wjs: Blog

The Connection...

wjs — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:27:03 +0000

I revolt against so many things. I was raised in a small town. The people here are good people, but many are simple minded in a lot of ways. Well... I have a fire inside of me now... and I shouldn't. I should just ignore and focus on what is important to me. But, I saw that there is a new movie coming out about Billy Graham.

I grew up with a bunch of cousins a little north of me. We were all the same age and spent a lot of good times together. But now, they are all born again Christians. They pray for everything, or ask the Lord for a sign. ~~~The stories I have heard. Whew.....

My uncle and aunt are "tight" with Franklin Graham (Billy's son) and his wife.

Maybe I have to heard a little to much big talking. But then again, they are very good and nice to me and my family. Where is the common ground?

I know, I am just rambling. But I haven't had much time to ramble in a while...

So there you go. Much of Nothing.

Do Tell...

wjs — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 23:10:24 +0000

Today a girlfriend and I were having a discussion: To wax or not to wax. Or better yet, to go all the way, or just a little on the sides. She was concerned that her man would think that having no hair "there" would be WEIRD. I told her that I thought men liked it better when it is nice and smooth. So... what is your opinion?

Bikini: Just to remove hair from the bikini lines.

French: This style is like the bikini with a more narrow strip.

Full Brazilian: Takes it ALL OFF.

Brazilian: takes it all off except for a little strip in the front.

So which is better? Which do you prefer?

A Reason to Just Get Away

wjs — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 22:29:00 +0000

i was told today that i needed to write a check for $1000 to a local church that was going under. i disagreed and said that i didn't even go to church, and when i was younger, still, i never attended THAT church. maybe there is a reason that they are going under.

to which i was told this: "i don't care what you agree or disagree with. i told you to write the check."

~~~
JUST BULLSHIT.

sorry... i am just me. i stand up for what i believe in and i refuse to be told what to do by anyone!

i guess it is a good thing that i am open-minded and that i see a brighter future ahead! otherwise i would just implode!

i need to be on an island somewhere... or on a boat...
hummmmmmmmmmm.......
:::daydreaming:::

Breast Cream

wjs — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:23:40 +0000

...Feed your baby breast cream instead of ice cream!

OK. I live very near the headquarters for PETA here in the US. And because of this close proximity, I hear of them in the news often.

This was in the National News and I just found it this morning and had to share. I believe in educating people in the way cows are used for their milk and meat, but to suggest that we put breast milk in ice cream??? Now that is a little much.

Here is a letter that PETA sent to Ben and Jerry's:

September 23, 2008
Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, Cofounders
Ben & Jerry's Homemade Inc.

Dear Mr. Cohen and Mr. Greenfield,On behalf of PETA and our more than 2 million members and supporters, I'd like to bring your attention to an innovative new idea from Switzerland that would bring a unique twist to Ben and Jerry's.

Storchen restaurant is set to unveil a menu that includes soups, stews, and sauces made with at least 75 percent breast milk procured from human donors who are paid in exchange for their milk. If Ben and Jerry's replaced the cow's milk in its ice cream with breast milk, your customers-and cows-would reap the benefits.

Using cow's milk for your ice cream is a hazard to your customer's health. Dairy products have been linked to juvenile diabetes, allergies, constipation, obesity, and prostate and ovarian cancer. The late Dr. Benjamin Spock, America's leading authority on child care, spoke out against feeding cow's milk to children, saying it may play a role in anemia, allergies, and juvenile diabetes and in the long term, will set kids up for obesity and heart disease-America's number one cause of death.

Animals will also benefit from the switch to breast milk. Like all mammals, cows only produce milk during and after pregnancy, so to be able to constantly milk them, cows are forcefully impregnated every nine months. After several years of living in filthy conditions and being forced to produce 10 times more milk than they would naturally, their exhausted bodies are turned into hamburgers or ground up for soup.

And of course, the veal industry could not survive without the dairy industry. Because male calves can't produce milk, dairy farmers take them from their mothers immediately after birth and sell them to veal farms, where they endure 14 to17 weeks of torment chained inside a crate so small that they can't even turn around.

The breast is best! Won't you give cows and their babies a break and our health a boost by switching from cow's milk to breast milk in Ben and Jerry's ice cream? Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Tracy Reiman
Executive Vice President

Here is Ben and Jerry's response:

"We applaud PETA's novel approach to bringing attention to an issue, but we believe a mother's milk is best used for her child," said a spokesperson for Ben and Jerry's.

Maybe Tracy Reiman needs to hook up a breast pump and start making her own ice cream.

Sleep Well

wjs — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:51:41 +0000

Beds 4 Less... FUNNY.

SEXUAL CHEMISTRY

wjs — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 18:15:30 +0000

OK... after talking to a friend about his GREAT new relationship... I had to Google SEXUAL CHEMISTRY... so here you go! Enjoy!

Do Women Believe In Sexual Chemistry?

By Vanessa Burton

Women's Sexuality Correspondent - Every other Tuesday

Men have long been wondering if women believe in sexual chemistry, or if they are the only sex that experiences intense and inexplicable feelings of sexual attraction when the object of their desire is nearby.

Well, gentlemen, let me assure you that this is simply not the case. Sexual chemistry is as real for women as it is for you. We get just as flustered as you do when we are deeply attracted to someone. Our heartbeat steps it up a notch and our body temperature rises a couple of degrees.

Sexual chemistry is not just something that's felt on an unspoken level between two people, even before any type of relationship has started, it is also about how sexually compatible two people are once they're actually having sex. And this aspect of sexual chemistry is very important to most women.

pheromones

But where do these feelings even come from? Recent scientific research has shown that pheromones can play a huge role in sexual chemistry. Pheromones are subconscious sex signals that the body gives off to attract members of the opposite sex. These invisible and odorless airborne molecules are thought to influence one's emotions and sexual behavior.

If one accepts this research as true, then sexual attraction and compatibility can be explained as a chemical reaction between two people who pick up each other's sexual energy more intensely than does anyone else.

women can't do without it

The major difference between how men and women feel about this phenomenon is that men seem to be able to have great sex without such sexual chemistry, while women seemingly cannot.

For instance, men can have female friends that they enjoy having sex with for various reasons besides sexual chemistry; reasons as simple as relieving sexual tension. Chances are that the woman in this equation does feel a certain sexual energy between herself and her partner, or she wouldn't be in bed with him.

it's electric

While men can have such mechanical sex, there is no denying that sex between two people with great chemistry is electric. After all, if the sex is awkward or uncomfortable, then there is obviously no sexual chemistry. On the other hand, if you are effortlessly responding to each other's every sexual desire and whim, perhaps even before the other knows that's what they want, then the sexual chemistry between you is red-hot.

Chemistry such as this is difficult to come by. Both parties must be completely immersed in both each other and the moment. If one of the partners is thinking about someone or something else, the type of sexual chemistry I'm referring to simply cannot exist. Obviously this type of chemistry is not possible with just anybody.

Does chemistry outside the bedroom guarantee chandelier-swinging sex?

in and out

So, how can you tell if the two of you will make a dynamic duo? Hard to tell. Sometimes, even two people that are mentally and emotionally mismatched can make great lovers; other times, the sparks fly between two people everywhere except in the bedroom.

For a great example of the latter, one need look no further than an episode of Sex and the City . Sarah Jessica Parker's character Carrie and Jack (Ron Livingston) clicked everywhere, from the restaurant to the dry cleaners. But the moment they stepped into the bedroom, the spark just fizzled out.

Generally speaking, however, great chemistry outside the bedroom is a good barometer for whether or not those same juices will flow in it. When in doubt, my advice would be that if you "click" on virtually every other level, then you should in the bedroom as well.

don't sweat it

It is also important to keep in mind that everyone has an off-night once in a while. If one of you is tired or has a headache, your sexual chemistry will probably suffer. You shouldn't take this as a sign that you've permanently lost it, but just go with the flow and make up for it the next time you decide to play the "naked roll around."

communication breakdown

However, if you find yourself experiencing less than perfect lovemaking sessions more often than you would like, the worst thing to do is ignore the problem in the hopes that it will just go away. The only way to get the sexual sparks flying again is to communicate your sexual desires and preferences to your partner.

Tell her what you like, and gently discourage things that you don't like, by saying things like: "I prefer it when you..." or "I love how you...". And encourage her to do the same. This is the only way that you will learn how to really please each other in bed.

it's different for women

Another important difference between how women's views on sexual chemistry differ from men's is that most women tend to see it as a necessary thing upon which to build a possible relationship, not merely as the basis for a fantastic night. And this is where the wires get crossed.

A woman is much more likely than a man to associate sexual chemistry with love. This is why many a man's favorite lie to tell a woman is "I love you." They know that this is often all a woman has to hear to give in to her sexual desires.

Many women have caught on, however, and now know better. Women have somehow managed to condition themselves to not even admit to being attracted to a man, unless they feel that he is interested in more than just a sexual thrill. This may be why some men think that they are the only ones feeling any sexual vibes.

But as I have already mentioned, this is simply not the case. Women probably believe in sexual chemistry more than men do. The trick is knowing how to get her to give into the feelings she may be having for you, and keeping these feelings alive many nights from now.

World in my Eyes

wjs — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:37:28 +0000

Let me take you on a trip



Around the world and back



And you won't want have to move



You just sit still



Now let your mind do the walking



And let my body do the talking



Let me show you the world in my eyes



I'll take to the highest mountain



To the depths of the deepest sea



We won't need a map, believe me



Now let my body do the moving



And let my hands do the soothing



Let me show you the world in my eyes



That's all there is



Let me put you on a ship



On a long, long trip



Your lips close to my lips



All the islands in the ocean



All the heavens in the motion



Let me show you the world in my eyes



That's all there is



Nothing more than you can touch now



That's all there is



Let me show you the world in my eyes



-Depeche Mode

AND I FEEL FINE...

wjs — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:10:00 +0000

at least today.

so today they sent one particle in one direction...

...in a few days they send another particle in the opposite direction.

THEN... they will send these particles AT EACH OTHER!

ok... what will this prove that we absolutely HAVE to know to go forward with life? do we really need to know the inner details of the "big bang" theory? or can we just accept that it happened and continue on?

there are more youtube videos and articles out there than i could EVER post. so... look it up. CERN. see what you think. and just be aware that this is going on.

higgs... collider... oh SHIT!

wjs — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 23:53:47 +0000

Big Bang theory put to test in collider

Fears of world's end 'nonsense,' physicist says

Robert Evans, Reuters

Published: Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Scientists involved in a historic Big Bang experiment to begin this week hope it will turn up many surprises about the universe and its origins -- but reject suggestions it will bring the end of the world.

And Robert Aymar, the French physicist who heads the European Centre for Nuclear Research, CERN, predicted that discoveries to emerge from his organization's $9.2 billion project would spark major advances for human society.

"If some of what we expect to find does not turn up, and things we did not foresee do, that will be even more stimulating because it means that we understand less than we thought about nature," said British physicist Brian Cox.

Scientists plan to smash particle beams together on Wednesday inside the Large Hadron Collider to create mini-versions of the primeval Big Bang.

"What I would like to see is the unexpected," said Gerardus t'Hooft of the University of Michigan.

Perhaps, he suggested, the Large Hadron Collider machine at the heart of the experiment "will show us things we didn't know existed."

Once it starts up on Wednesday, scientists plan to smash particle beams together at close to the speed of light inside the tightly-sealed Large Hadron Collider to create multiple mini-versions of the primeval Big Bang.

Cosmologists say the explosion of an object the size of a small coin occurred about 13.7 billion years ago and led to formation of stars, planets -- and eventually to life on earth.

A key aim of the experiment is to find the "Higgs boson," named after Scottish physicist Peter Higgs who in 1964 pointed to such a particle as the force that gave mass to matter and made the universe possible.

But other mysteries of physics and cosmology -- supersymmetry, dark matter and dark energy among them -- are at the focus of experiments in the 27 kilometre circular tunnel deep underneath the Swiss-French border.

The European Centre for Nuclear Research says its key researchers -- and many ordinary staff -- have been inundated by e-mails voicing fears about the experiment.

There have been claims that it will create black holes of intensive gravity sucking in the research centre, Europe itself and perhaps the whole planet, or that it will open the way for beings from another universe to invade through a worm hole in space-time.

But a safety review by scientists here and in the United States and Russia, issued on the weekend, rejected the prospect of such outcomes.

"The LHC will enable us to study in detail what nature is doing all around us," Aymar, who has led CERN for five years, said in response to that review. "The LHC is safe, and any suggestion that it might present a risk is pure fiction."

Cox, from the School of Physics and Astronomy at Britain's Manchester University, was even more trenchant. "I am immensely irritated by the conspiracy theorists who spread this nonsense around," he said.

When the experiment begins soon after 9 a.m. on Wednesday, disaster scenarists will have little to work on.

In the first tests, a particle beam will be shot all the way around the LHC channel in one direction.

If all goes well, collisions might be tried within the coming weeks, but at low intensity. Any bangs at this stage, said one researcher, "will be little ones."

© The Calgary Herald 2008

as a mother...

wjs — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 21:02:29 +0000

i watched this and about cried...
have a heart and just listen.

NO... it is NOT the music most of us here listen to. but, i can respect the talent that this kid was obviously just BORN with! amazing!

please... just watch a little...

YES... I'm From the SOUTH!!!!

wjs — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:01:18 +0000

Call me a Southerner...
Call me crazy....
But most of all just know...
I'M A REBEL!

Ode to TRIG

wjs — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:17:35 +0000

Forget MySpace, Facebook, etc...

I Honestly Love TRIG!

Got to love XM Radio! While skipping through the channels today I heard this song and then... it happened! ...

... I had a Jerry Maguire *moment*!

Just a Blog

wjs — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 16:21:36 +0000

Nothing too interesting or funny. Just a blog.

So yesterday I arranged for a babysitter to have a night out. Lord knows I need one! So I had a few hours and the family asked me to go out for a boat "ride". So, knowing this typically means just a short excursion behind the house, I said yes.

Next thing I know we are going further and further away from home. WTF??? So I ask... "I thought this was going to be a little boat "ride." Where are we going?" To my dismay we are on our way out to the harbor to go FREAKING FISHING! OK. Then I was stranded... on a boat... with three kids... and an obnoxious ass... without a drink... and NO WHERE near close enough to shore to make a swim for it! Geeeeezzzzz.

Well, you know me. I had my camera to take pix of the kids playing in the water, so here is my take on this boat "ride" / freaking fishing trip, in pix.

Well... once we got to the bridge-tunnel and anchored up for some thrilling and amazing fishing time, a tug came out right beside us. Very cool for a 3 year old to see a tug. Especially since he was BORED AS HELL with this whole fishing thing. And not to mention his Shrek fishing rode with the Donkey hook wasn't catching too much.

So here are the kids. Looks like they are having a blast doesn't it? Why would you want to go tubing and wake-boarding if you could sit anchored and fish!?! I bet they were wishing they had a drink as well!

I watched as the tug went out towards an incoming ship. Now this was rather interesting. As you can see there is a tug pushing alongside this ship, and there was another on the other side. The tug that had come full speed past us just stopped there and waited.

Now once the ship had gone past the larger tug then the tug steamed behind and around to start pushing from the other side. This is all taking place above the tunnel. What I found out that I didn't realize before was that the ships can't make these turns, so the tugs basically steer and push the ship into place. It actually went to the docks to the right of us and the tugs turned the ship around to back it into place.
Now granted... I am interested to see what is going on, but still not very happy as I see the time slipping away and the chances of my night out with it. But then along came a Virginia Harbor Pilot boat! Yes. That is the organization that my brother is now in and this is one of their fleet of boats that transports the pilots to and from ships. I call him and he is not aboard this one, but knew where it was going and let me know if we sat and watched a bit longer that an aircraft carrier was about to come in to Norfolk. And yes, we saw it... but it was too far away to get in pix... Not to mention that I am sure that the US Government probably would not have liked me taking pix.

Here is the final pic of the day. The Pilot boat headed toward the docks (probably to pick up the HP on board the ship.) If you were to see these at full size you would see the Harbor Pilot flag flying over the bridge of the ship.

Now you see that boat between us??? YES... THEY WERE ACTUALLY CATCHING FISH!!! WHILE ALL WE GOT WAS MORE AND MORE GRUMPY!!!!!!

Well, we made it back home by dark and thankfully a friend called for us to come over for dinner. It is a good thing. I got to spend the evening with great company and wasn't stuck at home. But don't think I am not going to try again for tonite! Hopefully the opportunity is still there for me to have some free time.

And Never Regret

wjs — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 17:09:07 +0000

This just arrived to me in an email from AbSham. Great words of wisdom from Trig's High Priestess!

Life is short!
Break the rules!
Forgive quickly!
Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably..
And never regret anything that made you smile.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

wjs — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:58:23 +0000

HOW TO POOP AT WORK (and elsewhere)

We've all been there but don't like to admit it. We've all kicked back in our cubicles and suddenly felt something brewing down below. As much as we try to convince ourselves otherwise, the WORK POOP is inevitable.

For those who hate pooping at work,the following is the Survival Guide for taking a dump at work.

*CROP DUSTING*
When farting, you walk really fast around the office so the smell is not in your area and everyone else gets a whiff, but doesn't know where it came from. Be careful when you do this. Do not stop until the full fart has been expelled. Walk an extra 30 feet to make sure the smell has left your pants.

*FLY BY*
The act of scouting out a bathroom before pooping. Walk in and check for other poopers. If there are others in the bathroom, leave and come back again. Be careful not to become a FREQUENT FLYER. People may become suspicious if they catch you constantly going into the bathroom.

*ESCAPEE*
A fart that slips out while taking a pee or forcing a poop in a stall. This is usually accompanied by a sudden wave of embarrassment. If you release an escapee, do not acknowledge it. Pretend it did not happen. If you are a man and are standing next to the farter in the urinal, pretend you did not hear it. No one likes an escapee. It is uncomfortable for all involved. Making a joke or laughing makes both parties feel uneasy.

*JAILBREAK*
When forcing a poop, several farts slip out at a machine gun pace. This is usually a side effect of diarrhea or a hangover. If this should happen, do not panic. Remain in the stall until everyone has left the bathroom to spare everyone the awkwardness of what just occurred.

*COURTESY FLUSH*
The act of flushing the toilet the inst ant the poop hits the water. This reduces the amount of air time the poop has to stink up the bathroom. This can help you avoid being caught doing the WALK OF SHAME.

*WALK OF SHAME*
Walking from the stall, to the sink, to the door after you have just stunk up the bathroom. This can be a very uncomfortable moment if someone walks in and busts you. As with farts, it is best to pretend that the smell does not exist. Can be avoided with the use of the COURTESY FLUSH.

*OUT OF THE CLOSET POOPER*
A colleague who poops at work and is doggone proud of it. You will often see an Out Of The Closet Pooper enter the bathroom with a newspaper or magazine under their arm. Always look around the office for the Out Of The Closet Pooper before entering the bathroom.

*THE POOPING FRIENDS NETWORK (P.F.N)*
A group of co-workers who band together to ensure emergency pooping goes off without incident. This group can help you to monitor the whereabouts of Out Of The Closet Poopers, and identify SAFE HAVENS.

*SAFE HAVENS* A seldom used bathroom somewhere in the building
where you can least expect visitors. Try floors that are predominantly of the
opposite sex. This will reduce the odds of a pooper of your sex entering the bathroom.

*TURD BURGLAR*
Someone who does not realize that you are in the stall and tries to force the door open. This is one of the most shocking and vulnerabl e moments that can occur when taking a poop at work. If this occurs, remain in the stall until the Turd Burglar leaves. This way you will avoid all uncomfortable eye contact.

*CAMO-COUGH*
A phony cough that alerts all new entrants into the bathroom that you are in a stall. This can be used to cover-up a WATERMELON, or to alert potential Turd Burglars. Very effective when used in conjunction
with a SHIRLEY TEMPLE.

*SHIRLEY TEMPLE*
A subtle toe-tapping that is used to alert potential Turd Burglars that you are occupying a stall. This will remove all doubt that the stall is occupied. If you hear a Shirley Temper, leave the bathroom immediately so the pooper can poop in peace.

*WATERMELON*
A poop that creates a loud splash when hitting the toilet water. This is also an embarrassing incident.If you feel a WATERMELON coming on, create a diversion. See camo-cough.

*HAVANA-OMELET*
A case of diarrhea that creates a series of loud splashes in the toilet water. Often accompanied by an Escapee. Try using a CAMO-COUGH
with a SHIRLEY TEMPLE.

*AUNT BETTY*
A bathroom user who seems to linger around forever...Could spend
extended lengths of time in front of the mirror or sitting on the pot. An AUNT BETTY makes it difficult to relax while on the crapper, as you should always wait to poop when the bathroom is empty. This benefits you as well as the other bathroom attendees.

*SOME OTHER VARIETIES OF POOP OR WHICH YOU SHOULD BE AWARE"

The King Poop: This kind is the kind of poop that killed Elvis. It doesn't come until you're all sweaty, trembling and purple from straining so hard.

Bali Belly Poop: You poop so much you lose 5 lbs.

Cement Block: You wish you'd gotten a spinal block before you
pooped.

Cork Poop (a/k/a Floater Poop): Even after the third flush, it's still floating in there. How do I get rid of it? This poop usually happens at someone else's house.

The Bungee Poop: The kind of poop that just hangs off your rear
before it falls into the water.

The Crippler: The kind of poop where you have to sit on the toilet so long your legs go numb from the waist down.

The Chitty Chitty Bang Bang:
The kind of poop that hits you when you're trapped in your car in a traffic jam.

The Party Pooper: The giant poop you take at a party. And when you flush the toilet, you watch in horror as the water starts to rise.

Champagne Jelly

wjs — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 04:39:30 +0000

Tonite my kids had some friends over.

Actually we have "that" house; the one that always has people coming in and out. Well, tonight a little girl was here who had never been here before.

I was cooking dinner and she offered to help. So as we were there working in the kitchen she asked me if I had ever tried Champagne Jelly. I told her "no" that I hadn't.

This sweet little 11 year old then let me know that it was made of "alcohol" and that when it was made that the "bad stuff" went away and it made it ok for her to eat.

So I asked her, "Did you like it?"

And her response was, "Well, it tasted pretty good. But I only like to suck on it. I really don't like to swallow."

I guess her parents would be happy.

Sweet Brother

wjs — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 03:12:26 +0000

Got to Love him!

here are pix of a ship waiting to get into harbor. the maryland and virginia pilot houses which are both located side by side at the entrance to the chesapeake bay, a few of the property where my brother is living... then my brother and another friend... both pilots in training.

The Screaming in my Head

wjs — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:30:11 +0000

Now I've been to a few concerts over the years. Well, I guess I have been to a lot. I have been to large venues and small. I have been from everything from 80's Pop to Metal. And do I dare admit a country concert or two? OK, well then just forget that last thing I wrote.

Last night was a defining moment for me as a mother.

When I was 8 months pregnant with my daughter I went to see REM. They had always been one of my favorites and even as huge as I was, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to go. You would think some of that would have sunk in to this baby about to be born. But no. When she was 9 she asked to go to her first concert. Toby Keith. Dear Lord. So I paid lots of $$$ and got a limo and good seats to give her something that she would enjoy and remember. (Although it was hell with a bunch of VERY drunk country men all around downing "tall - boys" and throwing up on the floor. Gee what a great time.)

Well another 4 years have passed and she finally inquired about another concert. God Help Me. YES. I took her to see the Jonas Brothers!

I can honestly say one thing. Of all of the concerts I have attended over the years this would have to qualify as the most insane. TRULY.

Once the music started girls were running from everywhere. I thought I would be trampled by a crowd of screaming tweens. They were delirious and screaming over NOTHING. It didn't matter what they saw... they screamed over it all! And the screaming didn't stop for 4 HOURS. So, I just grinned and bared it and basically sent tons of texts to all my friends that I thought would care how terribly miserable I was. Most of which read, "I am in jonas brothers HELL!"

This morning I woke up with my head pounding... not from a drink too many, but from all the screaming girls echoing in my head. Will this sound ever escape from my memory? I doubt it. When I woke up I had to run some errands and put the radio on the local rock station. Two guys that talk a lot in the morning, but typically of things not suitable for children. But this morning it was different. Both of the guys had been to the concert also because they are fathers of teenage girls. Both said it was the LOUDEST concert they had ever been to. And I agree with them. They NEVER stopped screaming!

But, as a mother I am so happy. I gave my daughter an experience that she will remember forever. A defining moment for her as well.

I still couldn't tell you any of their names or a song that they sing.

My Brother ~ Pilot in Training

wjs — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:26:02 +0000

HE MADE IT! After a lot of hard work my brother made it into the Virginia Harbor Pilot's Association training program. It is now years of tests, hard work, and on the job training before he can actually join. But to be accepted into the program is just incredible. Way to go little brother! Below is a detail of what he is getting into...

Maritime pilot

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Signal flag H(hotel) - Pilot on Board

Columbia River Bar Pilot Boat CHINOOK

Columbia River Bar Pilots' helicopter

A pilot is a mariner who guides ships through dangerous or congested waters, such as harbours or river mouths. Legally the master remains in command of the ship. The pilot is a senior adviser only. It is one of the oldest, least known professions and yet one of the most important in terms of maritime safety. The economic and environmental risk from today's large cargo ships makes the role of the pilot essential.

Duties involved

Their size and mass makes large ships very difficult to manoeuver; the stopping distance of a supertanker is typically measured in miles (kilometres) and even a slight error in judgment can cause millions of dollars in damage. For this reason, many years of experience in an operating area are required to qualify as a pilot.

Boarding is tricky, as both vessels are moving and cannot afford to slow down.

By far the most challenging part of any ship's voyage is the passage through the narrow waterways that lead to port and the final docking of the ship. The pilot brings to the ship expertise in handling large vessels in confined waterways and expert local knowledge of the port. In addition to bringing local maritime expertise on board, the pilot also relieves the captain from the economic pressures that can compromise safety. Instead of being part of the ship's crew, pilots are employed locally and therefore act on behalf of the public rather than of the shipowners.

Normally the pilot joins an incoming ship at sea via helicopter or pilot boat and climbs a swaying Jacob's ladder sometimes up 40 feet (~12 metres) to the deck of the largest container and tanker ships. With outgoing vessels, a pilot boat returns the pilot to land after the ship has successfully negotiated coastal waters.

Pilots specifically use pilotage techniques relying on nearby visual reference points and local knowledge of tides, swells, currents, depths and shoals that might not be readily identifiable on nautical charts without first hand experience in the waters in question.

Beyond the experience and training of regular ship's captains, pilots also receive special, ongoing training to stay on top of their profession. Pilots are required by law in most major sea ports of the world for large ships.

Email from My Son

wjs — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:06:55 +0000

MY HUSBAND WROTE THIS TO MY SON WHO IS AWAY AT BOARDING SCHOOL:

Hey bud, I understand you have switched rooms and are going to again.
What's going on you didn't like your roommate? Your advisor says you
are doing well with the school work and I hope you have figured out a
system that works for you so you can get homework done so we don't
have to deal with that this coming year. Write me back so I know how you
are
doing.

Love
DAD

P.S. everyone at home misses you very much!!!!!!!!

THIS WAS HIS RESPONSE:

its not because i dont like him its just he wanted his friend to move
in and i thought my roomate was annoying sooo i moved to another kids
room but he farts a lot and im moving again

I'm Just Pissed

wjs — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 21:56:22 +0000

Why?
Why do people steal things?
Earn it for yourself or pay for it.
Period.
If you can't afford it, go without and save up.
That is what I do.
That is what my parents' taught me to do.
Be conservative if you must, to save for what you really want.

Today my husband and I woke up early to get to the hospital for him to have a scheduled shoulder surgery. While we were there I found that some of my photography was stolen by a so called "client". (I guess they didn't care about that copyright, the statement on my price list, the stamp on each photo, or... the pure thought of doing what is RIGHT!)

Then... after we returned home from the hospital we found that we had one of our 4-wheelers stolen... the chain was cut and it was just taken without regard for us and the money that it cost at all.

To hell with people who steal.

Bad Luck @ the beach... AGAIN!

wjs — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 23:47:21 +0000

For the second year in a row my son broke his arm while skim-boarding at the beach. We drove over an hour to come back to Virginia to be seen at a hospital here only to find out that they could not handle the break because it was too bad. We were then transported by ambulance to the local children's hospital. It was there that they knocked him out and set the compound fracture. He is now at a boarding school for the summer in a cast that almost completely covers his entire arm. Poor kid.

BTW... He has broken his arm 3 times... each time was at the beach... and each time his father was out of town on business.

AND... one more thing... I told the doctor surgeon who fixed it that I was going to give that skim-board away. His response to me was, "No way. Let him have it again next summer. What are the chances he will do this again?" To which I responded... "Obviously Pretty DAMN GOOD!"

His arm was bent "UP" above the wrist... I thought I would either throw up or faint. Glad I didn't.

On the Roof (AGAIN)...

wjs — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 01:19:59 +0000

MOUNT & DO

wjs — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 21:14:23 +0000

Pfizer Corp. announced today that Viagra will soon be available in liquid form, and will be marketed by Pepsi Cola as a power beverage suitable for use as a mixer. It will now be possible for a man to literally pour himself a stiff one.

Obviously we can no longer call this a soft drink, and it gives new meaning to the names of 'cocktails', 'highballs' and just a good old-fashioned 'stiff drink'.

Pepsi will market the new concoction by the name of: MOUNT & DO.

Thought for the day: There is more money being spent on breast implants and Viagra today than on Alzheimer's research. This means that by 2040, there should be a large elderly population with perky boobs and huge erections and absolutely no recollection of what to do with them.

SURGERY

wjs — Sat, 31 May 2008 20:15:13 +0000

Any other way is the way to go... but here is my story:

i had a decent body and tried to be in shape off and on for the past 20 years...

i had 3 beautiful babies and breastfed them all. i have always tried to do my best.

but, at times, i think all of us can be accused of being vein. my time is now. i will be 40 this year. and i wanted to bring the girls back up where they belonged. the problem was... there wasn't much to bring back because of the pregnancies... so i had to have implants. so now i am bigger than i wanted, but hell... maybe i am just swollen.   maybe i'll be smaller next week.

also... i HATE pain and needles. so i had my face peeled and my eyes (well... i'm not sure what you call what i did to my eyes???) so... that's it..... i NEVER want anything done again. i just wanted to do what i could now instead of when i am 60 and everyone would notice and think or say "what the hell did she do to her body?"....

...am i wrong for trying to fix a few things? am i right? who is the judge? am i vein? yes. i know i want to do what i can to look better. but will i do more... NO!!!   didn't you hear me???? I HATE NEEDLES!!!!!!!

but... god, this blog could go on for pages...

i did what i did and i am almost 40. i was old enough to make the decision. NEVER do this without years of thought. and then, ask yourself again and again.

it is depressing to hurt yourself in order to make yourself better.

ask me if you have any questions... and i can share good and bad pix. hubby helped document it all. it sucked. the real after pictures probably won't come for another month or more.

basically...
thought...
never do anything without thought.
NEVER.

yes. right now i am glad i did. but, i am almost 40.

never do anything without time.... lots of time!

wendy