Aha! It's up and running again!

Happy New Year Everyone!!

Friday 5 on Tuesday

1. What was your biggest accomplishment this year?

Getting away for a few days to the beach

2. What was your biggest disappointment?

Not having more time on the beach.

3. What do you hope the new year brings?

I hope I can stop smoking.

4. Will you be making any New Year's resolutions? If yes, what will they be?

Nope

5. What are your plans for New Year's Eve?

I don't know. Last year my son and his wife and some of their friends came over to play cards.

Late December

Once again I'm breathing shallowly until midnight on Jan 1. There have been few breaks, over the last few years, for this family, from having funeral preparations to get through during the last few days of December. Two years in a row there were funerals on New Year's Day and that sure makes for a dampened outlook for the year to come.

Memories replace resolutions for us but I do think we resolve to live life to it's fullest because we know without a doubt just how quickly it can be gone.

Gotta be a Monday

Although I slept until 9 this morning, it's been a fairly busy day. I've started on year-end accounting things and those should keep me busy until I open up the tax office next week. At some point I'm going to have to browse through my closet and air out my old, trusty work attire.

Professional = uncomfortable

I hope everyone had a great day!

Day is Done,,,almost

Last night after, about 3 games of Jr. Monopoly with the terrorist, I refused to play another second. When I went through later with laundry to put away, I found him playing with one of the teddys. I hurriedly snapped this shot.



Jerri took the next photos out at Storm Creek Lake while Trish and the girls were here yesterday.

Indigo sent this to my email

This is her after Christmas status. I know the feeling!

It's Saturday, right?

I bought hubby some neat binoculars with a built in digital camera for Christmas so today I've been installing the software so I can download his pics for him. So far he hasn't remembered to take them along so today I tried them out for him.


I've got to learn to keep my head straight when viewing I think (grin) This old barn is at the back of the property here.


This is behind our house also, if you look closely you can see a truck on the highway a mile away.

Ya'll please have patience with me.

I'll be gradually changing over to more wintery colors. I hope I don't give anyone a headache!

More Photos

Jerri


Krysten


Helpful clean-up elf #1


Helpful clean-up elf #2

Photos

Jordan


Jaylen barely tolerating Santa


Ripping into the presents


Jami, Merikate, and Abie


Merikate and daddy Keith


Alexis, aka the Chickie

I tried

I've been trying so hard to visit all of my favorite blog friends tonight but I can't keep my eyes open for another second. I'll be there soon!

Nite all!

Rode hard and put up wet.

That's a nearly accurate description of how I feel right now. We did the get-together thing at his Mom's last night with little terrorists and terrorists in training running about screeching and tearing into packages like savages. There is no way those children can remember all of the gifts and I think if their moms had any sense they'd hide back a few and just dole them out during the year as special surprises for behaving. Of course there are some of them who I think might still have a closet full when next Christmas rolls around.

Around 7:30ish or so, Bubbie's and Jami's family came back to our house to open presents. By then the kids were really tired and racing around in hyper mode. My son is considered by us to be "one of the kids" since he has to play with every toy close at hand. I made the comment when he became a daddy last February that his daughter would have a built in playmate but there would be times when she'd have to fight him for her toys.

After cleaning up another mess of paper and ribbon and cooking my cornbread and doing a few things that could be done ahead of time, I crashed around 3 a.m. The sun woke me around 7:30 this morning and I barely had time to get my first cup of coffee down before I had to start cooking.

There were only 11 of us at the dinner table this year (we have our Christmas dinner at noon most years) and once again I thought of all of the family members who weren't there except in our thoughts and our hearts.

The afternoon was a blur, but I do remember having a cheery Christmas call from Special K and a game of Jr. Monopoly with Zach. The call put me in a much better mood than did the game, the little imp took all of my money (grin).

Zach went home with his mom (for the 3rd night this week believe it or not!) and I went to my son's to see our oldest daughter, Trish, and her girls. They really liked their presents and actually took the time to look them over and play with them after they wrestled them away from Bubbie.

Jaylen, the 2 yr old, has been learning about baby Jesus at her daycare and Trish told me a cute little story about it. She said that Jaylen had been going on and on about baby Jesus for days and then one day last week they were out shopping. Jordan, who is 5, was walking beside the shopping cart when she spotted a Nativity. She said, "Look Jaylen, there's baby Jesus." Jaylen got all excited and said, "OH Mommy, look! Jesus was born in Wal mart."

This old nanny is home now, had a quick shower, and is thinking lovingly about her book and some sleep. I hope everyone had the grandest Christmas ever!!

I'll try to get some photos downloaded to share soon.

Leigh, to Leslie, to Mary lou, and now I'm borrowing it from Mary lou.

The Cook's Night Before Christmas

T'was the night before Christmas and all through the kitchen;
I was cooking and baking and moanin and bitchin.
I've been here for hours, I cant stop to rest.
This room's a disaster, just look at this mess !
Tomorrow I've got thirty people to feed.
They expect all the trimmings.
Who cares what I need !
My feet are both blistered, I've got cramps in my legs.
The cat just knocked over a bowl full of eggs.
There's a knock at the door and the telephones ringing;
Frosting drips on the counter as the microwaves dinging.
Two pies in the oven, desserts almost done;
My cookbook is soiled with butter and crumbs.
I've had alI I can stand, I cant take anymore;
Then in walks my husband, spilling rum on the floor.
He weaves and he wobbles, his balance unsteady;
Then grins as he chuckles "The eggnog is ready !"
He looks all around and with total regret,
Says "What's taking so long....aren't you through in here yet ??"
As quick as a flash I reach for a knife;
He loses an earlobe; I wanted his life !
He flees from the room in terror and pain
And screams "MY GOD WOMAN, YOU'RE GOING INSANE !!"
Now what was I doing, and what is that smell ?
Oh crap it's the pies !! They're burned all to hell !!
I hate to admit when I make a mistake,
But I put them on BROIL instead of on BAKE.
What else can go wrong ?? Is there still more ahead ??
If this is good living, I'd rather be dead.
Lord, don't get me wrong, I love holidays;
It just leaves me exhausted, all shaky and dazed.
But I promise you one thing, If I live till next year,
You wont find me pulling my hair out in here.
I'll hire a maid, a cook, and a waiter;
And if that doesn't work, I'LL HAVE IT ALL CATERED !!!

Christmas Carols For The Psychiatrically Challenged

Schizophrenia --- Do You Hear What I Hear?

Multiple Personality Disorder --- We Three Kings Disoriented Are

Dementia --- I Think I ll be Home for Christmas

Narcissistic --- Hark the Herald Angels Sing About Me

Manic --- Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets and Stores and Office and Town and Cars and Buses and Trucks and trees
and Fire Hydrants and......

Paranoid --- Santa Claus is Coming to Get me

Borderline Personality Disorder --- Thoughts of Roasting on an Open
Fire

Personality Disorder --- You Better Watch Out, I m Gonna Cry, I'm Gonna Pout, Maybe I ll Tell You Why.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder--- Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle
Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells . . .

Changes Virginia!

Errrrrr...........uhhh,,,,,,hmmmm...

Quickie

It's been a longgggggg day. I was up before 7 cause I had to go into the office for a couple of hours, then I had to go with hubby to do his Christmas shopping (he always buys a little something for the kids from himself), we got home a little after 2 and the phone has been ringing constantly since. I made a pot of chicken and ham gumbo, had a little meeting with a tax client who's started farming and set an appointment for Sunday to fill out some loan papers for him. Now I'm thinking longingly about a hot bath.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Monday!!

Hit and Miss Posting Week

I probably won't have time to post too many intelligent entries this week due to the fact that I probably won't even have an intelligent thought. I get scrambled signals at the best of times so I'm going to entertain you with some of my favorite Christmas cards and Cartoons and I'll put in a word or two when time allows.

Where did they go?

A couple months back I had to stop in at one of our local farmer supply stores to pick up some drugs for the dogs. City folks may not have these stores in their neighborhoods but after wandering around in there for the first time in awhile I think a city dud would feel right at home cause it appears that our farm stores have entered a new era. They've become a dog-cat-hamster-hunting-fishin-garden-clothing-auto-candy-toy-appliance farm store.

What happened? Where were the rows of plow points, the tractor seats, fencing materials, and bailing wire? Rows of toys filled the aisles where the 50# bags of any-manner-of-critter food used to be piled head high. Once the only items of attire to be found in there were straw hats and caps, work gloves, and rubber boots. Why they had racks and racks of jeans, shirts, and displays of shiney leather boots. Enough to outfit many a cowboy in quite a fashion. After looking at the price of one of those hats, I don't reckon anyone would be wearing that item while armpit deep in axle grease while fixin a piece of farm equipment.

Another clothing section had any manner of hunting duds a fella would ever need for whatever climate. There was fishing gear, hunting gear, and guns, but I didn't see any of the bins that used to hold roller chains and bearings, and the hundreds of sizes of nuts , bolts, and washers that used to be there. I figured that maybe the turn over for such items as those was so slow that the space was better used to display the singing bass plaques -- an item that no home is complete without!

I could imagine my grandpa weeping at the sight of all this. Is this what farming has come to? You could even buy those citified doggie snacks for crying out loud. To a farm dog, road kill is a snack or scraps dropped from a tailgate lunch in the field.

One whole wall was a handyman's heaven. Shiney new power tools enough to lure a man into believing the "Great Lie": True craftsmanship is only one power tool away! I almost looked around to see if Tim the Tool Time Taylor was standing around dressed in a pair of angel wings.

Rural-everything farm stores are the future I guess, but it sure was weird to see that young farmer at the cash register with disk blades, a box of screws, a bag of golf balls, and a carton of pampers under his arm.

Nanny after the flu

I'm almost afraid to post this photo after seeing that photo over at Dan's blog yesterday! This wasn't one of my better days. But here I am with the Chickie after recovering from the flu.

Is it Friday?

Yesterday I struggled for some serious words and finally posted some intelligent thoughts. I think it drained my batteries so today I'm back to my normal ramblings.

What's up down in Texas? I think this law belongs back in the dark ages.

No Freakin' Way...

Okay, if there's anything I hate more than a stupid law, it's the overzealous enforcement of a stupid law. In Texas, yesterday, we got a nice little taste of both.
Apparently, it's illegal in Texas to sell obscene sex toys. This is anything that resembles or simulates sexual organs. Whether you are likely to want to buy one of these toys yourself, is it really in anyone's best interest to try to police those who do want to buy them? Okay, so in my view, that's a stupid law.
A woman was arrested after police set up a little sting operation. When they got a tip that Joanne Webb hosted parties to sell toys, they sent in undercover officers posing as a couple to purchase toys. Toys were sold, and, subsequently, a citation was issued. Webb could be fined up to $4,000 and spend up to a year in jail.
So, recap, the police department used undercover cops--a fairly limited resource, I'm sure--to bust a big bad sex toy dealer.
Really.

She's taken a leave of absence from the chamber of commerce until her obscenity case is settled, but she plans to keep hosting parties -- although she now makes sure she says that they are novelty items.

That little loophole in the law makes it all the more rich. That faux penis is a wonderful novelty item; it's an awfully obscene sexual toy, though.
CLEBURNE -- Joanne Webb intended to spice up marriages and earn extra cash by selling erotic toys as one of Passion Parties Inc.'s 3,000 national consultants.
Instead, the former fifth-grade teacher and executive board member of the Burleson Chamber of Commerce faces criminal charges and embarrassment after a police sting. Her first court appearance was set for today.
"My mouth did drop open," said Webb, 43, who has been married 20 years and has three children. "It's ludicrous to think that the government can step into our bedrooms."
With the motto "where every day is Valentine's Day," California-based Passion Parties expects to do $20 million in business this year, company president Pat Davis said.
Some describe the gatherings as Tupperware-type parties for suburban housewives who feel more comfortable buying marital aids in a private home than at an adult bookstore or on the Internet.
"We're doing a wonderful service, and we're not doing anything wrong," Davis said.
Of the company's 300 products, about 60 percent of sales are lotions, bath products and edibles, while sex toys make up the remaining items, Davis said.
It's the sex toys that brought trouble for Webb, a consultant since June and the first Passion Parties' consultant charged with obscenity in the company's 10-year history, Davis said.
Last month, acting on a tip, two undercover officers went to the office of Webb's husband, a homebuilder, where Webb helps out with clerical work. Webb had placed a small sign in the window advertising her parties.
The man and woman asked if they could look at a product catalog. Webb showed them one and the "couple" said they wanted to buy two items. Webb said she tried to talk them into hosting a party, but when they declined, she agreed to sell them the items.
She said she retrieved the items from her home and the couple later came back to her husband's office to pick them up.
A month later, an officer called her and said a warrant had been issued for her arrest on charges that she had sold obscene devices, a violation of state law.
According to the state's obscenity code, an obscene device is a simulated sexual organ or an item designed to stimulate the genitals. Adult stores get around the law by posting signs that say "sold only as novelties."
Webb's charge is a misdemeanor; she faces up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. An obscenity charge is a felony if someone sells obscene devices or materials at wholesale.
Webb said she only sold items through private parties and never kept products at her husband's office. The only time she did Passion Parties business at that office, she said, was when the undercover officers approached her.
Webb's attorney BeAnn Sisemore plans to file a motion to dismiss the case, because she says the law violates someone's right to own a sexual device, which is not illegal. Federal obscenity law overrides the state law anyway, Sisemore said.
Obscenity laws often vary from state to state and are often vague, so people don't know what is considered obscene until an arrest, said Lawrence Walters, a partner with the Florida-based law firm of Weston, Garrou & DeWitt, which handles First Amendment cases. Governments should not be able to regulate what consenting adults do in their homes, he said.
Critics also say enforcement of obscenity laws is inconsistent.
For example, last year a consultant for Slumber Parties Inc., a Passion Parties competitor based in Greenwell Springs, La., was stopped in East Texas for driving erratically. She was arrested after officers found 17 sex toys in her car.
Webb believes she was targeted by some conservative residents in Burleson, a community of nearly 26,000 people about 10 miles south of Fort Worth.
She's taken a leave of absence from the chamber of commerce until her obscenity case is settled, but she plans to keep hosting parties -- although she now makes sure she says that they are novelty items.
"One minute I'm thinking: `Is it worth putting my family through it?'" Webb said. "But there are so many products to help couples stay together, so I'm not going to quit."

Associated Press, December 15, 2003


Then there are these ding-bats!

SAN DIEGO – They don't call them "bug bombs" for nothing.
A City Heights family took pest control to the extreme today by releasing an excessively heavy fog of insecticide – 19 aerosol dispenser cans worth – that exploded on contact with a wall heater, San Diego fire officials said.
The 8:45 a.m. blast in the 3700 block of Euclid Avenue blew out a wall and numerous windows in the small bungalow, rendering it uninhabitable for people and roaches alike.
Luckily, the residents, including a toddler, were outside at the time and escaped injury, a dispatcher said.
Investigators set the monetary loss total at about $150,000.

The Chickie's asleep for a few minutes.

I'm trying to read my favorite blogs. It could take me all day but I'll get there.

Jerri sent this to me this morning, thought I'd share it here.

My wish list for our Country

I love my Country and the freedoms and opportunities that we so often take for granted, but if I could be granted a few wishes I'd change a few things. So Mr. President if you're listening,,,,

Allow us to practice and celebrate our beliefs whatever they may be and allow us these beliefs wherever we may be. Our country was built to allow us these freedoms as "one nation under God" and it shouldn't matter if He is called Allah, or Muhammad, or Budda. We are tired of repressing our voices and actions for fear of reprisal by our justice system regarding our constitution given rights just because a small, group of people feel infringed upon. They are also entitled to celebrate their beliefs without interference. Let us ask also that these freedoms be granted to U.S. citizens and not to people who want to share our opportunities and freedoms without becoming one of us.

Let's get serious about educating our children and keeping them safe. I feel that the majority of our teachers consider their careers to be a vocation but the few who don't, should not be in a classroom. The proof of this is in our national student test scores and in the remedial classes offered in our colleges and universities. Pay our teachers well but expect excellence in return. A background check should be part of the hiring process. Under no circumstances should a teacher who has been dismissed for inappropriate conduct be allowed to move to another district or state to continue teaching. Right now, in our country, more care is given to hiring the people who work in our prisons than in hiring the people who teach our children.

We should provide a free education to any citizen that wants one, including college, but they should have to earn it by wanting it bad enough to make the grades to get there. If Johnny doesn't study and do his best in High School then he shouldn't continue on to college to do the same. Make the technical colleges available for those who can't or won't make the grades. Cut out the bullshit core classes which take up time and money and in no way relate to most degrees. A religious history class is not going to make a pre-med student a better doctor. By cutting out these unnecessary classes, a student should have time to work in our pre-school or adult education programs as a graduation requirement which would help solve a shortage in these programs.

Put a limit on the amount of money that can be spent on campaigning. Make it a law and enforce it. We, as citizens, should feel assured that our vote will be counted and not taken away by special interest groups who are pumping massive amounts into campaign funds for their chosen candidates.

Take another look at a national health care program. Stop allowing insurance companies to define the type of health care we need. Families should not have to become bankrupt because the expense of a major illness and insurance premiums have depleted them. Stop the price gorging by the drug companies. It's sad that our senior citizens are having to go outside our country to purchase needed prescription medication.

Show our senior citizens the respect they deserve. There should only be the highest quality of nursing homes and medical care available to them. They should not have to decide between food and needed medication because they can't afford both. Stop the poor management of our Social Security funds so that they can live out their final years in comfort. They worked for it.

Sincerely,

Just a regular citizen.

Letter from Santa

Dear Friends:

I have been watching you very closely to see if you have
been good this year and since you have I will be telling
my elves to make some goodies for me to leave under
your tree at Christmas. I was going to bring you all
gifts from the 12 days of Christmas, but we had a little
problem. The 12 fiddlers fiddling have all come down
with VD from fiddling with the 10 ladies dancing, the
11 lords leaping have knocked up the 8 maids a-milking,
and the 9 pipers piping have been arrested for doing
weird things to the 7 swans a-swimming. The 6 geese
a-laying, 4 calling birds, 3 French hens, 2 turtle doves
and the partridge in a pear tree have me up to my sled
runners in bird shit. On top of all this Mrs. Claus is
going through menopause, 8 of my reindeer are in heat,
the elves have joined the gay liberation and some
people who can't read a calendar have scheduled
Christmas for the 5th of January.

Maybe next year I will be able to get my shit together
and bring you the things you want. This year I suggest you get
your asses down to Wal-mart before everything is gone.

Sincerely,


Santa Claus

Thursday Preview

Tomorrow (which is REALLY Thursday), I've got to go in and do a payroll and then pick the Chickie up at her mommy's office and keep her for the day. Also, Zach really does get out of school at 1:30 tomorrow!

I could well be straight jacket material by tomorrow evening.

Have Mercy!

I think if I ever had it together I've long since forgotten where I put it!

Zach's school week will be short this week and I knew at the beginning of the week that he'd be getting out of school early on Thursday and Friday. I don't know where in the hell my mind went today but hubby came in from bird hunting and as he stretched back in the recliner I told him not to go to sleep because he needed to pick Zach up at 1:30 today. Well he went to sleep anyway so at 1:00 I woke him up and told him he had to go pick Zach up from school soon.

Well old grumpy also knew that he was getting out of school early on Thursday and Friday. He gripes as he leaves his chair to go put his boots and coat on before going out the door. About 20 minutes later, the phone rings. It's hubby. He wants to know if I'm sure he's supposed to get out early today. I told him yes, that he was getting out early both Thursday and Friday. The rest of our conversation went

James: Brenda, what day is it?

Me: What do you mean what day is it? Do you mean what is today's date?

James: No Brenda, what day of the week is this?

Me: Dang, I don't know. You are picking Zach up early so it's got to be
Thursday, right?

James: Brenda, it's Wednesday.

Me: No it's not, he's getting out early so it's got to be Thursday.

James: Brenda, there are no cars up here waiting to pick up their kids. If he were
were getting out early today, he'd be out already.

Me: (Looking at calendar on fridge), Oh shit, it's Wednesday!

James: Didn't I just tell you that?

Me: Ooops,,,sorry, (quickly hanging up phone)

Jerri was here when he came in much later with Zach so he didn't grumble too much. Later on, as I was cooking supper, he asked me where something was.
My reply was, "Look, I don't even know what day of the week it is and you expect me to know where something IS?"

To all you "Sweet Taters" in my life

Especially for my blog friends, click the link.

Thought I'd share

Barbara over at Indigo Insights sent this to me today.

Running out of fuel

I think I'm running on fumes. I had to drive to Forrest City this morning and spend a few hours at the tax office waiting on Centerpoint Entergy to come and turn the gas on. It was a tad cool in there so I kept moving by pulling some files that I needed to get information from. I'm sure you are wondering how such a routine activity could keep one warm, but if you'd had a receptionist like I had one year, you'd know. ( I once offered to write the alphabet down for her!!) A gal can only take so much of the seek and ye shall not find and then she becomes flushed from frustration!

Zach came home with his art project.



That used to be a 2 liter cola bottle!

I'm not a happy shopper.

I never know what to buy someone or if I do have an idea, I can't find it anywhere, so I DO NOT like to shop. I reckon for the person who has everything, this would be a good gift



At the very least, it would make a fine ice-breaker.

I've been good all year.

And I asked for something special for Christmas and wouldn't you know it,,,



this is what I get! I'm tellin ya right now, there'd better be a diamond under there!

I think I've posted some of these before but there are some new ones too,,,,,,,

THE TOP 30 THINGS THAT YOU WILL NEVER HEAR A REDNECK SAY

30. Oh I just couldn't, she's only sixteen.

29. I'll take Shakespeare for 1000, Alex.

28. Duct tape won't fix that.

27. Come to think of it, I'll have a Heineken.

26. We don't keep firearms in this house.

25. You can't feed that to the dog.

24. No kids in the back of the pickup, it's just not safe.

23. Wrestling is fake.

22. We're vegetarians.

21. Do you think my gut is too big?

20. I'll have grapefruit and grapes instead of biscuits and gravy.

19. Honey, we don't need another dog.

18. Who gives a damn who won the Civil War?

17. Give me the small bag of pork rinds.

16. Too many deer heads detract from the decor

15. I just couldn't find a thing at Wal-Mart today.

14. Trim the fat off that steak.

13 Cappuccino tastes better than espresso.

12. The tires on that truck are too big.

11. I've got it all on the C: drive.

10. Unsweetened tea tastes better.

09. My fiancé Bobbie Jo, is registered at Tiffany's.

08. I've got two cases of Zima for the Super Bowl.

07. Checkmate.

06. She's too young to be wearing a bikini.

05. Hey, here's an episode of "Hee Haw" that we haven't seen.

04. I don't have a favorite college team.

03. You Guys.

02. Those shorts ought to be a little longer, Betty Sue.

AND NUMBER ONE THING THAT YOU WILL NEVER HEAR A SOUTHERN BOY SAY

01. Nope, no more for me. I'm driving!

One of my favorite subjects

More Christmas funnies

Will this end the killing?

Video image of captured former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein displayed at a news conference in Baghdad Sunday Dec. 14, 2003 in this image from television. Top U.S. administrator in Iraq L. Paul Bremer confirmed the capture of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein in a house near his hometown of Tikrit, eight months after the fall of Baghdad. (AP Photo/APTN)

Now, where is bin Laden?

FIRST AID HILLBILLY (Hatfield) STYLE

Two hillbillies walk into a bar. While having a shot of whiskey, they talk
about their own moonshine operations.

Suddenly, a woman at a nearby table, who is eating a sandwich, begins to
cough. After a minute or so, it becomes apparent that she is in
real distress. One of the hillbillies looks at her and says "Kin ya
swaller?" The woman shakes her head no.
"Kin ya breathe?" The woman begins to turn blue and shakes her head no. The
hillbilly walks over to the woman, lifts up the back of her dress,
yanks down her drawers and quickly gives her butt cheek a lap with his
tongue.

The woman is so shocked that she has a violent spasm and the obstruction
flies out of her mouth. As she begins to breathe again, the hillbilly walks
slowly back to the bar. His partner says "Ya know, I'd heard of that there
"Hind Lick Maneuver", but I ain't never seed nobody do it!"

Paddling in Schools

I've grown up in a state where corporal punishment has always been allowed in the school districts. I didn't give this much thought until recently because even though it was allowed it wasn't often used except as a last resort in my experience. You had to do something really bad in order to be hit with a paddle.

Last year Zach was in kindergarten he often received paddlings at least 3 times a month and sometimes as often as 2 times in the same week. The paddlings were administered with a board either by his teacher or by the principal. The child had more paddlings during that first semester than all three of my kids had received in their combined years in school! The reasons for the paddlings ranged from missing the toilet during one of their thrice a day bathroom breaks to talking in class after being warned verbally and missing a recess once. (the second occurrence resulted in the paddling).

I called the school when I felt that this was becoming a problem and was told that if we signed a form requesting that he not be paddled, he would have to be picked up from school and would receive a 3 day suspension. After 12 missed days in a semester the student automatically fails. Typically, this would not be a problem, but I felt like this teacher had a dislike of children and was resorting to the paddle much too often. As it was, if he accidently missed the toilet (imagine a little boy who's only allowed to pee 3 times a day being in a hurry to unzip and aim), or did anything against their rules (there are no listed rules), just one rule broken per month could result in a child's failure of the entire school year.

I met with the teacher and principal at one point and just told them straight up.
I didn't approve of spankings except in the most dire cases and I definitely didn't approve of spankings with a board and the main reason I felt this way was because I loved him and they did not.

I also told them they paddled him once for wrestling with one of his classmates because they felt like this was violent play (he also was paddled once for pointing his finger during play and saying pow!) I asked them just how a paddling was deterring violence in these cases. When the principal became indigent and informed me that they did not use violence when they paddled a student, I replied with, "Bullshit"!

I ended the meeting by telling them that there wasn't much I could do at the time about their policies, BUT, I warned them, you'd better think long and hard about the necessity of a paddling before you do it again and you WILL call me and discuss the need for the paddling before you admininster it.

It seems that he was a reformed child during his second semester of kindergarten, really amazing huh?

Zach came home with a punishment form on Thursday. He'd been paddled for saying a curse word. I believe he said ass, of course the note did not relate to me what the word was, but after questioning Zach I guessed it. He also related to me that his buddy told the teacher that he said it. I told him that it might be a good idea to find a new buddy and it would be an excellent idea if he would not swear!

I do hope that I don't have to go back up to that school.

Make a Snowman

Kim, over at the-g-spot, had a link to a site for making a snowman. I laughed so hard at her "fine" example of snowmanhood that Zach and I had to go make our own. We had fun looking at some of the others on the site too but I had to cover Zach's eyes a time or two!

Learning the hard way

Trish was 11 months old for her first Christmas and we also had a kitten at that time. I was constantly dragging her out from under the tree and the cat out of it. After it fell over for the second time from the kid and the cat, I finally took it down and put what was left of the ornaments on a little artificial tree that I could sit on a table out of their reach.

When Jami and Bubbie were little it was a wild even without a decorated tree. After I'd put it up for about the third time I finally sat in the middle of my living room crying like a baby. Then something came to me. They could escape from everything, the playpen, their cribs, strollers and carseats, so I opened up the playpen (it was one of those wooden ones with bars) put the tree and the packages inside the playpen and it stayed safe! It seems they could climb out but not in!