So you just found out there's a sex offender living nearby....

Or perhaps you had no idea.  It is light outside till 8pm, your kids are out later. And if you live in a suburban area, chances are you might let your kids play unsupervised.  Which is fine, except I just found out that a level 3 sex offender moved in across the street from my niece last night.  Yes, the town is feverishly sending out the notices, as they must by law, to those who live within a mile of the registered sex offender's new address.  But in the mean time, I bet you don't know how many are nearby.  I found it imperative to get you educated on how to find out if there is a registered sex offender living near you.


There are multiple sites you can search:
http://www.familywatchdog.us/
On Family Watchdog, you can enter your street address and it will plot a map of any sex offenders in the area.


http://www.paroleboard.ri.gov/

Search by Town or Zip Code.  Sex Offender Fact Sheet Notification of Release in Rhode Island: 

It even provides a listing of Level III Offenders in the state. Sex Offender Community Notification Information. Pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws 11-37.1-1 ET SEQ., the individuals who appears below have been designated a Level III Sex Offender by the Sex Offender Board of Review and/or the Superior Court. The Board and/or the Court have determined that this individual is at a high risk to re-offend and that the degree of dangerousness posed to the public is such that a public safety interest is served by the providing information below to the public availability of notification information

http://sorb.chs.state.ma.us/

Sex Offender Registry Board of Massachusetts

To obtain a list of offenders in a geographical area (County, City or Postal code) enter information in that field only. For example; entering “Boston” or "Bos" in the “City” field and leaving all other fields blank will result in a listing of Level 3 offenders registered in the City of Boston.

http://www.communitynotification.com/cap_office_disclaimer.php?office=54567

Connecticut Sex Offender Registry

Use this search to view all published offenders within a specified radius of your home, business, school or other desired address.


http://www.nsopw.gov/Core/Portal.aspx
Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website

http://www.ice.gov/predator/

US Immigration and Customs Investigation on Child Exploitation and Operation Predator.

http://www.missingkids.com

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. 

It's Not A Race, Unless I Win

One of the funnier things I notice about my children is how they can make everything or nothing into a race.  And only if they win, is it a race.

I win! I made it to the toilet first.
I win! I got dressed first.
I win! I got in the bath first.

No you didn't. It wasn't a race!

Then the crying begins.  No, I wanted to stand on the toilet.  No, I was supposed to shut off the tv.  You get the idea.  So besides being parents, we are also referees attempting to state the rules of the game.  Gentlemen, you must adhere to these rules. In the mornings, Mudget may stand on the toilet to brush his teeth.  In the evening, Booger may have access to the toilet.  If and only if the other brother or parents state they may have a turn, may the switch occur.  The television will be shut off by the eldest brother in the mornings on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and by the youngest on Fridays and every other Monday.

All this just to keep the peace. Friendly competition can be good.  Brotherly competition will eventually turn into fighting match.  I am just waiting for the first black eye.

DINK and DITK: a friendship story

Double income no kids. Double income two kids. How do friends of different life stages stay friends? Dunno, but I can tell u how my girl friend Liz and I have been doing it for over 20 years.  

We are 31. There I said it. We've known each other since the 3 rd grade. We've been through graduations, divorces, deaths, weddings, medical problems, and births. She even was present for the birth of both of my kids. Liz does not have children partly because mine are like living birth control. 

Throughout the years, we have always made it a point to have a girls' nights.  When we were young(er), we used to go adventure driving, play pool or just watch movies.  Now, we go out to eat, have a drink or just chill at each other's house.  And even though there a weeks at a time that we don't talk or see each other, we know in the blink of an eye we would drop things to avert a crisis for each other. Don't know why it works, it just does. I think part if it is that each accept each others lives as what they are. I can't always go out and she can't always come over. But when we do have the off chance to get together, we enjoy it. Sometimes with a good beer or glass of sangria. 

So call your girlfriend and set up a day to get together. Cancel.  Reschedule. Cancel. And reschedule again and enjoy the company.