Outsourcing to India

Just read an interesting article about outsourcing to India. We all know it happens. I mean that guy named Andy on the other end of the phone is probably Andan or Anand from somewhere in India.

However, this is outsourcing of a different kind. I'm not sure what to make of it, but I figure if the women are taken care of and the babies are going to good homes, it's a win-win situation as the women will be able to take care of their families in India.

I know there's a lot of debate about the issue right now. When isn't there a debate over reproduction, adoption, or surrogacy. I still think it's worth some serious thought though.

Next Birthday Snack?

We were making deviled eggs tonight and my mother decided to add smoked salmon to them. Not quite my thing, but it's okay. Figured I just didn't have to eat more than one when they're served tomorrow.

However, in the course of making the deviled eggs, we find out tonight that the Pipsqueak LOVES smoked salmon. couldn't get over watching her shovel it into her mouth like it was candy. She likes it so much in fact, that she said she wanted to know why we didn't have it at her birthday party this year. She also said she wants it next year at her birthday party.

Yup- I can see that party. Smoked salmon to go with your juice boxes kids?

Is She Real?

The Pipsqueak is finally starting to understand the difference between real and make believe on the TV. I've made sure to let her know that things such as cartoons, or the movie "Matilda" aren't real- but are made up. Those things really don't happen.

The other day we were watching the Rachael Ray TV show. Pipsqueak turns to me and the following conversation ensues:

P: Is Rachael Ray real?
Me: Yes.
P: No, I mean is she a real person or make believe?
Me: She's a real person.
P: Is her name really Rachael Ray?
Me: Yes.
P: She really does those things?
Me: Yep.
P: You mean she really cooks on her show and does that other neat stuff?
Me: Yes.
P: Cool.

Mind you, she's been watching 30 minute meals for a few years and has always liked watching RR. In fact, she used to stand at her play kitchen and mimic the whole "Hi. I'm RR and I make, etc...."

I thought the entire conversation the other day adorable and it was great that I was again privy to how her brain works. I love it.

Let the Holidays begin!

The Pipsqueak's school musical was last night. It was performed by the 1st & 3rd graders and was about a moose named Martin that wanted to fly so he could pull Santa's sleigh.

The Pipsqueak was a reindeer. Brown shirt, jeans, and the cutest antlers plus stage makeup for the nose and cheeks.

It was a cute program and she had a blast. We went out to eat at a local place after the program and had a late supper. Nice Christmas memories... though I still wish I had a cam corder or a digital camera that took better indoor pics. I think from now on I'll switch back to the film camera for her programs. The pictures turn out a bit better.

Okay- off to the relatives tomorrow... Over the river and through the woods to auntie's house we go..... for our extended family Christmas.

Wish us luck that the weather is good and we don't have an ice or snow storm.

Wordless Wednesday

Teacher Humor

This was forwarded to me in an email.... I enjoyed it thoroughly.


This is the message that the Pacific Palisades High (School ( California) staff voted unanimously to record on their school telephone answering machine.

This is the actual answering machine Message for the school. This came about because they implemented a policy requiring students and parents to be responsible for their children's absences and missing homework.

The school and teachers are being sued by parents who want their children's failing grades changed to passing grades - even though those children were absent 15-30 times during the semester and did not complete enough schoolwork to pass their classes.

The outgoing message: "Hello! You have reached the automated answering service of your school. In order to assist you in connecting to the right staff member, please listen to all the options before making a selection:

* To lie about why your child is absent - Press 1
* To make excuses for why your child did not do his
work- Press 2
* To complain about what we do - Press 3
* To swear at staff members - Press 4
* To ask why you didn't get information that was already enclosed in your newsletter and several flyrs mailed to you - Press 5
* If you want us to raise your child - Press 6
* If you want to reach out and touch, slap or hit someone-Press 7
* To request another teacher, for the third time this year-Press 8
* To complain about bus transportation - Press 9
* To complain about school lunches - Press 0
* If you realize this is the real world and your child must be accountable and responsible for his/her own behavior, class work, homework and that it's not the teachers' fault for your child's lack of effort: Hang up and have a nice day!
*If you want this in Spanish, you must be in the wrong country.

Snow Day

No school today. The Pipsqueak is thrilled. She's hoping to play outside today with the dog in the new 8" of snow that fell yesterday and last night.

Apparently the roads have ice under the snow- thus no school today. Hopefully tomorrow will be a 2hr delay or school all day as I'm scheduled to work and need to work.

Will be checking out my car later to make sure I can get the doors open. Right now my mother's car doors are frozen shut, so I figure mine are too. Should be fun to try and unstick them.

I really don't mind the snow too much. I missed the seasons when I lived in the SouthWest and am happy to again see fall (my favorite), winter, and spring, as well as summer. I just wish frozen cars didn't come with the winter.

Think I'll head off and maybe bake some cookies- if they turn out, I'll share the recipe- before heading out to play with my kid in the snow.

Winter Fun

Oh what fun we had! A local zoo has a day each December whereby "Santa Visits the Zoo". For a nominal fee, you and the child(ren) of your choice can go and do many projects, learn about different animals that like to stay out in the cold weather, and meet the big Guy himself, not to mention one of his reindeer. Oh, there's also cookies and hot chocolate from Mrs. Clause in the local farmhouse.

The Pipsqueak got to make a cereal necklace, a paper plate filled with peanut butter and bird food, not to mention make an ornament out of an apple slice. We then hung the said objects on trees and bushes around the zoo for the local birds.

Face painting, sitting in Santa's sleigh and on his lap were also on the agenda.

However, what does my kid keep talking about?

Vincent, the Vulture. That's right folks. A blind, flightless vulture. Apparently Vincent was hit by a car a while back and lost an eye. He also had a wing shattered. Therefore, he is now a permanent zoo resident living it up on zoo chow rather than roadkill. This is what the Pipsqueak is telling everyone about. Vincent.

Not the face painting, not the bird food crafts, not the reindeer. The vulture.

Oh well, she's already used the gift she got from Santa. A pretty cool art set with paints, markers, scissors, pencil, and eraser. At least she didn't paint a picture of the vulture.

Wordless Wednesday

Must be Santa

The Pipsqueak got a phone call tonight. A very important phone call.

From Santa. That's right- Santa.

She was totally shell-shocked during most of the conversation. She did manage to tell him her two most important "wants"- a science kit and a life size candy cane.... However, the real show was after she hung up the phone.

What I wouldn't give for a camcorder (no- I STILL don't own one).

Her screams of "Santi called! Santi called! I said Merry Christmas to Santi! He really called me!" Filled the house along with squeals and much running and general merriment.

It was great.

Commercial

The Pipsqueak made a commercial tonight. While jumping on her personal sized trampoline....It goes as follows.

Hey kids!
Do you want to be cool?
Do you want to have tons of friends?
Then you need this
(she pulls her jump rope from behind her back)
Dum ta da dum…
Jump Rope!
That’s right, this princess jump rope is great.
You just put your finger on the characters and jump.
It’s good on the go and can help you be a princess, spy, or even super hero.
This jump rope is convenient- you just fold it up and take it with you for lots of never ending fun wherever you are.

She then jumped the rope quite a bit on the trampoline.

See! You can jump like never before
So give us a call to order your sparkly, wonderful, new jump rope!

Is it just me, or is it a bit scary that a seven year old knows how marketing to the masses already works?

New Christmas Carol?

The familiar version:
Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Don we now our gay apparel,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Troll the ancient Yule tide carol,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.


The Pipsqueak's version:

Deck the halls with bells of collie,
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
'Tis the season to be jolly,
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
Don we now some kids apparel
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
Trolls are ancient yultie carol
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la

Please don't ask what a bell of collie is.... I don't know. Though I do have visions of collies wearing bells while decorating long hallways. As for the yultying of carol- not sure what's up with that, but apparently some ancient trolls are involved in the nefarious scheme.

Ahhh... to be young and mispronouncing Christmas carols again.

Wordless Wednesday