What to do When Your Septic Backs Up

Back when my septic system exploded into my basement, I found something out. Normal water extraction businesses will not do this kind of job. The company has to be a company that deals in biohazards. I had no idea who to call. Fortunately, my insurance company had a phone number, called it, and scheduled my water clean up. Those guys came out, cleaned up my basement, removed my carpet, dried out the basement, and killed all the yucky germs down there.

Today, I want to tell you about a service, Water Restoration 911, which will take care of sewage backup. They are available 24/7 and I recommend calling immediately. Don’t wait until the next day, like I did. You could have more damage, that way. Fortunately, I didn’t, but you might.

Water Restoration 911 also does mold and fungus remediation, and fire and smoke restoration. One of the great things about their sewage backup service is that they will repair the backup problem if it still exists. I’m not sure they can fix septic problems, but frequently with sewage problems, it is just a matter of a clog between your house and the main line. It would be nice if the restoration people could take care of that, too and save you the work of having to find another service.

Isreal Considering Cease-Fire

According to Fox News, Israel Considers Offering Hamas a Cease-Fire

Israel is considering suspending its offensive on Hamas-ruled Gaza to give Hamas militants an opening to halt rocket fire on Israel, but the threat of a ground offensive remains if the cease-fire does not hold, an Israeli defense official said Tuesday.

Okay, because Israel started the whole thing, right? Why would Hamas stop the rocket fire, and if they do, how long will it be for? I'm guessing about long enough for Hamas to regroup. Hamas has no desire to stop the barrage. They are not doing this out of protection of Gaza's inhabitants, as Israel is doing. They are doing this out of fanaticism. Fanatics don't change because someone offers them a cease-fire. The only time they change is if they have a change of heart. And, in a people who do not value any human life, women, child, or man, a change of heart is unlikely to happen.

I think a cease-fire would be a bad tactical move on Israel's side. I'm sure the liberals would compliment Israel on their move toward peace. But, over the years, I have watched Israel struggle against the tyranny of the Muslim states in the Middle East. I have continually be astounded by the idiocy in the liberal media. The media has consistently made it sound as though all the trouble was Israel's fault. Never mind that several states have said that they want to drive Israel into the sea. Never mind that all people are welcome in Israel. Never mind that Muslims and Christians live in Israel. Never mind that neither Jews, nor Christians, are welcome in most Muslim countries. It's all Israel's fault. I will never understand people like this. I say, go get 'em, Israel.

Gary's 'Man' Room

Since we moved here, we've been trying to figure out where to put a 'man' room for Gary. When we first moved in, I had a sewing room, until I changed it into the school room. However, after we get a sewing cabinet, it will once again be the sewing room, as well as the school room.

Finally, while we were in Florida, we figured out how to make Gary a 'man' room, and help the awkward configuration of our basement. Now, I'm in the dreaming stage of how this room will look. I know you're thinking, "Shouldn't Gary be in the dreaming stage?" But, let's get real, people. I am the one in charge of decorating around here. After I have done my dreaming, I'll share it with Gary, and, most likely, he'll agree with most of what I've come up with.

So, here are my plans dreams. His 'man' room will be in a part of the basement that does not have any windows. As a result, it will have no natural light. I think having a dark, English pub theme would be great. With that thought in mind, putting dark wood wainscoting 2/3 of the way up the wall, and cork on the floor, is the first part of my plan. Then, I want to add a long bar, a dart board, a couple of large, comfy leather chairs, and, most important, a poker table.

If we he has a card table we'll be able to play board games, which is a nightly occurrence at our house. Right now, we play on the living room floor, not the most comfortable place to play, but more comfortable than our dining room chairs. Plus, with a poker table, we'll be able to host poker night, something we've always wanted to do. My main question when looking at poker tables is whether to get a traditional poker table, or a Texas Hold 'Em table. The first would be, well, traditional. The second would hold more people. I think the Texas Hold 'Em would be more practical for us. That way, when we have company, more people would fit around the table for games.

Finally, I have to look at what kind of game chair to get. I want a large, comfortable, cushy chair. I want something that will support my lower back, and still look great. Wheels are a must. We just have a hard time pulling chairs up under the table. So, we definitely want wheels.

Review Tuesday 12-30-2008

Review Tuesdays are starting back up. Since the last one, I have managed to acquire (thank you Christmas) enough new stuff to write reviews for the next year. Well, maybe not that much stuff, but surely for the next 6 months. And, by then, I'll have acquired more stuff to replace the stuff I'll be getting rid of by then.

Today, I'm reviewing CafePress. I'll also be telling you about the Lego Brickmaster Subscription. Finally, I'm going to be reviewing Secular Homeschooling Magazine.

CafePress:
First up, Cafe Press. Now, from a sellers, standpoint, Cafepress seems pretty straightforward and easy to use. I've set up a storefront, but haven't actually put anything in it. But the set up was easy. However, I was curious about the customer service aspect of it. How fast would I get my product? Would the quality be any good? There was a specific shirt I wanted to buy Gary. So, before he left, I ordered it. It came Thursday, before he had to leave on Sunday. Unfortunately, it was a women's shirt. Oh, it would have fit him, but the words were wrong. It was definitely meant for a woman. I was very upset, because I thought I had ordered the correct thing. So, I called them. The gentleman was very nice. In fact, even though I figured out my mistake while I was on the phone (while the ordering page was not clear, it was my mistake), he told me to keep that shirt and promptly sent me the right one. While it did not arrive in time for Gary to take with him, it did arrive in 3 days with standard shipping. I was very impressed with their shipping time. The quality of the shirt is excellent. And, best of all, their customer service is outstanding.

Lego Brickmaster Subscription:
Before Christmas, I ordered the Lego catalog. I know. Perhaps, considering how many Legos my children have, it was not the wisest decision. On the other hand, perhaps it was the best decision I could have made. After all, Legos are the one thing my children reliably play with. Anyway, I found a neat thing while cruising the catalog. Lego has a subscription service. It works like this: You pay Lego $39.99. For one year, every two months, your child (or you) receive a new Lego kit and a magazine, plus Bionicle comics! It's the gift that keeps on giving- in a good way! Included in your first shipment are 2 Legoshop.com $5.00 coupons, and 1 ticket to Legoland. This was Dominic's main gift, this year. He is absolutely thrilled by it. He is anxiously counting down the days to mid-February when he will receive his next shipment. And, he is just as thrilled by the magazine as he is by the Legos, themselves. After all, this is the kid who 'reads' the Lego instruction manuals incessantly. He could, one day, be a walking Lego instruction manual. Anyway, it seems like a good deal. The sets are not large ones, they seem to be around the 75-85 piece range. But, they are all exclusive sets and the perfect size for a short build. January/February's is a Star Wars Republic Star Destroyer. Dominic will be thrilled.

Secular Homeschooling Magazine:
If you are a secular homeschooler, or really, any homeschooler, and have not heard of this magazine, I am shocked! But, in case you have not, or have only heard bad things, or have heard good things, but have not made the leap, yet, this is for you.

When Deborah Markus wrote "The Bitter Homeschooler's Wish List," she got a lot of attention. She said what a lot of homeschoolers have wanted to say. I was, however, sceptical that an entire magazine, mostly written by one person, since it was in its infancy, could be as good. However, after rave reviews from a friend, whom I now trust implicitly for curriculum, magazine, and book recommendations (Thank you for Times Tales, April! That'll be a different review.), I got the magazine. And, I devoured it. I read it cover to cover. Well, really, that's not unusual for me. I'm a bit odd in that I start at the beginning of a magazine and read it all the way through. I'm not one to skip around. But, I didn't just read this because it was there. I read it because it was interesting. There were so many things in the magazine that touched me. The article I enjoyed the most, in the first issue, was called "Inclusive or Secular." It really did a good job of defining secular homeschooling and I appreciated it immensely.

But, I thought, she can't keep it up. How many good articles does one woman have? I bought the second issue. Then, I just went ahead and subscribed. At that point, it was senseless for me to wait and buy each issue individually. This is an amazing magazine. It includes many different types of articles, all well written. It has homeschooling news, both good and bad. It includes sections on money matters, product reviews, and a pull out section for kids. The fourth issue included articles on books for teaching art, nurturing science interest in the early elementary-age child, learning social studies by serving as an election judge, and the free school at home.

I cannot say enough about this magazine. It is written with humor and with. Deborah Markus has made sure that all the articles that are included, are appropriate and relevant. Thank you to Ms. Markus for providing the homeschooling community with a much needed resource.

Socks and Tights in Every Hue

Okay, that was a little play on words. I just found a fabulous website. Hue sells tights, socks, legwarmers, slippers, sleepwear, and more.

I have always loved bright socks. When I wore skirts all the time, it looked a little weird, but now that my socks are mostly covered up, I like to wear them even more. Why? Well, because I like knowing there’s a little surprise under my shoes. I like it when I take off my shoes (frequently) and there are my bright green socks with purple toe and heel. I like wearing my socks with the toes in them with my flip-flops. So, when I saw this website that has tights in many cool colors, plus thigh high socks for wearing with boots, I was stoked.

I found a pair of tights that are swirl, and even better, on sale! They also have striped tights. I have been looking for a pair of ribbed tights to wear under my red mini-skirt. They have black ribbed footless tights. Well, I’ve never had footless tights. My boots only fit with thin socks. This way, I can wear a pair of thin socks with these tights and not have my feet squished. I’m all about comfort.

But, I think my favorite are the ‘Textured Over the Knee’ socks. Those rock, and they make want me to buy some thigh high boots, which I’m sure Gary would love. Of course, Hue sells more 'regular' socks and tights, too, but I'm just not into those. So, I'll leave those to other people.

No Cake for Adolf

Did you see this story?
Little 'Adolf Hitler' Denied Birthday Cake at New Jersey Grocery Store

Apparently, the store refused to make the little boy, named Adolph Hitler Campbell, a birthday cake that included his full name.

His parents are upset. They think people should stop looking in the past

"They need to accept a name. A name's a name. The kid isn't going to grow up and do what [Hitler] did," he said.

Ah, what's in a name? Well, since their two other children have similarly distasteful names, JoyceLynn Aryan Nation Campbell and Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie Campbell, I'd say, "A lot!"

Heath Campbell said he named his son after Adolf Hitler because he liked the name and because "no one else in the world would have that name."

Okay. With names like Aryan Nation, and Honszlynn Hinler, there can be no doubt in anyone's mind that this was an innocent naming. Unfortunately, there are innocent children involved. I am appalled that someone would do this to their children. Thankfully, they can have their names changed as adults. But, really, does this guy actually expect us to believe him?

Ski Camp, Anyone?

There are all kinds of summer camps out there. There's language immersion camp for Gabriel. I'm sure there's some kind of music camp for Dominic. But, today, I found the perfect camp for Xavier. The boy goes nonstop 24 hours a day. Although TaeKwonDo is slowing him down at night!

Anyway, Xavier loves snow. He lives for snow. When we lived in Maine, he lived for the snowplows. He had his own snowplow matchbox car. He was two. I would bring in a pan of snow and he would play for hours with that snowplow. He played quite happily in the snow for hours. He has been a passionate snow shoveler for 6 years. When he was 3, he shoveled all the neighbor's walks while they were at work. He started shoveling as soon as the first flake started falling. This winter, we're going to learn to ski. Of course, it'll only be one day of skiing, but he'll get the basics. I have a feeling he'll have another passion.

So, today, I found a summer camp that is a skiing camp. A summer camp! Well, I'll admit, he won't be going any time soon. Gabriel has to get his language immersion camp, first. But, some day, this would make a wonderful experience for him. Can you imagine anything more pleasurable to a snow-boy than snow in the summer?

My Life

Have you ever been watching a musical and thought to yourself, "That is so unrealistic! There is no way a group of people could just be walking down the street and suddenly burst into song (one they've made up on the spot), dance and stay in harmony. Get real." I used to think that, before I had children.

I remember the first time I understood that it is possible for people to burst into a new song, both making it up as they go, yet both knowing the words and tune. Gabriel was getting his hair cut, when he was 5 years old. Gabriel visited his grandmother's salon to have his hair cut. The man that was cutting his hair has known my husband's family for years. At any rate, as he cut Gabriel's hair, they chatted about, literally, everything. Suddenly, one of them started singing about whatever it was they were talking about. The other joined in, immediately. Soon, they were both singing a song that only they knew. It was at that point I realized I live in a musical. Gabriel had always had 'theme music'. In other words, he always created music to go along with whatever he was playing, but this was the first time I had seen him singing with another person.

I didn't realize until years later that I sang with Gabriel like that all the time. Everything we do and say is turned into a song. Sheet day has it's own special song that was invented that same year. But what amazes me is that my youngest son is always singing. He, also, has theme music. Usually, his takes the form of Star Wars theme music. He does, however, also do a great percussion section. Most of his music is wordless, but he does sing songs like, "If You're Going Through Hell", "Beverly Hills" (this one was funny- he thought it said, "Family Yells"), "Me and My Gang" (his favorite-listening to him do the sound effects is hilarious).

About a week ago, we had a Christmas party with our TaeKwonDo school. There was karaoke and, of course, my two younger children had to sing. Gabriel has matured enough to understand the concept of embarrassment. Unfortunately, Dominic cannot read fast enough to do traditional karaoke. But, he did his own thing, much to the pleasure of all involved. Here are the results.

Going to Orlando?

When Gary returns, we're planning a trip to Orlando. The boys have thought about Lego Land, in CA, but we're thinking Orlando, this year. There is just so much to do, there.

We would like to go to Disney World. But, I think the boys would enjoy Sea World the most. I remember going to Sea World as a kid, and when I was pregnant with Gabriel. Sea World is magical. I, personally, loved the Shamu show. I know that the boys would love all the shows, as well.

My boys love to go to aquariums, and Sea World is like an aquarium on steroids. Gabriel has decided he wants to be a history professor. I think that would be a good fit for him. But, I could see him changing his mind and wanting to be a marine biologist after visiting Sea World.

One of the things I like about Sea World is that they support the military. We can get in free for one day. So, we will definitely be visiting Sea World. But, we may want to go for more than one day. After all, they have a shark exhibit, where you can go 'inside' the tank. (I remember this one- awesome!) They have a dolphin exhibit, where you can get up close and personal with the dolphins. There there's Turtle Point. Gabriel was absolutely obsessed with sea turtles when he was younger. He would love to see a Leatherback.

Sea World will be a must-see for us. If you want to go to Sea World, Orlando, you should check out discount sea world tickets. They look like they have some good prices. Maybe we'll see you there!

Unintended Consequences

When I started TaeKwonDo, there were many consequences I was thinking of. I thought of the discipline required to participate in such a sport. I thought of the community it would provide for our family, in terms of the boys making friends. I thought of how much it would cost, and the time it would take. There were, of course, things I didn't think of. One of the first consequences to make itself evident was the damage to my pedicure. For the last 14 years, I have always had my toenails painted. I can't stand how my toes look, but the paint detracts from that. Plus, I just like it. It makes me feel 'finished', even when the rest of me looks a wreck. Now, however, I have to paint may toenails every couple days in order for them to look finished. Otherwise, they just look like this:

Then, there's the fact that I am getting in shape. I knew this would happen. I just hadn't given it much thought. Now, though, I'm giving it a lot of thought. After all, my stamina is improving by leaps and bounds (literally - heh) and my flexibility is improving as well. Plus, I have managed to lose inches (not weight) without even trying.

Then, there's the fact that I have joined a social group of my own. I thought of the social aspect for my kids, but not for me. I have started making friends (granted 3 of them are 11 and 12) and I have other adults to talk to on a regular basis.

But, while I thought of the time involved, I did not realize how much time we would really be spending at the dojong. I did not think about the impact it would make on my ability, or inability to make dinner. I have had to adapt my dinner planning, using my crock pot more, and freezing multiple meals in order to make cooking quick and easy. This is not a problem, just an example of some of the things I did not think about.

There are deeper and more detrimental unintended consequences to things when the government does things.

One of the most obvious examples is welfare. The idea was a noble one. Everyone would be supported. No one would go without food, clothing, or shelter. Of course, the government forgot they weren't there to support the populace, rather to do the populace's bidding. I digress. There were many unintended consequences of welfare. One of those consequences was that many men, in combination with the 'free love' society, realized they did not need to stick around and raise their children, the government would do it for them. Another problem was when women (granted very few of them) who were already on welfare, continued to have more children in order to get more money. Then, there was the extremely detrimental consequence. Because of the way welfare is set up, it is very difficult to get a job and try to support yourself without losing your welfare benefits immediately. If the government is going to support people, they should be helping them get on their feet, not keeping them from getting on their feet.

Another example of unintended consequences is social security. Social security created a generation of people who fully expected and planned to rely on the government for their support. At one point in our history, people would not have willingly relied on the government for anything let alone their full support. They have abdicated their responsibility for their retirement without a whimper of protest. They have become dependent, again, at a time in their lives, when they should be most independent.

People need to seriously consider all the consequences before making a decision. The government needs to reconsider this financial bailout. They need to look at all the ripples, not just the big splash in the middle.

Prescription Eyeglasses - Cheap!

As anyone who wears eyeglasses knows, buying them can be very expensive. If you have multiple family members who wear eyeglasses, it can get even more expensive. It can be especially expensive if you have children who lose their eyeglasses. So, I was excited to hear about a website that sells prescription eyeglasses for very inexpensively. Optical4less.com sells prescription eyeglasses for as low as $15. If you have a child who loses 3 pairs a year, that's only $45 a year, versus what you would pay at an optometrist, where a pair can run from $45/each to over $100/each.

Are you one of those people who like to stay up with the latest styles? Do you go out of your way to find cheap ways to be in style? Well, Optical4less.com has all the latest style eyeglasses cheap. So, if you’re on a budget, but you want to have trendy eyeglasses, this may be the way for you to go.

They carry complete prescription eyeglasses (Anti-reflective coating for free), tinted sunglasses, photochromatic sunglasses, bifocal reading glasses, and more. They have a virtual try on system, fast delivery, and free shipping, if you order more than one pair.

Everyone should have a spare pair of eyeglasses. Now, they can do so cheaply. Go check out Optical4less.com.

If you don't ask the right questions, you may not get any answers.

Recently, I had a friend talking about research on a car that got 140mpg , the funding for which research, Reagan killed. So, at the time, I didn't say anything, because, while I had questions, they weren't formed in my mind. Yes, I still know this friend. Yes, I will ask these questions, but in the meantime, I'll ask them of you.

How close to viable was the car when the funding was killed?

If the car was close to, or already, viable, why couldn't the researchers find private funding?

Why does the government have to provide money for all research?

What every happened to venture capitalists?

When did we start depending on the government to supply all our needs?

It obviously hasn't been recently. Perhaps, it was during the New Deal?

Well, of Course it Does!

Violence Flares as Hamas Rules Out Extending Mideast Ceasefire

Did someone really think Hamas was going to keep the ceasefire? Jeez. Open your eyes, people. They don't want peace. They want to wipe out Israel.

Angle has a nice post over at Woman Honor Thyself: Terrorism: High Time to Deal With IT.

People who think terrorism will go away if we just play nice are fooling themselves. They need to wake up. Terrorists are not terrorists because we are not playing nice. Terrorists are terrorists because they are extremists, who believe that the only way to paradise is through terrorism. Because they want to get to paradise, and their virgins, so bad, they're willing to do pretty much anything.

And, finally, we have parents who refuse to believe their son is a traitor.

Parents of 'American Taliban' appeal for son's release

"Our son never fought against American forces. He did not participate in
terrorist activities of any kind. He condemns terrorism in every form,
unequivocally," the Lindhs said in their request for commutation.

"John made a mistake in joining the Afghan army at a time when their government was controlled by the Taliban," they added.

"Although this was a mistake on John's part, it is not something that warrants his continued imprisonment by the government of the United States.

Quite the mistake to make, that one. And, after all, he was an adult, and expected to pay for his mistakes.

Parents Looking to Obamas for Parenting Advise

Parents hoping to emulate Barack and Michelle Obama

Okay, on the surface, I don't have a problem with this. But, the things the paper reported seem a bit off, to me.

Seven-year-old Ava Childers will soon be responsible for making her own bed every day.

And she can thank the Obamas for that.

Ava's mother, Danita, got the idea after hearing that the soon-to-be first daughters, Sasha, 7, and Malia, 10, are required to make their own beds in the morning.

"I hadn't given her any chores . . . and I just mentioned it to my husband," said Danita Childers, recalling their recent parenting discussion. "Maybe she's old enough to do something like that."

Now, I know there are lots of parents who don't give their parents chores. My question has always been, WHY?!! But, again, I don't have a problem with this lady coming to this decision. Better late than never, and if the Obamas helped her reach that point, good for them. But, the next quote threw me for a loop.

Tamar Williams, 28, of Bronzeville said interviews of Michelle Obama speaking about her children inspired her to begin home-schooling her own children.

"When you look at the Obamas, you can tell that they spend a lot of one-on-one time with their children, even in the midst of their careers," Williams said. "It made me want to put my children first."

You mean the couple that sends their children to summer camp spends a lot of time with them? By all means, homeschool them, just don't give the Obamas credit for something they don't deserve it for. I'm not saying they don't have a good relationship with their children. They seem to. But, it doesn't seem to me that they spend a lot of time with them.

Lisa Henry-Reid received an e-mailed copy of their holiday video card and was struck with the way each family member had a say in the video. (After the adults speak, Malia says, "Merry Christmas," followed by Sasha saying, "Happy holidays.")

Henry-Reid felt the sharing demonstrated their equal roles in the household, so she forwarded the clip on, as a parenting lesson.

And, this is where we have problems with parenting these days. "Their equal roles". Children don't have equal roles with parents. Geez.

A side note: Blogger spellcheck does not recognize the word "Obamas". I wonder how long it will take for that to change.

The Great Debate and a Statement of Opinion

Both the Presidential candidates, at different points, said they did not support gay marriage, although they were both supportive of gay unions. To me, this seems to be contradictory.

I have two questions. What is it about gay marriage that threatens people? Why shouldn't gay people have the right to get married?

I, personally, don't have a problem with gay people marrying. In fact, I believe that gay people should have the right to marry. On the other hand, I believe that polygamy should not be illegal, either. I have problems with polygamy, but I don't think it should be illegal. And, that's an entirely different post.

I, also, believe that gay couples should be allowed to adopt. I believe that there are too many children waiting for homes to prevent them from having a family just because that family is headed by a gay couple. I believe that gay couples can be just as good parents as straight couples. I know that there are people who believe that gay men are all pedophiles. But, that is just ridiculous. Being a pedophile has nothing to do with sexual orientation. Therefore, I believe that gay/lesbian couples should be given the right to adopt.

Now, let me have it.

When You Get to See it in Action...

Today, I picked up a friend of Gabriel to take with us to an "open gym". This friend read the Iliad recently as a school assignment. Although his friend is going to school, he is getting a classical education. The school is an amazing private school to which I would send my kids , if I wanted to send them to school.

At any rate, I asked him if he had finished his homework and we started discussing what he had to do for next week's semester finals. He was talking about the fact that he had just finished reading The Iliad. Gabriel said that he had read it last year, and off they went. They talked about the Iliad for 30 minutes. They were both very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. It was amazingly enjoyable to listen to them. It's wonderful to see them enjoying the education they're getting, especially since it is such an amazing education. I am thankful every day that I have the ability and opportunity to provide my children with this education.

I am also glad that Gabriel has found a friend that has such similar interests. Now, if only his dad wasn't in the Coast Guard and going to move in 2 or 3 years. Well, at least we'll have him for another two years.

Submission

I have, in the past, discussed being a submissive wife. I think it is easy for me to be submissive, because Gary doesn't ever tell me what to do. So, anything I submit to is completely my choice. I know that there is a lot of controversy over the whole submissive wife thing. Many feminists believe that being submissive is contrary to being independent or equal. I don't think so.

For me, being submissive is about asking Gary's opinion on things. It is not natural for me to take this extra step. It is much more natural for me to just do things and expect Gary to not only know I did them (without me ever mentioning them), but also agree with my decision to do them. The fact is marriage is a compromise. I choose to view my compromise as submission. Perhaps you might not see it as that.

But, I ask you, does a man have to be overbearing and totalitarian for a wife to be submissive? I don't think so. Gary is not of that personality. If he were, I guarantee you we would not be married. I might be able to submit, but I would never be able to not have my voice heard. Gary listens to me. We are best friends. As a result, when he wishes something different than I do, I can, sometimes, submit.

I'll be the first to admit this is not a strong suit of mine. No, it's not. But, in all honesty, I have the running of the house, budget, and children. The main reason for this is convenience. I'm here all the time. He's not. It would be disastrous if I had to go to him for everything. He is very good about trying to not change things when he is home. But, there are times when I have to give over and acknowledge that what he wants is best. To me, that is my way of submitting.

Facebook

I have a confession to make. I signed up for Facebook in April. I signed up for the express purpose of getting in touch with an old friend. Of course, I really don't get Facebook. I mean, sending all those little patch thingies, joining all these groups... I just don't get it. I don't have time for half that stuff. I understand keeping up with what people are doing every second of the day. I just don't have time for it.

I'm kind of a Facebook non-user. I've got an account. I've got friends. I just don't ever visit it. So, if there are any Facebook users out there, tell me what I need to do to start utilizing this extremely important technology. Okay, fine, that was a little sarcasm for you. I just don't get it. Can anyone explain it to me? Interestingly, Blogger spellcheck doesn't get Facebook, either. Then again, it doesn't get homeschool, either.

You Tube Saturday

But, contrary to popular opinion, we believe this is not Bruce Lee. Still, it's cool.

The Animal School

Many people think that all people should have the same education. They believe that all children should learn the same things. This is true to a certain extent. However, all children have aptitudes for certain things. Children should be allowed to excel at those things they are good at, and not be held back because of the things they're not good at. They can continue to learn at their own pace. Here's a great way of seeing this.

The Animal School: A Fable by George Reavis


The song.

Enjoy.

Contrary to Popular Opinion

While I was growing up, I disagreed with my father about everything. Well, I thought I did. It wasn't until I was an adult that I understood that my father tended to take the opposing side in an argument, just to make sure that side got represented. Perhaps there was a bit of contrariness involved, but we're not going to go there.

I noticed the other day that I tend to do the same thing with my children. Before the elections, they were all solidly for a particular candidate. They were even more solidly against the other candidate and made disparaging remarks frequently. I decided that they probably had no idea what they were talking about. So, I started saying things like, "But, maybe he's right on that point. Why is he wrong?" and, "Can you prove that or are you just going off the deep end?" At first, the boys were shocked. After a while, they began to understand that they can't just make a statement. I don't want them to blindly follow anyone. I don't want them to support a candidate because I do. Eventually, that will not be the case. When they are adults, I don't want them to vote for or against someone simply because their mother or favorite pundit is voting for him. I want them to vote for someone because they understand what the candidate stands for. I also want them to understand the underlying issues.

I don't want my children blindly accepting things. I don't want them to believe global warming is caused by man because someone told them it is. I want them to do the research, read the writings, and decide what side of the debate to come down on. I don't want them to decide that a flat tax is good because they don't like paying more than someone else. I want them to do the research and decide for themselves whether or not a flat tax is the best idea for the country.

If you blindly follow the ideas of other people, you'll never know the truth. And, above all, I want my children to know the truth.

Why you should visit your parents regularly

Cops: Woman Found Infested by Maggots May Not Survive

Wow.

Encouragment?

Last week, the boys and I started taking Taekwondo. Last night, I had my first group class. Today, I am sore. While I was watching the boys' classes, the instructor came up and spoke to me. He wanted to know if I was sore. I said, "Yes." His reply was, "It'll be worse the second day."

Well, of course I know that. I've worked out enough to know that. But, really, was that terribly encouraging for his newest student? Did he think that would make me want to come back and work harder? Well, the truth is, I know that if I keep working hard, the soreness will be less with time. There will always be some amount of soreness after a hard workout. But, after several more workouts, I shouldn't experience the kind of soreness I am today. After all, it is rare that I have spent 45 minutes on my toes, bouncing up and down, running, kicking, and punching. In fact, it has not been since I was in the Navy, during school, (over 13 years ago) that I have spent any time on my toes, outside of wearing high heels. Today, when I slipped on my heels to leave the house, my calves protested. My thighs are protesting as we speak. In fact, while I may not accomplish anything else with these classes (although I think I will), I will at least be much more limber by the time Gary gets home. That can only be a good thing.

Helicopter Parents

Today, I met a true helicopter parent. I've always considered myself something of a helicopter parent. In truth, I only feel obliged to correct my children's misbehavior, not their technique. For example, I will yell at encourage my children to run, instead of walk, while playing soccer. But, I have no desire to correct their kick, or the way they block the ball. I will tell my children to be quiet during drama, but have no desire to tell them how to do their skit. That doesn't mean I won't critique their performance, but while they are in a particular class, I feel that it is the job of the teacher or coach to notice and take care of those things.

We started tae kwon do last week--all four of us. Tonight, we had our first group classes. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but one of the big bonuses of martial arts is the discipline that is installed, both self discipline and class discipline. The children (or adults) learn quickly to speak when spoken to, and to follow directions. So, I feel no need to exert any discipline at all. In fact, if other classes were as disciplined, I wouldn't feel the need in those classes. However, when a child is being disruptive and the instructor does nothing about it, I feel the need to correct that behavior. At any rate, there was another child who was there for the first time tonight. His mother sat up in the viewing area and corrected her child at every turn.

"Johnny, switch feet." (the teacher had said left, and the child was bending right)
"Johnny, don't forget to gihap."
"Johnny, do this. Do that. Touch your toes. Touch your nose."

Okay fine, the last was not what she said. But, seriously, I wanted to say to her, "He has a teacher. Give him a minute and he'll correct your son. Perhaps it isn't important for him to be perfect during his first class."

Oh well. So long as there are children, there will be helicopter parents. I'm just happy to know I'm not really a helicopter parent.