happy friday

Happy Friday.

After errands (alone!) this morning, we ate a quickie lunch of pimento cheese sandwiches and South Carolina peaches, packed up, and headed to the pool. The pool is a weekday thing. Pond is a weekend thing.

While at the pool, a sweet friend stopped by and chatted with me and suggested a wine. It’s worthwhile to have friends in good places.

So, of course I must pick up said wine and guess what? Our local co-op has it on special and I was going by there anyway so the kids could have something green with dinner. Kale. One of our favorites! Kale, Evodia (the wine), and Ecover dishwashing soap (because the Frontier order shipped 3 days too late).

Just because it is 3:30pm does not mean I cannot enjoy what I bought. So, after I rinsed and chopped the kale and washed a few dishes remaining from lunch, I poured a glass. And yes, this will be a good summer red. It’s quite light and even some peppery. Just right to enjoy on a deck while kids unwind from the chlorine. Aren’t I glad it’s Friday?

Grammatical errors of which I am aware have been corrected. I blame autocorrect. And the wine.

my summer PSA for young (under 38) people

Here is my summer Public Service Announcement to the young people that read this blog. And why not “share” this on your blog/facebook/google+/twitter/etc as well. I think this is very worthy and I think I am right on with this one. And that’s saying a lot. Really.

Summer is quickly arriving and the college folks are home or off to internships and careers. The grade school folks will soon be at summer camps and pools and neighborhood streets.

Those “in a relationship” will likely see less or more of the person with whom they are “in a relationship” than has been possible during the school year. This can be a good thing or a bad thing. Also, with new summer opportunities, and something about the drugging effect of sun, wind, water, and freedom, comes summer loves…

 
Well – and here’s the PSA part – please keep in mind that dating is an interview for marriage. There is no other purpose for dating. No interviewing going on? That’s called friendship. Dating is an interview for marriage. Keep that perspective young people. Employers don’t offer multiple interviews. Why should those interviewing for the role of spouse?

 

If a person thinks s/he can change the apple of her/his eye, then I suggest the interview is an instant fail. Run, Forrest, run! I cannot change anyone, and I know my readers cannot, either. Only an individual can choose to allow change. So, I say again… if the person so admired has a flaw significant enough that is “needs to be” or “must be” changed. RUN. AWAY. FAST. Be kind, but run away.

 

Just enjoy life. Enjoy friendships. Choose wisely. And when it’s right, it’s right. I don’t think there is room for wonder. Logic and sensibility, yes. Wonder, no.

tomorrow we start anew

Tomorrow is our primary election day. And the Amendment One is still the big topic. Not our economy. Not our miserable view of what we like to pretend is “education.” Not even the candidates themselves. The damned Amendment One.

 

If a person is FOR Amendment One, he is a homophobe clinging to his Bible while aiming a gun at homosexuals and chanting in favor of domestic violence.

 

If a person is AGAINST Amendment One, he is a friend of the homosexuals out to destroy humanity while swordfighting with two pierced penises or – no. I will not write the other visual. Yet chanting we are all one people. When, last I checked, we’re not. in any sense of the phrase.

 

Who is studying the actual PURPOSE of a CONSTITUTION? Only a few in my circles. Only a few.

 

Who is studying the ACTUAL CANDIDATES? Only a few in my circles. Only a few.

 

Who understands this is a PRIMARY, not a general election? Even fewer in my circles. Even fewer. And supposedly education attracts education. What.A.Joke.

 

So tomorrow if Amendment One passes, the homosexuals will be tossing out all kinds of anti-Christian, anti-Muslim, anti-Jewish, anti-pick a major religion slurs and crying foul and will only further be victimized leading to greater funding from my pocket. I wouldn’t be surprised if there is even a rise in domestic violence shortly following a passage of Amendment One.

 

If Amendment One is defeated tomorrow, its supporters will be spiking the ball in the end zone and declaring some kind of victory party which will only lead to a greater demand for funding the new bureaucracy it creates. And that funding will come from my pocket. And there may also likely be a rise in domestic violence as a result of Amendment One’s defeat.

 

And still no one will discuss the purpose of a Constitution nor the role of government as outlined by our Forefathers. (Who, by the way, would likely be appalled and disgusted at all the illogical arguments from BOTH sides of the issue.)And lots of REALLY bad voting will have taken place likely resulting in Amendment One, or it’s nullification re-appearing in the near future because folks simply didn’t bother to choose candidates that supported their view.

 

Thanks, NC. Thanks.

something to say

I have a lot to say today. Several economic/political articles with my commentary, recipes for Easter and camping, and an observation about life in general are all floating in my head eagerly waiting their turn in not-so-much of a line to escape my clouded brain. But I don’t have the energy to give them the attention they need today. I am still struggling to get to the treadmill and my time is running out!

 

An energetic morning of tennis with the younger four followed by shopping, an absolutely fantastic warm and balanced lunch thrown together, and laundry management (it’s been a beautiful day to hang the clothes outdoors!), and helping Kelly Mae finish sewing her first garment. That’s been my day. And lethargy this afternoon that I am having a difficult time escaping.

 

So, there’s what little I am allowing to seep out just now. Check back with me tomorrow. It’ll be Maundy Thursday and so I am going to begin my travel towards the holiest of holy days to me. That translates to: I’ll probably be gentler than usual.

 

 

a southern white pants paradigm

I am not sure I want a pair of white pants. I think I recall Clinton and Stacy saying that they don’t work well for broad-beamed girls.

But I do really want them. And just like this blogger I know I would look fantastic in them paired with a 3/4 sleeve nautical striped tee and Sperrys. Even with a white wine spritzer and I don’t care for white wine.

But, being Southern, or more importantly, being raised by Southern grandmothers at every corner of my life, I know white pants are like white shoes. They don’t make an appearance until after Easter.

I can’t say why. Unless it’s like a cross emblem with no dead Jesus…it’s a symbol of the purity of Christ’s blood for me. It’s a stretch, but that’s all I have…

life is a day full of kisses

It’s fun to look back in my camera roll thingie on this phone.

It’s also fun to just grab a child and squeeze him to pieces and kiss him all over. Or to be randomly kissed square on the lips just because I am mommy.

 

“In its never ending attempt to fabricate…”

A friend posted this article to facebook today. The best line is no doubt the first line.

“In its never ending attempt to fabricate mental disorders…”

But the rest of the article is great.

And for what it’s worth…

I ate very little the two days preceding this one and I don’t have an eating disorder.

I drank too much wine last night and am not an alcoholic.

I will undoubtedly sleep too little this week and I am not an insomniac.

Moderation in everything means there are heaps of goodness and dregs of nothingness.

This is life.

mawwaige

Today Uncle Roy will marry Deb.

There will then be an Aunt Deb.

It’s time to meet Aunt Deb.

That is a hint.

Congratulations!!!!

While on the topic of education: Why and How Those Who Learn at Home Intimidate Those Who Do Not

No. I don’t intimidate people who don’t choose to live the way I am choosing to live.

 

But, it is true. Some folks are intimidated by those of us who learn at home. It’s the whole “Super Dad/Super Mom” thing. And honestly, it really hurts learning at home when there are bloggers and writers out there who never show the negatives and never have a messy house and never have disobeying children. I am not one of those bloggers. Have you noticed? Anyways, even I sometimes feel inferior to these moms that are doing the same things I am.

 

And there are more mainstream articles like this one that while they are more explicit in representing that parents make the CHOICE to learn at home still don’t, in my opinion, truly paint an accurate picture that learning at home is indeed a CHOICE that is not always a walk in the park. There are very challenging days for a variety of reasons. And that’s OK. We CHOSE this lifestyle. I know why people leave their kids with other people for 7+ hours a day. I KNOW.

 

Anyways, it is interesting. It is interesting to see how people to respond to the things I post. About breadmaking or dreamy afternoons. Or government stuff, or business stuff. I can see how folks can imagine I think I am the cat’s meow. And for my Husband and our children, I am. But that’s it. I share what I share to get it out of my head. And I do think that sometimes someone may benefit from reading my mixed up mind. I learn from other bloggers nearly daily. If that is intimidating then the person who feels intimidated is CHOOSING to feel that way. Life is a series of choices.

 

I choose to learn breadmaking with my children. I choose to struggle through a morning of listfulness. I choose to say, “Just go outside and play” and I choose to say, “You will sit still and listen to Bach’s biography. It’s his birthday!” I choose to teach the difference between “pee” and “urine” to the 7 year old and to have an impromptu conversation about virginity with my oldest. And I choose to be present. And I won’t apologize for it no matter how someone else CHOOSES to feel about my choices. They’re MY choices and they didn’t cost anyone else a DIME.

 

Unlike the choice to choose public mis-education.

 

And so we come back around to learning outside of the home. Yes, some people are intimidated by it. I don’t understand why. The only thing I can figure is that the person is not completely happy with his/her family’s choice and therefore feels the need to blame someone else for that negative feeling. But I am not a psychologist, nor do I play one on TV. That’s all I’ve got on that one. Because reality is, conventional school kids still way, way, way outnumber those that are allowed to learn outside of the government cage and so who has more power to intimidate?

 

And rest assured, I am not intimidated by public mis-education.

The Twelve Year Sentence

All the talk this past year about Twilight this and Hunger Games that has me thinking. Let’s assume I think those are acceptable storylines for my tweens to read. Is this really all there is that young people can read? Really?

 

A friend shared this review of a book titled The Twelve Year Sentence . I was hoping to download it to a nook, kindle, or iBooks app, but that does not seem to be a possibility at the moment. And our library doesn’t have it. What came up in the search when I typed in “The Twelve Year Sentence”?  You’ll not guess so I will tell you. “The hunger games, sound recording” was the only returned title. Nice. So, after reading the above review and several others like this one, too, I decided to take the plunge and buy it. *gulp*

 

It isn’t a “book” but rather a collection of papers written in the early 70s and then published in book form and later updated. It isn’t about learning at home, or how private education is superior and cheaper, but rather why we are coerced as a society to learn the way the government prescribes. Some of the concepts I read in the reviews and previews alone are eye-opening even for me.

 

If I, who believe learning is living rather than being force-tube-fed propaganda, and my eyes were opened, it makes me wonder how those I know who so staunchly defend their public schools would feel about even reading a review. Would they even open the book if it were laid on the table in their home? 

 

Would they let their children read about their very own educations? Or just stick with sex with vampires and murdering their friends?

 

These are the things I wonder.