When All Your Friends are in the Computer

... it's hard to live without internet. We've been without internet since Wednesday afternoon. Since my primary form of communication with my husband is email, and since most of my friends are communicated with via email and blogland, it's been very frustrating. It might have been less frustrating if I had been able to get out and do things, but the main place I go, Tae Kwon Do, has been without power. So, there's been no going there. Hopefully, they will have power on Tuesday. We are going skiing on Monday, so Monday's not an issue. In the meantime, I've finally managed to get to the library (they've been without power, too) and am currently on the internet. I have cleared out 400 emails, and gone to no mail on a list that produces about 75 emails a day. Usually, those emails are worth reading, but not when I have to sit at the library to do so.

Ah, but I am thankful to have power. There are so many people here who don't have power. And, we are quite cozy. So, I have much to be thankful for. And, I am hoping that all my friends have power, soon. This is, in case you haven't heard, the worst power outage in Kentucky history. The worst part of it is, as they get lines repaired, more go down because of the ice. Today, the ice is melting a little. So, hopefully, they'll get it all repaired this week.

Why I'm Glad I Don't Have Girls

But, in reality, our boys are subjected to almost as much junk. Our children need, so desperately, to be protected. This song just makes me want to cry for our teenagers.

Time's Up: Ranger Up Giveaway

Winners: Since Ranger up sponsored this giveaway, I decided to give away a shirt, too. So, I drew two numbers. The winners are #4 sadie-kate-08, and #26 Liz. Ladies, email me ASAP so that I can get these shirts to you. You can hit the contact button to the right. Thank you, everyone, for entering!

Update2: It was brought to my attention that I don't have an end date to this giveaway. The giveaway will end on Wednesday, February 4.

Update: Ranger Up has given me permission to post pictures. Plus, they're sponsoring this giveaway! Thanks, guys!
I had so much fun giving away the Dave Ramsey book, that I decided to do another giveaway. So, I'm giving away a shirt from Ranger Up! Now, I love Ranger Up (which you should know, by now, if you're a regular reader). I love their wicked sense of humor. I love their writing, but most of all, I love their shirts. Gary and I both have shirts from Ranger Up. If they made shirts for children, my sons would be wearing their shirts. Alas, they do not, so my children will have to make do with shirts from Think Geek. However, we're talking about Ranger Up, here. So, here's how it's going to work. Head over to Ranger Up. Pick out a shirt (no hoodies!) and leave a comment here, telling what your favorite shirt is. Then, if you win, I'll have your shirt shipped directly to you!

Personally, my favorites are:

wait, I'm a woman! I have gotten so many people telling me how cool that shirt is!

So, go pick out your favorite, and let us all know what it is!

Asking for Help

A few weeks ago, I wrote a piece about people who say, "Call if you need anything." And, perhaps, a bit of the problem is in our inability to ask for help. It is very difficult to ask for help for anything. Yet, we shouldn't feel burdened by the need to do everything on our own. I've run into this very problem this past week.

At my Tae Kwon Do class, there is a guy that has always seemed a little creepy to me. But, I just ignored it. However, recently, he has started brushing up against me as he walks by. Again, I ignored it. It wasn't like he was brushing anywhere other than my shoulder. Then, Wednesday, he squeezed my shoulder as he walked by. To me, that was completely inappropriate. I have never given this man permission to touch me. And, while there are men who touch me who have not been given explicit permission to touch me, they are all men who would touch me whether my husband was there or not, or whether or not their wives were there. And, the manner in which they touch me is like I am their little sister. This man is not touching me in the way he would touch a younger sister. Now, maybe I'm overreacting. But, I don't think so. So, I went to the master of our dojong. He told me that if I didn't feel comfortable dealing with it, that he would deal with it. But, of course, I felt like I should be able to deal with it myself. After all, I'm a strong woman. I'm no clinging ivy.

But, Thursday came, and instead of overtly touching me, as he had on Wednesday, he shocked me by bowing over my hand and staying that way for a god half a minute while I stared at him in shock. On the way home, I was watching my rear view mirror to make sure I wasn't being followed. Gabriel was scared by this guy's actions. I decided that I was not able to deal with this on my own. But I still felt guilty for not being able to do so.

Monday, I found out that I am not the only woman he bothers. The woman I was speaking to? Oh, yeah, she's an 18-year-old senior in high school. For her, I think I could do damage. But, instead, I took the problem and dropped it in the master's lap. He's more than willing to deal with the problem and even knew who I was talking about without me having to name names.

On the way home that night, I realised something. I should not have to deal with everything on my own. And, I shouldn't feel guilty for being unable to do so. We, as a society, have made women feel that they should be strong enough to do everything on their own. But, I think we isolate women, and sometimes, even put them in danger by making them feel this way. I wonder how many women have felt they should deal with something on their own and wind up getting raped (or worse), and then feel unable to talk about it, because they feel they should have been able to prevent it. We need to stop believing that we have to be invincible and realize that we all need help sometimes. We just have to ask for it.

Total Money Makeover Giveaway Winner

Total Money Makeover Giveaway Winner :
Time's up! The winner is:#20-vwestermeyer! I don't have your email, so you'll have to email me. Hit that contact button on the right side! If I don't hear from you by Friday, I'll redo the drawing. Thanks, everyone, for entering!
-Kristina

Soaking Sore Muscles

It snowed last night. The boys had a lot of fun playing in the snow. Then, I made them start shoveling. Of course, we have a long driveway. Xavier had the temerity to ask, "Why did Dad buy a house with such a long driveway?" This, of course, made me laugh. What did not and is not making me laugh, are my sore muscles. My arms are sore. My legs are sore. My back is sore. Of course, I'm sure I would be much more sore if I hadn't been working out for the last 6 weeks, but that's really not a consolation to my sore muscles. A bath is, though.

Unfortunately, it is not always easy to pick up your leg and put it over the side of a bathtub. Many elderly people would like to take a bath, but getting in and out of a traditional bathtub is not an option. Pregnant women sometimes have a problem with balance and struggle with getting in and out of a bathtub. And, then, there's me. The first week I did Tae Kwon Do, I got such sore calf muscles, I could flex my calves. And, a walkin tub would have been a blessing. I'm not that sore, today, though. I can lift my feet. It's typing that is causing me pain. My forearms are sore from lifting and shaking the shovel. The snow kept sticking to it. Plus, the snow was weighted down with ice. I'll be happy when this is over.

Review Tuesday: 1-27-2009

Today, I'm reviewing xkcd - a webcomic. I'm also reviewing Bean Boots, and The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins.


xkcd:


I cannot remember how I found this comic. I think I probably saw it referenced on TAGMAX, but I'm not sure. So, we'll just go with: I found a great comic and I want to share it with you! This comic is "a webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language." It is absolutely hilarious. If you're not a geek, you'll enjoy about 80% of it. If you are a geek, you'll enjoy the entire comic. You should definitely check it out!

Bean Boots:

I have needed a pair of snow boots for years. I have not owned a pair of snow boots since I was a kid. So, I decided to bite the bullet, this year, and get a pair of boots. Boy, am I glad I did! Yesterday, we had about 2" of snow on our driveway, and I got to try out my new boots to shovel it out. Then, today, we got about 6" more, along with some ice. I got to put them to good use while helping the boys shovel out our very long driveway.

Some particulars:

• The boots I got have Thinsulate inside them. This is a thin insulation (hence the name) that provides a lot of warmth. My feet are notoriously cold, and I had no problem with the cold, today.
• The foot form is extremely comfortable. This is saying a lot from me, believe me. If you don't know what it's like to have to search for months to find shoes that fit, be thankful. These are extremely comfortable.
• These are made in Maine.
• They last forever.;) I think my father-in-law has owned two pairs in his lifetime. Since he lives in Maine, he wears his consistently. I probably will never have to replace mine.
• They have full leather uppers. My feet were completely dry when I came inside, even though the rest of my body was soaked from sweat and freezing rain.

Basically, I love these boots. They are a great investment. Plus, L.L.Bean is an amazing company. They have great customer service, and they are a great employer. They're worth supporting.

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins:

Oh, my. This was an amazing book. So, the synopsis: A nation that had its cities revolt, managed to get them under control. After that, they required each city to send two children, one boy and one girl, to play the Hunger Games, each year. The children are chosen via a lottery system. The 24 children then go to the capital city, where they fight each other to the death. Only one child can remain alive.

This book chronicles the journey of sixteen-year-old Katniss to the Hunger Games. During the Games, Katniss has to choose between love and life. She has to change her thinking repeatedly to stay alive.

This book takes the idea of “The Lottery” and moves beyond it. It covers fear, survival, love, and hate. I highly recommend this book. Go buy it, today! Thank you, April, for recommending it!

Dominic's Not-so-Secret Desire to Have Cowboy Boots

During the summer, Dominic saw a little girl at the park with red and black cowboy boots. He immediately fell in love. Since then, he has been desperately wanting a pair of red and black cowboy boots. I have found a website that sells all kinds of boots, men's work boots, men's cowboy boots, women's boots, and yes, even children's boots. But, the closest I can find to red and black boys' cowboy boots are these:

I hope he'll be satisfied. Otherwise, I'm going to have to actually leave the house to shop. They have some boots with red uppers and tan bottoms, but I honestly don't want to pay $100 for a pair of boots for a non-cowboy. I mean, it's not like he'd be wearing them to work in. But, I'll show him the boots above. Maybe he'll go for those.

White Construction Workers Need Not Apply

Apparently, the bad economy has only hit minorities. What amazes me about this, is not the racism shown in these comments, rather it is the idea that stimulating those who have been out of work for a long time (even during a good economy, which says they probably weren't trying to get work) will be the best use of money to stimulate the economy. Yes, because making sure those people who have worked consistently have a job is not nearly as important as making sure that we are fair with all the minorities. And you all know how I feel about race relations and affirmative action . Ugh!

H/T to Judy at Consent of the Governed for this video.

The World Still Doesn't Love Us

Well, President Obama's first week in office is almost over. One of the things that people kept harping on during his campaign was the idea that if he was in office, the world would love us again. Now, I wasn't expecting a miracle. But, after all, people repeatedly told me that the reason the terrorists hate us is because of, well, us. If only we would be nicer, the terrorists would stop being terrorists and be productive members of society. It's all our fault. And, wonder of wonders, President Bush is the reason we're all so horrible and hated around the world. But, now President Obama has been in office less than two weeks, and at least two organizations have come out and said they don't like how he's doing things. Of course, these organizations are not Germans, or French, or English. No, they're organizations that don't want us fighting terrorism.

Hamas Says Obama Will Make Same 'Mistakes' as Bush

Pakistan Urges Obama to Halt Missile Strikes Killing Civilians
Sigh. The problem is that people don't seem to understand how complicated this war on terrorism really is. This is not one country, or even multiple countries, we can declare war on, take aim, and move on. These are people, groups, organizations, that work from multiple countries. They do not hate us because we are bad people. They hate us for two reasons. They hate us because of the freedom we have, and because we are infidels. I would think this would be obvious because of the multiple times they have said so. But, I understand that many people like to ignore what terrorists say and make them out to be misunderstood. Unfortunately, the only people misunderstanding the terrorists are those that believe that they'll stop if we stop.

Ah, and those people who think that the problems with Hamas will go away if Israel would 'stop killing Palestinians'... I just don't know what to say about this disillusion. The fact that Geert Wilders is being prosecuted for hate speech that would be completely acceptable about Christians, to me, says a lot. We are just meant to bow down and do what we are told, without using our brains and reason. The fact is that 'hate speech' can be anything that offends someone else, but only if that someone else is a minority. Otherwise, it is just voicing dissatisfaction.

I don't know why people care whether or not we are liked. I don't know why people care whether or not we are like everyone else. I thought you were supposed to do what is right because it is right, not because it will make people like you. I guess I was wrong. From now on, I will bow to peer pressure. I think my first step will be to enroll my kids in school. That'll take a lot of pressure off. My house will be clean all the time. My time will be my own. It doesn't matter if that's what's right for them. It's the popular thing to do. So, I must do it. Then, I'm going to bleach my hair blond. It'll probably look bad with my skin color. But, it's the thing to do. So, I'll do it.

Wake up, people!!!!! These people don't care what we do. They only care whether we are bowing towards Mecca every day. And, I'm not willing to bow to that kind of peer pressure. I hope President Obama isn't willing, either.

Dreams Change

I read somewhere recently, that you should write you dreams in pencil. I just wish I could remember where I read it. It is excellent advice. I’ve had many dreams throughout my life. I’ll share a few with you. I wanted to have 12 or 13 children. That dream has been erased. I wanted to have a ranch. That dream has been erased and replaced with having a small family farm. Finally, I wanted to own a bakery. That dream was erased long ago when my father pointed out that I would have to get up early. As I’ve already pointed out, morning is not my best time. But, recently, that dream has been rewritten. In fact, it has been rewritten in a very dark pencil. It will be hard to erase. I was able to rewrite it, because I came up with a way to make it happen without having to get up early (thing 4 or 5) every morning. I want to open a ‘by order’ bakery. So, instead of having a storefront, I’ll have a set menu that people can order when they want something. I’d also like to sell at our local farmer’s market. Since the farmer’s market is only open on Saturday, I would only have to get up early one day a week.

But, how do I get started? My kitchen is in no way set up to bake multiple items at a time. Mostly, I need more countertop (easy and cheap to arrange) and a double oven (neither easy nor cheap to arrange). I could get a business loan! But, I’ll probably redo my kitchen piece meal and pay as I go. I don’t want my business to be in debt. There are some businesses that benefit from debt. For instance, a car dealership would be out a lot of money if they paid for all their cars up front. But, for a small business like mine, I think it best to stay out of debt. So, I’ll probably wait until I can afford to replace my oven, and then get it going.

Should Businesses Capitalize on the Obama Girls?

Beanie Babies Maker Sells Sasha, Malia Dolls

I have always wanted to go into politics. Outside of being a mother, it has been my everlasting passion. I have wanted to be in politics since I was in the fifth grade. But, I have always understood the implications for children on their parents being in politics. Even as an 11 year old, I understood the problems inherent for children of politicians and other public figures. And, if the Obamas think they'll be able to completely protect their children from the public eye, I'm afraid they're probably wrong. And I do mean that. I wish these little girls a normal childhood. But, the media is expecting to be allowed into their lives. They should be able to have a mostly private life during the next four years. But, if President Obama gets reelected, those girls had better be model teenagers. Chelsea was a pretty good model of how to stay out of the public eye. It is possible, just unlikely.

However, this is a company, Ty, is capitalising on a famous person's name without their permission. And, that is where it gets sticky. The Obamas have the right to control how their daughters' names and images are used. And, this:

The Oak Brook-based company chose the names because "they are beautiful names," not because of any resemblance to Malia and Sasha Obama, said spokeswoman Tania Lundeen.
"There's nothing on the dolls that refers to the Obama girls," Lundeen said. "It would not be fair to say they are exact replications of these girls. They are not."

has got to be one of the most ridiculous statements I have ever read. Of course these dolls are made to represent Malia and Sasha Obama. Who do they think they're kidding?

Now, I'm not saying that the Obamas shouldn't approve this. After all, there are millions of little girls who would love to be Malia and Sasha Obama and would love to have dolls made of them. But, the Obamas should be able to decide whether or not to allow this.

Jewelry Makes a Great Valentine's Day Gift

Today, I saw an ad in a magazine suggesting that jewelry is the perfect gift for Valentine's Day. The reasoning was that the jewelry is a visible sign of your love. It shows the woman you love and the rest of the world how much you love her. So, I have a question. What is the best jewelry to say you love someone? The answer-diamonds. After all, diamonds are forever. So far, I have been promised 6 forevers from Gary. But, I need more. I need all his forevers. What? You say I already have them? Oh, good. But, if you want to get me a diamond necklace… I wouldn’t mind. After all, "Diamond necklaces make a great gift for her”, right?

Jon Stewart Questions Change

Okay, this is hilarious. Enjoy.

H/T to Far Beyond Pearls

Giveaway: Total Money Makeover

The new winner is #9- Junosmom!

Since vwestermeyer never contacted me, I am reopening this giveaway. I will do the drawing on Wednesday, February 4th.

Time's up! The winner is:#20-vwestermeyer! I don't have your email, so you'll have to email me. Hit that contact button on the right side! Thanks, everyone, for entering!
-Kristina

Also, I'm giving away a copy of Life of Fred over at Teaching Your Children.
As I said before:Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

This book literally changed our lives. In this book, Dave Ramsey gives a concise, easy to follow plan to turn your monetary life around. He helps you get on a budget and stay there. You'll pay off debt and make your life a lot easier. If you're already out of debt, there is information in this book for investing and planning the rest of your life (college, retirement, house). This is a very straightforward book. If you are looking for a book to help your family finances, this is my number one choice.

I like this book so much, that every time I see it at the used book store, I buy another one to give to family and friends. I currently have two extra copies. I have promised one to a friend, and the other one is for one of you!

If you would like to win this, leave a comment. I will choose the winner at random in one week on Wednesday, January 28th. I will publish the results at that time.

For more giveaways, visit Bloggy Giveaways!

Presidential Pledge

MySpace Celebrity and Katalyst present The Presidential Pledge


I heard this last night while I was driving in the car. I wanted to pound my head on the steering wheel. Why? Because I don't get it. Why must they wait for a new president to do these things? Why aren't they always the best they can be? Why were they unwilling to do these things while President Bush was in office? Why does it matter who is president? Why wouldn't they have enough respect for themselves to always do these things.

I just don't get these people. I don't get the idea that they would be destructive to our country one minute and then try to build it up the next. I just don't get it. You should always build up the people around you. You should always be willing to be of service to people. To me, this shows poor character, not goodness.

President Obama

Yesterday was President Obama's inauguration. I'll admit that I am not happy he is president. I think he wants to do a lot of things to this country that I don't agree with. However, having said that, I have a few other things I want to say.

Over the next four years, I'm sure there will be a lot I disagree with President Obama over. There are already many things. However, I hope that I will always be able to maintain a level of respect for the office of President that I have not seen among many people the last 8 years. I have always been irritated by people who refuse to call the president "President." It also irritates me to hear people not refer to Senators and Congressmen by their title. Don't get me wrong. I don't mind people referring to a Senator as Mr. or Mrs., because those are titles of respect. But, I have a problem with people refusing to acknowledge the fact that that person is in fact in that position.

I had a problem when I was in the Navy. I was told to "respect the position, even if you can't respect the person." But, I was too immature to know how to do that. I was unable to separate the two things. I have matured a lot over the last 12 years. I can explain to my children that just because you don't like someone doesn't mean you should be rude. I can show them that it is the right thing to disagree intelligently. Calling someone an idiot, whether you are thinking that or not, never won an argument.

So, I hope that I will always be respectful in my debate. I hope that I will always be respectful in my address. I cannot guarantee that I will always be respectful when speaking to my husband about President Obama. But, I hope that I will always be respectful when speaking of him in public. It is, after all, not the man I object to. It is his policies and ideas. In the end, calling him names and disrespecting the office of the President will not win anyone over to my side of the debate. It will only alienate people. However, if, like 'President' Clinton, he disrespects the office of the President (no pun intended), all bets are off.

Santa's Helper

Wordless Wednesday

Review Tuesday 1-20-2009 It's All About Sewing

Review Tuesday on.... Tuesday! Wow! Anyway, I decided to do today's post on sewing. Mostly, it started because I love sewing. I found a great website for Kids Sewing Projects. Then, I thought to myself. "You know, Angora Knitter's dresses are awesome! I think I'll feature them." Finally, I realized that both my website and my product for the week were sewing related, so I decided to choose a book about sewing, too. That book is Sew What! Skirts: 16 Simple Styles You Can Make With Fabulous Fabrics by Francesca Denhartog & Carole Ann Camp.


This website has projects and instructions for everyone from pre-beginners (noodle necklaces and sewing cards) to Intermediate sewing (fasteners, zippers, complex patterns, experimenting with fabric, designing, and quilting). If you want to start sewing with your children and you don't know where to get started, head to this website. I'm currently teaching a sewing class for our co-op, and this is proving to be an invaluable resource. They have instructions for sewing coin bags and tote bags. They have instructions for sewing pin cushions and pillows. This can also be a great site for beginning adult sewers. Which, Angora Knitter, demonstrably, is not.

Angora Knitter:





I love Angora Knitter's style. She makes beautiful dresses that you don't mind your daughter wearing. I wouldn't mind my daughter wearing them, if I had a daughter. These dresses make my womb hurt. (I stole that line from the Pioneer Woman.) They make me want to run out and adopt the closest little girl I can find. But, Angora Knitter may go out of business due to the CPSIA. And, she's moving in approximately two weeks. However, she does have a few dresses on hand. I really like that "Lil Marine Camo Cami". It is $30 or $34, depending on size. If I had a little girl, she would definitely be wearing this. But, all her dresses are adorable, as you can see. She has a few dresses in stock and will be closing up shop for her move in two weeks. So go check her out while you can!


Sew What! Skirts: 16 Simple Styles You Can Make With Fabulous Fabrics by Francesca Denhartog & Carole Ann Camp:

Whew! That's a long title. This book deserves a long title. This book starts with information about pins and needles and shears. It continues with sewing jargon and fabric information. Oh, yes, and best of all, you make a pattern to fit your body. Woohoo! Then, it gets into sewing basics. What? You thought that was sewing basics. Oh, no, my friend, that was pre-sewing basics.

In the sewing basics chapter, they cover seams, darts, etc. Then, they talk about waistlines, or the top edge of the skirt. After that, they cover various types of skirts, including A-line, wrap, and circle skirts.

This is a great book for beginning and veteran sewers, alike. If you've always sewn from a pattern, this book will help you branch out. If you've never sewn at all, this book will help you step up to your sewing machine and stop letting it gather dust. They even have a Flickr group where you can post pictures of your projects!

Personal Sound Track Shirt

Have I ever told you how much I love Think Geek? Well, now they have come up with a solution for those of you who aren't able to make your own sound track like Dominic does.

Football- Help!

Oh my gosh! The Boston Bruins are first in their conference! I cannot believe it! I just turned off Direct T.V., so I no longer have access to any sports on T.V. I have to find a new way to access stuff. In the old days, people listened to sports on the radio, or read the highlights in the paper the next day. Now, though, we can have up to the minute information on the internet.

The most important sports happening right now, of course, is football. It is almost time for the Super Bowl, and you don’t want to get behind on what’s going on! Comcast.net has all the information you need to keep up to date. They have a scoreboard, schedule, a standings page, statistics, forums, news, and videos. By the way, who’s your bet for the Super Bowl? Can someone help me by telling me how the teams are chosen for the Super Bowl? It all seems very confusing. I really don’t know much about football. Hockey’s my choice, but I have to be part of the crowd around Super Bowl Sunday.

In the meantime, tonight, I’m checking out Comcast.net to see the results of today’s games. So far, Arizona has beaten Philadelphia 32 to 25. It sucks to lose by one touchdown. And, in the 2nd quarter, Pittsburgh is beating Baltimore 6 to 0.

Can someone please help me? I really do not understand how it is decided that these teams go to the Super Bowl.

Go Right Ahead and Have Sex With Your Students

That's basically what the Washington Court of Appeals said on Tuesday. "Washington Court: Teachers Can Have Sex With 18-Year-Old Students" Ah, yes, there's no coercion going on, as long as the student is 18. "The appeals court unanimously agreed ..... that the Legislature only intended to forbid sexual contact between school employees and students who are 16 or 17."

In the military, where all parties are legally of age, lower ranking members are not allowed to have a relationship with higher ranking members. There are several reasons for this. One, there can be coercion involved. Two, there can be preferential treatment because of the relationship. Three, there can be the perception of preferential treatment. Four, it can cause strain in a work environment.

In fact, many businesses have rules about dating in the office. It is practical. There are reasons for this. There is something called sexual harassment that happens when someone thinks they can't say no.

It amazes me that the same people who put up a fuss about a man telling a dirty joke in front of a woman (that's sexual harassment) say that it is quite okay for a teacher to have sex with a student as long as the student is 18. Now, the Legislatures are scrambling to change the law. They're trying to change it to say that a teacher cannot have sex with a student under the age of 21. Well, really, my sister and brother-in-law are going to have to stop what they were doing to make that baby. Wait, she's not a student. Can we just make the law practical? The law should read student. There should not be an age. The teacher is in a position of authority. He or she should be prosecuted for having sex with someone under his/her authority. Whether or not he meant to use that authority to coerce the student into having sex with him, the effect is the same.

Dr. Yvonne K. Fulbright, an author and sex educator, said other potentially troubling scenarios could arise and become somewhat acceptable due to the ruling in Washington. One such scenario, she said, would be a female student who is vying for the attention of an older male teacher.

Having a relationship with an older man could be seen as a status symbol, she said, but "It can certainly rob a person of their natural growing-up process and having first experiences with someone their age."

Overall, Fulbright, ... said young women who have sexual encounters with older men typically become sexually active sooner, which can lead to reproductive issues.

The principal of the school, Mark VandanHazel, said that this was still unacceptable. "Regardless of whether it's a criminal act or not, you do this as a teacher and you're just not going to have a job," said Mr. VandanHazel. There's only one problem with that. If it's not criminal, they're going to have a lawsuit on their hands.

This ruling, basically, gives teachers the right to abuse their students. This is despicable. The legislature is trying to change the law, and I hope they succeed. Because, if they don't, many young people are going to be hurt by this. By this being legal, you're telling young people that, not only is it okay for you to have sex when you're still in high school, it is basically okay for you to have sex with anyone you want to. This is very harmful to our youth.

On a totally different subject, and one that makes me smile every time I hear about it, Angel wrote about the plane crash on the Hudson, and she has some amazing photos.

Winter Blahs

During winter, I fight two battles with my body. First, I am always cold. Second, the lack of sunlight drives me crazy. So, occasionally, I will slather myself with sunscreen and head to a tanning bed. A tanning bed provides me with the warmth and the light that my body craves. However, it is a pain to go somewhere to do it. So, I rarely do. I suppose I could get look at home tanning beds. But, then I would be tempted to actually tan. I do hate being white. On the other hand, this winter, I have not experienced the bone deep cold I usually do. I think it is because of the intense workouts I'm doing almost every night. I usually have a problem with circulation, but I'm not this winter.

Review Tuesday 1-13-2009

Today, I want to talk about Food Network's website, St. Ives' Elements Skin Care, specifically the Protective Cleanser, and the "Uglies" series.

Food Network: I have repeatedly googled recipes, and ended up on Food Network's website. They have not let me down. One of my favorite recipes (and quickly becoming my signature recipe:) is Blueberry Scones with Lemon Glaze . This is such an easy recipe to make, and people will rave. Plus, you can make it at 10:00 at night, and still be in bed (with all of it eaten, if you're not careful) by 11:00. You can't go wrong with a recipe from these folks. They're even easy to read! So, go have fun and try something new.

St. Ives' Elements Skin Care:

As I have mentioned before, I have extremely sensitive skin. I hate abusing my skin, and have a hard time trying new skin care products. First, I hate wasting money on something I can't use. Second, I hate what most skin care products do to my face. So, I just avoid trying new stuff. I had been buying something online, and it worked, but I was tired of spending the extra money. So, when my grocery store ran a buy 1/get 1 free promotion on St. Ives Elements skin care at the same time I had a buy 1/ get 1 free coupon (making both free!), I decided to jump on the opportunity to try something new for free. I am hooked. This stuff is extremely gentle, but keeps the worst of my breakouts at bay. I even used it on Dominic this morning, to remove his marker mustache, and his skin did not react (his skin is even more sensitive than mine). I am completely sold. Plus, their products are reasonably priced. I think this normally runs about $7 a bottle. They also frequently put out coupons. Well worth the try if you're looking for something new.


Uglies by Scott Westerfeld:

A friend recommended these to me on Thanksgiving. Then, because she is such a wonderful friend, the next time I saw her, she handed me the series to read. Wow! These are amazing books. They really delve into the need and ability to overcome what is accepted to find what is right. From the cover:

Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. Not for her license-for turning pretty. In Tally's world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. In just a few weeks Tally will be there.
But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to be pretty. She'd rather risk life on the outside. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world-and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever.

This is a great series. I haven't read Extras, but I have read Uglies, Pretties, and Specials. In each book, Tally has to overcome new obstacles to achieve what she needs to, to break free from what's accepted to find what's right. They're amazing and I highly encourage you to read them.

Life Insurance: Caring for Your Family, Even in Death

When Gabriel was a baby, I went back to school. I didn’t really want a career, but I felt the need to be able to support our small family if anything ever happened to Gary. I knew there was almost no way for me to do so with the amount of schooling I had. But, I didn’t fully understand the urgency I had to go to school. Then, over the winter break from school, I finally understood the reason I had that urgency. I realized a quick and easy way to fix that, and be able to return to being a full-time mom, was to raise Gary’s life insurance. Over the years, I continued to raise it until it is at a level I am comfortable with. Now, if Gary ever dies, I know that I will never have to worry about money. The same goes for Gary. I made sure that I had enough life insurance on me that he would be able to hire a nanny, a maid, pay off the house, pay for private schools, and/or whatever else they might desire.

Last year, I met a woman whose husband had died in a house fire when her sons were very young. They did not have life insurance, or if they did, it was definitely not sufficient. She has struggled to make ends meet, while still caring for her sons.

To me, life insurance is very important. It gives me a peace of mind I would not have, otherwise. If we did not have the life insurance we do, I would worry about our life every time Gary was late coming home. I would worry the entire time he was gone anywhere, about our ability to survive, financially, without him. I still worry; don’t get me wrong. I’m a worrier. But, this is one less thing I have to worry about. I encourage you to look at your life insurance and make sure it is enough. There are many types of insurance. If your family is basically supported if you die, you may still need to worry about debts you leave behind. There are two specific types of insurance for this scenario, final expense insurance, and mortgage insurance. If your family has a guaranteed income (say from a 401K or retirement fund), but your mortgage payment would put a financial burden on them, you might check out mortgage insurance. Regardless of what your final conclusion is, this is a very important subject. Take care of it, today. You don’t want to leave your family in the lurch.

In The Hands of a Child Sale!!!!!!!!

Dear Valued Customers,
Due to the new CPSIA law In the Hands of a Child, for the time being, is discounting our Kit Pack inventory in order to lessen our possible loss in the event that an exemption is not granted.

While we are still praying for this situation to work out for all small businesses we feel that it is in our best interest to lessen our possible loss. And what better way than to pass the savings on to you, our wonderful customers, who are praying with us through this difficult situation!!

Please help us clear our shelves and enjoy a 35% savings on all Kit Packs!! Savings will be automatic! Spread the word and help us empty the shelves!!

This sale will continue until our Kit Pack inventory has been exhausted, so purchases will be on a first-come-first-served basis.

Once they are gone, they are gone!

In the event the law is modified, In the Hands of a Child reserves the right to bring back Kit Packs in the future at full price without any discount, implied or expressed, during this sale.

Go check them out!!!!!!!!

Minimalist Camping

We are a camping family. We have always camped in style. I have no desire to lie on the hard ground, or eat camp food. We take an air mattress and make pancakes, spaghetti, and stir-fry over the campfire. But, my dearly beloved has decided that we need to check out the minimalist style of camping. I am okay with this. I really want to take the boys on extended hiking trips down the Appalachian Trail when they turn 15, so we need to start preparing, now. The only problem? We don’t have the right gear. We have a ton of camping gear that makes our camping quite comfortable. None of it will work for the back woods camper. Other than Gary’s work stuff, we don’t even have knives or boots. The only thing we do have is a camelback.

So, I’m checking out minimalist camping. I went to Brigade Quartermaster. They have everything you could need for minimalist camping. They have Wiley X sunglasses that will probably survive the trip. But, most of all, I like them because they seem to have solved my problem of sleeping on the ground. As long as we camp where there are trees, I can use the nifty hammock that folds down to 7” x 6” x 2.75”. Bring it on, Babe!

Natural Born Citizen?

Baby Born on Trans-Atlantic Flight to Boston Given Canadian Citizenship

In light of all the hoopla over whether or not President-Elect is Obama is a natural born citizen, this has me wondering. If this child were born over US air space, would it be considered a natural born citizen for purposes of being elected president?

And, while we're on the subject, what do you think of the question of the President-Elect's citizenship status?

Baby Slings

While I was pregnant with Gabriel, I found out about baby slings. I bought one. I have to say that of all the stuff I got through three babies, my sling was probably my most treasured item. There is just nothing more convenient than a sling.

Gabriel was a ‘high needs’ baby. He needed to be held all the time. Since I had already decided to try out attachment parenting, I wasn’t too upset by this. However, without the sling, I would have been lost.

Unfortunately, my sling didn’t fit right. Apparently, it was too big. But, I used it, anyway. And, even though it didn’t fit right, it was still priceless to me. When Gabriel was a baby, I used it for everything, at all times. I cleaned house with him in it. I cooked and did laundry with him in it. I shopped with him in it, and I went to the unit Christmas party with him in it. Gabriel was born in September and we moved to Florida 2 weeks after he was born. So, many of the people Gary worked with had not seen the baby when it came time for the Christmas party. (I’m a bit of a recluse.) So, there I was, standing in the buffet line, nursing Gabriel in the comfort of my sling. Obviously, no one realized he was nursing because I had been walking around with my sling on all night. That’s one of the benefits of a sling. If you’re in a public place, you can nurse without anyone even realizing you’re doing it. Anyway, up comes Gary’s Chief. He pops open the sling with a, “So, this is the baby?” Then, he turns bright red and stuttered on and on about how sorry he was. Quite frankly, he didn’t see anything. He was just embarrassed about the fact that Gabriel was nursing. But, to me, it was the funniest thing I had ever seen. I bet that Chief remembers that Christmas party.

I wish that I had had access to all the babyslings they have now. They even have silk ones. It would be great to have a dressy one for special occasions. If I had gone to church, it would have been really nice to have one for everyday and one for dressing up. But, they didn’t have all the different baby slings they do now. Now, there are a ton of different brands. Some of the brands include ergo baby carrier, Maya, and Ellaroo. Personally, I like Ellaroo, because they have several different styles.

Found!

A couple weeks before Christmas, I took my rings off for my Taekwondo class. I put them in my (new) coat pocket, because it zipped up. Well, later, when I remembered to look for them, they weren't there. I have been looking and looking for my rings, even going so far as to search through my trunk in the hopes that they had fallen out in there. Today, while I was walking to the mailbox, I discovered that my coat has inside pockets! I looked inside and, tada!, there were my rings! Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nonnie's Clock

My grandmother had a lot of treasured possessions. As I’ve mentioned before, she had a heavy metal dog (probably lead;), silverware, and more that we all wanted. Somehow, I managed to end up with a lot of it. But, I didn’t get the clock. And, that’s okay. After all, I’m hardly her only descendent. But, that clock played a large part in my childhood.

Nonnie had a lot of clocks. At least two of them were wind-up clocks. She had a coo-coo clock that had to be ‘wound’ and then there was her mantle clock. Every day, she would wind that clock. It chimed and every night when I would spend the night (which was often) I would lie awake and listen to all the clocks in her house chiming. You see, Nonnie loved listening to her clocks, so she set them a little off. Or, maybe it was just an accident. I’ll never know, but they never chimed all at the same time.

Now, I have a large mantel. It needs a mantel clock. I found just the place to find mantel clocks like Nonnie’s. 1-800-4clocks” sells a wide variety of mantel clocks. They even have a cool blog: Clocks Blog that talks about divorce and who gets the clock. I have to say that this is what reminded me of my grandmother’s clock. Perhaps it is not so much a question of who inherited her things as much a question of who has current custody of them.

Skier Caught With His Pants Up

I know I shouldn't laugh. But, I can't help it. Can you imagine? Just think, you get home and your wife says, "Honey, Georgia, from downstairs, called. She said there's a picture of you on the Internet. And, your pants aren't on!!!!" And, you know, people weren't just taking pictures of his backside. Now, granted, I'm appalled that people would actually take pictures, but very amused that it happened.

Skier Caught Dangling Bare-Bottomed on Lift

Wednesday Hero

Airman Melissa Pyle


Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Equipment) Airman Melissa Pyle mans a jet blast deflector station on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) in the Gulf Of Oman. Theodore Roosevelt and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 are deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Have Every Right To Dream Heroic Dreams. Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Proof That Santa Exists

Wordless Wednesday

Review Tuesday 1-6-2009

Today, I'm going to be discussing the Nashville Science Adventure Center, Herbal Essences Set Me Up Hairspray, and Times Tales.

Nashville Science Adventure Center

In early December, we went to Nashville for a "field trip." A friend had a swim meet over the weekend, so we went to meet them for some fun. Monday, we went to the Adventure Science Center. It was a good one. It was as good as the Boston Children's Museum. In fact, it might be a bit better. There was a lot to see and do.

Xavier lifting a car.

Dominic taking a trip through some bones.

Learning about brain waves.

They have a laser tag game. You stand in one place and shoot at targets. We had a lot of fun. However, we think it is rigged for the good guys to win.

During the second game, Dominic took pictures. You can see what his view is of:

They have a nice space area. There's stuff about the galaxy, and an area to do moonwalks and EVAs.

This science center is awesome! We all had a blast and could have gone back the next day, and probably the day after that. In the center of the museum, they had a climbing thing that was all about the human body. So, you could climb up the spine, climb through the heart, and slide down through bones. At the very top (several stories up), was a observatory, with 180 degree views of Nashville. It was wonderful, and I could have stayed in that observatory all day. If you're going to Nashville, this is definitely worth the trip.

Herbal Essences Set Me Up Max Hold Hairspray:

I usually don't use hairspray. I'm a wash and go kinda gal. But, I'm currently growing my hair out for Locks of Love. I did this once before and loved doing it. So, I'm doing it again. However, I've also started taking Taekwondo. I can't stand having my hair in my face while I'm bouncing around needing to see things. So, I've been pulling it back. Of course, my hair still isn't long enough to stay back. So, I've been using the hairspray that I had under my bathroom sink. I bought it in some crazy buying frenzy when I got it for free and thought there might be some occasion to use it (probably on the boys). Anyway, this stuff is WONDERFUL. My hair does not fall down when I use it. I spray it all around my pony tail and brush my bangs and other fly aways into it and spray it again. Then, I go into the dojong and bounce around for an hour. During that time, I run, bounce, kick, hit, and, most of all, sweat perspire. My hair does not go anywhere. In fact, it usually looks the same when I leave as it did before my class. Now, this hair spray is not for touchably soft hair. It is for hard core, stay in place hair.

Times Tales: So, wow. I heard about this book, last year, from a friend of mine. Xavier started doing multiplication at the beginning of this year, and I had forgotten about the book. So, we struggled with trying to memorize the multiplication tables. Now, I'm a big proponent of memorization of math facts. It just makes using them easier. But, Xavier has understood multiplication for years. And, he was having a hard time memorizing them. So, finally, after we had already moved on to division (I refuse to hold him back when he is already learning pre-Algebra from watching Gabriel do it), I remembered April's recommendation. I asked her if she still had her books and she loaned them to me. I brought them home and, one night while Xavier was waiting for Dominic to go to sleep so that he could go to sleep, we sat in the chair together and read through the book. It was 11:00 at night. We went through it in about 20 minutes. The next day, Xavier still remembered all his multiplication facts. Finally, we can stop worrying about this. I highly recommend these books. At $14.95, they aren't much more than a set of flash cards, and cheaper than some music CDs that teach the multiplication facts. They are faster than either of these approaches.

One caveat to this, Xavier is a right brained thinker. He thinks in pictures. I am a whole brained thinker and learned the multiplication facts while lying in bed at night listening to my dad say them to me over and over again. That did not work for Xavier. This book would have driven me up the wall. Probably with Mrs. Week and Mrs. Snowman in it. On the other hand, I can't guarantee that. It might have taught me my facts faster. But, I don't think so.

A funny note about the way Xavier did his multiplication before this book: If the problem was 3x9, he would say, "9x2=18, plus 9=27." If the problem was 4x9, he would say, "9x2=18, plus 18=36." If the problem was 9x6, he would say, "9x2=18, plus 18=36, plus 18=54." That boy could do that type of multiplication faster than most people can do regular multiplication. But, now he's even faster, and he's less frustrated.

Getting up Early

I know that most of you probably think 5 is early. But, I think 7 is early. I have a hard time going to sleep when Gary is gone, whether it is for a few days, or months at a time. So, I have been having a hard time going to sleep. Since we've been on winter break for school (since Thanksgiving), I haven't had to get up in the morning. I've been waking up anywhere from 9:30 to 11:00. Tomorrow, I have to get up by 8, so that we can start school at 9. Ugh.

Tonight, our teacher was talking about getting up early. He was saying that they have an early class on Sunday morning, for those competing in the U.S. Open. Then, he went on to say that he believes any time that doesn't have four digits, is early. If he rolls over and looks at the clock and the time doesn't start with a 1, he goes back to sleep. So, the fact that the class starts at 10 on Sunday morning is hard on him. I understand completely.

Toys

When I was a kid, we had Tinker Toys and Lincoln Logs. Tinker Toys became machines, swing sets (the easiest thing to make), robots, and other things. Lincoln Logs became houses, barricades, and blown up stuff. We had Hairy Garys and Mad Libs to play with when we were in the car. I wasn’t really into Barbies much. I was too much of a tomboy. We played outside a lot. We played cops and robbers. We played cowboys and Indians. We had a go-cart that we drove around and shot each other with our toy guns. (Of course, that would be unacceptable today.) We rode our bikes everywhere

Over the years, Tinker Toys and Lincoln Logs were phased out. Slowly, car games began to disappear (although Mad Libs never disappeared). Barbies are being hacked away at by other dolls. And, many children don’t have any idea what playing outside means. Instead, most kids today spend hours playing video games and watching T.V. It is estimated that, on average, kids spend nearly 4 hours watching T.V. Where do they find the time?

A much better idea would be to play outside, or play with toys. If a child just can’t bring himself to play with the ‘old fashioned’ toys, there are a lot of new toys being introduced that could induce a child to explore the good old concept of imaginative play and building toys.

One that looks cool is Struxx. They have a Robotrixx that Xavier would love. This is a construction system that has high tech features like a gearbox, motion detection, sound and light. And, it’s much cheaper than the Lego Robot systems. I don’t know what the quality is like, but if you’re looking for a cheaper robot system to start with, you might try this.

There are a lot of new toys out there. Some of them have to be as good as the ones we had. It’s just a matter of adding the imagination we were able to call on, to make them good.

No, Officer, I Wasn't Drinking

What makes you think that?

Man Tries to Deter Friend From Driving Drunk by Shooting Car With Paintballs

Now, I'm not saying it was a bad idea. It was just an unusual one, one that you would only come up with if you were drunk.

"This is a very creative way to prevent someone from drinking and driving, but not legal or safe," said Sgt. Ken Lattin.

Oh, come on, officer, give the guy a break.

Lattin suggested a designated driver would be a better approach.

Ya' think? guffaw

Guest Bed

When we changed the guest/sewing room into a schoolroom, we lost our guest bed. Since then, I've been looking for a bed that will work for us. Right now, we have a small room (the old school room) that could be used as a guest room. It will fit a full size bed easily, but have no room for anything else, other than, perhaps, a bedside table. However, we are planning to rip the walls out of that room and combine it with the hallway and part of the shop to make a ‘man’ room. We could put a daybed in the playroom. Right now, we have a futon in there. And, the futon does provide sleeping accommodations, but it is getting old, and is not entirely comfortable. I’m very concerned about the comfort of our guests. I like this bed.

It provides 2 twin beds, plus storage. However, it is not a day bed. It is a storage bed. I like the idea of storage beds. With a storage bed, I could store the guest linens in the drawers. Or, we could take down the toys shelves and put the toys in the drawers. We could also use them to store video games and videos. But, it wouldn’t look right in my playroom. I refuse to have a guest bed that doesn’t fit into the surroundings, just to have one. Plus, if we have guests that want to sleep together, they would not have that option. The other option we have is to put a wall bed in the man room. I’m We’re planning on putting paneling on the wall and we could disguise the bed as paneling. Then, move the chairs out of the way when we have guests. Someday, I will figure out what to do. Any suggestions?

Save the Cottage Industry!

Have you ever been to a craft fair and bought toys or clothing for your children? Chances are, if the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA)is passed, you won't be able to, anymore. The CPSIA will require lead testing on all products made for children under the age of 12, even those products that contain no materials that contain lead. So, those people who sew dresses for young children will have to stop selling their product, or charge a whole lot more for them in order to pay for the testing. No longer will you be able to buy wooden fire trucks from the retired gentleman at the county fair. The cost will be prohibitive.

This will put a lot of cottage businesses out of business. Forget for a moment what this will do to many families that depend on the added income. Think about the economic implications this will have during a time when our country doesn’t need any more economic woes.

There are some very simple fixes that can be made to save the cottage industry, without throwing out the sentiment in keeping lead out of our children. For more information, visit http://coolmompicks.com/savehandmade/ . They have lots of links and information.

Call If You Need Anything

How many times have you heard this, or even said it? This phrase drives me nuts! I hear this phrase all the time from people I barely know. Here's an example.

Months after my septic system exploded in my basement while Gary was in Florida, I was talking to some women. First of all, I had not spoken to these women in 8 months. Somehow, my septic problem came up. One of the women was upset that I had not called them. Ummm, first of all, Gary did call her husband, and he was kind enough to mention that our home owner's insurance would probably cover a hotel stay. And, he was right. And, really, that was all the help we needed. We just needed a place to stay while the place was cleaned up. Okay, somewhere for the kids to go during the day while they were cleaning the place up, and I had to be here, would have been nice. After all, we had no water, and couldn't use the septic. But, I was okay with what I had.

But, really, why would I call someone I barely know if I need help? Why wouldn't I call someone I do know? If you really want to help, why don't you call and invite us over for dinner someday. That would alleviate loneliness for a couple hours. Or, if you're out, call and see if you can stop by for some tea. Seriously, how many people do you know who actually call if they need something. I'm not talking about your close friends who stop by and make sure everything is going okay and you can call and ask them to run to the store for some milk so you don't have to get your baby out. I'm talking about the people that you see once a year, usually for some family function, or work function.

Could people just stop saying this??????

Austin Real Estate

When we moved to Kentucky, I found one resource amazingly useful. That was my realtor’s website. It had all the MLS listings, useful information about the area, and contact information.

This website for Round Rock Texas real estate has all the same stuff. It has school information, and neighborhood demographics. They list many of the attractions in the area, such as golf courses and historical points of interest. They have links to places to apply for loans. They even have an on-line advisor to help you decide if the area is the right one for you.

But, of course, the most important part of their website is their MLS search. You input what you are looking for in a house, how much you’re willing to pay, and the area you’re looking in, and it’ll give you a list of houses with pictures. This is an invaluable tool when you’re looking for a house. So, if you're looking for a house in the Austin area, check them out.

My Store

Okay, I have opened my store at Cafe Press. I've had it open for a while, with nothing in it. Now, however, I have one design in it. It's located at www.cafepress.com/ks_soapbox.

I plan to add more. This is the only one at the moment. Tell me what you think.

Confessions of a Purse Stuffer

Ask anyone who knew me as a child, and they can tell you that my purse was always very heavy. If they had a look inside, they could tell you why. I always had a ton (hee, hee) of stuff in there. Frequently, I had whatever you could want.

I especially remember what was in my purse in fourth grade. I remember because I used that purse to hit a boy in the head when he wouldn't leave me alone. It was carrying a box of crayons (24 ct.), glue, safety scissors (thankfully), and most importantly, a golf ball I found on the playground that day. He was forever more afraid of my purse.

As an adult, I carry other things in my purse. In the past, I have carried party size play doh, cookie cutters, and a rolling pin for my young children. This was a great deal when they were little. In fact, I may add a container of play doh for Dominic. It certainly helps during a trip to the ER, a frequent occurrence with that kid.

A couple years ago, the boys bought me a new purse. I really liked my new purse, but it was small. Now, don't get me wrong, I really prefer a small purse. But, it doesn't carry everything I want it to. So, when I noticed that my purse was starting to wear out, I requested a new one for Christmas. Then, I started dropping hints about what I wanted to be able to fit into my purse. The boys came through for me. Here are my new purse and its contents.

Very stylish, no?

This is what it all looks like inside.This is what's inside.I know you thought this was a glasses case, but in fact it's a nifty bag my mom gave me for Christmas. Cool, huh?
No purse would be complete without a first aid kit. Mine is, perhaps, a little more thorough than most peoples'.

The contents, in order left to right, top to bottom:

1st row: gauze pads, tape, Tylenol, emergency blanket, aspirin, first aid book,

2nd row:poncho, ace bandage, bandages, light stick, face mask

3rd row: Neosporin, hand sanitizer, tweezers, safety pin, alcohol wipes, bandages, gauze pads, motrin, latex gloves, and a stick thingy (you didn't expect me to know what everything was called, did you?)

There is one thing I need. I need to get some hand sanitizer. This has not been a biggy on my list. I'm of the opinion that kids need germs to help their immune system. However, I would like to have some for after Taekwondo. I think it will help prevent them from getting sick. We're touching things that hundreds of other people touch each day, then we shake hands with everyone. It's a very germy proposition, in my opinion. Anyway, I don't know if I'll ever get around to getting it, but it's a thought.