Well I took a pregnancy test over the weekend and it's official, I'm pregnant.
What good are those damn pills anyways? I guess I'm going to have to get used to the idea of having 4 children. Wow! That's a whole lotta kids. That's a whole lotta extra hours at work. I'm getting my tubes tied this time, but of course I do know someone whose brother was an oops after her mom had her tubes tied. Why is it when the chance of something is 99% I'm always that 1%?

I haven't seen Aunt Flow in awhile. I sure wish she'd pay us a visit. Don't she know we have 3 kids already, the youngest being 9 months old. How rude of her to not consider these points.

I no longer attend Catholic church, so it probably shouldn't bother me as much as it does, but I get very irked when I hear people get on some high horse about the big evil entity that is the Catholic church.
I was listening to talk radio on my drive into work and this lady called in cursing the new Pope, the last Pope, the next Pope, and every Catholic on the face of the earth. The Catholic church should allow people to divorce. Her father was an alcoholic who abused her, her mother and siblings, but her mother refused to leave him because being Catholic she didn't believe in divorce. This was simply the excuse her mother used to stay. I'm sure she stayed because of her sense of self-worth, feelings of being trapped, etc. What about women that aren't Catholic who stay in abusive relationships? No one in the Catholic church worth their weight in salt expects anyone to stay in a relationship where their personal safety is at risk. Her mother could have left. The Church would not have condemned her. She would simply have had to get an annulment versus a divorce. The annulment process is longer and more drawn out than the divorce process because it includes counciling with the priest, and after suffering under the fists of an abusive ass, is that such a bad thing? And just like you can live separately from your spouse prior to the finalization of your divorce, so be it with annullments.
Just like there are bad doctors, or therapists, or teachers, or writers, there are bad priests (Bernard Law comes to mind), if a priest tells you to stay in a harmful situation, find another priest. This lady placed the blame on the Catholic church when it should have been on her worthless father who beat them.

I think our president and his cronies are using the old "if you can't convince, confuse" tactic that's so popular with politicians. In a speech this week, he said in an incredulous voice that our Social Security is in file cabinet. Just sitting there. If only the world were as simple as his mind. Please don't believe that. And don't believe that these brilliant Republicans were sitting around thinking of ways to make America a better country when they realized that Social Security was in a crisis; only the Democrats are trying to stop them from saving the world. Democrats have noticed the issue and offered solutions. Clinton did when he was in office, so did Gore when he was campaigning (Lock Box anyone?), so the issue should be to make is more secure, not disappear.
Let's make it simple (so Bush can understand, if he were to actually read, of course).
Social Security is like a secure bank account. Every week you have $50 direct deposited into your account. It is from this account that you give your elderly mother $30 to buy her medications. You know that the cost of her meds are going to increase and eventually exceed your $50 contributions. Remember, you've been depositing $50, but only withdrawing $30 so you have some in reserve. Even still, you know that sooner or later that reserve will run out and your $50 won't be enough.
So, do you stop eating out once a month and apply that money to increase your $50 contribution, or do you tell your employer to cancel your direct deposit and just start giving your mother the $50 instead?
That doesn't really solve the problem, does it? Find out about Social Security on your own, there's a lot to learn. And don't just listen to one side either. If you go to FoxNews, tune into AirAmerica also. Read between the lines. This problem can face you a lot sooner than you think. It's not just when you retire, but depending on the age of your parents, you may be having to help foot some of their bills when they retire. Either way, it's worth checking out.
Okay, I'm stepping down from the pulpit now....

I know it's not politically correct to say a child is ugly, but let's be real. You know when your child isn't going to be getting a modeling contract anytime soon. The least you can do is comb their hair. There's no reason for a child to be running around in public when you haven't combed their hair in 3 days. And we know you haven't combed their hair because we've seen it get progressively worse all week-end. If they must run around looking like Cosby kid rejects, please don't allow them to knock on my door asking to borrow something. Thank you.

Just had to get that off my chest. I feel better now.

I have way too much time on my hands at work.

You Know You're From Ohio When...

You don't think of Florida first when someone mentions Miami. This lends itself to confusion when your husband used to live in Florida You snicker when someone's from Tiffin, because you think of the State Hospital. You think Pro football teams are supposed to wear orange! You've heard of 3.2% beer. Schools close for the state basketball tournament. You're proud of your state fair, but would rather go to Cedar Point.So true You live less than 30 miles from some college or university.I live thisclose to more than one You know what a buckeye really is, and have a recipe for candy ones.Goodness, but I love Buckeyes and yes, I do have the recipe "Toward the lake" means "north" and "toward the river" means "south." You've heard of the Great Nickel Beer Night Riot.Got me on this one You know if other Ohioians are from southern or northern Ohio as soon as they open their mouths.SO TRUE! You root for a college team though you've never taken a class there. Go Bucks! You can spell words like Cuyahoga, Olentangy, Bellefontaine, and Tuscarawas You always visit more than two amusement parks in one summer. You know that Serpent Mounds were not made by snakes. You know what game they're playing when the Mud Hens take on the Clippers. I was just telling my husband how we went to Clippers games all the time as a kid. "Vacation" means spending a day at Cedar Point or King's Island. Down south to you means Kentucky. You thought that the Michael Stanley Band was the most popular band in the country. Never heard of 'em. You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends from Ohio.

Get Your Own "You Know You're From" Meme Here

More cool things for your blog at Blogthings

My husband and I are still playing catch up with our marriage. We've spent more time apart than together since we've been married and it has not been easy. There's a reason why I haven't gotten married before now. We never lived together before we married. How do people do it, this compromise thing? I don't want to compromise on whether or not the toilet paper should roll over or under (definitely over), whether or not ketchup goes in the refrigerator (of course it does), or whether or not it matters if the ketchup is generic or not. I like saving money as much as the next guy, but I refuse to compromise on Heinz ketchup and Miracle Whip, he perfers real mayo. I've always liked buying things for D. before we married, but it was always something extra. It's different picking him up a pop (or soda for you non-midwesterners) when I stop on my way over to visit versus having to decide what pop to buy because now there's someone besides me drinking it. I've been doing my own thing for close to 20 years. If I had to name the hardest thing about being married, that would be it. Not being able to go in a grocery store and buy Vanilla Coke without having to think about whether or not he will like it. Not blowing up when he left the cap off the toothpaste again. Doesn't he know that you don't mix pants with the shirts when you put laundry away? And, yes, I do separate long sleeve shirts from the short sleeve shirts. Not because I'm anal, but because it's easier for me to tell my son to get a cold weather shirt and he can immediately pick out the proper attire, but why should I have to explain this, it's my house, just do it." But it's not just my house anymore, it's ours. I have to share. I hated kindergarten for the same reason.
Having said all that, I love being married. My husband is very sweet and thoughtful. I love that he even does the laundry, even if I have to go behind him and "fix" the drawers after he put the clothes away. I love not having to carry in the groceries, or being able to say, "I don't feel like cooking tonight" and being completely confident that I will still eat. I love having someone make me laugh all the dang-on time. I love playing "punch buggy". I love getting some every night and/or whenever I want it. I love my husband. I must learn to share.

I sure do have a lot of spare time for someone who's supposed to be working.

» V I T A L S «
Name: ebonyblue
Gender: F
Location: For now, Ohio, again
Height: 5' 6" Give or take
Hair color: black, especially when I dye it
Eye color: brown
Is your hair long or short: short
Tattoos you have: None
» S C H O O L «
Are you still in school: Does the School of Hard Knocks count?
Favorite subject: English and Swahili
Least favorite subject: Math
Do/did you buy lunch or bring it: I very rarely packed my lunch
» F A V O R I T E «
Number: Don't really have one
Clothing: Jeans.
TV show: There are many that I don't like to miss. Will & Grace, Law & Order, General Hospital and many decorating and craft shows
.Fruit: Apple
Movie: Imitation of Life and The Color Purple
Scent: I have a Vanilla obsession
Ice Cream Flavor: Cookies and Cream
Color: black
Season: summer
Holiday: Halloween
Thing in your room: My bookshelf
Author: There is no way I can pick just one
TV channel: A&E, or DIY
Time: Late afternoon
State: Not real partial to one over the other. They are what you make them
Disney character: Mickey still rules my heart
Scary movie: Don't watch them
» T H I S O R T H A T «
Hot or cold: hot
Winter or summer: summer
Spring or fall: Spring, I tend to like hotter weather
Shakira or Britney: Shakira sure can shake her thang, can't she?
MTV or VH1: Who cares?
Rollerblading or skateboarding: skateboarding
Black or white: black
Orange or red: red
Yellow or green: yellow
Purple or pink: pink
Cell phone or pager: cellphone
Powerpuff Girls or Charlie’s Angels: Powerfpuff Girls, unless you're referring to the original Angels
Scooby Doo or Dino: Scooby Doo
» Y E S O R N O P E«
Are you a vegetarian: Are cows vegetables?
Do you like cows: Yes
Are you a bitch: yes
Are you artistic: Just like every other person alive
Do you write poetry: Haven't in awhile
Can you ski: no
Are you British: no
Are you straight: yes
Are you evil: Some would say yes, some would say no. Some are being fooled
Is Britney a whore: Who cares?
» P R I V A T E «
Have you ever been in love: Name someone who hasn't
Do you smoke: Sometimes
Do you smoke weed: no
Crack, heroin, anything else: no
Beer good or beer bad: Depends on which 12-step meeting you're at, I guess
Are you the sissy who drinks wine coolers: I'm the one who drinks whatever she happens to be in the mood for
» T H E L A S T «
Thing you ate: Leftover porkchop with baked beans
Thing you drank: Pepsi, I betrayed my one & only Vanilla Coke
Place you went: bathroom
Thing you got pierced/tattooed: ears pierced years ago
Song you heard: That's tough. I mostly listen to talk radio. My daughter was singing some song she made up, does that count?
Person you instant messaged: I don't use IM
Person you laughed with: My husband
» N O W «
What are you eating: Nothing
What are you drinking: I already finished. Pepsi, remember?
Any shoes on: Yes, I'm at work
Hair: I just took my twists down, and I've been too busy to do anything but pull it back into a ponytail
Listening to: These silly women talking in the other office
Talking to anyone: no
» L A S T «
Last Cigarette: I nabbed one of my hubby's this morning
Last Alcoholic Drink: A glass of wine, but it's been so long ago
Last Car Ride: I drove myself to work this mornig
Last Good Cry: I can't remember
Last Library Book: Slavery and the Making of America. I have a huge fine so it will be my last library book until I read off some of them fines
Last book bought: Four Blind Mice by James Patterson. I go to the Half Price Book Store and pick up books by favorite authors that I may have missed when they were first published
Last Book Read: True Love by Thich Nih Hahn
Last Movie Seen in Theatres: Cheaper by the Dozen. We took the kiddos
Last Movie Rented: We don't rent movies. But we did buy Trainspotting and I watched that with the husband
Last Cuss Word Uttered: Oh please, let's not even go there
Last Phone Call: Bob, about work
Last TV Show: I fell asleep on CSI: Miami last night
Last Time Showered: this morning
Last Shoes Worn: white slip on tennis shoes
Last CD Played: AZ Yet's Last Night. Old I know, but dang if I don't still love that song
Last Item Bought: Groceries
Last Download: some Staind songs
Last Annoyance: I get very annoyed that I drive an hour each way to work with these gas prices and I have nothing to do. I can play around on the internet at home.
Last Thing Written: A recipe for Mexican chicken
Last Key Used: My van key
Last Sleep: this morning
Last Ice Cream Eaten: Cookies and Cream
Last Chair Sat In: I'm sitting in my work chair now
Last Webpage Visited: freecycle

It's still National Poetry Month.
Here's a classic.

The Road Less Traveled
by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

I will always support our schools. Always. Despite W's big talk, too many of our children are being left behind. The children are our future, yada, yada, yada. Why did I do my daughter up to have her pictures taken at school? Especially since they already did school pictures this year? These are being called "spring" pictures. Whatever. I refuse to pay another $50 for pictures when my child ain't changed any since her last round of pictures. My rule for when it's time for new professional photos. Can you still fit the clothes you were wearing in the last professional portrait? If the answer is yes, pull out the Polaroid.

April is National Poetry Month. I love poetry. I haven't written any in a while, but it used to be my passion. This one by Countee Cullen has always been one of my favorites.

Incident

Once riding in old Baltimore,

Heart-filled, head-filled with glee,

I saw a Baltimorean

Keep looking straight at me.

Now I was eight and very small,

And he was no whit bigger,

And so I smiled, but he poked out

His tongue, and called me, "Nigger."

I saw the whole of Baltimore

From May until December;

Of all the things that happened there

That's all that I remember.

The Pope died, Terry Schiavo died after battles in our courts over 20 times, Jerry Springer has his own political radio show, Al Gore has his own cable channel, Dubya and Jesse Jackson were on the same side of an issue, Rush is a druggie, Lisa Marie admitted to having sex with Michael willingly, Paula Abdul pulled a hit and run, a dude from 98 Degrees wants to be mayor, millionaires live in trailor parks, I was excited to find gas at $2.06 a gallon, Brittney Spears is still in the news, and Fox still calls itself "fair and balanced". Is that now proof enough that the world is coming to an end?