28 June 2015

Weird Stuff

Weird Stuff antiques in Kansas City's River Market district is just that.  You could spend about all day there and still not see everything.  My fave things were the barstools and table, but there's no way our floors would be able to handle that heavy furniture being scraped about.  You can "like" their facebook page here.
 





23 June 2015

Donating to Locks of Love

 Rose has been wanting to donate her hair for some time now, and it's finally long enough.  We went to Great Clips in Liberty, and they gave her a free 'do.  There were several people ahead of us as it's a happenin' place.

I think that Esther did a great job of keeping the girlie look despite taking so much hair off the back.  You can't tell from the picture, but this is one of those haircuts that is shorter in the back than the front.



22 June 2015

Jesus Calling for Little Ones

"I made you, and you are My child.
I created everything.  Of all My
creations - from the sun, oceans,
flowers, big fish, and tiny butterflies -
My children are My favorite!" 

Jesus Calling for Little Ones is written as though God were speaking to children about creation, how important children are to Him, and how He wants kids to praise Him and forgive one another.  Sarah Young's simple but inspiring words are cheerfully illustrated by Antonia Woodward.  The characters look very much like the old Chutes and Ladders kids, don't they?  But the setting is ancient Israel, and throughout the book, children are running and playing and spending time with their families as they did during the time of Jesus.

It's not a little board book, either.  At 22 pages, it's a sit-down story for a toddler or preschooler.  Woodjie (age 8) is able to read most of the book on his own (except for words like Thessalonians, ok?) and picked this book out himself.  It would make an excellent addition to a church library or as a gift for a preschooler.  It's part of the Jesus Calling® series, which has sold over 14 million copies worldwide.  I think you'd enjoy it.
  
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

19 June 2015

Emperor is Home!


Emperor had a great time at chess camp.  He's pictured here with WIM Viktorija Ni and some of the awards he received.  (WIM stands for Women's International Master.)

Despite the long drive there and back, D and I had some fun times along the way as well.  We stopped at the Kitchen Gallery of Topeka and picked out a few pieces of Polish pottery.  They didn't have a huge, huge selection, but there was definitely enough there to make the little jaunt off highway 70 worth it.

Because Lindsborg is several hours away, we also had to take rest stops.  Sometimes there are odd things in the public restroom areas off the highway.  For reference, Emperor is six feet tall  now.

We also saw about a zillion cicadas as it's their hatching season.  If you listen, even with the windows up on the highway, you can hear the eee- eee-eeee of the insects flying and calling all over.  Millions of them swarming about and thunking into the windshield.

Well, we're glad to be home.  Do you like my new saltshakers? 








18 June 2015

We grieve for the victims of the shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South...

Posted by Accidental Talmudist on Thursday, June 18, 2015

10 June 2015

Denied a Transplant Due to Autism

Woodjie posing with a Holter monitor.
Gentle readers, this could have been us.  You know we recently had a scare with Woodjie and his heart. 

I've always advocated for non-discrimination when handing out very limited organs.  Who is to say which life is the most valuable?  Base these decisions on whether the recipient is strong enough to survive surgery and associated therapies and other medical criteria, not whether the patient is autistic.  Hellooo, eugenics:

"Karen Corby of Pottsville, Pa., had just been informed by a doctor that a much-needed heart transplant for her (autistic) son, Paul, had been denied. To add insult to heartbreak, after hearing the bleak news over the phone she was told by the cavalier physician to 'have a nice day.'"  Article here

If you live in Pennsylvania, contact your state reps and ask them to support "Paul's Law."

Princess Charity Sticker and Activity Book Review!

Princess Charity Sticker and Activity Book is part of the Princess Parables series, which also include the Princess Joy and the Princess Grace books.  I'd say the target audience is little girls ages 5 to 9 or so, although with help, a younger child will enjoy this book as well.

Rose is seven, and she loves this book so much.  She's been very busy doodling all over it and using all the stickers, colouring in some princess dresses and completing all the puzzles.  The books are simple to read and include 50 stickers.  They're really more workbooks than the sorts of books that are just for reading.

Activities include dot-to-dot, an easy word find and a "spot the differences" picture.  It's a pretty inexpensive book, and for the price I'd recommend it for a small weekly prize or for use on a car trip or at the doctor's office.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

09 June 2015

Ever Drive a Car in Your Sleep?

I'm up all kinds of odd hours and I have trouble getting to sleep at night, staying awake during the day, and I sort of wind up trying to prop myself up with coffee and hope.  I think the internetz knows this because it sees my time zone, sees that I'm online, and caters my ads accordingly (or that's paranoid me thinking "they" are following me, you pick).

So this ad just popped up in my sidebar for Belsomra.  It helps with insomnia.  But.  If you take it, you might try to sleep or wake up and be unable to move.  It may make you aggressive, hallucinate, and do crazy things when you are asleep "like eating, talking, having sex, or driving a car," the product's webpage warns.

Oh!  "Call your doctor right away if you find out that you have done any of these activities after taking BELSOMRA."  Ya think?? My luck, I'd have to call the cops first and let them know I just beat up a bunch of annoying people at Wal-Mart.  And instructed my seven-year-old to smack people with bottles of shampoo or something.

Staying away from this drug.  Why would anyone take something with such horrid side effects just to get a little more sleep?  No, thanks.

But I think looking at ads and asking your doctor if some random drug "is right for me" is probably not how I want to manage my medical care anyway. 

Woodjie Update!

Woodjie's test results have come in.  He has a "wandering atrial pacemaker." That means his heartbeat originates from the sinus node as it should most of the time, but other times from lower down in the heart.  There is no correction for it and apparently it's not dangerous.  We'll see a cardiologist and have another EKG and holter study in 2 more years. Normal expected life/ lifespan/ all that.  So some great news! 

08 June 2015

Cupcakes in the Microwave

Of course, using Polish pottery is ALWAYS ideal.
 Easy and fun summertime activity to keep little hands busy!  You'll need an angel food cake mix and a regular cake mix (your choice of flavour).  Mix 'em up in a big Ziploc bag.  You'll notice I just keep the measuring scoop inside.

Scoop 1/3 cup of dry mix into a microwaveable mug.  Add three tablespoons of water.  Stir.  Microwave for a minute.  Add icing and sprinkles.  Zing!  That's how easy it is. 
I started out with more mix than this - but the pic is just to show you what it looks like.

06 June 2015

"Haunting" Chalkboard Drawings Uncovered in Oklahoma

Incredibly detailed pictures were uncovered during a school renovation in Oklahoma.  You've never seen anything like this.  Click the link for more...

Ok.  I wandered over expecting some sort of prehistoric bison or... Aztec-type accounting systems or some other oddity.  But no.  School officials are hoping to preserve for all time...

Cursive writing.  And a few crude sketches of Pilgrims.  I know, I know, it's kind of anti-clamatic. 

I wonder how much the school district is going to pay to preserve a few chalkboards from 1917, when they could take just a little bit of time away from test prep and teach children to write in cursive today.

Snap a Selfie With Mom's Sex Toy for Extra Credit!

Apparently this is real.  The school is acting as though it was just a misinterpreted joke, but at least one child has snapped a photo that was shared with other students.

"When asked why the teacher was still teaching, or even on campus, Susan Davis of the Alameda Unified School District said, 'I can’t give you details about that because it’s an ongoing investigation.'"

The parents, as you might imagine, want the teacher fired.  Let's see if the union sticks up for this sleazeball.

03 June 2015

Ad Banned in UK Because... the Model is Thin

I know, right?  You expect your models to be a size 18 like the rest of the developed world.  Having a severely underweight model would just encourage people to get all anorexic and stuff, and Lord knows none of us need a diet.  The UK's Advertising Standards Authority ruled Yves Saint Laurent couldn't use this ad again.

Go ahead and click the link.  I'm sure you'll agree that the chick in question looks like she's passed out due to anorexia-induced bradycardic arrhythmia.*

From the sound of the article, however, it sounds like someone just got butthurt that some fashion mag is promoting an unrealistic beauty standard.  Because usually, they don't do that, right?

Personally?  I think if we're going to play this game, we need to ban Photoshop, because no way everyone has the healthy glow, four-foot long arms, lack of fat rolls, or whatever else is in fashion this week.  Oh! And fat chicks.  Wouldn't want to encourage obesity.  And so on.

*Hey.  Worried Mom has been researching every heart condition known to Man since this-all happened, ok?  I've concluded my kid doesn't have this particular condition.  Cross that off the list of things to freak out about.

02 June 2015

Woodjie the Robot

Woodjie has seen the pediatric cardiologist at Children's Mercy Hospital as a worried-mom followup.  You know how worried moms are.  Turns out?  He does have some sort of heart difference, but how problematic it might be has yet to be determined. 

The cardiologist doesn't sound particularly concerned about it.  He says Woodjie's heartbeat, instead of originating in the sinus node, starts lower down somewhere.  And they're just going to monitor him for a bit and see what they think.

So Woodjie gets to be a robot with lots of stickies and he keeps his monitor in his Pokemon fanny pack. 

I am praying it is nothing but him being a little different. 

Do you like his bracelet?  My friend Rachel runs the Choose to Refuse Common Core website (you're welcome to join - more the merrier) and when she got these bracelets from Jerusalem, I knew I had to order a few.  If you are interested in getting a bracelet, there are many styles available at www.jerusalemwithlove.com. It's odd timing, but a nice feeling to know that he is wearing something a friend has prayed over.  :)




01 June 2015

This is G

He just won two gold medals at the Missouri Special Olympics.   

Homeschoolers Must Register With the State Under New Proposed Law

Emma is a special-needs mom and fellow homeschooler who lives in Ohio.  This post is a revised version of her facebook status.  It is used with her permission.

This "legislator" is a brand new, foolish politician. She thinks she has found a way to further her career by infringing on people's freedoms.

The woman that murdered her children is a murderer. (Sounds obvious I know - but some people think she was "homeschooler". I just want to clarify the difference between a "murderous piece of crap" and a "homeschooling parent".) She murdered her children and stuck them in a freezer. I am a homeschooling parent. I have never once murdered my kids and stuck them in a freezer.

If you think that forcing families to register with the state will prevent child murder, then please unfriend me now. Then, go to Google, and ask it how many public school kids have been murdered by their parents. I'm sure you will find that there have been no cases at all. Not one. Not a single public school child has ever been abused or murdered.

As you all know, child abuse only happens between the hours of 8:00am and 3:30pm in homeschooling families. It never happens in families whose children attend public school. Schools always spot cases of child abuse and promptly report them. The children are then removed from the home and they live wonderful lives. (Well - that is - if public school children were ever abused - which of course, we all know - they're not.)

If you are of the opinion "Oh come Emma - if you have nothing to hide - what's the harm in registering?" - please unfriend me, and then go to Ye Olde Google and ask it to find you cases where people have lost their children - even though they had "nothing to hide".

Ohio homeschooling families have some of the strictest homeschooling laws in the country, Guess what? It doesn't do a darn thing to protect kids from abuse. Ohio public schools have numerous protocols to "prevent abuse." Guess what? It doesn't do a darn thing to protect kids from abuse.

I have the state in my house every.single.day. Three different mandatory reporters are in my house each week. I hate it when I have to change a therapist or seek new care... What is *their* definition of adequate care? Cleanliness? A tidy house? Are they anti-homeschooling? Do they think my kids are suffering from educational neglect? Will they agree that I know my son best - or will they feel there is a "better way"?

You cannot regulate stupid. You cannot regulate evil. What you CAN do however, is make my life (and other hard working, conscientious parents lives) MUCH harder than it needs to be, by giving away your freedoms and blowing your nose with the Constitution.

Stop believing the indoctrination. Stop letting The Stupid People speak for you. They are YOUR children - even if you choose to use public school. I know - shocking, right?!

Please - contact Stephanie Chang's office and tell her she's an idiot. You can pretty it up if you like, but the bottom line is - she's an idiot who thinks she has found a way to further her career on the backs of completely innocent people.

Her contact info:
stephaniechang@house.mi.gov
517-373-0823

Wall Of Shame

Photo from Choose to Refuse Common Core facebook group.
This is a real screenshot from a friend whose son is in ninth grade.  Children know how they compare with their peers in real time.  Poor Kevin.

My friend writes, "What does a person's 'frustration level' tell you of that person? Our children are being screened by their assignments and tests via 'school accessed' computers.  Our children's level of frustration is being monitored. When they say 'cradle to grave,' the people saying it, mean it. Health records, school records, etc. Building a 'workforce.' Our children will know which career is chosen for them by 8th grade. This is what is behind the Common Core agenda, Heaven forbid."


Bringing Garbage Home

Some people up the street were throwing this table away. It was in pretty bad shape and one of the legs was off. I've glued the leg back...