AF Champs on to SuperBowl XL

CONGRATULATIONS PITTSBURGH STEELERS!

Extra Large? That's how I felt when the Steelers won the AFC Championship. I can only imagine how the TEAM feels.

Second year QB, Ben Rothelisberger (photo top right) took them this far (with a broken thumb, no less) and looks to be able to take them ALL. THE. WAY. It was be a great achievement as long as I've been a fan. They went to the SB in 1996, but didn't win. Coach Cowher deserves a ring. I believe he is a phenomenal leader and mentor. The team is a TEAM. Not collection of Marquee players or smack-talking-nothing-to-back-it-up boneheads.

My favorite player is Hines Ward #86. (Photo top left) The man NEVER stops smiling! He enjoys the game so much and I enjoy watching him enjoy the game. See him up there! I have looked at TONS of online images of Ward. He SMILES in every single shot. He's PLAYING the game!

Good Luck, Bill Cowher and the Pittsburgh Steelers. I hope they retain their offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt after the Bowl. It would be horrible if he went to the Oakland Raiders as is rumored.

Hey, Oakland! Nothing is going to save you!

~~Mama

New Kidlet Photos

I really don't have much to tell about them that wouldn't bore you to tears or make you gag from the sweetness. So, I'll just post a bunch of photos. The last one is just another shot of the Orcas, but I love the color of the ocean in this one.

~~Mama

Thar She Blows!!!!

Boy and I went on a whale watching expedition on Monday, January 16. Our homeschool group got together for this very fun trip. We left out of Ventura Harbor toward Anacapa (photo here) and Santa Cruz, two of the Channel Islands. (Anyone remember the book "Island of the Blue Dolphins"?) It was quite choppy at first and it took a few minutes for Boy and I to get our sea-legs. Boy looked pretty terrified, hanging onto the rail toward the stern (rear) of the boat. I kept asking him if he was okay, (he said that he was!) and the little trooper rode it out until he stopped being dizzy and was able to enjoy the ride. Here he is with his friend, L.


The first creatures we encountered were a pod of Orcas (Killer Whales). These beautiful creatures are so playful and amazing. One was right next to the boat, turned belly up and swam under the boat. Peotry in motion! As we moved off to find other creatures, we realized that several seals were following the pod of Orcas. Now, Orcas like to eat seals, so either they had a death wish or realized that the Orcas were not hungry and better to keep an eye on the enemy than become lunch before one's time!

We were treated to the rare and wonderful sight of a female Pacific Gray whale with a newborn calf! Rare, because these whales are migrating to the warm waters off of Baja California from Alaska to give birth in the saline lagoons and feed. It takes them several months to undertake the journey. Our Captain told us that the mother was very nervous as she was alone and with her baby. Plus, the Orcas were relatively close by and they are a natural predator of juvenile whales. I could not get a good picture because the Grays were so elusive, but it was absolutely breathtaking. We followed them for a bit and then moved off to return to shore.

As we were returning with the sun low in the sky and the b.r.e.e.z.e. (okay, it felt much colder to me than it probably was) blowing in our hair, we encountered a HUGE school of common dolphin. They were playing around the boat and there was a TON of them! They were clicking and calling, surfing our wake and it was magical. This is the only photo I was able to get--The End.

~~Mama

Rain, Rain, Mud and Snow (in the Mountains)

Winter returned with a vengence this weekend. "Winter" in Southern California being defined as "tremendous volumes of rain and mudslides". It rained and rained and rained and rained and rained and rained for two straight days! Now, this may not seem like a lot, but for a place where 1/4" is a lot, it's a wonder SoCal isn't floating halfway to Hawaii. Fortunately for us, there were no mudslides nearby. The fires over the summer weakened the flora and it's root system, but so far, all has stayed in place. And I must say our lawn is now looking rather like a jungle. Tomorrow or the next day I will be forced to mow it! The kids had fun going outside in their "wellies" and splashing around in the puddles. Daddy and I enjoyed watching our grass grow. He was off of work for two weeks and it was very tough for him to go back to work today. It was quite difficult for me, too. I got used to someone else being around. The kids didn't like it much either. I spent much of the morning telling them that Dad was at "stinky job".


WARNING--> I have to go on a Political Rant.

I keep listening to NPR when I am alone in the car. It's the only time I can actually LISTEN to something other than Disney songs. NPR stretches my brain and sure does get my blood boiling. Also, reading my friend "Bly"'s blog isn't helping me remain ignorant either. She has such a way with words.

What is going on in this country where the government controls the people rather than the other way around? I read that there is a probe into who leaked the information regarding illegal spying on American citizens. Uh, EXCUSE ME???? But, don't we want to know WHY this is being allowed before we give a rat's fanny about WHO leaked it?

Okay, yes, find out who did it and GIVE THEM A REWARD. I don't believe that we should allow our Mr. Baby Bush to usurp the laws that WE, the People, law down for HIM, our notorious leader. He truly does believe that Jesus died to make him God, doesn't he? In addition to his personal religious values which he insists on cramming down our throats being illegal and unconstitutional, he's an arrogant, ignorant ASS to "cowboy"boot.

Now that I'm sure I just wound up on some government "watch" list somewhere. Good! I hope Laura or Jenna or someone else close to him bought him a good phonics dictionary for Christmas. He'd best start practicing how to pronounce "Impeachment" correctly.

~~Mama