Last night after the kids were "in bed," we had a weird occurance. I saw the lights flicker, and heard a zap and a crash from upstairs.

It took a while to figure out exactly what had happened, because Tiernan was curled up in a little ball and wouldn't talk to us. He wasn't hurt, he'd just really scared himself. He was trying to get a nightlight out of the electrical socket, and it wasn't coming. So, he found a spatula and used it to pry the light out.

The spatula worked, and he got the light out, but he also made contact between the two prongs of the plug and the metal spatula, hence the ZAP! It tripped the circuit breaker, but not before doing a fair amount of damage to the nightlight. Tiernan's hand was blackened, but not burned. It seems the spatula caught most of the damage, though. We won't be flipping pancakes with it any more!



I did not think parenthood was going to be this unsettling...

Labels: kids

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  Maya's presence is required today at a coronation ceremony! During this ceremony, a crown will be placed ever so carefully and expensively on the six year molar of Her Highness.

During the coronation, the new queen will be treated to the finest bottled airs and gases. Afterward, this former commoner has planned a trip to visit with another local member of royalty, where she and her entourage will partake of a meal consisting of the finest beef, potatoes and a frozen confection.

Labels: dental, kids

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  I HATE shopping for bras. Hate it. So, when I found an online source that makes them to my specifications, I jumped on it and I've gotten all my bras there for the last 10 years or so. The bras and service are great, and I think more people should order from Decent Exposures. They really are pretty phenomenal.

The only problem is that I don't get around to ordering them any more than I get around to shopping for bras at the store. So, they tend to be a little worn by the time I finally replace them.

But, these last few months have been really busy, and my bras were far worse than normal. I could tell Davin had noticed too, because when I was complaining that it was time to order more, his reply was, "What? They're not SUPPOSED to be fishnets?"

I realized that it was far past time to take care of this and made the call. The bras came in the mail (don't you love getting packages, even when it's just underwear?) last week, and I've just been loving my new bras. Not that I find much occasion to jump up and down, but should I choose to I could with impunity. I could go jogging, if I wanted to, or even horseback riding with no loss of support. As it is, they're mighty comfy while I'm sitting on the couch trying to catch up on the last season of Lost online.

Oh yeah, this post is about bras, so don't read it if that sort of thing offends you...

Labels: life

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  Girl Scout Threatened by Shotgun While Selling Cookies

The person with the gun was a 78 year old woman. The person she was pointing the gun towards was an 8 year old Girl Scout. Her father says they identified themselves after a knock on the door but were met with obscenities.

In our troop, there's a famous story about a home where the girls were met at the door by a woman in her underwear, who tried to pay them with money she'd pulled from her bra. Showing true dedication, the girl managed to keep it together to get the order. But, when they went back to deliver, the home had notices on it that it had been a clandestine meth lab, and it was all blocked in by police tape.

So, I can believe that a girl had a shotgun pulled on her, it's a weird world...

Labels: newsworthy, scouts

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Thirteen Things about JEN 1. Hey there! How have you all been? 2. I haven't done a 13 in a long time. 3. Mostly because I don't know what I would list, and I didn't want to write a boring one. 4. Plus, I've been a little stressed out lately, and blogging has fallen to the bottom of the list. 5. Along with most everything else. 6. But, it's going to be OK, I am doing fine now that I cut a lot of things out of my schedule. 7. I ended up having a long talk with a friend of mine, pouring my soul out to her, including all my worries and my quirks that have been troublesome lately. 8. She listened patiently, and then emailed me a list of quizzes to determine if you have a psychiatric disorder. 9. I took all of the quizzes. Apparently I'm manic, bipolar, ADD *AND* depressed. Thankfully there's no sign of schizophrenia in there... 10. Now I'm wondering if there's a quiz to take to determine if you answer psychiatric quizzes too enthusiastically. 11. Because, I'm pretty sure I don't have THAT much going on. 12. Although I have to say that sometimes I find myself wondering if ANYTHING in my life is real. Do you know what I mean? Like, how would I know if I was totally insane and right now I'm sitting in some psych hospital somewhere, full of drugs and in a straitjacket, just *thinking* I'm writing in my blog and listening to music? How do I know they don't have a wall full of charts chronicling my actions, "She spent 45 minutes believing she was talking on the phone to her mom," or "She believes she's looking for that Where Did I Come From? library book yet again," etc. 13. Do you ever think about stuff like that? Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Labels: Thursday Thirteen

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  On August 3rd of last year, we checked the book Where Did I Come From? out of our local public library. And for about 5 months now, we haven't been able to find it to turn it in! Every time we go to the library, we search the house top to bottom looking for this book, no dice.

This morning, we were trying one more time to find it, because we're out of renewals and if we don't turn it in today we'll have to buy it. All of us were digging through the bookshelves, under furniture, in closets, in other words everywhere!

Finally, Davin said, "Maybe we're looking for the wrong book? Maybe instead of looking for Where Did I Come From? we should be looking for Where Did I GO?"

Oh well, I figure there are worse things to do with our money than giving it to the library system!

Editing to Add: When I told my mom about this, she said that when we find the book, we should re-name it, Where Have I Been? I love my mom!

Labels: books, life

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  Ok, I'm going to put the answer in the comments, because I want you guys to get a chance to think about it before you find out. (And, while you're in there, you can drop me a howdy, if you please.)

What is the most shoplifted item in U.S. grocery stores?

Labels: newsworthy

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  I'm neglecting all my other duties today, and knitting another clapotis. As you may recall, I made one for MIL this time last year, the recycled sari silk clapotis.

I chose Wool-Ease for this one. The color is called Pines, if you scroll down here to see a crummy picture of it. It's mostly black, with dark blues and greens.

So, that's what I'm up to, how about you?

Labels: can't blog, crafting

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  A poster at Websleuths pointed out this great article that was published yesterday.The author is Michael Reagan (the son of Ronald Reagan) giving his insider's view on why Shawn Hornbeck couldn't just get away from his captor.

The Reason Why

People who wonder why child victims of sexual abuse remain silent about their experiences have to understand that after that first episode the molester takes ownership of the youngster for a variety of reasons including shame and threats to tell his parents their child is a sexual deviant.

In my case the reason why I didn’t run away although this man was molesting me for a year was simply this: he owned me.

It's a powerful article, and I hope it makes the rounds and everyone reads it.

Labels: newsworthy

.*.*.

  I don't think I've ever used that word to describe anyone before, but the other ones I was thinking of are too impolite for here.

He launched a verbal attack on Shawn Hornbeck (the missing boy found after 4 years), reasoning that he stayed voluntarily with his captor because he liked it, and it was more exciting than living at home, so he wouldn't have to go to school, etc, etc, etc, diarrhea on and on.

You can watch him spewing his oral waste here:


Also you can check out a transcript of the talk, with excellent commentary, at The True Crime Blog.

Labels: newsworthy

.*.*.

  They're deliberately infecting monkeys with the 1918 flu virus.

Man, if you ask me, that feels way too close to something that would happen in flashback in a sci fi/horror film. The Stand, perhaps?

I'm sure they think they're taking precautions, but I think that Hollywood has made it abundantly clear that this is never a good idea.

That's it, I'm going to go build a bunker, stock it with food and take the family underground. Can you blog from underground?

Labels: medical, newsworthy, stephen king

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  I have no idea where they got this idea, I think it may just be from commercials and stuff, but this is a group of "Masked Wrestlers" as they presented themselves to us for our approval.



They even have names. From left to right they are "El Gato," "Bug Out," and "Fire Frog." There are no real rules, just "Only One Will Win."

Yes, that is underwear.

Labels: kids

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  Uterus transplant may enable pregnancy

A New York hospital is taking steps to offer the nation's first uterus transplant, a radical experiment that might allow women whose wombs were removed or are defective to bear children.

The wombs would come from dead donors, just as most other organs do, and would be removed after the recipient gives birth so she would not need anti-rejection drugs her whole life.

Seriously, I don't plan to use mine anymore, and I know how miserable and depressing infertility can be. I wouldn't mind giving it away to a mom if it would help her have her own children. They don't even have to wait until I'm dead! They can come get it later today, I'll clear my schedule...

Labels: medical, newsworthy

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  I've been helping with our homeschool group's co-op registration, and some other odds and ends for the group. And, it's been a really crummy week for my fibro, I don't know why.

Tomorrow is MLK day, so I thought I'd find an article for you all to read. This one is from the Time 100, and I was hooked from the first paragraph:

It is a testament to the greatness of Martin Luther King Jr. that nearly every major city in the U.S. has a street or school named after him. It is a measure of how sorely his achievements are misunderstood that most of them are located in black neighborhoods.

Hopefully I'll have more time to blog in the coming week. Hugs to you all!

Labels: homeschooling, life, newsworthy

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Without getting all Deliverance about it, you have to give the man credit for having a pretty mouth. Don't you agree?

Today is also David Bowie's birthday, the big 6-0.

What's rocking in your corner of the world on this mightily auspicious day?

Labels: david bowie, elvis

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  this isn't anywhere near us!

Huge avalanche buries cars in Colorado

A huge avalanche knocked two cars off a mountain pass Saturday on the main highway to one of the state's largest ski areas, shortly after crowds headed through on the way to the lifts, authorities said.

Eight people were rescued from the buried vehicles and all were taken to area hospitals, said state Patrolman Eric Wynn. Details of their conditions were not available.

"Our crews said it was the largest they have ever seen. It took three paths," Stacey Stegman of the transportation department said of the massive slide on U.S. 40 near 11,307-foot Berthoud Pass, about 50 miles west of Denver on the way to Winter Park Resort.

In a complete coincidence, we went for a drive up I-70 to look at the snow in the mountains, and saw all the signs warning that Hwy 40 was closed. But, we were still pretty far from the avalanche area.

It was beautiful in the mountains today. The sun was out, and the snow was blowing. The only downer was that the kids are hooked on this CD that came with the second Pirates of the Carribean movie, so we listened to it THE WHOLE TIME. I'm not that into rum not even with a "Yo Ho Ho," and "Blow the Man Down" sort of gives my juvenile self the giggles. Other than that, I think I could hang with the pirates if they bathed more frequently, I guess. On the whole, I'd rather have listened to something else, but keeping the kids happy and quiet goes a loooooooong way.

Labels: newsworthy, snow

.*.*.

  This is getting old. I love the whole beautiful "Winter Wonderland" aspect of it all, and I'm glad it's covering up the dirty old snow, but STILL!

I think I'm going to go spend some time over at Shockwave playing games. Do you have any games you like to play online? If so, drop me a line, we need something to do to fight the boredom!

Labels: games, life, snow

.*.*.

  Man saved from garbage truck after call

A man who awoke inside a garbage truck that was about to compact its load was rescued after making a frantic cell phone call to police, authorities say.

The man, who is unemployed but not homeless, was scavenging for bottles Thursday when he fell asleep in a Dumpster, said police Lt. Mike Pousak. He awoke when the container was unloaded into a truck.

I have a few questions about this article. I understand scavenging for bottles in the dumpster, I guess, but I've never resorted to such behavior when my financial situation was going well enough for me to maintain a cell phone. Maybe that's just me.

I also don't understand how someone can just fall asleep in a dumpster. It doesn't say that he is narcoleptic, just that he fell asleep. I can sleep just about anywhere, but even when the twins were babies I never even came close to dozing off in a dumpster. What's going on here?

I'm glad he was OK, and that they were able to find him. I imagine that would definitely qualify as a "rude awakening."

Labels: newsworthy

.*.*.

  A UFO at O'Hare? Some pilots thought so

Federal officials say it was probably just some weird weather phenomenon, but a group of United Airlines employees swear they saw a mysterious, saucer-shaped craft hovering over O'Hare Airport last fall.

The Federal Aviation Administration acknowledged that a United supervisor had called the control tower at O'Hare, asking if anyone had spotted a spinning disc-shaped object. But the controllers didn't see anything, and a preliminary check of radar found nothing out of the ordinary, FAA spokeswoman Elizabeth Isham Cory said.

Maybe it was a UFO, who's to say it wasn't? Although, I have to say that if it was, they can't be from a super-intelligent society because really, who would deliberately fly into O'Hare during the holidays?

Labels: aliens, newsworthy

.*.*.

  We let all the kids stay up until midnight last night, so today's been taken up by dealing with crabby whiners who stayed up too late and aren't on their game. Apparently, they don't wake up any better than I do, sorry future spouses!

As long as they don't get my crummy cavity-prone teeth too, I guess I should be happy...

Labels: holiday

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