A VERY BLACK FRIDAY INDEED

I didn't go out shopping the day after Thanksgiving. I just don't think the long lines and crowds are worth saving a few extra bucks even if the item advertised is in stock. Limited quantities and over hyped sales apparently are enough to get the masses to flock to the store in the pre-dawn hours and wait in line . I have never thought that Black Friday was that great. If there is an item that is a great bargain then most likely there is not enough of it to go around. I have blogged about this before (http://www.thatswhatisay.today.com/) but now I find myself more disgusted than ever when I read about the 34 year old man working at a Walmart in Long Island who was trampled to death by shoppers when he unlocked the doors Friday morning and hundreds of shoppers stampeded in to buy more made in China crap that they could ever want or need. I can't imagine that a TV, crock pot, blow dryer or video game was worth that mans life. Just like that Jdimytai Damour's life was stomped out by people wanting to save a few bucks. Police are scrutinized the security tapes and are considering pressing charges. I wonder if the people in that mob think it was worth it now. I doubt it. If I wasn't already against the Black Friday craze this incident would definitely make up my mind to never be a party to that mad rush again.

THANKSGIVING ALPHABET POEM

A Thanksgiving Alphabet

T...Turkeys, tablespreads, being together,

H...Happiness and homes to protect us from all weather,

A...Aunts and uncles, a reunion in Fall,

N...Nieces and nephews, family members all!

K...Kind-hearted kin coming over for dinner,

S...Surely you'll have fun, but you won't get thinner!

G...Gourds and pumpkins, mouths open wide.

I...Indians and Pilgrims we remember with pride.

V...Very special times-there could even be snow.

I...Imagine what it was like at Plymouth long ago.

N...Never forget how the settlers led the way,

G...Giving thanks and blessing this special day.

Author Unknown

I liked this so much I thought I would pass it along. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

My Big (not so) Fat Greek Dinner

As I am prone to do in my weight loss endeavors I began a new diet today. The GI Diet is based on the glycemic index. After years of trying to get to my pre-Mothra Invades Tokyo weight I have learned to stay away from any diet book,group, plan or theory that promises miracle weight loss, weight loss without incredible amounts of effort or eliminates an entire food group.

This book categorizes common foods into three groups of green, yellow and red.

Eat mostly from the green category which includes grapes, broccoli, raw almonds, egg whites, lima beans, pears. Ok, I can do that. I like those foods. This is not the entire list mind you.

The yellow category are foods to have less of but are still part of your eating plan such as instant oatmeal, couscous,popcorn,brown rice, sweet potatoes, bananas, sweet corn. The red group holds no surprises that doughnuts, bagels, jelly beans and ice cream are on the list but some foods on the red side did surprise me such as potatoes , honey and peanut butter. Dang! Those are foods I like but I think I would like being thinner much better so I am going to give this a shot.

Here is what I had for my first dinner on the plan:

Greek salad comprised of chicken breast, calamata olives, reduced fat feta cheese, romaine lettuce, roma tomato topped with balsamic vinegar. Three wasa thin crisp breads (20 calories each) with roasted red pepper hummus on top.

Yum! For a total of 445 calories

I was so proud of it, I took a picture!!

I am pretty suave

These days I am feeling rather suave. No, not him! Suave, as in the almost generic but not quite personal hygiene products. I can only hear so much on the news about the downward turn of our economy before figuring out that it is going to affect me so some cutbacks might be in order.

Did I really need shampoo (and coordinating conditioner) that is fifteen bucks a bottle? They smell so good in the shower but my hair certainly doesn't retain that smell all day so the question is really would another product work as well. I went shopping to my local Target (I love Target) and bought shampoo,conditioner,face wash, deodorant and body lotion for a total of about seven dollars. Half the price of ONE bottle of my former shampoo. Wow, that means a savings of, um, well. Really I am bad at math but seriously over a year this will save me some money. After a week I can say that my hair feels exactly the same and the lotion works well on my dry skin. The deodorant didn't fair as well so I went back to my original brand. Maybe math isn't the only thing I stink at!

Safe Haven Law is an oxymoron!

Between July of this year and today there have been 36 children brought to or dropped off in Nebraska by parents seeking immunity via the Safe Haven Law. This law has made headlines on the national news front. Viewers are shocked and astounded that parents would be driven to such extremes. Not all of these children were from Nebraska, some were from California, Florida and Michigan. Can you imagine driving anywhere from seven to fourteen hours to relinquish your child? The drive would give you a lot of time to think, many miles for second thoughts but those parents still did it.

As of today though that has changed. The State Haven Law in Nebraska has now been changed to infants thirty days old or younger. States that do have Safe Haven Laws most are aimed at the thirty day old mark. How is that some magical number? What happens to families in crisis now? Just because the law is not there does not mean the need is not. I do not believe the law should have been changed until there was services put in place to help these parents who would feel they have no other choice. How many headlines like missing Caylee Anthony, Precious Doe do we have to read before our state takes actions to help families in dire need of support?

I think Nebraska's stance is making a statement that only newborns are deserving of intervention and rescue.

Achooooo!

Instead of the usual morning sounds I was greeted with coughing and sneezing. Both of my kids woke up sick this morning. This puts the brakes on all plans I had for the day. Sure it is just a cold but they feel miserable and need lots of tlc.

Relying on the tried and true, orange juice and chicken noodle soup are on the menu for lunch. It might be an old wives tale but I am convinced it helps.

I am so glad we can cuddle up in our pajamas on the couch with lots of blankets and watch a movie.

Days like this I am so thankful to be able to stay at home with them. I don't have to call into work (if I had enough sick days left) or pack them up and send them to Grandma's or school. Finances were easier when I used to work but parenting was so much harder. I think the pay cut was worth it!

Feeling Flakey

It is November and it seems that each day it gets a little bit colder but where is the snow? This time of year when Autumn is ending but Winter is just not quite here yet is my least favorite time of the year. The grey cold sky is the same color as the pavement. The trees have lost their leaves and lawns are losing their color. The chilly gloom is depressing. I can't wait for a nice fluffy blanket of the white stuff.

If I am going to be cold I might as well have fun in it. I love playing with the kids, building a snowman and then coming inside with our noses running, eyeglasses steamed up,socks soggy to have hot chocolate with mini marshmallows. The sled is hanging in the garage. I have our snow boots, hats and mittens lined up and ready. Now I am waiting. It is November, it is Nebraska, come on already - LET IT SNOW!

Blog rehab?

http://www.bukisa.com/people/sandywalker

I discovered this site today. Now I have another blog. Good gravy! I can sense this has the potential to be addictive. I say that like I am not already losing sleep because I am up writing or thinking about writing. Perhaps there is a twelve step program that I can look into if this gets entirely out of hand.

So far my husband doesn't mind. It is much less expensive than shopping and the blogs take up far less room in the closet than shoes (my previous obsession). I don't need a new bag to match my blog either.

For now I will enjoy my new obsession of writing about writing and blogging about blogging until I am just a shell of my former self. Then you can cart me off to blog rehab. (As long I can take my laptop with me!)

Check this out!

http://thatswhatisay.today.com/


Yes. A blog. Thus my foray into the world of paid writing begins. I am very pleased with this. It's not much. Seriously, that is an understatement!
It is a start that is what is important. The first steps onto an unsure but exciting path.

Read it, tell me what you think. Write one yourself and I will tell you what I think.
Kind of like a ''I'll show you mine if you show me yours '' schoolyard dare. Less creepy though.

When I was your age...

Usually anything that starts out with ''when I was your age'' or similar involves a dreadful tale of walking to school uphill both ways in the snow with only one ill fitting shoe to wear. I can't quite stretch it that far but I do think kids these days have it easier in respect to technology. The simple act of adding a widget (Or was it a gadget?) to my blog had me pulling out my hair.

I did not have computers in high school. My first home computer was a hulking noncompliant frustration device encased in thick white plastic. I knew I would have to learn how to use one, almost every job I was applying for at that time required at least familiarity with computers. It is hard to imagine that just ten years later nearly every job has opportunity or necessity of using a computer. Have you noticed the registers at retailers and grocery stores are more computer than just plain old cash registers.

When I was in Junior High we had to walk to each others houses. Now it is Middle School and they have cell phones. Text messaging each other in indecipherable shorthand and emoticonsfaster than I could have ever asked permission to go down the block.

It is amazing yet somewhat embarrassing that I am turning into my mother as I marvel at the progress of technology. I can't wait until this happens to my kids!

It is but it isn't

Before I went to bed last night I knew Obama had won the Presidential election. I called my Democratic friend Tam and offered my concession speech. I then switched gears and began to support Obama. Not agree with the man mind you, just support him. I think that too much liberty is taken with free speech (pardon the pun) and disparaging the President just because you can undermines the strength and confidence of our country.

I will pray daily for our President to do what is right for our country, our people and especially Isreal. Foreign relations is tricky. I can't even get along with my inlaws for a week, I can't imagine the stress our leaders face trying to get along with so many other leaders. Like a Thanksgiving dinner that lasts for four years.

This election also taught me something about myself. If I wanted McCain to win so badly what did I do to help his campaign? I prayed for him which is nice and of course I cast my vote for him but I did not contribute my time, money and I doubt my Facebook profile button hardly counts as a yard sign. Next election I am going to do more to support my candidate then win or lose I know I at least did my part.

I don't want to take away the most important thoughts of this day though. We live in a free country where we can vote and worship as we please and that is an awesome, awesome gift.

The other is that blacks got the right to vote in 1870 but unpleasantries such as poll taxes, literacy tests and intimidation at the polls by the KKK prevented many from voting until 1964 when the Civil Rights Act was enacted. A whole lot has changed in 44 years and that is what makes this a good day.

God Bless America!

Where are the fireworks????

I feel like it is Independence Day!

My laptop is up and running. Two different wireless routers and one trip to the Geek Squad (they are uber smart by the way) and I am connected.
Our home PC had increasingly become the hot spot in the house. My son loves Facebook and You Tube. My daughter wants to have her turn on it to play with her Webkinz and visit Noggin's website. Often my husband needs it to log into work, check bank account balances or see how his Redskins are doing.
There now is one less swimmer in that pool thanks to my handy dandy laptop. It was a hand me down from the in laws.
Big and clunky. Kind of like a teenager getting a granny car for their first vehicle. As long as it moves and I am driving it - it's cool!

HONK HONK Watch out, here I come!