Here's a fun video. Now that kids are out for the summer you can show them this blast from the past video with Jiminy Cricket. It is about 8 minutes and 21 seconds. If you can't pull up the movie here is the url: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJx0f0EwPr8
Sunday, May 31, 2009
So Much For the Good Mom Theory!
I have been working very hard to be a good mom. After all there is just one kid and he is only with me two weeks out of every month. Let me just list my virtues: I quit a second job so I could spend more time with him. I signed him up to play a very costly sport (I know what teenage boys can do if they are not kept busy.) I help with homework, give lunch money, buy new underwear, socks, shorts, and t-shirts, sit in the living room while he watches TV because he wants his mom nearby, and I even attempt to cook and keep cold water in the refrigerator.
So-after all this hard work I find out my wonderful teenager is getting a very low grade in Spanish. In fact, I won't tell you the grade so he isn't embarrassed, but suffice it to say you really can't get much worse than this grade. Now, those of you in Arizona let me just say that although I was jealous that you got out of school so early-as usual-I am glad I had an extra couple weeks to help him get caught up in Spanish class.
All week long we have been doing homework amidst lacrosse games and practices. We have completed an autobiography complete with pictures for English. And finally today we finished all the Spanish we could possible finish and did all the extra credit we could possibly do. Why am I saying "we"? Oh man, am I tired. After all this work I deserve to pass the class--er I mean after all the work he did he deserves to pass the class. All right-I did help, but he had to do the work. So-really he has earned at least one grade higher than it is now, thus a passing grade and a mother who will not be mad at him all summer. I guess I'm not supermom, but next year--no pass no play policy goes into effect at this house!
So-after all this hard work I find out my wonderful teenager is getting a very low grade in Spanish. In fact, I won't tell you the grade so he isn't embarrassed, but suffice it to say you really can't get much worse than this grade. Now, those of you in Arizona let me just say that although I was jealous that you got out of school so early-as usual-I am glad I had an extra couple weeks to help him get caught up in Spanish class.
All week long we have been doing homework amidst lacrosse games and practices. We have completed an autobiography complete with pictures for English. And finally today we finished all the Spanish we could possible finish and did all the extra credit we could possibly do. Why am I saying "we"? Oh man, am I tired. After all this work I deserve to pass the class--er I mean after all the work he did he deserves to pass the class. All right-I did help, but he had to do the work. So-really he has earned at least one grade higher than it is now, thus a passing grade and a mother who will not be mad at him all summer. I guess I'm not supermom, but next year--no pass no play policy goes into effect at this house!
Monday, May 25, 2009
Life in the Fast Lane
I drive down the freeway in the "slow" lane, catch myself going about 45 miles an hour behind some idiot who is talking on the phone and realize I'm making that choice to drive behind him. Please--No one else is on the road, so why do I get mad at him? Eventually I make my way to the fast lane and am much happier going speeds better for freeway driving. If it is a cool enough day I can even do this speedy driving with my sunroof open, radio blasting, hat on (so my head doesn't get sunburned), and freshly spread sunscreen on my arms. Now that's the life!
The fast lane has always been enjoyable for me, but lately I've noticed that I drive slower than usual and tend to stay in the slow lane. When a new freeway was built with the max speed of 55 mph I chose to take the slower freeway. What is wrong with me? I must be getting old. Come to think of it those Sunday drives are sounding better and better. In fact, when I think about driving I now get excited to drive 55 instead of 65.
I've noticed this about life too. Where I used to be all about going fast and accomplishing a lot, I now am much happier to putz around doing just about nothing. Well--okay--that's probably an accurate winter description of how I handle life. Really-snow, cold, and no sun make putzing one of my favorite past times. Of course you can't really putz unless you go to bed early or sleep in late. So-in the winter it is early to bed and putzing during the day.
Spring, summer, and fall are much more like being in the fast lane. In fact I've been walking close to five miles per day, then I find some project to work on. Today I walked, got a blister, put a bandaid on my blister while I felt sorry for myself, did laundry, went to Home Depot, made a shelf to put a planter on, went back to Home Depot to find something to hook it on to my fence with so the cat's don't do their business in my strawberries, picked up Austin from his friends house, made dinner, picked up medicine from Walgreens, helped Austin with homework, signed him up for lacrosse camp this summer, made an excel sheet of what I have spent on Austin this school year, surfed the web, and blogged. This kind of sounds like putzing, but it is more quick paced than winter putzing.
Anyway-I guess I need to remember that sometimes putzing is okay. Sometimes slowing down and taking time to enjoy life is a good thing. In fact, this summer I plan to do more putzing than normal. Sounds like fun--oh man, I am getting old.
The fast lane has always been enjoyable for me, but lately I've noticed that I drive slower than usual and tend to stay in the slow lane. When a new freeway was built with the max speed of 55 mph I chose to take the slower freeway. What is wrong with me? I must be getting old. Come to think of it those Sunday drives are sounding better and better. In fact, when I think about driving I now get excited to drive 55 instead of 65.
I've noticed this about life too. Where I used to be all about going fast and accomplishing a lot, I now am much happier to putz around doing just about nothing. Well--okay--that's probably an accurate winter description of how I handle life. Really-snow, cold, and no sun make putzing one of my favorite past times. Of course you can't really putz unless you go to bed early or sleep in late. So-in the winter it is early to bed and putzing during the day.
Spring, summer, and fall are much more like being in the fast lane. In fact I've been walking close to five miles per day, then I find some project to work on. Today I walked, got a blister, put a bandaid on my blister while I felt sorry for myself, did laundry, went to Home Depot, made a shelf to put a planter on, went back to Home Depot to find something to hook it on to my fence with so the cat's don't do their business in my strawberries, picked up Austin from his friends house, made dinner, picked up medicine from Walgreens, helped Austin with homework, signed him up for lacrosse camp this summer, made an excel sheet of what I have spent on Austin this school year, surfed the web, and blogged. This kind of sounds like putzing, but it is more quick paced than winter putzing.
Anyway-I guess I need to remember that sometimes putzing is okay. Sometimes slowing down and taking time to enjoy life is a good thing. In fact, this summer I plan to do more putzing than normal. Sounds like fun--oh man, I am getting old.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
Plea for United Order
Have you ever wondered why it is when things have just gotten under control financially that everything goes kaput? Here's just a little example: I'll give some background first. My 13 year old really wants to go to Disneyland. More than six months ago I decided we would go. I planned to buy tickets one each month so he, a friend, and I could go. Then, put money away for gas, hotel, and food. So-the first month I bought one ticket. Haven't been able to afford it since.
Recently I received some extra money. I thought, "oh, this is great. I can purchase the tickets and put some away." But no--I had some bills I couldn't pay before-so I paid those. I gave the church money and bought some food, thus not having money for more tickets. Even more recently I was wondering how I was going to pay for this vacation. I thought I had it figured out so I could at least purchase the last two tickets. I had to take the car in to get a tire rotation, alignment, oil change, and headlight so we could drive safely on vacation. Great, right?
No, of course not. I received a call that they couldn't rotate tires because the tires are so bad they must be replaced. Of course, can't afford it so I said no. I can buy two more tickets if I don't buy tires--doesn't quite cost as much, but you get the idea. However, if I don't buy tires I can't drive on vacation.
If all that isn't bad enough I take classes online and my laptop which I use daily crashed. It is no longer alive. Why oh why oh why?
So-here's where the plea for the United Order comes in. If I want to take my son and a friend on vacation to Disneyland, they should just let me. I could spend my days teaching classes or being a guide in trade. I'd even clean the bathrooms. That would be totally cool with me. I need tires--so give me four new tires and an alignment and let me help with oil changes for a few days. I'd be cool with that too. But where I am now I get no vacation and no tires. Can't a single working mom get some type of break? I am totally ready to live the United Order.
Recently I received some extra money. I thought, "oh, this is great. I can purchase the tickets and put some away." But no--I had some bills I couldn't pay before-so I paid those. I gave the church money and bought some food, thus not having money for more tickets. Even more recently I was wondering how I was going to pay for this vacation. I thought I had it figured out so I could at least purchase the last two tickets. I had to take the car in to get a tire rotation, alignment, oil change, and headlight so we could drive safely on vacation. Great, right?
No, of course not. I received a call that they couldn't rotate tires because the tires are so bad they must be replaced. Of course, can't afford it so I said no. I can buy two more tickets if I don't buy tires--doesn't quite cost as much, but you get the idea. However, if I don't buy tires I can't drive on vacation.
If all that isn't bad enough I take classes online and my laptop which I use daily crashed. It is no longer alive. Why oh why oh why?
So-here's where the plea for the United Order comes in. If I want to take my son and a friend on vacation to Disneyland, they should just let me. I could spend my days teaching classes or being a guide in trade. I'd even clean the bathrooms. That would be totally cool with me. I need tires--so give me four new tires and an alignment and let me help with oil changes for a few days. I'd be cool with that too. But where I am now I get no vacation and no tires. Can't a single working mom get some type of break? I am totally ready to live the United Order.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Something of Nothing
I keep trying to think of something to write about. However, I haven't thought of anything, so here I am posting something about nothing. I have now sat through two Lacrosse games in pouring rain. I've decided I need a bigger umbrella. I either had to protect my knees from getting wet, or the back of my chair. If I didn't cover the back of my chair then my behind ended up getting wet. It was kind of miserable, but I was impressed that these boys played a full game in the pouring rain.
Nothing much has been happening. I am tired. It's the end of the school year and everyone at school gets grouchy after spring break. I am excited for summer. It will be good to have an entire summer break.
Nothing much has been happening. I am tired. It's the end of the school year and everyone at school gets grouchy after spring break. I am excited for summer. It will be good to have an entire summer break.
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