Sad news

I was reading the local newspaper online early this morning and was saddened to hear that Miss Edna Davy Muir,of Princess Anne,passed away yesterday at age 93.She was a regular weekly contributor to a lifestyle column in The Daily Times aptly titled"Life in the Country".I always read the paper online to save some bucks but usually picked up a copy on weekends just because her columns weren' t in the internet editions,so I could read it.My favorite stories of hers involved the traditions of Christmas back in the "old days",when people actually collected greenery outdoors to make wreaths and garlands for decorations.She is survived by a daughter,her husband,many friends and many,many fans.I hope the Times will reprint some of her best columns from over the past 20 years because they are a valuable insight into the history of life on Delmarva.

Happy New Year 2008!

Happy New Year everyone!2008 is here-WOW!We here stayed in and watched the ball drop-too many drunks on the road for me to go out anywhere tonight!I am making no other resolutions other than a promise to drink more water everyday lol.Thats it!I hope those of you who are getting sh*tfaced tonight are off the road and not letting others drive home drunk either!
Also,today marks the 145th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation,in which President Lincoln decreed that slaves in rebellious states were free.Ironically,55 years earlier on this same date,Congress declared the African slave trade prohibited,but it continued to flourish.Theres a history nugget for you!Happy New Years!

Weekend box office

"National Treasure II:Book of Secrets" RULED the box office for the last weekend of 2007.grossing 35.6 Million.Like with most,I will wait until it is released on DVD to see it.

1. National Treasure II:Book of Secrets 36.5m
2. Alvin & the Chipmunks 30m
3. I am Legend 27.5
4. Charlie Wilsons War 11.8m
5. Juno 10.3m
6. Alien vs Predator:Requiem 10.5m
7. The Water Horse:Legend of the Deep 9.2m
8. PS I love you 9.1
9. Sweeney Todd:The Demon Barber of Fleet Street 8m
10. Enchanted 6.5m

Anything to make a buck.....

Months ago I read an investigative report in Marie Claire magazine about the booming surrogacy industry in India and this weekend it actually made the mainstream news.Infertile couples all over the world are paying poor women in India to carry a child conceived with their sperm and egg via IVF and then implanted into the surrogate.Surrogacy is often a last resort for childless couples and invokes alot of controversy,but it is still legal in most countries to "rent a womb".Proponents point out that the women are paid on average about 5 thousand dollars to carry the baby and they are helping childless couples become parents but it is not all roses and wine...It borders on unethical exploitation and opponents fear "baby farm" operations cropping up in other poverty stricken regions of the world.
There are so many unwanted and neglected children already on this earth who need good loving homes and families for people to start outsourcing pregnancy to India like a part-time job.The thousands of dollars these people spend going to India and paying a surrogate could be better used to adopt a child in need,and providing for that childs upbringing and education.It could be donated to March of Dimes to help those little babies already here struggling to survive.Just because you aren't biologically related to an adopted child doesn't mean you cannot be a "real" family.

"Tommy,can you hear me?"

Turner Classic Movies is airing The Whos' 1975 rock opera "Tommy" tonight,talk about a real movie classic!Other than The Who,musical guests include Tina Turner & Elton John.It's not for everyone but it's so bad it is good!And tell me,where else do you see a drunken Ann-Margret rolling around in baked beans?As with other musicals,like "Sgt Pepper","Tommy" has a steller soundtrack too.

Paydirt for doggies

A Hagerstown,Maryland man named Ken Kemper died last year and left his entire estate,estimated at 800 thousand dollars in value and including his house,to his three dogs!They consist of a Beagle and two Lab mixes and they live at the home with their cartaker Roy Grady,who even makes them spaghetti and garlic bread dinners once a week(that cant be good for them!).The executor of the Kemper estate says that when the dogs are deceased and no longer require care,the remainder of the estate will be donated to animal-related charities,saying thats what Kemper would have wanted.Apparently he adopted all three dogs as strays and wanted to be sure they would continue to be cared for after he was gone.Hey,if he does not have kids to spend it for him,I think it was really sweet to look out for his pets.Whatta guy!

Just STFU!

A Parade magazine poll named Rosie O'Donnell the most annoying celebrity,with Paris hilton at a close second and she agrees,saying all celebrities are annoying but she is unimpressed with the results of the poll.Why can't Rosie just shut up?

I actually liked her back in the old days when she was appearing on VH1's "Standup Spotlight",when she was a struggling comedienne.She was a better standup act than she was an actress but she still was not annoying.While I never watched her talk show,apparently alot of people did because she was successful.Then she just started going whacko!I honestly think its menopause because this chick is a fruit loop!She all of a sudden decided that she knew everything and started talking and has not stopped since.The whole feud with Donald Trump was infantile but she did not stop there.Everybody who did not agree with her were ignorant homophobes.She has offended everyone she ever interogated on "The View".It is better to keep your mouth shut and have people wondering if you are a fool than to open your mouth and prove it,Rosie.

Laying Down the Law....Joe Clark

Recently a commentator at Sbynews asked who Joe Clark was,in reference to the post about a sheriffs deputy being assaulted in a local school after breaking up a fight amongst pupils.Then today I am flipping channels and "Lean on Me",the 1989 film starring Morgan Freeman as Joe Clark is on BET this afternoon.While the movie is GREAT,there is more to the story.
President Reagan was so impressed with Joe Clark's no nonsense methods he offered him a post as an educational policy advisor,Mr.Clark declined the offer.
Under Clarks leadership,Eastside High in Paterson,NJ,transformed from a failing school facing an imminent state takeover into a campus that was declared by the NJ Governor to be one of the states model schools.
He expelled 300 students in his first week as Principal,for a number of offenses.Vandalism,assaults,drugs,etc.He was the captain and if you did not follow his rules,you got off his ship.By eliminating the source of all the problems plaguing the school,the students with potential and a desire to learn could excel.After seven years at Eastside,he became Director of Essex County Detention House,a juvenile correctional facility in NJ.He continues to speak at public engagements and has authored a book,"Laying down the law".
If you want to know more,the movie is a good place to start.

Rock of Love 2 begins January 13,2008!!!!

In a previous post http://totmom.blogspot.com/2007/12/dont-threaten-me-with-good-time-bret.html I told you all about how Rock of Love 2 was set to air in 2008 and the first episode is Sunday,January 13 at 9 pm EST.The encore season was great,much better than other similar reality/dating shows.Bret Michaels returns to let another group of girls try to win his heart.Here's hoping that Evick appears again in the 2nd season(those guys can DRINK!),and better luck with love the second time around!!!

Picking the Godfathers Pockets

Late singer James Brown,the "Godfather of Soul",left the bulk of his estate to charitable trusts to college-educate all his grandchildren under 35 and needy children and now 5 of his grown children are contesting it.Although he reportedly earned 5 million in 2005(he died on Christmas 2006)attorneys are saying there is less money than they expected in his accounts.Apparently the children feel that JB was coerced into changing his will by his financial advisers.I think that knowing he provided for his grandchildren(their children) to get a college education should be enough!It seems like anytime there is money in the mix,whether it be a little or a lot,a death in the family is probably going to be accompanied by petty bickering over who gets what.Thank God that didn't happen when my Mother passed.All 3 of us girls leaned on each other for support and our main concern was each other.I hope if they do get a judge to listen to them he will see right through them and throw it out.It's shameful for them to conduct themselves like that when he obviously wanted to give kids the opportunities he never had.

John Smith's reprieve

400 years ago today,Pocahontas pleaded successfully for her father Powhatan to spare Captain John Smiths' life.It is believed Smith Island in Somerset County is named for him.It's not just a Disney movie,it really happened!

Who can turn the world on with her smile?

Happy 70th birthday to Mary Tyler Moore!!!I loved her in reruns as "Laura Petrie" and as "Mary Richards!!!!Shes got spunk!

Stupid is as stupid does....

If I had brains I would be dangerous,folks!Ever since last night,I have been having hellacious problems with my PC and could not for the life of me diagnose the culprit.I happened to hover the cursor over the date and the day read as "December 29,2094"!Somehow when I was looking at the calendar last night I reset the year-drastically.That explains ALOT.Immediately after correcting this error,everything went back to normal!Imagone if I had took in to be checked out,I would have paid a minimal labor rate and all for something benign in nature that I could have prevented in the first place by not being a dum-dum.

Internet Predators

As I usually try to do on Friday nights,I am watching "Dateline NBC" and this week they are doing another "To catch a predator" episode,in Kentucky.It is shocking to see,even after all the media attention"To catch a predator" has gotten(its even been sent up on SNL),there are still multiple men traveling ,often hundereds of miles,to meet what they think is a 13 year old girl,for sex!A young fresh faced cleancut guy shows up,and he is an ex Police Lt!!!!WTF?He was,but he had been fired from his job!His excuse for meeting an underage girl?He is going through a divorce and he is lonely!.When he goes to exit the house,he sees the police and he tries to go back in and gets tased for his efforts!Yet another guy shows up and reveals he is a convicted sex offender,and amazingly,a severely handicapped man shows up with crutches and they all are preying on decoys that they think are underage girls.
This is a serious problem and parents have got to moniter their childs computer use!One of my friends just got her daughter her 1st computer for Christmas and whenever she is on her computer,her bedroom door must be wide open so her Mom can look in and see what she is doing.She has also been instructed about internet safety,including being told to NEVER give out personal information,or engage in chat with anyone who says inappropriate things.It sounds simple,but with sites like Myspace and Friendster more popular than ever,it is important that your kids know not to give their private email address out to anyone they do not know,or their address or phone number.
I do not understand what make these pervs tick,and it is frightening as a mother to know that there are people like that out there.Dateline has taken alot of heat since a public prosecuter(DA) killed himself after being nabbed trying to meet a minor for sex,but they are providing a valuable service.It gives me great satisfaction to see these men in shackles on national television,so the world knows how disgusting they are.I have followed the "To catch a Predator" series since they began.
If you are stuck home on a Friday night,Dateline is usually pretty gripping.It's like 60 Minutes,but with better looking hosts and a bigger budget!

A nice toddy

My dear Mr. is suffering from a head cold and needs sleep so I whipped him up an interesting hot toddy from what was on hand-very sweet,very strong and very flammable!
I took a mug of regular hot tea,added honey,lemon,pinch of sugar,a capful of Canadien Club whiskey and a capful of Jim Beam bourbon and swirled it all up.He has two and needless to say he will get some rest tonight!And I think it tastes better than Nyquil.Someone else I know uses ginger brandy in hot drinks when he has a bad cold.Anyone else out there have any interesting home remedy concoction/cocktails?I rarely imbibe and when I do it is fruity girlie rum drinks LOL.We have bottles in our bar with layers of dust....

In Memory of a Fallen Firefighter.....

As we all look forward to starting a new year,I reminisce about the loved ones no longer with us.This is a solemn week in my extended family,as it has been 13 years this week my young cousin lost his life in an accident enroute to a fire call.He signed up to volunteer at his local volunteer fire department the summer he turned 16 and by age 18,he was Chief Engineer,responsible for upkeep and maintainence on emergency vehicles.In addition to working as a 911 dispatcher for the county,he was trained as a firefighter and EMT.At an age when other kids are partying and goofing off,he had committed himself to helping others and gave 101% at everything he did.He was a great kid,and probably would have been Fire Chief right now were he here with us still.My brothers and sisters and I miss him,and I justed wanted to give him an honorable mention,you could say,because I am very proud of him and all he accomplished in his 18 years,and for doing a tough job because it was what he wanted to do to give back to his community.

It's "Howdy Doody Time!"

60 Years ago today,"Howdy Doody" debuted on NBC,and ran until 1960-although it was before my time,my parents generation grew up watching this freckled puppet! Bob Keeshan played "Clarabel" the clown until he went on to become"Captain Kangaroo" & then-unknown actor William Shatner appeared on a Canadian version of the show.It was the beginning of a whole series of entertaining live-action Tv shows for children and has a huge place in TV history!

Fried Green Tomatoes

I usually avoid Lifetime channel during primetime because alot of their "made for TV" movies are just cheesy but tonight they are airing "Fried Green Tomatoes",which is one of my favorite movies of all time!It is based on Fannie Flaggs novel,"Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe".I have since lost my copy,but the book actually contained recipes in the back pages for the Southern goodies served in the cafe in the novel and movie.The plot switches back and forth between the 1930's and 1990's in Alabama and the fictional town of Whistlestop was one of the many small railroad towns that became ghost towns after the railroads heyday was over.If you have never seen this 1991 film,give it a whirl.LOL-I can actually make fried green tomatoes if anyone wants to try them,but they are LOADED with sodium and cholesterol!and try finding green tomatoes,unless you grow them yourself.That kind of cooking is good stuff but hell on your arteries!

Spare the rod-stay out of jail

What on Earth is Rep.Jay Kaufman smoking on?He is pushing H.B. 3922,which would basically make parental corporal punishment illegal in Massachusetts!No government entity should dictate family issues or take power away from the parents.Abuse is one thing,but warming up your childs rear-end to discipline them is NOT abuse!Parents who don't spank will not go to jail,but odds are their kids will eventually if authority is stripped from loving,responsible parents.Call it "policing at home" if you will.When children learn that there are consequences for breaking rules,they are less likely to repeat their actions.Look at the decine in social and behavorial standards in public schools since corporal punishment there was eliminated.People my age can recall when they got spanked AT school by the Principal and when they took that note home,they got another butt-whipping there.Now they get a vacation from school.
When I first heard it on O'Reilly,I was taken aback.He (Rep.Kaufman)needs to divert his attention to the kids who really need protection,the many children who ARE abused.Is anyone else just dumbfounded by this whole thing?With this mindset,no wonder theres kids getting arrested for fighting and stealing and worse all the time-they never learned that there are undesirable repercussions for their misbehavior.

"A Matter of Character"

My conservative Republican father got all 6 of his grown children a copy of Ron Kesslers'"A matter of character"(2004) right along with their usual gifts this year because we all enjoy reading and he thought it was a good book.I teased him about "trying to convert a few of us" because not all of kids share his politics LOL.Well,I got some free time and have read most of it already(I am very fast reader folks!) and as much as I am loathe to admit,it has kinda softened my stance on "W".I am a registered Independent and proably will remain so but the writer did a good job of making GW appealing to even someone like me.Although it glossed over some things,it also revealed alot!for example,in 2001,All FBI computers were pre-pentium 386 and 486 processors.At the time the new director wanted MS Office installed,he was told that the existing PC's could not run it they were so antiquated!Thats a scary and sobering thought to ponder.If you want an interesting read,and you aren't vehemently anti-Bush,you just might enjoy this book.

Christmas Memories and More....

For many years I spent Christmas morning at my Mothers house and then in the afternoon,it was on to my step-grandparents with my Dad and stepmother.This was the second christmas without my mother,which is VERY difficult to comprehend,so after my daughter finished unwrapping her loot from Santa,we packed up and it was off to the grandparents(my stepmothers parents)to spend the afternoon with the extended family.Other than my husbands grandmother,they are the only living grandparents I have left and they are getting on in years and are in poor health,so each year is a blessing.Pop-pop Jim has had many strokes and cant really recall much,but the look on his face when he sees his many great-grandkids is priceless.He doesnt know all their names anymore but he knows they are his greatgrandbabies and he is content just to watch them play and get hugs & kisses all day long.It makes my day to see him so happy.
Also,is it just me,or is everything overpackages now?I filled 5 yard-sized garbage bags to almost bursting with paper and plastic packaging today,mostly from toys!To see our dump pile you would think we bought out a department store!
I also had a pile of dishes waiting for me when I got home today.Although I did not cook at home,I baked some sugar cutouts(from a mix) and pecan sandies(from scratch).My dear husband sat down and hand-shelled over a hundred pecans Sunday while watching football,sans nutcracker tools.Try to find a nutcracker set!One store where we checked said"No,we don't have them,but everyone is asking for them!"Uh,duh!Used to be at least one person would give you a nutcracker set for Christmas,now they seem to be scarce!At least I do not have to buy pecans-my father has so many he gives them away!
I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and got to spend time with the people they love.You never know who will still be here with us next year so its important to always make time for family and loved ones!

This weeks new DVD releases

This weeks new releases came out yesterday due to the Christmas Holiday......


Theatrical releases

• "Rush Hour 3"-3rd sequel in Chris Tucker/Jackie Chan series
• "The Kingdom"-Drama about American oil workers under terrorist attack in Mideast
• "Eastern Promises"-stars Naomi Watts and Viggo Mortenson

Other DVD's this week

"American Pie Presents:Beta House"-yet ANOTHER American Pie spinoff starring Eugene Levy and a bunch of oversexed adolescents.Widescreen,uncut

"Battlestar Galactica 1980:The complete epic series"-the original is still the best!2 disc set

"Cat People"(1982)

HD-DVD

"Pans Labrynth"-from Guillermo del Toro,who brought us "Hellboy",also on blu-ray and HD DVD

"Timecop"(1994)-a very underrated scifi movie,with special features,HD DVD

If you aren't worn out from Christmas,go out and rent a movie!

Nothing like the "AC-to hell with you" to get me fired up!

I know I said I would not be blogging again until tomorrow but I have been seething all day long after reading the Daily Times today.Why,you ask?It seems the little town of Exmore,on Virginias Eastern Shore,has a Nativity scene as part of it's Christmas displays and the good old "AC-to hell with you"(ACLU),as well as another liberal watchdog group,is demanding via threatening letters that it be removed or else.Exmores Town Manager Herb Gilsdorf says the town has not even replied to the letters as of yet and that Mayor Guy Lawson intends on keeping the display until a Judge orders it to be taken down.It is actually sitting on State-owned property and is maintained and electrified by the town.The only problems I can foresee is that it is municipal employees on government time setting it up,it is on state property and uses town electricity.Heres my solution-having grown up on the Eastern shore of Virginia,I know there are alot of good Christian people down there who give selflessly of themselves.So.....recruit a private business owner with highway exposure similar to the current location offer a place to put it & plug it in and have citizens or city employees on their own time volunteer to put it up,take it down and maintain it.Then tell the ACLU to go straight to hell and find some other battle to fight.That way it will still be there for everyone to see AND then they cannot do anything about it,in court or otherwise!I know not everyone celebrates Christmas and thats their right but like a commentator in the Times Story Chat stated,it is not just Christian history,the Nativity is WORLD history.If Jesus didn't exist,if he was not in fact born in Bethlehem,then why do we refer to his name to mark history,as in B.C.(before Christ)???Think about it!Why do we say "2007 A.D."if Jesus did not die for our sins?I am not naive enough to think that my religion is the ONLY way,but why is it suddenly wrong or politically incorrect to be a Christian?If the ACLU wants to get pissed off over something,then get mad at the whole over-commercialized Christmas hype-not the beliefs behind the Holiday.I am all for seperation of church and state,but do we have to take God out of everything?I guess since His name is on cash the ACLU shuns the use of US currency too?I think not.They only have a problem with God when there is nothing in it for them.Merry Christmas!!!!!!

Have a Blessed & Merry Christmas!

I will not be blogging again until Wednesday and just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.Yes,I said Christmas!Some of you may have already celebrated Chanukah,yet others of you may be celebrating Kwanzaa later this week.Some of you just celebrated the Winter Solstice and I am sure there are some of you who will not celebrate any holiday at all this week.Regardless of what you believe or practice,I will not change my greeting-if you do not celebrate Christmas,then take my holiday greetings as my wishes to you for peace and love this year and every year!Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Christmas Day movie openings

For some families,bundling up and heading to the movie theater is as much of a tradition as opening gifts and trimming the tree,and there are quite few movies debuting this year on Christmas Day-something for everyone!

• "Predator vs. Alien-Requiem"
• "The Great Debaters"
• "The Water Horse:Legend of the Deep"
• "The Bucket List" (limited release)
• "Persepolis" (limited release)

Myself,after all the festivities are through will be cleaning up while watching "A Christmas Story"!!!!

Multiple mayhem

Last week there was a news story about teenage quadruplets born in 1990 who paid a special visit to a newborn set of quads who were born at the same hospital as the teens and as I read the advice that the teens parents gave to the new parents,I couldn't help but think of how mainstream and commonplace multiple births are now,mostly due to medical advancements and intervention."Jon & Kate plus 8",a show about a family with a set of twins AND a set of sextuplets,is one of the highest rated programs on TLC.The McConahey septuplets just celebrated their 10th birthday and were featured on the cover of a national womens magazine.

I have mixed feelings about the issue.I certainly can understand the desire to have a child and the lengths that a woman will go to in order to do so,but it's not all warm & fuzzy....The more babies there is,the higher their chances are of being premature,which in turn leads to a host of physical and developmental disabilities.Some doctors advocate "selective reduction",in other words,aborting some of the babies early in order to give one or two of them a better chance of survival-but thats not an option for alot of expectant parents,because of religious or moral beliefs.Unfortunately,because artificial insemination procedures are SO expensive and rarely covered by insurance,multiple embryos are implanted in the hopes that at least one will "take".While it would be wiser to implant just one or two,most women can only afford it once and are determined to succeed because they might not get another opportunity.So it is a very personal and complicated issue.

It used to be that multiples were rare,and while there are still the occasional set of multiples that were conceived the "old-fashioned way",for the most part the increasing multiple births are due to modern fertility medicine.I personally do not know how I would cope if I had more than one toddler but theres families that have anywhere from 3 to 7 and somehow they manage.They used to be able to get freebies from big companies but as multiples become more common,the diapers and strollers and other goodies have dried up.At least things are easier for these tots now.Back before artificial reporduction,quads and other multiples were exploited by their parents and sideshow barkers,some even being raised in circuses and traveling oddity shows like bearded ladies!We have come a long way since then.I can only recall one or two sets of twins in my high school-now there liable to be one or two in EVERY class!

"It's NOT a Wonderful Life"

This time of year,"It's a Wonderful Life" will no doubt be on television more than once and it's a Christmas classic,but George Bailey was NOT the nicest guy when you think about it.....

• When George learns Uncle Billy has lost 8,000 dollars,he grabs him by the collar and screams at him,saying" One of us is going to jail,and it is not going to be me!"George is willing to sell his uncle down the river for a simple mistake!
• After the money is gone,George goes home and goes on an angry rant.When his dear wife Mary asks him what is wrong,he replies"Everythings wrong!You call this a happy family?WHY did we have all these kids?"And he says this right in front of the poor kiddies,at Christmas no less!
• George calls little Zuzu's teacher on the phone and tells her she is "stupid,silly & careless"!
• When Mary chastises George for his shouting at her and the children,he storms out to a bar,where he gets stinking drunk,becomes obnoxious and gets punched out by the husband of the teacher he insulted!He then staggers out of the bar and gets into his car and DRIVES DRUNK!
• In the course of driving home drunk,George forgets to turn on his headlights,smashes into a tree and flees the scene when the homeowner comes out to investigate why there is a car on his lawn!

Were this movie made today,we would see George in,no-UNDER the jail for domestic violence,assault & battery,public intoxication,drunk driving,criminal property damage and leaving the scene of an accident!LOL-boy have times changed!

(source:"10 Sure signs a movie character is doomed and other surprising movie lists" by film critic Robert Roeper)

35 MPG or bust!

If you own any stock in Alcoa or other aluminum manufacturers,hold onto it!!!It is estimated that more aluminum and other lightweight metals will be used than steel in the automobile industry,in an effort to meet new MPG standards.They still need steel-just less of it.They will be employing the use of increasing amounts of high-strength steel,which cost more than low-carbon steel but is still alot less than aluminum and other alloys.Although automakers in the US have until 2020 to meet fleetwide requirements of 35 mpg or better,insiders say we can expect to see changes as soon as 2011 and we may pay more at the dealership as a result but our decreased need for fuel will offset the cost for consumers.
I would say it is about damn time!Toyota,Datsun & Honda were exporting cars 30 YEARS AGO that were twice as fuel efficient as the Big Three's offerings at that time and proved that it could be done,but it took Detroit too long to catch on.Now,I am not knocking American made cars one bit-my father drove a super-SWEET fire engne red 1969 Ford Galaxy 500XL coupe when I was a little girl and although it probably got single digit MPG's,you could damn near run it into anything and still keep rolling as long as you didn't blow out a tire.BUT.....back in the very early 70's nobody gave a crap about gas consumption because gas was as cheap as tap water and seemingly in just as abundant supply.Then the "get gas on odd numbered days" crisis in 1974 hit us hard!And thats when the Japanese saw their opportunity and ran with it!And their cars not only used less gas,they were pretty dependable too!And then some of the Big Three automakers got into bed with them,producing American nameplate cars with Japanese components.Some Fords employed Mazda engines,some Dodges had Mitsubishi engines,etc.Chevys Geo division were basically Suzuki vehicles with the GM name.Now you have most "foreign" cars & trucks built right here in the good ole USA!
I know some people feel safer in large vehicles that are heavier,but less steel doesn't make for a dangerous car or truck,as long as safety engineering evolves with them.We have to start somewhere,folks!
On a personal note,I just do not know how people can afford to drive gas-guzzlers anymore with prices the way they are right now.My husband drives 70 miles roundtrip 5 days a week to commute to work and yet we spend only 30 bucks a week for his gas!How?Cuz he drives a fuel efficient car.If he were to use the "Totmommobile",my minivan,for the same commute daily,our costs would increase to $75 to $100 a week!Thats ALOT of money when you have only one income in the household!
Soooo...LOL-I have given up my aspiration to some day own an actual restored Plymouth Superbird-even if I could afford the car,I could not pocket the cost of the gas!

And you thought you pinched pennies!

Sick of high finance charges on your car note?Do what Paul Brant did-break open your piggy bank and roll up your change and take it to the dealership!

Brant,of Frankfort,Indiana walked into Mike Raisor Chrysler Dodge Jeep on Friday flanked by sheriffs deputies for security reasons,plunked down more than 25 thousand dollars in rolled change and drove away in a brand new Dodge Ram 1/2 ton 4 wheel drive pickup truck!He had saved up all the money in an assortment of jars,jugs and piggy banks!It's nothing new for him either,in 1994 he purchased a Dodge Neon and a Dodge truck with about 36 thousand in change!He said he needed a new pickup with 4 wheel drive so he could get around in the snow if he had to and says scrimping and saving for what he wants or needs is a way of life,learned at his fathers knee.The elder Mr.Brant always paid for things in cash and used his saved change to finance family vacation trips.An armored car service came to count & collect the money at the dealership,as no bank would accept it!

That was an amazing story to me,because we dump all our change into one of several jars.We have one big jar that is earmarked for taking our little girl to Orlando for a family trip once shes a little older!We want to hit Universal and Disney and all that change eventually adds up!

Miss Edna hit the nail on the head!

Every Saturday,the Daily Times features a great column by Miss Edna Davy-Muir,titled"Life in the Country" and I look forward every week to seeing what she has to say.I especially enjoy her memories of yesteryear,particularly about how Christmas was celebrated when she was a child.Today she discussed the issue of illegal aliens and their impact on legal citizens.I couldn't have agreed with her more!
All of us,except for the Native Americans,descend from immigrants and that is what makes America great,but unchecked illegal immigration is costing taxpayers millions of dollars every year and it doesn't look like it will get any better!Any child born here to an illegal alien is an automatic citizen,and is eligible for government benefits ranging from food stamps to medical assistance.Now some people think that illegal aliens should get drivers licenses????If they don't pay taxes,do you think they are going to bother with insurance coverage?They stick an out-of-state tag on the bumper and no one will be the wiser until they are involved in an accident,and if they are at fault,guess what?They have no insurance so LEGAL,INSURED drivers,are left holding the bag for whatever damages are incurred,through no fault of their own.I am not anti-immigration but if people want to be American-they have to BE American!That means becoming a citizen,having a valid social security number,paying INTO social security,paying taxes-including Medicare,and following the rules already in place,rather than expecting the laws to conform to suit them.Its called the "melting pot" not "America ala Carte".Take America as it is,and everything that goes with being a responsible citizen,or leave it altogether.

Coming soon to a window near you...."electric sex"

According to an article today in the Baltimore Sun,the "leg lamp" has become a must-have gift for fans of the cult classic Bob Clark film "A Christmas Story".Numerous novelty stores,as well as Ebay,are selling alot of these lamps and you can even get a replica of the wooden box marked "FRAGILE" (Ralphie's Dad - "F-R-A-G-I-L-E.....it must be Italian!") like the one in the movie that the lamp was shipped in.There is even a "leg lamp" nightlight!!!Prices for the kitschy keepsake range from $150 to as much as $400 and amazingly,love of the lamp has spawned an entire line of related merchandise like T-shirts,bobbleheads & strings of ornamantal lights,all "leg lamp"!Or as Ralphie explained-"electric sex"!I have wanted one of the 45 inch replica lamps ever since I first saw the movie but I am loathe to spend that much money on something so frivolous when I could spend it on my daughter!Apparently alot of people out there either love it or hate it!A man in Severna Park has one prominently displayed in his front window,much to his wifes chagrin,and their son has asked to bring it with him back to the Eastern shore when he returns to SSU after the Christmas break!Just hope the wife doesn't "accidently" break it like Ralphie's mother did!

"Don Vito" sentenced for sex offense

The infamous Vincent "Don Vito" Margera,of West Chester,PA,seen on MTV's "Viva la Bam" and uncle to Bam Margera,has been sentenced in Colorado to probation for ten years to life after being convicted of 2 counts of child sexual assault.He allegedly groped three preteen girls (ages 12-14)at an autograph signing event in Colorado.Since his attorney argued that Margera had taken on the persona of his "Don Vito" character at the time of the attacks,he was ordered to refrain from appearing as the "Don Vito" character for ten years.He was also ordered to take a mental health evaluation, get substance abuse treatment and register as a sex offender.He also has a court date next month for violating his bail agreement by leaving Colorado and returning to Pennsylvania.
I knew from TV that Vito was a lecherous,alcoholic,slovenly slob and a perv,but that was tolerable.Groping little girls is NOT!The REAL Don Vito would put this guy"wit da fishies" for such an act.As of yet,no kind of PR statement has been released by Bam Margera regarding the issue.Its one thing to cop a feel from a half naked ADULT woman at a press junket for MTV-but laying your hands on a girl or girls is NOT COOL.He should count himself fortunate that the girls' fathers didn't hunt his big ass down and rat-a-tat-tat with a bat,Joe Pesci style.

"Crime & Grime" program unveiled in Crisfield.

Alot has changed in Crisfield since Chief Mike Tabor took the reins of the Crisfield Police Department and for the better.Last week at a city council meeting he outlined his new "Crime & Grime" initiative.In tandem with City Inspector Bill Mister,the police department will address "quality of life issues" in city neighborhoods.The Chief made a reference to "The Broken Window Theory",in other words how neighborhoods saturated with nuisance properties(rundown houses,etc) are more vulnerable to crime.He said and I quote,"sub-standard living conditions spill over into a viable community and if standards are not kept,these conditions will expound exponentially into the pervasiveness of crime."He encourages residents to report nuisance properties and/or illegal activities and his department and the Inspector will combine their efforts to follow up on such complaints.Also,property owners will be notified by the city when a tenant is arrested on criminal charges,and encouraged to begin eviction proceedings on the individuals.
I think this a great idea and should be considered by other municipalities where crime has infiltrated neighborhoods.I won't point any fingers,but if a small city like Crisfield can do it,larger ones can.Yep,I am saying good things about the police again,yank my nonconformist credentials now!LOL.Kudos to Crisfield Chief of Police Mike Tabor!

Nanhai Number 1 raised

An 800 year old merchant ship,the Nanhai #1,was raised today off the southern coast of China.Believed to have sunk laden with porcelain and other treasures,it was discovered in 65 feet of water back in 1987.The 100 foot ship was lifted by a specially constructed steel basket to a waiting barge,which will transport the relic to a glass pool in a museum that closely mimics the conditions the shipwreck has been in since about 1127 AD.The public will be able to view the extended excavation of the ship thru the glass containing pool.

An initial on-site excavation found green and blue porcelains,gold & silver,and over 6,000 copper coins and it is speculated that many more rare treasures are still within.

I have mixed feelings about them bringing her up....while it is an AMAZING historical artifact,it was also the final resting place for whomever was aboard so many centuries ago when it sank and while I doubt any human remains have survived so long,the fact is these lost souls still reside with the vessel.

It reminds me of the discovery of the Titanic wreck almost 20 years ago by Robert Ballard.Although it was breathtaking to see a piece of maritime history finally,alot of "grave-robbers" plundered the ship initially and Ballard himself lamented that so many items from the shipwreck were taken and sold for profit.Many of those artifacts made it into museums but private collectors got their share too.

Nevertheless,this is still a monumental discovery and I am still dumbfounded that something built so long ago is still intact for the most part.Can't wait to see it on Discovery Channel,if the Red China government allows it to be documented.

If I had a hammer....

A Utah prison inmate serving time for aggravated assault & robbery is suing the State Dept.of Corrections in Federal court for denying him the right to practice his religion.Michael Polk alledges that he is has been a follower of the Asatru faith since 2005 and the DOC will not allow him the items he needs to practice his religion.Asatru followers worship the Nordic gods Thor,Odin,Tyr & Heimdal.Among the "tools" he says he needs for "proper worship" are a Thor's hammer,a prayer mat,a Mead horn used for drinking Wassail(whatever that is!),a drum of wood & boarskin,a rune staff and a sword!Yeah,you read it right-his list of requirements include lethal weapons and again,he is in prison already for aggravated assault!
I am all for freedom to practice whatever religion you choose,but at the same time if exercising an individual right infringes upon someone elses liberty(translation:he buries the Thor hammer in a fellow inmate or guards head)then his right is kinda cancelled out.The DOC is in a toguh position because no one in their right mind is going to furnish potential weapons to an incarcerated felon,but this guy will no doubt enlist the help of the good ole "AC-to hell with you"(ACLU) and waste countless tax dollars fighting this issue.Whats next?Rastafarians in prison demanding ganja?Oh,thats already happened!

Ed Gein,the movie

As I often do,I was channel surfing and stopped on IFC(Independent Film channel)which shows uncut independently produced movies and often very good ones-for example last weekend they aired "Slingblade" &"Kinsey".Tonight they are showing "Ed Gein"(2001),an independent horror-docudrama about the infamous Wisconsin cannibal/cross-dresser/grave-robber/killer Ed Gein.I read alot of true crime and I am a born horror movie fanatic so I have seen this before but I wanted to recommend it to anyone who likes horror movies based on true events.Actor Steve Railsback is creepily convincing as Gein and the film is very well put together,although some character names were changed,the screenplay followed all the true crime accounts of the story accurately.Alot of people do not realize it,but both "Psycho" and "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" were loosely based on Ed Geins crimes.Gein not only had an obsession with his domineering mother,he fashioned body parts from female corpses to wear as a "suit" so he could,in his mind,be his mother.When police raided his farmhouse they found one of his murder victims dressed out like a deer and numerous grisly little "trophies",various body parts including skulls sculpted into bowls and lampshades of human skin.

Gein died in 1984 while still incarcerated in a Wisconsin mental hospital and today after repeated vandalism,his gravestone sits in a Wautoma,WI museum.

It happened 70 years ago....

On this day in 1937,the first ever full length animated talking picture debuted in Los Angeles-Walt Disneys "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves"!I am proud to say that I own a clamshell VHS copy of this timeless classic and although Snow White has had a makeover of sorts in her appearance to bring her up to date,she remained one of the most popular Disney characters and actually has gained new noteriety as one of the "Disney Princesses",a theme that is very popular with little girls right now in 2007.Only SHE could shack up with 7 dudes in 1937 and not be ostracized!LOL

Also,in an unrelated bit of trivia fodder,"Hanoi"Jane Fonda was born on this day.

Uninsured cancer victims fare worse

A recent study concluded by the American Cancer Society has found that uninsured cancer patients are nearly twice as likely to die within 5 years of diagnosis than their insured counterparts.DUH!
I lost my Mother to cancer and fortunately,she had excellent health care coverage through her employer as well as Aflac and thus was able to take advantage of the very best cancer specialists and treatments.Had she had any other kind of cancer she might still be here,but hers was rare and almost always fatal.
A doctor involved in the study stated that "our refusal to face this issue condemns thousands of people to die from cancer each year".A big part of the problem is that by the time uninsured people are sick enough to qualify for some type of assistance,their cancer is too far gone to treat effectively.Another factor is that those with no coverage or inadequate coverage will skip out on recommended screening exams such as mammograms,prostate exams,etc that catch cancer early because they simply cannot afford it.By the time they are so sick they seek medical attnention,again,it has progressed too far to treat.
It chills me to the bone because while my family has coverage,we have an extremely high deductible and limited coverage for diagnostics(I think we get ONE series of bloodwork annually and even then it isn't approved the first time)Ovarian cancer runs in my family but it is very hard to detect until it is in advanced stages.The only way to catch it early is through an ultrasound,which is slightly less than my deductible but more than we can cough up.So I have to be extra alert for any signs that something isn't right but what about the women who don't know they are at risk?What about the 20,000 uninsured cancer patients who will not make it simply because they cannot afford diagnostics and/or treatments???

Speaking of bigots.....Anti-Semitism

While we are on the subject of bigotry,I was at a local fast food joint with my child earlier this week and noticed a swastika scrawled upon the side of the building.10 to 1 odds says it's nothing more than a prank by a stupid kid who doesn't even really know what it is or what it stands for,but nevertheless it is unsettling to see it right out in public and you think the business would get someone to hose it off.Do they even teach kids in school today about the horrors of WWII that were committed under that evil symbol?Or do they sweep the extinction of entire generations of Jews under the PC rug?Aryan hate groups are fond of the Swastika so a kid who doesn't even know what it means but scrawls it on his notebook or shoes is liable to get his ass handed to him by a black or Jewish kid who does know!

Special treatment for famous bigots???

Three members of the Los Angelos County Sheriffs Dept. have been reprimanded for their departmental policy violations in connection with the now-infamous July 2006 DUI arrest of Mel Gibson.Two sergeants and a jailer were disciplined for neglecting to obtain a palm print from Gibson after his release,following proper procedures before driving him to the impound to reclaim his vehicle and not having him sign the proper forms.Special treatment?You bet,and the Office of Independent Review thought so too.One of the employees took a one-day suspension and the other two received written reprimands.

It is also reported that while a supervisor of the SD was withholding the news of Gibsons drunken anti-Semitic rants,he was overruled by a captain and the info was subsequently leaked to TMZ.

Cool Hand Luke wannabes?

During the past year,thieves in Atlanta have sawed off approximately 500 parking meter heads and absconded with them,requiring the city to replace 39% of its parking meters.Ironically,although the meters cost about $500 apiece to replace,there is no danger of anyone being arrested for the thefts because the city does not report the thefts to the police,and the police naturally cannot investigate a crime if it isn't reported!Maybe Paul Newmans character Luke should have ripped off the parking meters in Atlanta,and he wouldn't have ended up on the work-farm!LOL

The calm after the storm???

There was a huge melee today in New Orleans between police and protesters at City Hall,necessitating the use of stun guns and pepper spray.Apparently New Orleans and HUD are in agreement that some 4500 public housing units damaged by Hurricane Katrina should be demolished.The city wants to rebuild with mixed-income housing units and the protesters insist the existing structures are "handsome and will outlast anything HUD builds in its place"They have denounced the whole thing as a racist conspiracy and the council meeting as a "rubber-stamp sham".
Before anyone thinks the protesters were treated unfairly,they started a riot when the city hall chambers reached its capacity of 300 and stopped admitting more people.They marched in with the full intention of causing a disturbance to disrupt the meeting and when police tried to maintain order,violence broke out,which led to multiple arrests.
I usually steer clear of political issues,as you know,but this stuck in my craw,big time.I have seen pictures of the N.O. housing projects,they are most certainly not "handsome" by any stretch.They are a monument to the failed public housing system that threw poor minorities into segregated crime-ridden developments.If anything,they demonstrators should be pissed off because they weren't demolished sooner.Furthermore,if they don't like the decisions being made,why not direct some of that energy they wasted causing a ruckus into getting off the "HUD tit" and procuring their own housing????What is so racist about the city wanting to tear down those tenements and put something nicer and more diverse in its place?It almost sounds like the protesters want segregation in New Orleans future..
Also wanted to mention,that while people have died and countless others stranded without power in the Midwest after winter storms,none of them lost their damn minds and looted and rioted in the streets.Katrinas devastating effects were felt by people of all races and I am tired of people suggesting otherwise.

3 hots and a cot and....hashish???

A Dutchman being held in a jail in Goes,Netherlands(100 miles south of Amsterdam) on suspicion of growing cannabis got a little something extra with his coffee on Sunday-a hashish cake!The clandestine pastry had been seized in an unrelated case and was being stored in the same fridge as the jailhouse"lunch packets".The SNAFU went undetected until the inmate told a jailer that "they had given him something they weren't supposed to".Alwin Don,police spokesman for Zeeland Province said it was entirely coincidental and accidental and that a doctor checked the man out and he bore no ill effects from the ingestion of hashish.
Now personally,I am kinda perplexed....the man was in jail for marijuana-which I thought was legal in Netherlands....any lawmen out there reading who can clarify that for me???

"Wii" wish you a Merry Christmas!

Today's Daily Times had an Editorial from a local woman who stood in line for hours over the weekend at a local store to get either a Nintendo Wii or a voucher good for one and got neither for all her efforts.It seems that the store was slated to get about 50 and actually only received a little over a dozen of the elusive game systems.As a parent,I can understand wanting to give your child EVERYTHING they ask for,especially an item as coveted as the Wii-but the stores count on this,and I believe they just feed into the frenzy we see every year when everyone lines up to get the "hottest" item that particular year.

In the process,we are losing sight of the true meaning of Christmas.Maybe it's just me,but kids get more materialistic with each generation it seems.I was perusing through the "Letters to Santa" in a local newspaper and was surprised at all the big ticket items that some of the kids had on their list.....A computer,an Ipod,a Wii,a PS3,4 wheelers,etc,etc.And it was LITTLE kids asking for all that stuff!I can see getting a child one of the "big ticket" items if you can swing it,but I think as parents some of us are going overboard,perhaps even spending money we do not have,just so our kids can "have it all".I'm fortunate in that my little girl is 4,so she is still pretty easy to please.You know what her biggest wish item is this Christmas?A BABY BROTHER!Of course,she will not be getting that particular wish this year or any other year,because I am done having babies(and since my hubby had a vasectomy,I am in BIG trouble if I turn up pregnant!LOL)Other than that she wants the usual toddler stuff-Leapfrog cartridges,accessories for her doll babies and some of her favorite DVD's.Oh,and her own golf club so she can hit some balls with Daddy.Thats easy enough to manage...but what about next year?My friends with older children are pulling their hair out trying to figure out how to get every last expensive item their kids are asking for and I do not envy them.

I am no Scrooge,but somewhere along the way we forget the adage "it is better to give than to receive".While we are fulfilling our childrens wishes,we also need to teach them about why we celebrate Christmas & how to be thankful for the things we have in life.Contrary to what the department store sales flyers promote,Jesus is the reason for the season.If we forget that,we have lost everything.

Negativity

I am on the horns of a personal dilemma-whether to continue blogging or not.I was browsing the local blogosphere last night and I was shocked at the schoolyard mentality expressed in some of the comments.
My dear stepmother,a nice woman who wouldnt say sh*t if she had a mouthful,always told us if we didn't have anything nice to say about someone,it was better to say nothing at all.Apparently,in order to have a successful blog and garner numerous hits,one has to be mean and petty and that just isn't me.I thought by creating a blog that wasn't offensive to people,I could keep my hands clean and maybe,just maybe,some people would appreciate it and I would emerge unscathed.Boy,was I wrong!In the two short months I have been blogging I have heard it all:I am a kiss-ass,I cheat on my husband with fellow bloggers,I'm dumb as hell and the list goes on and on and alot of things said about me are too crude and vile to repeat here.I have said it before and it bears repeating-if having a "worthy" blog means that I have to leave my principles and standards at the door and start attacking people then I prefer to just be a blogosphere failure.If nobody likes my blog as it is,nobody is forcing them to read it.I am not going to change to suit ANYBODY.I am sure that the people who profess to hate my "blather" will no doubt read this and post something extremely nasty but I don't care.
Life is too short for pettiness and ugliness,and there is enough negativity in the world without me adding any.I have a husband,a daughter and a large extended family who love me very much,so I really don't need validation from anyone.My husband has asked me to just quit altogether because he is incensed at the bullsh*t people who don't even know me are saying about me and nobody tells me what to do,but I am starting to think he is right.
This is EXACTLY why more people with much more to say than I do steer clear of blogging.Its like sitting in the middle of town with a gigantic "Kick Me" sign.If you don't like my blog,just STFU!Don't waste my time with inappropriate comments here or try to make yourself bigger by dissing me on someone elses blog.GROW UP!

Under the weather

I may not be blogging much of anything the next day or two-I took a bit of a spill earlier today and hit my head-the temple area no less and I am feeling quite "concussed".I actually damn near knocked myself out and I am not %100 yet at all!If I feel better later I might give it a whirl but as for now-OUCHIE!

Ho Ho HEY!

Sandrama Lany,33,was charged with sexual assault and "breach of peace" last weekend for allegedly sitting on a mall Santas' lap at Danbury Fair in Connecticut and groping him.The 65 year old "Santa",who did not want to be identified,said that he was embarassed and shocked by the incident,as there were children waiting to see him.Lamy was released and is due in court on January 3rd.Guess shes getting reindeer poop in her stocking this year!

Zombies take on "Halloween"

I went out and rented a copy of Rob Zombies remake of John Carpenters "Halloween" today and while I did like the prequel plot,detailing Michael Myers slide into insanity,it just aint the same as the original with scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis.
Zombies previous horror films were pretty ghastly,I wanted to take a two hour shower and go to church after watching "Devils Rejects" and he is a great director,and I liked how the 2nd half of his remake paralleled the original,but it didnt WOW me like I expected.I was impressed with the diverse cast-Malcolm McDowell is no Donald Pleasance,but he convinced me as this films Dr.Loomis.Actors from Zombies other films appeared here too-Sid Haig,Bill Moseley & Sheri Moon-Zombie.Clint Howard,brother of Ron Howard and perennial cameo actor was in it,as well as a suprising brief appearance by Mickey Dolenz,of the Monkees!
The best thing I can say about it is that the backstory was satisfying,other than that it was basically a reworking of what John Carpenter did 30 years ago,albeit updated for the times.I was disappointed in the claim that it was the "uncut" version,because frankly it just was not as gory as suggested.I love the horror genre but I get so tired of the "uncut-too scary for the theaters" claims some movies make.They show a few tit n ass shots,and a little blood and its supposed to be better????It did boast a graphic rape scene,but it was not germain to the story so it was just unnecessary in my opinion.
It just came out on DVD today so if any of you decide to check it out this week or this weekend please let me know what you thought.

Another apple that fell from the same tree...

Jamie Lyn Spears,younger 16 yr old sister of uber-skank Britney Spears and star of Nickelodeon tween series "Zoey 101" has announced that she is pregnant by her boyfriend Casey Aldridge.It doesn't suprise me,because we all know how good a job her parents did with her sister,but her comment that "it was a shock to me and we totally didnt expect it" is about the stupidest excuse I have ever heard.Are we supposed to believe that a girl with enough sense to lead a successful television series is too ignorant to use birth control???Nickelodeon issued a blanket PR staement about how "they respected her responsibility regarding a sensitive personal situation and our primary concern is her well-being".Translation:Kiss your career as a preteen role model goodbye!What was she thinking?I have the utmost respect for the fact that she has chosen to carry her child to term and raise it,when she could have easily had an abortion,but what kind of message does this send to the 11-15 yr old demographic who watches "Zoey 101"????Lets just hope she will be a better mother than her older sis Britney,who doesnt even bother to appear in court for custody hearings regarding her own 2 children.

And I thought I was a biotch!

I thought I was the worlds bitchiest wife LOL until I read about this....

Cheryl Grucz,61,of Washington Township,Michigan,went ballistic after her 65 year old husband Joseph asked her to turn up the heat this past Sunday night.She commenced to pull out a gun and fired a round into the couples flat screen TV in their basement while her husband hid his head under a pillow,then stormed upstairs.Mr.Grucz called 911 and reportedly told the operator that she got all excited over him wanting it warmer because she is "so cheap".Mrs.Grucz then picked up an extension and proceeded to tell 911 that she did not intend to harm him,but he has had a stroke and takes his frustration out on her."No,I am not" he retorted,and she says"Yes he does"!Whew!
She was arraigned Monday on various charges including assault with deadly intent & felony firearms violations.She was freed on a 50k bond until her preliminary hearing on January 15th and faces up to ten years imprisonment.The judge ordered her to seek domestic violence counseling.....you think?!!!!!

Fire safety

With this weekends tragic fire in Salisbury bringing Marylands total 2007 fire fatalities to 90,I wanted to take a moment and remind everyone to try and have a safe holiday.Please check your smoke detector TODAY and make sure the battieries are good.Also...
*If you have any gas or other fuel burning appliances,please invest in a CO2 detector-carbon monoxide is just as lethal as fire!!
*If you use a fireplace,have it inspected if you havent already to prevent creosote buildup and/or obstructions like leaves and birdsnests.
*Keep combustibles away from all heat sources,especially forced air heating ducts and electric baseboard heaters.
*If you MUST use a portable kerosene heater,please give it 3 feet of room and ventilate by cracking a window.Lighting it outside also eliminates deadly fumes from ignition.Also use the proper methods of storage and delivery,in a can specifically for kerosense(they are blue) Never fill heater indoors or when it is hot.
*Do NOT leave a hot stove unattended when cooking.
*Make sure all exits,ie,doors and windows,in your home are accessible and not blocked by clutter or furnishings.If you put plastic on your windows in the winter,be sure to have something handy nearby to cut it in an emergency,so you can get out/NEVER block an entry door with plastic!
*If you or someone else in the home smokes,keep matches and lighters locked up or on a high shelf so that children cannot reach them and play with them!NEVER smoke in bed,dump a "hot" ashtray,or flick a cigarette outdoors near your home(or anywhere for that matter)Extinguish pipes,cigars or cigarettes completely.
*Invest in a fire extinguisher with an ABC rating-various organizations like the Jaycees sell them or any store like Walmart or Lowes.
*Have a fire safety plan in your home-know all possible exits and remind everyone not to go get anything to take with you.Keep your cell phone(if you have one) handy so you can call 911 from OUTSIDE.
*If you must have a real tree this Christmas,water it daily!
*Do not overload electrical outlets, or run cords under rugs and check cords for damage.
* Do not leave candles burning unsupervised around pets or children.
I think I covered most of it,but if you want to be extra safe,most local fire depts will come to your home and do a fire safety inspection upon request.
And last but not least,support your local volunteer fire department!Donations are usually tax-deductible and if they are to do their job effectively,they have to upgrade their fire fighting apparatus frequently!!!
I dont want to come across as preachy,and nobody can prevent all fires but we can all do our best to remove any hazards from our home.Material things like posessions and houses can be replaced,lives cannot.

A Steelers fan to the end.....

Kathleen Derosier brought a special guest with her to the Steelers game yesterday-her late husband Richard,who succumbed to a brain tumor in March.According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,the New Hampshire man was a lifelong Steelers fan,even naming his dog "Steeler" and thanks to the generousity of Amy Litterini,Mrs.Derosier was able to travel to Heinz Stadium with her husbands ashes,along with two of his rings and a photo of him.

Ms.Litterini was the Derosiers counselor during his battle with cancer and she raised money to purchase two tickets to the game and procure a hotel room in the 'burg for Mrs.Derosier and her son,who accompanied her.Her husband,who never got to see a Steelers game,asked her before his untimely death to do this for him if it was possible,and thanks to good people,it became possible!Even though the Steelers lost,Mrs. Derosier says she was "overwhelmed" by the whole experience and was grateful she could do this one last thing with her dear husband.

Tara Reid....drunk again??

It was reported that actress Tara Reid was treated and released at a Bali hospital Saturday after collapsing at a Christmas party.There have been many,many stories in the tabloids about her wild nightclub antics and excessive falling-down-and-puking-alcohol binges.She is best known for her role in "American Pie",ironically her AP character was a virgin-which was laughable considering her Hollywood party-girl reputation.Tara-please get into rehab like your friend Lindsay Lohan did before you end up in jail like your pal Paris Hilton or worse!

Pamela divorcing Hubby #3

It comes as no suprise to me that Pamela Anderson Lee Ritchie Solomon has filed for divorce to end her 2 month marriage to Rick Solomon,best known as the former Mr.Shannen Doherty.Many speculated that her wedding to Solomon,which was taped for a reality show and featured a cardboard cake,was a publicity stunt.Just 3 days after she filed for divorce,Anderson stated they were "trying to work things out".

Her previous marriage to Bob Ritchie aka Kid Rock lasted a grand total of 6 months,and we all know about her tumultuous marriage to Tommy Lee of Motley Crue.She has also dated Bret Micheals of Poison and former actor Scott Baio.

Is it just me,or should she just stop and think before she says "I do"?I dont understand how anyone can take something as serious and life-changing as getting married so lightly.Marriage is supposed to be FOREVER.I know sometimes circumstances arise where divorce is the only option,but with a divorce rate of 50%,its evident people just dont take it seriously anymore.Unless my husband dies or leaves me,I am staying put.Even if he cheats,which he wont.He might mess up so bad that he wishes I would leave him but I will stay LOL.

Odds are Pam will end up burning through several more grooms before shes done.....recent rumours had her reconciling with her 1st husband Tommy Lee-time will tell.

ANOTHER letter from Santa.......

Hats off to my friend Stacy for passing this along.......



Dear ya'll


I regret to inform you that, effective immediately, I will no longer be able to serve your area on Christmas Eve. Because of recent changes in my union contract renegotiated by North American Elves Local 209, I now serve only eastern Canada, certain areas of Wisconsin and the Michigan Upper Peninsula. However, I'm certain that your children will be in good hands with my replacement, my third cousin by my first wife, from the South Pole, Bubba Claus.
He shares my goal of delivering toys to all the good boys and girls, but there are a few differences between us, such as:

* There is no danger of a Grinch's stealing presents from Bubba Claus, who has a gun rack in his sleigh and a bumper sticker that reads: "These toys insured by Smith and Wesson."


* Instead of milk and cookies, Bubba Claus prefers that children leave an RC and pork skins on the fireplace. And Bubba doesn't smoke a pipe. He does dip a little snuff, though, so please have a spit can handy


.* Bubba Claus' sleigh is pulled by floppy-eared, flyin' coon dogs instead of reindeer. I lent him my reindeer one time, and Rudolph's head now rests over Bubba's fireplace.


* You won't hear "On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen ..." when Bubba Claus arrives. Instead, you'll hear, "On Earnhardt, on Wallace, on Martin and Boudreaux. On Rudd, on Jarrett, on Elliott and Petty."


* "Ho, ho, ho!" has been replaced by "Yeehaw!" And you also are likely to hear Bubba's elves respond, "I heard that!"* As required by Southern highway laws, Bubba Claus' sleigh does have a bumper sticker for non-traditional vehicles "If you are close enough to read this... you ain't gettin' no presents!"


* The usual Christmas movie classics such as "Miracle on 34th Street" and "Ernest Saves Christmas" will not be shown in your area. Instead, you'll see some really classes movies about Bubba Claus made in the late 1970s. Many feature Burt Reynolds as Bubba Claus, Jackie Gleason as a Grinch who says "You scumbum!" a lot, and dozens of state patrol cars crashing into each other.


* Bubba Claus doesn't wear a belt. I'd turn the other way when he bends over to put presents under the tree. "Plumber's cleavage" is NOT a pretty sight.


* Lovely Christmas songs have been sung about me, including Elvis' "Here Comes Santa Claus" and Madonna's remake of "Santa Baby." Until this year, songs about Bubba Claus have been played only on AM radio stations in Mississippi. They include such classics as Mark Chesnutt's "Bubba Claus Shot the Jukebox," David Allan Coe's "Willie, Waylon, Bubba Claus and Me," and Hank Williams Jr.'s "If You Don't Like Bubba Claus, You Can Kiss My Icicle."


Sincerely Yours,Santa


F-R-A-G-I-L-E It Must Be Italian-A Christmas Story

This weeks new DVD releases (12/18)

Finally!!!Rob Zombie's "Halloween" will hit the shelves tomorrow!While not for everyone,Zombies remake of the John Carpenter classic promises a look back,a prequel if you will,showing the horror viewer the beginning of the Michael Myers story.Cant wait to get a copy!!!

Also available this week.....

"Balls of Fury"-A wacky sendup of martial arts movies but about pingpong starring Christopher Walken and alot of other familiar faces-has been compared to "Dodgeball"

"Stardust"-An allstar cast in a fantasy based on the Neil Gaiman novel,with Robert DeNiro,Peter O'Toole & Michelle Pfeiffer

"The Simpsons Movie"-Its about time that primetime TV's longest running animated show got the big screen treatment!Another must-see on my list,it contains an amazing skateboarding scene.D'oh!!!

"Underdog"-Live action film based on the classic Underdog cartoons,starring the voices of Jason Lee(My name is Earl) & Brad Garrett('til Death)Looks silly but could be fun if you liked the cartoon series back in the day!

Other noteable releases....

"Blade Runner-The Final Cut"(1982)

2 Disc set of classic futuristic scifi film starring Rutger Hauer,Darryl Hannah & a much younger Harrison Ford.

"Blade Runner-Ultimate Collectors Edition"(1982)

Another option for Blade Runner fans,5 disc set with many extras,also available in blu-ray & HD DVD

"Braveheart"(1995)

Re-release of the story of Scots fight for freedom starring Mel Gibson,in widescreen DVD

"National Treasure-Collectors Edition"

2 disc set w/extras

For the kids...

"Cinderella II-Dreams Come True-Special Edition DVD"

Widescreen DVD

TV on DVD....

"The Mod Squad-Season 1-Volume 1 DVD"

4 disc set

"One Tree Hill-The Complete 4th Season"

6 disc set of WB drama

"Rawhide-2nd Season"

4 disc set

And for the music lovers.....

"KISS-KISSology-Volume 3 DVD"

5 disc set

"Roy Orbison-Black & White Night-DVD"

On HD-DVD

Enjoy!!!Rent a movie today!

NOGGIN to go 24-7!!!

Any of you with children at home are probably familair with NOGGIN,which is an entirely commercial-free kids channel with favorites like Dora the Explorer and Blues Clues,as well as NOGGIN original programs for kids.Currently,it is a strictly 6am to 6pm channel and at 6pm it becomes The "N",showing preteen shows like "Degrassi High"& "Just Jordan" much to my toddlers dismay!They have just announced that as of December 31st,New Years Eve,it will be all NOGGIN,24 hours a day!!!With most of the kids channels like Nickelodeon and Disney concluding childrens shows at 6pm to switch to "tween" shows,there is very few 24-7 programming except for Boomerang & PBS Sprout,until now.So on those nights when my princess can't sleep she can tune in to "Franklin" or "Backyardigans".YEY!!!

Are you ready for some football?????

Today and tonight,watching the games was quite interesting at our house....we had a Cowboys fan(my Dad) & a Redskins fan(my youngest sister) all under one roof and Totmomland is all for the Big Blue,the NY Giants!I will not even comment on this evenings game between NY and Washington-We thought for sure with Washington putting in a backup QB who hasnt started in years that the Big Blue would have a victory-alas they did not.We havent given up on the Giants yet-they are still 9 & 4.

My father hinted he might buy my hubby a Romo jersey for Christmas and he said he would wear a dress first,so I sure hope Dad doesnt call his bluff-Mr.Totmom has very hairy legs and wouldnt look good in drag LOL.

RIP Dan Fogelberg"We drank a toast to innocence"

Singer and songwriter Dan Fogelberg died at his home in Maine this morning at age 56 after fighting prostate cancer since 2004.His last album was produced in 2003 and he had planned a fall tour in 2004 until his diagnosis.

He was a 70's soft rock icon,best known for "The leader of the band" and one of the most beautiful songs in the history of music IMO,"Same Old Lang Syne".He released his 1st album in 1972 and scored several platinum and multiplatinum records with his storytelling style of song.

He leaves behind his wife,Jean,who was with him til the very end.Rest in peace,Dan-your songs still make me cry!

Hometown Jackass does good!

Bam Margera,one of the original members of the "Jackass"crew and star of MTV's "Viva la Bam" & "Bams Unholy Union",plans to open a theater in his hometown of West Chester,PA.Best known for tormenting his poor parents,April & Phil and his uncle,Don Vito,with pranks and practical jokes(he has destroyed several of his uncles cars and set off firecrackers in his parents bedroom at 4 am,all on TV),he says he "just wants to own a piece of West Chester".He expects to open in the spring and show films and showcase standup comedians & musical acts.
Bam is also a professional skateboarder and has produced skateboarding videos,AND starred on film-all at the tender age of 28.Alot of early "Jackass" stunts were filmed in and around his suburban Philly hometown and this is a great thing-to give back to his local community.
I dont know about the rest of you,but I am probably the only female over 16 that has seen ever episode of "Jackass" on TV and both movies and laughed my ass off!Everybody knows somebody in their family or circle of friends who does crazy off the wall stunts or plays elaborate practical jokes on people.I dont like the gross stuff,like one of them going into a plumbing supply store and crapping in a floor model toilet,or sticking Hot Wheels cars in a place where the sun dont shine but the physical comedy of the stunts is amazing.
In closing,I will just say"Viva la Bam!!!"

My baby is a big girl now!!!

I may or may not blog tomorrow,depending on my schedule....tomorrow is my daughters birthday!!!She will be 4 years old and I don't know where the time has went.Its hectic with her birthday so close to Christmas and we didn't plan it that way(I swear!)but its all totally worth it!!!She is very special to us,not just because she is my only child and our only child together(hubby has 2 older kids 12 & 17)but because she is the baby I thought I would never have!I have Type II diabetes and other health issues,and had difficulty getting pregnant.A year after we were married,I miscarried a baby at 10 weeks and let me tell you no matter how much time passes,you never forget that hurt.I went into a deep depression and even took up smoking again,convinced I would never be a Mom and of course thats when it happened!A month before the baby I lost would have been due,I found out I was pregnant with my daughter!Thank goodness I had top notch health insurance because I had to see a neonatal specialist every week for months and although she wasn't due until January,the doctors decided to take her early-good thing-she was amonth early and still weighed 7 lbs!!!My husband,being the brave guy he is,watched the entire C-section!
At a time when other women my age had teenagers,I brought home a newborn who had to be on a heart moniter 24-7 as a precaution and I lost alot of sleep but oddly enough,that was the happiest time of my life.
Fast forward 4 years and its still mind boggling how that tiny little girl grew into a tall skinny toddler with unlimited energy!Her doctor said with her height like it is,she will probably top out at 5'11 or so when shes done growing years from now!Hard to fathom,considering we still call her "the baby" and probably still will when shes 30.I never thought I would be a Mom but I am and its the best job I ever had!!!!Its funny how a child can change your life....for the better and forever!