Thursday, December 15, 2011
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Monday, October 3, 2011
Gadgets
I like this idea - but can not stand the layout/graphics on this blog. But I consider it one to watch:
The Wirecutter
The Wirecutter
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Lily - our Forest Fairy
I will go into more details about Lily at some point. But wanted to upload a newspaper clipping she left A a couple years ago:
made from this awesome make a newspaper clipping site!
made from this awesome make a newspaper clipping site!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Changes
We've had some changes recently around the house.
The boys are both away at boarding school.
There's lots that goes with that simple sentence. In fact, it's all so complex and brings out so many emotions and consequences it's kind of too big for me to really get a handle on at the moment. I'm trying.
The biggest is that they don't live here anymore. I guess they will always call our house "home", even though they technically don't live here. And this is just the beginning as in a few years they will be off to college and really on their way. And maybe, just maybe, they might just come home for a bit after that?
In the meantime their room is empty of life. Not empty empty. There are still clothes and all their personal "stuff" from their years of living so far. In fact, their room is quite a mess - not including the enormous blue paint stain on the white rug as you enter the room.
The boys are both away at boarding school.
There's lots that goes with that simple sentence. In fact, it's all so complex and brings out so many emotions and consequences it's kind of too big for me to really get a handle on at the moment. I'm trying.
The biggest is that they don't live here anymore. I guess they will always call our house "home", even though they technically don't live here. And this is just the beginning as in a few years they will be off to college and really on their way. And maybe, just maybe, they might just come home for a bit after that?
In the meantime their room is empty of life. Not empty empty. There are still clothes and all their personal "stuff" from their years of living so far. In fact, their room is quite a mess - not including the enormous blue paint stain on the white rug as you enter the room.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Swiss Artist: Ursus Werhli
I love this artist - so simple - so Swiss. Take a look at the NPR link to see more.
This other Swiss blog - Newly Swissed - also has an entry about him as well.
And here is his official site.
I want to order his new book....
This other Swiss blog - Newly Swissed - also has an entry about him as well.
And here is his official site.
I want to order his new book....
Cool stuff
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Back to School
10 Misconceptions of Moms and Back-to-School
(another one of those emails that circulates this time of year)
Misconception Number 1:
Moms miss their kids when they go back to school :Seriously. I've had enough of you by now. Every morning with the "what are we going to do today, Mom?" is finally over!! I've looked at your face twenty-four seven for the last 77 days. It's time to go learn something. No more asking me about the pool, when is the next snack or if you can stay up late and watch a movie. It's over....You're going back to Hogwarts and I get to have a life again. There is a Christmas morning for parents and it's called "back to school".
Misconception Number 2: Moms like to go school shopping :Are you freaking kidding me? Why do I pay taxes? So I can rack up a $200 bill at Staples for crap that we have laying around my house in junk drawers? Why does it have to be new pencils? What's wrong with the chewed up, broken strawberry shortcake pencils that have been sitting in the bottom of the toy box for the last 6 months? And how many subject books can you possibly need? What happened to reading, writing and arithmetic?? If they added a couple of things for parents to that list I wouldn't mind so much...why not pencils, erasers and vodka ...or some Nyquil???
Misconception Number 3: Moms like back to school night :Why must we do this every year? I got it already. You're the teacher. I'm the parent. My kid is either going to be smart or dumb. If he gets a certain number or colored dots on his discipline chart, he can't get a prize from the prize box. Pretty simple stuff. Listen, I'm pretty old school. If he doesn't listen to you, you can throw something at him. I don't care. But I got a lot of work to do at home and I'm paying a babysitter right now. Plus, I'm pretty sure you are going to assign some project on wigwams made by some Indian tribe I've never heard of, so I need to get home and start my research. So, I got it!! We're all here for the betterment of the kids. Blah Blah Blah. Can I leave now?
Misconception Number 4: Moms like school paperwork :How many trees are you planning on killing to tell me the same stuff I had to pay a babysitter so I could show up and listen the other night? You know our name, where we live and our emergency phone numbers. He doesn't have a nickname...call him "stink butt" for all I care.We don't have any "special circumstances" that you need to know about. He lives in a home with two parents who may or may not like each other at any given time and they will fight. If that qualifies as a reason he can't get his homework done on time then he won't be able to function as an adult and have a real job so you may want to "educate" him on that life lesson.
Misconception Number 5: Moms like covering books in that annoying sticky paper :What exactly will you be doing with these books that I have to cover them in a plastic laminate? Do you often teach in the rain? Or while the children are drinking soda and eating soup? Do you know how long that takes?Has any parent in the history of education been ever able to do it without any air bubbles in it? From now on I'm covering it the old way, brown paper bags. That way I can cover the books and pack their lunches at that same time. Who says moms can't multitask? PS. Please tell my son if he can't find his lunch to look in his science book.
Misconception Number 6: Moms like helping you with your homework :What? I am scared out of my mind!! I'm pretty sure that I forgot everything I learned in fifth grade by the time I was in sixth grade. I have no idea what you are talking about most days. I don't really know my 12 times tables, I read the cliff notes to all your summer reading and I don't know how to conjugate anything but I do know that song "conjuction junction what's your function" if that helps at all. And please don't even say the words "new math" to me. What the heck was wrong with the old one?
Misconception Number 7: Moms can't wait to pack your lunch every day until we die :I hate doing laundry. Making dinner every night is the bane of my existence, so making your lunch every day for an entire year, in terms of "mom fun", lies somewhere between brushing plaque off the dogs teeth and scheduling my annual pap smear.Listen, as a child I hated what my mom packed me for lunch. But, like every kid before me, and every generation to come you will find a kid to trade with. I'm sure someone likes sardines.
Misconception Number 8: Moms love after school activities.I don't know who made up this idea of organized clubs and sports but they should be the ones in charge of carting your ass around. Don't get me wrong. I'm not against all after school programs. I just wish they would offer it during hours that would work best for me so that dinner wasn't at 8:30 at night followed by 4 hours of homework. Why not do it on the weekends and call it "after-hours activities" so mommy and daddy could actually go out one night and pretend that we have a life of our own. Don't worry about us though I'm sure that me and "what's his name" will be married a very long time.
Misconception Number 9: Moms don't mind taking you to school if you miss the bus. Your bus comes at 7:10 am...which means that you should be standing by the door at 7:05 am. Not eating breakfast , chasing the dog around the house or in the bathroom, asking me to check your homework while I'm taking a shower. Get it together! I don't like running down the street in my jammies at 7:12 screaming "Please wait" or "If you stop I'll show you my boobies."
Misconception Number 10: Moms cry on your first day of school :We do cry but they are tears of joy. I have done my job. I have successfully kept a human child alive for at least 5 years without doing any major damage. Motherhood is the hardest job in the world!! Sure, doctors save lives and CEO's run million dollar businesses but you teach a kid not to poop their pants and then you can say you've made the world a better place."
(another one of those emails that circulates this time of year)
Misconception Number 1:
Moms miss their kids when they go back to school :Seriously. I've had enough of you by now. Every morning with the "what are we going to do today, Mom?" is finally over!! I've looked at your face twenty-four seven for the last 77 days. It's time to go learn something. No more asking me about the pool, when is the next snack or if you can stay up late and watch a movie. It's over....You're going back to Hogwarts and I get to have a life again. There is a Christmas morning for parents and it's called "back to school".
Misconception Number 2: Moms like to go school shopping :Are you freaking kidding me? Why do I pay taxes? So I can rack up a $200 bill at Staples for crap that we have laying around my house in junk drawers? Why does it have to be new pencils? What's wrong with the chewed up, broken strawberry shortcake pencils that have been sitting in the bottom of the toy box for the last 6 months? And how many subject books can you possibly need? What happened to reading, writing and arithmetic?? If they added a couple of things for parents to that list I wouldn't mind so much...why not pencils, erasers and vodka ...or some Nyquil???
Misconception Number 3: Moms like back to school night :Why must we do this every year? I got it already. You're the teacher. I'm the parent. My kid is either going to be smart or dumb. If he gets a certain number or colored dots on his discipline chart, he can't get a prize from the prize box. Pretty simple stuff. Listen, I'm pretty old school. If he doesn't listen to you, you can throw something at him. I don't care. But I got a lot of work to do at home and I'm paying a babysitter right now. Plus, I'm pretty sure you are going to assign some project on wigwams made by some Indian tribe I've never heard of, so I need to get home and start my research. So, I got it!! We're all here for the betterment of the kids. Blah Blah Blah. Can I leave now?
Misconception Number 4: Moms like school paperwork :How many trees are you planning on killing to tell me the same stuff I had to pay a babysitter so I could show up and listen the other night? You know our name, where we live and our emergency phone numbers. He doesn't have a nickname...call him "stink butt" for all I care.We don't have any "special circumstances" that you need to know about. He lives in a home with two parents who may or may not like each other at any given time and they will fight. If that qualifies as a reason he can't get his homework done on time then he won't be able to function as an adult and have a real job so you may want to "educate" him on that life lesson.
Misconception Number 5: Moms like covering books in that annoying sticky paper :What exactly will you be doing with these books that I have to cover them in a plastic laminate? Do you often teach in the rain? Or while the children are drinking soda and eating soup? Do you know how long that takes?Has any parent in the history of education been ever able to do it without any air bubbles in it? From now on I'm covering it the old way, brown paper bags. That way I can cover the books and pack their lunches at that same time. Who says moms can't multitask? PS. Please tell my son if he can't find his lunch to look in his science book.
Misconception Number 6: Moms like helping you with your homework :What? I am scared out of my mind!! I'm pretty sure that I forgot everything I learned in fifth grade by the time I was in sixth grade. I have no idea what you are talking about most days. I don't really know my 12 times tables, I read the cliff notes to all your summer reading and I don't know how to conjugate anything but I do know that song "conjuction junction what's your function" if that helps at all. And please don't even say the words "new math" to me. What the heck was wrong with the old one?
Misconception Number 7: Moms can't wait to pack your lunch every day until we die :I hate doing laundry. Making dinner every night is the bane of my existence, so making your lunch every day for an entire year, in terms of "mom fun", lies somewhere between brushing plaque off the dogs teeth and scheduling my annual pap smear.Listen, as a child I hated what my mom packed me for lunch. But, like every kid before me, and every generation to come you will find a kid to trade with. I'm sure someone likes sardines.
Misconception Number 8: Moms love after school activities.I don't know who made up this idea of organized clubs and sports but they should be the ones in charge of carting your ass around. Don't get me wrong. I'm not against all after school programs. I just wish they would offer it during hours that would work best for me so that dinner wasn't at 8:30 at night followed by 4 hours of homework. Why not do it on the weekends and call it "after-hours activities" so mommy and daddy could actually go out one night and pretend that we have a life of our own. Don't worry about us though I'm sure that me and "what's his name" will be married a very long time.
Misconception Number 9: Moms don't mind taking you to school if you miss the bus. Your bus comes at 7:10 am...which means that you should be standing by the door at 7:05 am. Not eating breakfast , chasing the dog around the house or in the bathroom, asking me to check your homework while I'm taking a shower. Get it together! I don't like running down the street in my jammies at 7:12 screaming "Please wait" or "If you stop I'll show you my boobies."
Misconception Number 10: Moms cry on your first day of school :We do cry but they are tears of joy. I have done my job. I have successfully kept a human child alive for at least 5 years without doing any major damage. Motherhood is the hardest job in the world!! Sure, doctors save lives and CEO's run million dollar businesses but you teach a kid not to poop their pants and then you can say you've made the world a better place."
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Cool Sites
Now why didn't something like this exist when my children were younger?
http://thekidshouldseethis.com
http://thekidshouldseethis.com
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Friday, July 8, 2011
Summer Travel
What a day.
It all started out marginally well. fine (well, at least the part after we left the house). We got to the airport early. All very relaxing. Boarded on time.
Reading on the plane.....waiting to land when the pilot says we have been circling because of storms and we may be diverted. I almost screamed!!! What???? I have planes and trains to catch, family to see. This is not happening.
Sure enough, diverted. A is for Albany. Let's go there first!!!
Once we got there I emailed Peggy, our travel agent, so she knew what was going on. And I asked at the Delta desk if they could re-book us in the event we missed our 9:15 flight. No problem they said. There is a 9:50 Air France flight and we were confirmed. Just had to have tickets printed once we got to New York.
We waited. And waited. And waited for clearance from JFK that we could re-board and head back to JFK.
By 7:30 we were back on the plane. By 8:30 we were still circling Albany.
We finally landed at 9:00, and off the plane by 9:20. Francis had texted to say the doors were closed on his flight but they had a 30 minute delay.
We got off, spoke to a Delta rep who told us to run to the next terminal to make that Air France flight. Oh...the Delta system kept on telling us that the Air France/Delta flight was leaving at 9:50. But when we got to the counter it said 10:50.
We were golden! Wahoo!!. We could make this flight, still meet Francis and make the train. Got to the checkin counter where the woman couldn't check us in because we didn't have the actual ticket. She told us to quickly go around to the ticketing counter to get the tickets.
No can do. They would not give us tickets. We flew down on Delta. And had an American JFK-CDG ticket. What right did Delta in albany have to re-book us asked the Delta NY counter? Air France/Delta owed us nothing and would not put us on the flight.
I was on the verge of tears. A woman from behind the counter said we needed to go to the American Terminal and get on one of their flights.
We still had hope.
Once at American, we told our story and the woman said, What right did Delta in albany have to re-book us asked the Delta NY counter? Hmmm we had heard that before.
She could re-book us for tomorrow but there is a $250 fee per person. What? She then said that she. had spoken with the supervisor and that was waived. Phew!!
In the meantime Peggy made us a reservation at the JFK Sheraton.
One last question....what about our bags? I handed the woman our baggage claim checks and she said...oh...your bags were only checked to JFK!!! What???
So we had to get back on the Airtrain and go to Delta to get our bags. After waiting 20 minutes in line for baggage problems, the woman tells us that our bags were checked through to Paris and they were now rebooked on our flight tomorrow.
We don't believe her.
We walk back outside, grab a taxi with Mohammed Ramadan who is driving, while talking on the phone via bluetooth while following Mrs. Nav to get us to the Sheraton. (Mrs. Nav is a gps-he tells me he can get us anywhere on the island but out here he needs help).
The JFK Sheraton is a throw back in time. After we check in (I realize now I have idea how much it is) I went straight to the bar and take a glass of Cab Sav to our room.
It's after midnight and our Chinese takeout was just delivered.
Our plan is to sleep in, have breakfast, hang, checkout late and head right back to the terminal. We'll take the shuttle bus to save $$.
We are now on a 5:15ish flight to Paris arriving at 6:45am.
Life is NOT dull. Always something.
It all started out marginally well. fine (well, at least the part after we left the house). We got to the airport early. All very relaxing. Boarded on time.
Reading on the plane.....waiting to land when the pilot says we have been circling because of storms and we may be diverted. I almost screamed!!! What???? I have planes and trains to catch, family to see. This is not happening.
Sure enough, diverted. A is for Albany. Let's go there first!!!
Once we got there I emailed Peggy, our travel agent, so she knew what was going on. And I asked at the Delta desk if they could re-book us in the event we missed our 9:15 flight. No problem they said. There is a 9:50 Air France flight and we were confirmed. Just had to have tickets printed once we got to New York.
We waited. And waited. And waited for clearance from JFK that we could re-board and head back to JFK.
By 7:30 we were back on the plane. By 8:30 we were still circling Albany.
We finally landed at 9:00, and off the plane by 9:20. Francis had texted to say the doors were closed on his flight but they had a 30 minute delay.
We got off, spoke to a Delta rep who told us to run to the next terminal to make that Air France flight. Oh...the Delta system kept on telling us that the Air France/Delta flight was leaving at 9:50. But when we got to the counter it said 10:50.
We were golden! Wahoo!!. We could make this flight, still meet Francis and make the train. Got to the checkin counter where the woman couldn't check us in because we didn't have the actual ticket. She told us to quickly go around to the ticketing counter to get the tickets.
No can do. They would not give us tickets. We flew down on Delta. And had an American JFK-CDG ticket. What right did Delta in albany have to re-book us asked the Delta NY counter? Air France/Delta owed us nothing and would not put us on the flight.
I was on the verge of tears. A woman from behind the counter said we needed to go to the American Terminal and get on one of their flights.
We still had hope.
Once at American, we told our story and the woman said, What right did Delta in albany have to re-book us asked the Delta NY counter? Hmmm we had heard that before.
She could re-book us for tomorrow but there is a $250 fee per person. What? She then said that she. had spoken with the supervisor and that was waived. Phew!!
In the meantime Peggy made us a reservation at the JFK Sheraton.
One last question....what about our bags? I handed the woman our baggage claim checks and she said...oh...your bags were only checked to JFK!!! What???
So we had to get back on the Airtrain and go to Delta to get our bags. After waiting 20 minutes in line for baggage problems, the woman tells us that our bags were checked through to Paris and they were now rebooked on our flight tomorrow.
We don't believe her.
We walk back outside, grab a taxi with Mohammed Ramadan who is driving, while talking on the phone via bluetooth while following Mrs. Nav to get us to the Sheraton. (Mrs. Nav is a gps-he tells me he can get us anywhere on the island but out here he needs help).
The JFK Sheraton is a throw back in time. After we check in (I realize now I have idea how much it is) I went straight to the bar and take a glass of Cab Sav to our room.
It's after midnight and our Chinese takeout was just delivered.
Our plan is to sleep in, have breakfast, hang, checkout late and head right back to the terminal. We'll take the shuttle bus to save $$.
We are now on a 5:15ish flight to Paris arriving at 6:45am.
Life is NOT dull. Always something.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
the organizing is killing me
- 3 ski schedules
- 3 school schedules
- 3 grades, etc to keep on top of
- mono
- truancy issues
- dog - upcoming kennel stays
- randall's island soccer
- holland trip
- memorial day - 2x tournaments/hotels/schedules etc
- futsal
- outdoor soccer schdeulesx3
- sylvan
- powerspeak
- xpat
- wt2012
- obx - organization&packing
- graduation
- yearbook
- the news site
- archie's site
- tu - dinner & event
- qc trip
- matrix damage
- hip hop
- gmvs gifts
- bills
- laundry
- summer plans?
- camp - sign up/pay
- clean
- declutter
- summer job?
- license
- another job?
- another website?
- fla trip - quebec? hotel? car rental?
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Yearbook Quote
Here is the quote that S picked for his yearbook page:
"Champions aren't made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them -- a desire, a dream, a vision."
- Muhammad Ali
"Champions aren't made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them -- a desire, a dream, a vision."
- Muhammad Ali
A typical winter Saturday
By 7:40 am I had already folded a load of laundry, changed the laundry, unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher, made tuna sandwiches and packed them all up in a cooler.
M had to take A up to the mountain for training today. I have to take S to soccer and then a meeting for his teams trip to NL.
And J called last night to let me know that he thinks he has another ear infection. Apparently he had one about a month ago while at school. He asked someone at the office to drive him down to the Health Center, saw a Dr. and then was driven to the pharmacy to get a 10 day supply of amoxillon (?sp). He only told me all this weeks later.
So I called the Dr. on duty in the valley - explained the situation and he nicely offered to call in a prescription.
This leaves me to finish up the laundry, pack up for Burke (oh, because I have to go to Burke tonight with A because she has a race - not just any race - the shootouts - tomorrow), go the bank, pick up the prescription, drive S to soccer, wait for the meeting, bring S home, drive to valley, get A, drop off the drugs and drive to Burke.
Not to mention making sure S has emailed in quote for the yearbook, filled out his votes for the hall of fame, his science expo info sheet and numerous other loose ends around the house.
M will tune/wax A's skis and then come home and deal with dog and S for the evening.
And I'll be up at the crack of dawn, standing around on the mtn, watching a race, driving back and heading to A's mother and daughter book group.
This is typical for a Saturday in the winter.
M had to take A up to the mountain for training today. I have to take S to soccer and then a meeting for his teams trip to NL.
And J called last night to let me know that he thinks he has another ear infection. Apparently he had one about a month ago while at school. He asked someone at the office to drive him down to the Health Center, saw a Dr. and then was driven to the pharmacy to get a 10 day supply of amoxillon (?sp). He only told me all this weeks later.
So I called the Dr. on duty in the valley - explained the situation and he nicely offered to call in a prescription.
This leaves me to finish up the laundry, pack up for Burke (oh, because I have to go to Burke tonight with A because she has a race - not just any race - the shootouts - tomorrow), go the bank, pick up the prescription, drive S to soccer, wait for the meeting, bring S home, drive to valley, get A, drop off the drugs and drive to Burke.
Not to mention making sure S has emailed in quote for the yearbook, filled out his votes for the hall of fame, his science expo info sheet and numerous other loose ends around the house.
M will tune/wax A's skis and then come home and deal with dog and S for the evening.
And I'll be up at the crack of dawn, standing around on the mtn, watching a race, driving back and heading to A's mother and daughter book group.
This is typical for a Saturday in the winter.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Who got bullied here?
I got a call yesterday from the Behaviour Specialist (BS) at school letting me know there was an issue with A at school.
The BS tells me someone overheard A saying mean things to another girl or about another girl - it was a little unclear. He then said that he and the School Counselor (SC) had a talk with her to let her know this is not nice and that she should be aware that eventually everything you say eventually gets back.
The BS also told me she was not in trouble. and he told her (and me) that is this happens again - then A will be in trouble for bullying. what?
A got off the bus in tears. It took an hour of talking through this - but I didn't have the whole story - so I was telling her that she had to try and remember what she might have said.....
This child can not say anything mean about anyone. She was devestated that she had hurt someone else's feelings. She had no idea whose feelings she had hurt. Two of her friends were also pulled out and the 3 of them have no idea what the BS & SC are talking about.
Oh and A was taken out during MATH and returned to math crying. She was the first to be taken out.
She maintains she hasn't said anything mean about anyone and wants to know who she supposedly hurt because she wants to apologize.
I wanted to call the BS & SC yesterday but didn't get a chance as was in mtgs and driving etc. but apparently another mom called. this is the text that I got from A last night:
"Mom friend said that we didnt get in trouble we just went in there to learn to be leaders to the people who arnt as popular. her mom called the SC. so i guess thats wat it is"
Really? that's not the call I got. and that's not the report I got from A about her little meeting with the BS & SC.
I called friend's mom right away.
and yes - this is true - there was no specific incident.
so my daughter was pulled out during MATH, spoken to by 2 adults (2 vs 1) for something that didn't happen. and threatened that if it happens again? then she will be in trouble for bullying?
The only one who was bullied was A! And she was taken out of math for what??????
Am I reading into this too much? or is this crazy?
The BS tells me someone overheard A saying mean things to another girl or about another girl - it was a little unclear. He then said that he and the School Counselor (SC) had a talk with her to let her know this is not nice and that she should be aware that eventually everything you say eventually gets back.
The BS also told me she was not in trouble. and he told her (and me) that is this happens again - then A will be in trouble for bullying. what?
A got off the bus in tears. It took an hour of talking through this - but I didn't have the whole story - so I was telling her that she had to try and remember what she might have said.....
This child can not say anything mean about anyone. She was devestated that she had hurt someone else's feelings. She had no idea whose feelings she had hurt. Two of her friends were also pulled out and the 3 of them have no idea what the BS & SC are talking about.
Oh and A was taken out during MATH and returned to math crying. She was the first to be taken out.
She maintains she hasn't said anything mean about anyone and wants to know who she supposedly hurt because she wants to apologize.
I wanted to call the BS & SC yesterday but didn't get a chance as was in mtgs and driving etc. but apparently another mom called. this is the text that I got from A last night:
"Mom friend said that we didnt get in trouble we just went in there to learn to be leaders to the people who arnt as popular. her mom called the SC. so i guess thats wat it is"
Really? that's not the call I got. and that's not the report I got from A about her little meeting with the BS & SC.
I called friend's mom right away.
and yes - this is true - there was no specific incident.
so my daughter was pulled out during MATH, spoken to by 2 adults (2 vs 1) for something that didn't happen. and threatened that if it happens again? then she will be in trouble for bullying?
The only one who was bullied was A! And she was taken out of math for what??????
Am I reading into this too much? or is this crazy?
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Mommy Blogging
I read an article the other day in the Sunday New York Times magazine called "Mommy_Bloggest". Fascinating. It's about Heather Armstrong and her blog, Dooce. Check it out - according to the article she is making between $30' and $50'000 per month from the site!! OMG! So much money.....sounds easy, right? Just write about being a mom and all the ridiculous, crazy things we have to deal with and you can make some $.
(She's even written some books - here's one: It Sucked and Then I Cried: How I Had a Baby, a Breakdown, and a Much Needed Margarita
I couldn't do it. No way. Expose myself and my family to millions of people? Talk about my family and all it's craziness, put it out there on the internet for millions to read - who cares, right? But wait, what about my family? Don't we all have things in our families that are private?
Does everyone need to air their dirty laundry?
Maybe it's worth it for that kind of money. Maybe? Hey, we certainly could use that money...but I don't think I'm that kind of person. Bad mouth the family, tell all - for what money? what would happen to my relationships with my family? Money doesn't buy happiness, nor does it buy family.
Believe me, I could write several hollywood movies on some of the craziness that goes on in my disfuntional family.
(She's even written some books - here's one: It Sucked and Then I Cried: How I Had a Baby, a Breakdown, and a Much Needed Margarita
I couldn't do it. No way. Expose myself and my family to millions of people? Talk about my family and all it's craziness, put it out there on the internet for millions to read - who cares, right? But wait, what about my family? Don't we all have things in our families that are private?
Does everyone need to air their dirty laundry?
Maybe it's worth it for that kind of money. Maybe? Hey, we certainly could use that money...but I don't think I'm that kind of person. Bad mouth the family, tell all - for what money? what would happen to my relationships with my family? Money doesn't buy happiness, nor does it buy family.
Believe me, I could write several hollywood movies on some of the craziness that goes on in my disfuntional family.
Friday, February 18, 2011
running several businesses
ok. being a mom today is really like running a lot of different businesses. i know it's not a novel comparision but i just can't believe how the older my children get the more behind the scenes organization there is.
not only do you have to monitor all their dentists, ortho and doctor appointments, times 3, there are school items, sports items and anything else that they are involved with.
then you throw in 2-3 schools between the 3. signing up for high school classes, getting documentation and money ready for a class trip, graduation organization, yearbook photos, forms, forms, forms. not to mention the driving between home and the schools and dealing with any other "issue" (ie truancy) you may have with the school at any given time.
there's making sure that your children are passing at school. are they doing well? checking in to make sure they have good study habits and are taking school seriously and working hard. i really wish the grading system i had growing up still existed today - simple - just add a number after the letter grade for effort. such a little thing - but so valuable.
there's also applications, letters of recommendations for programs, flex terms and camps. the organization of getting all forms, filling them all out and then having them all complete and handed in by a deadline.
there's also 3 soccer teams, scheduling, fundraising (coffee, raffle etc), organizing carpools, driving carpools, uniform orders, holland trip details - forms, payments, meetings. not to mention evaluations, training weekends, hotel reservations and just keeping track of who is playing when and where and getting them there!
there's also the ski racing. 3 racers in different age groups. means making sure everyone has the right skis, they're waxed and ready to go for race day. who's driving? and packing countless lunches. the psychological piece is heavy on this too....
and then you have the bigger issue looming on the horizon - drivers license, organizing insurance, a car?, summer jobs, eventual college trips, applications etc....
not only do you have to monitor all their dentists, ortho and doctor appointments, times 3, there are school items, sports items and anything else that they are involved with.
then you throw in 2-3 schools between the 3. signing up for high school classes, getting documentation and money ready for a class trip, graduation organization, yearbook photos, forms, forms, forms. not to mention the driving between home and the schools and dealing with any other "issue" (ie truancy) you may have with the school at any given time.
there's making sure that your children are passing at school. are they doing well? checking in to make sure they have good study habits and are taking school seriously and working hard. i really wish the grading system i had growing up still existed today - simple - just add a number after the letter grade for effort. such a little thing - but so valuable.
there's also applications, letters of recommendations for programs, flex terms and camps. the organization of getting all forms, filling them all out and then having them all complete and handed in by a deadline.
there's also 3 soccer teams, scheduling, fundraising (coffee, raffle etc), organizing carpools, driving carpools, uniform orders, holland trip details - forms, payments, meetings. not to mention evaluations, training weekends, hotel reservations and just keeping track of who is playing when and where and getting them there!
there's also the ski racing. 3 racers in different age groups. means making sure everyone has the right skis, they're waxed and ready to go for race day. who's driving? and packing countless lunches. the psychological piece is heavy on this too....
and then you have the bigger issue looming on the horizon - drivers license, organizing insurance, a car?, summer jobs, eventual college trips, applications etc....
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Race to Nowhere and then some.....
I saw the movie Race to Nowhere last night.
Powerful, although not as powerful as Waiting for Superman.
But, nonetheless very good food for thought!
We don't live outside of NY, LA or Boston so don't think the pressure our kids feel is nearly as bad as kids in those suburban areas. But it does still exist here too. We hold our children to a high standard, as my parents did for me. And there is definitely a fine line between supporting to succeed to get good grades, to work, to perform to your potential and pushing for performance because the child needs to get into a good college.
People are actually making decisions on programs and experiences because they think it will look good on their child's college application resume. Throwing money at program after program, trip after trip because it will look good. They think it will help their child get into a better college.
Are they kidding? What ever happened to valuing experience for experience sake. Just enjoy. Go on one trip. Enjoy that trip, embrace it, experience it. The motives are wrong. The pressure for that college app resume is taking away from the experience.
Not all kids want to go to Africa, South America, Asia - whereever. Did Mom and Dad pick that trip? pay for that trip? Yes, parents can give ideas, help direct a teen's experiences but the REASON for sending a child on any trip or program should be 100% for the experience - not the college app resume. They are doing it for the wrong reason.
I have so far taken 2 of my 3 children to Africa for 3-4 weeks to volunteer when they were in 8th grade. This is not on the college app resume. My goal was to open their eyes to the bigger world, to the developing world, to see first hand how other people live, eat, survive, spent their days.
I am a firm believer that experiences are a huge part of what shapes a person - who they become, what they will do, how they will chose to live their lives.
My children have been very lucky so far in their short lives. They were born abroad, lived abroad and have traveled a lot. They are seasoned travelers and can deal with jet lag, different foods, no sleep, lost luggage, foreign languages etc.
They will carry around with them those memories of their trips forever. The images of the homes, the children, the food, the smells will be with them forever. They have the knowledge that not everyone lives like we do, that not everyone HAS all that we have.
Volunteer travel is a powerful thing. It's too bad so many are doing it for the college app resume....
How did I go from Race to Nowhere to volunteer travel. Yes, apparentely by blog is named correctly - "random ramblings of motherhood".
I talk like this too.
Powerful, although not as powerful as Waiting for Superman.
But, nonetheless very good food for thought!
We don't live outside of NY, LA or Boston so don't think the pressure our kids feel is nearly as bad as kids in those suburban areas. But it does still exist here too. We hold our children to a high standard, as my parents did for me. And there is definitely a fine line between supporting to succeed to get good grades, to work, to perform to your potential and pushing for performance because the child needs to get into a good college.
People are actually making decisions on programs and experiences because they think it will look good on their child's college application resume. Throwing money at program after program, trip after trip because it will look good. They think it will help their child get into a better college.
Are they kidding? What ever happened to valuing experience for experience sake. Just enjoy. Go on one trip. Enjoy that trip, embrace it, experience it. The motives are wrong. The pressure for that college app resume is taking away from the experience.
Not all kids want to go to Africa, South America, Asia - whereever. Did Mom and Dad pick that trip? pay for that trip? Yes, parents can give ideas, help direct a teen's experiences but the REASON for sending a child on any trip or program should be 100% for the experience - not the college app resume. They are doing it for the wrong reason.
I have so far taken 2 of my 3 children to Africa for 3-4 weeks to volunteer when they were in 8th grade. This is not on the college app resume. My goal was to open their eyes to the bigger world, to the developing world, to see first hand how other people live, eat, survive, spent their days.
I am a firm believer that experiences are a huge part of what shapes a person - who they become, what they will do, how they will chose to live their lives.
My children have been very lucky so far in their short lives. They were born abroad, lived abroad and have traveled a lot. They are seasoned travelers and can deal with jet lag, different foods, no sleep, lost luggage, foreign languages etc.
They will carry around with them those memories of their trips forever. The images of the homes, the children, the food, the smells will be with them forever. They have the knowledge that not everyone lives like we do, that not everyone HAS all that we have.
Volunteer travel is a powerful thing. It's too bad so many are doing it for the college app resume....
How did I go from Race to Nowhere to volunteer travel. Yes, apparentely by blog is named correctly - "random ramblings of motherhood".
I talk like this too.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Another one of these emails
the last line is my favorite:
Friendship ~ None of that Sissy Shit
Are you tired of those sissy 'friendship' poems that always sound good, but never actually come close to reality?
Well, here is a series of promises that actually speak of true friendship.
You will see no cute little smiley faces on this ~Just the stone cold truth of our great friendship.
• When you are sad ~ I will help you get drunk and plot revenge against the sorry bastard who made you sad.
• When you are blue ~ I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.
• When you smile ~ I will know you are thinking of something that I would probably want to be involved in.
• When you are scared ~ I will rag on you about it every chance I get until you're NOT.
• When you are worried ~ I will tell you horrible stories about how much worse it could be until you quit whining.
• When you are confused ~ I will try to use only little words.
• When you are sick ~ Stay the hell away from me until you are well again. I don't want whatever you have.
• When you fall ~ I will laugh at your clumsy ass, but I'll help you up.
This is my oath .... I pledge it to the end. 'Why?' you may ask ~ because you are my friend.
Friendship is like peeing your pants, everyone can see it, but only you can feel the true warmth.
Friendship ~ None of that Sissy Shit
Are you tired of those sissy 'friendship' poems that always sound good, but never actually come close to reality?
Well, here is a series of promises that actually speak of true friendship.
You will see no cute little smiley faces on this ~Just the stone cold truth of our great friendship.
• When you are sad ~ I will help you get drunk and plot revenge against the sorry bastard who made you sad.
• When you are blue ~ I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.
• When you smile ~ I will know you are thinking of something that I would probably want to be involved in.
• When you are scared ~ I will rag on you about it every chance I get until you're NOT.
• When you are worried ~ I will tell you horrible stories about how much worse it could be until you quit whining.
• When you are confused ~ I will try to use only little words.
• When you are sick ~ Stay the hell away from me until you are well again. I don't want whatever you have.
• When you fall ~ I will laugh at your clumsy ass, but I'll help you up.
This is my oath .... I pledge it to the end. 'Why?' you may ask ~ because you are my friend.
Friendship is like peeing your pants, everyone can see it, but only you can feel the true warmth.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Laugh for the day
Dear Noah,
We could have sworn you said the ark wasn't leaving till 5.
Sincerely, Unicorns
Dear Icebergs,
Sorry to hear about the global warming. Karma's a bitch.
Sincerely, The Titanic
Dear J.K. Rowling,
Your books are entirely unrealistic. I mean, a ginger kid with two friends?
Sincerely, Anonymous
Dear America,
You produced Miley Cyrus. Bieber is your punishment.
Sincerely, Canada
Dear Boyfriend,
I can make your girlfriend scream louder than you can.
Sincerely, Spiders
Dear Voldemort,
So they screwed up your nose too?
Sincerely, Michael Jackson
Dear Yahoo,
I've never heard anyone say, "I don't know, let's Yahoo! it..." just saying...
Sincerely, Google
Dear girls who have been dumped,
There are plenty of fish in the sea... Just kidding! They're all dead.
Sincerely, BP
Dear 2010,
So I hear the best rapper is white and the president is black? WTF happened?!
Sincerely, 1985
Dear Justin Bieber,
Ariel would really love her voice back.
Sincerely, King Triton
Dear Rose,
There was definitely room on that raft for the both of us.
Sincerely, Jack
Dear Windshield Wipers,
Can't touch this.
Sincerely, That Little Triangle
Dear Taylor Swift,
If it is of any interest to you, Romeo and Juliet both kill themselves in the end.
Sincerely, Shakespeare
Dear Soccer Fans,
B B B B B B Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z
Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z!
Sincerely, Vuvuzelas
Dear Saturn,
I liked it, so I put a ring on it.
Sincerely, God
Dear Rubik's Cube,
Done!
Sincerely, Colorblind
Dear Santa,
Please tell me how you managed to stop at three Ho's.
Sincerely, Tiger Woods
Dear Boys Wearing Skinny Jeans,
I. Can't. Breathe.
Sincerely, Your Balls
Dear Martin Luther King Jr.,
I have a dream within a dream within a dream within another dream... What now?
Sincerely, Leonardo DiCaprio
Dear Sleeping Beauty,
I had to join the army, dress up like a man, defeat the hun army and totally save China for my man.
All you had to do was wake up.
Sincerely, Mulan
Dear Romeo,
My death isn't the only thing I've been faking...
Sincerely, Juliet
Dear Fox News,
So far, no news about foxes.
Sincerely, Unimpressed
Dear Sex Educators,
Abstinence is only 99.99% effective.
Sincerely, The Virgin Mary
Dear Twilight fans, Please realize that because vampires are dead and have no blood pumping through them, they can never get an erection.
Enjoy fantasizing about that.
Sincerely, Logic
Dear Toaster,
Just gonna stand there and watch me burn?
Sincerely, Toast
Dear Edward,
I really hope that one day, I can find my way into your heart.
Sincerely, a stake
Dear Prince Charming,
You've got some explaining to do!
Sincerely, Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel, and Sleeping Beauty
We could have sworn you said the ark wasn't leaving till 5.
Sincerely, Unicorns
Dear Icebergs,
Sorry to hear about the global warming. Karma's a bitch.
Sincerely, The Titanic
Dear J.K. Rowling,
Your books are entirely unrealistic. I mean, a ginger kid with two friends?
Sincerely, Anonymous
Dear America,
You produced Miley Cyrus. Bieber is your punishment.
Sincerely, Canada
Dear Boyfriend,
I can make your girlfriend scream louder than you can.
Sincerely, Spiders
Dear Voldemort,
So they screwed up your nose too?
Sincerely, Michael Jackson
Dear Yahoo,
I've never heard anyone say, "I don't know, let's Yahoo! it..." just saying...
Sincerely, Google
Dear girls who have been dumped,
There are plenty of fish in the sea... Just kidding! They're all dead.
Sincerely, BP
Dear 2010,
So I hear the best rapper is white and the president is black? WTF happened?!
Sincerely, 1985
Dear Justin Bieber,
Ariel would really love her voice back.
Sincerely, King Triton
Dear Rose,
There was definitely room on that raft for the both of us.
Sincerely, Jack
Dear Windshield Wipers,
Can't touch this.
Sincerely, That Little Triangle
Dear Taylor Swift,
If it is of any interest to you, Romeo and Juliet both kill themselves in the end.
Sincerely, Shakespeare
Dear Soccer Fans,
B B B B B B Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z
Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z!
Sincerely, Vuvuzelas
Dear Saturn,
I liked it, so I put a ring on it.
Sincerely, God
Dear Rubik's Cube,
Done!
Sincerely, Colorblind
Dear Santa,
Please tell me how you managed to stop at three Ho's.
Sincerely, Tiger Woods
Dear Boys Wearing Skinny Jeans,
I. Can't. Breathe.
Sincerely, Your Balls
Dear Martin Luther King Jr.,
I have a dream within a dream within a dream within another dream... What now?
Sincerely, Leonardo DiCaprio
Dear Sleeping Beauty,
I had to join the army, dress up like a man, defeat the hun army and totally save China for my man.
All you had to do was wake up.
Sincerely, Mulan
Dear Romeo,
My death isn't the only thing I've been faking...
Sincerely, Juliet
Dear Fox News,
So far, no news about foxes.
Sincerely, Unimpressed
Dear Sex Educators,
Abstinence is only 99.99% effective.
Sincerely, The Virgin Mary
Dear Twilight fans, Please realize that because vampires are dead and have no blood pumping through them, they can never get an erection.
Enjoy fantasizing about that.
Sincerely, Logic
Dear Toaster,
Just gonna stand there and watch me burn?
Sincerely, Toast
Dear Edward,
I really hope that one day, I can find my way into your heart.
Sincerely, a stake
Dear Prince Charming,
You've got some explaining to do!
Sincerely, Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel, and Sleeping Beauty
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Truancy
Yes, taking your children out of school is considered being truant. And we will get the letter. In fact, I already got the first one - Anna has been out 7 days so far this school year - due to illness! The school policy states that a student must be at home with a fever, and must be fever free for 24 hours before returning. Yet, those days away count as truancy....
Yes, our school policy says keep kids home with a fever, yet the county truancy policy reprimands you for all and any days your child has missed - doesn't matter what the reason (illness, death in the family, suspension?). Just crazy.
I dug a little deeper and our Supervisory Union has a policy that says all illnesses count as valid excuses.
Ok, so:
My school says keep your kids home with fever, my SU says that's ok - keeping children home when they are sick is a valid excuse. Yet our county says they don't care why your child misses school - it's all under their truancy umbrella.
I even got a letter from my school letting us know that Anna has been truant.....but I kept her home because their policy told me I had to.
Go figure.
I did email the principal as well as others - and they all back track and cover and blame at different levels and don't ever take responsibility that there are some serious inconsistancies and they need to look into this.....
Yes, our school policy says keep kids home with a fever, yet the county truancy policy reprimands you for all and any days your child has missed - doesn't matter what the reason (illness, death in the family, suspension?). Just crazy.
I dug a little deeper and our Supervisory Union has a policy that says all illnesses count as valid excuses.
Ok, so:
My school says keep your kids home with fever, my SU says that's ok - keeping children home when they are sick is a valid excuse. Yet our county says they don't care why your child misses school - it's all under their truancy umbrella.
I even got a letter from my school letting us know that Anna has been truant.....but I kept her home because their policy told me I had to.
Go figure.
I did email the principal as well as others - and they all back track and cover and blame at different levels and don't ever take responsibility that there are some serious inconsistancies and they need to look into this.....
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Sustainable Life
Yes, we all have ideas of how we are going to live, things we are going to change every year. I have plenty, many of which I have on the "list" every year. But you know - it's fun and rejuvenating and brings me back to ideas, plans, values etc.
This morning The New York Times put out a couple links to some great blog posts - ones that I want to "save":
on love
on money
on food
on technology
This morning The New York Times put out a couple links to some great blog posts - ones that I want to "save":
on love
on money
on food
on technology
Saturday, January 1, 2011
1.1.11 ~ ONE
Happy New Year!
spent the day packing, unpacking and tracking down a strep test for anna.
negative.
phew.
hope this isn't a sign of things to come for 2011!
spent the day packing, unpacking and tracking down a strep test for anna.
negative.
phew.
hope this isn't a sign of things to come for 2011!
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