The definitions of Awful

1. This is Gov. Sarah Palin of the great state of Alaska (I have lived there and it is indeed, a great state). She had to reveal that her 17 year old daughter is pregnant. Not only that, she had to defend her own motherhood by reassuring the press that her 5 month old child with Down's Syndrome IS, in fact, HER OWN CHILD, not her daughters'. Candidates children should be left out of campaigns. Families and family dynamics should be completely OFF LIMITs. The fact that Gov. Palin knew ahead of time that this child would be born with disabilities and chose to not end his life should be celebrated. He should not be the object of speculation and conspiracy theories. It's awful that there are those in our country who can not leave people alone.

2. New Orleans is being pounded by yet another hurricane. I feel terrible for them. But news flash....! It's a natural disaster, not planned or coordinated by the Republican party, mother nature gets the credit for this one. It's awful that no matter what the issue, the government gets blamed, no matter who is in office. Being the President would suck, why would you want the job and the headaches? Mammas, don't let your babies grow up to be President.

3. This is Giardia. Rachel has it. This sucks for a 3-day weekend when you can't get in to see a Doctor. 2 boxes of baby wipes, 15 diapers, 2 tubes of desitin, one fragrant candle, one adult disabled child with no vocalization other than crying and screaming, the same 24 year old with gastro-instentinal problems and one frazzled mom. The definition of awful.

The good news? I'm going to Idaho on Thursday! I am so excited that the drive doesn't seem awful at all!

Olympic Parting Shots...um thoughts....

It's no secret that I have an opinion on just about everything and unfortunately, I forget not everyone wants to hear my opinions. But, I've been thinking about the Olympics and while I am thankful they are over because I am now getting more beauty sleep (ha), there's just a couple little areas that I need to wrap up.




This is Hiroshi Hoketsu. At 67, he was the oldest Olympian this year. He first competed in the 1964 Olympics; and he has never won a medal. In an interview with BBC he said that he was honored to once again represent his country in a small way and hoped that his decorum during the competition would honor his country and his family. If we are looking into human cloning, might I suggest Hiroshi? Wouldn't if wonderful if everyone had those thoughts? He's a rock star in his country, as he should be.

Which brings me to these buffoons....



The Spanish basketball team (who we beat for the gold medal).
What were they thinking mocking the host COUNTRY, all 3 billion of them? Hello? Can you say bad manners? Have they not heard of the INTERNET which can INSTANTLY beam pictures all over the world, including China? Personally, I think the I---- word is appropriate here.

This is the American Basketball team, aka "The Redeem Team".

They won the Gold Medal. Well, I SHOULD HOPE SO!!!

They have a combined worth of about $30 Billion dollars which is the equivalent to the GNP of the entire southern hemisphere of our world. When you take 12 of the highest paid, most successful athletes in a sport, I would expect a handy win. It was close, methinks cockiness almost got in the way. I guess the days of amateur athletes in the Olympics is really gone.

Which brings me to this Olympian...



Kirsty Coventry. She won the first Olympic gold for Zimbabwe, the country she was born in, not raised in, not trained in, not schooled in, not anything in, except birth. They just emptied the National Treasury and gave her a suitcase full of cash, $100,000 worth for winning 1 gold and 3 silver medals. Good for you Kirsty! Now give the money back. You will do fine here in the US coaching and doing personal appearances. Do you realize how MUCH $100,000 can do for the poorest in your country? Just a thought. (and from a republican at that....)

Kirsty got $100,000, Rebecca Adlington got a pair of Jimmy Choo's



Money brings to me to this....



Mrs. Phelps, I hate to tell you, but you totally got ripped off by Michael's orthodontist.
My son has braces on right now, I took Michael's picture (and this is a good angle because I like him so much) and told Dr. Esterkyn that this is NOT what I'm paying for. Maybe he can invest in Invisiline braces now that he is king of the Universe.

And speaking of ruling.....

Who ARE these three women?

The Olympic Gold, Silver and Bronze medalists for Olympic Foil Fencing.
Foil Fencing? Like Reynold's wrap? Haven't got a clue how they score, what they are doing or how they win...but how cool was it to see those three flags side by side as they played the National Anthem?

Which brings me to these people.

They are our relay runners. They didn't get ANY kind of flag, in fact, they didn't get to run in the finals. The FIRST time since 1948! Both male and female, hmmmmm....does anyone else smell something foul?

Speaking of foul....



President Bush, I love ya man...but stop checking out Misty's rear end. Although it does give me a little snicker that the old guy has obviously still got it!

Speaking of getting it....



Don't give these guys Gatorade when they finish the race,
give 'em some cheeseburgers!! Good Grief...have you ever seen a skinnier bunch? (is my jealousy showing?)





The Lightening BOLT..... he's gotten in trouble for 'Show-Boating' after winning the 100M in a World Record time. If I had won, I'd bring Show Boating to a whole new level...I'd be cartwheeling down the track. (Isn't that a great visual? ha!)



French swimmer Dude...when you meet the President of France, maybe you could put on some nice pants to go with the jacket. Just a thought Dude.



Nothing to say... but isn't this just weird or wrong or disturbing?



Add a caption...a prize for the best one.

And now...the party is over.

$$$$$$400 BILLION dollars $$$$$$$$ to put on the Olympics (with cheap Chinese labor). Boggles the mind.

Food Geography

After picking up Scotty from Wrestling....

"Mom! Feed me!! I'm starving!!!"

"What do you want?"

"FOOD! What's for dinner?

"I dunno...what sounds good? I was thinking tacos."

"No, I'm not in the mood for Mexican food."

"Okay, how about Ravioli's or Spaghetti?"

"No, Italian doesn't sound good either...."

"Well, what DOES sound good?"

"I just want good 'ole American food."

"Oh, like meatloaf and mashed potatoes?"

"No, like Panda Express."

ooooooohkay.........................................

Happy 20th Birthday Lolo!!!

Finally...Skyler's not married to a teen-ager anymore.

Today is my Lolo's birthday. I'll waive the tears and the sadness over it because Baby, I am GLAD to see her teenage years OVVAHH!! I'll be in Washington D.C. for the next few days receiving my Purple Heart for bravery in battle. (kidding, Lo. kind of.)

Actually, Lauren is wonderful and has been a joy throughout her life. We will miss having her all to ourselves, but if we have to share? We're all happy it's with Skyler. Our family loves this spunky and sassy bundle of energy. She brings life and happiness into our home.

In celebration of your day Lauren, twenty little things about you!!!

1. Lauren was my only child to try and come on her own, (didn't quite make it), after some pitocin and ONE push, out she came. She has never been one to like waiting.

2. Lauren didn't talk till she was three, and she hasn't stopped since.

3. Lauren stutters, that's how she got Lolo and La La Lauren for nicknames. (She's okay with it and it just makes her cuter!!!)

4. Lauren decided she wanted to be a teacher in kindergarten and has never wavered. Her major is Elementary Special Education. (we couldn't be prouder)

5. Lauren won every election she ever ran in, every year from seventh grade to Senior year!

6. Lauren does not like horses at all. She has had many horse jokes played on her, she does not find them amusing.

7. Lauren LOVED Mary Kate and Ashley Olson, she has every movie, cd, magazine, etc.....
She even wrote a hate note to Star magazine when they printed a nasty article. (I didn't buy it, she saw it herself....disclaimer!)

8. Lauren loves reality tv and cop shows. And...sigh....embarrassingly....Jerry Springer. (She must have gotten that gene from the other side of the family...)

9. Lauren LOVES little children.

10. Lauren represented our county at the International Best Buddies Conference in Indiana.
(Best Buddies was founded by Eunice Shriver and pairs "regular" high schoolers with those with disabilities. A very cool organization.)

11. Lauren ditched at least one class a day her entire Senior year. Maybe more. She still got a 4.0. (Maybe a slight exaggeration, but not much of one!!!)

12. Lauren loves to dance and sing in the car, loudly and she dances in her seat.

13. Lauren can be as loud as her mother.

14. Lauren is a good cook and a good cleaner. Both skills she acquired when she went to college.

15. Lauren has had the same friends since pre-school, throughout high school and still today!
She is loyal and fun and people are drawn to her.

16. Lauren did NOT want to go to Idaho, we forced her. She's thankful we did.

17. Lauren doesn't like soda pop.

18. Lauren IS addicted to Strawberry ChapStick.

19. Lauren's favorite food is Watermelon, hands down.

20. Lauren loves a guy named Skyler. (And we're all for it!!!)

Happy Birthday sweet girl!

Gee thanks

"Mom?"
"What?"
"Mom, when I'm in high school I want to be well-rounded."
"You do!? That's great Scotty, what a great goal."
"um-hmmm"
"You know Scotty, I'm pretty well rounded."
"I didn't mean your kind of round Mom."

Gee. thanks.

Who posted the picture?

Need some help ladies. Sometime back, someone posted a picture of a party of someone's home that showed a wall of clocks. Who did it??? It was absolutely fabulous and I want to take another look at it, possibly to shamelessly copy. Gracias!!

Olympic Musings

As you know, I just had a birthday. I lied about my age. I'm really 40.
And this beautiful little gymnast is 16. We got our birth certificates from the same place.

At 40 I am younger than this athlete, Dara Torres. It may surprise you, but I don't think I am in as good of shape as she is. But there is hope, I am throwing down the gauntlet and challenging her to my favorite Olympic event, Carbo Loading a la Michael Phelps.
I have this one in the bag. Cue the National Anthem.

One of the true tragedies of this Olympic games. Horses from four countries that have tested positive for doping. The "illegal" substance that they were found with? Capsacin, which is the element measured in Chili Peppers to judge how hot they are.
Is Mexico or most of Latin America at this Olympics?

BMX biking is the perfect Olympic sport for those of us crunched for time. NBC's broadcast of the finals took about five minutes, and six medals were awarded in that time. There were also crashes, a dramatic race and a tiny country winning gold, all in five minutes time. What more could you ask for?



Here sHE is again!! sHE won the gold.
Look, I don't know much about gymnastics, but I do know that landing a vault on two feet is better than landing one on two knees. Olympic gymnastics judges evidently disagree with me, they awarded China's Cheng Fei a bronze medal even after she fell on her knees during a vault landing. Alicia Sacramone finished fourth despite, you know, not falling.



Mike and Misty, Twins separated at birth.



My favorite picture from the Olympics. The runner in front is phenomenal.
The runner in the back...brave.
Thanks Bahrain officials, for not making her run in a Burka.