free associate with me 2

1. Hearing :: Loss
2. Aggression :: Mad
3. Charged :: Ion
4. Traveler :: Blues
5. Hydrate :: Water
6. Detox :: Amy Winehouse
7. Qualify :: Insurance
8. Prison :: Break
9. Frontal :: Lobotomy
10. Pep talk :: Football

Ike and the aftermath

Proof that beach dwellers have a sense of humor

Dumbass #1

Dumbass #2

Wall of water

Buried treasure

Fish out of water

What interstate?

Photo Friday - spontaneous

spontaneous

The Photo Friday meme

no shocker here

And this was a surprise?

I'm not really sure how this happened - Part 3

Apparently, this is absolutely not, in any way, shape, form or fashion, Ashley Biden. This is according to some guy who dated her in college and left a comment to that effect on the original post. Who am I to argue with that? I don't even know why the post is still getting hits because it's about as old as dirt.

However - didn't you just know that there was a caveat in here somewhere - according to a google.com image search and the Christian Science Monitor, this is the real Ashley Biden.

free associate with me

1. Heist :: money
2. Hack :: computer
3. Dane :: Cook
4. Stings :: bee
5. Monkey :: business
6. Junkie :: Chris Rock in New Jack City
7. Pumped :: up
8. Brass :: monkey
9. Fight! :: junior high
10. Vouch(er) :: FEMA

say what?

On the way to Waffle House this morning:

Hunter: I'm so hungry I could drink a whole cow.

I'll stay right where I am, thanks

The other night Hunter and I were talking about the differences between co-workers and bosses.

Me: So, Ms. Special Ed Teacher is technically my supervisor, but she's also my co-worker because we work very closely. I'm not on the same level as Mr. Vice Principal or Mrs. Principal.

Hunter: No, you're not. First you'd have to be a real teacher. Then you've have to get your Master's Degree. And then, you'd have to get a degree in politics if you wanted to be a principal.

If he only knew how true that really is...

sugar and spice

Have you ever met one of those people who are so nice that you just know deep in your heart of hearts that they would love nothing better than talking to you for hours upon end about your worthless, pathetic life? This would be the kind of person that you're pretty certain the devil never even considered tempting them because they're just that damn perfect. You know the ones? They ones that have a bazillion friends and are so genuinely nice that you want to hurl? Well, I'm not one of those people.

But one of the ladies I work with is. She's never without a smile on her face, she's always dressed nicely, even if it's just in jeans, and every last child in school adores her, even my own kid who purposely ignores me if I happen to be in the same hallway, or worse, near his classroom. She's so perfect I want to hate her, but I can't because not only is she nice, she's from the damn South and that just wouldn't be acceptable behavior for a Southerner (me) who's way too far from home.

So I guess this means I'll just have to like her along with everyone else.

total lunar eclipse

scary scenery

This is Crystal Beach, Texas, where, until last year, my in-laws lived in a house 2 blocks from the beach. They live about 20 minutes outside Houston now, just a couple of blocks from Kenin's sister and one of his brothers. Thankfully, they only sustained damage to their fences and are, of course, without power.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who's been affected by Hurricane Ike. Please do what you can to help those in need.

are you pimped out?

Kenin: Hey Hunter, do you see what I'm wearing? My new carpenter jeans?

Hunter: Cool! Now my dad's all pimped out!

(I'm not real sure Hunter has discovered this yet, but he's actually a white boy who lives in the 'burbs.)

courage

courage

two things

Two A few things I learned while working at an elementary school:

1. Some children really need drugs in order to concentrate and not be a disruption to other students. Federal law prohibits us from telling you that, but it doesn't mean it isn't true.
2. Chances are, your child isn't gifted.
3. If your child says the teacher is mean, it usually means that the teacher makes him/her follow the rules.
4. We are helping to form the future of America and should be paid accordingly.
5. Some people should have to pass a test in order to be parents.
6. Just because it's okay for your child to lock him/herself in the bathroom at home, choke someone, or be disrespectful to adults, it doesn't mean it's okay at school. And if he/she does this behavior, don't get pissed off at me because I tell you it happens.

still not grown up

teddy rocks, no matter how old you are

winds of change

While watching the morning news today, one of the reporters made a comment that when he/she/it walked outside to come to work at 3 AM, there was the smell of snow in the air. While snow this early in the year is far from unheard of, it was only 44 degrees, so snow won't be happening, at least today. (It got me to thinking that maybe I should be a weather forecaster. After all, there's not another job on earth where you can be wrong more than half the time and still keep your job!)

So while the snow hasn't begun flying yet, the geese have, as evidenced by the loud as hell honking that was made as they flew overhead Saturday morning. Bella and I were throwing the Frisbee - okay, I was throwing and she was retrieving, most of the time - and when she saw them, she stopped, the Frisbee falling from her open, drooling mouth. You could tell that if she had wings, she'd have been chasing them, doing what it is her genes tell her to do, retrieve. And I bet she'd have been much better at chasing ducks than she is a Frisbee.

how to suck it up and get over it

Should you ever feel like your life just sucks eggs, you need to read the Punk Rock Mommy blog from beginning to end. It doesn't matter if you're into punk (I'm not, no way, no how) or if you're a Mom (I am, and much more so than I'd like to be some days), or even if you're feeling on any given day like you're a chicken with 3 heads. Just read it. And after you've done that, put on your big girl panties - or big boys pants if that suits you better - and suck it up.

a (few) day(s) late and a dollar short

I tried to post this last Monday, aka Labor Day or just one of the many days during the year in which I try really hard not to perform any labor, but I had 'puter problems. And as for not posting it any time within the last 5 days, well, let's just say I've had a life. So here it is...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay, I (along with approximately 179 (at last count)other honest bloggers) mooched this meme from Rocks In My Dryer. Being Labor Day, it's about - you guessed it - labor.

++++++++++++++++++++

How long were your labors?
Ashlyn - 13 1/2 hours
Hunter - 6 hours

How did you know you were in labor?
Ash - I knew when massive back pains woke me up.
Hunter - When my eyes began rolling back into my skull at regular intervals.

Where did you deliver?
Hospitals both times. There's something to be said for modern medical care.

Drugs?
Ash - Absolutely! After I got the epidural, I felt nothing. It was the way science intended labor to be.
Hunter - Yes and no. I got an epidural and got one dose of meds but then Peanut's heartbeat dropped and my blood pressure dropped and they quickly decided that was going to be my one and only dose. After that, it was all natural. And very, very unpleasant. I think it happened because early in my labor I heard another woman screaming, and I made a comment that I was glad that wasn't going to be me since I was having an epidural. Apparently God thought otherwise.

C-section?
Nope, although if I'd had one with Hunter, I could've been on drugs.

Who delivered?
Doctors, absolutely fab-a-luss doctors.

emotions

Part of a discussion from my Interpersonal Communications class (just because):

The emotion that I have the most difficult time expressing is grief. Yes, I know that everyone has a tough time with it, but I think I may have a harder time than most. You know how you see people at funerals (usually the immediate family) that just hold it together so perfectly? Well, I’m not one of those folks. I’m more like a 2 year old curled into a ball on the floor, sobbing hysterically and hyperventilating because you took away my Tickle Me Elmo doll. I think it's safe to say I don't do so well with it.

McCain screwed up good this time

Because I'm fond of trashy folks, I read the comments that were posted on the CNN.com blog that discussed Bristol Palin's pregnancy. I figured all the Democrats and even most (normal) people would be pitching a fit over this whole thing, but I have to admit I was surprised at the overwhelming "WTF was McCain thinking?" vibe that I got. Either 99.9% of the commenters were Democrats, or this VEEP pick has even staunch McCain supporters up in arms. If McCain's advisors are reading those comments, then I sincerely hope they're doing their best to convince him to find another running mate, and fast. I imagine that even a McCain/Clinton ticket would look better at this point.

Come to think of it, this is going to be even better for the Dems than I thought... Bristol will marry her boyfriend, who can't support her and the baby. When this happens, they'll be eligible for housing in the Alaskan projects and will be on welfare. Obviously, these are programs set up by Dems so that will fly even more in the face of the McCain/Palin ticket. Not a smart choice, John, not a smart choice at all.

socio-political commentary

I have absolutely no sympathy for Sean "Diddy" Combs, or anyone else who makes the following complaint:

"I'm actually flying commercial," Diddy said before walking onto an airplane, sitting in a first-class seat and flashing his boarding pass to the camera. "That's how high gas prices are. I'm at the gate right now. This is really happening, proof gas prices are too high. Tell whoever the next president is we need to bring gas prices down."

The poor little rich man can no longer afford to fly his private jet across country because now it costs more than $200K to do so. Boo-Freaking-Hoo. When he has to choose between eating and paying bills or getting medical care, then he will be allowed to complain. Until then, he can kiss my empty wallet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Another sign of the times? It turns out that Bristol, the 17 year old daughter of Sarah Palin (McCain's choice for Vice President), is 5 months preggers. Years ago, Palin wouldn't have even been considered for Veep with an underage, pregnant, unmarried daughter, but I guess McCain's so desperate, he'll choose just about anyone. Or maybe he's going for the sympathy vote, though I hope America's too smart to fall for that. Teen pregnancy aside, I'd be really hard pressed to vote this ticket simply based on the fact that I've never heard of this woman.