Okay, a few days ago, I sent DR a request, asking if it was possible for CSI to somehow bring in the lack of foster homes on a storyline. I figured the answer would probably be no, but figured it couldn't hurt to ask. He responded.

Dear Margaret,

Thank you very much for writing, and for sharing the background on your
family. As you know, the foster care system is something we've
explored on CSI: through Sara's story, and also in a couple of cases
over the years. Frankly, being a crime show, we haven't always shown
foster care as the positive experience it's been for your family. For
this last reason, when we learned about CASA, we decided to do what we
could to help raise awareness by helping them. Personally, I'd love to
see us explore foster care again in the future. While there are no
immediate plans to do so, it's not something we haven't considered.
Stay tuned.

Sincerely yours,
David Rambo

The guy is the COOLEST writer ever.

I can't believe how completely awesome David Rambo is. He actually responded, within a couple of hours, to an email I sent last night. I asked him how many eps he was writing this season.

He told me he's co-writing ep 15, but producing ALL of them. Is that cool or what?

So, I replied (probably my last email to him).

I made an impossible request, but I hope he at least thinks about it. I asked that in a future ep they somehow mention the dire need for foster homes. I'm a registered foster parent. That's where I got my 4 kids (although we've adopted them at this point). We adopted 4 out of 5 of our foster kids.

I told him how most starts are BEGGING (almost literally) for people to become foster parents. It's sad, because anyone can be a foster parent, as long as they're willing to provide a home that is safe and nurturing.

My greatest desire is that it's brought up at some point. It's an important issue.

I hope he considers it.

I have one important question. Since when did my life disintegrate into nothing but a mass mis-scheduled mess? Apparently, I did not read my child's info from school very carefully, or I would have noticed yet ANOTHER event going on this week. Crap, I gotta start keeping track of this stuff, because we JUST found out our oldest has an ice cream social to sing at tonight. TONIGHT. In 2 hours!

Okay... the whole parenting 4 kids thing gets ugly sometimes. Yeah, yeah... my choice. I know. I'll stop crying now. *sniff* *sniff*

My youngest turned 7 on St. Patrick's day. You know... seven is an interesting age. The minute children wake up on their 7th birthday, it's like a little switch is flipped. All of a sudden, all the manners that have been carefully cultivated go out the window. My very normal, very sweet (now seven year old) boy became obnoxious yesterday on his birthday. (Yes, he was born on St. Patrick's Day). I don't know what to say, except that I the rumors are true. When my oldest son turned 7 a couple years ago (he's almost 9 now), he turned into an obnoxious child, too. He almost got his own 7th birthday party CANCELLED.

Do they grow out of it? you ask.

Here's the answer. Nope. Gets worst from there. You just have to wait, and when they turn 11, another switch is flipped and suddenly everything is very very funny. If you fall, they think it's the most hysterical thing on the planet. A bruise is just the biggest joke in the world. Dropping a pencil can cause a 30 minute fit of laughter! I haven't experienced this with my own children yet, although my oldest's birthday is coming soon and she'll be 11. No... I watched it happen with 3 nieces and a nephew.

What have I gotten myself into? THERE'S FOUR KIDS IN MY HOME. THE ADULTS ARE OUTNUMBERED!

HHEEEELLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPPP

If your husband ever tries to talk you into have a two and a half hour birthday party for a bunch of six and seven year olds... smack him up the back of the head, hand him the ENTIRE stack of invitations, and tell him to throw the party himself. Then, call a good divorce lawyer.

Add into that... there always that ONE child. You know what I'm talking about. Hyper as hell, refuses to listen, but really sweet, too. So, it's not like you can get too mad, but at the same time. *sigh*

I survived. That's all I can say. I survived.

My Fan Fiction

I've written some fan fiction... some fluff to make me feel better... some not so fluff.

It can be found at:

http://www.fanfiction.net/u/118473/CSIGeekFan

Any suggestions on something to write are welcome. I'm always up for suggestions.

My Hubby Bought Me a Domain!

I got my own personal domain this weekend. Excellent. It's a place I can post some fan fiction, as well as original writing. I can't wait to get it up and running. I'll post the website once I actually get it running and built. It's called InsolentScrawl.com. I had my ten year old look up the words in the dictionary. She thinks it's a hoot, because it means 'insulting awkward writing'.

2008 Goals

Happy 2008, everyone. This year, I'm not making resolutions. However, I do have a couple of goals:

1. Quit smoking by February 1, 2008.

2. Go on at least one walk a week with my oldest son.

3. Do more "girl stuff" with my oldest daughter.

4. Just hang out more with my youngest son.

5. Find more bumps to propel my car over for my youngest daughter, and spend more time just playing dolly with her.

6. Not worry so much.

7. Smile and laugh a lot.

8. Teach my oldest son and daughter how to not blow up the house when they use the stove (it's a gas stove, so I worry - see #6).

Okay... I stole this from wallacek03

(x) smoked a cigarette
() smoked a cigar
(x) been high (on sugar)
(x) been drunk
() made out with a member of the same sex [no comment]
(x) been in love
(x) been dumped
(x) dumped someone
() shoplifted
() been fired
() been in a fist fight
() snuck out of my parent's house
(x) had feelings for someone who didnt have them back [do movie stars count?]
() been arrested
(x) made out with a stranger
(x) gone on a blind date
(x) lied to a friend
(x) had a crush on a teacher
() skipped school
() slept with a co-worker
() seen someone die (animals count as someones)
(x) had a crush on one of your internet friends
(x) been to Canada
(x) been to Mexico
(x) been on a plane
(x) thrown up in a bar [bad memories -21st birthday]
() set a part of myself on fire
(x) eaten sushi
() been snowboarding
() been moshing/crowd surfing at a show
() been in an abusive relationship
(x) taken painkillers
(x) love someone or miss someone right now
(x) laid on your back and watched cloud shapes go by
(x) made a snow angel
(x) had a tea party
(x) flown a kite
(x) built a sand castle
(x) gone puddle jumping
(x) played dress up
(x) jumped into a pile of leaves
(x) gone sledding
(x) cheated while playing a game
(x) been lonely
(x) fallen asleep at work/school
(x) used a fake id
(x) watched the sun set
(x) felt an earthquake
(x) touched a snake
(x) slept beneath the stairs
(x) been tickled
(x) been robbed [or burglarized - and the 911 operator should NOT be explaining the difference when the house has just been ripped apart while you are out]
(x) been misunderstood
(x) pet a reindeer/goat
(x) won a contest
(x) ran a red light
() been suspended from school
(x) been in a car accident
(x) had braces
(x) felt like an outcast
(x) eaten a whole pint of ice cream in one night
(x) had deja vu
(x) danced in the moonlight
(x) hated the way you look
(x) witnessed a crime
(x) questioned your heart
(x) been obsessed with post-it notes
(x) squished barefoot through the mud
(x) been lost
(x) been to the opposite side of the country
(x) swam in the ocean
(x) felt like dying
(x) cried yourself to sleep
(x) played cops and robbers
(x) recently colored with crayons/colored pencils/markers
() sung karaoke
(x) paid for a meal with only coins
(x) done something you told yourself you wouldn't
(x) made prank phone calls
(x) laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
(x) caught a snowflake on your tongue
(x) danced in the rain
(x) written a letter to Santa Claus
(x) been kissed under a mistletoe
(x) watched the sun set with someone you care about
(x) blown bubbles
(x) made a bonfire on the beach
(x) crashed a party
(x) gone rollerskating
(x) had a wish come true
() humped a monkey
(x) worn pearls
() jumped off a bridge
(x) ate dog/cat food
() told a complete stranger you loved them
() kissed a mirror
(x) sang in the shower
(x) have a black dress [and black slinky stuff for underneath]
(x) had a dream that you married someone
(x) glued your hand to something
() got your tongue stuck to a flag pole
() kissed a fish
(x) worn the opposite sexes clothes [stolen lots of hubby's sweatshirts]
() been a cheerleader
(x) sat on a roof top
(x)screamed at the top of your lungs
() done a one-handed cartwheel
(x) talked on the phone for more than 6 hours
(x) stayed up all night
(x) didn't take a shower for a week
(x) pick and ate an apple right off the tree
(x) climbed a tree
(x) had a tree house/club house
(x) are scared to watch scary movies alone
(x) believe in ghosts
() worn a really ugly outfit to school just to see what others say
() gone streaking
() played knock-a-door-run
(x) played chicken
(x) been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on [brother threw me in at age 4]
() been told you're hot by a complete stranger
(x) broken a bone
(x) caught a fish then ate it
(x) caught a butterfly
(x) laughed so hard you cried
(x) cried so hard you laughed
() mooned/flashed someone
(x) had someone moon/flash you
() have a Britney Spears CD
(x) forgotten someone's name [who are you again?]
(x) slept naked
(x) French braided someones hair
() gone skinny dippin in a pool