Saturday, August 29, 2009

Glofish for the boy - The Super Cool Danio


We have been redoing one of the upstairs bedroom for our 9 yr old. He's been sharing a room with his brother since he was a wee little guy and they've become best friends. So, while out one day I found the cutest little orange fish tank. Orange, up until about six months ago, was his favorite color. It's bright and cheery and he absolutely loves fish. I thought it would be the perfect accent to his new room and he'd have new critters to share his room with.

So out yesterday with a friend to see her mud skipper, an amphibious creature with bulgy eyes that moves faster than a speeding bullet, I saw these bright orange and yellow fish. The literally glowed. They were tiny and quite energetic. Perfect for his tank. So I bought three of them for $18 (I read that they sell for $18 each in Taiwan.) A bit expensive, but the man told me that these were the only patented fish available. Science has created a fish that glows and was bred to "detect pollution by selectively fluorescing in the presence of environmental toxins." Cool, huh? However, knowing this I'm afraid the fish will be going crazy in his room. With everything that he forgets to put away and clean they will be very busy little guys indeed.

Just being in our kitchen they haven't stopped swimming. It took a great deal of patience and half my cell phone battery just to get the picture I put on here.

They come in glowing pink, yellow, and green. I bought two yellow and a pink, but I think I'd like to find a green one to join their ranks.

Another interesting thing is that the pink one have the dna of a coral and the yellow and green ones have been genetically modified with jellyfish DNA. Science sure can be cool.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Watching as they grow... Even the Youngest grow older


I sit and listen with a smile as the boys play.
It wasn't that long ago that I held them close and
nursed them upon my breast.
Not yesterday, but before.
My memories are not dimmed by their growth away from
Mommy's arms.
Inside I know that the nurturing I gave them lies inside
their hearts and will be with them forever.
It will help them to become father's, husband's, lovers.
They will understand the meaning of touch, kiss, and comfort.
It is not sad that they grow further away from me,
but I wonder how the gradual increase in their independence
happened without my seeing it come.
Time does create a difference in life, but I shall always
hear the whisper of "Mommy" in my mind and feel it in my heart.
I am not losing a child - I am creating young men that will
direct the future of our world...
right after they finish killing zombies on the latest video game.

Monday, August 17, 2009

One Talented but Sick Kitty


I've seen and heard a lot of strange things in my time, it's true. Keith R. Griffin says that he has been wrongfully arrested for child pornography. He's even put the finger, or paw, on the right culprit. Yep, it was his cat. Evidently while Keith was working his kitty was busy surfing the internet and downloading illegal material. One has to wonder if the cat stole the poor guys credit card for some of the material.

Friday, August 14, 2009

My Husband's Dream


We all dream. A woman, when she's married, hopes that her husband has sweet dreams about her. Maybe romantic (not so likely, our version of romance differs from the male species, usually) or even sexual (which is much more likely, with little details except for the actual act itself.)

I believe that for the most part we want our men to share their dreams with us. This morning I got my wish. He woke and told me he had a dream. Cool. What was it? He went to a Bordello. Uh oh. Sexual dreaming? Well, that's okay. But no. He went their with wooden stakes to kill vampires that used the Bordello as a headquarters. Nice. No sex, just blood.

Funny thing is I believe I know where this particular dream stems from. We are in Wal-Mart and we buy wooden stakes for yard sale signs to help out a friend. He doesn't think practical, he thinks weapon (which for him is practical.)

"We can use these to kill vampires," he says.

I didn't know we had a vampire problem in Neenah, Wisconsin, but hey.

"Aren't they a little long?" I ask.

"No," he replies. "It helps us out so we don't get too close." Practical.

So as we leave Wal-Mart I stop in front of the bench with three teenage girls.

"So, do you think these are strong enough to kill vampires?" I ask him.

We, of course, get strange looks from the girls before they look curiously at each other.

"Sure," he says smiling knowing exactly what I'm doing.

As we leave the Wal-Mart he looks at me and says, "That's only one of the reasons I love you."

I'm sure another is that I wouldn't get upset about him dreaming about a Bordello of Blood.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Khadir, Son of Iraqi Policman, Shows Great Bravery and Strength

As a parent the most horrific thing that could happen to me would be for something to happen to my children. Abdul Qadar found was horrified when he found his 6 year old son had been captured by Al Qaeda operatives and was told that they would kill the boy if his father didn't help them free Al Qaeda prisoners. His father, grieving, stood firm knowing that his child was being sacrificed in order to keep other murderers and terrorists off the street. It is a decision we hope we never have to make.

Despite living with terrorists and being tortured for two years Khadi survived. He was brutalized by people that say they are doing God's work, but I find it very difficult to believe any religion has a god that would condone driving a nail through the leg of a child or pulling out all his teeth with pliers. These people, in the name of their holy war, broke both arms on this courageous young man. Of course he is not the only child they have done this to, but Khadir was rescued and lives to tell about the horrific life these people made him live for two years.

It was the Iraqi police that took a chance with their own lives to follow a lead to save captured and abused children. Risking that they were falling into a trap they took a chance because saving the lives of innocents was worth more then their own lives. That is the type of character that Iraqi's are made from. Iraqi people are not all Al Qaeda, many are victims just like Khadir. Their Koran and religion believe that
God is merciful
. Al Qaeda does not show mercy, they show cruelty and hatred.

Khadir shows a spirit that should help to inspire people. He is a survivor that never gave up hope. His attitude is still one of love and he is grateful for the love of his family and those that work to help protect his people from further abuse by others that use terrorism and intimidation to gain power.

I pray that I never have to make the decisions that Khadir and his family had to make, but if I ever do I pray that I have the same amount of courage.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Man Literally Glued from Cheating on Spouse


"FOND DU LAC (AP) The eastern Wisconsin man who was the victim in a bizarre plot to punish him for disloyalty in a lover's quadrangle is in jail.

Fond du Lac Police Capt. Steven Klein said Wednesday the 36-year-old man was arrested Tuesday on allegations of child abuse, theft, unlawful phone use and harassment with a death threat in a domestic abuse investigation.

The Fond du Lac County district attorney's office says no charges have been filed.

A criminal complaint says four women, including the man's wife, were charged in Calumet County last week with being party to false imprisonment after the man was tied up and his penis was glued to his stomach at a Stockbridge motel. One of the women was also charged with fourth-degree sexual assault.

Authorities say three of the women were romantically involved with the man."


The women are from Neenah, Menasha, and his wife from Kaukauna. You would think that the guy would have his hands full with one feisty wife, but no, he had to be greedy and press his luck. Now he knows the wonder of super glue.

Currently the women are out on $200 cash bail. He better be careful. After all, he now knows the true feel of a woman scorned.

Mom Drags Kid Through Store on Leash



Okay. So you're having a bad day. The kid is crying and not cooperating. What do you do? You pick the child up, carry him through the store or you leave the store with your child and come back later when the situation is better. Most people know that children throw fits or become uncooperative. Most people are understanding, especially other parents.

YOU DO NOT DRAG HIM THROUGH THE STORE!


Children are not puppies or animals. They are small human beings that are learning how to treat other human beings by the way we treat them.

In this case the mother was arrested. In my humble opinion, she should be forced to take anger management and parenting classes.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Mother Kills 8 On NY Hwy


Being a parent is not an easy task. We actually and literally hold lives in our hands. I imagine that when this woman took on the responsibility of motherhood she took it on with love and commitment. After all her friends and family speak of her fondly and as a good mother. So what would have happened that would have made her drink, do drugs, and drive with children in the car? In the minivan with her were her two children, ages 5 and 2, and also her three nieces ages 7, 8, and 9. Four of the five children were killed. Because of her actions and decision to drive in this condition many lives are changed forever. One mother and father no longer has their three children, lost a niece, and a sister. The woman drove the wrong way on a highway for two miles. She had enough sense left to call and tell her brother she wasn't feeling well. He told her to pull over and wait. She kept going.

Diane Schuler was drunk on vodka and high on marijuana when she drove the wrong way onto a New York highway and slammed into an SUV, authorities said Tuesday. Schuler, 36, and seven other people were killed, including her 2-year-old daughter, Erin. Son Bryan, 5, was the sole survivor. Schuler's husband, Daniel, shown in this family photo, was not in the minivan.

We don't know what possessed this woman to make the actions she did. The fact of the matter is that an adult has the right to make their own decisions - good or bad, but the decisions we make when they involve minors need to be the best possible ones. Past good parenting does not excuse present bad parenting. Wrong decisions may even take away our ability to parent at all.

My heart goes out to the parents of the lost children, but especially to the little boy who lost his mother and little sister. His childhood is changed forever.