The "N" Word

Why do so many young people drop the "N" word every time your turn around like it's nothing? I hate that word, it drives me absolutely insane. Why did that word have to become such a popular word any how? Want to be white people use that word more than black people. Everyone is a "N" according to them.  Black or white, no matter what you may be, I think that word should be left alone. Its "N" this and "N" that. I just want to tell them to shut the hell up and go back to school and learn proper English. I am no angel, but that is a word I just don't get. Why would you want to call someone a derogatory name and think it's cool? What about black people calling each other that word? What are they thinking? Thank God my husband doesn't use that word, because I probably wouldn't have given him the chance to get to know him well enough to fall in love with him. That word was used during slavery and segregation.  African Americans fought for their freedom and to be treated fairly. So, why would they call each other that name? STOP USING THAT WORD! (Yes, I'm Shouting)

Lack of Posts

I apologize for the lack of posts lately. I'm experiencing writers block and I just started a new job so I have to find time to get my writing in. No Congratulations necessary, it's one of those crappy jobs until something else comes up.

Happy Birthday Sammy!

My little lady bug will be turning 10 years old tomorrow. My sweet little baby with rosey cheeks is growing up. Happy Birthday my little princess!

Scammers

I am so tired of applying for jobs and sending them my personal information such as; my email address, my home address, my education and work history and my cell phone number.  Then the jobs turn out to be scams asking you to do things that sound just a tad bit fishy.  All those scammers out there have my personal information. How scary is that? Millions of people being out of work has opened up a whole new can of worms. Millions of people out there are scrounging around looking for legit jobs and sending there personal information out there over the net just to find a job and there are plenty of people out there sitting there thinking up schemes to get people to do illegal things and try and scam people into filling out false credit checks to apply for fake jobs just to steel their personal information. It is literally a shame what this country has come to.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Thanksgiving Delights

On Thanksgiving Day we’re thankful for

Our blessings all year through,

For family we dearly love,

For good friends, old and new.

For sun to light and warm our days,

For stars that glow at night,

For trees of green and skies of blue,

And puffy clouds of white.

We’re grateful for our eyes that see

The beauty all around,

For arms to hug, and legs to walk,

And ears to hear each sound.

The list of all we’re grateful for

Would fill a great big book;

Our thankful hearts find new delights

Everywhere we look!

By Joanna Fuchs



A "New Reality"

Velma Hall is just one of the many Americans faced with a "new reality." Velma Hall addressed President Obama about her concerns about the what is happening to Americans at The Town Hall Meeting in September. The economy made a quick spiral downwards in 2006. Many Americans failed to see the economy dropping in 2006 and prepare themselves for harder times. Me included, I kept holding on to maybe things will pick up soon and here I am in the same position as Velma Hall and many other Americans. I think Obama needed to hear it from a middle class American what we are going through. Sometimes when your sitting up there in your own comfortable world you forget what it is like being on the bottom. I don't blame our current economic situation on Obama. The economy was in a mess before Obama got into office. We are just feeling all the effects of the spiral downward. Our middle class is falling right through the bottom. There were over a million positions eliminated in the past three years. Over a million middle class jobs have been cut and we are left struggling trying to find jobs. The jobs we are qualified to do have been practically eliminated. It seems that it doesn't matter how educated you are or how qualified you are. Many of the jobs you apply for, you have over 200 people applying for the same position. One thing I am so tired of hearing is your "over qualified" for the position. Many of us are over qualified for the positions we are applying for. We have no choice. I made $20 an hour and now I am applying for minimum wage jobs just to pay the bills. When I went to college, I thought I was securing my future. Now, with two college degrees and 10 years experience as an office manager I am having a difficult time finding a job. I have the skills and the education. Send out anywhere from five to fifteen resumes a week. So, where are the jobs? Thank God, my husband still has his job. I can't imagine what the couples are going through where both of them had experienced a job loss. Is this our "new reality"? I really hope not.

Once Upon A Child

If you can find a Once Upon A Child close by it is a good place to exchange your gently used clothing for money, giving you money to buy more clothes for your child.  Once Upon A Child paid me $6.50 for four pairs of pants. But, the catch is you have to find one that is not over crowded with boxes. I took back clothing to sell and they only took four pairs of pants out of an entire box. A few of the things were shirts with the tags still on because I bought them for my son and he never wore them, including a nice winter coat I bought at the end of the season on clearance thinking I would get a jump on next winter and he refused to wear it because he said it was too puffy and of course he grew more than expected over the summer. I sold clothing to Once Upon A Child when my oldest was little and I was in college and it was well worth my time to gather them up and take them in. But, the one up here I found seems to be overcrowded with clothing and isn't buying very much. I think the economy has a little to do with that. People are always looking for ways to make some extra money.

Skin So Soft Anti-Perspirant Product Review

Skin So Soft Anti-Perspirant gives you more bang for your buck. It is an excellent deodorant at an affordable price. Skin So Soft Deodorant has a light scent with all day protection.  Compared to the average pricing you pay in the drug store or grocery store at $1.99-$6.00. You can buy Skin So Soft Deodorant for $0.99. Avon sells deodorant for men and women. When your on a tight budget, ordering your deodorants and other everyday products from Avon can save you money.

Order Online

www.youravon.com/taraedwards

Avon- Over $200 Dazzling Holiday Gifts

Be sure to check out my online store at http://youravon.com/taraedwards. Don't miss out on the great deals. Hurry this Catalogue special ends November 29th.

Family & The Holidays....

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays of the year. It's right up there with the Fourth of July. It's one of the only holidays that is about spending time with family and friends and the food.  I love the turkey, stuffing and the sweet potatoes. By the time I fill up on the main course, I could care less about the dessert. When I was in the gym working out today, everyone was talking about what everyone would be doing for Thanksgiving and the different ways to make a turkey or how they are just having dinner alone because no one is talking to anyone. It's funny how some people just think of Thanksgiving as a day off and would prefer to go to a restaurant. I think how sad it is that family just isn't important to so many people. A lot of people just aren't close with their family, me included. Everyone is so wrapped up and themselves and their grudges to enjoy life. People stop talking to one another and before you know it, years have passed and they don't even know their own parents, children, sisters, brothers, or even their own grandchildren anymore It is funny how people treat strangers better than their own family members. Most of the time, the arguments are over something silly compared to the real problems in life. Is it really worth it? I am really disappointed myself with my own relationships with my family. My children barely know their own grandparents or aunt and uncle. My children think of my husband's family more as family then their own because they really don't even know them very well. I am grateful for some of my husband's family members. They have always treated me and my children as family even before we were married. My children have very few memories of their grandparents. A card in the mail on birthdays or holidays is grandparents? It's sad, but so very true. Even their own father is a lousy father and doesn't have very much to do with them other than a few hours a week, literally only a few hours a week then he drops them off. The funny thing is, whenever you go to a funeral or something by the time someone has passed is when people wish they had spent more time with them or maybe been a better mother, father, daughter, or son. It's the end when they have their regrets and it's too late because they are gone and you can no longer turn back time and fix the things you didn't fix when they were alive. Even when it's your time to go, if they know they are passing the time is spent wishing you had done things differently or spent more time with your family. But, now you can't because your out of time. If you ever learn anything in life, learn you can't go back and change things when it's too late, your time here is limited and don't wait until it's too late to mend the relationships of your family. Love the people around you because that is what really all that matters. Stubbornness and grudges leaves you in a very lonely sad place. Thanksgiving is supposed to be about spending time with family and friends. So this Thanksgiving, I will be grateful for the family I do have. Enjoy your holiday everyone!

Anything For A High

In South Africa people are stealing AIDS drugs and mixing them with marijuana to get a better high. They call this concoction whoonga. That is a strange name, but I'm sure it means something that gives you a great high. AIDS expert Dr. Njabulo Maboso says that there's no evidence that AIDS drugs enhances a high or are addictive. They do something if patients are being robbed for them. They say dealers mix it with marijuana and sell it for a higher prices. I guess the dealers make more of a profit that way. Oh well, anything to make a buck and get high.

Congress Got Richer In 2008 While We Got Poorer

I had thought about doing a blog on how the personal wealth of congressional members grew by 16% between 2008 and 2009. In 2007, congressional members personal wealth increased by 13%. Do you see a trend yet? I do. They got richer while the country was in one of the worst economic times. I decided against writing a blog on all the details, because I would spend the entire blog cussing out Congress.

 Compare the two & think about it.



Remember this pic? Michigans
in 2008 Standing in the line
at the Unemployment office.



What the hell does he have to look so grim about? He

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) tops the list with holdings exceeding $303.5 million.

Palin Needs To Keep Her Mouth Shut

I know I may ruffle some feathers, but I really don't care. Sarah Palin needs to keep her mouth shut. No one knew about her before old man McCain picked her as a running mate. I'm no politcal know it all, but that was clearly a ruse if I ever saw one. She was brought on board to try and lock down the women's vote in the 2008 election. Everyone knows if Obama picked Hillary Clinton or if Clinton ran herself she wouldnt've even been thought of as a vice presidential candidate. Now she's pondering a run in 2012 and says that she could be Obama. I think she's delusional. Is her 15 minutes up yet, because I'm tired of being bombarded by her and her family.  

Mr.E

Michigan Schools Join The Fight Against Childhood Obesity

Coming November 25th Michigan schools are joining the fight against childhood obesity. Which I think is great. The schools are feeding our kids too much junk. Middle Schools and High Schools are worse than the elementary schools.  They give the kids too many options such as eating pizza and fries everyday. They're kids, if you give them options like that, they are going to go for the pizza and fries.  The schools also have fruit roll ups and candy bars for the kids to buy. Parents with kids who have ADHD are trying to keep the candy and sweets and dyes from our children. All the sugar and dyes make a child with ADHD bounce off the walls and then they give them the option of buying candy bars and fruit roll ups. When they can no longer control them they tell you to put your kid on Ritalin. They use the lame excuse, kids should be able to make healthy choices by the time they are in Middle School. But, tell me a kid or even a teenager who will pick the healthy choices over pizza, fries and candy bars and I will show you a pig that can fly. I don't necessarily agree banning cup cakes as part of the birthday celebration. It won't hurt them to have an occasional cup cake. But, if it means the schools will have to follow stricter guidelines for what they feed our kids. I guess I can live with it.

Mac's Limited Edition Shadows

Mac's Limited Edition Shadows. Get your favorite shades before they disappear. A little secret maybe you don't know, save your mac containers and turn them in. You get a free lip stick for every six containers you return. The last time I went in to replenish my stock of Mac Make Up, I got two free lip sticks. You can get your favorite Mac colors at Macy's or at http://www.maccosmetics.com/

Aqua

Crest The Wave (Very Similar to Going Bananas)

Frosted Red Bronze

Going Bananas

Lime Green

Sky Blue



Straw Harvest



Crazy Cool
Pale frosty lavender (Veluxe Pearl)

Cross Cultural

Louder Please (Yes, that's the name & I love the shade!)

A Nasty Little Surprise For A Squirrel

I opened my front door to check my mail and I heard a plunk and out of the corner of my eye I see a squirrel get up and run off the front porch. That little squirrel got a big surprise. I'm surprised he didn't stumble off the porch. He will probably avoid porches for awhile.

Cubans Critical Of New Video Game

Cuban officials have harsly criticized a new video game, saying U.S. special forces try to kill Fidel Castro. The game in question is Call Of Duty: Black Ops, which went on sale Tuesday.

The government website, Cubdadebate, says that "it will turn American children into sociopaths" and  "What the United States couldn't do in 50 years, they are trying to do virtually". This has to do with past efforts of trying to take out the Cuban leader.

I find it ridiculous that they take offense to what happens in a video game. Secondly I hardly think that it will turn kids into sociopaths. That has more to do with what their parents teach them and kids differentiating the difference between real and fake. Furthermore, there are plenty of grown men, professional athletes and entertainers included that play this game.

To the people in Cuba that still support the Castro regime, stop being paranoid. Father time will soon run him down. 

Kroger & Their 10 Participating Items

Is anyone else irritated with Kroger's 10 participating items deal or is it just me? Sometimes it can be a good deal but the whole hassle with counting your items to make sure you get the $5.00 off is really irritating. Because not always do I need all 10 items and I don't like being forced to buy all ten if I want to get the sale price. Add walking through the store counting your sale items is just too damn time consuming and too much of a hassle and why is it you think you have all the items, but you check out and for some reason you don't have enough of them. The last time I checked, I do know how to count to 10. It's crazy, I end up leaving the store forgetting some of the items I went there for because I am too busy counting. Then if you decide to pick up an item that is one of the participating items, you have to decide "Will I have enough of the participating items to get the sale? There has been more than one occasion where I have just opted out of buying the item so I could get the sale because I wouldn't have enough items to get the sale price or just didn't feel like sitting there trying to figure it out. So, Kroger is losing money because I put it back instead of picking it up because it was on sale. I'm sure I am not the only one who has put items back on the shelf because it wasn't neccessiary and you didn't have enough items to get the sale price. Don't make getting sale items a game or try to twist my arm to try and make me pick up 2 or 3 more participating items to get the sales on the ones I do need. Maybe if enough people go to their website kroger.com and complain then maybe they will stop running the 10 participating items and just put the shit on sale!  It's just too much damn work for the grocery store. Maybe it's time to find a new place to do my grocery shopping because I don't want to deal with the irritation of counting my items as I am going through the grocery store. It's a WASTE of my time!

Human Trafficking- The Sex Slave Trade Industry

Human Trafficking has become a billion dollar business. Ad posting pages like CraigsList has aided in the industry growing in the United States. The same place where you look for furniture or cars also has young girls and children for sale. The adult services on CraigsList make it easier for them to move the girls and children selling them to the highest bidder as a sex slave. Men prey upon young girls in foreign countries who wish to come to the United States in pursuit of the American dream, young runaways and young girls traveling alone. The traffickers fly the young women to the United States promising to help them find a place to live and a job so they can send money to their families.  Once they get the women or young girls here, they put them up in an apartment, get them jobs at local strip clubs or put them in pornography or on the streets to prostitute for them. Some of the young girls are brought here and forced to work in sweat shops or braiding hair for long hours. They tell the women they have to work off what it cost to bring them here and if they don't their families will be hurt or killed. Many of these young women are forced to work long hours and are raped. Right here in Metro Detroit a strip club on 8 Mile, Cheetahs On The Strip have been guilty of working young girls who have been victims of the sex trade.  The club works the girls from 2:00 pm until 2:00 am six days a week. Then the girls are forced to turn over every dollar they make to their captors. The number of girls and young children sold into the sex slave trade is higher than you think.

100,000 American children or more are victims of child prostitution and trafficking each year said Ernie Allen, CEO for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, in testimony before Congress in July.

12-14 is the average age range in which girls become prostitutes.

11-13 is the average age range in which boys become prostitutes.

1,100 children or more have rescued from June 2003 to  September 2010, through an FBI effort know as Project Innocence Lost.

600 offenders have been convicted through Project Innocence Lost.

388 arrests and 148 Indictments

165 human trafficking convictions were obtained by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in 2009

Happy Veterans Day! Honoring Our American Hereos

Heroes

By Jared Jenkins

In war, there are lives risked and lives taken

Men and women giving their best to defend what they love

They defend their country

Their honor

Their people

Some call them soldiers

Others call them heroes

Our veterans have risked their lives for us

They have lived through hell and fought with honor

Many have killed

And regret doing so

For every life, there is a soul

For every soul, there is a life

For those who have died, we show great appreciation and remembrance

For those who live, along with them live the horrific memories of battle

Some, memories of defeat

Some, memories of victory

Our veterans were more than soldiers

They were, and still are heroes

Seabees in Phu Bai Or Red Beach 1966-1967-1968 MCB-1 and MCB 121



Lt Joseph J. Rhodes Killed in action 1967 Vietnam Tank Mine



Jon R. Morvay

Killed in Action About 1967 Near PhuBai Vietnam He was about 19 years old, and Died from a mine. 3rd Class Petty Officer U.S.Navy Seabees NMCB-121 Delta Co

Dennis Tharp (My Uncle)

My Hubby Chris- Served 4 yrs. in the U.S. Navy



Nut Allergies

My daughter had a severe allergic reaction to something yesterday. She broke out in a rash all over her and her breathing was sounding a little raspy. When I got her to the emergency room her vitals were running a little low. Talk about scary.  She had to be taken to the emergency room. They only thing out of the ordinary we can link it to is the birthday cake we bought from Kroger for my son's birthday. She has a severe allergy to nuts. Her allergy to nuts is so severe that if someone is eating peanut butter next to her, she will have a reaction. We can't even keep it in the house. Two years ago, she had a reaction to my son eating a peanut butter sandwich and spent Thanksgiving morning in the emergency room. But, there wasn't supposed to be nuts in the cake. She didn't eat the cake on Sunday when we bought it, but she ate the cake Monday night. When she woke up, She was covered in a rash. The worst I have ever seen. The bakeries should be a little more cautious about making sure the surfaces and cookware they use are clean and free from any debris what so ever. The people who work in the bakeries forget that nut allergies is one of the worst food allergies and can be life threatening. I am seriously thinking about taking her emergency room papers up to Kroger to speak with someone there. Not that it would do any good. They will probably deny it had anything to do with their cake.

My little boy has a date!!!!!

This dreaded day has come. My 11 year old son has a date for the dance on Friday. Girls are no longer considered yucky to him. Yesterday my son asked if he could go to the dance on Friday. So, I said okay, he's in middle school now. Well, then announces he has a date. My first instinct was to say "No, you can't. Your too young!" I felt my stomach drop to the floor. But, I didn't say no. I just asked "with who?" He proceeds to tell me "Luz, the new girl at school." So, I told him, "Okay, if your old enough to have a date for the dance you have to save your allowance money and pay for the tickets." I raised him well. He said "I know, I have $12.00 saved for the dance so I can buy our tickets." Where did he learn that from? I didn't teach him the boys are supposed to pay for the date yet. I didn't have a chance to. I never planned on him liking girls so early. I am definitely not ready for this. Thank God, my husband can give him the little talk about the "Birds & The Bees" because being a mother, I have no clue how to go about that with boys. My daughter is turning 10 in a few short weeks and I was dreading that I will have to talk to her about her little monthly friend that will be coming to visit her before I know it. I wasn't thinking about my son liking girls at such a young age. I should have known it was coming with him with all his new found concern about his hair, clothes and wearing deodorant and cologne. Not to mention his cell phone is glued to him at all times and there is an initial in his phone under contacts that turned out to be for a girl!!! He's 11 and he deletes his text messages!!! I don't remember growing up so quickly. Now it just seems to happening so fast and I'm not ready for it.

Winner At The Porn Shop

In this world there's all kinds of luck. This story involves every kind of luck.

A man, from who knows where in Michigan goes to the Uptown Book Store in Highalnd Park,Michigan. That's not any book store. It's an adult book store. Well, he decided to buy a Powerball ticket in addition to porn, if he was buying some. It turns out he was the winner of the $128 million jackpot. Some luck. You go to check out some porn and you wind up a millionaire.

After all these years of playing it straight, you know, buying my tickets at the local party store or 7-11, I don't win a damn thing. I never knew those kind of stores sold lottery tickets. Maybe if i frequent more of them I might get lucky while looking for a little porn.

Mr.E

Domestic Violence

Christina Aguilera - I'm OK

Stay At Home Moms

Why is it seems like we have just as little time as stay at home mom's as we did when we were working full time? Is it because we are home more so we pay more attention to detail and our homes are cleaner than they were when we were working or is it our family picks up less after themselves because they know we are home to clean up after them. It seems like the work is never done. Here it is 12:30 and I just finished cleaning and I am still working on the the laundry. Yes, I woke up at 7:00, so I didn't spend the morning sleeping as some people think stay at home mom's do. I am not a stay at home mom by choice. I would love to be back in the work force. If only I could find a job again that would accommodate my children's school schedule. Being a man is so much easier than being a woman. The only thing men have to do is get up and get dressed for work, and yes work all day. But, then they can come home and relax. Their home is clean and their dinner is ready for them. Men don't worry about limiting their work schedule to accommodate their children's schedule. Women on the other hand, we get up, get the kids ready for school, clean the house before going to work and maybe throw some laundry in then go to work and work 8 hours. Then come home cook dinner and give the house a quick pick up again and then do dishes after dinner. It's only been a month and half since I have been out of the work force again. Even with all that in mind. I would love going back to work. If only the economy was better and there were more jobs out there. But for now, I'm a stay at home mom again. I forgot how much work it could be.

Little Boys & Little Girls

Today was my son's 11th Birthday Party. What a joy. It's like the boys get some kind of twisted joy out of antagonizing my daughter. She doesn't help things either. She will run in her brother's room and call him and his friends names and then run away. When they come back and call her names, she comes crying and tells on them pretending like she didn't do anything to get it started. Then later they will go downstairs and call her names and do things to make her cry and then she will come upstairs crying. When you call for the boys, they all come upstairs laughing with red faces swearing they didn't do anything. But, then again when their to blame, they never do anything. If only that was true, we wouldn't have the problems we have. So Sammy says "When it's my birthday, no boy's are allowed. Not even Chris. They have to go somewhere."  God help me. Am I going to make it until their 18th Birthday?

Making Babies

When your older and trying to have a baby, it seems like you do the craziest things. Take you temperature in the morning, time your sex, pee on a stick just to see if your ovulating, pump yourself full of hormones and vitamins and then lay there in bed with a pillow under your ass and try really hard not move, sneeze or cough after having sex One of the hardest things is they pump you full of hormones and then tell you to only have sex every other day. That's just cruel! At that point your a walking hormone.  Jeez oh man, it was much easier when we were younger. All we had to do was just have sex. Two of my three children weren't even planned. Now it's a lot of work, just to get knocked up.

Bada Bing Lincoln Park

I don't have anything against strip clubs, but club Bada Bing is in the news or newspaper at least once a month. They are in today's paper for a manager stealing a safe in two blenders. We are familiar with the most recent stories of the underage stripper, a man tortured in the basement and the strippers who were caught without their cabaret license to perform. I don't know how that club stays in business with all their fines and trouble they have going on in there. Personally, I would stay away from that place because you never know when trouble is going to break out.  You would think the club owner would clean that place up and fly right so he would get better business. The strip clubs with a good reputation have men and women lining up to get in.

Happy Birthday Mr. Boo

Happy Birthday Adam !!!!

Children should come with a remote so parents can hit the rewind button. I'm not ready for my only son to grow up yet.



Mr. Boo @ age 4 (My sweet little boy)







                                             

                                                       My Mr. Boo just a few years ago (Such a hansome young man).





Mr. Boo at age 11 (Can we rewind please?)

Election Day 2010

Voting day is here. According to the news there were plenty of disappointed voters at the polls today. I'm not surprised. I'm sorry to say, I didn't vote. I didn't find any one candidate worth standing in line for. I guess you can clump me in with the rest, there is no good choices this year. Yes, you still have a right to complain even though you didn't vote. You pay your taxes, don't you? That gives you a right to vote. People are disappointed with the economy and feel like it doesn't matter who you vote for, no one is really going to make the change we are looking for. Politicians don't understand what the average person is going through. They don't feel the economic hardship that has hit Americans hard. They don't drive through our neighborhoods and see the empty houses with foreclosure signs on them or know your neighbors who had to move in with family members or your kids friends who can no longer afford the simple things in life, such as a phone. I can't count how many times, my kids complained they were bored and I told them to call their friend and they said "I can't because their phone is shut off." Governor Granny Panties just about destroyed the state of Michigan. Well, she helped finish off what the US Government didn't finish. Back in my college days, I was full of hope for the U.S. Government. But, that hope has faded to a slight glimmer of light that is about to burn out. I am beginning to believe no one can restore this county back to the economic state it was in prior to Bush getting into office or at the beginning of his term before all his policies took affect. Those were the days when I lived a comfortable lifestyle and just about anyone could find a job in less than a week. Now your lucky if you can find a job in under 2 years. Just about everyone knows someone who is laid off.

The "purple drank"

Kids found a dangerous concoction to get high, referred to as the "purple drank or city syrup."  Kids are mixing cough syrup with codeine, with sprite, rum or vodka. The drink was popularized in Houston and by the rap scene, where the drink got it's name "city syrup." The purple-ish hue of Purple Drank comes from dyes in the cough syrup. Recently, the term has expanded to cover mixtures including over-the-counter cough syrup. Other terms for Purple Drank include Purple Oil, Sizzurp, Drank, Purple Tonic, Serbian Intestinal Scum Drizzank, Southern Lean, Texas Tea, Memphis Mud, Mrs. Dranklesworth, Derek’s Dookie Sauce, Tsikuni, Lean, Syrup, P-Flav, Slip, Purple Sprite, Surp, Bazzigazzulp (a portmanteau of Big Gulp and hip-hop slang), PG Tips, and Purp or sprite with syrup and a jolly rancher.