I Think I'll Get a Job (That Pays)

I can stick my school aged children in public school. They will get free transportation, free breakfast and lunch (we qualify), and free extracurricular activities.


I can then stick my 2 year old in free daycare (we qualify).


Then I can go to my job, where I will get two ten minute breaks, a lunch break, and a full day to myself on my days off when my children are at school. Oh yeah ... and a pay check.


I will no longer have to pay for ...


4 children's educational books or needs
50 total meals
extra activities
transportation for activities (they'll have them at school)

As an added benefit I won't have to ...
potty train my own child or care for him


With that savings and my paycheck I will be able to afford someone to come in once a week to clean and do laundry.  I'd be able to afford that treadmill I've been wanting as well.  I might consider an occasional massage now and then as well.


Yes, I think I'll get a job ... so I can come home and enjoy a luxurious life.

Thank you, Obama and Rosen for showing me the light!!

Okay, make believe time over. Back to reality. I have work to do...




Peace Out,
~*~*~Krystal~*~*~

My Honey is HOME!!!

In honor of my husband coming home tonight ...

Peace Out,
~*~*~Krystal~*~*~

Speedy Gonzales, Social Security, Medicare and Welfare

Remember the Speedy Gonzales cartoons?  We all laughed because the stupid humans kept baiting the mouse traps, but Speedy ALWAYS grabbed the bait and escaped unharmed.  Apparently, *I'M* the stupid human because the mouse in my kitchen can lick clean peanut butter or remove a piece of lunch meat from any trap without setting it off.  But if I barely touch the trap, it triggers.  All hail Speedy of my Kitchen.  He's a better mouse than I am.

That being said ...

I'd really like to smack a few senior citizens who claim to be conservatives.  Let me tell you why.  They all think that government health care is wrong and socialistic.  They all think that people who LIVE ON government handouts via welfare and medicaid are irresponsible.  But they have no problem collecting social security ("Oh! I didn't get a cost of living increase for two years!") or using medicare ("Oh! I have to drive 45 minutes to find a doctor!") You know, cry me a freaking river!

Social security IS welfare that THEY live on.  When it was set up in 1935, in order to collect you had to be 65. Here's the rub, the average life expectancy was 61 years and 7 months (http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0005148.html).  In other words, you had to outlive the average life expectancy by 3 years and 5 months in order to collect.  Let's be blunt about it, the government expected AT LEAST HALF of the people who paid into it to die before collecting a single dime.  That was the intention of social security when it was put into play. 

The problem is that the government has failed to keep up with the actuary table for social security.  If they had, we wouldn't be having a problem with it right now.  Why? because people would have to work longer, pay in more, and still at least 50% of the people would die before collecting.  The money would be there. 

The problem with social security is that the average life expectancy in 2005 was 77 years and 8 months.  This means that in order to keep up with how it was set up to begin with NO ONE SHOULD COLLECT UNTIL THE AGE OF 81 years and 1 month.  Why?  Because THAT was the TRUE intent of the program to begin, everyone pays in, but less than 50% collect.  And guess what, those who did live long enough to collect didn't live to collect it very long.  It simply was not intended to pay people for 2 decades.  Currently, starting social security at 65 has a person collecting a full 16 years before they should truly be eligible.  And to prove further the idiocy of this program, people can now start collecting early at 62, 19 years before they're suppose to.

They decry big government and big government spending, but have no problem with being a part of the largest government program in the country.  From Wikipedia, the facts are:

By dollars paid, the U.S. Social Security program is the largest government program in the world and the single greatest expenditure in the federal budget, with 20.8% for social security, compared to 20.5% for discretionary defense and 20.1% for Medicare/Medicaid.  Social Security is currently the largest social insurance program in the U.S., constituting 37% of government expenditure and 7% of the gross domestic product and is currently estimated to keep roughly 40% of all Americans age 65 or older out of poverty.

They scream to cut government spending, but THE LARGEST single spending in this country is social security ... 37%!!! ... and merely mentioning the need to fix it sets them off in a defensive tirade telling us we have to keep the promise made.  Okay, let's keep that promise, but I expect them to go by the rules as they were set up.  When they outlive the average life expectancy by nearly 3 1/2 years, I'll happily pay their social security.  Truth is that they did not earn what they are getting.  For the 16 years they collect before outliving the average life expectancy, they are on a government dole plain and simple.  They are receiving way more than they ever put into it.  

So now that we have ascertained that seniors are collecting for 16 years longer than they are suppose to, what right do they have to complain about the lack of cost of living increase?  How many families WITH CHILDREN not only didn't get an increase, but worse, are making LESS than they did two years ago?!

I have an idea, how about cutting expenses?  That's what everyone else is doing.  And no, I won't see it differently when it's my turn to collect ... because it won't be there.  Ca piece?

One last thing regarding "conservative" seniors and their sacred cow, who ever said there was a RIGHT to retire and have the government pay their expenses?  Especially those who espouse the Bible all the time?

Even while we were with you, we gave you this rule: "Whoever does not work should not eat."  -- 2 Thes 3:10

As for Medicare?  If you're 82 and get cancer, you'll get chemo and radiation courtesy of the government (that would be me).  But if a 26-year-old mother of three gets the same thing, they'll make her loose everything she's worked for, beg money, and eventually, let her drop dead.  Again, cry me a damn river about the troubles with medicare!  They whine and whine and go on forever about the medical care they get for next to nothing, but what about their own children and grandchildren who can't get medical care at all for varying reasons? 

I hate to sound heartless, please remember my Daddy died of cancer, but the truth of it is if one life should be chosen to save, whose should it really be?  I'm not saying that the life of a senior is less valuable than the life of those younger.  I'm simply saying that children needs their parents and a person in their 20's, 30's or 40's are much more likely to recover than a person in their 80's.  Consider this, a few months ago a 93 year old woman who was in a coma and received a pacemaker (friend works at a hospital).  Seriously!  Wasn't that a waste of money?  According to the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee website, a pacemaker surgery costs between $35,000 and $45,000.  The woman was 93 years old and in a coma for heaven's sake!

On to welfare.  Look, some people work very hard and still can't make it.  I have no problem helping them.  Unless of course ... they continue to spit out baby after baby just to collect more.  OH!  And continue to purchase alcohol and cigarettes.  And we shouldn't forget the pet food and vet bills so many welfare recipients find money for.  No new tattoos.  They aren't free.  I know welfare people who think nothing of dropping $75+ for a new tattoo and then using food stamps to purchase food on their way home from the tattoo parlor.

As far as I'm concerned, everyone should have to show ID for at least alcohol and tobacco.  When a family receives food stamps, their license should have a sticker on it that restricts them from purchasing such items.  One family, personally known to me, goes through 2 cartons a week.  That's over $40/week and $2,000/yr.  If they have it to smoke, they have it for food. 

I'm not cruel.  I like to help people.  However, there does come a point to which a person is being enabled instead of helped, and to tell the truth, I'm tired of it.




~*~*~Krystal~*~*~

About this time six years ago...

About this time six years ago I was sitting in a Steak N Shake with my husband. I had devoured a mushroom Swiss burger, because I was completely famished, and was working on my chocolate shake with whipped cream. My eyes were a bit puffy and red and I was exhausted both physically and mentally.

My Daddy had died about two hours earlier in his living room. I was with him and stayed until they took his body away.

In that Steak N Shake I had become numb. I was preparing for the 1,200 mile trip my family would be making for Daddy's funeral by making lists in my head.

I was to give his eulogy. No one asked me to give it. I had just started writing it a year earlier, knowing his days were short. I told him about it after he started at home Hospice care, a few weeks before his death. I told him it was the most important thing I had ever written and what I had so far. He was really touched. With tears in his eyes he gave me one request, that it focus more on Christ and less on him.

That was my Daddy.

I hope I achieved his last request to me and that I made him proud.

I'm not sharing this because I'm upset. In fact, I have no tears in my eyes, nor am I fighting them off.

Father's Day came and went without my even giving a passing thought to his absence. I was elated over our newest son's first Father's Day with my husband. I was focused on the sheer joy on my husband's face as he proudly walked into church and celebrated with his now SIX children.

Daddy would be okay with that.

No, Father's Day didn't pull my heart strings. Neither does today. It was a few days before my husband's family reunion that my heart felt heavy. It was the first thought of my father-in-law holding our new son that sprung tears into my eyes.

I didn't bawl. I just had to blink back some tears. Well, there were those that escaped down my cheeks, but not many. It didn't last long and I was fine several days later as I handed our baby boy over to Pops.  I thought of my Daddy, but just fleetingly.  I choice to enjoy the look on Pop's face at he looked down at his grandson with pride.

But I can't help but think today about how my son will never be held by my Daddy, or have him lay hands on him and pray.

But that's okay, because I happen to believe that my Daddy gets to glance down from heaven time to time. I believe he's seen his new grandson and that he thinks, "He's a fine boy!"

So even though this may sound a bit melancholy, it really isn't. These are just the thoughts that I've had today as I remember my Daddy and how amazingly terrific he was. I still have a void in my heart, and I always will. But I know that I'll see him again one day and as long as we choose to remember him, he's here with us.


Peace Out,
~*~*~Krystal~*~*~

Do cats fart?

I wonder about those kind of things.

GOOD NEWS!!!!

My husband came home for good!!

My eldest is now officially a Senior!!

My other son graduated 8th grade and is now a high schooler!!

I am an official homeschooler again!!

It's been a good week.  :)



Peace Out,
~*~*~Krystal~*~*~

Push-Ups at 36 Weeks

We had Mother/Son date night at the kids' school tonight. I did 35 wonderfully executed push ups before the contraction got to me. My back was nice and straight. It was embarrassing to see that 1/3-1/2 of the other women had dropped out before me. The women still doing their "push ups" had their butts up in the air.

SERIOUSLY?!

Anyway, they were allowed to go with their butts up in the air until they finally gave out. But all I know is that THIS pregnant woman did 35 push ups at 36 weeks withOUT having to stick her arse in the air to do them!

Peace Out,
~*~*~Krystal~*~*~

Accosted by Census Worker

Wednesday night, while pulling out of my driveway, a man I had never seen before in my life pulled into my driveway. He gets out of the car, pets my dogs. I see an orange vest but can't read the yellow lettering on it. I put my window down, this is where it gets good. While not verbatim, it gives you the idea...

"Can I help you?"

"I'm from the census."

"I filled out the form. We were leaving. There are seven people in the house." I start pulling out again.

With some authority, as if being a census worker gives him some kind of power or control, "I have more questions than that!" He turns, I make out the word "census" on each lapel in sticky yellow letters. As if a six-year-old couldn't do that with supplies from Wal-Mart. He never gave his name or showed his ID. His ID tag was turned so that all I could see was the blank back.
Me, a bit shocked, annoyed, and running late, "Uh, we were leaving! Seven people in the house! I filled in my census!"

***Him, "Blah, blah, blah! Me man! You woman! You do what I say!"

Wait, he didn't really saw that. But his attitude sure did ... ***

Him, "Well they didn't get it and now you have to answer all of these questions! Didn't you get the note I left on your door?!"

***"Screw off you stupid bastard and leave me alone!"

No, I didn't really say that. But it would have been cool if I had. Truth is, for some reason this guy gave actually shook me a bit, probably because I'm VERY pregnant and hormonal and he gave me a really bad vibe from the time I saw him petting my dogs. I don't get that often. ***

"Yeah, I got it. I'm very pregnant and have been preoccupied." I point my belly out to him as he had walked toward my van. The paper he had left simply had his name and number. It did not have the address of the office he was working out of. It did not have a number for me to call to verify he was who he claimed to be. Both are required.

AS AN ADDED BONUS his number is a "954" area code. That is a Broward County, Florida number. This did not make me feel any more comfortable since he gave me no way to verify who he was. Yeah, I'm going to call him real quick and give information about my family to a man I've never met who has shown me no credentials. PLUS I was dealing with a few issues that take precedence over giving said stranger info about my family anyway.

He steps closer to my car. "Well you have to answer these questions!"

***"All I have to do is stay white and die! And if Christ returns soon I may get out of the latter!"

I really wish I had thought of this one during the moment. I would have used it.***
"I'm LEEEAVING! There are seven people in the house!"

He writes his number on a piece of census paper, walks to my car. Yeah, I was pretty nervous at this point. He reaches INTO MY VEHICLE on the passenger side and thrusts this paper at me. I take it. He says, "You WILL call me!"

***"Okay, I have a few things I can call you ... where shall I start?!"

In reality, too shaken at this point to respond for a few seconds. I mean, the man reached into my VAN with my CHILDREN in it!***

I start backing out really quick. I wish I hadn't given him time to get his arm out of my window. I yelled at him, "Seven people in my house is ALL I'm going to tell you!"

I found out this morning that the children were upset. The night this happened they told their eldest brother, who was not in the car, what happened. The 13-year-old said he was a "real big jerk". The 10-year-old described him as "snooty". The 8-year-old said he was "really rude". I felt he was very aggressive.

So I called the customer service number for the census. I got a man whose wife has about the same due date. How fortunate! I tell him what happened. The man messed up from the beginning by not saying his name or showing me his tag. He messed up when he failed to leave the info of where he was out of on the first note. The man at the census said the man was out of line. He also informed me that the magic words for me are, "I refuse to comply." Then the man MUST MUST MUST leave. He has to leave if asked to. He is not allowed to say another word to me. He is not allowed to "strong arm" me.

Then he connected me to the office the jerk was out of. I repeat the story to a woman who was totally appalled. I including the reaction of my children. She said the man's actions were "agressive" and his supervisor will be getting with him. She also said he was out of line, didn't follow protocol, etc. I inform her that if this man steps foot on my property again that I will call the police and have him arrested.

I stopped by the sheriff's office. I spoke with the sheriff himself. He confirmed that what this man did was verbal assault (I was shook, and yes, with him approaching my van and then entering the van by putting his arm inside, a little scared). He also confirmed that because I informed him I was pregnant, it's an automatic felony. I told him I would call if the man showed up again. The sheriff's response? "Please do." I don't think he liked what he heard either.

I have four witnesses. I will press charges. He's best not to come back.

Peace Out,
~*~*~Krystal~*~*~

I'm back

While I don't really have any place to complain with all the flooding in TN, I will tell you that lightning struck really close to our home 2:00 a.m. Saturday morning. It blew out something on the telephone pole and sent a current through my house. It exited the house through a piece of phone equipment in the box attached to the house.

It killed my cell phone (I've lost all my numbers), but thankfully the computers weren't plugged in. I've been told that there could be damaged to appliances that don't show up for 2-3 months (the serge only partially fries it so it wears out really fast).

I am very grateful that what happened at my neighbor's home didn't happen here (took over a month to do all the repairs and cost over $20,000). I am very grateful my house didn't catch fire, because it could have.

Anyway, not having the net for Saturday, Sunday, Monday and most of the Thursday made me realize how much I need a life. LOL! But soon enough I'll have a newborn (END.OF.THIS.MONTH.) and will be homeschooling four of my other wonderful amazing children!

Life is good!!

Peace Out,
~*~*~Krystal~*~*~

Can't Sleep, Clowns Will Eat Me

Tonight is not the night for me to have insomnia. Been up since 3:00 a.m. I have to drive one child 35 minutes out for an ortho appointment at 9:00, the drive 45 minutes to take him back to school. At 1:00 I have to return to school for an IEP meeting with the specialist even though we're homeschooling next year.

I am so tired now. I have no idea how I'm going to make it through the day.

Exhausted and weary,
~*~*~Krystal~*~*~

Mother Hid Liquor in my Children's Bathroom - UPDATED!!

***UPDATED AT BOTTOM***

Last Friday I started cleaning out cabinets. It's a nesting thing. I combined a couple bottles and took out what wasn't ours. I was left with some creme' de menth (for baking), Bailey's Irish Cream, two different Rums.

I pulled out a bottle of Pina Colada mix (which I gave to my friend) and my mother's flavored vodka, her gin and six bottles of tonic water, which I asked her to take home with her (she lives about 3 hours away). Obviously I have no problem with the occasional drink, it was just a matter of space. I'm short of it. I'm getting rid of my own belongings, I can't store other people's belongings and a couple bottles of liquor isn't that big of a deal to take back and forth.

So we have this great weekend together. She leaves. The bottles are off my counter. I've been saying to my friends what a great time I had with my mom. I'm actually looking forward to her coming again.

And then ... last night the bottles reappeared.

She'd had my children put her hooch in the cabinets under the sink in their bathroom upstairs where I rarely go, and then told them to keep it from me.

Needless to say, I was irked. She went behind my back (disrespecting me, my home, not to mention showing passive aggressive behavior), involved my children in.hiding.liquor. (and how to be sneaky), and told them to keep it from me (she had them lie!)... So I called my husband. HE WAS TOTALLY PISSED! In a rare case, I was the calm one. I cannot remember the last time I heard him so angry.

I don't know the full details of the phone call between him and my mother, but I know it couldn't have been good. My children were hiding alcohol in their bathroom. We have children as young as 8 sleep over and USE THAT BATHROOM. If one of them had drank it and their parents found out and called the police, we'd be facing jail time. If one drank it and got hurt, we'd have been facing prison (about 5 years or more), loosing our home, and worst, loosing our children. If a child had drank it and died, we would have been facing 15+ years in prison, definitely would have lost our home and children.

I really love my Mom. I REALLY DO. But I'm growing quite tired of the childish behavior, the aggressive "I'm the mother and have the right to go against the wishes of my daughter and son-in-law in their home" attitude, the passive aggressive behavior (like hiding liquor in my home), the snippy remarks from her when I say "no non-housebroken animals in my house" (she NEVER would have allowed pee pads in her home growing up), etc.

I TRULY TRULY love her, but she SAYS she respects me, then puts her dog's pee pads on the floor when my husband and I BOTH told her "no", get nasty when I tell her the dog peed all over the carpet, hides liquor in my CHILDREN'S BATHROOM, and tells them to lie to me.

How does that in ANY way show respect?

***UPDATE***
Confirmed this morning with a friend who is a local cop ...

My 17-year-old would have faced the felony charges if anything had happened. My husband and I might or might not be charged since we didn't know about it. However, because the eldest knew it was within easy reach of minors, he'd definitely go to prison.

Just having had the liquor within easy reach was a felony. My mother could be charged with 2 counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor for having them place it there if my husband and I chose to press charges (which of course we aren't). If another person's child had found it, or worse drank it, or worse still, been injured as a result of drinking it, she would be charged with aggravated felonies and extradited, and my eldest son would have faced the same charges. Both would have gone to prison.

Of course we would have visited our son.

But it would have been a living hell for us visiting our son in prison because his grandmother was behaving as a passive aggressive idiot trying to prove a point.

It would have RUINED my son's life. And I never would have forgiven her for that.

Struggling to maintain a relationship,~*~*~Krystal~*~*~

Gestational Diabetes

A few random thoughts as my mind spins...

* They say I have gestational diabetes. I've been checking my blood sugar for 24 hours now and haven't had a high reading once. And I'm still sneaking M&M's here and there.

* I have run out of places to put all of the gifts I received at my shower Sunday. I took over an hour to open them all. It's making my crazy.

* My son doesn't have a crib.

* I need to make some soap. I've been using store bought for too long PLUS I promised Jen some nearly a year ago. Sorry, Jen, I suck. I've not forgotten, I just suck.

* We have a 7 passenger vehicle and a 7 member family. In about 5-6 weeks, we will be an 8 member family with a 7 passenger vehicle. Anyone have a fourth row seat for a 2003 Ford Econoline van complete with bolts and seat belts just laying around somewhere collecting dust? I could really use it!

Beginning to get anxious and high strung,

~*~*~Krystal~*~*~

Psalms 109:1-5

Be not silent, O God of my praise!
For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me,
speaking against me with lying tongues.
They beset me with words of hate,
and attack me without cause.
In return for my love they accuse me,
even as I make prayer for them.
So they reward me evil for good,
and hatred for my love. -- Psalms 109:1-5 RSV


Peace Out,

~*~*~Krystal~*~*~

What I Want to Say

A few of my friends got into a fight on my wall at Facebook. I wasn't there, knew nothing of what was going on. However, I'm being blamed by one of them and received a the most hateful email I have ever seen last night. It points a finger at me for not being there and then questions me as a Christian. This is what I'd love to post on my Facebook, but I'm not going to. I choose to exercise maturity. But I do need to post it somewhere because I'm really hurting right now.

I would like to reiterate that I didn't read all of the posts before deleting them. In fact, I only read a few here and there up to my husband's post asking for everyone to calm down a bit. There were about 15 more after that. Honestly, I couldn't take it anymore. To be clear, not everyone who posted was involved in the fight.

I have a special request though. I would love to receive another hideously hateful email regarding my action/inaction to the display that took place while I was not here and had no idea what was going on. Please make sure that at the end you question my choice of friends. It would make my day.

In fact, my goal is to receive 2-3 more hateful emails by the end of the week. Think we can all work together to accomplish this goal?

I'm guilty as charged. I accept all the blame for the play yard fight that occurred while I was off dealing with a medical issue of my own that has been confirmed, explains why I've felt so bad the last several weeks, affects the rest of my pregnancy, and may not go away after my son is born. Instead of caring for my health, I really should have been here playing baby sitter. Evidently, that's my job.

In regards to the person who sent me the email, my husband says that you shouldn't go to the Wild West, draw your weapon, then complain when you get shot in a gun fight. Problem here is that while other people were having the gun fight when I wasn't even around, somehow *I* was the one who managed to be shot.

My unborn child and I appreciate the thoughtless and careless words that were slung here and have since then been slung at me. It's done a wonder for our health. It's been quite relaxing and enjoyable. I hope we can all do it again sometime. How about a bar-b-cue at my place next weekend?

Much love to all of you.

Peace Out,

~*~*~Krystal~*~*~

The Weekend is OVER!

Had a long weekend! See, it wasn't just Easter weekend, but also Tater Day weekend. It's a country county celebration that's been going on for well over a hundred years without missing a single year.

So, Saturday was walk around the square and then some to see all of the booths, purchase funnel cakes, ribeye sandwiches, shake-ups, fried Oreos, and $3 bottles of water. It meant live chicks, air soft guns, stuffed animals won playing games, the myriad yard sales, and Rebel flags all over. My favorite was the one with the spleaf in the middle of it.

Long live the South.

She shall rise again.

It's the ultimate in Redneck and Good Ol' Boy fun. I like Rednecks and Good Ol' Boys. They'll happily help you hide the body.

I also had a funeral at noon, for which I had to take the long route around town to get to due to Tater Day.

Sunday morning the kids had fun looking for what all the Easter Bunny had left. Yes, we still do the Easter bunny and while the older ones laugh it off, truth be known, they make sure they're included every year.

Church was a joint service. Can't figure out WHY they continue to do this. I haven't attempted attending one for 2 1/2 years because there is no room. Look, early service fills 75% of the sanctuary. Late service fills about 30%+. That's 105% capacity. And Easter and Christmas there are always extra people because of grandparents, uncles, friends, and C&E only people. We're talking chairs in the walk ways. Way to break fire code.

They initially were going to have my family sit in three different places. You see, it's IMPORTANT for the CHURCH family to worship together ... not so much for INDIVIDUAL families to worship together. I pitched a fit (yeah, I pitched a fit, I get to worship with my husband TEN TIMES A YEAR and I wasn't feeling well). We ended up in two places (well two children sat in front of us and my husband, one of our children, and I shared two chairs), my mother and daughter sat about eight pews up.

Good thing they got my husband and I together as I passed out during service. I really should have had my husband take me down to the lady's sitting room, but we were so packed in that it would have created a large commotion. So I sat there with my head on DH's shoulder.

Safety is always number one, eh? LOL!

After a lasagna dinner (I put them together the night before so I'd only have to pop them in the oven), my husband and children went to enjoy the rides at the fair. I slept for over 2 hours. Evidently Baby Girl has become quite the dare devil and rode all the scary rides. We're talking the ferris wheel with the cages that flip upside down! I LOVE that child of mine!!!

Today was the parade. One of the horses at the end started to freak out and I made my daughter get up as I was getting ready to bolt myself. But he got the horse under control. AMEN!!

Mother came. Mother was good. I actually enjoyed her company. You just never know with her if/when the shoe is gonna drop. She found someone to watch her dog and she kept her mouth shut about it.

Funny, no little dog of hers ... no pee on my carpets. Then again, there was no new little dog for my evil chiuaua to frame.

I just wish she didn't have to curse and swear. An occasional "hell" or "damn" in the privacy of my home I can deal with. I just see no use for "sh*t" on a regular basis, especially around my children or loudly out in public in my small town while we're sitting on the grass in front of my church with church members and children all around waiting for the parade to start is all.

DH and the children are off to get more air soft guns and ammo since today is the last day of Tater Day. I have quiet and alone time for the first time since Friday.

It feels good!

Peace Out,

~*~*~Krystal~*~*~

The Newest Up and Coming Annie Oakley

My baby girl, age 8, fired a gun today for the first time. I taught her. My husband taught our 10-year-old son to fire a gun today as well. I'm so proud!!! Our 14-year-old was also given his first gun, a pump action .22 rifle. It's a red letter day at our house!

Peace Out,

~*~*~Krystal~*~*~

Big Girl Panties

You should let Dad talk to her because she doesn't listen to you. You show us more respect than she shows you. They all agreed.

That was the consensus of my children in reference to how my mother speaks to me and respects my wishes in regards to my children, my animals, my home. So I thought about this and decided that it wasn't cool. I'm an adult. She will have to start showing me respect or she won't be in my home. I don't have to explain anything. It's my house. And even in hers, she's not talking to me like that anymore.

So yes, I discussed my mother's dog with my mother. You see, we allowed my mother to bring her NON-HOUSEBROKEN dog to our house over Christmas with the following rules:

* No pee pads on the floor (she ALMOST always makes on the pad).
* No defecating on my floor (she just goes where she wants and my mother cleans it up).
* Playpen or crate when she is not being held or played with (to avoid the two previous problems).

My mother followed none well. Although I will say that she took her dog out more than she normally would have (fear she might run off or that my big dogs would frighten her ... no, she was not allowed to HIT MY DOGS WITH THE CANE SHE BROUGHT WITH HER ... you know, just in case they got too close and frightened her dog).

Soooooooooo ... her dog urinated in three spots in my daughter's room, one spot outside my daughter's room, and six spots in one of the boys' room. While I knew she had wet in two of the rooms, I was under the impression that it was one small spot in each. It wasn't until two days ago I knew the amount in my daughter's room and hallway and yesterday that I knew about my son's room (yeah, I've been a bit TIRED and all and just finally got up there to clean my carpets, if I had known...). As a result I spent FOUR HOURS scrubbing up the carpets.

Now SHE says it was MY dogs.

Okay, well, there were no spot in the carpet before she showed up. I know this because the carpets were cleaned before she came. There were no new spots after she left. And the spots would show up in the morning.

Somehow I doubt that my evil chiuaua and toy poodle, which sleep in my room at night, figured out how to open the bedroom door, ran up stairs, wizzed all over the carpets, ran back down stairs, and then shut the bedroom door ...

ALL FOR THE SAKE OF FRAMING HER DOG!

Although it is a funny thought.

So the rules now are:

* The dog does NOT sleep in bed with her. My daughter doesn't want the dog in her bed and it IS her bed. Plus she jumps down and pees everywhere.
* The dog's feet do NOT step foot on my carpet upstairs. At least I'm still ALLOWING her upstairs as my dogs are not. She will be carried up and put in the playpen, and then carried down.
* NO PEE PADS! The dog WILL be crated or in the playpen when she isn't being held or played with.

She said that she wished she had known this sooner because she would have mailed my children's their Easter things (my husband DID speak to her over a week ago about the no pee pad thing and the dog wizzing on the carpet). But yes, she would choose to not visit instead of following the rules for her dog.

And if she doesn't follow these rules, she will be told to leave. My husband doesn't even want the dog in his house at all. Neither do I, in all honesty. However, we are trying to work through this for her and are compromising. I would never even THINK about smoking in her home (I don't smoke anymore, but even if I did, I wouldn't do it). Yet she has no problem with her dog pottying in my home. Her home, her rules (how many times did I hear this one growing up).

Well guess what, this is OUR home ... OUR rules.

That includes her dog too.

Heaven help us,

~*~*~Krystal~*~*~

Time to Call Hazmet to my Home

Why do I have a picture of a burned out CFL (compact flourescent)?

Excellent question!

Well, that's one of the lights over my desk. I replaced an old style bulb with this compact fluorescent, before I knew how bad they were, in order to save money and the nuisance of changing bulbs every six months.

Here's the funny thing ... I just put it in a few months ago. The funnier thing is that I have two of these overhead lights. The other one, with an old style bulb, is still working. And It's older.

So now is my dilemma ...

WHAT TO DO WITH THIS COMPACT FLUORESCENT?

This didn't use to be a problem for me until one of Joe's posts informed me of how dangerous it is to change a CFL.

Holy Cow! IT MIGHT BREAK!!!

The following guidelines comes from this page put out by the U.S. EPA. It's how to properly dispose of a CFL and what to do if a CFL break. YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP!!! Evidently, I'm suppose to find a special receiving site for my burned out CFL. And I'm not so sure I should be changing this bulb in the first place, given I'm 28 weeks pregnant. Even if you don't read it, just scroll down over it to get an idea of how involved this is! I think I should call hazmet out now just to be safe!

Fluorescent light bulbs contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing. EPA recommends the following clean-up and disposal below. Please also read the information on this page about what Never to Do After a Mercury Spill.

Before Clean-up: Air Out the Room

* Have people and pets leave the room, and don't let anyone walk through the breakage area on their way out.

* Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.

* Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one.

Clean-Up Steps for Hard Surfaces

* Carefully scoop up glass pieces and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.

* Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.

* Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place towels in the glass jar or plastic bag.

* Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces.

Clean-up Steps for Carpeting or Rug

* Carefully pick up glass fragments and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.

* Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.

* If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb was broken.

* Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister), and put the bag or vacuum debris in a sealed plastic bag.

Clean-up Steps for Clothing, Bedding and Other Soft Materials

* If clothing or bedding materials come in direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from inside the bulb that may stick to the fabric, the clothing or bedding should be thrown away. Do not wash such clothing or bedding because mercury fragments in the clothing may contaminate the machine and/or pollute sewage.

* You can, however, wash clothing or other materials that have been exposed to the mercury vapor from a broken CFL, such as the clothing you are wearing when you cleaned up the broken CFL, as long as that clothing has not come into direct contact with the materials from the broken bulb.

* If shoes come into direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from the bulb, wipe them off with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place the towels or wipes in a glass jar or plastic bag for disposal.

Disposal of Clean-up Materials

* Immediately place all clean-up materials outdoors in a trash container or protected area for the next normal trash pickup.

* Wash your hands after disposing of the jars or plastic bags containing clean-up materials.

* Check with your local or state government about disposal requirements in your specific area. Some states do not allow such trash disposal. Instead, they require that broken and unbroken mercury-containing bulbs be taken to a local recycling center.

Future Cleaning of Carpeting or Rug: Air Out the Room During and After Vacuuming

* The next several times you vacuum, shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system and open a window before vacuuming.

* Keep the central heating/air conditioning system shut off and the window open for at least 15 minutes after vacuuming is completed.

Shaking in my shoes,

~*~*~Krystal~*~*~

I'm Getting a New Toy!!

My parents took a life insurance policy out on me when I was born. Well, they gave it to me years ago and I totally forgot about it. So my husband told me I should call and check it out.

As it turns out, if I die before January 29, 2044, my family gets $2,000. If I cash it in, *I* get $650. So ...

$2,000 for my family AFTER I'M DEAD

- or option two -

$650 for *ME* WHILE I'M ALIVE

I've chosen to go with option #2, taking the $650 while I'm alive.

I've decided to purchase a treadmill, like I've wanted for a long time. If I use it on a regular basis, and I will, it will help ensure that I live long enough to annoy people for decades to come and hopefully PAST January 29, 2044.

Peace Out,

~*~*~Krystal~*~*~

Just Pass Me the Cheese

I'm going to whine now.

Be forewarned.

It's 2:43 in the morning and I've finally give up on sleeping. Let's see, my feet were so swollen that it hurt to walk on them yesterday after church and dinner. I don't eat salt. I don't drink soda or anything with caffeine. I do drink plenty of water, but not too much. I have never had this before. I no longer have thin delicate ankles. I have cankles! My left one was even swollen into my arch. At this time of the morning, having had my feet up for so long, sleeping on my left side, having done stretching exercises to promote circulation, they are still swollen.

I also had to get after my eldest boy tonight. I hate doing that because he is such a good kid. I mean, he doesn't run with a bad crowd or drink or get us any burden that way, but he's not doing his school work, not doing makeup work. He was told a week and a half ago that I wasn't going to treat him like a baby, he would have to reap what he sowed.

I checked his online grades ... not a single change in his habits. A test he was suppose to make up LAST Monday? Still not done. Quiz in history? Got a 60% (he didn't feel like studying... ).

This is not how we raised him!

So I had to tell him, after I picked him up from a youth function where he had a great time, that if he doesn't take the test today, he gets to start catching the bus at 6:45 in the morning instead of getting a ride from me at 7:30. Miss the bus? No problem! School doesn't start until 8:15 ... plenty of time to walk.

Taking away the video game system, the cell phone, all extra curricular activities. Told him if I didn't start seeing a minimum grade of 80% for all assignments, he'd REALLY be treated like a baby. You know, bed time at 8:00, including Friday nights. And then on Saturdays I can get him up bright and early at 6:00 a.m. to start doing all the laundry, vacuuming, mopping, scrubbing, gathering downed branches from all over the side yard. You know, so he can get use to the only type of job he's going to be able to get if he doesn't get his act together.

He wasn't like this until we sent him to public school. When he homeschooed he actually WORKED on his studies. Then he went off to public school where he was over a year ahead and never had to do work or study. He just coasted along.

Now he's still doing it even though his grades are rapidly falling three years later.

And my husband just left back off to work. He was only able to be in for THREE DAYS and won't be back until April.

I'm beat.
I'm whiney.
I'm over it all.


Peace Out,

~*~*~Krystal~*~*~

Extreme Measures

Normally, I would NEVER recommend this BUT ...

Let's just say that you have this stash of chocolate that you keep in a bag on a shelf in your office. We'll say it's a mix of Hershey Kisses, Peanut Butter Cups, and Hershey Miniatures. And you have two small dogs ... like a toy poodle and a chiuaua ... and they find this stash and eat ... oh ... about a pound of chocolate between the two of them.

And let's that they then get sick and barf all over your light colored carpet.

The ONLY way to get chocolate dog barf out of said carpet is with all purpose cleaner with bleach and a carpet cleaner. You have to spray with cleaner, watch the chocolate bleach out (it's really quick), then pour a glass of water over it to dilute it. Then you suck it up with the carpet cleaner, go over it a few more times with carpet cleaning solution.

And find a better spot for what's left of your stash...

Peace Out,

~*~*~Krystal~*~*~