The Red Curtains

Early in the morning before All Hallows’ Eve, a ten-year-old boy, left to go to his bus stop for school. It was a very foggy morning, streetlights still on, and a chill in the air. He had a feeling, a feeling that someone was watching him. You know that feeling, when your hairs stand up, your stomach gets queasy, and your heart starts beating faster and faster. He kept looking all around - at this house, at that house, at this bush and behind that one, but no one was there except the kids who are always there at the bus stop, kids from his school.

He pushed his way onto the bus and sat down, still looking frantically around. Even though he didn’t see anything, he knew something was there; he knew something wanted to get him.

After dinner, his friend called him to come over. Joe’s mom said okay. When Joe got to his friend’s house, his friends’ mom told him that he was not home. Joe was very confused and went to the sidewalk, looked around for any of his friends and saw … no one - no one but the shadow behind the red curtains.

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November Elections: What Are The Biggest Issues and Why

These three questions go out to all Florida voters:           

1.       What is your biggest concern on the ballot for the November 2^nd elections and why?

2.       Why do you think there are so many amendments to our constitution?

3.       Do you think we should be a free country, or a government-run like all of the other countries?

Stupid Drivers!

Well, lets just say that S. Florida has some of the worst drivers, especially in Dade (Miami-Dade County). I made it home in one piece, but not without some aggravation.

One driver was on the slow side, and bobbing from one side of the lane to the other (traffic, not going too fast). When I was finally able to pass him, I noticed that he had out is nice cell phone and was texting ... hmm. I wonder if he was another idiot driver.

Next driver was a light haired woman. I was in the turning lane, ready to turn, when she pulled up and blocked the road. HELLO! I honked at her and she looked at me, mouthing something, which I took as 'oh well', I began using hand signals between me and the other side of her ... the road. She pulled up, an inch or two, and I swerved way around her to get to the other side ... hmm. I wonder if she was another idiot driver.

Now this of course was within a 31 mile stretch, but there was maybe a quarter of that distance between the two drivers!

The place I went had a secretary, who, after I vented, told me about an idiot driver she saw. Her husband is a cop and sees many stupid things.

She told me about this woman who was (1) putting on her make up, (2) talking on her cell, and (3) was driving with one elbow!!!! HELLOOOOO!!!!!

Post some of your encounters with stupid drivers. We would all love to compare!

Frozen Butterbeer...Recipe Coming Soon

I am nearly complete. I have tested others' recipes, none of which were actually frozen. I believe that I will be the closest to the real butterbeer recipe. I will post my recipe on my AC website and post a link here. Watch for it!!!

The Next Generation: Are We Set-Up to Fail?

As parents, we are required to raise our children properly; clean clothes, adequate space, education, nourishment, edicate, and manners - a well rounded, healthy lifestyle to make a physically and mentally healthy adult. Most people succeed in at least half of these things; the others are near the line on the rest. Some families have a hard time with the adequate space, and healthy lifestyle parts.


Maybe they can't afford to have the 'required adequate space' which partly comes with a healthy lifestyle. Maybe they can only afford a one-bedroom - but the landlord tells them they have too many people for a one bedroom and won't let them in. If they go ahead and spend the money on a two bedroom, which is still cramped, then maybe they won't have adequate electric or nourishments for the month. Maybe this family is a single parent family, and they need to work three jobs (One full time and two part time jobs), but can't find a daycare to watch them for the hours that is needed for the jobs. Maybe the daycare/babysitter wants as much money as the parent is making.


Why is the parent even bothering to work and be tired all the time, not spending quality time with the child or children? It's not even worth it. Then the parent can't pay rent or the child looses weight from malnourishment and the school teacher calls the police, or maybe the parent looses weight from malnourishment and stress and goes into the hospital. Then what? The children go into foster care while the parent gets better? There is no end to this cycle.


What if that parent was to receive welfare? Lets say the single parent has 3 kids. The government may give the parent plenty of food stamp benefits for them, but the cash she/he gets is really not much help. Lets say that the cash benefit amount is $350 per month. She/he can't pay rent with it, but she/he can pay electric.

Lets say her/his bills total $1,500 (rent, electric, phone, car insurance, car payment) which does not include daycare/babysitters, TV, water (if live in own house), extras like car brakes down, need new tires, ect.. Now daycares typically cost between $450-$600 per month/per kid for non school age kids, and between $150-$250 per month/per kid for school age, (private schools/camps are more). Now, this person has 3 kids, lets say only 2 need daycare - one for full time and the other for aftercare. That would average $700 per month for 2 of her kids for daycare expenses. This brings her bills up to $2,200 per month. Lets say the 3rd child is 13. That child is too old for aftercare, but you don't want him or her to run around the neighborhood. Lets say he/she finds an afterschool activity for them but the cost is $150 per month. Now the bills are up to $2,350 per month. This still does not include emergency money or car repair money, TV or water. Lets say her/his FT job pays $8.00/hr, which equals $320 per week gross pay ($270 aprox. net/take home pay). That comes to $1,080 per month. She/he still needs $1,270 for bare minimum survival. Lets say her/his 1st PT job gives him/her $7.00/hr for 10 hrs per week. That comes to $70 gross per week ($60 aprox. net/take home pay - $240 per month). This brings him/her to $1,030 per month still needed. Now her/his 3rd PT job is only once per week and it is a $9/hr job for 6 hours per day. This comes to $54 gross/day = $46 / wk and $184 per month. Now all she/he needs is $846/month.

She/he was qualified for cash assistance, but after she/he picked up more work, the government says, 'you make too much - you don't qualify for cash and your food stamps have been cut down by half. The good news is that you can get reduced child care. Well, that would certainly help, but now that the cash was taken away, the bills are still the same. If the government is going to help, it should help, not keep us at the level we are on already.


Should the government help? Well, that's tricky. This country was built on the people running things, not the government. However, as more and more people come to this country and others are just lazy, they welcome the government handouts. Instead of voting to keep the government out of our lives, we keep voting for more government. You should read your history, it will enlighten you on how this country has changed for the worse, and it's still getting worse. I bet that in 20 - 50 years, we won't have much of a constitution left, and we will barely be a FREE country.


I say, take away the governments power and start turning back some of the changes that have taken place in the great many years of bad change and start anew. Make the government smaller, give decisions back to the people, and let things fall where they may. Don't interfere with personal issues unless they are very drastic. Let us raise our children the right way, our way, not the government's way.


We the people, for the people...not anymore!

Jackie Evancho Returns to Amaze the Judges on 'America's Got Talent' (VIDEO)

This girl is beyond amazing! You cannot look at her while listening to her - it is...I don't have the words. You just have to hear her:

Jackie Evancho Returns to Amaze the Judges on 'America's Got Talent' (VIDEO)

Past Vs. Present: United Colonies; United People; United States

Our ancestors started this nation helping each other. Except for a small percentage, everyone knew each other; everyone was friendly with each other; everyone helped each other in difficult situations, or at least offered; everyone was honorable, and had integrity; everyone respected everyone else; everyone handled agreements on their 'word' and a handshake. People were very different then.

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Read M.J.'s articles on Associated Content

M.J. likes a variety of topics including reviews, recipe's, even a little politics; she truly loves to write Opinion-Editorial articles the most.