when you mix a 4 year old with a skating party and a Christmas tree costume?
A gift certificate for 2nd place in the costume contest, and tears each and every time she fell down, shattering one of the ornaments on her costume.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
You heard it here, first
Teams
Engage
All
Members
Slogan I'm kind of proud of that MY team and I developed this morning.
;)
Engage
All
Members
Slogan I'm kind of proud of that MY team and I developed this morning.
;)
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Monday, July 06, 2009
Blank Blog
For the umpteenth time, I'm staring at a blank blog screen. Why can't I write anything?
This is driving me crazy.
A. is weaning. L. is taking to swimming lessons like a fish. S. is growing so fast I can't keep up. Mr. W. loves his new job.
I'm feeling bitter sweet about the weaning. I'm proud of the swimming. The growing up thing scares me. I am happier than I can say about Mr. W.'s job.
Lice notice came from summer camp. I've ordered some preventative lice shampoo.
I want to cut my hair, but I am torn. A. often uses my hair as a sort of security blanket.
There. My life in a nutshell...
This is driving me crazy.
A. is weaning. L. is taking to swimming lessons like a fish. S. is growing so fast I can't keep up. Mr. W. loves his new job.
I'm feeling bitter sweet about the weaning. I'm proud of the swimming. The growing up thing scares me. I am happier than I can say about Mr. W.'s job.
Lice notice came from summer camp. I've ordered some preventative lice shampoo.
I want to cut my hair, but I am torn. A. often uses my hair as a sort of security blanket.
There. My life in a nutshell...
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Ok... OUCH!
Found an unexpected, very, very HOT jalapeno in my lunch today. Unfortunately, I did not have any cheese left to try to cut the burning sensation. Actually, I'm not entirely convinced that WAS a jalapeno. It was awfully hot.
I've had a hard time contributing to the blog, lately. I really want to do better. I can't believe A. is already 16 months old, and I've documented precious little of her life here. She has all the sass her middle sister has. I have a feeling those two are going to wind up making S. look easy to raise.
L. has been exploring her defiant streak lately. I begin to suspect this is a stage, since S. went through a very similar phase. I just hope we don't have too many more months of 'you can't make me' and 'I don't have to do what you say' left. She got her very first haircut on Mother's Day this year. I cut off 4 inches of her beautiful, curly hair. She still has quite a bit of curl left, but those long ringlets are gone. I'm sad about that, but she does look adorable with shorter hair.
S. survived first grade. Her final report card was the best one yet. Above grade level for reading, S+ for spelling, S- for PE and everything else was S. Things really came together for her this school year. As many issues as I've had with her teacher, Mrs. N. did instill a certain amount of acceptance of the requirements for school. S. starts the elementary school next year. Where has the time gone?
I've had a hard time contributing to the blog, lately. I really want to do better. I can't believe A. is already 16 months old, and I've documented precious little of her life here. She has all the sass her middle sister has. I have a feeling those two are going to wind up making S. look easy to raise.
L. has been exploring her defiant streak lately. I begin to suspect this is a stage, since S. went through a very similar phase. I just hope we don't have too many more months of 'you can't make me' and 'I don't have to do what you say' left. She got her very first haircut on Mother's Day this year. I cut off 4 inches of her beautiful, curly hair. She still has quite a bit of curl left, but those long ringlets are gone. I'm sad about that, but she does look adorable with shorter hair.
S. survived first grade. Her final report card was the best one yet. Above grade level for reading, S+ for spelling, S- for PE and everything else was S. Things really came together for her this school year. As many issues as I've had with her teacher, Mrs. N. did instill a certain amount of acceptance of the requirements for school. S. starts the elementary school next year. Where has the time gone?
Friday, May 22, 2009
Memorial Day
"It is, in a way, an odd thing to honor those who died in defense of our country in wars far away. The imagination plays a trick. We see these soldiers in our mind as old and wise. We see them as something like the Founding Fathers, grave and gray-haired. But most of them were boys when they died, they gave up two lives -- the one they were living and the one they would have lived. When they died, they gave up their chance to be husbands and fathers and grandfathers. They gave up their chance to be revered old men. They gave up everything for their county, for us. All we can do is remember."
-- Ronald Wilson Reagan
Remarks at Veteran's Day ceremony, Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington, Virginia, November 11, 1985
-- Ronald Wilson Reagan
Remarks at Veteran's Day ceremony, Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington, Virginia, November 11, 1985
Thursday, May 14, 2009
I've Been Presidentially Spammed!
Apparently, sending an e-mail to the President complaining about how he's handling bailouts was enough to get me on his e-mail list. This strikes me as incredibly funny since I'm not exactly his biggest fan.
Text of the e-mail rah-rahs the ongoing plan/discussion/blustering concerning providing better health care options for Americans. Plus it applies a subtle guilt trip encouraging the recipient to get all his/her friends and neighbors to sign up for the updates.
After the way the Federal government manages to muddy up every little thing it touches, I just gotta say (with respect to affordable federal health care): Good luck with that, buddy. You need it.
Text of the e-mail rah-rahs the ongoing plan/discussion/blustering concerning providing better health care options for Americans. Plus it applies a subtle guilt trip encouraging the recipient to get all his/her friends and neighbors to sign up for the updates.
After the way the Federal government manages to muddy up every little thing it touches, I just gotta say (with respect to affordable federal health care): Good luck with that, buddy. You need it.
Of Strawberries and Bar-B-Q
Miss A. shows a very decided preference for strawberries and anything that could have bbq sauce on it. It's to the point that if we are having one or the other, I have to hide them until after she has eaten the other foods with her meal. Otherwise, she refuses everything until she has gorged herself on the favored foods.
Neither of the first two ever showed that strong a preference for a particular food.
We drove down to Llano, Texas in order to enjoy some of Cooper's BBQ last month. It is Mr. W's favorite place to eat, and this was the first time he ever took me. Kind of a fun place where you pick out your food from the pits outside and take it inside to be weighed, cut and eaten.
Miss A. ate more of the bbq than I have ever seen her eat in a single meal. The kid sucked this stuff down FAST. We had leftovers we took home and reheated a couple days later. When she caught the aroma and saw the plate piled with the brisket and sausage, she squealed. Again, she sucked the food down.
Earlier, she pitched a fit because I did not have enough strawberries to suit her at supper. This was after she'd eaten plenty of other food. But darnit, she WANTED more strawberries!
Is it bad that I still giggle when I watch a baby pitch a wall-eyed hissy fit?
Neither of the first two ever showed that strong a preference for a particular food.
We drove down to Llano, Texas in order to enjoy some of Cooper's BBQ last month. It is Mr. W's favorite place to eat, and this was the first time he ever took me. Kind of a fun place where you pick out your food from the pits outside and take it inside to be weighed, cut and eaten.
Miss A. ate more of the bbq than I have ever seen her eat in a single meal. The kid sucked this stuff down FAST. We had leftovers we took home and reheated a couple days later. When she caught the aroma and saw the plate piled with the brisket and sausage, she squealed. Again, she sucked the food down.
Earlier, she pitched a fit because I did not have enough strawberries to suit her at supper. This was after she'd eaten plenty of other food. But darnit, she WANTED more strawberries!
Is it bad that I still giggle when I watch a baby pitch a wall-eyed hissy fit?
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Wheezer on a wire
Strange thing I did a couple weeks ago...
I climbed straight up a 20 foot pole (telephone pole type thingy), walked 40 feet across an awfully thin cable while holding onto two ropes, and trusted someone not to let me plummet to the ground in my little harness.
Note: I will NOT EVER EVER EVER EVER NEVER AGAIN do that.
Thanks!
I climbed straight up a 20 foot pole (telephone pole type thingy), walked 40 feet across an awfully thin cable while holding onto two ropes, and trusted someone not to let me plummet to the ground in my little harness.
Note: I will NOT EVER EVER EVER EVER NEVER AGAIN do that.
Thanks!
The Libertarian in me likes...
This came out some time in the 80s (as evidenced by the Reagan and Tip O'Neal references), but it pretty well summarizes my attitude about our current legislators.
THE 545 PEOPLERESPONSIBLE FOR ALL
OF AMERICA'S WOES
BY CHARLEY REESE
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.
Have you ever wondered why, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, we have deficits? Have you ever wondered why, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, we have inflation and high taxes?
You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does. You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does. You and I don't write the tax code. Congress does. You and I don't set fiscal policy. Congress does. You and I don't control monetary policy. The Federal Reserve Bank does.
One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president and nine Supreme Court justices - 545 human beings out of the 235 million - are directly, legally, morally and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.
I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered but private central bank.
I excluded all but the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it.
No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislation's responsibility to determine how he votes.
A CONFIDENCE CONSPIRACY
Don't you see how the con game that is played on the people by the politicians? Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.
What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of Tip O'Neill, who stood up and criticized Ronald Reagan for creating deficits.
The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it. The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating appropriations and taxes.O'neill is the speaker of the House. He is the leader of the majority party. He and his fellow Democrats, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetos it, they can pass it over his veto.
REPLACE SCOUNDRELS
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 235 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts - of incompetence and irresponsibility.
I can't think of a single domestic problem, from an unfair tax code to defense overruns, that is not traceable directly to those 545 people.
When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.
If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair. If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red. If the Marines are in Lebanon, it's because they want them in Lebanon.
There are no insoluble government problems. Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take it.
Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exist disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation" or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.
Those 545 people and they alone are responsible. They and they alone have the power. They and they alone should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses - provided they have the gumption to manage their own employees.
This article was taken from the Orlando Sentinel Star newspaper
THE 545 PEOPLERESPONSIBLE FOR ALL
OF AMERICA'S WOES
BY CHARLEY REESE
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.
Have you ever wondered why, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, we have deficits? Have you ever wondered why, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, we have inflation and high taxes?
You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does. You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does. You and I don't write the tax code. Congress does. You and I don't set fiscal policy. Congress does. You and I don't control monetary policy. The Federal Reserve Bank does.
One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president and nine Supreme Court justices - 545 human beings out of the 235 million - are directly, legally, morally and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.
I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered but private central bank.
I excluded all but the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it.
No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislation's responsibility to determine how he votes.
A CONFIDENCE CONSPIRACY
Don't you see how the con game that is played on the people by the politicians? Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.
What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of Tip O'Neill, who stood up and criticized Ronald Reagan for creating deficits.
The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it. The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating appropriations and taxes.O'neill is the speaker of the House. He is the leader of the majority party. He and his fellow Democrats, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetos it, they can pass it over his veto.
REPLACE SCOUNDRELS
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 235 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts - of incompetence and irresponsibility.
I can't think of a single domestic problem, from an unfair tax code to defense overruns, that is not traceable directly to those 545 people.
When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.
If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair. If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red. If the Marines are in Lebanon, it's because they want them in Lebanon.
There are no insoluble government problems. Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take it.
Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exist disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation" or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.
Those 545 people and they alone are responsible. They and they alone have the power. They and they alone should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses - provided they have the gumption to manage their own employees.
This article was taken from the Orlando Sentinel Star newspaper
Friday, April 24, 2009
Not a hoax, for once
Received one of those fwd: fwd: fwd: e-mails this week. In a rare occurrence, I actually looked at the e-mail, and verified the story! Navy/Marine Corps are trying to locate individuals stationed on and/or living on Camp LeJeune, NC from 1957 through 1987. The drinking water was contaminated, and they are trying to locate those affected by the contaminated water.
Article from the Stars and Stripes here: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=62156
I wish this one had been a hoax...
Article from the Stars and Stripes here: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=62156
I wish this one had been a hoax...
Monday, April 20, 2009
Funny for the day
Letter to a bank:
Dear Sirs,
In view of current developments in the banking market, if one of my checks is returned marked "insufficient funds," does that refer to me or to you?
Sincerely
Dear Sirs,
In view of current developments in the banking market, if one of my checks is returned marked "insufficient funds," does that refer to me or to you?
Sincerely
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Race for the Cure
We made our annual 1K pilgrimage today. The Susan G. Komen Race for the cure. And, in a feat never-before-accomplished by the Wheezer family... we came in DEAD LAST!!!!! Yaaaaayyyyy us!
It was kind of funny listening to the announcer strongly urging the remaining people (us!) by the finish line to get out of the way. The timed runners for the 5k were coming through any minute.
Go us!
It was kind of funny listening to the announcer strongly urging the remaining people (us!) by the finish line to get out of the way. The timed runners for the 5k were coming through any minute.
Go us!
I have got to stop reading political stuff
Reading some commentary on the economy, I ran across this lovely gem of a comment:
I wonder if they found the clue as to why conservatives are a brainless , selfish , untrustworthy bunch of CIA name revealing traitors ?
Charming, huh?
As a conservative type person, I can honestly state that:
1. I am not brainless. Although, I do have boneheaded moments.
2. My charitable contributions are now and have been a significantly higher percentage of my income than Barack Obama's. Significantly! (You can Google his returns and see for yourself his typical charitable contribution rates.)
3. My family, friends and employer have all found me trustworthy.
4. I have had zero contact with the CIA. and
5. I have never categorically assigned a derisive description to all liberals. I save that for specific individuals, like the hate-filled bit of nonsense above.
The hyperbole of the comment just drives me bananas. And I see it everywhere! I completely understand resentment from the more liberal part of our population. I'm feeling a considerable amount of resentment myself. Name calling is incredibly immature, and this blind hatred is destructive. Can't we JUST GROW UP!!!!!!
Oh, and I see it plenty from hate-filled conservative bits of nonsense. It's beyond disgusting.
I wonder if they found the clue as to why conservatives are a brainless , selfish , untrustworthy bunch of CIA name revealing traitors ?
Charming, huh?
As a conservative type person, I can honestly state that:
1. I am not brainless. Although, I do have boneheaded moments.
2. My charitable contributions are now and have been a significantly higher percentage of my income than Barack Obama's. Significantly! (You can Google his returns and see for yourself his typical charitable contribution rates.)
3. My family, friends and employer have all found me trustworthy.
4. I have had zero contact with the CIA. and
5. I have never categorically assigned a derisive description to all liberals. I save that for specific individuals, like the hate-filled bit of nonsense above.
The hyperbole of the comment just drives me bananas. And I see it everywhere! I completely understand resentment from the more liberal part of our population. I'm feeling a considerable amount of resentment myself. Name calling is incredibly immature, and this blind hatred is destructive. Can't we JUST GROW UP!!!!!!
Oh, and I see it plenty from hate-filled conservative bits of nonsense. It's beyond disgusting.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Inquiring Minds...
Who REALLY thinks a kid's meal only needs one napkin?
Nobody who has met my kids.
How far will my car REALLY go after the fuel light comes on?
Hoping I don't find out, since Mr. W. would never let me live it down.
Is it REALLY worth the expense of having a birthday party outside the house?
In a word? YES!!!!! Birthday party for S. to be held at local museum. We may just do all birthday parties there.
Nobody who has met my kids.
How far will my car REALLY go after the fuel light comes on?
Hoping I don't find out, since Mr. W. would never let me live it down.
Is it REALLY worth the expense of having a birthday party outside the house?
In a word? YES!!!!! Birthday party for S. to be held at local museum. We may just do all birthday parties there.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Because I've Lost My Everloving Mind, That's Why
Question: Why am I busily handcrafting birthday party invitations at 10:30 at night? See above.
I am the new owner of a Cricut Expression. This little gizmo cuts out just about any diecut my little heart can imagine. I'm having a ball with it, and so are the older girls. We've printed Tinkerbell fairies, big flowers, little flowers and even little banners with the girls' names. S. and L. have had a ball 'helping' me load the paper and push the buttons to cut things out.
I'm printing the ladybug layout I designed all by my little lonesome to act as S.' birthday party invitations. I used the trial version of the Design Studio software to make the ladybugs (using the Accent Essentials and Plantin Schoolbook cartridges that came with the machine). I'm not ready to fork over the additional money for the full version of the software. It's got some annoying limitations, but it does work with the existing cartridges. There is another application that does not work with the cartridges but will allow the user to design anything with it. I'm torn, but think I will wait until Christmas to ask for one of them from Santa.
Ugh, this turned into a product review. I do enjoy my new toy, and a girl has to have something to reward herself for doing her icky, icky taxes, right?
I am the new owner of a Cricut Expression. This little gizmo cuts out just about any diecut my little heart can imagine. I'm having a ball with it, and so are the older girls. We've printed Tinkerbell fairies, big flowers, little flowers and even little banners with the girls' names. S. and L. have had a ball 'helping' me load the paper and push the buttons to cut things out.
I'm printing the ladybug layout I designed all by my little lonesome to act as S.' birthday party invitations. I used the trial version of the Design Studio software to make the ladybugs (using the Accent Essentials and Plantin Schoolbook cartridges that came with the machine). I'm not ready to fork over the additional money for the full version of the software. It's got some annoying limitations, but it does work with the existing cartridges. There is another application that does not work with the cartridges but will allow the user to design anything with it. I'm torn, but think I will wait until Christmas to ask for one of them from Santa.
Ugh, this turned into a product review. I do enjoy my new toy, and a girl has to have something to reward herself for doing her icky, icky taxes, right?
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Public Service Announcement - Miss Otis Regrets
To all the people who keep finding my blog using the Google search: Mrs Otis Regrets
The song you are looking for is 'Miss Otis Regrets' not Mrs.
Thank you!
The song you are looking for is 'Miss Otis Regrets' not Mrs.
Thank you!
Earth Hour?
So Earth Hour is scheduled for tonight. Interesting concept where you turn off all unnecessary lights for an hour in an attempt to draw attention to the global-warning cause. Conserving electricity is an admirable thing, but the pictures I've seen from around the world of individuals celebrating Earth Hour have me scratching my head.
The one thing they all have in common is lit candles. Ummmm... burning petroleum-based candles releases quite a bit more CO2 than when the electricity for incandescent lightbults is generated.
It is exactly this sort of publicity stunt and the hype accompanying it that leaves people scratching their heads trying to figure out exactly WHO is right when it comes to global climate issues. I am one of those people.
Burning candles instead of burning lightbulbs for the sake of reducing greenhouse emissions? That is completely nonsensical and destroys quite a bit of credibility for the 'man-made-global-warming-is-bad' group. Whatever happened to non-politicized science?
The one thing they all have in common is lit candles. Ummmm... burning petroleum-based candles releases quite a bit more CO2 than when the electricity for incandescent lightbults is generated.
It is exactly this sort of publicity stunt and the hype accompanying it that leaves people scratching their heads trying to figure out exactly WHO is right when it comes to global climate issues. I am one of those people.
Burning candles instead of burning lightbulbs for the sake of reducing greenhouse emissions? That is completely nonsensical and destroys quite a bit of credibility for the 'man-made-global-warming-is-bad' group. Whatever happened to non-politicized science?
Friday, March 27, 2009
Sleep...
My department head and his wife have 10 children together. He claims that child-induced stress levels top out with kid number 4. I have no idea if this is true, and I will never find out.
With both of us working outside the home fulltime, three kids is plenty. With A. waking up every two hours for weeks on end, one is more than enough.
I think I am officially moving past the 'I want another child' stage, and into the 'it's gonna be great when everyone is potty-trained' stage of my parenting life.
Actually, lately, it's been, 'I can't wait until I feel comfortable sending all three to Grandma's house.' I suspect that will change once I actually get a few nights with more than 4 hours' sleep.
The combination of A. waking nightly and the stress of my job waking me nightly has really burned me out. I just hope I can hold out through April. May does not look as bad on the work front...
I am looking forward to actually spending time with my little family.
With both of us working outside the home fulltime, three kids is plenty. With A. waking up every two hours for weeks on end, one is more than enough.
I think I am officially moving past the 'I want another child' stage, and into the 'it's gonna be great when everyone is potty-trained' stage of my parenting life.
Actually, lately, it's been, 'I can't wait until I feel comfortable sending all three to Grandma's house.' I suspect that will change once I actually get a few nights with more than 4 hours' sleep.
The combination of A. waking nightly and the stress of my job waking me nightly has really burned me out. I just hope I can hold out through April. May does not look as bad on the work front...
I am looking forward to actually spending time with my little family.
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