Shaving and Baby Snot.

I got a new razor a few weeks ago in the mail. It was a Gillette Venus Breeze. It is the kind where you don’t need any shaving gel when you use it because it has it built in. Sound familiar?



AHHHH the Intuition, she was my first love. A razor that did not cut me and leave me with little, and oh so attractive, red dots all over my legs.

I would never have strayed except that the clever Gillette Company sent this free new razor to my door. I do know that I am not special, and they sent it to everyone. I understand their marketing practices. They send you the razor for free because you’re going to spend what amounts to the US national debt buying the refills.
So my beloved Intuition went to the back of the shelf and out came the new kid on the block.

So here’s the thing, I like it…sort of. It works as well as my beloved Intuition. It does not leave those ghastly little red bumps all over my legs, but it has a problem. A texture problem if you will.

Do you remember when you had little babies? You know that clear snot that seems to be constantly running out of their little heads for the entirety of allergy season, which consequently, is year round in Texas. That is what happens to those little gel bars on the Gillette Venus Breeze. It took me a while, but I finally figured out why I was totally grossed out by that slimy substance I was smearing my legs with, and why I felt compelled to rock it to sleep before I put back in its case.

That stuff turns into baby snot when you get it wet. Don’t believe me? Get a 6 month old baby in Tx in July, now compare it to a wet Gillette Venus Breeze; exact same stuff! If only I’d known the Gillette Company was collecting it. I could have made a fortune. My kids produced the stuff by the gallon.

But sadly, I am out of the baby stage now and I have absolutely no desire to come in contact with anything resembling baby snot.

Goodbye Gillette Venus Breeze, I knew you well.

And Schick Intuition, will you take me back? I’ll never stray again!

And this, my friends, is why all my kids take their science classes at Co op!

I hated science and it was always my worst subject in school. I have to work really hard not to let my eyes glaze over, and my body go into spazm, when my kids are doing their science homework.

Thank Goodness for our Homeschool Co Op!

Dance or Rant!

Now is the time on Sprockets, when we DANCE! Or, now is the time on Tricia’s blog, when we RANT! (For those of you who didn’t watch Saturday Night Live in the 80’s, never mind the first part of that sentence)

Normally I’m a clam girl. Not much ruffles my feathers, but sometimes, something does. I’ll tell you what makes me crazy. AMBIVALENCE TO SOMETHING THAT HAS DIRE, ETERNAL CONSEQUENCES. That makes me see red!

You have been forewarned. I am going to say some things that are not popular and perhaps even offensive, so click away now, or forever hold you peace (or don’t, and leave me a comment).

First you must read this article from the Washington Post. I first read about this on Christy’s blog. Honestly, I know I should not be surprised. It is the way of things in the time we live. But I am continually astonished that people sit idly by and hand over their hard won freedoms, one issue at a time.

You remember S*x Ed, right? We all had to take it. It was pretty innocuous as I recall, but even back when I was in school there were kids who didn’t attend and whose parents make a stink. As a kid I remember thinking “What’s the big deal”? Well now, as a parent I get it. Why is it the school’s responsibility to teach my kid S*x ED at all? I am pretty sure people who send their kids to school want the schools to teach them the basic academic things; language arts, math, science, history and the like. Teaching kids about s*x in general should be left to the parents.

So years ago the schools started teaching s*x ED in health classes. There were a few who objected, but their cries of foul were soon silenced, and s*x Ed in health class became the norm. It started out that they talked about a man and wife, then a man and woman. (A small delineation with a big moral difference) Now they are teaching that Hom*s*xu*lity is just another lifestyle choice.

Don’t like it? Too bad says the Board of Education in Montgomery Co, Maryland, and I quote “And although a parent does have a right to control the upbringing of a child, "that right is not absolute. It must bend to the State's duty to educate its citizens.”

I do have to add that the Montgomery Board of Education has magnanimously allowed that the parents do have the right to opt out and must sign a permission slip to have their kids in the class. How generous of them. They are still teaching, to the masses, something that was considered a sin just 25 or so years ago is just another lifestyle choice now.

It is a slippery slope my friends. We keep handing more and more of our responsibilities as parents to the government and they’ll happily take it, and do with it what they want.

Rant concluded, your may now move about the Internet.

And...Their Off!

Today I sent my two sons off to camp. This is the first year they have both gone. Our church goes to a camp with many other churches and the JR High and SR High are together. This gives me some comfort that my boys will be together. I know they don’t care. They have great friends and are not at all shy. They’ll get along fine and probably not miss me at all.

It is hard, especially as a homeschooling mom, to watch the most precious things to you on this earth, get in a van and drive away, I’m just not used to it. The mom in me conjures up all the horrible tragedies that can and have occurred in just such a situation. That is when I have to remind myself that they are not really mine anyway, they are Gods. He loves them even more than I do (hard to imagine) and he holds them securely in his hands.

It will be really quiet around here this week. I am so used to having my young men around. They are so good about doing that guy stuff I don’t want to do; like take out the trash, make the VCR work in the back room, fill the bird feeder, fix the broken stuff, carry the heavy stuff and generally do all the manly things when D is gone.

I did stay until the vans pulled away, and waved. I did not take any pictures, even though I wanted to. I hugged them, reminded them to brush their teeth and shower. I did not run behind the vans with my arms outstretched crying and yelling “Come back! Come back!” I didn’t want to embarrass them.

I sent B off with a bag full of liquid food. I can’t believe I’m sending my son to camp with his jaw wired shut. Seems that there must be a rule in the parenting handbook that states “Thou shalt not send ones offspring off to camp with his jaw wired shut”. But I was outvoted by D, B and the youth pastor, who assured me he’d make sure B got enough food.

Actually, I’m sure he’ll be fine. He is not in any pain, his activity level is back to normal, he is acting totally fine, except for that pesky liquid diet thing.

Right before the van’s pulled out and all the kids were loaded, the youth pastor came over to us parents. We all held hands as he prayed for the kids and the trip.

Then he told us that he’d be checking his messages every night around 5 or 6. We could call his cell if we needed something. (We do of course have emergency #’s for the camp as well) He did say please not to call if you don’t need to, the kids really will be fine (he said this laughing not meanly) and then he looked at me and said, “Any parents who are sending their child to camp with a jaw wired shut may call as often as they like.” We all had a good laugh at this one.

I know he was kidding, but I’m thinking a twice daily call from mom in is not too much to ask? But I don’t want to embarrass the boy or anything.

I will not be sick, I will not be sick, I will not be sick!

I’ve not been quite myself for the last few days. I’ve been tired and grumpy and irritable, like I have PMS, except I don’t.

Then yesterday evening, I started feeling a little tickle in the back of my throat, then my head started to feel heavy, then I started sniffling.

Sigh, I am getting sick. I slept terribly last night because every time I lay down, my head would fill and I could not breathe. I got up around midnight and took some Benadryl. UGH! I hate taking that. It is 9am and I am still groggy.

This particular sickness has me a bit nervous. You see D’s brother’s family have all been sick, really sick. My SIL had pneumonia and has been down for almost 8 weeks! 8 WEEKS! I have tried to be helpful and take my nephews now and then and bring them meals, but I think no matter how many times I washed my hands; I have brought the plague to my door.

See, the thing is, I don’t have time to be sick. I have one kid with a wired jaw, which translates into many dr visits. Both boys are going off to camp tomorrow, which means many, many loads of laundry must be done today, plus lots of running around to procure all the necessary items for the boys.

I also have D’s other brother’s girls here until Monday because my bil and sil are out of town. Usually that is not too big of a problem; my girls and my nieces are the same age and will keep each other occupied, but it is 6 kids to feed, bathe, and water instead of 4.

I have to have all 6 of these kids spit and polished and at the church at 8am tomorrow to get the boys off to camp before the service starts. Getting anywhere by 8 am is difficult on a good day.

And did I mention D is on call this week which means he has to work all day today? He is pretty busy the week he is on call and not much help around the home front.

Add to all that, we are leaving for a 10 day camping trip to the mountains in 13 days and you have all the reasons why I can’t be sick.

And sadly, with Fibromyalgia, when I get sick, I get sick. Whatever sickness I have, add to that a whole body ache and you have my kind of sickness.

I am praying for the Lord to be merciful and I’ll wake up tomorrow and feel all better.

Off to take some Tylenol, and then play a game of Clue with the girls. I wonder if I can play while I lay on the couch.

Perhaps I can just yell from my prone position…”It was Colonel Mustard in the library with the lead pipe!”

Gotta love those good ol' boys!

You really must see this. This, my friends is how we take care of things down in TX. When they say Don't mess with Texas, they aren't kidding! (BTW, you must watch a 15 sec commercial first, but it is totally worth it to see this story)

Holy Schomly! I can't believe this news story!

I'd like to thank the Academy...

My friend over at Halfmoon Happenings gave me this award for this post.

I am quite honored. Another friend of mine was trying to describe my writing and said, "Tricia's writing reminds me of someone, who is it, I can't remember. Her writing is so... (she could not fill in the blank so I did it for her)
"Self deprecating and sarcastic?" I filled in.

And while most of my writing is self deprecating and sarcastic, occasionally I can crank one out that comes from the heart, like the letter to my dad on Father's Day.

Thanks for noticing Halfmoon Girl!

Teenager #2

Today my second son turns 13.

He was the happiest baby. He was always smiling.

He was also always dirty.


Not much has changed!


Happy Birthday big guy.

Let Freedom Ring!

God Bless America
Words and music by Irving Berlin

"While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer. "

God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home.

Independence Day!

Tomorrow is America's Independence Day. We have some beautiful songs about our great Nation, many of them strongly reference our Almighty God. Too bad our nation gives Him so little time these days.

I'll post a couple more throughout the week.

The Star Spangled Banner
Composed by Francis Scott Key, "In Defense of Fort McHenry", September 20, 1814.
Congress proclaimed it the U.S. National Anthem in 1931.

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand,
Between their lov'd homes and the war's desolation;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us as a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!