Have you heard about the accident that involved an Erie police officer in hot pursuit traveling the wrong way up a one-way street? If not, you can read the full story here.

Today they announced that indeed the officers lights and siren were on. Is that meant to imply that it was somehow OK then?

I don't know about you, but when I hear an emergency vehicle coming, it always takes me a few seconds to figure out from which direction they're coming.

The last thing I'd ever think is that they'd be coming the wrong way on a one-way street.

I feel bad for the woman who hit the officer and all of the other people who were involved in this accident. I even feel bad for the officer -- he was just doing his job, racing to catch suspected burglars.

BUT, traffic rules exist for a reason (namely safety) and those entrusted to enforce the rules should not break them -- no matter how loud or bright they are.

I spent most of the day today at the Colony Plaza (West 8th Street) at a fashion shoot for our next issue of Her Times (Dec. 17) and it totally opened my eyes to a whole new way of shopping.

Whenever I go clothes shopping, I always head for the mall and the big department stores, but now I may start heading for points west -- particularly AJs and the Chameleon in the Colony Plaza.

I am ashamed to admit that I always thought they were stores for older ladies -- the kind that sold elastic-waist pants and elaborately-adorned sweaters. But, after having spent several hours at both, I can tell you that both of these stores are nothing like that.

They actually have some really incredible clothes at some really great prices. And, the women who work there are soooo helpful. Seriously, if you've never set foot in either one of these stores, you owe it to yourself to stop by. You'll be amazed at the selection of quality merchandise at decent prices (not bargain basement, but not overpriced either) sold by knowledgable, courteous staff (as opposed to the gum-snappin', belly-barin' teens at many of the mall stores).

Don't believe me? Check out the outfits we put together in the next issue of Her Times magazine where we'll be talking about the newest in belt fashion and showing you how to wear them. We'll also be talking New Year's Eve and giving you great clothing options whether you're going to a bar or a ballroom.

And, yes, of course I bought something. Hey..I was there fingering beautiful clothes all day, you know I was going to have to take something home. I scored a great new brown skirt. Almost makes me wish I were working tomorrow so that I could wear it.

Almost, but not quite.

P.S. There's a $10 coupon for AJs in the paper today and a $20 coupon in the last (Oct. 29) Her Times Magazine.

Today is election day. The future of our country is in your hands.

May sound dramatic, but we've all learned in recent years that every single vote counts.

Let your voice be heard. Otherwise, you let others speak for you.

Polls are open until 8 p.m. tonight.

Vote.

Take the kids with you -- children learn by example.

The biggest election news -- in my personal opinion -- yesterday was that women are literally one step closer to the white house. For the first time in U.S. History a woman, Nancy Pelosi -- a congresswoman from California -- will be The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives when current Speaker Dennis Hastert's term expires in January.

The office of Speaker was created by the Constitution of the United States. The Speaker is elected by the House of Representatives, and is its highest-ranking officer. Although it is not a Constitutional requirement, the Speakership always belongs to the majority party, and is that party's leader. Every Speaker has been an elected member of the House.

Due to Democratic victories in yesterday's elections, Nancy Pelosi, the House Democratic leader, is likely to be elected Speaker of the House.

In the Presidential Line of Succession, the Speaker of the House is second in the line, after the Vice President of the United States.

For the first time that may be a woman. And a mother (of five) to boot.

Who bettter to restore order to a houseful of unruly, arguing politicians?

I'll put my future in the hands of a type-A, overachieving, non-nonsense mother any day.

I was surfing some photo processing web sites for an article I'm working on (about creative holiday photo greeting cards -- in this Saturday's House to Home section) and I stumbled across something really cool -- photo notebooks for $10!

They caught my eye because I love to journal (though I rarely have time anymore). After taking a closer look I saw that they come not just in spiral bound blank paper journals, but also address books, birthday reminder books and even daily planners -- all customized with your own photos of your cute kids, adorable doggie or handsome husband.

Check them out at:
http://www1.snapfish.com/storenotebooks/t_=7652054

These would make really cool Christmas gifts, too.

It's 4 p.m. on Friday and any moment now I should be getting a call from my dear husband telling me what his plans are for the weekend.

After 12 years of marriage you'd think this man would know better than to spring it on me on Friday evening that he's going hunting on Saturday morning.

After 12 years of marriage you'd think I wouldn't be so stubborn and would just ask earlier in the week.

'Tis the season for hunting arguments in our house.

I wouldn't care about the hunting -- really I wouldn't -- except that it takes place in the early morning and, so it interfers with my running schedule. And, flexibility is not one of my strong suits. I like things my way (there, I said it).

I'm used to getting up at dawn and running 10 miles while most people (including my kids) are still snug in their beds. I don't like having my entire day thrown off because I have to wait to go run. I'm never sure if I should take a shower early (only to have to take one again after I run), I worry about when to eat (don't want to run on a full -- or empty -- stomach) and I hate waiting around all day to do the one thing I love most.

Running on the treadmill on weekends is not an option. I'm stuck on that thing every weekday morning because my husband leaves for work so early (and I can't leave the kids home alone) and damned if I'll do it on weekends, too (see, told you I was inflexible).

But, I'm caught between having my way and letting the man I love do something he really enjoys.

If it were only a few weeks, I could bite-the-bullet and deal with it, but the man hunts everything with every weapon (bow-and-arrow, rifle, muzzleloader ...) so hunting season is like 5 months long.

It's hard -- this marriage-and-parenting gig -- having to compromise all the time. Sometimes you feel like you're giving up yourself.

But, I've also learned that when I give a little of myself, I get a lot more back.

Apparently, the husband is learning that, too.

He just called to say that he's planning to go hunting in the evening tomorrow.

Could it be, that after a decade of marriage, we're finally starting to understand each other?

You hear it all the time -- couples who grow apart after the kids are born. I can see how it happens. It's easy to get caught up in ... well, keeping up -- with the laundry, the work, the swim lessons, the careers, the house, etc.

It's not often that my husband and I get to spend uninterrupted time together -- OK, it's actually pretty rare. Too often, we're a tag team -- transferring kids from one to another so we can persue our old life interests.

They same common interests are key to having a happy marriage. You have to find something you like to do together and make the time to do it.

Before the kids, Dan used to run. So, we'd do all the races together, but...with the kids one can only have so many hobbies. Dan chose to let running go. (My waistline wouldn't permit that).

So, maybe this is why I was so quick to become a football fan. It all started with an article I edited for Her Times -- "A Pigskin Primer" for women. One I aquired a little knowledge about the sport, I started watching a bit of it.

And, I was quickly hooked. I'm not sure why, really. It was fun, it was exciting. It was something for us to share together -- besides work war-stories and household chores.

Sunday we had hours and hours of time to ourselves when we went to my very first NFL Game -- the Steelers vs. the Saints in Pittsburgh.

It was a blast -- even if our seats did stink (8 rows from the top)and we had to tailgate in the stupid parking ramp (no room in the lots). And, of course, the Steelers won -- which made it all that much more exciting.

But, the best part about the whole thing, we that we did it together. No friends, no family, no kids, no co-workers -- just the two of us (and 60-some thousand other Steelers fans).

I've been wanting an iPod for a while, but never bought one because:
A.) I can't decide which model I want
and
B.) I'm cheap & I hate the thought of spending $150 on something that could get wiped out in ten minutes if I'm caught four miles from home running in a rainstorm.

But, did you know that you can buy refurbished iPods for about half price? According to the web site and the reviews from satisifed customers on the "Bargains Board" at babycenter.com, they're worth every dollar. They come with a warrantee, too.

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=32DAAC51&nclm=Certified

Someone posted about the iPod shuffle being as low as $29. I guess they post them when they're available, so you have to keep checking the site to see when they're available (and when they are...order quick, they go fast!).

So Sunday is the big Steelers vs. Browns game and it's annoying enough that it's NOT on a channel anyone but the wealthy can afford (c'mon, I don't even have cable, let alone the NFL ticket -- I'd need a 2nd job and, frankly, this one sucks up most of my time), but I just realized that Sunday is the day my Mother is having our Thanksgiving dinner.

You see, I have a wonderful mother who knows what it's like have to run from house to house on holidays, so we celebrate the "big" holidays early -- we have Christmas on Christmas Eve and Thanksgiving the weekend before Thanksgiving. All of my brothers and my sister have their own families and in-laws, so by having the holiday on a different day, my mother gets to have us all there at the same time. It's nice because we don't have to stuff ourselves with two meals on turkey day or rush from the Turkey Trot 10K to my parents, to his parents. Normally, the whole thing works out really well.

Except this year, because Buffalo is on the road and the stupid, stupid NFL thinks we care (so the Steelers game will not be televised on CBS).

The one good thing about this Sunday's situation is that we know Mom will be home cooking all morning & afternoon, so we may as well leave her our couple of little helpers and go down to the local bar and watch a few hours of the game before we have to be back at Mom's for dinner at 3 p.m.

With any luck, the Steelers will be so far ahead by then, it won't matter if we have to leave in the 3rd quarter, right?

State police arrested Crystal Peace and Nathan Rosier Sr., parents of 7-month old Nathan Rosier Jr., accusing the couple of starving the child to death. According to the story in this morning's Erie Times-News. Nathan's twin brother, Tyler, was also emaciated and would've died within a few days of his brother had he not been removed from the home. You can read the whole, sad story here.
Authorities say that Peace's father -- who lived with them -- will face charges as well.

I cannot begin to understand how three adults living in a house could be so... preoccupied? careless? heartless? clueless? cruel? ... as to let two infants starve. How could they have ignored the howls of hunger? How could they turn a deaf ear? How could they not take pity on innocent, helpless babies?

They were given means to feed them -- they received payments from Social Security (for the twins) and the mother was receiving benefits from WIC (Women Infants and Children). Our tax dollars. Did they eat all that food themselves? Did they use the money for alcohol and drugs? Did they have gambling problems? Substance abuse problems? What excuse could there possibly be for not feeding your children?

I can't help but think of all the women I know now who are struggling with fertility issues -- desperate to have child to love, they will go to incredible lengths to conceive and/or adopt.

These parents (and the grandfather) couldn't be bothered to give their baby a bottle of formula.

As a mother, I can't even wrap my head around it.

Today was my daughters' Thanksgiving Day program at the preschool. Since both kids are in preschool this year (one in 5-day, one in 3-day), I had two adorable, construction-paper-turkey-headband-wearing girls to watch.

This is the third year I've watched the preschool Thanksgiving Day program and there are five things that ALWAYS happen:

1. At least one child starts crying and refuses to enter the church when they see the crowd of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins bearing digital cameras and videocameras.
2. Someone will pick their nose extensively.
3. At least one girl will lift her dress and show the entire audience her Dora the Explorer underpants.
4. Someone's construction-paper-headdress will fall down over their eyes.
5. At least one child will try to eat their macaroni necklace.

This year, my little one was responsible for 3 out of the 5. I'm so proud.

But, truly, it will make for a hilarious scrapbook page because, of course, being the good mother that I am, I caught it all on film.

On this Thanksgiving Day, here are some of the things I'm most thankful for, even if sometimes I'm not very thankful for them:

* A big family -- My husband and I each come from a family of five. All but one brother live in the Erie area. Family gatherings -- on both ends -- include at least 25 people and, oftentimes, mind-numbing noise from shouting kids, blaring Disney movies and raucous laughter. We wouldn't have it any other way.

* Two little girls -- Nothing against boys, but, deep in my heart what I wanted most in this world were two little girls. God came through for me on that and I'll be forever grateful (or at least until they hit puberty, so say moms of older girls).

* My father's gall stones -- had he never had gall stone surgery 20-some years ago, my father might never have gotten on the health kick that started him running and probably saved his life. My mother started running, too. I was a snotty teenager and laughed at them as I scarfed down microwave popcorn. Ten years later, when I was ready to get healthy, I ended up running because my parents has set that example for me so long ago.

* My high school buddies who meddled in my life -- Had they not decided I needed a man (and, decided that their cousin, Dan, was that man), I wouldn't be who I am today.

* The core values my parents instilled in me -- work hard, believe in yourself, treat other people nicely, you decide how people treat you and what you have to say always matters (even if my parents NEVER listened to me when I was a kid).

* EUP professor, Bill Schopf, who knew that I didn't belong writing ad copy -- He encouraged (pestered) me to pick up a journalism minor because it would be a "good compliment" to the great P.R. career I had all planned out. He knew the real me would have to come out eventually and that I'd hate P.R.

* Mommy friends and co-workers -- I truly could not make it through life without other mothers/friends to confirm that I am not insane, it will get better, this too shall pass and it's all worth it.

Of all the lines I stood in during my 14 hours (yes, 14 hours) of shopping on Black Friday, Old Navy was the longest. (I didn't do any of the 5 a.m. stuff -- that's my running time!).

It was also the most fun.

A bunch of the other women I was shopping with that day were buying stuff there, so I was stuck waiting with them. I had one $10 shirt in my hand & seriously considered dumping it and telling the gang I'd meet them at Borders next door, but then, the Old Navy elves came out and actually made standing in line fun.

These high energy girls in Santa hats starting playing checkout line games and rewarding players with Old Navy coupons. My sister in law had a lip gloss in her purse and was one of the first three to come up with it (that girl knows where every item is in her purse) and she got a $3 coupon.

Next item, a watch on your right hand, Mom started yelling and got a coupon, too.

All of a sudden, the women standing in line(it was 96 percent women) were yelling, cheering and laughing.

Smart. Very, very smart.

Someone at corporate Old Navy said..."OK, we know we're going to have lines on Black Friday, how can we keep them happy?"

Fun, games & coupons. On what is typically one of the most miserable shopping days of the year.

Smart. Very, very smart.

Ladies...you need to see this.

Scratch that.

Everybody...you need to see this:

http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.ca/film_fullscreen_evo.html

(you'll have to copy & paste this into your browser, I can't seem to get the links in my blogs to work anymore.)

When the Steelers were getting pummeled on Sunday, I decided it was too nice of a day to stay inside and watch TV (especially since we were losing), rounded up the girls and we went out back for a walk in the "forest" as the girls call it -- it's really just the Wintergreen gorge which happens to run through our back yard.

Our neighbors have groomed elaborate trails through all our backyards for ATV riding, so it's a nice easy walk in the woods and we go down and throw rocks in the water, sometimes we bring back fossils or leaves for the girls to take to their preschool show and tell.

On Sunday, my older daughter brought back something we never intended.

A tick.

I didn't even notice it until Monday morning (she put on her own jammies that night), so this disgusting bug fed off my daughter's blood for a good 12 hours or so.

I was helping her get dressed for school Monday when I noticed something in the middle of her chest. On closer inspection, I knew immediately what it was and fought the instinct to scream "eeewwwww," knowing it would just make matters worse.

Darn husband was at hunting camp, so taking care of this tick was up to me.

"OK sweetie, I think you have a sliver, let's go downstairs & I'll just get it out, OK?" -- I managed to sing-song.

I have edited enough stories about ticks to know that I needed to get a hold of it at the head, so I got as close to her skin as I could and started pulling gently. Except that thing was not letting go. I can't believe how hard I had to yank to get that sucker out.

I'm pretty sure I killed it, but I wasn't taking any chances, so I flushed it.

I'm sure this is just the first of the bug battles I'll fight with my kids. I live in fear of the day they come home with lice -- doesn't every kid get that?

Sometimes being a Mom is disgusting.