Damn weather!

Today I took off of work and with good reason. I was going to take my daughter on my very first field trip as a mom. She has already been on several outings with her school, but this is/was my first chance. Looks like the powers that be had their own plan. It is snowing like crazy here and her field trip has been cancelled. Her school called me about 20 minutes ago and said we are not going to take the kids out. The roads are too bad.

I cried. I have really wanted to be "that mom" to do the fun things with her child and I feel like it has been striped away from me once again. I guess it is true when we are told we cannot control the forces of nature, but if for this once I could I would be the happiest person.

I do have to say snow is much prettier when you are looking at it from the inside all warm and toasty!

Birthdays: High Pressure?

I recently read an article (below) in a local newspaper regarding lavish birthday parties for children. There were a few thoughts that crossed my mind. My initial thought that came to mind was the show on MTV called Sweet Sixteen. This is what the article is going to talk about… This show geared towards our teenage youth throwing lavish Paris Hilton like parties. These teens have parties that are at least six-figures. The goal is for them to out-do their friends because their parents have money. These teens try to book popular names to perform music at their parties. They want fancy entrances with hot young buff men carrying them in. Ultimately at the end of the night they get will get a fancy vehicle (BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar, Lexus) sporting their new public status.

While I haven’t lived the life of the wealthy I can’t speak from experience of having the proverbial silver spoon in my mouth or purse or whatever. All I can say is I am a hard working woman and mother. I don’t know what it is like to have things handed to me. I honestly don’t know if I could accept something I haven’t worked for. It’s not in my nature.

After I began reading the article it was geared towards even younger youth. Our youths from the age of 1! Yes ONE! It seems as if parents are trying to out do one another for their children. It’s a status symbol. But what are we teaching our children when we throw large stupid parties. We are setting their expectations so high our kids are going to turn into the few snobby kids we see now. Our world is going to ruled by them.

This article is a great eye-opener to us all. I am speaking my mind and observing what I see now in today’s society. As these children begin to age I do not want to be disrespected by them. I don’t want them to think that I owe them something in my 50’s or 60’s. What happened to morals? What happened to the way we grew up as kids in the 60’s and 70’s? What are we doing??????

Parents revolt against high-pressure birthdays
Patrick Condon
The Associated Press

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Having decided on a ballerina theme for her daughter’s sixth birthday party, Michelle West drove all over to find little dancers for the cake. Then she put 50 little beefeater guards around the edges. And she gave it beautiful white icing with peppermint trim.

And what happened? The kids wouldn’t eat it.

It wasn’t long afterward that she joined a group of St. Paul parents determined to end the birthday party arms race.

Birthdays Without Pressure is taking aim at the oneupsmanship that drives moms and dads to throw parties that will really, really impress the kids and the other parents, too.

“We feel there’s a kind of cultural runaway going on right now around the birthday parties of kids,” said William Doherty, a University of Minnesota professor of family social science who had a hand in organizing the group, launched publicly earlier this month.

Birthdays Without Pressure has started a Web site and launched a media campaign.
The organization has also started collecting horror stories from other parents to argue its case. Among them:

• A birthday party for a 1-year-old featured a gift-opening that lasted two hours. The child slept through most of it.
• Seven-year-olds were picked up in stretch limos to attend the birthday party of a classmate.
• A 6-year-old guest at a St. Paul birthday party didn’t like the contents of the gift bag and declared: “This is a rip-off.”

The race to provide a unique experience at kids’ parties can even get dangerous. In December, a 4-year-old girl was mauled by a cougar that was brought in as part of the entertainment at a birthday party for a 7-year-old in Coral Gables, Fla.
Doherty, who previously led a crusade against what he called overscheduled kids, got wind of frustration among parents after a colleague related how a mother at a parenting class had lashed out against the gift bags that have become a staple of kids’ parties.

That mom was Linda Zwicky.

“I just found myself wondering, you know, does he need another pencil? Does he need another rubber ball? Does he need another whistle?” Zwicky said.
But when Zwicky began planning her son Wyatt’s third birthday party, she found herself engaging in the same kind of oneupmanship.

“I was going to do gift bags, but I was going to do them right,” Zwicky recalled. The party had a train theme, so she got sticks and bandannas and made “hobo packs” that included animal crackers and bubble solution.

Zwicky said that party was a turning point for her. She helped found Birthdays Without Pressure.

What the members want, they say, is a general agreement that not every party has to be more memorable than the last.

“Why are we feeling the pressure to do all this?” said Julie Printz, another parent in the group. “Let’s come up with ways to do this that’s in your comfort zone, and have a broader spectrum of what’s acceptable in terms of kids’ parties.”

When Wyatt turned 4, Zwicky put on a much more modest affair: No theme. No gift bags. Simple party games involving milk bottles and pennies.

“The kids had a great time,” she said. “That’s the thing — the kids don’t care what kind of effort and planning you put into it. They’re kids.”

I love Wii!

For Christmas my hubby got the new Nintendo Wii. My girlfriend and her husband that came to visit us over the holidays also have it. My girlfriend, Amy, was raving about the game and how much she loved it. I was floored, much like her I dispise video games. They are very sedentary and promote zero motivation other than using for fingers for hours on end. The only accomplishment you have is moving forward to the next level.

After I figured out how to use the new controller for the sports game I myself was in love. This game makes you get off your ass and actually motion to play the game (golf, tennis, boxing, baseball and bowling). I am really enjoying the golf and tennis games. I can honestly say that my heart beats a little faster I get very excited. I start to talk trash to my own television to my opponents much like I did while playing sports in high school.

If you are sick and tired of your spouse or children playing the games that keeps them glued to their seat. Spend the $250 to get the Wii. You won't regret it! It is a great conversation piece and a great investment.

Above is my character or Mii. You can personalize what it looks like to represent you. It's fun!

Go here to see what it's like to create a Mii. It's very similar to the actual game. Have fun!

Forgetful me...

As a parent we are faced with several responsibilities. It's amazing how we are able to function at times with various things going on. Yesterday afternoon I was on the phone with a girlfriend of mine and it hit me. I forgot to give Em lunch money for school on Tuesday. I asked her what she did and she said I just walked in the lunch line and got my lunch. I didn't have my ticket for the week (they pay in full for the week and get tickets to give to the lunch lady). Then she said, my mom will pay you back and moved on.

How resourceful for a 5 year old! And talk about making me feel terrible! Needless to say I will hear about this when she's 16.


Honestly, I forgot. I just need to remember to slow down and take a deep breath.

Hopefully I am not the only mom to forget something like that.... We are all human and I am sticking to it.

Something to ponder...

On my way to work today I was behind a garbage truck. We were stopped at a traffic light. As the light turned green I paused until there was enough room between the truck and myself. As I looked up into the horizon I notice a huge black cloud billowing out of the exhaust pipe (smoke stack). I began to think... Yes, that can be a scary thought.

As the smoke continues to rise in our environment I began to wonder... Here we have a garbage truck picking up our trash and polluting our air with these fumes. There are so many articles about landfills and the trash collected here in America And you'd think for one second with all of the environmentalists that someone would think of an air friendly trash collection vehicle. We have diapers wasting away for 100 years until they decompose and all kinds of crap bleeding into our Earths core.

I am no preacher of Mother Nature, but it hit me all of a sudden. Have I opened a can of worms?

Wishes do come true...

The other night we took Em to see Disney on Ice: Princess Wishes. It was part of her Christmas present. I have been going to see Disney on Ice productions for as long as I can remember. I have always loved going. I don't know if it was because of the Disney part or the dream of ice skating like most girls do.

We got a mailing from Ticket Master for a deal on opening night tickets for $12 a piece. I figured hell, we couldn't go wrong for $12. I called to see where in the nosebleeds we would be sitting and much to my surprise the tickets were in the lower part of The "Q" about 10 rows from the ice (click to see here).

I honestly have to say seeing several Disney productions this one was one of the best. The choreography and costumes were really good. I loved the costumes, they were full of color and looked like they took a long time to put together. Disney condensed the story lines and showed how all of the Princesses dreams come true. The part with Ariel and the Little Mermaid was my favorite!

If this production is in your area, I would suggest seeing it. It's well worth it. You and your children will LOVE it!

Here's a picture of Em and I during intermission. We were starting to get tired... but still enjoying ourselves:

I have had ENOUGH!

I am SO sick of hearing about Rosie O'Donnell and Donald Trump!! Everywhere you go, you hear about the two of them bantering. She's fat, he's a pig. Who the fuck cares? You both are a "big boy" and "big girl". If you need to seek media attention for your ridiculous high school banters. Face it, you both are pathetic (referencing your actions). Be adults and settle this as adults. We "normal" civilians have our own squabbles with others. Do you see us publicizing our problems on television? In the newspaper? In the tabloids? Um, NO!

So... Here's the easy solution... Get the hell over it, sue who ever you are going to sue and let us go about our lives without having to hear about yours!

Do you have an accent??

Recently I came across this quiz and thought it fit me rather well... Where is your accent from?

This quiz hit me dead-on! Kinda scary. The only thing is I call "pop" soda. And I often am asked if I am from Wisconsin. But here in Ohio they call Wisconsin "Wes-consin".

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Inland North You may think you speak "Standard English straight out of the dictionary" but when you step away from the Great Lakes you get asked annoying questions like "Are you from Wisconsin?" or "Are you from Chicago?" Chances are you call carbonated drinks "pop."
The Midland
North Central
The South
Philadelphia
The Northeast
The West
Boston
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Newest Obsession

During the holiday season I found a new *love*... Sierra Mist - Cranberry Splash. PepsiCo unveiled this seasonal drink for eight weeks. I bought a 20oz bottle and my taste buds were instantly in heaven.

Two days before Christmas I looked at the grocery store for some more to have around the house. The grocery store didn't have any more left, so I went back the day after Christmas to see if they received any shipments while I was shopping. I was told they would not be receiving anymore of this product.

I ended up calling the local Pepsi distributor asking if I could buy some off the floor. They didn't have any at that location, but another location in Greater Cleveland who did some of the manufacturing may have some. I called them and they had 1,100 "units" left. Once they have been distributed, they are all gone.

Once I thought all hope was lost, I went to some smaller gas stations and mom/pop grocery stores. I was in Sierra Mist heaven. I was able to purchase eight (8) 2 liters; which will last me a LONG time.

It is rumored this product will come back as a permanent flavor... One can only hope... And hopefully I don't get sick of it in the meantime.

Absence not only makes the heart grow fonder, but makes your taste buds grow fonder too!

New Year, New Beginnings

Last year for the ringing in of 2006 I did more of a year in "review". This year I thought of doing something a bit different...

Today, January 1, 2007, marks a new beginning of a New Year. Not that a strike of the clock will erase away the past, but it does pose the opportunity of a "clean slate". Sometimes we make mistakes and do or say things we do not mean with malice intent. We just spew things out without realizing the ramifications that may be forthcoming in the future. It is human nature not to think before we talk, write or take action in situations.

As I am sure most of us have been guilty of this type of behavior, I have been too. I am not going to make a "resolution" to say I won't do it again, because I can't be a cyborg and be numb to situation. Although I can try to make light of the situation and think before I speak. I hurt a few people very close to me (or so I hope) and I hope they can forgive me and give me the honor to start over again. For a new beginning.

While this was very hard for me to write I feel it necessary to let it out and be known. I have made a mistake and I am letting the world know I am not perfect. I put my pants on the same way everyone else does.

May all of you in 2007 chose your resolutions and new beginnings and follow through with them. Perhaps if we stick to our choices whether it be trying to lose weight, to quit smoking, or be organized we are all creating a new beginning in our repetitive lives. My beginning is a bit more personal and will be more challenging and perhaps more rewarding.

Happy New Year to you and yours and may your 2007 be prosperous and bring you everything you so desire.