The Ransom of Red Chief by O. Henry. You can read it on-line...and should.

Early Dervish. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> Selling him wouldn't be a moneymaker. Believe me. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

t&l

Doesn't sound like selling JJ would have been the best use of resources, either. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

OMG mum should never have told that story!!

I was so so embarrassed, what a poor mother, I felt like a complete hopeless case I can tell you. A 'neked' child running around in the streets and then in the arms of the law !! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />
<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

SOME mothers can be so cruel
<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

I would once have been of the sort to turn up my nose and say, only to myself, "What kind of mother would let that happen?"

Now I simply thank God that this particular thing hasn't been done by the Dervish.....yet.

It is amazing how the Dervish has rid me of all feelings of superiority.

LMAO - The Free Willy Story...............

one paper bag ..with eye holes <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Neak I'm sure thats EXACTLY what the police thought ...thank God for Army transfers we left there not long after <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

you know, I never did break him of that wondering habit ... <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

I blame Aussie, he passed it down in the genes. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

and speaking of my big son, he just rode into the carport on a m/c !!! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

and he's wearing a black T shirt which says ......

I use the Bank of Dad <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

My chiropractor got on my case today.

I had been to see the orthopedist about my knee. So, the chiropractor expressed his displeasure in the silent way....at least that's how I felt.

He told me that it was important to take care of my body. He was once young and stupid and didn't do so. Ran too much and too hard. Has had surgery on one knee 3 times and the other once. That 5 months or so was not long to train to walk 13.1 miles and walking, if done on pavement, could be very hard on your body. Between the IT band problems, the probable pulled hamstring, and the two herniated disks in my neck, I might need to reconsider. But, I feel like I would let some people down. However, those same people would tell me to quit if my body told me this was the wrong thing to do.

I see the neurosurgeon tomorrow. On Feb 5, I see the orthopedist again.

I need to decide what to do. I don't know....well, maybe I do. Maybe I do and just don't like what I think my body is saying.

I vote listen to your body. You will let your peeps down if you become crippled. {{{{{{{{Rella}}}}}}}}}}}

AW, pass me a bag with eye holes, too. Hardly a day goes by one wouldn't come in handy. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The Dervish yesterday, and now the Princess, have come down with fevers. Someone will not be going to school today. (pout)

The neurosurgeon says I can neckhoop a little if it doesn't hurt.

Neak...

I saw a sweatshirt with this saying on it:

"I love to give homemade gifts...
which one of my children
would you like?"

<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

Cinderella,

You need to take care of your body.

I have a couple of "leaky" disks in my vertebrae, plus what I suspect is scar tissue (from an old injury) around my sciatic nerve in my left hip, plus a really bad knee that I'm supposed to get replaced.

With the sciatic nerve thing, I am literally unable to walk more than about 3/4 mile. Any more than that, and I am on the ground in tears.

The chiropractor can usually fix me up when my back and hip go out.

With the knee thing..I have to be very careful when I first stand up, because it is very painful when I first put weight on that leg. I'm usually able to hobble along, sometimes without much pain, but usually with enough pain that I limp. Cold weather doesn't help it much, either.

Anyway, I KNOW you want to do the marathon (and I admire you for your commitment!), but don't be a glutton for punishment. Even with all the medical miracles that are being performed today, you could STILL end up in a wheelchair. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/teary.gif" alt="" />

Hey!! Maybe you could do the marathon in a wheelchair! Would that work? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

ROFL Lady C!!!!! Any guesses who would be first on the chopping block? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

All the kids are home today, in various stages of fever-sick.

Phone ringing, must dash.

Lemme know if there are any takers....

Leo got a t-shirt for Christmas that boldly states what everyone thinks:

"Just be glad you aren't my parents."

What about the bumper sticker that says: "I embarrass my children"?

and I cry and cry all day.

Kimmy - lol, the Dervish needs a shirt like that! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Rella, is that some literary reference (that went over my head), or are you being literal? Either way, I'm sure you need a hug. {{{{{Cinders}}}}}

A cute thing happened this morning with the Dervish. (It's about time a cute thing happened with the Dervish.)

We dropped AJ off at the truck, and he had to come back to look for his coat.

AJ: Princess, is my coat in the back seat?
Princess: Yep, here you go.
Me: Princess, please check back there and see if there's anything else that Daddy needs to take with him.
Dervish: Me?????

Neak, that is cute....

And my statement is a literary reference....

There is a song I learned from my mother when I was a child.....

I'm a lonely little petunia in an onion patch
In an onion patch
In an onion patch
I'm a lonely little petunia in an onion patch
And I cry and cry all day.

I was just referring to the lack of activity here.

I've been wondering how the Neak family is doing. It's good to hear you are, seemingly, well. We're well here.

Actually, my perimenopausal body seems to love doing strange things these days and it always makes me think of this thread.

I've had a busy week, with all the kids getting sick, one by one.

Hopefully after one more day off tomorrow, they will be able to go back to school. (Before any more hair clumps fall out of my head.)

That is a cute song, now that I know you're not just crying all day. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Neaksis has a different virus right now, a stomach one. Val had it too, and missed church. She stayed with us, since all 3 kids were there already, and since she had different germs I made her stay separate. She threw up on her clothes....attractive. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" /> And Neaksis has been queasy since yesterday, but only sick enough to be uncomfortable, not outright miserable.

And Mom is avoiding us like the, um, Plague.

Well, I can see that. I would avoid you if I were here - but only till you are all well. The throw up germ is probably the least fun of all.