Why I love Jamie Lee Curtis!

Jamie Lee Curtis helps teens cope
By John Morgan, Spotlight Health, with medical adviser Stephen A. Shoop, M.D.
After her roles in the Halloween movies, teens might be used to Jamie Lee Curtis trying to scare them. But the Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actress has a gentler, more compassionate approach when it comes to helping teens in crisis, especially those dealing with alcohol problems.
read the article...click her pic!

REM wisdom, part 2

Now, it's my turn.

One of my dreams last night had me scared like I haven't been in a loooong time!
My mom and I were at my Gramma's apartment in Colorado. It didn't look exactly like it, but it FELT like it. We are cleaning out her stuff, as she has just died.
All of a sudden, my Gramma appears right beside me! It doesn't look her from recent times, her hair is darker. She is wearing her blue duster and she is mad!!! When she opens her mouth, she still has some teeth left. I never saw my Gramma with real teeth. She wore dentures for most of my life, so this was even scarier for me.
I look over at my mom and I say, "Can't you see her???!!" ( I am panicking by this time.)
My mom looks at me and says, "Oh, yes."
She doesn't believe me!!! In fact, she's placating me to get the job done.
At this point, my Gramma's presence shoves to the floor. She is breathing on me. She is very angry!!! I am totally freaked at this point. I am screaming, "Get her off!"
My mom is still looking at me like I am nuts...She huffs and moves into another room. I push myself up and say, "I need air."
Mom and I head to the door and into the cool Colorado night.

I woke up just frightened outta my skull. Talk about Jungian theory! Classic text book!
I realized this whole situation with my mom and Gramma has had me in the middle and on the floor. I now know my mom didn't believe me or in me. I had to take a step back (or out the door.) That was scary for me. And I guess I am afraid I might have hurt my Gramma through all of this. Not that I did, but I still have the unresolved guilt and fear that goes with greiving. I just can't describe how scary it was to see my Gramma's ghost. EW!

Carl Jung and Dreams

It's been 20 years since my last Psychology class, so I thought I would brush up on Jung. Not to mention that "the sane one" got me going! He seemed genuinely disappointed about the lack of Jungian theory applied to his "Animal House" meets "The Night of the Living Dead" dream.

Carl Gustav Jung was in 1875 in Switzerland. He worked closely with Freud in Vienna until he began to develope his own theories; which were vastly different from Freud in many ways.

Jung developed the theory of the "collective unconsciouness." Simply stated, we all have similar experiences while dreaming. Jung developed dream archetypes which we all share. These are a few of the archetypes:

• Hero
• Monster
• Mother
• Father
• Mandala
• Sacrifice
• Mask
• Self

Dr. Jung believed dreams were a direct message from one's unconscious mind; a way of dealing with issues or situations that are unresolved.

Still no word from Aunt Pat

Too bad! I really was hoping for a full-blown apology. Gosh, I'd even take a gift card as a token towards a truce. I am so sad. There will be an uncomfortable rift now between us. All because of Target! Hey, maybeI can sue Target...then we can call it "Chris!"

This little critter can cause mayhem!

Everytime my boys see a squirrel, it's pandamonium!!!! Jumping, whining, hopping to get out the door! With fall here, I am sure to enjoy the doggie's little past-time of "gotta get that thing!!" Maybe I'll get some video...the boys are just too funny!

AHHH....

Today, I am feeling a lot better! I know that spending that first day in bed resting makes me get over the goop much faster!

Is it me....

Or is Ben Affleck's smile a little too artificial?

EW!

Boogies, sneezing, tissues. My immune system is out-of-whack.

Are lawn gnomes tacky?

These silent keepers of the garden...are they fashion? Trendy, yes. Travelocity has one as their spokesman/trademark. College students steal them for pranks and take photos of the gnome's adventures. Heck, I've seen them hanging precariously around a swimming pool of a friend!

While opinion varies from person to person, I think they are cute; but not in the front yard. I prefer the old lady bending over or the little boy peeing. The Marlboro Man sillouette is a favorite, too. These enhace the overall beauty of a garden and are sure to make a big impression on guests as they approach your home.


Keep in mind that pink flamingos, the perinnial favorite among garden designers, still are the No.1 best selling lawn ornament.

God doesn't like ugly!

Perhaps it's my quirky sense of humor, or maybe I really do walk on thin ice...but I caught a cold! It's my own doing. I made the Common Cold out to be a piece of shit ! He really didn't call his cousins "pussies." I made it all up to make my article more enticing. I retract! I am sorry! Please!!!!!! Leave me alone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! achoo! snort! sniff!

Momma Bear goes to a Tradeshow!

Today, Truevalueman and I (along with our lovely employees) took Momma Bear to the Commerce Show in Baltimore. Commerce is a corporation that helps independent retailers buy items through suppliers and warehouses.
Momma and I did recon and consulting. And we chatted and we walked and giggled and had shit-loads of fun! We bought bambo rugs, really cool planters for growing herbs or corn or tomatoes, or whatever!, and clocks!
No lawn gnomes or nerdybirds, though. Those are quite taboo! (Not to mention...tacky!) We were ready to get home at about 4:00 and got home just in time to miss most of the rush-hour traffic!

A Series of Unfortunate E-Mails

A Couple of days ago, I recieved this e-mail. It was forwarded to me by my mother-in-law.(Her sister-in-law sent it to her and about 25 other people!)
Doing my homework, I investigated! Here is what has transpired to date:

Dick Forrey of the Vietnam Veterans Association wrote.
"Recently we asked the local TARGET store to be a proud Sponsor of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall during ourSpring recognition event.
We received the following replyFrom the local TARGET management: " Veterans do not meet ourA rea of giving. We only donate to the arts, social actionGroups, gay & lesbian causes, and education."
So I'm thinking, if the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall andVeterans in general, do not meet their donation criteria,Then something is really wrong at this TARGET store. We were Not asking for thousands of dollars, not even hundreds, justA small sponsorship for a memorial remembrance.
As a follow-up, I E-mailed the TARGET U.S. CorporateHeadquarters and their response was the same. That's theirNational policy.Then I looked into the company [ http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mail_us/taglines/postman7/*http:/us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=39666/*http:/messenger.yahoo.com ]Further. They will not allowThe Marines to collect for 'Toys for Tots' at any of their Stores. And during the recent Iraq deployment, they wouldNot allow families of employees who were called up forActive duty to continue their insurance coverage whileThey were on military service. Then as I dig further, TARGETIs a French-owned corporation.
Now, I'm thinking again. If TARGET cannot support AmericanVeterans, then why should my family and I support theirStores by spending our hard earned America! N dollars!
And, Have their profits sent to France.
Without the AmericanVets, where would France be today?"They, most likely would be speaking German and trading in Deutsch Marks"
Sincerely,Dick ForreyVeterans Helping Veterans
Please send this on to everyone you know To let Target know We don't need them either ![ http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mail_us/taglines/postman7/*http:/us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=39666/*http:/messenger.yahoo.com ]

Series...part 2

I wrote back....and forwarded it to the many folks she e-mailed!

http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/target.asp
click on this link.....this is pure rubbish! target stores are american owned and DO support the military. before sending me anymore of this tripe, please make sure it is true. 90% of these forwarded emails are urban legends meant to clog everyone's in boxes!!!

It gets better!

Then, she writes back and yells at me! (And she only forwarded this to my mother-in-law! )

HI

JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION THE TARGET STORE IN HAGERSTOWN REFUSED TO ALLOW THE SALVATION ARMY SET UP THEIR KETTLE AT CHRISTMAS IN FRONT OF THEIR STORE. THIS DOES NOT MAKE THEM DESIRABLE FOR ME TO SPEND MY MONEY THERE.

PAT

Matching wits with thhe defenseless is cruel, but...

God! It's soooo much fun!!!

Dear Aunt Pat,

I didn't mean to upset you...I am sending you Target's coporate agreement with the Salvation Army:

Salvation ArmyTarget has a long-standing solicitation policy at our stores nationwide. In order to provide a distraction-free shopping environment for our guests, we do not allow solicitation or petitioning at our stores regardless of the cause being represented.In January 2004 we informed The Salvation Army of our decision to consistently apply our solicitation policy. This policy does not diminish our support of The Salvation Army. In fact, Target and The Salvation Army recently announced a new partnership for an online Wish List designed to assist families in need. From November 25 through January 25, visitors to Target.com/salvationarmy can view and purchase clothing, household items, personal products, and Gift Cards to be donated to families across the country. Guests will also be able to link directly to The Salvation Army website to make a monetary contribution.In addition, any non-profit organization, including The Salvation Army, can apply for a grant through its local Target store. Store grants form the basis of Target's extensive commitment to supporting the communities in which it does business, and many local Salvation Army corps across the country benefit from Target store grants.

So you see, Target does extensive work with the Salvation Army. I would hope that folks would take advantage of this type of giving. I never thought giving $$$$ to families was a good idea. Gift cards, food, diapers and the like will benefit the children and their parents.

I think it's important to know what you are sending out and that the info be truthful. Snopes.com does a wonderful job of de-bunking these emails. Many coporations are begining to sue over these emails. I certainly don't want any part of that.

with sincerest apologies,
me!


And I have yet to hear back. Wonder if I ever will??? I am thinking about sticking a Target gift card in their Christmas Greeting this year!!!

Organic Urinals?

Clark Sorensen has created some of the most amazing and beautiful urinals one is likely to ever see. Each is meticulously hand built and one of a kind - formed from high fire porcelain and fired to cone 10 (2300 deg.). They are fully functioning vitreous porcelain fixtures that can actually be plumbed and used in a bathroom or simply displayed. The show even contains three functioning urinals that you may flush! Clark hopes that his urinals will be put to use in uniquely designed bathrooms around the world. He has a gorgeous Calla Lily urinal in his studio from a previous show that is plumbed and fully functioning.

Strange, but true! To order, click on any of the photos!

Who the hell is Buffy?

Due to a recent post about Pluto's planetary demotion, I proposed that if Pluto regained it's status, then Buffy should be a planet, too! So, here's the low down on Buffy!

Could the outer solar system harbor planetary samples nabbed from a passing star?

That's a question some astronomers are asking as they try to explain "Buffy," a recently discovered, frigid mini-planet 300 to 600 miles across. It orbits the sun just beyond the edge of the Kuiper Belt, a broad swath of icy objects that extends far beyond Neptune.

Because of its odd orbital features, when it comes to testing ideas about how the solar system formed, this new object may become known as Buffy the Theory Slayer.

Buffy orbits the sun once every 440 years

Buffy orbits the sun once every 440 years at a distance ranging from 52 to 62 astronomical units from the sun (one AU is 93 million miles).

Buffy's arresting traits begin with its nearly circular orbit. Those of its nearest neighbors are more elliptical. More puzzling, Buffy's orbit is severely tilted compared with those of planets, comets, and Kuiper Belt objects - some 47 degrees off kilter from the rest of the solar system. It's a feature that defies all but the most convoluted explanations for how the solar system achieved its current structure, some astronomers say.

This info was written by By Peter N. Spotts Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor
For the rest of Peter's story, click on the pic!

Common Decency Feels the Blow. A Follow-up Report

How Can this Be?

by Christen Hittie

Common Decency was admitted to the ICU, according to private sources. As to what caused Decency to become ill, one source was quoted as saying, "The slaying of Jimella Tunstall and her children."

According to reports, Tunstall was slain on September 15, 2006. The fetus she was carrying was cut from her abdomin, causing her to bleed to death. The whereabouts of her 3 other children remained a mystery until yesterday. CNN and the Associated Press have reported those 3 children were found murdered and stuffed in the family's washer and dryer.

"While this put Common Decency's stamina to the test, the final blow was the arraingment of the murder suspect of Tiffany Hall," the source continued.

An East St. Louis, Illinoise judge today entered a "not guilty" plea on Hall's behalf. Instead, he posted a $5 million bail and ordered psychiatric evaluations and treatment for Ms. Hall.

Revelations about the murder came about when Hall arranged a funeral for her alleged unborn child. During the service, Tiffany told her boyfriend that the baby wasn't his and she had killed Jimella. In earlier statements made by Hall's mother, Tiffany had gone about her business as usual, including a parent-teacher conference with her daughter's teacher.

"Outrage over the judges actions is what has our boy, De, so ill," says another source. "That bleeding-heart liberal, 'we need compassion to save the world,' dumb-shit judge! Of course she's crazy! But she was deliberate in her actions. This was a well thought out murder; plain and simple. We are hoping Decency will recover. Afterall, his sister just died. The stress on him is enormous."

Common Sense, Decency's younger sister died earlier today. Common Decency's older sister, Courtesy died on the mid-1980's of complications due to the junk-bond scandals.

Because Decency is about the rights of human life, it is doubtful he wishes the death penalty for Ms. Hall. "He'll need justice to recover," says a medical expert. "But Common Decency is fading fast. We are doing all we can to save him."

Common Cold, Decency's cousin could not be reached for comment. It is speculated the Common Cold is out and about, spreading snot and slime around the country.

To read more about the Hall/Tunstall story, click on this link.

OBITS

Common Sense
by Christen Hittie

Common Sense died today. She was preceded in death by her sister, Common Courtesy. Her brother, Common Decency, was with her to the bitter end.
"She just couldn't hold on any longer," sobbed a dispondent Decency. "She was so graceful, so alive and the 'POOF!' No more!"
Mitigating factors of Common Sense's death were the use of cell phones while driving, no yeilding in merge lanes and the unfortunate rise in politcal battles over the use of torture. Even her sacred relationship with Thomas Paine couldn't hold her anymore.
"Sensy used to quote Mr. Paine regularly," Common Decency responded, "Society in every state is a blessing, but Government, even in its best state, is a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one."
"She just didn't recover from Abu-grai. It sickens me! And now I have begun to whither away, too! When Courtesy died, we felt a huge jolt. Ever the optomist, my baby sister hung on. She kept saying, 'De, people will still wash their hands and some will even say please and thank you!' I had to believe her; it was a last ditch effort to keep her alive!"
Common Decency recalled the bitter battle between him and his baby sister over the Maplethorpe exhibition in the 80's.
"We knew we were becoming outdated, but I got the best life-boost from the Right Wingers back then. Heady with my own power, I turned my malice towards my sisters. How I regret that now. Courty and Sensy were right. 'To each his own,' they would say. And, 'Art is in the eye of the beholder.' I knew somewhere deep inside, those girls were right. It was my job to guide folks, not direct them. Courtesy died a few weeks later. I still carry the guilt over her death."
Common Cold, when notified of his cousin's death had only this to say, "Pussies! I told then back in the 1800's, ' You gotta keep up with the times. The only constant the human race isn't prepared for is change!' Dumbies! Look at me! I'm as strong as I ever had been. No cure, yet. Never will be! Change, that's the key!"
And so, the Common Cold may be right. For no one has really noticed the passing of his cousin. May she rest in peace!

The pillows were too comfortable!!!

This dog just cracks me up!!!

Wonder if Jonronnie is a-watchin'?

Dumb question!

By Request...

Homemade Granola

3 cups rolled oats

1 cup wheat germ (i used the roasted)

1/2 cup of almonds

1 TBSP cinnamon

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup agave nectar (dark amber)

Mix the first 4 ingredients together in a bowl. Heat butter and agave nectar in microwave until butter melts. Stir in the butter and agave nectar into the dry mix. Place on a baking sheet and bake at 350 until lightly toasted. You need to stir every 5 minutes to get an even texture. Cool and store in air tight container.

The nice thing is you can add other nuts, coconut, dried friuts or whatever! You can add vanilla instead of cinnamon...the sky's the limit!

They WILL be moving out at 18!

Ahh...teenage girls! Is there anything more miserable than 2 girls shopping to find a Homecoming Dress? I sent them shopping without me. I receive a nasty call 3 hours later telling me that they require at least 5 hours and $100 more to finish the task! Oh, and I have to go along!!! Damn!!!!

Zapato's favorite sleeping position!

How does he do that???!!!

Brian Regan Rocks!!

On my 40th, Imbecillin gave me Brian Regan's new DVD, I Walked on the Moon. It is sooo funny! He is a genius~and no bad language!~

My punk-rockin' boys!

Showing off at the Pet Parade today at the New Freedom Fest. (We didn't win! :o(! )

Crunchy Granola Suite!

I got tired of eating the sugary granola, so I made my own. Looks good, and I can't wait to have some at breakfast! Also, the kids performed "Crunchy Granola Suite" today at the New Freedom Fest. AH! Power to the Hippies!

Oh My GAWD!!!!

Ok, so it isn't me! But the doggies are a foofin'.. .gag!

Jason...

Today they finally published an article and the obit for Jason. Damien just called and wanted to know some more info. That was hard; I could hear the catch in his throat. I think the AA comminuty is now fully aware of Jason's passing. We will be going tomorrow to the funeral. Good luck to anyone who tried the church...no answer when I called. I got directions from MAPQUEST.

To my friend...I wish there had more conversations, more hugs, more words. I am saddened that your pain was so great, so harsh, you couldn't see through to the other side. My hope is that you are now at peace and that the loving arms of God are craddling your broken soul. I loved you~I am going to miss you!.....Chris

To read Jason's obit, click on the sad little draggin' dragon!

Yes...Dogs do get depressed!

I found this amazing....

They get mopey, lethargic, stop eating, and drink only minimal amounts of water, stop wanting to play, and even lose drastic amounts of weight.

What can cause this in pets?

Grief, change of scenery, or sometimes it is a chemical imbalance, needing medication to correct it. Even the weather can adversely affect a normally happy dog. Or your health. As a pet owner, how do you fight an invisible, inner enemy? The first step is recognizing the problem. You've ruled out all the possible physical causes with help from your veterinarian, now it is time to start looking at the mental causes. Has your pet recently lost a friend? Perhaps a neighbourhood dog he played with is gone, be it on vacation, or gone over Bridge, but gone nonetheless? Or perhaps his child grew up and moved out? Losing a playmate, especially an in-home playmate is often a reason for canine depression.

We may not notice it very often, but pets do grieve, and in some cases, especially concerning a violent death or even just a disappearance, dogs can grieve to a dangerous point, and it can be very hard to bring them out of it. Slow deterioration and loss of initiative is a glaring clue that something is bothering your dog. If this is happening to your dog, you need to get right on it and start to make life fun again. Ask your vet about Anti-depressants available as well. Depression may not seem like it, but left too long and it could very well turn into a life-threatening physical condition. Be sure to have all physical aspects of your dog's health checked out by a veterinarian first.

While prescribing Prozac may perk your pet up a bit, it won't help one bit if it's Canine Coronavirus or Distemper that has your pooch in a slump. Those blood tests your vet mentioned could be crucial in determining the problem. Once you and your vet have determined that depression is the cause, there are a few options. One is medicated therapy. That would be Prozac for dogs, or other veterinarian recommended anti-depressants. An increase in your activity level, or at least your dog's will also likely be called for. In cases of grief, playdates with other dogs or Doggy Daycare would definitely be worth looking into. If you are ready, you may even consider getting another dog.

WOW!

SO...What is wrong with Buttons?

$112 dollars later and we still don't know. I think he's depresssed. Can dogs be depressed? Maybe later, I'll do a report on that!

Feelings....

Actually, they suck! Today I was hit with all of them. Several people still don't know about Jason and his suicide. I hope the family publishes something soon in the paper. I feel like I need to say good bye to him. Katie said she saw him last week and that he looked awful.

Then, my mom and her whole mind-fuck. I wish she would just let things rest!

And, of course, I am still feeling out-of-whack physically. Everytime I eat, I feel sick. I have had a migrain off and on for two days now and I am pooped! (Literally!)

I cried for about an hour today. Brad said I have too many things going on and that I haven't sorted them out yet. EW! When did he get so smart?!! He let me come in this morning and cry it out in his office. Later, he called to make sure I was ok. Just when I think he's a jerk, he turns around becomes my hero...and of course, that makes me weepy, too!

Today is National ADHD Awareness Day!

Who has ADHD? Little Man and I do!!!! The inability to control your impulses and wandering mind is a very difficult thing to live with. For years, I compensated by being "busy!" People with hyperactivity have the hardest time with sitting still. Going beyond just the physical, hyperactivity is also linked to brain activity. It can be very hard to sit through a class after a concept has been understood. While other students need more time, ADHD students tend to get classroom concepts quickly and are ready for the next step; making classroom learning a nightmare for ADHD students. ADHDer's will become physically agitated if not being mentally stimulated. Perhaps this is why untreated kids do better in higher learning institutions!

Ok, now for the more scientific stuff...

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a condition that becomes apparent in some children in the preschool and early school years. It is hard for these children to control their behavior and/or pay attention. It is estimated that between 3 and 5 percent of children have ADHD, or approximately 2 million children in the United States. This means that in a classroom of 25 to 30 children, it is likely that at least one will have ADHD.
ADHD was first described by Dr. Heinrich Hoffman in 1845. A physician who wrote books on medicine and psychiatry, Dr. Hoffman was also a poet who became interested in writing for children when he couldn't find suitable materials to read to his 3-year-old son. The result was a book of poems, complete with illustrations, about children and their characteristics. "The Story of Fidgety Philip" was an accurate description of a little boy who had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Yet it was not until 1902 that Sir George F. Still published a series of lectures to the Royal College of Physicians in England in which he described a group of impulsive children with significant behavioral problems, caused by a genetic dysfunction and not by poor child rearing—children who today would be easily recognized as having ADHD.1 Since then, several thousand scientific papers on the disorder have been published, providing information on its nature, course, causes, impairments, and treatments.

A child with ADHD faces a difficult but not insurmountable task ahead. In order to achieve his or her full potential, he or she should receive help, guidance, and understanding from parents, guidance counselors, and the public education system. This document offers information on ADHD and its management, including research on medications and behavioral interventions, as well as helpful resources on educational options.

Some signs of hyperactivity-impulsivity are:
· Feeling restless, often fidgeting with hands or feet, or squirming while seated
· Running, climbing, or leaving a seat in situations where sitting or quiet behavior is expected
· Blurting out answers before hearing the whole question
· Having difficulty waiting in line or taking turns.
info courtesy of NIMH!

To hear a podcast with Ty Bennington, click on my pix!

National Talk Like A Pirate Day

AVAST!

May I offer you my heart?

Not to be outshined on my birthday, my mother sent me a letter. I haven't really read all of it, as it describes the day I was born. The end of the letter basically talks of how she just wanted me to understand how she felt and how hurt she is that I don't. (?) She also goes on how I feel she was a bad parent, but that she did the best she could.
OK...now I have my dander up!!! GRR! It's not about her at all! God, when is she ever gonna get it??? Never, that's when!
Brad said that this is the type of letter he asked her to write 2 yrs ago. Expressing her feelings without re-hashing all the negatives... well, too late! Right now, I don't want a dialogue. Never have I questioned whether she did the best she could, but her refusal to accept her responsibility of her actions. I refuse to accept that it's all my fault. No more! It's all about me, now! I know I am ok, that I did nothing wrong and while maybe she did the best she could, she only did her best for herself....
THAT is my truth!

He He He....

When Super Heroes get old...

Where do I sign up???

Spiritual Thought of the Day...

To everyone who made my 40th great:

No other way to say it...

Words often fail me...

Who could ever imagine that? I was genuinely surprised!

I am a bit confused...

So...are the buses to just sweep us up?

It's my Birthday!

I'm 40!!!

Happy 11th Birthday, Little Man!

September 12th is a big day at our house!!! Little Man was born on our 8th Wedding Anniversary! He was the best gift I ever received on my anniversary!

Finally!

Just so you all know....I have had a helluva time getting photos to load from my laptop. It seems the new beta format is incompatable with whatever it's incompatable with on this fuckin thing! The desktop did just fine. I went on to Google Groups and downloaded Firefox/Mozilla. Can you believe it??!!! It works!

Getting Ready

In just 12 short hours, I will be arising to go to Vegas!

When time stood still...

God Bless America.

Happy Grandparent's Day, Lao~Lao!

One last old photo before I go to bed...

I think I look like Little man in this photo...