This is brilliant! I'm very much for free speech. When you're not an idiot.
Remember the phrase "Unless you have something nice to say, don't say anything at all?" How about we change that to "Unless you don't have anything smart and/or clever to say, don't say anything at all."
And I have had my share of stupid comments! HELLO! I have a problem keeping my words to myself in general, somewhere in there is bound to be a stupid comment! But seriously, it's 2011, we should all have equal rights, we should all have health care, we should all be willing to care for one another, we should all be willing to give some of our hard-earned money to society because we are all a part of it. We shouldn't be blaming the change in this country on one man when the change he is making is for the greater good. And we should stop judging based on color or sexual orientation. Because at the end of the day we all want to go home to someone who cares for us, put our feet up and heave a contented sigh.
Obama could be a short green man from the land of Umpaloompa and I would still be proud to call him my president.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Parenthood
I'm not a parent but....
I swore the following words would never leave my mouth and yet they have fallen out and my inner eyes have rolled themselves at myself.
"Because I said so." Ugh. I HATED that phrase as a kid. I wanted a legitimate reason why I could or couldn't do something. I'm promising these 2 little girls here and now that if I say that again, I will stop, think for a moment and come up with a more creative and honest reason why they can or can't do what they are asking. Because if not, than what they want can't be that bad.
"Have fun and be safe." those words still leave my mom's mouth when I leave her house. And several years ago I was house/teenage sitting and when the younger one left to go skateboarding, I looked at him and those words fell out of my mouth. I couldn't stop them. And my next action was a big "Noooooo!" and I called my mom to tell her what happened. She laughed. We all become our parents some day.
I'm trying really hard to not necessarily treat these little girls like equals but I want them to have a say in their choices. I used to tell my campers "You have a choice. You can do what I ask and be angry about it or you can just do what I ask." Because sometimes it has to be done the grown-up's way. But I'm also really trying to have them understand why. "Don't put your hands in the toilet. It's where poop goes and it's very gross." "You have to drink your milk. It's good for you and will help you grow strong." Of course, it doesn't always work.
Being a parent is really hard. (And cue laugh track.) But it's even tougher when you're a part-time parent and even harder than that when you're not really a parent at all. It's a very fine and fuzzy line and no one really knows where the boundary lies. I'm learning and so are Chuck and the girls. And oddly I think I'm the one struggling the most. The kids are flexible and forgiving and Chuck is patient and kind. I get lost sometimes and a tad impatient. (Again. Me? Impatient? Cue laughter.) But I adore these littles so much and their dad is the best ever and there is more good around the 4 of us than I could imagine.
I also swear to never give spit baths. You know, where you like your finger and then scrub off some dried junk from the kids face. Annnnnnnd ick. 1. Talk about passing germs. 2. That smudge really can't wait til you find a damp cloth or a sink and soap?! And 3. It's embarrassing.
Many books have been written on parenting, but no one really knows the secrets. I'm learning and taking notes.
I swore the following words would never leave my mouth and yet they have fallen out and my inner eyes have rolled themselves at myself.
"Because I said so." Ugh. I HATED that phrase as a kid. I wanted a legitimate reason why I could or couldn't do something. I'm promising these 2 little girls here and now that if I say that again, I will stop, think for a moment and come up with a more creative and honest reason why they can or can't do what they are asking. Because if not, than what they want can't be that bad.
"Have fun and be safe." those words still leave my mom's mouth when I leave her house. And several years ago I was house/teenage sitting and when the younger one left to go skateboarding, I looked at him and those words fell out of my mouth. I couldn't stop them. And my next action was a big "Noooooo!" and I called my mom to tell her what happened. She laughed. We all become our parents some day.
I'm trying really hard to not necessarily treat these little girls like equals but I want them to have a say in their choices. I used to tell my campers "You have a choice. You can do what I ask and be angry about it or you can just do what I ask." Because sometimes it has to be done the grown-up's way. But I'm also really trying to have them understand why. "Don't put your hands in the toilet. It's where poop goes and it's very gross." "You have to drink your milk. It's good for you and will help you grow strong." Of course, it doesn't always work.
Being a parent is really hard. (And cue laugh track.) But it's even tougher when you're a part-time parent and even harder than that when you're not really a parent at all. It's a very fine and fuzzy line and no one really knows where the boundary lies. I'm learning and so are Chuck and the girls. And oddly I think I'm the one struggling the most. The kids are flexible and forgiving and Chuck is patient and kind. I get lost sometimes and a tad impatient. (Again. Me? Impatient? Cue laughter.) But I adore these littles so much and their dad is the best ever and there is more good around the 4 of us than I could imagine.
I also swear to never give spit baths. You know, where you like your finger and then scrub off some dried junk from the kids face. Annnnnnnd ick. 1. Talk about passing germs. 2. That smudge really can't wait til you find a damp cloth or a sink and soap?! And 3. It's embarrassing.
Many books have been written on parenting, but no one really knows the secrets. I'm learning and taking notes.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Pretty flowers
My mom rocks And here's the proof.
She's all arty and creative and crafty and stuff.
And I am quite proud.
She's all arty and creative and crafty and stuff.
And I am quite proud.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
One year ago
I got this guy. Awe!
I only remembered this because the Humane Society sent me a reminder email saying "It's been a year since you took home the newest member of your family....yada yada yada." And he was a good little thing to bring home. As much as he drives me nuts when he zips around the apartment, he is very sweet. He has learned when we are cooking to come into the kitchen because he might get a treat tossed his way, his favorite toy is his tail or a toddler toy, likes to sleep on Chuck's pants and greets me every time I come home.
I do however, find it funny that I post something about my one year anniversary with my cat and nothing about my one year anniversary with my boyfriend.
Just so it's out there in the universe and the gods of gratefulness don't smite me down, Chuck and I met a year and 10 days ago. Best night of our lives and we didn't even know it!
Two special days within 2 weeks, I'm a lucky girl.
12/31/10 in a few photos
This is my friend Holly. She is fantastic and wanted very badly to be a new year's scrooge. Chuck and I wouldn't let her. This was the beginning of the eve, when we were still fresh faced.
Every night of more than 2 beers leads to a session of self-portraits. However, no one finds them as funny as the people in the photos.
The 3 of us had a good time. Holly went home early, seems our efforts to thwart her Debbie Downer mood weren't entirely successful. But we bar-hopped with her, and then bar-hopped without her. Chuck and I rang in the new year at the VFW. We keep it classy. I took a few self-portraits of our kiss too, but I'll spare you. It was a fun night filled with laughter and good discussion among awesome people.
I did a post about how awesome my 2010 was. I am feeling the itch to post something about what I'd like 2011 to have in-store for me. That is going to to take some thinking. I'll return with perhaps a bucket list of sorts for the next 350 days.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Pay it forward
Wanna do something good while you're still in the "resolution" part of the year?
Click here.
This woman, her words, her pictures, her children, her zest for life has helped me focus more on the good in life. Reading her posts is a highlight of my day. I have never met her and probably never will but I feel like I am lucky to have a glimpse into her precious, amazing life.
I donated. It felt good. I donated in honor of Nella but also in honor of all the little kids I met while I was a camp counselor. They impacted my life more than I thought possible. I still think about them and wonder what they have accomplished in their life.
Read, enjoy the joy, donate. It's good for you.
Click here.
This woman, her words, her pictures, her children, her zest for life has helped me focus more on the good in life. Reading her posts is a highlight of my day. I have never met her and probably never will but I feel like I am lucky to have a glimpse into her precious, amazing life.
I donated. It felt good. I donated in honor of Nella but also in honor of all the little kids I met while I was a camp counselor. They impacted my life more than I thought possible. I still think about them and wonder what they have accomplished in their life.
Read, enjoy the joy, donate. It's good for you.
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