Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas Everyone! I have been very slack in blogging over the course of the last few months and decided that today was as good a day as any to catch up.
Over the last few months, I have managed to be laid off, enjoy a few weeks at home and fortunate enough to find employment once again. Being laid off was something that has never happened to me before and came as a shock, and with that came stress, worry, and then some relief as the Real Estate Company I was working for did take care of me for which I am very thankful.
During my weeks at home, I was able to spend time with Nana, clean my house (it reallllllly needed it) and run errands for my husband. After a full week at home my nerves were starting to fray (a floor can only be swept so many times you know) and the need for employment on a personal level was high. So I began to search, and search and search. I applied and applied and applied. Nothing is simple anymore – Finally I was blessed with employment at SFI Group Insurance – and…I am enjoying it!
I spent Thanksgiving at home with my family and then the day after, went shopping with my friends and all the rest of the early risers at 4am Friday morning. Chatting on the sidewalk at Target at 4am is something I never envisioned myself doing – but… it was fun and I hope that I can do it again. Over the course of the day, I began to realize that Christmas is NOT what it used to be and being courteous is something that every takes for granted at some point in time. Bumper Carts in Wal-Mart is not fun. Christmas is for the children and the true meaning is found by the smiles on their faces and love in their hearts, the unconditional love that comes to us and provided by God above.
Merry Christmas
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Friday, August 1, 2008
Media Effects....
As most people in this great country, I watch the news.... primarily for the weather because everything else that is reported usually is depressing bad news and is prolonged over the course of a week or two. The media has recently (over the last few months) has blown up and then deflated the housing market so much and everyone is scared to buy, scared to travel, almost even scared to leave the house. At my office we are still listing and selling our inventory regularly, not as fast as we would like of course but for the most part with the number of real estate offices on and around the island, I would say we are holding our own.
My question is this – Why must the media make a mountain out of a mole hill? What gratification do they get for repeatedly reporting negative and depressing news? Ratings???? Why is it that when the slightest tropical wave comes remotely toward the coast of NC – The weather channel crew is making a b-line to North Topsail Beach – It’s no secret that the North End is suffering erosion and yes there are some houses there that are condemned and in the ocean literally – This is not NEW news – the entire country and those that vacation here, have property here and live here know about the erosion. – I am sure that the homeowner’s especially those who rent the properties out for the summer don’t appreciate the foul taste that the media is putting in the mouths of future vacationers. As a former Property Manager I can assure you that Hurricane Season is what it is but more times than not, the weather media blows more hot air than the tropical storm / hurricane. But yet we let the media get away with it by tuning in every morning at 5:30am like clock work and every night at 6, 7, 10 and 11pm. When we go out to eat, there are even TV’s in the restaurants – we are constantly fed this crap and because we are told about it regularly and no one news station varies from the “story” they are telling - It must be true – right? We must be in really bad shape…. Unemployment is up by 2%, the guy down the street committed a crime, he goes to court, he gets a sentence of however long and he will never really serve the full sentence he was awarded from the jury because he will get out on good behavior. What does that say about our morals as a country when we can’t even stand behind our word? I don’t care if he was good as gold in jail – he did the crime – pay the time – as a child I didn’t get away with something I did bad and you can bet I didn’t get “ungrounded” early either.
It is harder than ever these days to be human – To error is human and everyone is entitled to their fair share of error – But why does everyone’s flaws, mishaps, wrong doings etc have to be broadcast over and over and over again? Report it for a day maybe two and be done with it. For example – NO ONE is immediately affected when Senator McCain had a spot removed from his face and it was sent off for biopsy except Senator McCain and his family or that Obama went to the doctor because he threw out his hip – Let these men have their privacy for crying out loud. Neither of these unfortunate things is relevant to who is better suited to run our country. – My interests are who in my neighborhood has recently been added to the sex offender list – By all means broadcast their name, picture and address over the TV – anyone that sick deserves to be humiliated. – That may sound like a contradiction but come on now, did you really care that Obama threw out his hip or do you care if your children are safe? My interests in the Presidental race is who is going to effectively work for the middle class, who is going to relieve the gas price gouging, who is going to do what they can with all their might to unscrew the screwed up portions of our country bringing us back to having faith in our leader(s) and who perhaps will re-visit putting God back in our schools. Don’t get me wrong I care if they are terminally ill but if one of them is in a wheel chair – that doesn’t change their morals and values.
Think about this the next time you watch the news – is it in your opinion as bad as the media makes it out to be? Are you healthy? Can you afford to put food on your table? Can you make it to and from work without suffering a deficit in your wallet? Sure you have become more aware of your spending habits, but what are you doing to survive as a result of the media deflating the economy – are you complaining that you don’t have anything, or you can’t get anything – or are you doing something about it and in turn living the life you want to?
My question is this – Why must the media make a mountain out of a mole hill? What gratification do they get for repeatedly reporting negative and depressing news? Ratings???? Why is it that when the slightest tropical wave comes remotely toward the coast of NC – The weather channel crew is making a b-line to North Topsail Beach – It’s no secret that the North End is suffering erosion and yes there are some houses there that are condemned and in the ocean literally – This is not NEW news – the entire country and those that vacation here, have property here and live here know about the erosion. – I am sure that the homeowner’s especially those who rent the properties out for the summer don’t appreciate the foul taste that the media is putting in the mouths of future vacationers. As a former Property Manager I can assure you that Hurricane Season is what it is but more times than not, the weather media blows more hot air than the tropical storm / hurricane. But yet we let the media get away with it by tuning in every morning at 5:30am like clock work and every night at 6, 7, 10 and 11pm. When we go out to eat, there are even TV’s in the restaurants – we are constantly fed this crap and because we are told about it regularly and no one news station varies from the “story” they are telling - It must be true – right? We must be in really bad shape…. Unemployment is up by 2%, the guy down the street committed a crime, he goes to court, he gets a sentence of however long and he will never really serve the full sentence he was awarded from the jury because he will get out on good behavior. What does that say about our morals as a country when we can’t even stand behind our word? I don’t care if he was good as gold in jail – he did the crime – pay the time – as a child I didn’t get away with something I did bad and you can bet I didn’t get “ungrounded” early either.
It is harder than ever these days to be human – To error is human and everyone is entitled to their fair share of error – But why does everyone’s flaws, mishaps, wrong doings etc have to be broadcast over and over and over again? Report it for a day maybe two and be done with it. For example – NO ONE is immediately affected when Senator McCain had a spot removed from his face and it was sent off for biopsy except Senator McCain and his family or that Obama went to the doctor because he threw out his hip – Let these men have their privacy for crying out loud. Neither of these unfortunate things is relevant to who is better suited to run our country. – My interests are who in my neighborhood has recently been added to the sex offender list – By all means broadcast their name, picture and address over the TV – anyone that sick deserves to be humiliated. – That may sound like a contradiction but come on now, did you really care that Obama threw out his hip or do you care if your children are safe? My interests in the Presidental race is who is going to effectively work for the middle class, who is going to relieve the gas price gouging, who is going to do what they can with all their might to unscrew the screwed up portions of our country bringing us back to having faith in our leader(s) and who perhaps will re-visit putting God back in our schools. Don’t get me wrong I care if they are terminally ill but if one of them is in a wheel chair – that doesn’t change their morals and values.
Think about this the next time you watch the news – is it in your opinion as bad as the media makes it out to be? Are you healthy? Can you afford to put food on your table? Can you make it to and from work without suffering a deficit in your wallet? Sure you have become more aware of your spending habits, but what are you doing to survive as a result of the media deflating the economy – are you complaining that you don’t have anything, or you can’t get anything – or are you doing something about it and in turn living the life you want to?
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Little Miss Nosey
In a small town/neighborhood secrets are tough to keep and eventually you learn who you can and cannot trust with a secret no matter the level of importance or lack of it. Rumors get started and silence comes across the room just as you enter – you know by the stares they’re talkin’ about you and suddenly everyone you know becomes your friend or your enemy. The relevance of this blog has absolutely nothing to do with that kind of nosiness.
This blog is about people minding their own business and how much happier they would be as people if they wouldn’t worry themselves with something that has absolutely nothing to do with them. For example on the news earlier this week a mother of 3 could possibly serve jail time for spanking her child in public – not beating, but spanking. According to the news the family of 4 was at an event that involved a parade, they were watching the parade the 2 yr old little girl was trying to make her way into the street – any mother in her right mind would know that a 2 yr old and a 4 lane highway are a bad combination so the mother popped the little girl on her fanny. – No harm no foul and in the end the child will realize eventually that street play is not for little girls and/or boys and cars can hurt. – Some one in the crowd called the police and reported abuse! This woman was minding her own business, and trying to enjoy the festivities with her children and it just so happened that her toddler tried to get away because of all the “pretties” and goodies in the road from the parade. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for Super Nanny on ABC and her tactics do work but sometimes nothing else can get a point across except spanking and in that instance, I would have done the very same thing, my child would have gotten her fanny popped.
Last evening I witnessed a mother discipline her son over dinner because he had learned a new word – “hate” and he was telling everyone and everything he hated them/it and he was very excited about it if you know what I mean. His mother had enough of it and warned him twice and the third time they took a trip to the car. – GO MOM! Nothing was said, by anyone at the table or in the restaurant - we all knew that she meant business and by the attitude of the little boy when they returned to the restaurant, he did too - the young guy was made to come back in and apologize to the entire table and the waitress. – You definitely don’t see that kind of parenting anymore.
People sue other people for the stupidest reasons and people report abuse when there is no abuse to report. If the child is bruised as a direct result of a spanking, that is one thing but when did it become the world’s business on how parents raise their children? Come on... look at the child, does he/she appear abused, are they clean and for the most part happy. You can see abuse in the eyes of a child just by looking at them. That is when something should be done before it is too late but spanking is not abuse, hitting with a closed fist on a child is. As a child and tween, and even as a teenager there were plenty of occasions that I should have gotten a spanking and didn’t but there were also those times that I got it and I did in fact deserve it. That discipline has helped to mold me into who I am and I think I turned out alright – I have morals, values, and work ethic and a clean conscience.
Most children in today’s society are spoiled and expect the world to cater to them – So sorry – not me not my child either. There are rules, boundaries and limitations. I love my daughter enough to provide her with those rules, boundaries and limitations and the consequences should they be broken. I would never do anything to hurt, damage or ruin my daughter. Does that make me a bad parent - NO it holds my daughter accountable for her actions and teaches her right from wrong in addtion to teaching her how to treat other people. The only problem I am having right now is trying to figure out how to fit the filter between her brain and her mouth because right now anything that pops in the head is more than likely gonna come out of the mouth. Juveniles in detention centers got there in my opinion by being spoiled and having everything handed to them and when the hand outs stopped they got mad and then got violent – that landed them in jail where they are getting a free ride, free cable TV, free food, free room and board, free hygiene items, free personal trainer so in the end they get what they want anyway.
If everyone would keep to themselves, stay out of everyone else’s business and leave parenting to the parents, they would be surprised on not only how much happier they would be as individuals, they would be stress free from having to keep up with who said or did what AND….. perhaps they wouldn’t be sued or judged or have the cops called on them when they did the same act as they reported to the officials in the first place. As Americans we should not have to walk on egg shells and ask permission to discipline our children. This is the land of the free for things like, freedom of speech and freedom of expression amongst other things. The last time I checked spanking is not against the law – but I am sure it will be before long if we become so scared to live. You may or may not agree with me, everyone is entitled to their own opinions, don't judge me for mine and I won't judge you for yours. - It's the American thing to do.
This blog is about people minding their own business and how much happier they would be as people if they wouldn’t worry themselves with something that has absolutely nothing to do with them. For example on the news earlier this week a mother of 3 could possibly serve jail time for spanking her child in public – not beating, but spanking. According to the news the family of 4 was at an event that involved a parade, they were watching the parade the 2 yr old little girl was trying to make her way into the street – any mother in her right mind would know that a 2 yr old and a 4 lane highway are a bad combination so the mother popped the little girl on her fanny. – No harm no foul and in the end the child will realize eventually that street play is not for little girls and/or boys and cars can hurt. – Some one in the crowd called the police and reported abuse! This woman was minding her own business, and trying to enjoy the festivities with her children and it just so happened that her toddler tried to get away because of all the “pretties” and goodies in the road from the parade. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for Super Nanny on ABC and her tactics do work but sometimes nothing else can get a point across except spanking and in that instance, I would have done the very same thing, my child would have gotten her fanny popped.
Last evening I witnessed a mother discipline her son over dinner because he had learned a new word – “hate” and he was telling everyone and everything he hated them/it and he was very excited about it if you know what I mean. His mother had enough of it and warned him twice and the third time they took a trip to the car. – GO MOM! Nothing was said, by anyone at the table or in the restaurant - we all knew that she meant business and by the attitude of the little boy when they returned to the restaurant, he did too - the young guy was made to come back in and apologize to the entire table and the waitress. – You definitely don’t see that kind of parenting anymore.
People sue other people for the stupidest reasons and people report abuse when there is no abuse to report. If the child is bruised as a direct result of a spanking, that is one thing but when did it become the world’s business on how parents raise their children? Come on... look at the child, does he/she appear abused, are they clean and for the most part happy. You can see abuse in the eyes of a child just by looking at them. That is when something should be done before it is too late but spanking is not abuse, hitting with a closed fist on a child is. As a child and tween, and even as a teenager there were plenty of occasions that I should have gotten a spanking and didn’t but there were also those times that I got it and I did in fact deserve it. That discipline has helped to mold me into who I am and I think I turned out alright – I have morals, values, and work ethic and a clean conscience.
Most children in today’s society are spoiled and expect the world to cater to them – So sorry – not me not my child either. There are rules, boundaries and limitations. I love my daughter enough to provide her with those rules, boundaries and limitations and the consequences should they be broken. I would never do anything to hurt, damage or ruin my daughter. Does that make me a bad parent - NO it holds my daughter accountable for her actions and teaches her right from wrong in addtion to teaching her how to treat other people. The only problem I am having right now is trying to figure out how to fit the filter between her brain and her mouth because right now anything that pops in the head is more than likely gonna come out of the mouth. Juveniles in detention centers got there in my opinion by being spoiled and having everything handed to them and when the hand outs stopped they got mad and then got violent – that landed them in jail where they are getting a free ride, free cable TV, free food, free room and board, free hygiene items, free personal trainer so in the end they get what they want anyway.
If everyone would keep to themselves, stay out of everyone else’s business and leave parenting to the parents, they would be surprised on not only how much happier they would be as individuals, they would be stress free from having to keep up with who said or did what AND….. perhaps they wouldn’t be sued or judged or have the cops called on them when they did the same act as they reported to the officials in the first place. As Americans we should not have to walk on egg shells and ask permission to discipline our children. This is the land of the free for things like, freedom of speech and freedom of expression amongst other things. The last time I checked spanking is not against the law – but I am sure it will be before long if we become so scared to live. You may or may not agree with me, everyone is entitled to their own opinions, don't judge me for mine and I won't judge you for yours. - It's the American thing to do.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Share some love
During a lifetime a person learns who they can and cannot trust, what to believe and what not to believe, when to listen and as the song goes - "You find out who your friends are"
Recently I have come to realize and fully understand the phrase - "Looking out for Number One". I will not disclose details on how I came to this understanding but now it is clearer than crystal and comprehended more than I could ever fathom. There is no such thing as helping out a fellow man anymore. In today's time everyone is so afraid that someone is going to get the upper hand or accomplish more or make more money than they themselves and jealousy sets in, unhappiness occurs - you get the picture.
My opinion is that a person can not get anywhere in life without the confidence that they can achieve whatever their heart desires - and getting "things" and doing "things" is not a bad life. But my life to me is my immediate family and close friends. Life isn't about concentrating on how much money you have or you're going to have, or a title you may or may not ever get at your job, it is your family. So many families today are not as close as they should be - why? Pride, jealousy of another, lack of understanding - failure to communicate effectively. For example..I admit I am not as close as I would like to be with one of my sisters.. why... - lack of understanding, a lot of misunderstanding and failure to communicate effectively. I hope that I have not been an awful sister but I know I haven't been an easy one to live with or get along with - but I do love her - we have our differences of opinion - but I still love her and would bend over backwards for her when she needed me.
Everyone tries and everyone fails, Everyone falls down (usually getting kicked while they're down ) and then they're gossiped about when they get back up again. There is no one right answer to anything, everyone has a different right answer but no one wants to listen to what someone else has to say. I am rambling and I realize I am rambling - I truly hope you are getting the jest of the story. I don't have to prove myself to anyone but myself in some cases I am my own worst enemy. My home is stable, my heart is full and my nerves are shot that's usually a mom's point of view but in all seriousness- Greed may make your rich in dollars but it will never make you rich (in life), but... Sharing what you have (knowledge, joy, manners and kindness) with others is contagious and you'll be surprised how happy your life can really be.
Recently I have come to realize and fully understand the phrase - "Looking out for Number One". I will not disclose details on how I came to this understanding but now it is clearer than crystal and comprehended more than I could ever fathom. There is no such thing as helping out a fellow man anymore. In today's time everyone is so afraid that someone is going to get the upper hand or accomplish more or make more money than they themselves and jealousy sets in, unhappiness occurs - you get the picture.
My opinion is that a person can not get anywhere in life without the confidence that they can achieve whatever their heart desires - and getting "things" and doing "things" is not a bad life. But my life to me is my immediate family and close friends. Life isn't about concentrating on how much money you have or you're going to have, or a title you may or may not ever get at your job, it is your family. So many families today are not as close as they should be - why? Pride, jealousy of another, lack of understanding - failure to communicate effectively. For example..I admit I am not as close as I would like to be with one of my sisters.. why... - lack of understanding, a lot of misunderstanding and failure to communicate effectively. I hope that I have not been an awful sister but I know I haven't been an easy one to live with or get along with - but I do love her - we have our differences of opinion - but I still love her and would bend over backwards for her when she needed me.
Everyone tries and everyone fails, Everyone falls down (usually getting kicked while they're down ) and then they're gossiped about when they get back up again. There is no one right answer to anything, everyone has a different right answer but no one wants to listen to what someone else has to say. I am rambling and I realize I am rambling - I truly hope you are getting the jest of the story. I don't have to prove myself to anyone but myself in some cases I am my own worst enemy. My home is stable, my heart is full and my nerves are shot that's usually a mom's point of view but in all seriousness- Greed may make your rich in dollars but it will never make you rich (in life), but... Sharing what you have (knowledge, joy, manners and kindness) with others is contagious and you'll be surprised how happy your life can really be.
Monday, May 12, 2008
What is a mother?
I have met many "mothers" in my lifetime and have been inspired to be more like some and at the same time swear I'd never be like others. Fortunately I have been blessed with more than one mother, more than two grandmothers and had the opportunity when I was small to meet and interact with a great grandmother (I am so glad that my daughter has had that same opportunity).
My mother is a woman child of God, a replica of her own mother (sorry mom) in some ways but mostly has become her own person (just a little bit). She's always supportive on my good decisions and scolds me still when I make bad ones. I still get my feelings hurt at times when she tells me what I need to hear but I know she means well and I wouldn't want her to lie to me. I've hurt her feelings, stomped on her heart and cussed and argued with her all because I knew better than she - in the long run I've ate my words and swallowed my pride to commend her on her experience and have since come to realize that she did know better. I've learned more in the last 11 years and have re-visited the "One day... you'll see" line more than I care to count but I could never thank her enough for the education she has provided with me and although I said, " I'd never do that to my child!" - I admit, I've done it - cause it works.
My Nana is a woman of compassion, and I would have loved to have met her mother and when she reads this she's gonna cry. She too has always been supportive of me and she is who I'd go to when the head momma in charge made me cry. She'd love me and make me feel better and fix me a peanut butter and strawberry jelly sandwich (she had to do it cause she was afraid I'd lick the spoon and put it back in the jelly jar - she's a strict no double dipper). And as the world has turned - she is also who my daughter goes to when I make her mad or she gets hurt - "I want my Nana" she says. I don't have a recent picture of her but I will be putting one on this blog very soon - so lookout Nana here I come with the camera. :)
With the many influences in my life, I have come to determine and somewhat plan on my daughter loving me, sometimes say that she hates me (even though she doesn't), hurt me, crush my heart and mend it all in one sentence. With the lessons I've previously learned and the lessons I will learn in the future I hope I am half the mother that the mothers and grandmothers in my life have been to me.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Equality - what...ever!
Two teenage girls, both are fortunate to have a home, one has parents who care and can afford for her to have some of her wants and all of her needs and the other is apparently deprived of something (no one is sure what) - the two are from opposite ends of the spectrum. One day the "bully" (the deprived child)we'll call her comes in and approaches the other and tells her to move from the seat she was sitting. The girl says, no I was here first so the bully takes the seat behind her. They have to be separated further anyway because there is a test and the bully mouths off and says great I can't stand to sit by "white" girls. The other girl says that she wasn't exactly excited about sitting next to her either letting her know that she wasn't scared of her and knowing that really she's all mouth anyway. The bully approaches the girl, calls her all the bad names she could think of and threatens to bring a gun and kill her. The girl that stood up for herself is the one that was sent to ISS. - WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE!!!!! The days of this garbage is - well... should be OVER.
The girl doesn't say anything to her parents but does slip up and say something to her sister and her friends about what the bully had said, when her parents caught wind, they took it up with the school prior to someone getting seriously hurt. Not only does this bother me as a mother but it also bothers me as a citizen. We live in what is supposed to be a FREE country with the freedom to walk the streets of America without fear. Today our children can't even go to school safely. Everyone was put on this earth and created EQUAL, different in color, size and shape but EQUAL. They have been given EQUAL rights and... EQUAL opportunity - what they choose to do with their lives (either live it to the fullest or flush it down the drain) is NOT my fault.
Everyone should have consequences for their actions and NO ONE should be given favoritism just because of their color, religion, size or celebrity. We look at child and teenage bullies these days as those that are less fortunate because they tend to try to bully smarter or children that have more drive and initiative to achieve or just appear like they can't handle their own - why? Because they themselves lack those traits - NOT MY FAULT! It's not my fault that someone Else's children do not have respect for their parents or themselves (they weren't taught how to), nor is it my fault that that a child's family can't afford to buy their children new clothes but instead they can afford to buy them nice 2ND hand clothes. Pardon me for teaching my child respect, pardon me for providing my child with boundaries, rules and guidelines. Break the rules - deal with the consequences. I was taught respect, and brought up with boundaries, guidelines, rules and more spankings than I care to count and I turned out just fine. My daughter has rules, boundaries and guidelines. Spanking isn't necessary unless it is needed. And what that bully needs is nothing more than a good ol' fashion spankin'.
Which brings me to another point. Most adults today were spanked as children and probably more than half deserved every lick they got whether it was from a belt, as switch they had to pick themselves (heaven forbid if it wasn't long enough) or the hand of their parents and most of them turned out just fine. If it ain't broke - don't try to fix it.......The problem is that those that were literally abused as children is who is trying to outlaw it and make it near impossible to discipline a child and teach them right from wrong. They are the ones that are making DSS so accessible to children that anytime they are spanked for a wrong doing like, I don't know - Stealing, the child can call DSS and then what - no one is taught anything but everyone has hateful and resentful feelings. These people are just the ones that have nothing else better to do but complain and has also managed to convince the Government to take God out of the schools, now they are trying to take "One nation under God" out of the Pledge of Allegiance and "In God we Trust" off the American Dollar. The nation was founded by God and it is just WRONG and "AGAINST MY RELIGION" to take him out of it. Ohhh.. I'm fired up now :)
Bottom line is this.... Don't judge me, and I don't judge you. Live like you should, teach your children right from wrong. ( Right = good things, good thoughts, good actions, courtesy, and an equal playing field for everyone) - (Wrong = lying, cheating, stealing, beating, fighting and prejudice). It won't matter 15 years from now if your child didn't make the softball, football or soccer team nor will it matter how much money you had to spend on them or the size and location of the house you call home. What will matter is how you treated your peers during the process of your life and what and how you will be remembered at your high school reunion or even the legacy of your last name.
The girl doesn't say anything to her parents but does slip up and say something to her sister and her friends about what the bully had said, when her parents caught wind, they took it up with the school prior to someone getting seriously hurt. Not only does this bother me as a mother but it also bothers me as a citizen. We live in what is supposed to be a FREE country with the freedom to walk the streets of America without fear. Today our children can't even go to school safely. Everyone was put on this earth and created EQUAL, different in color, size and shape but EQUAL. They have been given EQUAL rights and... EQUAL opportunity - what they choose to do with their lives (either live it to the fullest or flush it down the drain) is NOT my fault.
Everyone should have consequences for their actions and NO ONE should be given favoritism just because of their color, religion, size or celebrity. We look at child and teenage bullies these days as those that are less fortunate because they tend to try to bully smarter or children that have more drive and initiative to achieve or just appear like they can't handle their own - why? Because they themselves lack those traits - NOT MY FAULT! It's not my fault that someone Else's children do not have respect for their parents or themselves (they weren't taught how to), nor is it my fault that that a child's family can't afford to buy their children new clothes but instead they can afford to buy them nice 2ND hand clothes. Pardon me for teaching my child respect, pardon me for providing my child with boundaries, rules and guidelines. Break the rules - deal with the consequences. I was taught respect, and brought up with boundaries, guidelines, rules and more spankings than I care to count and I turned out just fine. My daughter has rules, boundaries and guidelines. Spanking isn't necessary unless it is needed. And what that bully needs is nothing more than a good ol' fashion spankin'.
Which brings me to another point. Most adults today were spanked as children and probably more than half deserved every lick they got whether it was from a belt, as switch they had to pick themselves (heaven forbid if it wasn't long enough) or the hand of their parents and most of them turned out just fine. If it ain't broke - don't try to fix it.......The problem is that those that were literally abused as children is who is trying to outlaw it and make it near impossible to discipline a child and teach them right from wrong. They are the ones that are making DSS so accessible to children that anytime they are spanked for a wrong doing like, I don't know - Stealing, the child can call DSS and then what - no one is taught anything but everyone has hateful and resentful feelings. These people are just the ones that have nothing else better to do but complain and has also managed to convince the Government to take God out of the schools, now they are trying to take "One nation under God" out of the Pledge of Allegiance and "In God we Trust" off the American Dollar. The nation was founded by God and it is just WRONG and "AGAINST MY RELIGION" to take him out of it. Ohhh.. I'm fired up now :)
Bottom line is this.... Don't judge me, and I don't judge you. Live like you should, teach your children right from wrong. ( Right = good things, good thoughts, good actions, courtesy, and an equal playing field for everyone) - (Wrong = lying, cheating, stealing, beating, fighting and prejudice). It won't matter 15 years from now if your child didn't make the softball, football or soccer team nor will it matter how much money you had to spend on them or the size and location of the house you call home. What will matter is how you treated your peers during the process of your life and what and how you will be remembered at your high school reunion or even the legacy of your last name.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Help to keep the beaches clean!
As my husband, our dog Josh and I were walking along the beach Saturday afternoon while the sun was setting beautifully, I quickly became discouraged that such an awesome wonder and beautiful setting could be ruined by such negligence. During our approximate 2 mile walk, I found myself instead of looking for shells and sharks teeth, I was combing the beach for litter.
I found several empty plastic bottles that were left by recent visitors (the labels weren't even faded), an abandoned beach chair thrown up in the dune, plastic wrappers, cigarette boxes and butts and the list goes on. As a local, this disturbs me that other locals and even the visitors that pay an abundance of money to vacation here would leave behind such things while enjoying themselves at the beach. Just because they pay the money doesn't mean that the litter rules do not apply to them. The hovering seagulls looking for food could easily pick up digest and die from plastic. By the end of the walk (that was supposed to be relaxing) I ended up more stressed and annoyed than I was when we started the walk. I cannot believe that people are so careless and thoughtless especially when the towns have placed multiple trash cans at every public access.
This is my hometown, visitors are welcome and encouraged but PLEASE.... discard your trash in the trash cans as you leave the beach after a day of fun in the sun. God gave us this beautiful landscape to enjoy. Enjoy it and be responsible for helping to keep it beautiful.
Friday, April 18, 2008
2008 so far
I turned 30 in January of this year and have had a struggle with it since then. I'm not sure why because women turn 30 every day but it has been hard for me emotionally, physically and otherwise. Since I have reached this age, I have reflected everyday on who I am, what I was and who I will become.Since I was a little girl I have imagined having a family, providing for that family and living the American Dream. Making my own rules, and in some cases breaking my own rules, not having to answer for anything to anyone and then.... when I was 18 I gave birth to a rather large 9lb 7 oz baby girl who I completely and totally adore, 2 yrs later I married her dad and we were official, we were a family. My husband worked construction and then moved into HVAC, I had multiple part time jobs while my Mom and Nana (bless her) helped by taking care of our daughter while our schedules passed by a kiss at the door. Then the opportunity came to where I could work like a civilized person better known as a "day job" allowing my family to be together in the evenings, my daughter moved to day care during the day and life was good. I remained at that job for a little over 5 years when the fun and enjoyment of my collegues and co-workers had dimeninshed and I began to be resentful of my efforts to be a good employee as it had taken its toll on my family and my marriage and was showing in my work. ( I loved my job - really I did but it was time to go). I moved on to what I thought was going to be greener grass that ended up not being and now I am in love with my job again - Thank God! and then I turned 30. Whoah.... wher'd that come from?! Aside from turning 30, my daughter, a short time before turned into a young lady and is becoming a typical pre-teen as we speak -yikes! My mother said she prayed that I would have one just like me - well, Thank you God for granting that prayer! She is a spitting image of me all the way around. She looks like me, talks like me, gets assy (if that's a word) like me. - What better way to be right?! (Ha ha).
For the most part my life is good although there are times I wish it was better but nonetheless I can't complain. I have a husband who loves me, a happy and healthly daughter who is a good student and sometimes overkills the best of intentions, a family that I can turn to when I need to vent or just be - As I think about all the things I wanted to be and want to be in the future, I recall a recent song release from Trace Atkins, titled " You're gonna miss this" and I step back and realize that I really couldn't ask for more, I have everything I need right now and wouldn't change anything. It is what it is and what will be will be.
Thanks for reading,
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