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So Caleigh Says to Me...

Yahhh... Ok. So today I was trying to get out the door to go for a walk with Lil, when Caleigh (6) asks if she can call her friend, Bea, for a playdate. I thought it might be a good idea... and I could drop her off on my way to Lil's. But I knew that their home phone wasn't connected yet, seeing as how they moved just this week.

So, anyway, Caleigh finds the number on my cell phone and makes the call to Bea's dad's cell phone. She chats with him for a little while and he says he'll call back after talking to Bea's mom. It's all a very common accurance. So then the wait begins (all of 8 minutes)... Within that time Caleigh goes to the bathroom.

She calls out to me: "Was that the phone, mom?"

Me: "No Caleigh. Not yet, but if we don't hear from them soon, I'm just going to go. Lillian is waiting."

But then my cell phone rings and it's Doug!

Me: "Hello?"

Doug: "Oh, hi Karen, it's Doug. How are you?"

Me: "Pret-ty good!"

Doug: "Um... actually..., I'm calling for Caleigh. Is she there?" [chuckle chuckle--cuz we're friends like that]

Me: "Sure she is, but she's in the bathroom. Can I take a message?" [chuckle chuckle]

Doug: "Oh that's right. You're her secretary. [haha] Can you tell her that Beatrice would love for her to come over?"

and the rest of the conversation is about stuff like THE ICE RINK IS FINALLY ALLOWED TO OPEN IN DECEMBER!!!! WOOHOO!!!! VICTORY... and great news like that. So we get off the phone and I tell Caleigh the good news--both about the ice rink and the playdate.

So she says to me: "Good! Cause I was gonna be really pissted off if Bea couldn't have a playdate with me."

Me: "Whaaaaaaat-did-you-just-say?"

Caleigh: [eyes wide with surprise] Uhuuum, I was gonna be really mad if Bea couldn't have a playdate today."

WHERE DO THESE KIDS GET THIS STUFF???

Normal Drama, BIG DRAMA and The CLIQUE

Sorry to be a blogging slacker, but it's been busy and I haven't had time. And I don't think you guys care all that much anyway... haha.

I will say, that I'm having fun these daze. Let me start with THE CLIQUE...
We went bowling again. THAT is seriously a HOOT of a night! We laugh and cry and scream and cheer and dance and laugh all night long. This time it was four straight hours worth of intense drama (every emotion at every level--and none of us are even that good at bowling). But it's intense when you're playing for the big trophy!! If you look closely... the trophy is pictured in all three photos.

We always vow to stay friends after the night is through (which is beneficial for me--because I thought Darryl was about to punch me out when I belly-laughed-with-tears-streaming after his double gutterball). It's just too much fun taunting the super competitive alpha males. It's mean, but what can I say. I grew up with 4 brothers who always taunted each other--all in fun and games, of course. (They still do).

The two ringers of the night were Joe and Minerva... we should have known when they came with their own balls and shoes and jackets--haha not really. They've fled to Mexico--fearing that they may have to give up their trophy at the next championship round.
On another note... I've been enjoying my little part-time job, doing the scheduling for the Community House, which is a facility that can be rented to the public for various events. I've been in the position since the end of August (I think) and the drama has been minimal--until recently! I guess it will take a year or so until all the local families realize that someone new is running the scheduling. (Maybe that word has gotten around the block since this latest episode).

The episode: Some people were unaware of changes at the CH and were operating from former places... and connections that no longer exist. Heck. I don't even know what the former "deals" have been nor with what individuals they were arranged. It's just a clean slate with me. Somehow though, there was a double booking a few weeks back. This was NOT my fault, mind you. I'm the one holding the ONLY calendar and I'm the only one who books the facility. I booked a group for a date, the contracts were made and signed, the deposit was paid, the rental fee was paid, the insurance papers were in order, and a set of keys were in hand, all well in advance of the date. The other group got a verbal agreement, unbeknownst to me, for the same date... from an individual who has absolutely NOTHING to do with the CH and has NEVER had anything to do with the CH!!! It was a misunderstanding, obviously. But a big mess for the second group who went ahead with their planning and inviting and arranging for a big party that wasn't going to happen that weekend. I found the whole thing a bit odd and humorous, but I also felt badly for the second party. I really didn't appreciate the fact that I was made to look like the bad guy, being the bearer of bad tidings and all. The rumors spread like wildfire through the school, that Karen gave the building to someone else... and Karen won't let them use the building. Everyone was asking me over and over the status of things--even my own kids were asking. I was like, "ok... I don't know how this all come back to me, but I did everything I was supposed to do. It's the other people who got it wrong. ASK THEM!" It all worked out in the end, after some rescheduling, and actual introductions were made to contracts and to deposits and to liability insurance and to rental fees that ARE IN FACT CHARGED for renting the building. Ahhh good times. I was warned about situations like these when taking the job...

There has also been the drama of Nate deciding not to play ball this season. I am still hoping for a change of heart. Hoping and praying. Please Lord Jesus. It's weird though, I think people are mad at me about this. Kind of like, "You're the mom. MAKE HIM PLAY!" But if people think that's how it works with every kid, they just don't understand how difficult parenting is! Even those of us who are in the thick of parenting, tend to forget sometimes that there is no formula to raising kids. It varies from one child's needs to the next. They can't be handled all the same way, and if you try to, it will most certainly backfire. This is spoken from experience. It's just so easy to judge the next parent in line, when things are going well for the moment.

And then, there is drama happening on the school district level which is really intriguing. Teachers' contracts still need to be settled... the new business administrator of 6 months (who has done a superb job) handed in his letter of resignation for unknown reasons (although I know exactly why!)... the BOE unanimously did NOT accept his resignation--much to his surprise. I never saw that happen before. I wonder what they are up to. Maybe they will make him an offer he cannot refuse. I hope he stays.

The drama for the PTO has been minimal lately, but... we are getting ready to sell 45 used laptops using a lottery drawing of all those interested. The drawing is to decide which students and teachers will get to purchase one. It's the method we came up with to keep the distribution fair. So, I'm gearing up for some backlash from those who seem to think they are entitled to anything and everything that comes across the pike--over and above all others. We'll see. I'll let you know.

Cheers for the holidays. The kids at school are getting round one of their Thanksgiving meal. The churches and community all bring in a huge turkey dinner. It's held at the Community House! hahah. Did I ever tell you about the bandaid and the mashed potatoes???

P.S. Poor Jennah threw up in school yesterday! It wasn't pretty. I hope and pray we don't have those germs continuing through the household or anyone elses for that matter. Ahh good times.

Exhausting but Good... I Think

I feel really, really uptight... stressed. It's actually been a good day, for the most part.

Nate's Christmas gift came and I am happy with the product. (SHOUT OUT FOR JANE)

The gifts came for my parents, parents-in-law and my Aunt. I am VERY pleased with how they turned out. YAY!

I picked up 45 surplus Dell laptops that the PTO purchased from the school and took a look at one just a little bit ago. THEY ARE GREAT!!! But can I say that I can't wait to get beyond that sale, SERIOUSLY!--SHEESH!

The PTO finally received it's letter of approaval for the 501(c)3 status this week--it's been a LOOOOONNNNNGGGGG frustrating application process with the IRS, but we are finally good to go. NICKI ROCKS!!!

My oldest son finished his SUNY college applications and is ready to send everything in.

On and on and on...

The down side... the stressful side...

~hearing that my two boys don't want to play basketball now that the season offically started yesterday. (Please Lord Jesus--help them know what to do).

~offending some of my closest friends over stupid misunderstandings and misinterpretted emails--nothing new there! (And although it's all fine... I still feel like a heel).

~needing to win the bowling trophy this weekend to save face with the clique! HAHAH j/k

____
Ok, this just in... Luke liked basketball practice today and changed his mind about playing. Nate, on the otherhand didn't go to practice because he was too overwelmed with his life--so he hasn't changed his mind. AYI! Pray for that boy please.
____

I can't think of anything else.

Oh... It's suddenly cold here! *Suddenly* as in it went from 65 to 25. That's just not fair.

I haven't walked at all lately! Since the time changed. It gets dark too early and I loaned my treadmill to someone else. BUMMED!

She May Get Warts

I just had to repost this...

I sure hope I am a fun and wise old lady!! hee.

"Keep yerself clean, in every sense of the word." ~Fruitcake Lady

Leaves

The wind has been blowing and blowing since yesterday. So of course it's going to blow the colorful (and not so colorful) leaves off the trees. I get that. But will someone tell me why it can't just blow the leaves out of my yard too?

And just when I am motivated enough to establish the upcoming weekend as an outdoor working weekend... why must it rain??? You can't blow wet leaves with much success, although now that the rain has stopped, the wind has probably helped the leaves dry out a little.

Today may be the day to get out there... or not!

Word Power--November

Baneful
adjective--Having poisonous qualities; deadly; destructive; injurious; noxious; pernicious.

(I wouldn't carry around one of these frogs in my back pocket)

Synonyms: baleful, calamitous, deadly, deleterious, destructive, disastrous, evil, fatal, harmful, hurtful, malefic, noxious, pernicious, pestilent, pestilential, poisonous, venomous, wicked

Antonyms: advantageous, beneficial, beneficient, fortunate, helpful, lucky


Have you ever come across a baneful person? I have.

It's a sad, and pathetic individual who walks around with noxious and harmful ideas of ways to infect others, but I have known people who are like this. I even have at least one or two baneful people who read my blog. [Hi... If you're still reading my blog, keep a safe distance please. And remember that your destructive ways will come back upon you with misfortune--that's not a curse just a simple law of sowing a reaping].

I am fortunate! I consider myself blessed to have a naturally upbeat personality. I try to enjoy all of life and I look for the good and the positive in as much of it as I can. Yes, I do get upset about things. Frustration hits me like a hammer some times. And it's not that I refrain from ever complaining, but I like to consider how things can change for the better. Hope and faith are never far behind a passing wind of disappointment or dispair. I can thank my mom for developing an optimistic characteristic in me. She is sometimes better known as Pollyanna [so thumbs up to my mom]. She's always had a "brighter side to look at" and that's how I was raised.

Some people were raised very differently and I can understand that optimism may not come easily for others. It can be learned, however, and can become a personal discipline that is helpful, especially to those who struggle with depression... am I right? But to be EVIL... and have mal intent for others... those people are obviously in complete bondage to fear and hatrid.

Can you imagine being in a work environment with someone like that--especially when they cover their misdeeds with a smile and a cheery voice? SHEER EVILNESS! The thought of it sickens me and I've seen it in action... within this past year.

I don't know the exact reason I'm posting this, but it's been on my mind recently... so... there you have it. There it is.

Do we have any Debbie Downers out there? Anyone who needs help in becoming a more positive thinker? (That's not to say you are baneful! Being baneful is a whole different category than being negative).

Scouting Adventures

These SUNY schools can be in some very remote areas!

Can this "mountain man" handle rural?? (That's Josiah)

How about this guy? (Luke)

For part of our adventure we stayed with friends who own a farm, which is literally a stone's throw away from our first college destination. How beautifully convenient!!

The farm was so lovely and interesting. Lot's of character.

Tammy plans to make this small ruins into a garden.

Here's a quaint, little shed...

It reminded me about a time when Luke and Josiah were only 3 or 4 years old.... Josiah's parents went away on a mission trip and we stayed at their house to take care of their 3 children. It was only a few daze into our stay before Josiah's older brother locked him and Luke in the prayer shed out back, and told us that they locked themselves in it. We tried to talk the little ones through it and get them to unlock the door from the inside, but they were in such a panic that we had to call the fire department. Aaahaaahaa good times! Good times! And now these two guys are looking at colleges together.

Here's the big barn that still marks an old Holstien farm. The top of the barn is all cleared out and invites people in, young and old, for some great floor hockey games, true-blue barn dances, and some mean hoops. Gotta love a sturdy old barn. (That's Luke getting ready to use Maggie as a hockey puck).Beyond phase one of our three part trip... I took no more pictures. I'm kicking myself for not photographing any of the three colleges we visited, but it was raining (and sleeting at one point)... and there was a lot of driving... and I simply didn't feel like getting my camera out much--especially in the rain. No big deal. We have pictures in our minds.

What?! He's a Senior ALREADY???

Luke and I are heading out to visit some SUNY colleges. It's our first scouting trip. (We're slackers)! I'll let you know how it went upon my return. There'll be a lot of driving.

And don't try to break in while we're gone cuz everyone else is here and you'll be toast!

666th Post--PT 2

Lots of great comments were made on the original post. I thought I'd follow up with a few more of my own.


Where as I can rejoice about how Obama has brought hope to people in our nation to regain faith in the election process, and he had a phenomenal campaign which encouraged so many to get involved... because "we can bring change..." or whatever the slogan is... and let me also say, of course there are Christian democrats as well as Christian republicans and Christian independents--but I honestly don't know how many democrats would call themselves conservative.


But Obama...? He's not even a moderate democrat. He comes from the far left liberal side and as a senator has voted along party lines on just about everything. Some primary things that concern me are his support of partial birth abortion, and tax funded abortions, and he supports human cloning. I'll stop at that, even though there are many other issues in those general arenas I could raise a question. Another concern I have is how in 2000 Obama spoke about our country needing a second Bill of Rights to amend our U.S. Constitution. The amendments involve areas I feel would seriously endanger the freedoms of speech and religion. Certain areas in ht dispute right now are proposed Hate Crimes Laws and the Fairness doctrine... they are in hot despute now... but maybe not after January 21st (or is it 12th?) because they could pass with ease.


Also, Obama wants to increase taxes on successful businesses--ones that make over $200,000 a year. This will drive even more businessess out of the country, thus decreasing any tax revenues that were coming in when the capital gains taxes were lower. He wants to increase the size and power of the gov't to provide many new programs for our country, which translates to me... the gov't gets to decide how much money to take out of my income to fund more progams that I probably don't need or want, but it will provide things for others who may or may not contribute anything from their incomes or lack thereof. But the non-contributors will receive all the benefits of my hard earned money. That's socialism. I may as well do what non-workers are doing, because really, I'm going to end up losing my job anyway. My boss will cut back on employment because he can't afford the costs of healthcare, workman's comp, and social security along with his skyrocketing tax increases. He'll either reduce the company's production just to make enough for his own salary, or he'll keep up production and move his company to Ireland. Either way, I won't have a job.


I'd rather be allowed to decided where I want to give my money, because I DO want to help people in need. But let me choose for myself. I'd rather decide on my own healthcare plan than to not have a choice.


Obviously, when the federal gov't gets overly involved with things i.e. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac they tend to cost the American people waaaay more than if they allowed the private sector to grow, thrive and be the innovators. If you didn't know this already, the gov't is very inefficient.


When the leaders on Capital Hill try to develop new programs they can't get anything to pass until they all bribe each other by increasing the funding amounts, providing for special interests desires, pork barrel spending, and overall greed and politicizing... and in the end the affects are incredibly damaging to our economy. I want to see change. I was to see real reform, but that was not Obama's platform. That was McCain's.


What are some programs the gov't has developed and then screwed up royally--welfare which for years (until reform) kept people from wanting to get jobs; social security which has all but run out of money; medicare which is widely offered to those who aren't even documented citizens; sub-prime morgage lending which was has resulted in this huge economic crisis/bailout; illegal immigration which is an ongoing problem that complicates ALL of these issues... On and on I could go. It's the fault of both parties. It's the fault of not just Bush's last 8 years of admin., but Clinton's 8 years as well.


I felt disturbed about the fact that so many people who are Obama supporters could not offer any real reasons why they supported him... other than, they wanted change. Not one real reason. Um. Did anyone stop to wonder what changes they were going to get? I definitely don't think socialism is a good change. What do you think?


Am I going back in to the pressure cooker because of this post?

I Find it Very Interesting

I still haven't really used a pressure cooker in my kitchen, but I feel like my life has symbolized the idea of being put in one.

This mid-September thru mid-October was a total pressure cooker experience for me. Seriously. It was as if I was inside the pressure cooker and there was a lid covering me, preventing any steam from escaping. The pressure was building up, allowing the temps to rise above normal boiling points. It was unbareable at times and I can honestly say that the steam's heat did, in fact, transfer directly to the surface of the situations at hand. Others were in the cooker with me. (My boyz weren't too happy about this either). There were multiple valves releasing pressure for me, but that blasted handle was locked and unable to be opened until the cooking time was done and then the proper amount of pressure was released. I wasn't in control of the cooking time, nor the pressure release part, nor any of it, quite frankly.

But finally... when the pressure was released and the lid had finally been removed, some interesting things had been cooked up... quite tenderly. Myself included.

I can't be specific right now. I'll fill you in on details later... but I will say that the "surprise" we received at the end of our vacation has definitely brought about a change in some disheartening situations. Let's hope that the changes are lasting and profound ones.

666th POST

Is this significantly symbolic of the election's outcome?

Just kidding. Just kidding. It's only my 601st post. But by January 21st is could very well be the 666th. YIKES! j/k

Seriously though, congrats to Obama and all his fans!! I sure hope he can do some of the things he has claimed he will do for the American people. I have my doubts that his plans will produce what he says, but I always have my doubts with any presidential candidate's claims.

I think my greatest fear at this point, is that our nation is going to lose it's conservative voice altogether. I'm afraid that the constitution is either going to have amendments passed that take away our basic freedoms, and/or newly appointed supreme court justices will give rulings that completely change the way the constitution is interpreted... and the people with traditional family values will begin to come under fire like never before. The moral compass of our nation will vanish.

So, there you have it.

It's already a struggle, in this day and age, to raise a family with conservative views and traditional values. Well, our location of residence doesn't bring much (if any) support to traditional views. Our ideas and beliefs are bombarded on a regular basis, not only by television and the entertainment industry, but the public education system, the liberal media, and the lifestyles of everyday people around us. We find out daily how the young minds of our children, as we chat around the dinner table each night, are filled with all kinds of compromises to the beliefs we've gently taught them. Thank God that we have these windows of opportunity to continue talking about issues and guiding them.

We don't ever encourage our children judge others, but we do inform them that there are better choices that they can make for themselves. From those talks, the views our children choose to have usually put them in the minority, among their peers. And truth be told... they may not all stand strong. I hope the will. I pray that they will, but the pressure is real, and when it comes from all sides, it is distressing!!! They need a real connection with their faith (not sure they have that) to stand even under the pressure they undergo already.

I know that some of you completely understand my sentiment, while others are very likely uncomfortable with this post. But I needed to write some of my thoughts, just to air them out. I am upset about the outcome of the elections, but I don't look to the government for my sense of peace or security anyway. I will continue to trust God... my true freedom comes from Him. My kids are in His hands and if He is as real as I believe and know, my kids' faith will grow, too. And they will be able to stand.

If God's name gets taken off our currency, I'm gonna really be mad! If it's proposed that our currency be changed to some common currency shared with all the Americas... I'll know that 666 isn't so much of a kidding matter.

Anika's New Coat

We couldn't find her coat anywhere. It should have been stored away with all the winter clothes, but NOPE. We couldn't quite remember what coat she actually wore last year. I kind of remembered this gold-colored coat... and I remembered her getting a big ink spot on something important. Was that it? Did we toss the coat in the donation bin t the end of the season?

Well, the weather's started to turn, so I took Anika to a few stores. We stumbled upon a buy-one-get-the-2nd-half-off sale at AE. We were hopeful. She found two coats she liked. I found one I liked. She liked the same one I liked. I tried to convince her (ever so gently) to get the other jacket, but she decided on the one I wanted. I've been wanting a pea coat or a barn jacket for a long time, but I wasn't going to get the exact same coat as her. The only other color available was yellow NO THANK YOU! Her choice saved me some money this time.

When we got home, I told her that I was hoping she would get the other coat so I could have gotten that one and she said... are you ready for this... she said, "Mom, you could have gotten the same coat. It looked really good on you!" [GASP]

Do I have a saint of a teenage child, or what?!

We Heard about Our *Clique*

Everyone is jealous! Who knew that at 41-years-old people could become worried about kool's circle being the popular crowd... or they those same people might not fit into MY particular group? But I guess I can understand... after our WILD ADVENTURES AT THE BOWLING ALLEY!!!

Maybe they heard about the trophy, which would go to the winning couple:



Maybe they wanted to see Psycho Terry display his uncanny abilities:


Or, it could have been their desire to watch Coach, with his one-eyed-willie (no sexual references intended), completely CHOKE:

Who's in this clique anyway?

Aren't these people all on the fringe?

Well, we all know that Lil's 'IN' for sure. She's THAT FUN:

And Nicki, as the former PTO president, started the clique... but Daryl??? I DON'T THINK SO!!! (Just kidding Daryl. I'm only mad about you winning the title):

And Ronnie??? Not with that form! And where'd he get those shoes anyway?

Enough with the rumors. Enough with the jealously. We're just out to have fun. Everyone's welcome (but NO BACKBITERS ALLOWED!!!).

Just turn the black lights on and LET'S BOWL!!! YEA BABY!