Americans Forget Memorial Day

The ignorance of people just amazes me. "Memorial day is just a bogus holiday" ?
" I have been out of school for 15 years, and forgot the meaning" ? 

I have no words for these folks, and the slap in the face they just gave to those who fought and died for freedom. Why don't they go to a national cemetary and just spit on the graves while they are at it.

Simply unbelievable....

-JUGM

SC Common Core

The battle began about two years ago. When the parents of South Carolina school children began bringing home  Common Core education. The lines were drawn and parents were outraged at the "Dumbing Down" of our school kids.
I ,in Florida felt fortunate, that we did not have full implementation of this monster..we only had the math portion which is a headache enough. South Carolina and several other states have full implementation.
Common Core is not only a fight for what curriculum is taught, it is also a fight for the personal data that is being collected. Data that the federal government has no business asking.

Below is an actual questionnaire :

This is what a parent wrote in on one such questionnaire that was mailed to them from the Palm Beach County School District here in Florida:

 Now I am happy to say that Last week the voices of the people were heard, the South Carolina House and Senate struck down Common Core. The bill will go back to the house for final passage then signed by the Governor.

However South Carolina must remain vigilant. The same thing was done in Indiana and new curriculum was passed, only it was still common core with a different name to it.
That is why the Anti Common Core movement is hoping for their candidate : Sherry Few to be elected. She has promised sweeping changes to South Carolina's education system and if elected will begin working on the new curriculum in January 2015 when she takes office.

Now Florida needs to get on the bandwagon....  fingers crossed

-JUGM

Memorial Day 2014

Some Days...

I just want to pull all my hair out.. My Parents...I really do love them, but lately they have been the reason I have taken stock in Clairol hair color.

It is not easy with them. My father still has not fully recovered from his March hospital stay, and my mother's dementia worsens every day. Now, she has had an amazing amount of weight loss. Rapidly I might add.

My Concerns with my mother falls on deaf ears... To her the weight loss is a splendid thing and I am just being jealous. But to me, my family and even strangers. She does not look well and I am worried.
Today another argument with her, she takes too many medications and I fear she is also abusing vitamins...is that even possible? 
This was actually said today:

ME: " is this new magnesium pill you are taking doing any good" ?
HER: "Yes, the bottle says it helps relax muscles and helps with moodiness"
ME: "But do you feel it is helping YOU"
HER: "The bottle says it does..so yea it is"

Do you see where this conversation was going? Then she goes off topic, which happens in every conversation you have with her:

HER: " are you pregnant?"
ME: " WHAT"?  No.. 
HER: " well then maybe you need to take these pills to help you lose some weight, I think you are just jealous at how fabulous I look"

 She orders out of magazines, my father does nothing. My mother is taking so much crud, that she does not know what it is for. I believe one day she will drop from cardiac arrest.

*sigh*  Ever feel like you are in a bad situation and your hands are completely tied?  Yep, that is how me and my siblings feel..... 

Thank you all for listening...just needed to vent it out

-JUGM

My New Favorite Show...

I discovered this Sunday night, while flipping channels, my usual line up of shows is off for the season, and I came across this on Animal Planet, but just learned that Discovery Channel has picked it up for A second season.
.
It is called "Dude, Your Screwed"

Here is a brief synopsis courtesy of discovery channel:

 A twist on the survival genre, the series follows five of the world’s most elite, thrill-seeking survivalists who are captured one at a time by the other four. Once captured, they are then dropped in one of the world’s harshest environments and must make their way back to civilization — all within 100 hours. Season one, which premiered in December, featured a range of survivalists including a Green Beret, a member of the UK Royal Air Force, a former Navy SEAL and a veteran Army Scout

I like it for several reasons, they make it fun and serious at the same time. They show you useful ways to turn and every day objects into a survival tool. And the show is PG and family friendly, which is very important in my house.

I must add the Veteran Army Scout..is an old guy and a real hoot...
 So surf the channels and look for it...

-JUGM

The Wedding Bells Rang...

We could not have asked for more beautiful weather then what was given to us on Saturday.
It was like a picture post card jumped to life : Clear blue sky, cool breeze, temps in the low 80s. We prayed and God Blessed us.
 My niece walked down the aisle surrounded by her family and friends she met her Prince Charming   and they both said "I Do".  She has been such a good christian girl, and faithful daughter to her parents. And for that they worked for a full year to give their only child the fairy tale wedding she always dreamed of.

 

This is a pose the photographer thought of and one he likes

to do prior to the wedding..

after he snapped his,

I did mine

in black and white of course:

 

 

My niece and her Prince Charming...

( yes he is a LT in the Army Reserves, we had hoped he was navy

but not every one is completely perfect..lol)

 

 

 



 



Happy Birthday To Senior

Yep, it is that special day out of the year when we get to wish my Senior a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY. all though this particular birthday is a bit wonky...first we have to lay sod that should have been delivered on Tuesday, then this evening we get to go to my neices wedding rehearsal dinner...but he is a good sport about it all and that is one reason why I love him so much.

He is a wonderful husband, best friend, fantastic father,  our protector, great American, Proud Retired Navy Veteran, and my personal super hero. I hope that his birthday is as awesome as he is...
So please help me in wishing him the happiest of Birthdays...either here or pop over to his place at :
Seniors Mess

We love you Senior !

JUGM
NW
and ND

Field Trip ...

School is out for us on the 23rd.  YAY. No alarm clocks for 10 weeks. : )

The last of this years field trips was to a local nature center. I took my camera as it is a beautiful place full of all sorts of critters... so enjoy:

 

Baby Ducks

Mama Duck got curious so she got the kids out of the water and brought them for a visit.

 

The Nature Centers Pet King Snake...

Mr. Cardinal flew in to say "HI"

 

 

A Yellow Belly Turtle with lots of algea

 

Another "Uh Oh"

 

I was helping Senior in the garage. Came inside for something to drink, when the call came in on my cell phone, it was ND's second grade teacher...this can't be good

Teacher: "Hey, it's L, he tripped and fell. Skinned up his right knee, and broke off a portion of one of his top teeth, can you come pick him up" ?

ME: "What?  how did it happen? , yes I will come get him...my poor baby"

So I called our dentist, they said to bring him in. Got to the school and there was my  baby with a bloody knee and broken tooth. He started crying some more, and begged me to take him home.

He was so traumatized that he would not let the dentist touch his mouth.

 Dentist: "Ma'am you need to take him to a pediatric dentist, one that will use gas, we only use Novocaine, I will write you a referral"

ME: "lovely"

Only one problem is...our insurance does not cover specialist, and pediatric dentists are considered a specialty. grrrrrrrrr! We have had them for several years, and thought I could ask for special approval, just this one time I asked. Uh...nope!  all they could offer was a 25% discount.
I called around to some pediatric dentists and checked  on prices without insurance  and with a 25% discount....over $400.00.
If ND will let our dentist do it, then our insurance will cover it and my co-pay is only $90.00

So I was back on the phone with our dentist, and we collectively decided that once ND settles down in a week or so, he will go in and put on his "big boy pants" and allow our dentist to use Novocaine...

A little bribery has also helped the situation--it is costing me a lego city set.

-JUGM

A Weekend Away..

We took the kids out of school on Friday, said "good bye" to the rainy weather that has been plaguing Florida, and headed up to the South Carolina Estate.
Weather was gorgeous the entire weekend. Blue skies, a warm breeze. Spring is in full swing, and the trees had all filled in with leaves and were just so darn green...
I love this time of year there. Every thing is just so alive...

Mr. Farmer gave us some okra and green bean seeds. The boys wanted to plant them in the garden. But Grandpaws ole Farmall is currently out of order. I told them we would have to do the digging manually, so I gave them each a hoe and told them to go at it.
This isn't a violation of child labor laws is it? The thing about it is, they actually enjoyed it. NW loves fried okra and couldn't plant his seeds fast enough.

With the planting of these two new crops,  it sealed the deal on the boys and I spending the summer there. Some one has to be there to take care of the garden, so we will head up after school is out later this month. They are thrilled over the decision.
I am hoping this will encourage my parents to get up and out of their house. A change of scenery will do them both a bit of good, plus there is plenty of room there for them to walk around and not feel so confined.
My uncle lives about 60 miles north of the estate, and is hoping my parents visit as well, he just had a pond put in on his property, and  stocked it with bass and some other stuff. Uncle C is hoping dad will join him in a day of fishing. 

Now we are back home, boys in school...house is quiet for the moment--time to let out a deep *sigh*

-JUGM