Remember the blog project I did in 2010 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: What scares you the most about getting older?
Before reading ahead, first see what everyone else had to say on this topic:
Froggie
Mom of Many
Moma Rock
The timing of this topic is funny in a coincidental way. My only living grandparent (my paternal grandma), who is also the only living great-grandparent from both sides of our family, is celebrating her birthday this weekend. Considering all her health issues, I’m impressed that she’s lived longer than any of my other grandparents. She’s made it past the ages they were when they passed away. Definitely something to celebrate, right? I don’t know if she’d agree, but I’m glad she’s still part of our lives. She got to meet her three great grandchildren, including the one named after her husband. And most amazingly, she got to see her own son turn 65.
The first thing that scares me about getting older is the possibility of not being alive to see at least my oldest child turn 65. My grandma was young when she had my dad. I have almost 30 years between myself and my oldest child. So when he turns 65, I’d be 94. That’s quite an age to shoot for, even though some people have made it way past 100. I read a lot of death notices for work. A long time ago, I would have accepted death for what it was, but now it just freaks me out. Maybe having a lot to lose is what makes it harder to think about.
The next thing is the fact that Alzheimer’s is a possibility. My late maternal grandma had it and I worry about her passing it to my mom and then to me or even having it skip my mom and go right to me. I like remembering things too much and it drives me crazy if I forget something really minor.
Finally, I worry about not fitting in as a senior citizen. I know that sounds totally weird, but grandparents are getting younger and younger. My grandparents seemed super old when I was a kid, even though they were around the age my parents are now. My parents still seem young and modern. However, there’s a certain classiness that went along with the pop culture of my grandparents’ time. They had Sinatra music and classic films such as Casablanca or Gone with the Wind. Whereas, I’ll be sitting in my rocker, listening to Alanis Morissette and Nirvana and watching Friends reruns or Clueless. Something about that doesn’t jive with being old.
There are some things I’m looking forward to though. (Like anyone looks forward to aging?!?) I wouldn’t mind moving to assisted living or a retirement community. It’s like going to camp year round. So much to do all the time and very social, as well! I wouldn’t mind having my friends there so we could be like the Golden Girls. Getting to meet my grandchildren is another item on the plus side. At least I hope I’ll have some grandchildren to meet! I’m done having babies but it will be nice to cuddle with them and then give them back to my kids (and teach my younger son’s kids how not to listen to him so that he can finally “get it”). I’m not in a rush for any of this, as I want to enjoy my fleeting youth for as long as possible. After all, as Sally once said, “I’m going to be 40...someday!” (Even though 40 is the new 30, or so it seems. It sounded super old to me when I was a kid, especially when everyone called it "Over the Hill.")
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Here's to me!
Remember the blog project I did in 2010 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, yours truly picked the topic: It's all about self-love...Compliment yourself (as many or as few compliments as you want) OR tell us about something nice you'd like to do for yourself (if money and time were unlimited). You can even do both if you want, but not required.
Before reading ahead, first see what everyone else had to say on this topic:
Froggie
Mom of Many
Moma Rock
When I chose this topic last week, I was just in the mood for something uplifting. I was frustrated because my daughter's school is giving us a time limit for when she should walk before she loses her spot there. And then I saw a video of a guy from my high school totally owning everything fabulous about himself back when he had his Bar Mitzvah. It made me think how important it is to have confidence and pride in ourselves. I thought this would be an easy post to write, but I actually found it more of a challenge than most of the topics I don't have a choice over!
I tend to be hard on myself. I don't like that it's been 18 months since my last child was born and I still can't fit in most of my pre-pregnancy clothes. I see people who lose all the weight in a matter of months. (Doesn't help that I can't resist dessert items.) No matter how often I get my hair cut or how much conditioner and gel I use, every day seems to be a bad hair day. I have yet to get myself organized and that leads to procrastinating all the time. I get frustrated over the smallest things sometimes and have a lack of patience. (It's ironic that I tell other people to be patient when I need to work on that for myself.)
Now to find the stuff I can proudly boast about....
1. I am a good friend. I love my friends and they know it...especially the ones nearest (not by proximity) and dearest to me. I am available to lend an ear or a shoulder to cry on. I also share in their happiness.
2. I am a good cook. At least when it comes to baking desserts and challah. I do make a tasty batch of garlic mashed potatoes.
3. As I said a couple of weeks ago, I've been told I am a good writer. I believe that about myself too and I love when something I write really comes together on paper (or screen). It makes me so proud!
4. I produce adorable children. I know every mom could say that about themselves, but I've received feedback from others that has convinced me even more. What makes me even happier is hearing that I've raised them right...like when someone tells me how polite or sweet they are.
5. I've taken one of my passions and really made something of it. It's not just a book blog, but a forum for authors and readers to come together. When I started it, I thought it would go nowhere and now it's become a force to be reckoned with! I love hearing reader feedback that they love my blog and that they keep coming back for more. It's such a huge warm fuzzy for me. (I'm also glad to give credit to everyone who has worked with me to get it where it is now.)
6. I can sing. I can't hit the high notes that well, but I like how I sound when I sing some of my favorite songs. I took voice lessons in high school. It didn't get me a part in a musical or a solo in a choral concert, but I did feel more comfortable with my singing voice overall.
I think I'll stop here, as I don't want my head to overfill. :)
I've also decided to include the second option of this topic. The nice thing I'd do for myself is throw a huge party to bring all my friends and loved ones together in one place. I'd even invite all the authors I've connected with. Since time and money would be a non-issue, I'd fly everyone in from wherever they lived and we'd all hang out at a posh hotel with all the fixings. I'd have a dress custom designed so that it looked incredible on me and felt comfortable so that I could just enjoy myself and feel gorgeous. I'd hire Idina Menzel to put on a concert, as she's one of my favorite performers. The party itself would rival anything Naomi ever put together on 90210, but it would be non-pretentious. All of my guests would have someone to chat with, as I love introducing my friends to one another. I'd find a way to spend time with everyone there, chatting with them to find out what is going on in their lives. I'd also make sure there was plenty of time to dance with my husband. There would be a section of the party room where people could play fun pop culture and getting-to-know-you games. The food would be all Kosher, of course, and my favorite things. We'd have pizza and cheese fries from my favorite Kosher pizzeria and then an ice cream sundae bar. It would be THE party of the year, but an exclusive event only for those I care about.
A girl can dream big, right?!?
This week, yours truly picked the topic: It's all about self-love...Compliment yourself (as many or as few compliments as you want) OR tell us about something nice you'd like to do for yourself (if money and time were unlimited). You can even do both if you want, but not required.
Before reading ahead, first see what everyone else had to say on this topic:
Froggie
Mom of Many
Moma Rock
When I chose this topic last week, I was just in the mood for something uplifting. I was frustrated because my daughter's school is giving us a time limit for when she should walk before she loses her spot there. And then I saw a video of a guy from my high school totally owning everything fabulous about himself back when he had his Bar Mitzvah. It made me think how important it is to have confidence and pride in ourselves. I thought this would be an easy post to write, but I actually found it more of a challenge than most of the topics I don't have a choice over!
I tend to be hard on myself. I don't like that it's been 18 months since my last child was born and I still can't fit in most of my pre-pregnancy clothes. I see people who lose all the weight in a matter of months. (Doesn't help that I can't resist dessert items.) No matter how often I get my hair cut or how much conditioner and gel I use, every day seems to be a bad hair day. I have yet to get myself organized and that leads to procrastinating all the time. I get frustrated over the smallest things sometimes and have a lack of patience. (It's ironic that I tell other people to be patient when I need to work on that for myself.)
Now to find the stuff I can proudly boast about....
1. I am a good friend. I love my friends and they know it...especially the ones nearest (not by proximity) and dearest to me. I am available to lend an ear or a shoulder to cry on. I also share in their happiness.
2. I am a good cook. At least when it comes to baking desserts and challah. I do make a tasty batch of garlic mashed potatoes.
3. As I said a couple of weeks ago, I've been told I am a good writer. I believe that about myself too and I love when something I write really comes together on paper (or screen). It makes me so proud!
4. I produce adorable children. I know every mom could say that about themselves, but I've received feedback from others that has convinced me even more. What makes me even happier is hearing that I've raised them right...like when someone tells me how polite or sweet they are.
5. I've taken one of my passions and really made something of it. It's not just a book blog, but a forum for authors and readers to come together. When I started it, I thought it would go nowhere and now it's become a force to be reckoned with! I love hearing reader feedback that they love my blog and that they keep coming back for more. It's such a huge warm fuzzy for me. (I'm also glad to give credit to everyone who has worked with me to get it where it is now.)
6. I can sing. I can't hit the high notes that well, but I like how I sound when I sing some of my favorite songs. I took voice lessons in high school. It didn't get me a part in a musical or a solo in a choral concert, but I did feel more comfortable with my singing voice overall.
I think I'll stop here, as I don't want my head to overfill. :)
I've also decided to include the second option of this topic. The nice thing I'd do for myself is throw a huge party to bring all my friends and loved ones together in one place. I'd even invite all the authors I've connected with. Since time and money would be a non-issue, I'd fly everyone in from wherever they lived and we'd all hang out at a posh hotel with all the fixings. I'd have a dress custom designed so that it looked incredible on me and felt comfortable so that I could just enjoy myself and feel gorgeous. I'd hire Idina Menzel to put on a concert, as she's one of my favorite performers. The party itself would rival anything Naomi ever put together on 90210, but it would be non-pretentious. All of my guests would have someone to chat with, as I love introducing my friends to one another. I'd find a way to spend time with everyone there, chatting with them to find out what is going on in their lives. I'd also make sure there was plenty of time to dance with my husband. There would be a section of the party room where people could play fun pop culture and getting-to-know-you games. The food would be all Kosher, of course, and my favorite things. We'd have pizza and cheese fries from my favorite Kosher pizzeria and then an ice cream sundae bar. It would be THE party of the year, but an exclusive event only for those I care about.
A girl can dream big, right?!?
Thursday, August 16, 2012
My Kind of Olympics
Remember the blog project I did in 2010 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, Moma Rock picked the topic: Recap of the Olympics in your own words. What is your favorite event or athlete to watch? If you don't watch, why don't you?
Before reading ahead, first see what everyone else had to say on this topic:
Froggie
Mom of Many
Moma Rock
I'm in the latter category. I've never been interested in the Olympics. I'm not a sports person and I just don't have the time investment to put towards watching. The only shows I've watched all summer are The Glee Project and The Big Bang Theory (in reruns). I also have political reasons for not watching this time. Even though the International Olympic Committee said they're not political, they did something that was really bothersome to a large chunk of the population. I won't go into detail here, but it's bad.
Maybe if these events were brought to the Olympics, I'd watch:
*Musical Theater competition. Nations could write and perform in their own original musical production. Then the judges could rate on music quality, acting, originality, etc. There would be translations available in all languages.
*Comedy competition: Each nation could have a representative to be a comedian and do a five minute stand-up routine. They'd be rated on how much they make the audience laugh. Again, there would be translations available in all languages.
*Storytelling competition: The competitors would be given a classic children's novel, such as "Corduroy" or "The Cat in the Hat" and have to tell it in the most engaging way possible. Scoring would be based on how well they brought the story to life. Same deal with translations as the above two events.
*Housecleaning competition: The competitors would be set up in a house occupied by someone featured on the show "Hoarders." They'd have to clean the entire house from top to bottom in the span of a day. The team who made the most progress would win.
*City scavenger hunt: Teams would be sent to various cities around the world with a set of items to find. The team who found their items first would win. And these would be challenging items too.
*Shopping competition: It would be like that Shop-Til-You-Drop game show. Teams would be released into a huge mall with a budget. They'd have to get the most items and use as much of their budget as possible without going over. The team that had the most items and was closest to the budget limit would win.
*Double Dare obstacle course competition: If you remember the kid's game show Double Dare and all the crazy things they had to do on the obstacle courses at the end of the show, then you'll really like this competition. Whichever team does the whole course in the quickest amount of time will be the winner of this event. Sundae Slide, anyone?!?
Now that's my kind of Olympics...
This week, Moma Rock picked the topic: Recap of the Olympics in your own words. What is your favorite event or athlete to watch? If you don't watch, why don't you?
Before reading ahead, first see what everyone else had to say on this topic:
Froggie
Mom of Many
Moma Rock
I'm in the latter category. I've never been interested in the Olympics. I'm not a sports person and I just don't have the time investment to put towards watching. The only shows I've watched all summer are The Glee Project and The Big Bang Theory (in reruns). I also have political reasons for not watching this time. Even though the International Olympic Committee said they're not political, they did something that was really bothersome to a large chunk of the population. I won't go into detail here, but it's bad.
Maybe if these events were brought to the Olympics, I'd watch:
*Musical Theater competition. Nations could write and perform in their own original musical production. Then the judges could rate on music quality, acting, originality, etc. There would be translations available in all languages.
*Comedy competition: Each nation could have a representative to be a comedian and do a five minute stand-up routine. They'd be rated on how much they make the audience laugh. Again, there would be translations available in all languages.
*Storytelling competition: The competitors would be given a classic children's novel, such as "Corduroy" or "The Cat in the Hat" and have to tell it in the most engaging way possible. Scoring would be based on how well they brought the story to life. Same deal with translations as the above two events.
*Housecleaning competition: The competitors would be set up in a house occupied by someone featured on the show "Hoarders." They'd have to clean the entire house from top to bottom in the span of a day. The team who made the most progress would win.
*City scavenger hunt: Teams would be sent to various cities around the world with a set of items to find. The team who found their items first would win. And these would be challenging items too.
*Shopping competition: It would be like that Shop-Til-You-Drop game show. Teams would be released into a huge mall with a budget. They'd have to get the most items and use as much of their budget as possible without going over. The team that had the most items and was closest to the budget limit would win.
*Double Dare obstacle course competition: If you remember the kid's game show Double Dare and all the crazy things they had to do on the obstacle courses at the end of the show, then you'll really like this competition. Whichever team does the whole course in the quickest amount of time will be the winner of this event. Sundae Slide, anyone?!?
Now that's my kind of Olympics...
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Take your passion and make it happen
Remember the blog project I did in 2010 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: Pursuing your passion.
Before reading ahead, first see what everyone else had to say on this topic:
Froggie
Mom of Many
Moma Rock
I’m sure everyone and their mother knows by know how reading is my passion and I’ve pursued it with my book blog. I am thrilled with how far it has come in two short years and had a whirlwind summer of meeting various authors. I even made a new friend in my community as a result!
Now that I’ve created a blog and been able to feature some amazing authors and get all the books I’ve wanted at no cost….what’s next? Aside from the typical response—going to Disney World (which is in the works)—I want to write a novel.
Reading and meeting authors and seeing how many great books there are out there just makes me want to toss my hat into the pile. I’ve been given positive feedback about my writing, even though I’m just sharing my thoughts in a blog format or writing introductions to authors. I think the best feedback was just recent and it came from an author I really admire, Jane Porter. She told me she liked my writing as much as she liked the answers from authors in our interviews. Coming from her, that was a HUGE compliment and it makes me wonder what I could really do, if given the chance to write a novel. I’ve had ideas in my head and just don’t know how to get them on paper (or screen, in this case). I’m sure I could if I really was motivated and applied myself. I’m just scared of what I would see or that I would balk at the first sign of negative feedback. I took a writing workshop class 10 years ago and wrote a short story that I was proud of and made my mom cry. It was about a college-aged girl spending Passover with her family and all the craziness that happened in the span of one night. It ended with her meeting her besherte. However, the class received it differently and I felt so stifled afterward.
In 2010, an idea popped into my head for a story. Two years later, it is still in my head, which means maybe it should be told. Some of the circumstances in the story have changed, but it still carries the main idea and most of what I had in mind when it first came about. I also got another idea recently that I really like, and I see many possibilities for where it could go. I already have lead characters for both of these stories too. However, they are stuck in my mind, as I have yet to write them out in any type of format. For a while, in 2010, I participated in a blog exercise called Fiction Friday. I received positive feedback on my work, but after my daughter was born, I didn't have time to participate, let alone any creative thoughts. You can find some of my Fiction Friday posts here.
After hearing how brutal the publishing world can be and how many hoops a writer has to jump through, I don’t know if I’d even want to be an author. However, there’s also the glory of becoming a bestselling novelist. Seeing my favorite authors this summer has shown me that much. They have a great fan turnout and are gracious to everyone who shows up to get their books signed. (At least they were to me!) I love learning new things about authors through my interviews and realizing that I usually have something in common with each of them. I’ve connected a lot with an author featured on my blog earlier this summer. We have so much in common and I hope to meet her in person one of these days. I could see her being incredibly supportive if I did go the route of writing a novel. Would I want someone like me reviewing it though? Now that's another story...
I guess only time will tell with such an aspiration. All I know is that I love to write, I’ve been told I’m good at it, and I’ve seen so many wonderful and well-deserving authors make it big in the industry. That should be enough encouragement, write…I mean, right?!? Until then, I always have my blog and my current goal is to meet Marian Keyes, even just via e-mail. I’d be thrilled to pieces if she did an interview with my blog. Wishful thinking, right?!?
This week, Froggie picked the topic: Pursuing your passion.
Before reading ahead, first see what everyone else had to say on this topic:
Froggie
Mom of Many
Moma Rock
I’m sure everyone and their mother knows by know how reading is my passion and I’ve pursued it with my book blog. I am thrilled with how far it has come in two short years and had a whirlwind summer of meeting various authors. I even made a new friend in my community as a result!
Now that I’ve created a blog and been able to feature some amazing authors and get all the books I’ve wanted at no cost….what’s next? Aside from the typical response—going to Disney World (which is in the works)—I want to write a novel.
Reading and meeting authors and seeing how many great books there are out there just makes me want to toss my hat into the pile. I’ve been given positive feedback about my writing, even though I’m just sharing my thoughts in a blog format or writing introductions to authors. I think the best feedback was just recent and it came from an author I really admire, Jane Porter. She told me she liked my writing as much as she liked the answers from authors in our interviews. Coming from her, that was a HUGE compliment and it makes me wonder what I could really do, if given the chance to write a novel. I’ve had ideas in my head and just don’t know how to get them on paper (or screen, in this case). I’m sure I could if I really was motivated and applied myself. I’m just scared of what I would see or that I would balk at the first sign of negative feedback. I took a writing workshop class 10 years ago and wrote a short story that I was proud of and made my mom cry. It was about a college-aged girl spending Passover with her family and all the craziness that happened in the span of one night. It ended with her meeting her besherte. However, the class received it differently and I felt so stifled afterward.
In 2010, an idea popped into my head for a story. Two years later, it is still in my head, which means maybe it should be told. Some of the circumstances in the story have changed, but it still carries the main idea and most of what I had in mind when it first came about. I also got another idea recently that I really like, and I see many possibilities for where it could go. I already have lead characters for both of these stories too. However, they are stuck in my mind, as I have yet to write them out in any type of format. For a while, in 2010, I participated in a blog exercise called Fiction Friday. I received positive feedback on my work, but after my daughter was born, I didn't have time to participate, let alone any creative thoughts. You can find some of my Fiction Friday posts here.
After hearing how brutal the publishing world can be and how many hoops a writer has to jump through, I don’t know if I’d even want to be an author. However, there’s also the glory of becoming a bestselling novelist. Seeing my favorite authors this summer has shown me that much. They have a great fan turnout and are gracious to everyone who shows up to get their books signed. (At least they were to me!) I love learning new things about authors through my interviews and realizing that I usually have something in common with each of them. I’ve connected a lot with an author featured on my blog earlier this summer. We have so much in common and I hope to meet her in person one of these days. I could see her being incredibly supportive if I did go the route of writing a novel. Would I want someone like me reviewing it though? Now that's another story...
I guess only time will tell with such an aspiration. All I know is that I love to write, I’ve been told I’m good at it, and I’ve seen so many wonderful and well-deserving authors make it big in the industry. That should be enough encouragement, write…I mean, right?!? Until then, I always have my blog and my current goal is to meet Marian Keyes, even just via e-mail. I’d be thrilled to pieces if she did an interview with my blog. Wishful thinking, right?!?
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Illegal Limits
Remember the blog project I did in 2010 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: It is illegal in some parts of this country to buy a 32 ounce soda but it isn't lllegal to buy a gun.
Before reading ahead, first see what everyone else had to say on this topic:
Froggie
Mom of Many
Moma Rock
This is the first I’ve heard of stores not being allowed to sell 32 oz bottles of soda. I was worried it would affect diet soda, but it’s just for sodas that are high in sugar content. Phew!
As for the gun issue...if you haven’t been tuned into the news and don’t know what happened in Colorado, maybe it’s time for a wake-up call. In any case, guns don’t kill people unless they’re in the wrong hands, as proven on that fateful night at what was supposed to be a fun trip to the movie theater to see “The Dark Knight Rises.” In any case, I’m sure the guy who sold the weapons to James Holmes is kicking himself now. This article might give more insight to the situation. Since I don’t want to get on my high horse about this topic, I am switching gears. I’ve decided to talk about things that should be banned, but aren’t.
Airline fees: To add insult to injury…not only do you have to fork over large sums of money to just fly on a plane, but you also have to pay for your luggage to fly along with you to your destination. The in-flight snacks aren’t free anymore, either. It’s gotten so ridiculous.
Celebrity gossip: Given the fact that I really don’t care what happens between Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, nor do I want to hear anymore about TomKat’s divorce, it’s suffice to say that I would be happy if we did away with celebrity gossip. Would Perez Hilton be happy about it? No. However, celebrities could have their lives back without being hounded by the paparazzi and speculated about in tabloids.
Toys with a million small pieces: The pieces end up all over the house and are potential choking hazards. Since when did Legos need wheels?!?
Starting Christmas anytime before Thanksgiving: Sorry, but I don’t like going to stores in September and seeing images of Santa Claus. Also, radio stations should only play Christmas music on the actual holiday. It’s even worse now that they drag the music out to New Year’s Day. If a radio station is going to play Christmas music from Thanksgiving onward, it should not have to be one of the rock stations I regularly listen to. Find a station that doesn’t get much attention and use up their air space for the month. The absolute worst is Christmas in July! Who came up with that concept? Why not have Hanukkah in May while we’re at it?!?
Movie remakes: I can’t even watch them and I feel offended that theaters can’t just show the original version of the film. Why do they have to make a new version of something that is already good? Will our kids not be able to relate to Baby in “Dirty Dancing” if she’s not played by Selena Gomez? I refuse to watch such remakes and will share the original versions with my kids as I feel they are appropriate for their age.
People who act all ridiculous to get their 15 minutes of fame: Starts with an S, rhymes with "cookie." Need I say more? There are hard-working people trying to become famous for something noble, like acting skills, and yet someone can go on a reality show as a total skank and their name is all over magazines and tweets.
Exploiting children on television: I have a feeling that "honey boo boo" kid will never live down her claim to fame. It just saddens me that they have all these shows about stage moms and dance moms and kiddie pageants. It just corrupts the kids and distorts their sense of worth. If you want them to be on TV, get them an acting role on a reputable show and then they can really shine.
I know there are other things that I would like to make "illegal," but I'll stop here.
This week, Mom of Many picked the topic: It is illegal in some parts of this country to buy a 32 ounce soda but it isn't lllegal to buy a gun.
Before reading ahead, first see what everyone else had to say on this topic:
Froggie
Mom of Many
Moma Rock
This is the first I’ve heard of stores not being allowed to sell 32 oz bottles of soda. I was worried it would affect diet soda, but it’s just for sodas that are high in sugar content. Phew!
As for the gun issue...if you haven’t been tuned into the news and don’t know what happened in Colorado, maybe it’s time for a wake-up call. In any case, guns don’t kill people unless they’re in the wrong hands, as proven on that fateful night at what was supposed to be a fun trip to the movie theater to see “The Dark Knight Rises.” In any case, I’m sure the guy who sold the weapons to James Holmes is kicking himself now. This article might give more insight to the situation. Since I don’t want to get on my high horse about this topic, I am switching gears. I’ve decided to talk about things that should be banned, but aren’t.
Airline fees: To add insult to injury…not only do you have to fork over large sums of money to just fly on a plane, but you also have to pay for your luggage to fly along with you to your destination. The in-flight snacks aren’t free anymore, either. It’s gotten so ridiculous.
Celebrity gossip: Given the fact that I really don’t care what happens between Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, nor do I want to hear anymore about TomKat’s divorce, it’s suffice to say that I would be happy if we did away with celebrity gossip. Would Perez Hilton be happy about it? No. However, celebrities could have their lives back without being hounded by the paparazzi and speculated about in tabloids.
Toys with a million small pieces: The pieces end up all over the house and are potential choking hazards. Since when did Legos need wheels?!?
Starting Christmas anytime before Thanksgiving: Sorry, but I don’t like going to stores in September and seeing images of Santa Claus. Also, radio stations should only play Christmas music on the actual holiday. It’s even worse now that they drag the music out to New Year’s Day. If a radio station is going to play Christmas music from Thanksgiving onward, it should not have to be one of the rock stations I regularly listen to. Find a station that doesn’t get much attention and use up their air space for the month. The absolute worst is Christmas in July! Who came up with that concept? Why not have Hanukkah in May while we’re at it?!?
Movie remakes: I can’t even watch them and I feel offended that theaters can’t just show the original version of the film. Why do they have to make a new version of something that is already good? Will our kids not be able to relate to Baby in “Dirty Dancing” if she’s not played by Selena Gomez? I refuse to watch such remakes and will share the original versions with my kids as I feel they are appropriate for their age.
People who act all ridiculous to get their 15 minutes of fame: Starts with an S, rhymes with "cookie." Need I say more? There are hard-working people trying to become famous for something noble, like acting skills, and yet someone can go on a reality show as a total skank and their name is all over magazines and tweets.
Exploiting children on television: I have a feeling that "honey boo boo" kid will never live down her claim to fame. It just saddens me that they have all these shows about stage moms and dance moms and kiddie pageants. It just corrupts the kids and distorts their sense of worth. If you want them to be on TV, get them an acting role on a reputable show and then they can really shine.
I know there are other things that I would like to make "illegal," but I'll stop here.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Kid-ding around
Remember the blog project I did in 2010 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, I picked the topic: Regression time! Tell us what you were like as a little kid: quirks, fears, interests, hobbies, passions, etc.
Before reading ahead, first see what everyone else had to say on this topic:
Froggie
Mom of Many
Moma Rock
Now that I have kids of my own, it’s fun to see their little quirks come into play. They remind me of the silly things I did as a kid. This past weekend, my mom and sister told me how they found videos from when I was a kid and were pointing out the ways my older son takes after me. I’ll be interested in seeing these videos the next time we’re all together. I’m sure my kids will get a kick out of them, as well.
Instead of writing a whole essay on what I was like as a kid, I thought I’d share a list of things I can remember.
My first favorite movie was The Wizard of Oz. I’d watch it obsessively when I was about four years old. The witch didn’t even scare me. Then Annie came along and I couldn’t get enough of it. Eventually, The Parent Trap took Annie’s place in my VCR. As I got older, different movies took their place in my “Hall of Fame.” A lot were music/performance based, such as A Chorus Line, Little Shop of Horrors, Dirty Dancing and Sing.
I went through a major Smurfs phase and even had little collectible figures that I’d play with all the time. I still have those figures now and the kids enjoy playing with them.
I also loved The Muppets...and still do. Aside from the new movie with my crush object, Jason Segel, I love The Muppets Take Manhattan. Classic! It's also fun to watch old episodes of The Muppet Show.
I didn't like going to Show Biz Pizza because I was afraid of the gorilla (Fatz Geronimo...yes, I remember his name), but I lived for Chuck E. Cheese. I'm glad I've passed along my love for skee-ball to my boys!
If you think I’m a picky eater now, you should have seen me when I was a kid. I probably ate the same things my pickiest eater does now...hot dogs, mac and cheese and pizza. I also had a thing for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I ate scrambled eggs with cheese for breakfast every single day until I one day became satiated from them and haven’t been able to eat eggs ever since. Since I didn’t keep Kosher, I was all about going to McDonald’s, but I only ever ate cheeseburgers. At my favorite Chinese restaurant, I only ate beef and gravy with rice or pan fried noodles until I started working there and got a chance to expand my tastes.
I’ve always been a reader. I memorized books when I was three years old and then just read them to myself. We’d go to this family friends’ house and they had huge bookshelves full of kids’ books. I’d just curl up on a chair and read however many I could. I eventually got into book series as I got older. Some of my favorite books as a kid were the ones by Beverly Cleary and Judy Blume. I really liked the Ramona Quimby books and "Ellen Tebbits" (both by Beverly Cleary). My favorite places to visit were the library and the bookstore. Imagine if Barnes and Noble had been around when I was a kid, I would have never left the store! All they had at the time were little mall bookstores such as Waldenbooks, Crown and B. Dalton.
I hated getting my hands dirty. While the kids at preschool were playing with sand, I was washing dolls. I only know this because my mom told me, but it must be true because it has carried over into adulthood. I do remember from my junior high days, helping a friend and her mom plant flowers and rushing into the house every few minutes to wash the dirt off my hands. I still can’t stand when my hands get grime, dust, or anything sticky on them.
I loved playing Barbies and Cabbage Patch Kids. I created elaborate storylines for whenever I played with either. My sister and I could spend hours acting out these storylines.
I was a performer. I enjoyed doing anything theatrical or musical. My sister and I would act out different TV shows and movies or come up with dance routines.
Some of my favorite TV shows were Family Ties, Diff’rent Strokes, The Facts of Life, and eventually Punky Brewster. I also liked Small Wonder (don’t ask) and a fun lip sync show called Puttin’ on the Hits. And then Full House came along…. :)
I had a huge crush on Michael J. Fox (especially from Back to the Future) until Dirty Dancing came about and then it got transferred to Patrick Swayze.
I was a major Madonna fan. I even dressed like her for dress up day at camp. I would do school projects that related to Madonna in some way. I probably wore holes through my Like a Virgin cassette.
I was an Indian Princess. I loved going to meetings and campouts with my dad and sister. Before that I was a Brownie, but I lost interest after a year, which coincided nicely with joining Indian Princesses.
I used to be afraid of the dark...and vampires. I thought that if it was too dark in the house, vampires would come to my room and bite my neck. I would pull the covers up to my chin in order to protect myself. I still don't like vampires now, but for different reasons.
I didn't learn how to ride a bike (two wheeler) until I was 12. I was afraid of falling. Once I learned how though, I was unstoppable! I loved riding my bike everywhere. I don't even ride a bike anymore, as I just use the equipment in my basement when I need to exercise.
My favorite stuffed animals were a white cat that I named Mindya (Mindy-uh), Friend Bear and Love-a-Lot Bear (both Care Bears).
I was very passionate about my friendships. If I felt that I had found a good friend, I wanted to hang out with them all the time and emulate the things they did. My friends are still very important to me, but there are only a few I've known since my youth.
I had a pretty goofy sense of humor, which has probably carried on into adulthood.
I was definitely a girly girl, all about wearing dresses, makeup and nail polish, going shopping, playing with dolls, etc. It probably explains my current obsession with chick lit!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is just a glimpse of who I was as a kid, from what I can remember. I'm sure there are more memories that will come to mind as soon as I publish this post. I can't help but wonder what my daughter will be like as she gets bigger. Will she be a girly girl or a tomboy (thanks to having two older brothers)? Will she like to play dolls and read or will she want to play sports and run around in the mud? I guess time will tell, but I can't wait to watch her discover what makes up her personality.
This week, I picked the topic: Regression time! Tell us what you were like as a little kid: quirks, fears, interests, hobbies, passions, etc.
Before reading ahead, first see what everyone else had to say on this topic:
Froggie
Mom of Many
Moma Rock
Now that I have kids of my own, it’s fun to see their little quirks come into play. They remind me of the silly things I did as a kid. This past weekend, my mom and sister told me how they found videos from when I was a kid and were pointing out the ways my older son takes after me. I’ll be interested in seeing these videos the next time we’re all together. I’m sure my kids will get a kick out of them, as well.
Instead of writing a whole essay on what I was like as a kid, I thought I’d share a list of things I can remember.
I went through a major Smurfs phase and even had little collectible figures that I’d play with all the time. I still have those figures now and the kids enjoy playing with them.
I also loved The Muppets...and still do. Aside from the new movie with my crush object, Jason Segel, I love The Muppets Take Manhattan. Classic! It's also fun to watch old episodes of The Muppet Show.
I didn't like going to Show Biz Pizza because I was afraid of the gorilla (Fatz Geronimo...yes, I remember his name), but I lived for Chuck E. Cheese. I'm glad I've passed along my love for skee-ball to my boys!
If you think I’m a picky eater now, you should have seen me when I was a kid. I probably ate the same things my pickiest eater does now...hot dogs, mac and cheese and pizza. I also had a thing for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I ate scrambled eggs with cheese for breakfast every single day until I one day became satiated from them and haven’t been able to eat eggs ever since. Since I didn’t keep Kosher, I was all about going to McDonald’s, but I only ever ate cheeseburgers. At my favorite Chinese restaurant, I only ate beef and gravy with rice or pan fried noodles until I started working there and got a chance to expand my tastes.
I hated getting my hands dirty. While the kids at preschool were playing with sand, I was washing dolls. I only know this because my mom told me, but it must be true because it has carried over into adulthood. I do remember from my junior high days, helping a friend and her mom plant flowers and rushing into the house every few minutes to wash the dirt off my hands. I still can’t stand when my hands get grime, dust, or anything sticky on them.
I loved playing Barbies and Cabbage Patch Kids. I created elaborate storylines for whenever I played with either. My sister and I could spend hours acting out these storylines.
Some of my favorite TV shows were Family Ties, Diff’rent Strokes, The Facts of Life, and eventually Punky Brewster. I also liked Small Wonder (don’t ask) and a fun lip sync show called Puttin’ on the Hits. And then Full House came along…. :)
I had a huge crush on Michael J. Fox (especially from Back to the Future) until Dirty Dancing came about and then it got transferred to Patrick Swayze.
I was an Indian Princess. I loved going to meetings and campouts with my dad and sister. Before that I was a Brownie, but I lost interest after a year, which coincided nicely with joining Indian Princesses.
I used to be afraid of the dark...and vampires. I thought that if it was too dark in the house, vampires would come to my room and bite my neck. I would pull the covers up to my chin in order to protect myself. I still don't like vampires now, but for different reasons.
I didn't learn how to ride a bike (two wheeler) until I was 12. I was afraid of falling. Once I learned how though, I was unstoppable! I loved riding my bike everywhere. I don't even ride a bike anymore, as I just use the equipment in my basement when I need to exercise.
I was very passionate about my friendships. If I felt that I had found a good friend, I wanted to hang out with them all the time and emulate the things they did. My friends are still very important to me, but there are only a few I've known since my youth.
I had a pretty goofy sense of humor, which has probably carried on into adulthood.
I was definitely a girly girl, all about wearing dresses, makeup and nail polish, going shopping, playing with dolls, etc. It probably explains my current obsession with chick lit!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is just a glimpse of who I was as a kid, from what I can remember. I'm sure there are more memories that will come to mind as soon as I publish this post. I can't help but wonder what my daughter will be like as she gets bigger. Will she be a girly girl or a tomboy (thanks to having two older brothers)? Will she like to play dolls and read or will she want to play sports and run around in the mud? I guess time will tell, but I can't wait to watch her discover what makes up her personality.
 |
| Still me...but I can imagine my daughter looking like this in a couple of years |
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Life is a highway....but not at 16!
Remember the blog project I did in 2010 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, Moma Rock picked the topic: Who taught you how to drive? And, what sort of experiences did you have as a new driver on the road?
Before reading ahead, first see what everyone else had to say on this topic:
Froggie
Mom of Many
Moma Rock
It's interesting that this topic comes up right before I turn 36, as I am approaching my 20 year anniversary of being a licensed driver. I didn't get my license the day I turned 16 though. I got it about two months later....
I started my driving lessons through high school driver's ed class, second semester of sophomore year. It was a way to get a permit and not have to take extracurricular lessons. Really, I would have preferred to take the lessons outside of school though, for what they were worth to me in school. There was one nice teacher, Mr. J, but he just led the instructional portion of the class. I don't think he went on the road with anyone. He should have as he was the friendliest and most fatherly of the three teachers.
Mr. W was decent. He was the tough love type, but he didn't make people feel horrible about their driving skills. He said what worked and what needed improvement. And then there was Mr. L. People like him should NEVER become driving instructors. Maybe he should deal with people who get tickets for doing stupid stuff like drinking or texting while driving. He could scare them straight. Instead, he scared me off of driving highways for FIVE YEARS!
Aside from the fact that it was torturous enough being in a silent car (no music) with the sound of the turn signal clicking like a metronome, but also being with peers who are bound to make fun of you if you mess up during a road lesson, having Mr. L as the on-road instructor just multiplies that torture! And it's even worse when you're the only student in the car with him, he gives confusing directions and likes to step on his instructor brake even though it's clear that you're coming to a complete stop. So when I had a highway lesson with him and was reduced to tears afterward, that was it for me. I was never going to drive on a highway, tollway or expressway, even if you paid me to. I would take back roads to get to where I needed.
In the meantime, my dad taught me how to drive through lots of practice...and patience. He and I are alike in personality, so I'm surprised he stayed patient for so long. I can't even imagine teaching any of my kids to drive! In any case, he did whatever it took to help me become a good driver. We went out on weekends, just driving around the neighborhood. He took me to empty parking lots to teach me how to park between the lines. He let me drive to school every day before he took the car to work. I enjoyed those drives to school every morning. We'd listen to the radio in companionable silence while I navigated my way to school. He didn't make me nervous at all.
The summer leading up to my 16th birthday, I went to England for a month on an exchange program from high school. When I got back, I was somewhat out of practice and watching people drive on the other side of the road was strange for me. On my 16th birthday, I didn't go to get my license. I wasn't planning to anyway, as the pressure of turning 16 and getting your license that same day is a bit much. Instead, I managed to crack my mom's headlight while trying to park the car. Oops!
At the beginning of junior year, my dad signed me up for private driving lessons. The instructor was kind and patient...the complete opposite of Mr. L. After a few lessons, I felt ready and about two months after my 16th birthday, early on a Saturday morning, my dad took me to get my license. And you know what? I got it on the first try! I think I only had trouble on one type of turn but that wasn't enough to keep me from getting it. I was so proud of this accomplishment that the first thing I did at school the following week was find an excuse to flash it in front of Mr. L!
Shortly after getting my license, I got my first car...a 1986 Pontiac Sunbird. For a while, I just used it to go to and from school. Eventually, I started driving other places or out on errands. I had a decent track record until my first minor accident toward the end of junior year. I barely did any damage to the other car, but I got a ticket anyway. (At least it kept me from seeing a really bad movie.) There was another time my car scraped against my mom's car, but I wasn't getting a ticket for that!) Aside from that, having a car allowed me to bond more with my sister, especially when she started high school that fall. I drove her to and from school every day. We'd listen to the Eddie and JoBo show on B96 every morning and a Broadway soundtrack (usually "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat") every afternoon. I'd also pick her up from her babysitting gig after I started working at the Chinese restaurant.
In the summer of 1997, on the eve of my 21st birthday, I wanted to go to the city to see "Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind." My friend who was supposed to drive us to the city bailed on me, so I took it upon myself to learn how to drive on the expressway and made it safely to the show and back. It was an exhilarating feeling and my birthday gift to myself was conquering my fear of highways. (Take that, Mr. L!) After that night, I'd go to the city all the time to visit friends and felt totally comfortable. There were a couple of times I got lost, but I managed to find my way to where I needed to go. It also came in handy for going back to college in the fall, as I got to have my car down there and had more freedom to visit my family whenever I wanted. I took some other road trips that year, as well (such as my first interstate trip to visit my sister in Indiana).
These days, I don't drive on the highway as much, except to go to Baltimore for speech therapy. The Beltway is extremely congested and it's quicker to go to work on main roads. My latest driving fear is the van. I have yet to drive it anywhere. It seems so big and intimidating. I feel like it would be a driver's ed instruction all over again. I hope I can give myself a (good) reason to conquer this fear, but I haven't figured out what that will be yet. Time will tell, I guess....
This week, Moma Rock picked the topic: Who taught you how to drive? And, what sort of experiences did you have as a new driver on the road?
Before reading ahead, first see what everyone else had to say on this topic:
Froggie
Mom of Many
Moma Rock
It's interesting that this topic comes up right before I turn 36, as I am approaching my 20 year anniversary of being a licensed driver. I didn't get my license the day I turned 16 though. I got it about two months later....
I started my driving lessons through high school driver's ed class, second semester of sophomore year. It was a way to get a permit and not have to take extracurricular lessons. Really, I would have preferred to take the lessons outside of school though, for what they were worth to me in school. There was one nice teacher, Mr. J, but he just led the instructional portion of the class. I don't think he went on the road with anyone. He should have as he was the friendliest and most fatherly of the three teachers.
Mr. W was decent. He was the tough love type, but he didn't make people feel horrible about their driving skills. He said what worked and what needed improvement. And then there was Mr. L. People like him should NEVER become driving instructors. Maybe he should deal with people who get tickets for doing stupid stuff like drinking or texting while driving. He could scare them straight. Instead, he scared me off of driving highways for FIVE YEARS!
Aside from the fact that it was torturous enough being in a silent car (no music) with the sound of the turn signal clicking like a metronome, but also being with peers who are bound to make fun of you if you mess up during a road lesson, having Mr. L as the on-road instructor just multiplies that torture! And it's even worse when you're the only student in the car with him, he gives confusing directions and likes to step on his instructor brake even though it's clear that you're coming to a complete stop. So when I had a highway lesson with him and was reduced to tears afterward, that was it for me. I was never going to drive on a highway, tollway or expressway, even if you paid me to. I would take back roads to get to where I needed.
In the meantime, my dad taught me how to drive through lots of practice...and patience. He and I are alike in personality, so I'm surprised he stayed patient for so long. I can't even imagine teaching any of my kids to drive! In any case, he did whatever it took to help me become a good driver. We went out on weekends, just driving around the neighborhood. He took me to empty parking lots to teach me how to park between the lines. He let me drive to school every day before he took the car to work. I enjoyed those drives to school every morning. We'd listen to the radio in companionable silence while I navigated my way to school. He didn't make me nervous at all.
The summer leading up to my 16th birthday, I went to England for a month on an exchange program from high school. When I got back, I was somewhat out of practice and watching people drive on the other side of the road was strange for me. On my 16th birthday, I didn't go to get my license. I wasn't planning to anyway, as the pressure of turning 16 and getting your license that same day is a bit much. Instead, I managed to crack my mom's headlight while trying to park the car. Oops!
At the beginning of junior year, my dad signed me up for private driving lessons. The instructor was kind and patient...the complete opposite of Mr. L. After a few lessons, I felt ready and about two months after my 16th birthday, early on a Saturday morning, my dad took me to get my license. And you know what? I got it on the first try! I think I only had trouble on one type of turn but that wasn't enough to keep me from getting it. I was so proud of this accomplishment that the first thing I did at school the following week was find an excuse to flash it in front of Mr. L!
Shortly after getting my license, I got my first car...a 1986 Pontiac Sunbird. For a while, I just used it to go to and from school. Eventually, I started driving other places or out on errands. I had a decent track record until my first minor accident toward the end of junior year. I barely did any damage to the other car, but I got a ticket anyway. (At least it kept me from seeing a really bad movie.) There was another time my car scraped against my mom's car, but I wasn't getting a ticket for that!) Aside from that, having a car allowed me to bond more with my sister, especially when she started high school that fall. I drove her to and from school every day. We'd listen to the Eddie and JoBo show on B96 every morning and a Broadway soundtrack (usually "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat") every afternoon. I'd also pick her up from her babysitting gig after I started working at the Chinese restaurant.
In the summer of 1997, on the eve of my 21st birthday, I wanted to go to the city to see "Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind." My friend who was supposed to drive us to the city bailed on me, so I took it upon myself to learn how to drive on the expressway and made it safely to the show and back. It was an exhilarating feeling and my birthday gift to myself was conquering my fear of highways. (Take that, Mr. L!) After that night, I'd go to the city all the time to visit friends and felt totally comfortable. There were a couple of times I got lost, but I managed to find my way to where I needed to go. It also came in handy for going back to college in the fall, as I got to have my car down there and had more freedom to visit my family whenever I wanted. I took some other road trips that year, as well (such as my first interstate trip to visit my sister in Indiana).
These days, I don't drive on the highway as much, except to go to Baltimore for speech therapy. The Beltway is extremely congested and it's quicker to go to work on main roads. My latest driving fear is the van. I have yet to drive it anywhere. It seems so big and intimidating. I feel like it would be a driver's ed instruction all over again. I hope I can give myself a (good) reason to conquer this fear, but I haven't figured out what that will be yet. Time will tell, I guess....
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