Churchill

Today's quote is provided by surprised birthday boy, DS. Ya can't go wrong quoting Churchill, so here goes:

If you will not fight for right when you can easily win without blood shed; if you will not fight when your victory is sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves.
—Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

Halloween Costume

This should be my Halloween costume. How do you like it?

Christmas Decorations

It's not too soon to start planning, is it? We are thinking about doing ours like the house on the right.

The New "N" Word

Neighbor!

The last time a person really, really, really made me upset (in 1994), that person's house was struck by lightning. Now, I'm not saying that I can control lightning, but if I could, I know where I might send it next.

Of Course It Would Be!

"But with respect to future debt; would it not be wise and just for that nation to declare in the constitution they are forming that neither the legislature, nor the nation itself can validly contract more debt, than they may pay within their own age, or within the term of 19 years."

— President Thomas Jefferson

Revelation

Our family teeters on the brink of dysfunction and insanity on a regular basis. Following a weekend of late nights, early mornings and meals of chips, s'mores and Halloween candy, confirmation of two factors in the regulation of sanity has been made.

1. At least 8 hours of sleep (per family member)
2. At least one meal including some sort of protein.

There was so much yelling and screaming going on yesterday that I'm not even sure we were recognizable to each other. Thank goodness for Mr. Rellim, the rock - unaffected by others' extreme mood swings and emotional outbursts.

Lake Rudolph

We stayed on Blitzen Lane near Lake Rudolph this weekend with five other families. They called it camping, but we all rented RVs with full kitchens, showers and flush toilets. Unfortunately, Mr. Rellim and I had to share a double bed that was almost too short for me! And I'm pretty sure his head hit the ceiling in the shower. I'm still doing laundry in a sleep-deprived stupor, but it's worth all the hassles to visit with good friends, right? Maybe next time I'll suggest a Holidome or something!

Invitation

I was invited us to a "celibate-ory" breakfast on Friday morning. I think he meant to say "celebratory." Either way, it should be a good time.

Fingerprinting

I underwent fingerprinting today to fulfill a requirement by the Illinois Department of Human Services since I provide early intervention services to children in their homes. (This is not my print.) I learned that one of my fingerprints is "undetectable." The young fingerprinter woman said, "...but that's OK because the FBI knows it's not your 'trigger finger.'"

I wonder if she wishes she hadn't told me that . . .

Lymph Node

I went to the doctor today because of a swollen lymph node in the posterior auricular region. The Nurse Practitioner asked if it was tender. I said, "Yes (because I keep touching it)." She told me to quit touching it & not to worry about it, but that if any lymph nodes become swollen around the clavicular area, that would "be bad."

Now why did she tell me that?? Doesn't she know that I'm going to keep touching my clavicles all weekend?! SHEESH!

Danny's Stone

I just received this photo yesterday and had to post it. My cousin Danny died in 2005 at the age of twenty, after an eleven-year war with cancer. I know Danny was a Christian and I believe he is cruising heaven with Jesus today, but I still wonder why so soon. Cancer just doesn't make sense.

Professor Dumbledore says that to the well-ordered mind, death is but the next great adventure. I guess we'll just have to wait to find out.

Passive Aggressive

Two examples:

1. A parent gave me an audio book of "How to Talk so your Child will Learn."

2. Pretty darn sure that Mrs. Neighbor trimmed my decorative grasses so that no plume would hang into her perceived airspace.

I Ruin Everything

According to my son, I ruin everything. How?

First, I put the kibosh on the guess-where-I-am-going-to-poke-you-with-this-big-stick-while-you-play-on-the-swing game. Next, I banned the Olympic training for a little-know event involving pushing one's friend down the driveway and across the street in a wheeled computer chair.

Yes, I realize we found the chair in someone's trash, but that doesn't mean we have to use it like rednecks. I just think two eleven-year-old boys could find less dangerous games to play. Am I asking too much?

And I do wonder what Mrs. Neighbor has been calling the city about today? At least she's gotten some good raw material.

Decisions . . . Decisions . . .

"Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you.… If you love only the people who love you, what praise should you get? … [L]ove your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without hoping to get anything back. Then you will have a great reward, and you will be children of the Most High God, because he is kind even to people who are ungrateful and full of sin. Show mercy, just as your Father shows mercy." (Luke 6:27–28, 32, 35–36)

I think Mrs. Neighbor would love a new fence between us. Then I wonder if she'd love a flaming sack of poo on her doorstep.

Building Project

Our local hospital is in the midst of a large building project. As we were driving past the other day, Quinn said, "I don't think I like all that construction going on. How can there be enough doctors taking care of the people?"

Mr. Rellim informed him that the doctors are not out there in the rain building anything. The carpenters are in charge of that. Quinn breathed a sigh of relief.

Question

If someone's sister's little dog comes home with possible eagle feathers in her mouth, but it was in Wisconsin while on vacation, could that someone be held responsible for what happened in the deep woods?

Remember when that lady gave Hilary Clinton the dream catcher with feathers she found in her backyard, and one of the feathers happened to be from an endangered bird?

This Just In

We learned that Mrs. Neighbor has made a bogus complaint against us with the city. Something about hosing fecal matter into the storm sewer. WHAT?! and WHAT?! Not sure what we have done to offend her (breathe?), but this we certainly have not done - ever.

My mom told me that God puts people in our lives for a reason. I think the reason is because there is a man out there who puts up very tall, very sturdy fences who might need a big job.

Long Time, No Cut

I called to make an appointment with my stylist for a hair cut. I was told she was on maternity leave. Now, I realize that I don't get my hair cut as often as recommended, but I was completely surprised to learn that I had missed an entire pregnancy!!!

Fishing for a compliment, I asked my son, "Did you notice my new hair cut?" He said, "Yeah, it looks different." Mr. Rellim said, "And it looks naughty."

Not sure what that means, but I'll post the observation as a deposit into my emotional bank account.

Bambi

Our friend Russ got a deer with his bow tonight. We got a call from him to help pull the deer to his jeep. When Mr. Rellim and I arrived, Russ said, "Never fear! Mike is here!"

Yeah, I think that a lot. Especially when there is manual labor involved.