Christmas Countdown - 2011

[Bradmac]

Bradmac, What do you think about the cheating scandal in Atlanta?

Actually, I don't know anything about it. I'll have to check it out.

 

[Christmas-A-Holic]

The kids and I are having a Christmas in July cookout!

I got the grill fired up and I let the kids make their own veggie packs wrapped in foil. They are had fun adding veggies and putting their own seasonings on it. We also have beans, hot dogs, hot links and veggie burgers for me. The veggies are cooking right now and we will cook the rest of it shortly.

The kids are so excited and keep saying, "Christmas is almost here"!

 

[Christmasstar]

Do we get to see that sunset cake when you're finished? cheesy

but of course! Will be posting pictures when done.

 

[Christmasstar]

I'm not Bradmac, but I don't condone cheating. I had to look up the story, because I hadn't heard about it. I must admit, however, that the standardized testing used to determine the children's academic prowess leaves something to be desired. Not that it makes it too easy to cheat (although that's evidently a problem too), but becuase I don't think it can give a complete picture of what a child has learned. When you consider the pressure being put on educators to "do more", no matter what, to improve these scores, you almost have to come to the conclusion that this is just an all-around bad way to do testing. I can certainly understand that Principals and Teachers have a hard enough job as it is, and I certainly don't want our Teacher and Principal members to think I'm blaming anyone....I really don't even have a better suggestion for them to use for testing purposes. I'm just noting that constant pressure on educators seems to have taken it's toll in this case. It's sad, because I think a lot of teachers.

why can they not just take the students marks from thier report cards and skip the testing?

 

[made582]

Went to Michaels on my lunch break today... they had some Christmas stuff out! Just a few little crafty items but there were arrows on the floor with snowflakes pointing towards the Christmas stuff..it said something about "get a head start on your Holiday projects".. I was so excited! I also found some Fall stuff.. bought some window clings and a adorable Charlie Brown Happy Halloween mini flag! YAYAYA so excited to see this stuff starting to come out cheesy

I know what I will be doing sunday now!!!!!!cheesy

 

[made582]

but of course! Will be posting pictures when done.

I can't wait to see them!!!

 

[made582]

I have to leave for a couple hours for a funeral visitation. One of my longtime friends' father passed away a couple days ago. The big problem is that my friend has bipolar disorder, and is currently in a manic phase. He'd done a few things that landed him in jail for a few weeks. His family asked me not to bail him out because his condition leads him to drinking heavily. We're afraid he'd hurt himself or someone else. While he was in jail, his father passed away (the sheriff allowed him to leave the jail temporarily to visit his father in the hospital). Since then, another friend of his bailed him out. I'm worried what his reaction to me will be, since I didn't bail him out after he left several messages on my machine asking me to. I guess we'll see.

My prayers go out to you and your friends family.

 

[made582]

Good Afternoon Everyone!!!!!!!!!!!! It is a another hot day here in central Indy. I'm starting to think that the predictions for a mild summer aren't going to hold up. I have spent most of the morning watching coverage of the last shuttle launch. I always wanted to go watch one in person but never made it. Hopefully Nasa can figure out what's next and I can go watch it launch. This afternoon I have some cleaning to do and then I am going to help my neighbor put the leg he broke off of his dining room table back on. I hope everyone is having a GREAT DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[made582]

A quick reminder about Comedy Centrals schedule for Sunday

National Lampoons Christmas Vacation- 3pm est
Bad Santa- 5pm est
Jeff Dunham's Very Special Christmas Special- 9pm est

 

[Christmas-A-Holic]

I always wanted to go watch one in person but never made it. Hopefully Nasa can figure out what's next and I can go watch it launch.

We watched it this morning.

We were in Florida one year when they launched Discovery. At the time we were on the highway and it was so cool how everyone on the highway pulled off to watch it. I never seen a highway so clear before, not a soul driving down it. It was quite a ways but you could see the trail of smoke going up in the air. As soon as it disappeared everyone got back in their car and business as usual.

My ex sister in law does a lot of work for NASA in Houston. She was even a test subject and got to go up in the vomit comet.

 

[xmas365]

I agree it's disrespectful for those who ignore and chatter during the anthem.

We had a patriotic service at church on Sunday and we sang the National Anthem, I got chills singing it. It really does move me.

I love watching the Olympics for the very same reason that when the United States win and we hear our Anthem. I feel happy for other countries as well because I know the pride they feel when they hear theirs.

I read a news article somewhere in the last few days about someone throwing out the idea of changing the national anthem to America the Beautiful, and one of the reasons was they used was The Star Spangled Banner "to hard to sing." I understand the song being a tough one, but when that person used Christina Aguilera screwing up the song at the Super Bowl as an example I lost complete respect for the writer. My thought is if people like her would sing the song the way it is meant and stop trying so hard to make it "their own" they wouldn't screw it up like that. Keep the song Star Spangled Banner is my opinion. It's a great song.

 

[xmas365]

Hi everyone!!! Roasting over here today!! We were out playing before 8am and it was already too hot and humid. It's supposed to stay this way for a few days so I decided to take this time to potty train my VERY reluctant 3 year old. (Good excuse to stay inside in the a/c right?? 2 birds with 1 stone!) So far, so good although he refuses to wear underwear sooo he's pantless guy right now! :\ Oh well, in due time.

Looking forward to only 1 in diapers sometime soon!

My 3 year old is now trained, only wears pullups at night, we tried training him sooner but he wasn't ready at that time. He basically did it on his own when he was ready, and is doing a great job, no accidents in about 1.5 months.
He will do it when he is ready.

 

[xmas365]

Good afternoon, Christmas Family !


It is kind of cloudy then not cloudy here in NE Ohio today. Temperature is nice - not too hot and not too cool (is there such a thing ??)


My job is just not working out the way I had hoped. Midnights are killing me. I had asked if there were any positions on days and they told me no. So I have decided to interview for a different company. I am not usually a "job hopper". When I get a job I usually stay there for years but living in a constant state of exhaustion and not having the energy to do anything because of my job has got to go. Then there is still that threatening e-mail I got. I feel I have no choice but to try and move on. One thing I am VERY proud of is that a couple of my reports were audited a week ago and they were BOTH 100 percent PERFECT.

I interview with a company this Friday at noon.

The biggest thing going on with me is that my dear brother-in-law will be undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery TOMORROW.

I must admit when I heard he had this I totally panicked a few days back as I am prone to do. Since then I have found out that the AAA was an incidental finding by his cardiologist. Wes was given a 100 percent clean bill of health but the doc decided to do an ultrasound and that is when the AAA showed up.

He is 70 and is a really great guy, the nearest relationship I have to having a brother. We disagree vehemently about things especially politics but none of that even matters.

For those who pray, please keep Wes in your thoughts. If any happen to be of the Catholic faith, please join me in an across the miles rosary. Any and all good thoughts or prayers are sincerely appreciated. My sister is going to let me know tomorrow. Wes' oldest daughter is going to be at the hospital with my sister.

I am unbelievably scared.

I hope all are doing well. CAH, I hope you get to see your little grandbabies soon, Seawaters I hope you feel better, I think of you all every single day even if I don't post on the countdown.

Thank you Christmas Family

((((HUGS))))) For All xo

My thoughts are with you, and I hope the interview went well (if you had it yet, trying to catch up on 3 days of posts right now. cheesy )

 

[MerryCarey]

I read a news article somewhere in the last few days about someone throwing out the idea of changing the national anthem to America the Beautiful, and one of the reasons was they used was The Star Spangled Banner "to hard to sing." I understand the song being a tough one, but when that person used Christina Aguilera screwing up the song at the Super Bowl as an example I lost complete respect for the writer. My thought is if people like her would sing the song the way it is meant and stop trying so hard to make it "their own" they wouldn't screw it up like that.

GOOD POINT! Let the song speak for itself. It ain't about you and your "song styling" ... it's about the flag and respect for our country.

 

[xmas365]

Good Afternoon, Christmas Family !!!

Good News, no better than that, Miraculous news !!!

Wes got through the surgery just fine, which was an endovascular procedure. With this type of surgery they place like a graft or patch over the aneurysm and divert the blood flow somehow taking the pressure off the aneurysm itself. That is the routine part. The miraculous thing that I just found out from my sister, and which she did not tell me before, was that the ANEURYSM WAS 8.2 cm !!!! That is huge and usually when they are that large they are just ready to rupture. Wes' did not. A true miracle. Someone, they way I see it, definitely had their hand over Wes.

Thank you all for your prayers, rosaries, thoughts, I can't tell you how much you and your suppor means to me. My sister wishes to thank you all too. Now the recovery which I hope will be swift.

Blessings everyone xoxoxoxo And Thank you (((((HUGS)))))))

I am glad to hear that!

 

[caninemom3]

Warning: Rant!

I'm feeling so bad for Mr., and so angry at his workplace ... he's covering for a bereaved colleague this week, so he's working from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., instead of until 5:30---except that TWICE this week, just before he's due to leave, he gets word that "some work is coming down in a few hours ... it has to be out by 6:30 a.m., so we'll be here past midnight." The other night, he was lucky enough to get home about 11:30. Tonight there's no end in sight---he'll miss the last train home and have to pay for a cab home himself---about 30 miles---because the people who can cut him a voucher have left the office. And he'll be expected to be there bright and early at 9 a.m. tomorrow. Lately his department has been slammed with a lot of late and weekend work, caused by ad writers who just don't give a d--- how late others have to work. They take all the time they want, pushing all the schedule pressure onto people who are supposed to have regular working hours, but wind up having to accommodate the writers' erratic work habits. It'll be tough trying to sleep tonight, not knowing whether he'll be home in a couple hours or will have to work until dawn. I can't even say "thank goodness tomorrow's Friday," because he was on call last Saturday in case they needed him to work from home!

I realize it's bad form to air workplace grievances online, especially someone else's, but I'm so frustrated tonight that I just had to vent. I can only hope that some complaints reach some managers who can do something about the current situation. Some of those writers need a swift kick in the tuchus. Any volunteers? The line forms here!

I think This Guy expresses my feelings well for your situation.....!!! xo

 

[xmas365]

Warning: Rant!

I'm feeling so bad for Mr., and so angry at his workplace ... he's covering for a bereaved colleague this week, so he's working from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., instead of until 5:30---except that TWICE this week, just before he's due to leave, he gets word that "some work is coming down in a few hours ... it has to be out by 6:30 a.m., so we'll be here past midnight." The other night, he was lucky enough to get home about 11:30. Tonight there's no end in sight---he'll miss the last train home and have to pay for a cab home himself---about 30 miles---because the people who can cut him a voucher have left the office. And he'll be expected to be there bright and early at 9 a.m. tomorrow. Lately his department has been slammed with a lot of late and weekend work, caused by ad writers who just don't give a d--- how late others have to work. They take all the time they want, pushing all the schedule pressure onto people who are supposed to have regular working hours, but wind up having to accommodate the writers' erratic work habits. It'll be tough trying to sleep tonight, not knowing whether he'll be home in a couple hours or will have to work until dawn. I can't even say "thank goodness tomorrow's Friday," because he was on call last Saturday in case they needed him to work from home!

I realize it's bad form to air workplace grievances online, especially someone else's, but I'm so frustrated tonight that I just had to vent. I can only hope that some complaints reach some managers who can do something about the current situation. Some of those writers need a swift kick in the tuchus. Any volunteers? The line forms here!

It stinks about what they are doing to him, remember if it applies Massachusetts law requires a minimum of 8 hours off between shifts.

 

[xmas365]

Good Friday morning, my Christmas friends!

I have to leave for a couple hours for a funeral visitation. One of my longtime friends' father passed away a couple days ago. The big problem is that my friend has bipolar disorder, and is currently in a manic phase. He'd done a few things that landed him in jail for a few weeks. His family asked me not to bail him out because his condition leads him to drinking heavily. We're afraid he'd hurt himself or someone else. While he was in jail, his father passed away (the sheriff allowed him to leave the jail temporarily to visit his father in the hospital). Since then, another friend of his bailed him out. I'm worried what his reaction to me will be, since I didn't bail him out after he left several messages on my machine asking me to. I guess we'll see.

It's always something around here!

I hope you all have a great day! cheesy

Sorry for you and your friends loss, I hope your friend is doing better.

 

[xmas365]

Good morning and Happy FRIDAY! Another weekend closer to the Fall, the nice cool air, the start of "The Season"..so much to look forward to! This weekend I am getting a new dresser..so excited lol and hope to take my youngest Son to Toys'R'Us to see what kind of things he might like for his Birthday next month. I doubt I will be on until Monday as usual so I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

:rudolph:

I think I get more excited to go Toys R Us than my boys do. cheesy

 

[MerryCarey]

I think This Guy expresses my feelings well for your situation.....!!! xo

Oh, yeah! He could kick some serious ... er, he could take care of the situation!

It stinks about what they are doing to him, remember if it applies Massachusetts law requires a minimum of 8 hours off between shifts.

I'll pass that fact along if he gets slammed on consecutive nights.

When his colleague gets back, at least they'll be able to take turns staying late. But this week made me mad.