I Did Something Terrible...

To my hubby...

But it's the funniest thing I've ever seen in my life.

I sent it to all his staff as a Christmas card.

(Oh, and thanks, Ness, for turning me onto this).

Watch here.

Mommy, Why is Molly DATING?!?

I was streamlining my computer picture
files today and this one popped up on the screen
just as Zac walked by.

He immediately stopped, pulled the sucker out of his mouth with a loud *Thhhop* and in his toughest brother voice, demanded to know why Molly was dating.

We have a Thanksgiving service tonight, hosted by the school and if Zac sees Molly's "date," I think he'd punch him in the gut.

The Great Gum Caper

Last Wednesday, Number Five and I played "chaperone" to my hubby and the Financial Admin, as she and he attended a conference in Atlanta.

It was great! We were to just hang out, swim in the heated pool and hot tub, watch some TV, eat, shop, and go see some sights.

The first sight we saw Wednesday evening was the local Target. I forgot to pack swimsuits and big tears were being shed, so we ventured out into strange territory and found the comforting, red bullseye.

After swimming, Number Five and I met back with Hubby. While eating ice cream sundaes with me and Hubby, Number Five decided that between the Atlanta Zoo and the Georgia Aquarium, sharks and penguins rated much higher than lions, tigers and bears.

On Thursday, Number Five and I slept in, talked about going swimming but little man was determined to go see Cody, first thing.

A little background:

In 2004, when we decided to move to Florida but before we physically moved, I started having this recurring nightmare that I was on a small highway, heading over a small bridge to Cocoa Beach. On the horizon, out over the sand beach and the water, everything was black. Fierce-looking, fast-moving clouds were approaching--a HUGE hurricane was making landfall at that moment and I was the only one on the road; however, I wasn't afraid of the hurricane--what I found more horrifying in my nightmare was that the only turn around was an exit onto a tollroad AND I HAD NO MONEY! After we had physically moved to our home in 2004, I was amusingly relieved when I discovered that we lived at least half an hour from any tollroad. We also lived, begrudgingly, 45 minutes from any ocean beach. In the 90's, we had lived on Merritt Island, just one or two small bridges inland from Cocoa Beach, accessed by a small highway. For a short while, until I learned the area, I always feared getting on the Beeline/tollroad accidentally and not having any money. That's where my nightmare had manifested itself. I let the nightmare get to me and eversince, I had been very, very hesitant to travel any major highways with which I was not familiar, by myself.

I wasn't about to let my little guy down. I put on my big girl panties, pulled 'em up real high, calmed my nerves with a Starbucks and the knowledge that I'd driven in downtown Kansas City traffic for years, no problem; the new car had a compass--I told myself, "just find out which direction you want to go, Amy". We headed out the revolving door towards I-85/75 and the aquarium.

We navigated smoothly with the kick-butt map that was thoughtfully printed for both male and female brain function--it used words, pictures AND landmarks. Landmarks are always my first navigational choice. We drove straight there, no wrong turns, no road construction detours. The only problem was to park at the "Official GA Aquarium Parking Lot" or the parking lot right across the street, which was half the price ($5) but whose attendant didn't look quite on the up-and-up. Hmm...a woman, by herself w/a child, not familiar with area...I paid the $10 for peace of mind.

So, Number Five and I head down the sidewalk, with a few business people, toward the Aquarium (I stayed in a group, Mom). We rounded a bend and I see the entrance and this guy with his arms straight out to his sides, being electronically frisked with "the wand". I snort and think to myself, "Nice, wonder what that guy has in his pockets; what a stupid-head, doesn't he know to empty everything into the little bowl?"

We approach the security check-point and the following scenario took place in a matter of a few seconds: I move to the right and set my backpack-purse on the table and the officer asks me to open it. While I'm complying with this and rolling my eyes, he asks me very quickly..."Mam, do you have any guns, knives or gum in your purse?" My brain stops for a minute and rewinds as I repeat his words quietly to myself, 'guns, knives or gum'? Hmm...my brain recognizes that something doesn't fit into that equation and it throws me off for a second. I was thinking 'guns, knives or bombs' ; 'guns, knives or fishing nets'; guns, knives or pepper spray'. I finally look at him, amused and repeat his question with a quizzical expression on my face, "Guns, knives or GUM?" "Yes, Mam, gum." I giggled and said, "Um, yeah, I have some gum in there somewhere." "Can you take it out, please, Mam?" "Ok-aay, whatever". I start digging--all the way to the bottom--it's a backpack-purse, like Mary Poppins' purse. I finally find a pack of gum and pull it out; I'm NOT digging for the other pack I know is in there--so I stare at him like I'm done. He holds up his gloved hand and asks me to set the gum on the table. I thought maybe he was going to ask me to back away while he used a chemical kit to check it for liquid Nitrogen :)--he just looks at me like I'm supposed to know what to do next. I'm waiting for him to rifle through my backpack, assuming we all lie about having guns and knives (or omit whole truths...like having TWO packs of gum). He doesn't--he looks at me and I look at him; he looks at me and I look at him. It hits me that maybe we're done but I don't know if I'm supposed to keep my gum. I say, "Sooo, can I have the gum back now?" "No, Mam." *Silence and more staring* "Sooo, you want me to throw the gum in the trashcan?" "No, Mam." "Leave it...until...I'm done in the Aquarium?" "If you want, Mam, but I doubt if it'll be here when you're done." "Yea, I get that but do you want me to do something with it?" "No, Mam." I'm still waiting for him to dismiss me or rifle through my purse or say something that ends the "drill". We stare at each other and crickets start chirping. Things were really awkward. I finally said, "I'll just throw it away over there in the trashcan." "Yes, Mam, if you want." Oh, I wanted to alright, because I knew that after I stepped out of sight, they were all going to take it and chew it! Nobody else entered during the exchange so I don't know if they were trying to pull one over on me but I wasn't gonna' let them have my gum. That's not the end of the story...

I was totally confused at this point (as are you, I'm sure) so I walk up to go through the metal detector and before I could even step one foot through it, the officer says, "Mam, please stop and put your arms straight out." "Seriously?" I say. "Yes, Mam." So, I oblige and it was eery. Like being molested by some invisible force. At this point, I'm a little perturbed and I look down at Number Five standing beside me; he's looking up at me with a slightly confused/scared look on his face. I can't put my arms down to touch him and reassure him so I just tell him, "It's okay, it doesn't hurt or anything." As quick as it started, it was over and we were allowed to enter...after we paid $31.50. As it turns out, five and under were free for the day, as long as you weren't hiding any guns, knives or gum in your undies.

Ketchup

We've lived in HSV for a little over 18 months.

When we were contacted about an interview, we were like, "HMMM... ALABAMA."

It's small by big city standards but huge for a town that's relatively unknown. You would have to come see it to know what I mean. I consider it a well-kept secret.

HSV plays a large part in our nation's missile defense system. This is good and bad. Consider us well-protected, then realize that this year we were moved UP from #3, to #2 on "THE" list. You know, "X marks the spot," "Bullseye".

But at least we don't have alligators and hurricanes--right, Mom?

HSV builds rockets, satellites--basically all the "space and aeronautical stuff;" we are a major support to Cape Canaveral on launch days. We also build Toyotas and LG products. Actually, HSV is drowning in industries.

HSV has the most engineers per capita of any city in the USA. Something like 1 out of every 11 people. "Somewhere" out in California ranks second, with something like 1 of every 23 people.

Most of the SAHM's I know here, have Master's degrees in engineering or some other math- and science-based subject.

There is money here--old and new; it's usually VERY simply understated.

The German rocket scientist, Werner Von Braun, and his team of German rocket scientists that we "acquired" as part of a WWII peace treaty, played a huge part in HSV's history. Story goes Von Braun picked HSV for his home base because we sit in a valley and the landscape reminded him of his motherland, as well as, provided some secrecy for developing military rockets. We have much beautiful, European-inspired architecture in our historic districts and parks, as well as, botanical gardens and a planetarium.

HSV has alot of military in our airspace and lots of "booms" from testing of propulsion systems on rockets and Boeing's new aircraft systems. It's going to be getting noisier soon as they are going to begin testing the rocket boosters on the newest line of space vehicles that will be replacing our aging shuttles. They have not done this kind of testing since the 1970's, from what I understand, and many of the "oldtimers" around here say that when they begin, it will feel like an earthquake when they fire up the boosters. We used to live five minutes from Cape Canaveral, FL, and the shuttle lift-offs felt like I imagine an earthquake would feel. Everyone should experience the power of a shuttle lauch at least once in their lifetime; it's awesome! Anyway...

HSV has a numerous active community--walking trails,bike paths, marathons, cyclists clubs, Sierra Club, hiking trails, caves, cavers and a large Geocaching community; we have the Tennessee River, the Flint River, lakes, waterfalls; farms interspersed with cotton and corn fields and an International Airport; we're within short driving distance to Nashville, Atlanta, New Orleans, parts of Mississippi and Arkansas, as well as, the white-sand beaches of Florida.

HSV, with it's space and engineering base, of course has a very culturally-diverse city: German, Korean, Chinese, Indian just to name a few.

HSV has a very religiously-diverse city: Protestant, Jehovah-Witness, Methodist, C.O.C., Mormon, Community, Episcopal, Christian, A.O.G., Anglican, Jewish, Conscious-Living, Muslim, Adventist, all the Baptist sects, Holiness, Catholic, Unitarian, Non-Denominational, Lutheran, Nazarene, Bible, Inter-denominational, Presbyterian; Korean church, Spanish church, Chinese church. We have two new churches--Church TV and Building Church--don't know what they're about yet. And these are just the churches that I can think of that are within a couple of miles of our home. Seriously diverse for Alabama.
HSV has mountains, hills and valleys.

HSV has just enough of each season...not too cold but it does get pretty warm. We can drive to North Carolina in a few hours to see snow or ski.

HSV has two major hospitals with specialties in cardiology, orthopedics, breast cancer, neo-natal and a newly-opened St. Jude Children's Hospital Annex.

HSV has one of the largest army bases, Redstone Arsenal, with a thriving military community that will be growing by 10,000 more in the next few years, due to BRAC. Not sure I'm liking the traffic this is bringing, especially those crazy drivers from the Washington area.

HSV has beautiful, massive, plantation homes in our historic downtown. Our historic district has been well-maintained and still functions as a traditional downtown area that includes businesses, hotels, restaurants, jazz/blues clubs, coffee houses, ballroom/swing/big band dance clubs, a series of hands-on, children and art museums, as well as, homes/condos.

HSV has THE Space Camp!

HSV has many, many schools and several rank at the top in Math and Science testing.

HSV is chock-full of restaurants. Literally, any type of food you could want. Upscale, mom-n-pop, traditional Southern, Mexican to German to Thai.

HSV has two malls, at least four theatres, several bowling alleys, skating rinks, a swimming center, ice center, country clubs, putt-putt golf and a stop on the Robert Trent Jones golf trail; we have everything from trailer homes and dowtown condos to antebellum mansions, planned community cities, upscale apartments and homes in gated communities, teetering on the sides of mountains, starting at a measley, 8 Mil.

What more could we possibly want? What more could Huntsville, Alabama offer?

How about KETCHUP--L.A. Ketchup, that is.

This week, HSV had a grand opening ceremony for it's newest development. I've been watching it go up since we moved here and I had NO IDEA how big this thing is; from the highway, it just looks like a slightly larger hotel but apparently, it's also shopping, condos, entertainment and food. It's being billed not as a Mall, but a DESTINATION.

A Destination. In Huntsville, Alabama.

We have a guy in town interviewing and we're supposed to take him out to eat Sunday. I think I'm gonna' come down with a sudden urge for Ketchup during worship time. My hubby has no clue about this new "destination;" he'll think I've gone madly Southern, asking for ketchup. I had better look at the prices first.

I've never even HEARD of half of these places. Truth be told, I probably cannot even afford to know these places exist but I HAVE to go see.

Anyone up for a girl's window-shopping weekend? Tammi? Amy? Sis? Mom?

Grandma, I KNOW you are.

Introducing HSV's Destination. More info here. And here.

Someone, come visit me...soon!

Falling for Winter

Since I've become a Mom and now have the responsibility to DRIVE my little people around on snowy roads where there are STUPID people driving; furthermore, because I rarely have the luxury of enjoying the playtime that snow often yields (especially in the south where they close all schools when one snowflake penetrates the atmosphere), I am no longer much of one for cold weather. I much prefer heat and humidity. For the most part, neither of the latter-mentioned bother me much at all. I think somewhere in my lineage, we must have "Suthun" blood.

I must admit, however, that I do miss snow--fresh fallen snow to be exact. The ghostly quiet it always brings outside is the closest to heavenly peace that I think we experience here on earth. The color--indescribable white and for some reason, I always want to grab a handful and eat it--it tastes so...clean.

If anyone were to ask me what clean tastes like, I'd say, "Snow--it tastes like freshly-fallen snow."

I remember the first time I took particular notice of snow: My mother called me to our back door one night when I was maybe around seven--I don't know exactly how old I was but I do remember the quietness outside as she stuck a piece of black construction paper out the door. My curiosity was piqued of course. She pulled it back inside and revealed to me the beautiful snowflakes that landed on the dark background and told me that not one snowflake is ever the same as another. Ever since then, I find myself catching snowflakes and trying to memorize their uniqueness before they melt in my warm hand, the prism-ique beauty forever lost.

*Thank you, Mom; I know inside you is an artist disguised as my Mother. I never appreciated your creativity like I should have. Love you!*

Not surprisingly, I was so stoked to be offered this website and I've been hooked on it, much to the chagrin of my hubby who thought we were BOTH gonna' tag-team the house today...and my children who for some reason always ask ME, "Mom, when are we gonna eat?!?" :0)

More, More, More...

Did you know that there is a historical figure called, "The Snowflake Man"? Tammi may know of him--photographer of snowflakes--officially, a snowcrystal photomicrographer.

Say that three times, fast.

My kids like the websites, especially the snowflake movies; what kid, young or old, would not? It's mesmerizing and now I cannot wait until it gets cold enough here to frost my kitchen window.

Now, I need a new camera with one of those "fancy" lenses. Tammi, selling???

Princess Diary

I haven't done anything by my lonesome for years. It's been my choice, of course, barricading myself into a world of diapers, dishes, do-lists and doctor's appointments.

I was sooo excited when we moved here, after having lived in a small town in FL where the local mall had only two anchor stores...and they were JCPenney and Sears. It all went downhill from there.

We have two or three big malls here--yes, we do, in Alabama, in a town of which most have never heard. It's definitely a small "big city".

The mall closest in proximity to our house is seriously upscale from what I was used to in our former FL town, and as such, it has a Williams Sonoma. I'm a "gadget-girl" and I LOVE to browse the clearance at the back of the store, even though I rarely find anything I can afford--it's definitely pricey.

I regularly go into Williams Sonoma on Sunday to see what new recipes they have printed for the taking and to nibble on the samples they are cookin' up - Mmmm. It's not uncommon to find a meat and a sweet, which is just enough dessert after Sunday supper to satisfy my sweet tooth.

A few weeks back, while perusing the merchandise (and waiting on a little batch of heavenly vanilla angel bundt cakes to finish cooking in their paper ketchup containers), I decided that I was going to sign up for an in-store cooking class. They offer them once a month, sometimes more frequent, and I had been consistently putting off signing up b/c I never knew what my schedule would hold a month out.

I walked around the store, reading the pamphlet of upcoming cooking classes and contemplating what all I might be roped into doing a whole month into the future, when I finally decided, "Scrap it all, I'm just gonna' do it!"

I signed up, paid my $40, which I found a little high but most probably worth the night out ALL BY MYSELF, went home and proceeded to email my hubby and let him know that he'd be in charge on Sept. 4, 2007, come heck or high water. "Be home by 4:30...or else...please and thank ya'! "

I woke up this morning in a great mood. I am still stoked.

Actually, I went to bed last night giddy; yes, giddy.

Bonus: This morning I was a *MODEL* for my stylist who is seeking new employment at a chic salon in town. I received a complimentary color and cut for my "help". He gave me a rockin', cutting-edge cut and color, WooHoo! Bonus-Bonus: The salon he's seeking employment from has this small, German, shampoo lady who MADE MY DAY. I've never, EVER, had a shampoo like that, not even from my own Momma and if I could afford it, I'd go there every-single-day to let her shampoo my hair. I think I should have tipped her but I don't know the protocol for all that foo-foo stuff.

I'm definitely struttin' my stuff into Williams Sonoma tonight!

Now if only I could somehow finagle my hubby into giving me a pedicure tonight, I'd surely turn into *A Princess* before sunrise.

I'll let you know tomorrow if you should start adding a title to my name or curtsy-ing(?) when approaching me.

Ha, ha.

Cousins

I've been gone all week with a big group of soon-to-be Freshman and Sophomores from our school. It was an exciting, awesome, tiring week! The kind you wouldn't trade.

Checking out my emails today, I found my cousin Mary had sent me a link to a fun personality-type test. My "Visual DNA" is now on the right.

Try it, it takes little time, it's fun and it's freaky accurate.

Thanks, Mary.

Important Information

DID YOU KNOW THAT RECENT STUDIES INDICATE THAT 7 OUT OF 5 PEOPLE ARE NEARLY ILLITERATE WHEN IT COMES TO MATH?

I PERSONALLY THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME PROBLEMS WITH THAT STATEMENT.

HOW ABOUT YOU?

I Like To Move It--Do You?

Interesting and inspiring.

I've always loved to dance.

And watch other people dance.

Never thought I was much good though.

This makes me think differently.

Everybody expresses differently through dance and nobody's dance is right or wrong, better or worse.

Just watch. Then, tell me what you think.

IN THE MOTHERHOOD

THERE'S A NEW "SHOW" ON THE WEB

IT STARS LISA REMINI FROM "KING OF QUEENS"

SHE CRACKS ME UP

THE WEBISODES ARE PRETTY FUNNY

FOR MOMS, FROM MOMS, ABOUT MOMS

FUNNY

I found something slightly amusing on a blog I was reading this morning on AL.com, our local newspaper blog.

I found the particular bloggers to be somewhat idiots, and yet, slightly entertaining.

(Disclaimer: I don't use *idiot* lightly.)

These idiots happened to make my morning when one of them gave out the following lead to chase:

1. Go to Google.com, here's the link: http://www.google.com/
2. Click on "Maps"
3. Click on "Get Directions"
4. In the "Start" box type: New York City, NY
5. In the "End" box, type: London, UK
6. Click "Get Directions"
7. Scroll down to step #20 and start reading. Step #23 is the kicker.

It's good for a laugh.

Maybe two.

Idiots!

Postscript: These directions only work between the East coast of the U.S. and Europe; Google doesn't give "driving" directions across any other body of water--West coast, Southern coast.

Yes, I tried.

And this was funny to me, as well.

Maybe the affects of the Funny Gas still have not worn off completely?

I know, I need to get a life. :)

DEDICATED TO MOMS EVERYWHERE

Tammi sent me this yesterday and , oddly enough, this is what my car looks like right now, having driven to ATL and back on Sunday.

I absolutely LOVE this video--thanks, Tam!

The Setup:

There is a popular show on MTV, I think, called "Pimp My Ride" where they take someone's car and put lighting effects and a "bumpin" sound system, etc.

This is the "MoM" equivalent:

http://www.youtube.com/watch_fullscreen?video_id=HEFE3B0Rje0&l=211&t=OEgsToPDskIuXSP8v7ROu9o0K8Eq5M8M&fs=1&title=Zima - "Mom My Ride"

THE PHOENIX

This picture, devoid of words, so aptly describes how small are we.



It's the sun. See us in the background? Didn't even notice, did you?

Me either.

It's called a prominence. For full effect, click to enlarge.

Wanna' see it in GIF animation? Click here: http://spaceweather.com/swpod2007/11mar07/palmer2.gif

I think it looks like The Phoenix (the mythical Greek bird-god of fire that rose from the ashes).

Explanation? Check it out: http://spaceweather.com/

MORE...JUST FOR FUN

FOR THOSE OF YOU FROM THE 80'S...A "CHRISTIAN" SPOOF ON THE VIDEO, "BABY GOT BACK." IT'S CHEESY AND IT'S GREAT. WATCH IT TWICE.

http://video.google.com/videopopup?q=http%3A%2F%2Fvp.video.google.com%2Fvideodownload%3Fversion%3D0%26secureurl%3DrwAAAKp_DggyHttLpdTYR6v-0Ebjth9RkJCUiX-gDk-cuKzyTJZ7CDoovIy5HtdDb2FjtR2zY0h-bPr7hZ8R0Ectid0OZ7GEUIWQCCt3ytWQ2caLKvCXLCmzscPGnvakNj5unLWDvP0q5YGuLhR7qw69YfZxiczUYZVsHSkm1wIczDp6qDnWnc_3AzPpJczIzcxlkVMP0OKPNXl_Qbe4nmlGJyaMown_NQ5jWsossmm4fNzV%26sigh%3DOlwx4paKfPtmwLAYHdFFBReV-cg%26begin%3D0%26len%3D264533%26docid%3D-3269248597999808799&docid=-3269248597999808799&fscid=fsc_236541359&windowtitle=Baby+Got+Bible+-+Google+Video+-+Full+Screen

FUN AS ALL GET OUT

Ever wonder where the phrase "all get out" came from and, what exactly, it means?

I decided to find out for myself and found this fun quiz to take. My first score was 40%. Try it for yourself and see if you're smarter than I. Make sure to take the Shakespeare quiz, I scored a 50%; not bad for someone who's only dabbled in Shakespeare.

It was as fun at 2 a.m. as I'm sure it will be whatever time of day you prefer to surf.

http://www.phrases.org.uk/phrase-origins-quiz/quiz.cgi

p.s. - I'll look for the English version tomorrow and post it for you. I just realized this was the UK version; no wonder I failed.

UNBELIEVABLE

GOT A RICH UNCLE?

FIVE MIL TO SPARE?

CHECK THIS OUT:

http://www.residensea.com/

TODAY

courtesyof History.com

http://www.history.com/tdih.do

1921 : Cabby sets record
Carmen Fasanella of Princeton, New Jersey, obtained his cab driver's license at the tender age of 17. Mr. Fasanella would go on to drive his taxi for the next 68 years and 243 days, setting an unofficial record for the longest continuous career for a cabbie. Incidentally, the term "cab" comes from "cabriolet," a single-horse carriage used by coach drivers.

1790 : First session of the U.S. Supreme Court
In the Royal Exchange Building on New York City's Broad Street, the Supreme Court of the United States meets for the first time, with Chief Justice John Jay of New York presiding.
The U.S. Supreme Court was established by Article Three of the U.S. Constitution, which took effect in March 1789. The Constitution granted the Supreme Court ultimate jurisdiction over all laws, especially those in which constitutionality was at issue. The court was also designated to rule on cases concerning treaties of the United States, foreign diplomats, admiralty practice, and maritime jurisdiction.
In September 1789, the Judiciary Act was passed, implementing Article Three by providing for six justices who would serve on the court for life. The same day, President George Washington appointed John Jay to preside as chief justice, and John Rutledge of South Carolina, William Cushing of Massachusetts, John Blair of Virginia, Robert Harrison of Maryland, and James Wilson of Pennsylvania to serve as associate justices. Two days later, all six appointments were confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
The Supreme Court later grew into arguably the most powerful judicial body in the world in terms of its central place in the U.S. political order. In times of constitutional crisis, for better or worse, it always played a definitive role in resolving the great issues of the time.

1861 : Texas secedes
Texas becomes the seventh state to secede from the Union when a state convention votes 166 to 8 in favor of the measure.
The Texans who voted to leave the Union did so over the objections of their governor, Sam Houston. The hero of the Texas War for Independence was in his third term as the state's chief executive; a staunch Unionist, his election seemed to indicate that Texas did not share the rising secessionist sentiments of the other southern states.
But events in the year following Houston's election swayed many Texans to the secessionist cause. John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry, Virginia, in October 1859 raised the specter of a massive slave insurrection, and the ascendant Republican Party made many Texans uneasy about continuing in the Union. After Abraham Lincoln's election to the presidency, pressure mounted on Houston to call a convention so that Texas could consider secession. He did so reluctantly in January, and he sat in silence on February 1 as the convention voted overwhelmingly in favor of secession. Houston grumbled that Texans were "stilling the voice of reason," and he predicted an "ignoble defeat" for the South.
Texas' move completed the first round of secession. Seven states--South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas--left the Union before Lincoln took office. Four states--Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas-- waited until the formal start of the war with the firing on Ft. Sumter at Charleston, South Carolina, before deciding to leave the Union. The remaining slave states--Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri--never mustered the necessary majority for secession.

1974 : Serial killer Ted Bundy strikes again
University of Washington student Lynda Ann Healy disappears from her apartment and is killed by Ted Bundy. The murder marked Bundy's entry into the ranks of serial killers as he had recently attacked his first victim, Sharon Clarke, in her Seattle home. By the time he was finally captured on April 27, 1979, Bundy had become America's most famous serial killer.
In the summer of 1974, Bundy attacked at least seven young women in Washington. Bundy's victims looked remarkably similar to each other: Nearly all of them had long, dark hair parted in the middle. Those who knew him said that he was very smart and personable and he used his charm to pick up his victims. In another gambit, he also used a fake cast on his arm to appear less threatening.
By the fall of 1974, the disappearances of young women stopped in Washington and started in Utah after Bundy enrolled in law school in Salt Lake City. He later expanded his area of attack to Colorado and, on August 16, 1975, was arrested by police as he prowled a neighborhood in his Volkswagen.
In Aspen, Bundy was charged with murder, but escaped out the window of the courthouse library. For eight days he eluded authorities on the outskirts of Aspen. When he was finally caught, Bundy was put in a jail cell, only to escape again on December 30, 1977, while awaiting trial.
Within two weeks, he had settled near Florida State University and began raping and killing more young women. This time, he didn't bother trying to charm women into his car. Two weeks after a sorority house attack, Bundy raped and strangled 12-year-old Kimberly Leach in Jacksonville. Days later, Bundy was arrested while driving a stolen Volkswagen.
Bundy ably defended himself at trial, but the evidence, including teeth marks on one of his victims, condemned him to a death sentence in Florida. For the next 10 years, Bundy filed appeal after appeal to avoid the electric chair. This was unsuccessful, and he eventually confessed to 36 murders. When he was executed on January 24, 1989, thousands of people came to cheer outside the Florida State Prison.

2003 : Columbia mission ends in disaster
On this day in 2003, the space shuttle Columbia breaks up while entering the atmosphere over Texas, killing all seven crew members on board.
The Columbia’s 28th space mission, designated STS-107, was originally scheduled to launch on January 11, 2001, but was delayed numerous times for a variety of reasons over nearly two years. Columbia finally launched on January 16, 2003, with a crew of seven. Eighty seconds into the launch, a piece of foam insulation broke off from the shuttle’s propellant tank and hit the edge of the shuttle’s left wing.
Cameras focused on the launch sequence revealed the foam collision but engineers could not pinpoint the location and extent of the damage. Although similar incidents had occurred on three prior shuttle launches without causing critical damage, some engineers at the space agency believed that the damage to the wing could cause a catastrophic failure. Their concerns were not addressed in the two weeks that Columbia spent in orbit because NASA management believed that even if major damage had been caused, there was little that could be done to remedy the situation.
Columbia reentered the earth’s atmosphere on the morning of February 1. It wasn’t until 10 minutes later, at 8:53 a.m.--as the shuttle was 231,000 feet above the California coastline traveling at 23 times the speed of sound--that the first indications of trouble began. Because the heat-resistant tiles covering the left wing’s leading edge had been damaged or were missing, wind and heat entered the wing and blew it apart.
The first debris began falling to the ground in west Texas near Lubbock at 8:58 a.m. One minute later, the last communication from the crew was heard, and at 9 a.m. the shuttle disintegrated over southeast Texas, near Dallas. Residents in the area heard a loud boom and saw streaks of smoke in the sky. Debris and the remains of the crew were found in more than 2,000 locations across East Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana. Making the tragedy even worse, two pilots aboard a search helicopter were killed in a crash while looking for debris. Strangely, worms that the crew had used in a study that were stored in a canister aboard the Columbia did survive.
In August 2003, an investigation board issued a report that revealed that it in fact would have been possible either for the Columbia crew to repair the damage to the wing or for the crew to be rescued from the shuttle. The Columbia could have stayed in orbit until February 15 and the already planned launch of the shuttle Atlantis could have been moved up as early as February 10, leaving a short window for repairing the wing or getting the crew off of the Columbia.
In the aftermath of the Columbia disaster, the space shuttle program was grounded until July 16, 2005, when the space shuttle Discovery was put into orbit.

1958 : Elvis' last recording session before enlisting
Elvis Presley records his last single, "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck," before joining the army. Elvis had topped the charts eight times since April 1956, when "Heartbreak Hotel" hit No. 1. Drafted in 1958, Elvis enlisted in the army in March that year and served until 1960. When he joined the army, his monthly salary dropped from $100,000 to $78. Fortunately, his manager had already recorded enough material to keep Elvis singles on the charts during most of The King's army service.

1943 : Japanese begin evacuation of Guadalcanal
On this day, Japanese forces on Guadalcanal Island, defeated by Marines, start to withdraw after the Japanese emperor finally gives them permission.
On July 6, 1942, the Japanese landed on Guadalcanal Island, part of the Solomon Islands chain, and began constructing an airfield. In response, the U.S. launched Operation Watchtower, in which American troops landed on five islands within the Solomon chain, including Guadalcanal. The landings on Florida, Tulagi, Gavutu, and Tananbogo met with much initial opposition from the Japanese defenders, despite the fact that the landings took the Japanese by surprise because bad weather had grounded their scouting aircraft. "I have never heard or read of this kind of fighting," wrote one American major general on the scene. "These people refuse to surrender."
The Americans who landed on Guadalcanal had an easier time of it, at least initially. More than 11,000 Marines landed, but 24 hours passed before the Japanese manning the garrison knew what had happened. The U.S. forces quickly met their main objective of taking the airfield, and the outnumbered Japanese troops temporarily retreated. Japanese reinforcements were landed, though, and fierce hand-to-hand jungle fighting ensued. The Americans were at a particular disadvantage because they were assaulted from both sea and air, but when the U.S. Navy supplied reinforcement troops, the Americans gained the advantage. By February 1943, the Japanese retreated on secret orders of their emperor. In fact, the Japanese retreat was so stealthy that the Americans did not even know it had taken place until they stumbled upon abandoned positions, empty boats, and discarded supplies.
In total, the Japanese lost more than 25,000 men compared with a loss of 1,600 by the Americans. Each side lost 24 warships.

HOPE YOU'RE NOT BUSY

Skimming the web, I found this link tonight. It's sooo cool.

I found it on another blog. The woman categorized it as 'Theological Art.'

New to me. I'll be looking into that next.

The internet has been great that way...endless knowledge.

Well, maybe it's not all knowledge.

You judge that for yourself.

Anyway...

Move the white square w/your cursor and then click. Keep clicking.

It's addictive.

http://interact10ways.com/usa/information_interactive.htm

SIGNS

This week, for me...weblog speaking, of course.

It's never slow living a five-kid life.

Weather was bone-chilling this week and I preferred to spend it wrapped like a burrito in my favorite blanket, my stocking-covered feet all warm and toasty in the present my husband bought for my birthday...slippers w/down feathers. "Like a duvet for your feet" the ad proclaimed, and I concur. Thank you, G, and Restoration Hardware.

The last three years in Kansas City, on Dec. 26, Gerald and I have gone to The Plaza for my birthday and we've started a tradition, of sorts; we go into Restoration Hardware, to kill the two-hour wait for whatever overpriced but yummy splurge of a restaurant I chose to celebrate another year. They sell replications of vintage hardware, paint, home decor, etc. for those of you not privy to their wares.

Yesterday, I cleaned house and I mean like spring-cleaning, cleaned. It needed it. The girls learned exactly what it means to be a girl...cleaning anything that could possibly be spattered with male urine...walls, trashcans, floor. If you're an avid watcher of any of the CSI series, you know that the Laws of Physics are something akin to, "If you stand at Timbuktu to pee, males, your urine spatters everything from you to Timbuktu and back." Who in the world invented indoor plumbing? Definitely a man, because no woman that cleans any bathroom would want a male peeing indoors. They're so disgusting. It's a good thing love overcomes all.

Today, I decided that I was actually going to follow the O.T. laws and do nothing. Most people would consider looking at Flickr as doing nothing. I decided to look at Kansas City through the eyes of photographers, pro and novice. I was amazed at how different Kansas City looks through the eyes of others. It became a sentimental journey at some point and I started copying images to post on my blog but decided that my blog wouldn't do justice to what I saw.

So, I decided to post a link to a Flickr photographer who brought "home" to me today.

For those of you who know ME, but not Kansas City, I bring you "Who I am...Through Signs."

For those of you, family, from Kansas City, a view of your world from others around the world.

Click and Enjoy.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/felixtcat/sets/72157594285047345/show/