How Adding Another Shuttle Launch is Like Lindsay Lohan Going to Rehab

Today Congress approved an extension to the space shuttle program by one more launch. The launch is scheduled for June 2011. This is big news here on the Space Coast. It will extend jobs for employees another 4 months according to our local news. It feels like this is just a band-aid for a gaping wound. Four months is a blip in the grand scheme of things. I almost wish they would just let the whole program be finished so that we can hit rock bottom and start the recovery. Instead, they just keep dragging it out. It reminds me of Lindsay Lohan going to rehab. It doesn't really fix anything, but it makes good press. The extension allows for the whole thing to be drug out even more (no, not drugged out like Lindsay).

Of course maybe rehab will work this time for Lindsay and she and the Space Coast could sync up for the recovery. Maybe she should come to Cocoa Beach while she is drying out. All the paparazzi would have to stay somewhere, so that would boost our economy.  I will have to send her a Ron Jon Surf Shop bumper sticker to encourage her. 

The Sunscreen Song

Sometimes, things just need to be shared.  I find this video/song inspirational and I hope you do too. 

The Last Song: Good Movie

My daughter and I watched The Last Song last night with Miley Cyrus.  Overall it was a very good movie.  Of course, I am partial to Miley Cyrus because she reminds me of my niece in Kentucky.  The acting was very good and Miley did a good job of playing out the teenage angst.  A short synopsis of the movie is innocent young love in a not so innocent and complicated world.  It is a great feel good movie but does have a sad ending.  My boyfriend refused to watch this "chick flick" so I do not have a male perspective on the movie. 

I find it odd however that the teen movies that are made now have guys with great bodies.  This movie and especially the Twilight movies show lots of rock hard abs.  Gee, and we only had the guys from the The Breakfast Club and The Outsiders to look at when I was growing up.  In a world of too many obese teens, I found it strange.

I read the book The Last Song within the last year.  I must admit that the book is much better than the movie, which is usually the case.  Warning however on the book, it is a real tearjerker.  My boyfriend thought I had just received news that someone had died when he came home to find my sobbing over the book.  My daughter also cried a lot with the book, whereas the movie only got misty eyes from me.

 

*Please note that I have provided my affliate link to Amazon on this post and will profit from any purchase you make from this link.

Parenting Advice: What is a Parenting Expert Anyway?

I have been checking out a lot of other blogs and a common theme that I keep coming across is parenting advice.  There are a lot of people out there that consider themselves experts at parenting.  It makes me wonder, what exactly makes someone an expert a parenting?  Is it something that someone would take classes in?  I am a parent, and I am pretty sure that I encounter situations that have never been discussed in a parenting class.  Are you an expert if you have a certain number of kids?  I have met people with one kid that are doing just great, while someone with 5 five kids is ready to melt down at any moment.  So, no, the number of kids would not have anything to do with being a parenting expert.  How about how successful your kids turn out?  Well, does that mean that they did not go to prison, got a good job and lived happily every after.  Who would define what success is?  As it turns out, I am thinking that the whole thing is subjective.  In other words, anybody could be a parenting expert, you just have to declare yourself one.  I have observed lot of kids and am parenting two.  If seems to be going well, so I must be a parenting expert. 

Now that I have declared myself a parenting expert, I shall impart valuable advice to you. 

*No two children are the same, therefore what works for one may not work for the other.  Ask any mother, each kid is different, each learns a different way and each reacts to situations differently.  So, if you have an expert telling you that you something has to be done one way and one way only, know that they are full of it and move on to someone who has actually had kids. 
*Family dynamics and routines are all different.  Some families and children thrive on structure and others feel like they are in prison if they are subjected to any type of structure.  Figure out what works for you and your family. 
*Everything does not have to be equal all the time.  In different stages of their life, kids demand different amounts of resources and energy.  An obvious example is an infant or a special needs child that seems to demand more attention than everyone else.  This is a fact of life, so quit apologizing for it and move on.  Of course I am not saying deprive the other children, but everything is not always equal.  An example in my own life is that I have one child in private school and another in public school.  More resources go towards my son in private school.  My daughter understands however that if we keep my son on the correct path now and set him up to succeed, he will be able to take care of himself later and even help me when I am old and decrepit.  If my son never went to private school, my daughter would probably be left to take care of me all by herself. 

Since I am a parenting expert now, feel free to send me parenting questions.  Also, feel free to contact me if you feel the need to pay me for my services.  

Competitive Soccer: The Good the Bad & the Ugly

My daughter is in her first year of competitive soccer.  Up until this point she has only played on rec. teams.  She got to a point however where she needed to be on a better team with good coaches so her skills would improve.  We are very fortunate that she made it onto a great team.  The girls are pretty close and were very accepting of two new players this season. 

To get into the bad part of competitive soccer, the first thing that comes to mind is the cost.  At $350.00 in fees not counting tournaments, it seems quite pricey.  A few of the families are struggling to pay the fees and we are trying to have fundraisers to help offset some of the costs for the tournaments.  Also, the schedule is demanding to say the least.  Every weekend there are regular games or a tournament.  The girls have already participated in one tournament this season and have two more to play this fall.  In the spring, the schedule is just as aggressive from what I am hearing.

As for the ugly:  my daughter experienced it in her first tournament.  It is an understatement to say that the girls on one of the others teams had "potty mouths".  The coaches and parents for that team were out of control too.  There were actually parents that threatened to meet our girls in the parking lot after the game.  My daughter has never been verbally attacked like that before and she had a hard time keeping her feelings in check.  We had to remind her that when my son played football that the parents were just as bad if not worse.  I don't know what it is about youth sports that makes parents totally lose control.  I find it pathetic.  Grow up people.  What kind of example do you want to set for the kids?  No wonder so many kids are rude, they are just imitating their parents. 

I try to use the games as a teaching moment to point out how people should and should not behave.  I am sure that is not all that my daughter will learn this year as I can already see her soccer game improving.  Meanwhile, look for me on the sidelines screaming at the top of my lungs  "GO FURY!!!". 

Living on the Space Coast: What Will Happen Next?

I have lived here on Florida's Space Coast since 1988.  The end of the space shuttle program is on the minds of everyone that lives here.  On October 1st, USA (United Space Alliance) will be decreasing their workforce by 900 or so people.  I cannot even fathom how those people must be feeling about being laid off in this dire economy.  I wish the best for each and every one of them and kudos to all the men and women who have worked on the shuttle program. 

For great pictures from the shuttle program and everything to do with space:  the NASA site has some great downloadable pics.  http://www.nasa.gov/home/index.html .  The pics are large enough you can use them as background for your computer.

Thank You Geico - Another Way to Annoy the Children

This post goes out to Geico for their new "Piggy" commercial.  This is one of those commercials that is so ridiculous that you just have to laugh when you see it.  I also find that it really irritates the kids when I imitate Maxwell the pig and say "weeeeee, weee, wee" to them. This is right up there with dancing in the car when the kids are with me (they hate that too).  I am thinking of finding pinwheels and a pig nose, that should really get them. 

*This post is in no way an endorsement for Geico insurance.  I had Geico insurance for years but switched because I was not pleased with their customer service.  However, this is giving kudos to great advertising. 

Julie & Julia: OMG I'm Julie

Watched the movie Julie & Julia tonight.  I loved the movie but it was a little freaky because I'm Julie.  No, I'm not obsessed with Julie Child, but I have most of her other attributes, I do like cooking, I am blogging, I fancy myself a writer, I am in so-so job and trying to figure out how I can make a difference in the world.   Even my boyfriend said that she is just like me.  It is really strange to see a movie that you can connect with on that level. 

As far as the movie goes, it was really good.  Even my boyfriend said it was a good movie though he groaned when I asked him if he would watch it with me and my daughter.  If you have not seen the movie it is a movie about finding your place in life.  It follows the life of Julia Child as she became a culinary student and transformed into a world renown chef and Julie who has set up a challenge to cook every recipe in Julia's cookbook within 1 year while blogging about it.  Through the story, both Julie & Julia are trying to find their way in life.  The correlations in the movie are well played and the acting is magnificent.  Overall it is a really good movie. 

Time to Get Serious

I have tried to lose weight off and on for the last several years.  Who am I kidding, ever since I had kids and my oldest is a teenager now!  I watched the Biggest Loser Tonight, and am motivated to get started now.  So,  I have decided to get serious about losing weight.  I eat pretty well, though I can probably be a little more diligent about the snacks and the portions.  I was trying to find some way that the whole thing could be fun though.  I went to the Biggest Loser site and they charge to join their program.  Then I remembered I read some recommendations for Sparkpeople somewhere.  Is anybody familiar with that site.  It seems too good to be true.  Any feedback would be helpful.

Waiting for "Superman"

I just got finished watching Oprah and she was discussing a new movie coming out called Waiting for "Superman".  The movie is a documentary that focuses on the sad state of the schools here in America.  I will be interested to see how this movie does when it is released.  I am sure the Teachers' Unions will be protesting it.  I hope it opens everyone's eyes to how important education is and how our schools could be so much better.  I am up to the task to try to make our schools better, how about you? 

If you want to check out the episode of Oprah, go here:  http://www.oprah.com/showinfo/Waiting-For-Superman-The-Movie-That-Can-Transform-Americas-Schools_2

Education is One Thing That Can Never Be Taken Away

I have emphasized to my kids the importance of education.  They have always done well in school and both are quite brilliant when they want to be, but I don't think my lecturing had gotten to them, until recently.  In the midst of the bad economy that we are going through, they have seen their mom get a job when other people could not get one, due to her college education.  And, they have watched friends of ours lose jobs, cars and even homes because of the economy.  In the meantime, they watched their financially strapped mom pay for her son to go to private school.  A lot of people think I am crazy for sending him to an expensive school, but as I said before.  If I spend my money on anything that is physical, it can be taken away.  My son's education, or anybody's for that matter can never be taken away once it is received.  Also, you only have one chance to raise your kids correctly (that will be another post) and I would rather make sure my son stays on a path towards success rather than hope everything will turn out okay. 

I have instilled in my kids that they will go to college and complete a Bachelors Degree.  I know that an education does not solve all problems, but it opens doors that would not ordinarily open otherwise.  Would I be mad at them if they didn't go to college?  No, I love my kids unconditionally, but I am trying my best to set them up to take advantage of every opportunity that comes their way. 

No Trophy For You: Calling for the Demise of Participation Trophies

When I was growing up in the 70's (yes, I'm that old), very few of my friends had trophies.  And when someone did, you knew they did something special.  In fact, I can't think of but maybe one or two of my friends that had any trophies at all.  I had a couple of ribbons from my dad's work picnic where I had won some races and was very proud of those.  Later, in middle school and high school, I received a couple of medals and of course, the all time best, a letter for my letter jacket.  Do they even still have those? 

Now, I look at my kids rooms and they have shelves of trophies.  Are my kids exceptional athletes?  No, not particularly.  My kids are good athletes and would be even better if they worked harder, but yet, they have a lot of trophies, participation trophies.  For those of you who do not have young children, a participation trophy is a trophy you receive just for being on a team.  The team does not have to place in any tournament or competition schedule for everyone to get a trophy, even the last place team gets a trophy.  So, you could have a kid that picks flowers during soccer games and that kid still get a trophy.  Everybody is supposed to feel good about the whole thing. 

In reality though, the whole participation trophy concept negates the pride that comes with earning a trophy so all awards and trophies lose their significance.  Kids no longer have an incentive to do well because they are going to get a trophy anyway.  Did we forget as a society that competition and rewards are innately good for us?  Without meaningful rewards, none of us would do or learn anything.  If you received the same paycheck that your lazy coworker received, I am sure your productivity would drop to their level.  That is human nature.  So, my question is, what are we doing to our kids if they cannot earn something to be proud of?  Are they going to only perform minimally because they are going to get a trophy anyway?

*and don't even get me started on the commercial for a certain pizza place that states that it is a good thing to lose.

Gratitude

I have read several philosophies that indicate that it is good to have gratitude.  Therefore I am creating this post to list all those things I am thankful for.  I will be updating this post to constantly add more items. 

I am thankful for:

*my children who I really think are a gift from God.
*my boyfriend, John
*Hunter, the sweetest dog in the whole world
*the freedom to choose my future
*my health
*my friends
*having enough money to live comfortably
*the beauty of the world which leaves me in awe
*food = nutrition and art in the same package
*my house
*my divorce -best thing that ever happened to me other than having my kids
*my neighbors
*my family

Paybacks Can Be Fun!

My boyfriend John and I have started a list.  We are making a list of ways to get payback.  No, we are not going out and roughing up people or anything.  We are going to get payback on my kids. 

This past weekend, John decided to cook.  Yes, I have a guy that cooks about half the time, it is great.  Anyway, I was doing laundry so he needs the 2nd set of oven mitts because the usual set is in the wash.  He searched the whole kitchen, so I tell him to look beside the organizer in the pantry that they are supposed to be in.  Well, he finds one, and we are still missing the other.  I decide to help him and find the second oven mitt and finally find it in the cabinet with my Pyrex baking dishes.  John was ticked off. 

It seems to be a fairly normal occurrence in the kitchen for things to put away in the wrong locations.  We do have the kids unload the dishwasher after all.  I suspect that the kids do this on purpose so that we will relieve them of their chores (not going to happen).  So, to find something in the kitchen is kinda like an Easter egg hunt.  Sometimes too, I find things in the kitchen that have no place there.  In fact today, I found a child's toothbrush in one of my kitchen drawers.  Mind you this is a drawer that John cleaned out completely (I witnessed it) about 4 months ago.  Somebody had to put it there fairly recently.  The really weird thing is that the toothbrush is one that was from several years ago (my kids are 11 & 14 years old now and no longer use fat handled toothbrushes with glitter and stars on them.) 

Now John and I are making a list on how to get payback on the kids.  We have decided that when they are older and moved out, we are going to visit their homes and hide stuff on them.  Maybe stuff their socks in their pillow cases.  Move stuff in their kitchen, whatever comes to mind. We are also going to bring random stuff and just leave it in hiding places.  All the annoying things that my kids do now, we are filing away and are going to get payback later.  If anyone has any suggestions on other stuff we can do, let me know. 

It's All in the Nose

Ever since I was a teen I have always loved baking.  I guess it is in my blood since my grandfather owned a bakery for years.  He retired before I was born, so I missed the opportunity to ever visit it. 

When I was in high school, I was a wrestling cheerleader and we baked for the wrestlers.  My brownies and banana bread were the most requested items.  Since then, I have still baked.  In college I learned that guys really liked freshly baked cookies and I think my roommates and I even got a couple of dates because of that.  Once I got married, my husband and I had holiday parties and I would have a whole dessert table.  In fact, when I got divorced and had to go back to work (after being a stay-at-home mom), I considered working at a bakery, but the hours were not flexible enough.     

Recently though, I have had trouble baking.  I am on some new allergy medication and I guess it has reduced my sense of smell and now I am burning everything.  I did not realize how much baking is dependent on smell.  I always wondered how people could say they are terrible bakers because they burn everything.  I just assumed that they were just careless or could not follow a recipe.  I have learned now that they probably do not have a very acute sense of smell.  I thought all this time that baking was a skill that people had or didn't have, when in reality it is all in the nose.  Now, I have to figure out how to get my sense of smell back without feeling miserable from allergies.  Wish me luck. 

Rules Do Not Apply

As a child growing up, you learn lots of rules.  Do not talk to strangers.  Do not take more than you can eat.  Always say please and thank you.  Get good grades so you can get a good job.  Be kind to others so they will be kind to you...and the list goes on. 

As an adult there are more rules to learn.  It's quality, not quantity.  Brand names last longer.  Obey traffic rules.  Pay your taxes.  Hard work always pays off.  Do not buy more than you can afford...and on an on. 

All through my life I have tried to follow the rules.  I got good grades through college, got married, had children (all in the correct order according to my parents), payed my taxes, and followed the rules.  In the meantime I was watching my friends and others consistently breaking the rules and they were no worse for the wear.  In fact some got promoted for it, others got elected for it and still others became rich by cutting the corners and being jerks to other people.  The realization came that life is not fair and never will be. 

I learned that most Rules Do Not Apply.  There are thin people that eat everything put in front of them, and fat people that live on salad greens.  There are off the charts intelligent people that are unemployed while others who are lucky to be able to sign their name have been promoted to supervisors.  There are poor kids in the ghettos that end up millionaires because some scout found out they were great at sports, while the rich kids spend their allowances on drugs and end up junkies, or worse.  There are people who bought homes they could not afford that are being bailed out, but the people who saved money are not being helped while their home values plummet and they lose all hope for retirement. 

So, I have determined that I am going to live my life by the motto that Rules Do Not Apply.  I will not resort to be a nasty person or break laws, but I will live a life with no limitations.  There is no limitation to what income I can make, what my personal goals can be.  And there is no limitation to the person I can become.  Travel with me on this journey of Rules Do Not Apply and let's see what we can create. 

I mean seriously, if we can have a President that cannot produce a valid birth certificate, scientists can change the rules as to what determines a planet (Pluto is not one), what rules can we bend to make our lives more livable and successful? 

Thank You America!

I picked an ominous day to start a blog, since it is Sept. 11th.  My thoughts today go out to those who have lost loved ones in the events that happened on this day in 2001.  I remember the day clearly as do millions of Americans.  I am overcome with the gravity of the day but also with the joy of watching communities of people come together in the aftermath.  Since I am not one to often dwell on negativity, I choose to rejoice and be thankful today for everything that is America! 

America, thank you for the freedom of speech that I am and will be expressing in this blog that I have created.  Thank you to all the military that serve to make sure my family and everyone in the United States is safe.  Thank you America for allowing me to take part in criticism and elections within our government.  Thank you America for letting me choose my profession, my religion and for letting me educate my children properly.  Thank you for the great bounty that is available in this great country.  Thank you for apple pie, baseball, and the diversity that is the American people.  I am an American and am proud of it.