12 Days of Christmas Tax Dollars

My BIL sent me this e-mail link: http://www.cdc.gov/women/owh/holiday/12waysSong.htm

I decided to go to the CDC website to make certain that this is a valid CDC link. Guess what! It is! I am so happy to know that all those hard-earned tax dollars are going to employees of the CDC so they can spend their time creating lyrics to the tune of The Twelve Days of Christmas. Before I heard this song I had no idea that in order to stay healthy I should wash my hands, bundle up for warmth, manage stress, not drink and drive, stay smoke free, fasten seat belts while driving, get exams and screenings, get my vaccinations, monitor the children, practice fire safety, prepare dinner safely, and eat well and get moving.

Up until I heard the lyrics to this song, I had been

1. running around with grimy hands all day
2. not wearing a coat in cold weather
3. letting stress run my life (okay, maybe this one is true, but you try dealing with two sick kids, a kid with Asperger's Disorder, and no sleep and try to manage stress!)
4. knocking back a bottle of wine and getting behind the wheel
5. smoking 4 packs a day
6. driving at break-neck speeds without a seat belt
7. not going to my doctors for annual exams
8. stabbing myself with rusty nails secure in the knowledge that I haven't recently gotten a tetanus shot, nothing like lockjaw
9. not watching what the children are doing (Go ahead, Honey, play with those matches, I won't watch what your doing!)
10. burning fires in the middle of the living room without benefit of using the fireplace (See number 9)
11. cross contaminating the food as I prepare it by putting vegetables and meat on the same cutting board, and
12. sitting in front of the t.v. eating potato chips for dinner!

Thank you federal government for spending our tax dollars in such a wise and constructive way! Without you there to tell us the patently obvious, what ever would we do?!

28 More Shopping Days Until Christmas and 2/3 of the Kids Are Sick

I'm definitely doing most of my Christmas shopping via the Internet this year. S. D. and Little G. are both on antibiotics for ear infections, and now they are both coming down with colds on top of the ear thing. Another reason for not going out in public to shop is that the baby has now developed a new and interesting skill; he's able to throw up his sinus drainage all down my back without getting a speck on him. I'm on my fourth shirt today. Since I can't constantly change clothes while I'm out, I'm just staying home and ordering in so to speak. I am choosing to look on the bright side of this new skill; since he gets it all over me and not him, I don't have to dry his tender, young skin out with multiple baths per day. ;-)

As I've been watching the t.v. coverage of all the Christmas shoppers out there trying to get the best deal, I've become thoroughly disgusted. Don't get me wrong, I'm not becoming the Grinch; I think it's quite the opposite. I think as we rush around trying to buy something for everyone, we lose sight of what it is we're celebrating. I'm looking forward to spending time with my extended family on both sides, searching for the perfect tree, decorating the house with the husband and kids, playing my Trans Siberian Orchestra cd's until the kids beg me to play something else (Mommy loves Christmas music that ROCKS), and staying up late on Christmas Eve trying to get everything done at the last minute. However, I'm not looking forward to nasty, rude people pushing and shoving trying to get the last electronic gizmo that's all the rage this year.

I think we'll simplify the gift giving in the immediate family this year, trying to put careful thought into the presents for Dad and the kids. If I were a talented, creative, craft oriented person, I'd make extra special gifts from the heart for the rest of my family and friends. Since I'm none of those things, I hope that as you open your gift card or Harry and David gift basket, that you realize the good intention was there. ;-)

Merry Christmas!

The Christmas Quest

Only 44 more shopping days until Christmas!

With all the toy recalls from China because of excess levels of lead and other wonderful poisons, I'm doing my best to find good, quality toys made right here in the good, ole U.S.A.

I've been able to find stuff for my 12 and 4 year olds on the web that are appropriate, but the baby is another story. Other than wooden blocks, a couple of styles of wooden rattles, and a wooden stacking toy, I just can't find baby toys appropriate for an 8 month old (that's how old he'll be come Christmas) that aren't made in China.

Even websites that say their toys are made in the U.S. or Europe have some toys made in China. They put disclaimers up like, "Made in China under the close supervision of put company name here." Like that's supposed to make me feel all warm, fuzzy, and safe about the toy.

As I find websites or stores that are featuring safe, American, lead-free toys, I'll post their links on my blog.

Wish me luck on my Christmas Quest!