Thursday Thirteen #8

Thirteen Trivias which Shoshana stumbled upon.

I'm curious, without looking for answers other than what's available, do you noticed these things? I missed quite a few. I guess I wasn't paying attention quite.

1. Which way do fans rotate?


2. Whose face is on a dime?


3. How many sides does a stop sign have?


4. Do books have even-numbered pages on the right or the left side?


5. How many lug nuts are there on a standard car wheel?


6. How many sides are there on a standard pencil?


7. Sleepy, Happy, Sneezy, Grumpy, Dopey, Doc: who's missing?


8. How many hot dog buns are there in a standard package?


9. On which playing card is the card maker's trademark?


10. On which side of a Venetia blind is the cord that adjusts the opening between the slats?


11. What is in the center on the back of a $1 bill?


12. There are 12 buttons on a touch tone phone. What two symbols bear no digits?


13. How many curves are there in the standard paper clip?

BONUS:

14. Does a merry-go-rounds turn clockwise or counter clockwise?

Answers are found here.

So, how did you do?

[source]

Customer Service Anyone?*

A lady died this past January, and Citibank billed her for February & March for their annual service charges on her credit card, and then added late fees & interest on the monthly charge. The balance had been $0.00, now it's somewhere around $60.00.

A family member placed a call to Citibank:

Family Member: "I'm calling to tell you that she died in January."

Citibank: "The account was never closed and the late fees & charges still apply."

Family Member: "Maybe you should turn it over to collections."

Citibank: "Since it is two months past due, it already has been."

Family Member: So, what will they do when they find out she is dead?"

Citibank: "Either report her account to the frauds division or report her to the credit bureau; maybe both!"

Family Member: "Do you think God will be mad at her?"

Citibank: "Excuse me?"

Family Member: "Did you just get what I was telling you . . . the part about her being dead?"

Citibank: "Sir, you'll have to speak to my supervisor"

Supervisor gets on the phone.

Family Member: "I'm calling to tell you, she died in January."

Citibank: "The account was never closed and the late fees & charges still apply."

Family Member: "You mean you want to collect from her estate?"

Citibank: (Stammer) "Are you her lawyer?"

Family Member: "No, I'm her great nephew." (Lawyer info given)

Citibank: "Could you fax us a certificate of death?"

Family Member: "Sure." (the fax number is given)

After they get the fax ...

Citibank: "Our system just isn't setup for death. I don't know what more I can do to help."

Family Member: "Well, if you figure it out, great! If not, you could just keep billing her. I don't think she will care."

Citibank: "Well, the late fees & charges do still apply."

Family Member: "Would you like her new billing address?"

Citibank: "That might help."

Family Member: "Odessa Memorial Cemetery, Highway 129, Plot Number 69."

Citibank: "Sir, that's a cemetery!"

Family Member: "What do you do with dead people on your planet?"

What fun it is dealing with "customer service." Was this as funny as AOL's Customer Service? Maybe I should have a little poll going.

*cut and pasted from a Bulletin Board

Slaving Away

Slaving away sounds attractive right now. A better prospect, if you can believe it. I haven't done this type of work in a long, long while. Eight years ago, this would be a normal thing. An excel-full of numbers, playing with it, sorting it, nothing but numbers, all 4 hours of staring at numbers, redoing mistakes, but still all about numbers. What's more, pulling conclusions and intelligent-sounding meaning out of the numbers.

Anyone remember Chemistry lab? What about Quantitative Chemistry lab? Physical chemistry? Any science lab? Excepting Physics, because they don't seem to require as many numbers in General Physics. What about accounting?

There you go. If you can remember that, you can understand why I have to take a break. Why it's very necessary to take a break. I need chocolate, a good book, a hammock, and a beach resort. I need those to recover.

After this post, there's probably another hour or two of numbers, then hopefully, I haven't butchered this so bad.

Ok, back to numbers now. It's not going to get done by itself, and I'm OCD enough to not want to go to sleep until I'm done. The best part is, I have a date with a really good book when I'm through.

You want what?

We're trying to start another pleasant routine. I'm all for routines. It gives me something to look forward to when I am busy.

Saturday night, we're watching Ghost Whisperer with my mother. Check out my TV listings on my sidebar for the series I'm following.

I took advantage of the early sunset and sent all my kids to bed before 6 PM. I was overly optimistic of course considering they were up very late when my brother was visiting us for Thanksgiving.

They made an effort to go to bed. DS3 was the first one to sleep. The older three kids, I had to bribe with my computer time early tomorrow for them to sleep so early. It's the consequence when kids learns to negotiate and can read clocks! So, ok. TV and computer times for anyone up at 5 AM today.

That was my first mistake of course. Now it's almost three and I am still up! How am I supposed to moderate that 5 AM TV and computer time, huh? I am sitting here shaking my head at the "deals" I put through because I am desperate for early nights for the kiddies.

So, we were enjoying Jennifer Love-Hewitt running around my screen in her big boobies, and happily speculating whether she was pregnant or just having a bad clothing episode. BTW, is she pregnant? I can't tell for sure, but suddenly, I am noticing that she has a tiny waist, but rather markedly flared-up hips. OK, back to the title of this post.

DS3 woke up crying and miserable. DS2 was jumping on his little brother's bed, and in his exuberance, woke DS3 up. We change My mother changed his diapers because he whispered that he has "poopy di-pe" Afterwards, he's in my bed, cuddling, and hopefully, going back to sleep. Not really.

He followed me to the kitchen. I was having a worst craving for chocolate. In fact, DH offered to go out and get me some. My mother said not a good idea. Sometimes, I really missed being pregnant. You see, when one is pregnant, one can eat anything, and one can be fat, and people will just expect that you'll lose the extra weight when the baby's born. I missed that. No moist chocolate cake for me.

DS3 went all out of his tantrum.

He keeps saying, "I want b'loom!"
I said, "What sweetie?"
This is followed by lots of screaming, and crying and gesticulating. I bet he's rolling his eyes in exasperation too, but I can't be sure. His hair was all over his face.
"I WANT B'LOM", at least,that what it sounded like coming from his 28-month mouth.

We have this colored lights we put in our living room. It changes color, and DS3 really loves it. He likes it flashing, he likes it on, and sometimes, he's very insistent on having it off. So I pointed out to him that the light is blue already.

Again he said, "I WANT B'LOM" Here, I am getting frustrated too. I gave up guessing,and went back to Ghost.

Finally, DS3 got smart and brought his Abba to the living room, saying exactly the same thing he told me. They came back to my room, all smiles. My smart, intelligent, darling of a husband has decoded it. The light was on blue already, so it couldn't be that.

There's also a "balloon" right next to the blue light on our ceiling.

[added Sunday PM]
I have passion. I have passion. Lots and lots of it! My eyes ain't violet though.

Your Eyes Should Be Violet

Your eyes reflect: Mystery and allure What's hidden behind your eyes: A quiet passion

What Color Should Your Eyes Be?Take the quizz here

Thanks for the Memories

My brother's family up north came down south and spent three days with us. It was quite a crowd for our Thanksgiving dinner. There were nine children and nine adults. My Mom was still at work when we went for our Thanksgiving Picnic.

My lovely SIL slaved for our dinner. Alright! She went to Boston Market and ordered the whole dinner there. I was moping up spilled juices. Besides, not much cooking for me this year. My baby decides that it's not on my schedule. He wants to be held all the time. And only by me!

It was certainly fun to live with 8 children in one house. I think I could have handled my planned 10 children. There were 3 two year olds, and two under one-year old. What lovely time we have!

There were three sets of parents, a great Grandma of my SIL, and my Little Brother2 for our outing. If all my mother's children are here, it would have been a much bigger crowd. Some day!

We even manage to have our Thanksgiving TV show. America's Top Model, CSI-Miami, CSI and Grey's Anatomy. That was the first time I saw AMT. I think Tyra's channeling Oprah. No comment there...but somebody should fire her make-up artist. Is it just me? Or that's the in thing these days? I haven't glob on make-up in ages, excepting that wedding I went to, so I wouldn't know. I am not the make-up everyday kind of girl.

I'm more like the wash and moisturize and lip gloss, too. That's all.

I would like to have Thanksgiving Picnic as tradition. It's fun. The kids have fun, and we get to burn some calories chasing after the kids after dinner. I have a feeling that the weather won't always cooperate with me. I am thankful for families. They're the best ones to have around.

I hope everyone has as much fun Thanksgiving.

MY PHOTO HUNT VOL. 7 - TIME

Ever since I found out the theme for the Photo hunt this week, I can't get rid of this song in my head! It's on a loop and the "stop" button is broken. I find myself humming it, I find myself singing it. I might even jolt myself awake singing this song. I think everyone my age have heard of this song. I have no idea how old this song is, but it's a favorite of mine. My aunt used to play this song a whole, whole lot.

If I could save time in a bottle
The first thing that I'd like to do
Is to save every day
Till Eternity passes away
Just to spend them with you

-Time In A Bottle by Jim Croce

Time is relative. Einstein said so. I hunt all over my computers to find pictures for this week's hunt. DS2 and I, over three years ago [pictured on the left], when he wasn't quite 2. He loves to climb on my back wherever I am. He still does it today [pictured on the right], except he's over half as tall as I am.

But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do
Once you find them

-Time In A Bottle by Jim Croce

Whitney Houston sung

Give me one moment in time
When I'm more than I thought I could be
When all of my dreams
Are a heart beat away
I love this song, way back when. In fact, I can't listen to this song without thinking about my little sister, Love. She can sing beautifuly. Time reminds me of her, and how we don't see each other enough.

All my dreams are here. I'm holding them in my hands and treasuring them in my heart. Have a happy weekend, Folks!

Scrapbooking

I have a friend who's into scrapbooking. She's fabulous at it. The pages she creates...well, let's just say that if you're not in to artsy stuff, it would make you wish you were. She's that good.

I am not surprised of course. She's probably one of the few people I know who keeps a very neat notebook in all our chemistry classes. Even when the professors would blaze through the lectures at the speed of light, she still manages to keep neat notes. Unbelievable! Anyway, she got me thinking about scrapbooking.

This is "The Friend" who introduced me to the world of make-up and shopping. I would just always go into this store called "5-7-9" and pick up my size 0's on sale and wear them. I didn't know other stores existed. What fun it was to shop! We also have a lot of late nights burning candles for exams. What makes those study sessions bearable was the shopping trip we made in the midst of it. We'd shop for nail colors, or spread Victoria's Secret catalogs over our text books and order. It's probably how we end up with over a hundred pair of underwear- thongs all.

I am not even going to mention her 4.0 GPA in our Biochemistry degree. She has style and an extraordinary fashion sense. Even without all these, she's just a nice person to know. Did I mentioned she's got this lovely daughter too? She knows who she is, so we're not going to name names here.

Scrapbooking is a method for preserving a legacy of written history in the form of photographs, printed media, and memorabillia contained in decorated albums, or scrapbooks. Historically, scrapbooking was a tradition similar to storytelling, but with a visual and tactile, rather than oral, focus.

I've tried it before.

In fact, I spent a small fortune in getting rubber stamps, pens, ink, pads, pens, scissors, papers; albums...are you getting the idea yet? It's still all there. At least, what survived after my darling daughter and sons have gone through it. I would dearly love to finish that particular project, but children and family life gets in the way of scrapbooking.

It's in the back burner, right along with my more than three dozens projects in knitting and crocheting in various stages of completion.

Talking about "various degrees of completion" reminds me that it might not be the children or the family getting in the way of my project. It's probably me. Why else would I be reading at least 8 books at the same time? At one point, I was keeping up stories with 16 books! I'd finished them all together, or I'd quit reading somewhere in the middle if the story is too much work.

What do I mean by too much work? It's when I read and have to work up enthusiasm so I could flip to the next page and the next and the next...and sometimes, I just can't do it. I want the book to do it for me. When this happens, having to work up enthusiasm for a book, I'd grabbed one of my favorite oldies and re-read it. I'd better re-read an old book I've read gazillion times before, rather than get stuck in an uphill book.

What am I talking about? First I'm babling about scrapbooks, and now complaining about books?! What has yarns gotta do with either? Aside from the knitting needles being pointy things, big and tall pointy things, what has knit/crochet got to do with scrapbooking? Probably nothing. I don't know. I am just peacefully typing here, and those darn things just wanted to be mentioned. I didn't plan on it at all. Those things just wanted to be where my scrapbooking thoughts want to be.

Oh yeah. Digital Scrapbooking. I won't have to worry about scissors and glues and other sharp instruments. I might take it up someday, when I have a lot of time. I am seriously thinking about taking it up. It's a nice hobby to have, and who knows, I might find my talent right along my enthusiasm. All for someday of course. When I'm all grown up! Right?

MY PHOTO HUNT VOL.6 - PLUSH

Plush (from French peluche) is a textile having a cut nap or pile the same as fustian or velvet. Originally the pile of plush consisted of mohair or worsted yarn, but now silk by itself or with a cotton backing is used for plush, the distinction from velvet being found in the longer and less dense pile of plush. The material is largely used for upholstery and furniture purposes, and is also much employed in dress and millinery. [source] I am sitting here wondering how can I turn plush into a family theme somehow. Can you tell I like my kids pictures? I might not be able to succeed this time...and man, do I need that new camera. I ended up buying a 7.2 MP Sony Cybershot. I have a Sony before, it's 2.8 MP, and it's what most of my pictures are. I thought it's time to get a new one. I still like my old camera. Hello Kitty from Build-a-Bear I'm one of those people who waits til something is broken to replace it. This camera is still not broken, even though I've let three little babies play and droll and spit and drop it. It's still taking pictures and performing nicely. Evidently, this principle doesn't hold up to shoes or underwears. I have a fetish for both. Not recently, but only because five kids, and two of them babies can seriously put a crimp in anyone's shopping. I don't care how "shop-aholic" one is. The cure is two little babies you don't want to be apart from. Bunny Rabbit from BAB Not these two above, they're long gone from being babies. These two I can take shopping! It's a different story with DS2. He has a strong dislike to women clothing store...or anything to do with girly-stuff. Honestly! At three, he refused to go inside Motherhood maternity with me! He's been known to walk right out of Wal-Mart when walking past women's clothing, thinking the whole store is women's clothing! Garfield from BAB I dabble in knitting too...and plush is yarn or was it yarn is plush? I made this baby blanket for DS4. This is crochet. My mother taught me crochet when I was pregnant with DS2. This is one of my first blankets I finished and kept. I usually gave it away as presents to other babies. When DS4 was so young. Now he power-crawls into my kitchen and back to his room in a flash! A granny square blanket I made for my Lil Sister I have so much fun finding these pictures again.

Passing History

You Failed 8th Grade US History

Sorry, you only got 5/8 correct!

Could You Pass 8th Grade History?
Take the test here

I should be ashamed and maybe even return my straight-A history grade. Nuh! How could I missed three!

I re-took the test, and found out

• I do not know the May Flower compact. At least, I didn't think it was a new Estee Lauder cosmetics!



• I missed also the state that wasn't part of the Confederacy. I couldn't remember it until I goggled it...still have no recollection of learning it. Sorry Dr. Montgomery. You did your best!



• I was also confused on who was impeached in the 19th century. I remember the ticket which was sold-out, for this hearing. I saw it on my history book. I remember the name wrong. I apologized to the 7th President of America. I thought he was the one impeached in a circus of a hearing. I recall enjoying that class very well. Except, I forgot to remember.

You take the test, and let me know how you did on this history test. Man, I hate failing at anything, even if there's no serious consequences. It's the alpha-male inside of me.

Thursday Thirteen #7

Thirteen Home Remedies as Scavenged by SHOSHANA I might not always do them, but I am very fascinated with "home remedies." So this Thursday, I'm having 13 home remedies found all over the world. Read these with a grain of salt. Or take a whole bucketful if you have to. Have you heard anything more outlandish than that one from China below? Bruises 1. Croatia INGREDIENTS: margarine or butter INSTRUCTIONS: Rub a little to liberal amount of butter on the bruise and leave it. Works on the worst of bruises. From a boxer! 2. Korea INGREDIENTS: raw beef, bandage INSTRUCTIONS: When people get a bruise in Korea, they use raw beef. First, cut the beef in a small piece and put it on the bruise, after that cover it with a bandage. If you repeat three times at least. 3. Japan INGREDIENTS: butter and sugar INSTRUCTIONS: all you do mix butter and sugar sure that it cold and spread. Bad Breath 4. Austria INGREDIENTS: Mint leaves INSTRUCTIONS: Chew on mint leaves and your breathe will be fresh. This is an Austrian thing, and I have used it myself and it works really well. 5. South Africa INGREDIENTS:Tropical Fruit named : Paw Paw INSTRUCTIONS: Cut paw paw open, scoop out pips and cut into wedges or bite size cubes, eat at least 2-3 dessert bowls of bite size cubes daily. This really is very good for cleaning the stomach which is often the real cause of bad breath. Make this part of your daily diet and I guarantee it will stop bad breath. I got this remedy from a Doctors article in a South African family magazine. 6. Canada INGREDIENTS: CLOVE (whole) INSTRUCTIONS: Chew a entire clove or if it's too spicy for you, keep it in your mouth. It's the best for bad breath (even toothache!). Diaper Rash 7. USA INGREDIENTS: Egg Whites INSTRUCTIONS: I was on vacation in Florida and we stayed with friends who had well water. My niece got really bad diarrhea from the well water in her formula she had the worst diaper rash I've ever seen. She couldn't even walk without crying. Take about 3 or 4 eggs and just crack them open get rid of the yolk and pour the egg whites over the clean & dry rash and put on a clean diaper. The rash should look better by the time you change them again. 8. Canada INGREDIENTS: liquid antacid INSTRUCTIONS: For a really bad diaper rash you just pour some on the diaper and it will clear up in a flash! 9. USA INGREDIENTS: 100% pure vaseline (the one in the jar not the tube) INSTRUCTIONS: Glub on plenty of vaseline on baby and diaper. This forms a waterproof layer between baby's skin and diaper.It works almost instantly. Stuffy Nose 10. Russia INGREDIENTS: one clove of garlic (or more if needed) or a piece of an onion little bit of honey a piece of an aloe plant (just the tip of a leaf thingie) INSTRUCTIONS: This is what my grandmother did for me when I had a stuffy nose. Grind up the garlic so the juice comes out, mix it up with honey and squeeze out a bit of the juice from the aloe plant into the mixture. Then soak two cotton balls in this and stick them up your nostrils... Maybe five or ten minutes? It works quite well. 11. Canada INGREDIENTS: Butter INSTRUCTIONS: When we were little kids and had a stuffy nose, my mom would rub butter on the upper bridge of our nose (between the eyes) before we retired for bed. For some reason it kept the airways open. We could breath at night and had a restful sleep. I have to this day used the butter method. It works. Nosebleed 12. India INGREDIENTS: Frehly sliced onion INSTRUCTIONS: This is a great home remedy from our age-old Ayurveda and it works every time. At the onset of a nose-bleed,make the person lie down with the head tilted back, slice a big chunk of onion and place it under the nose. The fumes from the raw onion act as a natural coagulant and the bleeding stops in a few seconds. 13. China INGREDIENTS: water INSTRUCTIONS: I suffered nosebleeds as a child. I had a particularly bad nosebleed that I couldn't stop. My Grandfather took a mouthful of water from a glass, pursed his lips and sprayed a fine layer of water into my face. He aimed for the bridge of my nose, but of course it went everywhere! I don't know if it was the shock of what he did, or if something else was at work but the nosebleed stopped as the water hit me. He told me it was an old Chinese remedy. It works. related post: *Home Remedies #1

Too Much Sleep!

I am hardly allergic to anything.

I react to eggplant and too much water on my hands. My fingertips would itch then peel. I avoid eggplants if I can help it, and I wore gloves when I wash the dishes. I have dishwasher, but I do not like to use it. Maybe if I go back to entertaining on Friday nights again and use "real" silverwares and plates I will, but probably not even then.

Allergy: we define allergy as being an altered state or response by the body to any substance.

I do not use this term lightly. I have a son that's truly allergic to a lot of things. Allergic as in ingesting some substance will kill him in less than 5 minutes, maybe even less. That allergic to it.

Anyway, I am starting to suspect that I might be allergic to more than 5 hours of sleep. Especially if it's more than 4 consecutive days. You're probably thinking 'Shoshana's gone batty!'

I might, but I have noticed, ever since I could remember that if I sleep a good 7 hours or more each day, after the 5th day, I would get dizzy. Dizzy as in the walls spin, my stomach heaves, my mouth gushes saliva, and walking is nigh impossible.

This would happen every single time I get really good sleep. I noticed it happening when I was in elementary school, right about the same time I noticed I have gray hairs. I noticed it in College, and I am noticing it now, post school days.

I wouldn't always wake up dizzy, but it would come. Today it did.

After I dropped my kids off to their schools [it's my turn to do my 1-day-a-week-carpool], I went to a Wal-Mart to pick up some pictures. While I was there, I was looking at digital cameras, and came close to buying this Pentax 6MP for less than 150. It was tiny, which is a requirement. I have this tiny purse right now which my Lil Sis gave me. It looks like this one below, except in black. That's why I want a matching camera which can fit. Let's not tell my husband about that part of it. I'm just telling him I need a camera. Not that he cares, but it sound so "girlish" to get a camera to match a bag.

I was waiting for this nice lady to give me the box, when I start to get this clammy feeling on my head. Oh boy! I had forgotten that I've been getting over 5 hours of sleep since last week, and I'm finally getting my rewards.

I hobble my way out of the store, sat in my car, leaning forward waiting for the dizziness to pass away. Of course I don't have my cell-fon because we're down to one [we keep losing them], and hoped like hell it would go away soon. I meant the dizziness. The cell phones all gone!

My dizziness eased up enough for me to drive home. I'm still dizzy, but at least I am home. I am well enough to type this, so how dizzy can I be?

Next up...optometrist appointment.

Holy Cow! Or should that be - I'm a Cow!?

I'm sitting here, having a headache. It's not one of those boulder-on-my-forehead headaches, nor even one of those elephant-sitting-on-my-shoulder headaches. I have the jabbing-pins-and-needles headaches.

This type of headache usually tells me it's time to schedule an appointment and see my optometrist. My eyes are grading up or down again. I do not want to go to a doctor. First, I really love my glasses now. Second, because I have a pair of Guess glasses which I love, which my DS3 helpfully snapped one earpiece. Third, I do not have the time, or want to make time.

Late this afternoon, my husband woke up from his nap, and was changing his clothes to pick up our dinner from Chipotle. Again.

As he was dressing, he pulled on a pair of black pants. You see, majority of my DH's pants are black. This particular pair of pants though, was a tad tight, and a whole lot shorter. He was hopping about wondering how badly this pair shrunk.

It was my pair of pants. I can't believe it! My husband, who is 6-foot tall, can pull my pants up! I would have sat down and cried if I didn't find the whole thing hysterically funny! I laughed so hard, it's a wonder I didn't pee in my pants. In another pair of pants. Or more like a pajamas really.

Way back when...15 years ago, I was double-0 size. Size 3 is baggy on me. Now I just bought a pair which my husband can pull over his luscious butt! Holy Giraffe! It's not what I planned at all after having 5 kids.

I wanted so bad to strapped on my pair of running shoes and run. Just pound on the concrete, sweat away, and chant in my head "pounds-off, thinner thighs" and all other mantras I can think of when I am running. I'd even welcome that burning feeling in my muscles. I missed pushing myself just a tad harder, go a little faster, finishing my laps earlier. I missed huffing until I get into my zone. I plain missed everything about running.

I wanted to run so bad, my foot itched with longing. I suppressed the urge, grabbed my baby and we danced around the room. When my baby smiles and grabs my face and bubbles, I know I am making the right choice.

Here is my reason for holding back. He's seven months, a champion crawler and a pro-milker. It's why I hold off on the running. It's hard, but this baby comes first.

Even though my husband, who once upon a time could span my waist with his two hands, could now almost fit in my pants, my running shoes is just going to be for walking. Time will fly, and before I know it, DS4 will be all grown. For now, we're just going to concentrate of being his Moo-Mommy, with my feet walking on the ground. Pants and all.

Have you ever have this happened to you? How embarrassing and mortifying was that?

MY PHOTO HUNT VOL. 5 - GROWTH

What we demand from our children, we must demand of ourselves. There must be a standard by which they live. As parents, we must set it - and live it. - Jim Rohn I choose family growth for my theme this week. I was going to post it last night, but then, I was having such a nice family time with my babies and husband. For a weekend night, my kids were so wonderful by going to bed before eight. Darling Husband and I caught up on some movies at home and Chipotle dinner. I am really starting to like Chipotle's spicy offerings. Five years ago, my mother has three grandkids. Two are mine and the other boy is my nephew. My little sister Happy's son. Then there's my kids 4.5 years ago at another zoo looking at something on the ground. Then there's me and my two older kids 6 months ago. My sister and I went to a zoo nearby. There were 13 grankids now. That's some impressive growth from a woman [my mother] who has five children. I am the eldest of 5 children, and I also happen to have the oldest and younger grankids right now. That's something! Below is another picture of the first three grankids 6 months ago. See how much they've grown from the photo inset above. I really did went "hunting" for this photos because they were scattered in three different computers and two different storage disks. Here's "The Girl" after her piano recital last May. She's absolutely gorgeous. No mother can be happier to have such a daughter. If you've had wonderful family relationships, you will be able to call yourself a true success in life no matter what else you've achieved. - Vic Conant I thoroughly agree with this guy. What do you think?

Thursday Thirteen #6

Thirteen Things about Shoshana Things I love being a mother of five in no particular order. I am incredibly lucky. 1. Getting to hold each baby in my arms minutes after they're born, and carrying them all around until they're ready to jump out of my arms crawling to somewhere else. I just love holding my babies. I hold them more than 2/3s of time until they're squiggly. 2. The smell of babies, diapers and all. Although I should note that diapers smell only before they get any wheat. After wheat, gag! 3. The adventures of toilet training...I think this merits a whole post of its own someday. 4. The joy of watching them grow out of baby-hood into a toddlerhood into young people-hood. 5. Having DH enjoy the milestone along the way with me, and watch them when I go have my "Mommy-time" 6. Getting hugs from my babies, and sloppy, wet kisses, sticky kisses, and the "I love yous. DS3 says "I you too!" in his sweetest voice imaginable. 7. Watching them get along so well, playing together. 8. Being amazed how each and every single one are nothing alike yet similar to each other. 9. The sense of humor we've cultivated. My favorite is upon leaving the store, one would say Where's Billy? It's okay sweeties. We have five out of six right here. That's good! then walking right off. 10. Art day is always a blast! My daughter and DS1 plays the piano so I can sit and relax and read while they play. 11. Bedtime is never boring...though I could use boring once in a while. 12. Watching my kids get my love for reading. Captain Underpants, Pokemon, Unicorns...those are a good start. 13. Finding something new each day to love being a Mom. Also known today as-- running after a naked 7-month old baby head-bent towards escape.

His Point of View* A Reply

[edit]
This is what I see when I see blue jeans.


These are what DW sees:

[/edit Nov. 6]



Ok, ok, now that the air has been filled with a cute fantasy, I’d like to say what really happened.

I’ve NEVER told DW (Darling Wife) what to wear.
All I said was, I once saw my Orchestra director wear blue Jeans (notice not ‘Jeans’, specifically Blue Jeans) and I mentioned to my wife that I just didn’t like the looks of them.

Look, I’m not telling her what to wear; she can wear what she wants. But just as I’m not attracted to trailers to live in, nor do I long for the opportunity to poop at a downtown gas station restroom, it just so happens I – for some reason I do not understand – don’t find BLUE jeans to be appealing. She can wear what she wants. What I’m not going to do is lie and say, ‘Oh my! Now I like them!’ when I don’t, never have. Burlap would look better to my eyes, but that’s just me.

When I pass a store where they have these worn out cut out blue jeans, I often think, GOODNESS, LET ME STOP THROWING THINGS IN THE TRASH, IN 25 YEARS I’M GOING TO BE RICH.

So, now, after 15 years of marriage, just to prove some point, she is wearing them, NOT ONLY because she likes to wear them, oh not at all. Rather, it’s to torture me, because I don’t like them.

I’ve noticed that throughout the years it’s wise if I don’t tell her OTHER things I don’t like, for the frequency of them happening leap through the roof. And, if I do tell her things I DO like, it almost never happens again.

Examples:
‘Wow, I love this particular dish you made. In addition to being nice to me to make a meal for me this week, and I do want to say how grateful I am, I happen to particularly like this combination of ingredients? What do you call it?’

Well, de facto she calls it, ‘I’m going to throw the recipe in the trash and never make it again.’

I actually tested this out, over several months; she made this one dish I liked several times. I would merely say how grateful I was that she cooked, but today it just so happens that such and such was especially pleasing. Sure enough, like the Jews about the Holocaust, ‘never again’.

I started out by telling her that she should wear her hair any way she wanted. So, I guess because she had short hair when I married her, she went through a lot of trouble to grow it out long. One day, blundering away a rook for a pawn, I mentioned, ‘Thank you for going through the trouble to wear your hair long, I really like it.’ Faster than Darth Vader whipping out his light saber to chop in half an enemy of the Emperor, out came the scissors to consign anything longer than two inches to the oblivion of never more.

‘That make up you spent so much time putting on really looks cool.’

Well, to be honest, she’s more refined about that. She’ll wear it when she goes out someplace formal… when I can not attend. I do get to see her wearing make up in photos, specifically those photos when I was working at the time and her sister went in my place.
I do admit she plays piano, which I do like, but only when I’m not in the room. She does play very nicely, and I do enjoy it. Usually she thinks I’m asleep, so I have a chance to listen to it for a while.

Her biggest love in life is reading books. I, however, made the mistake of changing,
‘I don’t mind at all if you read books.

To

‘I think it’s great you read books, here, let me buy you thousands of them!’

Now she won’t touch them.

Hmmm, how can I put this to my advantage?

You know, I really like it when she goes shopping…

And I count myself very fortunate that I ONLY tell her she shouldn’t clean up the house so much. I think she thinks I DON’T want her to clean up, therefore she really does quite a bang up job of keeping the floors clean.

Matter of fact, she really is the perfect wife. She never asks me to work, never asks me for things, never complains about how much I sleep, in fact encourages it, she works like the dickens around the house, minding the fifty kids, feeding them keeping our business going, remembering everything I need from phone numbers to where I left my brains. She's attractive, supportive, the perfect wife. She does so much for me, I'm very lucky, thankful, and I count my blessings every day knowing I got more from heaven than any man has any right to hope for.

I like and love everything about her.


Oh crap. I shouldn’t have written that…




*I refused to call this "The Truth" as he suggested. Seriously! A reply to this.

For Your Own Good, Darling!

One of our many agreements before my darling husband and I got married was that he wouldn't tell me what to wear, how to wear my hair or clothes, and stuff like that. Did I say that right? Yeah, I think I did.

After we got married, I noticed almost right away that D [that's my darling husband], detest jeans. It's a strong dislike, and he wouldn't be caught dead wearing one. It has something to do with an Orchestra teacher. He used to play the violin for years and years.

Anyway, it's really bad for him because I have a great love for jeans. I do. Later on, I am going to hunt around my album and find a picture of me in jeans. I look fabulous in it. I used to anyway. It doesn't really matter if I don't look as fabulous with it now, because I love jeans.

The other day, we have this conversation. I don't exactly remember how it goes, but it's something like this...

DH: We should burn all those jeans
Me: Aren't jeans great?
DH: You could wear them another day (facetiously)
Me: I surely can't darling. I love jeans. I am wearing jeans for your own good. If I stopped, I'll have to call you my a*bus*ive spouse because you told me what to wear!

LOL. Sometimes, I just cracked myself up. That's my point of view. D mentioned writing his point of view of the conversation later. We'll see if he gets around to it.

Bad E-mail! Bad!

It should have been a manic Monday. It's not. It started out great. I fell asleep last night before 10 AM. That's a rare event. I hardly ever go to bed without a protest before midnight. I lay down to fed my baby and I slept all through the night. It's like being tricked into it. My alarm woke me up at 530 AM. I woke up and was actually happy to be up. The house was quiet, clean and all mine!

I should have relished it more, because it's kind of downhill from there.

It's raining, but not that much, just enough to make everything cloudy, darkish and wet. In other words, perfect for my favorite blanket [not that I have any], and a book!

Then I remember, it's also my day to walk in the mall with my husband. I love mall-walking with my darling. We talk, we bitch, we whisper sweet nothings, and we talk dirty. I was all ready to go. My baby has other plans. He was hungry, but didn't feel like eating, and no matter how much I displayed my breast to his royal highness. He's teething again, and a tad miserable about it. When he does eat, he's mistaken me for a teething ring. He's got two teeth, so I am a little jumpy about his teeth. A whole lot jumpy in fact.

I was finally ready to go, that is, I only have DS3 to dress. Then something else came up. My yahoo mail doesn't work. It's loaded up to 20% of 2 GB, and it is really slow! It's so painful to watch it try to work. I need my e-mail for work, and I can't leave it so slow like that.

Why oh why didn't I empty it's folders for such a long time?! Have you noticed that yahoo, even after you pay for a premium service won't allow you to delete a folder if there's a message in it? Gmail will let you, except that gmail still has bugs in it,and you CANNOT sort the mail. I like sorting my mail. It's an equivalent to shuffling cards while playing Slap-Jack. Try playing cards if you can't shuffle it. It's like coitus interruptus. Very unsatisfactory.

That's it! I just wanted to complain about my e-mail. I hope it will let me delete old stuff so it can be functional again.

My Photo Hunt Vol. 4 - WINDOW(S)

I would just like to note that this post is playing peek-a-boo with me. Up one moment, down the next! I love comments, and darn blogger keeps losing this post!

The reason you couldn't leave comments folks is blogger would publish the post, and then it would be lost on the dashboard line-up. I apologize for a very gimpy blogger today.

Re-posted again for the nth time at 4:44PM my time.

The windows of my soul are made of one-way glass, don't bother looking into my eyes if there's something you want to know, just ask. Ani Difranco(American Singer, Song Writer and Guitarist. b.1970) Contrary to my quote above, I believe that eyes are the windows to the soul. Here are my five windows into 5 wonderful souls! We all have those moments when all it takes is a look to make and break our day. How one look made all the difference. I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. Maya Angelou (American Poet, b.1928) There are windows, and then there are windows. It's all in the eyes of the beholder really. [edit] Blogger comments have problems, please leave your message on the cbox at the sidebar if that happens. Thank you. [/edit] Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt Participants 1. Pat 2. Teena 3. Pamela 4. Summer 5. Barbara H. 6. Charles Ravndal 7. Biker Betty 8. connie 9. Chateau 10. Debbie 11. Lisa

Maytag, Rusty in Five

I have a Maytag refrigerator. It's cute, and even with a price tag of USD 1300+, I got it. It's also energy efficient. It's my main refrigerator. I have another one in the garage for other stuff, but this one is in my kitchen.

A couple days ago, I noticed that the gears for crushing ice were rusted. I didn't think Maytag manufacturer would be stupid enough to put in parts where it could get rusted, especially a most used part. Ice crusher.

I like crushed ice. My kids love it too. Who doesn't? Now I am worried how long they've been ingesting rust. What health problem will I have to worry now depending on how much rust they've consumed? How long has it been rusted?

Anyway, I called customer service for help. For someone to come and look at the problem: "Rusted ice crusher", I will pay $127.00. WTF!? The thing is removable. So, I asked the rude-not-quite so helpful customer service if I could buy the part and install/replace it myself. After all, for someone who rocked at installing something in a PC, I rate myself highly capable.

After 3 more customer services transfers, having to repeat my phone number half a dozen time, I got the part. I think it is the correct part. I paid $22.75 including shipping, and I am supposed to get it in 7-10 business days. I have 30-days money-back guarantee. We'll see.

Now, I am wondering, why would they put a part that will rust in a refrigerator? Unlike car seats, refrigerators do not come with an expiration date. I was expecting it to work in good order for the life of the ref.

I am annoyed, and I would not recommend anyone buying Maytag refrigerators. At least, not the ones with an ice crusher. You'll be drinking rust after 5 years. And for the price tag, there's probably other better brand out there.

Thursday Thirteen #5 - Breastfeeding Facts, Myths and Trivia

Thirteen Things about Shoshana This week I thought I'd collect 13 facts and trivia about breastfeeding. It seems like fun and interesting. Even if we don't all agree about it, it would still be a good read. Yeah? 1. Pinkeye (conjunctivitis)? A small amount of breastmilk applied to the affected area can actually relieve and treat some common eye irritations. 2. Early Initiation Research has shown that in the two hours following the birth, infants are in a state of alertness, which is accompanied by a strong sucking reflex. These early feeds have an imprinting effect and help to get breastfeeding off to a good start. Although breastfeeding without delay is best, it is not a bad thing if circumstances don´t allow it. Many moms whose babies have gotten a delayed start at nursing have gone on to establish a very successful and rewarding nursing relationship. I'm one of those Moms. My baby didn't get to really breastfeed until the 5th day of after birth. I had bad delivery complications. 3. The diet for a breastfeeding mother should include the following: -Fresh fruits and vegetables, any types cooked the way you like them, but not fried. -Whole grains, rice, wheat, corn, and barley. Whole grains are much healthier for everyone; not just nursing mothers. -Lean proteins, chicken, turkey, dairy products and eggs. -Limit fat intake Foods for nursing mothers should be fresh, unprocessed and have little additives in them. Drat. I gotta give up my second true love now. French Fries. 4. Practice makes perfect, even while breastfeeding If you are afraid to breastfeed in public for fear of showing some skin, try nursing in front of a mirror to perfect your "technique." Try different shirts, even slings or blankets until YOU are comfortable. And remember, if some gets offended because you are doing it...WTF are they doing staring long enough to figure that out? Perves! 5.You need not nurse in the restroom! You have every right to nurse your baby anywhere you and your baby have the right to be. Do not hide in an unsanitary bathroom unless YOU want to. Truthfully, less people will know you are nursing if you are relaxed and confident Not ready to come out? If you truly are uncomfortable nursing in public, there are alternatives to sitting in a public restroom. A fitting room, a secluded table in a restaurant, or any other quiet area can offer privacy without the smells and sounds of the bathroom. 6. What is a nursing strike? Nursing strikes occur most often in babies older than 3 months of age. Typically the baby has been nursing well and then suddenly will refuse to nurse for no apparent reason.A nursing strike usually lasts just a few days but may persist for a week or two. Even though a lot of mothers do choose to wean during a strike, most babies can be coaxed back to the breast with some patience and determination. The following may result in a strike: teething, illness, sores in the baby´s mouth, a change in the taste of the milk, prolonged separation between mother and baby, the frequent use of bottles or the pacifier, low milk supply, etc. 7. LLL is free, unlike an LC Some people confuse LLL (La Leche League) with an LC (Lactation Consultant). LLL is a not-for-profit organization considered the utmost authority on breastfeeding. LLL is mothers helping mothers and there is no cost to attend a meeting or talk to a leader. 8. MYTH-Breastfeeding babies need other types of milk after 6 months Breastmilk gives the baby everything there is in other milks and more. Babies older than 6 months should be started on solids so that they learn how to eat and so that they begin to get another source of iron, which by 7-9 months, is not supplied in sufficient quantities from breastmilk alone If the mother wishes to give milk after 6 months, there is no reason that the baby cannot get cow´s milk, as long as the baby is still breastfeeding a few times a day. Most babies older than 6 months who have never had formula will reject it, because of the taste. 9. MYTH-Pumping is a good way of determining how much milk the mother has The amount of milk that can be pumped depends on many factors, including the mother´s stress level. The baby who nurses well can get much more milk than his/her mother can pump. Pumping only tells you how much you can pump. I can never pump anything much, except for during those times when I simultaneously breastfeeding too. 10. Weight Loss Breastfeeding moms tend to lose weight more easily. Only if Mommy is not scarfing more than her share of calories...which this Mommy is! 11. Endometrial Cancer Breastfeeding reduces the risk of endometrial cancer. 12. Fertility Extended nursing delays the return of fertility in some women by suppressing ovulation. As long as menstruation is not present. Sometimes, it shows up quite early, then this thing doesn't work anymore. 13. The WHO´s View of Extended Breastfeeding The World Health Organization emphasizes the importance of nursing up to two years of age or beyond. Nutritional Content of Breastmilk in the Second Year In the second year of life, 500ml of breastmilk provides: 95% of Vitamin C requirements, 45% of Vitamin A requirements,38% of protein requirements,31% of energy requirements. More nutritional Benefits of Breastmilk in the Second Year Breastmilk remains a valuable source of protein, fat, calcium, and vitamins well beyond two years of age. Calorie Content of Breast Milk Breastmilk is calculated as having 20 calories per ounce. Various studies have concluded that the caloric content of human milk varies from mother to mother. And there we have it. There's so much more, but this is T13. :)