Yep

Sorry for the lack of posts lately - I seem to be suffering from a small case of blogger burn-out combined with spring fever. It's only temporary, I'm sure.

I just saw a man having a very animated conversation with a brick retaining wall.

Ana Lucia (Michelle Rodriguez), it seems, really is a "bad ass". She is currently in jail in Hawaii due to a recent drunk driving conviction there while filming Lost. She chose the jail time over community service. She was previously ticketed for going 90 mph in a 35 zone there and didn't have insurance (like she couldn't pay if she had a crash. pfft). They're talking about possible parole violations from convictions in California. Bad girl! lol

Just learned this morning that Spamalot is coming to the Civic Center here! Squeeeee! I can't wait!

Damn, there are some good Harry Potter fan fiction writers out there. This one has completely sucked me in. Damn him.

I love the way that the morning sun, on days like today, makes steam rise off of the river in swirls. sweet.

I kicked those nasty little sinus monsters' asses right on out. heh

The shrooms are out:


The rope swing is up:


Spring has sprung!

blah

Blah

Blah blah blah

Blogger ate my post & is a crabby bitch.

blah blah blah

Evil sinus monster invasion

they've stolen my brain

Medicine head

Blah blah blah

That is all.

Crazy Thinking

I know that I usually keep things fairly light-hearted around here, but there's a serious issue that's been picking at my brain - insanity pleas.

Annie over at onethingIhateabouttoday got my wheels turning about the topic - you know, someone goes out and commits a heinous crime and then say "Oh, it's not my fault because I'm insane!"? Well, my opinion may prove to be a bit unpopular, but this is my blog so here you have it:

BULL SHIT

According to a legal encyclopedia: "Insanity Defense - A defense asserted by an accused in a criminal prosecution to avoid liability for the commission of a crime because, at the time of the crime, the person did not appreciate the nature or quality or wrongfulness of the acts." Hmmmm...appreciate? Anyway, there's much more interesting information from a legal standpoint over here.

The insanity defense reflects the generally accepted notion that persons who cannot understand the consequences of their actions should not be punished for criminal acts. My question is this: is this notion really generally accepted?

Now, I have had more than my fair share of experience with mental illness (some my own personal experience and some from people close to me). I know of the struggles they face and the impulses they fight - I've fought them myself, so I want to make it clear that I am in no way lacking compassion or empathy for the mentally ill. I guess what trips me up here is the fact that the crimes I have in mind are things such as killing a little neighbor girl with the intent of eating her, cutting off your baby's arms because she won't stop touching things, or systematically drowning all five of your own children. In my opinion, you'd HAVE to be insane to do things like this. A "sane" person simply would not do such things. Sure, there are criminals that purposely, knowingly do such things but I think we would all agree that they are not right in the head.

The definition of "sane" from the American Heritage dictionary:

sane
adj., saner, sanest.
1. Of sound mind; mentally healthy: "their protector, the strongest and sanest of them all" (Pat Conroy).
2. Having or showing sound judgment; reasonable.

People who, for example, attack and murder innocent children simply can not fall into this category for me - ever.

I will admit that there are probably a few insanity defenses that are justifiable - cases where the person was so completely out of their head that they had no idea what they were doing. In these cases, the person shouldn't necessarily be convicted of murder, but they should most definitely be locked up because they are obviously a danger to themselves and everyone around them.

What happens usually with people who are found "not guilty by reason of insanity"? Are the normally institutionalized? Are they forced to get some kind of treatment/counseling/medication...? I'd be curious as to what's done with them after the verdict.

Post Partum & Andrea Yates: I experienced post-partum depression in the weeks after my baby was born. I remember the desperation, the frustration, the exhaustion - the nights when he would not stop crying and I could do nothing but cry with him, the time when I just put him in his crib and called an overnight nurse for help because I couldn't take it any more and felt like I was losing my mind. Not ONCE did I ever think of harming my baby. I sought help, which is what she should have done. At very least, she could have just walked away...

I do not believe that Andrea Yates should be let off the hook. I also disagree with the manner in which they are doping her up to the point where she can't remember what she did. They say that she sought help and didn't get it... Although I do not know many of the details of what transpired before her crime, I do know that she systematically drowned all five of her children, one at a time, and then called the police to tell them that "I've just killed my children." I do feel for her - it had to have been difficult to stay home with five children and handle it all. I think she knew very well what she was doing, however - she wanted a way out. Well, she got it. Regardless of what they do to her, she will be punished for the rest of her life because of what she did.

Sick Cannibal Wannabe - Annie linked to the blog of that bastard in Oklahoma that killed his little 10 year old neighbor girl with the intention of eating her. Check it out. His first post, alone, tells you what kind of person he is. I wouldn't be surprised in the least if they use the insanity defense for him. It's the ONLY way he could possible get away with what he did.

I think that the insanity defense is far too often used as a last-ditch effort to shed responsibility for a crime they were clearly responsible for. This ties in directly with a theory that I've been pondering for quite a while - quite a good theory actually. There is an excellent article on it (damn, the link is at home and I can't find it on Google) that I will link later. It examines the concept that the root of what is wrong with society today - the reason that there are so many lawsuits, so many people getting away with everything from using threats of discrimination to get their way, to taking advantage of people, to getting away with murder, is that our society has transformed from a responsibility based society to a rights based society. It seems that no one is willing to take responsibility for their actions any more and it's sickening. It's not how I was raised.

I can only hope that I am able to instill the sense of responsibility and morals in my son that my parents did in me. As far as how to get society to realize what's going on and change for the better - I have no idea. One child at a time, I suppose - but it's up to us, the parents.

Instant Monster - Just Add Sugar

Yesterday was my birthday. As most everyone is aware, it was also Easter. As do most lucky little kids on Easter morning, the D-Man got an Easter basket filled with goodies and a few toys.

Since it was my birthday, Chris was kind enough to get up with the little man and let me sleep in. When he got up, I asked him to make sure that the little guy didn't snarf down too much candy - just a few pieces and put the rest away until later. Ha! Yeah, right. By the time I got up a couple of hours later, the D-Man was bouncing off the walls. I am telling you - he was a complete monster.

My biggest wish for the day was to just spend a peaceful, happy day at home with my family. There really wasn't much choice anyway, beings that everything is freaking closed on Easter. Anyway, it was far from peaceful.

The D-Man was ripping all over the house, tackling the dog and both of us like a football player. He had about a 3 second attention span and would get out one thing (such as hot wheels, legos, GI Joes...) and then bounce to the next thing leaving huge messes in his wake. He even dumped the ENTIRE contents of one of his toyboxes out all over his bedroom floor. He would NOT pick anything up and immediately became angry if you would push the issue. He would not listen to a single thing we said, would not do anything we requested and was more defiant than I think I have ever seen him.

By mid afternoon, I was so frustrated and frazzled that I literally had a meltdown. I plowed through the house, cleaning up the messes that he had made, crying from frustration and disappointment.

Chris was at wits end, and so upset with him. He wanted to take him somewhere to get him out of the house so I could have some peace, but I didn't want to be alone - I wanted to have a nice day with my family, damnit. D was acting horribly, but we didn't feel that we could justify punishing him much because it was mostly due to all of the sugar. At one point, he even told Chris with bewilderment in his face that he couldn't help himself. I felt that it was my fault for buying it for him. Chris felt it was his fault for letting him eat it. Any kind of intervention we tried would be met with screaming, crying and fit-throwing which is SO unlike him.

D is usually a very active and energetic child, but he is polite, well behaved and normally does fairly well (for a 5 year old, anyway) at picking up after himself and doing as he's told. Yesterday, it was like someone stole my sweet little one away and replaced him with a demon-child. Honestly, it ruined my birthday.

He doesn't normally have much sugar in his diet at all. I've tried from the beginning to teach him to eat healthy. I don't allow him to have soda pop, and most of the snack items I keep around the house for him are things such as oranges, bananas, granola bars, yogurt and the like. I do buy him popsicles and fudge bars, but I buy the sugar free kind.

I honestly think that over the past year while I've been doing the low carb thing, he's become extra sensitive to sugar because he isn't used to having it. He never seemed to have this problem before. Perhaps I should give him a few pieces of chocolate every day so that he loses that sensitivity to it...? Gads, I don't know. Any suggestions about this are welcome. I am no dietician, but I never dreamed that having a minimal amount of sugar (or carbs, for that matter) in his diet could backfire like this. In fact, I think I will talk to a dietician about this.

Anyway, before taking him to his Grandma & Grandpa's for Easter dinner, we took him out to the ATV track and let him run around, hoping that he'd burn some of it off. Unfortunately, it had rained all night and the place was muddy as hell hence, he emerged covered in mud. *sigh* About 5:00 or so, the sugar wore off and he crashed. He slowed down considerably and became much more like himself. We ate dinner and then went home. I didn't even eat any of my birthday cake. Evil sugar - pffft.

At least we had a quiet evening - too quiet, actually. Chris was exhausted and went to bed at 7:00. I watched TV and folded laundry while the D-man played quietly in his room until bed time. He went to bed easily with our usual routine. As I sat there in the silent house with so many squashed plans I had for fun things to do throughout the day and the remnants of frustration and chaos running through my head, I was mentally exhausted. Having slept in a bit, however, I couldn't wind down and ended up drinking until I had to stop reading because the pages got fuzzy.

I'm supposed to have my review today (4 months late, mind you) and I had a nightmare that my raise was for $.025, so I woke up pissed off.

Thanks so much to the four of you who wished me a happy birthday. I do appreciate it.

Next year, I think I'm just going to forget about my birthday and let it become just another day. I feel kind of silly for being so disappointed - it's not like getting another year older is a reason to celebrate any more. Regardless, you can't be disappointed if you're not expecting anything.

Hell, my nerves are still frazzled.

Happy Easter to You

...and Happy Birthday to me. :p
I got to sleep in until 10:30.
Had breakfast made for me.
I have 5 pounds of my famous Garlic Lamb in the crock pot *drool*
Got the taxes done and - miracle of miracles - we're getting a refund! We we SO scared we were going to owe.
We went out for a lovely, quiet dinner last night (babysitters rock!).
Got treated to some beautiful thunderstorms
Now, I'm hoping my lovely asian friends aren't closed on Easter so I can get a pedicure. :)
Life is good.

Bye Bye HNT

I'm sick of it.

No offense to those who do, but I just don't want to play any more.

Scream Stifled by a Sigh

Perhaps emotional mind dump might have been a better title.

Man, it seems like nothing can ever go right for me. It's been one hell of a week and it's only half over.

Got our tax papers together to discover that we've been screwed over royally from one of the companies that Chris subcontracted under so that it looks like we're responsible for all of the taxes on the money paid to all of his subs plus more. What tops it off nicely is that he didn't make JACK during this time - we couldn't even pay our bills & now have a loan payment due to that. Hopefully, with all of the business expenses and pay outs, it will even out and we won't owe. I don't see how we could owe since we didn't make diddly squat. Cross your fingers for us, eh? I have no idea how we're ever going to get caught up as it is.

A few days ago was the anniversary of the death of a dear friend and we're coming up quickly on the anniversary of the death of the best dog we've ever had, not to mention my cat who died on the same day a few years prior. We just buried my friend Heidi last month as well as the mother of a good friend. The receptionist from my work died a week ago. Who's going to die next? My birthday is this weekend and we're so broke it's not even funny. Oh well...I don't feel like celebrating anyway.

I've been drinking like a fish lately which is making matters worse because I think it's affecting how my medication is (or shall I say isn't?) working. The stress is horrendous and what seemed like a brief respite is turning around and biting me in the ass. I feel like screaming and crawling under the biggest rock I can find and never coming out.

I just had to get some of this out of my head and into words in an effort to release a little of it. If it weren't for my sweet D-man, I probably would have jumped off a bridge by now. We'd better get a break some time soon as I honestly don't think I can take much more. It's a damn good thing I have valium.

I just pulled a yes/no from the tarot on all of this - if this shit storm is going to stop and the two past cards (the Empress inverted (anxiety, procrastination and fear of poverty) and the chariot inverted (feelings of being overwhelmed and out of control)) and present (the fool) ones certainly are dead on. I hope the future ones are right - The Star (good fortune, optimism, the beginning of a new phase that promises great rewards) and the Emperor (strength, power and success). Although I do not let the cards make decisions for me or guide my life, as many times as I have consulted them, I have yet to have a reading that was wrong.

There've been so many souls
There've been so many creatures
They've been practicing
You come back as a dragonfly and land on me
So carefully
I know I've seen you somewhere in eternity
...or paradise
A flower growing in the ice

Vroom (Updated)

Ahhhh, just what I needed. Fresh air, sunshine...and ripping it up.

Chris' friend Matt has a house with a giant, quite hilly wooded lot behind it. Recently, they started going down through there with a chain saw and loppers and made trails for 4-wheeler riding. Today we spent the entire afternoon ripping through the trees, going over jumps, ripping around corners on two wheels, up & down hills. It was a blast. We had our quad & Ryan brought his 4 wheeler out, too and Billy brought his dirt bike. The D-man, between rides, helped dig out more trails & jumps, and spent a lot of time just running through the trees. It's a gorgeous, sunny 60 degrees. Perfect.

It's the first time I've been out this year and man, I'm feeling it. My legs are already weak and sore. My arms feel like noodles. heh Damn good exercise, it is, and damn fun. I'm going to be a hurtin' unit tomorrow. :D

UPDATE - MONDAY April 10
Ow. Yes, I'm a hurtin' unit.

Mainly wanted to let everyone know...
HALOSCAN ADDED FOR YOUR COMMENTING ENJOYMENT. :D
Thanks to Se7en for your help!

Johns Says it Best

I'm not alone, I wish I was.
Cause then I'd know I was down because
I couldn't find a friend around
To love me like they do right now.

I'm dizzy from the shopping malls
I searched for joy, but I bought it all
It doesn't help the hunger pangs
and a thirst I'd have to drown first to ever satiate

Something's missing
And I don't know how to fix it
something's missing
And I don't know what it is
At all

When autumn comes, it doesnt ask.
It just walks in where it left you last.
And you never know when it starts
Until there's fog inside the glass around your summer heart

Something's missing
And I don't know how to fix it
something's missing
And I don't know what it is
At all

I can't be sure that this state of mind
is not of my own design
I wish there was an over the counter test
for loneliness like this.

Something's missing
And I don't know how to fix it
Something's missing
And I don't know what it is
No I don't know what it is
Something's different
And i don't know what it is
No I don't know what it is

Oh, Bother.

Yeah, that's about right.
I'm tired.
I'm worried.
I'm broke.
I'm overworked.
I'm underpaid.
I'm lonely.
I feel old.
I feel fat.
I'm never satisfied.
I'm frustrated.
My tongue hurts.
My neck hurts.
I just want to quit.
I need a new car.
I need a drink.
I need...?
I need a hug.

Madness, Continued...

Well folks, the D-man had a raging ear infection. He had a fever starting on Friday through most of the day yesterday. Now that he's been on antibiotics for 2 days, the fever is finally gone and he's back to his old self pretty much. Sheesh!

I am very quickly approaching the end of Half Blood Prince. The closer I get, the more a sensation of dread creeps into my stomach because I know that something very bad is coming and I'm pretty sure I know what. argh.

John Mayer's Heavier Things is freaking brilliant. Just thought I'd mention that. heh



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Saweet!

Thanks to RainyPete for linking this commercial. You just need to go check it out - it's one of the coolest commercials I've seen in a long time. Guinesssss!

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Damn, I love Photoshop.


hee hee

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Joke du Jour

Careful What You Wish For

A married couple in their 50s were out celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary in a quiet, romantic little restaurant.

Suddenly, a tiny fairy appeared on their table and said, "For being such an exemplary married couple and for being faithful to each other for all this time, I will grant you each one wish."

"Ooh, I want to travel around the world with my darling husband," said the wife.

The fairy moved her magic wand and abracadabra! two tickets for the new QM2 luxury liner appeared in her hands.

Now it was the husbands turn. He thought for a moment and said: "Well ... this is all very romantic, but an opportunity like this only occurs once in a lifetime, so, I'm sorry, my love, but my wish is to have a wife 25 years younger than me."

The wife, and the fairy, were deeply disappointed...
but a wish is a wish.

So the fairy made a circle with her magic wand and...
abracadabra!
the husband became 82 years old.

Silly guy - fairies are female!

SASW

Since, in the last couple of weeks, I have been unable to scratch up enough time/energy to put together a sizeable post containing the expected/anticipated amount of weirdness, hilarity and bits of bizarre, I do hereby proclaim this blog, going forward, to be under the grips of SASW - Short Attention Span Week. The work at...well, work is continuing to be thrown at me at a dizzying pace and I've been exhausted enough (not to mention, involved in a book) at home to ...well, just not get there. So, I promise to make every possible effort to provide you, my beloved visitors/readers, on a daily basis, with a few tidbits at a a time (of which seem to be piling up and disgruntled in their neglect here lately.).

Whew.

Ok...here we go...

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Brave Woman

First, in the not-so-funny-but-impressive category, I give you one brave Muslim woman. Unfortunately, I fear that the fact that she is a woman will prevent those who most desperately need to hear and understand what she has to say from even listening at all. Nonetheless, it is so refreshing to hear her voice of reason. I know there must be others that feel the same way she does, but so few seem to have the courage to speak up. I just hope she is able to keep her head.

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Yipes

Allegedly, an Australian sheep farmer recently was perplexed by the continuing disappearance of his sheep, one by one. After a few weeks, the farmer decided to put up an electric fence in an effort to thwart the perpatrator. This is what he found:





Our buddies at snopes.com have a different version of the story. The snake, however, is impressive no matter how/where he was "caught." It was over 4 meters in lenghth! Dang!

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Top 5 Smartass Answers du Jour

Smart-Ass Answer #5

A flight attendant was stationed at the departure gate to check tickets. As a man approached, she extended her hand for the ticket and he opened his trench coat and flashed her. Without missing a beat, she said, "Sir, I need to see your ticket, not your stub."

Smart-Ass Answer #4

A lady was picking through the frozen turkeys at the grocery store, but couldn't find one big enough for her family. She asked a butcher, "Do these turkeys get any bigger?" The butcher replied, "No, ma'am, they're dead."

Smart-Ass Answer #3

The cop got out of his car and the kid who was stopped for speeding rolled down his window. "I've been waiting for you all day," the cop said. The kid replied, "Yeah, well I got here as fast as I could." When the cop finally stopped laughing, he sent the kid on his way without a ticket. (my personal favorite!)

Smart-Ass Answer #2

A truck driver was driving along on the freeway. A sign comes up! that reads Low bridge ahead'. Before he knows it, the bridge is right ahead of him and he gets stuck under the bridge. Cars are backed up for miles. Finally, a police car comes up. The cop gets out of his car and walks around to the truck driver, puts his hands on his hips and says, "Got stuck, huh?" The truck driver says, "No, I was delivering this bridge and ran out of gas."

Smart-Ass Answer #1

"THE TEACHER"

A college teacher reminds her class of tomorrow's final exam. "Now, Class, I won't tolerate any excuses for you not being here tomorrow. I might consider a nuclear attack or a serious personal injury or illness, or a death in your immediate family but that's it, no other excuses whatsoever!"

A smart-ass guy in the back of the room raised his hand and asks, "What would you say if tomorrow I said I was suffering from complete and utter sexual exhaustion?" The entire class does its best to stifle their laughter and snickering. When silence is restored, the teacher smiles sympathetically at the student, shakes her head, and sweetly says, "Well, I guess you'd have to write the exam with your other hand.

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hee hee hee

Well, that'll be all for tonight, kids. Y'all sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite.

Happiness is...

Meatloaf (my meatloaf rocks, by the way)


Tornados (gotta love it when we sit down to dinner as the sirens are going off)

...and vodka & koolaid.

Yes, I've been stuck indoors all weekend with a feverish child. *sigh*

(for those who are curious, I'm also already over half way through Half-Blood Prince. Woot! :D)