Liked this...

To all my breast feeding mamas - Amen, gals, amen.

I will never understand why women choose not to breastfeed. God gave us mammary glands filled with milk just for our babies. Cows milk is for cow babies. Mama's milk is for mama's babies. It's not disgusting. It's God's creation.

Amen, thank You, God, for creating us with the ability to feed our children.

pics

In the streets of St. Augustine... beautiful horse as he pulls the carriage...

Spanish moss....

sights to see

We took a tour of the oldest house and museum....

Anyone know why the "shelf" above the table is on swinging ropes? To keep the rats off...

Originally, it was just the first level. The second level was added on after the ownership changed hands...

was unaware...

I was completely unaware that there was a word for this:

Word of the Day for Sunday, March 29, 2009

osculation \os-kyuh-LAY-shuhn\, noun:

The act of kissing; also: a kiss.

Weekend b'day trip...

Beach at St. Augustine... quite beautiful...

safe places

It's actually really amazing to me how much stuff - personal stuff - people post on facebook. I mean, no privacy whatsoever. I mean intimate stuff - I mean stuff that I really don't care to know about people. My head can only remember so much stuff... know what I mean? And not only that, why would anyone want to bare their souls in public like that? yeah, yeah, I know I blog... but usually it's anonymous - I mean it's just *me* and not listing anyone else and when it comes to people close to me, I really do my best NOT to post negative stuff about them. I mean... what good would THAT do? I don't know.... I just don't get it. I talk about my stuff here... for whomever I've shared my blogspot... but not "out there" on facebook with over 250 "friends" - yeah, right 250 "friends" - more like 250 people you once knew or even sort of knew - or just knew about... and they just sort of knew you or knew about you... not people you had any REAL relationship with... well, some of them you may have had a relationship with way back when... I'm talking more than 30 years ago, folks. And some dropped your relationship along the way.... and some picked up again but not really... and some picked up again for *real*... it's just a mish mosh... so why would I want to post my most intimate thoughts and feelings there only to be smashed? Here, I can post about NAET and how I feel it has helped my family and how I think everyone should *try* natural/homeopathic methods for health, and here, I can post how I feel about home schooling... and how important it is to me and how people complain left and right about schools, teachers, the school system but their hands are tied so what can they really do about it????????? NOTHING. I'm not saying home schooling is for everyone... it really isn't. But I am saying it *is* an option - nothing is perfect. There are pro's and con's [do those two words really get apostrophes?] - to everything. But all I can say is, man are we busy!!!! We home schoolers are so busy it's unreal. My mind can barely keep up with our activities. Would I be able to post this stuff on facebook? Not really. Sure, I *could* - I am able to... but do I want to? Not really. Most people wouldn't really care anyway... except my home school peeps. The rest just do not get it. They don't get the sacrifice. They don't get the planning. They don't get the cost and the fees. They don't get the investigating and scheduling what is best for each child. They don't get the negative comments home schoolers receive and the negative looks and the 'hey they have three heads' looks. They don't get the holier than thou negative crap received from kids and adults even in church! They don't get all the hard, hard work that goes into creating a transcript. They don't get that any home schooler who tries to get into college is worth their weight in gold... I mean why would ANYONE try to get into ANY college if they weren't a good student and interested in attending and doing well? And if they don't do well - like ANYONE who doesn't do well - they'd leave. Drop out. End it. Stop the classes.

So yes... sometimes all of the information on facebook drives me crazy. Sometimes it's just too much. Sometimes the information is beyond what I'm really interested in...

And so I come to my blog... my place of safety... my area to vent...

thinking....

Here's what I'm thinking:

• Everyone is too busy on facebook to read my blog
• OR
• No one has anything constructive to say because I'm so "radical"
• OR
• My posts are so strong they don't really leave any room for comment or 'argument'

;-P

S'ok... I blog for me, anyway....

a guest

Last week, Lizzy came to stay with us for a couple of days... she slept with Gimli [since Jesse is with me...] and here is Lizzy all comfy on Gimli's bed... isn't she cute?

edible?

Something I have been thinking about for a while now... you know people say to feed your dogs only dog food? How people food is "bad" for dogs? Well... here's my question: what did dogs eat before dog food was invented? Why do these people and dog food companies insist the dogs only eat their food? I'm just wondering.... it's been on my mind a lot lately....

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

pumped

Well... I'm all pumped up right this second - at 11PM - because I just finished watching the current episode of HEROES not once, but twice! We taped it for Legolas and when he came home, I sat and watched with him again! Even though we [the Heroes] suffered a couple of losses, I still feel like it was one of the better episodes of the season... I'm not psyched that Sylar is going to be teaming up with the bad guy whose name escapes me at the moment... that'll happen next week... good ole coming attractions...

:::deep breath:::

weary....

Sometimes I just don't have it in me. I just don't have it in me to smile and be "happy." I just don't. Today is one of those days. I'm just exhausted. I haven't slept well in at least a week - and now I'm feeling it. Exhaustion. The yellow pollen doesn't help either. Turns everything yellow - unless you have a light blue car like I do in which case the car now looks green. It's sickening. I hate it. Gimli asked if it was the same way in NY. Nope, I told him, no way. I showed him the pollen comes from the pine trees here - and other trees we don't necessarily have in NY - ... my mother told me, "No, they have snow instead." She continued, "Which would you rather have?" My answer, of course, is snow. Her answer was pollen. To each his own. I just don't like it. Perhaps if I slept, I wouldn't be so grouchy or cranky or weepy... be that as it may... today is one that is dragging... yet the sun is shining... the temperature is lovely - currently in the 50's at 10:30AM expecting to rise to the low 70's - very pleasant, indeed. Not too windy, not too humid. A perfect day, actually, temperature wise. It's just that dang pollen. Bothers my eyes - bothers my contact lenses - bothers my sinuses - you get the idea. Please pray that I get some real sleep - and for more than just one night. I'm not a cheery person naturally as it is... and this just drags me down even more.

I think the world has gotten very small... it's actually amazing how small... facebook seems to make it even smaller... not only that, it seems to me that there is no true privacy any more. Babies are born and every single minute isn't captured on *film*, but on digital and uploaded to places like facebook, myspace, even blogspot. It just feels as if nothing is private or "sacred" anymore... it feels as if everyone's lives are "out there"... in the "spotlight" for all to see... feeling a taste of what celebraties feel...??? perhaps. It's just an odd, weird, uncomfortable feeling for me. People posting pictures without checking with me first... not a good thing, I think. what if I am uncomfortable with the way I look in a particular photo? What if the way I wish to be portrayed is not such in that particular photo? And then there are those who intrude in our daily lives whether they mean to or not... they infiltrate relationships you have attempted to foster and grow... and suddenly...! There they are! Right in the midst of what you have been trying to fabricate and build. Leaves a bad taste in my mouth and a bad feeling all 'round. It feels as if they permeate each and every path taken [by me] and saturate it with their 'perfection.'

Shaking my head as I retreat to regroup....

17 March 2009

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

More faves...

I LOVED this show when it was on TV....

So much fun!
Remington Steele....

Very telling....

Nothing profound, really, to say here... except for a personal boast or boost for my ego??? Last night at Friday Night Dance at the Ballroom Dance Center, I really had a great time. I've been trying to attend most Friday nights as Legolas would live there if he could. Thankfully, the place is very near to where we live... Anyway... I have found that I love to dance Salsa, cha-cha and waltz. But last night, I danced Salsa with one of the teachers and all I can say is "Wow!" I really kept up with him. He added new steps that he hadn't done with me previously and I kept up with him! I know I'm a good follower, thankfully... and to be honest, I'm always pretty nervous and often asking, "Was that right?" "Was that what you wanted me to do?" And the teachers are now telling me to just go with the flow of dancing and ENJOY myself - have a good time - and stop being concerned with whether it's right or wrong. They want me to have fun. After I finally relaxed a bit and just felt the music and felt his lead, I found it was excellent. I'm not worried about keeping the beat. That's second nature to me... like breathing in and out. It's the fancier steps... but when I don't think about it and rather, feel it, it works. Makes me think of the movie "Dirty Dancing" when Patrick Swayze's character tells Jennifer Gray's character to feel the beat. He takes her hand and places it on his heart and says, "Guh gung. Guh gung." That's what i mean when I say feel the beat. Almost close my eyes and just feel it. It's great.

And as an aside, one of my new friends at dance, another mom who is a really terrific woman, told me that the smile on my face that is in the pictures when I am with the dolphins is the exact same smile that is on my face when I am dancing.

Very telling.

Very telling, indeed.

practicing and rehearsing....

One of the things we have been tied up with in our household is an upcoming musical theatre presentation of:

Let Your Hair Down, Rapunzel!

"It's time to let your hair down, have a little fun," chimes the company in the opening number of this fresh, vivacious musical adaptation of a popular tale. Rene Shwartzbuckle sings to her husband, Walt, about her zany obsession for a turnip-like vegetable called "rapunzel." After spotting a delectable patch of the plant in Witch Izwitch's garden, Rene sends Walt to "borrow" some. The irritated witch has her malicious henchmen, the Glumpwarts, terrorize Walt. In fear, he promises to give his firstborn child to the witch in exchange for his own freedom. Your audiences are then taken many years ahead to visit the beautiful Shwartzbuckle child… Rapunzel. (Now you know where the name comes from!) It's our heroine's 18th birthday, and Witch Izwitch follows through with her promise and places poor Rapunzel alone in a tower. From here, an exuberant, amusing rescue attempt begins! (As for the "mane" ingredient of the show, don't worry! The famous "hair climbing" scene is a breeze to stage!) Can Prince Llewellyn persevere over the powers of evil? Will the fresh, hysterical characters (such as the sages Parsley, Rosemary and Thyme) be able to help? And can Rapunzel convince the witch that it's okay to be unique? Filled with an abundant supply of delightful songs like "Just Because You're Different," "I'm a Nut" and, of course, "Let Your Hair Down," this show is zestful entertainment!

Gimli is in this presentation and he has been working very diligently with his part. If you're in the area and want to know more about it, let me know and i can send you more details... the presentation is in a couple of weeks!

adulthood?

I remember the days of passing looks back and forth to my friends, do you?

Do you remember when that was? High School. You know the time, when groups and cliques are formed because each group and clique thinks it's "better" than the other. Or even just to demonstrate the "closeness" of the group or clique - the uniformity in thinking.

How sad it is that this happens today among so-called ADULTS with children of their own. Not a very good example to perpetuate that judgment is it?

Eyes opened?

Something else I have been thinking about... I know I often say that we are raising an "instant gratification" generation - and we are. We run here and we run there and we pick up "fast food" along the way - and some of us look for "healthy" fast food along the way... we make our computers go faster and faster... dial-up is a "dinosaur"... comments are made about joining the 21st century.... everything is quick, quick, quick... fast, fast, fast. No one wants to wait anymore. And we wonder where patience has gone and why. No one wants to wait in line any more... heck, even at Disney they offer a "fast pass" to get where you want to get and "cut" the line... in order to get the fast pass, you have to plan ahead and think where you'll be in the park and at what time... or is it the other way around? you grab a fast pass and then work your way around the park according to what the fast pass says timewise... I forget. Either way, it's all about not waiting. I don't really have a solution except to teach our children that there are things they actually have to wait for... and be examples of that waiting for them and with them. I guess it just adds to the frustration I see around me... instant gratification. I want an oompa-loompa NOW daddy! Daddy! I want a squirrel! Even Roald Dahl knew it way back when he wrote Charlie and the Chocolate Factory back in 1964 - 45 years ago. Too bad parents didn't take what he wrote [almost] literally and apply it to raising children. Don't get me wrong, I'm guilty of it at times too. Especially the fast food thing - when you run from here to there what time do we really have? Although, there have been plenty of times when I've brought our own food and not done the fast food route.

I have no point except to say, "Open your eyes and see how much of this is true in your life."

Responsiblities

OK... so here's the thing. If a mother is sick or not feeling well or just too plain caught up in other activities that usually involve caring for her children, earning money for the household income and/or 'helping' someone, why does she not call upon the other individuals in her household to cook and clean and pick up? Why are all of those "duties" solely relegated to her and her alone? I just do not understand this concept. I, for one, REFUSE to be a doormat or slave to anyone or any household. Is my house a wreck? Sometimes. Who picks up? Everyone. Who cleans? Everyone. Who cooks? Everyone - each according to his/her age.

Listen people, are we not supposed to TRAIN our children to be able to go out and live on their own? If you have sons, are they not supposed to be able to learn how to take care of themselves on their own? Sons are not to be taught to go from mother to wife... slave to slave. Uh uh. no way. They have to know how to live and take care of themselves ON THEIR OWN. If they are sent away to college at 18yrs of age, who is going to do their laundry for them and keep their room neat and clean? Ummmm they are. Not you, the mother or parent. And not a wife at that age. Especially not if they're off to college -

the thing is, I began this "training" as soon as the child could WALK. At age 2yrs, my oldest SON was sorting laundry with me. By 3yrs of age he was dusting. And "fixing" his bed - to the best of that 3yr old ability. I don't care if I had to "fix it" after him or "behind" him... that was not the point of giving him responsibilities. No wonder so many children are 'BORED' - a word that is BANNED from this household. If you are bored, I will find you plenty to do starting with cleaning the bathroom followed by vacuuming and sweeping and mopping and dusting... lots to do ALWAYS.

Everyone in the household MUST be given tasks and responsibilities -
If you are a mother, you are not a slave -the end-all be-all.
Everyone must help and must contribute to the household responsibilites...

Give your children age appropriate responsiblities....

A Secret....

I am going to start off this post telling each and every one of you that Marineland is Florida's best kept secret. www.marineland.net

speak to any Floridian - as I have - and they all know of it and most have visited there and raved about it. It's not like busy Orlando. It's cheaper than Orlando sights. It's only dolphins.

The dolphins are well trained.
The trainers are well trained.

The experience was incredible.

It was the perfect time of year to go - very few people around - and only 3 - including me - in my group of what would normally be 8 in the group. I felt as if I received special attention as the "old lady" of the group. I'm guessing turning 45yrs old and having a real dolphin encounter for the first time in one's life is fast becoming a 'thing of the past' as my two group participants were a mere 13yrs old and 8yrs old. Good grief, what is this country coming to? But I digress... Those children will in no way whatsoever take away with them the glory of what I took away with me. Both had upcoming birthdays and the 8yr old, from Michigan, proudly stated that this was NOT *his* birthday present. Seemed like a 'whatever' thing to him. They're children and their parents weren't even with them. :::shaking my head::: I just don't get people.

Anyway... it was a wonderful time. I got to meet the oldest dolphin ever in captivity - Nellie - she turned 56yrs old the day before I saw her. Most dolphins live until about 25-30yrs old.... she was so sweet. And the trainer called only *me* over to meet her. I felt very privileged! Truly. It was an honor to pet and meet and talk to Nellie. Such a sweet girl! I got to meet and play with her son, Sonny, as well. I got to hug and kiss and hold them too.

They take very good care of the dolphins which is very, very important to me. More important than anything, as a matter of fact. If the dolphins were not well cared for, I couldn't visit with them and hang with them and be with them. My heart would be breaking too much for them. The dolphins are trained but very gently - which warms my heart. From what I could tell, there are no "spankings" for obedience... why should there be? They gently teach them, guide them, show them expected behaviour... and helpful behaviour. One example given was... if every time you went to the doctor, you were given your most favorite meal EVER, would you fear or despise going to the doctor? The answer, of course, would be a resounding, "No" - you would love going to the doctor and having blood drawn and tested because you would be conditioned into knowing you will be receiving your all time favorite meal every time. And this is the process used for the dolphins. They want the dolphins to want to come and not fight them as they take blood, etc., to check the dolphins' well-being. Many of the trainers there actually have a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. that's right, Psychology, not Marine Biology. Neat, right? They care more about behaviour and what is good for each dolphin. And of course, like *people*, each dolphin is unique. Each dolphin is different. Each dolphin has his/her own likes and dislikes and preferences. Who would expect anything less? Heck, I'd love to work with the dolphins and allow them to teach *me*... forget my teaching them... I want to learn from them... I can't explain it, but I feel such a deep connection with them... with many animals but at this time it's dogs and dolphins. Secretly, the way Jesse, our dog, communicates with me and I with her, my kids call me the 'dog whisperer'... when I was young, I wanted to be a veterinarian. Then my allergy to cats developed... and that flew out the window.

What can I say? I love animals. Animals are usually a LOT nicer than most people. And they love unconditionally... unlike most people. Who wouldn't love them?

So my trip with the dolphins was phenomenal - something I would never trade.

Go to marineland's website. check it out. www.marineland.net

Keep it secret. Keep it safe.