A Rant

When did I become responsible for giving up something that I love because it hurts you?  I have been reading the Wall Street Journal for a couple of weeks now and I've come across two articles that have really pi$$ed me off.

Because this is just "my rant" I am not going to cite any sources or any specifics.

The first article was about a restaurant called Bacon, Bacon in CA.  They had been granted permits and had been open for a while.  Then the permits were up for renewal and certain neighbors (they interviewed two for the article) complained about the smell of bacon.  First, who doesn't LOVE the smell of bacon? Second, why can't this business continue to operate as long as its operating within the guidelines and laws of the city?  Why is it that 2 people can control the fate of a business that is operating within the guidelines just because they don't like the smell of bacon in the neighborhood? 

Ok, suppose you get sick of the smell of bacon EVERY day, does that still give you the right to tell ME I can't cook bacon every day if I want?  No.  I have a right to cook that bacon every day if I want, provided I am not breaking any laws.  Right?

The second article is about changes to a law concerning the fire pits on the beach in Southern CA.  People have complained about the fact that bon fires have aggravated their allergies and so the law was changed to place restrictions on fires on the beaches.  These fires have been taking place for YEARS.  If you have moved there recently and have allergies, maybe you should be the one to move?

I have allergies to corn, you don't see me telling the farmers they can't plant corn because I'm allergic.  I just take my allergy medicine and avoid the corn stalks as much as possible.  Do I have to right to control what the farmers do?

I am frustrated with the level of control certain groups of people seem to think they have over other groups.  Isn't America a place where we live and let others live?  

What gives these people the right to control me as long as I am not violating any laws?

To Quote Dennis Miller: "Of course that's just my opinion, I could be wrong"

Its That Time of Year

Fields of this

Make me do this

But I LOVE to eat this!

DC Bound

We are taking a family vacation to DC this coming weekend!  I can't wait!  Jakes went there for his 8th Grade class trip but didn't get to see much of the great city.  So for his graduation present I promised to take him for a weekend.  He wants to get lots of pictures of everything.

I have done so much research to find the right hotel (free breakfast!), in just the right spot (4 blocks from the National Mall!) and with parking.  Parking is SO expensive in DC.  

I can't believe how hot the weathermen are predicting its going to be.  We'll be taking water bottles and refilling at as many places as we can.

Since there is a fridge in the room, I will be taking things for lunches and we'll take a break mid-day to cool off.   I think a nap will be in order or at least a quick trip to the hotel pool before heading back out.  Hoping to find a way to miss hottest part of the day......

I have made reservations for us at the Capitol Building and we're going to stop in to see our state senator to get passes for the galleries of the senate and house.  AZ is looking forward to that more than Jakes or myself. 


I know it will be a wonderful, exhausting and educational weekend for all of us! And I promise to share pictures when we get back!

With Attitude

With just getting back from vacation, you'd think I'd be all nice and relaxed but I've been filled with attitude.  Why?  Cause when we got home from vacation, the house was clean, the lawn was mowed and JR was super helpful with getting the camper back in place and unpacked.  I suppose I should have been suspicious that something was up but I wasn't.

I mean I did the same thing when I was his age and had a party where we burned the junkyard down.

Come to find out, JR had a little party while we were gone and one of his wonderful "friends" stole my old iPhone. Supposedly, he's interrogated everyone but no one is copping to taking it.  Why would they? JR has offered me $30 to replace it.

I am SO angry and full of attitude.  AZ asked me what my problem was.  Ummm....  Your KID has once again done something stupid that has affected me.  Yes, it was my old iPhone and I can do everything with my new phone.  But its the principal that it shouldn't have been touched AT ALL.  My first thought after being told was that I was happy we'd taken the new camera and my iPad with us!  Oh and I immediately checked on my jewelry to make sure everything was still there. 

I (we) should not have to feel as though I (we) have to lock things up when we are out of the house.

This is not the first time JR has been involved in injuring me or my stuff.  I've had to put my bike in the shop twice because he has taken it and returned it broken.

The camper has been practically destroyed by JR and his friends.  The inside of the camper was immaculate when we got it.  Now, both mattresses and the dining area seats are full of cigarette burn holes.  There are burns on the counter.  None of which were there before JR and his friends partied in it.  And AZ had to spend TWO days hosing everything down so that we could go away in it.

I have a HUGE problem with JR's lack of boundaries and consequences.  He's been suspended and expelled from school with no consequences, such as being grounded (made to stay home, giving up his cell phone).  He has been suspended twice from the alternative school with no consequences.

I have bitten my tongue because JR is not my kid.  When JR has been suspended from school, I have asked if AZ is going to ground him and invariably, the answer has been no.  AZ doesn't want to be the bad guy.  Personally, I think JR is begging for some boundaries. 

When I went home from work yesterday, JR arrived with my old phone.  He also paid me for the repairs to the bike.  AND apologized for all of it.  I reminded him that the kids who were there the night the phone was taken are still not welcome in my house and that they really are not friends.  JR agreed.  But only time will tell if  he will actually change his ways and choices of friends.

While I would love to not allow JR in the house when we're not there, its not realistic.  I have to compromise with what AZ wants for rules in the house as well.  I can only hope that AZ has discussed this situation with him and that JR has learned something from this.  I can only hope that the next time we go away and JR doesn't go with us, that he will exercise better judgement in who he invites over.

Because if we go away again and something else happens, I will go ballistic!  And that's a promise!

We're BACK!!!

After spending a week at the Campground with the family and the Dog, it was nice to come home.  AZ spent Tuesday and Wednesday scrubbing the camper from top to bottom and he did a wonderful job! 

AZ checking the Electrical connections before we pull out.

After a quick stop at Wal-mart for grill gas and ice, we were on our way!  Once at the Campground, we set up the camper and unloaded everything from the truck and car.  I felt like I'd packed everything but the kitchen sink.....

All set up and ready to camp!

Jakes set up his room in the camper......

Can't take the Laptop away

At the Campground, 4:30 is Bloody Mary Hour at the Gparents campsite.

Gparents Camper

I had to work on Friday so its good that we were local still.  Jakes worked at the Farm Friday afternoon and Saturday.  Fortunately, the Farm was just around the corner and across the highway from the campground.

Relaxing around the Campfire

I love sitting around the camp fire in the evenings.  While it was hot, the fire kept some of the bugs away.

Friday evening, AZ put the chicken on the rotisserie and boiled water for some corn on the cob.  It was the BEST chicken!  I had put it in marinade Thursday morning before we left and it just sat sucking up the flavors in the cooler.   

On Saturday, we had dinner with the Gparents.  Daddy got the MOST AWESOME steaks and cooked them over the campfire.  OMG when I say melt in your mouth, don't need teeth to chew it, good super yummy steak, it STILL doesn't describe how good the steaks were. Potato salad, tomatoes and cucumbers, mac n' cheese and wine rounded out the menu.  Can you say "STUFFED"?  YUM!

After dinner, we pulled the chairs over to the field to watch the 4th of July fireworks and we weren't disappointed.  I didn't take any pictures but trust me they were lovely and right over our heads!  We almost had to lay down to see them!  Nothing like front row seats......

We decided to stay an extra day so instead of packing up on Sunday, Jakes and I floated around the lake for the afternoon.  He didn't put sunscreen on and boy did he complain about it later!

Lazy Lake

Jaxon loved being at the campground, except that he had to be on a leash.  At home, he sticks close so we don't use a leash unless we're taking him out of the yard.  At the campground, he had to be on a leash.  Poor baby!  But we took him up to the empty field to toss the ball and make sure he got lots of attention.  Jaxon was a super good dog!  He didn't bark at everyone who walked by the camp site, he didn't run off, he was SO well behaved!

Jaxon's play ground and where the fireworks were set up.  LOTS of room!

Jaxon and AZ at the end of the day. Camping is such hard work

Sunday left us with one more chance for a campfire.  We didn't want to bring any wood back with us so we started early, like before dark!

Monday morning found me running Jakes to the Farm then coming home to help AZ pack up the camper.  By noon, we were home and unpacking again .

All done and ready to be towed.

I loved being at the campground but in a way, I was also ready to come home.  I wanted a shower that I didn't have to share with the potato beetles or other black crawly things. I wanted to get the sand out of my shoes and to be able to walk around without shoes.

We are in discussion for the next camping trip....  Hopefully somewhere with a pool!

Glowing Glasses



All dressed up for FireWorks



Vacation time

We're all set up at the campground!  Come sit a spell by the fire and shoot the breeze with me!