Okay, more Sam Adams. Our illustrious gay mayor who is trying so hard to shake the image of being a child molester after "allegedly" kissing a 17-18 year old intern in City Hall's bathroom. It is still kind of gray as to whether the kid was 17 or 18, and this sex scandal won't go away.
I have to say, it gives me great fodder as a blogger to just sit back and watch.
So what happened this time? Well, it started snowing yesterday. In Portland, OR, it doesn't snow much at all. When it does, the weather forecasters generally let us know there is something afoot. Not yesterday. It started and it didn't stop. It put down about 3-4 inches of snow by evening time yesterday.
Here is the other thing....since it doesn't snow much around here, if there is even the slightest dusting of snow, the whole city shuts down. This Colorado bred girl was shocked her first winter here as the entire establishment shut down for something that would not even have gotten a late school start where I come from.
However, it makes it that much more important for the city to hit the road with it's gravel dropping equipment (not salt, can't hurt the fish you know, just gravel). There is probably more snow equipment in the city of Boulder, CO than there is in the entire state of Oregon.
So, it snowed, and it caught the city with it's pants down (tee hee!). I am happy to say I wasn't out driving last night, but the reports I hear on the local media.....it was a mess. Over 1000 cars left abandoned because they got stuck and couldn't get out. I hear of people sitting in traffic while their car just runs out of gas. I am hearing of drives that usually take an hour take 8+ hours. It was a mess, and could have been so different had the city been better prepared with crews.
Anyway, here is the mayor's response to the citizen's anger over the traffic snarl last night. If you want to have a good giggle.....read the comments from the readers toward the bottom of the article. You will see a whole lot of reference and innuendo to the mayor's public relations image relating to the City Hall bathroom allegation. Click here.
I can't wait until the next mayoral election.
Dec 30, 2009
Dec 23, 2009
Christmas Perspective
Have you had one of those holiday seasons like mine? One where all I want to do is hide somewhere to escape, and I am not kidding, the bickering. The bickering over who gets to use the red crayon even though we have a dozen red crayons, the bickering over who gets the most presents or over who is giving Dad the biggest present. Or how many pieces of paper we can use to send Santa our wish list, and who gets the red piece of construction paper to do that. Maybe your bickering might include what gifts should be opened on Christmas Eve as opposed to Christmas Day......and it gets infuriating, and you want to escape.
That is our household to the nines this year, and I am ready to pitch whatever is under our tree out the door. I am hoping the project I forced the family to participate in sinks in a bit. Here is the project from behind the scenes. It begins with our great Susie, at church, who spearheads this orchestra. First, she gets a list from the local elementary school of families who are in dire need this year if the family wants to have a Christmas. Our church takes on four families. Two of the families this year were displaced by a recent apartment fire and have been homeless since April. The family I am focusing on for this post is a mother and a ten year old daughter. They are homeless and couch hopping at friends homes while they struggle through the social services departments to get low income housing help. The plan was to deliver each family their load of gifts and food this last weekend, but for Julie and Sierra, they didn't know where they would be. It was hoped they would be in their apartment by Christmas. So Susie asked Julie (the mom), "Do you have a car?" Thinking that maybe we can have her meet us at the church to give her these things. Julie's response, "No, I have a cart." And then the tears flowed from all who heard that conversation. It was agreed we, the church, would hold onto the items this week to see if she got her apartment. It wasn't to be. So we delivered them today at a friend's basement apartment where Julie and Sierra are, again, couch hopping.
Julie and Sierra, you are gems. It was our honor and pleasure to be Santa for you this year. God bless you.
Sunday morning gift wrapping. Each station has wrapping, tags, tape, scissors. The table also has each family's gifts with each one labeled. Hats off to Susie!
Julie and Sierra's table.
After our great church members have come in and wrapped, it looks great. I also wanted to include this photo because it has a sliver of a certain teenager's bum
who wouldn't turn around but would only give me his best side.
Today, our sleigh (mini van clunker) getting loaded up.
No, the chicken feed isn't for Julie and Sierra.
Our van is full, and more was put in another vehicle.
I am so proud of our church for making sure these folks get a Christmas to remember.
JM and my hubbie loading into Julie and Sierra's current apartment.
And suddenly the bickering gets softer and softer and softer......
A whole lot of gained perspective.
That is our household to the nines this year, and I am ready to pitch whatever is under our tree out the door. I am hoping the project I forced the family to participate in sinks in a bit. Here is the project from behind the scenes. It begins with our great Susie, at church, who spearheads this orchestra. First, she gets a list from the local elementary school of families who are in dire need this year if the family wants to have a Christmas. Our church takes on four families. Two of the families this year were displaced by a recent apartment fire and have been homeless since April. The family I am focusing on for this post is a mother and a ten year old daughter. They are homeless and couch hopping at friends homes while they struggle through the social services departments to get low income housing help. The plan was to deliver each family their load of gifts and food this last weekend, but for Julie and Sierra, they didn't know where they would be. It was hoped they would be in their apartment by Christmas. So Susie asked Julie (the mom), "Do you have a car?" Thinking that maybe we can have her meet us at the church to give her these things. Julie's response, "No, I have a cart." And then the tears flowed from all who heard that conversation. It was agreed we, the church, would hold onto the items this week to see if she got her apartment. It wasn't to be. So we delivered them today at a friend's basement apartment where Julie and Sierra are, again, couch hopping.
Julie and Sierra, you are gems. It was our honor and pleasure to be Santa for you this year. God bless you.
Sunday morning gift wrapping. Each station has wrapping, tags, tape, scissors. The table also has each family's gifts with each one labeled. Hats off to Susie!
Julie and Sierra's table.
After our great church members have come in and wrapped, it looks great. I also wanted to include this photo because it has a sliver of a certain teenager's bumwho wouldn't turn around but would only give me his best side.
Today, our sleigh (mini van clunker) getting loaded up.No, the chicken feed isn't for Julie and Sierra.
Our van is full, and more was put in another vehicle.I am so proud of our church for making sure these folks get a Christmas to remember.
JM and my hubbie loading into Julie and Sierra's current apartment.
And suddenly the bickering gets softer and softer and softer......A whole lot of gained perspective.
Festive Lights
Peacock Ln in Portland. Started as a small block of houses 80 years ago who were just a little overboard on their lights. It has grown. Now, it is part of the HOA requirements if you purchase a house on Peacock Ln. You must deck your house with lights, these days, these nights, etc. You must also know that because of the crowds, you will not easily be able to access the front of your home during the holidays. Why? Because for eighty years, families like mine come and stroll the block enamored with such a light display. I hope you can imagine what we were able to see. If you live in the area, it's the best free light show around.
Worthy of a Repeat
I sent all this letter last year, and I think it's even more worthy this year:
Dear Friends and Family,
Somewhat embarrassing to admit, but Christmas is tight this year.
I will be making bedroom slippers for you all as gifts. Please let me
know your sizes. You'll most likely agree that it's a splendid idea, and
should you wish to do the same, I've included the instructions below.
How to make bedroom slippers out of maxi pads:
You need four maxi pads to make a pair.
Two of them get laid out flat, for the foot part.
The other two wrap around the toe area to form the top.
Tape or glue each side of the top pieces to the bottom of the foot part.
Decorate the tops with whatever you desire, silk flowers (this is most
aesthetically appealing), etc.
These slippers are:
* Soft and Hygienic
* Non-slip grip strips on the soles
* Built in deodorant feature keeps feet smelling fresh
* No more bending over to mop up spills
* Disposable and biodegradable
* Environmentally safe
* Three convenient sizes: (1.) Regular, (2.) Light and (3.) Get out the
Sand Bags.
I've attached a photo of the first pair I made so that you can see the
nifty slippers for yourself....
Awaiting your response. It's crucial that I get the right size for each
one of you.
Dec 15, 2009
Preventing Regulation.....and Loss of Life
Photo courtesy of KGWWe are there again. Last Friday, three very experienced, trained climbers went. None have returned. One body has been recovered, the other two are completely gone. Yesterday there was a huge window of hope because the weather cleared up for rescue efforts and a good scouring of the mountain happened. Not without danger. Certain areas couldn't be accessed because of avalanche danger. No luck. Today, the rescue effort is completely "on standby" because the weather is so treacherous. It is blizzard conditions on the peak right now. I am sad to say, it is hard to hold out hope right now. I am hopeful that the two still on the peak are maximizing every bit of knowledge they have and have found shelter.
Two years ago, three climbers went up. One body was recovered, the other two have never been found. History goes on and on. It happens every few years.
With new technology, here is the rub.....for $5, climbers can rent a beacon so that if lost, they are pinpointed, and found within minutes. I listened on the radio last night to a gentleman who runs a nonprofit that takes kids up Mt Hood in the summer and takes a beacon so parents can watch their kids with a blip on the internet. They can easily be found just by this silly thing. In some states, climbers are required to carry a beacon and if they don't, they are financially responsible for their rescue. Trust me, that hits the millions fast. Especially when helicopters are used, which is a must on Mt. Hood.
The climbing community has a different take. They tend to take cell phones, not beacons. The argument is that climbers would take more risks if they had beacons knowing rescue could be there so quickly. I don't get that argument. Simply said, I wear a seatbelt just in case I am in an accident. Do I drive more safely without it? Not really. Do I drive more safely when I know that a cop is around and there might be a monetary fine if I don't drive safely? You betcha. Cell phones are good to a point. In the current search we have, the only information given is that there was a cell phone "blip" on Friday afternoon. It can be triangulated, and that is all. Doesn't help anyone one bit right now.
Do I think we need more superfluous laws in our illustrious state that has far too many of those already? No. But as a taxpayer, I am torn. We are shutting down schools, forcing furlough days on state employees, and have one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation. I think these rescues are too expensive for us to not ask for some kind of compensation, or ease in how to rescue folks. Do I think a life is worth this Herculean effort? Absolutely. It would be nice to have the beacon, make one trip up the mountain in a helicopter, and bring down the climbers in one afternoon. Not three days of frustrating, fruitless searching.
At this point, the issue is a standoff. Here is my proposal, please weigh in.
1) Let's not make laws yet.
2) Climbers.....please take beacons, not just cell phones. Please. I am asking you to "police" and self regulate yourselves. Please let people know you have a beacon. Even if you just list it as your equipment when you check in. Or check this out, take my new fancy cell phone. It has gps on it, and I can be found with that because my phone is basically a beacon. It isn't hard, but boy, the results of not having one is heart-wrenching and expensive.
Why? Because taxpayers won't do this for much longer. We can't afford to lose you, and our state can't afford it financially. Such a difference between sending up a rescue helicopter and finding climbers in one afternoon as opposed to days and days of searching, and in some cases never finding anyone....ever again.
Dec 13, 2009
Our "Kitties" First Christmas
No, Tyrone is not helping....he is supervising.
Ditto.
I just think this is a great pic of my kids.
Tasha doesn't supervise. She just finds the most comfy spot.
Dec 10, 2009
Not Too Many "Firsts" After 17 years.....
We are looking at some more "weather" coming in. If you lived in the Portland a year ago, you know we got socked in for two weeks. Luckily, I had done a mad dash to the store ahead of time that helped Santa when he did arrive. We also live within walking distance of a grocery store.
So the hubbie calls tonight. He is headed to the store to stock us up for the iced in weekend that will probably not happen since we are actually prepared for it. He asks me what things I might need. Yes, you guessed it, I asked him for those things. Those things I have had a lot of pride in saying I have never given him the embarrassment of going through the checkout line to purchase.
Seventeen years of bragging....gone.
To his credit, I asked him, gave him the particulars, and he said "okay". Next item on the list.
Dec 6, 2009
Found It!
Okay, I have been looking for this article for a long time. I was sitting in the public library right up the street from my home last summer. While the kids were finding books, I found crinkled up on a table the local extremely liberal rag. You have to read it with caution. The Willamette Week.
However, this is the same rag that interviewed me last summer and brought about the scandal that brought SB 767 to it's knees and turned around the course of that forsaken bill. As a result, our school is still open. I am ever so thankful for their willingness to publish when no one else would listen to us. So, I thumbed through it, after all, let's read the paper that had just interviewed me.
I have become a fan. I know, moderately conservative me actually appreciates this rag. Why? Because they tell the truth! They aren't paid off by a union representative that is asking/paying them to be quiet.
Now, as we went through and scrutinized ORCA to the nth degree in the legislative session, especially "where the money goes", funny how I came across this article at the library during that time. Seriously, I know more about the financial books of our virtual school than I think anyone should know, just by listening to public testimony. It is ridiculous! Why do I think it is ridiculous? I have contended the entire time, and said so, if we are going to scrutinize our virtual schools, then we need to be fair. Let's scrutinize and audit the regular schools. Where they have waste, there needs to be sanctions. When I would say that, what response did I get? Crickets......
Check out the awful waste my local public school system is engaged in. Click here.
I go back just now to try and find it for the millionth time, and actually found it. But I also found this more slightly older (last spring) listing of waste. Click here.
I guarantee you as good as I am sitting here typing, if any of Oregon's virtual schools showed up that kind of waste in any of the three audits they receive weekly, monthly and annually.....there wouldn't be a SB 767. Why? Because the school would have been shut down way before the legislative session. And you know what? I would have agreed wholeheartedly. My taxpayer dollars shouldn't be paying for expensive conference rooms and Blackberry's. My education tax dollars should be paying for reading, writing and arithmetic!
Nothing like knowing, again, 40% of my tax dollars go to public education in my state. So glad to know I can arm administrators with Blackberry's.
Good grief.
However, this is the same rag that interviewed me last summer and brought about the scandal that brought SB 767 to it's knees and turned around the course of that forsaken bill. As a result, our school is still open. I am ever so thankful for their willingness to publish when no one else would listen to us. So, I thumbed through it, after all, let's read the paper that had just interviewed me.
I have become a fan. I know, moderately conservative me actually appreciates this rag. Why? Because they tell the truth! They aren't paid off by a union representative that is asking/paying them to be quiet.
Now, as we went through and scrutinized ORCA to the nth degree in the legislative session, especially "where the money goes", funny how I came across this article at the library during that time. Seriously, I know more about the financial books of our virtual school than I think anyone should know, just by listening to public testimony. It is ridiculous! Why do I think it is ridiculous? I have contended the entire time, and said so, if we are going to scrutinize our virtual schools, then we need to be fair. Let's scrutinize and audit the regular schools. Where they have waste, there needs to be sanctions. When I would say that, what response did I get? Crickets......
Check out the awful waste my local public school system is engaged in. Click here.
I go back just now to try and find it for the millionth time, and actually found it. But I also found this more slightly older (last spring) listing of waste. Click here.
I guarantee you as good as I am sitting here typing, if any of Oregon's virtual schools showed up that kind of waste in any of the three audits they receive weekly, monthly and annually.....there wouldn't be a SB 767. Why? Because the school would have been shut down way before the legislative session. And you know what? I would have agreed wholeheartedly. My taxpayer dollars shouldn't be paying for expensive conference rooms and Blackberry's. My education tax dollars should be paying for reading, writing and arithmetic!
Nothing like knowing, again, 40% of my tax dollars go to public education in my state. So glad to know I can arm administrators with Blackberry's.
Good grief.
Dec 5, 2009
Second Verse, Same as the First
The place where the coon put its arms through the fencing, but didn't get in.Obviously, it got some feathers off of her.
Here she is. Her back leg has that brown around it. That isn't normal, that is dirt and broken feathers. She also has her leg tucked up to her chest, favoring it. I can't get close enough to get a pic of her face to show you those abrasions. Yep, time to go to the infirmary.Here we go again!
Five thirty this morning. I could hear squawking. Now chickens generally squawk at weird times, but this was insistent squawking. I was listening......then the squawking started to fade. Like the chicken was losing it's ability to squawk or it was dying.....not good. Hubbie jumped up and took the dog outside.
Sure enough, I heard two barks and something hitting our chain link fencing. I got up and met the hubbie at the back door with the question, "Did we just lose another chicken?" He said no, that he didn't see the critter but he was pretty sure it was a coon. It didn't get in the coop but got a hold of Henrietta by putting it's arms through the fencing and grabbing her. He said she seemed okay.
Later this morning I went to take a full sunshine, daylight close exam of her. My first observation, she has some very slight blood around her cockles and waddles (the red globs of flesh around chickens faces). Second observation, she has a slight limp. Third observation, the leg she is favoring has some messed up feathers. Conclusion, she got roughed up and I need to look at the leg.
Well, for a chicken with a gimpy leg, she sure made me chase her around the yard to get ahold of her. I turned her over, and moved some feathers around, which she did not like at all. That is unusual. Normally when examining a chicken, they kind of just go limp and let you do whatever to them. I think she is in enough pain that she didn't want me messing with her. Her right "elbow" has some cuts and abrasions on it. I think the coon got ahold of her by the leg and was trying to take her down (let's put it out there....it was trying to disembowel her to eat her.....there I said it).
I am ever grateful that the coon was not able to infiltrate the coop. I am glad none of us were in a dead sleep and heard her cries. I am glad her injuries were nothing like last year's.
The plan? Henrietta is in the household pet infirmary (pet carrier in the basement) resting. When I get home later and she has calmed down, I will put some peroxide on her leg and clean her up. We are also rethinking how to lock the girls up at night. It seems this happens when it's extremely cold and food sources for coons boil down to my ladies!
So, we feel lucky to have dodged a tragedy. We'll keep you posted....
Dec 4, 2009
Just Remembering a Great Man
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free."
–Ronald Reagan, President 1980-1988
Dec 3, 2009
Huh.....Just Has Me Intrigued
This whole Tiger woods thing has me intrigued. Of course when celebrity junk captures my attention, it is because I usually have a personal history with the story that just makes me think, "Huh...."
Quick summation. In 1990 or 1991, my father was in a very serious car accident while driving a van (like a regular sized van, minivans weren't around then). He broadsided another vehicle at about 40 to 50 mph. He smashed into another van full of a family that did not have their seatbelts on, and my dad did. People were tossed out of the other car and found wandering around when rescue arrived. They sustained some major injuries. Of course my father was sued, and because he had top notch insurance coverage, the insurance company fought that battle.
Anyway, my dad was wearing his seatbelt, so when rescuers arrived, what did they find? An unconscious man strapped into the front seat of his buckled van. They smashed through the back door of the van and lifted him out the back door of the van on a board. He was home by the end of the day with lacerations to his face and arms. Yes, quite the testimonial on seatbelts considering how the passengers in the other vehicle fared. No one was killed, but they did sustain some pretty hefty injuries that took quite some time to heal from.
I saw his van after the accident. Of course, the rescuers came in the back door. The front end was so buckled, the doors wouldn't open. However, the rescuers tried. You could see crow bar damage from where they tried to open both the front driver door and the front passenger door. No avail. Back door.
Okay, so when I hear about this little fender bender with a hydrant that Tiger had. I see the pics from the scene, and I see the most gargantuan vehicle with a very dented bumper. Tiger keeps saying to the media his wife whacked the windows out to get to him.....yet the photos I see of this barely damaged body shows the doors wide open......it just makes me go "huh......." Especially that middle pic I posted.....there is absolutely no reason anyone needed to take a golf club to the car.....I am no accident investigator.....I am no dummy either. He is darn lucky that when she took the swing at the window behind the driver, she didn't make contact with his noggin.
Tiger has no obligation to give anyone an explanation. But it still makes me go "huh....."
Doors seem to work fine in this pic. No crowbar damage to get it open.
Only damage I see here is the window.....huh......interesting.....
OH! I see the damage is on the right front of the car.....the driver side's damage is only a putter through the window.....interesting......
Don't mess with a ticked off wife. Let's leave it at that.
Quick summation. In 1990 or 1991, my father was in a very serious car accident while driving a van (like a regular sized van, minivans weren't around then). He broadsided another vehicle at about 40 to 50 mph. He smashed into another van full of a family that did not have their seatbelts on, and my dad did. People were tossed out of the other car and found wandering around when rescue arrived. They sustained some major injuries. Of course my father was sued, and because he had top notch insurance coverage, the insurance company fought that battle.
Anyway, my dad was wearing his seatbelt, so when rescuers arrived, what did they find? An unconscious man strapped into the front seat of his buckled van. They smashed through the back door of the van and lifted him out the back door of the van on a board. He was home by the end of the day with lacerations to his face and arms. Yes, quite the testimonial on seatbelts considering how the passengers in the other vehicle fared. No one was killed, but they did sustain some pretty hefty injuries that took quite some time to heal from.
I saw his van after the accident. Of course, the rescuers came in the back door. The front end was so buckled, the doors wouldn't open. However, the rescuers tried. You could see crow bar damage from where they tried to open both the front driver door and the front passenger door. No avail. Back door.
Okay, so when I hear about this little fender bender with a hydrant that Tiger had. I see the pics from the scene, and I see the most gargantuan vehicle with a very dented bumper. Tiger keeps saying to the media his wife whacked the windows out to get to him.....yet the photos I see of this barely damaged body shows the doors wide open......it just makes me go "huh......." Especially that middle pic I posted.....there is absolutely no reason anyone needed to take a golf club to the car.....I am no accident investigator.....I am no dummy either. He is darn lucky that when she took the swing at the window behind the driver, she didn't make contact with his noggin.
Tiger has no obligation to give anyone an explanation. But it still makes me go "huh....."
Doors seem to work fine in this pic. No crowbar damage to get it open.
Only damage I see here is the window.....huh......interesting.....
OH! I see the damage is on the right front of the car.....the driver side's damage is only a putter through the window.....interesting......Don't mess with a ticked off wife. Let's leave it at that.
Nov 30, 2009
Happy Carnivore!
I am also thankful for the food chain and God giving us yummy turkey. I know it isn't pretty, but it sure tasted good!
Nov 25, 2009
Thank You, Lord, For What You Have Given Us This Day.....
The things I am thankful for:
* My family.
* Our children. Because of them, I am bestowed that special title, "Mom".
* My job. Without it, we would be on the streets, and that ain't no joke in this economy.
* Our home. We have one, and there are an awful lot of people who don't.
* My family's ability to "ride it out". As we begin this holiday season between now and the New Year, I am struck by the fact this will be the first season where I won't see Brian. You might remember Brian is my husband's cousin who committed suicide in September. There is usually a small gathering at some point where I see him. I won't this year, and it's already making my eyes teary thinking about that moment. I am so thankful to my extended family and their amazing ability to ride out difficult storms. Because of them, I can stand up in the storm.
* I am so thankful to friends. Friends who give me the chance to laugh and focus on something besides my daily grind. Friends who tell me difficult things I need to hear. Friends who let me cry with them. Friends who let me share difficult things in my life that I need help with and don't flinch. Friends who would fall on a sword for me. Friends who I would fall on a sword for.
* Opportunities. We have so much opportunity as Americans. As a small business owner ("capitalist" if you want to draw a line in the sand) I have been able to achieve some pretty hefty success. I pray that as we watch big government take away such basic opportunities, that we remember and are thankful for the successes we had when we did have such opportunities. Does it sound like I might be saying goodbye to something? I might be saying goodbye to the basic American right to start up and run a business. You are absolutely right. On a national and local level, I do believe if we don't turn this ship around, that right will be lost by the time then next election is upon us. I am extremely thankful that at this point, I still have that basic right.
I am extremely sad to see our basic American rights whittled away. Given away without thinking of the losses. Frittered away.
* I am thankful for our military troops. I want to thank my husband, father, and father-in-law for their combined 50+ years in the military. All of you make me proud.
* I am thankful to be alive.
* I am thankful for the Lord Jesus Christ, who died on the cross to cover my painful iniquities to allow me to hope. I have the hope of heaven that is beyond this current world. If I didn't have that hope, trust me, I would be gone. The current temporal earth offers me nothing but hopelessness. Thank you Lord Jesus. When this is all gone, it's just you and me, and that warms my heart.
Nov 24, 2009
Just Thinking Out Loud....on Paper
I just read the headline saying that Rosie O'Donnell and her "spouse" have been broken up for two years. Her spouse moved out two years ago and Rosie doesn't like being single.
Let's remember, Rosie and her partner were legally married in San Francisco awhile back when it was legal for a short time to do so.
Here is what gets me just a bit. This article refers to this couple "breaking up" just like dating partners do.
Has the gay and lesbian community dealt with these questions:
1) How does one dissolve a legalized same sex partnership? How to you get "divorced"?
2) This is my biggest question.....children. Several of Rosie's kids are adopted, one of them I remember was born to her partner. Did Rosie legally adopt all the children, including the one born to her partner? How does child support flow?
I am bugged by how cavalierly the media I am reading makes their "breaking up" sound. I take issue with the fact that there is a gaggle of children in that household that are now subject to the mood swings of the courts as anyone wonders how these sorts of things are handled.
Does anyone have any knowledge on this at all?
Let's remember, Rosie and her partner were legally married in San Francisco awhile back when it was legal for a short time to do so.
Here is what gets me just a bit. This article refers to this couple "breaking up" just like dating partners do.
Has the gay and lesbian community dealt with these questions:
1) How does one dissolve a legalized same sex partnership? How to you get "divorced"?
2) This is my biggest question.....children. Several of Rosie's kids are adopted, one of them I remember was born to her partner. Did Rosie legally adopt all the children, including the one born to her partner? How does child support flow?
I am bugged by how cavalierly the media I am reading makes their "breaking up" sound. I take issue with the fact that there is a gaggle of children in that household that are now subject to the mood swings of the courts as anyone wonders how these sorts of things are handled.
Does anyone have any knowledge on this at all?
Nov 18, 2009
A Hundred Numbers?
My four year old is a crack up. He makes me laugh daily.
He loves to be tickled. I have never seen a kid who loves to be tickled, relentlessly, for hours. I am not joking. He will walk up to you, raise his arms to show you his armpits, and want you to tickle him.
So today, I tickled him, for a long time. I think it was probably for thirty minutes or so. I was wiped out. So I usually tell him something like "I am all done" and give him a few hugs and kisses and then I am done. I did that today but asked a simple question, and here is how that conversation went:
Me: Do you know how much I love you?
BH: Hmmm......A hundred numbers?
Nov 16, 2009
And While The Cat is Away.....
Okay, just so you know....nothing major has happened in our city regarding the Mayor Sam Adams (not the patriot....nooooo....the openly homosexual mayor or our city that is rocked in a sex scandal right now....oh how I wish the real patriot could arrive on a horse and save us).
One thing. The volunteer recall effort failed by a slim margin. Now, the business community is stepping in and pumping some funding into the effort. I think it will happen this time.
However, while Sam is quiet. You need to know who is really in charge in our city.
Here is the LIBERAL local rag's take on the illustrious Randy Leonard. Click here.
And what makes me so mad. People like him get foisted into office on a whim because they have union dollars in a liberal city that literally just pops them into office. For those of us who might want a more moderate or conservative person in office, it is literally like running a Republican campaign in Kennebunkport, MA! It is next to impossible!
PS I just did a spell check by right clicking on Kennebunkport I just wrote. I have no idea if it's spelled correctly. Do you want to know the options for words it gave me to replace it with? Outspokenness and Drunkenness.
Now pick yourself up off the floor from laughing so hard at that. I know I am.
One thing. The volunteer recall effort failed by a slim margin. Now, the business community is stepping in and pumping some funding into the effort. I think it will happen this time.
However, while Sam is quiet. You need to know who is really in charge in our city.
Here is the LIBERAL local rag's take on the illustrious Randy Leonard. Click here.
And what makes me so mad. People like him get foisted into office on a whim because they have union dollars in a liberal city that literally just pops them into office. For those of us who might want a more moderate or conservative person in office, it is literally like running a Republican campaign in Kennebunkport, MA! It is next to impossible!
PS I just did a spell check by right clicking on Kennebunkport I just wrote. I have no idea if it's spelled correctly. Do you want to know the options for words it gave me to replace it with? Outspokenness and Drunkenness.
Now pick yourself up off the floor from laughing so hard at that. I know I am.
Nov 12, 2009
Nov 10, 2009
Some Stats for You
Okay, we have the verdict. The rankings of public schools in my state.
Here is the introductory article that gives the criteria for these rankings. Click here.
I encourage you to search for a couple of schools. Look up Oregon Connections Academy and Corbet School District. They are two of the top ranked schools in the state with "Outstanding" rankings. Corbett School District is an itsy bitsy school district that went charter. As a result, parents in neighboring districts are giving up on their public schools and sending their kids to Corbett. Of course, they are crying "foul" with the unions leading the way. Sigh....sounds like the battle ORCA has been through doesn't it?
One thing you can't dispute....numbers don't lie. Kids in charter schools both in classrooms and online in Oregon are doing phenomenally better than regular public schools. The numbers speak.
So let me give you some schools to look up. Scott Elementary School (all in the Portland Public School District), Roseway Heights School would be our middle school. Madison High School.
I'll give you the results. Scott scores 75 on a scale of 133. In my math, that is just a smidge over a fifty percent. Scott is ranked as "satisfactory". I find that label troubling.
Roseway ranks 74 out of 133. I have the same response. I don't think that is satisfactory. I think it's below average in the bell curve in my mind.
Are you sitting? Do a search of Madison High School. I will tell you but please go look it up. Look at the breakdown of this horrifying score. 41 out of 133. The bad ranking basically comes from students not reaching math and reading scores at grade level and their achievement falling off. So whatever "satisfactory" grade work your kid (or mine) might have at Scott and at Roseway, it is almost a guarantee by the time they attend the only public bricks and mortar high school for this neighborhood, they will no longer be at grade level by the time they graduate.
Want to hear something really appalling? The typical school in Portland that the media and everyone points their finger to as "the worst school"......look up Jefferson High School in the Portland Public School District. This is the school that is always pointed at as the poster child of bad schools in our state. Their score is 47.
They scored better than Madison. They have more low income kids, fewer teachers with a master's education, fewer students with English as a second language, etc. They have all those things that public school advocates say make it hard to do education well. They have it worse than Madison, yet can brag they aren't as bad as Madison. I should call their public relations department and see if I can help them shift the "bad rap" scrutiny from Jefferson to Madison.
The only high school available to my family ranks worse than the notoriously known bad school! I have been vindicated.
This is what I have blowing steam about for so long, and it's nice to see it in black and white.
UPDATE: Here is another article released today. Click here. Basically Oregon has been rated by the US Chamber of Commerce Institute for a Better Workforce as having a "D" rating for their schools. This is a key rating since Obama's Race to the Top education stimulus monies will be granted partially based upon this rating. Obama doesn't plan to give failing or mediocre schools money, only succeeding states get stimulus money.
What's interesting is this, Oregon got a B rating in the category of technology--because of ORCA. I think that B mixed with the other categories is the only reason Oregon did not get an F, if I do some quick figuring in my head.
Check out the comments, of course, union backers and other naysayers keep saying that this is a farce. Well, numbers and ratings don't lie. Until a regular public school (referred to as alternative schools in this article!) can crank out some good numbers, naysayers and unionites are just blowing smoke and creating white noise.
Here is the introductory article that gives the criteria for these rankings. Click here.
I encourage you to search for a couple of schools. Look up Oregon Connections Academy and Corbet School District. They are two of the top ranked schools in the state with "Outstanding" rankings. Corbett School District is an itsy bitsy school district that went charter. As a result, parents in neighboring districts are giving up on their public schools and sending their kids to Corbett. Of course, they are crying "foul" with the unions leading the way. Sigh....sounds like the battle ORCA has been through doesn't it?
One thing you can't dispute....numbers don't lie. Kids in charter schools both in classrooms and online in Oregon are doing phenomenally better than regular public schools. The numbers speak.
So let me give you some schools to look up. Scott Elementary School (all in the Portland Public School District), Roseway Heights School would be our middle school. Madison High School.
I'll give you the results. Scott scores 75 on a scale of 133. In my math, that is just a smidge over a fifty percent. Scott is ranked as "satisfactory". I find that label troubling.
Roseway ranks 74 out of 133. I have the same response. I don't think that is satisfactory. I think it's below average in the bell curve in my mind.
Are you sitting? Do a search of Madison High School. I will tell you but please go look it up. Look at the breakdown of this horrifying score. 41 out of 133. The bad ranking basically comes from students not reaching math and reading scores at grade level and their achievement falling off. So whatever "satisfactory" grade work your kid (or mine) might have at Scott and at Roseway, it is almost a guarantee by the time they attend the only public bricks and mortar high school for this neighborhood, they will no longer be at grade level by the time they graduate.
Want to hear something really appalling? The typical school in Portland that the media and everyone points their finger to as "the worst school"......look up Jefferson High School in the Portland Public School District. This is the school that is always pointed at as the poster child of bad schools in our state. Their score is 47.
They scored better than Madison. They have more low income kids, fewer teachers with a master's education, fewer students with English as a second language, etc. They have all those things that public school advocates say make it hard to do education well. They have it worse than Madison, yet can brag they aren't as bad as Madison. I should call their public relations department and see if I can help them shift the "bad rap" scrutiny from Jefferson to Madison.
The only high school available to my family ranks worse than the notoriously known bad school! I have been vindicated.
This is what I have blowing steam about for so long, and it's nice to see it in black and white.
UPDATE: Here is another article released today. Click here. Basically Oregon has been rated by the US Chamber of Commerce Institute for a Better Workforce as having a "D" rating for their schools. This is a key rating since Obama's Race to the Top education stimulus monies will be granted partially based upon this rating. Obama doesn't plan to give failing or mediocre schools money, only succeeding states get stimulus money.
What's interesting is this, Oregon got a B rating in the category of technology--because of ORCA. I think that B mixed with the other categories is the only reason Oregon did not get an F, if I do some quick figuring in my head.
Check out the comments, of course, union backers and other naysayers keep saying that this is a farce. Well, numbers and ratings don't lie. Until a regular public school (referred to as alternative schools in this article!) can crank out some good numbers, naysayers and unionites are just blowing smoke and creating white noise.
Nov 9, 2009
A Day to Remember
I remember this day twenty years ago. I had lived my whole life up to that point only knowing East and West Germany. History class in high school on European history, we talked about the Berlin Wall and how in a split second whole families were separated, and how people lost their lives trying to escape. It was weighty stuff.
It gives me chills to watch this video and remember the details. Remembering Reagans's words and influential actions that pushed Communism over the edge. Remembering Kennedy's words espousing Democracy and how it's not perfect but it sure is a great thing.
Today we remember those who have lost family member's in that conflict, sacrificed, died, and suffered in constant state of being imprisoned in their own city. You have much to celebrate to day. Twenty years of freedom!
Let's not forget the high cost of freedom. Let's not squander freedom, let's celebrate it when we see it, and squelch it when we see it trampled on.
Nov 8, 2009
Heidi Klum and Seal.....Move Over!
Our pastor's daughter, AH, and our youngest son, BH, are just a few months apart in age. They are inseparable pals though. They just finished playing their first season of soccer together and had a fabulous time. More than once we joke about how we are arranging their future marriage now, and how special that would be.
At one of the first soccer practices, the coach had them doing a drill where they shot a goal to a moving "goal" which was two people holding a stretched out beach towel. As the kids passed under the beach towel, the joke was said, "In some cultures, they would be married!"
Anyway, my dear friend sent me pictures of our two little jewels that she has taken all this season both at soccer and a recent Halloween party. We both agree, they are beautiful together, and they will always be friends.
At one of the first soccer practices, the coach had them doing a drill where they shot a goal to a moving "goal" which was two people holding a stretched out beach towel. As the kids passed under the beach towel, the joke was said, "In some cultures, they would be married!"
Anyway, my dear friend sent me pictures of our two little jewels that she has taken all this season both at soccer and a recent Halloween party. We both agree, they are beautiful together, and they will always be friends.
Nov 2, 2009
That Pesky Adoption "Thing"
I wrote about this long long ago. Some of the weird questions and situations I have gotten myself into just by being an adoptive mom.
I have said that the worst, and I mean it, thing someone can say.......and I pause here to clarify, this is always said by the deliverer with the best of intention......"Now watch, once you adopt a baby, you'll get pregnant."
While we were preparing to adopt and directly after we had adopted both of our kids, hands down that was the most common thing said to us. When the kids were babies, it was said to us by someone to us daily.
Just to recap why that actually just pours salt on a wound is this:
1) By the time a person has made the huge emotional and financial investment to adopt, it is pretty clear the biological plumbing isn't working. Ours has never worked and we fall into the statistic where 70% of infertile couples never know why they are infertile. So truly, the plumbing isn't working and there has been a whole slew of expensive investigation to figure out why. To adopt is to say you are done with that roller coaster.
You have also mourned some losses. You have lost the idea that your children will look like you and have characteristics of you and your distant family. You lose the idea that your kids will related to you biologically. You have lost the childbirth experience. I know some also say to me, "You're not missing anything." Well, I do believe I am, and I have lost that experience.
2) Especially after the adopted baby arrives, people say that. So why would I want a pregnancy now that I have this little gem in my arms I have waited so long for? My oldest child was my in laws first grandchild. When another grandchild was on the way, not ours, someone actually said to them, "Isn't it great to get a real grandchild?" That person was quickly corrected.
I have been asked this, "Now that you have an adopted baby, watch, you'll get pregnant with a real baby!" Let me tell you, our children are not imaginary. They are our children. I can't tell you how dismissive that feels to both my children and myself. It degrades what we have, and what we have is pretty special.
Okay, at a candle party two weeks ago. The gal, K, who hosted the party, has been in the mires of adoption/infertility. She has been married a long time. We have had long long talks, and I try to encourage her as much as I can.
Sure enough.....a nice lady said it, "K, watch, once you adopt you'll get pregnant. You're just stressed out."
Reason number three why not to say that sentiment to infertile couples.....ready, it wasn't pretty.....her face turned red, and I could see the pure frustration coming forth. I am amazed at how controlled her response was verbally compared to her physical symptoms.
K: Unless you can get him (points to the other room where her husband is working) to make sperm, I just don't think that is going to happen.
Lesson learned, unless you know why a person is adopting (lack of sperm, eggs, tubes, plumbing) it might be a good idea to not say that hot button of a statement.
I have said that the worst, and I mean it, thing someone can say.......and I pause here to clarify, this is always said by the deliverer with the best of intention......"Now watch, once you adopt a baby, you'll get pregnant."
While we were preparing to adopt and directly after we had adopted both of our kids, hands down that was the most common thing said to us. When the kids were babies, it was said to us by someone to us daily.
Just to recap why that actually just pours salt on a wound is this:
1) By the time a person has made the huge emotional and financial investment to adopt, it is pretty clear the biological plumbing isn't working. Ours has never worked and we fall into the statistic where 70% of infertile couples never know why they are infertile. So truly, the plumbing isn't working and there has been a whole slew of expensive investigation to figure out why. To adopt is to say you are done with that roller coaster.
You have also mourned some losses. You have lost the idea that your children will look like you and have characteristics of you and your distant family. You lose the idea that your kids will related to you biologically. You have lost the childbirth experience. I know some also say to me, "You're not missing anything." Well, I do believe I am, and I have lost that experience.
2) Especially after the adopted baby arrives, people say that. So why would I want a pregnancy now that I have this little gem in my arms I have waited so long for? My oldest child was my in laws first grandchild. When another grandchild was on the way, not ours, someone actually said to them, "Isn't it great to get a real grandchild?" That person was quickly corrected.
I have been asked this, "Now that you have an adopted baby, watch, you'll get pregnant with a real baby!" Let me tell you, our children are not imaginary. They are our children. I can't tell you how dismissive that feels to both my children and myself. It degrades what we have, and what we have is pretty special.
Okay, at a candle party two weeks ago. The gal, K, who hosted the party, has been in the mires of adoption/infertility. She has been married a long time. We have had long long talks, and I try to encourage her as much as I can.
Sure enough.....a nice lady said it, "K, watch, once you adopt you'll get pregnant. You're just stressed out."
Reason number three why not to say that sentiment to infertile couples.....ready, it wasn't pretty.....her face turned red, and I could see the pure frustration coming forth. I am amazed at how controlled her response was verbally compared to her physical symptoms.
K: Unless you can get him (points to the other room where her husband is working) to make sperm, I just don't think that is going to happen.
Lesson learned, unless you know why a person is adopting (lack of sperm, eggs, tubes, plumbing) it might be a good idea to not say that hot button of a statement.
Halloween 2009
Yes, surprisingly, Tyrone loves the slimy insides of pumpkins.
Tasha loves to snag a piece of candy and toss it around the house.
Anyone here yet??
After a full day of chasing candy wrappers and eating pumpkin guts.
The kids are gone....whew....Nov 1, 2009
Online Learning Trends
Okay, you remember my last post where I couldn't remember the name of the woman who started off the task force meetings with her powerful synopsis of online learning trends worldwide?
You want to be dazzled? Here is a recent interview with her regarding those trends, more domestically. She is an amazing resource when it comes to figuring all this out. Please take a moment and read this. It's a very easy read and will open your eyes to what online has for our (humankind's) future. Plus, the comments are quite enlightening as well.
Click here.
You want to be dazzled? Here is a recent interview with her regarding those trends, more domestically. She is an amazing resource when it comes to figuring all this out. Please take a moment and read this. It's a very easy read and will open your eyes to what online has for our (humankind's) future. Plus, the comments are quite enlightening as well.
Click here.
Oct 27, 2009
Climate Chains
Remember the trailer to the documentary I referenced a few months ago? Here it is in it's entirety. Thanks to the great people at the Cascade Policy Institute for this. Grab a cup of coffee, plop the laptop in your lap, kick back the recliner.
Oct 26, 2009
Our Annual Apple Orchard Trip
The Hood River Valley dappled in fruit farms. Plus a major fruit processing operation.
Everyone loves apples!
It's a little scary giving this guy an apple. His horns were nothing to dismiss.
Overlooking Hood River, OR. Gorgeous leaves!
The hay ride turned into a tractor ride.
Seriously, the wing span of this creature is about 4 feet. A little daunting.
Our favorite apple orchards.
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