Tulip's Tantrums

It was a closely averted tragedy. The Cruise extorter suicide almost breached the privacy of an incredibly famous actor. The dead man claimed to have brokered deals to sell a sex video of Dustin Diamond, who played Screech on Saved by the Bell . I know this will hit Krys hard as he is a die-hard fan. Meaning absolutely no disrespect to Mr. Fossett's family and friends, I can't be the only person considering he may have orchestrated his disappearance . Horrible thought or something to ponder? Prisoners cleaning the highways is an awesome idea, but why do we only see this once or twice a year? There are a lot of things inmates could complete for cities and counties, especially in the public works areas. Why are we not getting these people to contribute toward the cost of THEIR care? It costs something like $50,000 to house ONE offender in our penal system. The majority of people in the workforce don't make that in a year, AND they have to pay extra for healthcare , medi...

I'll actually populate this one: Can't show breastfeeding on FB , but you can show T&A up the ying yang. WTF ? Her nipple would have been covered by the baby's mouth - likely a larger covering than some of the bathing suits we see. More pedophile bastards back on the streets: Parole board allows child-porn kingpin to go into treatment program ... Convicted sex monster Carl Treleaven is out of jail only 18 months after he began a 3 1/2-year sentence for running a child-porn chatroom . Again, WTF ??????? Treatment program? These bastards cannot be rehabilitated regardless of what is tried; he will hurt someone else or distribute/look at pornography. We may not hear about it if he's lucky - and with all his pedophile contacts, I'm sure he'll have a ready supply of CRAP for his demented f***in' mind. Yet another, James Michael Monias , wants to settle in Edmonton to prey on our babies. Added disgust of this one is the fact he was this girl's ...

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Today would have been my Mom’s 58th birthday. That would have been: 3026 weeks (rounded down) 21,184 days 508,416 hours 30,504,960 minutes 1,830,297,600 seconds However she died: 16 years, 7 months 865 weeks (rounded down) 6056 days 145,344 hours 8,720,640 minutes 523,238,400 seconds I still miss her incredibly; it's comforting that the stabbing pain has subsided. Today isn't a day for sorrow though, it's a celebration of her life! She was an amazing friend and I’m sure we would have filled her house with friends and family tonight for coffee and cake. Us girls would have shopped ‘til we dropped, for jewellery and clothes (and likely something for Darrin – she spoiled him rotten!!), had a bite to eat, maybe went to a movie. She would be in the next stage of Granny-dom: the grandkids getting ready to strike out on their own – and loving every minute of it - helping them in this transition to adulthood. Her smile ...

Kier just pointed out this video to me - it REALLY looks like Drey and his friend Ryan in their younger years. :-) http://youtube.com/watch?v=hXOfWwb6si8

Okay, so I'm a little addicted to cra ...er ... facebook , which has been a contributing factor in me ignoring my blog. I get on there and even without new messages or anything to see, I'm off looking at groups or comparing friends or playing the music game (in an attempt to kick Darrin's ass). It calls to me and I regularly check it, even when I know I have no messages. I have not become so quickly enthralled with a site as this one. Very interesting. Onto other things. Darrin and I continue to get our business idea up and running. It takes a lot more work than I initially thought - it seems for every one thing we do there are four more. LOL. All part of a new learning curve. Let's discuss the disappearance of Cedrika Provencher . Check out this blog . Young Cedrika was last seen by two of her neighbours around 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 31st. She told them she was looking for a missing dog. Police say she doesn't have any pets and are asking anybody who might hav...

Hooked up my fb and blog and want to try a test post. What shall I write? How's about a soap opera type story? A co-worker and I chatted about this; I have skewed the idea to really make it more my own. George loves Sunisha, whose olive skin and green eyes call to him during the long, lonely nights. It doesn't matter to him that she is pregnant with another man's baby, he wants nothing more than to make love to her, and buy her flowers. At the same time, George’s letter to Madeline comes back because it was incorrectly addressed. In opening it and re-reading his words, he realizes he is completely in love with Del, and can’t imagine another day away from her. Suddenly the door swings open and they are there looking at him. George tenses, but lets out his breath as the boss approaches him only holding two small cups. "Suck 'em back and be quick about it," snuffled the boss, sounding like a pig rooting in a trough of grain George thinks. "Yes sir, s...

By noon on Saturday, with a temp of 140F in the house, we decided to rent a hot tub. So, onto the net we go until we find Bernie's Hot Tubs . I asked if they had a 10-12 person tub available for rent, Bernie said tomorrow was the soonest he could get one to us. Booked!! Wake up Sunday morning at 10AM and the hot tub is already set up and 3/4 filled (thankfully Dary doesn't sleep in like me)! Bernie finished up, told us how to maintain the tub (one simple step) and said he'd see us in a month. We were in the tub by 1PM and it was absolute heaven. Just incredible! We set the temperature lower, more like a swimming pool; when we got out we stayed cool for a good hour if not more. Something about being in a tub for almost 5 hours lowered our core body temps to 84F - not too bad. :-) Anyway, you can rent one of Bernie's tubs for 2 days and 1 night and it will cost you $250. Or you can keep it for a month for $550.00. We decided on the month. If we decide to buy f...

A couple of my fave's out of the pics from the past few days:

Happy Canada Day - a couple days late, anyway. You can check out the pictures from July 1st here or the ones from July 2nd here . Alternately, you can check out all of our pictures here . Drey's at camp, Kier's getting ready to start work tomorrow, and Braunt's anxiously waiting for his cast to be removed - which happens tomorrow rather than Friday, because he won't quit walking on it. Nothing is really new with Dary and I - more of the same. Hope you had a great day on Sunday, and that you're enjoying the extra warm weather we're having. Toodles

Michelle having fun getting Sasha to attack the bubbles.

I'm so tired of being here Suppressed by all my childish fears And if you have to leave I wish that you would just leave Your presence still lingers here And it won't leave me alone These wounds won't seem to heal This pain is just too real There's just too much that time cannot erase [Chorus:] When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears And I held your hand through all of these years But you still have All of me You used to captivate me By your resonating light Now I'm bound by the life you left behind Your face it haunts My once pleasant dreams Your voice it chased away All the sanity in me These wounds won't seem to heal This pain is just too real There's just too much that time cannot erase [Chorus] I've tried so hard to tell myself that you'regone But though you're still with me I've been alone all along [Chorus] Please, please, forgive me but I won't be home again. ...

Well, I keep starting to write on here and then I get onto that damn Facebook and I can't get off. One of my friends termed it the "crack cocaine for the over 30 crowd", and I tend to agree! My morning habit used to be a coffee and the Sun online. Now it's a quick piddle and run to the computer to check fb and see what's happened overnight. ACK! I'm one of them!!! LOL So sorry to any of you who eagerly await my next blog post. Right, like anyone really reads this. In tracking the I.P.s of those who visit I know that I am really the only one reading this thing. The only reason my counter is growing is because I have it set to add one each time my page gets hit, as opposed to just the first time. I was sent an interesting site from a friend. Something new to try in the never ending battle of the bulge. (This was finally posted at 7:27 PM on June 21, 2007)

We had Drey's family/friend party on Friday night. It was a lot of fun, with the exception of our couch being christened . :-) The the banquet, ceremony and dance were last night. Everyone and thing was so very beautiful! Drey looked incredible in his blue pinstripe shirt with his matching hat and shoes, and Jacquelyn was stunning in her strapless sparkling dress! There were a lot of comments about Drey's hat, which was very interesting. I guess some would like everyone to conform to society's norms . We are happy that Drey is confident and secure young man, and encourage his individuality, especially during this last (and quickly passing) stage of adolescence. We're sure he will "amount to something" regardless of what he wore to his high school grad. :-) We love you, son! Pictures of this weekend are currently being added to our photobucket account . Have fun searching through them! Thank you so much to all of you who came to the party and the grad, and...

A mechanic was removing a cylinder head from the motor of a Harley motorcycle when he spotted a well-known heart surgeon in his shop. The surgeon was there waiting for the service manager to come take a look at his bike when the mechanic shouted across the garage, "Hey Doc, can I ask you a question?" The surgeon, a bit surprised, walked over to where the mechanic was working on a motorcycle. The mechanic straightened up, wiped his hands on a rag and asked, "So Doc, look at this engine. I open its heart, take valves out, repair any damage, and then put them back in, and when I finish, it works just like new. So how come I get such a small salary and you get the really big bucks, when you and I are doing basically the same work?" The surgeon paused, smiled, leaned over, and whispered to the mechanic: "Try doing it with the engine running."

So, Drey and I were out shopping today - had to find some shoes for the boys (found them), a coverup for Kier (didn't find one), shoes for me (found some but am returning them), groceries (got everything), kitty litter (good to go), I think we got too much (typical for me) - but I did get many of things for the party Friday so that's good. Just uploading the pictures from Opa's birthday! I am so sorry everyone! For some reason I thought I had uploaded these already, but I guess it didn't work. Anyway, thanks for letting me know. They're all ready to be seen at our Photobucket Album . Toodles for now!

The mini tournament today went well; Braunt was really disappointed he couldn't play. Sometimes consequences are really hard. He should be happy he didn't need surgery or anything though. See, there's always a bright side. LOL Had a fire tonight, the kids had some friends over and I ran the dogs in the field while they played football. All in all a good night. My bed beckons ... Toodles!

Thanks to my Jen friend for this hilarious letter. A 98 year old woman wrote this to her bank. The bank manager thought it amusing enough to have it published in the Times. Dear Sir, I am writing to thank you for bouncing my cheque with which I endeavoured to pay my plumber last month. By my calculations, three 'nanoseconds' must have elapsed between his presenting the cheque and the arrival in my account of the funds needed to honour it. I refer, of course, to the automatic monthly deposit of my Pension, an arrangement, which, I admit, has been in place for only thirty eight years. You are to be commended for seizing that brief window of opportunity, and also for debiting my account $25. by way of penalty for the inconvenience caused to your bank. My thankfulness springs from the manner in which this incident has caused me to rethink my errant financial ways. I noticed that whereas I personally attend to your telephone calls and letters, when I try to contact you, I am c...

So, if you have actually made it past Sasha's big eyes and body, you can see that I changed my header picture; not quite what I expected! LOL I'm going to leave it up for a day or two, for pug lovers all over. :-) Toodles!

Do you ever feel like you're not quite there, wherever there may be? Perhaps everything in your life is going pretty well - the family is happy and healthy, the bills are getting paid, work is tolerable if not sometimes enjoyable - but it just feels like you're going through the motions? It's like being on the outside looking. Seeing things happen through a mask. Surreal. I'm not sure what I'm trying to say is making sense, but maybe you've felt this way too. In snooping around facebook , I found more family and friends. It's great how everyone's getting onto there, although I'm sure identity theft experts don't think it's a good idea for all of us to be posting our information for the world to see. While I can thankfully only imagine how horrible it must be to have that happen to you, on the lighter side - if someone really wants to be me, more freakin ' power to 'em! So long as they take absolutely everything that goes wit...

Congratulations to Drey on his early graduation and 18th birthday present:

Now I'm an active participant in my life. You only get to be a mother once, why do it depressed? Oprah today is about depression (apparently sponsored by Cymbalta) and the above quotes are from the show. Three celebrities talk about how depression has affected them and their families. In searching for information, I find I've used up my computer time. Toodles for now...

Opa and Darrin! We had a fantastic open house for Opa's 75th. Thank you so much to everyone who came, and for all the help we received. Toodles!

I've been hearing that for years now, however it's gone from nickels, dimes and quarters to bills. :-) Don't get me wrong - I'm not complaining - it's a part of life I'm thankful to have, one that many parents no longer have. Snippets: No Maddie news. Some people continue to be miserable, regardless of the passage of time and blatant attempts to get them out of their funk. Gearing up for Grad '07 both here and down south. Irish's are couch potatoes. So are pugs and dorkies. And cats. And teenagers. And dadumses. The dogs love stuffed Rollover bones , but they really hurt when dropped on a foot. I've really got to go and pack, or tomorrow's going to be here and I won't be ready. :-) I hope you have an incredible long weekend! Stay safe and have fun. Toodles!

Still no little Madeleine McCann . There are a couple of new articles, but not a lot. It was confirmed yesterday British police have compiled a detailed photofit of a suspect seen near the McCanns’ apartment in Praia da Luz on May 3, the day Madeleine was abducted. The man, wearing light trousers and a blue top, had a partly shaven head and was spotted a few hours before Madeleine disappeared. Some sites: http://www.ceop.gov.uk http://www.findmadeleine.com http://www.findmaddie.com http://madeleinemccann.blogspot.com/ Dary got the gold car tuned up today, picked up Dre's suit and went to an interview. We still have to buy the tickets to the grad and I have to find a dress (joy, joy - wonder if Ed's Tent and Awning is still open?) - I have to pack for this weekend, get a trim on my hair, get the boys' hair cut, maybe get Kier's hair cut - that's a lot of hair! Anyway, this has taken me absolutely forever to finish and Dadums and Drey are home. Toodles!

The publication ban on the step-father's name, in the case of that allegedly, horrifically abused little 4-year-old girl, has been lifted. Darcy Don Bannert . T

Mother of the Year!!! In a zoo in California , a mother tiger gave birth to a rare set of triplet tiger cubs. Unfortunately, due to complications in the pregnancy, the cubs were born prematurely and due to their tiny size, they died shortly after birth. The mother tiger after recovering from the delivery, suddenly started to decline in health, although physically she was fine. The veterinarians felt that the loss of her litter had caused the tigress to fall into adepression. The doctors decided that if the tigress could surrogate another mother's cubs, perhaps she would improve. After checking with many other zoos across the country, the depressing news was that there were no tiger cubs of the right age to introduce tothe mourning mother. The veterinarians decided to try something tha thad never been tried in a zoo environment. Sometimes a mother of one species will take on the care of a different species. The only "orphans"that could be found quickly, were a litter of we...

Madeleine should be celebrating her fourth birthday . Instead, she is missing and has been since May 3rd. Inevitably, hopes are fading for Madeleine's safety. While the remote possibility remains that she wandered away from the apartment, the most likely scenario is that a pedophile snatched her after watching the family, and could easily have taken her out of the country, slipping over the open border to Spain. Another possibility is that Madeleine may be a victim of child traffickers. One suggestion was that she was snatched to be sold to a childless couple. As police admitted yesterday they were no longer confident she was still alive, the McCanns asked for a time of private prayer in the local church. If the only choice is being with a pedophile or dead, then I hope Madeleine has breathed her last breath so she will not have to suffer any abuse. My heart goes out the McCann family in this horrible time. T

Chapstick or Lypsyl - or even maybe Labello ! When the heck did the word change to lipchap ? Who went around to all the schools and told the kids that lipchap (sounds like something the cat brings up in the middle of the night, doesn't it?) was the name for the wax you put on your lips? I think I've found the culprit (for those of you who are new to the net and don't know that the underlined or different coloured words are links) . Anyhoo, had to run to the Park to pick up Dre's suit from the cleaner's and then get him fitted in it. Tried to hurry back for Miss Muffin's mother's day concert, but didn't make it in time. :0( Braunt has spring camp registration tonight, Kier's got homework and Dadum's and Dre are over at the school helping with equipment and stuff. I've got to run out to pick up a few things, and then it will be time for bed! I really need to get a good night's sleep - a couple of late nights are helping my mood t...

Drey needs some pictures for his grad - a couple baby pics and then some with his friends. We went for a walk today and as we walked past the junior high, I vividly recalled his grade nine grad and asked Drey about it. I said I can't believe how quickly the past three years has gone. Actually, how quickly the past 18 years have gone! I've had that tantrum before, so ... onward and upward! Drey's also excited about going with his friend J (not sure if she wants her name published) to her grad, back in Hanna! He has been chatting with old friends down there and I'm sure he'll have a great time! Drey and I took his suit back to the store to get altered. When we bought it, he needed the seat and the waist let out, and it was still a little tight. Now, he's lost 30 pounds and muscled up and the suit is big in all the wrong places. It's being cleaned first and they have said it will be completed by Thursday for sure - so we can grab it when we head thr...

I am really impressed with Andrew Hanon's editorial in the Sun today. I hope we never have to hear about another Virginia Tech or Montreal's École Polytechnique , and thankfully I have not experienced a workplace poisoned to the point of violence. "Too often, managers and co-workers accommodate bad behaviour, excusing explosive tempers, rudeness or other disruptive behaviour with a dismissive "that's just his way" instead of seeing them as a sign of much worse things to come." "...in an economy like ours, where employees can leave for greener pastures at the drop of a hat, it's critical for companies to maintain safe, harassment-free environments. Putting bullies, gossips and other jackasses in their place is good for the bottom line; everyone will be more productive and the star employees are far less likely to look for another job. It might even save some lives." Managers and co-workers accommodating bad behaviour; that is something I...

Do you ever wonder how miserable people make it through life? How constantly having a negative attitude and glass half empty frame of mind affects you, your family, friends and co-workers? When depressed, I really struggle with negativity. In fact, I would have to say I used to be and sometimes still am a miserable person to be around. I like to think that I can recognize that in myself, but I don't think I always want to recognize it either - and just want to vent and bitch and whatever. Here is an interesting tidbit from an ‘About’ article I read: http://www.prevention.com/article/0,5778,s1-1-74-112-2117-1,00.html The Seven Deadly Habits of Truly Miserable People Unless you have a couple of crossed wires or a genetic glitch in your brain cells, most of the emotional turmoil you experience is directly traceable to the fact that you've learned to try to control those around you through these seven deadly habits, says psychiatrist William Glasser, MD. What are the seven deadli...

Have you checked out Facebook ? It reminds me a lot of Nexopia . I don't think I'll be a facebook addict as I have trouble enough keeping up with my email and blog, I can't really handle having something else to update and check. I have hooked up with some family and friends, and it would be great to get in touch with more. Speaking of updates, some birthday wishes are in order: Happy Birthday to Daig (6), Kristina (31), Ryan (11) and Jessica (8). Hope you all have/had great days! Time for bed already. Toodles!

I think I spend too much time thinking about things sometimes. Do you ever wonder why things go the way they do or why people are the way they are or why .... well, anything? I guess those are questions that are answered by our beliefs - whatever they may be. I currently believe that things happen because of cause and effect, not because of fate or any gods. A seed drops to the ground and becomes a tree, or it doesn't; two people have intercourse and create an embryo, it becomes a person or it doesn't; someone steps out into traffic and is killed instantly when struck by a vehicle, or lives with whatever disabilities he sustains. Just because. That isn't really where I planned to go tonight. I wanted to talk about why some people are the way they are, and how one can deal with the challenges some people present? Unfortunately, any train of thought I had has since derailed. Speak openly and honestly with respect for each other. Toodles!

Good evening, (I say in my most vampire- ish voice) LOL Today Braunt's team played the Rams. While it was a little brutal in score, it was more brutal in the fact that the referees, yes the blessed zebra officials, we're taunting and teasing our players. Now, our team isn't such that we can't take some verbal abuse, but when it comes from the ones who are supposed to be non-biased - that's just not right. Let it go ... let it go. I snapped off almost 1K pictures and I think I got everyone on the field at least once or twice, at least. :-) Good game team! What else? Well, a friend of mine - we'll call her Cathy - wrote to me last week to ask about some weight loss program I had successfully used in the past ( WDD ). No, it obviously didn't work continually, but it did work for a while. Anyway, she wanted to know what it was and what you had to do and if I had heard anything about O.A. and she is thinking of that. I pondered her message for a da...

Here is the link to the pictures I took at the first game. You can catch all the Wolverines pictures I take at 2007wolverinesfootball on photobucket. Here is a link to the team's website . Braunt is #52 and is already leading in tackles. Woohoo! Team Snippet: Offensively, Matt Haunn led the team with 43 yards on 5 carries and the touchdown. Mitch Richter led the passing attack, with three catches for 45 yards. On defense, Braunt Pierce led the team with nine solo or assisted tackles, with Brandon Patterson right behind with eight and Ian Lysak with seven. Colton Reider and Geoff Piper had six tackles each. On special teams, Fife punted six times for 202 yards, averaging 34 yards a kick. We face the Edmonton Eagles tomorrow, April 7th, at 10:00 AM at Clark Park. Dress warmly! Toodles for now!

Cancun was incredible. Anniversary was awesome. Kids are all healthy teenagers. Football has started for Braunt . We are looking at some changes with Dadum's work. What else, what else? Oh, the green beamer is for sale. Links to Craig's List and Kijiji are included. #1 question about Cancun pictures: "Where did Kiershyn's bruises come from?" Kier was wearing slippery socks that morning and fell in the hallway at approximately 3:40 AM. She almost fainted and got physically ill, so I was pretty certain she did something major, however we had to leave for the airport by 4AM (according to Dadums ), so I was not able to take her to the hospital. Her knuckles swelled and the other bruises were all out by that afternoon, and she wanted to document her injuries through film. She had it x- rayed when we returned and learned that she had done some pretty severe tendon/ligament damage, but nothing a little physio won't help. She's doing better al...

We are back from our trip and it was incredible! There are so many things that we saw and did - it was an amazing experience; one I'm sure none of us will soon forget. Here are our pictures. Talk to you in a bit. I've still got unpacking to do. Toodles!

We are going on our first ever official Family Vacation!!! We are heading to the Mayan Riviera for 7 days of exploring and fun. Our resort, Barcelo Costa Cancun, looks incredible and is all-inclusive. We definitely want to tour one of the many ruins sites, and have heard that Xel -ha and Xcaret are both a lot of fun. Right now I think we'll go to Chichen Itza and Xel -ha, but we're waiting until we're down there to decide definitely. We're learning Spanish, which is proving easier than we thought thanks to the French some of us sort of know. :-) We probably sound like a group of toddlers trying to talk, but it's fun! We'll see how much we actually understand when we get down there. Anyway, I've got some things to do today that can't wait so it's toodles for now!

Vivienne Anne Lemery Schapansky Kozakevich September 13, 1949 - February 13, 1991 Another year has passed. In reading my post from last year, it feels like I just wrote it. I continue to be amazed at the passing of time and how it seems to get quicker and quicker each year. What has happened that we would have shared in the past year? The kids are getting so big and mature and show more of themselves and the adults they're going to be every day. You would love them so much. Drey is graduating this year! Can you believe that? When I looked at his grad photo proofs, I was astounded at how much he looks like me - especially in the goofy hat one. I immediately focused on that one - remember how much I hated that pic of me and you loved it? Remember you got one copy (or was it a couple) made because you were so proud and had to have the cap and gown pic? I know you would ask for one of those in Drey's for you. :-) Dad and I picked a really nice pic of Drey in his gown, starin...

I think our pug is stressed. Why? It all started a few months back when I discovered my Alberta Mental Health Board stress cow was missing a portion of its head. That tipped me off to the fact that Sasha may have some issues beyond teething. She left more subtle hints like gnawed off corners on the baseboards, rounded edges on the coffee table and neat little nip marks on cross bars of our dining room chairs. Is there something wrong with Sasha? Is she suffering from some mental anguish of which she is trying to tell us? As I observe her rotund form stretched out on the couch, her wide chest rising and lowering in sync with thunderous snores, I come to the realization that Sasha is just a dog, in the adolescent, rebellious phase that the 2 leggers in our family are going through, and she is likely bored. Time for more exercise! So, out to the park we go with Daig in the lead, Sasha in the centre, and Lucy in the jacket (she makes it about 50' when it's -15C), to have fun romp...

I am home sick today with the flu. All was perfectly fine until about 6pm last night when I suddenly got very nauseous, everything became incredibly loud and I knew I was going to be ill. I went toward the bathroom but Drey was having a shower, so I laid down in bed to use labour breathing and self talk to keep whatever was wanting to come up down. I fell asleep for a bit but was nauseous once I awoke. The night was spent up and down and all around, and by 5:30 this morning my body was sore from being in bed too long. After putting the pets out, I discovered the cause of the foul odor by the front door and cleaned it up, which I think helped land me back in the biffy. I called into work around 6, grabbed a blanket and hauled myself onto the couch. I dozed on and off until Darrin got up at 8, shocked to see me home, still in my pj's and surrounded by sleeping dogs. The phone rang at 8:15 and Dary got called into work OT. Editor's note: That's as far as I got in this post on...

Note: My sincere condolences to my friend Susan on the passing of her mom, Gerta. I have not been on here for a few days now, but I see the counter has flipped! Woohoo! I remember back when the nines turned and the counter saw 100. Things have changed since then in some ways, but stayed the same in others. Some things that make me go hmmm: Why is it we live where the gas is but we pay the highest prices? $0.67 in Toronto and a jump from $0.78 to $0.85 overnight here - one of these things is not like the other. The Sun's editorial today is about not painting all foster parents with the same brush, discussion arising from the death of a 3 year old allegedly killed at the hands of his foster mom. A child dying has nothing to do with the foster care system; it has to do with one person killing another, in this case one who is young and still in need of protection. So long as people continue to have unprotected sex, we will continue to have unwanted children. So long as we have unwante...

Hi there. How are you doing? How has your weekend been thus far? Ours has been interesting, as they usually are with teenagers. We always have a variety of kids around and coming and going, and there is always something in the house that needs to be done. We spent some time with Dadums' siblings, parents and Opa and Oma at a brunch this morning (Christmas present from O&O); it was nice having time together to chat and visit. We stopped off to grab a couple things at the store, and now we're having a relaxing afternoon. I love getting together with Opa; we have such interesting discussions. I think it is very important to be able to discuss and debate issues without feeling the need to force the other person into accepting your beliefs. Isn't that a sign of intelligence - the ability to listen to and contemplate an other's opinions without having to take them on yourself? Opa just loves to talk about different things and his experiences. He told me he would...

Here is some information I would like to share: Weightloss I really hope that link works. If not, here's a bit: Health: Weight Loss - Make a significant and lasting lifestyle change. By Angie Kocsi, creator and co-founder www.spasincanada.ca 1-888-688-8338 or spas@spasincanada.ca Losing weight can make a significant and life altering change in how we live our everyday life. After losing weight many people experience better sleep patterns, increased energy levels, improved blood pressure and cholesterol levels. There is renewed vitality and self-confidence after weight loss that improves life in general and health in particular that cannot be overlooked. However, statistics show that 90% of people who undergo a weight loss program regain the weight within two years. Why? One reason is that most diets are unrealistic and simply cannot be maintained in the long term. They almost always set you up for failure because they do not take into account real life - stress, eating out, a hect...

Exciting news on the down south friends' home fronts . There is a new wee one on the way - a new little Kiki , shall we say, although very few of you will understand what that means. Congratulations D on your upcoming arrival and big hugs to you and yours!!!!! I have been designing a second blog type site - this one called Tulip's Tales . It's a place not of truth but fiction, and is based on no persons living or dead, or otherwise on the planet, regardless of similarities or resemblances . (I'm not sure that makes much sense.) Anyway, have a read and let me know what you think. By the way, did you catch Oprah today? I rarely turn the channel to her, but I'm glad I did today; it was about those two boys who were kidnapped - the one held for 2 or 3 days and the other for 4 years. Interviews with the families. It was very interesting. Toodles for now.

Happy Birthday to Grampa and Auntie Karen, and a belated HB to Uncle Randy on the 7 th !!! How are things with you and yours? It's been a tad bit nipply here, although today it warmed up to almost -10C so that is a real treat. Braunt and I took the dogs to the park for a run, but Lucy and Sasha both got very cold paws and ended up being carried while Daig ran around like a mad dog having a blast! The temp seems to be on its way up, or so we hope, and I trust there won't be too much more snow. We had an ouch with the brass beemer in the parking lot of the ATB ; just a light little touch and whamo - fibreglass just isn't made like it used to be. LOL . Anyway, no one was hurt and no airbags deployed, so that's good. The other guy's truck is perfectly fine so that's good too. After some body work, the little car will be back to new. What else to chat about? Well, the elliptical went really good ... once. Then Drey used it a couple times and now it...