Back With A Bang!

*Warning* Going on a rant here!

Most peoples radios are set on a music station. Not so in this household. My husband turns on political talk radio first thing in the morning. Bless his little heart...he leaves it on for me when he leaves for work. When I realize that he is no longer here (because of the LOUDNESS of the radio), I will inevitably turn it off. I like my peace and quiet. He then turns it back on when he gets home and it stays on till he goes to bed. So I hear things. Some things more often than others. Lately, it's been alot about NJ politics.

It seems our teachers (or perhaps I should say our NJ Ed Assoc) are a bit disgruntled that the new Governor has imposed budget cuts on them that will affect their supplies at school and most importantly (at least it seems to me) their pensions and benefits. Of course they will not be able to do their jobs, with the lack of materials to teach with, if these cuts are voted in by the Assembly, so they say. But the big complaint is the benefits and pension cuts. Big surprise there! Now with the exception of the middle school and high school in my area, as it seems they don't need all the bells and whistles anymore once they hit those grades, every classroom I've been in has been soooo full of STUFF, there's very little room to walk around in them. And they want me to believe they don't have the tools they need to teach? Bologna!

Now granted, I know there are schools worse off than our district, however, we are one of the poorest in the state. So if our schools are any indication, the others can't be much worse off. So this makes me wonder if it's the "Tools to teach" they are really worried about. We have some excellent teachers in our district. What I've noticed they use a lot of is.....paper. I have five kids. Over the years this has not changed. They now use alot of "manipulatives" but like I said, they have a lot of those in the classrooms already. Do they really need more every year? Well, maybe some of them do. Some of the manipulatives are the size of Lego's and probably get lost in all that other stuff they have.

So what's left? Ah yes, the pensions and benefits. That could seriously hinder the teaching abilities. Not really. But budget cuts usually mean letting some teachers go. And for the first time in who knows how many years, there won't be a raise in teachers pensions and benefits because the state won't be handing out as much money. Well excuse me while I get the towel to wipe my tears! Pension? Benefits? My family has neither. Cry me a river. Your current salaries and benefits? I've haven't seen those amounts for a few years now in this household. Why would you think I would want to pay more taxes for your pensions and benefits when I have neither and am barely holding my head above water as it is. For most of you, this is your second income. For my family, it isn't even my only income.

Perhaps their argument that the pension and benefit cuts would hinder teaching is because there would be less teachers and more students per class. Okay, that is probably what would happen. So what? Many, many teachers before you managed to teach classes larger than the ones you teach. Some still do. It's do-able, okay? If you don't like the pension and budget cuts, you could always go to another state and get a job and probably get paid more. I wonder how many states right now are looking at the same budget cuts as NJ though. Seems to me, with unemployment being what it is, you would be thankful to just have a job.

The rest of the population in NJ has been taking the lumps in taxes for your pensions and benefits for years. Not liking it much either, I might add. Now you want us to write to our Assemblyman to stick up for you. Well, I'm sorry. I won't be one of those people who do. I will probably be more likely to write a letter and tell them "Hell yes, cut the budget! It's about time!"

Now lest you think I'm only picking on teachers, I feel the same way about politicians. Time for them to take some lumps too and stop living off the taxpayers hard work and then wasting and mismanaging the money we give them. Not saying teachers waste our money, just that they don't mind spending it at all and possibly forgetting where it came from in the first place. Enough is enough!

That is all.....for today.

Gobble, Gobble!

Thanksgiving! My favorite holiday of the year! It's coming! Oh, yes it is!

Overboard is the name of the game. Weight will be the name of the gain. Ha! I'm so humorous, don't you think?

We will begin the feasting tomorrow at our church Thanksgiving dinner. I am totally siked (I have no idea how to spell that word)! I'll be making sweet potatoes and mama's old fashioned bread stuffing.

On Thanksgiving, we'll be going to my older sisters and I'll be bringing...sweet potatoes. (Notice how I choose easy stuff...lol) I usually will make the pumpkin pies too, but last year I came home with both of them (not that we care...they're gone within a couple days anyway). So, I'll just save that little yummy for.....

The final Thanksgiving dinner I'll be preparing at home while everyone else is crazy shopping on Black Friday.

Too excited here! Going to grab all the goodies needed at the store now. Gosh! Hope they're not out of the pumpkin pie mix!

Free eCookbooks

Have I mentioned I'm a cookbook-aholic?

It's true! I collect them. The checkout aisle is my weakness. Nary a Pillsbury cookbook is safe from me. Sadly, I don't use all of them. But I can't bring myself to toss them. The pictures of everything that "I might someday make" keep me hanging on to them. Church cookbooks are another weakness that I have just recently fed...yet again.

Well, I think I may have found myself another new site to feed this voracious appetite. RECIPELION.COM. Whatever you want...they've got it. Here's there latest free eCookbooks. Can you resist? Or are you like me and just gotta have 'em? Yum!!

Word For The Day

GLUTTON: A word used by my 10 year old daughter to describe money-grubbing politicians.

One of the definitions from The Free Dictionary:

1. a person devoted to eating and drinking to excess; greedy person

The Month That Was October

Another month that has disappeared! Sooo...I guess I am a monthly blogger now. Ha!

Now, with 5 kids, you have to know my life is never boring. Understatement?

My oldest has acquired a new boyfriend...from TN. Don't ask! After much aggravation and worry, mom has decided he seems like an okay kid. Yes, I have met him. A couple times this month he has visited. I am not thrilled with the way they met, but understand this generation is different in how they "make friends". All of these stressful emotions have taken up a better part of this month. The other 3 have not given me much to worry about, thank heavens!

We attended my son's and his girlfriends baby shower this month. They got lots of cute little goodies. I cannot believe this child will be entering this world in about 2 months! Seems like yesterday I just blogged about becoming a Grammie. Matter of fact, with as little as I blog anymore, it's probably on the same page as this post. LOL I made a scrapbook/baby book for them. Need to develop the pictures from the shower and get that moving.

But I have to say, the highlight of the month, the absolute highlight, was having the electricity turned off. It was turned off at 3pm on a Wednesday and was not turned back on until the following Monday at 7:20 pm. Could it have been turned on sooner? Heck yes! It was the most boring 5 days of my life!! My husband didn't seem to think it was as much of an emergency as I did. I needed to hound him. Lord knows how long it would've been off otherwise. We paid the bill on Sat. morning only to find out that it wouldn't be turned on till "regular" business hours. Well, thanks for telling me that! And then to have to wait all day Monday wondering when the heck they were going to get here. We spent one night at my sisters (the coldest). But the rest we were home. So as soon as the kids got home from school, it was time to do the homework and shower. We lived by candlelight until dad got home and broke out the camp lantern. At that point, we were like moths going to the flame. LOL Light, light! Let me tell you a little something about me. I love light, bright light. It makes me feel good. Anything else is depressing.

So what can't we do without electricity? You can't wash clothes, which I've been doing all week. You can't listen to the radio or watch tv. No computer or microwave. No alarm clocks because we have all digital (stupid me). When I say this house was quiet, I am not kidding.

Now this is the good part. It was quiet until we broke out the candles. Then we (us gals) sat around the table together....and talked. And laughed. That was the best part about it. The togetherness. It was like sitting around a campfire. We also got alot of cleaning done. No distractions you know. Ha! We had gas, so we could cook. Had to do it before it got dark though. All in all....it was not a pleasant experience. I never want to go through that again!

My vehicle is in desperate need of help. It needs new tires and probably brakes. Something else is going on with it too as it seems to vibrate. It's probably the tires though. And it needs an inspection. Also no parking lights which has kept me in quite a bit lately because of the rain. And of course, no money to fix anything right now. So what else is new.

In the midst of the blackout, the ceiling tiles in my bedroom, which are probably older than me, decided to fall down. Thank God I wasn't sleeping up there! So we have half of our bedroom without ceiling tiles.

At this point, you gotta laugh, don't ya. So that's what I do. Because...this too shall pass.

Peace!

September Recap

Gosh! This was a quick month! Bit of an update here...

We celebrated two birthdays this month. Mine on the 8th and the twins today. They are 10 now and I'm a mature 45 (do you really believe the "mature" part? LOL). Can't believe my babies are in the double digit zone already!

The kids are all into the swing of things again.

K is like a speeding bullet wanting to be involved in everything and racing toward it. She's on student council, jr. honor society, yearbook committee, choir and the drama club. She needs a date book. I have yet to figure out her schedule. We really need to sit down and get it down on the calendar.

The twins are stepping out of their comfort zones a bit this year. Both joined the band. I'll have a flutist and *crap* a drummer. Roonie has been in the Bell Choir since 3rd grade and will continue with that. Loolie has been invited to be an alternate for the Bell Choir and has accepted. I am so happy about Loolie because she hasn't been involved in anything. She is attached to my armpit still. LOL My shyest.

I've been busy with church and work. Taking a break from Bible Study for awhile. I feel as though I am involved in too much at church sometimes and just need a break somewhere. Also, I decided to be involved in the PTA this year. My twins will be going to the Middle School next year, so this is my last opportunity to get involved (or should I say immersed).

Sunday school is in full swing now. I have the 6th-8th grade group again. Going my own way this year. My first lesson was last week and we had a stimulating discussion on the Bible. I'm kidding! Although that was my lesson. We'll be discussing the Bible for a few weeks; how it came to be, who authored it, etc. If you understand this age group---it's not an easy task to teach them. The subject matter wasn't really too exciting for them. LOL And I gave them a pop quiz. They love me. Ha ha! Gonna try and perk it up a bit next time and get them moving and talking. Not much to be found on this subject. I actually got the lesson from the Teen Sunday School Place. They have a series of lessons that are free.

I am absolutely loving this cooler weather. It puts me in the beef stew mood. That's been on my brain for awhile now and I'm really going to get it made sooner or later. Yes, I am!

My sister is back in the hospital as of yesterday. Darn pancreas again. She's in a lot of pain and I can't go to see her until later or maybe not even until tomorrow. She has not slept for 3 nights now and she's going to crash soon. So I may just let her sleep. She is on disability now, which is a relief. This was to be her first day off. Guess where she is? In the hospital she works at. I'm sure she's loving it. She was so excited about not having to go today, too. Poor thing.

And th-th-th-that's all folks!

Abraham Lincoln Quotes

Any people anywhere, being inclined and having the power, have the right to rise up, and shake off the existing government, and form a new one that suits them better. This is a most valuable - a most sacred right - a right, which we hope and believe, is to liberate the world.

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A house divided against itself cannot stand.

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Don't interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties.

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I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.

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If once you forfeit the confidence of your fellow-citizens, you can never regain their respect and esteem.

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We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution.

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You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.

School Is Back In Session

Happy, happy, joy, joy!! We started the 31st of Aug. and aready have vacation. What about that, huh? LOL May as well have waited to go back until after Labor Day. Interestingly enough, we aren't getting out any earlier which is ridiculous. Doesn't look like there's any more vacation days than usual, but there seems to be lots more days off for "Teacher In-Service" days. If anyone knows exactly what that is, could you please explain it to me.

Enjoy the long weekend everyone!

No More Doggies

Yes, the dogs are gone. And I miss them! I don't miss the smell. Just the sound of them barking when their owner came home. It always cracked me up. Now it is so quiet. Amazing the sounds you get used to.

I guess someone called the health department about the smell coming from the backyard. Now it wasn't me! Remember, I can't smell anything! I came home from the store one day and saw a notice that the health department had been there. Nothing happened for a few weeks. Guess he wasn't home when they got there. But about a week ago, I came home and the SPCA was there talking with him outside. I knew it was the end for him. LOL This past weekend, they left. He told my husband he weaseled his way into getting them a new home on a farm.

Now, my mind wonders....what does that house look like inside? Hope he cleaned up! The broken (cracked) windows I mentioned in previous posts? Still cracked. They were never fixed.

Losing Track of Time

Imagine coming to your blog and realizing you were in the middle of changing the background and forgot all about it. So, yeah, kinda blank here. LOL

My sister is back in the hospital with inflamed pancreas. In probably the worst pain you can imagine. She's been in since last Saturday after I finally convinced her to call her doctor after rolling around on my floor trying to get comfortable and crying from the pain. See, she is sick of being in the hospital, so she didn't want to call. Very hard to watch her. The doctor said to go to the ER and off we went. They take good care of her, but I still worry a lot. She is never far from my mind even when she is out of the hospital. My older sister and I have been taking shifts, along with Ann's mother-in-law, to take care of my niece. So I have been spending my evenings and mornings at their house. And now, I have lost track of time. Or perhaps lost track of my life is more accurate. LOL It's an odd feeling. I am not living for myself right now and so everything involved in MY life seems foreign.

Speaking of my life, I need to start thinking about school. Only two weeks left! And Sunday school! I don't even want to think about that. So not ready for it. I have a bad feeling this year isn't going to start off on the right foot.