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I still don't know what to do with it all. I want to make some sort of memorial to these kids and I didn't know any of them. I haven't come up with what's appropriate yet.

Only tangentially related, I sent this email to our superintendent this morning:
One thing I've taken away from this incident is that I'm even more angry than I was before about the locked doors on my kids' schools, with the door bells and video intercoms and remote locks, treating every visitor, including parents, as a potential threat or invader. They were always security theater with a side effect of making parents feel alienated in their own children's schools, and now they've been dramatically demonstrated not to work. Not only do school secretaries casually buzz people in without checking the camera around half the time, but in this case absolutely no one buzzed the shooter in. He broke in and did all that damage despite the school having had that security measure in place.

Take the round-the-clock locks off the doors and let's stop treating the entire community as suspect, since it demonstrably does nothing to stop a determined attacker anyway. If anything the locks and intercom provide a false sense of security which over time will cause even trained and oft-reminded staff to stop watching the entryway themselves. It's like I always tell my dog, who barks every time there's a knock on the door: "Burglars don't knock."

I realize this may be a bit of a non sequitur, but I remember a Plainville where the schools didn't masquerade as mini prisons and I miss it. This incident, I feel, has dramatically proven that the paranoid "for the children" culture which has surrounded our school system in the last decade or so has produced some ineffective and misguided measures that should be re-examined.
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I'm just tired of feeling almost guilty when I walk up to a school building with one of my daughters inside and need to come in for something. Doors locked, ring the bell, make sure I duck my head for the camera so they can see me, and justify my presence. It's very impersonal and prison-like and clearly unnecessary and ineffective. When my oldest was very young you could still simply walk through the door and report to the office. I think here's an example of a change made with good intentions but that has produced no good results. It shouldn't feel like a taboo to be in my kids' school. Maybe that taboo makes a school seem more of a challenge to a whacked out shooter, and therefore more enticing and interesting. How many moves and TV shows are there about prison break fantasies and bank heist fantasies. Maybe we're elevating schools to that level in the minds of sick people.

Even if we're not, what good is locking the community out of their schools when it doesn't prevent what happened in Newtown anyway?
 
Hi guys,

For those of you looking for a simple way to support the Sandy Hook surviving children, teachers and community at large, I thought I would pass along this very simple project. It is a particularly easy way for younger children to get involved. No need for grand gestures just a simple snowflake says it all!

Welcome Students to a Winter Wonderland

When school resumes for Sandy Hook, it will be in a new building. Parent-volunteers are working to ensure that the students are welcomed back by a winter wonderland with the entire school decorated with as many unique snowflakes as possible. We encourage senders to be as creative as possible, remembering that no two snowflakes are alike. Please make and send snowflakes by January 12, 2013 to the Connecticut PTSA address at the end of this email.

Thank you for your generous support and dedication to the children and families of Newtown, Connecticut.


Please send all snowflakes and donations to:
Connecticut PTSA
60 Connolly Parkway
Building 12, Suite 103
Hamden, CT 06514
 
Muppet, I understand what you're saying and the ineffectiveness against someone like the shooter in Newtown, however, being one of those paranoid, neurotic moms, I do agree with the security (locked doors, etc.). It's unfortunate that we live in a world that requires us to go to these lengths but I would rather take these lengths and provide greater security to our children. The one situation (but has happened more than once) has been perverts gaining access to schools during the day and hiding/waiting in the girls' washrooms, in one case I remember, the girl was assaulted.

We will never be able to completely protect our kids from someone like that shooter (it could have been a school employee... bypassing ALL security measures) but it does provide a certain level of security.

But, addressing your concerns that you feel like a intruder in your own daughter's school... there are ways that schools can avoid that.... My kids' elementary school had similar security (locked doors, cameras, etc.), however, the front doors were open and there was free access to the main lobby where the office was located; to go beyond that, a visitor had to be allowed through a set of locked glass doors into the classroom areas. As a regular parent, you had only to wave at the secretary and she would unlock the doors as you passed through the lobby. Certainly wouldn't have stopped a shooter but neither did it stop a parent...
 
Well, I don't want to start a political debate or anything, but I think the locked doors on schools are about as effective as the TSA. That is to say: not at all, and actually damaging to society.

Something is only a security measure if it works. Otherwise it's nonsense. Like Lisa Simpson once said, I have this rock that protects me from bears.

In a perfect world where people acted according to their training day in and day out, this sort of system might work, but right now all those buzzers do is train administrators and teachers that the buzzer is the only thing they really need to watch out for, despite being trained to the contrary over and again.

And then the people who are directly tasked with watching the buzzer become so used to letting everyone in that eventually they aren't even watching it anymore themselves.

At my daughter's elementary school they don't even ask who it is anymore about 70% of the time when the buzzer rings. They've become so accustomed to recognizing everyone that they assume they will. Often when I walk in I have to get the receptionist's attention, because she wasn't looking to see who was entering the hallway. They buzz in whole groups of people at times. Parents hold the door open for whoever happens to be standing out there, not wanting to be rude. Etc. You can't replace vigilance and common sense with a button, but if you install the latter I think you encourage a loss of the former.
 
When I was in school the halls were nearly empty during class periods, but all external doors were locked from the inside save the main entrance. You couldn't enter over by the gymnasium, but you could at the main lobby, which was watched.

A main lobby constantly watched by a fishbowl office with large windows is far more security than a buzzer will ever be. I hate to sound crass but the 20 seconds between glass being shot and the guy gaining entry isn't much of a head start. Every school in my town has this arrangement, with the recent addition of buzzers.

I think the extra faux-security teaches the kids to be afraid of the world at worst and at best it teaches them that the appearance of safety is the same as safety. This country has an overdose of fear as a part of mainstream culture since 9-11 and it's been to everyone's detriment. I don't want my kids feeling like they need an armed police officer watching them at school in order to be safe, and statistically, they don't, so why create the perception?
 
It's just sad that this has even become a conversation... my kids certainly grew up differently than I did... it was RARE that there were any kids playing on our street (and we live in a safe, suburban neighbourhood - no apparent reason to worry about kids playing outside!) so my kids grew up with structured activities. Not saying it was all bad, lots of great came from the hockey, soccer, etc. but I was always sorry that they had little of the 'adventures' of just hanging out in the neighbourhood...

I'm so sorry for the people of Newtown and other small towns... the belief they had that their kids were safe has probably been shattered. Just like when we all got the diagnosis that our kids have crohns, all of a sudden you realize that the 'it can't happen here', CAN actually happen! :(

I also think gun laws have to be changed. While Canada's may be tougher than those in the U.S., I heard on the news that Canada's are actually quite lax compared to the rest of the world. Again, another level of security that won't prevent EVERYTHING but, more security does it make it tougher for those that want to harm others.

As I said above, it's just sad that any of these issues are concerns that need to be discussed/addressed. :ymad: :(
 
When I was a kid, I ran around in the street, played in the woods, and came home when it got dark and/or cold. I wouldn't let my oldest play outside unsupervised until she was 12.

What's changed? I know what has NOT measurably changed:

* child abduction statistics
* violent crime statistics
* molestation and other sexual assault statistics

Our kids are not statistically in any more danger now than they were in the 1960s, so what's different? We're more afraid. Is that a good thing? I don't think it is.
 
We need to ban guns based on fire rate and magazine size, not silly things like barrel length and what type of stock they have. Nobody needs a gun that will fire 300 bullets in 15 minutes. Not one person. There's no justifying it outside of a warzone. If you feel you need a gun like that, you have a pornographic obsession with firearms, plain and simple.

The other thing that needs to be tackled is mental illness. We stigmatize it so badly that people are ashamed to seek treatment, and as a nation most of us actually believe that they should be ashamed for being so weak/evil/whatever.

In extreme cases where the sufferer will NEVER be willing to seek treatment, and that unwillingness is due to the illness itself, something still has to be done. The standards on forced incarceration for mental illness are very high by design but they need to be more nuanced, and there needs to be a reasonable number of facilities, with reasonable protocols and procedures and treatments in place, for those people to go once that very difficult hurdle is cleared.

Right now we have an insanely broken system with poor standards and almost NO facilities. In fact we've recently, in the past 10 years, closed down most state hospitals. Eventually those people are released from the system until they commit a crime so that they can be jailed.
 
 
This is so sad. Even though I live far away, this still hits close to home moreso than any shooting, maybe its because of being a parent. My heart and thoughts go out to the families. Muppet and Crohn'sinct, my thoughts are with yoiu and yoiur neighbours as well.
 
I second hawkeye's statement. I am far away, but not far removed from this tragedy. I am just so sorry. It makes me so sad that I can't wrap my brain around it.

I can't for the life of me figure out what has gone wrong with our society. It's not just guns, or mental health, but a compilation of everything. We've removed religion from society, isolated ourselves so that there's no sense of personal or community responsibility. Our leaders aren't in it for doing what's right, but for self promotion. They are supposed to lead by example, yet show no character at all...

Ok, stop babbling! I need a HUG!

I am going to get some of the neighborhood kids involved in doing snowflakes over the break! Let me see what other acts of kindness I can do to get out of this slump!
 
Muppet,

There's a movement going on facebook called "26 acts of kindness". Someone has challenged everyone to do 26 acts of kindness in honor of those lost. Simple, but meaningful.
 
I was trying to nott get involved in this debate, but I have a few thoughts.

I don't think it's about gun control, the lack of religion in schools, or inefficient security.

I do think it's about mental illness.

I work overnights in a hospital. EVERY SHIFT I WORK someone is brought in involuntarily under the mental health law. We have no psych ward, and the local hospitals don't have enough beds to fill the need. By the time the patient is seen by social workers the next morning, or after the weekend, often times their symptoms have subsided.


My uncle is in a mental hospital for shooting my grandfather 20 years ago. I was 15.

He was diagnosed and medicated, but stopped taking his meds.

My heart breaks for this mom:
http://anarchistsoccermom.blogspot.com/2012/12/thinking-unthinkable.html

I have to ring the doorbell upon arriving at the school. I don't think it is foolproof, but it doesn't offend me.

I believe that semiautomatic weapons serve no purpose in the hands of your average American, but I learned to shoot at a very young age and believe in the right to bear arms, although I currently have none in my home.

I believe that we need accountability. If that means God (Allah, Budda, etc) to you, or a higher power, or to the universe, so be it.

At any rate, my heart is aching for all those touched. It is unfathomable. :heart:

Whenever you face an evil element in this world that harms you or people you love. . .
Don’t give up.
Don’t just go on with your life.
Keep doing as much good as you can
because it’s good that overcomes evil.
 
I think it's probably primarily about mental illness, but I also challenge any gun rights activist to explain to me why anyone needs a gun capable of putting 300 rounds into 27 people in 15 minutes. You just can't justify that amount of firepower in civilian hands. We don't need it, fantasies about overthrowing a tyrannical government, surviving the zombie apocalypse, and beating all of the odds and turning away a determined home invasion notwithstanding.

But absolutely, the way we treat the mentally ill culturally, politically, and socially is a big mess with a whole host of issues that are screaming to be addressed.
 
Completely agree with the above - Mckinley, Izzi'smom and Muppet. Something has definitely gone wrong with our society... lots of contributing factors from guns to loss of community to lack of funds for mental illness to glamourization of violence in entertainment (movies, games, etc.), etc.

And, unfortunately, there are sooo many issues to resolve, I'm not confident that they can be solved :(

But, I do believe gun control is an easier fix than some of the other problems... my husband is a hunter so, even in our home, there is the belief that a responsible person should have the right to own a gun. I 'accept' this but with reservation. As my husband only goes hunting once or twice a year (sometimes even less), he usually keeps the gun at a 'co-hunters' home, where there are no kids but, I believe that there's no reason guns can't be kept at a secure storage facility. Before you go hunting or target shooting, you go and pick up your gun from storage... Stephen plays hockey, his skates always need to be sharpened - we don't have a sharpener at home, nor does anyone else! Before games, you go to the store and sharpen the skates. This 'errand' doesn't take away from the enjoyment of hockey!

I realize this doesn't address the issue of people who are collectors (again, no real easy answers..) but I do think it would help in reducing the number of stolen guns that end up in the wrong hands. We had two random 'large' shootings in Toronto this year... one at the foodcourt of Toronto's biggest mall and the other at a neighbourhood bbq. A number of people were killed at each, including children! Lots of talk about change but nothing's been done. In both cases, gangs were involved and, I'm guessing, stolen guns were used.
 
I don't think any aspect of the fix is easier than any other. There will be no impounding of guns already owned, registered or not. I doubt there will be a nationwide buyback program, either. You can stop selling the worst of them by law, and over several generations they'll dwindle, but there's not going to be any overnight benefit from changing the gun laws since raids and impoundings are not going to happen.
 
There was already a large counter protest being organized for the principal's funeral but the family requested it be cancelled. I think it's misguided on their part to try to "take on" the WBC on their own during their grief, but it's their call. I think they're worried about a circus. The best counter protest would be a silent wall of pitying looks in WBC's direction, but it's hard to get everybody on board with that, people can't help themselves shouting back and showing anger, which WBC thrives on.
 
:heart:I'm so proud of all of you. :heart:
I wish the media would be this respectful of the different sides.

So many good points from all of you.

My simple country view is to say I do hold to my God and my guns with pride.
I was taught by parents to respect firearms. As parents it's our solemn job to make sure our children's know not to touch them until there of age and understand what will happen if they do. Of course their unable to get to them but the doesn't matter, they should still know what can happen if they do!!!!!

My heart breaks for this town.
I was a proud teacher and loved each student as my own.
Those teachers did what came natural to them.
We all should be proud this town and hope and pray that if we ever face the same hell, we'll come out hero's like them.


Edit: I took out some statements here. :wink:
 
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FW, It is a constitutional right not only to your husband's beliefs but also according to the constitution. Also a high powered rifle is what most use to hunt game with are you sure you didn't mean assault rifles? I just think it important when presenting your views to be clear about what you are conveying using the wrong words can change what you are actually stating your beliefs to be.
 
I just wish the mother of that shooter would have come to the realization that guns should not be in HER house. If you have an angry, withdrawn, young adult male child that has mental health issues don't have guns in your house. It is just the responsible thing to do. We can't predict who is capable of these unspeakable crimes but I hope that this 20 year old would have had a hard time raising the $1000 this gun would cost and going out and obtaining one. I would hope a gun dealer would engage this young man in a conversation before selling him a semi automatic weapon. There seems to be some common sense missing from the sane adults in our society.
 
Clash said:
FW, It is a constitutional right not only to your husband's beliefs but also according to the constitution. Also a high powered rifle is what most use to hunt game with are you sure you didn't mean assault rifles? I just think it important when presenting your views to be clear about what you are conveying using the wrong words can change what you are actually stating your beliefs to be.
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Clash,

Oops! Can you tell I don't hunt.:D
 
Clash

BTW, I thought I was being clear but........
that could be more my ignorance of proper sentence structure, then getting the right message across. If I offended you..sorry.:redface:
 
No, I'm not offended. I just felt certain what you had typed was not what you were trying to convey from the context of your post.
 
I remember my father being upset about the Australia gun buy back after Port Arthur. He had get rid of couple of guns but he still has guns and hunts.

One thing that happen with the buy back is that people who didnot know why had the gun in the first place handed them in. eg guns that were handed down it the family.
 
I don't know what the guns laws are anywhere else (certainly not an expert on even the Cdn. laws! :)) but, from my husband's explanations, guns here must be stored unloaded in a locked cabinet and bullets must be kept in a separately locked cabinet not within the same vicinity (not sure if that means separate room, etc.??) and you need a licence to buy the bullets. My husband made the point that, while it won't eliminate those using stolen guns and bullets, it does cause 'delays' during a moment of emotional rage. The delay in finding the gun cabinet, getting the lock open, finding and again getting bullets out of a locked cabinet may be enough time for the rage to subside and some rational thought to come back... Are the laws similar in the U.S., Australia, UK?

I'm not sure if I ever told you guys about the time I saw a guy walking around our neighbourhood (actually directly in front of my kids' elementary school) with an assault gun (I think that's what it's called :blush: - very similar to the one shown by the Newtown shooter)... I was driving by, saw a guy standing/pacing at the bus stop and thought he was holding an assault rifle! But, thought 'nooooo, that's crazy'. (This was about a week or so after the camp shooting in Norway.) But, then thought, if everyone thought as I did, who knows what can happen... so made a u-turn and drove back... repeated... ended up driving by four times! It was such a bizarre thing to see that it was hard to believe I was really seeing it (especially as I just drove by quickly - smart enough to figure out I shouldn't be slowing down! :facepalm:) - some guy, casually pacing the sidewalk with this assault rifle slung over his shoulder, in hand - (Husband later asked what was I thinking acting like target practice?!?! How did I know he wasn't going to start shooting at me?!? :lol:) Anyway, after my fourth drive-by, I saw a police car, flagged him down and told him... then went home. My husband and Stephen went out just a couple of minutes after and told me a couple of blocks up, the intersection had been closed and there were about 8 police cars surrounding a bus!!! :eek: I never did find out what happened... my moment of hero-dom! :rof:
 
It also creates delays in accessing the gun for self defense, which, even if you were able to get the gun "in time", your odds of shooting your own family, intruder present or no, are astronomically higher than ever shooting an intruder and preventing injury.

Half the arguments rationalizing why anybody needs a gun are just bad arguments. The only really valid one is "I have a right to own one" and in the US, you do, but some limits on that right need to be discussed, clearly.
 
I 'm same about Aus laws but we also have the two locked cabinet rule.

It being reported in our media that our laws are being used by both sides in US to support their position.
 
:bdayparty:On a happy note, six years ago today (literally right now, at 4:30 pm), my sweet Isabelle came into this world and gave me the best job ever, being a mama!
:)
We were discussing that she was a c-section yesterday before bed and I was conveying that I didn't care how she got here, just that she was a healthy baby girl. She said "I'm so sorry that I turned out to be sick". :cry::cry::cry::cry:
I just got home from three hours with twenty two five year olds and am about to host all of the family for her party. I am going to h̶a̶v̶e̶ ̶a̶ ̶d̶r̶i̶n̶k̶ premedicate before they arrive. :cheerss::eek:utahere:I will try and catch up later. :heart:
 
:bdayparty: Happy Birthday Izzi!!! :bdayparty:

And way to go mom for bringing such a beautiful little girl into this world!!! :cheerss:
 
izzi'smom said:
...We were discussing that she was a c-section yesterday before bed and I was conveying that I didn't care how she got here, just that she was a healthy baby girl. She said "I'm so sorry that I turned out to be sick".
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Oh, Angie! :cry:

I do hope that Izzi has a very happy birthday.
 
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEAUTIFUL IZZ! I know you already have the best present of all..an awesome mom! Enjoy the rest of your special day!

:birthday2:
 
Tesscorm said:
my moment of hero-dom! :rof:
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Oh I don't know about that Tess..you have been my hero many times over!

Everyone on edge here. Some guy called in almost the same exact story as yours. Guy all in black walking by train station carrying a rifle slung over his shoulder. They locked down schools in three surrounding communities. Turns out the "rifle" was an umbrella. They arrested the person who called in the tip...now that seems wrong. I hope he is off the hook by now.

I went for a run with my daughter yesterday and was wearing all black. Our route takes us by the elementary school. She suggested we take another route...didn't want to freak people out.
 
Hey just realized the rubby ducky in our trunk or treat pic in my album has a big M on it and a football helmet...Is that a State or U of M Duck? I hope neither...I would hate to get in the middle of that war!
 
crohnsinct:yfaint:
You sitting...........
In a convertible:eek2:
Strapless:confused2:
No make-up:eek:
Bubbles (balloons) strategically (THANK GOD) place,:cool2:
And your worried about the duck?:ybatty:

:ylol:


Still the neatest idea.:ghug:
 
LMAO! You gotta point. Too bad it's on to of your head!

After seeing Mary's new avatar I told hubby I wanted glamour shots for Christmas!

Oh and hey I think I saw the footie PJ's Muppet got wifey. Oh and I was on line in a store and some guy offerd to let me go in front of him. I said no cuz my order is complicated (ya know being a high maintenance type and all) and he said "no really go ahead it is my 26th act of kindness"...how sweet!
 
I don't use photos of myself much online since I lost the ones from when I was good looking 10 years ago in a hard drive crash. ;)
 
Because, more recently:
hhpLv.jpg
 
OK so, Izzy went through the excruciating and fraught-with-uncertainty spectacle of going through her well-stocked toy box and picking out everything that can go to disadvantaged boys and girls, admittedly with convenient timing to make room for Santa's arrival.

About half an hour later, bedraggled, slightly teary eyed, and with a giant sack full of donation-worthy toys and games, she throws one arm up and proclaims, "I Mrs. Claus!"
 
Poor, poor Izzy!
Was it on here I read to leave the sack for Santa to take to the disadvantaged kids??
(Yup, my mind is gone. Blame it on the kids).
I had a discussion with Izzi about donating her (new, unopened) birthday party gifts to the hospital, particularly the infusion unit where she got her Remicade and/or the inpatient and surgery units. She's agreed to give all but one or two gifts away. although we'll see what happens when the day actually comes lol!
 
Yup. Way too many toys here.
12/19 birthday, followed quickly by Christmas?
Her "friend" party is in January, and I told her that she is lucky to even have a friend party...I never did, and there are many other children that don't.
Our friend did a book swap...bring 2 gently used books...one to trade and the other to donate to charity. Loved it!
 
Bon Voyage!!!! :bigwave:

Hope everyone has a wonderful start to the New Year and that it brings only lots of health, happiness and love!!!

Everyone stay safe and 'uneventful' while I'm away!!!! And lots of luck and hugs to everyone starting new treatments and getting over recent complications!!!

Will miss you guys!! :grr1d: (Guess I'll just have to find some other way to occupy my time...:dance: :cheerss: :dance:)

:heart: ;) :heart:
 
Wait hold on...........:(

I'm not in your luggage or your son's personal nurse.:eek2:
You can't leave me here.:voodoo:


Have a great time:hug:



:ghug:We'll miss you.
 
Um...yeah! I made up that position so of course it is mine. Besides, I am a wine consultant so no offense but who do you think she is bringing...a dairy farmer or friend with a case of wine?
 
Well crohnsinct, you might be a winey (new word)
But I am a chocolate consultant.
So Tess dear, my expertise won't cause a hang over in the morning!
Choose wisely!
 
Well, I kinda need you both.... nothing better than some yummy milk chocolate with a sparkling glass of bubbly!!! :thumright:
 
You guys can't come since I am already on the boat waiting ....
Snooze you lose.
Hahaha :lol:
Enjoy your trip Tess
 
Enjoy, Tess!!
A local restaurant serves chocolate wine...it is TDF!! Anyone that wants to come visit upstate NY gets one on me!!:D
 
:rof::rof::rof:
Yep, that is sounding more and more like my world from both boys. I always told my husband they were mine until they were teenagers and then he could have them
 
Oh God, the apathetic conversation I can sort of deal with. It's the entitlement and nuclear whining response to every repeated request to do a chore that should have been done hours or days ago, that I like repeatedly asking for even less than she likes being asked. It's a good thing our house has thick walls that muffle sound or the neighbors might think I'm a lunatic... :p

Homer-strangling-Bart-292x300.gif
 
Ah! In our house nothing is FAIR...I swear I have come to despise that word!
Of course those comments always send me into a diatribe ranting to my kids "ask the Sandy Hook children and families about fair" "or the neighbors whose little boy just died of brain cancer". To which my kids then call me Debbie Downer...and I say "you started it"
 
I was spoiled by Sarah when she was young. She came out of the box all sweetness and light. Nary a tantrum to be had. When we'd go into a toy store and I'd tell her put that down, it's time to go, she would listen without hesitation. She always obeyed, always said please and thank you, and never talked back even once.

Then she turned 13 and it's like somebody swapped my kid with an android programmed to drive me to homicidal mania. I have no idea what happened.
 
I think you'll find I don't fit gender stereotypes very well if you get to know me. :p

Anyway, she's verbose about the things I couldn't care less about and mum about the rest. :)
 
LMAO Dusty!
Believe it or not - the boy in the video is more like Gab! She's a girl of very few words ...
 
Oh my gosh. My Gabs too! One word answers..very non commital...you would think she was an agent for the CIA or something. O on the other hand is the town crier but she is only 13 give her time...she will learn that parents are on a need to know basis.
 
I find it more frustrating with a girl who does that; I still have a hard time trying to get her to actually speak in sentences at almost 20 years old! LOL
 
muppet said:
I'm not well studied enough on my Australian slang to know whether I've been insulted. :p
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I would have thought that Dusty meant a catch, in a positive way, but you piqued my curiosity.

Maybe it was this:
Sensitive New Age Guy (S.N.A.G). Similar to the Metrosexual, but more timid and sensitive. Dense clusters of Snag's can be found at woman's issues rallies. Extreme examples have been known to experience regular menstrual cramps.

But even funnier, the Australian slang:

Australian for sausage.
"Buy a few snags and we'll have a beer and a BBQ."

So, Dusty, which is it?? :p
 
Wow, Dusty you hit the nail on the head with the boy/girl vocab comment!!! I read this article once that said to ask questions that wouldn't allow for one word answers...which might work with any other subset but teenage boys!!! J, my daughter on the other hand can turn even a one syllable answer into a multiple syllable word. "J, have you washed those loads of clothes of yours yet?" Her reply, "Nooowaah."
 
So... we've been having problems with our salt tank in the living room. The "sump" tank underneath the main aquarium sprung a leak, and multiple attempts to fix or replace it weren't going well as the tank/stand is very narrow front-to-back which sharply limits what I can do under there.

SO, we decided that a new, slightly wider tank and stand were called for. Our fish are growing and need more space anyway. So, I did some fancy bookkeeping and found a way within our budget to afford a tank replacement by borrowing against our home maintenance budget until tax refund time in February. It's all accounted for and we should be all set, hooray for Dad (me)!!

The girls and I decided to have an "unveiling" of the new (sleek, black, handsome) tank stand and we worked together removing the straps and box carton ends protecting the sides of the tank. As we removed the top carton end, we found a free promotional item lying on top of the stand!!

...it was a shank one of the warehouse workers must have misplaced. Oh how he must be going crazy looking for it. It's the blade from a "click-up" razor knife, with one end mummified in a combination of masking and shipping tape for a makeshift handle. Luckily Sarah and I spotted it before Izzy.

I wrote the company a nice note. They're a fairly well known supplier of mid- to high-end aquariums.

Sp5KP.jpg
 
The children from Sandy Hook are going back to school tomorrow in their new digs in the next town over. Please say a prayer for them and their families that the transition goes as smoothly as possible. :rosette1:
 
izzi'smom said:
I would have thought that Dusty meant a catch, in a positive way, but you piqued my curiosity.

Maybe it was this:
Sensitive New Age Guy (S.N.A.G). Similar to the Metrosexual, but more timid and sensitive. Dense clusters of Snag's can be found at woman's issues rallies. Extreme examples have been known to experience regular menstrual cramps.

But even funnier, the Australian slang:

Australian for sausage.
"Buy a few snags and we'll have a beer and a BBQ."

So, Dusty, which is it?? :p
Click to expand...

Well done Angie! :medal1:

It was the first but since a SNAG is a guy and only guys have the Aussie slang meaning of snag, AKA a sausage, I think it wouldn't be out of place to say that muppet is both...A SNAG with a snag! :D
 
muppet said:
As we removed the top carton end, we found a free promotional item lying on top of the stand!!

...it was a shank one of the warehouse workers must have misplaced. Oh how he must be going crazy looking for it. It's the blade from a "click-up" razor knife, with one end mummified in a combination of masking and shipping tape for a makeshift handle. Luckily Sarah and I spotted it before Izzy.

I wrote the company a nice note. They're a fairly well known supplier of mid- to high-end aquariums.

Sp5KP.jpg
Click to expand...


Looks like something that one would find in a prison.....

From the seedier side -

http://observatory.designobserver.com/slideshow.html?view=758&entry=4597&slide=1
 
It was a very hot day here yesterday at 42c. Victoria was lucky we haven't had major property losses. Thinking of the people Dunelley, Tasmania and surrounding area where it appears there were up to 100 buildings and possible one life have been lost to fire.
 
There are major bush fires burning to Tasmania. Dunalley is a small seaside town about 50km from Hobart, it has lost about 30% it buildings.

It bush fire season in Australia.
 
Hope they get the fires under control soon, we had a bad fire year here - the smoke was awful. We're freezing now -14 C or 6 F. Wishing you were a little cooler - that is really hot.
 

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