Sorry, today is a NEW day, Good Morning All........
I'm back! - I survived the morning with 19 2-3 year olds
Thanks everyone....We sat and talked today. We told him that we would support him with whatever decision he made but we need to sit and weigh the pros and cons. He thought this would be a good way to be on his own. He also thought that he would be able to continue to go to school and be in the military. We told him that would highly be unlikely. We also told him that there would be a good chance that he wouldn't be able to pick what he wanted to do. Then we went over the pros of serving his country, and the ability to travel, etc. Sean then went to tell him that if he sprung on us that he just went and enlisted without one of us to be there as support, he would be on his own, all the while I am thinking no way are you throwing him to the wolves. I then asked him if he still wanted to be a police officer, and he said yes. I told him that he needed to realize that he can start applying in as little as 2.5 years from now, which seems like a lifetime to a teenager. We then went over what he could do until then, classes in foreign language, working on a degree, which means more money.
So he went out with his girlfriend and talked to her about it, and guess what he isn't going in (for now), but he is planning on moving in with the girlfriend sometime at the end of the year!Ok I am laughing now, but could someone please pass the clairol, I am going to go completely gray!
from across the way. Is there not a local voluntary army he could enrole in. We have a Territorial Army in the UK which is voluntary and they meet at weekends. He could then continue with school.
- holy cow! - Neil will 
when he sees it. I bet he turns the thermostat down again - he knows I just turn it straight back up again to full
I'm a bit like Benda - I like heat
not cold, where as he walks round in t-shirt and shorts all winter and I'm in 2 jumpers
I've just opened our gas bill for the last 3 months
its nearly $700
Aren't you glad they aren't all yours?
I've just opened our gas bill for the last 3 months
its nearly $700
Thanks everyone....We sat and talked today. We told him that we would support him with whatever decision he made but we need to sit and weigh the pros and cons. He thought this would be a good way to be on his own. He also thought that he would be able to continue to go to school and be in the military. We told him that would highly be unlikely. We also told him that there would be a good chance that he wouldn't be able to pick what he wanted to do. Then we went over the pros of serving his country, and the ability to travel, etc. Sean then went to tell him that if he sprung on us that he just went and enlisted without one of us to be there as support, he would be on his own, all the while I am thinking no way are you throwing him to the wolves. I then asked him if he still wanted to be a police officer, and he said yes. I told him that he needed to realize that he can start applying in as little as 2.5 years from now, which seems like a lifetime to a teenager. We then went over what he could do until then, classes in foreign language, working on a degree, which means more money.
So he went out with his girlfriend and talked to her about it, and guess what he isn't going in (for now), but he is planning on moving in with the girlfriend sometime at the end of the year!
I know this is a very rough time for your son. In this day and age young adults don't have a lot of options. Esp. with college tuition pricing most middle income families out of the opportunity. My father being a minister has counseled quite a few young men on the merits of serving our country. Most of them feel it is an opportunity for glory. They see the commercials and think wow! I can drive a tank, fly a helicopter, see far off places and go to school! This is an easy decision to make. Dad will usually take them to Fort AP Hill or Quantico and have them talk to real military personnel and find out what basic training is like. That the GI bill doesn't stretch as far as it used to. And it is not something you can just walk out of when you are tired of it. Some are up for the challenge. Other see the light. Hopefully your son will do a lot of soul searching before he jumps into a situation that he can't get out of. 
Good frosty morning everybody. I was up at 7am this morning - the first thing I did was put on the radio to hear the list of school closures- he's back in school
Its snowing here this morning and it was -8 overnight - still -4 now at 9.14am.
I'm meant to be going to a kiddie playgroup today... a friend of mine volunteers there, they need someone qualified to run it as the other lady is leaving and asked if I was interested. Its only two mornings a week, so I'm going to scrape myt car and head off in a minute to see what its like. It would be my first little job in 4 years! - only 7 hours a week - I think I could just about cope
I'm definately re-painting...I let it dry - it's too blue- I'm going for a real dark olive colour this time...I'll be moaning next that its too dark
I enjoy painting when it looks nice at the end
Dont...sniff...know...sniff...what...sniff...you...mean...sniff
Its a deal!
I dont like ceilings - I get neck ache
Double deal!
- my case is packed girls!
I like the sound of it actually!
Glad its sorted
I'm back! - I survived the morning with 19 2-3 year olds
Karen,
I want you over at my house, too!
Did all the 2-3 year olds survive also???
Sorry, today is a NEW day, Good Morning All........
Even though I've read this before, it still makes me cry.I just had this forwarded to me by a friend - its so sad
A drunk man in an Oldsmobile
They said had run the light
That caused the six-car pileup
On 109 that night.
When broken bodies lay about
And blood was everywhere,
The sirens screamed out eulogies,
For death was in the air.
A mother, trapped inside her car,
Was heard above the noise;
Her plaintive plea near split the air:
Oh, God, please spare my boys!
She fought to loose her pinned hands;
She struggled to get free,
But mangled metal held her fast
In grim captivity.
Her frightened eyes then focused
On where the back seat once had been,
But all she saw was broken glass and
Two children's seats crushed in.
Her twins were nowhere to be seen;
She did not hear them cry,
And then she prayed they'd been thrown free
Oh, God, don't let them die!
Then firemen came and cut her loose,
But when they searched the back,
They found therein no little boys,
But the seat belts were intact.
They thought the woman had gone mad
And was traveling alone,
But when they turned to question her,
They discovered she was gone.
Policemen saw her running wild
And screaming above the noise
In beseeching supplication,
Please help me find my boys!
They're four years old and wear blueshirts;
Their jeans are blue to match.
One cop spoke up, They're in my car,
And they don't have a scratch.
They said their daddy put them there
And gave them each a cone,
Then told them both to wait for Mom
To come and take them home.
I've searched the area high and low,
But I can't find their dad.
He must have fled the scene,
I guess, and that is very bad.
The mother hugged the twins and said,
While wiping at a tear,
He could not flee the scene, you see,
For he's been dead a year.
The cop just looked confused and asked,
Now, how can that be true?
The boys said, Mommy, Daddy came
And left a kiss for you.
He told us not to worry
And that you would be all right,
And then he put us in this car with
The pretty, flashing light.
We wanted him to stay with us,
Because we miss him so,
But Mommy, he just hugged us tight
And said he had to go.
He said someday we'd understand
And told us not to fuss,
And he said to tell you, Mommy,
He's watching over us.
The mother knew without a doubt
That what they spoke was true,
For she recalled their dad's last words,
I will watch over you.
The firemen's notes could not explain
The twisted, mangled car,
And how the three of them escaped
Without a single scar.
But on the cop's report was scribed,
In print so very fine,
An angel walked the beat tonight on
Highway 109.
Cheryl/Janice, do you guys need anything painted inside your house?
I see Jen and Nancy want Karen to paint their rooms and I know we have a couple of rooms that need it too.
Here's my thought, although I'm sure Karen wouldn't be up for it.
We all chip in and buy her an airline ticket to come here. For the cost of the ticket and room and board at each of our houses while she's here, she will do our painting.
How does that sound?
We get to see an old friend and get our houses painted.
Cheryl/Janice, do you guys need anything painted inside your house?
I see Jen and Nancy want Karen to paint their rooms and I know we have a couple of rooms that need it too.
Here's my thought, although I'm sure Karen wouldn't be up for it.
We all chip in and buy her an airline ticket to come here. For the cost of the ticket and room and board at each of our houses while she's here, she will do our painting.
How does that sound?
We get to see an old friend and get our houses painted.
Cheryl/Janice, do you guys need anything painted inside your house?
I see Jen and Nancy want Karen to paint their rooms and I know we have a couple of rooms that need it too.
Here's my thought, although I'm sure Karen wouldn't be up for it.
We all chip in and buy her an airline ticket to come here. For the cost of the ticket and room and board at each of our houses while she's here, she will do our painting.
How does that sound?
We get to see an old friend and get our houses painted.
Dang, I could've gotten two FO's today!
Karen, I never read that poem (?) before. It was very sad. I do believe in angels myself and so does Chuck.
One month after his mom died Chuck was almost crushed against a dock by a truck that wasn't chocked correctly. The truck came rushing back and someone yelled out "look-out"! Without turning to "look", Chuck said he felt himself get pulled to the side.
The truck crashed against the dock and it was heavily damaged. One of the dock workers ran to see if Chuck was ok and Chuck thanked him for yelling out to him. The worker said he never yelled out a thing and that it appeared that Chuck was lifted off the ground and thrown to the side.
It's still a mystery to this day.
Works with me.
Actually, I'm not so sure I should be saying this, but Chuck LOVES to paint. He might feel a little sad if I give his job away to Karen. But, I would still love to have her stay here while she is on a break from the rest of you guys.
Nancy send Chuck to my house and he and Karen can start on the Eastern Seaboard and work there way across then we can all meet up in LA and take the Repo Cruise back to FL!! Brilliant!
Everyone has angels, thank goodness Chuck's was there that day. That just gives me the chills.Dang, I could've gotten two FO's today!
Karen, I never read that poem (?) before. It was very sad. I do believe in angels myself and so does Chuck.
One month after his mom died Chuck was almost crushed against a dock by a truck that wasn't chocked correctly. The truck came rushing back and someone yelled out "look-out"! Without turning to "look", Chuck said he felt himself get pulled to the side.
The truck crashed against the dock and it was heavily damaged. One of the dock workers ran to see if Chuck was ok and Chuck thanked him for yelling out to him. The worker said he never yelled out a thing and that it appeared that Chuck was lifted off the ground and thrown to the side.
It's still a mystery to this day.
