"There are three things I've learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics and The Great Pumpkin." - Linus van Pelt
*If you need some easy last minute costume ideas, check these out:
Easy Halloween Costumes
Eye Candy Costume
Target Employee
This post title has been taking up space in my head, so I had to finally write it down. If you are a mom, you (might) be able to relate to this post.
When my mom would visit, she would bring along a plastic bag (one of the plastic grocery bags). In the bag was an assortment of items. These items could be anything from fruit, coupons, mail, clothing, toy/book for the kids to photos, a deck of cards, small Kleenex packages, etc. They were always random things and that is what made it fun. Every bag was a mystery. No two bags were the same.
I'm not sure if there is a class on, "How to Mom Bag." My mom had it down perfectly, though. Every visit included a mom bag, and you were excited to see what was in this week's bag.
Unfortunately, I no longer receive mom bags, but I am looking forward to delivering them to my children one day.
A background check is a tool used to view your record, looking out for criminal activity, financial situation and social media interaction.
As some of you know, I am a Girl Scout leader. In order to continue my career as a leader, a background check is done every two years. My first year as a leader, this entire process took three weeks. My two co-leaders got their results back within a couple of days. I guess they were really trying to dig up some dirt on me. I believe part of the problem is my name. Most look at my first name and assume I am male.
This wasn't a one-time glitch. Every background check I sign up for comes back in a month or two. Maybe they see my name and expect to find some wild and crazy history? (I'm thinking I need to get out more so I can live up to their expectations)
Don't get me wrong, I'm really happy that they do these checks for the safety of the girls.
This is my twelfth year as a Girl Scout leader and my final background check. I just submitted the form. Let's see how long this final one takes. Fingers crossed this one comes back quickly.
Late at night, while all are asleep, the Tea Fairy flies throughout the kingdom, visiting all of the good little girls and boys. Delivering all kinds of tea and goodies.
The youngest child was in her bed with a little cold. I went to check on her to see if she needed anything. She claimed that she was better, then reached under her pillow and pulled out a few bags of tea (dry, unused tea bags).
Child: I don't know why I have bags of tea under my pillow.
Me: Did the Tea Fairy pay you a visit last night?
I'm not sure if placing unused tea bags under your pillow speeds up your recovery time when you are sick or if the Tea fairy really exists.
I think I'll go check under my pillow.
Well, in honor of free speech week.... here we go.
I was thinking about political parties. Very popular back in the day (Oh, I'm thinking over fifty years ago). Most people identified as either a Democrat or a Republican. You were all in, too. Whatever the political party put on the platform is what you believed in and/or felt was most important to you. You basically went along with the pack. That political group would nominate a candidate to represent the party and you would back them. Hey, that candidate is who "they" feel will do the best job. If other people had a different opinion (or were from a different political party) you would have your moments of discussion/arguing, but you still got along with them. There were protests but they were peaceful. Sure, there was "dirty politics" and political lies and tricks. The media (back in the stone age then it was television and newspapers) gave you a view from both sides of the table. There was some mudslinging, but never with a hatred or a harm to person or country. People were allowed to be different and to express how they feel and what is important to them.
I don't remember my parents being tied to any particular political party. Well, they are the ones that taught me not to discuss politics with others (one of the many topics I am not to bring up in social situations). I feel they brought us up to think for ourselves. Review both sides of an issue before making a decision. Not to get caught up with what others (or mainstream media) are doing or thinking.
With this being free speech week, I challenge you to stand up and let your opinion be heard. But, more importantly, I challenge you to listen to "the other side."
This year I am celebrating the fun and interesting national weeks throughout the year. This week happens to be National Free Speech Week.
Free Speech Week is an annual, weeklong celebration of the first amendment, raising awareness of the importance of free speech and freedom of the press. These are rights that all Americans share. This week urges us to learn about and be aware of this freedom.
How to observe #FreeSpeechWeek
Let your voice be heard.
Understand your rights to free speech and exercise them.
Raise awareness by telling your friends and teaching your children about their speech and press freedom and how it affects their lives.
Exercise your freedom of speech by posting a message online. Compose a poem. Display a bumper sticker on your car. Write a letter to the editor.
How will you let your voice be heard this week?
Today is my favorite day, National Handbag Day! A day set aside for me to celebrate all of the time and headaches effort that I put into finding the perfect a new purse.
This year I'm posting the interesting weeks throughout the year. This week happens to be National School Lunch Week.
School lunches have been available since 1946. This week focuses on healthy food choices, balanced diets and portion sizes. Most cafeteria staff know the children and their eating habits. They take great pride in their work and strive to put out the best meals with the resources they are provided to them.
Back when I was in elementary school (the stone ages), the cafeteria staff actually made the lunches right there in the lunchroom. The lunches were homemade, and some were pretty tasty. I did change schools and tried the hot lunches there and found them to be quite bland. They were brought in from an outside source and had absolutely no flavor. Today the food provided by the school is brought in from an outside source and, according to my children, awful. (They are food snobs. The majority of the meals they have eaten growing up have been homemade)
How to observe #SchoolLunchWeek
Visit your school's cafeteria and learn about the lunches that are available.
What were the school lunches like when you were in school? Did you buy hot lunch often or brown bag it?
After writing my other post on being sick, I remembered getting a bad case of the flu as a child. I think my doctor mom was pretty worried about me. Shocking. I mean, I'm the third child. Usually, we have to fend for ourselves.
I remember not eating much, which is something that always happens when I get sick. My mom, probably worried sick, pulled a new treatment out of her medical bag: Skittles. She opened the bag of candy and gave me a few pieces to eat. I found it strange because my mom did not just give us candy. In fact, I don't recall there ever being candy in the house (except for halloween candy). I don't think candy was allowed in the house. And candy while I'm sick? Another red flag. I ate a piece and waited. My mom kept trying to encourage me to eat another one. Eventually I ate a couple more pieces.
To this day, I am not a fan of Skittles (guess I won't be getting a kick back or sponsorship from Skittles any time soon). Seeing them reminds me of a not so fun time in my life.
Are there any foods that you avoid because of an event in your life?
I know how much all of you enjoy hearing stories about my weird dog. I will try to make it a point to write more posts about him.
While I was sitting on break at work the other day, I received a text from RT. It was a picture of Pippen. Here is our text exchange:
Me: Aww! Soaking up the last bits of summer!
RT: I thought he was dead.
I had to do a double take of the picture. I know how much Pippen enjoys working on his tan laying in the sun. It was finally nice enough outside to catch a few warm rays. Then I noticed the spot that he chose to do his sunbathing.
First of all, Pippen (in all of his ten years) has never laid down in that spot on the grass. There are maybe five spots in our yard where he will lay down and that is not one of them. RT thought he was running and just dropped dead right there. RT stared at Pippen for a couple minutes to see if his chest moved (to make sure he was still breathing). I said it was wishful thinking on RT's part (Pippen has been rather annoying the last couple of weeks). RT was probably planning how to move the dog and, more importantly, how to best break the news to me.
Here is the photo.
This year I'm celebrating the interesting National Weeks throughout the year. This week is National Carry a Tune Week.
This week caught my attention because RT has a tendency to hear a tune (or song) and sing it for weeks on end. I'm thinking he might be one of the founders of this week.
I did a little research and found that this is an online event and is used to prompt people to recall a tune that brings out good memories and to carry that tune with them all week long. (something RT should have NO PROBLEM doing).
The American Tune Lovers Society opens up a survey so people can suggest their favorite tune. These tunes can be from school days, a favorite song on the radio, a love relationship, a concert or any other time. The tune must be American origin and recorded before 2001.
There are six categories of tunes: Patriotic, Folk, Religious, Pop, Classical and Film.
How to observe #CarryATuneWeek:
Decide on a tune that you want to carry for a week and submit it to the organizers.
Let loose with that tune. Belt it out or hum it, even if you are off key.
Ugh. I'm wondering why I picked this week. I envision hearing RT belting out, "Jolene" for weeks to come.
Pray for me.
This year I am celebrating the fun National Weeks throughout the year. This week is dedicated to Bella, who has been writing articles for her school newspaper. Today starts National Newspaper Week. This week recognizes newspapers and their employees.
Newspapers record events and are the first record of history.
Did you know?
This year I'm celebrating the interesting National Weeks throughout the year. International Postcard week celebrates those fun little cards you mail (mainly when you are off on vacation).
The postcard became popular in the late 1800's, making it easier to communicate with loved ones far away. The cards did not require an envelope and were a lot less expensive to mail. They became popular to send to friends and family while on vacation, giving a little glimpse of the place they are visiting.
Some fun facts about postcards:
