I started my new job today

And it was so much better than the frickin' spa.

Please watch this.....It might just rock your world.

From the Oxygen Network website:

Sex Workers or Victims?
Join us and stand up for girls. -->

Premieres on OxygenSunday, March 30 98C

The sex trafficking epidemic has inspired federal legislation to protect young women who are trafficked from other countries. But what about the thousands of young American girls who are coerced into the commercial sex industry each year? In the eyes of the law, these sexually exploited children are criminal sex workers. Lisa Ling investigates this issue, speaking with current and former child prostitutes, riding along with law enforcement officers, and exploring innovative programs that offer young prostitutes a chance at a better life.

I wish it was.....but today is only 45 degrees.

I found this picture while browsing cuteoverload.com. It took many sheep, some very carefully spread feed, three border collies, and one very bored but creative farmer.

March Madness means something else entirely

'I once thought I had mono for an entire year. Turns out, I was just really bored.'

-Garth, 'Wayne's World'

If I don't get to start my job soon, I might just go crazy. Today, I cleaned, watched TV, googled very pointless things, watched a cat outside, and took a nap.

Sim-mah down now...

I'm usually not as mean as I was in my last post. I usually don't call kids brats. I just get a little fiery from time to time. But it's not a slow, smoldering campfire, it's usually like a firework, or a quick blaze that dies down fast. Ask Ben!

So, on a lighter note, Target now carries the the Bumble and Bumble line of hair care and styling products! Whoopee!

Parenting 101

This is for the brats next door.

And since I've got kids on both sides, you'll never know which ones I'm talking about. Let's just say one set is, so far, funny, cute, and well looked after. One set is completely, one hundred percent, kids that I can't even handle. They are whiny. They are rude. And the one thing that I can't stand - I have seen both of the twits hit their dog. Repeatedly. With sticks. Once, I was outside , and I saw the boy hit his dog. I said 'Don't hit your dog with a stick. That's not very nice.' he said 'But she was jumpin' on me.' I say, 'She's just very excited to see you, and you'll have to train her to not jump up so much. She loves you, and she's playing. When you hit her with sticks, you're not playing, you're trying to hurt her.' He rolls his eyes and whines some more. I have no reinforcement on the issue because mom and dad are never outside with the kids. The kids are there by themselves. They haven't had the dog for very long. It was a new acquisition when they got the house. And not once have I seen the parents come out with the kids and watch how them and their animals interact. And they're outside animals, for sure.


So here's the moral, if you are a parent, and you have animals and kids, you have to SUPERVISE them when they are together. Here's why:

a) The animal could be not trained yet and over-boisterous, or could be aggressive towards kids. You don't know unless you are there, observing them. The animal could be mean, and most likely needs to be trained. Or:

b) You could have psycho boy, like the boy next door who hits said animal with sticks, or his hands, or other things he can throw, and you need to teach that effing brat to be nice to animals.

That is all. Thank you.

polaroids

I found these two pictures a year or two ago while digging through boxes and boxes of pictures, trying to organize them for my mother. The one of my grandmother and grandfather is before my time, but is still my favorite of them. The one of just my grandmother alone is how I think of her. I'd like to think because of the angle, that it was taken by either my sister or me on our old Polaroid camera. Of course, for selfish reasons, I'd really like to believe it was me, but I'll probably never be able to really know.

But that's my grandmother - happy, windblown, outdoors on a hot summer day, smiling. It may not be the best quality - But I still think it's the best one I've found.

Love all around.

Free books - the best chain letter I have ever gotten or an incognito pyramid scheme

When I was in elementary school, chainletters were the big deal. Heck, you could totally make them up and sucker your friends into sending them via classroom noteseeking. Just write something like 'Send this to six other people or that groos kid vincent will ask you out!' I got them all the time. I hated them.

I have never sent on a chain letter in my life. I have never forwarded a chain email, either. I kind of feel like maybe it's my rebellious nature, you know? 'Send this to six other people, my ass! Where's the delete button?' I can't be that person. I just can't.

However, about two weeks ago, I got a letter from one of my mother's friends stating that it was a informal book club chain letter. I sent a book I din't want anymore to the address on the bottom of the letter. Then I sent out a letter to six of my friends with another address and so on. So at first I totally walk this letter over to the trash and start to throw it away when I realize.....FREE BOOKS.

I kind of like to read. A lot. All the time. More than TV, the internet, or the Wii. I will take long baths with my books in hand. I will stay up until all hours of the night to finish a chapter or a book. When I was a kid my mother banned me from reading books at the dinner table. When I had a crappy college class that required attendance, I would hide a novel in a different cover and read. In elementart school the days we had read-ins were heaven. In high school, Sustained Silent Reading? Don't mind if I do!!

In my hand I had my very own golden ticket. A chance for 36 books free! With no library fines attached. I think I ight have actually drooled a little bit.

I couldn't say no. Books are like crack to me people, excpet way more educational, and cheaper.

I sent my book, and my letters, and have recieved three books in the mail as of today.

I am almost giddy.

Ollie in the back, Opal in the front.

Another list of things I like about having a house

1. Coming home from a late night and closing up the house, checking to make sure things are locked, turning down the thermostat.

2. Stepping outside on the back deck in my pajamas to check the temperature.

3. Opening up all the curtains every morning to let the sun in.

4. Laundering anything I want at anytime I want.

5. Making lovely things to eat, like truffles, because the kitchen has enough prep room, and the fridge has enough storage.

6. Cleaning wood floors and wood doorways.

7. Watching my cats run from room to room, sliding on the floors, and running into walls.