When Did Drivers Get so #$%&*@! Selfish and RUDE?

Sometime during the wee hours of the morning, a man was shot by the Police near our house during a high speed chase. That might explain the sirens I heard around 1:00 a.m.....Ironically, this story was one of the first things I heard as I turned on the radio in my car and headed for work.

I didn't get very far.....

Less than a mile up the road, I came across a MESS. The Police had blocked the road [which leads to day care!], and traffic was jammed going the other way. I turned around and headed home, because my husband had a meeting at 8:30, and I knew he'd never get through to day care in time. Plus, I wanted to make sure they were even open.

So, needless to say, I sat in the awful traffic and took Nicholas to day care while hubby headed in the opposite direction with no back-up. What is normally a five minute drive took about 30! And here is where the rudeness started.....some stupid woman had to speed up and jump over into the right lane and block everyone turning right! I was one of them. We attempted to "sneak" around her and turn anyway, and she gave us dirty looks! Was she afraid that I would possibly scratch her POS junker with my Lexus....? Please.....

This happened a second time at another turn. This time, the stupid woman didn't even go up to the painted white line -- she was about half a car length behind it. So, it wasn't even possible for me and the eight cars [also with their blinkers on] behind me to turn. I honked to tell her to "move up", but she was too busy talking on her mobile phone to notice, I guess.

Okay, so I drop him off and head to work. It should only take me about 15 minutes to get there.....yeah, RIGHT!

I mostly take back roads to/from work, because the highway is a nightmare during rush hour. Lately, work crews have been doing something to one of my cut through roads, but I never know when it will be closed! Yes, yes, you guessed it.....it was CLOSED this morning.....

I was already in the left turn lane and was going to turn down the closed road and turn around....but NO, some old dude was pulled way OUT past the white line [where was HE when I wanted to turn right???], and I couldn't get between him and the "Road Closed" sign. So, now I had to wait for the traffic to go straight and then move into that lane, so I could turn around up the road.

Aaaarrrrrrrggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Now, I'm turned back around and off to the detour. What else could go wrong, right....? Good GOLLY Miss MOLLY.....there's a car accident! A truck and compact have somehow collided [how, I couldn't figure out], and they now have part of a lane blocked. I am in a long line of cars trying to turn at this intersection. The road I was on dead ends into another road, so we either had to turn right or left [or AROUND, which many people were doing.....I had no other way to go, so I was stuck.]

More rudeness.....not ONE FREAKING car going along the road in EITHER direction would stop and let anyone out! Many cars were turning down the road, but they wouldn't let anyone turn out in front of them. Then, a minivan goes flying up the left lane past about 12 of us and turns right at the intersection -- cutting everyone off! I'm shocked that THEY didn't cause an even BIGGER accident.

Finally, the people who had the accident started directing traffic, and I was able to turn right and head to work. I swore, ONE MORE #$%&*@! THING, and I am heading home!

Alas, nothing else happened, and I made it here......about an hour after leaving home.....I'm really thinking I should have stayed home in the FIRST place! In bed. In my jammies.....

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I'm Walking. Yes, Indeed.....

My good friend and Maid of Honor, Diane, has a son who was born a mere eleven hours after Nicholas. Her baby started walking around 9.5 months....while Nick remained on all fours. I began to wonder, "Is there something wrong with MY baby....? Why isn't HE walking yet?? When will he walk? And when should I be worried....?"

Perhaps you are asking yourself these same questions....so, here is some information to put your mind at ease. It's possible you have a baby with a big, ole noggin' like mine! I'm not sure how that kid could balance that thing....but he's learning!

On August 22, my almost 1-year-old took his first steps, and I started crying! I was so happy to be there! I'd been afraid that I would miss this amazing milestone.....

More about Babies/Toddlers and walking:

When and how it happens
Your child has been training for his first steps from the day he was born. Over the first year, he has been developing his muscle strength and coordination, and has mastered one physical feat after another, from sitting to rolling over to crawling or scooting. Once he nailed these skills, he was ready to move on to pulling himself up to a standing position and even cruising around a room while holding on to furniture for support. After that, it's been a matter of gaining the confidence and balance to set out on his own. Learning to walk takes a lot of practice, which can go on for a long time. And mastering it is a major advance in your toddler's struggle to become more independent.

12 to 18 months
Most children take their first steps between 11 and 14 months, but the normal range for reaching this milestone is very broad. Some kids walk as early as 8 months, others as late as 17 months. Don't worry if your child is one of the later ones — what's important is the progression of skills. If your child was a little late learning to roll over and crawl, chances are he'll need a few extra weeks or months for walking as well. As long as he keeps learning new things, you don't have to be too concerned.

Soon after your toddler takes his first steps, he'll learn to stoop down and then stand back up again. If your child's an early walker, he's probably enamored of toys that he can push or pull as he toddles.

19 to 24 months
As your child becomes more sure on his feet, he'll start to feel more comfortable walking while holding something in his hands, such as a ball or a stuffed animal. He'll also challenge himself by carrying heavier loads, so don't be surprised if you catch him trying to lift something too heavy for him, such as a briefcase. He's also thrilled to discover that he can run, not just walk, from one place to another.

25 to 30 months
By the time he's 2, your child has grown so confident of his ambling abilities that he now takes part in games like tag and ring-around-the-rosy. At around 26 months, his steps will become more even, and he'll have the hang of the smooth heel-toe motion adults use. At this age your toddler probably also enjoys jumping and climbing, which means you need to decide now what you want the rules to be about bounding all over the furniture.

31 to 36 months
There are still some actions — like balancing on a curb or standing on one foot — that require concentration and effort, but by the time your child's third birthday rolls around, walking is second nature to him. He no longer needs to exert as much energy to walk, stand, run, or jump, and he's more nimble on his feet. He can stop and start a sprint at the drop of a hat, and zip left and right with little hesitation. Watch him experiment with the power of his limbs — as he hops on one foot, for example.

When to be concerned
Kids develop skills differently — some more quickly than others — but if you're concerned that your child may have a physical delay or if he missed a motor milestone (he's still crawling at 18 months, for example), bring it up with his doctor. There may be perfectly logical reasons for your child's taking his time. Maybe he's busy working on another developmental task, like talking, or maybe he just likes to take his time whenever he learns a new skill. Keep in mind that toddlers who are heavier or who were born prematurely often learn to walk a little later than others.

Most children walk on their toes occasionally when they're cruising, especially on bare floors. Some do it just for fun. But your child shouldn't toe-walk the majority of the time. If you notice that your child walks on his toes all the time, he may have a physical problem (such as a short Achilles tendon) that's preventing him from putting his feet flat on the floor. It could also be a sign of a more serious motor disorder, such as mild cerebral palsy.

Your child's feet may turn in slightly when he walks, which is called in-toeing. For almost all kids, in-toeing improves by itself over time. If it doesn't, consult your child's doctor.

What's next
After your child's able to run proficiently, he'll develop the ability to skip. Some experts believe that skipping — which looks like pure fun but requires a complicated right-foot-left-foot motion and sense of balance — flexes the same brain and body muscles used to read and write. As your child's physical skills develop, you may want to channel his energy into organized group activities, such as soccer or gymnastics.

Almost One Year!

It's hard to believe that Nicholas will be the big 0-1 on Saturday. I feel like I just gave birth to him!! Where did the last year go? When did he get so BIG? Why didn't I take MORE photos of him??? I feel like I'm forgetting what it was like when he was small and new....

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The Woes of Daycare

Pink Eye and Sore Throats and Bites, oh my! The woes of daycare. My son has been in daycare since I returned to work after maternity leave. He started part time but then moved to full time. I think that was tougher on ME than him.....

Within the first week, he had pink eye, though. He's had it two more times since then. I'm in my late 30s, and I have NEVER had pink eye...how is that possible? A baby less than 1 has pink eye three times compared to a grown adult who has never had it....?

He's also had multiple colds and boog noses. Those are fun....cleaning the dried, crispy snot from around his nose, because they didn't do it at daycare.

Then, there's the biting. He's been bitten 3 or 4 times. The first time it happened, I was given an "incident report" and told what happened. I wasn't told WHO bit my son. I was told this was "normal" for children of this age. Okay.....

The second time it happened, I asked, "Was it the same child....?" Oh no, no.....I was assured it was not the same baby.

The third time it happened I also wasn't given many details. I guess my son went to bear hug another child and got a chomp on his arm. None of these bites broke the skin, and they healed within days. Nick seemed fine, and he wasn't biting or hitting back [good boy! He's been taught some manners!]. Again, we let it go.

By the fourth time, I was really starting to wonder why my son seemed to be a chew toy in his class! I mean, is he so sweet that the like to chew on him???? So, really.....what's the deal? And who was doing the biting?

Well, I sweet talked my way into the answers. The girls who run his room finally admitted to me that one little girl seemed to be the culprit. Ironically, this little toddler was just brought into the room by another caregiver. After I told her how much I liked the flowers on her shoes, I asked her to only kiss and love Nick and not bite him anymore.

Every time I see her, she now comes over and shows me her shoes with the pink flowers. And so far....no more bites from her! Even though she didn't REALLY understand what I was saying, maybe she just understood enough....

Toys for Tots

In a few weeks, I will officially have a toddler on my hands. Some consider the first birthday to be the milestone -- while others say they have become a toddler when they start walking. For me, it's the birthday. Although I'll always think of Nicholas as my baby, the world will begin to think otherwise after August 25th....

So, what do I get my toddler on the big 0-1? If you are also struggling with what to get my son for his birthday [ha, ha!], I thought this article might help....

Your toddler is really taking off these days — and as you chase her little body down the street, you may miss the days before she learned to use her legs so well. "Active" is an apt way to describe her now, and she likes any toy or game that allows her to throw her whole self into it — balls, swings, and tiny climbing sets, to name a few.

Her hands are becoming more coordinated, too, and she can now use toy sorters more efficiently, build even greater block towers, and scribble a drawing. Her play involves lots of experimentation, like "What happens if I drop this ball?" or "What happens if pull this lever?" She's very interested in the consequences of her actions, and because her memory isn't well developed she won't tire of repetition. Toddlers also like to try out what they see adults doing, so look for toys that imitate daily life.

Large building bricks: These light cardboard bricks are big enough to stack up into a fort or wall, or any other way your toddler wants. But the most satisfying part of the process continues to be the finale — when the walls come tumbling down.

Push and pull toys: Heavily weighted push toys can give your beginner something to lean into as she motors around your home. Wagons can be ideal. Pull toys are for slightly advanced walkers who can look behind them as they move forward.

Give them something to look at: Pull toys that flap, bobble, squeak, or in any other way make a scene are favorites. To find out more about walking and your toddler, click here. [Would the TV be considered a big toy they can look at....? See Nick watching "Finding Nemo" recently....he and his doggy look pretty comfy in his big, gel pillow, huh?]

Sorting and nesting toys: Toddlers love to sort, stack, unsort, unstack, and basically reorganize their lives. Sorting and nesting toys are great fun for those who are trying out their early problem-solving skills.

Climbing gym: A tiny gym can give your toddler a safe place to climb, hide, slide, and practice all her emerging motor skills — over and over again. But these sets can also be pricey and are quickly outgrown. [Do the stairs count as a climbing gym...? No? Okay, just checking....]

Balls: Any ball that's easy to grasp will be a hit with this group — underinflated beach balls, vinyl balls, cloth balls. Stay away from foam balls that could end up as a mouthful. This is the age at which you can introduce your child to "catch." Start slowly — she'll begin to get the back-and-forth rhythm with some practice. [Balls are Nicholas's FAVORITE toy!]

Washable crayons and paper: Let the scribbling begin! Hand your toddler no more than a couple of crayons at a time — you don't want to overwhelm her — and tape the paper to the floor so she can make her mark without dragging the paper along with her.

Ride-on vehicles: This mode of self-locomotion may be even more popular than walking. Many small ride-on toys have models with handles for an adult to push when the child gets tired. Avoid the electronic versions — they're expensive and take away from the fun of getting around under your own power.

Tool bench or toy kitchen: Junior fix-it kids or aspiring chefs will get hours of play out of plastic or wooden models scaled to their size. Sets like these give a child a chance to emulate the things he sees adults doing, and they'll continue to hold his interest for several months as his play gets more sophisticated.

Picture books: Your toddler will enjoy more advanced picture books showing familiar objects and activities. She may also start to take pride in her own library and the chance to pick out a favorite for you to read. For more ideas, see our recommended books for toddlers.

Girls Really DO Prefer Pink

I have two [step] daughters, and they both own many pink items. The 10-year-old has branched out to other colors and has announced that she actually likes blue better. I'm guessing she has made this switch since her younger sister is a pink-aholic......

Found this article and thought it was interesting:

Girls really do prefer pink

Mon, Aug 20, 2007 (HealthDay News) — As the mother of a newborn baby girl, Dr. Anya C. Hurlbert wondered why all the products aimed at her daughter tended to have a pinkish tint.

As a professor of visual neuroscience at Newcastle University in England, Hurlbert was able to create a scientifically sound study to determine whether girls really do prefer pink. The answer, as outlined in a report in the Aug. 21 issue of the journal Current Biology, is "yes." Females do have a preference for pinkish colors that males don't.

"We find very clear differences between the males and females we have tested," Hurlbert said. "We haven't yet found any exceptions."

In more formal terms, females in the study showed a preference for the reddish side of the red-green axis of colors, while males didn't. There was no gender difference in preferences on the blue-yellow axis, with everyone tipping toward blue. The study included 208 participants, ranging in age from 20 to 26.

That bluish preference seems natural, Hurlbert said — blue skies and all that. The female tilt toward pink, she speculated, arose from evolutionary influences millions of years ago. "Females were the ones who gathered red fruit against a green background," she said. "Red is healthy in faces and in fruits.

"Cultural influences may have accentuated this natural female preference, she said.

The study Hurlbert did asked several hundred young men and women to make quick decisions on which color they preferred as pairs of colors flashed on a screen in front of them. "We did about a thousand different pairs," she noted.

Some Chinese people were included in the study along with native Britons, to get evidence that the results were true in more than one ethnic group.

While there has been speculation about a possible female preference for pink, "there has been very little hard evidence for sex differences," Hurlbert said. "We now have provided pretty robust and reliable evidence."

Kathy Mullen, a professor of ophthalmology at McGill University in Montreal, said, "I wouldn't be surprised at all that there is a gender difference. That's not to say that it's genetic. It might be a cultural thing."

Color preferences are also known to change with age, Mullen said.The "nature-versus-nurture" controversy about favorite colors can be tested by studying infants, Hurlbert said. There are plans to use a modified version of the color-choice test in young babies at her institution, she said.

More informationFor more on how people see colors, visit the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. -- Ed Edelson

LINK: http://www.babycenter.com/204_girls-really-do-prefer-pink_5208995.bc?Ad=com.bc.common.AdInfo%4018d095bb

How to raise a fun and funny child

Developmental experts who've studied humor say a childhood filled with laughter and fun has benefits that last a lifetime. "A sense of humor offers a huge advantage in life," says Lawrence J. Cohen, author of Playful Parenting and a psychologist specializing in children's play. "It's one of the best ways people have figured out to cope with things that are difficult."




A child who can easily tap his funny bone is more likely to make strong friendships, be well-liked by peers, and as an adult get along with colleagues at work, manage frustration, diffuse conflict, and suffer less from depression. A sense of humor is also linked to intelligence, self-esteem, creativity, and problem solving.

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I find this very interesting, because I think this helps explain why my son is so happy. I'm a big goof ball with him, and we will both sing together and pound on the table together. He thinks it's fun to feed me his puffy or fruit snacks and loves when I imitate him. We are always laughing, and I'm glad to see it will benefit him in ways I never imagined....



Our fun and funny child....Nicholas with his usual BIG, toothy, happy grin.....

New Home for Ginger..? Or a Big Scam...

Today, my husband is meeting someone from a rescue group to turn over our dog, Ginger. This was a difficult decision to make, but in the end, it was the best decision -- for us AND for Ginger.

See, Ginger is a 4-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer. If you know anything about the breed, then you know they are HIGH ENERGY hunting dogs. They need exercise. Activity. They don't do so well with the laying around, chilling out thing -- at least, ours doesn't.

Poor Ginger just hasn't gotten much attention since Nicholas arrived -- even before that. Our focus has been on so many other things.....a new house/moving, our wedding, then my pregnancy, then the baby, now new jobs and my business......there really isn't much time or energy left for a dog.....especially a dog who craves activity.

While Andy was out of town, I placed an online ad on Petfinder.com and some other sites. And I quickly started getting E-mails......but they were from a bunch of scumbag scammers! Oh, let me tell you how this scam works.....and warn you: Don't fall for it!!

The first time somebody tried to pull this scam on me, I was selling a breast pump via Craigslist. They contacted me and said they were in California. Red flag #1. They weren't anywhere near me, so, of course, we couldn't meet or anything. If someone is contacting you from far away, then it's probably a scam....I mean, come on, there aren't any breast pumps for sale in CA?

Secondly, they wanted to pay with PayPal. Now, this wasn't a red flag to me -- I feel PayPal is pretty safe. I didn't think of somebody sending funds from an account that isn't their own, though. The scammers trying to "buy" my dog, however, wanted to pay with Cashier's check or money order. These should be red flags, because you can forge both, but I would say PayPal is more of a pink flag. And banks will cash these fake checks and money orders and then come after YOU later for the funds.

Red flag #3 -- they all mention that they have a mysterious, yet highly reliable, "shipper" who will pick up the item from me at my home when it's convenient for me. Hmmm......MAJOR clue that it's a scam. As soon as you see the word "shipper" and not "UPS" or "FedEx"....you will know.

Red flag #4 -- some of them wanted to make sure they could TRUST me in regards to the transaction. From one E-mail: "i'll like this transaction to be kept in outmost trust". OUTMOST trust....? What is that exactly? Does that mean you trust me NOT to report you after you steal my money....? Or you trust me to be a gullible moron....? How about this one: "I ALSO WANT THIS TO BASE ON TRUST CAN I TRUST YOU?" The more important question is, can I trust YOU? The answer is obviously, "Yes, I can trust you to steal my money."

Red flag #5 -- English is OBVIOUSLY NOT their first or even second language. Not ONE of these scammers had even semi-decent grammar. Some E-mails were hard to read while most were just laughable. They don't use verbs much.....or punctuation.

Okay, so we agreed on a price. Let's say $300 for the dog and a shipping crate. Oh, that was another thing -- nobody would talk about how they were shipping a LIVE dog. MAJOR RED FLAG. Or answer my questions about their home environment and where the dog would live. They all wanted to skip right to my "last asking price" and making payment as quickly as possible.

Then, they say they need my name and address for the cashier's check or money order. And OH, by the way.....they are going to add "some funds" to the total amount and TRUST ME to pay their shipper:

i have seen the price and its ok by me,then i will issue a cashier check to you.meanwhlie i will also include the some of $3000 on the payment so you should expect a cashier check of $3300.why is that the shipper that is coming for the pickup of the pet we collet the excees fund from you when he or she is coming foir the pickup at your location.

Wow....so, this TOTAL stranger is going to TRUST ME to handle their $3000....????! Oh, the reason for the extra amount? Because the shipper is picking up another 7 dogs "in my area", and I guess I must be the most trustworthy of the group to pay the SHIPPER.....?

Here's what scares me -- were they going to really take the dog? And, if so, what were they going to do with her.....? Maybe Michael Vick is behind this scam......

There are some really sick people out there. I almost wish I had continued with the scam and then made arrangements for the shipper to come "pick up" the dog.....and our fine boys in blue would be waiting there instead. My guess is that the shipper might not actually be part of the scam! Who knows?

Other signs someone is trying to scam you:

1. E-mails often end with "God Bless" and "Have a Nice Day!" They seem so nice, don't they? Somebody who blesses me would never SCAM me, right....?

2. They don't really seem to care about the item and often don't want details. When it came to my dog, only one asked for a photo. Some asked questions that seemed like they had cut and paste from some "form" E-mail......from a "How to Scam 101" manual or something. What are the "conditions" of the pet.....? Very few asked any NORMAL questions -- how old, is she good with kids, in good health, what's she like, why are you finding her a new home, etc.

3. Their names are weird....Tonne or Kerry or Mista. Or they might have a first name like "Joe" or "Jim" but then a weird last name. And their E-mail addresses are often odd, too, and make no sense. Rarely do they include their name. And they are usually from Yahoo or Hotmail.

4. They agree to any price waaaaay too quickly. Of course they do! They don't actually plan to PAY you anything. In fact, they basically ask, "what ARE the fees?" and don't really care what you answer. They just want to get you that "extra" amount ASAP, so you can pay their SHIPPER.

5. They usually offer you a little "extra" for your time and effort: "i will also compensate you $100 for your self for the running around" One scammer couldn't do his math, so I was actually going to LOSE money on the deal. I mean, I would be losing money anyway, because they would have MY money when it was all said and done, and I'm guessing I would be responsible to the bank or whomever. But this one scammer said to "keep" $100 for running around, but then the balance he told me to wire to his shipper included that amount! D'oh. Say it with me people -- RED FLAG.

For the PayPal scam, there were some other red flags. The person who contacted me originally was a man who lived in California. Payment came from a woman in Arizona. [Oh, and the note on her payment said it was for UNICEF!]. The "shipper" was in D.C. Red flag, red flag, red flag.

There is also a variation of this scam. Once I was trying to bid on iJoy chairs on eBay. I lost an auction but was the second highest bidder. Somebody contacted me and said they were the seller and the high bidder backed out -- did I want the chair? Well, of course I did! But first, I would have to wire cash [RED FLAG] via Western Union [RED FLAG] to England [RED FLAG!]........even the mention of Western Union is enough to tell you that it's a SCAM.

Fortunately, I didn't fall for any of these scams, and I hope you don't either! People like this make me sick....