I'm a little behind on my posts. It's been a busy couple of weeks. This one kind of made priority though....
As an avid music fan, I like nearly all kinds of music so when I had an opportunity to go see a new artist play, I was all about it. On Tuesday the 24th, I was given the opportunity to see Gord Bamford play. Gord is a Canadian artist that has been winning awards like crazy in his country and is doing concert dates here now too. So here are my thoughts on my night out....
First off, Gord is an incredible artist. He's incredibly talented, has a fantastic stage presence and makes the atmosphere at his shows very fun and inviting. Several of his songs became quick favorites for me. His band is incredible as well.....very talented and great stage presence. I was very, very impressed. I'd definitely go to another Gord Bamford show.
The venue, the PACE Center in Parker, was a great venue. It was clean, well laid out and the staff was very polite and helpful. I don't think there was a bad seat in the house and the seating provided ample leg space and drink holders. My favorite feature is that I was allowed to get a drink and bring it with me to enjoy the show. Parking was also great.
In closing....check out Gord Bamford's music on Youtube and see what you think. I'm a new fan and you might end up a fan too.
Friday, June 27, 2014
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Ethics and such
I'm kind of passionate when it comes to business ethics. I have a tendency to be a bit over-zealous, to some extent. While I am all about the understanding that business is business, I do believe that there are certain approaches and standards that make a business TRULY about the consumer and not about being a jerk. I stand by the viewpoint that it is perfectly fine if you're a douchebag in your business but be honest about it. Be up front that you're a douchebag and it'll all even out. Sometimes that's what people want...no nonsense. Here are some of my business do's and don'ts (and no, I'm not an expert, just a mama with an opinion).
Loyalty I think this is one of my BIGGEST pet peeves. Don't jump ship to save 3% of what you're spending if a business has loyally been good to you. I'm sorry but you get what you pay for and if you jump ship to save $5, you're likely going to end up unhappy and guess what....that corporation you switched to isn't going to care about your happiness. They care about money. If someone you've religiously used for charity events for their services gives you a fair price on something, TAKE IT! Don't jump ship to get it free or lower priced elsewhere because guess what...you're going to end up unhappy and it's not gonna matter to the new person whether or not you're unhappy. There are a lot of people that want to suck at the corporate teat and the fact is that loyalty goes a long way both to the customers (giving them a fair price and a great service/product) and to the business person.
Profits...Don't be selfish Yes, you might be able to sell that outfit you made for $50 but unless you spent a ridiculous amount making it, you shouldn't be marking up the prices ridiculously just because you can. I hear it said constantly with photography that you need to figure in the time it takes to edit which is DEFINITELY true. With that being said, there are a whole lot of selfish photographers out there that just want to make more than it's worth. I'm a big believer when it comes to family photography that you are creating people's memories and they have the right to own them at reasonable prices. I can't STAND jerks that overcharge for products and services.
Honesty Don't make all your ideas into tiny print. Be up front. If you're building tables and someone orders a custom order oak table and another orders custom order cedar, there will obviously be a price difference in material. Don't put it in the tiny print that everyone pays the same amount just because. Don't tell them that they can have the table at a certain price but only if they buy four chairs at regular price. Don't mark up your prices just to have a sale so they LOOK lower! Honesty goes a long way and people know when they're being messed with.
and finally....
Recommendations As a consumer, the best thing you can do, particularly for small businesses and individuals, is to recommend them so that they can get more customers. True honest business people will see it as a reason to give you an even better deal next time. They will also see it as a way to keep their prices down. I'd much rather do 50 $75-sessions than 3 $150-sessions.
In short, this concept is simple, don't be a douche!
Loyalty I think this is one of my BIGGEST pet peeves. Don't jump ship to save 3% of what you're spending if a business has loyally been good to you. I'm sorry but you get what you pay for and if you jump ship to save $5, you're likely going to end up unhappy and guess what....that corporation you switched to isn't going to care about your happiness. They care about money. If someone you've religiously used for charity events for their services gives you a fair price on something, TAKE IT! Don't jump ship to get it free or lower priced elsewhere because guess what...you're going to end up unhappy and it's not gonna matter to the new person whether or not you're unhappy. There are a lot of people that want to suck at the corporate teat and the fact is that loyalty goes a long way both to the customers (giving them a fair price and a great service/product) and to the business person.
Profits...Don't be selfish Yes, you might be able to sell that outfit you made for $50 but unless you spent a ridiculous amount making it, you shouldn't be marking up the prices ridiculously just because you can. I hear it said constantly with photography that you need to figure in the time it takes to edit which is DEFINITELY true. With that being said, there are a whole lot of selfish photographers out there that just want to make more than it's worth. I'm a big believer when it comes to family photography that you are creating people's memories and they have the right to own them at reasonable prices. I can't STAND jerks that overcharge for products and services.
Honesty Don't make all your ideas into tiny print. Be up front. If you're building tables and someone orders a custom order oak table and another orders custom order cedar, there will obviously be a price difference in material. Don't put it in the tiny print that everyone pays the same amount just because. Don't tell them that they can have the table at a certain price but only if they buy four chairs at regular price. Don't mark up your prices just to have a sale so they LOOK lower! Honesty goes a long way and people know when they're being messed with.
and finally....
Recommendations As a consumer, the best thing you can do, particularly for small businesses and individuals, is to recommend them so that they can get more customers. True honest business people will see it as a reason to give you an even better deal next time. They will also see it as a way to keep their prices down. I'd much rather do 50 $75-sessions than 3 $150-sessions.
In short, this concept is simple, don't be a douche!
Thursday, June 19, 2014
What they DON'T tell you about pregnancy
Everyone LOVES to tell you all of the wonderful things about being pregnant. I was not one of those magically delighted, glowing women. I hated being pregnant. I hated it from beginning to end. I loved the baby from the minute I knew but I absolutely HATED being pregnant. Go ahead...judge me. Here are some of the crap pregnant women often have to deal with....
Hemorrhoids Yup, I said it. They pop up during pregnancy and they pop up during labor. You don't always get them but if you do...yeah, it's not pleasant. Apologies to the pregos that don't wanna hear it. It's a real possibility. Brace yourself.
"Oh my Gawd, you're HUGE!" As if you didn't know. Yes you're huge, you're pregnant. That's your job.
Eating for two isn't considered the norm anymore Sorry ladies. You don't get the free ride that women in the past have gotten. It's now highly publicized that you should increase your calorie count but not double it. My opinion? Eat like a pregnant woman and tell the doctor to shove it (with the exception being eating to an unhealthy level).
Every celebrity on the planet that is pregnant at the same time will make you feel like a blimp There is so much focus on "keeping fit" during pregnancy that pregnant women are under enormous pressure to stay a certain weight or keep up a certain routine.
You will throw up like a college freshman at his first kegger Not everyone gets morning sickness but I was sick for months upon months......all day long......well past the first trimester.
Your boobs will be fabulous! They're never better than when you're pregnant (unless you have a boob job done). They will be big and full and wonderful.----but they're gonna go away so enjoy them now.
Congratulations! You've become the home of a volcano in your throat Acid reflux is TERRIBLE when you're pregnant, especially in the last trimester when everything is getting squeezed. Ugh!
You'll cry at tissue commercials Yes ladies, even unemotional women get emotional, some more than others. I always say that IN GENERAL (not always) pregnancies with girls mean you're more emotional while pregnancy with boys makes you mean.
For most of your pregnancy, you'll feel like you pulled an all-nighter You'll be exhausted and I don't just mean a little sleepy. I mean you'll feel like you haven't slept in weeks.
Glucose tests = Gag fest That orange liquid they make you drink....gag! So gross (Ask if you can sub jelly beans instead. I hated the orange liquid and told them I'd refuse the test if they didn't let me sub something in....I subbed in jelly beans)
Everyone will tell you their labor story Every woman on the planet will feel a tie to you and want you know just how painful their labor was....because you aren't anxious enough.
People will regularly invade your personal space bubble Perfect strangers will touch your stomach and feel like it's their right. It's a fact. People don't care.
and finally.....
You WILL be ostracized for admitting that you're miserable, especially by those who have suffered losses I personally have had more than one miscarriage and I get the concept of why it cuts so deep to women who have fertility issues but be prepared...people will give you crap for admitting that you're miserable. My opinion? You are still a person and shouldn't worry so much about people's opinions...if you're tired or sick, say so.
While the outcome of pregnancy is fantastic, the pregnancy itself is not a blast (at least it wasn't for me). Enjoy the moments that you can (especially the second trimester) and remember it'll all be over soon. And PLEASE don't hate me when you're at the end of your pregnancy saying, "God, I just want her to come OUT already!?!" and I look a you and say, "She'll come when she's ready."
Hemorrhoids Yup, I said it. They pop up during pregnancy and they pop up during labor. You don't always get them but if you do...yeah, it's not pleasant. Apologies to the pregos that don't wanna hear it. It's a real possibility. Brace yourself.
"Oh my Gawd, you're HUGE!" As if you didn't know. Yes you're huge, you're pregnant. That's your job.
Eating for two isn't considered the norm anymore Sorry ladies. You don't get the free ride that women in the past have gotten. It's now highly publicized that you should increase your calorie count but not double it. My opinion? Eat like a pregnant woman and tell the doctor to shove it (with the exception being eating to an unhealthy level).
Every celebrity on the planet that is pregnant at the same time will make you feel like a blimp There is so much focus on "keeping fit" during pregnancy that pregnant women are under enormous pressure to stay a certain weight or keep up a certain routine.
You will throw up like a college freshman at his first kegger Not everyone gets morning sickness but I was sick for months upon months......all day long......well past the first trimester.
Your boobs will be fabulous! They're never better than when you're pregnant (unless you have a boob job done). They will be big and full and wonderful.----but they're gonna go away so enjoy them now.
Congratulations! You've become the home of a volcano in your throat Acid reflux is TERRIBLE when you're pregnant, especially in the last trimester when everything is getting squeezed. Ugh!
You'll cry at tissue commercials Yes ladies, even unemotional women get emotional, some more than others. I always say that IN GENERAL (not always) pregnancies with girls mean you're more emotional while pregnancy with boys makes you mean.
For most of your pregnancy, you'll feel like you pulled an all-nighter You'll be exhausted and I don't just mean a little sleepy. I mean you'll feel like you haven't slept in weeks.
Glucose tests = Gag fest That orange liquid they make you drink....gag! So gross (Ask if you can sub jelly beans instead. I hated the orange liquid and told them I'd refuse the test if they didn't let me sub something in....I subbed in jelly beans)
Everyone will tell you their labor story Every woman on the planet will feel a tie to you and want you know just how painful their labor was....because you aren't anxious enough.
People will regularly invade your personal space bubble Perfect strangers will touch your stomach and feel like it's their right. It's a fact. People don't care.
and finally.....
You WILL be ostracized for admitting that you're miserable, especially by those who have suffered losses I personally have had more than one miscarriage and I get the concept of why it cuts so deep to women who have fertility issues but be prepared...people will give you crap for admitting that you're miserable. My opinion? You are still a person and shouldn't worry so much about people's opinions...if you're tired or sick, say so.
While the outcome of pregnancy is fantastic, the pregnancy itself is not a blast (at least it wasn't for me). Enjoy the moments that you can (especially the second trimester) and remember it'll all be over soon. And PLEASE don't hate me when you're at the end of your pregnancy saying, "God, I just want her to come OUT already!?!" and I look a you and say, "She'll come when she's ready."
Monday, June 16, 2014
How People Behave
Forgive the gap in timing but I took the weekend off to celebrate Father's Day and to relax with the family; something that needed to get done.
Amongst other things, I'm pondering how big of a role different factors play in how a person behaves. I have always been a big believer that what you name your child (and whether or not they use a nickname or how the nickname is spelled) make a huge difference in how they behave. I have a tendency to believe that people live up to their names. I honestly believe this goes back to Biblical times. Think how much thought people put into names back then and how their names were factors in how they were treated and how they behaved. This theory is solely based on my personal experiences and I get a lot of eye rolls over it but it's true.
I also believe that environment affects how people behave. This seems to be an obvious factor, though I believe that some factors are bigger than others. Yes, whether or not they're raised by a single parent can be a factor but I honestly believe that the bigger part of that factor is how the single parent behaves. If the parent plays the victim and constantly gripes about their life, of course the child will adapt that same attitude. If the parent constantly rides them, of course they develop an attitude of perfectionism. Environment is certainly a big factor.
I believe that experiences affect how people behave. Again, this is a given.
I believe that when you are born affects how you behave. This applies in a couple of ways. First of all, birth order makes a BIG determination in some of your personality traits. Secondly, I honestly believe that your astrological sign is a big factor. I believe that MOST people live wholeheartedly up to their astrological signs whether they want to admit it or not. Some fight it because they see it negatively but the reality is that embracing it and learning to develop healthy ways to deal with your quirks is far more important than denying them.
Finally, I believe that circumstance affects how a person behaves. If they're in the midst of a trial, they are going to behave in a certain manner. If they're experiencing a highly successful period, it's another.
While none of this is truly proven scientific fact, it's definitely something to consider when dealing with people. Research these factors and you can find effective ways to deal with them.
Amongst other things, I'm pondering how big of a role different factors play in how a person behaves. I have always been a big believer that what you name your child (and whether or not they use a nickname or how the nickname is spelled) make a huge difference in how they behave. I have a tendency to believe that people live up to their names. I honestly believe this goes back to Biblical times. Think how much thought people put into names back then and how their names were factors in how they were treated and how they behaved. This theory is solely based on my personal experiences and I get a lot of eye rolls over it but it's true.
I also believe that environment affects how people behave. This seems to be an obvious factor, though I believe that some factors are bigger than others. Yes, whether or not they're raised by a single parent can be a factor but I honestly believe that the bigger part of that factor is how the single parent behaves. If the parent plays the victim and constantly gripes about their life, of course the child will adapt that same attitude. If the parent constantly rides them, of course they develop an attitude of perfectionism. Environment is certainly a big factor.
I believe that experiences affect how people behave. Again, this is a given.
I believe that when you are born affects how you behave. This applies in a couple of ways. First of all, birth order makes a BIG determination in some of your personality traits. Secondly, I honestly believe that your astrological sign is a big factor. I believe that MOST people live wholeheartedly up to their astrological signs whether they want to admit it or not. Some fight it because they see it negatively but the reality is that embracing it and learning to develop healthy ways to deal with your quirks is far more important than denying them.
Finally, I believe that circumstance affects how a person behaves. If they're in the midst of a trial, they are going to behave in a certain manner. If they're experiencing a highly successful period, it's another.
While none of this is truly proven scientific fact, it's definitely something to consider when dealing with people. Research these factors and you can find effective ways to deal with them.
Friday, June 13, 2014
It's Not Selfish To Have "Me" Time
I was recently given a whole lot of crap for saying that I take "me time" every morning. I actually get up early so I can shower and then sit and sip coffee and read the news uninterrupted. When someone wakes up, I will tell them that this is "Mommy time" so they can read quietly for a half hour. (Obviously this are exceptions to every rule). I was told that this is selfish and that "once you're a mom, you give that up."
Here is where my problem lies with this theory....
A well balanced life makes all of the difference. Yes, as a parent it is ALWAYS about your kids. Kids are the priority and making certain that they are cared for and nurtured IS the most important thing you can do for them. I scarcely ever buy things for myself. I scarcely ever take time from them...THEY are my priority and that's how it should be.
With that being said, children will benefit the most from a healthy parent. That means that the parent gets time to themselves to regroup. It means that if it's a two parent household (of whatever variety), the parents get time as a couple. There is nothing selfish or wrong about taking a half hour to yourself. There's nothing selfish or wrong about getting a babysitter and spending a few hours or a day to yourself. You are not a bad parent for being human. Human beings need time to recharge. Everyone does it differently but it needs to be done and it's all about balance.
Parents, take time to chill.
To the parents who are criticizing (seems to be more prevalent in moms than dads), take a look at your own life. Instead of focusing on the finger pointing at someone else, look at the other four pointing back at you. Instead of picking each other apart, let's find a way to support each other despite our differences in approach. The ultimate goal is the outcome of productive, happy people going out into our world! Let's focus on THAT!
Here is where my problem lies with this theory....
A well balanced life makes all of the difference. Yes, as a parent it is ALWAYS about your kids. Kids are the priority and making certain that they are cared for and nurtured IS the most important thing you can do for them. I scarcely ever buy things for myself. I scarcely ever take time from them...THEY are my priority and that's how it should be.
With that being said, children will benefit the most from a healthy parent. That means that the parent gets time to themselves to regroup. It means that if it's a two parent household (of whatever variety), the parents get time as a couple. There is nothing selfish or wrong about taking a half hour to yourself. There's nothing selfish or wrong about getting a babysitter and spending a few hours or a day to yourself. You are not a bad parent for being human. Human beings need time to recharge. Everyone does it differently but it needs to be done and it's all about balance.
Parents, take time to chill.
To the parents who are criticizing (seems to be more prevalent in moms than dads), take a look at your own life. Instead of focusing on the finger pointing at someone else, look at the other four pointing back at you. Instead of picking each other apart, let's find a way to support each other despite our differences in approach. The ultimate goal is the outcome of productive, happy people going out into our world! Let's focus on THAT!
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Three Post Thursday....Post 3--The Value of Emergency Prep
I am, by no means, a conspiracy theorist but anyone that looks at the world today can tell that some big time craziness is going on. From natural disasters that seem to be more prevalent (whether they are or not) to governments gone crazy to school shootings and so on and so forth. I'm slowly but surely really getting an understanding of how important it is to prep for emergencies. You can't prep for everything but you can prepare yourself for some things. Here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing....
Secret Passwords with Your Kids There are a lot of crazy people out there who prey on small children. One of the best things you can do for your kids is be honest with them about the dangers that are out there. Encourage them to buddy up (never walk alone) and ALWAYS be aware of what's going on. Educate them on some of the ways that predators sneak up on them. Protect them from the dangers of the internet. Above and beyond that, though, you can do take a great measure to help them be safer: create a password. My kids and I have a password that no one else on the planet would ever even dream of. They know that if someone tells them that I'm in an emergency situation and need someone to get them, they are to ask for that password. In fact, they know that if anyone says I told them ANYTHING, they are to check for the password. If someone tries to tell them something and doesn't know it, they won't even give them the time of day. In fact, they've been told to run if anyone even attempts it!
Stock up on batteries, flashlights, candles, etc In the case of natural disaster, power outage, etc, it's always handy to have plenty of batteries, flashlights, candles, and so on already on hand. You don't want to be the person whose electricity goes out and you have nothing. If you can afford a generator, this is also beneficial.
Prep a backpack Have a bag that you can grab quickly in an emergency for your family. If you have to get out of your house quickly (fire, etc), it might make the difference if you have the ability to grab this bag.
Have some staples in your pantry Again, if there is a power outage or some reason you can't get out (snowstorm, flood, etc), it's beneficial to have some non-perishable food in your pantry to help you get by.
Have an emergency plan with your family. If there's a fire, does your family know where to meet up when they get out of the house. If there's an emergency while the kids are at school, do your spouse and children know where to meet you. If there's an emergency they're at a friend's house, do they know how to reach you or where to meet you. It's always beneficial to prepare as best as possible.
Run drills It sounds cheesy but one of the best things you can do for your kids is run drills with them. Let them pop out screens or climb down ladders to prep them for fires. Show them how to get down low to the ground and feel doors ahead of time. If there's another type of emergency, prep them on how to grab their shoes quickly and get out the door.
There are a million other emergency prep ideas. You can google or read up on the Red Cross website or other governmental agencies to get some ideas on how to best prepare your family for emergencies.
Secret Passwords with Your Kids There are a lot of crazy people out there who prey on small children. One of the best things you can do for your kids is be honest with them about the dangers that are out there. Encourage them to buddy up (never walk alone) and ALWAYS be aware of what's going on. Educate them on some of the ways that predators sneak up on them. Protect them from the dangers of the internet. Above and beyond that, though, you can do take a great measure to help them be safer: create a password. My kids and I have a password that no one else on the planet would ever even dream of. They know that if someone tells them that I'm in an emergency situation and need someone to get them, they are to ask for that password. In fact, they know that if anyone says I told them ANYTHING, they are to check for the password. If someone tries to tell them something and doesn't know it, they won't even give them the time of day. In fact, they've been told to run if anyone even attempts it!
Stock up on batteries, flashlights, candles, etc In the case of natural disaster, power outage, etc, it's always handy to have plenty of batteries, flashlights, candles, and so on already on hand. You don't want to be the person whose electricity goes out and you have nothing. If you can afford a generator, this is also beneficial.
Prep a backpack Have a bag that you can grab quickly in an emergency for your family. If you have to get out of your house quickly (fire, etc), it might make the difference if you have the ability to grab this bag.
Have some staples in your pantry Again, if there is a power outage or some reason you can't get out (snowstorm, flood, etc), it's beneficial to have some non-perishable food in your pantry to help you get by.
Have an emergency plan with your family. If there's a fire, does your family know where to meet up when they get out of the house. If there's an emergency while the kids are at school, do your spouse and children know where to meet you. If there's an emergency they're at a friend's house, do they know how to reach you or where to meet you. It's always beneficial to prepare as best as possible.
Run drills It sounds cheesy but one of the best things you can do for your kids is run drills with them. Let them pop out screens or climb down ladders to prep them for fires. Show them how to get down low to the ground and feel doors ahead of time. If there's another type of emergency, prep them on how to grab their shoes quickly and get out the door.
There are a million other emergency prep ideas. You can google or read up on the Red Cross website or other governmental agencies to get some ideas on how to best prepare your family for emergencies.
Review of Loreal Ever Pure Shampoo
I don't often do product reviews but I feel compelled to share this. I am normally a buyer of whatever brand of shampoo and conditioner I have a coupon for. I'm not a very high maintenance woman and, quite frankly, I think that most shampoos and conditioners are pretty well the same.
I went out on a limb and purchased Loreal Ever Pure Shampoo. It boasts preserving your color longer and my theory was that if my color lasted longer with this shampoo, I'd avoid having to color as often (yes, I color...I have pop-up gray hairs and I'm not quite ready to be gray yet). In essence, I attempted to experiment as to whether or not spending a little extra money on shampoo would save me money in the long run.
At around $6-7/bottle, this was no cheap shampoo. I can normally purchase Herbal Essence or Garnier Nutrisse with a coupon for $2-$2.50/bottle and the bottles are bigger (or seem that way, maybe). I purchased the bottle that seemed the best for my hair type and color, said a little prayer for spending so much on shampoo and took it home.
My experiment was based on a 8 week period. I didn't change my hair care habits in terms of how often I shampoo (every other day since my hair is exceptionally dry except at the scalp). I didn't change my habits of time of day I shower, how much sun my hair is exposed to, or exercise habits so as to keep the experiment as fair as possible to outside elements. I didn't use other brands of products and I had colored my hair right before starting these products.
At the end of 8 weeks, I can honestly say this: it's not worth the money, in my opinion. My hair color didn't last any longer or look any more vibrant. If anything, my hair was MORE frizzy and I didn't feel like the conditioner coated my hair well and protected it. On top of that, it smelled like Comet bathtub cleaner. Not a perk for someone who is obsessed with being smooth and smelling nice.
My advice? Purchase the cheaper shampoo and do natural hair masks with avocado (or whatever natural mask works for you) in between.
I went out on a limb and purchased Loreal Ever Pure Shampoo. It boasts preserving your color longer and my theory was that if my color lasted longer with this shampoo, I'd avoid having to color as often (yes, I color...I have pop-up gray hairs and I'm not quite ready to be gray yet). In essence, I attempted to experiment as to whether or not spending a little extra money on shampoo would save me money in the long run.
At around $6-7/bottle, this was no cheap shampoo. I can normally purchase Herbal Essence or Garnier Nutrisse with a coupon for $2-$2.50/bottle and the bottles are bigger (or seem that way, maybe). I purchased the bottle that seemed the best for my hair type and color, said a little prayer for spending so much on shampoo and took it home.
My experiment was based on a 8 week period. I didn't change my hair care habits in terms of how often I shampoo (every other day since my hair is exceptionally dry except at the scalp). I didn't change my habits of time of day I shower, how much sun my hair is exposed to, or exercise habits so as to keep the experiment as fair as possible to outside elements. I didn't use other brands of products and I had colored my hair right before starting these products.
At the end of 8 weeks, I can honestly say this: it's not worth the money, in my opinion. My hair color didn't last any longer or look any more vibrant. If anything, my hair was MORE frizzy and I didn't feel like the conditioner coated my hair well and protected it. On top of that, it smelled like Comet bathtub cleaner. Not a perk for someone who is obsessed with being smooth and smelling nice.
My advice? Purchase the cheaper shampoo and do natural hair masks with avocado (or whatever natural mask works for you) in between.
Respecting Your Elders
I've been pondering respect, specifically children respecting adults and I came to the conclusion that the definition of respect seems to have changed over the years. When I was a kid, respect was shown in actions, whereas, now respect is shown more in words. Here are some examples....
When I was raised, we called teachers Mrs Jones (or whatever last name). We were given the option of respecting the teacher or going to the principal's office and the principal was intentionally intimidating. Now, a lot of schools are promoting calling the teachers "Miss Sally" (or whatever first name) to "promote a more personal relationship." Parents get to dictate whether or not what their children does to disrespect a teacher is over the line and throw a fit if they're not happy with it. The Principal is now someone that is trying to form personal relationships.
There are some perks but here's the problem....Taking away the teacher's last name and letting the parents throw fits over the teacher's behavior takes away the teacher's authority in the child's eyes. Where there is no authority, there is no respect. Principal's playing nice all of the time doesn't give the children anything to "fear"; therefore, they behave however they want without fear of major consequences.
When I was raised, we were allowed to call friends' parents by their first name but we often called the close ones "Mom" or "Dad." Now, parents are enforcing calling people "Miss Suzie" out of respect but they are forgetting to teach the children the respectful behavior that goes with it. It's okay to teach little Johnny to call the neighbor Miss Suzie as he's peeing in her front yard because he's never been taught to respect people's property. Calling a friend's parent "mom" or "dad" is frowned upon now as a sign of disrespect yet we allow our kids to be sneaky little brats at other people's homes and only give them a slap on the wrist. (Figuratively speaking).
When I was raised, kids that threw tantrums or acted like jerks at other people's houses got marched down the road being tugged by the ear or the arm to apologize to the parents. Now the children get the benefit of the doubt every time and the other parents is assumed to be a jerk for disciplining your child in your absence. Kids are permitted to spin wild tales of how they were mistreated and the parents don't even talk to the neighbors/friends. Not only is this a terrible habit in general, but it encourages lying and never taking responsibility for their actions.
When I was a kid, if my parents said to do something, I was expected to do it...period. Now the kids are encouraged to ask "why" they were asked to do something or say that it's not fair and make a compromise. Compromise? It's one thing to give your children choices and I encourage that as often as possible. With that being said, encouraging your children to find a compromise with you is a fast way to get an argumentative, disrespectful child.
and finally....
When I was a kid, kids were expected to respect their elders regardless of their station in life. Now, kids are essentially made to believe that adults have to "earn" their respect. They are made to believe by the media and elsewhere that bus drivers or janitors are not as important as celebrities and, therefore, do not require the same amount of respect. They are given the right to act like jerks to adults because they don't like their opinions.
The dangers of letting kids get this level of disrespect are stifling. I wish that more parents took a real look at the consequences of their actions.
When I was raised, we called teachers Mrs Jones (or whatever last name). We were given the option of respecting the teacher or going to the principal's office and the principal was intentionally intimidating. Now, a lot of schools are promoting calling the teachers "Miss Sally" (or whatever first name) to "promote a more personal relationship." Parents get to dictate whether or not what their children does to disrespect a teacher is over the line and throw a fit if they're not happy with it. The Principal is now someone that is trying to form personal relationships.
There are some perks but here's the problem....Taking away the teacher's last name and letting the parents throw fits over the teacher's behavior takes away the teacher's authority in the child's eyes. Where there is no authority, there is no respect. Principal's playing nice all of the time doesn't give the children anything to "fear"; therefore, they behave however they want without fear of major consequences.
When I was raised, we were allowed to call friends' parents by their first name but we often called the close ones "Mom" or "Dad." Now, parents are enforcing calling people "Miss Suzie" out of respect but they are forgetting to teach the children the respectful behavior that goes with it. It's okay to teach little Johnny to call the neighbor Miss Suzie as he's peeing in her front yard because he's never been taught to respect people's property. Calling a friend's parent "mom" or "dad" is frowned upon now as a sign of disrespect yet we allow our kids to be sneaky little brats at other people's homes and only give them a slap on the wrist. (Figuratively speaking).
When I was raised, kids that threw tantrums or acted like jerks at other people's houses got marched down the road being tugged by the ear or the arm to apologize to the parents. Now the children get the benefit of the doubt every time and the other parents is assumed to be a jerk for disciplining your child in your absence. Kids are permitted to spin wild tales of how they were mistreated and the parents don't even talk to the neighbors/friends. Not only is this a terrible habit in general, but it encourages lying and never taking responsibility for their actions.
When I was a kid, if my parents said to do something, I was expected to do it...period. Now the kids are encouraged to ask "why" they were asked to do something or say that it's not fair and make a compromise. Compromise? It's one thing to give your children choices and I encourage that as often as possible. With that being said, encouraging your children to find a compromise with you is a fast way to get an argumentative, disrespectful child.
and finally....
When I was a kid, kids were expected to respect their elders regardless of their station in life. Now, kids are essentially made to believe that adults have to "earn" their respect. They are made to believe by the media and elsewhere that bus drivers or janitors are not as important as celebrities and, therefore, do not require the same amount of respect. They are given the right to act like jerks to adults because they don't like their opinions.
The dangers of letting kids get this level of disrespect are stifling. I wish that more parents took a real look at the consequences of their actions.
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Road Offenders
I am a big supporter of the justice system but I think that traffic cops are sometimes not as attentive as they should be. By no means do I believe that the traffic cops sit in the donut shops like on the movies. Nor do I believe that they're all by the side of the road having sex in the back of a squad car like the media would like to have you think sometimes. I genuinely think that 99.5% of police officers are doing their job to the best of their ability and just have a hard time multi tasking occasionally. I believe that there is a high incidence of this with traffic cops. It seems that they will pull over someone for not using a blinker while someone is speeding by at 80 mph in a 60 zone. Perhaps it's an oversight. I certainly don't think that it's profiling (contrary to what conspiracy theorists would say). With all of that being said, here are the top five offenders that I believe should be carefully monitored on the roads....
The Speed Demon I'm relatively certain that everyone speeds once in awhile for an emergency, when they're late to work or when they really need to be somewhere and they're running late. With that being said, The Speed Demon doesn't ever try to take into consideration that they could simply leave earlier and get somewhere earlier. They're the jerks that hammer up the shoulder of the road to get off at the next exit because the cars in front of them are doing the speed limit. They're the buttholes that will ride on your back bumper until you move over so they can speed past you (An action that, for me, results in me going even slower. Don't ride my ass unless you're gonna pull my hair.)
The Passhole You know who you are. These are the people that will speed up and pass you and then slam on their brakes and go slower than you were going to begin with. They are also the people that refuse to let you over even when you have your blinker on for miles. There will be space and you'll speed up or slow down to accommodate and the passhole simply speeds up and slows down to match your speed. They rarely use blinkers and view them as a threat when they are used correctly.
The Distracted Driver This can encompass anything from a woman putting on makeup in her rear view (or on her visor mirror...I've seen it and I always want to reach through their window and pop them in the back of the head for being so careless) to texting (or Facebooking) to eating to turning around to yell at your kids as your minivan creates melee in rush hour traffic. If you must text or talk on the phone, PLEASE use a wireless headset and talk to text/text to talk. If your phone is not capable, DON'T do it. It only takes a second for you to careen into those of us that ARE paying attention and put us in a major spot. If you need to turn around to discipline your kids, please pull off the road. Do your make up before you leave the house. This seems pretty common sense to me.
The Manic Motorcyclist I am all for the "Look twice, save a life" campaign but if you're gonna zip up the middle of two lanes of traffic in rush hour, you're asking for it. If you're going to maneuver in and out of traffic carelessly without a second thought, look or hand signal, you're asking to get hit. It is not always a car driver's fault that a motorcyclist wanted to disobey traffic laws yet we're treated as if it is. Poor motorcyclist got hit...what they don't tell you is that the motorcyclist had been speeding in between lanes of traffic and that the car driver had his blinker on, looked twice and maneuvered over as he should have. Not ALL motorcyclists are like this and not all car drivers are careful to look twice. Manic motorcyclists are a menace on the road though.
and finally.....
The Cutter You know in elementary school when the popular kids always felt like they could cut in line just because? These are the entitled schmucks that cut in traffic. They're the people that wait until the last minute to get over knowing that there's construction or that the lane ends ahead. They're the people that try to jut in front of you when you've already let a car merge in rush hour traffic (It works like a deck of cards, people...one from the highway, one from the merging lane, one from the highway, one from the merging lane). They're the people that pay NO attention when merging and expect you to accommodate them. They're the people who honk and veer when you obey normal traffic laws and they don't get their way. In my opinion, these are some of the most dangerous people on the road because they simply don't ever think of the other drivers. They're selfish and that threatens the well-being of everyone on the road.
If you're one of these jerk offs, get it together. If you're a traffic cop, consider monitoring these people and getting them ticketed. Maybe they'll think twice if they actually get called on their traffic violations and make our roads a safer place
The Speed Demon I'm relatively certain that everyone speeds once in awhile for an emergency, when they're late to work or when they really need to be somewhere and they're running late. With that being said, The Speed Demon doesn't ever try to take into consideration that they could simply leave earlier and get somewhere earlier. They're the jerks that hammer up the shoulder of the road to get off at the next exit because the cars in front of them are doing the speed limit. They're the buttholes that will ride on your back bumper until you move over so they can speed past you (An action that, for me, results in me going even slower. Don't ride my ass unless you're gonna pull my hair.)
The Passhole You know who you are. These are the people that will speed up and pass you and then slam on their brakes and go slower than you were going to begin with. They are also the people that refuse to let you over even when you have your blinker on for miles. There will be space and you'll speed up or slow down to accommodate and the passhole simply speeds up and slows down to match your speed. They rarely use blinkers and view them as a threat when they are used correctly.
The Distracted Driver This can encompass anything from a woman putting on makeup in her rear view (or on her visor mirror...I've seen it and I always want to reach through their window and pop them in the back of the head for being so careless) to texting (or Facebooking) to eating to turning around to yell at your kids as your minivan creates melee in rush hour traffic. If you must text or talk on the phone, PLEASE use a wireless headset and talk to text/text to talk. If your phone is not capable, DON'T do it. It only takes a second for you to careen into those of us that ARE paying attention and put us in a major spot. If you need to turn around to discipline your kids, please pull off the road. Do your make up before you leave the house. This seems pretty common sense to me.
The Manic Motorcyclist I am all for the "Look twice, save a life" campaign but if you're gonna zip up the middle of two lanes of traffic in rush hour, you're asking for it. If you're going to maneuver in and out of traffic carelessly without a second thought, look or hand signal, you're asking to get hit. It is not always a car driver's fault that a motorcyclist wanted to disobey traffic laws yet we're treated as if it is. Poor motorcyclist got hit...what they don't tell you is that the motorcyclist had been speeding in between lanes of traffic and that the car driver had his blinker on, looked twice and maneuvered over as he should have. Not ALL motorcyclists are like this and not all car drivers are careful to look twice. Manic motorcyclists are a menace on the road though.
and finally.....
The Cutter You know in elementary school when the popular kids always felt like they could cut in line just because? These are the entitled schmucks that cut in traffic. They're the people that wait until the last minute to get over knowing that there's construction or that the lane ends ahead. They're the people that try to jut in front of you when you've already let a car merge in rush hour traffic (It works like a deck of cards, people...one from the highway, one from the merging lane, one from the highway, one from the merging lane). They're the people that pay NO attention when merging and expect you to accommodate them. They're the people who honk and veer when you obey normal traffic laws and they don't get their way. In my opinion, these are some of the most dangerous people on the road because they simply don't ever think of the other drivers. They're selfish and that threatens the well-being of everyone on the road.
If you're one of these jerk offs, get it together. If you're a traffic cop, consider monitoring these people and getting them ticketed. Maybe they'll think twice if they actually get called on their traffic violations and make our roads a safer place
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Pont de Arts
The Pont Des Arts is suffering from collapse. If you aren't familiar, the Pont des Arts is a place that people go...a bridge. They write their names on a padlock and lock it to the bridge before throwing their key into the Seine River as a sign of eternal love. It's a lovely sentiment and somewhere that I've always wanted to go. Apparently a section of railing collapsed under the weight of the padlocks. This is incredibly sad to me because lovers have symbolized THEIR eternal love by doing this act and now it's going to crap. Ironically I believe there is some symbolization within this sad event.
When you pile too much crap on ANYTHING, it falls apart. This is especially true with people. When you pile too much on them, they WILL collapse. You have to be able to balance the weight emotionally.
Even when intentions are best, you can cause more harm than good The reality is that most of the time, you aren't intending to be a jerk. Your intentions are good but it actually ends up causing bigger problems when you take things into your own hands.
Beautiful symbols are eternal regardless of what happens to them physically. This is true of people too. People will "fall apart" but when you love them and when you symbolize your love in your actions, your love for them remains eternal even when the physical part of it no longer stands.
and finally....
Love is more than a feeling...it's a choice. Love is not just something that you feel. Yes there IS a chemistry to your body that you definitely do feel when you're in love but it's not just about that. Love is about something bigger. It's about a choice that you make every day to make your lover feel happy and good about themselves.
My hope is that they can repair or rebuild this bridge and this tradition can go on. If not, though, I hope that lovers find another way to symbolize something amazing as this.
When you pile too much crap on ANYTHING, it falls apart. This is especially true with people. When you pile too much on them, they WILL collapse. You have to be able to balance the weight emotionally.
Even when intentions are best, you can cause more harm than good The reality is that most of the time, you aren't intending to be a jerk. Your intentions are good but it actually ends up causing bigger problems when you take things into your own hands.
Beautiful symbols are eternal regardless of what happens to them physically. This is true of people too. People will "fall apart" but when you love them and when you symbolize your love in your actions, your love for them remains eternal even when the physical part of it no longer stands.
and finally....
Love is more than a feeling...it's a choice. Love is not just something that you feel. Yes there IS a chemistry to your body that you definitely do feel when you're in love but it's not just about that. Love is about something bigger. It's about a choice that you make every day to make your lover feel happy and good about themselves.
My hope is that they can repair or rebuild this bridge and this tradition can go on. If not, though, I hope that lovers find another way to symbolize something amazing as this.
Monday, June 9, 2014
Defining Family
When I was a little girl, I had this idea of what family looked like. Back then, family was a married mom and dad and some kids. You went to grandparent's houses for holidays, played with your cousins, hugged your grandparents and went home. You fought with your siblings and were ready to kill them because they bugged the crap out of you. It was the most "normal" family you could have back then.
As I grew up and my parents divorced, my idea of family expanded. It was step siblings and step parents and step grandparents. It probably should have made me sad at some level but it didn't. It was more family to love. You split how you spent your time but now you had two great families to spend it with. Even better!
Over the years, there have been in laws and ex-in laws. There have been almost step brothers and step sisters. There have been nieces and nephews. There have been a lot of changes made to the family and it always looks different. It always strayed from this picture I had in my mind of what a family was supposed to look like. It started to be a problem in my mind and heart.
In order to fix this problem, I had to re-define family. I'm a geek so I do it with lists and research and other geeky tools. One of Merriam Webster's definitions of families is " a group of things related by common characteristics." THAT was my jumping off point. What I wanted my family to look like was a "group of things related by common characteristics." Note that they don't have to be the exact same item; just items with common characteristics.
By default, the next question is what I want those characteristics to be. That is a bit more of a challenge. You can't change people's characteristics. Making such a "list" might mean having to let go of some of the people I've held as "family" all of this time. This was a hard step for me and one that I had to really think and pray over. It was hard for me to let go of the concept of family I'd set up as a child and give new life to what "family" meant to me. What characteristics do I want to see in family? Kindness, compassion, forgiveness, humor, support, and love. Those were the six that sprung to mind immediately. Added later was appreciation. Those seven characteristics were what I wanted my family to summarize.
But what if the people around you don't have these characteristics? That question is a hard one to cope with. That depends on the person. For me, allowing myself to have a healthy heart, mind, soul, and body means that I try to keep toxins out of my life. What is a toxin? Merriam Webster defines it as "a poisonous substance that is a specific product of the metabolic activities of a living organism and is usually very unstable, notably toxic when introduced into the tissues, and typically capable of inducing antibody formation " Let's break this down a bit. A toxin's characteristics are that it is unstable, toxic when introduced to tissues and capable of antibody formation. If we were speaking for representative purposes, we could say that a toxic person is someone who is unstable, particularly toxic to our hearts and capable of producing drama within a family group or group of friends. Just like I attempt to keep a lot of toxins out of my body, this is how to protect my heart that same way. And just as I loved desperately some of the toxins I kept out of my body, I knew it was for the greater good to keep them away. This is how I needed to approach things with my heart.
My next step was to find out who the toxic people were in my life. Who made me feel bad when I was with them or talked to them? Who did I feel bad about just thinking of them? Who did I constantly struggle with feelings of helplessness in dealing with? Who had I tried to fix things with and it just didn't happen? Who were the truly toxic people in my life? Who were the people that were going to cause drama in my family group or group of friends. Who were the unstable people? Some of the people on my list did not SURPRISE me but they tugged at my heart strings; the ones that were in place from childhood telling me that I HAD to love them .
Nearing the end of this process, I began to eliminate the toxic people one by one. Some of them were easier. I chose those people first. Some of them were incredibly difficult and I'm still working on the ones that were the hardest. What I found, though, is that as I eliminated a "toxin" from my life, I began to feel healthier as a person. What I found is that the elimination of "toxins" made me feel whole again. It made me feel like me. It freed up space to allow someone or something else to be.
The last step of the process is truly letting go: letting go of the assumptions that I made as a child about what a family should look like, letting go of the people who continue to be toxic to me, and letting go of the old definition of family. It also involves accepting: accepting new and healthier concepts of family, accepting the people that I once held at arm's length to protect myself, and accepting the new definition of family.
Oddly enough, most of my family is not biologically related. This is a hard concept for some people to grasp. The reality, though, is that my "sisters' are not about blood relation; they are about people who are there non stop and share the laughter, tears, and every imaginable emotion in between. The reality is that my children get to see a true concept of how to treat people and aren't trapped in a biological web of how you HAVE to accept someone's behavior just because they are related to you. They are learning to treat people with dignity, respect and love because that is what they want in return. It's an invaluable lesson.
My journey is not for everyone. My definition of family is based on the characteristics that are important to me and a healthier life for me. That isn't going to look the same for every single person. I don't imply that everyone should dump their biological families in search of something better. I don't imply that everyone should define things as I do. I simply stand firm in the convictions that sometimes you have to make healthier decisions to have a healthier life. THAT is what family should be.
As I grew up and my parents divorced, my idea of family expanded. It was step siblings and step parents and step grandparents. It probably should have made me sad at some level but it didn't. It was more family to love. You split how you spent your time but now you had two great families to spend it with. Even better!
Over the years, there have been in laws and ex-in laws. There have been almost step brothers and step sisters. There have been nieces and nephews. There have been a lot of changes made to the family and it always looks different. It always strayed from this picture I had in my mind of what a family was supposed to look like. It started to be a problem in my mind and heart.
In order to fix this problem, I had to re-define family. I'm a geek so I do it with lists and research and other geeky tools. One of Merriam Webster's definitions of families is " a group of things related by common characteristics." THAT was my jumping off point. What I wanted my family to look like was a "group of things related by common characteristics." Note that they don't have to be the exact same item; just items with common characteristics.
By default, the next question is what I want those characteristics to be. That is a bit more of a challenge. You can't change people's characteristics. Making such a "list" might mean having to let go of some of the people I've held as "family" all of this time. This was a hard step for me and one that I had to really think and pray over. It was hard for me to let go of the concept of family I'd set up as a child and give new life to what "family" meant to me. What characteristics do I want to see in family? Kindness, compassion, forgiveness, humor, support, and love. Those were the six that sprung to mind immediately. Added later was appreciation. Those seven characteristics were what I wanted my family to summarize.
But what if the people around you don't have these characteristics? That question is a hard one to cope with. That depends on the person. For me, allowing myself to have a healthy heart, mind, soul, and body means that I try to keep toxins out of my life. What is a toxin? Merriam Webster defines it as "a poisonous substance that is a specific product of the metabolic activities of a living organism and is usually very unstable, notably toxic when introduced into the tissues, and typically capable of inducing antibody formation " Let's break this down a bit. A toxin's characteristics are that it is unstable, toxic when introduced to tissues and capable of antibody formation. If we were speaking for representative purposes, we could say that a toxic person is someone who is unstable, particularly toxic to our hearts and capable of producing drama within a family group or group of friends. Just like I attempt to keep a lot of toxins out of my body, this is how to protect my heart that same way. And just as I loved desperately some of the toxins I kept out of my body, I knew it was for the greater good to keep them away. This is how I needed to approach things with my heart.
My next step was to find out who the toxic people were in my life. Who made me feel bad when I was with them or talked to them? Who did I feel bad about just thinking of them? Who did I constantly struggle with feelings of helplessness in dealing with? Who had I tried to fix things with and it just didn't happen? Who were the truly toxic people in my life? Who were the people that were going to cause drama in my family group or group of friends. Who were the unstable people? Some of the people on my list did not SURPRISE me but they tugged at my heart strings; the ones that were in place from childhood telling me that I HAD to love them .
Nearing the end of this process, I began to eliminate the toxic people one by one. Some of them were easier. I chose those people first. Some of them were incredibly difficult and I'm still working on the ones that were the hardest. What I found, though, is that as I eliminated a "toxin" from my life, I began to feel healthier as a person. What I found is that the elimination of "toxins" made me feel whole again. It made me feel like me. It freed up space to allow someone or something else to be.
The last step of the process is truly letting go: letting go of the assumptions that I made as a child about what a family should look like, letting go of the people who continue to be toxic to me, and letting go of the old definition of family. It also involves accepting: accepting new and healthier concepts of family, accepting the people that I once held at arm's length to protect myself, and accepting the new definition of family.
Oddly enough, most of my family is not biologically related. This is a hard concept for some people to grasp. The reality, though, is that my "sisters' are not about blood relation; they are about people who are there non stop and share the laughter, tears, and every imaginable emotion in between. The reality is that my children get to see a true concept of how to treat people and aren't trapped in a biological web of how you HAVE to accept someone's behavior just because they are related to you. They are learning to treat people with dignity, respect and love because that is what they want in return. It's an invaluable lesson.
My journey is not for everyone. My definition of family is based on the characteristics that are important to me and a healthier life for me. That isn't going to look the same for every single person. I don't imply that everyone should dump their biological families in search of something better. I don't imply that everyone should define things as I do. I simply stand firm in the convictions that sometimes you have to make healthier decisions to have a healthier life. THAT is what family should be.
Friday, June 6, 2014
Guilty Pleasures!
Guilty pleasures are one of the highlights of being an adult. They create a warm fuzzy feeling in your heart and give you a relaxed feeling of well-being. Here are a few of mine....
Ice Cream: I'm not particular, for the most part. I loathe butter pecan but I enjoy most other types including mint chocolate chip (my favorite), rocky road, and cherry vanilla. I'm not brand specific though I'm not a fan of Breyer's mint chocolate chip. I'll eat store brand but NO sugar free/low sugar. Aspartame is not a friend of mine.
Ironic Note; Love ice cream, not a fan of cake.
Doritos: Just the regular nacho cheese brand please.
Smores: I have not been shy about my love for these tasty treats. My favorites are graham crackers with Reese's instead of Hershey's and a thin slice of strawberry added on. Close second is a regular smore with peanut butter spread on the inside of the crackers and a thin slice of banana added. I'm a bit of a smores connessiour and I enjoy mine with Coors Light.
"Friends" This was one of the best sitcoms, in my opinion. I will watch reruns over and over.
"Will and Grace" Same thing. One of the best sitcoms. One of my favorites is one of the live episodes they did where Jack burned his eyebrows off.
80s hair bands: Nothing like rockin out to some Motley Crue while you're driving to work. Yes, I am singing VERY loudly. Yes I know that you can see me. No, I don't care.
16th Street Mall (Downtown Denver): I love to window shop and just walk the street. I'm a sucker for Mellow Mushroom pizza but I'm also a sucker for sitting and people watching.
and finally....
St Augustine beach I love Colorado more than life but my favorite vacation spot is St Augustine, Florida. It's humid and Florida is for the birds...or more aptly the snowbirds, but it's a great guilty pleasure spot. I could sunscreen, oil up and spend the whole day at the beach just watching the ocean....and then leave and come back home to somewhere that isn't prone to hurricanes.
Ice Cream: I'm not particular, for the most part. I loathe butter pecan but I enjoy most other types including mint chocolate chip (my favorite), rocky road, and cherry vanilla. I'm not brand specific though I'm not a fan of Breyer's mint chocolate chip. I'll eat store brand but NO sugar free/low sugar. Aspartame is not a friend of mine.
Ironic Note; Love ice cream, not a fan of cake.
Doritos: Just the regular nacho cheese brand please.
Smores: I have not been shy about my love for these tasty treats. My favorites are graham crackers with Reese's instead of Hershey's and a thin slice of strawberry added on. Close second is a regular smore with peanut butter spread on the inside of the crackers and a thin slice of banana added. I'm a bit of a smores connessiour and I enjoy mine with Coors Light.
"Friends" This was one of the best sitcoms, in my opinion. I will watch reruns over and over.
"Will and Grace" Same thing. One of the best sitcoms. One of my favorites is one of the live episodes they did where Jack burned his eyebrows off.
80s hair bands: Nothing like rockin out to some Motley Crue while you're driving to work. Yes, I am singing VERY loudly. Yes I know that you can see me. No, I don't care.
16th Street Mall (Downtown Denver): I love to window shop and just walk the street. I'm a sucker for Mellow Mushroom pizza but I'm also a sucker for sitting and people watching.
and finally....
St Augustine beach I love Colorado more than life but my favorite vacation spot is St Augustine, Florida. It's humid and Florida is for the birds...or more aptly the snowbirds, but it's a great guilty pleasure spot. I could sunscreen, oil up and spend the whole day at the beach just watching the ocean....and then leave and come back home to somewhere that isn't prone to hurricanes.
Thursday, June 5, 2014
20 somethings...I'm talking to YOU
I'm gonna make this quick and painless. In their late teens and early twenties, people tend to think that they have the world by the balls. It's not a great outlook but it's common and I think everyone goes through it. So if you're from the age of 17-24, this is for you....
Your whirlwind romance is probably gonna end. I'm sorry to disappoint you but the odds aren't in your favor. I know you think you're in love but true love can wait....don't give up on your dreams to get married and settle down with someone you just met. It'll probably bite you in the ass.
Yes it CAN happen to you. The viewpoint here is always that bad things can't happen to you. Yes, people can drive tipsy and kill others in DUIs but I can drive tipsy and it won't hurt. Guess what? It's illegal and it can happen to you...and change your life forever. Think about your decision.
Think twice, act once. My grandparents have always told me to think twice and I never understood it until adulthood. Think twice and act once and you'll get yourself into far less trouble.
If you feel ANY sort of feeling that maybe you shouldn't, DON'T! You have a conscience...it's talking to you. Don't ignore it.
Don't feel like you have to bow to peer pressure Peer pressure is not just a high school thing. You're pressured into a lot throughout your entire life. Don't feel like you need to bow to that. Focus on what you want and not on what everyone wants for you.
Listen to your elders. This is like nails on a chalkboard, I know. Honestly, though, they know what they're talking about. You're not different than everyone...you're gonna have to learn things the hard way and most of the time they're trying to save you that heartache.
and finally....
Stop expecting the goals of a 50 year old at 20 years old It's just like a job, pal. You gotta work your way up the food chain. Don't expect a million dollar home at 17. Live in an apartment...learn how the world works....make mistakes....live life. Don't expect to live the life of a guy that's worked his ass off for 30 years at the same job when you're 20 years old. You won't appreciate it and you'll lose it anyway.
Your whirlwind romance is probably gonna end. I'm sorry to disappoint you but the odds aren't in your favor. I know you think you're in love but true love can wait....don't give up on your dreams to get married and settle down with someone you just met. It'll probably bite you in the ass.
Yes it CAN happen to you. The viewpoint here is always that bad things can't happen to you. Yes, people can drive tipsy and kill others in DUIs but I can drive tipsy and it won't hurt. Guess what? It's illegal and it can happen to you...and change your life forever. Think about your decision.
Think twice, act once. My grandparents have always told me to think twice and I never understood it until adulthood. Think twice and act once and you'll get yourself into far less trouble.
If you feel ANY sort of feeling that maybe you shouldn't, DON'T! You have a conscience...it's talking to you. Don't ignore it.
Don't feel like you have to bow to peer pressure Peer pressure is not just a high school thing. You're pressured into a lot throughout your entire life. Don't feel like you need to bow to that. Focus on what you want and not on what everyone wants for you.
Listen to your elders. This is like nails on a chalkboard, I know. Honestly, though, they know what they're talking about. You're not different than everyone...you're gonna have to learn things the hard way and most of the time they're trying to save you that heartache.
and finally....
Stop expecting the goals of a 50 year old at 20 years old It's just like a job, pal. You gotta work your way up the food chain. Don't expect a million dollar home at 17. Live in an apartment...learn how the world works....make mistakes....live life. Don't expect to live the life of a guy that's worked his ass off for 30 years at the same job when you're 20 years old. You won't appreciate it and you'll lose it anyway.
Photographer Etiquette
A good photographer is like a good lover...attentive, caring and always concerned with making sure that you get what you want. For those of us that do it more for the love of the craft than the money, we are very caring and loyal to our clients. Not only do we spend hours editing pictures but we spend painstaking amounts of time retouching small details (hello rub on tattoos, parents!) With all of that being said, it is a slap in the face when people stray from choosing us for their photography needs because it's like cheating on us. So here are a few do's and don'ts with your photographer...
If you find one you love, stay loyal Is it really worth saving twenty or thirty dollars getting a "freebie shoot" to offend or hurt your photographers feelings? I take hours out of my personal time to edit shoots. I don't charge much because I don't believe that people should have to give up their firstborn to obtain beautiful memories. I'm a bit of a stickler, though, for people that take advantage of it.
If you find one who caters to you constantly, don't take it for granted If your photographer is constantly driving to you, spending more time than normal or editing way more than you paid for, you need to strongly think before taking them for granted. Once they're gone, they're gone.
If there's a problem, say something but don't be a jerk In particular, if they're doing you a favor, don't be a schmuck to them.
Tell someone...tell everyone Brag on your photographer. Chances are, if they're doing it at a low rate for you, they could use the word of mouth.
and finally...
Don't steal their work If you didn't pay for it and they didn't give it to you, don't steal their work. Not only is it illegal but it's also just morally crappy. It's also crappy to cut out their logo. Guess what? If they did you a favor, you're being a schmuck to cut out the recognition for that.
Treat your photographer with love and they will love you in return and do the world for you
If you find one you love, stay loyal Is it really worth saving twenty or thirty dollars getting a "freebie shoot" to offend or hurt your photographers feelings? I take hours out of my personal time to edit shoots. I don't charge much because I don't believe that people should have to give up their firstborn to obtain beautiful memories. I'm a bit of a stickler, though, for people that take advantage of it.
If you find one who caters to you constantly, don't take it for granted If your photographer is constantly driving to you, spending more time than normal or editing way more than you paid for, you need to strongly think before taking them for granted. Once they're gone, they're gone.
If there's a problem, say something but don't be a jerk In particular, if they're doing you a favor, don't be a schmuck to them.
Tell someone...tell everyone Brag on your photographer. Chances are, if they're doing it at a low rate for you, they could use the word of mouth.
and finally...
Don't steal their work If you didn't pay for it and they didn't give it to you, don't steal their work. Not only is it illegal but it's also just morally crappy. It's also crappy to cut out their logo. Guess what? If they did you a favor, you're being a schmuck to cut out the recognition for that.
Treat your photographer with love and they will love you in return and do the world for you
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Instigators....you know who you are
Exaggeration is a commonplace thing now. Most of the time, it's not exceptionally harmful. It's exaggerating the size of the fish you caught or how hot it is outside. Exaggeration is the norm and everyone does it...everyone.
There is a VERY CLEAR line between exaggeration and instigation but some use exaggeration to instigate quite often. Everyone knows someone who does it. It's the "friend" that likes to egg you on and then watch you explode on someone. Often times, these are the same people that, then, try to play the hero to you. They're prone to jealousy but more than that, they're prone to stepping up the stakes if you aren't giving them the reaction that they want.
The person I'm thinking of right now is a major instigator but claim that they hate drama. This is commonplace.
The person I'm thinking of is OVERLY critical of others but never takes the blame themselves.
The person I'm thinking of is a "best friend" when they're in a spot but trash talks behind your back.
The person I'm thinking of is someone who will tell you unnecessary information just to tick you off at someone else.
The person I'm thinking of always plays the victim when people get angry.
The person I'm thinking of doesn't understand boundaries or how you should treat people.
I guess the moral of my story here is twofold. One: WATCH OUT for instigators...don't give them the pleasure of causing you heartache. Two: DON'T BE AN INSTIGATOR! Stop causing crap just to cause it.
There is a VERY CLEAR line between exaggeration and instigation but some use exaggeration to instigate quite often. Everyone knows someone who does it. It's the "friend" that likes to egg you on and then watch you explode on someone. Often times, these are the same people that, then, try to play the hero to you. They're prone to jealousy but more than that, they're prone to stepping up the stakes if you aren't giving them the reaction that they want.
The person I'm thinking of right now is a major instigator but claim that they hate drama. This is commonplace.
The person I'm thinking of is OVERLY critical of others but never takes the blame themselves.
The person I'm thinking of is a "best friend" when they're in a spot but trash talks behind your back.
The person I'm thinking of is someone who will tell you unnecessary information just to tick you off at someone else.
The person I'm thinking of always plays the victim when people get angry.
The person I'm thinking of doesn't understand boundaries or how you should treat people.
I guess the moral of my story here is twofold. One: WATCH OUT for instigators...don't give them the pleasure of causing you heartache. Two: DON'T BE AN INSTIGATOR! Stop causing crap just to cause it.
Douchebag Driving Lessons
As I was driving into work yesterday, I decided that a few people need douchebag driving lessons. So here are my top three DON'T from yesterday......
Driving up the shoulder Are you friggin serious? Okay, I am ALL for the "look twice, save a life" campaign and I do it. However a few motorcyclists ruin the push for people to pay more attention with their actions. If you ride a motorcycle (or any other form of bike or scooter), don't be a schmuck. Don't cut through rush hour traffic on the white lines or on the shoulder. People can look 100 times when they're in rush hour traffic but if they have their blinking on and are getting ready to change lanes the correct way and some douchebag zooms up on his motorcycle not paying attention, a campaign isn't saving him. I watched this happen yesterday along with about a zillion bikers riding up the median...not cool. Motorcycle does not mean you get to make your own traffic laws. So how about this? I'll support motorcyclist's rights and their safety campaign if they stop asking like their Harleys (or whatever brand) make them as crazy special as the Men in Black cars.
Cut and Slam. You...yes you....the one that cuts into traffic just so you can get one car ahead on the highway in rush hour and then slams on his brakes. You're an asshole. I've talked about merging before. The fact is that the mergER is at the mercy of the mergEE .... not the other way around. The merger is supposed to adjust their speed to the flow of traffic. If you're in rush hour (as the case was yesterday), people are nice enough to shuffle like a deck of cards. Don't be the douchebag that tries to shove two cards into a one card space, dude! When you DO merge, don't be the dick that slams on their brakes especially not in rush hour. You're begging for a car wreck.
Distracted Driving Yes, the law is there is no TEXTING while driving. That does not mean to look at Facebook, put on make up or (as what I saw yesterday) taking selfies. Are you kidding? Taking pictures while you're sitting in traffic!?! You are NOT special and you are NOT immune to traffic laws. Stop doing that crap while you're driving. You're not just putting yourself in danger; you're putting all of us in danger!
I have a whole list of driving don'ts but these are the ones for today. Quite frankly, I think a whole lot of people need a driving lesson.
Driving up the shoulder Are you friggin serious? Okay, I am ALL for the "look twice, save a life" campaign and I do it. However a few motorcyclists ruin the push for people to pay more attention with their actions. If you ride a motorcycle (or any other form of bike or scooter), don't be a schmuck. Don't cut through rush hour traffic on the white lines or on the shoulder. People can look 100 times when they're in rush hour traffic but if they have their blinking on and are getting ready to change lanes the correct way and some douchebag zooms up on his motorcycle not paying attention, a campaign isn't saving him. I watched this happen yesterday along with about a zillion bikers riding up the median...not cool. Motorcycle does not mean you get to make your own traffic laws. So how about this? I'll support motorcyclist's rights and their safety campaign if they stop asking like their Harleys (or whatever brand) make them as crazy special as the Men in Black cars.
Cut and Slam. You...yes you....the one that cuts into traffic just so you can get one car ahead on the highway in rush hour and then slams on his brakes. You're an asshole. I've talked about merging before. The fact is that the mergER is at the mercy of the mergEE .... not the other way around. The merger is supposed to adjust their speed to the flow of traffic. If you're in rush hour (as the case was yesterday), people are nice enough to shuffle like a deck of cards. Don't be the douchebag that tries to shove two cards into a one card space, dude! When you DO merge, don't be the dick that slams on their brakes especially not in rush hour. You're begging for a car wreck.
Distracted Driving Yes, the law is there is no TEXTING while driving. That does not mean to look at Facebook, put on make up or (as what I saw yesterday) taking selfies. Are you kidding? Taking pictures while you're sitting in traffic!?! You are NOT special and you are NOT immune to traffic laws. Stop doing that crap while you're driving. You're not just putting yourself in danger; you're putting all of us in danger!
I have a whole list of driving don'ts but these are the ones for today. Quite frankly, I think a whole lot of people need a driving lesson.
Sunday, June 1, 2014
The Slip and Slide
We were supposed to go bowling today. Instead I went grocery shopping and we spent the whole day outside....I mean the WHOLE day.....and it involved a slip and slide
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