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Friday, July 31, 2009

Dear So and So... Stayin Alive

Dear KiKi,

I know it is my fault that you went to sleep last night at 6pm. I should have kept you awake or woke you up after an hour, but the quiet was nice. However, when you woke up at 3am. That was not nice. Not. Nice. At. All. Trying to get you to understand that it was still night night time, was not fun. So after 45 min, yes, I caved. I proceeded to drag two pillows and blankets (one set for each of us) out to the living room and turn on Looney Tunes for you to watch. Thanks for actually sitting there and watching and not causing chaos so I could snooze on the couch.

Love, Mom
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Dear Looney Tunes,

Thanks for being on at 3:45 in the morning. Seriously.

In Your Debt, Kat
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Dear Melissa,

Thanks for the award. It is also really weird that our cats look exactly alike. Of course your cat probably isn't as ill tempered as POW Sam Kitty.


Thanks a bunch, Kat

Passing this along to:
3. Jess
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Dear LaLa,

Sometimes the things you say are off the wall. The other night when you said, "I am gonna eat this chicken leg like a hungry cow," I about died with laughter. Meatetarian cows! *chuckle*

Still laughing, Mom
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Dear Reader,

Grab the button, write your own Dear So and So and link up with Mr. Linky! Thanks for making my blogoversary so very special. You guys are great!

Love, Kat
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Thursday, July 30, 2009

Cuppa Tea?

Ok, I admit it. I don't get it. Yes, I like a good cuppa from time to time. I can't drink tea when I am hot though. It defeats the point of having something to drink. I could go with a big ol glass of iced sweet tea though. Another thing I can't get my head around? Offering a cuppa to the repair men who come to your house. Aren't they supposed to ya know, repairing?

I am surrounded by 3 neighbors. Two of these neighbors are British. The other is a retired American guy who has an Irish wife. When repairmen come to any of these houses, I see the repairmen wandering from the house to the backs of their work vans with cups of tea (sometimes on saucers). Aren't they supposed to be working? Not taking tea breaks on your dime? Is it for better service? Shouldn't they fix your roof, pipes, electrical, etc. up to a certain standard whether or not you offer him a cuppa?

Now, before you think I am a heartless person; I do offer repairmen water if it is a hot day outside or coffee if it is cold. I just don't understand the tea breaks. Should I be offering?

Oh- a note to any repairman who comes to The Bungalow. You might want to make your own. I'll put the kettle on, but you might want to finish it up. Well unless you like your tea very strong with entirely too much sugar and a splash of milk.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

RTT- Blogoversary

It is Tuesday and my Blogoversary! I can't believe I have been doing this for a year already! If you want to play along with Random Tuesday Thoughts head over to Keely's place and grab the button!

randomtuesday

So I was thinking back about the last year in of blogging and I have come up with the following random thoughts.

-I have met some amazing people.
-I have read some amazing stories.
- You guys have made me laugh and cry.
- I have seen my blog grow from just a little blog with maybe one commenter to a little blog where I can count on a couple of pithy comments to make me laugh.
- I have publicly embarrassed myself on numerous occasions, but that is ok, because I know most of you guys will laugh with me instead of at me.
- I love all of you guys.

Now, onto the business at hand. My Blogoversary Giveaway that was so graciously sponsored by The Diaper Bag Diva. I ended up with a ton of entries and I am so excited to announce the winners. So without further ado; the winners are...


Brittany and Miss Grace! I will get in touch and let you know how to claim your gifts!

Brittany has won the $40 item from The Diaper Bag Diva.

Miss Grace has won the beautiful teacup from me!

Monday, July 27, 2009

I Should Not Be Allowed To Do This In Public

Bowling. Most people can get a decent score. I am not one of those people. On Friday night The Man and I decided that we needed to get the girls out of the house. Our options bowling, or ummmmm bowling. There isn't much to do around here on a Friday evening without planning ahead, so it was bowling. I knew it wasn't going to go well. I even tweeted and updated my facebook status about my impending doom.

First frame, two gutter balls. Hey, we're just starting, it could happen to anyone. Right? Second frame. I hit one pin. Third frame. I hit four pins on the first go and gutter balled it on the second one. So let me get this straight, after three frames I had hit down 5 pins. Five. I had to tweet about it. Then I got responses about putting bumpers up. Smartasses, I'll show them!

Ok, so I didn't show them. I bowled a 45. Not only did I bowl a 45, but it was witnessed by 4 other guys from my husbands shop who had come into the bowling alley for dinner. Oh and LaLa? She bowled a 95. My five year old daughter beat me by 50 pins. This is why I should not be allowed to do this in public.

Plus side? I didn't have to cook dinner.
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Don't forget tomorrow is when I am gonna announce the winners of my Blogoversary Giveaway. Good luck to all those who entered!

Friday, July 24, 2009

Dear So and So... Still Half Asleep

Dear Water Company,

How the hell does my water bill triple? Then when I call you, you tell me that the amount of water I have used between Dec and June was enough for a year. Obviously there is a mistake. We don't use an obscene amount of water. Oh, and when I went to check the meter, the meter was under water because of a bit of rain. Could that affect the reading?

Severely disgruntled, Kat
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Dear LaLa,

I really hope this chore chart works for you. I hope it teaches you a bit of responsibility. And for goodness sake I hope it helps keep your bedroom clean, or I am gonna lose my mind.

Love, Mom
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Dear Diet Dr. Pepper,

Nectar of sweet sweet life. You have officially become my #2 girl, right behind "My Precious" aka Cherry Coke Zero. What you don't make up for in taste, you make up for in availability. Yes, I just called you easy. Get over it.

Smooches, Kat
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Dear Breath Right Strips,

I can't believe you actually work. Of course, I can't find the one I put on my nose last night. It is probably somewhere in the bed. I should go hunt that thing down.

Unstopped, Kat
---------------------------

Dear Whoever Suggested Melatonin For Getting To Sleep.

Thank you. Seriously, thank you.

Lovin' My Sleep, Kat
--------------------------

Dear Readers,

Don't forget, tomorrow is the last day to enter my Blogoversary Giveaway! The prize is a $40 item from The Diaper Bag Diva. Second place gets a really neat-o teacup from moi. See my Blogoversary post for the ways to enter. Tomorrow is the last day to enter, so hurry up!

If you participated in Dear So and So... leave you link with Mr. Linky. You really should participate by the way, it is extremely cathartic and a great way to start off the weekend.

TTFN, Kat
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Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Monday, July 20, 2009

RTT- 6 Weeks and Counting

It's Tuesday Morning. Now lets see if I can knock these cobwebs out of my brain, try to form coherent sentences and get some of these thoughts of mine out of my head and out onto the Internet. You know, cause the Internet needs a bit more crazy. You can head over to Keely's place grab the button and play along if you like.

randomtuesday

If yesterday was any indication of how the next six weeks of the summer holidays are gonna go, I want a raincheck. LaLa refused to listen to me, wouldn't clean up after herself, threw a tantrum at dinner time, and was generally a whining terror. She ended up getting her TV and V-smile (educational video game system) confiscated by The Man. Now, if that isn't a crap start to the next six weeks, I don't know what is.

My 10 year high school reunion was this past weekend. I obviously didn't get to go, but after some of the Facebook messages I saw, I am kind of glad I didn't. Apparently some people had a good time, but then I saw one message that reminded me why I hated HS. There were a couple of the "popular" boys who were talking about the absence of the "school nerd" and then they were laughing about how they "didn't get a chance to steal his backpack" Ugh, good riddance. Some people never grow up.

However, due to the group started on Facebook to gather everyone for the reunion I did get back into contact with a few good friends from HS. It would have been nice to have seen them, but most of them didn't attend the reunion either.

Once again it is raining in England (surprise, surprise), so I am going to have to figure out something to do with the girls today. Any ideas? Maybe building a fort?

I gave Elizabeth a bath yesterday, now she smells like roses, not like a rubbish bin. Thank goodness for scented doggy shampoo.

Speaking of Elizabeast, I tapped the Dog Whisperer last night so that I can video her going batshit crazy and attacking the TV. She is gonna be an interwebz star.

OK, I know I have been a slacker lately when it comes to commenting on other blogs, but I promise I am going to try to do better. I might get to it later at night, so if my comments are a little, ummm, incoherent (heh, I used that word twice in one post), then just take into account that by 8pm my brain is fried and I am usually sitting here watching House, Bones, CSI, or Sex and the City; not blogging in the evenings. Take pity on me.

Alright I think that is enough of my drivel for now. Now get the button and play along yourself. It is cathartic.

Rockin Out

Friday, July 17, 2009

Dear So and So... Road Rage Edition

Dear Drivers,

I had to learn the rules to drive in this country; I suggest you do the same. I am talking to BOTH the British and American drivers here.

Tired of Almost Getting Hit By People Not Paying Attention,
Kat
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Dear People in The Arc Car Park,

I drive a BIG ORANGE SUBURBAN ASSAULT VEHICLE (0k it isn't really HUGE, but it is big enough to see). Surely you can see me. BIG and ORANGE does not mean target; it means avoid me at all costs. Slamming your breaks as you almost broadside my car? Not cool. Oh and drive on your side of the road. I mean I seem to be able to do it and I am American.

Just Sayin,
Kat
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Dear Other American Drivers,

When a car park is almost completely full and you drive a large vehicle, the appropriate parking space to take is not the one next to the other SUVs. The appropriate space is between the Ford Ka and the Mini Cooper.

Can't Open My Drivers Side Door,
Kat
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Dear Lizabeast,

When I ask KiKi to get out of my lap, that doesn't mean it is your turn.

Love Your Human MaMa,
Kat
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Dear Summer Holidays,

6 weeks? Can we bargain? Can we shorten you up? 4 weeks? No? Just checking.

Hoping My Kids Don't Destroy The House From The Inside Out,
Kat
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Dear Readers,

Grab the button from my side bar and play along. Don't forget to leave your link with Mr. Linky so we can all enjoy the letter writing love. Also, if you have not entered my blogoversary giveaway, go here to enter!

Love,
Kat
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Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Anglophiles

When I was growing up, history, especially British history (Russian history came in a close second) fascinated me. The Kings and Queens, lines of succession, the customs, the pagentry, the castles, I wanted to know about it all. I had an old book from the 60s or 70s that listed the British Monarchs and gave details about each of their reigns. I read it cover to cover more than once. I did a research paper in 10th grade about Elenore of Aquitaine and was immediately smitten by her. Then I delved into more recent history, Churchill, Thatcher. Oh and Monty Python and Black Adder? Of course! I was a complete Anglophile.

When my husband entered the Air Force the one thing I was excited about, other than his actual job, was that we would be able to travel. The first place I wanted to go? England. Then in February of last year, after five years in Missouri, we got notice that we were headed to England. I was on cloud nine. I was finally getting my wish. It was destiny.

Now that I actually live here, yes, I love it. It however was not a seamless transition. In fact I still have moments where I question what the hell I was thinking when I thought THIS was a good idea. The simplest thing all of a sudden became a chore. Then you learn the system and how things are done and the chore becomes less of a chore. You learn to combine your shopping trips, find the shops that are the closest together, and make a day of your shopping experience. If you don't want crowds, you learn to avoid market days. If you are looking for a bargain, you actively seek market days. A whole bowl of plums for a £1, yes please.

I am still getting used to the hot and cold water taps, the lack of a "proper" flush handle on toilets, the small fridge and a few other quirks. And I am certain that when I go back to the States I am gonna be grabbing into thin air looking for the pull cord for the lights in the bathroom. However, I would not change this experience. For every rough time, I have had a good time. I have also made some awesome friends through this experience.

So Anglophiles beware, if you have thoughts about moving to the UK, know it might not live up to your expectations. It might throw you some curve balls. You might question your sanity. But where else in the world could you see all this on a regular basis?





But just remember, when you move here, you also have to learn how to drive all over again.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

RTT- Insomnia Anyone

OMG it 9:30 AM and I am already roasting inside my house! Oh, yeah and it is Tuesday so that means that it is time for Random Tuesday Thoughts. If you haven't been here before, that means that I am about to dump my mental garbage into the internet for your enjoyment. Head over to Keely's Place, grab the button and play along if you like.

randomtuesday


It looks like KiKi might get wait listed for Nursery School. Gonna look into another Nursery School just in case she doesn't make the cut at the one down the street. Who knew nursery school was so dang competitive. I mean, it isn't like we live in Manhattan.

Insomnia is killin me. Lastnight I promptly got into bed at mid-night, my normal bedtime and laid there for what felt like forever before I drifted off to the land of nod. Of course I had my normal crazy internal monologue going on as well.

Examples- If I ever have another kid and it is a girl I am gonna name her Charlotte Leigh and call her CharLeigh. Which is crazy because I am never having any more kids.

Do people in the UK eat potato salad?

What am I going to do with LaLa home for 6 weeks this summer? There better be a whole bunch of play dates arranged before we leave school. Oh wait the end of school is Friday. Better work on collecting other parents phone numbers so we can arrange play dates on the phone.

I still don't want to go to this Pampered Chef Party on Thursday.

And I wonder why it takes so long for me to get to sleep. See those were just snippets of what was going on inside my head. Really you could take each one of those topics and expand it exponentially and still not get to the level of over analysis that I do in my head.

So I am hosting some new friends on Friday for a BBQ. These are some of LaLa's school chums and their parents. They are English (hence why I was wondering about the potato salad), and it is the first time I am having non-Americans over for an event. Needless to say I am a bit worried. The customs are a bit different here and I have no idea on the finer points of a British BBQ. Any UK residents want to help me out here? Or should I make it a completely American affair?

Tomorrow is Market Day in Bury and I can't wait to go get some faboosh bread. Faboosh means fabulous. FYI. Olive Oil and Rosemary bread anyone? It makes THE BEST garlic bread.

Would my American readers enjoy pictures of a typical British Market Day?

OK, I think I am done for now. Don't forget about my giveaway. If you have no entered yet, there is plenty of time. The drawing occurs on July 28th. If anyone has suggestions on a good way to pick names out of a hat, I am open to them. I am thinking about letting KiKi do it and post a video of it.







Monday, July 13, 2009

Blogoversary Giveaway

My first blogoversary is coming up on July 28th. In honor of this event I am doing a giveaway. This give away is being sponsored by The Diaper Bag Diva. The owner of this online shop approached me about just putting a link in my sidebar, but her products were so fabulous that I could not resists asking to do a giveaway. Now, I know some of you have kids past the age of needing a diaper bag, but think of how awesome of a friend, aunt, uncle, etc. you would be if you surprised the mom of your favorite infant with a stylish designer diaper bag like this for them. So how do you enter you ask? First of all you visit The Diaper Bag Diva and leave me a comment telling me what your favorite item on the site is or what you would like to win. Another way to enter is to be a follower. Leave a comment telling me you follow my blog or subscribe to my RSS. The third way to enter is to leave a me a comment telling me you posted and linked to this giveaway on your blog. So, if you do all three you will have three entries into the giveaway.

The prizes are:

1st name pulled out of the hat- You get to pick ANY item off The Diaper Bag Diva up to a $40 value. You can also mix and match items up to a $40 value.

2nd name pulled out of the hat- I am offering beautiful tea cup from the Albert and Victoria Museum in London. The tea cup was inspired by either a textile or wallpaper sample from the collections of the Museum. (It is really awesome, I gave my mom one for her birthday).

This giveaway is open to residents in both the US and the UK!

Entries will be accepted until Saturday July 25th (this gives me time to get all the entries into a hat).

The winners will be announced Tuesday July 28th.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Dear So and So....Just Call Me Ms. Gripes A Lot

Dear The Man,

Honey, sweetie, babe, wonderful husband, I know there were at least 6-7 revolutions of TP around the toilet paper roll left last night before I went to bed. I made sure. It was calculated planning on my part. So this morning when I went to the little girls room, I was expecting at least a little TP left. None. Zero. Zilch. Nada. I had to do the shakey shakey drip dry dance over the toilet. Gah. Yes, I know it is my fault that there is no TP left in the house, but I tried to plan it out.

Grumble, Kat
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Dear Kids,

All unattended chocolate is fair game. Just sayin'.

Love, Mom
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Dear Up Close Talker Lady,

Here is a quick and handy guide to Kat lexicon. If I say "maybe" it most likely means no. If I say "I know", it means "I know, but I probably won't do anything about it". Ask my Gran; she'll inform you of the full verbiage I use to avoid confrontation.

I Don't Want to Come to Your Pampered Chef Party,
Kat
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Dear Lady With the Barbie Pink Car,

My kids love your car and covet it. Hell, I covet it a bit. It is the purple skull and crossbones on the gas tank that got me.

Where did you get your paint job,
Kat

PS- I tried in vain to covertly get a picture of your car in the Sainsbury's parking lot. Next time could you park on the drivers side?
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Dear Hay Fever,

Go away. You are not welcome here.

Bah!,
Kat
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Dear Readers,

If you would like to participate in Dear So and So grab the button in my side bar, give it a whirl and leave your link here with Mr. Linky. It really is that simple.

TTFN, Kat





Thursday, July 9, 2009

Rain Drops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens...



Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens

Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things


Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles

Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes

Silver white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things


When the dog bites
When the bee stings


When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Holy BlackBerry Batman

I just figured out how to get videos from my BlackBerry to my computer! This means I can post videos of my kids/dog doing crazy things!

Things I can now post-
1. LaLa's unique Wii Bowling Skillz
2. Elizabeth's hate of the Dog Whisperer
3. KiKi being...well KiKi
4. LaLa and KiKi dancing

I am so freakin excited!

Oh and here my Wordless Wednesday entry.


(The Plough Inn)

Sunday, July 5, 2009

RTT- What The Frankfurter?!?

It is Tuesday, that means it is time for some mind randomness which is Random Tuesday thoughts. Better known as Kat's therapy session for the week. If you would like to participate click the button head to Keely's place and add your randomness with Mr. Linky.

randomtuesday


I had a dream I was an illegal immigrant in Turkmenistan (it is over there near Afghanistan). Oh that isn't the weird part...I worked in a restaurant where the specialty thing was really good British bacon and Britney Spears came in to eat at the restaurant.

Speaking of Britney I was sitting in traffic (absolute stand still traffic) on the was home from dropping my parents off in Epping (the closest I drive to London) at the Tube station and I was listening to Radio 1; then I heard the funniest/most absurd thing I have heard in a long long time. Apparently BBC 3, was running a show on Sunday called "Britney Spears Saved My Life" Did you just cock your head to the side like a confused dog like I did? Yes you read that right. Oh and that is not the best part. Then they played an interview from the show on air. I must have looked like a complete nutter in my car because I was laughing so hard I had TEARS running down my face. You can watch the interview on YouTube here. Yes, I actually took the time to hunt it down. The things I do for you people... Go watch, I'll wait. Now tell me those people aren't completely insane.

LaLa and my husband were playing Wii bowling the other day, first of all lets say LaLa has a very unique but effective style for bowling. It is like a whirling dervish that has been let loose on my living room with deadly accurate Wii bowling skillz. She bowled a 179 and beat my husband by like 30 pins.

Do you know how hard it is to find brown leggings and a brown shirt in the middle of summer with a weeks notice? LaLa is supposed to be a monkey in her class play and had to have brown clothes. I ended up dying a white shirt and a pair of light pink leggings brown. Score one for resourceful mom.

KiKi has all of a sudden become extremely affectionate. The other day I found her pinning LaLa down planting kisses all over her. LaLa was laughing and trying to resist. "You will take my kisses and you will like it damnit!" She has also forced her affections on the dog. Poor Beastie.



My parents and I got to hear choir practice at Ely Cathedral while we were on the tour of the Octagon. Angels.


This is the Octagon. The first picture was taken while looking down from this. If you ever come to England, or are in Cambridgeshire, go to Ely Cathedral. This is a command.

So there is this show on Playhouse Disney called Handy Mandy. It is about a guy named Manny (short for Manuel)(don't get me started on the implications of a Hispanic handyman) who has magical talking tools who goes around fixing the various problems of his hometown of Sheetrock Hills. One thing has always perplexed me...they never show the "customers" paying Handy Manny. Nor do they show the customers when they realize that the over inflated repair prices are going to totally screw up their budget for the entire month and they are going to be living off of beans, rice and Easy Mac for the next two weeks.

Let's also take a moment to remember the London Tube bombings that happened 4 years ago today. There were 52 fatalities in that act of terrorism. Let's pray it never happens again.

I feel better now.

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Declaration of Independence


I
N CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

John Hancock

New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton

Massachusetts:
John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery

Connecticut:
Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott

New York:
William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris

New Jersey:
Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark

Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer,James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross

Delaware:
Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean

Maryland:
Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia:
George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton

North Carolina:
William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn

South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton

Georgia:
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton


Courtesy of ushistory.org

Friday, July 3, 2009

Dear So and So...w00t! edition

Dear Hubby,

Congrats on sewing on your next rank! Tech Sgt. The Man, it has a nice ring to it doesn't it? Hooray for pay raises!

Love Always and Forever, Kat
---------------------------------

Dear Lady at School,

A crocheted white top with a white bra does not a real shirt make. At the primary school? Seriously?? Come on! Now I know that Brits and sun do not mix, but that is just wrong.

Pray for snow, Kat

PS- I didn't even mention the acid washed jean skirt with lace over lay. The 1980's called and they want their scrunchie and bad fashion back.

Dear Dude getting Chased by the Police,

Yeah, apparently when you take a roundabout at 50 mph, the cops seriously don't like it. Nevermind that it is the busiest roundabout in this area, but you almost lost control and apparently you did it all right in front of the cops. Smooth move, exlax.

HaHa, Kat
-----------------------------

Dear NFAH,

I miss ya, man! Have fun in Oz.

TTFN, Kat
-----------------------------

Dear Sun,

England is not made for your heat. Can we please go back to semi dreary days with a bit of rain? My garden need some water. Plus I don't have AC.

Burning, Kat
-----------------------------

Dear Readers,

Grab the button on the side bar, leave you link with Mr. Linky and lodge your own complaints! It is really therapeutic and starts your weekend off right. In case any of you are wondering, I post Dear So and So each Friday but you are more than welcome to add to the link throughout the week.

Take Care and Happy Letter Writing,
Kat
-------------------------



Thursday, July 2, 2009

Happy Birthday Mom!

To the Crazy Woman Who Birthed Me,

I am so glad you were able to come and visit me for your birthday. This trip has been absolutely fantastic and I will never run out of blogging material because of it. I mean, you are the only one who could fart and Windsor Castle and only be slightly embarrassed and then laugh when I exposed your deed to the internet. Staying up until the wee hours of the morning with me either reading a book or us laughing or butts off trying to be quiet as to not wake the rest of the house. I love that you are not only my mom but my best friend. I can tell you anything and not worry about being judged. OK maybe a little, but I know you will always love me and support me no matter what. So in honor of your birthday here are a few of the important lessons I have learned from you.

1. Mom is always right.
2. Don't argue with Mom.
3. Even if you don't agree with Mom, just nod your head.
4. Farts are funny (especially at Windsor Castle).
5. I am predisposed to snorting when I laugh.
6. A good book is never a waste of time.
7. Even a trashy romance novel is acceptable reading material.
8. Never underestimate the power of a good belly laugh.
9. Sometimes it is best to just shut your mouth and go with the flow.
10. There can never be too many clocks in your house.
11. Bacon is a food group.
12. Tough love is often the best choice.
13. Animals are a never ending source of entertainment and love.
14. Kids do stupid things and it is ok to laugh at them.
15. Wear good shoes.
16. Don't worry about things.
17. When in doubt, have a chat with God.
18. You can never give your kids enough hugs and kisses.
19. Don't take yourself too seriously.
20. Mom is always right.

So Happy Birthday, Mom. I love you, you crazy wonderful woman.


(Mom and the girls at Windsor Castle)