Back to Blogger

I've decided to move my blog back to Blogger because the other site was too hard to access, plus there was all kinds of extra distractions and ads, and half the time people couldn't sign up. Here are some of my most recent entries.


Enchanting

I took Boo to see Enchanted today. It was the perfect mother-daughter movie. Maybe they should come out with the DVD around Mother's Day. It was about a character in a fairy tale, she was a combo of every Disney princess, and just as she is about to wed the prince, a magic spell takes her to NY where she meets a divorce attorney.
I'm so glad for the luxury of spending time with my children. I sometimes feel regret for the parents who don't spend time with their children, the way my parents did with me, and the way I do with my kids. I wonder if they ever get what they missed. I always suspect they get to the end of their lives and then it dawns on them, but I'm not sure. Maybe they never know.


A New Juice

I get up at five every morning and make my juice. It works out to a little over 2 cups of kale, spinach, carrots, and orange. I've tried making my juice in different formulas. The kale seems to be the most important ingredient. I feel better if I have my kale. I've been drinking this drink for four weeks, and I have noticed a few changes. I have more energy. I had a growth on my arm. It was tiny, but it bothered me. It was there for years. It would get bigger and smaller. I was always going to have a doctor take a look at it, but never did. It shrunk and disappeared over the last four weeks. Also, my feet that have been in pain every morning when I wake up for over a year and a half, and the problem vanished. I'm hooked on my new juice.
Being a full-time mom is somewhat isolating, or maybe it that beneath my outgoing exterior, I'm painfully shy. It doesn't stop me from doing. Even though I'm always with people at the potlucks, awards ceremonies, or volunteering at the school, it is so rushed, I don't ever really connect.
Maybe its this lack of connection that causes me to be thinking about the family get tether's that my family used to have when my grandparents were alive. I've been thinking about my grandparents a lot lately. I've felt like I should put my kids in the church that they went to. Then yesterday, out of nowhere, a letter appeared on the middle of my floor. The subject was of no relevance. My grandmother had written it over 67 years ago. The kids had probably gotten into some of my grandmothers old books that I keep. I thought it was such an odd coincidence.
I did buy JJ proper dress clothes for church. We went to my grandparent's church for the first time in over 20 years last Sunday, and he was a little under-dressed.
I don't like to be in groups of people. I can fake it pretty well, but I always have so much anxiety after a group gathering, and it doesn't matter if it's 5 people or 5 million. That's the hardest part of church for me. I originally was going to try to find someone to take them for me, but I've decided to just get through the social part of it. The main reasons that I want them to go are:
1. It's a part of their heritage.2. It connects them to something bigger than themselves.3. I don't know how to teach religion.4. I'm hoping they will make wholesome friends with similar values to mine.5. This particular church is exceptional at teaching kids to avoid all of the pitfalls of adolescence. (I'm thinking ahead.)
Well, my juice is kicking in, and it's time to get ready for Thanksgiving. I'm off!


Of Course!

"Of course!" Says Boo after every answered question. This is her new phrase, and she uses it constantly.
"What would you like for lunch?"
"Hot dogs, of course!"
"Would you rather go to a movie or the jumpy house place?"
"The Jumpy House Place, of course!"
"What do you want for Christmas?"
"A B-Bratz doll, of course!"
Speaking of Christmas, there seems to be a theme this year. She wants a B-Bratz doll, which is a doll that comes with a secret code that takes a child to a secret Internet page. She also wants an E-Pet, which is a toy dog that comes with a secret code that takes the child to a secret Internet page, or she wants a Barbie Girl. A doll with a connection to a secret Internet page.
Educating Boo is a challenge in some ways. She seems disinterested and distracted when in class, but still knows the answers when asked, so far. I just think she knew those things before. She does have focus issues in some things though. She'll sit at the computer for hours solving a puzzle, or searching for things. She spent a couple of hours on YouTube last night looking for various Sing-A-Long videos. During a soccer game, she will spin around in circles in the middle of the field instead of play, but if you give her a drill to make a goal, her turn might end, but she won't quit at the end of her turn until she has made a goal.
JJ doesn't get an attitude about things. This makes him easier for me. He has a much mellower temperament. I watched him at story time yesterday. He had no trouble listening to the story. He just wanted to stand up a couple of times. I think he is ready for kindergarten.
I worry about both my kids no matter what they do. I worry about Boo, because sometimes she seems difficult, and she gets in her own way of learning. I worry about JJ because he's just so nice. He is always thinking about others in a way that is beyond his years. I wonder how that will play out when he starts school.
I think about home school all of the time, but don't because they need the social interaction, of course!


TV New Season Review

Here is my short review of all the new primetime shows.
Shark - I thought it came back like it never left. There were no real surprises. James Woods is still James Woods, which isn't a bad thing. In fact, there may never have been a show as successfully carried by one actor.
Heroes - Awesome! I loved the comeback of this show. I like the way they are containing the stories within the season, so they actually have a beginning, middle, and end. I'm looking forward to finding out more about the virus, Clair's soon-to-be love interest, and how Peter got in that box! I feel certain the dead Sylar will be resurrected (Well, just as soon as he is done shooting the new Star Trek movie, you all know that Zachary Quint is the new Spock, right?)
Journeyman - It was like watching a rerun of Quantum Leap without the humor or personality. They are going to have to show me more to find a place on my limited Tivo hard drive.
Boston Leagal - A pretty good opening with one great surprise at the end of the first show. I like the new cast additions. What happened to Clarence's girlfriend. I forgot her name already. Fans are so fickle.
Private Practice - Bored out of my mind. Addison is obnoxious, and if you think I'm watching, you're McDreaming. Question: Is it harder to start a fire on Survivor, or light a spark of chemistry on this show?
Kid Nation - Surprisingly good! Hopefully a good experience for kids. It really depends on what is happening off camera. It was great to see some kids step up as true leaders. I hope they all get a gold star.
Dirty, Sexy, Money - This may be my favorite new show. Unfortunately, they took the heartthrob right out of Billy Baldwin by hooking him up with a transvestite hooker. That always ruins it for me. It's still a treat to poke fun at the obscenely rich, why we wonder where they got that imitation designer frock.
Back To You - Like a sitcom of the 70's, so familiar, and like I know what cheap shot is coming next.
Ugly Betty - A strong comeback, with a well-done surprise at the end.
Survivor: China - Same show, different place and cast, but still interesting to watch. I banking on the Christian selling her sole before it's over. "... but Mr. Satan, I only act this way in the game!"
Grey's Anatomy - Just another day at the hospital. The breakup scene was pretty good, but that's about it. One more dismemberment is not going to shock us into thinking the writing is good. Hopefully we see more of George soon.
Big Shots - The biggest disappointment for me. I may have been wrong when I said the show was really for women. It was a fest of all the things women don't like about men, the cheating, hookers, and too many bathroom scenes, because when men are talking in the bathroom, they aren't gathered around a mirror putting on makeup. The writers are quickly eliminating the heartthrob potential. Dylan McDermott is caught with a transvestite hooker in the first episode. Sound familiar? Joshaua Malina could be the cute nerdy type, but he's cheating making him a complete dork. Michael Vartan, as the only potential bachelor, sulks the entire show, so although we don't agree with his wife's cheating, we understand her. Christopher Titus saves the show, because he's funny! Plus he seems to be loyal to his wife, despite the complaining. I hope they keep him as a good guy, because he's the only reason to watch.
That's it for TV this week. I'm still looking forward to 30 Rock and Pushing Daisies. I've obviously been sitting at the computer too long, because Boo just ran in my office with two empty containers of ranch dressing and asked if carrot sticks and dressing are okay for dogs. That reminds me, Desperate Housewives start tonight!


The Improper Use of Golf Carts

We live on a golf course and have a golf cart. We used to use the golf cart for golfing. What a concept! Then we got a little bored, and invented a new game, Golf Ball Hunting.
Golf Ball Hunting is like hunting Easter eggs only for bigger kids. We typically go out nights after everyone has gone home, and drive around in the deep grass, and bushes. My husband (John) has all of the good spots scoped out, and we try to beat all of the other Golf Ball Hunters to them in the evenings. John has a rating system, so he puts Nike balls in one spot, cheap or old balls in another spot, novelty balls on the dash, and Callaways go right into his bag for use. He likes them the best.
Lately, he's become bored with this sport too, so he's taken to a new golf cart sport. You may know it as four-wheeling or off-roading. Now do I have to tell the average sensible person that this is probably not a good idea?
I knew what was going to happen! He wanted us to go out to the lake with him. So off we went, first on paved trails, then dirt ones, and then no path at all, and of course in the middle of no where, with no one to call, kids on board, we got stuck. I had just happened to bring my walking shoes, and a collared shirt. (It's a country club community with a dress code.)
Herding the children like herding a pack of wild cats, we slugged back to civilization (two miles), in the 109 degree heat. I was carrying a golf club to beat off mountain lions, as there have been several sightings lately, and I can't even talk about the rattle snakes.
Finally, after getting back, John dragged my neighbor away from his wives fabulous lasagna to tow the golf cart out. The neighbors and I made him swear only grass and pavement from now on. The kids slept well. That was Labor Day!

Join My New Journal! :)

Well, I'm keeping two journals right now, because I want everybody to move over to Yuwie. You get paid for all of your referrals, and your referrals' referrals. I keep hoping people will move their entire friend network over. It's free to join, supported by advertising dollars. It works like Avon, so the more people in your referral tree the more money you make. Here is my link. http://www.yuwie.com/yuwie.asp?r=39669 Please join.


My Last entry in case you haven't moved over yet.

I think my husband may have a job! He has a new phone, but he paid for it, and says he's getting reimbursed. Hmmm. He hasn't signed anything. He's still looking at jobs, but maybe he's still the system where he gets contacted all the time. The company called and said they have a gas card for him. I'm a little uncomfortable with the lack of protocol.
I'm proud of myself for being able to pick up over $1800 in just three weeks time, and I didn't work every day. I just did it by writing to people about helping with promotions.
I'm not sure what to do form here though, because as soon as John goes back to work, then whatever I'm doing will take the back seat. The kids are priority one. I always look at all the things I can sell from home, but find many of them are selling success, but have no product. Well, I'm open to suggestions.

The Grindstone

I have six more days of promotions under my belt. I've landed another temp job for two days.

This was the first day back with the kids. JJ must have missed me. He was clingy. Boo was acting obnoxious again. Some of the behaviors that had gone away were back. Hopefully, I get things under control again quickly. Part of it was they were very tired. I don't think things like bedtime were enforced during my absence.

I'm just exhausted. I need my husband to get a job. He keeps talking about going into business for himself. He's playing golf right now. He's always gotten a job before, but I'm still worried. A little stability would be awesome.

As far as getting a job myself, I need a better resume apparently. I seriously need to look at rewriting it, because with my experience, there should have been a couple of phone calls.

Thank you for playing. Now get out!

Well, things have been pretty busy since my last entry. My husband came home from work two fridays ago, no longer with a job. Middle management was cut due to the construction slow down. "Thank you for playing, no severance, benefits are good until the end of the month, good-bye!"

I've been in a panic, so I found some quick promotional modeling gigs. I'm 40 years old, so I felt pretty stupid when I got to my first job and all the girls were 19 and knockouts!

I was determined to rely on my sales ability and not be shown up, so I made sure I was always early every day. I stood up longer than anyone else, and I talked enthusiastically to as many people as I could. I didn't complain, and did whatever I was told without question.

These gigs last 12 hours a day and longer, standing up in the sun, but I'm making pretty good money in a short amount of time. I have another six days this week, I hope I make it. I sure feel my ankles and back more than I used to.

I'm worried about the upcoming weeks. It's going to be hard for me to take these kind of jobs, because my husband could start getting interviews, and then we need someone to watch the kids. Maybe I should start looking for weekend work until he gets a job.

Boo's First Day of Kindergarten

The first day of school went well for Boo. JJ and I were sad. JJ cried her first and second day of school. I just cried on the first. It was sad being home today. I would go to tell her something, and she wasn't there. We both missed her.

She hasn't been able to tell me much about school. Typical conversations are going, "How was school?"

"Fine."

"What did you do?"

"I don't know."

"Did you do your ABC's?"

"No."

"Did the teacher tell you a story?"

"Yes."

"What was it?"

"I don't remember. I want a lunchbox."

On the second day, she said, "Mawummmm" a lot in that eye-rolling kind of way. I think JJ and I have become soooo preschool to her. I can tell she thinks she has hit the big time. I'm sure her older sister will knock that out of her.

Mostly, we miss her all day, and have to keep busy. JJ worked hard on his ABC's today. He keeps telling me he wants to go to school, and that he is old enough. When I picked her up today, it was at the end of a student gathering in the cafeteria. JJ and Boo hugged in front of everybody for a long time. I think she missed him too.

The Last Day of Total Childhood :(

I woke up this morning going, "Why? Why? Why didn't I decide to home school?

I can't let Boo go! Maybe I should keep in the local school. What if she doesn't make any friends? What if the school is too advanced, or not hard enough and she is bored? What if they don't understand her? What have I done? Once she is out of the local school, she can't get back in because it's so crowded. Are her uniforms too big? What if she acts up?

Is a half an hour to get ready enough? Better make it an hour on the first day! I'll send her with a snack, and breakfast, and lunch money! I want to stay at school with her tomorrow, but they don't let parents stay the first three weeks.

She seems fine with going to kindergarten. She is sold on the play kitchen in the corner of the classroom. I'm terrified of kindergarten. I want to cry, and I want my mommy!

JJ in the Grocery Store

It's bad when your kids act up in the grocery store. I'm on a tight budget right now, so I have write down the price of everything. I shop with only cash, so I CAN'T go over budget. I go to a market where you bag your groceries, so I'm always trying to keep up with the bagging, pay, and keep the kids close to the cart at the same time.

I was happy when the kids noticed a mirror and started dancing in front of it. It kept them busy while I kept up with the checker. When she told me the bill, I turned around to pay and realized JJ had dropped his pants and was dancing the full monty. Everybody was so quiet in my line just watching! I was mortified! John wants to know if he really NEEDS preschool. Ya, I think so.

Organization

Next week is the start of school, and I have dedicated this week to getting organized. I have cleaned up my emails, and marked every known event into my calendar. I created an online calendar for the family to use, so everybody knows what is going on.

I need to buy a filing system for the year. I want to keep all of Boo's papers organized. Also, I want a big storage bin for all of the preschool crafts, papers, and so on.

Boo met her kindergarten teacher. She tested her readiness, and Boo was ahead of expectations. All that worry about not being ready was a little over the top.

Her uniforms are ready. Shoes are new. She needs a backpack and a new jacket, since she can't wear anything with a hood, and all of her jackets have hoods.

I'm mentally preparing for all of the volunteer work that I need to do, plus all of the driving. I have meal menus made out for the year. I still haven't decided what to do about JJ's breakfast. I need something he can eat in the car, that is nutritious, but won't leave a mess. I looked at the breakfast bars, but they are so expensive!

I have to decide when to volunteer at Boo's school. In the beginning, I want to be in the classroom and know what is going on. I want to understand the routine. After I know what is going on, and what questions to ask, I'm happy doing any work. I have to do 40 hours a year. I also have to do 3 hours a week at JJ's school, and a night class for his school too. Boo has Saturday school at least once a month, sometimes twice, and then there are some night events too.

We have a few conflicts with soccer too. I hope it's not a problem. I'll probably stay up nights worried I forgot something. Actually, I'm already doing that!

What do working parents do? I guess if I worked I wouldn't choose these type of schools. I'd pay more, volunteer less, and take the path of least resistance. Even though money is tight, I'm glad I picked this path.

Soccer Camp

I made it through soccer camp week! Boo was very aggressive. It was super hot, so she got pretty tired. She would run most of the day. Sometimes in the right direction. I think she has the spirit for sports. Boo was the smallest in size. It was cute to see her get out there with the big kids.

JJ was in a different group, and wouldn't join in until the last day. Finally after holding a pink stuffed poodle in a ballet costume for the first half an hour out on the soccer field, he decided to play. He plays great when he decides to play. I had to make him give up his copy to Green Eggs and Ham too. He wanted to read during huddle.

When I do all of these activities with my kids one on one, they seem to be very quick to catch on and play, whether it's soccer or reading, but when I get them into a group, they can't seem to understand the dynamic of group play yet. Boo can be running toward the goal, and all of a sudden she lays down on the grass to look at a lady bug, and doesn't seem to notice, or care that she has been left behind or people or jumping over her. I hope she's going to be okay at kindergarten.

I'm a little beat from the sun, and parents participated on the last day, by crawling around like crabs. Hmm, didn't know I had muscles in some of the places I'm sore, guess it was a good upper body triceps workout. :)

Soccer

Soccer starts today. Boo and J. have shin guards, and knee high socks. It's so cute!

It's 4:30 in the morning. I can't sleep. I'm worried, not about soccer camp, just everything. School orientation is in a week. It's a potluck. I don't know what to bring.

I guess behind it all, I'm worried about money. It's always on my mind. I need to downsize my life.

Dreaming About Books

I love to go to sleep after reading a book, and dream about the book all night. I dream about TV if I watch it too, but it's not the same. For some reason, that I don't understand, dreaming about books is so much more enjoyable. I'm reading The Crocodile Bird right now. If I can get the kids in bed every night, I'll read it in about three nights. I feel so lucky sometimes that I have reading. Some people just don't have the love of it, but I think it's just because they never got into it. Reading is one of the things that I've really missed since I had kids, because I've been too distracted or busy or tired, mostly distracted. Children are all consuming. It's great to finally have them close to being on a schedule.

I went a long time where I didn't read for pleasure, only for knowledge. I'm happy to be reading fiction and not just how-to books. Sometimes, I only read things that I think I should know. I actually have trouble deciding what to read, and that always bothers me. I would like to join a good book club. Maybe I'll start doing Oprah's again. I really did read some great books from the Oprah Club. East of Eden is probably my favorite book ever now, and I would have never read that book. I couldn't put it down. Maybe I should read more Steinbeck, but that sounds pretentious. If I read a classic for pleasure, I can only talk about it in my journal because telling anyone I know would sound completely phony.

Big Show Little Town

Our little community seems like the center of the world on the 4th of July. There are parades, breakfasts, runs, street fairs, and fireworks over the lake. It seems like everyone wants to be here.

Boo has become a chanp at chasing candy down the street as the floats go by. I'm always fascinated with her competitive spirit. Today, she collected so much candy, she started giving it away to other less aggressive children. Nobody suggested such generosity to her, so I was very proud that she thought of it on her own.

I have to go and entertain the kids for another couple of hours. They ask me every 15 minutes if the fireworks are starting yet.

The Thrill of Victory

This week I joined a gym again. I have been going in the wrong direction weight wise, and don't want to see it get out of control. It's not that I'm fat. It's that I recognize the signs of getting to a place where I will be fat. Scientific or not, I believe there is a muscle / fat ratio point of no return. Since I don't lift weights anymore, my resting metabolism has declined, so I just put on another pound every couple of months, and as I put on more fat the ratio becomes even worse. It's not that I'm working toward being fat with bad behavior such as overeating. It's more like I'm standing still on an escalator going the wrong direction. So like most things in life, when you aren't moving forward, life is just moving you toward a weekend watching a Surreal Life reruns marathon.

Oh Surreal Life, I can't stand to watch, but I can't look away, especially when it's Ron Jeremy, who I never heard of before Surreal Life, yet find fascinating, in a huh? mesmerising kind of way. Sorry, I digress.


Today, I played tennis against a person for a little while, and then a machine for an hour. Then I rode bikes with my little daughter, and then she wanted to jog. I think Boo outran me. She informed me that one day she is going to be much faster than me. "It is certain." I said.

I'm supposed to do a step class tomorrow. I wonder how sore I'm going to be? The agony of regaining lost ground in old age.

This is the country!

I can't let the children outside to play anymore! Nope, although I live in a gated community safe from strangers for the most part, there have been several rattle snake sightings, and now mountain lions! Yes, they follow the deer down from the lakes.

To top things off, we were watching TV with a door open the other night, and a bat flew into the house. Thinking quickly, I threw the laundry basket over my head, and screamed at my husband to go and get it.

I ran to the computer to look up what one is supposed to do in this situation, in addition to screaming. I had that covered. All the articles said that bats were good because they eat mosquitos. Is that like saying that mice are good, because they pick up food crumbs, so you don't get ants? I did my part by yelling to my husband again, get rid of it, but don't hurt it.

Fortunately after about an hour of chasing it off of our 20 ft. ceilings with a huge pole it grabbed the pole and we took it outside. I mean he took outside while I supervised from under the laundry basket, peaking from behind our bedroom door.

Did I mention the wolf spiders?

About School

After John Stossel's report on schools last year, I was pretty determined not to just settle for the school Boo was drafted into because we live within the boundaries. I began to research schools within about a 50-mile radius.

There was one thing that was troubling me about my neighborhood school. We relocated, Taz, my step-daughter about two years ago from another school to the school in my neighborhood, and although API scores and test scores were similarly high in both Taz's schools, I could see that the workload was much less at the new school. The skill building seemed to be less, and something was missing.

After studying my local school and several of the charter schools, I narrowed my choice to three schools, the local school, a charter school that emphasized an international curriculum, and a school that seemed to focus on character building along with strong academics.

The school with the international curriculum selected only by lottery, and we weren't lucky, so that ruled out that school as an option. Then I had the two other schools to pick from. The character-building school worked on a first come first serve basis, so I applied very early and we got in, but I still wasn't quite sure.

Here was my list of pluses and minuses for the schools:

Local School

PLUSES

1. It's close to home.
2. Friends would be close.
3. High API score and test scores.

MINUSES

1. Only 3 hours a day doesn't seem long enough.
2. Much focus on wearing the right label clothes.
3. No diversity. In fact, I've witnessed some racism.
4. It's overcrowded.
5. I am guessing maybe they teach to the tests, and do much red shirting, because Boo was red shirted out at a pre-kindergarten screening offered by the school, even though she can read and do some basic math. Her fine motor skills were behind, and when offered help, she told a teacher, "No, I can do it myself." The teacher said that she should spend another year in preschool. (I'd still send her to this school if I thought it was the best one.)
6. The school's main entrance is off a major highway, and there is often no parking except on the highway, so for many occasions, children have to be walked down by speeding traffic to the school.

The Charter School

PLUSES

1. School is 6 hours a day.
2. Children wear uniforms.
3. It's a diverse environment.
4. School focuses on building socially aware leaders.
5. School requires parent involvement.
6. The curriculum is individualized. The school takes every child of qualifying age, and if the child falls behind, tutoring is built into the program, and if a child is ahead, they move the child forward in those subjects.
7. The teachers start talking about the child's college path in kindergarten.
8. I get a great feeling every time I walk into this school, and meet the people running it.

MINUSES

1. It's a longer drive by about 30 minutes each way.
2. School friends won't be as close.
3. We will be the minority, as most of the students are children of color, and we are not. Should this matter?
4. Lower API and test scores, although climbing rapidly in the 4 years the school has existed.
5. People tell me the school is in the "worst neighborhood" in town. (I've never felt unsafe there.)

Well that's how it stacks up. I was a little uncertain before parent orientation the other day, but I thought the principal was great, and in my gut, I feel like this school is the act to beat. What would you do?

Days of Summer

Today we found a flower farm where we could have a picnic lunch. Boo, JJ, and I packed brown bags filled with peanutbutter and jelly sandwiches, plums, and crackers. We went out to the flower farm where we ate lunch under the oak trees, and read from David Shannon's Pirates Don't Change Diapers. Then there was a little tram taking people on a tour of the ranch, so we hopped on board. It was hot, and we finished off the trip by buying ice cream at the local gift shop.

This is the last summer before Boo starts year-around school. It's always in the back of my mind. Is she ready? Should we be having more fun? Is she ready? Am I ready?

Boo, Gwen, and I

Boo and I went to see Gwen Stefani last night. She liked the beginning very much, but I knew it was over toward the end when she stuffed the ear plugs up her nose and fell asleep.

Camping

We went camping last weekend. Boo loved it!!!!!!!!!! Little Miss I'm Too Hot, Too Cold, This is Too Itchy, really took to the outdoors. I was shocked. I thought she would complain the entire time. Instead she turned into Adventure Girl. She wanted to climb trees, rocks, and jump into the swimming hole. I was also surprised that she liked the more subtle things, like she noticed the smell of the pine trees, and loved cooking in the outdoors. It was much easier than I thought it would be, and she acted like a very big girl, escorting her brother to the bathrooms, and trying to take care of him. We'll probably go again. She said that she wants to go everytime she doesn't have school the next day.

The Housewife of a Super Hero

Oh you may think it would be fun to live with a super hero, but let me tell you it's not. They never get tired, so they can't understand why you ever need a nap. They have super vision, so they can see any spot you missed dusting from 14 feet away, and their super hearing detects that the television was left on upstairs from the driveway. Their super human strength often means they break the dishes, and their is just no empathy for us mortals. They don't understand how everyone can get in their way, because they have one important crisis after another to resolve. Yes, it's tough being the housewife of a super hero.

Miss Darla

Boo is very discouraged to discover that her preschool teacher isn't going to be her kindergarten teacher. Poor little Boo.

Because of the song, Beautiful Flower, I had to explain what the word brilliant meant. I told her it is when someone is so smart, they light up the room. I didn't really know if it sunk in, but later I heard her describing her kindergarten teacher, Miss Darla, as brilliant.

P.S. ...Talent...

Right after I posted my blog about America not having talent, I found two more ridiculous talent shows. One was about impersonators of people who have talent, and the other was called Sons of Hollywood. It's a new reality show about people related to people with talent. That being said my guilty pleasure is going to be Last Comic Standing. I'm also looking for a good book club.

The Joy of Mid-Season Replacements

They've started, the mid-season replacements which seem to be an endless string of mindless reality competition shows. There is America's Got Talent, So You Think You Can Dance, American Inventor, and probably a few other American Idol rip-offs. I don't think the producers understand the public. They think we sit through hours of brainless talentless auditions to watch the mentally ill get ridiculed. The truth is we endure the pain because the last couple of shows are pretty good every season, and there is nothing else on except movies we've already seen. I'm going to do something creative with my TV like turn it into a gold fish tank, or maybe move it outside and make a cushion for it. I can use it as an ottoman, while I sit on the porch, and watch the planes go by at night, because there is nothing to watch on TV. I've come to one conclusion. America doesn't have talent!

How do I get my children to sleep?

I'm tired. My children won't sleep at night I would love to tell you that they need their sleep, and so I am on a noble quest, to help them. The truth is, I need to help me get some sleep, because they DON'T need their sleep. They are just fine without naps, and they don't want to go to bed at night either. Me, on the other hand, I am desperate for sleep, and I'm CRANKY. I guess in way it would be better for them, because then I would be a little more fun.

I tried baths, and routines, and punishment, and rewards. I can't find the magic formula yet. I don't think all of this trying matters much, because they just aren't tired. Yesterday, they were up at 7 am. They went for two walks, played all day, went swimming a couple of hours, and still at 8 could have played all night. I'm zzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzz.

What's the Word?

I was at lunch with my folks today, and I was saying how my kids are too old for a stroller, but too difficult to control some of the places we go, so what I need is one of those wagons. However, they are too expensive! Not more than 5 minutes later we were driving home, and I passed one for sale at a yard sale. First of all, who ever heard of a yard sale on a Friday? Anyway, she sold it to me for $15! What's the word for when something like that happens? Synchronicity!

Beautiful Flower

Yesterday was Boo's graduation from preschool. I made her a CD from iTunes of the single Beautiful Flower for her grad present. That was the song that was on Oprah last week. It was written for Oprah's girl's school in Africa.

We then left on a nine-hour drive to grandma's house. She kept asking to hear HER song. The lyrics tell her that she is "more beautiful than a flower, more valuable than a diamond... when the radio tells you to shake your money maker, shake your head and say you're a leader ... you can heal the world with your mind ... you are brilliant" I had to explain what brilliant was.

At one point, listening to the song, I heard her say to her brother, "I am a leader." After JJ had a great time changing the words, so that every time India Arie sang, "girl", he said, "boy," we passed some flowers off the highway. JJ said to Boo, "That's you, you're beautiful."

Rambo Boy

This handsome man is JJ at the fair. Great artwork from the face painter. Don't you think? He went home after the fair, put on army pants and no shirt. I called him Rambo the rest of the day. He doesn't know who that is. I'm okay with keeping it that way.

Actually, I was just talking about violent TV with my dad, and saying how odd that I don't let the kids watch any TV but Disney and PBS Kids, yet JJ will still pick up a stick and pretend it's a gun! I'd like to think violence isn't an innate quality, but I'd probably be wrong.

As for Sylvester Stallone, I liked him better in Copland than any other movie. In fact, I think he was a great actor in that movie.

I'm Baaaack

Yes, it was the overwhelming fan mail and continuous nagging of my many fans, that has inspired me to return after a year and a half to cyber logging the daily routines of motherhood in the brain numbed burbs. Okay, it was only my Aunt Betty who inquired, so Aunt Betty, this is for you.

Just a little over a year ago, I was a Blackberry addicted project manager in corporate America trying to juggle it all. In the particular job that I held, I really felt I needed to be working sixteen hours a day to keep up, and still it seemed like if I didn't take on more and more work all the time that some single person or man with a wife at home would beat me out of the good projects and promotions. I melted down. I was considered a hero the entire time that I was at the company, but as soon as I gave notice the torture started. I went through over thirteen hours of exit interviewing. First, I was begged to stay, and when I declined it turned ugly. All politically correct, but yet the ugliness was there.

After being insulted in front of a co-worker by my boss yet again, my co-worker turned to me and said, "If you don't get up and walk to human resources and quit right now, I'm going to carry you there!" I packed and left the company the next morning. I had given a months notice, but left after two weeks of it.

This whole thing with Rosie and The View last week has brought back the experience. I've been a little sad, that was my favorite part of the day lately, watching The View on Tivo. I had never even really noticed Rosie before The View, and now, I'm really going to miss that show.

Boo, my five-year old graduates preschool this week. JJ has a year left in preschool. My kids go to a co-op preschool where the parents are the workers, and do the lessons, but it is still facilitated by a paid teacher. It's a great program, and has been great for Boo.

I started Boo in preschool, because in pre-K evaluation they said she should go an entire year before kindergarten. However, I caught her up in two months, and her reading is "off the charts for her age," according to her teacher.

I spent the last year dedicated to Boo's teaching, so I was very depressed after the pre-K eval. It was like my life was being wasted, and I was accomplishing nothing. I'm feeling better now. They really didn't understand her or her skills at pre-K. I've decided on a charter. It was the only school in my area that talked about character, leadership, and critical thinking . I was looking at it before the pre-K eval, so pre-K eval was a blessing, because it made me hold firm on my ideals. Although this school is about more than teaching to the state tests, I still have fantasies about sending her 2nd grade state tests to our public school that is very busy red shirting to protect their tier one status. I'll probably be so over it by then! :)