Tag Archives: Ohio

What I Learned This Week – 12/1/13

Big Tree at The Toledo Zoo

Big Tree at The Toledo Zoo

I learned this week that my son has natural ice-skating abilities.  Well, to be more specific, at least he was not afraid to try it.  My son M had his 3rd birthday this week.  To celebrate, we went to the Toledo Zoo to see their Lights Before Christmas.  I had not been in years.  My husband and son had never been.  And this year the zoo was featuring ice skating as well.  My son had never been ice skating before.  I, for one, was very excited to go.

My husband and I took our ice skates and we rented some for M for only $3.  M could both stand and walk around on his skates off of the ice.  On the ice, he was able to stand by himself without falling.  When it came to the actual skating, he didn’t quite have the hang of it.  My husband had to hold onto him as they skated around.  But my son wasn’t scared of it, as he was with Santa Claus and Tow Mater.  He even asked to go back out when we took a break.

So sweet!

So sweet!

I could have stayed there all day.  But, alas, it was dark and cold and we all got hungry.  Maybe we will make it back again yet this year.

When we were headed home and I went to put my son in the car, I had to get him into his car seat while wearing his winter coat and snow pants, plus a few layers underneath.  I said, “I have to squeeze you in your seat like a sausage.  You are a sausage boy.”

He replied, “I not a sausage boy.  I a cake boy.”

I had made him a semi-elaborate cake earlier in the day.  I found the comment very funny.  I will post more on his birthday cake in a later post.

I also learned that the awesome version of “Carol of the Bells” that the zoo was using for their synchronized lights was by an artist named Callann Lane (a.k.a. Cali).  It is awesome and sort of electronic sounding.  I have liked the version by the TransSiberian Orchestra called “Christmas Eve Sarajevo” for a number of years.  But this year, I am digging on this version.

What I Learned This Week – 11/17/13

This week I learned that scar tissue is less dense than regular tissue.

I found myself near my favorite tattoo place, Studio 14, this week and stopped in to get my ear lobe repierced. It got infected a few years ago and it closed up. I was sick of my earrings being at two different levels, so I figured it was time to get the situation remedied.

The guy pierced my ear with an actual needle. Previously, I had only had the piercing guns do the job. But I totally get that if you are going to be piercing strange parts of people’s bodies, it would be way easier with just a needle.

The piercing guy told me, “Oh, I can tell there is scar tissue in there. Scar tissue is less dense than regular tissue. That went through like butter.”

Um, ew. That grossed me out. Now I picture my earlobe looking like a sponge on the inside.

New earring is the fake diamond bling one.

New earring is the fake diamond bling one.

I also learned that you should never underestimate the amount of chocolate you need to buy.

Before I went to the tattoo parlor, I was shopping at an outdoor mall I had never been to before, Levis Commons. (A direct quote from my asbestos friend: “I just don’t see the logic of an outdoor mall in Ohio. They were big in Arizona, but you never had to deal with snow and rain and coats and such.” And I would say that I sort of have to agree with her.)

It wasn’t very stroller friendly, and the only stores my son & I really liked were the Crazy 8 children’s clothing store (which is like a Gymboree clearance store) and Schakolad Chocolate Factory. Hey, I just sounded out the name–funny!

Anyway, I only bought 6 pieces of chocolate at the chocolate store. And I had to share some with my son. It was more expensive than a Hershey bar from the grocery store, but totally worth it. The Milk Chocolate Red Velvet tasted just like a cake pop. The White Chocolate Lemon was also awesome. I sooo wish I had more to eat, like, right this second.

This is the empty bag from the chocolates that are long gone.  But it still smells chocolatey inside!

This is the empty bag from the chocolates that are long gone. But it still smells chocolatey inside!

I thought they would have found the missing boys by now

I had my son the day after Thanksgiving, 2010. We were in the hospital for four days. I felt like I was on a vacation for those four days. A vacation where they cut you open, remove a person, don’t let you sleep or leave the room. As you can guess, I lost touch with the outside world over that long weekend.

The missing Skelton boys


So when I got home, I was surprised to hear about this big story in the local news that was in full swing. A father had failed to return his three sons to their mother on the day after Thanksgiving in Morenci, Michigan. Pictures of the three boys angelic faces were plastered all over the news and businesses. The father gave some bull-shit story about giving them to some woman and that they were safe. Big groups of volunteers searched the rural farm country and woods near Morenci. My husband’s best friend was one of them. But not a trace was found. I was concerned for my husband, because he goes deer and turkey hunting in that area. I didn’t want him to be the one to discover their bodies in some secluded wooded spot. But he hasn’t gone hunting since my son was born. (My husband has been a little busy nurturing our offspring.)

Andrew Skelton


The police department has since declared the case a homicide investigation. In lieu of finding the bodies, the father was charged with kidnapping. I know cases can go unsolved indefinitely, but…I thought they would have found the missing boys by now. Whose “they”? Anyone. The police, a farmer, a concerned citizen. It is coming up on two years since they went missing. That is two spring plantings. That is almost two harvests. That is several hunting seasons. Floods. Drought. It seems like something should have unearthed them BY NOW! I can understand one body laying undiscovered, but three?

Alexander Skelton


I wanted to write about this case because it bothers me that it is still unsolved, as I’m positive it bothers the Skelton boys’ mother, family, and anyone who heard and remembers the news story. (Obviously it doesn’t bother the ass-hole dad who isn’t talking.) This story makes me feel all (to quote Phoebe Buffay) floopy inside. In a bad way. I believe it might be because it could have just been another news story to me. Except at a time when I was just bringing a life into the world and just beginning to learn to be a parent, all that was ripped away from someone else–threefold. So, read my blog, take a good look at their pictures. If you see anything suspicious with three kids that look like them, report it. If you have lots of land or unused outbuildings, give them a look. Especially if you live in Lenawee County, Michigan or nearby Fulton County, Ohio.

Tanner Skelton


Here is a link to the Facebook page dedicated to finding the boys: Missing ~ Skelton Brothers, Morenci, Michigan

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