Anyone else inflamed over ACORN's involvement in voter fraud?

I wonder how the liberal media will cover this one...

Unexpected treats don't generally fall in my lap, so when Dana Martin generously offered me two free tickets to Talladega Frights, the event was made all the more special. My husband and I went on Thursday's opening night and laughingly screamed our way through the maze of rooms. The cast uses each moment as an opportunity to startle patrons, and I felt my eyes constantly darting around, bracing for the next Gotcha!

Upon entering, our first exposure was to a fog-laden graveyard, the scene of "Thriller" - complete with risen corpses doing the famous dance. From there, we felt our way through pitch-black rooms, some with flashing strobe lights or purple bulbs, surprised the entire time by spooks jumping out from the sidelines. Clutching to one another, we jumped and I shrieked, rattled but cackling through the entire experience. An insane asylum haunted by young women was the most frightening to me, while my husband enjoyed the polka-dotted, spinning room. Getting lost in the woods, being closely followed by werewolves, was particularly memorable. The spooky characters popping out of the well-done scenes don't touch anyone, but they certainly get your pulse racing.

Talladega Frights makes for a unique evening out and we would definitely recommend supporting this NOR event!

*Thanks, Dana and the Northwest Voice, for such a fun night!!

Last night, I was feeling poorly and realized by ten o'clock that I would have to call in sick. This is something, as a teacher, that I try to avoid at all costs. I dashed out some lesson plans and left my house shortly before seven the next morning to drop them off.

Driving home, I was surprised by how busy the roads were! Normally, I'm tucked away in Room 33 at that time and am not familiar with the hustle and bustle of parents taking their children to school. As I drove down Norris Road, slowing down for an oncoming red light, I saw a school bus coming to a halt across the street. As I was slowing for my red light, the bus was coming to a stop. Suddenly I heard loud honking and looked over, seeing the bus driver glaring at me. By now her Stop sign is out, but I'm also at the red light.

Up came a motorcycle cop behind me, like a shark out of deep waters. When the light turned green seconds later, I pulled up and over to the side of the road, thinking surely I am not getting a ticket... The scene happened so quickly, between the bus coming to a halt, me slowing for the red, and her honking - which obviously was a signal to the officer to pounce.

Sure enough, I received a ticket. He also seemed pleased to tell me I would be required to go to court for this, since "children were involved." This uniformed man behind mirrored glasses didn't listen or care for what I had to say. The sound of the overeager bus driver was all the registered in his ears.

So, here's a warning to save you time and money: apparently even if the bus is pulling to a stop and the sign is in the process of coming out, you'd better put on your brakes.

It would have been easier to just go to work today and spread my germs.

*Yes, I understand the importance of stopping for buses - I've been a teacher for eight years and worked in a Sunday school department for nine years. Kids and their safety are a top priority for me.

The past few days, I have happily been making a cup of tea in the morning and enjoyed the hint of Fall in the air. Walking down the hallways at school, I've picked up on a slight change in the weather - and I love it!

This weekend, my husband and I are embracing the onset of Autumn with some hardcore Fall Cleaning around the house. Yesterday, we spent over four hours working in the flowerbeds and then carried our energy inside to do some deep cleaning. Today, we'll just make it up as we go, but by golly, we're cleaning some more after church!

I'm also armed with my Apple Spice and Pumpkin Harvest candles, which have been burning like the Eternal Flame.

The tiniest change in the weather has put me in a whimsical mood and by bedtime, I'll have the fall goodies out of storage and sprinkled around the house. That will make waking up Monday morning just a little more appealing. That, and my cup of Earl Grey.

I could just be overexcited by the onset of my favorite season, but is anyone else nesting - or just excited about Autumn knocking on our door?

larger view

Let me start by saying that my mom Connie has watched Jon and Kate Plus Eight, a reality show on TLC, for the last year or so. Let me also say that I used to (lovingly) make fun of her for watching it. "Why would you want to watch a show about raising eight loud kids?" Of course, she has the same respect for the shows I watch: "Jane Austen on PBS? Are you trying to put yourself to sleep?"

My mom has been off of work for almost a month now, due to carpal tunnel hand surgery. I also happen to be off for the summer, one of the blessings of being a teacher. Every day, I drive across town to hang out with my mom. We've cleaned the house from top to bottom, organized her closets, and painted her spare bedroom. Actually, I have while she has kept me company. Not a problem, she is nursing her hand back to health. My dad comes home for lunch each day, and the three of us sit around and chat. It's been wonderful spending so much time with Parents who have morphed into Friends over the last few years.

How does Jon and Kate Plus Eight tie in? Each day at 2 o'clock two episodes come on. My first couple of days over at her house, my mom had to convince me to sit down and tune in with her. I would give her a look (tilted head, curled lip, rolled eyes) and a big sigh. She would give me the Pleeeeeease Look and bribe me with a fresh glass of iced tea. So, I would grudgingly flop down on the couch and watch through slitted eyes. Something happened, though. I began to enjoy the show. Within a week or so, I was tuning into the 8am broadcast and it was a race to see who would call each other first at commercial. Somehow it blossomed into us Googling everything Jon and Kate while we watched the afternoon show. There are a surprising amount of blogs and articles out there about this young couple raising a set of twins and sextuplets!

My mom will be returning to work shortly but I must say that our friendship has grown even more over since her surgery. We spend six or seven hours together doing everything and nothing. We've become regulars at the Northwest Promenade's Target and Starbucks. I think we've consumed ten pounds of Jujyfruits, Fritos and bean dip, and her delicious sweet tea. I need her to go back to work so I don't gain ten pounds from the snacking!

I never would have thought I would turn into such a fan of a show but I guess moms really do know best!

As of today, there are only 21 more school days left for your child.... I'm encouraging all parents to say a special "Thank You" to their child's teacher before the school year ends!

As a third grade teacher, I know firsthand what is involved in running a successful classroom. Teachers not only teach, but they act as counselors, nurses, police officers, comedians, and friends to their students. Teachers take papers home to grade, projects to work on, and we are all furiously getting ready for Open House. Not to mention the State Testing that we just wrapped up!

Often times, teachers only hear from the parents when there is a problem or complaint. We are like our students - we need praise, too! Just let us know every now and again that we're doing a good job - it means the world to us. We really love it when you let our principals know! (smile).

So, parents, get on your mark - get set - GO! You have 21 days to make your child's teacher smile!

Thanks for listening....