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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32121635657675165522018-08-28T02:22:44.739-05:00I'm In There Somewhere:Figuring out this crazy life, one day at a time.Kellyhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3212163565767516552.post-34026892994658413192012-10-05T13:44:00.003-05:002012-10-05T13:44:48.659-05:00Where'd Kelly Go???? THERE SHE IS!Hi.

It's weird to be back. It's been a long, crazy summer, but nothing remotely as exciting as that sounds. I think I may be on my way back to finding me. The last couple of days haven't seemed quite as difficult. I don't feel AS tired, AS beat down, AS (insert negative adjective here) as I have. The ol' demons resurfaced for a while, and although they're still around, I'm doing much better at knocking them off my shoulders and not listening to their diatribe about how awful things are and how awful I am. I've got a lot of work to do, and I may take this forum as a way to get some things out of my system and maybe even some feedback, but I want to find me and my sense of humor and my love of life again.

Things are... interesting. I'm now living in Kansas, working, doing the geographical single mom thing, because we decided that we needed to be closer to family to get some extra support with Quinn. Hubs is still doing his Army thing (and doing it well - I am so proud of him), but we know that Quinn needs stability and family in order for him to succeed. Speaking of the little bugger - he started preschool on 20 September. PRESCHOOL. I'm dying. The days go by so fast it's obscene.

Violet decided right before she went to her mom's for the summer that she wanted to try school there this year, so she is in Arizona. Things are going well for her, and while I miss her, I'm excited for her.

My life today sure isn't what I had anticipated, but it's what I've got. And with a little help from my friends, I think I got this.

Kellyhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3212163565767516552.post-48603656736745134222012-04-29T17:40:00.002-05:002012-04-29T17:40:26.620-05:00In where I am a complete hypocrite.Fucking commercials. (I know, we've been over this.) I have to tell you something. I bought something SOLELY on the commercial. OH MY GOD MY SHOULDERS ARE SO LIGHT RIGHT NOW!

You will usually find me kvetching about the crap they advertise on TV, or more so that the commercials are crap, and what douchenugget CEO signed off on THAT to promote their product? I mean, the majority of commercials could have been written by my two year old and been loads more effective and entertaining. Er, no offense to any advertising folks out there. Actually, total offense. If you are responsible for shit like the TaxMasters, J.G. Wentworth, 1-800 I have mesothelioma or a transvaginal mesh because my uterus fell out and I want a lawyer commercials - you, sir, are an asshole. OH MY GOD MY SHOULDERS ARE EVEN LIGHTER! I DID NOT KNOW THAT WAS POSSIBLE! WHOO!

Anyway, so I bought something just because of the commercial. Not even really because of the commercial, but because of the ridiculously catchy ditty they sing. It is so catchy, in fact, that even the Preteen sings it when it comes on, and we have actions for it. Yep, I'm talking about Miller 64. (I know, I totally named dropped in the hope that someone will read this and send me a shit ton of free beer. I ain't too proud to beg, y'all.) THAT COMMERCIAL WORMED ITS WAY INTO MY BRAIN AND MADE ME BUY THE BEER! And yes, I hummed the song in the beer aisle, and did the actions - which consist of swinging my arm back and forth in front of me, pretending I'm holding a big ass mug of brewski. (I also have no shame.)

PS - I like the beer. But there's not many I don't like. And the fact that it's only 64 calories per bottle just means I can eat more Nutella, since evidently it's not good for you?! W.T.F.Kellyhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3212163565767516552.post-27784481145955481662012-04-23T21:40:00.001-05:002012-04-23T21:40:55.517-05:00Blog? Blog? Wherefore Art Thou, Blog?My other blog, documenting this adventure/journey/whatever you want to call it - LIFE, is here: http://www.stillmyquinn.wordpress.com. Sorry, Blogger, you're kind of bitchy lately, and if you don't watch it, I may move this one over there, too.

Thanks to Brett for giving me the push I needed to share it. There are scores of Autism blogs out there, and if anyone has any suggestions of must-reads, help a sistah out, yo.Kellyhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3212163565767516552.post-27160892926323912182012-04-23T15:22:00.001-05:002012-04-23T15:22:24.163-05:00This is not a mirage. It is an actual post.Hey peeps. I need to apologize for my absence. I'm going to try my best to be around more often, but I lost my funny for a while - still not sure if it's back - and I didn't want to be Debbie Downer and harsh any melons with my depression. Because that is exactly what it was, and is (and will continue to be), compounded by the news that my beautiful, ornery boy has been diagnosed with Autism. I'm going to address that journey in another blog, and I will post the link here later if anyone is interested. That will be where I get real - real mad, real sad, real proud, real everything. If you don't want to stop by, because really, it will be a roulette of emotions over there, don't feel obligated. If you want to join me and my family on this Autism adventure, please join me. I would love suggestions and advice. Celebrate successes and reassess what needs to be done differently with us, but do not feel sorry for us. All that has changed in our lives is a line on Q's medical chart, some extra appointments, and some new people in our lives. I am of the school of thought that a diagnosis is not a label, not a box to put my kid in, but a tool to help us help him be the most that he can be. And I can pretty much guarantee that this boy will teach me more than I will ever teach him.

I'm not going to lie and tell you that my heart doesn't hurt. It does. There are moments I feel absolutely broken. And then I look at him. And like the Grinch, my heart grows three sizes. And I remember why I wanted to be a mother so badly. Because every second I get to spend with that boy makes life worth living. Every smile, every frown, every flap, squeak, stomp, and squawk - it's what makes him Quinn. And I wouldn't trade a minute of it. Ever.

Thanks. Oh, and I love you guys.
<3Kellyhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3212163565767516552.post-6317846096985734182012-04-05T15:48:00.000-05:002012-04-05T15:48:16.660-05:00Questions I need answeredA lot of shit bugs me. Like people who use alot instead of a lot (MOM.). Therefore, I've compiled a list of seemingly innocent questions that have not been answered in my 35 years on this planet. If you know the answer, please enlighten me. As always, points for creativity.

Who decided exactly what a serving size of cereal is? 3/4 of a cup ain't cutting it, people.

Why do kids who wear diapers poop within 5 minutes of having a clean, dry, perfect diaper put on?

Why do dogs need to go back out within five minutes of coming in?

Why must said dogs also start barking 10 minutes after the smallest child is in bed?

Why does it always rain the hardest right when I need to get in or out of my car?

Why do all rental properties have carpets that can be stained when you spill something like water on them?

Why do dogs cropdust? As ugly as their farts are, you'd think they'd at least own them.

Why did Nick Jr. take off my kid's favorite show? (To make me miserable, obvs.)

Why can't any of the maintenance guys/cable guys/etc. who are dispatched to our house be hot? (I can't put UPS/FedEx on this list - their drivers are so elusive, I've never seen them. I'm pretty sure they just yell "wingardium leviosa" and fly my shit from their truck.)

Why can't the people in my house put shit IN the trash can rather than on the counter ABOVE it.

Unfortunately, there's many more, but a dog just barfed in the middle of my oh-so-pristine living room carpet, so that takes precedence. Looking forward to the answers...
Kellyhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3212163565767516552.post-68701891976863004842012-04-03T09:01:00.000-05:002012-04-03T09:01:09.281-05:00Karma in action, episode 1*Our story begins last night during dinner. After staring at me for several minutes with a WTF look on his face, Hubs decides to speak:

Hubs: Kelly, you really need to start taking better care of your stuff! You have a huge scratch on your glasses!

Me: *disgruntled stinkeye/pretends to not hear him, while thinking, "Oh fuck right off, are you my dad???*

*Fast forward to 0453 this morning. Phone rings. It is Hubs.

Hubs: Could you look in the garage/driveway to see if there's a pair of socks out there? They aren't in the car, and I had stuck my iPod in it.

Me: Sure. Let me go get the flashlight.

...
...
...

Me: There's nothing here. Maybe you should take better care of your stuff?

BOOM.Kellyhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3212163565767516552.post-67678921847782676282012-04-02T15:09:00.000-05:002012-04-02T15:09:49.958-05:00Where's the sign up sheet for straitjacket fittings?Yay, a post! In bullet format. Because I'm too tired and lazy today for a proper introduction. Or a complete sentence, it appears. I'll discuss my absence from ye olde blog later. Oh yay! A complete sentence! Uh...

Thoughts as of late:

I wonder if some nighttime Triaminic accidentally got into someone's applesauce if he'd actually take a nap today.

Dog, one of your balls is bigger than the other. How do I know this? They're on my leg. FUCK! YOUR BALLS ARE ON MY LEG! GETEMOFF! GETEMOFF!

I wish it would snow.

I think my power animal is a sloth.

I ate enough at lunch to feed Oprah's school in wherever for a, well, meal?

I'd really like to get paid to tweet. I can promote something! How about the phone number for Binder and Binder? Or Taxmasters? Or the transvaginal mesh and mesothelioma lawyers?

I could really use a cabana boy to fan me and bring me fruity drinks today.

You'd think by now Febreze could create a formula that could cover the smell of both dog and grown man ass.

I am officially addicted to Nutella. And that dark chocolate peanut butter I found at Publix. Holy Manna From Supermarket.

The seat coolers in my car trick me into thinking I peed my pants.

I want my husband to experience back labor for just one day.

My son discovered, much to his chagrin, that the dog's nose does not honk like mommy's.

Whoever decided to give Toodles on MMCH a voice should die a thousand deaths.

ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK GO KU!!!

Kellyhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3212163565767516552.post-58160336262889960952012-03-22T08:51:00.000-05:002012-03-22T08:51:00.937-05:00Winter, you ignorant slut.Would it have killed you to show up for a little while this year? Let me tell you what your selfishness resulted in, mmkay? Mmmkay.

None of the critters around here hibernated. Therefore, my dogs were ape shit stupid all winter. Also? The amount of roadkill was ridiculous, and continues to be so. Last time I checked, I lived IN town, so I'm not sure how a deer was hit near my house. You gave these creatures a false sense of security, Winter. All these deaths are your fault.

Since none of the critters around here hibernated, they took the time to not only heckle my pets, but to get busy having the secks. And the secks means not A baby, no no no... but LITTERS OF CRITTERS. Bob Barker can talk about spaying and neutering all he wants to, but have you ever tried to neuter a squirrel? Didn't think so.

It is entirely too early in the year to be forced to wear summer clothing. People be pasty and ashy, yo. Also? You can't wear white before Easter - AND YOU KNOW THIS.

You probably fucked up the space-time continuum.

My vehicle was painted white by Ford Motor Co. Thanks to you, it is now yellow with pollen. NOT OKAY. If I wanted a yellow Expedition, that's what I would have gotten. No, no I wouldn't. I could have bought a school bus instead.

Because of the "very high pollen count", I am forced to keep my kids inside, which makes me stabby. Thanks for taking away my "me time", Winter.

I blame the tornadoes on you and your bitchassness.

You're fired, whore. I might as well move to somewhere you don't exist, like Florida. And yep, I'll blame my frizzy afro and greasy skin on you, too. Have a nice day.

Kellyhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3212163565767516552.post-81612356281344384452012-03-17T08:14:00.000-05:002012-03-17T08:14:42.948-05:00Ten years ago yesterday...My brother and sis-in-law got married. Happy Anniversary, you crazy kids! It was lovely. It was one of the last family events that my grandparents were able to attend together and enjoy. It was also a family event in which I fell down a flight of stairs and ended up in the emergency room and high on pain meds and missed the party.

On this St. Patrick's Day, I hope the luck o'the Irish is on my side and I can keep my klutziness (yeah, it's a word, Blogger, kindly erase your red squiggly line.) in check. I made it through yesterday relatively unscathed...

May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours! Kellyhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3212163565767516552.post-49941482817144888292012-03-13T10:46:00.000-05:002012-03-13T10:46:09.095-05:00My Last Will and TestamentI have decided that one can die from being tired. Physically tired, mentally tired, emotionally tired, tired of bullshit, tired of crappy reality TV (HELLO, Bachelor?), tired of lack of sunshine, tired of toddlers playing in the slobbery dog bowl, tired of cleaning up dog barf and hearing said dog barf, tired of snotty attitudes, tired of the same mess magically appearing milliseconds after you cleaned it up... Do I really need to go on? I didn't think so. Anyway, I figure that since it seems I'm sprouting new sparkly hair on my head every 30 seconds, I should probably write my will since I'll look 90 by this weekend.

So, without further adieu, The Last Will and Testament of Kelly Jo Rhoades:

I, Kelly Jo Rhoades, (yeah, my middle name is Jo, shut up) being of not even close to sound mind or healthy body, do declare the following should occur upon my passing from being fucking tired:

To my loving children: There are only about three things in this house that are worth anything. It might be best to call the guys from American Pickers (you know, since they have a store in Nashville now), and see what they'd be willing to give you. And NO, my Bon Jovi/Aerosmith/Poison/Journey CDs do NOT count as antiques.

To my darling husband: I hope you have a grand time spending my life insurance money. Please make sure my eptitaph reads: "Here lies Kelly, beloved wife and mother. She's saving seats for her friends." Also, please spend the money (read: hide it in an off shore island account) before Sallie Mae comes a'knockin'.

To my beloved dogs: Let's be real. I'm not a crazy pet person who leaves shit in their will to their pets, no matter how much they're loved.

To Sallie Mae/Direct Loans/Nelnet: I wish you good luck, motherfuckers! And no, I didn't fake my own death to get out of paying back my loans, although I have contemplated it. Just kidding. Maybe.

Electronically signed this 13th of March, 2012,
KellyKellyhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3212163565767516552.post-38462734070476670322012-03-09T11:04:00.000-06:002012-03-09T11:04:49.882-06:00Shit that gave me the giggles this week.I've had kind of a bleh week. I guess that's what happens when you're afflicted by the plague. Combine that with arguing with The Preteen about the fact that there is no way in hell she brushed her teeth this morning while she lied to my face, I needed to go back and look at stuff I've seen this week on The Internet to give me some laughs. That, and I decided booze before noon, even though it's Friday, wouldn't be the smartest idea. See, I'm showing responsibility! Yay me! Uh...

Anyway, these are a combination of new this week and ones I have had for a while, but they all made me laugh. Happy Friday, peeps - I hope you laugh too.

First of all, who doesn't love Gene Wilder? B) I seriously laughed my ass off. Not that 18 year olds can't have outstanding political points, and I admire the passion, I just remember what were my priorities when I was 18, and it certainly wasn't political agendas or damning the man.

This needs no caption. Nice legs, POTUS. Those heels are workin' those calves!

This is precisely why I don't have cats. Well, not precisely why. If it was precisely why, that cat wouldn't have shredded toilet paper, but pissed on a couch.

This is why I have children.

HAAAH!

It is written, it is written indeed.

Right? Boppin' field mice on the head is bad juju, Foo Foo.

Your mom jokes bring me such joy.

I might have peed my pants a little when I saw this. Thanks, childbirth.

Happy Friday! I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend! We're supposedly going to a car show. There'd better be beer, or I might have to run to REI and buy a tent and occupy the shit out off it. xoxoxoKellyhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3212163565767516552.post-52173409000215307632012-03-08T09:51:00.000-06:002012-03-08T09:51:47.266-06:00Blame this post on Twitter. Sad turns to mad, which turns to action.NCIS is one of my favorite shows, even though I'm super behind in the series. The story lines are usually great, the cast is superb, and can Gibbs and DiNozzo get any sexier? I think not. But really, Abby is the reason I watch. It is so refreshing and inspiring to see a strong female character breaking barriers. Abby is smart, stubborn, fiercely loving and lovable, and loyal to a fault. She's real. I just love her to pieces. AND, thanks to the interwebs and the twitter, I am able to learn more about the actress that plays her, Pauley Perrette.

Pauley has been all over twitter this morning sharing facts about stalking, as she has a stalker who has been harassing (for lack of a better word) her to the point where she is ready to leave the country. And due to stalking laws, not much can be done. Pauley relies on her faith, her fiance, and her strength to get her through. Insanely admirable.

I cannot fathom what it is like to attempt to sleep at night knowing you are the object of someone's obsession. I mean, I've been through some crap in my short life, stuff that I tend to relive, but they were isolated incidents that screwed me up some. Being in a situation that is constant, whether it be stalking, domestic violence, sexual harassment, etc. - my mind, heart, and stomach hurt for them. Living through an isolated incident - you have the choice whether to be a victim or to survive. A lingering situation does not give you that freedom.

Today is International Women's Day. Learn something today. Educate someone else. Hug your daughters and your sisters and your mothers. Teach your daughters and your nieces to be strong, vibrant, independent women who know their self-worth.

This seems a little scattered, and I must say that I do not claim that only women deal with these situations - I know better - but I just needed to say something, as my life has changed a little bit this morning. All because of the twitter.

I really need to find my funny again.Kellyhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3212163565767516552.post-59570478038691748632012-03-06T11:04:00.000-06:002012-03-06T11:04:07.648-06:00I'm so calling it in today.We don't have school today because the school is a voting site, so I took the opportunity to take some pictures of what our house looks like on a day off from school. For those of you who saw them on Facebook, you will look at them again! And marvel at the cuteness of my children! And the disaster area known as my living room.

Shit everywhere, cartoons on, a screaming boy, and a girl with a bucket on her head. Life at my house.

This dog is large. My kid is two seconds from collapsing the basket in this picture. He survived.

Take one more fucking picture of me and I'll slowly get up and walk away because I don't move very fast and I wouldn't hurt a fly.

I'll patiently wait for you to get the clothes basket off your butt so you can get up and feed me. "I'm watching Wizards of Waverly Place. You've got a good 23 minutes to wait."

TIMMMMMMMBBBBBEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRR!!

I AM THE COMMANDER OF THIS OPERATION. REMEMBER THIS, OR I PITY THA FOO!

Mom is so going to show this picture when I get a girfriend. And when I graduate. And when I get married, isn't she? Yep. Yep I am.

DO MY BIDDING, MINION! (I'm so glad you're home today.)

After a short intermission, we will return you to your regularly scheduled program of yelling, throwing, wrasslin', and other boy stuff.

Sissy, did you know you have a bucket on your head? AND THAT I WANTED TO SIT HERE?

Annnnnnnnnnnd, it's nap time.

Thank heavens.

Kellyhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3212163565767516552.post-84375091176031555702012-03-04T20:34:00.000-06:002012-03-04T20:34:40.154-06:00Parenting at it's finest - Take 1It has come to my attention that we (read: me) have been somewhat slacking on the consistency part of parenting lately. Now, don't get me wrong, Hubs doesn't even know the meaning of consistent (bless him), but I've come to the conclusion that picking my battles helps with my anxiety and chills me the fuck out a little bit. That being said, the following is a list of things that I probably should work a little harder on with my children lest they become feral and I have to let them out into the wild:

Allowing The Preteen to watch Hubs play Zombie Island or some shit on the xbox where they use choice phrases as "they all a bunch of dead zombie muthafuckas" and "fucking fuck we gwine die!" She loves watching her dad play video games, but this should probably cease and desist, even though she says "Mom, I know not to use those words. Besides, I hear them on the bus anyway." /facepalm

Letting Captain Awesome crawl on and sit/stand on the coffee table. Seriously, he gets up there every five minutes, and if I ignore it, he eventually gets down...

Deciding fig newtons and popcorn are acceptable meals.

Pajamas are the new daywear.

I've left the front door unlocked and found him in the front yard waving at cars.

The toy room looks like a nuclear bomb site - always. I see no point in picking it up because it will be trashed in seconds after he wakes up.

Nick Jr (who I am really pissed off at for getting rid of Moose and Zee AND Jack's Big Music Show) and Disney Junior (who our fucking crappy cable company will not get the Disney Junior Channel, the fucking Nazis) have been teaching him more than I have.

I have threatened to UPS both of them to Zimbabwe lately more times than I'd like to admit.

On the other hand...

I just sat through Justin Bieber: Never Say Never because I love The Preteen so much.

I watch Backyardigans ad nauseum because I love Captain Awesome so much.

I fucking love pajamas.

My kids are loved, borderline spoiled rotten, and are the moon to my sun.

Now excuse me while I go yell at one to rebrush her teeth and smother her with kisses, and then peek on my angel boy sleeping and hope I don't stub my toe on all the crap on his floor.

Kellyhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3212163565767516552.post-40909637272123492882012-02-28T14:40:00.000-06:002012-02-28T14:40:16.237-06:00She should have stabbed me. It would have hurt less.Today, oh today... you had such promise. I got up early to shower and make 30 lbs of sloppy joes for a fundraiser - I planned to load up the car, go feed some soldiers, load everything back up, unpack, clean the area-formerly-known-as-a-kitchen-but-looks-like-a-bomb-range, get the kiddo down for a nap, and relax until big kid gets off the bus.

HOWEVER.

Today, for the most part went well. We made $300, to my surprise - I didn't think we had served that many - all my volunteers PLUS some showed up (YAY AND I LOVE YOU!), and Quinn did really well. I even saw a few people I knew, and got to know some of the spouses better, which was great. Until.

Until this beast of a woman, upon seeing Quinn, asks him "What's your disability?" Being thoroughly confused, I said "He has none." To which she replied, "Oh, well, he looks just like my cousin who has Down's Syndrome."

Do not misread me. Had I a child with any sort of disability, I would love that child with everything I am, just like I do The Preteen and Captain Awesome. In fact, as you all know, I have concerns that Quinners might fall on the autism spectrum and am in the works to get him evaluated. This is not so I can take him back and get a new kid. It is so I can get him all the services he needs and deserves.

That being said, the words she spoke to me, so matter-of-factly, cut me so deeply that I can't really even explain. I have no idea who this woman was, but she totally owned me and my feelings with a few words. I don't even know what I said to her. I think it might have been "Oh." What do you say to that? If I didn't have my hands full of 2.5 year old, my hands might have subconsciously went to her throat.

I am having a hard time identifying the emotions that are coursing through me because of a SENTENCE. I'm not exactly mad, not exactly sad, just upset and hurt.

My little boy is fucking awesome, and disability or no, he has my heart in his little hand. I have always said I would walk through fire for my children, and I couldn't even respond to this woman. But looking back, I'm not sure I needed to.

My heart just feels broken. I think I need to go snuggle my Quinners. Talk to you tomorrow.Kellyhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3212163565767516552.post-23856947926429444802012-02-27T14:28:00.000-06:002012-02-27T14:28:00.763-06:00Adventures in MultitaskingSweet mother, I wish that I would be able to complete the tasks I need to in a reasonable amount of time without something getting grade A screwed up. Case in point:

Tomorrow, I have a fundraiser for our Family Readiness Group (FRG: comprised of spouses of your soldier's company to get out information, support each other, etc.). We are feeding soldiers. Cool, right? Well, I am making 200ish brownies and 30 lbs of sloppy joes - WHICH my dumb ass forgot to buy buns for - TODAY. Needless to say, I'm in the middle of a pretty good project. Which means my eyes aren't on my toddler constantly. Which would explain how I didn't notice him crawl onto the table, open my laptop, pull half the keys off, throw a couple down the vent, and feed the rest to the dog.

That led to a barfing dog. Got the keys back, anyway... unusable, but at least they came out of his mouth so I wouldn't have to go treasure hunting in the backyard.

He also ate a wooden block. Which he barfed in my room. It doesn't even faze me anymore. I'm not sure what that says about me. Also, if you were wondering, Captain Awesome found everything hysterical. Little shit. :)Kellyhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3212163565767516552.post-83108266152302282642012-02-24T11:07:00.000-06:002012-02-24T11:07:10.861-06:00Misty, you shouldn't have.

Misty, of Misty's Laws fame has tagged me as one of three people she wants to know more about! I am flattered and a little nervous, and now I wonder if she's not following me around with her ninja photog skills trying to catch me at Walmart in my jammies... but here's the deal: I have to share three things about me, and then pick three bloggers who I want to know more about! Should be easy, right? Not so much. I can think of three things, but narrowing down three people who I want to know more about is insanely difficult. But, because I should have done this days ago, I'm going to pick. Right now. Well, after I put my three things. Circular much? Geez.

So, without further adieu (maybe, probably not, I have a hard time getting to the point this week):

 I love to cook. I like taking recipes and tweaking them (read: I don't measure shit) to make them my own/accommodate the pickyish eaters in my house. There's only been a couple of things they could have lived without, but when I get a resounding "nom nom nom" from the peeps at my table, it brings me joy. I do not, however, enjoy cleaning up said mess. But that's what I have kids for, right? Right.

2. Reading is a life source. I mean, I love my husband and kids and dogs and other family members, but reading has been my escape for so long from so much, I cannot imagine a world without books in it. I read anything and everything, so please pass on your favorites! Don't bother asking me to pick my three favorite books. It is impossible. What three books would I bring to a deserted island? My kindle, duh.

3. I was born in the wrong era. I'm not a fan of today's music in the slightest. I think the 70s and 90s channels were made for me. No, I'm not wishing I was back in high school, I just love me some hair bands. I think Woodstock would have made my entire life. And my dream car? ---> I want one so bad.

Now, on to the best part - I want to know more about these incredibly talented bloggers! These people make me laugh, make me think, and make me want to have them over for beers and Wii bowling.

Johi of Confessions of a Cornfed Girl. Not only does she have the coolest name ever, and the view from her porch is of the majesty that is Colorado, her storytelling makes me want to move to Fort Collins. Because if I do, maybe I can get Lyle Lovett's doppelganger's autograph.

Hoody Hoo. Even though I know all about her pancreas and her ham-stealing cat, I'm sure there's stuff I don't know that I really need to. Plus? She's hilarious.

Bill at The Authentic Life. I'm expecting good stuff here, because I just started reading him, and I don't know much yet, but what I do know, I like. A lot. I also liked that I remembered to put a space in between a and lot, because they're two separate words. And that is my PSA for the day.

Misty, thank you for picking me!
Kellyhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3212163565767516552.post-57305579107647809152012-02-24T09:00:00.000-06:002012-02-24T09:00:46.698-06:00Conversations with inanimate objects: The pacifier edition.Captain Awesome is two. Captain Awesome is ornery. The dipshits who built the house we live in did not tack down the vents, which they put in the FLOOR. Hence, the vents are rarely covered in this house because Captain Awesome finds great joy in taking them and putting them in random places around the house, like on the toilet seat. (I really wish I would have taken a picture of that.) He also delights in throwing shit down said vents, and thanks to my Go-Go-Gadget arms, I have been able to retrieve all items. Until last night...

*Camera pans to small child, giggling evilly, while lifting vent out of floor. He puts the vent to the side, and attempts to crawl into space. Frustrated at his failure, he grabs the closest thing he can reach, his pacifier. After contemplating said pacifer, he throws it into the depths of the vent, not unlike the dude on Beastmaster throwing shit on the pyre, assuming his mother will come to the rescue...

Me: Seriously? Leave the vent alone, and quit throwing things down there you want to keep, because someday they'll go too far down for me to reach!

C.A.: *cheesy grin*

Me: *shoves arm down vent up to the shoulder, bravely braving what creepy crawlies may or may not live in said vent* SEE?!?!? I CAN'T REACH IT! IT'S GONE FOREVER!

C.A.: *sits on dog*

Me: *puts face near vent* Hey little pacifer, it's okay. I'm so sorry he did this to you. I know it's dark down there. Are you alright? Do you need a night light? REACH FOR ME! No? Okay. You may like it down there, actually. I bet it's quiet. And now he can't throw you, or chew on you, and neither can the dog. Maybe I should join you down there. I like quiet. Can I get you anything? Are you giving me the silent treatment? I miss you. He's going to miss you. I'd say he's sorry, but I'm not so sure he is. Is there anything else down there to keep you company? You know, like a random Lego or spiders? Because pacifier, if there are spiders, I expect you to go all dragon-slayer on their asses, because I am not having spiders in the house. Are you even listening to me? You're probably on some Pacifier Indiana Jones adventure, while I look like a complete fuckstick talking into a vent. Maybe your adventure is more Goonie-ish. I hope you know how to play the piano, or your pretty much fucked. If you find One Eyed Willie, will you bring me back some sparkly things? I like sparkly things. Well, both of my kids and the dogs are staring at me now, so I should maybe fix dinner or something. But I'll be back tomorrow. You're not alone, I promise. Nai-nai.

*If anyone wondered before this post whether or not I needed help, I think the answer is now clear.Kellyhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3212163565767516552.post-77699613285882173922012-02-20T22:26:00.000-06:002012-02-20T22:26:41.641-06:00Oh, Internet... Quit making me be so serious.You know, we all are flawed people. There is no such thing as a perfect human being; we may have been made in His image, but He also granted us free will, therein allowing us to screw up all over the place. Learn something, humans! Yeah, about that...

I can pinpoint the minute my self-esteem took a nose-dive. I was in fifth grade. My Violet is in the fifth grade. Don't think I don't stare at that pink elephant every day. I do. And I'm trying my damnedest to make sure that that girl knows her self-worth. Luckily for her, being a member of this society, she is thin, and absolutely beautiful. I was chubby with bad hair, not great clothes, and I was the new kid at school. May I remind you that Kelly rhymes with jelly and belly? Hence, the little masons inside started bricking up those walls at lightening speed, starting at age TEN.

I look at photos of myself at age 17 and wonder why I hated myself so much. I look at me now, and my flaws and imperfections - they're ME. This body has walked an unknown number of miles, brought life into this world, danced, ran through sprinklers, felt the power of a horse beneath it - how quick we are to call babies miracles, yet forget that we are walking ones ourselves?

Learning to find the beauty in ourselves for those of us who truly don't believe the compliments we've been/are given is a daunting task - like trying to climb up an icy hill with high heels on. Over the past few days, at the age of 35, I've realized the skies are finally parting for me and I'm finally starting to get it. Starting to truly understand that I am a person who deserves to be happy and to be proud of herself and to not get all Stuart Smalley on y'all, but dammit, I am good people. I have an amazing family who raised me right, yet despite that, in my 20s, I got dealt a pile of shit. But now? I am going to slam these bones down and yell, "DOMINO, MOTHERFUCKER!", because for the first time in my life, I feel how I've wanted to feel for years - strong, determined, loved, able, and willing - not meek, tattered, and broken. These demons will be exorcised.

I think I just had a Towanda moment. I am in need of a viking helmet.Kellyhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3212163565767516552.post-63419698393004331342012-02-19T17:34:00.000-06:002012-02-19T17:34:28.803-06:00In other news, I think my uterus has gone rogue.I'm not even remotely kidding. Every time we start talking about having another baby, my uterus responds with something that could kind of be described as shards of glass trying to escape from inside my lower abdomen. It makes me stabby, to say the least. Now, Dear Uterus is not throwing the hissy fit from hell because we want to expand the brood, she's just throwing her weight around and being quite the asshole because she can. She's really probably still pissed off that she got sliced into when Captain Awesome was born. I've tried to explain it to her that I really didn't enjoy it either, but shit is always about HER. Whatever, Uterus. You just wait until I elect to have you vacated permanently. I thank you for bringing my son to full-term, and I'll thank you in advance for the child I hope we have sooner rather than later, but soon you'll be out of a job. Don't worry about unemployment. It's straight to retirement for you.

Sorry dudes, this was overly girly and probably gross, but eh, such is life.

I really could benefit from buying stock in Advil as much as I've consumed this weekend. And Yuengling, for that matter... Happy Three Day Weekend! A Monday with no alarm clock almost makes today better. :)Kellyhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3212163565767516552.post-65742875408537035522012-02-19T09:55:00.000-06:002012-02-19T09:55:49.715-06:00I didn't die.Yesterday was my first 5K, and I did not expire! I perspired, though. I also contemplated crying because I was pretty proud of myself. Captain Awesome WAS awesome about it, until it was over and then he was more than ready to go home, as he was pretty pissy about getting up that early and being strapped in a stroller all morning. It was an excellent experience, one I am ready to do again, but not today. Probably not tomorrow, either. But soon. I'm going to start over C25K in the hopes that I can extend the amount of time I run/jog versus walking.

Most important to my heart, we did this as a family, and really became each other's cheerleaders. Violet has the build to be a long-distance runner, and it is my hope that she finds a love in running, since other sports really haven't gotten her attention yet. I didn't say I love to run, but it feels good to have a challenge and complete it, and I want to be healthier and more fit, because like I've said before, if I get thinner, I have to buy new clothes, and shopping - well, according to some of my girls, that's a sport all it's own.

But for now, I need more coffee, and ibuprofen. Lots and lots of ibuprofen...Kellyhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3212163565767516552.post-32755619985182787002012-02-17T08:13:00.000-06:002012-02-17T08:13:42.122-06:00Wrap Up.I just haven't had much to write about this week. I'm getting sick (AGAIN. BOO.) which makes me grouchy because tomorrow is my very first 5K. So today I'm going to this running store that makes you run on the treadmill so they can see how your feet strike the ground and decide what is the best shoe for you. This just blows my mind. Technology is rad. Then it's back to the house to put together the jogging stroller. I think I'll just leave the house and let Hubs handle that. Because even though I CAN do it, and could probably do it faster and without hassle (since I would read the directions), he gets all pissy when I try to do "man stuff" when he's home.

The best part of this 5K is that I get to "carb overload" tonight. I am not exactly sure what that means, but since carbs and I are lovahs, I'm sure it will be an incredibly pleasant experience. I'll be back tomorrow to discuss the race, should I live through it. Right now, I should probably go to legalzoom.com and write up a quick will in case I don't make it out alive...Kellyhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3212163565767516552.post-28683985713350658552012-02-14T16:11:00.000-06:002012-02-14T16:11:12.725-06:00Roses are red, chocolates are sweet...I bit the bullet and decided to tweet! If you want to, you can follow me @kellbellrhoades! I'm sure I'll be full of amazing wisdom over there. *snort*

Also, my Facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/kellyrhoades. I like friends. Come ovah. I'll make coffee and monkey bread.Kellyhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3212163565767516552.post-73469173978842715652012-02-14T11:02:00.001-06:002012-02-14T11:04:25.595-06:00Self-love. And not the kind that you're thinking of. Pervert.Okay, so it's Valentine's Day. Yahoo? And being the scattered mom that I am, it appears I'm raising scattered kids, because we both forgot to make amazing Valentines go to Target and buy some amazing Valentines for her class. Derp? Yes. So we'll go tonight and say oops, and she can hand them out tomorrow. Day late = story of my life. I highly doubt the world will stop spinning because we forgot valentines.

Anyway, that has nothing to do with my thoughts for today, but I felt I needed to share it, because it was probably the least stupid thing I've done in a while. Fact.

I was thinking to myself this morning, "Self? Why is it that you don't think you are as fantastic as your dogs and toddler do?" I assume they think I'm fantastic because none of them this week can get close enough to me without surgical attachment. Either I'm really fucking fabulous, or it's because I feed them. One or the other.

Unconditional love appears to be so easy for small children and animals. I say small children, because as you know, I live with a preteen, and don't lie to yourself - their love is TOTALLY conditional. I don't think I need to provide examples, just think back to when you were in 5th/6th grade and how you felt about your parents. See? Toldja. I really don't want to talk much more about animals, because then you know fucking Sarah McLachlan will show up on TV and:

Seriously. I can't listen to that fucking song without wanting to go adopt ninety bazillion dogs. And then since I can't, I feel like the world's biggest asshole for not. Fuck you, Sarah. I bet you only have one dog. I have two. I win.

Before I digress even further, I just want to say that I think Valentine's Day is stupid. If you don't care enough to tell the people you love you love them more than once a year, you should get a big fuck off because you're an asshole, plain and simple. So, since I try to make a point to tell the people in my life how much they mean to me as often as possible, I'm going to take Valentine's Day to take care of me, because no matter what my demons say, I'm a good person - I kind of have to be, otherwise I wouldn't have so many kick ass people in my life. And when I say take care of me, it will be in the five minutes I have to spare after the house is clean, kids are fed and bathed, dogs are fed and bathed, dinner is made, cleaned up, and put away, and... okay. Maybe it won't happen today. But it will, dammit. It will. ;)

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone. Don't forget to take care of yourself while you're taking care of everyone else. Because you know you are.Kellyhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3212163565767516552.post-52727048138198537792012-02-10T11:35:00.000-06:002012-02-10T11:35:15.943-06:00A change'll do ya good...In a minute, after I'm done typing this, I'm going to get off my ass and go sweat. I've been slacking hard in this arena lately, and enough is enough. (that, and I have 8 days until my first 5K - which I'm walking, but still...) I've proven to myself that even though a snuggly fleece blanket and a pint of Ben and Jerry's is comforting (and really appealing right now), the sense of accomplishment I'll feel after I'm done will trump the sugar crash that is inevitable.

Besides, the UPS guy brought me goodies in the mail today, consisting of some new shower stuff, so the hope is that after I sweat my proverbial balls off that my new stuff will make me want to never leave my shower. I got a whole bunch of stuff (thank you, tax refund!), and almost all of it I've never tried before, so I'll have to let you know if I got winner winner chicken dinner or if I smell like a cheap hooker after I'm done.

Happy Friday, everyone! I hope that this good feeling continues. I've been a little mood swingy the past week or so, and I'm hoping it's behind me, because right now I'm excited to get my shit together and do something that will not only make me feel good, but might result in having to buy new clothes one of these days. Shopping = GOOD.
Kellyhttp://email@example.com


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Meaning of the Hebrew and Bible name Menachem is comforter
Meaning of the Hebrew and Bible name Menachem is comforter
Local Origin of Name: Hebrew/Israeli
From the Hebrew name Menachem
2 Kings 15:14
Emotional Spectrum • Why be sad? Life is too much fun!
Personal Integrity • Parents of Menachem brought him up on firm moral ground.
Personality • When others lose their head, He stays cool.
Relationships • Though not many in number, his friends are golden.
Travel & Leisure • Loves to travel, and it shows!
Career & Money • Investments made early keep his comfortable in the golden years.
Life's Opportunities • While not seeking fame, his future is in the limelight.
Lucky Numbers: 36 • 20 • 17 • 39 • 8 • 25
- African American Arabic Basque
- Bulgarian Chinese Czech Dutch
- Egyptian English French Gaelic
- German Greek Hawaiian Hebrew
- Hindi Hispanic
- India Irish Israel Italian
- Japanese Korean Latin Native American
- Nordic Persian Polish Portuguese
- Roman Russian Scandinavian Scottish
- Slavic Spanish Swedish Thai
- Turkish Welsh

subset: commoncrawl


text: Democracy is fine as long as the voters elect the right people, but they often get it wrong. The Palestinians elected Hamas, which refuses to recognize Israel, so the Israelis and their allies overseas have to persuade them of the error of their ways with bombs, bullets and a financial blockade. And in Thailand they were going to vote for Thaksin Shinawatra again. "They" were the rural poor, still a majority in Thailand, who have been left behind by the economic miracle of the past 20 years. They elected the billionaire Thaksin three times in a row because he gave them cheap health care and put money in their pockets. The Bangkok middle class despised him for his populism and his corruption, but the poor were almost certainly going to elect him again -- so for the first time in 15 years, the Thai army rolled its tanks into Bangkok. So much for Thai democracy -- and the bizarre thing is that the rest of the world doesn't seem to care. There have been no thunderous denunciations of the military junta -- sorry, the Administrative Reform Council -- that now runs Thailand, just murmurs of regret in Washington, London, Paris and Tokyo that it has come to this. There will be no sanctions, no boycott of the military regime (which promises to hand back power to an elected government within a year, but only after rewriting the constitution), no vigils for democracy. Thaksin was no advertisement for the wisdom of Thai voters. It was the poor and the ill-educated who voted for him, and he won their support with cynically populist policies. He launched a "war on drugs" that saw 3,000 cases of extra-judicial execution -- officially sanctioned murders, in other words. He took a needlessly hard line on discontent among Thailand's Muslim minority, concentrated in the southernmost provinces, that turned disaffection into open insurrection. He even hid the first outbreak of bird flu in Thailand in an attempt to protect Thai poultry exports. However, Thaksin Shinawatra also did things that improved the lot of the poor: a moratorium on farmer's debts, dollar-a-visit medical care even for the impoverished northeast of Thailand, village improvement schemes that actually raised farmers' incomes. He was a liar and a crook, but a majority of Thais voted for him in election after election. And they would have voted for him again if the army hadn't intervened. The middle class people of Bangkok who have been demonstrating against Thaksin for the past six months are right: You really can't run a country like this for very long and stay democratic. Either the demagogue consolidates his power and becomes a de facto dictator, or he is driven out by people who have (or claim to have) the interests of democracy at heart. It is a tragedy that Thailand has had a military coup, but it is not really a surprise. The thing about Thailand, and all the other Asian countries like Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines and South Korea that have had non-violent transfers of power to democratically elected governments in the past 20 years, is that the transfer needs at least a generation to become irreversible. Thailand had 17 military coups between 1932, when the constitutional monarchy was established, and 1991-92. But it has actually done better than the Philippines, which had a non-violent "people power" revolution in 1986 but has since had frequent coup alarms, a (democratically elected) general in power for six years, and a demagogue elected by the poor (Joseph Estrada) who was overthrown by the Manila middle class in the so-called "cell-phone revolution." The Thai military really will hand power back, whereas in the Philippines they have never really let it go. Until this week, Thailand seemed to be doing as well as other Asian countries that first became democratic in the same era. But for all these countries, and for dozens of others in Africa and Latin America, democracy is hard not only because it is new, but because the old elites have not really relinquished their power. They have just consented, grudgingly, to share it. Thaksin was a democratic disaster, but it was the old elites, allied to the new urban middle class, who drove him out. They are not without sin, for it was their neglect of the rural majority that gave Thaksin his opportunity. The coup sets the clock back: It will be another 14 years before Thailand seems as safely distant from the bad old days as it did until this week. Even if the soldiers keep their promises, it is a shame and a defeat for Thailand. But the glass is still half-full, not half-empty. Asia, apart from China, North Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Burma and Pakistan, is still a democratic continent. Twenty-five years ago, nobody would have predicted that. Gwynne Dyer is a London-based independent journalist whose articles are published in 45 countries. Gwynne Dyer


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Success breeds success and this adage actually epitomises the Czech Republic, which hosts one of the highest concentrations of automotive-associated manufacturing and design activity on the planet. For larger power densities (likely to be adopted in efficiency autos) variable cylinder charging and porting concepts shall be used along with the above developments. A number of charging programs (turbo, tremendous and e-booster) will be used to employ charging and evacuating of the cylinder. Dual injection systems will probably be used, with port injection to be used at high-load situations, to reduce particle emissions.
Our personal tutorial system will provide academic and pastoral help. You should have a designated private tutor throughout your research at Leeds. He or she can be a tutorial member of staff: you should have weekly educational tutorials together with your tutor throughout your first two years, in your tutor group (of typically 5 college students), in addition to one-to-one conferences twice per semester.
As soon as the Xpel Stealth wrap was completed, we moved in to coating all the automobile in Gyeon's Unique Mohs+ Matte Glass Coating. Mohs+ Matte creates a sturdy self cleaning hydrophobic coat making maintenance washes easier. No more worrying about aggressive whip downs as most filth and contaminates can simply be washed away with merely a rinse! If your automobile's paint seems to be uninteresting or tired, this is your package. The hand/steam wash, clay remedy, three stage machine polish and hand glaze/wax will convey the shine back to your car, guaranteed!
Hachigo said the system will keep in place but must be tweaked for clearer lines of responsibility and delegation. Nanotechnology is predicted to be a key driver for innovation within the automotive trade," says Wijia Xie, an business analyst from research and consulting firm Frost & Sullivan. Doctors use computer systems … Read More ...


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Photo by Paul Michael Hughes/Guinness World Records/AP
Meet Swallow, an 11-year-old Dexter cow (an Irish breed) from the Yorkshire region of northern England that stands only 33 inches tall, hind to foot. The Guinness World Records book just named her the world's smallest. Did I mention she enjoys contemporary music?
Read about Swallow here on the Christian Science Monitor website.


text:
Yesterday I posted a photograph and an old poem of mine on this blog. Nothing unusual there you might say, but quite the contrary my dear friends. You see, that post was meant for my other blog, which some of you may have been introduced to. No? Well it's great. I mean the pictures on there are absolutely fantastic. You just have to see it for yourself. So, here's the link.
Anyway, not wanting to stray too far from my train of thought I shall return to yesterday's post and it's 'misplacement' here. The inverted commas, quotation marks, or whatever the grammatically correct call them these days, suggest or should suggest that there was no misplacement. This despite my intention of posting the photo and the poem on my photo blog (called 'Instants out of Time' by the way). Let's not call it misplacement; let's call it serendipity.
Good word that. Serendipity. It suggests that there are no mistakes or accidents, that things happen as they are meant to, that the cards fall where they will. Well you get the picture eh? You see, last night I must have been a whole lot tireder than I thought I was. I went merrily about the task of posting that picture and poem to the other blog, not realising for who knows what reason that I was positing it here instead.
Indeed: who knows for what reason anything happens? As it turns out, a dear friend saw that post on this blog, and he is not yet following me on the other blog (some friends can be a bit slow with such things) and would therefore have missed the post. It had an impact for him you see. He read it, looked at the image and we've had a good discussion about it during which I have learned more about him, him about me, and me about me. Maybe him about him too. Who knows?
Yes, serendipity. The word itself is apparently very hard to translate into languages other than English. I can see why. Early definitions focus on it meaning finding something you didn't expect to find, while more modern definitions talk about 'accident' and 'chance' and 'fortunate'. I dig the old one better don't you? I mean I didn't expect to post on the 'wrong' blog, and my friend didn't 'expect' such a post on this blog. All round a happy accident I think. (note: there are no such things as accidents!)


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Meet our Nursing Staff
Mrs. Mary Kay Rogowski, RN, FNP, MSN
Mrs. Julie Duffy, RN, BSN
Mrs. Maria O'Connell, Nurse Assistant
Although all of the epi pens in the clinic are safe, please read this information on the epi pen recall.
Health Forms
Commonwealth of VA Health Form
Medication Authorization Form
Asthma/ Inhaler Action Plan
Inhaler Autorization Form
Severe Allergy/Anaphylaxis Action Plan and Treatment Authorization
Additional Severe Allergy Information Form
Antihistamine Authorization Form
Epinephrine Authorization Form
Safe Snack Guide
For those students who are new at St. Timothy School, please ensure that all " Commonwealth of Virginia School Entrance Health Forms " are in the office no later than August 5th. For those students who have transitioned from preschool to kindergarten, please have the physician's office complete the VA Health Form. Remember to copy the original health assessment for your records before submitting the original to the school.
Emergency care information is due by the first day of school for each child in a family. This information must be entered by parents via our PowerSchool parent portal.
Medication Authorization Form
For all medication(s), prescribed by a physician, or over-the-counter medications, except Inhalers or Epi-Pens, please print and complete a Medication Authorization Form..
Asthma Medication Authorization Forms
For students with asthma, please download and complete the Asthma Action Plan and Inhaler Authorization Form.
Allergy Treatment Plans and Authorization Forms
For students with allergies that use only Benadryl, please download and complete the Antihistamine Authorization Form .
For students with allergies that use an Epi-Pen, please download and complete the Severe Allergy/Anaphylaxis Action Plan and Treatment Authorization and the Antihistamine Authorization Form and the Epinephrine Authorization Form. For at home training, please access these websites: www.allergyready.com and www.auvi-q.com/hcp.
Absences, Sickness and Injury Accomodations
Please reference the Student Handbook. If your child develops a fever or has an upset stomach from a virus or cold, please give your child a day to recover. In the Student Handbook, it is stated "a student should not return to school until at least 24 hours after an illness. Temperatures should be normal and other symptoms must have subsided." Students should remain at home until he/she can follow the regular school schedule.
Students with an injury and a treatment plan must submit a written note from the physician including the modifications in order to be excused from PE class for more than one day.
Absence Notification
Student absences must be accounted for by a written note to the classroom teacher upon return to school stating the reason for the absence. We also ask that you notify the office if your child is absent for more than three days. Parents of Junior High students must call the office each day that a student will be absent. Following these simple procedures will decrease the classroom and parental interruptions.
Communicable Diseases
If your child contracts a communicable disease, i.e., chicken pox, please inform the clinic immediately. (Preschool parents: Please notify the school of any household communicable disease. From the Standards for Licensed Child Day Centers: "When children at the preschool have been exposed to a communicable disease listed in the Department of Health's current communicable disease chart, the parents shall be notified within 24 hours or the next business day of the center's having been informed unless forbidden by law, except for life threatening diseases, which must be reported to parents immediately.")
Classroom Food Allergies- Click here for 2016/2017 information
If you are sending a class treat or craft project during the year, please speak with your teacher prior to the event. Please reference the classroom allergy list located on your teacher's webpage and below and check the food labels to ensure the allergens are not present prior to sending in any food products. When providing a class treat, a purchased item is preferred, so that ingredients can be checked. Snack Safely Guide
School Celebrations: Birthday Celebrators are recognized by allowing your student to dress out of uniform in appropriate street clothes. Please do not send food treats in for this celebration. Other celebrations will be organized by your room mothers and teachers. Please remember to provide healthy snacks and drinks (with ingredient labels, if appropriate): Fruits – Fruit Kabobs, Dried Fruits, Frozen Fruits, Fruit Salad, Fruit Cups, Vegetables, Popcorn, Goldfish, 100% Fruit Juices or Bottled Water, Muffins (without frosting), Bagels, Pretzels, Breadsticks, Flatbreads-Whole Grain, Low Salt, Baked Chips-Salsa, Vegetables, Popsicles-100% Fruit Juice, Low Fat Yogurt.
Provide all foods in packaging so that ingredients listings are available. Thank you for your cooperation in providing healthy snacks to our students. Please organize all celebrations with your teacher and reference the "Classroom Food Allergies" list for classroom allergies. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please feel free to notify me via e-mail.
Immunization News
Current 5th grade parents: When your student enters 6th grade, their TDaP must be administered prior to the first day of school; the Commonwealth is not allowing any extensions! There are two different types of vaccines dependent upon your child's age: the Boostrix vaccine for 10 year olds and the Adacel vaccine for 11 year olds. If your physician wishes to defer the immunization until your child is 11 y.o., the parent is responsible for providing a medical exemption letter from the physician. If the student had a tetanus shot within the last 5 years, he does not need the TDaP for the 6th grade; however, we need the documentation reflecting the Tetanus immunization date from the physician. Please provide documentation of this immunization once received and no later than August 5th.
For those students who have transitioned from preschool to kindergarten, please have the physician's office complete the VA Health Form.
1. New Immunization Requirements: The Virginia Department of Health has issued new immunization requirements for the upcoming school year. According to the publication, "No student shall be admitted by a school unless at the time of admission the student or his parent submits documentary proof of immunization to the admitting official of the school." Vaccines must be administered in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control spacing and age requirements.
The requirements mandate that the following four immunizations must be in place for students:
- A second dose of Varicella Vaccine is required before entering kindergarten.
- A second dose of Mumps Vaccine is required before entering kindergarten.
- Four (4) doses of Polio Vaccine are required, with one dose being administered on or after the fourth birthday, for all new students enrolling in your schools (Kindergarten – 12th grade).
- Four (4) doses of DTaP Vaccine are required, with one dose being administered on or after the fourth birthday, for all new students enrolling in your schools (Kindergarten – 12th grade).
These changes supersede the "Requirements" listed under "Section III" of the Commonwealth of VA School Entrance Health Form! It is the parents responsibility to ensure that all immunizations are up-to-date and complete, or that a medical or religious exemption is obtained and provided to the school.
2. Varicella Vaccine (Chickenpox): The Center for Disease Control recently released a revised schedule for the varicella vaccine (chickenpox). It includes a two-dose schedule for children who have never had chickenpox by the following ages:
- 1st dose: – 12-15 months of age
- 2nd dose – 4-6 years of age (may be given earlier if at least 3 months after the 1st dose)
- Students 13 years old or older should receive 2 doses 28 days apart (if they have never had chickenpox or the varicella vaccine before.
In addition to the varicella update, the chickenpox vaccine may be given along with the MMR vaccine (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) known as the MMRV. Please reference the Chickenpox Vaccine fact sheet and the Minimum Immunization Requirements for School & Day Care
3. Other Health Immunizations for Consideration: Recommended immunizations for discussion with your pediatrician. Whenever your child receives immunizations, send a copy of the updated immunization record to the school nurse to file with your child's health record.
- 11-12 Year old: Meningococcal Immunization: Recommended for 11-12+ year olds who are going away to sleep-a-way camps. This immunization is not mandated until the child enters college.
- 11 year old females: HPV (Giardisil x3 doses) – rising 6th grade girls: Letters from the Commonwealth, as well as the Diocese, were sent home explaining this recommendation.
- Hepatitis A – Given to younger and older children…especially recommended if traveling abroad.
Chicken Pox (Varicella)
If your child develops chicken pox, please report this to the school clinic ASAP.
From WebMD: Chicken pox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It can spread easily. You can get it from an infected person who sneezes, coughs, or shares food or drinks. You can also get it if you touch the fluid from a chickenpox blister. A person who has chicken pox can spread the virus even before he or she has any symptoms. You are at risk of chickenpox if you have never had the illness and have not had the chickenpox vaccine.
The first symptoms of chickenpox often are: a fever, a headache and a sore throat. You or your child may feel sick, tired and not very hungry. The chickenpox rash usually appears about 1 or 2 days after the first symptoms start. Some children get the chickenpox rash without having a fever or other early symptoms. It usually takes 14-18 days to get the symptoms of chickenpox after you have been around someone with the virus. This is called the incubation period.
After a chickenpox red spot appears, it usually takes about 1 or 2 days for the spot to go through all its stages. This includes: blistering, bursting, drying, and crusting over. New red spots will appear every day for up to 5 to 7 days. Your child can return to school when all blisters have crusted over. This is usually about 10 days after the first symptoms start.
More information is available at http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/Chickenpox-Varicella-Topic-Overview .
Please refer to your local county health dept. website for Flu information and free clinics
Information on the Flu is also available from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website and VA Dept of Health www.vdh.virginia.gov . This flu virus is spread from person-to-person through coughing/sneezing or contact (lives on surfaces 24 hours or longer). The symptoms are any or all of the following: fever, lethargy, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea. Antivirals are available if the patient is seen within 2 days of symptoms. Remind students to cover their cough/sneeze, wash their hands/alcohol-based cleaners and keep their hands away from their face as an effective way of prevention. Your child must be fever-free for 24 hrs. before they return. Please notify the clinic of the diagnosis.
If your child is out of school 3 days due to an illness, please e-mail our nurse with the symptoms or diagnosis at email@example.com . If your child has the flu, it is recommended to keep your child home until they are fever free without taking any anti-fever medications for 24 hours.
We are taking extra housekeeping precautions; as well as, reminding our students to cough in their sleeves, dispose of tissues, wash their hands, and keep their hands away from their faces
The following table may be useful in determining the difference between symptoms of a cold vs symptoms of the flu.
Know the Difference between Cold and Flu Symptoms
|Common Cold
|Fever is rare with a cold.
|Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100°F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the flu.
|A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold.
|A non-productive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough).
|Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold.
|Severe aches and pains are common with the flu.
|Stuffy Nose
|Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week.
|Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the flu.
|Chills are uncommon with a cold.
|60% of people who have the flu experience chills.
|Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold.
|Tiredness is moderate to severe with the flu.
|Sneezing is commonly present with a cold.
|Sneezing is not common with the flu.
|Sudden Symptoms
|Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days.
|The flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains.
|A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold.
|A headache is very common with the flu, present in 80% of flu cases.
|Sore Throat
|Sore throat is commonly present with a cold.
|Sore throat is not commonly present with the flu.
|Chest Discomfort
|Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold.
|Chest discomfort is often severe with the flu.
If your child needs a medication, please ask the physician to space the dosages around school time (for home administration). If this is not possible, please print and complete the appropriate medication form. Remember that each medication has its own form. All medications must be in the original prescription container with the following information: student's name, license prescriber's name, medication name, medication dosage, administration frequency, and the prescription fill/expiration dates. Medications cannot be administered out of plastic bags or other non-original containers. NO MEDICATION (PRESCRIPTION OR NON-PRESCRIPTION) IS PERMITTED IN THE CLASSROOM AT ANY TIME INCLUDING ASPIRIN, TYLENOL, COUGH DROPS, ETC.. All over-the-counter medications must be brought to the office in their original container upon arrival to school. At the end of the school year, the parents/guardians must pick up the remaining medication. We are not able to release medications back to the student. Upon school closure, any remaining medication will be disposed of. THIS IS FOR THE PROTECTION OF ALL OF OUR CHILDREN!
Preschool Medications
Over-the counter medications, such as Children's Benadryl, will only be held in the clinic for 10 working days unless a physician and parent have signed the medication form (in accordance with the Preschool Licensing Requirements). Long-term prescription and over-the-counter medications will be allowed only with written authorization from the child's physician and parent.
TB Testing of Volunteers
To ensure the health of our students, the Diocese of Arlington requires that all staff and volunteers provide a medical statement regarding being "free of communicable tuberculosis". The original test must be performed within the last 12 months.
You may choose to have this testing done at any of the following locations: your physician's office or the local Fairfax County Health Departments:
- Falls Church Clinic, 6245 Leesburg Pike, Suite 500, Fall Church 703-534-8343
- Herndon-Reston Clinic, 1850 Cameron Glen Drive, Suite 100, Reston, 703-481-4242
- Mount Vernon Clinic, 8350 Richmond Highway, Suite 233, Alexcandria, 703-704-5203
- Springfield Clinic, Cary Building, first floor, Suite A100, 8136 Old Keene Mill Rd., Springfield
- Joseph Willard Health Center, 3750 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax 703-246-7100
Scoliosis Screening
Please refer to this information sheet for a home test for scoliosis. This test is recommended especially during the middle school years. Ask your physician to screen your child during your child's annual health assessment.
Pediculosis (Head Lice)
Please contact our school nurse if you notice lice or nits on your child's head. A class room letter will be sent home to the grades involved, so please check your child's backpack for the reference material.
Lice can happen to any child and is nothing to be embarrassed about; so, if you determine that your child has a case, please notify the school nurse directly to assist with the spread of further cases. If you receive a letter in your child's envelope, then a case was reported in that class. Follow the information sent home at that time. Detailed information on the life cycle of lice, how to find it and treat it is available online.
WHAT ARE HEAD LICE? The head louse (pediculous capitus) is one of three types of lice that infest people. Head lice are tiny insects (about 1/10 to 1/8 of an inch long) that live in human hair and feed on human blood. They multiply rapidly laying little silvery-colored oval-shaped eggs (called nits) which they glue to the base of the hair, close to the scalp.
CAN YOU SEE HEAD LICE? Although it's hard to see head lice, you can see the nits if you look closely. They are most often found in the hair behind the ears and at the back of the head and neck. Nits should not be confused with dandruff. Dandruff can easily be flicked off the hair; nits cannot because they are firmly attached to individual hairs.
HOW ARE HEAD LICE SPREAD AND HOW LONG IS A PERSON ABLE TO SPREAD THEM? Head lice have no wings and do not fly or jump; they crawl. They are spread through direct contact with an infested person, or with shared items such as combs, brushes, towels, pillowcases, hats, headphones, other headgear, and clothing.
HOW LONG DO LICE LIVE? Head lice need human blood to survive. They usually do not survive for more than 2 days away from the human body. The nits (louse eggs) cannot hatch at the lower temperatures found away from the scalp. Therefore, please remind your children not to share hats and scarves.
WHAT IS THE TREATMENT? Treatment should be given only to people who have active lice or viable eggs present. The recommended treatment is a medicated shampoo that contains either pyrethrin, such as RID, A-200, or Clear brands, or permethrin, as in the Nix brand. A second treatment 7-10 days after the first is recommended to assure that no nits have survived. The hair should be carefully checked and nits removed every day for 2 weeks to be sure the infestation has been cured.
RETURNING TO SCHOOL: Once you have treated your child, your student must report to the clinic on their first day back to be checked by the school nurse before reporting to the classroom. Parents are asked to wait in the front office until the student is checked in case the child needs to be sent home.
Tick Borne Diseases and Zika Virus
Please use this website for information on Lyme's Disease and other tick borne diseases. For Zika information, visit this website.
Concussion Awareness
Excellent concussion information can be accessed at www.cdc.gov/concussion or here. Please notify the nurse and your child's teacher immediately if your student has been diagnosed with a concussion. It is necessary to submit a written doctor's note including accommodations for treatment. Recognition and proper response to concussions when they first occur can help aid recovery and prevent further injury, or even death.


text:
Home-Ec Class Ham Loaf
1 pound ground ham
½ pound fresh ground pork
2 eggs
½ cup milk
1 cup fine bread crumbs
⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 Tablespoons prepared mustard
½ cup pineapple juice
½ cup brown sugar
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl, combine the meats, eggs, milk, bread crumbs, and pepper.
3. Mix well and form into a loaf. Place loaf into a loaf pan.
4. Mix mustard, pineapple juice and brown sugar. Pour over loaf in pan.
5. Bake at 350° F for about 1 hour. Baste several times during baking.


text:
"In the thought of will to power Nietzsche anticipates the metaphysical ground of the consummation of the modern age. In the thought of will to power, metaphysical thinking itself completes itself in advance. Nietzsche, the thinker of the thought of will to power, is the last metaphysican of the West.
The age whose consummation unfolds in his thought, the modern age, is a final age. This means an age in which at some point and in some way the historical decision arises as to whether this final age is the conclusion of Western history, or the counterpart to another beginning. To go to the length of Nietzsche's pathway of thought to the will to power means to catch sight of this historical decision."
"There are people who are genuinely interested in philosophical subjects and eager to discuss it with other enthusiasts, and then there are those that have made an institutional career out of philosophy, and need to please their patrons to get grants, tenure, and get published. And there are the clever few that manage both, getting both the respect of their peers, their books sold in bookstores, and their ideas spread. I don't think there's anything wrong with being published in specialized journals, but in the long run, what's the point of doing philosophy, or anything else for that matter, only to have your work gather dust in a few libraries?"
"Philosophy has, at this historical moment, its true interest in what Hegel, in accordance with tradition, proclaimed his disinterest: in the non-conceptual, the individual and the particular; in what, ever since Plato, has been dismissed as transient and inconsequential and which Hegel stamped with the label of lazy existence.
Its theme would be the qualities which it has degraded to the merely contingent, to quantité négligeable [French: negligible quantity]. What is urgent for the concept is what it does not encompass, what its abstraction-mechanism eliminates, what is not already an exemplar of the concept. Bergson as well as Husserl, the standard-bearers of philosophical modernity, innervated this, but shrank away from it back into traditional metaphysics.
Bergson created, by fiat, a different type of cognition for the sake of the non-conceptual. The dialectical salt was washed away in the undifferentiated flow of life; that which was materially solidified was dismissed as subaltern, instead of being understood along with its subalternity. Hatred of the rigid general concept produced a cult of irrational immediacy, of sovereign freedom amidst unfreedom."
The non-conceptual, the individual and the particular. Is not another name for this difference? Can we not see this in terms of Nietzsche affirming difference in opposition to a natural science (and we can add neo-classical economic science) that denies difference in favour of logical identity, mathematical quality and thermodynamic equlibrium? Difference is what is left over as waste matter by the conceptual structure of either economic and natural science
I was bored. I kept on looking outside at the trees and the spring rain lightly falling. I watched the waves rolling across the bay and the birds darting here and there. I struggled to return to the text.
I was annoyed with all the soul stuff that turned it into a mystical experience of ecstasy, revelation and renunciation.
living outside meaning and sense; a mystic caught up in the image of a circle arising out of intense emotional chaos beyond knowledge and communication.
Why is so much fuss made of all this romanticism I kept wondering. It reeks of Bataille and hallucinations.
Monday, 23 August 2010
I was bored. I kept on looking outside at the trees and the spring rain lightly falling. I watched the waves rolling across the bay and the birds dart
Posted by Nathan jones at 20:49
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