On Jon Gosselin's Recent Prime Time Interview

13 Things I would say to Jon Gosselin if given the chance:

1. Just how stupid do you think we are?
   
   
2. How are you going to explain your behavior to your children someday when they discover all of the photos of you drinking and partying while their lives were falling apart?
   
   
3. Divorced Dads Club? You've got be kidding? And with the likes of Lindsey Lohan's father and Kevin Federline? You're hanging with some real winners, buddy!
   
   
4. Are you so flippin' naive as to think that the honeymoon phase won't wear off with Hailey?
   
   
5. And when it does, what are you going to do then- cheat again and blame it all on her?
   
   
6. So Kate was a nag, and could real mean at times. What gives you the right to galavant around with a girlfriend BEFORE your divorce is final?
   
   
7. You can control your drinking? Do you comprehend what happens with alcoholism is as prominent in one's family as it is yours? Don't fool yourself - especially when photos taken of you recently appear you haven't been sober in quite some time.
   
   
8. Did your therapist (which you claim you went to) not teach you anything about personal responsiblity? Of course not, it's all Kate's fault, right? I'm guessing he's a bitter male himself. I'd recommend a new therapist.
   
   
9. You were verbally abused, you say, which is what led you to behave the way you are now. Dude, please check your testicles at the door.
   
   
10. If you cry, as you say, every time you think of your children, then why is it that during your parenting time, you had left them with a sitter?
    
    
11. Is getting to act like a teenager again today really worth the consequences you'll suffer with your children tomorrow?
    
    
12. Face it, Jon. It's a mid-life crisis. We understand that. But buy a trendy sports car, get a face lift, whatever - at least until your children are grown.
    
    
13. Two words: GROW UP! Nobody is buying the lies you're selling.

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13 Ways I Pinch My Pennies

Anyone who knows me, knows that I have a penchant for pinching my pennies until Lincoln screams - or so I've been told repeatedly by close family and friends.

Irregardless of what they believe, I do not have being cheap down to a science...yet!

But here are some ways that I am a real cheapskate (even though, personally, I don't see it that way):

1. I save all the condiments I get from fast food restaurants for use with meals I've cooked at home.
   
   
2. I save all the extra napkins and/or utensil packets from fast food dining.
   
   
3. I only use cold water to wash clothes. There has to be a special reason to use hot water.
   
   
4. It's been a while since we've purchased a piece of furniture for our house. My mother and her sisters have very nice things, and they like to change frequently. If I wait long enough, I'll get some nice furniture given to me.
   
   
5. I grocery shop only once a month to avoid temptations of being in the store too frequently. (Ok, this isn't so much based on cheap as it is that I hate grocery shopping...lol)
   
   
6. Although I don't practice this as much anymore as I should - especially when we're hearing so much about "going green": no use of artificial lights during the day, instead relying on natural light.
   
   
7. I try to avoid, at all costs, purchasing brand new clothing for my two youngest. At 4 years old and 7 months, they go so quickly that you never get your money's worth. Instead I shop consignment and yard sales as well as thrift stores such as Goodwill.
   
   
8. All year I use grocery promotions (ie, those found on cereal boxes) to accumulate small gifts (for free or a very small fee) that I use as stocking stuffers - for the age appropriate kids - at Christmas.
   
   
9. The children's movies that we want to purchase (and we only purchase children's movies because they can watch them over and over and over....), I only buy used: either a previous rental from the video store or on eBay. I've never purchased a brand new one.
   
   
10. When free samples are offered - of products I know we will use, or at least consider using - I take them. I have a nice stash going on of trial size shampoos, hair sprays, deodorants, laundry detergent, that are great for sending with children to summer camp, on vacation, and other times when the "big sizes" aren't necessary.
    
    
11. I always collect the shampoo, lotion, soap, etc. from hotels when we travel.
    
    
12. Speaking of travel, I always avoid using the middle man when planning a vacation. I call the hotel direct and negotiate a rate and purchase park/event/show tickets direct. (I refuse to fly, so I have no tips for airfare.)
    
    
13. Now that our local Walgreens has made it so easy to refill ink cartridges, I never buy new ones - well, at least until the crtridge has so much wear I have no choice, but that day hasn't arrived yet.

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13 Things You Really Should Consider About Universal Health Care

Since Obama and Congress weren't able to sell their universal health care idea on the American people by August, they've bought themselves some additional time by pushing the vote to September.

I found it amazing that on the same date at the push-back vote was announced (July 23, 2009), the U.S. stock markets did better than they had since January 2009.

That in itself speaks volumes to me - clearly investors are thinking that such a taxing plan is doomed for failure and therefore are investing their money once again in worthwhile goods and services.

I don't know whether you are for or against universal health care while you're reading this. Irregardless, the following are 13 things that all Americans should consider when thinking/discussing universal health care plans:

1. Government-controlled health care would lead to a decrease in patient flexibility. In other words: if you're on the government's dime, you're on their time.
   
   
2. Patients aren't likely to curb their drug costs and doctor visits if health care is free; thus, total costs will be several times what they are now. Consider this: when there was no such thing as insurance, people didn't run to see a doctor for the sniffles or to cure heartburn; and the majority of people still lived to be a ripe old age.
   
   
3. Healthy people who take care of themselves will have to pay for the burden of those who smoke, are obese, etc. So what's the incentive to be healthy?
   
   
4. Just because Americans are uninsured doesn't mean they can't receive health care; nonprofits and government-run hospitals provide services to those who don't have insurance, and it is illegal to refuse emergency medical service because of a lack of insurance. Enough said.
   
   
5. Like social security, any government benefit eventually is taken as a "right" by the public, meaning that it's politically near impossible to remove or curtail it later on when costs get out of control. I think we've used up all the bailout options, what then?
   
   
6. Health care equipment, drugs, and services may end up being rationed by the government. In other words, politics, lifestyle of patients, and philosophical differences of those in power, could determine who gets what. A little too reminiscent of Russia to me.
   
   
7. Loss of private practice options and possible reduced pay may dissuade many would-be doctors from pursuing the profession. That's great! We'll rid ourselves of the good doctors and invite in only the lame ones!
   
   
8. A long, painful transition will have to take place involving lost insurance industry jobs, business closures, and new patient record creation. What an excellent idea for a country struggling to pull out of a recession - let's create more unemployment!
   
   
9. Government-mandated procedures will likely reduce doctor flexibility and lead to poor patient care. A prime example: under government controlled health care, individuals beyond a certain age are not considered worth treating.
   
   
10. "Free" health care isn't really free since we must pay for it with taxes; expenses for health care would have to be paid for with higher taxes or spending cuts in other areas such as defense, education, etc. Seriously, with the state of the world today, do we really want to do any of these things?
    
    
11. There isn't a single government agency or division that runs efficiently; do we really want an organization that developed the U.S. Tax Code - which is full of a lot of bureacratic BS -handling something as complex as health care? Hmmm, in other words: lawyers playing doctor. No thank you!
    
    
12. Patient confidentiality is likely to be compromised since centralized health information will likely be maintained by the government. That's all we need: somebody like the 15-year-old who hacked the Pentagon's system getting in and messing with all our private and confidential information.
    
    
13. Government is more likely to pass additional restrictions or increase taxes on smoking, fast food, etc., leading to a further loss of personal freedoms. Do you enjoy your freedoms or would you rather be a government sheep?
    

BONUS: If this universal health care plan is so great, why has Congress incorporated legislation that specifically exempts them from being on the same plan? Why is the President, who is so intent on passing this bill, also ensuring his exemption status through this bill?

If it's not good enough for them, it's not good enough for me either. I'll support it after seeing them follow an identical plan - successfully - for a minimum of 5 years.

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13 Stupid State Laws That'll Make You Laugh

Seems it's not just our current Congressmen and women who have taken an recess from intelligence.

The following state laws were inacted many, many years ago and are currently active laws today (and though, thankfully, seldom - if ever - enforced):

1. In Tennessee, more than 8 women may not live in the same house because that would constitute a brothel.
   
   
2. In Idaho, riding a merry-go-round on Sundays is considered a crime.
   
   
3. In Alabama, boogers may not be flicked into the wind.
   
   
4. In Michigan, willfully destroying your old radio is prohibited.
   
   
5. In Hawaii, coins are not allowed to be placed in one's ears.
   
   
6. In New Hampshire, it is considered an offense to check into a hotel under an assumed name.
   
   
7. In Florida, it is considered an offense to shower naked.
   
   
8. In Wyoming, you may not take a picture of a rabbit during the month of June.
   
   
9. In Arizona, donkeys cannot sleep in bathtubs.
   
   
10. In New Orleans, Louisiana, it illegal for a woman to drive a car unless her husband is waving a flag in front of it.
    
    
11. In Oklahoma, dogs must have a permit signed by the mayor in order to congregate in groups of three or more on private property.
    
    
12. In Utah, it is illegal not to drink milk.
    
    
13. In West Virginia, whistling underwater is prohibited.

Know what I wanna know? Who was doing what to make lawmakers even think about enacting such rules?

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13 Commonly Used Idioms, Their Meanings and Origins

I've lived my entire life hearing phrases and cliches, just taking them at face value and never trying to figure out what originated such a saying.

Now I'm going to dig a little deeper into easily tossed about phrases and find out just what they mean.

And if I ever want to use them again.

1. Deader Than A Doornail: Since ordinary nails aren't used in making doors, perhaps the 'nail' in this phrase, which can be traced all the way back to 1350, was a small metal plate nailed on a door that visitors pounded with the knockers attached to it when announcing their arrival. Life would eventually be pounded out of the 'nail' in that way.
   
   Then again the 'nail' could be the heavy-handed decorative nails outer doors were studded with, though why these doornails would be regarded as any 'deader' than say, coffin nails is a mystery.
   
   It has even been suggested that since nails were ordinarily used for doors, the phrase means 'dead as something that never existed.
   
   
2. A Stick In The Mud: Something that was stuck in the mud, especially a vehicle of some kind, went nowhere fast, just as a person who came to be known as a stick in the mud - he or she was "helpless or unprogressive". The earliest recorded instance of the figurative phrase comes from 1733.
   
   
3. Raining Cats and Dogs: Used in reference to heavy rains.
   
   The probable source of 'raining cats and dogs' is the prosaic fact that, in the filthy streets of 17th/18th century England, heavy rain would occasionally carry along dead animals and other debris. The animals didn't fall from the sky, but the sight of dead cats and dogs floating by in storms could well have caused the coining of this colourful phrase.
   
   
4. Pull The Wool Over My Eyes: To deceive, hide the truth.
   
   The natural assumption is that this phrase derives from the wearing of woollen wigs, which were fashionable for both men and women in the 16th and 17th centuries. The phrase itself is of 19th century American origin.
   
   
5. Graveyard Shift: In America, the Graveyard Shift is more commonly known as 3rd shift or the work hours between midnight and sunrise.
   
   Current popular explanations for the origin of the phrase "graveyard shift" reference the 19th century problem of accidentally burying people who were still alive. To prevent this from happening, the story goes, caskets were equipped with a bell-ringing device enabling a waking "corpse" to notify the world that they were no longer dead. The graveyard attendants who remained vigilant throughout the day and night worked the graveyard shift.
   
   According to Michael Quinion at World Wide Words the above explanation is merely a story and nothing more. He explains that the "graveyard shift is an evocative term for the night shift between about midnight and eight in the morning, when - no matter how often you've worked it - your skin is clammy, there's sand behind your eyeballs, and the world is creepily silent, like the graveyard. The phrase dates only from the early years of the twentieth century."
   
   
6. Don't Throw The Baby Out With The Bath Water: Meaning not to throw the good out with the baby.
   
   In the 1500's, a large metal tub was filled with water that had been drawn and heated, then family bath time began.Bath time started with the man of the house, then the sons and any other men in the household. Then the women and children got their turn in the bath water, and lastly the babies were bathed; all in the same water.
   
   Because baths were only taken once a year, the water was so dirty by the time the babies were bathed, it would have been easy to lose someone in it.Hence the phrase, or saying, 'Don't throw the baby out with the bath water'.
   
   
7. Fall Off The Wagon: This phrases is used in association with an alcoholic that was sober but returned to drinking.
   
   In the late 1800s, many Americans campaigned for a government ban on liquor (crazy, we know). Those who chose to live the sober life were said to be "on the wagon." Mavens' Word of the Day explains that in this case, the "wagon" was actually a water cart used to hose down dusty roads on hot days.
   
   Basically, saying that a person was "on the wagon" was shorthand for "they would sooner climb aboard a water cart to quench their thirst" than have a drop of liquor.
   
   
8. Nothing To Shake A Stick At: Shaking a stick at somebody, of course, is a threatening gesture, or at least one of defiance. So to say that you have shaken a stick at somebody is to suggest that person is an opponent, perhaps a worthy one.
   
   Its recorded history began—at least, so far as the Oxford English Dictionary knows—in the issue of the Lancaster Journal of Pennsylvania dated 5 August 1818: “We have in Lancaster as many Taverns as you can shake a stick at.”
   
   
9. His Name Is Mud: There's an old story that the expression derives from Dr. Samuel Mudd, who unwisely took pity on Abraham Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth. Mudd treated the broken ankle Booth suffered in his leap to the stage of Ford's Theater; for his trouble, he was sentenced to life in a federal prison.
   
   So, to say that someone's name is mud is to imply that they are no good or worthless.
   
   
10. Waiting For The Other Shoe To Drop: This phrase is commonly used when someone is expecting something to happen following a specific occurrence.
    
    Some sources indicate that waiting for the other shoe to drop derived from an old tale of a traveler who stayed at an inn. The innkeeper informed the weary traveler that he would be in a room next to a very light sleeper.
    
    When taking off his shoes, he would drop one on the floor; which, in turn, awakened the light sleeper in the room next door. He then waited 'for the other shoe to drop,' knowing then he could return to his peaceful slumber.
    
    
11. Bent Out Of Shape: The most common context is to tell someone not to get bent out of shape, or upset, over a problem. Getting bent out of shape is the same as getting worked up, aggravated, or overly annoyed at something that usually can't be helped.
    
    The phrase "bent out of shape" is also common when referring to broken or bent objects, which is where the phrase was originally used. If a nail is bent out of shape, it is useless. That is why the phrase encourages people to not get irrationally upset about small problems.
    
    
12. Shoot From The Hip: This phrase means to act without much forethought. General used in reference to speaking, meaning to be honest.
    
    It is believed that idiom was derived from the days of the old West where most men carried guns and were quick to react in volatile situations with their weapons; without much thought into other ways or resolution.
    
    
13. Fly By The Seat of Your Pants: To decide a course of action as you go along, using your own initiative and perceptions rather than a pre-determined plan or mechanical aids.
    
    Aircraft initially had few navigation aids and flying was accomplished by means of the pilot's judgment. The term emerged in the 1930s and was first widely used in reports of Douglas Corrigan's flight from the USA to Ireland in 1938.
    
    That flight was reported in many US newspapers of the day entitled 'Corrigan Flies By The Seat Of His Pants', in The Edwardsville Intelligencer, 19th July 1938.
    
    Two days before this report Corrigan had submitted a flight plan to fly from Brooklyn to California. He had previously had a plan for a trans-Atlantic flight rejected (presumably on the grounds that the 'Spirit of $69.60 wasn't considered up to the job). His subsequent 29 hour flight ended in Dublin, Ireland. He claimed that his compasses had failed. He didn't openly admit it but it was widely assumed that he had ignored the rejection of his flight plan and deliberately flown east rather than west.

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13 Outrageous, Unbelievable, and Frivolous Lawsuits

I loved Harriet''s Thursday 13 last week of dumb criminal stories. So I going to take a cue from her and this week list 13 insanely outrageous and frivolous lawsuits.

We've all heard about the lawsuits that make us want throw bricks at the idiot jurors and judges; like the $2.86 million award to the woman who spilled her hot McDonald's coffee (and created the need to put "Caution: Coffee Is Hot" on coffee cups...duh!).

Well, here is a few more that will make you wonder about the IQ of the litigant and his/her attorney:

1. In 1991, Richard Overton sued Anheuser-Busch for false and misleading advertising under Michigan State law. The complaint specifically referenced ads involving, among other things, fantasies of beautiful women in tropical settings that came to life for two men driving a Bud Light truck. In addition to two claims of false advertising, Mr. Overton included a third claim in his complaint in which he claimed to have suffered emotional distress, mental injury, and financial loss in excess of $10,0000 due to the misleading Bud Light ads. The court dismissed all claims.
   
   
2. A West Bend man is suing the cable company that he feels made him addicted to TV, caused his wife to be overweight and his kids to be lazy. Timothy Dumouchel is asking for $5,000 or three computers, and a lifetime supply of free Internet service from Charter Communications to settle a small claims suit. Dumouchel told Charter that he plans to sue because his cable connection remained intact four years after he tried to get it canceled. "I believe that the reason I smoke and drink every day and my wife is overweight is because we watched TV every day for the last four years," Dumouchel stated in a written complaint against the company. He stated that he called Charter several times to get the service disconnected for good because he felt it was addictive, but they reportedly never did.
   
   
3. A guy was stealing the hubcaps off a car in a driveway. He was hidden in some shrubs, removing the hubcaps on the blind side of the front door to the home. When the home/auto owner came out, the guy kept working on stealing the hubcaps. The owner, got into the car, cranked it, the thief dropped down so the owner wouldn't see him as he backed the car out. The thief's hand was run over by the automobile. He sued and won $28,000.
   
   
4. A couple leaves their home for a weekend out of town. The thief breaks in through the back door of the home and gathers his loot in the kitchen for when he starts to leave. He goes through the entire house, gathering stuff, sticking valuables into pillow cases, ram shacking the house as he goes. Dumping drawers, dropping pictures off the wall checking behind for a safe, etc. The last place he enters to steal is the garage. He steps into the garage from the kitchen, and the door locks behind him. The family had locked the garage door so he couldn't get out that way. He spends 2 nights and 3 days in the garage until the family returns and catches him. He'd been living off a large bag of dog food in the garage and a couple cases of sodas. He sued and wins over $100,000 for inhumane treatment.
   
   
5. Robert Lee Brock, a prisoner at the Indian Creek Correctional Center, filed a handwritten, seven-page $5 million lawsuit in federal court naming himself as Defendant."I partook of alcoholic beverages in 1993, July 1st, as a result I caused myself to violate my religious beliefs. This was done by my going out and getting arrested," wrote Brock, who is serving 23 years for breaking and entering and grand larceny. Brock asked that, if a judgment was awarded, that the state pay on his behalf since his status as a ward of the state leaves him unemployed.
   
   
6. A California woman brought false advertising, misrepresentation, and other consumer protection claims against PepsiCo (which owns Quaker), for allegedly making her believe that the "Crunch Berries" in the cereal are actual berries. The filings alleged that she ate the cereal for four years before learning the fruitless truth. Her complaint was dismissed May 20, 2009.
   
   
7. In March (1999), a federal judge in Syracuse, N.Y., rejected the latest lawsuit by Donald Drusky of East McKeesport, Pa., in his 30-year battle against USX Corp. for ruining his life by firing him in 1968. Drusky had sued "God . . . the sovereign ruler of the universe" for taking "no corrective action" against Drusky's enemies and demanded that God compensate him with professional guitar- playing skills and the resurrection of his mother. Drusky argued that under the federal rules of civil procedure, he would win a default judgment if God failed to show up in court.
   
   
8. Lawyer Alfred Rava announced a $500,000 settlement of his lawsuit against the Oakland A's baseball team for "discriminating" illegally against men when it gave away 7,500 floppy hats to the first women through the turnstiles on a 2004 Mother's Day breast-cancer-awareness promotion. Rava may get about half ("attorney's fees"), and any man who swears he was among the first 7,500 fans through the gates that day, and who wanted a hat, will get $50 cash plus other premiums.
   
   
9. Emoke P. Adams, 53, filed a lawsuit in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, in April 1992 against neighbor Theresa Bartlett for $25,000 for negligently squirting her with a garden hose. Adams cited "permanent" physical problems and emotional trauma resulting from the incident.
   
   
10. In September 1992 in Chicago, Frank D. Zeffere III filed a lawsuit for $40,000 in lost dating expenses against a woman who had broken off their engagement. However, Zeffere, who is a lawyer, wrote her an offer of an out-of-court settlement, beginning with "I am still willing to marry you on the conditions hereinbelow set forth" and ending, "Please feel free to call me if you have any questions or would like to discuss any of the matters addressed herein. Sincerely, Frank."
    
    
11. Patricia Frankhouser filed a lawsuit in Jeannette, Pa., in November 2004 against the Norfolk Southern railway as a result of being hit by a train in January as she walked on railroad tracks. Frankhouser, who suffered various cuts and a broken finger, claimed in the lawsuit that Norfolk Southern should have posted signs alongside the tracks warning people not to walk on them, that trains might be coming.
    
    
12. James Samuel Steward, then 22, suffered severe brain damage after he took an overdose of methadone that someone had smuggled into jail for him while he was an inmate in Goulburn, Australia. In May 2004, Steward's parents filed a lawsuit on his behalf (because he is now unable to care for himself), claiming that it is the government's fault that their son got tempted, in that it did not smuggle-proof the jail, and the Stewards are asking the equivalent of US$2.7 million.
    
    
13. Donald Johnson sued a West Palm Beach, Fla., Shoney's restaurant for $55,000 because he thought its clam chowder was potato soup, and the chowder left him with nightmares; in January, he won $407 in damages.

Can I Sue Someone For The Stupidity That Surrounds Me?

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13 Hilarious (Not Just Funny) Tweets by Zappos

I'm a big ol' Twit.

That's right, I'm love Twitter!

While a lot of Twits use the service as a means to stay updated on the latest gossip - be it celebrity or their own clique - most use it for business promotion.

Like Zappos. Tony Hsieh, CEO of zappos.com, uses his quick wit and awesome sense of humor in combination with Twitter to promote his business - which has proven to be very successul.

His is 13 of his most hilarious (IMO) tweets:

1. I hope the new box of underwear on my desk is a vendor sample and not a polite hint, like offering gum to someone w/ bad breath.
   
   
2. Gave Senator Reid (Senate Majority Leader) tour of Zappos. He had 5 bodyguards. Because, you know, I could easily overpower 4.
   
   
3. Cab driver keeps waving around both hands whenever he talks to me. I will resist the urge to ask him to describe an accordian.
   
   
4. Hotel maid left me extra pillowcase & 3 bags of decaf coffee. Feels like when my cat leaves dead animals at my door.
   
   
5. Thought all day about running, finally did it. Concluded that thinking about running is more enjoyable than actually running.
   
   
6. I usually try not to carry grudges, but I've decided I'm no longer going to be friends with the guy who invented 6 AM flights.
   
   
7. Trying to reduce my email inbox is like trying to lose weight. The number always seems to creep back up to where it was before.
   
   
8. Proper etiquette when you see clothes on a stranger w/ tag hanging out? Somehow I don't think "Tag! You're it!" is appropriate.
   
   
9. Got room service, utensils fell on floor. Either I'm really tired from the redeye or my silverware just tried to commit suicide.
   
   
10. Dear breakfast burrito: Why are you so angry w/ me? Why spit on my shirt? Because I had an Egg McMuffin without you yesterday?
    
    
11. Taking allergy pills is like having Snow White multiple personality disorder. You go from Sneezy/Grumpy to Sleepy/Dopey/Happy.
    
    
12. The radio's morning show is talking about twitter. So now I am twittering about the radio's morning show. The circle of life is complete.
    
    
13. About to speak at conf. Spilled Coke on left leg of jeans, so poured some water on right leg so looks like the denim fade.

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13 Best Television Sitcoms from a TV Junkie's Point of View

Hello, my name is Kimmie and I'm a television addict.

I know it. I admit it.

This week I decided to expose my addiction through Thursday 13 by sharing my list of (in my opinion) the best television sitcoms - past and present - to ever grace television sets.

Here they are, beginning with the very best:

1. Seinfeld
   
   
2. Friends
   
   
3. The Big Bang Theory
   
   
4. Becker
   
   
5. The King of Queens
   
   
6. Everybody Loves Raymond
   
   
7. Frasier
   
   
8. All In The Family
   
   
9. The Golden Girls
   
   
10. George Lopez
    
    
11. That 70's Show
    
    
12. Still Standing
    
    
13. Absolutely Fabulous
    

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13 Interesting Facts About Fathers

For this week's Thursday 13, I decided to celebrate Father's Day (June 21) early with some interesting facts about fatherhood:

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1. There are 140,000 stay-at-dads in the U.S. offering full time care to 234,000 children.
   
   


2. Sixteen percent of the 1.8 million single fathers in America are raising three or more children under the age of 18.
   
   


3. There are an estimated 64.3 million fathers across the nation.
   
   


4. Of the previously mentioned fathers, 25.8 million are part of a married/residing together household.
   
   


5. The word "Dad" dates back to the sixteenth century, or possibly even earlier. It may have originated with the Welsh word "Tad" (meaning father), which later mutated to Dad. The word "Father" is derived from the Old English "Foeder".
   
   


6. Father's Day is celebrated on the 3rd Sunday in June in the U.S., UK, and 50 other countries. In Australia, Father's Day is celebrated on the 1st Sunday of September and the 2nd Sunday in June in Norway and Scandanavia.
   
   


7. 71% percent of children under the age of 6 eat dinner with their father everyday.
   
   


8. The tie is the gift most received by father's on their special day.
   
   


9. It is believed that a father's influence on his children is most critical from ages six to 14.
   
   


10. Of all fathers, 11% of them are also stepfathers.
    
    


11. One in twelve men serving in the U.S. Army is a dad.
    
    


12. 38% percent of father's say they would take a cut in pay to spend more time with their children.
    
    


13. Some of the most popular television fathers include Ward Clever, Mike Brady, Howard Cunningham, and Ray Barone.
    
    
    

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13 Things I Miss About Childhood (Thursday 13)

1. Early bedtimes
   
   
2. My laundry was done for me
   
   
3. No financial responsiblity
   
   
4. All my meals were cooked for me
   
   
5. No sense of mortality
   
   
6. Gravity has no effect on your body
   
   
7. Hanging out with friends for hours
   
   
8. A part-time paycheck made you feel rich
   
   
9. Your boyfriend breaking up with you or your best friend being mad at you was the worst thing that could happen to you
   
   
10. Eating tons of junk food and still weighing only 100 pounds dripping wet
    
    
11. Believing that you really can change the world
    
    
12. A joke can be made of just about anything
    
    
13. Simplicity

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13 Funny Signature Lines I've Seen (Thursday 13)

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1. "Why am I in this basket and why is it so hot?" (eBay Forum)
   
   
2. "When we were together you said you'd die for me; now I think it's time you kept your promise." (Divorce Forum)
   
   
3. "I'll keep my guns, money, and freedom; you keep 'the change.'" (Political Forum)
   
   
4. "Never attribute to malice that which can adequately be explained by stupidity." (Technical Forum)
   
   
5. "The light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train." (Divorce Forum)
   
   
6. "Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes." (Online Sellers Forum)
   
   
7. "If you air your dirty laundry in public, expect people to comment on the skid marks." (Political Forum)
   
   
8. "It's a dog eat dog world and I'm wearing milkbone underwear." (Parenting Forum)
   
   
9. "Isn't Disney World a people trap operated by a mouse?" (Disney World Forum)
   
   
10. "Give a jackass an education and you get a smartass." (Political Forum)
    
    
11. "Spotted on the back of a T-shirt worn by LAPD Bomb Squad: If you see me running, try to keep up." (True Crime Forum)
    
    
12. "Grandchildren are God's reward for not killing your children." (Parenting Forum)
    
    
13. "If the opposite of pro is con, then what must be the opposite of progress?" (Financial Forum)
    

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13 Ways To Save Money During An Economic Downturn (Thursday 13)

You can't turn on the news these days without hearing about the recession; which I prefer to tone it down by calling it an economic downturn.

But there are ways to save even in these difficult times. And it's important to save whether there is financial trouble brewing or not.

Here are some great ways to save money now or anytime:

1. Budget
   


2. Create grocery list and stick to it.
   
   
3. Use coupons.
   


4. Shop online and compare prices. Many things are cheaper through Amazon than purchasing at Walmart or other big chain stores.
   


5. Use a water filteration system instead of buying bottled water.
   
   
6. Carpool.
   


7. Combine errands to reduce gasoline use.
   
   
8. Subscribe to newspapers and/or magazines online versus hardcopies.
   


9. Line dry clothing instead of using the dryer.
   


10. Brown bag it.
    


11. Refill ink cartridges instead of buying them new. Walgreens offers a fast, affordable ink refill service.
    


12. Pay with only cash and put coin change into a jar everyday. When the jar is full, have it counted by your bank and put directly into savings.
    


13. Increase deductibles on auto and homeowner's insurance policies.
    

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Words of Wisdom for the Graduate (Thursday 13)

It's graduation time again - young people being turned loose on society!

So in honor of those graduates, I'm going to include 13 things every high school graduate needs to know. (I can only hope that the graduates of today have a little better grasp on the words of wisdom provided to them than I did when I graduated 18 years ago.)

Here's my 13 thoughts of wisdom:

1. You don't know everything.
   


2. You're not invincible, proceed with caution.
   


3. Enjoy this time of your life; they will be some of the best days of your life.
   


4. Get a college education.
   


5. Begin saving for retirement now.
   


6. Don't be in a rush to grow up. It's not all it's cracked up to be.
   


7. Appreciate your parents; someday you will need them.
   


8. Everything changes.
   


9. Don't be afraid of saying, "No."
   
   
10. You can do anything if you just set your mind to it.
    


11. Save your pennies and your dollars will take care of themselves.
    


12. Enjoy home-cooked meals as they will be scarce in college.
    


13. Learn to eat healthy and exercise now. Middle age spread is a reality.

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13 Blogs I Read Every Week (Thursday 13)

13 BLOGS I READ EVERY WEEK:

1. MomDot
   
   
2. 5 Minutes for Mom
   
   
3. Annie's Home
   
   
4. The Mud Bug
   
   
5. ProBlogger
   
   
6. Click Newz
   
   
7. Dooce.com
   
   
8. SITS Girls
   
   
9. I'm An Organization Junkie
   
   
10. Deal Seeking Mom
    
    
11. Post Secret
    
    
12. My Charming Kids
    
    
13. Like A Warm Cup of Coffee

Please don't be offended if you don't see your blog on this list. This list just happened to be the last ones I had read or that just popped into my head! :)

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13 Things I Love About Being A Mother (Thursday 13)

In honor of Mother's Day, I decided to dedicate my post to the things I love about being a Mother.

13 Things I Love About Being A Mother

1. Being needed by someone
   


2. You never have to be alone
   


3. Truly understanding unconditional love
   


4. The overwhelming feeling of love at first sight
   


5. The kidisms
   


6. The adorable handcrafted keepsakes from the little years
   


7. The "I Love You[s]" that really are forever
   


8. Having someone who believes you can fix anything (the little folk, anyway)
   


9. The fun little songs with the cute little movements
   


10. The unspoken words of gratitude from teens when you understand
    


11. The deeper appreciation developed for my own parents
    


12. Knowing that I will live on even after I'm gone
    


13. Having a day once a year that I can get away with doing absolutely nothing!

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13 Great Giveaways for Girls (Thursday 13)

The purpose of the Thursday 13 meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others’ comments. It’s easy, and fun!
Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

---

13 Great Giveaways for Girls!

1. ShooShoos from Piece of Me. Ends 04/30
   
   
2. Luna B. Tee Personalized Tee from Does Mommy Love It? Ends 04/30
   
   
3. Hannah Montana The Movie Soundtrack from Rockin' Mama. Ends 05/01
   
   
4. Atomic Dog Chocolate Cupcake Necklace from The Chocolistas. Ends 05/01
   
   
5. Whimsy Couture 'Little Fish Strappy Dress' from Etsy It Up! Ends 05/03
   
   
6. BabyKakesink Personalized Onesie from My Moms View. Ends 05/04
   
   
7. Prima Princess DVD from Piece of Me. Ends 05/05
   
   
8. Christi's Cupcake Cuties Personalized Tee from Ladybug Soup. Ends 05/06
   
   
9. Jillie Willie Toddler Apron from Ladybug Soup. Ends 05/06
   
   
10. See Kai Run Shoes from Annies Home. Ends 05/07
    
    
11. Tiny Tots With Style $25 Gift Certificate from Me and My Boys! Ends 05/10
    
    
12. FaBOWlous Pink Peony Flower Hat from The Lano Company. Ends 05/11
    
    
13. Baby Bella Maya lacy leggings from A Kindred Spirit's Thoughts. Ends 05/13

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13 Things I Loved About My Wedding (Thursday Thirteen)

Megan, who is described as the brains behind the design of and co-contributor to the Thursday Thirteen meme, is getting married in 3 days!!! (YOU GO GIRL!!)

In honor of her upcoming BIG DAY, I'll use this opportunity to list 13 things I loved about my own.

Would you like to share yours too? Or share any list of 13 things? Come on over to the home of Thursday Thirteen and join in!

13 Things I Loved About My Wedding:

1. The Groom (and I love him more everyday!)
   
   
2. The church - it was the church which I had grown up in.
   
   
3. The music (my sister-in-law, Valeisha, picked out some great pre-ceremony music and we played 'From this Moment' by Shania Twain during the lighting of the unity candle).
   
   
4. That my husband serenaded me along with 'From this Moment.'
   
   
5. That my two oldest sons escorted me down aisle (this was my second marriage).
   
   
6. That my sons gave me away and his son gave him away.
   
   
7. Our vows. We said the standard vows plus added "And promise to love you more tomorrow than I do today." (And we do!)
   
   
8. The reception that followed. My Mom found a wonderful caterer that created a delicious buffet style menu.
   
   
9. That my husband didn't smash cake in my face! We had a mutual agreement beforehand that neither would do this and we kept that promise.
   
   
10. That my wedding was 100% paid for in cash - no nasty debt to come home to afterwards.
    
    
11. The video collage that my brother and sister-in-law put together displaying pictures of me and my husband as babies, children then some of us together during our engagement.
    
    
12. How my mother and I really came together during this wonderful event. She hadn't been too happy about my first marriage (mothers just know) and it had always created a small rift between us. But she loves my husband now, and with this wedding she became the clique bride's mother (without the *itchiness! lol)
    
    
13. THE HONEYMOON!! (Need I say more?! lol)

Wish I could have included photos, but something is screwy with my scanner today - I'll be sure to upload some later! :)

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13 of the Dumbest Things Teenagers Say (Thursday Thirteen)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

This week I'm doing 13 of the dumbest things that teenagers say (courtesy of my own two teens!):

1. Everybody else has one/is doing it.
   
   
2. I'm smarter than (insert a parent/grandparent/etc).
   
   
3. Can I go to/have [insert some forbidden place/thing here]. This is usually followed by number 1.
   
   
4. I'm the only one that doesn't have one/can't do it. (Very similar to number 1, but usually reserved for serious guilt trips.)
   
   
5. When I leave home, I'm never coming back (Um, yeah, please don't! - but you will).
   
   
6. All we need is love. (Said about serious girl/boyfriend and future. Of course, truthfully, I miss the innocence of this one.)
   
   
7. I'll never [insert something like "ground my children"].
   
   
8. It's not mine [this generation of teens bases their on the O.J. Simpson bit of "if the glove doesn't fit, you must acquit" theory - it worked much better for O.J.].
   
   
9. I didn't do it [when they know and you know they did].
   
   
10. I don't know [when said in response to a question s/he obviously doesn't want to answer].
    
    
11. I don't need to study. (Okay, Einstein!)
    
    
12. [Insert friend's name] parents will be there. (And you don't think I'll check?)
    
    
13. That can't happen to me [usually relates to mortality, illness - and is usually a thought versus being spoken].
    

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others’ comments. It’s easy, and fun!
Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

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