I was recently shocked to learn that I wear mom jeans. Can you imagine? A married woman, in her mid thirties, with children no less, wearing mom jeans. Oh the horror, or so the informative blog article told me. It seems the tides have turned and Old Navy and Gap jeans are no longer cutting it. There were pictures of a woman trying on various jeans, and indeed her posterior did look much better in the clubbing at 2 am jeans (that's the opposite of mom jeans, right?). Why should I care how my rear view is perceived by strangers? I want to look nice for my husband, I want to present myself as well groomed, but I am not looking to attract attention with my derriere. What kind of person is looking any way? Do I really want to encourage this behavior?
One Sunday I was having a really bad ugly day. My hair would not do what I wanted, my clothes looked wrong, and makeup wasn't helping. In hindsight, I know it was my attitude of the day and not reality, but I felt hideous. We were running late for church and Rocky was trying to get me out the door. Almost to tears I said, "I'm just trying to look attractive."
He replied in a mockingly accusatory tone, "Who are you trying to attract?"
"Um,...you?"
"Good. Done. Get in the car."
That exchange changed my life. I now dress for comfort, to be pretty, and to present my best self, but never to be "attractive". If my best self is being sat on, than I've got bigger problems than mom jeans.
Out of curiosity I looked to see what these magic jeans would cost. What is the price on a glorious gluteus maximus ? The top two picks were between $98 and $198. Seriously? What kind of mother spends $200 on jeans just because the $25 ones at Old Navy have wide set long pockets? I need that width. I put my phone in my back pocket. I won't even pay full price for Old Navy Jeans!
I have decided that I am very content with my mom jeans. The sagging, the long zippers, and the dreaded pockets that elongate my back side are a badge of honor. They tell the world that my family come before fashion. My bottom is not more important than my bottom line. If you don't like the way it looks then stop looking. I am comfortable!
Friday, October 26, 2012
Sunday, October 21, 2012
My Jewish Pajamas
We finally caved and turned our heat on for the nights this week, the bathroom space heater reappeared, and it is fuzzy socks and flannel pajamas time, too. I love having a nice (ish) pair of matching flannel pajamas. It makes them seem less ho-hum when there are little ice skating penguins on them. Since I am terribly hard to shop for otherwise, fuzzy warm things often appear for me under the Christmas tree. Last year I managed to actually make up a wish list for myself, which resulted in me not getting pajamas. I hit the after Christmas sales and got a great bargain on the only pair left in my size. After I got them home I realized that I had bought myself Hanukkah jammies. It's not like they have menorahs and Dreidels on them, but they are blue with white snowflakes that form doves. As I wondered if it was okay for a Baptist to wear Jewish PJ's, Rocky tried to tell me that articles of clothing do not have a religious affiliation. I had three words for him. Mormon. Temple. Apparel. Argument won, or at least left confused, which is sort of like winning.
Then the whole debate started of whether or not colors could be co-oped by a group. Obviously, since breast cancer is pink, the answer is yes.
After we settled that I was right, I decided to back up my thoughts with facts. Christmas colors are red to symbolize the blood of Christ and green to represent the everlasting love of God (evergreen- everlasting...). Blue is for vigilance, truth and loyalty, perseverance and justice. White covers peace and honesty. Those are the colors used on the flag of Israel, traditional prayer shawls, and as the colors of Hanukkah. An argument might could be made against Christmas colors (Constantine, pagans, the Saturnalia festival...), but the Hanukkah colors are pretty solid.
So, there you go. Useless fact of the day learned. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to put on my Jewish pajamas.
Then the whole debate started of whether or not colors could be co-oped by a group. Obviously, since breast cancer is pink, the answer is yes.
After we settled that I was right, I decided to back up my thoughts with facts. Christmas colors are red to symbolize the blood of Christ and green to represent the everlasting love of God (evergreen- everlasting...). Blue is for vigilance, truth and loyalty, perseverance and justice. White covers peace and honesty. Those are the colors used on the flag of Israel, traditional prayer shawls, and as the colors of Hanukkah. An argument might could be made against Christmas colors (Constantine, pagans, the Saturnalia festival...), but the Hanukkah colors are pretty solid.
So, there you go. Useless fact of the day learned. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to put on my Jewish pajamas.
Tuesday, October 09, 2012
To Toss or Not to Toss
For the last day and a half this has been on my kitchen counter. (try to ignore the silly pumpkin in the background)
I'm not going to say who left it there because, although I do know who left this mess, all of us have issues cleaning up after ourselves. Usually we stay on the side of clutter and not actual trash. The jello crosses that line. It should have been thrown out right away. Everyone in the house is old enough to know better. I could have just tossed it myself when I first noticed it before dinner last night, but I was curious to see if the guilty party would take care of it, or if anyone else in my house would take notice and toss it. It is becoming a monument to a bigger problem.
If I ask one of the kids to clean off the table then more often than not they only clean off the part they feel responsible for with the excuse that is rest of it is "not my mess." I've been trying to stress that if I only cleaned up my own mess then we'd be living in a trashed house very quickly.
I have decided that tonight I am going to gather the family around the old jello to talk about our messy ways. I haven't decided yet how exactly we are going to fix the problem, but something has to change. I have decided that I will not be the one to throw out the jello. I'm very curious to see who does and how long it takes.
I'm not going to say who left it there because, although I do know who left this mess, all of us have issues cleaning up after ourselves. Usually we stay on the side of clutter and not actual trash. The jello crosses that line. It should have been thrown out right away. Everyone in the house is old enough to know better. I could have just tossed it myself when I first noticed it before dinner last night, but I was curious to see if the guilty party would take care of it, or if anyone else in my house would take notice and toss it. It is becoming a monument to a bigger problem.
If I ask one of the kids to clean off the table then more often than not they only clean off the part they feel responsible for with the excuse that is rest of it is "not my mess." I've been trying to stress that if I only cleaned up my own mess then we'd be living in a trashed house very quickly.
I have decided that tonight I am going to gather the family around the old jello to talk about our messy ways. I haven't decided yet how exactly we are going to fix the problem, but something has to change. I have decided that I will not be the one to throw out the jello. I'm very curious to see who does and how long it takes.
Friday, October 05, 2012
Qualified
I've posted everyday this week, so there was no way I was going to skip today. I just had to update you all about the big meeting. I am completely and totally in awe of how my whole day has unfolded. All week I have been readying myself to break down walls and instead found that the doors were already wide open. I was worried about feeling alone in the fight and I arrived to find an unexpected friend there to sit next to me. Instead of the feared half hour brush off, I got a two hour planning meeting filled with joy.
It didn't stop there. After the meeting I ran into a great source of hope. Then I was met with a great resource. Finally, I found confirmation that this was the right road for me to be on. All unplanned, all unexpected, all a great blessing. In all my years I have never seen mountains move like this.
There is so much work to be done and I'm sure a lot of stumbling ahead, but wow, what a start!
The other thing I wanted to share was that I found out why. What do I have that would put me here? It is simply, time. I have the time to put into this. I have the time to work on it. I have the time to learn and grow and hunt down what is needed. Far too often, and especially with this, the very people who need the ministry are the ones given the responsibility of creating it. We forget that the very reason for starting this is so that they can, for once, not have to fight and work and schedule. We wouldn't dream of asking the hungry to create a soup kitchen. Why, oh why, do we expect families with special needs to create their own program? Sure we need their help to get it right, and their input and assistance is invaluable, but it can not be on their shoulders. It has to land on someone who has time.
Thank you all for praying! I saw them working. I need them to continue.
For our next mountain moving project, please pray that the eyes, hearts, and minds of my church's congregation are open to this. The church has to embrace it for this to work. They are loving and welcoming people. I just need them to recognize that to the fullest extent.
It didn't stop there. After the meeting I ran into a great source of hope. Then I was met with a great resource. Finally, I found confirmation that this was the right road for me to be on. All unplanned, all unexpected, all a great blessing. In all my years I have never seen mountains move like this.
There is so much work to be done and I'm sure a lot of stumbling ahead, but wow, what a start!
The other thing I wanted to share was that I found out why. What do I have that would put me here? It is simply, time. I have the time to put into this. I have the time to work on it. I have the time to learn and grow and hunt down what is needed. Far too often, and especially with this, the very people who need the ministry are the ones given the responsibility of creating it. We forget that the very reason for starting this is so that they can, for once, not have to fight and work and schedule. We wouldn't dream of asking the hungry to create a soup kitchen. Why, oh why, do we expect families with special needs to create their own program? Sure we need their help to get it right, and their input and assistance is invaluable, but it can not be on their shoulders. It has to land on someone who has time.
Thank you all for praying! I saw them working. I need them to continue.
For our next mountain moving project, please pray that the eyes, hearts, and minds of my church's congregation are open to this. The church has to embrace it for this to work. They are loving and welcoming people. I just need them to recognize that to the fullest extent.
Thursday, October 04, 2012
Happy Re-birth Day!
It is that time of year again. I like to think that I show my faith regularly to all of you, but today is special. Today marks the day that I realized I sin like everyone else, and that my sin keeps me away from God. Thirty-one years ago, for the first time, I cried out for forgiveness and mercy, and I accepted that Jesus had died for that very reason. He traded places with me that day, and now I know that in spite of my sins and failures, when I stand in judgement before God, my slate will be clean because Jesus paid it all. It was the best day of my life by far, and easily the best decision I have ever made.
I am so very thankful that the adults in my life at the time did not brush me off or give me silly answers to my questions. I was just a few days from the 5th birthday. At that age people are usually still telling children pretty little stories that make angels sound like fairies and God is all double rainbows. There was so much talk of Heaven and eternity in my house because my grandfather was very literally on his deathbed. I remember sitting in church and the preacher giving a sermon from John 3. It wasn't the usual 3:16 that got me. It was Nicodemus asking Jesus, "What do I do?" My ears perked up because that was the biggest question on my mind. The simple and yet powerful answer was, "You must be born again." I felt like someone had finally answered the question that had been burning in me since VBS that year. It was a question I didn't even know how to ask. I remember telling my mom that I wanted to be "born again" I figured that she bore me the first time she'd probably know how to redo it. She asked me the important stuff.
Do you know that you sin (do stuff that isn't perfect and that hurts God)?
Do you understand that we can't be close to God because of those bad things?
Do you get that Jesus took our punishment for us by dying on the cross?
Would you like to be closer to God, have Him help you through life and move you through the Holy Spirit?
That was Jesus' gift to us and all we have to do is accept the present by praying. We tell God that we know we have done wrong and that our actions are what stand between us and Him. We don't want that roadblock any more. Thank Him for sending Jesus to take your punishment and tell Him that you are accepting that gift of unconditional love. There is no magic to it, no special words, no dance to learn or special hats to wear. You just agree and accept. Welcome the Holy Spirit into your life and watch Him work on you like He works on me.
After I accepted Christ as my personal saviour, my parents took me to the hospital and parked our car under the window of my grandfather's room. I was too young to be allowed up, so my mom went to tell him. My grandfather who was in the final days of lung cancer got up out of his bed and waved to me with joy and excitement that I will never forget. It was the last time I saw him. He died very peacefully just 5 days later. He died knowing that our separation was temporary and that I was taken care of. So, you see, my salvation was a present for him too. God's timing for me was perfect, and that is why I never question a 4 year old who says they want to be saved. I just tell them how it works.
(Sorry Mom, I'm going to try to stop making posts that make you cry. And thanks for answering my questions truthfully even though it wasn't the easy thing to do.)
I am so very thankful that the adults in my life at the time did not brush me off or give me silly answers to my questions. I was just a few days from the 5th birthday. At that age people are usually still telling children pretty little stories that make angels sound like fairies and God is all double rainbows. There was so much talk of Heaven and eternity in my house because my grandfather was very literally on his deathbed. I remember sitting in church and the preacher giving a sermon from John 3. It wasn't the usual 3:16 that got me. It was Nicodemus asking Jesus, "What do I do?" My ears perked up because that was the biggest question on my mind. The simple and yet powerful answer was, "You must be born again." I felt like someone had finally answered the question that had been burning in me since VBS that year. It was a question I didn't even know how to ask. I remember telling my mom that I wanted to be "born again" I figured that she bore me the first time she'd probably know how to redo it. She asked me the important stuff.
Do you know that you sin (do stuff that isn't perfect and that hurts God)?
Do you understand that we can't be close to God because of those bad things?
Do you get that Jesus took our punishment for us by dying on the cross?
Would you like to be closer to God, have Him help you through life and move you through the Holy Spirit?
That was Jesus' gift to us and all we have to do is accept the present by praying. We tell God that we know we have done wrong and that our actions are what stand between us and Him. We don't want that roadblock any more. Thank Him for sending Jesus to take your punishment and tell Him that you are accepting that gift of unconditional love. There is no magic to it, no special words, no dance to learn or special hats to wear. You just agree and accept. Welcome the Holy Spirit into your life and watch Him work on you like He works on me.
After I accepted Christ as my personal saviour, my parents took me to the hospital and parked our car under the window of my grandfather's room. I was too young to be allowed up, so my mom went to tell him. My grandfather who was in the final days of lung cancer got up out of his bed and waved to me with joy and excitement that I will never forget. It was the last time I saw him. He died very peacefully just 5 days later. He died knowing that our separation was temporary and that I was taken care of. So, you see, my salvation was a present for him too. God's timing for me was perfect, and that is why I never question a 4 year old who says they want to be saved. I just tell them how it works.
(Sorry Mom, I'm going to try to stop making posts that make you cry. And thanks for answering my questions truthfully even though it wasn't the easy thing to do.)
Wednesday, October 03, 2012
Hyper-Aware
Since the start of October my facebook feed has been bombarded with posts about how October is (fill in the blank) awareness month. After about the 6th different topic I started wondering how aware I was expected to be, so I googled it. All total, I found at least 65 different topic that we are suppose to take note of this month alone. My favorites are the conflicting ones. For example this is vegetarian awareness month and also national pork month. So...eat greens with bacon in them?
I'm having a Princess Bride moment with the awareness. "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." To become aware of something means that before today you were unaware of it. Of all the many, many topics I saw listed today the only one I had to look up was Rett Syndrome.
There were several topics, aside from the pork thing, that included me.
Dyslexia- aware of that one since childhood
Bullying- in high school I wore a Hard Rock Cafe shirt from the planet Vulcan, trust me I'm aware
Squirrels- saw one on the way to take the kid to school today
Cyber Security- my passwords are so complicated even I can't figure them out
Diarrhea- 3 words "Welcome to Moe's!" and I'm all caught up
Sarcastic- I'm sure no ones knows about sarcasm!
So, here is my request, if you want to post about your favorite thing to be aware of, please share one fact about said topic that most people would not have been aware of.
This is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. Did you know that roughly 90% of women who prenatal testing shows to be caring a child with this syndrome will elect to abort the baby? Furthermore, there are foreign countries now pushing this as a "cure". Because death is so much more evolved than when we sent children to live in an asylum (sarcasm, in case you weren't aware).
It is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Did you know that only 5-10% of women who get breast cancer have genetic predisposition to it? That is a fact that will wake a girl like me up.
And finally, it is Emotional Awareness Month. Scientists have discovered that emotions are contagious and that you can alter your mood by simply altering your facial expression. So, smile and fake it until you make it is a real thing.
I'm having a Princess Bride moment with the awareness. "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." To become aware of something means that before today you were unaware of it. Of all the many, many topics I saw listed today the only one I had to look up was Rett Syndrome.
There were several topics, aside from the pork thing, that included me.
Dyslexia- aware of that one since childhood
Bullying- in high school I wore a Hard Rock Cafe shirt from the planet Vulcan, trust me I'm aware
Squirrels- saw one on the way to take the kid to school today
Cyber Security- my passwords are so complicated even I can't figure them out
Diarrhea- 3 words "Welcome to Moe's!" and I'm all caught up
Sarcastic- I'm sure no ones knows about sarcasm!
So, here is my request, if you want to post about your favorite thing to be aware of, please share one fact about said topic that most people would not have been aware of.
This is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. Did you know that roughly 90% of women who prenatal testing shows to be caring a child with this syndrome will elect to abort the baby? Furthermore, there are foreign countries now pushing this as a "cure". Because death is so much more evolved than when we sent children to live in an asylum (sarcasm, in case you weren't aware).
It is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Did you know that only 5-10% of women who get breast cancer have genetic predisposition to it? That is a fact that will wake a girl like me up.
And finally, it is Emotional Awareness Month. Scientists have discovered that emotions are contagious and that you can alter your mood by simply altering your facial expression. So, smile and fake it until you make it is a real thing.
Tuesday, October 02, 2012
The Unintentional Project (aka why I need your prayers)
A couple of weeks ago I posted a Facebook status that said, "Sometimes God sends opportunity to knock gently on your door, and other times He sends it to break down your door and drag you out by your heels while you scream 'You've got the wrong guy!" The latter would be a more accurate description of where I am right now.
It all started last year when a friend innocently asked me to read over a plan she had for starting a ministry at her church for children with special needs. While reading it I learned about the surprisingly large number of families who don't attend church because a member of that family doesn't fit the mold of a typical kid. There is a whole group of people, being unintentionally snubbed and that's not okay. You can find her plan on her blog Just a Little Muchier Muchness. It is pretty straightforward. There is nothing difficult about it. It just takes people willing to help.
Once I saw this need it was pretty hard to ignore, so I went to the leaders at my church with a good "you should do something about this attitude". This is not what happened, but it felt like they were looking back at me with smirks saying, "You are right. SOMEONE should do something". In the mean time we got a new children's minister, VBS came around, and there was the Awana's kick off. Then out of no where (ha!) I had, not 1, but 3 different families with different special needs children ask me where I went to church. Two of these are people I only know casually and never just run into them. I felt like God had decided that since I wasn't working to open the door, He was going to kick it down on me. ME? The girl who doesn't teach children because she is afraid of runny noses and kids who don't listen. Is He crazy? I am not in any way qualified. And then those words that haunt me flood into my mind. "God doesn't call the qualified. He qualifies the called."
I'm telling you all this because I have a meeting Friday morning with the children's pastor about getting the ball rolling. I am terrified. I'm worried that I'll mess up. I'm worried that I'm in over my head, which I totally am. But, most of all, I am terrified that my life is about to take a major change, and even though it is certainly for the glory of God, I'm not great with change, especially when it is out of my comfort zone.
I summed it up to my friend with every pregnancy cliché. I'm so excited, wait I'm going to throw up, shouldn't I have known more than this before I started, this is all your fault, is there a "What to expect" for this, pray for us!!!
Do not miss read this. I am excited about this. I am ready to get to work. It just feels a bit like waiting in line for a rollercoaster, and since the line is where I usually chicken out, I'm having to remind myself regularly why I am here. The kids, the families, and most of all, the moms who need someone from the outside to for once understand and do something to help.
So, yeah, here I am, standing in the need of prayer, hoping to help, and much more willing than I was a year ago.
It all started last year when a friend innocently asked me to read over a plan she had for starting a ministry at her church for children with special needs. While reading it I learned about the surprisingly large number of families who don't attend church because a member of that family doesn't fit the mold of a typical kid. There is a whole group of people, being unintentionally snubbed and that's not okay. You can find her plan on her blog Just a Little Muchier Muchness. It is pretty straightforward. There is nothing difficult about it. It just takes people willing to help.
Once I saw this need it was pretty hard to ignore, so I went to the leaders at my church with a good "you should do something about this attitude". This is not what happened, but it felt like they were looking back at me with smirks saying, "You are right. SOMEONE should do something". In the mean time we got a new children's minister, VBS came around, and there was the Awana's kick off. Then out of no where (ha!) I had, not 1, but 3 different families with different special needs children ask me where I went to church. Two of these are people I only know casually and never just run into them. I felt like God had decided that since I wasn't working to open the door, He was going to kick it down on me. ME? The girl who doesn't teach children because she is afraid of runny noses and kids who don't listen. Is He crazy? I am not in any way qualified. And then those words that haunt me flood into my mind. "God doesn't call the qualified. He qualifies the called."
I'm telling you all this because I have a meeting Friday morning with the children's pastor about getting the ball rolling. I am terrified. I'm worried that I'll mess up. I'm worried that I'm in over my head, which I totally am. But, most of all, I am terrified that my life is about to take a major change, and even though it is certainly for the glory of God, I'm not great with change, especially when it is out of my comfort zone.
I summed it up to my friend with every pregnancy cliché. I'm so excited, wait I'm going to throw up, shouldn't I have known more than this before I started, this is all your fault, is there a "What to expect" for this, pray for us!!!
Do not miss read this. I am excited about this. I am ready to get to work. It just feels a bit like waiting in line for a rollercoaster, and since the line is where I usually chicken out, I'm having to remind myself regularly why I am here. The kids, the families, and most of all, the moms who need someone from the outside to for once understand and do something to help.
So, yeah, here I am, standing in the need of prayer, hoping to help, and much more willing than I was a year ago.
Monday, October 01, 2012
Mommy the killer of dreams
My title is overly dramatic, but it is gray and rainy today which tends to bring out the melancholy in me.
When Nix was 6 I decided it was high time I started living vicariously through her, and put her in ballet classes. Luck for me and my inner child, she loved it. As the years have gone by she has gotten pretty good, made nice friends, and I've become rather attached to my fellow dance moms (they are nothing like the ones on tv). I was a little afraid that getting pointe shoes would put an end to her dancing. She isn't big on pain, and those things can be murder. Instead, it brought her to a new level of enjoyment. She wasn't that little girl in the pink tutu twirling to her own beat any more. Now she is a graceful young woman leaping with beauty. Up until this last Spring, ballet has just been a hobby, but after a taste of the spotlight this Spring, she wanted more.
Being a good supportive mother, I sought outside advice. I was informed by people who would know that Nix did indeed have all the raw tools needed to become a professional ballet dancer. The next step was looking into what it would take. I did my homework, and realized that if she was serious, we needed to get a move on. As a first step, I took her to some outside eyes to be evaluated. It was an eye opener for Nix. She actually did pretty well. It boiled down to, yes you can be a professional, but you need to increase the number of hours you dance per week, and sharpen your skills. In other words, her hobby needed to become her job. It was humbling and sobering for her.
She spent the weekend in deep reflection. I told her that she had the better part of the year to decide, but I could see that she wasn't going to let it sit. More than anything she wanted me to pull the mom card and tell her what to do, but I refused. I explained that it wasn't my place to tell her what to do with her adult life. It was my job to give her the tools to decide for herself. Boy, that was hard! I prayed, she prayed, we all prayed together. Last night after she was in bed and her lights had been out for awhile, she came down and wanted to talk. She told me that she is not going to stop dancing and loves ballet, but she no longer feels like it should be her career path. It is something she finds joy in, and if it became her job she would have to set aside joy for perfection. Professional ballet dancers will tell you that the joy is in the perfection, and since that isn't true for her, even though she has what it takes on the outside, she doesn't have what it takes on the inside.
She was a little sad, as was I. I am certain she has made the right choice. It just means she made her first adult decision about her life. She got realistic about "what I want to be when I grow up", and a little piece of her childhood slipped away.
I keep telling myself that I was supportive and was doing my best to give her every advantage in pursuing her dreams, but in doing so I killed her dream, and that hurts a little. I feel like I broke her, or at least the little girl part of her. I'm glad that she doesn't want to quit entirely, that would have been too much. I'm looking forward to her getting back to dancing for fun this week. It will take a lot of stress out of it for both of us.
Maybe her next career choice will be something that can wait to die until her junior year of college like a regular kid.
When Nix was 6 I decided it was high time I started living vicariously through her, and put her in ballet classes. Luck for me and my inner child, she loved it. As the years have gone by she has gotten pretty good, made nice friends, and I've become rather attached to my fellow dance moms (they are nothing like the ones on tv). I was a little afraid that getting pointe shoes would put an end to her dancing. She isn't big on pain, and those things can be murder. Instead, it brought her to a new level of enjoyment. She wasn't that little girl in the pink tutu twirling to her own beat any more. Now she is a graceful young woman leaping with beauty. Up until this last Spring, ballet has just been a hobby, but after a taste of the spotlight this Spring, she wanted more.
Being a good supportive mother, I sought outside advice. I was informed by people who would know that Nix did indeed have all the raw tools needed to become a professional ballet dancer. The next step was looking into what it would take. I did my homework, and realized that if she was serious, we needed to get a move on. As a first step, I took her to some outside eyes to be evaluated. It was an eye opener for Nix. She actually did pretty well. It boiled down to, yes you can be a professional, but you need to increase the number of hours you dance per week, and sharpen your skills. In other words, her hobby needed to become her job. It was humbling and sobering for her.
She spent the weekend in deep reflection. I told her that she had the better part of the year to decide, but I could see that she wasn't going to let it sit. More than anything she wanted me to pull the mom card and tell her what to do, but I refused. I explained that it wasn't my place to tell her what to do with her adult life. It was my job to give her the tools to decide for herself. Boy, that was hard! I prayed, she prayed, we all prayed together. Last night after she was in bed and her lights had been out for awhile, she came down and wanted to talk. She told me that she is not going to stop dancing and loves ballet, but she no longer feels like it should be her career path. It is something she finds joy in, and if it became her job she would have to set aside joy for perfection. Professional ballet dancers will tell you that the joy is in the perfection, and since that isn't true for her, even though she has what it takes on the outside, she doesn't have what it takes on the inside.
She was a little sad, as was I. I am certain she has made the right choice. It just means she made her first adult decision about her life. She got realistic about "what I want to be when I grow up", and a little piece of her childhood slipped away.
I keep telling myself that I was supportive and was doing my best to give her every advantage in pursuing her dreams, but in doing so I killed her dream, and that hurts a little. I feel like I broke her, or at least the little girl part of her. I'm glad that she doesn't want to quit entirely, that would have been too much. I'm looking forward to her getting back to dancing for fun this week. It will take a lot of stress out of it for both of us.
Maybe her next career choice will be something that can wait to die until her junior year of college like a regular kid.
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Clothes can also unmake the man
Last night Nix and her fellow 8th grade band members were invited to play with her future high school's band at a football game. She had a great time and met some really fun kids, but she was nestled into the band bubble. I had a chance to venture out and get a broader look at her future classmates. I wanted to make pictures of some of what I saw to post, but Rocky cautioned that the worst of it might qualify as child pornography. Let's just say, it was breast cancer awareness night, and I guarantee that no one left that stadium without being aware of breasts, and trust me when I tell you, it had nothing to do with everyone wearing pink.
Rumor has it that the "in crowd" can be pretty tough. As with every other high school in America since public school began, a lot of getting in with the in crowd revolves around what you wear. More specifically, the labels on what you wear and how little coverage you can get away with.
Now here's the funny twist. I realized I was sitting there making judgements about these kids, their intelligence, their extra curricular actives, their lack of parental supervision, etc. This brought me to a few conclusions. First of all, I don't want my daughter projecting the stereotypes that these kids were. Partly because the assumptions would be wrong, but also for her own personal safety.
Have you caught the irony yet? At least I think it is irony. That silly Alanis Morisette song about irony has clouded my ability to accurately spot it. Anyway, I was using clothes to judge the kids who will be judging my kid based on her geeky shirts and Old Navy jeans.
So here is the painful truth. We all make snap judgements based on first impressions, and although it is possible to overcome that, it takes time and effort from both sides. I'm sure there were some really nice, smart kids in the cool section, but they were excellent at camouflage. My daughter seems to be projecting a geeky good girl with over protective parents. I'm good with that, and she seems pretty happy with that, too. I think she is going to be just fine.
Rumor has it that the "in crowd" can be pretty tough. As with every other high school in America since public school began, a lot of getting in with the in crowd revolves around what you wear. More specifically, the labels on what you wear and how little coverage you can get away with.
Now here's the funny twist. I realized I was sitting there making judgements about these kids, their intelligence, their extra curricular actives, their lack of parental supervision, etc. This brought me to a few conclusions. First of all, I don't want my daughter projecting the stereotypes that these kids were. Partly because the assumptions would be wrong, but also for her own personal safety.
Have you caught the irony yet? At least I think it is irony. That silly Alanis Morisette song about irony has clouded my ability to accurately spot it. Anyway, I was using clothes to judge the kids who will be judging my kid based on her geeky shirts and Old Navy jeans.
So here is the painful truth. We all make snap judgements based on first impressions, and although it is possible to overcome that, it takes time and effort from both sides. I'm sure there were some really nice, smart kids in the cool section, but they were excellent at camouflage. My daughter seems to be projecting a geeky good girl with over protective parents. I'm good with that, and she seems pretty happy with that, too. I think she is going to be just fine.
Monday, July 23, 2012
The Orange Shoe Saga (part 2)
Earlier this year I was in one of my favorite stores and saw a pretty orange sweater, the kind you wear over a sleeveless shirt when it is hot outside but cold inside because the restaurant association got together and decided that 65 was the ideal temperature for dining. I didn't buy it at the time because what did I need with an orange sweater. It's not like I was going to go out and buy orange shoes.
After I lost my mind and actually did buy orange shoes I went back to the store, which was naturally sold out of the orange sweater. I continue to look around in hopes of finding something awesome like the gray dress I also didn't buy earlier this year. Instead of what I was looking for I found a white flower print dress, and guess what color the flowers were- orange! The right orange. Unbelievably the dress was on the sale rack for a mere $10 and was in my size (that never happens).
Now that I have a pretty dress to go with my shoes all that is left is to wear them in public. I tried it all on the other day and Rocky did that cartoon wolf bit where his eyes bugged out and his jaw hit the floor. This should be encouraging to me, but instead I suddenly got very self conscience. Although I am no longer the shy low self esteem girl who felt like an ugly duckling, I also don't feel like the head turning type. I like blending in, and there is nothing about orange shoes and this flowery dresses that blends. I've had two chances to wear this outfit and have chickened out both times.
For over a week I have been thinking that it was my lacking closet keeping me from strutting in these shoes, but it has really been me. Owning orange shoes has not made me an orange shoe girl. They say that the clothes make the man, but as it turns out, you have to be a certain type of personality to wear the clothes in the first place.
I will wear these shoes in public one day, but I'm not sure when that day will come. I want to say that it will be next Sunday, but I really don't know if I am brave enough. I'm pretty sure that there are a good number of people who think I am crazy and totally over thinking all of this, but for a girl like me this is a bit like deciding to go sky diving when you are afraid of heights.
After I lost my mind and actually did buy orange shoes I went back to the store, which was naturally sold out of the orange sweater. I continue to look around in hopes of finding something awesome like the gray dress I also didn't buy earlier this year. Instead of what I was looking for I found a white flower print dress, and guess what color the flowers were- orange! The right orange. Unbelievably the dress was on the sale rack for a mere $10 and was in my size (that never happens).
Now that I have a pretty dress to go with my shoes all that is left is to wear them in public. I tried it all on the other day and Rocky did that cartoon wolf bit where his eyes bugged out and his jaw hit the floor. This should be encouraging to me, but instead I suddenly got very self conscience. Although I am no longer the shy low self esteem girl who felt like an ugly duckling, I also don't feel like the head turning type. I like blending in, and there is nothing about orange shoes and this flowery dresses that blends. I've had two chances to wear this outfit and have chickened out both times.
For over a week I have been thinking that it was my lacking closet keeping me from strutting in these shoes, but it has really been me. Owning orange shoes has not made me an orange shoe girl. They say that the clothes make the man, but as it turns out, you have to be a certain type of personality to wear the clothes in the first place.
I will wear these shoes in public one day, but I'm not sure when that day will come. I want to say that it will be next Sunday, but I really don't know if I am brave enough. I'm pretty sure that there are a good number of people who think I am crazy and totally over thinking all of this, but for a girl like me this is a bit like deciding to go sky diving when you are afraid of heights.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
The Orange Shoe Paradox (part 1)
I had a few minutes to kill the other day and spent those few minutes in a shoe store. Since I am too (let's say) frugal to pay full price on shoes, I go back to the clearance section. There sits, in my size, an over the top pair of orange shoes. They are so pretty. But, alas, I do not buy orange shoes. I buy black, brown, white, or some variation there of. Once, ten years ago, I bought a deep red pair that went perfectly with several thing I already owned. This is how much I don't buy orange shoes. So, I made a picture of them and walked out bemoaning the fact that I will never be an orange shoe girl.
Today, I walked back into that store and bought those shoes. As an added bonus, they were more deeply discounted than before and are now the cheapest pair of non-flip flops that I own. They are the most girly, fancy, pretty things in my closet.
Now comes the part where I wear them. Because I am not an orange shoe girl, I have no orange shoe clothes. I have a couple of things that other people might would wear with them, but I'm not that daring.
These shoes are revealing a lot more to me about my own personality, fears, and insecurities than I would have ever thought possible. I thought just buying them was going to be my major leap, but as it turns out, wearing them is becoming an even bigger challenge.
Today, I walked back into that store and bought those shoes. As an added bonus, they were more deeply discounted than before and are now the cheapest pair of non-flip flops that I own. They are the most girly, fancy, pretty things in my closet.
Now comes the part where I wear them. Because I am not an orange shoe girl, I have no orange shoe clothes. I have a couple of things that other people might would wear with them, but I'm not that daring.
These shoes are revealing a lot more to me about my own personality, fears, and insecurities than I would have ever thought possible. I thought just buying them was going to be my major leap, but as it turns out, wearing them is becoming an even bigger challenge.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Not just clean, extra clean (language)
JD is taking a drama camp this summer (his idea). After the first day he was thrilled with the class but not happy with his part in the end of the week show. One of his lines read, "Oh, to heck with it!" He did not want to say "that word". Then HE explains to ME that even though "heck" isn't a bad word, it is used in place of "hell", which is bad when you use it wrong, therefore they mean the same thing and even if you aren't saying the real bad word, the bad meaning is still there. (Wow!) I advised him to decide for himself, and then talk with his drama teacher. That is exactly what he did. She was very understanding (thank you Miss Cindi!) and let him change the line to, "Oh, I give up!" I was very impressed with his conviction and the follow through. It was one of those moments where your kid behaves better than you've thought to teach them to be.
As it turns out, JD has some very strong feelings about bad words. He is annoyed that the "a word" should just mean donkey, but people made it bad. My favorite quote was when he said, "I find the 'j-a word' deeply offensive to my name." Then he asked me why people use those words and why they put them on tv. I had no answer for him.
I'll leave you with these words of JD wisdom: If you mean poop then say poop instead of the "s word", but if you don't mean poop, use a different word that has the right meaning.
Words have meanings. Use them the right way, or don't use them at all.
And now we have all been schooled by an 8 year old.
As it turns out, JD has some very strong feelings about bad words. He is annoyed that the "a word" should just mean donkey, but people made it bad. My favorite quote was when he said, "I find the 'j-a word' deeply offensive to my name." Then he asked me why people use those words and why they put them on tv. I had no answer for him.
I'll leave you with these words of JD wisdom: If you mean poop then say poop instead of the "s word", but if you don't mean poop, use a different word that has the right meaning.
Words have meanings. Use them the right way, or don't use them at all.
And now we have all been schooled by an 8 year old.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Relaxation Gone Wrong
I was stressed and having trouble unwinding from the day. It had been one of those days where I couldn't stop myself from alphabetizing something that probably could have existed in the state it was in without the world ending. For those of you who are scratching your head because you have never been overcome by the need for ABC order, it is just my brain's way of working out a lack of order in things I can not control by inflicting order on trivial things that I can control. It isn't as crazy as it sounds, I promise.
Anyway, I was on Pinterest (shocker) browsing through the "pets" section as a way of relaxing. That board is filled with adorable fuzziness. I was starting to feel very mello as I gazed at tiny kitties, fluffy bunnies, and other assorted squee worthy animals. Then it all went wrong. Someone had pinned a refrigerator under the heading of pets. Next came a shoe, a wedding invitation, and by the time I scrolled down to the furniture made from palettes, I was more stressed than when I started. I was exasperated within minutes.
This has taught me that on days I need order, it is a bad idea to look at the public boards. Also, that some people should not be allowed to pin things unsupervised. I wonder if I could get a job fixing wrongly categorized pins for Pinterest? That would be relaxing. Maybe I am as crazy as I sound after all.
Anyway, I was on Pinterest (shocker) browsing through the "pets" section as a way of relaxing. That board is filled with adorable fuzziness. I was starting to feel very mello as I gazed at tiny kitties, fluffy bunnies, and other assorted squee worthy animals. Then it all went wrong. Someone had pinned a refrigerator under the heading of pets. Next came a shoe, a wedding invitation, and by the time I scrolled down to the furniture made from palettes, I was more stressed than when I started. I was exasperated within minutes.
This has taught me that on days I need order, it is a bad idea to look at the public boards. Also, that some people should not be allowed to pin things unsupervised. I wonder if I could get a job fixing wrongly categorized pins for Pinterest? That would be relaxing. Maybe I am as crazy as I sound after all.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
A Question and a Plea
JD had his end of school year awards the other day. We are very proud because his "everybody gets a trophy" prize was for being the nicest and most caring student. It is always nice to hear your child's good character is their defining characteristic. However, after it was announced, one of the kids pipes up and says, "He could also get skinniest kid because look how skinny he is." I don't know if the kid was trying to be mean or if he just has no manners. The teacher put a stop to it by saying, "Yeah, and you're short, so be quiet." That didn't really sit right with me, and I'm wondering if it seems off to you? On the one hand, I'm glad she stopped the boy from teasing my son, but on the other, I don't feel right about her fighting fire with fire. I noticed that she wasn't shy about jokingly telling all the parents what the different kids' faults were. She said nothing but good things about my kid, and some of the other boys were obvious handfuls, but do you point that out in front of everyone? It hasn't been a secret that this has not been our favorite year, but it is over as of next week. Beyond making sure he doesn't have her again next year (she is also moving up a grade), should I say anything?
Now for my plea. Many people see "skinny" as a compliment. I understand that, however, for me, it was used repeatedly as an insult when I was a child and even occasionally in a mean spirited fashion as an adult. I'd like to ask you all to think twice before commenting on another person's weight. If you wouldn't say it to an overweight person, don't say it to a thin person. For example:
"Oh, you are always so thin, I just hate you!", tends to be a socially acceptable phrase.
Now let's turn it around:
"Oh, you are always so fat, I just hate you!"
You can probably see how that one is wrong, and would probably get you slapped.
Just make sure you really know a person before you make any kind of comment on their weight, and no one gets hurt.
Now for my plea. Many people see "skinny" as a compliment. I understand that, however, for me, it was used repeatedly as an insult when I was a child and even occasionally in a mean spirited fashion as an adult. I'd like to ask you all to think twice before commenting on another person's weight. If you wouldn't say it to an overweight person, don't say it to a thin person. For example:
"Oh, you are always so thin, I just hate you!", tends to be a socially acceptable phrase.
Now let's turn it around:
"Oh, you are always so fat, I just hate you!"
You can probably see how that one is wrong, and would probably get you slapped.
Just make sure you really know a person before you make any kind of comment on their weight, and no one gets hurt.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The Guy in the Powder Blue Tuxedo
Nix is being inducted to the Junior Beta Club this evening. I'm very proud of her achievement. Now I just have to figure out what to wear. I wish these things came with picture instructions. I'm fairly sure the geek shirt and jeans I am currently wearing won't cut it, but do I go full dress and heels? At times like this I am reminder of a great old family story.
My mother's cousin is a trail lawyer. Early in his career, he informed his client that he needed to dress nice for court. When he arrived at the courthouse he spotted his client immediately because he was the guy in the powder blue tuxedo. Since then, he has learned to be much more specific in his instructions.
My mom always says that you don't want to be the guy in the overalls or the guy in the powder blue tuxedo, which is really just a silly way to say, "Dress to the middle".
I'm not good at this. I've never pulled a full tuxedo moment, but I do tend to err on the side of fancy. If someone is going to look at me funny, I'd rather them think I just came from working in an office instead of working in a corn field.
Nothing makes me more anxious than the term "business casual". What does that even mean for a woman? For a guy it means khakis and a polo shirt, but that is too casual and not enough business when you are a girl. It's like "semi-formal". All that means is guys get to wear a regular suit, but girls still have to wear something formal with maybe a short hemline. How is that fair?
For tonight I've settled on a somewhat casual black dress with no jewelry, and low heel sandals. It is a little dressy, but when I'm not being a geek, I like to pretend to be fancy.
Update: Nailed it! I totally fit in. Well, in dress anyway.
My mother's cousin is a trail lawyer. Early in his career, he informed his client that he needed to dress nice for court. When he arrived at the courthouse he spotted his client immediately because he was the guy in the powder blue tuxedo. Since then, he has learned to be much more specific in his instructions.
My mom always says that you don't want to be the guy in the overalls or the guy in the powder blue tuxedo, which is really just a silly way to say, "Dress to the middle".
I'm not good at this. I've never pulled a full tuxedo moment, but I do tend to err on the side of fancy. If someone is going to look at me funny, I'd rather them think I just came from working in an office instead of working in a corn field.
Nothing makes me more anxious than the term "business casual". What does that even mean for a woman? For a guy it means khakis and a polo shirt, but that is too casual and not enough business when you are a girl. It's like "semi-formal". All that means is guys get to wear a regular suit, but girls still have to wear something formal with maybe a short hemline. How is that fair?
For tonight I've settled on a somewhat casual black dress with no jewelry, and low heel sandals. It is a little dressy, but when I'm not being a geek, I like to pretend to be fancy.
Update: Nailed it! I totally fit in. Well, in dress anyway.
Monday, April 09, 2012
Let's Stop Pretending
This week the state of Georgia will be administering standardized tests to public school children. My daughter Nix will have to take a test for reading, one for language arts, two for math, and a social studies test. These tests are how the government determines if any child is being "left behind". This means that the teachers and administration are very stressed right now.
This year, Social Studies is focusing on Asia and Africa, and so the standards on the test reflect that. There is one problem. The test they will be given was written in 2008. Four years have passed in the most politically unstable continent on Earth. Nix's teacher is now faced with having to educate the children on the current governments in Africa, as well as the way things were 4 years ago. Not to worry though, because the test includes a short paragraph before each section of questions and as long as the children read it, they will know how to answer the questions. I might be wrong here, but couldn't anyone with a basic reading level read the paragraph and know how to answer the questions? Doesn't that make it another reading test instead of a social studies test? Now explain to me how this stress on the teacher and the students, for what is basically a redundant test, educates my child.
I really hate these tests. Part of it stems from my own test taking anxieties, but the main reason is because of all the crazy stress the school, as a whole, is under. Walking into that building right now feels like I'm walking into Azkaban. All the color has drained out of everything. The school has emailed and robo-called me to remind me to feed my child and make her go to sleep every night, as opposed to every other day when I starve her and play loud music all night. The teachers are helping by loading her up with homework. I'm curious to see if her Spanish teacher continues to give homework all week because no one cares if her students are meeting those standards.
I know that teachers everywhere will hate this idea, but it seems to me that you'd find out a lot more about how well the schools are doing their job if we tested the teachers instead of the students. I know it would be less stressful.
This year, Social Studies is focusing on Asia and Africa, and so the standards on the test reflect that. There is one problem. The test they will be given was written in 2008. Four years have passed in the most politically unstable continent on Earth. Nix's teacher is now faced with having to educate the children on the current governments in Africa, as well as the way things were 4 years ago. Not to worry though, because the test includes a short paragraph before each section of questions and as long as the children read it, they will know how to answer the questions. I might be wrong here, but couldn't anyone with a basic reading level read the paragraph and know how to answer the questions? Doesn't that make it another reading test instead of a social studies test? Now explain to me how this stress on the teacher and the students, for what is basically a redundant test, educates my child.
I really hate these tests. Part of it stems from my own test taking anxieties, but the main reason is because of all the crazy stress the school, as a whole, is under. Walking into that building right now feels like I'm walking into Azkaban. All the color has drained out of everything. The school has emailed and robo-called me to remind me to feed my child and make her go to sleep every night, as opposed to every other day when I starve her and play loud music all night. The teachers are helping by loading her up with homework. I'm curious to see if her Spanish teacher continues to give homework all week because no one cares if her students are meeting those standards.
I know that teachers everywhere will hate this idea, but it seems to me that you'd find out a lot more about how well the schools are doing their job if we tested the teachers instead of the students. I know it would be less stressful.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
When I Grow Up
Every so often, I like to ask my kids what they want to be when they grow up. It is usually great insight. Today's talk was no exception.
In the past, JD has wanted to be a policeman/firefighter, a vet, a teacher, and a preacher. Today he added ninja or a spy to that list. He thinks the CIA might be cool, but doesn't really want to have to shoot people, which is why he'd prefer a ninja. He is pretty sure that dead people would not gross him out. In an odd sort of way, the activities he picked to participate in this summer do kind of line up with that. He will be continuing his Hapkido training and going to a day camp for drama. At the top of the list for spy training are defend yourself and pretending to be someone you're not. We may have a Cody Banks on our hands by Fall.
Nix is a bit tougher. She doesn't like to make decisions, so when asked she usually says that she doesn't know. The few I have gotten out of her are chef, fashion designer, and maybe a lawyer, just not a criminal one. Today she added FBI agent to the list. To be more specific, she'd like to work in the white collar crimes division. I wonder if that would change if I told her real art thieves don't look like Neal Caffrey? Then she fessed up that what she'd really like to do is have a job like MacGyver, but she knows that is more of a fantasy job than an actual occupation. However, she feels that, as long as she isn't a field agent, the FBI would be great. She just knows for certain that anything in the medical field is out and is certain that she could not handle dead bodies.
I can't wait to see what they turn out to be when they grow up. At one time, I too wanted to be a spy. I gave serious thought to being a narc, but my parents told me in no uncertain terms that I was not allowed to ever be a police officer. Funny thing about being the type to want to serve and protect, you tend to also obey your parents. Instead, I fell back on the choice I made in second grade. I have a vivid memory of telling my teacher that I wanted to be a mom when I grew up. It was a good pick.
In the past, JD has wanted to be a policeman/firefighter, a vet, a teacher, and a preacher. Today he added ninja or a spy to that list. He thinks the CIA might be cool, but doesn't really want to have to shoot people, which is why he'd prefer a ninja. He is pretty sure that dead people would not gross him out. In an odd sort of way, the activities he picked to participate in this summer do kind of line up with that. He will be continuing his Hapkido training and going to a day camp for drama. At the top of the list for spy training are defend yourself and pretending to be someone you're not. We may have a Cody Banks on our hands by Fall.
Nix is a bit tougher. She doesn't like to make decisions, so when asked she usually says that she doesn't know. The few I have gotten out of her are chef, fashion designer, and maybe a lawyer, just not a criminal one. Today she added FBI agent to the list. To be more specific, she'd like to work in the white collar crimes division. I wonder if that would change if I told her real art thieves don't look like Neal Caffrey? Then she fessed up that what she'd really like to do is have a job like MacGyver, but she knows that is more of a fantasy job than an actual occupation. However, she feels that, as long as she isn't a field agent, the FBI would be great. She just knows for certain that anything in the medical field is out and is certain that she could not handle dead bodies.
I can't wait to see what they turn out to be when they grow up. At one time, I too wanted to be a spy. I gave serious thought to being a narc, but my parents told me in no uncertain terms that I was not allowed to ever be a police officer. Funny thing about being the type to want to serve and protect, you tend to also obey your parents. Instead, I fell back on the choice I made in second grade. I have a vivid memory of telling my teacher that I wanted to be a mom when I grew up. It was a good pick.
Friday, March 02, 2012
The Mythological 8
I went shopping today for clothes, which is always frustrating. I want to meet the person they design clothes for these days. Apparently, she is a size 8, is 5'7", 135 pounds, a 34C with a 25 inch waste. Her shoes size is an 8 regular, and when it says "one sizes fits all" it means her. I have never met this alleged person and doubt I ever will.
The problem I am having right now is due to the assumption that anyone under a size 6 must want to dress like a teenager, and kind of a trashy one at that. I am down to Old Navy, because all of their clothes look the same regardless of size, and H&M because they still use European sizing. I am having to become a pro at layering. I want one store that is reasonably priced (sorry Ann Taylor), carries clothes smaller than a 6, and looks like something I should be wearing in this stage of life. It could be like Lane Bryant but for the oddly tiny.
I can see it now, one piece swimsuits, calf length skirts, and lower case v necks. It would be glorious. We could call it Dot because it is the opposite of Dash, and because I like to blame the entire Kardashian family for necklines dropping to where waistlines use to be and waistlines becoming hip lines. It might not be their fault, but whenever I get a chance blame the downfall of society on them, I take it.
The problem I am having right now is due to the assumption that anyone under a size 6 must want to dress like a teenager, and kind of a trashy one at that. I am down to Old Navy, because all of their clothes look the same regardless of size, and H&M because they still use European sizing. I am having to become a pro at layering. I want one store that is reasonably priced (sorry Ann Taylor), carries clothes smaller than a 6, and looks like something I should be wearing in this stage of life. It could be like Lane Bryant but for the oddly tiny.
I can see it now, one piece swimsuits, calf length skirts, and lower case v necks. It would be glorious. We could call it Dot because it is the opposite of Dash, and because I like to blame the entire Kardashian family for necklines dropping to where waistlines use to be and waistlines becoming hip lines. It might not be their fault, but whenever I get a chance blame the downfall of society on them, I take it.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Pinning Peeves
I was exploring around Pinterest today and found these great tips for people starting out or who maybe aren't well versed on the ins and outs of the internet. If you fall into that category, please check out Positively Splendid for 5 tips on doing it right.
I have a 5 tips of my own to help us all enjoy pinning without annoying our friends.
This has been PSA on how not to be annoying on Pinterest. You can see my boards under the user name Rixie4
Now it's your turn. Let it all out. What do other pinners do that drives you nuts on this most wonderful of websites?
I have a 5 tips of my own to help us all enjoy pinning without annoying our friends.
- Be careful how you categorize your boards and what you pin to them. When I am scrolling through the food section, I don't want to see a girl in a dress, DIY projects don't need to be on the humor page (unless there is something really funny about what you made), and be extra careful what you pin to a board with a "kids" theme. Everyone is going to slip up from time to time, just don't make it a habit.
- Do not be spammy with promotions. If I see the custom wall mural pins one more time I am going to scream. Stick it on the product page once where we can all ignore it, not on the geek page, the DIY page, the home decor page, and on and on. If you have a great idea, other people will repin it and spread the word. When the only name on a repeated pin is yours, we know you are just self promoting and ignore you.
- Post pretty fashion and things you'd like to wear or wish you could wear on the Women's Apparel board. This is not a place to pin underwear models. Let's help Victoria keep her secret a little better, shall we. The rest of the world doesn't need to know what you are "so wearing" under your prom dress.
- Do not post nudity. It is one of the few things they ask from us when we signed up for our account. Consider it a never nude website. I know you think it is "artistic", but naked is naked, and it is on the do not pin list. Some of us like to look at the photography page for actual photography, not porn. If that is your thing, you have the rest of the internet available to you, please leave this one little area for the rest of us.
- Be mindful of how much you link your account to other social media. Sometimes you find something awesome that you want to also share on Facebook or Twitter, and that is fine. All I'm asking is that you not post every single thing you pin on all your other social networks as well. If people want to follow your pins, they will follow them. Don't force us to see them just because we are FB friends.
Now it's your turn. Let it all out. What do other pinners do that drives you nuts on this most wonderful of websites?
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
A Political Update
Since my post about the online piracy legislation, it has been semi-killed, meaning they reserve the right to tweak it and push it through at another time when the world isn't paying as much attention. There are still 56 members of Congress that have their names attached to either SOPA or PIPA. Here is a handy website listing those people.
Like a good little voter, I researched where the people in my district stood and wrote letters. The bad news is that I had to write two letters expressing disappointment. Both of my senators, Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson were cosponsors. The day after the protests, Chambliss pulled his name from the bill and sent me a form letter letting me know that he had come to understand that it was flawed and not going to fix the intended problem (score one for the protest. Isakson, however, is still attached and sent me a form email with the same old line of how it will only effect foreign websites. It made me mad, not because I am so wrapped up in this particular bill, but because it shows a lack of understanding about the modern world, the people in it, and also because I looked at the amount of money his campaign received from the entertainment industry.
On to the good news. My congressman, Tom Graves, was against it before it was popular to be against it. I wrote him an encouragement email thanking him for taking the time to understand the repercussions. He also sent me a form email in reply. Here is the good part of what it said.
"While I believe it is essential that U.S. copyright laws are upheld, this should not come at the expense of technological innovation that should be encouraged, and not prematurely stifled. I also have concerns that in today's rapidly changing Internet, individuals who willingly violate U.S. copyright law will find new technology to commit these acts at a much faster pace, only making SOPA ineffective in eliminating copyright infringement.
More importantly, each American's right to free speech under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution must be protected, and I believe SOPA's sweeping authority to block websites, as we see in China, encroaches upon that right and sets a dangerously precedent."
Like a good little voter, I researched where the people in my district stood and wrote letters. The bad news is that I had to write two letters expressing disappointment. Both of my senators, Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson were cosponsors. The day after the protests, Chambliss pulled his name from the bill and sent me a form letter letting me know that he had come to understand that it was flawed and not going to fix the intended problem (score one for the protest. Isakson, however, is still attached and sent me a form email with the same old line of how it will only effect foreign websites. It made me mad, not because I am so wrapped up in this particular bill, but because it shows a lack of understanding about the modern world, the people in it, and also because I looked at the amount of money his campaign received from the entertainment industry.
On to the good news. My congressman, Tom Graves, was against it before it was popular to be against it. I wrote him an encouragement email thanking him for taking the time to understand the repercussions. He also sent me a form email in reply. Here is the good part of what it said.
"While I believe it is essential that U.S. copyright laws are upheld, this should not come at the expense of technological innovation that should be encouraged, and not prematurely stifled. I also have concerns that in today's rapidly changing Internet, individuals who willingly violate U.S. copyright law will find new technology to commit these acts at a much faster pace, only making SOPA ineffective in eliminating copyright infringement.
More importantly, each American's right to free speech under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution must be protected, and I believe SOPA's sweeping authority to block websites, as we see in China, encroaches upon that right and sets a dangerously precedent."
Wow! It's like he actually read the bill or something. Imagine that.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
My Day Offline
I spent yesterday offline. It was not easy. At times, it was down right frustrating. In addition to the SOPA issue, I've been seeing all these articles about internet addiction, and it had me curious.
I should note that I did allow myself 3 email checks spaced out through the day since it is the way teachers and some other important people primarily communicate with me. I checked for important messages and left the rest. This taught me that I get way too many junk emails that I need to unsubscribe from. I guess since they usually trickle in through the day, I never noticed how many there were.
I also found out that I have gotten really use to having knowledge at my fingertips at all times. Several times I had to resist the urge to ask Rocky something, knowing he'd look it up online. Someone called me and asked me a question that I had to answer with, "I don't know." That one hurt. I knew how to find out, I could have answered the question in 30 seconds or less, but it involved the internet, so I had to let someone else do the search. The answer was the first thing I looked up this morning when I went back online. Easter is April 8th this year, just in case you were wondering.
The strangest part of going offline was how isolated I felt. I talked to people on the phone, I was even face to face social with a few people, but still I felt like there was a wall between me and the rest of the world. I'm not sure how I feel about that. It was an unexpected weird sort of anxiety. I think it was that anxiety that kept me from being more productive. I had thought that going offline for the day would increase the time I had to do other things, but it really didn't.
All in all, I am very glad I did it. I do think I will do it again soon. I also think I need to curb daily usage a bit. I'm going to continue to limit the number of times I check my email, and turn off my phone alerts. It has been an enlightening experiment.
I should note that I did allow myself 3 email checks spaced out through the day since it is the way teachers and some other important people primarily communicate with me. I checked for important messages and left the rest. This taught me that I get way too many junk emails that I need to unsubscribe from. I guess since they usually trickle in through the day, I never noticed how many there were.
I also found out that I have gotten really use to having knowledge at my fingertips at all times. Several times I had to resist the urge to ask Rocky something, knowing he'd look it up online. Someone called me and asked me a question that I had to answer with, "I don't know." That one hurt. I knew how to find out, I could have answered the question in 30 seconds or less, but it involved the internet, so I had to let someone else do the search. The answer was the first thing I looked up this morning when I went back online. Easter is April 8th this year, just in case you were wondering.
The strangest part of going offline was how isolated I felt. I talked to people on the phone, I was even face to face social with a few people, but still I felt like there was a wall between me and the rest of the world. I'm not sure how I feel about that. It was an unexpected weird sort of anxiety. I think it was that anxiety that kept me from being more productive. I had thought that going offline for the day would increase the time I had to do other things, but it really didn't.
All in all, I am very glad I did it. I do think I will do it again soon. I also think I need to curb daily usage a bit. I'm going to continue to limit the number of times I check my email, and turn off my phone alerts. It has been an enlightening experiment.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
SOPA Explained (sort of)
If you read many blogs or follow any blogger types on twitter or are just a fan of the internet, then you may have heard some rumblings about something called "SOPA". That stands for "Stop Online Piracy Act". The name sounds fantastic. I work for a photographer who has to deal with piracy. Ending it would make life easier. After all, are we all against internet theft? Of course we are. But wait!
When was the last time our government came up with a simple direct answer to a problem with no unintended bad consequences? Yeah. That is kind of what I figured. So, I went digging for information. It wasn't easy finding an even handed article explaining what SOPA is. This one at CNET was the best I could find. It is at least the clearest one I have read.
I read the whole thing and gleaned a few things out of it, and then I asked Rocky what the rest of it meant. He started on a list of "simple" ways that he could get around it all. I understood none of what he said.
This is what it boils down to. If you read the article and understand it all then you probably know ways around each and every road block they want to throw at you. If you read the article, your eyes kind of glaze over, and you are pretty sure that some of those words have been made up to confuse you, then the internet as you know it will end, or at least get a lot more complicated. In addition to that, there is wording in this that not only encourages your internet provider to track your usage, it requires them to monitor it. Because it is so broad in the wording, one person could post a YouTube clip on Facebook that is not licensed and not only would that person get shut down, but YouTube and Facebook as a whole could get shut down. People who support the bill reply with, "They wouldn't do that. It is an extreme example to scare people. To that I say, yes it is an extreme example meant to scare, but that doesn't mean it isn't true. The federal government will be given the legal authority to do that. Whether or not they exercise that power is not the point. The point is that instead of stopping piracy, this bill will become the first big step in United States internet censorship.
I think it is important to mention that this is not a Republican or Democrat thing. This is one of the most bipartisan bills on the floor right now. It is also contested by both sides. I encourage you to read the article I linked to. Hunt for what you understand and judge for yourself.
Next Wednesday several websites will be going dark in protest of the bill. Don't panic! They will be back Thursday.
When was the last time our government came up with a simple direct answer to a problem with no unintended bad consequences? Yeah. That is kind of what I figured. So, I went digging for information. It wasn't easy finding an even handed article explaining what SOPA is. This one at CNET was the best I could find. It is at least the clearest one I have read.
I read the whole thing and gleaned a few things out of it, and then I asked Rocky what the rest of it meant. He started on a list of "simple" ways that he could get around it all. I understood none of what he said.
This is what it boils down to. If you read the article and understand it all then you probably know ways around each and every road block they want to throw at you. If you read the article, your eyes kind of glaze over, and you are pretty sure that some of those words have been made up to confuse you, then the internet as you know it will end, or at least get a lot more complicated. In addition to that, there is wording in this that not only encourages your internet provider to track your usage, it requires them to monitor it. Because it is so broad in the wording, one person could post a YouTube clip on Facebook that is not licensed and not only would that person get shut down, but YouTube and Facebook as a whole could get shut down. People who support the bill reply with, "They wouldn't do that. It is an extreme example to scare people. To that I say, yes it is an extreme example meant to scare, but that doesn't mean it isn't true. The federal government will be given the legal authority to do that. Whether or not they exercise that power is not the point. The point is that instead of stopping piracy, this bill will become the first big step in United States internet censorship.
I think it is important to mention that this is not a Republican or Democrat thing. This is one of the most bipartisan bills on the floor right now. It is also contested by both sides. I encourage you to read the article I linked to. Hunt for what you understand and judge for yourself.
Next Wednesday several websites will be going dark in protest of the bill. Don't panic! They will be back Thursday.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Select-a-Frustration
I'm doing some holiday baking today which means my kitchen is a mess and also that I don't care because the whole house smells like pie. While I was doing this baking burned through the paper towel roll in the kitchen. I replaced it, went to grab one, and pulled off only half a sheet. This means that I have once again accidentally bought the select-a-size paper towels. I hate these. Who needs half a paper towel? (that's rhetorical because at this moment, I really don't care)
This situation calls for a carefully worded complaint letter!
Here is the exact wording of the email from me that someone at P&G is going to read:
This situation calls for a carefully worded complaint letter!
Here is the exact wording of the email from me that someone at P&G is going to read:
I'd like to suggest that you make your select-a-size labels a little more obvious. I know there are probably houses in America that only make half a mess at a time, but mine is just not one of those houses. Sadly, having this type of house tends to make one distracted a lot, especially when shopping. I can not count the number of times I have gone to grab one of your wonderfully absorbent paper towels only to pull off half a sheet and get that feeling of dread knowing that for the next month (I buy in bulk) I will be groaning in frustration every time I reach for a paper towel. The little blue strip and circle are just not cutting it for me. I need a big red bold print warning label. Flashing lights or a special code so that the clerk asks if I’m sure I want select-a-size would be great, but that might be asking too much. For now, I'll settle for a larger logo.
Thanks!
It has been my experience that P&G is very open to costumer ideas. With any luck we will all be seeing Bounty labels with neon colors and flashing lights in the stores before next year's Christmas baking season.
By the way, if any of my friends out there are only half messy, I'd be willing to work out a trade. I have 15 rolls of aggravation left.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
In the Short Run
On the way to church this week, Rocky started commenting on a sticker on the car in front of us. It was one of the 13.1 stickers you get if you run a half marathon. Items with that logo have been popping up everywhere lately. Rocky felt that they were kind of obnoxious, to which I, being a loving wife said, "That is only because neither of us can run even half that." This is the moment the light bulb went off and lead to me making my own Zazzle store called Rixie Designs.
You know how these days everyone gets a trophy? (I'll skip over how that practice has lead to the "occupy" movement) Well, shouldn't we all get a sticker? After my recent failed attempt to take up running, I found myself envying those who could run through a whole 5k as well as people who earn the 13.1 stickers. Then I got to thinking that I am probably not alone in this. In fact, I bet that close to 99% of people (outside of Kenya) will never run a marathon. Why should the 1% get all the cool stickers?
Before you take me too seriously or think I'm knocking runners, I want to assure you that I am mostly poking fun at myself and my inability to jog.
I only make 10% on sales here, so it's not exactly a money maker idea, but it made me laugh and it was something that I thought should be out there.
I added text to the coffee mug that says, "I only run for coffee" (I may change it to say "I only go on coffee runs") and the back of the shirt design says, "If I'm running then something is chasing me and you should probably try to keep up".
I have a new line that will be posting soon for those of you who want one of those cool initial destination sticker, but are slightly agoraphobic.
You know how these days everyone gets a trophy? (I'll skip over how that practice has lead to the "occupy" movement) Well, shouldn't we all get a sticker? After my recent failed attempt to take up running, I found myself envying those who could run through a whole 5k as well as people who earn the 13.1 stickers. Then I got to thinking that I am probably not alone in this. In fact, I bet that close to 99% of people (outside of Kenya) will never run a marathon. Why should the 1% get all the cool stickers?
Before you take me too seriously or think I'm knocking runners, I want to assure you that I am mostly poking fun at myself and my inability to jog.
I only make 10% on sales here, so it's not exactly a money maker idea, but it made me laugh and it was something that I thought should be out there.
I added text to the coffee mug that says, "I only run for coffee" (I may change it to say "I only go on coffee runs") and the back of the shirt design says, "If I'm running then something is chasing me and you should probably try to keep up".
I have a new line that will be posting soon for those of you who want one of those cool initial destination sticker, but are slightly agoraphobic.
"Home Sweet Home"
Normally I don't post anything worth saying this on, but since I'm putting this in a real shop this time, I'm asking everyone to please not take my idea. Email me if you want to use the design. There is a good chance I'll say yes and even help you out. Just ask first.
Wednesday, December 07, 2011
Distraction Crafting
I have too much to do so, naturally, I fix this by adding random, pointless craft projects to the list. It is actually not as crazy as it sounds. Quick and easy projects are a big stress reliever for me. Like many, many others, I have gotten sucked into Pinterest (shoot me a message if you want an invite). There are tons of great ideas on that site. These are a couple I've tried out.
This is my first fabric flower. I made it with scraps I had around. I had a little too much fun burning the fabric. Here is a link to the how-to. I can't wait to make one out of something other than what is rolling around the bottom of my craft drawer.
This is my second flower. I'm really excited about it because it turned out perfect on the first try. I did buy some jersey fabric to try this out, but only 1/4 of a yard, and that will make several more. Here is the link to this how-to. It is from the same site as the other flower. She has several easy and cute craft projects on her site.
I've started a board on my pinterest account just for things I've made (a couple of things from my dad). If you want to follow me there, I go by Rixie Dotson there.
Tuesday, December 06, 2011
A Little Too Clean
Several months ago, we had a bee in the house. I keep hearing stories begging people not to kill bees if at all possible. This bee was making it very hard. We used the vacuum to suck him up. There is an old joke about nothing being able to live in a vacuum (an old nerdy joke), but bees haven't heard that before and so the little guy was buzzing around inside. We were afraid he might be mad, so we took the whole thing outside, opened it up, and ran. Ten minutes later. There was a crack of thunder and a sudden downpour with the vacuum still on the patio. We got it in the garage, took apart the pieces that could be taken apart, and let it dry. I was shocked to see it still worked, but the smell coming out of it was awful. I set about disinfecting and replacing filters. Unfortunately, the only replacement filter we could find was a Febreeze filter. If you have ever been to my home then you know I aim for a smell free house. Scents bother all of us. I get a headache, Rocky starts to wheeze, and the kids just complain a lot. The only thing you will regularly smell in my house is food cooking.
I bring this story up because I had to vacuum today and now my head is killing me. I know to a normal person would love to deodorize a room while they vacuumed, but not me.
Just further proof that house work can in fact kill you.
I bring this story up because I had to vacuum today and now my head is killing me. I know to a normal person would love to deodorize a room while they vacuumed, but not me.
Just further proof that house work can in fact kill you.
Sunday, December 04, 2011
Just Enough Rope
If you are a Facebook friend, then you probably already know what kind of week we've had. For others, I'll catch you up quickly. This week my daughter got tangled up in a jump rope in PE and then this happened
It is a severe sprain in her ligament which caused two chips in her bone. She can no longer dance in The Nutcracker this year, which has been a source of more pain than the break itself. She is handling the disappointment fairly well and has agreed to be a stagehand. Meanwhile, the rest of us are still in the cast. Now JD will be the family star as he plays Fritz.
Speaking of JD, last week he left two of his favorite stuffed puppies at my parent's house. Brownie and Señior Bunny Ears, are having a great time without him according to this picture that my dad made.
They had a little snow, so my mother made the puppies matching plaid blanket coats and my dad helped them build a snowman. I think I'm going to have to frame this for JD's room.
Speaking of JD, last week he left two of his favorite stuffed puppies at my parent's house. Brownie and Señior Bunny Ears, are having a great time without him according to this picture that my dad made.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
The 840 Adventure
First of all, let me start by saying that driving from West Tennessee to North Georgia on the Sunday after Thanksgiving is a giant pain, especially when it rains the entire trip. It took 9 hours instead of 6. Someone asked me what time we got home and I replied, "I don't know, I just know it was really late." Then Rocky pointed out that we were home by 7, it only felt like 2 in the morning.
The one high point of the trip was that we decided to take the unfinished I-840 loop instead of driving through Nashville (smartest thing we did all day). They have only been building this road since we moved to GA 10 years ago, and it still isn't done, but I digress. The day before, my aunt and uncle had done a test run for us and sent back direction. This was extremely helpful because after 840 stops there are absolutely no directions pointing you to how to get back on. There aren't even hints of where to go. State highways are not marked, and good luck getting a data signal strong enough to get gps. This is probably why there wasn't another car in sight for miles.
When we first started thinking of taking this path I looked it up on Google maps. It looked like a large stretch of the road was newly completed, which would make the drive a piece of cake. It was going to be 2 or 3 turns on major roads. What Google doesn't tell you is that although the road is complete, the exits are not, and they will dump you in the middle of nowhere with no warning.
It took use exactly 1 hour to go from one side to the other. This means we loss no time and didn't have to drive through Nashville in the rain (win!). We also got to drive through the extremely cute town of Leiper's Fork where a bunch of the country music folks live (and live very well, I might add).
The drive was pretty, it was different scenery, and we got to see the castle, which always makes me smile. Who builds a castle in the middle of Tennessee? You may recognize it from the Taylor Swift video "Love Story" (they still make music videos? huh).
Anyway, to sum up, interstate traffic, bad; bypass, need directions but good; music videos, still made
*additional info
here is the video, and the castle is in there a good bit. It's a cute song, but I can't help but wonder if she has ever read Romeo and Juliet or The Scarlet Letter (I do not think it means what she thinks it means).
The one high point of the trip was that we decided to take the unfinished I-840 loop instead of driving through Nashville (smartest thing we did all day). They have only been building this road since we moved to GA 10 years ago, and it still isn't done, but I digress. The day before, my aunt and uncle had done a test run for us and sent back direction. This was extremely helpful because after 840 stops there are absolutely no directions pointing you to how to get back on. There aren't even hints of where to go. State highways are not marked, and good luck getting a data signal strong enough to get gps. This is probably why there wasn't another car in sight for miles.
When we first started thinking of taking this path I looked it up on Google maps. It looked like a large stretch of the road was newly completed, which would make the drive a piece of cake. It was going to be 2 or 3 turns on major roads. What Google doesn't tell you is that although the road is complete, the exits are not, and they will dump you in the middle of nowhere with no warning.
It took use exactly 1 hour to go from one side to the other. This means we loss no time and didn't have to drive through Nashville in the rain (win!). We also got to drive through the extremely cute town of Leiper's Fork where a bunch of the country music folks live (and live very well, I might add).
Anyway, to sum up, interstate traffic, bad; bypass, need directions but good; music videos, still made
*additional info
here is the video, and the castle is in there a good bit. It's a cute song, but I can't help but wonder if she has ever read Romeo and Juliet or The Scarlet Letter (I do not think it means what she thinks it means).
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Harsh Words For Black Friday
Fair warning, I'm not a fan of what Black Friday has become. If you are of the opinion that it is good fun and great deals then you may want to stop reading now.
I've worked retail during Thanksgiving and actually enjoyed the crazy pace of the day after, but that was before the early openings and lines around the building. I understand the history of the day. It is, or was, the kick off to the Christmas shopping season. It marked the day that retailers started turning a profit for the year (hence the "black"), but you probably already knew this.
I feel like they are sucking all of the fun out of Thanksgiving, and even stealing joy from Christmas. When you go into the stores right now you will not see Thanksgiving decoration unless they are in the clearance section. I really think that if our country wasn't so attached to the food we eat on Thursday then there would be a bigger push to start sales then. After all, it isn't very politically correct to stop in the middle of the week and be thankful to God for the blessings of the year, but frying a turkey and opening a can of gelled cranberries is sacred in the U.S.
A few years ago I did wake up early to see what I was missing. We drove past Best Buy and saw people in a line wrapped around the building. There were hundreds of people waiting for something the store had maybe 6 of. We went into Walmart where there were even more people waiting with police guards standing buy. The clerks had a palette with the cheap giant t.v.s stacked up waiting to be grabbed. They were standing on the counters so that they wouldn't get run down when the sale started. The frenzy and mood of the crowd was frightening. I was glad I was standing back and not there for any of the special items.
There is no Christmas cheer in this bunch. It brings out the worst in people and greed rules the day instead of grace. The stories of theft, violence, and just plain meanness makes me sad. I miss it being a fun day where part of the family watched football and the others went out on a nice shopping trip. I may go out on Black Friday, but it won't be before lunch. I will not be playing the game no matter what unbelievable deal is in the paper Thursday. No amount of discount is worth that scene to me.
I tend to get a little irritated thinking about the number of people standing in line for hours in the cold on a holiday, knowing that most of these people won't stand in line for ten minutes, inside, in order to vote. I suppose we could offer people a chance to buy a computer or television for $100 at the polls, but then again maybe it's best that not everyone votes.
I've worked retail during Thanksgiving and actually enjoyed the crazy pace of the day after, but that was before the early openings and lines around the building. I understand the history of the day. It is, or was, the kick off to the Christmas shopping season. It marked the day that retailers started turning a profit for the year (hence the "black"), but you probably already knew this.
I feel like they are sucking all of the fun out of Thanksgiving, and even stealing joy from Christmas. When you go into the stores right now you will not see Thanksgiving decoration unless they are in the clearance section. I really think that if our country wasn't so attached to the food we eat on Thursday then there would be a bigger push to start sales then. After all, it isn't very politically correct to stop in the middle of the week and be thankful to God for the blessings of the year, but frying a turkey and opening a can of gelled cranberries is sacred in the U.S.
A few years ago I did wake up early to see what I was missing. We drove past Best Buy and saw people in a line wrapped around the building. There were hundreds of people waiting for something the store had maybe 6 of. We went into Walmart where there were even more people waiting with police guards standing buy. The clerks had a palette with the cheap giant t.v.s stacked up waiting to be grabbed. They were standing on the counters so that they wouldn't get run down when the sale started. The frenzy and mood of the crowd was frightening. I was glad I was standing back and not there for any of the special items.
There is no Christmas cheer in this bunch. It brings out the worst in people and greed rules the day instead of grace. The stories of theft, violence, and just plain meanness makes me sad. I miss it being a fun day where part of the family watched football and the others went out on a nice shopping trip. I may go out on Black Friday, but it won't be before lunch. I will not be playing the game no matter what unbelievable deal is in the paper Thursday. No amount of discount is worth that scene to me.
I tend to get a little irritated thinking about the number of people standing in line for hours in the cold on a holiday, knowing that most of these people won't stand in line for ten minutes, inside, in order to vote. I suppose we could offer people a chance to buy a computer or television for $100 at the polls, but then again maybe it's best that not everyone votes.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Not My Family
It has been a while since I have fired off a good complaint letter. I hardly ever get a reply that isn't a form letter, but it makes me feel better to say my peace.
Today's "hate" mail is due to the advertising shown during ABC Family's Harry Potter Weekend. In all fairness, some commercials come from your cable or sat. provider and my not be their fault, but given their track record, I thought a reminder of the "family"part of their channel was overdue regardless.
Here is what I sent:
Today's "hate" mail is due to the advertising shown during ABC Family's Harry Potter Weekend. In all fairness, some commercials come from your cable or sat. provider and my not be their fault, but given their track record, I thought a reminder of the "family"part of their channel was overdue regardless.
Here is what I sent:
"I'm not entirely sure you are to blame for this issue, but I want to cover my bases. It is in regards to advertising aired.
My family and I were enjoying your Harry Potter weekend right up until a semi pornographic commercial aired for Lifetime Movie Network. It turned our nice Sunday afternoon into a sex-ed class for our 7 year old. I know that my definition of "family" often varies from yours, but it never occurred to me that I'd have to worry about that during Harry Potter.I own the Harry Potter movies and can easily watch them in my DVD player instead of on your channel. If the advertising continues to be R rated I will be forced to block you just like I block LMN.
In short, I'm recommending more Crayola and less under garments, more Nintendo and less casual sex, more family and less making babies."
I'm actually looking forward to the day when televisions customize your advertising like Facebook does. I know a lot of people see it as an invasion of privacy to have your trends tracked, but I rather enjoy seeing less ads for things I don't need. I also like to mess with it by occasionally posting things like "monkey herding" just to see what the computers come up with for me.
Wouldn't it be great if ABC Family had to change their name due to truth in advertising? But then what would they be? "ABC marketed to teenagers but horribly inappropriate and actually watched by middle aged housewives" is just too long.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
LL Cool JD
Did you know that LL Cool J actually stands for "Ladies Love Cool James"? I bring this up because of my title. My 7 year old son has more game than most guys who are 27, and I'm not exactly sure how it happened. Girls get all giggly around him. I'm not just talking about little girls his age either. Young, old, and in between, he has them all enchanted. My mom suggested I could write a book entitled "Raising Prince Charming". She might be on to something.
This week he has a 7 year old stalker of sorts. She realized where we live while trick or treating Halloween. Then we ran into her at a restaurant. This week she gave JD her number and told him to call to arrange a play date. (not on my watch!) What tickled me most was that JD doesn't have a clue that this little girl is after him. Her giggling, blushing, and batting eyelashes say otherwise.
I've been trying to figure out what he has that is so different, and a few things have popped out at me.
1. He has an older sister which means he isn't afraid to talk to girls, knows what girls are interested in, and has an insight some men never get
2. Rocky is complimentary of me, and JD has picked this up. He knows when a woman is dressed up, and says so. He is quick to say, "You look nice today" or that he likes your new hairstyle. As he gets older, he is also good about not saying what he doesn't like.
3. He has a great sense of humor. I know people don't usually mean it when they say they look for a sense of humor first, but even if it isn't first on the list, it is still on the list. He isn't a class clown type, or a joke a minute guy, he is just witty and quick and off the cuff funny.
4. He is adorable. Those big eyes and extra long dark eyelashes just melt your heart. I've had strangers stop me to comment on his eyelashes since he was born. I think they may have some sort of magical properties. I know I can't look him in the eye when he is in trouble. If I did, he'd never get punished.
We are going to have to work hard to teach him respect for women and restraint, or 10 years from now we are going to be in serious trouble. Let me just go ahead and apologize in advance to all of you out there with daughters who will one day be charmed by my prince. We are doing our best, but I can't help but think that hearts will be broken over those magic eyes of his.
This week he has a 7 year old stalker of sorts. She realized where we live while trick or treating Halloween. Then we ran into her at a restaurant. This week she gave JD her number and told him to call to arrange a play date. (not on my watch!) What tickled me most was that JD doesn't have a clue that this little girl is after him. Her giggling, blushing, and batting eyelashes say otherwise.
I've been trying to figure out what he has that is so different, and a few things have popped out at me.
1. He has an older sister which means he isn't afraid to talk to girls, knows what girls are interested in, and has an insight some men never get
2. Rocky is complimentary of me, and JD has picked this up. He knows when a woman is dressed up, and says so. He is quick to say, "You look nice today" or that he likes your new hairstyle. As he gets older, he is also good about not saying what he doesn't like.
3. He has a great sense of humor. I know people don't usually mean it when they say they look for a sense of humor first, but even if it isn't first on the list, it is still on the list. He isn't a class clown type, or a joke a minute guy, he is just witty and quick and off the cuff funny.
4. He is adorable. Those big eyes and extra long dark eyelashes just melt your heart. I've had strangers stop me to comment on his eyelashes since he was born. I think they may have some sort of magical properties. I know I can't look him in the eye when he is in trouble. If I did, he'd never get punished.
We are going to have to work hard to teach him respect for women and restraint, or 10 years from now we are going to be in serious trouble. Let me just go ahead and apologize in advance to all of you out there with daughters who will one day be charmed by my prince. We are doing our best, but I can't help but think that hearts will be broken over those magic eyes of his.
Wednesday, November 02, 2011
Thankful in ALL things
"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
I Thessalonians 5:18
Last year I challenged my friends to be creative when listing the things they are thankful for in November. Here is the original post Randomly Thankful. It was a huge success from where I sat. Not only did it challenge me to find the smaller joys in life, it also helped me know my friends better, and find common links we didn't know we had.
Make no mistake, I am extremely thankful for the big things. My salvation through Christ, my husband and children, household employment is a big one this year, and the family and friends I have are an enormous blessing. I can not possibly be thankful enough for these things, but they are also the things I remember to be thankful for year round.
I wanted to explain this because from the surface, my Facebook status posts might seem trivial or mocking, but I am honestly searching my life for little things that come my way that I should be thankful for. When you see my posts you can be sure that no matter how silly it might seem, it is something that I have actually stopped my day to thank God for putting in my path.
When I read over the Bible verse at the top, something struck me. God never promises us that we will have a happy life, but He does wish for us to be happy with our life even when others can't see reason for it. It is the will of God that we find something to be thankful for no matter what is going on. Some days it is easy to find things, and others it might come down to being thankful that the day is over.
Once again, I am challenging myself (and you, if you'd like) to be thankful for something different. Something you don't usually take the time to realize as a blessing. If you are on Facebook, then use your status and spread the fun.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Lesson From Running
As you may know, I have been trying the Couch to 5K running program. I have learned a lot about myself during this experience, and I thought I'd share.
1. I am very much out of shape and in bad need of some sort of exercise.
2. I know how to walk, I know how to run, I do not know how to jog. It is a weird gate at a weird pace for me.
3. I freckle quickly when I spend 30 minutes outside 3 times a week.
4. Everything in my town is up hill both going and coming. I don't know how it is possible, but it is true.
5. I'm a wimp when it comes to foot pain. My tendons flare, my summer foot injury throbs, and I had no idea the muscles in your foot could hurt.
6. 5k to Couch is a lot easier and takes days instead of weeks.
I stuck it out longer than I thought I would and although my group is still going, I think I am bowing out. I've had nasty sickness, house guests, work projects, travel plans, and a general case of "please don't make me". I really never found that spot where I didn't hate it and it didn't wipe me out. I just don't think it is my thing, but I am going to start looking for what my thing might be.
1. I am very much out of shape and in bad need of some sort of exercise.
2. I know how to walk, I know how to run, I do not know how to jog. It is a weird gate at a weird pace for me.
3. I freckle quickly when I spend 30 minutes outside 3 times a week.
4. Everything in my town is up hill both going and coming. I don't know how it is possible, but it is true.
5. I'm a wimp when it comes to foot pain. My tendons flare, my summer foot injury throbs, and I had no idea the muscles in your foot could hurt.
6. 5k to Couch is a lot easier and takes days instead of weeks.
I stuck it out longer than I thought I would and although my group is still going, I think I am bowing out. I've had nasty sickness, house guests, work projects, travel plans, and a general case of "please don't make me". I really never found that spot where I didn't hate it and it didn't wipe me out. I just don't think it is my thing, but I am going to start looking for what my thing might be.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Another year, another badge
Nix's middle school is doing a costume fundraiser again this year. This is always a problem. She can't wear her real Halloween costume to school, mainly because she uses a ballet recital dress and I don't want it ruined, but also because it wouldn't be very comfortable all day. I'm not buying a costume. Those things are expensive! So, we put on our thinking caps and come up with something creative that will work from what she already has.
Last year she was Lois Lane, and none of the kids knew who that was (I weep for the next generation). The good news is, all of the teachers knew and thought it was clever.
This year, we are going with a similar theme. She is going as Pepper Potts from Ironman (the movie, not the comic because Pepper was a little messed up in the comics). Since Nix is Still under 13, she hasn't seen Ironman yet, but she liked the idea.
Just like last year, I pieced together a graphic to make an ID badge. This time it is a Stark Industry employee badge. I found a couple of references online and then put my own little spin on it.
She'll be wearing a very professional looking dress and her hair pulled back into a bun to complete the look. I probably wouldn't send her door to door in it, but for a costume that didn't cost a dime, still meets dress code, and has a cool theme, I'm pleased.
On a side note, her real costume is Rapunzel from Tangled post haircut. She'll be handing out candy at the house using her frying pan as the candy bowl. JD is going out as a realistic Mario. He has overalls, a red shirt, white gloves, a mustache, and a great Mario hat. I'll post pictures up either here or Facebook after Halloween.
Last year she was Lois Lane, and none of the kids knew who that was (I weep for the next generation). The good news is, all of the teachers knew and thought it was clever.
This year, we are going with a similar theme. She is going as Pepper Potts from Ironman (the movie, not the comic because Pepper was a little messed up in the comics). Since Nix is Still under 13, she hasn't seen Ironman yet, but she liked the idea.
Just like last year, I pieced together a graphic to make an ID badge. This time it is a Stark Industry employee badge. I found a couple of references online and then put my own little spin on it.
She'll be wearing a very professional looking dress and her hair pulled back into a bun to complete the look. I probably wouldn't send her door to door in it, but for a costume that didn't cost a dime, still meets dress code, and has a cool theme, I'm pleased.
On a side note, her real costume is Rapunzel from Tangled post haircut. She'll be handing out candy at the house using her frying pan as the candy bowl. JD is going out as a realistic Mario. He has overalls, a red shirt, white gloves, a mustache, and a great Mario hat. I'll post pictures up either here or Facebook after Halloween.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Late Night Laughs
This weekend we spent about 20 hours in the car. That is a lot of family togetherness, but the kids handled it surprisingly well. I think the excitement of getting to hold the newest member of the family (my new nephew) put us all in a haze of happiness. When we got home last night the haze started wearing off and the exhaustion set in. We put the kids to bed and had the most ridiculous conversation. I thought I'd let you in on a bit of it.
Me (speaking silly of someone from my childhood): She thought she was all that and a bag of chips, but I thought she was a few fries short of a Happy Meal. Remember when it was "a bag of cookies short of a Happy Meal"?
Rocky: Those were good cookies. Like animal cookies, but sweeter and shaped like Ronald McDonald's head
Me: What do we say now? "A few apple slices short" doesn't have the same ring.
Rocky: I miss those cookies
Somehow from there we digressed into talking about people who get tattoos in Hebrew or of a Chinese character, and how they'd likely never know if it was wrong. Then came the list of things it would be funny to substitute and how the people who originally spoke Hebrew believed a tattoo would send you to Hell. It is in Leviticus 19:28, which also topped our list of funny things to substitute. We tend to get just a wee bit twisted when we are exhausted.
Every minute we spent in the car was worth it, if for no other reason then to get this picture.
How adorable it this?! This is our next generation.
During the visit, we stayed at my parent's house. We were really only there long enough to sleep and eat breakfast each day. Before we left JD told my mom, "Thanks for letting us eat, sleep, and poop at your house." I couldn't have said it better myself. Well, I could have, but I was too busy shaking my head and trying not to laugh.
Me (speaking silly of someone from my childhood): She thought she was all that and a bag of chips, but I thought she was a few fries short of a Happy Meal. Remember when it was "a bag of cookies short of a Happy Meal"?
Rocky: Those were good cookies. Like animal cookies, but sweeter and shaped like Ronald McDonald's head
Me: What do we say now? "A few apple slices short" doesn't have the same ring.
Rocky: I miss those cookies
Somehow from there we digressed into talking about people who get tattoos in Hebrew or of a Chinese character, and how they'd likely never know if it was wrong. Then came the list of things it would be funny to substitute and how the people who originally spoke Hebrew believed a tattoo would send you to Hell. It is in Leviticus 19:28, which also topped our list of funny things to substitute. We tend to get just a wee bit twisted when we are exhausted.
Every minute we spent in the car was worth it, if for no other reason then to get this picture.
How adorable it this?! This is our next generation.
During the visit, we stayed at my parent's house. We were really only there long enough to sleep and eat breakfast each day. Before we left JD told my mom, "Thanks for letting us eat, sleep, and poop at your house." I couldn't have said it better myself. Well, I could have, but I was too busy shaking my head and trying not to laugh.
Friday, October 07, 2011
Are You Kidding Me?
I had the great joy of renewing my driver's license today. As with most simple tasks I have, it turned into an experience. Somehow I managed to miss the memo that the local DMV had moved. There was a lovely sign on the door of the old place telling me that had move and even what street they were off of, but no address. I guess it is a good thing I have a phone. After a couple of calls with Rocky, we figured out that it is back behind the new city aquatic center, because nothing goes together like giant swimming pools and driver safety (?). This new building is shiny and huge (serious tax dollars sunk into this one). When you walk in, there are people sitting waiting with clipboards and numbers, but nothing to tell you how to get a clipboard or a number. After walking around for a minute like an idiot, I gave up and asked someone how they managed to get a number. My favorite answer to the many, many people I saw asking this question was, "You stand there in the front until someone gets good and ready to talk to you and they will give you a number."
After I got my golden ticket, I filled out my paperwork and watched as other confused people came in. There got to be a pretty long line of people waiting to wait. A smoker sat down near me followed by a man who was wearing a LOT of cologne (insert standard rant about perfume). Just as my eyes started to water, my number got called. While the nice lady typed up my information, I causally mentioned that they might consider some sort of sign to let people know how the waiting for a number thing works. She said, "We aren't allowed to have a sign." This was not exactly the answer I was expecting. I had to enquire further. They had a sign, but it wasn't "department regulation" so they had to take it down. I love a good mystery. This one took me all of about 2 minutes to figure out.
Not long ago, there was a big promotion about shorter wait times at the DMV. They made a pretty big deal out of how quickly they moved people through there. When I got my number there was a time code on it so that there was a computer record of my wait time. Do you get it yet? The wait time clock doesn't start until you get a number. If they put a "Wait here" sign up, then they have to count that in their average wait time numbers. They have cut your wait time in half not by being more efficient, but by making you spend half your time there waiting to wait!
Anyone else looking forward to the brilliant minds behind this taking over our health care?
After I got my golden ticket, I filled out my paperwork and watched as other confused people came in. There got to be a pretty long line of people waiting to wait. A smoker sat down near me followed by a man who was wearing a LOT of cologne (insert standard rant about perfume). Just as my eyes started to water, my number got called. While the nice lady typed up my information, I causally mentioned that they might consider some sort of sign to let people know how the waiting for a number thing works. She said, "We aren't allowed to have a sign." This was not exactly the answer I was expecting. I had to enquire further. They had a sign, but it wasn't "department regulation" so they had to take it down. I love a good mystery. This one took me all of about 2 minutes to figure out.
Not long ago, there was a big promotion about shorter wait times at the DMV. They made a pretty big deal out of how quickly they moved people through there. When I got my number there was a time code on it so that there was a computer record of my wait time. Do you get it yet? The wait time clock doesn't start until you get a number. If they put a "Wait here" sign up, then they have to count that in their average wait time numbers. They have cut your wait time in half not by being more efficient, but by making you spend half your time there waiting to wait!
Anyone else looking forward to the brilliant minds behind this taking over our health care?
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
Getting Uncomfortable
If there is one thing I have learned about what being a Christian involves it is that God has no intention of letting us stay in our comfort zones. On the one hand, I feel myself wanting to cry out, "Why?", but then again, what fun would life be if we were never pushed out of our box from time to time?
I like hanging out in the back of the room, observing all that is going on, working where needed, and in general, being behind the scene. From time to time, God seems to delight in shoving me up front. I find myself with the thought, "Someone should really do something about that.", and before I know it, I am the someone trying to do the doing that needs done.
I've spent most of this week out of my box. I may have accidentally offered to help start a special needs program at our church, I'm in a running group, and then today called for a trip to the dentist with the kids. When I walked into the dentist office (my least favorite place to be) I saw this sign:
What are the odds? This point has been following me around for days. I feel like I have the God equivalent of the grim on me. It is starting to make me a little paranoid. On the upside, it has done wonders for my prayer life.
I like hanging out in the back of the room, observing all that is going on, working where needed, and in general, being behind the scene. From time to time, God seems to delight in shoving me up front. I find myself with the thought, "Someone should really do something about that.", and before I know it, I am the someone trying to do the doing that needs done.
I've spent most of this week out of my box. I may have accidentally offered to help start a special needs program at our church, I'm in a running group, and then today called for a trip to the dentist with the kids. When I walked into the dentist office (my least favorite place to be) I saw this sign:
What are the odds? This point has been following me around for days. I feel like I have the God equivalent of the grim on me. It is starting to make me a little paranoid. On the upside, it has done wonders for my prayer life.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Feeling Poetic
It doesn't happen often, but from time to time I feel the urge to write somewhat cheesy poetry. Nothing calls for a poem that painfully rhymes like the birth of a baby, and I have just been gifted with my very first nephew. The poem may be silly, but it is also kind of sweet. I really wish I could draw so I could turn it into a board book. You can write just about anything in board book form and as long as it rhymes and the drawings are cute, it is brilliant. Any way, here is my poem written in honor of the birth of my nephew born 9-10-11 in Beijing, China.
When you were born it was both day and night,
With us in the darkness and you in the light.
We waited for days, expecting you here,
But you could not be rushed, you just wouldn’t appear.
So, we paced and we prayed, and even lost sleep,
Waiting and watching for you to make that first little peep.
Into this world you came with a scream.
It was far better than any of us would dare dream.
Though miles of ocean and even more land
Kept us apart, my love was instantly grand.
I could not wait until my arms would hold,
This tiny person, who was more precious than gold.
That day was, without question, certainly faithful.
You made me an aunt, and I am eternally grateful.
When you were born it was both day and night,
With us in the darkness and you in the light.
We waited for days, expecting you here,
But you could not be rushed, you just wouldn’t appear.
So, we paced and we prayed, and even lost sleep,
Waiting and watching for you to make that first little peep.
Into this world you came with a scream.
It was far better than any of us would dare dream.
Though miles of ocean and even more land
Kept us apart, my love was instantly grand.
I could not wait until my arms would hold,
This tiny person, who was more precious than gold.
That day was, without question, certainly faithful.
You made me an aunt, and I am eternally grateful.
Thursday, September 08, 2011
The Joy of Car Line
I've been going through old computer files and found something I wrote after a particularly bad day in the school car line. I started understanding how even the most even tempered person could get road rage. I thought I would post a couple of bits from it for fun.
At the beginning of the year the school gives you a magic claim check with a random number on it. It hangs on your rear view mirror and announces to the staff which child you are allowed to put in your car. Guard this with your life. Make sure there is one in every car you could possibly use to pick your child up. Laminate it, baby it, and treat it as gold. If you lose it you may never see your child again. Even if you child looks exactly like you and runs to your side saying,” Mommy! Mommy!” this is not enough. For safety purposes the school must assume that you and your husband entered into a nasty divorce that morning with him being awarded sole custody and you are now trying to kidnap your own children. It could happen. The only way to fix this problem is to bring with you 3 forms of ID, a DNA sample, and a notarized statement signed by your husband and a federal judge swearing that you do in fact have the legal right to claim your own child. If the colossal tragedy of losing the number card happens please do everyone in line behind you a favor and park your car and walk into the school to collect your child. It makes the line move so much faster and the strip search less embarrassing.
Later, I'll post tips on how to know when you should park your car and walk your child in.
At the beginning of the year the school gives you a magic claim check with a random number on it. It hangs on your rear view mirror and announces to the staff which child you are allowed to put in your car. Guard this with your life. Make sure there is one in every car you could possibly use to pick your child up. Laminate it, baby it, and treat it as gold. If you lose it you may never see your child again. Even if you child looks exactly like you and runs to your side saying,” Mommy! Mommy!” this is not enough. For safety purposes the school must assume that you and your husband entered into a nasty divorce that morning with him being awarded sole custody and you are now trying to kidnap your own children. It could happen. The only way to fix this problem is to bring with you 3 forms of ID, a DNA sample, and a notarized statement signed by your husband and a federal judge swearing that you do in fact have the legal right to claim your own child. If the colossal tragedy of losing the number card happens please do everyone in line behind you a favor and park your car and walk into the school to collect your child. It makes the line move so much faster and the strip search less embarrassing.
Later, I'll post tips on how to know when you should park your car and walk your child in.
Thursday, September 01, 2011
Cancer Stinks!
Thanks to a sea of pink, you probably all know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but cancer awareness season actually starts today with recognizing the worst of all cancers, that being the ones that attack children. It is also the month for ovarian and prostate cancer, just for the record, which is an interesting combination that I will not be addressing.
I'm sure there are cancers with lower survival rates and maybe even a few are more painful, but I still think cancers that attack our children are worse. Children are suppose to be innocent and not worry about anything more serious than when the next Phineas and Ferb will air. They should not have to worry about radiation, chemo, picc lines, death. As parents we are suppose to be able to protect our children from the things of the world that can hurt them. We shouldn't have to worry about more than them falling off the monkey bars and breaking an arm. We shouldn't have to worry about blood counts, transfusions, medical bills, tombstones. It is the ultimate in life not being fair.
The fact that cancer exsists in children should remind us all that we are never too young to have cancer. I am as bad as anyone. I have annual check ups once every 3 or 4 years. I think I have always had in the back of my mind that I'm too young to worry about it, but that is just a nice little comfortable lie I tell myself. I've got friends fighting a battle with cancer right now. If they aren't too young, then neither am I and neither is any adult reading this.
Know yourself, know your kids, and if that little voice in the back of your mind tells you something is off, get it checked out.
If you find yourself with a little extra money to donate this month, please consider The Aflac Children's Cancer Center in Atlanta or Saint Jude in Memphis. Just in our lifetime, these two places have made unbelievable strides in curing childhood cancers and blood disorders. I have more than one friend that owes their life to these hospitals.
I'm sure there are cancers with lower survival rates and maybe even a few are more painful, but I still think cancers that attack our children are worse. Children are suppose to be innocent and not worry about anything more serious than when the next Phineas and Ferb will air. They should not have to worry about radiation, chemo, picc lines, death. As parents we are suppose to be able to protect our children from the things of the world that can hurt them. We shouldn't have to worry about more than them falling off the monkey bars and breaking an arm. We shouldn't have to worry about blood counts, transfusions, medical bills, tombstones. It is the ultimate in life not being fair.
The fact that cancer exsists in children should remind us all that we are never too young to have cancer. I am as bad as anyone. I have annual check ups once every 3 or 4 years. I think I have always had in the back of my mind that I'm too young to worry about it, but that is just a nice little comfortable lie I tell myself. I've got friends fighting a battle with cancer right now. If they aren't too young, then neither am I and neither is any adult reading this.
Know yourself, know your kids, and if that little voice in the back of your mind tells you something is off, get it checked out.
If you find yourself with a little extra money to donate this month, please consider The Aflac Children's Cancer Center in Atlanta or Saint Jude in Memphis. Just in our lifetime, these two places have made unbelievable strides in curing childhood cancers and blood disorders. I have more than one friend that owes their life to these hospitals.
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