I can't believe that it's actually almost 2008. Wow! Looking back at my previous posts, it seems that yet again, I have left you readers high and dry for nearly a month. How can yous tand the suspense of not reading the daily foibles of my life?
Ok, so here it is. I got the stomach flue for Christmas!!! Wow, I never would have thought I could have received such a great gift. The children and I were sick for nearly a week, and pretty weak for a few days after that. There's nothing like changing the diapers of runny diarrhea chidren who are at the same time vomiting and not eating. I think I watched the movie Cars about three times, which isn't a bad thing - after all, it's not Happy Feet!
So the children were sick, I was sick and luckily we were both sick at the same time. I certainly don't think I could have handled it if I had been sick and they had been well.
The good part about it is that I was off the hook for Christmas. No cooking, no baking. Whew! I never realized how much hard work goes into the holidays - why do we do that to ourselves? We had Chinese food for Christmas and it was pretty good, especially, as I said, I did not have to cook.
Another great thing that happened was a Christmas rush. Wow! Considering this is only my 2nd year in busines, I think I'm doing ok!
Anyhoo, that's it for now, and more later!
Monday, December 31
Monday, December 10
Positivity by Trula: Today is Love Thursday
While today may not be Love Thursday, (for some it's Manic Monday), bring a little positivity into your life by marking your calendar for the upcoming love Thursday. What is it? Read Trula's blog below:
Positivity by Trula: Today is Love Thursday
Positivity by Trula: Today is Love Thursday
Sunday, December 9
Christmas is just around the Corner
Dear readers, I don't have anything especially significant to say today, but just wanted to check in with everyone before the gap between posts got too large and I would have to write yet another 'mea culpa' post. Nevertheless, your entertainment in reading this blog comes first and foremost, so I will attempt to give a quick overview of what has been happening in the last three weeks.
I have been working hard on my website and am in the process of filling basket orders for Christmas. Wow! Last year at this time, I had a barely functional website, only one product and was basically giving the stuff away. Now I have more that four products (yes, I know that doesn't sound like a lot, but when you're making the stuff by hand and testing different formulas, that's a lot!! Now I am considering going natural and totally eliminating the dyes from my product. Notice I said considering!!!I really like the look of some of the colored product, which is why I have an all natural and a nearly all natural section to my website. If you're interested, click the banner at the top of the page.
The little ones are doing quite well - no colds, no one is sick - and my oldest is taking well to his swimming lessons. One day he came home and said to me "I hate swimming." Now, swimming is an integral part of the preschool program, so I wasn't having any of that. So I used that good ol' reverse psychology on him - "Oh really. What's the best thing you like about swimming?" And he proceeded to rattle off a list of things he actually liked about swimming, so another diaster thwarted. I wouldn't want to have to pick him up from school early because he didn't like swimming.
You know, talk about a non sequitur, but what the heck is up with Tyra's hair? Is it me or does it look like she just put a mop on her head? That straw look does not look good on her - I hope she goes back the burgundy!!
Well, that's really it for now - pretty uninteresting, I know, but ya know, that's life....that's what all the people say.....you're riding high in April...Shot down in May.
We're going to be getting our Christmas tree soon - this is the first year that my 19 month old will really be aware of what is going on...let's see how long it take for him to rip all the ornaments off the bottom half of the tree.
I have been working hard on my website and am in the process of filling basket orders for Christmas. Wow! Last year at this time, I had a barely functional website, only one product and was basically giving the stuff away. Now I have more that four products (yes, I know that doesn't sound like a lot, but when you're making the stuff by hand and testing different formulas, that's a lot!! Now I am considering going natural and totally eliminating the dyes from my product. Notice I said considering!!!I really like the look of some of the colored product, which is why I have an all natural and a nearly all natural section to my website. If you're interested, click the banner at the top of the page.
The little ones are doing quite well - no colds, no one is sick - and my oldest is taking well to his swimming lessons. One day he came home and said to me "I hate swimming." Now, swimming is an integral part of the preschool program, so I wasn't having any of that. So I used that good ol' reverse psychology on him - "Oh really. What's the best thing you like about swimming?" And he proceeded to rattle off a list of things he actually liked about swimming, so another diaster thwarted. I wouldn't want to have to pick him up from school early because he didn't like swimming.
You know, talk about a non sequitur, but what the heck is up with Tyra's hair? Is it me or does it look like she just put a mop on her head? That straw look does not look good on her - I hope she goes back the burgundy!!
Well, that's really it for now - pretty uninteresting, I know, but ya know, that's life....that's what all the people say.....you're riding high in April...Shot down in May.
We're going to be getting our Christmas tree soon - this is the first year that my 19 month old will really be aware of what is going on...let's see how long it take for him to rip all the ornaments off the bottom half of the tree.
Saturday, November 17
Old Songs
Well, dear readers, I'm in a reminicent mood today...must be the weather, so bear with me in my mood.
Remember the older songs from the seventies that told stories? How about Bad, bad, Leroy Brown, baddest man in the whole damn town? Badder than old King Kong, and meaner than a junkyard dog. By the end of that song, Bad Leroy Brown looked liked a "jigsaw puzzle with a couple of pieces gone" and he learned not to mess with the wife of a jealous man!
Oh, and how about that old tear jerker - "Cat's in the Cradle??" Was that a sad song or what? "When you coming home dad? I don't know when, but we'll get together then, son, you know we'll have a good time then." Then the whole thing turns around on the father at the end when the son doesn't have time for him. Sniff sniff.
Then there were the other tearjerker songs that went along with those sad movies. Remember Brian's Song? "If the hands of time were hands that I could hold,
I’d keep them warm and in my hands, They’d not turn cold! " Believe or not, that was orginally a TV movie starring James Caan and Billy Dee Williams that was so successful that they ended up releasing it in theatres.
How about "Carry on my Wayward son, there'll be peace when you are done....lay your weary head to rest...don't you cry no more." Yeah, Kansas...I'm reaching back to my pre-teen years to the songs you heard on AM radio. Being a woman of a certain age, I do remember these songs playing on the radio, which are now part of 70s complilations on late night TV.
Look, I'm from an era where I remember 8 track tapes!!!!
Continuing on the story line song, how about "the devil went down to Georgia looking for a soul to steal...he was in a bind because he was way behind and he was willing to make a deal" Wow, Satan behind on soul stealing? Must have been the innocent seventies, cuz I bet he could find plenty today! "....but if you lose, the devil gets your sooooooul" What a cool song. Yup, it's in my Ipod, two songs down from Seal and three up from Sean Paul. So you can't say I'm not diversified!
"Ahhhh, look at all at all the lonely people.. Eleanor Rigby picks up the rice in a church where a wedding has been......" How sad that no one came to her funeral! "she was buried along with her name....."
Wow, I never took the time to actually look at the variety of songs on my Ipod. Mind you, I don't claim to be up on all the latest music - I think the newest song that I know is "Don't hate on me hata!" By jill scott, but why'd she have to bite the base line from "You're all I need to get by"?? One of Amy Winehouse's songs does the same thing.
This is the last one I'll hit ya with "when are you gonna come down...when are you going to learn...I should have stayed on the farm...I shoulda listened to my old man....you know you can't hold me forever....I didn't sign up for you...I'm not a present for your friends to open....this boy's to young to be singing the bluuuuuuuuuuuuues...So goodbye yellow brick road..." My little ones love that song only because of the ah ah ah part. They sing it top volume in the car. What a strange song though.......This was back in the day where, I, as a little child, knew nothing about gay or homosexual...I mean Libarace was just flamboyant like Elvis!
so good by yellow brick road, where the dogs of society howl, you can't lock me in your penthouse......oh I finally decided my future lies beyond the yellow brick rooooo-oooooo-ad.
Dear readers, thank you for accompanying me down memory lane.
What are some of your fav. 70s songs or story songs?
Remember the older songs from the seventies that told stories? How about Bad, bad, Leroy Brown, baddest man in the whole damn town? Badder than old King Kong, and meaner than a junkyard dog. By the end of that song, Bad Leroy Brown looked liked a "jigsaw puzzle with a couple of pieces gone" and he learned not to mess with the wife of a jealous man!
Oh, and how about that old tear jerker - "Cat's in the Cradle??" Was that a sad song or what? "When you coming home dad? I don't know when, but we'll get together then, son, you know we'll have a good time then." Then the whole thing turns around on the father at the end when the son doesn't have time for him. Sniff sniff.
Then there were the other tearjerker songs that went along with those sad movies. Remember Brian's Song? "If the hands of time were hands that I could hold,
I’d keep them warm and in my hands, They’d not turn cold! " Believe or not, that was orginally a TV movie starring James Caan and Billy Dee Williams that was so successful that they ended up releasing it in theatres.
How about "Carry on my Wayward son, there'll be peace when you are done....lay your weary head to rest...don't you cry no more." Yeah, Kansas...I'm reaching back to my pre-teen years to the songs you heard on AM radio. Being a woman of a certain age, I do remember these songs playing on the radio, which are now part of 70s complilations on late night TV.
Look, I'm from an era where I remember 8 track tapes!!!!
Continuing on the story line song, how about "the devil went down to Georgia looking for a soul to steal...he was in a bind because he was way behind and he was willing to make a deal" Wow, Satan behind on soul stealing? Must have been the innocent seventies, cuz I bet he could find plenty today! "....but if you lose, the devil gets your sooooooul" What a cool song. Yup, it's in my Ipod, two songs down from Seal and three up from Sean Paul. So you can't say I'm not diversified!
"Ahhhh, look at all at all the lonely people.. Eleanor Rigby picks up the rice in a church where a wedding has been......" How sad that no one came to her funeral! "she was buried along with her name....."
Wow, I never took the time to actually look at the variety of songs on my Ipod. Mind you, I don't claim to be up on all the latest music - I think the newest song that I know is "Don't hate on me hata!" By jill scott, but why'd she have to bite the base line from "You're all I need to get by"?? One of Amy Winehouse's songs does the same thing.
This is the last one I'll hit ya with "when are you gonna come down...when are you going to learn...I should have stayed on the farm...I shoulda listened to my old man....you know you can't hold me forever....I didn't sign up for you...I'm not a present for your friends to open....this boy's to young to be singing the bluuuuuuuuuuuuues...So goodbye yellow brick road..." My little ones love that song only because of the ah ah ah part. They sing it top volume in the car. What a strange song though.......This was back in the day where, I, as a little child, knew nothing about gay or homosexual...I mean Libarace was just flamboyant like Elvis!
so good by yellow brick road, where the dogs of society howl, you can't lock me in your penthouse......oh I finally decided my future lies beyond the yellow brick rooooo-oooooo-ad.
Dear readers, thank you for accompanying me down memory lane.
What are some of your fav. 70s songs or story songs?
Sunday, November 11
Once again....
Oh, dear, dear readers! Once again I have left you hanging for over a month without any updates to my exciting life as a stay at home mom!!
Let's see, what have I missed updating you with? Well, for starters, Mookie was sick again! That durn preschool has as many germs as that nasty Monica Lewinsky dress. I mean, really, he only is there three times a week for 3 hours at a time. I really must get on all of the little ones about the importance of handwashing. However, his sickness did not develop into the crisis it was in September(see here for the full story. Anyway, I only had to hit him a couple of times with the Xopenex, but I took him to the doctor just to be sure. Not that I'm a big worrywart, but the Goddess will NEVER let her little Mookie get to that crisis stage again, not if she can help it!
So, after Mookie got sick, so did the Diva and Squeaky. Nothing is as heavenly as wiping three runny noses at once and running back and forth in the middle of the night because the Diva woke up and her nose is stuffed up. What a drama QUEEN! "Oh, my dose, my dose my DOSE" I wanted to tell her, look honey, stop all that screaming, concentrate on breathing and you won't have a problem. But, how do you reason with a three year old? Answer: you don't!
Now, the business. I've been workign on the website, making products,taking pictures and on top of that all, trying to keep the house in some sort of working order. My husband is a saint, because he doesn't balk when I call after a particularly difficult day and say "can you stop and pick up...." He will be rewarded greatly when my business takes off!
Anyway, dear reader, that's my sorry excuse for not keeping you thoroughly entertained for the last month. I promise to be much more diligent in the future!
Let's see, what have I missed updating you with? Well, for starters, Mookie was sick again! That durn preschool has as many germs as that nasty Monica Lewinsky dress. I mean, really, he only is there three times a week for 3 hours at a time. I really must get on all of the little ones about the importance of handwashing. However, his sickness did not develop into the crisis it was in September(see here for the full story. Anyway, I only had to hit him a couple of times with the Xopenex, but I took him to the doctor just to be sure. Not that I'm a big worrywart, but the Goddess will NEVER let her little Mookie get to that crisis stage again, not if she can help it!
So, after Mookie got sick, so did the Diva and Squeaky. Nothing is as heavenly as wiping three runny noses at once and running back and forth in the middle of the night because the Diva woke up and her nose is stuffed up. What a drama QUEEN! "Oh, my dose, my dose my DOSE" I wanted to tell her, look honey, stop all that screaming, concentrate on breathing and you won't have a problem. But, how do you reason with a three year old? Answer: you don't!
Now, the business. I've been workign on the website, making products,taking pictures and on top of that all, trying to keep the house in some sort of working order. My husband is a saint, because he doesn't balk when I call after a particularly difficult day and say "can you stop and pick up...." He will be rewarded greatly when my business takes off!
Anyway, dear reader, that's my sorry excuse for not keeping you thoroughly entertained for the last month. I promise to be much more diligent in the future!
Saturday, October 6
Ah, youth is wasted on the young
As Wendy Williams would say, I am a woman of a certain age, and that certain age indicates that I grew up in the eighties. Now, certainly that doesn't make me superold, but it is somewhat disconcerting when you can hum along quite easily with the oldies station. I mean, has it really been 20 years since Michael Jackson was the King of Pop?
And the passage of time hits you everywhere you look. I was watching ABC the other day, (which I almost never do) and actually got to see the beginning of The Practice. The only thing I know about this show is that James Spader (80s hottie) and William Shatner (70s Star Trek's hottie)were on this show. I glanced up at the screen, saw a male actor, and assumed it was Shatner. ON SECOND GLANCE, I realized it was James Spader!! When did he get so.....fat? I just finished watching Less Than Zero the other day....he wasn't fat in that movice and that was just the other day......What happened to him?? I kept watching and finally saw Bill Shatner - I have all ready gotten over the shock of seeing him heavy set - he eased us into this through shows like TJ Hooker and those Star Trek movies. But then, I saw Candace Bergen. Oh, Murphy Brown....what happened to you? And that high collar isn't fooling anyone, honey. Either get the neck surgery or let those wattles fly. Everyone knows what you're hiding. I had to turn the off the show.
But you know, the Boss is still touring, along with Aerosmith and the Police. Toni Basil (Oh, micky, you're so fine, you're so fine you blow my mind) was on TV the other day and didn't look half bad. I hear Loverboy is also on toru and I just read an article about Air Supply on tour. So the eighties aren't dead yet!!
And the passage of time hits you everywhere you look. I was watching ABC the other day, (which I almost never do) and actually got to see the beginning of The Practice. The only thing I know about this show is that James Spader (80s hottie) and William Shatner (70s Star Trek's hottie)were on this show. I glanced up at the screen, saw a male actor, and assumed it was Shatner. ON SECOND GLANCE, I realized it was James Spader!! When did he get so.....fat? I just finished watching Less Than Zero the other day....he wasn't fat in that movice and that was just the other day......What happened to him?? I kept watching and finally saw Bill Shatner - I have all ready gotten over the shock of seeing him heavy set - he eased us into this through shows like TJ Hooker and those Star Trek movies. But then, I saw Candace Bergen. Oh, Murphy Brown....what happened to you? And that high collar isn't fooling anyone, honey. Either get the neck surgery or let those wattles fly. Everyone knows what you're hiding. I had to turn the off the show.
But you know, the Boss is still touring, along with Aerosmith and the Police. Toni Basil (Oh, micky, you're so fine, you're so fine you blow my mind) was on TV the other day and didn't look half bad. I hear Loverboy is also on toru and I just read an article about Air Supply on tour. So the eighties aren't dead yet!!
Friday, September 28
What Happened?
First of all, dear readers, I am so sorry to have left you in the lurch for so long. I'm sure many of you have been checking back often, looking for a new post - wondering, 'what has become of the goddess?'....'where is the goddess I need an update'. Well, readers, let me tell you that it is has not been easy for the goddess in the past two weeks.
Deep breath......
The goddess was.......wrong! Yes, please do not allow this earth shattering admission to throw any of you for a loop. I understand that many of you come to me for guidance, for laughs, for what have you, and to hear that the goddess was wrong, just might drive some of you over the edge. Let me explain.
Little Mookie has been coughing, which I noted in a previous post. Took him to the doctor, as a good mother would do, and the doctor listened to my explanation, listened to Mookie's chest, proclaimed it clear, then prescribed Xoponex, which the goddess refused to give her little Mookie, seeing as there were no real tests given.
Well, little Mookie started coughing one night and just could not stop, even with steam and everything else. Mookie went to the ER!!! He had to be nebulized and came back with albuterol in pump, diagnosed with an astham attack! What? My little Mookie, who has always been healthy and never shown signs of any type of respiratory distress, ASTHMA? How did the goddess fail??
Don't fear, there's more. Poor little Mookie was stable, but didn't find true relief, even with the albuterol. Back to the drs later that day. Well, well, the doctoer (not the same one from before) diagnosed the croup, the coughing from with irritated little Mookie's bronchial tubes, which in turn caused them to "seize up" so to speak, thus causing the tightness. What happened? The goddess had to stand by while her little Mookie was nebulized FOUR TIMES until his oxygen level was sufficiently high enough to be released home. We were in the drs office three hours and came home with a nebululizer, Pulimcort, Xoponex and Prednisolone. (Yes, now I'm a pharmicist, one of many hats that I wear). Yes, the goddess was against the drugs before, but with a competent diagnosis, a thorough examination by the doctor, a thorough explantion by the nurse practitioner and phone support by the drs, the goddess was willing to administer....well, let's just say we're lucky cocaine wasn't the end cure for Mookie for the goddess would have been trying to 'score'.
Now, a week after the crisis, Mookie has a wonderfully loose cough, mucous is plentiful and the tight continous cough is no more! Mookie is being weaned off his steriod regimin ans is still doing well. He is running, jumping and yelling with no ill effects....and no coughing.
So there's your fix, dear readers, rest assured the goddess is back and will have more tales to tell in the future.
Deep breath......
The goddess was.......wrong! Yes, please do not allow this earth shattering admission to throw any of you for a loop. I understand that many of you come to me for guidance, for laughs, for what have you, and to hear that the goddess was wrong, just might drive some of you over the edge. Let me explain.
Little Mookie has been coughing, which I noted in a previous post. Took him to the doctor, as a good mother would do, and the doctor listened to my explanation, listened to Mookie's chest, proclaimed it clear, then prescribed Xoponex, which the goddess refused to give her little Mookie, seeing as there were no real tests given.
Well, little Mookie started coughing one night and just could not stop, even with steam and everything else. Mookie went to the ER!!! He had to be nebulized and came back with albuterol in pump, diagnosed with an astham attack! What? My little Mookie, who has always been healthy and never shown signs of any type of respiratory distress, ASTHMA? How did the goddess fail??
Don't fear, there's more. Poor little Mookie was stable, but didn't find true relief, even with the albuterol. Back to the drs later that day. Well, well, the doctoer (not the same one from before) diagnosed the croup, the coughing from with irritated little Mookie's bronchial tubes, which in turn caused them to "seize up" so to speak, thus causing the tightness. What happened? The goddess had to stand by while her little Mookie was nebulized FOUR TIMES until his oxygen level was sufficiently high enough to be released home. We were in the drs office three hours and came home with a nebululizer, Pulimcort, Xoponex and Prednisolone. (Yes, now I'm a pharmicist, one of many hats that I wear). Yes, the goddess was against the drugs before, but with a competent diagnosis, a thorough examination by the doctor, a thorough explantion by the nurse practitioner and phone support by the drs, the goddess was willing to administer....well, let's just say we're lucky cocaine wasn't the end cure for Mookie for the goddess would have been trying to 'score'.
Now, a week after the crisis, Mookie has a wonderfully loose cough, mucous is plentiful and the tight continous cough is no more! Mookie is being weaned off his steriod regimin ans is still doing well. He is running, jumping and yelling with no ill effects....and no coughing.
So there's your fix, dear readers, rest assured the goddess is back and will have more tales to tell in the future.
Friday, September 14
Who are these children and why are they following me?
As you know from my title, I am a stay at home mom. I didn't always used to be a stay at home mom - I decided to do so when confronted with the high cost of day care that did not guarantee your child's safety and well being.
While I don't always guarantee my children's safety (when they're having a blast jumping up and down on the sofa and sitting on the edge of chairs, who am I to interfere with their fun) I can always guarantee my child's well being.....but they don't always guarantee mine.
Here are some cases in point:
My office. I have finally started to establish some "me space" in the house, now that the youngest is 18 months. I mean, children, really, your toys are everywhere in the house, even in the bathroom. Can't you give mommy some space to herself that is not occupied by a plastic, brightly colored toy? Apparantly not. Just like the bathroom, whenever I am the office, there are always emergencies, food needs and potty-training issues. Why? Why must you plague me when I only want a few seconds of peace and to read some email? Right now they are hovering outside of the door, saying "mommy what are you doing in there?" Gee, having some peace and quiet! Leave me be!
The bathroom. Regardless of the hours of potty training, getting to know the toilet better than I truly want to know, the intimacies of pee-pee and boo-boo and annoucements of exactly how much boo-boo is in the toilet, plus numerous readings about Joshua and his chamber pot and continuous perusal of "Everybody Poops", my little ones still seem to be a little bewildered about exactly what I do when I am in the bathroom. How do I know this? When I go into the bathroom and close the door, my oldest will knock and ask "Mommy, what you doing in there?" I used to answer, but why bother when they're just going to ask it again? How many times as a parent am I required to say, "Mommy is using the potty. Give me privacy." Why can't I say, "Look, I'm crapping. Leave me the alone!" I'll tell you why because when their father comes home, that'll be the first thing they tell him "Mommy crapped today." Then it will be repeated to my mother and any trusted adult they see. "Mommy crapped today." "Mommy crapped today." Ugh!
The kitchen
Yes, I am all for children helping you cook and participating.....What? No I'm not. When it's 3 pm and I'm rushing around trying to get things prepared for dinner, I really dont' have time to answer "What are you doing mommy?" Here's the answer I wish I could give, "You wanna eat? Then leave me alone!" (Funny how that 'leave me alone' is becoming a common theme.....)
All right, before you well meaning folks out there call division of youth and family services and trace me via my IP address, being at home isn't all that bad. Yes, the children will follow you from pillar to post (unless they're busy getting into something, which I bet they are RIGHT NOW because it's awful quiet out there) but it's such a blessing to watch them grow and do funny things with each other. You haven't lived until you hear an "argument" between a 3 year old girl and a 4 year old boy. Which is why I cherish every moment I'm at home with them!
While I don't always guarantee my children's safety (when they're having a blast jumping up and down on the sofa and sitting on the edge of chairs, who am I to interfere with their fun) I can always guarantee my child's well being.....but they don't always guarantee mine.
Here are some cases in point:
My office. I have finally started to establish some "me space" in the house, now that the youngest is 18 months. I mean, children, really, your toys are everywhere in the house, even in the bathroom. Can't you give mommy some space to herself that is not occupied by a plastic, brightly colored toy? Apparantly not. Just like the bathroom, whenever I am the office, there are always emergencies, food needs and potty-training issues. Why? Why must you plague me when I only want a few seconds of peace and to read some email? Right now they are hovering outside of the door, saying "mommy what are you doing in there?" Gee, having some peace and quiet! Leave me be!
The bathroom. Regardless of the hours of potty training, getting to know the toilet better than I truly want to know, the intimacies of pee-pee and boo-boo and annoucements of exactly how much boo-boo is in the toilet, plus numerous readings about Joshua and his chamber pot and continuous perusal of "Everybody Poops", my little ones still seem to be a little bewildered about exactly what I do when I am in the bathroom. How do I know this? When I go into the bathroom and close the door, my oldest will knock and ask "Mommy, what you doing in there?" I used to answer, but why bother when they're just going to ask it again? How many times as a parent am I required to say, "Mommy is using the potty. Give me privacy." Why can't I say, "Look, I'm crapping. Leave me the alone!" I'll tell you why because when their father comes home, that'll be the first thing they tell him "Mommy crapped today." Then it will be repeated to my mother and any trusted adult they see. "Mommy crapped today." "Mommy crapped today." Ugh!
The kitchen
Yes, I am all for children helping you cook and participating.....What? No I'm not. When it's 3 pm and I'm rushing around trying to get things prepared for dinner, I really dont' have time to answer "What are you doing mommy?" Here's the answer I wish I could give, "You wanna eat? Then leave me alone!" (Funny how that 'leave me alone' is becoming a common theme.....)
All right, before you well meaning folks out there call division of youth and family services and trace me via my IP address, being at home isn't all that bad. Yes, the children will follow you from pillar to post (unless they're busy getting into something, which I bet they are RIGHT NOW because it's awful quiet out there) but it's such a blessing to watch them grow and do funny things with each other. You haven't lived until you hear an "argument" between a 3 year old girl and a 4 year old boy. Which is why I cherish every moment I'm at home with them!
Friday, September 7
Doctor, Doctor, give me the news.....
I've got a bad case of doubting you!
Took my oldest to the doctor today because a dry cough he'd been having on and off for the past oh, six/eight weeks. Now when I say on and off I mean the following - sometimes (3 out of 10 days) he'll wake up in the night coughing. And if he runs around outside and gets all sweaty and worked up (4 out of 10 times) he'll have the dry cough for about 40 min - hour afterward. Or, as it was today, the cough occurs for no reason at all.
I've tried tracking his diet, cleaning his room of dust using only a weak vinegar solution, eliminating foods, upping foods, keeping a vaporizer going at night, etc. etc. As you can probably tell, I am not the type of mom who runs to the doctor as every sniffle and snuffle. But, it was getting to me because it kept happening no matter what I did. So I made a drs appointment.
Prior to going to the doctor, I actually came upon a few websites that talked about exercise-induced asthma. Wow, I said to myself, this is exactly what Mr. Mookie (our baby name for him) has! And it doesn't happen all the time, and athletes get it too. What's the treatment? Well, in my reading, I found a few sites that suggest a natural remedy is to increase the intake of vitamin C. That's basically what I kenw when I stepped into the doctor's office.
It must have been a bad week for me, and I was totally unprepared (like I usually am for drs. visits, or maybe it was Friday Afternoon) but I walked out of the office with a nebulizer and a script for Xopenex. YES! I was so duh in that office, thinking that the dr. had my child's best interest at heart. Maybe so, but this is what I found out about Xopenex:
It can be part of long term treatment for severe asthma
Xopenex Solution should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 6 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.
Side effects in children include: Diarrhea, fever, headache, hives, increased asthma symptoms, muscle pain, rash, runny nose, sore throat, swollen glands, viral infection, weakness
Additionally, a nebulizer should not be the first line of treatment for exercise induced asthma - an inhaled medication, taken 15 min before exercising/running around should be.
So, looks like Mr. Mookie will be on his vitamin C regemin (sp?) and I will be returning the nebulizer with a note. I suppose I'll be out of my 25 bucks, but that's the cost of NOT knowing what's going on before I go into the drs. office. What a shame that some drs. must use a sledgehammer to tap in a picture nail. These drugs are so powerful and the side effects seem worse than the minor cough that he's been having. Mind you now, he hasn't coughed at night for the past couple of days and only cough a lot where I noticed it at a party on Sunday, this was of course after he 1) refused to eat anything 2) ran around and hollered like a maniac 3)got all sweaty (as boys will do). He coughed for about 30 min and then it was over. Of course, I was all tense about it but what can you do?
I am certianly not going to put my child on such a severe course of treatment for an occasional cough. Certainly, if he were wheezing, couldn't really catch his breath or showed other, more severe symptoms, I'd be hooking that nebulizer up in a sec!!
We're going to try the Vit. c. therapy and see how it goes.
Took my oldest to the doctor today because a dry cough he'd been having on and off for the past oh, six/eight weeks. Now when I say on and off I mean the following - sometimes (3 out of 10 days) he'll wake up in the night coughing. And if he runs around outside and gets all sweaty and worked up (4 out of 10 times) he'll have the dry cough for about 40 min - hour afterward. Or, as it was today, the cough occurs for no reason at all.
I've tried tracking his diet, cleaning his room of dust using only a weak vinegar solution, eliminating foods, upping foods, keeping a vaporizer going at night, etc. etc. As you can probably tell, I am not the type of mom who runs to the doctor as every sniffle and snuffle. But, it was getting to me because it kept happening no matter what I did. So I made a drs appointment.
Prior to going to the doctor, I actually came upon a few websites that talked about exercise-induced asthma. Wow, I said to myself, this is exactly what Mr. Mookie (our baby name for him) has! And it doesn't happen all the time, and athletes get it too. What's the treatment? Well, in my reading, I found a few sites that suggest a natural remedy is to increase the intake of vitamin C. That's basically what I kenw when I stepped into the doctor's office.
It must have been a bad week for me, and I was totally unprepared (like I usually am for drs. visits, or maybe it was Friday Afternoon) but I walked out of the office with a nebulizer and a script for Xopenex. YES! I was so duh in that office, thinking that the dr. had my child's best interest at heart. Maybe so, but this is what I found out about Xopenex:
It can be part of long term treatment for severe asthma
Xopenex Solution should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 6 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.
Side effects in children include: Diarrhea, fever, headache, hives, increased asthma symptoms, muscle pain, rash, runny nose, sore throat, swollen glands, viral infection, weakness
Additionally, a nebulizer should not be the first line of treatment for exercise induced asthma - an inhaled medication, taken 15 min before exercising/running around should be.
So, looks like Mr. Mookie will be on his vitamin C regemin (sp?) and I will be returning the nebulizer with a note. I suppose I'll be out of my 25 bucks, but that's the cost of NOT knowing what's going on before I go into the drs. office. What a shame that some drs. must use a sledgehammer to tap in a picture nail. These drugs are so powerful and the side effects seem worse than the minor cough that he's been having. Mind you now, he hasn't coughed at night for the past couple of days and only cough a lot where I noticed it at a party on Sunday, this was of course after he 1) refused to eat anything 2) ran around and hollered like a maniac 3)got all sweaty (as boys will do). He coughed for about 30 min and then it was over. Of course, I was all tense about it but what can you do?
I am certianly not going to put my child on such a severe course of treatment for an occasional cough. Certainly, if he were wheezing, couldn't really catch his breath or showed other, more severe symptoms, I'd be hooking that nebulizer up in a sec!!
We're going to try the Vit. c. therapy and see how it goes.
Friday, August 31
Life is a Cabaret
I used to have a girlfriend known as Elsie
With whom I shared four sordid rooms in Chelsea
She wasn't what you'd call a blushing flower...
As a matter of fact she rented by the hour.
The day she died the neighbors came to snicker:
"Well, that's what comes from too much pills and liquor."
But when I saw her laid out like a Queen
She was the happiest...corpse...I'd ever seen.
I think of Elsie to this very day.
I'd remember how'd she turn to me and say:
"What good is sitting alone in your room? Come hear the music play.
Life is a Cabaret, old chum, come to the Cabaret."
And as for me, I made up my mind back in Chelsea,
When I go..........I'm going like Elsie.
Start by admitting, from cradle to tomb
It isn't that long a stay....
Life is a Cabaret old chum
It's only a cabaret, old chum
And I love a cabaret!
I stumbled upon the "Broadway's Best" channel on Sirius....ok, ok, I have the channel in my presets, I admit it. Nothing like singing along to "One" from a Chorus Line to get your morning going. Anyhoo, this song came on, and while Liza Minelli is not one of my fave singers (neither is her mother, Judy Garland), I was somehow inspired by these lyrics from a trashy, dirty looking musical.
Just like the song from that Cars movie , "Life is a highway, I want to ride it all night long." These lyrics should inspire you to live life to the fullest.
Now you know from reading my blog - and if you don't, look through the archives - that I looooooooooooooove my cable television. But I've found that passive TV watching really takes away from my love of writing and that when I spend an evening wathcing television, I feel like I've wasted a tremendous amount of time. The time I spend watching yet another Law and Order that I've all ready seen a kazillion times before, I could be writing to you, dear readers! I know you all miss me when I don't post for a while!
So, cut down on the TV, more writing. What is it you've wanted to do, but yet couldn't seem to find the time? And what is it you're doing that is keeping you from doing the stuff that you love? Watching television? Talking on the telephone? Reading this blog? (smile)
Much as I love you, dear readers, get cracking on fufilling your own dreams. Life is a cabaret and I love a cabaret!
With whom I shared four sordid rooms in Chelsea
She wasn't what you'd call a blushing flower...
As a matter of fact she rented by the hour.
The day she died the neighbors came to snicker:
"Well, that's what comes from too much pills and liquor."
But when I saw her laid out like a Queen
She was the happiest...corpse...I'd ever seen.
I think of Elsie to this very day.
I'd remember how'd she turn to me and say:
"What good is sitting alone in your room? Come hear the music play.
Life is a Cabaret, old chum, come to the Cabaret."
And as for me, I made up my mind back in Chelsea,
When I go..........I'm going like Elsie.
Start by admitting, from cradle to tomb
It isn't that long a stay....
Life is a Cabaret old chum
It's only a cabaret, old chum
And I love a cabaret!
I stumbled upon the "Broadway's Best" channel on Sirius....ok, ok, I have the channel in my presets, I admit it. Nothing like singing along to "One" from a Chorus Line to get your morning going. Anyhoo, this song came on, and while Liza Minelli is not one of my fave singers (neither is her mother, Judy Garland), I was somehow inspired by these lyrics from a trashy, dirty looking musical.
Just like the song from that Cars movie , "Life is a highway, I want to ride it all night long." These lyrics should inspire you to live life to the fullest.
Now you know from reading my blog - and if you don't, look through the archives - that I looooooooooooooove my cable television. But I've found that passive TV watching really takes away from my love of writing and that when I spend an evening wathcing television, I feel like I've wasted a tremendous amount of time. The time I spend watching yet another Law and Order that I've all ready seen a kazillion times before, I could be writing to you, dear readers! I know you all miss me when I don't post for a while!
So, cut down on the TV, more writing. What is it you've wanted to do, but yet couldn't seem to find the time? And what is it you're doing that is keeping you from doing the stuff that you love? Watching television? Talking on the telephone? Reading this blog? (smile)
Much as I love you, dear readers, get cracking on fufilling your own dreams. Life is a cabaret and I love a cabaret!
Monday, August 27
Just Rambling Today
I hadn't realized how long I'd been away from my blog until I stopped by today and noticed that I hadn't posted since last week. Well, you know I've got several stories to share.
Every morning, when I attempt to use the bathroom by myself, my 4 y.o. and my almost 3 y.o. (the 18 month old is confined to his crib) prance and march past the bathroom door (after one of them opens it) asking me "What are you doing mommy, going potty?" (Well at least I know they're not dumb!!) This morning, I viewed the same parade again - 4 year old, then almost 3 year old......then 18 month old???? I had to run back through my memory banks - maybe I lifted him out of the crib before I went to the bathroom??? My oldest cleared that up right away for me - "Joshie was climbing out of the crib and I helped lifted him down so he wouldn't fall."
Wow! Immediately I had three thoughts - yay, I can finally get rid of the crib or at least take the front of it off 2) I don't have to lift that heavy little chunk out of the crib any more and 3) how thoughtful and helpful my oldest was and how succintly he explained his actions.
This is not to say I'm raising a band of angels. Sometimes when they get it going with each other, I make a beeline for the bathroom and take a respite from their noise with my old timers' eighties hits on my I-Pod (thank you DH for that little portable oasis). The point is for me is how nice and unselfish they can be with each other. I get all squishy feeling inside that I actually taught them that! Wow!
Ok, I'm done patting myself on the back. :) - If you have children what are some of the nicest things you've seen them do and were amazed?
Every morning, when I attempt to use the bathroom by myself, my 4 y.o. and my almost 3 y.o. (the 18 month old is confined to his crib) prance and march past the bathroom door (after one of them opens it) asking me "What are you doing mommy, going potty?" (Well at least I know they're not dumb!!) This morning, I viewed the same parade again - 4 year old, then almost 3 year old......then 18 month old???? I had to run back through my memory banks - maybe I lifted him out of the crib before I went to the bathroom??? My oldest cleared that up right away for me - "Joshie was climbing out of the crib and I helped lifted him down so he wouldn't fall."
Wow! Immediately I had three thoughts - yay, I can finally get rid of the crib or at least take the front of it off 2) I don't have to lift that heavy little chunk out of the crib any more and 3) how thoughtful and helpful my oldest was and how succintly he explained his actions.
This is not to say I'm raising a band of angels. Sometimes when they get it going with each other, I make a beeline for the bathroom and take a respite from their noise with my old timers' eighties hits on my I-Pod (thank you DH for that little portable oasis). The point is for me is how nice and unselfish they can be with each other. I get all squishy feeling inside that I actually taught them that! Wow!
Ok, I'm done patting myself on the back. :) - If you have children what are some of the nicest things you've seen them do and were amazed?
Sunday, August 19
Sesame Place- Trial by Fire
Well, I suppose I "broke my amusement park cherry" at Sesame Place this past week. Packed up three children, a diaper bag full of snacks, juice and water and make the journey to Langhore PA to afford the children their first amusement park experience. It was cloudy, but hot when we started out and you know what? We had FUN! I was dreading the trip because I just knew that it would be hot, sunny and someone of my crew would be crying (probably me), but the children loved it. They jumped and splashed in the tidal wave pool, ran through the sprinklers, jumped on Ernie's Big Bed and spun in Grover's teacup ride. The oldest and middle child rode on Elmo's flying cups with my husband (who looked none too thrilled on the ride - he later told me that he didn't expect the ride to move so fast and so high for a children's ride - I'm a chicken when it comes to heights, so I didn't even act like I was going on the ride).
We did the sensible thing and took a break when the sun got too hot, went back to the van, turned on the ac to cool down for about 20 min or so. Changed the little ones out of the wet swimming clothes into regular clothes then back to the park, where they were acutally able to see the parade and take a picture in the fire engine.
We did not bother to stand in line to take pics with the characters - the lines were way too long and the sun was too hot. Either way though, they had a great time and are still talking about it!
We did the sensible thing and took a break when the sun got too hot, went back to the van, turned on the ac to cool down for about 20 min or so. Changed the little ones out of the wet swimming clothes into regular clothes then back to the park, where they were acutally able to see the parade and take a picture in the fire engine.
We did not bother to stand in line to take pics with the characters - the lines were way too long and the sun was too hot. Either way though, they had a great time and are still talking about it!
Saturday, August 11
Working toward opening
For those of you who have been actually following my blog with avid interest - which I assume is the majority of my dear readers - you will know that I am working hard on finally opening my website and getting my products down to a science.
I have been working for the past six -eight months on perfecting my melt/pour soap recipe and have finally gotten it to the point where I actually like how it lathers, how it smells and how it feels in the hand when washing. Many of my former experiments were too soft, too mushy, melted too fast, too drying etc. My husband has been the most helpful in critiquing my product! And my children love the many colored soaps that they are able to splish splash with in the tub.
Oh, dear readers, I am sure you are asking right now - domestic goddess, when can we partake of the wonderful bath and body products that you are now producing? Well, I am aiming for a grand opening for the first of September. Keep checking back to find a code for a free (totally free, no shipping, no handling, nothing)bath product or accessory.
So, everything else is well. I hope all is well with you readers....how about throwing me a line once in a while - I know you all are out there!
I have been working for the past six -eight months on perfecting my melt/pour soap recipe and have finally gotten it to the point where I actually like how it lathers, how it smells and how it feels in the hand when washing. Many of my former experiments were too soft, too mushy, melted too fast, too drying etc. My husband has been the most helpful in critiquing my product! And my children love the many colored soaps that they are able to splish splash with in the tub.
Oh, dear readers, I am sure you are asking right now - domestic goddess, when can we partake of the wonderful bath and body products that you are now producing? Well, I am aiming for a grand opening for the first of September. Keep checking back to find a code for a free (totally free, no shipping, no handling, nothing)bath product or accessory.
So, everything else is well. I hope all is well with you readers....how about throwing me a line once in a while - I know you all are out there!
Tuesday, July 31
The 7 PM Bedtime - No, really!
Sleep never seemed to mean so much until you had children. The biggest problem was whether a nap on Friday night before you went out would do any good, or just make you too groggy to thoroughly enjoy yourself! Saturdays were meant to sleep in till 11 am, then hit the diners (at least here in NJ). However you spent your time, sleep or lack thereof wasn’t a big deal. Tired? Take a nap…or stay up all night if you want!
After children, pees, poops and sleep time because the obsession. Was she sleeping too much? She’s up every two hours – is she getting enough sleep? I remember with my firstborn, my mom fed him, swaddled him and put him in the crib at 2 pm. By 7 pm, he was still asleep as I hovered anxiously over the crib making sure his chest was still rising and falling.
At this point, my children are 4, almost 3 and 1 and they go to bed at 7 pm. WHAT? Domestic Goddess, do, do, tell us how we can achieve that magic number!
You know what I discovered with my first? We allowed him to stay up until about 8 pm. For some reason, that was the magic time for me. I would then get up from where I had been relaxing with him, nearly sleeping in my arms and bathe and get him dressed for bed. By the time I was through, it was nearly 8:30 and I was too pooped to do anything else for the rest of the night. This continued until I came upon the book- the 7 pm bedtime. Written by a stay at home mom, just like me, only not as beautiful and brilliant, this book outlines the sleeping problem faced by many parents – do we keep them up for quality time, or put them to bed at a reasonable time so WE can have quality time together? I was at home all day with the little ones, why keep them up that extra hour? My husband was home by five – plenty of time for that quality time.
So we tried it…..and it worked! They fell asleep by 7:30 – letting us know that they were TIRED and needed to go to bed at that time. And lo and behold, I was not feeling like a wrung out dishrag!
For those parents who walk through the door at 6 pm, obviously this is not for you. But for those parents who are exhausted by the time their little one gets to bed, try it! You will be glad you did.
After children, pees, poops and sleep time because the obsession. Was she sleeping too much? She’s up every two hours – is she getting enough sleep? I remember with my firstborn, my mom fed him, swaddled him and put him in the crib at 2 pm. By 7 pm, he was still asleep as I hovered anxiously over the crib making sure his chest was still rising and falling.
At this point, my children are 4, almost 3 and 1 and they go to bed at 7 pm. WHAT? Domestic Goddess, do, do, tell us how we can achieve that magic number!
You know what I discovered with my first? We allowed him to stay up until about 8 pm. For some reason, that was the magic time for me. I would then get up from where I had been relaxing with him, nearly sleeping in my arms and bathe and get him dressed for bed. By the time I was through, it was nearly 8:30 and I was too pooped to do anything else for the rest of the night. This continued until I came upon the book- the 7 pm bedtime. Written by a stay at home mom, just like me, only not as beautiful and brilliant, this book outlines the sleeping problem faced by many parents – do we keep them up for quality time, or put them to bed at a reasonable time so WE can have quality time together? I was at home all day with the little ones, why keep them up that extra hour? My husband was home by five – plenty of time for that quality time.
So we tried it…..and it worked! They fell asleep by 7:30 – letting us know that they were TIRED and needed to go to bed at that time. And lo and behold, I was not feeling like a wrung out dishrag!
For those parents who walk through the door at 6 pm, obviously this is not for you. But for those parents who are exhausted by the time their little one gets to bed, try it! You will be glad you did.
Tuesday, July 10
Sirius
I've left you, dear readers, for much too long without my sage words of wisdom, or barring that, a quick laugh. I hope you all had a great Fourth of July - it was overcast here in Jersey, but hey, any day I can use the grill and not cook inside is a great day for me.
I want to talk about something near and dear to my heart today, and that's my Sirius radio. I have one in the car and in the bedroom and am aiming for one in the living room.
Oh, Domestic Goddess, you ask, why o why do you need to PAY for radio? Don't you want to listen to the repetitive commercials and obnoxious DJs who think they're funny and continous promotion and contests?
Dear readers, no. I abhor terrestial radio. And I'll tell you why. The first time you hear the Miller light commercial it's funny "Mr. cell phone holster man". The seventh time in a 30 min time frame, not so funny. DJs who are weak Howard Stern imitators (both black and white) not funny. Steve Harvey on WBLS in the morning (New York)......funny for about 10 min. How much slack jawed country talkin can a refined lady like me take? Don't get me started as to why I never hear Greyhound commercials on any stations but WBLS (New York)
Oh, Domestic Goddess, why does Sirius please you so?
Well, dear reader, although I am a refined lady, I do love Howard Stern. Yes. Now, I've said it, it's out. I've listen to him for nearly 25 years on and off. Yep, since high school. Now that that's out on the table, I also like Sirius for the following reasons:
Siriusly Sinatra - Nobody swings it like Frank.
Elvis Radio - Nobody sings it like the King.
Foxxhole - Where else can you hear Paul Mooney's riff on zoo animals and catching a taxi in New York. This is the guy who WROTE for Richard Pryor.
80s Channel - Like it or not, I'm a child of the 80s...."Sweet Dreams are made of this...."
Family and Kids - While in the car with the little ones, they love it!
there's more, but I won't bore you with the further outlining of my musical tastes, although I know you all are DYING to know.
The best part of Sirius? No commercials and no annoying jabbering DJs trying to make a name for themselves by being outrageous.
You can also listen online at www.sirius.com. I'm listening right now!
Back next time with more meanderings!
I want to talk about something near and dear to my heart today, and that's my Sirius radio. I have one in the car and in the bedroom and am aiming for one in the living room.
Oh, Domestic Goddess, you ask, why o why do you need to PAY for radio? Don't you want to listen to the repetitive commercials and obnoxious DJs who think they're funny and continous promotion and contests?
Dear readers, no. I abhor terrestial radio. And I'll tell you why. The first time you hear the Miller light commercial it's funny "Mr. cell phone holster man". The seventh time in a 30 min time frame, not so funny. DJs who are weak Howard Stern imitators (both black and white) not funny. Steve Harvey on WBLS in the morning (New York)......funny for about 10 min. How much slack jawed country talkin can a refined lady like me take? Don't get me started as to why I never hear Greyhound commercials on any stations but WBLS (New York)
Oh, Domestic Goddess, why does Sirius please you so?
Well, dear reader, although I am a refined lady, I do love Howard Stern. Yes. Now, I've said it, it's out. I've listen to him for nearly 25 years on and off. Yep, since high school. Now that that's out on the table, I also like Sirius for the following reasons:
Siriusly Sinatra - Nobody swings it like Frank.
Elvis Radio - Nobody sings it like the King.
Foxxhole - Where else can you hear Paul Mooney's riff on zoo animals and catching a taxi in New York. This is the guy who WROTE for Richard Pryor.
80s Channel - Like it or not, I'm a child of the 80s...."Sweet Dreams are made of this...."
Family and Kids - While in the car with the little ones, they love it!
there's more, but I won't bore you with the further outlining of my musical tastes, although I know you all are DYING to know.
The best part of Sirius? No commercials and no annoying jabbering DJs trying to make a name for themselves by being outrageous.
You can also listen online at www.sirius.com. I'm listening right now!
Back next time with more meanderings!
Monday, June 25
The Apostrophe
Poor old dear apostrophe
Almost every use is a catastrophe
People don’t seem to understand
That you should be used according to plan
It’s means it is
It’s not possessive, you see
If an object owns something
Then its is used properly
Save $1000s not $1000’s
It’s a plural, not a contraction
How long must the apostrophe be
Used incorrectly in this fashion?
Here is a simple way to remember this rule
While not quite prolific
It may be an effective tool
It’s a small world after all
Is a song that most of us know
The snail crawled back to its lovely home
In the shade of the hedgerow.
I hope that this little poem
Will help you remember this rule
If you write and speak ungrammatically
People will wonder what they’re teaching in school.
Almost every use is a catastrophe
People don’t seem to understand
That you should be used according to plan
It’s means it is
It’s not possessive, you see
If an object owns something
Then its is used properly
Save $1000s not $1000’s
It’s a plural, not a contraction
How long must the apostrophe be
Used incorrectly in this fashion?
Here is a simple way to remember this rule
While not quite prolific
It may be an effective tool
It’s a small world after all
Is a song that most of us know
The snail crawled back to its lovely home
In the shade of the hedgerow.
I hope that this little poem
Will help you remember this rule
If you write and speak ungrammatically
People will wonder what they’re teaching in school.
Tuesday, June 19
The Trouble with Superheroes
I love superhero movies, I really do. Although I am not an avid comic book reader, as a layperson I know there are certain things that a superhero does and does not do. This entry is an expose of the stupid things superheros do in the movies. Please feel free to add any comments that are applicable!
Batman - Loved Michael Keaton as Batman, although he was a little short. Loved Jack as the Joker (but you'd be a fool not to). Why in the world then, does Vicky Vale show up at the Batcave?? Like, hey, you're Bruce and Batman. Then, just goes off into the sunset and keeps the secret. Yeah, right. I didn't pay much attention to the other Batman movies, so this is the extent of my complaint with Batman.
Spiderman 2 - Ok, dude loses his mask on the subway fighting and a whoooooooooooooole subway carload of people promise that they won't tell. Ok, I certainly believe that.
Spiderman 3 - Peter Parker spends more time with his mask off in this movie than on. And we're supposed to beleive that still know one knows who he is?
Superman - I have no complaints for Christopher Reeve as Superman, having only really seen and remembered the first one. I can give him a pass.
Superman Returns - Good looking dude as the new Superman, but would Superman, symbol of honor, justice and the American way be trying to mack another man's wife??? Also, he must be a great Method actor (see Brando and James Dean, you young readers) for people not to recognize him with just glasses and no mousse in his hair. But I do still love the Superman franchaise.
Batman Returns - Couldn't sit through it.
X-men, Fantastic Four - no complaints so far, but only saw each movie once, so not much research there.
Love them or hate them - what's your pet peeve about superhero movies?
Batman - Loved Michael Keaton as Batman, although he was a little short. Loved Jack as the Joker (but you'd be a fool not to). Why in the world then, does Vicky Vale show up at the Batcave?? Like, hey, you're Bruce and Batman. Then, just goes off into the sunset and keeps the secret. Yeah, right. I didn't pay much attention to the other Batman movies, so this is the extent of my complaint with Batman.
Spiderman 2 - Ok, dude loses his mask on the subway fighting and a whoooooooooooooole subway carload of people promise that they won't tell. Ok, I certainly believe that.
Spiderman 3 - Peter Parker spends more time with his mask off in this movie than on. And we're supposed to beleive that still know one knows who he is?
Superman - I have no complaints for Christopher Reeve as Superman, having only really seen and remembered the first one. I can give him a pass.
Superman Returns - Good looking dude as the new Superman, but would Superman, symbol of honor, justice and the American way be trying to mack another man's wife??? Also, he must be a great Method actor (see Brando and James Dean, you young readers) for people not to recognize him with just glasses and no mousse in his hair. But I do still love the Superman franchaise.
Batman Returns - Couldn't sit through it.
X-men, Fantastic Four - no complaints so far, but only saw each movie once, so not much research there.
Love them or hate them - what's your pet peeve about superhero movies?
Rich, Black and Flunking
Link to article: http://www.eastbayexpress.com/2003-05-21/news/rich-black-flunking/4
I had the pleasure of reading an article from 2003 entitled “Rich, Black and Flunking” which centered on an anthropological study of a K-12 school district in Shaker Heights, Ohio. Both the parents and school district called in John Ogbu, the author of the study to give them answers as to why many Black students, even though they were at basically the same income level of their White counterparts, were not doing as well in school.
The findings of Prof. Ogbu, now deceased (2003) were both interesting and appalling. While I won’t claim to condense his entire theory in a sentence or two, the gist of the study was that many Black students regardless of income level, reject the educational system. If a Black student speaks Standard English, studies hard and gets into AP classes, then s/he is seen as “acting white”. Another part of Prof. O theory centers around the fact of voluntary and involuntary minorities. Since Blacks are involuntary minorities, then they reject the mainstream culture (White) because they feel “taken over”. On the other hand, racial minorities such as the Chinese are voluntary minorities because they immigrated here (emigrated?) and thus do all they can to get that American Dream and succeed.
Well, what do I think? I think that as a teacher, I have observed behaviors that play right into Prof. Ogbu’s theory. I have seen the decrease in parental involvement from K to 8 th grade. I have experience parents who won’t come to school about a child’s academic troubles but will show up at the school if a dance or prom is cancelled to complain. I have had students in my class who would not do homework, no matter how I talked, fussed or talked to parents. “Academic Disengagement”, Prof. Ogbu’s words, certainly suit this situation.
In the referenced article, the comment/theory is made that teachers treat black students differently that white students. Prof. O. retorts, ‘if the student hasn’t turned in work for weeks on end, what else is the teacher supposed to do?’ I also concur with that statement. What are we supposed to do as educators? We cannot take the place of the parents!
I am going to keep this post short, as I am still turning over many theories in my mind. Certainly, I know that there are students, both black and white, who are not getting what they need from the school system. Certainly, there are horrible teachers out there who could care less about their students. But, I still believe it is up to the individual to want to succeed and achieve. Success is not “white”, it’s green.
I had the pleasure of reading an article from 2003 entitled “Rich, Black and Flunking” which centered on an anthropological study of a K-12 school district in Shaker Heights, Ohio. Both the parents and school district called in John Ogbu, the author of the study to give them answers as to why many Black students, even though they were at basically the same income level of their White counterparts, were not doing as well in school.
The findings of Prof. Ogbu, now deceased (2003) were both interesting and appalling. While I won’t claim to condense his entire theory in a sentence or two, the gist of the study was that many Black students regardless of income level, reject the educational system. If a Black student speaks Standard English, studies hard and gets into AP classes, then s/he is seen as “acting white”. Another part of Prof. O theory centers around the fact of voluntary and involuntary minorities. Since Blacks are involuntary minorities, then they reject the mainstream culture (White) because they feel “taken over”. On the other hand, racial minorities such as the Chinese are voluntary minorities because they immigrated here (emigrated?) and thus do all they can to get that American Dream and succeed.
Well, what do I think? I think that as a teacher, I have observed behaviors that play right into Prof. Ogbu’s theory. I have seen the decrease in parental involvement from K to 8 th grade. I have experience parents who won’t come to school about a child’s academic troubles but will show up at the school if a dance or prom is cancelled to complain. I have had students in my class who would not do homework, no matter how I talked, fussed or talked to parents. “Academic Disengagement”, Prof. Ogbu’s words, certainly suit this situation.
In the referenced article, the comment/theory is made that teachers treat black students differently that white students. Prof. O. retorts, ‘if the student hasn’t turned in work for weeks on end, what else is the teacher supposed to do?’ I also concur with that statement. What are we supposed to do as educators? We cannot take the place of the parents!
I am going to keep this post short, as I am still turning over many theories in my mind. Certainly, I know that there are students, both black and white, who are not getting what they need from the school system. Certainly, there are horrible teachers out there who could care less about their students. But, I still believe it is up to the individual to want to succeed and achieve. Success is not “white”, it’s green.
Thursday, June 14
Old Music? Am I Old?
"Everytime I look in the mirror/All these lines in my face getting clearer
The past is gone/It went by like dusk to dawn.....
Isn't that the way/Everybody's got their dues in life to pay"
- Aerosmith "Dream on"
I can't believe that this song is actually 20 plus years old. It seems like just yesterday that I was singing along with the radio in high school. Now my 4 year old son knows most of the words - for those of you who know the song, it's especially hilarious at the end when the vocal goes up an octave - my son is right there with it!!!
My daughter on the other hand, prefers "Old Time Rock and Roll" although in her three year old vocals: "Wock and Woll".
I try not to think of myself as old, but I suppose I am when my top forty is now on the classics station. When did "Bille Jean" become a classic? Well, apparently it now. I try to listen to the newer songs, but some of them seem so repetitive and infantile (recalling that crap "In the Closet" which started off pretty interested, but degenerated into nothingness.)
I am by no means a music snob - I bobbed my head to 50-cent "In da Club" but at the same time shaking my head at the lyrics. In the olden days (smile) I listened to LLCool J talk about his radio and Rob Base talk about "It Takes Two". I won't deny that some of the urban songs today don't have great music and great beats, but I just can't bob my head to a song that is just so nasty and ugly toward women and other people in general. This is not to say every single modern song is like that - on the other hand you got the new-wave Keith Sweat boys begging and pleading for a girls love. No problem there, except the fact that they use the same phrases over and over again, and without fail, rhyme 'you' with 'you'.
Oh well, I suppose I'm just showing my age - not a problem...let me just get my knitting and scrapbooking and go in a corner and bob my head to New Edition, AC/DC, and good ol' Bruce Springsteen. And while I'm at it, I'll break out the really old stuff like Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. (Everybody loves somebody...sometimes.....)
Take care!
The past is gone/It went by like dusk to dawn.....
Isn't that the way/Everybody's got their dues in life to pay"
- Aerosmith "Dream on"
I can't believe that this song is actually 20 plus years old. It seems like just yesterday that I was singing along with the radio in high school. Now my 4 year old son knows most of the words - for those of you who know the song, it's especially hilarious at the end when the vocal goes up an octave - my son is right there with it!!!
My daughter on the other hand, prefers "Old Time Rock and Roll" although in her three year old vocals: "Wock and Woll".
I try not to think of myself as old, but I suppose I am when my top forty is now on the classics station. When did "Bille Jean" become a classic? Well, apparently it now. I try to listen to the newer songs, but some of them seem so repetitive and infantile (recalling that crap "In the Closet" which started off pretty interested, but degenerated into nothingness.)
I am by no means a music snob - I bobbed my head to 50-cent "In da Club" but at the same time shaking my head at the lyrics. In the olden days (smile) I listened to LLCool J talk about his radio and Rob Base talk about "It Takes Two". I won't deny that some of the urban songs today don't have great music and great beats, but I just can't bob my head to a song that is just so nasty and ugly toward women and other people in general. This is not to say every single modern song is like that - on the other hand you got the new-wave Keith Sweat boys begging and pleading for a girls love. No problem there, except the fact that they use the same phrases over and over again, and without fail, rhyme 'you' with 'you'.
Oh well, I suppose I'm just showing my age - not a problem...let me just get my knitting and scrapbooking and go in a corner and bob my head to New Edition, AC/DC, and good ol' Bruce Springsteen. And while I'm at it, I'll break out the really old stuff like Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. (Everybody loves somebody...sometimes.....)
Take care!
Wednesday, June 13
We're on Live
The past couple of posts have been pieces that I have written for my group as monthly messages. So before you all say that I have been neglecting your needs for fresh informaiton, let me tell you that I have been busy doing of all things....website design. A friend of mine saw the other site that I desgined and wanted me to do one for her business. It was actually fun and I enjoyed earning that paycheck.
Although friends and family encouraged me to go into the web site design business, I hesitate. Certainly, I do enjoy it and it was nice to get paid for something that I enjoy, but it seems to me that the market is so saturate with website designers that it is a losing proposition. While I can design simple sites, my skill level is not up to flash sites (Plus I don't really like all that activity on a site when I visit).
The whole situation started me to thinking about website design and all its components. Is there a market out there for people who just want simple websites, without all the fireworks? Let's say simple sites that show pictures of their families or things like that. I would be interested to find out about that.
Other than that, my little lotion bars business is still struggling. As I commented before, folks are really saying, oh do the website, do the website. But, I like doing the lotion bars. I like making little mixtures and whipping them up in the microwave. Why can't I do both? Maybe the website design can pay for the lotions and potions hobby.
We'll see.
Although friends and family encouraged me to go into the web site design business, I hesitate. Certainly, I do enjoy it and it was nice to get paid for something that I enjoy, but it seems to me that the market is so saturate with website designers that it is a losing proposition. While I can design simple sites, my skill level is not up to flash sites (Plus I don't really like all that activity on a site when I visit).
The whole situation started me to thinking about website design and all its components. Is there a market out there for people who just want simple websites, without all the fireworks? Let's say simple sites that show pictures of their families or things like that. I would be interested to find out about that.
Other than that, my little lotion bars business is still struggling. As I commented before, folks are really saying, oh do the website, do the website. But, I like doing the lotion bars. I like making little mixtures and whipping them up in the microwave. Why can't I do both? Maybe the website design can pay for the lotions and potions hobby.
We'll see.
Wednesday, June 6
Take Time For Yourself!
Meditate. Live purely. Be quiet.Do your work with mastery.Like the moon, come out from behind the clouds!ShineBuddha"The Enlightened One”
It’s spring – a time when many of us “come out from under” the cold of winter to renew our resolutions, seek out new ventures and to ‘boldly go where no (wo)man has gone before’. Do you have a plan for this spring? What are you doing as the weather gets warmer? I know I will be rejuvenating my garden that I have neglected for the past four years – babies and graduate school certainly drain your time budget!
Although I wrote about this earlier in the year, the message still is important to us as multi-tasking mothers and significant others. As a woman, our role in the family is unique. We are the CEO of the family – not usurping our husbands or significant others, but let’s be real – who is responsible for keeping the refrigerator full, filling bellies at mealtime, keeping those clothes washed and actually in the bureaus, making doctor/dentist appointments and keeping those children in line? For the most part, we are. Our mates are certainly helpful, but when it comes to the nitty-gritty of running a household, we are the go-to person.
Take the time to mediate, even if you have to hide in the bathroom or in the laundry room. Nurture your inner self; try to get yourself away from the daily whirlwind of activities and necessary tasks, even if is only for a moment or two. You may find that these snatched moments of intense focus may be what you need to refresh yourself for the rest of the day.
Come out from behind those clouds of self-doubt and past failures. Thomas Edison is said to have said, “I have not failed 10,000 times – I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Though we may not like to fail, undoubtedly we learn from our mistakes. Nothing beats a try, not even a failure.
We need to shine as women first so that we can shine as mates and as mothers. The message continues to be – take that time for yourself.
It’s spring – a time when many of us “come out from under” the cold of winter to renew our resolutions, seek out new ventures and to ‘boldly go where no (wo)man has gone before’. Do you have a plan for this spring? What are you doing as the weather gets warmer? I know I will be rejuvenating my garden that I have neglected for the past four years – babies and graduate school certainly drain your time budget!
Although I wrote about this earlier in the year, the message still is important to us as multi-tasking mothers and significant others. As a woman, our role in the family is unique. We are the CEO of the family – not usurping our husbands or significant others, but let’s be real – who is responsible for keeping the refrigerator full, filling bellies at mealtime, keeping those clothes washed and actually in the bureaus, making doctor/dentist appointments and keeping those children in line? For the most part, we are. Our mates are certainly helpful, but when it comes to the nitty-gritty of running a household, we are the go-to person.
Take the time to mediate, even if you have to hide in the bathroom or in the laundry room. Nurture your inner self; try to get yourself away from the daily whirlwind of activities and necessary tasks, even if is only for a moment or two. You may find that these snatched moments of intense focus may be what you need to refresh yourself for the rest of the day.
Come out from behind those clouds of self-doubt and past failures. Thomas Edison is said to have said, “I have not failed 10,000 times – I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Though we may not like to fail, undoubtedly we learn from our mistakes. Nothing beats a try, not even a failure.
We need to shine as women first so that we can shine as mates and as mothers. The message continues to be – take that time for yourself.
Everyday Black History
As you well know, February is Black History Month. As alluded above, it is part of our responsibility to educate our children and families, not only in a general fashion but also about the historical contributions of Black Americans.
Even in 2007, the diversity and contribution of Black Americans is not acknowledged as frequently or as thoroughly as White Americans, therefore it is up t us to education both ourselves and our children. This education should not be limited to iconic figures such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. While these two men certainly served to effect great change in the Black community and should be acknowledged, they rose to their positions in history through the persistence, sacrifice and contributions of others.
Others such as Ida B. Wells, an educator, who in may, 1884, when physically forced by three men to move from a railroad passenger car to a smoker car (usually filled with laborers and other rough characters) left the train rather than suffer that indignity. She later sued the railroad and won, but the decision was reversed by the Supreme Court. The point was not of her winning or losing but that she took action. Or, my personal favorite: William Edward Burghart (W. E. B.) DuBois, who recognized the duality that many Black Americans feel even today:
"One ever feels his two-ness — an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder." – W.E. B. DuBois, The Souls of Black Folk
We, as Black Americans, do not materialize into society February 1, nor do we disappear February 28. Black history is happening every day and should not be pigeonholed into one month. Education – ourselves, our children - is the foundation of opportunity. We must know where we have been in order to move forward with vision.
Even in 2007, the diversity and contribution of Black Americans is not acknowledged as frequently or as thoroughly as White Americans, therefore it is up t us to education both ourselves and our children. This education should not be limited to iconic figures such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. While these two men certainly served to effect great change in the Black community and should be acknowledged, they rose to their positions in history through the persistence, sacrifice and contributions of others.
Others such as Ida B. Wells, an educator, who in may, 1884, when physically forced by three men to move from a railroad passenger car to a smoker car (usually filled with laborers and other rough characters) left the train rather than suffer that indignity. She later sued the railroad and won, but the decision was reversed by the Supreme Court. The point was not of her winning or losing but that she took action. Or, my personal favorite: William Edward Burghart (W. E. B.) DuBois, who recognized the duality that many Black Americans feel even today:
"One ever feels his two-ness — an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder." – W.E. B. DuBois, The Souls of Black Folk
We, as Black Americans, do not materialize into society February 1, nor do we disappear February 28. Black history is happening every day and should not be pigeonholed into one month. Education – ourselves, our children - is the foundation of opportunity. We must know where we have been in order to move forward with vision.
Tuesday, June 5
Ha Ha on you Amp'd Mobile
I remember the amp'd mobile commercial spots and how much I hated them. The first one was about some white dude on a bus ordering people to do stuff. Ok, fine, until he tells this black woman to "shake her junk". I am not easily offended because I know that commercials do have to attract attention, but give me a break. No one had any more imagination that this? View said commercial below:
I hated this commercial and I hate that woman for taking the role. Yes, I understand you gotta eat, but shoot, there's work at the post office, right? But then we would have all those video girls either, right?
Anyway, good ol' Amp'd Mobile got exactly what they deserved - you market to the lowest common denominator, and guess what, they don't pay thier bills. Amp'd Mobile files for bankruptcy because about half of their customers didn't pay their phone bills!! Read all about it here:
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jun2007/tc20070605_529608.htm?campaign_id=rss_topStories
So, people do get what they deserve in the end!
I hated this commercial and I hate that woman for taking the role. Yes, I understand you gotta eat, but shoot, there's work at the post office, right? But then we would have all those video girls either, right?
Anyway, good ol' Amp'd Mobile got exactly what they deserved - you market to the lowest common denominator, and guess what, they don't pay thier bills. Amp'd Mobile files for bankruptcy because about half of their customers didn't pay their phone bills!! Read all about it here:
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jun2007/tc20070605_529608.htm?campaign_id=rss_topStories
So, people do get what they deserve in the end!
Monday, June 4
Not much Today
Ah, I see that I've been falling off in my blog posts. If you've been following, you'll know that I've been working on my e-commerce website. Well, that's pretty much done - now all I have to do is make the products for the site. Don't get me wrong, I've done and tested it all before - I just have to start the ol'machine up again.
It rained nearly all night here in NJ, apparently it's a fall out from the storm in Florida. My daughter is sitting at the dining room table using her little fake mixer and making fake cookies. When I gave her two club crackers, she added them to the fake food mix. Sometimes children can do the strangest things.
More Later. Off to research some African American home schooling resources. Even if I don't homeschool all the way, I want to see what I can do with them at home.
It rained nearly all night here in NJ, apparently it's a fall out from the storm in Florida. My daughter is sitting at the dining room table using her little fake mixer and making fake cookies. When I gave her two club crackers, she added them to the fake food mix. Sometimes children can do the strangest things.
More Later. Off to research some African American home schooling resources. Even if I don't homeschool all the way, I want to see what I can do with them at home.
Friday, June 1
Ah, success!!!
A great big thank you to Trula, who advised me on how to take a different route through my issues with a new website (see Oy Vey!). Thanks to her, I got a much different mindset and using a template, went about things on my own. As a result, I found a whole bunch of great free resources (see www.grsites.com) as well as learned a WHOLE lot about Microsoft Front Page. I am in the process of learning Dreamweaver, so didn't want to waste a whole bunch of time learning as well as tweaking.
Well, what does your site look like? Ok, well it's not really ready yet, but if you like, you can take a look www.neosoulessentials.com. It is in its infancy stages after a revamping, so there are some adjustments that still have to take place.
Either way, it's done for the most part. Now, to put make and insert the products.
Take care all!
Well, what does your site look like? Ok, well it's not really ready yet, but if you like, you can take a look www.neosoulessentials.com. It is in its infancy stages after a revamping, so there are some adjustments that still have to take place.
Either way, it's done for the most part. Now, to put make and insert the products.
Take care all!
Tuesday, May 29
Sick, Sick, Sick
This is one of the times that I start to seriously consider home schooling. My oldest lovely son brought home a cold from nursery school that has plagued us the entire month of May. Now I've got it and it's a doozy. Stuffy sinus, dizziness and a hacking cough - you know those kinds of coughs that make your chest tubes hurt. It's terrible.
I'm not the type of person to take a lot of medication, but let me tell you, honey, I was swigging that cough syrup. I could not sleep Monday night and ended up watching some special about the Star Wars legacy on the History Channel that was pretty interesting. Maybe I'll be able to catch it later when my head and chest are not swimming with mucous!!
At least the weather is nice. There is nothing worse than having a bad summer cold with that gross, sticky rainy humid days hanging over your head.
Hope you all had a great Memorial day weekend - it was really nice here in good ol' NJ!
I'm not the type of person to take a lot of medication, but let me tell you, honey, I was swigging that cough syrup. I could not sleep Monday night and ended up watching some special about the Star Wars legacy on the History Channel that was pretty interesting. Maybe I'll be able to catch it later when my head and chest are not swimming with mucous!!
At least the weather is nice. There is nothing worse than having a bad summer cold with that gross, sticky rainy humid days hanging over your head.
Hope you all had a great Memorial day weekend - it was really nice here in good ol' NJ!
Saturday, May 26
Oy-vey - Frustration unlimited
Well, this is just a vent post, so feel free to skip over it. Since I'm at home with the little ones, I decided to do a little self-improvement: get a master's degree, start my own business - that way I had something else to occupy my time rather than the little ones. Well, started this business and have a website and all, but am supremely dissatisfied with the site as of now. It is soooooo plain! Certainly, I like purple but not the extent that it is used in the site. Plus, I am not happy with my webhost at all - too difficult (to me) to make changes and too much of a cookie cutter look.
Ok, now, onto the real problem - do I design my own website (which could take weeks) or just cough up the bucks for a new template. I've found lots of templates that i like for about 49 bucks. Maybe that's the route to go....oh, wait a second - I don't have that much cash to slap down AND buy supplies. The trials of a tiny business owner. Need to get some old baby clothes up on Ebay to make some cash.
More later.
Ok, now, onto the real problem - do I design my own website (which could take weeks) or just cough up the bucks for a new template. I've found lots of templates that i like for about 49 bucks. Maybe that's the route to go....oh, wait a second - I don't have that much cash to slap down AND buy supplies. The trials of a tiny business owner. Need to get some old baby clothes up on Ebay to make some cash.
More later.
Wednesday, May 23
Writing a Business Plan
Yes, like many stay at home mommies I do have a business. Yes, it is legit, registered with the state and everything. And, I have insurance. No fly by night operation here!! What's the problem then? NO BUSINESS PLAN.
Sure, it was okay the first few times out, but when I found myself ordering supplies for stuff that I never concocted, then it was time to sit back and not re-evaluate (because I never evaluated in the first place) but to evaluate where I'm going with this whole thing. Which is, right now nowhere.
So, I am sort of starting at square one with a lot of experience. In order to grow, I have to know where I'm coming from and where I want to go. Planning has always been a downfall of mine - yes, as a teacher I had to write lesson plans for two weeks (or more) and I hated the time that went into planning. Truthfully, though, it was rewarding in the end when I could simply open my lesson plan book and everything was right there for me.
Now back to my business. What do I do? I make and sell body and skin care products. My daughter has eczema and instead of loading her up with commerical products, some of which actually contained lye, I decided to do a litte internet research and find out what is "from nature" that would work for her. Right now I've got a formula that lessens her itching and breakouts (no, I have not found a cure for eczema- I just found something that works for her) which is great and want to pass out samples. But my inventory is a mess. I don't know what I have, I don't know what I need, I mean, really, now, is this any way for a Yale graduate to run a business?? I've got great ideas (no, I really, really do) but my follow through lacks punch.
So now, I challenge myself to write a comprehensive business plan in two weeks. Easier said than done with little ones at home, but hey, that makes the challenge even better, and I do love a challenge.
Ugh! When I have an update, I'll post it, I promise, y'all!!
Sure, it was okay the first few times out, but when I found myself ordering supplies for stuff that I never concocted, then it was time to sit back and not re-evaluate (because I never evaluated in the first place) but to evaluate where I'm going with this whole thing. Which is, right now nowhere.
So, I am sort of starting at square one with a lot of experience. In order to grow, I have to know where I'm coming from and where I want to go. Planning has always been a downfall of mine - yes, as a teacher I had to write lesson plans for two weeks (or more) and I hated the time that went into planning. Truthfully, though, it was rewarding in the end when I could simply open my lesson plan book and everything was right there for me.
Now back to my business. What do I do? I make and sell body and skin care products. My daughter has eczema and instead of loading her up with commerical products, some of which actually contained lye, I decided to do a litte internet research and find out what is "from nature" that would work for her. Right now I've got a formula that lessens her itching and breakouts (no, I have not found a cure for eczema- I just found something that works for her) which is great and want to pass out samples. But my inventory is a mess. I don't know what I have, I don't know what I need, I mean, really, now, is this any way for a Yale graduate to run a business?? I've got great ideas (no, I really, really do) but my follow through lacks punch.
So now, I challenge myself to write a comprehensive business plan in two weeks. Easier said than done with little ones at home, but hey, that makes the challenge even better, and I do love a challenge.
Ugh! When I have an update, I'll post it, I promise, y'all!!
Monday, May 21
Well, it’s about time
When you are black, most of the time it IS all about race. Except when it comes to making the best of the education you are getting and seeking more when you need to. I had the distinct pleasure of being a teacher for over 10 years in the classroom. One day, I asked my students what was keeping them from getting an education. Some said that they didn’t have a place to study or that there was no one to help them at home. These were all issues that could be remedied. However, one student told the class and me that the white man was keeping him from getting an education.
I was truly shocked. I then asked the student and the class about this mysterious white man. Was he at your house, turning on the television and video games while you were trying to do your homework? Was he standing at the front door of the school, blocking the door? When I broke it down to them like that the class laughed and, hopefully, saw the silliness in that remark. Of course, they were not really aware that there are factors that, later on in life, will indeed conspire to keep them from getting a good education, but I thought that might be a bit too advanced for fourth graders.
What this reminds me of, and now I come to my real point, is the Little Rock five. As a child of parents who lived through the civil rights movement, I was treated to a viewing of Eyes on the Prize when it aired on channel 13 and my parents’ VHS set. These students wanted a white man keeping them from entering the school? How about the National Guard of Arkansas?? Complete with guns? I so remember the video of those brave, brave children who walked the gauntlet of screaming, ugly white folks, hitting them on the heads with bricks and spitting on them. One of the girls, I think it was Elizabeth Eckford, who was memorable to me because of her shades, white shirt and gingham/checkered skirt said that the white people had spit so much that she had to WRING OUT HER SKIRT to get all the spit out. How foul!
All this, as usual, to say that the Little Rock Nine have finally been honored on a coin issued by the US Mint. See article here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/19/AR2007051901031.html?sub=new.
We have so much to thank those who were so brave so that we can be where we are today.
I was truly shocked. I then asked the student and the class about this mysterious white man. Was he at your house, turning on the television and video games while you were trying to do your homework? Was he standing at the front door of the school, blocking the door? When I broke it down to them like that the class laughed and, hopefully, saw the silliness in that remark. Of course, they were not really aware that there are factors that, later on in life, will indeed conspire to keep them from getting a good education, but I thought that might be a bit too advanced for fourth graders.
What this reminds me of, and now I come to my real point, is the Little Rock five. As a child of parents who lived through the civil rights movement, I was treated to a viewing of Eyes on the Prize when it aired on channel 13 and my parents’ VHS set. These students wanted a white man keeping them from entering the school? How about the National Guard of Arkansas?? Complete with guns? I so remember the video of those brave, brave children who walked the gauntlet of screaming, ugly white folks, hitting them on the heads with bricks and spitting on them. One of the girls, I think it was Elizabeth Eckford, who was memorable to me because of her shades, white shirt and gingham/checkered skirt said that the white people had spit so much that she had to WRING OUT HER SKIRT to get all the spit out. How foul!
All this, as usual, to say that the Little Rock Nine have finally been honored on a coin issued by the US Mint. See article here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/19/AR2007051901031.html?sub=new.
We have so much to thank those who were so brave so that we can be where we are today.
Sunday, May 20
My Snobbish Children
I used to talk about people on foood stamps - how all they used to buy their children was fruit drinks and hotdogs. Now, as a mom of three children under four, I realize how expensive it is to buy good food for your children. Juice alone (100% juice, not juice drink or juice cocktail) cost anywhere from 2 -3.49 per 1/2 gallon - more expensive than gasoline! Now if you've only got a few hundred for the MONTH and trying to feed three little ones, forget it. You're picking up the cheapest stuff possible to make that food stamp last. It's such a shame because the poor nutrition these children are receiving is directly correlated with their performance and their basic ability to perform in school - who the heck can think straight on a belly full of fruit punch soda and a honey bun, where child in the next seat has had oatmeal, bacon/eggs toast and orange juice for breakfast. How sad that No Child Left Behind doesn't cover breakfast foods also.
That being said, the family attended a storytelling session sponsored by my local Mocha Moms. The refreshments included a choice between fruit punch w/ .02 percent juice (but oh, so sugary sweet and good, admit it!!!) and apple juice. I tried to pour some of the fruit punch for my children - since they only have 100% juice at home, i figured they would appreciate the surgary goodness. Heck , no. "Mommy,I want apple juice. I don't want red juice". I had to shake my head and my nearly empty wallet (well, my husbands nearly empty wallet). They won't eat canned spaghetti- Now they're Don Coreleone, right? "We want hot pasta, mommy. Can you boil some water?" Oh, how about McDonald's? "No, mommy, can you cook us a burger?". For lunch- How about a baloney sandwich (my secret vice, along with the sugary goodness of the red juice) " No mommy, can I have natural peanut butter and jelly?"
Yes, my crunchy, nutrition oriented children resist my attempts at tempting them with
That being said, the family attended a storytelling session sponsored by my local Mocha Moms. The refreshments included a choice between fruit punch w/ .02 percent juice (but oh, so sugary sweet and good, admit it!!!) and apple juice. I tried to pour some of the fruit punch for my children - since they only have 100% juice at home, i figured they would appreciate the surgary goodness. Heck , no. "Mommy,I want apple juice. I don't want red juice". I had to shake my head and my nearly empty wallet (well, my husbands nearly empty wallet). They won't eat canned spaghetti- Now they're Don Coreleone, right? "We want hot pasta, mommy. Can you boil some water?" Oh, how about McDonald's? "No, mommy, can you cook us a burger?". For lunch- How about a baloney sandwich (my secret vice, along with the sugary goodness of the red juice) " No mommy, can I have natural peanut butter and jelly?"
Yes, my crunchy, nutrition oriented children resist my attempts at tempting them with
Saturday, May 19
The Slowskys
Seems like the makers of commercials are getting better and better. I love the Slowsky, hate the cavemen. I liked the first few caveman (geico) commercials, but getting a sitcom? Who the heck is going to watch it?
Anyway, digression aside, here are some clips from my Slowky commercials. I especially like the "you come push it.....push it real good"..
And this one, how rude is Mr. Slowsky???
Anyway, digression aside, here are some clips from my Slowky commercials. I especially like the "you come push it.....push it real good"..
And this one, how rude is Mr. Slowsky???
Friday, May 18
Teacher Abuse has no Color
Well, I must have been under a rock to miss this little gem. The link is here: http://www.abcnews4.com/news/stories/0806/356376.html, but a brief summary this: a white teacher sued the school district in which she worked because the students (black) cursed at her, calling her white c__, white MF, etc. etc. and apparently the school did nothing about it. How interesting that she sued. Why wasn’t this make more prevalent in the news? I’ll tell you why – because the teacher was white and the students were black.
As a former teacher, let me tell you, I’ve seen cases in which students were rude, verbally insulting and threatening, scratched teachers cars (for no reason), and pushed teachers in the hallway – not in an overt hands on the shoulders push, but a rude shouldering aside.
This case is important to teachers as it shows exactly how much bad behavior is tolerated from students because of either their race or their socio-economic circumstances. It’s as if the bar is lowered: you are allowed to act in a totally inhumane way towards another human being because you’re poor or black or both. Shame on these administrators to allow such hostile environment to proliferate in their school. Shame on these other teachers, black and white, for not banding together and demanding some sort of relief from this behavior. Why should teachers, who are there for the benefit of these children, be subjected to such abuse? Animals at zoos are treated better than this.
Why are we as a society are so worried about what a raggedy headed white DJ is saying about a women’s basketball team ( a one shot deal) when urban teachers are abused on a daily basis and (some) administrators turn their heads – fearful of having too many violence/vandalism reports for that month?
Why too, is this teacher mocked and made fun of (in some black circles) because she is white? Does that make her any less prone to suffering at the hands of these rude, nasty students. According to her, there were other teachers (black and white) suffering the same daily abuse – she just happened to be the one to bring a lawsuit.
Either way this speaks volumes about the state of urban education today. Because these students were black and poor, their nasty and abusive behavior was tolerated because it was “part of their culture”. Well, most certainly I am black, and foul language does not pour freely from my mouth on a regular basis. Therefore to denote the regular use of profanity as a part of black culture insults me.
As a former teacher, let me tell you, I’ve seen cases in which students were rude, verbally insulting and threatening, scratched teachers cars (for no reason), and pushed teachers in the hallway – not in an overt hands on the shoulders push, but a rude shouldering aside.
This case is important to teachers as it shows exactly how much bad behavior is tolerated from students because of either their race or their socio-economic circumstances. It’s as if the bar is lowered: you are allowed to act in a totally inhumane way towards another human being because you’re poor or black or both. Shame on these administrators to allow such hostile environment to proliferate in their school. Shame on these other teachers, black and white, for not banding together and demanding some sort of relief from this behavior. Why should teachers, who are there for the benefit of these children, be subjected to such abuse? Animals at zoos are treated better than this.
Why are we as a society are so worried about what a raggedy headed white DJ is saying about a women’s basketball team ( a one shot deal) when urban teachers are abused on a daily basis and (some) administrators turn their heads – fearful of having too many violence/vandalism reports for that month?
Why too, is this teacher mocked and made fun of (in some black circles) because she is white? Does that make her any less prone to suffering at the hands of these rude, nasty students. According to her, there were other teachers (black and white) suffering the same daily abuse – she just happened to be the one to bring a lawsuit.
Either way this speaks volumes about the state of urban education today. Because these students were black and poor, their nasty and abusive behavior was tolerated because it was “part of their culture”. Well, most certainly I am black, and foul language does not pour freely from my mouth on a regular basis. Therefore to denote the regular use of profanity as a part of black culture insults me.
Thursday, May 17
How Clean is Your House?
Ah, BBC America is my new best friend. As you know from my previous post, I am addicted to cleaning shows. Certainly, I am not the best house keeper in the world, and three children added to the mix, well, let's just say that I'm a bit hopeless in that department, but I'm getting a little better, bit by bit.
Either way, this new show - "How Clean is Your House" is the most entertaining show. Certiainly, I do love Niecy Nash of Clean House and like to settle in to watch Perfect Housewives (another BBC show). Not only do I gets lots of tips, but I do see folks' houses that are worse that mine. I myself am shocked - how can some of these people live like this? How can they come home every day to look at all this? But they do!
How Clean is your House has two hosts, aggie and Kim ( I think), one is a shorter thin lady with glasses and the other is a tall stout woman who always wears heels. The shorter lady takes the swabs of the filth - in one episode soem woman had CANDIDA around the house and the woman said it may have been from.......yes, her dirty knickers. How gross!!! The most entertaining is not the filth some people live in, but the chat of the hostess themselves like these gems : "This room is a hovel", "She's a dirty devil", "Ohhhhhh, lots of time for reading, but no time for cleaning", and my absolute fave: " These people are absolutely crackers (crazy)".
Take a look for yourself this is an episode from the "worst flat ever" . Please do not watch this if you have a weak stomach - sometimes I can't even eat during these episodes.
Either way, I luv watching these because yes, someone else out there is worse off than me!!
What is about cleaning that people detest? how do people let their houses get that way? Don't they smell their houses degenerating around them? Ah, who knows!
So I ask - how clean is YOUR house! :)
Either way, this new show - "How Clean is Your House" is the most entertaining show. Certiainly, I do love Niecy Nash of Clean House and like to settle in to watch Perfect Housewives (another BBC show). Not only do I gets lots of tips, but I do see folks' houses that are worse that mine. I myself am shocked - how can some of these people live like this? How can they come home every day to look at all this? But they do!
How Clean is your House has two hosts, aggie and Kim ( I think), one is a shorter thin lady with glasses and the other is a tall stout woman who always wears heels. The shorter lady takes the swabs of the filth - in one episode soem woman had CANDIDA around the house and the woman said it may have been from.......yes, her dirty knickers. How gross!!! The most entertaining is not the filth some people live in, but the chat of the hostess themselves like these gems : "This room is a hovel", "She's a dirty devil", "Ohhhhhh, lots of time for reading, but no time for cleaning", and my absolute fave: " These people are absolutely crackers (crazy)".
Take a look for yourself this is an episode from the "worst flat ever" . Please do not watch this if you have a weak stomach - sometimes I can't even eat during these episodes.
Either way, I luv watching these because yes, someone else out there is worse off than me!!
What is about cleaning that people detest? how do people let their houses get that way? Don't they smell their houses degenerating around them? Ah, who knows!
So I ask - how clean is YOUR house! :)
Monday, May 14
I was inspired
By catching about 2 seconds of the Martha Stewart show. She was showing her "plane purse" and stuff that she carried with her while traveling. Well, everything was so well organized and in those cool baggies that when I opened the family room closet to see if my daughter's other sneaker was in there, I decided to clean it. Oh, what a fool am I! As I am writing this, I have found at least 10 coats hanging in the closet as well as a box full of office supplies. Now, I loooooove office supplies so it was like a bonus, but where the heck am I going to put all this stuff???
So, out come the space bags. I wish I had the nerve to post pics of my diaster area family room, but since this is not Clean House (oh how I wish I could be on that show) I am not going to embarrass myself in from of the Internet world!!
The good news is, I discovered a recycling plant that takes paperback books. Now for some, that may not be a big deal, but for me, queen of paperback books, it is a godsend. I can't wait to pack up some of my less favorite books and cart them over to be recycled. I simply hate throwing stuff out but.....since it is being recycled I feel a LOT better.
So, out come the space bags. I wish I had the nerve to post pics of my diaster area family room, but since this is not Clean House (oh how I wish I could be on that show) I am not going to embarrass myself in from of the Internet world!!
The good news is, I discovered a recycling plant that takes paperback books. Now for some, that may not be a big deal, but for me, queen of paperback books, it is a godsend. I can't wait to pack up some of my less favorite books and cart them over to be recycled. I simply hate throwing stuff out but.....since it is being recycled I feel a LOT better.
Sunday, May 13
Mother's Day
What did you get for Mother's Day? First of all, my husband did me the greatest favor. I was able to lounge about all weekend and not have to change not one diaper. I also got the best gifts: two flats of impatiens, two bags of garden soil (the good stuff), 50 landscaping bricks and the time to stack bricks and plant flowers. I can't wait to get the raised beds in which to plant the tomatoes.
On the indoor front, I also received the newest Michael Buble CD and a new book by Dan Brown.
Well, that gives you readers a bit of a insight into what I like to do - much more interesting than listing the mundane details on my profile.
Either way, hope all you moms had a great day.
On the indoor front, I also received the newest Michael Buble CD and a new book by Dan Brown.
Well, that gives you readers a bit of a insight into what I like to do - much more interesting than listing the mundane details on my profile.
Either way, hope all you moms had a great day.
Saturday, May 12
Black Moms Push Their Kids’ Educational Aspirations More Than White Moms
Haven't had a chance to read it thoroughly,. but will write more later!
Ok, here it is:
Here is the link to the article: http://www.blackamericaweb.com/site.aspx/bawnews/momssurvey511
Well, I finally had a chance to read the story and I am ambivalent about the results. Now, as a married mother of three, I do expect my children to complete some sort of higher education, but I do not feel that graduate or professional school is a must. Although I do have my master’s degree (recently completed), I would be perfectly happy if my children chose a non-traditional path such as contracting (building) or writing. Everyone does not have to be a doctor or a lawyer, and to be honest those two career paths are certainly not as glamorous as they may seem on television or in the movies. For one thing, the malpractice insurance that you have to carry as a doctor is insane!! All lawyers don’t dress in great clothes and drive fancy cars – some of them are like that lawyer in that move Dark Water, who has an office in his car and goes to movies alone.
Now that I have digress enough, back to the article. I found it interesting that first of all, more white women than black women answered the survey. Even in 2007, it is obvious that more whites, no matter what the income level, have more internet access than blacks. True, the gap is small ( I don’t have the exact stats), but there is still a gap. Further, many of the black mothers who answered this survey were either never married or divorced – only 36 percent of the black women, out of @293 who answered the survey were actually married, compared to 65 percent of the white women. So it would stand to reason that in this sample, black moms are the driving force behind getting their children an education because they are the only parent in the home.
I expect my children to go to college. I don’t work, but I do have a graduate degree. I truly believe that education open doors to everyone regardless of race. I also believe that racism is alive and quite well in 2007. Therefore, I want my children to get the education they need to be successful in this world, whether they need to form their own companies or practices or what have you. This is expected and will be emphasized by both my husband and myself as my children get older.
Ok, here it is:
Here is the link to the article: http://www.blackamericaweb.com/site.aspx/bawnews/momssurvey511
Well, I finally had a chance to read the story and I am ambivalent about the results. Now, as a married mother of three, I do expect my children to complete some sort of higher education, but I do not feel that graduate or professional school is a must. Although I do have my master’s degree (recently completed), I would be perfectly happy if my children chose a non-traditional path such as contracting (building) or writing. Everyone does not have to be a doctor or a lawyer, and to be honest those two career paths are certainly not as glamorous as they may seem on television or in the movies. For one thing, the malpractice insurance that you have to carry as a doctor is insane!! All lawyers don’t dress in great clothes and drive fancy cars – some of them are like that lawyer in that move Dark Water, who has an office in his car and goes to movies alone.
Now that I have digress enough, back to the article. I found it interesting that first of all, more white women than black women answered the survey. Even in 2007, it is obvious that more whites, no matter what the income level, have more internet access than blacks. True, the gap is small ( I don’t have the exact stats), but there is still a gap. Further, many of the black mothers who answered this survey were either never married or divorced – only 36 percent of the black women, out of @293 who answered the survey were actually married, compared to 65 percent of the white women. So it would stand to reason that in this sample, black moms are the driving force behind getting their children an education because they are the only parent in the home.
I expect my children to go to college. I don’t work, but I do have a graduate degree. I truly believe that education open doors to everyone regardless of race. I also believe that racism is alive and quite well in 2007. Therefore, I want my children to get the education they need to be successful in this world, whether they need to form their own companies or practices or what have you. This is expected and will be emphasized by both my husband and myself as my children get older.
Friday, May 11
Ok,I've had it with this cleaning business
I've had it with cleaning. It is impossible to try to keep up with three children under four who constantly pick up stuff, walk it just far enough out of place, then drop it on the floor, behind the couch or kick it under the refrigerator. I've had it, I tell you. I have baskets, bins and various others implements of organization, however, my children don't seem to want to use them.
Ok, so you say, well, clean at night - you ARE the Black Domestic Goddess, right? Well, let me enlighten you, oh dear reader, goddessed are regal beings - I am not a witch or a fairy godmother...unfortunately, goddesses are not endowed with magic wands to wave away the constant clutter of tiny human beings. ARGH!
Yes, I know it will end.....when the last one is out of the house. Meanwhile, I'll indulge my wildest fantasies by watching Clean House and Perfect Housewives. I'll watch, dab my eye with tissue and dream that that just might be me.....oh, one day!
All right, gotta go clean now.
Ok, so you say, well, clean at night - you ARE the Black Domestic Goddess, right? Well, let me enlighten you, oh dear reader, goddessed are regal beings - I am not a witch or a fairy godmother...unfortunately, goddesses are not endowed with magic wands to wave away the constant clutter of tiny human beings. ARGH!
Yes, I know it will end.....when the last one is out of the house. Meanwhile, I'll indulge my wildest fantasies by watching Clean House and Perfect Housewives. I'll watch, dab my eye with tissue and dream that that just might be me.....oh, one day!
All right, gotta go clean now.
Wednesday, May 9
Whoa, I'd better catch up~
I just took a look around on blogger as well as myspace (you know how clicking links can take you far, far away from where you began!) and realized how far behind I am in actually working towards making a true web presence. Plus, there are soooo many black resources out there that need to be advetised. So I'll start here:
Check out http://beingfamilymagazine.blogspot.com, www.blackmomsclub.com, and www.blackliving.com. There are much more, of course, but too much for my little fingers to type right now, especially since my little ones are begging to go outside.
sigh..... Seriously, check out those sites!
Check out http://beingfamilymagazine.blogspot.com, www.blackmomsclub.com, and www.blackliving.com. There are much more, of course, but too much for my little fingers to type right now, especially since my little ones are begging to go outside.
sigh..... Seriously, check out those sites!
JV and Elvis
I used to listen to 92.3 free fm before I got Sirius and was able to listen to Howard Stern. In addtion, Sirius allowed me to listen to a channel chock full to my all-time favorite vocalist, Frank Sinatra. But I digress. I turned on my terrestial radio on Monday around 9:05 am to find out that JV and Elvis were indefinitely suspended due to some crank phone call they made to a Chinese food restaurant.
I did not hear the phone call, but I've heard the type of humor that JV and Elvis do. It is puerile and adolescent, but they're good for mindless entertainment and sometimes they make me laugh. ( I don't have a sirius radio dock in the kitchen, so when I clean up, I have to listen to regular radio.) I also know that they had poor ratings and were on the verge of being booted out anyway. Soooooo, I don't think that this suspension was a direct result of their poor taste in humor, but just like a Imus, an excuse to get them out the door because of thier poor ratings.
I only ask, how far is this going to go? Will jokes now be exclusive to the race or ethnicity? Will I, Dave Chapelle, Eddie Griffin and other black comedians only be allowed to make black jokes? Will Ralphie May only be allowed to make jokes about fat, white men? Will Ant (the host of Celebrity Fit Club) only be allowed to make gay jokes?
Humor is humor. Some find it funny, some don't. That's why it's humor! People really need to lighten up.
I'll have to come back to this post.....bear with me!
I did not hear the phone call, but I've heard the type of humor that JV and Elvis do. It is puerile and adolescent, but they're good for mindless entertainment and sometimes they make me laugh. ( I don't have a sirius radio dock in the kitchen, so when I clean up, I have to listen to regular radio.) I also know that they had poor ratings and were on the verge of being booted out anyway. Soooooo, I don't think that this suspension was a direct result of their poor taste in humor, but just like a Imus, an excuse to get them out the door because of thier poor ratings.
I only ask, how far is this going to go? Will jokes now be exclusive to the race or ethnicity? Will I, Dave Chapelle, Eddie Griffin and other black comedians only be allowed to make black jokes? Will Ralphie May only be allowed to make jokes about fat, white men? Will Ant (the host of Celebrity Fit Club) only be allowed to make gay jokes?
Humor is humor. Some find it funny, some don't. That's why it's humor! People really need to lighten up.
I'll have to come back to this post.....bear with me!
Sunday, May 6
My Inspirational Piece
Here is one of the "inspirational" pieces that I wrote for my group.
I love Real Simple magazine, truly, I do, but I do not subscribe because I often don’t have the time to actually sit down and read it. My husband was kind enough to bring home the May issue last Friday and I simply could not resist its petal pink cover – I sat right down and began reading. What a great escape. With Real Simple, I can do anything – organize my shelves, make great recipes and get super bargains at the drugstore…things I simply cannot seem to accomplish in my real life.
One article in particular caught my eye; it was titled “Do you have a Vision?” This article was certainly an eye-opener for me (no pun intended). The article basically speaks about visualizing what you want, down to the very last detail, so much so that you can practically walk into your vision. For example, the article speaks about a woman, who at age 47, decided to law school and become an environmental lawyer. Now, I must admit, when I read that, I frowned a bit in consternation. Go back to law school? At 47? Why, she wouldn’t even graduate until she was, gasp, 50!! Her husband apparently thought the same way I did. Ah, but here was the thing – in three years, she would still be 50, so she had the choice of being 50 with no law degree, or being 50 with one.
The point is, this woman had the desire to be an environmental lawyer so badly that she visualized her daily routine, the type of people she would work with, what she would wear to work, what her office would look like….every detail down to what lawerly briefcase she would carry everyday. Her desire was so strong to achieve this dream that it was more than making castles in the air – this dream was so strong that she had made it a future reality that could not be denied. How inspiring!
So, what’s your vision? What’s that thing that you’ve always wanted to do? Don’t let yourself down – take the time right now to make your dream a reality. Visualization plus the will to succeed can make your dream a reality.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Yes, it's a bit Oprah-ish!!
I love Real Simple magazine, truly, I do, but I do not subscribe because I often don’t have the time to actually sit down and read it. My husband was kind enough to bring home the May issue last Friday and I simply could not resist its petal pink cover – I sat right down and began reading. What a great escape. With Real Simple, I can do anything – organize my shelves, make great recipes and get super bargains at the drugstore…things I simply cannot seem to accomplish in my real life.
One article in particular caught my eye; it was titled “Do you have a Vision?” This article was certainly an eye-opener for me (no pun intended). The article basically speaks about visualizing what you want, down to the very last detail, so much so that you can practically walk into your vision. For example, the article speaks about a woman, who at age 47, decided to law school and become an environmental lawyer. Now, I must admit, when I read that, I frowned a bit in consternation. Go back to law school? At 47? Why, she wouldn’t even graduate until she was, gasp, 50!! Her husband apparently thought the same way I did. Ah, but here was the thing – in three years, she would still be 50, so she had the choice of being 50 with no law degree, or being 50 with one.
The point is, this woman had the desire to be an environmental lawyer so badly that she visualized her daily routine, the type of people she would work with, what she would wear to work, what her office would look like….every detail down to what lawerly briefcase she would carry everyday. Her desire was so strong to achieve this dream that it was more than making castles in the air – this dream was so strong that she had made it a future reality that could not be denied. How inspiring!
So, what’s your vision? What’s that thing that you’ve always wanted to do? Don’t let yourself down – take the time right now to make your dream a reality. Visualization plus the will to succeed can make your dream a reality.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Yes, it's a bit Oprah-ish!!
First published Piece
Well, I can't believe it but I actually got a piece of mine published in the local paper. It was supposed to be a humorous piece - hopefully this will be the first of many.
Here it is:
I am a stay at home mom of three children under five years old. I also attend graduate school online as well as run my own business. This of course necessitates that I actually spend some time not directly interacting with my children. Usually, by this time, they also need a break from me also. I'm sure even a four year old reaches his fill of Frere Jacques and coloring the letter A. When we have both reached the point of not being able to even look at each other for another second, I turn to the TV friends of my childhood, PBS. Upon turning to channel 13, I was little puzzled. I found Sesame Street with no problem (alas with no Mr. Hooper, nor Kermit the Frog), but there was a whole crop of new kids on the block, some who I'd never heard of: Jakers! The Adventures of Piggly Winks, Caillou and Between the Lions.
As a former teacher who always screened anything my students viewed, I figured I should give my own children the same courtesy. So, I took the time to watch a few of the shows with them. The one that really stood out for me was Caillou, since it is a bout a four year old boy and my son seemed to enjoy it the most. Good old Caillou. I must be missing something, isn't that a weird name for a little boy?
\u003c/span\>Drawing on my high-school French and Wikipedia, \u003cspan\>\n \u003c/span\>I discovered that Caillou meant pebble or bald head, which explains why the kid's bald as an egg.\u003cspan\> \u003c/span\>\u003cspan\> \u003c/span\>The program seemed benign enough, so I felt comfortable letting the children watch unsupervised in order to take 30 whole minutes to myself.\n\u003cspan\> \u003c/span\>What a mistake.\u003cspan\> \u003c/span\>Instead of a cute little bald-headed boy, Caillou was a little scoundrel whose prime directive was to lead little children astray through his demonstration of how to talk back, insist on having his own way and become frustrated to quickly.\n\u003cspan\> \u003c/span\>\u003cspan\> \u003c/span\>Luckily, I was able to head this off by cutting off Caillou and letting my son know in no uncertain terms that the show didn't show the parts when Caillou got a spanking for doing some of things he did.\n\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\"\> \u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\"\>We as parents have to be so careful about what our children watch, even the so-called educational programs.\u003cspan\> \u003c/span\>\nThe behaviors displayed by certain TV characters, especially those with which our children identify are the behaviors that they are apt to imitate, good or bad.\u003cspan\> \u003c/span\>Therefore, we have to be diligent in talking with our children about what they see and most importantly, what they think about what they see.\n\u003cspan\> \u003c/span\>Yes, it might be easier to cut out the television all together, but I see it as an opportunity to teach my child how to identify appropriate and inappropriate behaviors.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cbr\> \u003c/div\>",1]
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Drawing on my high-school French and Wikipedia, I discovered that Caillou meant pebble or bald head, which explains why the kid's bald as an egg. The program seemed benign enough, so I felt comfortable letting the children watch unsupervised in order to take 30 whole minutes to myself. What a mistake. Instead of a cute little bald-headed boy, Caillou was a little scoundrel whose prime directive was to lead little children astray through his demonstration of how to talk back, insist on having his own way and become frustrated to quickly. Luckily, I was able to head this off by cutting off Caillou and letting my son know in no uncertain terms that the show didn't show the parts when Caillou got a spanking for doing some of things he did.
We as parents have to be so careful about what our children watch, even the so-called educational programs. The behaviors displayed by certain TV characters, especially those with which our children identify are the behaviors that they are apt to imitate, good or bad. Therefore, we have to be diligent in talking with our children about what they see and most importantly, what they think about what they see. Yes, it might be easier to cut out the television all together, but I see it as an opportunity to teach my child how to identify appropriate and inappropriate behaviors.
Well, well. Now I've got to think of a follow up!
Here it is:
I am a stay at home mom of three children under five years old. I also attend graduate school online as well as run my own business. This of course necessitates that I actually spend some time not directly interacting with my children. Usually, by this time, they also need a break from me also. I'm sure even a four year old reaches his fill of Frere Jacques and coloring the letter A. When we have both reached the point of not being able to even look at each other for another second, I turn to the TV friends of my childhood, PBS. Upon turning to channel 13, I was little puzzled. I found Sesame Street with no problem (alas with no Mr. Hooper, nor Kermit the Frog), but there was a whole crop of new kids on the block, some who I'd never heard of: Jakers! The Adventures of Piggly Winks, Caillou and Between the Lions.
As a former teacher who always screened anything my students viewed, I figured I should give my own children the same courtesy. So, I took the time to watch a few of the shows with them. The one that really stood out for me was Caillou, since it is a bout a four year old boy and my son seemed to enjoy it the most. Good old Caillou. I must be missing something, isn't that a weird name for a little boy?
\u003c/span\>Drawing on my high-school French and Wikipedia, \u003cspan\>\n \u003c/span\>I discovered that Caillou meant pebble or bald head, which explains why the kid's bald as an egg.\u003cspan\> \u003c/span\>\u003cspan\> \u003c/span\>The program seemed benign enough, so I felt comfortable letting the children watch unsupervised in order to take 30 whole minutes to myself.\n\u003cspan\> \u003c/span\>What a mistake.\u003cspan\> \u003c/span\>Instead of a cute little bald-headed boy, Caillou was a little scoundrel whose prime directive was to lead little children astray through his demonstration of how to talk back, insist on having his own way and become frustrated to quickly.\n\u003cspan\> \u003c/span\>\u003cspan\> \u003c/span\>Luckily, I was able to head this off by cutting off Caillou and letting my son know in no uncertain terms that the show didn't show the parts when Caillou got a spanking for doing some of things he did.\n\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\"\> \u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\"\>We as parents have to be so careful about what our children watch, even the so-called educational programs.\u003cspan\> \u003c/span\>\nThe behaviors displayed by certain TV characters, especially those with which our children identify are the behaviors that they are apt to imitate, good or bad.\u003cspan\> \u003c/span\>Therefore, we have to be diligent in talking with our children about what they see and most importantly, what they think about what they see.\n\u003cspan\> \u003c/span\>Yes, it might be easier to cut out the television all together, but I see it as an opportunity to teach my child how to identify appropriate and inappropriate behaviors.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cbr\> \u003c/div\>",1]
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Drawing on my high-school French and Wikipedia, I discovered that Caillou meant pebble or bald head, which explains why the kid's bald as an egg. The program seemed benign enough, so I felt comfortable letting the children watch unsupervised in order to take 30 whole minutes to myself. What a mistake. Instead of a cute little bald-headed boy, Caillou was a little scoundrel whose prime directive was to lead little children astray through his demonstration of how to talk back, insist on having his own way and become frustrated to quickly. Luckily, I was able to head this off by cutting off Caillou and letting my son know in no uncertain terms that the show didn't show the parts when Caillou got a spanking for doing some of things he did.
We as parents have to be so careful about what our children watch, even the so-called educational programs. The behaviors displayed by certain TV characters, especially those with which our children identify are the behaviors that they are apt to imitate, good or bad. Therefore, we have to be diligent in talking with our children about what they see and most importantly, what they think about what they see. Yes, it might be easier to cut out the television all together, but I see it as an opportunity to teach my child how to identify appropriate and inappropriate behaviors.
Well, well. Now I've got to think of a follow up!
Saturday, April 28
Insanity Reigns Supreme
Recently, I was reading a few posts on my local nj.com board and had to shake my head at the ridicuolousness of some of the dicussions there. There was a long thread of discussion about some high school play that used teh "n-word". Apparently, some audience members walked out in the first two minutes of the play because of the use of this word and the people involved with the play were upset because they felt that this person (or people) did not give the play a chance and passed judgement w/out seeing the whole play.
I often sigh when I read these type of posts. I suppose people have the right to argue about insignificant things, but let's get real. With all the concerns and issues about this particular high school (read back issues of the Courier News to get the whole story), this is what people are going back and forth about on the message board? Give me a break.....this time and energy expended on this argument over taste - chacun a son gout - is silly and wasteful. So what if someone walked out? So what if s/he didn't like the use of the n-word? Everyone has his/her own opinion of what 'art' is and how they want to spend their time.
And what Imus has to do with all of this, I'll never know - that was brought up in the argument also.
I also dislike calling human children 'kids' - a kid is a baby goat!!
I often sigh when I read these type of posts. I suppose people have the right to argue about insignificant things, but let's get real. With all the concerns and issues about this particular high school (read back issues of the Courier News to get the whole story), this is what people are going back and forth about on the message board? Give me a break.....this time and energy expended on this argument over taste - chacun a son gout - is silly and wasteful. So what if someone walked out? So what if s/he didn't like the use of the n-word? Everyone has his/her own opinion of what 'art' is and how they want to spend their time.
And what Imus has to do with all of this, I'll never know - that was brought up in the argument also.
I also dislike calling human children 'kids' - a kid is a baby goat!!
Thursday, April 26
Ahhhh...Freedom
On Wednesday, I had the distinct pleasure of spending a total of three hours away from everyone in my family - don't get me wrong, I do love DH and my three dear children, however, day in and day out contact can wear a bit thin. I took the time, with the help of a lovely friend who gave me a gift certificate, I visited the Skin Deep Day Spa in New Providence. What a lovely experience! I had a great mini-facial - who knew that someone else washing your face could feel so wonderful!
The ladies who work there are were very nice and the spa atmosphere was simple and calm. I almost fell asleep in the skin treatment room and the pedicure stand chairs were massage enabled. I felt refreshed and rejuvenated when I left and would certainly visit again - I am looking forward to the hot stone massage!
The ladies who work there are were very nice and the spa atmosphere was simple and calm. I almost fell asleep in the skin treatment room and the pedicure stand chairs were massage enabled. I felt refreshed and rejuvenated when I left and would certainly visit again - I am looking forward to the hot stone massage!
Tuesday, April 24
Corzine should obey the law
This is a short post. Seems like Corzine can now be the poster boy for both obeying the speed limit and wearing your seat belt. From what I've heard and read, the governor's SUV was going at speeds of over 90 mph when the crash occurred. I'm a stay at home mom and the highest I've driven is 60 on the highway going to the library - and I'm nervous when I'm wearing a seat belt!! How could you sit in a car going 90 mph with no seat belt? Doesn't even make sense, does it?
Good Ol' Imus
I know that I'm late, I know that I'm waay behind, but thus is the life of a domestic goddess. Anyhoo, this whole Imus thing. I have never listened to Imus, just flicked past his televised broadcast on MSNBC and thought that MSNBC must have run out of programming to waste air time with a radio show. I mean, who is watching an old man with a cowboy hat talk into a microphone? Just listen to the durn radio, why don't you?
On to the controversy. Ok, so what he said was rude, out of left field and not very funny. Let's all face it, before we all ran to put him up on the stake, we've heard worse, much worse from both black and white broadcasters. Why pick Imus out for flagellation when you have Opie and Anthony, Howard Stern, Miss Jones in the morning (Hott 97 nyc) and other radio DJs who feel the only way they can get ratings is to say something shocking (i.e. moronic) to get folks attention. I remember when one station played some parody record mocking the tsunami victims. Another station played sounds effects of a child being kicked and beaten during a news story about a child who was beaten to death by his parents. Neither incident was a blip on the screen.
What happened to free speech? In a country where the Ku Klux Klan is allowed to march and exercise their right to free speech, who cares about some old man radio DJ saying nappy heade hos? Why are hip hop artists, the Klan, heavy metal artists and the like given freedom of expression and Imus isn't? Perhaps if he had sung the words, he could have been sheided behind the wall of creative expression.
Either way, the uproar of what one old over the hill radio jock said was truly ridiculous. There are so many other outrages in our society that should be addressed with such fervor that are being ignored. Let's direct our energy toward these issues rather that three stupid words from some AM disc jockey.
On to the controversy. Ok, so what he said was rude, out of left field and not very funny. Let's all face it, before we all ran to put him up on the stake, we've heard worse, much worse from both black and white broadcasters. Why pick Imus out for flagellation when you have Opie and Anthony, Howard Stern, Miss Jones in the morning (Hott 97 nyc) and other radio DJs who feel the only way they can get ratings is to say something shocking (i.e. moronic) to get folks attention. I remember when one station played some parody record mocking the tsunami victims. Another station played sounds effects of a child being kicked and beaten during a news story about a child who was beaten to death by his parents. Neither incident was a blip on the screen.
What happened to free speech? In a country where the Ku Klux Klan is allowed to march and exercise their right to free speech, who cares about some old man radio DJ saying nappy heade hos? Why are hip hop artists, the Klan, heavy metal artists and the like given freedom of expression and Imus isn't? Perhaps if he had sung the words, he could have been sheided behind the wall of creative expression.
Either way, the uproar of what one old over the hill radio jock said was truly ridiculous. There are so many other outrages in our society that should be addressed with such fervor that are being ignored. Let's direct our energy toward these issues rather that three stupid words from some AM disc jockey.
Monday, April 23
Well, well
I can't beleive that I forgot about this blog. I suppose finishing graduate school (yay, me!), starting an at-home business and taking care of three children and a husband and a dog certainly makes time fly.
On a somber note, my companion of the last ten years, Sheba, my rottie shep mix passed away on April 15th. She was a great dog, had great personality and will be sorely missed. I can't beleive I knew her before I even knew my husband. I am glad though that she was able to die at home and not given the lethal injection, although she was a bit difficult to move, being as that she weighed 130 pounds. However, my husband did a wonderful job of transporting her gently to the vet to be cremated. No, I didn't keep the ashes - I could just imagine me coming from the basement or wherever and seeing the children with the over turned urn running their trucks and cars through the ashes. Yikes!
My oldest started nursery school recently and it was much more of a shock to me than to him. I couldn't beleive that I was dropping off my little one, who I distinctly remember changing diapers and feeding baby food, at school to be in the care of someone else for two hours, twice a week. He, of course, went into the room and didn't even look back. I bet he was simply sick of being home with us!!!
Well, it's time for the dinner bell.
On a somber note, my companion of the last ten years, Sheba, my rottie shep mix passed away on April 15th. She was a great dog, had great personality and will be sorely missed. I can't beleive I knew her before I even knew my husband. I am glad though that she was able to die at home and not given the lethal injection, although she was a bit difficult to move, being as that she weighed 130 pounds. However, my husband did a wonderful job of transporting her gently to the vet to be cremated. No, I didn't keep the ashes - I could just imagine me coming from the basement or wherever and seeing the children with the over turned urn running their trucks and cars through the ashes. Yikes!
My oldest started nursery school recently and it was much more of a shock to me than to him. I couldn't beleive that I was dropping off my little one, who I distinctly remember changing diapers and feeding baby food, at school to be in the care of someone else for two hours, twice a week. He, of course, went into the room and didn't even look back. I bet he was simply sick of being home with us!!!
Well, it's time for the dinner bell.
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