Just a few things I will miss when you are grown,
Batman laying on my kitchen floor,
talking to you on the phone.
Holding you in my arms when you were four.
Seems like just yesterday you were my little baby,
Already you will be starting school.
you will always be my baby.
I know school is going to rule.
But I will miss those late nights,
searching for that toy you cant sleep without,
The long days filled with your sister and your fights.
Those heartbreaking moments when I see you pout.
As you grow up you will need me less and less,
I wont be pestered with a million questions of why?
You wont need me to help you dress.
Soon the magic mommy kiss will not help when you cry.
I will miss the silly toddler things you say,
asking for "waternade" when you want lemonade,
or telling me "uhmpa's here" every other day.
I hope the memories will never fade.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
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This and That
Just some interesting pics...a pimped out 69 bug....a cool spider webb
A cave in china
Storm caught on camra
Years gone by
It has been four years since I have seen my brother and four years before that. The last time I really knew him he was knee high and a sweet little boy. He is visiting for a couple days, and at 17 years old he has grown into a 6 foot punk kid. I say this with love and saddness at how he turned out. He is on probation and has been smoking and drinking and not acting responsibly, not that there has been anyone to watch out for him and teach him wrong from right. His mother would be so heart broken if she could see her son now. He has no job, doesnt live in any particular place, and has little chance of graduating high school. He seems not to care. I can see all the shitty deals life has dealt him and am not too suprised where he has ended up in life. I wish it didnt have to turn out this way and that someone would have gave a damn for him when he was 7 years old and his mother died. I was a rebellious and hurt teenager myself at that time and had no control over what happened and the fact that he moved so far away, back to his dad's. It is depressing. Even more now that I have a son of my own and see all the dangers that await his growing up. I know there will be temptations, peer pressure, social norms, and just the adolescent stage that will try to corrupt him. Hopefully my husband and I can give him enough support and love and discipline to keep him safe.
I was at a park with my kids yesterday and some older boys playing. They were pretending to buy beer and get drunk and they were swearing like no 7 or 8 year old I have seen! I dont want to shelter my kids from this stuff...they will find out about the real world eventually and I want them to be prepared. But I hope I can teach them while exposing them to all that shit. (Alcohol, drugs, swearing, internet, bullying, there seems to be so much danger and bad shit in the world and I dont want my kids participating in any of it.)
I was at a park with my kids yesterday and some older boys playing. They were pretending to buy beer and get drunk and they were swearing like no 7 or 8 year old I have seen! I dont want to shelter my kids from this stuff...they will find out about the real world eventually and I want them to be prepared. But I hope I can teach them while exposing them to all that shit. (Alcohol, drugs, swearing, internet, bullying, there seems to be so much danger and bad shit in the world and I dont want my kids participating in any of it.)
Saturday, June 6, 2009
A little of My photography
My black lab.
An old truck that will someday be mine and a donkey from my mother's farm.
An obnoxious squirrel.
Flowers from my own garden.
Flowers from my own garden.I enjoy dabbling in nature photograpy. Flowers, trees, birds, animals, its all so beautiful. I love the very tops of trees, and big puffy clouds in the blue sky.
Photography
I enjoy dabbling in photography, but I dont have my dream camra yet. Here are some photos I like. 
I love photos of the sky. Big stormy clouds and the sun about to go down or come up.
I think of country wildflowers growing in an empty field...
I love photos of the sky. Big stormy clouds and the sun about to go down or come up.
I think of country wildflowers growing in an empty field...
Great Truths
GREAT TRUTHS THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED:
1) No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats.
2) When your Mum is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair.
3) If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person.
4) Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.
5) You can't trust dogs to watch your food.
6) Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.
7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
8) You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
9) Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
10) The best place to be when you're sad is Grandpa's lap.
GREAT TRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED:
1) Raising teenagers is like nailing jelly to a tree.
2) Wrinkles don't hurt.
3) Families are like fudge..mostly sweet, with a few nuts.
4) Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.
5) Laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside.
6) Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fibre, not the toy.
GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD
1) Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
2) Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.
3) When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you're down there.
4) You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.
5) It's frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions. 6) Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician.
7) Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.
THE FOUR STAGES OF LIFE:
1) You believe in Santa Claus.
2) You don't believe in Santa Claus.
3) You are Santa Claus.
4) You look like Santa Claus.
SUCCESS:
At age 4 success is . . . not piddling in your pants.
At age 12 success is . .. . having friends.
At age 17 s uccess is . having a drivers license.
At age 35 success is . . having money.
At age 50 success is . . having money.
At age 70 success is . .. ... having a drivers license.
At age 75 success is . . having friends.
At age 80 success is .. . not piddling in your pants.
1) No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats.
2) When your Mum is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair.
3) If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person.
4) Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.
5) You can't trust dogs to watch your food.
6) Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.
7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
8) You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
9) Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
10) The best place to be when you're sad is Grandpa's lap.
GREAT TRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED:
1) Raising teenagers is like nailing jelly to a tree.
2) Wrinkles don't hurt.
3) Families are like fudge..mostly sweet, with a few nuts.
4) Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.
5) Laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside.
6) Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fibre, not the toy.
GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD
1) Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
2) Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.
3) When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you're down there.
4) You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.
5) It's frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions. 6) Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician.
7) Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.
THE FOUR STAGES OF LIFE:
1) You believe in Santa Claus.
2) You don't believe in Santa Claus.
3) You are Santa Claus.
4) You look like Santa Claus.
SUCCESS:
At age 4 success is . . . not piddling in your pants.
At age 12 success is . .. . having friends.
At age 17 s uccess is . having a drivers license.
At age 35 success is . . having money.
At age 50 success is . . having money.
At age 70 success is . .. ... having a drivers license.
At age 75 success is . . having friends.
At age 80 success is .. . not piddling in your pants.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Children's Books
These are some of my favorite books from childhood:
- Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown (1947)
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (1979)
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson (1955)
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka, ill. Lane Smith(1989)
Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina (1947)
The Monster at the End of this Book by Jon Stone, ill. by Mike Smollin (1971)
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault, ill. Lois Ehlert (1989)
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs - Judy Barrett
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie , by Laura Joffe Numeroff.
Are You My Mother?, by P.D. Eastman
Amelia Bedeliaby Peggy Parrish
Ramona the Pest Beverly Cleary
Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel- The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss
Friday, May 29, 2009
Kids and Scattered Toys
Since no one will bother to read this blog anyway I suppose I can let you into the craziness of my mind. Beware, I ramble and hop from topic to topic.
So I am sitting at home right now, suprise suprise, watching my bestfriend's girl's. Four kids running around screaming and terroizing my house, I feel like cowering in a corner or something. Not really, but I am sitting on this computer to try to escape.
Watching them dump all those toys out and empty every toy box is driving me nuts. I want to follow behind them and put everything away where it belongs and not let them touch it again. But I know they wont learn responsibility if I clean up after them all the time, and I cant not let them play with any toys just because the mess is irritating me. So tonight when the girls leave and I have my two kids in bed, I will come back downstairs and clean, organize, and make sure everything is in its place leaving less time for me. I will stay up anyway to enjoy the peace and quiet, then realize at 1 am that it is so late and I will go to bed dreading the morning. Even though the kids will still have me up at 6 or 7 depending on how early they wake up.
Oh boy the kids are back up stairs. I better go referree....
Ok Im back. So even though I know it is pointless to clean up behind the kids, I cant seem to stop myself from doing it. I know its exhausting and much like pushing a large boulder up a steep hill, but I cant help it. All those toys scattered all over the floor, cars mixed with dolls mixed with animals. It drives me nuts. I have to put them back in their own boxes and bins.
So I am sitting at home right now, suprise suprise, watching my bestfriend's girl's. Four kids running around screaming and terroizing my house, I feel like cowering in a corner or something. Not really, but I am sitting on this computer to try to escape.
Watching them dump all those toys out and empty every toy box is driving me nuts. I want to follow behind them and put everything away where it belongs and not let them touch it again. But I know they wont learn responsibility if I clean up after them all the time, and I cant not let them play with any toys just because the mess is irritating me. So tonight when the girls leave and I have my two kids in bed, I will come back downstairs and clean, organize, and make sure everything is in its place leaving less time for me. I will stay up anyway to enjoy the peace and quiet, then realize at 1 am that it is so late and I will go to bed dreading the morning. Even though the kids will still have me up at 6 or 7 depending on how early they wake up.
Oh boy the kids are back up stairs. I better go referree....
Ok Im back. So even though I know it is pointless to clean up behind the kids, I cant seem to stop myself from doing it. I know its exhausting and much like pushing a large boulder up a steep hill, but I cant help it. All those toys scattered all over the floor, cars mixed with dolls mixed with animals. It drives me nuts. I have to put them back in their own boxes and bins.
interesting and random pictures
daily life of cleaning and housework..never ending..no wonder us women are exhuasted by 8pm
a referre by day..kids think they are pro wrestlers or something
Zen
Zen Thoughts
1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me,
for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much
leave me the hell alone.
2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and a
leaky tyre.
3. It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your
neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.
4. Sex is like air. It's not important unless you aren't getting any.
5. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be
promoted.
6. No one is listening until you fart.
7. Always remember you're unique. Just like everyone else.
8. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.
9. If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of
car payments.
10. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes.
That way, when you criticize them you're a mile away and you have their shoes.
11. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.
12. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish,
and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.
13. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was
probably worth it.
14. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.
15. Some days you are the bug; some days you are the windshield.
16. Don't worry; it only seems kinky the first time.
17. Good judgment comes from bad experience, and a lot of that comes
from bad judgment.
18. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put
it back in your pocket.
19. A closed mouth gathers no foot.
20. Duct tape is like the Force. It has a light side and a dark side,
and it holds the universe together.
21. There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.
22. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.
23. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
24. We are born naked, wet and hungry, and get slapped on our ass...
Then things get worse.
25. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative
on the same night.
26. There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
27. No matter what happens, somebody will find a way to take it too seriously.
28. There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to
make a big deal about your birthday...around age 11.
29. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.
30. The most important ingredient for a long marriage is a short memory.
1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me,
for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much
leave me the hell alone.
2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and a
leaky tyre.
3. It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your
neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.
4. Sex is like air. It's not important unless you aren't getting any.
5. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be
promoted.
6. No one is listening until you fart.
7. Always remember you're unique. Just like everyone else.
8. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.
9. If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of
car payments.
10. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes.
That way, when you criticize them you're a mile away and you have their shoes.
11. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.
12. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish,
and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.
13. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was
probably worth it.
14. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.
15. Some days you are the bug; some days you are the windshield.
16. Don't worry; it only seems kinky the first time.
17. Good judgment comes from bad experience, and a lot of that comes
from bad judgment.
18. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put
it back in your pocket.
19. A closed mouth gathers no foot.
20. Duct tape is like the Force. It has a light side and a dark side,
and it holds the universe together.
21. There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.
22. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.
23. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
24. We are born naked, wet and hungry, and get slapped on our ass...
Then things get worse.
25. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative
on the same night.
26. There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
27. No matter what happens, somebody will find a way to take it too seriously.
28. There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to
make a big deal about your birthday...around age 11.
29. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.
30. The most important ingredient for a long marriage is a short memory.
Shitisms
Shitisms
1. Taoism: Shit happens. If you can shit, it isn't shit. Shit happens, so flow
with it.
2. Hare Krishna: Shit Happens, Rama Rama Ding Ding. She-it happens, She-it
happens, happens, happens, she-it, she-it... (Repeat until you become one
with she-it). Please this flower and buy our shit.
3. Confucianism: Confucious say, "Shit happens". Confucious says, "If shit has
to happen, let it happen PROPERLY."
4. Buddhism: If shit happens, it isn't really shit. If shit happens, it isn't
really happening TO anyone. Shit will happen again to you next time.
5. Zen: What is the sound of shit happening?
6. Sixth Day Adventism: Shit happens on Saturdays.
7. Hinduism: I've seen this shit happening before. This shit is not a
religion, it is the way of life. This shit happening IS you.
8. Protestantism: If shit happens, it happens to someone else. If shit
happens, praise the lord for it!
9. Calvinism: Shit happens because you don't work hard enough.
10. Episcopalianism: If shit happens, hold a procession.
11. Lutheranism: Shit happens, but as long as you're sorry, it's OK.
12. Anglicanism: It's true, shit does happen -- but only to Lutherans.
13. Catholicism: If shit happens, you deserved it. You were born shit, you are
shit, and you will die shit.
14. Charismatic Catholicism: Shit is happening because you deserve it, but we
love you anyway.
15. Judaism: Why does shit always happen to US? Why does shit always happen
just before closing the deal?
16. Reform Judaism: Got any laxatives?
17. Islam: If this shit happens, it is the will of Allah. If shit happens, take
a hostage. We don't take any shit.
18. Nation of Islam: Don't take no shit!
19. New Age: That's not shit, it's feldspar. A firm shit does not happen to me.
This isn't shit if I really believe it's chocolate. I create my own shit.
If shit happens, honor it and share it. Sheeeeeeeeeeit! Were all part of
the same shit. For $300, we can help you get in touch with your inner shit.
20. Wicca: If shit happened once, it will happen twice more. The Goddess makes
shit happen.
21. Jehovah's Witnesses: No shit happens until Armaggedon. There is only a
limited amount of good shit. Knock Knock, "Shit Happens." Here, we insist
you take our shit. Shit happens door to door.
22. Secular Humanism: Shit evolves.
23. Darwinism: Survival of the shittiest.
24. Christian Science: When shit happens, don't call a doctor--pray. Shit
doesn't happen and I am not up to my eyeballs in it. Our shit will take
care of itself. Shit happens in your mind.
25. Atheism: I don't believe this shit! It looks and smells like shit, so I'm
damned if I'm going to taste it. Shit doesn't happen. Shit is dead. No shit!
26. Religion from an Atheist's point of view: I haven't smelt, seen, touched,
or tasted it. But it's shit.
27. Agnosticism: It looks and smells like shit, but I haven't tasted it, so I'm
not sure whether its shit or not. What is this shit?! How can we KNOW if
shit happens? You can't prove any of this shit!
28. Rastafarianism: Let's smoke this shit! Hey, this is good shit, mon.
29. Mormonism: If shit happens, shun it. Excrement happens. (you can't say
'shit' in Utah) Hey, there's more shit happening over here! Our shit is
better than your shit. Shit happens again & again & again ...
30. Energizer Bunny: Shit happens and happens and happens and ...
1. Taoism: Shit happens. If you can shit, it isn't shit. Shit happens, so flow
with it.
2. Hare Krishna: Shit Happens, Rama Rama Ding Ding. She-it happens, She-it
happens, happens, happens, she-it, she-it... (Repeat until you become one
with she-it). Please this flower and buy our shit.
3. Confucianism: Confucious say, "Shit happens". Confucious says, "If shit has
to happen, let it happen PROPERLY."
4. Buddhism: If shit happens, it isn't really shit. If shit happens, it isn't
really happening TO anyone. Shit will happen again to you next time.
5. Zen: What is the sound of shit happening?
6. Sixth Day Adventism: Shit happens on Saturdays.
7. Hinduism: I've seen this shit happening before. This shit is not a
religion, it is the way of life. This shit happening IS you.
8. Protestantism: If shit happens, it happens to someone else. If shit
happens, praise the lord for it!
9. Calvinism: Shit happens because you don't work hard enough.
10. Episcopalianism: If shit happens, hold a procession.
11. Lutheranism: Shit happens, but as long as you're sorry, it's OK.
12. Anglicanism: It's true, shit does happen -- but only to Lutherans.
13. Catholicism: If shit happens, you deserved it. You were born shit, you are
shit, and you will die shit.
14. Charismatic Catholicism: Shit is happening because you deserve it, but we
love you anyway.
15. Judaism: Why does shit always happen to US? Why does shit always happen
just before closing the deal?
16. Reform Judaism: Got any laxatives?
17. Islam: If this shit happens, it is the will of Allah. If shit happens, take
a hostage. We don't take any shit.
18. Nation of Islam: Don't take no shit!
19. New Age: That's not shit, it's feldspar. A firm shit does not happen to me.
This isn't shit if I really believe it's chocolate. I create my own shit.
If shit happens, honor it and share it. Sheeeeeeeeeeit! Were all part of
the same shit. For $300, we can help you get in touch with your inner shit.
20. Wicca: If shit happened once, it will happen twice more. The Goddess makes
shit happen.
21. Jehovah's Witnesses: No shit happens until Armaggedon. There is only a
limited amount of good shit. Knock Knock, "Shit Happens." Here, we insist
you take our shit. Shit happens door to door.
22. Secular Humanism: Shit evolves.
23. Darwinism: Survival of the shittiest.
24. Christian Science: When shit happens, don't call a doctor--pray. Shit
doesn't happen and I am not up to my eyeballs in it. Our shit will take
care of itself. Shit happens in your mind.
25. Atheism: I don't believe this shit! It looks and smells like shit, so I'm
damned if I'm going to taste it. Shit doesn't happen. Shit is dead. No shit!
26. Religion from an Atheist's point of view: I haven't smelt, seen, touched,
or tasted it. But it's shit.
27. Agnosticism: It looks and smells like shit, but I haven't tasted it, so I'm
not sure whether its shit or not. What is this shit?! How can we KNOW if
shit happens? You can't prove any of this shit!
28. Rastafarianism: Let's smoke this shit! Hey, this is good shit, mon.
29. Mormonism: If shit happens, shun it. Excrement happens. (you can't say
'shit' in Utah) Hey, there's more shit happening over here! Our shit is
better than your shit. Shit happens again & again & again ...
30. Energizer Bunny: Shit happens and happens and happens and ...
Bet you'll never see these in Hallmark
Greeting Cards You Will Never See in the Hallmark Store
1. Front: I heard you have gone deaf.
Inside: I'll bet you didn't.
2. Front: I'm sorry to hear you have gone blind.
Inside: See you later, you fucking bastard!
3. Front: I'm sorry to hear you are brain dead.
Inside: It's really not that bad when you think about it.
4. Front: My sympathies on the last of your father's teeth falling out.
Inside: Well, dadgummit!
5. Front: My condolences on the loss of your arms.
Inside: Write back soon!
6. Front: I'm sorry to hear you have contracted Alzheimer's disease.
Inside: I'm sorry to hear you have contracted Alzheimer's disease.
7. Front: I heard that you were very sick.
Inside: I hope that you die painlessly.
8. Front: I heard you were dead.
Inside: I hope it was painless.
9. Front: I heard your whole family got shot.
Inside: So I turned up the volume on the stereo.
10. Front: Congratulations on your first period!
Inside: Let's go out and paint the town red!
11. Front: Thank God you aren't pregnant!
Inside: I might have had to admit I've had sex with *you*.
12. Front: I heard that you attempted suicide.
Inside: Wishing you luck and success in all that you do.
13. Front: After all these years, it was good to run into you again.
Inside: Thank God this time you didn't leave as much blood on my bumper!
14. Front: I was sorry to hear that your dog ran away.
Inside: Next time try cooking him a little longer.
15. Front: They told me you were constipated.
Inside: No shit?
16. Front: Wishing you a speedy recovery from your accident.
Inside: Look forward to seeing you in court!
17. Front: Get well soon.
Inside: I am sick of walking two miles to get water.
18. Front: Congratulations on finally getting a life.
Inside: Now get ready to lose it.
19. Front: Hot damn!
Inside: I'm sorry to hear that your house burned down.
20. Front: Congratulations on your weight loss!
Inside: It's a shame you had to saw off your legs to do it.
21. Front: When life deals you a hard blow...
Inside: So can I, big boy.
1. Front: I heard you have gone deaf.
Inside: I'll bet you didn't.
2. Front: I'm sorry to hear you have gone blind.
Inside: See you later, you fucking bastard!
3. Front: I'm sorry to hear you are brain dead.
Inside: It's really not that bad when you think about it.
4. Front: My sympathies on the last of your father's teeth falling out.
Inside: Well, dadgummit!
5. Front: My condolences on the loss of your arms.
Inside: Write back soon!
6. Front: I'm sorry to hear you have contracted Alzheimer's disease.
Inside: I'm sorry to hear you have contracted Alzheimer's disease.
7. Front: I heard that you were very sick.
Inside: I hope that you die painlessly.
8. Front: I heard you were dead.
Inside: I hope it was painless.
9. Front: I heard your whole family got shot.
Inside: So I turned up the volume on the stereo.
10. Front: Congratulations on your first period!
Inside: Let's go out and paint the town red!
11. Front: Thank God you aren't pregnant!
Inside: I might have had to admit I've had sex with *you*.
12. Front: I heard that you attempted suicide.
Inside: Wishing you luck and success in all that you do.
13. Front: After all these years, it was good to run into you again.
Inside: Thank God this time you didn't leave as much blood on my bumper!
14. Front: I was sorry to hear that your dog ran away.
Inside: Next time try cooking him a little longer.
15. Front: They told me you were constipated.
Inside: No shit?
16. Front: Wishing you a speedy recovery from your accident.
Inside: Look forward to seeing you in court!
17. Front: Get well soon.
Inside: I am sick of walking two miles to get water.
18. Front: Congratulations on finally getting a life.
Inside: Now get ready to lose it.
19. Front: Hot damn!
Inside: I'm sorry to hear that your house burned down.
20. Front: Congratulations on your weight loss!
Inside: It's a shame you had to saw off your legs to do it.
21. Front: When life deals you a hard blow...
Inside: So can I, big boy.
FDA Beer Warnings
FDA Beer Warnings
1. WARNING: consumption of alcohol may make you think you are whispering,
when you are not.
2. WARNING: consumption of alcohol is a major factor in dancing like an asshole.
3. WARNING: consumption of alcohol may cause you to tell the same boring story over and
over again until your friends want to SMASH YOUR HEAD IN.
4. WARNING: consumption of alcohol may cause you to thay shings like thish.
5. WARNING: consumption of alcohol may lead you to believe that ex-lovers are really
dying for you to telephone them at 4am.
6. WARNING: consumption of alcohol may leave you wondering what the hell happened to
your pants.
7. WARNING: consumption of alcohol may make you think you can logically converse with
members of the opposite sex.
8. WARNING: consumption of alcohol may make you think you have mystical Kung Fu powers.
9. WARNING: consumption of alcohol may cause you to roll over in the morning and see
something really scary (whose species and/or name you can't remember).
10. WARNING: consumption of alcohol is the leading cause of inexplicable rug burns on
the forehead.
11. WARNING: consumption of alcohol may create the illusion that you are tougher,
handsomer and smarter than some really, really big guy named BO.
12. WARNING: consumption of alcohol may lead you to believe you are invisible.
13. WARNING: consumption of alcohol may lead you to think people are laughing WITH you.
14. WARNING: Consumption of alcohol may cause an influx in the time-space continuum,
whereby small (and sometimes large) gaps of time may seem to disappear.
15. WARNING: Consumption of alcohol may actually CAUSE pregnancy.
1. WARNING: consumption of alcohol may make you think you are whispering,
when you are not.
2. WARNING: consumption of alcohol is a major factor in dancing like an asshole.
3. WARNING: consumption of alcohol may cause you to tell the same boring story over and
over again until your friends want to SMASH YOUR HEAD IN.
4. WARNING: consumption of alcohol may cause you to thay shings like thish.
5. WARNING: consumption of alcohol may lead you to believe that ex-lovers are really
dying for you to telephone them at 4am.
6. WARNING: consumption of alcohol may leave you wondering what the hell happened to
your pants.
7. WARNING: consumption of alcohol may make you think you can logically converse with
members of the opposite sex.
8. WARNING: consumption of alcohol may make you think you have mystical Kung Fu powers.
9. WARNING: consumption of alcohol may cause you to roll over in the morning and see
something really scary (whose species and/or name you can't remember).
10. WARNING: consumption of alcohol is the leading cause of inexplicable rug burns on
the forehead.
11. WARNING: consumption of alcohol may create the illusion that you are tougher,
handsomer and smarter than some really, really big guy named BO.
12. WARNING: consumption of alcohol may lead you to believe you are invisible.
13. WARNING: consumption of alcohol may lead you to think people are laughing WITH you.
14. WARNING: Consumption of alcohol may cause an influx in the time-space continuum,
whereby small (and sometimes large) gaps of time may seem to disappear.
15. WARNING: Consumption of alcohol may actually CAUSE pregnancy.
maintaining insanity...
How to Maintain a Healthy Level of Insanity in the Workplace
1) Page yourself over the intercom. Don't disguise your voice.
2) Find out where your boss shops and buy exactly the same outfits. Wear them one day after you boss does. This is especially effective if your boss is a different gender.
3) Make up nicknames for all your coworkers and refer to them only by these names. "That's a good point, Sparky." "No, I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to disagree with you there, Cha-cha."
4) Send e-mail to the rest of the company telling them exactly what you're doing. For example: "If anyone needs me, I'll be in the bathroom."
5) Hi-Lite your shoes. Tell people you haven't lost them as much since you did this.
6) While sitting at your desk, soak your fingers in Palmolive liquid. Call everyone Madge.
7) Hang mosquito netting around your cubicle. When you emerge to get coffee or a printout or whatever, slap yourself randomly the whole way.
8) Put a chair facing a printer. Sit there all day and tell people you're waiting for your document.
9) Every time someone asks you to do something, anything, ask them if they want fries with that.
10) Send e-mail back and forth to yourself engaging yourself in an intellectual debate. Forward the mail to a co-worker and ask her to settle the disagreement.
11) Encourage your colleagues to join you in a little synchronized chair-dancing.
12) Put your trash can on your desk. Label it "IN."
13) Feign an unnatural and hysterical fear of staplers.
14) Send e-mail messages saying there's free pizza or donuts or cake in the lunch room. When people drift back to work complaining that they found none, lean back, pat your stomach and say, "Oh you've got to be faster than that."
15) Put decaf in the coffee maker for three weeks. Once everyone has withdrawn from caffeine addiction, switch to espresso.
1) Page yourself over the intercom. Don't disguise your voice.
2) Find out where your boss shops and buy exactly the same outfits. Wear them one day after you boss does. This is especially effective if your boss is a different gender.
3) Make up nicknames for all your coworkers and refer to them only by these names. "That's a good point, Sparky." "No, I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to disagree with you there, Cha-cha."
4) Send e-mail to the rest of the company telling them exactly what you're doing. For example: "If anyone needs me, I'll be in the bathroom."
5) Hi-Lite your shoes. Tell people you haven't lost them as much since you did this.
6) While sitting at your desk, soak your fingers in Palmolive liquid. Call everyone Madge.
7) Hang mosquito netting around your cubicle. When you emerge to get coffee or a printout or whatever, slap yourself randomly the whole way.
8) Put a chair facing a printer. Sit there all day and tell people you're waiting for your document.
9) Every time someone asks you to do something, anything, ask them if they want fries with that.
10) Send e-mail back and forth to yourself engaging yourself in an intellectual debate. Forward the mail to a co-worker and ask her to settle the disagreement.
11) Encourage your colleagues to join you in a little synchronized chair-dancing.
12) Put your trash can on your desk. Label it "IN."
13) Feign an unnatural and hysterical fear of staplers.
14) Send e-mail messages saying there's free pizza or donuts or cake in the lunch room. When people drift back to work complaining that they found none, lean back, pat your stomach and say, "Oh you've got to be faster than that."
15) Put decaf in the coffee maker for three weeks. Once everyone has withdrawn from caffeine addiction, switch to espresso.
Automatic e-mail reply messages
1. I am currently out at a job interview and will reply to you if I fail to get theposition. Be prepared for my mood.
2. I'm not really out of the office. I'm just ignoring you.
3. You are receiving this automatic notification because I am out of the office.If I was in, chances are you wouldn't have received anything at all.
4. Sorry to have missed you but I am at the doctors having my brain removed so that Imay be promoted to management.
5. I will be unable to delete all the unread, worthless emails you send me until Ireturn from vacation on 4/18. Please be patient and your mail will be deleted in theorder it was received.
6. Thank you for your email. Your credit card has been charged $5.99 for the first tenwords and $1.99 for each additional word in your message.
7. The e-mail server is unable to verify your server connection and is unable to deliverthis message. Please restart your computer and try sending again.
8. I am on holiday. Your e-mail has been deleted.
9. Thank you for your message, which has been added to a queueing system. You arecurrently in 352nd place, and can expect to receive a reply in approximately 19 weeks.
10. Please reply to this e-mail so I will know that you got this message.
window.google_render_ad();
11. Hi. I'm thinking about what you've just sent me. Please wait by your PC for my response.
12. Hi! I'm busy negotiating the salary for my new job. Don't bother to leave me any
messages.
13. I've run away to join a different circus.
14. I will be out of the office for the next 2 weeks for medical reasons. When I return,
please refer to me as "Loretta" instead of "Steve."
2. I'm not really out of the office. I'm just ignoring you.
3. You are receiving this automatic notification because I am out of the office.If I was in, chances are you wouldn't have received anything at all.
4. Sorry to have missed you but I am at the doctors having my brain removed so that Imay be promoted to management.
5. I will be unable to delete all the unread, worthless emails you send me until Ireturn from vacation on 4/18. Please be patient and your mail will be deleted in theorder it was received.
6. Thank you for your email. Your credit card has been charged $5.99 for the first tenwords and $1.99 for each additional word in your message.
7. The e-mail server is unable to verify your server connection and is unable to deliverthis message. Please restart your computer and try sending again.
8. I am on holiday. Your e-mail has been deleted.
9. Thank you for your message, which has been added to a queueing system. You arecurrently in 352nd place, and can expect to receive a reply in approximately 19 weeks.
10. Please reply to this e-mail so I will know that you got this message.
window.google_render_ad();
11. Hi. I'm thinking about what you've just sent me. Please wait by your PC for my response.
12. Hi! I'm busy negotiating the salary for my new job. Don't bother to leave me any
messages.
13. I've run away to join a different circus.
14. I will be out of the office for the next 2 weeks for medical reasons. When I return,
please refer to me as "Loretta" instead of "Steve."
How can you live without knowing these things?
1. Many years ago, in Scotland, a new game was invented. It was ruled "Gentlemen Only...
Ladies Forbidden" ... and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language.
2. The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV were Fred and Wilma
Flintstone.
3. Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the US Treasury.
4. Men can read smaller print better than women can; women can hear better.
5. Coca-Cola was originally green.
6. It is impossible to lick your elbow.
7. The State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work: Alaska
8. The percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28% ( now get this...)
The percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%
9. The cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven: $6,400
10. The average number of people airborne over the US any given hour: 61,000
11. Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.
12. The world's youngest parents were 8 and 9 and lived in China in 1910.
13. The youngest pope was 11 years old.
14. The first novel ever written on a typewriter: Tom Sawyer.
15. The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments.
16. Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history:Spades - King David Hearts - Charlemagne Clubs -Alexander, the Great Diamonds - Julius Caesar
17. A cute mathematical trick: 111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321
18. If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, theperson died in battle.If the horse has one front leg in the air the person died as a result of woundsreceived in battle.If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.
19. Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, John Hancock andCharles Thomson. Most of the rest signed on August 2, but the last signature wasn'tadded until 5 years later.
20. Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of what?Their birthplace21. Most boat owners name their boats. What is the most popular boat name requested? Obsession
22. If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until you would findthe letter "A"?One thousand
23. What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers, and laser printers allhave in common?All invented by women.
24. What is the only food that doesn't spoil?Honey
25. Which day are there more collect calls than any other day of the year?Father's Day
26. In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When youpulled on the ropes the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hencethe phrase "goodnight, sleep tight."
27. It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after thewedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he coulddrink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this periodwas called the honey month... which we know today as the honeymoon.
28. In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts... So in old England, whencustomers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them "Mind your pints and quarts,and settle down. It's where we get the phrase "mind your P's and Q's."
29. Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim, orhandle, of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle toget some service. "Wet your whistle" is the phrase inspired by this practice.
30. At least 75% of people who read this will try to lick their elbow.
Ladies Forbidden" ... and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language.
2. The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV were Fred and Wilma
Flintstone.
3. Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the US Treasury.
4. Men can read smaller print better than women can; women can hear better.
5. Coca-Cola was originally green.
6. It is impossible to lick your elbow.
7. The State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work: Alaska
8. The percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28% ( now get this...)
The percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%
9. The cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven: $6,400
10. The average number of people airborne over the US any given hour: 61,000
11. Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.
12. The world's youngest parents were 8 and 9 and lived in China in 1910.
13. The youngest pope was 11 years old.
14. The first novel ever written on a typewriter: Tom Sawyer.
15. The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments.
16. Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history:Spades - King David Hearts - Charlemagne Clubs -Alexander, the Great Diamonds - Julius Caesar
17. A cute mathematical trick: 111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321
18. If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, theperson died in battle.If the horse has one front leg in the air the person died as a result of woundsreceived in battle.If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.
19. Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, John Hancock andCharles Thomson. Most of the rest signed on August 2, but the last signature wasn'tadded until 5 years later.
20. Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of what?Their birthplace21. Most boat owners name their boats. What is the most popular boat name requested? Obsession
22. If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until you would findthe letter "A"?One thousand
23. What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers, and laser printers allhave in common?All invented by women.
24. What is the only food that doesn't spoil?Honey
25. Which day are there more collect calls than any other day of the year?Father's Day
26. In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When youpulled on the ropes the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hencethe phrase "goodnight, sleep tight."
27. It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after thewedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he coulddrink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this periodwas called the honey month... which we know today as the honeymoon.
28. In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts... So in old England, whencustomers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them "Mind your pints and quarts,and settle down. It's where we get the phrase "mind your P's and Q's."
29. Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim, orhandle, of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle toget some service. "Wet your whistle" is the phrase inspired by this practice.
30. At least 75% of people who read this will try to lick their elbow.
Confucius Say.....
Confucius Say…
Woman who puts detergent on top shelf, jump for Joy.
Man who scratches ass should not bite fingernails.
Man who sneezes without tissue takes matters in his own hands.
Crowded elevator always smell different to midget.
Man who run in front of car get tired.
Man with one chopstick go hungry.
War not determine who is right, war determine who is left.
Man who stand on toilet is high on pot.Man who live in glass house should change clothes in basement.Man who sit on tack get point!Man who jump off cliff, jump to conclusion!Man stuck in pantry have ass in jam.
Man who drop watch in toilet have shitty time.
Man with hand in pocket feel cocky all day.
Wife who put husband in doghouse soon find him in cathouse.
Man who fishes in other man's well often catches crabs.
Man who have last laugh, not get joke
Squirrel lay on rock and crack nuts, man lay on crack and rock nuts.
A flower goes through much dirt before it blooms.
Piss in wind, wind piss back.Man who put cream in tart, not always a baker.
Woman who puts detergent on top shelf, jump for Joy.
Man who scratches ass should not bite fingernails.
Man who sneezes without tissue takes matters in his own hands.
Crowded elevator always smell different to midget.
Man who run in front of car get tired.
Man with one chopstick go hungry.
War not determine who is right, war determine who is left.
Man who stand on toilet is high on pot.Man who live in glass house should change clothes in basement.Man who sit on tack get point!Man who jump off cliff, jump to conclusion!Man stuck in pantry have ass in jam.
Man who drop watch in toilet have shitty time.
Man with hand in pocket feel cocky all day.
Wife who put husband in doghouse soon find him in cathouse.
Man who fishes in other man's well often catches crabs.
Man who have last laugh, not get joke
Squirrel lay on rock and crack nuts, man lay on crack and rock nuts.
A flower goes through much dirt before it blooms.
Piss in wind, wind piss back.Man who put cream in tart, not always a baker.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Sybil
Just finished watching Sybil for the first time. This movie was pretty good but for a time when psychoanalytical therapy was in its pioneer stages I expected to see alot more resistance from Sybil and the public. I would have liked to see more of the personalities and maybe some of her earlier years and how the personalities developed. But for a hollywood movie it was pretty good.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Consequence of Drinking and Driving
This letter was shown to me in a class. I also lost someone close to me from a drunk driver and it amazed me to see a letter from the actual drunk driver. It is good to see that he feels remorse for his actions, but more importantly I think this letter could go a long way in touching teenagers who drink. This letter was very clear in showing how drinkers begin to feel "comfortable" drinking and then "comfortable getting in a car with a drunk driver, and then feeling comfortable driving while drunk. So many teenagers think nothing will happen and its their choice but they dont think about who may be killed or hurt when they drink and drive. They dont understand that it can happen, and sooner or later will.
Friends, Family, Coaches - please read the letterthat a Former Kiel High grad wrote about his alcohol experiences....We all like to "relax" with a drink with friends, but hopefully by reading this letter we realize what can happen if we go overboard! Feel free to use the letter in any form or fashion you deem fit - forward it on - make copies for your students, whatever it takes.....it is what his mother in her original e-mail asked for us to do.....
Friends, Family, Coaches - please read the letterthat a Former Kiel High grad wrote about his alcohol experiences....We all like to "relax" with a drink with friends, but hopefully by reading this letter we realize what can happen if we go overboard! Feel free to use the letter in any form or fashion you deem fit - forward it on - make copies for your students, whatever it takes.....it is what his mother in her original e-mail asked for us to do.....
----Where do I begin? Why is someone reading aloud a letter I wrote?
Why aren’t I there in person to tell you my story? I’ll get to that later! First
I’d like you to know who I am, my name is Jeff Niesen, I’m 29 years old, grew up
in a small town named Kiel. I was an only child, but grew up in a good home with
two parents that loved me.
As you’ve probably guessed, this letter has something to do with drinking
or drugs or some kind of addiction. Yet I don’t have a sob story for you, as I
said I was raised in a good home with parents that didn’t drink or do drugs. No,
this didn’t cause me to rebel and sneak out of school to smoke pot or drink. In
fact it was quite the opposite. I was a good student, definitely not the
valedictorian, but got A’s and B’s. Sports were a really big part of my
childhood and that followed through high school and even into college. I was
fortunate enough to be the quarterback of our football team and a four year
starter on the Varsity basketball team. I’ve been out of high school going on
eleven years now, but somehow I still manage to hold many of the schools
basketball scoring records. None of those records matter, I’d just like you to
know I was a “Normal” kid, maybe even a “Good” kid! The stereotypical “Jock” or
“Prep” whatever you want to call it. You get the picture?
My first drink came when I was a junior in high school. Yeah, I got drunk,
but nothing bad happened and it was a pretty good time. Like I said, sports were
a big part of my life and I didn’t want to jeopardize them so drinking wasn’t a
regular thing for me. If I drank, it was with a few friends at a safe place, and
we always intended on staying at that safe place, definitely NO drinking and
driving. We were drinking as responsibly as 17 and 18 year olds can I guess.
After high school, a good college offered me a chance to be a part of their
basketball team. Some of you know what it’s like to leave home at 18 to attend
college. It’s a pretty cool time in a young person’s life. You have total
freedom and no real responsibility, other than school.
To say I embraced the college “party” life style would be a bit of an
understatement. Sure I had classes and basketball from August until the end of
May, but I always found time to party. Sometime in between partying and classes,
we even managed to win a National Championship my freshman year. It was pretty
neat to be a part of that.
Life seemed to be going pretty damn well. My grades were still good,
basketball couldn’t really get any better. Maybe that’s why I didn’t notice that
my drinking was getting out of control. After all, what are the signs you have a
problem? Grades slipping, losing friends, people concerned about you, right?
That wasn’t me. When I reflect on that time now though, it pains me to see how
foolish I was. Seeing if I could do a keg stand for a minute or two straight,
slamming a whole pitcher of beer, or seeing if I could do 21 shots on my 21st
birthday.
Those first years in college were when the black outs really began. I’d
wake up in my dorm room with absolutely no idea of how I got back the night
before. It was like a game, trying to piece together the night.
One time we were on spring break, in Cancun, and I decided to ditch my
friends and see what fun I could find by myself that night. Luckily, I have some
pretty good friends. When they got back to our hotel at 4 AM and I wasn’t there,
one of my buddies got worried and went looking for me. He found me, on the
beach, about a mile from our hotel passed out in a chair, half frozen to death.
That ocean breeze gets cold at night. What was I doing there? Don’t ask me, I
have no idea. I don’t remember going there. I don’t remember anything before he
woke me up. We had to piece together my night by the receipts I had in my
pocket.
There are so many things that could’ve or maybe should’ve happened to me
that night or countless other nights for that matter. But there was always an
excuse. That night it was, “It’s Mexico, Spring Break! WHO CARES! Everyone does
that!” I really believed most other people experienced the same black outs that
I did when I drank. Like I said earlier, so foolish.
After two years of playing college basketball, I grew tired of it and
wanted more from my education. So I transferred to a small, private, business
college, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Looking back, this is where things really
started to get out of control. This school didn’t have a basketball team, so all
I had to do was go to school and party. The grades still came easy for me, and I
was 1200 miles from home, so no one had any idea I was hitting the clubs at
least five, but usually six or seven nights a week. There are all kinds of wild
stories that involve drinking and jumping off the University library into a
pond, waking up in random places with no idea of how I got there. But I never
got mixed up with drugs! I was raised being told drugs were bad. Drugs were
addictive. Drugs destroy lives. Drugs scared me and thankfully I never
experimented with them. How ironic is it that I didn’t realize alcohol was doing
the same thing in my life? All be it slowly, alcohol was still playing a
destructive role in my life. But because things weren’t falling apart, I thought
everything was fine.
At 23, I graduated and moved back to Wisconsin. My uncle owns a large and
successful automotive group. My degree is Automotive Marketing Management. You
could say I went to school to be a car dealer. At 24, I was the managing partner
of his Chrysler dealerships. It was a small dealership, but I was proud of the
accomplishments we were able to achieve in a very short time. I moved into a
brand new house, was able to travel all around the world, the sky really seemed
to be the limit.
Unfortunately, I never got rid of the college “party” life style. Now
it became a “work hard, play hard” life style. Was I late for work sometimes
because I was out the night before? Yep! But I was the boss and didn’t really
have set hours. And like I said, we had taken a failing business and made it
successful in less than a year. I realize now, successful or not, my example was
still that of an irresponsible party boy. My drinking black outs continued.
Luckily for me, one of my college buddies moved in with me, and he was always
the designated driver. I’d wake up on the couch or in my bed, not remembering
getting home. Yet I knew I didn’t drive, Ryan was ALWAYS my designated
driver.
In November 2006, Ryan bought his own home, and moved out of mine. My
weekends still consisted of hitting the local bars with friends, and the
occasional trip to Chicago or Las Vegas. In small town Wisconsin, when you go to
the bars, there’s usually only one way home. Cabs aren’t an option. They don’t
exist in towns with small populations. You need to make plans ahead of time for
a designated driver, plan a place to stay, or chance the drive home. My
designated driver didn’t live with me anymore. Depending on the destination, we
still had a designated driver from time to time. And sometimes we would crash at
each others houses, depending upon which city we were drinking in. And yes,
sometimes we would chance it and drive home. I’m not proud of that, but it’s the
truth!
Remember when I talked about when we first started drinking, and we
always had a plan where we were staying? Drinking and driving wasn’t an option.
For me drinking was kind of like learning to walk. You take baby steps. At first
because you don’t know what you’re doing, you’re afraid of the unknown. As time
went by, I became more familiar with what it felt like to be drunk, and less
afraid of what lie ahead. I guess you could say it was like a false sense of
confidence.
So the first time I rode in a car with a driver who had been drinking, it
was really scary because I thought maybe the person was going to crash, and we’d
all die. But we didn’t. Nothing happened. We made it home safely. The baby steps
were starting all over. I thought “maybe it was ok to ride with someone who had
been drinking as long as they weren’t “TOO BAD”. Everyone probably knows this
led to my first time behind the wheel after drinking. Again I was scared of what
might happen. Mostly though, I was afraid of getting a DUI. I’m a good driver,
and would NEVER get into a crash, and so the baby steps began. I went from
getting behind the wheel scared of getting a DUI, to confident I could drive
“JUST FINE”. And I never did get a DUI.
Not until February 11, 2007. It was a Sunday and I met up with some
friends at a local bar for a youth baseball fundraiser. Naturally, we were
drinking beer, but for some reason decided we should mix shots with the beer.
The fundraiser was over by 5:30 or 6:00, and I decided it was time to head for
home. Rather than do that, I met up with some friends at the next bar. I don’t
know if the shots finally caught up with me or what exactly happened, but once
again, I was on my way to a blackout.
The people I was with at the bar said “I didn’t seem that bad.”
However, I remember very little of that last bar. I remember walking into the
bar. I remember using the ATM, but everything else is really hazy. When I woke
up, I was in the drivers seat of my car and quite confused. I had no idea where
I was, or how I got there. When I opened my driver’s side door and got out, I
realized my car was in a very deep ditch, a few miles from that last bar. BUT I
WAS FINE! No injuries. I thought I must have driven, fallen asleep, and ran down
into the ditch. I was essentially in the middle of nowhere, and relieved there
seemed to be no one around. My first instinct was to get away from my car, to
avoid getting a DUI, just in case someone saw my car and called the
police.
So I began jogging down the road. When I reached for my cell phone to
call a friend, I realized I didn’t have it with me. There was a car coming
towards me, so it was too late to turn back. I continued on, and short cut
across a field. Parts of my jog are hazy as well. Some things I remember, and
others seem to be just completely lost. I wish I could remember it all, maybe
then it would all make sense. But I was just TOO DRUNK. MY BAC was just too
high!
Eventually I came upon a house, and stopped to use their phone. I called my
buddy Ryan, who at one time was my full time designated driver to pick me up.
After only a few short words, the call was disconnected. I spotted a police car
slowly driving down the highway. The car came to a stop near the end of the
driveway I stood in. It’s February, I was soaked from head to toe, freezing
cold, and tired of running. I handed the home owner his phone back, and walked
down the driveway towards the police car. I’d had enough. Time to get my first
DUI I figured. It sucked, but it definitely wasn’t the worst thing that could
happen. The police officer was very courteous, and almost concerned for my
health. I didn’t fight him, it was time to face the music. He put me in his
squad car, and drove me back to the area where my car was.
There were red and blue emergency lights all over the place. My car wasn’t
visible from where we parked, but I thought they were definitely over reacting.
Before the officer got me out of the car to do the field sobriety tests, another
officer opened my door and asked, “Was there anyone else with you in the car?”
Do you know the feeling you get right as you crest the top of the roller coaster
and start to plunge towards the earth? Your stomach seems to shoot somewhere up
near your throat, and it makes you unable to breathe. That’s the feeling I got
right then.
A million thoughts raced through my mind as the officer stared at me.
I thought to myself, “Who else was with me? Oh my god there wasn’t anyone in my
car when I woke up. Was one of my friends ejected?” I didn’t remember leaving
the bar. I didn’t remember getting behind the wheel. So how could I even know
for sure, if someone was with me or not? All these thoughts were processed in
just a second or two by my intoxicated brain. Reluctantly, I replied to the
officer, “No, I was by myself.” At that exact moment I didn’t even know for sure
if I was by myself. I think more than anything, I just wanted to BELIEVE I was
by myself, and that no one was injured.
The officer asked me, “Where were you going?” “We were going to
Schwarz’s I replied.” Schwarz’s is a supper club, my friends and I would
frequent almost every Sunday night. This Sunday, being no exception. My friends
wanted to head to Schwarz’s. They made plans to go there while at the last bar.
One of the last things I remember was telling them I wasn’t going. But from
where my car was in the ditch, it’s the only place I could’ve been going. My
home was 20 miles in the exact OPPOSITE direction.
Now the officer says, “We? You just said you were by yourself?” And
my natural response was, “I was but I was meeting some friends there.” Then the
cops asked, “Are the people in the other car your friends?” The description of
the roller coaster and your stomach dropping out, doesn’t even compare to the
horror I felt at that exact moment. No words can describe it. This police
officer just asked me if the people in the other car were my friends. What other
car was he talking about? When I got out of my car, it was pitch black, and my
car was the only one I saw. All I could utter to him was, “What other
car?”
With that he slammed the door shut, and disappeared into the darkness. I
was left all alone, to try to figure out just what in the hell he was talking
about. The rest of this night drags on for many hours. I could try and describe
the details but they’re foggy. I thought I was running from a DUI when I left my
car that night. But the DA didn’t believe me. So I was charged with OWI
Homicide, and Hit and Run Resulting In Death which the judge found me guilty of
also.
The “people” in the other car the police officer asked me about was
actually a 21 year old college student, heading back to school after a weekend
with her family. She died instantly, when my car rear ended hers going between
78-84 miles per hour. She was just leaving a stop sign, and only estimated to be
going between 5 and 15 miles per hour. The circumstances of the crash, where it
happened, how it happened, still don’t make any sense to me. But I’m not writing
this to try and explain to you how this happened, and why I’m not guilty of the
hit and run charge.
I’m writing this hoping that not one of you can relate in the least little
bit to anything I wrote. If you can’t relate, that means you don’t go out
partying with friends and over do it. If you can’t relate, that means you always
have a designated driver, or you always take a cab. If you can’t relate, that
means you’ve never woke up wondering just what you did the night before. And
best of all, if you can’t relate, that means you never have and NEVER will get
behind the wheel after drinking. Regardless if it’s after one beer, or one shot,
or even just a couple drinks. Because I’m afraid you’d end up growing
comfortable, and then getting behind the wheel after just ONE MORE than the last
time you drank and drove. I’m also writing this with the hope that all who can
relate to my story, will learn from it.
A beautiful, 21 year old, young woman, who had a very bright future,
is dead because of a series of bad decisions I made. Bad decisions that night?
YES OF COURSE. But I think it’s more a series of bad decisions I made from the
time I was 17 until I was 27. I never should’ve left my house that afternoon,
knowing full well I would be drinking at the fundraiser. But I think those baby
steps I made, made me comfortable. The thought of not going, never even crossed
my mind. I wish I were there so you could see the pain in my face, hear it in my
voice. Someone’s daughter, someone’s sister, someone’s girlfriend, isn’t here
because of me. That’s a tough pill to swallow. I hope and pray that none of you
have to go through a similar experience.
The reason my family has to be my voice today is because I’m writing this
letter from my prison cell in the Dodge Correctional Institution. I was
sentenced to spend 10 years of my life in prison, followed by 15 years of
probation after that. I’m allowed 3 visits a week from friends and family and
four 15 minute outgoing phone calls a week, please don’t take your freedom for
granted.
In conclusion, a smart person learns from his mistakes. But a wise
person learns from the mistakes of others. This is a real problem in Wisconsin,
and it doesn’t always just happen to the people with 2, 3, 4 prior OWI’s.
Sometimes you get a wake up call, and sometimes you don’t. Please be wise…learn
from my mistake.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Alcohol
You got to love this excerpt from a state senator addressing Mississippi legislature, 1958:
"If, when you say whisky, you mean the devil's brew, the poison scourge,
the bloody monster that defiles innocence, yea, literally takes the bread from
the mouths of little children; if you mean the evil drink that topples the
Christian man and woman from the pinnacles of righteous, gracious living into
the bottomless pit of degradation and despair, shame and helplessness and
hopelessness, then certainly I am against it with all of my power.
But, if when you say whisky, you mean the oil of conversation, the
philosophic wine, the stuff that is consumed when good fellows get together,
that puts a song in their hearts and laughter on their lips and the warm glow of
contentment in their eyes; if you mean Christmas cheer; if you mean the
stimulating drink that puts the spring in the old gentleman's step on a frosty
morning; if you mean the drink that enables a man to magnify his joy and his
happiness, and to forget, if only for a little while, life's great tragedies and
hearbreaks and sorrows; if you mean the drink, the sale of which pours into out
treasuries untold millions of dollars, which are used to provide tender care for
our little crippled children, our blind, our deaf, our dumb, our pitiful aged
and infirm, to build highways, hospitals and schools, then certainly I am in
favor of it."Alcohol remains the one mood-altering substance viewed with consideral ambivalence by the American public (Stimmel, Barry. Alcoholism, Drug Addiction, and the Road to Recovery: life on the edge).
There are so many things I would like to say about this. First of all this is so typical of politics, they can never really choose a side, especially when it will take money away from them. Secondly, its amazing to see the difference in the way people talked back then, thinking it was appropriate and correct. "Crippled, dumb, pitiful, and infirm," these words would not even be thought now days in fear of getting hit by some activist. Not to mention they are degrading and incorrect terms. Thats all for now, but I will leave you with this...
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Really bored tonight...bare with me.
Things to Remember by George Carlin:
http://breathingearth.net/
See how many people are dying and being born around the world.
http://www.idodogtricks.com/index_flash.html
Type in what you want the dog to do.
http://llerrah.com/skeletondance.htm
Make the skeloten dance!
http://www.maniacworld.com/50-Impressions-in-50-Seconds.html
You got to watch this..
http://halbot.haluze.sk/?id=4706
beware of whats in the background when taking pictures
http://ageproject.specialsnowflake.com/
guess peoples age..
http://www.futureme.org/index.php
send an email to yourself in the future
http://www.spotthedifference.com/explorer.asp?g=2
If you are really bored, see if you can spot the difference in the two pictures.
http://www.energyfiend.com/death-by-caffeine
Find out how much caffeine it would take to kill you.
http://www.playauditorium.com/
Don’t know….
http://www.addictinggames.com/guitarmasters.html
Play guitar hero online.
http://shock-value.deviantart.com/art/Interactive-Buddy-v-1-02-11117398
Kill time torturing this little blob guy.
- Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.
- One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
- If man evolved from monkeys and apes, why do we still have monkeys and apes?
- The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live.
- I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, "Where's the self-help section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
- Could it be that all those trick-or-treaters wearing sheets aren't going as ghosts but as mattresses?
- If a man is standing in the middle of the forest speaking and there is no woman around to hear him is he still wrong?
- If someone with multiple personalities threatens to kill himself, is it considered a hostage situation?
- Is there another word for synonym?
- Isn't it a bit unnerving that doctors call what they do "practice?"
- Where do forest rangers go to "get away from it all?"
- What do you do when you see an endangered animal eating an endangered plant?
- If a parsley farmer is sued, can they garnish his wages?
- Would a fly without wings be called a walk?
- Why do they lock gas station bathrooms?
- Are they afraid someone will clean them?
- If a turtle doesn't have a shell, is he homeless or naked?
- Why don't sheep shrink when it rains?
- Can vegetarians eat animal crackers?
- Why do they put Braille on the drive-through bank machines?
- How do they get the deer to cross at that yellow road sign?
- Is it true that cannibals don't eat clowns because they taste funny?
- What was the best thing before sliced bread?
- One nice thing about egotists: they don't talk about other people.
- To be intoxicated is to feel sophisticated, but not be able to say it.
- Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.
- The older you get, the better you realize you were.
- Age is a very high price to pay for maturity.
- Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday.
- Women like silent men; they think they're listening.
- Men are from Earth, women are from Earth. Deal with it.
- Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.
- Do pediatricians play miniature golf on Wednesdays?
- Before they invented drawing boards, what did they go back to?
- Do infants enjoy infancy as much as adults enjoy adultery?
- If all the world is a stage, where is the audience sitting?
- If one synchronized swimmer drowns, do the rest have to drown too?
- If the #2 pencil is the most popular, why is it still #2?
- If work is so terrific, how come they have to pay you to do it?
- If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?
http://breathingearth.net/
See how many people are dying and being born around the world.
http://www.idodogtricks.com/index_flash.html
Type in what you want the dog to do.
http://llerrah.com/skeletondance.htm
Make the skeloten dance!
http://www.maniacworld.com/50-Impressions-in-50-Seconds.html
You got to watch this..
http://halbot.haluze.sk/?id=4706
beware of whats in the background when taking pictures
http://ageproject.specialsnowflake.com/
guess peoples age..
http://www.futureme.org/index.php
send an email to yourself in the future
http://www.spotthedifference.com/explorer.asp?g=2
If you are really bored, see if you can spot the difference in the two pictures.
http://www.energyfiend.com/death-by-caffeine
Find out how much caffeine it would take to kill you.
http://www.playauditorium.com/
Don’t know….
http://www.addictinggames.com/guitarmasters.html
Play guitar hero online.
http://shock-value.deviantart.com/art/Interactive-Buddy-v-1-02-11117398
Kill time torturing this little blob guy.
Friday, April 10, 2009
thoughts for the day...
So I have been working on getting my internship lined up for this summer, thinking that I had all my classes completed and everything would go smooth and on time. Well I got a rude awakening yesterday when I tried to register for the internship course. I turns out I completley missed a class that happens to be a prerequisite for Internship 1. I was devastaed! I had just gotten an interview the day before for a treatment facility that I really wanted to intern at and now I find out I wont be able to intern this summer after all! Well after speaking with my program instructor, I was reassured he would work with me and I could go ahead and intern but I have to wait until the fall semester. Seeing as the course I missed is only offered in spring I will have to do my second internship along with the class. I am upset that my timeline is altered and I wont be graduating until May 2010, but atleast he is working with me instead of making me wait until after the class is complete to intern at all!
So I have decided that with my timeline being pushed back a good six months I will have to start looking for a job so that I can save up some money this summer and be able to afford gas and child care for the fall. At least now I have the money situation worked out, where as before it was all up in the air, and I pretty much just hoped I would be able to afford child care and gas for an unpaid internship.
Yesterday I made a stop at a gas station to apply for part-time work. Baby steps. I have never been the best at working these "just get me by" jobs. But I really enjoyed working at a gas station. When I was 18 I did work for a gas station for a year and I loved the regular customers and the down time where there was no customers and I could choose from several tasks to keep busy. That was the best part, working on my own without someone to directly tell me what to do. So I will be having an interview next week and I am nervous because I have never been good at those on the spot questions. "What are your strengths and weaknesses? Give an example of a time...." I have always had trouble thinking on the spot like that. So I am trying to come up with answers that I am sure the manager will ask. Hopefully I wont freeze up.
So I have decided that with my timeline being pushed back a good six months I will have to start looking for a job so that I can save up some money this summer and be able to afford gas and child care for the fall. At least now I have the money situation worked out, where as before it was all up in the air, and I pretty much just hoped I would be able to afford child care and gas for an unpaid internship.
Yesterday I made a stop at a gas station to apply for part-time work. Baby steps. I have never been the best at working these "just get me by" jobs. But I really enjoyed working at a gas station. When I was 18 I did work for a gas station for a year and I loved the regular customers and the down time where there was no customers and I could choose from several tasks to keep busy. That was the best part, working on my own without someone to directly tell me what to do. So I will be having an interview next week and I am nervous because I have never been good at those on the spot questions. "What are your strengths and weaknesses? Give an example of a time...." I have always had trouble thinking on the spot like that. So I am trying to come up with answers that I am sure the manager will ask. Hopefully I wont freeze up.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Watson's Phobia Factory
I was just reading abit about Watson and his experiement with a nine-month-old infant named Albert B. I can just imagine how messed up that poor child is.
The researchers' first order of business was to establish a psychological baseline. So they tried exposing the infant to a white rat, a rabbit, a dog, and a monkey, and Albert reached for each animal with cheerful curiosity. The researchers brought him items such as masks and clumps of cotton, and he manipulated the objects with interest. They placed a long steel rod behind Albert's head and struck the metal sharply with a claw hammer, and he flinched with evident distress. The infant's baseline reactions to these stimuli were duly noted, and two months later the peculiar series of "joint stimulation" experiments was underway.
Excerpts from Dr. Watson's notes:
Age: 11 months, 3 days
White rat suddenly taken from the basket and presented to Albert. Just as his hand touched the animal the bar was struck immediately behind his head. The infant jumped violently and fell forward, burying his face in the mattress.
Just as the right hand touched the rat the bar was again struck. Again the infant jumped violently, fell forward and began to whimper.
Age: 11 months, 10 days
Rat presented suddenly without sound. When the rat nosed the infant's left hand, the hand was immediately withdrawn. It is thus seen that the two joint stimulations given the previous week were not without effect.
Joint stimulation. Fell over immediately to right side and began to whimper.
Rat alone. The instant the rat was shown the baby began to cry. Almost instantly he turned sharply to the left, fell over on left side, raised himself on all fours and began to crawl away so rapidly that he was caught with difficulty before reaching the edge of the table.
This just sounds so horrible to me! That poor child was being TAUGHT to be scared of animals. Albert's profound negative response to the rabbit was taken as evidence that the conditioned fear had indeed transferred to other animals, just as Watson had predicted. Albert also showed anxiety in the presence of a dog, and was vexed by a wad of cotton. In the end Watson has his answers but to with what consequences for the poor child? Was the child fearful of animals for the rest of his life?
The researchers' first order of business was to establish a psychological baseline. So they tried exposing the infant to a white rat, a rabbit, a dog, and a monkey, and Albert reached for each animal with cheerful curiosity. The researchers brought him items such as masks and clumps of cotton, and he manipulated the objects with interest. They placed a long steel rod behind Albert's head and struck the metal sharply with a claw hammer, and he flinched with evident distress. The infant's baseline reactions to these stimuli were duly noted, and two months later the peculiar series of "joint stimulation" experiments was underway.
Excerpts from Dr. Watson's notes:
Age: 11 months, 3 days
White rat suddenly taken from the basket and presented to Albert. Just as his hand touched the animal the bar was struck immediately behind his head. The infant jumped violently and fell forward, burying his face in the mattress.
Just as the right hand touched the rat the bar was again struck. Again the infant jumped violently, fell forward and began to whimper.
Age: 11 months, 10 days
Rat presented suddenly without sound. When the rat nosed the infant's left hand, the hand was immediately withdrawn. It is thus seen that the two joint stimulations given the previous week were not without effect.
Joint stimulation. Fell over immediately to right side and began to whimper.
Rat alone. The instant the rat was shown the baby began to cry. Almost instantly he turned sharply to the left, fell over on left side, raised himself on all fours and began to crawl away so rapidly that he was caught with difficulty before reaching the edge of the table.
This just sounds so horrible to me! That poor child was being TAUGHT to be scared of animals. Albert's profound negative response to the rabbit was taken as evidence that the conditioned fear had indeed transferred to other animals, just as Watson had predicted. Albert also showed anxiety in the presence of a dog, and was vexed by a wad of cotton. In the end Watson has his answers but to with what consequences for the poor child? Was the child fearful of animals for the rest of his life?
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Motivational Interviewing
Norbert Beuchel-Wagner, an Addiction counselor from Germany spoke in my class tonight. It was very interesting hearing about how addiction is counseled in Germany. One of the main themes was Motivational Interviewing.
The concept of motivational interviewing evolved from experience in the treatment of problem drinkers, and was first described by Miller (1983) in an article published in Behavioural Psychotherapy. Motivational interviewing is a directive, client-centered counseling style for eliciting behavior change by helping clients to explore and resolve ambivalence. Compared with nondirective counselling, it is more focused and goal-directed. The examination and resolution of ambivalence is its central purpose, and the counselor is intentionally directive in pursuing this goal. Motivational interviewing is a client-centered, directive method for enhancing intrinsic motivation to change by exploring and resolving ambivalence.
Another thing I learned is that in Germany they focus largely on prevention. Prevention starts in the family. In how you act around your children, the things you inadvertantly teach them, and the values they learn. Parents are a model for their children. This is so true. How many times have you heard of a father telling his son or daughter to go grab him a beer because he had a long day at work? What is this teaching the child?
Another prevention program Germany has is to teach the adolescents to teach their peers and younger school age children. I think this is a great idea. Who do 6th and 5th and 4th graders look up to? Of course the high schoolers! They are bigger, smarter, and cooler, in the eyes of the younger kids!
One last thing before I go, In Germany there's a new policy in their addiction treatments. When someone comes in for alcoholism or another substance abuse, they are dually treated for nicotine cessation as well. They have to sign a contract agreeing to this if they want the treatment. How great is that? What point is it to help someone quit drinking or using when they are still killing themselves with nicotine? I think the U.S. would benifit from adopting this policy.
The concept of motivational interviewing evolved from experience in the treatment of problem drinkers, and was first described by Miller (1983) in an article published in Behavioural Psychotherapy. Motivational interviewing is a directive, client-centered counseling style for eliciting behavior change by helping clients to explore and resolve ambivalence. Compared with nondirective counselling, it is more focused and goal-directed. The examination and resolution of ambivalence is its central purpose, and the counselor is intentionally directive in pursuing this goal. Motivational interviewing is a client-centered, directive method for enhancing intrinsic motivation to change by exploring and resolving ambivalence.
Another thing I learned is that in Germany they focus largely on prevention. Prevention starts in the family. In how you act around your children, the things you inadvertantly teach them, and the values they learn. Parents are a model for their children. This is so true. How many times have you heard of a father telling his son or daughter to go grab him a beer because he had a long day at work? What is this teaching the child?
Another prevention program Germany has is to teach the adolescents to teach their peers and younger school age children. I think this is a great idea. Who do 6th and 5th and 4th graders look up to? Of course the high schoolers! They are bigger, smarter, and cooler, in the eyes of the younger kids!
One last thing before I go, In Germany there's a new policy in their addiction treatments. When someone comes in for alcoholism or another substance abuse, they are dually treated for nicotine cessation as well. They have to sign a contract agreeing to this if they want the treatment. How great is that? What point is it to help someone quit drinking or using when they are still killing themselves with nicotine? I think the U.S. would benifit from adopting this policy.
Wasted in Wisconsin: Drinking deeply ingrained in Wisconsin's culture
Beer for beer and shot for shot, when all 50 states belly up to the bar, few can hold their own with Wisconsin. The sad part is, us Wisconsinites are PROUD of this! This is our NUMBER 1 Problem.
Binge drinking - we're No. 1.
Percentage of drinkers in the population - No. 1.
Driving under the influence - No. 1.
We lag a few states in beer consumption, but we're near the top. With brandy, it's no contest. We put away more brandy per person than any other state. We have a strong claim on the vodka title, too. And often we have no clue how drunk we are. Person for person, we have three times more taverns here than the rest of the country, and we spend twice as much money inside them.
AT&T's online telephone directory lists more bars in Appleton, population 70,000, than in Fort Worth, Texas; Memphis, Tenn.; or Sacramento, Calif. Wisconsin's abundant taverns are the setting for camaraderie and celebration, but at a cost: Drinking in bars is strongly associated with drunken driving, research has shown. Study the data, read history or talk to tavern-goers. The message comes through clearly: Drinking isn't just something we do to pass time at the ballpark or Summerfest or a Halloween party. It is, for better and worse, an element that helps define Wisconsin as Wisconsin, part of our identity.
Wisconsin leads the nation in the percentage of people who admit to driving under the influence of alcohol. In only a few states are drivers involved in fatal accidents more likely to be drunk. In 2007 alone, Wisconsin's drunken-driving excess claimed more than 70 lives beyond the national norm. The federal government estimates that alcohol claims some 1,250 Wisconsin lives a year - about 2.7% of all deaths statewide. That's nearly twice the number that die from prostate cancer. Drinking is blamed for scores of deaths from suicides and homicides, and hundreds from falls, strokes and liver disease.
We down more alcohol per person than almost any state not because we drink so much, but because so many of us drink. With relatively few Wisconsinites abstaining, our consumption per drinker is lower than about half the states.
Binge drinking - we're No. 1.
Percentage of drinkers in the population - No. 1.
Driving under the influence - No. 1.
We lag a few states in beer consumption, but we're near the top. With brandy, it's no contest. We put away more brandy per person than any other state. We have a strong claim on the vodka title, too. And often we have no clue how drunk we are. Person for person, we have three times more taverns here than the rest of the country, and we spend twice as much money inside them.
AT&T's online telephone directory lists more bars in Appleton, population 70,000, than in Fort Worth, Texas; Memphis, Tenn.; or Sacramento, Calif. Wisconsin's abundant taverns are the setting for camaraderie and celebration, but at a cost: Drinking in bars is strongly associated with drunken driving, research has shown. Study the data, read history or talk to tavern-goers. The message comes through clearly: Drinking isn't just something we do to pass time at the ballpark or Summerfest or a Halloween party. It is, for better and worse, an element that helps define Wisconsin as Wisconsin, part of our identity.
Wisconsin leads the nation in the percentage of people who admit to driving under the influence of alcohol. In only a few states are drivers involved in fatal accidents more likely to be drunk. In 2007 alone, Wisconsin's drunken-driving excess claimed more than 70 lives beyond the national norm. The federal government estimates that alcohol claims some 1,250 Wisconsin lives a year - about 2.7% of all deaths statewide. That's nearly twice the number that die from prostate cancer. Drinking is blamed for scores of deaths from suicides and homicides, and hundreds from falls, strokes and liver disease.
We down more alcohol per person than almost any state not because we drink so much, but because so many of us drink. With relatively few Wisconsinites abstaining, our consumption per drinker is lower than about half the states.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Smoking Cessation not going good
So I cant seem to find the will power to NOT go out and smoke. I am down to about four or five smokes a day which is a great improvement from a half a pack a day! I still want to quit but I need to just stop smoking cold turkey. I have been cleaning and sitting on the computer, and reading anything to get my mind off smoking. So how come I am still finding the time to obsess over that cig I want so bad?
Stay motivated. Think of something else as soon as that smoke pops into your head! At least when it warms up I can go for walks with the kids. That will help.
Stay motivated. Think of something else as soon as that smoke pops into your head! At least when it warms up I can go for walks with the kids. That will help.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Trying to Quit
So after nine years of smoking and numerous attempts at quitting, I am now determined to quit for good! Cigs are going up another buck, which means they will be almost 7 dollars a pack if not more. In a month I am starting all my dental work so I am setting that date for my goal.
I hate the battle that goes on inside of me when I start to crave a smoke and know that I CAN quit, but I just need a damn smoke! I know I can do it. I just have to keep putting off having a smoke, and eventually it will be a week, month, year, and I will no longer physically crave a smoke. I know I may never stop mentally craving them, but I NEED to quit. I dont want to be smoking when my kids are old enough to understand what I am doing and start to ask me about it. I dont want to stink like them anymore. I want to improve the health of my teeth and lungs. I am not happy about aging (not that anyone is) and smoking is just going to make me age faster. I want to be able to do physical activity without gasping for breath and I want to be free of this smoker's cough. I dont want to end up with a Barb's voice, she's a neighbor that seriously sounds like an old man, yet she is a woman!
So once again I am going to refer to the serenity prayer:
Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference!
I hate the battle that goes on inside of me when I start to crave a smoke and know that I CAN quit, but I just need a damn smoke! I know I can do it. I just have to keep putting off having a smoke, and eventually it will be a week, month, year, and I will no longer physically crave a smoke. I know I may never stop mentally craving them, but I NEED to quit. I dont want to be smoking when my kids are old enough to understand what I am doing and start to ask me about it. I dont want to stink like them anymore. I want to improve the health of my teeth and lungs. I am not happy about aging (not that anyone is) and smoking is just going to make me age faster. I want to be able to do physical activity without gasping for breath and I want to be free of this smoker's cough. I dont want to end up with a Barb's voice, she's a neighbor that seriously sounds like an old man, yet she is a woman!
So once again I am going to refer to the serenity prayer:
Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Snow is melting...
It has been a decent day for a Monday. I have already finished my research papers for tonights Group Facilitation Class. I ended up taking Michael to the doctor, he was still not walking on his foot. They did Xrays and he has no broken bones in his foot, so it must be a sprain. He is bandaged up and watching spongebob now.
I got to spend some time on my own. The sun is shining and its warm. I shipped off some V.C. Andrews books that I have been selling on ebay. I stopped off at goodwill and found some tank tops, a dress for manda, a book for michael, and a cute spring candy dish. I felt so refreshed after that- that I stopped off and cleaned out the Tempo alittle. Now I am back in my dark dungeon- the house has felt like that all winter. Hopefully the kids dont fight too much before I go off to class. I would like to stay in this nice mood.
I got to spend some time on my own. The sun is shining and its warm. I shipped off some V.C. Andrews books that I have been selling on ebay. I stopped off at goodwill and found some tank tops, a dress for manda, a book for michael, and a cute spring candy dish. I felt so refreshed after that- that I stopped off and cleaned out the Tempo alittle. Now I am back in my dark dungeon- the house has felt like that all winter. Hopefully the kids dont fight too much before I go off to class. I would like to stay in this nice mood.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Typical Day Through my ears
My son is 3 1/2 years old and this is a typical day from his mouth:
“I eat oatmeal”
“Faaag ahhh” have yet to figure out what that one meant.
“Baby did it”
“I help”
“You do it yourself”
“Emnade!” (you were asking for orange juice, I think you were trying to say Lemonade)
or "I want Wader-nade"
“Word Girl!”
“Big red dog”
“Nack” (snack)
“Rewind it”
“I write my name”
“Pull shoot” A nerf gun you had that you had to pull back then shoot
“I brush my teeth”
“I wash my hands”
“Hey Maaamaaa”
“Ummpah’s here” (Grandpa)
“Antie Leehaaa” (Antie Lisa)
“Yo phone ringing!”
“I eat oatmeal”
“Faaag ahhh” have yet to figure out what that one meant.
“Baby did it”
“I help”
“You do it yourself”
“Emnade!” (you were asking for orange juice, I think you were trying to say Lemonade)
or "I want Wader-nade"
“Word Girl!”
“Big red dog”
“Nack” (snack)
“Rewind it”
“I write my name”
“Pull shoot” A nerf gun you had that you had to pull back then shoot
“I brush my teeth”
“I wash my hands”
“Hey Maaamaaa”
“Ummpah’s here” (Grandpa)
“Antie Leehaaa” (Antie Lisa)
“Yo phone ringing!”
Nothing better to do today
Some days I just have nothing better to do than search the Internet for silly sayings or odd photos.
Here is my list:
- I’m ashamed of what I did for a Klondike Bar.
I love poetry, long walks on the beach, and poking dead things with a stick.
I’d tell you to go to hell, but I work there and I don’t want to see you everyday.
Love your enemies. It makes them so damned mad.
It's true that we don't know what we've got until we lose it, but it's also true that we don't know what we've been missing until it arrives.
Borrow money from a pessimist- they won’t expect it back.
A line is a dot that went for a walk.
A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore.
If you can't see the bright side of life, polish the dull side.
A glow worm is never glum… Because, how can you be grumpy when the sun shines out of your bum?
If you can't convince them, confuse them.
A synonym is a word you use when you can't spell the word you first thought of.
Don't look out of the window; People will think that it's Halloween
The more you complain, the longer God makes you live.
Man who run in front of car get tired.
Man who run behind car get exhausted.
I took a test in Existentialism. I left all the answers blank and got 100.
“Law of Drunkenness”You can’t fall off the floor.
When somebody tells you nothing is impossible, ask him to dribble a football.
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
Well that was fun.
My three year old fell today and possibly sprained his ankle. All day he has been crawling around the house. It looks fine so if he's still not walking on it tomorrow I will take him in. Boys. Why are they always so destructive?
Its a frickn blizzard out today. Middle December weather on March 8. What a bunch of crap. At least I don't have to drive in it.
So after reading Nora Robert's Island Trilogy, I have been getting into the Craft stuff again. I don't like the whole spells, and shit, but I love the nature and philosophy of the religion. It has always spoken to me. I have psychic ability. I have not refined it, but I have always known its there. Its creepy sometimes to know things are going to happen before they do.
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