Read it and weep...

If you haven't read the House Healthcare Bill, here's your chance.

Of course you are free to make up your own mind about this, but if you think this is as scary as I do, make your voice heard. My health and the health of my children is important to me. Back in the day, when I was broke and bartending I found a way to pay for my own healthcare insurance. I didn't expect the government to provide it for me AND I sure as hell didn't want them dictating my care.

I would love to see the government set up walk in clinics for those without insurance, but I am STRONGLY opposed to them taking over the entire country's healthcare.

Here is the entire text of the bill:

http://rightsoup.com/house-health-care-bill/

A few interpretations of the bill I received in an e-mail:

Here's my personal favorite: Pg 53- Severability “If any provision of the Act, or any application of such provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of the provisions of this Act and the application of the provision to any other person or circumstance shall not be affected.”

That means this bill is more powerful than the constitution. Are you still listening?

Pg 22 of the Health Care Bill MANDATES the Govt will audit books of ALL EMPLOYERS that self-insure!!

Pg 30 Sec 123- THERE WILL BE A GOVT COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get.

Pg 29 lines 4-16 - YOUR HEALTHCARE IS RATIONED!!!

Pg 42 - The “Health Choices Commissioner” will choose your HC Benefits for you. You have no choice!

Pg 50 Section 152- HC will be provided to ALL non-US citizens, illegal or otherwise.

Pg 58 - Govt will have real-time access to individual’s finances & a National ID Healthcard will be issued!

Pg 59 lines 21-24- Govt will have direct access to your bank accounts for electronic funds transfer

PG 65 Sec 164 is a payoff subsidized plan for retirees and their families in Unions & community organizations (ACORN).

Pg 72 Lines 8-14 Govt is creating an HC Exchange to bring private HC plans under Govt control.

Pg 84 Sec 203 - Govt mandates ALL benefit packages for private HC plans in the Exchange

Pg 85 Line 7 - Specs for Benefit Levels for Plans = The Govt will ration your Healthcare!

Pg 95 Lines 8-18 The Govt will use groups i.e., ACORN & Americorps to sign up individuals. for Govt HC plan.

Pg 85 Line 7 - Specs of Benefit Levels For Plans. #AARP members- Your Health care WILL be rationed

pg 124 lines 24-25 No company can sue GOVT on price fixing. No “judicial review” against Govt Monopoly.

pg 127 Lines 1-16- RE: Doctors- The Govt will tell YOU what you can make.

Pg 145 Line 15-17 An Employer MUST auto-enroll employees into public option plan. NO CHOICE

Pg 126 Lines 22-25 Employers MUST pay for HC for part time employees AND their families.

Pg 150 Lines 9-13- Biz w payroll between 251k & 400k who doesn’t provide pub. opt pays 2-6% tax on all payroll

Pg 170 Lines 1-3 Any NONRESIDENT Alien is EXEMPT from individual taxes. (Americans will pay)

Pg 195 -Officers & employees of HC Admin (GOVT) will have access to ALL Americans financial/personal records

Pg 203 Line 14-15- “The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax.” Yes, it actualy says that.

Pg 239 Line 14-24-Govt will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors, low income, poor will be affected. Expendable.

Pg 241 Line 6-8- Doctors, doesn’t matter what specialty you have, you’ll all be paid the same.

Pg 253 Line 10-18 Govt sets value of Dr’s time, professional judgment, etc. Literally sets the value of humans.

Pg 317 L 13-20- PROHIBITION on ownership/investment. Govt tells Drs. what/how much they can own.

Pg 425 Lines 4-12 Govt mandates “Advanced Care Planning Consultations.” The Federal Government will require EVERYONE who is on Social Security to undergo a counseling session every 5 years with the objective being that they will explain to them just how to end their own life earlier.

Pg 425 Lines 22-25, 426 Lines 1-3: Govt provides approved list of end of life resources, guiding you in death.

Pg 427 Lines 15-24: Govt mandates program for orders for end of life. The Govt has a say in how your life ends.

Pg 429 Lines 10-12: “advanced care consultation” may include an ORDER for end of life plans. AN ORDER from the Government.

Pg 429 Lines 13-25 - The govt will specify which Doctors can write an end of life order.

Pg 430 Lines 11-15- The Govt will decide what level of treatment you will have at end of life.

Pg 472 Lines 14-17: PAYMENT TO COMMUNITY-BASED ORG. monthly payment to a community-based org. Like ACORN?

Pg 489 Sec 1308: The Govt will cover Marriage & Family therapy. Which means they will insert Govt into your marriage.

Pg 494-498: Govt will cover Mental Health Services including defining, creating, rationing those services.”

PLEASE. Take the time. Look this over. It's bad. Very, very bad.

Get it right!

Our family reunion is this weekend, I think I've mentioned it before.

Last time I had my little camera and I took okay pictures, this year I want to take better pictures. I'm hoping that with my new found photography knowledge and better camera, I can do that. My outdoor pictures are always fine, it's the ones that are taken inside the Buddhist Temple during the talent show that need help.

This is from last reunion, I've purposely blurred out my little cousin's face. She had the biggest smile! And that was clear, but the laughing background dancers are too blurry for my liking. I also know now to move, get closer, don't be afraid to do it.

I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.

Women I Hate and/or am Terrified of, Part Two: The "Just One of the Guys" Girl

She's just a good old American gal, with blue eyes, blonde hair, and she's even more wholesome than shredded wheat. Her hobbies are tag football, playing acoustic guitar, and watching sports films with her best guy friends. So why should you hate her? Because the "I'm Just One of the Guys" Girl gets her cues from after-school dramas -namely luring guys away and making you look like a vain, over-controlling prima donna. She accomplishes that in subtle ways, mostly in the mild put-down format and almost always in the company of young men.

Scenario A: You spend a while putting thought into picking out a nice outfit, and she has to clarify that she hates getting dressed up and just put on whatever that was on the floor and clean. Either that'll be a white cotton tank top and Abercrombie jeans, or she'll actually be wearing a moderately expensive outfit that definitely wasn't just lounging around her bedroom floor. And she will be wearing makeup, no matter how much she claims that she hates it.
Scenario B: You don't want to do whatever sportish activity -hiking, soccer, jet skiing, etc.- and she'll make a big deal about how she loves sports and X-treme activities and watches them all the time on ESPN.
Scenario C: She can just claim that all her roughhousing and cuddling with guys is just them being friends. If one of those friends is your boyfriend, then you're just being a total bitch and you're jealous that she can actually be just friends with boys.
Scenario D: You make just one comment about your purse, and she'll blather on about how she doesn't understand why girls have to use purses; she just uses her pockets and it works just fine.

Whenever you are near her circle of guyfriends, she will invariably say/do stuff like the aforementioned. Why? If she's just like the guys, like she claims, why does she even notice or care that you might actually enjoy looking polished and clean? Because her tactics work; guys will fall for the 'perfect' girl -pretty but enjoys guy activities and doesn't act girly- 99% of the time (once they're hooked, she can dress up or wear makeup and they won't even notice). And she knows that you know that. It's nothing more than a power play on her part to try to make you feel inferior.

So, that's why you should hate her. Also, the whole drinking as many pitchers of cheap beer as her circle of guys and talking filthy to fit in with them is just kind of gross.

But just remember: At least YOU have standards.

Tonight's the night...

it's time to suck down some suds, join hands, and learn from the man who's going to change the world.

This is our "teachable moment."

Since we're all open to learning from each other...I'm going to have my say.

When a police officer comes to your home. Doing his job...because he thinks there is a robbery in progress, no matter how obnoxious he might be...cooperate.

Trust me on this. I've had police officers act like complete idiots with me. I just had to pay bail at the police station because my dog licenses hadn't been renewed.

I was pissed. But I cooperated. The cops take way too much shit and they put their lives on the line every day. There are lots of cops who profile minorities. Unfortunately there are lots of criminals who will not hesitate to pull out a gun and shoot a police officer.

Everyone is skittish in these situations. This cop was not profiling. Someone saw two men (race irrelevant) breaking into a house. She did the right thing and called the police.

Gates should have thanked the police. Instead he got indignant and belligerent. Crowley did what he should have done. Why take a chance? I agree with Crowley's decision.

He didn't act stupidly. This wasn't a cocktail party. Gates was disorderly. Maybe HE learned a lesson from all this. But I doubt it.

Cheers.

Champagne Wishes

Pink Champagne Sorbet

1 cup of caster (superfine) sugar
1/2 cup water
1 cup pink grapefruit juice
1 cup champagne

Place sugar and water in a saucepan over low heat and stir until dissolved. Increase to high heat and boil for one minute. Set aside to cool. Combine grapefruit juice, champagne and cooled syrup in a bowl and stir. Pour into an ice-cream maker and follow manufacturer’s instructions until firm or simply freeze in your freezer.

Yum.

What are you doing here?

You should be at Awkward Family Photos...it's so much more entertaining than this old blog.

Here's a preview...

What a cute idea! A possum in a Baby Bjorn! Precious.











I want to know what's going on in the bottom half of this photo!!




Oh how I love the internet. I could spend the entire day entertaining myself with this crap.

Life is good.

Stroke of Genius: Rodarte

Sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy created Rodarte in 2005 and the brand has garnered a great deal of critical praise for their fresh, organic, and futuristic point-of-view. Their intricately detailed pieces are the result of painstaking effort to create something otherworldy. The brand is the darling of fashion critics and is becoming a favorite of Hollywood's edgier starlets. If you aren't familiar with Rodarte, you ought to be as this label is offering work that is simultaneously futuristic and reflective of a past Romanticism. Also, the shoes.

Sad

Really really sad. I got a sliver, in my right middle finger. Right on the end. Straight into the flesh. I got it out last night, most of it, and so it doesn't hurt like it did yesterday. But it's made it very hard to type and very hard to take pictures, but not so hard to flip people the bird. Too bad I haven't left the house in a few days. I might venture out today in the 35+ (that's 95 for you Americans).

I called Genesis about my tattoo. Kerry has lost almost all his scabs, it's quite gross, but he's healing very well after getting off to a rocky, red, inflamed start. I haven't lost one scab, my tattoo looks like I've been embossed with black embossing powder. It's not dry, I mosturized enough. So I called to confirm my thoughts, I can't go swimming until the scabs fall off. Which means I'll be the one at the reunion this weekend sitting in the shade taking a zillion pictures and melting, because fat melts in the heat. Oh, well, maybe it will melt off of me, maybe I'll dress to warmly and it will be like a Native sweat lodge. Hopefully, the scabs are gone by the time we take the kids to the waterslides. That would be a truely sad trip if I couldn't go.

We, me and Kerry, are making plans to go to this. He loves Subaru rally stuff, I am just forced to watch it. So he asks if I want to go because it will be a good time to practice my photography skills. That guy knows what to say, he's so romantic.

My birthday is coming, about 10 days away, so we were making plans. My parents are going out of town and won't be here for my birthday. And Saturday, Aug. 8, is fight night, so I thought I'd do cupcakes for fight night, but then last night just before I fell asleep I realized that the fight co-ordinator, Dad, will be out of town. Waaaahhh...no birthday fight night at Dad's. So maybe for my birthday we will get a honkin' huge flat screen tv and do our potluck fight night at our house this month. And maybe monkies will fly out my butt.

Mid-week dirt biking...bliss!

Well today is Wednesday, and being Wednesday, I decided not to go to work and to catch up with Erin for some moon-tn' bah-kin'. At the famous Gap Creek (mostly famous for having Brisbane's 'worst road' running through the two sides of the MTB park: a rutted, gritty dirt road that peaks at 20% an probably averages about 12% for 2km...maybe a bit less. It's got the soccer mums all riled up that it isn't tarred. Thank goodness it's not tarred!)


It was rad. For the first time in weeks, my legs didn't feel like passengers hitching a free ride on my bike and weighing me down. They weren't exactly in party mode either, but it's nice not feeling like you have useless appendages attached to your hips!

Anyway, it was all a bit strange, I am riding up Collins rd to drop into Rocket Frog track (which, by the way, has so many muddy hole-y bits in it at the moment that apparently beginners are going over the hangers on the trail in droves—oh to be a fly on the wall at 9am on Saturday!) and this black Holden ute is parked across the trail head. This happens sometimes, mostly on weekends, when people don't use the carpark.

Anyhoo, grinding up Collins Rd, someone opens the door of the ute and pops their head out. They say something, that I don't really hear, so I stop and the guys says; "Hey, how's it going?"

Am I supposed to be creeped out now? Is this a guy that preys on female MTB'ers at the top of the easy trail, cuts them up with an axe and makes lampshades out of their skin (aka: Ed Gein style)?

I say hi, obviously not wanting to accuse this potential axe-murderer of being so, in case it incites unstoppable rage.

"Hey, are you going riding? Can I come along?" He says.

I say...sure—but I am meeting a friend.

He goes to get his stuff, as he walks to the back of his tarped-up ute tray, I am convinced he may be an axe murderer, but also feel okay with my two wheels and miles of bush all around. Despite my warped sense of navigation.

Alas, he pulls a Scott hardtail from the back of the car, and picks up a helmet and a hydrapak. I feel a little less creeped out now.

I blast it down Rocket Frog, just testing his mettle. He doesn't get dropped so I decide he can ride with us.

We meet Erin at the picnic area...and I introduce Chris (the appendage). It was okay!

Erin and I gas-bagged throughout the whole ride, I can hear Chris breathing heavily in the background. After we have done a clean sweep of all the trails on that side of the park, we climb back up to the top of Rocket Frog.

Chris asks..."Where are you going now?".

We say...oh down that trail then up here then back down then across the road, up the DH track..across and down...

It;s then that he points out his car, "that's my car", he says. I think he had:
a. Had enough of riding behind two girls and was a bit pooped after 45 minutes; or,
b. Was sick of hearing us natter on about bullshit.

Either way, the axe murderer (I still have reservations...) left us and we rode some more trails.

I did a bit of this:

But going uphill, over a log and on an XC bike. But it's all good. I have no idea how I ragged it on the log I did—bizzare! My technical inconsistency bamboozles me at times.

Anyway, now I am feeling quite content following a double-macchiato, a serve of leftovers and now a tea.

I love days off, mountain biking in the sun and picking strange men up off the side of the road!

Jumping on the BlogHer Bandwagon...

I've been blogging for a couple of years now and every summer around this time the blog community starts buzzing about BlogHer.

The first year I knew about it the conference was held in San Francisco. This year, it was in Chicago. Since I live on the East Coast there was no way I could have gone...even if I wanted to.

As you know, blogging is a fun little side hobby for me, in addition to my tennis, facebook and twittering. If I had the opportunity to take a weekend trip, it would be to a tennis camp, or a weekend with my high school friends. My weekends away are few and far between, so I have to be choosy.

I've enjoyed reading blog posts about the conference and get a kick out of the stories about cliques and parties and fights over swag bags, but I never felt I was missing out, because there was no way I could travel half way across the country to attend.

Now, however, I have a dilemma. The 2010 BlogHer location was announced and it will be held right in my backyard...in the Big Apple! Yay!!! (I mean shit!)

Now I have a real problem. Apparently tickets sell out fast. Do I want to spend the money to register? Even for a local, they aren't that cheap. Will it be fun for a slacker blogger to hob knob with the the blogging pros? Who the heck will I hang out with?

More questions...should I go to the lectures and discussions, or just hit a few parties to meet some bloggers face to face?

If you are a BlogHer vet, help a rookie out! If you are one of my blog friends...do you want to go with me and form our own slacker blogger posse?

There's strength in numbers you know...

Don't make me go to the prom (I mean BlogHer) without a date...

I'll get you a corsage and sneak in a bottle of Boone's Farm if you come with me. I'll even make "Slacker Blogger Posse" t-shirts!

Whaddya think? Are you in?

Finally back in the game...

...except not so much back in the game, as lagging behind the game. But hey, at least I am back on the bike and able to talk about the game, even if my legs still don't know what's hitting them everyday that I get back on my bike and creep around. But that's sickness for you!

Loving the MTB, though I had a massive (and stupid) stack last week and I am still acting a little cautious. But rode around Bunya today, with the goal of not clipping out on any trails. If I did (ie: stupid off camber log—bane of my existence I swear) I went and re-rode the trail. So it was good motivation to stay focussed on the bike.

In other news, many new things are on the horizon, like uni for 2010, getting a NEW JOB (asap please!) and getting married. I am thinking that I should be organising more things than I currently have for the proverbial 'big day', but I am kind of just hoping that it all kind of falls together.

Anyway, something strange to leave on—I thought that I was the only one to have something (in my case a fury black bitch) called Mondoggi, apparently not! Mondoggi is an online, international media source guide. Crazy.

Greetings from Asbury Park!

My sister, her husband and their children are visiting, so we decided to take a little drive to Asbury Park and stroll on the Asbury Park Boardwalk.

We used to go to the Palace Amusement Park as kids, so we thought we'd take a little trip down memory lane.

If you aren't familiar with Asbury Park, I'll give you the scoop.

Asbury Park has been a mess for years. Once magnificent buildings became rundown vacant eyesores due to corrupt politicians and the race riots in the 70's. Asbury was once a mecca for family summer vacations at the turn of the century, up till the 60's. Bruce Springsteen & John Bon Jovi got their start at The Stone Pony, a still famous nightclub for rock band venues.
Bruce & his friends have had some fundraisers to help support Asbury Park and help to gentrify the area and it is working. Developers came in and invested & they have some great community activists that really care. They have a large gay community that has really turned the town around. They bought up vacant stores and old buildings and have made them into chic, happening restaurants, antique stores and decorator shops. New luxury residences are going up and the once sad looking buildings are being restored back to their original beauty.

It was AMAZING!

Our first stop was The Beach Bar at the Convention Center. Totally chic, with a view of the beach and they didn't care that we had 5 rowdy kids with us. Perfect. After a margarita and some delicious chips with guacamole we proceeded to work our way down the boards.

We went to Candyteria...the Dylan's Candy Bar of Jersey.
Then we hopped over to Hot Sand Glass Blowing Studio to watch the glass blowers and check out the gorgeous ornaments and bowls. They even offer classes! I almost cried I was so excited. (Yeah, I know...pretty sad)







Finally, we went to Bodega Shoppe, the most BEAUTIFUL little shop ever. Everything in the store was absolutely delightful. They got a write up in Elle Magazine which called Bodega "a boutique that oozes with as much charm and taste as anything west of the Hudson really has a right to." (Ouch, quite a slam to NJ!)

My sister ended up buying some beautiful little items for her home. (Alas, I had no idea the treasures I would discover and left my wallet in the car!) I will return to Bodega Shoppe, WITHOUT the children once school is back in session.

Why am I writing about this? It's because I worked in New York City for years and lived right off South Street in Philadelphia in my early twenties. I THRIVED on the city. I loved hanging out in the West Village, hanging out in the local bars and cafes, shopping in unique little shops.

Now I live in suburbia, and while I love my town, I crave creativity and diversity. It's nice to know that when I need my cool fix, it's less than a 20 minute drive away.


Don't you love when you discover a treasure right in your own backyard?

For the Future

Our 15th anniversary is coming up...in May. But it's a bigger one so I've been leaving hints. At first I thought I needed a new ring, because that's what everyone gets, or a trip somewhere. But then I've also been leaving hints about a new lens. This one I don't NEED, I just WANT. Big difference, with the 2 I have, I should be just fine, but I want to take better pictures of Kerry mountain biking, and there's less light in the forest, so I want a different lens. A $600 lens. So we were discussing it and Kerry says "Do you really want a piece of jewellery, because that's not the type of person you are?" and I was thinking "What? I'm getting scammed out of an anniversary gift!" Then he says "Wouldn't you rather have a lens?" And I'm like "You really do listen!" He's my BFF. He knows me so well.

He felt bad that I had to use Smurfette as a model for my photography lessons because no one else in the house would help, so he volunteered to help. I told him we should have had one more kid!





Here is is, back lit, and not too badly exposed, he's also doing what he spends half his waking hours doing...looking at his tattoo.
Here is is doing what he does with the other half of his waking hours.Then he helped me with these two, no dogs were hurt during this process, maybe embarrassed but not hurt. Good dogs! Sally's not too bad, she's in her rule of thirds pose but Linus is not, he's front and center like he lives life. He's also got his tongue rolled back like he always does. Low aperture makes their noses in focus and their eyes out of focus.And this one...It's much better than a few weeks ago, when I took this one.

He's much closer here but the background is distracting. The first one is a bit darker but it was at dusk so I guess that's okay. And I am laying on the ground for the first one. All photos are SOOC, because we aren't supposed to post edit them for class. I'm hoping to become a better photographer so that I don't have to photoshop them afterwards. But if I did, I'd lighten up the first one of Linus and his stick, but I also learned how to do that while taking the picture, I just didn't have it set up light enough. Live and learn! That's what it's about.

We have a one week intermission during photography class. It will be a great chance to review and get caught up on the one assignment I am behind, I did get half done yesterday. And the review will be good for next weekend, as that's our big family reunion weekend. I better start stretching for the Olympics, and practicing my action shots. I better make a chiropractor's appt. for the Tuesday afterwards. I also better get my rest now, it's a 3 day go go go event. I'm tired just thinking about it. Then it's my birthday weekend. Yay Me! It's also Mardi Gras so we will take in some of that too.

Tattoo update...We've been using Polysporin for Kids because Amanda said to use it, it's been great! I'm so dry my leg sucks it up in minutes, where as Kerry can put it on in the morning and still be dewy in the afternoon. I put it on about 3 times a day. Kerry has scabs falling off, I don't. Not one single piece has come off on mine. It's like a Braille Tattoo. It doesn't hurt anymore and was only itchy on Saturday afternoon, both of us were itchy. Thanks Amy for the slapping technique, works like a charm.

And you know it's going to be a hot day when the A/C comes on before 7:30 am.

In my genes

So now that I'm officially class 'funny person' (clown probably isn't politically correct, and I don't like clowns) in the Photographers' Workshop, my sense of humour gets discussed more often.
Last night's topic ... Where did it come from?
Kerry says it's the Japanese in me. To which I reply, "have you ever seen an Asian stand-up comedian?" he said no, but Yolanda said "Margret Cho". Okay, she's Chinese, and some guy that I saw on tv once did a funny set about aliens, he was funny! So 2 people. That's it. Then I said "maybe it's the Native in me?" and we did some more thinking. Nothing, except that guy on Corner Gas, Lorne Cardinal, he's funny. And then I said there were lots of Caucasian comedians, and holy crap, Kerry, I'm part white!

Go Yearbook Yourself!

It's so much fun...check it out:

Do it, NOW and let me know when you do. We can have a contest to see who looks best with an afro!!

Slow Down

I can't believe how fast the summer is flying by. July wasn't too busy, but August is crazy busy for us. Family reunion, weddings, birthdays, back to school shopping, relatives coming...I better get rested up now.

Photography class has a week intermission starting Monday, which is great, I am totally caught up on the lessons, but have the last assignment to finish and I want to go over the last 5 weeks again. K. and I had a conversation about it yesterday and I mentioned something about keeping up and he said I had better be or it's the last on-line class I'm ever taking. And he snickered, he was just trying on the mean guy pants. But it's true, I have spent a lot of money on it, and it's an intense class, I'm learning so much about my camera, and I want to stay caught up. So I'm being diligent, I'm taking the quiet time to read and listen to my lessons, and play with my camera, but I seriously need more willing subjects to shoot. What I love most about the class besides the obvious fact I'm learning about my camera, is the camaraderie between the students and Karen, and the fact that Kerry tells everyone that I'm taking the class and that even though my pictures were good before, I have shown so much improvement. I think he's just happy I have learned what all of the buttons on the camera do.

I'm also working on Aug.'s Art Freckles kit, which is a lovely kit, but I'm needing to find older photos to work with it.

The fire has put a damper on everyone's moods, not many people out enjoying the great outdoors right now. I'm taking the girls shopping for their anime costumes, even though the convention is almost a year away. I heard them say "it's better to start early" and I almost drove off the road. This is what I said to them last year and it didn't get me anywhere, except sewing a costume days before we left for the convention.

I'll do anything for product...

I don't know if I've ever mentioned this, but if you own a business and have a product you'd like me to promote here on my incredibly popular blog, let me know.

All you have to do is send me some of your wares and I'll put a nice little mention on my blog and an ad on my sidebar.

It's a win-win. I get free stuff and YOU get to reach out to an amazingly discerning group of readers who love to shop.

I hope Blogger doesn't crash from all the responses I'm sure to receive.

Act fast!! My sidebar is only so big...

Tattoos hurt, but it's the aftercare that'll kill you...

I vaguely remember the pain of getting the tattoo, because I'm so focused on the aftercare...keeping it out of the sun, keeping the dog away from it, Linus wants to get up close and personal with it. We must keep it out of dirt, so there's no weeding of the garden. It can't be soaked, so no swimming. No itching, scratching, picking, scrubbing. Last night my leg had an itch and I absentmindedly scratched it then let out a yelp because I was touching my tattoo.
I think I've healed up fairly well, unless there's more to come. The only area that has scabbed up are the eyes of each kid, and the middle of Emily/bottom of Sally. Kerry's on the otherhand is red, swollen in at least a 4 1/2 inch square around the tattoo, and scabby. Our skin types are different, and with his being on his inner arm, it's harder for him to keep it out of harm's way.

So if you are thinking about getting a tattoo, my advice is to think about what you do with that area beforehand, Kerry can't let his arm touch his side, can't sleep very well, lean on a table, put his arms behind his head. I can sleep on my side, stomach, or back, I can don't put my legs behind my head, and nothing really touches my leg, so I think this has really helped in the healing. So glad I didn't get one on my inner arm. Kerry says his next one will be done in colder months too. I could go any time. The sooner the better.

If this is what his apartment looks like...

Can you imagine his teeth?!!!

I'm going to be sexist here and assume this is a man...

A friend of mine sent me this e-mail and I was completely flabbergasted!!

This is a Houston apartment, found during a recent hurricane evacuation inspection.

This is NOT hurricane damage - the apartment was found this way prior to the hurricane.

(This lead in made me laugh...what kind of hurricane causes an apartment to fill up with empty pizza boxes, cigarette butts and empty Big Gulp Cups!!)

Anyway, here are some of the pix.

Do you think this dude has a blog??? WTF?!

Check out his computer!!

















How about this kitchen? Surprisingly there is an iron that is actually plugged in. Do you think this person irons his clothes?!


If you want to see more pictures of the squalor click here.

Rococo & Caffeine STYLE

Not working, hurrah!

It's a big day today. I am not at work, and not intending on going to work. Bliss!

Mow my biggest problem is deciding (after a couple more lazy coffees) whether to go up Mt Nebo on the MTB, or go out to Mt Mee on the roadie. Finally I feel as though I am pulling through this flu and virus ridden two months, which is also good, but fuck, it takes it's toll. Still riding like a cadaver up climbs, but at least it doesn't feel like there is tar in my lungs anymore!

Decisions, decisions...


Neebs?


Mees?

On a more serious tangent...it's so true when it is said that everyone is affected by cancer in some way—either directly or indirectly.

Eldon from Fatcyclist is helping his wife Susan battle cancer, and his blog features entertaining reviews on his rides, theories on why cyclists feel pain (because of 'pain pellets'—of course!) and also writes about his family's daily battle with the disease.

He is also one of the most innovative anti-cancer advocates out there. So check out the blog when you have a spare ten minutes at work.

This isn't fun...but it IS important...

President Obama is devoting most of his time and public appearances these days to one issue - reforming the nation's health care system. But concerns about the cost and scope of reform are growing among members of Congress and the general public and with very good reason.

Universal, government run Healthcare is just another program we do not need. Another government run, red-tape ridden, weaved with bureaucracy. Improved health care system, yes, ABSOLUTELY,but that's another story for another day. One fight at a time.

Please contact your Congressmen and women to state your position on this. Do it TODAY. Use the link below to access your representatives. This is vitally important.

If you do support Universal Healthcare, perhaps you can say NO for NOW - the legislation is being pushed way too fast for it to make sense and there's not enough time for representatives to read it! Let's take our time and do this the right way.

President Obama may have good intentions, and I agree that healthcare should be available to all Americans, but this experiment with America is a risk our country cannot afford.

It is too much, too fast, too soon.

http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

How awesome is this?

The city of Taegu (also spelled Daegu) in South Korea has the most amazing mascot ever: FASHIONY! Fashiony is supposed to highlight Taegu's role in textiles and fashion. Sweet.

And the Winner is...

Sue!
Later today, I will get the stuff together and call you to drop it off for you!

Thank goodness for useless studies!

I heard that somewhere they did a study about whether or not swearing is a pain reliever. 'They' tested a group of students, made them put their hands in ice for a set amount of time. One time saying words that were neutral, the other time they could swear. The swearing time they kept their hands in longer. Why? It's too scientific for me...but let me tell you this...While getting my tattoo today, I said lots of swear words in my head. And if they relieved any pain, then I can't even imagine what it would have been like if I had said words that described my couch in my head. Tattoos hurt. Don't let anyone tell you other wise. Kerry channeling his inner peace.

Originally, I was getting 2 tattoos, one on the inside of my left arm, one on my right calf. Kerry got his on the inside of his left arm and said it hurt, a lot. After much discussion about the design of my arm tattoo and what it might look like in a year or so, I decided to go back to the drawing board. After Clint started tattooing my leg, I yelled out "I'm only getting one tattoo!" because if the inner arm is supposed to be the worst place for pain, and my leg was in a whole lot of pain, then I couldn't even imagine what the pain of the inner arm would feel like. And I think after giving birth naturally to 2 kids, one with no drugs what-so-ever, that I have a fairly high pain tolerance. So when my tattoo is designed, I will NOT be getting it on my inner arm, no matter how much I want it there.

My calf, shot by me, in our bathroom, not so great but you get the idea. I'm not nearly as red as Kerry is. I didn't bleed, either or so Kerry thinks. I didn't look. The blood will make me pass out. Not the pain, not the needles, just the blood and the fact my body is losing it. I'm really attached to my blood.

Emily was commissioned, paid in video games to draw this picture of her, Shaun and the 2 dogs. We wanted it in her chibi style, and she did colour it but we decided to go with just the black line drawing. I love it. Mom does not.