Blog Hop iPad Giveaway

 And the Big News Is......

I am going to be hosting an iPad giveaway to coincide with the launching of my new blog:

I'm Raising a Monster

Here's how it's going to work:

1. There will be a total of 25 blogs participating.

2. The first 5 blogs are the ones that got in free...the other 20 pay $20 to help cover the cost of the iPad and shipping.  And if you do the math, it really doesn't cover all of it, so this is a GREAT bargain!!!

3. We will be using a rafflecopter form that I will provide by   Friday Jan 20.  

4. If, by some slim chance there is not a total of 25 blogs, we will extend the sign up for 3 days.  If after that, there still is not 25 blogs, then you will have your money refunded and we will try again in a month or so.

5.  I'm working on a button for you to put on your site, so please bear with me while I get this done.

You can go sign up for the blog hop, and you must have a blog, please fill out the form HERE

Shame on Lufkin Industries for Reverse Discrimination

*****WARNING--THIS POST DOES DEAL WITH DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE AND GENDER, IF YOU GET OFFENDED BY WHAT I WRITE HERE, PLEASE DO NOT READ IT.*****

My husband has been a faithful employee at Lufkin Industries since 2006. From that time until he was put on Long Term Medical Leave, he had only a couple of write ups. Now fast forward to this year. In June 2009, Lufkin Industries had to pay $5 Million in a discrimination case as seen here.  Now, In my opinion, Lufkin Industries is so afraid of another lawsuit, that they're practicing reverse discrimination.

Now, I'm half-mexican married to a white guy, and I am fairly open-minded.  But, when my WHITE husband gets put on "clean up duty" because he scrapped 1 part and had a write up for it, and there's a BLACK FEMALE that scraps parts on a regular basis (conservatively 1 part every two weeks) and NOT A SINGLE WRITE UP there's something wrong. Oh yeah, have I mentioned that it has been heard that the supervisor will tell this woman that "she's like the daughter he never had"? This alone shows the company playing favorites.

My husband has not been allowed to work on his machine since June while this lady scraps parts on a regular basis.  Now, Lufkin Industries is trying to make my husband take a job that pays $5 LESS an hour than what he has been making for about the last THREE YEARS!!!!!!!!

When my husband went back to work after his disability for an injury that he incurred during the Iraq War, the company had already given his job to another person because they did not think he was coming back.  So, when he did go back, they didn't know what to do with him. 

Does this seem right?  They have written him up four times, yet he only had one write up slip.  When he asked for copies of the other write ups, the company would not give them to him.  Now, Lufkin Industries has gone against their own UNION CONTRACT and given away a job without posting a job bid as stated in the contract.  There is a lot of playing of favorites at this company, and I feel my husband won't be working there very much longer because they are trying to make him quit.  They have created a hostile working environment to the point where he doesn't want to go to work and when at work, he does his job and doesn't really talk to anyone.  If any of my readers out there knows anyone that can help us with this situation, please let me know.  Also, please please pass this on to your friends and let Lufkin Industries know that reverse discrimination is as wrong as discrimination.  There should be equality in the workplace, not just with pay, but with how people are treated no matter what race or gender they are.  I know that there is a strong case here, and I'm really hoping that he is able to keep his position. 

This is reverse discrimination against a white male who also happens to be an Iraq AND Gulf War Veteran, who has had to have brain surgery for a TBI incurred during the war.  It doesn't seem fair, or right and yet, Lufkin Industries is able to get away with it.

Journey Pendant Giveaway

So I've been AWOL (Absent without leave) for a while.  This has been a hard year as I've had bronchitis a record 5 times (a record for me anyway).  So, I've not been feeling the greatest and have barely been online, and when I have been online, I've been slacking...to say the least. 

So, I figure I will end the year with a giveaway!!!!! There is one contest that I've entered Monster in and (when you see the pic) you have to admit, he's rather cute!  All you have to do for this giveaway is vote for him one time...but to give you extra entries, I'm going to include another contest (with daily voting) that I've entered our Christmas lights in.  This second contest is a gift card, and we could really use it right now as my car needs a new motor and I'm having to fight the warranty company for the repair.  Ack?!?!

Soo...without further ado.  Here's a pic of the Journey Pendant I will be giving away

Also as a footnote for those that stalk and try to cause problems for me...both of these contests say to get the word out...they do not say that I can't host a giveaway for votes...so please don't waste your time!!!


This will end on Dec 29 at Midnight!!! So it's a short and sweet giveaway!!

My First Refrigerator Art

           I'm the mother of 3 kids.  I have an 18 year old that I haven't seen since he was 5, and I have a 10 year old that I haven't seen since she was 4.  Until Friday, I never had "refrigerator art."  Other people take it for granted that their kids bring home papers from school....I never got to take my kids to school.  PJ was with his dad during school, and Em was stolen from me by that time. 

         Monster has been going to daycare now for almost a year, part time.  We decided on one day a week at first, on the advice of DH's counselor.  The shock for Monster was big, but he gradually got used to it.  The daycare said he wasn't playing with the other toys or kids there, so we decided to make it twice a week.  Then, about a month ago, Monster finally got moved up to the 2 year old room, and we decided to take him to daycare 3 days a week so that he can get used to other kids.  This has been a great decision.  Not only do DH and I get the "us" time, but now Monster is playing with the toys and other kids.  He's also in speech therapy. 

        Friday was the Christmas Party at daycare.  Like every mom, I took in a snack...I choose the cheese cubes off the list because Monster always likes those.  I saw his teachers working throughout the week on different things, and thought to myself it would be so cool for him to bring those home.  What surprised me was a little reindeer container that held the magic reindeer oats.  The antlers were made of cutouts of Monster's hands.  There was also a little gingerbread man that would go on the refrigerator.  When I saw these, I just sat there and cried for about 15 minutes because it took 18 years and 3 kids to get my first refrigerator art. 
  

         For all my friends that have never had to go through losing a child, cherish every minute with them.  And for those that have lost a child, you also will have your refrigerator art one day.  Merry Christmas everyone!  And I'm trying to set up a bunch of giveaways for next year.