Down with Censorship!!!

STRIKE against Internet Censorship.

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Piddow Pets and Chinese Goods

Okay.  I suppose, if one must become an addict, it's better to become addicted to something as ridiculous as a pillow pet than to something as bad as morphine.  Right?  Right?

I have the dragon pillow pet now.  And I bought a giraffe one for Ambrose, so he wouldn't be left out.  (I couldn't remember which ones Saige wants, though I do know that one of them is probably a penguin and one she wanted was the dragon, but I got it first.)

Phil, Lincoln Firedancer, and Sir Rufflebottom getting aquainted.

I keep forgetting what I named my pillow pet, but it's something like Lincoln Firebrand.  Firedance.  Firedancer.  Anyway, do you know what's nice about these dang things?  Not only are they super soft, but they have just the right amount of stuffing to hold your head as you read or watch tv in bed.  It might be silly, but who shares my bed that would care???  The dogs??

"Don't bother me. I'm busy sleeping."

Aside from BDG's pre-neutering time when he had to show dominance and make sweet love to all the pillows in the house, all pillows are safe from the dogs.

So.

Can you tell I have no life whatsoever?

Are you sad?  I'm sad.

I have an infected tooth that is causing a sinus infection.  This is making me feel rather icky, and I have to be careful, because a slight cold or sinus infection can blow up into pneumonia in seconds due to my issues with having a crappy immune system.  (I say to my brother, who probably can't read this anyway, "Right, G-Dawg?"  That's not his real name, in case you were confused.  He has some immune issues, too.)

I tried to get the pneumonia shot yesterday, but because my body is fighting off an infection right now, I couldn't get it.  I have to get it when I'm well.

So now I'm on antibiotics.

I hate being on antibiotics.  They might fight off sinus infections and infections from infected teeth, but they wreak havoc upon the rest of my body.  I won't go into details.

You're welcome.

Erma and I went to town yesterday so I could get my antibiotics, and we bought a few things (like the pillow pet for Ambrose) and for lunch, guess where we went?  You'll be jealous!  We went to Panera's.  It's another place in D-Town that reminds me of my mom.  She and I would go there and get their delicious salads and soups, sometimes.   We both liked their Greek salad, but mom would often be more adventurous than me and would try things like "Chicken Cranberry Orange Salad with Red Raspberry Vinegar."

Then Erma got a job there, and it was nice, and all was right with the world, because she had a wonderful discount, and it could be applied to families, too.

Then.

Erma had seizures and was in the hospital and sick, and she had to quit that job.

I told her to go back to work there, but she sighed sadly and said that, no, she couldn't possibly work there again, as it gave her seizures.

(No, it didn't, just for the record.  We were being silly.)

So.  I keep getting this email from various people who advocate buying only American for Christmas this year.  While that sounds nice, this email is couched with vaguely, and not so vague, racist terms against the Chinese.  Okay, I'm going to say this once here.  Don't send me that kind of stuff.  If we do not buy Chinese made products, not only will our economy collapse, but so will the Chinese.  It is no longer an us against them world.  We have a global economy, folks.  And if any of you, I swear to God and all that is holy, think I'm going to respond kindly to a gym membership (What?  You're saying I'm fat!?!?!) or a coupon for a maid service (and dirty????) you are so wrong. I will not be happy.

No.  Do like we do.  If you care that much, stop celebrating Christmas on Christmas.  Cut back on what you might spend.  Cut down on costs.

Hell, if you really care, go serve food to the homeless, and do it without making snide comments.

Do both.

I loved that in Germany, and yes, things may have changed, but where we lived 20 years ago, the Germans would have one night where the scary Black Peter and his side kick, whatsisname, would show up and threaten to take bad kids away in a big bag, but would leave little gifts and candy instead.  On Christmas Eve gifts would be exchanged, and Christmas Day was spent at church and then with spending time with family.  I don't know.  It just seemed a sweeter way to celebrate to us, and we adopted a lot of those customs into our own celebrations.  Though we didn't have Black Peter, the kids would set their shoes outside on that evening so they could get their gifts, and they'd put out straw (grass) for the reindeer.

Do you see that you cannot fit a lot of crap into a kid's shoe?  It can't be done.

Oh, and for fun?  Try to get rid of everything made in China in your home.

So many emails I am forwarded are sent without a lot of thought and with no research at all.

I am not saying we shouldn't buy American made goods. By all means, go for it.  I am saying that this is not 1950, and our fingers are in a lot of pots, and their fingers are in ours.

I will step off my soapbox now.

I'm supposed to be working on my novel.  Here's what I have written so far:



Nothing.

Nothing at all.

I can't get motivated!

Maybe if I had some more Panera's, but alas, all my fooling around money and money for my granddaughter, Hope's, birthday, has been spent, and now all that's left is stupid "THIS IS FOR BILLS AND NOTHING ELSE BUT BILLS!" money.  I hate that kind of money. It was probably made in China.

Okay, it wasn't.  Was it?  I'm going to start rumors and say it was.  Tee hee!!

Here our my Thanksgiving plans.

1.  Eat at Jethro's

Here are my Christmas plans.

1.  Not a dang thing

So, there you go.

Go in peace, be warm and filled.

P.S.  This country would not be what it is today without the contributions of many Chinese workers who helped to build the transcontinental railroad.  It wouldn't be what it is without the work of many slaves who worked on the buildings of "Washington City", as D.C. was called back in the those back then days.  Without the migrant workers (many of whom are Hispanic) who pick fruit and vegetables, we wouldn't have the juices and canned veggies on the shelves we've become accustomed (and think we are entitled?) to having.  Look into the beginnings of our government and the similarities it has with the Five Nations and their Iroquois Confederacy.  THINK.  Please, people.  Think.  Read.  Remember this:  This is your brain.

This is your brain when you forward emails with incorrect or just plain silly information.

Those are your friends.  Sad that you've lost your mind.

This is a freaky looking beet seed

I'm done!!

Go in peace, be warm and filled.

Updating This Because I Completely Forgot to Start My Novel On Nanowrimo!

Erma has been having a lot of shoulder pain, stomach issues, and so tomorrow she's going to have an ultrasound to check her gall bladder. I diagnosed that she had gall bladder problems a month ago, but the doctors took a little longer to suspect that could be an issue for her, rather than just pregnancy puking.  Actually, it was the nurse practitioner who listened to Erma and came up with the idea that maybe, just maybe, her gall bladder is acting up.  Sometimes it seems like nurses are somewhat better at listening to patients than the doctors.

Erma had gone to the ER a week or so ago, because her pain was so bad.  There is one doctor at the hospital we usually go to, who doesn't treat patients.  No.  Instead she says she can't do anything, and then she tells about how she was healed from a brain tumor, and sometimes she'll simply grab your hand and pray for you.  Being me, I told her once that she was still going to die, brain tumor or no brain tumor.  Anyway, when Erma went to the ER, the doctor said she couldn't do anything (SURPRISE!) and left the exam room with a "God Bless You."

Yeah.

Thank goodness Erma's doctor and nurse practitioner listen to her!

Lampshade is still doing well.  He's working for a garbage collection company, and is staying with a friend of his.  He's spent some time with Jethro, which is good.  They are working on their relationship, which was completely broken when Lampshade did things which infuriated Jethro.

So, yesterday after Erma's doctor appointment, she and I headed to Jethro's place.  We picked up Saige, Justice, and Hope, and headed to the store.  I was checking prices on dog houses.  Binnie Boo keeps pooping and urinating in the bathroom.  BDG and Fuzz Dawg are both letting us know when they need to go outside, and aside from one time when Fuzz may or may not have peed a tiny bit due to some anxiety (we were gone for several hours, and she gets really anxious when left alone), they have had no accidents whatsoever.

"HEY!  Let me in!!!"

After the store, where I bought myself some Amish toys (there's a plastic buggy and horses, people, and some farm equipment. I couldn't resist.  Shush.  I also bought a coonskin cap, which I've wanted forever and ever, though it's not real fur.  Still, I love it.  Now I need a fringed suede jacket and moccasins, and one childhood dream will be fulfilled).

We took the girls to Dairy Queen, because it was close to the store, the girls were hungry, and you know, there it was.

This DQ has a play place.  Justice was really scared to climb up into the tunnels and cubes, but Hope went right up.  Because Justice was so scared, Erma went up with her the first time.

A couple weeks ago, Justice celebrated her third birthday.  Hope was a tad bit jealous, and she kept trying to open her little sister's presents and play with them.  Justice is really good about sharing her toys, and she didn't mind that Hope was using her lip gloss or drooling over her Littlest Pet Shop toy, but honestly, I minded!  I have to remember if the kids don't  care, I shouldn't care.  Anyway, here are some pictures from the birthday.

Hope checking out Justice's new tea set.

Justice moving quickly to get to her gifts.  Hope is by her mommy, Macrame, and Ambrose is sitting on the couch.

Justice and Mommy

Ambrose, checking to see if he still has 10 fingers, and Saige.

Fuzz Dawg and Binnie Boo still fight.  Female dogs fight differently than males, we've discovered.  Males who are intact will fight for territory.  BDG gets upset when another dog gets close to his ears, but that's because he's often fighting off an ear infection.  Still, he will simply bark and sharp, angry bark, and the other dog will back off.  Females, though, will fight to the death, simply because.  Because what?  Because they want to, that's the because.

Erma and I are saying things like, "Hear a noise, attack Binnie."  "Pet BDG, attack Binnie."  "Feed the dogs, attack Binnie."  In other words, in case you don't get it, Fuzz Dawg will attack Binnie for any reason.  But here's the thing...  we can pull Fuzz Dawg away, and she'll immediately stop her growling and carrying on.  But then Binnie, who thinks she is Billy Badass of the dogs, will jump and leap at Fuzz Dawg in an effort to get her back.

I have found that when they seem to be ready to fight, if I call out, "Who wants a cookie???"  The dogs will focus on the idea of a cookie and will not fight.  Jethro was here the other night, heard me say that, and commented, "It would be good if all fights could be stopped by giving out cookies!"  No gang warfare, no attacks in the Middle East or Afghanistan--just give out cookies.

Yeah.  They look peaceful here on my bed.  Liars.

On Halloween we only had 5 trick or treaters, and that was over 2 days!  Well.  That was okay.  More M&Ms for me!  More Tootsie Rolls, too.  Whee!

Erma is starting to show, just a little bit.  She's feeling the little flutters of Squirtle, who I keep insisting is a girl, just because Ambrose's grandpa is predicting a boy.  I like to be different.  Plus, I want a little granddaughter, and I love the name Ambrose and Erma have picked out.  

I like the boy's name, too, and I'll love the baby whether it's a boy or girl, whether it's healthy or not, and will only dislike it if it's born bald.  

KIDDING!

I will love it, bald head and all.

I think Erma is registered for baby stuff on Target, but I'm not sure.  I do know that they really want cloth diapers, so keep that in mind if you are thinking of buying them gifts.  Cloth diapers have changed since the days of sticking pins and rubber pants.  Now they have cute covers, velcro or snaps, some of the cloth diapers can be used from birth to a year, just by adjusting the snaps, and oh, my gosh, you guys... some of them are sooo cute!  

See??  Camo diapers!  How awesome is that?  

Just because, here's a photo of Jethro and his good friend, TnT.

They are so goofy. Jethro shaved off his mustache, thank goodness.

It's been fairly nice out, even though it's November.  We've had some dramatic clouds overhead, and a bit of rain, but nothing much. The lake that serves D-Town and the surrounding communities is so low that the city has issued water conservation laws and the cops are arresting those who are doing things like watering their lawns or washing their cars.

Yes, they can't find the murderer of a 17 year old boy, but they are arresting people left and right for water usage.  In one stupid arrest, and trust me, I've read of many, the manager of a Taco Bell was arrested because she didn't know how to turn off the automatic sprinklers.

Ridiculous.

Anyway.  I have a tooth that has a bad cavity, and it hurts like the dickens.  I'm not sure what that means, exactly, but this tooth hurts. I have horrible teeth anyway, and hate smiling anymore, but most of my teeth don't hurt anymore, because the nerves have been, uh, eaten away, I guess.  Except for in this tooth, that hurts!  I keep applying ice packs to my face, taking Ibuprofen, and wishing that this tooth would just fall out or simply stop hurting.

I won't post a picture of my nasty teeth.

You're welcome.

I'm going to go read now.  In case you didn't know, my Nook broke. It was still under the one year warranty, so Barnes and Noble sent me a new one, which was wonderful.  I was in the middle of reading a Civil War diary, and boom, the Nook was stuck on one page.  It wouldn't turn off or reset, it was just stuck.  B&N said it was product failure, and they replaced it.  I am so happy.

I'm reading this, as well as a few other books (I always read 3 or so books at a time).  Village Life in America, 1852-1872 is a wonderful diary.  I highly recommend it.  I linked to the online version, but you can download it for your Nook or Kindle, too.  This diary was started when the girl who wrote it was 10, and her little sister, Anna, was 7.  Anna is a real character, and reading of her exploits made me laugh and then grab Erma so I could read some of the diary entries to her.  Even though this was written so long ago, it's one of those things that makes you realize that people are still the same, and not much has changed in all these years.

Well, I guess that's about it.  I'm spray painting some dollar store wreaths red so I can make some fall wreaths.  I also have some fake dollars store fall leaves that I'm going to hot glue on to the painted wreaths.  I think they'll look good.  My Halloween ones are pretty cool.  Not as good as Saige's wreath, but still, I'm happy with my results.

Saige's wreath.

We had a praying mantis visit us a few days ago.  She was pretty cool.  I mentioned that she'd probably die soon, and Erma cried out sadly, "But I LOVE her!!"  

I think she's over it now.

I saw my first praying mantis, that I can remember, anyway, at the Tarr's house.  We were playing in their backyard with their kids, and there was a praying mantis.  

Okay, that's it for now.  I am looking forward to all the visitors we expect to get this month.  

Go in peace, be warm and filled.

Shutterfly

I love the Christmas cards and other photo items offered by Shutterfly.  (http://www.shutterfly.com)  The selection of cool things you can make with your pictures is amazing, plus, if you have a free membership, your photos are securely stored, AND you don't have a limit for the number of photos you can save.  This is unlike some of the well known photo places like Flickr.

With Shutterfly you can make photo books to remember special times.  I'll probably use it to send out birth announcements when my grandkids get here.  You can make your own Christmas cards.

Shutterfly also has great specials and deals, like free shipping on certain orders.

Check them out!