text:
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Back to Plan A
Not only is he eating ice cream, but he's watching a stupid show on the History channel. I now know everything I never wanted or needed to know about cell phones. Oh wait - it's a commercial now. Time to pick up the remote control and start flipping. UGH! Why? Why do men do this? Seriously. Is it just a lack of attention thing? Is it that they always have to see if there's something better out there? Is it just to avoid commercials? Why? Why the constant channel flipping?
Back to the cell phone show. Did you know that AT&T stands for American Telephone and Telegraph company. Now you do.
Ugh, I've got to go check on the crash I just heard...
I'm back. I have no idea what the crash was. It's taken me about an hour to get back to this post because I have a procrastination problem. I just wasted almost an hour by playing this game. Yes, it's true, when I can't think of anything to write, I go play stupid games online. (I especially like Spider Solitaire.) Anyway, I'm back and still can't think of anything to write and now they're talking about bear traps on TV and my husband is snoring away. Can you hear it from there? No, that's not a plane flying overhead. It's my husband snoring. Trust me. I'm contemplating putting a pillow over his face. There's something wrong with me. I think I need therapy.
And I'm pretty sure sitting out here with the distractions of my husband and the TV is not a good idea. Back to plan A.
Posted by Dawn at 9:34 PM
130 comments:
- Jennifer Foster said...
Yahooo! I'm glad you got a laptop! It takes some getting used to but I guarantee you'll love it! It'll become your 7th child!
- November 29, 2007 at 11:33 PM
I've got a laptop for work, and I use a USB port mouse instead of the touch pad. The touch pad was a lot harder. But I do sit at a table to type! Good luck with the laptop.
Constant channel flipping - definitely a male thing. My husband's passed the habit to my three young adult sons. It drives me nuts!
- November 29, 2007 at 11:34 PM
Dawn, your husband and mine must be related somehow...mine does the same thing, well not the ice cream thing but the T.V. thing if I have to watch another episode of some guy pouring cement on the top of some stupid building I am going to just explode, he is always watching things on either building things are how they make things...can you say BORING!!!And of course he is doing this in between falling asleep in his chair...so here I am watching the stupid show he picked out and he's asleep with of course the remote control in his hand...I have gotten real good at removing said remote without even waking him up and then I change the channel to something good like on Lifetime or something and then he wakes up and looks at the T.V and has a weird look on his face, like is this what I picked to watch???? Oh it is so much fun!!!!!!!! By the way I love your blog..keep the stories coming they are very entertaining..Blessings, Joann
- November 29, 2007 at 11:39 PM
- Lucille said...
Hang in there Dawn - my laptop is just a year old and we are just NOW becoming friends! It takes a while to break old habits and a keyboard gets to be VERY familiar!
And the channel surfing is UNIVERSAL or maybe it is a midwest thing - ha, ha!
Ditto on the snoring - man oh man I got myself one of those guys too!
Give yourself a few days off - heck, you deserve it!
Looking forward to the Sunday Q & A's ...oh wait I have procrastinated too and haven't asked you anything. LOL!
- November 29, 2007 at 11:46 PM
- Heidi said...
LOL! You are so funny, thank you for sharing!
- November 29, 2007 at 11:48 PM
- soccermom of 4 said...
OMG, our husbands must be related. Ice cream smacking, History Channel, Snoring. All of it.
Has your husband injured himself recently trying to be as active in sports as your kids? Mine has. He tore a tendon in his hand playing catch with the football about three months ago. The way he was complaining about things, you would have thought his hand was torn from his body. He ended up having to have surgery on the hand, with a pin put in his finger to hold it straight until the tendon can scar down - hopefully in the right area. I don't even want to be anywhere near him if the doctor finds out it didn't scar down right.
I don't know if it would help, but you could probably hook a regular keyboard to your laptop (if it has a USB connector and you have an extra USB port). Just a thought.
Love your blog, looking forward to the book.
- November 29, 2007 at 11:50 PM
- Amber said...
ROFL. I just wrote a 50,000 word novel in a month for NaNoWriMo. I couldn't have done it without my laptop (to probably hide from the masses) my headphones (to drown out their screams and cries for attention) and Pandora.com (for great tunage). Oh, and chocolate. How could I forget the chocolate? Good luck. I still have at least 50,000 words to go. But now that I discovered the secret ingredients to success (see above)then it should be easy right? Right??
- November 29, 2007 at 11:55 PM
Laptop keys, oy! And I wont even get into gross Husband eating noises. Speaking of, my hubby hates my mother forever for sending him the link to this online game:
keep up the good work
- November 29, 2007 at 11:56 PM
Ohhh, I love Spider Solitaire!!! I'll probably play a game or 2 after going off line.
I know what you mean about the guys changing channels during commercials. My Dad does it, my husband does it. If I watch tv with either of them, I never see the show all the way through, because they never change back to the original show in time. Thankfully, my 14 year old son hasn't picked up that habit. I'll try to keep him from doing it to spare his future wife my tv viewing fate. So far, it drives him crazy too.
- November 29, 2007 at 11:57 PM
LOL! I must have the same problem, because hearing my husband eating is enough to drive me absolutely crazy. He tells me I have problems, but it gets on my nerves so much.
It's sort of like someone chewing gum with their mouth open. Why is that necessary? It's gross to chew other food with your mouth open, why is gum any different?
Well anyway. The point is, you're not alone.
- November 29, 2007 at 11:59 PM
Oh and also, you will get used to your laptop keys, but if you hate your mouse (which my laptop has both the little button thing and the touch pad - both of which I hate with a vengeance because I feel like it takes forever to do anything and it's cumbersome), get a wireless USB mouse from Best Buy. It's about 20 bucks, but it's well worth it. One AA battery will last for 6 months, no joke. I use mine all day long.
- November 30, 2007 at 12:01 AM
I've been following your blog for a few months now, and this is BY FAR my favorite entry. :-) Glad to know my husband isn't the only one!
- November 30, 2007 at 12:07 AM
- VanDerHoekArt said...
I understand, we've all been there!
Thanks for the links to the old TV shows, my husband and I had a lot of laughs over those!
- November 30, 2007 at 12:09 AM
- Missy said...
when we bought our laptop.......i was so excited :) the freedom it brings. the first time i used it......i hated it! i begged my dh to return. thankfully, he refused. now, i love it :) it takes some getting used to. i think you'll love it. you can sit in your bed at night and ck your email, or sit in front of the tv and do it. also, on really nice days you can take it outside and out of one eye watch the kids playing and out of the other ck your mail :) or write a book!
- November 30, 2007 at 12:12 AM
- Debi said...
I can definatly relate to the annoyance of the husband's eating. Sometimes it drives me insane and i have to tell myself that even though he sounds like pig,he's my husband and i love him ..i'm not going to throw things at his head to make the noise stop. and it's really not even that bad , there are just certain times it bothers me more than others.
my husband will also watch stupid shows that tell you the history of someboring thing or how it's made and wonder why i don't stay in the room to cuddle with him.Do you want to cuddle up and watch how a car engine is manufactured? I sure the heck don't.
when my husband snores at night, i grab his nose and wiggle it a lil bit.That usually works.
- November 30, 2007 at 12:12 AM
That is very cool that you got a laptop!!!! I am sure you will get used to it! My dad makes those REALLY weird noises when he is eating, and he also must be thinking as well because he mumbles about different things, and laughs when nobody is talking!
I love your blog!!!! You are soooooo funny!!!!
I have a homeschool blog, on Homeschoolblogger.com/TwoFriends!
- November 30, 2007 at 12:13 AM
- Brenda Smith said...
I sent an email, loved this one, men are remote control addicts! Did you know you can watch some television shows online? They can't change those channels!!!
- November 30, 2007 at 12:18 AM
- River said...
The remote-channel flipping thing is definitely a male attribute. Studies have been done on this.
During the week, there are 3 shows that I INSIST on watching. I'm allowed to see these without channel changing, although L does mute the advertisements. All other shows, he has the remotes next to him on the couch or resting on his stomach if he is lying down. Every ad. break, the channels are flipped. I don't think he's ever watched a whole show from beginning to end.
I made the transition to laptop last year when my desktop computer got fried by a virus. This one has virus protection which updates itself on a regular basis, and scans all files once a week to detect tracking cookies.
- November 30, 2007 at 12:29 AM
- Emily said...
Procrastination is pretty much a lifestyle...embrace it. =)
You just need one of those crazy martian popper thingys that go all crazy when you squeeze them! Why waste valuable money on a therapist? ;)
Keep up the good writing! Can't wait for your book =)
- November 30, 2007 at 12:45 AM
- Cheryl Hudgins O. said...
Oh my goodness - that is CLASSIC about the husband and the TV. It's the reason my computers (yes, plural) are in a separate room as the family TV. And the reason I have my own little TV and just enough channels to keep me happy in my office. :o)
- November 30, 2007 at 12:45 AM
- Rick said...
Believe it or not my wife is sitting right behind me right now playing Spider Solitaire. She's so good she plays it with two suits. How many suits do you play the game with? (A deliberate attempt at getting a Sunday night question answered.)
By the way. SHE has the remote and were watching a FASHION SHOW on Bravo!!! Lord help me. AND we've watched every single stupid commercial that they've thrown at us. But at least we've not missed a single bit of fashion.
P.S. Was that your husband's snoring or my neighbor running his chain saw?
- November 30, 2007 at 1:02 AM
- Rachel said...
Hehe. Just wait until one of these days when you decide to "just" check your email on your laptop in the living room while the kids are still awake. Here's how it works:
Open laptop. Three year old picks fight with 21 month old over cup of water that is now all over both. Go break that up and get them both new shirts.
Sit back down on couch and click Get Mail button. Five year old decides she wants to listen to a book on tape, but wants to do it downstairs where you are instead of upstairs where her CD player on. She trucks it down the stairs, discovers the CD part doesn't work so she needs to go borrow her brother's player but she can't get the CD player she brought down back up the stairs. You go to help.
When you get back, the 21 month old is pushing buttons on your laptop because the pictures on the screensaver were so fascinating and hey, Mom pushes buttons (never EVER leave your laptop open in the same room that small children might ever be ever. Or just don't leave it open if you are more than 30 inches away).
CD player problem sorted out. You sit back down to actually maybe read your email. Nine year old brother discovers five year old sister with his CD player that she claims she asked him for permission to use and he says she didn't. Fight breaks out.
You wisely close laptop lid (and make sure no liquids are on the end table that your computer is on) and go to break up another fight. You get back and wait for laptop to boot back up so you can finish the first email that you had to leave halfway through reading.
Your seven year old daughter comes over to give you a hug and kiss and tell you she loves you. Then she asks if you would like to listen to her read her Betsy Tacy book and that you're going to LOVE it. An hour has passed since you decided to work downstairs and you have so far read two sentences of one email. You sigh and decide that remote control noises and snoring from your husband are easier to sit through than this, so you shut your laptop back down again and curl up with your daughter to listen to her reading.
Enjoy your new laptop! :)
- November 30, 2007 at 1:21 AM
I don't think flipping channels is just a male thing. I like to channel-surf in the ads too, because I can't stand watching ads... though sometimes I just mute the sound. I think channel-surfing is always bearable for the person holding the remote control and incredibly annoying for anyone else who has to watch it.
- November 30, 2007 at 1:34 AM
- Lynn said...
I should be in bed but just had to see what you'd written...I love Spider Solitaire, too. So I think you crashed the game site. I went to see what you play by the hour and can't get it to pull up. So everyone on the west coast at almost midnight just had to see what you played? Guess so!
Now I'm off to bedzzzzzzzzzzzz
- November 30, 2007 at 1:52 AM
- Ganeida said...
Ooooh, I love spider solitaire. I did NaNo & that's what I play when my plot falls apart, my characters won't do what they're told & I'm procrastinating like mad ~ but no, you can't have the computer; I'm writing my book. Yep, I love spider solitaire.
- November 30, 2007 at 2:46 AM
- Andi Sherwood said...
I have a laptop and work on it in the family living space. I end up watching Cage Fighting with my husband so at least you are learning something useful. I, on the other hand, am learning all about the Octagon and various holds. :) I actually love working on my laptop around the house because I can still care for the kids but get some other stuff done as well. I hope it works out for you. :)
- November 30, 2007 at 3:14 AM
- Donna said...
I don't know what it is with men and the channelflipping. But I do know that the only thing worse than channel surfing is watching someone channel surf.
Wanna waste some time, get smarter and feed the world at the same time? Try this http://www.freerice.com
- November 30, 2007 at 3:24 AM
Don't worry, you'll get the hang of the laptop eventually.
And I dunno what it is about a man snoring, but when my husband does it I get this incredible urge to punch him in the face, lol.
- November 30, 2007 at 3:32 AM
Dawn, are you hanging out at my house? Everything you describe here fits us perfectly, except that my laptop is on the way and our tv is in the bedroom (where we thought it would be used less and encourage us to spend more time together as a family; instead, everyone goes to their room or the computer while one or two people camp out in my bedroom until I run them out... but I digress).
Did you know that you can attach a normal keyboard and a mouse to your laptop? My husband actually ordered a wireless mouse for mine. No, you can't type on your lap that way. But if you want to type in a room other than your bedroom, it would work. Your files/computer are all still portable, but your fingers won't go crazy trying to adapt.
BTW, you are not allowed to say that you will never complete your book. Too many of us already have it on next year's Christmas list (not to add any pressure or anything).
Have a great day!
Bev in Kentucky
- November 30, 2007 at 3:41 AM
- Kellee said...
I've heard that you can plug a regular computer keyboard into your laptop to make the typing easier...of course I don't have a laptop so I don't really know, I've just heard. But seriously, you're probably better off using the computer in your bedroom, at least then your husband can live.
- November 30, 2007 at 3:54 AM
- DanaB said...
While I can assure you that you will get used to the laptop keyboard and be quick-like in no time--the other distractions, not so much LOL!
Congrats on the laptop, though, you'll love being able to sit wherever whenever--except when trying to concentrate ;)
- November 30, 2007 at 4:30 AM
- Melissa said...
I am so with you on the lip smacking and bowl scrapes! It just grates my nerves. We can do it quietly, so why can't they? :)
- November 30, 2007 at 4:36 AM
- Stargazorlilli said...
Spider Solitaire ?? Do you play that on Pogo.com? I love pogo.com play often would love to play a game with you sometime if thats where you play.
- November 30, 2007 at 4:47 AM
- Jill said...
I need to take a Dramamine before I sit down to watch T.V. with my husband. He clicks through the channels so fast, it makes me dizzy. Sometimes he changes the channel when I'm out of the room, and when I get back I have a very hard time following the story line because suddenly all of the characters have changed.
What baffles me, is how he knows the EXACT moment that I actually become interested in a program, and then he changes the channel. ????
I sometimes wonder if the gene that causes this behavior with the TV remote is related somehow to the gene that causes the "staring at the contents of the fridge for twenty minutes like some new great food is going to just magically appear before me" phenomenon.
Someone should research that.
Hey, we've been wondering what that noise was. Thanks for letting us know it was just snoring coming from your house.
- November 30, 2007 at 5:01 AM
- Noël said...
I must share a male gene. I am constantly flipping channels as soon as a commercial comes on. I think maybe it's boredom. Sometimes I forget what I was watching in the first place when I'm done cycling through the channels.
- November 30, 2007 at 5:11 AM
- Judy STL said...
OMG,Dawn,the man you described is MY husband! Are we going to see him on Dateline? I've heard of these men who lead double lives and have two families. I never thought it would happen to me! By the way, I refer to The History Channel as The Hitler Channel. I tell him I could save him a lot of time and just tell him how that war ended.
- November 30, 2007 at 5:12 AM
I just got a new cell phone that has a keyboard on it you type with your thumbs. Talk about tiny keys. I have small hands, but how do people with fat thumbs do this? And so fast! I'm new to the IM world.
On your laptop, if you keep moving the mouse because your hand moves over the pad (not even touching it), try putting a post it over it. I used to have to do that when I worked in an office. It helped a lot. Drove me crazy. I also recommend an external mouse. I hate those pad things. What a pain.
Deb in OPKS
- November 30, 2007 at 5:21 AM
- suburbancorrespondent said...
Yes, the Internet definitely enables procrastination. For me, it's Boggler at www.wordplays.com
- November 30, 2007 at 5:22 AM
- kimikki said...
The remote "flip flip flip" thing is a male trait, I believe. I found a remedy. Take out the batteries.
I also understand the distraction thing. My train of thought derails enough on its own. To add any distractions to the mix, especially a family member who only means well, can really disrupt whatever I'm doing. I'd say go back to Plan A and git 'er done. Spend quality time with hubby, spend work time working. Separating the two makes each more enjoyable. Wow...I'm sounding profound this morning. Better stop before I scare myself too much. Have a great day!
- November 30, 2007 at 5:26 AM
- Kim said...
OMG! I can't stand to watch tv with my husband! Yes, why why why do they need to flip so much! I know more about so many mundane things than one person should know. Do you know how they make gummy worms? I do. Do you know what to do if you are stranded in the desert with nothing but a dead camel? I do. Ugh. And he wonders why I retreat to our bedroom to watch tv at 8pm every night.
- November 30, 2007 at 5:35 AM
- Katharine said...
You need to buy a regular mouse or you will surely go crazy with the touchpad! Although, a mouse is not helpful if you are sitting with your computer in your lap, in which case I have no suggestions! :)
- November 30, 2007 at 5:37 AM
- Valarie said...
My husband drives me nuts when he is eating. He chews EVERYTHING. I know, chewing while eating is not so uncommon, right? But my husband takes this chewing thing to a whole new level. He chews on pudding. He chews on a bite of soggy cereal for like 5 minutes!! *gag* He chews on MILK for crying out loud!
Hehe You know when you use one word over and over in a short time frame and it starts to sound funny to you. "Chew." Heehee Funny.
- November 30, 2007 at 6:04 AM
I don't like laptops, either. I'm told you have to get used to them, but how can you when everything is so tiny?
The clicker thing is inherent in the male psyche. They're hunters, and they no longer hunt and kill (well the sane ones don't, anyway), so they "hunt" with the clicker (I got this tidbit from "Defending the Caveman").
Good luck with the laptop.
- November 30, 2007 at 6:05 AM
Ha! My husband does that too! Must be a guy thing. And the snoring? Thank god we don't have earthquakes here in Sweden, all those little instruments would go berserk when he starts sucking in all the air in the room trough his mouth. Or is it nostrils? Or maybe both?
Take care!
Julia in Sweden, constant sneak-reader
- November 30, 2007 at 6:09 AM
- Just-Me-Jen said...
Try this-
put a CD of music (or white noise) that you like & that won't distract you into the laptop's drive, and use headphones. Then you can still be in the room with your husband and not have to hear the stupid TV shows or the gross husband/man sounds. ;-)
And the keyboard? Your fingers will adjust after a while, and you'll get used to the trackpad,too.
- November 30, 2007 at 6:14 AM
- AKB said...
This blog is therapy as the advice you will get is sound advice from people who have gone through it or are going through it now.
You're not crazy. We all are in this huge looney bin together, trying to make it one day at a time, right along our snoring husbands. I a glad to know that your drives you crazy with lip smacking sounds too. I cannot be in the same room as mine when he is eating bananas. It's a terible sound!
Thanks for the morning pick-me-up.
- November 30, 2007 at 6:41 AM
Dawn, I relate to EVERYTHING you said in this post!! :-) It's amazing--I don't understand the channel changing either. And the scraping of the bowl! Yikes! Maybe there is a subconscious fear of starvation??
Now, as to the laptop -- I finally learned to use one just great! It takes a while. It's slower to navigate, I think, with the touch pad, sooooo, I got a mouse to use! It is "remote" in that it is not attached to the laptop. Great little idea! Now, I'm just as comfortable on the laptop as I am on the desktop, and it makes switching back and forth much easier!
Keep up the good work! You're amazing!
- November 30, 2007 at 6:59 AM
I can't stand the touchpad! Whenever I use my hubby's laptop, I plug in my trusty mouse :o)
Have a great weekend!
- November 30, 2007 at 7:04 AM
- Ashley said...
Sorry Dawn but channel surfing is crime some women are guilty of too! ;) I hate commercials because about the time they get my attention (5-10 secs in), they are already over.
- November 30, 2007 at 7:12 AM
- Callie said...
Hey Dawn! I love this blog. Another great time waster is Scorpion Solitare. You should try it.. great fun
- November 30, 2007 at 7:14 AM
- Stacey said...
I love my laptop! I hate the little touch pad thing too. I finally got a little mouse. You ought to get a little mouse and turn off the touch pad thing. It will make your life easier. You'll get used to the small keys eventually. You will never get used to the touch pad...
Yes, I can hear your husband snoring. No wait, I think that's mine...
- November 30, 2007 at 7:17 AM
- Robin said...
LOL!! I hope your husband survived the night! I know what you mean about the bowl and spoon thing....that same thing drives me crazy ....am I that noisy when I eat?!?!?! Congrats on the new laptop. I hope you get used to using it...just think, now you could hide in a closet and play on the computer all day = ) YEAH RIGHT!!! Nice thought huh!?!?!?! Have a great day!
- November 30, 2007 at 7:21 AM
- The Hotfessional said...
Oh yea. My husband was all for getting wireless so I could spend time with him while I blogged instead of up in the computer room.
But he talks constantly. And says, "Wait, watch this." And quizzes me about stuff so I have to pay attention to him.
Maybe the bathroom is open.
- November 30, 2007 at 7:21 AM
Wow, can I ever relate to your post. I tried a laptop and find it very awkward to type-I'm much happier on my desktop PC keyboard. And like you, I thought it would be nice to sit and watch tv with my husband while working on my blog....wrong....I'm not good at multi-tasking as it turns out- everything disturbs my train of thought. So I spend hours in my little room with my PC, but then when I'm through, I can enjoy my husband and my pets and relax. Very nice blog you have.
- November 30, 2007 at 7:23 AM
- Paulette said...
Sometimes you can use a regular keyboard in place of the little ones that laptops come with. - I KNOW that it seems a little ridiculous but HEY, WHATEVER WORKS! - You usually can buy docking stations also. - You might want to look into one.
Thank you for making my life much brighter!
- November 30, 2007 at 7:30 AM
My darling husband loves to stir his ice cream. First he needs to put his bowl of ice cream in the sink with a little hot water around it to make it softer. Then, he has to sit there and stir and clank his spoon against the sides for about 10 minutes. After that, he proceeds to take huge bites and smack his gums because it's still too cold. I HATE ICE CREAM because of this. I have gone on an ice cream buying strike. If he wants it bad enough, he has to go buy it himself. THANKS FOR LETTING ME RANT. I feel much better now.
- November 30, 2007 at 7:32 AM
- monica said...
You need to get a wireless mouse! I hate that touch pad do hickey too!! I wouldn't trade anything for my wireless mouse.. and it's cutie pink. I so feel your pain on the husband thing. Every night, same thing. Flip, flip, flip through 50 different things. (Why can't he use the tv guide channel thing on the screen like I do?) Why does he flip because he's going to end up on History, Golf or Western?! Then after 30 minutes he's snoring in the chair. I sneak over to change the channel and it's "I WAS WATCHING THAT!" Hmmm.... I could tell - Men, whatcha' gonna do with 'em???!!!! :)
- November 30, 2007 at 7:37 AM
- omystarling said...
You are not alone...my husband eats cereal around 9 pm each and every night. Not in a regular cereal bowl but my vegetable bowl. I say 'my' vegetable bowl b/c I don't think he really understands what a vegetable bowl is. Oh, the noise he makes when he eats - it drives me up the wall. Smack, slurp, clank on the VEGETABLE BOWL!!! I really should drink more!
The sad part is my 4 year old has now gotten into the habit of eating cereal before going to bed. How do I break this cycle - his poor future wife!
- November 30, 2007 at 7:38 AM
- Mrs. Paradox said...
If there were a 12 step program for learning to deal with gross eating noises, I would be the first to sign up. Ice cream is bad, cereal is a form of torture and the sound of eating bananas might just drive me into a murderous rage.
- November 30, 2007 at 7:40 AM
If we had the answer to why men flip channels we could write a book!! (Oh wait - you already are - LOL) My husband says it's because he can't stand seeing commercials, I think it's because he tries to irritate me :)!
For another game try www.nabisco.com - cornnuts is fun! Diane in SC
- November 30, 2007 at 7:43 AM
- heather said...
My husband drives me crazy when he eats ice cream also. I've never understood why he has to chew it. Gross! Love your blog!
- November 30, 2007 at 7:44 AM
- Anita said...
Haha! Sorry about the distraction problem, and the husband snoring, AND the TV flipping. I work from home and am CONSTANTLY online...but once I got a laptop, my "constantly" turned into 24/7 so beware. It's much too easy to sit on the laptop while the kids are watching TV, eating breakfast, or hiding various food objects around the house.
Congrats on the laptop though. Another day or two and you'll have a hard time going back to the bigger keyboard and mouse. The hardest part for me was scrolling the internet windows...then I made a discovery. Perhaps I'm just slower than most and am the only one who took forever to find this trick, or maybe it's just a Dell thing, but on my laptop on the touchpad there's a line to the right, and there's a line on the bottom. Drag your finger along those lines and it will scroll your browser windows for you.
- November 30, 2007 at 7:47 AM
I think our husbands must be related--not only does mine do the smacking, bowl-scraping, and channel flipping, but he has managed to pass these talents on to at least two of our four children. Lovely. The stupid shows he likes to settle on are usually about trucks and rebuilding them and...and...and... boring awful stuff that would not only put me to sleep but I may start drooling it could put me out so completely! I usually end up on the laptop while he watches said snooze-inducing material, playing *my* fave game (Spider Solitaire--have we met?). Thank you, Dawn, for all the giggles you've given me. Hugs from NE MO--
- November 30, 2007 at 7:49 AM
- PumpkinsMom said...
Ah, the snoring- the only way I've ever been able to deal with it is pure exhaustion from a new baby. Now that my son is (mostly) sleeping through the night, the snoring from my husband is slowly worming its way back into my consciousness...tradeoffs, I suppose!
- November 30, 2007 at 7:51 AM
I'm a writer, too. One thing I've learned: I cannot work in a room where the TV is on.
I solved my problems by moving our only TV set to my daughters' room (I only have three but they help me to understand and admire you). And you know what, we actually started living in our living room instead of staring at the screen!
- November 30, 2007 at 7:52 AM
- bluekaeru said...
That game could be a serious time suck.
- November 30, 2007 at 7:57 AM
I've tried therapy for things like that. All it does is encourage mine to keep doing it. I've found that throwing kooshes and bean bags at him discourages the lipsmacking/bowlscraping. As for the remote control thing, the only way I've been able to combat that is to take physical control of all the remotes in the house. If he wants to change the channel, he either has to walk across the room himself or bellow for our daughter to do it for him.
- November 30, 2007 at 7:58 AM
I am officially a fan. I think it was the channel flipping thing and the snoring. Are husbands all made from the same mold?
- November 30, 2007 at 8:09 AM
OMG you crack me up ... I thought I was the only one that wanted to throw a large object at my husband when he is eating ice cream ... and popcorn !!
We should start a 12step for that ...
- November 30, 2007 at 8:11 AM
Are you sure my husband isn't at your house because I swear it sounds as though you described him, right down to the clinking, flipping and snoring.
According to him, because I have asked on numerous occasions, the flipping thing is just to make absolutely certain that there really is nothing better on another channel.
Hang in there, you'll get used to the laptop. Although, I must say, I do still type much faster on my desktop keyboard.
- November 30, 2007 at 8:22 AM
- Erin said...
My husband watched the same ahows last night. I fell asleep to telephones, and woke up to bear traps.
- November 30, 2007 at 8:23 AM
- MagnoliaPrincess said...
Lol...my husband gets frustrated with ME over channel flipping during commercials! Why do I do it? Commercials bore me and I dislike being bored. I'm watching TV for entertainment and most commercials just make me think "If they really wanted to throw money away, I'd have taken it"
As for the rest of the post, well, all I can say is Men, we cant live without them and its illegal to shoot them! I love my husband dearly but he thinks the shows I watch are stupid. He doesnt understand the whole McDreamy/McSteamy (btw, I pick McSteamy)thing and well, I'm with you, I know all I need to know about history. If I'm interested in learning something I'll take a class. TV should be for entertainment!! Good luck!
- November 30, 2007 at 8:23 AM
I just have to tell you that I read your blog everyday and it gets my morning going.
For some reason I was thinking of you yesterday when I was working out and I couldn't help but laugh at what I was doing, thinking this is probably something you would do.
I didn't have any hand weights to use so I improvised and picked up a candle that was sitting in front of me. Mind you this candle has a Hershey Chocolate sent to it. Talk about a heavenly smell. So everytime was lifting it up, I would sniff it. I really made doing reps a whole lot easier.
Thanks for making my mornings a little bit better.
- November 30, 2007 at 8:25 AM
Dawn, no worries. I got to the point where I couldn't stand to hear my husband BREATHE. Crunching ice takes me to the point of murder. Also, you haven't cornered the market on procrastination. *points at self * Hang in there.
Maybe we need to start a "Pet Peave" Thread?
- November 30, 2007 at 8:31 AM
Take a deep breath. Slowly exhale.
Be one with yourself.
The laptop is your friend. You can take you new friend into the bathroom with you. (get yourself a router so you can access your computer anywhere in the house)
I thought I would never be able to use a laptop with those itty bitty keys, and Good Lord, it took me forever to use the space thingie.
Now, I have 'big' problems when I tried to use a 'grown up' computer.
You're gonna love your new toy!
- November 30, 2007 at 8:46 AM
- Kim said...
I had a history professor that said men channel surf because thoughout history they have been the hunters. They still have that need to go out and kill things. His theroy was that they were 'killing off' the bad channels and taking out some aggression. Just one theory - not saying that I agree!
- November 30, 2007 at 8:47 AM
- Lucrecia said...
AMEN, AMEN, AMEN! thats all, have a good day! :-)
- November 30, 2007 at 8:49 AM
- JESSICA said...
UGH, Men & TV. You should write a book about that and if you don't, maybe I will. Not only does my husband constantly flip thru the channels and finally stop on the most uninteresting thing on, he will leave it on that channel for a period of time. Then, just when I finally get numb to the pain of watching the show about the mating habits of Alaskan wild salmon, boom, he's off again! He'll find another completely off the wall program to stop on and we start the dance all over again.
You know what I'm going to do? I'm going to put the TV on Lifetime or TLC or some such "chicky" channel, take the good batteries out of the remote, replace them with some known dead batteries. I know he won't get up and walk to the TV to change the channel so I'm in for a good hour or two of entertainment watching him squirm while a Lifetime movie starring Meredith Baxter-Berney about a physically abused wife that just moved next door to a serial killer with her pregnant teenage daughter who just found out she is adopted is on and he's trying so desperately to get this remote to work. Eventually he'll give up and ask me how to fix it but for a while, it'll make for some good giggles.
- November 30, 2007 at 9:05 AM
- Janet said...
I do hate the mousepad on a laptop. I can't make it do anything. And you're right about the small keys.
I also have the procrastination problem - I had to take Spider Solitaire off my work computer because I "can't play just one."
- November 30, 2007 at 9:17 AM
- darling_nikki said...
Hey Dawn~
I love my laptop! You can get a mouse for it for about $20.00 or so. It plugs into the laptop and it's really really cool!
Nikki from NJ
- November 30, 2007 at 9:18 AM
Hey Dawn,
I just switched to a laptop. Forget the touchpad! Go buy a wireless mouse. It just plugs in tho the back and you have a rael mouse. No cords! It is about $30 at Walmart, but worth every penny!!
- November 30, 2007 at 9:27 AM
I'll make a recommendation...don't get a keyboard or a mouse. Learn to use the laptop just as it is. Otherwise, when you travel, you'll be lugging around all kinds of stuff instead of just packing the laptop and going. It'll take time, but once you master the touchpad and keyboard, you'll never go back. When our big desktop dies, and it will someday, I'm replacing it with a laptop-I use one for my job and even though friends told me to buy a mouse and keyboard, I didn't. I carry this thing with me everywhere and now it's just "pack and go". Trust me, you'll be so glad you didn't invest in the other things. I promise you...ONE WEEK and you'll be a pro. Chris
- November 30, 2007 at 9:59 AM
- ~Jenifer~ said...
Hey Dawn and Everyone Else,
I just wanted to share a totally hilarious picture of my DH it is posted on my blog. Please check it out and feel free to leave a post. Dawn even you should check it out I realize you are totally busy and don't have time to read all the blogs but really this is to funny!!! My blog address is
Thanks and I hope everyone checks it out. I was not sure if it would put the address at the bottom so I included it in the post just in case.
- November 30, 2007 at 10:07 AM
- Brenda said...
I am getting a laptop for Christmas. I can't wait!! Mine is because I am going back to college though. Not because I am writing a book. Spending money, not making it! I hate spoons clanking on bowls.
- November 30, 2007 at 10:39 AM
That game donates rice to parts of the world that needs it. So you can procrastinate and feed people who need it!
Also: i love your blog. I'm 22, and currently in grad school. I read your blog as a tension release. Thank you for making me laugh :-)
- November 30, 2007 at 11:05 AM
Hi Dawn..congratulations on the new laptop..
Mine needs new letters already..*wink..
my husband asked me, how i make letters A, S & N disappear?
- November 30, 2007 at 11:10 AM
- Amy said...
Is it sad that I already knew what AT&T stood for? Because I did.
My husband is/was a big History Channel person, too. We once watched something about the history of Jelly Belly jelly beans. Did you know they have Ear Wax and Vomit flavored Jelly Bellies? I could have lived life without ever knowing that.
- November 30, 2007 at 11:36 AM
My husband is infamous for flipping through the channels...won't check the guide in case something comes up the kids shouldn't see if they're in the room(no dirty, just HBO stuff)...but flip flip flip he does. It's a man DNA thing.
- November 30, 2007 at 11:47 AM
1. Thanks for giving this SAHM something else to waste her time doing other than eating bon bons and watching soaps of course.(and yes I like nailing penguins with snowballs)
2. all men snore and surf.......fact of life and you gotta take the good and take the bad ya know.......
3. yay on the laptop! I do hate the mouse pad thingamabob though........
- November 30, 2007 at 11:59 AM
- Heather said...
At least you can save whatever you were planning to post about for another night, since your husband graciously provided your material for this post.
- November 30, 2007 at 12:29 PM
- gggarden said...
OMG! My sides are hurting! You don't need a therapist, you need another glass of wine! My husband has made me want to stab myself in the eye with an ice pick more times than I can recall! I'm just thankful I haven't followed through with my evil thoughts...I'm not partial to cavity searches! I play Mahjong Titans...the to do list is endless...the only one who knows you didn't finish it is you...be nice to yourself! I hate the evening television time also. Mine starts with my husband shaking the remote at me and saying, "Your daughter didn't turn things off in sequence...now I have to walk over (two strides!) and hit the button...I take a deep breathe and try to remember why I said yes to the proposal. Same clicking as the rest of you described...and then! When he's ready to retire, regardless of what I happen to be doing, he shuts down the house and heads to the bedroom! He's actually turned the lights off while I'm sitting there reading! By the way, for all you women out there...DO NOT buy your mate those sock type slippers that have a leather-type sole...if he has the clicking and chomping tendancies he will surely drag his feet in the most annoying and loud manner (why does it seem to grow louder with your irritation?), breathe louder than the Columbia Gorge winds, snort, slurp whatever he's putting in his mouth, sigh louder than God, and pass gas (from both ends) without skipping a beat! Mine is also of the hovering variety...but that's another story!
Thanks for the good laughs! I read daily and have recommended it to the mothers who bring their children to "Story Time". (I do Children's Programming at our local library)
- November 30, 2007 at 12:42 PM
- My Semblance of Sanity said...
I have lip-smacking allergy, too!!
It sends goosebumps up my spine and I sometimes get FLASHES of myself hauling off and hitting whoever is doing it - we are a NON-SPANKING HOUSEHOLD so this is completely NOT something that would actually happen...
I learned it from my dad - he get's ridiculously irrational when he can hear someone's food being chewed!!!
I am with ya sista!
- November 30, 2007 at 12:44 PM
- galadriel said...
I have to disagree with the it's a man thing because I'm not a man and I do it. I cannot leave the channel changer alone when a commercial comes up. I must flip through channels.
Though, with the addition of the on tv guide thing through my cable, I do keep the flipping to through the guide instead of channel to channel, but take away my cable and it's channel flipping time. :)
- November 30, 2007 at 12:45 PM
- mandolin said...
Well, I can offer a little bit of advice on the laptop. My mom hates the touch pad too, so she bought a wireless mouse. They're really easy to find (I order everything online, even my groceries... I know, sad...), plus there's no cord so your kids won't get tripped up in it and fling the mouse across the room. Only problem is it could get lost... in that case, maybe just stick to the touch pad :P
- November 30, 2007 at 12:48 PM
- Juliana RW said...
wow...laptop. I wish i could have one also haha..ha..
I just drop for the first time in here. You have a nice blog :)
I think i will regularly visit your blog if you don't mind :)
Visit mine also, if you have time ^_^
- November 30, 2007 at 12:50 PM
- Kate said...
Spider solitaire is a REALLY REALLY fabulous training tool for learning how to use that laptop touchpad /or so I've heard, *giggle*
- November 30, 2007 at 1:01 PM
- plainprecious said...
I believe we are married to the same man. Last night WE watched some stupid show about salmon. Some guys were catching them scraping off something analzing it then putting in some sort of chip to track them. Why do we care about where they are and what they are doing? Then there is the guy that does the dirtest jobs. Ok some of them are neat but come on. Do I really wanna see how they use cow poop for fertizer. how they throw in dead chickens to make it more fertile? Um NO. And he wonders why sometimes I stay downstairs and go through the things I have taped on the DVR just to have ME time and to know what I am watching. If I have to watch one more boxing match or extreme fighting I will scream!!!!
Oh the laptop congrats. I had mine abut a year then my toddlers spilled something on it and now its in the shop not sure if they can fix it yet. Mine still drives me crazy. I do recoomend getting another mouse cause the touch one drives me crazy. Also there are times when I would be typing then touch something and it would go back and erase everything I had typed. GRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr How you fair better.
- November 30, 2007 at 1:40 PM
- Kimberly said...
Men do not care what is on TV. They care WHAT ELSE is on TV!!! Must be true; I read it in Reader's Digest.
- November 30, 2007 at 1:44 PM
I have the same hateful disgust for that spoon-clanking-in-the-bowl disorder that most husbands have. My father has it, my husband has it, and his dad has it.
I can't solve many problems, including the slurping that comes after the clanking, but I solved the spoon-clanking. My husband now must eat ice cream with a rubber spatula spoon or I won't buy him ice cream. http://www.amazon.com/Chefn-Switchit-Spoon-Spatula-Huckleberry/dp/B000A385LI/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1196451864&sr=1-11
Good luck!!!
- November 30, 2007 at 1:47 PM
- Nicki said...
You'll get use to the laptop in no time. It took me a little while to adjust too. Distractions and blogging don't mix very well though. You could still blog in your room--on your bed:)
- November 30, 2007 at 2:34 PM
- Joy said...
My husband got a laptop a few years ago for work. He loves it. We used a wireless mouse with it and it was great. Just used the USB for the reciever and when the reciever wasn't in use it would clip under the mouse. No cord and infa red so it would work on anything. It was great untill the kids played with it, that was the end of the receiver and they don't sell spares. I have been stuck with the touch pad ever since and it is a royal pain.
Word of advice: If in the course of life your keyboard gets covered in crumbs or something (it was saw dust for us- don't ask) do not use the vacuum hose to get rid of stuff no matter how tempting. We wanted to save the laptop from getting sawdust inside the keyboard but about one second into the vacuum job we realized our mistake. The keys started flying off the keyboard and disappearing into the vacuum. By the time we got it off we had lost about five keys and after dissecting the vacuum we were still short about two and a half keys. Try telling the IT department at work that the vacuum ate it. That is the last time we try to clean the keyboard by vacuuming.
- November 30, 2007 at 2:56 PM
- Janet said...
There are (at least) three common pains in this post that almost all women can relate to:
1) Loud eaters. It takes a lot of effort to eat ice cream loudly, but they all do it. I don't even want to talk about food that can be eaten loudly if no effort is made to be quiet about it (i.e. soup - really, must you slurp?)
2) Idiotic shows. I believe that the Discovery Science channel is only watched by men. What woman in her right mind really wants to watch "Engineering Disasters". zzz Oh sorry, just typing the title of that show made me fall asleep.
3) Channel Flipping. I think that men are hunters by nature. They are always on the hunt for something better. Only men can watch three t.v. shows at a time and be able to follow it (of course they are watching Engineering Disasters, Jacques Cousteau's underwater adventures, and some golf show. Really even 5 minutes of any of those shows are about 5 too many.)
Keep up the funny posts. I can't wait for your book :)
- November 30, 2007 at 3:15 PM
- Boan said...
I found your blog through that ebay email going around the internet. YOU ARE FAMOUS NOW!
First time I go to your blog. Read the first article and find myself laughing out loud. You are very very funny.
I'm a husband and my wife, I'm sure feels a lot like you do but its all good. To all you women out there. Just love us. Love us for we we are. Snoring and channel surfing and all. Just love us. We love you.
The husband.
- November 30, 2007 at 3:16 PM
- Sherry said...
One time when I was watching tv with my husband I got a phone call. The person asked what I was doing and I said "Watching tv." She asked what I was watching so I replied honestly, "Every channel for two seconds." My husband usually doesn't hear a word I say when he is watching tv but he heard that and he will still make snide remarks about it even though it has been years. I think that channel changing is as close to multi-tasking that some men can get. :)
- November 30, 2007 at 3:18 PM
Congrats on the laptop! Definately remember to shut it everytime you leave the room, my triplets got the "blame game" down pat when I would come back to my laptop and find it missing keys. Needless to say I ended up having to replace my whole keyboard. Good Luck! :)
- November 30, 2007 at 3:30 PM
- ClutterControlFreak said...
Could it be possible that we are ALL married to the same man?? HA!
Thanks for the new game link - I LOVE the way the penguin's little feet wiggle sticking out of the iceburg!
:) Eva
- November 30, 2007 at 4:08 PM
- Monica said...
I'm a work from home (freelancer) mom of five, oldest 9, youngest 1, with a laptop. So tell me, what time do all your kids go to bed? I find myself putting everything off until the kiddos are in bed, which leaves me with about 15 minutes before I collapse from exhaustion to do my work. (I exaggerate..but it feels like 15 minutes.) How do you find the time to write??!?!?!?!?!? I recently started a blog, which I find such a challenge to keep up with, even though I enjoy it...sometimes it creeps into my other responsibilities, like say, feeding my kids. Which leads to my next question: Do we have to feed them every day??
- November 30, 2007 at 4:25 PM
I don't think anyone else has mentioned...it can be a problem once your older children start "borrowing" your lap-top. I'm fed up with coming home to find the touch-pad covered in chocolate and rude and incorrectly spelled messages left on my friend's blog pages in my name,
e.g. "You smelle"
I haven't found how to deal with it yet...
- November 30, 2007 at 4:35 PM
- Sharlyn said...
My husband channel surfs too. Why he does it is beyond me, we only have two channels that come in decently enough to watch (we've chosen to not have statellite tv right now) let's see hmmmm........... PBS or ABC?? PBS or ABC?? rough choice...........commercials are painful..........
- November 30, 2007 at 5:30 PM
Getting a USB mouse like some people suggested is a good idea but I suggest you practice using the touchpad from time to time. Once you get used to it it's not hard at all. After a year and a half using a laptop any time I use the desktop I keep rubbing the bottom of the keyboard looking for the touchpad before I remember I have to pick my hand up and use the stupid mouse. I hate that thing now, the touchpad is so much easier. But when I got the laptop I couldn't even use the touchpad. Took forever to do anything. So just give yourself some time.
- November 30, 2007 at 5:53 PM
- girlymom said...
Since seeing you on the news I can just picture you in your room and him in the living room. Glad to see you got a laptop, the keys and touch pad thing don't take too long to get used to. I love mine, especially the wireless!
- November 30, 2007 at 7:22 PM
- My boys are Army Brats said...
Too funny as usual!
I bought one of those little breakfast in bed tray's ......... not because I expected breakfast in bed...ever..but I too could not get used to the lap top mouse. It also made it so that I could place the laptop cooler under it to keep it from overheating...a lifesaver!
- November 30, 2007 at 7:47 PM
- Ann said...
Laptops are great once you get used to it!! I love mine! I love to type and listen to music...it keeps the mindless tv shows from bugging me!!
- November 30, 2007 at 7:49 PM
- AuntyM said...
Thanks for the game site. I'll have to check it out.
You might want to check this one out:
Also www.gamefools.com
Aren't we bad? hahaha
- November 30, 2007 at 8:12 PM
- cheripiez67 said...
laptops are great,and their even better when you get a mouse for it,because those touch pads are for the birds.thanks again for the laughs
- November 30, 2007 at 8:25 PM
- JenLo said...
Believe me, you'll quickly get addicted to the teeny keyboard and weird little mouse. And for a great computer game, try Snood. Or maybe not. We'll never get your book if you do.
- November 30, 2007 at 8:53 PM
- StampingJoan said...
I got a laptop for my 50th and love it! You will get use to it! I got a small mouse that plugs in and it helps alot!
Can totally relate to the husband issue!!!! I hate to be around him when he eats...........Can't watch TV with him for the same flicking problem (don't know what the hell he would do if they did away with the remote! I know he wouldn't get up and keep changing it manually!!!!) AND....we can't sleep in the same bed or room because of his horrible snoring! I used to pinch his nose to make him stop!!!!
- November 30, 2007 at 9:24 PM
I think my husband is your husband. I can't stand to watch tv with him because i never ever get to finish the show I first started watching. I took the batteries out of the remote the other day and have played dumb when he ask me where some new ones are. At least this way I can watch a whole show.
I had to work on a lap top when i wrote for our local newspaper. One day after doing an entire story on a district track meet, somehow or another I deleted the entire story. After that I plugged in the keyboard and used it. Made life a little easier. Good luck with it. Dede
- November 30, 2007 at 9:40 PM
- Adrian said...
That's OK. The next time he really annoys you, just go shopping - with the remote control in your PURSE! You'll come back to your living room torn to shreds, but it'll be worth it!
- November 30, 2007 at 9:43 PM
- Patty said...
Yay for a new laptop, but if you are like me you will find that you still use it locked up in a room by yourself. Too many distractions in the real world.
- December 1, 2007 at 8:18 AM
If you'd like to be with your hubby and not have to listen to what he is listening to or hear all his funny noises get some ear phones and plug it in to your computer. Get all kinds of music you love to listen to put them in your windows media player and listen away. It works wonders for me and I end up bugging my hubby because I start singing to the music. LOL.
I'm happy to hear you finally got your laptop. You'll love it after a while. I swore I would never get me a laptop. The touch pad is to annoying and the keys, like you said, are way to small. But now it is the computer that I use the most. I love it. You can buy a small mouse to use with your laptop if you'd like that better. I have found tho that most of them end up not working good so I've just been using my touch pad and am pretty good on it now.
Best of luck to you with your new computer.
Taunie from Michigan
- December 1, 2007 at 11:37 AM
- Lesley said...
Oh, I love online games. Try www.pogo.com. It's great...however, fair warning, you might become addicted, haha. Laptops are great, and you will get used to the keys, trust me.
- December 1, 2007 at 12:51 PM
I didn't read the thousands of comments left for you on the husband, channel-changing problem, but I have a question and an idea. As for the commercial dodging, do you have or have you considered TiVo? Tell him to pick his channel or program, go get a snack, come back, rewind the show back to whatever he missed, then on the next commercial break, he can fast forward instead of crazily flipping the channels during the commercials.
Secondly, this might be fun....invest in a secret universal remote that only you have and know about (of course, this means you'd have to figure out how to program it to your TV). When he falls asleep, sneak your remote out, flip to the channel you want to watch and enjoy! Or even, better, appear to be really focused on writing behind your laptop screen, then secretly flip the channel or even turn the TV off from your remote and watch him get confused and frustrated! ;) This goes over much better if he has a sense of humor....this known from experience. Good luck and let us know what works!! Thanks for keeping up on the blog, it's great!!
- December 1, 2007 at 3:50 PM
- Sophia Davies said...
I think we're married to the same man.
- December 1, 2007 at 11:59 PM
I have a desktop keyboard attached to my laptop (yes, because the dog made me spill beer on the laptop keyboard and now several keys don't work). You can also attach a regular mouse as well. And then you run out of USP things and have to decide which is more important, the mouse or the keyboard when you need to print something or upload photos, or sync your cell phone, etc. ;) We desperately need a new laptop....
At least your husband flips to BORING stuff and then channel surfs from that. MY HUSBAND will be watching something INTERESTING, like about the Roman historian Josephus, and then during commercials flip to something slightly less interesting, and then during commercials flip to a third show that is slightly less interesting then both the first and second shows! And I don't get to finish the first one that I really liked! Ugh. Unless it's football. Or Hockey. Or basketball. Or baseball. Or the Olympics, or people talking about sports, etc. Then he can suddenly handle commercials.....
- December 2, 2007 at 2:28 PM
- Alexia said...
There is a laptop mouse that you can buy! It has a retractable cord too!
- December 2, 2007 at 3:00 PM
Goodness, are our husbands related? My DH does the same things! Here's the scene: DH is on the couch in his "spot". The dog is cuddling on his lap while he's eating ice cream from a coffee cup. Clink, clink, clink. Smack, smack, smack. He's watching some boring sports show: you know, highlights of every game ever played this week. Yes, he even keeps updated on HS football (as if he cares). Okay, so said boring sports prgramming goes to commercial. Now is when the already-ridiculously loud TV gets even louder. I beg him to turn it down. He turns it down 2 clicks; not much of an improvement. Now, the surfing starts. Thank goodness we cancelled cable last April--now he has less channels to surf through. So, he starts at channel 2 and makes his painfully slow way up to channel 13. Nothing to watch. Gotta check out Lifetime (69), E! (70), and AMC (71). Nothing there (is there ever?). So, back to said boring sports programming. Whoops--all that surfing and now they're on ANOTHER commercial break. Surfing commences again, but at a slightly faster pace. Then, he decides to hang out on the TV guide channel for a while(which almost never shows the actual channels that we have) while they discuss some obnoxious celebrity like Paris or Britney. Finally, back to boring sports programming. Oh, now Jay Leno is on! Two minutes after his ice cream is finished and about .5 seconds after Jay has started his monologue (which DH insists upon watching--ugh), he's asleep & snoring on the couch (head back, mouth open to catch any flying insects).
The surfing drives me INSANE when he does it while we're watching our shows (or, my shows). I now insist upon having the remote during Grey's Anatomy & Lost. If I didn't, I would probably smother him with a pillow because he made me miss 30 seconds of some very vital plot twist...
- December 3, 2007 at 2:33 AM
Oh, you are an evil woman... How could you post the link to the Yeti Orca Slap game? I can't stop throwing snowballs at penguins now! My daughter doesn't really need to be fed, does she?
- December 3, 2007 at 3:15 PM
- ImprovGal said...
:) Love your posts!
You love to waste time on the internet? Try this one. My husband found it by searching for, wait for it, "wasting time on the internet".
This is #1 and I can vouch for its effectiveness. The funny part is, it's not even a game! I dare you to not get addicted. :) http://chir.ag/stuff/sand/
- December 4, 2007 at 10:18 PM
- Colleen said...
I can't stand the sound of someone noisily chewing and swallowing their food, either. Well, I tolerate my kids, but otherwise, I get nauseous. I had a professor in college that used to suck on mints all day during class to fight her raging halitosis. As we were working on a class project, she would come up behind us and watch what we were doing, the whole time sucking away on that candy. I nearly yakked in her classroom more than once. I think I'd almost rather risk the halitosis than listen to her eat her mints.
- December 28, 2007 at 1:10 PM


text:
Larry was, understandably, shocked and upset by this.
But, as Dr. Edward Peters assures us all, there is nothing to worry about here, except Larry's intemperate language and lack of charity toward an unfortunate widow. Oh, sure, the baptism was illicit, but it was valid (if it took place as described). The publication of the story in the diocesan seminary's magazine, and the further placement of that story online on the diocesan seminary's website, does not in any way mean that the Archdiocese of Detroit is in the habit of condoning and celebrating illicit baptisms. In fact, as Dr. Peters lectures us:
1. Christ made sacraments powerful things, and baptism, in light of its ability to be conferred by virtually anyone, is perhaps the most powerful of all. But when Christ instituted Baptism, He surely knew it would be misadministered countless times. Such misuses should spur correction, not insult.
2. This baptism was not the last act of an AOD deacon (it was the act of a woman watching her husband die), and so the episode reveals absolutely nothing about the quality of the education that the deacon received at Sacred Heart Major Seminary nor about the sacramental policy of the Archdiocese of Detroit. Claims to the contrary are recklessly false.
3. The larger the organization or group, the more members there will be who can do something (wittingly or otherwise) to embarrass that community. That's always been true, of course, but our electronic information age gives instant prominence to the bizarre, casting it as representative of the whole, when it is no such thing. It's time people start remembering that.
4. The internet has one huge advantage over print media: the internet reaches people instantly, while print requires time. The Mosaic editorial statement that, as a matter of fact, will address the grandma baptism story won't appear for two more months; in the meantime, this sad episode will be used by some as another stick with which to beat a local Church.
What else can I say? Personally, I support using the internet more forcefully to defend the Church against her cyberspace detractors. Not that every misrepresentation can be corrected or every thrust parried, of course—there are far too many to deal with—but at least some sort of qualified, reasonable, fact-based response should, I think, be made to such attacks when circumstances allow.
With that, we can all breathe a huge sigh of relief, and go back to worrying about much graver matters, like the matter of whether or not every single married Catholic deacon and married Catholic priest (especially given the new Anglican ordinariate) is required, ought to be required, should be required, or must be required to observe canon law by refusing henceforth to pay the marriage debt to his wife.
Priorities, people.
I should note that Larry is being the good guy, here; he removed the language that offended Dr. Peters (though I don't find the abbreviation for the phrase "Whither the Ferret-badger?" all that offensive, myself) and has apologized for jumping to the non-expert conclusion that a) this baptism was a bit shady and b) the fact that an account of it appeared in a print magazine published by the diocesan seminary implied that the diocese didn't really have a problem with it. Larry is a better person than I am; I can only suppose that since this story was not originally flung out into that lawless, Wild West atmosphere that is the Internet but instead appeared in one of those slowly-produced and (ordinarily) carefully edited expert-type publications, the only charitable conclusion to be reached is that the magazine's editor or editors had a really, really bad day when they previewed that selection prior to inserting it into their publication, and totally missed the bit about the illicit baptism. Just skimming, you know, the way editors do.
I am not so good. In fact, I'm a bit tired of this sort of thing. I started getting tired of it when I brought to a long-ago pastor's attention the little matter of a visiting priest ad-libbing his way so much through the consecration that it was hard to tell if a valid consecration had occurred, and received a reply in which, while my concerns were held to be just, my lack of the proper spirit of thankfulness and gratitude for this visiting priest's ministry and generosity in saying Mass at our parish were heartily deplored. I continued being tired of it when that same pastor refused to listen to the choir's valid and legitimate concerns about a new choir director; that time, I just left the parish to go elsewhere, because I knew that we were just disposable lay volunteers in that pastor's eyes. I've continued to be tired of it when I've read of scandals and horror stories, of lay people treated like dirt for raising honest and just questions about parish life, sacramental preparation, and other important issues. I've been tired of it when I've seen the faith of good people destroyed by the shrugging lack of concern and near-violent apathy emanating from the penumbras and porticos of chancery buildings all across this country of ours; and now I'm rather tired of hearing someone like Larry, who clearly loves his Church, tarred with the "cyberspace detractors of the Church" brush merely for pointing out what should be glaringly, blindingly obvious: that forty plus years of horrible catechesis and liturgical dysfunction and clerical scandals have created a situation in which it's simply, sadly, not all that surprising to turn the pages of some official American Catholic publication and read a positive account of an illicitly administered baptism.
Not all that surprising. But just as disheartening as ever.

subset: commoncrawl


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Hey there, I'm flipping through my Good Housekeeping that came a week or so ago, and you know that part where they feature a mom blog (towards the BACK of the mag), well imagine my suprise to find my favorite mom blogger there! I read you faithfully, you didn't mention you'd be featured in GH did you?
My bad. I think I only mentioned it on Facebook. Oops! Yep, a story from my blog is featured in February's Good Housekeeping! Page 199! Wheee!!!
My son says to tell you that he plays expert on drums and guitar. Show-off. He wants you to say "Oh he's so handsome and good at rock band!"
Oh, he is SO handsome and good at Rock Band!!! LOL! Actually, I am impressed. I only play it on the easy setting. I tried medium and got all confused and started flailing around like a total spaz.
Can you video yourself playing?!
Actually, Jackson did videotape me and Savannah playing, but I couldn't bring myself to post it. I look
Did I read that right? Your washing machine is broken???? EEK... run away, run away... the laundry monster is going to gobble you up! How--in--the--world-- are-- you--surviving? I know... just make your kids wear their clothes inside out on every other day? oh yeah, right. They already do that. (joking....) When are you going to get a new one? Now, I'm really worried about you!
Joe fixed it! That's why I keep him around. He fixes stuff and cleans up puke. ;)
It's Jackson with Vitiligo, right? My Caleb's is spreading and I was wondering, are you doing any kind of treatment for it? If so, what? My son's is moving to his face and neck now.
Yep, it's Jackson. (for those who don't know - Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease where the person loses the pigment in their skin resulting in white-white patches.) When he was first diagnosed, we tried doing a combination of creams and sunlight exposure (it was summer at the time). It didn't work at all though. The dermatologist tried to talk us into doing these UV treatments along with another expensive cream. The thing is - at the time, Joe was never around and the doctor's office was far from my house. I didn't want to have to schlepp all the kids to the office several times a week after school. And none of this was covered by my insurance either. And, so far, it hasn't affected his face or very visible parts of his body.
I know a lot of people seek treatment and there's nothing wrong with that. If it's affecting a person's self esteem, treatment should be considered. I think this is probably especially true with people who have darker complexions where the loss of pigment is more obvious. But it doesn't really bother Jackson at this point. In fact, he thinks it pretty cool that he "glows in the dark"! (The white patches fluoresce under black light.) Right now, the only thing I'm doing is talking to him about the fact that it doesn't matter what a person looks like on the outside. I tell him he's a funny, quick-witted, compassionate, smart kid and that's what counts.
If it starts to bother him in the future, we'll look into treatments.
Wow, I can't believe you haven't commented on the fact that our country has a new president. Are you ignoring this little tidbit?
Yup. There are thousands of political blogs out there. Mine's not one of them.
since im not a math person i have to ask how old where you when Austin was born?
Oh boy, totally scaring me now. Is it true though -- did they really say the transition from 8th to 9th grade is the third most traumatic experience for them?
They actually said that. I think it's ridiculous. High school (and everything else) is what you make of it. I'm just encouraging him to do his best and have fun.
And more importantly, how many drinks and what kind did you have at Cheesecake factory?
Who me? I don't drink, Steph. ;)
What's that really cool new ad on the right side of your blog. It's so EYE-CATCHING! WOW! Kind of makes me want to roll up my sleeve and let someone jab my arm with a needle all for the sake of saving someone's life!
Very subtle, Manic. OK, everyone click on that ad over there ----> It'll take you to Manic's blog where she has a contest going. Donate blood, save a life, and be entered for a trip to Florida!
Get ready though - with high school came my son's first girlfriend.
EEEEEEEEEK!!! I had my first boyfriend the summer between 8th and 9th grades! Oh no! I hadn't really thought about that. Nooooo, make it stop!!!
So many comments!! Do you have time to read them all?
Yep. I read every single one. I've really sucked at answering comments and email this past month though. I just can't keep up. I wish I had time to answer every one. Please know that I read them all and appreciate your comments and emails more than you can possibly know!
Oooo, and Beth at I Should be Folding Laundry took some great pictures from the TNT luncheon on Friday. Here are a couple of them...
me and Monica Potter
all us blogger girls with Monica
Monica Potter from Trust Me
And here are a couple pics from the Clay's and Brooklyn's birthday party...
me & my nephew Dominick
me & my Yia Yia
me & the birthday kiddos. Nice fake smiles! It looks like they're terrified!
me & my baby
Miss Lex with her new glasses
my monkey with his monkey cake
It's supposed to be Curious George. It doesn't really look like him though. I guess it's not too bad considering I used a bear-shaped pan.
Brooklyn's Sleeping Beauty cake
All, but her head was edible


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Call Us Toll Free!
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Why need to buy Health Insurance in Inola Oklahoma?
For those who are self employed or have a job with no health benefits buying health insurance is a good idea. If you have health insurance you can cover yourself and your family. In case you don't have it, you take a risk. You really need to get health insurance in case you suffer from chronic health conditions and you need regular health care. If you are one of those healthy people who don't suffer from anything, you are lucky but yet you need to buy health insurance because it covers accidents and anything else that might happen to you. Imagine something happens and you have no health insurance, then you will have to pay huge bills for medical care.
In case you consider yourself a healthy person, it is best for you to get the plans with the higher deductibles and co-pays which have a lower monthly premium. If you suffer from a chronic illness like asthma, then I would suggest you went for a plan with a lower deductible. This is what you should consider carefully before you decide to buy health insurance.
Health is surely one's wealth indeed. But it is true that one does not think of getting their insurance done against the illnesses until the time comes when they have to face some serious health related problems. Health insurance has become a necessity in the present scenario.
Inola Health Insurance
Inola Health Insurance
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Benefits of Health Insurance 74036 OK
Before health insurance became common, patients had to pay for their own medical costs. Thanks to the advancement of health insurance programs, people can now rest assured knowing that in case they do get ill, they will be able to get health insurance benefits which includes:
Preventive healthcare
Depending on the insurance program you sign off on, you can anticipate your health plan to cover your routine healthcare like yearly medical check-ups and the likes. Almost all insurance companies believe in the wisdom of preventing sicknesses so they have incorporated preventive healthcare as one of the health insurance benefits.
Emergency healthcare
One of the essential health insurance benefits that almost all plans give includes emergency healthcare coverage. Persons are sensitive to illnesses and this is exactly the event and the risk which you have paid your health insurance premiums for. This can include coverage for medical procedures like severe injuries. It is nevertheless important to inform you that not all of these health insurance benefits are given by all health insurance plans. The health insurance benefits you purchase will in fact depend on your health insurance premiums. Usually, but not in all cases, the more costly premiums have the highest number of coverage.
Health Insurance with Low Income in Inola
Low income health insurance is one of the top priorities for health insurance reforms extending it to maximum numbers of uninsured individuals and families. However, till the health reforms become effective, there is always a concern for individuals and families to find low income health insurance plans in OK.It is noticeable here that the elderly population of the state is one of the largest in the country. The varied demography of population of Inola demands a thorough and comprehensive healthcare system that can be extended to low income families who are not able to afford group health insurance or buy health insurance privately.
Where is Health Insurance Companies Located in 74036 OK
Health insurance purchasing cooperatives to increase insurance affordability in the small-group market; and the Healthy Kids Program"a school-based program of subsidized insurance for low-income children. With the help of built-in limits on tax revenues and a fiscally conservative legislature, all of people in Oklahoma are able to be a significant source of support for the indigent.
Statistics show that the OK has one of the highest uninsured rates in the country. This high rate may be attributable to the state's high poverty rate, and there is surely a great need of low income health plan options for residents of Rogers County. The proposed health reforms would be able to deliver the effective measures to curtail this size of uninsured families through low income health insurance plans.
Health Insurance Best Quotes OK
Internet is the best possible alternate which can help in finding a good plan at an affordable price. Endless numbers of sites are available at the internet which can provide information in even some seconds. The quotes which are displayed back by the companies are highly rated and are according to the coverage demanded. The quotes are then available at an affordable price.
The rates of the policy like that of life insurance differ from one company to the other. Determining the correct life insurance policy is again very important. The types of policies differ from one person to another. The policy liked by person A can be rejected by person B. One type of plan enlists the payment for a specified value of coverage and then same amount can be redeemed. Another plan will pay the money back at regular intervals of time. Both the policies explained have equal benefits. But the choice of the policies will depend upon the demand of the consumers.
The insurance policies are different in every part of the country and the state will decide its parameters according to the needs of the consumers. The complaints of the consumers are then worked upon as soon as possible. The total number of the complaints are then listed in complaint sheet which is worked upon to get desired result.
Health Insurance Exchange 74036
Health insurance is actually a protection against medicinal expenses. Non-life insurance corporations propose health insurance. Nevertheless, it could be bought as an extra advantage condition with your life cover plan with few limitations. You have to make your payments in installments or as in the form of lump sum amount. Health insurance frequently offers either straight expense or compensation for operating cost linked with illnesses and damages.
The biggest advantage of health insurance Exchange is that it houses the cheapest medical policies. It is also a resident's best bet if he is on the lookout for authentic information on health plans, health insurance, government sponsored policies and functioning of the Exchange.
The health Exchange will completely change the way residents look at their health coverage. It will make insurance more affordable and almost scam free. However, the biggest drawback of the Exchange is that initially only individuals and small firms with 50 or less employees can purchase plans from the state based online platform. Only those health insurance companies who abide by the federal guideline and spend at least 80% of premium dollars on providing healthcare will be allowed to display their products on the exchange.
The Exchange will be a big step in regulating the health insurance sector in the country. It will make the market more competitive and it will the residents who will stand to gain by getting the best deals on their health plans.
Effective Health Insurance Plan Guidelines Rogers County
It helps you to protect yourself and your family during financial constrains during any medical emergency. While these days insurance is one benefit which many employers provide to their employees. And one of the most advantageous products which would definitely suit to your needs is that group health insurance plans in which you can choose the corporate health insurance plans.
Know about the different types of the health insurance plans available. It is very important that you understand the different types of plans available in the market and then a quick decision could be taken. A network plan allows the doctors to use the services of those doctors who are present within a network. There is service called as fee for service wherein on the selection of a particular doctor the doctor would reimburse a part of the fee. It is very important to find the needs of your employees.
Do a research on the employees needs. Some of the questions which you should ask the employees about the group health insurance plans; are they satisfied with the current plan? Do they possess any problem in case doctor is changed? Would it be a good alternative if the doctor is changed and this would cause a reduction in the payment of premium? What are more significant regular medical visits or emergency visits? Once these questions are answered it would be helpful and it would also provide you an overview about the different aspects.
If you are seeking private health insurance but think that the additional costs may be out with your budget, don't worry. There are a few easy ways at keeping costs down. Comparing the policies of many insurance providers is always an easy way to save money and find the best deal for you. Some insurers offer flexible policies where you get to decide what you is covered in your premium. By doing this, you can cover your essential needs and reduce your premium.


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Sluggish performance and computer crashes happen when a program (either an application or part of the operating system) stops performing its expected function and stops responding to other parts of the system. Often the offending program may simply appear to freeze. If your PC is crashing frequently, it may be the result of malware symptoms that have gone undetected on your system. Malicious threats such as spyware and computer viruses may be at work, tracking your activities, tampering with your files and stealing personal information.
You visit a Web site, open an email message or download a picture. Somewhere in your normal online computing activities, malware silently loads itself onto your computer. Once on your PC, it sets up shop by installing itself in many places. This makes it difficult to remove and can lead to disruption of all the files and programs to which malware has attached itself.
Malware in action can consume a substantial amount of your computer's memory, leaving limited resources for other legitimate programs to use. This can lead to extremely sluggish performance of vital programs, like your Internet browser or operating system and a slow PC overall.
The most noxious malware can cause more than inconvenient disruptions. It can bring your PC crashing down to a grinding halt by:
With all these malware symptoms wreaking havoc on your PC, you can never count on programs to run properly or files to remain intact. Eventually you may not even be able to open programs or start your computer at all.
There are a few simple things you can do right away to prevent further malware infection and speed your PC performance and stop frequent PC crashing:
The best way to avoid PC performance problems is to prevent malware infections in the first place. Products like Webroot Internet Security Essentials and Webroot AntiVirus with Spy Sweeper guard against malware entering your computer and prevent it from slowing your PC through damage to your files and programs. A good anti-malware program searches every place on your PC where spyware and viruses can hide and removes every trace to boost your PC performance. While free anti-spyware and antivirus downloads are available, they just can't keep up with the continuous onslaught of new malware strains. Malware symptoms that have gone undetected can often do the most damage to your PC, so it's critical to have up-to-the-minute, guaranteed protection.


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« Back to people
Mouna AndraosFormer Adjunct, Alumni, Class of 2006
Mouna is Canadian and studied in Communications and Liberal Arts. She has always had an interest in cinema and more increasingly for new technologies. Previous to joining ITP, she has worked on various web and screen based projects with BlueSponge, a Montreal based new media company and now wants to expand her skills and knowledge through research.


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Patriots beat Saints, 30-27
Patriots beat Saints, 30-27
Tom Brady and Ryan Mallett led the Patriots onto the field before facing the Saints.
Ramon Humber put pressure on Tom Brady and forced an incomplete pass in the first quarter.
Brady escaped Cameron Jordan for an 11-yard rushing gain.
Brady ran past Tom Johnson in the first half.
Aqib Talib broke up a pass intended for the Saints' Jimmy Graham in the second quarter.
The Patriots' Stevan Ridley dove into the end zone for a touchdown.
Ridley celebrated his 1-yard rushing touchdown.
Ridley scored two touchdowns in the second quarter. Pictured: Brady (right) celebrated one of them with the running back.
Chandler Jones put pressure on Saints quarterback Drew Brees.
Kyle Arrington celebrated catching an interception in the fourth quarter.
Jerod Mayo signaled first down in front of the Saints' Jimmy Graham during the first quarter.
Kicker Stephen Gostkowski watched the flight of his 54-yard field goal in the third quarter.
Brees threw a pass against the Patriots in second-quarter action.
Arrington broke up a pass intended for Graham.
Kenbrell Thompkins is hit by a helmet-to-helmet tackle by Malcolm Jenkins for a 15-yard penalty.
Danny Amendola could not come up with the fingertip catch against the Saints.
Stevan Ridley was tackled by Jenkins after an 18-yard run in the first quarter.
Arrington knocked the ball out of Graham's hands in the fourth quarter.
Chandler Jones sacked Saints quarterback Drew Brees.
Chandler Jones (right) did a dance after the sack.
The Saints' Kenny Stills made a 34-yard touchdown reception late in the game.
Tom Brady drove the Patriots to a 30-27 win, however, with a 17-yard touchdown pass with five seconds left in the game.
Kenbrell Thompkins caught the game-winning pass.
Brady pointed to his bench after the play.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said after the game that it took "about five years" off of his life.


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Pattern: Aubergine (ravelry link)by IrishgirlieKnits
Yarn: BMFA Socks that Rock heavyweight, colorway Eggplanted (1 skein)
Needles: Size 8
Gauge: ~5 1/2 stitches/inch in pattern
Length: 5 1/2" x 70" (after blocking)
sl 1: slip 1 stitch
k: knit
p: purl
p2tog: purl 2 stitches together
FC: faux cable that creates a new stitch (I've done my best to explain this stitch both in words and pictures below); to complete the "faux cable," slip the right hand needle between the 2nd and 3rd stitches on the left needle and make a yarn over (you are essentially creating a new stitch, see picture a. below); pull the new stitch through and you have a new stitch on the right needle (see picture b. below); now knit stitches 1 and 2 on the left hand needle as normal, you have three stitches now on the right hand needle (see picture c. below).
a. b. c.
This pattern is a multiple of 4 stitches plus 2 stitches (1 slipped stitch at each end). The pattern can easily be modified in width (if you want to try to avoid pooling, try changing stitch count or needle size/gauge) or used with thicker or thinner yarns (see below).
Cast on 34 stitches (I used the German twisted long-tail cast on. My attempt to prevent curling. Seemed to work, not sure if it was necessary or not. I had just learned it at camp and wanted to try it!).
Row 1: Sl 1, k all
Row 2: Sl 1, p all
Row 3: Sl 1, *FC, k 2 * (repeat * * until last stitch), k1
Row 4: Sl 1, *p 3, p2tog * (repeat * * until last stitch), p 1
Row 5: Sl 1, *k 2, FC* (repeat * * until last stitch), k1
Row 6: Sl 1, p 1, p2tog, *p 3, p2tog* (repeat * * until last 3 stitches), p 3
Repeat rows 3-6 until desired length
Finish with a one row knit, one row purl, and then bind off. Please let me know if you have any questions or find any errors. Thanks!
credits: The "faux cable" stitch pattern appears in a Japanese reference moyouhen 500 boubariami moyoubetsu ketteiban.
I love the potential of this stitch pattern. It works so well with my favorite yarn and I love how changing the stitch count can easily change the look of this scarf. I wanted to show you my original gauge swatch (I know, I know...I swatched for a scarf?!!?!). Its in January One and had fewer stitches and at least from first go, didn't look like this colorway was going to pool quite the way Eggplanted did. Goes to show you what a few stitches can do, huh? I also was playing around with needle size here too (first part on size 8, ended with size 7).
I also did a mini-swatch in mediumweight STR and I was loving it, but the neverending chevron scarf came to mind, and I stopped. I was craving immediate gratification, but someday, maybe in mediumweight this would be pretty.
And tonight.... I cast on this. Just to see.....
Happy Knitting!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits


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BY: Brandy Zadrozny, The Daily Beast, 5.15.14
For the past three decades, the American Academy of Pediatrics—some 62,000 members strong—has been an outspoken voice on the issue of gun control, a position that has landed it on the NRA's (admittedly very long) list of enemies. In 1992, the AAP issued its first policy statement supporting a handgun and assault weapons ban, making it the first public health organization to do so, and it has long recommended that doctors talk about gun safety with parents. Since the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012, the AAP has stepped up attempts to educate parents about gun safety around children.
But as the fight over gun rights grows ever more virulent at the national level, the AAP and individual doctors have quietly begun to take a softer stance on the issue, turning their focus to peddling realistic policies rather than clinging to a hard-and-fast no-guns line.
On a recent Sunday in April, 70 doctors and scientists associated with the AAP filed into a convention center in Vancouver to discuss firearm injury prevention. Presenters clicked through PowerPoint slides highlighting topics such as risk factors for gun injuries, popular gun-safety myths, and stats on suicide and homicide due to guns in the home. "The issue of guns really follows directly from all the concerns we have about injuries in general. This is one kind of injury that endangers the health and life of kids," said Dr. Robert Sege, a Boston Medical Center pediatrician, who gave a presentation on how to talk about guns with parents.
The AAP's outgoing president, Thomas McInerny—who made the Sandy Hook massacre a call to action for gun safety during his one-year post—sat in the audience. While the AAP has been advocating for an end to gun violence for some 30 years now, the shooting in Newtown shocked the nation and galvanized the AAP's doctors to redouble their efforts in support of new gun-control measures. Newtown pediatrician Laura Nowacki lost eight of her patients in the massacre at Sandy Hook. "I've never spoken to the media until all of this happened. But I really believe I have to stand up. I have to use my voice," she told the AAP Newsin June.
Several more Newtown victims were patients of Dr. Richard Auerbach; he'd held two of them in his arms in the delivery room where they were born. Auerbach, along with other pediatricians, wrote to Congress last year in support of an ultimately doomed measure to ban semiautomatic assault weapons brought by Senator Diane Feinstein, a California Democrat.
Courtesy of http://www.thedailybeast.com/


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SAA operates the Airbus 340-300s, 340-600s and 340-200s on the route to London. This year, South African Airways has taken delivery of six new A330-200 aircraft, one of which is already operating to London Heathrow, with more to follow by the end of the year. This modern aircraft offers supreme ergonomics, an airy open cabin and sophisticated personal touch-screen TVs.
The A330-200 is the most cost-efficient, wide-body twin aircraft in operation and its green credentials are impressive. The cabin consists of 36 Business Class seats and 186 Economy Class seats.
Business Class customers will have flat-bed seats and laptop power at each one, as well as a USB port. The new aircraft will also offer a new and improved in-flight entertainment experience.
Airport Lounges
Business Class travelers are invited to retreat into world-class comfort as they prepare for their journey. The luxurious lounge facilities offer the same high standards you would expect from the aircraft.
South African Airways Business Class customers are also entitled to use The Star Alliance Departures and Arrivals Lounges.
The lounge is located in the duty-free shopping area in Heathrow Terminal 1, offering guests business facilities, complimentary food and drinks, dining and TV areas, complimentary international newspapers and magazines, free internet access and a children's play area.
The Star Alliance Arrivals Lounge offers customers a chance to refresh after their flight. The lounge overlooks the check-in hall and features showers, a breakfast buffet, a business centre and suit-pressing facilities.
The International Departures Baobab Business Class Lounge at O.R. Tambo International Airport is SAA's flagship departures lounge and rivals the best international airline lounges in the world. Customers can relax in the comfortable and tranquil new lounge, which unites luxury, modernity and practicality with a touch of African opulence. This is evident in the fittings, furniture and other finishes. The lounge includes a spectacular view of the ORTIA runway. Other luxuries include chaises longues, rainfall showers, an enclosed smoker's lounge, an audio-visual entertainment room, free WI-FI, internet, built-in private entertainment screens and a brightly decorated children's area. There is also a staffed bar and a self-service food area.
SAA's Arrivals Lounge in Johannesburg offers customers a chance to freshen up after a long journey, or even to check in with the office. You'll find a self-service food and beverage area, showers, a clothes-pressing service and a business centre. It is especially useful to customers transferring onto connecting flights.
Baggage requirements
Hand luggage
Hand baggage has to be kept within the allowed limits for safety reasons. Should the limits not be complied with, the baggage can be placed in the hold by the airline. Allowance for Economy Class: one piece not exceeding 8 kilograms, and Business Class: two pieces, each weighing 8 kilograms.
Checked-in luggage
Economy Class customers may take 23 kg baggage to London and 23 kg on their return. Business Class travelers may take 30 kg both ways.
Excess baggage
If you carry baggage over the allowed weight limit, you will have to pay for it. For excess baggage, travelling from London you will pay a charge of GBP35 per kg for every kg over the 23 kg limit.
Since 2009 South African passport holders have required a visa when travelling to Britain.
SAA flies between South Africa and London three times a day, two flights from Johannesburg and one flight a day from Cape Town:
SA234 departs daily at 20:00 from Johannesburg arriving at 06:25 in London
SA235 returns at 19:00 arriving at 07:00 in Johannesburg
SA236 departs daily at 21:15 from Johannesburg arriving at 06:55 in London
SA237 returns at 20:00 arriving in Johannesburg at 08:25
SA220 departs daily at 18:45 from Cape Town arriving at 06:20 in London
SA221 returns at 21:00 arriving in Cape Town at 10:05
We have launched a Fast Track Immigration service in London as of the 1st of June 2011. Business Class passengers get a voucher on board the aircraft to access the Fast Track Lane when they land in London. This is the only way in which they can access this service.
Click here for more info…
As of 1 August 2011 the later departing flight between Johannesburg and London will be operated using a brand new Airbus A330-200 aircraft. This has been introduced in response to customers' concerns regarding the quality of product operating these flights, now giving customers a world class product to match our true, African hospitality.
This new aircraft represents SAA's commitment to this key route, and travelers are encouraged to experience this new product for themselves.
Heathrow Express
Heathrow Express is the fastest way to travel between Heathrow Airport and central London; departing from London's Paddington station every 15 minutes.


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DETROIT (AP) — A review team scrutinizing Detroit's poor finances could make a recommendation this week that will help determine whether there's a state takeover of the city, Mayor Dave Bing said Tuesday.
Snyder appointed the team last month after Detroit was slow to fulfill promises to the state in a deal that allowed the city to avoid having an emergency manager take over its finances.
If the team determines Detroit is in a financial emergency, Republican Gov. Rick Snyder could appoint an emergency manager. Bing would have 10 days to appeal.
"I think the review team — maybe on the 11th or so — will go back to the governor with a recommendation," Bing told reporters Tuesday afternoon at City Hall. "With that recommendation it will be incumbent upon the governor to make a decision as to whether or not to bring somebody else in or to let us keep going forward.
"Our goal is to keep going forward. I've said from the very beginning, we didn't want an emergency manager."
Detroit has struggled with its cash flow for more than a year and has a budget deficit of about $327 million.
After a bill signing Tuesday, Snyder told reporters in Lansing that his administration is talking with potential emergency manager candidates for Detroit in case one is needed.
"That does not mean we're going to have an emergency manager," he said.
The review team is the second appointed by Snyder to pore over Detroit's books. A year ago, the first team stopped short of declaring a financial emergency, which would have provided the governor with the impetus to appoint a manager.
Instead, Snyder and Bing worked out a consent agreement last spring that would keep him on as mayor while providing some state support for Detroit's restructuring.
The deal came without any direct state funding.
"I think we can manage our way out of this, but not without support," Bing said Tuesday.
Bing has been stymied in some of his efforts by a City Council reluctant to rubber stamp some promises made to the state. On Tuesday, he applauded the board for approving more than $7 million in outside legal and other contracts related to Detroit's restructuring.
The nine-member council also voted 6-3 to approve Bing's recommendation to remove Krystal Crittendon as Detroit's corporation counsel. Bing said Crittendon will return to a position she held previously in the city's Law Department.
Crittendon has been a burr in Bing's side for months. He accused her of stalling his office's movement toward fulfilling some requirements called for in the consent agreement.
She asked the state Court of Claims to overturn the consent agreement. A judge later dismissed the suit.
Bing asked Crittendon to resign in June. She refused.
Associated Press writer Dave Eggert in Lansing contributed to this report.