This Mother's Rage...Not Quite Contained

So my hubby pointed me over to a post Howie has up at The Jawa Report.  You can see that post here, but I have a few thoughts as well.  Be prepared to be upset, as I was.

MULTAN, Pakistan - Nazir Ahmed appears calm and unrepentant as he recounts how he slit the throats of his three young daughters and their 25-year old stepsister to salvage his family's "honor" — a crime that shocked Pakistan.

Honor, blemished by the idea that his step-daughter committed adultery.  And because of that, the other three girls had to be eliminated because they would likely do the same thing.

Bibi recounted how she was woken by a shriek as Ahmed put his hand to the mouth of his stepdaughter Muqadas and cut her throat with a machete. Bibi looked helplessly on from the corner of the room as he then killed the three girls — Bano, 8, Sumaira, 7, and Humaira, 4 — pausing between the slayings to brandish the bloodstained knife at his wife, warning her not to intervene or raise alarm.

"I was shivering with fear. I did not know how to save my daughters," Bibi, sobbing, told AP by phone from the village. "I begged my husband to spare my daughters but he said, 'If you make a noise, I will kill you.'"

"The whole night the bodies of my daughters lay in front of me," she said.

The next morning, Ahmed was arrested.

Speaking to AP in the back of police pickup truck late Tuesday as he was shifted to a prison in the city of Multan, Ahmed showed no contrition. Appearing disheveled but composed, he said he killed Muqadas because she had committed adultery, and his daughters because he didn't want them to do the same when they grew up.

He said he bought a butcher's knife and a machete after midday prayers on Friday and hid them in the house where he carried out the killings.

"I thought the younger girls would do what their eldest sister had done, so they should be eliminated," he said, his hands cuffed, his face unshaven. "We are poor people and we have nothing else to protect but our honor."

And he has no remorse other than the fact that he didn't kill his step-daughter's alleged lover, too.  I found it interesting that he made the choice to buy the butcher's knife and machete after his midday prayers.  You cannot tell me that what is taught in his religion had no influence whatsoever on his choice to slay his female children.  Ah, but Islam is a religion of peace, right? 

All of this angers me to the point of wanting to catch a plane and making sure this man never sees sunlight again.  But as a mother, what took me down the path further is the fact that this mother sat and watched her girls get slaughtered without putting up a fight for them.  First of all, I'd give my life for my kids...that's just the way it is.  Aside from raising them, feeding them and clothing them, I need to protect them from harm.  And how could I live with myself knowing that I stood there and watched him do it?  I wouldn't *want* to live with myself knowing that.  I would have no choice but to stand in the way of this man and let him kill me if it meant that I could save even one of them from death.  Sure she was scared - I would be, too.  But to stand by and do nothing?  That's just wrong.

Honor killings?  Bah.  This man has no honor.  He is a vile, disgusting pig of a living organism.  I can't even call him human.  Howie said it best "If Pakistan does not give this man the firing squad, then they are a nation of cowards as well."   

Oh, Yeah!

Nebraska 32 - Michigan 28

OH YEAH!

P.S. Sorry, Dad, you Michigan fan, you!

Sick...Again...Ugh!

So, I woke up sick again.  Decided to go to work anyway.  Stuck it out most of the day, albeit miserable.  Came home, took a couple of hours nap thinking it would make me feel better.  And I did feel better...for a bit.  I hate being sick.  I just want to get two productive days at work this week so I don't feel so behind after all the sickness last week.  And I want to have fun with the kids and their new toys.  And I want to find something to post about...nothing I read tonight sticks out for me.

New Year's Resolution?  Trade this sick body in for one that works.  Dammit.

I Ain't Got Nothin'!

Just a fly-by post to say I'm still alive!

We had a wonderful Christmas - the kids got so many toys I don't think the garbage collectors are going to like us much (boxes, boxes, boxes!).  On the other hand, the battery people love us.  We should own stock.  Hell, we probably do and just don't know it!

I'm writing to you on my nice new shiny beautiful, fast and most amazing laptop my dear hubby got me for Christmas.  Now I just need to get a new desk to go with it!  Yes, I accessorize *around* my favorite things!

We had family over and I cooked a 10-pound Christmas prime rib, potatoes gratin, green beans, rolls, pumpkin pie and pecan pie cake.  It was a nice spread and we have some rather tasty left overs.  I'll be glad when the pie is gone though...unfortunately it's all going to my waistline (GAWD...I LOVE pumpkin pie!)!  It was good to be with family - the kids enjoyed seeing all the grandparents...shoot, so did I!  To be honest, though, the best part of the day was collapsing on the couch.  I'm looking forward to just a bit of relaxation, even though I have to go back to work tomorrow (whahhhhhh!).  Now comes the fun part - putting away the tree.  I'm usually ready for it the day after Christmas.  This year's no different, so we'll see how long it lasts!  I give it 3-4 days tops.

Blogging will commence again, now that I have some free time.  Frequency depends upon what I walk into at work.  It is year-end review time, end of quarter time, first quarter preparation, I have a new boss, and there seems to be no end of the fun!  I was planning to take this week off, but that darned flu got in the way.  The good thing is, this is the slowest work week of the year otherwise, so I might just get some stuff done!!

Anyway, before I put you to sleep, just wanted to toss a few thoughts into the air to see where the landed.  Now it's off to real life once again!  Take care!

Oh Holy Night!

Oh holy night!

The stars are brightly shining

It is the night of the dear Savior's birth!

Long lay the world in sin and error pining

Till he appear'd and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

Fall on your knees

Oh hear the angel voices

Oh night divine

Oh night when Christ was born

Oh night divine

Oh night divine

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming

With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand

So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming

Here come the wise men from Orient land

The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger

In all our trials born to be our friend.

Truly He taught us to love one another

His law is love and His gospel is peace

Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother

And in His name all oppression shall cease

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,

Let all within us praise His holy name.

May God bless each and every one of you and may the true spirit of Christmas be in your hearts.  May God's hand reach down and rest upon those who are away from family this Christmas, whether it be in service or in hardship.  May all of you find peace in God's gift to us - Christ!

Happy Blogiversary To Me!

Happy Blogiversary to me!
Happy Blogiversary to me!
Happy Blogiversary to Merri Musings...
Happy Blogiversary to me!

I can hardly believe it was a year ago today that I picked up the proverbial "blogging pen" and started this thing!  I started over at blogsnot (the old Rachael Ray Redux site!), with the whole idea of blogging recipes and Rachael Ray stuff while trying to figure out what this "beast" was that consumed the majority of my hubby's time. 

Recipes and Rachael Ray weren't enough for me, so I decided to go ahead and move over to Typepad (aka "the big time" HAHAHAHAHAHAH) and blog about whatever was on my mind, in ADDITION to the recipe and Rachael Ray thing.  It was a good outlet, especially when I would get so pissed off about child molesters, abusers, the ACLU and other such things. 

At the same time, as I look back, it was an outlet to release pain (the passing of my mom in January), joy (anything relating to my kids), and any other emotion I can possibly think of.  And to join groups, and leave groups, and be selected for really cool groups, and to talk about Trash on Wednesdays, and all kinds of other fun things.

Will I do this thing forever?  I suspect this will eventually come to an end as it has with so many others.  While it is a good thing, Real Life to me is much more important.  Should thing blog thing ever get in the way of that, what a stupid human being I've become.  Talking on a blog will never take the place of real life memories that one can hold in their hearts forever.    ...and when this blog thing becomes a chore versus a pleasure, I'll be done.  BUT, I'll be around for a little while, I'm sure.  :-)

I've met many amazing people along the way - holding company with people who have served our country, kicked around some bad ass governments from their livingrooms, saw a hostage situation end without bloodshed, and pushed "famous" asshats away from the microphone in order to get the truth out has been by far the most incredible experiences I've had online.  And I love the Rachael Ray fans that frequently visit as well.  Especially those fans who think I *am* Rachael Ray.

Over the upcoming days and weeks, I'll definitely be paying tribute to those of you who have walked this walk with me.  In the meantime, I'm planning to enjoy this Christmas weekend with my family.  I can't hardly wait to see the kids unwrapping the presents, peeking their heads out of their rooms to see if Santa has paid a visit, cooking a great holiday spread and spending valuable time with our extended family. 

Thanks for coming by my little corner on the web.  I hope to see more of you in the upcoming months - I wouldn't even write if it wasn't for you!

Merri Pukings

Merri has been frightfully sick over the last 24 hours.

Not only is she behind on her Christmas plans, she's going to be buried when she goes back to work tomorrow.

I'll help in the real world, she could use some help in the virtual.

Raven, and her other guest posters, feel free to post.

If anyone else would like to fill in, email me at vinceautmorire@gmail.com and I'll check out your blog and set you up.

Asshats, bleatasticfucktards, and child molestors need not apply.

Adoration of Rachael Ray, while not required, is a plus on your resume.

Hehehe.

Christmas Musings....Again!

To my regular readers (heck, to anyone who will read this...hehehehe),

It's the week of Christmas.  I don't have the gifts wrapped yet and haven't bought a number of them as of yet.  I still have Christmas cards to send out (beats last year - I didn't send one out!).  Work is crazy with year-end stuff, including a change in bosses and management styles (gotta train another one, darn it!).  There have been parties, school is out and things are generally crazy.  I still have 2 batches of cookies to bake, grocery shopping to do and all that jazz. 

Which leads me to my little corner of the web.  I'm probably not going to be around too much this week (at least through Christmas).  There are few things to me as important as Real Life, this blog included.  But when I see how excited the kids get about Christmas, writing posts about idiots, thugs and recipes doesn't quite hold a candle.  BUT, I will definitely stop by a couple of times.  One big piece of news, I'm celebrating my 1 year blogiversary on Friday!  I can't believe it's been a year!  So much has happened, and I'm amazed I've lasted this long.  It's all because I have people reading my random thoughts and posts.  If they weren't, I'd have closed the doors a long time ago!

Take care, and everyone have a joyous, Merry Christmas!  See you around!

No Pity from Me...Except for the Unborn Child

A few days ago, I brought you this story, about an in-home daycare provider, April Rogers, who chose to kill one of the children some parents trusted her to take care of.  Well, the plot thickens:

OMAHA, Neb. -- The woman accused of killing a child in her west Omaha day care is pregnant.

A judge on Thursday refused to reduce bail for April Rogers.

I'm sorry?  Because she is carrying a life in her womb we should feel sorry for her and lower her bail so she can GET OUT into society?  After she killed a 6-month-old, helpless baby?!?!?!?  Thank God the judge saw clear to deny it!

Yes, she should deliver the baby, but he or she should be removed from her care at birth.  She's proven she's not so good with taking care of little ones.  No, she shouldn't be shown any sympathy for her condition.  She should get the appropriate medical care a pregnant woman needs for the sake of the child's health.  And that is all.

Oh...and to thicken the plot further, there are actually parents who had this child killer taking care of their kids and said that April Rogers is the best daycare provider they had ever seen and knowing what they know now, they would *still* take their kids to her.  I have some advice - please seek mental health treatment immediately.  And while I'm thinking of it, perhaps someone who is responsible should think about checking on your kids because if you think this child killer is a great daycare provider, I'm a bit worried about how well you are caring for your own children.

Meanwhile, a family had to bury their 6-month old child today.  Please pray for them.  I have no words to say that can possibly address the grief they must be feeling.  I firmly believe little Alexander is near, watching over his family from Heaven.  Hopefully there is some small comfort in that. 

Matthew Koso Redux Part II

Back in September, I posted my thoughts on the whole Matthew Koso mess.  My mind hasn't changed one bit.  This guy started dating a 12 year old girl when he was 20 and impregnated her when she was 13.  After originally filing a restraining order, Crystal's mother decided to "bless" the wedding because of the baby and approved them to marry in Kansas, where it is legal to wed at any age (although it isn't recognized as a marriage here in Nebraska).

Koso went to court today and plead guilty with the hopes of getting probation:

OMAHA, Neb. -- A Falls City man faces up to 50 years in prison after pleading guilty Tuesday to sexual assault charges filed after he impregnated and then married a 14-year-old girl. His attorney said he copped the plea hoping for probation.

[snip]

The case generated national media attention when Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning filed first-degree sexual assault charges against Koso in July.

Attorney General Bruning is spot on in his feelings that this case is a bit more serious than probation, but leaves that decision in the hands of the judge.

"Do I believe that Matthew Koso deserves 50 years? Of course not," Bruning said. "I am appreciative that he has taken responsibility for his actions and has married this girl."

But Bruning said Koso still committed a serious crime.

"The baby makes this a clear-cut case," Bruning said.

During the hearing, the judge suggested a mental evaluation be done before sentencing.  There's no way I would believe that this guy didn't know what he was doing...as Bruning notes, he knows right from wrong.

"He was a member of the U.S. Marines. He has a job that drives to work every day. Is he going to cure cancer? No. But he's not a low-functioning person that can't survive on his own," Bruning said.

Koso comes back for sentencing in two months.  My thought is that he needs to face the charge and the punishment that is befitting of anyone in this circumstance.  People may think I'm harsh, but it should involve prison time of some kind.  Yes, he has a baby at home, but did he truly think about the mistakes he made being involved with a child before he created a child himself?  No.  That is the crime that has been committed and that is what he is charged with and what he plead guilty to.  There is, and should be, consequences for inappropriate actions. 

My only hope in all of this is that little baby Samara can pull through this bad circumstance relatively unscathed.  Once the pregnancy was discovered, the child could have been put up for adoption to be raised in a secure, safe and loving home.  This would have kept Crystal away from Koso and would have allowed her to be what she is - a young, teen-aged girl.  But, surrounded by people who seem to be challenged with understanding right from wrong, it will definitely be a mountain to climb for both Crystal and little Samara.

Oh, Tookie!

[Serious part of this post starts here]

I'm for the death penalty, even when death row inmates "turn their life around" or "change their life to do good" and so on.  Key word in both of those phrases?  LIFE.  Do Tookie's victims have the opportunity to live their lives?  No...he decided to take that away from them.  So....his punishment will fit the crimes he commited, no matter the "good things" he has done since then.  It took him to get caught and convicted to change - if he had gotten away with his crimes, he'd probably either be dead already or still out there murdering people.  His "change of heart" won't give back the lives of those he killed.

[Serious part of this post ends here]

So, in true conservative, eeeeeevil fashion, and because my hubby got a song in my head that I now can't get out, I decided to write some lyrics befitting of this occasion, sung to the tune of "Hey Mickey!" (oh...and don't think I'm alone....check out this and this and this and this...and there's more where that came from!)

...Five Golden Rings!

The serious side of me thinks that these donors were generous:

The Salvation Army in south-central Pennsylvania has had five golden rings dropped into two of its kettles since Nov. 30.

Two donors have called to confirm the gifts.

The Salvation Army expects to sell the gold rings to a jeweler to help fund its charitable programs.

The not-so-serious side of me (and you have to admit these donors have a humorous side!) asks "where are the drummers drumming and how do they get into one of those little red kettles?"

Rachael Ray Interviewed in Chicago

For all of you Rachael Ray fans, she was in Chicago this weekend promoting her new cookbook "365:  No Repeats" and a local news channel interviewed her.  She described how challenging it was to come up with 365 recipes and spoke of her new talk show coming down the road.

There's a video link in the article to the interview, and I'm CERTAIN any fan would want to see it.  To go to the article, please click here.  The video is in the upper-right.

Oh, and while you are here (grin), please click the "Weblog Award Finalist" icon on the left of my sidebar and throw in a quick vote for Merri Musings.  Since I'm a finalist in a category FULL of amazing blogs, I'm not certain I will win, but would love to refrain from being in last place.  :-)  Thanks for taking the time to throw your vote my way!

I Had a Gut Feeling...

When the story first broke that an infant was critically injured by a toddler at an in-home daycare, I couldn't ignore the gut feeling I had that something wasn't just right.  Based on this story, I wasn't alone.

An Omaha woman was arrested Thursday, accused of Felony Child Abuse. The case is related to the injury of an infant in a home daycare on Monday.

Thirty-four-year-old April Rogers has been arrested in the case.

Ms. Rogers operated a home daycare at 184th and Van Camp Drive.

She initially told investigators that she was out of the room when a toddler began bouncing on the baby's head.

That was on Monday but the story is now being questioned and Rogers was being held at the Douglas County Jail Thursday.

The injured child is six-months of age and as of the last report is still in critical condition. 

I've got to say that if what is speculated is true, and she harmed the six month old, the fact that she would LIE and try to pin it on a toddler seemingly would reflect the depth of her evil, vile character. 

How can anyone harm a child?  They are innocent, love unconditionally, and at the age of six months are developing their own, unique personalities...they smile and laugh and aren't jaded by "real life."  Until some twisted, sick idiot decides that they wish to cause them harm.  Change their diaper, give them a bottle, hold them, comfort them, play with them.  Why hurt them?  Assholes.

UPDATE:  Not only did the daycare provider admit to harming this child, beautiful little six month old Alex Tay is no longer with us, passing away due to these injuries. 

OMAHA, Neb. -- Prosecutors said Friday that an Omaha day-care provider said she slammed a 6-month-old child's head into the floor six times, and those injuries eventually resulted in death. Now, the Douglas County sheriff is advising other parents who used Rogers' services to have their children checked for injuries.

All I have to say is that this waste of a human being has taken a life, and has ruined many others because of her choices to slam an innocent, helpless 6-month-old's head into the floor.  How in the hell would anyone with a brain, eyes, a heart and as little as one ounce of sense make the decision to do this?  There is NOTHING a 6-month-old child could possibly do to cause this.  My knee-jerk reaction is to give this idiot daycare provider a little taste of what poor little Alex went through, but undoubtedly I'd have to stand in line.  What a waste of oxygen, this microbe of a human being. 

My heart goes out to Alex's family - I hope my prayers can take away a little of the pain from your hearts and spirits.  My prayers also go out to the other families whose children were in the care of this woman.  I pray that your children are okay and you find some peace.

Don't Lynch Me, It's a Free Country, Right?

All over the news we're hearing about the anniversary of John Lennon's murder.  Forgive me, but it drives me crazy.  Do I think it is sad that someone was murdered?  Sure I do.  Is it worth a story every single year in the news? No. 

He was a singer, and while some people think there was no one better, I'm not really a fan...sorry.  The anniversay of his death gets more air time than the anniversary of Mother Theresa's death and she did a hell of a lot more for this world than John Lennon ever did. 

There I said it.  And I feel better.  And that is all.

The ACLU'd Version of Twas the Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before RamaHanaKwanzmas, when all through the living area

Not a living organism was stirring, not even a mouse, cat, dog, parrot, oh, none of them.

The foot coverings were hung somewhere in the living area with care,

In hopes that the appropriate holiday figure soon would be there.

The people of a certain age were nestled all snug in their sleeping areas,

While visions of whatever appeals to them moved about in their favorite way in their heads (or other parts of their body if that makes them feel better).

She Doesn't Need a Trial

...just let me have 5 damn minutes with her as pissed as I am right now.

BOGALUSA, La. -- A mother was booked on a charge of first-degree murder for allegedly placing her 3-month-old son in a clothes dryer and turning it on.

The infant had third-degree burns over 50 percent of his body and suffered blunt-force trauma to the head, the St. Tammany Parish coroner said.

This non-parent murderer, Lakeisha Adams, also has a 1 year old child that the state had to remove from the home and from custody.  This monster tried to tell police at first that someone else had violently murdered her 3-month old.

If convicted, Adams faces death by injection or a life sentence. The first-degree murder charge is mandatory under Louisiana law because the victim was under age 12.

I know everyone is entitled to a fair trial, but when she admits that she did it, tries to get out of it, and the life of another child was at risk, I would much rather see a one-liner in the news stating "Since she confessed, she has been sentenced to death and justice will be carried out at sunset today."  What a waste of time and energy to go through a trial for such a disgusting act.

Thank God these Freaks are Being Caught!

Even catching one of these slimy, disgusting, low-life evil freaks is worth the effort.  Especially because they are just too damn close to home.  Enough said.

Kids in Cages

Back on September 9, social workers and law enforcement removed 11 adopted children from their home when it was discovered that their adopted "parents" kept them in CAGES.  This is how the social worker described these "cage-like enclosures" during the hearing today:

"I saw wooden structures that had a solid wooden piece for a door, an alarm to left of the opening. There was a small handle on it. They were piled one on top of another. They looked like a kennel," said Jo Ellen Johnson, of Huron County Children and Family Services.

She also said cages with alarms and locks are not appropriate for children. 

Folks - this is a CUSTODY HEARING.  This isn't a criminal trial as these two miscreants have not been charged with anything...yet (and that's a very skeptical yet, I might add).  These people adopted 11 special needs children and because they couldn't handle the challenges these children's disorders presented, they chose to stick them, ages 1-14, in cages.  CAGES!  They aren't "cage-like enclosures" or merely "enclosures" as their attorney would attempt to tell you.  They are CAGES...containment designed so the child can't get out.

The custody hearing will determine if the children were abused or neglected, Cleveland TV station WEWS reported.

Michael and Sharen Gravelle said before court that they were optimistic about getting custody of their children back.

For the love of God - they shouldn't get their children back.  We have people in DC worried about Gitmo and the conditions for vile terrorists who would love to see us sizzle at sunset but someone is still entertaining the idea that it ISN'T abuse or neglect to lock a child in a cage?

The Gravelles have said they adopted children with special needs and behavioral problems, and built what they have described as enclosures with alarms where the children could sleep for their own protection.

The Gravelles have said the children have health and behavioral problems such as fetal alcohol syndrome and pica, a disorder in which children eat nonfood items such as rocks or dirt.

Yes, these disorders are very challenging.  My mother worked with special needs adults and children for years and saw her fair share of both disorders.  They are challenging to deal with - even in a medical institution.  But even in the most sterile halls of hospitals and institutions that Mom worked in, I never ONCE saw a cage.  Those with these syndromes and disorders needed a higher level of monitoring and observation in order to protect them from their environment and their disorder.  NOT a cage.  While it is entirely possible that this couple felt they were doing great deeds by adopting these children, they obviously didn't think about what they were doing.  And because they didn't think through what a challenge one special needs child would be in terms of care, let alone 10 more, who pays the price?  The kids, of course. 

Discretion and common sense don't seem to be at the top of the list when a couple decides "hey, let's build some 'enclosures' for them to live in...wow, that will solve everything!"  My heart aches at the thought of a fire breaking out in their home.  Those kids would have potentially been trapped in cages without a fighting chance to get out...how safe is THAT?!?!?!

Lastly, the thing that really got to me was the pictures their attorney released, showing how "happy" the children are (you can see the photos on the article I linked to above).  Every picture was one that showed them at family functions, the holidays, special events, etc.  And of course they were happy - they weren't trapped in their cages!

===========

Update: Just saw this article on Fox News.  Talk about blood boiling.  If the story is accurate, this was brought to the attention of child welfare workers 2 years ago and because the parents weren't cooperative, a full investigation was never pursued.  If that is the case, they are almost as guilty as the parents of neglect in my opinion. 

But this....this makes my blood boil:

Insurance agent Edward Clunk said that he visited the couple in summer 2004 to sell them policies. He observed two children — one sleeping in a cubbyhole and another in what he described as a cage.

"I've been in thousands of homes. ... This was something just a little bit out of the ordinary," Clunk said, adding he did not file a report because he did not believe the children were being abused by the Gravelles.

"I thought it was very admirable for them to adopt children of that nature that nobody wanted," he said.

Admirable that they adopted them?  Perhaps.  Admirable that they would keep those adopted kids in cages?  Hardly.  ...and didn't file a report because he didn't think they were being abused or neglected?  For real?  Get a clue! 

Christmas Musings

Tonight we put up the Christmas tree and hubby and I shared in our annual tradition of listening to Christmas music with no lights, except for those on the Christmas tree.  Add some champagne, and a few recognitions of a French Horn or a piccolo, and viola - it's the Eric/Merri Christmas hour....hehehehe!  Actually, it's much more than that....it is many fond memories of Christmas traditions....in particular the years that the bubbly cost less than $10 (a.k.a. the "saving for a house years" or the "living paycheck to paycheck years" or the "I can't believe babies cost so much years.") and when we could have the best and most favorite bubbly without worry.

Christmas this year is somewhat frightening to me, but good at the same time.  I have two amazing children, and the best husband I could ever dream of having.  I have my health, we have a roof over our head and we aren't hurting for anything, truly.  I feel so incredibly blessed.

At the same time, I'm constantly reminded that I lost my mom last January.  She had been in the hospital last December.  I clearly remember hubby and I having to put full garb on in the hospital in the event she was contagious.  I remember them ruling that out and allowing us to bring her home on Christmas Eve.  Mom had been released from the hospital on Christmas Eve two separate times.  Once when she had a lobe removed from her cancer-ridden lung.  Last Christmas, we were just thrilled to have her with us - the cancer had taken its toll on her.  She was bound and determined that she would NEVER spend Christmas in the hospital, and she never did, either!

She chose hospice care not long into January, but just had to have one more Christmas with her family before she said goodbye.  I am so grateful that she allowed us that, even though we knew she was suffering we relished our time with her - every moment.

As we unpacked the ornaments tonight, everything reminded me of her.  She was the "queen of Christmas" as far as I'm concerned.  At her memorial, we even displayed a Christmas tree with all of the homemade ornaments she made in years past.  We didn't have enough room to display all of them.  I knew this Christmas was going to be hard, but I didn't know how raw the emotions would still be. 

But Christmas, just like every other time, goes on.  We will forge new traditions and will transition the old ones.  Mom will never be forgotten - every Christmas will contain her legacy.  Beautiful Christmas angels and reindeer and santas on my tree...and in particular a beautiful angel ornament made especially for me...brown hair and a red rose, my favorite color.  I feel like I will shed tears each year for her, but will always be grateful and blessed for the time I had with her and for the gift she has given me - the love of the Christmas season...no matter what.   

Stephanie Dietrich...an Every Day Hero in My Book

...I wouldn't call this an "obsession."  I'd call it a personal sacrifice.  A gift for a mother grieving for her missing children.

AKRON, Ohio — The Ohio woman who found the bodies of two missing New Hampshire children said Monday she had been searching with her dog for months on a personal mission that her friends and family considered an obsession.

Stephanie Dietrich, a grocery store cashier, said she was motivated to look for Sarah Gehring, 14, and her brother Philip, 11, by their mother's public plea for help.

Most of us pale in comparison to Stephanie Dietrich.  We read the news each day, or hear it on TV or the radio, and think "how awful that someone has to worry about where her children's bodies are."  This amazing woman, Stephanie Dietrich, didn't just listen - she took action.

Dietrich, 44, said she went out searching with her dog more than 40 times since July near her Akron home because of clues suggesting the gravesite could be in the region. Investigators had concluded in 2004 that pollen found on dirt on Gehring's minivan and shovel suggested that the soil most likely came from northeastern Ohio. 

How often have you inserted yourself in a mission such as this?  Me?  Never.  I would venture that most of you have not. I look to Dietrich as an everyday hero.  A person who sacrifices in order to assist others.  Because of her persistance, a mother can move forward.  She knew her worst fears were true, but can now lay her children to rest because of one brave and persistent soul.

Dietrich said she kept a 2-inch-thick folder of news articles and tips from the Internet and often woke up in the middle of the night to read it.

"It was like a personal challenge. Not like it was a game. I knew it was serious," she said. "My family members and friends were like ready to have an intervention because I was obsessed with it."

No intervention needed, Ms. Dietrich.  Because of you, a mother was reunited with her lost children and she can give them a proper burial and gain some closure on her loss.  You are a hero in my book.

2005 Weblog Award Finalists!

...and the finalists have been announced!

Merri Musings is in the running for an award for Best New Blog! Polls are open tomorrow (and you can vote every 24 hours if you'd like)...if you enjoy my site, please be sure to stop by and slip a vote in the ballot box for me!

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention a few of my favorites!  Please be sure to drop them a vote, too!

Best New Blog (but only if you don't wanna vote for me...wink, wink, nudge, nudge):

Common Sense Runs Wild and Soldiers' Angel Holly Aho

Best Group Blog

The Cotillion (who individually received a number of nominations....excellent job, ladies!)

Best Humor / Comics Blog

Six Meat Buffet (didn't you know there were six meats?)

Best Conservative Blog

The Jawa Report (a MUST read!)

Best Culture / Gossip Blog

Knowledge is Power (SondraK - bringing a bit of culture to the Cotillion ladies!)

Best of the Top 250 Blogs

My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy (go Beth!)

Best of the Top 501-1000 Blogs

Vince Aut Morire (there are many I could mention here, but by and far my hubby stands out for me for many reasons, so I'm pitching his site!) 

Best of the Top 2501-3500 Blogs

The Wide Awake Cafe

Congrats to everyone that was nominated!  I think it's an honor just to be nominated, let alone be a finalist!  It affirms for me why I like keeping up this little corner of the web.

Good luck to all and happy voting!

The True Cost of Christmas?

I love stuff like this!

You think saving for a new flat-panel plasma television or iPod Nano for the holidays is daunting? Be thankful you don't have to save for the original gifts of the "12 Days of Christmas."

To buy the partridge in a pear tree, the 12 drummers drumming and all the gifts in between in the verses of the famous song you'd have to shell out $18,348, according to PNC Advisors' annual survey. And if you were really true to the song, buying all the gifts including the repetitions? Those 364 items would cost a cool $72,608, up 9.5% from last year's $66,344.

Sure, gold rings are on the rise, increasing a cool 27.5% year-over-year.  But the real inflation comes with the birds (what with the avian flu scare and all...).  While the partridge in a pear tree only increased 12.90%, the six geese-a-laying increased a whopping 42.90% (!!!).  My dearest husband, I won't be getting you any geese this Christmas, sweetheart!

What was the priciest item on the list?  Well, it was close, but the nine ladies dancing edged out the swans-a-swimming.  I wonder what kind of dancing they were doing?  Hehheheheheehehehe!

Click on the link above and check out the itemized list - it's pretty funny to think about!

Weblog Awards are Coming!

Check it out!