Rules Do Not Apply

A Letter

2013-05-17T10:07:00.002-04:00

I received a letter yesterday from an old friend and my heart rejoiced. Lost is the art of letter writing. My friend recognized this and decided that we should start writing to each other via snail mail. I am thrilled. Within the last year, I have considered who I could write letters to since I have longing to revive the art as well. In a time of emails, facebook and twitter, writing a letter and sending it snail mail is refreshing. It shows a person that you took the time out of your day to write something, put it in an envelope and mail it. Your thoughts are important enough that a few days passing before delivery will not diminish them. It is a great way to show someone you care about them.

So now, I will look to my mailbox with expectation. It has been a long time since I have done that and I am looking forward to it.

Parenting Teens is Not for the Timid

2013-05-08T07:54:00.001-04:00

Now that I have two teens, I have determined that parenting them is not for the timid. The situations that teens face today are far more complex than when I was growing up. I am not sure that I would have survived as a teen back in the day with all the problems teens have to go through now. I sincerely believe with the cameras and the posting on facebook and youtube, I probably would have been in a heap of trouble as a teen.

Kids today have to deal with not only keeping their reputations at school in tact, but also their online reputations in tact. Future employers and school admissions offices look at what is online, so a teen has to make sure there is not any detrimental online postings about them. What a nightmare, and that is not even to get into the whole cyber bullying issue or other issues that are on the internet.

Speaking of bullying, now it is determined that any time you hurt someone's feelings, it can be bullying. Really??? I cannot even imagine if that would have been implemented back in the day. Teens today have to monitor every action and word that comes out of their mouth. And don't even get me started on the fact that if you even report bullying then you are probably getting on some list to be watched as a possible school shooting suspect.

I saw that after the Boston Bombing that the federal government is going to be watching teens more closely as possible terrorist. So, now teens have to be even more careful. Be careful if you buy your kid a chemistry set for Christmas or a firearm to go deer hunting, because that will be scrutinized as well.

Of course, beyond all the surveillance, teens also have to worry about the increased severity of underage drinking, which was a slap on the wrist when I was growing up. Now days, as a parent, you can be sentenced to jail for letting your kid have a glass of wine at home. Of course, experimental kids have to be really careful, not only are drugs illegal, but the drugs on the street nowadays are exceedingly dangerous. Back in the day, I knew kids that smoked weed and maybe took some speed, but now kids have the options of stronger weed, meth, ecstasy, crack and probably a dozen more drugs that I don't even know about. So much for getting high and watching bugs bunny, now kids pop a molly and get HIV or hold up a convenience store. What a nightmare!

I feel like having teens is like running of the bulls. Trying to make it out safely without getting trampled is not easy and even if you do make it out, there is a certain amount of trauma that you have experienced. I think there must be some diagnosis for parents of teens that is similar to post traumatic stress disorder and I think I am experiencing it. Lord help us all.

God Works in Strange Ways

2013-02-19T14:05:00.000-05:00

I must say that God works in strange ways. Earlier this school year, my son made the transition from private school back to public school. The private school he was attending had some major flaws, so I withdrew my son and went back to public school. Well, it turns out that may have been a blessing in disguise. Not only did numerous kids from my son's private school also withdraw, but it seems like public school was just what my son needed. At the private school, my son was doing great academically and really developing his leadership skills, but he was not all that social. Now, at public school he is being social and still making good grades. I did not think that my son was unhappy at the private school and if you asked him he said he like the private school he attended. But now, my son is happy all the time. He is having fun in high school finally. I know the classes are not as academically challenging, but he is taking 2 college courses as well, so he is at least being challenged a little bit. In fact, he is in Intro to Astronomy and has a really great professor and he is learning loads in that class, so he is being challenged and stimulated in at least that class. He does have some good teachers at the public school that he attends, but he also has at least one really bad teacher too, so I guess you can't have everything.

It's funny though, how I was content with my son's high school education at the private school when he was evidently, not getting something, whatever it was. Now, he is happy, social, making good grades and excited about going to school everyday. What more can a mother want? I guess God knew better than me and set up the circumstances so that I would move my son, now I am thankful for the change and almost wish I had done it sooner.

2013-02-19T13:55:00.001-05:00

Back To School Today

2013-01-08T08:25:00.001-05:00

The kids are back to school today. I must say that I enjoy them being home, but it will be good to have them out of the house so that I can catch up on housework. It seems almost impossible to get it all done with the kids here.

Last Thursday, my 16 year old son had all 4 wisdom teeth removed. I am glad to say that he is doing very well and was able to go to school this morning. I knew he was doing much better yesterday because he stated pestering his sister again.

I was looking forward to my daughter getting back into regular soccer practice tonight, but just received notice that the practices this week were cancelled. That stinks. Now, I will have to motivate my daughter to run at home, because she is totally out of shape. At least she is going back to school today, so will have P.E. again, so that will help.

I am trying to decide what kind of exercise plan I am gonna start since I desperately need to lose weight this year. I did not make weight loss a resolution, but I want to lose weight none the less. I guess I will start by walking today.

Well, gotta go get my day started, I hear laundry calling my name.

New Year

2013-01-02T13:58:00.001-05:00

I felt that 2012 was just a messed up year, that I have to hope that 2013 will be better. I am not making any New Years Resolutions this year, but I am making a point of being more organized, and focus on my health and well being. The great news is that since my son is no longer in private school, I will be able to afford more things for myself and my family. I was able to get a pedicure and a visit to my chiropractor out of the way in December, so I am feeling better already.

Happy 2013 to everyone, let me know what kind of changed you expect in 2013. I am not sure what to expect at this point.

Florida Air Academy is Terrible

2012-12-13T12:33:00.001-05:00

As all my readers are aware, my son went to Florida Air Academy from 7th grade until the beginning of November this year, which is his junior year. The school has a reputation for having a lot of politics and favoritism and I have tried to stay out of that for the most part. Unfortunately my son got entangles in a web of unsubstantiated accusations that was handled very unprofessionally by Florida Air Academy. The end result was my withdrawing my son from the school because I was not about to allow him be bullied by the administration at Florida Air Academy.

My son is very happy at the public school he now attends and I think that I should have moved him much sooner. He does miss a lot of the teachers at Florida Air, they really do have great teachers if you can get by the mismanagement of the school. The problem I am having with them right now however is the fact that Florida Air Academy will not release my son's PSAT scores. I called the school to get the scores, because they are my son's scores, not the school's and they denied me access because I did not pay for my son's full junior year, even though he left in November.

I know that this is common practice for private schools not to release transcripts if you have not paid for a full year of tuition (even if you pull them out when they have only attended school for 4 months that school year), but since paid 3/4 of his tuition and the scores will be release to my son eventually anyway, I had hoped that we could receive them from the school. I guess that is what I get for giving them the benefit of the doubt.

I have tried to be civil all through this process and have not blogged anything bad about them, but I felt it is my obligation to notify other parents what they have in store if they send their kids in private school and then encounter problems. I encourage everyone to please comment, especially is you have had problems with Florida Air Academy. I had my head in the sand for so long about Florida Air Academy that I wonder what was going on under my nose and I just didn't see it.

*** I imagine that FAA will have their lawyers try to shut down my blog for this post, because that is how they operate, so I am stating that all content of this blog is my opinion and is protected by the First Amendment which allows for free speech.

New School

2012-11-13T13:06:00.002-05:00

My son started a new school last week. Unfortunately, at his expensive private school I totally did not like the way they handled some events that happened. Sorry, but I don't play politics with my kid's education, and my son works hard for his grades, so the school I took him too was more than happy to take him.

Yes, we are back at public school now. That is fine. My daughter has been in public school all this time and she has never had any problems. Like I said, my son is a good student, so he will do great at this new school. By the way, the transition has been going very smoothly, especially considering that the private school will not release his transcripts. Yeah, I know, it is only November, and I didn't have all of this year paid yet, what was I thinking. Guess I will take my time now.

Election is Over

2012-11-07T04:10:00.001-05:00

The election is over, thank goodness. I am not thrilled with the results, but I am happy that the political calls will finally stop. I was getting 10-15 political calls a day. I guess that is the price you pay for being in a swing state. I could probably have built a small house with all the political postcards I received also.

Speaking of politics, it never leaves does it? My son has gotten involved in some politics at school that is leaving me questioning whether I should keep him at the private school he attends. I really used to love the school, but now we are on the other side of the political nightmare that it can be, so I am thinking about withdrawing my son and taking him back to public school. I am sure I will post soon if that happens. The jury is still out and I am waiting to see how much pressure my son is gonna have to take because I blew up at the principal. Long story...but it needed to be done.

Well, I hope everybody got the election results that they wanted even though I did not. Everybody can't win though, so I accept the loss and will try to figure out how the election will change my plans. Which no school tuition may help with....just saying. I will be praying for this country that we come back strong and that Obama can fulfill all the promises he made.

God Bless America!

It's Go Time!

2012-11-06T07:44:00.001-05:00

Well, November 6th is finally here. It is go time and everyone needs to get out and vote. I am hoping that this is the best turn out ever for voting because our politicians need to know that we as the American Public care about what happens in our country.

So, no matter who you are voting for, get out and vote. Of course I would like those I am voting for to win, but the important thing is for Americans to vote and be heard. I believe our country is at a crossroad of sorts and we need to determine the path that this country is going to take to succeed. And, the only option is to succeed.

See you at the polls.

Can't Wait for November 7th!

2012-11-03T04:04:00.000-04:00

I must admit, I can't wait until November 7th! There will be peace in my house again. The phone will stop ringing off the hook from 101 political calls. OK, here is the next amendment I want on the ballot: If you are currently on the "no call list", then surveyors, non-profits, and politicians cannot call you either! Now, that is something I can get behind. And notice, there is no confusing legal jargon in that statement or request!

Why is it I am college educated and have always been considered intelligent by my peers, but I have to go through the amendments on the ballot line by line to try to decipher what they really mean? Of course then I go online to verify that I am understanding it correctly. I think the legal jargon is there so as the public we stay confused and have no idea what we are really voting for. It is frustrating to say the least. I cannot imagine being someone who just barely graduated high school and trying to wade through all the mumbo jumbo. No wonder slogans work, nobody has the time to really read the proposed issues and understand them. John and I sat down with our sample ballots this year (thank goodness they send out samples) and waded through the legal jargon and looked up all the candidates that we were not familiar with so we can go into the polls educated and ready to vote. Did I mention that we spent over 2 hours looking everything up so we could know who/what we are voting on? Insane. This is how I our forefathers envisioned voting I am sure.

Happy Halloween

2012-10-31T10:04:00.000-04:00

Happy Halloween!

I am trying to find my happy place this Halloween. I am looking forward to trick-or-treator coming to the door this evening to remind me that everything is right with the world. I keep thinking about those that will not be able to enjoy Halloween because Sandy has changed their life. My thoughts and prayers go out to those affected. To everyone else, have a happy and safe Halloween.

It Has Been A While

2012-10-29T09:07:00.000-04:00

It has been a while since I last posted. I would like to apologize for that. I thought about giving up my blog, but I have decided that I enjoy it too much. Besides, it gives me an outlet to get all this crap out of my head...lol.

I guess I was facing burn out, which can happen from time to time. I have done some soul searching and have found that I really enjoy my life and it is just in the cards for me to be a stay at home mom at this time. I really enjoy being a stay at home mom, it's just that, I wish I had an income because money is tight. In that respect, I have gotten back into couponing and am trying to save every cent I can.

I will be posting about my couponing from time to time, so if you want to know what I am doing, shoot me an email.

The Kentucky Linemen

2012-08-10T07:18:00.002-04:00

I still can't believe I went to high school with these guys.

Busy

2012-08-02T16:16:00.001-04:00

I have been so busy and distracted lately that I have been having a hard time posting to my blog. The kids are home from spending time with their dad for the summer and school starts next week for my daughter, so I am hoping to get back into a rhythm of regular updates and postings again. I have had a busy summer and am still trying to figure out what I am going to be when I grow up.

I'm Farming and I Grow It

2012-06-29T09:29:00.001-04:00

I love this!!

Peacocks in my Back Yard

2012-06-03T12:24:00.001-04:00

I Am Now a Fan!

2012-05-22T13:18:00.002-04:00

I have been never been a huge fan of Tom Cruise. I really like a couple of movies that he was in, but I can't say that I have ever went out of my way to see a movie just because he was in it. That may have all just changed. The photo shoot that Tom Cruise did for W magazine for the movie Rock of Ages, has changed my mind. I think Cruise looks better than ever and he has turned into a major hottie. To think that he is almost 50...all I can say is, mmmmm. I will be seeing the movie!

School Is Almost Out

2012-05-17T13:55:00.002-04:00

I really cannot believe that school is almost out for the summer. Both my kids are finished on May 25th. I don't know where the year has gone already. It seems like we just started 2012 and we are almost to June already.

I am still looking for work, but have planned a busy summer with the kids and John. The kids and I will be going to Kentucky for a week this summer to visit my family which will be nice. This may be the last summer for that with my son since we will be doing the whole college tour thing next summer. Of course, that is not even taking into account that he may be working next summer too.

My sister has a time share in Orlando, so we are planning to spend some time there with her and my niece and nephew. I guess John will have a lot of alone time this summer, as the kids and I have a couple weeks planned without him. Of course, John may love the time to himself. I know I would.

John has a time share locally, so we will spend time there this summer too as a family. I am looking forward to that too. Usually at least one of John's sons comes to stay with us there too, so it is really nice. For some down time, John and I are planning to take a short cruise this summer as well. (Like I said, we have a busy summer). Thank goodness that John's sons are adults that don't mind house sitting. I feel so much better having somebody watch the house and the dog when we are away.

My kids have some trips planned with their dad as well, so they are gonna have a really busy summer. John and I will enjoy the time when we don't have the kids, which will be nice. I am pretty much adjusted to the kids going with their dad's. I do start to go stir crazy and practically need therapy if the kids are gone too long though. I have been divorced for a long time and the kids are old enough now that I don't stress over them being with their dad too much anymore. I guess I had better get used to not having the kids around, since they will be off to college before I know it. My son only has 2 years of high school left, and at the pace that time seems to be moving along, I had better not blink.

Scary Video: Lion Trying to Get Child Through Glass

2012-05-02T11:59:00.000-04:00

Create Your Own Superhero

2012-04-22T17:11:00.002-04:00

Most kids growing up want to be a superhero of some type. Who doesn’t want to be the kid that saves the bully, rescue the damsel in distress, or save the world? It used to be that kids were exposed to superheroes by reading comic books, but now, kids are more likely to be introduced to superheroes in movies or video games. They can be the traditional superheroes like Superman, Spiderman, and Captain America or they can be untraditional like Captain Jack Sparrow from the Pirates of the Caribbean or Edward Cullen from Twilight.

Video games provide a perfect platform for creating your own superhero. Many games allow you to choose what your character looks like and what attributes he or she would have. Your character can be strong, fast, cunning, magical, skilled in combat or have a multitude of other traits. The options seem endless. In addition you can conduct your hero as a moral character that stands up for the weak or as an arch villain who takes advantage or terrorizes those around them.

In creating your own superhero, you get to pick out which one you want to be. A protector or destroyer of good, it is your choice. Of course, unlike in the real world, the consequences in a video game are never real. What your character encounters is only a simulation that some game maker has created. In reality though, it is a different story. The consequences are very real and you had better be ready to deal with them, both good and bad. Becoming a vigilante could very well land you in prison or worse. Of course, if you decide to become an arch villain, all bets are off, you may very well be considered a terrorist and become a target of some very real military powers.

If you do decide to create your own superhero, you have to determine what your strengths and weaknesses are and determine how to best use the strengths while trying to cover for your vulnerabilities. If you do not have any superhero characteristics, you need to develop or invent them so that you always have the upper hand against your enemy. Superman can fly, Spiderman can spin webs and crawl up walls, what can you do? Are you strong, deft, stealthy, irresistible, or have some otherworldly power? Batman did not really have any special abilities, so he invented a tool belt full of devices that gave him the upper hand. Maybe that is something you can replicate. Grappling hooks and piano wire will only get you so far though, maybe the flying suit that Ironman developed would be more practical, if that is within your budget.

In creating your own superhero, it seems the sky is the limit. How creative can you become, because it is much more than just a costume in bright colors. It would take perseverance, determination, training, inventiveness and thinking out of the box to pull off such a feat. Becoming a superhero is a great undertaking that requires extensive planning and execution. Unfortunately, there are not too many real superheroes in the world today, but we can study those real people that were superheroes and see how they accomplished their goals. Mother Teresa lived in poverty while she helped the world’s poor, Gandhi went on hunger strikes and taught non-violence to promote independence, and Martin Luther King Jr. stood up for the rights of the African Americans and all people. Maybe these are the examples that we should look to when we try to create a superhero. Of course, both Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. were both assassinated, making the quest to become a superhero that much less attractive. Are you willing to take on the world for what you believe is the right cause? Do you have what it takes to be a superhero? It is not the glamorous life that is depicted in movies, but a very real life of sacrifice and suffering for the good of others that is demonstrated by true superheroes. You could be the next Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King Jr. or that stranger that rescues a child in need. At what lengths are you willing to go to be that superhero?

Push For Drama

2012-04-16T13:57:00.000-04:00

I love this!

Survived Spring Break

2012-04-05T12:50:00.000-04:00

I survived a week of spring break with the kids. No, we did not go anywhere. The kids did go to a spring training baseball game with their Dad and I spend 2 days shopping with them and 2 days at the beach. Mostly, they just had a week of relaxing, which they thoroughly enjoyed.

I think the intensity of the sports are getting to them a little this year, so the down time was really nice for them. On the other hand, I never got much in the way of housework or looking for a job done while they were home. I forgot how time consuming it is just to have kids home all day.

This week, I have been trying to play catch up on my chores and trying to find a job. No luck there unfortunately. Did you see Sunday nights "60 Minutes" (4/1/2012), it was all about what a mess Brevard County, Florida is since the space shuttle launches were cancelled. The north end of the county looks like a ghost town according to that report. People are moving out of this area in droves because there are no jobs. I can only hope that as people move, maybe something will open up for me.

Hunger Games Review

2012-03-25T16:17:00.000-04:00

I saw Hunger Games over the weekend, just like half the world apparently. I made John go with me since my daughter was going with her step-mom. I was not sure what to expect since there was a ton of hype before the movie came out. I read the trilogy and absolutely LOVE the books. If you haven't read the books, you should.

As far as the movie goes, I think they did a good job. John, who didn't read the books, thought the movie was only okay. I found myself explaining some things to him in the movie that were not obvious or explained to those who did not read the book. I could see where a non-reader would only think the movie was okay.

I have to admit that I got all choked up with the Rue scene and was touched emotionally a few times. Jennifer Lawrence did a great job as Katniss as did Josh Hutcherson as Peeta. I am not sure why they changed some things in the movie, such as where Katniss got the pin, and would have stayed with the original storyline.

As far as the action, I would have liked to have seen more. I realize that they were going for a PG13 rating, but they could have made things more dramatic. The whole game only seemed like it was several days in the movie, whereas in the book it was quite long, so they should have played that out more. So, much was only touched on that should have been a bigger part, I kinda felt cheated.

Overall, it was a good movie and worth the ticket price. It was not anywhere near as good as the book, but that is the case with most movies. I suggest if you have not read the book, watch the movie, then read the book and then watch the movie again.

Shameful!

2012-03-20T09:28:00.000-04:00

As most of you know, I am currently a volunteer for COTA (Children's Organ Transplant Assoc.) to benefit Dylan Bishop Taylor. We are putting together some great fundraisers and are plugging along getting a good community response to the fundraising drives.

Anyway, I approached the church that Dylan's family attends to see if they are willing to get on board for any of the fundraising or to help us get the word out about any of the fundraising events. I was advised that "our congregation is too large to help any individual church members". I was told that they receive requests almost daily and that it would not be fair to help one if not all.

I am sorry, but how can a church turn away from helping save the life of a member of its congregation? Am I missing something here, because I find this attitude shameful! You cannot help any individual members of your congregation? Who do they think supports the church other than individual members of the congregation? They will gladly take your money, but will not help you as an individual if you need it...this just boggles my mind.

By the way, this is not some little nothing church. It is probably the biggest church in Brevard County. If you live here, I am sure you probably know which one I am talking about. I guess the big church likes it's numbers, but I guess that is all you are to them if something bad happens to you. God help us all!