A different perspective

Lately, I was thinking about how important it is everyday to think of things in a new perspective. It is a nice way to open up creativity in your mind. Clear off some of the cobwebs of a room in your mind that has never been rearranged. Move that furniture around. Make new dents in the rug. Seriously, how often do we use our brains to the fullest? Never.

I can't remember who I was talking to but we were saying how important it is to look at things from all angles. Like say you overhear someone say something that initially you don't agree with. It's just not one of your beliefs.

For example, the other day when I was volunteering at school I heard a teacher shout out to the kids as they were walking in a straight little line back to their classroom, "no tattle tailing unless there is blood involved." This, she was saying to kindergartners. I cringed, thinking, "oh great...nice morals you're teaching, lady." Seriously, number one, I don't believe a kid telling a teacher that another kid is hitting in him in the face or kicking him is bad. Why? Because they are so young and yes, the kid should NOT be doing that and most of the time needs an authority figure to make him stop or be punished. Five and six year olds sometimes don't yet have the skills to get another kid to stop bullying them.

Number two, "blood involved" -- cripes, how often is that happening in kindergarten...are we talking fist fights in the boys room? Is that encouraging them to draw blood? Desensitizing them to the fact that if a kid is hitting another kid hard enough to draw blood and that is the only time a teacher would get involved. So I sneered, walked away and drove home thinking our school system is totally careless in what they are actually teaching kids.

Then I decided to stop and think about it...kids bicker about a lot of stuff; "he touched me," "she is looking at me mean," "he knocked over my blocks"....I guess it can be an on-going batttle. I guess the teacher gets the tattle tails a lot. I guess she really wanted to make a point that tattling over something small is not acceptable and to save that tattling for the big jobs. I guess she is sick and tired of little kids saying, "he/she did this..." soooooo I forgave her...just a little bit. I didn't like her choice of words but I think the point was clear, only tell the teacher when someone is really hurting you. In some ways, it still bugs me that we must always be reactive and not proactive but I can see where sometimes there just isn't a better solution...I think it is lack of perspective and creativity.

Not enough motivation to even blow my nose

Another tough week of not having enough time to workout. I am so bummed, I am loving the Wii Fit. My little Mii is going to be so disappointed in me though when I don't reach my target goal. I think I have two days left to lose two pounds....not gonna happen. Time to start reading some Lipovox reviews. I used to be able to stay so motivated. I don't know what happened. Well, maybe its because I have been getting sick so often. As of this weekend, I came down with yet another cold. I have constant snot running out of my nose, even to the point I am losing my manners and wiping it on my sleeve. Ah, I know...you can you just picture it.

Band names cool or lame?

On the way home tonight from dinner, they were talking about the band, Rage Against the Machine...I started thinking...hmm, ya know, how did that band think up it's name? And what is the machine? A washing machine (yeah, I feel that rage too), a dishwashing machine (so there with ya), a coffee machine (no way, I lurve my java maker)...but then I thought, they are probably referring to computers. The computer is the machine. Who knows? Either way, it really got me thinking about interesting band names, and then I started thinking of which ones were my favorite. Here's my list of the band names that I think are the coolest:

Red Hot Chili Peppers (By far my favorite band name...cute, hot, all in one package)
Alice in Chains (symbolic and strange, plus I am a big fan)
Soundgarden (just makes sense)
U2 (simple, cool)
Pink Floyd (who doesn't love this name)
The Flaming Lips (oh yeah baby!)
Smashing Pumpkins (I just picture a group of crazy rockers smashing pumpkins all over a stage...sounds fun)
Bloodhound Gang (I think I like the name because the band is so cool)
Weezer (totally fitting, simple, right to the point)
Depeche Mode (to tell you the truth I have no idea what this name means, I just like it)
Black Eyed Peas (Again, cute, and a bit odd)
Metallica (line U2, simple, cool)


And then I started thinking of band names that I thought were kind of lame:
Live (when I first remember seeing this, I wasn't sure if it live like, "live like today is your last" or "it's a live band" --turns out it was the latter; either way, even though I love the band, I just don't like the name)
The Beatles (just plain lame)
No Doubt (sounds like it is missing something..."no doubt, what?")
Coldplay (not sure why this doesn't ring with me)
Duran Duran (huh, and why repeat it)
Savage Garden (too sentimental and poetic, like their music)
Pearl Jam (makes me think of toe jam)

What would be on your list of most favorite or most lame band names?

Give me a margarita and a snorkel

Mounds of work surround me. Work, work, work...that's all I do! And then there's the never ending housework. I am tired of laundry, I am tired of cleaning kitchen table, I am tired of picking up a bajillion toys, I am tired of making beds, and emptying dishwashers, sweeping the floor and cleaning cat poop. I want a VACATION!!! I want a Margarita and pile of salty tortilla chips. I want sun and clear blue water and somebody to hand me my warm towel. Seriously, don't we all deserve a little R&R? I never thought I'd be so in need of vacation but really, it is beginning to feel like a need. Like air to breathe. I guess I should quit whining on this blog and start looking up vacation rentals. I'm not doing myself any good just complaining here. Blogger is not going to magically send me on a tropical island paradise.

Fishy heaven

So for a few weeks the cat had been stalking the fish. At first I would freak out and run over to scoot him away. Then I realized after a couple of days that Star and Spike seemed to hit it off.

They were almost buddies. Star would sit there and just watch him. Only once or twice did I see him swipe a paw in but as soon as it touched the water he'd draw back and flick his paw around...then drop off the dresser for a good full body cleaning. So, I thought, "okay this is fine, he isn't going to eat the fish."

Fast forward to this past weekend. I awake...pass by my son's room where Spike's residence has been since Star was big enough to start jumping up on things. I notice something wet on the floor, in fact, a huge wet spot, then I see he pebbles...and a few feet away lays a glass bowel, not shattered, not even cracked and there, to be outlined in chalk was Spike...no longer wiggling, not longer a beautiful purple but a hard pale blue body. His fins...gone. I kneeled down and sorrowfully said a little prayer, then wrapped him in a tissue. A sad day...

Luckily, little man didn't seem all that bent up about it. He said, "where did he go?"

"Fishy heaven" I replied.

"Where is that?" he questioned.

"How about a candy bar?"

The distraction worked, conversation closed. My kid has a one track mind. I'm sure it will come up again but for now, I am happy not to have to explain it all.

Camera woos

I am getting so sick and tired of my camera. The dang thing was supposed to be perfect for what we wanted. I remember so vividly when I went over to Best Buy to buy it...we asked the salesman for something small, compact, easy to open and close but the most important thing was, how fast can it snap a picture. I have missed tons of precious moments of my kids because the camera is 2 seconds too slow. I know that the flash and focus have to work but for peet's sake! I need to do my own homework this time. I am going to look at all the latest, like the Nikon D90, right now I have a Canon. I also wants something that takes nice and clear photos. I am so jealous when I look at these blogs that have perfect close up shots of their kids, their dogs, their camera critters and my are so blah! Maybe Santa will let me treat myself this year...and I'll sell my stupid camera on ebay...or perhaps donate it.

Disney vacation advice?

I am so crazed these days...work, work and more work. I want to plan a vacation now. The hubs thinks we are not ready for a Disney vacation. I was thinking next October when the little man was 6 and girlie is 3. I know 3 is still young but I want my son not have to wait that long...plus, I know we will do the Disney cruise some day. I have to find out prices, I bet if we plan really early we can get a deal. With the economy sucking right now, it might be a good time. Anybody been to Disney lately, where is a good place to stay. How old were your kids when you took them?

Just being a kid...

I love listening to my daughter. At two years old, almost everything that comes out of her mouth is adorable. Even when she says, "no," or "I want, I want"....he, he, I still love it.

I have to remind myself to videotape her more often. I have so much video of my son but not enough of her. I guess it is already that second child syndrome...well, not really, I think I actually have more photos of her and that is only because we didn't have a good digital camera when my son was born. Plus, I lost a ton of pictures when my computer died and I wasn't smart enough to back them up. Now I have a backup and use Flickr. Thank goodness.

Anywho, I need to get more footage of this girl; she is just doing the cutest things. She loves to go around and pick up things and put them on, whether she finds a slipper or a hat laying around or even socks, which she puts on her hands and walks around like a white gloved princess. Strangely, I didn't even catch on to why she was putting them on her hands til I saw her pointing to the front of a book with Cinderella and she said, "princess gloves." I thought she was saying, "princess gold" --totally didn't get it. She is aware of so much that I take for granted. Oh, how I want to be a child again and live in a world of fantasy!

A little sweat makes things better

Well life is getting busy again. Work, kids stuff, more work, parties, holiday planning, house stuff.... Probably by mid week I will be totally disheveled. At least right now I still have my wits about me. The coffee is doing wonders.

Last night I took a chill night and watched a movie with the hubs and sister. A couple of glasses of wine, popcorn and pizza and I literally passed out on the couch. It is nice to really wipe off the week's events with some movie time. Even if the movie is totally weird, which it was. Then we watched the Food Network Iron chef and all I can say is thank goodness we ate something, I was so drooling. I just love too how they make it so theatrical, the lights, the music. The weird thing is the chefs are rushing around and literally sweating all over the food. Like how gross! Then they up and serve their fancy sweaty platters to the judges and they suck it down using words like divine, perfect...I guess a little sweat can add a great flavor.

I am loving our new Wii fit...I guess the hub does make some good decisions sometimes : ) I give credit where credit due. I haven't lost anything yet because I have only done it sporadically but he has lost 2.5 pounds already.

Phone number lookups

Missed a call on your phone and have no idea who it could have been? Check out Nationwide Phone Lookup. You just type the number in and there you go! It happens to me all the time. Sometimes I don't bother if I don't know the number but there are several times that it helped when I was waiting for the number of a contractor or service company. Many don't have their business names plugged in so you know who it is. Go check it out. It is so easy!

Dona Nobis Pacem

Now that the Obama excitement is winding down and the ads have finally stopped airing, what are we all to talk about? Oh, I know! I know! How about peace?

Today is BlogBlast for Peace started by Mimi Writes. It is a special day to talk all about peace. Like the saying above "Dona Nobis Pecem" which is latin for give us peace.

Peace is really one of those subjects near and dear to my heart. I think I am pretty resolute when it comes to things; all kinds of things. I believe that that war is ridiculous. That it solves nothing and it is totally unnecessary. I think it goes back to the times of warriors when people didn't communicate (because they didn't know how to) so they beat each other over the head with clubs to solve things. Sometimes I'd like to do that myself. You know, your step-mother acts like a total idiot, so you go beat her over the head. Problem solved, well maybe not completely. But all kidding aside, life is not about solving things that way. In today's society, there are guns, missles, nuclear bombs. Unfortunately, when one country is not happy with another, it is all to easy to disinigrate them. All before really talking it out. And heck, we know how to talk. Still, things are not often solved that way. Plotting, killing, terrorizing, unfortunately, is still happening every day.

I believe peace begins in the home and needs to follow everywhere, in schools and the workplace. How many times do people stir up nonsense and then the next thing you know all hell breaks loose. Truth be told, it is natural human tendency to react the ways we do. It is a constant battle we must fight to deter that kind of emotion. Still...it is human.

There was a great quote by Colin Powell; he said, "get mad, then get over it." Of all the opinions on anger and disagreement, I like this best. It doesn't take away from the fact that we are...indeed, human but acting out and doing somehting dangerous is not accceptable. Yes, get mad and then get over it. If you don't get mad you may store it for a day you explode and do something terrible. Snap! Don't hold it in. Say your peace and move on. Peace is about accepting differences and learning to tolerate. It is about realizing that anger is just misunderstanding another person or country. Peace is about not harming, insulting or hurting others. Peace is about getting people to work things out and find common ground. Peace is about keeping others safe.

Today, I hope you all join into the BlogBlast for Peace.

One last nice day!

It is a beautiful day here...going to be up to 70 degrees and sunny! Yay!
Although all this hot and cold is making people sick everywhere. Okay, I know that is not fact but what else can we attribute it all to? I think I am going to actually get out and garden. I know, you're like, "what, garden?" Well, I had totally been slacking the end of the year and my stuff is all just hanging around dead. I really need to split my hostas too, they are huge!

On days like this I really want to get out there in the fresh air because pretty soon, it's all about being stuck inside. It's not so bad if you have like a huge movie room with home theater seating and a special indoor playground but for all us poor folks, staying inside sucks. can you tell I watched the "Fabulous Lives of Celebrities and their Homes" yesterday. Yeah, almost sickening what cool stuff these people have in their multi-billion dollar shacks.

Anywho, out I go to breathe in the fresh fall air and start clipping and pruning!