"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing. " -Helen Keller

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

I reject your reality and substitute my own!

Lately, I feel like this quote applies to so many areas of my life. One of the main areas it seems to apply to is in the reaction to a post I guest authored for my friend Monnie's blog, Rantings of a Creole Princess. If you haven't read it, my post dealt with racism. When you write about a topic like that, you expect it to draw heated response...but dayum. I feel like all my words were twisted and interpreted b-ass-ackward. A charming individual named Nicole said "FIRST of all, why do some white people think that just because they're married to someone who is non-white, or work with non-white people they MUST be free of prejudice?"

Nicole...I never frickin said I was free from prejudice. My prejudice just doesn't have to do with people of color. It has to do with people who are dumbasses. Of course I have prejudices...I am a frickin human being. I try to be good. I try to live by the laws left to us by God...But, I AM NOT PERFECT. Never have been, never will be. I at least recognize that in myself, do you?

And then there was Roslyn...she said "Why is it that whites only get concerned about racism when they're on the receiving end?" Talk about making assumptions and judgments. What else does she know about me other than what is in my post? NOT ONE DAMNED THING! She has no clue the number of times I have spoken out against racism...no clue that the vast majority of times I was not the target. Racism fricking SUCKS...don't care who the target is.

Tell me you agree...tell me you disagree...but don't put words and sentiments in my mouth that were NEVER there.

The other part of my life that this title quote of "I reject your reality and substitute my own!" is in dealing with a specific relative. You repeatedly tell her how it works in my husband's job...you repeatedly tell her funds are limited and we can't afford for the whole family to do x, y, or z..she seems to understand but, within 2 weeks, you are having the same damned conversation again and again and again. Because what you tell her doesn't agree with her "reality", she lets it go in one ear and out the other. ARRGGHHHH

Sunday, January 21, 2007

Come read my post...

over at Rantings of a Creole Princess One of my favorite bloggers invited me to guest author a post while she is recovering from surgery. My subject is a bit different from what I usually write but I hope you enjoy it.




PS...How sad is it that I now have posted more in 1 month than I did all of last year?

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Did you know this is what freezing rain looks like?

On the 11 o'clock news last night, they said we would probably only have freezing rain and there would be no accumulation...guess they were wrong!







I know its not a lot but it is our first snow for the winter.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Its so much easier when they are little.

Really, I promise you it is. With a little one, you can stop the fussing with a hug, a kiss, or a cookie. When you are in the midst of those sleepless nights when they are tinny, you think nothing can be harder. I know...I thought that too. But those are the easy days. Well, not easy but easier than dealing with an almost hormonal adolescent.

My oldest son is going to be 10 next month and I would swear he has already entered the early stages of puberty. He is moody...he is argumentative...and everything is about him (whether it is or not). I love him dearly but this stage may drive me nuts. This morning I told him that I loved him tons and tons. His response was "Are you sure? Are you really sure?" and, when I said yes, he said "Prove it." ARRGGHHH I told him I didn't know how to prove that. He would just have to take it on faith like his belief in God. Marty also has that teenaged tendency to be convinced people are yelling at him even when they are talking in smooth measured voices. And, he only does this when he is in a pissy mood so I know it isn't a real hearing issue. Marty has also decided I don't think his jokes are funny because I told him this morning that I didn't like his sarcasm because it could be misinterpreted. I tried to tell him I did like his jokes and I did like to play and HE ARGUED WITH ME ABOUT IT. I may not survive the teen years with him.

Whew...that feels better. Now that I've gotten all that bitching and kvetching done, I want y'all to know that Marty really is a fabulous kiddo. He adores his baby brother and is fairly tolerant of Joey...even when Joey is being a truly aggravating little brother. And, although he doesn't always like to share with Joey, Marty is generous to a fault with others. When his school was raising money to help Katrina victims last year, he insisted on donating the $32 dollars he had saved for himself. Marty usually helps willingly around the house (except when it comes to cleaning his room...LOL) and also loves to help others. He is an incredible kid and, if we can just make it through puberty, he will grow up to be an amazing young man.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

If I KNEW this was the prize waiting at the end...

I could do it all again. I could go through the losses, the heartbreaks, the endless shots, everything.



Sunday, January 07, 2007

My kids really crack me up...

On New Year's eve, we gave Marty and Joey permission to stay up until midnight. Marty made it with no problem but, by about 9, Joey was almost falling over with exhaustion. I sent Joey to bed with the promise that we would wake him up at midnight. Well, I barely got him awake at about 10 til midnight and he pronounced himself too tired and wanted to go back to bed. Vic and I gave Joey a hug and kiss and I think he was asleep before his head hit the pillow. However, the next day, Joey had to call all his friends so he could tell them about staying up until midnight. I really had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing at him. Joey's little phone calls evolved into two 45 minute conversations (what do kids that age have to say that could take that long???), a birthday celebration /after school visit at one friend's house, and another friend coming to visit our house after school on Friday.

After Joey scheduled all his social events, Marty decided he couldn't be left out. He invited a friend over on Saturday and that evolved into a sleepover with the kid going to Sunday school and church with us this morning. This has really been a busy week.

Did you make any New Year's resolutions? Someone posted to a question to Cross Stitch Crazy about stitchy and non-stitchy goals for the new year. I wouldn't call these resolutions but these are my goals for 2007...

STITCHY GOALS:
1.Get all the old RR's (and crochet projects) I have around here in various stages of completion DONE and hopefully framed.
2.Stitch an ornie for each family member.
3.Stitch something for each of my sisters.
4.Complete at least 3 more quilts.

NON-STITCHY GOALS:
1. Get the house really organized.
2. Paint the boys rooms (thats the only thing I really miss about the old house...the wonderful paint jobs in their rooms)
3.Get rid of th fugly wallpaper in the master bathroom and paint it.
4.Clean out the flower beds and plant some new stuff.

Monday, January 01, 2007

Happy New Years Y'all...

I hope the New Year is fill with love, laughter (god knows we all need that), and hope for all of you. May you all find your heart's desires this year.

Good luck and God Bless!