I think the children are bored.
Sea Turtle Relief – My Kids Help the Gulf
July 2, 2010 by 69 Comments
Mom, I saw the news. I saw them. They were covered in oil. How can they do that? They were covered in oil and we have to help them. We have to help them now. We have to go there and we have to help them. -Jack
With tears in his eyes my seven-year old son begged me to help the sea turtles in the Gulf. He told his five-year old sister what happened with the oil spill and he insisted our family do something. Insisted.
So we’re doing something.
At Jack’s request I am posting six pictures, hand drawn with great love and care. He would like you to bid for them – with the picture going to the highest bidder and all proceeds going to Sea Turtle relief efforts in the Gulf.
My children have very big hearts, and I really want to show them the world has a big heart too. Help me help them make a difference.
Please bid on the items below by leaving a comment on this post. Please note the picture you are bidding for, what price you are offering, and where you can be contacted (email, twitter id, etc). The “Sea Turtles are Awesome and Cute” Auction ends July 10th, 2010 at midnight. ***BIDDING IS NOW CLOSED!!! THANK YOU ALL!!!
All monies collected will be donated to various Sea Turtle Relief org’s helping in the Gulf including but not limited to:
Institute for Marine Mammal Studies
And the organizations associated with Plug That Well – a fun game for a cause… go play!
**update! If you have left a bid on a pic or will leave a bid, please leave a comment on Twitter for @jterzieff or on her blog. She will match $5 for every bid! Please do it!
*for those just wanting to make a donation: ($180 was donated via paypal before this was installed so add $180 to the tally below!)
Jack’s Sea Turtle Relief Creation #1- current high bid $50
Hala’s Sea Turtle Relief Creation #1- current high bid $60
Jack’s Sea Turtle Relief Creation #2- current high bid $50
Hala’s Sea Turtle Relief Creation #2- current high bid $50
Jack’s Sea Turtle Relief Creation #3- current high bid $60
Hala’s Sea Turtle Relief Creation #3- current high bid $50
Because Sparklers Are Evil
July 2, 2010 by 16 Comments
If there is one thing I have learned in this lifetime- it’s that you never, ever, shoot off fireworks at home.
Ever.
I’m sitting here struggling with the fact that I can’t take my kids to the local fireworks show this year. Just 10 days post-op and there is no way I can sit in a lawn chair, or the back of the van, in a mall parking lot for hours on end waiting for the professional ‘ooohs and aaaahs.’
But what are my alternatives? I spent too my years at my uncle’s house as a kid where the drunken grown-ups would blast store-bought fireworks… frequently misfiring and landing them near us kids. I can vividly remember a bottle rocket landing near my short-short laden inner thigh as a tween. (btw, nice job Mom and Dad)
I’ve also spent too many years as a reporter, doing the yearly story at the fire station where they demonstrate what those store bought fireworks can do on some unsuspecting stuffed dummy.
Poof. Flames. And then the endless rattling off of stats of just how many ER visits and deaths shooting off your own fireworks cause.
So I sit here wondering how to give my kids a fun 4th of July while I can’t even manage to sneeze or cough without cringing in pain.
Sparklers even seem like evil balls of fire.
I’d love your suggestions on how we can celebrate the 4th. My kids have seen the professional, local show every year since they were born… so I really would like to do something special. How do you celebrate at your house?
The Confirmation Process
June 30, 2010 by 3 Comments
No. Stop. Please.
Although this was probably better than the other ridiculous questions being asked.
Where I Belong
June 29, 2010 by 15 Comments
I have four incisions.
Two on the right side of my stomach and one on the left. And a large incision that stretches from my belly button down to my pelvis in a less-than-straight line. Of course that last incision annoys me the most because I had worn a bikini for the first time in many, many years…and I will now, again, put that bikini back in the drawer.
The surgery was technically a success. About 13 inches of my colon were removed and my gall bladder, complete with hundreds of impacted stones, taken out. My body is recovering mentally and physically as to be expected. I’m worn down. I’m beat up. And I’m tired. Things hurt all over.
But it could be worse. It always could be worse. And I am home with my family, where I belong.
Morning
June 23, 2010 by 27 Comments
Mrs. Vest, this is G from Camp Invention. Your son would like to come home early today to cuddle with you.
His poor, anxious mind is already on tomorrow morning, when I’ll undergo surgery on my colon and have my gall bladder removed. He worries so much. Just like his mother. A trait I wished I would not have passed on.
Mom, I’m not going to die ever, so everything will be fine tomorrow.
My daughter’s logic, never fails. Always bold and stubborn. Also just like her mother. A trait I’m glad I passed on. She’s convinced we can’t die and I’m lying to her when I try to explain everyone dies, eventually.
Mom, when I grow up you really are going to die, aren’t you?
What do you think?
I think you are going to die.
and then from the bed…my son tells her …
Hala, you KNOW everyone dies and that’s just the way of life. You just don’t want to have a normal life.
No, I’m going to live always.
But you can’t!
Yes I can!
And there I sat, the night before my surgery, with my five and seven-year olds arguing about death. And I felt alone, and cold, and miserable at the realities they were dealing with because of my inability to be healthy.
