It was Father's Day yesterday. I have the same feelings I have for Father's Day that I have for Mother's Day-not positive. Hey, at least I am equal. But on that same vein I wrote about my mom, and for those of you who don't know me (because my blog is oh so popular and read by EVERYONE), I don't want you to think I am dad-less. I have a dad, and he is one of a kind.
My dad loves my sister and I. Don't misinterpret anything you are about to read. My dad did not know what to do with daughters and to his credit, he gave it a his best try. I love that most about him above anything else. A lot of men in his position, when faced with girl children, simply did nothing. I have friends with that kind of dad. But my dad went in like a bull , bluffing his way through stuffed animals, barbies, and puberty. (To this day, I do not like to mention the word "period" in front of my dad-even when talking about punctuation. Only the good Lord knows why.) He took us hiking, to the movies (although "Coal Miner's Daughter" was not the best choice), and attended all our piano recitals. He took a beer trick-or-treating, threw pine cones and sticks at us to make us walk faster, and played so hard with us I have scars (physical, not emotional) from some of our exploits. His stories are legendary-his first hunting experience when he set a tree stump on fire, the time he used the butt therometer in his mouth one of the few times I remember him being sick, and how when neighbor asked if dad was following the latest tennis finals, dad replied he was sorry but he didn't follow golf. And these "play" qualities have stuck with him to this day. He is still fun and willing to do crazy things. When emergency crew pulled him out the lake after he jumped off the houseboat, mom replied if they had to do that sort of thing often? Sure they replied, but with young guys not old ones. I hope my dad stays that way, because it is antoher of his greatest qualities.
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Monday, June 18, 2007
The Diet Buster
Okay, I broke my "lifestyle change" promise last Friday night. Remember my goal to not eat late at night OR sit on my fat butt? Well, both happened. But let me set the scene so you ahve some pity for me.
Part One-My son goes to bed late. His bed time is 9:30-ish for multiple reasons and while this works well for our family, it means that it is often 10:00p before I get to take a break. (I also get to sleep in so no complaints.)
Part Two-Friday night was MHCC Graduation and I worked it. However, like most graduations it was long and slow and I needed to be home by 9:00p, so I left in time to put Asa to bed. Imagine my surprise when I got home and he was out. Apparently my son has a better social life than I do, having been invited over to Grandma and Grandpa Najdek's. I was a little disappointed to come home early for nothing but when life hands you lemons, you make lemonade.
The Scene-It is 8:50p, I have no kid, husband is already asleep. I turned on "Murder, She Wrote", grabbed my book, made a Warm Delight Brownie, and had a glass of whole milk. I felt like a teenager at a dance club, breaking all the rules and getting to do what I wanted that early! I also ignored the thought of the brownie slowly moving to my hips-it was my night to run wild. This is a far cry as to how I use to spend my Friday nights, or how I even hoped to spend my Friday nights. In fact, in my youth, I NEVER would have even admitted to spending a Friday night like that unless it included a suprises visit from Patrick Swawze. (You can do the most boring ANYTHING and it would be okay with him.) Now, years later, I am praying and crossing my fingers it happens again, brownie, fat hips, and all.
Part One-My son goes to bed late. His bed time is 9:30-ish for multiple reasons and while this works well for our family, it means that it is often 10:00p before I get to take a break. (I also get to sleep in so no complaints.)
Part Two-Friday night was MHCC Graduation and I worked it. However, like most graduations it was long and slow and I needed to be home by 9:00p, so I left in time to put Asa to bed. Imagine my surprise when I got home and he was out. Apparently my son has a better social life than I do, having been invited over to Grandma and Grandpa Najdek's. I was a little disappointed to come home early for nothing but when life hands you lemons, you make lemonade.
The Scene-It is 8:50p, I have no kid, husband is already asleep. I turned on "Murder, She Wrote", grabbed my book, made a Warm Delight Brownie, and had a glass of whole milk. I felt like a teenager at a dance club, breaking all the rules and getting to do what I wanted that early! I also ignored the thought of the brownie slowly moving to my hips-it was my night to run wild. This is a far cry as to how I use to spend my Friday nights, or how I even hoped to spend my Friday nights. In fact, in my youth, I NEVER would have even admitted to spending a Friday night like that unless it included a suprises visit from Patrick Swawze. (You can do the most boring ANYTHING and it would be okay with him.) Now, years later, I am praying and crossing my fingers it happens again, brownie, fat hips, and all.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Gulp-OJ is kind right
Let me get one thing straight-OJ Simpson is not my favortite person. I don't hate him, but I don't remember his glory days of football-he will be forever a "Love Boat" guest star to me and that kind of sums him up for me. But I read a comment of his that got me thinking. He said that on the day Paris Hilton went to jail, NASA sent up a space shuttle and most people have no idea how many astronauts were on that shuttle because Hilton took up all the press. His point was that our prioirites on what is news are screwed up. Okay, give OJ credit-if anyone knows about headlines it is that guy.
(And as a side note, in my forensic science studies I read about the case from BOTH the Defense side and Prosecution side (not the media side). Everyone agrees the evidence was tainted. Defense says on purpose, Prosecution said because of poor evidence control. Either way, his guilt or innocence will never be known now).
I agree with OJ: the things we consider news worthy are pretty poor sometimes. I have seen headlines that say one star is sleeping with another, or they gained weight, or they actually prefer chocolate to vanilla, or they got lost in their backyard, or at 10 bedrooms they still need a guest house because the main house is to small-whatever dumb and stupid things famous people do, or say, gets put on the front page like it will create world peace. How many times do I have to hear that wine is only good for you in moderation and that fresh vegetables are better for you than potato chips? Dan Quayle trying to spell Poh-Ta-Toe took up almost a month worth of news-get the guy a dictionary and move on. Or the people that got robbed, in the city, in the middle of the night, when they left their car doors UNLOCKED. All of them seemed shocked that this could happen to them. Another article on how dumb Americans smell good seems to trickle up every few months too. Yes-we smell good. Isn't that important to know?
The sad thing-this is nothing new. People like to say the media is going downhill but you can''t go downhill when you started at the bottom. Anyone out there remember William Randolph Hearst, now known for some off his famous descedents like Patty Hearst of the kidnapping in the early 1970's and his mansion in San Simeon, Ca. He was known to make news up on a slow day and both Luella Parspns and Hedda Hopper, gossip columnists in the 40's, 50's, and 60's would freely make up lies about Hollywood Stars that had pissed them off. So much for "the truth will set you free".
Media actually is kind of like grandparents: on a good day they are friend and on a bad day they are foe. On a good day they are the best entertainment I have ever had. On a bad day, they feed my kid nothing but crap. I for one, don't care about Paris Hilton. Money to burn, no life skills, and ugly to boot-I kind of feel sorry for her, but only kind of.
(And as a side note, in my forensic science studies I read about the case from BOTH the Defense side and Prosecution side (not the media side). Everyone agrees the evidence was tainted. Defense says on purpose, Prosecution said because of poor evidence control. Either way, his guilt or innocence will never be known now).
I agree with OJ: the things we consider news worthy are pretty poor sometimes. I have seen headlines that say one star is sleeping with another, or they gained weight, or they actually prefer chocolate to vanilla, or they got lost in their backyard, or at 10 bedrooms they still need a guest house because the main house is to small-whatever dumb and stupid things famous people do, or say, gets put on the front page like it will create world peace. How many times do I have to hear that wine is only good for you in moderation and that fresh vegetables are better for you than potato chips? Dan Quayle trying to spell Poh-Ta-Toe took up almost a month worth of news-get the guy a dictionary and move on. Or the people that got robbed, in the city, in the middle of the night, when they left their car doors UNLOCKED. All of them seemed shocked that this could happen to them. Another article on how dumb Americans smell good seems to trickle up every few months too. Yes-we smell good. Isn't that important to know?
The sad thing-this is nothing new. People like to say the media is going downhill but you can''t go downhill when you started at the bottom. Anyone out there remember William Randolph Hearst, now known for some off his famous descedents like Patty Hearst of the kidnapping in the early 1970's and his mansion in San Simeon, Ca. He was known to make news up on a slow day and both Luella Parspns and Hedda Hopper, gossip columnists in the 40's, 50's, and 60's would freely make up lies about Hollywood Stars that had pissed them off. So much for "the truth will set you free".
Media actually is kind of like grandparents: on a good day they are friend and on a bad day they are foe. On a good day they are the best entertainment I have ever had. On a bad day, they feed my kid nothing but crap. I for one, don't care about Paris Hilton. Money to burn, no life skills, and ugly to boot-I kind of feel sorry for her, but only kind of.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Home Schooling
Right off the bat, let me say I am sorry to Katie. I hope she doesn't get upset that I am apologizing publicly, but I think she deserves it. Asa and I went over for a visit and she very excitedly showed me her classroom that she had created for her son, whom she has decided to home school in the Fall. As she is showing me all these neat things, all I could do is sit there and think "what about the home schoolers who should be in public school?". Hey, nothing says friendship like acting like a turd. The reality is, as much as I love Katie, she has no control over every home schooled kid in America. It is like someone coming up to me and smacking me for Ted Bundy-we both lived in the Pacific NW and we are both of Caucasian descendents. Like he is my fault. So Katie, I am very sorry that I acted so shabbily AND that I subconciously blamed you for every bad home school experience I have ever seen.
See, here is my problem with Home Schooling: absolutely nothing. I have seen a lot of bright students come out of home schooling and I have seen students who were not successful in a public school totally shine in their own environment. Home Schooling has provided a positive and valubale need for a lot of kids. Unfortunately, Home Schooling has also been infiltrated by alternative lifestyle creeps, religious zealots, and kids to lazy to attend regular school (although in defense of that they were to lazy to graduate from the Home School Program either-yes, Alina, that was Missy). I have read interviews from people who openly say they don't want their kids in public school because they don't want them with "those people". Those people as in minorities? People who think different? People who think of cats as children? I have heard people say they disapprove of teaching their children certain facts of life, teachers are too permissive, schools to violent, and students where sexy clothing. And I can't disaggree with any of that. I have seen students wearing less clothing than what my underwear covers. But is pulling out kids to shield them the right idea? Representing a false world of rainbows and sunshine every day certainly doesn't leave them with many coping skills. But above all else, not one of the "crazies" mentioned the number one reason for home-schooling: it benefitted their child. And that is what we should all be thinking of: what is best for my child. How does s/he learn best?
Besides, a number one teacher in a child's life is and always will be their parents. No teacher spends as much time as I do with my son and I am totally irreplaceable. Even now he is watchng me to figure out how to react in the world. It's like having my own stalker. When I try all the new foods on my plate, so does he. When I read a book, so does he. Like the song goes, "no they can't take that away from me" and it doesn't matter if Attila the Hun is his first grade teacher.
Will I send him to public school? I don't know. It will depend on what he needs and what I can offer him. But public school is not the temple of hell as some people like to paint it. I like the thought that my son might meet people different then him. I like the idea that he will have another adult role model, good or bad, in which to find out how life can be. But if he needs are not met, then public school is not the place for him.
Katie will do great next year. Her son will have a quality education experience based on what Katie knows he needs. And I am confident that Ethan will become one of the home schoolers I see here at work-A bright, well-adjusted, extremely thoughtful student prepared for college. And I want the whole world to know that I think that, and that Katie will create the same environment for her daughter. And for every nut job that would rain on MY PARADE, so that I end up rianing on Katie's, nuts to you. I will no longer let you effect me like that. Sorry Katie.
See, here is my problem with Home Schooling: absolutely nothing. I have seen a lot of bright students come out of home schooling and I have seen students who were not successful in a public school totally shine in their own environment. Home Schooling has provided a positive and valubale need for a lot of kids. Unfortunately, Home Schooling has also been infiltrated by alternative lifestyle creeps, religious zealots, and kids to lazy to attend regular school (although in defense of that they were to lazy to graduate from the Home School Program either-yes, Alina, that was Missy). I have read interviews from people who openly say they don't want their kids in public school because they don't want them with "those people". Those people as in minorities? People who think different? People who think of cats as children? I have heard people say they disapprove of teaching their children certain facts of life, teachers are too permissive, schools to violent, and students where sexy clothing. And I can't disaggree with any of that. I have seen students wearing less clothing than what my underwear covers. But is pulling out kids to shield them the right idea? Representing a false world of rainbows and sunshine every day certainly doesn't leave them with many coping skills. But above all else, not one of the "crazies" mentioned the number one reason for home-schooling: it benefitted their child. And that is what we should all be thinking of: what is best for my child. How does s/he learn best?
Besides, a number one teacher in a child's life is and always will be their parents. No teacher spends as much time as I do with my son and I am totally irreplaceable. Even now he is watchng me to figure out how to react in the world. It's like having my own stalker. When I try all the new foods on my plate, so does he. When I read a book, so does he. Like the song goes, "no they can't take that away from me" and it doesn't matter if Attila the Hun is his first grade teacher.
Will I send him to public school? I don't know. It will depend on what he needs and what I can offer him. But public school is not the temple of hell as some people like to paint it. I like the thought that my son might meet people different then him. I like the idea that he will have another adult role model, good or bad, in which to find out how life can be. But if he needs are not met, then public school is not the place for him.
Katie will do great next year. Her son will have a quality education experience based on what Katie knows he needs. And I am confident that Ethan will become one of the home schoolers I see here at work-A bright, well-adjusted, extremely thoughtful student prepared for college. And I want the whole world to know that I think that, and that Katie will create the same environment for her daughter. And for every nut job that would rain on MY PARADE, so that I end up rianing on Katie's, nuts to you. I will no longer let you effect me like that. Sorry Katie.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Geeksville
There are many things that make me realize I am a geek. The books I like, the activities I like (read the blogs on the Rose Festival), and the fact that I was more excited about meeting obscure authors than famous musicians. But this weekend, seemed to be the epitome of geekiness. The float riding-in the Portland area, only my mom was excited for me (others outside Portland where excited though). And then, right after the parade we headed to the beach to see Paul Anka. For those of you not familiar with his work, he had a few big hits in the late 50's, early 60's with "Diana" and "Put Your Head On My Shoulder". He also is a songwriter and he is the one who wrote "My Way" for Frank Sinatra and "She's a Lady" for Tom Jones, among other hits. It was a good time, and I love intimate little venues for concerts where you can see the musicians and feel a personal connection with the entertainment. However, I am pretty sure I was the youngest person, or at least one of the ten youngest people there. In fact the lady next to mom was not only impressed that I was willing to go to humor my mom, but that I knew some fo his songs and liked others from his generation or before, like Neil Sedaka, Dean Martin, and Nat King Cole. I also realized I wasn't in Kansas anymore when I went to the bathroom. We saw Paul Anka at the Chinook Winds Casino- a haven for the 50 plus crowd. In the restroom stalls it says "please do not flush personal control undergarments". Okay, that took me a minute because I am thinking ha-ha, who would flush their underwear. Then I realize they are talking about items like "Depends" which are fine and important, but made me think that maybe I need to hang out with a younger crowd. After the concert we go out to the main gambling hall so mom can play the slots just a little. Holy cow-the smokers. I felt like an old fart trying to stay out of the blue smoke and definitely felt a role reversal as I made faces at the "rebels" lighting up who were older than my mom. I can't imagine smoke on dentures tastes all that good.
All in all, we had a great weekend. The parade, the concert, and some time at the outlet stores the next morning felt like the perfect getaway for the mom of a 19 month old, although Asa did come with. Long live geeks.
All in all, we had a great weekend. The parade, the concert, and some time at the outlet stores the next morning felt like the perfect getaway for the mom of a 19 month old, although Asa did come with. Long live geeks.
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