tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-314405412024-03-12T22:11:04.235-05:00Random Acts of Sanity<b>"I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship."</b><br>~Louisa May AlcottTammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17816546768045911474noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31440541.post-91905707069034839292008-09-21T21:21:00.004-05:002008-09-21T21:32:38.480-05:00It's Soccer Season<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oxh6rw5RcQ4/SNcCBEQK_MI/AAAAAAAAAC0/W51eGyRcRt0/s1600-h/IMG_0404.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oxh6rw5RcQ4/SNcCBEQK_MI/AAAAAAAAAC0/W51eGyRcRt0/s400/IMG_0404.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248666108068297922" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">My oldest played her first game of the season on Saturday. Heavy rains left the fields too wet to play last week.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17816546768045911474noreply@blogger.com265tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31440541.post-13133023921368978542008-09-19T07:22:00.004-05:002008-09-19T07:31:20.840-05:00Backyard Soccer<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oxh6rw5RcQ4/SNOa_-c-o8I/AAAAAAAAACs/gTca_oWAxeU/s1600-h/107.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oxh6rw5RcQ4/SNOa_-c-o8I/AAAAAAAAACs/gTca_oWAxeU/s400/107.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247708414703739842" border="0" /></a>My neighbor (and good friend) has signed up to play on a woman's soccer league. Last night my daughter saw her practicing and decided to help her out. My daughter is an avid soccer player who has given up the sport this fall in order to play basketball for her school team. As you can see, her equipment has not found its way out of summer storage. Fortunately she walked away with only one small injury.Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17816546768045911474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31440541.post-73728279614018767482008-09-08T00:19:00.002-05:002008-09-08T00:24:30.610-05:00Finding YourselfI've often heard of people who are trying to find themselves and always wondered what a person means by that. How do you find yourself? I think it's often used as an excuse for someone to extricate themselves from a difficult situation, most often troubled relationships. I imagine some find it as a deeper way of saying, "I'm not happy with you and I want out to find someone that does make me happy." Although I'm a firm believer that you can't depend on someone else to make you happy, but that's another rambling.<br /><br />So as I'm reading from my most recent fiction selection I come across the term "find yourself" once again. I then realize that I think I get what a person trying to find oneself is looking for and at the same time I realize that it can't be found. It is something that comes with age, wisdom and experience. The experiences are not always good but they certainly help shape who you become. When I think back to my youth, especially my twenties, I can certainly put my finger on the floundering that likely creates this need for one to find oneself. I see it as a need to figure out what you believe and the need to understand why you believe it. It's a desire to feel content with who you've been and who you've become. It's a need to be at peace with the events of your life, to be sure that they happened for a reason or maybe to be able to pin-point the good that came from the especially tragic events of life.<br /><br />So then I wonder what will I tell my daughters someday if they express the need to find themselves? I think I will have to tell them exactly what I've expressed here. You can't find yourself, simply live life, accept and embrace the good and bad of it and one day you'll wake up to realize that yourself has found you.Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17816546768045911474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31440541.post-686228503151214892007-08-31T16:14:00.000-05:002007-08-31T16:19:20.190-05:00Conversations with a 7 year old7 year old: <span style="font-style: italic;">"Mom, is there something I can wash my face off with? I ate a caramel apple and it's all sticky."</span><br /><br /> Me: <span style="font-style: italic;">"Yeah, it's called soap and water, it does amazing things."</span><br /><br /> <br />She rolled her eyes at me! Is there something wrong with soap and water that someone has not let me in on? Does it cause premature aging? Cancer? What? Sheesh!Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17816546768045911474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31440541.post-56725621584561108032007-04-22T16:16:00.000-05:002007-04-22T16:23:46.711-05:00A tired I haven't felt in a long timeI am definitley feeling the effects of working full time and being a single parent. It is certainly a tired I haven't felt in a long time. But, let me confess, it's a good tired. I'm now ready to sleep at a normal hour, like the rest of the world and once I can actually force myself out of bed (this has always been a challenge for me), I feel rested and ready for the day. All these things get a little slack when your a stay-at-home mom.<br /><br />Oops, abrupt change of subject: The weather has been gorgeous the past three days. No shivering on the soccer fields yesterday morning, not even for the 9 a.m. game. I can only hope the trend continues. In case it doesn't, the girls and I are now on our way, with our rollerblades, to meet some friends and enjoy the 80 degree sunshine while it's here. I only ask that you pray for me, it's been over a year since I last rollerbladed and I'm not the coordinated type.Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17816546768045911474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31440541.post-86536642446060264052007-04-16T21:58:00.000-05:002007-04-16T22:02:52.875-05:00Oh how I laughedEleven year old - "I spy with my little eye, something yellow."<br /><br />Nine year old - "Your teeth!"Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17816546768045911474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31440541.post-41696410881357970462007-04-10T23:56:00.000-05:002007-04-11T00:07:08.133-05:00All work, no playThat's pretty much what my life is feeling like since I've started working. Between working, homework, the start of soccer season, Easter, etc... there has been very little time for posting. Ok, I confess, there has probably been plenty of time to sit down and post but truth be told, I'm too brain fried to come up with anything to write about. Which brings me to the fact that this post will not be all that exciting. But there is a plea for information within!<br /><br />The job is going good, lots of information to absorb. I keep telling myself that I'm very fortunate to have previous experience in the printing field because without it I would be clueless. I'm attempting to do marketing for the printer I'm working for. Once again, clueless. While I've worked in sales and advertising before and have some journalism education I've never actually worked in marketing. I've been trying to do as much research and reading on marketing as possible, which brings me to my plea. If you have any good marketing advice, know of any good articles or blogs, especially, about marketing I would love to hear about them.<br /><br />I'm not feeling completely lost, I have some good ideas in action already and I know the more I get to know the ins and outs of this particular company the easier it will get. But, I'm an information hound and the more I have the better prepared I feel.Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17816546768045911474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31440541.post-62209460613010827832007-03-30T12:17:00.000-05:002007-03-30T12:41:11.514-05:00Desperate needOften times when I'm on the computer Sophie (aka Pup) will step inside the door and make little growling noises at me. These growls are her way of letting me know she has a need. Many times when I'm absorbed in what I'm doing the growls will turn into barks. Her needs are usually a trip to her "potty spot" out doors or sometimes she will grab a toy and want me to play with her. Pretty smart little pup if you ask me.<br /><br />Earlier (as in about 20 minutes ago) she stuck her head in the door and growled a couple times. I immediately went for the patio door as she hadn't been out in awhile and I figured she needed to pee. As I got to the patio doors I realized she wasn't following me but still standing in the dining room. I went back and gave her a little love and returned to the computer. Not five minutes later she was back at the growling bit. This time I let her lead and show me what she was after. She led me to the dining room stopped, dropped down and rolled on to her back. Which we all know is the universal sign for "RUB MY BELLY DAMN IT!"<br /><br />Can you believe it? My dog is demanding belly rubs now! Who does she think she is? Yes, I fell for her demand and gave her a belly rub. Only to have return a few minutes later and demand another. I obliged a second time and now she seems content and happy. You can tell by her expression below that her momma is certainly no second rate belly rubber.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oxh6rw5RcQ4/Rg1K6R7AuDI/AAAAAAAAACU/G_Xd7K8M5nI/s1600-h/DSC01879.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oxh6rw5RcQ4/Rg1K6R7AuDI/AAAAAAAAACU/G_Xd7K8M5nI/s320/DSC01879.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047773122455975986" border="0" /></a>Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17816546768045911474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31440541.post-50347463365595183802007-03-27T22:39:00.000-05:002007-03-27T22:47:49.298-05:00Learning to add fractions<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oxh6rw5RcQ4/RgnkHx7AuCI/AAAAAAAAACI/BpVtKkhtOZE/s1600-h/Math.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oxh6rw5RcQ4/RgnkHx7AuCI/AAAAAAAAACI/BpVtKkhtOZE/s400/Math.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046815679756417058" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><blockquote>When Michigan temps hit 75 degrees in March<br />math homework must be done outdoors.</blockquote></div>Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17816546768045911474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31440541.post-91077449220597066462007-03-25T18:14:00.000-05:002007-03-25T18:59:17.230-05:00So I got a jobYes, it's true, it seems someone finds me still employable after 11 years of being home with my kids.<br /><br />Tomorrow I start work for a digital printing company doing sales and marketing. It's pretty much what I was doing before I had kids. While I admit to being a little bit nervous I'm mostly really excited to have the opportunity to actually use my brain again. The people I'll be working for have been very kind in offering to be flexible so that I'm still able to take my girls to school and pick them up at the end of the day.<br /><br />But of course, with every good opportunity there are draw backs. Be prepared a few of them are petty.<br /><br /><ol><li>No more dropping my kids off at school while still in my pajamas.</li><li>No more going back to bed on the mornings I feel the need for more rest.</li><li>No more summer vacation. It's not so bad, by week three I want to pound my kids heads together anyway.</li><li>Pup is so not going to be happy with me when she has to start spending her days in her kennel.</li><li>It's a 30 minute drive one way and gas is not cheap.<br /></li></ol>So, back to the reality of the working world I go.Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17816546768045911474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31440541.post-29947904930533911432007-03-21T23:51:00.000-05:002007-03-23T00:15:12.140-05:00The Red Metal Tool BoxThis past summer I was cleaning out the garage and came across an old, red, metal toolbox of my husband's (now deceased). I decided to bust it open in hopes he had been hoarding money during our marriage, which would be <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ok</span> now that it would be all mine! Instead what I found inside was every note and card I had ever written or given him <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">pre</span> marriage. How romantic eh? That's what I thought until tonight when I remembered the tool box and decided to start reading them.<br /><br />After laughing through them I decided that first I will need to sort through and separate those that I will allow my children to some day read and those that should probably be burned. I already fear that my children will need therapy in the future simply because they drew the short straw when it came to getting the really good mom. No need to make it worse by reading the sometimes rather inappropriate things I wrote to their dad in high school.<br /><br />On a side note my 11 year old told me this evening (after a conversation about some parents she was observing in the restaurant earlier) that some people just shouldn't be allowed to parent. My question was, "Am I one of them?" Her answer was no, so I still have the wool over her eyes for now.<br /><br />Back to the red tool box. Once I made the decision to censor what my children could read I thought it would be fun to entertain the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">internet</span> with some of my notes, my personal embarrassment is a small price to pay for your enjoyment. Please keep in mind that he and I dated through most of my high school years and that is when the majority of these notes were written. I swear I've grown up since then, I really have.<br /><br />Let's start with the profession of love:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Matthew,</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I love you!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Love-ya,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> Me</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">P.S. I love you!</span></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Hmm</span>, profound.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Ok</span>, moving on to a typed note (gee, I'm guessing I was in typing class perhaps neglecting my typing assignment):<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Matthew,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Howdy! How ya <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">doin</span>'? Me, fine! I guess! I have a terrible headache though. </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">And I miss you! And I LOVE YOU! About last night, I'm sorry for questioning </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">you about whether or not you really loved me! I believe ya! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">LOVE-YA,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">ME!</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Ok</span>, I must take several issues with this one. For starters I know I'm not as chipper, nor have I ever been, as the number of exclamation points in this note might indicate. Then notice how in high school I was already practicing the "honey, not tonight, I have a headache" move. I was always ahead of my age. Did I seriously start this note with "Howdy!"? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">ACK</span>! One theme I noticed in a few of the letters that is also present in this one is obvious insecurity issues. I wish someone would have grabbed me by the shoulders and told my high school self to GET A GRIP! No fear, I got over that about the first week of marriage when every time I moved from his sight he asked me where I was going. We only lived in 780 square feet, I couldn't go far.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Ok</span>, this is the last one I'll share for tonight, as I still have lots of them to read through.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Matthew,<br />Hi hon! I'm sorry I didn't have much time to write but we were learning<br />how to draw atomic models and I had to pay attention!<br />Kay-O? I promise I'll write in 5<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">th</span> hr. maybe!<br />I LOVE YOU!<br /><br />Love-ya,<br /></span></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Me<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Well, it's good to see that I was at least attempting to pay attention in one of my classes. Thank the stars I learned how to draw atomic models because I'll be damned if I don't use that knowledge on a daily basis. Apparently I didn't feel I would need to learn anything 5<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">th</span> hour though because it seems it was necessary to write my boyfriend yet another dreary, pointless note. Did I really write "Kay-O?" <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">ACK</span>!<br /><br />Stay tuned there may be more episodes of <span style="font-weight: bold;">"The Red Metal Tool Box"</span> to come.<br /></span></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></div></div></div></div></div>Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17816546768045911474noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31440541.post-34908163356606903442007-03-15T23:55:00.000-05:002007-03-16T00:09:16.934-05:00PonderingsAnd so I ponder, why is it necessary for the dog to chase her tail in the middle of my bed?<br /><br /> Today the answer came to me. It is so that when she has chased her tail for so long that she can no longer stand up, at least it will not hurt to fall down.Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17816546768045911474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31440541.post-86698902203978092062007-03-12T22:14:00.000-05:002007-03-12T22:35:06.324-05:00Blogging vs. French Fries<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oxh6rw5RcQ4/RfYaTWFOsMI/AAAAAAAAAB4/n3XxFZQKI3w/s1600-h/ideas.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oxh6rw5RcQ4/RfYaTWFOsMI/AAAAAAAAAB4/n3XxFZQKI3w/s200/ideas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5041245752535199938" border="0" /></a><br />In the mail today I received my much anticipated copy of <a href="http://mightygirl.net/shop">No One Cares What You Had for Lunch: 100 Ideas For Your Blog</a>. I sat down with it immediately and was determined to make this the most exciting blog of the year only to find I couldn't concentrate. Hmm. Ok, my mind is on a lot of things today so I figured I would get back to it later in the evening, after the kids are in bed and things quiet down.<br /><br />So, here I am after my second attempt at reading this book. Once again I couldn't focus. That's when it hit me! I know what it is that keeps distracting me from the contents of the book. It's the picture of those awesome looking fries on the front cover! They look so perfectly hot and crispy with that bright, cool glob of ketchup. I can hear them calling my name. Everytime I sit down with the book I start craving french fries. Tomorrow I might just have to go out, order some fries and munch while I read. If that doesn't work I may seriously have to rip the cover off and put it through my shredder before I can even think of improving my blogging.Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17816546768045911474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31440541.post-49727993737823514732007-03-08T22:40:00.000-05:002007-03-08T22:47:58.610-05:00Caught during a weak momentLet me tell you how much I love my paper shredder! I really get into the process of shredding paper. I love to see how an entire bulky stack of paper can be shredded and compressed into a small little pile. I get so into this that my 11 year old decided to take advantage of the situation tonight. <br /><br />While I was shredding she began asking me math questions. I was giving her the answers, some even required quite a bit of figuring in my head, but none difficult enough to distract me from my shredding, nope, not, never. I'm not sure how many questions I answered before I realized she was doing her homework! <br /><br />I feel so used.Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17816546768045911474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31440541.post-56176291461178281922007-03-04T11:02:00.000-05:002007-03-04T11:19:35.244-05:00Number GenderDo your numbers have genders?<br /><br />Yesterday while driving, out of the blue my 7 year old says from the backseat, "Mama, 9 is a girl." I immediately disagreed with her and told her that 9 is indeed a boy. About that time I noticed my 11 year old looking at me like I was nuts. So I asked her if she thought 9 was a boy or girl and her response was, "I have no idea what you two are talking about."<br /><br />That's when it occurred to me that maybe not every one's numbers have genders. I immediately dialed my crazy friend to ask her if her numbers have genders. I knew for sure she would say yes and make me feel saner, WRONG! I'm pretty sure she thought I'd been smokin' crack. I've since asked a couple more people and I've yet to find another adult who's numbers have genders.<br /><br />So inquiring minds (mainly just mine) want to know... Do your numbers have genders? If so what are they? For instance my numbers 1,6,7,9 and 0 are all males while 2,4,5 and 8 are female. I've never really been able to put a gender label on 3, I think he/she might have numeral gender identity issues. Someone told me 3 should be a female because it's curvy. That then led me to wonder why exactly my numbers have the genders they do or why I've gendered my numbers at all. It's not something I did consciously, it's simply always been that way for as long as I can remember.<br /><br />So please, I want to hear from others about this. Unless your a mental health professional and you plan to tell me I'm not well (I already know that so let's just keep it between us).Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17816546768045911474noreply@blogger.com315tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31440541.post-55045746028125649092007-03-02T17:39:00.000-05:002007-03-02T17:55:22.716-05:00Reflections of a 5th graderMy fifth grader will occassionally mention problems with classmates, ya know, typical 5th grade girl angst. She mostly takes issue with people who brag about themselves all the time. My oldest is, in my mom opinion, nothing like that type of person. I feel it's because she has a healthy self-esteem. I tried to explain to her that sometimes when people don't feel the greatest about themselves they need to brag to make themselves feel better. I guess my message was, be understanding and forgiving but don't let anyone push you around. Apparently my little speech brought forth a memory from second grade that she felt the need to share with me.<br /><br /> There is one classmate in particular that my daughter has problems with. She told me that one day in second grade she decided to stand up to her and tell her how mean she was and that it wasn't appreciated. She said she was feeling pretty good that she had been brave enough to confront this girl. Finally she said, "Then I realized my zipper was open."<br /><br /> Chalk that up to a lesson in humility.Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17816546768045911474noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31440541.post-998659335311434412007-03-01T01:13:00.000-05:002007-03-01T01:26:44.740-05:00Fun craft projects for your next snow dayThe next time your stuck at home with the kids on a snow day why not gather together some supplies and build a <a href="http://www.tamponcrafts.com/gun.html">tampon shooter</a>! The downside is you won't be able to take it outside to play because once the tampon hits the snow it'll be too big to reload. Don't forget the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">bandoleer</span>, an absolute must have <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">accessory</span> for the shooter.<br /><br />You already have a tampon shooter you say? Well then, perhaps you'd enjoy making a <a href="http://www.tamponcrafts.com/toupee.html">tampon toupee</a> for the bald love of your life.<br /><br />Not in need of either of these items? Take a look around <a href="http://www.tamponcrafts.com/">Tampon Crafts</a>, there are all sorts of bizarre crafts for those of you who can't stand to leave your tampons in the cupboard the other three weeks of the month.Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17816546768045911474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31440541.post-82341411798073857512007-02-27T00:10:00.000-05:002007-02-27T00:13:10.196-05:00Because I can relateThis <a href="http://veryfunnyads.com/ads/24962.html">video</a> at <a href="http://veryfunnyads.com/">Very Funny Ads</a> speaks to me. Probably because this is how my luck runs.Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17816546768045911474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31440541.post-27642361347317685512007-02-21T14:37:00.000-05:002007-02-21T14:54:29.745-05:00The work of SatanDoesn't it just figure that on the day I've decided to give up eating junk fo 40 days I would stumble across this tempting <a href="http://www.typetive.com/candyblog/">site</a>. After I've been doing so good with my fasting today, I mean all I've had so far today is a half bottle of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coca_Cola">Coke</a> and one <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadbury%27s_Creme_Egg">Cadbury Cream Egg</a>!Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17816546768045911474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31440541.post-19117625234436697122007-02-19T12:53:00.000-05:002007-02-19T22:32:49.311-05:00For real?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oxh6rw5RcQ4/RdnkYVvyNII/AAAAAAAAABs/TMCTO3w0myI/s1600-h/11042897_240X180.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oxh6rw5RcQ4/RdnkYVvyNII/AAAAAAAAABs/TMCTO3w0myI/s200/11042897_240X180.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5033305165368800386" border="0" /></a><br />As recent years have shown, Britney has lost complete hairbrush function and decided to just do away with the rat's nest all together.<br /><br />Seriously, can anyone tell me what exactly is wrong with this girl? I wonder how long her boys will run crying from her until they get used to their new bald mommy.Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17816546768045911474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31440541.post-16367592804004751762007-02-16T22:51:00.000-05:002007-02-16T23:08:36.035-05:00Public Service AnnouncementBecause I am a good person and I want to save all the rest of the people of the world from the misery I have been experiencing, I am sharing an important bit of information with all of you, my faithful readers.<br /><br />DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT ever buy this <a href="http://www.bissell.com/Products/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=Bissell&category%5Fname=UprightVacuum&product%5Fid=CV+Revolution">piece of crap</a> that claims to be a vacuum cleaner. It is a poser! Apparently the engineers at <a href="http://www.bissell.com/">Bissell</a> misunderstood when the directions said that this vacuum needs to suck!<br /><br />Every time I use this thing I have to tear it apart and unclog it. Often times this happens more than once during the same use. The process includes unclipping and removing the bottom plate then removing the roller brush and belt. At this point I need bamboo skewers (each time I wonder why I have three large bags of these and then figure someone knew I was going to be unclogging the vacuum a few million times). I then use the bamboo skewers to jab into the sucker hole and try to dislodge the crap that has collected in the hole. Then, obviously, I have to put it all back together again. The crap that is clogging it is usually a combination of dirt and pet hair. I understand that I have three pets but not a single one of them has long hair and quite frankly since acquiring the puppy I don't think my cats have actually used the floor, it's just not safe.<br /><br />So I'm left wondering if this is typical vacuum behavior? Am I doing something wrong? Does the vacuum just not like me? Can someone please refer me to a vacuum that doesn't suck at sucking?Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17816546768045911474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31440541.post-22993062296945573322007-02-15T23:02:00.000-05:002007-02-15T23:06:04.460-05:00Smarty PantsUpon having a discussion regarding school work and the other kids in her class I asked my 9 year old (never has to study her spelling words, gets good grades, it all comes natural to her)...<br /><br />"Who's the smartest girl in your class?"<br /><br />Her response...<br /><br />"Uh, is this a trick question?"Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17816546768045911474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31440541.post-15603143499727163132007-02-15T03:44:00.000-05:002007-02-15T03:50:28.298-05:00Memories of June<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/152/390947862_efeb6ad284_b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/152/390947862_efeb6ad284_b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>This photo of my nine year old was taken this past June.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I cannot wait for a return to June weather.<br /></div>Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17816546768045911474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31440541.post-44402924918147685772007-02-14T15:12:00.000-05:002007-02-14T15:17:55.012-05:00AnalogiesFor homework my 11 year old had to complete a page of analogies. They were quite simple and the list of words needed to complete them was included. I decided she needed to be challenged so for most of them I denied her access to the list of words. I can really only remember the first one for some reason which was Heart is to Red as Sun is to ? At the end she had to make up her own analogy. Together we tried to come up with something original and finally decided on Bellybutton is to Lint as Toe is to Jam .<br /><br />We're still walking around repeating our creation and giggling about it.Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17816546768045911474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31440541.post-8591859692703240712007-02-08T16:28:00.000-05:002007-02-08T22:41:36.622-05:00Candies and flowers and teddy bears oh my!It's that wonderful Hallmark time of year again where all the women of the world build up this huge fantasy about all the romantic things their man is going to do to make this the V-day of all V-days, only for him to fail miserably and spend the rest of his life hearing how V-day 2007 was almost worse than V-day 2004, but if you really want pathetic you should hear about V-day 2003.<br /><br />While I'm not overly fond of the impending romantic holiday I did decide it might be fun to share with all my loyal readers some of the things I've come across that I would like to give or receive.<br /><br />Keeping in mind that this is not a holiday I get giddy about I couldn't help but choose a few of <a href="http://www.meish.org/vd/">these</a> to send to those I love or love to hate most. I have a few people in mind for this <a href="http://www.meish.org/vd/select/card=reproduce">one.</a> I couldn't have <a href="http://www.meish.org/vd/select/card=slutty">said it</a> better. Then this is the <a href="http://www.meish.org/vd/select/card=wee">one</a> that scares me because well, I think it was written about me.<br /><br />So some of you are actually into this holiday and need some last minute gift ideas you say? Oh, alright.<br /><br />Do we women agree that this is mostly a women's holiday? Guys don't want chocolate, flowers, teddy bears and all that. Hell, cook him dinner and then do him on top of the table when your done and he'll think he's died and gone to heaven. If a gift is imperative I found the coolest <a href="http://www.redenvelope.com/re/gifts/product_display/product_information.jsp?nc=20640&BV_SessionID=%40%40%40%401778711710.1170992380%40%40%40%40&BV_EngineID=ccddaddkdikekgfcefecefedfgfdfmf.0&refPg=endeca_srch&N=0&Nr=searchable%3A0&Ntk=search&Ntt=key+chain&Ntx=mode%2Bmatchallpartial&initSrch=search&oid=23044860&nc2=1">key chain</a> at <a href="http://www.redenvelope.com/re/gifts/product_display/home.jsp?nc=96748&BV_SessionID=@@@@1778711710.1170992380@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccddaddkdikekgfcefecefedfgfdfmf.0&refPg=%2fhome.jsp&hp=-9782&CM_REF=http%3a%2f%2fwww.redenvelope.com%2fre%2fgifts%2fproduct_display%2fhome.jsp%3fnc%3d96748%26BV_SessionID%3d%40%40%40%401778711710.1170992380%40%40%40%40%26BV_EngineID%3dccddaddkdikekgfcefecefedfgfdfmf.0%26refPg%3d%252fhome.jsp%26hp%3d-9782%26nc2%3d1&nc2=1">Red Envelope</a>. It's romantic, yet useful and his buddies will have no clue it's a mushy V-day gift. The best part? It's a gift for you girls too! Not your thing? <a href="http://www.redenvelope.com/re/gifts/product_display/home.jsp?nc=96748&BV_SessionID=@@@@1778711710.1170992380@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccddaddkdikekgfcefecefedfgfdfmf.0&refPg=%2fhome.jsp&hp=-9782&CM_REF=http%3a%2f%2fwww.redenvelope.com%2fre%2fgifts%2fproduct_display%2fhome.jsp%3fnc%3d96748%26BV_SessionID%3d%40%40%40%401778711710.1170992380%40%40%40%40%26BV_EngineID%3dccddaddkdikekgfcefecefedfgfdfmf.0%26refPg%3d%252fhome.jsp%26hp%3d-9782%26nc2%3d1&nc2=1">Red Envelope</a> always has plenty of unique gift ideas.<br /><br />The extent of my Valentine gift buying includes my kids. This year for Christma<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.webkinz.com/"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 184px; height: 184px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oxh6rw5RcQ4/RcuevFvyNHI/AAAAAAAAABc/kCUPuRwgXDU/s200/preview_love_puppy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5029287940722930802" border="0" /></a>s I bought them each a <a href="http://www.webkinz.com/">Webkinz</a> and have they been the best gifts ever! My kids have so much fun visiting the website, earning kinz cash and furnishing their pet's virtual homes. I'm going to get each of them another one for Valentine's Day so their pets can interact. This cute little love puppy seems like he'd be the perfect Valentine's gift for the kiddies.<br /><br />Now, if you're a man and you feel the need to send your love the requisite chocolate and flowers let's be sure you send her good chocolate and flowers. An awesome friend of mine from Wisconsin introduced me to <a href="http://www.candinas.com/">Candinas Chocolatier</a>. These are the <a href="http://www.candinas.com/chocvar.html">chocolates</a> of all chocolates! Make sure you read the <a href="http://www.candinas.com/aboutcandinas.html">story</a> of how these little bits of heaven came to be.<br /><br />Finally, the flowers. Maybe I'm not a typical girl when it comes to flowers but frankly, roses don't impress me all that much. If someone wanted to really impress me with flowers (hint-hint), <a href="http://ww4.1800flowers.com/dataset.do?dataset=10259&cm_cid=whd%23">tulips</a> are the way to do it. The red vase adds a nice touch to this <a href="http://ww4.1800flowers.com/product.do?baseCode=16888&dataset=10259&cm_cid=twhd10259">arrangement.</a> I love the way this <a href="http://ww21.1800flowers.com/product.do?baseCode=16162&dataset=10259&cm_cid=twhd10259">bouquet</a> is put together.<br /><br />I would love to see and hear about other's gift plans. I love unique ideas!<br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17816546768045911474noreply@blogger.com1