Ahhh, Karma, sweet Karma.  Depending on the person, it can be a curse or a blessing.  Have you ever met someone that is the type of person that just seems to play dirty and always gets away with it?  I'm sure as a kid, they probably did all kinds of things that got their sibling(s) into trouble.  They probably were the youngest.  They had the face of an angel and could always look so innocent.  They did all the things that were sure to get someone else into trouble and then laughed about it later.  Kind of like the Evil Child.  Oh maybe not that bad but it doesn't serve them in later life....except briefly. 

You've seen this probably without realizing it.  How Karma hits back, sometimes in just a series of small events.  Other times, in one GRAND event.  You read a headline and chuckle to yourself over someone you don't really know but have heard about.  You say, *Oh, how the Mighty Have Fallen!*  It can be anyone from a President to a powerful executive of some big corporation.  You hear things about them that make you say tsk! to yourself over their actions or things they say.  Then, down the road, you hear about some BIG event that has brought them down.  Karma, ladies and gentlemen, Karma!

It's like what the phantom nurse told the Beast after he woke up in Intensive Care at the hospital.  I've often wondered if it wasn't a hallucination he was having and his own innate sense of Karma whispering to him.  Since strokes are painless, when he woke up, there was a nurse nearby (he said) and he asked her where he was.  She told him that he was in the hospital in Intensive Care.  When he asked how he got there and why he was there, she said to him....*You are here because it was God's way of punishing you for all the bad things you have done in your life.*  I kid you not!  That's what he said she said to him.  Me?  I think it was Karma for the way he treated me and our children.  He was made to suffer for not just the year it took him to recover from the paralysis and regain mobility but he is still being punished to this day by being in pain all the time because he never totally got all the neural connections needed in his brain.  The area of dead brain tissue was probably too great to allow it. 

I'm not saying that all strokes or any illness is part of Karma.  But, with the Beast who seldom had even had a cold in his life, I could relate to that nurse he said was in ICU with him when he woke up the first time.  He described her and I actually inquired about her but all I got was this blank look and I was told there was no nurse or worker with access to ICU that fit the description.  Like I said.....Karma!

Yet, when I consider many of the things that have happened to me, I wonder what the hell it was that *I* ever did that *I* am being punished for?  I have always tried to be empathetic.  In fact, as a kid I was told I had TOO MUCH empathy and that it was a bad thing.  My mother said that people would always be able to take advantage of me over that and, I suppose, that's true in many ways.  A real sucker for a sob story.  I've shielded my brothers and sisters from when my mother was crazy and out of control.  I can't tell you how often I took the blame for something they did and endured a severe beating for it.  This was all before they had child protection laws.

Later, when my kids were growing up and the Beast would become enraged over stupid, unimportant things, I would protect them by putting myself in between.  I tried to do the right things all my life and I think, perhaps, I might have saved even the Beast from going to prison because he was strong enough (count the breaks in my ribs for example) to have killed one of the kids.  So...tell me.  What the hell have I done that was so wrong in my life??????? 

I've loved my family and forgiven them as they have forgiven me when we do something stupid.  I've tried being nice to everyone I meet until and unless they do something to me.  Then, I don't try to hurt them; I just cross them off my list of friends and go on.  I trust in Karma to take care of details if necessary.  I know I probably am nothing in the big scheme of things so that hurts and slights to me may not be key to *Karma* but I sure would like to know what the hell *I* am being punished for?  I mean....the Beast lived through a stroke that the doctors and nurses all said he should have either been a vegetable or dead.  They had never seen anyone survive it and be able to talk.  They said he probably wouldn't live more than five years.  Here it is, TEN years later next month.  He is a bane in my life most of the time and is still subject to stupid fits of temper.  The only difference is he no longer frightens me when he has them. 

Oh well.  Maybe one day I will be able to figure out all the ins-and-outs of Karma.  Until then, I guess I will just have to go with the flow like everyone does.  Love you all.  Take care of yourself and please be careful if driving. 

The Beast went to the hunting area he had selected as the site for his first hunting attempt.  Because he hadn't considered having to get to wherever the hell it was that he figured would be perfect when it was dark out, he had to go back so he could mark it on the new GPS.  It can also be used on land for various things like marking where you leave your car and finding that *perfect spot* for hunting.  **Sigh**  I did find out that Johnnycakes had actually made the trip with him to find a good spot so there may be some merit in it.  Johnnycakes, at least, has hunted before...and successfully.  He is also adept at field dressing and butchering a deer.  Not that I hold out any real hope that the Beast might actually get one.  But, he has to try to justify his huge expenditure for guns and ammunition.  I told him that if he really does get a deer, he had best stop and buy an upright freezer on his way home.  There is no way we can get even half of the usual amount of deer meat on the average deer into the freezer section of our current fridge.  No way!

Now, what the Beast hadn't considered was the snow, sleet and rain we had last week.  The area he was in is mountainous and the hunting area was at the bottom of a gorge.  It was muddy as hell.  I could tell by the way the ATV looked when he got home.  The tires are just caked with mud and the splashes all over the undercarriage and tire guards is just packed onto it.  He looked at me when he got home and said, *I don't think I can or should hunt alone.  I need to have someone with me.  I am just too old and not strong enough to go alone.*  I laughed and told him he would never have made it as a pioneer.  His retort was, *I would never have lived this long, either.* 

He's probably right.  On several different levels, he probably wouldn't have lived beyond about 40 years old.  Someone would have shot him or his strokes would have hit him at an earlier age and he would have died from that.  He's not one to make friends for very long unless they have a really good sense of humor.  He can be very offensive at the worst possible times.  I used to try to explain him to people when we were young and I finally gave that up and figured either they would like him or hate him and I really didn't care which.  THAT was up to him.

The Beast is really a wimp...much like his dog.  He made claims so he had to follow through.  He bought himself a lot of very heavy and warm things like special socks and his hunting boots, long underwear, a heavy parka (camo), a face mask, one of those heavy Arctic style hats, heavy gloves, etc., etc.  But, even so, you should have heard him complain about how cold it was even going slow on the ATV.  There was almost NO wind so it could have been worse.

He spent some time talking to Johnnycakes when he came to pick up Chewlee tonight.  They both want to go hunting on Christmas day.  If they leave early, when they SHOULD leave, Johnnycakes said they could be back by 10am.  The big problem is the Princess who absolutely does NOT want him to leave to go hunting.  I think it's more so he can watch Chewlee open her gifts but men aren't *into* that stuff like we mothers are.  Take some pictures to show them and that works for them.  But, I have a feeling she just might lose this battle.  At least, I kind of hope so.  I prefer to have the Beast out from under my feet when I am preparing a Holiday meal for company.  Much less stressful for me.

Well, obviously, the Beast is NOT going to be going hunting tomorrow so I am sending HIM to pick up Sheepie when she comes in early tomorrow afternoon.   The Princess has asked me a couple times when she will be here and it doesn't seem to stick in her mind.  I think she's going to be happy when she's here.  I know Chewlee will be, too.  She is also constantly asking me when Sheepie (her cousin is how she puts it...and then we have to look at the pictures of Sheepie at Chewlee's *happy party*...LOL) will be here.  I think I will take Sheepie with me to pick her up from school tomorrow and surprise her.

Chewlee has no idea when Christmas is actually going to happen.  Every time she heard a door open today, she would perk up and say, *It's Santa!*  She was always disappointed when I told her, *No, it's not Christmas yet.*  Like all kids, she just can't wait for Christmas to come because she's going to get lots of presents (that's what she told me).

We actually got all the way up to 50 today and the Beast even took Baron for a run around the circle.  Baron perks up and his whole rear end wiggles with that stubby tail of his when the Beast says things like, *run* *ATV* and *outside*.  He knows the Beast will be going with him and that means FUN!!!  At least, to a dog it's fun. 

Tomorrow (Tuesday) it will not get as cold tonight as it did last night and the day will be in the 50's again.  I told the Beast that I must get to the store to do my grocery shopping and pick up a couple other things.  I'm working hard to finish up my Christmas cards and get them out in the morning or it will be the New Year before anyone hears from me. 

The Princess had to work today...but, as she said, it was all overtime and she will be needing it as a reserve once school starts and she is no longer working for AT&T.  So, I had Chewlee today and will have her every day because there is no day off for the Princess until Christmas.

The Beast had plans on going hunting (alone) tomorrow but changed his mind when he saw what the weather was going to be like.  He can take temperatures in the 30's but not the 20's.  So it will be a kind of dry run for him today so he can mark the spot he wants on his GPS.  He hadn't thought about the fact that he would have to find it in the dark.  So Tuesday will be the REAL big day. 

He went up to Walmart to get a thermos because he wants to be able to take some hot coffee with him and we realized we hadn't owned one in years.    While he was there, he happened to find a fluorescent orange jacket marked down to a reasonable price so he bought it.  He also bought himself the same shade of ski mask.  I think both hunters and deer will see him coming.  He sure won't be blending in with the scenery. 

Once he got home, he waited for a while until Chewlee and I were just sitting there watching one of the Harry Potter movies.  She was in my lap when the door opened and in crawls the Beast with the ski mask on, making some grunting noises.  Chewlee immediately covered her eyes and slid off my lap to under my desk.  She was shaking even after he laughed and I told her that it was just Papa, trying to scare her.  He left, still laughing and Chewlee wouldn't even uncover her eyes.  She wouldn't come out until I  closed the door and LOCKED it so the *Papa monster* couldn't get in again.  When she was convinced he was gone and it was safe, she finally came out from under the desk and into my lap.  She grabbed both my arms to make sure I put them around her and said in a really sad voice, *I don't like the Papa monster, Gramma.*  I told her that no one liked it and laughed because, when I told Bratfink what had happened, she wrote back that I should tell her the same thing. 

Chewlee had been in a very loving mood all day long.  She had offered me kisses and wanted to just be held in my lap.  She discovered the emoticons on Yahoo Instant Messenger from seeing the ones that Bratfink and I use when we chat.  She started telling me to send Bratfink hugs and kisses and the *ones with the heart, Gramma*.  She makes me send TWO at a time.  Bratfink sent her a hug and, when the chat scrolled up, she got upset that she couldn't see *her hug* so I enlarged it until it showed.  That made her happy and she relaxed and went back to watching the movie.  She kept a tight grip on my arms so that I couldn't type and make her hug disappear. 

The Princess was telling me that one of the gifts Chewlee got from the grandparents was a table set and chairs.  You know the ones.  They are just kid-sized.  I gather that one is still wrapped and ready for her to open on Christmas because Chewlee was in the room and the Princess whispered it to me.  So, she is going to get her a little tea set for it since Chewlee loves to talk to her *babies* and do things with them.  Now she can have herself a tea party.

I have this Penguin ash tray that is one of the ones that keeps smoke out of the air.  The front comes down on it and that sets off the fan inside it.  Chewlee just loves that.  Of course, she loves the Penguins of Madagascar and she named it *Private*.  He is her favorite of the four penguins.  She will constantly be rocking it or she will put it down for a nap.  One day I yelled at her about something she kept doing and she had him in her arms and she turned to me with a mean look on her face and told me, *You scared him!*  She then had to go lay him down in the guest room because he was *scared of me now*.  She can be quite the little mother with her baby dolls.  She holds them in her lap, rocks them, puts them down for their naps and she has given them a *time out* on occasion.  She will wrap them up in hand towels for a blanket or use them as a blanket when she puts them to bed.  She even gives them hugs and kisses. 

I found her holding the hands of her baby doll yesterday and telling the doll to say, *Dear Heavenly Father....*  When I asked her what prayer she was saying, she told me *the good night prayer*.  I thought that was cute of her.  Later on, she stood in front of me and told me to put my hands together.  I did, in several different ways, before she said, exasperated, *No, put them together and say Heavenly Father...*  THAT made me laugh because she didn't realize that I had been giving her a hard time just for fun because she said she was going to tell me the good night prayer.  I knew how she wanted me to put my hands together but it's such fun to tease her at times. 

The Princess is looking forward to going back to classes on campus.  She really enjoys that and it's much more satisfying than trying to take classes online.  It's just not the same.  I could relate in a different way.  I took college classes when we lived in San Diego on campus, during the day.  My job allowed me the opportunity since I could adjust my schedule.  I really had a good time but I was one of several adults mixed in with regular college students.  It was a totally different perspective since all of us attending that were older had some real life experience being in a working world and NOT living with parents or on campus.   But for her, it's more exciting to be able to relate to a teacher and to bounce ideas and perspectives off other students her age.  Ahh, to be young again.  It makes me feel like Grandma Moses sometimes.

Oh well.  Cold today, cold tomorrow.  Same forecast different day.  However, we will be warming up starting on Tuesday.  Since the Beast will be out hunting, I will be making the trip up to Huntsville to pick up Sheepie when she comes in for the Holidays.  In the truck, I think.  I'm not sure if the Beast is taking his ATV with him or not.  If he does, then I will have the car.  I hope so.  As much as I like being up higher, the truck has the long bed on it and it always makes me nervous when I back up because I'm afraid I'm underestimating the room I have every time.  I'm always afraid of hitting something.  I'll take it if I have to but I prefer the car.  It's also more comfortable than the truck for a long drive.

Today, being Saturday, was full of all kinds of special Christmas movies.  You will be reading this on Sunday just as a reference for you.  Anyway, I tried to find some Christmas movies on TV for us to watch.  Not just the old classics but also some of the newer ones.  You know....the special ones they make for Sponge Bob, the Penguins of Madagascar, etc.  The *cartoon* type programs are the only ones that seem to grab her interest for any length of time.  What I found out today was that she isn't interested if they aren't ones that star any of her favorites.  They had one with *T.U.F.F. Puppy* (don't ask me to explain) that just didn't catch her interest at all and she does like to watch it once in a while.  I personally think that much of what goes on in it is beyond her ability to understand yet.  It's aimed more at older kids around 7 or 8 or even older.  The ones she probably would have enjoyed are scheduled for early evening, around the time she leaves, and I know her mother won't have them on for her.  All except one we caught that was the Penguins of Madagascar.  She LOVED that one. 

I tried a couple others and even some of the regular movie-type ones but she wasn't having it.  She was much too wrapped up in telling me all about Santa, her Christmas tree and the fact that she was going to have a surprise for me for Christmas.  I happen to know this isn't true but, hey, I will let her have her illusions. 

We watched Harry Potter today and she cracks me up with her analysis of the different characters.  She tries so hard to make sure that *I* am not scared of the different people or *monsters* as the movies progress that it tells me which ones she doesn't like.  The gnomes at the bank she doesn't like.  She thinks that Dumbledore and Hagrid are *two of the good guys* as she put it.  Harry's uncle she says is *not* a nice daddy and she doesn't think his aunt is a good mommy either.  She told me that *I* was a really good grandma which made me hug her.  I know why she thinks I'm a good grandma....I spoil her rotten.  Just ask her mother. 

Her favorite spot for watching all her favorite movies is on my lap in my computer chair.  She can grab my arms and put them around her tightly when she is a little scared and can turn to ask me to explain something if she doesn't understand it.  As much as she has watched these movies, she still has questions about different things.  It's cute when she will turn to me to explain about something that I had explained to her not too long beforehand.  It does tell me how much she understands.

I bathed her today before her mother came to get her because they were going to Johnnycakes grandparents house for their *Christmas* tonight after the Princess got off work.  I didn't have any clothes to put her in that fit her (she is growing like a weed and I do try to send her surplus clothes home with her from time-to-time) so her mother ran home on her lunch hour to get some clothes for her.  I put Chewlee in a pair of her footed pajamas until her mother got here and you should have seen that kid peel them off because she was going to a *Christmas party*.  The kid just LOVES any kind of party.  I hope they have some kind of cake because Chewlee thinks all parties MUST have a cake.

I did end up feeding her although I tried hard not to since the grandparents will have food for them, knowing they are coming right from work to their house.  But we ate lunch kind of early and the poor kid was really starving.  I sure couldn't allow THAT, could I?  I told her mother when she got here and she said it was okay.  It just meant that they wouldn't have to worry about her eating well so the grandmother wouldn't feel bad.  It's easier to just say that *I* fed her and that's why she is picking at food.  This way she can just taste her mother's food and that will satisfy everyone.

She helped me around the house today.  She took the broom and tried so hard to sweep the floor.  I left her to it while I dust mopped around the living room and my bedroom.  She was busy and happy and that's all that mattered.  She also spent some time with Papa trying to cajole him out of cookies.  I don't like to give her too many Oreos because they make her poop in a not so great way.  She has also developed a real taste for the Beast's sliced pepperoni, much to his dismay.  She tells me that it's *hot* but she likes it.  She's not fond of the way the Beast eats it (on a cracker with some spreadable cheese and the pepperoni on top of it) but she did get one from him and spent the best part of a half hour nibbling on it before she finally pulled off the pepperoni and threw away the cracker. 

I get her tomorrow since the Princess works from 10:30 until 5:30pm so she will tell me if she liked the *Christmas party* or not and will tell me what presents she got from Grammy (her name for Johnnycakes grandmother).  The Princess knows she has really screwed up my shopping (and hers, too) with the store being open on Sunday but she said it's all overtime and she'll take it.  I told her that *I* wasn't getting any overtime so why am *I* doing it?  She said she was really hoping Johnnycakes wouldn't have to work so he could just keep her at home but not to count on it.  He's been working pretty much 7 days a week the past couple of months with an occasional day off.  There's no union where he works and because it's such a major employer in this area, I doubt the state cares if they comply with any state laws in this economy.  Let's just say the company's name is similar to a former heavyweight boxer of some dispute not that long ago. 

Well, it's cold out, of course and set to stay that way for a few more days.  Then...surprise! surprise!...it's supposed to get up into the 50's for three or four days.  Good thing because one of those days will be MY major shopping day before the Holidays hit.  I have my shopping list in progress for the food I will need to buy and those I have to buy gifts for, too.  My niece, Tara, and her family are coming for Christmas so that will be fun.  She wants the Beast to take pictures of Chewlee and Chance together while they are still small (and cute, she said...LOL).  My gift for the Beast was delivered yesterday and, of course, the Beast grabbed it and started setting it up and exploring all the new features on it.  It's a new GPS and he actually spent four hours up after 1am downloading all the maps and updates to it.  One good thing, it actually has our street on it!    Even Mapquest still doesn't find it on a search.

I meant to start my rant earlier today with an explanation of just what started me on that path.  I have a daughter-in-law that is a vegetarian.  She told me she really wished she could go Vegan but she loved butter and cheese and I forget what else.  However, then I am told she DID go Vegan.  I really had no idea what the hell the difference was so I decided to Google it. Well, to make a long story short, I ended up on a couple blogs by Vegans and their whole attitude pissed me off greatly. 

I can understand that their lifestyle can make things difficult for others and that their best defense is to remain in control by being in charge of their own dietary choices.  It also made me wonder about why my daughter-in-law doesn't come to my home to visit along with her family (when they are allowed to come).  I know that right now, they are in an unfortunate situation of not having a reliable vehicle to make the trip but I doubt she would come with them even if they did.  It's sad because I DO worry about feeding her.  I would do all in my power to prepare things she CAN eat and would worry about her being full.  The rest of the family, I can handle.  There's enough variety in my food offerings to satisfy any preferences they might have.

I make no apologies for being a carnivore.  I happen to love meat.  Lots of different meats.  Chicken, pork, beef...especially a grilled steak....with all their various styles and cuts.  Bacon...oh give me bacon any time.  I can eat it by itself, with eggs and toast, on a BLT or crumbled up and used in various casseroles and quiches.  My favorite is a quiche that involves bacon, fresh cut mushrooms and Swiss cheese.  Yum!

Thanksgiving time to me is always time for a turkey, stuffing and all the trimmings.  Lately, we have tried deep fried and, done right, is wonderful, too!  Christmas is for ham.  Wonderful ham, sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes with red gravy (a special type of gravy I had to be taught how to make by an aunt).  Most celebrations make me think of various meats, including just a backyard barbeque.  That could be hot dogs, hamburgers or ribs.  Are you slobbering yet? 

I have known a couple vegetarians in my lifetime and they use healthy meat substitutes.  These include Seventh Day Adventists who really DO have a great substitute hamburger.  Very tasty....occasionally.  They don't eat meat but....they do eat such things as eggs, cheese and other dairy products.  Some use soy milk instead but I only like my chocolate milk sweet.  But a Vegan is a different thing entirely.  Take out all products that have any connection to an animal and what do you have left?  Vegetables?  Ack!  I can do that for a while but to never use butter again?  To never have another egg in any form? 

What really gets to me about Vegans is how they walk around feeling so superior to everyone else?  Why the hell is that?  Because they eat like an animal?  No food cooked beyond a 150 degree temperature?  Does that mean they even eat bread?  How can they?  You have to cook that at a much higher temperature or do they bend the rules?  I'm sorry but there's nothing wrong with choosing to eat only veggies but it's poor fare in my opinion.  No broth to use to help flavor them.  Of course there are a lot of spices you can use and there's rice to help make things more filling.  But why the feeling of superiority? 

What I found was that their breath stinks for some reason.  I mean BADLY.  I have no idea why but they had best practice some serious oral hygiene.  Lots of people turn Vegan thinking it will help them lose weight.  How many overweight vegetarians have you met?  How many overweight Vegans?  The ones that are overweight when they decide to become either one are usually disappointed.  In fact, many start as vegetarians and then cross over to Vegan in an effort to achieve the weight loss they are attempting.    They usually start eating very starchy meals  and don't lose any weight or very little when that is the reason they get obsessive over stopping meat and any meat products.

I don't understand that kind of obsessive behavior.  It makes it difficult to plan meals for someone who visits unless you only offer a vegetable soup and steamed vegetables with rice or some such thing.  That hardly seems friendly or satisfying when everyone else is a dedicated and normal carnivore.  Or am I wrong? 

I think if you are a vegetarian or Vegan, more power to you but it doesn't make you superior, it just makes you different (if that's what you are trying for, you've succeeded) and difficult to entertain.  Carnivores like me don't feel good about only giving you vegetables like we would give to some of those animals you turn your nose up at.  It's just an addition to a satisfying meal to the rest of the world.  Trust me, you are not going to change that regardless of what you do.  I've done the tofu thing and it can be interesting but not when you can't season it with some of the essence of animals in the form of broth, for example. 

My Aunt Pat died today.  She was the mother of 8 living children (out of 11) until one of her daughters died, suddenly and without warning, a few years ago.  I had many good memories of her and my Uncle Chuck, who was my mother's brother.  For several years, when I was around 11 or so, my aunt and uncle would bring me to their house for two weeks while they traveled to Europe or other exotic places.  I was there to help take care of their kids.  Oh yeah...like that was tough since they had both a housekeeper AND a live-in sitter at the time. I think it was more my aunt and uncle's way of giving me a break for a couple weeks from taking care of my own sisters and brothers.  I know I enjoyed my time there for those few years they did that for me.

My uncle was a great businessman and for many years, my cousins really had a great life.  When he and my Aunt Pat divorced, I was married, had children of my own and lived in Florida so I wasn't really around for all of that.  Suffice it to say, it made no difference to us that they had split.  We loved her and we loved him and they were both included for any family gathering.  Whether or not they chose to be there at the same time wasn't our concern.  After my Uncle Chuck died in the mid-70's, she was there for every family event.  I saw her at all the Bratfamily reunions and we would catch up on events while sitting around what was referred to as *the old peoples* table. 

I feel sad for my cousins who are mourning the loss of their mother since I vividly remember how the loss of my mother affected all of us kids.  No matter what, you always miss them.  The time you have with them is always, always too short.  My mother was only 56 years old when she died.  She never got to see any of her great-grandchildren and how she loved babies!  She would have adored them all.

Bratfink covered all the good things that Pat enjoyed with her daughter, Kathy, when they went to Ireland.  It was something Pat always hoped to do since she still had family living there.  She got to meet a couple of her cousins (that I remember) and I remember how her face lit up when she talked about it at the last family reunion we both were at.  Her daughter took lots and lots of pictures and it was fun to see them all and get to hear a bit about the Irish side of the family.

So, although it is a sad time, it is also one with happy memories.  My deepest sympathy for my cousins.  I will miss her, too.

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Our weather surprised us today.  It actually ended up around 60 degrees for some unknown reason.  Not that I am complaining but it would have been nice to have more than a few hours warning.  I swear, weathermen suck!  With all the gizmos and gadgets they have, you would think they could be a little more precise.  At least the icy streets thawed and traffic was back to it's normal pace once again.  Tomorrow we will be down to a high of 40 and a low in the lower 20's so it will be more normal winter weather. 

The Beast went to Huntsville without me because my IBS flared up again. I gave him a list of things I didn't want him to forget but he will buy more than we need, watch and see.  No Chewlee today but, oh boy, I get her on Sunday for the next few weeks.  That is going to kill my shopping for Christmas gifts for sure.

I guess people everywhere can and will be idiots.  We actually did get the icy rain they promised and it was BAD.  The schools closed at 11 am and sent all the kids home.  Preschool closed at 4:30pm since most of the kids there have working parents so they kept it open as long as possible before they had to head home before they closed too many of the roads.

Yes, they actually close roads here.  Like I've told you before, this severe winter weather isn't something we normally have.  Although I wonder how many years of it would finally make the town do things like salt or sand the roads?  There WAS one storm last winter where the town *borrowed* salt from some other state and spread it over the roads.  Too many mountainous roads hereabout to let ice stay for any length of time. 

They issued warnings before they started closing roads that were most dangerous.  Usually they are closed because of the number of accidents.  They told everyone to STAY OFF THE ROAD UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.  And, in that event, SLOW DOWN.  But, of course, you have a lot of people like the Beast who think that the warnings do NOT apply to them.  Oh no!  They can handle anything and they not only do not slow down but they also speed.  Then they wonder why they end up in an accident.  They also lie to the cops who just roll their eyes and tell them they are lucky they weren't hurt worse than...whatever applies.  I haven't heard of any deadly accidents that have occurred but I haven't listened to the nightly news yet.  They told everyone that they should cancel any plans to be on the road for anything other than an emergency.  Oh yeah!  If people listened, the roads would be empty but they aren't. 

The Princess ended up picking up Chewlee from preschool.  I guess they had called her to tell her about the early closing so her manager told her to just go pick her up and go home.  The store stayed open although one guy that lived a distance away from work had been allowed to leave earlier.  The store only stays open until 6pm so that wasn't really a bad thing all-in-all.  I'm sure a minimal staff could handle any of the smart-asses that don't listen that might have come in.  I was kind of glad that I didn't have to drive in this mess since more than half our driveway is frozen solid with ice.  We had no sun so I have no idea why it all isn't but, I might actually be mistaken about that fact.  It could be just a difference in color or density.

The Beast went out the front door to get the mail and almost ended up falling down the icy stairs.  Even the porch has a half inch thick layer of ice on it.  The poor dog bounded out the door like he always does and ended up sliding down the stairs on his back.  He came in and told me not to go out the front door and I just laughed and told him that I always use the garage when I go out.  He never notices that stuff.  I saw him stop and think about that and he realized that it was true.  He laughed and said he was just warning me....in case!

I was surprised at the porch being all iced up like it is.  It usually takes quite a bit of rain and wind for it even to get all wet.  I knew it was windy last night when I went to bed but didn't know it was THAT windy!    The deck is also packed in ice but that was no surprise since it's not covered at all.  We have had to let the dog go through the garage to *do his thing* when he needs to go out.  He steps gingerly around the pontoon boat (which is parked closest to the garage on the outer side of the drive) and is so relieved when he reaches the grass there.  He makes a short cut when he comes back by cutting in front of the boat.  He does that every time.  I wonder why it hasn't occurred to him to take that way to the grass on his way out?  Oh well.  At least there's little chance he will injure himself.

The Princess is off tomorrow so she won't have to drive, thankfully.  The Beast and I HAD plans to finally go to Huntsville to Sam's Club to stock up on several things.  I don't think we are going to make it.  There's supposed to be a 50/50 chance this will continue.  It should be over by Friday.  But the cold will continue so I have no idea when the icy roads will improve.  I just know that I will NOT go out in it with the Beast.  He's one of THOSE people so I would be taking my life in my hands to trust him to be careful.  It just wouldn't happen.

So that's where our little corner of the world stands tonight as I write this.  I am doing my Christmas cards up, trying to finish sending them out.  It would go faster if I didn't feel the need to add a little note on most of them.  **Sigh**  It's really the fault of email.  It would be so much simpler and faster to send an ecard to someone's email address but not everyone has them on my list.  Or, if they do, I don't have that address.  I still like sending out a real card by snail mail, however.  It just feels more like Christmas to send them and to get them.

Well, it apparently scared her and she is actually afraid to use our guest toilet any more.  It's created a problem that now has caused the Princess to punish Chewlee because she poops in her pullups rather than get on our toilet.  She's doing it at home and at school, I guess, but not here. 

Today, she got upset with Chewlee and started calling her a *baby* and she told her that she couldn't watch Dora on her DVD player in the car.  Then she took it one step too far....in MY opinion....and told Chewlee that she was going to give her DVD player (it was a gift from her other papa) away to another kid that didn't poop in their pants.  At that, Chewlee lost it and started crying her heart out. 

I object to that for several reasons.  First of all, it was a gift to Chewlee.  Chewlee knows this and that is HERS.  I do NOT believe that her mother needed to add that to the punishment of not letting her use it tonight.  I also don't believe that a parent has the right to give away a gift that has been given to a child.  It creates a lack of trust between parent and child.  Trust me on this, it doesn't matter the age of the child.  If it was a gift, it belongs to the child and they know this.  It's one thing if it is given away because the child doesn't want or need it any more and the child agrees.  They should even have a part in choosing who the gift goes to if possible.  That way, trust is NOT broken.  They will continue to believe that when something is given to them as a gift, it remains theirs and isn't something that can be taken away (except, perhaps, temporarily) on a whim.

The Princess threatened her with :  a spanking, the loss of watching Dora on the portable DVD player PLUS she would give away the DVD player to someone else.  I think that is overkill.  Or am I wrong?

I can understand her frustration but I also know that Chewlee was truly traumatized by the potty problem.  I have tried, gently, to show her it flushes normally now.  I told her that she had put too much toilet paper into it and there is only so much that can flush at one time.  I have offered to stay with her so that I can make sure it doesn't happen to her again but she's just shaken her head and won't tell me when she needs to go.  I have no idea how to get around this.  I even thought about letting her just use the other bathroom, thinking she wouldn't be so afraid of that one.

The Princess is just a  hard nose about it all and just yells at Chewlee and tells her she needs to use that potty and stop being a baby.  I don't think that helps at all.  As she should know, Chewlee has a mind of her own.  She will only feel comfortable again IN HER OWN TIME.  But, I would sure like her to get over that sooner rather than later.  She's really too big not to be using the potty all the time.  We know she can.  It makes me feel a bit....unloved since I am the one that must change the pull-ups and why am I singled out?

It has made me think a lot about what kind of punishments are appropriate for kids her age.  Time outs?  Confinement to their room?  A spanking?  Withholding special treats ALONG WITH telling them WHY?  What do you think about it?  Let me know.  I really AM curious to know what works and what doesn't.  Even the Princess would probably like some suggestions.

It's cold here but I know it's colder in other areas of the country.  It's all relative to what you are used to.  It was 15 degrees this morning when I woke up at 7:45 am.  Our high was 24.  We got some severe winter weather warnings today that will hit us tonight and all day tomorrow.  Sleet,light snow and freezing rain.  Temperatures rising up to lower 30's by late afternoon.  This is Wednesday I am speaking about.  For us, that is severe weather.  We don't usually get a lot of precipitation in any form during the winter.  And they don't have any equipment to salt or sand the roads here either.  No snow plows.  Get the picture?  That's why schools close whenever there is any chance of dangerous roads.  Children are our most precious treasures and they take no chances with them being injured or killed.

Love you all.  Keep warm and safe.  Get those Christmas gifts purchased, wrapped and under the tree.  Then relax with a little eggnog (with a kick!)