seriously....

Why do I keep finding guys who need to go back to school? Last boyfriend, starting law school at 27, new guy I'm "talking to", 30, just had his PhD application pass the first hurdle at a top school 2,000 miles away. I give up!!!! I get that they are trying to better their careers and I admire that but, Grrrrrrrrr. Do I have to start looking at mid/late 30s to find someone done completely with full-time schooling?

thoughts and prayers

A friend of mine's relatives were killed in a horrible car crash last night. My heart goes out to them.

MARION, IL - A deadly crash on Interstate 57 in southern Illinois has left three adults and three children dead.

Illinois State Police Commander Scott Rice says a semi-truck hit the end of a guardrail at a bridge Wednesday night, and veered into oncoming traffic near Marion. "The information IDOT has was that he was speeding and driving erratically, and that he crossed over and struck two vehicles head-on."

Authorities say the crash killed trucker Jimmy Joe Storm of Union City, Tennessee. Storm's rig struck two other semis and a pick-up, killing all five occupants of the smaller vehicle.
Those killed were identified as 43-year-old Raymond Ruzich, 43, of West Frankfort and his daughters Jessica, 8, and Ashley, 11; and Shelly Bonney, 29, of West Frankfort and her daughter, Kaylynn, 10.

The accident investigation is continuing. An autopsy is planned on the truck driver.

I need some work!

I went shooting a few weeks ago and here are a couple of my targets. The first one was done with an SP-89.....my god I love that gun. The second was my little 32 cal Beretta Tomcat. I didn't get a bullsye but at least I killed the guy! Looks like I'm shooting a bit right so if I compensate for that I should be good to go. Suprising considering I'm a lefty!

my apologies.....

I have been quite busy lately and have not been posting as much as I'd like....well posting anything of substance anyways. Typical of the beginning of a semester for me. Until I get a post up in the next couple of days, play these annoying games.......thanks to the Conservative UAW Guy.

Falling Sand Game- look at the bottom at what all the different colors mean and experiment!

Paper Toss Game- for those people in corporate America stuck in cubicles like a veal.

24 has taken over my family

I LOVE the show 24 on Fox. 24 took my family hostage a couple years ago when my brother had knee surgery and Season 1 DVD was given to us. We watched 8 hours straight the first night. We finished season 1 in a few days, rented Season 2 and finished just in time to watch Season 3 on TV. Now Season 5 has started and it still gets my heart racing! My sister, Ranting Republican has resisted Jack Bauer for years but last week....WE GOT HER!

Her biggest fear is coming true.....she watched the first 4 hours of Season 5 and now has gone back and rented Hours 1-8 of Season 4 and watched them all in less than 15 hours....and is at the video store as we speak renting the next 8 hours. I tell you people, JACK BAUER IS IRRESTIBLE. This show is so damn good that I went looking for 24 blogs and found this one: Blogs4bauer. Its hilarious and I strongly suggest you check it out if you love this show as much as I do. They had a great spoof of it made by some kids......check it out here.

Just because.........

....the holidays are over, lets not forget about our men and women overseas. They were flooded with cards and care packages in December but this should be happening 365 days a year. Even just one card means so very much. I did stumble upon this horrible story tonight that happened last month. If reading this doesn't make you want to send a card to Iraq or to an injured soldier at Walter Reed Medical Center, I don't know what will. Makes me sick and breaks my heart.

http://michellemalkin.com/archives/004021.htm

The "Black National Anthem" ???

As Martin Luther King Day approaches, I have been hearing more and more about the song "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" by James Weldon Johnson.....aka the "Black National Anthem." What nation are they these black people from? We are all citizens of the United States and should all stand together for the "Star Spangled Banner." As the Olympics approach we will see Americans of every ethnicity proudly wearing gold medals, with their hand over their heart and crying while watching our flag raised. We have no "Korean American National Anthem", "Italian American National Anthem," or "German American National Anthem"....why a black one? We are not in segregated times anymore, and the majority of Americans alive today do not remember those horrible times so many years ago.

I guess my beef is calling it the "Black National Anthem." I understand its purpose during the years when blacks were not given the same rights as other Americans, but the Civil Rights Act remedied that. I understand there will always be racists out there, but no need to add fuel to the fire. I think "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" is a beautiful name.

If you'd like to see the lyrics, click here

Another story:

Today in Health class we were talking about different types of families (i.e nuclear, single-parent, blended, extended, foster). They had to research it, then draw their own immediate families and label what type it falls under. Its good for them to see they aren't so different and it gives me a chance to see what's going on at their home, so yes I do have alterior motives.

This one blonde cheerleader comes up to me and says "How do I draw my family? I don't know how to label my family." So I sit down next to her on the floor and say "who do you live with?". She says "I'm adopted." I say "Then you are a nuclear family, you live with your mom and dad and your brother." She says "Well, they're my grandparents. My mom had me when she was really young, 17, and then she had my brother who has cerebral palsy and my dad left because he didn't want to deal with a handicapped kid. Then my mom got a boyfriend, got pregnant, I got a new baby sister, then he killed my sister when she was 4 months old. He went to jail for a few years, mom couldn't take care of us anymore so my grandparents adopted us." I ask "Do you still talk to your mom?" She says "I'm really mad at her right now, the ex-boyfriend who killed my sister just got out of prison and she's friends with him and that really hurts. So now my brother, who I take care of a lot, and my grandparents live together."

GOOD LORD, damn these parents are messing their kids up so badly. I have one kid who's cutting herself and another girl who has been through more than any 14 year old should. I know kids have a flair for the dramatics and much of what they say can be made up but, in general, it breaks my heart and pisses me off.

THIS is why I need to make sure I find the perfect man to marry and spend my life with. Everything has to be right, in my mind and heart, because I refuse to be one of these parents I see ruining my student's innocence and childhood.

Student update:

I just spoke with my student who admitted to self-mutilation in a worksheet yesterday. She says she has not "cut" in a couple weeks and has been doing better. Her family is divorced and puts the kids inbetween their fighting and they are being pulled from one house to the other. She says she's happy at school but is upset at home. She also admitted to bulimia and said her parents would be mad if they know she was discussing this at school. They also said they don't want to hear about her problems (according to her, of course.) I asked her if she'd be willing to go see the school psychologist and that I would go with her......she agreed, so thats really good!!!!

I really think that comment on the worksheet is a cry for help and as soon as I asked her about it, that opened the floodgates and I got all sorts of info in a matter of minutes. Now she'll be getting the help she needs and I'm so relieved.

Goal setting activity.....

In my Health classes I am having the kids think about and write down some of their short-term and long-term goals. Many freshman have not even begun to think about the future so this forces them to do so.

I gave them a worksheet and it says: In the next week, one of my goals is to........ (insert goal here). I will reach this goal by taking these steps: (steps listed here). They have to fill this out for a week, next month, 6 months, a year, 5 years and 10 years. I had some kids that raised their hand and said "I can't think of any goals.".......thats not good!!

I was just grading this kid's paper and her goal in the next 6 months is to "stop cutting." She will reach this goal by: "taking my frustration out by writing, its been working so far." WOW. I wasn't expecting that on a goals worksheet!!! Now I have to speak with her, see who she's talked to and then if I have to, report it to the proper people. I hate narking on kids but I will always tell them first and if they tell me things like they have eating disorders, are abused at home, or engage in self-mutilation, I have to tell.

you gotta see/read this

A thanks to my fellow blogger Fetching Jen for posting this story.

There was a town hall meeting in Virginia with Democrat Reps. Jim Moran and John Murtha.

This first clip is of Sgt Mark Seavey, an infantry squad leader who recently returned from Afhganistan. This is so great.

http://media.michellemalkin.com/videos/seaveyvideo.wmv

If you are at work and can't listen, here is the transcript:

"Yes sir my name is Mark Seavey and I just want to thank you for coming up here. Until about a month ago I was Sgt Mark Seavey infantry squad leader, I returned from Afghanistan. My question to you, (applause)

"Like yourself I dropped out of college two years ago to volunteer to go to Afghanistan, and I went and I came back. If I didn't have a herniated disk now I would volunteer to go to Iraq in a second with my troops, three of which have already volunteered to go to Iraq. I keep hearing you say how you talk to the troops and the troops are demoralized, and I really resent that characterization. (applause) The morale of the troops that I talk to is phenomenal, which is why my troops are volunteering to go back, despite the hardships they had to endure in Afghanistan.

"And Congressman Moran, 200 of your constituents just returned from Afghanistan. We never got a letter from you; we never got a visit from you. You didn't come to our homecoming. The only thing we got from any of our elected officials was one letter from the governor of this state thanking us for our service in Iraq, when we were in Afghanistan. That's reprehensible. I don't know who you two are talking to but the morale of the troops is very high."

Moran - who is one of the few congressmen supporting Charlie Rangel's call to restore the draft - responded quickly: "That wasn't in the form of a question, it was in the form of a statement. But, uhh... let's go over here." And he took the next question.

"Near the end of the marathon session, a Vietnam veteran, General Wagner, stepped up to the microphone to deliver a message from the mother of an Iraqi war vet who gave his life for his country and for the mission. After reading a scathing letter addressed to Murtha, Wagner talked about his own experience in Vietnam:"

http://media.michellemalkin.com/videos/wagnervideo.wmv

Transcript:

Hello Mr Moran I'm General Wagner. I'm here tonight, I decided to come at 7:30. And I'll tell you the reason I came at 7:30 is because I want an answer to a letter, to a friend of ours. She wrote this letter to Mr. Murtha, where she pointed out to him that he was causing the insurgents to bring more activity against the soldiers in Iraq, just as the traitors did during the Vietnam war. I was fighting in 1972 with the Vietnamese when people were cavorting with the North Vietnamese.

Her son was killed today.

I got the message at 7:30 tonight, and I'll tell you, I wasn't going to waste my time coming here because I knew the trash that was going to be put out. But I'm really mad. Because what is being put out is being used to incite the insurgents to continue this war, just as it incited General Giap to consider the Vietnam war.
He hasn't answered her letter, Mr Moran, but I want to read a paragraph to you. I think its a little instructive:
"I have faith in our military leaders and believe that they are making the necessary steps to train the Iraqi forces and provide for our eventual withdrawal.

I also have faith in our executive branch, that they are taking the necessary steps to help the new Iraqi government to get a democratic style government in place and to give them at least a chance of success. Although mistakes were made in the execution of the war and its aftermath, the goal itself is worthy, and in spite of all the negativity that we are constantly bombarded with I believe that there have been some remarkable successes.

"Although my son would surely" - and this, incidentally, this is the one that was killed today - "would surely prefer to stay home with his wife and four young children" - from 10 to 2, I'm adding that - "he is both a soldier and a scholar, he understands that we are in a vital long term struggle against a dangerous ideology, and he is willing to make the necessary sacrifices to defeat it. It is a difficult struggle and will require patience and fortitude both on and off the battlefield. If we lose our will at home, it makes the task for our soldiers all the more difficult. I believe your comments were irresponsible and are contributing to the loss of national will. If they were made to obtain political advantages I would find that abhorrent and unworthy of a former Marine."

Sir, I'm mad. Because that is happening every day when I read the newspapers. I visit Walter Reed, and talk to the young soldiers with their legs blown off. I know you do too.I can't find one in a dozen that don't believe that they are fighting for a noble cause and are fighting to go back. And I think it's a disgrace when members of our congress, just as they did in 1975 when they sold out the South Vietnamese, are selling out our soldiers today in Iraq.
Thank you sir. (no applause)

Rep. Moran's reply:

Well... uh... Ge.. General... uh.. uh.. we're not gonna end... uh... I'll respond.
But..., um... I.. I do respect your point of view, I know it is widely shared. Uhh... and, um..., and I respect your service in the military.

Uhhh.. I do support the troops, and I do believe that the best way for me to support the troops is to make sure that when they do go to war its a war that needs to be fought. Uh... I... (applause) I... In response to the first two... I don't want the applause, because its going to be interpreted that I'm appealing to the audience. But the, uh... with regard to having faith in the troops I do have faith in our troops, and... uh... but with regard to having faith in uhh... the government that sent them, I don't, and the reason I don't is because they deliberately... is because the reasons that we were giving... given to go to war in Iraq were not accurate, uhhh, and, um, uh, and uh we have now found that Saddam didn't have weapons of mass destruction, there wasn't reliable evidence that he did.

He was not a threat to the United States despite any number of attempts in any number of speeches to uhhh... tie Saddam Hussein to the attacks of 9/11 he had nothing to do with it. So our going into Iraq was not in response to any attack, or even real threat to the United States, and it seems to me it uhh... it failed on that and any number of other reasons for being a war that was of necessity


Please make a note that I used Republican Red for the good guys and Commie blue for these idiots. Wow, I would've loved to have been at this town hall meeting!!! Those two morons disgust me, are bumbling idiots, and fire off the same talking points for every damn question.

Because of you.....

I have been following this Marine's adventures in Iraq through the link for anysoldier on the right. His post today brought me to tears. I would definitely advise all of you do go to this website, read through their posts, and pick a Marine, soldier, airmen or sailor and send a care package to them. They write exactly what they need so you can send a package tailor made for them...its really fun!!

Here is one man's entry and if this doesn't make you want to send a package, I don't know what will:

Because of you we are able to take showers with body wash, use shampoo and have deodorant and enjoy the basic necessities of life. Because of you we are able to have late night snacks and plenty of coffee to keep us alert and to help us wake up. Because of you, we enjoy current publications and magazines and continue to educate ourselves with current books. We are able to slip away for a few seconds to listen to a CD, DVD or write a letter. Because of you we have made acquaintances, pen pals, supporters and most importantly, friends. We were shown how our country supports us through thick and thin, how selfless actions of mothers, fathers single moms and churches send care packages easily worth $50-$60 and then pay another $40 for shipping.

Because of you we have "junkies" asking us what do you need and although we don't ask for much we receive what we ask for without hesitation with extras thrown in. Because of you Lance Corporal Smith does his 50th patrol but does it with hand warmers in his pockets and is able to concentrate on the enemy instead of the cold. We have something to add to the water in the 130 degree temperatures so that we actually drink water instead of getting dehydrated.

Because of you we have the 7 ton truck driver who although is advised by his mother not to dip had his Copenhagen dip and although he is on a crappie road in a crappie place is at least happy for a little while. Because of you many many Marines have enjoyed a nice cigar and wound down built cohesion in a time that others may have fell apart. Because of you, we have the simple words of "Thank you", "Stay Tuff" and "We support you" sent to us. So few words however words that carry a big punch.

Because of you we won't let some terrorist come to our country and tell our children what to do or threaten their way of life. Because of you WE will protect life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Every single one of you who have supported a service member and sent them a letter or package while they were in the fight against terrorism either in Afghanistan or in Iraq have made a difference. Your Marines continue to take the fight to the insurgents. Young Marines, women Marines, continue to excel beyond the expectations of their leaders and stand tall against terrorism and simply say "NO" your not doing that while we are here. Because of you we can do that. Thank you all for making a difference to your service members.

Simply put, because of you, we are winning!
Semper Fidelis and remember its all because of you!

Family loses son in Iraq, then house to fire

Vietnam War veteran Jesse Alcozer isn’t used to asking for help. But a series of traumas — the death of his son in Iraq, protests by a hate group at the funeral and a fire that left the Alcozer family homeless — proved too much to endure. “We just need a little bit of help,” said Alcozer, his voice breaking during a news conference Monday afternoon. We've tried to be a good family and good people," said Alcozer Jr., 33, Christopher's half-brother, as tears built and slowly fell. "Hopefully there's karma, and it all comes back to you."

The Alcozers’ rental house went up in flames Dec. 27 when a candle burning in a shrine for U.S. Army Pfc. Christopher Alcozer set his picture on fire. The only spot of good news was that firefighters rescued medals belonging to Christopher and the flag that had draped his coffin. “It’s a part of my son. It means a lot,” Alcozer said.

The family is temporarily staying at a hotel, but money is tight. Jesse Alcozer is a disabled Vietnam Marine veteran who was shot 7 times in Vietnam. He was listed as Missing in Action until he was able to make his way back to his unit after they thought he was dead. He lost his job some months ago when his company moved overseas, and his veterans benefits were cut 20 percent just before Christopher’s death Nov. 19. Firefighters estimated the damage to the 1880s frame house on North Michigan Avenue in eastern Elmhurst at $100,000.

Members of the Alcozer family, including two young grandchildren, were relaxing and watching "Toy Story" together around 9 p.m. Dec. 27 when the fire struck. “The next thing we knew, the fire alarm went off,” said Judy Alcozer, Jesse’s wife. She tried to extinguish the flames, but the fire spread too rapidly. “I prayed that we all got out alive,” Jesse Alcozer said.

While watching the destruction, the couple told emergency workers about the flag and medals. Firefighters Eric Burmeister and Kevin Cwirla, who is a retired National Guard staff sergeant, hurried to salvage them. Also untouched was a Gold Star banner hanging in the front window. Flames burned the window trim and the wall, but snaked around Christopher's star. "We saw it as a sign from Christopher," Judy Alcozer said.

“His son gave the ultimate sacrifice, and we hoped we could alleviate the pain,” Cwirla said.
“The good Lord has a way of doing things,” Alcozer said. The family is steeped in military history. Jesse’s father and grandfather served, and he has two sons enlisted.

Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, who spoke at Christopher Alcozer's funeral in November, was so horrified by the protesters, who have appeared at about six other military funerals in the state, that he is proposing a new law. The Let Them Rest In Peace Act would prohibit any protesting within 300 feet of any military or civilian funeral and would ban protests during funeral services, and 30 minutes before and after.

Christopher grew up hoping to follow in his dad’s footsteps.
“My son always believed in America,” Jesse said.

He died at age 21 during a skirmish in the town of Mosul, Iraq, while his unit was looking for suspected terrorists holed up in a house, Jesse said. Christopher was fatally shot while covering other soldiers as they removed the wounded. “He couldn’t walk away. He stood his ground. He wanted to make sure his Army friends got out alive,” Alcozer said. “At the last minute he was killed.” He had proposed to his girlfriend just weeks ago on his leave from Iraq.

Adding to the family’s grief were protesters who demonstrated outside the funeral with signs saying, “Thank God for Dead Soldiers.” The group has targeted military burials, contending that the deaths of soldiers are divine retribution for society’s toleration of homosexuals. The experience was unbelievably hurtful, Alcozer said. “Can’t people just stay away?” he said. “For someone to come and protest … it’s just too painful.”

Whenever you're having one of "those days" where you think life sucks, think about this family. I saw this story on the news and it just broke my heart. How much can a family endure??? My thoughts and prayers go out to them and I am truly grateful for their family's dedication to our country and our military.

With that being said, I am LIVID at the thought of people protesting funerals. What kind of sick, twisted, demented loons do something like that????? "THANK GOD FOR DEAD SOLDIERS".......I'm sorry but those protesters deserve to go to hell. Sure they are exercising their freedom of speech, (which the military fought to give us), saying its diving retribution for society's toleration of homosexuals???? Who are these people? Are they religious fanatics? So its justice for America not shunning gays? I hope they are not registered Republicans because they will give us a bad name!! I know they are many out there who do not agree with the morality of homosexuals, and thats their right, but I can't imagine them cheering at slain soldier's funerals. Its horrifying and disgraceful. I'm suprised that group wasn't back to throw gasoline on the home as it was burning.

God bless this family and may their son rest in peace.

Congrats Longhorns!

CONGRATS TO THE TEXAS LONGHORNS

2006 NCAA CHAMPIONS

(don't you think Young would look great in a Green Bay Packer uniform???)

woah boy

This second hour class is going to be a doozy, I can already tell. My first hour class was dead quiet, I was up at the front of the classroom pulling on my collar saying "tough crowd."

This one has a mixture of smartasses and straight up thugs. I'm going to have to get all up in their face like Michelle Pfeiffer in Dangerous Minds!!!!

Here we go again

I get another 150 new students tomorrow morning....unless a few that failed have me again! I'm teaching 5 freshman Health classes, no PE this time around. I know I've been on a political hiatus but once I get settled with teaching again, I'll jump back into it. Until then, check out this adorable blog: Everybody Loves Riley

NYE...from what I can remember :)

Well, I must say New Years Eve was a blast! A bunch of us checked into a hotel in Schaumburg and started drinking Champagne around 5pm.......got all sexied up and went to Durty Nellies to see Modern Day Romeos and Sixteen Candles. We had $55 cover and all you can drink for 3 hours, and drink I did! 4 out of the last 5 New Years I had a significant other so it was weird being out with the girls...but fun!! My tummy was a little rumbly after having lots of champagne, then 2 vodka cranberrys, then a double vodka lemonade, then several tequila shots, then some beer. Blah, just thinking about it makes me cringe!

We danced a lot, beer was constantly spilled down my lacey black halter top and my once curly hair was drenched! Our one friend got beer spilled down her butt, ewwwww. 16 Candles is an 80's cover band so we danced to songs ranging from Bon Jovi to New Kids on the Block and everything else inbetween. I started drunk dialing my Ohio friends at 11pm central b/c they were already in the new year....but around that time we all realized we needed to sew up "our midnights".....next thing we know we hear the countdown "8,7,6......" and then everyone starts kissing everyone! I kissed boys, girls, who knows. Then I started drunk dialing again and probably called some people I shouldn't have and after looking at my "outgoing calls" list, yeah, bad idea. But, hey, its New Years and I wanted to wish everyone I called a "Happy New Year!"

Then it all started going down hill.......I all of a sudden got way more hammered and then got sad, then just mentally checked out and started spacing out, aka, get Teacher Tori out of the bar. We were back to the hotel by around 1:00am and started eating everything that didn't eat us first! I ate some chicken salad that had been floating around in a garbage can full of ice-turned-water. The container wasn't airtight so my drunk ass opens it, drains the nasty water and ate the whole thing!! Ewwwww, but damn it was good...along with some pizza bialis and cheetos. So yeah, my evening was done pretty early and I still don't feel quite right but it was fun and I'm so excited for 2006!!!!!