I wrote about the things that made me happiest in 2009 and 2010. Now it's time to share what I am (or was) happy about in 2011. This is in no particular order.
1. The birth of my daughter and watching her grow a little more every day and discover things in the world around her. Her smile brightens my day and I can get lost in her eyes. She's so incredibly sweet and I'm so proud to be her mom!
2. Chick Lit Central has really taken off this year and I've had lots of wonderful help along the way. I've also gotten to read some more amazing novels and met some really sweet authors too!
3. Even though we had to deal with lots of dust and noise, the house looks nicer as a result. I'm really happy about our basement playroom. It looks like a real playroom instead of a warehouse for toys.
4. "How I Met Your Mother." Le. Gen. Dary! I can't believe I waited so long to get sucked in to this show. It's hilarious and heartwarming.
5. My younger son's upsherin. It's the last upsherin for any of my kids and was really special. We had it on Purim and all the guests dressed up in costume.
6. Hearing how well my older son is doing in Kindergarten. He was mainstreamed into a regular ed class and he's scoring really high in reading and language skills. I am super proud!
7. A wonderful friend who has been helping me out with my older son's after school care after our one sitter bailed on us and another one changed her schedule a bit.
8. Going to the Maccabeats concert and having a fun date in the city with my husband as a result. (Also my younger son learning "Candlelight" and pointing out a friend's doppelganger while watching the video.)
9. The Band Perry and their fabulous debut CD. I love their songs and can listen to it over and over. I even taught "You Lie" to my sons. :)
10. Visits with/from family members and friends throughout the year. This includes a special 4th of July visit from a close friend, hanging out at National Harbor with a cousin we haven't seen since our wedding, and of course...spending holidays (religious or secular) with various family members. Most recently, it was Hanukkah with my family.
10.5 (My blog, my rules...) How well "Blog Project 2.0" is doing. I enjoy all the topics we've been writing on so far and it's really kept me motivated to write in this blog with everything else going on this year.
Looking forward to lots of good things in 2012, including my 10 year dating anniversary. (I still celebrate that on some level, as it's the day I met my besherte in person for hot cocoa, which ended up being tea in my case.) I'm also excited to see my daughter hear for the first time, B"H. I just want her to get through the surgery safely first!
Friday, December 30, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
To Tebow or not to Tebow...
Remember the blog project I did last year with three other women? Well, Froggie decided to resurrect it with me and we each got to invite another friend to join us. She invited a mutual friend (someone I met through her) and I invited a friend whose blog I really enjoy reading. So now it's Froggie, Mom of Many, Moma Rock and Merrylandgirl. Hope you enjoy the topics that we'll be exploring!
This week, Froggie picked the topic:
In 2010, the Denver Broncos drafted Tim Tebow, a quarterback from the University of Florida. Tebow, a devout Christian, would wear biblical references such as "John 3:16" on his eye paint during college games. Recently, there has been a lot of talk in the news about Tebow and how he kneels and prays after a game success. "Tebowing" has become a widespread phenomenon to the point that it has been accepted as a word in the English language.
WIth all this in mind, should professional athletes be able to publicly display their religious beliefs during games? What other thoughts do you have on this phenomenon?
Before reading ahead, first see what everyone else had to say on this topic:
Froggie
Mom of Many
Moma Rock
I hadn't really heard of Tim Tebow and this phenomenon before now. I'm not always up to date with news stories. (Even though I was one of the few around my office who knew about the recent Beit Shemesh controversy, but that's another story in itself.) I don't go to sporting events all that often, but I have to wonder if Tebow is doing this for his actual beliefs or if it's just for show...to create an image for himself in the name of religion. It makes me think of when Madonna adopted Kabbalah as her religious beliefs and suddenly had to show off how "Jewish" she was. It now comes off as being a phase, as I haven't heard anyone call her "Esther" in a long time.
Having said this, if an Orthodox Jewish baseball player started davening mincha in the middle of the playing field, complete with phylacteries and tallit, would he get such support? I have to wonder if it's about the religion and the way it looks to the secular public vs. actually having such spiritual beliefs and customs. Had Tebow been an Orthodox Jew and started quoting Rashi on his face and wearing a black hat and payos, would he still receive the support of the public for his religious beliefs? I bring this up because I feel that we are angling more toward a Christian society, based on the beliefs of celebrities that are supported by the general public. Since I'm not into sports, I'd like to transition this to the music realm.
I've heard a bunch of pop and country songs mention Jesus in their lyrics. There's a song by Jann Arden called "Could I Be Your Girl?" It has a great sound and beat, but in the chorus, Jesus is mentioned. She also says "Oh, my Lord." I don't know if the song is about Jesus or about love. It's very confusing. Then there's "Jesus, Take the Wheel," which was played on every station when it first came out, even though it was by a country singer. There's also The Band Perry. I love them, but in two of their hit songs, they have some mention of the Lord in some way or another. They don't straight out say "Jesus," thankfully. However, it is there. My husband and I used to joke about "De-Jesusing" songs. We'd sing them and say "Hashem" instead. Oddly enough, I don't know of any popular music on the radio that uses the word "Hashem." And even though my sons think Uncle Moishy is a rock star, that doesn't count! Maybe it's not as commonplace for Jews to flaunt their beliefs in everyone's face (or ears, in this case), but I wish singers of other religions could show the same restraint. If I wanted to hear about Jesus on the radio, I'd listen to the gospel station. I appreciate that they have faith in a deity, but it still bothers me anyway. I feel like I have to censor the word in those songs for my kids and there's not even a swear word to be found.
So there you have it...I don't feel that religion and public entertainment of any kind (sports, movies, music) should mix unless there's going to be equal support for other religions to do the same to any extent. As I don't see that happening anytime soon, I feel we can exist happily without the use of religious symbolism in a secular society. There are reasons we have houses of worship, after all.
This week, Froggie picked the topic:
In 2010, the Denver Broncos drafted Tim Tebow, a quarterback from the University of Florida. Tebow, a devout Christian, would wear biblical references such as "John 3:16" on his eye paint during college games. Recently, there has been a lot of talk in the news about Tebow and how he kneels and prays after a game success. "Tebowing" has become a widespread phenomenon to the point that it has been accepted as a word in the English language.
WIth all this in mind, should professional athletes be able to publicly display their religious beliefs during games? What other thoughts do you have on this phenomenon?
Before reading ahead, first see what everyone else had to say on this topic:
Froggie
Mom of Many
Moma Rock
I hadn't really heard of Tim Tebow and this phenomenon before now. I'm not always up to date with news stories. (Even though I was one of the few around my office who knew about the recent Beit Shemesh controversy, but that's another story in itself.) I don't go to sporting events all that often, but I have to wonder if Tebow is doing this for his actual beliefs or if it's just for show...to create an image for himself in the name of religion. It makes me think of when Madonna adopted Kabbalah as her religious beliefs and suddenly had to show off how "Jewish" she was. It now comes off as being a phase, as I haven't heard anyone call her "Esther" in a long time.
Having said this, if an Orthodox Jewish baseball player started davening mincha in the middle of the playing field, complete with phylacteries and tallit, would he get such support? I have to wonder if it's about the religion and the way it looks to the secular public vs. actually having such spiritual beliefs and customs. Had Tebow been an Orthodox Jew and started quoting Rashi on his face and wearing a black hat and payos, would he still receive the support of the public for his religious beliefs? I bring this up because I feel that we are angling more toward a Christian society, based on the beliefs of celebrities that are supported by the general public. Since I'm not into sports, I'd like to transition this to the music realm.
I've heard a bunch of pop and country songs mention Jesus in their lyrics. There's a song by Jann Arden called "Could I Be Your Girl?" It has a great sound and beat, but in the chorus, Jesus is mentioned. She also says "Oh, my Lord." I don't know if the song is about Jesus or about love. It's very confusing. Then there's "Jesus, Take the Wheel," which was played on every station when it first came out, even though it was by a country singer. There's also The Band Perry. I love them, but in two of their hit songs, they have some mention of the Lord in some way or another. They don't straight out say "Jesus," thankfully. However, it is there. My husband and I used to joke about "De-Jesusing" songs. We'd sing them and say "Hashem" instead. Oddly enough, I don't know of any popular music on the radio that uses the word "Hashem." And even though my sons think Uncle Moishy is a rock star, that doesn't count! Maybe it's not as commonplace for Jews to flaunt their beliefs in everyone's face (or ears, in this case), but I wish singers of other religions could show the same restraint. If I wanted to hear about Jesus on the radio, I'd listen to the gospel station. I appreciate that they have faith in a deity, but it still bothers me anyway. I feel like I have to censor the word in those songs for my kids and there's not even a swear word to be found.
So there you have it...I don't feel that religion and public entertainment of any kind (sports, movies, music) should mix unless there's going to be equal support for other religions to do the same to any extent. As I don't see that happening anytime soon, I feel we can exist happily without the use of religious symbolism in a secular society. There are reasons we have houses of worship, after all.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Two YEARS!
I've been blogging here for two years. So happy blogoversary to me! This blog has seen so much, including a big change in my life. :) I hope to get up the motivation to blog even more in 2012, so thanks for joining me on this ride and sticking around! :)
You can now like my blog on Facebook! I'm trying to get a link in for the sidebar but Blogger hasn't been cooperating.
In other news, my daughter is also 10 months old today. :) Her cochlear implant surgery is in one week, so please keep her in your prayers.
You can now like my blog on Facebook! I'm trying to get a link in for the sidebar but Blogger hasn't been cooperating.
In other news, my daughter is also 10 months old today. :) Her cochlear implant surgery is in one week, so please keep her in your prayers.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
My new celebrity crush
I tend to talk about celebrity crushes a lot. I make them pretty well known on Facebook. For a long time, it has been Adam Lambert. However, as much as I love him and his beautiful face and voice, I have moved on to "bigger" (and possibly better).
Meet my latest celebrity crush....
It started the way it did with Adam Lambert. I didn't like Jason Segel at first. I watched "Freaks and Geeks" and just found his character all annoying, which transitioned to him as an actor somehow. Then I saw "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and got a new perspective. He just looked really good and took on this strong personality. He was hilarious too! I didn't give it much more thought and saw him in other movies from time to time. Then I became addicted to "How I Met Your Mother" this past year and he just grew on me to the point of crushability. I know he's playing a role, but he's ever so adorable as Marshall. He was also the only thing I liked about "Bad Teacher." I looked forward to his on screen time. Then there's "The Muppets." Anyone who can bring the classics from my youth back to the big screen with such style and humor earns mega-crush points in my book! There's also the fact that he seems so down-to-earth in general. I can see him being really nice to his fans outside of his role as Marshall. That's something admirable. Plus, he can sing!!! (Bonus points there!) I think he reminds me of my husband in looks and personality, which adds to the crush. I think it's a different kind of crush than I had on Adam Lambert, but it's still a crush nonetheless! And he's definitely on my list of celebrities to meet!
He recently channeled Andre the Giant on SNL and did it so well that I was laughing to the point of tears. Check it out here.
Meet my latest celebrity crush....
It started the way it did with Adam Lambert. I didn't like Jason Segel at first. I watched "Freaks and Geeks" and just found his character all annoying, which transitioned to him as an actor somehow. Then I saw "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and got a new perspective. He just looked really good and took on this strong personality. He was hilarious too! I didn't give it much more thought and saw him in other movies from time to time. Then I became addicted to "How I Met Your Mother" this past year and he just grew on me to the point of crushability. I know he's playing a role, but he's ever so adorable as Marshall. He was also the only thing I liked about "Bad Teacher." I looked forward to his on screen time. Then there's "The Muppets." Anyone who can bring the classics from my youth back to the big screen with such style and humor earns mega-crush points in my book! There's also the fact that he seems so down-to-earth in general. I can see him being really nice to his fans outside of his role as Marshall. That's something admirable. Plus, he can sing!!! (Bonus points there!) I think he reminds me of my husband in looks and personality, which adds to the crush. I think it's a different kind of crush than I had on Adam Lambert, but it's still a crush nonetheless! And he's definitely on my list of celebrities to meet!
He recently channeled Andre the Giant on SNL and did it so well that I was laughing to the point of tears. Check it out here.
Friday, December 23, 2011
'Tis the season
While we're constantly having Christmas thrown at us from every angle, between the TV, radio, stores, houses with lights, etc., I still can't muster up a "feel" for the winter holidays this year. I know I celebrate Hanukkah and that it is going on now, but even that feels misplaced to me, like we're doing it at the wrong time of the year. I thought it was the weather being more balmy than usual, but we spent many a winter holiday season in Florida when I was a kid and it still had a "feel" to me.
To understand what I'm getting at, allow me to backtrack a bit. My mom's first cousin is not Jewish. (There was some intermarriage in our family.) Therefore, she and her family celebrate Christmas. We would celebrate the day with them when I was growing up and even as I was becoming an adult. As a result, there was a time in my life when I actually enjoyed Christmas and all it had to offer. I love celebrating Hanukkah, but there was something warm and wonderful about Christmas at the time. It gave the whole month of December a certain "feel." We would go to our cousins' house and the whole place would be decked out in Christmas gear. They had a really nice (huge) tree taking up part of their living room. (Their house represented Christmas so well that it was weird to go there any other time of the year, when all the decorations were gone.) They had relaxing Christmas tunes playing in the background the entire time. And then there was the food. There would be snacks when we first came in. Amongst the snacks was a bowl of dill weed dip (my favorite). I'd use it for cucumbers and potato chips. Dinner was turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, stuffing, etc. I don't think the items ever varied from year to year. The best part was dessert. Our cousin had my late maternal grandma's cheesecake recipe and would make it with cherries on top. There were Frango mint cookies and brownies, as well. Three other things that made the experience memorable....eating dinner on the giant ping pong table in the basement, getting free Disney CDs (our cousin's husband worked for Disney records at the time) and most important of all, having my grandma and great-uncle there. (They were brother and sister and passed away about 4 1/2 years apart from one another.) Another treat was my cousin's husband's sister coming in every other year or so. She was just really nice. On the way home, we'd be all bundled up in the car on a snowy night, passing by all the houses with twinkling lights. There was something so peaceful about the drive back to our house.
After my great-uncle passed away in 2000, the feeling of the day changed a bit. My grandma was also not doing so well and getting confused more often. The enthusiasm the two of them brought to the day had diminished. As our group got smaller, we stopped eating in the basement and ate at a dining room table in the kitchen instead. It was still a nice day, but it just felt different.
When my older son was born, we stopped doing the annual Christmas dinners at my cousins' house. We didn't want to expose him to Christmas, even as a baby. We would travel to visit my mother-in-law instead and spend a traditional Hanukkah with her. After we moved, we didn't come back to visit on Christmas. One year, we came in the day after and just focused on Hanukkah and New Year's Eve. That was back in 2007. In 2008, we spent Christmas day in Baltimore with my in-laws and stayed for a Shabbos weekend. It didn't even feel like Christmas at that point. It was just another day. The following years, Christmas was combined with Shabbat, so it was easy not to notice it and we didn't have to listen to the music either. :) By this point, Christmas music had started to annoy me overall.
Back to the present. Christmas is on a Sunday this year. For us observant Jews, it's considered to be just another day. It's equivalent to non-Jews getting the day off for Rosh Hashanah (at least those who work in schools and Jewish organizations do). However, there's not as much to do on Christmas, aside from going to movies and eating Chinese food. We have yet to do that on Christmas anyway. This year, my family is coming in for a visit, so I'm looking forward to that. I hope we'll be able to find some entertaining things to do though. Maybe this is the year we'll get Chinese. Who knows? I'm just thrilled to have them here to spend time with us and the kids. In any case, we're celebrating Hanukkah and it just happens to coincide with Christmas again this year. It will be nice to have a holiday at the same time as everyone else, but I also hope the kids don't get cabin fever. If it's nice enough out, we could go outside.
I'm not sure what the lack of a "feel" is about this year. Maybe I'm burnt out from being so busy lately? Perhaps it's nerves over my daughter's upcoming cochlear implant surgery? Is it because I've become so disassociated from Christmas that it really has become just another day for me too, thus overtaking the way the holiday season feels in general? I would hope to get a "feel" from Hanukkah though, since that's my whole focus these days (even though I'm having trouble focusing on it). And it's one of my favorite holidays. At work, everyone has been gathering for menorah lighting on a daily basis. Someone shares a reflection about Hanukkah each day. It's really nice, but I still can't say that it gets me into the mood of the holiday. I'm hoping that having my family here will bring in a "feel" for this time of year. (And I hope to see "The Muppets" too. :) ) Finally, I'd eventually like that cheesecake recipe so I can make it for Shavuot and maybe start a new tradition in that way.
To understand what I'm getting at, allow me to backtrack a bit. My mom's first cousin is not Jewish. (There was some intermarriage in our family.) Therefore, she and her family celebrate Christmas. We would celebrate the day with them when I was growing up and even as I was becoming an adult. As a result, there was a time in my life when I actually enjoyed Christmas and all it had to offer. I love celebrating Hanukkah, but there was something warm and wonderful about Christmas at the time. It gave the whole month of December a certain "feel." We would go to our cousins' house and the whole place would be decked out in Christmas gear. They had a really nice (huge) tree taking up part of their living room. (Their house represented Christmas so well that it was weird to go there any other time of the year, when all the decorations were gone.) They had relaxing Christmas tunes playing in the background the entire time. And then there was the food. There would be snacks when we first came in. Amongst the snacks was a bowl of dill weed dip (my favorite). I'd use it for cucumbers and potato chips. Dinner was turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, stuffing, etc. I don't think the items ever varied from year to year. The best part was dessert. Our cousin had my late maternal grandma's cheesecake recipe and would make it with cherries on top. There were Frango mint cookies and brownies, as well. Three other things that made the experience memorable....eating dinner on the giant ping pong table in the basement, getting free Disney CDs (our cousin's husband worked for Disney records at the time) and most important of all, having my grandma and great-uncle there. (They were brother and sister and passed away about 4 1/2 years apart from one another.) Another treat was my cousin's husband's sister coming in every other year or so. She was just really nice. On the way home, we'd be all bundled up in the car on a snowy night, passing by all the houses with twinkling lights. There was something so peaceful about the drive back to our house.
After my great-uncle passed away in 2000, the feeling of the day changed a bit. My grandma was also not doing so well and getting confused more often. The enthusiasm the two of them brought to the day had diminished. As our group got smaller, we stopped eating in the basement and ate at a dining room table in the kitchen instead. It was still a nice day, but it just felt different.
When my older son was born, we stopped doing the annual Christmas dinners at my cousins' house. We didn't want to expose him to Christmas, even as a baby. We would travel to visit my mother-in-law instead and spend a traditional Hanukkah with her. After we moved, we didn't come back to visit on Christmas. One year, we came in the day after and just focused on Hanukkah and New Year's Eve. That was back in 2007. In 2008, we spent Christmas day in Baltimore with my in-laws and stayed for a Shabbos weekend. It didn't even feel like Christmas at that point. It was just another day. The following years, Christmas was combined with Shabbat, so it was easy not to notice it and we didn't have to listen to the music either. :) By this point, Christmas music had started to annoy me overall.
Back to the present. Christmas is on a Sunday this year. For us observant Jews, it's considered to be just another day. It's equivalent to non-Jews getting the day off for Rosh Hashanah (at least those who work in schools and Jewish organizations do). However, there's not as much to do on Christmas, aside from going to movies and eating Chinese food. We have yet to do that on Christmas anyway. This year, my family is coming in for a visit, so I'm looking forward to that. I hope we'll be able to find some entertaining things to do though. Maybe this is the year we'll get Chinese. Who knows? I'm just thrilled to have them here to spend time with us and the kids. In any case, we're celebrating Hanukkah and it just happens to coincide with Christmas again this year. It will be nice to have a holiday at the same time as everyone else, but I also hope the kids don't get cabin fever. If it's nice enough out, we could go outside.
I'm not sure what the lack of a "feel" is about this year. Maybe I'm burnt out from being so busy lately? Perhaps it's nerves over my daughter's upcoming cochlear implant surgery? Is it because I've become so disassociated from Christmas that it really has become just another day for me too, thus overtaking the way the holiday season feels in general? I would hope to get a "feel" from Hanukkah though, since that's my whole focus these days (even though I'm having trouble focusing on it). And it's one of my favorite holidays. At work, everyone has been gathering for menorah lighting on a daily basis. Someone shares a reflection about Hanukkah each day. It's really nice, but I still can't say that it gets me into the mood of the holiday. I'm hoping that having my family here will bring in a "feel" for this time of year. (And I hope to see "The Muppets" too. :) ) Finally, I'd eventually like that cheesecake recipe so I can make it for Shavuot and maybe start a new tradition in that way.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Is it worth the risk?
Remember the blog project I did last year with three other women? Well, Froggie decided to resurrect it with me and we each got to invite another friend to join us. She invited a mutual friend (someone I met through her) and I invited a friend whose blog I really enjoy reading. So now it's Froggie, Mom of Many, Moma Rock and Merrylandgirl. Hope you enjoy the topics that we'll be exploring!
This week, Mom of Many picked the topic: NTSA says that talking on your cell phone even with a blue tooth, is as dangerous or more dangerous than driving drunk. The recommendation is to ban use of cell phones in cars. What do you think about that?
Before reading ahead, first see what everyone else had to say on this topic:
Froggie
Mom of Many
Moma Rock
I first want to say that I disagree with the first part of that statement. It's basically implying that you shouldn't be talking in your car at all. What's the difference if you're talking on your phone or to someone sitting right next to you if the act of conversation is somehow impairing your ability to drive. Drunk driving impairs your vision, reaction time and ability to think. Talking to someone may be distracting, but no more than if they were in the car.
How about driving while your children are screaming in the back seat and your baby is wailing because they're hungry? Try the situation I was in the other day, when my daughter started eating her hearing aid while I was driving. I was freaked out by that more than any old phone conversation. (I pulled over and got it out, but still....) It was WAY more distracting than talking to a mature adult who can listen to reason! So maybe NTSA should ban children in the car.
Then there's the weather to consider. Poor road conditions are way more unsafe than having a conversation in the car. I was alone in my car and didn't even have a cell phone with me on the day I nearly skidded into a pole in my first car (there was no anti-lock brake system back in the day that car was made). I was alert and driving fine but the road didn't seem to agree with my car. There's also heavy rain, snow or fog that can impair vision. So should life stop because of bad weather? Maybe NTSA should take it up with Mother Nature for a change!
There are also other idiot drivers to keep in mind. I could have a perfect driving record but someone making an illegal U-turn, when it's obvious that I have the right of the way, should be banned from being behind the wheel at all.
All joking (somewhat) aside, I do keep a cell phone with me and sometimes I answer it in my car. I still have a handheld (*gasp!*) and am able to talk into it and drive at the same time. Usually there is so much traffic that I'm not going very far anyway. I use it to call my husband or the sitter to tell them if I'm running late. I have it there for safety reasons, which is ironic given what NTSA has to say. I don't text (not that I would anyway) and when I do have conversations, I keep them brief and to the point and try to only call when it's clear that I'll be stuck at a Maryland traffic light (they take about FIVE minutes to change from red to green) and I need to reach someone. If I'm being called by someone who has no effect on my schedule for the ride home from work, I let it go to voice mail and call back later.
Back to texting...I totally agree that texting while driving is incredibly unsafe and that is more comparable to drunk driving than having a conversation. My husband uses his cell as a GPS and I tell him to enter the destination before he starts driving. I get so upset when he tries to play with it while driving. I don't care how good a driver he is. It's just not safe!
To sum things up, I equate talking on a cell phone while driving with having a conversation with someone sitting in the car. I think it's safer than a lot of the other dangerous elements and behaviors out there. I have used a phone in my car and one that is handheld, no less. (It's usually easier at night when no one can see into my car). It's only for calls of immediate importance though. I will not text and will not let anyone else text while I have any say in the matter. I think the NTSA should look at the other dangers awaiting drivers every day before trying to ban all kinds of cell phone use.
This week, Mom of Many picked the topic: NTSA says that talking on your cell phone even with a blue tooth, is as dangerous or more dangerous than driving drunk. The recommendation is to ban use of cell phones in cars. What do you think about that?
Before reading ahead, first see what everyone else had to say on this topic:
Froggie
Mom of Many
Moma Rock
I first want to say that I disagree with the first part of that statement. It's basically implying that you shouldn't be talking in your car at all. What's the difference if you're talking on your phone or to someone sitting right next to you if the act of conversation is somehow impairing your ability to drive. Drunk driving impairs your vision, reaction time and ability to think. Talking to someone may be distracting, but no more than if they were in the car.
How about driving while your children are screaming in the back seat and your baby is wailing because they're hungry? Try the situation I was in the other day, when my daughter started eating her hearing aid while I was driving. I was freaked out by that more than any old phone conversation. (I pulled over and got it out, but still....) It was WAY more distracting than talking to a mature adult who can listen to reason! So maybe NTSA should ban children in the car.
Then there's the weather to consider. Poor road conditions are way more unsafe than having a conversation in the car. I was alone in my car and didn't even have a cell phone with me on the day I nearly skidded into a pole in my first car (there was no anti-lock brake system back in the day that car was made). I was alert and driving fine but the road didn't seem to agree with my car. There's also heavy rain, snow or fog that can impair vision. So should life stop because of bad weather? Maybe NTSA should take it up with Mother Nature for a change!
There are also other idiot drivers to keep in mind. I could have a perfect driving record but someone making an illegal U-turn, when it's obvious that I have the right of the way, should be banned from being behind the wheel at all.
All joking (somewhat) aside, I do keep a cell phone with me and sometimes I answer it in my car. I still have a handheld (*gasp!*) and am able to talk into it and drive at the same time. Usually there is so much traffic that I'm not going very far anyway. I use it to call my husband or the sitter to tell them if I'm running late. I have it there for safety reasons, which is ironic given what NTSA has to say. I don't text (not that I would anyway) and when I do have conversations, I keep them brief and to the point and try to only call when it's clear that I'll be stuck at a Maryland traffic light (they take about FIVE minutes to change from red to green) and I need to reach someone. If I'm being called by someone who has no effect on my schedule for the ride home from work, I let it go to voice mail and call back later.
Back to texting...I totally agree that texting while driving is incredibly unsafe and that is more comparable to drunk driving than having a conversation. My husband uses his cell as a GPS and I tell him to enter the destination before he starts driving. I get so upset when he tries to play with it while driving. I don't care how good a driver he is. It's just not safe!
To sum things up, I equate talking on a cell phone while driving with having a conversation with someone sitting in the car. I think it's safer than a lot of the other dangerous elements and behaviors out there. I have used a phone in my car and one that is handheld, no less. (It's usually easier at night when no one can see into my car). It's only for calls of immediate importance though. I will not text and will not let anyone else text while I have any say in the matter. I think the NTSA should look at the other dangers awaiting drivers every day before trying to ban all kinds of cell phone use.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Know Me Better...holiday version
I am a Reader, Not a Writer is a blog I've been following. The blogger's new initiative is to pick five questions off of her author interview list to answer. She invited her readers to share their answers to these questions, as well. One of the ways to do this is through our own blogs. So I'm going to do it right here.
This Week's Questions:
This Week's Questions are Holiday Related. If you don't celebrate Christmas feel free to modify the questions to apply to the holiday you do celebrate
*Red or Green?
*Favorite Christmas Carol? (changed below)
*What do you want for Christmas? (changed below)
*Favorite Holiday Treat?
*Favorite Holiday Tradition?
Red or Green?
Blue. :)
Favorite Hanukkah song?
"Candlelight" by The Maccabeats. I can't get enough of it and I love how my kids know the words. The video is cute too.
What do you want for Hanukkah?
Honestly, I am getting what I want this year, and that is to spend it with my parents and sister. I'm looking forward to their visit. I'm more excited about my kids getting gifts these days. I have enough stuff as it is. :) I went shopping like crazy for them though.
Favorite Holiday Treat?
Latkes are always good. I love them! My dad has a great recipe that has made him really popular over the years. However, I also love when my husband makes them a different way.
As far as winter in general, I can't resist Candy Cane Joe-Joe's from Trader Joe's. They only come out this time of year. Hot cocoa with whipped cream on top is another great treat!
Favorite Holiday Tradition?
Lighting the menorah with my husband and kids. There's this nice, peaceful moment involved and the candles look so pretty.
You're welcome to do this question challenge in your blog and then post the link in the comments section (or link it up to the host site). I'd love to read your answers too!
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