It’s only a couple blocks from our place now, well made (over 100 years old) GORGEOUS!!

So, when we are done playing I look up the house online to find out cost, history, etc . . . .

I didn’t see THIS side of the house with the huge chimney for CREMATING BODIES – ewwww.

The price isn’t bad for the quality and the people didn’t actually DIE there – it is sooo beautiful inside, I just don’t know if I could live in an old funeral home.

So what do you think? Would you live in an old funeral home?

This kid is 13 – these are the people my kids are around every day and the stress and guilt of not being able to afford the $7,000 to $14,000 (times 3 kids) a year for private schools is killing me.  With the economy the way it is the number of parents able to send their kids to private school has dropped drastically.  And, why shouldn’t we have the best public education systems with the amount of taxes we have to pay?

A couple weeks ago my 12 year old and 14 year old came home from middle school with a letter explaining a fight between two girls in the cafeteria where pepper spray was used.  In the past month in Norfolk, pepper spray has been used 4 times to break up fights or subdue and unruly student.  I hate that my kids are growing up in this kind of environment.  I feel like I’m sending them off to the prison yard every day.  Security guards, police officers are a fixture at these schools.

I’ve watched so much news coverage and read a lot of news articles about the state of the Norfolk Public School system and I’ve got to say that I’m getting a little fed up with what is not being said – the political correctness – the fear of liability.  I’d like to see these schools take a Zero Tolerance stance.  Don’t just pepper spray these kids and send them on their way – expel them – send them to an alternate school and keep them away from my kids, who have never been in a fight, been given detention, suspended or expelled – shoot, I’ve never even received a phone call about bad behavior.  Quit coddling these kids.   One strike and you’re out.

Check this article out – very enlightening – (and if you are moving to Norfolk, VA – I’d think twice – their public school system is terrifying)

From the Va Pilot – Steven Vegh

“The school division’s policy allowing security guards to use pepper spray in student fights contradicts recommendations from the state’s authority on school safety, which strongly discourages the practice.

“Do not use ‘force devices’ in interventions – weapons, hand cuffs, mace,” states the Virginia Center for School Safety’s training curriculum for school security officers. The center, which is part of the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, helps set guidelines and provides training on how school divisions should handle school safety, said Donna P. Michaelis, the department’s public safety training manager.

Though it discourages pepper-spray use, the agency also gives divisions the discretion to decide which equipment their security personnel may carry. Norfolk approved pepper spray for its school security officers, or SSOs, in 1997 and reaffirmed that policy in 2004.

Still, the center states: “Caution to the SSO and school district: The use of ‘force devices’ is likely to incur major liability for the individuals using them and the school districts authorizing their use.”   (READ MORE)

Although I HATE the idea that there is even a need for Police Officers, Security Guards and pepper spray – I know it’s necessary.  But it scares me that the proper training and use of force is not being enforced.  I want my kids protected, but what happens when they get caught in the middle?

I’d also love to see some research on how this atmosphere is affecting the teen suicide rate and I have to wonder how the constant threat of violence and the feeling of intimidation “non-violent” students get from Security Guards (face it a 12 year old who has never been in trouble but gets “wanded” on a regular basis by big burly security guards has to have an adverse affect)  is having on student performance.  I know I wouldn’t be able to perform at my highest potential if I had to worry about being robbed, beat up or maced because I was sitting near someone who got in a fight, everyday.

Robbery - Students will not take, or attempt to take, anything of

value that is owned by another person or organization, under

confrontational circumstances by force or threat of force or

violence or by putting the victim in fear.

As a mom, when my kids aren’t with me I’ve  always worry a little.  The older they get the less I would worry.  They’re smart and know how to be safe.  When my older two – Michael, 14 and Joe, 12 took off for a couple weeks this summer to hang out in New York with my sister I didn’t worry a bit.  When they were at the beach with other members of my family I didn’t worry a bit.  Little did I know the danger would be much closer to home – Like, two blocks closer.   AND somewhere I have deluded myself they would be safe – SCHOOL.

The boys are both in the public school system here in Norfolk.  Blair Middle School is right in the middle of  one the the nicest neighborhoods in the city – Ghent.  Two short blocks from our front door.  Or, after what happened last Wednesday, two terrifying long blocks from safety.

On the kids second day of school my son Joseph decided to ride his bike to school.  No problem? Right?  He’s only riding around the corner, doesn’t have to cross any busy streets – easy.

After a good second day, he walks out to the bike rack to get his bike and notices another kid sitting on his bike (not Joes, the kid is sitting on a bike like he’s ready to go home).  When Joe leaves, the kid starts to follow him.  He heads home and after about half a block the other kids is still following him so he turns around and goes back to the school – he’s a little scared – the kids much bigger than he is and is making him really nervous.    The police officer that works at the school was standing out front so Joe goes up to him – he’s talking to someone, so Joe waits.  After a couple of minutes (and not being able to get the attention of the officer) Joe looks around and doesn’t see the kid and thinks it’s safe to leave.  He heads off in the opposite direction going a different way home.  He’s riding down a block that has a few restaurants, art galleries, etc. for about a block and then turns at the Starbucks for the last block and a half home.  He realizes pretty quickly the kid is still following him and he speeds up.  The kid speeds up, jumps off his bike and grabs Joe’s bike – Joe starts yelling for help while he’s tugging on his bike – the kid pulls back – Joe pulls back – the kid puts his hand in his pocket to pull out a knife and says, “Give me your bike or I’ll cut you” – Joe drops the bike and runs back to the Starbucks on the corner.  The kid leaves his bike on the sidewalk and takes off on Joe’s bike.

Meanwhile, at home.  Michael has come home and I’m waiting on Joe, when there is a knock on the window.  It’s two girls from the neighborhood high school.  They tell me that Joe has been assaulted and robbed, but he’s ok and waiting for the police to show up at Starbucks.  I grab the other kids and we head up the street.  Joe is hysterical – terrified and MAD.  While waiting for the police I am amazed at the number of people who saw what happened (one woman saw the kid following him another saw the struggle and was afraid to do anything and another saw the struggle but was too far away to do anything) and waited around with us to give their statements.  The employees at Starbucks even looked out for him, giving him free drinks.  His third grade teacher and her husband were even there and comforting him when I got there.  When the police get there they write up a report and Detectives are called in.  They give us hope because so many people saw the crime, but the fact that the first time Joe ever saw him was at the bike rack at school and he wasn’t sure whether he was a student at his school or not – we didn’t know if this would go anywhere.

Joe spent the next twelve hours, shaking and crying saying he never wanted to leave the house again.

I felt helpless.  I wanted answers NOW (I wanted to kick the kids ass NOW) and was worried that with all the crime going on these days that an armed robbery that didn’t result in bodily injury would be low on the list for the police department.  Boy was I wrong.  I decided I would take Joe to school the following day and talk to the principal – I was so worried that the person would show up again at the school and I wanted Joe to feel safe.

While Joe and I were waiting in the office to speak to the principal we noticed the school police officer dragging a kid in by the back of the pants – past us and down the hall.  About 20 minutes later we were called into the principals office.  She told us that they had the person they think assaulted Joe.  She then said the Detectives were already at the school questioning him.  Joe gave his statement because the school also takes action (expulsion/suspension) against the student.  Before we left I spoke with one of the detectives who seemed to think that the kid was going to give up all of the information needed to solve this case.   I was amazed by how fast that happened.

By 2:00 that afternoon I received a phone call from the Detectives saying that the kid was being processed downtown and that he would not be back at the school.  They also informed me that they had Joes bike and wanted to bring it by and have Joe do I photo line up while they were there.

At 3:00 when the kids came home from school I found out that this moron of a criminal actually RODE THE BIKE TO SCHOOL that day and that one of Joe’s friends who rides bikes with Joe daily saw the kid with the bike and went to the schools police officer (that’s when we saw the kid being dragged in).  He tried to change the bike (took the brakes, lights, lock and hand grips off)

Thank God Joe wasn’t hurt and thank God the school administration and Norfolk police and detectives did such an amazing  job following up all of the leads.

Now we wait for a subpoena and hope that this horrible experience doesn’t mark my 12 year old for life.

What the hell is wrong with people these days?!!!!!!

The summer has been so peaceful this year.    We’ve had a lot of  fun getting together with family from all over the world to celebrate my parents 50th wedding anniversary.  It wasn’t a day for celebration but a week of fun!  It was so much fun visiting with family members I haven’t seen in years.  Aunts, Unlces cousins – and BOY do they like to party.  Laila didn’t get off the dance floor all night long.  We started on a Saturday with dinner and dancing at Mahi Mahs at the Va Beach Oceanfront.  The next morning was the Renewing of the “Vowels” (as Laila keeps saying) and then on to a catered brunch at my parents house.  From there most of the immediate family and a lot of the extended family headed out to Croatan Beach in Va Beach, VA.   My parents had rented a beach house for the week.  I think at one point there was about 25 people there (my parents, there are six of us kids, spouses,  and grandkids).

My boys stayed a couple nights and left with my older sister to go hang out in Millbrook NY for a couple weeks.  Laila stayed at the beach house for a couple days after I left to hang out with her best buddy and cousin Marianne who was here for six weeks from Scotland – they had SO MUCH FUN together.

Only two weeks left until the kiddos head back school – YEA – as long as there are no more earthquakes and the hurricane bearing down on us passes by.   I think it was back in 2003 when hurricane Isabelle shut sown the school for the first week.

I’m so excited August is almost over and SOON the heat will be gone!!!

I’ve been watching marathons of supernanny trying to figure out how I’m supposed to get them to shut the f***ck up and keep their f**cking hands to themselves – but I just end up blaming myself for not raising kids who don’t want to kill each other 23 hours a day. Should I get rid of the video games? HELL NO!!!! That’s the only time they shut up.  Why does every other adult they come in contact with think they are perfect little angels?

I get up at 4 AM to get to the Gym at 5 AM and work out my frustration so I don’t whoop their butts during the day, but last Monday, I walked out the front door and tripped over one of those stupid pop-up sprinkler thingies and fell flat on my face, HARD – took all the skin off of both of my knees and haven’t been able to bend my knees in a week.  Now I’m even meaner and crankier (poor kids).  I need to get one of those Indiana Jones whips and just sit here on the sofa and . . .w h o o o o o o s h . . . . . smack . . . .crack!!

BUT WAIT – there’s hope – the two older boys will be shipped off to New York for a couple weeks at the end of July to hang out with their Aunt (my sister) – She owns a kennel in a cool little town called Millbrook, New York. She’s my older sister, never married – her kids are her goats, chickens, horses and dogs. She’ll keep them busy and they will have so much fun. And I, home with one kid, will, FINALLY have some peace and quiet.  (who the hell am I kidding – Laila already has a list – YES a real list of everything she wants to do – from going to the beach, to going to the mall, movies, zoo, etc.

It seems I’m not alone in my parental misery. I came across a wonderful book, by Adam Mansbach called “Go the F**CK to Sleep”. I haven’t laughed so hard in ages (especially with Samuel L. Jackson Narrating). Maybe I’m not crazy.

The little cheeky book was born out of frustration. Adam Mansbach, author of such dramatic novels as The End of Jews and the upcoming Nature of the Beast, had a really hard time putting his 2-year-old daughter Vivien to bed.

One day last year, after chatting about his problem with some friends, he wrote a Facebook post: “Look out for my forthcoming children’s book, Go the F— to Sleep.’’

“It was just me messing around,’’ says Mansbach from Berkeley, Calif., where he is based. “I had no intention of writing the book. I knew the [concept] was funny, but I never could have anticipated this kind of passionate response.’’

Vivien is an easier child now. “It’s no longer the battle it once was,’’ says Mansbach, who remembers a time when it would take two hours, starting at 7 p.m., for the toddler to nod off. (He adds that his wife took on the majority of nighttime duties.)

“The mistake I would consistently make, out of sheer exhaustion, was to try to leave the room early,’’ explains Mansbach, 35. “The breathing would start to get kind of heavy, that type of thing. So I would play these games with myself: ‘OK, I’ll count to 30. If she hasn’t moved, I am going to slowly ease my way out.

“I would always jump the gun. I’d be just out the door and she’d sit straight up in bed, and say, ‘Poppa, poppa! Where are you going?’ ’’

Mansbach, who grew up in the Boston area, realized he was not alone.

“Getting kids to sleep is maybe the biggest single issue,’’ he says. “Parents have problems with eating well and behavior and how long it takes to get them out of the house. But this is worldwide.’’

The lushly illustrated book is even popular with kids.

“A lot of people found that their children enjoyed this story of a battle of a mischievous kid who wins the battle with his parents,’’ says the author, who suggests replacing the word “moon’’ for the F-bomb. “They get it.’’

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/07/07/2302441/speaking-to-the-author-of-go-to.html#ixzz1Rky2jMRV

I was trying to come up with a post over at The Ad Master and was having a major brain fart so I decided to take the easy way out and run a contest.    This brain malfunction must have something to do with fact that the kids are out of school in 3 days and I will surely go insane.  Then I remembered the same exact thing happened this time last year – Hence, The 2nd Annual “I Can’t Come Up With a Blog Post Day”.  Head over to The Ad Master to sign up.

They were lovely and I wanted to  send them out to family and friends.  Here is the card (is she saying I have a big butt?)

And Even Better – A Check for a Million Dollars!!!

Imagine my surprise when I found a large number of images I don’t remember taking.

I guess the boys have had too much of their sisters case of Beiber fever.   This is what they have to listen to ALL DAY LONG:

So,  while their sweet, innocent sister is snoozing away – they attack.

Maybe the video and pictures were therapy – Naughty Boys!

Bu they better watch out – she’s been brainstorming and I sure wouldn’t want to be on her bad side.

One of the most difficult things about being a parent is keeping a straight face when you need to be serious.

My Perfect Children

Just wait until they browse THEIR cell phone photo album  . . . . . .

I know the economy is no laughing matter these days, but I try to get my laughs anywhere I can and when my husband forwarded this email to me I was cracking up.  It made the fact that he has to close his office up because we had to pay dental bills for our daughter instead of the insurance a little easier.  It made the fact that after 15 years of him working as a contractor and finally deciding to work directly for a company so he can take advantage of the benefits only to find out that $1800.00 a month for health insurance is NOT a benefit to anyone but the insurance companies a little easier.  At least we know we are not alone -

The economy is so bad that…

I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail.

African television stations are now showing ‘Sponsor an American Child’ commercials!

Wives are having sex with their husbands because they can’t afford batteries.

I ordered a burger at McDonald’s and the kid behind the counter asked, “Can you afford fries with that?”

CEO’s are now playing miniature golf.

Exxon-Mobil laid off 25 Congressmen.

My ATM gave me an IOU!

A stripper was killed when her audience showered her with rolls of pennies while she danced.

I saw a Mormon polygamist with only one wife.

If the bank returns your check marked “Insufficient Funds,” you call them and ask if they meant you or them.

McDonald’s is selling the 1/4 ouncer.

Angelina Jolie adopted a child from America .

Parents in Beverly Hills fired their nannies and learned their children’s names.

My cousin had an exorcism but couldn’t afford to pay for it, and they re-possessed her!

A truckload of Americans was caught sneaking into Mexico .

Motel Six won’t leave the light on anymore.

A picture is now only worth 200 words.

They renamed Wall Street ” Wal-Mart Street .”

When Bill and Hillary travel together, they now have to share a room.

The Treasure Island casino in Las Vegas is now managed by Somali pirates.

Congress says they are looking into this Bernard Madoff scandal.  Oh Great! The guy who made $50 Billion disappear is being investigated by the people who made $1.5 Trillion disappear!

And, finally… I was so depressed last night thinking about the economy, wars, jobs, my savings, Social Security, retirement funds, etc., I called the Suicide Hotline. I got a call center in Pakistan , and when I told them I was suicidal, they got all excited, and asked if I could drive a truck.

Last month, a survey was conducted by the U.N. worldwide. The only question asked was: “Would you please give your honest opinion about solutions to the food shortage in the rest of the world?”

The survey was a HUGE failure.

• In Africa they did not know what “food” meant.
• In Western Europe they did not know what “shortage” meant.
• In Eastern Europe they did not know what “opinion” meant.
• In the Middle East they did not know what “solution” meant.
• In South America they did not know what “please” meant.
• In Asia they did not know what “honest” meant.
• And in the USA they did not know what “the rest of the world” meant!!!!

Read more at (freerepublic.com)

Colors Around the Neighborhood (all of these are in the park out front of my house – gorgeous!)

My Pretty Periwinkle Wisteria

Azaleas

Monster Pink Camellias

Fuschia Azaleas and Pink Camellias

Buttercups – a weed, but pretty – I get a lovely bouquet daily from my daughter

Can’t Forget the Bright Green Leaves That Have Finally Dressed Our Trees

Everywhere-Beautiful Colors,

and I smile -

FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS

Then the REAL colors of spring take over and I’m wishing it was December again!!!

Green, Green Grass Clippings All Over My Car EVERY week – (Note to the mower guy – Get a freakin BAG!!!)

Lovely Lemon Yellow Dusting of Pollen EVERYWHERE!!

Bright Red Allergy Eyes

and let’s not forget the matching red nose

OH, and then there’s Spring Break – That spectacular time of year when the school district gives parents a taste of what they are in for 2 months down the road – and YES, I bitch about my wonderful children constantly – maybe if I was allowed to beat them when they were killing each other they’d behave and I wouldn’t complain.  (If I hear “I’m bored ONE MORE TIME – I’m going to invest in a mighty large number of earplugs.)

And the scary part of spring –  the dark, dreary skies just before the tornadoes and thunderstorms strike.   This past weekend we had a crazy line of storms come through the area.  Virginia was lucky, but there was a ton of damage and a couple of deaths here – scary considering the fact that we just don’t get tornadoes in this area.  Flooding, yes – even hurricanes, but after this latest weather I won’t ever blow off the tornado watches or the annoying Emergency Alert System that interrupts my moviewatching.  Some images from Gloucester VA – about 15 minutes from Norfolk.  SCARY! – This middle school was totaled.

Yes I’m a smoker and yes I know it’s a disgusting, nasty habit.  But it’s my choice, no matter how stupid it is.  I read a horrifying news story from LA Times – The FDA is considering a ban on menthol cigarettes.

A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel Friday said that “removal of menthol cigarettes from the marketplace would benefit public health in the United States.”

The panel’s assessment is, in effect, a recommendation that the FDA consider banning menthol, the flavoring used in about 30% of cigarettes smoked in the U.S.

I guess I’ll have to start soaking tobacco in mint tea and rolling my own smokes.   Or break out my hooka.

What is with the Government these days?  First they try to remove toys from happy meals and now the menthol from my cigarettes?  How about a ban on alcohol?  Texting?  Old drivers?  Next thing you know they’ll be banning pizza cuz the cheese is bad for your heart – and bacon cuz the fat will clog your arteries.

It all comes down to choice – personal choice.  Take away menthol cigarettes and you’ll have a bunch of crazy people running around willing to do anything for that sweet minty taste.