Ever watched the Bravo “reality” show Real Housewives of Orange County?  A bunch of rich, bitchy woman who call each other friends, drink waaaaaay too much and allow their children to run wild through CA.  Real housewives . . .atleast the ones where I live, work all day long at a marginally paying  job, drive their 1999 Ford home to their suburban retreat, cook a meal based on recipes they find on Kraft.com and then play board games happily with their children until bedtime, when they lay in their sweatsuits on the couch thinking about how to stretch the money they have in their account until the next payday. 

OR . . .They are stay home moms who spend their entire day at home with the kids, making jewlery out of macaroni and watching Noggin, cleaning poopy butts and whiping drippy noses until their husband (or wife, whichever) comes home from a long day at work.  He orders a pizza and gives the kids a bath so Mommy can have a few minutes of  “Me time” before putting the kids to bed and spending the rest of the night cleaning the grape juice out of the carpet. 

But she doesn’t complain, this is her life and she’s greatful for it.  Especialy when she takes a break to watch some tv, turns on Real Housewives and thanks her lucky stars that she’s not one of THOSE women!

Tomorrow is my 27th birthday.  Everyone keep asking me, “What are you doing for your birthday?”  Let’s see . . . I’m going to work.  I’ll leave work and pick up Ace from Heathenmommy’s house, and then I’ll come home, make supper and veg until bedtime.  Why?  What should I be doing? 

Blasted birthdays falling on weekdays . . man I can’t do anything fun then!  Ah, but it is pretty cool that Obama will be innaugerated on MY BIRTHDAY! 

Birthdays just aren’t much fun after you hit a certain age.  When you’re a kid, you get a big party, fancy cakes and oodles of presents from your friends.  As you get older, you have the adolescent turning to a teen ager to be excited about, then turning 16 and getting your license, turning 18 and being an “adult”, turning 21 and being able to drink (legally) and then what?  Then you just get old.  Depressed yet?

I’ve never like my birthday.  Something bad always happens on, or very close to, my birthday.  I’ve gotten in fights with friends on my birthday, had my car broken into right before my birthday, had surgery that kept me from being able to celebrate, and the mother of all birthday bummers . .. on my 20th birthday my GOLDEN BIRTHDAY, I was dumped.  Yeah, that one hurt. 

All in all, I hope, tomorrow will at the very least not be a terribly stressful day at work.  That is what I want for my birthday, I hope I get it!

No no, I’m not getting married again.  My mom is, and I’m her planner.  I love everything wedding . . .the cakes, the dresses, the tuxes, the planning . . . .It is my dream to be back in the wedding industry someday, after several years of working with brides and grooms . . .I really miss it now!

So we have 146 days to go and lots to do!  She has chosen a cake and what kind of flowers she wants.  She booked the reception hall and picked the menu and has also booked the photographer.  There is yet to be florist, musician, tux picked out or dress pruchased.  And so many little details to finalize.  Ah, but that is where I come in . . .daughter/wedding planner to the rescue!  (cue theme music)

I’ve taken the liberty of creating a checklist on theknot.com (the bridal guru of websites!) and we are heading out to David’s Bridal on Wednesday to try on some wedding dresses. 

It’s really weird planning your mom’s wedding . . .I mean,  I never thought my mom would be getting married again so it’s a big step outta the box for me!  At the same time, it’s exciting and fun and she’s really happy so that’s what matters the most to me. 

Next wedding update will hopefully be regaurding having found THE dress and purchased it!  Stay tuned!

I love my dog.  He was my first baby, sicne I got him back when I thought I woulnd’t be having any kids.  I spoil him and treat him like he is people. 

Thursday night he was acting funny, not wanting to go outside and not greeting us at the door when we came home from work.  I chalked it up to a cold or a dogy bad mood or something like that.  Friday night he was even less like himself.  More like a grumpy old man dog that his usual playful puppy self.  I went to give him a cuddle and stuck my hand into some gross gooey fur on his neck.  It was blood caked and nasty.  Upon closer inspection I found a swollen bump under his ear and his ear was quite red and inflamed. 

I brought him to the vet first thing this morning, and $300 later found that he had and ear infection, had scratched at it, gae himself a hotspt which also became infected!  Poor baby!

They brought him out in a cone (elizabethan collar) which is causing him much discomfort and making him terribly clumsy.  He’s bumping into every wall, door frame and piece of furniture in the house.  I propped him dishes up on phone books so he can eat and drink without the cone getting in the way. 

He won’t walk up the stairs unless I hold his cone up for him to keep it from hitting the steps and tripping him up.  He’s, in a word: miserable.

I took the cone off for a little while (even though he’s supposed to wear it for 2 weeks) so he could get comfy on the sofa and rest a while.  We’ll have to put it back on when we’re asleep or not home so he isn’t scratching the bad spots, but I just want him to be able to get some sleep without that hunk of plastic in his way!

Think aobut it, how would you feel if everytime you got sick or injured someone put a giant plastic cone on your head?

We all want our kids to be safe, but has the safety commisson taken it too far?  New laws are going to make every children’s item be tested for lead before it can be sold, regaurdless of where it came from or what it is made of.  That means places like Etsy.com , where stay home parents make a few extra bucks selling handmade blankets and toys, will have to pay to have them tested for lead, even if the materials they are made from were previously tested.  I don’t quite see how they can possilby enforce this law, but if you want more info, here are a few articles explaining how this is going to effect those who hand-make toys and other childrens items, and second stores like Goodwill. 

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-thrift2-2009jan02,0,2083247.story

Here is some of the law:
http://www.cpsc.gov/ABOUT/Cpsia/cpsia.HTML

Want to help fight the new law that hurt familes and second hand stores?  Here’s how you can help!There is a new law, that when it goes into effect Feb 10, 2009, will basically put anyone that makes items for children under the age of 12, out of business. Please take a minute, and sign this!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-n … toy-makers

Twas the day after Christmas and all through the house, toys were strewn like the droppings of a mouse.

Mamma and Dadda sit in shock and despair, with the extended family still in their hair.

The children went crazy, all hopped up on sweets.  Getting them to bed would be no easy feat.

Mamma up to her elbows in dishes to do, didn’t get to bed until well after two.

Out on the lawn sat fourty inches of snow, plows pushed it around with no place to go.

Boxes and paper flew all about, where are the directions?  Did we throw them out?

Children cried and threw tantrums galore, while Daddies spent hours assembling the store.

When finally everyone was asleep in their bed, a wonderful thought entered Mamma’s head.

It was all over, Christmas was through.  Now to find places for all the kids loot.

I’m sure you’ve heard of the Duggar family, that family with more kids than they have fingers and a homeschooling mother who preaches the bable and nothing more. 

Ok, well they’ve popped another J baby . . .makes number 18 and they don’t plan on quitting anytime soon.  Does anyone else find it a little off to have that many kids in this day and age?  Back years and years ago, before condoms and birth control, people had 6-10 kids and it was no big deal.  Children died of simple illnesses like chicken pox, and you needed extra free labor to help out on your farm. 

But today, why would you do that?  Why would have that many children?  Ok, I know religion has a lot to do with it . . .but now I think some of it has to do with money and popularity.  When their first tv special aired on TLC  4 babies ago . . .the Duggar name became a familiar one.  BUt now that they have their own tv show (one they are payed pretty highly to do I might add) they need to keep it interesting by adding more kids and showing how their little robot children are oddly well behaved and good manored.  Who can keep a 3 year old from running around acting crazy during vionlin lessons?  I’d be running around after a 2 hour violin concert! 

Their oldest son, Joshua, was just married and was not allowed to kis his wife-to-be until their wedding.  It’s apparently too sexual.  But, by all means kids, go at it like rabbits afterwards and have the missus poop out half a dozen in athe next few years!

Teaching your children to live by the word of the Lord is thing, but telling them that dinosaurs, evolution and science are all fake is entriely another!  Thousands and thousands of  of years worth of science, research and technology prove evolution and so many other things that are “forbidden” by certain religions.  Keeping your children in the dark and sheltering them from the truth is only going to make their lives harder when they go out in the real, cruel and honest world to go to college or get their first job ever and find out how terribly uneducated they truely are.

Investigators with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office announced in a press conference Friday afternoon that the remains found earlier this month near the Anthony home do, in fact, belong to Caylee Marie Anthony.  Medical examiner Dr. Jan C. Garavaglia said that the identification was made through a DNA match at the FBI lab in Quantico, Va.  The match was between a bone found at the east Orange County site and a DNA sample from Caylee, she said. 

Garavaglia said the death was by homicide, but she is not able yet to say how the child was killed. She also said the bones did not show any trauma caused before death, and said toxicology reports might not provide a full answer as to the cause of death.

Caylee’s mother, Casey Anthony, was told at 1:45 p.m. at the Orange County Jail, where she is being held on first-degree murder and other charges in connection with Caylee’s death.

The child’s grandparents, Cindy and George Anthony, also were told shortly before the 2 p.m. news conference.

Later Friday afternoon, their attorney, Brad Conway, said the family “didn’t give up hope” that Caylee was alive until they were told about the DNA results.

“As you can imagine, the Anthonys are grieving deeply over this loss,” said Conway, who asked the public and media to respect the family’s privacy.

Garavaglia said the remains that were found on Dec. 11 were bones only with no visible tissue.

“While I would love to explain the forensic aspects of this case to you, we must remember everyone is innocent until proven guilty,” Garavaglia said. “This case needs to be tried in a court of law and not the media, thus I will not discuss specifics of the finding of this case at this time.”

Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary declined to say what, if anything, else was found at the scene.

The Search:

Caylee, who was 2 years old at the time of her disappearance, was reported missing in mid-July — a month after she was last seen.

A plastic bag containing a child’s skull with duct tape, several small bones, a tooth, long light hair and clothing was discovered by a meter reader working near a wooded area within one-third mile of the Anthony home in East Orange County (

Story

).

The same utility worker, Roy Kronk, called in tips on Aug. 11, 12, and 13, and Dec. 11, regarding the area where the remains were found last week (

Video

).

Kronk held a brief news conference on Friday with an attorney, who emphasized that Kronk has nothing to do with the Anthonys or the case, other than being the one to find the bones.

Capt. Angelo Nieves of OCSO said Kronk’s calls were handled differently. He said no deputy was brought to the scene after the first call, CrimeLine handled the second call and a deputy responded the third time the meter reader called regarding the scene.

Nieves said what happened in that timeframe is being looked into. Nieves clarified that the utility worker is not a suspect.

On Aug. 13, the tipster met with deputies in that area, but he told a source that the deputy saw a rattlesnake nearby in the woods and advised the tipster not to look back there with him.

After the deputy’s search, he cleared the area. It is unknown if the deputy looked in the exact same area where the remains were later discovered.

The deputy’s thoroughness, Orange County investigators said, is currently under administrative review.

The source said the meter reader had just been reassigned to that area again, which is why he went back in the woods to see what was there.

It is unclear if he was “relieving himself,” as investigators have previously said, or if he was going into the area to satisfy his own curiosity.

Over the past five months since Caylee was reported missing, several groups have assisted in search efforts.

Texas Equusearch scoured several areas, including the area near Jay Blanchard Park in East Orange County, turning up nothing (

Story

).

California-based bounty hunter Leonard Padilla also participated in the search. He initially became involved in the case when he bailed Casey Anthony out of jail the first time she was arrested on charges of child neglect. (

Story

).

Up until a child’s body was found, Caylee’s grandparents, George and Cindy Anthony, and Casey Anthony’s attorney, Jose Baez, maintained that Caylee was alive.

Early on, Casey Anthony claimed her daughter was taken by a nanny, Zenaida Gonzalez, who denies any involvement and is suing Casey Anthony for defamation of character. George and Cindy Anthony stood by their daughter. (

Story

).

Casey Anthony’s trial is scheduled to begin in March.

The Aftermath:

On Saturday, crime scene investigators cleared the scene where Caylee’s remains were found.

The police convoys left and officers posted “No Trespassing” signs in the area to keep onlookers out.

Nieves said the scene is no longer an active crime scene, but trespassing will not be allowed.

The scene, which was previously a heavily wooded area, had been completely cleared where the CSI detectives worked for nine straight days.

The OCSO also said the attorneys for the defense had been called to come check out the crime scene at about 11:30 a.m. Saturday, but they declined. The reason for their decline remains unknown.

Investigators also went to the Anthony home to tell the family members that they could take a look at the scene Saturday morning.

A search warrant was executed at the Anthony home at about 3:30 p.m. George and Cindy Anthony remained inside the home at the time of the search. The purpose of the search warrant was not disclosed.

Meanwhile, Casey’s attorney is seeking a change of venue, citing that his client will not be able to receive a fair trial in Orlando. He arrived at the home of Casey’s parents Friday evening, but the details of his visit were unknown.

Baez also expressed his anger over not being able to be the first person to tell Casey about her daughter’s remains.

“It’s just not a professional way of doing things, and I’m extremely disappointed in the manner this was carried out,” Baez said. “Like I said though, their lack of professionalism has become predictable and we were able to stay one step ahead of them and have someone here who knows Casey and could be the there to consol her in a situation.”

A jail representative fired back Friday night, saying Baez knew the chaplain would be the one to give Casey the news.

“We’ve given her no special treatment beyond what is required from the security and treatment standpoint,” said jail representative Allen Moore. “And for Mr. Baez to say we are unprofessional, I find very offensive.”

According to Orange County Jail’s public information officer, the media has indicated that Casey was notified of her daughter’s remains while in her jail cell.

Moore said that’s not the way it happened.

He said Casey was in an attorney interview room in the Female Detention Center when the notification was made by a jail chaplain. She had been moved to the attorney interview room earlier and had been meeting with attorney Jose Garcia at the time of notification, which was about 1:45 p.m.

One additional attorney visit with Casey occurred Friday night.

According Moore, Gabriel E. Adam — of the Baez Law Firm — was at the jail from about 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Moore said he did not anticipate additional updates over the weekend. The next update would be on Monday mid-morning, he said, unless there is a significant development — such as additional attorney visits.

Moore also said that if Casey wanted to go to her daughter’s funeral, she’ll need to get a judge to sign off on it.

Friday night, people drove by the Anthony family home and some placed stuff animals in a makeshift memorial.

Support and grief from the family came from all angles.

Michelle Bart, the owner of Helping Heroes Productions, released a statement on Friday regarding the child’s remains belonging to Caylee.

Bart works with the Kid Finders Network, a group who helped the Anthonys in the search for their granddaughter.

Bart’s statement is as follows:

“Today’s announcement that our little angel went home has been heartbreaking to say the least. Caylee Marie’s soul and beauty have captured many hearts throughout the world, including mine. I came to offer some media support and I’m leaving with a new understanding of how devastating it is on these families whose loved ones go missing. I had just moved from Los Angeles to Washington when I started tuning into Nancy Grace, I have the show to thank for bringing this little girl and her family into my life. Despite the circumstances leading to her disappearance, my role was to provide support in keeping her name and picture visible so we could bring her home; I never knew this angel would spark my spirit in such a way that ultimately would impact my life forever. Today is dark, but the tools this case has given me will light a way to brighter tomorrows for all families who never give up hope no matter the obstacles they face each day while searching for their angels.”

The news of the confirmation that the remains belonged to Caylee made national news on Friday.

MSNBC, CNN and the Associated Press all gave the story prominent placement.

It was also a big story on People Magazine’s Web site Friday night, and it was front and center on the National Enquirer

Here’s a little food for thought:  Can you be fired from your jop for getting married?  Apparently, you can . . .if you work for the Salvation army, that is. 

Johnny Harsh, a Salvation Army Captain in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, is currently suspended and waiting for SA leaders to decide his fate.  Harsh, a widower and father, may lose his job for being engaged to a woman who does not work for the Salvation Army. 

“captain of the Oshkosh Salvation Army, is waiting to find out if he will be terminated from his job with the agency after he violated rules that include a rule that its officers can’t marry outside its ranks.

Harsh is engaged to a woman who is not affiliated with the Salvation Army, and previously received warning letters from Salvation Army officials informing him that his fiancée could not stay at his residence when she visited on weekends.”

How can this be legal?  Where does it fall in the lines of dicrimination, freedom, and your right to be happy?  The Salvation Army may do a lot of wonderful things for needy people, but they apparently run their inner workings similar to those of a bad cult! 

In my opinion, a person should not be told by their employer who they can and cannot marry.  Even the stern millitary doesn’t treat their men and women that way!

I would reccommend to anyone who works for the SA to protest this ludicrus rule and ask for freedom!  This is the year 2008, we have fallen out of the ways of our ancestors and their arranged marriages. 

What can we do?  Boycott the SA, donate to tehir causes this holiday season, not to support them but to support the millions of hard off families.   Caught between a rock and a hard place on that one.  How do you suppport thier work without supporting them?

At any rate, what they are doing to Johnny Harsh, and their thousands of other employees forced to marry within their cult, is WRONG!