This is Not a Joke

Or is it? Check out the proposed organizational chart of the House Democrats' Health Care Plan. It includes the creation of 31 new government agencies that could potentially stand between you and your physician.

If you have 60 seconds, please watch this charming video about free candy.

Quinnism Goes Nautical

I overheard Quinn talking about "fishfood" he would like to try - like shrimp and lobster.

Switcheroo

I sent Quinn up the street to buy six ears of sweet corn. He returned 20 minutes later with rabbit treats from the pet store. He told me that all the corn was gone and he figured that he should spend the money on something.

I'm now understanding Jack and the Beanstalk from the perspective of Jack's mother.

How True

Was this really written in 1934?

Helicopter Ride

Mike and Quinn came home from feeding the pigs at the fair to tell me they went on a helicopter ride. Finally, it dawns on me that they took a ride in an actual helicopter. Only $20 each, I learn. I asked if they signed waivers? - no. Wore helmets? - no. Hearing protection? - no. Radio ear phones? - no.

Seat belts? "Of course," they tell me. Who would ride in a helicopter without wearing a seat belt?

Rachel negotiated for homemade ice cream instead.

County 4H Pig Show

The Rellims had a good day at the pig show. Yesterday's rabbit experience was not as positive, but today made up for it. Here are a few good photos.

Just Finished Reading

I knew I was going to cry, but I didn't think I'd cry for THOSE reasons! It was an easy read - unless you try to pronounce all the medical terms - and well worth the angst. Life is about choices, but God's plan trumps them all.

Not My Mom

I was reading www.allergicgirl.blogspot.com and found this as a comment to a recent post regarding how lackadaisical some people are regarding food allergies and overall food safety.

"Just recently my mom lost a cap on her tooth because she decided that the Mold&Mildew spray worked so well at getting rid of the stains in the bath, she'd spray it on her toothbrush to see if she could scrub the coffee stains off her teeth -- never mind that it's toxic. She survived fine, but the cap fell out two days later, and she finds that annoying but still doesn't seem to see the danger of putting bath spray in her mouth -- which just blows my mind."

If you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough . . .

Pop

I remembered something about my grandfather's (We called him Pop.) funeral nearly 13 years ago. At the gravesite, the casket started to slide off the little platform thingy just before the ceremony. My grandmother (She goes by "Nan.") cried out, "Ooooh!" but the movement stopped and all was well. I chose to laugh, though I was mostly alone in that choice. But I knew that Pop would have thought it all to be very funny. I think their relationship was built mostly upon how much rise one could get out of the other. I consider that his final little jab.

Grandma

My grandma is now in a long-term care facility due to dementia. My father was visiting her one afternoon and was preparing to leave when she asked him to take her with him. My dad told her that he wasn't allowed to do that. As the story goes, my grandma grabbed his hand with both of hers and gasped, "They won't let you outta here either?!"

Laugh or cry, you have to smile.

Two Quotes to Ponder

1) "Life's tough......it's even tougher if you're stupid." -- John
Wayne

2) And as my friend's husband likes to say (with his southern accent):
"If you're gonna be dumb - you gotta be tough!"

He probably didn't understand the question.

At Quinn's physical for sixth grade, he was asked to fill out a fifty-question survey about his worries. He's not a kid prone to anxiety, but I did sneak a peek at his answers. The only item that caught my eye was a "moderate worry" in response to the question, "Do you worry about being in trouble with the law?"

I decided not to pry. After all, the questionnaire was confidential.

What?!

"We live in the greatest nation in the history of the world.
I hope you'll join with me as we try to change it." -- Barack Obama

Burning Question

As we were driving home from vacation Bible school, Quinn told me that he'd been thinking about something all day and just needed to know about it. I imagined that it must have something to do with Elijah or Jonah or some other prophet he had been learning about. How wrong I was. Here is his exact question:

"How do bugs make sex?"

Museum Time

Did I mention the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium? How about the expressions on these faces?

Rules

Not really broken, just bruised.

Sweet Shadow

Steep Trolley Ride

We actually rode this tiny trolley up and down this hill in Dubuque, Iowa.

Alpine Slide

It really was a great view and a fun little side trip near Galena, Illinois.

Summer Vacation

What did we do on our summer vacation? This is a picture that perfectly captures my feeling about taking a 2,000+ foot-long slide down a hill toward the Mississippi River on a plastic scooter before being stung by a couple bees, jumping off the ski lift and taking off my shirt in a portapotty.