May God bless America, I know we're not a hopeless case

Every year (at least every year since I've had a blog), I struggle with what to post on 9/11. Make no mistake, I will always try to post something because I want to do my smallest, littlest part to make sure my tiniest handful of readers here at Steph's Other Space don't forget either. I know it's been 8 years now and in our relatively immature American history, that probably seems like an eternity. Patience (nor remembrance) is hardly an American virtue. I think that's what drives me the craziest about our country as a whole... our inability to collectively remember our most blessed history and give thanks to God the Father from whom all blessings flow while simultaneously forgetting to thank those mere mortals who act as His Hands and Feet here on earth.

So I post this in the spirit of eternal thanks to all those heroes from 9/11/01 and to God our Father who gave His only begotten Son, Jesus, so that death--even death in an incendiary fire at the hands of demonic forces-- is defeated forever through the cross. Truly, what was intended for harm was used for good by God to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. (Genesis 50:20)



PS: My suggestion as a perfect remembrance for 9/11 would be to donate blood today. You will save lives, maybe even someone you know and love. And if not, well then you've paid it forward the way so many heroes did on that day.

These kind of stories so DO NOT help...(Updated)

Let's play a game where I recap the news stories I've seen so far today while you read along (so it's not really a game per se but it does sound like fun, doesn't it?):

Well, I think it's pretty common knowledge that my father was a policeman and I was raised accordingly. (I think I even remember that he occasionally received threats on his family, maybe? Feel free to clarify, P-Paw.) Anyway, what others deem "paranoid," I call "informed." I grew up knowing the world is not always such a wonderful place and I intend to empower my children with that same information. Point being, I always lock my doors, we have an alarm, yada yada, all of which is usually enough to ward away The Boogie Man but this story just blows all of that out of the water. I mean, what are you going to do if 8 armed ninjas bust down your door in broad daylight? That story bothers me on so many levels that I'm not sure if I should follow it closely in hopes of making some sense out of it or if I should just pretend it never happened since ignorance really is bliss. Do you remember this case in Idaho? Yeah, that bothered the crap outta me too because I do NOT need to hear about pedophiles with night vision goggles. But then I heard that the adults in that situation were meth users (who died with illegal drugs in their system) so I felt marginally better about my own ability to protect my children. But this case out of Pensacola? I just don't think I'm ever going to read anything that will make me feel better about my family's safety. In fact, I'd place a wager that Mr. Billings was probably armed himself and went down in a blaze of glory so it's not like I can cling to my guns, either. (However, I will cling to my "religion," Mr. Obama!) And working surveillance cameras covering both inside and outside the entire property? Wow, that's a family after my own heart but a lot of good it did them. The upside is that while the cameras didn't prevent the crime (which is always my ultimate goal), they dang sure make it an open-and-closed case for the DA. So I guess we should chalk up a small victory for the good guys and lock our doors anyway...

**Updated to say "DUH!"

PS: The 3rd major aviation crash in about as many months? And Southwest (who has been fined recently for not inspecting their planes and also happens to be the airline of choice for my in-laws)? Yeah, that ain't helping either, folks.

So it begins...

From the same folks who introduced you to Julio Jones last summer...

it's Getting To Know Greg McElroy.

So, it'd be kind of nice if I could make a habit out of introducing you to The Next Big Thing at The Capstone year after year but for now I'll just take it one season at a time.

PS: What's that you say? Greg McElroy looks vaguely familiar? Well, you might remember him from this... The Good Lord knows I do.

Read Steph's Other Space...

...be the first to know because I've been harping on the pig flu for quite some time. I think some day history will vindicate me as someone a little ahead of their time versus a silly, alarmist, hypochondriacal housewife (don't think I can't read minds as well!)

Seriously, the only reason I sincerely believe that we must study history and teach it to our children is so we can learn from our ancestors' trials and tribulations (and mistakes, don't ever forget the mistakes!) So the whole point to my ramble here today is that you should get a flu shot ASAP and don't underestimate the pig flu (ie: take it seriously!) And buy gold... the stock market still has a long way to tumble.

Love ya, mean it!

And then I'm done with it (I think...)

So what's the antithesis of Pastor Smith's honest assessment that the "king of pop is now bowing to the King of Kings"? It absolutely has to be Al Sharpton's statement at the memorial that was directed to Michael's three children: "Kids, wuhn't nuthin' strange about yo daddy!" Sir, I beg to differ...

Exhibit A:

(This is a photo from the raid on Neverland Ranch in 2003. TMZ.com posted about 50 official photos from the Sheriff's Department and there were many more of these strange childlike mannequins in other photos. All were fully dressed and lounging about in a filthy, cluttered room. Note the ornate gold [probably 24K] chair.)

Exhibit B:

(PS: "Blanket," that's you, honey. Smile! You're hanging from a 5th-story balcony with nothing but a throng of paparazzi to break your fall!)

Exhibit C:

(The first picture is MJ in his early teen years while the bottom is a mugshot from the year 2003, approximately 30 years later. For the record, Jackson said he simply "matured" and only underwent two nose surgeries.)

Now it's a shame that I'm somehow a racist if I think Michael Jackson was a freakshow. That's why I'm going to report and you can decide. But I will say that there's no way anyone with an IQ over 50 can deduce that Michael Jackson was one of the world's greatest humanitarian and a bastion of normalcy who was simply the victim of the white man's negative press. I won't even go into Quincy Jones' statement that Jackson "obviously didn't want to be black" because honestly I don't care about any of it! Seriously, I couldn't care less about his racial aspirations. However, I would pedal a bike to Encino CA tomorrow if I'd have a chance to tell his children face-to-face that they don't have to be defined by their daddy's choices. They have the privilege of remembering only the wonderful characteristics of their father while disregarding all the bizarre and queer behavior that seemed to engulf him in the end. They don't have to go into The Biz (no matter WHAT your Grandpa Joe or Uncle Jermaine may say!) or remain a pawn for their gold-digging, egg donor mother. Ultimately, they can eventually fade into the background if they so choose as I think this too shall pass. Most of all, I pray they know that they are loved very much by a Heavenly Father who can literally move mountains to give them a hope and a future. So to Prince, Paris, and Blanket I say, "Call me." (Or at the very least email me at stephsotherspace@gmail.com and I'll send you my number.)

Things I Wish My Boys Were Old Enough to Understand (an obligatory MJ Post)

I sit in my kitchen as I type these words with the sounds of the never-ending tribute to Michael Jackson in the background. I've wanted to post about MJ ever since his death... first, because everyone is talking about it and thinking about it even if they're not blogging about it and second, because I think there are some thoughts regarding the situation that I would very much like to share. So I figure today, the same day of the spectacle that was the star-studded concert send-off for one of the greatest entertainers of our time, was as good as any to try and compose some of my meandering thoughts. (As a total sidenote, I know Joe Jackson must not have been in charge of the official memorial or those tickets wouldn't have been free!)

Anyway, here's a list of things I wish my kids were old enough to understand about this whole Michael Jackson fiasco...

1. There is such a thing as too much money, too much power, and/or too much celebrity. What a tragedy that after 50 years on this earth there was apparently no one in Jackson's life who cared more about MJ the man than MJ the product. He was bottled and sold from the tender age of 5 and when he died, he was surrounded mostly by paid help who didn't even seem the least bit panicked on the 911 calls. And does anyone else find it ironic that this whole memorial production is being handled by AEG, the same promoters for the "This Is It" concert tour? They are still making money off of him in death! In fact--cynic that I am--I can't completely rid my mind of the thoughts that the doctor who was with him when he died was also employed by AEG and could have easily pushed just enough meds to bring about his death without anyone ever really determining exactly what happened. Afterall, with a daunting 50-concert tour on the horizon for a frail unstable man, it seems undeniable to me that this man was likely far more profitable in death than in life. Yet is there anything more tragic than an actual price being put on someone's life or a bottom line on their very soul?

2. Whatever we (your parents) may have done to screw you up, get over it! It's widely reported that Michael Jackson was ridiculed by his father for many things, including both his dark skin and wide nose. Any guesses as to what Michael worked the hardest to change about his appearance? He was so wildly talented and beloved yet he mutilated himself in a vain attempt to correct something that was never wrong in the first place! All to please his selfish, abusive father who only seemed to care about making a buck?!? Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face. And his gaunt appearance was undeniably from a drug problem and/or an eating disorder... both characteristics of someone who has learned to hate themselves. So kids, if I/we ever did anything to traumatize you (ya know, other than being your parents) please don't punish yourself to get back at me. Just go to therapy and send me the bill. And while we're at it, I guess I'd want my kids to understand the importance of being a good parent, too!

3. A person's a person, no matter how small (or "big.") Much of Jackson's music lamented the lack of normalcy in his life. His poor children have never been afforded the "normal" life or a slice of the anonymity 99.9% of us in the world take for granted... yet I'd be willing to bet they'd cash it all in for just a chance to be a normal person. I'd also guess they'll spend their lives wondering who loves them for who they or who loves them for what they can provide. Sadly, I think that's exactly what haunted their father and I truly believe at the root of all his bizarre behavior and lavish spending was the deepest desire to be loved and accepted. Plus, the genuine hurt and emotion that was on full display at the memorial was the same as if it came from me and you. So I guess it's true... celebrities are people too. (Sorta.) And I'd advise my kids not to chase some stupid dream of hitting it big because in the end it seems people just want to be left alone, free to be normal.

4. You are never larger than life. No arguing it here, everyone is appointed to die. Yet I halfway think a few of those people screaming at the memorial expected MJ to pop out of that gold casket. Despite their pleas, in a matter of time the so-called King of Pop will be a mere pile of dust (albeit in one very expensive container!) Sometimes it does seem as though some folks believe they are too big to die... and ironically those are the same folks that all too often die far younger than the average life expectancy. Despite even the most desperate of measures, they never manage to avoid the inevitable... even Jesus died, right?

5. But Jesus rose... Hallelujah, Christ arose! If you were at work and didn't see the memorial, I'll spare you the suspense: MJ did not miraculously spring forth from his tomb. But I know someone who did! Have you ever wondered why no one has found the remains of Jesus? Simply put, He's not here anymore. And make no mistake, when a light shone down on Jesus, it wasn't from fancy 1000-watt bulbs at The Staples Center or the special effects in a video. It was a light directly from Heaven as His Father was well-pleased with His Son. Michael Jackson was made out to be some sort of deity today but I hypothesize that in 2000 years people won't even remember that he lived or died, yet in the year 2009 it's the promises of Jesus that the Jackson family is choosing to hang their hopes on at this time. What could a man possibly do in a short life of 30 or so years that people would remember, nay worship, two milleniums later? Nothing. But Jesus was not just a man. He wasn't The King of Pop or Rock-N-Roll. He's the King of Kings and God's own Son who bore the weight of our sin so that we could enter into Heaven, not through works of our own but through His grace and mercy. What an amazing plan God set into motion so many years ago that would culminate in today's "celebration" of Michael Jackson (a ridiculously talented and famed entertainer/megacelebrity/freak extraordinaire/accused child molester) so that it would both begin and end in the name of Jesus while at least half of the world watched and listened! With all the celebrities and poignant performances of the day, no greater truth was spoken than those words from Pastor Lucious Smith when he acknowledged that now the king of pop was bowing to the King of Kings. Ultimately that's the way it will play out for all of us, regardless of fame or status. I'm praying that message won't get lost in all the hoopla of the day. And I'm praying my kids always remember that.

The Big Reveal

It has come to my attention that one of my dearest and oldest friends (Well, that doesn't really sound right. I'm trying to convey that our friendship encompasses several years, decades even... all the way back to the elementary school bathroom during a time when Lee Press-On nails were popular) started a blog. I honestly had no idea. Now I have to be totally, 100% transparent... I held my breath as a I read over her blog because it's a little nerve-wracking when an IRL (in real life) friend starts up a blog because there's always the possibility that deep down they have some radically different opinions and ideas than you would ever imagine, subsequently changing the way you look at them. (Like me thinking a gay marriage ban probably is unconstitutional but that's an entirely different can of worms that I have no intention of cracking open here.) Alas, Tori is scared by Barack Obama too so all is right with the world (and subsequently me linking to her blog.) So, in the spirit of Ty Pennington's trademark "Move! That! Bus!" I say:

Click!





That!





Link!

A bone, to you from me

I know it's been a while (late April to be exact) since I last posted and I will brief you on the situations that led to my absence at a later date (let's aim for mid-June, 'kay?) but I just had to take this opportunity to post one of my all-time favorite pics. In fact, I aspire to own a high-quality print of this very photo to hang in my house someday (because not everything that hangs in my house has to be a Daniel Moore...not that there's anything wrong with that):

Is that not an absolutely fantastic picture that says so much more than words ever could? I was only about 10 years old at the time but the image has stuck with me for, oh, about the last 20 years. It's definitely a dead-heat between this photo for my all-time favorite non-family photo:

I do have a print out of this one but have never found the appropriate place to hang it. I'm sure I will someday. I might have to give the edge to the "Tank Man" since that happened in my lifetime, as much as I would actually like to imagine that I'm really from the WWII era. (Truly The Greatest American Generation EVER. Wellllll, the pilgrims were as tough as nails too. ) Anywhoo, I knew June 5th would be a very busy day for me so I couldn't wait until the actual 20th anniversary of that photo to post it here so enjoy it a day in advance. Plus, I didn't want to steal any thunder from my sister's anniversary. :)

Okay--seriously-- it looks like mid-June before I post again but hopefully we already keep up with each other on facebook. If not, request that I be your friend and I'll consider it. In the meantime, if you're looking for stuff to read... try this. Or this. Or this. Or maybe even this. And don't forget to keep up with all my virtual buddies over on the sidebar ----->

After that, you're on your own.

'Til we meet again...

Water fountains are evil

So is everyone sufficiently freaked out over the all the swine flu news? You should be. Unfortunately I don't have the time to attempt to scare you into a real respect for what this could mean for the next 6 to 12 months but I do have some brief thoughts on keeping our kids safe regardless of whatever is the bug du jour. Bear with me as I tell you how to raise your children (should I just turn off the comments now?!?)

Here are a few things I have drilled into my children's heads since birth in an attempt to protect them from whatever pandemic is either currently breathing down our neck or is lurking right around the corner (because any medical doctor who tells you he is not concerned about a pandemic--either this current issue or ones not yet identified-- is truly full of crap. Any infectious disease doctors or epidemiologists out there are welcome to chime in now. In fact, I'll leave the comments turned on just for you.) Anyway, these are things we practice in our household that I think would be well worth the time and energy for anyone.

1. DO NOT EVER use a water fountain. Not at school. Not in church. Not here. Not there. Not anywhere. Fountains, coolers, bubblers (whatever you want to call them!) are nasty, evil little things that should be banned. My plumber husband tells me they are increasingly required by local building codes but I find that to be truly insane, but then again, that's government for you. Plus, I truly believe I must be ahead of my time. :) I'm sure someday our grandchildren will laugh and laugh about the "good ole days" when people all drank out of water fountains or they won't believe us when we say we did. Anyway, don't take my word for it. Read/watch all about them here, here, and here. (That is what I found after a very cursory internet search using "water + fountains + germs." Feel free to do your own research.)

2. DO NOT EVER share cups/bottles/drinks with anyone (parents and siblings most certainly included!) Seriously, not with a fox. Not in a box. Not with a goat. Not on a boat. (Unless you are married to said fox or goat... because if you are married then you probably swap germs with your spouse from time to time but this is not the place to discuss such things. Especially when you re-read that last sentence. I think we should just cut off that discussion. Right. Now.) Anywhoo, in all likelihood, you are contagious before you even know you have anything at all. I always imagine everyone as contagious (that's a nice way to view the world, no?) and act accordingly. Spit-to-spit (membrane-to-membrane) contact is pretty much the transportation of choice for germs so just don't do it... How hard can it be to pour another cup or water bottle? It's certainly much easier than the sleepless nights and cranky days with sick kids. And it's still got to be cheaper than all the doctor and prescription copays.

3. WASH YOUR HANDS. In the rain. On a train. In a house. With a mouse. If you can't wash, then deactivate the germs with hand sanitizer and then wipe them on your shirt or a napkin after the sanitizer has dried. Currently the CDC recommends washing your hands frequently (for me, that's pretty much until the skin is raw but just before I get tiny little cracks and fissures... which are --surprise!--a backdoor entry for germs!) or using a hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol, like Purell. Wet Wipes and some others use antibacterial cleaners that aren't as effective as good ole alcohol. You'd be surprised at my various stashes of hand sanitizers (or maybe not after reading this) and I can assure you that as this swine flu drama continues to unfold, I can hoard with the best of them.

So there's my Confessions of a Germaphobe. I'm sorry if you look at me in a completely different (neurotic!) light now. It was either this little spiel or a dissertation on the Spanish Flu of 1918. Or another anti-Obama rant after this spiffy stunt yesterday. But honestly, I think I cope better with the pig flu than the current administration so I'm going with that for now.

You're welcome.

The most hilarious thing I've seen in a while...

Before you get your underwear in a wad (no, I don't use the "p" word and I've had that conversation with most of you before. I've even embarassed myself on another blog by not knowing who Clinton and Stacy are when discussing this topic... but I digress), I didn't make that pic. I wish I was that good. I found it here (via my fb buddy, Krewe) and it's totally awesome from what I've read so far. I think the author played football at Bama.* Kevin Jackson for President? Hmm... I'll have to read on to see what I think about that but if he went to Bama then it's a no-brainer (insert obligatory Bammers-got-no-brains pun here.)

* I am aware that it's probably not the same Kevin Jackson but until it is proven otherwise, I will choose to believe that it is the same guy.

Who needs at-home perms...

... when THIS can curl your hair?



Just in case you don't recognize these two long-lost homies, here's a brief description to bring you up to speed. One man is a socialist revolutionary who pals around with Marxist ideologues. The other man is the president of Venezuela. Speaking of Hugo Chavez, here's some of his greatest hits:

“I have said it already, I am convinced that the way to build a new and better world is not capitalism. Capitalism leads us straight to hell.”

“I hereby accuse the North American empire of being the biggest menace to our planet."

“The left is back, and it's the only path we have to get out of the spot to which the right has sunken us, ... Socialism builds and capitalism destroys.”

"The descendants of those who crucified Christ... have taken ownership of the riches of the world, a minority has taken ownership of the gold of the world, the silver, the minerals, water, the good lands, petrol, well, the riches, and they have concentrated the riches in a small number of hands." (I've cross-referenced this just to make sure he wasn't quoting Hitler. I want to give credit where credit is due.)

"The devil is right at home. The devil--the devil himself-- is right in the house. And the devil came here yesterday. Yesterday the devil came here. Right here. [Crosses himself] And it smells of sulphur still today. Yesterday, ladies and gentlemen, from this rostrum, the president of the United States, the gentleman to whom I refer as the devil, came here, talking as if he owned the world. Truly. As the owner of the world." (Just FYI, I've also cross-referenced this one just to make sure he wasn't quoting Keith Olbermann. He's not, but I can't swear that Keith Olbermann doesn't go around quoting Chavez.)

"Let's save the human race, let's finish off the U.S. empire." (That nugget of wisdom was delivered at the Islamic Republic medal ceremony at Tehran University in Iran.)

And just to illustrate how Chavez's love is not unrequitted (not by a long shot):

"Mr. Chávez is my brother, he is a friend of the Iranian nation and the people seeking freedom around the world. He works perpetually against the dominant system. He is a worker of God and servant of the people." Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iranian "president"

And while I'm at it, I'll end with these very insightful quotes...

"I'm grateful that President Ortega did not blame me for things that happened when I was three months old," [Laughter and applause from the other leaders.]...We have at times been disengaged, and at times we sought to dictate our terms," [Loud applause] "But I pledge to you that we seek an equal partnership. There is no senior partner and junior partner in our relations."

--Barry Obama: Friend to fascists and socialists alike

Hey, what's the big idea?!?!

Based on our actions (or lack thereof), you'd think we're dealing with the friggin' Pirates Who Don't Do Anything. For anyone who ever thought Dubya was a warmonger, be very (and I mean very) happy I'm not Commander in Chief. I woulda blasted these terrorists back to the African coast 3 1/2 days ago and then invaded Somalia to clean up the rest of the country. Finally I'd stand on top of the nearest sand dune and shout "King Kong ain't got nuthin' on me!!!!" while challenging the rest of these demon-possessed warlords of Africa to Bring. It. On. But that's just me.

Out of the supply closet

Sorry I haven't posted much lately but after quick glance at the blogs on my sidebar, everyone else has the same problem...too much to do and not enough time, certainly not enough time to post at my self-indulgent blog. Plus, I've had so much on my mind that I didn't even know where to start. I did want to share a juicy tidbit here that many of you may already know about via facebook (except for Tom, who has about the funniest explanation I've ever heard/read for NOT joining facebook, as well as PeePaw, who can't seem to find that elusive facebook at the library!)

Anyhoo, we've had a large development in our family and NO, I'm not having another baby. Still, I will have a child with me around the clock starting this fall despite my youngest starting kindergarten. So what could that mean?!?!? It means I'm homeschooling Ricky Bobby for the next school year ('09-10) and it's official now seeing as I've filled out all the paperwork and informed his current school of our decision. It's been a huge blessing how smoothly things have gone so far and I feel like the hardest parts are behind us (other than having to field your searing questions here!) I have all sorts of other thoughts on the topic but I don't have time to compose them coherently now but I at least wanted to throw y'all a bone since I'm not sure what any of this means for Steph's Other Space. I can certainly envision a life without blogging (or tanning beds!) in the very near future.

I stared down the oscillating vent and won! (Or "This world sux!" Take your pick)

Not many words tonight... today was in many ways a fantastic day yet I will go to bed tonight with a full mind and heavy heart. My two kids are sleeping peacefully and beautifully in their own beds tonight. That's fantastic. Three completely unrelated families that I've been following (in one form or another) struggle this very same night with their own children's health crises. That sux. I faced down an all-too-familiar and menacing oscillating vent that is very similar to the one that pulsated (yet oxygenated) my newborn son for 5 days and realized it really wasn't as bad as my memory recalls. That's fantastic. That same oscillating vent was connected to my friend's critically ill son. That sux. My son went on to survive his own health scare with neonatal heartblock unscathed and even ran a mile (in 10 1/2 minutes no less!) as a fundraiser for the local NICU ministry. That's fantastic. An acquaintance I connected with only because of a random discussion over neonatal heartblock watches her infant son fight for his life tonight. That sux. All of these babies are safely in God's Hands with the blessed assurance of Heaven that far exceeds our earthly comprehension. That's fantastic. Jesus is leaving their families and all of us here on earth until His Father tells him to return. That sux.*

*With the quantification that my brain is indeed very small and very finite so really it doesn't suck at all because His ways are not our ways and are actually much, much higher. Still it feels like it sux for now. And I know someday it won't suck at all and that's fantastic. But I don't know when that day will come and that, in fact, sux.

A brief synopsis...

Okay, here's the deal...

I've been busy A LOT lately, which also means I'm exhausted (think fatigue-exhausted) so I haven't made much time for blogging. I'm fine... just tired. And what few fleeting moments of insight or possibly even wit (?) I do have are shared with my facebook community of friends (because, ya know, they comment and whatnot.) And to be fair, everytime I'm at the computer lately I'm typing. Or obsessively checking on MckMama and her son. Or reading James Spann's updates. Or researching diaphragmatic hernias. Or reviewing homeschooling curriculum. Basically, I'm doing everything but blogging (and resting.) Hopefully that will soon change (on both accounts) but I don't see any real indication of this in the near future. Consider it a favor... I'm sure y'all are tired of me *complaining* about Obama. (If that's the case then rest assured I've got plenty to say about Tim Geithner.)

Pancakes and Coffee has a nice ring to it though...

Really, I'm just posting this to revel a bit more with advanced apologies to one of my newbie commentators, Tamara. I promise it's not personal, it's football. :)


PS: Be sure to vote ---------> (Plumberboy, I think we can afford this so long as it only happens every six or 7 years. However, I'm TOTALLY content if this series gets too rich for our blood.

It ain't braggin' if you can do it...

I hope all who search the internet looking for info on the south Alabama shootings near Samson and Geneva will eventually run across this story. I have more to say on the matter but I'm not in the blogging mood lately. I'll be back sometime soon, God willing.

Why I LOVE Sports (Now updated with video!):

It's full of stories just like this. And b'ball really is one of my favs... it's so much fun to see something like that in person (I didn't this time but I was there when lil' Antoine laid it up against Florida!)



By the way, did anybody catch G-Jo and P-Paw on ESPN Tuesday night?

But first you've to get mad...

I promise I will try not to turn this into a rant because honestly I do understand that this week--in the grand scheme of things-- is really not that bad, at least not sackcloth and ashes bad. But it has been pretty sucky to say the least (how eloquent is that?!?!) And I feel bad for my mother or anyone else who has had the misfortune of listening to me unload on them because I have a week's worth of stress and frustration pent up inside of me yet no real vice with which to unwind (unless the ever-unhealthy and expensive Coke Classic in a glass bottle counts!) I used to complain biweekly to my beloved Granny about such things before she died but now that's not possible obviously. What's that you say? Go to the cemetery and vent to her gravestone? You mean the same gravestone that was recently overturned by a gang of hoodlums? True story. Now granted it didn't actually happen this week but I just found out about it on Sunday, thus kicking off a craptastic week. And today it ends with finding out the NCAA is possibly up to their old antics again, which incidentally may also mark the beginning of my new role as populist leader in an uprising to be named at a future date. Stay tuned.




Goodbye craptastic week!

A word to the wise...

Hi all... I just wanted to give you readers a quick yet vague update regarding a situation you may notice is unfolding (ever so slightly) here at Steph's Other Space. A woman has contacted me regarding the Siran Stacy post and she has commented on several of the posts below. I have since edited her comments only to remove her name and have otherwise left the comments untouched, though they have obviously reposted under my name. Due to the very sensitive nature of this issue, I'm not going to say much here but I wanted to reassure you that this is no ploy or joke in an attempt to pump a little drama into this humble blog. I. Hate. Drama.

Secondly (and might I add in a very motherly tone), please take this lesson to heart in your own blogosphere. I know it's quite humorous how protective I am of my family's true identity but this woman reaching out to me only serves to reaffirm my position on the matter. You never know who is reading your blog and I think most of us would be shocked to see how very easy it is to find personal information on the internet. My father recently emailed me a picture of our house that he found online via Google Earth. Believe me, it's out there for the taking so essentially anyone could very easily (at no charge!) get directions that would lead them directly to your doorstep. It's never too late to retrofit your blog for these dangers... just go in and delete everything with any sort of indentifying information, including the titles you give to uploaded pics. I would also add a somewhat anonymous email address to your blog because usually you have identifying information tagged to an account. Obviously people will still find you if they are really hell-bent on it but please don't make it easy for them!

Anyway, I'm done lecturing for now. But eat your veggies and wear your seatbelt. Oh, and heed the tornado sirens. :)

What's black and blue with horns and an obvious traumatic brain injury affecting her judgment?

Apparently Rihanna. Girl, you're worth way more than this. Don't ever forget it.

She's a lady...

Okay, eventually I'll quit talking about my dogs (both here and on facebook) and maybe I'll even mention my kids a time or two but believe me, for now the dogs in our life are a lot less complicated! Anyway, I couldn't help but take a few pics and video of that crazy Palin Mae Sassafras of Calhoun County (or Miss Sassy if you nasty) enjoying the rain today. When I decided to get a dog and then subsequently strong-armed Plumberboy into agreeing, I really set my heart on what some folks call an old Southern white, which is basically a fancier term for a yard dog. Well, ask and ye shall receive:

Wow, that's a classy broad. And she's currently about two shades browner than that pic. If you look closely enough at the background, you'll see what was once a fairly aesthetically pleasing garden area with flower-filled window boxes, handpainted pots, and a trumpetvine-covered arbor bordered by a nice wooden picket fence is now a wasteland of potholes and poop littered with the various mangled plastic corpses of whatever she decided to make her chewtoy that day. And yes that's her luxurious down-filled (well, thin synthetic cotton batting) comforters on the ground soaking up the rain. Because she drags them out there. Every. Single. Day. Apparently you can take the dog out of the ghetto but not the ghetto out of the dog. Moral of this story: Be careful what you ask for because you just may get it.

Now onto an update on JJ's situation... he's fine. Plumberboy's wallet is still ailing but JJ is just fine. He's convinced our dogs will live for a looonnnng time and we'll have the vet bills to prove it. It should be noted that JJ's pancreatitis ate into Crabman's birthday party budget so maybe we'll just take JJ to the party this year and let the kids take turns petting him. "Thanks for coming today. Nope, that's it. Just pet the dog and go home, kid. No cake. No ice cream. Just a crazy old black dog with a case of the shakes."

Well, I promise to elaborate more on the other happenings in our lives but right now the details are still fuzzy. I will say that Crabman is reading, like legitimately sounding out words and everything. I find this ironic seeing as we dance on top of books in our house and occasionally use them as a bat, too. Anyway, I guess we'll keep letting him read books so long as they don't go putting no silly ideas in his head. I hate it when that happens.

Of course I could always end by sparking a lively debate about the "stimulus plan" or Pelosi's Congressional Calisthenics but, nah... I think we've had enough of talk of dog poop today.

Dang Mama! (in my best Ellen Page on SNL voice)

This is just crazy. But I don't feel bad for him... nope, not one iota. I've always believed that BIG-time talent almost always comes with BIG-time attitudes, despite pro players having about the best job on the planet.

Okay, it's the beginning of a very busy week so I'm probably not going to post much here (unless a debate breaks out between me and anonymous from Dothan) but I will mention that our sweet JJ dog is in the hospital. It appears he has a nasty case of pancreatitis so he's the hospital for a couple of days. I think he'll be okay but he is 9 years old now so all bets are off. Regardless, he's probably enjoying his break from the kiddos and Miss Sassy, not to mention that obnoxious runt Cotton. He probably thinks he's at Club Med or maybe Heaven? Sometimes (okay, a lot of times) I wish I could get a nice little stay in the hospital but to be honest, I'd settle for bedrest so don't feel bad for me if that ever happens. I imagine the sleep you get in a coma is just delightful...

(Now I suspect I'll get some sort of lecture from my dad about this post!)

Anyway, enjoy your week and don't be an Andre.

Frazer Tonight

Siran Stacy is scheduled to speak tonight at Frazer United Methodist Church in Montgomery tonight (like soon, maybe a couple of hours?) and hopefully you'll consider going if there's still time. Either way, please take a few moments to watch these videos (here and here... sorry, I cannot get them to embed into blogger for anything. Get thee behind me, Satan!) of Siran Stacy's recent visit to WSFA in Montgomery to share his testimony. I beg all of you to ask yourselves if what you have faith in would sustain you through such a tragedy, or really any tragedy at all (or what about just everyday life?) May God continue to be with Siran and his daughter as they go about their mission...


PS: I promise you this, I would HEART Siran Stacy no matter the color of his former uniform so obviously I feel blessed and humbled that he once donned the crimson jersey!

Breaking News...

This just in:

That fight totally started when Chris Brown wore Rihanna's shirt, gold lacrame backpack, and pink Swatch without asking. (And is that her fingernail polish on his left thumb?!?!?)

Chickity-Check Yo Self

Hopefully you've continued to read about the Lane Kiffin saga somewhere (since I haven't been able to stay on top of it for you here at Steph's Other Space) because it is good stuff. If not, here's a spot-on recap by Kevin Scarbinsky that oughta bring you up to speed. There's really nothing more for me to add because I agree 100% with Scarbo. But I will say this...that's some mighty big talk for a kid named Lane with a father named Monte.

Famous Monte(y) Montage:

Recruiting for Dummies

Sorry for my recent absence but we have lots going on in our household right now (perhaps I'll elaborate here someday) but I know y'all are clamoring for my take on yesterday's NSD (which is National Signing Day for those not in the know about such things.) I would really, really LOVE to expound but time just won't allow. (In fact, timewise, I shouldn't be posting at all right now.) So just read this per Rivals.com. Anyway, if you're too lazy to click on the link, I can condense it for you with "Bama won the recruiting 'championship' again."

And I'll add that this is starting to look a lot like a juggernaut. That's not to be confused with Jagermeister, which you might want to start chugging if you hate Bama. But hey, why worry? Saban still has to coach 'em up...Muuuuhahahahahaha!!!!

PS: Here's some bonus insight from NSD. Lane Kiffin is a ....

Did I miss my calling?

Because I know that I know that I know I would've sought and secured the death penalty for this depraved couple. And not necessarily because I'm that good but because they are that bad (egregiously so) and if for no other reason than this trial is in Texas for crying out loud... I hear they still hang 'em at sunset out there. Good thing The Father sees and knows all. Me thinks He won't take too kindly to what these scumbags did if they don't repent.

What the???

I know I said I wasn't looking to bash Obama here (and honestly, I'm not looking but this stuff keeps popping up and sucker-punching me in the face!) Regardless, the last time I checked I was a girl and girls reserve the right to change their minds. Hey, at least I still have a mind as it's now quite apparent to me that Obama has lost his! Let me back up and say that I'm not mad (per se) that he's offering an olive branch to the muslim community, although that certainly shows a certain large degree of naivete, but I'm fuming that this is his first interview as President of the United States. He could have made reaching out to the muslim community a priority but still given his first interview to a distinguished American journalist. For someone with a relatively high IQ, I would think he would realize how this is going to play with middle America (and don't say it doesn't matter because every President or Presidential hopeful cares how it will play in Peoria.) Not to mention that there can be no "mutual respect" with terrorists. Call me crazy but I don't respect Bin Laden nor his little Al-jibberjab sidekick. Arrrrgh, I'm regretting that I didn't actually go door-to-door for McCain now (0r at least wormed my way into his campaign to wield enough influence over their campaign tactics regarding his stance on attacking Obama's questionable muslim agenda.)

PS: A preemptive Letter from the Editor...

Dear Anonymous:
I see that you have stopped by Steph's Other Space at least a couple of times (or more if you're reading this) and while I appreciate your patronage, I would prefer that you assert your intellectual prowess by engaging in meaningful conversation as opposed to slinging words like "dummy," "idiot," and "retard." That said, you should know that I'm the Adrian Peterson of blog commentating, which means I can do it all day. (Read: All. Day.) In the past, someone has asked a question or stated a hypothesis and then we here at Steph's Other Space engage in scholarly dialogue. We may not all agree but we certainly don't resort to name-calling as the lowest common denominator. I assure you that you really don't want to go that route anyway as you have now ventured down into the Deep South where we tend to manifest God's love in a fashion more closely resembling Jesus clearing the temple than offering His other cheek. Now if you don't have a personal relationship with Jesus, please email me so we can discuss that matter in private because if you don't have a relationship with Jesus then anything you encounter here will be a mere gnat stuck to your windshield as you travel the great highway of life. If you have no interest in knowing Jesus then rest assured I have no interest in casting my pearls before swine. Perhaps you should just stick with MckMama's page, where--as you know--she is both funnier and a whole lot nicer.

To the other readers here at Steph's Other Space, I suggest we just freeze out "anonymous" and her/his infantile comments via the ole cold shoulder, though she may be impervious to such chilly tactics as she hails from coastal Washington state near Bellingham, give or take a few miles. God bless his/her yankee heart.

Gag indeed...

... This makes me want to throw up. Obama is nothing if not an astute politician.

You can dance on top of a book! (Updated with less annoying version of video but now there's a new more disturbing video to boot!)

Seriously, there's something for everyone (including facebook crossovers!) I really am about to quit wasting time on the computer but not before I embed quite possibly the worst bootlegged video in the history of youtube. Maybe your computer's speakers are better than my laptop but just in case they aren't, the raccoon is saying "I got rabies for learnin'."



UPDATE: I have three words: Hip Hop Harry. I thought "Da Learnin' Train" was spoofing Yo Gabba Gabba (which I heart) and Choo Choo Soul from Playhouse Disney. Aye-yi-yi. This is fo' real and apparently you really can watch it on Discovery Kids. (Plus it's also currently On Demandizzle with Charter Cabizzle. Word.):

A Follow-up (Updated with a link in an attempt to prove it's not just me being mean!)

For you Lacey, a pic that reveals the true owner of the purple Madonna gloves (with Jay-Z still in the ridiculous hat while Beyonce/Sasha Fierce thinks to herself "If he wasn't worth a gazillion dollars..."):




And this is for "anonymous" who seems to get her feathers all ruffled by Jay-Z's hat and gay priests. Oh yeah, it's also for anyone who can grasp the absurdity that is Aretha Franklin's hat, though it does make her head look smaller.

And this one is just for me (because as Lacey kindly noted, it is my blog after all!) Need I say more?

Too soon?

Honestly, I'm done talking about today's events right after I post this pic:

Mr. Z, I know it's quite frigid out there today but that hat? Really? No, seriously, history in the making and that hat? Can I get a what what?

You lookin' at me???

Are you waiting for me to comment on today's historic events? Well, it is historic no matter your views on the candidate (read: don't listen to Rush Limbaugh...ever!) as it's only the 44th President in this country's history. That said, today is not the day to wax poetically about the future of our country. I'm sincerely happy that people perceive today as a huge step forward in the ongoing civil rights movement but I won't deny I'd much (much!) rather see the likes of Condoleeza Rice, Alan Keyes, or perhaps even Montgomery's own native son Artur Davis taking that oath today. I too have a dream that one day all people (political candidates most definitely included) will be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin. So I guess that's it for me today (and for who knows how long because it's a never-ending job being a mom!) Bless God America and may God be with President Obama as well as his fellow Americans.

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

Romans 13:1

Just like the good ole days!

I am so glad someone over at NBC convinced Lorne Michaels that you don't always have to be uber-raunchy to be funny (Thanks Ms. Fey!) In fact, I'll bet SNL's ratings have gone up since they decided to cater to those of us whose IQs are a wee bit higher than the average oversexed high school jock.

TGIF (Updated with a full 4 1/2 minutes PLUS of Joey and Pacey... you're welcome!)

Can you believe I actually have this date circled on my calendar because Friday Night Lights is FINALLY back on NBC. Of course you can! Remember this? Well, I gave up on trying to watch it on DirecTV. It turns out I had other things to occupy my thoughts this fall. Which is probably a good thing because now I can turn my undivided attention towards Lyla and let's be honest it's really all about Tim Riggins.

PS: Just be happy I didn't have a blog back in my Dawson's Creek days. Joey and Pacey Forever. (And I see I'm not the only one wishing that...) Anyway, that's all I have to say about that. Hint: I have an attachment to Joey and Pacey so don't come up on my blog with no Joey and Dawson crap. You've been sufficiently warned! :)

UPDATE: The Joey and Pacey link has been fixed... enjoy!!!

It's that time of year

You know how I offer up public service announcements (PSAs) from time to time? Well, here's another one. That's just FYI as I thought it might be especially useful this time of year. You're welcome.

PS: I've frequently put VapoRub as far into my nasal passage as humanly possible and I would have eagerly rubbed it directly onto my sinus cavity and/or my brain if I had something that was long enough to reach. I have found a nose spray with just a shot of VapoRub in it that will clear you right up but sure enough, it does eventually cause some rebound swelling. Nasacort AQ seems to work best on a daily basis. Okay, that's all for me for now as this has quickly digressed into some sort of WebMD moment.

I was afraid this was going to happen...

I know a lot of people were a little more at ease with President-Elect Obama after his choice of Rick Warren for the invocation at the inauguration. Unfortunately, I figured something like this would eventually happen. Now I'm not giving up on Barack Obama and his ability to lead our country in a positive direction (nor am I saying "I told ya so") but I am quite concerned about Obama's propensity for easily being led astray. And just for the record, what I find offensive about Gene Robinson from that article has nothing to do with his sexuality... it's his flippant attitude towards God's word. I'm not sure what version he reads, but I've never ever come across a Bible that paints God or His plan for our lives as "happy, clappy."

PS: Dear Mr. Robinson, please go about your business doing as you please and so long as you're not breaking any laws or imposing your will on me or my family, I'll gladly (no pun intended) let you be. However, I'd like to respectfully request that you stop calling yourself a Christian. You're not so I'll continue to call you out whenever and wherever I can if you continue to do so. Have a happy, clappy day!

Have you seen this show?!?!

It's called It's Me or The Dog and I think it comes on The Animal Planet channel. (I don't really know because it just happens to be on the TV sometimes, right after some animal talent show that my kids watch.) Anyway, I'm amazed at how stupid these people are with their dumb, mean dogs. There's some evil pomeranian on there right now named Teddy Pom-Pom and I wonder why they don't dropkick that stupid mutt across the house. Then I realize I am the owner of an overly aggressive (borderline dangerous) 4-lb poodle named Cotton and I just shut up.

PS: Plumberboy says we need to go on this show and Cotton barks with approval. Someday I'll try to get a quick digital video of Cotton at his finest, quickly wrangling a 50+ lb Miss Sassy to the ground.

My toe hurts...

but this takes my mind off the pain:



I'm pretty sure that's the head ref from last night's BCS Championship game. And for those of you who care, I was in fact pulling for The Gators. Seriously, who doesn't love Tim Tebow? (Okay, there's probably at least one. As for me, I may eventually purchase a 1-5 UF jersey. That's fair warning, P-Paw and Plumberboy. I'm sorry, but he's the definition of "nothing but a winner.") And for me the Bammer, it means that we only lost to the AP's final #1 and #2. That's the good news. The bad news is that you were 12-0 beforehand and controlled your own destiny regarding another national championship. Oh well... I'd much rather win one in Pasadena anyway (yes, that's a vain attempt to mask the pain... which at this point appears to be manifesting itself as a throbbing, aching left little toe.)

PS: Dear Sooners, do not feel bad... it happens to the best of us. We were most definitely Tebow'd this season too!

Our God is an awesome God...

I know that title is kind of an unusual one for what I'm about to post but I think it's appropriate (although, to be fair and balanced, I think it's always appropriate to mention that our God is an awesome God!)

The woman I've mentioned before, Hope, passed away this morning. Just read her husband's blog entry for yourself and then please pray for him and his family. He has lots of questions and few answers (Don't we all?!?!) God is so very awesome in the way He works out even the smallest details and I want to acknowledge how much I appreciate that... it's really been an answer to my prayers. Again, please pray for this family as they deal with death and then enter a new phase of life. I am praying specifically for a continuing renewal of her husband's faith.

May God bless that now "Hope-less" family with a future and a new kind of Hope. And may He bless Hope with that healing and peace I've desperately petitioned Him for on her behalf. Amen.