Thought Tools #45 - Are You Really With Me?

Thought Tools 45
Are You Really With Me?

November 6th, 2008 8th day of Cheshvan, 5769 Issue # 45

Catching sight of a large family reunion, an outsider might see no connecting link other than matching T shirts. Similarly, a company picnic might feature a crowd that looks like many disconnected individuals. A nation too, can seem to be composed of millions of separate units. After all, each of these groups often includes people of different genders, races, ages and economic levels.

The truth is that no matter the differences among great-aunts, parents, toddlers and teenagers, they meld together as family members. In a thriving company, people with widely variant lives cooperate in great commercial enterprise.

In any successful country, the same principle applies. For all our individual diversity, we are unified in the giant cooperative enterprise of maintaining a culture in which we can all live, flourish, and prosper peacefully.

What is the difference between a unified family and many people sharing an ancestor? Or between many people working under one roof and a successful corporation? Or between lots of individuals occupying the same slice of real estate and a real nation?

Let’s look to God’s language, Hebrew, for a clue. In English, it’s a waste of time to ponder why a steer is both a type of cattle and also the verb describing what we do to the steering wheel of a car. However, whenever the Bible uses one word for two ideas, you can be sure those two ideas are closely linked. You can explore this concept further in Buried Treasure: Secrets from the Lord’s Language.

So, when we look at the word for nation in Hebrew, AM, we have to pay attention that the identical word with a slightly different pronunciation means “with”.

?? ??
With Nation

עם עם
With NationGod didn’t run out of combinations of letters; there is a reason these two words look exactly alike.

In addition, Biblical Hebrew doesn’t use synonyms to spice up the writing. No, their purpose is to convey real differences in meaning. This is important when we realize that there is another Hebrew word that is also translated as “with” - the word “ET.”

The difference between the two Hebrew words for “with” becomes clear in the book of Numbers. God tells the prophet Bilaam to go with the men, but when Bilaam does exactly that, astonishingly God becomes angry at him.

That night God came to Bilaam and said,

"Since these men have come to summon you, go with them,.."

(Numbers 22:20)

"Bilaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab. But God was very angry"

(Numbers 22:21)

Please don’t make the mistake of assuming God just couldn’t make up His mind. In the original Hebrew it all makes perfect sense.

The Hebrew word for with in the first sentence is “ET” while the Hebrew word used for with in the second sentence is “IM”. When a happily married couple takes a stroll, they walk with, IM, each other, their hearts as linked as their hands.

When two strangers happen to stride alongside one another down the crowded sidewalk of a city block, they are walking with or “ET” each other. From an upstairs window, they may appear to be friends walking together, but the togetherness is an illusion.

God tells Bilaam to walk with “ET” the men, meaning alongside them but without sharing their mission. However, Bilaam walks “IM”, with, them. He becomes one with them, sharing their goals and values. Of course God is angry with him.

Related individuals don’t automatically create a unified family. Alienated workers at the same enterprise don’t make a successful company. All these groups stand a better chance of unity, fulfillment and success if they recognize the difference between ET and IM and the need to convert the former into the latter by embracing shared ideas, goals and values.

And sharing the same real estate does not form a nation. When social scientists, politicians and pollsters slice and dice a country, they are making a mistake. By labeling us as males and females, white and blue collar workers, soccer moms and hockey moms, Hispanics and Asians, rich and poor, they diminish us. What truly matters is a shared vision of all men being created equal, of a land of opportunity where everyone has the freedom to fly or fail, and of being “one nation under God.”

Surely, it is worth the effort to build real families, real companies, and a real nation.

Edited by Susan Lapin

...I have a head cold

I was up all last night sniffling, and not because our country went left last night. I have a cold.

I woke up this morning still sniffling, took a hot shower and a magic red pill. Less sniffles, but still a fever and headache. This did not stop me from my appointed rounds. I still had five to get to school, and one to get to the dentist. No cavities, YEA! Still cleaned a little, made appointments, shopped, waited and waited, (not really) for CPS to not show up, picked up fund raiser pies. I will cook tonight.

Life goes on. The only thing different about my life today than yesterday, is that my time piece is my sniffly nose, passing the time in four hour blocks. (Although it's more like 3.25 hours).

...of good election news.

Turns out that everybody elected is for education, against higher spending, and for lower taxes, (except on the evil rich) and ready to represent us in Washington or (insert state capital here).

Why is that I suspect that next election we will hear how none of them did anything for education, or the economy? I know none of us pay attention, but my Senator and Congressman both voted FOR the bailout. That's not what I wanted, and I'm assuming that the majority, based on news reports didn't want it either. I guess it's because they are so much smarter than us and we need saving from ourselves once again.

I will say Yeah for getting rid of the Alternative Minimum Tax, this week anyway. Those of us who tithe appreciate that. I'd much redistribute my wealth to the local church, at least I know they aren't getting $40 million bonus'.

In the bad news department, when polled, people overwhelmingly (60/40) said that conservative issues were important to them. But they didn't vote that way. Is it that they did not do the due diligence? Yeah, probably.

Anyway, looking forward to '12.

....there's still time

...Dear William Willett

According to Wikipedia your only notable contribution to the earth was Daylight Savings Time. I understand it was because of golf. Really, golf? How would you like it if I imposed my wanting to sleep late on the rest of the world. I prefer to rise sometime around noon. I selflessly realize that this is not practical for the rest of the world. Therefore, I buck it up and deal. You however, not liking your golf game to be cut short decided that twice a year we should significantly alter our sleeping patterns.

Of course you trotted out the almighty dollar as your reason. You might be interested to know that most modern studies say there is little economic benefit for doing it. In fact, when it was implemented in Indiana, electricity consumption increased by 4%.

I know we don't normally follow the trends in Kazakhstan, but they abolished the practice of changing clocks twice a year because of health complications arising from the practice. Suicide rates among men are highest following the Spring Forward, and the heart attack rate is significantly higher for three days following a time change.

Also Mr. Willett, we have to pay people to change all of those clocks. They've not yet figured a way to get the Big Ben's of the world onto the atomic clock. So, every spring, and every fall, it's some guy's job to make sure that all the clocks in an office building are correct. This may not have been too much of a problem back in your day, but today, there is a clock on EVERYTHING. The stove, the microwave, the dvd player, his and her alarm clocks, in the car, the gps I use to track my running. EVERYTHING. My entire yesterday was consumed with, "is that really the time?" and running to check the cable box. Was this really the best use of my time? NO.

I suppose I could make it a little easier by getting his and her atomic alarm clocks, but we like our daylight alarm clock, and it's old school. Also, is it really practical for all of us to throw out perfectly good alarm clocks just to go atomic? NO. And yes, there are outlets that pipe in the correct time, like the cable box and the computer, but when we got the bright idea to expand DST it cost us $500 million to upgrade the software in different applications that make it possible.

I might be a little more upset about this than I should be, but no one has informed the trips that things have changed the last two days. Boog put himself to bed at 7:00 last night as opposed to 8:00 meaning he woke up at 5:00 instead of 6:00 - being a sleep til noon type, 5:00 is not a number I like to see. And if you know nothing else about my kids, know this, if one is up they all are. They get lonely and bored and don't care what time it is.

So, until the Idaho potato lobbyists can convince Congress once again that extending DST longer and longer, to the point where there is no Standard Time, I will be a grump a dump twice a year.

But seriously, anybody who wants to play golf longer, just get to work earlier, and leave earlier. No one has ever been fired for getting to work early and completing their tasks for the day early. Please leave the rest of the world out of it.

....that's oh so sad.

At American Princess she's reporting that citizens are being asked to leave and store owners are being asked to beef up their security on election night.

I also have a friend who was a cop in DC for years. Hubby had the possibility of having a business trip in DC on Wednesday. My friend said to steer clear, there will be rioting in the streets. Win, lose or draw.

Every major city is requiring its full police force to be on duty that day. Chicago fire fighters are being asked to take home their equipment.

I know the election will be what it will be. But it saddens me that there will most likely be violence associated with this election. If the great one loses it will be perceived as a race thing, if he wins, the same.

It's so hard to avoid all of the hype associated with this election. I've heard people on the radio say they are torn, they don't like Obama, but they are black and they feel they should vote for him. One guy said it would be a dishonor to Martin Luther King Jr. if he didn't vote for Obama. MLKJ said character, not color. I am a woman but would NEVER vote for Hillary. I don't like her character, even if it would mean a uterus in the White House.

I hope that there isn't a violence, but people set fires and over turn cars when their team wins the championship.

The other thing that has irked me recently is in West Hollywood, there was a "Halloween" decoration of Sarah Palin in a noose. While everyone is "outraged" had the decoration been of another candidate, they'd be in jail.

I'm just sick to death of this whole election. Whatever the outcome I just want it to be over. I think that McCain Palin is the better choice, but am not sure he really wants the job. Bill OReilly offered him 30 minutes the other night to counter the Obamamercial, the McCain campaign turned him down. McCain is not on the offensive and they have not utilized Palin to her full potential. For Mavericks they are playing it way too conservative.

Should Obama be elected, I think his policies will go down in history to be more destructive to our country that Carter's. But what can we as a country expect, we want to be "progressive" we want to be "tolerant" we don't want to honor the God that our fore fathers did. Forget "providing" for the common defense and "promoting" the general welfare. Those words should be interchangeable. Let's promote defense and provide welfare. It's only fair.

Either way, I'll be fine. My faith is not in the political system of our country, rather the God that we once sought as a nation. While He may someday turn his back on this country He will never turn his back on me.

...for a picnic

With Daddy off on jury duty and Mommy stuck at home with the trips, we decided that it would be a good day for a picnic. So, during the painfully long jury duty lunch break, we went and met Daddy at the park by the sea. The boys climbed the mesquite tree, Booger "broke his skin", and we had a moment of zen.

While the lunch break was painfully long, it wasn't long enough and Daddy had to leave before we got to play in the park, which was fine, I'd have probably paid more attention to Daddy than the kids, but with him gone we were able to play a great game of hide and seek. I used "olly, olly ox in free" a lot, especially after I hit my head on a very low beam. Afterwords we walked on the pier and learned that we don't throw trash in the ocean.

Back at home, bread was rising, and rising and rising, so we had to go and rescue it. 2/3 of them will survive and be wonderful for dinner tonight, (the other third is offering itself as an afternoon sacrifice snack.) Dinner is apple smoked pork and roasted potatoes, yummo. Followed by strawberry shortcake.

....he lives.

For someone who was declared incompatible with life, he's alive and well and they can't find anything wrong with him. Guess doctors aren't god's after all.

...I am so blessed.

Hubby is off on jury duty for a week or two. First of all, let me say, that we are not the people who try to get out of jury duty. In order for our justice system to work as our founding fathers intended, we must all view it as a privilege that most of the world does not have access to. And if you are ever on trial for something, I hope that you get someone like my husband on your jury.

But.....that means he isn't home, all day every day. He has had a home office for most of our life together, and for the past twelve years he has been completely accessible to me at all times. I can't even text him or email him while he is gone. Usually the very moment I have a thought that needs to be shared, or a question that needs to be answered, he is there and it gets off my list and voila, no mind clutter. Also, it is not possible for me to, every 42 seconds, hug him and kiss him and smell his neck while we are going about our days. Equally sad, when one of the trips is not playing well with others, I can't send them in to color with Daddy.

So, not that any of you care, but I'm off for my run, hoping to get in three miles today, then the grocery store - if you need anything txt me, then an ortho appt for Big Boy, then get the kids. love you bye

Thought Tools Issue #44 - Names Matter

Names Matter October 30th, 2008 1st day of Cheshvan, 5769 Issue # 44People often ask what made me convert a three-week visit to the United States into a life-changing immigration. One of the things that helped me decide to remain in the United States was that folks addressed one another respectfully, using names whenever possible. I watched strangers putting their hands out and introducing themselves to one another by name. As I spoke at events around the country, I noticed the organizers making every effort to remember and use attendees’ names. Even employers called their employees by name rather than by job description like Cook or Gardener, which was common in the British Empire. The colonial, and slightly condescending, “My good man,” was noticeably absent too. Why do we feel so flattered when a casual acquaintance or a boss remembers our name correctly and so annoyed when we are mistakenly called by a wrong one? We certainly would feel insulted to hear ourselves addressed as “Hey you." Names are so important that an entire book out of the Five Books of Moses is called Names. That is right, the second of the five, known as Exodus in English, is really called the Book of Names in Hebrew—SHeMOT. Considering that this book is really called Names, the following verses from the first few chapters of Exodus sound almost comical. No names are mentioned. In fact, God seems to go to great lengths to avoid mentioning anyone’s actual name. And a new king arose over Egypt (Exodus 1:8) And the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, the name of one was Shifrah*, and the name of the other Puah. (Exodus 1:15) (Ancient Jewish wisdom tells us that these two were actually Yocheved and Miriam, Moses’ mother and sister. The names Shifra and Puah are Hebrew words that describe how they handled the babies, somewhat like calling a cook, Cook or a runner, Swifty.) A man of the house of Levi, went and took for his wife a daughter of Levi. (Exodus 2:1) And the woman conceived and bore a son (Exodus 2:2) And his sister stood afar, to see what would happen to him (Exodus 2:4) And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe in the river (Exodus 2:5) His sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, Shall I call for you a nurse?(Exodus 2:7) Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, Go. And the girl went and called the child’s mother (Exodus 2:8) See what I mean? Though we know the real names of these characters, and they are used in later chapters, those names are hardly used in the beginning of the book. Only from Exodus 2:10 when Pharaoh’s daughters names the baby Moses and onwards, do names return to normal usage. Why? The point is that slavery is as dehumanizing as not having a name. The book of Names opens with listing the names of Jacob’s sons who came to Egypt. They were free men. But their children were soon enslaved. Pharaoh’s daughter’s adoption of Moses elevates him from slavery and starts the road to redemption. Names become used again. This opening of the Book of Exodus, or Names, with its curious absence of names, demonstrates this important equation: slavery = no names It is just as true to say that when you deprive people of names, you are creating circumstances of slavery. That is why giving people numbers instead of using their real names is part of a dehumanizing process. no names = (leads to) slavery and using people’s names = (leads to) respect and social integrity Though I have been an American citizen for many years, the lesson that people truly appreciate being addressed by name remains an important one. I am sure that you too have found that whether in your work or personal life, learning folks’ names and using them is always valued. Edited by Susan Lapin

...to not call me about such things

Big Boy is not a model student. Never has been. The first week of first grade he came home with a multiple paged note regarding his horribleness. My first thought was to get him out of that class, clearly this was oil and water. My second thought was sometimes you have to deal with difficult people. This was a two way street, they were matched, they were going to work it out. My first thought would have been better, by the beginning of the second semester she had completely put him on "independent study" which meant, blocks in the corner. Guess who had to repeat the first grade.

Now, I totally get how frustrating it is to try to teach him something academic. This is why I won't homeschool him, I'd like to preserve the relationship at the expense of his mediocre education. He is smart, he can tell you anything, but ask him to write it down and it's World War III.

This was just the way that it was, until three times in two weeks last year I saw three different programs on Dysgraphia. First, Henry Winkler, aka The Fonz, was on a show talking about how he is Dyslexic and his son is Dysgraphic. His son was diagnosed first. During one summer vacation, The Fonz and his wife noticed on a cross country car trip that their son was a wealth of information. He'd read brochures and could tell you anything about anything he'd read, even weeks later he'd recall that time in Nebraska at this and such. They were so proud, until he went back to school and had to write the proverbial "What I did on my summer vacation" essay. He failed. And not just a little.

Next a Criminal Minds were the high school aged unsub was thought to be an idiot, turns out he was a genius he just couldn't communicate this. High math scores, very low grades in anything that required writing. Hmmmmmmmm?

I called his guidance counselor and asked if they could test him. THE GUIDANCE COUNSELOR DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE PROCEDURE FOR TESTING WAS. We went round and round and back and forth, and we never got anywhere. Finally, two weeks before school got out we had a meeting with the school district. I kid you not when I say that in spite of being in his office weekly for at least two months, when he walked into the meeting he introduced himself to me. Want to guess how much weight my opinion had in that meeting?

So this year, we've already started getting the calls regarding Big Boy. He's unmotivated and seems interested in things other than his assignments. The first call I took and explained to the teacher that I had my suspicions that there may be some sort of issue that we need to look into regarding Dysgraphia, asked him if most of the problems involved avoid having to write things. Yes, he indicated that most of the trouble was when they were asked to write, most of the missed assignments were writing assignments. I told him if he'd look into my issues, I'd help with his. That's the last I heard from him.

Today he called hubby. He tried me first, but I was unavailable. But he told hubby the same blah blah blah regarding Big Boy not doing his work, and being unmotivated. So, in the future, don't call me. I really don't need written confirmation that my son is bright. If you are having problems motivating him, maybe you should discuss it with him. If you the teacher cannot hear what I have to say, then how do you think that Big Boy will be able to comprehend the gibberish that I spew?

Also, I'm going to start calling you when Big Boy hits his brothers or comes home late.

....it keeps getting better

The front page of today's paper gives me lots of hope for the foster care system. The judge that presides over the juvenile courts died yesterday. It's my understanding that no one has ever run against him for the position since it was created by him in 1999. I know at least one foster parent who is happy to have the chance to have her case heard by another, but for the most part he was well respected.

Below the fold was a story about a local psychologist who was recently convicted of Medicaid fraud. The fun part of it was that Medicaid didn't think there was any errors in his billing. It all comes down to the doctor's interpretation of the rule in Medicaid and who should administer the tests. In Texas and Mississippi the only person who can administer the psychological exams is the Psychologist himself. Even if their psychological assistant has a master level degree. The problem that the federal prosecutor had, that Medicaid didn't. Medicaid doesn't have two separate billing codes for administering the test and reporting the test. Of course only the Psychologist can interpret and report the test, and since there is only one billing code, it has to be billed in one lump sum. Medicaid accepts it, but apparently it is against the law.

So, since I've been actively fostering kids for long term, about 4.5 years, three of our Psychologists have been convicted under this rule. The paper says there are another three in town that are currently under investigation, and that there are only two child Psychologist's in town who still accept Medicaid. There are several thousand children in foster care in our area, all needing psychological evaluations, the government scaring off all of the doctors isn't going to do us any favors. Can't you just wait til socialized medicine? We won't have any doctors because they'll all quit before being forced to provide care and not only have the threat of being sued, but also being prosecuted for billing errors that everyone but the attorney's agree on. Blarg.

Yes, he was convicted of the fraud, but having read my share of jury instructions lately, one in our case, and on the Overton case, I'm sure they either didn't understand the circular wording or "unnecessary" wording was left out. Anyway, this fine doctor, in the last 13 years, was convicted of defrauding Medicaid of $1,950.00 yes, that's right, less than 2K. They want to send him to PRISON for 27 months. Oh and the clincher is, that at the end of the year, the crime he was convicted of will no longer be a crime. Even the judge was asking why the prosecutors had taken it this far, he won't set aside the verdict, but if even the judge is wondering why....

Hellowwww, prosecutors in the area, there are real criminals out there shooting at us. Can you go after some of them? Can you maybe send a drunk driver to jail, or maybe some sex offenders? Hey, and if you want to go after some doctors who are REALLY guilty of Medicaid fraud, try the PSYCHIATRIST who saw all of my foster children and the foster children from another family all at the same time for about ten minutes total. 8 foster children, 10 minutes, dozens of medications. Never a blood test, never a weight check, never a blood pressure check, just whatever his pharmacy rep was pushing that week. I'll give you all a million dollars if he didn't bill all eight of those children at $60/visit.

I hate my job.

....of mini hibernation

This whole week an email has been staring me in the face. "Are you getting enough sleep?" I have been too tired to delete it, too tired to read it, so I just ignored it. Like I need to read it to find out.

Also this week, I've been packing in the carbs, cookies, cakes, bread whatever I could think of to drive the Atkin's people into a panic attack. As if that weren't bad enough I frosted most of them. Got new frosting tips and had to try them out. So, with the added winter weight and a free Saturday, I slept it off. Thanks to hubby.

Here's to hoping that I can sleep tonight, fingers crossed.

...people bring us food.

I don't know what it is, but our neighbors are always bringing us food. It could be the numerous super skinny kids running around our yard, or the occasional beggar that could be traced back to our home, or maybe it's just neighborly.

Several weeks ago TDD (two doors down) brought us meats and cheeses, I believe it was meant to be a party tray for 50, as a thank you for us watching their dogs for the weekend. We do it to be neighborly, not the food. They also watch our dog when we are gone. He actually prefers them to us, I think. They have five dogs, but his first name is notTDD, so if they were to abduct adopt him, his new name would be TDD TDD.

NDL (next door lesser) actually started the whole process when we moved in about 100 years ago. They had kids at home at the time and the guys went fishing every weekend, and we had our share of Red Fish for awhile. Mr. NDL works on a ranch and we have gotten blackberries and watermelon. Their neighbor behind them has an orange tree that they get to keep whatever leans over their fence, we've been benefactors of those as well.

NDG (next door greater)has a grapefruit tree and every February we get buckets of them. They are not commercially available because they are flawed in that their skins are ugly, but oh so yummy on the inside. He also has a thing for tomatoes.

Well, this afternoon, about the time the neighborhood strays show up, our door bell rang. And being lazy I let the preschoolers answer. They came to report that Mrs. NDL was there with a cake. A very cute double layered pound cake, frosted to look like a pumpkin. She saw it and thought of us. Also wanted to make sure that we'd be around tomorrow because she was going to be bringing us a case of apples they were buying at a fund raiser. Yep.

We planted fruit trees in hopes to have fresh fruit circulating the neighborhood year round. Our 2nd pear tree bore its first fruit this year along with our mystery citrus tree, so one of these days we'll have fresh fruit 6 months of the year. Unless we are involved in some redistribution program.....

...my hypothesis becomes a theory.

Hypothesis: The amount of people you see, that you know, is in direct proportion to how grungy, frumpy you look.

I have not seen ONE person, that I know, at the grocery store in about a year. Today, after my run, I decided "hmmm pudding sounds good." But I wanted chocolate and vanilla striped pudding and I had to have it in a see through container. Yes, a bit OCD, in three months you can help foot the bill for my meds.....anyway, we were out of appropriately sized containers for proper pudding striping sooooo

Off to the grocery store. No need to shower, I need to carb load first, showering can wait. Not ten feet into the store I see my friend M who I used to do volunteer work with, M always has it together, today was no exception. Luckily she still thinks I'm a saint for fostering, and will be sure to spread the word that I'm so busy, I don't even have time to shower. I failed to mention to her that I was only there for proper pudding striping supplies.

Round the corner into the produce section to get caramel apple supplies.
"Hi, Annie"
"Oh crap," I thought, "who now?"
A person that I know, that I used to do business with, but now go somewhere else because of a better techno fit. I am of course a techy geek, and gadgets are cool.

I cruise through several aisles, not just looking for pudding striping supplies, but Tuesday is the day before Wednesday and I wanted to make sure I got all the great deals of the week, since I was there anyway. Then there in the cereal aisle, a mom from my kids' preschool. 8.625 months pregnant, all belly, happy as a lark, and cute as can be. I couldn't even take comfort in the fact that 'I may not look good, but at least I'm skinnier.' UPDATED MONTHS LATER - that mama had twins three weeks later. I'd say let's hate her but she's super nice. damit

Had I not found some amazing deals it would have sucked, but I even got a deal on organic milk in paper cartons, which never happens, so, fine, it was a good trip. So happy with that trip, I was, I went over to CVS and got two tubes of toothpaste, and two 2 packs of toothbrushes for $0.18 - I also got $2 in ECB for the tooth paste and $7.98 in ECB's for the tooth brushes. So, there....

You'd think I'd have come straight home to shower after that. You'd be wrong. I then went to another CVS to use my other card to get three 12 packs of Coke, a package of gummy worms, and a bottle of Powerade for $7.23 which had I bought the Coke at the grocery today I would have paid $4.59 a 12 pack, so it's not super wonderful but a great deal, I also got $2 in candy coupons for hitting a candy limit, $2 in ECB for the Coke, and $1.69 in ECB for the Powerade. So, if you report on both sides like a lot of CVSers do, I came out with about $1.60 net down.

So, it's now theory, if you want to bump into someone, go to the grocery store looking like crap and catch up with some old friends.

...I wonder how much time I'd get....

You Should Be a Prisoner

You are seen as wild and even a little naughty. You enjoy breaking the rules. You see Halloween as the day where you can be anything you want to be. You don't think Halloween is a particularly scary holiday. If anything, it's a little bit sexy - and you love it that way!

What Classic Halloween Costume Should You Wear?

...Really?

3/4 sleeves? Let's not.

Questions for forgotten passwords. Our bank has things like "favorite song, favorite movie" I don't know about you, but that answer changes hourly. Do you think that I'm likely to remember what my favorite whatever was when I answered the question six months ago? No. Also, please indicate if it's case sensitive. I can't remember if I said m&m or M&M.

I'm supposed to give up Coke for two weeks. Our church sponsors Living Water International. They drill wells in developing countries. Thousands of children die every day because they do not have access to clean water. They've asked that we make water our only drink for the next two weeks and use the money we've saved by not drinking machiato's or whatever. Since it is not a Biblical and or salvation issue, I've substituted my own wisdom in this matter. I will be matching funds as the "Daniel diet" still looms in our memories. The world is a better place when I have access to the Coke. Yes, I sound like a justificating junkie, and I don't have a problem with that.

*****The Daniel diet is where you, like Daniel (as in the Lion's Den)in order to be strong and healthy, you go vegan for two weeks and drink nothing but water. Not for me.****

Three weeks down in the Couch to 5K, hold please.......yes, I'm still alive.

Booger and hubby have been sick for the better part of the week, the rest of us have been spared thus far.



And to be on top of things, my not me Monday for tomorrow is. "I did not sit abnormally long at at stop SIGN today, waiting for the light to turn green. Not me."

While I would love to share more, all is quiet in the house, and I must go and enjoy that for a moment.

...I'm lovin' it.

My latest blog header picture. It's a quilt I made 6 years ago, and eventually gave up on quilting it myself 2 years ago. Hubby had it quilted for me for Christmas. I wish I would have done it sooner. It makes me happy everytime I see it, whether it's on my bed or on my blog.

Also loving athletic tape. I got a heel spur during yesterday's run, hubby showed me how to tape it. Yeah, no break in running. Once you stop it's four times as hard to resume. Already at the end of week three.

Also, the hubby. Quilting and taping. So, cool.

This. It's an answer to my prayers.

My kitchen, although these pictures don't do it justice. Love the ginormous sink. Also made possible by my hubby. The "twins" humongous freezer and fridge. Also love my dining room table, it was my grandma's. It has hosted a lot of meals at her house as well as mine. The stories it could tell. Ty Pennington couldn't get me to part with it.

My dog is not on the verge of death as we had thought, just a very bad bladder infection, and if you've ever had one of those....ouch.

My fam is coming for Thanksgiving. I think that seven are confirmed as coming. I never know, they were all raised by wolves. Add to that my eight. Fifteen is such a tiny number when it comes to my family. When we were growing up, twenty for Sunday lunch was insulting. It's hilarious to hear my mom distress in a restaurant that there are 'only 29' and then try to figure who is missing.

Anyway, those are the things I'm lovin'.

....we meet Joe and Joe and Joe and Joe

Joe number 1. Joe six pack. I guess that's you and me and the guy we sit next to at church every week, and the guy who brings our mail, the guys bearing arms to provide for our common defense. I guess, but why the six pack? Anyway, the candidates seem to be very concerned with him. McCain/Palin are Joe Six Pack. They have been there and done that, when it comes to any issue that JSP might have. Working Moms, sons in Iraq, haven't always been the evil rich. They show us what we can achieve when we work for it.

Obama/Biden wants to be the ones to help Joe Six Pack out of their squalor. Joe Six Pack can barely make it, unless and until O/B get into the White House. JSP needs to send his kids to school, we'll pay for it. JSP needs to get meds for his mom, we'll pay for that. JSP can't do it on his own. The man is keeping him down.

Speaking of which, Joe the plumber has been able to make it on his own. I'm wondering how much plumbing work I'm going to get done in the 4th quarter, when Joe the plumber realizes he's on track to hit the $250K mark if he keeps working. Here's his incentive to work as hard as he can under the Obama plan. If he makes over the 250K he loses his "tax break"/welfare payment, AND is hit with a HUGE tax increase. If I remember correctly, the projected effective tax rate will be in the upper 40% range. Giving him an after tax income of around $150K. Why not just stop working when you hit the $150K mark? Giving yourself a 5 month vacation every year. Also wondering if middle America is thinking about how far $250K will get you in New York or LA.

And our other Joe for the day? Senator Biden. Over the past ten years his Adjusted Gross Income has been $2,450,042 yes, over two million dollars. His charitable contributions over that time period, according to his tax records? $3,690.00 meaning that just over 1/8 of 1% of his income has been donated to charity. He explains here that his tax return does not indicate his true charitable nature. He also gives to his church. (aren't those tax deductible?) Apparently he doesn't pay attention at church, if he did he'd claim the whole 10% which would be closer to $245,000 -

Just wondering how long our country can survive. Wondering when God will get tired of giving him the finger. Wondering how many screws He's going to have to turn before we get it. I have not given up on a McCain victory, but understand if God needs to turn a few screws Obama will win and we'll be screwed for sure.

...we wonder where the money went.

Rabbi Daniel Lapin is my Rabbi. Actually, he's everybody's. I started reading his books and listening to his messages after hearing about him on Dave Ramsey, whom we all know that I love. Here is his weekly newsletter sent out this morning. If you are interested in getting them yourself sign up for them here.

Who Took All Our Money?



As America’s rabbi, I have been asked by countless people for my reaction to the financial crisis we’re witnessing. I want to shine the light of ancient Jewish wisdom onto this frightening phenomenon in the hope of helping you sleep a little easier.

There are many words in Hebrew for money. This is because money is not tangible but spiritual. It is represented by round metal discs in your pocket, by strips of colored paper in your wallet, and by bits on your bank’s computer.

Your money is a promise by other people to give you the things you want when you need them. Thus we need three things in order to enjoy God’s blessing of money:

1. We need a widely agreed upon moral system in which we all agree on what a promise means and on our obligation to serve others.

2. We need many people in our group so there is always someone ready to exchange our money for the goods or services we require—in other words—a market. With no other humans in the world, all the money imaginable would be useless to you.

3. We need faith in tomorrow.

Because money depends upon human morality, which often deteriorates when things are too comfortable, we have always had cycles we think of as boom and bust.

The cycle of struggle leading to affluence, leading to decadence, leading to struggle again is so reliable that a late19th century Russian economist, Nikolai Kondratieff, concluded that the Biblical rule of the fifty-year-cycle did indeed hold up.

This Bible cycle occurs naturally and in Hebrew, is called YoVeL.

As those of you who own Genesis Journeys already know, there is a reason why the Hebrew sound Y often gets transliterated into a J and the Hebrew V often becomes a B.

Thus, YoVeL became JoBeL which of course became jubilee in English, the word for a fifty- year celebration of any major event.

Leviticus 25:10 reads:


"Make holy each fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants; it shall be a jubilee (YoVeL) to you."


Our Liberty Bell in Philadelphia carries that verse partly because the Pennsylvania Assembly made the Bell to commemorate the 50 anniversary of Pennsylvania's original Constitution.

Although it is far from mathematically precise, there does appear to be some reliable correlation between an economy’s ups and downs and the fifty-year Kondratieff Wave.

Those uncomfortable with the idea of God directing the affairs of men find the notion of regular economic cycles to be eerie. Unfortunately, for Nikolai Kondratieff, his boss, Joseph Stalin, did not appreciate the idea that the Bible trumps the glories of communist economic development. In 1938, he executed Kondratieff, but the Kondratieff Wave continues to entrance many investors.

Ancient Jewish wisdom can help us answer three important questions that anyone worried about the financial crisis is asking:

Question 1: Where has the money gone?


Answer 1: It hasn’t gone anywhere. There are no evil bankers cackling with malevolent glee as they grab all our money. Money is spiritual and it was never anything we actually held in our hands. It has gone to the same place that love goes when a marriage fails.

Question 2: Is it coming back?

Answer 2: Of course it will. Booms usually lead to busts and busts to booms. Our history, the Bible, and Kondratieff all agree that the economy has up and down cycles. In my view it will come back sooner rather than later because unlike during the great depression, today British and European leaders are lined up with American efforts to staunch the bleeding. Today, government efforts are completely different from the Hoover administration’s policy of doing nothing.

Question 3: What should we each be doing right now?

Answer 3: Three things: We should have faith, spread faith, and smile at everyone. In Hebrew, one of the words for a business professional is “OMayN” which is closely related to the word we all know—AMeN which means faith. In King Solomon’s Song of Songs 7:2. “Princess, your graceful legs are like jewels, the work of a craftsman's hands.” The word for craftsman, OMayN, throughout ancient Jewish wisdom, is used for anyone active in the economy. In other words, anyone active in the economy needs to be a person of faith.

I am no financial advisor, but to me this seems like a time not to sell but a time to buy. Perhaps it is the opportunity for those who missed out on the last boom to climb onto the escalator.

Finally we should smile at others because our money depends upon them. And smiling helps restore confidence. What is more, when we smile at others, we make God smile too.
Edited by Susan Lapin

...somebody owes me a "Thank You"

The only blue chip stock not plummeting? Coca Cola. You're welcome. I'm just doing my part.

...the class bear is ruining my life.

This week we've had the chore privilege to care for Felpsy's class bear. We have to cook special bear meals for it, read special bear books to it, and journal his every move. Do I not have enough to do? I know, I could be journaling instead of blogging but I have to come up with a story about what we "did" over the weekend. I doubt that a journal entry saying "I learned the phrase 'Felpsy pick up the damn bear'" would be appropriate for pre K.

Anyway, I have to go find the bear, read his special dietary needs for the morning and download the Cliff notes of the bear books so that I can feed the info to Felpsy in the morning on the way to school.

Is there a Nobel Prize for parenting, because I think I'm blowing the rest of you all out of the water.

...to think about some things

I ran across this and feel compelled to share.

The argument as to whether birth control pills prevent ovulation or implantation. Randy Alcorn explains it, so I won't have to, but in a nutshell, most pills these days are not contraception. Also that IUD, Norplant, Depo Provera and the like do not generally prevent ovulation.

He likened it to leaving a toddler unattended in a swimming pool. Bad things will happen. Not every time, but it would be ill advised to take that chance with your child.

I can attest to the fact that pills do not always prevent conception, I'll be happy to show you pictures of the kids I had while taking the pill. I am also sad to report that I used Norplant for several years, as I did the Depo. Now, the first time I was on Depo I did not have any menstrual cycles, which I am assuming meant that I did not ovulate. Good news. But with the 2nd time I was on the Depo and the time I was using Norplant, I did. Which probably means that there are some people who were for a moment and are no longer. We opted several years ago to go the surgical route, and have not researched the commentary regarding it, but hubby had a sperm count of zero, so that should be good for preventing conception.

So, please research the matter for yourself.

...in which we are entirely surrounded by water.

And there is no school. There are currently five kids in the house, I'll be accepting wagers until noon local time as to how many we end up with this evening. For you Vegas types, I'll also accept wagers as to what time they go to bed, and how many drinks I have while watching "My Own Worst Enemy."

You don't win anything, except the knowledge that you were right. It's a self esteem builder. No, wait, you all win, just for playing. Nothing builds self esteem faster than being exactly like everyone else.

For full discloser, Felpsy just got yelled at for hanging from the curtain rod, and it's not even ten. Booger has been wanting to play dress up with our 12 year old dog. Crotchety old man does not begin to do justice to the dog's current disposition, and for some reason, despite being bit, Booger just doesn't understand the growl.

Big Boy will probably go hang at the mall, which would be fine, except that we have a bomb thrower about town. Two incidents at the mall, and one at Walmart in the past 60 days. (I did double check and he doesn't fit the description.) And fortunately the bomb thrower is not good at making them, so no one has been hurt.

I doubt the little boys will be able to resist the urge to "just go outside" where they will no doubt "fall in the mud." Despite the fact that they are the most coordinated children ever, something about the mud in this part of the country sucks them in. It's predatory mud, they have no choice but to go along.

So, wish me luck, and thanks to the guy who "discovered" an inhabited land. At least it isn't snowing.

...Menu Plan Monday

Join the fun over here

Monday - A good night for a free for all. We have leftover chicken as well as tortilla soup. Also throw in some Chicken tenders for General Tso's or with white gravy. (Get your orders in by 5:00 it looks like a diner in here, and not exactly organized)

Tuesday - Spaghetti, bread and salad.

Wednesday - Chicken wraps

Thursday - Chili and cinnamon rolls

Friday - Pot Roast and veggies

Saturday - Chicken, white gravy, mashed red potatoes

Sunday - Stir Fry

Breakfasts are going to be Happy Face eggs and toast, Breakfast tacos, pancakes, cinnamon rolls.

...I overthought

Doing the Couch to 5K thing, we decided to find out exactly what a 5K looked like. That was mistake 1. It seems like forever....... Mistake number 2 was when I figured out where I had to be timewise at different milestones. Yes, I know, just completed week two, but I am a perfectionist who was raised with a microwave. I want it perfect and I want it NOW.

That is one of the perks of me following a program. I am doing the program perfectly. But it's in the back of my mind that I have to add another mile, and shave off five minutes, I'll be ok, I double my running this week which should shave about 3 minutes at my first split. So, no more thinking.

Speaking of thinking. This will be my third week CVS'ing. First week, not so great. Good but not great. Made two trips. 2nd trip without working it would have cost the same OOP as the total I spent on two trips, so first trip free I guess. I also got $12 ECB's. Last week, there was no spectacular sales on anything that we needed, so when we needed coffee I went and got some Starbucks at CVS. They had an 15/5 ECB deal. So, got a bag of coffee and a bag of espresso truffles, mmm hmmm, also a buy 2 get $1 ECB candy deal. Total was $17 something, used $12 in ECB's paid $5 OOP and got $6 in ECB's. Not spectacular, but came out ahead $1 for an emergency coffee run. Can't beat that.

This week I get to peruse the CPS file on my kids, finally maybe getting the rest of the story. We'll see. When we had our first set of kids, I went through theirs, very insightful, and unbelievable. There is good reason that they are not public. There would be lynchings all over town. And just a side note, if you are ever the victim of a crime. Don't give them your social. I had access to all the personal info of every crime victim of the other kids' parents, not that I'm doing anything with it, but the parents also had access to that info. Let's victimize these people twice, and instead of outright robbing them, let's steal their identity.

According to Omom, it's snowing in Montana, two feet expected. Wonder why we left? It's only 85 here today. There's something to be said about no seasons, in the winter anyway.

....Tomorrow (which is Saturday) OK FINE

***************

Alright, here it is......the Pancake Recipe

2 Cups Butter milk or regular milk with 2 tsp lemon juice (wait about 5 minutes til chunky)
6 TBS Butter melted
2 Egg whites beaten to stiff peaks
2 Egg yolks

1 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking SODA
1 tsp salt

Get the milk doin it's thing, melt the butter, and get the eggs beating. Mix the dry ingredients, then add all of the wet ingredients and mix with stiff egg whites.

Cook over low medium. Our cook top has numbers we use 4 for the big cast iron pan, and 3 for the little one. You'll have to experiment.

....I ask "Who's the fairest of them all?"

The answer I got? You. I was out for a run walk. Sky is blue, temp in the mid 80's. Wispy clouds in the sky. One little birdy singing a happy little birdy song. Every 90 seconds the sound of nothing but a bird was replaced with a fly over from the Navy planes doing there thing. It was a perfect type day.

I have chosen to avoid the distraction of an Ipod while running. It's a perfect time to think. Also, should I ever get to a marathon, I understand that regardless of your religious affiliation, Jesus shows up around mile 21, I'd like to be present for that. Also, after years of tv watching scientific research, scary men always attack running women listening to music.

So, as I was walking along, I was thinking how pretty the bird was singing. How beautiful the sky was. How cool it is that we can fly. A whole "Who am I that You are mindful of me?" moment.

Now, the only way I'm making it on to American Idol, is the gag reel, there is very little talent or gifting in my body for good popular singing. But God was kind enough to remind me that my voice is beautiful to Him. I am more beautiful than the most beautiful day. And oh so much cooler and more complex than flight. (Just ask my husband, and he'll probably figure out flight sans plane before he figures out me.)

I am very, very, very blessed to be married to someone who will not let me forget how awesome I am, but being reminded by the creator of the universe rocks too. Do yourself a favor and ask the question. You are more beautiful, more awesome, and more complex than the most beautiful of created things. More than any thing we've ever come up with.

Friday Fill-Ins: #93

Friday Fill-Ins: #93



1. One of the best concerts/plays/movies I ever saw that I really didn't think I'd like was _The Emperor's New Groove.
2. Buttermilk Pancakesis a recipe I recently made (or meal I recently ordered) that was delicious!
3. It's time for dinner.
4. A mani/pedi is quite refreshing.
5. If I never hear the word flatulent again, it'll be too soon.
6. To one side of the curving road was a mountain, and on the other was a cliff.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to sleep, tomorrow my plans include church and Sunday, I want to Run!

Fingers cookies

Aren't these adorable? Not an original idea. Found it in a Halloween idea book. Just almond cookies with almonds for fingernails. Each of the four youngers picked a color and did their best finger impressionist work. I'll make some purple ones when they go back outside.

I'm also looking for some fun Halloween ideas. We did a spider web cake the other night, but I forgot to take a pic.

So pass along the fun ideas, if I use them and remember to take the picture I'll post them here.

...better day

I don't think that I actually posted my whine festival from the other day, but today has been better. Let's blame hormones. Not those, the thyroid. Mine's whacky, but when I forget to take my meds daily, I get better. Yes, I said forget to take them daily. Yes, I should see my doctor....but why bother when caffeine, sugar and exercise help so much? Maybe I'm bipolar. That's the trendy mental illness this week, right? Please email me your comments on how mental illness is no joke.

I was also a little bummed because you apparently need a buffer friend to hang with me. You know, get a text

"hey let's meet for coffee"

"K where?"

"never mind Jane can't make it"

Excuse me? Did you just uninvite me to coffee? Am I such a yawn fest that you can't bear to spend 45 minutes with me? OK, I have about 900 things to do anyway. So, in the future please confirm with the buffer before you invite me, or better yet, spend your time with someone you like. Thanks.
(btw this applies only to girls. All guys still need a buffer before inviting me out for drinks, so says my husband, can't blame the guy for keeping my hot self for himself)

Good news, our paralegal is going to the other country tomorrow to do some work. Yea! Progress. Boo -$600

Is it just me or is 90 too hot for October? Although, I have not yet found an acceptable alternative to February. Could there be a colder, more miserable month?

Purchased four pumpkins today, sad to say they didn't survive. Apparently "we're just going to carry them outside" means, "we're going to go smash the bejeebers out of them".

And if anyone is in the market for a house in the Omaha area, let me know. My sister in Colorado would like to sell one.

Alright, that is all for now. I am off to screen buffer friends make dinner.

...New Rules

No playing with your wee wee in the kitchen.

Also, wear clothes.

I hope that it's apparent that he rules apply to the little ones, but just in case you come for a visit, these rules apply to you as well.

...people are idiots

So, maybe it's just that I have lived a little to far inside my Christian bubble for too long, but how annoying is this? Not the story, the comments. I haven't seen Fireproof yet, but from what I've heard, OK acting, good message. So, Kirk had the producers hire his real wife, so that he could keep the commitment he had made to his real wife, that he wouldn't kiss another woman, ever, even for a paycheck. Good for him.

Of course, the article by the SFGate is making fun. "It's only acting." "Grow up." "He's gay." Someone needs to go and check with Jennifer Aniston as to how she feels about the whole thing. I bet, in hindsight, she'd have been happy to fly halfway 'round the world, to be a kissing stand in in Mr. and Mrs. Smith. It's only acting, right?

One of the comments made the statement that it's one of the perks of acting. Getting to make out with hot actresses. Really? Is that a perk? It's about as perky as internet porn. "Naked, airbrushed perfect women, delivered right to my desktop? Course the woman who birthed three of my children can't compete, but who needs her, I've got naked, faked women."

Spooky, how this ties in with the show I watched last night. The Duggars, yes 17 Children and Counting, now have a weekly show. Doing shows annually missed a couple of pregnancies, so we have to be there weekly to keep up with their reproductive habits. Last night, their eldest J, Josh, got engaged. This is to a woman who he's known for a couple of years. They've never dated. His family and hers knew each other from homeschooling conventions, but she had made the commitment to not pursue marriage until she was 20. So, on her 20th birthday, Josh Duggar flies from Arkansas to Florida to pop the question. "What? They've never dated?" Nope, they had separately sought God on the matter, and decided that God would have them to get married. So, he calls her dad, asks if he can propose, yep, ok, he does, she says yes.

So, now that they are engaged, and courting, not dating, they are spending the time getting to know each other. No, kissing. Hand holding is as far as we go until we are married. Sister Jinger reports that it will be a "short engagement". And just in case you were wondering, Josh and Amy will be "trusting God" as to the size of their family. So, everywhere that Josh and Amy go, until they are married, they will have a chaperone. No, alone time. If you are a Duggar, I'm sure you can appreciate the ramifications of "alone time".

This seems cool. I sooooo didn't do it, but seems really God honoring. All of the Duggars who are of normal dating age have made the commitment to courting as opposed to dating. So that they will have never kissed anyone other than their spouse. Of course TLC couldn't wrap their heads around this, and the whole show was a lot of questions as to why, and how and why not?

Having kissed my share of frogs, I can appreciate this. I'm wondering how I can teach that to my children. Although too late for the oldest two, but can I get the message across to the younger four? Do I want to? I guess it may be a response to the extremes in the other direction. Maybe we just need to keep the tv off. Who knows?

I am glad that Kirk Cameron is willing to take the well predicted flak about this. He cares less about what the world thinks of him than how his wife feels. That, in my opinion, takes a really big man. And as for Josh and Amy, congrats and good luck. There's lots of time for kissing later.

...best idea ever

This would actually be a great idea. It wouldn't cost a gazillion, billion dollars. And it might actually stimulate the economy.

...for a review/preview of my weeks.

Appointments need to be made. Dental times four kids, make that five, and orthodontia for one. Also need at least one haircut. Need a fire inspection, a health inspection and have to get the dog into the vet. Just thinking about that many phone calls has me exhausted, let alone the following through with part. Although hubby will do the vet and at least one of the dentals, it's so nice to get to share our burdens.

Week 2 of the Couch to 5K. That means running. For nine minutes out of 90, yeah. I was so tempted to run last week. But I'm following the program. It's been easy so far....

Socially, I'm having lunch with the Bevy leaders from the Jane's groups. At the best place to eat, aside from my house, in Region 11. Need to take up the offer from B & R to come hang at their pool before it gets too cold. I'll bring dinner.

I think this will be the first week since school has started that there isn't some sort of open house, Meet the teacher, PTA meeting, program or other such school related activity in the evening. Although being at the neighborhood school now makes it easier to attend such functions. I will admit to having only attended one of the functions, hubby goes as our family representative to anything that would require civility for an extended period of time.

Big Girl came home for the weekend. It was odd having an adult child. But oh so much better for our relationship. Her roommate has taken over the role as 'mom' so the gentle reminders to be responsible weren't coming from me. I just got to feed her and give her money, which she'd earned. So, definitely not having to parent her will be beneficial for us.

Sacrifices made because we refuse to use credit. Example One. Example Two was in the neighborhood this weekend. But, we are cash flowing a contentious adoption, paying our property taxes outside of escrow, paying room and board in college, so "live like no one else, so later we can live like no one else."

...you acquired $700,000,000,000 in debt

Well, maybe the House will be their wits about them, since all of them are on the chopping block in a couple of weeks. One can hope.

But our Representatives are doing what they were hired to do, represent. And they know we just love credit. It's so ridiculous, you can even finance your underwear at Victoria's Secret. And you know what her real secret is? She makes more money on finance charges and interest than she does on overpriced underwear. But really, would you buy an $60 bra if you had to hand over 3 Andrew Jackson's for it? (He's the guy on the $20 for those of you who haven't seen actual cash in years) No, it hurts to say good bye to your friends. And when my friend Ben has to go buh bye, it's like a death. Not really, but it HURTS to spend cash, which is why the banks want you not to.

I decided a year ago, hubby before that, that we weren't going to use credit anymore. We have a house loan and a car loan, both taken out years ago before we became wise, but no more credit. We won't be taking out a car loan again, I don't know about the house thing, that's super scary. But we'll have this one paid off before we're 40, after this one, we may just have to rent for awhile. Did you know if you saved your current house payment for 6 years you could have paid cash for your house. It doesn't matter how much your house costs, if you have a $100,000 house and a $900 payment, six years in a good growth stock mutual fund averaging 11% will buy you your house. Better than paying a bank for thirty.

Oh, but I can't afford to save for a house while I'm paying rent. I can't afford underwear. Give me the $700,000,000,000 - just keep the payments low.

...of wise and scary words.

Remember in the Bible where it says this? So, if the gov't is kind enough to lend us $700 billion I guess we know where we stand. Servanthood, relying on the gov't for everything we want and need. No need to rely on the Father, Uncle Sam is way more generous, but a lot less loving. But that's ok, you can go and get your new car.

..the Army has nothing on me

Remember the good ol' days when the Army had a decent slogan? "We get more done before nine a.m. than most people do all day." So much better than "Be an Army of One." That doesn't even make sense. Army being partially defined as "a very large number..." of something. Anyway, I had an old Army slogan kind of day.

Before nine a.m. I had fed seven people, by cooking no less, sent one of the older boys off to school with dad. Watched the other boy, after years of diligent training, get off to school on his own. Bathed three little ones, mopped the floor, thanks to an incontinent old dog, did a load of laundry AND a load of dishes. Cleaned the cabinet faces. Got three little ones dressed and ready for school, mopped the bathroom and swept the dining room. I even made my bed, remembered the money for the school fundraiser, reconfirmed the budget and freed our money from the bank and let it loose to stimulate the economy.

After nine, I did the preschool run. I did the first installment of the Couch to 5K program, which I'm a little beyond the couch, but am following the program. When I got back from that it was the first of two geek trips to CVS. I'll spare you the details, but I took two trips. The second trip, had I bought all of the items at the grocery store today, would have cost as much as both of my trips to CVS combined. So, it's like I got 12 free items, and not lamo useless stuff either, Cascade Actionpacks were my favorite find. If you haven't tried them do it, they are litle prefilled packets of dishwasher soap, just pop them and go. No trying to get the last two loads out of the bottle. The price I paid for them today was fifteen cents a load, so totally worth it to me.

After that was a lunch date with my beloved, and then a quick trip to pick up some food for tonight and lunches tomorrow and my time was up. Where does it all go? I was going to say 'there is always tomorrow' but that is clean the kitchen, menu plan and grocery shop day. Thursday is appointment day, Couch to 5K part 2, maybe I'll fit in a nap.

...I improve my memory and other things

This past weekend the stage floor at our church was tore up in preparation for the new one to be installed this week. After the service they invited us up to write our favorite verse on the foundation, so that our foundation could be covered with the word. Well, I know chapter and verse of about four verses. Pathetic.

I know the words, just not where to find them. So, as to not distress at my failings yesterday, I decided that I'm going to start learning where my favorite verses are located.

The other thing that I'm going to start doing, learning about it from Bloggy world, CVS'ing. One is because there is a CVS within walking distance and it sounded just geeky enough to suit me. For those of you who haven't heard, CVS puts out a weekly circular in the Sunday paper. It is chock full of deals, they are also nice enough to point out what items have coupons also located in the same paper. So, you find what you want in the circular, match them up with the coupon and you save money. Based upon my practice hypothetical run I will buy $39.98 worth of products, I will be able to use $14.10 worth of coupons. I will also get $12.50 worth of Xtra bucks, meaning my total net, out of pocket, will be $13.38 - which seems high, but apparently on Wednesday I will get even more xtra bucks because the quartly bonus coupons print out on October 1st. Also, I can get a free diabetic monitor after rebate that I can donate to charity. I will buy that separately and give the rebate to whomever I donate it to, so it will cost me $10 to donate a $75 monitor. Cool? Possibly, we'll see. I apparently need to do this coupon thing for about six weeks to stockpile the cool ones and then I'll start seeing the big savings like $39 worth of items for $.22 or something crazy. I'll give it until Christmas, until then, I'll get a little more exercise.

Speaking of exercise, I've decided to do the Couch to 5K program. And, tell me if I'm nuts, but am thinking of having Felpsy join me. He definitely has enough energy to work his way up to running for 25 minutes straight. I'm just wondering if four is too young.

Also, a big Wahoooo to Congress for not bailing out the subprime lenders. There is a sale on Wall Street. I'm glad we recently upped our contributions, what an opportunity for those who haven't saddled themselves with so much debt that they can't walk. I doubt that my Rep voted against it, but if he didn't he won't be getting my vote in thirty short days. Not that it matters here, he's definitely embedded.

Also, I cooked from scratch every night last week. It was great. The kids hated it, but hubby and I enjoyed it. They'll get on board or they will starve, not really, no one here is starving, they just have refined McDonald's taste. Along with the super awesome pancakes I've been making, I'll need to do the Couch to 10K.

I also revamped my schedule, I'll spare you the details, but I'm super excited about that too. I truly wish that September happened every day.

...for something fun.

Tracey had this so I went here and got these questions. If you'd like to play along, go check them out.

Here are some questions for you to chew on this week:

1. Rare, medium or well-done? Medium, duh. Also, Tracey, we may not be able to be friends. I know it's shallow, but cows are for eating:)

2. Do you plan to stay in the house you're in for the rest of your life? Nope.

3. Why do you have the size bed you have? Queen and it's a Tempurpedic and it's like sleeping on a fluffy marshmallow. I love it, unless I misjudge my location to the edge of the bed, because once it warms up and creates a cocoon, you're pretty much there.

4. When you buy milk, do you just grab a jug or do you look for the latest exp. date? I just pray they have three gallons of Organic whole milk in paper cartons when I go to the store. We go through it here, and when they run out it's a crisis. We could never keep Horizon Organic milk in the house long enough to go bad, we usually have dates ranging three to four weeks out.

5. Do you and your spouse go on dates? How often? Yes, used to be once a week, but decided we liked eating at home better in the evenings, the food isn't usually worth the $. Now we do lunch dates once or twice a week. He works from home and when the kids are in school we sit and enjoy the silence together. He does take me to Will Farrell movies when they open, although it's a gamble. But when they are good they are very, very good, but when they are bad.......

6. Do you like to play board games? Favorite? No, but we should. We just have issues with crying because we can't all win. My husband and 9 year old play cards. I do love Blokus and Sorry.

7. Do you have a day each which that you sleep late? Not so much. We can't manage to stay in bed after the sun is up. Also I recently discovered an awesome pancake recipe so now there's a reason.

8. Do you wear shoes in your house or park them at the door? OK, my husband is not allowed to comment on this... But really, I wear shoes because I don't sweep. Yes, dispense with the chicken/egg scenarios.

...I don't want to complain

But I can't help it. I know it's annoying. You can leave, and if you are a boy, this is your warning.

I had a birthday a couple of weeks ago. Most people get me "shopping" for my present. Which is a great present don't get me wrong. I love it so. Omom got me the first season of Pushing Daisies. Wahoo. Loved it.

My mom was going to "get" me a laser treatment on my underarms. But tonight, I saw a dress. Cute as can be. Hubby doesn't like me in dresses usually, because of my build. If the dress fits the boobies then it looks like a Mu mu on me, if the dress fits the body then the girls are this close to a jail break. I tried the dress on, it was iffy and hubby was home with the kiddos so I bought it and brought it home. Sure enough, even with all the wrangling the boobies weren't liking it. They were in the predefined booby area, but they were under a lot of pressure to fit in. So, back to the store you go.

Oh but wait, you could get a dress that fits the boobies and alter the dress to fit the body. Don't you watch "What Not to Wear"? Yes, once or twice a quarter I will watch it. Yes, I have bought clothes to fit the 'largest part' and taken it to an alterator. So, there I am with my over sized shirt, take it in, wait a week, pay almost as much as I did for the shirt in the first place, try it on, fits. Get it home, realize that the seams are on the outside. Yes, you heard correctly. They sewed it up on the outside, so now I have a shirt with little flappy areas all over it. Lovely. I'm too embarrassed to take it anywhere else, lest they think that I did it myself, because who would believe that someone could be that stupid.

So, until I can find someone I am stuck with knit tops, tshirts and separates. No button ups, no dresses.

Yes, I know you all feel bad for me, tinyish body big boobs, boo freakin hoo. (I'm just wondering where all these boob job girls get their clothes. They probably have a competent alterator person.)

ps - I got 500 hits in one day over here yeah I know some of you get 500 hits a day without selling out, but I'm watching tv anyway and tomorrow I can go to McDonald's, alone, but six bucks is six bucks.

...you should watch this, funny. Thanks Min

...that practice makes perfect

Ever since school started the afternoons have been a nightmare. Last year their school woke them up from naps at 2:00 and gave them a snack. That got their grumpies out. This year, we're not supposed to get there until 2:25 and be gone by 2:30 - which would be all well and good except that all of the kids are still napping. So, I have five minutes to wake up three kids in two different classrooms. Guess what? We're grumpy.

We're grumpy leaving school. We're grumpy in the car. We're grumpy when we get home. We're grumpy when we have a snack. We're grumpy for the rest of the day. I had been letting the first couple of grumpies go, understanding that getting rushed out of bed makes one cranky. But today, I got tired of it. I let them wake up slowly, which helped getting out of the school. If I go over my precious five minutes then they will have to suffer. If they want me out of there in five minutes with my three kids, then my three kids will have to be awake and ready. Otherwise, we'll take our time. Not in a passive aggressive way, but I along with at least three other parents have asked that they at least wake the kids up, we don't have a problem bringing them a snack for the car. But "that's not how I do it" which is fine, if you don't like how I do it, then you will have to change.

The car was a little more difficult. We got them in the car then the fists started flying. I ignored it, (bad mommy) and drove home. By the time we got home one could not hear anything but wailing and gnashing of teeth. So, NEW RULE, no one comes into my happy home, unless they are happy. Hubby helped me with this one, and I don't know if his presence made it easier or what, but they complied. Got happily out of the car, put their backpacks away and sat down quietly for a snack.

The rest of the afternoon, we had to practice how to act a LOT. We got to practice how to talk when Mommy is on the phone. We got to practice using our nice words. I even let them practice how to go to their room properly. I forget that they don't know how to act, they have to practice. Especially when they don't always have the best example. (I did have to put myself in time out last week for saying 'poopies')

...happy autumn

Well, by the looks of this, I am a day late for the equinox. But I love the daylight map. I'm a total nerd, you all knew this, but I am coming to grips.

Also, happy autumn means it's only 80 when we wake up. Wahoo. No rain means less mosquitoes.

Happy eating in our house this weekend. I discovered the best pancake recipe EVER. I always hated making pancakes, now not so much. Tonight is big bread night. Bread the size of basketballs with a smorgasbord of flavored butters and bruschetta. And if Atkin's doesn't hate us enough yet, Angel food cake with strawberries and whipped cream. Tomorrow it's chili and Cinnamon rolls. And a surprise discovered in our backyard over the weekend. A Key Lime tree. Probably won't have enough goodies this year for a pie, but let's take a moment to dream.......

Guess it's time to get on the treadmill. That may get the energy level up around here. Three weeks into school and the energy level in the morning has waned. The first week of school the boys were up before us, today none of us wanted to get out of bed.

And as an added bonus, NEW tv. No more reruns. Note to tv people - do not strike again, ever, nine months without Heroes...it just ain't right. Will Ted and Stella get engaged? Will Horatio die? Who got into the ambulance on ER? Is Warrick dead? All these questions and more will finally be answered.

I don't know why, but September is my best month. Last September rocked, this one has so far. Princess just told me my happy face eggs are 'spectacular' and I am a 'genius good cook' and once again the old wheels are churning out wonderful ideas.

Hope all is well with all of you.

...I promise, this is IT.

This is the final chapter of the beginning of our life. Part one, we find out that I lead a scandalous life in my twenties. Part two, we find out why you should listen to your gut when it tells you to run from someone. Part three, cleaned up my old life.

So, I am a new divorce' with two kids. I had moved in with a man I had two brief encounters and maybe three conversations with. We lived in a studio apartment. We were happy little clams. We stayed in the tiny little studio for a month, all four of us and the dog. We moved to bigger digs awhile later, and every night for the next 1245 days (give or take) he kissed my forehead and told me goodnight. Just had he had the very first night. Once we got together we never found it necessary to part. The first night we ever spent apart was a simultaneous family emergency and child sickness.

We do not have an all consuming love, thank God, those are exhausting. We started out great and after about three years fell into the same rut lots of couples do. The novelty, the kids, the jobs were all taking their toll. By five years we were not content that this would be our life. We stumbled our way into church and sat through not one, not two but three excruciating relationship series. And one by one started apply the word of God to our life. I tried to figure out what I could do for him. He did the same. When it stopped being about the collective me, and became about us, it grew into what we have today. We are the lovey dovey couple we were in the beginning although it is laughable to think that we could have been in love in the beginning, now that we know what it actually is. We have our struggles but he is there to drag me kicking and screaming take me places that grow me as a person. And I hope that I do the same for him.

We'll be celebrating 12 years of his kissing my forehead goodnight in a few short months. In that time we got married, got pregnant, (in that order, but everybody still did period math when we told them) had a not so little boy and started living our happily ever after.

Somewhere along the way God wove together a beautiful not so little family and turned us into a bunch of freaks for Him. Restoring our wasted years and giving us more than we could ever dream of.

I am tagging

Min - (it's a private blog so no link)

Sugar n Spice

Tiff

Brandon Cuz I wanna know and Renee doesn't blog, and is under strict orders not to type. (pssst Renee we still need to do your birthday dinner)
and
While I was going to tag hubby, he had a slight panic attack and declined, although I still would like to hear his version. Although he does find it hard to edit himself and his mom does read this (hi omom) so we'll cut him some slack because he is good people.

Omom was spared because she doesn't blog. But everyone say "hi".

Tell us your story and tag five other people.

...some hope and perspective.

So, this last week kind of sucked if you watched the news. One talk radio guy called it the financial 9/11. I'm not worried. I haven't run to check out what my IRA is doing, we haven't stopped our automatic contributions. I'm sure if I did check it out, I'd freak.

Today I was given a new prospective. Our pastor reminded us that our hope is not on Wall Street. A lot of little gods have fallen this week. Worshipping at the altar of Wall Street, gives NO security, as a lot of people have discovered this week. Worshipping your real estate will give you no peace. We, as Christians, are working for the king and He will provide all of our needs, and throw in some wants too. That is something we can count on.

Another thing, that I won't share too many details with you all right now, but I am looking to a new chapter of my life. Believe it or not but my babies aren't babies, the twins will be in Pre-K next year. I don't know if I will go back to work, or if I will volunteer, or work a ministry. I don't know. I see God as funny and ironic, probably because I am kind of funny and ironic, but I woke up this morning with a FABULOUS idea, I even had a name. Well, driving around doing some errands this afternoon I was thinking about that FABU idea and a song came on the radio with the exact phrase of the name I was thinking of. God gets me that way a lot.

Right now though, I will be working on my home making and legal matters. But this chapter will be coming to an end soon enough. Yes, we are going to be these kids' parents, it will just be a fight. Yes, it is frustrating dealing with multiple pre-schoolers but I do have to remember they will be not be little for long and have to enjoy it, BECAUSE THEY ARE IT for us. No mo babies. So remembering that Proverbs 119:105 'Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path' I need to know what lies ahead in my path, but also need to keep aware of each step I take that leads down the path that lies ahead.

I am not worried about my IRA, my security is elsewhere. My home is not my hope. I am looking forward to the future, but enjoying the present that each day is. All to the glory of God.

...as promised part tres

So parts one and two reveal the scandalous beginnings to our love story, let's see where it goes from here.

Saturday I awoke to the whole "crap, this is my life" feeling that comes with knowing that I had put myself in exactly this situation. Hoping that this guy I had just met was a truly honorable guy, because I had gotten myself into quite a predicament.

Saturday was also the day that I realized that my heater fan no longer worked. Yes, the fan that was helpful in defrosting windows in the dead of a Montana winter, had been disconnected broken and I couldn't see out my windows unless I warmed it up for about an hour or so. I would come to find out later that week that I also had one and only one working brake. So, there would be no driving 600 miles over many mountain passes to go stay with my parents until I got it all figured out. I was going to be where I was for awhile. In a studio with two kids, a doberman and a stranger.

Luckily, my intended is, and was, good people. He did help me move, he did arrange for my stuff to be stored for free. He insisted that I drive his car, because mine was unsafe. This caused him to have to rearrange his life to accommodate mine.

B had resisted granting a divorce for ever, but checking yourself into a psych hospital for 10 days turns out is quite expensive, in addition to the medical bills, six months of other unpaid bills, and numerous other debts, he was in dire need of declaring bankruptcy, and he needed my signature. We traded signatures, I got my divorce, and a bankruptcy. He got his bankruptcy and a divorce. And as luck would have it, I got a lot of my legal fees paid for by none other than B's mom and her boyfriend. B and I had agreed to split the $400 worth of charges that needed to be paid before our attorney would appear in divorce court with us. I had my half, even though it required taking up a collection at work - which everyone was happy to chip in for. My intended sent a check for B's half, just in case. Which turned out to be good, because B didn't show. I paid him back, but I'm quite sure he found it to be a good investment.

Let's wrap this up tomorrow, I'm exhausted.

...the saga continues

The following Friday I went to work in the morning like normal. B brought me lunch, and about an hour before I was scheduled to go home B shows up. Says "sorry" then hands me a not and walks away, you probably remember how it was in the seventh grade. The note very coldly eloquently said something like....
"I've got the dog, the kids and the car. BTW we haven't paid any bills since August and we got evicted today."

I'll spare you the details of how I could miss the fact that no bills had been paid for five months, lest anyone get any ideas, but let's just say if B had used his powers for good he'd be king. He, however, did not and left me in quite a predicament. It was five o'clock Friday, January 31 in Montana. And the kids and I had no place to sleep.

I was in my former office screaming crying talking to my landlord. Who found it hard to believe that I was clueless in this whole thing. She agreed to let me get some stuff out later that evening, and all of the stuff before Monday morning. So, adding to the list of finding the kids, the dog, the car, food and shelter. I also had to coordinate a move. And being married to the guy I was married to, you can imagine all the friends we had.

So, there I am on the phone and who should show up. My knight in shining armor The guy who almost fell down the stairs when he first saw me, the guy with whom I'd shared a kiwi, the guy who just found out Annie was no longer married.

You'll recall, up until this point we have had less than five interactions. I gave him more than one opportunity to bail, but he wouldn't. We found the kids, the dog, the car. B had checked himself into the hospital on a psych hold for 72 hours, but not before calling the women's shelter and informing them that I might call, and he knew where they were and they'd better not take me. They didn't. Thanks B.

So, when the property manager returned from her date, I loaded up some stuff for the night and graciously accepted the offer of shelter from a guy I barely knew. He had also arranged storage and moving for the following day. The original offer was that the kids and I would stay at his apartment, and he'd stay with a friend. He never left.

Did I mention his apartment was a studio? No, well it was. He and I, two kids and a doberman in a studio. Let's say it was cozy. We put the kids to bed and talked into the wee hours of the night. When it was time to say goodnight, we rolled out the sleeping bags on the kitchen floor and turned out the lights. He kissed my forehead and told me goodnight. A move, that was not a move, that he immediately regretted but never said anything to me.

my my, you'll have to wait for more 'til tomorrow.

...I've Been Tagged - Tell Us Your Love Story

Tracey tagged me. Wants to know how we fell in love, sigh. So here it is, and you're welcome sorry there will be no half naked pictures of my husband.

I think men are from Mars and women are from Venus usually, not in our case. Hubby and I are both from Mars. Literally. That's where we met. Although I think it was officially M.A.R.S. it stood for something fancy. He did internet stuff, I did data entry and took calls from spanish speaking clients. Pretty good for a white girl. If they knew as much english as I knew spanish, we did pretty good. One time I think I promised someone she could return her tires. I'm sure someone, somewhere got yelled at that day. I also fielded calls as to what our next line of candy would be. "Sorry sir, this is a tax place."

Being from different departments, there was not much cause for me to run into my intended. My first recollection of him, and we differ as to who was walking up the stairs and whom was walking down them, but (this is my version) I was walking down the stairs and he was walking up. Until he saw me, then he was tripping up the stairs. A girl tends to remember these things.

Fast forward weeks/months, don't know but sometime later we were both in the break room when someone offered up a kiwi they weren't eating. We both called dibs and shared.

Did I mention that I was married to someone else at the time? No, well I was, we'll call him B. And there was another guy in the mix. We have no appropriate title for this guy, but he was in the mix and we'll call him T.

B and I had been married for three years. He kicked me and my ****'n kids out asked me to move out seven days into our marriage and it went downhill from there. We were currently living together, but headed for divorce court.

T also worked at M.A.R.S. and we had a brief thing that officially ended when he came back from a ski vacation and announced that he was moving. T had a going away party and all the cool kids from work were there, including my intended. Who ended up giving me a ride home. And while it was obvious that we had the major hots for each other, he made it clear that he would not get involved as long as I was married.

Tune in tomorrow for the continuing saga that was my life.

...Hey it's Pirate Day

Go grab yourself some booty and celebrate!

...we're going to need a bucket mom.

"Why dear do we need a bucket?"

"For milking the cow."

"What cow?"

"my horse's friend."

"You don't have a horse."

"On my farm I do."

"You don't have a farm."

"Not now, but I'm still going to need a bucket, I could use it at the beach."

"OK."

...I seriously almost accidentally killed myself.

Booger and Princess decided to have a party at four this morning. Giggling, talking, building, smashing. The whole thing. Rule #47 - The sun is not up, go back to bed. Was anwered with, we are now tall enough to turn on our lights. The only thing more funny than mom telling us to go to bed when we are not tired is tired mom telling us to go to bed when we are not tired.

First trip in - Me, "sun's not up, go to bed."

Their first trip into our room "Nyah, nyah." Giggle, giggle, pitter patter pitter patter.

My second trip in - "lights out"

Theirs - "poopy lights" giggle, giggle, pitter patter pitter patter.

Third for me - "Good night"

Wailing and gnashing of teeth. No, mom I'm scared.

Having been stuck inside with them for the past week, I needed my 4 o'clock sleepy time. Burying the head into the Tempurpedic not working, I had the brilliantly flawed idea that I should sleep in the car. They were replaying the Neal Boortz show where Huckabee filled in. Luckily I could not find my keys, and then realized sleeping in the car with it running in a garage would be a VERY bad idea.

Dang sleep deprivation finally almost killed me. Can anyone say "respite?" Can anyone provide it?

...I finally find an award for Gallup

So, if you've been with me for the past year, you know my love affair with Gallup, New Mexico. I believe that it exists purely because it was mentioned in the song "Route 66" otherwise evolution would have expelled it from the planet.

Let's fondly remember the burning sensation all over my body I got from the hotel pool, or the walls that 'bled' because they were so dirty. The non-smoking room which was only classified 'non-smoking' because it wasn't currently on fire. And last but not least, the discovery, after spending the night, that our hotel room didn't even lock. Wahooo.

I could go on about the restaurant, the donuts, the Amtrak train going the wrong way, oh yes, they seem like a fond memory today.......

But finally, an award worthy of the town. Smalltown Gems has a classification, although not yet award to Gallup, it's only a matter of time, of 'The Hall of Shame' where it instructs you "Do not stop in these towns unless you experience 3 or more simultaneous flat tires. " It's beautiful, but you can see that from the car as you speed thru.

Amen, and amen.