Holy cow, it has been over a year since I posted here????

Wow.

And life remains the same....

strong feelings

So.... ummmmm yes.... I have very strong feelings about a bunch of subjects.....

Truthfully? I had hoped crackbook would be a safe place for me to vent. Alas, that is not true even in the slightest sense of the word - never mind the initial thought. For me, I need to vent. I need to be able to express myself and here seems to be the only "safe" place. That is... until I am attached verbally here as well.

Joy to the World.

• Let me begin: why oh why do these girls as well as their family and friends insist on posting girls wearing itty bitty bikinis? You have GOT to be kidding me. I do not need to see so much freakin' skin. What is WRONG with a ONE PIECE bathing suit? Or a conservative two piece? Everything is so freakin' low cut it's disgusting. Not necessary. Do I want to see guys in speedoes? no. Not one bit. Same application here.


• Why oh why would a mom I know allow her daughter to wear virtually NOTHING to a ballroom dance workshop? again, you have GOT to be kidding me. short shorts. a black bra and a cut-up off the shoulder shirt. What the hell??????????


• and why is it NOT ok to allow to people who are of the opposite gender who are SUPPOSEDLY FRIENDS go out for a bite to eat? If one wants to treat the other to a birthday lunch.... why oh why would that be considered a "date"?


• And why oh why would a GROWN WOMAN in her 40's want to be "friends" with a teenager? Why oh why would she consider a 13yr old her BEST FRIEND?


• And why oh why does my niece jump from guy to guy and sleep with them all and post photos of them in bed together? Butana much? ohmygosh you have GOT to be kidding me!!!!


• And the nephew - doesn't even ACKNOWLEDGE me, his grandmother, or his mother and our birthday wishes on crackbook. Again, what the hell?????????????


• Makes me want to delete them all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am just hating people right now.

Really hating people right now.

It feels like all crap right now.

And these holier than thou types - they are ALL OVER the place down here. We have been burned more times than I care to count. I'm so sick of it. I'm so sick of the Pharisees. I wish they would all just go away.

keep on keepin' on

Another year has passed - and my little guy is 13 yrs old today if you can believe that. I keep wanting to post or document is more like it all kinds of things - but I will not post it on fb and hesitate posting it here... I will try here, though....

• I am so grateful and thankful to GOD for Gimli's life - I wish people could comprehend how much. This child almost died at 3 weeks of age. We were told he may need all kinds of "help" - special ed, etc. I praise GOD he does not need it.
• I am so thankful that he, as prophesied over him, stands "head and shoulders above the rest" and I do not necessarily mean physically tall. His abilities take him higher...
• He is an amazing person - even at a tender, young age he understood all kinds of things. My mother gave him the name: el entendedor at the ripe young age of about 8 mos old. He just understood things...
• He is very empathetic and intuitive about people.
• He isn't a phoney
• He is genuine and sincere
• He is hard working and tries his best at all things
• He is an AMAZING violinist
• He loves baseball
• He loves to play baseball and watch our Yankees....
• He looks up to his big brother even though his big brother at times does not want to have anything to do with him
• He doesn't like to hurt people's feelings
• He is my biggest helper
• He is or can be very emotional
• He loves his family
• He is tender hearted
• He is gifted
• He is talented
• He is caring

I am so grateful that he is in my life.... i have learned so much from having him in my life....

I am so grateful that we home school....

I am so grateful that I was and still am an attachment parent. I am convinced he would be a DIFFERENT PERSON if he had not been attachment parented...

He is a precious child of God and i am so thankful to GOD for His gift to me....

Happy birthday to my youngest son....

too long....

Once again, it's just been too long. I'm telling you, ever since facebook came around, that's all anyone ever does... and I am finding it is toxic for me - yet so addicting. I get so angry at these people for their posts... so much of it just infuriates me...!!!! And then there are those posts that mean so much to my heart - whether uplifting or tearful - just shows me the heart of certain sincere individuals.
I find myself mostly getting upset with the teen population and their stupidities - the can you top this mentality; the one-ups-manship; the looking-down-their-noses-at-you because you do not agree with them; the cliquey crap that goes on; those professing to be "Christians" and are "PK's" to boot are the MEANEST ones around.
Mean? yes, MEAN. I don't do mean. I can't stand mean. Mean and I are ENEMIES. I LOATHE mean. Mean and cruel. Not funny. Not joking. Not laughing. Mean Mean Mean. Unkind. Way less than nice - for no reason at all. Does NOT sit well with me. Get the picture?

These girls think they're "all that" - well let me tell you... they are not! FAR FROM IT, they are. FAR FROM IT. Critical, holier-than-thou, self-righteous should I tell ya? If it were up to me, I'd have NOTHING to do with ANY of them. As life has it, however, some walk in the same circles as we do and we have no choice but to put up with their presence. I'm losing it. I can not stand these people.

Well it's supposedly the most wonderful time of the year. Yes, it WOULD be if all anyone ever did was focus on our LORD and SAVIOUR.... but since that is not the case, I often find this time of year more than difficult. First, it's the Black Friday crap - shop, shop, shop til you literally drop after getting all the best deals ever. And it's kids asking for laptops and kindles and digital cameras and GETTING THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :::shaking my head::: The most incredible part if the parents who buy all this stuff for their children. $300.00 IPods.... $400.00 cell phones.... all to CHILDREN who lose them, break them, leave them behind.... YOU NAME IT.

RESENTFUL MUCH? YOU BETCHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why does it always boil down to money?

I hate the way so many children treat my sons - like crap.

No one deserves to be treated like crap. NO ONE.

So interesting...

Well life is.... that's just it.... life.

Been too busy wrapped up in life and fb to post.... so many different things have run through my mind to type here - sometimes something of meat and worth, and sometimes something of a one-liner, similar to fb. ugh.

Sitting here at this moment watching Avatar... been coughing in this house for over 3 weeks... getting quite tired of it too. the coughing, that is. Legolas has been coughing for over 3 weeks... me? Two weeks today. And Gimli? just behind me a couple of days. Been to see our gal, Tanya, a number of times, and each time she confirms that it's a virus. Took Legolas to the ped a couple of weeks ago to make sure there's nothing in the lungs.... thank GOD ALMIGHTY there is nothing in the lungs.... and it seems to be a lingering virus of coughing... blech.

I go up and down with people and situations that annoy me.

I haven't been able to get to the gym for a week, now, and I'm not happy about that. I've been too tired and coughing too much... I hope to get my butt out the door tomorrow.

Let's see... since my last post, we went back to Marineland and I got to swim in the deep water with my dolphins. Definitely a healing experience. We spent Thanksgiving weekend just south of St. Augustine.... very relaxing week, thank GOD. I was quite annoyed at the time with book club nonsense, though. Inever seem to get a mental break, know what i mean?

In December, the boys had a performance with musical theatre - they did an amazing job. I"m so proud. Then Legolas performed with the co-op group - they did "A Christmas Carol" in Reader's Theater and Legolas was Scrooge. They did a great job. That was my first experience with Reader's Theater. Very interesting indeed.

We enjoyed Christmas with my Aunt who came from CA to visit... it was fun spending time with her.

Legolas has begun piano lessons. He was tired of violin and wanted to play piano. He began lessons in Sept and is progressing very well and very quickly. Just as he was/is a terrific sight reader with violin, he is proving to be an amazing sight reader with piano as well. I'm so proud.

10th grade has been interesting. I often feel as if I've allowed him to be overwhelmed.... there's so much to cover. He took the PSAT in October.... didn't do as well as I had hoped, but then again, I have very high expectations. I need to look more at the KNOWLEDGE and get my head out of the numbers.

Legolas has become an amazing ballroom dancer. He won a swing contest in their Haunted Eye Ball in October 2009 - and won a free private lesson. He won a hustle contest in December 2009 and won a free private lesson. He applied for a youth scholarship - including having to write an essay for it as well as provide recommendations - and he won the scholarship and five lessons. Now he can "collect" his lessons... he has yet to take a private lesson and still shines... I'm so proud.

He went to the home school prom in March 2010 - rented a tux and everything. The home school prom is open to all home schoolers who are in high school. It was a lovely affair. I took photos before and after - giving him time without me hovering.

Gimli never ceases to amaze me.... with his many talents, he, too, is amazing. His performance in December as the youngest in the group was right up to where the others were. He continues to play violin - ever so strong and bold. He dances right along side all these teenagers and those teenagers, especially the older ones, love him and love to dance with him. Warms my heart for him. He is way beyond his peers.... sad, but true. Not in every way, mind you.... but in many ways.... he has trouble making connections with those his age. I remember Legolas having the same issue at the same age. He didn't connect with anyone until he was in Cotillion when he was 13yrs old.

both boys performed in Showcase in February 2010. Gimli was in three performances: two with the teens and one with the kids. In one of the teen performances, he was the only male given four different dance progressions... the others were all given three. See what I mean about being "ahead"? and the teacher mentioned to me how she had not done that on purpose... but that Gimli kept up with it.... amazing.

On another note, I do not know how my husband manages to keep up with all of this... somehow he continues to work his butt off and manage all the money that allows for us to do the things we have been doing.... i do not know how he does this....

My mother got two stomach ulcers.... yes, two. Joy to the World. that was an ordeal.

I have not been looking forward to co-op this semester. I don't know why. I enjoyed last semester - did Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, with the high schoolers and A Wrinkle in Time with the Middle Schoolers... I'm a bit disappointed with the middle schoolers, though... but I've kept up with it and with them... not giving up, just not receiving feedback I had hoped on a level that I had hoped. My expectations are so high.... I'm not getting what I expect all the time. It's not just "fun" in my mind; it's academic. and important. The boys are not that thrilled with it this year.... neither of them seem to want to join next year... can't say I'm not disappointed about that and I do not know what to do.... I had "plans", ideas, hopes, more books to study and discuss....

I know these are just ramblings.... maybe I'll be able to ramble more later.... I'm just trying to say whatever comes to my mind....

something positive

ok... so I tend to complain a lot... so now for this post, anyway, I want to post something positive.

Today, this morning, at the gym, I burned 648 calories in under an hour. Technically it was 58 minutes - but that is HUGE for me. I was by myself and I guess I was really pushing it. I was on the rowing machine and the stationary bicycle... I am very proud of myself for this accomplishment. I also somehow managed to keep my heartrate in the "cardio range" on the bicycle for close to 20 minutes. Amazing.

Legolas has a "gig" today - his drama teacher, Ms. Mickey, has him performing as a Jedi at a birthday party next door to her... he'll be there about an hour and it is a "paying gig." I am excited for him and very proud of him.

Gimli continues to amaze me with his depths of understanding at times... I plan to take him to the library today to begin a "research report" - he wants to write it on Apollo 11. So while Legolas is Jedi-ing, Gimli and I will venture to the library.

tonight, my Yankees are supposed to play the Angels... don't know if it will come to pass as i just read in the NYTimes that it is supposed to rain in NY today.... I am hoping they do NOT get rained out.... for the players' sakes....

I danced last night - just a couple of dances - at Friday Night Dance at our Ballroom Dance Center. The boys didn't stop dancing all night. I love to see that. They have such an amazing time. Last night I danced a waltz with Brandie, one of the teachers, and a foxtrot with Matt, a regular. I also danced two line dances: a Samba line dance and the Cupid Shuffle. The Cupid Shuffle has got to be the SIMPLEST line dance I have ever seen.... it's still fun though.

I find myself losing patience with people though... that's not like me so much... I used to be a pretty patient person. I guess i'm just getting tired of what i see as stupidity.

Last night we also had a high school book club.... we, the parents, are trying to get our kids to read and talk about the books they've read. We're also trying to get them to step out of themselves and become leaders.... each family selects a book to discuss for that month. Last month we read and discussed C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters. Legolas really took to that book. I loved it. The discussion could have been better, but it was a start. Last night we read and discussed House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros. Good book. Apparently, it is being read in all the schools right now... and I don't just mean here where we live. One of my friends in PA helped a student write a report on this book. I highly recommend it. The discussion last night was excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed it and think the majority of the kids did too.... More parents were present which helped model for the children the kinds of discussions that ensue.

Here's where my patience wear thin: when girls, and in this group it's mostly the girls, say NOTHING. I mean they sit there and say ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. How is that possible? this is a group of KIDS - all around the same age... - even when specifically ASKED, the answers are very non-descript and the answers are tagged onto another's: "I agree with so-and-so." Oy vey. Step out of yourself and give an opinion. The questions presented were quite thought-provoking.... why can't they just reach in and respond appropriately?

Anyway.... this was supposed to be a positive post so here's the positive take on the above: these silent girls are the very least exposed to conversation regarding the book. Perhaps they'll take that with them elsewhere as they mature in life.

It's the best I can do.

;-)

venting

Honestly? I am sick and tired of feeling like a second class citizen. If it's not society placing those mores upon me, it is the "church". Society says that a stay-at-home mom - nevermind a home school mom - is worthless, useless, valueless. The "church" says that a woman "should" be home and "should" be subservient to her husband and she is here to "serve" her husband and family and if she has any other aspirations other than sewing or knitting or quilting, she is worthless, uselesss, valueless. Society is raising girls to be professionals - to work outside the home - to put aside the idea of being a stay-at-home mom. Church people are raising their daughters to be stay-at-home moms to cook, clean, sew, knit, create, and serve their family as a "helpmeet".

Quite frankly, both ends of the spectrum are driving me INSANE or should I say crazyER than what I already am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It infuriates me.

I am a SAH-homeschooling mom by CHOICE. I USED to work outside the home in a very good position, as a matter of fact. Does that mean I think girls should be raised to ONLY be SAH moms? No. Does it mean I think girls should be raised to be ONLY work outside of the home moms? NO. It means that I believe that girls should be given the CHOICE to make that decision themselves. Don't raise them thinking that there is only ONE choice out there. There isn't. Not only that, but they can change their minds AT ANY TIME. They can work and then choose to stay home. They can stay home and then work. They can do both at the same time. They can work part time. They can work from home. They can home school their children. You see what I'm saying here? CHOICES, CHOICES, CHOICES! Don't put them in a box! Don't make them feel like second class citizens because of the choices they have made!

STOP PREACHING AS IF WOMEN ARE SECOND CLASS CITIZENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so tired of that! I'm tired of going to church and being made to feel as if I'm NOT GOOD ENOUGH just because of my GENDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I haven't been to church in MONTHS because of this! And let me tell you.... I LOVE MY LORD AND SAVIOUR! But I do NOT like what I hear in the preaching. The men with their "jokes" and football analogies FROM THE PULPIT! I'm SICK of it! I am NOT a second class citizen. I have a BRAIN. I have VALUE. I have WORTH.

HEAR YE! HEAR YE!!! Here's a tip: that "submission" thing.... it's all about MUTUAL SUBMISSION, folks.

Tired of the crap and stupidity.
Tired of feeling alone.
Tired of feeling like an anomaly.

long time....

ok so it's been a while... and i have yet another pet peeve.... maybe a few of them....

I canNOT stand when this new generation has NO IDEA how to read an ANALOG - read: REAL - watch or clock. They just have no clue whatsoever. What is UP with that??????????? these kids do not know what "a quarter to five" or "a quarter after five" means. They do not know what "twenty to six" means either. GET A CLUE, PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TEACH YOUR CHILDREN HOW TO READ REAL - ANALOG - CLOCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My second pet peeve of the day is allowing a young teen to go around ASKING people for a birthday present. HUH???????????????????????????????? How is that ok? How is that allowed? OHMYGOSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What are we teaching our children and what are we allowing them to do?

My third pet peeve has to do with our home school co-op. I am absolutely FLOORED that a HIGH SCHOOL CLASS of over 20 students did not know what the PYTHAGOREAN THEOREM was. Only two children knew. My son and his best friend. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE????????????????????????????? What happened to excellence in teaching? What happened to higher expectations? What is WRONG with people today????????????

Then you have a young mother - in her mid-20's - who REFUSED to pick up her 9 month old as he cried to her to pick him up. Twenty four hours later she finds out he has a DOUBLE EAR INFECTION. Well.... DUH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And then she posts how badly she feels that she didn't pick him up. Again I say, Well.... DUH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She SHOULD feel badly! I am sorry. I have NO SYMPATHY for that. Babies cry. That is how they communicate. What is wrong with attachment parenting? Let your babies 'talk' to you and pay attention to them when they do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

::::: Heavy sigh :::::

oy vey

ok... yeah, yeah... time for more complaints....

Tell me this... why, oh why do our children [NOT mine] post anywhere they can how BORED they are??????????????? ohmygosh! I have a remedy for boredom, people. Let me put you to WORK!!!!!!!!!!! There is ALWAYS cleaning to be done. ALWAYS. It grates on my nerves.... to the CORE. Since when are we here to be constantly entertained and/or constantly busy? Why can't we just STOP for a minute and take a deep breath or two or three or four and just relax and appreciate what and who is in our lives? I just do not get it and it bugs me big time. Stop telling me you're bored!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why? I don't care if you're bored! FIND something to DO!!!! Clean. Read. Sit and actually THINK. BLECH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's my cynical POV but since when are we here to "have fun"? I know it's good to have fun - I know we all work so hard and we want some kind of respite and fun - but why is it the center of our thoughts? Why is it a constant? Is it because we can't get through the hard work/tough times without knowing we're going to be able to enjoy life somehow? I dunno. Maybe it goes back to me and entertainment... I'm not here to be entertained and I'm not here to entertain. Maybe my likes and "fun" are very different from other people's?? Like today... we are going to a Sweet 16 for one of the sweetest girls we have met in this area. I'm going ready to take photos and help supervise. Kids of all ages will be there and as I've said many times before, I'm big on supervision. ;-) But please note: I'm not going to be entertained. I'm going to help... a.k.a. work. And that is fine with me. I'm not complaining. I'd rather go and be useful than not.

Even though Aragorn is planning a much needed vacation for the fall as well as counting the days, I do not and am not doing so. When and if it happens, great. But I do not like to count my chickens before they hatch.

Anyway... got to go get ready....

dislike

...hating crackbook right now... I may wind up posting one or two liners here since I've gotten somewhat used to posting that way over there.... I feel better expressing myself here, though. I don't have the time or energy to get into everyone else's stuff... not all the time, anyway. It's "fun" to a point... right now it's getting a bit annoying. Whatever. I also don't like all the full exposure. I know I've posted before about what a private person I have become... what can I say? I've grown to want to keep some things to myself rather than go so "public" and open myself up for debate. Oftentimes things I post are NOT open up for debate; it's just my opinion and that is all but for some reason it is taken as more than that.

Whatever.

Joy to the World.

prayers

....requested for my sister. She just had major surgery and is need of prayer. If you see this, please pray for her recovery. This would be very much appreciated. If you want more detail, please email me.

let's see...

The other day, in this heat, we lost our electricity. Thank GOD it was off for only about an hour. Then yesterday, much to my dismay, we had brown water. Yup. Brown water. That has got to be about the 20th time since moving here that that has happened. ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!! Brown water makes me crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, I was a crazy person. When the water is brown you can't drink water, you can't cook, you can't wash clothes and you can't wash yourself! And in this heat... lemmee tell ya.... ya GOTTA wash yourself! Soooooooooooooooooo frustrating. A good friend brought me 2 gallons of her filtered water. Very refreshing and very much appreciated! Even though the lines were flushed, I still had brown water this morning with the hot water only. Yup... had to empty the hot water tank three times before the water cleared completely.

JOY TO THE WORLD.

projects

After walking in this heat - as I don't get to walk when I would prefer as I am driving Legolas to work at that time - Gimli and I made the time and went through the clothes in his closet. well... it's really a closet that both Gimli and Legolas share so technically we went through all of Gimli's clothes in the closet and his bureau. I am pleased that we were able to fill two kitchen garbage bags full of clothes which we will be passing along to "Uncle Dude" and his family this weekend when we see them.... yay! I love getting rid of and giving things away!

Now back to the laundry.... washing, drying, and folding clothes....

seasons...

I just wanted to say that I think I am probably the only person on the PLANET who HATES summer. I know it's not as hot as it can get - yet - but it's so freakin' hot to me.... is it that humid? Or am I just tired of it all? I run the other way when it comes to summer. I want to hide and NOT run outside. But I HAVE to go outside - I have to continue to walk. I HAVE to drive Legolas to work and pick him up. I HAVE to take both Legolas and Gimli to dance and drama. They have to have lives... whereas i would rather just go to the Arctic for the summer. Anyone have any tickets to the Arctic laying around anywhere?

More of the prince....

Nerdy Prince "Lew" with his lab coat on...




Cast had young ones in it... these are the Glumpwarts....

Nerdy Prince Lew with Nerdy Rapunzel and part of the cast

Nerdy Prince Lew with Nerdy Rapunzel singing a song with the Glumpwarts

Prince and Rapunzel during curtain calls...

performance...

Gimli playing the part of the nerdy Prince Llewellyn in Let Your Hair Down, Rapunzel. He is singing his song, "I always dreamed someday I'd be a Hero...."

definitions

It has become crystal clear to me that words - OUR words - our CHOICE of words - are so important. Recently, these two words in particular have been thrown at me - some with "niceties" and some without. Regardless... I'm going to post the words here and their definitions:

First word: Disappoint
dis⋅ap⋅point
–verb (used with object)
1.
to fail to fulfill the expectations or wishes of: His gross ingratitude disappointed us.
2.
to defeat the fulfillment of (hopes, plans, etc.); thwart; frustrate: to be disappointed in love.

v. tr.
To fail to satisfy the hope, desire, or expectation of.
To frustrate or thwart: "I will not disappoint the confidence you have put in me" (Wayne A. Budd).


Hmmmmmmmmm to be disappointed in someone.... that means the disappointed one had to have highish expectations of the disappointee, right? or even if not "highish" expectations, then expectations nonetheless. OK... BUT... aren't we all doing the best we can? Aren't we all treading water as fast as we can? Aren't we all paddling just as fast as we can? Shouldn't the disappointee be able to speak his or her 'peace' and give some sort of explanation to be examined? And when would this kind of thing happen? What sort of relationship exists where one says they are 'disappointed' in another? Parent/child; Authority/underling;

Let's take it a step further... if it's a peer situation where one peer states that he or she is "disappointed" in another peer.... what is the connotation there? What is the deeper truer meaning? And if such a thing were to be said to a peer, wouldn't it be more appropriate to have stated that one is disappointed in the choices said peer made? Or better yet, why not give the peer the benefit of the doubt and find out if the peer is ok and what, if anything, happened?

Does the term "disappointed in" really imply judgment rather than acceptance?

Second word: Actually
ac⋅tu⋅al⋅ly 
 /ˈæktʃuəli/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [ak-choo-uh-lee] Show IPA
–adverb
as an actual or existing fact; really.

In fact; in reality: That tree is actually a fir, not a pine.

2. In act or in fact; really; in truth; positively.

When I really began to think about this one - "actually" - I came to the conclusion that more often than not, this word is used as a corrective word such as in the example sentence listed above: "That tree is actually a fir, not a pine." I know I've used this word to correct my children, "Actually, the correct pronunciation is such and such" OR "Actually, that means this." See what I mean? A correction. Stating "truth" or a "fact" as it were.

Returning to the idea of relationships... who in your life corrects you? Parents, teachers, supervisors, those in authority. Don't get me wrong, I've been plenty guilty of correcting peers... I've just become more aware of it now. And isn't that the first step? Awareness? The first step to what? To possibly changing one's habits. The first step to realize I've been "correcting" people I shouldn't be "correcting" - making myself aware of it should help me catch myself and not do it as much - OR - at the very least, state to the individual[s], I don't mean to sound as if I'm correcting you... this is just my opinion....

Now that you've realized that... perhaps you haven't... or perhaps you disagree... nonetheless... how do *you* respond to someone not in authority over you, who speaks to you using the term "actually"? how did you respond? how will you respond in the future? how does one respond appropriately?

So over the past few weeks, I've realized some vocabulary is to be used in my opinion when one is in authority. Would you consider a peer an authority?

wisdom

One of my "friends" on facebook, as in someone I barely know but still accepted as a "friend" on facebook because of networking purposes, just posted a few really good thoughts on her status.... I'm "borrowing" them from her and posting them here:

• Life isn't fair, but it's still good. Honestly? I had never thought about it that way before. I struggle with life and fairness and 'happiness' and 'joy' so this is one for me to contemplate. Does life have to be 'fair' to be 'good'? Questioning myself, here...
• Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present. I have found this to be quite true. The more I've learned of others' perspectives, the more I've learned about me and my past and am still working on making peace or finding acceptance....
• If a relationship has to be a secret, then you shouldn't be in it. More words of wisdom...yup... realizing the truth in that statement...
• Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks. OK so this one threw me a bit and still does... change is daily - change is a constant - things can change and do change from bad to good and from good to bad... so how does that tie into God never blinking? That He will never leave [me] nor forsake [me]? That even though WE blink and things change for US, it's not changing for HIM as in He is all knowing???

The non-italicized words are [obviously] her quotes.

The italicized words are my thoughts on the quotes...

So glad I "friended" her even though I do not know her well...

One more thing...

It's funny, really, as in my "old age" I've discovered that I'm more of a private, personal type of person. I don't want to share EVERYTHING with EVERYONE. And so... I don't. And when I choose to, I don't share my opinion. And when I choose to, I do share my opinion. Sometimes I don't share because I feel as if it would all fall on deaf ears anyway, so why bother? Sometimes I don't share because I need to feel heard and understood and feel as if the individual or individuals wouldn't understand my point of view, so why bother? And sometimes, I just want to keep some things between myself and God. What is wrong with that? I don't want to feel as if I have to "report" everything I do, every move I make, every thought I think, every feeling I have to anyone regardless as to who they might be.

So let it be said.
So let it be written.

;-P

When I've recently taken the Myers-Briggs test I come out ISFJ - the first letter standing for Introverted.

Yup. That's how I feel. Like an introvert. Like I want to keep some things to myself. Like I don't want to be questioned about everything.

What's wrong with that?

so.....

it's been a while since I've been able to post any thoughts or any updates. So many things have happened since I last posted and that was only just over two months ago. I'll see if I can list some of the things:

• I'm not even sure if I mentioned that Gimli was in Let Your Hair Down, Rapunzel back in the end of March. He was Prince Llewellyn - the one who came to save Rapunzel. It was a musical comedy and he had a solo song - he rocked! He truly did beautifully.
• The next production focus was Legolas' Trouble in Tumbleweeds. Yes, another western. Legolas was the Mayor of a town who was stealing money from their provider. They got caught in the end with a bit of conning by other characters.... lots of lines to memorize and lots of rehearsals. He did extremely well.
• In-between all of this was Easter - a quiet time over here - and "spring break" - which we didn't break much at all.
• Next, we had an extended weekend visit from my sister. She got to see the boys rehearse just a bit for their [at that time] upcoming performance of The Wizard of Oz. She also got to view the Showcase DVD - that was really fun! I'm so glad she got to see them in action at the Ballroom Dance Center.
• We finished up co-op and have a follow-up meeting this coming week planning for the new year.... [seems we never get a break!]
• Legolas finished his work for the year just before Memorial Day Weekend - over that weekend, he had CPR and First Aid training - yes, he is now certified with the Red Cross - for his summer job as a camp counselor. His job began the Tuesday after Memorial Day.
• The following week was Legolas' birthday. He is 15yrs old already. It was a crazy week - the week of his birthday - as that was Theater Week for The Wizard of Oz. So many ups and downs occurred that week - too many to name or list. But I do want to say that ZooMom is amazing. She created with no pattern, a lion costume for Gimli in about 12 hours. Unbelieveable. She was a LIFE SAVER. I plan to post photos as soon as I can...
• Now that it's "summer" and so FREAKIN' hot, the boys are still taking dance and now are in drama with Mrs. Mickey.
• So Legolas is working FULL TIME and still taking dance and drama. Will this kid ever get a break? He wanted to do it, I'm pretty sure, and he had even wanted to add piano lessons to that load. I had to pull back on that, though, if not because of $$$$$, because of sanity - and rest.

So in-between all of this, as a home school mom, grades are to be assessed, collected, put on a transcript, records kept, {you know, the usual craziness...or is it crazyness?} And still trying to have a life and keep Gimli happy as well - he misses his brother terribly and Legolas comes home in a foul mood. He says the children there are BRATS - for the most part. He told a story of one little boy who is 9 or 10yrs old who pitches a fit - a tantrum - whenever he asks for something or to do something and the answer is "No." He, according to Legolas, gets down and kicks his legs - the whole nine yards and has a fit about it. Today, this same child brought in a fishing hook to fish in the pond. {ack... don't get me started with that one... when I was there a few years ago, I stepped on one of those and while attempting to pull it out of my sneaker, I cut myself. I was then advised to go get myself a tetnus shot. Off to PromptCare I went...or is it Urgent Care? Who knows? That "Care" place - and got me a shot. blech.} But I digress.... so the boy loses his fishing hook. According to Legolas, who can be prone to exaggeration, mind you, the boy sits himself on the dock and screams as if someone had just cut off his limbs. yikes, say I, and I also said, "Oh... so he was wailing?" Suffice it to say, the boy was screaming at the top of his lungs for 30 minutes. I asked if this was brought to the attention of the person in charge. The answer was, "No... if it had been brought up, we would have been told, 'So-and-so has been attending this camp for [fill in the blank] years' speech. So I didn't bother." I asked if the head counselor of his group complained. Same answer. Needless to say, Legolas has had it with these kids and it's only June 11th. He has to last another 2 months full time. I'm hoping the paychecks alone will be sufficient. Only time will tell.

Yet another issue has been facebook - or as some of my friends say, Crackbook. - as in it is so freakin' addicting. I've had my ups and downs with it all. I get tired of stupidity that is posted - stupidity that I disagree with down to the depths of my soul - and stupidity just for stupidity's sake. And the outward decadence that is shown and not realized is incredible. Disgusting, actually.

and while we're at it, let me ask you this.... if a friend of yours has a particular opinion on an issue, does that mean you have the same opinion? Or similar? Is it appropriate for you to be looped or linked with this friend who expresses such a strong opinion about an issue? Let's pick the controversial issue of abortion. If you have a friend who is strongly anti-abortion, does that mean you are as well? Does that mean you feel the same way? Is it appropriate for others to assume that just because you "keep company" with this individual that you are going to think the same way?

and while we're at it, how many people in your life have ever said to you, "I'm disappointed in you" ? And who were those people? Were they your parents? Were they someone in authority over you? Were they your peers? Were they your teachers? [authority, there], Were they your friends? Would a good friend of yours ever say to you, "I'm disappointed in you"?

chew on that and let me know, please.

shhhhhhhhhhh!

The Sunshine State's best kept secret.....

www.marineland.net

Nellie...

that's me with Nellie.... [and a trainer...] I was so thrilled to meet Nellie and pet her...

Nellie turned 56 years old the day before she and I met.

more photos...

....just outside the gates of marineland is the ocean. They pump fresh ocean water into their facility for the dolphins every day.

getting ready

Madea and I are taking off our earrings and getting ready!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


....nuff said.

Today's date...

Have I ever mentioned how much I loathe April Fool's Day? I see no real purpose in April Fool jokes. In my not so humble opinion, they are often mean-spirited. No thank you. Call me a fuddy duddy. I don't care.