Mom’s Soap Box

October 31, 2007-The spookest day of the year is finally here. Ever since I was a kid I’ve loved Halloween. It’s a day to make believe your someone else. There is strange feeling in the air and you know by twilight all the ghouls and ghosts will be out.

Strange things do happen on Halloween, so beware and keep an eye open at all times-ohhh be scared be very scared.

Every Halloween needs a good ghost story. Here is one to tell your kids, but beware they may not sleep tonight.

It was Halloween in 1980, my friends and I decided to go to a cemetery on “All Hallows Eve” Urban Legand told of a ghost that haunted Mount Carmel Cemetery, in Pittsburgh, PA.

Mount Carmel was famous for George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead. Rumor had it was haunted.

My friends insisted I went with them to witness the ghost of a woman who dressed all in white and would stand in front of her husband’s tomb stone every Halloween. Her husband was killed in a tractor accident on Halloween in 1932. She would go to his tombstone every year after his death on Halloween and stand in front of his tomb stone and cry with her hands outreached.

Every year she would go never failing; she would stand and cry, and cry until that one Halloween in 1954 when they found her body stiff and cold, and dead. Every Halloween since then you can see her ghost standing in front of her husbands grave moaning.

All never forget that 1980 Halloween when I went to Mount Carmel Cemetery with my friends. I remember driving up to the cemetery my heart pounding. It was raining and a chill in the air. We slowly drove up to the grave with the headlights off; we could see a white figure standing with it’s arms outreached and then we heard the moans!

When we got closer to the tombstone we turned on the headlights. The moment we turned the headlights on the figure turned in our directions looking straight at us. At that very moment we heard a horrible scream. All at once we all started to scream and my friend who was driving put the car in reverse and hit the gas almost hitting a tree. We never spoke a word on the way home. The look on the figures face was one of pure anguish. A vison we will never forget. The only words that came out of our mouths was, “Did you see that.” but no one answered.

We never spoke of that Halloween night ever again. Was it real or just a statue; we will never know for sure?

Happy Halloween

Devil’s Nights, the day before Halloween; It’s a parent’s worst night of the year. It’s when kids go out in the neighborhood and raise hell. I remember dressing all in black and getting cartons of eggs, toilet paper,shaving creme and soap and packing it up in a bag and stashing it behind my house with my brothers. Our weapons of choice used to terrorize the neighborhood. It was a big deal for kids when I was growing up. We only soaped houses that did not give out treats. We always made sure we remembered who gave and who did not.

So if you did not give out treats the Halloween before, you would be a victim of soaping the next Halloween. That’s how we saw it as a kid. In our minds it was the right thing to do. And it was warrented in our little brains; what freaks me out as an adult, our parents let us do it.

We would soap our neighbor’s windows and car windows. We would drape cars with toilet paper and ring doors and run away; the worst was getting dog poop and putting it in a brown paper bag and lighting it on fire on someone’s front porch and then ring the door bell and runaway. That’s sick and I would sit behind a tree and watch.

I was the only girl with ten boys running through the neighborhood like wild demonic animals. One of my brother’s friends lit our neighbor’s bushes on fires. Once a man came out of his house with a shot gun and ran after us.

Devil’s night has been a tradition since WWII, going back as far as 1930. This all started in Detroit when youths engaged in criminal behavior, which were vandalism (such as throwing eggs at the homes of neighbors, or stringing toilet paper in trees) on the night before Halloween. Just what I did as a kid. Oh my God I was a vandal. We never broke anything except for the burning of the bush…..
In the 1970’s this when the arson began on devil’s night. Neighborhoods were warned to never leave anything outside and neighbors were told to kept their front porch lights on.

Now- a -days you still hear about kids who throw eggs, and we see in my home-town that kids throw pumpkins and corn husks at homes, and some rip mail boxes down..

No matter how you look at it, it’s vandalism and a crime. My parents knew what we were doing and turned a blind eye, I’m sure they did not like it but they let us goe out every Devil’s night.

This type of behavior, even if it’s egg throwing- is a crime.

As a parent I would be very upset if my kids did some of the things I did as a kid.

Playing tick tack devil’s night is one thing and cow tipping another, but eggs, and fire is not fun it’s plain dumb.

Spending time with my sons on the weekend is what I miss the most when it comes to having teenagers. I loved eating munches and watching a movie with them. I didn’t mind it was a cartoon or a silly kid’s movie. All that mattered was, we were having fun curled up, together sitting on the couch spending time together.

Most times I would fall asleep, but it was something I looked forward to. Friday was the day I would go to the grocery store and then either I would go to the video store or I would wait for them to get home from school and we would go together.

This weekend I suggested to my oldest son , Mark if he wanted to do movie night with mom. It would have been extra special if my youngest could have been home, but he was going to Kenny wood Parks, “Fright Night” with his friends.

I was surprised when Mark said he’d rather stay home and watch movies me instead of go to a Halloween Party. I learned later that his girlfriend was working maybe that was the reason he said he wanted to stay home with his old mom. I don’t care; I was just glad we were going to spend some quality time together the way we used to.

I wanted to make it extra special so I made some Halloween treats just for us.

I made the snake I wrote about last week, made with the crescent roll and deli meats.
I also made a delicious caramel crunch bar and carmel apples.

I lit some candles to set the mood and we watched a couple scary movies.
Mark and I decided on the classic Amityville horror, and the new DVD release, “Invisible” which was not that scary but it had a supernatural edge to it.

I know he would have rather been with his girlfriend, but that was ok. I enjoyed movie night more than he would ever know. It was a glance back to when “mom” mattered the most in his life, and he and his brother were my world.

Things went right back to the present the next day, when mom did not matter much anymore.

I carved the pumpkin for Halloween by myself yesterday.
But I did get their attention with they smelled my barbeque pumpkins seeds coming from the kitchen!

An expensive bag of goodies.

The things I do for my kids. The very first week of school on September 4, 2007 my son Mark, ask me to go to Target and get his favorite trail mix, with chocolate, raisons and nuts for the weekend.

Oh course since I’m such a wonderful mom, I drove to Target before I picked him after school.

I hurried in the store and picked up his favorite trail mix and I grabbed a 12 pack of Diet Coke.

I’d just make it up to school before the bell chimed 2:25 p.m.
I pulled out of Target and proceeded up the street that I normally take to get back home.

All of a sudden, I see a maroon colored car start to tail gate me. I did not pay much attention because I normally go slower to agitate the tailgater. But for some reason I sped up a little, not 17 miles over the speed limit.

Then I heard a siren; I looked in my rear-mirror and then I saw the siren. What the heck–
An un-marked police car… I yelled out the window that I did not pull over unless it’s a police car. I looked for safe place to pull over.

I finally pulled over in the townships municipal building parking lot. Out comes an angry police officer. Screaming at me, “What’s wrong with you, don’t you know you’re supposed to pull over when you see sirens.” I quickly said, “How do I know you’re a police officer? It’s not safe, anyone can get a siren and pull you over, and especially when you’re as good looking as me it’s not safe,” Did I say that naw.

When I got home I called the police station to find out if indeed they had maroon colored unmarked cars, and they said they did. All I said was, it was not safe for a woman to pull over to an unmarked car. It has happened in the past that it was not a cop.

To make a long story short; he gave me a $166.00 ticket for going 17 miles over the speed limit. I refused to sign the ticket. I went to my hearing yesterday and the little weasel lied and said I sped and refused to stop ; he also said that I sped three times in a circle in the parking lot and I refused to sign the ticket.

First off, if any one knew me,knows that I don’t speed. I don’t like to drive fast on the turnpike and highways. If I’m the only one on the road I have no problems. When he said I was speeding, he is full of bleep.

He was a young punk who was bored. I mean come on, go after the DUI’S and drug dealers.

At the hearing he told the magistrate that I called the police station and told them, they should not have unmarked cars… Boy he turned that around.

The magistrate ask me how did I plea? I said innocent. I was not even aloud to voice my innocence.

He said based on the police’s narrative he found me guilty and I had to pay the fine. If I wanted to appeal his decision I could.

Do I really want to be bothered and appeal? He did lie and make it seem like I was a crazy woman; It was the most expensive trail mix in history.

I decided to appeal, just because I want that young jerk– to have to take off work or have to come to the hearing on his day off.

I do love– hanging out at the court house with crooks, and lawyers.

I’ll make a day of it!

The Calm will Follow

October 25- Over 3000 homes and businesses destroyed thus far from the horrific wild fires ripping through Southern California. How frightening for a child whose home is destroyed by a fire. The terror they must feel.

Fire is a gift from the heavens from the beginning of time to bring heat and comfort from the cold. It brings peace and relaxation to camping; it brings light and tradition on a birthday cake. But in an instant it can change ones’ life forever.

It singles out one family’s home from another, like a draw of the deck. It devoirs everything it chooses in its path of destruction without remorse.

This past summer I could see the fear in my children’s eyes as they watch my neighbors home be ravage by a fire, the result of natures fiery a lightening strike from a summer’s storm; the extreme heat and power that comes from a fire can frighten the bravest. A fire destroys lives and disfigures the innocent.

A child only see the flame, and all that they held dear is gone; their security, their home.

The wild fires of California this week is not the work of nature; it was from the hand of man who took away their home without regard or remorse.

We can not blame this on the Santa Ana winds, the devils breath–
Only the devils hand.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Southern Californians; may you find peace and comfort in this frightening time.

Presidentional hopefuls

Sorry to say after a lengthy discussion with my sons on the Presidental candidates. I am forbidden to vote for Hillary; not that I was going to anyways. My son advised me she has no experience and what person in their right mind would vote for her.
The discussion also brought up the Clinton Administration and some nasty issues.
There is no way in hell I am going to vote for Hillary. The way she was humiliated and embarrassed by her husband. What kind of example did she set for women all over the world by not throwing his sorry ass out unto Pennsylvania Ave.

She is a power hungry $%! The only reason she stayed with him was for her own political gain.

Her husband smeared the Clinton name when he engaged in oral sex with Monica in the oval office corrupting the youth of this country by saying oral sex was not sex.

Hillary and Bill both made a mockery of the Presidency and they corrupted the honor and pride that goes with being the President and First Lady of the United States. It goes without saying they have no morals and integrity to be in the White House!

Ok I said what I have been thinking for many years! Look out Nancy Grace there’s a new girl in town.

Looks like candy but it’s Crystal Meth.

According to the USA DEA, spokesman Steve Robertson, Candy-flavored methamphetamine are emerging around the nation, stirring concern among police and abuse prevention experts that drug dealers are marketing the drug to younger people.

Parents , make sure your trick or treater does not eat any candy until you inspect it. I would throw out any sugary candy that resembles the candy in a pixie stick.”Drug traffickers are trying to lure in new customers, no matter what their age, by making the meth seem less dangerous,” Robertson says.

Methamphetamine, a highly addictive stimulant, is usually a white or brownish, bitter-tasting crystalline powder that dissolves in water. It is usually smoked or snorted.

Play it Safe this Halloween.
Check your local hospital to see if they are inspecting candy to make sure it’s safe, only trick or treat in neighborhoods you live and know your neighbors.

An alternative to trick or treating:
Have a costume party, with delicious treats you can make.
Older kids have a bon-fire while listening to some creepy music.

A great recipes for a Halloween treat from Paula Deen would add to your Halloween.
Easy delicious Halloween Snake to eat

1. One crescent roll spread out
2. Spread spicy mustard on crescent roll.
3. Layer ham, salami, and cheese
4. Roll up to resemble the shape of a snake, pinch closed.
5. Add cloves for the nose.
6. Paint egg whites on the snake.
7. Paint on egg whites or butter mixed with green, brown (red, yellow, orange food coloring) to add coloring to your snake.
8. Cook to golden; follow the directions on the croissant roll container for temperature.
9. Add green olives for eyes, and cut a red pepper to resemble a tongue.

Meth in kiddie’s treat bag: Another reality that life is not so sweet.

Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year. Maybe it’s the hidden witch in me, or the changing of seasons, and the brilliant colors it brings. Maybe it’s the cool, crisp weather. I don’t know, but I love autumn and Halloween.

Just about every year, me and my boys enter our local Halloween contest. In the past, we took home 1st place for the best group. I was Princess Leia, my oldest was Luke Skywalker, and my youngest was Darth Vader. We were Little Red Riding Hoods gang, Star Wars ,The Phantom Menace characters, Napoleon Dynamite, Lego’s and my youngest won the Grand Prize one year; he was Jack Sparrow from the Pirates of the Caribbean.

And Saturday Oct 20, 2007, turned out to be a fun day. We entered our local area Halloween Costume Contest again and we looked pretty good I have say. We were the Italian mob, and took home second prize for the best group.

I might add, I look better as a female. My son’s girlfriend made a lovely flapper. The boys looked dashing in their gangster attire.

I am thinking about next years costume already; maybe the Adams Family.

I always wondered were the ideas of costumes come from, so I did a little research on the subject. It turns out that dressing in costumes was to scare away evil spirits on Oct. 31; that was the day spirits of those who died throughout the year were permitted come back to possess the souls of the living, creepy stuff.

Every day you hear another story relating to the Super Bug MRSA.

Why are we seeing so much of MRSA in the media? “The news media makes this scandalous, there are a lot of misinformed people, says Dr. Jennifer E. Rudin, M.D a specialist in infectious disease from Western Pennsylvania Hospital, Forbes Regional Campus.

Rodin said, “I don’t remember ever hearing about it when I was growing up. When we were young our parents drilled into our heads to wash our hands; when we came in from playing, before we ate, things have changed, and we don’t do this anymore and we should.”

According to a study in JAMA, October 17, 2007 a serious form of MRSA has become all too common in the country. “Over 94,000 infections and about 18,650 deaths occur in one year alone in 2005, “said Dr, R. Klevens of the CDC.

Three quarters of the infections in the study were people who have been in the hospital where MRSA spreads quickly. About 14 percent were from other community sources, and the rest could not be classified. Researchers said, the results mean that 32 of ever 100,000 people were infected.

100,000 people will be affected with MRSA, 18,000 will be killed from the infection. Can it be stopped? The Mayo clinic offers advice on how to present MRSA from invading your family. Prevention is the best defense for not being casualties of the infection.

Signs and Symptoms of MRSA
Staph and MRSA usually begins with a small pump that resembles a pimple, boil or even a spider bite. They rapidly develop into a very painful abscesses with puss that needs to be drained. Sometimes the bacteria remains confined to the skin but may travel to the deep tissue, bones, and joints. Eventually if may work it’s way into major organs that could lead to death.


The causes of MRSA are man-made.
• Unnecessary antibiotic use in humans
• Antibiotics in food and water
• Germ mutation

Prevention
Good hand washing and hygiene will prevent the spread of MRSA. Keep fingers out of one’s nose. Tell you children never share any personal items with anyone, and keep cuts covered when out in public.

Every day there is a new case of MRSA in the news. As of October 18, 2007, there have been a total of three deaths this week in the country that were reported to the media; there have been a total of 104 cases in Allegheny County this month alone.

A worker at Penn Trafford High School , who did not want me to disclose his name told me yesterday, “The football players leave their practice uniforms, and pads hanging in the locker room for weeks at a time before they bring them home. You would not believe the smell in there. We can disinfect all we want, but until the kids on the football team take home their practice uniforms everyday to be cleaned it defeats the purpose.”

Who is to blame for the MRSA out- breaks– everyone.

What’s wrong with this picture?

Middle school students in Maine will be able to get birth control pills, and patches.
King Middle School approved the proposal yesterday evening. Middle school student’s grades 6 through 8 will be able to go to the nurse’s office and get them.

Would you want your middle school daughter to be able to get birth control pills without your knowledge? According to Kings, school nurse Lisa Belanger, 13 percent of Main’s middle schools are having intercourse, and these are 11 and 12 years old children.

According to the Today show, the parents are divided on the subject; seven favored and two opposed the board’s decision.

As a mother I am very concerned about their decision, and how it will affect my local school board regarding this subject in the future.

Pre-teens are having sex, who is to blame? This is the reality, and it can no longer be ignored and put on the back burner.

Who is to blame? I would have to say it’s the media, but mostly parents are to blame. Children should be told at an earlier age about sex and the consequences it brings.

I remember sitting down with my son when he was 8 to watch a tape we got at the library, on the birds and the bees. I told my sons early; a few minutes of pleasure can have a lifetime of regrets… I hope they realize it every time they want to have unprotected sex.

Mentally, and emotional these young children can not handle having sex. As an adult it’s hard to absorb emotionally, how on earth can a child can handle the emotions that sex brings?

Parents should not promote children having boyfriends, and girlfriends; they should not be dating, and going to the movies and going to each other houses and they should never be left unattended.

One particular mother I know was bragging that her 11 year had gotten a heart necklace from her boyfriend; she also told how she takes them to the movie and the mall, how they talk for hours on end on the phone. She was smiling the whole time she talked about it, and it seems she encouraged the relationship. What is wrong with her?

I never let my sons go anywhere with girls when they were 11. They can not handle the emotions. This can only harm your kids by letting them engage in sexual behavior. I realize we can’t be there all the time, but letting your kids have freedom at 11, or 12 is ridiculous.

And if they go to sleepovers, which I am totally against, know who they are sleeping with, ask questions. Don’t be afraid they won’t like you, we’re not their friends we’re their parents. Don’t wait till their 11, 12 to talk about sex; Wake up parents, middle school kids are having sex and we’re to blame!

I have to say that yesterday was a learning experience.

After a number of calls my cell phone had smoke coming from it. Finally someone could answer my question “why can’t my son write his own absence excuse.”

Some of the people I spoke with made it seem I was just a lazy mother who did not want to be bothered writing excuses any longer. That is not the case. I know what can happen if you don’t write an excuse, after three you get a fine.

I welcome dialogue with my son, it shows me he is maturing and questioning his Civil Rights.

This is exactly what should be happening with an eighteen year old. He is voicing his concerns and his rights as a new adult. We are having dialogue about his Civil Rights how fantastic is that? And he should be able to discuss this with school officials and the representatives who make these laws.

A representative from Pennsylvania Department of Education explained to me some interesting information; however, it still did not answer my question. Under Chapter 11 of Title 22 of the State Board Regulations: Student Attendance General Provisions there are different ages for students.

This is very confusing: 11.13. Compulsory school age.

Compulsory school age refers to the period of a child’s life from the time the child enters school as a beginner which may be no later than at the age of 8 years, until the age of 17 or graduation from a high school, whichever occurs first. A beginner is a child who enters a school district’s lowest elementary school grade that is above kindergarten.

§ 11.12. School age.
School age is the period of a child’s life from the earliest admission age to a school district’s kindergarten program until graduation from high school or the end of the school term in which a student reaches the age of 21 years, whichever occurs first.

Marian Clark, of the PA Department of Education, explained to me under the Public School Code of 1949 in article 13 he was not considered an adult according to school law. If the child is an emancipated minor, the resident school district is the one in which the child is then living. For purposes of this section, an emancipated minor is a person under 21 years of age who has chosen to establish a domicile apart from the continued control and support of parents or guardians. A minor living with a spouse is deemed emancipated also.

So, under school law the parent must write the excuse, since my son lives with me he is not not concidered an adult ; however, it never states that in plain English. Clark added, it depends also on what is stated in the local school board rules and regulation handbook.

While writing this, Mr. Sullivan Assistant Principal, called me and explained that it is the school board policy that states that the parent must sign an excuse because if the student lives with their parent, he is not emancipated minor. He also discussed in the event that a student writes his own early dismissal and goes to the mall and gets killed who is liable the school would be.

He did agree that he would speak with the principal and have the handbook be changed to clearly write “regardless of age a parent must write the excuse.” There you have it!

Quick note: Concerning Swastika in the halls. We have the right according to the First Amendment to express our freedom of speech; however, when that right infringes on someone else’s rights– it should be stopped! File a complaint with the Civil Rights Commission if you feel your civil rights are being violated.

With the events that happened in Columbine with Nazi-Anti Semitism and what the Swastika represents which is– HATE. This girl’s life needs to be examined and carefully regarded as a child in crisis.

I wanted to post this before I forget. Some good news and bad.According to Jennie Lowman from the Educational Law Center, a parent may excuse a child under 21 from school with a written request from a parent. That’s the bad news, the good news, according to FERDA: The Family Educational Rights Act, once a students turns eighteen years of age a parent can no longer acess his/her records!

Last night’s topic for debate at the dinner table.

Can an eighteen year old write their own excuse when they are absent from school?
You think they should, right? Who is to say? A Couple of weeks ago my son was absent from school and I forgot to give him an excuse.

When he got to school he asked his teacher why he could not write it himself , his teacher told him he was not permitted to.

Why not, he is eighteen years old; considered and adult. He is old enough to give up his life in Iraq. He can vote in November.

Why can’t he write his own excuse for being absent, or can he?

I called the school, the Department of Education, the Attorney General’s Office.

No one could give me an answer;was he being denied his Civil Rights ?

I am still waiting for a call back from the above officals. It will be interesting to find out the answer. Stay tuned.

This is the second bomb threat to a school since the shooting in Cleveland in my home town in Pittsburgh. It makes me want to ring those little jerks necks. These kids who call in the threats need to be slapped with a federal offense and have a long jail time.

Don’t they realize what they are doing when they pick up that phone and call in a bomb threat! It’s not a funny prank. It’s a serious offense.

Come on you losers who have nothing better to do than cause a panic for parents, and police, not to mention your fellow classmates.

If I was one of your classmates and you told me about your little prank, you would not be able to walk.

Do they know how many people lives they disrupt by doing this.
I hope they catch you and you have a nice, long time in jail.

These types of people have nothing better to do, or they don’t have enough to do.

October 5, 2007: Bomb Threat Made Over Bad Grade
September 28, 2007: Bomb Threat Forces Evacuations On Pitt Campus
September 27, 2007: Bomb Threat Reported At Keystone Oaks Schools
September 10, 2007: Police Investigate Another Bomb Threat At CMU
September 5, 2007: FBI Investigates CMU Bomb Threats
September 4, 2007: CMU Campus Plagued By Another Threat Via E-Mail
September 4, 2007: Threat Made At Plum High School
August 24, 2007: Bomb Threat E-Mailed To CMU Campus

Cleveland-Yesterday a fourteen year old student opened fire on his classmates, wounding four people before turning the gun on himself. Asa H. Coon threatened his fellow classmates after being suspended for fighting earlier, but no one took his threats seriously.

The very next day, I was called into the deans office, and was served papers that would put me,on probation. Because, I mentioned their school. And if I did not keep my QPA , up to a 4.00, I would not be able to get into their education program.
I refused to sign the paper. As you can see, I never finished school there.

Today the high school has camera’s, and a security system at the door, so they can see who enters the school; they have yet to get metal detectors.

Every one who reads my post know, I am far from being a holy roller; however, I realize the blessings in my life, my children, my parents, family, my good health are all blessing from God. The Legion of Mary is one way I can give thanks for all my blessings.

Disclaimer: This is by no means a political message, and it not intended to be one.