OMG! this very well could be me in a year! lol
(credit goes to one of my fave blogs: http://listoftheday.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Absent Fathers
I am getting so sick of all the talk and debate and studies about how kids are more likely to grow up to be successful if they are being raised in home where the father is present vs being raised by a single mom.
At no time in these discussions/debates/studies do they address a. the quality of the parenting or 2. the desire of the child to succeed.
These are two VERY important factors in formulating a child's chance for success in life.
I don't think a child is going to benefit in a home where the father is a drunk, or a workaholic, or a cold, withholding bastard! And the same stands for single moms.
This morning on NPR they went on and on ad nauseum about how Barrack (famously) dreamt of his father. Okay, can we just say for the record, Barrack is THE perfect example of just how frikken successful a child can be when raised without a father in the home? And he's mixed race! We can crush two stigmas with one White House!
Puuuuleeeease! There are more than a few people out there that I am more than certain have benefited from not knowing their fathers!
I by no means set out to be a single mom. I'm sure there were times when my son could have benefited from having a man around. But that wasn't going to be just any man. As it happens, I never found a suitable partner. For what it's worth, most of the men in my young life weren't worth the testosterone they were full of, among other things!
It's quality over quantity when it comes to the ideal # of parents required to raise a child properly. And I will still come right back and point out to you all of the highly dysfunctional adults I know who grew up in "ideal" homes with a present, participating father and (oh, shock!) a stay at home mom...this is not the "winning formula" most people ascribe to. I think our world has changed, and with it the family unit. I think rather that lamenting about how we've gone wrong, lets embrace the "it takes a village" precept and start looking around our community for opportunities to help make every child's circumstances better.
Be a mentor, a foster parent, a foster-grand parent, or a friend. If you know a single mom, see if there is any thing you can do to help her give her children the most rounded childhood possible. Volunteer you help kids with homework, or coach a little league team. Children who have strong role models and adults they can turn to when they need advice are more likely to grow up to be successful.
Don't sit and judge just because someone constructed their family "out of order". Get with the times, there is no order!
At no time in these discussions/debates/studies do they address a. the quality of the parenting or 2. the desire of the child to succeed.
These are two VERY important factors in formulating a child's chance for success in life.
I don't think a child is going to benefit in a home where the father is a drunk, or a workaholic, or a cold, withholding bastard! And the same stands for single moms.
This morning on NPR they went on and on ad nauseum about how Barrack (famously) dreamt of his father. Okay, can we just say for the record, Barrack is THE perfect example of just how frikken successful a child can be when raised without a father in the home? And he's mixed race! We can crush two stigmas with one White House!
Puuuuleeeease! There are more than a few people out there that I am more than certain have benefited from not knowing their fathers!
I by no means set out to be a single mom. I'm sure there were times when my son could have benefited from having a man around. But that wasn't going to be just any man. As it happens, I never found a suitable partner. For what it's worth, most of the men in my young life weren't worth the testosterone they were full of, among other things!
It's quality over quantity when it comes to the ideal # of parents required to raise a child properly. And I will still come right back and point out to you all of the highly dysfunctional adults I know who grew up in "ideal" homes with a present, participating father and (oh, shock!) a stay at home mom...this is not the "winning formula" most people ascribe to. I think our world has changed, and with it the family unit. I think rather that lamenting about how we've gone wrong, lets embrace the "it takes a village" precept and start looking around our community for opportunities to help make every child's circumstances better.
Be a mentor, a foster parent, a foster-grand parent, or a friend. If you know a single mom, see if there is any thing you can do to help her give her children the most rounded childhood possible. Volunteer you help kids with homework, or coach a little league team. Children who have strong role models and adults they can turn to when they need advice are more likely to grow up to be successful.
Don't sit and judge just because someone constructed their family "out of order". Get with the times, there is no order!
Weekend at the Movies
Friday night I rented “Ghost Town” with Greg Kinnear, Tea Leone, and Ricky Gervais. This was my first time seeing a movie with Ricky Gervais in front of camera. He’s funny! What a sad little pudgy dork he is! The story was sweet, but not original at all. Lots of funny moments without going below the belt. A good family flick. Worth the rental fee.
Saturday night I attended the Lobsinger’s Musical Movie Night. I missed the first half of Mary Poppins, always a favorite! The next movie up was Chicago. The little guy didn’t want to go to bed, so mom had to cover his eyes and distract him past the naughty bits. He finally gave up the ghost about ½ an hour into it and then we all relaxed and enjoyed the remainder of the movie. Gotta love a flick that turns Richard Gere into a crooning ladies man!
The main attraction was Mamma Mia! I have to admit, I was more interested in seeing Meryl Streep prance and dance and sing than I was in the actual story. I’ve never really been that big an ABBA fan so I probably never would have rented the movie on my own. It was actually better than I expected! I almost wish I had seen it on stage. I started out thinking there was only one ABBA song that I’d recognize, “Dancing Queen”. Turns out I knew at least 3 songs, maybe 4.
Okay, I admit, we all could have lived a lifetime without ever having to hear Pierce Brosnan singing. It was AWFUL! I felt bad for him! And I’m terribly disappointed in the fate of Colin Firth’s character’s sexuality. The scenery is spectacular. It makes me want to chuck it all and go find a villa in the Greek Isles and try to run my own little piece of paradise! (Much like I felt after watching “Under the Tuscan Sun” with Diane Lane.)
Oh, and we watched it with the sing-a-long option on. That was very useful for the many ABBA songs I didn’t know. We definitely want to recommend this one to the Redford.
So, in review, Ghost Town – 3 out of 4
Mamma Mia – 3 out of 4
Happy Monday!
Friday, January 16, 2009
Why being 17 sucks
1. you know EVERYTHING and nobody recognizes your superior knowledge
2. you're parents disrespect you and your friends with everything they say and everything they do and everything they don't say and everything they don't do, and then get pissed when you dish it back at them
3. your divine birthright to your parents every possession is not properly recognized by said parents
4. although you have the antithesis of an "ATTITUDE" you are continually accused of such and then your parents have the audacity to ground you until you get rid of same unpossessed "ATTITUDE"
5. you are perfectly capable of making life-altering decisions yet your parents insist on giving you a curfew!
Oh, how I wax nostalgic for those days of my youth! (NOT!)
2. you're parents disrespect you and your friends with everything they say and everything they do and everything they don't say and everything they don't do, and then get pissed when you dish it back at them
3. your divine birthright to your parents every possession is not properly recognized by said parents
4. although you have the antithesis of an "ATTITUDE" you are continually accused of such and then your parents have the audacity to ground you until you get rid of same unpossessed "ATTITUDE"
5. you are perfectly capable of making life-altering decisions yet your parents insist on giving you a curfew!
Oh, how I wax nostalgic for those days of my youth! (NOT!)
Thursday, January 8, 2009
My New Favorite Author
Okay, I admit it. Since finding out I am no longer employed, I have made it my mission to waste as much time at work on the Internet as I can. As a matter of principle, I am determined not to do anything even remotely responsible if I can help it. (alright, AMB, stop laughing. Yes, I am still doing most of my work, but I'm not doing it enthusiastically, juste ainsi vous savez !)
So one of the things I've been endeavoring to do is read more magazines and blogs. My current blog list is now longer than the rest of my favorites combined. So when I stumbled upon this article in Costco Connection magazine, I had to look this woman up! I swear she is speaking my language. And I didn't even realize I HAD a language until I recognized it pouring out of her blog posts!
But don't take my word for it, check her out at http://www.jennsylvania.com/
Oh, and click the image above to read the article.
So one of the things I've been endeavoring to do is read more magazines and blogs. My current blog list is now longer than the rest of my favorites combined. So when I stumbled upon this article in Costco Connection magazine, I had to look this woman up! I swear she is speaking my language. And I didn't even realize I HAD a language until I recognized it pouring out of her blog posts!
But don't take my word for it, check her out at http://www.jennsylvania.com/
Oh, and click the image above to read the article.
I'm thinking of starting my own Jen Lancaster fan club/book club. Let me know if you are interested...
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Unenjoyment
Well, it's been a few weeks since I've had the motivation to put my thoughts down to words. Actually, I've wanted to but refrained for fear of the nasty bits I was afraid would spew forth. It's been one hell of a year and I'm both excited and terrified of what the new one will bring.
The past month has been a whirlwind of emotional and spiritual upheaval. It began with the announcement that the large company I work for would be cutting 2500 employees globally. As I am at the bottom of my seniority pool, this did not give me a warm fuzzy.
After numerous assurances by my management that they were doing everything they could to ensure that I would be retained, I received my separation package the week before Christmas. Merry Christmas to me, right? I vowed to be a big girl about it, after all, this is a global economic crisis and I'm in pretty good shape otherwise, so what did I have to be upset about?
I took to holding my very own pity party which lasted a week or so, give or take, and then began to really think about what I want to be when I grow up. After all, I am only 39 years old, in fairly good health, not awful on the eyes, personable, and genuinely an interesting person. I really have little to hold me here in Michigan. My son is graduating HS in the spring (God Willing!) and I'm romantically unattached. My sister hasn't spoken to me for years and I have no contact with my niece and nephews. No parents to visit, and most of my friends are so busy we only seem to be able to get together a few times a year. I love to travel and to give back to the earth and the community...
I think I may have decided to chuck it all and go exploring! I have always wanted to travel the world and do mission work. I think I will begin by taking some time off, and maybe do the backpack/Europe thing. After that, I'm hoping to be able to fill my time with mission trips and occasional return trips home to check on the kids.
I'm sure, eventually, I will become a grandma and have a reason to stick around. At that time, hopefully the economy will have settled and I'll be able to find meaningful work somewhere in a warmer clime perhaps!
For now, I am doing the research, looking in to selling my house, or at least renting it out...maybe I'll just let the bank take it back and not worry about that extra bit of string to tie me to Michigan! I'm going to sell and give away as many of my possessions as I can and I'll store what's left...I've got an excellent collection of Saint Nik's I'd like to hold on to if I can!
Well, if you have any ties to anyone in Europe that would be welcoming to housing a stranger for a night or two or 10, let me know!
Peace and Happy New Year!
Michele
The past month has been a whirlwind of emotional and spiritual upheaval. It began with the announcement that the large company I work for would be cutting 2500 employees globally. As I am at the bottom of my seniority pool, this did not give me a warm fuzzy.
After numerous assurances by my management that they were doing everything they could to ensure that I would be retained, I received my separation package the week before Christmas. Merry Christmas to me, right? I vowed to be a big girl about it, after all, this is a global economic crisis and I'm in pretty good shape otherwise, so what did I have to be upset about?
I took to holding my very own pity party which lasted a week or so, give or take, and then began to really think about what I want to be when I grow up. After all, I am only 39 years old, in fairly good health, not awful on the eyes, personable, and genuinely an interesting person. I really have little to hold me here in Michigan. My son is graduating HS in the spring (God Willing!) and I'm romantically unattached. My sister hasn't spoken to me for years and I have no contact with my niece and nephews. No parents to visit, and most of my friends are so busy we only seem to be able to get together a few times a year. I love to travel and to give back to the earth and the community...
I think I may have decided to chuck it all and go exploring! I have always wanted to travel the world and do mission work. I think I will begin by taking some time off, and maybe do the backpack/Europe thing. After that, I'm hoping to be able to fill my time with mission trips and occasional return trips home to check on the kids.
I'm sure, eventually, I will become a grandma and have a reason to stick around. At that time, hopefully the economy will have settled and I'll be able to find meaningful work somewhere in a warmer clime perhaps!
For now, I am doing the research, looking in to selling my house, or at least renting it out...maybe I'll just let the bank take it back and not worry about that extra bit of string to tie me to Michigan! I'm going to sell and give away as many of my possessions as I can and I'll store what's left...I've got an excellent collection of Saint Nik's I'd like to hold on to if I can!
Well, if you have any ties to anyone in Europe that would be welcoming to housing a stranger for a night or two or 10, let me know!
Peace and Happy New Year!
Michele
Monday, December 8, 2008
Weekend at the movies
I was sick with a nasty sinus infection/cold/flu/virus this weekend and spent most of my time watching movies online. Here's what I watched and what I thought of each movie:
City Of Ember - neat little sci fi, except for the creepy giant beetle blood sucker monster thingy. Some untold life-as-we-know-it-ending crisis forces the powers that be to create this city below the surface of the earth. The hope is that if they create this society of people that has never been influenced by the outside world, these people may emerge some 200 years later with the ability to start life on teh planet all over and not repeat the same msitakes that brought about the untold life-as-we-know-it-ending crisis.
The powers that be leave instructions for escape from the city. However, something happens during the reign of the 7th mayor and the box with the instructions is lost.
Some time past the 200 year mark, with the city falling apart around them, the citizens decide it is time to investigate how to fix their city. A couple of teenagers happen upon the instructions for escape. The rest of the story is their crazy adventures to get out of the city.
Interesting story, great cast, hope to read the books. I give it 1.3 thumbs up
Australia - I'm assuming the cinematography was spectacular, with all it's sweeping Baz Luhrmann aerial shots, but I had a really lousy pixalated pirated copy so I just pretended. The story was okay. As a person of mostly European decent, I get a little annoyed at story after story of just how elitist white people are, but the reality was/is that racism is real. I have friends AND family members that have had to endure lifetimes of racial bias because of their blended ethnicities. It's real and it's ugly and it's ignorant.
So, the premise of this story is a british Lady's trip to Australia to help her mostly estranged husband tie up his affairs and bring him home. When she arrives, 50 trunks and hatboxes in toe, she discovers that he has been murdered. After much ado, she desides to save his cattle station and go on a drove to take the cattle to market. The only problem is, there wasn't enough character build up and it's entirely hard to believ that this "Lady" is capable of all of this tenacity.
Built into the story os a romance between her and her drover, an utterly sexy, young Harrison Ford-like Hugh Jackman. Also, they have a young half-caste with them. The story is interspersed with the plight of the stolen generation of halp white-half aboriginal children that are uncerimoniously rounded up and taken to an island to be de-programmed of their uncultured, primitave tendancies.
All in all, the racism is nasty, the cattle droving is treacherous, the romance is subtle and the scenery is breathtaking (again, I imagine this, but I'm pretty sure it is anyway!)I give it 1.5 thumbs up
Four Christmases - I will not dignify this movie with a review, let's just say that if I hadn't been in a Tylenol cold medicine blue coma, I would not have watched this thru to the end...thank goodness it was free online, although I think they should pay me back for the 1.5 hours I lost! Gah!
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - cutesy girly coming of age story. We find the girls 2 or three years in the future, all attending colleges and muddling thru dysfunctional love lives and family lives. As is typical of girl cliques post HS graduation, they are all learning to live their individual lives and develop into their own personalities. Each get the pants for a week at a time over the summer and each gets to experience her own grown u pwoman dilema and pants assisted miracles...
nice chick flick, but is Alexis Bledle ever going to look older than 12? I think she may actually have drank from the magic spring from The Foster's little forest and became everlasting! I give it 1 thumb up.
The Way of War - This was a very confusing film. I'm not really sure I ever got the story. I tried to find some info on the story online and discovered that the movie's obscurity is just as confusing as the plot. Cuba Gooding seemed just as confused as any viewer stuck watching it.
Confusing plot, unresolved story line, I give it 1.5 thumbs down.
Stay tuned...
City Of Ember - neat little sci fi, except for the creepy giant beetle blood sucker monster thingy. Some untold life-as-we-know-it-ending crisis forces the powers that be to create this city below the surface of the earth. The hope is that if they create this society of people that has never been influenced by the outside world, these people may emerge some 200 years later with the ability to start life on teh planet all over and not repeat the same msitakes that brought about the untold life-as-we-know-it-ending crisis.
The powers that be leave instructions for escape from the city. However, something happens during the reign of the 7th mayor and the box with the instructions is lost.
Some time past the 200 year mark, with the city falling apart around them, the citizens decide it is time to investigate how to fix their city. A couple of teenagers happen upon the instructions for escape. The rest of the story is their crazy adventures to get out of the city.
Interesting story, great cast, hope to read the books. I give it 1.3 thumbs up
Australia - I'm assuming the cinematography was spectacular, with all it's sweeping Baz Luhrmann aerial shots, but I had a really lousy pixalated pirated copy so I just pretended. The story was okay. As a person of mostly European decent, I get a little annoyed at story after story of just how elitist white people are, but the reality was/is that racism is real. I have friends AND family members that have had to endure lifetimes of racial bias because of their blended ethnicities. It's real and it's ugly and it's ignorant.
So, the premise of this story is a british Lady's trip to Australia to help her mostly estranged husband tie up his affairs and bring him home. When she arrives, 50 trunks and hatboxes in toe, she discovers that he has been murdered. After much ado, she desides to save his cattle station and go on a drove to take the cattle to market. The only problem is, there wasn't enough character build up and it's entirely hard to believ that this "Lady" is capable of all of this tenacity.
Built into the story os a romance between her and her drover, an utterly sexy, young Harrison Ford-like Hugh Jackman. Also, they have a young half-caste with them. The story is interspersed with the plight of the stolen generation of halp white-half aboriginal children that are uncerimoniously rounded up and taken to an island to be de-programmed of their uncultured, primitave tendancies.
All in all, the racism is nasty, the cattle droving is treacherous, the romance is subtle and the scenery is breathtaking (again, I imagine this, but I'm pretty sure it is anyway!)I give it 1.5 thumbs up
Four Christmases - I will not dignify this movie with a review, let's just say that if I hadn't been in a Tylenol cold medicine blue coma, I would not have watched this thru to the end...thank goodness it was free online, although I think they should pay me back for the 1.5 hours I lost! Gah!
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - cutesy girly coming of age story. We find the girls 2 or three years in the future, all attending colleges and muddling thru dysfunctional love lives and family lives. As is typical of girl cliques post HS graduation, they are all learning to live their individual lives and develop into their own personalities. Each get the pants for a week at a time over the summer and each gets to experience her own grown u pwoman dilema and pants assisted miracles...
nice chick flick, but is Alexis Bledle ever going to look older than 12? I think she may actually have drank from the magic spring from The Foster's little forest and became everlasting! I give it 1 thumb up.
The Way of War - This was a very confusing film. I'm not really sure I ever got the story. I tried to find some info on the story online and discovered that the movie's obscurity is just as confusing as the plot. Cuba Gooding seemed just as confused as any viewer stuck watching it.
Confusing plot, unresolved story line, I give it 1.5 thumbs down.
Stay tuned...
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