PETS ROCK...

We're looking for pets.
Actually, we just want the photos. We’re launching a feature in our community papers called Pets Rock. For consideration:
•Submit a photo by e-mail of your pet doing what makes it so lovable. Pets must live in Madison, Rankin or Hinds County.
• Write a few paragraphs about what makes your pet special. Be sure to include your pet’s name, age, breed and owner’s name.
• E-mail the photo and information to Leilani Salter at lsalter@jackson.gannett.com. Include your address and a daytime phone number (will not be published).
•Photos need to be attached as jpeg files with at least 200 dpi resolution at about 6 inches at the longest dimension. Photos need to be of good quality and the pet should fill most of the frame.
• We’ll compile a photo gallery to appear on our Web sites and we'll select our favorites to appear in our community newspapers.

FEATURING....

If you live in Madison, Rankin or Hinds County, we need you. We're planning some new features in our community newspapers. We need regular people from all walks of life for our Meet Your Neighbor feature. We also need teachers in the tri-county area and public servants...paramedics, police, sanitation workers, etc. It's fun and easy – you answer some questions via e-mail, we'll get a photo and it'll run in the newspaper. Let me know if you're interested.

PARTIES, PARTIES, PARTIES...

The holiday season will be here before we know it and that always means parties. I'm looking for information for several stories. If you or someone you know participates in progressive dinner parties, cookie swaps, supper clubs or girls night out, tell me about it.

DROOPY DRAWERS...

In my blog last month I wrote...

Some people don’t like looking at other people’s underwear.
The mayor of Delcambre, Louisiana has signed an ordinance making it illegal to let your pants sag too low in public. Fines are steep if underwear or private areas are visible…$500 and six months in jail. That makes Paris Hilton’s time in the slammer like a day at the spa.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/offbeat/2007/06/louisiana_mayor_bans_sagging_p.html


http://www.topix.net/forum/source/wusa/TUV7HOBDRHMU105JE


Some folks applaud the ban while others are glad someone’s trying to do something about it but think the punishment is too harsh. A few folks say given all the other problems of society this one is really low priority and don’t feel that anyone should be told how to dress.

Now, an Atlanta city councilman C.T. Martin wants something down about the low-hanging pants and the high-riding thongs. He's sponsored an amendment to the city indecency laws stating that it's becoming a "major concern."

http://www.cbs46.com/news/13955560/detail.html

Tell us what you think…

TEXTING TEEN HIT BY TRAIN...

Put down the cell phone.

http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/9298946.html

REDHEADS COULD BE EXTINCT...

Redheads could be extinct in 100 years. Thank goodness for Clairol.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22289183-2,00.html

Some kids can be mean...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/tyne/6714735.stm

THAT WOMAN WAS MAD...

Woman sets fires to ex-husband’s anatomy. Now that woman was mad.

http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL2259151320070822

A ROUND PEG IN A SQUARE HOLE...

Square watermelons. This is too good. Log on to my favorite blog...
http://www.clarionledger.com/misc/blogs/ssalter/sidblog.html

I WANT A REAL BUMBLEBEE...

We finally went to see Transformers and took the grandson. It was more of an adult movie than I expected but Rowan still really enjoyed it. The special effects were great.

I’ve already been through collecting Transformers in the late 80s with my oldest son, Brock. Several years running he spent all his birthday money on the toys and everybody in the family knew more than we wanted about Autobots and Decepticons.

Optimus Prime, the leader of the Autobots, was always Brock’s favorite but anyone who’s seen the new movie loves Bumblebee, the yellow and black Camaro. It was fun to see the toys of Brock’s childhood come to life for our grandson to enjoy.

When we left the theater we went directly to Target to buy Rowan a toy Bumblebee. I want a real one.

GOING TO THE MAT OVER PRESCHOOL...

Our grandson started preschool last week. He's only going two days a week but it's a big step for him. It's the first time, other than Bible school, that he's been away from his mother.

Jessi talked to him weeks in advance about going and making new friends. She took him there around naptime so that he could see that all the children were taking a nap. We found him the typical red and blue mat that he needed. He loved the mat.

The first day Jessi was nervous as all moms are. She packed his Spiderman backpack with his little pillow and blanket and carried his mat. The first day went great and Jessi said that Rowan's teacher said he was pretty quiet all day, was very good and took a good nap.

The second day she said the teacher said he just did great. Jessi was so proud. As they started to leave Rowan said that he wanted to take his mat. She explained that it had to stay and they'd buy one for home...so he left crying.

Still crying by the time they got to the car, she had to wrestle him into the car seat. Rowan is pretty big for Jessi, who is not much over five feet and barely over 100 pounds. She had her foot on the brake about to shift into drive when she heard the seat belt unbuckle. Jessi looked back to see Rowan out of the car seat, opening the car door and sprinting to the door of the school. She ran after him and he was crying that he just wanted his mat. She spanked him for getting out of the car explaining that a car might have hit him. She explained again that the mat had to stay at the school all while the teacher was handing Rowan the mat...to get him to be quiet, I'm sure.

She said she was so embarrassed that she just took the mat. She was upset because the highway is close to the school and he could have run into it. She was furious that he was rewarded for misbehaving.

One thing is for sure...that boy was willing to get his drawers dusted to have that mat. He went to the mat over his mat.

We'll see this week.

TICKETS TO KIDS WORLD

Who wants tickets to Kids World? It's this Saturday at the Trade Mart. It'll be fun and we'll be there. We'll give you up to four tickets per family if you are a registered user of the site.

KooLickle

What do you get when you cross Kool-Aid with a pickle?

No, it’s not a bubblegum joke…

It’s a KooLickle and is made from big pickle and Kool-Aid. Doesn’t sound very appetizing to me but apparently kids like them.

Double Quick, a chain of convenience stores is marketing the cherry-flavored pickle in the Delta.

The Delta Business Journal reported that a teacher at Carver Middle School gave a recipe for making these red pickles at home. She said that you make the Kool-Aid but add a pound of sugar. I’m sure you could use any flavor that you want. Pour that mix over the pickles and let it marinate in the fridge for a week.

Please…someone make these and let us know how they taste.

I JUST WANT TO BE BAD...

Recently I had my grandson for the day and we were doing a bit of shopping. He loves Target...or anywhere with a toy truck. He was acting great but for good measure I said, " We'll go to Target but you have to be good and do what Meme tells you." He was silent for about 15 seconds and then said, "I just want to be bad." Biting my lip to keep from laughing, I explained why we have to be good and what would happen if he wasn't. "But I just want to be bad," he repeated.
Now, any time that we want dessert or just want to sleep late, Rowan's opinions have entered our language...I just want to be bad.

PET PEEVES...

Pet peeves. Everybody has some. Some people don't like for their foods to touch on the plate and some have to check the locks on the door a specific number of times. I have several. My most irritating pet peeve is when AFTER I've left the drive-through window, I realize that they gave sweet tea when I ordered unsweet. I know...check it before I leave. I also don't like it when people use their car horns inappropriately...such as holding it down instead of tapping. I also don't like it when my bread gets squished at the grocery store or when the next person in line in standing so close I can hardly move.
And then there are our quirks. So people like to eat the crust from their sandwiches first or finish one food before moving on to the next.
Come on...tell it...what are your quirks and pet peeves?

THE TOOTH FAIRY...

What's the going rate for slightly used teeth these days? In other words, what's the Tooth Fairy leaving at your house?

THE LAST PERSON....

I'm probably the last person to join facebook but I finally decided to see what all the buzz is about. I'm going to try it out and let you know. Let me know if you prefer facebook or myspace and why.