Unmitigated

Mini Banner Replicas are here...they make great gifts!

Turning Sixteen

What did you do for your 16th birthday? Mine was my second most memorable birthday. Number one was this one. I am NOT wishing for something more memorable.

The day I turned sixteen, I was a few weeks away from starting my senior year in high school. The science teacher I admired most had become a friend of mine. He was ten years older than I was, and working for one-third of a pittance at the Catholic high school I attended. He knew I was interested in applying to his alma mater for college, and offered to give me a tour of campus for my birthday. 

Let me just pause for a moment to say that if this took place today, the guy would probably be arrested. But we grew up in the same neighborhood, went to the same parish church, and we were stupid.

Anyway, it was a gorgeous August day, and campus was equally beautiful. I really loved the feel of it, and the idea that it was 90 minutes from home made it just far enough to be independent, just close enough to come home on the weekends.

After lunch and the tour, we came home. He came inside with me so he could say hello to my parents...and as I opened my bedroom door to put my jacket away, two other friends of mine leaped out from my sister's bedroom to catch the look on my face as I saw what they had done. There were over 1,000 giant balloons in my room, filling it from ceiling to floor, wall to wall. 

Science teacher guy had taken me on the tour to get me the hell out of the way when they assaulted my room. The only way I could get IN the room was with a safety pin, popping balloons as I went.

If you ask your older brother to help blow up balloons for your friend? And he's had a few beers? The smell of rubberized beer breath will linger for DAYS.

And the memory will last at least 30 years.

Friends in Need

In memory of Maddie's second birthday...

I don't think there are too many people reading this who didn't have their heart broken on April 7th of this year. That's the day we learned that Madeline Alice Spohr, whom we all knew as Maddie from The Spohrs Are Multiplying, was suddenly taken from her parents, Heather and Mike, when a respiratory infection coupled with a collapsed lung was more than her 17-month-old body could fight. Thousands of people across the country mourned with Heather and Mike, and thousands came to their support by donating to the March of Dimes in Maddie's memory.

Since then, the Spohrs, along with family and friends, have created Friends of Maddie, a fund dedicated to supporting families of critically ill or prematurely-born infants during their stay in the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with supplies, help finding temporary lodging (because the NICU isn't always within commuting distance of home), and by creating a network of support.

Friends of Maddie uses your donation to put together Support Packs for families who find themselves overwhelmed with the care of an at-risk newborn. The packs include items such as reusable water bottles, snack bars, tissues, mints, and most importantly, a tri-fold binder with a note pad and accordion file to keep track of paperwork.

"We're hopeful it will make it at a little easier for parents to keep track of everything," Heather says. "You get SO many papers, business cards, etc., every day, and it's hard to keep track of everything."

She should know, she lived the experience. Maddie's sixty-eight-day stay in the NICU is chronicled on Heather's blog and her husband Mike's blog as well. Readers across the country followed every setback and every victory. What message would she like to pass on to parents in the same situation?

"Patience. Take things a day at a time and live in the moment. Don't look down the road or things will get REALLY scary and overwhelming," shared Heather.

The reaction to the packs has been terrific, according to Heather, "We've been getting a FANTASTIC response from everyone! We weren't expecting such a big response so we are really behind in getting back to everyone, but it's a good problem to have!"

By now, you are all wondering how you can help, right? I knew it. You people rock. Your options:

• Donate! I know, the economy is bad right now, but every little bit helps. Or...
• Let your local NICU know about Friends of Maddie, or...
• Do you work for a company that might bring a valuable service to NICU parents? Contact FoM! Or...
• Just spread the word! Write a blog post! Send out a tweet! Y'all know how this works!

Mike and Heather's loss is unimaginable. In spite of their grief, they have found a way to pay forward all the love poured out from thousands of hearts across the internet. Tell your friends about Friends of Maddie.

Random Thoughts From Favorite Spots

• Speaking of favorite spots, here's Connie Chung's:

 

• It used to be an open ended ball made of straw. It's sort of unraveling, but she loves to hide in there. I am continually amazed at her personality, which may be more developed than that of my teenage son.
• My favorite spot lately is wherever I can be horizontal so my back won't complain. Usually, I like to write at the dining room table, but the living room couch has a gorgeous view of my neighborhood, which I love to watch during the day.
• I'm going to turn into Mrs. Kravitz one day soon, I just know it.
• The UPS driver goes too fast on my street.
• Did I tell you there was a police chase through my neighborhood not long ago? There was. There are still tire tracks to prove it. On people's LAWNS. I don't know if the perp was drunk, incompetent, stupid, or all of the above, but at one point he crashed into a police vehicle. Oops. Fortunately, there aren't many kids in the neighborhood, though it was during the school day. It could have been much worse. And, no, I don't think it was the UPS guy.
• Have you visited the Zombie News Network yet? No?? Aren't you afraid you won't be prepared?!?
• Can someone please explain this to me? Even with "...in the bedroom" we couldn't figure it out.

Go see Keely.

What are you waiting for? Shoo!

Ooh! Sparkly!

Here's another Not in the Budget post, my attempt at beating down the purchase monster. My friend, and former teaching partner, Lisa, sells Silpada Jewelry on the side. Gawd, I love this stuff! I am a sucker for silver. Here's a link to her Silpada page. If you see something you love and want to order, she can be reached here!

Sixth-graders follow this jangly bracelet like magpies.
One shake of the wrist and they are mesmerized.

 

These are stackable rings. I love rings, but right now
 I wear MY wedding ring, and my mom's diamond as well.
I am loathe to remove either to accommodate fashion.

This one is an ankle bracelet. I wear them all summer!
My feet are one of those features I love, so I dress
them up in the summer with toe rings and anklets
and a good pedicure!

One of the things I love about Silpada
 is the way they mix different elements.
 Isn't this cool?

 

Anything that combines blue and green is at the top of my list.
Love that combination.

This one you really need to see in person. 
 This is one gorgeous piece of jewelry,
 but I've never figured out that clasp. 
 I have a bad record for losing jewelry.

Dear So-and-So: A Day in Court

On Monday I went to court with my niece to take care of a little problem she ran into. If you need blog fodder? Hang out in a court building for a day.

Dear 14-year-old female defendant

I'm pretty sure that showing up in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt would have been a better idea that a white-eyelet minidress, and four-inch white stilettos. If you weren't arrested for solicitation? It's next.

Signed,

It's Freaking November

Dear Larry-the-Cable-Guy-sound-alike,

When the cop at the metal detector says to remove all the metal from your pockets? That INCLUDES the four pounds of change deforming your left pocket, and the five pounds of keys stretching out your right pocket. And when he asks if you have a cell phone, it doesn't meant he wants you to "git it from the truck."

Signed,

You Might Be a Redneck

Dear lady who talks too loud,

If you are here with one son for his domestic violence charge, you don't need to share the stories of your OTHER son and HIS domestic violence charge. Because guess what? You are doing something wrong.

Signed,

Involuntary Sterilization Advocate

Dear Niece,

I was happy to keep you company for your day in court. I hope I kept you from getting too nervous with my silly little commentaries for the five hours we were there(!) I am also proud of the way you are handling all this, and maybe learning something, too.

Love you,

Auntie

Don't forget to stop by He Read/She Read and read the reviews for The Life of Pi by Jimstyro and Pamela Dayton. If you love me, leave 'em a comment. And Jim is looking for a new book to review and/or a partner in reviewing, if you are interested.