Do you ever have days like this?

Some days I wonder where exactly am I going.  Besides, nowhere because I stay in my pj’s all day working on the computer, blogging, doing reviews, playing games, checking social networks. I know I should go out and leave the house, get some fresh air, go for a walk, take time to stop and smell the roses.  And, yet I just can’t seem to find the motivation to get my ass off the sofa long enough.

I hate how I feel inside.

My husband and I have an extremely happy marriage. In fact if you saw us together, we’d probably make you sick with how in love with one another we actually are.  I have three great kids (one amazing step-son) and two incredible boys. And, yes although life isn’t always easy, we deal with disabilities and hard ships.  I feel like crap most days I get up.

It seems sometimes as though nothing has changed in my life.  Like no matter what good things come my way, I just can’t seem to be happy.  I don’t know if it’s my bipolar depression talking today, or not.  I just know that deep inside I still sometimes feel like I did when I was a kid.  Unloved, unnoticed, put down, ugly, fat, stupid and just plain.

I’m almost 40 years old. I’m not supposed to feel this way about myself.  Am I?  Life is in my hands. My life. It’s in my control, the choices I make. And, yet sometimes I cannot stop the tears that come. The uncertainty. The knowing I need to lose weight. I need to quit smoking. I need to get out from behind this damn computer and get outside, live life and be with my kids and enjoy things.

I’m just so damn tired.

Do you ever have days like this where really just don’t like anything or anyone?

As a low income mom it’s not easy coming up with ways to help my son play hockey. JJ is twelve and has been playing in the Abbotsford Minor Hockey League for three years now. He’s a goalie. He’s 5″ 4, size 12 shoe.  Tall and built like an athlete, he’s fast on his feet, quick with his glove and yesterday recorded his third shut out this season, making 26 saves!

Our son wants to be a goalie in the NHL, and although some call it a pipe dream. As his mother, I do whatever I can to help him realize that all dreams are attainable if he works hard, gets good grades, believes in himself and others. There isn’t anything JJ can’t do.

What can I say, I’m a proud hockey mom.

But hockey is expensive and time consuming and our son JJ could not have made it through this year without the help from people on our son’s team, his coaches, our team manager and everyone else who has chipped in and helped JJ get to where he is.

Final Hockey Tournament in Osoyoos – Seeking Sponsorships Now!

JJ has a final hockey tournament March 9th, 2012 in Osoyoos and we here are rantsnrascals.com are offering sponsorships to help pay for the trip.   A 3 day tournament costs close to a $1000 each time! 

Between the cost of hotels, gas to get to where we need to go and then food for three days. I’m not sure what to do. So as a mom and (blogger) I see it’s my job to make sure my kids dreams come true.

What we are offering…

We are offering  Sponsorship Packages for local businesses or online blogs or website who wish to help us sponsor our son’s tournament.  Below are the details.  Our media kit can be read here http://rantsreviews.com/pr-advertising/media-kit/  (for both rantsnrascals.com and our online review and product website Rants Reviews.

We are offering exposure to your business or blog or website. Exposure to your products, linking them to our readers and those in our social circles, which includes Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Pinterest, Google Plus and over a dozen online communities to which we belong and our feed is shared, along with a full page sent out to all our email subscribers (for sponsors only) as a thank you for your support.

Cost of for the Tournament

Hotel 3 nights in Osoyoos =  $303 + tax

Food (family of 4)  $30 each meal (breakfast lunch and dinner) for 3 days = $270 on budget

Gas driving from Abbotsford to Osoyoos (5 hours driving there and back plus to and from rink) = $200

Extras (swimming with the team, dinner with the team, just in case emergencies and taxes) $150

Sponsorship’s Available

Extras Sponsorship Cost $150 | sponsor the extras for us to go and you will receive:

• short blog post (200 words) about your business, company or brand
• 1 social network link for your company or blog included in the post
• 1 tweet out to our followers per week until the tournament is over (March 12)
• Post blast with our Facebook Fans OR our Google Plus Circles (your choice)
• Button ad to your company or business on our sidebar on EITHER rantsnrascals.com or Rants Reviews for the month of March

Gas Sponsorship Cost $200 | sponsor us the gas to go and you will receive:

• a short blog post (250 words) about your business, company or brand
• 2 social network links for your company or blog included in the post
• 1 tweet out to our followers per week until the tournament is over (March 12)
• Post blast to our Facebook fan page OR our Google Plus Circles (your choice)
• Button ad on our sidebar under sponsors on either rantsnrascals.com or Rants Reviews for 2 months (March and April)

Food Sponsorship Cost $270 | sponsor us for food for our trip and you will receive:

• a blog post (350 words) about your business, company or brand
• 3 social network links for your company or blog included in the post
• 2 tweet outs to our followers per week until the tournament is over (March 12)
• posting blast to our Facebook fans AND our Google plus circles
• Button ad to your company or blog on our sidebar for 3 months (March, April, May) on either rantsnrascals.com or Rants Reviews

Only one sponsorship is available per package. Once a sponsorship has been full-filled, the sponsor will be listed here.  We appreciate the support from all sponsors involved. For more information on how you can help please email rantsnrascals@gmail.com

In shocking news which I read today, the Queen of Pop “Whitney Houston” has died suddenly at the age of 48.  The Grammy winning singer of “The Greatest Love of All” among the many big hits, died today in a Hollywood Hotel.  The details still being investigated.

The singer/actress led a turbulent life, and an even more turbulent marriage to singer Bobby Brown for over a decade, that included drug abuse, physical abuse and rehab.

A Beverly Hills police officer told reporters they were called to the Beverly Hilton, in Los Angeles, at around 3:20 p.m. PST and that emergency personnel found Houston’s body in a fourth-floor room, and she was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m. There is apparently no sign of criminal intent toward her death, according to police.

“She has been positively identified by friends and family (who) were with her at the hotel, and next of kin have already been notified,” Lieutenant Mark Rosen told reporters.

Tweets:

That’s what happened last night.

JJ came home and said he had two projects due. One for his novel he just finished reading called “Number the Stars” by Lois Lowry, a famous children’s author.

He had to do a paper bag project, typing out his work he’d already done, showing Character Profiles | Plot | Symbolism | His Book Review.  It all had to be put into text boxes and then a picture drawn on each one, colored lightly and pasted onto a white paper bag. Inside the bag he had to have 3 items for the symbols in the story.  He wanted help with spelling, checking his work and printing.

His second project was a blank card board presentation. I was not impressed. JJ said the idea was to do a science experiment, proving his hypothesis that holding your hands at different angles improves your shot as a hockey player.  The problem: It couldn’t be proven.  So he had to start all over again, and he hadn’t even done any research. He’d left it until the last minute.

We didn’t start the cardboard project until almost 10:30 pm.  He’d finished the paper bag project and I was very proud of him for doing such an amazing job on drawing the pictures, coloring and putting it all together.  I was not impressed the other project wasn’t even completed.

“I know it’s an epic fail.”  JJ said.

Okay I won’t even pretend to understand a tweens lingo, but I am guessing he meant he sucks and should have had it done.

JJ and I sat for the next hour going over research for his new project, which I found online.  His hypothesis?  Boys reflexes are better than girls reflexes. Adrenaline can speed up your reflexes.  Fatique can hinder them.

We managed to get the pr0ject done. JJ typed out the research, the form to collect his data, some pictures, he colored everything and then pasted it on the board. His goal is to use a ruler to gather data on how each person’s reflexes are different by dropping the ruler and allowing the person to catch it between their fingers, writing down where on the ruler they land.

By the time we were finished (his homework!) it was almost three in the morning.  I was completely exhausted and so was he. He got a little whiny when I finally sent him to bed, telling him this is why being prepared is important, which normally JJ is when a project is due.  He dropped the ball on this one. Both projects were due today.

It’s funny how even as a parent you still aren’t done your homework.

I hated school. I hated projects. The only subjects I enjoyed were English, reading, science and technology and drama.  That’s it!  JJ gets good grades but I was totally pissed he was ready and even prepared for the second project he brought home.

FD wanted to punish him for not having it done. I on the other hand felt the consquences for him were to stay up, finish it, be tired and go to school, reminding him why it’s important to be prepared.  I’m proud he finished the work and maybe next time I won’t have homework to do!

I sat in bed afterwards, my eyelids closing on me. I glanced over at the small five year old sleeping next to me and I thought. “Good Lord!” by the time Trace is in grade seven like his brother, I will be 46 years old.  I better be taking my vitamins, otherwise Trace is going to fail if he ever does this.

As posted from the Tim Thomas Fan Page

I Stand with the Catholics in the fight for Religious Freedom.

“In Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up.”

– by Martin Niemöller, prominent German anti-Nazi theologian and Lutheran pastor, best known as the author of the poem First they came….

Okay so many of you might be scratching your heads and saying HUH? Well let me explain. Thomas apparently is stating that people have the freedom to use their voice, in a response many think to President Barack Obama’s new rule on contraceptives that requires health insurance plans, including those offered by Catholic charities, hospitals and universities, to provide birth control to women.

So How do People Feel About This?

Jeri Bogan I am a practicing Catholic, and while I believe in my church, I believe in the rights of every religion to practice in this country. I can also tell you that the Catholic church did not help my parents pay for 5 kids growing up, so I feel that they have no right to tell me how many children I should have. When they pay for their education, food, clothing, and help with household expenses and medical bills, then I may reconsider allowing the church to dictate whether or not I should practice birth control. Until then, they need to stick with the SUPPOSED separation between church and state.

Alex Bill Tim, nobody is forcing anybody else to use birth control. They are just requiring that insurance programs cover birth control for those that CHOOSE to use it. For the 98% of catholics that do, this is probably good news.

Matthew Ball I personally dont care weather a person uses contraception or not but the notion that it is a “Basic” healthcare need is absurd. If you want to get it nice you got to pay the price. I shouldn’t have to pay for someone else to get contraception.

Okay those are just a few of the comments both for and against what Tim is saying. Me personally, I have to sit back and just laugh at all of it.  I mean people in the states are seriously upset that their president is making it so birth control is covered by health insurance.

People are upset in saying that they don’t believe in it or use it, why should they have to pay for it?  It’s stupid! That way of thinking. That’s like saying to your kid, you don’t pay for the food so why should I feed you?  Country pride is supposed to be about taking care of each other, helping each other out, no matter what race, creed, religious background or color you are.

Why are all of you upset with a President you elected by majority? I’m sure it’s not easy being an individual living in your country, watching things happen, but if you want things to change so badly why didn’t you run yourself. It’s not easier when the shoe is on the other foot and I for one (despite hating politicians) have a great respect for what they do because the job isn’t as easy as it looks. Kinda like being a goalie eh Tim. Or maybe every stop we think you should make you should, eh?

Standing up for your beliefs is a right and I commend anyone who does. But getting upset over the fact that your president is making birth control in a world where world population and homeless (and yes Catholics are homeless and getting knocked up too) is called taking responsibility, and helping those with less income make better choices not to bring a child into this world if they don’t have to. Sure abstinence is an option but let’s face facts. Sex feels good. Just ask your Catholic priests!!!!!!!

And no before you get your crusifix in a knot. I’m not against Catholics or priests or God or Heaven, in fact I love everyone. Peace, love and harmony is my motto.

I’m simply pointing out the ignorance and irony of stating that somehow Catholics are above and beyond reproach and so much better than everyone else, as Tim Thomas is doing.

I think it’s great your president is supporting health care. I think it’s awesome he’s making it so birth control is available to those who needs it, not that you have to use it, but the option is there.

What isn’t great is making political statements, running around shooting your mouth off, saying what you want and thinking you are above everyone, including showing disrespect for your own team and putting yourself (the individual) before your team simply because you don’t agree on something.

Shit nobody agrees all the time. That’s why they call it com-pro-mise.

Note: If you are going to leave nasty comments because you don’t like what I’m saying (which is my freedom) as much as it is Tim Thomas’s. That’s okay, I won’t hold it against you. I can’t. Give me an hour and with my brain injury I won’t remember you stopping by – lol

Maybe it’s not right, talking about how you feel.  The fact I do it online, might make it even more wrong. Sharing how I feel about my husband, my life, my kids, dealing with disabilities, being a caregiver, the whole ball of wax.  Maybe it’s not right.

But how come?

I don’t know about you but writing down how I feel, whether people read it or not is theraputic for me. It makes me feel better.  And, if I happen to connect with a reader going through the same thing I am, feeling the way I do, and we get to talking.  That’s great, for both parties.

Yet, every now and then, we get those comments. Those people who tell us to quit whining about things, stop being depressed, that our life isn’t that hard, and basically to shut up and stop writing about it.

When it become wrong to share your feelings?

If I’m watching something and I don’t want to watch it because I don’t like it. I do the simple thing. I turn the channel. Everyone has that option, right.  What makes the Internet different?

Our lives might not be as horrible as other people’s. In fact, I’m almost certain it isn’t. I have a loving husband, three great boys, a life I love, family who cares for me, a roof over my head and so on.

I’m also a caregiver to my husband who has a brain injury and forgets everything. I’m caregiver to my son who has Asperger’s and Cerebral Palsy. I’m a hockey mom, to a child with ADHD. I suffer with bipolar depression, Anxiety disorder and now I’m deaf in one ear and my health isn’t great.

So yeah, nothing is truly horrible, but that doesn’t mean I don’t need to cry about things when things get too hard to handle. It doesn’t mean I don’t need to vent when something pisses me off. It doesn’t mean I don’t need to share myself through my writing.

So to all those people who don’t want to listen to me. That’s fine.

To all those who think I’m whiny and basically want me to shut up about it. That’s fine too.

Do me a favor then…

Don’t come here, read what I write then bitch at me in my comments and tell me where to go. I don’t appreciate it. I don’t care for it. I don’t know you. You don’t know me. Click the back button. Head on over to Facebook and play some games. And, basically get out of my Internet space.

Do that and everything will be fine.

I’ll be fine.

You won’t have to hear me anymore.

And the true people who care to read what we write about will come and chat with us, leave us comments and show their support and maybe we can show our support of them as well. Because we appreciate everyone who cares to share with us what they are going through in their lives.

Are things harder for someone else somewhere else?  Of course they are. They always are and sharing how we feel here at rantsnrascals.com doesn’t change the fact that we are aware of that.

Thanks for reading!

Don’t worry though, you won’t miss us here. We still plan on blogging here at rantsnrascals.com, sharing our lives, stories about the kids, dealing with disaiblities and Asperger’s, and of course FD is going to still blog about hockey and Fraser Valley news.

We feel this is the right decision to make, and we hope you all continue to read and stop by and share your thoughts both here and at the new site.  You guys have been the best support of us over the past year and we greatly appreciate you.

Google Friend Connect is going to be closing down, so we didn’t add that to the new site.  But if you want, we’d appreciate you following our new site and networks.

http://www.twitter.com/rantsreviews (TWITTER)

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rants-Reviews/218570561565928 (FACEBOOK)

https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/102648768574960534004/ (GOOGLE PLUS)

Thanks again, and we look forward to sharing more news, ideas, reviews and stuff with you guys.

~ Jodi & Corey

It’s something I hear all the time. “There is no way your son can have Asperger’s. He’s so smiley, affectionate and plays well with others.”  and they are right.  Trace is affectionate, and sometimes does work really well with others, and he does smile more now.  But Trace also has Asperger’s.

Why does everyone need to put special needs or disabilities into categories?

It drives me up the wall!  I mean as humans, none of us are perfect, least of all me.  I love my kids and my husband, and I clean the house (when I feel like it) and I love being a mom.  But that doesn’t always mean I”m a good mom.  I have my days like everyone else where I wanna stick a fork in my eyes, claim insanity, go to that nice padded cell where it’s quiet without the yelling and screaming, laundry, animals to feed, chores to do, bills to pay.

There are days I don’t want to have a child who has special needs.  Days I feel angry that he is suffering with things like not liking the feel of a sweater, or needing his hamburger cut into six equal squares before eating it, or a straw that doesn’t bend.  I mean really – for Pete-sakes, straws need to bend!

Lately, over the past month or so, ever since FD and JJ went to Prince George for Christmas, Trace has been way more affectionate and loving than normal.  And by normal I mean | sometimes he barely ever hugged or kissed or even told me that he loves me.

Now it’s a completely different story…

When I look back on the past couple of years and how much Trace has grown.  I can see the changes – now.  He is not the same kid and nor should he be.  He’s come out of his shell, he plays more, laughs more, talks more.  And as a mom, I’m loving each and every moment with him.

A year ago Trace would never go out and play in the snow.  He hated it.  Hated how it felt on his hands, on his clothes. He hated wearing boots, hats and gloves that didn’t fit right.  But now he’s learned.  All kids can learn, whether they have special abilities or not.

It’s a matter of having patience and teaching them, because they (Aspie) kids are no different than kids without Asperger’s, other than they handle things thrown at them in a different way.  But learning to compensate, learning to accept things can be taught.

I love my son.  I love that after five years of waiting he now comes running up to me to hug me tight.  I love that he wants to kiss me (even if it’s) only on the cheek. I love that he has learned to maintain eye-contact for longer than five seconds, and that when things get hard, when the battles begin.  I love that he’s learned to take deep breaths, calm down, and try his hardest to handle things the best he can, and that he knows no matter what…

I’m here for him and he can do it.  He can be himself no matter what road he is traveling down.

So yeah it drives me bonkers when people look at me or my son and tell me there is no way he has this or that.  He looks so normal.  It makes me want to deck them, take off their colored stigma glasses and throw a mirror in their face and tell them to take a second look.  Not at Trace but at themselves.  Because like I said nobody is NORMAL.

I should know.  I suffer with bipolar depression, and I’m the happiest optimistic pessimist around.  Looking at me you’d never know I suffer from depression.  But that doesn’t mean I don’t.

How do you handle people putting stigma’s on your kids with special abilities?

Okay I was scrolling through Canucks.com because – well I’m a guy and it beats watching sappy crap or horror crap (take your pick) which my wife loves doing during the day when the boys are at school.  I came across this video and nearly fell out of my seat laughing my ass off.

Apparently we are not the only ones who think Boston is one of the dirtiest teams playing in the NHL.  In fact here’s proof we aren’t!

Note: In no way did Jon Stewart do this. In fact it was a fan who put it together (the video) but it’s still really funny and makes you think, eh?