In A Perfect World....

My son T. likes to make books with his little sister. I found this one on the kitchen counter yesterday morning.

The story and illustrations pulled at my heartstrings. Bullying seems to be in the forefront lately; it's on the news, on the covers of magazines, I hear of my children's friends being tormented, and I have been dealing with the issue in my own household.

I, myself, was bullied as a child and know the hell a bully can put you through.

Maybe some day tolerance and acceptance will allow for an outcome, like my son has portrayed in his story, for everyone.

We can only hope and pray.

I Did Giggle, Just A Little

But I just couldn't help it. It's in my nature.

Did you hear...chuckle... about the Lifetouch Studios...hee hee... incident at McKinney High School in Texas? Snort. Ahem. Sorry. I feel really...giggle, sniff....badly.

Based out of Minnesota, Lifetouch, or Retouch as they should now be named, provides portraits and yearbooks for schools nationwide. Seems they've got a closet Photoshopper in their midst.

One with a sick, twisted sense of humor...guffaw...cough, cough...deep breath.

This is what went down.

McKinney High School had apparently asked for certain alterations to be made by Retouch Lifetouch before the yearbook was printed. They required the student's heads be the same size and eyes at the same level in all student photos. From what I have read, only one Retouch Lifetouch employee had "an unfortunate lapse in judgment".

Only ONE employee worked on making the heads and eyes the same for ALL of the Stepford Children students? No wonder he/she cracked!

You see the culprit switched bodies and heads and heads and bodies of about 600 students in this year's publication. There was no sense of gender, as body parts were mixed and matched. The possibly disgruntled sociopath worker also stretched the necks of some students. Was this the effect that he/she was trying to achieve?

They should have hired me. I could have done SUCH a better job, I mean c'mon, look at MY new image on the side bar. Now that's realism at it's best!

As I was saying....

Things became more gruesome when some discovered a dismembered girl within the pages. Her arm had mysteriously been erased from her photo! OH.THE.HORROR!

Thankfully the employee knew to keep things rated PG-13 and blurred the chest of the girl whose clothes seem to have disappeared. Those involved are under age, after all. Except for that one kid, you know, who's like 23. The one who sits in the back of the room and either sleeps or blows spitballs at the chalkboard. At least he's got all of those previous senior year pictures to look at.

But I digress.

So, this weekend is seriously going to suck for that yearbook staff. They have to figure out which noggin goes with which torso. They have only 48 hours to sort it all out so Retouch Lifetouch can reprint their memories for a whopping $75,000.

That employee has got to be SO fired!

(P.S. I really do feel for the students of McKinney High School. However, after reading about violence, earthquakes, and famine this just seemed, well, slightly humorous. I'm just saying.)

Remembering 9/11/01

Where were you on September 11, 2001? What were you doing when American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the World Trade Center's Twin Towers? Who were you with when you watched the aftermath of American Airlines Flight 77 crashing into the Pentagon? What were you thinking when United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in Somerset County, Pennsylvania?

I don't care how old I get, or how senile, I will always know the answers to those four questions. I don't think anyone over the age of twenty will ever forget the horror this country felt on that day, six years ago.

I was in my kitchen when the telephone rang. W., who was three, was watching Teletubbies in the playroom. The caller ID showed Mr. Schmitty's cell number.

"Are you watching tv?"

"Are you kidding? Teletubbies is on!" I replied.

"Turn on the news, some guy just flew his plane into one of The World Trade Center buildings!" At the time, it was thought that a small plane had crashed. They did not know that it was a commercial airliner.

"WHAT?!"

I head over to the tv as I hear Mr. Schmitty yell, "Oh My God, another one just flew into the other building! I have to go!" He hangs up as I stand staring at the tv, phone in hand, and mouth hanging open.

At the time Mr. Schmitty was working in the Marine Bureau of the State Police of NJ. His station was in Port Newark which is located directly across the river from NY. He was watching all of this unfold. My heart sank. I knew he'd be involved in whatever all of this was. And what was this? Was there more to come? Where? What?

I was glued to the tv for the next hour. The telephone was ringing off the hook. I didn't want to answer it. My husband's family was wondering if he was working. They wanted to know details, details I didn't have. I couldn't keep reassuring everyone. I wanted them to leave me alone. I knew they were worried too, but I needed them to stop asking me questions I didn't have the answers to.

Finally Mr. Schmitty called me. None of the telephone lines for the station were working. Cell phones were failing too. He needed me to start contacting his fellow officers and telling them to come in to help. Those were the hardest phone calls, especially when their wives would answer the phone. I was telling them that their husbands had to go into the unknown.

That phone call was the last I received from Mr. Schmitty for the rest of the day. I didn't know what he was doing, where he was, nothing. I was a wreck. I needed to turn off the tv. I couldn't watch anymore, it was making me crazy. I remember my neighbor had come over with his kids. We sat in the yard watching them play. We just watched them, so innocent, so unaware. We each had a beer to calm our nerves.

I am so thankful that Mr. Schmitty came home to us that night, unharmed physically, but you could see the toll of the day in his eyes. We all changed a bit that day.

I am extremely lucky that I have my husband to hold. Others were not as fortunate and for them, I send my prayers. For them I will light a candle as a reminder of what was lost six years ago today.

Support Our Troops

A very good friend emailed me this video from YouTube.com yesterday. I believe it was made by a 15 year old girl. It touched my heart and brought me to tears.

May is National Military Appreciation Month. I thought this video might help us all remember the men and women who are away from their families while they are serving our country.



I also thought I would add a link, for any of you who may be interested. The USO runs a program that for a donation of $25 you can sponsor a care package for the troops. An Operation USO Care Package at a minimum, includes requested items such as pre-paid worldwide phone cards, sunscreen, travel size toiletries, disposable camera and a message from the donor thanking them for their service and sacrifice.


P.S. Please do not make this a political forum. I did not post this video to begin a debate about war. I simply want to remember and support our troops. Thank you.

A Tragic and Sad Day

I normally do not watch the news on television nor do I read the newspaper. I believe I stopped doing so when I had my first child. I became too sensitive to the ways of the world. I can't stand to hear about rapes, murders, molestation, and children missing or abused on a daily basis. It would be too much for me. I would completely obsess, more than I already do, about my children's safety. I am very over protective but try to give them space, reluctantly of course, so they don't feel smothered. Some may say I should cut the umbilical cord, I say, "Ummmff, I am here to protect my child, I will do what I find necessary."

But no matter how much your guard them, short of barricading them in your home, life can take a dramatic turn in an instant. That was exactly the case yesterday at Virginia Tech. I don't understand why or how another human being could harm another. It's not in my make up. It could have been. I grew up in an abusive home and I could have followed the cycle. Statistics say I should have. But when I look at my children the thought of ever harming them just turns my stomach. I just shake my head when I remember what I endured and can't fathom any type of excuse that could justify it.

I would like you all to do two things for me. One, I would like you all to say a prayer for the innocents who were killed or injured yesterday and their families and loved ones. Two, give your children a few extra hugs and kisses today.