And somehow I ended up with a dog...

I'm embarrassed that it's been over a month since my last post, but sometimes life has a way of interfering with fun.

The past couple of months have just been insane with work, transportation and health woes, kid troubles, etc. I started a new job that has been kicking my butt -- going to work before daylight and coming home after dark, with barely enough time to eat, shower, lay out my clothes for the next and start the process all over again. I've been averaging about 3-4 hrs sleep a night, so I'm pretty tired when I get home and not much into posting. I have been reading your blogs, though, just haven't had much energy for commenting.

Anyhoodles, in the midst of all this, my daughter came home one day announcing that we now have a new addition to the family: Kali--a 13-yr old, asthmatic, arthritic Shih Tzu with about four crooked teeth.

How could I turn her away? We're soul mates.

Top 10 Best Places to Work

You know, you've heard me say it before, I want to start my own company. I want to give those new writers a place to shine, a place to be seen, read and heard. I want to give part of the profits to organizations that help make the world a better place - yes, I want to do all of that.

There's another humanitarian goal that spurs me as well - you see, I want to give people the benefits they really need, as well as support working mothers and single parents in ways that are real and lasting. So, I decided that when I do have my own business (and have it I shall) I will offer not just the usual holiday/sick day package, but also:

5 wellness days

10 sick child days

10 no baby/pet sitter days

15 mental health days

20 bad hair days (aka "call in ugly" days)

24 nothing to wear/no clean clothes/everything needs ironed/even my fat pants don't fit days

These are the things, my friends, that the working mom really needs. I could have called in ugly today.

The Question Unasked

Susan had an interesting blog today about what constitutes a criminally negligent parent. It made me think about something that has been bothering since I first heard about the little British girl who was kidnapped in Portugal.

When I saw it, the question that immediately sprang to mind was, "What the HELL were they thinking?"

As I heard, and later read, the parents left their three year old daughter alone in a room in a foreign country, while they went out to eat and she subsequently disappeared.

Now they have the whole world offering rewards for her return and they've even met with the pope for consolation. Yet nowhere have I seen that question raised - why in the world would they have left a small child alone like that? She was asleep and they were hungry? For crying out loud, one of you go get something and bring it back while the other watches the kids!

I, too, hope she is returned safe and sound. But while everyone is pouring their hearts out to these parents, shouldn't they also ask them what the hell were they thinking? It's illegal in this country to leave a child alone before they reach 14 years of age. Parent who do so, and are found out, are generally charged with child endangerment and neglect, sometimes they even lose custody if it's bad enough.

Maybe I'm being harsh and judgemental, but I think those parents are partially responsible for what happened and should also be held accountable.

I'm not a perfect parent either, but this (and the case Susan blogged about) are just two more reminders that "common sense" is not common at all.

Ok, I'm done ranting now. Just had to get that off my chest before I pack up my computer.

Have a great June, people.

The Monkeys Want Cheeseburgers

Dreamt of herding hungry monkeys. It was not nearly as difficult as trying to raise a pretty, hormonal fourteen year old girl in a time and place where blow jobs are considered on par with holding hands. They don't count, dontcha know. (Thank you, Mr. Clinton.)

My daughter and one of her lost soul friends are here tonight getting ready for a couple of "hot, hot, HOT" boys to come over to "hang out." (I'll be here the entire time. Loaded gun not optional.)

The three of us just had a long, very open talk about how "badly" they "want" these boys. I suggested they masturbate when they shower to get it out of their systems before the guys show up. (Yes, I really did.) They took that suggestion with varying degrees of humor and horror. The saddest part, though, was after some while of discussing STDs, birth control, self respect, etc. her friend admitted that "sex wasn't really that great." She's been at it for a couple of years. She's also fourteen.

God help us.