The Blog that you are Looking for...

I've decided not to keep up on hundred or so blogs (I'm exaggerating, of course) and consolidated them all to two blogs: mometek.blogspot.com and This Boring Life.

Just in case anyone is interested.

Kids and Videos

Look at what Viacom Owns: http://www.cjr.org/resources/index.php?c=viacom

Now, Viacom has been a problem for a while - suing companies when they can't get paid more than they're worth. I remember when Dish complained that Viacom wanted so much more money, that they would have to raise rates - but refused the offer. As a result, all of Viacom's channels were not on for a couple of days. This is the first time I realized how greedy they were.

Recently, Viacom didn't like YouTube's deal (probably the same offer they gave other networks) because it wasn't good enough. Fortunately, Google took over and is fighting Viacom all the way! http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/google-answers-viacom-youtube-appeal-173922 I don’t understand these people. Don’t they realize that if someone puts only part of a show, that someone might actually go onto the Viacom website to see if they can watch more of it?

In the meantime, I've been avoiding them when I can. Unfortunately, my son like Nick jr, but I have been directing him to Disney, PBS, and other children’s websites. There’s quite a few that are not tied to any company (roblox,  boowa and kwala – owned by uptoten.com, to name a few).

That said, it’s not just Viacom (they’re the worse), but many other companies are suing other companies, just to hold the other companies back: http://bit.ly/gaJG0B or try to get the control over the market (and people). It’s annoying, especially since I do not like to be controlled.

I’m working to phase out these Cable Companies altogether – except Comcast, which happens to be my cable provider. But a lot of these companies are resisting adapting to the public and still think they can make the public adapt to them – forgetting that the internet has leveled the playing field.

Remember the dinosaurs?

Murphy’s Law Is Fully Enforced

Image by Caro Wallis via Flickr

Every year it’s the same. I want to get started on my yearly goals, but just about everything goes wrong. So much so, that it’s pretty comical. It’s a good thing that I have a sense of humor.

Back to Monday, January 3rd – the first Monday of the year – the day that I usually get started on my goals.  After a weekend of splurging to which I was absolutely sure that I have gained a few pounds from, it was time to start to work on my health again.

Working on my health would include: getting enough sleep, exercising and eating right.  I figured I would at least get into one of these habits this week and work on another later.  Sometimes doing it all at once can be overwhelming.

What happens starting just minutes after Midnight of January 3rd? One of my kids wakes me up staying that she had a nightmare. The strange thing is that it’s my oldest daughter – who never has had sleep problems before.

After a few minutes of comforting, I go back to sleep, only to be woken up again at 2:30, by the sound of Schnook howling. I got up to take her outside, got the leash on her, only to have Princess, the hyperactive mutt, tangling in the leash, which causes Schnook to go into a full blown panic.

I manage to get them untangled and brought Schnook out the front door, only to close the door on the folded rug. The door didn’t close completely, but I thought that the crack was inconsequential compared to cleaning poo off the floor.  The problem is that I was so tired, that even the cold air didn’t wake me up enough.  So by the time I reached the door, I had forgotten the rug and pushed the door, effectively wedging the rug between the door and making the door immovable.

It’s now about 3:00am. I have a partially opened door in the middle of winter, and the puppy didn’t go outside. It took me about 20 minutes to figure out that all I needed to do was grab the large flat screwdriver and work the rug fold out (hey, my brain was still sleeping, give me a break) but another 10 minutes to get it because I slipped on a puddle of urine that’s supposed to be outside. Fortunately, I was still wearing my shoes and I didn’t actually fall in it.

I cleaned up the mess using the swifter mop and it only took me a few minutes to work the rug loose – possibly because of the adrenalin of almost breaking my neck on puppy pee had woken me up. I went back to bed almost 3:40 and promptly stayed awake.

Oh well, perhaps I can at least attempt to catch up on cleaning, right? I sleep a little late so I’m only a partial zombie and I prep myself to catch up on dishes. Turn on the faucet and…

No water.

Yes, the city water, for some strange reason, was not flowing. No water, no dishes, no clothes, no mopping, and no general cleaning. My sprayer was empty and you can’t mix a cleaning solution without water.

Fortunately, we have some stored water in 2 1/2 containers for flushing and if I really get desparate, for cleaning.

The water came back after noon. So all wasn’t lost, but getting organized was also put off for another week.

By the time I got some of the major cleaning done, thanks to many other minor interruptions, it was 10:00pm.I didn’t get to exercise. But I decided that it wasn’t going to deter me. I turn on the Wii and completed a half hour of exercises and games.

Fast forward to today, I manage to catch up with dishes, but only after buying some paperware. I did record some video yesterday and monday, and I manage to exercise at least for two days.  I decided to take a break today to recover from the soreness of the last two days and resume exercising tomorrow.

Well, that’s how my year usually starts out. Don’t know why, but it usually doesn’t discourage me. As a matter of fact, it makes great material for a blog. So maybe starting out on the “wrong” foot is actually the right foot.

Name that Dog

With five kids and a dog, watching my niece for more than a week at a time, trying to launch a community website, and getting ready for the Christmas chaos, you would think I couldn’t make it get crazier.

Well, I’m out to prove you wrong.  As I’m typing this, my husband and I are on our way home from my cousin’s house in CT – with a new puppy.

But not just any puppy – another dog slated to be a big dog.  Not just any big dog, try Mastiff/Newfoundland big.

Have I ever told you that I have an affinity to large dogs?

Actually I want to make sure that if someone breaks into the house while I’m home, they won’t stand a chance and drown in dog slobber. Then I won’t have to get a weapon. Just a mop.

Princess, our other dog, still doesn’t know what to make of the tiny, whimpering ball of fur.  On our way home, princess decided to sleep on the back seat, since the oldest four kids are at my mother’s house – away from the sleeping puppy on the floor board.

Now, though, we have a serious problem. I have no idea what to call her, other than “Hey You!” and “Mutt”. So, for the next 24 hours, I’m going to ask for some suggestions.

So either respond to my twitter post, comment on this blog post, or comment via Facebook.

Maybe “FiFi?

Looking at the Next Work At Home Mom

So much for taxes and health care cost NOT going up.  Now Mike is bringing less home and we are not going to be able to spend too much this year.

It's not that I'm complaining, but it does give me more of an incentive to try to make some extra cash and maybe pay off debt a little faster.  Now that Benjamin is out of diapers, it has been easier to work on some website projects like this one: http://www.wahmbuzz.com.

I'm hoping to get a few people on there to test the site and to start to interact with it before it's officially launched.  I also have a few more features to add to it.

This is just a start for my enterprise.  As soon as I'm done with working on WAHMBuzz, I will start posting onto my MOMETEK blog again - another blog that has been neglected.

Interesting Story

Okay, you know I'm not much for viral emails, but this one was worth posting on my blog.  While someone should check snopes, it's still a funny story.  According to the previous poster, she had received it in her email.

'Let me explain the problem science has with religion..'

said the atheist professor of philosophy. He pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand. 

'You're a Christian, aren't you, son?' 

'Yes sir,' the student says. 

'So you believe in God?' 

'Absolutely. ' 

'Is God good?' 

'Sure! God's good.' 

'Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?' 

'Yes' 

'Are you good or evil?' 

'The Bible says I'm evil.' 

The professor grins knowingly. 'Aha! The Bible! He considers for a moment. 'Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?' 

'Yes sir, I would.' 

'So you're good...!' 

'I wouldn't say that.' 

'But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't.' 

The student does not answer, so the professor continues. 'He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Can you answer that one?' 

The student remains silent. 'No, you can't, can you?' the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax. 'Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?' 

'Er..yes,' the student says. 

'Is Satan good?' 

The student doesn't hesitate on this one. 'No.' 

'Then where does Satan come from?' 

The student falters. 'From God' 

'That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?' 

'Yes, sir..' 

'Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?' 

'Yes' 

'So who created evil?' The professor continued, 'If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.' 

Again, the student has no answer. 'Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?' 

The student squirms on his feet. 'Yes.' 

'So who created them?' 

The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. 'Who created them?' There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized. 'Tell me,' he continues onto another student. 'Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?' 

The student's voice betrays him and cracks. 'Yes, professor, I do.' 

The old man stops pacing. 'Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?' 

'No sir. I've never seen Him.' 

'Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?' 

'No, sir, I have not..' 

'Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?' 

'No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't.' 

'Yet you still believe in him?' 

'Yes' 

'According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist... What do you say to that, son?' 

'Nothing,' the student replies.. 'I only have my faith.' 

'Yes, faith,' the professor repeats. 'And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith.' 

The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of his own. 'Professor, is there such thing as heat? ' 

' Yes. 

'And is there such a thing as cold?' 

'Yes, son, there's cold too.' 

'No sir, there isn't.' 

The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. 

The student begins to explain. 'You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit down to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees. Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.' 

Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer. 

'What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?' 

'Yes,' the professor replies without hesitation.. 'What is night if it isn't darkness?'

'You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?' 

The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. 'So what point are you making, young man?' 

'Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed.' 

The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. 'Flawed? Can you explain how?' 

'You are working on the premise of duality,' the student explains.. 'You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought.' 'It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.' 'Now tell me, professor.. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?' 

'If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do.' 

'Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?' 

The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed. 

'Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?' 

The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided. 'To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean.' The student looks around the room. 'Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?' The class breaks out into laughter. 'Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir.' 'So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?' 

Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable. Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. 'I Guess you'll have to take them on faith.' 

'Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life,' the student continues. 'Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?' Now uncertain, the professor responds, 'Of course, there is. We see it Everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in The multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.' 

To this the student replied, 'Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light.' 

The professor sat down.



The e-mail claimed that Albert Einstein was the second student. I have not personally researched this to find out if it is true or not. If anyone could point me in the direction of a quotable resource verifying this I would appreciate it.

May your day be FILLED with GOD! :)

Feel to link to this post or pass this on.

Migraine Musings

Benjamin had woke me up at 5:30 this morning.  He pulled my arm out and snuggled up close.  He does this most mornings but it was earlier than usual.

I waited before I moved.  So far so good.  Yesterday, I had a terrible migraine.  A real one.  I felt that "twinge" I get just before it hits.  This gives me a few minutes to get myself a coffee and a painkiller before the real pain sets in.  Yesterday, I didn't get that chance.  Everyone was up at the same time (too early) and I couldn't get downstairs in time.  So for more than half of the day, I was pretty much out of commission.

I can't say that this migraine wasn't preventable.  I know how to not have a migraine (mostly): plenty of sleep and stay hydrated by drinking a lot of water.  If both are lacking, then there's that third trigger - which could be almost anything: allergies, stress, chemicals, junk food, excessive heat and humidity. With the exception of allergies, just about all of those happened on my vacation and a few days after.  You know, the days when you finish off the traveling snacks, unpack the baggage, and try to keep the kids from running on the walls from all the sugar that well meaning family members give them while drinking enough water goes on the back burner as you drink a ton of coffee to stave off sleepiness (a.k.a. asking for a migraine).

And to think that the girls had their dentist appointment today - yikes!

Yes, it's my fault that it felt like someone had stabbed me with a searing hot knife in the right side of my head.  And after taking the IB anyway and only sipped on a coffee throughout the day (I find this is the best way to cut back), today I woke up without that "twinge" and manage to get a few things done.

I'm still sleepy, though and I plan on going to bed early tonight.  I always say that, and usually, SOMETHING gets me distracted.  But tonight, I'm sleepy enough to fall asleep in my chair.  Distractions won't be a problem.

Just as soon as I finish posting on Facebook...

Death of a Friend

I heard her pant pretty heavily and turned on the AC.  I checked on Subaka, a brindled mutt we had bought at a rescue in NY.  She was panting but still resting on her bed.  It was quite hot in the room.

As it cooled I heard her pant less.  She has been acting sick the last few days.  Since she was drinking water and going to the bathroom outside, I wasn't as concerned as I should have been.  Mike had mentioned calling the vet if she didn't get better that morning.

The next morning she stood at the top of the stairs.

"Wanna go outside?" I asked.

She looked at me and wagged her tail.  She looked a little perkier this morning.  I was certainly relieved.  Maybe she will get better.  I even had to stop her from running down the stairs.  She had injured herself a few weeks ago and I wanted to make sure that she didn't do it again.

I grabbed her bowl and filled it with water and brought it down the steps with her.  She immediately drank most of the water in the bowl, then laid herself down in her favorite sunning spot.

I quickly put a couple of scoops of canned turkey in her food bowl.  The stuff was a bit pricey, but I thought it might entice her to eat.  I set it next to her head and then headed back up the porch to feed the kids.

While I was finishing up (about a half an hour later), Sarah comes in and says "Subaka is just laying there".
I immediately knew what that meant and I thought, "But she was doing better!".  I ran to the top of the deck stairs and looked down.  She was laying facing away from the steps with her back legs spread out.  Not a positions that she she normally sleeps in.

I ran back inside.

"Mike," I said, "Subaka's gone."

He gave me an odd look.

"You know, gone?"  I didn't want the kids get all riled up just yet, but he still had this odd look on his face. I later found out that he had thought that I meant that she escaped.  She had done this before and Mike was trying how to figure out how she did that in her condition.

"She's dead, Mike," I said, finally.  None of the kids seemed to have heard me except Sarah who was standing right next to me.

Mike followed me to where Subaka was.  I stroked her fur.  She was still warm.  There were just a few flies on her that immediately flew off when I reached down.  I really wished I sat at that bottom step instead of rushing off.

Mike went off to get the wheelbarrow and I went to break the news to the kids.  Michala was the most vocal and the tears started to flow.  Sarah and Nathan were more quiet but the tears flowed nonetheless.  Stephanie was still trying to comprehend the situation.

"Subaka die?" She asked.

"Yes, she died", I responded.

"Oh.  She respawn?" She asked this in reference to Roblox in where if the the character "dies", it respawns on a marked spawn point.

"Maybe in Doggy heaven?" Okay, maybe I shouldn't have told her that, but I wasn't sure what to tell her.  Later, she would explain to me in the best way that a four-year-old could that Subaka is dead and isn't coming back "'cause dogs don't go to heaven, 'cause, they're dogs, 'cause, she not my friend anymore, 'cause, she died, 'cause, I like oranges".  Yeah, we had several conversations like that:  Sad and probably just as confusing as her thoughts were to her.

Mike took Subaka to the back yard and dug a hole.  Four of the kids were watching.  Nathan had decided to play a video game at that point.  He came out later to watch her be buried.

Mike thought that maybe he could also have a symbolic service and gave each of the kids a doggie treat to toss into the grave to "send her on her way".  Everyone tossed the dog biscuit in except Benjamin and Stephanie, who held it and waited for Subaka to come and get it.  That's when I started to cry.

After Mike finished filling the hole with dirt, I went inside.  I was unable to focus so I just walked to the back porch and leaned on the railing.

The back yard looked really empty.

Introduction

What's the best way to start a new blog?  How about an introduction?  I'm a happily married, stay-at-home-mom
(SAHM) of five kids.  We have a dog and like many Americans, I live in a house that we don't exactly own yet, although we pretend to.  We say things like "my house" and "our house" even though it's really the "bank's house".

I'd like to think myself as a computer geek, although I haven't been keeping up on the latest trend as much as I used to.  Not that I'm complaining.  I enjoy my family life, and now that my youngest son entertains himself, I am finding a little more time to do things like read the news and blog.

I've always wanted a large family, but these days it has been quite expensive.  So we decided to take it one baby at a time.  So far, we stopped at five.  I'm not exactly young anymore.  Even if I decide to have another, my health isn't exactly where it should be either.

So why blog?  Well, I've been blogging on and off for years now, but the blog I had, "family life" was pretty much about everything except family life.  I tried to solve the problem buy trying to start many other blogs, only to find it a bit overwhelming.  Then I realize that everything I do is pretty much tied in together.

What SAHM is NOT concerned with their health?  Every SAHM that I know have cute kid stories to tell, recipes to share, and money saving advice to bestow on others.  So, that's what this blog is about.  Everything SAHM - ish.