Oh Tannenbaum!

We put up our tree the other day. Y’know, that’s something I always do the day after Thanksgiving. I like to put on a Christmas CD and get the tree put together, then string up the lights and put on all the ornaments, etc. The girls are able to help me actually put the tree together now. I do the lights by myself, as that’s something I’m a little picky about. But then they do the ornaments with me. This year, we were putting the tree together in a different spot than usual—Jim said last year the tree blocked his view of the TV. Okay, so we moved it over behind the recliner, closer to the dining room table. As we were putting it together, Lindsay was struggling with a branch. She was trying to force it in, and I said, “Honey, if it doesn’t slide right in, you have it at the wrong angle.” This is what I’ve been telling them, over and over. Anyway… SNAP! She pushed the whole tree to one side, forcing that branch, and the base on that side of the tree broke. I said, “Lindsay, dangit! You forced it! Now look what happened!” (Nice parenting, Trace.) I tried tilting the tree back a bit, so I could see the damage to the base, and… SNAP! I broke the opposite side of the base. So now the tree was wobbly on both sides, instead of just leaning to one side. I had the girls continue with the tree, while I went to tell Jim about it. He looked at it and said, “It’s fine. It’ll be fine for now. Maybe we can get a new tree after Christmas, when they go on sale. It IS nine years old, y’know. We’ve gotten a lot of use out of it.” So okay, we continued on our decorating journey. I’d gotten some new ornaments to put on there--our old bulbs were even older than the tree. Sunday morning, Jim was up before the rest of us, and he moved the tree a bit because it was crowding his spot by the dining room table. When he moved it, he accidentally knocked off one of my new ornaments, breaking it. (Josie was sure to tell me right away when I woke up! Tee! Hee!) Later, he went to the Y for a workout. The girls and Dono were watching TV, and I was downstairs working on laundry, when… CRASH! JINGLE! SMASH!!! I ran upstairs, and all three kids were staring at the tree with their jaws on the floor. The tree was lying on my dining room table! It had to have been due to Jim moving it earlier in the day. I plucked up all the bits and pieces of my new ornaments off the table and floor (after sending my barefoot children—barefoot in December?!?—downstairs), and I took the rest of the ornaments and lights off the tree. I was just finishing taking it all apart (no tears this whole time, but they were always threatening) when Jim finally got home from his workout. Josie goes, “Look what Mom did.” And I just about screamed at her, “You’ll recall, I was DOWNSTAIRS when this happened!!! It just FELL on its OWN!!!” She’s stammering, “Oh, oh yeah, I uh, I forgot.” Continuing on with my lovely parenting skills, I said through clenched teeth, “You just remember that YOU didn’t do it, right?” Geez, I’m a peach. Well, at this point, I got the kids lunch, grabbed a quick lunch myself, looked online and found the cheapest base at Lowe’s, and I told Jim about it. I went with my neighbor to Anne’s class at the Y, planning on running out with Jim when I got home, to buy the new base. When I returned home—much less stressed after a strenuous work out—I walked in the house to hear Jim say, “Oh, hi, how’s it going?” Mr. Nonchalant. There, by the window, where it BELONGS (blocking the TV or not), was my tree, all put back together, standing in a new base! The decorations weren’t up yet, as Jim a) knew I’d rather do that or supervise, at least, myself, and b) he didn’t have time to get them up before I got home (not to mention c) he doesn’t really like doing that stuff). What a great guy!!!

A Lesson in E-Mail Etiquette: Undisclosed Recipients or Blind Carbon Copying (BCC)

I used to grow frustrated with my older brother's somewhat preachy tones in some of the e-mails he'd write, especially when he would throw in " (sigh) ". It got a little irritating. And yet, I'm the one who is BURDENED with the need for such a HEAVY SIGH, I can barely stand it!!!

I am seriously considering looking up, on the Internet, ways to sell people's e-mail addresses for money. Y'know, for people who want to SPAM. No joke! Do you have any idea how many people's addresses I could sell? All the time, I'm getting e-mail forwards from friends, acquaintances, relatives, all who just forward the e-mail from the last schmuck--never taking the time to erase all the previous e-mail addresses in that got sent along with the e-mail, never taking the time to Blind Carbon Copy (BCC) all the addressees .... So not only am I gaining access to ALL SORTS of e-mail addresses, but there are jerks out there who now have access to mine!!!

Please, PLEASE, do yourself and your friends a HUGE favor: Part One would be to erase all the e-mail addresses when you forward your joke or spiritually uplifting message or political witticism.... Once you hit "forward", you can do anything you want to the message, including hitting the delete button over the addresses or backspace button, or (here's a tough one) holding your mouse down and highlighting all those addresses, then deleting them all at once! Part Two would be to either put your own name in the "To" line and then everyone else's in the BCC line, or you can create an Undisclosed Recipients address (go to Contacts, select "New", type in Undisclosed Recipients in the name area, then fill in your own e-mail address), and use that in the "To" line--again, put everyone else's address in the BCC line.

Folks, if you want to help me and everyone else out by doing this, that'd be great! If you don't know how to use or find your BCC line, comment on this blog, or e-mail me, and I'll help you find it.

This has been a Public Service Message from one very irate e-mail recipient.
Thank you!

New Pictures--Halloween, etc.

I haven't been on my blog for AGES, and I really need to do some personal writing. However, I feel like I ought to catch up on pictures first. So hopefully tonight I can post some recent pictures, and then I'd like to come back in another day or two and update my thoughts. (I really do feel like blogging helps keep me grounded, and I REALLY need that right now!)

We got to go to Vala's Pumpkin Patch during the day on Halloween. The girls and I were there for our third time, but Jim had never been there before, and I honestly don't think I took Donovan last year. (If I did, I've blissfully forgotten the event!)

Look at the bunnies, Donovan!

I didn't do it, I swear! You can't prove anything!

Lindsay, Jim, Donovan and Josie in a GIANT rocking chair.

Okay, trick-or-treating pix. Lindsay and Josie were easily talked into being witches, using last year's costumes, plus new hats and brooms and make-up. Donovan was easy--he LOVES Elmo and the costume was right in front of me one day at Target. It was about $16 and that's about as cheap as I can ever find them. Too perfect!

Scary faces!

Donovan doesn't like the "hood" up.

Okay, hood up, as long as I've got candy!

Lindsay, Josie and Donovan--Halloween '08.

Now, the last thing I need to update on, real quick, is camp. Josie's troop (which includes me as one of its four co-leaders--there are 16-ish girls in the troop) went to Camp Catron last weekend. Catron is just outside of Nebraska City--it's a Girl Scout owned location, and they often have sponsored weekends or day-camps there. However, as the troop went (sans Josie and me--we were in Riverside, CA at the time) this summer for a sponsored event and nearly starved to death, we decided to go it "alone" this time. We brought our own food, drinks, snacks, etc. and planned our own activities. We barely had a moment to spare for potty breaks--it was that jam-packed of a weekend. And did we ever eat! Josie loved it so much, she cried off and on for about two hours when we got home--"I miss Camp Catron! When can we go back?" (Not until we raise more money, dear! After we sell cookies in the spring--hint! hint!)

Making "Hobo Meals" for supper.

Eating s'mores.

Troop 159, "crazy pose".

"A circle's round, but has no end, that's how long I'm going to be your friend."

My "sub-group" within the troop. Elisabeth, Brady, Austen & Ciera (and me).

The "sub-group" Josie is in. Aaliyah, Jordyn, Eileen, and Katie (and Josie).

We didn't take any pictures while we were outside--it was super cold. But we did go on two hikes, and on one of those, some of us even got to see a WHITE SQUIRREL!!! It was the neatest thing ever--he had brown hands and feet, face and tail, but his body was completely white! Bizarre! Anyway, Camp Catron was really beautiful and fun, and we'll be sure to go back again soon!

My Poor Baby!

Jim left for Chicago Sunday evening... had this work thing going on all week. The girls and I figured we could tough it out, as long as we didn't mention the "D" word (Daddy) around Donovan.... So far, that's been going well..... Except.....

Monday evening, just after I'd put Donovan in his PJ's, he had an accident. I was downstairs, getting ready to bring up some laundry, so I didn't see it. But I sure heard it. SMACK! .... Waa-aaa-aaaahhh! I didn't run up the stairs, because so many times, I've done that and found it's been no big deal. But I did drop everything and head up quickly. The girls were just gathering around Donovan when I got to him, so I interceded and picked him up. (Alright, basically, I just about shoved them out of the way to get to him.) He was SCREAMING! I asked what happened, but the girls faces were both white with shock. Just then, I felt something dripping on my neck.

"Oh shoot!" (Of course, I imagine I probably didn't actually say "shoot", but that's how I WISH it had happened.) I took Donovan right to the counter by the sink in the kitchen, got a washcloth wet with cold water, and I started wiping at the right side of his head. It was COVERED in blood, trickling down behind his ear, etc. I couldn't tell where the cut was or how bad it was. I was shaking. Normally, I stay calm in crazy situations like this until the storm is over, but this one time, I knew it was potentially serious.

However, I realized pretty quickly that the more I freaked out, the more the girls would freak out. I sent the girls into the living room to sit quietly together and pray the "Hail Mary" over and over again. And I assessed the situation: Donovan was screaming, crying, moving his head away from the cold washcloth. So, OK, he's not catatonic... he probably won't have a concussion. That's good. So let's wipe the blood off and see how bad it is. I noticed Donovan was pointing up at the container of M&M's I have on our Baker's Rack, so I called Lindsay in to get some other M&M's from the freezer and put a handful in a dish for him. He didn't ever eat a single one, but he wouldn't let go of that dish, either. I sent Lindsay (and Josie, who had followed her and was now hugging Lindsay in sadness and fear) back into the living room to pray some more. I finally got his head cleaned up enough to see the cut.... it was pretty deep, but only an inch or maybe an inch and a half long.

I was still shaking, trying to figure out what to do. Who do I call? Where do I go? How did this happen? I called the girls in and asked them to get me the phone. They brought it over, and without taking it, I walked away. I went to the living room and said, "What happened, Lindsay?" She said, "I don't know, I didn't see it." So I said, "What happened, Josie?" And she said, "I think he was climbing on this chair, and he fell and hit this wall... right here." She pointed to the corner, where two walls meet. I went back into the kitchen and again asked someone to hand me the phone. I put it down, and I walked to the hallway. "Okay, girls, let's get your shoes on. We're going to the Emergency Room." They went to get their shoes on.

Then I stopped. What if it's not bad enough for stitches? The bleeding has pretty much stopped now. But, eww, that cut is pretty deep. It might bleed again in the night. Hmm.... Would I take him to LinCare? Or St. E's ER? Hmm.... Didn't we get a letter from LinCare saying that they don't take our insurance anymore? Wasn't the co-pay there horrendous last time anyway? And don't they close at 10pm? (It was about 8:50 at the time.) Who knows how long of a line there'll be. Better go to the ER, and skip the hassle of LinCare. But does he really NEED stitches?

"Somebody get me the phone, it's on the counter, over there." Again, the phone is brought to me. This time, I hit the speed dial for Henry & Lewis, the neighbor boys two doors down. I assumed their Dad or Mom would answer--I'd bought popcorn from them earlier that evening. Jerome answered, "Hello?" I stammered, "Hi, um, J- Je- , um, Jerome. This is Tracy. Um... Donovan hit... Donovan fell and hit his head. He's got a cut. Can I bring him over and have you... um... will you take a look at it and second... um, give me a second opinion... um. I just need to know if you think he needs stitches." Jerome said, "Tracy. Do you want me to come over there and have a look at him?" I nearly shouted, "Yes! That'd be great! That'd be awesome! Do you mind? Oh, thank you!"

I turned on the porch light and waited by the front door. All this time, I'm constantly trying to keep the cold washcloth (which has been rinsed out six or seven times) on Donovan's head, but he's having none of it. He's spilling M&M's all over the floor, but I don't care. Jerome steps up to the screen door and he opens it. "Hi, buddy, can I take a look at you?" he says to Donovan. Of course, Dono won't hold still, but Jerome is able to catch a glimpse of the cut. He winces. "Eewww, yeah, that's going to need to be sewn up. Do you want me to bring the girls over to our house? Or do you want me to stay with them?" I told him I really appreciated it, but the girls won't be calm or be able to sleep, etc., until they know Donovan's okay. I said I was taking them with me.

In fact, they helped keep ME calm. I obeyed the speed limit the whole way. Josie said she felt like she might barf or pass out, so I told her to put her feet up on the seat and put her head between her knees. I think Lindsay was praying in the backseat. Donovan, by this point, had calmed down and was looking over at Josie like, "What's YOUR problem?" It was actually kind of funny, but I couldn't really laugh just yet.

We got to St. E's, had no wait, got paperwork filled out, and they got us in a room. The nurse numbed up Donovan's head with this gel he just rubbed on the area. The doctor came in and looked at it, and he said he'd be back in about half an hour (when the numbing stuff had kicked in), and he'd put in a couple of staples. "STAPLES?!?" He looked at me like I was an idiot and calmly said, "They're faster." Oh, duh. Donovan's not going to sit still, even for that, but it'll be easier than trying to sew in a straight line...

So Donovan and I got to watch "Little Bill" on Noggin (kids' TV station) while we waited. The girls hung out in the waiting room.... that had been their choice, and I was kind of glad. However, they did try looking for me at one point, but Reception gave them the wrong room number and they went to an empty room. They went back to the waiting room. (I'm sure if they'd have REALLY needed me, they'd have known to ask around a little more persistently.) Soon, the doctor came in with two nurses, and the three of us held Donovan down while the doctor stapled his head twice. OUCH!!!

I asked if Donovan should have Tylenol or Ibuprofin, and the doctor ordered some Motrin to be given right there. Of course, it took the nurse so long to find some Children's Motrin and get the dosage right, that by the time he tried to administer it to Donovan, he (Dono) was OVER the whole thing... most of it got spit out. I think the nurse was over it, too.

Finally, Donovan and I were able to go out to the waiting room to gather the girls and head home. It was about 10:30 when we walked in the house. Donovan had fallen asleep in the car (the doctor had assured me not to worry about concussion--Donovan wasn't exhibiting any of the symptoms), but when I was getting him out of the car, I accidentally hit the "panic" button on my key fob and set off the alarm. HONK! HONK! HONK! HONK! Donovan woke up and wrapped his arms and legs tightly around me as I tried to figure out which button to push to turn that off. Whew! So I had to rock with Donovan a bit after all, once we got upstairs, since the horn had woke him up. But he slept fine through the night, as did the girls. I didn't fall asleep for a long time--last time I checked the clock, it said 3:28.

Donovan's fine now, though. Once another day had passed and I washed the crusty blood, iodine and numbing gel off his head, he was as beautiful as ever! He'll get the staples out on Monday.

It's OVER... and I'm actually a little sad about it.

After spending the past month planning, sending out eVites and actual postcard invitations, washing the walls (YES--washing the walls--just sweeping away cobwebs wasn't good enough for me, folks!), having the carpets steam-cleaned, and spending a day and a half cooking, I FINALLY had my Southern Living at HOME party, this past Friday. And do you know what? I'm actually kind of sad that it's over.

It's kind of like getting ready for a wedding... (okay, anyone recently married who's reading this will probably want to kick my a**, 'cuz it's not at ALL like getting ready for a wedding!) I mean, you spend all this time (and yes, money too) getting everything to be just perfect, you slave over the invitations and follow up on all the RSVP's. You even pray that everyone will come and yet wonder if you'll have enough space/chairs/food... not to mention figuring out how to deal with this person sitting by that person and keeping the peace. Ha! Ha!

So when the appointed hour finally arrived, I wasn't even nervous. Just excited! I had so much fun, and everyone got along fine. There was more than enough food. There was even plenty of alcohol--and nobody got so wasted that they had to have, as Molly called it, Tipsy Taxi Service.

See how my house was transformed?

Sue and Jenny help "model" some products!


Cori's browsing the catalog, checking out what few items aren't on display.

And when I woke up Saturday morning, I was excited by the prospect of raking in scads of good loot, courtesy of all my fabulous guests... But I was surprised to find that I was also feeling a bit let down.... "It's over already?" I found myself thinking.

This was, by far, the best hostess party I've ever had! I'm getting about $400 worth of stuff for the low, low price of about $115 (not including tax)! Plus, I didn't even have to pay shipping and handling--which saved me at least ten bucks!

I think I've finally overgrown my fear of having people over. I had so much fun getting ready for this event!!!

Check out all the great stuff I'm getting! (One item I wasn't able to copy and paste is the Savannah Beverage Server, but if you check out the 3rd picture from the top, at my party, you'll see it full of Sangria, pieces of fruit floating on top.)

Galveston Two-Tiered Tray--a versatile necessity for entertaining.

Galveston Serving Tray--way cool!

Astoria Flatware Caddy--a SLAH bestseller!

Filigree Iron Candle Stand--one of my favorites!SL Beautiful Containers--to give me ideas on what to do with my new items!

Plus, check out what my Mom's getting me for my birthday in November, and for Christmas! I totally scored!!!

Devonshire Lidded Trifle--another versatile item!
Estate Trivet Trio--these are going on my wall.
Parisian Luminaries--I can't wait to get these!

Okay, so now I feel like I should at least add the two items I got from Jenny's party a month ago... what started this whole thing!

I love making pies & have always wanted a stoneware pie plate (which this is, though it's glazed) - Hospitality Collection Pie Plate, Butter

Estate Collection Canister--this is awesome! I've got Halloween M&M's in it now, will put other candies in it, or candles, or maybe I'll move it to the bathroom and put cotton balls in it, or.... or....

All about me

Okay, so I feel like alot of the time, lately, I listen to what other people are saying about what's going on in their lives, but they assume that I'm the stay-at-home-Mom who just sits back and eats bon-bons while watching soap operas (or even Thomas the Tank) all day long.
This is so NOT TRUE. First of all, I have yet to buy A bon-bon, much less multiple bon-bons. I mean, sure, I eat chocolate, if the OBSESSION strikes, but it's not like I'm lying about on my couch while I do so. (Usually, I'm eating over the sink so there are no chocolate crumbs as evidence of my debauchery.)
But here's how an especially abnormal (but becoming normal) day goes for me... this was yesterday:
7am - Wake up to find Donovan awake and already in the high chair --Daddy got him out of his room, as he was awake and knocking on his bedroom door to be let out. So Jim got him breakfast--thanks, Daddy!
7:30 - make sure the girls are moving, up and eating breakfast, then on to get dressed....
8:00 - I've showered (hopefully) plus taken all my meds and vitamins for the day, and maybe even squeeezed in a small bowl of high-fiber cereal for breakfast!
8:40 - the girls are off to school, walking on their own for the first time this year.
9:30 - I'm catching up on e-mails and trying to pry a mechanical pencil out of Donovan's hand as he thinks it's a pen, so he continues to click! click! click! PBS is on, but he's only mildly interested.
10:10 - I've turned on a Thomas the Tank video for Dono and gotten him settled down with two packages of fruit snacks, so hopefully I can buy myself about 15 minutes of time.....
10:12 - I'm calling the Girl Scout Homestead office, leaving messages about new recruits and setting up dates for our troop to go camping this fall.
10:14 - Calling Dietz to see if they've got the piano lesson books I need for both the girls... they have to get some sent from downtown and will call when they're in.
10:36- Am running with Donovan to the Cathedral Art Show to see Anita and check out the cool exhibits (plus buy the Cathedral Cookbook--original price: $25, final markdown: $10!!!)
11:32- Stop at Chipotle for a quick to-go fajita burrito!
11:48 - Call Chipotle back ("fajita burrito" is missing the "fajita" portion!.... I just got rice, sour cream, cheese, and salsa), as Donovan sits down to the 1st course of his lunch (a string-cheese)
11:50 - Have gotten Dono two pieces of boloney ("b---on--ey!!!"), course #2, and am calling Homestead council again. Found out name of the camp contact.....
12:48 - Call from Dietz, piano music is in
1:30 - Have had lunch, but Donovan is not in the mood for a nap today... his cat-nap as I cruised the Art Show seems to have been enough. I call Camp Catron to set up camp dates.
1:52 - Received call-back from GS Homestead employee--they've got 3 new recruits and will get me more info ASAP.
1:57 - Change poopy.
2:10 - Talk to GS co-leader, she suggests change times at camps (arriving and leaving) plus a few other minor details.
2:18 - Talk to Camp Catron rep, update info.
2:32 - Snack for Dono and Mommy!!!
2:58 - Catch up on e-mails
3:14 - Start a Thomas the Tank video
3:50 - The girls are home!
4:10 - Get the girls a snack
4:30 - Try to get Lindsay to start Homework
4:52 - Start supper
6:01 - Push Lindsay towards Homework again
6:12 - Break up fight between Josie and Donovan
6:34 - Jim is home!
6: 48 - Take off to pick up piano music from Dietz
7:12 - Stop at Target for 3-ring binders and loose-leaf paper, as per instructions from piano teacher
7:40 - Get home to see Jim putting Donovan to bed
8:00 - Check e-mails
8:40 - Get girls ice cream
9:06 - Send girls to bed
10:57 - Wrap up on computer, head for bed
11:48 - Fall asleep!!!

Let's go crazy! Let's get NUTS!!!

Josie (candid shot by Uncle Mike)

This is Josie's second year as a Girl Scout Brownie... her first FULL year. Since I was a co-leader for Lindsay's troop for a couple of years, it's only fair that I co-lead Josie's troop too. And actually, I'm really pumped about it--Josie's leaders are great! (There are four of us, because, at one time, there were 20 girls in the troop... I think some have pulled out because they have too many other commitments, and I'm hoping we'll get a few new ones signed up in the next week or two.)

We're just getting started with meetings (still trying to nail down a permanent meeting place!!!), getting all the registrations in, etc. The usual stuff. But something that's new (obviously) for Josie, as well as for me, is Nut Sales!

I'm sure you're all familiar with Girl Scout Cookies, which are sold in February. (You're thinking, "Duh, Trace, what else do Girl Scouts do but sell cookies?") Actually, Girl Scouts do MUCH more than that, but that's a whole other topic. In addition to the MANY other things Girl Scouts do, they sell nuts in the fall.

Now, they have Nut Sales, but it's not just nuts. Actually, there are various candies and munchies available at this time, and they all have different prices, too. (They range from $4 - $7, depending on the product.) I'm pretty excited about this, not only because it seems like a greater value for your buck, but also, it's just a new and exciting venture for us. I plan to take Miss Josie out around the neighborhood over the next few evenings and maybe a weekend day or two. Nut Sales go until mid-October, so we've got some time to work on this... but knowing me, if I don't get a jump on it now, all that time will slip through my fingers!

So feel free to let me know if you're interested in nuts... or candies or munchies. If you're reading this, chances are, you know how to get a hold of me. (And if you don't know me, check out the official Girl Scouts website to find a troop and score some nuts for yourself!)

How's that for a shameless plug?

You Can Tune a Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish!

We got a piano the other day... for FREE!!! Have you heard of Freecycle.org? It's fantastic!!! There's all kinds of free stuff on there, from tomatoes, to guinea pigs, to TVs that don't work (or TVs that do), to jarred baby food, etc. Anything you can imagine... People who have something they feel it would be bad to throw away--they give it away, instead, on Freecycle. I love it! I've been watching for a piano for a few weeks, and I almost got one earlier last week. But the chick who posted the piano neglected to update that the piano had already been picked up. So I had called her and left two messages about how I wanted it and was lining up movers (for at least $125), etc., when she finally called and told me I was too late. Well, by that point, I wanted a piano so badly, I could TASTE it! So I posted that I was looking for one, and later that same day, someone e-mailed me and said they had one, already in their truck, and they'd bring it by later that same day. Oh, and the guy also tunes pianos and he's going to give me a two-for-one on my first two tunings! What a great guy! Now I'm going to post a few things that we're going to give away. It's just fun! (I have someone lined up already, too, to teach the girls lessons!)

New piano in the Husker Room

The girls were junior cheerleaders again last night. This is their 2nd time doing that, for Lincoln Southeast High School. (They've also been junior Shirettes twice--the Shirettes are LSE's dance squad.) The girls had SO MUCH FUN doing this! I think they'll make great cheerleaders when they actually get to high school!

Best friends!

Lindsay's middle row, 2nd from right, Poser Girl!

Rah! Rah! Go Team!

Not much else new. We're just enjoying the beginning of the new school year. We've started calling Donovan "Cowboy X" (from Sesame Street--click the link to see it on YouTube), because he goes all around the house--indoors and out--with either sidewalk chalk or crayons, writing all over the walls, furniture, phones, etc. He knows, now, that he's not supposed to do this. So he's gotten to where he'll write on a wall or something (mostly outside, now, since the sidewalk chalk rinses off), and then he'll point at it and shake his finger, making a stern face and saying, "No, no, no!"

Cowboy X, always gotta be "writing".

Random Testing

I got this e-mail the other day, and below it are my thoughts on it.

THE JOB - URINE TEST (I sure would like to know who wrote this one! They deserve a HUGE pat on the back!)
I HAVE TO PASS A URINE TEST FOR MY JOB... SO I AGREE 100%.

Like a lot of folks in this state, I have a job.. I work, they pay me. I pay my taxes and the government distributes my taxes as it sees fit. In order to get that paycheck,

I am required to pass a random urine test with which I have no problem.. What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to people who don't have to pass a urine test. Shouldn't one have to pass a urine test to get a welfare check because I have to pass one to earn it for them? Please understand, I have no problem with helping people get back on their feet. I do, on the other hand, have a problem with helping someone sitting on their butt, doing drugs, while I work. . .. . Can you imagine how much money the state would save if people had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance check? Pass this along if you agree or simply delete if you don't. Hope you all will pass it along, though .. .. Something has to change in this country -- and soon

 

Actually, it seems to me that the person who wrote this is a little uptight (and could use a hit or two off a joint! ha! ha!). Seriously, though, I think most places that do random drug checks are places that have some sort of machinery involved in the job (i.e. factories, construction,etc.) where people could actually be HURT if working while under the influence of drugs. Whereas, I had to take a drug test to get hired at my last full-time job, but they apparently don't give a crap if their employees start or resume using drugs once they've been hired. (It's no be feat to quit smoking pot -- or doing whatever -- for two weeks to get it out of your urine... or to drink vinegar water or take goldenseal to get it out quickly. Most users know about all of these techniques.)

Sure, I think it's a funny message, but I think the author is way off base on what's wrong with our country.

I totally disapprove of people using drugs if they're working with machinery--they not only put themselves at risk, but those working with them, and possibly even the recipients of whatever they're working on. I also totally disapprove of people "taking advantage" of the welfare system, etc., AND using drugs while they're doing it. But do we have numbers on how many people are doing that? I'd hate to make people who are truly in need of financial help subject themselves to anything further humiliation (like passing a random drug test) after all they've already had to go through in order to receive that financial assistance! Obviously, the person who wrote this has never had to accept help from the government or probably anyone else, and they are overly self-righteous about that fact. It is an INCREDIBLY humiliating thing to have to go apply for food stamps or WIC or some other form of government assistance (and yes, I know, there are some people who DO take advantage of it or who are born into it)... Having to pass a urine test on top of that would be, to me, punishment for something that is, more often than not, out of a person's control. (When I was a senior in college, I had to get on Food Stamps and that was so very painful and humiliating... I felt horrible and am still scarred by it!)

I see the point the author of that e-mail is trying to make: if you've got the money to spend on drugs, you should get off your butt and get a job, not suck money off the government. I can dig it. But to force every single person on government assistance to submit to a drug test??? I mean, seriously, that seems like an invasion of privacy and an total infringement on a person's rights as a citizen.

Plus, one other thing I'd like to point out is that people KNOW they're applying for or working for a company that requires drug testing (whether scheduled, during the hiring process, or random, once hired). They still VOLUNTARILY work for that company. Drug testing is not something required by every single place of employment! It's something each company decides upon and then each potential employee is notified of that... they get to decide, then, whether or not to go for that job. On the other hand, wouldn't mandatory drug-testing of welfare recipients be sort of, I don't know, fascist or communist? It just seems un-American to me.

**Addendum**

Okay, I have this feeling I'm going to be inundated with e-mails from people asking me if I was smoking pot when I wrote that. No, I was not, and I do not.

I feel like I need to make it clear that I do not condone the use of drugs, whether it be by people on welfare, construction workers, white color workers, the President, etc.

To simplify even further (because I can't seem to let it go), why can't we just give people the benefit of the doubt?

Bachelorette Party

Okay, this is way overdue, but I need to write about the bachelorette party Jim's sister, Amy had, a few weeks ago. It was the best time ever!

Of course, the evening started out with her shower at this great Mexican restaurant in Omaha, the Roja Grill. Yummy finger foods! Jim's sisters Mary & Anne and I have already agreed that we'll be going back with our husbands sometime in the near future. Anyway, Amy got a ton of great stuff. The turnout was fantastic, and even her nieces had fun.

Amy received a special gift from future father-in-law, Tom Leuschen.

Jane and Kay.

Jamie, Mary and Anne.

Jim had brought the girls and me into town and then dropped us off at Roja for the shower. He took Donovan over to Oak View Mall and let him play on the indoor playground equipment. Then he came back to pick up Lindsay and Josie, plus he also took Maddie and Sara back to Lincoln with him, so Jane and Mary could enjoy the rest of the evening's festivities. What a great husband!!!

So, on to the REAL party. Our first stop was this real fancy bar (more like a lounge, really) around the corner from Roja (in a strip mall). It was called Parliament Pub. I thought I'd start my night with a bourbon and diet coke, knowing that there may be shots involved later, and it'd be better to lay a nice foundation of heavier liquor in my belly before moving on to beer. (Don't you love someone who really plans out their night of heavy drinking?) Well, the bourbon and coke was $6, and that was the "happy hour" price, whereas everyone's beers were two bucks. I figured one bourbon and coke laid enough foundation--I switched to beer after that!

Anne, Amy and Laura Leuschen.

Amy's special "gift" from Katie Leuschen. Ask Katie what happened to that gift later on that night!

I loved this pic of Sid Vicious, from the Sex Pistols.

Before we left Roja, Amy had passed out disposable cameras to everyone who would be sticking around for the duration of the night, along with a list of things we had to get pictures of, scavenger-hunt style. (We used to do those at LBL once a year, with Polaroid cameras... super fun!) So Jane, Amy and I were on a team, and the rest of her friends made up other three-person teams. We were on a mission!

"Have a team member pose by someone with a mullet." Our bus driver!

"Have a team member pose by someone, other than another player, with a tattoo." A bar patron!

"Have a team member pose with a bartender." Parliament Pub bartender.

After getting quite a few pictures at Parliament (and crossing a few items off our list), we were ready to board the school bus Amy had rented (so nobody had to be DD for the night), and we headed to the Stumble Inn, which has a mechanical bull. You can guess what we were all doing for the next hour or two. Again, Mary & Anne are thinking we'll all come back to Omaha some night, with our husbands, go to Roja Grill and THEN go to the Stumble Inn (possibly on a "less crowded" night), and we'll all ride the bull. I got up on it, and it was definitely fun--a lot harder than some people (read: JANE) make it look. Good times!

Amy looks like a real bull-rider!

Jane and I both look like we're laughing too hard to hold on very well!

Finally, we went to another bar, where we could dance. I apologize, I don't believe I ever knew the name of the bar, and I certainly don't remember it now, about three weeks after the event! Anyway, we spent the rest of the night there, drinking and dancing. I'm pretty sure our team (Jane, Amy & myself) were the only ones to get ALL the items on our scavenger hunt list, except one... we could NOT find anyone wearing either pink cowboy boots or a pink cowboy hat. Dangit! But we got all the other items we needed. I'm still watching the mail for my prize!

Katie was loving her lei!

 

This was not one of the things on the list: "make like a fish"???

 

Amy, Stacy, and Katie are all having fun!

"Get a picture of a team member doing a shot." Of course, it had to be AMY!!!

"Get a picture of a team member posing by someone in a leopard print." Jane and Laura were jealous of this chick's outfit, I think! NOT!!!

Of course, it wouldn't be a GNO (Girls' Night Out) if there wasn't a little girl talk afterwards, a "wet burp" by one or two of us (I'm mentioning no names), a little drunk dialing, and a little noshing on frozen pizza at 3am...

Overall, I think Amy's Bachelorette was a huge success. Thanks for letting me be a part of it, Amy! Love ya!