Pre-Halloween Festivities

Turkey Butt is a super cool Air Force Pilot. His buddies, Mutt and Jeff are a Phantom and a Storm Trooper. We went to Flushing Township Nature Park for their Halloween special. Basically we were able to hike on the shorter nature trail at dark (which TB thought was super cool enough) and they had booths set up along the way to educate the kids about animal scat, bats, spiders, snakes and other "Halloween" type things. At the end the boys all got treat bags, including tooth brushes!!!
The boys all thought it was great, even the oldest who was thoroughly bummed at first when he found out that he was only getting a bag at the end. In our group were other parents who obviously didn't get the memo and had planned on just trick or treating along the trail and had not much nice to say about the program. Their kids seemed to be enjoying themselves too, though. Unfortunately, though I am sure they will not be back for another year. Kind of sad, because the children all had fun and it was educational. Worked for me.



Didn't get too many pics because it was at night and I had 4 boys to keep an eye on by myself. Yes there is a little frog that joined us, but he was terrified by his brothers costumes and there was no way I could get him to stand next to them for the pics!!!

Oh the hypocrisy!!!

So I briefly contemplated returning to church. I even went to a new one a few weeks ago and I liked it a lot and the people. However, since then I have worked every day but two. Yes I even worked on Sundays. But you gotta do what you gotta do. My relationship with God was never ever dependent on going to church. As a matter of fact attending "church" did nothing to further it either, just made me a whole lot of disgruntled. So much so that with everything on my plate and the way I felt when I left these "churches" left me with little desire to continue seeking. I am confident with my relationship with God and spend my days to being a christian so why bother causing myself pain for the sake of appearances???

Anyway, the main reason for going to church was for TB because he really really wants to get baptized. He brought it up of his own accord and I am not going to spend the rest of this post justifying the decision to anyone.

However, here's my problem. I am fully aware that any christian (even me) can baptize my son and that it doesn't have to be in a church. BUT . . . what will happen to him way down the road when he wants to get married and stuff, will they understand it since he doesn't have a pretty little certificate from a bonafide church to back up his claim?

In my opinion they should, but hey I am also fully aware that most church going people do not feel that way. This of course, fuels my feelings of the absolute hypocrisy of many many church going people-that along with some very intolerant, cruel, judgmental and just down right crazy things from "christian leaders" that I have been reading today are really making me feel like church is just not an option for us anymore. Mostly for fear that by letting TB attend, I will be validating those very attitudes that I despise and by condoning them, he will feel it's okay to be like them.

Add to this the fact that I only want to go to church to get a happy little certificate for TB, just in case he ever needs it in the future and well it almost makes me feel like I am becoming a hypocrite myself. So I am not going to pursue it anymore. I sent a card to the church that I visited recently telling them that I liked their church but I really just don't have time to attend at this juncture, which I don't (again not going to waste my time justifying that comment either).

The crazy thing is that I think that at this church, they will understand. Too bad I hadn't gone there first.

As for the baptism, I am 100% confident that it will get done some how, some way. An opportunity always presents itself, in this I am sure.

Anyway, I gotta go, TB just told me that he wants to practice reading by reading his "God and Jesus books" . . .

We Love the Fall

Today we went to get pumpkins and run around in the corn. The best part of the whole day was the pumpkin cannons (in the excitement I forgot to take a picture). Then I played with my new leaf blower birthday present and now my arm feels like jello. All in all, one great day.

What would Jesus do?

Yeah I know, corny but hey it makes a point!!!

So do you really think that if Jesus had the choice he would stand out front of an abortion clinic, even peacefully protesting what is going on in there?

I don't think so.

Jesus would be in there, speaking to the women, sharing their hurt and their pain and their fear.

He certainly would not be standing outside condemning someone solely based on one decision that they had made in their life.

He certainly would not be intimidating and putting fear into these women's hearts.

He would be talking to them and teaching them all about the love of God. He would not be causing them to fear God even more.

Jesus would be showing them love and compassion and caring. He would teach them.

He would be leaving the judging to God.

That's what I think.

Happy Birthday to Me

Boy do I hate it when it is supposed to be about me. Terrible isn't it. All I can say is boy is it nice to be needed, but it sure as hell would be nice to be wanted once in a while.

Tiring. Well at least it's only once a year. 364 days a year it can be about everyone else and we can leave it that way-it works best that way. Sigh . . .

The Tragedy

Well, it's been a while but when you are busy for ooooh about 70 hours a week, you really gotta sleep in those last few.

So anyway, the other day was a pretty devastating day for us. One of our baby deer was hit by a car.

In case you are not sure what the heck I am talking about, we have had a momma deer raise her two babies in the backyard. They have become permanent residents ever since I put in the privacy fence and pretty much sleep here every night now. So much so that in last week's art project, TB had to draw a pic of the house and he even included the three of them in the yard.

Anyway . . .

The babies have been enjoying my crab apple tree a little too much lately and the other morning when I went out of the drive to leave for work, one was there on the side of the road "sleeping".

Unfortunately, I blurted out my surprise and TB saw it right away too.

He was sooooo bummed.

First he was mad at the driver.

Then he was mad at the deer.

Then he decided it wasn't one of "his" deer, it was someone else's.

Then he decided (since the city road crew excellently removed the baby before we returned for the day) that a vet must have picked it up and took it to it's house to be rehabbed like we did for Gracie when she was hit by a car.

So sweet. So sad. Poor TB, this kid has had more deaths in 6 years than some people have in their lives.

Ahhhh we will be okay. Just really really bummed out.

Late Labor Day fun

We had a good time.

Update on the Presidential Election Process

Well we are drawing nearer to a conclusion to the electoral process in the home.  Both candidates have lost all for legs (TB and his buddy Chopper Boy helped that process along).  The elephant, however, seems to be falling far behind.  It's hard to tell from the pic, but he has lost half of his stuffing and the prized squeakie has been removed.  Donkey is still fat and sassy, although legless.  

However, Ms. Maddie decided that it was Donkey's turn when I took the elephant away from her to take the pics, so Elephant may make a catch up here soon . . .

How appropriate . . .

Today coming home from Detroit with the Radio ADHD in full bloom while waiting for all the traffic on 75 to magically disappear I had to stop for Eminem's Lose Yourself came on.  Pretty much sums up the day I had today with the boys.

Sad sad sad.

Finally I can pick a candidate!

UPDATE: The donkey is already missing a leg and  the elephant is losing some stuffing-the squeaky is still intact though.  This is going to be a close one.

As always I am confused about who should get my vote this year.  As always, it's a matter of principles versus reality and which way should I go.  So to make things easy this year, I have my dogs to help me out.

Petco has had red, white and blue Donkey and Elephant dog toys for some time now.  They are on clearance for $1.50 right now so of course I bought them.  I joked with the cashier that why bother spending $8 or more on a toy when these will work just as well-actually they are really well made dog toys to boot.  He joked back and said it would be funny if the dogs only destroyed one rather than the other.  I said, oh not to worry my dogs are equal opportunity dog toy destroyers.

But then I thought about it some more and have decided that whichever toy last the longest will get my vote!  Rest assured, the whole process will be done well before the actual election-no need to worry that both candidates will still be standing by then!

My new trail guide.

Today Turkey Butt and I went to check out the trails at Flushing Township Nature Park.  Granted there is only 3 miles of trails, but I mowed the grass first so give me a break.

Anyway, TB decided that he wanted to learn how to use the map today so I gave him a chance.  He caught on pretty good and pretty much every time I asked, he knew where we were.

And the Jellyfish will rise . . .

I stayed home today, a combination of borderline migraine and exhaustion from working two jobs etc etc etc.  So while I was doing my best imitation of a sloth, I spotted this the National Geographic TV.  They had a special on Jellyfish.  Apparently, their numbers are exploding due to pollution, global warming, dead water and pretty much every other bad thing that we do to the environment.

They are taking over the seas.  

Let's hope my fellow jellies do not all of a sudden get brains, because then they may just figure out how to take over the world!!!

Random thoughts during my drive to Detroit this morning.

Not too many as I only had about 2 hours of sleep last night . . .

I am pretty sure that driving in the snow is better than driving through all this construction!!!

This would be a great song for Viagra or Cialis if they haven't already used it, Speaking of Barry Manilow's Trying to Find that Feeling Again  (gotta love the free XM subscription-you never know what you will hear on it!!!)

It's not a mouse . . .

Guess what I caught in my mousetrap last night.

Nope, it wasn't a mouse. . .

Nope, it wasn't a rat . . .

It was a mole.  

As far as I know, moles do not like cheese, but luckily for me they also don't know how to leap over the mouse trap that is in the way of their only escape route from behind my stove.

After a very exhaustive search of the entire foundation of the house, I have determined that the poor mole either entered the house through the front door, when I was unloading from last weekends trip or one of the dogs brought it in for a fun little fuzzy chew toy and it escaped.

Don't know, don't care.  It's gone and that is all that matters.

I knew it was weird that there was no mouse poop or torn open food in the cupboards.

Lemonade Stands

I got to tell you nothing gets me more sentimental and weepy than driving through a neighborhood and seeing some little kids out in their yards running a lemonade stand.  So far this summer I have seen 4 of them and of course I always stop.

There's just something that gets me about these things.

Like I always reply when people say I am crazy or that my job is dangerous because I visit complete strangers all over the state of Michigan all day long, the world is not quite as bad as most people make it out to be . . .

My new Kindle

If you hadn't guessed from my last post, I now have an Amazon Kindle book.  Basically I whined and whined and whined until my mother gave it and bought it for me.  I told her it was an early birthday (October) and Christmas present and that she could even throw graduation (next May) in there too.

I love this thing.  Books are way cheaper when you don't have to pay for printing, binding, shipping, etc.  Plus, they have their own wireless network on the Kindle so literally within 30 seconds you can go to Amazon.com and order something and have it downloaded.  Their Kindle library is pretty vast so finding something is not a problem.

Then yesterday was the icing on the cake.  Tor books sent a message out that I was able to download 10 of their titles for free.  Yes I know it's a marketing ploy to get me to try some new writers and get hooked, but who cares, it works for me!

So if you don't ever see me blogging again, you will know why.  The battery NEVER dies on the thing and it only takes an hour or so to re-charge if it does.

I am in heaven.

Random thoughts during my drive to Detroit this morning.

I love my Kindle.

I want to run for Congress so that I can get lifetime health care, so tired of being un-insured.

Who cut down the "These trees were illegally cut." trees?

I really love my Kindle.

Did Kwame forget to pay the electric bills?  (most of the stop lights were out or had only one bulb working)

I really really love my Kindle.

And that's about all I got today.

Super Angst

This guy is on to something.

Once again I am in trouble . . .

Here is where most of my problems lie, I have decided to forgive someone and still be friends with them and others cannot understand that.  Do you have a right to be mad at a friend for forgiving someone else?  Shouldn't you be the slightest bit grateful that one day you may make a mistake and be given the same amount of forgiveness?

That's what I am thinking.

Someone did me and TB wrong.  It stemmed from a fundamental character difference in the two of us.  It is not something that this person is actually even fully aware of, either because of that exact difference in viewpoint.  We understand and we accept that this person may see things differently than we do.  We altered our relationship so that the same things won't happen again, but we continue to be friends with this person. 

Now however, others are pretty mad at me for being nice to this person, that is something that I just don't understand.

So again, should you be mad at someone for forgiving someone else?  That just seems silly.

Instrumental Worship . . . Not for Turkey Butt

So today was the first day of VBS at the church that my babysitter attends.  She basically runs the children's program, so of course all the day care kids will be going to VBS all week.  They attend a different type of church from what we are used to, you know the kind that uses instruments and all.

TB just got home from the first day and he is miserable.  All he keeps complaining about right now is how loud and annoying the VBS was and that he has a headache.

Soooo apparently instrumental music is not his cup of tea.

Mostly he is just tired from having 2 sleep overs in a row with his buddy from around the corner and staying up til midnight for Movie in the Park on Saturday and til about 10:00 to catch fireflies last night.  Ooops, bad planning mommy.