No one is beneath you.

Have you ever heard the story of the old man who came into the car dealership looking at trucks.  He was dressed in overalls and generally just looked...bad.  Not one sales person paid any attention to him so he left the dealership.  He went to another dealership across town dressed exactly the same way and while still hesitant a sales associate finally approached him.  The more the sales associate talked to the older gentleman he realized the man knew what he was talking about and walked him around to look at all the different trucks thinking he was just being nice to an old man.  At the end of the visit the man pointed out which one he wanted and the sales associate was floored, only to be even more surprised when the gentleman paid cash.

I don't know if it's true or not.  It kind of reminds me of that scene in the movie Pretty woman with Julia Roberts where the sales associates won't wait on her because of the way she looks and then she goes back looking fabulous and they are fighting each other to wait on her and she reminds them that they wouldn't wait on her the day before and what a huge mistake that was.

You never know what a person is going through on any given day.  You can't go off of what a person looks like to know what their heart has to tell you.  I've seen many a woman dressed up and gorgeous only to find out that she is selfish, rude and inappropriate.  I've also know the feeling of being dismissed because I wasn't dressed a certain way.

Don't judge a person by the way they look.  There is no way that you can tell what they are like on the inside just by looking at the way they have chosen to present themselves that day.  I have found myself to be pleasantly surprised many times when I engage a person who on first look scares me a little.

Before you assume that you know exactly how a person is, talk to them first.  You might be surprised.

Amusement park fashion

I was recently at an amusement park and of course I was people watching.  Why wouldn't I?  A good amusement park is a prime spot!!

I want to take a moment to say that while I love roller coasters and the joy that they bring my children I am indeed getting to old for the ones that shake you to death!  I just can't take it as much as I could when I was younger and don't even get me started on the spinny ones!  I get nauseous for days on those bad boys!!

I never wanted to grow up to be one of those old people that would never ride stuff but I now have a greater appreciation for why I didn't go to a lot of amusement parks growing up.

I wanted to discuss a few fashion statements that I'm pretty sure I won't be jumping on anytime soon.

I know that people cut off jeans to make shorts.  They've been doing it for quite some time.  I even understand that people sometimes cut them way shorter than I personally would deem appropriate and the pockets could be seen poking out because they are longer than the shorts but since when have we decided that we should bedazzle the pockets that are peaking out ? Are they really still pockets or do the bedazzle things go all the way through creating some sort of weird maze in your pocket?

This next one I only saw once and I'm pretty sure this woman was just doing it wrong.  Have you ever seen the swimsuit that Jim Carrey wore in some movie that looks like a giant V coming to a point at your nether regions and the 2 top points of the V covering the girls?  Well, a woman was wearing one of those suits only I'm pretty sure it wasn't a suit.  It was lace....as in see through lace...as in ew.

My final one I love.  I wouldn't wear one but I love.  UMBRELLA HATS!!!  I saw two women who had purchased theirs from a store in the park apparently because they still had the tags on them.  I have nothing negative to say about them, they just crack me up.  I'm not sure they really do much as far as shading you like a normal umbrella would but you wear that umbrella on your head woman in a jazzy chair you rock that look!

It's funny when I'm out amongst the masses.  I observe so many things that make me smile, some that disturb me and some that just completely gross me out, but I am always reminded.  It is a big planet.  We all have differences, but we all have similarities too.  Like wanting for some unknown reason to go on rides that beat the ever lovin' crap out of us!!

Most, some or not that many?

I had a facebook post the other day.  It read like this...

Had a conversation with a woman that was annoyed that some construction workers had whistled at her.  I asked did they make any crude noises?  No...she replied.  Did they move their body in such a way that you would think that their intentions were in any way inappropriate?  No...she said.  Did they chase after you and attempt to in any way harm you?  Well, no.  Was her response.  I punched her.

I thought it was funny, but I also thought that everyone would agree with me.  How very wrong I was. A friend responded with this...

Don't get me started.  Whistling is inappropriate and disrespectful, and it makes (most) women feel uncomfortable.  I'm bracing for your punch. ;)

Seriously?  Someone would actually be offended by a man whistling at them?  I would take a simple whistle as an ego boost to a normally ho hum part of my early 40's.  Ego boosts don't come often in my world so I have to take what I can get! I just couldn't even fathom that some one would be offended by a simple whistle.

Now, if the whistler started thrusting anything or began attempting to act out what that whistle meant like some sort of perverted mime sure, I would be offended and disgusted, but just a simple whistle?  Well, thank you very much Mr. Random stranger I'll take that compliment and walk a little taller today.

However, my friend did not feel that way, and she was under the understanding that most women felt the way she felt so I took a little poll.  I asked several of my friends if they were offended by a man whistling at them.  Now.  It was by no means scientific because all of these people were my friends, but I was surprised by the responses.

I had some that were completely offended by whistles.  I had some who couldn't care less.  I had some that it would depend on the situation, and still others that were concerned for my well being.

So, what I have learned from this situation is that in your day to day as you go about your life, not everyone is going to agree with you.  Some will have opinions that are completely different from you and that is totally okay.  It doesn't mean that either one of you is necessarily wrong it just means you think differently.  Just be careful the next time you use the word most.

I asked my friend "By most women is that like saying most women always wear matching bras and panties?"

Have a fantastic day!

The thoughts of an insomniac.

So, it is 4:45 am.  I have been on facebook.  I have played candy crush.  I have read a friend's blog back 5 years.  I can not go to sleep.  I'm going to be hating life tomorrow or today I guess.

Anyway.  I wanted to ask a few fashion questions as I am well aware that I am not the fashionista that some of you are but I'm pretty sure I have been witness to some serious fashion faux pas' as of late.

1. In Target, a woman in her 30's, it is June, it is hot.  She is wearing a long grey skirt with a tank top and tall plain grey Ugg boots.  It just looked odd.  A. It isn't winter.  B.  I realize that Ugg boots are expensive and if you have them you want to wear them to get use out of them but save them for the fall and winter months please.

2. Outside of Food City, a woman in her 30's possibly older.  It's July, it's muggy.  She is wearing a long sleeve sweater, very short running shorts and high heels.  Come on!  This isn't a thing is it?  Please tell me that this isn't a trend.

I see a common theme here I am bothered by people wearing unseasonable clothing with inappropriate footwear.  Does this bother anyone else or is it just the fact that I haven't slept and am in serious need of some shut eye?

A changing perspective

Long long ago when I was in my late teens and early twenties and I would see a crying baby I would long for the days when I would have my own children to comfort.  I would observe the parenting techniques of the precious angels care givers and know that they weren't doing it as well as I would be able to do with my own children....then....

Long long ago when I was the mother of two children under the age of two I had learned that this parenting thing wasn't an easy task and what might have worked one day may or may not work the next and for the love of all that is right in the world could they please just nap at the same time once!!!....then....

Not so long long ago when I was the mother of two school age children my judgement went back to the care givers because I understand that there is such a thing as a behavior disorder and I know that there are some circumstances that are extreme but there is also a thing called discipline and I truly believe that there are some individuals out there that are using the behavior disorder thing as an excuse for lazy parenting!!

Fairly recently I was on a trip with my family, we went to a big city with many many people there.  I witnessed all kinds of parenting techniques or lack thereof.  What I want you to take from this little visit to the chair is this...

Your perspective is going to change.  Circumstances in your life will evolve to show you a different side of an argument you may have been fighting for quite some time.  Be humble in all things, realize that you are not familiar with every aspect of the person's life that you are witnessing perform a horrible example of what shouldn't even be called parenting.   Hopefully what you are witnessing is purely out of desperation and is not typical.  You never know.

Go out there....love one another...do not judge or criticize simply love.