Thanksgiving

Well, how did this happen? What? you say. That's my basement people! For 37 years I have managed to not host a major holiday and then BAM! 4 days before Thanksgiving I get it in my head that I want to do it. And I have to tell you...it was fabulous!

Let me introduce you to my family: In front with his back to us is my cousin Tommy. He's severely autistic. Doesn't speak, never has. Next to him is his mom, my Aunt Maureen, my dads sister. Then my mom, my dads BFF Rudy, my dad, my father in law George, the Grace is sitting on my mother in law, Janet's lap. Then Emily on Merkle's lap. Then my cousins Laura and Bill and Nathaniel, Laura's son.

My parents already had the turkey so they brought it over the day before along with their deluxe roaster thing. I read the directions and Merkle and I got up at 6 a.m. the next morning to wash it (dis-gust-ing) and throw it into the roaster. It was supposed to be done at 12-ish, eaten around 1. Well guess what? It was done 2 hours later at 9 a.m. and completely dried up by 1. I tried to rally the troops for a Thanksgiving Day breakfast but it didn't pan out.

I think Merkle must have put some Xanax in my coffee that morning because I was so calm and relaxed I hardly recognised myself.

China

Okay, so my dear friend Carrie and I had the most hysterical conversation on the phone today. I laughed so much my cheeks hurt. Carrie wants to go to China. And I want to go with her. She has a friend living there for a few years and we both want to go stay with her for a while before she comes home.
Now, I know what many of you are saying "Yeah right, Alice, on an airplane for 12 hours...yeah." And that's furrrshur. I would rather crawl on my bare knees through all the public bathrooms in the greater South Bend area than spend 10 seconds on an airplane. Though the very thought of either makes me want to vomit.
But, I really want to go to China. I really do. So we decided that after Christmas I would test my nerves with my precious supply of Xanax. On a Tuesday, so Merkle is home, I'm going to take 2 pills and have Merkle time me to see how long it takes before I'm so relaxed I start to drool. Then he's going to watch the clock for signs of me coming out of it. That way Carrie will know exactly when to alert the cardiologist (that we will arrange to be sitting next to me) that I need my next dose.
Okay, so good plans, yes? So I get home today from taking Lucky to the kennel and I say to Mark that I am going to go to China. Immediatly Emily goes up to her room and starts crying!!! And Grace is hanging on me saying "No, Mommy, no please don't go to China. Please Mommy don't go." And Mark is upset with me telling me "You're not going to China."

WHAT??

What's happened?

Come on people, I'm mostly talk. Don't you know this by now? And if I really do plan on going to China am I going in the next 5 minutes? No. Probably not. Please, though, let me have my dream...

Where have you been!!

So, it has come to my attention that I haven't blogged in awhile...MOM!! I think I'd convinced myself that I no longer have anything to blog about since sending my kids to school and losing my dream job.

There has been a lot going on around here. Mostly cleaning. Here's what I don't get. Who shortened the length of the hour during the day? And why was I not informed? I'm telling you I send my kids off to school, come home, dance around the house to the sound of the angels singing hallelujah and then BAM! it's 2:45 and I have to go get them again. Wha??

So, I guess I should fill in my faithful readers...all 1 of you...Mom, pretend you didn't already know this...my dream job may want me back. That's right, for those of you who didn't already know this Pages In Time was bought and the new owners plan to reopen early 2010. We found out on the last day our beautiful store was open. Our boss had us in early so we could all eat breakfast together. She made a wonderful bounty for us. Egg casserole, little links wrapped in bacon and brown sugar mmmmmm soooooo gooood. Anyway, Uncle Harry the Midwest's premier liquidator mogul told us the store had been bought and guess what?? They want to buy the staff. They'll be here in 15 minutes to meet you. Arrgghhh...do I have anything in my teeth? How's my hair? Is my mascara running down my face? Arrrggh!!

Well, guess what? They were great! Really nice normal looking people. I hope they want me. They couldn't tell us much. Just that they wanted us to relax over the holidays and then email them to set up an interview. At that time they will let us know how many of us they can start with. I feel like that kid at recess..."oh please oh please oh please pick me" And all I can say is please let (okay I'm not naming names) be there. PLEASE!! (you are coming back aren't you ladies?)

Other than that...let's see...the girls had check ups and shots for Gracie. Is there anything cuter than kid size hospital gowns (when they're needed for something harmless):

From my friend Anne's blog...

Bravery Defined
My dearest friend Alice saved my life from a baby tarantula tonight. I know, I'm as shocked as you are to find out that Northwest Indiana is full of tarantulas, but it had to be. It was the BIGGEST spider I have ever seen! As we were leaving work she threw herself between me and the frightful beast so I wouldn't be attacked. She shielded me from its venomous bite by spraying it with deadly poisonous carpet cleaner. Not only did it not die, it walked away leaving a trail of poison behind. It slowed down and she was sure it was dead so, being the brave friend that she is, she poked it with a stick. She flipped it on its back but it wasn't dead and it flipped back over and started to walk away again! She decided not to play any more games and grabbed the Windex. Everyone knows that Windex to a spider is like sunshine to a vampire (which in fact spiders and vampires are very much alike because they both want to kill people). I ran for my car and locked the doors. I have never seen a truer display of bravery in all my life. I love Alice Merrill.

So I spawned a couple of geniuses...

...who'da thunk it.

Today was parent teacher conferences. My kindergartner is reading at a 2nd grade level!! I was so proud I could have spit. She also told me that Grace is very well behaved and that she (her teacher) is always using her (Grace) as an example of how to behave. And that she is soooo quiet in class. Oh dear, I thought. We're not talking about the same kid! Crud, and I was so proud.

And Emily had a great report as well. Her teacher said there wasn't much to say since Emily hasn't been in class for too long. But have I mentioned that she was the only kid in her class to get 100% on this big CMA test. It's this language arts test that all the kids in 2nd grade and up have to take. They take a couple each year. She was the only one!!!!

Mama and Papa bear are beaming...

My Mom...

South Bend Tribune Oct. 23, 2009

Founders said nothing about a right to health care
VIEWPOINT
By LOUANN KENSINGER

I have nothing but the utmost respect for people who dedicate their lives to serving God, so I read with interest the Oct. 2 Viewpoint by Rabbi Michael Friedland and the Rev. William J. Wassner of the United Religious Community, in which they asked: "If indeed we hold 'these truths' to be self-evident that all persons are created equal (and) are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights — life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness — then would not access to quality health care for all also be self-evident?"

Actually, I'm afraid I would have to say no. The rights enumerated by our founding document refer to what are known as "negative" rights. In other words, these are rights you already own by endowment from the creator. They are beyond price. The only thing government needs to do is keep its hands off. That's why they're called negative rights: They can only be taken away. Things such as food, housing, education and health care are in a different category. They are commodities with economic value. They must be produced by the sweat of someone's brow. I can certainly agree that we should do everything we can to provide these things for those less fortunate, but let's not confuse the issue by calling everything a "right."

I have a question for the rabbi and the reverend: What about the morality of burdening our children and grandchildren with crushing debt? They will already be saddled with a bankrupt Social Security obligation and a failing Medicare system. Why don't we boldly proclaim that every generation has the right to enter life free of economic debt?

A different writer in a shorter letter offered her opinion that government-provided health care is a Christian concept. She cited the Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 4, verses 44-45: "All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one's need." This is definitely an endorsement of the communal life of a Christian community. But please note: The early Christians did not sell all their worldly goods and give them to Pontius Pilate to be distributed to the community. Big difference.

Actually, most Christians today emulate the early Christians whenever they give time, treasure or talent to any of the numerous Christian charities. Just look at all the schools, universities and hospitals founded by Christian organizations. Just look who is serving in the soup kitchens and in missions around the world.

One last thought: The Declaration of Independence refers not to happiness as an unalienable right, but to the pursuit of happiness. This is a very important difference. No government can guarantee happiness. No government can guarantee full employment. No government can guarantee a chicken in every pot. Our founders were wise enough to realize that. I sometimes wonder if our modern longing for a government that will supply us with all our needs isn't an incipient form of idolatry.I'd like to close with a quote from our first president: "Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master."

Oh My Stars...

Where do I begin? How about at the beginning. I have been having a love affair with paper since I was about 5. Isn't that right, Mom? Well, the romance is over. We have broken up. I have touched and counted more paper in the past 4 days than I have EVER wanted to in my life!!! Thousands upon thousands of pieces of paper...one by one...and...AND...we had no scanners! You read that right. Our whole data base was lost the day before. We were not able to scan anything. Every wretched piece of paper had to be looked up in our little cheat book Becky so graciously compiled the day before. Every piece. And I'm telling you, thousands.

The pandemonium started on Thursday. When I got to work at 8ish the line was down the block. When we opened the flood gates the people poured in and didn't stop until about 11 hours later when we were forced to lock the door early because of the overwhelming crowds. We continued to check out those people until around 10. The staff stayed to clean up the devastation until about 1:30 in the a.m.. We got about 1/15 of the work accomplished.


I am here to tell you that Thursday line was snaked around the store and those crazy people stood in it for 5 hours!!! They ordered Jimmy Johns. Some of them made arrangements with their "neighbors" to watch each others carts while they took turns going out to dinner and returning to finish waiting in line. There were lifelong friendships formed in line that day my friends. People watched each others children grow up and move away. It was incredible.


The staff was stunned, most of them into delirium. Now, many of you know this already...I do love to talk. It's what I do. But this was too much even for a seasoned gabber like myself. My tongue had blisters on it by the next morning. Most of them from me commiserating with all of our lovely and devastated customers. I'm telling you, our boss hired a massage therapist for us but I think a grief counselor would have been just as useful. I would say every 2nd customer asked the same question..."why?" "Why are you taking my favorite store...why!!" They cried at the counter. They're scared and confused. I can't blame them.

Lots of them brought us food. Cupcakes from Indulgence. Homemade Texas sheet cake, which can I just say is the BEST thing I have ever tasted!!! One loyal PITer bought us all Pumpkin Spice Latte's from Starbucks. We had cookies delivered. Chocolates. Bags of candy from Martins. It was fabulous.

So, I'm gonna have about 120 hours on my paycheck...I'm not made for work like that. I'm not like the other girls at work. They amaze me. I'm weak. A weakling. A softie. I can't go on. Seriously, I think Becky might be a robot. She doesn't even complain. Hey Becky! How many hours have you logged so far this pay period? 200? She doesn't moan, fake fall asleep at the counter...none of those shenanigans.

Oh, one last thing before I go pass out on the couch. So Thursday night, no maybe it was Friday, doesn't matter...this lady comes into the store visibly shaken. Says someone left their

two kids in their car while they came in to shop. And one was a baby in a car seat. Well, they also left their car keys because the older kid tried to drive the car and hit another car in the parking lot!!!! I am sooooooooo not kidding!!!!

Good Night...