Welcome!

Welcome to my little ol' blog. I'll be upfront about it: I don't blog very often any more. If you found your way here because you read my book "Trailer Life," have a gander! But it's easier to keep up with me on Instagram or on my Facebook page. I have this long, drawn out theory on why I'm a terrible blogger, but that is a story for another day. Enjoy the ramblings of my life from the last 8 years or so.

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Happy New Year's Eve!

Kacy's biggest accomplishment for 2008 is starting Kindergarten. She is a great student, and an awesome big sister. Her favorite color is still pink, and her favorite food is macaroni and cheese, "but not the orange kind in the box. I like yours, mom." Her favorite thing to do is go outside on the playground at school. She is really growing up, and is a good example to her brothers. She is entering that school age goofiness that is so annoying and so funny at the same time. Ah, the memories!
Will's big accomplishment for 2008 was improving his speech all on his own. He still sometimes sounds like an auctioneer with how fast he talks, and sometimes you still need some context clues. But mostly, he is doing so well! And he is one smart guy, even though he doesn't let you know it (like a certain sister). He's observant and loves babies. His favorite color is green, his favorite food is little hot dogs (I would have said ice-cream...) and his favorite thing to do is "help my dad to build on the house."
After a rough start, Ed has managed to keep all his teeth in his mouth, and has avoided any trips to the ER. He went from chipping his teeth climbing out of his crib, to sleeping like a big boy in his own bed, and it only took 10 months! (Heavy sarcasm with the 10 months thing- that was a LONG time.) He is so- Ed. His favorite color is red, (although on Christmas day he fought over the blue flashlight and the blue robot... hmmm), his favorite food is doughnuts, and his favorite thing to do is "play in my bedroom." That's funny- he doesn't really have a bedroom. He doesn't seem to know the difference, which is another good reason to be in the trailer while they are young.

Jessie's big accomplishment for the year was being born. I'd say that was a pretty big thing- she's growing up so fast. I'm enjoying every minute of her. She's a proficient crawler, is starting to pull herself up on things (mostly to her knees) and has all but scrapped the baby food. Her goals for next year include walking, and growing at least two more teeth (uppers would be nice) so she can enjoy more table foods. She told me this, of course.

Ryan (this is me speaking for him, having not talked to him about this): another year down on the highway patrol, another year down as the YM president, and another year building the house. This is the year things really got rolling. He wants to go gang-busters and build like there is no tomorrow so we can get the house finished by the end of the year.

Me: I was talking to the Principal's husband about living in a trailer while building a house because he did it to, but only for one year. She told him we had four kids, and I said "But we only started out with two." He just chuckled and said "Well, life happens I guess, whether or not you live in a trailer." And he's right. It might be a little different and quirky, but what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. Whoo-hoo!

Tonight the kids and I had a party. We used toilet paper for the streamers (because I forgot real crepe paper...) had noise makers, headbands, and watched the ball drop. We had little hot dogs and macaroni and cheese for dinner. (Is it still macaroni if you use corkscrew pasta? I'm not so sure.) We made a confetti cake. We danced to Pat Benetar's "Heartbreaker" and "Hit Me With Your Best Shot". I set the clock to EST. Ed kept saying "This is the best party, mom!" only it sounded more like "Dis is da best potty, mom!" It was fun.

Christmas recap

On Christmas Eve we went and sang at an assisted living center where my aunt Kristin is the patient care director. The boys did NOT sing. Ed actually caused much grief. Here is the first round of singing. My cousin Caley has a three and a half octive range, and April is close- maybe a full two plus a few? AND she can play the piano and sing at the same time! Others from left to right: cousin Jennifer, Will, me and Ed, Kristin, the boy in front belongs to the girl next to Kristin (who happens to have THE SAME NAME AS ME. Karrie is not uncommon, but K-A-R-R-I-E is.), Caley, and at the piano is April.
My grandma Norma M. and Jessie.
After the singing in both the regular area and the Memory Care section, where Ed told me the singing was too loud, we went back to Kristin's house. The kids help make and decorate cookies. After that, we went to the Bunting's house for lots of food. The next day the kids woke up to what Santa left them. We went back to the Bunting's for breakfast at 9am, present opening, and then dinner at 3pm. Then we went to Aunt Kendra's house for my side of the family. My parent's house is being remodeled, and it's off limits to large groups right now. Kendra let us crash her house where we were overwhelmed with gifts and food. We ended the night driving home in the snow and ice. We spent the next day recovering and trying to find a place for everything (we are still working on that.)

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Just because I'm tired of looking at my picture

I feel I ought to write something. Just because I'm tired of looking at my picture every time I turn on the computer.
We had a great Christmas. The week of was very busy, but we all survived. The kids received lots of toys and clothes from their grandparents. If they keep it up, I will never need to get them anything! Next year we are going to institute a handmade holiday. Our house may possibly be finished by then (the snow and ice we had all last week didn't help any progress, and now Ryan is waiting for these really long, special order timber framing screws so he can set those rail road ties...). A house would make homemade and handmade a lot easier- but, if it doesn't happen, we will do it the year after for sure. I am already thinking of what I could start now, so October/November/Dec. doesn't come around and I get the "it's too late now" syndrome.

We are going to have a News Year Eve Party! Just me and the kids. I hope to find the ball dropping thing on TV at 9pm so we can go to bed. (We party hard!) We are going to make a confetti cake, have macaroni and cheese (their pick) and I may try to make sparkling jello... we'll see what the Walmart has to offer.

We ate "homemade" bacon. We tested some of the bacon Ryan cured/smoked and it's good. The pigs that were harvested aren't known for their fat bacon, but like Ryan said, you could really cure any piece of pork and get the same flavoring. It might just be more "meaty". He says that someday (when the house is finished) we might get a sow and a boar and breed them, and then sell the offspring and keep some for us. He'd also like to have fresh goats milk and a donkey named Kevin roaming the front yard with the chickens. We are going to name all our packing mules after our nephews. Just to mess with them, because we're mental that way. I'm not about to milk a goat, but the rest sounds jim-dandy to me.

Now, I have to go take a nap and think about the details of one of the most important rooms in the house that is not the kitchen: the laundry room.

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Merry Christmas!

I am going to H-e-double hockey sticks for lying to my mother-in-law... because Ryan accidentally told his mom that we were getting a family picture done, and it was supposed to be a surprise. So he covered up by lying. And then I avoided it until last Sunday night. Does it count that I didn't look her in the eye? Probably not. But anyway, I got suckered into buying a package at Olan Mills in the KMart in Ridgecrest one day. It was torture for us all, but we did it. And everyone in the fam is getting copies. I didn't pick this shot to reproduce for the 8x10's for everyone, but now I wish I did. Everyone looks just slightly better in the one I did pick. But look at Ed. He had a GREAT time with the picture lady and her fuzzy duster, the popping lights, and her saying "I'm gonna git you!" This was the first shot of the session, too.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Our Christmas Decorations

Kacy provided us with ALL our Christmas decorations this year. She made these at school. I am NOT in the Christmas mood yet. I have wrapped almost all the presents, but I need to find a place to put them. We didn't put up our little tree this year because Jessie takes up it's floor space. It's one or the other, and I choose the child.
The elf is scaring my boys. Ed says it's a "monner pig" and Will came up to me and in a quiet voice says "Mom. The elf's eyes follow me when I walk." I say "Really?" and he goes back to the elf and walks past it again. He starts slowly, and then speeds up and over to me: "Mom. It does! See? The eyes move!" The elf is life size. And, I can see the pig mistake, a little in the face. It's eyes don't move though...

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Thank-you, Ozzy.

I think Ozzy (Black Sabbath) sums it up best when he sings "I'm goin' off the rails on the crazy train!" I am on that crazy train. Here is our day today:
  • Got four inches of fresh snow last night, which covered the iced-up road. Road not cleared until the sun did it's job. Took Kacy to school because bus did not come, again. Drove 25mph on the ice. It took forever to get there.
  • I went to the dentist. I have one cavity on one of my wisdom teeth. Nice.
  • Went to "the mall" and did a little shopping. I hate shopping. But seriously, my kids need jackets. The three older ones got these Carhartt jackets (Will is modeling, above), and after the initial investment, I should only have to buy one a year as they get passed down. (Hopefully. I also plan on holding on these babies for my grand kids/visitors. They last forever. If Ryan can't ruin one, then they pass the test.) They look great! Now, they need boots. Kacy really likes hers, even though it's not pink or purple.
  • Picked Kacy back up from school. Went home to find the power back on. Water still out. Maybe I forgot to mention that part- no utilities this morning. It was 18 degrees when we woke up, and 25 when we left for Bakersfield. I realize that our storage water in the RV is OUT. Jessie needs a bottle and the toilet needs to be able to flush. So, I call Ryan, who happens to be butchering some pigs today. Didn't I marry the man that can do anything? He gets that from his Dad. He tells me to try and fix the pipe, and if I did, he would be impressed. A challenge!
  • Find tools, but not a fitting. Go to hardware store to get supplies. Stop at grocery store for three gallons of water, just in case.
  • Fix pipe by the light of my car- reset well pump and watch as the pipe I "fixed" breaks at a different point and flies 10 feet in the opposite direction. It's probably my fault for man-handling PVC when it's 30 degrees outside. The kids were sitting in the car watching me do this. They hated it.
  • Having no water means I don't have to do laundry, dishes, or bath time. Ryan is going to fix it when he comes home tonight. All the hardware stores up here close at like 5:00pm. Everything up here closes before it should.

What our house looks like today. Hard to make any progress when everything from the house to the tools is under an inch of ice and three inches of snow. But, isn't it pretty? In that "I'd rather not really be there because my feet are freezing, but it's a nice picture." kind of way. It's all about proper footwear for the snow. Not that we have any.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

My thoughts on snow, of all things

I might like snow more if I had the right equipment. Like jackets. A water proof/wind proof jacket would be nice. Something for my head and hands would be nice. Uggs? Is that the true purpose of Uggs? Because my experience with them in CA is that they make your feet sweat and get smelly after a winter of wearing them with no socks. I'd look into electric socks. A four wheel drive vehicle that had dents and scratches and rust so that when I slid off the road or into a tree, no one would really notice. It'd have 5-point seat belts for safety. And reflectors glued to it. Everywhere. I'd invest in one of those shoe dryers for sure. For now though, especially after hearing of living in 15 degree and -8 degree "highs" with snow, I'm grateful for the couple days of fun, but glad it's not a longer "treat". Cuz my feet are fah-reezing.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Snow Day

The first sign of a snow day. Will and Kacy stared at the snow for at least 20 minutes.
Will was self motivated to get dressed and head out first. We have no snow clothes because it just does not snow here that often. And the lack of storage in the trailer, and the fact that the kids grow so fast right now I'd have to buy new snow gear every year. I can barely keep up with normal clothes! So, wearing his slip-on Vans and a sweatshirt, Will headed out. He lasted about five minutes. The rest of them got dressed and headed out also. Kacy lasted the longest. Ed was frozen after three minutes, crying "Ow Mom! I got hurties! I got hurties on my hands! Dey cold!" I took him into the trailer and he sat by a heater vent in a blanket. Fifteen minutes later he was healed. It snowed about 11 inches. School was cancelled. Our power/internet/direct tv are all on the fritz. My feet have not thawed out yet. Ryan has been working lots and lots the last few days. People are still trying to get to work and of course they are spinning out everywhere. Skiers are enjoying it, and all the smart ones carry chains, and use them. It's the not-so-smart ones that cause road problems. And somewhat unrelated, it was not until I was in college that I knew what snow chains were. I always thought you hooked up chains to your car bumper and drug them behind you. Which didn't make much sense...So I never used them or saw them before, okay? Now I'm all educated about the snow chain.

Ward Christmas Dinner

We had our ward Christmas Party last Friday. The Santa visits went a little better. Will stayed behind my legs. But, he did talk to Santa. When Santa asked Will what he wanted, Will said "It's a secret!" How do you wrap a secret?
Kacy wrote Santa a note. It says "I want a Dora doll for Christmas." This was so she wouldn't have to talk to him, but she ended up being okay with Santa after all. (I was playing with photoshop, and in a bad way... in what application might one need the "plastic wrap" filter?)
At first she wasn't sure...
But it all turned out okay!

Ed grabbed his candy cane and fled the scene before good pictures could be taken.

Friday, December 12, 2008

About Me

Some things about me, by me. Because I want to remember what I thought of myself when I get really old. Like 35. Just kidding. Like 95.
  • My favorite shoes of all time, in the whole entire world, are pictured above. I bought my first pair in Spring of 2001.
  • My favorite music that makes me happy is "girl power" music, apparently. (According to the playlist put together by Pandora. Hey 95 year old me- Pandora is an Internet music thing. Trust me.)
  • My favorite vegetables are butternut squash with goat cheese, baked yam fries, roasted asparagus, steamed broccoli, and peas.
  • My favorite meat is a cheeseburger. That totally counts as meat.
  • My favorite soda is Diet Pepsi.
  • My favorite drink is cool water, no ice.
  • My favorite household chore is vacuuming. Unfortunately I have not had carpet the last three years, and when our house is finished, it will have hard flooring.
  • I can eat a large Little Caesar's Pizza by myself, on a good day. I currently restrain myself.
  • I have anxiety attacks when I walk into a clothing store to shop for myself. For reals.
  • I hate mail. It's the thing that I'm worst at: taking care of mail and paperwork.
  • I want to exercise. But I don't. Many reasons. Three big ones: 4 kids 5 and under, live in a trailer with no floor space, and mountain lion scare.
  • I yell too much at my kids. Actually, I yell at my girl (baby doesn't count) hardly at all. The boys have been unofficially declared hard of hearing. Hence, the yelling.
  • I am a somewhat type-A personality. Except when it comes to a clean car and my kids wearing clean socks. Then I don't care. But I will admit my desire for "A's" was met when I found out my blood type is A+. It's a sickness.
  • I stress unnecessarily about things that end up turning out just fine.
  • I don't really like fruit, except for berries. Any berry. I guess apples are okay.
  • I can eat a whole box of Cookie Crisp in an afternoon.
  • My worst subject in school was biology. My favorite subject was PE. Followed closely by lunch.
  • I made a job for myself this year- now I have to decide whether or not I want to do it. It's the preschool thing.
  • I love to read.
  • I am crazy. Not in that BASE jumping way, not in a street racing way, but in a "I had four children in less than five years and live in a trailer (for over three) and yet I'm still relatively sane about it." Maybe I'm just highly adaptable, not crazy.
  • If you were to see me at a dance, I'd be standing against the wall, trying not to make eye contact with anyone. I spent many a slow dance in the bathroom because I wasn't asked to dance. And I was too scared to ask someone myself.
  • I consider it a small miracle I ever got married. Only because I never thought about it growing up. I'm not sure what I was thinking of, I just know it wasn't about having a husband.
  • I buy Christmas presents for myself. I prefer it that way.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Rail Road Ties

We had a building "thing" come up: we have to set 30 posts on footings above grade before any framing can be done. That part we knew. At first we were thinking that we could build a retaining wall later, and then we thought of forming up a cement wall and then covering that with rocks. Ryan found a railroad tie supplier and bought some- they are solid oak. Too bad they are soaked in creosote, or else we'd mill them into flooring. I like the idea of wood- it's softer than cement and rocks. (Looks-wise.) So, this retaining wall has to be done before we can get a framing crew (Yea! We are definitely going that route!) so the crew doesn't mess up the dirt with all the trampling around that will be inevitable. How I look forward to that trampling around!

A Visit with Santa

This took a lot- Santa was a great Santa and distracted Ed while quietly snatching him up for the photo op. He had a bell in his hand that he had Ed ring, and he played "Hi-5" with him.
I am sitting on Santa's lap. Totally uncomfortable. His idea, not mine. Ryan said he was a dirty Santa, and then I told him that I thought he was the same one that worked in the town's Christmas park, and he said "Oh, he's cool. Nevermind." Still... see my straight hair? Nifty.
Jessie and Santa. Enough said.

Where's Will? He wouldn't even come in the room.

Nature Pictures I Shot, Just for Fun

Waterfall (controlled by man, I don't know the whole story) Decemeber 10, 2008.
Sunset in Bakersfield on Sunday, December 07, 2008.

Monday, December 8, 2008

You tum on wit yo tum on, you don't fight fair...

*Ed has taken to singing "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" by Pat Benetar around the house. It sounds like this: "You tum on wit yo tum on, you don't fight fair, dat's otay, see if I tare! Knot me down it's all in bain, I det right bat on my feet a-den. Hit me wit yo best shot, hit me with yo best shot, Hit me wit yo best shot, fire a-wayyyyeeee." It's awesome.

*Will asks some of the weirdest questions, besides the everyday "What is that and how does it work, how is it made?" Like: "Mom, how do they make the stuff in boxes?" followed by "Well, how do they make boxes?"

*Kacy is getting very comfortable at school and thinks she is impervious to rules. She's testing maybe? Bored? I know she likes school, but I am wondering if she's a little bored. I have the inside information as I do the assessment for her teacher to help her out. I assess Kacy, too. She knew the most. The little boy who sits next to her did very well also- he has a bowl hair cut and I love it for some reason. He kind of had a slow start but is doing REALLY well now. I don't want to be a pushy parent and get her all burned out, but I wonder if she could use some more of something.***I have to edit this: I sound like I think she's a genius or something. She's not. But she "gets" things quickly, and she remembers everything. (That has come back to haunt me...) After observing her classroom, I sometimes just wonder if she gets bored repeating the same things over and over. Oh well, she can learn to be patient. Because I'm not going to home school her. And for the record, one of my favorite kids in her class is the one who eats paste. Okay, not paste, because that's old fashioned, but he seriously ate a glue stick once. I thought the substitute was going to vomit. It was great.***

*Jessie is officially, really, effectively crawling. And she started pulling herself up on things. She laughs ALL THE TIME, especially if she is playing with a toy and you call her name.

*I am in need of a makeover. I hate my hair. I hear my grandmas right now saying "You have those beautiful curls! Don't touch them!" and then the chorus saying "Do you know how much people would pay for perms that look like that?" But people don't get perms anymore. And what's the point if my hair is always in a bun? I wear it down for church on Sundays, but honestly, the trailer life isn't nice for my meager beauty routine. I'm wondering if getting a flat iron would actually work. If I ironed it straight twice a week... I wonder how much time that would take. And then do I get a style to go with it? I've never had a style before. Bangs? No bangs? It would have do double duty for both straight and curly. I have not been happy with the last few pictures I've seen of myself. And I also have a church dress problem. I look sloppy and out of season- I had no sweater, a just below the knee skirt, and my Dr. Martin sandals on Sunday, and it was raining and was 50 degrees. My boys have no church sweaters. I haven't worn nylons/pantyhose since I was a senior in high school. That was 13 years ago. Not once in 13 years. I'm scared. But I really want to look nicer. Not in an expensive, "I'm obsessed with shopping and name brands" kind of way, but in a "I thought about what I put on and did not just pick up the least wrinkled/least stained piece of clothing off the floor." Is that too much to ask? It might be. Nice hair and a put together look...

*Ryan and I were talking about the wild life today. Our "neighbor" (he lives a little less than a mile away) came over and asked if we'd seen any mountain lions. He has seen two, and the one he saw last night attached his donkey. Then we talked about how we want a donkey or two, and the first one's name will be Kevin. Kevin the burro. Even if it's a girl. Then we went back to the mountain lion problem, and I have decided to use my brain and decide against taking walks with the kids for awhile. Not that we have been doing that much lately.

Friday, December 5, 2008

For Jimmy


I wasn't privy to the conversation, but apparently Ryan and Jimmy were talking and Jimmy mentioned how cool it would be to own a Porshe. Like, the ugly one. Here you go, Jimmy- if you want contact info, I have it for you. Nothin' like a pea green 1971 two seater to lure the ladies.

On another car related note- Ryan and I saw our first bio-diesel truck. Or rather, we SMELLED our first bio-diesel truck. It looked like any other flat bed beastly pick-up, except it had an extra black tank on the bed against the cab. (Not uncommon where we live anyway.) After about five miles of smelling Burger King, and NO BK for miles around, we decided that guy was running on french fry grease. And it smelled GOOD.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Simply Healthier

I posted my first official post on my health blog "Simply Healthier". Hmm... posted, post, health, healthier, that sentence is not pretty. Not pretty at all. It's about sugar. There is just so mush to know! And to say! I think I'm going to have to do one topic a week. Or one topic every two weeks. I'll just have to see how it goes.

I suppose I could turn in my rough draft of my paper now. It's due by midnight, so I have some time to loathe it some more. I'm just not feeling the love for this topic. That's why I posted a new post about health on my healthier blog.

I love my new free background on my blog. I fear change. But I did it, and I'm so happy with it. I'm going to talk to the blog fairy some more.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

3 things

Ed's new "tute" blanket- my mom made this tag-a-long for Jessie, and Ed hijacked it. If he wasn't so manly, I wouldn't feel right about letting him carry around a pink blanket. I think my mom is going to make him a blue one.
Happy 29th birthday to my Mother-in-law. Since we won't be seeing her today, here is a blog tribute. She is working at the temple and then setting up Nativities for the tri-stake thingie. She makes the best desserts. Ever. She's also a good cook for regular food, and will taste anything (like her son). She is more than willing to re-arragne her schedule to babysit (which often makes me feel bad, because she also takes care of two grannies...). She loves the temple, and it's always fun to see her there, because the lines of mother-in-law/daughter-in-law are gone, and it's more like friends/sisters. She'll offer to change poopy diapers. I don't like to let her do that becuase she does enough already, why would I punish her with THAT? She enjoys her grandkids, and keeps wanting us to come back every Sunday. She lets Jocelyn and I visit and ignore our rowdy kids. She's very patient. I don't think she yells. Anyway, Happy Birthday, and we'll see you on Sunday! (This is an old picture with Kacy. Kacy would have been about 7 months old.)
Jessie is nine months old today. She just barely started crawling- barely. It's like a Frakenstein crawl, if that's possible. She likes table food, and not veggies. She is still a very happy baby. I couldn't ask for a better baby. I don't know what else to say about her, except that as far as babies go, she has to be one of the best. And I'm not just saying that, because most of my babies have been easy (it's the toddlers that kill me- and that lasts until they are three and a half...) but she is so happy to just sit and play with toys. We are entering the phase where she tries to pull herself up on things, and I'm so worried about her hitting her mouth on things.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Causing trouble-social commentary gone awry

Well, I suppose I've ruffled a few feathers, and part of me thinks it's funny. Only because a disagreement is leading to such contention. Funny, how using my first amendment rights of free speech, has lead to this hot topic. I have people I have NO IDEA who they are getting snippy with me.
Just to clarify: from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary: Gossip: (1) a person who habitually reveals personal or sensational facts about others. (2) rumor or report of an intimate nature.

I take no responsibility for comments left by others. I take full responsibility for my post, and after reading, and re-reading, the only thing I might need to apologize for is the part where I say it makes me gag that the poster said not to judge her, but then she goes on to judge the off-duty cop. So it bugs me, okay? NOTHING else I said was a personal attack. I've tried to keep it rational and even tempered, but it's not working. All I want to do now is stop reading my comments, and drink a diet Pepsi. And write my paper. (Ugh- that's giving me a head ache just thinking about it.)

If I need to defend my personal blog, I would say this about the post. I read a post on someone else's blog. I left a comment (CHP paid by DMV fees, not taxpayers money, maybe the cop was following her because he genuinely cares about the seat belt thing, not because he's a jerk. Agree that it was lame of him to try to follow her down the street. End of comment.) Use a summary of her post as a springboard for a social commentary on perceptions of cops. Never used her name or linked her blog, because that would have been rude, weird, and unnecessary. I now find it odd that so many people are commenting, both who I know and don't know. I don't think I have a cyber gang who is bullying anyone, what I do read from the comments is many people with personal experience about kids falling out of cars, getting hurt, etc. I don't get it. Well, I do, but that's too much psychological and sociological explaining. Peace ladies, let it go. No one is a bad parent, we are all learning together. Accept it. Love it. Help your friends.

This has gotten way too contentious for me, I stand by everything I said, I feel bad that people have hurt feelings because I disagree, I've tried to make this light-hearted... and yet the people who are hatin' are still coming back. I'm done with this subject and will say no more. The Spirit (that warm fuzzy happy feeling that makes you feel good) left a few comments ago. I probably won't read anymore comments, unless it gets to over 25, and then only out of sheer curiosity. That would be a record for me!

Why I could NEVER do this for a job


I was forwarded a link to a blog by a girl I don't even know, but she lives in my hometown and was complaining about/hatin' cops. Basically, when she drives down the street at 15mph to get her kid from the bus stop, her three year old sometimes doesn't sit in a seat, or sits in the front seat. Not that big of a deal, except that a chippie picks his kid up at the same time (off duty) and gives her dirty looks. (The thing that makes me gag the most about the post was that she says not to judge her for not putting her kid in a seat all the time, but then she rags on the cop for the looks because he's perfected parenting... um, about the judgement thing???) But anyway, this guy tried to catch her doing it again while he was on duty, and it didn't work out for him. It sounds like he was totally going after her. And most people commenting are like "Doesn't he have anything better to do?" Than what? His job? I clarified that they do not get paid with taxpayers money, but rather DMV registration fees. And really, MOST CHP's are so anal about seat belts. But for a good reason. It's all fun and games until someone's brains pop out of their head. Or they are air lifted to a hospital with major injuries because they took their seat belt off for just a minute. And seeing little kids being injured really disturbs them. I have heard MANY stories, and been sheltered from just as many, in the last nine years. Just saying. Everyone hates cops until they need them. I could never be a cop because: I don't like people hating me. I don't like smelly people with bad teeth. I don't like to drive that much. I don't like blood or crying people or brains on my pants. (Seriously, washing someone else's blood out of your husbands pants before the stain sets is not cool.) So, the next time the fuzz pull you over for not obeying the laws of the land, just deal with the consequences of your choices. They'll be there to put your femur bone back in your thigh, or your brains in your head.