Unbelievable! Now wouldn't that look cool on her bedroom wall? I wish I would have had an opportunity for something like this when my boys were young and playing baseball!
Wallhogs can produce your print in a variety of sizes, anywhere from 2 to 7ft high by up to 4.5ft wide, and all orders are shipped within 3 business days. I honestly believe this is an awesome service, and a fantastic alternative to boring paint and wallpaper! What better way to personalize your home? Go check them out!
(this is a sponsored review)
Wallhogs, wallhogs.com, Reusable Vinyl, Canvas Prints, Glossy Posters
YAY!! They (my host) finally got everything put back together, and just in time for Mother's Day!
If you're a Mommy, I hope your family is spoiling you rotten and treating you like the Queen you are!
Now that I'm making an income with my blog, I'd define myself as an independent contractor of sorts, and I have been helped immensely by experts and other bloggers who are kind enough to offer their advice for making my endeavor a success. I imagine going into business for yourself is no different. Everyone needs to learn, right? Well, prosper inc can help you do exactly that. They offer Coaching, Learning tips and Learning help for anyone who wants to succeed with their business! Their resources include Learning to Prosper, and Real Estate Investing. You have everything to gain by checking them out!
this is a sponsored post
Have any of you been watching and keeping up with the story of Obsessive Love on Dr. Phil? Oh man!! That guy Jeffrey is seriously screwed up! I don't think I've ever seen anyone so obsessed in my life, and that includes all the wackos I've seen on TV! Thankfully he's in jail now and hopefully will be for a long time, but I doubt they get much time for violating restraining orders (which is a HUGE injustice!). Every woman out there knows protection orders aren't worth the paper they're printed on! If a guy is determined to do you harm, HE WILL! I'm sure Jennifer is feeling relieved while he is in jail, but what about when he gets out? Then what?? What do you think about it? She is only one of THOUSANDS of women living the same story. What can/should be done within law enforcement, the judicial system and the mental health community to find a better resolution for these women?
Dr. Phil, Obsessive Love, Restraining Orders, Violating Restraining Orders, Insane Husbands
Attention all you Social Butterflies out there! I invite you to check out MocoSpace, one of the best FREE mobile chat sites on the internet! Not only do they provide Free Chat, but you can also enjoy and take part in their Forum, post your favorite pictures and videos, and even get MocoSpace on your cell phone! The site is extremely easy to navigate and is user-friendly. You can invite your friends to join or easily find friends who are already a part of the MocoSpace community. And did I mention it's FREE? ;)
this is a sponsored review
Pharmaceutical companies - some of the greediest forms of life on the planet! Can't stand 'em - even when they're trying to appear socially responsible and sympathetic to the sick people who require their drugs! Their primary and sole goal is to make money, no matter what! This story is a perfect example. In part:
ABINGDON, Va., May 10 — The company that makes the painkiller OxyContin and three of its current and former executives pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court here to criminal charges that it had misled doctors and patients when it claimed the drug was less likely to be abused than traditional narcotics.The company, Purdue Pharma, agreed to pay $600 million in fines and other payments to resolve the criminal charge of “misbranding” the product, one of the largest amounts ever paid by a drug company in such a case.
The three executives, including its president and its top lawyer, also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of misbranding the drug. Together, they agreed to pay $34.5 million in fines.
The guilty plea — by Purdue Frederick, an affiliate of Purdue Pharma — is the latest of a number of cases brought by the Justice Department against pharmaceutical makers that accuse them of misbranding, a broad statute that makes it a crime to put false or misleading information about a drug on its label or in ads, or to promote it for unapproved use.
Another company, Bristol-Myers Squibb, pleaded guilty Thursday to making false statements to the government involving its anti-clotting medicine Plavix. [Page C3.]
The Purdue plea underscores the growing pressure on the drug industry over its marketing. On Wednesday, the Senate passed a bill to give the Food and Drug Administration power to oversee drug advertising and labels, and to restrict the distribution of risky medicines.
(as reported by The New York Times)
Isn't that just like them? LIE, LIE, LIE to the American public about things which can WORSEN their health, all in the quest to make more money! Dirty rotten greedy bastards! They don't care whose lives they're playing with - they don't even think about it that way! All they see are dollar signs. So I ask you, what makes them any different than the pusher on the corner?
Pharmaceutical Companies, Prescription Drugs, FDA, The New York Times,
Things seem to be improving ever so slightly here (knock on wood), so I'm going to try and post an actual entry! lol
Remember when I posted back in March about my dogs getting loose and the cops and Humane Society being called? Yeah, what a fiasco that was. Anyway, the stupid neighbor who doesn't even know us signed the complaint that day saying my dogs are vicious (not, but I AM!). Well anyway, the vicious charges were dropped by the City Attorney before I even spoke to him because he could obviously tell how bogus they were, but I still had to answer for the dogs at large complaint, which I did today - to the tune of $170.00!! Ouch! But that's okay, because that was MUCH less than what I would have had to pay if those stupid other charges hadn't been dropped! 
After we were finished at City Court, my daughter and I went out for lunch at one our favorite restaurants. As soon as we were seated, by daughter excused herself to go to the restroom, so of course I couldn't help but eavesdrop on the conversation going on behind me. A woman was on her cell phone, talking with a real heavy southern drawl. She said, "Well, we was just fixin' to get a bite to eat before headin' out on that long drive" (oh come on, people, get with it! read it with a southern drawl! lol), then she said "So I hear ya'll are headin' for Dallas". Ah ha! She's from Texas! I know that cuz, you know, I'm smart ... and who in the hell doesn't know Dallas is in Texas??? Plus she was talking about Tyler, and I happen to know Tyler is in Texas, too. No, not the guy, the town. ANYway, she passes the phone to another woman who sounds younger and proceeds to talk about how she spoke with "the lady" and at first "the lady" wasn't too sure "because of the bankruptcy and all, but she liked the way the phone interview went so she ended up agreein' to finance me".
"Oh, that's good", I thought. I was happy for her.
She gave the name of the place, which made it clear that she was talking about financing a new car. I'm still happy for her. And a little jealous. But I digress. Listen up, because I have yet to get to the best part! While we were still eating our meal, they finished theirs and got up to leave, when .......
It's only Tuesday?? Wow, this week is going soooo sloooow. Seems like it should be at least Thursday by now.
I'm still having some big issues with my web host. It takes FOREVER to post a new entry, I can't access my host's control panel AT ALL, and almost all of the pages within my MT "control panel" won't even load. If you've been having trouble loading it and commenting, that's why. I've tried email and all that crap, now I'm up to phoning them. Like, now. Wish me luck!! 
I posted not too long ago about my very good friend expecting a baby, and I would really, really like to throw her a baby shower! I've never done a baby shower before, so I was excited when I found PartyPail! It's a wonderful online store where you can find the latest in Baby Shower Decorations and Baby Shower Supplies. They even have themed decorations, and the one I like best is - wait for it ......
The Mod Mom Baby Shower! That would be perfect for her because she is a working woman, and has been since she was eighteen years old! I would love to make it a surprise for her, but I'm not sure what I'll do. I still have quite a while to figure it out, but at least now I have a place where I can get my decorations and supplies!
this is a paid post
Wow. I just discovered a man named Ron Paul, who is running for the office of President of the United States. Until today I had never even heard of him, but thanks to Don't Fear the Truth, I have found a Republican candidate I can actually be proud of and excited about. I used to be excited about Giuliani, but he has done way too much of the waffle waltz and back-pedal boogie for my liking, so he's out.
Look, we can all (well, almost all of us) agree that Bush has screwed us royally (I'm just hoping he doesn't completely ruin us before he's out of office!), but that shouldn't sour us on Republicans altogether (believe me, it took a lot for me to say that!). You should read up on Ron Paul, but first watch and listen to the following video taken from the recent GOP Presidential Debate:
There's tons more where that came from. Listen to more videos; Google him and read whatever you can find. I think you'll end up agreeing that this guy is truly a citizen who cares about the people of this country and the country itself - not a "professional politician" who only says what he thinks we want to hear just to get himself elected. Another thing about him which I totally like is that he was first a medical doctor before getting into politics, and served as flight surgeon for the U.S. Air Force during the tumultuous 60s. He is a consistent voter in Congress and doesn't play the flip-flop game. That is a HUGE plus in my book! Check him out, people! I can't help but feel that next year's election will prove to be a pivotal moment in the history of our country. So much is at stake! We need the very best we can find to serve as OUR President!
Ron Paul, GOP Presidential Debate, Republican Party, Presidential Election
I found the neatest blog yesterday through blogcatalog and thought I'd share it with you guys. It's called Alex - Road to Freedom. It centers around a boy named Alex who lives in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and is anxiously awaiting his freedom when he will be reunited with his new family in Albania. I've come late to the party, as usual, because I read where Alex may be home sometime between the 13th and 18th of this month. Great news! I went back and read some of the older posts, and it is really amazing. You guys should check it out.
I've been through a lot of things in my life so far, and some of those things were difficult times financially. I think we've all probably been there, done that, right? Well back when I was younger and having a tough time, there really wasn't such a thing as credit counseling. Today you can find all kinds of help if you're in trouble financially!
DebtHelp.com is one of those places to find that help. You can find a vast array of help in the way of loans, student debt (which can really come in handy if you have HUGE student loans to pay back after graduation!), bankruptcy (none of us like to think of that, but we all know it can happen) and help with credit. I know there are many people who need help with the latter. In today's society we tend to spend beyond our means, and the next thing we know, we're in big trouble. DebtHelp.com will help you repair your credit, monitor and take control of your credit, and help prevent identity theft (something we all need to have knowledge of!). Just remember, there's no shame in needing help and asking for it.
this is a paid review
Debt Consolidation, Credit Repair, Student Loan Consolidation, DebtHelp.com
I found this over at Kat's blog and decided it looked too fun to pass up. You wouldn't think something so simple would be so interesting and fun, but it is! Give it a try! Now, heeeeere we go!
1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED?
Yes
2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME?
Yes
3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS?
Ecstatic
4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU?
Absolutely not
5. HOW OLD WERE YOU?
20
6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT?
My boobs were sore so I went to the Doc's for a test
7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST?
My then husband
8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX?
Nope
9. DUE DATE?
January 3, 1979
10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS?
Not really. I just couldn't look at raw meat.
11. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE?
If I craved something, I sure don't remember what it was.
12. WHO IRRITATED YOU THE MOST?
No one that I can remember.
13. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILDS SEX?
Boy
14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING?
No!
15. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY?
I think it was like 25 or 30.
16. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER?
Yes
17. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW?
A surprise.
18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY?
Nope
19. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH?
Right here in my hometown.
20. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR?
Four
21. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL?
My then husband.
22. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH?
My then husband, the Doc and the nurses.
23. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION?
Natural
24. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN?
Nope
27. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH??
7lbs., 7 3/4 oz.
28. DID YOUR CHILD HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS??
Thankfully, no
29. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER?
Ryan John
30. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY?
Oh man, he's 28!! (I still can't believe that!)
At first I was going to say how cool the weather was today, especially because it was so weird, but then I saw this story about a deadly tornado in Kansas. So far they've found 9 dead. It was a part of the same strange weather system parked over Colorado. Just today alone we've had 3 thunderstorms, 2 of which included hail, and 2 separate tornado warnings - all before 1:30 this afternoon! The first thunderstorm was early this morning, the second and third were one right behind the other, starting at about noon. It's clouding up again. I'm sure we'll get more bad weather before the day is out. It's just so sad that these storms around the region had to take lives with them. Deadly weather is definitely not even close to cool. 
tornadoes, weather, thunderstorms, rain, hail, Killer Tornado in Kansas
My daughter has a very good friend who is, as we women say, large-breasted. She's only 14 and has an average body size and bone structure, but is very large on top. It's become extremely difficult for her to find tops, blouses and bras which fit correctly. I feel really sorry for her, and can totally relate. I've offered her advice and even bought bras for her, but they didn't fit well, either. So I was pretty excited to find a newly-formed garment size which is made specifically for large-busted, but not full-figured women. Women with an average body frame, but are large-breasted (D-G cup sizes) can shop their online store to find clothes which will actually fit them properly. This is something I am definitely going to tell her about!
Seems there was a helluva confrontation between police officers, demonstrators and journalists in Los Angeles on May Day in MacArthur Park. According to The New York Times:
Chief William J. Bratton of the Los Angeles Police Department said Thursday that the episode here in which police officers clashed with demonstrators and journalists on Tuesday at an immigration rally was the “worst incident of this type I have ever encountered in 37 years” in law enforcement.Eight officers and at least 15 civilians were hurt, the police said, with people still calling the department on Thursday to report injuries. Mr. Bratton said 240 nonlethal projectiles were fired by the police into the crowd.
“Clearly, something went wrong here,” he said in a interview.
After a request by Mr. Bratton, the F.B.I. announced Thursday that it would open a civil rights inquiry into the incident, which has drawn outrage from immigrant and civic groups and journalists’ organizations and a rebuke from the City Council. On Wednesday Mr. Bratton announced two internal investigations by the Police Department.
News video images of the incident that erupted at a peaceful gathering in MacArthur Park, west of downtown, showed the police marching into the crowd, shoving and knocking down demonstrators and journalists with batons and firing rubber bullets at close range.
In television and press interviews throughout the day, Mr. Bratton said he was troubled by the police action he saw on the videos, and he sought to assure the city that he intended full disclosure of the facts.
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has been placed under the protection of the U.S. Secret Service, reportedly because of a threat against him.
According to CNN:
A statement from Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said he authorized the protection detail for Obama."As a matter of procedure, we will not release any details of the deliberations or assessments that led to protection being initiated," the statement said. "For security reasons we will not release the timing, scope or details of any protective operations."
The Secret Service told CNN no specific threat had been made against