I have two children.
My firstborn is introverted, shy, studious and literal. My second is extroverted, outgoing, expressive and dramatic. They are complete opposites. If you know my husband and myself we have replaced ourselves in the universe.
I love both my children equally. When we are at home they are both fun loving excellent individuals to hang out with. It isn't until we go into public that their character traits pose a problem. The reason for this entry today is how people treat my shy child.
My firstborn is 10 almost 11. It pains him to speak to strangers. We have worked on it for years instructing him to look people in the eyes and not to mumble. He is getting much better at communicating with people he doesn't know. Our nurse who hadn't seen my son in awhile started asking me all of the normal questions and before I could answer he looked her dead in the eye and started telling her all she wanted to know. She wrote it all down and looked at me shocked. She then addressed him from then on out.
I have a neighbor who had gotten something for my children on her last vacation. She wanted to give the gifts to the children and with both my children present my quieter child often just allows his sister to take the limelight but my friend made it a point to make sure my son was able to say what he wanted to say. I love her for that.
The next time a child won't talk to you don't take offense to it. It is hard enough for us as adults to speak to strangers, now imagine that stranger is 4 feet taller than you. Get down on their level ask them a question about something that might interest them or even just tell them your name eye to eye.
Children are our next generation of leaders, if you teach them disrespect when they are children how do you think they will treat you when you are older? All people should respect all of the different age groups on the planet. We all play a role and we all must learn to get along.
I remember a time when I was holding my daughter. She was about 18 months old and she was grabbing my necklace hurting my neck and about to break it. I had asked her several times to stop grabbing it. I explained to her that if she did it again I would smack her hand. She did it again, or so I thought. I didn't do it hard and she didn't even really notice the smack but almost immediately I realized she hadn't pulled it that time, it was hung on my coat. I apologized to her and explained how sorry I was and that I had thought she had disobeyed me but it was my mistake and I am so sorry.
My mother was watching me and said to me, Why did you apologize to her? She doesn't even know what you are talking about. I said True, but I know, and I need to show her that if you are wrong you apologize, whether she understands it now or not is irrelevant.
Respect. Everyone appreciates it. Everyone needs it. Not everyone receives it.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Butts and Guns
I contemplated not naming this entry what I ended up naming it because I was afraid it would be misleading but I figure why not...It's Thursday...I'm gonna be a little crazy!
I want to ask a very simple question.
Why is it that it is perfectly acceptable for people to toss their cigarette butts out the car window but if I were to throw my trash out the window it would be frowned upon by society? I was sitting at a stoplight the other day and there were hundreds of "butts", thousands even, it was crazy. If it is so offensive to you to have a stinky cigarette butt smoking up your car and making it smell like cigarette smoke then here is a crazy idea...STOP SMOKING!
Let's say all the over eaters are sitting at the same stop light and they start throwing their value meal waste out the window or alcoholics start throwing their glass bottles out the window? I know I know alcoholics wouldn't be drinking and driving that's against the law....sure that never happens. Just a minute I have to go feed my unicorn.
Okay, I'm back, my point is that trash of any form should be in the trash can.
On to the gun portion of my rant.
Do you know the first rule of retail? Make the consumer feel that they NEED an item. All this talk about gun control and taking our right to bear arms and what not is completely getting blown out of proportion. All that is really happening is that people who would never even think about buying a gun are buying guns "just in case" the government decides to take them away. It's kind of like how the grocery stores are in cahoots with the weather men and whenever they have too much milk and bread and need to get rid of it the grocery store people have the weathermen threaten snow...problem solved!
I don't typically weigh in on politics but this one is starting to annoy me.
Bad guys are always going to find ways to buy bad guns. So, any law that you put into place is not going to protect the innocent it is going to help out the bad guys. This issue can not be solved by the government it has to be solved in the home.
Why are 6 year olds being allowed to play video games where they kill people only to be taught that they can hit restart and the player comes back to life? Why are things more important than the time you spend with your child? Why is it so acceptable to throw an electronic device at a child so that they don't bother you or others around you? They are kids...it's what they do. They have to be taught to behave and how to act in public otherwise they will never learn.
If you decide to have children it is not just a box you get to check off. It is a decision that there is no way out for the next 20 plus years. It is hard. It is crazy. It will take you past your comfort zone, but if you commit to it it is your responsibility to raise a human being that you are proud to send out into the world. Not a selfish self centered person. Not a mean spirited evil person. A well rounded kind person that realizes we are all on this planet together and we have to take care of it.
So, today, in your actions remember that when you fling that little cigarette out the window we all have to look at your butt. Is that really how you want to be viewed?
I want to ask a very simple question.
Why is it that it is perfectly acceptable for people to toss their cigarette butts out the car window but if I were to throw my trash out the window it would be frowned upon by society? I was sitting at a stoplight the other day and there were hundreds of "butts", thousands even, it was crazy. If it is so offensive to you to have a stinky cigarette butt smoking up your car and making it smell like cigarette smoke then here is a crazy idea...STOP SMOKING!
Let's say all the over eaters are sitting at the same stop light and they start throwing their value meal waste out the window or alcoholics start throwing their glass bottles out the window? I know I know alcoholics wouldn't be drinking and driving that's against the law....sure that never happens. Just a minute I have to go feed my unicorn.
Okay, I'm back, my point is that trash of any form should be in the trash can.
On to the gun portion of my rant.
Do you know the first rule of retail? Make the consumer feel that they NEED an item. All this talk about gun control and taking our right to bear arms and what not is completely getting blown out of proportion. All that is really happening is that people who would never even think about buying a gun are buying guns "just in case" the government decides to take them away. It's kind of like how the grocery stores are in cahoots with the weather men and whenever they have too much milk and bread and need to get rid of it the grocery store people have the weathermen threaten snow...problem solved!
I don't typically weigh in on politics but this one is starting to annoy me.
Bad guys are always going to find ways to buy bad guns. So, any law that you put into place is not going to protect the innocent it is going to help out the bad guys. This issue can not be solved by the government it has to be solved in the home.
Why are 6 year olds being allowed to play video games where they kill people only to be taught that they can hit restart and the player comes back to life? Why are things more important than the time you spend with your child? Why is it so acceptable to throw an electronic device at a child so that they don't bother you or others around you? They are kids...it's what they do. They have to be taught to behave and how to act in public otherwise they will never learn.
If you decide to have children it is not just a box you get to check off. It is a decision that there is no way out for the next 20 plus years. It is hard. It is crazy. It will take you past your comfort zone, but if you commit to it it is your responsibility to raise a human being that you are proud to send out into the world. Not a selfish self centered person. Not a mean spirited evil person. A well rounded kind person that realizes we are all on this planet together and we have to take care of it.
So, today, in your actions remember that when you fling that little cigarette out the window we all have to look at your butt. Is that really how you want to be viewed?
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
House Hunters.
A favorite show of mine is House Hunters and all variations therein. Mainly because my husband and I took 4 years to decide upon the house in which we are now living therefore I consider myself a professional House Hunter of sorts.
As the show has grown in popularity I have found a few things that completely drive me insane about the "House Hunters", it is time to share.
When the show was first on what amused me most was what the first time homeowners were searching for on a shoestring budget. They would be so adamant about crown moulding and hardwood floors and 4 bedrooms with a bonus for $100K. Well, I would like an orchestra to follow me around on a daily basis as to alert random strangers to the status of my mood and whether or not they should stay away from me but that ain't gonna happen either!
I remember one episode in particular and it just so happened to be shot here in my home town with one of our well known real estate agents, it was hysterical. It was apparent that the real estate agent was annoyed with the wife in the equation and had no qualms showing her frustration. She would tell them that what they wanted for the price that they were willing to pay just did not exist.
The House Hunters International edition holds a special place in my heart when ever the house hunters are Americans. Most times I end up shutting the thing off because I can't handle it. There was one in particular episode where from the very first interview of the wife I knew I was never going to be BFF's with this woman. You could tell that she was all about the appearance of things rather than the reality of it. A catch phrase used right now that has the tendency to annoy me is Cultural experience. As in, we are moving to "_____" to provide a Cultural experience for our children.
I think this is an excellent idea, but you have to remember one thing. In order to have the cultural experience you have to experience the culture and if you are going to another country looking for a home that is exactly what you have here in the states and you want to be surrounded by familiar things what exactly are you experiencing?
This woman was floored that there was no dishwasher, and that the pool was so very tiny, and that the appliances weren't stainless steel. I'm not sure how the real estate agent maintained his cool, he should be given a metal. Preferably made of stainless steel.
Then there is the highly uncomfortable editions of the show where you are convinced that these people are never going to make it in their relationship. Are they not fully aware that there are cameras following their every move? Is this really the way that they want to portray themselves having not come on some crazy therapy talk show but instead presented themselves as a happy couple looking for a home? It is insane. The sweet gentle wife that doesn't necessarily want a beer brewery in her home with the over powering oblivious husband who could care less if there are bedrooms or bathrooms as long as there is room for his home brew.
Or the brow beaten husband who was asked to set a budget at the first of the show and then spends the rest of the show looking at houses that are no where near that price.
Don't get me wrong, I still love the show, but its life's little observations that keep me alive. Have a great day!
As the show has grown in popularity I have found a few things that completely drive me insane about the "House Hunters", it is time to share.
When the show was first on what amused me most was what the first time homeowners were searching for on a shoestring budget. They would be so adamant about crown moulding and hardwood floors and 4 bedrooms with a bonus for $100K. Well, I would like an orchestra to follow me around on a daily basis as to alert random strangers to the status of my mood and whether or not they should stay away from me but that ain't gonna happen either!
I remember one episode in particular and it just so happened to be shot here in my home town with one of our well known real estate agents, it was hysterical. It was apparent that the real estate agent was annoyed with the wife in the equation and had no qualms showing her frustration. She would tell them that what they wanted for the price that they were willing to pay just did not exist.
The House Hunters International edition holds a special place in my heart when ever the house hunters are Americans. Most times I end up shutting the thing off because I can't handle it. There was one in particular episode where from the very first interview of the wife I knew I was never going to be BFF's with this woman. You could tell that she was all about the appearance of things rather than the reality of it. A catch phrase used right now that has the tendency to annoy me is Cultural experience. As in, we are moving to "_____" to provide a Cultural experience for our children.
I think this is an excellent idea, but you have to remember one thing. In order to have the cultural experience you have to experience the culture and if you are going to another country looking for a home that is exactly what you have here in the states and you want to be surrounded by familiar things what exactly are you experiencing?
This woman was floored that there was no dishwasher, and that the pool was so very tiny, and that the appliances weren't stainless steel. I'm not sure how the real estate agent maintained his cool, he should be given a metal. Preferably made of stainless steel.
Then there is the highly uncomfortable editions of the show where you are convinced that these people are never going to make it in their relationship. Are they not fully aware that there are cameras following their every move? Is this really the way that they want to portray themselves having not come on some crazy therapy talk show but instead presented themselves as a happy couple looking for a home? It is insane. The sweet gentle wife that doesn't necessarily want a beer brewery in her home with the over powering oblivious husband who could care less if there are bedrooms or bathrooms as long as there is room for his home brew.
Or the brow beaten husband who was asked to set a budget at the first of the show and then spends the rest of the show looking at houses that are no where near that price.
Don't get me wrong, I still love the show, but its life's little observations that keep me alive. Have a great day!
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Rain Rain go away.
You know. I used to like rain. The light tapping on the window, even a downpour to me was the best way to go to sleep on earth! Currently we are in day 4 of rain. It is flooding, everything is saturated and I'm over it.
I didn't realize what a role the weather would play with my mood until now but oh my yes depression is alive and well. Thus the stimulus of today's entry.
Depression is alive and well in all of us. Some might not show it as much as others, it might not effect some as much as it does others but given the perfect storm we can all go spiraling out of control and hit rock bottom. With that in mind I want to give you a few things to combat it all around.
1. Let's say you are alone and no one has called and you are feeling sorry for yourself that no one likes you and you have no friends and you are quite sure that people think you smell. Well, then pick up the phone and call a few people. Maybe they are having a bad day too and the ring of the phone might just be what the doctor ordered for them as well and you will be their medicine and the conversation will be yours...if you call all the friends you know and no one is answering it is time to reevaluate whether or not every time you call someone you are the wet blanket of despair which is why no one is answering therefore you need to work on your neediness and go hug a puppy or something positive.
2. What if you don't get out much and your husband is the only adult you get to interact with all day and by the time he gets home he is exhausted and irritable which in turn escalates to an all out verbal brawl of what all is wrong with his world and how you are indeed doing absolutely nothing to fix it and here is ABC of what you should be doing differently and he would like on his desk in the morning a powerpoint presentation of how you are going to fix all the aforementioned items which may or may not bother him tomorrow but you are not allowed access to that information. You know what? Get off your sorry sad horse and start working on the things that bother him. I KNOW!! All of these items are not even up to you but as far as you are able become a servant to your husband hoping to somehow make his load a little lighter and hopefully he in turn will see that you are trying and will change his pain in the rear ways. If that doesn't work go hug the puppy again.
3. If you feel as if no one appreciates or even notices anything you do and you are well aware that they think that you do absolutely nothing all day long even though you literally never stop to even eat lunch and if you did indeed do nothing for a week they would most definitely immediately understand all that you do for them. I'm not saying that they will appreciate it anymore I'm just saying that for a brief moment they would have noticed. Just remember you aren't doing anything you do for the praise and adoration that you might achieve you are doing all these things because you love your family and if they are so unappreciative for the things that you do then that is their problem not yours and one day when they are in your shoes they will ultimately realize how much you sacrificed for them and probably they will give you a puppy.
We are all on this planet together. We must share the air as it were. If you are going to be a grouch and an unappreciative pain in the rear well, then you are putting toxic evil fumes into a room that will only cause people to have a bad day. A fart if you will. If you are selfless and understand that others need to feel love and kindness around them just as much as you do well then you are the pleasant aroma that is coming from the kitchen on a cold winter's day.
So, what are you going to be today? A fart? I hope not.
I didn't realize what a role the weather would play with my mood until now but oh my yes depression is alive and well. Thus the stimulus of today's entry.
Depression is alive and well in all of us. Some might not show it as much as others, it might not effect some as much as it does others but given the perfect storm we can all go spiraling out of control and hit rock bottom. With that in mind I want to give you a few things to combat it all around.
1. Let's say you are alone and no one has called and you are feeling sorry for yourself that no one likes you and you have no friends and you are quite sure that people think you smell. Well, then pick up the phone and call a few people. Maybe they are having a bad day too and the ring of the phone might just be what the doctor ordered for them as well and you will be their medicine and the conversation will be yours...if you call all the friends you know and no one is answering it is time to reevaluate whether or not every time you call someone you are the wet blanket of despair which is why no one is answering therefore you need to work on your neediness and go hug a puppy or something positive.
2. What if you don't get out much and your husband is the only adult you get to interact with all day and by the time he gets home he is exhausted and irritable which in turn escalates to an all out verbal brawl of what all is wrong with his world and how you are indeed doing absolutely nothing to fix it and here is ABC of what you should be doing differently and he would like on his desk in the morning a powerpoint presentation of how you are going to fix all the aforementioned items which may or may not bother him tomorrow but you are not allowed access to that information. You know what? Get off your sorry sad horse and start working on the things that bother him. I KNOW!! All of these items are not even up to you but as far as you are able become a servant to your husband hoping to somehow make his load a little lighter and hopefully he in turn will see that you are trying and will change his pain in the rear ways. If that doesn't work go hug the puppy again.
3. If you feel as if no one appreciates or even notices anything you do and you are well aware that they think that you do absolutely nothing all day long even though you literally never stop to even eat lunch and if you did indeed do nothing for a week they would most definitely immediately understand all that you do for them. I'm not saying that they will appreciate it anymore I'm just saying that for a brief moment they would have noticed. Just remember you aren't doing anything you do for the praise and adoration that you might achieve you are doing all these things because you love your family and if they are so unappreciative for the things that you do then that is their problem not yours and one day when they are in your shoes they will ultimately realize how much you sacrificed for them and probably they will give you a puppy.
We are all on this planet together. We must share the air as it were. If you are going to be a grouch and an unappreciative pain in the rear well, then you are putting toxic evil fumes into a room that will only cause people to have a bad day. A fart if you will. If you are selfless and understand that others need to feel love and kindness around them just as much as you do well then you are the pleasant aroma that is coming from the kitchen on a cold winter's day.
So, what are you going to be today? A fart? I hope not.
Friday, January 11, 2013
Jim Pierson's East Tennessee/Italian Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
Enjoy!
Jim Pierson's East Tennessee/Italian Spaghetti Sauce
Ingredients:
1/2 cup Onion slices
2 cloves of garlic mashed
2 Tbs Olive oil
1 1/2 lbs Ground Beef
1 lb Pork sausage. (Mild Swaggerty's if you can get it)
2 - 16 oz cans stewed tomatoes with (onion, pepper, etc. in them)
2 - 8 oz cans seasoned tomato sauce (use ones with mushroom, onion herbs etc.)
2 - 3 or 4 oz cans mushrooms (you can also substitute fresh here and just do one box)
1/4 cup parsley
1 tsp Oregano
1 tsp Sage
1 tsp Basil
1 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp Thyme
1/4 tsp Cumin
1 tsp (heaping) Tumeric
1/2 a green pepper chopped
1 bay leaf
1 cup water to rinse out tomato cans.
Method:
Cook garlic and onion in oil until golden or the kitchen starts to smell good (My gauge is for Rebecca, Rachel and Erika to run into the kitchen and say: "Daddy, are we going to have YOUR spaghetti?) At the same time, brown the sausage in a separate skillet. When done, drain the grease and set aside.
Add the ground beef to the onion-garlic and brown. Drain. Add the sausage and all the remaining ingredients. Let the mixture boil hard for two minutes. Stir to prevent sticking. Simmer uncovered for two to two and one-half hours or until thick.
Serving Suggestions:
- Serve on hot, cooked spaghetti. Top with parmesan and/or Romano Cheese
- French or Italian bread; buttered and served hot is super.
- Norma makes a great tossed salad with bits of cheese that adds a nice taste touch
Notes:
- I always heap the spoons of spices. When I double the recipe, I double the spices. When I triple, I only increase by two and one half times.
- Usually, I prepare the sauce the day prior to serving. The refrigeration helps. A 15 minute heat up creates an aroma that lets guests know supper is ready.
- Soumetimes I put the tomatoes and tomato sauce in the blender. Makes the sauce look smoother
- The fresher the spice the better the taste.
- I drain all the grease off the meat
- Wash hands in lemon juice to get rid of the onion and garlic smell
- Norma bought me a garlic press that makes that step easier
Historical Perspective:
For about twelve years, a family and friend tradition at our house has been spaghetti sauce. Honestly, it's the only dish Norma would let me serve to company. (I have to read the directions EVERY time I make a glass of instant tea.) One of my favorite traditions is that I serve the sauce to my staff at the Rehabilitation Center on my birthday. My secretary, Trish Kimball, always comes up with a fancy, cute invitation telling the departments what to bring (physical therapy cooks spaghetti: occupation therapy tosses a salad, etc. ) and we have a good time! I couldn't count the number of friends I've served it for. Janice and Gary Weedman always get it. Once we had Bill and Betty Byrd - the girls' pediatrician- and their children out for a spaghetti supper. Afterward, Betty asked for the recipe (I gave her what I had at the time.) because their son, Biff had eaten two huge helpings. Later, she served it for dinner and waited for Biff's reply. They reported "When are we going to the Pierson's for supper again?" This sent my ego to Mars.
The Carnathans (Ralph, Theresa, Amy and Doug), our good friends, came to Sunday lunch on February 26, 1978. When Theresa asked if I gave away my recipe, it occurred to me that I didn't really have one and I decided to write it down. When Ralph said it was the best he had ever had, I knew I should publish. Then at church the following Wednesday evening, Theresa told me they had gone to an Italian restaurant and she couldn't order spaghetti for fear it wouldn't equal mine!! So, Theresa, here it is. In the words of my friend, Emma Carter, it's guaranteed to "make your tongue beat your brains out. "
P.S. It bothers me that recipes don't give "big spoon" and "little spoon" instead of tsp and tbls
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Parenting is a piece of cake!
Hold up. Before you assume that I am on crack because of the title of this little entry you need to read it first.
Whilst on the aforementioned trip to Disney World I was forced to witness the many different parenting styles that were on display there. Everyone has their own way to "handle" their children and while I'm not saying that there is only one right way I most definitely witnessed some wrong ways.
Have you ever baked a cake? There are several steps that one must follow in order for the cake to turn out properly. You need to pre-heat the oven, prepare the pans, mix the proper amounts of ingredients. If you don't, you are not going to end up with a cake. If you don't bake it long enough, if you bake it too long, there are so many different factors that play a role in whether or not you are going to end up with what anyone else would actually call cake.
I will say that whether it is from scratch or from a box, while still a factor is not important you still get cake, and Cake....good.
Parenting is the same way.
You really need to prepare yourself in order to properly parent a child. It isn't something to dive into willy nilly. If you are a person that is all about you and your Saturdays where you sleep until noon and you like your "me" time, well, then parenting is not necessarily for you.
A child is a responsibility. Your responsibility to make this world a better place. If you bring a child into this world it then becomes a part of the overall flow of the universe. How you choose to raise that child is up to you no one else.
Let's say you spoil that child, giving that child everything you never had in order to compensate somehow in your mind for all that you missed out on. Let's say you don't create a barrier of responsibility for that child and you just "fix" all of their problems for them. What have you created once that child leaves the nest?
How about if you neglect the child? Always sending them off to be cared for by someone else because you are way too busy with other important things that your child just doesn't understand.
What about making this new little creature your friend? Having them do all the things you do to make them "cool", laughing at things that they say that are highly inappropriate for their age, and dressing them with clothes and gadgets that are way above their current need.
I'm not sure who put "have a child" on some master list of life musts. Having a child is a completely wonderful experience. I will say that the raising the child part is way harder than I ever dreamed possible and some days it takes everything I have to not run away screaming I don't want to do this any more!!! I am very lucky that all I ever wanted to be was a mom. I wonder if all I ever wanted to be was a doctor or astronaut and I was now a mom, how I would be feeling.
You are no longer number one on the list of importance. Somedays you might not even make the top 4.
Parenting is hard. It has its joys and it has its hardships, but if you are diligent and parent purposefully you will end up with a wonderful product that you are proud to send out into the world.
Back to our cake for a moment. Let's say you didn't pay attention to the ingredients or the oven temperature or any of the details that actually went into baking the cake, when it comes out of the oven are you going to be proud of what you have to send out into the world?
Whilst on the aforementioned trip to Disney World I was forced to witness the many different parenting styles that were on display there. Everyone has their own way to "handle" their children and while I'm not saying that there is only one right way I most definitely witnessed some wrong ways.
Have you ever baked a cake? There are several steps that one must follow in order for the cake to turn out properly. You need to pre-heat the oven, prepare the pans, mix the proper amounts of ingredients. If you don't, you are not going to end up with a cake. If you don't bake it long enough, if you bake it too long, there are so many different factors that play a role in whether or not you are going to end up with what anyone else would actually call cake.
I will say that whether it is from scratch or from a box, while still a factor is not important you still get cake, and Cake....good.
Parenting is the same way.
You really need to prepare yourself in order to properly parent a child. It isn't something to dive into willy nilly. If you are a person that is all about you and your Saturdays where you sleep until noon and you like your "me" time, well, then parenting is not necessarily for you.
A child is a responsibility. Your responsibility to make this world a better place. If you bring a child into this world it then becomes a part of the overall flow of the universe. How you choose to raise that child is up to you no one else.
Let's say you spoil that child, giving that child everything you never had in order to compensate somehow in your mind for all that you missed out on. Let's say you don't create a barrier of responsibility for that child and you just "fix" all of their problems for them. What have you created once that child leaves the nest?
How about if you neglect the child? Always sending them off to be cared for by someone else because you are way too busy with other important things that your child just doesn't understand.
What about making this new little creature your friend? Having them do all the things you do to make them "cool", laughing at things that they say that are highly inappropriate for their age, and dressing them with clothes and gadgets that are way above their current need.
I'm not sure who put "have a child" on some master list of life musts. Having a child is a completely wonderful experience. I will say that the raising the child part is way harder than I ever dreamed possible and some days it takes everything I have to not run away screaming I don't want to do this any more!!! I am very lucky that all I ever wanted to be was a mom. I wonder if all I ever wanted to be was a doctor or astronaut and I was now a mom, how I would be feeling.
You are no longer number one on the list of importance. Somedays you might not even make the top 4.
Parenting is hard. It has its joys and it has its hardships, but if you are diligent and parent purposefully you will end up with a wonderful product that you are proud to send out into the world.
Back to our cake for a moment. Let's say you didn't pay attention to the ingredients or the oven temperature or any of the details that actually went into baking the cake, when it comes out of the oven are you going to be proud of what you have to send out into the world?
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Disney Drama
My family decided to take a little jaunt down to see the mouse the week after New Years. I want to say that from all the pointers there was going to be no one there. The pointers were wrong. I have never been to Disney when it was so crowded. I had several observations as I often do and wanted to jot them down.
1. Being a person with a bag going into the parks I want to touch on Security. Does this process really stop a bomber? I would feel way more comfortable if they would get one of those scanner thingys that airports have. It would have to go faster and be more efficient. I got behind an asian woman who for some reason was bringing a very large glass vase to the Animal Kingdom. She couldn't speak English and the security guard couldn't make her understand that she couldn't bring the glass vase into the park. All I wanted to know was why on earth did she bring a vase to the park?
2. What on earth is the deal with people thinking that they need to use an entire bottle of cologne or perfume in order to make themselves presentable to the world? Is their own personal scent so horrible that this scent they have selected is better? Because this scent that they have selected is so strong I can taste it and it is some kind of nasty!
3. Why is it that some people do not understand the value of personal space? The parks were so crowded it was completely impossible to get completely away from the crowds but the part that drove me crazy was when you were standing in a line for a ride and it was clear what the order would continue to be for the next 130 minutes and yet still there is a person breathing down your neck so that they don't get cut. I am pretty sure I was violated several times.
4. Disney considers my 10 year old an adult. Now don't get me wrong I totally understand it is because he needs to eat way more than what a kid's meal is considered, but couldn't they call him a tween?
5. If you are going to take your baby, toddler, or really any small child to the Kingdom please remember that they do not understand what you paid for this magical experience and they will get tired at which point they will be come not so precious to those around you. I could feel my fallopian tubes tying themselves several times. There was one particular angel who had seen someone roll their eyes but had not quite gotten it down. She was p..r..e..c..i..o..u..s. I'm not proud to say it but I truly fantasized about drop kicking her into Tomorrowland.
6. There was a flyer in our room for a spa at some other hotel that literally said. Relaxed Yet? Is this a joke? Are they playing on the fact that they know you totally aren't and you very much need their services? If so, I shall now do my best annoying toddler eye roll at them.
7. When one is staying at a hotel, one must remember that others are staying at the same hotel and others may or may not be on the same schedule as you are, therefore do not stand right outside someone's door talking loudly about how tired you are and how early it is because you just might get sucker punched.
8. I'm embarrassed to say that I got extremely judgemental about the people in those little jazzy cart things. Mainly because if there was one sitting there waiting for the same bus that I was waiting on I knew it was going to take what felt like 20 minutes to load them. I was perfectly okay with it if the people could not walk, but if they hopped of the cart and went over to a seat on the bus fresh as you please I screamed in my head LIAR!!! Mainly because I was overly tired with two overly tired kids and one overly tired husband.
9. There are not many people on this planet that I could live through a Disney experience with. I am happy to announce that my sweet family make the cut. No matter how crazy it gets or how tired I get at the end of every day I was happy to be there with them and so very thankful for the sweet memories we were making. It just reminded me that life is hard. It is not always going to play by the Hallmark movie rule of happy endings but if you stick with the ones you love it is very rewarding.
10. There should totally be a pin that you receive if your child throws up at the park.
I want to say that I love Disney. There is just something about them. Walt Disney wanted the parks to not show their guests any reminder of the world they live in so that they could be transported into a new world. It is amazing to see how they accomplish this task and you don't really appreciate it until you go to an amusement park that is not Disneyfied. I just want to know when the absolute slowest days are because I can not handle the crowds. Thank you and have a glorious day!
1. Being a person with a bag going into the parks I want to touch on Security. Does this process really stop a bomber? I would feel way more comfortable if they would get one of those scanner thingys that airports have. It would have to go faster and be more efficient. I got behind an asian woman who for some reason was bringing a very large glass vase to the Animal Kingdom. She couldn't speak English and the security guard couldn't make her understand that she couldn't bring the glass vase into the park. All I wanted to know was why on earth did she bring a vase to the park?
2. What on earth is the deal with people thinking that they need to use an entire bottle of cologne or perfume in order to make themselves presentable to the world? Is their own personal scent so horrible that this scent they have selected is better? Because this scent that they have selected is so strong I can taste it and it is some kind of nasty!
3. Why is it that some people do not understand the value of personal space? The parks were so crowded it was completely impossible to get completely away from the crowds but the part that drove me crazy was when you were standing in a line for a ride and it was clear what the order would continue to be for the next 130 minutes and yet still there is a person breathing down your neck so that they don't get cut. I am pretty sure I was violated several times.
4. Disney considers my 10 year old an adult. Now don't get me wrong I totally understand it is because he needs to eat way more than what a kid's meal is considered, but couldn't they call him a tween?
5. If you are going to take your baby, toddler, or really any small child to the Kingdom please remember that they do not understand what you paid for this magical experience and they will get tired at which point they will be come not so precious to those around you. I could feel my fallopian tubes tying themselves several times. There was one particular angel who had seen someone roll their eyes but had not quite gotten it down. She was p..r..e..c..i..o..u..s. I'm not proud to say it but I truly fantasized about drop kicking her into Tomorrowland.
6. There was a flyer in our room for a spa at some other hotel that literally said. Relaxed Yet? Is this a joke? Are they playing on the fact that they know you totally aren't and you very much need their services? If so, I shall now do my best annoying toddler eye roll at them.
7. When one is staying at a hotel, one must remember that others are staying at the same hotel and others may or may not be on the same schedule as you are, therefore do not stand right outside someone's door talking loudly about how tired you are and how early it is because you just might get sucker punched.
8. I'm embarrassed to say that I got extremely judgemental about the people in those little jazzy cart things. Mainly because if there was one sitting there waiting for the same bus that I was waiting on I knew it was going to take what felt like 20 minutes to load them. I was perfectly okay with it if the people could not walk, but if they hopped of the cart and went over to a seat on the bus fresh as you please I screamed in my head LIAR!!! Mainly because I was overly tired with two overly tired kids and one overly tired husband.
9. There are not many people on this planet that I could live through a Disney experience with. I am happy to announce that my sweet family make the cut. No matter how crazy it gets or how tired I get at the end of every day I was happy to be there with them and so very thankful for the sweet memories we were making. It just reminded me that life is hard. It is not always going to play by the Hallmark movie rule of happy endings but if you stick with the ones you love it is very rewarding.
10. There should totally be a pin that you receive if your child throws up at the park.
I want to say that I love Disney. There is just something about them. Walt Disney wanted the parks to not show their guests any reminder of the world they live in so that they could be transported into a new world. It is amazing to see how they accomplish this task and you don't really appreciate it until you go to an amusement park that is not Disneyfied. I just want to know when the absolute slowest days are because I can not handle the crowds. Thank you and have a glorious day!
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