Pointless Announcements
We've got the slew of pretty and polished white teenagers being let off with wrist slaps for speeding in school zones. One of which the judge smirks at and says, "well since you know me... you can request a different judge if you like?"
The barely able to speak english Mexicans, that the judge talks really slowly emphasising all her vowels for, there for everything in the book that you can do wrong- no lisence, no tags, no insurance- and no reason for being pulled over. Making a $35 a month payment plan.
The blue collar guy, that says he just lost his job and his wife lost hers, near tears because the judge acts as though her hands are probably tied about his barely over the limit speeding ticket and now he won't be able to get his CDL (brings him to the brink of tears before she lets him know he can do a safety course and have it dropped).
The ethnicity I couldn't place guy pulled over for too many stickers and tinted windows.
The bitter truck driver who didn't use his turn signal pleading not guilty and insisting on trial because "I damn well did use my signal! Not my fault if the cop didn't see it. I had a malfunction in my electrical system I was unaware of. But I damn well clicked my turn signal prove I didn't!"
And the douchbag twentysomething hipster with a bluetooth in his ear paying his whole fine off right there with disdain.
And then me, trying to look as respectable and conservative as possible, with a dog at large ticket because my dog ran out front to greet the neighborhood kids when mine left the door open right after school.
Licking children is a crime now? Thanks, Obama!
I'm not rich or white but I am rather polished (if I do say so myself) and when I was in high school, I was issued a ticket for truancy. In my case, this meant I'd been late or absent from class too much (I'd just gotten a car, gimme a break) and the state was very upset by this. I showed up to court kind of expecting them to scare me and tell me to start waking up on time and give me a lower fine (don't remember what it was but it was hefty). They did not. I had to do community service for some reason too but I don't remember why because I paid allll of that fine. I DID stop taking 2 hour lunch breaks though I guess the state of Texas won that round.
I google image searched "eggs basted" and now I must try them.
I love soft boiled eggs. I don't know anybody else who was born in this country (USA!USA!USA!) who likes them or has even thought about eating them this way. I may not talk eggs with the right types of people though. Around here, they are most commonly eaten fried over easy or scrambled or southwestern omeletted.
Well that's kind of your fault. You have socialize them. I started in high school by getting one of those gay best friends. You could probably get one at the mall, that's where I found mine. I lost him after graduating (to California... it's always California) but the exposure to him helped a lot. My parents still use the Spanish word for "faggot" (which is "marica") in both jokes and insults but luckily they use it very indiscriminately and it sounds a lot like "maraca" which probably just renders their rush hour cursing adorably stereotypical. They're just the older Mexican-y looking couple who like calling everybody a pair of rumba shakers.
I don't have gay friends 
Mum: What is this tolerance they want? Does anyone beat them up in the street or what? I don't think we as a country have ever been intolerant.
Which is a load of bullshit. Every year, the Gay Pride is doubled by a Church protest, a New Right protest (fascists, and it's not an epithet, they ARE fascists), and common people throwing vegetables at them. But nooo, we're tolerant as hell, aren't we? I didn't even say anything, I was just eating my fish and piece of cake, and then left for my room. I hate getting into debates where I know I can't stand the other person's opinions.
Maybe they just want them to eat balanced diet. No? That's not very nice then.
My French friend came out to his family recently. He then found out his mum had been on the anti-gay marriage and adoption march in Paris.
This week, England and Wales passed the same-sex marriage bill. Not that we were the first to do this, but hopefully it'll pave the way for some more European countries.
Well, that news was the trigger, actually. Mum saw it on tv, and then the next day the story about the highschool Gay Pride, and then she started ranting. She's just a bit too religious and silly, actually.
My parents have never been anti-gay, but they've never been over the moon about them either. My sister has made some new gay friends, and I feel that it's good for my parents to have been in contact with them at birthday parties.
My dad is bit anti-gay, I don't think he ever was before he became a vicar but as soon as he did he found a lot of things to be anti. I don't even want to talk to him about gay marriage because it will make me like him less so I avoid it. He was pretty unbearable lately about the women bishops debate. So sexist. Pathetic too.
My mum isn't anti anything! She is a climate change denier though. Don't get me started!
I am super perfect and believe all the right things.
Sigged.
...or not. Apparently I can't have more than two sigs. Bah.
I'm anti.
We're supposed to be getting like, 20 fucking inches of snow or something today but it hasn't started yet. School was cancelled.
Amii, when did your dad become a man of the cloth? Does his church get a good weekly turnout?
The outcome of the women bishops vote was incredibly depressing. The new Archbishop of Canterbury seems pretty awful as well. CoE don't need any help in digging their own grave.
Surprise, surprise.
Yawn.
*gives you 2 the stink eye
Jawn.
Tuffy the Dump Truck may rarely increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke. The risk may be greater if you have heart disease or increased risk for heart disease (for example, due to smoking, family history of heart disease, or conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes), or with longer use. Tuffy should not be taken right before or after heart bypass surgery. Also, Tuffy may infrequently cause serious (rarely fatal) bleeding from the stomach or intestines. This effect can occur without warning symptoms at any time while taking Tuffy. Older adults may be at higher risk for this effect. (See also Precautions and Drug Interactions sections.) Stop taking Tuffy and get medical help right away if you notice any of the following rare but serious side effects: bloody or black/tarry stools, persistent stomach/abdominal pain, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, chest/jaw/left arm pain, shortness of breath, unusual sweating, weakness on one side of the body, sudden vision changes, slurred speech. Ask your doctor if Tuffy is right for you.
That is an interesting combination.
Also,
Bacon Pancakes.
For breakfast. These kids really know how to request a birthday breakfast.
I didn't get one, ran out of bacon.
First fish, then cake. We got some Arabian sweets and they were awesome. Especially this pistachio mamul, which also tasted of flower syrup or something.
Except the fuckers are very expensive. That's not very cool. $18-25/ 3.5 oz.
I Want That.
Now.
The outcome of the women bishops vote was incredibly depressing. The new Archbishop of Canterbury seems pretty awful as well. CoE don't need any help in digging their own grave.
Surprise, surprise.
He was ordained in 1999 but was in theological college for 2 or maybe 3 years before that. It was weird because we never went to church, ever.
Almost no one goes to his church except Christmas and Easter. I don't understand why so many people still want their baby baptised if they never go to church! But he gets lots of baptisms and weddings and stuff. Most of the people who go are about 80 so the future doesn't look bright.
What do they expect though? They need to change, less sexism, less anti and more inclusive. All the vicars I know are so high and mighty it's hard to stomach. They're men who think they're better than everyone else. Ugh.
I've been charged with making a mint chocolate chip ice cream birthday cake.
I have no idea what I am doing.
I'm using a cake mix, as I am not even going to risk messing this up worse than I will already.
Whose birthday is it?
CAEK!
Tuffy the Dump Truck may rarely increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke. The risk may be greater if you have heart disease or increased risk for heart disease (for example, due to smoking, family history of heart disease, or conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes), or with longer use. Tuffy should not be taken right before or after heart bypass surgery. Also, Tuffy may infrequently cause serious (rarely fatal) bleeding from the stomach or intestines. This effect can occur without warning symptoms at any time while taking Tuffy. Older adults may be at higher risk for this effect. (See also Precautions and Drug Interactions sections.) Stop taking Tuffy and get medical help right away if you notice any of the following rare but serious side effects: bloody or black/tarry stools, persistent stomach/abdominal pain, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, chest/jaw/left arm pain, shortness of breath, unusual sweating, weakness on one side of the body, sudden vision changes, slurred speech. Ask your doctor if Tuffy is right for you.
Ever oncet in a whiles, this must return to the spotlight to shine.
Tuffy the Dump Truck may rarely increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke. The risk may be greater if you have heart disease or increased risk for heart disease (for example, due to smoking, family history of heart disease, or conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes), or with longer use. Tuffy should not be taken right before or after heart bypass surgery. Also, Tuffy may infrequently cause serious (rarely fatal) bleeding from the stomach or intestines. This effect can occur without warning symptoms at any time while taking Tuffy. Older adults may be at higher risk for this effect. (See also Precautions and Drug Interactions sections.) Stop taking Tuffy and get medical help right away if you notice any of the following rare but serious side effects: bloody or black/tarry stools, persistent stomach/abdominal pain, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, chest/jaw/left arm pain, shortness of breath, unusual sweating, weakness on one side of the body, sudden vision changes, slurred speech. Ask your doctor if Tuffy is right for you.
Those are terrible!
This one is terrible on a whole different level of awesome, however.
Zachariah is eleven today.
Eee! Happy birthday! And good luck with the cake.
Eleven years ago I was in the worst physical pain of my life just to get that boy into the world. He was By Far my most difficult birth. He was turned the wrong way and stuck, I pushed for three hours straight with no progress at all and nearly need to be transported to the hospital for a Csection.
but, he made it here, and his personality is the same whirlwind his birth was. Intense and stubborn and complicated and the sweetest thing ever when you finally see through it all.
Oh, Amber...
*hugs*
OUCH
and Happy Birthday!
PA: I figured out how to do a sock bun, and now this is the only way I will wear a bun ever again, and I end up putting my long ass hair up every single day. It feels SO MUCH better than having a clip in my hair. My hair is too long now to get it all up in a clip, so this works way better and I don't feel any tenstion or pull. I thought it was going to be complicated but it's not. You can buy hair donuts at CVS for like $5, but I just cut the toes off a black fleece sock and it was free. Yayuh!
Well, explain in the girly thread, Alecia! I can't even do a normal bun all the time. Sometimes it looks great, sometimes it sucks and loosens if I so much as shake my head.
Macavity!
Tuffy the Dump Truck may rarely increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke. The risk may be greater if you have heart disease or increased risk for heart disease (for example, due to smoking, family history of heart disease, or conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes), or with longer use. Tuffy should not be taken right before or after heart bypass surgery. Also, Tuffy may infrequently cause serious (rarely fatal) bleeding from the stomach or intestines. This effect can occur without warning symptoms at any time while taking Tuffy. Older adults may be at higher risk for this effect. (See also Precautions and Drug Interactions sections.) Stop taking Tuffy and get medical help right away if you notice any of the following rare but serious side effects: bloody or black/tarry stools, persistent stomach/abdominal pain, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, chest/jaw/left arm pain, shortness of breath, unusual sweating, weakness on one side of the body, sudden vision changes, slurred speech. Ask your doctor if Tuffy is right for you.
the mystery cat?
I found a spider on my pillow and now I have to move out of this house. It's been nice.
Oh god, I hate that. Did you kill it or get it removed? Or is it lost in your soom still?
I like spiders, as long as they aren't creepy poisonous ones. They keep the vermin away, just like cats do. I have made friends with garden spiders before. That year I watched the ants all summer I made friends with a spider up on the trellis, I used to talk to him and he would sit and listen. Once he was being cranky and stuck his fangy things out at me so I blew smoke at his web and he scurried away under a leaf. He learned his lesson and behaved himself after that.
Did you know that a spider falling on its thread in front of you is a sign of good luck to come? Specifically, a sign that you will have new cloths soon.
When I was at court for that dog ticket the other day they had on the walls three old copies of money magazine listing my suburb as one of the top 100 places to raise a family in America. I wish I felt that much love for this place I am trapped.
We are re-homing our dog. I talked to the judge about not only how we could not afford this ridiculous ticket, he has medical problems we cannot afford, if I am paying for anything for him it should be that, and I can't even pay for that. If we re-home him with someone who can care for him as he deserves, time wise and medical needs wise, the tickets will be dropped.
It is sad. We have had him five years, since he was a pup. But best for him. He is a good boy and deserves proper care. Have to keep that in mind, what is best for him. This is just the kick in the butt to get on with it, no one else in the family, kids and James, wants this, but they are letting their own emotions cloud their judgement- ticket aside we cannot pay for his care he needs.
Oh. Now I get it. Good one Amber.
I was supposed to be born today but was a week late. My mom went into labor on Valentine's Day and was struggling for two days.
Two days? Good lord! So were you born on the 15th or the 16th?
The 16th.
My mom's a trooper. Probably the reason she's only got one kid, though.
I have two other friends born on the 16th, now I'll be sure to remember your birthday 
Mum's labour with me was an hour or so, I don't know about my brother, and with my sister (when she was 35) it lasted like half an hour or something. She called dad that she was 'ready', she was already in the hospital for induced labour the following day, dad went to pick us up from school and when we got there, there was our baby sister, red like a lobster, and asleep.
It's Lucy's 1st birthday next month!
Did I tell you guys we're buying a new car? It's an ElGrand van. We're getting a family wagon! But it's down south, so we're taking a family trip.
We'll be flying down (It's an hour flight), and spending two nights down in the South Island. One night we'll be staying in the place called Hamner Springs, it's like a thermal resort place. I can't wait, I've always wanted to go there. We're coming back on the ferry which is four hours. Eeeek.
Any tips for travelling with a baby?
On the 30th
I had rolled pancakes filled with cottage cheese and splashed with rose syrup (1) and pine cone syrup (the other). They were fabulous and I even thanked mum for not adding raisins. I hate raisins.
I killed it. It wasn't even the tiny little grayish spiders that I'm somewhat used to seeing inside the house. It wasn't huge but it wasn't tiny either and it was black and had thick legs. I changed my sheets and vacuumed (which I needed to do anyway) and decided I'll stay here a bit longer.
Did you know that a spider falling on its thread in front of you is a sign of good luck to come? Specifically, a sign that you will have new cloths soon.
When I was at court for that dog ticket the other day they had on the walls three old copies of money magazine listing my suburb as one of the top 100 places to raise a family in America. I wish I felt that much love for this place I am trapped.
We are re-homing our dog. I talked to the judge about not only how we could not afford this ridiculous ticket, he has medical problems we cannot afford, if I am paying for anything for him it should be that, and I can't even pay for that. If we re-home him with someone who can care for him as he deserves, time wise and medical needs wise, the tickets will be dropped.
It is sad. We have had him five years, since he was a pup. But best for him. He is a good boy and deserves proper care. Have to keep that in mind, what is best for him. This is just the kick in the butt to get on with it, no one else in the family, kids and James, wants this, but they are letting their own emotions cloud their judgement- ticket aside we cannot pay for his care he needs.
I know you're right. And hearing that you made friends with a spider is really cute. But when I read this, "stuck his fangy things out at me" I die a little inside. I wasn't even there! The way you describe it, it's like an adorable cartoon spider in my head but I'm still disgusted by it on some deeply visceral level.
That's very sad about your dog. I know you're not that into dogs but I'm sure it's still difficult. I hope you find a good family for him.
I dropped some stuff off to my Mum's friend's Op Shop yesterday. She told me I'm having a boy. She also told me I'm going to have three kids.
I think if you carry it low, it's supposed to be a boy.
Is a thermal spa one of those hot natural springs? If so, can you take a few pictures? I've never been to one of those before. But, I know I'd love it because hot tubs are the bomb-diggty!
Well it's tucked in real low, my midwife couldn't get a heartbeat (but I've felt it move). And I've been nowhere near as sick as what I was with Lucy. I'd prefer a girl, but one of each will be nice too.
Yeah it's thermal hotsprings. I can't go in the real hot ones but they have a 28 degree one that sounds perfect.
We're going here:
http://www.hanmersprings.co.nz/thermal/pools/index.cfm
I love being on holiday! Because we crammed all our exams in the last school weeks, we have a 4-week holiday instead of 3 weeks for exams and a week's holiday. I've done so much these past few weeks and there's still one more left.
Yesterday I read 3 small books and watched two movies, aside from the working out and language practice. Hooray! It also helps that I'm not taking naps at noon anymore.