Quote For Today

"Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways it can change someone else's life forever."
– Margaret Cho

Quote for the Morning (just in case I find more)

Laugh at yourself and at life and nothing can touch you.
Louise Hay

S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y NIGHT! HEY!

The week long peacefulness comes to an end abruptly around 7 or 8pm. Manchild returns from camp. Actually, I'm excited for his return. I want to hear how camp went. I asked another parent with hubby and child at the camp how things went. They abandoned the tents once for a siren but that was it. Phew! Knowing the storms we had this past week, I was sure at least one would get to them.

We also got invited to dinner in town with a friend of mine. :) I'm so excited! Her parents are even in town. How cool is that? I've got to figure out something to make for a dessert in a hurry. Might just be a frosted cake. :) Lord knows I have enough boxes of cake mix in this house. We won't go hungry! LOL

I finished a baby afghan this week. It's adorable. And yes, I'll get a picture of it out here eventually. It was white and from a book of patterns using the pound of yarn skeins. It was called Snowballs. (he he he) And looks like little snowballs alternating in the row and each row. This one is just one skein. Actually, I used a little bigger hook and used a little bit of the second white one I bought last week to finish off about 4 rows and the border. Now to return to the Granny Ohio Star afghan I started awhile back. The only thing I really hate about granny squares is having to weave in the ends and then sew the pieces together. The first one I'm doing is two blues and cream. The next one I want to do is red, white and blue. :) I also have yarn to do a brighter pink, turquoise, yellow and black sqared afghan. I really do enjoy the peacefulness found in crocheting.

Oh the small child speaks up... "We've got to go back to Germany." I asked why... "Because you don't like this place." He hears a lot more than I realize some days. Poor thing. I would love to go back to Germany, but with his problems, it's not possible for an assignment. A trip? Yes. For a tour? No. :( Poor kid! Attitude change I guess I need. Maybe with the sun out a little more these days, I can swing it and Matthew will forget about wanting to return to the lovely country of Deutschland. (as much as I'd love to go back too!)

Well, it's time to think about that dessert for dinner tonight. We're being treated to grilled ribs. YUMMMMMMMMY!

It's That Season Again...

... and sadly, it's not FOOTBALL! :D

Moving season is here again, in full force. We've already since April had 3, maybe 4 families move out of our little neighborhood. This morning there is a Wheaton truck in the street to move another one out. One of the ones with the trailer in its driveway. THANK YOU LORD!! I am tired of living in trailerparkville.

There is at least one other family on our street moving this summer as well. I'm somewhat sad about it. (not the trailer though!) The lady who suggested we go to town and get Matthew diagnosed is moving. :( We actually see her today for a physical, so I can see when their moving truck will show up.

Friends retired a couple of weeks ago, finally (ceremony was in April), to New Mexico. I already miss them! Several others are either going or will be soon. This is one aspect, like other friends, that I hate about our nomadic lifestyle. But then again, it's an opportunity to meet more people who share the lifestyle we do. And maybe have kids my children's ages. :) There's always ulterior motives to my thinking.

So watch out for those moving vans this summer! Slow down! Kids abound around those things usually!

My Suggestion Today

People need to take a reading comprehension class. I don't mean the kids who are in reading NOW... I mean ADULTS. I essentially live on a cul de sac currently thanks to the massive construction thanks to the Wonder Triplets. (another day another story)

Anyways... this is the second week of a sign at the end of our street saying "NO THRU STREET." My house sits at the end of that street where it crosses mine. My living room window is ground zero if someone's breaks fail and go thru the yield sign. At least 5 times a day, I watch cars come flying down to this corner, start to turn right (and some even do thinking it'll change as it goes past the other two houses?) and realize the road is CLOSED. Apparently, the English language is lost on these folks. It isn't even 10am yet, and I've seen one car already this morning go thru the motions. Amazing isn't it?

What is the average reading comprehension in this country? I know I've read since I was little (not like the boys who were reading in kindy), but still was reading early, and often and still do. Dictionaries are abundant I think. Libraries are free. PEOPLE! Get out there and read!!!!!!! And learn the definition of NO THRU STREET - It doesn't go anywhere except to about 20 houses in my neighborhood!

Maybe the video professor guy (I think it's video... on TV... commercials) should have a reading DVD. :D

Suggestion today? Sign up your kids for a summer reading program and join in the adult one while you're at it! Might work your brain a bit and you might learn some new words! :)

Quote for Today

"The golden opportunity you are seeking is in yourself. It is not in your environment, it is not in luck or chance, or the help of others; it is in yourself alone."
– Orison Swett Marden

Could It Be!?!?!?!?

Summer? Arriving in Minot? Noooooooooooooo way!

I think it has finally shown up after nearly a month of waiting... the pool opens TODAY! Not that I'm running over to jump in, but just the principle of the fact that it "opened" Memorial Day weekend, it's not been OPEN. Gotta love the weather up here. I don't know why the Services folks waste money printing posters and flyers out with that weekend listed as "opening day" for the pool... it NEVER happens. Do you doubt global warming exists? Based on the lovely weather here, I doubt it.

That all said, I move on to proof of perhaps something stinks in Denmark. (misquoting Shakespeare :D) Anyways... 1993 the big Mississippi flooding... 500 year floods... I caught news this morning that at Hannibal Missouri (Here I thought only Iowa was having problems thanks to our super great awesome liberal lying media) the river will likely crest just below the 1993 levels. That's kind of serious! We had just had manchild at the time in California, and we were wanting to drive home to Ohio from California (young and dumb :)) so the family could see the kid before heading up here to the great white frozen tundra. We decided not to due to the flooding of the midwest. Anyways... this gives me pause to think, PERHAPS, global warming does happen. Or else, it's just bad luck to live near WATER that CAN RISE from TIME TO TIME. If the flood insurance costs too much, then MOVE. Sorry. Just one of those things I don't like to pay for other people's mistakes when it comes to poor decision making and my insurance costs!

I again am venturing east to Ohio tomorrow thru Saturday... I hope we can get from here to there!

So ... yes! Summer has finally decided to show up here in Minot. My little pal Pixie on the page... at the 955 reading this morning it was already 70. Almost here! WOOO WOOOO WOOOOO HOOOOOO!

Quote For Today

"I have accepted fear as a part of life, specifically the fear of change, the fear of the unknown. I have gone ahead despite the pounding in the heart that says: Turn back, turn back; you'll die if you venture too far."
– Erica Jong

Virginia Living in ND

I know now what I missed when we headed to Ohio in 2003, and skipped the Isabel experience. (Isabel being a hurricane) I watched the storm clouds gather today. But prior, I visited with the neighbor, got CG off to camp, went to town shopping. (quilt shop and hobby lobby)

I come back to the house, and realize the storm is moving QUICKLY into our area. I'm watching neighbors gathering up outdoor items. I get the chit off the front porch and get ready to move the trash cans inside, open the garage door, only to realize the rain had started already. And my trash is spilled out across the yard and the neighbor's yard. Fun! Matthew is a huddle of mush in the bathroom. We were REALLY scared. The wind gusts were predicted to be up to 70mph. The only thing we were missing was a funnel cloud. I thank God it didn't materialize! The little trees in everyone's front yards in the neighborhood were bent over in the wind at about 90 degrees. It stormed for maybe an hour, and now the sun is out to the west and it's stormy blue to the east.

So now, I think we're going to enjoy a quiet evening in the house since the ground is just too wet to go out and play.

Again, this wish, you are dry and well. We certainly have been lucky with the rain this week. It rained A LOT, but those folks in Iowa... my heart and prayers are with you.

Just Pondering

If the comments didn't have SOME air of truth somewhere, would one fight so hard to disprove them?
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/fightthesmearshome/

I'll have to go look again at the birth certificate... just curious if you can see it bigger. Interesting color for the 60s. :D

Ok, seriously, it really is curious that they have to put out this site to "fight the smear" they claim. It's going to be a LONG summer, and a LONG SITE, and my SHORT patience.

Quote For Today

"We should be too big to take offense and too noble to give it."
– Abraham Lincoln

Quote for Today

"Vitality shows not only in the ability to persist, but in the ability to start over."
– F. Scott Fitzgerald

Quote for Today

My life to a tee! :)

"You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm."
– Sidonie Gabrielle Colette aka Colette

I certainly live life to the fullest I can most of the time, and have looked the fool many times. :)

Hope you're dry wherever you are. We're being poured upon this morning. I've decided (long ago actually) that global warming does NOT exist in any form. It's barely hit 60 this week in ND. How can people claim warming when it's COLD here and it's nearly summer FINALLY! At least the creek in my backyard is a long ways from the back part of my house.

Keep your powder dry! Have a good day.

Pet Peeves

Oh too many to list today but I'll start with the one that bugs me at this moment.

Does anyone have a LAND LINE in their house anymore? I got information for contacting someone, and it's a cell number. Ok, no problem if it's a LOCAL number. It's in a different area code. NOT LOCAL. And if someone doesn't have a cell phone to burn minutes on, they're paying $0.12/ minute (I think mine is 12 cents a minute to call long distance on the land line, in my house, local to neighbors) to phone the guy to give him a message. WTH are people thinking, especially in our lifestyles, by not changing numbers or having a land line? Friend of mine just moved and retired to NM. She called me today. Fortunately we're both on Verizon so it costs us no minutes. She's going to, what a concept, change her number to a LOCAL NM phone number for the folks where they currently live!

The person I got contact info from is in my area so I could walk over and visit and ask my questions, but it's the principle that matters at this point. They moved here before us, so he's had plenty o' time to change that number. Doing a quick search of whitepages.com, they have no listing for the folks either. Oh well. Email is always good... a few days and they eventually answer. :)

My other peeve? I haven't confirmed this, but I believe they teach our children in ND to drive in the left hand lane of the road. Or they did at one point in time. They don't seem to be bothered by the fact the left lane is for PASSING, not hanging out in. I thought maybe it was just a couple stupid people. NOPE! It's constantly going on. I thought maybe it was just in the Minot area. NOPE! It's all over the state.

Lesson for driving: #1) Left lane is for PASSING. #2) GET THE HECK OUT OF THE LEFT LANE IF YOU'RE NOT PASSING! #3) Use your turn signals! That's my other one that absolutely drives me nuts... people not using turn signals. I do NOT read minds in spite of what my children may believe.

I've got some political rants for later. I need to do some more searching on the one topic, then I can rant more on it :) have a great afternoon!

One More Quiz

Surprised me! I got 9//10... how about you? I wish I knew what I got right... some were wild guesses.

The point of this quiz/exercise is to see just how bad our education system is. Throwing more money at education hasn't fixed it yet. Throwing FEDERAL mandates at it doesn't work either. Try to convince a Congressman that it doesn't work to throw more money at stuff, and you'll have a battle royale on your hands. They're idiots in Congress I think. They're good people until they get there, then it's like they forget who the "little people" were that got them there.

Guess I best save this rant for another post. :) On to your challenge today...

You Passed 8th Grade Geography

Congratulations, you got 9/10 correct!

Could You Pass 8th Grade Geography?

What European City Do You Belong In?

When one answers BEER for one of the questions, Paris was not my thought of where I'd end up LOL Maybe it was the art question? Or the intellectual and philosophical answer? I was hoping for some wonderful German town. :)
Where do you end up? (I can't say I agree with Paris since I only drove thru Paris on the way to and from Normandy)

You Belong in Paris

You enjoy all that life has to offer, and you can appreciate the fine tastes and sites of Paris. You're the perfect person to wander the streets of Paris aimlessly, enjoying architecture and a crepe.

What European City Do You Belong In?

Quote for the Day

We are all pencils in the hand of God.
Mother Teresa

Quote For Today

"To see what is in front of one's nose needs a constant struggle."
– George Orwell

Seems Hillary has to work on this. She didn't sound enthusiastic in her "concession" speech today.

Thought for Today

"Difficult times have helped me to understand better than before how infinitely rich and beautiful life is in every way, and that so many things that one goes worrying about are of no importance whatsoever."
– Isak Denison

OH do I need to take this one to heart.
May your day be wonderful... I believe it's Friday and it's also 5 o'clock somewhere this very moment. :)

Change

I know I said I can't stand the campaigning going on for months, no, YEARS, but this great opportunity every four years, is peaceful in this country. We don't have threats for going to the polls. We are free to make our decisions to vote for whoever (right or wrong LOL) we want.

Obama has this "great" theme of "Change we can believe in." I've only been eligible to vote for president since 1988. (I voted for local stuff when I turned 18 in 87) I've voted every time for a president. I've also heard that thing about change. How this or that candidate will change things in Washington for the betterment of our country. It starts out nice, then by the end of one's term, it's the SSDD. (that's same stuff different day for some who don't know) Clinton, Bush, and whoever wins this year, did and will promise grand things for us as a whole, yet when the historians look back in 10 or 50 or 100 years... it's all the same thing, just gussied up for the people.

We as a whole in the USA look for the guy who speaks the best, promises the most and makes the "rich" look like they're the evil ones. If it weren't for the rich folks, how many of us would have jobs? Someone has to look past the glitter and smooth talk to see what the candidates really mean and want. Don't fall for it. Prove my opinion of this nation as a whole... Looking for the best speech maker? Looking for honest plans? Being a candidate is much like school teaching these days... LCD. Got to play to the lowest common denominator within the group you're speaking to or working with. Not everyone is a rocket scientist.

So, when you're thinking about November and the snow that comes with it... oh wait, that's here... but when you're thinking about it... REMEMBER... they ALL preach about change. They ALL sing a different tune when they reach that peak. I want change I can believe in... just not sure it's a dem or rep.

It's late and I'm sleepy... might get to slumberland before 2am this morning. :)

How Liberal Or Conservative Are You?

Thought this would be a fun one with the neverending campaign going on. Not a surprise for me. How about you?

Your Political Profile:

Overall: 85% Conservative, 15% Liberal Social Issues: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal Personal Responsibility: 75% Conservative, 25% Liberal Fiscal Issues: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal Ethics: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal Defense and Crime: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

How Liberal Or Conservative Are You?

Are You Right or Left Brained?

Well, they got the right brained creativity thing going for me. :) Oh and Sports. LOL Is it August yet? I'm ready for some football! And it needn't be Monday night. :)

You Are 30% Left Brained, 70% Right Brained

The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning. Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others. If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic. Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet. The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility. Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way. If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art. Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.

Are You Right or Left Brained?

The Simpsons Personality Test

You Are Marge Simpson

You're a devoted family member who loves unconditionally. Sometimes, though, you dream about living a wild secret life! You will be remembered for: your good cooking and evading the police Your life philosophy: "You should listen to your heart, and not the voices in your head."

The Simpsons Personality Test

Quote For Today

"The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas."
– Linus Pauling

How true for a crafty person, eh?

Sportmanship

Man! What a Stanley Cup final! Too bad we waited until tonight to watch a game.

We grew up west of Pittsburgh by what now takes an hour or so, in eastern Ohio. When my brother and I were little, my dad would drive over to the Civic Arena to see the Penguins fight... I mean play hockey. They sucked back then, so it was relatively inexpensive to go see games. There's nothing like a live hockey game in person!

Well, the level of "sportsmanship" I've seen in recent years, in particular, really only, in baseball, majors, stinks. You remember going thru the line shaking (or swatting at) the other team's hands? In the MLB, they shake their own team's hands. Shameful! Kids look up to these sportsmen, rightly or wrongly, and what a terrible example they show.

Tonight, the Pens and Redwings skated by each other shaking hands after the game.
College football teams gather together midfield and take a knee to pray often after games.

So the hiss is out to Major League Baseball! Let the hockey and football players show what it means to be a good sport. Funny thinking how it's the violent sports that show it, eh?

Guess this is my one good thing about Minot in a round about way... HOCKEY! They love it up here. :) Maybe this next winter, we'll be downtown to catch some games. Or even better yet?!? Ohio State plays Nebraska Omaha in hockey... next winter, I'm driving to catch a game. How fun would that be?! We've seen the Buckeyes play football in Minneapolis. What's another sport to go check out? :)

Well, isn't that interesting...

AP has crowned Obama the winner of the Democrat presidential candidate. Hmmmmm... does anyone realize that the super delegates don't actually count until the convention? I only learned that this last week. So, while he might be gaining all these "votes", not until August, unless Hillary gives up (DOUBTFUL), Obama isn't the official candidate.

That all said... I hope Hillary makes it ugly for another 2.5 months. I just want it to be chaos for the Democrats.

Then again... maybe I don't. I've been watching campaign crap for 1.5+ years now. Does anyone find this incredibly annoying? We have an incredible lack of involvement with voting in this country, yet the press continually shoves the campaign down our throats. Perhaps they might one day realize we don't really care until it's about October?

I might find myself actually NOT voting this fall. And I'll not complain. If you don't vote, don't complain. If you vote, by all means, be as voiciferous as you can be.

I found an interesting blog comment today on Seder's blog. Someone said basically that they'd be so happy with an Obama presidency, waiting for the Republicans to start complaining about the president, and the Democrats saying they shouldn't complain about the president in war. Hmmmmmmmmmm... from what I have gotten watching the endless media push for Obama, he will have brought all our military home from Iraq when he takes office. No one at war then. Is it ok to complain then?

Just thinking out loud...

Matthew

He went to his first wedding over the weekend. AND, imagine this... he was pretty well behaved! And adorable. "Weddings are AWESOME!" Ask his favorite part... "dancing with the lady in the long white dress." At least the bride was a good sport about it. :) Matthew danced an entire song with her and just LOVED the time with her. Check out the Springhill Pavillion online... it's where the wedding and reception was. It's beautiful out there! And, if you have ever seen The Horse Whisperer, the dance scene was filmed there. Guess I have to watch that now that I've been there.

Might I suggest a trip to Bozeman, Montana.... it's green, has mountains, and isn't Minot. :) They have a museum, http://www.museumoftherockies.org and we had a couple of hours in there. They were in between travelling exhibits, so it was partially not open to us. The museum has an outdoor section with a wonderful old homestead, with garden and blacksmith shop. The ladies inside were quite helpful and I got invited to join in an EGA meeting next time I get to Bozeman. They were spinning their own yarn, doing some quilting and weaving.

Did I mention the wee man has made it thru kindergarten? Yep. Survived it! YAY! Goes on to first grade August 28. He said "I'm bored" a few weeks before the year ended. Lord help us! He's going to be bored with the work for a few years to come considering his intelligence. We're off to the library in the morning. It's time to start some summer reading. We also got Matthew signed up for T-ball this summer. I only hope it'll go well for him... he's never played, but was interested. He is excited. But he also thinks he will be at the play area on base with the pitching machine. Yikes! Oh, and tomorrow is also a visit to the shot folks. Oh boy! The youth center now requires the kids to have Hep A shots to play. ARGH! I'll have to ask about no mercury shots. I'm not terribly happy about having to get him another shot.

Well, I think that catches you up for now. It's been deliciously quiet here this week with manchild at camp near Devil's Lake. At least he gets to see more of ND than he remembers from being a little guy in the 90s. :)

Dental Visit

Let's see... the family of dentists in town have two practices. They made money off our family last week. I went in Tuesday for my appointment to get that filling done. Fortunately, it's done. They gave me happy gas too! LOL I'm going to insist on that just to clean my teeth. I'll pay whatever it takes to help relax me. It's worth it! A week later, and my teeth aren't hurting. They're still quite sensitive, but they were before this all started.

Matthew had a check up the next day at his dentist. I had gone in and explained his autism diagnosis since our last visit. (first visit we explained the sensory issues) They marked his file to have him in his own room vs the 5 chair public assembly line area normally for the kids. He went back by himself. :) He had no cavities! Dentist says he's doing well with brushing. AND, by the end of summer, my baby will have likely lost his front lower middle teeth. The one is WIGGLING! The other is loose. How awesome is that! Well, for him, quite so.

The manchild has his next appointment in a month. We'll see if he has more cavities or not. Reminds me, I need to call the orthodontist and see about hubby going to talk to him sometime. It's amazing what it costs for braces. Let alone, the manchild might need to have some oral surgery done prior to the braces. At least he's braver than I.

Quote for Today

"Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns. I am thankful that thorns have roses."
– Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr