Happy Halloween!

You know you are too old to Trick or Treat when:

10. You get winded from knocking on the door.

9. You have to have another kid chew the candy for you.

8. You ask for high fiber candy only.

7. When someone drops a candy bar in your bag, you lose your Balance and fall over.

6. People say: "Great Boris Karloff Mask," And you're not wearing a mask.

5. When the door opens you yell, "Trick or ."
And can't remember the rest.

4. By the end of the night, you have a bag full of restraining orders.

3. You have to carefully choose a costume that won't dislodge your hairpiece.

2. You're the only Power Ranger in the neighborhood with a walker.And the number one reason Seniors should not go Trick Or Treating...***

1. You keep having to go home to pee.

No matter, have a HAPPY HALLOWEEN anyway.

Why Pets Hate Halloween

I received these as an email...thought you might enjoy these photos.



This one looks alot better than some pirates I saw at Disneyland.



I think that this one might be believeable... except for the high heels!




This does not look like one happy dog!




Pocahontas, eat your heart out!



Why is this dog laughing????





Dumb I look, you say?




And for you cat lovers out there... (Oh the indignities!)


I hope none of my friends come by!



That's it, I'm turning you into a toad!

The Big Kahuna Family

I am exhausted! Our trip to Disneyland was a huge success. It started Thursday afterschool when I picked up Ten, Elle, and Elle's friend "T" after school. There wasn't alot of traffic, so we made it to the Paradise Pier Hotel in just under 2 hours.

As we were checking in, the hotel manager came up to us and told us that we had been chosen to be the "Big Kahuna" family of the day. They presented us with a huge bouquet of balloons, 4 pins that are only given to the Big Kahuna family, an autographed photo of Mickey and friends, a picture frame (they took our picture with the balloons standing in front of a Goofy statue), and then the piece de resistance...they upgraded our room from a standard room with a view of the parking lot to a family suite with a view of California Adventure! Here is the view from our room at night.

After we unpacked our suitcases, we walked over to Downtown Disney to look at the shops and to eat dinner. There were alot of people milling about, which seemed strange on a Thursday night. Me, being who I am, started talking to various people and came to learn that this past Friday was "Nevada Day". Evidently that meant that the schools were closed on Friday,in Nevada. (I wonder if anyone was left in the state, or if they all decided to come to Disneyland for a 3 day weekend).

Friday morning, Joan and Rick joined us and we all ate breakfast in the living room/dining room portion of our suite. (I had thought ahead and had brought bagels, cream cheese, O.J. , and water along with paper plates, napkins and a knife). (I just can't seem to get away from being a prepared girl scout leader). We headed over to the Disneyland park, got lockers and then went straight to the new Disneyland attraction "Finding Nemo". It was a good thing that we went over there first thing in the morning because as the day wore on, the line became longer and longer and longer. I don't know about you, but I don't like waiting on long lines, even if I am at the "happiest place on earth".

We decided to take the monorail to the "Rainforest Cafe". It seems that it has become a birthday tradition when we go to Disneyland. If you've never been to this restaurant, it is quite an experience. They have gorillas and elephants that move and make noise, as well as thunder and lightening all while you are trying to eat. For dessert we ordered a volcano cake. (to see a picture of one, check out Joan's blog).

Joan and Rick left about 6:30pm. Ten, Elle, "T" and I stayed until 11:40pm. In that time, we managed to get on every ride that we wanted to get on at least once. We rode "Big Thunder Mountain" and "The Matterhorn" (pictured here) three times, "The Haunted Mansion" and "The Pirates of the Caribbean" twice.

Part of why we were able to get on so many rides, is that Disneyland has a policy that is very wheelchair friendly. There are seperate entrances for people in wheelchairs which bypass many of the long lines. Ten was in a wheelchair all day due to a sports injury. He'll be o.k. if he will just stop re-injuring his ankle.

We had a great time, and look forward to our next visit to the happiest place on earth.

M-I-C-K-E-Y Why? Because we like you...

Thursday after school, I'm going where all the winning teams go (ok maybe not ALL of them, but for sure some of them go there) ...I'm taking my kids and we're going to Disneyland!

Elle decided that for her thirteenth birthday she wanted to take a friend to Disneyland and sleep at one of the hotels. Friday is a teacher staff development day so the kids won't be missing school.

We will be leaving Thursday afterschool and return to reality sometime on Saturday. Joan and Rick will meet us early Friday morning... that is, if Joan will still join us after she witnessed one of Ten's major meltdown this afternoon.

Poor Ten, I didn't send lunch with him today because the cafeteria menu said that they were supposed to serve grilled cheese. Instead, they served chicken (we are vegetarians). Needless to say,Ten was "starving" by the time I picked him up, and he had a major cranky-whiny-crabby meltdown. Joan went home with a headache. Hopefully she'll recover in time to join us Friday at the "Happiest place on earth".

Is it Thursday yet?????

One Sweet Treat To Read.

Michele, at The Rocky Mountain Retreat, has given me this award. Michele says, that "You can read the history of this award at Trista's blog, The Pumkin Patch." I am supposed to award this to bloggers who I deem as "One Sweet Treat to Read" everyday.



So without further ado, I award this to: Ralph, Patti, Patches, Meno, Renee, Marsha, Pam, and Deb .

What's A Dad To Do?

Elle has not spoken with her dad (DH) in over two weeks. He yelled at her for something she did and she's still not speaking to him.

DH is usually calm, but lately he's been very stressed out at work. On the morning in question, something happened between Elle and Ten, (Elle shouldn't have done what she did), and DH "lost it" and really yelled at Elle. Having her dad yell at her, scared her to her very core. She isn't used to hearing him yell.

DH apologized to Elle for yelling, and explained to her that he was angry at what she had done, but that he shouldn't have yelled the way he did. Elle's response was "I'm not talking to you".

It's now been two weeks, DH is worried that Elle will never talk with him again, and I don't know what, if anything, I can do. Needless to say, there is disharmony in my household. Does anyone have any suggestions to make this better?

What Are the Odds?

My mom, Elle, Ten and I went out to dinner this evening. When we returned, we checked the mail and surprise, surprise, surprise (I'm channeling Gomer Pyle) there in the pile of mail, was a summon for jury duty. Oh wait, did I just say 'a' summons for jury duty. I meant to say 'two' summons (or is that summons's) for jury duty. One for me, and one for my 86 year old mother (yes the one with dementia).

Both summons were for the same date. I thought that the call for jury duty is supposed to be random. With millions of people living in Southern California, what are the odds of them calling two people, living at the same address, for jury duty on the same day, at the same location?

I think I better go buy a lottery ticket!

Color Is Good

Received this email today, and just had to share it...



Yesterday I went to the doctor for my yearly physical. My blood pressure was high, my cholesterol was high, I'd gained some weight, and I didn't feel so hot. My doctor said eating right doesn't have to be complicated and it would solve my physical problems. He said just think in colors... Fill your plate with bright colors... greens, yellows, reds, etc. I went right home and ate an entire bowl of :

He Didn't Know Jack...

I believe that I've mentioned before, that I work for a large urban school district. This particular school district decided to roll out a new payroll system this past February, without testing it out first. The result has been thousands of employees being either unpaid, underpaid, or overpaid.

Since February, I have not had two paychecks that have been the same. This month, I received less than 1/3 of my usual pay. I spent 3 hours this afternoon, waiting to meet, and meeting with a "Payroll helper figurer it out sorta" named, "Jack". Only "Jack" really couldn't figure out my payroll history, and instead he came up with some cockamame story, that he thought I would by.

If I could have afforded to buy his story, I might have. Since I received only 1/3 of my paycheck, I wasn't buyin' anything "Jack" was saying( if I was going to buy something it certainly would not have been his explaination). So, I kept questioning "Jack" until he was exhausted, and I finally understood what he was trying to tell me. (Seems that I used to catch on to things much more quickly, sigh)

"Jack" told me that he would have to do some research on my payroll history, and would conduct an audit to see if he could come up with a real explaination as to why my paychecks have been so whacked out for the past 9 months. He gave me both his number, and his supervisors name, and assured me that I would hear from him by next week. I am keeping my fingers crossed, and my wallet closed, and I am hoping for the best.

The district expects me to continue to provide services with the same level of commitment that I have always had. And of course, being who I am, I can't help but provide the best level of service to the students that I work with. I am held, professionally to a high level of excellence, I just wish that my employer was as committed to doing as good a job as I am.

An Award for The Spirit of Christmas

Although it is only October, both Patti and Michele, have seen fit to present to me the "Spirit of Christmas" Award.

According to Michele, this is what Santa himself says about this award:

"Ho! Ho! Ho! EveryoneAs we are now into the last 90 days before Christmas I am releasing my next group of the Christmas Spirit Award.This award is for those who talk about and show the spirit of Christmas in their blogs.What is the Spirit of Christmas you ask? Quite simply it is those that have a generous and giving nature. Those who care about others. Those who have a kind word to say or a broad shoulder to lean on in the times that others need that. Those who display the "Spirit of Christmas". This is the only award that I am releasing that you may pass on to others. I am giving it to five and you should too. Those that have touched your heart with their kind and giving and caring nature.As always,Santa ô¿ô"

According to Patti, who got her award from Linda: This award originated at Santa's Community Blog and can be passed on to as many other bloggers as I'd like. According to Santa, the Spirit of Christmas Award:"Quite simply it is those that have a generous and giving nature. Those who care about others. Those who have a kind word to say or a broad shoulder to lean on in the times that others need that. Those who display the "Spirit of Christmas".

Unlike the game telephone, the spirit of this award seems to be intact. So with out much further ado, I would like to bestow this award to: Joan, Meno, Patches, Renee, Marsha, and Deb. Congratulations to you all, and may the spirit of the upcoming season fill your lives with joy.

Santa has asked that you pick up the code and instructions here at this post: Santa Claus The Spirit Of Christmas Award.

Part 2 - In Which A Valuable Lesson Is Learned

As the story continues, I think I failed to mention that everything came to a head because one and 1/2 weeks after the fact (that would be last Friday), J decided to talk to his teacher and fabricate a story about how Ten twisted his arm behind his back.

Ten admitted accidently depantsing J, but stated that he did not twist J's arm behind his back.

J claimed over and over again that he did NOT hit Ten with a lunch box and that Ten twisted his arm behind his back.

After the meeting this Monday with the Principal, Ten continued stating that he did not twist J's arm behind his back. J however, finally admitted that he did hit Ten with a lunch box.

So if you need help following this convoluted tale J not only hit Ten with a lunch box, but he also LIED about it. J then falsely accused Ten of twisting his arm behind his back. Yet they both got in the same amount of trouble.

Lesson learned: If someone hits you, you might as well hit them back twice as hard, because unless you are willing to be a human punching bag, and be pummeled, you will get in just as much trouble as the lying assaulter. Oh yeah, and evidently the school district condones lying.

Ten continues to have some values (taught to him by DH and me). He knows that lying is not o.k. despite what the school says. I just worry that the next time someone hits him, he will be reluctant to defend himself because he will know that if he makes any move to protect himself, other than searching for an adult to tell, he will get in trouble (certainly not by mom and dad), but by the school.

Isn't it nice knowing what children are learning in school?

What Is A Ten Year Old Boy To Do?

Place: An Elementary school

Time: After school, but before an after school class

Characters: J, T, and X, all are Fifth Grade students at the Elementary school

Scene: J is hitting T with a lunch box, while T is sitting on the ground. (The events that led up to this had nothing to do with J, but instead took place between T and J's friend... X

Rules: T is not allowed to defend/protect himself by:

1. pushing J
2. shoving J
3. hitting J
4. kicking J

In addition, T is not allowed to grab J's leg and trip him.

The school expectation and only acceptable action by T, is that T will tell an adult.

Reality: No adult was present, or anywhere in the vicinity, so yelling for help was out of the question.

Result: As J continued to hit T with a lunch box (remember T was on the ground) T grabbed J's pants leg, and J's pants accidentally came down. (not his underwear, but his pants). So, T got in as much trouble as J, even though J was the one who was doing the assulting (with the lunch box) and T was just trying to get J to stop.

Given these parameters can anyone please tell me, how is a child supposed to defend/protect themselves from being hit with a lunch box, while they are on the ground?

Thanks Are In Order

I'm tired, and I've been in a lousy rotten mood all afternoon. I carried this lousy mood with me all through dinner, and I contemplated not logging on because I was in no mood to be sociable or even polite. I logged on anyway, and started reading through everyone's blogs and suddenly found the dark cloud that had surrounded me, all afternoon, dissipating. Somehow reading about the lives of my blogging friends (and family) help lift the cloud. So thank you to each and everyone of you for bringing some sunshine back into my life and for brightening my evening.

"The Talk"

Warning: This post contains 5th grade Family Life information...

Conversation overheard at one of my schools...

Student #1 "Did you know that two people get naked, they hug, their things touch, and a few months later a baby comes out? "
Student #2 "Yeah, I knew that."

I guess it's time for their parents to have "The Talk" with them.

Happy Birthday Twelve, um I Mean Elle

Today is Twelve's, um I mean Elle's, thirteenth birthday. It seems like only yesterday she was born. I wanted to write a profound post talking about her life, so far, and how her presence in my life has changed me for the better, but I seem to be at a loss for words to adequately express all of those thoughts and feelings.

I just know that Elle was a long awaited blessing. Her arrival changed my life in ways that I could have never imagined. Each and every day has been, and continues to be a new adventure. This thing called parenthood is definitely a work in progress, and I hope that Elle appreciates how much I love her.

So Elle, on you thirteenth birthday, know that I love you more than words could ever say. I am so greatful to be your mommy, and I look forward to watching you continue to grow into the woman you will become.