School has truly begun!

Well, I was feeling pretty happy because my work load seemed managable, but now... We are into the third week of school and the work is beginning to come full force! I got my first "grade." It was an 85% on a lab paper. I am not sure how I feel about it. I have never done a lab before, so all things considered, I did great. But I am disappointed. I resisted the urge to have someone check it over. I did have my one professor look over the second lab, and he noted a mistake, so I corrected it. Now I am really gonna have to plug more hours in; whew!

Hey, Momma Bear...

It takes 1.2 million paint cans to paint the Eiffle Tower!

Yummy!

Went to the pharmacy today...my friend who works there told me to go see the doc about my burn. I walk over, showed the nurse, and the next thing I know, I'm in the trauma room! I am running a 100 degree fever!!!! Geez! I have to use silvadine and take keflex (yuck!) for the next 10 days...as long as nothing falls off, I am ok! Beats the shit out of breaking my foot!

OOOOO! AAAAAH!

That would be me....I have 2nd degree burns on my left hand from a pot of boiling water falling on it yesterday! It really hurts!

Dear Mr. Cheney,

Happy Birthday, Eddie Van Halen!

Born on January 26, 1955 in the Netherlands, Eddie has had hip re-placement surgery and oral cancer!

Getting down to the Elements

Elements...those little building blocks of protons, neutrons and electrons! And I don't know much about them. So, I have to learn. Appearently, my chem teacher is NOT going to let us use the periodic table during tests. I am going to e-mail him to make sure I heard him right. Until then, it's flash cards and "Proton Don!" Click on the mouse and see if you KNOW the periodic table!

Houseguests are coming...

Bailey and Lexi are coming to the kitchen while their family vacations in Florida. They will arrive tomorrow!

Our friend, the BANANA! Courtesy of Spacie Gracie!

A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas. He said the expression "going bananas" is from the effects of bananas on the brain. Read on:

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading ath letes. But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier. <br>PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood. Anemia: High in iron, bana nas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school (England) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.
Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.
Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!
Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!" PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe...polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit !!!

Wait! There is actually something she CAN'T do!!

Wiley Coyote
Canis genius

My Darling Daughter dropped out of her Calc II class today. Appearantly, the teacher doesn't speak English very well and she doesn't have all the information from his class last semester. So, she came to me last night and asked what she should do. I told her to talk to Mr. Newland (high school calc teacher) and her guidance counselor. She really wanted me to help her make the decision, but I would not. I felt that by next fall, she will have to make these decisions without my input; I guided her to talking to her "advisors" at her high school. I ran into her today at York College (she takes Spanish there) and I asked her what she decided...she said she was going to drop Calc II. I said, "OK!"

Winter in Arizona?

Ahh, yes! My in-laws found SNOW outside their camper today! To see video, click on Arizon's weather forecast above!

We sit and we wait...

How bad is it gonna be in the morning? Nice to see Old Man Winter is back!

Can you do it?

sample homework:

Simplify each expression:
-(2p+5)+3(2p+4)-2p
.25(8+4p)-.5(6+2p)

answers:
-(2p+5)+(6p+12)-2p
-2p+6p-2p-5+12
4p-2p+7
2p+7

(2+p)-(3+p)
-1

Congratulations, Little Man!

You've earned your Arrow of Light Award!


THE WAY OF THE ARROW

The Arrow of Light Award is the highest rank in Cub Scouting. A Webelos Scout should set his sights on it early. It's tougher to earn than the Webelos badge, but he can do it! The Cub Scout will have to earn the Webelos badge and at least eight activity badges, including Citizen, Readyman, and Fitness. The total must include one from each of the five activity groups.
By the time he has earned the Arrow of Light Award, he will have learned many things about a lot of subjects - and a lot about Boy Scouting. He will be ready to join a Boy Scout troop!

Shhh! April 15th Episode of Family Guy has a Secret Cameo!

That's right....Olbermann is playing a big oil exec on the 4/15 episode of Family Guy! Keith considers Family Guy THE BEST show on television!

Yeah! I made it!

The first week of classes is over and I am still alive. But it really does feel like I am running with scissors!! I have some homework to do and I need some tutoring on chem, but I feel so much better...

Double, Double, Boil and Trouble

Ever walk into a room, sit down, start listening and realized you're fucked? Well, this was my experience today in chemistry. Holy cow! Right away the book throws formulas at you and I just panicked. I think I will shoot for again tomorrow and over the weekend. All my assignments are done on line, except for labs. Talk about pressure! (Which probably has some fucking wild formula, too!)

Running with Scissors!

I survived my first day at YCP! Algebra was a challenge...had to ask the teacher to REPEAT shit! Then I had to do 112 homework problems, which I finished. I am bushed! I am going to look over Bio, and then probably fall asleep, remembering absolutely nothing I read! Stayed tuned, I have Chem and Nutrition tomorrow...

Getting Ready!

Well now that I have been officially orientated, I guess all is in place to start! I've been getting loads of wishes from all corners. Even my mother-in-law sent me a note letting me know they are with me...she told me to take a deep breath and relax! I know am taking all of you with me tomorrow and that makes me feel sooooo great! Stay Tuned!

What Dreams May Come...

OK, so I am having a little anxiety about Wednesday. I just had a dream where I was back at college. I was waitng for Dustin and Lauren (DD's best friend and her boyfriend) to meet me with football tickets. After I realize they aren't hearing the cell call because they are already at the game, I decide to head back to my apartment.
Now, de ja vu-i have had dreams before of train tracks, like subway systems. Best part, because I have "been here before" I know how to get across the tracks and to my apartment!
My apartment building is like a casino hotel in Vegas. In fact, I think this as I am boarding the elevator for the 20th floor. Once inside my apartment, I am upset that I can't go to the game and decide to get something to eat.
I enter some sort of common room/kitchen. Only the wholoe place is like a retro-museum. Against the one wall is an old, old frigidaire; complete with an old ironing board inside! Next to it is a well perserved child's kitchen playset and dishes. All I can think of at this point is, "Wow! I'd love to have this!"
Across the from the old fridge is a newer model and beside it is yet another newer model; all from the fifties! Then I spot the real fridge and freezer. I open up the freezer and realize all the ice cream is the crap I don't like. When I finally spot the stuf I do, there's only a bite left. Since it's really NOT my ice cream, I chose to put it back. (The only flavors in this freezer is this crappy stuff Brad bought. It's a knock off of Chubby Hubby, without the peanut butter. It is sooooo nasty!) In the background is Ross Carmichael and a friend at a table, scrutinizing my every move.
Now my dream takes a little turn. I begin watching an episode of Star Trek the Next Generation. In this episode, Alexander, Worf's son, is having difficulty with puberty. I am engrossed because I have never SEEN this episode, and believe me, I have seen them all! Alexander is desparately trying to contact a klingon ship and his father to explain his feelings. He has no girlfriends, the guys are making fun of him, etc. Next thing I know, I am watching clips of Alexander's childhood. Not only that, but they are weird!!!
So I decide to take a walk. I am outside my casino-like building and it is a zoo! All sorts of folk roaming around and all I can think is, "Damn! too many people to have a smoke!"
So I walk around and realize I might be put on the TV, from live shots for the football game. I am wearing shorty-shorts! Way inappropriate! and EW!
I get in this line to buy this container to hold my smokes (it's pink and has my football seating assignment on it, remember, Dustin has my tickets!) I can't find anything smaller than a twenty. This lady is busy and doesn't have change! I walk away with a five spot and I keep thinking I got jipped!
Now, I'm back at the casino apartment lobby, where I run into my roomates. (One of the is my actual roomate, Kathy.) I am searching my pocketbook for money. I can't find something...I am getting frustrated. I ask them when the rent was due and they tell it was already. I let them know my MOM is paying and I haven't clue what goes on at home. they let me know that I will receive notice after 3 months if I default on the rent.
I take real short trip to my "house" where I procede to tell my mom it is not OK for her to have 4 closets and that I fit all my stuff into one closet. She doesn't care....
I am back outside my apartment building. The zoo, I find out is a big guest relations thing, including spectacular food and tents and the like. I g to the elevator area and I cannot find the 20th floor elevator. (My apartment is #2020.) I look and I look. I end up taking the wrong elevator to another floor. In the meantime, I have totally missed the ending to the Star Trek episode and now I hear there is a new Gray's Anatomy episode. That showing is in a tent!
I meet up with this woman who guides me around to elevators. I can't seem to find my elevator! I go up this weird set of escalators and BAM! I have a baby in my arms with a very wet cloth diaper! There is a toddler with me, but he soon goes away. I take the diaper off the baby and continue to hunt for my elevator. I am looking down corridors and hallways and nothing!
Finally, I find the twentieth floor elevator. It's old and decrepted. I get in, naked baby in tow. I try to press the button, but it's old and confusing. The elevator compresses and heads down (?). I look out this peep-hole window and I am just floating and floating with no direction. In an elevator, with a baby!
And then I wake up! Weird, huh?

I love this poster!

Cardinal Glick had it posted on the doors of St. Michael's in Red Bank, NJ when he introduced the Buddy Christ!

Someone's been BAD!!

Little Buttons Boy got into the caramel corn~yummy!

I love this movie!

Especially Buddy Christ!

Tonight Show -- The FruitCake Lady Remembered

To the pets...courtesy of Freakychica!

To be posted VERY LOW on the refrigerator door - nose height.

Dear Dogs and Cats,
The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.
The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.
I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.
For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years -- canine or feline attendance is not required.
The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt. I cannot stress this enough!

To pacify you, my dear pets, I have posted the following message on our front door:
To All Non-Pet Owners Who Visit & Like to Complain About Our Pets:
1. They live here. You don't.
2. If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. (That's why they call it "fur"niture.)
3. I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
4. To you, it's an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly.
Remember: In many ways, dogs and cats are better than kids because they:
1. Eat less
2. Don't ask for money all the time
3 Are easier to train
4. Normally come when called
5. Never ask to drive the car
6. Don't hang out with drug-using friends
7. Don't smoke or drink
8. Don't have to buy the latest fashions
9. Don't want to wear your clothes
10. Don't need a "gazillion" dollars for college.

And finally,
11. If they get pregnant, you can sell their children.

Ahhhh, yes....

Been out pounding the pavement for ads (donations) for the Boy Scouts. Man, it sucks!!!

As if I didn't have enough distractions!!!

But this is totally cool!

A new home for Kitty Boy!

Well, our boy kitty has a new home. Poor thing! When I put him in the car, he was just freaked. Probably thought I was gonna dump him! But, he is at my uncle's house, now. The two of them need constant love and I think it's a good match. Kitty boy is just kinda feeling out his new territory...and those caged birds!!!

Living Colour - Cult Of Personality

This is for you, Momma Bear!

Cult of Personality
Living Colour
(V Reid, C. Glover, W. Calhoun, M. Skillings)

Look into my eyes, what do you see?
Cult of Personality
I know your anger, I know your dreams
I've been everything you want to be
I'm the Cult of Personality
Like Mussolini and Kennedy
I'm the Cult of Personality
Cult of Personality
Cult of PersonalityNeon lights, A Nobel Price
The mirror speaks, the reflection lies
You don't have to follow me
Only you can set me free
I sell the things you need to be
I'm the smiling face on your T.V.
I'm the Cult of Personality
I exploit you still you love me

I tell you one and one makes three
I'm the Cult of Personality
Like Joseph Stalin and Gandhi
I'm the Cult of Personality
Cult of Personality
Cult of Personality

Neon lights a Nobel Prize
A leader speaks, that leader dies
You don't have to follow me
Only you can set you free

You gave me fortune
You gave me fame
You me power in your God's name
I'm every person you need to be
I'm the Cult of Personality

I just don't know how he does it....

I spent $38 onto have him groomed yesterday. Today, Zapato has SHIT on top of his head!!!!

Do ya think he's compensating for something?

Ok, so my favorite Tech Sargeant is losing weight, so I felt I had to come up with a new "comment." Actually, I stole this photo from Freaky's blog, hope she doesn't mind too much. Our boy is doing some good stuff over there, and he is coming home soon! Yeah!!!! In the meantime, he's hanging around the side of the base he doesn't normally go to...and I just LOVE this photo!

Here's the Sacrifice!

Keith Rocks Again!

On Complications and Quirkiness...

Is the quest for normal overrated? My relationship with my husband is, often, complicated. I ask myself why is this...to no avail, of course. But to see my daughters have relationships that are (at best) quirky and complicated, I wonder if the example my marriage has set has been a healthy one.
Take, for example, Darlin' Daughter and her "friend," Dave. Dave spend most of New Year's Eve on the elbow of DD. Not actually touching her elbow, but near it at all times. Dave has said he isn't going to 'get serious' until his 20's. Gee, really??!! Is that why he spent most of the evening trying to convince DD to go to Case Western, the college HE attends? (Maybe it is school pride, but I have my doubts.) Truevaleman and I even went so far as to tell Dave the saga of our first year together...he later told DD he thought we were funny and "interesting" and that he had a nice time with us. (We told him, you marry the whole package, not just the girl...longer story on that.) She insists that he doesn't like her. But my gut tells me sooo different. (In fact, my gut says this is probably my son-in-law to-be~)I have been wrong before, so time will play this out. Geez!
And then there is Gladys and Jeremy. Gladys says that she a nd Jeremy are just friends. Oh, really? I don't think "friends" cuddle like that! She says they are not boyfirend and girlfriend. Really? Ask around...I think my assumption of that relationship is on par with everyone else's.
Quirky? Complicated? Are these the earmarks of good relationships or are they the environmental behavior patterns unwittingly passed down from me to them?

New Years at the Kitchen!