bothering the lady with the boobs

Midtown Miscreant has an interesting post on the lady who just had 8 babies.  I didn't know she also had 6 other kids.  That means she currently has 14 kids UNDER THE AGE OF 8.  OMFG!!!...that's it, that's all I can think of to express my feelings OMFG!!!!  She's beyond nuts.  I have 4 kids and that's exhausting.  She already had 6.  SIX!!.  8 more ON PURPOSE?!?!?!  OMFG!!

later in the post he talks about the whole breastfeeding / facebook blowout.  I've not paid much attention to it because I think the whole thing is stupid.  I don't agree with facebook's choice to ban the picture, when I've seen so much worse on there, but I wouldn't want anyone telling me how to run my company either.

Commenting on that part of the post reminded me of one of not so nice things I have done.  I could plead hormones, but to be honest, I knew what I was doing.  I was just pissed off at the guy.

I was sitting in a corner booth in the food court of a mall in Florida nursing my younger son.  My older kids were with my mom, so it was just him and me.  I always wore loose fitting clothing, so there wasn't any exposed breast.  Probably a lot less exposed skin than many women show on a daily basis.  Some jackass comes up to me and tells me that it's disgusting for me to feed my baby in public.  I've had a bad day.  A really bad day.  That's why my mom had the other kids, so I could have some peace and not kill anyone.  This jerk is coming over trying to steal my peace.  I glared at him, but didn't say anything.  He didn't shut up and kept on telling me that it was wrong and disgusting for me to force him to look at me doing that.  I could have told him not to look, or that it was natural and best for the baby, but like I said, it had been a very bad day. I screamed.  Not yelled.  I screamed like he had just stabbed me with a knife.  I started yelling for him to leave me alone and not to touch me.  He hadn't been touching me and had given no indication that he was going to, but at this point I had decided to punish him for bothering me.  I'm screaming for help and security and police and the jackass takes a bit before he decides to leave.  I guess he didn't know what to do. The mall cops got there pretty quickly and because it looked like he was running away they grabbed him. 

 I told them that he was harassing me about my breasts and I didn't feel safe.  It had been a bad day, the tears came easily.  Pretty soon the real cops were there too.  I was a young mom sitting by myself in the corner of the food court.  He was a middle aged pervert.  They didn't buy his side of it.  Now in the end I didn't take it so far as to press charges and the worst thing that happened to the guy is that he was banned from the mall for a period of time.  I hope that he thought twice before being nasty to a stranger.

IHOPians in the plog

http://blogs.pitch.com/plog/2009/01/killa_city_parents_of_dead_bab.php

Justin Kendall talks about the parents being IHOPians.  The comments were kinda interesting.  IHOP scares the shit out of me, especially with them building some new cult center in my hometown.  

IHOP is a cult.  I say this, not because of any problem with organized religion, but because it's members exist to serve IHOP- not the other way around.  It is a new church, a new religion- that's not a reason to dislike them.  The fact that they suck the life and $$ out of their followers is.  How can such a new organization afford so much?  How do they have millions of $$ in property?  The money has to come from somewhere.  

I once overheard a conversation. Half a conversation really, since the guy was on the phone.  He talked about how hard it was to get a job since he had to pray x number of hours a day and spend x number of hours a day at the church.  He talked about how unfair employers were by not working around his schedule.  He talked about how he planned on giving half of his $$ to the church when he got a job.  He ended the conversation with "Thanks for sending me some money Grandma.  God is using you to do good work."    He was wearing an IHOP shirt.   

My thoughts were that he should pray less or on his own time and not mooch off of his grandmother who is probably on a fixed income.  If the church doesn't understand his need to work and feed himself then it's not a very good place to be.

Survival instincts

Some people are natural survivors, some are doomed for extinction, at least figuratively.  Of my children only one seems to be a natural survivor.  That's my younger son.  All of my kids are smart, but he's the one that's aware.  I think sometimes that's more important than super smart.  If there was a survivable disaster or accident he's the kid that would make it out.  My daughters would likely freeze and my other son might not even be aware that the disaster was in progress until it was too late.  This type of thing does affect every day life in our house too.

The other day I came home and had to pee.  REALLY had to pee.  The OMG I hope I make it to the bathroom kind of had to pee.  I rushed to the bathroom and pulled my pants down and too late realized that there was dog pee all over the bathroom floor.  We have a great dane, it's not small puddle.  my pants cuffs are now soaked and I am more than a little upset.  There had been 4 people home with the dog.  1 is too small to walk her, but that leaves the 3 males in the house.  I head out to the living room and start having a melt down (did I mention that this was right before my period)  Here are the reactions I got

Dan - Didn't look up from the computer - I didn't want the dog anyway. 

Teddy - Didn't look up from the television - You could have called me and told me to walk her.

Tommy - Stood up and walked in my direction - I'm sorry, do you want me to walk her or clean up the pee first.

Guess which two got the rest of my wrath.  Like I said, survival instincts. 

Tommy does do a lot of stupid things, I won't deny that.  Still, there's hope that one day when he's grown up and married his wife won't beat him to death over them.  

Not dead either

Gabriel - White boy east of troost - called his post WBEOT is not dead, because he hadn't posted since the weekend.d  I haven't either, so my post is not dead either.  I've been under the weather.  You know the kind, where you are not sick enough to say you are sick, but you just feel bleah..  that kind.

Got some sleep and am on the way back to normal.  Couldn't happen fast enough.  Too much to do this time of year to be sick.

I'll make another post with pictures to show you all the cool stuff I have now at the store, but this post is going to be a complaint.  Not about anything done to me, but about the unfairness of the KCMO school district to the students who need the most support.

It's a small thing in the grand scheme of things the district does wrong, but still, it's just not fair.  What is "it"?  Tickets to the inauguration last week.  The district picked 5 high school kids and paid for them to go.  5 children - all from the same school.  Lincoln.  Not one from each school.  No contest or essay to get the tickets.  Just 5 from the only school in the district that they care about.  There are good kids at all of the schools.  No, they either didn't pass or didn't take the test to get into Lincoln, but that does not make them bad kids.  Kids from Central have gone on to be in the Olympics and go to Harvard.  I'm sure it's not the only HS in the district that can make that claim.  Obviously Li colon isn't the only school that can claim to have kids who deserved to see the inauguration in person.  So why are the only kids who went from there? 

unfollow

I like twitter.  Even when I'm not adding to it, I will watch the tweets go by because there is some interesting stuff out there.

I'm not such a fan of 'social media gurus' or whatever they are calling themselves.  There are a few in my following list - when I added them I was either

1.  just return following everyone or 

2.  interested in something they were talking about at the time.

Today I have been unfollowing everyone who wastes my time with social media 'how to's, ads for ways to make $$ or messages saying hello to their new followers.  I like twitter for the social aspect of it, not the captive audience advertising that seems to be rampant.

I also thought my avatar on twitter would get rid of some of the more fundamentalist types that started to follow me.  I wanted to discourage them before I had to block them.  Nope, just convinced more to follow.  I don't follow back, but can not for the life of me figure out why they are following me.  I have an adult balloon as my avatar - censored, but still adult.  

to be fair, I'm sure lots of folks have unfollowed me after some of my more inane posts - but that's ok.  we each take what we want out of this experience.  I would rather know that May is drinking coffee and listening to music than a new tip on using social media to it's fullest.  If I was going to use social media to it's fullest I would take May's tweet and tell her to buy coffee from coffeefool.com.  Of course I would have signed up for some sort of associate program first and made some $$ off of the deal.  Seems like a lot of work.   I'm a balloon artist as part of my master plan to avoid lots of work.  :-)

one last thing

I don't know if they have an associate program or not.  If they do, I'm not signed up for it, but banana nut coffee from Coffeefool.com is freaking awesome. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmgood.

Violent Acres

http://www.violentacres.com/

I love this blog.  Give it a read!  In the December archives is a post about how children learn to cope with failure.  That's my current favorite.

I like this one

It says I'm in the Nude for Love

The Valentine Foils have arrived

I got my valentine balloons in.  I looked for a pug one but the closest I could find is a Boston Terrier.  I know a lot of people who like pugs.

I think I have a pretty good selection - things you won't see at Sunfresh.  I'll post them all to the website this week.

don't forget that during the weeks after Valentine's you can bring your old balloons in (even if they didn't come from us) and save $$ on a purchase.  I'm starting a recycling card, in case you don't want to use your savings that day.  The new purchase can be anything in the store, not just balloons.  Even if you don't feel like coming down here to recycle them, do something with them.  Balloons are cool, but not when they are cluttering up the environment.  It's shiny stuff - you can find something to do with shiny stuff!

sooo sooo cool

I was over at Patrick's soon to be toy shop poking around this morning.  He's starting to  get merchandise in and he has stuff I want.  Right now he's got the coolest wooden sculpture puzzles.  I want the carp one.

I can't wait to see what else he gets.  I am so excited that he's opening, even if it's not until March.  His website isn't up yet but he told me the store is going to be called Poptopia.

So wrong, yet so cool

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/01/hypodermic_needle_chandelier_sculpt.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890 

Happy New year

The delivery guy just wished me a Happy New Year.

I think he got it right.  Today is the start of America's New Year.

boycotting the recession

Thyme2dream  makes amazing jewelry and has a very positive outlook.  On twitter she mentioned that she is boycotting the recession.  I think I shall join her in that.  

Couldn't tell you EXACTLY what she means, but here' s my take on it.

Recessions are dark, depressing and scary.  I'm not going to choose to live like that.  I am going to go forward and find peace, happiness and success.  Success is everywhere, it' s not only measured in $$.  I'm not going to hole up and hoard.  I'm going to create and share.

since she was my inspiration for today - I guess I've figured out which avatar to make.

Just saw her link to the facebookgroup where she tells you exactly what she means by it.

here is her facebook group where she tells you exactly what she means by it. 

Stupid me

I let my distaste for people who post anonymous comments get the better of me on TKC and I fed the trolls.

No posting another response there, because that would just feed them a second course.  I'll just vent here.

Anonymous commenters are the low.  If you don't have the backbone or balls to say it with your name then don't say it at all.  Making balloon giraffes at a birthday party is gainful employment and people pay me well for it.   More importantly I'm happy with what I do and all I can say is if you're unhappy then don't take it out on other people.  If you hate tony's blog, then don't read it.  Actually read it plenty.  Tony probably likes the tension - but please people cut down on the many comments about why people shouldn't read the blog.  Argue, but at least make it interesting.

And don't be a dick.

Celebration of the Inauguration

Bush is gone and we should all celebrate.  Voted for Obama or not, tomorrow is a day of change and hopefully  moving forward.

Stop by the shop and get a free balloon.  Probably not a balloon on a string - I don't do those, remember.  Dogs, cats, flowers - anything in the cooler is up for grabs!  No purchase required, just stop by and say Hi!

so maybe Tony was right

In about a zillion posts Tony of Tony's Kansas City has told us that the red light cameras are simply a way to increase revenue not safety.  After my experience today - I have to say that he's right.  

At 39th and Southwest Twfy I was stopped by the red light.  I didn't notice the yellow light being short, but I'll get to all of that in a second.  Let me start by saying how freaking annoying the bright flashes are when the camera goes off.  Startled me, I was looking around for the aliens who were there to abduct us all.  Do they really need that flash.  Maybe at night - when I'm sure it's going to be even more startling, but this was early afternoon.

Now to the yellow light part.  I didn't notice because I knew I wouldn't be making that light.  Some poor sap was stuck in the middle trying to turn left.  They had to go on red.  Did they get a ticket?  Should the city be giving tickets to people stuck turning left at intersections where they city refuses to put a turn light in?  39th and Main, 39th and Broadway - how many people will get tickets there just because the city won't put in turn arrows?  Doesn't seem fair at all to me.

Gotta go with Tony on this one, smells like $$ over safety to me.

some new stuff

Shalana brought in some rings

Becky and Rene brought some cute children's chairs in.

Better pictures of the bug candy

see my list

It's in the sidebar.  A list of people I want to put a balloon hat on and take a picture.  Well, people and animals.  

Mostly the list is comprised of stuff that makes me giggle.   Well, Gary Busey in a balloon hat makes me laugh out loud.  Joel McHale is on the list.  He's also coming to town on the 13th of February.  I'm going to make an effort to get my picture of him in a balloon hat.

Let you know how it goes.

In the meantime, if anyone has a big snake that they think won't bite me if I put a small balloon hat on it, email me.  Same goes for a chinese crested dog.

Jeff is a Geek

Hoods are a LOT easier to make than the jacket part.  wish I had a few different colors for some parts.  A nice dark gray for the jacket - but they don't make that.  They do make a better color for the beard, but I am out.  He's still hanging on the wall by Becky's bugs.  Guarding them from the Empire.  :-)

my vacation

I gave fair warning. 

Dan frequently will passive aggressively over ride my punishments with the kids.  He doesn't out right say "don't do what you mother says"  He says "I guess you have to do what she says, but Stacey you are being very unfair and I wouldn't do it that way."  

I'm sick of that shit, so the other night I told him I was done.  He could deal with the kid in question.  I'm tired of always being the bad guy.  I make rules, he makes it ok for them to break the rules.  So, now when the kid starts hounding me for extra permissions or to get out of a punishment I am directing them to their father.  He doesn't like this very much.  Told me that I just can't divorce myself from responsibility.

Yes I can.  Already did it.  Unless someone is in danger he can handle the daily crap that comes with having several kids.  I don't have to be on call for it.  Actually I am directing ALL of their 150000000000 daily phone calls his way.  Mom is on vacation this week- maybe this month - at least until I feel rested.  When Bessie breaks the no soda after 6pm rule and is up until 3am it will be with Dad and not me.  When he steps in a giant puddle of pee (great dane) because a boy didn't walk the dog - dad can yell instead of me.  When they bicker I get to say "talk to your dad".  

I can't take a permanent vacation, I am still their mom, but a short one will do me some good.  Might do their dad some good too.  Might do my sons' future wives some good too.  

I started this a couple of days ago.  It's working well for me, don't think Dan is liking it much though.  I don't think he realized why I have strict rules about certain things.  He  just flashes back to his shrieking harpy of a mother and wants to protect his kids from that.  I'm not her - she controlled every aspect of their lives to an insane degree.  I just want the kids to grow up and be productive members of society who don't live off of me or the government.   Sometimes that means saying "you can't use the computer for 2 weeks because you are getting bad grades in history".  or "you didn't take the trash out and we missed trash day AGAIN - you're grounded until next trash day.  Take the trash out then and you'll be ungrounded."  (boy missed trash day a LOT last year)  My rules aren't insane, but Dan wants to be the good guy and I don't think he knows what he's doing really isn't good.

For the record I have used some insane punishments - but while odd, they did work.  When the kids were younger I would do more personalized punishments.  For Tommy, my junk food junkie, it was no processed sugar of any kind.  Nothing that has processed sugar in it - including bread.  He could have meat, veggies, milk and so on.  For Teddy, who doesn't eat much junk food, it was "you will eat pop tarts for breakfast every day for the next week."  For Susi it was only being allowed to listen to bagpipe music while we were in the car.  No choosing her radio station, just bagpipe music. (I like bagpipes, she's always hated them)  Bessie is reaching that age, not sure exactly what it will be for her.  Probably sugar like Tommy.  She takes after him in that respect.  Dan was always ok with the odd punishments, it's the 'normal person' ones that he finds fault with.

I'm a bad mother

I don't really think I'm a bad mother, but right now I have some feelings of guilt and wanting to save the kid from his own actions.

We only have 1 car.  Dan has class until 7pm.  The store is open until 6pm and Teddy has jazz from 2:30 - 3:30.  That's kinda not working out.  We told him last night that he would need a ride home today - or don't stay for jazz.  We woke him up and told it to him again this morning.  Today at 3:36 he called and said "where are you?"  Guess who had to walk the 2 miles home from school with his trumpet and books.  I feel bad and want to save him only because it is soooooooooooooooooooooo cold out there.  However I did warn him.  Maybe next time he will listen.

I am not buying the whole profile.  

Hue are You?
You're a Consultant! The journey to discover your inner self has you reminiscing over your past experiences. You are not afraid to contemplate what did not work and to seek new answers. Evaluating the past helps you better understand what will be of value to you in the future.... I don't reminice very often.  the past is the past.  Sometimes I fucked up, sometimes I did good.  Mostly I'm too busy to think about it.

Empowerment
Your emotions make you feel powerful. Regardless of the distractions in life, you see... ok, I can see that 

Relationships
You have great concern for others, but sometimes you hide your feelings about people from yourself. You have strong analytical skills and... I don't hide feelings from myself.  I pretty much don't have the ability to lie to myself, even when I want to believe the lie with my whole heart.  Not that I don't do bad stuff, I just don't lie about why I am doing it.  I do frequently hide my feelings from other people..   

Career
You are a perfectionist. More importantly, you know how to...I am obsessive and good at what I do, but in no part of my life am I a perfectionist.

Taking On the World
Sometimes you have so much self-confidence you feel you can save the world. You love initiating new... no, the world is pretty much on it's own.  I can help make my little part in it better, but save the world?  

Even Better

And now the van is fixed.  And it's costing us about $600 less than were first quoted.  got the part off of ebay for $500 less.  (great seller, will use him again if I need more parts) and also bought the battery etc. instead of paying their mark up.  Now just to get it washed, inspected and retagged - in that order.

good day today, maybe I should play the lottery.  :-)

Happy Dance today

I have accomplished something from my todo list.  

not much, but it's a start.

since I am stuck at the store until late I may actually get more than one thing done today.

Becky and Rene brought more stuff in.  They do the bugs that are so awesome.  Tahara Bath & Body is going to let me carry their stuff at my store.  BEST lotions EVER!  I've loved their stuff for years.  Also I got packages in the mail yesterday.  I love getting stuff.  It was mostly jewelry or displays, but getting stuff makes every day feel like Christmas.

The van is going to be fixed soon, maybe even by the end of the week.

The sun is shining

And most importantly my daughter called for no reason other than she had a few min and likes to talk to me.

'tis a good day

Absolutley F

Was actually going to do this one first.  A duck I can do - but someone had to go and make their avatar Bette Davis for a couple of days.  

Anyway, I actually learned a lot on this one.  Places that I didn't think would need structure, totally needed more structural support.  I guess this project will end up being good for me.  :-)

dress

Attempt at May

Thankfully May Evans is a LOT cuter in person than this balloon would lead you to believe.  I may revisit this avatar.  It's not bad for a first attempt - but I think I can do better.

From Twitter this morning

http://peoplewhodeserveit.com/

my sentiments exactly!

New In the shop this week

Scorpion Lolipops in Bananna, apple, blueberry.

Crickets in 3 delicious flavors.  Salt & Vinegar, Sour Cream & Onion , Bacon & Cheddar

Copy, paste, and bold what you have done!
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars 
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/Disneyworld
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo 
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Gone rollerskating 
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning 
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables 
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset 
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person 
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Acted in a play or performed on stage
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing 
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt 
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance 
47. Had your portrait painted -
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater 
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business 
58. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment 
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma 
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check 
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar 
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person 
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car 
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Won money
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life 
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Had to put someone you love in Hospice Care
94. Had a baby 
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

I've seen it 1000000 times, but it still makes me laugh

two decades

My oldest daughter turns 20 in May.  I've decided to give her 20 items that symbolize her two decades of life.  

1.  Petrie puppet from Pizza hut.  We had one when she was a baby and she LOVED it.  Thought this one would be hard, but I found one on ebay.

2.  Stuffed California Raisin toy.  She drug this toy everywhere.  I called it Ugmo because it was pretty ugly.  I've seen one on ebay, hopefully I'll win the auction.

3.  something little mermaid.  She watched the vhs tape about a zillion times that year.

4.  Levar Burton's autograph.  She had the biggest little girl crush on him.  Reading Rainbow was her favorite.

5.  Scissors.  She cut her own hair a few days before kindergarten started.

6.  Bambi dvd.  She watched Bambi and asked about the hunting.  Upon realizing where meat came from she has never eaten it again.

7.  Something girl scouts.  She started in Brownies this year.

8.  A white stuffed bear.  Her 3rd grade 'boyfriend' was named Travis and she named her bear after him.

9.  Hanson CD. 

10. Big Sister T-Shirt.  That's the year when her little sister was born.   Although she had already been a big sister to the boys, it was more special to have a little sister.

11.  Clarinet pin or poster.

12.   Lance  Bass autograph or at the very least an N'Sync cd. 

13.  something from hot topic - but I really really need the bag.  This is the  year she got dark and moody.  She dressed like a depressed clown.

14.  Good Charlotte cd.

15.  pink fishnet & cat ears

16.  Tutu - she wore one to school one more than one occasion

17.  history book.  She spent time thinking she wanted to teach history.

18.  UMKC t-shirt

19.  Theatre masks

20.  The klutz book of never growing up.  She's complained a lot lately about having to act like a 'real' grownup.

if you see any of these things out and about, shoot me an email and let me know.  finished items are in orange. 

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School district stuff

The union and the KCMO school district have settled a few more items on their list and say they are close to settling others.

One thing they are not close on

A GUARANTEE THAT TEACHERS WILL HAVE ADEQUATE SUPPLIES TO DO THEIR JOBS!!!

I will not spend even $1 more on buying supplies for Central High School.  This year Dan hasn't needed them as much due to the type of class he is teaching, but who knows what next year will bring.  I am sick of watching teachers spend out of their own pocket to buy things like copy paper.  It's not right and it's not fair.  You want them to buy their own supplies, PAY THEM MORE!.  

They haven't agreed on a basic pay raise or step increase either.  What sucks is that teachers who were hired this year got paid on last year's pay scale, but the same scale was not honored for teachers already in the system.

An example...Dan is on his 3rd year of teaching for KCMO.  He took a class with a woman who taught two years someplace else and now teaches for KCMO.  This is her 3rd year teaching.  She earns more than he does because she got hired as a step 3 and he is stuck at step 2.  Teachers working for KCMO last year got penalized for being already in the system.  Kinda pisses people off.  I'm begging Dan to find a job in a different district.  He's a good teacher and loves doing it.  He should work for a district that appreciates him.

A challenge to myself.

Sometimes the hardest part of practicing balloon twisting is knowing what to make.  I've been slacking in the practice dept. so I'm going to challenge myself.

I think I will try to make balloon representations of the people I follow (blogs & twitter).  At least representations of their avatars.  some are hard and some may be impossible.  Won't finish them all, but I'll post pictures of the ones I do get done.

Why do I have sole custody of the family's brain?

Ok, that's not totally fair.  Susi has a brain, she just took it with her when she moved out.  Mostly I'm talking about Dan & Teddy today. 

Dan has a degree in physics and takes advanced calculus courses for fun.  Teddy is literally smarter than all of his teachers.  Given that they are both supposedly very smart people who are they so freaking stupid???????

Teddy has a concert today and it only occurred to him to find out what time it starts this morning. That's also when it occurred to him that he should see if his tux needed to be ironed.  This was 15 min before we had to leave to get him to district practice.  

 Dan just left to copy some tri-fold brochures for the shop. He's called twice so far.  1st time was to ask if they needed to be stapled.  I told him, no it would work better double sided.  The second call was to see if I wanted the tops going the same direction.  He said that if I folded it in half I might want the tops going different directions.  

That's just today before noon.  They've been on a stupid rampage for the past two weeks.  It's little common sense things that most people would never imagine having to be told and it's a constant stream of them.  

Telling me the light burned out, but not replacing the bulb.  Getting the computer, but not the power cords - even though we ALWAYS take the power cords to the shop..... and so it goes.  I've gotten a blister on my lip from biting it to keep from cussing.   If I was a drinking person I would be drunk all the time lately.   

Thankfully I don't drink and tomorrow I don't work.  I am going to sleep and make stuff.  Dan and Teddy are on their own.

I could see it coming but had to watch anyway

KC Rag spam

some moron at KC Rag has decided to spam this thread

http://forum.kcrag.com/index.php?topic=15061.480  

over at TKC.

What I don't get is that he doesn't like what TKC is saying why not JUST NOT READ THE F*ING BLOG.  Geeze  it's really not hard to NOT click on a website and read every detail.  I think the guy is secretly in love with Tony and is using this to get his attention.

Which way do you spin - left or right?

http://lateralaction.com/articles/left-brain-or-right/

I saw the dancer spinning clockwise.  This apparently means I am more right brained. 

RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONS

uses feeling
“big picture” oriented
imagination rules
symbols and images
present and future
philosophy & religion
can “get it” (i.e. meaning)
believes
appreciates
spatial perception
knows object function
fantasy based
presents possibilities
impetuous
risk taking

I can live with that assessment.  Except the spatial perception.  I do not have that ability.

There is an explanation for how the illusion works at the end of the article.  Pretty cool.

This one reeks of bullshit

I've seen a few reports on the effects of the smoking ban these past few days.  Today a dj on 106.5 was talking about it (whatever the morning guys name is) and I have to call bs on what he was saying.

Since the smoking ban went into effect the heart attack rate in KC has dropped 20%.    The dj was saying the two are linked.  BS.  The people who smoke in night clubs are generally not of the age where heart attacks are common.  People didn't quit smoking when they were told they couldn't smoke in bars and restaurants.  So for 6-12 hours a week they smoke less.    Heart attacks in KC may indeed be down, but I think there may be other factors at work.  

My personal theory is that our wretched system of health care for the poor has finally killed off most of the really sick people and the rest can afford health care so they die less often.

I don't smoke.  I think it's a putrid habit.  It's also a LEGAL habit.  If you don't want people to smoke make cigarettes an illegal substance.  Until then regulation after regulation to make it difficult is infringing on smokers rights to be dumbasses.  If you want to really save lives in this town make it illegal to talk on a cell phone while driving.  The whole banning cigarettes in night clubs thing never made sense to me.    No smoking, but all the drunkenness and stds you could ever want.  People who party in the clubs are old enough to decide if they want to risk their lungs too.  We don't need the government to protect us from every bump in the road.  Personal responsibility goes a long way.

And there are ways around that ban

http://www.crown7.com/

The lady in the picture is smoking an electric cigarette.  All of the nicotine and taste (bleah) with water vapor given off instead of smoke.  The tip even glows.  I don't think they can ban water vapor.

Important things I have learned from being a balloon artist

1.  If your socks don't match, nobody cares

2.  that you can put a small amount of water in the end of a twisting balloon and swing it around in circles over your head for cool sound effects.

3.  Really big water balloons are hard to throw at people.

4.  clowns are crabby people when not in make up

5.  some normal looking people are scared of balloons

6.  unlubricated condoms are hard to twist, but worth the results.

7.  making balloons is less about skill than it is about not being afraid to look stupid.

8.  you can knit balloons, but they look like crap when crocheted

9.  people will actually PAY me to do this.

10 - from the bhq.com boards a few years back..............  if you put a bit of oil on the bottom of a microwave and line seedless grapes up in it (hole where the stem comes off to the back) you can race them by nuking them.  Messy but fun.

cookies

Picked up Bessie's cookies last night.  I brought them to the shop to sort because I live with teenage boys and they will eat them.  I don't want to buy $400 worth of cookies, so only those I planned to buy will ever make it home.  

I did order a few extra, so if you crave some thin mints - stop by the shop.

I noticed that other areas of the country don't have the same cookies we do.  Some places have cinnamon ones.  I want those.  And Lemon pastries are gone - some sort of other lemon cookie has taken their place.  Haven't tried it yet, so I can't say if it's good or bad.

Bessie loves scouts and it makes me feel a bit jealous that I'm not her leader.  I spent a lot of years as a GS leader, even when my own daughter was too young for it.  I really enjoyed it, but after 10 years I just couldn't take the increasing red tape.  I sometimes worry that Bessie doesn't get the best of me since I am so much busier than I was when the others were little.  I'm trying harder to make sure that she gets more mommy time and Susi is trying to make sure she gets more big sister time.  Bessie is convinced she gets too much big brother time as it is and doesn't want to spend more time with them.   

Have to spend time with her now.  She's 9 and in 2-3 years she will want NOTHING to do with me for a few years.  I need good memories to make it through those puberty years or I won't remember why I had her in the first place.

Apparantly men CAN breastfeed

If they put their minds to it anyway.

http://blogs.static.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/20193.html

No more babies

I've known for awhile that I won't be having any more babies.  I've had 4, that's plenty.  Still the other day I had one of those rare moments where I want a baby.  They are fleeting and I don't really want a baby.  I think at those times I am mostly missing the fun parts of having a baby.  All the cute things you buy for them and sharing with moms of other babies.  I also have to admit that it was easier when the kids were babies.  Love, food and clean diapers is enough for babies.    So sometimes I get jealous of people who are expecting or have young kids.  Not very jealous and it never lasts long.  I'll probably be a grandmother within the decade, so I'll get to do all the fun baby things again without all the baby headaches. 

A friend once asked me how you knew when you were done having kids.  She was on the fence about having another one.  All I could tell her is that if you don't know, then you're not done.  I think I realized that I was done when I saw a new baby and didn't feel the urge to go "awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww".    My oldest is just reaching the point where she does that to new babies.  I guess the wheel turns and she's moving into that phase as I move out of it.  (still not my mother, she's on a whole other wheel)  Another way to know you're done is when you say things like "they don't stay babies, they turn into teenagers".  People usually say that about puppies and kittens.   When you start equating babies with kittens and puppies, you're probably past the point where you want any.

I need a new phone

I love my little Juke and I'll probably replace it with another little Juke.  They are pretty tough phones, but I spilled my drink on this one, so it's not working so well.  

I don't text much, so this is the perfect phone for me.  It plays music, is a phone and I like Verizon's gps application.  Makes getting to parties so much better than it used to be.  And this phone is tough.

It can't take liquids, but it has survived a year of real abuse.  At one point I dropped it and accidentally ran over it.  Still worked.  I've dropped it about a zillion times, usually onto pavement or something else hard.  I'm just not nice to phones and this one kept working and working, until the other day.  Now it doesn't ring, so I have to see it flash when someone calls and it keeps dropping calls.  I'll head out this week and replace it.

A new new year's resolution

I keep planning to go to Jazz on 39th and watch Grand Marquis.  Every time something comes up.

They are my favorite local band and this year I am going to see them 5 times.

Psychic weirdness

There is a psychic in Westport.  She is related to the horrible woman who has a shop in Grandview. I don't know if the Westport one is a scam artist like the Grandview one, but she is odd.

In October she bought two benches from me that I had in front of the shop.  Worked out well because I wasn't sure where I was going to store them for the winter anyway.  Today she came back in and just weirded my day out.

First she wanted to buy a little wooden shelf unit I have.  I said no.  She said why and I told her that I needed it.  She then said "For what?"  I said display and didn't comment on her rudeness.  Then she proceded to go around the shop and ask if she could buy various pieces of display or decor.  Not anything that was actually for sale.   Shelves, mirror, counter...at one point she even asked to buy my overhead light fixture.  The whole time she kept asking me if I had anything for sale.  She didn't want the hats, pictures, prints, jewelry, scarves or fantasy flowers...just my store fixtures.  The visit ended when she asked how things were going business wise and I told her that things were going great.  She looked shocked.  Not regular shocked.  Over acted, dramatic shocked.    

Odd odd odd.

maybe she put a curse on me and is upset that it hasn't worked yet.  Maybe the Grandview psychic did (with reason, I hate that scamming harpy)

anyway, it was weird

I complicated the discount program

I have a new discount program at the shop.  It's a bit different than the usual save if you're a senior or student kinda program.

Each day has a 10% discount, you just have to know how to get it.  Well, Sunday and Monday don't have one, because right now we are not open on Sunday & Monday.

Tuesday...Make me laugh day.  Write down a riddle or joke and bring it in.  You'll save 10%, even if it doesn't make me fall down laughing.  Puns are the exception.  Prices go up by 10% if you bring in a pun and give it to ANYONE who isn't Dan.  Dan loves puns, the rest of us hate them.

Wednesday - Recipe day.  Bring me in a recipe and save 10%.  I will put the collected recipes on the web at the end of each month.

Thursday - New Stuff Day.  It's the day I put the new stuff out and you can save 10% on your whole purchase if you are buying something just put out that week.

Friday - Think Green.  Everyone should try to live a greener lifestyle.  To save on Friday bring in a suggestion for going green.  I'll publish the tips on the web at the end of the month.

Saturday - Try something new.  Tell me about something I should see, try, do, eat, drink, listen to or visit to get today's discount.  More than a couple of sentences, I want to know why I should give it a try, and less than 4 paragraphs because I have the attention span of a flea.

There you have it, I'm not boring, so why have a boring discount plan.

to the guy in the fancy dodge -

HA!!!  despite your insistence on speeding and zipping along the narrow road that is 39th St., WE GOT TO WESTPORT AT THE SAME TIME.  You almost hit that guy at the bus stop and still had to stop for the next light.

Guess what, I used less gas and not just because of the smaller car.  I would have still used less gas and scared fewer people if I was driving the same car as you.

And what did it get you?  You got to park about 4 seconds earlier than me.  4 seconds.  Was it worth it?  Was it worth the stress you caused and felt?  Was it worth the extra gas $$?  Was it worth nearly killing a person?

I doubt it.