Posts
Wow! I've gotten a lot of wonderful compliments on my new fall-themed blog header. Although I'd love to take ALL the credit, I can't. I created the header from digital scrapbooking kits I downloaded from http://www.shabbyprincess.com/. Most of the header (papers, ribbons, bookplate, staples, and cool transparency) came from their Shabby Fall kit, while the title alphabet and the photo turns are in the Shabby Mommy kit. Each of the kits I used are free, but they have a great selection of kits for sale. If you are into digital scrapbooking, you should really check out their site. If you're not into scrabooking but you are just looking for blog headers, they have some premade blog headers for sale which are reasonably priced at $2.50 each with additional button graphics included.
Oh, and the flowers I used are from a free kit I found called "My Girl". I wish I had noted the site on which I found it, but unfortunately I didn't. I think it's from a French designer, since the downloads are labeled "papiers", "bordure", "fleur", and "cadre". It also says "Charlie 54 Design", but I was unable to locate the website again.
Anyway, thanks again for all the kudos!
-e
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Mommy The Terrible
My daughter is supposed to go to the orthodontist on Thursday, and I'm the one feeling anxiety. I love my child. I would end your life in less than two seconds for even thinking about harming her. So how is it that I am going to pay someone, a relative stranger to me, to install what looks like a medieval torture device in my child's mouth?
Dr. Tingling, my daughter's orthodontist, calls it a palate expander. My daughter has significant tooth crowding, owing to the fact that her mouth is too small for her permanent teeth. It's hereditary. I have a small mouth, too. (I'm holding up my middle finger to everyone who scoffed at that statement!) I was shown x-rays and photos and was assured that this apparatus would help correct the space issue. She will later need braces to coax the permanent teeth into alignment.
Okay. Sounds simple.
Except that the expander is designed to literally pull apart the roof of her mouth. I was advised that it is best to do it now, before the palate fuses together. If I were to wait, surgery would be necessary to break that suture apart, then she would still need the expander. A friend of mine has a son younger than my daughter, and he had an expander installed and survived. So logic dictated to the vulcan in me that it would be best for her to get it now.
When I inquired whether this is going to be painful for my child, I was told she "might" feel some "discomfort". That is medical speak for "yes". And then he showed me how the thing works, as if that was supposed to make me feel better about it.
Apparently I am going to have to stick a key into this thing twice each day and make it exert even more force upon my child's mouth. I am to be my own child's torturer, and I am paying an orthodontist for the right to do it. I'm not sure I even have the stomach for it. Nevertheless, I sat there in that man's office with my child, and I agreed to this. I don't know how to account for my apparent lapse in good sense, though I suspect some version of the Jedi mind trick was involved.
As we get closer to her appointment, I'm having to fight the overwhelming urge to protect her from the cruelty of this world. The orthodontist is clearly a sadist who has found a way to legalize child abuse in this country. And I am clearly his flunky.
-e
Dr. Tingling, my daughter's orthodontist, calls it a palate expander. My daughter has significant tooth crowding, owing to the fact that her mouth is too small for her permanent teeth. It's hereditary. I have a small mouth, too. (I'm holding up my middle finger to everyone who scoffed at that statement!) I was shown x-rays and photos and was assured that this apparatus would help correct the space issue. She will later need braces to coax the permanent teeth into alignment.Okay. Sounds simple.
Except that the expander is designed to literally pull apart the roof of her mouth. I was advised that it is best to do it now, before the palate fuses together. If I were to wait, surgery would be necessary to break that suture apart, then she would still need the expander. A friend of mine has a son younger than my daughter, and he had an expander installed and survived. So logic dictated to the vulcan in me that it would be best for her to get it now.
When I inquired whether this is going to be painful for my child, I was told she "might" feel some "discomfort". That is medical speak for "yes". And then he showed me how the thing works, as if that was supposed to make me feel better about it.
Apparently I am going to have to stick a key into this thing twice each day and make it exert even more force upon my child's mouth. I am to be my own child's torturer, and I am paying an orthodontist for the right to do it. I'm not sure I even have the stomach for it. Nevertheless, I sat there in that man's office with my child, and I agreed to this. I don't know how to account for my apparent lapse in good sense, though I suspect some version of the Jedi mind trick was involved.
As we get closer to her appointment, I'm having to fight the overwhelming urge to protect her from the cruelty of this world. The orthodontist is clearly a sadist who has found a way to legalize child abuse in this country. And I am clearly his flunky.
-e
Friday, October 26, 2007
Better Late Than Never
Justice is slow, but sometimes it comes around. This morning, the Georgia Supreme court finally put an end to Genarlow Wilson's nightmare and ordered his release.
For those who aren't familiar with the case, Genarlow Wilson was convicted in 2005. It seems that young Genarlow, at the age of 17, attended a New Year's Eve party in 2003, where he received oral sex from a 15-year-old girl and had sex with another 17-year-old girl. In true sign-of-the-times fashion, these sex acts were caught on tape, which proved to be both a blessing and a curse when both girls later cried rape. The young Mr. Wilson's claim that the sex was consensual was corroborated by the videotape, and he was acquitted of the rape against the 17-year-old. Unfortunately for Genarlow, the age of consent in the state of Georgia is 16. So, because there was video evidence of his sex act with the 15-year-old, although clearly consensual, he was charged and convicted of aggravated child molestation, a felony at the time which carried a mandatory minimum 10-year sentence.
Now, far be it for me to point out the two-ton elephant in the room, but one should definitely note that Genarlow Wilson was an honor student and star athlete at the time. He is also African-American. Both of the girls who he was accused of assaulting are White, as is the prosecutor in the case. I bring that up because it's a factor, not only because the prosecutor's office believed these girls despite clear evidence to the contrary but also in the prosecutor's decision to charge a 17-year-old with molesting a "child" less than 2 years younger than him. Would the case have even escalated to that point if the young man in question had been White? Call me a cynic if you must, but i seriously doubt it. Prosecutorial discretion would probably have prevailed in that situation.
For the record, the prosecutor did offer a deal shortly after a judges decision earlier this year to reduce this kid's sentence to 12 months and free him (the state's appeal of that decision is what necessitated today's ruling). They offered to reduce the charge so that he would not have to be labeled as a sex offender. The reduced charge would have carried a 10-year sentence also, but he would only have to serve five with credit for the two he has already served. Thanks, but no thanks.
Georgia's law has since been changed so as not to affect kids so close in age. It came too late to help Genarlow Wilson, who missed out on his college scolarship because of this.
Anyway, this should be a lesson to all young boys (and girls) about discretion. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should (this also applies to Kobe Jellybean Bryant, for the record). But I am glad that Genarlow is finally free.
Read more about the court's decision here.
For those who aren't familiar with the case, Genarlow Wilson was convicted in 2005. It seems that young Genarlow, at the age of 17, attended a New Year's Eve party in 2003, where he received oral sex from a 15-year-old girl and had sex with another 17-year-old girl. In true sign-of-the-times fashion, these sex acts were caught on tape, which proved to be both a blessing and a curse when both girls later cried rape. The young Mr. Wilson's claim that the sex was consensual was corroborated by the videotape, and he was acquitted of the rape against the 17-year-old. Unfortunately for Genarlow, the age of consent in the state of Georgia is 16. So, because there was video evidence of his sex act with the 15-year-old, although clearly consensual, he was charged and convicted of aggravated child molestation, a felony at the time which carried a mandatory minimum 10-year sentence.
Now, far be it for me to point out the two-ton elephant in the room, but one should definitely note that Genarlow Wilson was an honor student and star athlete at the time. He is also African-American. Both of the girls who he was accused of assaulting are White, as is the prosecutor in the case. I bring that up because it's a factor, not only because the prosecutor's office believed these girls despite clear evidence to the contrary but also in the prosecutor's decision to charge a 17-year-old with molesting a "child" less than 2 years younger than him. Would the case have even escalated to that point if the young man in question had been White? Call me a cynic if you must, but i seriously doubt it. Prosecutorial discretion would probably have prevailed in that situation.
For the record, the prosecutor did offer a deal shortly after a judges decision earlier this year to reduce this kid's sentence to 12 months and free him (the state's appeal of that decision is what necessitated today's ruling). They offered to reduce the charge so that he would not have to be labeled as a sex offender. The reduced charge would have carried a 10-year sentence also, but he would only have to serve five with credit for the two he has already served. Thanks, but no thanks.
Georgia's law has since been changed so as not to affect kids so close in age. It came too late to help Genarlow Wilson, who missed out on his college scolarship because of this.
Anyway, this should be a lesson to all young boys (and girls) about discretion. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should (this also applies to Kobe Jellybean Bryant, for the record). But I am glad that Genarlow is finally free.
Read more about the court's decision here.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Real Women Please Stand Up
When I'm surfing, I sometimes come across some of the most unique things. Most are worth a chuckle or two, but I quickly forget about them. This is definitely different...because I've been laughing about this for the last few hours.
Okay, so I happened upon a Canadian website advertising a product called the P-Mate. What is it? It's a device that supposedly gives females the ability to pee...wait for it...standing up!!!!
Give me a moment. I'm laughing uncontrollably again...
Okay I'm good now.
If you get a chance, you should definitely check out the stories on the humor link of the site.
The obvious comedy of all this aside, I can definitely see why this product would be useful. Any female who's ever had to relieve herself in a filthy, grimy public restroom can see it too. As well as any mother who has found herself in the middle of nowhere when her young daughter, who swore before they left home not five minutes prior that she didn't have to use the bathroom, suddenly declares she can't hold it any longer.
And what about the evolutionary implications? Young girls could develop hand-to-eye coordination as toddlers like their male counterparts.
Haha! First we pee standing up, then we elect a female leader of the free world, then we force men to have periods and give birth to our young!
Okay, maybe not. But still those crafty Canadians might actually be on to something...
-e
Okay, so I happened upon a Canadian website advertising a product called the P-Mate. What is it? It's a device that supposedly gives females the ability to pee...wait for it...standing up!!!!
Give me a moment. I'm laughing uncontrollably again...
Okay I'm good now.
If you get a chance, you should definitely check out the stories on the humor link of the site.
The obvious comedy of all this aside, I can definitely see why this product would be useful. Any female who's ever had to relieve herself in a filthy, grimy public restroom can see it too. As well as any mother who has found herself in the middle of nowhere when her young daughter, who swore before they left home not five minutes prior that she didn't have to use the bathroom, suddenly declares she can't hold it any longer.
And what about the evolutionary implications? Young girls could develop hand-to-eye coordination as toddlers like their male counterparts.
Haha! First we pee standing up, then we elect a female leader of the free world, then we force men to have periods and give birth to our young!
Okay, maybe not. But still those crafty Canadians might actually be on to something...
-e
High School IS important!
I've been told all my life that education is important, and I always believed it. But I must confess that there are precious few things I learned in high school besides algebra (which I technically learned in junior high) that have had actual application in my real life. In fact, most of what I use daily - reading, basic math and logic, be polite, and don't go outside without your coat in the middle of winter - are things I learned in grammar school.
So what, exactly, was the point of high school besides acting as a stepping stone to college? I've finally figured it out.
I was at IKEA today, and I bought a tall bookcase for my daughter's room. After I got it to the car I realized it was much too long to fit in my trunk. As I pondered how best to get my purchase home, I thought back to my flag corps days. I remembered how we'd pile 5 or 6 girls, each with a 6-foot long flag pole, into a compact car on a daily basis.
And then it hit me - I would have to lay the long furniture-containing box just like the flag poles.
Ha! Success!
The box wasn't quite as easy to get into the car as those narrow flag poles were, but the principle was the same.
And there you have it! After all these years I finally know why high school was relevant. You make life-long friends and you learn how to transport furniture.
-e
So what, exactly, was the point of high school besides acting as a stepping stone to college? I've finally figured it out.
I was at IKEA today, and I bought a tall bookcase for my daughter's room. After I got it to the car I realized it was much too long to fit in my trunk. As I pondered how best to get my purchase home, I thought back to my flag corps days. I remembered how we'd pile 5 or 6 girls, each with a 6-foot long flag pole, into a compact car on a daily basis.
And then it hit me - I would have to lay the long furniture-containing box just like the flag poles.
Ha! Success!
The box wasn't quite as easy to get into the car as those narrow flag poles were, but the principle was the same.
And there you have it! After all these years I finally know why high school was relevant. You make life-long friends and you learn how to transport furniture.
-e
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Oh Lord!
I've had it up to HERE with folk and their religion these days. Don't get me wrong. If you find a religion that moves you, I'm nothing but happy for you. But, please...LEAVE ME OUT OF IT!
This is especially true of the newly faithful. Come on! Last week you were a hedonistic, narcissistic, pernicious lush. Then you happened into a church one day, and now you think you must drag me down your chosen religious path with you, whether I want to go or not.
Why do some people seem to feel it is their right to dictate to me about what I believe or don't believe? I think there has to be some kind of bounty on my soul. Why else would people be trying so hard to "save" it? Perhaps the procurement of my soul buys one a free pass into heaven...and a handful of extra game tokens.
In any event, I've grown weary of the constant badgering. So I've compiled a list of pointers that will allow us to peacefully coexist.
This is especially true of the newly faithful. Come on! Last week you were a hedonistic, narcissistic, pernicious lush. Then you happened into a church one day, and now you think you must drag me down your chosen religious path with you, whether I want to go or not.
Why do some people seem to feel it is their right to dictate to me about what I believe or don't believe? I think there has to be some kind of bounty on my soul. Why else would people be trying so hard to "save" it? Perhaps the procurement of my soul buys one a free pass into heaven...and a handful of extra game tokens.
In any event, I've grown weary of the constant badgering. So I've compiled a list of pointers that will allow us to peacefully coexist.
- If you ask if I am of a certain religion, and I tell you I am not, you DO NOT get to ask me to explain myself. It is not incumbent upon me to justify my beliefs to you.
- You DO NOT get to debate monotheistic religion (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam included, among others) if you cannot engage in an educated discourse about paganism or polytheism in general. How can you effectively lobby for any religion if you are unaware of its origins?
- If you engage me in any debate on religion, DO NOT attempt to use your religious book of choice to prove your point. Newsflash: this is circular logic. If I don't espouse your religion, it follows that I do not regard its text as the ultimate truth. Think people!
- Regurgitating chapter and verse numbers to me DOES NOT make you sound smart. Nor does it in any way aid your argument (see #3). Get over yourself! Other primates have also demonstrated the ability to memorize...so score one for Charles Darwin.
- DO NOT try to convert me to your religion by testifying to me about how your faith saved your life. Please keep in mind that I can assemble, within a matter of minutes, people of all different religious beliefs, all of whom can relate similar anecdotes about their chosen path.
- DO NOT proclaim that you are going to pray for me and then wait for me to thank you. Who asked you anyway? There is really no reason for you to tell me of your intent. If praying for me helps you sleep at night, then do it. Or don't. Either way, my acknowledgement should not be requisite for your personal action.
- DO NOT DARE tell me to whom you think I "need" to pray or what you think I "need" to believe. This is not only presumptuous, condescending, and insulting, but also very annoying. I am not an idiot. Do not treat me like one.
- If you invite me to a religious service, and I decline, you SHOULD NOT take that to mean that if you annoy me about it long enough I will miraculously want to go. There are reasons I do not enjoy attending these things, and you've just brought the primary one into sharp focus. If you delight in going, then go. You don't really need to roll with backup.
- DO NOT continually try to get me to espouse your beliefs. If your religion is so wonderful, why do you need the hard sell? Who are you trying to convince anyway?
- NEVER tell me that the reason I don't share your beliefs is that I don't understand what it's all about. There's a good chance I've studied more about your religion than you have.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
