I'm about to be totally honest and personal right now, and it's only because of something I read. One of those chain e-mails that goes around every holiday, to remind us each to be thankful for what we have and to think of others during trying times.

I also just read an article online that was about a mom in her thirties, that had 2 children aged 10 and 12. She had moved to Texas from Ohio about 8 months prior and had applied for food stamps sometime in July. Unfortunately her application was denied. I guess she hadn't filled out enough information. Because her application was denied, she decided to take her two children with her to the state assistance office ... along with a gun. A standoff and hostage situation ensued, ending with the mom wounding her children and fatally shooting herself.  Her children were critically wounded and are unconscious right now.

My questions are ... did anyone ever reach out to that mom to try and help her? Did anyone know their situation and offer a helping hand? Something had to snap for that woman to go about in the way she did.

Let me begin by saying, in no way am I going to pursue this because I find it incredibly funny. Leave it to me to be the one candy is "attracted" to, and ultimately be the one that candy has caused pain. Now, I know that candy can be a cause of the dreaded "tooth-decay", but who knew getting whipped in the head with a Fifth Avenue candy bar could leave one with a headache that's lasted over 24 hours and a head welt. *wince*

It's that season again ... the dreaded cold and flu season. I am no doctor, I'm just a mom of three kids, but I am so sick and tired of hearing the same warnings year after year; "You better button up, you're gonna catch the flu," or "Throw away your toothbrush, if you keep it you'll get sick again," or my all-time favorite, "Here, here, use this." *Squirts a ton of Germ-X or Purell or whatever name brand hand sanitizer there is within arms reach*