Happy Winter Holiday

Marriage= Gender, Religion, Reproduction

I am completely disgusted by the anti-gay marriage propaganda. I have heard over and over that traditional marriage is between a man and a woman in a commitment with God. I have been told that two people of the same sex should not be allowed to marry because homosexuality is not natural, it goes against God's word, and they can't procreate. When I first heard that argument I spit my soda all over my laptop. (I've gotten it all cleaned up except for a few sticky keys.) Let me debunk that idiotic response.
Homosexuality is not natural. Let me give you a short list of mammals which engage in homosexual acts.

Mammals
African Buffalo
African Elephant
Agile Wallaby
Amazon River Dolphin(Boto)
American Bison
Antelope
Asian Elephant
Asiatic Lion
Asiatic Mouflon
Atlantic Spotted Dolphin
Australian Sea Lion
Barasingha
Barbary Sheep
Beluga
Bharal
Bighorn Sheep
Black Bear
Blackbuck
Black-footed Rock Wallaby
Black-tailed Deer
Bonnet Macaque
Bonobo
Bottlenose Dolphin
Bowhead Whale
Brazilian Guinea Pig
Bridled Dolphin
Brown Bear
Brown Capuchin
Brown Long-eared Bat
Brown Rat
Buffalo
Caribou
Cat (domestic)
Cattle (domestic)
Cheetah
Collared Peccary
Commerson's Dolphin
Common Brushtail Possum
Common Chimpanzee
Common Dolphin
Common Marmoset
Common Pipistrelle
Common Raccoon
Common Tree Shrew
Cotton-top Tamarin
Crab-eating Macaque
Crested Black Macaque
Cui
Dall's Sheep
Daubenton's Bat
Dog (domestic)
Doria's Tree Kangaroo
Dugong
Dwarf Cavy
Dwarf Mongoose
Eastern Cottontail Rabbit
Eastern Grey Kangaroo
Elk
Euro (a subspecies of wallaroo)
European Bison
Fallow Deer
False Killer Whale
Fat-tailed Dunnart
Fin Whale
Fox
Gazelle
Gelada Baboon
Giraffe
Goat (Domestic)
Golden Monkey
Gorilla
Grant's Gazelle
Grey-headed Flying Fox
Grey Seal
Grey squirrel
Grey Whale
Grey Wolf
Grizzly Bear
Guinea Pig (Domestic)
Hamadryas Baboon
Hamster (Domestic)
Hanuman Langur
Harbor Porpoise
Harbor Seal
Himalayan Tahr
Hoary Marmot
Horse (domestic)
Human
Indian Fruit Bat
Indian Muntjac
Indian Rhinoceros
Japanese Macaque
Javelina
Kangaroo Rat
Killer Whale
Koala
Kob
Larga Seal
Least Chipmunk
Lechwe
Lesser Bushbaby
Lion
Lion-tailed Macaque
Lion Tamarin
Little Brown Bat
Livingstone's Fruit Bat
Long-eared Hedgehog
Long-footed Tree Shrew
Macaque
Markhor
Marten
Matschie's Tree Kangaroo
Moco
Mohol Galago
Moor Macaque
Moose
Mountain Goat
Mountain Tree Shrew
Mountain Zebra
Mouse (domestic)
Moustached Tamarin
Mule Deer
Musk-ox
Natterer's Bat
New Zealand Sea Lion
Nilgiri Langur
Noctule
North American Porcupine
Northern Elephant Seal
Northern Fur Seal
Northern Quoll
Olympic Marmot
Orangutan
Orca
Pacific Striped Dolphin
Patas Monkey
Pere David's Deer
Pig (Domestic)
Pig-tailed Macaque
Plains Zebra
Polar Bear
Pretty-faced Wallaby
Proboscis Monkey
Pronghorn
Przewalski's Horse
Puku
Quokka
Rabbit
Raccoon Dog
Red Deer
Red Fox
Red Kangaroo
Red-necked Wallaby
Red Squirrel
Reeves's Muntjac
Reindeer
Rhesus Macaque
Right Whale
Rock Cavy
Rodrigues Fruit Bat
Roe Deer
Rufous Bettong
Rufous-naped Tamarin
Rufous Rat Kangaroo
Saddle-back Tamarin
Savanna Baboon
Sea Otter
Serotine Bat
Sheep (Domestic)
Siamang
Sika Deer
Slender Tree Shrew
Sooty Mangabey
Sperm Whale
Spinifex Hopping Mouse
Spinner Dolphin
Spotted Hyena
Spotted Seal
Squirrel Monkey
Striped Dolphin
Stuart's Marsupial Mouse
Stumptail Macaque
Swamp Deer
Swamp Wallaby
Takhi
Talapoin
Tammar Wallaby
Tasmanian Devil
Tasmanian Rat Kangaroo
Thinhorn Sheep
Thomson's Gazelle
Tiger
Tonkean Macaque
Tucuxi
Urial
Vampire Bat
Verreaux's Sifaka
Vervet
Vicuna
Walrus
Wapiti
Warthog
Waterbuck
Water Buffalo
Weeper Capuchin
Western Grey Kangaroo
West Indian Manatee
Whiptail Wallaby
White-faced Capuchin
White-fronted Capuchin
White-handed Gibbon
White-lipped Peccary
White-tailed Deer
Wild Cavy
Wild Goat
Wisent
Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby
Yellow-toothed Cavy

That list is only SOME of the mammals and it does not include the birds or insects. So now that the idea that homosexuality is not natural is debunked lets move on to the next step in the argument - God's word.

Quick summery of the book of Leviticus (copied from Wikipedia as it was the shortest summery I found)
The first part Leviticus 1-16, and Leviticus 27, constitutes the main portion of the Priestly Code, which describes the details of rituals, and of worship, as well as details of ritual cleanliness and uncleanliness. Within this section are:

Laws regarding the regulations for different types of sacrifice (Leviticus 1-7):
Burnt-offerings, meat-offerings, and thank-offerings (Leviticus 1-3)
Sin-offerings, and trespass-offerings (Leviticus 4-5)
Priestly duties and rights concerning the offering of sacrifices (Leviticus 6-7)
The practical application of the sacrificial laws, within a narrative of the consecration of Aaron and his sons (Leviticus 8-10)
Aaron's first offering for himself and the people (Leviticus 8)
The incident in which "strange fire" is brought to the Tabernacle by Aaron's sons Nadav and Avihu, leading to their death directly at the hands of God for doing so (Leviticus 9-10)
Laws concerning purity and impurity (Leviticus 11-16)
Laws about clean and unclean animals (Leviticus 11)
Laws concerning ritual cleanliness after childbirth (Leviticus 12)
Laws concerning tzaraath of people, and of clothes and houses, often translated as leprosy, and mildew, respectively (Leviticus 13-14)
Laws concerning bodily discharges (such as blood, pus, etc.) and purification (Leviticus 15)
Laws regarding a day of national atonement, Yom Kippur (Leviticus 16)
Laws concerning the commutation of vows (Leviticus 27)
The second part, Leviticus 17-26, is known as the Holiness Code, and places particular, and noticeable, emphasis on holiness, and the holy; it contains commandments intended not just for the priests but for the whole congregation.[3]. It is notably more of a miscellany of laws. Within this section are:

Laws concerning idolatry, the slaughter of animals, dead animals, and the consumption of blood (Leviticus 17)
Laws concerning sexual conduct - incest, bestiality, and most notably homosexuality among men, laws concerning sorcery, and moloch (Leviticus 18, and also Leviticus 20, in which penalties are given)
Laws concerning molten gods, peace-offerings, scraps of the harvest, fraud, the deaf, blind, elderly, and poor, poisoning the well, hate, sex with slaves, self harm, shaving, prostitution, sabbaths, sorcery, familiars, strangers, and just weights and measure (Leviticus 19)
Laws concerning priestly conduct, and prohibitions against the disabled, ill, and superfluously blemished, from becoming priests, or becoming sacrifices, for descendants of Aaron, and animals, respectively (Leviticus 21-22)
Laws concerning the observation of the annual feasts, and the sabbath, (Leviticus 23)
Laws concerning the altar of incense (Leviticus 24:1-9)
The case law lesson of a blasphemer being stoned to death, and other applications of the death penalty (Leviticus 24:10-23), including anyone having "a familiar ghost or spirit", a child insulting its parents (Leviticus 20), and a special case for prostitution (burning them alive) (Leviticus 21)
Laws concerning the Sabbath, Jubilee years and slavery., (Leviticus 25).
A hortatory conclusion to the section, giving promises regarding obedience to these commandments, and warnings and threats for those that might disobey them, including sending wild animals to devour their children. (Leviticus 26:22)
These ordinances, in the book, are said to have been delivered in the space of a month, specifically the first month of the second year after the exodus. A major Chiastic structure runs through practically all of this book.

Ok I'm done laughing now. Really? This is your argument? Do you stone your children for misbehaving (Leviticus 20)? Ok so they'll say "Because we're Christian, we don't follow the old testament. That's why Christ came. He gave us the new testament." Please tell me exactly where in the new testament it says homosexuality is an abomination. I can't find it. (Yes, for your information, I have read the Bible in it's entirety.) If you choose to follow the Bible as a guide for YOUR life- Great! Please do not push it on to me or anybody else. (Notice I said please. That will be the last time I am polite to the Bible pushers.) I'll let you live in the delusion that the United States was founded as a Christian nation. I don't have enough time to explain that one. The United States is not a Christian nation (now). There is no national religion. We are free to pick and choose who or what we worship. There are MANY different religions in the United States. Why would you choose to force everybody to follow your religion? Do you want to be forced to follow a religion that wasn't yours? On that note: My marriage should probably be labeled as a civil union. God isn't and never has been a part of my marriage.

Next section of the argument- Marriage is for procreation.
So what about all the heterosexual couples who can't have children or who choose not to? Not all heterosexual couples can have children the old fashioned way. That's why there is in-vitro, medications, and surrogates. Debunked!

Congrats New President Elect Barack Obama

I'm so excited. Our 44th president is Barack Obama. I am honored to be able to say I voted for him. I am excited to be a part of history in the making. As I sat with Keelie last night watching Obama give his acceptance speech I couldn't help but shed a few tears. I was so proud to see America elect it's first black president. I know alot of people are saying Obama was elected because of his race, well, I do not vote according to race. I voted for Obama because I agree with most of his policies and because I feel he is the best person to turn this country around. Obama's background is chalk full of diversity. His mother was an atheist. Barack, himself, is christian. His father was probably muslim. Barack understands that this country is not just full of white christians. We are diverse! We do not all think the same. Obama, I feel, is not going to just look at the right wing conservative issues because it goes along with his beliefs. I feel he will look at the bigger picture and know that because we are not all the same he cannot take sides. I know he'll piss off alot of fundies because he will not do just their agendas. Instead he'll keep all of our rights intact and not allow others to infringe on those rights.

Congratulations Barack Obama! I look forward to the next 4 years with you!

Look Kids! It's Bigotry!

Warning: I cuss ALOT and my favorite word is Fuck! Don't like it....Don't read the following!


I was never in support of prop 8 and will NEVER be in support of it. I am still in disbelief that it actually passed. Fucktards! To all those who voted for prop 8... I hope someday that I may vote against your fucking marriage! I may be married to a man but I fully believe that two adults should be able to marry no matter what their gender. When I heard that the proposition passed I think I threw up a little in my mouth. Fuck, Fuck, Fuck! Damn bigoted, ignorant, homophobic assholes! Fuck you if you voted yes on prop 8! You voted based on your damn fucking religion. Guess what asshat...I'm not a god damned Christian. Not everybody in California believes in your fucking god. Yet now we have to have a law based on your fucked up religion. Your kids WOULD NOT have had to learn about gay marriage in school. Ever heard of permission slips? I get them all the fucking time from my daughters' school. You can keep your children from learning ANY of the curriculum in school. Your fucking church wouldn't lose it's tax exempt status. It probably should since the churches like to stick their noses into politics and make laws. I just might try to get a law on the books now that prevents churches from being involved in politics. How do you like that?! You don't? Well I don't fucking care because it's what I believe. Don't even give me that shit about by allowing gays to marry that it'll allow for marriages to animals and children. Stop and please use that lump two feet above your ass for a moment. Can animals and children legally give consent? Hell NO! I'm sure back when interracial marriages were illegal that people gave the same arguements. Did that happen? No! Stop the fearmongering!

Do I sound angry?

FUCK YES I'M ANGRY!

My baby is 2!

My how much has she changed! The first picture is when she was born, the day we came home. The second is on her first birthday. She still refuses to eat cake with her hands. She has to eat her food with utensils. The last picture is Courtney playing on her second birthday present.

I'm Such A Bad Mommy!

Every month that Courtney has been born I've taken pictures of her except for last month. I realized that I didn't take any pictures of her in August. I'm such a bad mommy. I'm gonna have to make up for it this month.

I Want A Martini!!!!

Just looking at my blog checking out some snazzy new features I added and the layout I have made me want a martini. Extra dirty for me please!

There Are Rules To Atheism?

In a atheist group I'm in somebody called another person a redneck in a derogatory way. The slinging of words lasted a few days and in the end the "redneck" was basically told to leave. All I got out of the entire thing was that two people from two different walks of life didn't agree and names were called...kind of like in grade school. I wouldn't have thought anything about it but the one doing all the mudslinging had a bunch of followers saying the same derogatory stuff about rednecks. I found out that the only way to be an atheist is to be a punk rock listening, all black wearing, total emo, tattooed, fuck-the-world atheist. I never knew there were rules to atheism. I figured that all atheism was was a lack of beliefs in a god or gods. Well butter my butt and call me biscuit. I always thought that as a wrangler wearing, country music listening, line dancing atheist I was still a real atheist. No matter what music I listen to or what I wear changes the fact that I don't believe in any gods, except for The Young Gods. Now theres a punk band I'd convert for.

Don't Mind Me I Only Work Here

I often wonder what people think when they are totally disrespectful of employees at the places they frequent. Take my place of employment for example. I am employed at a private country club so the people who frequent the facilities pay to be members. That must give them the right to be total butt monkeys, right? Normally - No! But my job doesn't exactly fall in the normal range. Yes I'm just a bartender but that means squat to my employers and the members.

Today I was yelled at 3 times because the water containers ran dry on the course. You know it would be way to easy for them to just walk their happy asses into the bar and politely ask for some water but is that what happens? If you answered no...you must work for us. What happens is that when the water runs out, the lovely members march right into the bar, past the water pitchers, to bitch at me that the water is gone. Does having money make their common sense take a hiatus? If I'm that thirsty, my first thought is how can I get some water and then if I so happen to see a pitcher or two full of water, I proceed to drink it. I do not walk past them to yell at some poor, unsuspecting bartender who just clocked on and is not in charge of refilling the outside water. Then when said bartender explains that she will get a busser to fill up the water, I do not continue on my tirade of how hot it is outside and how I want the water filled up NOW!

And who exactly thinks that drunken poker games are best held on Wednesday nights? Don't you know that that's the best night for them? Well according to the people I serve...Wednesday night is just what the doctor ordered to rid you of all sobriety. Just remember to play till all hours of the morning making your bartender and your server stay to accommodate you with your one drink an hour. Please...What ever you do....Do not tip! We really hate that!

One more thing...I really love it when you drink almost all of your beer and then argue with me that it was flat. But you drank it anyways and now you want a new one. Oh and you're not going to pay for it because the first one was so horrible. But you drank it anyways!

My Effin Head Hurts

My other favorite site that I spend way too much time on has recently been made over. People say they like it. Me....It gives me a headache and I can't figure out the new layout. I will probably just say bye bye. I need to spend more time in real life doing other things....like going to the gym to work off this heifer butt that has attached itself to me. So since that's just wishful thinking and because I have no will power, I guess I'll just have to blog more.

Independence Day

Happy 4th of July! It's a wonderful day to celebrate our country! Please take a moment to remember our troops today and if you know any military personnel, please let them know just how much you appreciate all they do for us.

Stay Safe this holiday weekend!

Can You Hear Me Now?

I completely hate my cell phone company. Well, maybe I don't hate them but I am extremely frustrated by them. Not even 2 years ago I renewed my 2-year contract with a very well known cell phone company. I have done business with this company for a good decade now and other than a few minor issues, I've had no problems with them. They are usually very prompt at correcting mistakes and fixing any problems that arise.

That was until I bought an LG Chocolate phone. I had never had a "fancy" phone and I was distracted by all the shiny, flashy options the phone offered. Little did I know that the phone is defective. Before a year was up, the phone broke. I called Verizon to get a replacement phone since the warranty wasn't up. I wish that when you speak to people they tell you everything you need to know. I didn't know I had to return the old phone before 30 days by mail in the same packaging they sent the new phone in. I figured since I had to take the new phone into the Verizon store to be activated that I would just give them the old one since it was not working. Nope! They don't take the returns I was told. I had to ship it back to the company in the box they sent I was told. I was never told I only had 30 days from the original ship date and I had to use their enclosed labels.

Anyways long story short...I missed the return date and had to pay over $100 for a phone that should have been free. Now I'm stuck with two defective LG Chocolate phones that I have paid for. Last week the second phone I received malfunctioned. The speaker part of the phone quit working. So now I can receive calls and make calls but I can't hear any part of the conversation. When I took the phone into the store to complain, the sales person told me to use my bluetooth or the speaker phone function in order to use my phone until my contract is up next month. Then I can get a $50 upgrade or I could pay $50 right now and have my existing phone fixed. So my only options are....pay money to have my POS phone fixed, wait a month using my broken POS phone just to get a $50 upgrade on a new POS phone that will probably break on me in six months, or pay a few hundred to buy a brand new phone right now.

AAHH! I feel like standing outside of the corporate office, flipping them the bird, shouting "Can you hear me now?!"

So Sad

The great comedian George Carlin passed away Sunday at the age of 71. He will be greatly missed.

You're Gonna Miss This

I was on my way to work today and while listening to the radio a Trace Adkins song came on. It's called You're Gonna Miss This. The song talks about a girl wishing she was grown and what she will do, then continues once she's married with no kids, and finishes when she has two young kids and is all stressed out. In each stage of her life somebody tells her to enjoy the time in the here and now because once it's gone, you will miss it and want it back. So of course it got me thinking about how true it really is. As a child, I couldn't wait until I grew up. As an adult, I wish I could go back to being a child. Not all the time, you see, but when life gets too hectic and I want a break I wish I could go back to the carefree times in my childhood. Who doesn't? I would love to go back, if only for a short time, and just live another carefree childhood summer. To get up in the morning, eat a bowl of cereal, and ride my bike all day with my friends trying to conjure up another adventure. Usually it meant riding down to the creek where we imagined all the heroic things we could do and catch tadpoles. Then we would ride up the road to the liquor store and spend a dollar buying a few pieces of candy and a soda to share. Oh the times we had! I miss it and wished I would've appreciated it more.

Onward to my teenage years....Let me tell you, I didn't let one minute pass that I wasn't doing something that I wanted to do. I took full advantage of my driving privileges and my teenage bravado. I lived each day like there was no tomorrow. It was crazy insane and insanely fun. I did have my moments that I would erase from my memory immediately if I could but for the most part, I lived my teen years. But I didn't fully appreciate it. I had no idea of the amount of responsibility that adulthood could bring. I didn't think about the future. I didn't care and I so wish I could go back if just for a weekend. Oh the fun I could have....

On to adulthood, marriage, and kids...not all in the same order. I did things backward from the expected norm. I had kids, became an adult,and then got married. Yes technically I was legally an adult when my first daughter was born but I was far from being grown. I thought I was but thinking back on it now....I had so much to learn. Marriage was just another step in my becoming an adult. I love my husband beyond belief. I never thought there would be another person (other than my children) who I would love with such passion that I would die for them if need be....until I met Paul. He changed my perspective on men and marriage. I've heard people say that marriage is alot of work to keep running smoothly. For Paul and I it just comes naturally. I don't consider any part of my marriage "work". I love everything that I do for him. To make Paul happy makes me happy. It sounds totally sappy but I love everything about him....even his ability to leave his socks and shoes strategically placed to trip us all when we stand up from sitting on the couch.

I miss every moment that has passed in my childrens' lives. I may moan, groan, and complain about something at the moment but once it has passed, I miss it. From the non-sleeping, colicky infants to the hormonal preteens...I miss it all. I wish I could go back to do it all over and I would in a heartbeat. When my oldest child was colicky, I wished for anything but a screaming baby to take care of. Now I wish I could go back and trade in my screaming preteen for that screaming infant. At the same time I try to soak up as much of the crazy preteen years as I can because I know the insane teen years are right around the corner. I know what I did as a teenager and my daughter is not leaving the house for the next 20 years. I really realized the whole "You're Gonna Miss This" when my toddler turned a year old. I secretly cried because I knew my baby wasn't much of a baby anymore. She was becoming more independant and wasn't relying on me as much as before. While I fully enjoy my re-found freedoms, I still miss being the whole world for my last child.

Yes this was everything that I thought about on my 5 remaining minutes to work. I arrived teary eyed and vowed to try to live each day the best I can. I will try to appreciate each and every moment, even the sucky ones, because "You're Gonna Miss This" when it's gone.

Polls And Your Opinion

I put a poll at the bottom of my blog. Let me know what you think and if you have some sort of comment....leave it here.

Waterslides, Big Trees, And Family Time

Summertime is meant for playing in the water, even babies know this. It is something that is genetically encoded in all of us at birth. People gravitate to water like moths to a flame. Why do you think beaches are so popular, other than just being beautiful? People love water and my kids are no different. Hell if I didn't have to man the camera....I probably would have joined them.

I just don't think the inflatable slide would've held my big butt. Courtney was terrified of the slide at first. She kept her feet on the grass but her hands were constantly in the water. I finally had Keelie climb to the top and Courtney was handed to her. Then under protest from Courtney, they went down, down, down- right into a pool of water at the bottom. And Courtney LOVED it! Keelie would switch off with my niece Jenica on taking Court down the slide. After awhile, Court just stayed at the bottom and played with my nephew, Devin. Devin wasn't in his swim trunks but he told his momma that he was getting in anyways. He had just been splashing his hands in the water but pretty soon he had his head in it too. Every time his momma took him away from the water, he screamed. Finally he got his way and was sat in the water. He and Court splashed around while their sisters tried not to drown them each time they came down the slide.

I love these pictures. I took them on our recent trip to Big Trees. Even with gas prices being what they are, we still like to take small road trips. We went up to Big Trees because it's not very far away, we love the mountains, and we wanted to see how the new car would drive up the inclines. Like a glove! Heehee. I did realize something while at Big Trees....I need a wide angle lens! I tried to snap a picture of Paul and Courtney standing in front of a tree and I wanted the entire base of the tree in it too. Well in order to achieve the photo, I had to stand so far back that you could not detect their faces even when I zoomed in. So I will eventually save up enough to buy one but for now I will just have to deal. Back to the pictures...I love these two pictures the best out of all the ones I took. Everything Daddy did, Courtney had to do too. Daddy walked down a trail, Courtney followed. Daddy sat to look up at a tree, Courtney had to do the same. I swear they were both cut from the same mold. Courtney is Daddy's Little Girl. She doesn't have to work very hard at it...He's already wrapped around her little finger.

My Baby Is Gone

Keelie is on vacation to Mexico with her other biological half. She will be home on Sunday. I wonder what she will return with this year. One time it was strep throat. Another time it was a sunburn and wind chapped skin. They get to take her out and have fun...I get the clean up. It's nice that child support gets paid maybe once a year, twice if I'm lucky, and yet somehow week long vacations to some resort in Mexico are taken every year. Oh well - in a few years Keelie will be old enough to tell the courts that she really doesn't like them and wants to choose when she has visitation. Until then, I get to play clean up.

I Love Working With Migraines

Occasionally I'll have a migraine and it usually hits when I have something I have to do....like work. Today was one of those days. I wish I could have just called in but there are only 3 bartenders and we had a tournament going on. So I hauled my ass in. My head hurt so damn bad that I found a quiet, dark corner and laid down for about 30 minutes....on the clock! Yeah, that's right. I didn't clock out and I didn't work. I slept! But hey, nobody came in for a drink anyways. I got up when I heard people come in. Plus my boss knew what I was doing. He told me to do it. It was that or I was going home and he would have been stuck bartending. I stuck the whole work thing out for about 3 hours before I just couldn't take it anymore. Once the second bartender come on, I split. I feel bad that I left so early but I felt like my head was going to explode. I have a doctor appointment next month so I'll ask for more migraine meds. Hopefully I'll just never have another......YEAH and pigs will fly over the moon too!

My Week In A Nutshell

Now that summer is here we can go play "tennis" again. Our game of tennis is more like baseball/soccer/chase/hide-n-go seek/tackle football/dodgeball all in one. Try playing tennis with two out of shape adults, an energetic preteen, and a rambunctious toddler. I guarantee that you will never view tennis the same after that. It's hilarious! We end up apologizing to the players next to us before we even start. Courtney winds up walking right in the middle of the court while we are attempting to play. Keelie hits the ball everywhere but over the net. I'm trying for the next great long shot. Is there a world record for a tennis ball hit the longest distance? Paul likes the power shots that make you run away in fear and send you chasing after an escaping tennis ball. Usually Courtney grabs the ball before you can get to it and refuses to return it. We always take at least 6 balls with us. Half we lose and the other half Courtney claims. Some day we may actually be able to play halfway decent.

Keelie is officially out of school for the summer. She earned 4 different awards. She held Honor Roll all year. She had Perfect Attendance all year. She got some sort of Life Skill award and she received an award for being the second fastest runner in the 5th grade. Next year in 6th grade she'll be placed in a class with all the other GATE students. I'm quite happy about this because now maybe she'll be challenged in class and not just being the teachers' aide. Most of Keelie's day is spent helping her fellow classmates. I'm glad my child wants to help but I want her to focus on her education. Everything else aside....I am extremely proud of my daughter. She has a wonderfully bright future ahead of her.

Notice in the second picture, the boy in the red standing next to Keelie. That's Marcus, Keelie's "friend". Paul and I tease Kee that he is her boyfriend. Kee says that he is just a friend but this boy calls my house at least twenty times a day. I say that qualifies as a boyfriend. HeeHee! Now I really have my work cut out for me. Paul and I already told her that they are not allowed to be alone together. Not that we think anything will happen but kids grow up so fast you just never know.

While trying to drink my coffee and get the newspaper read this morning, Courtney decided to ride Jack. Now I know he's as big as a horse but he's an old dog and I really shouldn't encourage this....BUT...it's cute as hell! Ignore the mess in the background. With my little tornado, I can pick up her mess only to have her destroy the living room in 0.5 seconds. So I tend to only clean up after she's asleep or if for some reason I have company over.

Have To Get My Kids In Here

My girls. They are my whole reason for getting out of bed every morning. Without them I would have so much time, I think I would go crazy with boredom. They keep me on my toes, poised, ready for what they throw at me next. I would never trade them for anything. I LOVE my girls...Even when they drive me insane!

Let's Get This Started

Okay...This is my first posting. I have to get this out of the way first and then I can start annoying you with my nonsense and redundancy. Plus what else are you going to say for the first post?