Goals

I have them. They are many. And they're scary. I hope to accomplish something before the school releases my sweet kids for summer vacation, so I may not blog for awhile. Good luck with all your goals too.

For inspiration, here's my favorite guy:

Oh, What a Beautiful Mooorning...

If all goes well with boy whose chicken pox are almost a memory, we get to go on a field trip!

Tuesday, May 16th, will see Ellen and son going with the 3rd grade class to see Beauty and the Beast at the Children's Theatre, and then on to a gorgeous park in the city--duck and koi ponds, sunken gardens, etc.

I'm doing the happy dance. :)

What are your plans for the day? The week? The rest of your life? :cute banana dancing:

Ever had one of those days?

Despite the vaccination, kid #2 now has chicken pox and can't go to the birthday party he's been excited about all week. Poor guy. And our Mother's Day brunch (that already might not include the MIL) is in jeopardy, as well.

What do you do to turn your frown upside down? How do you cheer yourselves up? (And please--no "it could be worse, you could be dead" comments. LOL).

To Shelter or Not to Shelter Kids

Some of you may remember when I blogged about the Sun Theatre from my hometown in Michigan.

About a block north of the Sun, is a bar/restaurant that was there in my Grandfather's day and his father's . . . you get the picture. It looks like a log cabin and is accordingly called the Log Jam. The Lumberjack in my story is modeled after this icon of small town entertainment, and while describing it in my chapter, I realized how prevelant kids were and still are in this bar.

In Michigan, as long as a bar serves food, kids are allowed. And trust me, parents take advantage of this fact and haul their kids out on a Saturday night for a Budweiser and Pizza. Beats having to find a sitter! Consequently, I knew what went into a Martini by the age of 5, as well as how to rack the pool table for the next round of straight pool. Make 'em tight, Eddie.

I recall my dad whispering the wisdom of the ages into my ear, "See that broad there? She's a gold digger." He was mortified when I was finally introduced to the 'broad' and said, "Oh, you're the gold digger." Out of the mouths of babes .

But, not everything dad taught me was bad. For instance, Dad would point to a scruffy-looking man who was bellied up to the bar and say, "If I was on the front lines in a war, that's the man I'd want by my side." Then he'd point to a man in a 3-piece suit and say, "but not him." He'd explain that you can't judge a person by the way they look on the outside. A classic lesson taught in a bit of a different way--but one I always remembered.

I never know how much to shelter my kids. They aren't allowed in bars here in Washington, so that isn't an issue. But I have to make other decisions. For instance, I let my 11 year old daughter watch House with us, even though it has adult content. I figure that I'd rather have her watch something with intelligent writing and dry humor than a show, say like Stacked, which boasts other assets, but intelligent writing isn't one of them. See, it makes me happy that my daughter admires the female doctors on the show, which is certainly better than wanting to grow up to be Pamela Anderson.

So, don't shelter if there could be a lesson learned or a good role model? Sometimes I think kids today are too pampered.

What do you think? To what extent should we shelter our kids? Is being able to rack the balls for pool a good skill? (I think so. LOL!) :)

Which decade is your personality?

what decade does your personality live in?

quiz brought to you by lady interference, ltd

This suits me in some ways (though i don't remember JFK's assassination). I thought for sure I'd come up 70's. :)

Dairy Queen is Evil

They've sucked me in.

I'm addicted to their Cookie Dough Blizzards.

I'm supposed to be working, but I can't concentrate because I'm craving the damn Blizzard! Argh! I'll never lose weight unless I part ways with the powerful DQ.

Do any of you have a similar weakness? *sigh*

My Hero Has a Job!

Okay, I've decided that Michael is a . . .

History Professor (thanks Jan).

I think this will fit the opposites thing in a way. She's a reporter who's only concerned with the here and now. His concern is the past (in more ways than one). She's Type A and drives a Buick. He's relaxed and rides a Harley, etc. There are a lot of conflicts in the story, so it's probably okay that their careers don't necessarily clash, but they are opposites.

Another reason I liked this idea is because I love nerds, but I love the bad boys too--it's a good combo.

Finally, I chose this job for him because I'll be able to relate to Michael more deeply. Dh and I have been seriously talking about me returning for my graduate degree so that I can teach at the college level (if I can overcome my horrible stage fright). If I do pursue it, it will probably be to teach British History. So, Michael will be a man who's truly after my own heart--although, I think I'll have him teach American History instead (men on Harley's won't want to discuss the "men in tights" period). LOL.

Okay, now that you've all helped me, do you have any "sticking points" with your own stories? I'd love to help you too! :)