GeminiLady's Blog

Today is a day that I want to recognize my Dad.  After all, this is Father's Day.

I sit here this morning and think why is it we have a specific day to celebrate fathers.  Shouldn't we celebrate father's day every day? Mother's Day ?   If not for those two people, I would not be here blogging this morning.  I would not have become the woman that I am without those two people.  They taught me values and morals and showed me love.  They have taught me to help others before I think of myself.  They have given to their families and have gone without for themselves.  They have sacrificed so that I would not go without.  

For all those times they have stood by me, and they were plenty of them, I want to say to my parents .. "Thank You".  Thank you for going without, so that I could have.  Thank you for working so hard and providing for your family.  Thank you for making me into the person that I am today.  Thank you for always being there.  Thank you for understanding, for making the hurt go away, for the emotional support, for always being there.

Looking back to my childhood days, I didn't understand back then why my parents handled situations they way they did.  Sometimes I would be upset with the decision making, but I always knew that the decisions they made was the best for me.   I always knew that when Dad said no, it was no. I never dared to ask WHY.  I never dared to question their decision.  The answer had been given, and that was the answer I was going to live with.  I thank them for raising me the way they did.  I didn't question their decision.

Today as I look forward to talking to my Dad (he lives in Canada), I want to talk to him about "For all those times" .... I want to talk about the vacations we took as a family, the decisions that he has made that has made me the person that I am and I want to thank him for being the Dad that he is.  For remembering to send a birthday card, for calling during the week (when I least expect it), for all those crazy little poems he use to write to me (I've kept every single one of them), for being the kind of Dad that I look up to, that I apreciated, that I love more than words can every describe.

For some of us, we will talk to our fathers today or perhaps be lucky enough to visit with them.  Take the time to think about "For all those times" and give thanks to your Dad for who he has become and who you have become because of him.

For others, we will remember our fathers.  Stop and give thanks for having had a father in your lives that cared, that was selfless, that loved you like no other person did.

Take a moment to say not just Happy Father's Day, but thank you Dad for being there for me.  Today should be celebrated each and every day.  Don't wait for Father's Day or Mother's Day to tell your parents how much they mean to you.  Celebrate their lives each and every day ... and when the time comes that they are no longer around, they will be no regrets on your part.  You will never say to yourself ... if only I had.  Instead you will think back and say .... "For all those times ......"

Just my two cents worth .....

 

Hey there fellow bloggers ....

Yes, it's me again.  I've been away for a bit, but could not resist giving you my two cents worth (again) on ILLEGAL immigrants.

Most of my fellow bloogers are all well aware that I am a LEGAL immigrant.  My parents came to this country, and did it the legal way.  They had to pay the fees, and we all had background checks, and every 10 yrs we need to renew our Permanent Resident Alien Card.  Yes, I continue to this day as I work towards becoming a full fledge American.

Today, as I watch the news and see all these ILLEGALs demanding....yes, I said demanding, citizenship, it just blows me away to think that they are so serious about this issue.  I still fail to comprehend what part of ILLEGAL they do not understand.  Maybe it's just me, but reading different posts tonight, I realized that the issue is not dead amongst people.  I think the government wants it to go away because of the embarassment it has caused.  They (politicians) all realize that it is an issue, but there is not one smart enough to take control and stand up for "We The People".  They are all afraid of loosing their cushiony jobs.  When the rest of the American people are struggling to make ends meet, they give themselves a raise.  That's a  safe bill to pass.  They are padding their own pocket.  On tough issues, they fail to understand what the American people want. 

I truly understand that this issue is a very sensitive one and I don't think any blogger, whether American or foreign, accepts the fact that ILLEGALS are demanding their rights.  They have NO RIGHTS because they are not LEGAL American Citizens. 

As for me, I don't demand one thing from the American government.  I came to this country and made my way.  I had children and grandchildren born here, and they have made their own way.  I pay my taxes, I carry insurance on my home, vehicle, life and health.  I don't expect a hand out.  I have worked hard for what I have achieved and it blows me away to see these people (ILLEGALS) expecting everything to be handed to them on a silver platter. 

Some of you might argue with me, that they do jobs others do not want.  I say to those of you with that argument, who the heck did those jobs prior to all these ILLEGALS?  It would force the American business sector to perhaps pay a bit more for their help.  And I for one, would pay more for their service if I knew that people where being paid a bit higher.  I for one would frequent such establishments more often.  Perhaps then we wouldn't have families where the mother or father is working 2 to 3 jobs just to make ends meet ......

Again, just my two cents worth on the topic of ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS !!!!!!

Hello fellow bloggers ....

I need help and advice for Miss Kaitlynne.

As you all recall from my earlier stories about Miss Kaitlynne and her teacher, Kaitlynne has a hard time to "zip it" She has not been coming home with stickers lately and I am at a lost on how to help her overcome this "talking" at school.

I thought that perhaps she is bored at school...that she does not have enough work to keep her busy, therefor she reverts back to talking. I have even tried to bribe her and still she continues to have an issue with her talking. She is not falling behind in any of her work, but she talks all the time and this frustrates her teacher. She is such a bright child that I would not want the teacher to label her a "troublemaker". We all know that if one teacher labels one child, that label follows that child throughout their elementary years.

Any suggestions out there from my fellow bloggers that I can pass along to my daughter ??? I am open to any and all suggestions. I am looking for someone else's two cents worth tonight.

Thanks in advance ....

The New England Patriots !!! The post-season veterans of play-off games !!

Did any of you guys have any doubts? That was quite the game this afternoon. Most of the game saw me with all fingers and toes crossed .... NO, I did not bite my nails, but I think I lost 5 pounds while sweating it out. LOL

To all those non-believers: The Patriots did what not to many people thought they could do. They beat the red hot Chargers and came away with a trip to Indianapolis to meet up with Manning.

On another note, although I did not agree with the celebration near the end of the game (I know, grown men have to show off), I think the worse comments were made my LT after the game. He says he is a classy guy ??? Wrong in my book. I use to think he was a classy guy, but after his remarks, I have dropped him down by T.O. I understand he was upset, but as Deion Sanders stated on NFL Network, blame the play calling, blame not enough carries, blame the kicker for being pissed off, but don't blame a celabration dance.

Anyhow, my boys will be getting ready for the next step of our journey .... one game away from the Super Bowl .....and the dynasty continues. :)

OK guys .... give me a break .... I had not even had a chance to write my post, when all of a sudden, YOU decide to lock my photos because YOU want to feature them on the front page ...YOU decided that is was under the NEWS catagory when I had wanted to just add it to my album as a reference point to a post that I was writting.

I think that if YOU want to use pictures that people post...perhaps YOU should seek permission first and not lock the owner from changing any information. I know ... after all this is YOUR site and I am only an invited guest but still, common courtesy should prevail.

To all my fellow bloggers ... the picture in question is a picture that was taken back in January 1998 in Maine and it was reference in my Ice Storm post .....

Sorry for any confusion this may cause. I don't want people to think that this picture is a picture that was taken today (due to our ice storm coverage).

Again, just my two cents worth !!!!

Each and everyone of us is naturally concerned about our weekend weather. Believe me when I state that ICE is the most dangerous of all conditions.

I am about to take you back in time to January 1998. The WORST ice storm I have ever experienced. (See photos in album).

As I sit here tonight, gathering my thoughts on this impending ice storm and reading a few comments about when is it going to get here ... believe me this is something that I can live without.

Back in 1998, when this ice storm hit the State of Maine, I don't think anyone of us was prepared for what followed.

No ATM's working, no gas stations opened,no highways open, no streets were safe to travel, no grocery stores opened, no sand nor salt available to help melt this ice ....oh wait ... did I mention 31 days without power ... can you imagine ... 31 days of walking into a room and flicking the switch and nothing? 31 days without phone, computer, heat ..... As stated earlier, this was a nightmare. You would walk outside and thought you heard a shotgun going off, but it was only branches cracking and falling from trees that have been standing there for perhaps 50+ years.

When I hear about ice storms, my mind goes back to that weekend back in January of 1998 and I am thankful that my family survived. I count my blessings every single day and hope to God that I will never have to go through that again.

So my fellow bloggers, they say patience is a virtue .... don't rush this storm because the aftermath might be worse then what you expected.

To Fox4 staff who locked my photo ... please know that this is NOT a photo from current weather but rather from January of 1998. I uploaded those photos to go with this post.

Just my two cents worth .....

To all my fellow bloggers ....

The time has arrived .... my grandchildrens pictures are finally posted in my photo section ... LOL

Take a peak to see Miss Kaitlynne .... the subject of many of my posts.

My deepest sympothies for the way your team went down in Seattle. I've read all the blogs about Romo, but keep in mind that he has players on the field with him. He did not get to the end of that game by himself.

Don't get me wrong, I love Terry Glenn (former NE Patriot player), but did he or did he not fumble the ball on their own 2 yard line that resulted in a safety?

T.O. did drop a FEW passes that might have made the difference in the outcome of the game. I strongly feel that T.O. talks to much and needs to concentrate on the game and his coaches just a bit more. He just speaks too much for me.

Now ... on a lighter side ... there is always time to join the New England Patriots band wagon. LOL Hear me out on this ... the Cowboys are NFC and the Patriots are AFC ....I do support the Cowboys just as long as they are not playing my boys.....LOL My Patriots will need everyone's prayers this weekend when they face the red hot San Diego Chargers ... so please ... keep my boys (and perhaps your adopted boys) close in your thoughts and prayers.

I just had to add my Two Cents Worth !!

Here we go with yet another one of Miss Kaitlynne's point of view.

Late yesterday afternoon, I received a visitor at my front door. Low and behold, it was my little angel ... Miss Kaitlynne.

After going through my "How was school today" routine with her, and her usual answer of "I had fun" ... we decided that we were going to make a salad together.

I sent her off to the bathroom to wash her hands and she came hurrying back because she was so anxious to start the salad process.

At this time, I had turned on the TV to watch the 5 oclock news while we prepared the salad.

Low and behold, on came the weatherman with the slight hint that perhaps we would get some sort of weather issues by the end of the weekend into the beginning of the next week.

Well, let me tell you that outcome of this little announcement by our weatherman. Immediately, Miss Kaitlynne, thought of bad weather = snow ... Now, keep in mind, for the first three years of her life, she spent her winters in Maine ... cold, ice, and snow. To her, she is looking for snow when someone says it's wintertime. I started to explain to her that she did not have anything to worry about because here in Texas, bad weather is not bad weather like in Maine.
Well, that little inquiring mind did not stop there ... she had also caught the news that Denver was probably going to be hit with their third snowstorm. Well, my little grandaughter wasn't satisfied with my answer so she needed to know where Denver was and if that same snow storm was coming to Texas.

So for a few moments I thought to myself how am I going to make her understand all this weather stuff at five years old.
I took out my trusted old Atlas and here began our adventure.
I used little push pins to show her where she was. Another little push pin to show her where Maine was and yet another little push pin to show her where Denver was ..... she looked, and looked at our little Atlas for quite some time without saying a word ....then all of a sudden she said..." I get it now ... Maine is way up there ... lots of snow, cold, and ice. Denver is like in the middle, so they get snow, but not as bad as Maine" .... and then when she got to Texas ... she said ..."Gramma, we are all the way down here....way down near the end of the Atlas...maybe that's why it doesn't snow here it's because the snow can't find us" Well, I wasn't going to try to make her understand...in time, she will get it, but at least she now knows where Maine, Colorado, and Texas are located on the Atlas .... she had a quick lesson in Geography today and did not even realize it.

Another great afternoon with Miss Kaitlynne ....

I sit here again today wondering what planet politicians are on ... I know for a fact that they cannot be on the same continent as I am. I know for a fact that they have to have both eyes closed if they think that illegals are not an issue. Let's just grant them amnesty and start over ... so that what? In another 10 years, we will go through this again and again and again .... WHEN is it going to stop?

When is someone in Washington going to have COMMON SENSE and do the right thing. DEPORT these illegals. So it's costing money to deport them back to their country of origin ...I say SO WHAT ... Is it not costing the taxpayers millions and millions to have these illegal immigrants here?

I know this is a sensitive issue with people... whether pro or con ... but it needs to be dealt with. I for one will stand up and say that I AM AGAINST ILLEGALS !!! I'm not worried whether my fellow bloggers will feel insulted or not in regards to my position. If they are offended, then to them I say ... READ another blog.

Why is my grandaughter learning Spanish in kindergarden? She was born to an American mother and father .... She has a French heritage as a background...why not teach her French?
Why is she made to learn Spanish ... why not give her a choice to learn a secondary language?

All it takes is for ONE politican to start thinking deportation for illegal immigrants and for the voice of the people to be heard. I think right now our politicians are way too worried about their careers (and their fat paychecks )in Washington and not so concerned about the issues that face their constituents. After all, we the people elected these officials ... they should realize that they can be voted out.

Just my two cents worth.

I have to share with you guys and gals a story about my granddaughter "Miss Kaitlynne" and the teacher.

You see, Kaitlynne finally started school this past August. She was SO ready for school. She is a super bright child. Not because she is my granddaughter, but this child at the age of 15 months, could hold a conversation with an adult and just keep it going. She played with dolls and barbies but Kaitlynne's biggest "TOY" as she calls it is the "gift to gab". If given a chance, she will talk your ear off. She was never much of a "why" child ... she always seemed to have the answers.

I remember a summer trip back home to Maine (before she moved out here)when she was two years old. My Dad & I had gone over to my daughters house to visit. Were we in for a show. Kaitlynne took the stage, front and center, and commenced on telling us why she was so happy to see us. I'm not talking about just telling us, but at the same time she was acting out her words. The arms were flying, the legs were moving, the eyes were so expressive ... my Dad and I could not stop from laughing. Keep in mind now that this child was only 2 years old. We named her "Drama Queen" then, and to this day, we often refer to her as "Drama Queen".

On Monday, her Mom had a conference with the teacher. Kaitlynne's teacher told my daughter that Kaitlynne is so intelligent and such a quick learner, and so eager to learn all the time. She then proceeded to tell my daughter that Kaitlynne has one downfall. "She talks to much". I had to laugh. If only this teacher knew.

When my daughter stopped by to tell me how the conference was, Miss Kaitlynne stated that the teacher really did not know her at all. After all she said, Didn't you tell me that I am the "Drama Queen". I started to tell her that it's ok to talk, and express your opinion, but in school, unless it's recess time or lunch time, she needed to be quiet and listen to her teacher so that she can learn more new things.

Well today was the icing on the cake. Miss Kaitlynne called me after school to tell me about her day. The first words out of this small child's mouth today was "Gramma, I zipped it today". I was like WHAT? She said again "Gramma, I zipped it today". I could not figure out what she was talking about, so I asked her "What did you zip" Kaitlynne, in a very serious voice said ... "My mouth".
LOL

Thought you guys and gals would like this one.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Two children have been removed from their home after a man reportedly ran a clothes dryer with the toddlers inside.

A 3-year-old boy was treated for second-degree burns, but a 2-year-old girl was not injured after the Nov. 28 incident, the Reno County district attorney's office said.

Aron J. Pritchard, 27, was charged Tuesday with one felony count of child abuse and another of aggravated endangering a child. Bond was set at $750,000.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OK, now please, someone tell me that it was an accident. I'm sure it will come out that it was an accident and that the children were hiding in the dryer, but WHERE ARE THE PARENTS if this is the case?
And one more thing, when you turn on the dryer, could you not hear your children inside most likely crying and yelling?

What I fail to comprehend with these parents that are doing such awful things to their children is WHY did they have children to begin with. If you didn't want them, then PLEASE give them up for adoption. There are thousands and thousands of couples in the U.S. that are waiting to adopt. Thousands of good homes waiting for children.

I would not want to be in law enforcement because I know for a fact that this father would never have made it to the police station alive.

It just upsets me so much to see such violent acts to children being displayed in the news lately .....

I just don't get it.

Again, just my two cents worth

~~~~~~ Update:
Nope, not an accident.

Police investigators alleged the man stuffed the children into the dryer and turned it on, reportedly after the boy wet his pants.

So can we say pre-meditated ... you have to actually think about stuffing your child in the dryer, closing the dryer door, and then turning on the heat ..... Perhaps the parent needs to spend some time in the dryer as punishment.

Front page on this web site tonight:


Ex-Teacher, Husband Face Child Sex Charges. Not one, two, three, or perhaps four but FIVE of her ex-students. Ranging in age from 8 - 10. But what gets me the most is this happened in 2004 .... yes 2004 and they are just now being arrested. I am hoping that it was not the fault of law enforcement, but rather the students did not come forward until now.

If I were a judge, I realize that you are innocent until proven guilty, if they are proven guilty, people like that do not deserve to breathe the same air I do. They do not deserve to go to prison and use up our tax dollars just to get out in a few years and do it all over again.

I know some of you are probably saying to yourself, people make mistakes. OK I will grant you that, BUT not with INNOCENT CHILDREN. No one will ever be able to convince me that they can rehab these people. Nope, I don't believe it.

AGAIN, Front page on this web site tonight:

Police Searchng for Fondling Suspect. They have this guy on tape.

WHEN is all this madness going to stop? I say pack up all these predators and ship them off to an island. If they want to offend another adult, the go for it, BUT leave the innocent children alone. They have not asked for this but yet they will be the ones dealing with this issue for the rest of their lives. It just makes me sick to no end to see this kind of news.

We, as adult, sit here and think of ways to protect our children. I, as a parent of two girls (now grown), a grandmother of three girls and one boy, always felt that school was a safe zone for my children. Now, parents cannot even rely on the school systems to be a safe zone. It is sad to think that we cannot stop this.

Just my two cents worth

After reading the post on Living The Dream, I started thinking about an incident that occured last year while I was out picking up a pizza at our local pizza store.

As I sat there, waiting for my order to be ready, a man, wife, and small child walked into the store. The man started looking at the memu up on the board and softly wispered something to his wife. She started looking into her purse and I couldn't figure out what she was doing. Meanwhile, the young son, kept asking his Daddy for just a slice of pizza .... Please Daddy, just one slice he kept pleading. As I watched the young couple digging in their pockets, I realized that they were digging for change. They were trying to see if perhaps they had enough change between the two of them to purchase their son a slice of pizza.

At that time, my order was ready, and I went up to the cash register to pay. Thoughts of the young couple still on my mind. As I turned to leave the store, the couple were exiting the store. The little boy, whose head was down, was crying.

I swiftly caught up with the young couple and dug in my purse for a $20.00 bill. I called out to them and they stopped and turned around. I looked at the young man and his wife, and you could see the disappointment in their eyes. Their eyes stated how sad they were that they could not provide a slice of pizza for their son. I handed the money to the young and told him to go back inside, sit down, and order a WHOLE pizza for him and his family. The faces of that young couple are still with me today. Their eyes started to shine, and there was not enough thank you maam's to go around. I told them not to worry about it and to go and enjoy themselves.
They turned around and headed right back into the store .... as they were getting ready to enter, the little boy turned around, ran up to me, and give me a huge hug and stated."Thank you so much...I can eat pizza now"

Those words will stay with me forever. Every now and then when I come up on situations that warrant some intervention, I do. It was most satisfying.

If we all stop and think of the less fortunate at this time of the year, we will all count our blessings and say we are all living the dream.

Just my two cents worth !!

I sit here tonight after updating myself on the news and on recent blog and I have to ask myself when is all this FOOLISHNESS stop?
Is there an end someday?

First, you taught you kids not to talk to strangers. At the time, as a new parent, I just did not know who to trust with my newborn. As time progressed, and having heard quite a few comments from strangers (lines in supermarket, out shopping)- people wanted to approach you and take a look at your child (especially elderly people) but refrained from doing so because they knew parents were uncomfortable with the situation. We had good reasons to be that way - with all the children being abducted these days (and in those days as well), parents were on their guard. We didn't trust people, and people kept there distance.

Now, all you hear about in the news is these sexual encounters with such small children. Teachers or day care providers doing the unthinkable to our children. When will it stop? How many more children need to be put through this process before our schools, our day cares, and all people that come in contact with children received FULL background checks prior to any employment that involve children? Our children are our most precious assets, they are our future, and if we don't start looking out for their best interest, we are ALL going to be in trouble.

This latest incident involving a four year old child is totally absurb. No way on God's green earth did this child realize he was doing something wrong. There is no way this child had any motives except perhaps a hug from his teacher and yes, most likely wiping his nose on her blouse. We are so quick to jump the gun these days, that a small innocent act becomes sexual harassment. I strongly believe this teacher has other issues in the background which will be made public.

As a parent, it is our duty and responsibility to shelter, clothe, and feed our children. It is also our duty and responsibility to love a child unconditionally. If a child receives this kind of attention at home, then goes to school, he or she will expect the same type of love and affection he or she was receiving at home. It is SO WRONG for such a young child to have gone through this.

Again, just my two cents worth !!!