Month: July 2012
We Had a Burn Ban for 4th of July – So Of Course, We Shot Off Fireworks Anyway
I know. We’re rebels. But before you click that right-hand corner X over there, let me elaborate – we shot fireworks off at my in-laws’ house, who live on the outskirts of town, and who live far enough away from their neighbors that it really wasn’t an issue of a stray spark hitting anything flammable, AND, they spent the day watering down their lawn, and surrounding areas, to ensure it would be safe to shoot them off.
But yes. Our city, and my in-laws’ city, had a burn ban on fireworks this year. And rightly so. It’s been bone dry here in these parts. (*said with a heavy southern drawl*).
When the burn ban went public, the officials knew it would be useless to tell people they couldn’t shoot off fireworks, so they simply cautioned people to keep water close by. I think, for the most part, people adhered to the ban inside the city limits, but as usual, it was a war zone outside the city limits.
We did something different this year – we met up with my in-laws at a fireworks tent, told the tattooed lady behind the counter how much we wanted to spend, and we left it up to her to fill a box full of her recommendations. Because you know how it goes when you go to a fireworks tent – you drive up, there are people milling around, so you feel excited about the prospect of shopping for some awesome fireworks, only to step under the tent and WOW, the sheer variety punches you in the stomach because the selection is overwhelming. The boxes are colorful, (and often times … wildly suggestive .. really??), and though there are descriptions of what the fireworks do, you don’t REALLY know what they will look like or if they will end up being wildly unpredictable and downright dangerous as they chase you across the yard and make you run for your life because a rogue explosive is right on your tail.
Been there, done that, thank you very much.
The boys filled up an arm basket full of their choices (it always amuses me how animated Dude gets around the 4th of July – it’s his second most favorite holiday, Christmas being his first, but honestly? It might even be better than Christmas in his opinion. But seriously, 99% of the time, Dude is quiet, retrospective and an introvert, but the first week of July? It’s like someone, er, lit a firecracker under his butt and he’s suddenly ALIVE … it’s fun to watch) and bought the box full of fireworks that we didn’t even pick out.
Awesome. My own personal fireworks shopper – I can get used to that.
I didn’t see that box again until we arrived at my in-laws’ house for hamburgers and hotdogs. Our family, my sister/brother-in-law and my in-laws were the only people there. All of the other kids in the family had their own plans. We had a good time visiting (his family is always so funny and we end up laughing a lot when we get together) and before long, night had fallen and the boys were itching to go outside and start the show.
*Note to you younger parents – it’s AWESOME having teenagers this time of year. They can do all of the running around and lighting the fireworks while you can sit back, sip a tea (or beverage of choice) and simply enjoy yourself. SWEET. Be patient – it will happen to you, too!
We tried to light some Sky Lanterns …
… but we didn’t have much luck. We didn’t pull the first one apart correctly and it burned. Then, when my MIL saw the size of the flame, she got nervous that it would land on someone’s house, so we didn’t light the remaining Sky Lanterns.
I have to admit, I think this year’s fireworks display was the best we’ve ever had. The tattooed-fireworks’ lady did a really good job picking out our fireworks this year. We are totally doing that again next year.
Our grand finale was this baby …
We weren’t sure how to shoot it off at first, but then Dude suggested we do what the boy on the box was doing and simply hold onto the firework … he was kidding of course! But don’t you know there has to be someone, somewhere, who thought that very thing??
This is why we have silly warning labels on everything nowadays – because people have lost their common sense.
You know it’s true.
We got home about midnight. Which meant I was a zombie at work the next day.
Holidays shouldn’t fall in the middle of the week – it’s hard on us working stiffs.
Teaching: Cleansing the Temple (The spiritual battle / get rid of idols, crystals, pornography…)
Every Sunday I provide videos and valuable links to the Truth or Tradition teachings. We’ve been following the Truth or Tradition teachings for many years now and they have truly blessed our family. We have found peace and happiness through our beliefs and we walk confidently for God. My hope, by passing on this information to you, is that what you find here, or on the Truth or Tradition website, will guide you to a better, more blessed and abundant life.
If you would like to read my views on religion and how we got started with the ministry, you can read this.
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More from Write From Karen
- January 2025 Reflections
- Healthcare … On Your Terms
- Christmas Postponed … For the Second Time
- The One Where the Landing Gear Got Stuck
- Things that Annoy Me #3
BTW: We Now Know that the 2009-2010 Swine Flu Pandemic was a Fake Pandemic
For documented details, see the Swine Flu Review
I’m sorry, I hate to say this, but I told you. I knew, I KNEW, in my gut, that that whole Swine Flu thing was blown WAY out of proportion and certainly wasn’t a Pandemic – did you ever see the number of people it “affected”?? It was a tiny, tiny fraction of the entire Earth’s population. By definition a Pandemic is:
A pandemic (from Greek πᾶν pan “all” + δῆμος demos “people”) is an epidemic of infectious disease that has spread through human populations across a large region; for instance multiple continents, or even worldwide. A widespread endemic disease that is stable in terms of how many people are getting sick from it is not a pandemic. Further, flu pandemics generally exclude recurrences of seasonal flu. Throughout history there have been a number of pandemics, such as smallpox and tuberculosis.
I have to post some of this stuff because it’s uppermost on my mind right now. No. Nothing has been said by my employer about the flu vaccine … yet. But it’s only a matter of time. In fact, I think the first round of poison, erhm, excuse me, vaccines, are scheduled to start mid-September; I’m simply gathering ammo.
I don’t trust the government as far as … well, I just don’t trust the government AT ALL. They do NOT have our best interests in mind – regardless of the political party.
So my next question is: what other lies are being fed to us? Think about it.
Use your head, people – know your rights and for pete’s sake, don’t jump on a bandwagon before carefully weighing ALL facts. The media is spoon feeding us what they want us to digest and nothing more.
Always, always, ALWAYS, question authority.
Always.
Similarly, I found this article about mandatory flu vaccines during a Pandemic:
May an employer covered by the ADA and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 compel all of its employees to take the influenza vaccine regardless of their medical conditions or their religious beliefs during a pandemic?
No, an employee may be entitled to an exemption from a mandatory vaccination requirement based on an ADA disability that prevents him from taking the influenza vaccine. This would be a reasonable accommodation barring undue hardship (significant difficulty or expense).
Similarly, under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, once an employer receives notice that an employee’s sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance prevents him from taking the influenza vaccine, the employer must provide a reasonable accommodation unless it would pose an undue hardship as defined by Title VII (“more than de minimis cost” to the operation of the employer’s business, which is a lower standard than under the ADA).
Generally, ADA-covered employers should consider simply encouraging employees to get the influenza vaccine rather than requiring them to take it.
Okay. Question. If the government is not REQUIRING employers to make its employees take the flu vaccine during a pandemic, which you would think would be the absolute worst-case scenario and the time to TAKE THE FLU VACCINE, then why the hell would they “require” their employees to take the flu vaccine during a normal flu season?
It doesn’t make sense, does it? But then again, is anyone really surprised??
So the moral of this story? I’m [gently] fighting this “suggestion” with every fiber of my being. I truly don’t wish to cause trouble, but I will NOT kowtow to peer pressure and simply extend my arm to be stuck with God knows what, either.
And for your information, you can keep track of your state’s “outbreak” (and I use that term loosely, mind you), here.
And get a load of how they determine what viruses to mix in with the seasonal vaccines. Sounds pretty scientific to me. *snort* Also … we’re putting a WHOLE lot of trust into the WHO, don’t you think?
Knowledge, people, knowledge.
Saturday Photo Hunt: Zany
That’s right – Dude HAD to have the Poopy Puppy firework.
You know what it did? I thought it would shoot sparks out of it’s butt, but no, it pooped that black “snake-like” substance. You know those black cubes you light and then they expand and stretch like a snake uncoiling? That was what this firework pup did.
Dude was disappointed; he was expecting an ass full of sparks.
Beer is Good for Baby??
Wow. We’ve come a long way, haven’t we?
Just Write {2}
I received my company newsletter in the mail yesterday … and on page three, taking up the entire page (and it’s one of those over-sized newsletters) was a notice about the upcoming flu vaccinations.
And how it’s mandatory for all health care employees to partake of the flu vaccine.
I don’t know if you remember or not, but I’m NOT a big fan of the flu vaccine.
And quite honestly? I just don’t want to go through the stress of avoiding the flu shot every year. Though I GET why the hospital requires it’s employees to take the flu shot, I just don’t buy all of the reasons they try to justify it. I don’t think it’s a good thing. I don’t think it’s necessary every single year. And I really don’t appreciate the mafia attitude as they try and bully the 3% of us who refuse to participate.
I have a problem willingly injecting myself with poisons. And I honestly think that anyone who trusts the government enough to allow themselves to be injected with God knows what, is playing with fire and they’re way too trusting of the government.
I just won’t do it.
I have no idea what’s going to happen to me this year if I don’t accept the flu vaccine. I narrowly squeaked by not getting it last year and my stubborn rejection, not to mention my very verbal feelings about it, really irked a few people I work with. I don’t mean to be difficult, I truly don’t, but I feel VERY STRONGLY about this and I WILL NOT COMPROMISE ON THIS ISSUE.
I was THE ONLY person in my entire clinic who refused it.
And I will refuse it again. And if that means I will have to wear a mask, or that I even get suspended for a few weeks, so be it. If they fire me, then I’ll collect unemployment until I can find another job.
I will not get the flu vaccine. Period.
Nothing you, or anyone else, can say will ever convince me it’s a good idea. Vaccinations every ten years or so (like a Tetanus shot), okay, I’ll buy that. But to get a vaccine every year, for a strain of virus that literally has HUNDREDS of different varieties and the likelihood that you’re being vaccinated for the ONE virus that may, or may not, be the dominant strain that year, just seems so … RECKLESS to me.
I’ve been thinking a lot about this issue for the past several days. I don’t want to stress about this every year – and I will, because it’s healthcare and they require it every year. It’s also not fair to my co-workers to wonder if I will be coming to work if an outbreak “supposedly” happens.
So the bottom line?
I think healthcare may not be the place for me after all. Which makes me sad, because I like my job and I LOVE the people I work with, but this issue may very well be the deal breaker for me.
Write From Karen 