Tattler Reusable Canning Lids

I was just researching these canning lids after reading about them in Backwoods Home. Then I saw this giveaway: http://homesteadrevival.blogspot.com

Free is an even better price! I'd love to win some. They are BPA free and made in the USA. Of course, they are a little bit pricier than buying the throwaway kind, but it sure would be nice to be able to reuse them!

And Amy's blog at homesteadrevival looks interesting too. I'm going to have to go back and read more of what she has to say.

I'm a Pumper! A diabetic's happy dance!

Medtronic MiniMed Paradigm 723 Insulin Pump

This is the puppy that has been taking up all my time lately. The learning curve of how to use it is very steep. It'd be easier if I had a couple more brain cells. But I'm very hopeful that once I master it, my life will be easier. It's an insulin pump. It releases tiny drops of insulin at a time under my skin so I don't have to use needles and syringes and all that. Still have to poke my finger for a blood glucose check....

I'm really really really hoping that BCBS will quickly approve me to have a CGM, continuous glucose monitor to go with it, because, that, my friends, will be like having an artificial pancreas! You've heard of sitting around and watching grass grow or paint dry? Sitting around and eating chocolates and watching your blood sugar go up has GOT to be TONS O FUN!!! I can't wait!!

Twinkie's Adventure

Twinkie was named Twinkie because he resembled a delicious Hostess brand Twinkie. But he was different from Joe's other stuffed friends. He wanted to travel and see other places. Joe's mom was traveling to Utah, and Twinkie asked her if he could go too. Even though packing space was tight, Mom decided there was room for one small hamster, especially if he traveled by moose-shaped carabineer. Twinkie got to talk with his old pals Woodstock and Snoopy before leaving the St Paul/Minneapolis Airport. He found that the moose antlers sort of looked like wings, which went along with the whole "flying" theme of the day!

Twinkie liked watching the planes until it was their turn to board.

During the flight, the flight attendants gave Mom pretzels, but no pretzels for hamsters. :( But Mom shared with him. :)

Maybe we should write to Southwest about their anti- stuffed hamster policy. Look at the sadness on his little face!

At Women's Conference, Mom and Stacy made little tiny baby bracelets for a service project. They made Twinkie feel pretty.

The view from the dorm room was excellent! Did you know that you can get pizza delivered to the dorm?

One small hamster. 20,000 LDS women in the Marriot Center. Can't you just feel the waves of estrogen? Elder and Sister Oakes spoke in the last session. It was very emotional. Mom forgot her Kleenex and wiped her tears on Twinkie!! But he didn't mind. He totally understood.

The Denver Airport had a moving sidewalk! It was so fun! It made Twinkie and Mom just a little motion sick, especially when they had to travel to their departure gate really quickly!!!

On the way home, Twinkie scored a window seat. He loved the view from the plane. It's a good thing Mom loves carabineers!

Hollister

So one of the teens I know told me that she wasn't trying to be like all the other kids who HAD to be wearing HOLLISTER. I admire this young lady's independent clothing choices. Good for you! Don't follow the crowd!

I know how to Google, aren't you proud? So I Google Imaged "Hollister" to see what Hollister clothing looked like. So I would know one of these fashion forward young people when I saw one.

This is Sarah Hollister, she came up #5 on Google Images. Yes, there were some Hollister advertisements of wet people kissing on the beach, but I'm not likely to run across one of those at 30 degrees in Minnesota, am I? Be serious!

She won't be hard to pick out of the crowd, will she?

Lace Hanky

OK, I've cooled down since the Caddy Guy. Aren't you glad? All that anger over just getting cut off. I should take a chill pill.

I made this hanky a while ago, and I'm trying to get ready to make another. Trouble is, I've made 2 of this pattern, and I'd like to stretch and make a different one. I've started on new ones many times and have to restart. Whine, whine, whine!!

The threads get tangled and the silly bobbins somehow go where they aren't supposed to....

Open letter to the guy in the Caddy who gave me the finger

~~~~

~~~~

~~~

Yeah, you cut me off when I was trying to get into the left lane to turn around because I missed my turn. Good for you! You have proven once again that people who drive expensive cars are flippin' jerks. Was it really worth it? You gave me the finger, I guess, because one of the three children in my car told me. I gave you an upside down finger, because:

1) the children were less likely to see, um exactly...AND

2) you are not worth the effort required for me to turn my wrist, AND

3) I was pointing out where you are headed because you offended three children of God and one not-as-humble-as-she-should-be servant of the Lord.

Oh, you are in big trouble now... Because I'm leaving it for the Big Guy Upstairs to deal with you.

Teachers WARNING this is a RANT

What if I were to tell you that your job was a'changin'?

You are now going to get a three month summer vacation.

2 full weeks vacation at Christmas, whoops sorry, winter break.

1 1/2 - 2 weeks vacation in the spring.

Comp days if you ever have to work in the evenings.

Comp days for continuing education, of course.

A full week of "Appreciation week" when everyone lauds your goodness and contribution to society. (Note that mothers only get one day, and that's a Sunday; they don't even get a day off for giving birth)

Parents will bring in meals and desserts for you when you have to work nights.

Associations will be set up to watch congress for you to make sure you get your fair share.

It will be "well known" to everyone that you are underpaid, so everyone feels badly and tries to get you more money. ("Our, New York State, teachers make about 35% more per hour than people serving in comparable jobs." ~Parent Friendly Schools 5/12/2010) ("Physicians make, on the average $41.93/hour, and secondary school teachers, $38.93/hour" ~Obtained from same souce)

So is it true that teachers are underpaid? This is an interesting website http://www.myshortpencil.com/hourlyearnings.htm

Group projects at school

Group projects is an evil idea that teachers came up with during the wee hours during a teachers convention. When they were all drunk. To get back at the smart kids. Because they were not the smart kids. Because who do you think does all the work in the "group" projects?

The teacher who came up with the idea was the one who took far too many sociology courses in college and thought that a widespread sociology experiment was in order. This is the same teacher who was the most drunk.

Group projects should be outlawed.

Growing old

Growing old will be easy. I've had 40 years experience being a grumpy old lady.

----

----

---

One of my chiropractors is an incurable know-it-all. There I said it. I should know know-it-alls, shouldn't I?

He thinks he is so intelligent. I wish he'd shut the swear word up and crack my neck.

You can make a whole lot of extra pancakes and freeze the extra. Butter is better for you. Whole foods are more healthy.

Really?

Thanks Dr Obvious. Perhaps you should stop trying to sell that blankity blank stuff on the reception desk?

He should get himself a blog.

A minority

So I was talking with my part Native American friend, who is a member of his tribe, and he told me this story.

He is a business owner in the Cities and is a member of the minority business owner's group (or something like that). He got a call from a government minority business agency asking him to a meeting. So he set up an appointment and met with the guy.

My friend described the guy as an African American in an office with a big desk between them. The government guy takes a look at my friend and says, "Native American, huh? What tribe are you?"

Friend says, "What tribe are you?"

G Guy gets a little uncomfortable and says, "I'm African American. What's the name of your chief?"

Friend says, "What's the name of your chief?"

G Guy lets out a breath of air and says, "I'm trying to determine if you are active in your Native American community and if you are Native American."

Friend says, "Why do I have to prove that I am Native American and you do not have to prove you are Black?"

Now after this, I think things deteriorated....

My friend has a point. Why is it that only Native Americans need to prove their ancestry and tribal membership? Why is it that being only a percentage of NA discredits one from being NA, but only a percentage of any other ethnic heritage still qualifies one for being of that ethnicity? I think it's because if you want to get rid of a people, you need only to wait long enough for them for them to be diluted. Did you know there were over 300 different native tribes, with 300 different languages?

Why is Obama credited as the first black president, when his mother was a white woman from Kansas? I think he was the first mixed president. Isn't that honor enough? Wouldn't it be great if he would have always said he was mixed? Wouldn't it be great if the government didn't keep trying to divide us based on who our ancestors were? Or what color our skin is?

How much land in the Hawaiian islands is owned by native Hawaiians?

How well do you speak spanish?

By popular demand of my children...

Who were tired of being "forced" to read my Facebook page. I started blogging. I know. Could you imagine a more cruel childhood? I couldn't. It's just, too, too much. My children have had a cruel enough childhood just having me for a mom. And to think that I have been,

For the most part. At home. Full time.

I know.

The tears are streaming down your face by now.

I will pause typing so that you can get some tissues.

It will be ok.