Where am I?

It's like going back home... every time I move.
Almost as if home were my therapist. The BLOG World.
A place where I can rant and rave about all of the trials and tribulations
of once again... packing up the house!

Only this time... It was different.

I have taken you through 2 of the last 8 moves I have made.
I believe it was Illinois to Wisconsin where we only had a 15 month stay. Then Wisconsin to Michigan which was less than a year.
But this time after 20 years Movin' Dad decided to move to another company. Who in turn decided to move us to another state.
TEXAS! My homeland, where the deer and the buffalo roammm... where seldom is heard... a discouraging worddddd......unless of course 6 people are sharing one bathroom.

Okay anyway, I AM a native born Texan. So I should be golden about the move. But this has to be by far our most challenging.
New company, new rules, new limitations on weight of furniture on the truck.... 25,000 tons, SERIOUSLY?

Then... we decide to build! I KNOW.. I know... ~CRAZY~ So we are living in a temporary apartment until the home is done, which could be... 3 weeks! 6 people, one dog, small one room apartment. PRAY people~ PRAY for my sanity!

On a pleasant note... I am having more fun on facebook lately finding all of my old classmates. In fact, so much so that I find myself...dare I say it aloud? ADDICTED! So I thought... It is time to focus on something else for a while ... break away a bit from the facebook world... give people time to miss you, but what? What could occupy me......

So here I am!
Talk to ya' tomorrow!
my Texan twang is creepin' back just a bit!

TWO THINGS...

I have my oldest right smack in the middle of the college process. Tonight....out of the blue, my youngest and I decided to purchase this ON DEMAND. We laughed and laughed. Donny Osmond had me in stitches a couple of times. I would definitely clarify this as a comedy, however at the end ... I found myself crying. CRYING!

*SPOILER---- I think it was that moment that the mom and the dad were saying goodbye to her as they dropped her off at college. Spoiler meaning.....perhaps you may not realize during the movie that it will end this way :/


ANYWAY... Even more important than the movie we watched.......
CAN I GET A HOO-HAAA for the AMERICAN MAN who had me screaming with GLEE tonight...MICHAEL PHELPS
NUMERO OCHO on the GOLD!!!!!!

How do I teach my children?

There was a time, not so long ago, when I could teach and guide my children. A time when what I said, actually seemed knowledgeable to them.

However, there have been a few subjects that (because I am a mom from another place and time) I just "don't get it!"

For instance, the Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky incident. It definitely changed the thoughts of our youth on the definition of sex.
I can preach and preach and guide and talk and put on my most knowledgeable advice hat, but I speak to deaf ears.
As a mom, you just know when you are speaking on a right vs wrong subject and when there will never be an agreement on both parts.
Now this isn't just with my own children. I have heard other kids in our home's opinions and it seems to be that they are all in agreement with the former president.

Oral sex is not sex!
(YES IT IS!!!)

Now don't think I haven't tried to do my research. I have looked for every and any example/book I could get my hands on. I watch Dr. Phil's episodes when he has had Dr's and men of the church on all discussing the issues of todays teens and their promiscuity. I have asked my most spiritually educated friends for guidance in the Bible. HELP, it has to be in there somewhere.
But nothing comes to me.
It always falls on you just shouldn't do it.
I need concrete evidence people!
My two older boys are extremely intelligent. Unless I can open up the Bible or have someone significant in their eyes (there was a time that person was me!) have a convincing argument, this is just one of those things that is generational.

It makes me want to have a conversation with Bill Clinton and have him perhaps do the damage control by publicly going to high schools and speaking to our youth. SOMEONE......SOMEONE out there must have the answer, but it has to be an intelligent one!

Yes, I bring up an issue from years pass. Because this is a now issue for me and i still have two more children who will become teens after I get through these teen years with the boys.

My issue now is politically connected as well.

As I recently updated, we are now back in the Detroit area. Yes...Detroit where our mayor is in the national media! OH...Not just in the national media but in the Wayne County jail as well!











Here is a man who perhaps feels he is above the law. I don't know him personally however...he has been allegedly dishonest.
Allegedly cheated on his wife and lied about it in a court of law. Allegedly left the country when he was ordered to not even leave the state.
Here is a man who gets angry and aggressive with the media. Who wants the media to leave his family alone so THEY can heal.
When he created this scenario. I do not understand this way of thinking. I want to make sure that the law holds him accountable for his dishonesty. How am I suppose to teach my children right from wrong when people who are in the media, political figures, celebrities (Jamie Lynn Spears) are screwing up and not being held accountable?
Yeah I threw that Spears girl thing in there because I have a daughter who will be 13. It's one thing to screw up and take care of your business but a whole other thing to make the cover of OK magazine for it!!!

A Trip to Chicago

We recently took a trip to Chicago to check out Loyola for my son. He brought his best friend along. I must say, I loved it, he loved it and even better...my husband loved it. We haven't really all 3 liked the same schools yet. Loyola was our 5th school to visit. It just seemed to be the perfect fit for him.
We drove around the DePaul campus before heading over to Loyola but as we entered the neighborhood my son said, "Don't need to look at this school!"
His opinion was based purely on the amount of Obama posters hanging EVERYWHERE!
You see, my son is a DIE HARD Republican. It almost made my husband and I chuckle a bit.
I am not sure when it actually happened...the little boy who made me a mommy finding his opinion.
But an opinion he has. He will debate the right from wrong with the best of them.
The smile on his face as we pulled into the Loyola neighborhood and saw McCain flyers EVERYWHERE was priceless.
Not that this alone is what he based his opinion on.
Because it really doesn't matter where we like or what majority political party is represented, he is choosing his home for the next few years. I believe that one of his top requirements is a big city, and who doesn't like Chicago?

I kind of felt like I was with bodyguards. Here he is with his dad and best friend walking the campus.



As we were leaving, we spotted a fox right outside the door



The trip was not all about him. We were able to visit with friends and see my MIL who just happened to be there visiting her best friend.

here we all are after lunch


Our family loves Chicago. It is my guess that one day...after all of the children are gone, we will be one of those hip retired couples who have a condo in downtown Chi town. Hopefully with any luck, all of our children will raise their families in the same area. If not...I'd settle for visiting them in Italy or Hawaii or someplace like that.

tormenting his sister

My daughter is about to be 13 in a couple of months. A few days ago she had some friends over. 3 Boys and 2 Girls to be exact.

As soon as they arrived, she made the introductions to our family and then off they went to the basement to make friendship bracelets. This did not sit well with her two older brothers who of course had to follow them.

First, her brother 3 years older needed to figure out the dynamics of the group. Who likes who and vice versa.

So he kept asking and refused to leave until he got the answer.
So one of the girls spoke up, "Well, G (my daughter) used to like him,
but he didn't like her back, NOW he likes her...(A LOT) but she doesn't like him back.

The poor kids stood there dumbfounded. My son looked at him with all the sensitivity a fellow dude can have and said,
"Ouch!.....been there....done that!" and off he went.

I'm thinking....not too bad, that was actually minimal torture compared to what she is used to getting from them when boys are involved.

I'm up in the kitchen making dinner
*sidenote- UP in the kitchen? Who says that? Well I can tell you I never did growing up in the south! I mean, I might have said,
"Up there in them there hills".....but NEVER Up in the kitchen. Of course....we didn't have basements in the south. So anyway...

I'm up in the kitchen, thinking full well that she's dealt with all the embarrassment she is going to have to deal with when what do I hear....

My son yelling down the basement stairs, "G, you forgot to flush.........it's really starting to stink up here........can you please come flush?"

I was mortified for her.

She of course took it with all the laughter that the boys took it with and yelled up to him......
"I gotta give you that one Alex.....that was one of your best!"

I love that moment when you realize that your kids are growing up and actually might even be friends!

Is your Sun shining?

You know how sometimes you can go a long time without talking to a friend. Then one day either you or that friend decides to pick up that phone and give you a call. Maybe it's been a few months, maybe even a few years, but you just start talking like it was yesterday.

My Movin' Mom life has left me with friends from here to timbuktu. Yet we can usually just pick up right where we left off. I am hoping the same will apply with all of you. I am very much a creature of habit, so once you get out of the morning ritual it's hard to get back up on the bike again.

SO HERE I AM...training wheels free, hoping I can create the "habit" once again.

I recently (4 days ago) turned 41 years old. My grandmother (3 weeks ago) turned 85 years old. I realize it isn't an exact half but it amazes me still that I am half her age. Kind of how my 3 year old niece will feel about me when she turns 41.

WOW~ I need a moment to let that set in.

______________________________________________________

UPDATES on my recent posts.


My eldest is still searching for the right fit but I believe he is finally trying to focus on that.
His struggle right now is that his GPA could be better but his ACT was amazing.
He broke up with his long distance relationship, but has had a "new friend" here almost daily since.
I try to explain that there should be at least one full deep cleansing breath before someone else swoops in.
Awww to be a kid again!

Next in line, my 15 year old. We have been driving around town letting him get his practice in. (learners permit)
He is an excellent driver but doesn't handle criticism well. He is also benefiting from his brother's college research.
He went to see his counselor and had an AP class added to his schedule for the fall. He has sworn off relationships
for now.....which at least allows me one deep cleansing breath.

Following with my daughter, who is about to become 13! She handed me her grades this morning and is doing amazing. She is for the first time in her life a part of a team. Tennis is not her first choice and she is having to work really hard because the other girls on the team seemed to have had more experience. But with each tennis match she improves. The boy that her brothers despised broke up with her, which as a mom I have to admit....I was a little bummed that he beat her to the punch.
I know thats horrible for me to say but I would have rather it had been her breaking up with him. Even though I Have sons and know how they would feel, I saw my daughter and how it made her feel. All part of life I guess. Movin' Dad's response (he didn't like him either) was the end result is the same and that is all that matters.

And then there was one, my youngest who is about to become a double digit. He is living extreme joy because his oldest brother finally put our trampoline together. We're thinking of starting him in lacrosse because he too has never been on a team sport. Then there's Tai Kwon Do, skateboarding, gymnastics, wrestling.....he has a different idea every single day. I think each time we get to the point of signing him up he changes his mind to another sport.
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Coming up with my posts had been such a struggle because of the personal information that my kids would not want out there. On top of the move which really kept me busy here in Michigan. Wisconsin was a time in my life where I had a ton of time on my hands. A lack of girlfriends and not a lot of places to go shopping or out to eat. Michigan is exactly the opposite.
My friends here are quite social, It is rare that I sit at home with nothing to do. But I am trying to find my creative side again.
The Sun is shining and that makes me feel HAPPY!

I have yet to catch up on anyone but I will. But right now I am heading to the mall...hee hee hee!!!

Putting things in God's Hands

Last night, my boys had a group of friends over.

There is always a tremendous amount of teasing that goes on between my kids but even more so, the two oldest.
They are only 14 months apart and are finally at a point where they do quite a bit together including having the same friends.

I can count on one hand the amount of fights, they have had.I don't mean racing to see who makes it to the front seat of my car first, or even walking by and getting a punch in every so often. I mean a really anger filled rage like fight. So mad at each other they couldn't see straight. The answer is twice. Obviously the first time broke my heart. It was even within this year. My boys had lead approx 15 years of their life without having that happen. Needless to say, I probably overreacted to it.

So last night, the teasing started as always. But like two brothers who are together 24/7, same school, share a room, wrestle together, same friends, they know everything there is to know about each other. Especially what to say to get the other one going. It unraveled without anyone even knowing.

At some point my 15 year old made a comment that didn't sit well but he didn't react. Until they went down to the basement.
Then in front of all the other kids, my oldest decides to tackle my 15 year old and start beatin' on him.
Well normally I hear about it immediately. But it wasn't until later that my eldest decided to say something.

If you can visualize this, I was silently screaming at him. It's exhausting! WHY, WHY, WHY? I know that a lot of reactions will be that their brothers, and that's what brothers do. BUT NOT IN MY HOUSE. Our rules and what we have taught them are that you don't EVER hit the people that you love. EVER!!!! NO EXCEPTIONS! Then I threw in there, that I would tell their dad about it the next day. Just so they know....this discussion isn't over!

So before I go to bed I said my prayers. As always, I add a prayer in that if my children are doing something wrong, that they be caught. That if they are veering off of a path that they be held accountable.

Well one day later (today), I sent my two boys (who of course are good with each other now) ...(but still no apology) to the gas station to get some pop for their sister and her friends. They both walk in and there are two men behind the counter, ironically enough two brothers.

They ask my guys if they are also brothers.

They say "YES!"

One man says to my eldest, "let me guess, are you the oldest?"

My son smiles and says, "YES!"

The he asked my son, "Let me ask you, do you ever hit on him?"

My other son says, " uh yeah....last night he did!"

The guy looks at my son and says, "DID YOU REALLY?"
he handed him back the change and said, "Have a nice day!"
and they left.

The most remarkable part of this story is that my oldest son
came home and told me this whole story. It really affected him.
I looked right into his eyes and said, "That was God!" That's how he works.

I pray that my children be held accountable. Do I want them to feel bad.....NO!
I want them to know that God is always watching.
I want them to be good and when they screw up...as we all do...I want them to feel remorse.
Especially if they have hurt someone.

This story has a happy ending.
Which is why I put things in God's hands.

I think I write a lot about my eldest because through him I am presented with the path I have yet to travel.
For instance college. I didn't go that route after high school because I graduated with a cosmetology license.
In all honesty, it took every fiber in my being to get out of high school.

My oldest son is trying to choose colleges where he can apply. Yesterday, he took his Act test. I find myself learning this entire system and the steps needed to take to get into the right college for him. I have 3 more following him soon after so I ought to be a pro by the time my youngest reaches his senior year.

I know everything should be golden right now. I want him to enjoy this process and all that comes along with it. I want him to make memories and get involved in the "fun" that comes with high school. I'm just not sure if that is happening. He is very social,
and has more friends than I did. But when we moved from Wisconsin, he left a girlfriend waiting.

I struggle with this because he is only 16, and she is 15. I really don't understand how a long distance relationship can work when it's out of state. We have absolutely no intention of ever going back to Wisconsin. He knows this. He also knows that we have laid out our moral values his entire life and there is NO WAY we are sending him back to visit a girlfriend at his age.
I know this is something he needs to figure out on his own, but I cannot stand the fact that there's a dance this weekend and all their friends are out buying corsages and making their plans. My son has chosen to not attend.

His girlfriend came to visit with her mom a few weeks ago. But I even struggled with that. Their so young and yet I know that the feelings are real. I am not just concerned for my son, I am concerned for his girlfriend as well. I don't think it is fair to her either to be missing out on memories because she is trying to be true to my son.

It's a crazy situation. At times I wish I could just get it over with and dictate my demands. Reveal to him my experiences. But I have too much respect for him. I want him to learn and make his own mistakes. I want him to come to his own conclusion,
I just hope he can do that without any regrets.

I just read about this... WOW!

Could this even be real.....it almost sounds like someone describing a dream to you....or should I say nightmare.
I don't mean to become the Blogger with the latest news story but........this one is completely SHOCKING!

Indian Newborn Survives Fall From Train
By R.K. MISRA, AP
3 hours ago

AHMADABAD, India — A newborn baby girl fell through the toilet in a moving train and onto the tracks moments after her mother prematurely gave birth, surviving nearly two hours before being found, relatives said Thursday.

The child's mother, who uses the single name Bhuri, was traveling with relatives on an overnight train when she went to the bathroom shortly before midnight Tuesday and unexpectedly gave birth to a baby girl, said Arjun Kumar, her brother-in-law.

"Later, she fell unconscious and the baby fell through the toilet," he continued. "Two stations later, we knocked at the door."

Bhuri opened the door, soaked in blood.

"When we asked her about what happened, she said the baby had fallen through onto the tracks," Kumar said.

Toilets on Indian trains usually have holes that open directly onto the tracks, and there were no indications Thursday that authorities doubted Bhuri's story or planned to investigate the incident.

Kumar said that after finding Bhuri, relatives pulled the train's emergency brake and told railway officials what had happened. A search was quickly organized, and guards at one of the stations the train had passed soon found the baby.

"She was on the rail track for almost 1 1/2 to two hours," said Dr. Gautam Jain, a pediatrician at Rajasthan Hospital in Ahmadabad, in the western state of Gujarat, where the baby and mother were taken.

The child, who has not yet been named, was eight to 10 weeks premature and weighed only 3.22 pounds, Jain said. She had a low heart rate and body temperature.

"We do not expect such children to survive," Jain said.

Two cents for today

This is a quote I read on Oprah's website in her interview with Valerie Bertinelli.
I totally missed the actual interview which I meant to DVR.
She is referring to her divorce and her hopes for her son.

"So I'm hoping that when he does get married and start a life for himself, that he takes his time and marries a friend and not just someone that he can't keep his hands off."

Truer words could not be spoken. What fabulous advice to give my sons. Obviously you want them to have a healthy relationship
in every area, but if friendship isn't there...you cannot possibly have a successful marriage.

???

I missed posting for so long and so much has happened since that I am literally dumbfounded as to what I should share first.

If only I had a voice.....I'd put it to song.
I know I cannot possibly remember the wonderfulness and the not so wonderful in it's proper timeline......
I believe that was one of the plus' of posting my life.......documenting the life of a Mom, the good the bad and the ugly.
As it happened day by day.

Although when it got a little ugly, I couldn't post. I found that there are some things that I have to keep private.
I guess that is what makes me an amateur, huh?

I mean a real writer would just put it out there....right?

All I can really say in a nutshell is TEENAGERS.

I'm not ready to post about it. But I often say.....it would be a great book.

I think I am going to name it

"The many shades of gray"

After all, raising Teens isn't so black and white.

I feel the need to add.....I've got GREAT kids
So why am I posting about something that I am not even ready to post about?
Let's just change the subject.

**********************************************

We got a Trader Joes here and LIFE IS GOOD!

**********************************************

When we moved in we got new counters, everyone was shocked that we weren't replacing the stove.
Our theory was if it ain't broken....well....you now the saying.

So the granite was cut and when they went to hook up the gas, something went very wrong.
We called the warranty company they mailed us another stove. NO CHOICE! we just got what they sent.
It didn't fit. We were going to have to get the NEW granite cut again.
This has been a royal pain. So we shopped for the last 2 days and found one I LOVE. we are trying to stick with
oil rubbed bronze for the faucet and the cabinet handles and GUESS WHAT WE FOUND?
An oil rubbed bronze gas cooktop! NO LIE!
I cannot wait. I am really hooked on the whole copper accent look.

When it arrives there will be some kodak moments to share with you. Right now, it's a hole in the counter.
We are going on a month with no stove. Which is where the Trader Joes LOVE comes in.
I told my kids, there are cook books on how to boil water.....but is there one on how to cook WITHOUT boiling water?

I think not!
******************************************

HAWAII BOUND.

What is the reaction one has to boarding an airplane and realizing that there is a child sitting nearby.

Movin Dad and I were fortunate enough to recently visit Hawaii. It was work for him but but all about fun and sun for me.

Technically it was a 10 hour flight, however it was broke in half with a layover in San Fran. Now neither he nor I had ever been to Hawaii, and this would be the longest I had ever sat on a plane. I brought my laptop and a ton of movies. I brought magazines, books, snacks, gum, and my ipod. I pretty much exhausted all carryon ingredients in the first hour. I didn't know what to do with myself. The challenge was much more mental. The mere idea that I would be sitting on the plane for 5 and 1/2 hours possessed my mind and I couldn't concentrate on one single task. I asked my husband every half hour, what time it was. Then it happened...

I spotted the child in front of us. Now remember I do have 4 children, so I am not one of those people who make faces and get irritated by young toddlers constant repeats of the question "WHY?" In fact, this boy was quite cute. He did talk through the entire flight and made his mommy read him books the entire way. This is all normal, right? I mean HEY, if I could have had someone read to me the whole way, time would have flown by. The issue I had was the MOMMY! This woman was like watching PBS on volume 52 the entire 5 1/2 hours.

I kid you not, she spoke to her son in such a loud voice, it was all I could think about the whole way. My mind was overcome with polite ways to ask her to BE QUIET, or to lower her voice, I wanted to kick her chair...but I didn't.

There was a moment that this young boy who's name we all learned very quickly because she repeated each and every single time she addressed him. STEVEN!

Yes, Steven, No Steven, Steven where's the giraffe, Steven, do you want a snack, Steven do you need to go to the bathroom, I don't know why STEVEN!!!!

Then Steven decides to share his knowledge of the planets, It was very cute......until Mommy got involved.

Mommy, Did you know that Mars is the largest planet?

STEVEN, HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT MARS IS NOT THE LARGEST PLANET?

yes it is!

NO IT IS NOT

yes it is

NO IT IS NOT

yes it is

NO STEVEN IT IS NOT

yes it is

NO STEVEN MARS IS NOT THE LARGEST PLANET GEEZ!

yes it is

NO IT"S NOT


OMG I thought I was going to jump off the plane. Seriously...volume 52 the entire way.
Then she decides to use Stevens etch a sketch to send notes to her husband who was sitting on the row in front of them.
She had definitely mastered the skill of perfect etch a sketch handwriting. But her poor husband had not. This frustrated poor "Stevens mommy" and she decides to try and teach him from her back row (volume 52)
Look Honey you just turn this and then turn this...........

Then I heard the pilot, "Excuse me ladies and gentleman, we are arriving in San Francisco in approx 20 minutes.

WOW...that 5 1/2 hours flew by watching pre-school hour with "STEVENS MOMMY"

We stepped off the plane over to the next gate to get right back on the other plane heading for Hawaii.
AND YES....There is a GOD!
STEVEN and his mommy stayed in San Francisco.

Here we are as we descended into Hawaii, it was heaven.

The Don'ts are hysterical

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ADJECTIVE & A VERB

There are those people who can walk and chew gum at the same time. Pretty sure I can do that but obviously moving and blogging are quite the challenge. 

This is probably the most prepared we have ever been. 

The windows were cleaned.

The carpets were cleaned.

The housekeeper has cleaned. 

The flower beds were cleaned up and had some mulch thrown on for a cleaner look. 

We have purged as much furniture and storage then ever before. 

Our realtor came by to take some photos so we could list. I must have heard her say a thousand times how organized I was. Everything in your home has a place. You are so ORGANIZED!!!

I chuckled out loud because two words I've never heard spoken together would have to be my name and organized. Those of you who know me personally would agree. 

When my 16 year old arrived home from school, I shared this little story with him. Knowing full well he would have a field day with it. But to my surprise his response was, "Mommy, your not an adjective, your a verb.

Okay...that was just a bit too much for me to process.

 "Come again, what does that even mean?"

He said, "Your not an organized person, but your really good at organizing things."

Well, I must say...I CAN pack a car. 

How insightful of my 16 year old to "know" that about me. I just love him.

Speaking of packing a car....has anyone seen that new game for kids by Cranium?

The whole idea is to set the timer and then pack the back of the car before everything comes flying out! This I would have dominated. Instead I had Monopoly with two brothers who broke my bank every single time. Obviously if "Cranium" created this game....it must take some "brain power" to win.....right?

What's in a name?

Recently, I was asked how I came up with the name Movin' Mom.
If you read my Bio, you would understand. We move a lot.

I have tried numerous times to come up with something creative as a replacement. But to no avail, I remain Movin' Mom.
Then I realized, if I am going to continue to move every two to four years I am may as well keep it.

Then the unexpected occured. Something that noone could have imagined.




The phone rang... It was time! Time to make another move. Although this has to be a record. We have only been living here 15 months. The average moves are normally 2-4 years but 4 is our normal. We have only had one stay in Illinois that lasted 2 years.

SO AS THE STORY CONTINUES, MOVIN' MOM IS MOVING TO MICHIGAN!



Here's the plus, Movin' Dad and I have both decided that we are done!

NO MORE MOVES! THIS IS IT!

Over the Thanksgiving holidays, we will be traveling to our 'ol stompin grounds in search of the perfect home.

Not just any 'ol perfect home, "OUR PERFECT HOME."

We have never purchased a home with the thought that we would grow old in this home. We have always had to prioritize our needs based on resale of that home.

This time will be different.

This could very well be the home that I become a mother of not only a graduate but 4 graduates.
A home where I may become a mother in law, a grandmother, and so much more.

A home where if I want to paint the walls black....I can.
A home where we can actually bury a time capsule in the back yard and know that one day in the future we will dig it back up.
A home where I can have mailing labels and stationary pre printed in bulk if I want.
It will also be the last time that our close friends and families will have to scratch out our address in their address book.

A home where we can say....WE'RE HERE TO STAY!



MY HOME!!! MY HOME!!! MY HOME!!!

I mean.....OUR HOME!

*sidenote~ I wouldn't really paint the walls black....but I could if I wanted to.

Vino or Cerveza?

One might think that alcohol content is commen sense.
In fact, my guess is wine would seem to have a higher content.
But according to my son, in high school health class they are taught that it is the same.
One glass of wine = One bottle of beer
In the continuation of my alcohol detection home testing project! (it all sounds so official)
And to bring those of you who do not want to have to back track up to date on my last post.
I registered a .03 after drinking two beers. Last night I had 2 glasses of wine, 30 minutes later
I blew into the "ALCOHAWK" and it registered .08 I was legally drunk.



I informed Movin' Dad that this was such an awareness project for me. I can see now how when I meet my girlfriends
out for a drink I am going to have to stick with a brew as opposed to the vino. Well at least if I'm driving.

I guess not knowing in the past is a bit of a denial. Kind of like not looking in my checkbook and just assuming there is still money in there ;)

Now I know and now I must be an adult!

"Could I get a couple of Coronas with a lime over here ma'am?" said the girl who was driving.

ALCOHOL DETECTION

Let me preface this by saying that I know this happens everywhere, and I know that no matter where we live teenagers are going to experiment. But that being said I also want to make my case in numbers.

I think that bored teenagers tend to experiment more than busy ones.
Living in a small town has it's ups and downs. There is not as much to do here as there is in....let's just say the Chicago area. I also believe that every school, big town or small has it's different groups of kids. You will always have your jocks, preps, partiers etc. But chances are when you are in a big town, the numbers help you tremendously. You have many more choices in who you can hang out with. Many more choices in where you are going to go.

I have found that here in a small town, all the kids tend to end up at the same parties, at the same houses & in the same cars.

Not too long ago, a few kids were caught here drinking & driving. These were friends of my 9th grader. No, my son was not with them, in fact he did all I would hope and pray for, he called me and I picked him up. He was at a party with all of these kids and the actual drinking occured at an after party. But these were his close friends. Their not bad kids, give or take a kid or two, just good kids who made a really bad decision.

As proud as we were of our son, we knew we needed to take some protective measures. We knew that like a cold virus, once someone sneezes it spreads like a wildfire amongst pre-schoolers. The same happens in teens whose friends start to try things out. It is rare that you will find a teenager who will drink alone. They will pressure someone into doing it with them. I am not THAT mother who would tell my kids they have to drop THAT friend. In fact, Movin Dad and I both know that just because these kids got "caught" doesn't mean they aren't going to go for it again.

We still remember what it was like to be a teenager. I know that the pressure will remain to drink. We can only offer hope, guidance, & prayer that he will continue to get out of the situation. Along with my other 3 kids. After all my eldest is a driver now and my freshman starts drivers ed this year. Their athletics are very important to them which I know was a part of his reasoning.

However a little mental insurance was needed on our part to plant a seed in the back of their head. We went out and purchased an electronic breathalizer test to have on hand. We also are getting a few drug tests from the police station to keep in the medicine cabinet.

We're not suspicious right now,however we both feel like it is definetly an "out" for them with their friends. In fact, I was fully anticipating an argument from both teen boys. I thought we would hear, "Don't you trust us?" But instead they both said, "Now when someone asks us, we can just say ~NO WAY our mom tests us on a regular basis!"

I am not here to hinder their "COOL FACTOR" I am here to help guide them to make the right decisions. My freshman and his best friend have a code. If they arrive at a party where there is alcohol their going to call me and say, "Duuuuuude, there is ONE CRAZY UGLY CHICK here!"
That's my cue to get there quick! They also have picked intersections for
me to pick them up at, because again...I am not here to hinder their coolness. If this is what they need to do for high school survival then I support them whole heartedly.

So the whole point of this post was to share with you my breathalizer experience. Movin Dad and I were just waiting to have a drink so we could test it out. How many drinks does it take to get to the center of a lollipop? I mean ...how many drinks can we have before we are heading to jail for drinking and driving?

So I went first. One beer each. As soon as I finished it, I blew into the detector and it said .09! WTF~ I can only drink one beer? Wait I cannot even drink one beer because
.08 is the legal drunk level. So I read the booklet and it says you have to wait 20 minutes after you drink. So 20 minutes later........ .02~ Much better!!! Then Movin Dad steps up to the plate......I am not kidding you after one beer and a 20 minute wait it registers at .00! WTF? SO we drink another one. I wait 20 minutes. It gives me a .03. Then I run upstairs to check Movin' Dad and he had fallen asleep. So obviously the guy cannot handle his beer! :) Well it was 11 pm to be fair.

Anyway, I hope I never have to use it on our kids, or anyone elses for that matter. But we're not taking any chances! It was a great investment.

* Note to self~ (future post) Why is it that a man and a woman can both go on the same diet and the man loses weight quicker and loses more weight than the woman.
Why is it that the man can drink a beer and the test shows NOTHING and the woman
drinks and registers every drop?

The results are in....Right this way....into room B

My results finally arrived and the the letter said I was Breast Cancer Free.

Let me just give you a glance at a moment in my morning.
Typically I wake up just in time to drive children to school. I roll out of bed, blindly head to the coffee maker and pour myself a cup. I search for the keys and my purse. I have every intention (in my mind) if heading back to bed when I return. But 9 times out of 10 I am wide awake upon return.

Now on the day of my mammogram, I seemed to have rocked everyones morning. I woke up, stumbled down the stairs to get a cup of coffee, all the while wondering, "Can I drink coffee?" Of course I can, but I was half asleep, and hospital/tests made me think twice.

The minute I walked into the kitchen the looks could have stopped traffic.

My eldest was making eggs, my daughter was making a PB&J, my youngest was in the living room reading.
It was almost in unison...."Where are you going?" "Why are you so dressed up?"

(jogging suit & combed hair)

"I am going to get a mammogram!" I said.

They asked, "What's a mammogram?"

I answer with, " It's when I have to stick my boobies between these two plastic plates and then the nurse squishes them down and takes a picture!"

You could have heard a pin drop!

Then my eldest said in his ever so monotone voice, "Thanks...I really needed to hear that this morning!"

REMINDER! My youngest has been in the living room reading this entire time!!

So the day goes on.....I have my test....and then I go home....& take a nap!!!

When I pick up my youngest after school, it goes a little bit like this........

Hi Mommy, I threw a touchdown pass today on the playground oh and you know what tristan said today he said that maybe we could hangout on thursday oh my gosh mommy lunch was soo good today I only have reading and math facts to do for homework OH....So....Do you have breast cancer?

You could have heard a pin drop!

Who even knew he was listening.

...and if I may add....the only one of the 4 kids who even asked. I, of course told him that I did not know yet but that I hoped I did not and he replied with, "Me either mommy"

The day I found out I was breast cancer free, I let him read the letter and he said, " Good to know"

(He seemed so relieved)

What's in a name?

I'M A NOUN?

Sonia --

[noun]: An immortal

'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com

A little humor while we wait in the waiting room

Still no results but my 15 year old showed this to me today and said it reminded him of me.

I tend to move furniture around about twice a week.

It's a sickness I know......but even this made me laugh.