A Family Who Lives On One Income

I know it can be done, and I know it's sometimes a choice but I don't understand how the average American does it. I understand that there are Mom's, and even some Dad's that want to stay home to be with their children, I get it and I think it's great when you have the opportunity to do so. However, when it comes to looking at your future, how on earth does it work?

"You Will Never Stand Taller Than When You Stoop To Help A Child" - Dr. Phil

I was in Target the other day with Laura and as we were in line to check out, there was a mother with 4 of her children at the end of the aisle. This mother was being so loud and so disrespectful to one of her youngest sons. You could tell he was so beaten up inside about whatever it was he did, but she continued to badger and intimidate him in front of everyone. I felt so sorry for him and now I'm kicking myself for not saying something to the mother. You could tell she was just doing this to get a reaction out of the people shopping in the store more so than she was trying to teach her son a lesson. She liked being seen as the person standing tall over her child yelling and pointing her finger in his poor little face.

After leaving the store, Dr. Phil's quote ("You'll Never Stand Taller Than When You Stoop To Help A Child") popped into my head. I'm all for lessons and correcting a child when they have done something wrong. However, do we always have to do it by standing tall over them and watching them cringe with fear as we yell at them? I looked at this poor kid and thought to myself, this mother will never earn the respect of her child unless she learns to respect them first. I'm not saying kids shouldn't be disciplined or corrected, but shouldn't their be a mutual level of respect between one another? Isn't that how they learn respect in the first place?

A Good, True Friend???

I've never had one!

As a child I thought I had 3 Best Friends but looking back, they were not what I'd call true friends after all.

One friend was only there when it was convenient for her and even then our conversations were focused around her and what was going on in her life. When she lost weight and found a boyfriend, that's when I really lost what I thought was my friend. There was no more time for the other 3 amigos, it was all about her new love.

The 2nd friend was one that I spent a lot of time with. We went through many happy and sad times together and I was there through them all. I even stuck around after I found out that she really liked the same guy I did. In my opinion, as a teenager, friends were more important to me than what boy I had a crush on at the time. That all changed when I called her a BITCH the 2nd time it happened, only this time it was my steady boyfriend that she chose to see for months behind my back. I ended up apologizing to HER and broke it off with my boyfriend trying to mend the broken fence. But... because I called her a bitch for dating MY boyfriend behind MY back, SHE stopped talking to ME... not just for a few weeks, for years.! It wasn't until our other friend passed away that we even reconciled, if you can even call it that. Our friendship now is that of yearly calls and Christmas Cards.

The 3rd friend in the group, was really more of an acquaintance now that I look at. We hung out because our families knew each other, nothing more nothing less.

Now I'm an adult and it's sad for me to say that I've never had a best friend. I think I gave up on that idea long ago, very long ago. When the 3 people you think are your best friends as a child don't listen to your thoughts and your ideas, cheat with your boyfriend and then turn around and walk away from the friendship, and when the 3rd friend you finally realize played no important roll in your life... it's pretty easy to figure out why you don't form close relationships with people as an adult. I don't trust many people in my life, in fact very few.

I've tried to form relationships as an adult, but I always find the same 3 I had as a child. I either find one that is so self absorbed that I can't stand to be around them for any length of time, I find one that could care less what I have to say (looking through me as I speak, not at me), or I find the occasional acquaintance. They don't care about me and then I end up caring even less about them!

Maybe one day I'll find that friend, but for now I'm OK with just me.

Upset in Massachusetts

George W. Bush started out his 1st year running our country in to the ground and continued to do so for 8 years. So, why is it that everyone expects President Barack Obama to turn things around in his 1st year?

As you can imagine, I was really saddened to see the late Edward Kennedy's Senate seat handed over to a Republican. A Democrat has held that seat in Massachusetts for close to 50 years and to see so much good come to an end is very upsetting. I agree, Martha Coakley's campaign was less than stellar. I think she thought the seat was hers, so why fight for it. However, Martha did not let Massachusetts down, the people of Massachusetts let down their own state. In the end they didn't stand for what they truly believed in. The people of Mass are mad and frustrated over Obama's 1st year in office, but honestly, look at what he has on his plate. It's unreal the number of obstacles this President is having to overcome. He was handed this turmoil on a silver platter, yet we blame Obama instead of Bush Jr.?

It makes no sense to me.

Feeling old @ 35

Sitting here at lunch, I realize how old I'm actually getting. I'm sitting outside at Thai Sticks - it's 97 degrees, a rather cold front for Houston - listening to 3 kids who recently graduated from college a few years ago talking about what certifications they need to become lead teachers.

Now that's not what makes me feel old, their conversation about their love lives make me feel old. Out of college but still in a high school state of mind when it comes to love. One of the teachers is a smokehouse, as she takes one cigarette right after another, one is a balding gay man, which might I ad he's married (to a woman) and obviously hasn't figured out that he's gay and the 3rd is a girl who's actually the normal one of the bunch. She hasn't quite gotten all of her certifications yet, but knows where she's going. She has a plan.

Smokehouse (as I'll refer to her from now on) is in a new relationship and already talking about marriage. She's all of 25, has a 2 year old, in a new relationship (I think I heard her say 3 weeks) and she's already talking about marriage. A conversation like this makes me want to scream at the top of my lungs to SLOW DOWN!!!!! Enjoy your 20's, why are you rushing things? You change so much in your 20's, I can't stress enough... you change SO MUCH in your 20's! It's scary to think you're talking about a life changing event after only knowing someone for 3 weeks. I think I'm having a harder time knowing there is a child involved.

Married gay man needs to slow down too. He needs to figure out who he is. He's already gotten married and will probably end up breaking his wife's heart, but I want to scream out to him to "figure it out and stop the charade". Embrace who you are. I think like that, but then when I put myself in his shoes, I'm sure that's easier said than done. I'm quite sure it's really hard to come to grips with that, even though we're in 2009, things are still very hard for the gay and lesbian community.

I was so blessed to have gotten married at 27 and had my daughter at 30. Some may say I was old, I say aged. Just like a fine glass of wine, with age your thoughts and decisions become smoother, they catch you in the back of your throat. Decisions you make in your 30's are so much more meaningful. They take on a different view than that of your 20's. At 20, it's like you're looking at the view from the front porch as the cars pass by at 30 mph. All you see are the cars rushing by. You feel like you need to make decisions right then or time will pass you by. However, at 30, you're looking at the view from the back porch watching life in slow motion. The kids, the husband grilling, the dogs, the grandparents trying to keep up with the 5 year old.....

And then you realize it's time to SLOW DOWN, make decisions based on those you love most in the world - YOUR FAMILY!

Wrinkles at 35

Wrinkles at 35, who would have thought? I swear, I don't feel all that old however in talking about the things that I've done to become "healthier" (if you want to call it that) I think about the things that make me feel old. My wrinkles have really shown this year more than ever before. I see them in my eyes more than anywhere else. Now, some people call this a testament to how happy you are because they are linked to your laugh lines, but does that make you feel all that better when someone says it to you? Not so much for me. I've been using Oil of Olay lately and hope that it will make a little difference. The closer I get to 40, the more I think about these things.

Baby Steps

During the past year I have tried to incorporate a few "healthy" tidbits into my life. I know it's not much but you have to start somewhere!

The first thing I did was give up drinking soft drinks. I know you hear of so many people that say they loose weight from stopping the soft drink binge but I can say that it has not happened to me. The one thing that my friend Stephanie says it's done for me is help my complexion and I have to say, I think it really has. The only thing I really drink is water, the good ole H2O and Diet Lipton Green Tea (1 to 2 a day).

The second thing is taking Vitamin C at least one time a day if not two (1000mg). I have noticed a HUGE difference in my immune system. I have not had a cold in quite a long time and when I do feel like I'm coming down with something I double up. Now, at the moment I have a little sinus infection, but even with that I can tell a huge difference in the way I feel.

So, I have a few other things I want to try but until I have success with them, I'll keep them to myself. Sometimes, I think I give up too quickly on myself so I don't want to divulge anything until I stick with it for a while.

What have you given up or started doing to enhance your body and or mind?

It's pouring here in Houston!

We haven't had a good thunderstorm in quite a while, that is until today. It's pouring here!

View from outside my window @ work:

SOOOOO SLEEPY TODAY!!!!

myspace layouts

Rain in Houston???

Finally we saw rain in Houston over the weekend. It's been such a long time since we've seen it, I had to capture it on camera.

Lots to talk about...

There are a lot of things to talk about from the weekend, but first and foremost is about my weekend. Here lately they have been fabulous! I love it when I can leave work on Friday afternoon and not leave the house until Monday morning. Our family has been spending the weekends at home taking care of things around the house and just hanging out. It has been wonderful. Most of the time we don't even turn on the TV, as we spend the majority of the time outside or playing inside.

How was your weekend? Did you do anything exciting or relaxing?

107 Degrees - OH MY!

My car is registering 107 degrees - ridiculous!

I HATE TALKING ON THE PHONE!!!!

Hate it with a capital H! I talked so much as a teenager that now as an adult I can not stand it! When my phone rings, I cringe and grit my teeth. Idle chit chat does nothing for me. Sitting on the other line hearing the other person breath is not my idea of fun. How much can one person say to another, is there really that much to talk about especially with someone you know well? Unless you have something to discuss with me, other than your own random thoughts, why call me? You know I'm going to sit on the other line as you listen to me breath? If you know this about me, why get frustrated when I react the same way I did the last time you called. If I have not talked to you in a while or have not seen you in years, I'm game for catching up to see how and what you've been up to. If not, what's the purpose of a call to ask if I knew the sky was blue today?

Quote of the Day

On Behind The Walls Of Vanderwilt I have a section to the right hand side that gives the "Quote of the Day". I don't think I really like the one that's on there today. Do you?
There is a time for departure even when there's no certain place to go. - Tennessee Williams

Oprah Radio - Gotta Love It!

God I love Oprah Radio - XM156. I get my news and entertainment from Gail King in the morning and sex therapy from Dr. Laura Berman in the afternoon. Life is good!