The Life and Times of.... well, me

Man accused of throwing son off cruise boat

2011-08-30T04:16:00.000-07:00

Man accused of throwing son off cruise boat

Smile Silly

2011-08-27T14:33:00.000-07:00

Author - Michelle Smile Silly!

I think most people are genuine and mean no harm, however there are others in every walk of life, culture, and occupation who cannot wait to point out the failures and short-comings of others and go on to exploit them.Look within yourself, have you ever "sold someone out" to gain an edge? Do you still conduct yourself in that manner?

Most of us mortals have made mistakes, we've told lies, cheated, wronged someone, but we learn as we grow to correct that and make efforts to not repeat that behavior.
I am content to be who I am, I will never be a millionaire, I will never have a 60,000 sq ft house with a staff.

I will die and leave this earth someday with only one thing, the comfort in knowing that I cared for my kids and kept them safe and alive so that they could grow up and have lives of their own! No matter what that means!

I think we have enough "Youth", what I think is that we need a "Fountain of Smart." We need to teach the younger generations that they are not entitled to anything they themselves do not earn.

I don't owe them respect, until they earn it by showing some. I don't owe them a tip until their actions deserve one.What happened to "please", "thank-you", "Sir/Mam", etc?

Just a few thoughts! Stay positive!!

Repost I'm 63 and I'm Tired - R. Hall

2011-08-13T18:49:00.001-07:00

I AM 63 & I AM TIRED
I am tired too. I couldn't have said it any better.
Robert A. Hall is the actor who plays the coroner on CSI if you watch that show. He also is a Marine Vietnam War veteran. This should be required reading for every man, woman and child in the United States of America ."I'm 63 and I'm Tired"by Robert A. HallI'm 63. Except for one semester in college when jobs were scarce and a six-month period when I was between jobs, but job-hunting every day, I've worked hard since I was 18. Despite some health challenges, I still put in 50-hour weeks, and haven't called in sick in seven or eight years. I make a good salary, but I didn't inherit my job or my income, and I worked to get where I am. Given the economy, there's no retirement in sight, and I'm tired. Very tired. I'm tired of being told that I have to "spread the wealth" to people who don't have my work ethic. I'm tired of being told the government will take the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy to earn it. I'm tired of being told that I have to pay more taxes to "keep people in their homes." Sure, if they lost their jobs or got sick, I'm willing to help. But if they bought McMansions at three times the price of our paid-off, $250,000 condo, on one-third of my salary, then let the left-wing Congress-critters who passed Fannie and Freddie and the Community Reinvestment Act that created the bubble help them with their own money.I'm tired of being told how bad America is by left-wing millionaires like Michael Moore, George Soros and Hollywood Entertainers who live in luxury because of the opportunities America offers. In thirty years, if they get their way, the United States will have the economy of Zimbabwe , the freedom of the press of China , the crime and violence of Mexico , the tolerance for Christian people of Iran , and the freedom of speech of Venezuela .....I'm tired of being told that Islam is a "Religion of Peace," when every day I can read dozens of stories of Muslim men killing their sisters, wives and daughters for their family "honor"; of Muslims rioting over some slight offense; of Muslims murdering Christian and Jews because they aren't "believers"; of Muslims burning schools for girls; of Muslims stoning teenage rape victims to death for "adultery"; of Muslims mutilating the genitals of little girls; all in the name of Allah, because the Qur'an and Shari'a law tells them to. I'm tired of being told that "race doesn't matter" in the post-racial world of Obama, when it's all that matters in affirmative action jobs, lower college admission and graduation standards for minorities (harming them the most), government contract set-asides, tolerance for the ghetto culture of violence and fatherless children that hurts minorities more than anyone, and in the appointment of U.S. Senators from Illinois. I think it's very cool that we have a black president and that a black child is doing her homework at the desk where Lincoln wrote the Emancipation Proclamation. I just wish the black president was Condi Rice, or someone who believes more in freedom and the individual and less arrogantly of an all-knowing government.
I'm tired of being told that out of "tolerance for other cultures" we must let Saudi Arabia use our oil money to fund mosques and mandrassa Islamic schools to preach hate in America , while no American group is allowed to fund a church, synagogue or religious school in Saudi Arabia to teach love and tolerance. I'm tired of being told I must lower my living standard to fight global warming, which no one is allowed to debate. My wife and I live in a two-bedroom apartment and carpool together five miles to our jobs. We also own a three-bedroom condo where our daughter and granddaughter live. Our carbon footprint is about 5% of Al Gore's, and if you're greener than Gore, you're green enough. I'm tired of being told that drug addicts have a disease, and I must help support and treat them, and pay for the damage they do. Did a giant germ rush out of a dark alley, grab them, and stuff white powder up their noses while they tried to fight it off? I don't think Gay people choose to be Gay, but I #@*# sure think druggies chose to take drugs. And I'm tired of harassment from cool people treating me like a freak when I tell them I never tried marijuana. I'm tired of illegal aliens being called "undocumented workers," especially the ones who aren't working, but are living on welfare or crime. What's next? Calling drug dealers, "Undocumented Pharmacists"? And, no, I'm not against Hispanics. Most of them are Catholic, and it's been a few hundred years since Catholics wanted to kill me for my religion. I'm willing to fast track for citizenship any Hispanic person, who can speak English, doesn't have a criminal record and who is self-supporting without family on welfare, or who serves honorably for three years in our military.... Those are the citizens we need. I'm tired of latte liberals and journalists, who would never wear the uniform of the Republic themselves, or let their entitlement-handicapped kids near a recruiting station, trashing our military. They and their kids can sit at home, never having to make split-second decisions under life and death circumstances, and bad mouth better people than themselves. Do bad things happen in war? You bet. Do our troops sometimes misbehave? Sure. Does this compare with the atrocities that were the policy of our enemies for the last fifty years and still are? Not even close. So here's the deal. I'll let myself be subjected to all the humiliation and abuse that was heaped on terrorists at Abu Ghraib or Gitmo, and the critics can let themselves be subject to captivity by the Muslims, who tortured and beheaded Daniel Pearl in Pakistan, or the Muslims who tortured and murdered Marine Lt. Col. William Higgins in Lebanon, or the Muslims who ran the blood-spattered Al Qaeda torture rooms our troops found in Iraq, or the Muslims who cut off the heads of schoolgirls in Indonesia, because the girls were Christian. Then we'll compare notes. British and American soldiers are the only troops in history that civilians came to for help and handouts, instead of hiding from in fear.

I'm tired of people telling me that their party has a corner on virtue and the other party has a corner on corruption. Read the papers; bums are bipartisan. And I'm tired of people telling me we need bipartisanship. I live in Illinois , where the " Illinois Combine" of Democrats has worked to loot the public for years. Not to mention the tax cheats in Obama's cabinet. I'm tired of hearing wealthy athletes, entertainers and politicians of both parties talking about innocent mistakes, stupid mistakes or youthful mistakes, when we all know they think their only mistake was getting caught. I'm tired of people with a sense of entitlement, rich or poor. Speaking of poor, I'm tired of hearing people with air-conditioned homes, color TVs and two cars called poor. The majority of Americans didn't have that in 1970, but we didn't know we were "poor." The poverty pimps have to keep changing the definition of poor to keep the dollars flowing. I'm real tired of people who don't take responsibility for their lives and actions. I'm tired of hearing them blame the government, or discrimination or big-whatever for their problems. Yes, I'm tired. But I'm also glad to be 63. Because, mostly, I'm not going to have to see the world these people are making. I'm just sorry for my granddaughter. Robert A. Hall is a Marine Vietnam veteran who served five terms in the Massachusetts State Senate.There is no way this will be widely publicized, but I thought you would enjoy it.

Friday

2009-08-14T15:25:00.000-07:00

We made it and as we were driving into Texas in the black of night I never realized how smelly Texas is or how much just between Louisiana and Texas the bugs buildup. From TX to WI, WI to OH and OH to La barely any bugs. Get to La and then destination in TX and the shield is covered. We covered 13 states and it was a worthwhile trip that I didn't think we could make and we did it.

Thursday

2009-08-10T06:15:00.000-07:00

After seeing the Arch in St. Louis and driving across Inidiana, we have crossed the border to Ohio and are here. The birthday party went off without a hitch. We visited last night with some relatives and some of the girls snuck out while the dad's played poker and watched a movie, so that was fun. Tonight, one more dinner at another brother's house and then in the car tomorrow back to hotness that is Tejas.

Arrival in Watertown

2009-08-10T06:11:00.000-07:00

I am actually kind of misty to see Watertown, WI again, and we drive around after we check in and show the boys where they grew up, the house they lived as babies. Bad idea as the person that is in it now has let it go and that made me somewhat sad. We got to see Jenn and hangout at the park. Had dinner at Settler's Bay, went to the zoo and on our last night ate at Mullen's. Ian was so sad to leave Jenn, her family, and the dogs, Izzy and Missy.

Finally out of Texas

2009-08-10T06:09:00.000-07:00

Austin has not said he wants to come home, the equivalant to "are we there yet." I have not come unglued on them just yet, and we all fade almost to WI in Illnois thank God for Double Trees. We wake up refreshed and ready to see WI.

We make it to Texarkansas

2009-08-10T05:57:00.000-07:00

We're in Texarkana and the boys are really excited, we've driven 6 hours and we stop at hotel choice #1, no rooms. What is when we travel that we pick the time to travel when the weirdest things in the US are going... The great convetion of golfers wearing chicken suits. Anyway we find this room, the boys are jazzed because it has a pull out bed, they think this is the best thing since sliced bread. The next day we eat breakfast at a Shoney's and my picky Pete's who never eat are gobbling everything they ordered.

Car trips

2009-08-10T05:47:00.001-07:00

It was a beautiful, HOT day in Houston, TX when we pulled out of our driveway, the car was packed, the boys were excited and I was, well, menopausal (or circling the wagon, since my doctors call it perimenopause). With one thought circling inside my head please let us make it out of Houston without me bungee tying the children to the car. Now you see my husband and I had made this trip many times before with his two girls, and we had just started at night and they more or less slept. We also had a larger vehicle. This time we were in a VW Passat, and traveling in closer proximity. Also, my youngest child TSC with a smattering of other syndromes that make "change in routine" a tad interesting.

Help a savage Lion

2007-06-20T08:41:00.000-07:00

Our Trip to the Zoo

2007-06-20T08:39:00.000-07:00

NYLC _ Jessica

2007-06-13T05:46:00.000-07:00

My stepdaughter, Jessica, was nominated to attend the 2007 National Young Leaders Conference (NYLC) in Washington, DC this fall.

Jessica was nominated by Mr. James Smith at Clear Creek High School who identified Jessica as a scholar demonstrating outstanding leadership potential and academic achievement.

In addition to be being exceptionally brilliant, she is funny, charming and beautiful. She also gives the funniest, craziest gifts to her father. We love Irwin.

We are all so very proud of her and all she has done.

Kelly

Look whose turning 4

2007-05-26T09:51:00.000-07:00

Our second little SuperStar is turning 4 in June. You've been through so much and, yet, still continue to shine. Thank you for being my sunshine.

Love

Mom

Ms. Powell's SuperStar Pick, Ian Kemski

2007-05-26T08:36:00.000-07:00

05/24/07 - Ian Kemski was picked as Ms. Powell's First Grade SuperStar. All SuperStar's were honored in a parade and also attended the Sheridan Track Dedication Ceremony. Ian we are so proud of you! We always knew you were a star, but now you're a SuperStar!

Love,

Mom and Dad

Ian Picture Day and Report Card Day

2007-04-13T15:50:00.000-07:00

Ian today had picture and didn't "oh mom" me when I brought him a new shirt and shorts to wear or even when I spent extra time getting his hair out of its Harry Potter phase. Today, was also the first day he wore a belt and he complimented a girl in his class (it was picture day). He said, "you look like a princess or a Queen or something." My little charmer. He also brought home another excellent report card and got his 9th star on the all positive accomplishment side of his Behavior Folder. Ian you rock!!

Love,

Mom

Step Forward for a Cure

2007-03-25T16:16:00.000-07:00

Join us on Saturday, May 12, 2007 for a 2 mile family friendly walkathon followed by a post-event celebration. Step Forward to Cure TSC is a national fundraising effort organized locally by the Houston area volunteers and families affected by tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). The Step Forward walkathon provides an opportunity to create awareness of TSC and raise funds for community support programs and research to find a cure.
The walk will take place at McGregor Park located at 5225 Calhoun - Houston, TX.Registration begins at 9:00amWalk starts at 10:00am
Over the past three years, the Houston walkathon has raised more than $125,000 with an average of 200 participants each year. These funds have allowed the TS Alliance to help researchers make some amazing strides in finding ways to slow the growth of TSC-related tumors. But it is only the beginning. More needs to be done, and we need your help to find a cure.
The 4th Annual Houston walkathon offers a wonderful occasion for businesses and their employees to join together outside of the workplace with their families, co-workers, friends and clients to make a difference in their local community.
Register as a Walker
Sponsor a Walker (Kelly Kemski once you click here)
Login to Your Dashboard
Whether you decide to walk for yourself, a loved one, a hero, or a stranger, your participation in the Houston walkathon supports the life-saving work of the TS Alliance.

Please help Austin and so many others by walking or sponsoring me, be an Angel Walker.

Ian

2007-03-25T15:02:00.000-07:00

Ian Kemski lost his second baby tooth today, 03-24/07, on the top right. This his second baby tooth that he has given to the Tooth Fairy. The first was in Kindergarten about this time last year and it was the bottom right.

Way to go Ian, and now say silly snacks for me!

Love,

Mom

happy burfday

2007-03-23T16:50:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday shout outs to Tim and Melissa (you know what day it is)! <8-)

2007-03-02T12:25:00.000-08:00

I forgot to add that in August 2007 our little Austin was diagnosed with tuberous sclerosis, TSC1. He has TSC but it doesn't have him.

Definition of Tuberous sclerosis
Tuberous sclerosis: A genetic disorder characterized by abnormalities of the skin, brain, kidney, and heart. The skin abnormalities are present in all cases and may include tiny benign tumors (angiofibroma) on the face and depigmented areas anywhere on the body. The brain abnormalities are mainly benign cortical tumors (tubers) which cause seizures, developmental delay, and mental retardation. The kidneys often contain multiple cysts and benign tumors (angiomyolipomas). The heart problems include arrhythmias and benign heart muscle tumors (rhabdomyomas).
The diagnosis of tuberous sclerosis is usually made by the medical history and clinical observation. For example, a child with a known seizure disorder is seen to have white spots on the skin visible under ultraviolet light.
Tuberous sclerosis is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner and results from mutation of either one of two genes: the TSC1 gene on chromosome 9 or the TSC2 gene on chromosome 16. The TSC1 gene makes a protein called tuberin. These two proteins function together in cells to regulate and prevent the overgrowth of cells into tumors. When either the TSC1 or TSC2 gene is mutated, nonfunctional versions of hamartin or tuberin are made in the cell. As a result, the hamartin-tuberin protein complex does not form and cells divide too frequently, leading to the formation of noncancerous tumors. Two-thirds of cases of tuberous sclerosis are due to new mutations and the other third are inherited from a parent.
Common Misspellings: tuberous sklerosis, tuberous sclorosis, tuberous schlerosis, tuberous scleroses
Definition of TSC1
TSC1: The tuberous sclerosis 1 gene. The product of the TSC1 gene is a protein called hamartin. This protein interacts with tuberin, the product of the TSC2 gene. These two proteins form a complex and play a role in cell growth and division. TSC1 functions as a tumor suppressor gene.
Mutation in the TSC1 gene causes tuberous sclerosis. The mutant TSC1 gene produces an abnormal version of hamartin. This abnormal protein cannot form a complex with tuberin, the product of the TSC2 gene. Loss of this protein complex causes cells to divide too often, resulting in cell overgrowth and benign tumors. The TSC1 gene is located on the long (q) arm of chromosome 9 in band 9q34.

Ian and Austin

2007-03-02T09:34:00.000-08:00

The boys are doing great! Austin has had no more seizures since the two on 02/13/2007. Ian had some more trouble with another child in school. This time he was in gym class and the boy singled him out to push and throw dirt at and call him some pretty bad names. This is just first grade! He seemed to take in stride and said the coach ignored him until he came up again and was crying. I am so fed up with this school!

On a lighter note here are some photos from a Valentine's party. And my stepdaughter got her first job and can now start driving her car! You go GIRL! You ROCK!

Austin is wearing big boy underwear today! You go AUSTIN

Eek

2007-03-02T09:29:00.000-08:00

Here it is my first white hair. Rich says now he can say he's married to Polgara (some character in a fictional book he read).

I prefer that I now look like Bonnie Rait.