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This post is from from my other blog here So I have this fabulous job that I returned to full time this week (second best job in the world) and have an amazingly wonderful team (three of us) to work with and, though I’d always rather live a life of leisure, I love it. However, blogging? It suffers. I have eleven posts started and zero posts finished. And some amazing news about another blogger that I can hardly wait to share with you but I can’t just yet and I have to wait for the go ahead so it could be a while. I have hundreds of pictures on my camera waiting to be uploaded (my summer swap, my new hair and more - try to contain your excitement) but I just haven’t had time. Now I have to go wake the poor boy (formerly known as something else but now just “the boy” due to crazy freaky completely insane stalker types. Also the reason much of my archives are now gone.) up to give him breakfast before he goes to play with his friends at the HSBS’ house.
Leah’s back! I have had presents for her kids in my dining room for 2 months, and moved them to the dining room of this house. My kids throws them on the floor and opens them multiple times a day and they’re beginning to show wear before their owners have even seen them. Go pester Leah and tell her to come visit me, would ya? After all, I have to work and she lives the true life of leisure. 
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This post is from from my other blog here We don’t have a ton of options for organics in our small city, but we do have one huge organic farm with meat and produce available all year long. All local, all non-carcinogenic. Gotta love it.
But there’s one problem. The owners and everyone there are complete religious freaks. I mean seriously freaky. Not just normal religious, but pervasively and scarily extremist religious.
Their newsletter, presumably intended to promote their business, contains shit like this:
The Muslim Incident
Who can help but hear about the great world conflict between Jews and nominal Christians on the one hand (not to mention other religions) and Islam on the other? Many Westerners who naïvely think Islam can coexist in harmony with Christianity are not aware that Islam directly contradicts the Bible and foundational, essential tenets of Christianity.
For example, while Jesus Christ declared Himself the Son of God, Islam, by its prophet, Muhammad, declares that God has no son. In the Dome of the Rock, which has been established by Muslims on the Jewish Temple site in Jerusalem since the 7th century, A. D., is a plaque that simply says, “God has no son.” Islam declares that Jesus Christ was merely a prophet and not the Son of God, essentially calling Jesus Christ a liar.
Furthermore, Islam, according to the Koran, ultimately gives infidels (non-Muslims) three choices: be a Muslim, be a slave to a Muslim, or don’t be at all. The majority of people are not aware of this.
I bring this topic up because on July 22nd, three young Muslim men entered our store, briefly browsed, picked up our website card and asked, “What is this?” (This never happens, causing us to suspect the event was predetermined. On our site is an extensive section refuting the claims of Islam and exposing its pathologically violent nature.) Paul Cohen happened to be there, and answered that it is a spiritual website. He then asked them if they had red the Bible. The enquiring one defiantly declared that they do not read the Bible because they are Muslim. Paul told them that the Bible is a record of Jesus Christ, the Son of God Who came to give His life for mankind that we might have life.
Another replied to him that they do not believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, but the Koran says He is a prophet. Paul said that John the Baptist, whom Jesus called the greatest prophet born of a woman, said that he was unworthy to unlatch Jesus’ sandal. Obviously Jesus Christ is more than a prophet.
Paul was not rude or intentionally threatening in any way. He and Ingrid observed the men to be defiant, dismissive, angry, and with an air of arrogance and threat. They hurriedly left the store, declaring, “Allah Akbar” (”Allah is great”), disrespectfully leaving the door open behind them.
I say Canada along with the West has a huge and deadly problem within its borders. One need only consider but a few of many horrific events - the Twin Towers, the London bombings and arrests of homegrown, intelligent, educated Muslims, several of them medical doctors, the arrests in Canada of Muslims seeking to kill Stephen Harper and bomb the House of Commons, the Spanish bombings, the riots in Paris, the constant onslaught against Israel, Taliban oppression and tyranny in Afghanistan, hundreds of suicide bombings and beheadings, the burning of churches and killing of thousands of nominal Christians throughout Africa and Asia (news suppressed but available on the net from reputable organizations); the list goes on and on. “Extremists only,” you say? Hardly. Read the Koran.
We have the Star of David flying at Harvest Haven, the Israeli flag, which we fly in amity with Israel, acknowledging the physical, as well as the spiritual, Israel (true, born again Christians) to be the chosen of God. It is no secret that many Muslims are not only in direct conflict with Israel, but seek the complete annihilation of that nation. They tried to destroy it in 1948, 1956, 1967, 1973, and in a war of attrition since then. We are not naïve as to the implications of showing our solidarity with Israel.
Consider that while I can speak freely about or against many things, Canada as a whole has lost its freedom of religion and speech, particularly when it comes to speaking about Islam. Who can argue with the fact that our lives are in danger? Tell me knowledgeable people are not afraid. For those of you who think to safely ignore and avoid these issues, think again. The evidence is all around you, thickening and increasing.
Is Islam a religion of peace as claimed? Read the Koran and see for yourself, and see that you are already very involved, whether you know it or not, like it or not. At our site, www.thepathoftruth.com, read from the Islam section. And know this: The Muslims are not here for nothing. They are not primarily the problem; we and our sins are. See how; read The Muslim Scourge.
Face it folks; unless your religion and speech are meaningless chatter, a bland diet for the weakest, a threat to nobody and of no value to anybody, you have lost your freedom of speech and religion, if it ever existed, and it has, relatively speaking, compared to its status today with the Muslim reality now establishing itself in our midst.
Am I guilty of religious intolerance or discrimination? I will not refuse a Muslim or anyone else any right or any thing that is coming to him or her, as to all others, whether it be service, goods, or whatever. If that person’s religion, however, teaches religious and human intolerance in the name of Islam or Muhammad or Allah (which the Koran does) or any other name, then we have a problem because our laws, which are meant to safeguard freedom of religion and speech, are found to be accomplishing the opposite, protecting the religious rights of those whose goal it is to coerce all others into a belief and submission against their conscience. Islam does not believe in religious freedom except for Islam, and its ultimate solution is certainly not a peaceful one toward other religions. Again, read the Koran for evidence in their own religious “holy” book!
and this:
god gives trevor a wife
In February of 1998, the Lord notified Trevor that He was arranging a wife for him. As many of you may know, Trevor and Ingrid were married July 22nd. Leading up to this event, there had been peculiar timings tied in with prophecy. If you are interested to know more, ask Trevor and Ingrid, who are willing to talk about these things.
They waited through four years of engagement, not for nothing. There were many spiritual, personal and relational issues dealt with, wherein the foundation was laid to ensure strength and stability throughout their marriage, the benefit of which is for them and for us all. It is not good to rush, and very good to be patient.
So, I ask you this. If you’re a semi-hippie organic parent trying to keep cancer out of your family, would you rather buy local and ignore the idiotic morons selling it or go to the major chain and get the stuff that’s flown or driven in and not always available.
And if you feel like getting into it, what do you think of the lovely “tolerant Christian” message put forth by these farm folk?
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This post is from from my other blog here I’m a size 9. Used to be an 8, but then my arches fell and I had a baby and I’ll never be an 8 again.
Seriously though - I’m talking about my footprint on the earth. It’s something of which I wasn’t really overly conscious until the moment we started to think about conceiving the boy.
We have a very long way to go but we’re certainly doing our best. Though I really do try not to judge other people, it doesn’t usually work. Quite frankly, it pisses me off when people do things that are hurting the world that my babies and grandbabies (God willing) will be living in.
When it comes to the 3 R’s, we’re good at the recycling one, mediocre at the reuse one but not so good at the reduce one.
We:
-recycle everything that we can within our city’s very crappy recycling program (meaning we throw out all styrofoam or I try to use it in school craft projects).
-have switched to an in-home water purifier and stainless steel bottles (love them - whole ‘nother post) reducing the amount of plastic we use.
-reuse plastic grocery bags. I have organic hemp shopping bags but I use them mostly for the market because I need the grocery bags for cat litter and stinky baby poo.
-used a lot of cloth diapers until we started packing for the move. They’re still packed and we’re in 100% disposables. Truthfully, I only have 2 or 3 that would fit the boy now (he’s in size 5 Pampers) so that would mean washing more than once a day. When we’re potty training, I’ll probably do it (or just boxers or whatever) but for the next few months of working full time and then having a baby I’m letting laziness win. I feel slightly bad but, like I said, I’m lazy.
-fill our large garbage bin many weeks, which tells me (a) our city needs a better recycling program (b) I should compost but I don’t know if I ever will and (c) We make too much waste. I’m not sure why, but I fill the kitchen garbage can at least once a day when I’m home. I really need to work on that one.
-use those energy friendly twisty light bulbs. What are they called again?
- eat organic. Nearly 95-100% of our dairy and the boy’s food is organic. We adults eat some that’s not but we live in a place where not everything is available in organics. We try. Cancer sucks, and we do what we can.
-use organic & natural body care products (lotions, shampoos etc) and try to keep all chemicals out of our water system.
-use only vinegar & thymol (from Nature Clean - fabulous) for cleaning and use organic and/or natural detergents and soaps. Seventh Generation and Nature Clean are my two faves.
-don’t shop at Walm**t whenever possible or buy (many) toys that are made in China.
-support small & local businesses whenever possible.
-drive too much and use too much gas. A busy schedule does that to a person.
-drive the most energy efficient mommyvan on the market.
-use blinds & windows to regulate the temperature of our house when possible, but we do rely heavily on central air. I’m a heat wimp and I hate melting.
and we probably do more, both good and bad, that aren’t coming to me at the moment.
MY ECP SCORE IS: 241
MY CARBON OUTPUT IS: 6.6 TONS PER YEAR
I don’t know if that’s good or bad, but it is what it is and I’m going to try and lower it over the next year.
You can get your numbers here with a simple quiz and I hope you’ll join me in my quest to lower the impact we all have. It’s for our kids’ sake.
What’s your footprint like? Can you make it smaller? Will you try?
Do you even care? If you’re a parent, what’s your guilt level like if you don’t?
Just curious. Not judging - I promise.
(Yes, my fingers are crossed behind my back. I’m mature like that. You know I love you, right?)
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This post is from from my other blog here Sure, it sounds like I’m a spoiled brat. And I am - kind of. I think it’s important to get what you want when you can, don’t you? I mean, really, as long as our basic needs are met we don’t really need anything else, but I prefer a lifestyle of getting what I want without going into debt. As in, the cheap version of what I’d really like to have.
Before we moved, we sold and gave away a lot of things that we didn’t think needed to come with us. The big screen TV (buying new & bigger for this place), the washer & dryer (got a set with this house), the table (it sucked - getting a new one) and the water cooler (have a purifier here). Less to move makes everyone happy.
Yesterday, after we finally got the painfully small cheque that’s remaining from the sale of our old house, we went out to buy a new table. Our criteria were…dark wood - preferably espresso stain, 6 chairs and at least 1 leaf. We found a few but the best one was a Leon’s. It was the best because it was the last one so it was on clearance. No warranty, no nothing - but it was cheap. We went to a few other stores to compare and ended up back at Leon’s.
Backing up a bit. The first time we were in there, we were bombarded by a commissioned male sales person who actually said something to the effect of “Can you please take my card because we’re not paid by the hour.”
If you know me, you know I HATE commissioned sales for the most part but good salespeople don’t give away that they’re on commission and just give great service without being annoying little parasites. This guy would not leave. He was stuck to my ass like gum from the bleachers. So, when I went back in by myself (the BG and the boy waited in the van because I’m the shopper among us and the boy was SO ready to get home) I went to another girl and tried to buy it on the sly. The original sales person, let’s call him “Brad” for the sake of the story (and because that’s his name so Shirley just wouldn’t work), comes running over…”Here I am! Here I am!” I grimace grin and try not to show my annoyance.
Me: Hi again. I’m going to buy that table.
“Brad”: Oh great! (Barely containing his giddiness.)
Me: Is delivery included?
(Note: Leon’s offers free delivery on everything but clearance items. I knew that, but like the title of this post says…)
“Brad”: No, it’s not.
Me: Well, how much is it?
“Brad”: It’s $79.
Me: Okay, never mind then.
At this point, me and my weekend flip flops start walking quickly out of the store.
“Brad”: Wait! I can see if I can get the charge waived!
Me: Okay. If it’s waived, you’ve made a sale. If it’s not waived or just reduced, I’m off to Ashley Furniture to buy the other one we like.
(Note: I would not buy from Ashley furniture because their salespeople are like barnacles on parasites. Hate is not a strong enough word. Why do they not train people to say “Hi! Can I help you find something” No? Okay, just let me know if I can help you.” And then WALK THE HELL AWAY!)
“Brad”: I have to ask my manager. They have policies and I have no say in them.
Me: Alrighty then.
“Brad” coming out from the back room: It’s waived!
Me: Then you’ve made a sale. Congratulations.
Brad puts a sold sign on the table…blah, blah, blah…reminds me that there’s no warranty, no return, no exchange etc…
Me: Yep, that’s fine. But if it’s not in this condition when it’s delivered I’ll be pissed and you and a whole lot of other people will know it and I will get my money back or have it repaired free of charge.
“Brad”: Just call if anything happens ma’am. The delivery guys are usually pretty good but nobody’s perfect.
Me: I will definitely call if something happens. You understand by now that I always get what I want, don’t you.
“Brad”: Yes ma’am. I sure do!
So, the lessons I’d like to leave you with today are…
1. You CAN get a better deal if you feel like you deserve it. Particularly if your salesperson is on commission and desperate to make a sale. If you can’t, walk away. Chances are, they’ll chase you. If they don’t, take your hard earned money elsewhere.
2. If you are a salesperson in a retail store, commissioned or not, greet everyone who comes in to your store within 1 minute. Greet them with a simple “Hello! Is there anything I can help you find?” If yes, then go for it but be very aware of body language and verbal cues to go away. If no, then say something like “My name is Brad - just let me know if there’s anything I can do for you. Happy shopping!” Or whatever. Essentially, you MUST acknowledge their entrance to your store, and you MUST go the hell away immediately if they don’t ask for your help. Got it? Good. Then, if they leave without buying something, smile and say “Thanks for coming in!” or “Have a great day!” or “See you again soon!” or something with a smile. It’s not difficult, people. If you are annoying, you will not get any of my money ever, even if you’re the only one that carries what I want. I’ll drive 2 hours to the next closest city and give my money to someone less annoying.
I’m not usually rude (and I really wasn’t rude to “Brad” either - just snarky with a smile and I think he liked the challenge) and you don’t have to be to get what you want. But I sure can be when necessary. Especially when I’m pregnant or hormonal. And I will always go to the higher up person if I feel it’s necessary, right to the CEO or owner if it’s called for.
At the other end of the spectrum, I have been known to call and email higher ups to ensure that people who give good customer service and are incredibly un-annoying are recognized for it, and to send thank you notes to people who really make an impact.
What have your shopping experiences been like lately?
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This post is from from my other blog here This is a Mother-Talk book review.
 Flirting In Cars is a new novel by Alisa Kwitney. (I’m not sure why but I have a very hard time saying her name, even in my head.) At first glance, it’s a cheesy love story of the kind that I’d never read. But truthfully? I read it in two days while parenting a toddler, which means it was really damn good for a love story! Definitely still chick-lit, but with the main character being in her 40’s and strikingly “normal” it’s very readable chick-lit.
It’s the story of a Jewish mother & daughter, Zoe & Maya, who move to the country so Maya can attend a school that caters to learning disabilities. They think they’re going for just a year to catch Maya up to grade level and then moving back to Manhattan as quickly as they left. Zoe, being a stereotypical Manhattanite, doesn’t drive or cook and feels very isolated in what sounds to me like a country paradise and struggles with the open spaces, isolation and feeling generally out of her element. The book takes you on an emotional roller coaster as Maya loves her school & Zoe falls in love with a “local yokel.” The eclectic mix of town and city-folk is rather entertaining, and the way that Kwitney describes the interactions between them made me feel as if I was there (and I actually wanted to be there, living in her amazing rented house).
Flirting In Cars would make a great summer read for anyone who is beyond the classic romance novel but secretly still yearns for a good love story. And really, don’t we all?
I’m giving away a copy of this book. Leave a comment on this post or email me at muchmorethanamom at gmail dot com (just put the book title in the subject line) by midnight MST on Aug 24/07 to enter! You must leave a valid email address to be entered but you do not have to have a blog. One winner will be randomly selected from all comments and email entries using random.org. (Incidentally, that’s the site we use for all of the T.O.P. contest draws, in case you were wondering.)
Congratulations to (blogless) Liane Murdoch of Tillamook, Oregon!
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This post is from from my other blog here That’s the number of unread posts in my bloglines. Ugh. I’m going to read them tonight, but won’t be leaving any comments. Sorry - I just can’t. I’m sure you understand.
More deets on the move coming soon. We’re in. We’re swimming in boxes. We have a fantabulous new bed that makes it all worthwhile. We have amazing friends without whom we certainly would have died this weekend. My mom brought mega food to feed all the movers and we’re still eating it because I really need a major grocery shop. Thank God for moms.
Internet is back, and therefore all is well with the world.
Need sleep.
Mwah!
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This post is from from my other blog here As of today we’re pretty much in & out until Saturday night when we finally get to sleep in our new bed! So, that means I probably won’t be blogging until next week whenever I have a connection and drag my laptop out of the sea of boxes. Thanks to everyone who sent guest posts for T.O.P. Watch for them over there!
I am bubbling with excitement so I had to come on and tell you all the I just found out the boy’s able to go to the “Babysitter From Heaven” in the fall! Yay! I have absolutely NO issue with going back to work now because he likes it there just as much as he does with us. He loves her (as do we), loves his little friends and is incredibly well cared for and adored by everyone. What a relief.
Happy weekend! (albeit a little early…)
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This post is from from my other blog here This weekend, I finally figured out how to code this:
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