One of my many jobs as a stay-at-home mom is to be the sole planner of all family and social events.  I planned and executed a very successful euchre tournament last weekend, this weekend will be family day at the pumpkin patch/cider mill, niece's birthday and baseball party.  Next weekend is, of course, Halloween.  The first weekend in Nov is our school's charity ball and I am hosting a birthday party for a dear friend.  I will then be well on my way to planning for Thanksgi...

The left seems to respond to the word "Halliburton" like my mother-in-law responds to the word "fart" (it is what she considers the "f" word).  I ask this, what other establishment could and would do Halliburton's job?  I am not defending overcharges or any other conduct.  I am simply curious as to what the options would be. I often wonder how many people howling "Halliburton this or Halliburton that" even know what Halliburton does.  I also think you have to be out of you...

During a card playing get together with some neighbor friends this weekend a couple of heated political discussions got going.  One thing that one of the teachers (pro-Kerry thanks to No Child Left Behind) said really irked me and I wanted to hear the insider perspective.  The topic was who the military wants as Commander and Chief.  She said our military wants Kerry and many others said Bush.  She said that polls only show Bush in favor with the military because our soldiers...

I grew up in a small, rural town where everyone did everything everyone else did.  There were no minorities of any kind.  Everyone was pretty much the same. My kids are growing up in a very diverse area.  They don't think anything of someone having different colored skin or a dot between their eyes.  They have grown up next to Italians, Indians, Africans (and I mean straight from Africa), Asians, you name it, they probably know something about the culture and someone who c...

I recieved an email today and couldn't find anything on Urban Legends regarding this so I am hoping someone out there might know.  The email warned that if Kerry is elected we will have to pay for secret service ....um, service at all of Kerry's homes (that would be 5) for the rest of his life.  Is this true? I was aware that Presidents have secret service agents with them at all times and that they are protected by them for the remainder of their life but I didn't know that they we...

My sister and I are only 22 months apart in age.  This has been cause for periods of extreme closeness and periods of conflict.  We are very different in personality but very much alike when it comes to important stuff. We grew up in a very small town and shared a lot of friends.  People who knew us well didn't see us as looking much alike but strangers would ask if we were twins (still do).  We experienced jealousy about the other on occasion, at least on my part.  I...

I was reading through my November issue of Redbook last night and came across an article about entertaining.  One of the statements in the article was "A good host greets guests at the door with a cocktail and a warm welcome".  I guess I'm not a good host and have never been in the presence of one!  My first thought was of the Home Economics class films I had to view about etiquette.  They were from the 50s and always stated things like "A good housewife always listens to wha...

I can't say what happens everywhere but I will share what I have observed here in suburban Detroit.  I do a lot of driving around due to the fact that I have two young boys.  I see a lot of bumper stickers during my local taxiing.  My observations are as follows: I see Kerry/Edwards signs mostly on tiny beatup foreign cars.  I see Bush/Cheney signs on American vehicles (mostly SUVs and trucks) and the only hybrid I have seen in this area has a W in '04 magnet on it....

My 4yr old is very cuddly in the morning.  This morning he wanted me to carry him down stairs.  I picked him up and he rested his little head between my neck and shoulder, a perfect fit.  He wrapped his legs around my waist, his little bum just fit in my hands.  What a wonderful feeling to have him all snuggled up. He likes me to sit with him and watch cartoons until he really wakes up.  Once awake, he is okay with me leaving him for the purpose of getting his breakfa...

We have a giant roll of paper in the kitchen which the boys tear off desired lengths from and create their own works of art.  We have a box of crayons, markers, stickers, scissors etc. they use to get the job done with.  I love seeing what they come up with! Last night they were at it while I was doing dishes.  The 4yr old finished his and said "look what I made mommy!"  I glanced and said "That's wonderful....what is it?"  He pointed out a rainbow which was very reco...

Well, I have had 3 B12 shots so far and I do see a difference.  I think my anemia is helped quite a bit.  Anemia can make you feel weak and drained.  About 24-48hrs after a B12 injection I start feeling like myself again. I plan to keep having the shots every other week until I can get my weight and Iron levels under control.

Seventeen years ago I had a nasty bike accident.  I still pick a granule of gravel out of my elbow on occasion.  If there had been a car on the road, I would have been easily killed.  Luckily, there wasn't. I wrecked my bike and just didn't buy a new one.  By then I was into driving and lived in the country where there was no good place to ride (which factored into my accident).  I thought about trying again in college but my roommate who was an avid bike rider fell a...

Since my first born was a preschooler we have moved into a new home.  I had such a great time during his preschool years.  Blues Clues was a daily ritual and the house was always covered with toys.  It was never quiet because he was always singing little songs or talking to and with his toys. Now my "baby" is 4.  He is watching Blues Clues and playing similar games as big brother.  Bigger house, more toys but same fun.  He is talking to his cars right now and was...

Both of my children are starting to go on field trips with school already.  I wasn't able to chaperone my 7yr olds trip to the park and science center because they didn't allow siblings.  I do, however, get to chaperone my 4yr olds trip to the cider mill next week.  I am quite excited for both of us. We car pool so our kids don't ride the bus.  One of the most exciting things for the boys regarding field trips is getting to ride the bus.  Ah, the simple pleasures.&nbs...

I am a chronic sinus allergy sufferer.  I am pretty used to sinus pressure so I rarely notice it anymore until it is to the point of being a bad infection.  I woke up with a sore throat today and my left ear is aching.  I bet it is those darned sinuses! The weather here in MI recently dropped from upper 80s to mid 60s so we put the heat on yesterday.  I don't know if it is the weather or if there is dust in the furnace but I suspect my sore throat is from sinus drainage.&n...