...my real mother, that is - not my birth mother.  I'm finding myself having to make the distinction between the two more and more often. So, I rang my mum and told her about locating my birth mother.  She took it really very well, considering.  She didn't seem very surprised and was actually very helpful. My younger brother is adopted too, you see, and he want and found his birth mother a few years ago.  it was disastrous.  My mum and dad invited Chris's birth mot...

*This is a censored version of my letter to my birth mother* Dear Veronica My name is Karen, and I think you know who I am. i don't really know where to start, what to say.  I've though often about this moment, about what I would do....but now that it's here I'm at a loss for words.  I simply don't know whats is apropo to say to the person who created, carried and birthed you... I do want you to know that I have no animosity towards you.  I'm not angry or mad, your act...

I've found my birth mother. I have her name and her address.  I don't have a phone number, but that's okay.  She's living in her hometown....she's remarried, and I have 3 sisters and a brother.  My brother and one sister are full-blood relatives, and the other 2 sisters are half-sisters. I got identical information from 2 independent people, neither of whom have asked for payment.  That leads me to believe that all of it really is true, and that I really h...

I'm adopted.  I was adopted as an infant - 9 weeks old, to be exact. My mother's name was Veronica Howse, and I was born Karen Michelle Howse.  I know that Veronica had fair hair and blue eyes, was short (like me) and had total kidney failure at 23 weeks into her pregnancy with me.  She wasn't married to my dad, but he was in the process of getting a divorce and they (mum and dad) were hoping to be married at some point. Apparently they found the decision to have me adopted&...

Henry likes to sing: He particularly likes to accompany Davey on the harmonica (Davey's doing a particularly impressive rendition of 'Ode To Joy' in this pic): (Like my pile of laundry-waiting-to-be folded on the loveseat?  hehe...my house doesn't always look that much of a wreck, honest!) Davey's trumpet drives him wild.  Davey played an open 'G' and Henry went cracker-dog for a couple of minutes, running around the house in a big circle, barking wildly: ...

This is Henry: Henry hates our 'shark' steam cleaner.  I had it out this afternoon, spot cleaning the carpet and upholstery.  The steam that comes out of it isn't hot; I can plce my hand in front of it comfortably...it just makes a hissing noise that drives him wild  This is Henry trying to 'get' the steam and getting a little irate in the process.   hehehehe...that's a pissed off weiner dog!!!!!    

I've seen some comments made about my friend Sabrina recently that have really bothered me.  Certain people seem to think that she's responsible for all the ills of the world....that she's broken up marriages, screwed people over, hurt people's kids and kicked people's puppies.  None of those things is true. My friend Sabrina is a wonderful, loving human being.  The pain she suffers on a daily basis would be enough to make some people curl up and die, but she presses on and tri...

I believe that these are called 'candy apples' over here, but where I'm from they're called toffee apples. You've got to be a bit careful with these if you have loose or chipped teeth; they're pretty hard and sticky. You'll need: 6 apples - I used Red Delicious, but some people prefer Granny Smiths for the contrast between the tart apple and the sweet coating. 6 bamboo skewers or popsicle sticks. 1 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup white sugar 1/2 cup light corn syrup 1/2 cup water...

We had to junk our Jeep the week before last.  We got an emissions test card in the mail, and knew that there was no way the Jeep would pass.  it was going to cost us more to get it up to standard than we paid for it, so we decided that it's time had come and we sold it to a salvage yard for $45. That left us with one vehicle.  We thought that we'd be okay with just the one, but that proved to not be the case.  Dave needs the car for work and I hate being stranded at home ...

New Orleans has had it's worst fears recognised this morning. The additional rainfall from Hurricane Rita has breached the patched-up levees.  A 30' wide torrent of water is pouring over the levee and flooding New Orleans streets. You know, if I believed in the Christian version of god, I'd be tempted to believe that those who said that Katrina's devastation of N.O. was god's wrath because of it's lack of morals and loose lifestyle might actually be on to something.....

"Your parents don't need to be calling here and complaining.  If you're late for lunch, it's your fault, not mine" "...I wouldn't go run to my mommy and say "waaah"!!  I didn't get to eat!...." "This room is like my house.  I'm going to do what I want to in my house..."   All of the above are statements that my son's teacher made to him and the rest of his class this morning after she had spoken to my husband.  I personally think that they're HIGHLY inapp...

We're having yet another battle with the school. My son and his classmates are supposed to get an hour for their lunch.  However, they only get to spend part of that hour actually eating.  A very small part of that hour.....like 10 or 15 minutes before the lunch ladies start hassling them to get out so the next class can come in.  Quite often my son comes home hungry because he hasn't had the time to finish his boxed lunch that he brings from home.  My friend K's boy is in...

My friend K's husband came home from a 6 month stint in Iraq this afternoon.  I know she's glad to see him, and I know that he's glad to be home..... But I wanted to express my gratitude to the both of them.  K's been a good friend to me whilst our husband's have been gone, and I want to publicly acknowledge that.  So, K, thanks for all you've done...I couldn't have asked for a better compadre.  I puked in your car and you didn't complain, and you even half carried me ...

Link The state of Mississippi is suing 5 major insurance providers in an attempt to force them to pay for billions of dollars in damages done by hurricane Katrina. A lot of homeowners are under the assumption that the damage done to their homes will be covered by the hurricane provision of their policy.  The insurers are saying that's not so, and that the damages will not be covered because they were caused by flooding....and you need a separate policy to cover flooding. Attorne...