Bad Costume Idea

Happy Halloween!

More Monkeys

I love this.
I can't even remember whose blog
I stole it off from anymore.
But, if it was you - thanks!

I have been finding new and wonderful friends out in the blog world along with keeping up with my old. I have become a horrible commentor and I apologize for this. But, I am reading - I am.

Today (Friday) I am finishing up things for my trip -
::cleaning
::prepping Halloween stuff
::final packing check
::pre-cooking some food
::cleaning out van
::getting carry on ready
::hoping to research a bit more on what to do while in Vegas

Thank you to my contributors for next week. I love the blog world and how new and old friends step up to help. Stop by and show them some love next week.

Unlike my Colorado trip, I will not be able to update regularly. Most likely I will not be able to update at all until I get back. I will not have a computer and the hotel charges for internet access anyway (something like $15 a day) plus, really, do you want me hanging out in the room blogging instead of out enjoying? I thought not~!

Alright off I go. I will have a fun saying up tomorrow, my scripture post on Sunday and then guests next week.

Miss me. Jules











OHHHH, I almost forgot! I am featured today at the Eclectic Element - not sure what I did to deserve that honor, but am thrilled just the same. Go see.

I'm Leaving On a Jet Plane..... Just the facts

I spilled it yesterday.
Just the facts:
::I am going to Las Vegas.
::I leave on Halloween morning.
::I will be in Vegas Halloween night.
::I am going with my friend.
::We are staying five nights
::My husband is amazing and is going to tend to the house, family, and job while I am gone.
::I am very nervous
::I have only gone to Colorado on my own - and I lived there, it doesn't count
::I think my suitcase is too heavy, it is not suppose to weigh > 50lbs
::There is a $15 / suitcase charge now
::I brought a few risque outfits
::My Halloween costume is a tad showy (see pic below)
::I am bringing my own pillow (I can't sleep without a feather pillow)
::I hate the new regulations for liquids while traveling
::I am wearing boots knowing full well I will have to take them off during security
::I am going to the PBR World Finals on Sunday



::We are going to the show Zumanity
::We have tickets for Let's Make a Deal, whether we go or not remains to be seen
::Eating at fancy places is not high on our list of musts
::Sleeping and relaxing are #1 and #1 on our must do list
::I am excited
::I am worried my friend will not pull it together in time for us to leave
(between work, kids, vehicle, packing, clothes, money, etc... it is getting down to the wire)
::I don't remember how to actually "do" my hair and make up when I have time - not rushed
::My mom/family probably thinks I am nuts, and doesn't understand why I am not going with my hubby (although someone has to stay here and hold down the fort, because she nor anyone else is going to come and stay here for 6 days so we both can go)
::I hope to meet Queen of Homer and Queen
::I am going to meet Shelle - from Venus vs Mars and BlokThoughts
::It was 48 degrees in Vegas today
::It was 45 degrees in Bemidji today
::It is forecasted to be 80ish next week in Vegas
::It is forecasted to be 30-40ish in Bemidji next week.
::Food is a lot more expensive then I expected it to be there
::Is there such things as free drink there anymore?
::I will miss all of you
::I could still use a few more guest posters. I have Ali, Adam, Fragrant Muse, and you?

Dearest says I look like a slutty bug... so be it! I will never have this opportunity again. I am 36, not dead :) Trick or Treat

I Found a Lump, I need your help, Photo Project, and so much more. What a busy day!

I need your HELP!!!!!

I need your help. I will be out of town for almost a week.

I thought I would have time to get a few posts scheduled but it just not going to happen.
(yes, thank you H1N1 for screwing one more thing up)

Soooo.... I was wondering if anyone would want to "guest post" for me.

It can be a post from your archives - something forgotten by your readers, or something fabulously new.

Just drop me a line in the comment box or send your post via my email.

I would die of appreciation

(ok, not die, I really want to go on this trip.... but I would be thrilled!)

Collabrotive Photo Project

Fear

We normally let the photos do the speaking on this photo project but this week I am going to throw an explanation in:

I am going to be a ladybug for Halloween.

I am going out of town (vegas) so the costume is a bit skimpy....

Deb in her fabulous humor is making a fun joke about this.

Now for my pic.

I did find a lump yesterday while shopping for the exact bra you see in the picture.

I was able to get into the doctor right away due to a very strange cancellation.

She did see the lump I was seeing, but is not at all worried about it.

I will have it rechecked in two weeks to be sure.

In the mean time if you haven't had a chance to check out our other photo posts
you can find them here:

Free
Care

~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~

Also...... I am over here too.

Come sit around in a dark circle lit by only candles

as I tell you a ghost story.

It's My Birthday and I Will Pout if I Want To

When you are five (today)
You decide it is time to start pushing your weight around.

Notice the clenched fists? Can you see the locked (right) leg?
That leg just finished stomping on the ground in defiance.

Yep, when you are five you can pout at your party if you want to.
(Your mom just won't listen to you.)

Pumpkin Carving Fun - Not just for kids

From left to right carved by: Mom, Mom, Dad, Keegan, Aiden, Addie, Tryllen, Mom and Aiden

Tonight we carved pumpkins.
The whole family gets
into the fun.

However, I posted about it on the kids'
blogs. See the fun on their sites.

I would rather

I would rather live my life as if there is a God,

and die to find out there isn't,

than live my life as if there isn't,

and die to find out there is.

I have gas issues

I realized tonight as I was filling up my gas tank that I haven't noticed the price of gas lately. I have just pulled up to the pump and filled. Now for the curious at heart the price of gasoline tonight was $2.59 / gallon. The last time I looked at the price I believe it was $2.35 / gallon.

I say this - but I remember not too long ago when gasoline was hovering around the $5 a gallon price and I watched every up and down as though it were my own life line.

A lot changed for me when the prices did that. I became more shut in. My outlet to the outside world became a bit smaller. I only go to town when I have to and there had better be several reasons to be in town.


I live out of town, it isn't a huge drive to get to town - shorter than most of your commutes I am sure... but I digress. If I go to town to bring my youngest to pre-school (Tues. and Thurs.-- to aid my stalkers). I had better remember to: bring the recycling, go to the bank, run my errands, get my grocery shopping done, make that stop at the library, squeeze my volunteering in and visit my friend at her place of work (I have 2.5 hrs for this people!) The days of driving in for story time at the library and going right back home stopped a few years back when I figured out each trip to town was costing me at least $5-6 just for the fuel to get there and back. It is cut in half now.... but yet I continue on this path of not going to town unless necessary.

This is good, it is green. It saves us money (in more ways than one! if I am not driving I don't waste money on gas, annnnnd, if I am not in town I am not spending money at stores)However, this has been bad too as I find myself going a bit more crazy.

I was in town tonight to use my friend's sauna at the gym she owns. We visited and plan our upcoming trip - but I told myself it was mainly to help with my illness. I felt guilty the whole time for an "unnecessary" trip to town. I ever forced myself to stop at Walmart and return something post sauna...yeah- I looked good. uggggggg However, it was a blast and my day tomorrow is going to go so much better for having done that. Plus, I bet physically I feel better!

I need to start telling myself it is cheaper than therapy!

Care - Collabrotive Photo Project

Continuing on our Collaborative Photo Project.
Deb from Sojourner and myself chose the word "care" this week.
Here are our takes on this word using a photo that we took.

Last weeks project word was "free" you can find that here.

Laughter is the Best Medicine

With more and more of my family being taken over by this flu/cold virus I have spent the last couple of days playing nurse maid. Since they say laughter is the best medicine.... let's laugh.

Received via e-mail:




LARRY'S PROVERBS

1. A day without sunshine is like night.
2. On the other hand, you have different fingers.
3. 42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.
4. 99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name.
5. Remember, half the people you know are below average.
6. He who laughs last, thinks slowest
7. Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.
8. The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese in the trap.
9. Support bacteria. They're the only culture most people have.
10. A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.
11. Change is inevitable, except from vending machines.
12. If you think nobody cares, try missing a couple of payments.
13. How many of you believe in psychokinesis? Raise my hand.
14. OK, so what's the speed of dark?
15. When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
16. Hard work pays off in the future. Laziness pays off now.
17. How much deeper would the o cean be without sponges?
18. Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.
19. What happens if you get scared half to death, twice?
20. Why do psychics have to ask you your name?
21. Inside every older person is a younger person wondering, 'What the heck happened?'
22. Just remember -- if the world didn't suck, we would all fall off.
23. Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
24. Life isn't like a box of chocolates. It's more like a jar of jalapenos. What you do today, might burn your butt tomorrow.

Tally

2 Have been sick
3 Are sick
That leaves
1

Seeking Beauty

Spinning in Circles

Can you hear that?

NO?

Me either......

That is because there is dead silence. My house is perfectly quiet except for the noise I make.

The whole of my family is gone. It is me, two cats, and a dog here. I can hear the various tickings of clocks (none of which are in sync) My own breathing seems to echo off the walls.

I have big plans for the weekend. It is time to winterize. The sun was suppose to shine and the temps were going to be near 60 degrees. I was hoping things would dry out and I would be able to put them away before more snow flies. There is lawn furniture, and flower pots to tend to and store, water fountains and bird bathes. Hoses need to be blown out so the freezing water does not expand and destroy as only mother nature can. The garden needs to be cleaned out- vines and plants, frozen and black, hang and sprawl like corpses left to rot. Scoop shovels need to replace sandbox shovels and toys. The list goes on and on.

However the sun is not shining and the rain is mixing with more snow. What to do? So much to do that I find my self spinning in circles; starting one project and moving onto the next I spot before the first one (or three) are finished.

I focused on inside things yesterday- rotating summer clothing for winter, adding blankets to the beds, switching light airy pajamas for heavy flannel ones, etc. I even tried to resolve a computer problem since I could focus on just that and the support personnel(still left unresolved)

But what to do today? Pray for a change in the weather? forge on through the rain? continue to work on the items concerning the inside of the house? go grocery shopping?

Maybe I will have one more cup of coffee and just listen to .... nothing.


______________________________________________
pics from google image search

Throwing Babies Into A Petri Dish

I just returned from "Urgent Care" our town's version of a walk-in clinic. We arrived at 7:25 and waited at the door for the door to open. Insuring that we would be the first ones seen. I wanted to get in and out of there before all the really sick people showed up.


We were there for an unusual red spot that showed up on my son. No fever, cough, runny nose, or other spreadable germs. Simply, a skin thing. Apparently, although the doors open at 7:30 the doctors do not get there until 8:00. Now, I understand the need to get the person in the door, signed in and diagnosed.... however, a half hour?

Moving on, staying focused.......

As we are sitting there the place starts to fill up and the level of germs in the air are steadily increasing. They should hand masks out at the door - and I am not even kind of kidding about this. The hacking and the nose sniffing and the obvious sore throats made my skin crawl. I wished I could have tied my own hands to my sides along with my son's to keep us from touching our eyes, mouths, and noses therefore increasing the likelihood that not only would we leave there with fewer answers than I was hoping for but a bonus gift of a lung hacking cough.

After seeing the doctor, we were sent to the next hallway for labs, then back out into the petri dish of a waiting from to hear the results and be dismissed. By the time we get back out to the petri dish.... I mean lobby there is not a seat to be found, at least not one that wasn't next to a lung hacker. The germs were almost visible in the air, they felt gritty in my mouth. I kept heading down the line of chairs, and waiting areas, until I landed...... where was I? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? In Pediatrics????!!!!! Whaaaaaaaaaaaaat? Understand this clinic waiting area is one big open room with groups of chairs and half walls making smaller waiting areas.


Who in their right minds would bring their infant into this facility? There is maybe 100 ft from the "sick" desk and the pediatrics. It truly would be a much quicker process for the doctors to just allow the infants and children to lick the petri dishes, to give them little germ infested biter biscuits, to rub the nipples of their bottles in a used tissue.... what is wrong with this?

I am told by my friend that they are working on changing this, that there will be a sick side and a non-sick side. That the pediatrics is moving to a building with the eye clinic and the dermatologist. However in the mean time? This really is nothing more then a rant, a shout of disbelief, a small triumph that we have been healthy enough to avoid such places, a head shaker...

The skin thing - unknown? a bruise? wait and see.... really?????
To think I had just paid off the clinic bill. sigh......

Things Not To Say During Sex

1) ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

2) On second thought, let's turn off the lights.

3) And to think- I was really trying to pick up your friend!

Play along....
What are some things you can think of that you or your mate
would not want to hear during sex.










(I love this pic) from here

Two Takes On "Free"

Debra @ Sojourner
has suggested a collaborative photo project to run the next several Wednesdays.
We decided to pick a word, then with our camera take a photograph
that was inspired by this word (or words).

Today the word was "FREE".
Our takes were a lot farther apart then I imagined them to be!

This is going to be fun.

Look for future "word" inspired photos on the Wednesdays to come.

(please click on the pics to make them better. Blogger is being odd and not allowing me to upload them larger and adjusting them makes them blurry...hopefully this is fixed soon, perhaps a sacrifice is due to the gods of Google again)

I am two places at once today! Finally!

I am over here today too,
we are talking about romance.

Come put your two cents in.

Don't forget to read my post on this blog too. (It is down there- right below)

Memory

Recovering from my third virus of the Fall season I am having a hard time getting my brain to kick in. What I decided to do was grab the dictionary next to the desk (which I have used a more now that I have started blogging than I ever did in school!) anyway.. focus... I grabbed the book and decided to write a blog post on what ever word I came across first. The word I opened to first was memory/memorize so, here I go... my post about the first word in the dictionary I saw.

Memorize - My worst teacher ever was named Mrs. Dolphay. She was my 8th grade English teacher. She looked quite similar to a troll. She ate in her classroom and paid students a quarter to take her tray down in the beginning of her next class. For some odd reason brown rice comes to mind when I think of her. This is something she ate often I believe. She also talked about brushing her teeth. She insisted that we brush our teeth for two minutes each day. Now coming from a troll we all laughed at her behind her back.
(oh to be such a rude jr. higher again- cut my wrists now!)
Everyone knew where she lived (on the other side of the lake) and we knew she drove a big conversion van. It was rumored she had a scrawny little boyfriend which made for some Jack Sprat jokes.

She was old by classification of an 8th grader, and I still believe I would find her old now as an adult. She had a reputation. She was "one of those teachers" . She was tough. As an adult now I would say that she had this reputation because she expected things out of you, you were to learn in her classroom. Something teachers had side stepped in the jr. high I attended.



We learned to conjugate sentences, what adjectives, prepositions and the likes of them were, along with examples that we were to memorize. Yep, good old fashion stand in front of the class and recite, rote memorization. Sadly, I remember very little. All I can still do is the beginning of the propositions-
about
above
among
around
along
at
because of
before
behind
below
beneath

and then I lose it..... Still impressive since this was 22+ years ago.

Yes, when I see the word memorize I remember Mrs. Dolphay (who probably was really a Ms.) Many years later I ran across a box in town that was giving prizes to local teachers, all you had to do was nominate your favorite teacher. I remember standing before the box and running through my past teachers like a slide show in my mind. There was my Kindergarten and First grade teachers (everyone loves them), definitely NOT my second grade teacher (she called me blabber mouth in front of the whole class, bad bad teacher) and so forth through the list. I finally landed on Ms. Dolphay - by all means she won my nomination. She had expectations and a love of learning, and although she was tough she was well meaning. As an adult now, I get her. I kind of think I always did.

What I Say The Most

Deb @ Sojourner made a "wordle" for her niece I thought it was way fun so I headed over here to make my own. When I got there I was happy to see that I could make one using my blog. It took the commonly used words and made a fun little ....well... ummm... wordle out of them.

Click to make it bigger.
Than head over there and make your own.
You can even print them.

My Wordle

Live

Seek me and live...

Amos 5:6

You Habitual Thing You

Humans are creatures of habit. We all know this, but when you take the time to really(really) think about this fact it is kind of scary just how habitual we are.

Here is the reason I even thought of this: I am at the High School, and I am giving the SAT test to aspiring (yawning) youth. After the second test started I made my way to the bathroom. As I walked in to the completely empty 12 stall room I made my way to the second to last stall. I always go into the second to last stall in this bathroom. The room was empty, I had my choice. I wonder if subconsciously I think that stall hasn't been used as it is at the end of the room and therefore it is clean(er).

My bathroom habits aside. Let's think about other things. Dressing - how do you dress? I am willing to bet, unless you are interrupted while dressing you do the same thing every time - left leg in the pants first, shirt next, socks last etc. My favorite (and this was a college psych. professors example) is the shower. I am almost certain you do the exact same thing in the shower every time (washing up I mean....) shampoo first, conditioner next, I let that sit then soap body always starting on my left arm (well unless I really stink, I guess I go for the pits first then) rinse and get out.

I always eat my popcorn in the theater before the movie and rarely touch it after the show has begun. My hubby waits and eats it during the movie. This was a big deal when we first started going to movies together because I was doing it wrong. (we have it worked out now ;)

How about when you meet in the same meeting room all the time. Do you always chose the same seat around the table if it is open. Don't you feel a slight moment of panic if your seat is taken - even though 12 other seats are open, you still think -where am I going to sit now? I do this at parent group time at our preschool. I always sit on the right side of the table near the entrance (maybe I feel like I can make a quick get away when the moms start b*tching) Or church. If you are a regular church goer I am willing to bet my oldest child that you sit in pretty much the same area every time, if not the same seat. A quick glance around a small congregation quickly shows who slept in by the empty spot. Come on, you know this is true.

You are shaking your head at me. You are not that predictable. But, sorry, unless you are a complete random freak (of nature) you are that habitual. Most of these things are unconscious, most of these actions go unnoticed by the common person. But, some of us observe these things. A good boyfriend/husband (insert wife here Will, Sage, Adam, Dearest/girlfriend for you ~K) will pick up on your nonverbal clues and use them.

Thinking to one's self "oh when she does that she is cold, I will quick grab her a blanket...."
you have suddenly scored huge points.
"oh, how did you know I was cold? thanks." he/she says.

I had a boyfriend like that in college. He knew by how I held his hand what I was feeling. If I rubbed his hand with my thumb I was happy/content, if I didn't I was thinking, or there was something wrong. He is the one that pointed this fact out to me. I was doing this without even thinking about it.

Have you ever been driving to say - the office supply store, but you find yourself in front or on the way to work or the grocery store? because you rarely head to the office supply store, but rather, when you are on that particular road you are going to work. My mom used to do that with my grandma's house. She would always end up heading toward her house when we hit town... and then realize we were to turn back there since it was the mall we wanted.

We get "used to" doing things a certain way. These are habits. We are indeed, creatures of habit. This is not a bad thing. Not all habits are bad. They help us function, they can keep us organized and our mind focused on the bigger things.

Just like breathing - I would not want to have to remember to breath, I would die ! I swear... I would be like, "oh crap forgot to breathe!" plunk!

Pop over here

So why don't you head over to The Real World,

There is some good stuff going on over there.

Pain in the Neck

My neck hurts today. I have an appointment with the chiropractor tomorrow at 8:40 a.m. It is from stress. Fall is stressing around here. As is Spring, and part of the Summer. Well, I guess, maybe winter holiday season is no breeze either.

Seriously though. A stress headache and an out of align neck can really throw me for a loop. I did try to embrace the gray cloudy ucky weather though. A book, a bath, a nap (with house work squeezed in between). I just kept telling myself that in the end it was better then the little padded room with the white jacket that buckles in the back.

I have tried to stay off from the computer since that only cranks on my neck more. I don't need virtual hugs. I am just spouting what is there - and what is there is a pain in the neck ;)



I am just reminding myself that - "It sounds like life"
But really, it is just life.
Life is not perfect.
Days like these help us appreciate the really good ones.

A Sports Post?

I can not believe I am about to do this. I am writing on MY blog, a sports related story. Check back later and see if I have gained some sanity and written something else.... I swear the excitement of the last play of the last two games I witnessed did it to me, drove me to write this post. Sports can be exciting, I can see the appeal, and I like watching games in person if I actually know the people playing. (so, yes that would be high school/college/local stuff- since Brett Favre and I are not all that close) Alright - on with it. A blog post about sports:


I am not THAT big of a sports fan. In fact most times I don't much care what game is on or who won what. Most likely this is because I live in a state that sucks it up more than they don't. I am used to being the team that seemed like they might - but OHHH no! However, because of the radical come back of the Twins Ball team. I happened to be paying attention to a little baseball team from Minnesota that could. The Minnesota Twins are the American League /Central Division Champions. I tuned the radio in just in time to hear the game winning play, driving the babysitter home after teaching a class last night.
This on the heels of watching the Vikings defeat the Green Bay Packers. Of course this was a big deal due to the fact that we picked Brett Favre's butt up out of the gutter and gave him a chance to "go out his way". What is more shocking then both teams winning rather large games, is that I paid attention to two games in a week and it is not even close to the super bowl.

he is kinda cute

Ahhhhhh, She loves me <3

My mom love me, how sweet!

My mom commented on this post
she wrote this:

Big Blue House said...

Reminds me of another sick little girl who is now 36. She was very sick when she was 2. Every 3 weeks she would become extremely sick and we went through many doctors also, some said she was spoiled, some said it was the flu...reoccurring flu?... then in the ER one night, they took her white count and found that it was way out of whack. He didn't know what she had but sent us to Fargo where they did more tests, including a liver biopsy...said she had hepatitis and everyone that had been around her had to had gama globulin shots..several times....did all they could and sent us to Rochester where they found a cyst on her liver bile duct. After a 9 hr surgery..we saw our little girl, tubes everywhere. I never cried so much as I did that day. After being in the big St Mary's Hospital in Rochester for 10 days, several were in intensive care, we took her home to start Kindergarten. I am very thankful to that doctor in the ER that night, without him we might have lost her. Now she has 4 wee ones and has gone through many bouts of kidney stones, depression, (oh come on, avoid civilization doesn't always mean depression mom!!!) and heaven knows what else (well, I know.... but, I'm not tellin') but she is 'alive' and we are very thankful to have her. Oh by the way, if you haven't figured it out yet, she goes by Just Jules. She is not 'Just' to us.

October 3, 2009 2:47 PM

How sweet is that??? My mom loves me :)

scheduled post on October 2, 2009

Boobs - Making the world a better place two at a time

You can agree or disagree with me (if you are male, you will probably agree). The world is a better place because there are women in it. (agreed? *nodding heads) The world is a better place because those women have boobs. (agreed? *all men nodding heads, some women nodding, other women are "thinking" about this)

Well I think, no matter what you think, that boobs are a fact of life. They are here and for most of us they are what they are. But, they can do nasty things to us women (and I don't mean letting gravity take over so that we eventually have to tuck them into our waistbands, although that REALLY does suck!) I am talking about cancer. Those boobies seem to attract cancer into their little cells.

I will not even begin to tell you how I think this happens... I won't do it. But, what I will say is this - check them ladies. Or more fun, have your partner check them (*wink wink) You heard me ---> October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is time to feel yourself up.

Then hit the link button at the top and find out how you can help the cause. It is Boobie-Thon time. There are more boobies to see, and if you donate you can see bare boobs... *gasp!!!!! Again I hear the male heads nodding out there ;)

Boobs - Making the world a better place two at a time.

I joke here - but we all know this is not a joking matter. I was never able to meet my mother-in-law. She passed away the year before I met my husband from breast cancer. Get examined once a year at least. The end.

A Good Name

It's Your Birthday Dearest!

Happy Birthday Honey.

I love you

and I didn't forget
(this year)

Back Off Lady - oKay (not oTay)....

To my child's speech teacher:

Do not send "homework" home with a four year. Unless this child is the first child, the oldest child, the only child, not the fourth child. Especially when this child has siblings in the elementary school who also have "homework". Homework that is due back and graded and effects their permanent record and learning ability.

I do understand that this is a very important time in my son's life and that I need to be aware of and corrective of his speech at home. (this is my fourth child in speech) I am pleased that my child is motivated enough to take this homework out and do it. But, as far as me and my responsibilities - I am full up. (hello, I am responsible for 100 finger and toenails a week and 55 spelling words to drill into three little brains- and that is just to start, and ohhhh don't get me started) Don't need you adding to it. Would you really dump a bucket of water into the river when the little boy had his finger in the dike? I am doing all I can to keep my finger in the dike, to keep the flood waters from wiping out my village.

(I am going to start a sentence with and... you ready?)

And when you then "ask" me if he did his homework - more with a reprimanding look than a curious one it is all I can do not to go a little psycho mom on you. Did I lie? kinda? But not really, because, I did only noticed him using the work "okay" one time. It did come out as oTay, I corrected it, he checked his chart.

So, I tell you what - back off lady, oKay????? Notice, I used my K sound ?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now go check out a good cause below. It is worth learning about.

Raising Awarness

We interrupt our regularly scheduled blog for this special announcement
( I will get to Boobie-Thon later today or tomorrow... this trumps)

Kevin of Always Home and Uncool has asked me to post this as part of his effort to raise awareness in the blogosphere of juvenile myositis, a rare autoimmune disease his daughter was diagnosed with on this day seven years ago. The day also happens to be his wife's birthday.

*

Our pediatrician admitted it early on.

The rash on our 2-year-old daughter's cheeks, joints and legs was something he'd never seen before.

The next doctor wouldn't admit to not knowing.

He rattled off the names of several skins conditions -- none of them seemingly worth his time or bedside manner -- then quickly prescribed antibiotics and showed us the door.

The third doctor admitted she didn't know much.

The biopsy of the chunk of skin she had removed from our daughter's knee showed signs of an "allergic reaction" even though we had ruled out every allergy source -- obvious and otherwise -- that we could.

The fourth doctor had barely closed the door behind her when, looking at the limp blonde cherub in my lap, she admitted she had seen this before. At least one too many times before.

She brought in a gaggle of med students. She pointed out each of the physical symptoms in our daughter:

The rash across her face and temples resembling the silhouette of a butterfly.

The purple-brown spots and smears, called heliotrope, on her eyelids.

The reddish alligator-like skin, known as Gottron papules, covering the knuckles of her hands.

The onset of crippling muscle weakness in her legs and upper body.

She then had an assistant bring in a handful of pages photocopied from an old medical textbook. She handed them to my wife, whose birthday it happened to be that day.

This was her gift -- a diagnosis for her little girl.

That was seven years ago -- Oct. 2, 2002 -- the day our daughter was found to have juvenile dermatomyositis, one of a family of rare autoimmune diseases that can have debilitating and even fatal consequences when not treated quickly and effectively.

Our daughter's first year with the disease consisted of surgical procedures, intravenous infusions, staph infections, pulmonary treatments and worry. Her muscles were too weak for her to walk or swallow solid food for several months. When not in the hospital, she sat on our living room couch, propped up by pillows so she wouldn't tip over, as medicine or nourishment dripped from a bag into her body.

Our daughter, Thing 1, Megan, now age 9, remembers little of that today when she dances or sings or plays soccer. All that remain with her are scars, six to be exact, and the array of pills she takes twice a day to help keep the disease at bay.

What would have happened if it took us more than two months and four doctors before we lucked into someone who could piece all the symptoms together? I don't know.

I do know that the fourth doctor, the one who brought in others to see our daughter's condition so they could easily recognize it if they ever had the misfortune to be presented with it again, was a step toward making sure other parents also never have to find out.

That, too, is my purpose today.

It is also my birthday gift to my wife, My Love, Rhonda, for all you have done these past seven years to make others aware of juvenile myositis diseases and help find a cure for them once and for all.

To read more about children and families affected by juvenile myositis diseases, visit Cure JM Foundation at www.curejm.org.

To make a tax-deductible donation toward JM research, go to www.firstgiving.com/rhondaandkevinmckeever or www.curejm.com/team/donations.htm.

Something has to give

Today I am to be two places at once.

I scheduled an eye exam for the exact same time as a meeting in which I am co-chair of the board.

I do this all of the time.

Thursday at 9 is good for me. But, then I schedule everything for Thursday at 9.

DOH!!!

Now, if only it were possible to be two places at once. The conscious me needs to be at the meeting but my eyes are the only thing that need to be at the appointment.

Maybe I can have my brain examined at the same time.

Looking up phone number for eye clinic......... something has to give.

Back later with something worthwhile, and to talk about Boobie-Thon.
If I can wake my brain up.