Adventures of a rocket scientist

The swine flu and EngineerBoys bitchy sister

2009-05-07T15:13:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile but I have been spending every waking hour with my head in the toilet praying for the ability to throw up. I have spent so much time in the bathroom the tile has an imprint of my butt on it. I saw the doctor and after the exam he told me everything felt and looked great! Yay! No more bed rest! Now it's banishment to the bathroom. I can't wait until my stomach feels better, all I ever want to do it throw up.

The swine flu has attacked! EngineerBoy and I were supposed to go to Mexico for his sisters wedding on Sat (we were to leave this past Tuesday) but of course the swine flu breaks out and me being the anal retentive person I am called my OB and asked what he thought. He told me under no circumstances should I go. Of course this made the sister love me oh so much more. She still isn't happy about the gummy bear and now I say I am not going. You would have thought I told her what a bitch she really is being and that her dress makes her look fat. I told her that I wanted to go (hell I have planning for this trip for 8 months) but the doctor did not want me to take the risk. I am paying this man tons of money to be my doctor and give me the best medical advice possible so of course I am going to listen to him. Plus I have to be careful, I am my mom's only caregiver since my sisters are still at school and I couldn't take the risk of getting it and then bring it back to her, she has a low immune system as it is from the chemo. Just what she needs, to be but in harms way so I can go to the bitches wedding, so sorry I am messing up your life. WonderNurses oncologist even told me it was best for her and ME not to go. There you go, 2 very well respected doctors telling me not to go. Who am I going to listen to, a insurance rep or 2 world renowned doctors? Let me think about that! I never told EngineerBoy not to go, hell I told him from the beginning I wanted him to go. She seems to think though that I threw a fit and made him change his plans. I didn't. I told him to go from Wed (when the rest of the family was going to get there) and stay until Sun but he said no, he didn't want to be away from me that long so he is going from Friday to Sunday. She nor his mom won't talk to me but I don't care. I am the only one that can protect my little gummy bear and she/he is such a miracle that I am going to do everything in my power to protect her/him. I might not be able to protect them from everything but I can do this. Luckily FunJet is being great (probably the first time in the history of travel that the travel industry is actually compassionate) they let us cancel our trip to Mexico and apply the entire amount (they didn't charge any kind of cancellation fees!!!!) to another trip! EngineerBoy and I are going to Jamaica for a week at the end of June to celebrate our anniversary!

I can't wait until the first trimester is over! Not only will the nausea hopefully go away, I will start to show and I will feel more confident that the gummy bear will be OK and I can carry her/him to term. I am still so freaked out that something is going to happen and I will loose the gummy bear! I know bad things can happen at any time but I also know that if I make it to my second trimester I have a better chance of making it to term, I have to hang on to that, thinking about all the bad things that can happen make me want to puke even more!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

2009-04-20T15:34:00.000-07:00

I. AM. BORED!!!! I am loosing my mind! I can't wait until Wednesday to go to the doctor, one because I will finally get to see the doctor and make sure that everything is ok and two because I will get to leave my bed!!!!

Scared

2009-04-19T17:27:00.000-07:00

99.9% of the time I am happy I am having the gummy bear. Yes, it's not how I wanted to do it, I wanted to be married with some sense of security but other than that I am excited! But some days like today when I am only allowed out of jail to pee I wonder about this. Not that I would ever have an abortion (though I do believe you have a right to choose what you do with your body) but sometimes I really am sad that I am having the gummy bear. My life is never going to be the same. No longer is it about me it's about someone else. I already take care of my mom and my sisters, whenever there is a crisis they turn to me to fix it and now I will have a baby to take care of too. I am scared that I won't be able to do it, I worry that I will fall short as a friend, sister, daughter, girlfriend, mother. What a thing to fail at, being a mother. Failing as a mother would mean I am not only ruining my life but the life of someone else, someone who didn't get to choose to come into this world. I just don't want to fail but I also don't want to loose myself, I want to stay me. I want to look in the mirror and still see me while seeing someone's mom.
Part of me also worries about EngineerBoy. He is excited right now but his family hates the idea of us having this baby and I worry that since he can just walk away he will because of them. It's not fair because I have expressed these thoughts to him and he has none nothing but made me feel comfortable, he says that if his family can't be happy then it's their loss that the gummy bear and I are what's important. I just worry about their influence on him. His mom actually cried when he told her, she actually said please tell me you are kidding and that this isn't real! His sister said that while she doesn't agree with how it's happening (i.e. we're not married) she will support us because she loves us. What a slap in the face! I know my mom is not happy about us not being married, hell neither am I but she has never made me feel bad about how it happened. She recognizes what a miricle this is and how lucky we are to even to be having this discussion so she isn't going to dwell on how it happened. She knows there are far worse things in life than an unplanned pregnancy especially considering I am 28, have a college degree and a full time job and in a monogmous relationship with a guy willing to be a father and a partner in this. I just hope he doesn't have to give up his family for ours. Why can't they just be happy? Why do they have to make this about them?

Bedrest

2009-04-19T16:02:00.000-07:00

So, I couldn't go see my OB because he had a family emergency and had to reschedule for next week. I almost cried, I was so happy to finally get to the doctor. Because of all my reproductive problems, I have boycotted the gyno. I spent 6 years seeing one every month, having them poke, prod and examine "it". I imagine my insurance company hated me! I was on round the clock birth control pills and weekly shots that cost $3000 a pop! I had surgery 4 times. I have had more people look at "it" then a porn star! When I graduated from college and started paying for my own insurance I decided I wasn't going to go anymore! I know childish but it was a decision I made. As the years past I got scarder and scarder that if I went there would be something wrong with me, completly irrational but I never said I was rationale. I woke up Friday bleeding a lot. My OB told me to go to the ER for a ultrasound and then to call him. I had one done and with an exception of a small cyst on my ovary (the same one that propably looks like swiss cheese) everything looked fine. As the ER doctor said there is a tumor in my utures that will naturally expel itself in 9 months, i.e. a baby. Apparently the blood was from a ruptured sack of blood that formed when the placenta was forming. Supposedly it's nothing to worry about but they said to stay on bedrest until Wednesday when I go to the OB. Friday, Sat and today have been loooooooooooong! I miss getting up and getting my own drink! Thankfully EngineerBoy has been great about it! He set up the Xbox in the bedroom so I can play games and stream my Netflix instant viewing movies. I am just bored though. I always go to WonderNurses on Sunday to watch Celebrity Apprentace but I can't and she doesn't want to drive at night so we are going to have the phone on and watch it togther 3 miles apart!
Wednesday can't come fast enough!

I am neurotic

2009-04-08T08:49:00.000-07:00

It's going to be a long 9 months. Yesterday I was in the bathroom at work and there was some pink and I felt really gassy. I freaked out and drove myself the half block to the hospital. They did a blood test, urine test and a pelvic and everything seems ok. He said everything looked good and felt ok so who knows why I was bleeding but it stopped so I just have to watch it and make sure I go to my normal OBGYN appointment week. EngineerBoy was great, I called him crying and he drove the 65 miles to me and stayed with me until they told me I was ok. I don't know, I am scared but taking it one minute at a time.

WonderNurse is doing well. Her cancer numbers are looking great, the chemo is working. Her stomach still bothers her but she can eat more and she is even well enough to drive herself to work and work for about 4 hours a day. It's definetly better than it was 6 weeks ago. We go to the doctor tomorrow to see how she is doing and if all is well she will get her 4th round of chemo next week, fingers crossed.

Hell has frozen over - My eggo is preggo

2009-04-06T07:36:00.000-07:00

Hell has frozen over. It's amazing what stress can do to you. I have been told for the past 12 years that I had a better chance of winning the lottery than every getting pregnant. I have had 4 surgeries and been on every birth control pill ever invented to keep me from bleeding to death once a month. I made the executive discision when I graduated college that I was going to go off the pill. It made it so that I couldn't loose weight, it made my hair fall out and made me feel totally sick and tired. I decided that since I wasn't having sex I wouldn't take it anymore. When I started dating JerkFace I almost went back on those dreadful little pills but since he always wanted to use condoms I didn't. We were together for 2 years and never once was I even late. When EngineerBoy and I started sleeping together we decided not to use anything because we were only with each other, we loved each other (I knew from day one), and I couldn't get pregnant. Well apparently stress can do a lot to you, either that or EngineerBoy's swimmers are awesome swimmers. My last period was short and light for me but probably normal for most people since most periods I nearly bleed to death. It was due last Thursday and I am one of those people that stress about starting (even before when I wasn't having sex at all) so by Sat when I hadn't started I figured it was stress but went and got a test just to make myself feel better, totally thinking it would have a big fat negative sign, I would then feel better and then I wouldn't be stressed and I would start. NEVER in a million years did I think that it was going to be a plus sign!!!! As MiddleSister says my eggo is definetly preggo. I did another one and it's still positive. I am pregnant. I don't know how to feel, I never prepared myself for this. I was 16 when I was told I couldn't have children naturally. I cried, I mourned, I moved on and now what 4 doctors told me never would happen is happening. I am shocked and scared but part of me is happy. I am getting something I never thought I was going to be able to do. Sure, I wish I was married but beggers can't be choosers. And at least I am with someone who was planning our engagement without my knowledge, someone who was picking out rings while I worried about my period (I didn't tell him I was worried, I just told him I was pregnant). He hadn't gotten it or anything but he was planning on marrying me before we found out about the baby. At least I am 28 and not 18, at least I have a college degree and a full time job. I am just shocked! I don't know what to think. Part of me is scared out of my mind, and part of me is excited. I worry that something is going to happen, I worry that I am going to suck as a mom. I am worried that my child is going to be neruotic like me.
It will be better once I go to the doctor and find out how far I am (anywhere from 4-8 weeks), I even confused the nurse at the doctors office when she asked me about my last period. WonderNurse's genocologist oncologist is also a normal OBGYN and he is so nice so I am going to go see him. I see him next Tuesday. EngineerBoy and WonderNurse want to go with me but I want to go by myself. I don't know why I just do, at least the first time. When they start doing the fun stuff they can come, for now I just need to do it by myself.
EngineerBoy hasn't told anyone, he wants to wait until I go to the doctor, probably so he can say how far along I am. I of course told WonderNurse and both sisters. They were shocked but ok. Both sisters are so excited you would think I just found the cure for cancer. It will be intersting to see how EngineerBoy's family reacts. I am most worried about his sister. She may be getting married first, but I am having the first grandchild. I am worried that she will feel as though I am upstaging her. I am worried that she will dislike me or that there is going to be a lot of unhappiness at the wedding. The wedding will be the first time I will see anyone (other than his sister) after announcing I am pregnant. Ugh. I wish I hadn't spent the money to go or I would be staying home instead of going.
EngineerBoy and both sisters want it to be a boy, WonderNurse and I want a girl. I understand girls, I know what to do with girls, girl stuff is more fun.
It's going to be one intersting year!

Some days I can barely remember my name

2009-01-30T10:01:00.000-08:00

The title says it all. It's hard, I some how have managed to loose my self and my mind through all of this. My day's revolve around hospital visits and doctors and medicine and sickness. I have nothing else to say. I want Wondernurse to get better and it's killing me that I can't help. She has been in the hospital now for almost 3 weeks. In the last 7 weeks she's been there a total of 5 weeks. I hate going there, I hate the smells and the sounds and the constant interuptions. I miss just being able to sit and talk to her, I miss her calling me every day after work to tell me how her day was. Now our talks are just of what is still hurting or what the doctors have said. I pray every day for the strength to carry on for just 5 more minutes. That's how I take my day's by the minute. Things are looking up, the have scanned and probed and they can't find cancer anywhere else then when it was in her ovaries. Thats the good news, the bad news is that they can't get it all, there's always microscopic cells still lurking there ready to grow into tumors, that's why we have to do the chemo. The cumiden isn't helping so she has to give herself a shot of a different medicine twice a day to help with the blood clots but at least that is working. She got pnemonia while in the hospital so they are treating that with medicine and breathing treatments. Thankfully that seems to be helping too, now if I could only get her to eat! All the medicine though makes her sick and chemo will only make it worse. As she jokes, its the best diet she's ever been on.
I am still trying to work from home, it's hard though, I feel bad when I am not with her. What if she dies and I didn't take this time to be with her. But I have to work, I have to pay for an apartment I don't live in, pay for electricity and water I don't use, the banks want me to pay back my student loans etc. I have to work but I am consummed with guilt. Guilt when I am not with her, guilt when I am not working, guilt for what this is doing to my relationship with EngineerBoy and my friends. I am so filled with guilt I just don't know how to make any of it better.I know God doesn't give us more than we can handle but sometimes I wonder. How can I handle all of this?

WonderNurse

2009-01-20T21:19:00.000-08:00

WonderNurse has been in the hospital since Dec 11th with ovarian and possibly stomach cancer, a massive blood clot in her lung and a staph infection in her wound. Chemo is on hold until they can get everything straighted out. Please pray for her full recovery, I don't know what I would do with out her. I am slowly losing my mind and probably driving EngineerBoy crazy living with him. Please add WonderNurse to any and all prayer lists/chains etc. She is only 51.

Too cute

2008-12-03T19:28:00.001-08:00

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/4q0mn32xnhQGUCYr0DYG"

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/kSpB9MAumHMmMqFAEz1Z

Things happen for a reason

2008-12-03T19:25:00.000-08:00

Beautiful story.... Makes you understand that things happen for a reason
The brand new pastor and his wife, newly assigned
to their first ministry, to reopen a church
in suburban Brooklyn , arrived in early October.
Excited about their opportunities, when they saw
their church. It was very run down and needed
much work. They set a goal to have everything
done in time to have their first service
on Christmas Eve.

They worked hard, repairing pews, plastering walls,
painting, etc, and on December 18
were ahead of schedule and just about finished.

On December 19 a terrible tempest - a driving
rainstorm hit the area and lasted for two days.

On the 21st, the pastor went over to the church.
His heart sank when he saw that the roof had
leaked, causing a large area of plaster about
20 feet by 8 feet to fall off the front wall
of the sanctuary just behind the pulpit,
beginning about head high.

The pastor cleaned up the mess on the floor,
And not knowing what else to do but postpone the
Christmas Eve service, headed home.
On the way he noticed that a local business was
having a flea market type sale for charity so he
stopped in. One of the items was a beautiful,
handmade, ivory colored, crocheted tablecloth
with exquisite work, fine colors and a Cross
embroidered right in the center. It was just
the right size to cover up the hole in the front
wall. He bought it and headed back to the church.

By this time it had started to snow. An older
woman running from the opposite direction was
trying to catch the bus.. She missed it. The pastor
invited her to wait in the warm church for
the next bus 45 minutes later.

She sat in a pew and paid no attention to the pastor
While he got a ladder, hangers, etc., to put up the
tablecloth as a wall tapestry.The pastor
could hardly believe how beautiful it looked and
It covered up the entire problem area.

Then he noticed the woman walking down the center
aisle. Her face was like a sheet.. 'Pastor,'
She asked, 'where did you get that tablecloth?'
The pastor explained. The woman asked him to check
The lower right corner to see if the initials, EBG were crocheted into
it there. They were. These were the initials of the woman, and she had
made this tablecloth 35 years before, in Austria

The woman could hardly believe it as the pastor
told how he had just gotten the Tablecloth. The
woman explained that before the war she and
her husband were well-to-do people in Austria .

When the Nazis came, she was forced to leave.
Her husband was going to follow her the next week.
He was captured, sent to prison and never saw her
husband or her home again.

The pastor wanted to give her the tablecloth;
But she made the pastor keep it for the church.
The pastor insisted on driving her home, that
was the least he could do.. She lived on the other
Side of Staten Island and was only in Brooklyn
for the day for a housecleaning job.

What a wonderful service they had on Christmas
Eve. The church was almost full. The music and the
Spirit were great. At the end of the service, the
Pastor and his wife greeted everyone at the door
And many said that they would return.

One older man, whom the pastor recognized
From the neighborhood continued to sit in one of the
Pews and stare, and the pastor wondered why he
Wasn't leaving.

The man asked him where he got the tablecloth on
The front wall because it was identical to one
That his wife had made years ago when
They lived in Austria before the war and how
Could there be two tablecloths so much alike.

He told the pastor how the Nazis came, how he
Forced his wife to flee for her safety and he was
Supposed to follow her, but he was arrested and
Put in a prison.. He never saw his wife or his home
Again all the 35 years in between.

The pastor asked him if he would allow him to
Take him for a little ride. They drove to Staten
Island and to the same house where the pastor
Had taken the woman three days earlier.

He helped the man climb the three flights of
Stairs to the woman's apartment, knocked on
The door and he saw the greatest Christmas
Reunion he could ever imagine.

True Story - submitted by Pastor Rob Reid
Who says God does work in mysterious ways..
I asked the Lord to bless you as I prayed for
You today, to guide you and protect you as you go
along your way. His love is always with you, His
promises are true, and when we give Him all our
cares you know He will see us through.

So when the road you're traveling on seems
difficult at best.. Just remember I'm here
praying and God will do the rest. Pass this on
to those you want God to bless and don't forget
to send it back to the one who asked God to bless
you first.

When there is nothing left but God, that is when
you find out that God is all you need Take 60
seconds and give this a shot! Al l you do is simply
say the following small prayer for the person
who sent you this.

Father, G od, bless all my friends and family in what
ever it is that You know they may be needing this
day! May their life be full of your peace,
prosperity and power as he/she seeks to have a
closer relationship with you. Amen.

Then send it on to five other people, including the
one who sent it to you. Within hours five people have
prayed for you and you caused a multitude of people
to pray for other people. Then sit back and watch the
Power of God work in your life.

Music Lyrics

2008-12-03T15:40:00.001-08:00

Why is it that there had to be 2 versions of most songs? And who decided that you can say shit but can't say suck on the radio? I generally listen to pop and semi alternative (thanks EngineerBoy). I like Pink, and Avril Lavine and Katy Perry and Saving Able. What gets me is on the pop station they edit out stupid things like suck but keep in shit and with Addicted by Saving Able they changed it completly. Hello like "rolling around under the sheets" is any better than "going down on you" come on give me a break, if this bothers you then your kid shouldn't be listening to the station in the first place.

Tequila and Salt

2008-12-01T18:11:00.000-08:00

Tequila and Salt

This should probably be taped to your bathroom mirror where one could read it every day. You may not realize it, but it's 100% true.

1. There are at least two people in this world that you would die for.

2.At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.

3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like you.

4. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.

5. Every night,SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.

6. You mean the world to someone.

7. You are special and unique.

8. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.

9. When you make the biggest mistake ever,
something good comes from it.

10. When you think the world
has turned its back on you
take another look.

11. Always remember the compliments you received.
Forget about the rude remarks.

So...........
If you are a loving friend,
send this to everyone,
including the one that sent it to you.
If you get it back, then they really do love you.

And always remember....
when life hands you Lemons,
ask for Tequila and Salt and call me over!

Good friends are like stars........
You don't always see them,
But you know they are always there.

"Whenever God Closes One Door He Always Opens Another, Even Though
Sometimes It's Hell in the Hallway"

I would rather have one rose and a kind word
from a friend while I'm here
than a whole truck load when I'm gone.

Happiness keeps You Sweet,
Trials keep You Strong,
Sorrows keep You Human,
Failures keeps You Humble,
Success keeps You Glowing,
But Only
God keeps You Going

A rocket scientist in Austin

2008-11-17T19:41:00.001-08:00

As promised here are some pictures from BabySisters 21st birthday party. It was interesting to say the least being the only sober person in a group of drunk people!

Doing something nice means the world to someone in need

2008-11-17T15:03:00.001-08:00

I (an older woman) walked into the grocery store not particularly interested in buying groceries. I wasn't hungry. The pain of losing my husband of 57 years was still too raw. And this grocery store held so many sweet memories.

He often came with me and almost every time he'd pretend to go off and look for something special. I knew what he was up to. I'd always spot him walking down the aisle with the three yellow roses in his hands.

He knew I loved yellow roses. With a heart filled with grief, I only wanted to buy my few items and leave, but even grocery shopping was different since he had passed on.

Shopping for one took time, a little more thought than it had for two.

Standing by the meat, I searched for the perfect small steak and remembered how he had loved his steak.

Suddenly a woman came beside me. She was blonde, slim and lovely in a soft green pantsuit. I watched as she picked up a large package of T-bones, dropped them in her basket.. hesitated, and then put them back. She turned to go and once again reached for the pack of steaks.

She saw me watching her and she smiled. 'My husband loves T-bones, but honestly, at these prices, I don't know.'

I swallowed the emotion down my throat and met her pale blue eyes.

'My husband passed away eight days ago,' I told her. Glancing at the package in her hands, I fought to control the tremble in my voice. 'Buy him the steaks. And cherish every moment you have together.'

She shook her head and I saw the emotion in her eyes as she placed the package in her basket and wheeled away

I turned and pushed my cart across the length of the store to the dairy products. There I stood, trying to decide which size milk I should buy. A Quart, I finally decided and moved on to the ice cream. If nothing else, I could always fix myself an ice cream cone.

I placed the ice cream in my cart and looked down the aisle toward the front. I saw first the green suit, then recognized the pretty lady coming towards me. In her arms she carried a package. On her face was the brightest smile! I had ever seen. I would swear a soft halo encircled her blonde hair as she kept walking toward me, her eyes holding mine.

As she came closer, I saw what she held and tears began misting in my eyes. 'These are for you,' she said and placed three beautiful long stemmed yellow roses in my arms. 'When you go through the line, they will know these are paid for.' She leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on my cheek, then smiled again. I wanted to tell her what she'd done, what the roses meant, but still unable to speak, I watched as she walked away as tears clouded my vision

I looked down at the beautiful roses nestled in the green tissue wrapping and found it almost unreal. How did she know? Suddenly the answer seemed so clear. I wasn't alone.

Oh, you haven't forgotten me, have you? I whispered, with tears in my eyes. He was still with me, and she was his angel.

Every day be thankful for what you have and who you are.

(Please read all of this, it is really nice)

This is a simple request. If you appreciate life, send this to your friends, including! the person that sent it to you.

Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings. Thank you, Lord, that I can hear.. There are many who are deaf.

Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long as possible. Thank you, Lord , that I can see. Many are blind.

Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising.. Thank you, Lord, that I have the strength to rise. There are many who are bedridden.

Even though the first hour of my day is hectic, when socks are lost, toast is burned, tempers are short, and my children are so loud.

Thank you, Lord, for my family. There are many who are lonely.

Even though our breakfast table never looks like the picture in magazines and the menu is at times unbalanced.

Thank you, Lord, for the food we have. There are many who are hungry.

Even though the routine of my job often is monotonous. Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to work. There are many who have no job.

Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day and wish my circumstances were not so modest.

Thank you, Lord, for life.

Pass this on to the friends you know. It might help a bit to make this world a better place to live, right? A friend is someone we turn to when our spirits need a lift. A friend is someone to treasure.

For friendship is a gift. A friend is someone who fills our lives with Beauty, Joy and Grace and makes the world we live in a better and happier place.

Because not everyone will be home this Christmas

2008-11-17T15:01:00.000-08:00

November 15, 2008

A few days ago I received an email from a reader named Amanda. Her husband is in the Army and currently in the midst of a 15 month deployment. They have two young children and in her email she said that although it is often difficult, they know it’s the path to which they’ve been called.

Amanda and her Bible study group came up with the idea to collect 2000 Christmas cards to send to the families of deployed soldiers from Fort Sill. They are calling the effort “Dear Army Family”. They are hoping that each family will receive a card that reminds them that someone across the country values their sacrifice and is remembering their family through this Christmas season.

This is an excerpt from the letter she sent me that outlines the program.

“Our goal is to send an extra Christmas card to each family of a deployed soldier on our post. We are hoping to encourage those that are walking through a particularly difficult time of deployment.

We want each family to know that the sacrifice they have offered is cherished. We are hoping for a personal note in each card.

Please include words of gratitude as well as words of encouragement. We want Army families to know they are being thought of across this country; that their sacrifice is important, and that they are being covered in prayer.

Please pray for the family as you seal their envelope, knowing with certainty that God knows exactly which family will receive your card. Continue to pray for the families throughout the holiday season. Ask God to bring them to your mind throughout the festivities. You will bring blessings to these homes.

We are striving to get 2000 cards! In order to do this efficiently, we are unable to give out personal contact information for the Army Families. Once the cards are returned, we will be addressing the cards and will use our own return address.

Please include your hometown & state with your signature inside your card, this will ensure that Army Families know people across America are praying for them and thinking of them. You may include a return address inside the card as well, but this is not required. Thank you for joining us in such a big undertaking. One extra Christmas card combined with the love of Jesus, just might change a life.

A few reminders:

1. Write “Dear Army Family” in the greeting of the card

2. Please include a personal greeting inside each card. Include your hometown & state.

3. Please STAMP the envelopes! You may send all the stamped cards in one large envelope or box to save on shipping.

4. Please return cards by December 1, 2008.

5. Please mail the cards to the following address:

Dear Army Family
Fort Sill – PWOC Frontier Chapel
4121 Thomas Road
Fort Sill, OK 73503

Thank you,

Amanda

“Like cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a distant land.” Proverbs 25:25

These families will be without their spouses, mothers, fathers, brothers or sisters this Christmas season and I think this is such an incredible way to say thank you for the sacrifices they have made on our behalf. It’s a simple way to say we don’t take the sacrifice for granted.

ABC's of Me

2008-11-17T14:56:00.000-08:00

I stole this from Christina at
http://rockingthesuburbs.wordpress.com/

Here are some more random facts about your favorite rocket scientist!

A is for age: 28, though without make up I look about 14

B is for burger of choice: Buffalo burger from Fuddruckers or the Blue Cheese Burger from Red Robins

C is for the car I drive: 2004 Hyundai Tiburon; after 3 months I finally it back!!!! It is so much better than driving the emergency car or BabySister’s boat (aka the Rodeo)

D is for your dog’s name: I don’t have one, but I had one named Pancake as a kid

E is for essential item you use every day: Contacts/ Glasses. There are many I could list here but I can’t walk across the hall without my eyes!

F is for favorite TV show at the moment: Grey’s Anatomy!

G is for favorite game: on the computer I am addicted to Bejeweled, on the iPhone Tetarus, on Wii Tennis/bowling and I love the board game Clue

H is for home state: Texas!

I is for instruments you play: None, I couldn’t care a note if my soul was on the line!

J is for favorite juice: Cranberry or Orange

K is for whose bum you’d like to kick: My lead

L is for last restaurant at which you ate: Casea Ole’

M is for your favorite Muppet: Miss Piggy

N is for number of piercings: 1 in my ears

O is for overnight hospital stays: 5 but that was when I was born other than that, none. I have been in the hospital a million times but only for outpatient surgery.

P is for people you were with today: My co-workers

Q is for what you do with your quiet time: Read, play on the computer

R is for biggest regret: I know but I’m not telling.

S is for status: In a serious relationship with EngineerBoy

T is for time you woke up today: 7:30

U is for what you consider unique about yourself: I have dual citizenship

V is for vegetable you love: Asparagus

W is for worst habit: over analyzing, worrying

X is for x-rays you’ve had: more than I can count

Y is for yummy food you ate today: tomato soup

Z is for zodiac: Leo, I am a Leo to a “T”

Mexico

2008-11-11T20:35:00.001-08:00

fancygens.com

EngineerBoy and I are going to Mexico for his sister's wedding! I have less than 174 days to loose the weight so I can look hot at the wedding! Wish me luck!

The count down begins

2008-11-11T20:06:00.000-08:00

fancygens.com

EngineerBoy will be home in less than 18 hours! Yea! I am taking Thursday off and Friday is my off Friday so I am heading up to Katy tomorrow after work! Having returned from many a 12+ hour flights I know he won't want to go out to eat and he will be starving but of course being a boy he has no food in his house, so I made him dinner tonight to take over to him tomorrow. I made bbq chicken (very Texan), garlic mashed potatos and brocoli and cheese.

I have a crazy weekend planned. I am driving up to Austin on Friday for BabySister's 21st birthday until Sat morning/afternoon and then to a girls wine party Sat night and dinner with WonderNurse on Sunday. In between all of that it's an all EngineerBoy filled weekend. Thank goodness, I missed him so much.

And then I have Bunco on Monday and Tuesday. I have a feeling I will be cleaning the apartment way into the night on Sunday, no sleep for me!
Man my arms hurt!!!! I have done 2 day's in a row of 50 min a piece of the TurboJam work out. Yea me, hopefully I can keep it up. Plus I played hours of Wii, boxing, tennis, bowling. It's awsome. GreenFriend and HannahMontana have one and I have been playing it over there, I am hoping that since MiddleSister is so busy but has one, she will loan it to me for awhile. Fingers crossed!

I will post some pictures from the weekend when I get back! Have a great weekend!

A meme

2008-11-10T19:01:00.000-08:00

Barnyard Mama (http://birdonthestreet.blogspot.com/) didn't tag me but I don't have much to say so I thought I would steal it from her!

Eight TV Shows I Watch:
Friends
Reba
Grey's Anatomy
How I met your mother
Two and a half men
America's next top model
Top Chief
Family Guy

Eight Things that Happened to me this weekend:
Painted matching picture frames for my living room
Played Wii bowling and tennis
Watched 4 episodes of Super Nanny that I have had recorded for weeks
Watched movies with my WonderNurse
Went to brunch with my WonderNurse
Talked to MiddleSister
Talked to EngineerBoy in Duabi
Took a relaxing bubble bath and reading a great book (Hidding Place by Karen Harper)

Eight Favorite Places to Eat:
Santa Barbara's
PF Chang's
Murphy's Deli
GreenFriend's house
Chick-fil-a
Perry's
Fuddruckers
anything Mexican

8 Things I am Looking Forward To:
EngineerBoy coming home from 2 weeks in Duabi
Christmas in Ca with my family
Thanksgiving with EngineerBoy
Going to Mexico for EngineerBoy's sister's wedding
Going to Austin for BabySister's 21st b-day
Hosting Bunco next Monday and Tuesday
Buying a Wii
Loosing weight

Things on my Wish List:
A Wii
An engagement ring

Wine

2008-11-10T18:53:00.001-08:00

Bottle of Wine

(Women will LOVE this one!)

A woman and a man are involved in a car accident on a snowy, cold Monday morning; it's a bad one. Both of their cars are totally demolished, but amazingly neither of them is hurt. God works in mysterious ways. After they crawl out of their cars, the man is yelling about women drivers. The woman says, 'So, you're a man. That's interesting. I'm a woman. Wow, just look at our cars! There's nothing left, but we're unhurt. This must be a sign from God that we should be friends and live in peace for the rest of our days.'
Flattered, the man replies, 'Oh yes, I agree completely, this must be a sign from God! But you're still at fault...women shouldn't be allowed to drive.' The woman continues, 'And look at this, here's another miracle. My car is completely demolished but this bottle of wine didn't break. Surely God wants us to drink this wine and celebrate our good fortune.'
She hands the bottle to the man. The man nods his head in agreement, opens it and drinks h alf the bottle and then hands it back to the woman.
The woman takes the bottle, puts the cap back on and hands it back to the man. < /SPAN>
The man asks, 'Aren't you having any?'
The woman replies, 'No. I think I'll just wait for the police...'

MORAL OF THE STORY:
Women are clever, evil bitches.
Do n't mess with them.

Safety

2008-11-07T13:57:00.001-08:00

Because of recent abductions in daylight hours, refresh yourself of these things to do in an emergency situation...

This is for you, and for you to share with your wife, your children, everyone you know. After reading these 9 crucial tips, forward them to someone you care about. It never hurts to be careful in this crazy world we live in.

1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do :

The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do!

2. Learned this from a tourist guide in. If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you, chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won't see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives.

4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc. DON'T DO THIS!) The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR,LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE. If someone is in the car with a gun to your head DO OFF, repeat:DO OFF! Instead gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car. Your Air Bag will save you. If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it. As soon as the car crashes bail out and run. It is better than having them find your body in a remote location.

5. A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage: A.) Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor, and in the back seat B.) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars. C.) Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side.. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)

6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs.(Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot. This is especially true at NIGHT!)

7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target)4 in 100 times; And even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN, Preferably in a zig -zag pattern!

8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP It may get you raped, or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked 'for help' into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.

9. Another Safety Point: Someone just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch the night before last, and she called the police because it was late and she thought it was weird. The police told her 'Whatever you do, DO NOT open the door.'The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window, and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over. The policeman said, 'We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do, DO NOT open the door.'He told her that they think a serial killer has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby's cries outside their doors when they're home alone at night.

The Post Office

2008-11-07T13:55:00.000-08:00

This is one of the kindest things I've ever read. I have no way to know who sent it,
but there is a beautiful soul working in the dead letter office of the US postal service.
Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month.The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith
was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:

Dear God,
Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick. I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her. You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her. Love, Meredith,

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. ?We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had go! tten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.
Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith , ' in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies.' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven.
Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away.
Abbey isn't sick anymore... Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.
Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you.
I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much.
By the way, I'm easy to find, I am wherever there is love. Love, God

The moon

2008-11-07T13:01:00.000-08:00

JFK's "Why we should go to the moon" speach. This still moves me, I acutally have the speach on my wall at work....

Awesome video

2008-11-07T12:56:00.000-08:00

This is an awesome video of what I am designing will actually do. The Crew Module (which is my main focus) is launched on the second rocket.

Make sure you watch it with the audio on, whoever did the music did a great job!

~MJ

112 ways to say I love you

2008-11-06T15:57:00.001-08:00

I LOVE YOU

English - I love you
Afrikaans - Ek het jou lief
Albanian - Te dua
Arabic - Ana behibak (to male)
Arabic - Ana behibek (to female)
Armenian - Yes kez sirumen
Bambara - M'bi fe
Bangla - Aamee tuma ke bhalo aashi
Belarusian - Ya tabe kahayu
Bisaya - Nahigugma ako kanimo
Bulgarian - Obicham te
Cambodian - Soro lahn nhee ah
Cantonese Chinese - Ngo oiy ney a
Catalan - T'estimo
Cheyenne - Ne mohotatse
Chichewa - Ndimakukonda
Corsican - Ti tengu caru (to male)
Creol - Mi aime jou
Croatian - Volim te
Czech - Miluji te
Danish - Jeg Elsker Dig
Dutch - Ik hou van jou
Esperanto - Mi amas vin
Estonian - Ma armastan sind
Ethiopian - Afgreki'
Faroese - Eg elski teg
Farsi - Doset daram
Filipino - Mahal kita
Finnish - Mina rakastan sinua
French - Je t'aime, Je t'adore
Frisian - Ik hâld fan dy
Gaelic - Ta gra agam ort
Georgian - Mikvarhar
German - Ich liebe dich
Greek - S'agapo
Gujarati - Hoo thunay prem karoo choo
Hiligaynon - Palangga ko ikaw
Hawaiian - Aloha Au Ia`oe (Thanks Craig)
Hebrew - Ani ohev otah (to female)
Hebrew - Ani ohev et otha (to male)
Hiligaynon - Guina higugma ko ikaw
Hindi - Hum Tumhe Pyar Karte hae
Hmong - Kuv hlub koj
Hopi - Nu' umi unangwa'ta
Hungarian - Szeretlek
Icelandic - Eg elska tig
Ilonggo - Palangga ko ikaw
Indonesian - Saya cinta padamu
Inuit - Negligevapse
Irish - Taim i' ngra leat
Italian - Ti amo
Japanese - Aishiteru
Kannada - Naanu ninna preetisuttene
Kapampangan - Kaluguran daka
Kiswahili - Nakupenda
Konkani - Tu magel moga cho
Korean - Sarang Heyo
Latin - Te amo
Latvian - Es tevi miilu
Lebanese - Bahibak
Lithuanian - Tave myliu
Malay - Saya cintakan mu / Aku cinta padamu
Malayalam - Njan Ninne Premikunnu
Mandarin Chinese - Wo ai ni
Marathi - Me tula prem karto
Mohawk - Kanbhik
Moroccan - Ana moajaba bik
Nahuatl - Ni mits neki
Navaho - Ayor anosh'ni
Norwegian - Jeg Elsker Deg
Pandacan - Syota na kita!!
Pangasinan - Inaru Taka
Papiamento - Mi ta stimabo
Persian - Doo-set daaram
Pig Latin - Iay ovlay ouyay
Polish - Kocham Ciebie
Portuguese - Eu te amo
Romanian - Te iubesc
Russian - Ya tebya liubliu
Scot Gaelic - Tha gra\dh agam ort
Serbian - Volim te
Setswana - Ke a go rata
Sign Language - ,\,,/ (represents position of fingers when signing'I Love You')
Sindhi - Maa tokhe pyar kendo ahyan
Sioux - Techihhila
Slovak - Lu`bim ta
Slovenian - Ljubim te
Spanish - Te quiero / Te amo
Swahili - Ninapenda wewe
Swedish - Jag alskar dig
Swiss-German - Ich lieb Di
Surinam - Mi lobi joe
Tagalog - Mahal kita
Taiwanese - Wa ga ei li
Tahitian - Ua Here Vau Ia Oe
Tamil - Nan unnai kathalikaraen
Telugu - Nenu ninnu premistunnanu
Thai - Chan rak khun (to male)
Thai - Phom rak khun (to female)
Turkish - Seni Seviyorum
Ukrainian - Ya tebe kahayu
Urdu - mai aap say pyaar karta hoo
Vietnamese - Anh ye^u em (to female)
Vietnamese - Em ye^u anh (to male)
Welsh - 'Rwy'n dy garu di
Yiddish - Ikh hob dikh
Yoruba - Mo ni fe

Love

2008-11-06T15:55:00.000-08:00

EngineerBoy -
I wanna be the reason for the smile on your face
I wanna be the one that you'll never replace
I wanna be the girl who steals your heart
I want you to want us to never be apart
I wanna wake up with you lying by my side
I wanna be the one you want to make your bride
I wanna hold you close, wanna feel you hold me tight
I wanna fall asleep with you, wanna be your guiding light
I wanna be the girl you see, when you point and say 'thats her'
I wanna be the girl to whom no-one can compare
I wanna be the one you love until the end of time
I wanna be your one and only, you're every dream come true
I want ours to be a perfect love, that others compare their's to
I wanna be your angel, wanna be your fantasy
We were meant to be

I'd rather have bad times with you, than good times with someone else.
I'd rather be beside you in a storm, than safe and warm by myself.
I'd rather have hard times together, than to have it easy apart.
I'd rather have the one who holds my heart.

Harry Potter

2008-11-06T15:21:00.001-08:00

My love of Harry Potter is enourmous! I can't wait for the 6th movie and I am so mad that it's not coming out this month but summer 2009. Damn writers strike! You suck!

The offical Harry Potter 6 trailer -

Sad

2008-11-04T21:06:00.000-08:00

I am sad. I chose McCain and he lost. While I do not believe he was the best man for the job, I don't believe Obama is either. There were many things wrong with both as well as many good things. I am proud that I live in a country where a black man was able to run and win the highest position in the country. What I am not proud of is the fact that we live in a country where a woman is still questioned on her commitment to her family, and her ability to serve just because she is a woman/mother. I never heard anyone ask Obama what it would do to his children to be raised without their father present at their dance recitals, or school plays or even at home in the evening to help them with their homework but Palin was asked in some sort of fashion all of these. They questioned her ability to be a good mother but not once did they ever question Obama's ability to be a good dad. What this says to me is that while we live in a country where all men are created equal, it means just that, all men but doesn't necessarily include women. We might have crashed through the glass ceiling for black men, but that ceiling is still very present for women. While they might not be able to ask it, employers still look at women and think how long will she be here until she leaves to raise her children. How much time/money will we loose while she is on maternity leave, the same isn't asked about men. Maybe one day a woman's ability to be a mother and serve her country will not be questioned, just her ability to do an adequate job for which she is applying for.

What upsets me too is the fact that with this Obama win my job is in jeopardy. Obama does not believe in NASA or space exploration. This is good for Russia, China, India, Iran, and Europe but bad for the US. When we step aside those guys will step in to take our place, our pursuit of space is for good, but can we say the same for China or India? The technology that we might invite would be used for good but can the same be said for them? It's like handing the key's to the asylum to the inmates and expecting them not to use them to get themselves out. He wants to cut our budget and it use it for other things because space exploration isn't important to him. I get that, not everyone sees the importance but I do. There are numerous things in our lives that are because of our pursuit of space exploration. If it wasn't for the adventurous spirit, Columbus wouldn't have wanted to find a quicker route to Asia and finding North America instead, man wouldn't have tried to fly and invented the airplane etc. Adventure keeps the human spirit going without it we are just surviving. To say my job is unimportant is just as silly as me saying we don't need doctors or lawyers or social workers. If we just took care of ourselves we wouldn't need a doctor to fix our ills, if we just stayed out of trouble and followed the letter of the law we wouldn't need lawyers, if we took care of our kids and our elderly parents we wouldn't need social workers. We are all important.

Why Space -
Prevention of environmental disaster: Remote sensing satellites allow us to monitor the ozone hole, global warming, air, water and ocean pollution, the effect of oil spills on the melting of the ice caps, the loss of rain forests and other environmental threats to human survival. These systems can help us trace our recovery from the worst environmental threats and improve our quality of life.

Creating a global network for modern communications, entertainment and networking: Advanced satellites provide global connectivity by means of the telephone, fax, the Internet, radio and television extend far beyond the reach of fiber optic cables. Eleven thousand television channels are now available via satellite and well over 200 countries and territories are linked via satellite.

Global education and health services: Over 2 billion of the 6 billion people in our world today lack formal educational systems, health care services, potable water or power. The only way to provide global education and health care services in coming decades at reasonable cost and broad coverage is via space-based communication systems. Socrates once said, there is only one good knowledge, and only one evil -- ignorance. In an age of terrorism and great intolerance the need for global education is ever more important.

Cheap and environmentally friendly energy: NASA scientists and engineers already have gone a long way to develop space technology that can provide unlimited low cost energy from space. The operational systems, however, still need to be developed and proven in practice.

Transportation safety: The 6,000 commercial airplanes that are aloft at one time during peak periods in the U.S. depend on satellite navigation for safe operation. New systems can provide better fuel efficiency, earlier warnings of safety hazards and alert of terrorist attack. This is but one of the ways that future space systems can provide greater transportation safety in decades to come.

Emergency warning and recovery systems: The ability to warn populations of pending dangers from hurricanes, monsoons, tidal waves, fires and earthquakes are increasingly dependent on space-based systems. Further rescue operations, from emergency communications to disaster assessment to recovery operations, are dependent on satellite networks as well. Protection of our information networks from cyberterrorists: Many of our current electronic information networks that control transportation systems, energy grids, banking systems and governmental databases are vulnerable. Public Key Infrastructure systems are in need of upgrade. New types of security systems based on GPS location and encryption systems are dependent on space-based systems.

National defense and strategic security: Space has been called the high frontier. National security systems are increasingly based on smart technologies and instruments that operate in outer space. Ever since Operation Desert Storm, military operations are based heavily on space systems and future systems will be even more so.

Protection against catastrophic planetary accidents: It is easy to assume that an erratic meteor or comet will not bring destruction to the Earth because the probabilities are low. The truth is we are bombarded from space daily. The dangers are greatest not from a cataclysmic collision, but from not knowing enough about solar storms, cosmic radiation and the ozone layer. An enhanced Spaceguard Program is actually a prudent course that could save our species in time.

Creation of new jobs and Industries -- a new vision for the 21st century and a mandate to explore truly new frontiers: Most of the economically advanced countries such as Japan, Canada, Australia and Europe, not to mention China, India and Russia, use their space programs to stimulate their economy, expand their educational and health care networks, improve their agriculture, upgrade their information networks, enhance their entertainment networks and create new jobs. In this respect the
(from SPACE.com)

They said it better than I could -

Perhaps the best reason for exploring space is the built in genetic predisposition to expand into all possible niches.
Culturally nearly every successful civilization has been willing to explore. In exploring, dangers of surrounding areas may be learned and
prepared for. Dangers may be political enemies in neighboring cultures, physical features of the area, a change in the area which might effect
food supplies or any other number of factors. All pose a real danger and all may be made less dangerous if certain preparations are made. Without knowledge, the danger may strike and completely destroy. With knowledge, the effects or consequences may be lessened.
Exploration also allows resources to be located. Resources translate into power and success at survival. Whether the success be
financial, political or genetic additional resources are always a boon when used wisely. In any of the three manners, use of resources allows a
heightened percentage for survival. If the resources have no immediate need, then perhaps later the resources will be used.
Resources may be more than physical assets. Knowledge or techniques acquired in exploring or preparing to explore always filter from the
developers to the general populace. Techniques may be medical applications, uses for drugs or ways of living to increase the quantity of time lived or the quality of that time. Techniques may be social, allowing the people in a society to better understand those within or outside the culture. Better understanding may lead to better use of resources or a lessening of outright competition for the resources.
While many resources are spent on what seems a small return, the exploration of space allows the creative, the brave, the intelligence of
our species to focus on what may serve to save us. While space may hold many wonders and explanations of how the universe was formed or how it works, it also holds dangers. The chance of a large asteroid or comet hitting the earth is small. But given time, it will happen. Several current models of evolution propose many changes in a very short time period. Some explanations for the drastic speed of extinction and evolution include strikes by asteroids or comets.
Human technology is reaching the point where it might be able to detect such a threat and allow us to do something about it. The danger
exist, knowledge can allow us as a species to survive. Without the ability to reach out across space, the chance to save ourselves might not exist.
While Earth is the only planet known to sustain life, surely the adaptive ability of humans would allow other planets and moons to become
inhabited. True the life style would be different, but human life and cultures have adapted in the past and surely could in the future. Our
genetic makeup will allow humans to move into unoccupied niches and flourish.
The culture group holding the high ground, in this case space, has attained a great advantage over other groups. It can see farther, act sooner and be safer from attack. In space all of these things are true. The culture which expands is like and organism which adapts. It may be found everywhere. If one group is eliminated, the species as a whole survives.
The old adage, do not put all your eggs in one basket hold true for humans and cultures. The more a culture expands, the less chance of it
becoming extinct. Space allows us to expand and succeed.

Don't forget to vote tomorrow

2008-11-03T18:40:00.000-08:00

Don't forget to vote! Amy at Milk Breathe said it best so go check her out!

http://milkbreathandmargaritas.blogspot.com/

Links

2008-11-03T17:50:00.001-08:00

If someone out there reading this can tell me how to include hyperlinks, I would appreciate it. When I insert the link via the "insert link" tool it never shows up. The only way I can get it in the text is if I copy it straight into the text but then it's just the text not a hyperlink.
Thanks for your help!

McMiracle

2008-11-03T17:44:00.000-08:00

I would just like to say congrats to McMamma and her newest addition McMuffin. I have been praying for McMuffin and everyone over at "my charming kids", through the power of prayer McMuffin is doing great!
Go tell McMamma congrats on her new baby Stellan!
http://www.mycharmingkids.net/search?q=

Jacksie potato

2008-11-03T17:40:00.000-08:00

Courtsey of the The Sun -

So funny -

A VICAR turned up in agony at a hospital — with a potato stuck in his bottom.
The clergyman told stunned casualty nurses he fell backwards on to his kitchen table while hanging curtains.

He happened to be nude at the time of the mishap.

Mishap ... potato
The embarrassed reverend, in his 50s, had to undergo a delicate operation to extract the offending vegetable.

The spud was yesterday revealed to be among a litany of objects medics in Sheffield have removed from people’s nether regions.

Others include a can of deodorant, a cucumber, a Russian doll — and a carnation.

Like most of the other patients, the red-faced vicar insisted to staff at the city’s Northern General Hospital that his predicament was NOT the result of a sex game gone wrong.

A & E nurse Trudi Watson said: “He explained to me, quite sincerely, he had been hanging curtains naked in the kitchen when he fell backwards on to the kitchen table and on to a potato.

“But it’s not for me to question his story.

“He had to undergo surgery to have it removed.”

She admitted some sex-related emergencies had made staff chuckle. But she urged anyone contemplating sticking something where the sun doesn’t shine to think again.

Ms Watson said: “My advice? Don’t do it.

Advertisement

“It can be very dangerous and potentially life-threatening.

“Surgery can lead to infection, nasty scarring, and it could possibly end up with the person having to use a colostomy bag as a result.”

Health staff across Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster say they are no longer surprised at the things people use to spice up fun in the bedroom.

A hospital trust spokeswoman in Sheffield said: “Like all busy hospitals we do see some unusual accidents.

“But our staff deal with them in a discreet, professional and kind way.”

Missing EngineerBoy

2008-11-03T16:46:00.000-08:00

So I sent EngineerBoy off to Dubai on Sat and spent the rest of the weekend with WonderNurse. It was nice to hang out with her and not worry that I wasn't spending time with EngineerBoy. I always feel guilty, I am always having to pick someone over the other. There is just not enough time during the weekend to spend with everyone. I seemed to be always neglecting someone whether it's WonderNurse, EngineerBoy, GreenFriend, HannaMontana or someone else and they all give me crap for it. Why is it that no matter what I do someone feels left out. WonderNurse had gotten used to spending almost every weekend with me. Before Jerkface I was with her every weekend, it changed a little when I was with him but then we broke up. After that but before EngineerBoy, I would spend every Sat with GreenFriend and every Sunday with WonderNurse. Now that I am with EngineerBoy, I spend just Sunday night with WonderNurse and only Wed with GreenFriend and while I love every minute I am with EngineerBoy, I still feel guilty. I guess that's life though.
EngineerBoy will be in Dubai for 2 weeks so I have 2 weekends to spend with GreenFriend and WonderNurse though most of it will be with WonderNurse. We went out to dinner and saw Changeling on Sat and worked on the house Sunday. This weekend we are going to go the Renessance festivale which my mom loves so that will be good. Though EngineerBoy has only been gone since 3pm Sat (11/1) I miss him like crazy. It's weird not getting my morning text or talking to him on IM. He has never been oversea's so I hope he is having fun. It's always a lot of fun to go to another country even if it is for work. I saw Holland as an adult (apparently I spent a lot of time over there as a child since we lived in England), Italy (which I had always wanted to go to but never had been) and Russia (I never thought I would have wanted to go but I loved it) for work and all of it was awesome. I got to see so many things that I had ever only seen in the movies or in books. Italy was by far the most amazing place ever. I can't wait to go back. Maybe I will go there on my honeymoon (if I ever get engaged that is!!!).
So I have to ask those out there reading (all 2 of you) when did you know that your spouse was the ONE? When I was with Jerkface I wanted to get married and if you remember that's one of the reason's we broke up, I wanted to get married and he didn't. Looking at it now I think it was that I wanted to get married, not really I wanted to marry him. Now that I am with EngineerBoy, I am thinking about it again but this time I think it's different, or at least I hope it is. I really do love him, I find myself doing things for him that I would have never thought of doing with Jerkface. I hate laundry but I spent my off Friday doing all of EngineerBoy's because I knew it needed to get done and I knew he was worried about getting it done. I did ALL of it, not just what he needed for his trip but all of it. I even folded all of it. I find myself putting what he wants first etc. Looking at it I know in my heart that I probably only loved Jerkface on the surface but I love EngineerBoy to the depths of my being. I could see myself past Jerkface when we were together, I knew that I was settling, I was looking past all of the things that annoyed me to death and figured I would just live with them. Of course there are things about EngineerBoy that annoy me but they aren't things that I feel like I am compromising on. With Jerkface, I knew there would never be kids, not because I can't have them but because he didn't want them, I over looked the fact that he ALWAYS had to be right even when faced with proof that he was wrong. I ignored the fact that he never asked me what movie I wanted to see, or what I wanted to do with our weekend, or where I wanted to go to dinner. He made me feel as though my opinions didn't matter, and I let him. I let him change who I was, he didn't like some of my friends so I stopped seeing them. His friends became my friends but it didn't work vise versa. Jerkface never asked how my day was or listened to what I was doing. With EngineerBoy it's the complete opposite. He asks what I want to do, he takes my feelings into account, he has reminded me that I do count, I am a part of a whole (part of the relationship) instead of just someone to be lead around. I don't feel like I am comprimizing myself by being with EngineerBoy.
So if it doesn't work out with EngineerBoy, if I manage to mess it up at least I know that I truely love him and that I am a better person because of him. And I must say eharmony knows what they are doing. Until Jerkface, I never really dated, I was really shy and unsure of myself when it came to guys so I was everyone's best friend but never their one girl. I worked with Jerkface and he asked me out, and for 2 years I let him define me. After that but before EngineerBoy, I dated everyone, I even asked some of them out. I dated the guys at work, friends of friends, even a guy I met at the grocery store. None of them worked out, I was frustrated with what I was finding. It seemed that even I didn't know the right person for me so I figured I would try internet dating out. Most of it lead to them really only wanting one thing (the one thing I wasn't going to give them, at least not within the first month) so they never really worked out. I am sorry, Match.com is just an online booty call! I tried eharmony not thinking it would really work and I got EngineerBoy and he is my perfect match. He wants the same things I do, sees life for the most part like I do and most importantly he likes me for me. Only a select few people know the real way we met, most people think we met through mutual friends. Why is it in this day and age internet dating is so taboo? Why does it matter to me? In the end though, it doesn't matter, the past 5 months have been awesome and I hope 50 years from now it won't matter. I hope that EngineerBoy and I will get married but even if we don't I know that for the last 5 months I have been truely loved by an amazing person.
MJ

Good to know

2008-10-28T14:51:00.000-07:00

http://health.msn.com/health-topics/cold-and-flu/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=100203917&imageindex=10

Billy Graham's Prayer for the Nation

2008-10-28T14:47:00.000-07:00

Billy Graham's Prayer For Our Nation

Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and Set us free. Amen!'

Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his radio program, 'The Rest of the Story,' and received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired. With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called'One nation under God.'

If possible, please pass this prayer on to your friends. 'If you don't stand for something, you will fall for everything.'

Think about this: If you forward this prayer to everyone on your e-mail list, in less than 30 days it would be heard by the world. (It's worth a try!)

One Nation Under God

"If you can't change your fate, change your attitude." Amy Tan

My love of Penn State continues

2008-10-27T18:11:00.001-07:00

All I have to say is 10-0 baby!

Sick people part 2

2008-10-27T18:06:00.000-07:00

I must apologize for my sick people rant last week. I admit I have in the past come to work sick so I understand and sympathize with everyone. I guess the rant was just out of total frustration. The guy on the other side of the cube wall (who to be fair is not only a co-worker but a friend) came to work because we had a lot of work to do because we had our product due COB and he didn't want to stick me with it. I know he meant well but every other breath was a hacking cough. It made my head hurt just listening to it, I felt horrible for him. And because he was hyped up on cold medicine I ended up re-doing the work he did because he was sick. I know some times we have to do it and I know I am guilty of it but.....

Sick people

2008-10-24T11:11:00.000-07:00

Why do people have to come to work sick? What are sick days for? It makes me so mad. I get that its flu season and people will be sick and there is work to do but still. You are more productive if you stay home when you are sick and come back when you are ready. I am sorry if you have a lot to do at work but I highly doubt you are the only one that can do your job and even if you are can you honestly tell me you are productive if you are trying to work and hacking up a lung at the same time?
Stay at home if you are sick, no one else wants your germs.

Mr. Penn State Football

2008-10-24T10:41:00.000-07:00

Another post to express my true love of Penn State! Good luck boys kick some Buckeye butt tomorrow!

I hope that I am as involved in life at 81 as JoePa, Mr. Penn State Football. The greatest (in my and most PSU fans) coach ever and the winnest coach in college football history! We have had some great years, not so great years (the entire time I was in college except 1999 when we won the Alamo Bowl, take that Aggies) followed by some really good years (the Orange Bowl in 2006, the Alamo Bowl in 2007). So far this year we are 9-0, we have upset Michigan (finally after 9 losses in a row) and we ARE going to beat Ohio State tomorrow! All of this thanks to Joe. He still walks to work and coaches every game though recently it's been from the press box and he knows what he is doing. He is an institution at Penn State.

Some ask if he should still be coaching at his age, some have been calling for his retirement. Why? He is knows what he is doing, we have been to 2 bowl games in the last 2 years and we are half way through the season and we are 9-0. While I hope he continues to coach as long as possible, I hope that this year is our year again that way if time and age catch up with him he can go out on a high and in style.

Here's to you Joe!

Farts

2008-10-24T10:40:00.001-07:00

My farts smell like something crawled into my colon and died but apparently that's not such a bad thing!
Check this out http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27343876/

We are Penn State

2008-10-22T15:54:00.002-07:00

We are Penn State! I love Penn State! I bleed Blue and White! Keep it up Nittany Lions, you can do it!

Last Sat -
Final 1 2 3 4 T
Michigan (2-5) 10 7 0 0 17
Penn State #3 (8-0) « 7 7 12 20 46

Now we are 9-0, bring it on Ohio State!

2008-10-22T15:54:00.001-07:00

This is so true and good!!

Many times we complain about the crosses we bear but don't realize it
was meant to prepare us for the major obstacles in the road that only
God can see, and we cannot.

Whatever your cross,
whatever your pain,
there will always be sunshine, after the rain....
Perhaps you may stumble, perhaps even fall;
But God's always ready, to answer your call....
He knows every heartache, sees every tear,
a word from His lips, can calm every fear...
Your sorrows may linger, throughout the night,
But suddenly vanish, by dawn's early light...
The Savior is waiting, somewhere above,
to give you His grace, and send you His love.

May God fill your day with blessings!!

Today, be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Greeplepix Contest

2008-10-21T16:24:00.001-07:00

Taken from the plane on my flight from Chattanooga, TN and Charlotte, North Carolina on Sept 22, 2008.

2008-10-20T19:40:00.001-07:00

What I wished I looked like....

Hot

2008-10-20T18:20:00.000-07:00

There's me -

Then there are the girls EngineerBoy thinks are hot -

How can I compete?

Washington Monument

2008-10-20T17:40:00.001-07:00

THIS IS PRICELESS

One detail that is never mentioned is that in Washington , D.C. there can never be a building of greater height than the Washington Monument
With all the uproar about removing the ten commandments, etc., this is worth a moment or two of your time. I was not aware of this amazing historical information.

On the aluminum cap, atop theWashington Monument in Washington , D.C. , are displayed two words: Laus Deo.

No one can see these words. In fact, most visitors to the monument are totally unaware they are even there and for that matter, probably couldn't care less.

Once you know Laus Deo's history , you will want to share this with everyone you know. These words have been there for many years; they are 555 feet, 5.125 inches high, perched atop the monument, facing skyward to the Father of our nation, overlooking the 69 square miles which comprise the District of Columbia , capital of the United States of America.

Laus Deo! Two seemingly insignificant, unnoticed words. Out of sight and, one might think, out of mind, but very meaningfully placed at the highest point over what is the most powerful city in the most successful nation in the world.

So, what do those two words, in Latin, composed of just four syllables and only seven letters, possibly mean? Very simply,
they say ' Praise be to God!'

Though construction of this giant obelisk began in 1848, when James Polk was President of the United States , it was not until 1888 that the monument was inaugurated and opened to the public. It took twenty-five years to finally cap the memorial with a tribute to the Father of our nation,Laus Deo. 'Praise be to God!'

From atop this magnificent granite and marble structure, visitors may take in the beautiful panoramic view of the city with its division into four major segments. From that vantage point, one ca n also easily see the original plan of the designer, Pierre Charles l'Enfant .a perfect cross imposed upon the landscape, with the White House to the north. The Jefferson Memorial is to the south, the Capitol to the east and the Lincoln Memorial to the west.
A cross you ask? Why a cross? What about separation of church and state? Yes, a cross; separation of church and state was not, is not, in the Constitution. So, read on. How interesting and, no doubt, intended to carry a profound meaning for those who bother to notice.

Praise be to God! Within the monument itself are 898 steps and 50 landings. As one climbs the steps and pauses at the landings the memorial stones share a message.
On the 12th Landing is a prayer offered by the City of Baltimore;
on the 20th is a memorial presented by some Chinese Christians;
on the 24th a presentation made by Sunday School children from New York and Philadelphia quoting Proverbs 10:7, Luke 18:16 and Proverbs 22:6. Praise be to God!

When the cornerstone of the Washington Monument was laid on July 4th, 1848 deposited within it were many items including the Holy Bible presented by the Bible Society. Prais e be to God! Such was the discipline, the moral direction, and the spiritual mood given by the founder and first President of our unique democracy 'One Nation, Under God.'

I am awed by Washington 's prayer for America Have you ever read it? Well, now is your unique opportunity, so read on!

'Almighty God; We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection; that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large. And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.'

Laus Deo!
When one stops to observe the inscriptions found in public places all over our nation's capitol, he or she will easily find the signature of God, as it is unmistakably inscribed everywhere you look. You may forget the width and height of 'Laus Deo ', its location, or the architects but no one who reads this will be able to forget its meaning, or thes e words: 'Unless the Lord builds the house its builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.' (Psalm 127: 1)

It is hoped you will send this to every child you know; to every sister, brother, father, mother or friend. They will not find offense, because you have given them a lesson in history that they probably never learned in school. With that, be not ashamed, or afraid, but have pity on those who will never see this because someone failed to send it on.

Disgusted

2008-10-20T16:24:00.000-07:00

Disgusted. That's what I am. I am disgusted in myself, how I look, how I feel, my job.

I am fat. I am gross. I can't do this any more. I hate how I look and I hate that EngineerBoy has so many hot friends that are girls. Girls he probably would date but they are his sister's friends so he decided not to go there. I hate that he's with me knowing he wants someone who is hot, thin and sexy. While watching Heros every other girl is HOT and he has to comment that she is hot. He is no Matt Damon but do I say every guy that is hot is hot? No. Why does he have to say that? Does he have any idea how horrible that makes me feel. And for a guy he sure doesn't want sex very often. Probably because I am fat. It makes me sick. What makes me sicker is that he probably wants to have sex, just not with me. Who am I kidding, I wouldn't want to have sex with me either.

I know people that can choose not to eat and they don't. While I know it's not healthy I wish I could do it, I wish that I could have that kind of self control. I figured I could do it for awhile and then change to a healthy diet but tried today and nope. By 5pm I thought I was going to die so I ate something. At least it was just egg whites, veggies and a spicy black bean burger ending today with 777 calories but still. I know someone that went 3 weeks eating only 500 calories a day. She survived and lost 18 lbs. Why can't I?

Why is it that guys can be heavy, still have self confidence and date hot girls but a fat girl can't? How is that fair? How is it that I have no problem with how he looks, I think he is adorable and even if he was 500 lbs I could still love him just as much as I do now at 235 lbs but I don't think he can love me at my weight, or at least not for the long term. Jerkface couldn't and he is not even half the man EngineerBoy is. He has never said it out right but some comments he has made makes me think otherwise, that he would rather be with his friend Lindsy. This is how he descirbed Lindsy right before we went to her birthday party, "she is 5'0 and stick thin. I mean really really thin. Like she is this big (holding his fingers a millimeter apart) I wanted to date her but decided against it because she is my sister's friend." So why the hell is he with me, her polar opposite in looks. She is a nice enough girl but she is the life of the party, she has to be drunk and at every party, not me at all. I love going to the park, going to a museum, laying on the couch watching movies etc. If I never went to another party again I could care less. So the big question is why? Why me?

I am totally disgusted at myself.

My job just sucks. Enough said......

David Letterman is right

2008-10-15T15:57:00.000-07:00

David Letterman is right.....
I found this to be very interesting and reflects a lot about Americans

in general.

DAVID LETTERMAN WRITES

READ IT & THINK ABOUT IT......

DAVID LETTERMAN

Democrat or Republican this is SO true. Please read.

David Letterman wrote this; it's the David we don't often see...

"As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have I

ever been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and

it seems to hit the mark.

'The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across

some Poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the

source, right?

The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are

unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the

country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence 2/3

of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the

knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, 'What are we so unhappy

about?''

A.. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a

day, 7 Days a week?

B.. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in

the summer and heating in the winter?

C.. Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a

job?

D.. Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any

time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

E.. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from

the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present

identification papers as we move through each state?

F.. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would

find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?

G.. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine

from around the world is just not good enough either.

H. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers

show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to

take you to the hospital.

I.. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a

home.

J.. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case

of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and

use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames, thus saving you, your

family, and your belongings.

K.. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen

TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a

bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack

or loss.

L.. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or

militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where

90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

M.. How about the complete religious, social and political

freedoms w e enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?

Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats

the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. yet has a

great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most

blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we

don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the

good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war

and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent

approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the

dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy

out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every

name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful

brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an

all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?

Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show?

Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take

a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad?

Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually

caused you personal pain OR is it because the 'Media' told you he was

failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day. Make no mistake

about it.

The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve,

and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no

draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse

to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an 'other than

honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable' '

discharge after a few days in the brig.

So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69

percent of Americans?

Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it

leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash

with blood and guts How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the

corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit

corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend

their actions by 'justifying' them in one way or another. Just ask why

they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about

how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this

way......Insane!

Turn off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for

the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have

as country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the

most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day,

or at least be thankful and appreciative.' 'With hurricanes, tornados,

fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing

up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu

and terrorist attacks, 'Are we sure this is a good time to take God out

of the Pledge of Allegiance?'

David Letterman

Give me a break

2008-10-13T14:47:00.000-07:00

Why are her problems so much bigger then ours? Once again drugs are not the answer....

McCormick tells all about 'Brady' drug addiction

In this April 14, 2008 file photo, actress Maureen McCormick poses in the press room at the 2008 CMT Awards in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, file) Evan AgostiniFrom Associated Press
October 13, 2008 2:23 PM EDT
NEW YORK - As Marcia Brady on "The Brady Bunch," Maureen McCormick projected an image of the wholesome girl next door. But off camera, she spiraled downward into drug addiction and depression.

Now 52, McCormick writes about her struggles in a new memoir, "Here's the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice," hitting stores Tuesday. She discusses her romance with TV sibling Barry Williams, her dates with Michael Jackson and Steve Martin, cocaine binges and parties at the Playboy Mansion and the home of Sammy Davis Jr., an unwanted pregnancy and trading sex for drugs.

McCormick was 14 when "The Brady Bunch" debuted on ABC, running from 1969 to 1974. Despite her role as a sunny Miss Perfect, she struggled privately with anxiety and insecurity, the youngest of four children born to a mercurial father who abused and cheated on their mother.

"As a teenager, I had no idea that few people are everything they present to the outside world," she writes in the book, published by William Morrow. "Yet there I was, hiding the reality of my life behind the unreal perfection of Marcia Brady. ... No one suspected the fear that gnawed at me even as I lent my voice to the chorus of Bradys singing, `It's a Sunshine Day.'"

When "The Brady Bunch" ended, she took up a hard-partying lifestyle in Hollywood, using drugs including cocaine and Quaaludes. She struggled to regain her earlier success, landing some TV and movie roles, but developed a reputation for unreliability due to her addiction, even botching an interview with Steven Spielberg because she was high.

After interventions, stints in rehab and experimental therapies, McCormick began getting sober in 1985 when she married actor Michael Cummings, with whom she has a daughter, Natalie. She continued to fight depression through therapy, medication and the help of "Brady" cast mates.

McCormick, who is also a singer, starred on the Country Music Television reality series "Gone Country" and "Outsider's Inn." She also confronted her weight issues several years ago as the winning contestant on the VH1 reality show "Celebrity Fit Club."

As for her iconic role, "I'll always be struck by how much a part of people's lives Marcia is and always will be. But now I'm not bothered by the connection. It took most of my life, countless mistakes and decades of pain and suffering to reach this point of equanimity and acceptance," she says.

Stupid people

2008-10-13T14:44:00.000-07:00

With obesity such a problem and starving children all around the world is this really necessary? Do you have such a low self esteem that you feel the need to make yourself feel special so you do this? Hello, get a life!

Eating champ delivers top pizza performance in NY
From Associated Press
October 13, 2008 6:12 AM EDT
NEW YORK - Chowdown champ Joey Chestnut has done it again - this time proving he's a pizza powerhouse.

He downed 45 slices in 10 minutes Sunday to win the first Famous Famiglia World Pizza Eating Championship in New York's Times Square.

The 24-year-old from San Jose, Calif., says he fasted for more than a day to prepare. He folded and squeezed the slices to make them easier to swallow.

The 24-year-old rocketed to competitive-eating celebrity when he won Coney Island's July Fourth hot-dog eating contest in 2007. He took the title again this summer by gulping down 59 dogs in 10 minutes.

He won a contest in Tennessee last month by wolfing down 93 Krystal hamburgers in 8 minutes.

Do thieves have no shame?

2008-10-13T14:42:00.000-07:00

Some people make me sick......

Missouri grandmother's curiosity squashes scam
From Associated Press
October 13, 2008 2:22 PM EDT
CARTHAGE, Mo. - Delpha Speak has 13 grandchildren and she didn't think it was completely implausible that one of her grandsons-in-law would call her to say he was in trouble. The 72-year-old retiree could tell something was wrong, and she wanted to do whatever she could to help.

But it was that concern that almost caught her up in what the state attorney general's office said is a common scam targeting older folks.

"He said, `Grandma,' and I said, `Which grandson?" Speak said. "He said, `Guess,' and I said, `Oh, it's Jamie,' and he said, `Yeah, it's Jamie.'"

She said her grandson-in-law lives in Kansas City and frequently travels for business, so when he said he was in Niagra Falls, Ontario, Canada, she believed him.

"He said, `Grandma, I'm really in trouble,'" she said. "He said, `I've had a car wreck and I have to have $5,000 to get out of the police station.'"

The caller urged her to wire the money via MoneyGram at Wal-Mart and begged her not to call her granddaughter.

"By now he was crying almost," Speak said. "He said, `Don't tell anyone, because I didn't tell anyone I was coming here.'"

After she hung up, she told her husband about the call and he headed to the bank to get the money. Then her curiosity got the best of her and she called the police station.

"As soon as I said do you have Jamie, my grandson, there, they said, `Ma'am, it's a scam,'" she said. "They're calling people from out of the country, and it's always grandparents."

A spokesman for Attorney General Jay Nixon said the scammer's line is a familiar one.

"That's the classic grandparents' scam," said Nixon spokesman Travis Ford. "The scammer doesn't know the grandchild's name, so they call and say grandma and hope the grandparent gives them the name of the person they're impersonating."

Ford said there has been one other documented case of the scam this year, when a central Missouri man was nearly bilked out of $8,000.

"Our advice is for grandparents to stop and collect their thoughts for a minute, and then do whatever they can to verify the location of their grandchildren."

Speak got in touch with her daughter later Thursday, and she confirmed that her grandson-in-law was at home in Kansas City.

"I felt so dumb," she said. "I just never thought it would happen to us."

---

Information from: The Joplin Globe, http://www.joplinglobe.com

A good day

2008-10-08T18:55:00.000-07:00

It was a very good day so in honor of the first good work day I have had in months check out these funny pictures. Some of them are fake but funny none the less....
http://failblog.org/

Mental health day's, chick lit and the likes

2008-10-07T18:23:00.000-07:00

So I went to work for a couple of hours this morning but I just couldn't stay any longer. They are going to drive me crazy one of these days! They don't pay me enough to deal with those people. So I left at noon, and went and got my nails done. There is nothing like sitting in the massage chair getting your toes done. Its the one thing I would never give up not even if it meant not eating, I would still get my nails done twice a month. Not so much because they have to look good (that's just a bonus) but how it feels, they scrub your feet down removing all the nasty crap you get from wearing heals all day and oh how the massage feels. It feels like heaven.
I hit the library on the way home and got some fun books to read, nothing that requires brain cells just a fun plot. I love reading British Chick lit, maybe it's because I long for there. I lived there as a child before moving to the states (my parents are American so I have dual citizenship) and I went back all the time to visit my friends. I don't know what it is, I just love it there. I wish I could find a job there and move back. Houston is OK, but if I had my dream it would be to live there. To be surrounded by history and culture and sophistication. I love the fact that you don't need a car to survive, hell your life is more complicated if you have one. The ability to travel back to a time before the US was even born, to be able to travel all over the country, to be able to jet off to mainland Europe like you are going to Dallas. Oh how I wish England had a space agency I could work for!

The book I am reading now is called "Swapping Lives" by Jane Green. She has written numerous books and is fantastic. I really enjoy reading crimes novels but those have a tendency to give me nightmares so I don't like to read them before bed. Plus you have to be all there to follow the clues and figure it out. Sometimes you just need a brain break, chick lit is my crack.

You know what else is my crack, Dancing with the Stars and America's Next Top Model. Though I must say Dancing with the Stars sucks this year. I mean seriously, Cloris Leachman? We're lucky she hasn't had a heart attack yet. I love Wednesday's! It's girl night with GreenFriend and her mom and her mom's best friend. We cook dinner, drink and watch Top Model. Thank God for DVR, we talk so much it takes us forever to watch because we are always having to rewind it! I am glad the transgender girl is gone. It's not that she was transgender, it was that I just didn't like her pictures. They were boring with a capital B! I am glad that they didn't keep her though just to be PC. That would have sucked. I don't know about you but I am so glad that Whitney won last year. Finally a girl that looks like real girls. Not supper skinny but not fat either, just a normal girl!
Well I am off to read so peace out bloggers!
MJ

WTF?!?!?!

2008-10-06T15:38:00.000-07:00

Why am I the one that always texts EngineerBoy? If I didn't text him to see how was he doing, how his day was, to tell him good morning/good night I wouldn't hear from him until I went and saw him.
WTF?

EngineerBoy - If you have found this, yes this rant is for you! I still love you but I am irritated with you at the moment!

I hate being an overachiever

2008-10-06T15:05:00.000-07:00

I really hate being an overachiever. I have been taught since birth, do what you are doing to the BEST of your ability. If you suck at it at least you know you have done your best. It taught me that I might not always win (I grew up in a time before "Free Fair Fun sports where everyone gets a trophy, no one looses, they don't take score etc BS) but I could hold my head up high because I did the best I could. I always took the advanced classes if the non-advanced classes were too easy. This meant I took AP English, even though I HATED English, it meant I worked my ass off in AP calculus even if it was the hardest thing I had taken at the time. It meant I didn't give up on studying to be an engineer in college even though it meant I couldn't always go out with my friends because I had homework or had to study.

This overachiever thing is now biting me in the ass. I hate my current job, my lead couldn't find his ass with both hands, my co-worker is a great worker bee but couldn't lead thirsty/dying man to water therefore it is left to me. The one who gets bored easily so I do all my work as soon as it comes across my desk, the one who took so many classes in leadership in college I should have gotten a BA in leadership. I may not be the VERY best leader but I am a damn good one and I have the awards to prove it.

Four months ago my manager promised me that I could "pimp" myself out to another group just as soon as we got everything in our group under control. Fast forward to present day, I am still hearing this crap and to make it even better, my lead, the one who makes 10 times as much money as I do, the one whose name is on the final product has to take personal time to deal with "issues" and they are looking to me to pick up his slack. Oh wait, I already do just for less money and no recognition! The man doesn't have a independent thought in his head, whenever he has to make a decision he asks me what he should do and then he presents the idea's as his own. Upper management thinks he knows his shit and always complements him about the product but if you asked him even the simplest question about it he always responds "Let me look into that, I don't have my notes in front of me", yea I am not standing there to whisper the answer in his ear. He probably does something with his 9 hours a day, I am just not sure if it's billable. If I truly believed he had "personal issues" to deal with I would say a prayer for him and suck it up but with him I just don't believe it. It's just too convenient, we have a major push to get a product out in 3 weeks. Everything was fine last week, now the world is ending. It always happens when something is needed ASAP and there is even a hint of un-paid overtime, he has "issues" that he needs to be away from work to take care of. I think his "issues" are he doesn't want to work. I know people who worked with him in the past and this is his classic MO. The worst thing is whenever his work ethic is questioned with legitimate hard core evidence he plays the race card! The "white man" is trying to keep the "black man" down. Give me a break, it's because you are a lazy SOB ! Now I have to wait until our products are complete to even think about doing a work share and working for another group half time. My manager actually told me that they wouldn't let me go to the other group because I do my job so well they couldn't afford to loan me out to another group. So I am left here to make less money, get no recognition and no job satisfaction all because I am a hard worker. I am basically being penalized for doing my job to the best of my ability but they won't let the person who does a crappy job go! It beggs the question, if I did a crappy job would they let me do the work share they promised? WTF!!!

Another problem I have with my job is no one can stick with a decision. Even if it is the RIGHT decision my upper management will change their mind if a gang gathers together and hijacks the product. I spent all of last week changes things over and over because no one would make up their mind and stick to it. We made a decision 5 months ago and the lower levels chose not to deal with it then, when we had the time to work the issues. Now with 3 weeks to go they start screaming and instead of saying we made this decision 5 months ago, asked you your opinion and you chose to ignore us you now how to live with the consequences, they are forcing me to "work" it ASAP. Why so you can just change your mind again when another "gang" bitches? How the hell are we going to go to the moon if we always give in to the bullies?

I hate being an overachiever and I swear one day soon my head will come off my body and rotate while spewing vomit.......

THE REST OF THE STORY

2008-10-06T14:40:00.000-07:00

ABC-TV News

Further proof that the American media cannot be trusted. Share this story with as many people as you can. We've GOT to do everything possible to ensure that our next President is chosen by the PEOPLE; not the media!

Just in case you happened to see the ABC News (if you watched ABC News) with interviews of 5 military folks in Iraq - 3 planned to vote for Obama and 2 for Hillary; no mention of any McCain supporters. Well, here's the "Rest of the Story."
This is from Major General (ret) Buckman. My niece, Katelyn, stationed at Baluud , Iraq , was assigned with others of her unit, to be escorted/guarded/ watched out for Martha Raddatz of ABC News as she covered John McCain's recent trip to Iraq .
Katelyn and her Captain stood directly behind Raddatz as she queried GI's walking past. They kept count of the GI's and you should remember these numbers. She asked 60 GI's who they planned to vote for, in November, '08.
54 soldier's said John McCain, 4 for Obama and & 2 for Hillary.
Katelyn called home and told her Mom and Dad to watch ABC news the next night because she was standing directly behind Raddatz and maybe they'd see her on TV. Mom and Dad of course, called and emailed all the kinfolk to watch the newscast and maybe see Katelyn. Well, of course, we all watched and what we saw wasn't a glimpse of Katelyn, but got a hell'ava view of skewed news.
After a dissertation on McCain's trip and speech, ABC showed 5 GI's being asked by Raddatz how they were going to vote in November;
3 for Obama and 2 for Clinton .. No mention of the 54 for McCain.
Think about this: If you don't want to forward this for fear of offending someone...YOU'RE PART OF THE PROBLEM! It's Time for America to Speak up! We're letting the USA slip thru our fingers....WAKE UP! Just incase you think this is some mindless rant; I went to Snopes and checked the story. The story is true.

Me

2008-10-02T16:25:00.000-07:00

The red text are the ones that I have done in my 28 years.....
01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said “I love you” and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe.
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life
151. Stood where the first shot of the American Revolution was shot
152. Witnessed the Macy's Thanksgiving parade in the flesh
153. Met more than one US president
154. Lived in a foreign country
155. Broke into a state park
156. Peir jumped
157. Stood up close and personal next to the Space Shuttle
158. Spent Holloween in Salem, MA
159. Traveled to Russia
160. Saw a Broadway play on Broadway

Why?

2008-10-01T20:25:00.000-07:00

Why does it bother me when he doesn't text me? He tells me he loves me so why can't I just totally believe him? Why do I worry?

Transmission sevice in Houston

2008-09-30T19:33:00.001-07:00

If you live in Houston and ever need a transmission do not EVER go to Apollo Transmission on Campbell and Hammerly (713-461-3000). BabySister took her Rodeo there for a simple new transmission. When she got it back 1.5 weeks later she made it 2 miles before the light came on, 1.5 weeks after that she made it 20 miles and it came on again. 1 week later we got it back and it lasted until I was evacuating for Hurricane Ike and it started up again. They have it again. BabySister had to go back to school and needed a car so the nice sister I am, I gave her my car. My sports car! I am stuck with the emergency car that I drove in college that hasn't been driven in 2 years and doesn't have air conditioning. They offered to get me a rental car again, but they have yet to pay me for the first one so I don't trust them to ever pay for one this time. We paid 1800 and yet to get a car that works. They don't return your calls, they are rude when they do talk to you and the obviously don't know how to do their job.
AVOID Apollo Transmission's at all costs!!!!!!
This message has been brought to you by your trusty in residence Rocket Scientist MJ!

More food for thought

2008-09-30T16:51:00.000-07:00

This makes more sense than anything I have read in a long time. We need to start a grass roots movement to return the moral compass in our country. It is ridiculous the things that the people of this country have had shoved down their throats and had to accept as what is fair. What happened to what is fair to the majority?Why is it that every religion except Christianity needs protection? Since prayer was removed from the schools it has been a downward spiral. Lets stand up for what is right. We need to pray and to vote.

This letter was sent to the Wall Street Journal on August 8, 2008 by Alisa Wilson, Ph.D. Of Beverly Hills , CA .On July 31, 2008, the Wall Street Journal had an article titled, "Where's The Outrage?' Really. I can tell you where the outrage is. The outrage is here, in this middle-aged, well-educated, upper-middle class woman. The outrage is here, but I have no representation, no voice. The outrage is here, but no one is listening – for who am I? I'm not a billionaire like George Soros that can fund an entire political movement. I'm not a celebrity like Barbara Streisand that can garner the attention of the press to promote political candidates. I'm not a film maker like Michael Moore or Al Gore that can deliver misleading movies to the public. The outrage is here, but unlike those with money or power, I don't know how to reach those who feel similarly in order to effect change.Why=2 0am I outraged? I am outraged that my country, the United States of America , is in a state of moral and ethical decline. There is no right or wrong anymore, just what's fair. Is it fair that millions of Americans who overreached and borrowed more than they could afford are now being bailed out by the government and lending institutions to stave off foreclosure? Why shouldn't these people be made to pay the consequences for their poor judgment? When my husband and I purchased our home, we were careful to purchase only what we could afford. Believe me, there are much larger, much nicer homes that I would have loved to have purchased. But, taking responsibility for my behavior and my life, I went with the house that we could afford, not the house that we couldn't afford. The notion of personal responsibility has all but died in our country.I am outraged, that the country that welcomed my mother as an immigrant from Hitler's Nazi Germany and required that she and her family learn English now allows itself to be overrun with illegal immigrants and worse, caters to those illegal immigrants. I am outraged that my hard-earned taxes help support those here illegally;That the Los Angeles Public School District is in such disarray that I felt it Incumbent to send my child to private school; that every time I go to the ATM, I see "do you want to continue in English or Spanish?"; that every t ime I call the bank, the phone company , or similar business, I hear "press 1 for English or press 2 for Spanish." WHY? This is America , our common language is English and attempts to promote a bi- or multi-lingual society are sure to fail and to marginalize those who cannot communicate in English.I am outraged at our country's weakness in the face of new threats on American traditions from Muslims. Just this week, Tyson's Food negotiated with its union to permit Muslims to have Eid-al-Fitr as a holiday instead of Labor Day. What am I missing? Yes, there is a large Somali Muslim population working at the Tyson's plant in Tennessee Tennessee , last I checked, is still part of the United States . If Muslim's want to live and work here they should be required to live and work by our American Laws and not impose their will on our long history. In the same week, Random House announced that they had indefinitely delayed the publication of "The Jewel of Medina," by Sherry Jones, a book about the life of Mohammed's wife, A'isha due to fear of retribution and violence by Muslims. When did we become a nation ruled by fear of what other immigrant groups want? It makes me so sad to see large corporations cave rather than stand proudly on the principles that built this country.I am outraged because appeasement has never worked as a political policy, yet Appeasing Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is exactly what we are t rying to do. An excellent article, also published recently in the Wall Street Journal, went through over 20 years of history and why talking with Iran has been and will continue to be ineffective. Yet talk, with a madman no less, we continue to do. Have we so lost our moral compas s and its ability to detect evil that we will not go in and destroy Iran's nuclear program? Would we rather wait for another Holocaust for the Jews – one which they would be unlikely to survive? When does it end?As if the battle for good and evil isn't enough, now come the Environmentalists who are so afraid of global warming that they want to put a bag tax on grocery bags in California; to eliminate Mylar balloons; to establish something as insidious as the recycle police in San Francisco. I do my share for the environment – I recycle, I use water wisely, I installed an energy efficient air conditioning unit.
But when and where does the lunacy stop? Ahmadinejad wants to wipe Israel off the map, the California economy is being overrun by illegal immigrants, and the United States of America no longer knows right from wrong; good from evil. So what does California do? Tax grocery bags.So, America , although I can tell you where the outrage is, this one middle-aged, well-educated, upper middle class woman is powerless=2 0to do anything about it. I don't even feel like my vote counts because I am so outnumbered by those who disagree with me.
Alisa Wilson, Ph.D.B everly Hills , California

I must be crazy today

2008-09-29T20:25:00.000-07:00

I know this blog writing will get old but I am going to write while it's hot since EngineerBoy is enjoying Monday Night Football, WonderNurse is nursing a toothache and GreenFriend is hanging out with HannaMontana and I have no one to talk to. Since no one out there in blog land knows me yet, let me tell you I love to talk. I am that annoying person that talks to you in line at the grocery store, cell phone line etc.

I would like to say that I have wonderful boyfriend, EngineerBoy. I probably don't tell him enough and he should know. The computer whiz he is will probably find this blog at some point and I want him to see how wonderful he is, even if I don't say it as often as I should or in the future there are ranting, unloving EngineerBoy posts.

Side note -no one knows I have a blog and I would like to keep it that way. That way I can talk freely about how I am feeling, who knows maybe it will help and it's cheaper than therapy! Maybe one day I will share it with them but until then I am looking for comfort in writing and maybe someone one day writing comments. I have found solace in reading a lot your blogs so maybe someone out there will find solace in reading mine.

Why I love EngineerBoy -
1. He tells me I am beautiful
2. He texts me good morning
3. He asks how my day was/is
4. He will carry my purse without even questioning it
5. He walked around the Galleria mall with my purple/pink ice skating bag on his shoulder without missing a beat
6. He asks what I want for dinner, where I want to go, what I want to do
7. He takes my feelings into account often before he takes his into account
8. He likes just laying in bed sleeping late and just being together on the weekends
9. He has included me in everything his family has done
10. He gives the best hugs EVER
11. His kisses are a dream
12. He gives the best back rubs
13. He holds my hand all the time, even if we are just walking from the front door to the car
14. He hangs out with my friends even if he doesn't like all of them
15. He loves his sisters to death
16. He wants to and does hang out with my family
17. He is super douper smart
18. He watches "girly" movies with me even though I know he loves action "boy" movies
19. He let me live with him for week when I had a mold issue post Hurricane Ike
20. It was his idea to help me clean my fishy stinky fridge post Hurricane Ike

There are a million more reasons but here are at least the top 20!
So EngineerBoy if you have found my adventures, I hope you know how much I love and cherish you!

What I do at work all day

2008-09-29T19:39:00.000-07:00

I am post crazy today! Here is an article that sort of talks about what I do or at least the end game of what I do every day. I hope to one day look back on all the long hours, long weekends, little pay, lots of frustration and more changes than I can even count and watch the Orion vehicle launch to the moon and be able to turn to my children (hopefully with EngineerBoy standing by) and say I made that, I am a part of this. Part of me is going to the moon.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26946277/

Vacation pictures

2008-09-29T17:09:00.000-07:00

Self image vs what others think of you

2008-09-29T16:37:00.000-07:00

What is up with self image? Does everyone have such a distorted view of themselves or is it just me? And when I say "what others think of you" I am not meaning those random people on the street, I care what they think but i know they are not the ones that matter. I am meaning the important people in my life, I am meaning EngineerBoy, WonderNurse, CollegeMom, PABFF etc.

Let's start with some history first. I have never been thin, and I mean NEVER. My MiddleSister and BabySister, sticks, I tell you sticks. I just want to reach out and give them a sandwich. I mean seriously, BabySister once said she was skinny because a lot of times she forgot to eat. Come on who forgets to eat. BabySister I guess. I have never had that problem. Not even when I broke up with my boyfriend of 2 years (known here as JerkFace) did I forget to eat, yes I ate less but no one could have ever accused me of not eating.

But in the year between breaking up with JerkFace and getting together with EngineerBoy, I tried really really hard. I counted everything that went into my mouth even if it was a stick of sugarless gum. I worked out twice a day religiously and I dropped 70 lbs. Since I have been with EngineerBoy I have put some of it back on but I am no where near what I used to be. I don't like that I have gained it back and I want it gone. I want to be like my sisters, I want to be 5'3 and 100 lbs. 100 lbs is my goal though I would be happy with 120.

Every morning I get up and do my hair etc and end up in front of the mirror thinking well this is as good as it's gonna get today. :-(

I want to be thin, I want to be pretty but every morning I think well here's to another day of being fat and crappy.

But here the thing, EngineerBoy tells me often that I am cute, beautiful, hot even and not when he wants something, or wants forgiveness etc. He just says it. I truly believe he believes what he is saying I don't think he is just telling me that to be a good boyfriend.

And when I was in PA both CollegeMom and CollegeDad told me how beautiful I looked.

Why can't I see what they sees? Why can't I strive to be healthy but leave it at that, why do I have to want be what mainstream America thinks is beautiful?

Sometimes I worry that EngineerBoy will not love me any more or want to be with me because I am not thin. That's not fair to him I know, it's not giving him the credit deserves. He has never ever said anything but wonderful things to me but I still worry. Poor EngineerBoy he gets the brunt of what JerkFace did to me.

You see I broke up with JerkFace but its because of what he said. I might of done the breaking up but he did the breaking of my heart. I thought he was what I wanted in a life partner. He was smart, he was older (15 years to be exact), he owned his own home, he was settled. Like I said I thought he was everything I wanted but I was wrong. In a middle of a fight over where we were spending Thanksgiving I asked him if we were ever going to get married, neither of us were getting younger. He surprised the hell out of me when he said no. When I asked why he said because of your "weight". Between that and his inability to not communicate with an ex that wanted more than friendship, that was the end of that but it left it's lasting mark. Until then I was happy with myself, fat and all. After that I was crazed by wanting to be thin, super thin.

Because of JerkFace, I can't see the good in me, I can't see the beauty within, all I see is the fat and ugliness. I don't know how to accept it and move past it. I want to be happy with myself but every time I look in the mirror I want to cry. I want to trust in EngineerBoy because he has never given me a reason not to trust him. I have to remind myself he is not JerkFace or my father, he is EngineerBoy, a good, honest, wonderful, loving man. He deserves someone who is secure, someone who loves themselves. I want to be that person, I just don't know how to get there. Now poor EngineerBoy has to deal with all the crazy issues I have with myself and trust because of JerkFace and my father.

My biggest fear is that I will ruin this for us, that we will fail because of my insecurities. I truly believe EngineerBoy is the one, the true love of my life. How do I get over my issues and not totally ruin the best thing to ever happen to me?

A BLACK MAN'S VIEW OF OBAMA

2008-09-29T16:23:00.000-07:00

Food for thought......

A BLACK MAN'S VIEW OF OBAMA
Here is a report about Obama from a black columnist. He definitely brings a different light to this newly minted politician.

Ken Blackwell - Columnist for the New York Sun
It's an amazing time to be alive in America . We're in a year of firsts in this presidential election: the first viable woman candidate; the first viable African-American candidate; and, a candidate who is the first front running freedom fighter over 70. The next president of America will be a first.We won't truly be in an election of firsts, however, until we judge every candidate by where they stand. We won't arrive where we should be until we no longer talk about skin color or gender.Now that Barack Obama steps to the front of the Democratic field, we need to stop talking about his race, and start talking about his policies and his politics.Some pundits are calling him the next John F. Kennedy. He's not. He's the next George McGovern. And it's time people learned the facts.
Because the truth is that Mr. Obama is the single most liberal senator in the entire U.S. Senate. He is more liberal than Ted Kennedy, Bernie Sanders, or Mrs. Clinton. Never in my life have I seen a presidential frontrunner whose rhetoric is so far removed from his record. Walter Mondale promised to raise our taxes, and he lost. George McGovern promised military weakness, and he lost. Michael Dukakis promised a liberal domestic agenda, and he lostYet Mr. Obama is promising all thos e things, and he's not behind in the polls. Why? Because the press has dealt with him as if he were in a beauty pageant.Mr. Obama talks about getting past party, getting past red and blue, to lead theUnited States of America . But let's look at the more defined strokes of who he is underneath this superficial "beautyStart with national security, since the president's most important duties are as commander-in-chief. Over the summer, Mr. Obama talked about invading Pakistan, a nation armed with nuclear weapons; meeting without preconditions with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who vows to destroy Israel and create another Holocaust; and Kim Jong II, who is murdering and starving his people, but emphasized that the nuclear option was off the table against terrorists - something no president has ever taken off the table since we created nuclear weapons in the 1940s. Even Democrats who have worked in national security condemned all of those remarks. Mr. Obama is a foreign-policy novice who would put our national security at risk.Next, consider economic policy. & nbsp;For all its faults, our health care system is the strongest in the world. And free trade agreements, created by Bill Clinton as well as President Bush, have made more goods more affordable so that even people of modest means can live a life that no one imagined a generation ago. Yet Mr. Obama promises to raise taxes on "the rich." How to fix Social Security? Raise taxes. How to fix Medicare? Raise taxes. Prescription drugs? Raise taxes.. Free college? Raise taxes. Socialize medicine? Raise taxes. His solution to everything is to have government take it over.. Big Brother on steroids, funded by your paycheck.Finally, look at the social issues. Mr. Obama had the audacity to open a stadium rally by saying, "All praise and glory to God!" but says that Christian lea ders speaking for life and marriage have "hijacked" -hijacked - Christianity. He is pro-partial birth abortion, and promises to appoint Supreme Court justices who will rule any restriction on it unconstitutional. He espouses the abortion views of Margaret Sanger, one of the early advocates of racial cleansing. His spiritual leaders endorse homosexual marriage, and he is moving in that direction. In Illinois , he refused to vote against a statewide ban - ban - on all handguns in the state. These are radical left, Hollywood , and San Francis co values, not&n bsp; Middle America values.The real Mr. Obama is an easy target for the general election. Mrs. Clinton is a far tougher opponent. But Mr. Obama could win if people don't start looking behind his veneer and flowery speeches.. His vision of "bringing America together" means saying that those who disagree with his agenda for America are hijackers or warmongers.. U niting the country means adopting his liberal agenda and abandoning any conflicting beliefs.But right now everyone is talking about how eloquent of a speaker he is and - yes - they're talking about his race. Those should never be the factors on which we base our choice for president. Mr. Obama's radical agenda sets him far outside the American mainstream, to the left of Mrs. Clinton.It's time to talk about the real Barack Obama. In an election of firsts, let's first make sure we elect the person who is qualified to our president in a nuclear age during a global civilization war.
Kind of scary, wouldn't you think--- Remember--God is good, and is in time, on time--every time.According to The Book of Revelations the anti-Christ is: The anti-Christ will be a man, in his 40s, of MUSLIM descent, who will deceive the nations with persuasive language, and have a MASSIVE Christ-like appeal....the prophecy says that people will flock to him and he will promise false hope and world peace, and when he is in power, will destroy everything. Is it OBAMA??I STRONGLY URGE each one of you to repost this as many times as you can! Each opportunity that you have to send it to a friend or media outlet....do it!If you think I am crazy.. sorry but I refuse to take a chance on the "unknown" candidate

Dusk Depression

2008-09-28T18:28:00.000-07:00

Imagine this - It's starting to get cool (at least for Houston) and dusk approaches. This rocket scientist is running for cover. Ever since I was 12 years old dusk in the fall sends me into to a spiral of depression. And it's only dusk in the fall, dusk during the winter, summer or spring is just fine, it's just fall. It only lasts until it's dark but if I am out in it, I feel hollow inside and want to cry my eyes out. I literally have to be inside with the tv on and every light in the place blazing. If I am at work I can't see the windows and I won't leave until its dark. I will do anything to escape it. The depression eases and is gone as soon as night has fallen but until then I am a mess if I am not in my little cocoon. Why you ask? When I was a kid WonderNurse worked Friday, Sat and Sun night at the hospital so that she could be at home with us kids during the week. Theoretically my dad would be at home with us but starting in the fall of my 12th year, this wasn't this way. As soon as she would leave (which would be around 630) my dad would jump in his car and leave. At first I didn't know where he was going but I later found out that he was having an affair. He would leave us to fend for ourselves (MiddleSister is 4 years younger then me and BabySister is 8 years younger) until he got home which usually wasn't until 4-5 in the morning. I don't know why this bothered me I had been babysiting since I was 11, I think it was just being left by my father. I felt all alone and lost. I hated going to sleep without him there so I didn't sleep. I would stay up all night long, watching all sorts of happy movies, never anything that had an scary parts in it, just in case I did fall asleep, I didn't want to wake up in the middle of a scary part. I was a mess for a long time. I never told WonderNurse, I am not sure why, maybe I didn't want to get my dad in trouble because even though I didn't know what he was up to I knew it couldn't be good. I had friends whose parents were divorced and I didn't want to be the cause of mine divorcing. As much as I didn't like him because of what he was doing (especially after I found out what he was up too) I didn't want to be the cause of my mom hurting. WonderNurse and my dad almost got divorced when I was in 5th grade and it was horrible. I protected him for so long. I protected him until he walked out for good then I told her. Even after all the therapy I had in college dusk in the fall still bothers me. Today while lying on the sofa with EngineerBoy dusk was approaching, the blinds were open and I tried so hard to ignore it but even laying in his protective arms I could not do it, but I had to get up and close them and turn on the tv. Even 16 years later I have to do it. I hate it. I want to be able to enjoy my day and not worry about where I am when dusk approaches. I just don't know what to do any more.

Vacation, a wedding and a hurricane

2008-09-26T18:40:00.000-07:00

So apparently the 3rd time is a charm, at least when it comes Houston. Hurricane Ike hit during the wee hours of 9/13 while I was sleeping in a comfy bed in North East, Pa. I spent 5 hours in the airport but I able to get out of Houston before Ike hit. Some people evacuated to Dallas, I evacuated to a hole different time zone! I am so happy I got to go to the wedding, visit PABFF, EngineerBFF and TeacherFriend all in 7 days! :-)
The of wedding of CollegeMom and CollegeDad's middle daughter was beautiful though Ike made an appearance as a lot of rain and a little wind but hey rain on your wedding day is supposed to be lucky right.
They canceled my flight home but Delta was nice enough to get me out on a flight the next day though I missed my flight to Chattanooga and WonderNurse was not going without me. After a long pleading morning with USAir they changed my flight from Wednesday to Thursday so WonderNurse and I got to go visit Middle Sister. A word of advice, travel insurance sucks. I had travel insurance and tried to use it when I initially found out I would miss my flight. I talked to the very nice Travelocity people in India who told me that since the hurricane had past it didn't matter that I lived in an evacuation zone and would not make my flight, I could not use my insurance. It didn't matter that according to Travelocity travel insurance can be used if you need to cancel your plans. Though most of the time I am the first one to bash airlines for the fleecing of America I must say in this instance both Delta and USAir rose to the occasion and helped a girl out!
Chattanooga was wonderful, there is a ton of history to explore, forest and mountains to hike, plenty of nearby cities. Now I just need to convince NASA to move to Chattanooga!
So how did my apartment just 6 miles from the lake and 25 miles from Galveston hold up to Ike's beatings? Well the power was out for 5 days (just imagine what an apartment smells like after having no power for 5 days and has a freezer full of fish in it) and I had a leak in the closet (which had a science experiment growing on it by the time I got home) but other than that the worse thing that happened was the fences around the complex fell down. Thank the Lord! EngineerBoy is the best, he helped me clean that smelly fridge and didn't complain at all!
My old apartment that I lived in for the past 4 years (but moved out of only 1.5 months ago) didn't fair well at all. It is directly on the lake and well it took one heck of a beating. My building lost the roof and that was the least of the damage. A boat from the marina next door now calls the corner apartment home while the leasing office no longer exists. Thank the Lord I moved when I did! The entire area is a mess, just check out some of the pictures (they were taken while driving so ignore the car).
My almost 2 weeks off was great but now I need a vacation from my vacation. Thank God for 9/80 work weeks and to having next Friday off!
Have a great weekend everyone, EngineerBoy will be here for the weekend so I will talk to everyone on Monday!

I have my own but you can find really good post hurricane pictures here.... http://www.tpicks.com/pictures%20people%20have%20sent%20me.html
MJ

Is the third time a charm?

2008-09-10T20:46:00.000-07:00

Welcome to adventures of a rocket scientist! I am your resident rocket scientist(hehe) MJ!
Before I go into my hurricane rant let me tell you about myself, I am 28 years old and am a systems engineer for a NASA contractor in Clear Lake, Texas. I have been reading other peoples blogs for years and figured I would try it out. Hi everyone out there in blog land!

Now for the rant, as hurricane Ike is coming our way, I have to ask myself, is the third time a charm? Will Ike really hit us (like my mom (WonderNurse) hopes) and if it does how bad will it be? Will it be the end of the world like some of the people in my local Walmart would like us to believe or will it be just be a rainy, windy day? In my 4 years as a rocket scientist I have only had to pack my office in those trusty plastic bags (come on will they really protect my computer or is it just to make us feel better) once (for Rita which turned out not to even be a rainy day) but in the last month I have had to do it twice and it's looking like I will be doing it once again for a total of 3 times in the last month! Geeze! Plus neither Edward nor Gustav did anything to Houston. Heck they closed NASA for Edward and it rained harder 60 miles north of here at my EngineerBoy's then it did here in Clear Lake.
I am beginning to wonder if I should just leave the computer in the stupid bag and not work again until the end of hurricane season!
People keep asking me, will you evacuate and if so where? I am evacuating all right, all the way to Erie, Pa. No I am not a total dork and expect Houston to be washed out to sea, I am going to a wedding this weekend so Ike or no Ike I wouldn't be here anyways.

For all of those in blog land that live in Houston, good luck, I will see you on the flip side! For everyone else have a great Thursday!

Remember, "freedom isn't free" and thank a solider and their families for their sacrifices!

~MJ