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Friday, September 30, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Another Road Trip To North Carolina
I have been MIA in the blogger world lately, because I took a little road trip to North Carolina. My father was sick and I needed to go to help my mother. The stress was becoming too much for her and I was worried about him, plus I needed to see him to make sure he was okay before leaving. It is very difficult to be so far away from your parents when they are sick. You worry about them so much and you are so far away you can't go over and check on them every day.
It never fails on a road trip that you run into at least one stupid driver on on the road. If your lucky you run into only one stupid driver. On the way down there, a crazy motorcycle driver whipped in front of me forcing me to put on my breaks on the highway. Then there were the crazy drivers who think they are race car drivers, riding your bumper if they can't pass you. Coming back during the day wasn't too bad until I hit OH8, where the traffic was bumper to bumper and a driver stopped in front me waiting to get over two lanes, because they almost missed their exit causing a big truck behind me to put on their brakes and came just inches away from hitting me. Then on the Ohio Turnpike their was a semi carrying new cars swerving and flying down the high way. I kept passing him, because I didn't want to be behind him or next to him in case he wrecked and every time I passed him, he would pass me and get in front of me. I think he did it intentionally, because he was driving behind me and I was going 75, the speed limit was 70 but that wasn't fast enough for him, he passed me and flipped his hands up in the air.
I got stuck in one lane traffic on the turn pike for almost an hour, so a trip that would normally take me 12 hours took 14 hours. I was so stressed out by the time I got home, my neck and shoulders are so stiff it hurts to turn my head. If plane tickets weren't so expensive, I would fly.
Then I came home after a 14 hour trip and being gone for a week and a half to find the house a mess and I don't think anyone cleaned the bathroom while I was gone and I spent an hour and half cleaning, because I can't walk on dirty floors and I didn't want to kids to be using a bathroom with mold growing in the shower and around the sink or a dirty toilet. It wasn't easy to coordinate, my husband's schedule, my oldest daughter's schedule with the babysitter to make sure someone was here with the kids all the time.
It never fails on a road trip that you run into at least one stupid driver on on the road. If your lucky you run into only one stupid driver. On the way down there, a crazy motorcycle driver whipped in front of me forcing me to put on my breaks on the highway. Then there were the crazy drivers who think they are race car drivers, riding your bumper if they can't pass you. Coming back during the day wasn't too bad until I hit OH8, where the traffic was bumper to bumper and a driver stopped in front me waiting to get over two lanes, because they almost missed their exit causing a big truck behind me to put on their brakes and came just inches away from hitting me. Then on the Ohio Turnpike their was a semi carrying new cars swerving and flying down the high way. I kept passing him, because I didn't want to be behind him or next to him in case he wrecked and every time I passed him, he would pass me and get in front of me. I think he did it intentionally, because he was driving behind me and I was going 75, the speed limit was 70 but that wasn't fast enough for him, he passed me and flipped his hands up in the air.
I got stuck in one lane traffic on the turn pike for almost an hour, so a trip that would normally take me 12 hours took 14 hours. I was so stressed out by the time I got home, my neck and shoulders are so stiff it hurts to turn my head. If plane tickets weren't so expensive, I would fly.
Then I came home after a 14 hour trip and being gone for a week and a half to find the house a mess and I don't think anyone cleaned the bathroom while I was gone and I spent an hour and half cleaning, because I can't walk on dirty floors and I didn't want to kids to be using a bathroom with mold growing in the shower and around the sink or a dirty toilet. It wasn't easy to coordinate, my husband's schedule, my oldest daughter's schedule with the babysitter to make sure someone was here with the kids all the time.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Reigning Cats & Dogs
I am down here in North Carolina visiting my parents, we went to the Monroe Crossing Mall and they have a pet store called Reigning Cats & Dogs. You can also shop Reigning Cats & Dogs online at www.rcandd.com. I was impressed to find out that everything in the store was made in the United States. Considering all the concern with some of the dog treats coming from China and over seas were causing liver failure and even death to dogs, it was nice to find a store where everything you picked up in the store was made in the United States. Its nice to know you can purchase items that are safe for our furry little family members.
It is only logical that overseas manufactured products may not be as safe for our pets as products manufactured in the United States, because they don't treat animals the same as most of us do in the United States do. In the United States our pets become family members, where as in some of the other countries animals wander the streets without a home.
It is only logical that overseas manufactured products may not be as safe for our pets as products manufactured in the United States, because they don't treat animals the same as most of us do in the United States do. In the United States our pets become family members, where as in some of the other countries animals wander the streets without a home.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
A Lack of Sex In Your Marriage Will Cost You
If your living in France be sure you are keeping the romance alive in your marriage. A judge in France ruled a 51 year old man must pay his ex-wife $13,965 in damages for not fulfilling her sexual needs in their 21year marriage.
The man claims he was tired and suffered from health problems and was unable to fulfill her needs. The man was fined under France's civil code 215, which says married couples agreed to a "shared communal life."
The judge awarded the ex-wife compensation after he ruled the husband was responsible for the couples divorce, because of his refusal to have sex with his wife during their 21 year marriage.
The man claims he was tired and suffered from health problems and was unable to fulfill her needs. The man was fined under France's civil code 215, which says married couples agreed to a "shared communal life."
The judge awarded the ex-wife compensation after he ruled the husband was responsible for the couples divorce, because of his refusal to have sex with his wife during their 21 year marriage.
Monday, September 19, 2011
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Sunday, September 18, 2011
Obama's New Tax Plan
Monday Obama is going to call for a new minimum tax rate for anyone earning more than a million dollars. Obama wants to raise the percentage of the taxes that millions pay to the same as the middle class wage earnings. Obama is calling the proposal the "Buffett Rule", after the billionaire investor Warren E. Buffett who complains about America's richest pay a smaller percentage of taxes than middle class wage earners.
It is about time that someone has figured out that the "Trickle Down Economics" does not work. America's wealthy are taking the money they are saving on taxes and using the money to build the companies overseas. It has never made sense to me why the middle class pay a higher tax rate than the wealthy. It has come to the point where it has become very difficult for the middle class to survive, because they are killing us in taxes. America's middle class are struggling to survive and losing their homes and jobs left and right and they are driving us right into the ground with taxes. If something doesn't change soon there will no longer be a middle class we will be divided into two classes, the wealthy and the poor.
The problem I do have with the deal, is the Republicans will agree to the proposal if the Democrats agree to future cuts on Medicare and Medicaid. The problem with the Republicans is they are trying to do in America's poor and middle class. The Republics twist the arms of the Democrats to pass proposals or bills. It's like you have to take a step backwards in one problem area to take a step forward in another problem area. It is time for the wealthy to pay their fare share of taxes. They have had the opportunity to do something productive with their tax breaks. Year after year, they have proven without a doubt they will not do anything productive with the money they are saving on taxes. Now, it's time to take away their tax break without having to give the Republicans something they want. The Republicans are like dealing with a bunch of two year olds', the democrats have to bribe them to make any progress. How can you live in a democratic society if the laws are not equal across the board. That doesn't sound like a true democratic society to me. It is a Democratic society on Republican terms. The elderly and poor have a hard enough time surviving as it is now, cutting medicare and medicaid benefits is only going to make survival more difficult on those on medicare and medicaid.
The Republicans blame the Democrats for the economic stress this country is in. However, a Democrat has only been in office for a few years and prior to Obama we had a Republican for 8 years. The Republicans are throwing stones when they live in a glass house. The only thing they are trying to do is save the silver lining in their own pockets and they don't care what they have to do to keep their wallets fat. The Republicans have a theory, that the Democrats are trying to bring the country to a breaking point, so they can restructure the country. A Democrat hasn't been in office long enough to bring the country down. The fall of the economy began long before Obama was in office. The Republicans have been trying to make a two class society for as long as I remember. There is no such thing as the "American Dream" anymore. The "American Dream" is an almost impossible task to achieve, unless your in the income bracket the Republicans approve of. It is time to restructure the country, it is time to stop catering to the wealthy, so they won't throw a temper tantrum.
It is about time that someone has figured out that the "Trickle Down Economics" does not work. America's wealthy are taking the money they are saving on taxes and using the money to build the companies overseas. It has never made sense to me why the middle class pay a higher tax rate than the wealthy. It has come to the point where it has become very difficult for the middle class to survive, because they are killing us in taxes. America's middle class are struggling to survive and losing their homes and jobs left and right and they are driving us right into the ground with taxes. If something doesn't change soon there will no longer be a middle class we will be divided into two classes, the wealthy and the poor.
The problem I do have with the deal, is the Republicans will agree to the proposal if the Democrats agree to future cuts on Medicare and Medicaid. The problem with the Republicans is they are trying to do in America's poor and middle class. The Republics twist the arms of the Democrats to pass proposals or bills. It's like you have to take a step backwards in one problem area to take a step forward in another problem area. It is time for the wealthy to pay their fare share of taxes. They have had the opportunity to do something productive with their tax breaks. Year after year, they have proven without a doubt they will not do anything productive with the money they are saving on taxes. Now, it's time to take away their tax break without having to give the Republicans something they want. The Republicans are like dealing with a bunch of two year olds', the democrats have to bribe them to make any progress. How can you live in a democratic society if the laws are not equal across the board. That doesn't sound like a true democratic society to me. It is a Democratic society on Republican terms. The elderly and poor have a hard enough time surviving as it is now, cutting medicare and medicaid benefits is only going to make survival more difficult on those on medicare and medicaid.
The Republicans blame the Democrats for the economic stress this country is in. However, a Democrat has only been in office for a few years and prior to Obama we had a Republican for 8 years. The Republicans are throwing stones when they live in a glass house. The only thing they are trying to do is save the silver lining in their own pockets and they don't care what they have to do to keep their wallets fat. The Republicans have a theory, that the Democrats are trying to bring the country to a breaking point, so they can restructure the country. A Democrat hasn't been in office long enough to bring the country down. The fall of the economy began long before Obama was in office. The Republicans have been trying to make a two class society for as long as I remember. There is no such thing as the "American Dream" anymore. The "American Dream" is an almost impossible task to achieve, unless your in the income bracket the Republicans approve of. It is time to restructure the country, it is time to stop catering to the wealthy, so they won't throw a temper tantrum.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Wake Up! The United States Is In Serious Trouble
Michigan's poverty rate has increased by 50% during the past decade. In the 1999-2000 census the poverty rate was 9.8%. In the 2009-2010 census the poverty race increased to 14.8. The medium household income dropped more in Michigan than any other state in our nation. According to the 2009-2010 census, the medium household income dropped by $12,000, making it the highest drop in the nation.
The recent cuts that were made in Michigan are not going to help the economy recover either. It only threatens pushing more people into poverty. Making it more difficult for families who have lost their jobs to support their families. Michigan residents will not be able to receive more than 4 years of welfare benefits in their lifetime beginning October 1st. Which comes to, if a family had been receiving benefits before the cut was passed. They will lose their benefits beginning October 1st. Which will be detrimental to low income families and single mothers. Passing the welfare cut can seriously damage a low income family or a single mother who may be working, but not making enough money to buy food for their family. There are a lot of households out there working minimum wage jobs, because the economy is so poor and jobs are very difficult to find.
Being someone with two college degrees and out of work for almost the past three years, I can vouch for the lack of decent paying jobs here in Michigan. There are very few jobs to apply for. Most of the jobs I have been applying for have been for $9.00 an hour or less and are part-time jobs with an earning potential of only around $200 a week. Even those jobs are difficult to get. Some of them asking for a bachelor's degree in business for a part-time $9.00 an hour job for an administrative assistant or secretary. When you go to the interview, the employers act as though $9.00 an hour working part-time has so much potential. I truly feel like laughing at them. It's not even enough money to support your family. I used to make $20.00 an hour before the company I worked for went out of business. That is barely a drop in the bucket for me. Regardless of the low paying jobs, I still apply and go to interviews whenever possible. A job is a job and their lousy $800 a month may help pay some of the bills. Employers are taking advantage of the economy as a way to pay people the lowest possible wages, because there are so many people living in Michigan desperate for jobs, because they are unemployed.
Nationally, the poverty rate rose to 15.1% in 2010. Which comes to a whopping 46.2 million people living in poverty in the United States, making it the largest number of people living in poverty in 52 years. That takes us back all the way to 1959. Our nation has fallen back more than 50 years. It is a sad day for this nation.
Between 1981 and 2005 and estimated 600 million people living in China moved out of the poverty rate. Take a good look at our numbers and their numbers, it doesn't take a mathematician to figure out what is going on. NAFTA was the beginning of the fall of the United States. American manufacturers began moving their companies overseas for cheaper labor putting Americans out of work. A lot of people blame Obama for Americans being out of work. However, it all began long before Obama. The fall of the American economy came just before Obama got elected and the economic mess fell into his lap. It is easy to blame Obama for the economic fall of the economy. However, it goes all the way back to Bush Sr. and the 2 terms of George W. Bush was enough to push the United States into a economic pit leaving Obama holding the bag. That doesn't excuse Obama for being partially to blame for the economy getting worse during his term. He has done nothing to find the solution to the economic fall of the United States. The only solution that may fix the United States is to put a stop to American Companies moving their companies overseas. Make it more costly for over seas American companies to import their goods into the United States. The average American will tell you exactly what happened to our jobs. Now, why can't the politicians see whats going on? They can see the problem, they just want to find another way to fix the problem. However, there is no other way to fix the economy until they put a stop to manufacturers moving their companies overseas. Politicians are too busy trying to keep the wealthy happy and trying not to step on their toes to fix the country. Not to mention, the politicians fall into that percentage of the wealthy and they are not about to burn down their own house to save the nation.
You may be wondering, what is the point of this long post full of politics and statistics. The point is, it is time for Americans to look at the facts. Stop burying your head in the sand when it comes to politics. We have come to a point in America where too many people just take what is dished out to them and don't say a word about it. China is steadily moving forward in economic growth, while the United States is dramatically dropping.
Go through your household items, clothing and even food. How many products can you find that were made right here in the United States. Very few products have been made in the United States. We have sat back long enough and allowed all of our manufacturing jobs go overseas. The government thought the fix to the problem would be to extend unemployment and pay for the education of those who have been put out of work because their job was sent overseas. However, you can educate as many people as you want, but if there are no jobs for them to fill their education is worthless. It may have helped a select few find new employment, but obviously not enough or our country wouldn't be in the mess it is in right now.
Our economic success, safety and health depends on Americans standing up and saying they have had enough. The toys we buy in stores are no longer safe for our children to play with, the bottles we use to feed our babies is no longer safe for our babies or even the formula we feed them is no longer safe. Our food is even being imported to the United States, putting American farmers out of work. Have you ever remembered a time when we have had so many recalls on food? Our meat is coming from Canada and Mexico. In Mexico, the people who can go into Texas to buy their meat do, because they say the meat in Mexico isn't very good. So, what do they do? American companies bring it here to shove it down the throats of Americans. This doesn't bother anyone? It is extremely disturbing to me.
Our children's future depends on this generation standing up and demanding change. What is life going to be like for our children when they grow up or our grandchildren? The future is not very promising. If we lived in the 70's we would be in the streets protesting. In the year 2011 when we are supposed to be moving forward, we are moving backwards and I see very few people who even speak up anymore. What happen to the democratic country we used to live in where people cared about our future. Everything has become the here and now and very few people concern themselves about the future. You are doing an injustice to your children by sitting on your sofa watching reality television shows hiding from the nation falling apart around you. Your children are not going to be able to find jobs, if there is no where for them to work.
I find it disturbing that when ever I do a post on politics or the dangers of our food or products being imported gets lower stats than a blog hop. Wake up mothers, you are the consumers. Whether you believe it or not, you have the ability to pull the strings on consumer buying. You are the ones who do the grocery shopping. Start writing companies, making phone calls, writing your Governor or writing the White House. Do whatever it takes to make your voice heard. You are the ones feeding the poor quality food to your families. Is it really acceptable to you that your feeding your infant apple juice containing high levels of arsenic. The juices containing high levels of arsenic are coming from China. Start reading the labels in the grocery store, see where they are manufactured and start boycotting food products manufactured in other countries. You are the consumer, use your consumer powers. Politics may seem boring, but it directly affects the economic well being and the health of your family.
The recent cuts that were made in Michigan are not going to help the economy recover either. It only threatens pushing more people into poverty. Making it more difficult for families who have lost their jobs to support their families. Michigan residents will not be able to receive more than 4 years of welfare benefits in their lifetime beginning October 1st. Which comes to, if a family had been receiving benefits before the cut was passed. They will lose their benefits beginning October 1st. Which will be detrimental to low income families and single mothers. Passing the welfare cut can seriously damage a low income family or a single mother who may be working, but not making enough money to buy food for their family. There are a lot of households out there working minimum wage jobs, because the economy is so poor and jobs are very difficult to find.
Being someone with two college degrees and out of work for almost the past three years, I can vouch for the lack of decent paying jobs here in Michigan. There are very few jobs to apply for. Most of the jobs I have been applying for have been for $9.00 an hour or less and are part-time jobs with an earning potential of only around $200 a week. Even those jobs are difficult to get. Some of them asking for a bachelor's degree in business for a part-time $9.00 an hour job for an administrative assistant or secretary. When you go to the interview, the employers act as though $9.00 an hour working part-time has so much potential. I truly feel like laughing at them. It's not even enough money to support your family. I used to make $20.00 an hour before the company I worked for went out of business. That is barely a drop in the bucket for me. Regardless of the low paying jobs, I still apply and go to interviews whenever possible. A job is a job and their lousy $800 a month may help pay some of the bills. Employers are taking advantage of the economy as a way to pay people the lowest possible wages, because there are so many people living in Michigan desperate for jobs, because they are unemployed.
Nationally, the poverty rate rose to 15.1% in 2010. Which comes to a whopping 46.2 million people living in poverty in the United States, making it the largest number of people living in poverty in 52 years. That takes us back all the way to 1959. Our nation has fallen back more than 50 years. It is a sad day for this nation.
Between 1981 and 2005 and estimated 600 million people living in China moved out of the poverty rate. Take a good look at our numbers and their numbers, it doesn't take a mathematician to figure out what is going on. NAFTA was the beginning of the fall of the United States. American manufacturers began moving their companies overseas for cheaper labor putting Americans out of work. A lot of people blame Obama for Americans being out of work. However, it all began long before Obama. The fall of the American economy came just before Obama got elected and the economic mess fell into his lap. It is easy to blame Obama for the economic fall of the economy. However, it goes all the way back to Bush Sr. and the 2 terms of George W. Bush was enough to push the United States into a economic pit leaving Obama holding the bag. That doesn't excuse Obama for being partially to blame for the economy getting worse during his term. He has done nothing to find the solution to the economic fall of the United States. The only solution that may fix the United States is to put a stop to American Companies moving their companies overseas. Make it more costly for over seas American companies to import their goods into the United States. The average American will tell you exactly what happened to our jobs. Now, why can't the politicians see whats going on? They can see the problem, they just want to find another way to fix the problem. However, there is no other way to fix the economy until they put a stop to manufacturers moving their companies overseas. Politicians are too busy trying to keep the wealthy happy and trying not to step on their toes to fix the country. Not to mention, the politicians fall into that percentage of the wealthy and they are not about to burn down their own house to save the nation.
You may be wondering, what is the point of this long post full of politics and statistics. The point is, it is time for Americans to look at the facts. Stop burying your head in the sand when it comes to politics. We have come to a point in America where too many people just take what is dished out to them and don't say a word about it. China is steadily moving forward in economic growth, while the United States is dramatically dropping.
Go through your household items, clothing and even food. How many products can you find that were made right here in the United States. Very few products have been made in the United States. We have sat back long enough and allowed all of our manufacturing jobs go overseas. The government thought the fix to the problem would be to extend unemployment and pay for the education of those who have been put out of work because their job was sent overseas. However, you can educate as many people as you want, but if there are no jobs for them to fill their education is worthless. It may have helped a select few find new employment, but obviously not enough or our country wouldn't be in the mess it is in right now.
Our economic success, safety and health depends on Americans standing up and saying they have had enough. The toys we buy in stores are no longer safe for our children to play with, the bottles we use to feed our babies is no longer safe for our babies or even the formula we feed them is no longer safe. Our food is even being imported to the United States, putting American farmers out of work. Have you ever remembered a time when we have had so many recalls on food? Our meat is coming from Canada and Mexico. In Mexico, the people who can go into Texas to buy their meat do, because they say the meat in Mexico isn't very good. So, what do they do? American companies bring it here to shove it down the throats of Americans. This doesn't bother anyone? It is extremely disturbing to me.
Our children's future depends on this generation standing up and demanding change. What is life going to be like for our children when they grow up or our grandchildren? The future is not very promising. If we lived in the 70's we would be in the streets protesting. In the year 2011 when we are supposed to be moving forward, we are moving backwards and I see very few people who even speak up anymore. What happen to the democratic country we used to live in where people cared about our future. Everything has become the here and now and very few people concern themselves about the future. You are doing an injustice to your children by sitting on your sofa watching reality television shows hiding from the nation falling apart around you. Your children are not going to be able to find jobs, if there is no where for them to work.
I find it disturbing that when ever I do a post on politics or the dangers of our food or products being imported gets lower stats than a blog hop. Wake up mothers, you are the consumers. Whether you believe it or not, you have the ability to pull the strings on consumer buying. You are the ones who do the grocery shopping. Start writing companies, making phone calls, writing your Governor or writing the White House. Do whatever it takes to make your voice heard. You are the ones feeding the poor quality food to your families. Is it really acceptable to you that your feeding your infant apple juice containing high levels of arsenic. The juices containing high levels of arsenic are coming from China. Start reading the labels in the grocery store, see where they are manufactured and start boycotting food products manufactured in other countries. You are the consumer, use your consumer powers. Politics may seem boring, but it directly affects the economic well being and the health of your family.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Arsenic In Apple Juice
When buying apple juice, look for juice that the concentrate was made in the USA, but be careful because the labels can be misleading. The container may say made in Canada. However, the container itself may have been made in Canada, but the juice itself may have been imported from China. Dr. Oz recommends buying organic apple juice, none of the organic juices he had tested came back with high levels of arsenic.
Some of the apple juices Dr. Oz had tested had higher levels of arsenic than allowed in drinking water are as follows.
Gerber- Had the highest level of arsenic.
Apple and Eve Apple Juice
Mott's
Juicy Juice
Minute Maid
Dr. Oz's lab results are listed below.
Minute Maid Apple Juice
Lowest Sample for Arsenic: 2 parts per billion
Highest Sample for Arsenic: 3 parts per billion
Apple and Eve Apple Juice
Lowest Sample for Arsenic: 3 parts per billion
Highest Sample for Arsenic: 11 parts per billion
Mott’s
Lowest Sample for Arsenic: 4 parts per billion
Highest Sample for Arsenic: 16 parts per billion
Juicy Juice
Lowest Sample for Arsenic: 2 parts per billion
Highest Sample for Arsenic: 22 parts per billion
Gerber
Lowest Sample for Arsenic: 3 parts per billion
Highest Sample for Arsenic: 36 parts per billion
You can go to http://www.doctoroz.com/ to read more about his apple juice findings and what you can do to take action.
Another Year More Mayhem
My birthday is coming up in a few days, one of the most dreaded days of the year. For some reason, I always start feeling depressed around my birthday since I turned 39 and I never want to celebrate. Well, this year, I will be turning 41. I seem to be taking it a little better this year until I found my first grey hair in my eye brow. I am in denial about my age. My uncle asked me a couple of weeks ago how old I was, I told him 39. At that moment, I believed I was 39. Somewhere along the line I had lost a whole year and didn't realize I would be turning 41 until my daughter mentioned, I would be turning 41.
Not to mention, the kids are always on their worst behavior the week on my birthday, even on Mothers Day. I don't know what is up with them regarding that. Take this week for example, nobody wants to get out of bed, they take forever to get in the shower, nobody can seem to find anything this week and every time I tell them to do something, they say "Why don't you tell Adam (or Sammy) to do it? Just in the time I wrote my first paragraph, I have had to get up six times. It took me an hour to write the first paragraph. My kids are 10 and 11, soon to be 11 and 12 in two months and they can't seem to get themselves ready for school without me trailing behind them to tell them 10 times to get in the shower. It took me 20 minutes to get Sammy out of the bed and in the shower this morning and 45 minutes to get Adam in the shower. He now only has 20 minutes to shower and get ready for school. They both have alarm clocks that shine the time on the ceiling, but they haven't mastered waking up to them yet. Last week they were fine, but this week everything is falling apart. My son never has any clothes, even after I do laundry because he kicks his clothes under the bed when he is supposed to be cleaning his room.
So, why should I enjoy my birthday? Its the second week of school and somehow it always turns out to be the worst week of the year. Some sort of big expense or major problem seems to come up around this time of year making it hard to enjoy. This year it was the insurance company demanding we replace the shingles on the house and garage. The shingles on the house needed replaced, but it wasn't urgent. There was no leak. The garage shingles weren't too bad. Replacing the shingles has broke the bank. We didn't replace the shingles on the bay window, because they didn't need done and they matched the house. Well, when the insurance came to take pictures of the house, they insisted the shingles be replaced on the bay window or they would cancel our insurance. Then they send a letter saying our insurance has been reinstated without a lapse in insurance and they apologize for any inconvenience it may have caused. I felt like taking that letter and shoving it right up their ass. Any inconvenience, we are now late on the mortgage, because we were short on money for the shingles. My uncle did the roofs for us, and it still cost us almost $4000 to do the shingles on the house and garage. Shingles up here in Michigan are $31.99 a bundle. The only thing I do have to be thankful for is my uncle did it for us or the house and garage would have cost us around $10,000. We would have never been able to come up with the money and the bank would have foreclosed on us for no home owners, because I tried to find another company but couldn't find one. Almost no one, but one company would insure us because the property values dropped so low in Michigan. My house is now worth about $30,000 less than I owe on the mortgage.
Not only did we have the expense of the roof, my daughter broke her glasses on Friday. We had to split doing the house and garage shingles up between two paychecks, because we didn't have enough money to do them both at the same time. So, this was the worst week for her to break her glasses. But, we had to take her Saturday to get new ones, so she could see in school.
Then there is my ex-husband who has not given me any child support in almost three months. I swear, he always pulls this around my birthday, it NEVER fails. Wayne County, Michigan child support judges are the worst judges. A few years ago, he took me to court to have his child support payments reduced after being $3,000 behind. Not only did the judge reduce his payments, he dropped the $3000 rears. I thought a man was supposed to go to jail for not making their child support. If I had been in another state, he would of had to come up with the money or go to jail. Well, he's Arabic and works for someone Arabic. They forged pay stubs saying he only worked part time for less than minimum wage. I pointed it out to the judge, the pay stubs were less than minimum wage and he told me I had to hire a private investigator and prove he was lying, that it's not his job to do that. So, I figure why bother taking him to court, every time we go to court, they reduce his payments and drop anything he owes in back support. This year, he claims he is not working. However, two days after he told me that, my son called him to ask him to pick him up and he said he can't, because he had to work. Then Monday when my daughter lost one of her contacts, I told her to call him and ask him to take her and pick one up until Saturday, she was gone for almost two hours and I asked her where they went, she said "Dad had to stop by his job for a few minutes and do something." That's funny, when I called him last Saturday to start making his child support, once again he said, he's not working and doesn't even have money for food. Really? He expects me to believe that when he keeps telling the kids he has to work or takes them to stop by his job for a minute. He must think I am really stupid.
My ex hates the idea of my husband and I doing anything together, so he makes it difficult on us. On his day to take them, if we go anywhere he drops them off early so we have to come home. I have to tell the kids call me before you come so I can make sure I am there if we go anywhere. What does he do? He drops them off early whenever I tell them to call me about a half hour before you come home.
To add to the mayhem, the diamond fell out of my diamond ring over the weekend. Thank God, I did get the protection plan. But, the sales representative at JcPenney's tried to get me to say may I was rough on my jewelry and is it possible it caught on the lint filter or something while cleaning it. They always try and talk you into buying the protection plans or warrenties, then when you try and use them, they give you a hard time and try and get out of honoring the plan.
So, I figure why bother being happy about my upcoming birthday, because I know it is time for all hell to break loose and I was broke out in hives by Sunday from all the stress.
Not to mention, the kids are always on their worst behavior the week on my birthday, even on Mothers Day. I don't know what is up with them regarding that. Take this week for example, nobody wants to get out of bed, they take forever to get in the shower, nobody can seem to find anything this week and every time I tell them to do something, they say "Why don't you tell Adam (or Sammy) to do it? Just in the time I wrote my first paragraph, I have had to get up six times. It took me an hour to write the first paragraph. My kids are 10 and 11, soon to be 11 and 12 in two months and they can't seem to get themselves ready for school without me trailing behind them to tell them 10 times to get in the shower. It took me 20 minutes to get Sammy out of the bed and in the shower this morning and 45 minutes to get Adam in the shower. He now only has 20 minutes to shower and get ready for school. They both have alarm clocks that shine the time on the ceiling, but they haven't mastered waking up to them yet. Last week they were fine, but this week everything is falling apart. My son never has any clothes, even after I do laundry because he kicks his clothes under the bed when he is supposed to be cleaning his room.
So, why should I enjoy my birthday? Its the second week of school and somehow it always turns out to be the worst week of the year. Some sort of big expense or major problem seems to come up around this time of year making it hard to enjoy. This year it was the insurance company demanding we replace the shingles on the house and garage. The shingles on the house needed replaced, but it wasn't urgent. There was no leak. The garage shingles weren't too bad. Replacing the shingles has broke the bank. We didn't replace the shingles on the bay window, because they didn't need done and they matched the house. Well, when the insurance came to take pictures of the house, they insisted the shingles be replaced on the bay window or they would cancel our insurance. Then they send a letter saying our insurance has been reinstated without a lapse in insurance and they apologize for any inconvenience it may have caused. I felt like taking that letter and shoving it right up their ass. Any inconvenience, we are now late on the mortgage, because we were short on money for the shingles. My uncle did the roofs for us, and it still cost us almost $4000 to do the shingles on the house and garage. Shingles up here in Michigan are $31.99 a bundle. The only thing I do have to be thankful for is my uncle did it for us or the house and garage would have cost us around $10,000. We would have never been able to come up with the money and the bank would have foreclosed on us for no home owners, because I tried to find another company but couldn't find one. Almost no one, but one company would insure us because the property values dropped so low in Michigan. My house is now worth about $30,000 less than I owe on the mortgage.
Not only did we have the expense of the roof, my daughter broke her glasses on Friday. We had to split doing the house and garage shingles up between two paychecks, because we didn't have enough money to do them both at the same time. So, this was the worst week for her to break her glasses. But, we had to take her Saturday to get new ones, so she could see in school.
Then there is my ex-husband who has not given me any child support in almost three months. I swear, he always pulls this around my birthday, it NEVER fails. Wayne County, Michigan child support judges are the worst judges. A few years ago, he took me to court to have his child support payments reduced after being $3,000 behind. Not only did the judge reduce his payments, he dropped the $3000 rears. I thought a man was supposed to go to jail for not making their child support. If I had been in another state, he would of had to come up with the money or go to jail. Well, he's Arabic and works for someone Arabic. They forged pay stubs saying he only worked part time for less than minimum wage. I pointed it out to the judge, the pay stubs were less than minimum wage and he told me I had to hire a private investigator and prove he was lying, that it's not his job to do that. So, I figure why bother taking him to court, every time we go to court, they reduce his payments and drop anything he owes in back support. This year, he claims he is not working. However, two days after he told me that, my son called him to ask him to pick him up and he said he can't, because he had to work. Then Monday when my daughter lost one of her contacts, I told her to call him and ask him to take her and pick one up until Saturday, she was gone for almost two hours and I asked her where they went, she said "Dad had to stop by his job for a few minutes and do something." That's funny, when I called him last Saturday to start making his child support, once again he said, he's not working and doesn't even have money for food. Really? He expects me to believe that when he keeps telling the kids he has to work or takes them to stop by his job for a minute. He must think I am really stupid.
My ex hates the idea of my husband and I doing anything together, so he makes it difficult on us. On his day to take them, if we go anywhere he drops them off early so we have to come home. I have to tell the kids call me before you come so I can make sure I am there if we go anywhere. What does he do? He drops them off early whenever I tell them to call me about a half hour before you come home.
To add to the mayhem, the diamond fell out of my diamond ring over the weekend. Thank God, I did get the protection plan. But, the sales representative at JcPenney's tried to get me to say may I was rough on my jewelry and is it possible it caught on the lint filter or something while cleaning it. They always try and talk you into buying the protection plans or warrenties, then when you try and use them, they give you a hard time and try and get out of honoring the plan.
So, I figure why bother being happy about my upcoming birthday, because I know it is time for all hell to break loose and I was broke out in hives by Sunday from all the stress.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Slashing Victim, A Victim Of A Hate Crime
Jones is a father is three and had been out of work for a year. He was supposed to start his new job a week later. However, the attack has put those plans on hold. Jones received several injuries from his attacker. A stitched-up diagonal scar runs across the right side of his face. He has deep cuts in his right arm from trying to fight off his assailant. The tip of his thumb was severed.
Mark Neal, 50, was charged in the assault after he was identified in store surveillance footage and the police are looking into the crime to see if it can be classified as a hate crime.
Hate Crimes are all around us. Why does it seem like you have to dig for them to find them? I think cities don't want the black eye of hate crimes in their city, so they classify a lot of hate crimes as assault and sweep them under the rug. Therefore, the criminals committing hate crimes are getting off on a lesser charge, because they charge them with assault instead of committing a hate crime.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
In Rememberance Of 9-11
When I Look At The American Flag
© Brandon Piazzola
When I just even glance at the American Flag, I feel a surge of pride.
The stripes and stars gleam in the morning, as we put it up to rise outside.
I think of the people long ago fighting for our rights.
When I am looking at the great flag, I think of being in those long ago fights.
when I think of the flag, I think of being free,
When I think of America, it's a great place to be.
When we think of the flag, I realize that horrendous date, nine eleven.
I think of those noble people who went to work and sadly passed on to heaven.
I think of the two towers, proudly up high.
They were sadly gone in one night.
I can't imagine the people running down those long winding stairs.
Those people must have been dodging those fiery glares.
The man on the plane trying to stop the terrorists' way is a hero to me.
I think that is the way every body should try to be.
When I look at the American Flag, I think of all the many blessings I have.
I have a family, a house, a school, and a best friend named Trav.
The American Flag is a great symbol to me.
I hope that everybody can see what I see.
The stripes and stars gleam in the morning, as we put it up to rise outside.
I think of the people long ago fighting for our rights.
When I am looking at the great flag, I think of being in those long ago fights.
when I think of the flag, I think of being free,
When I think of America, it's a great place to be.
When we think of the flag, I realize that horrendous date, nine eleven.
I think of those noble people who went to work and sadly passed on to heaven.
I think of the two towers, proudly up high.
They were sadly gone in one night.
I can't imagine the people running down those long winding stairs.
Those people must have been dodging those fiery glares.
The man on the plane trying to stop the terrorists' way is a hero to me.
I think that is the way every body should try to be.
When I look at the American Flag, I think of all the many blessings I have.
I have a family, a house, a school, and a best friend named Trav.
The American Flag is a great symbol to me.
I hope that everybody can see what I see.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
It Has Been One Of Those Days
It has been one of those Saturdays where you just wish you could go back to bed and forget about today. Then just when I sit down to drink a cup of coffee, I bit into an ant. At first I thought it was a marshmallow. I had put some cocoa in my coffee with some cream brule' creamer. I sat down in the backyard to relax and drink a cup of coffee. Then I take a drink and felt something catch between my teeth ,so I took it out and it was a flying ant! I ran into the house to brush my teeth and I started puking. I couldn't seem to get that crunchy feeling out of my mouth. Oh my goodness, I had never had that happen to me before and I pray to God it never happens again. I don't know how some people eat chocolate ants. I think I would start puking before I ever get it to my mouth. At that point everything else seemed minor to crunching down on a flying ant.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Soulja Boy Disses The US Army
WARNING: THIS VIDEO CONTAINS EXPLICIT OFFENSIVE MATERIAL.
Soulja Boy is totally and completely ignorant for making this song and video. He disses the FBI and the Army in his song. Crap like this doesn't make him look like a big bad tough rapper. A American soldier could take his scrawny ass down in 30 seconds flat. It just makes him look like a dumb ass. Did you ever hear the saying "All talk and no action"? This is a perfect example of it. He thinks he has to talk like a bad ass to be one, being a bad ass isn't about how much crap you can talk and if you have to talk all that crap to try and make people think you are one, then your not! I really don't care if he did apologize. It's a little late for apologies, the video is already out there and is viral. I would listen to Soulja Boy occasionally but after this, he can kiss where the sun don't shine. I will ban any of his music from my house. My kids will not be allowed to purchase his music, go to any concerts, buy anything that has to do with him or any products he may decide to endorse. I'm shocked he had the guts to make this song. Americans soldiers have died for his freedom and he makes a song like this. I don't care how much money he has, he's a loser for making such a song and I think he will see his popularity go down hill very fast. This could be the biggest mistake of his career. He honestly thinks he's big enough to go to war with the US Troops?
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Erotic Passions Lingerie & Club Wear
Erotic Passions is now open and selling jewelry lingerie, dresses, costumes and costume lingerie in womens and plus sizes. Finally, a site that carries a wide selection of plus size lingerie.
Erotic Passions
Lingerie & Club Wear
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Diversity Quotes
Mikhail GorbachevPeace is not unity in similarity but unity in diversity, in the comparison and conciliation of differences.
James T. EllisonThe real death of America will come when everyone is alike.
Anne FrankWe all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same.
William Sloane Coffin, Jr.Diversity may be the hardest thing for a society to live with, and perhaps the most dangerous thing for a society to be without.
Ola Joseph
Diversity is not about how we differ. Diversity is about embracing one another's uniqueness.
Friedrich NietzscheAt bottom every man knows well enough that he is a unique being, only once on this earth; and by no extraordinary chance will such a marvelously picturesque piece of diversity in unity as he is, ever be put together a second time.
John F. Kennedy
The wave of the future is not the conquest of the world by a single dogmatic creed but the liberation of the diverse energies of free nations and free men.
James T. EllisonThe real death of America will come when everyone is alike.
Anne FrankWe all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same.
William Sloane Coffin, Jr.Diversity may be the hardest thing for a society to live with, and perhaps the most dangerous thing for a society to be without.
Ola Joseph
Diversity is not about how we differ. Diversity is about embracing one another's uniqueness.
Friedrich NietzscheAt bottom every man knows well enough that he is a unique being, only once on this earth; and by no extraordinary chance will such a marvelously picturesque piece of diversity in unity as he is, ever be put together a second time.
John F. Kennedy
The wave of the future is not the conquest of the world by a single dogmatic creed but the liberation of the diverse energies of free nations and free men.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Schools Back In Session
It is time for school to go back in session. When the end of the year is coming, it's funny how you can't wait for them to get out of school so you longer have to wake up so early in the morning. Then by the end of summer, you can't wait for them to go back to school, so you have some peace and quiet during the day. I still don't escape having a house full of kids. I am the only mom of my kids friends who works out of their home, so I have four extra kids by 7am. The bus stop is directly across the street from our house and on the way to the school. So, our house is where the kids are meeting.
Summer just seemed to fly by this summer with all the trips back and forth to North Carolina and the kids spending two weeks in North Carolina with their grandparents. But, I am so ready for them finally to go back to school. It's been a busy summer this year and the kids were at each others throats more than usual this past summer. I don't know if it is the hormones or they are both in middle school now or a little of both. They are both entering into puberty and their personalities are changing. They are only a year apart and one is a girl and one is boy, so they are both entering puberty around the same time.
It's funny to see how they are both so concerned with their appearance. My son wanted his hair dyed blond and my daughter wanted highlights. I was a little surprised he doesn't look too bad as a blond, considering his natural hair color is black. When he gets dressed, he leaves a trail of cologne behind him where ever he walks. This year he changed the style of clothing he wears slightly, he still wears the dreaded skinny jeans, but he no longer wears the goofy t-shirts and he wants to walk to school with his friends. God help me, he has two different girls he has been texting all summer and one of them he claims is his girlfriend.
Sammy changed her hairstyle slightly, she looks like a little teenager with her highlights and her bangs cut into a side swipe and pushed to the side. She now curls her hair and I find her down stairs exercising. Her and her step-father go back and forth over her clothes. I think she likes giving him a heart attack. Because, she laughs when he says something to her about her clothes. He's not ready for her to start looking like a young teen girl and says he' going to purchase a gun to chase away the boys with now that she is starting middle school this year.
It is amazing how fast they grow over the summer. It's like with all the sunshine they get running around outside, they grow with the plants and flowers. They always seem to have this big growth spurt over the summer. Adam can reach the second shelf in the cabinet to get the granola bars down. I can't reach the granola bars on the second shelf, he is taller than me now. I have to climb on the counter or get a stool to reach the second cabinet. Sammy now wears the same size shoe as me and goes into my closet to get into my high heals to walk around the house in them. Nothing ever fits them, except for shirts and their shorts by the end of summer. Their jeans get to short and too tight and they can no longer fit into the shoes they wore at the end of the school year. By the end of summer they need a complete new wardrobe to begin the school year with.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Monday Madness Blog Hop
Monday Madness Blog Hop
Follow the host & co-host.
Enter your link in the linky below.
Have a blessed Labor Day!
Saturday, September 3, 2011
My Online Store Coming Soon!
The past week I having been working on opening my own web store for lingerie and club wear. It is amazing how little it costs to open your own online web store. With a little bit of money, a whole lot of dedication and some knowledge of web design you can have your own business up and running in no time.
I have spent the past year researching opening my own online business. I just didn't have the guts to do it until now, because I didn't think I would be able to afford opening my own online business. I found an online drop shipper for my merchandise that has no drop ship fees and has great pricing. Once you find a drop shipper everything else falls into place. When looking for a drop shipper, look for a company that has no drop ship fees and carries most of the products your looking to sell. If you use too many drop shippers for your site, it will add to the confusion and may turn out to be costly in the end. I would be a little cautious in looking for a drop shipper. There are a lot of companies out there who charge fees for their service, which will eat up your profit margin. I found a company called WMS Clothing, that does exactly as they say. My oldest daughter ordered a dress off of the site under my account, the item is exactly as shown, she received the item in three days packaged nicely with my business name on the box and the dress came in the box on a hanger in plastic. I am happy to say, I was pleased with how quickly it was shipped and the packaging.
I am excited about launching the site, which should be up soon. I was surprised at how easy doing everything online was. I owned a convenient store in the past, online businesses is much easier and more affordable than opening a store. I walked away from the store, giving it to my ex-husband in the separation, I didn't realize how much I missed owning my own business. There is a totally different dedication to your own business than, if you were to be working for someone else.
Opening your own online business requires hours of dedication, which I gladly devote anywhere from ten or more hours a day to setting up my web store. You have to treat it like a full time job, it is not something to be taken lightly. People depend on your dedication to deliver the products you promise in a timely manner. Your integrity and dedication will determine your success.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
MLK Statue Causes Controversy
The MLK statue was revealed and it was discovered the artist who created the statue decided to change the wording of Martin Luther King's quote. The statue reads "I was a drum major for justice, peace and righteousness" The quote comes from a speech just before his death, where he had imagined what his own eulogy would sound like. The artist, Lei Yixin decided to remove the word "if " from the quote and incorrectly quoted Dr. King, making Dr. King sound arrogant. If someone is going to be quoted, the quote should be exact. Apparently, Lei Yixin missed that lesson in school. If they had hired an American Artist to create the statue, they would know the importance of not changing a quote. The artist shouldn't take it upon himself to remove words from the quote. The quote is supposed to read,
"If you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice," King said. "Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter."
I was disappointed to read that an artist from China was hired to create the statue and a handful of men from China was paid to come and help with the statue. The statue stands as a memorial of the great Dr. King who fought for the rights of not only the African Americans, he fought for equality of everyone. An American Artist should have been chosen to create the statue. Can't anything be made by Americans or are Americans incapable of creating anything? What ever happened to made in America, by Americans? Instead of employing Americans to do the job in this poor economic times, they bring over an Artist from China and his workers, when there are plenty of capable artists right here in the United States.
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