RIP GrandDad

My grandfather passed away last night. He was ready to go, but it is still very sad. I'm very sad for my GrandNorma, my mom, my aunt, and my uncle. A few weeks ago, he was seeing angels. I think my Grandma, who died in '87, was waiting for him. I'll blog again soon. Just wanted to let everyone know...

Happy Birthday to Eve and Hamster today. Eve is 30 and Hamster is 3. I thinks it's great that my last baby and one of my best friends get to share a birthday. It's almost as cool as Pickles sharing my birthday. Cool present, huh?

So we made it to GA. It was 850 miles of me driving exclusively. It's one of those things you have to do when you're married to a blind guy.

It was an 850 mile trip that took 16 hours. To put it into perspective, it's a trip that takes me 12 hours when I do it alone. So it took a long time.

This is because I was traveling with:
My husband, who is grouchy after 2 hours in the car, but is also good at making balloon animals when needed.
My 4 kids, who don't like each other after 4 hours, but are amazing at coming up with creative names (which always include 'butt') to call each other,
2 snakes, who were very quiet and didn't argue at all,
and 1 dog, who wasn't quiet and kept putting nose prints on everything.

Did I mention this was in a minivan? I rented a mini because my Suburban has nearly 300K miles on it. Fat Tony, what we call it when it's naughty, has to last 3 more years. 2 years for school and for one year after. Don't look at me like that - like your car doesn't have a name?

In the first 2 hours, we saw 7 cars in the ditch on the side of the highway. After we got a few hours farther south though, the roads were ice free and it wasn't snowing. Those first couple hours are what really slowed us down. I drove 11 hours the first day/night. And 5 today. I'm OK with that though, because where I am, everyone is complaining about this freezing 40 degree weather, but I'm loving how "warm" it is. Sick, no?

And I am so glad to be here. With family. And old and close friends. It may not always be relaxing or sane, but it's home. Just don't be surprised though, if I come back with my accent intact. It's always a little stronger for a few days when I've been steeping in it for awhile.

Yee-haw!

3 grits

These bailouts are leaving me cold!

A reason to buy Ford. (and not Chrysler or GM) I'm not a big fan of F(ound) O(n the) R(oadside) D(ead). This is because I have watched numerous friends deal with ridiculous problems that I never experienced with my Toyota. I also had a Lincoln, which is just a Ford with more buttons and a bigger price tag. But I can say that I like a company that ISN'T near bankruptcy. That's the kind of company I like to support.

Now the Bush is discussing the possibility of bailing out cheese factories. The American economy would surely collapse if the cheese industry were to go under. We would have mass riots in Wisconsin most definitely. Except they'd be very polite riots what with all the Scandinavian ancestry. Although there may be a few Viking throwback berserkers. OK, maybe Bush isn't going to bailout the cheese industry, but that's how I feel to wake up every day to read about some new industry getting a bailout. The articles say today that the bailout for Big Auto may just be loans. Loans my ass. There is no way that this will only be a loan. I'd love a loan like that. The best kind of loan is the kind you don't have to pay back. Maybe the automakers would work harder to get money from the consumers. Like in the form of selling more of their merchandise.

Maybe I'm being cold-hearted. Nah, I'm just cold-toed. And cold-eared. And cold-nosed. Have y'all been reading the news about all the weather? We actually haven't been inundated with the storms. What we're getting is pretty typical for our corner of the Midwest. We've gotten plenty of snow and we got ice pellets last night and early this morning. The kids got out of school today, but that also means they're missing their "holiday" parties. So we're probably going to do a mini party here. We'll make brownies, popcorn, and apple cider and watch movies. So cozy :)

But I won't be missing the predicted 5 degree high on Monday here. Brrrr...shiver, shiver! You know whyI won't be missing it? Cause I'll be wearing flip flops. And no coat. Even if it's 50 degrees where I am, I'll still be wearing flip flops. Cause Christmas is meant to be spent wearing a t-shirt. I'm just sayin'. I would like to know if Super L has snow. Since she was so sassy about the storms we were having. HA!

gotta go make brownies for my perfect children...

1 grit

OK, I was gonna do a political post, but this story was cooler. It discusses the possibilty that we used to have more than one moon.

So I was feeling a little riled up politically lately, but it sort of dampens my Christmas spirit and I'm just not that interested right now. It's hard to be conspiratorial when the entire house smells like hard candy cooling on the stove. I had a clerk at Walmart the other day ask me if I had noticed that most people were having a hard time getting into Christmas this year. I'm not having a hard time, but I guess a Walmart clerk would be in a better position to take an informal sociological survey about attitudes.

(I'm actually sincere about this - I do realize that the sentence I just wrote could go either way with my personality)

I hope that all of you are in a happy happy holiday type of mood, because there's so many other things to be depressed about right now.

I was thinking the other day that my kids have never done Secret Santa shopping at their schools. When I was a kid, they would fill tables with all kids* of junk that we could buy for our family members. It was really nice to be given a few dollars and be able to pick out gifts for my sisters and parents. I don't know how many mini driver sets or blue rabbits' feet my dad needed, but the sentiment was nice. It's pretty sad that the kids have to celebrate holiday parties instead of making gifts at school. PC blah, blah, blah. Yeah I get that, but don't most religions have some tradition of gift giving this time of year?

Mur Chri'mus from the L******s

OK, gotta run. Lots of stuff to do...

*my editor made me a aware of a typographical error - it should be KINDS, not kids, of junk

I really want to write a political post, but I have to pull my thoughts together a little more. This is just a warning that you may or may not want to read the next one. Sort of a forecast. Snow and political posts may fall tomorrow. This post is just 1 grit, and is just a few cutsie pie apple buns pumby umby umpkins kiddie type stories.

Hamster was eating pomegranate seeds the other day. He had a little bowl of them. When he wandered back into the kitchen without his bowl. "Hamster, where's your pomegranate seeds?" says I. "My Obama seeds?" asked my sweet little rodent. Obama seeds? Super L would probably argue that he's a Dem already, but I think it's amazing that an almost 3-year-old already has politics seeping into his psyche. So now pomegranate seeds will forever be Obama seeds round here. Even Midwestern fruit is to the left of center.

Bud called Pickles a butt crack old fool the other day. After I came back from the bathroom where I could laugh privately, I told him that was very rude indeed.

Pickles thinks in comic book-ese. He illustrates sounds and actions with loud made-up emphasis. I flicked the bottom of a donut (the store spells it that way) box that Sassafras was licking. Pickles yelled "THWOCK!" That's really what it sounded like too! He likes to yell things like "POW!" as he feints a punch at his brother. He's always sort of been like that though. Look for his name in the credits in about 20 years, as he will be a big time director someday. He and Sassafras used to role play with toys. Pickles would always direct the play and tell Sass what to say and what was going to happen. He would insert asides and stage directions. "Now I'm going to walk through the door. walk, walk, walk." Now I'm shrinking. shriiiiiiiiink."


and finally a Sassafras story. I'm not really sure where she picked this up, I've only seen it portrayed in Super Troopers, but she's been saying meow in the middle of talking about other things. "How was your day meow?" "Meow y'all get over here!" That's all I can stand to write about her right now, cause her attitude really been pissing me off lately. I call her Sassafras for a very good reason.

Y'all come back meow, ya hear?

MORE things about the Midwest I didn't know - 1 grit

1. Do NOT pour water on your windshield if it's covered in ice. Yes, I know that this works in GA. Here, if it's hot water, it will crack the windshield. If it's cold water, it will just refreeze. Stop the Insanity! Here's a trick - put cardboard over your windshield the night before. Unless it will be snow mixed with rain. Then you will just end up with a box/ice/windshield sandwich.

2. People think it's OK to run red lights. And the cars coming from the other way EXPECT it. They wait for those extra 3 people to run it. So if you're new here, get used to it. Or at least get insurance.

3. There are a ton of parks here! We've been to tiny towns in Wisconsin that had a park right in the middle of town. The bigger "cities" have them too. You can even walk to them, since there are sidewalks everywhere. It's awesome! The South could definitely learn something about this. C'mon GA, pull it together.

4. Wisconsin is beautiful. There is glacial country that makes me glad to be a live. The lakes are beautiful. Along the river is beautiful. There are also lots of caves. We took the kids camping near a cave where they do boat rides through. It was great. Our kids love caves. We try to take them through at least one a year. We've been through 3 this year. I know that isn't a lot, but hopefully it's fostering a love they can cultivate later on their own. I've heard the east side of WI isn't as nice, but I probably won't make it over there anyway. And WI is one of the leading states for organic farms. Yeah, I didn't know that either. OK, that's my plug for WI. I don't want to take too much time talking about it since I'm not getting paid or anything.

That's all I can think of right now. I'm sure I'll add a few things as I go...

1 grit - sorry this reads like a school assignment, it sort of was, but I changed it a little for y'all

I just thought it was a very cool idea


Using Free Energy to Power Mobile Devices

Recently Intel has been researching the possibility of harnessing free energy from the environment, in the form of body heat or light from the sun. They would do this with the use of tiny sensors. They are also looking into using the energy produced from the user’s movements on the track ball. The applications could be used to allow users of mobile devices to harvest energy without having to rely on batteries or electricity. Intel is also developing this technology to power neural implants that would be able to monitor body functions. These findings could also be sent wirelessly. I believe that this could also be used for other implants such as cochlear implants. The implications of this could be very far reaching. There is a worldwide market for technology that is self-contained and self-powered. It would especially be useful in developing countries. Mobile medical units could become much more portable, and be able to help many more people, if they did not have to rely on conventional power. It would also be very helpful to use in pumps that could power wells. Although this type of sensor is not on the market yet, the research continues. The article states that it will be a while before the sensors will be powerful enough to run small devices such as cell phones, and even longer before there will be sensors for larger items.

Free Association, that's right, I said FREE - 2 grits

What natural law governs the fact that a kid will always choose the place you JUST cleaned to vomit all over? Pickles, who is hardly ever sick btw, ran into the bathroom and threw up less than an hour after I had made everything sparkly.

I took Sassafras and her Girl Scout troop to an retirement home yesterday. They sang songs to the residents and visited a little. The girls were very cute and got the older people involved. Everyone really enjoyed the singalong. The home was filled with Christmasy type stuff. But there was one decoration I could not figure out. When we first walked in, Santa's head was sitting on a table. Just his head. Decapitated and smiling and welcoming us to a happy happy singalong.

Who wants to drive, without switching off, with 4 kids, a cranky husband, a van full of gifts, 2 hamsters, 2 snakes, and a dog for 14 hours? Not you? Me neither. But alas, that is my fate. Coming soon to a GA near you.

Have I mentioned how great it is to have a deep freezer? How did I go so long without one? I no longer have to play freezer tetris every time I go shopping.

I feel very behind this year. I haven't even taken a picture of the kids, much less gotten the cards out that said pics are supposed to be in. I didn't get any decorations out until last week. Maybe I'll just leave them up until the middle of January to make up for it. I need to pack this week. All the gifts I haven't shipped already anyway. I need to do all the laundry. After I finish rewashing everything that Pickles regurgitated on.

Plus I need to get several assignments turned in. Say a little prayer for me this week. Not necessarily that I get everything done, but just that I don't go crazy trying. And I can't wait to see all my favorites in GA soooooooooooooooooooon!

Things I have learned since moving to the Midwest - 1 Grit

1. Scarves actually have a purpose. They are not just a winter accessory. They are not just for looking pretty. There are also actual ways to tie a scarf and if you don't tie it here, it will be blown away in a Midwestern gust.

2. The ground is not stable here for several months out of the year. In GA, the ground does not suddenly betray you and send you flying. Here, even if it doesn't look particularly slippery, the ice will take you down. It will TAKE YOU DOWN!

3. People here are not cold. They are polite. They think they are minding their own business. If you are from the South though, you will think they are being cold. The difference is that they are being rudely polite. Southerners are politely rude. These midwesterners just don't get it, bless their hearts.

4. The weather can change drastically without a whole lot of warning. Tomorrow is supposed to be 56 degrees and Monday is supposed to be 15. Niiiiice...

5. A lot of people that live here are actually from here.

6. They really do have the best corn. And Wisconsin really does have the best cheese. Although I cannot handle the squeak from the curds.

7. There are a LOT of Democrats here. Be careful about expressing opposing views. Or just rant on your blog instead.

8. Americans are pretty much the same everywhere. Most of us are good most of the time.

Posting Level: 2 grits

see profile for grittiness posting levels

A joke by Sassafras

A guy went to the doctor and said,
"I think my butt is broken. I fell down pretty hard and now there's a crack in it."

She's so clever.

My grandmother used to say, "Aren't you just so clever?" She would say this when we were extra sassy and she didn't want to say we were being a smartass. She was nice like that.

I told Sassafras her joke was funny but not to tell it around grown-ups. Was that bad? I kind of think that kids need to have things that are quasi-secrets from adults. I don't want my kids to think I'm all over them all the time. That they can have their space, but that I'll be there for them if they need me.

I know an amazing mom who raised her kids alone. They were really wild as teenagers. Oh you had a wild period when you were a teenager? Well multiply that by 100 and these kids were that bad. Not mean, they just made terrible choices. OK, so I was there too sometimes, but I'm not judging, just trying to explain. So anyway, they were very naughty. And this mom just loved them. That's all she could do. She gave them a place to live, she gave them food, she gave them a good example of how to treat others, she gave them her testimony, and she gave them love. So they were naughty for several years. But these kids have all grown up to be really amazing people. Productive, intelligent, caring people.

I was also talking to a friend about their little girl who wouldn't take off her favorite dress for a week straight. Now if she was my little girl, I would have wrestled the dress off her and thrown her into a tub. Or maybe into the tub WITH the dress on. But what would that have proven? That I didn't respect her or her body. And that I was bigger so that made me the boss. Not such a good thing to teach a kid.

So what I'm trying to say is that I really think the best way to raise kids is with love and respect. These two moms both have kids that make them crazy sometimes. And that's OK. Those kids KNOW their moms love them. No matter what.

Don't worry MOM, you're my favorite. I just know you don't really like being spotlighted. But just so everyone knows, my mom is awesome. She always works really hard to let us know she loves us. Even though I'm the favorite...

*side note*
the moon will be physically closer to the earth tonight than it usually is. So the moon will look bigger and brighter. And the tides will be higher than normal. So don't go camping on the beach tonight in CA or you may get your jammies wet.

This post is safe for Nobody.

Nobody has asked for a warning system that allows her to avoid conspiracy theory posts, scary political posts, and/or posts about zombie robots. If you too would like to avoid those particular types of posts, then look for the Nobo warning label.

You know what fun is? Fun is spending an hour and a half at Sam's, gathering almost $700 worth of groceries. Then standing in line while you get OMG looks from fellow customers and the brave ones asking how long all that will last. If I'm feeling extra sassy, I tell them I'm just topping off the underground stash since we just built a new bunker. Or that it only lasts 3 days. Or that it lasts a week, but I have 12 kids. OK, so it really lasts a month as long as I refresh with fresh fruits and veggies once a week.

What's even more fun is loading everything into the buggy and looking for my food stamps card* and not finding it. So then I use my debit card. Then I go to my truck and find the food stamp card on the floor of the truck. Then I push the buggy full of $700 worth of groceries back into the store to ask for a refund, so I can use the f.s. card. And being told I would have to get my money back in cash, and then go back through the line. With $700 worth of groceries.

At this point the shopping trip had been two hours long already.

So I did it. I went back through the line and unloaded all the groceries back onto the belt. And the poor cashier loaded everything back into the buggy. And I put it all into my truck, took it home, unloaded it into the house, and then loaded it all into the cabinets.

Call ucmama for a good time...

*before you judge me for the food stamps thing, remember that Dr. Husband is blind, we've paid into the system for over ten years each, we are paying over $100,000 to the state of IA to get our degrees, and we will be paying into the system when we are done with school until we die. So if you must judge, then at least you are now sufficiently edemucated about our sichee-ashun.

On a side note, I should really be watching the Hamster a little more closely instead of blogging right now. I'm putting him to sleep (Ha-Ha) and he told me was going to go "get some chissues to bow his nose". He just climbed back up next to me with his arms absolutely full of toilet paper.

uh, I should probably go take care of this...

It's Uncanny

Have you ever heard of the uncanny valley? It's a theory proposed by several different psychologists and researchers claiming that the more a robot looks and life-like, people will increasingly respond in a positive way until it becomes so life-like that we respond with a sudden revulsion. In other words, the more human the robot, the more we hate it. This theory can also be applied to prosthetics, but zombies would be at the bottom of the valley. Think of it as a bell curve that elevates with the robot's increasing human likeness, only to fall sharply as it approaches near "human-ness". Zombies are at the low point of the curve. The theory is based on the idea that we have empathy for robots when the differences between them and humans are stark, but as the gap narrows, it creeps us the hell out.

I would have to agree with this theory. I can't even watch Shawn of the Dead and it's a stinkin spoof. Robots do creep me out. I hated the movie AI. Not just because it had Haley Joel Osmond in it either. The whole mutant higher order robots at the end just gives me the heebie-jeebies. On the other hand, the kids' movie Robots was just goofy. I also love C-3PO from Star Wars.

What got me on this rant today is this story. This guy built himself a wifey-type robot. To do his, ahem, chores. That's not all I think she does for him. And this creeps me out even more.

Have you ever seen Lars and the Real Girl? Fabulous movie, by the way. I never thought a love story between a guy and sex doll could make me cry, but it did. But the doll, if you can call it that, was just too real looking.

I love technology. I love that we humans have created machines to help us make our lives more efficient. I wouldn't want to live without my washing machine, microwave, furnace, or computer. But I don't want any of my appliances to talk to me. Or cop an attitude. If that's the case, I'd rather just have a dinosaur under the counter for a garbage disposal, a la the Flinstones.

What do you think?

This is what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown...

I was putting Hamster to sleep last night. Really I was playing with him while James kept shushing us. I wanted to make sure, in his sweet little head, that he knew what Christmas was about.
me: Christmas is coming!
Hamster: no mo dah-purs affer Cwi-mus. (We're serious about potty training soon)
me: Right, no diapers. But also it's about Jesus' birthday.
Hamster: Jeeshus?
me: uh huh. Jesus. It's a celebration about His birthday.
Hamster: and open MY pwesunts!

yeah, Hamster, open your presents. Who told my almost 3-year old that he opens presents? Oh yeah, the 5-year old. Thanks Bud.

I'm feeling a little lazy, so I'm reposting something I blogged about on myspace before. Since I'm pretty sure none of y'all have read that blog, excepting maybe Eve, it'll be fresh to you.

I was born on a last quarter moon.
James was born on a waxing crescent.
Sassafras was born on waxing gibbous. And Sept is the month for Harvest moons.
Pickles was also born on a waxing gibbous.
Bud was born on a waning crescent.
Hamster was born on waning gibbous.

and another one...

So I've been doing a lot of genealogical research lately. My kids are almost exclusively of German/British stock. I did find a few interesting people: Salvator Muscoe was an Italian master stone mason. I also found just a couple Swiss ancestors as well. I did not, however, find the elusive Native American ancestor that all Southerners seem to claim. This is tracing back at least two hundred years on each line. I find this research fascinating and addicting, and hopefully I'll be able to eventually travel and get better proof on some of the people that seem to prove a little more elusive.
GO DEAD FOLKS!

So there you go...

Because I haven't put enough stuff up today, here's a video of an elephant painting
Thanks Beccah! This is really amazing

Shameless Sisterly Promotion

My sister is a massage therapist. She went to a real school. She is licensed. And she is awesome. So,

IF you are in the metro ATL area, and
IF you want an amazing massage, and
IF you don't want to pay through the nose (or any other part of your body), and
IF you would like to get in touch with her, go here and send her a message. She will get right back to you. Just mention that you saw this here to get a good deal on a really great massage.

IF you are some kind of (yucky) freak, go somewhere else. She doesn't do that kind of massage. If you're just a regular freak, that's OK.

Wasting time

I'm sitting here in computer class. I'm supposed to be listening, but there isn't really anything to listen to yet. I'm almost always late to this class. It's a 7:30 class. The kids can't really be at school before then. So, I usually have to drop them off slightly early and they sit around in the lobby waiting to be able to go to the cafeteria. Anyway, today I got to school on time. And we are just sitting here. Waiting for the teacher to start. The one day I'm here on time and I didn't really need to be.

It wasn't too cold this morning. Maybe 20 degrees. Oh no! Am I getting used to this ridiculous weather? Someone told me that people live longer here in the cold weather. I wonder why they would want to...

Shameless self promotion
I sell Mary Kay. I'm not a makeup hound. But I do like the products that I use. I sell it to make a (very) small amount of money, and so that I can get stuff at a discount. If you like Mary Kay products, would appreciate free shipping (to the cont. U.S.), and would also appreciate a discount on Mary Kay, give me a call/email/text/carrier pigeon, etc.

That being said,

I would like to recommend to the hot dog people that they promptly get schooled by the cake people. Duncan Hines could seriously teach Oscar Meyer a thing or two. There is always exactly enough icing for 24 cupcakes or a cake. The frosting people really know how to do it.

*PollyAnna warning*

I'm about to play the glad game, so if you've just eaten sugar, this post may put you into a diabetic coma. (Sorry too any readers who actually are in a coma, no offense)

My truck decided to stop making gasoline go to the engine when I pushed the pedal. In short, the pedal went floppy.

BUT,
I'm glad I was going downhill at the time. Can you imagine how nasty that could have been for a half-ton vehicle on ice?
I'm glad it was the gas pedal instead of the brake pedal. I don't even want to imagine that one.
I'm glad I was on my way to pick up my kids at my friend's house. She usually works on Wednesdays, so otherwise I would have been screwed. AND, we had a warm safe place to wait.
I'm glad I get AAA every Easter from my mother. Thanks again Mom.
I'm glad Hamster was at his awesome preschool so I didn't have to worry about where he was either.
I'm glad the tow-truck driver had the most awesome mullet I've ever seen. It's an image I will hold onto forever, so I can think about it in inappropriate situations and chuckle.
I'm glad said friend was willing to give me a ride to pick up Hamster, AND take me to Hertz to get a rental car.
I'm glad the Hertz guy gave me a discount on top of the AAA discount.
I'm glad the car I got seats 6, since most cars seat 5, and vans are too expensive to rent for just a few days at a time.
I'm glad I have two other friends who immediately came over to examine the problem
I'm glad it had stopped snowing before they came over.
I'm glad the problem was just the tiny clamp on the throttle cable and not a $2000 issue.

I'm glad I'm in bed next to my sweet sweet Bud while he falls asleep on my shoulder.

This is to try to balance all the "depressing" posts I've been doing...

ran-dumb

Anyone have any size 4 jazz shoes lying (laying?) around? Sassy needs some for her class and I don't even know where to look. Amazon is my best bet I'm thinkin.

The Hamster got an attitude for Christmas. I'm pretty sure I gave it to him, but I wasn't paying attention and it sort of snuck up on me. I told him he was short. Well, he is. And he shot his little pointer finger at me and said "NO! You short!" I totally deserved it too.

Did I mention he's a month shy of 3? My kids don't really hit the terrible two's. They come terrible. Then when they hit 3, it's like the terrible two's, just with a bigger vocabulary.

Anyone else like kefir? Hyvee has some really good vanilla. It's in the health food section. Also, don't look for the Just Strawberries right now, I already cleaned them out.

I tried making my own kefir a few years ago. I bought the little kefir grains. I got about 3 gallons out of them and then they just stopped working. I guess I didn't "feed" them enough or something. One of my friends makes her own yogurt. She's very cool.

Someone gave us almost half a deer, already processed into sausages, steaks, and ground meat. For free. That's karma. For the half goat we gave away a few years back.

Did you know that if you only feed your baby ball pythons once a week, they will try to eat the same mouse at the same time and become a horribly twisted up ball of snakes? And then when you untangle them as gently as possible, they will still hang on until you very carefully work their little mouths off. What? More than you EVER wanted to know about feeding snakes?

I would like to know how the Girl Scouts Organization can sleep at night knowing that their iron-on patches are in no way iron-on.

I would also like to know why my husband thinks it's necessary to watch StrongBad and/or The Brak Show in stereo. Surely insane, mind-warping cartoons can be enjoyed through the television's speakers.

I'm almost completely done Christmas shopping. I just have to buy stocking stuffers for my sister. My mom and sisters are doing a stocking exchange this year. We like (small) surprises. Big surprises are not really welcomed round our families. Unless you want to surprise me with lots and lots of money. That'd be pretty great.

This blog is like a box of chocolates. You never know if your chocolate is gonna be politically-flavored, kid-flavored, or just plain nougat. If it's nougat, you can keep it. I hate those.

Remember yesterday? Hopefully you do, and hopefully you read my blog on politics yesterday too, cause I love me some fans. Anyway, I should have remembered to be careful what I wished for, because today the Pentagon has announced that they want to deploy 20,000 troops inside the U.S. This is obviously to help local law enforcement agencies in case of terrorist/nuclear attacks.

What? You don't believe that? You think that maybe the govt wants to be even more involved in the daily lives of Americans? Yeah, so do I. Good thing we agree. And if you don't agree, then leave a comment or write your own blog. Blogs should be like bellybuttons - everyone should have one.

*warning, boring links ahead*
The only thing wrong with this though, is that it's against the law for the military to be involved in local enforcement. According to the Posse Comitatus Act, a 130-year-old fed'l law that restricts the military's role in domestic law enforcement, unless it's expressly authorized by the Constitution or an Act of Congress. So Bush, our lame duck pres., is especially fond of getting rid of this particular Act. After Hurricane Katrina, he had it signed into law that the military could take over in New Orleans following the disaster. That one was repealed entirely later on.

So where I'm going with this is here --> What's to stop this from eventually becoming a country where the military 'aids' local law enforcement in traffic stops?

Can you show me your papers ma'am? Why did you file the serial numbers off your gun ma'am? Can you please explain to us ma'am, why you have an extensive underground cache of food storage, automatic weapons, and chocolate?

OK, I promise the next few posts will be about my kids (for the Grandmama) or weird stuff. Probably both.

I'm giving myself subliminal messages I think. For some reason, I really need to go buy a Snickers bar...

Updates

I'm still sick.
It's still snowing.
My kids are NOT sick - yay!
In less than 3 weeks, something really great happens.
I didn't do too poorly on my Psych exam I took today.
I let James open his Christmas present from me. Honestly, I've got to start waiting until the last minute to buy that man his gifts, because I can never wait.
I was able to talk to GrandDad about a week ago, and he didn't sound too terrible.
I made some cute/funny little creatures out of Sculpey to give to some friends now and more to give away at Christmas time.

You know, I almost always forget to take pictures of my creations. Whether it's a painting, a mural, a quilt, or even something little like 12 days of Christmas cats (yeah, I really did), I'm always forgetting to take pictures. It's only slightly maddening. BUT, if I've given you something and you have the time, please take a picture and send it to me. Thanks in advance.