My Best Nanny Memory

Edit In: I was supposed to have saved this post and added on, but somehow it got published. Must have hit the wrong button. I am adding the story that made my nanny the best grandmother ever. Read on.

For those who have not had the pleasure of grand-parents (and good ones at that), you do not know what you are missing.

My nanny is my mother's mother. She was in-your-face, up front, blunt, brusque, abrupt, but I loved her. And even as a child, I knew she was someone to be reckoned with. People looked at her with a sort of reverence. If she liked/loved you, then you were good. But cross her...and watch out. Fell the wrath of Emily Grace Strayer.

Nanny and I had to go 'In to town' as those who live din the boonies called it. That meant that you either went to Okeechobee or you went to West Palm Beach. This day was WPB. Nanny had some flats of vegetables to pick up and a plethora of other things to do while there, for you did not go 'in to town' all that often, so you made the best of your time there. And we did.

Well, it was getting on to lunchtime and we were both starving. I was about 10-12ish at the time and just worshiped my Nanny. In my eyes, she could do no wrong. We needed to grab lunch somewhere...anywhere. I, of course, had no money. Heck, I was 10 years old, and even if I did, I would not share it with anyone. No way no how.

Now, for those of you who are old enough, you may remember thee older cars and how the dashboards were metal. That way your parents or grandparents could buy those magnetic trays that stuck onto the dashboards. Everything got thrown in there. Anything form match books, to loose charge and the such. Well, I had looked in my nanny's wallet, as per her instructions, to look for money for lunch. I did as I was asked, but found not one bit of money.

I looked, and looked again and then I relooked again. Still nothing. So I went to digging in the magnetic tray on her dashboard. I was able to scrape up enough change that I remember totalling up to less that $1.00. Now, back in those days, we could have purchased a small soda and small fry and that would have held us over until we got back home. We resigned to the fact we would have to share those food items.

But I took one more stab at looking for money in my nanny's wallet. I pulled out photos and special documents. And behold, I let out a blood curdling scream. My grandmother's reply was, "How much did you find?" She knew I was not in any pain, or had been bitten by some odd insect. She knew I had fond gold in them there hills. It was a $10 bill and we were able to feast on a Whopper, fries and shake at Burger King.

Back then it was a treat to eat at a fast food joint. Now it is common place and just a bunch of crap these companies try to call food. That s another post entirely. But suffice it to say, that is a day that is branded into my memory forever and ever. Thank you Nanny and rest in peace.

It's Just A Wave

For those of you who may not know or remember, I had major spinal surgery in the summer of 2008. That was a harrowing experience to say the least. Then add a nearly one year long recovery...well you can see how fun that year was.

With that said. Thee only rehabilitation they wanted me to do was walking, yes, walking. For walking strengthens your core and what is your spinal column? Oh yeah, the core to your very being. And if you think you what your back/spinal cord does for you, then have back surgery. You will then realize that your back controls everything you do.

I have been pretty darned steadfast in my keeping up on my walking. I try to get out at lease five days a week and due to the fact that I have a pooch to keep healthy, it is a great symbiont relationship and it is a win win for the both of us.

But there is a group of us exercisers that work out in our own little neck of this neighborhood. That includes walkers (with and without dogs), bikers (and I am not referring to the Harley-Davidson type either) and runners. It seems to be an unwritten credo to just greet one another, whether it be a simple hello, a 'Hi, how are you?', or something to that effect, it usually gets said. But there are cars that pass us by on their way to work as well. With their windows rolled up, air conditioning cranking, there is no way to greet these folks. But alas...there is.

I grew up in a family that camped. We dragged our pull along pop-up camper behind a Volkswagen van and camped in there and we also used a tiny little two-sleeper tent. We loved it. But what I think I loved most about the camping experience was the friendliness of the fellow campers. They always had a kind word, or would offer their help when needed, and if passed when walking or biking, there was always a friendly wave...no words needed.

So I took up this practice in my walking routine. I wave to all vehicles that cross my path. Now I know that a majority of them are shaking their heads that some whacko lady is waving to a complete stranger. But I heard recently, that a stranger is just a friend we haven't met yet. Now I will grant you that I may not invite these people to my Thanksgiving dinner table, but I may just be planting a seed of kindness into their brains. And how knows, I could be cultivating a new breed of people who will soon be known as Waver's.

I Will Be A Squirrel

I was in the kitchen last night with my daughter and husband as my daughter and I were putting the final touches on dinner before sitting down to eat, when my daughter breaks out into a story from work. For those of you who may not know, she has just gotten a job at a local supermarket as a bag girl. Being a minor she will still have to adhere to the specific hours until she turns sixteen.

She begins the story by saying that a senior man came through the line she was bagging for and he had quite a few bags of peanuts. My daughter being the very observant person and knowledgeable in the kitchen, she asked the gentleman if he was going to go home and make boiled peanuts. He looked to her and said, "No, I am taking these home for the squirrel in my yard."

My daughter, being a vegetarian and animal lover thought that was a sweet thing for him to do. But it did not stop there. He explained to her why he feeds this particular squirrel. You see, his wife died recently and as she was dying, she told her husband that she would come back as a squirrel. So on his first trip out of the house after she died, he was returning home from some errand, and there was a squirrel in his driveway. He knew in his heart that this was his wife letting him know that she was still with him.

Who's to say. No one has proof otherwise. So I say let him think what he wants if it helps him get through the day. If he wants to think she is a potato peeler, it is his prerogative.

I sat there listening to my daughter tell the story and my eyes welled up with teas, knowing that some day either me or my husband will be alone. And that thoughts scares the living crap out of me.

It's not that he or I could not function without one another, for we could. And yes, it would be an adjustment, but I cannot imagine the loneliness. I enjoy sitting with my husbands on the mornings we have together and sit and talk about current events...or not. Talk about the weather or what is a five letter word for fowl that begins with an "R". Those things are better shared with someone. I feel for people who have not found that special someone, for whatever reason. To live out your final years alone. To me that would the worst.

Kids grow up and make their own lives. It's not that you are no longer important, it's just they have made their own lives and have to do the same things you did years before.

I hope that this man is happy knowing that he is keeping his wife fed. Because in thee end, isn't it the thought that counts?

Excuses, Excuses

How many ways can you think of making an excuse for what you need to do in your life? Here, let me help you out on this one:

1) I'm too busy

2) I'm too old

3) I'm too fat

4) I'm too scared

5) I'm to scared it will take too long

6) It's going to be too difficult


That is just the tip of thee iceberg for many of us who procrastinate on doing things that either we want to do or need to do. I am guilty as the next person. I have been needing to organize my paper piles for weeks, but there they still sit. And yet I seem to find time to watch an hour of recorded TV. So where's my excuse? There isn't any. It is just my own laziness. And I have no problem admitting it. But for more of us then we carry to admit, we seem to find excuses. And 9 times out of 10 they all have a negative angle to them...imagine that.


What we need to do and not all at once, is find out what it is in our lives that we want to tackle first. Is that letter writing we want to get started. Fine, then write a list of who you want to write to and when that letter is gone, cross them off your list. There is nothing more rewarding that to see your to do list grow shorter and shorter.


Maybe it's start your new eating lifestyle. Well then, tackle one aspect of your eating habits that ticks you off and work on that one fault, the others will follow. Most people cannot jump right in with both feet. Find what works for you and take it one step at a time.


You want to add exercise to your daily routine, then do it. Walk to thee end of the block. Laugh if you will but that may be allot for many folks. Once that becomes easy then add more as your body tells you. Listen to yourself and your body, you are your own best advocate.


Thee excuses you see printed up in the beginning of the post were from Wayne Dyers new book and I found an interview in the Natural Awakenings magazine that I get from my local health food store. He tackles so many issues in just this tiny blurb that I am enticed to go to the library and check out the book.


I love anything that will guide me in a direction to better myself. And we all could use improvement, but are we willing to admit it?

Don't Get Involved

I had an experience years ago before I had children. So that puts it at 20 years plus.

My husband and I had our own business at the time and it was a mobile business...literally. We had a mobile dog grooming business. And we were on the road at the time this incident occurred and in the middle of morning traffic. Granted, we were not on a major highway or freeway, but it was still a crowded street all the same.

We were sitting in traffic, or possibly at a red light, but whatever the case, we were not moving. Then I heard someone, a female yelling for help. I turned in my seat and saw her running, like she was running from something. It turned out to be a someone. She kept yelling for help and no one would assist her. I turned and then saw who she was running from. It was a male figure. Most more than likely her significant other. Whether he had been a friend, lover, relative, he was after her and with a vengeance.

I then asked my husband to let us take her in our work van and get her to the nearest police station, our appointments be damned. But he said no without a moments hesitation. Right then and there my entire outlook toward my husband changed. A part of me died inside. How could he do that? Just swat this woman away who was evidently in need of help. And what if that had been me running from someone or something and he was not there to help me out and the entire world turned a deaf ear? How would he have felt then? He would have been pisssed off at the fact that no one took the time to help his wife when she needed someone the most.

My husband has done a 180 in his life since that time. But it still dwells inside of me and when I look back on it, I get all choked up inside and a knot forms in the pit of my stomach. How can anyone be so callous? And how have we gotten that way? What has changed us so much in the last century or so to make us look away, as if things were not happening under our noses.

Case in point, the case with the kidnapping of Jaycee Dugard. It's not the kidnapping I ma here to talk about, it is those who probably knew something was amiss and did not follow their gut instincts. They chose not to get involved. That say by thinking if they were wrong and called the authorities, then made a mistake, how would that neighbor see them? But usually our gut instincts are correct, they are there for a reason. They are our alarm, our warning system, if you will.

I enjoy helping my fellowman, and possibly to a fault. And every now and then my husband falls back on his old way of thinking and says we need to look our for ourselves first. And I will not deny him that. If I had to do for my children over anyone else, my children will always win. But right after that I do not mind helping others as long as we are not taken advantage of, but that is a different post. I am under the guise that you will only get back what you give. And there are those who think it is all about financial help. That could not be further from the truth. There is much more to giving that just opening your wallet. Open your heart. Open your mind and see what you can do once you let yourself get involved with others. It does the body good.

You Could Hear A Pin Drop

So, for those of you who may not follow my cooking blog, I have re-entered the workforce after a year of recovery from my back surgery. I recently worked for a demonstration company, but thee amount of hours they were giving me was not what I had been promised. So much for a good ole hand shake. So I stayed with them until something more substantial came along, so I bided my time. Friends kept their ear to the ground in regards to any jobs out there.

A dear friend of mine had heard that the deli meat company Boars Head was hiring. So she got in touch with a friend of hers who was in upper management, but low and behold, eh was not hiring at present. I thanked her and told her just to keep her ear out for anything else.

Fast forward a few weeks and same dear friend called back to say that Mr. Boars Head was now hiring and to give him a call. I did and he said he would have a spot available mid-August and if I could hold on that long that I had a job. Oh yeah, I could wait.

Today was my first day and it was so much fun. I am a person who needs to deal with the public. Why? Because I was born to deal with people. I connect with them. I am the average Joe-ette and they like that connection. I am not some hoity-toity person who they cannot understand.

When my day was finished I had to go back to thee office to be shown how the paperwork is completed. So simple an earthworm could have figured it out. There was a few other employees in the office and we were just shooting the breeze, talking about nothing in particular. One of the ladies asked me if I had tried the new chicken I was demonstrating. I thought about it for a split second then I politely told them, "I don't eat meat, I am a vegetarian." You could hear a pin drop. The look on their faces was definitely a Kodak moment. I was tempted to play that entire moment all over again, just to see the look on their faces, it was grand.

The first thing I was asked was if I had issues working for a company that promotes meat. And I told them, if I did, I would not be working for them. Duh!

I did have a great time and it was good to be working in a wonderful atmosphere once again. So if you see a short lady with short red hair, that would be me.

The Most Unthinkable Act

I am not thee most forgiving person. I think people should be held accountable for their actions, no matter their age, sex, race or creed. I admit that I think the punishment should fit the crime. But there are somethings that you just can't erase with any penalty. The act I am speaking of is child pornography.

Just the thought of it makes my skin crawl. And here in Florida we seem to be surrounded by them. They are everywhere. In the world of sexual pleasures, I think whatever makes you feel good then do it. But not to children. There is a line that NO ONE should cross.

On thee Oprah show today, that had a task force investigating homes that had been downloading child pornography for a few weeks. The law enforcement agency believed that this was the main man. But it wasn't. It was the son, who was barely 18. And thee acts that could be described on television made my want to throw something at the television.

And what's worse is that the law enforcement has no clue where these children are. Are they children that have been kidnapped (this is my husbands theory) and kept just for this disgusting act? Who knows. Do these children ever escape? And if so are they able to lead normal lives? And were are they? Could they be at your next door neighbors home in the basement being filmed? Again the thought makes me sick.

I saw Judge Judy (TV Show) being interviewed by Larry King a while back. And the one thing that she and I agreed on is that sexual predators/molesters/child porn distributors or watchers or participators are not rehabilitatable(sp?). they are so sick that there is no coming back form where they are.

My thought is take them out back with the dog the way they use to back in the day and put them and the dog out of their misery.

Then here comes thee icing on the cake. When they get caught, they get representation, because that is our system. Get found guilty and get to sit in an air conditioned room for the rest of their lives. They get medical treatment, three meals a day and some poor schlep called a journalist has the nerve to call them Mister (insert name). Mister is handed out to those who have earned some respect. These folks should be wiped off the face of thee earth.

Call me harsh, call me cruel, but I have not empathy or sympathy for those who do what these people do to our children. Children deserve better, children deserve a voice.

Is My Hair Spikey?

Out of the mouth of babes. Just when you think you have heard it all, a youngin' comes along and reminds you you ain't heard it all.

My daughter came to me with this story that someone had told her.

There was a young boy who was in his own home and come out of the bathroom. Upon exiting said bathroom, he found an older sibling and asked that sibling very matter-of-factly, "Is my hair spikey?"

Thee older sibling informed the younger brother that in fact his hair was not spikey and that it wouldn't be due to the fact that he had a buzz cut and there was no way he could get his hair to spike. The older sibling then wanted to know why he had asked such a question. Wait for it.

The younger sibling then told thee older one that, "Well, I pushed a little too hard when I was in the bathroom and my hair stood up on end so I thought I had spikey hair."

Oh what our bodies can do to us. And maybe this is only a story a mother can appreciate. And I thought that might be the case, except that every time my daughter tries to tell or hears of it being told, it still cracks her up.

Never Retire

Take it from a legendary like Stan Lee. N-E-V-E-R RETIRE!





I have always said if my husband ever retires, I will go back to work full time. I swear it I will. And I will tell you why. Because my husband has no hobbies to occupy his spare time. The gym does not count as a hobby. He has no outside interest to keep him busy away from me.

I see it happen all the time. One if not both person in a marriage retire and drive thee other one crazy. Why is that? Well because for the last 30-40 some odd years your life and time has been spent at work, away from said spouse. Then when you have all this time on your hand,s you have no blinking clue what to do with your self. You never took the time to find interest in something other than the TV or computer.

Pick up a local PennySaver style magazine and you will see that there are tons of groups, organizations, clubs to join or how about this...volunteer for. How can you expect to get something, anything if you don't give to your community. I love volunteering. My husband still turns his nose up at it, but I am slowly changing his mind about giving before receiving. You can't keep looking for a handout if you are not willing to first lend a hand.

There are a few adages that fit that as well. What goes around comes around. Give someone the shirt off your back. Charity begins at home. I could scour my book of idioms, but you get my drift. But sitting home and collecting dust is not my idea of going through my Golden Years. I want to keep going until I can't go any longer.

So find something that piques your interest. And surfing the web, or watching all your favorite shows on DVD does not qualify as a hobby. Get off your backsides and be active in the community. It will pay off in the end.

Where's My Magic Pill?

Maybe it's the generation gap, or the not wanting to believe what is happening, or taking responsibility for your actions, or you have been brainwashed for so many years into believing that the more medication you take the better off you will be. Not true!

Case in point, my father-in-law.

He has eaten his entire life, the Standard Cuban Diet. Which for the most part contains not one iota of vegetables. Unless you consider pale green iceberg lettuce, and super pink tomatoes a salad, as they are slathered in olive oil and doused with salt. My idea of even a salad differs greatly from their idea of a salad. I take it back. They to put some chunks of squash in their beans along side the park fat, so in my opinion that kind of cancels one another out.

They eat tons of fried food, and meat is at every-single-meal. That is not an option. I did purchase a turkey this last Thanksgiving, but I will not this year. We just don't eat it quick enough to make it worth our while.

And a lot of their meat is fried as well. And she uses lard to fry in, unless my son is over then she uses vegetable oil. But here is the kicker. My father-in-law had a few small heart attacks about 20 years ago, but recovered fine. Then just a few years ago, he had a few mini-strokes. But now his cholesterol is off the chart. And I mean dangerously high. So he was put on medication to lower his cholesterol...to no avail. It just keeps on climbing.

So the doctor has either added a new medication or upped what he is on now. But they do not think this will fix the problem. And of course the first course of action the doctor tells him to do is change his diet. "No Way!" My father-in-laws thinking is that he has made it to 7o something, he is not going to change the way he eats now. Well, then you have no right to complain. If you are not willing to go through the changes necessary for anything in your life, whether it be food, alcohol, drugs, gambling, then stop complaining.

Oh, I just went up a pant size (after downing 2 plates of ribs)
My head is pounding (After a night of heavy drinking)
Can you bail me out of jail (After stealing checks from you mother to pay for your dope)
I can't scrounge up the money to pay my light bill (After blowing your paycheck at the race track)

This goes on for each set of circumstances. Now most of those examples are addictions, but those things we can definitely live without. Food is something we need to live, or, as we all know, we will die if we do not eat.

My husband has yo-yo dieted all his life. Trying to find 'that' fix. the one true 'diet' that will make him see the light. Well he finally has seen the light, and you know what it was? He isn't dieting. Yep, not one little bit. He just eats, and eats whatever the heck he wants. He makes absolutely no restrictions on himself in any way, shape of form. What did he discover? Is that you don't have to diet if you eat REAL food. We don't eat drive thru...ever! We rarely if ever eat out, for I don't know what goes into their food. I know what goes into mine. He does not exercise. Heavy amounts of cardio. But it wasn't until recently that it hit him, that he makes no restrictions on himself. And all I did was shake my head and told him I had been telling him that for years. I myself have never dieted. Do I fit the medical charts? Doubt it. In fact, if I go by the charts, I am 20 pounds overweight. I think not. I eat extremely well, get plenty of exercise, good sleep, and drink lots of water. And I can say that I am medication free and hope to be for the rest of my life.

Granted, I know medications are there for a purpose, but they should not be a crutch, an easy out. 'If I take this pill, my problems will all go away.' Nope. Because then pill 'A' gives you a side effect. So you go to your doctor and they give you pill 'B'. But wait a minute, pill 'B' gives you a new side effect. And the treadmill begins. When all you had to do was right yourself. Lose the crap that got you where you are now...dependant on the drug companies. I refuse to get sucked into the garbage they are trying to sell you.

Most doctors should be trying to heal/fix you. But all they are doing is making you more dependant on them with more medication. Why heal you, that would dwindle their business. I want to be more proactive with my health and not end up like my parents and father-in-law who carry around miniature suitcases (that is no lie) of their medications. And both my parents and father-in-law have computer papers filled with all the medications they take for any new doctor. How crazy is that? It's wrong I tell you.

All I am saying is that you can do whatever you want, for the most part, if you want it bad enough. Don't sit by on the sidelines and let life pass you by because of your health. That is the one thing you can control, save accidents and major illnesses (Don't get me started on that either). You can do it. It's not as difficult as you might think. Just ask my husband.

A Side Of Truth

Do you know where your meat comes from? And do you even care?





I am not trying to convert anyone to vegetarianism. But no one can deny that letting go of at least some meat would do the body good. My daughters best friend tried to go meatless a while back just for one day and she couldn't do it...what does that say about us.

First off, we are led to believe that we 'need' animal protein in order to get stronger. 'NOT'
Secondly, we are told that if we do not consume dairy products that we will develop osteoporosis.'NOT'

It is nothing short of brainwashing to get you to buy their products. You notice I did not call it food. Trust me when I tell you anything that comes in a Styrofoam box and you can get delivered through your car window is not food. It is edible food like substance. And if you don't have thee ingredients on the container in your cupboard, then why are you eating them?

It's big business to sell you 'stuff' that resembles food, or things that you have called food your entire life. But this is not food. Or at least the the food your great grand mother knew as food. What would she say and do if she came back and saw us eating this way. She would kick our backsides all the way to the fresh market and not leave until we purchased fresh fruit and vegetables and if you chose to eat meat, you went to the butcher and got it from him, not the local drive-thru.

Think long and hard if this is the stuff you want floating around and 'staying' in your gut. I know I don't. I care what goes into my body, so should you.

It's My Life

I am the one in control.
I am the one who says what I can and cannot do. (To a degree)
I am the one says how I feel. (Emotionally and physically)
I am the one who says what medications I take (Refer back to previous statement)

All these things, for the most part are within my power. Now I get the fact that some things are not in my control, like who voices Mickey Mouse. Nah, just kidding. Like when I dislocated my knee and needed morphine to dull the pain. Duh, hello, a necessity. But once I healed the pain meds were gone. A few days at best. I know people who thrive and actually look forward to the dulling sensation brought on by muscle relaxers and the such. To what end. In that moment when you are carried away by the effects of the medication you...my friend are no longer in control. And for those who do not like the feeling of not being in control, why would you look forward to that sensation. Do not get me wrong, I know some things are a necessity, but for how long? Days, weeks, months. Please. Get yourself righted and watch how fast you no longer need those mood enhancers to make you feel better.

I also have the ability to control what goes into my moth and eventually throughout my body. There is a show played on BBC, 'You Are What You Eat.' Truer words were never spoken. And what amazes me, is that when people are confronted in a very in your face kind of mentality, they still do not think that is what they consume. What planet are you on folks. And if you think you are eating food, the think again. There are certain things we should all be doing in respect to our food choices. And here are 12 Food Commandments to live by. Try them all or one at a time. But common sense will tell you this is the way to eat...duh!?

How I feel. There is a adage that Elanor Roosevelt made popular. 'No one makes you feel inferior without your consent.' I am a very confident person, but I would hope I would not allow anyone to break me down. To what end? If what they are saying is untrue then they need to be told. If what they are saying is true and is something that offends me, but is something I want to change in my life, can they be faulted for pointing out thee obvious? I think not.

We all have thee ability to shape, mold, forge my life, and moreso the way I want it, not the way anyone else thinks my life should be. you pay my bills then I have to listen to you, but until that day, sit back, relax and watch me get myself together.

I'm Sorry

What is it now. Why is it that celebrities feel the need to make public apologies. Anywhere form Michael Vick to Chris Brown, to name a few (And only because they are the headlines today), but trust me, the list goes on.



"I'm ashamed of what I did."

"I regret doing what I did."

"I don't know what I was thinking."

"I wish I had done things differently."

Blah blah blah blah blah. Waa Waaa Waa Waa Waa.

Where was all that wisdom before these guys did their horrific acts of violence. And why do they feel the need to make their apologies public. Do they think it will boost their popularity, bring them back in the good graces of those who know them for what they really are....losers.

My heart does not bleed, break or feel anything for these guys (and I am not just referring to Michael Vick and Chris Brown). they made their beds, now they need to lie in them. And if that means losing an NFL career, the so be it. And if Chris Brown's record sales plummet, then oh well...his bad.

But they deserve a second chance, don't they?...Some may ask. I am not one for second chances, especially when these people are 'supposedly', educated folks (not if you go by how they speak). Did the dogs Vick abused get a second chance? I think not. Did Rhianna get a second chance to duck out of Chris' line of fire? I think not. That is how I feel about second chances.

I just don't think Suzy Homemaker gives a rats backside if Joe Spotlight publicly apologises. He is still going to be an idiot and I will still have to take my son to work, wash dishes, make bread and do all my other things. Or how about this. Every time I flub up here...in my life. I will go on my Youtube account and tell the world I am sorry for not calling the light company, or that I overdrew our account, or that I forgot to make the deposit. You get my meaning. But would anybody listen to my apologises? Nope!

Yes, It's That Bad

I had an excuse for nearly a year. I was recovering from major spinal surgery. Now that I am ready to get back into the work force, there is not a work force to get back into. I went through unemployment and was entitled to a measly $98 a week. That's not even groceries, but I get it, it is based an what you earned previously. With that said, I went about applying to different laces that fit my personality. Whack and in the public's eye. Sit behind a desk or in a cubicle...just shoot me. But I finally got hired by a demonstration company that is basically the middle man between Company 'A' and Walmart. I just hand out said product for Company 'A'.

But once I got hired I did not receive the hours that were promised me. My manager kept blowing smoke up my skirt but those lowly one day a week hours were not paying the bills. I was never looking for full time, for I love being a home maker. But for right now, I need to help out and get our finances righted. That should take a good 2-3 years. then we will see if I can take it easy and concentrate on my home again. But until that time arrives, the daily grind is my new best friend.

Once I realized that the hours would not be flowing in my direction, my husband said I needed to keep applying to different companies, keeping the job I had until something better came along. So I did just that. I set out filling out more applications to places I would best be suited. But in thee interim I told a dear friend to keep her ear to the ground for any job she may hear about. She informed me that a friend of hers worked for a high profile deli meat company and that he was hiring. She informed me should get in touch with him and see what the deal was. She did and he was not hiring. Not to worry I said, just keep me in mind.

Well about the beginning of July I get a call from my friend and she said the Deli man was now hiring, to give him a call. It was late and I do not like to cut in on peoples time when they are at home, unless it is a necessity. I got in touch with Deli man the next day and I had myself a job, but I would not be officially hired until mid-August. If that was all right with me, I had a job. I could wait, I would just hold on to my piddly little one day a week job until that time.

Well, I had forgotten I had filled out applications in between the time Deli man called and the time I knew I had to get a better paying job. So when I saw there was a call from one of the places I applied to, I kind of got nervous. Hubby said call Deli man to make 100% sure you had a job and explain to him why you were calling. Again assured me I had a job, but the paperwork would not take place until the date we had agreed upon. Whew!

I will be working for a reputable company and getting decent hours. It will not interfere with my homeschooling cooking class, so all is right as rain. But do not be fooled by my optimism, thee economy is still on the downside and looking grimmer all the time. That is why I may not truly want to promote meat (being a vegetarian and all) but it is a job. And until something comes along that is more fitting to my lifestyle, this where my buttocks will be parked.

But here are 9 signs that our economy is not doing as well as we are being led to believe:

One. June's total included 185,000 people who were assumed to be at work, many of whom probably were not. The government could not identify them; it made an assumption about trends. But many of the mythical jobs are in industries that have absolutely no job creation: finance, for example. When the official numbers are adjusted over the next several months, look to some of the 185,000 boosting the unemployment totals.

Two. More companies are asking employees to take unpaid leave. These people don't count on the unemployment roll.

Three. No fewer than 1.4 million people wanted or were available for work in the past 12 months. They were not counted. Why? Because they hadn't searched for work in the four weeks preceding the survey. The assumption is that they had found work or don't want it, but there are other explanations: school attendance, family responsibilities, sheer exhaustion.

Four. The number of workers taking part-time jobs because of the slack economy, a kind of stealth underemployment, has doubled in this recession to about 9 million, or 5.8 percent of the workforce. Add those whose hours have been cut to those who cannot find a full-time job, and the total of unemployed and underemployed rises to 16.5 percent, putting the number of involuntarily idle workers in the range of an overwhelming 25 million.

Five. The inside numbers are just as bad. The average workweek for production and non supervisory private-sector employees, around 80 percent of the workforce, dropped to 33 hours. That's 48 minutes a week less than before the recession began, the lowest level of activity since the government began tracking such data 45 years ago. Full-time workers are being downgraded to part time as businesses slash labor costs to remain above water and factories operate at only 65 percent of capacity. If American workers were still putting in those extra 48 minutes a week now, 3.3 million fewer employees could perform the same aggregate amount of work. With a longer workweek, the unemployment rate would reach 11.7 percent, not the official 9.5 percent (which in turn dramatically exceeds the 8 percent rate projected by the Obama administration).

Six. The average length of official unemployment increased to 24.5 weeks. This is the longest term since the government started to track these data in 1948. The number of long-term unemployed (those out of a job for 27 weeks or more) has now jumped to 4.4 million, an all-time high.

Seven. The average worker saw no wage gains in June, with average compensation running flat at $18.53 an hour.

Eight. The jobs report is even uglier when you consider that the sector producing goods is losing the most jobs--223,000 in the last report alone.

Nine. The prospects for job creation are equally distressing. The likelihood is that when economic activity picks up, employers will first choose to increase hours for existing workers and bring part-time workers to full-time status.

I hope everyone is doing well and not struggling like we are. I am a happy person, and my personal life could not be any better, even with our financial disarray, but I look forward to the day that I am not borrowing, every single month half of my mortgage from my in-laws, just to keep a roof over my head.

The Story of Stuff

For those of you who have been around a little longer than others, your first thought when you hear the word 'stuff' is George Carlin. And truth be told, you are not too far off base. I got to see George Carlin in concert over 20 years ago when he had cleaned up his act. And I was glad we saw him then. Yes there was swearing, but it was kept to a minimum. And guess what, his 'stuff' was still funny.

Take a look at George Carlin's take on Stuff. There is some mild profanity. So if you still want to take a gander, tell the kiddies to go elsewhere.

Carlin's Stuff

Yes, he makes it seem oh so funny. But there is a down side to stuff. And I for one am ready to rid my life of my 'stuff' that I am not using. I have blogged about Free Cycle before and love it. Do I use it all the time? No. But it is there for me to use if necessary. One of the main objectives to Free cycle is to keep things out of our landfills. And I for one on that bandwagon. I love this new word I am discovering and how it can apply to my life. When I am dead and gone, what will people say about me? To me, at least, it is very important. I want people to say, even if they think I am whack about it, that I did everything I could to help Mother Earth be a bit healthier. Even though those greedy capitalists think I should have a new computer every six months.

I want to make life simpler, not have to sit and look at 'stuff' I have and that doesn't get used. Save for seasonal holiday 'stuff' I want to rid my life of 'stuff' that is sitting here, in my home taking up space. And it's not that I want to get rid of it to bring in new 'stuff', it's just that I don't want it around any longer.

I look at my parent's for example and their 'stuff' has 'stuff'. That can't be good. And I remember a long time ago that someone once told me that if you have not used something in a years time, then you obviously don't need it. And I will give that person that, but there are some exceptions to that rule. Emergency items, like a generator, especially if you live in Hurricane Central, and items that would lend assistance in an emergency. For each region of our country it would be something different. But we all know what our emergency necessities are and I will leave it at that.

The kind of stuff I am referring to is the stuff (and I sat in my TV room as I bring up this point) is the stuff me purchase and then let fall by the wayside, in a manner of speaking. I have a pretty set number of CD's I listen to. Let's use the number 25 as an example. I have a CD carrying case in my vehicle and I rotate those same tried and true CD's. I cannot remember the last time I purchased a new CD and I am all right with that. For why should I by more stuff, just to say I have more stuff? Do you think the person I am conversing with is really, truly impressed that I got the latest CD. DVD , computer, kitchen gadget...? No, they are not. They are most more than likely annoyed at the fact that I feel thee undesirable need to shove it in their face every chance I get, so why bother.

So, in looking at my entertainment set (And reading my borrowed Ishmael book) I knew right then, that I wanted to make it a top priority to rid my home, and moreso, my life of 'stuff', also known as clutter.

To see the dynamics of what stuff is doing to us and our planet, please take a look at this short video. It is about 20 minutes or so, but well worth the watch. I've only had in my bookmarks for about a year. And whilst deleting websites I knew I did not or would not visit, I thought it appropriate to finally take a see what this woman, Annie Leonard had to say about stuff. She makes the viewing worth your while. It is semi-animated, but she does not talk to you like you are a child. And for the most part, these were things I knew about but needed a gentle reminder and a less gentle nudging to get off my backside and make a difference.

I am not looking to change, the world. All right, yes I am, but I can only do so much and I am fine with that. But there is a saying that keeps coming back in many references I speak about lately and it goes like this, "How does and ant eat an elephant?...One bite at a time."

The Story of Stuff with Annie Leonard

We Can... But Should We?

This is also my 100th post. Hooray!

There are times when I shake my head. And I wonder if it is because I am getting older or that the news that is making me shake my head is that outlandish. Maybe a bit of both. I recently read an article that reminded me that our food is not what it appears to be.

Did you know that 60-70% of all corn and cotton has been modified and that 90% of all soybeans have been modified as well. Read the article Here . What are we doing to our food people? And why are we letting it happen? You want to know why. Because most of us are fooled into thinking that what we it is natural. And for the most part it is, but this proves us wrong.

Why do wacko scientists feel the need to push things that far. Just because they can? I find that a rape of the natural world. Just because we have the knowledge, does not mean we should use it. That is how problems begin. Take the H bomb for instance. The man who invented that regretted the minute he did it. So, again I ask, why do we do what we do in the world of science.

And hybrids! Unless you are talking about a car, it should not be done...end of discussion. And what is ti with scientists and fiddling with species. Whether it be animals, plants, DNA or anything else man has manipulated. I found this I get it that they are both from the equine species. So just because I am the same Geno as a chimpanzee does not mean I want our DNA spliced with it, just to see if it can be done.

Where does it end? We already are cloning. I mean we have Dolly the lovely sheep. And couldn't cloning head in the direction of a race or slaves. Sounds far fetched, but think about it. We clone the best of the best to do whatever it is we need done, without a care tho who or what they are, what is that saying about us as humans? Not much in my book.

It's Lonely At The Top

I wonder how much I would want instant success, wealth, fame, or anything else that fell into that category. We all say it from time to time. 'If only I could win the lotto.' Well I don't know about that anymore. *I would find a financial advisor for sure if it ever did happen*

I look at people in the media who supposedly 'have it all' and look where it gets them. There are few and far between who have handled their fame and done it justice. Just because you are a super-star does not mean you want the lime light. Yes you should do a red carpet now and the, but that doe snot mean I want cameras following me into the local deli to see what kind of mustard I use on my pastrami sandwich.

But there are a few who seem to thrive on it (the spotlight that is) and then when it becomes to much they back away, giving more credence to their being an enigma. Well as my mother use to say, 'Don't dance if you can't pay the fiddler.' And you know what, she is right.

Why even pick a career that is its main objective to put you in the spot light but then turn your back on it. Don't get me wrong I know people are entitled to their privacy and I will be the first to admit that I like mine, here in Average Joe land. My sister is a perfect example. She has people in her home all-the-time. I don't know about you but I like a quite night at home with a movie and a bowl of popcorn.

But these super stars, what are they to do? Soak up the lime light? Live in it and then cringe every time someone decides they want to have their baby, or write letters every single day. I bet the list is extensive as to what these people go through. But when do they draw the line? How many festivities do they attend per year? If any. Only thee Oscars, or should we throw in the Grammy's. And do we have the right, as the people who got them there, to want to see them outside their profession.

I don't particularly need to see Farrah or Michael at some Red Carpet so some schlep can tear apart what they wear. they are movie stars...who cares?

I genuinely feel for those who have reached the top only to be brought down, snuffed out to early. Here are just but a few who have Gone Too Soon:

Elvis Presley
Judy Garland
Michael Jackson
River Phoenix
John Ritter
Brandon Lee
Bruce Lee
Heath Ledger
James Dean
John Belushi
Bob Marley
Jimi Hendrix
Kurt Cobain
Janis Joplin
Andy Kaufman
Princess Diana
Freddy Mercury
Freddy Prince
Bernie Mac

The list is endless. And they they leave us is just as diverse. Those who had not finished what there were put here to do. So when you feet hit the floor every morning, be grateful they did.

Blow Me A Kiss

It must be one of every parents dreams come true to see their child walk across the stage and accept their diploma, but not for some students and parents, especially one school and family in particular in Maine.

When I volunteered in the public school system, I did many a thing. I laminated cut-outs for the teachers, dusted off bags of books with cassette tapes, checked in books back in the library. In fact the library was where I usually ended up at. But on rare occasions I was with some students one on one, again, usually with something to do with reading.

And every year we had an orientation that reminded us of the rules. Do this, don't do that. And the one that always stuck out in my mind (and the one I usually ignored) was the one that said you cannot touch any student. OK, I get what they were pointing to, but you cold not hug them, greet them, you got to do nada, zip, zilch. Those kids faces lit up when they saw you. They would com barrelling down the hallway and nearly try to slam you over, but whoa!, you could not even acknowledge them, what-so-ever.

Another reason I LOVE home schooling. When my kids greet me at any function, I open my arms and look forward to their embrace, for they want it as much as I do.

The power of human touch.

I think it is a fundamental necessity. I am not saying that folks need to be fondling all over themselves, but to deny a basic human instinct? What is that crap? There is nothing more rewarding then for me to give and or receive a big bear hug. I prefer that to kisses.

I know many a society that gives those fake air kisses on the cheek, and I have been giving them to my in-laws for years. Can't stand that. I see them all the time. My mother-in law, finally got it, for I told her and she now does not expect me to kiss her every single time. But throw me a hug, and you are my friend for life.

But on this particular day in Maine as one student was crossing the stage to accept his diploma, he turned to his family and blew them a kiss. Well the principal decided that showing affection to his family was inappropriate and denied him his diploma...right there in front of thee entire class and assembly. What kind of nut job does that? One who has issues, obviously. Is there a Doctor Phil in the house?

Who would deny such a thing? And this is not the first time I have heard of this type of thing. What has society come to? Are we so paranoid that we need to stop human contact? I myself do not want to live in such a world. So the next time you are in need of a hug, please do not hesitate to give one to whomever you feel may need one.

Save Our Landfills

I am concerned about our Mother...Mother Earth that is. And I am doing everything in my power to see to it that she stays healthy. If she were to come to me on my death bed ask what I did for her, I have a list. So I feel confident that I am doing all I possibly can to keep her at her best.

And one way of doing that is by keeping unwanted items out of the landfills. I have found a way to help us all out. Join Free Cycle. Think of it as an on line sort of garage sale, minus the money exchange. You are there to offer items you no longer want, or are replacing. For instance:

Offer: Working, automatic drip coffee maker with a bit of the protective layer coming off on the warmer
Offer: Women's clothes, size 8-10
or
Wanted: Box of pencils
Wanted: Cloth napkins

You see where I am coming from. What you no longer want is what someone else is in need of. Trust me, I have already gotten rid of 2 five gallon painter style buckets so someone could make their own tomato planters. And my husband just cleaned out his closet for he has lost 25 pounds and needed to lighten the load in his closet. So why not help out a fellow man/woman.

I put these items on the Yahoo Group I belong to for my part of town and they were snatched up within 24 hours. So go check them out and see what they have to offer you. If I may make a suggestion. If you do join a Yahoo Group, sign up for the daily digest for if not you 'will' be bombarded with anywhere from 10-3- Emails per day...no joke. And I am guessing bigger cities it could be way worse.

I love this new found way of exchanging items and helping out where we can. Try them and see what you think.

One For The Road

I do not like Dr. Phil. I think he is full of himself. But even windbags have something to say every now and then. My husband was at the gym today and Dr. Phil was on. So he read the closed caption while he listened to his music. Today's show was about DUI's. I did not get to see the show, but as my husband began to tell us what he saw on the show, I could see his blood pressure rising. There were three families on there who had lost children to drunk drivers. Then there was a former judge. And then there was your leech, I mean defense attorney for DUI's specifically. And then a Barbie doll who has had 3 offenses.

I can only remember once in my driving career (which is30 years now) that I have gotten in the cart when I should not have. After that night I knew I never wanted to do that again. I could not sit here and complain about folks who drink and rive when I had, in fact, did the very same thing. What was I thinking? I wasn't, for my judgement had been impaired. And what if I had taken someones life. That would not have been my intent. I was just hanging out with a few friends after a long days work in the parking lot. What harm was there in relaxing a little bit. LOTS!

I have grown up since then, and that is not to say I was immature, I just got really wise that night. I imagine I am one in a million. How many others are doing thee exact opposite and keep on drinking, keep on driving and are sliding under the radar...until. By then it is too late. I no longer drive with any alcohol in my system. And if my husband and both decide we want to drink somewhere, which is rare, we flip a coin. I have an occasional drink at home, so I do not feel the need to drink when we go out if he wants to let loose a bit. So the decision is easy for me.

What got me toasted (no pun intended) about this show, was the Barbie Doll who has gotten 3 DUI's and since her daddy has bookoo bucks, has gotten her off on all three charges. What happens when the next time she is drinking and driving, she, or the person she hits, is not so lucky. What then? What about the judges and lawyers who have just been giving her slaps on the wrist and letting her go on her merry way. What do you say to the parent of a dead child, when they look at this persons track record and nothing had been done about it...until. By then it is too late.

The parent of one of the dead teens told the Barbie Doll that her son had been killed, by someone most likely like her. the Barbie Doll said that she thought the .08 limit was and I quote, "Stupid." And the little miss sassy pants went on to tell the grieving mother that maybe it had not been the .09 drunk driver that had been the cause of thee accident. A hush fell over the audience. The mother then stated through clenched teeth I am guessing, that if this had been a different style show and she would have been a different style of mother, they would be going at it right now. Thee audience cheered the mother.

I believe that what goes around, comes around. You get what is due to you. Law of Attraction, if you will. Your next life. Thee after life. Take your pick. But for those who are not serving thee appropriate time for their crime will pay at some point. And even for those who do kill someone with thier vehicle they are not doing time like they should. they are serving minimal time in jail and it is a white collar jail. Let me get this straight. I pick up a gun and kill someone I am labeled a murderer and do hard time for my crime. Easy enough. But, I go have one too many, slam into an innocent person, kill them and I am someone with a social problem who is not labeled a murder. Something is definitely wrong with this picture. Murder is murder no matter the weapon. A car, gun, bat, knife, the list goes on. You can't own a gun after a murder? Then why should you ever get behind a wheel after you kill someone with your vehicle.

Driving is a privilege. You earn it. The privilege should be taken away if you abuse that right.

My uncle was killed by a drunk driver. That driver was himself. Think twice before downing that extra beer, drink or cocktail before slipping behind a wheel thinking you can handle it. No You Can't. Trust me on this one.

But I'm So Ugly

I recently heard of a conversation that took place and it was quite interesting to me. There is a young lady I know that grows her hair out all the time, just so she can donate it to Locks of Love.
This is a big thing for many, if not most of the teenage girl population I know. But this young girl has gone outside of her comfort zone and donated her hair to those less fortunate.

Locks of Love is a non-profit organization that takes hair that is donated and makes wigs for children that are victims of cancer. Now I know that some people are offended by the word victim. But let me tell you how Merriam-Webster explains victim:

One that is acted on and usually adversely affected by a force or agent: as (1) One that is injured or destroyed or sacrificed under of any various conditions

Even Merriam knows these kids are done wrong. With that said, this young lady knows that she can keep growing her hair over and over again. These children to not have that advantage. And some of them may not even get the chance to enjoy the wig that is being made for them.

I have seen people tear down what locks of love does, saying they take monies and spend them unwisely. Hell, our own government does that, I don't see them moving to another country. For the most part I applaud what this organization does. And, what they cannot use for the wig itself, is sold off to other wig companies and the money is turned back into Locks of Love for other expenditures.

What had been said from an outside party was this, (And I am paraphrasing) "After my mother cut off my hair, I realized she had cut it too short and within a few seconds, I thought how ugly I really was." Hello, you think you are ugly? How about the little girl or boy who has no hair and a good possibility of dying. And you are worried about how much hair gel or spray you are going to need to make yourself beautiful. Puh-leaze. Give me a break.

Nothing is that important that I cannot give it up to help a fellow man, and moreso one who is handling a grave disease. Kudos to the young lady who is growing her hair out for those in need. What a very adult thing to do, and unselfish at that. I know there are going to be people who say, "Well if it works for her that is all fine and dandy, but it may not be my cup of tea." Again that person is correct, but do not sit there and have the gumption to tell me how ugly you are or that you could never do it, when a child's life is hanging in the balance.

To each his own, but I applaud fervently to all those who give up something that is so precious to many a female. But bottom line, it's only hair, for us it will grow back, for those with cancer, it may very well not.

I Swear

After blogging about my daughters wonderful ability to stand on her won two feet about what she believes in, it got me to thinking. Why do we swear, curse, use foul language. My sister says because we, as adults, have earned that right. I disagree. Like I stated previously, I can stand toe to toe with the best...or worse of sailors. But I came to a decision about swearing.

I am going to swear off swearing for 30 days, just to see if I can do it. I mean I am guessing that most of us can hold on a normal conversation without having to colorize it with that sort of language. Does swearing make us feel more important, get us noticed more, make the joke funnier? Think about it. We will still talk if the swear words are taken away, I am always important, I don't know about you folks, and I can tell a joke and never let a swear word slip through my lips.

I did have 2 slip ups already. The first one was last night at dinner, but I swerved that one off to the side, but my daughter heard it and caught it as well. This morning I was in my garden, barefoot, and on the way back into the house I stepped on a dried up stem from a thorn bush. the language flew. My daughter was right beside me and I told her this was an exception to the rule. That $@!&*) thorn drew blood. We both laughed.

I am about one week into going egg free for one month and now the swearing. Dag-nab-it, I hope to succeed on both fronts. Wish me luck.

She Stood Her Ground

There is nothing that makes a parent more proud then when all the discussions you have with your children finally pay off. You have to remember, I do not talk 'TO' my children, I talk 'WITH' my children. Big difference. And if you don't know the difference, ask me sometime.

We (my family and myself), went to Miami this past weekend, to see our families...my husbands and mine. And the adults got to hang out while the kids did thier thing as well. Granted, we knew where the kids were and with cell phones galore, everyone was just a text message away.

Saturday afternoon, my son and daughter went with a decent sized group to go see the new Star Trek movie (go see it, even if you are not a Trekkie, and take the kids). Well, there was a good friend of my nieces who we have met on more than one occasion and he was being taken home before they all traipsed to the theatre.

Well Mr. Know-It-All, started throwing down the 'F' bomb and the 'N' bomb (reference to black kids, this kid is also black) and my daughter had finally had enough and asked him to stop with the language. Now mind you none of tee other kids, my son included, asked this kid to back off. And form what my daughter said , he was letting them fly like geese going south in the winter.

Do not get me wrong, I can stand toe to toe with the best sailor, but to what end. Is swearing absolutely necessary? My sister thinks it is deserved. She says she is an adult and has no problem with her language. For those who have never met my sister, I fairly warn them. I go back to a snippet of an interview I once saw with Bill Cosby, and he asked Eddie Murphy if he felt it necessary, to throw around the 'F' bomb? Bill wanted to know if the jokes were only funny with that language in it , or could the act stand on its own? Something to think about.

We hear swearing all the time, but do we really need to say those words? Can we not make our point or have conversation without all the colorful language? For some people I think it is an impossibility. It's like the people who like need to say like and they like would not know how to speak and like carry on a conversation without the word like.

You will always be judged by:

1) The company you keep
2) How you dress
3) And you conduct yourself in conversation.

I am so terribly proud of my daughter for standing her ground in a matter that meant something to her. And I told her all afternoon in the car ride on the way home from our afternoon errands.

Go Nana!

His Logic Is Flawed

OK, so my son gives me $40 a week to contribute to the household expenses, and trust me, he is getting off easy. He does not drive so his father and I have to cart him everywhere. and he just waits for our schedule to mesh with his. No problems.

So today I picked him up from work, he went to the bank to make a deposit and then I had to go for a drug test as a new employee. I knew it would only take a few minutes and we would be home lickity split. So right on cue he hands me the $40 and as we leave the medical lab, he gently reminds me that I wanted to put gas in the van before we scoot down to Miami in the morning.

I inform him to to go in the gas station and tell them the full $40 on pump #7. He comes out and the van does not take thee entire $40. So, he goes back in to retrieve his/my change. He comes out with a $10 bill and he gets in the car, buckles up and begins to put the $10 away. I say, "Hey, that is my change." Strange look clouds my sons face.

"No ti's not, this is mine, I gave you $40 and the rest is mine."

"Uh, no it's not son, you give me $40 every week and I never give you the change, that is what you pay me no matter what I spend it on. Sometimes it is food, gas, or whatever, but the total $40 is always mine. When I pay for produce and the bill is on $30, do I give you the change?" Thoughts rolling through his brain.

"No."

"Then there is no difference, it's just this time it is for gas and thee other times it is not."

"Whatever you say." Still a total blank look on his face.**

**For those of you who may not know, my son is a high functioning autistic young man. So many things that your average person picks up easily, takes him longer or sometimes not within his grasp...like the $40 issue!

Look Both Ways

I went to a cemetery with my son for the first time today. It was to go and visit a friend he went to school with who had passed away. This young man was only 19 years old. Way too young to be gone from this Earth.

About mid February I was up late on a Monday night waiting to go and get my son from work. (He is nearly 20 but with his autism, he does not drive so he depends on his father and I to get him back and forth to work). So here it was time for me to go and get him. Now keep in mind it is nearly 11 PM and I try to arrive there just as my son is walking out the doors of his place of business. Well, as soon as I head down one of the main roads to get to him I see police cars. No big deal. A small detour I can handle. But off in the distance I see more police cars. So at this point I know something big is up. Now I am going to have to encounter a major detour.

I know if I keep turning south and east I will eventually get back to my main road. Wrong! They have closed off some side roads due to the bridge and visibility issues. I get it but now I know I am going to be late in picking my son up. And he has a tendency to panic if he does not see me or my husband. Luckily for me and my son I only arrive about 3 minutes late. I explain to him what happened to me and if this should ever happen again, that he is so stay inside the building until one of us arrives. He agreed with no problems.

I learned form my girlfriend that there had been an accident that late afternoon with a kid on a bicycle. Come to found out later that it was a hit and run.

Fast forward a few weeks. Myself and my two children were at the mall and on our way home when we got stuck in mall traffic. The holidays are over so I could not understand this delay...until I look up and see junior police officers stopping traffic in every direction. Of course folks started honking, but there was nowhere to go. Soon enough we figure out why we are sitting. A huge procession of fire trucks and the such come by and it all started with a funeral vehicle. I knew then what was up and once the people in back of us saw it too, they stopped honking.

When we got home that night I wanted to see the news and see what was going to be on the news about this procession. Sure enough there it was first thing on the news. A fireman had died in the line of duty...after the fact. He had contracted some fatal illness and died from complications. First death for the fire department of that county. There is a reason I added this to my post. As soon as that section of the news was done they said there was an update on the hit in run that happened right down the street from me. I was all ears and as soon as I heard the boys name I knew who he was. I screamed for my son to come out and see what was on the news. My son caught the tail end of the clip, so I told him what I had seen.

This boy was one of the few boys that did not bully him in junior high school and Robert remembers those who are/were kind to him. So I tell Robert to get in touch with a girl they both knew but he didn't want to for he had not spoken to her in such a long time and he did not want to her to feel as if he was just calling to find out about this boy. I told him that she would definitely understand. But he still refused to call her.

It had been gnawing at me all these weeks. So I finally put my foot down and told him to call her and find out how this boy was. He did and left a message for the young girl. Two days later my son gets a return call from her and she told him that John had died the day before Easter. I was out taking in clothes off the clothesline with my husband and my son was on the phone. My son is not a phone person and thee only person he likes talking to is my sister and by the tone of his voice it definitely was not my sister. I knew within seconds what was going on and who he was on the phone with. When he hung up he told me John had died. We had missed his funeral by days.

My son found out where he was buried and today we went to visit John. I do not believe in a heaven or hell, for I have no religious beliefs. But I do believe in the fact that people have spirits and what happens to us once we die is anyone's guess. I hope John is in a better place, for how he was taken from this one was tragic and completely unnecessary. Someone out there has to live with themselves and the fact that they took another persons life. I hope that they get what is rightfully due them. I don't want to say I am a vengeful person but I want to be righted and what was done to this young man was wrong on every level.

I cannot imagine ever having to bury either of my children. I don't know how people get up every day and continue to breathe and yet somehow they do. I don't wish death to the person who hit John, but something will happen in this persons life. They may never know why their life is in shambles, why their marriage fell apart, why they lost their job, why they can't seem to fit into the world anymore. It's the Law of Attraction. You will only get what you give and if you give out evil it will come back to you and sometimes ten fold.

Please take the time to look where you are going and try to stay in the speed limit. This was the first time my son had to deal with a death of someone he actually knew. He hasn't said much about it, but I hope he feels he can come to me with any and all questions he may have about what happened to his friend and about death in general. I do not have all thee answers, but I will do my best.

Drive careful..

Dangerous Curves Ahead

Ahhhh, remember when having curves was what you aspired to look like. Remember when women/girls wanted to look like Marilyn Monroe? Well if you tried doing that today, you would be labeled FAT! You read correctly folks F-A-T. I bet you anything that Marilyn herself is rolling over in her grave.

Don't get me wrong, I know there are girls/women who can eat and eat and eat and never gain an ounce (And I mean eating good food, not living on drive-thru or take out, that is not real food in my book). But there are those who actually strive to be as thin as Twiggy. I bet if you took a poll and asked men who they would prefer to have on their arm for a date and their choices where Marilyn Monroe or Kiera Knightley, wonder who they would choose. There are some who might even choose the stick figures, but I am leaning on the side of not.

And yet the media goes wold when any star even gets close to a normal-sized 8 in the clothing realm. Size 8, that is a whole size smaller than I am and I am pretty darned average. I do not have to shop in the plus size section so life is good.

I applaud what Dove is doing and promoting that real beauty comes in all different shapes and sizes. Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. But I also want to applaud so high profile women for taking a stand and not shedding thee extra weight just because society/Hollywood/the media says they should. I am comfortable in my skin and until otherwise I am good to go.

Jennifer Hudson: A woman who was voted off American Idol by The Public and she still managed to land an Oscar. You go girl.

America Ferrera: "Don't eat the flan." If you have not seen Real Women Have Curves, then may I make a suggestion...rent it. For any girl who is having issues with her body, this film should be a mantra. It is not for little kids, for there is a scene involving America's character deciding to have sex for the first time. And even thought nothing is seen or heard, parent discretion is advised. Great film all the same.

Kelly Osbourne: You may not approve of her lifestyle (which I don't), but she recently came out of rehab and told the press that she is OK with her figure, even if they are not. Good for you Kelly.






Sara Ramirez: Grey's Anatomy. That is all I have to say. This woman is of ethnic background. Why is it that most women from Latin Countries have no problem with being voluptuous? If they don't, then why should we? Get a grip folks. Oh yeah, on a curvy woman you would have something to grab onto.


I could sit here and list a few more, thee emphasis being on few. I understand there are those who are naturally thin. Happiness to you ladies. But I am 5'2", 136 pounds and have no intention of trying to let go of a few pounds. I am physically fit (save my recovery from surgery), I exercise semi-regularly, my blood tests let my doctor know that I had the lowest cholesterol she had ever seen in her years of practice. So nani-nani- boo boo to all you who purposely want to be overly thin. Hah!

Columbine Revisited

I will never forget as I was growing up and I would hear senior citizens talk about where they were the day JFK had been shot, or the day Pearl Harbor was bombed and the likes. I never got it, until...I went through a few things, such as the Challenger explosion, or the Columbia explosion, Hurricane Katrina, and lest we forget 911. Those days will be burned into my brain forever. Now I know how those people I listened to all those years ago could remember such things.

Those are the things that impact your life, for whatever reason. Maybe it was just thee incident itself, or maybe you had a connection to that incident. You might have lived close by at some point in your life, or that had been your favorite place to vacation. Whatever the reason certain incidents impact, for good or bad. And hopefully there is always some good that comes from bad. That in and of itself sounds like an oxymoron, but as I grow older and hopefully wiser, I do hope that there is good in everyone.

What people do not realize it that it is the little things in life that make the biggest difference. They 'Don'T' sweat the small stuff.', but that is exactly what can make the biggest influence sin our lives. But watching a video, or reading a book, or attending a seminar, or watching a documentary, people's lives can and will be changed.

I remember the first time I became a vegetarian. I was watching something on the television about the baby seal hunting that goes on in Canada. I sat there and cried like a baby. How can anyone sit there and bludgeon something so innocent to death. I know the answer, someone with no heart. What did that poor seal ever do to you. But I am getting off track here.

It is 10 years ago today that two boys went on a shooting rampage to make a point. What drives anyone and especially 2 teenagers to commit such a horrifying act. I cannot imagine the fear that ran through the school that day. I know how scared I can get over little things. But knowing my life may soon be over and then to only be anywhere from 15-18. I cannot comprehend that.

Didn't anyone see that these two were on a road that was going in a very wrong direction? I can see the slightest change in my children. I know when they are the least bit off from the normal. I also feel for the parents of these children they may still be questioning themselves as to why they did not see this coming. I think an answer fro many parents is that they are disconnected from their children. We don't do activities together, we don't eat at a dinner table any longer, the Norman Rockwell of thee American family is nearly unheard of. I see people hike an eyebrow when I say that we sit down every night at the dinner table and eat together. Whether it is all four of us or just two. To me, a family that dines together stays together. And TV trays in front of the television is not the same. Turn off the tube and talk to your children and then listen to them as well, they do have something to say. And inasmuch as you may not want to hear thier point of view. think back when you tried to talk to your parents and they thought your opinion was worth nothing. you may not agree with your child, hell, you don't agree with adults, but you keep them as friends. Listen to your children, it will pay off in thee end.

I leave you with a few videos of the first victim that died that tragic day. Her name is Rachel Joy Scott. She was a young girl who most more than likely had a premonition about her life. As her father says in the video, she was not obsessed with death, she was just at peace with her life. Who at that age can even wrap thier head around something like that? See what I mean? Children can teach us plenty, we just have to listen. For those of you who pray, please do so for all of those affected by this event. I will definitely keep them in my thoughts.

Rachel Joy Scott #1

Rachel Joy Scott #2

Rachel Joy Scott #3

And for those of you who prefer to read, here is a book in her memory. Rachel's Tears

Here's To Late Bloomers

We all do it, and if you deny it, you are a damned liar. I admit to doing it, so should you. We judge books by their covers. and I am not talking about the readable kind either. I am talking about people in general. You see someone homeless on the street and you think degenerate and uneducated. And yet I know of a man who served his country for 20 years in two different branches of the Armed Forces and ended up being homeless. But there is more. He is now on the road to getting his first novel written. That is not to say he will be gracing the front table at Barnes and Noble, but he is on a road that most people would never have put him on years back.

Case in point, Britain's Got Talent. This woman came out on stage, looking as matron as many of our grandmothers and the audience as well as the three judges had already pegged her as a frump and someone not even worthy of giving a chance to, but she came out, with her little bit of sass and blew these people away. And the female judge (sorry don't know all their names for I do not watch the show) said it in all it's honesty that her along with everyone in thee audience were all a bit cynical. I know when I saw her coming on stage I never thought in a million years her voice would resonate the way that it did. Gave me goose-flesh.

It goes to show you that you don't have to look like the Beyonce's , Christine Aguilera's of the world to have a talent. She proved that by opening her mouth. And if this video clip doe snot move you in some fashion, then you need to be checked to see if you are still alive.

Timing Is Everything

Get our your alarm clocks, for there is a time to do things that be most beneficial for you. This is not set in stone. For instance, it is best to do a cardio workout best in the AM, but it is still better to do cardio then not do it t all. With that said, here are some tips to keep your health at its best and see when it 'is' best to do these things.

1) To sharpen your brain, pay bills or do a crossword puzzle between 10 and 11 AM or 8 and 9 PM.

2) Take a nap at 2 PM. And all you need is a power nap. You are looking at from 10-20 minutes. If children can do it...so can you.

3) Go on vacation in late February or early March. And take it outdoors.

4) To boost your energy, follow a sleep schedule.

5) Head to bed at least 3 hours after eating dinner.

6) To power up your pills, swallow your multi with a meal.

7) Take birth control or heart pills before bed.

8) Fill your prescription midmonth. Drug stores are busy at the beginning of the month, when Welfare and Social security checks are coming in.

9) To get more from your workouts, do your cardio in the early morning.

10) Learn and practice a skill sport between 4 and 6 PM. Your hand eye coordination is best then and it will help you sleep better at night.

11) Start exercising in January or June. Due to the fact that so many people sign up after New Years, health clubs can wave the sign up fee. And in June clubs offer specials for vacationers, so take advantage of these offerings.

12) Begin your diet in June. There is a seasonality to weight loss. You naturally drop a few pounds due to the fact that once summer arrives you begin to be more active.

13) To protect your pearly whites, floss at night. If you can only floss once a day nighttime should be that time. Your body produces less saliva at night which means that food will sit in your teeth meaning that harmful bacteria is sitting on your teeth.

14) Brush within an hour of downing a sports drink. And unless you are doing extreme sports, you don't need to be drinking these beverages. they were concocted for football players. So if you are not expending that much energy, then leave them be. And a bike ride around the block does not count. Along with soda, juice and other beverages along with sports drink, these beverages are acidic and can erode your teeth. So step away from those drinks. Water...it does the body (and teeth ) good.

15) Have a root canal after 2PM. Numbing medications usually last 8-10 hours. So the meds from the dentist will keep you pain free until you hit the sack.

16) Schedule your big procedures for January or February. Those months are slow for dental procedures.

17) To maximize your medical care, get the first appointment of the day. Doctors won't be distracted by the backlogging of patients. Or try for right after the doctors lunch hour.

18) Plan your mammogram for the week after your menstrual cycle. Your breasts will be less tender then which will make the procedure less painful. (Guys, you are safe in this area)

19) Test your cholesterol twice a year.

20) Arrange your elective surgery for winter or spring. Avoid July, August and September, when teaching hospitals are flooded with med students.

21) Get a Pap test the week before or after ovulation. The cervical opening is widest then., making it easier to sample cells.

22) Have head-to-toe skin exams in December. You're less likely to be tanned, so the higher contrast between your skin and pigmented lesions will make it easier for doctors to spot anything out of thee ordinary.

You Never Know When

There are many a time I am the one on the giving end of a horn blowing in traffic when someone does an injustice in the driving world. Well low and behold, I am capable of making driving errors myself. Years ago I told my sister I had cut someone off completely by accident due to the fact that she was in my blind spot. That would not hold up in court, but it was the truth. That is when she said, "Don't you feel like flipping yourself off for being so stupid?", and my answer was yes.

Well yesterday I was coming home from grocery shopping and my son was with me. We were sitting at the green arrow to make our left turn to come home. Well the green arrow, turned to a regular green arrow, which meant that I now had to wait for the oncoming traffic before I made my left turn.

Well, my mind began to wander and wonder about the items I had just purchased and why the bill was so expensive for such a select few items. I had put two and two together and realized that they were higher ticket items, but that did not stop me from letting my brain cells roam. I was right behind a vehicle that took the left turn and I assumed it was safe to turn as well. Whoa there lassie, it was not safe.

There was a vehicle coming head on as I was making my turn and they were totally in the right of way. Had we gotten into an accident, it would have been my fault 100%. My son was ready to give that person a verbal lashing. But I quickly came to that persons defense and told my son the truth and said I was not concentrating and if we had collided we/I would have been at fault.

That is when I reiterated to my son just how important it was to keep your head in the driving game and not to wander. I was shaking at the prospect of what could have been and was relieved to know that person had the reflexes to slow down and let an idiot pass, for that is exactly how I felt. My son then asked me straight out what had I been thinking that got me so distracted. And I told him the truth.

So the next time you lay the horn on someone, remember, it may be just someone who has let their mind goes of course just enough to forget where they are and what they are doing. Be kind, for that someone you are blowing the horn at, could be you.

When It's Good To Be A Homeschooler

There are times, and many of them, that I question why I home school and still keep on homeschooling. Then something comes along and slaps you in the face and brings you back to reality. Like what is about to happen in our little part of the universe.

Come fall, when many of us are looking forward to the new school supply smell, and you know what I am talking about. Crayons, freshly sharpened pencils, glue, construction paper, and the list goes on. Well for three schools in my county there will be no doors opening next year. I know one of them for sure is an elementary close to where I live. And I do not know what the other two schools are. But suffice it to say things are about to get a whole lot tougher. When my children left the public school system, there were anywhere from 30-35 children per classroom. And this big surge came after so many children were kept back due to the F-Cat.


So now what? How many more portables can a school hold on their grounds. Now the school district is saying that classrooms will not be over-crowded, but I find that hard to believe.


There is to be a town meeting on the 31st. So folks can vent their grievances. But to what end? The article in the newspaper said that the counties mind was not made up as of yet as to how they were going to handle this situation. Again, I find that hard to swallow.


What is our children's education worth. How many cut backs do we need to enforce to get them the education they deserve?


Do we cut out sports? How about all of thee arts? Or how about only cutting the sports that do not offer college scholarships? (That was one suggestion made in an Email form form one parent on how to help with the crisis). Where do you draw the line or even start the line. And who will win or lose in this fight over thee almighty dollar. Children will be made to go to the back of the line, in life is what I am referring to.


It starts with taking away a few of the elective classes, such as art, music. Then we climb to the higher grades and then it is the debate team, chorus, the French Club and so on. But to what end, why cut education. Ahhh, that's right, rt and music and sports is not education in thee eyes of some people. Let me be the first to tell you that that is so far off base, I could not even begin to describe it.


Let me take my cooking class for example. these kids are like little sponges. Whether they are learning and remembering things I have taught them or they are getting it from mom or the Food Network, they are learning something. And all I want is for my children somewhere in their future for something I have taught them to actually click and I think that is all any teacher could ask for. It's when they are cooking dinner for thier friends, wife, parents and they are in the kitchen and they are working with a utensil or some gadget and then the lightbulb goes on, and they say, "Hey, I learned that from The Cooking Lady." That is all I ask.


But so many children will not be able to have a chance to say that, for most more than likely home economics will be axed, so kids won't know the difference between a potato peeler and a cheese slicer.


So when someone asks me why I home school I will just whip out this post I just typed up and let them chew on it for a while.

Somewhere

I do not believe in God
I do not believe in any type of god
I do not believe that there is a higher power up there playing god
I do not believe in any sort of deity

Now that we got that out of the way I will try to explain my reasoning. And it will not only stem from this article, for there are far too many reason why I do not believe there is something up there watching us.

I was taking my daughter to her weekly youth party. And as I was stopped at a traffic light I saw a bumper sticker, and it read:

Pray, God will hear you.

Yeah, but will he listen? I do not think there is a god up here who will let certain things happen. And I am talking mostly about those things that happen to innocent children. What child asks to be abused? Whether it be physically, sexually, verbally, mentally or spiritually? No child that I could think of (or adult for that matter), but yet it happens all the time. And yet I wonder if these little creatures (in God's image) prayed at night to be delivered form the man/woman who is abusing them, what is God doing about it? Does he hear them and tell them in his own special way that he works in mysterious ways and it will all come out in the wash? Well what if the wash is this child ending up in the E.R. with a bashed in skull and dies 3 hours later...what then? Who was listening to that child when she was begging to be taken away from the bad man/woman. God? I think not.

What about all these children who are born to parents with crippling illnesses, or disabilities? Do they deserve a lifetime of nothingness? And lest we not forget the parents who will spend a lifetime of caring for these little creatures. I do not believe there is a god sitting up there playing chess with our lives, and if there is he is a sick twisted god. I cannot think of any people who deserve to be subjected to the experiences that many go through on a daily basis. Case in point, Elizabeth Fritzl. If that name does not ring a bell, let me refresh your memory. She is the woman who was locked in a basement in Austria by her father and also bore 7 of his children. (Six are still surviving, due to the death of one infant)

This man started raping his own daughter at the age of 18 and kept her in a windowless room. Three of her children never saw daylight, and the wife of the father was upstairs all the time. Where was her sense of morality, her sense of doing what was right. I might, and that is a very slim margin there, believe she did not know what was gong on if she had never seen any of the children, but 3 of the 6 children were raised upstairs by the father/grandfather and the grandmother. How do you explain them away?

What creature made in the likeness of God does that to his own flesh and blood. Did God intend for us to be made in his image, then given free will just so we can totally screw up? If so that's a God with a sick sense of humor. Give us free will but tell us what we can and cannot do? That is a fine line.

I think there are a few folks through the ages that deserve to be put to death and if you do not believe in capitol punishment, then you are probably hoping there is a here after where they will pay there dues. I for one am hoping he goes to Hell, if there is indeed one. But for the time being he will go to prison and be fed three decent meals a day, and get all thee amenities that many people do not even receive, but he will not suffer for the pain he inflicted while on this Earth.

And let's look at it from a different angle. What if he repents and begs for forgiveness for his actions, can a god really forgive for what he did over and over and over again? I may, and that is a far stretch, forgive someone who did something in a fit of rage, but to forgive someone who repeated their crimes over and over not giving a care to his victim.

And then there is the victim. How are those people supposed to function in the real world now? I would not want to be that shrink. Do you ask them to retell their life or do you help them tuck it away in a far odd part of the brain that should be kept only for traumatic incidences? Flip a coin. And now these children and probably the daughter think of their lifestyle as normal, for that is all they knew. How do you recover from a life you thought of as normal?

But, if there is a God and a Heaven and a Hell, then there is somewhere for Josef Fritzl to go and that place is Hell.

I Just Don't Get It

Call me crazy, call me old fashioned, call me a bit over protective. But I hope with all hope that my daughter listens when I talk to her about sex. Yep, you heard right, I am talking about the Big "S" word. Something that was never discussed with me. And that is a distress. For I wish someone would have been as open with me about this very delicate subject as I am with my daughter.

Knowledge is power.


I look at the homes that these kids who become pregnant teens and wonder what is going on in their home. In the case of Bristol Palin, it's as if they are glorifying teenage pregnancy. I could give a few other examples, such as Jamie Spears and I am guessing there are others. But suffice it to say, I am against teenage pregnancy.

We have always talked 'with' our daughter about things concerning life, never to her, and there is a huge difference. I have been in many a home where the parents talk to their children to them as if they are children. And if it is our job to guide them in the direction of adulthood, then by talking with them and not to them, you are solidifying that you now see them as a near equal. Of course I tailor the conversation to their level, but I do not talk down to her. It would benefit no one.

Then there is thee ever popular statement for those who do get pregnant all the same from those of the old school mentality that..."Well he did the right thing." For whom? Let's put things into perspective here. Nine point nine times out of ten the couple in question are rarely if ever in love and it is more a case of being in lust, hence the unwanted pregnancy. For I cannot see the young couple being ecstatic over a pregnancy that was no where in their future. Especially when they are usually planning prom, graduation and a slew of other things, but definitely not a pregnancy, hence the word 'unwanted'.

So, some of the young stallions go off and marry her even though there is not an ounce of love between them, but he is 'doing the right thing'. To what end? To give the child a name? To give him a stable relationship to grow under? I think not. Half of all supposed planned marriages end in divorce. Why? Because so many are not willing to go that extra step in doing what it takes to make it work, and that extra step is sacrifice. People do not want to change, bend, or give up what they had before. Well hello folks, you get married because you want a change. But people say it all the time, "I ain't' changing, let him/her change." Well it takes two to Tango so crap or get off the pot people.

Then they bring in the other equation...a child, and then all hell breaks loose. The child is thrown into day care, so some other shclep can raise their child so they can still both work jobs to keep them in step with the Jones'. When I had to work back in Miami and my little one was still at home, my husband and I maneuvered our schedules so that my mother-in-law would be watching our children a little as possible. He worked two 40 hour jobs, I held down a 40 hour job myself and my husband and I rarely if ever saw one another for about 2 years. Why? Because it was not my mother -in-laws responsibility to raise our children. So we did what...oh yeah, sacrificed. I have seen children dumped at a babysitters home so much that the child sees the sitter as their mother instead of the birth mother. Ya think?

I am also a firm believer of girls not becoming Betty Crocker (Ready to spread frosting). Ever hear of keeping your legs closed? Didn't the parents of these girls tell them that Johnny, Billy, Bobby, Paul and who ever else you can think of will sell you any line he knows you want to hear just to get you to let him in? I have again, told my daughter that sex is a wonderful thing, as long it is with someone you love. It is not one of thee easiest topics for the two of us to discuss, but better from me than form some wise-ass Casanova who will definitely love her and leave her. They, meaning the boys (notice I did not say men) are in it for the sex, women are in it for the love. And yes we are looking for the Harlequin Romance novel style romance. It is rarely out there.

A friend of mine, no more like an acquaintance, nope, actually someone we just tolerate, once told me that there were some movies that depicted premarital/teenage sex in a good light. This person has a son. It is an entirely different ball game when you have a daughter. What good comes of teenage sex? Could someone tell me, for I do not know thee answer. It isn't going to get your daughter accepted, unless you are talking about thee entire football team.

And on the more common chance she does get pregnant, there are movies and shows that are showing as if it is something to be glorified. The new show, My Life as a Pregnant Teenager (hope I got the title correct) shows this girl in an upper middle class family. Come on. How many pregnant teens do any of you know that came from upper middle class? I do not know of any...at all. That is just my point. These girls are being shown as if it is all cutesy tootsy to get pregnant. And that their lives will get right back to normal. WHAT? Who fed them that line of utter crap. That is unless you are dumping junior or juniorette on mom and dads doorstep all the time so you can still go out and party and get this...get some sleep. Yep, you heard right. My sister-in-law left her nearly 2 year old son with her/my mother-in-law (who is kissing 70) just so my 23 year old sister-in-law could get some sleep. Hello, is that not a prerequisite to being a parent, losing sleep. We all did it, but obviously she needs her sleep. And oh yes, she is unemployed. Someone hit me with a stupid stick for I do not get it.

They are willing to sleep around but not deal with the responsibilities that go with their hopping in the sack.

This is why I am an advocate of pro-choice. I do not believe that children should be brought into this world unless they are wanted and into a loving family that wants them here and will do whatever it takes to see to their well being. And there are way too many kids out there having kids just because it is now the cool thing to do. Give me a break. Grow up!