Category: Home Life

I’ve been thinking Thursday: Blubber

~ tahenryauthoress ~ 2 Comments

I think any girl in my age range probably grew up reading Judy Blume. It’s almost de rigueur. I read just about everything she ever wrote. As I get older I find myself drawn to other childhood authors for rereading. But…road trip. Audio book copy of Blubber.

If you haven’t read Blubber , it’s the tales of a year of school, fifth grade, from the point of view of one girl. She starts off on the popular side. Picks on the class designatee with the popular girls. Then finds herself on the other side of the coin by the end of the year.

There was an interesting Q&A at the end with the author. Blume talked about how she got the idea for this book when her daughter would come home from middle school and tell her what was going on in her class. She is careful to explain how her daughter was a quiet observer like Rochelle. (Sure, sure. LOL)

I was not a Rochelle. I would have liked to have been. But unfortunately, I got picked on. I always had just one or two friends, they were never in my class, and I was teased mercilessly all through junior high. I was blubber.

But here’s what I wonder. My child comes home and tell me about his or her class putting a student on trial after teasing said student for months. I choose to

A: Contact the school

B: Contact the abused student’s parents so they can get involved

C: Write a YA novel about it

And Blume picked C. So that poor student is immortalized forever. You can change the names. But at the end of the day when a fellow classmates mom write a book detailing things that happened to you, you know it’s about you.

I am all on board to write what you know. But it feels icky to use the abuse of a child as plot line.

And I am super glad I homeschool my child. LOL

I’ve been thinking Thursday: Funky Cold Medina

~ tahenryauthoress ~ 2 Comments

I was on my way to the store, sans kiddo, he was at his language arts tutor. The car was quiet. I turned on the radio and a blast from the past greeted me.

The year was 1989, I was about to graduate 8th grade. The hottest new song at every dance, Funky Cold Medina. Hello, Tone Loc.

As a kid, I always thought the lyrics were funny but the beat was awesome.

I never really thought anything about the story being told.

But in the car, no kiddo, so I could actually listen and think with my semi grown up brain…holy cow batman!

“This brother told me a secret on how to get more chicks
Put a little Medina in your glass, and the girls’ll come real quick”

so at this point it sounds like some sort of love potion number nine right? He’s drinking it and it makes him more attractive.

But the next three stanza’s imply he’s giving it to the women.

Holy crap, he’s roofie-ing these women.

And don’t even get me started in the crossing dressing Oscar Meyer Weiner verses.

Huh. I never noticed a thing as a teenager. I don’t remember the parents being in an uproar either. And this was the same time Warrant was in trouble for all their swearing and Cherry Pie (hello, Tipper Gore).

But someone was paying attention. Less than 2 years later Sublime released Date Rape. I have to wonder if they were listening to  little Tone Loc and thought, oh hell yeah, we can do something with that. LOL

 

 

I’ve been thinking Thursday: Pregnancy

~ tahenryauthoress ~ 2 Comments

Stop. I am NOT pregnant.

Moving on.

I belonged fully to the class of thinking that says I am pregnant not dying of a terrible disease. I am completely functional. In fact, I said that once to a professor who was overly solicitous of me while I was pregnant. “Dude, I’m pregnant, not dying.”

I think pregnant woman are fully capable of shopping for themselves, cleaning their own house, installing a drip system in their backyard (ok I took nesting to another level). They can ride a bike and eat good quality sushi while they’re at it.

Unless a doc tells them otherwise for good reason. But let’s not digress too far.

So believe me when I tell you how horrified I was, this is not coming from a belief that pregnant women are delicate flowers.

I was in target, shopping sans kiddo, but in a bit of a hurry as I had to get back to collect him from the tutor.

When I saw this woman, clearly full term, clearly baby was playing how low can you go, and…..

she was waddling with her legs at least 3 feet apart.

Lady, you should not be shopping at Target, I do not have time to deliver your baby when you go into labor today and get back to pick up my kiddo from the tutor. LOL.

 

I’ve been thinking Thursday: Pied Piper

~ tahenryauthoress ~ 2 Comments

Someone referred to me as the “Pied Piper” of coop recently. And I really didn’t know what to say to that. I mean, didn’t he steal everyone’s children?

This required some googling.

“For those unfamiliar with the tale, it is set in 1284 in the town of Hamelin, Lower Saxony, Germany. This town was facing a rat infestation, and a piper, dressed in a coat of many coloured, bright cloth, appeared. This piper promised to get rid of the rats in return for a payment, to which the townspeople agreed too. Although the piper got rid of the rats by leading them away with his music, the people of Hamelin reneged on their promise. The furious piper left, vowing revenge. On the 26 th of July of that same year, the piper returned and led the children away, never to be seen again, just as he did the rats. Nevertheless, one or three children were left behind, depending on which version is being told. One of these children was lame, and could not keep up, another was deaf and could not hear the music, while the third one was blind and could not see where he was going.” (Thanks ancient-origins.net)

That is not flattering. I am mildly offended or would be if I had the energy to care…

This is part is better: “There are many contradictory theories about the Pied Piper. Some suggest he was a symbol of hope to the people of Hamelin, which had been attacked by plague; he drove the rats from Hamelin, saving the people from the epidemic.”

Ok, I can save coop from a plague. That sounds nice.

But what plague is that exactly?

The plague of rambunctious teenagers who disturb lunch? LOL

I will slay them with my decks of Zombie Fluxx.

I’ve been thinking Thursday: this week’s theme

~ tahenryauthoress ~ 4 Comments

Monday I reviewed The Year of Less. It super touched on a lot of things that I had already been mulling over.

And I think what I came to is…my biggest problem is my inability to say no to people who need my help.

This upcoming year was supposed to be my slow down year. My year to get healthy habits ingrained. To rest. To really consider what I wanted to maintain in my life.

Before I embark on my masters program next summer. Yup masters program, while homeschooling my child, and still teaching a bit at the coop. That was the plan.

 

Instead, I am back on the board of the coop. Because they begged.

I am teaching 4 classes. Possibly to become five because one of them is so far over my max it could almost be a second max, because I can’t say no.

I had thought about starting a tutoring/online teaching venue for while I was getting my masters. And I mentioned it to a few parents as a possible option, if I didn’t teach at the coop this year. Now I’m tutoring in addition to teaching at the coop this year.

And except for the board, these are good things. Things that make me happy.

But not things that give me time to focus at all on myself in the limited time I have left after taking care of the child, the hubs, the home, and the dog (soon to become two?).

Anyone know a good book to teach me to say no? Maybe a class? Seminar? Brain washing?

 

I’ve been thinking Thursday: Social media

~ tahenryauthoress ~ 4 Comments

Yesterday the kiddo and I got our hair cut. We use the same stylist so we’re there a while. I always end up in these weird random conversations with her.

She plays music from her own playlist. Yesterday The Time Warp came on.

(It’s just a jump to the left….)

I was immediately transported back. My late teens, that year where we went to the midnight Rocky Horror Picture Show every week. We showed up so often they cast started inviting us to their parties. LOL.

(and then a step to the right….)

And then as she casually sprayed water into my hair, my stylist says…can you imagine in there was facebook and instgram back then?

Gulp.

(put your hands on your tits)

On one hand I wouldn’t have done eighty percent of the things I did, had I know it could be on FB and instagram 2 seconds later.

(and brings your knees in tight)

On the other hand, I wouldn’t have done eighty percent of the things I did. LOL

(It’s just a pelvic thrust, that really drives you ins -aaa-nnn-eee)

So I’m going to share just one of those things I’m sure would have made me notorious….

I once went to the midnight show of Rocky Horror in body paint and underwear and platform heels.

(Let’s do the time warp again)

Your turn….what’s one thing you are so glad FB/Instagram/Twitter weren’t around to capture?

I’ve been thinking Thursday: Profound Memes

~ tahenryauthoress ~ 9 Comments

I saw this meme recently that said “doing your best does not mean working yourself to death.”

I’m sure for someone that made perfect logical sense.

My brain, however, just keep spluttering.

If I am doing my best, I should keep at it until the thing is done and done right. You can’t put a time limit or an effort limit on doing your best. Your best is your best. It’s not someone else’s.

And we all have varying degrees of “best” in us. My son for example, his best vacuuming will leave crumbs under the dining table. Mine doesn’t. His best lacks experience right now. He’ll gain it. In five year if he is still leaving crumbs under the table, I won’t accept that was his best. LOL.

So how do I draw the line for me?

“I wanted to do my best but you know, that took too much effort, so I went to bed instead.”

Not happening.

And maybe I would be healthier, and happier, and less tired if I did. But I can’t.

My best is 100%. Anything that deserves my best, deserves that.

Then again I might be crazy. What do you think?

I’ve been thinking Thursday: Another driving PSA

~ tahenryauthoress ~ 2 Comments

I know I post these way too often but this time…I was wrong…oops

I routinely turn left at an intersection where the two directions opposite each other are coming out of parking lots and while they have two lanes, there are no protected arrows, just the big round green circle at the same time. One lane is straight/right, one lane is left turn.

I always though that people turning left had the right of way. After all the right turners can go anytime there is a break in traffic but the left turners can only go on the green light. Makes sense for traffic flow that left turns should have right of way, otherwise once all the right turns go, there won’t be time for the left to go and that will just back up for days.

Anyway after some woman yelled at me last week and called me a not nice name, I decided to research this.

And I was wrong. Unprotected left turns are the bottom of the priority list even behind right turns.

Makes zero logical sense to me.

Luckily I moved this weekend and now I can go right out of that lot towards home and have the right of way. LOL

I’ve been thinking Thursday: Moving

~ tahenryauthoress ~ 2 Comments

Yup, I am moving again. This weekend in fact. Will be lots easier this time as we divested ourselves of all the “stuff” when we moved last summer from the ginormous house to the reasonable townhouse.

I had actually planned to move yesterday. But then at closing I found out the house had asbestos. Yes, they divulged previously, to the hubs, who didn’t think it was a big deal. But it was a big deal to me. So we hired a contractor our real estate agent knew and got that taken care of. It was supposed to be done today. So I canceled all the move arrangements. Rescheduled for Saturday.

Guess what happened?

No, seriously, say it…

And you’d be wrong. They finished early. I could have made my Wednesday move plans. sigh.

It’s like some reverse corollary of the things will go wrong when you count on them not to. I counted on it all going wrong and then it didn’t? What is that?

Anyway, I must get back to my boxes. The kitchen isn’t going to move itself. But wouldn’t that be nice. LOL

I’ve been thinking Thursday: Annual Testing

~ tahenryauthoress ~ 3 Comments

I home school my kiddo, which in WA state means you have to do a test every year once they turn eight. There is massive leeway on how you do it. But I found one online that worked for the kiddo so we do it every year around the same time.

And as we wait for the results I find myself casually appraising what changes and growth I see in my kiddo.

Last year at this time we had a never ending battle about him wanting a big birthday party and me being unwilling to give him one because of the heinous disaster his party was the year before.

This year, he gave up a huge party in favor of private one on one karate lessons with his favorite sensei so he can be ready to try out for demo team.

Last year testing I had to supervise him every minute because the second I walked away he decided he was bored and walked away.

This year, I actually left him and went to teach for an hour and he finished 3 exams on his own.

He’s growing and changing in so many ways that these tests will never show. Sure he now knows how to spell better and he can do more advanced math.

But he also is learning to show compassion. To be helpful just because he can. To have long arguments about hypothetical space and time travel. LOL

The test will probably show that same disparity among his academic skills that it shows every year. But it hasn’t the foggiest idea that he is starting to learn the stuff that really matters. I get to capture that.