After three or so re-writes I sent this:

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The definition of the word ACCEPT is to tolerate without protest.
RESPECT means to give special attention or special worth to something.

You may respect my rights as a human - as I'm sure you do of anyone else - however you do NOT respect my religion. I do not feel that you give my religious beliefs special worth or any worth/value at all. To say that you have respect for a religion by the definition of the word implies that you do.

You continue to wonder what you did wrong? Are you saying that you think my spiritual path is wrong?

In love and light,
Your Daughter

Regarding the question about your using our Lord's name is vain:
It was not a reprimand but our displeasure with you using it. In the past we may not have said anything to people using our Lord's name in vain but in the more recent years we have become more involved with our religion and we believe and hope we would say something even to a perfect stranger.

(They have never done this to me before or anyone I've been with and this was NOT the first time I've said "God damn it.")

Regarding your question about your Holidays and Masses:
After discussing our stance on your Holidays and Rituals we have come to the conclusion that we have been wrong. We should attend if invited but we would not participate in the ceremony as you suggested. We have arrived at this because some of Dad's family is Protestant and we have attended weddings and funerals in their church but did not participate in the Eucharist.

(Something nice - is that they are willing to come and see our rituals. YAY! A door!)

Regarding your question about your spiritual path:
We accept your spiritual path, as far as respecting is concerned, we respect your right to your belief but do not hold it in "high or special regard". We are not sure what you are asking in regards to holding your beliefs in "high regard" but as we have said we respect your right to your beliefs. No, we do not think twice about the thing we say about Wicca or paganism but we have mentioned that our daughters have become Wiccan when religion enters a conversation and we are questioned as to which church our daughters belong to. No, we do not point out any differences between your religion and ours as we are not familiar enough with yours. No, we do not mention that if someone is not Christioan then they are Pagan because we usually do not have discussions about religion.

We are sorry but we do not understand why the example of the two boys is in this discussion.

(Yes, my Mom HAS indeed pointed out the difference. She has said to The Princess, "Anyone who isn't Christian is Pagan." I'm not the only one who's heard this. It's clear what she meant when you read the response to a later question. And they don't respect my religion. They just accept it.)

Regarding your statement about our comments:
We are probably "harsher" with you that with a stranger because you are our daughter and we thought that we brought you up to be Roman Catholic and with your changes in religion we continue to wonder what we did wrong. We are truly sorry if our comments hurt you as much as you have indicated.

(The fact that they feel that they "did something wrong" really really hurts. And that is why they don't respect my religious beliefs because they view them as WRONG. I don't go around and view other people's religions as wrong. They're just not what I believe and I am pleased and happy when people have spirituality in their lives. It means they have a relationship with The Divine. With God! Shouldn't that be celebrated instead of wasting your time and energy in dwelling on negativity?!)

In the future we will try to learn more about your Religion and try to be more considerate but you will need to let us know if we are not respecting your beliefs. If you find it is easier to do it in an email rather than face to face that is acceptable to us.

Your loving Mom and Dad

My wife's making hand-drawn Christmas cards this year. If you want one, leave your name & address in a comment. Comments are screened.

These are my tweets from the last 24 hours. You can safely sail right past them if you don't like 'em.

• 22:49 Meet your new DJ Hero (yes, I'm a sucker for music games). DDR should have tipped you off 8 years ago. #djhero #

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Today was our first time competing in a TKD tournament. It didn't go well. For so many reasons. I'm too tired to write it all out, but it could not have gone a whole lot worse. The upside to that is we can only go up from here. :)

On the "oh, thank goodness" side of things, the boys went to a birthday party this afternoon/evening that made their day (or possibly the entire month, to listen to them talk about it :) ). And even better, thanks to online 40% off coupons for Michael's and Hobby Lobby, we made a good dent in the Christmas shopping while the boys were at the party. Ben wanted an "Aquasaurs" kit (similar to Sea Monkeys)--the catalogue he was looking at listed them at $20. They had a very similar kit for $13...with coupon, only $8. Connor really wants a Space Age Crystal kit--online, $40. We found it for $30, used the coupon and got it for just under $20. Woo hoo!

Next week we'll use the coupons to get the science kits they like for $12 (vs. $20). It's a bit of a drive, but so very worth it!

Well, I'm wiped. Off to bed.

I feel like just crawling into bed and hiding under the covers.

I know it's PMS and I know the headache is from it as well. I just took 2 Excedrin.

I have ZERO motivation and just feel all over cranky for no reason other than stupid ass hormones.

I don't like feeling this way. I'm not good company. I feel like I could fly off the handle at the slightest provocation.

I have laundry to finish and some preparation for The Flea Market tomorrow to get done but honestly, I don't feel like doing anything but crawling into bed. I know My Love will want to watch a movie or something when he returns home - but I'm afraid I'll just be either bitchy or cold and he doesn't deserve either. I love him so very much but right now ... I want to crawl into a hole until I feel myself again. I don't want to be touched. I don't want to socialize. I don't want anyone to bother me.

I hate my period.

Shake it off. Shake it off. I need to get happy before I go pick up My Love from work.

I have an hour.

*Going in search of music*

I get a phone call yesterday afternoon from Asshole telling me that he couldn't take the children Saturday because he had plans with his girlfriend. He wanted to see them Sunday. I informed him that Saturday was the day he was to see the children - we had discussed it last week. The children had plans on Sunday - they were going to the movies and The Young Prince had already invited a friend from school to go with them. So if he didn't see them Saturday then he wouldn't be seeing them at all this weekend. He said that he'd call me when he got home on Saturday. I explained that I had plans on Saturday and if he wasn't taking Visitation on Saturday then I had to find a babysitter which would probably mean my parents. He said that he could come by our house when he was done and get the children. I explained that they might not be here since I could take them to my parents' house if necessary. He left it at he'd see them next weekend.

I then rearranged my plans. I originally was going to go to the movies with my Nephew so I had to call and cancel with him. He was disappointed. I explained it was because Asshole wasn't taking the children. The Prince asked if he could have a friend from school come over to play PS3 with him on Saturday - no problem since I wasn't going anywhere. He called his friend. I spoke to his mother. We made arrangements. My Nephew called back and said that my Sister offered to watch The Prince and Princess if I still wanted to go to the movies with my Nephew. Yeah! Sure. So I called back The Prince's friend's Mom to make sure she was OK with my Sister watching her son while I was out for an hour or so. She was OK with it. We were all set.

Around 7pm I get a call from Asshole. He's coming to pick up the children after all. HA! No you aren't. I just made arrangements and The Prince has plans because you fell through. He wanted to talk to him anyway. I made sure that The Prince understood that he didn't have to cancel with his friend from school unless he wanted to. In the end he decided not to. Asshole was upset.

Too fucking bad. It really upsets me that he sees it as OK to flake out on the one day a week he plans with the children. He can see them whenever he wants but generally just sticks with the one day a week - we alternate between Saturday and Sunday - and that was at my suggestion.

Grrrr .... at least we're set.

These are my tweets from the last 24 hours. You can safely sail right past them if you don't like 'em.

• 14:20 Yet another brambleberry order... I tell you, you're all getting soap! #
• 18:21 On my way to Atlantic Ave to get a HUGE pair of NOISE-reducing headphones... #

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Started my period today. It's only day 25! Geesh.

And it's been 10 months that we've been trying. Yes, I realize it took a year to get pregnant with The Prince and almost as long for The Princess but you know ... I'm not getting any younger!

A new edition to my Wiccan/pagan library.

The Way of Four Spellbook: Working Magic With the Elements by Deborah Lipp

I can't wait to sink my teeth into it!

OOps! Big photo!
( Read more... )

$10 hat
$10 jeans
$5 bra and undies set
$4 shirt
$3 heels
(Free belt froma friend)

*My hat kept flying off in the high wind, so I had to stand there and hold it.

Does anyone know of a good free pattern (I saw a Simplicity pattern) for making a child's fabric "chain mail" coif and shirt? Or a community where people might know? (eyes corsetra )

I've had this "mail" fabric for years, and I think I might make a shirt and coif for my nephew's Christmas present.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/freedom-learn/200909/why-don-t-students-school-well-duhhhh

As a former public school music teacher, I have to agree. Montessori and several have proven the open, self-directed curriculum is the way to go.

Enjoy the quick read!

Hello cake decorating geniuses!

I have a rather peculiar question regarding Vegetable Shortening. Due to allergies that I have to work with I cannot use any vegetable shortenings that include palm oil. Unfortunately Crisco just recently added hydrogenated palm oil to their products.

Do any of you wonderful people know of a vegetable shortening that does not contain palm oil? Or any good frosting recipes that are not overly sweet, do not contain butter (I can replace milk with soy) or shortening? Working with lard in frosting is very frustrating because it makes it very sweet.

Thanks for your help!!!

In my datebook I had written Chiropractor appointment for yesterday at 10:30.

Yesterday was Veteran's Day and since they've been closed every other holiday I imagined that I wrote it on the wrong day. I called the office around 10am but no one answered the phone. It went to Voice Mail so I assumed they were closed. Wouldn't you?

So ... My Love, The Princess, The Young Prince, my Sister, her "Love", my Niece and my Dad walked down the street to where the Veteran's Day Parade would be going since my Nephew was marching. He is ROTC. He looks so handsome in his uniform. He's such a great kid. Seriously.

After that My Love and Dad took his pick-up and headed out to oweemytoe's place to pick up a loveseat and TV. While the girls played upstairs. My Sister's "Love" went to pick up my Nephew from the school where he ended after the parade. My Sister and her "Love" went to his place. My Nephew stayed here to hang out with The Young Prince.

Around 3pm my Chiropractor called. They wanted to know where I was because I missed my appointment that morning. Do I want to come in now? Uh. No. I mentioned that I thought the office was closed because no one answered the phone and ... umm ... it was a holiday and they were closed all the other ones. Well, yeah. This was the only holiday they were opened. Huh. OK. Well, I won't be coming in. I guess I'll go in on Friday morning at 10:30.

Sounds good. See you Friday.

Thing is ... my lower back is starting to hurt again and my shoulder isn't feeling great. I'm afraid that since I've stopped the three times a week it's just going to get worse again. But I honestly cannot afford 3 times a week for 12 more weeks. Each visit is $40.00.

*sigh*

What books are you using for world history for older children and teens? We have already gone through the Usborne World History Encyclopedia, and we don't like Story of the World. We strongly prefer a secular perspective.

My son is almost 12, reading at a college level, and we will be using DK's Visual History of the World (written for adults). I'd like to get at least one or two other main sources so we can compare and contrast what the different books tell us.

Any ideas?

A few weeks ago, many of you gave me terrific ideas for making 'ho ho like icing' for my friends baby shower. The cake came out ok. Everyone seemed to love it but I am to hard on myself and say only the imperfections. That's what happens when you give yourself 6 hours for baking, cooling, icing, going out to buy more ingredients, baking, cooling, icing, covering with fondant and decorating..... all in one night when you are sick. :)

Any tips or techniques would be appreciated.

This is the candy wrapper the cake was designed around



( Actual cake, under the cut )

Hello all you marvelous cake decoraters! I've been an avid reader/lurker of the community for the longest time and am constantly in awe of the amazing cakes that you all create.

I am looking to learn/self teach cake decorating and my partner is willing to buy me some tools/supplies to help me get started. I've looked on various websites and I see that Wilton tools/accessories are a common theme. Are they worth the money?

Basically, what do you think are the most necessary items to get started? What are the tools you can't live without?

I live in Perth, Australia and haven't seen many shops so I think I would be ordering online.

Any advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!