Hot Topic (at the Michalski's)

Lou Dobbs rose an interesting point on CNN last night when he asked, "If the Vatican seriously objects to the U.S. border fence, should the Catholic church tear down the wall surrounding the Vatican?" This also triggered a serious debate between Ed and myself. Consequently, I'd like to know what you think. Are the two issues zip codes apart making the question invalid? Or does the question have merit? Please, tell me what you think. I want to know! AND, I'll make it worth your time. *How about the best answer to Lou Dobbs' question with supporting facts wins an 11X14 image in this post from Inkhounds.com, unframed. And if you don't want to win the image, that's ok, too! But, I'd love your know your thoughts.

*Contest ends January 31, 2009

We won! In Spite of Ho Ho Hobo Santa!

As tradition has it, everyone sits in the hot seat when they open Santa's gifts. And we get to wear a Santa cap, too. It's always a load of fun no matter what's under the paper.

There were several winners in the family resale gift exchange contest. Not everyone played by the rules. Those who didn't graciously donated to the kitty, which totaled over $100! We were one of the winners -  for the 14K earrings.

My clever brother decided that he wasn't interested in searching for valuable gifts under five bucks from a resale shop, so he improvised. He bought lame gifts, which drew a lot of laughs and votes, too.

Unfortunately, Ed and I were two of the recipients of his "Ho Ho Hobo" gifts. The time he didn't spend shopping, he utilized to make handmade humorous cards with brown bag envelopes to match the brown bag and twine packaging. My gift was a turntable that didn't work, but the accompanying records by Englebert Humperdink, were kind of cool. Ed's gift was an old Rival food processor.

My brother was slightly less generous with our nephew, who received the suit hanger without the suit. His handmade card explained that Santa's Ho Ho Hobo Christmas gift reflected the tight economy. He'd give the shirt off of his back, but since he didn't have one, he was happy to share at least the hanger.

And for my sister who was his happiest recipient -  he gave two old chrome and black vintage napkin holders. She was thrilled that Ho Ho Hobo Santa remembered her and her husband were remodeling their kitchen after Christmas. She said she can hardly wait to repaint the holders and place cloth napkins in them for a unique and classy touch. I like the idea so much I plan to borrow it for my kitchen.

I liked many of the other gifts which included games, an electric tie hanger, an electric car washing gadget (new in box), games and clothes. The Gyro car I bought for my nephew was a big hit. It was a crazy powerful thing that climbed up walls and flipped around every which way.

When my brother-n-law, Harry, opened his Potato Head, the children screamed with laughter. Hey, some toys stand the test of time. Uncle Harry loved it so much he took  his Potato Head home with him when he left.

Ed and I felt so bad for Ho Ho Hobo Santa that we left our gifts for him to enjoy. But, he won't find them until he takes the tree down, since Ed inconspicuoulsy hid them. We were happy enough with winning part of the kitty cash. Ho Ho Ho!

Back Home

Ed and I arrived in town last evening 30 minutes before Urgent Care down the road closed. Doc prescribed steroids, antibiotic, and cough perles. He wanted to prescribe codeine, but I'm allergic to it. About 2 hours outside of Columbus, a coughing spell left me feeling like I couldn't breathe. I'm not sure how Ed who was still recuperating from sinus infection - managed to deal with the boys who were hurling all kinds of questions, the roads which were barely visible through thick fog and me who was in a full-fledged panic attack. But, he did it. That I could barely scream above a whisper was incredibly helpful I bet. He's a hero!

In spite of cutting our vacation short and being sick every day, we *did have a wonderful time with family. I pray I kept enough distance that no one caught my bug. By the way, we were one of the gift exchange winners, but I was too sick for Starbuck stops. Pics and stories coming next week.

By the way, how odd is it that today *after taking the first round of antibiotics, 4 steroid tabs later - oh and the coughing perles...I get a fever?

Santa Baby, Top This!

A Pair of 14K gold earrings for $1.99 and a Cole Haan Bag for $1.49.

PNNers, I found a great buy for the resale gift exchange. And I found a Cole Haan bag* to resell on eBay or Craigslist. Each time I enter the resale shop, I'm wondering if I'll be able to top the previous visit. Either way, the excitement I feel at the possibility reminds me of Christmas shopping years ago when everyone didn't already have everything. Resale shops offer a collection of unique items. I wouldn't have a clue where to go elsewhere for such an eclectic selection under one roof. Stay tuned. I'll be posting images of all my finds.

* I couldn't locate an image online. I'll post a picture after the bag dries. I washed it!

Thanksgiving on the Beach

Thanksgiving holiday was unique this year in every way. I wasn't sure how I would feel being hundreds of miles from home outside the comfort of my kitchen filled with smells of spices and goodies baking. But, I think I could grow to love repeating a new Thanksgiving tradition absent of the week-long baking frenzy, days of preparation that include washing, ironing, carpet cleaning, polishing, shopping - and so much more.

During our vacation we hit the beaches and shops along the Outer Banks. We watched kites sail in blue skies above the ocean, dolphins frolic close to shore and anglers reel in their catches. We visited lighthouses. And, of course, we collected seashells.  

Dinner at the Outer Banks Brewery Station was a fabulous treat the day before Thanksgiving. The festive Christmas garland and wreaths under dim lighting and burning candles created a delicious ambiance. The light jazz music was a perfect backdrop for dinner after a full day of shopping and touring.

The lighthouses thrilled me to bits. The Bodie Island Lighthouse is located on the Outer Banks just north of the Oregon Inlet. It's a working lighthouse with a beam that extends 19 miles. The Currituck Lighthouse was built in 1875. It is also has a working beam that extends about 18 miles.

As much as I enjoy home for the holidays, I must give serious consideration to restructuring our future Thanksgivings. It seems almost a no-brainer trading stress for serenity.

The Liberal Glacier

I started to write a case for conservatism when my husband kindly pointed out that a very succinct article written by George Will dated May 31, 2007, by the same title - appeared in the Washington Post. What a pity that his article was not picked up by the McCain operation and used in his recent failed campaign because they did not adequately articulate the conservative message. That's not to say that Sarah Palin did not energize the base-she did in spades.  But McCain needed to draw more democrats further to the center and center right, which clearly did not happen.

By today's 'everything is relative' standards John F. Kennedy was a conservative. But I don't want to espouse the relative speak except to point out the relative distance our new president elect is from the principles of JFK.

Two of many defining values JFK advocated were that Americans should 1. Serve a cause bigger than themselves e.g. don't ask the government what it can do for you, and 2. Americans should not be considered on the basis of race, religion etc. Yet those two values have been turned upside down and twisted by his party today. The Dems have redefined "ask not" and "affirmative action" which, ironically he coined.

I find it a great conundrum that liberals reject values that JFK embraced yet all the while portray an alliance with him. George Will hit the proverbial nail when he wrote that, "You serve your country by embracing a spacious and expanding sphere of life for which your country is not responsible". I would add that the Dems embrace ideology, which partly rests on the premise that everything must be fair. That fallacy unfortunately is to some degree permeating the independent and conservative base and feeds the entitlement mentality. Everything is not fair, nor can or will be. It's a tall order to distribute fairness. How is it that any party should have such hubris to proclaim it should be administrators of it? Furthermore, it is evident where a party's values lie when it implies spreading wealth is the epitome of fairness. It is repulsive to debase Americans with such poppycock. Indeed liberals are very good at twisting values that JFK supported.

George Will nailed the arguments as one of freedom versus equality. It may be an over simplification to assert that if you are more concerned about freedom than equality you are more conservative than liberal. But, it might be an easy way to gauge where you are on the political spectrum. I believe that we have an intrinsic level of equality just being Americans, such that I do not need to be as concerned about equality because to some extent it already exists.

If I compete in a business endeavor against you and I do not succeed, from the liberal perspective - it's likely due to inequality rather than my general skills, abilities or capitalization. And, if I belong to an ethnic group, blame it on polarization, a magnification of the plight of my 'people'. If affirmative action perks are not the crutch to balance the playing field, perhaps an entitlement is because I am now told I am disenfranchised. The disenfranchised needing entitlements become a 'going concern' for communities and eventually Americans at large.

The notion of being able to succeed without the necessity of a government handout or hand up is slowly blotting out the legacy of our founding fathers-who argued whether the federal government should provide for the common defense. If the liberals somehow provide equality they will have to do so at the expense of the outcome. As with any competition someone will do better, and since the criteria liberals use for inequality is one of outcome they will not be satisfied until there no longer is competition and socialism reigns supreme. The conservatives need to illuminate the public to push back the slow deliberate liberal glacier. 

What Is Your Cell Phone Taboo?

Several weeks ago during worship service, I was enjoying the pastor deliver an intriguing sermon when I was interrupted.

"Where you at?" The man beside me asked.

I looked at him feeling dumbfounded and wondered if he was addressing me. Then I saw the cell phone attached to his other ear and was nearly embarrassed thinking I was voyeurish for overhearing his private conversation - not that I could avoid it.

"Yeah?" he continued, "well I'm towards the back. Like over in the middle."

I tried to ignore him and refocused on the minister, but it was a challenge. You know what it's like hearing two conversations at once.

Last Sunday during worship service I heard a cell phone blare, then I saw a woman jump up, run past us and exit with a cell phone clamped on her head. I wondered if there was an emergency and considered following her out to be sure she was okay. But, before I could make a decision she returned to her seat. Thirty minutes later I heard another cell phone blare. A few seconds later the same woman jumped up, ran past us again and exited the sanctuary. A few minutes later she returned, sat down and remained until the end of the service.

We don't take cell phones into the sanctuary. The way I see it, If there's an emergency we're in the best possible place we could hope to be anyway.

What do you think?

Cole Haan Resale Purchase

Here's a photo of the hand bag I found at the resale shop last week. This is not a bag I would carry. I'm happy with Wilson Leather or even a cloth bag that holds up well. But, since it was only $1.49, I bought it and cleaned it up. I'll resell it on eBay or Craigslist. A few extra bucks around the holidays will buy pizza out - or maybe I can use it towards our anniversary dinner on New Years Eve. 

Covered Bridge in Winter

Before Thanksgiving we stopped by our secret hideaway. It was freezing outside, but I wanted to get a few images to share with you in the event we don’t make it back this winter when the landscape is covered in a blanket of snow. It feels so inviting during the winter season. Like the welcome shelter that it is. In the past we've stood inside and watched the snow fall. It's romanitc, quiet, almost colonial and cold. I said that already. Anyway, when it's white outside the images are a little more tricky. Hopefully we can visit again this winter when the light is cooperating.

Not All Toads Are Named After Teachers

My children have had good teachers and some less than good. But none apparently as crappy as my nephew's 4^th grade teacher, which prompted his mom to honor her by making the feral toad her namesake. Whenever we visited I always asked about Linda the toad. I'd seen what happened to toads caught between window screens in the southern temperatures. Not pretty. No teacher - err toad deserved that.

If school started on the wrong foot at the beginning of a new year, home/school communication often helped us get back on track. Parent/teacher conferences were either opportunities to help better equip my child for progress or they served to help me really dislike my child's teacher. I've attended both types and maybe a few which I would be hard pressed to label.

I'll never forget the conference with a kindergarten teacher who complained that my son titled his head back and looked around at the room and ceiling. Her remark seemed like a teacher tourettes moment. It could not have been more insignificant to mention than what brand of bathroom tissue she preferred. I thought she was an odd sort, but I didn't name the slug that destroyed my prize Hosta after her.

From time to time God smiles on us and plants in our lives an exceptional teacher who epitomizes something near perfection. Such was the case with our boy's fourth and fifth grade Teacher.

We communicated  frequently via email and phone. While our conferences were productive and it was good to have the personal contact, I cannot imagine experiencing the great  success as a result of a mere few conferences during the school year. Our emails were lifelines.

See below more emails we shared back and forth:

Happy Wednesday to you,

I was wondering if [your son] was able to come up with a topic for Ohio History?  I know you were going to discuss it at home. His years are 1970-1989.  I wrote [your son] a note today asking him how I can make writing better for him.  I am willing to try anything and to adjust assignments as needed to help him be successful.  I am only telling you this so that you know about my question to him and perhaps he will discuss this with you.  I think we just need to come up with a plan. If we need to meet together, with [your son], I'll be more than happy to do so.

Once again, he had a productive day during reading and math. Thanks for the time and support you have been giving me.  

Sincerely,

Teacher

****

Hi Teacher, you'll be relieved to hear that [my son] has selected the blizzard of 1978 as a topic. We covered a lot of topics and it was interesting to learn things about Ohio that I didn't know (some he already knew). After much coercion he selected a topic of the many we read about. Tell me what I can do next to help him with the next step. Does he need to do research at home? Or can I help him with research skills? Just let me know how I can help and I will gladly work with him. Thank you for everything! - Kimberly

****

Kimberly,

Well here is a tidbit that fits that topic. I was just telling my daughter that I was a freshman at OSU and they closed the campus for one day during that blizzard!  What I don't remember is if they had ever canceled classes before that or when the last date prior to the blizzard!

Great news.  Now he needs to read about it and then write a short news article about the topic.  We can read about it at school, but I'm more worried about him getting his ideas down on paper.  However, when he is interested he usually can get some ideas down.

Let me know what he says.  Did he mention my letter?  Has he ever hinted to you what would make the process easier?

Thanks,

Teacher

One Teacher, Many Miracles

When our son was diagnosed with ADHD, I felt some relief for a logical explanation of his behavior. Even so, initially it felt like a diagnosis with no cure. I hardly knew how to address every concern. And there were a lot. Everything that involved raising a kid like eating, sleeping, school, play, discipline etc.  – required a new outlook.

We immediately established a good counseling program, a consistent eating and sleeping schedule, and sensible boundaries and life grew somewhat less crazy. However, school was an inconsistent monster. By fourth grade, our son had made some significant strides in areas like attitude, task efficiency, reading etc. But, there was room for big improvement. I spilled a bucket of tears from worry and guilt. Some of the issues in my son’s life were a result of baggage in my life - when I was single parenting, working full time and attending school full time. Eventually I stopped living in guilt and proved my penitence by committing to responsible living and parenting and moved forward.

One of the greatest blessings that dropped out of heaven was our son’s fourth grade teacher, who also was his fifth grade teacher. She epitomized dedicated teaching. Her love, respect, authenticity, caring attitude and so much more made all the difference – I am convinced – in our son’s progress. I wish every child had teachers equally dedicated.

In the coming weeks, I'll post stories and and emails sharing our two year journey  as we worked together to mold and shape one tough student. I look forward to your thoughts and comments.

Here’s the beginning of our journey:

Hello Kimberly,

I responded to your parent teacher request and forgot to give it to  [your son]. Sorry. You have requested to meet at 5 or 6 or 6:30 on Thursday November 9.  I can meet at 4:45 or 5:15.  The next time available would be 7:15.  Sorry that 5:00 is taken. Let me know if any of these alternative times work for you. [Teacher]

 *******

Hi  [Teacher], the 5:15 on Thursday will work great. Thanks a bunch. Hey - no worries if we miss communication via [my son]. You can always email me. I ck. it several times a day.

Have a great week! - Kimberly

*******

Kimberly,

I'll see you at 5:15 on Thursday.  It will be really good for us to meet.

Thanks so much, [Teacher]

Shopping Resale?

Christmas spending might be one of the big cuts in family budgets acrossAmerica. That’s the case for my family. Yet I have never been more excited about Christmas. This year when we drew names, the rules changed - starting with the spending limit, which is five bucks. Everyone must find their treasures at resale shops, flee markets, yard sales etc. We thought this would be a great example for our kids by teaching them the value of money and progressing our recycling attitudes. On Christmas Day everyone will put a buck in the kitty. After the gifts are unwrapped, everyone will vote on the best gift. No one can vote for the gift he/she purchased. The two gifts receiving the most votes split the kitty cash. We are driving to FL for Christmas. Winning the kitty equates to a few extra Starbucks stops between Orlando and Columbus. I’m off to the resale shops. Woo hoo!

Locks of Love

Most people enjoy helping others because it makes them feel good and because it gives them an opportunity to serve someone other than themselves. It doesn't always take money to help others in need. But, often individuals don't know how to make a contribution or they feel awkward about it.

My daughter is a young mom, with little time to donate to the community because her toddlers keep her busy. She also doesn't have spare cash. But, she has beautiful hair, which she recently donated to Locks of Love.

Locks of Love is a non-profit organization that provides the highest quality prostheses to disadvantaged American and Canadian children who have lost their hair due to illness or disease. Qualifying children are eligible to apply for a new prosthesis every 18 months. Locks of Love accepts real hair donations of 10 inches and longer. My daughter sent a foot long pony tail to the organization and had enough to spare for a medium length haircut.

Horses

Recently when we visited the Outer Banks, we noticed horses cropped up everywhere. Horse trinkets, horse images, horse mugs, horse caps and bags, and loads more horse themed articles. Small horse sculptures decorated business entrances and restaurants. We had never seen such overt appreciation for all things equine along the coast. We later learned about the wild horses roaming the Outer Banks - primarily around Corolla. We didn’t  take time to tour the area for horses. However, Ed snapped some images of my sister-n-law and her mare. Every morning she was up at dawn tending her equine duties. Ever heard the expression, “work like a workhorse”? Hmm. It’s incredible the amount of work required to care for a horse. I’m certain she works harder than the horse in this case. I love horses, but I'd rather own a Steinway.

Andrew Johnston

A fourteen year-old choirboy was "discovered" on Britain's Got Talent show. Wow. The boy appears to have a future. His first CD was released in September this year under Simon Cowell's label, SyCo Music. If you love classical music, you'll appreciate this young boy's voice. And perhaps even more you'll appreciate the story behind his success. He and his siblings lived in poverty with their single mom. He was bullied in school and "carried on" in spite of it. His audition had us in tears. Ultimately, he placed third on the British talent show. What an inspiration!