NO PRINCESSES FOR GIRLS!!!

I am so sick of this debate, but this controversy over the new Lego line has me fuming.  You can read about it here, because I just can’t take it, anymore:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/15/lego-friends-girls-gender-toy-marketing_n_1206293.html

Let’s tackle the ad from the 1980′s.  Does anyone remember Legos from back in the day?  They were primary blocks that fit together to make whatever the child wanted.  It was a truly neutral toy that helped child with a multiple of developments.  Then something happened.  I am not sure, but I know I was perplexed when I first started seeing the specific sets where it seemed you could only build one thing.  I remember thinking where is the fun in that?  I didn’t make a huge fuss. I didn’t stand on the nearest train table in Toys R Us and scream, “Why are you denying girls the joy of Legos?!”  You know why? Because I had sense to know that not every child is the same and not every girl played with princesses or, hold onto your hats for this one, some girls liked playing with both princesses and cars.  Oh the horror, letting the kids choose which toys they could choose.

Somewhere along the way, Princesses became the enemy.  How dare girls pretend to be princesses, play tea party, nurture dolls or the other evil things that have been sent by the all mighty toy companies to get our girls subservient to The Man.  Then it went further. It has now become a social status for parents, mostly Moms, to shout from the rooftops that their sons play with dolls and paint their nails and their daughters are playing in dirt with cars and trucks.  All over the Internet you can find mommy blogs proclaiming how great they are, because their children have no gender.  There are parents going so far as not letting others know the exact gender of their child. What I want to know is why?  Are we so ashamed of boys that we need to turn them more feminine?  Do we hate all things girly that we just have to breed a generation of girls that are more masculine than the boys in their class?  What is the point?

The problem with this is that these parents are forgetting that kids have choices, too.  What prevents a little girl choosing an alien to build from the many that Lego offers?  I don’t remember any toy police in the Target toy section telling me my girls weren’t allowed to look at these toys, much less buy them.  I don’t remember Amber getting tackled and having the Harry Potter Lego ripped from her hands when she made the purchase a year ago.  So why the big fuss?  As far as I can tell Lego has, finally, opened it’s eyes and given girls more choices.  I will admit I was drawn to the new Lego Friends toys, myself.  I liked the colors and the cute little kitchen and spa.  Amber not so much.  She is more interested in her Liv dolls with the spa, she recently purchased on Black Friday at Target last year.

I have the perfect little Science experiment going on in my home.  I have an older daughter, who went through the princess phase, but was given the choice of what she wanted to play with.  Sure her toys were mostly pink and girly, but there were a few cars thrown in there which she chose.  Now as a 9 yr old, she is the only girl playing the trumpet in her music class in the sea of boys playing the same instrument.  She is in cheerleading.  Loves Harry Potter more than any boy I have met.  She still loves to do her hair, her dolls’ hair and have her nails done.  I don’t see her love of Princesses hurting her in the least.  As a matter of fact, a recent event showed that she has no problem speaking her mind when she told some boys from the neighborhood that she was done playing with them, because they kept cursing.  If anything the choices that were afforded her gave her the strength to continue to make her own choices whether they went with the grain or not.

Then I have Sam.  A boy coming 4 years after his older sister.  He came into a world of pink and Princesses.  My feeling is that most babies start out gender neutral, because they don’t really  have a voice for their opinion.  Besides, their main focus is keeping their butts clean and eating.  So most baby to toddler toys are pretty much played by both sexes.  However, once those babies hit toddlerhood they start to gravitate toward their interests.  Sam started refastening many of Amber’s toys into guns, cars and flying objects.  Sure he would pick up a baby doll and give it a hug, then a few seconds later it would be discarded for something he found more interesting.  The one thing I found fascinating about Sam was that he would sit and actually have imaginative play.  Amber wasn’t much for imaginative play.  She used the toy how it was intended and when she was bored she moved to the next toy.  Sam would involve dinosaurs and pirates into his Batman cave.  There would be elaborate stories involving the Batman Cave and the Dragon Castle.  And somehow he incorporated Amber’s Barbie dogs into all this play.  He had a slight obsession with them.   We never made a conscience effort not to buy Sam guns, but he,  eventually, gravitated toward weaponry.  Whether it was his finger or a Barbie doll he would point it at someone and say, “Bang! Bang!”  It would be much later that he would get his first space gun and drive us all crazy.  But don’t think the gender neutral debate has won just yet.  Since Sam was with me most of the time, he would often grab the shopping cart and purple purse and go shopping.  Amber and him would play shopping and he would use his debit card that was pulled from his purse.  Why?  Because it was what he saw.  Sure SoHubby was a little perturbed by this, but I let it go.  I  knew that he was fine and just playing what he saw.  No biggie.  And once Evie came along and Amber decided to dress her up as a fairy, Sam joined in the fun.  It lasted a few minutes and then he went back to what interested him.  Once again, choices.  Now, I have a little boy that wants to be a cheerleader like his big sister, loves to hug the girls and loves to play tag with the boys and all things superheroes.

Lastly, we have Evie.  At only 2.5 years old, she has gone between cars, dinosaurs, superheros to baby dolls, and her recent discovery of the Princesses.  There is a whole playroom for her to choose from.  Never once has there been a line drawn saying these are the BOY toys and these are the GIRL toys.  There has been choices.  Why can’t kids have choices?  Sure there are some people who are adamant about their boy not having anything to do with “girly” stuff, but is it really that rampant?  Then there comes a time when children naturally start pairing off with the same sex parent.  Sam has started doing this and loves to go off with his Daddy.  And why not?  That doesn’t mean the girls are left in the dust.  There are times when Amber goes off with Daddy, too.  I can’t say that I would be comfortable bringing Sam to the nail salon, only because he doesn’t like his nails cut or people putting anything on them.  I can’t say that I would be all that gung ho to have his nails painted pink,anyway, but I am not going to deny him the pleasure of a foot massage or soaking in a hot foot bath.  Why can’t he enjoy those things?  The last time I checked the nail salons weren’t turning away anyone who was willing to pay for their services.

The point is there are 2 sexes (and I know even me admitting this is controversial) in this world and they both have their purpose.  It doesn’t mean that we don’t have choices.  We are bombarded with choices everyday that are made due to our upbringing, social status, financial ability, gender, and a myriad of other reasons.  To say that Lego Friends is teaching girls that they are only pretty and only good for baking, primping and drinking coffee (which I didn’t know was a female sport) is insulting to me as a parent.  It means that I have no influence.  That I am not talking to my kids.  That I am not supervising their growth into this world.  It is saying that I am letting a lump of plastic determine the future of my children.  I hate to break it to you, but I have more influence over my kids then a $20 toy that I happen to pick up on a whim.

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It is About the Federal Government, Stupid!

The anger over the oil spill can be found up and down the Gulf coast.  The anger might be a tad bit more in Louisiana, because it seems once again we have become the test study where everyone learns what they should have done from the word go.  Doesn’t matter that the people directly affected and our state and local officials were begging for action from the first spurt of oil, because the federal government knew better.  I don’t need to go into all that has occurred these past, fast approaching, 2 months, because it is all over the Internet and 24 hour news media.  If you don’t know then you haven’t been paying attention.

I am having to stay off of Twitter or drop half of the people I am following, because I can’t take it.  The blame is flowing like oil from a broken rig pipe, but there is one thing that is not being said.  This oil spill has nothing to do with America’s oil consumption.  Oh no.  The simple fact is there are many other countries drilling for oil off our coasts.  Better yet, if any of those happen to produce an oil spill, we have less control over it.  So what do we do then?  Sit and beg other countries whose coastlines aren’t affected to do something to protect us?

However, this was a rig under our juridisticon.  So let’s talk about that.  What has been the big sell that the Democrats have been selling us since before Obama got into office?  That if we just surrendered our lives to the federal government all would be fine and we wouldn’t have to worry ever again.  Well, let’s take a look at that.  Katrina proved to stall the federal government and leave 1000′s of people stranded for days.  There are many facts that have been debated and I am on the side that our governor at the time, Blanco, helped with the stalling.  Not saying that the federal government didn’t have any responsibility with Katrina, but both the federal and state government can share in the blame.  With regards to this oil spill, I lay a lot more blame at the feet of the federal government.

As a Conservative,  I believe in the free market, but I am not totally opposed to some federal regulations for businesses.  Now that doesn’t mean I believe that the government should take over corporations or tell them how to run their business (i.e. who they should loan money to).  I am for safety regulations and that is where the federal government let us down.  There were at least 3 areas where safety measures were disregarded with this oil rig and I have to ask where was the federal government for those disregarded safety measures?  Isn’t it one strike, two strikes, three strikes, YOU’RE OUT!  If the federal regulators would have done their jobs, maybe we wouldn’t have had this massive oil spill that is killing our wetlands, animals and livelihoods.  Weren’t they suppose to be looking out for us?  There have been reports that BP and the regulators were in bed together, literally.  Then there are other reports of the government regulators watching porn and doing drugs, which would have me thinking that that might have impaired their judgement a bit.  So yes, BP is to blame and should pay for the clean up, but the bigger question is who is watching over them to make sure they do what they have promised to do?  The federal government, the local government?  Well, everyone has their hands in that pot, so who do we trust?  Personally, I think we should be paying some of the fishermen, whose livelihood has been destroyed, to watch over.  I guarantee that they will get the job done.

So excuse me if I stay off Twitter as many of my Democrat, Liberal, or whatever they are called these days beat up on David Vitter and Bobby Jindal for pushing to lift the memoritorium on drilling for oil, but never ask “Hey, where the hell is Mary Landrieu?”  Oh that’s right she is having “off the record” conservations with parish presidents.  And they blame our dependence on oil, but never answer how we will run our cars or if they are willing to ride bikes to get where they need to go.  Sounds good in theory until you are faced with carrying your groceries home on a 2 wheeler.  Yes, I know there are hybrids, smart cars, wind and solar power, but what happens until these things are perfected.  It seems to be all or nothing with some.  Do you quit a job you are unhappy with before you have another one lined up?  Well, some do and then they discovered they are up shit’s creek with out any toilet paper.  Not a happy situation to be in.  The point is some have taken this opportunity to push their agenda through, instead of fixing the problem.  If the federal government is going to run our lives then they better be equipped to do it.  This time it is miles and miles of wetlands, next time it will be millions and millions of lives.  Are you willing to put your life in the hands of the federal government after they have handled this oil spill?  I am not.

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Update to Now it is Personal.

I was going to put this as a side note on the Now it is Personal post, but I feel there needs to be more information regarding how our government is running these days.  It goes much further than not reading immigration bills, but deeming them racist and unconstitutional, or pricing capping ATM fees or other products and services.

First, the amendment to the Finance Reform bill that was to cap ATM fees at $.50 was blocked.  According to what I read Senator Harkin couldn’t get it to the floor for debate, because there was more important issues to be discussed.  Although, the time it took for 2 Senators to go back and forth regarding what is important or not was ironic, but I am never one to look a gift horse in the mouth.  So good for us.  That high lasted all of a few hours when we were later informed that there was a new amendment to have the Federal Reserve regulate ATM fees and make sure there was “reasonable” rates.  Okay, this is the same shit just different smell.  It is another way of having ATM fees capped under the illusion of protecting the consumer.  Let the worry begin all over again.  Then today SoHubby calls me to let me know that I can stop building that ulcer in the pit of my stomach, because the Senate has voted on cloture (that means closed) of the Finance Reform bill and nothing regarding ATMs is in the now closed bill.  *phew*  We must not relax those shoulder muscles too much, because this bill has a few more Congressional travels before it reaches vote and a much longer journey before it reaches the President’s desk.  But for the time being it looks as if we are safe from the long arm of the Federal Government reaching into our business and shutting it down.

Second, I came across this article on Twitter and found it interesting.  Basically, it explains how some Senators don’t even use ATMs, even though they walk by an ATM in the basement of the Capitol building which charges $2 a transaction, unless you have an account from the U.S. Senate Federal Credit Union, on their way to vote on the Senate floor.  The most interesting thing is that Sen. Harkin admits to using an ATM (I would venture to guess the one in the Senate building) about every 2 weeks.  First light bulb illuminated that maybe Sen. Harkin and his ATM fee cap amendment was for purely personal reasons.  Which begs the question is he looking out for his best interest of those of Americans?  I will let you decide on that one.  You can probably guess my answer.  The next question is how can these politicians look out for our best interests when they don’t even have the slightest clue of the workings of the everyday of the average American?

Senator Ben Nelson, admitted that he doesn’t even know how to use an ATM and 2 other Republican Senators admitted to only using an ATM a few times in their lives.   Sen. Ben Nelson says he is not totally ignorant regarding everyday experiences of Americans because he knows about “holograms’.  He using them offer when going to stores and checking himself into his own seat when boarding an airplane.  I had to stop, because I was wondering what the hell he was talking about.  What holograms is he using when shopping at Lowe’s or the grocery store?  It is clarified that Sen. Nelson is talking about the bar codes that are scanned when making a purchase or pretty much everywhere out here in the real world.  Where he got holograms I have no idea.  Shouldn’t every person that has ever bought anything in this country know about bar codes?  I mean we have the infamous video of the first President George Bush not knowing how to buy groceries for God’s sake and now we have Senators who don’t know how an ATM works.  How can these people look out for our best interest when they have not one clue what it is to live our daily lives?  I guess that is what you get when you are scooped up as a young lad and spend the rest of your life in the bubble of Washington D.C. Where money just appears magically from the taxpayers pockets and you are not held responsible for how you spend it or anything else.  I think many of these politicians will be very shocked come this November.  Americans are fed up with our government making busy work to make themselves seem useful, not keeping with the clear outlined duties in the Constitution (Article I Section 8), and listening to their real bosses, the American people.  Too long we have  gone unheard and now it is time for a job performance review which will have many high government officials  joining the currently high unemployment rate.  No one is safe, Democrat nor Republican.

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Now it is Personal

It is no secret that I am no fan of the current administration, but there is a new bill, trying to get passed through the Senate, that hits us in a very personal way and not only pisses me off but scares me to death.  There is a new finance bill in the Senate that will promote financial stability for the country.  In this bill there is an amendment to cap ATM fees at $.50 a transaction.  The argument is that processing of the transaction only costs $.32 and I guess these Senators (the ones sponsoring the bill) think the rest is gravy.

What they fail to see, which I contribute to their lack of actual work in the private sector, is that the machines themselves cost money, the money in the machines cost money, the employees to service the machines cost money, the parts to run the machines cost money, and the merchants where the machines are placed cost money.  Whenever anyone complained about an ATM fee within ear shot of SoHubby, he would ask them how much would they charge to give their money out?  Yes, that’s right, there is not some magical leprechaun handing out $20 bills every time you place your card in that little slot.  There are actual people that put money in the machine and actual people that have to obtain the money to be able to put in the ATM.  This is a service that is provided.  A service that you have every right to refuse.  If you have used an ATM in the last 14 years, you will notice that it asks you if you agree to pay the fee.  Why the government feels it is their responsibility to make this choice for you is beyond me.

If this bill goes through, we are done.  We can’t run our business and live our lives on $.50 a transaction.  Don’t think it will stop here.  How long before the government comes after your business, whether you are self-employed or not?  We have heard the President admit that at some point he believes we have made enough money. However, he never tells us where that point is.  Is it 5.5million, which is what he made last year?  Is it $400,000, which is his salary as President?  Is it $60,000 for the little people?  Where is the point, Mr. President?  And when will you realize that the working guy that you are trying to save is the working guy you are putting out of business? Let the market work.  The market has already determined ATM fees.  In the French Quarter you can see fees as much as $3.50.  In the rest of the Greater New Orleans area you can see fees as low as $.99, but most hover around $2.50.  In our travels we have seen fees lower than $2.50.  When the market is left alone it works.

My biggest problem with all of this is that the Senators sponsoring the bill didn’t do their research or they would have seen the expenses involved in running an ATM business.  Or they simply don’t understand, because they have never run a business and had to make the tough decisions in order to make that business profitable.  Or they simply do not care and simply are focused on only pushing their political agenda and to damn who it affects.  I looked up Senator Harkin from Iowa. He has been in politics since 1969, in some form,  and in the senate for 26 years.  He has lived in the bubble of Washington D.C. where business is evil and out to gouge the consumer.  Maybe if he had stepped out of that bubble and talk to the industry he would have discovered that his proposed cap of $.50 is ludicrous.  If he did his research and discovered that a $.50 fee is more than enough to run an ATM business then he needs to pay us a visit and explain it to us.  I won’t hold my breath.

You may say that this is no concern for you, because you use your bank ATM and the banks will put out more ATMs.  I am not sure how the banks will handle placing machines with merchants.  Let me tell you they want their share and they are not playing around.  They are not willing to give up their precious floor space for something that will not bring them in any extra money.  Also, these banks will make up their loss on a $.50 ATM fee with higher bank fees elsewhere.  So the problem of high fees is not solved just moved around like a shell game that the government has been playing with the consumer for many years.  We need to start thinking how these government policies trickle down to affect us.  It is more than just my family losing it’s business.  There are going to be less machines out there.  Many will lose their jobs: employees who work for ATM manufacturers, employees who service these machines, armor truck employees, etc.  This is a service that provides a convenience to the America public.  When was the last time you got traveler’s checks when you went on vacation?  The last time I asked, which was in 1998, the bank teller looked at me like I had 2 heads.  The thought is well I can use my credit/debit card or there will be an ATM.  If this bill goes through, no there won’t because like most things these days, it won’t be profitable enough to extend the effort.

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Here Comes the Sun

As I was looking for more information on the Nashville flood, I came across this video:

While the subtle jabs at us stung a bit, I understand the frustration.  There are many questions, but I will leave those for the people that deserve the answers more than me.  I do find it amazing that such a tragedy could occur and virtually go unnoticed, until just recently.  I am just as angry about the 11, who died on the BP rig out in the Gulf.  We seem to hear about the long term environmental impact, whose at fault and the money that will be spent cleaning or penalizing the offending company.  What have we become where we ignore the plight of actual humans over ideology and politics?  Frankly, I am more dismayed by the lack of attention to human lives than the recent major events that have taken place.  We need to take a long hard look at ourselves and decide which direction we are going to take.  We can’t unite, if we don’t exist.

Again, please visit Suburban Turmoil for ongoing information and heroic stories of the Nashville Flood, as well as information on donations and how you can help if you are in the area.  If you can’t do that (And believe me, I understand the sick feeling that overcomes someone from this area looking at this massive flood), then pray.  It is the least you could do for your fellow Americans, hell, your fellow humans.

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Our Catholic Saga Continues

Who knew being Catholic was so hard?  I mean I had been the non-practicing type for years and then became a practicing type, but still not that hard.  Sure not eating meat on Fridays for a few weeks can be trying, but nothing compared to being nailed to a cross and poked with a stick.  UNTIL…DUM,DUM,DUM…Catholic school.  There are many Catholic schools out there and I searched them all to make sure my little pretties would have a secure, healthy, knuckle cracking nun school experience.  Well, I still haven’t found the knuckle cracking nun part, but there is still a chance. *fingers crossed*  I picked out the perfect little Catholic school with it’s perfect little uniforms and it’s perfect neighborhood setting only to be told “We accept the girl, but we have to think on the boy a bit.”  *sigh*  The boy!

Amber was accepted on the spot.  It seems that maybe it is not so normal for a second grader to have straight A’s for first and second grade and the Vice Principal was rather impressed with our girl.  And to think I was worried she would fail Kindergarten.  Pshaw!!  Sam is a whole other story altogether.  I thought I did him well by keeping him at home with me, and, also, to save money for all this damn private schooling we need down here in the great state of Louisiana. {Another reason to choose private school, I am pretty sure they have a no gun policy.  SoHubby’s assistant’s son was threatened with a gun (by words, not actual gun) when he attended the middle school for our district.  Not much you could do, since the poor challenged boy was a “special education” case and had been kicked out of every school he ever attended.  We are talking multiple states, here.  The assistant’s son lived and is now being tortured at a public high school.  The little criminal misunderstood boy is, now, dead.  He died in a shoot out with 3 other boys in a neighborhood playground.  SoHubby told me he saw the boy’s mother on the News crying, claiming she didn’t understand why her boy had been shot.  And that maybe the problem right there.  I know why the boy died, our assistant knows why the boy died and the rest of the neighborhood knows why the boy died, because he ran with a rough crowd and routinely threatened to shoot people with a gun.  The 3 other boys were arrested soon after the shooting.} After his interview the teacher informed me that Sam was a “little angry” and frustrated when asked questions.  *sigh*  I didn’t have time to plead my case explain Sam’s quirks , so I just hang all my hopes on the acceptance of his older sister.  You vant the girl, you must take the boy, too. <—–not sure the German accent was necessary, but it seems to fit.

I have spent the last 2 weeks wringing my hands and going over and over what all this “a little angry” business might mean.  Is he in?  Is he out? What will I do if he doesn’t get in?  They have to take him if they want his sister.  And they do want his sister, because she is the greatest second grader on Earth and will make their school look great?  We will let them find out about her problem with the drama on their own.  Why spoil the ending for them?  Then the call came, can we bring Sam in for another interview?  And while trying to discuss his small, teeny tiny problems with the teacher, he was jumping around in the background like a cracked out bunny on 3 tons of sugar screaming, “WHOSE DAT, MOMMY?  WHOSE DAT, MOMMY?”  All the while I played like a calm, patient mother and tried to ignore him and move to another room.  Who taught these kids to walk and talk, because that has to be 2 of their most annoying traits.  So I didn’t hear or add much to the conversation.  I, also, must have had a hard time hearing the date evidenced by the phone call I got, today, about us missing our interview appointment.  GREAT!!!  Now, they think I am a scattered brain mom who can’t Keep appointments straight.  When really I could have sworn that she said next week and the proof is that I have it in my phone for next week.  At this point, it doesn’t matter because I am afraid any small thing will bring down the hammer and the huge German nun in full regulation habit will come out with her huge ruler and whack me in the hand and scream, “You have been DISMISSED!!!”

So this is purgatory?  This limbo of unknowing that has me feeling like I am dangling over the Mississippi River from the Huey P. Long bridge.  Okay, I am about to drop into a raging river way up high, for those of you not from here.  I have exhausted every possible scenario, every possible meaning behind the teacher’s words, and every controlled substance.  Oh I kid.  After all this, I don’t care what college the kids go to.  It will all be on their shoulders, because, hey, I did my part.  I dragged your narrow butt to a school that I had to fight tooth and nail to get you into all while ironing your uniforms and trying not to sneak off with the altar wine.  I thought the torture of Catholic school was heaped upon the students, not the parents.  I mean isn’t it enough that I have to write that big check that should be better spent on sparkly, pretty things for myself?  I guess not, for the next 12 years I shall be the Catholic school’s bitch.

Not one word about the school finding this blog.  NOT. ONE. WORD.  If so, could that mean you got Southern Momed?  I mean if my kids have to suffer through public school, I should, at least, get something out of it.

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Snow

It was like every other morning, kids were cranky, husband didn’t want to get up and I laid there hoping that this wasn’t one of the 5 mornings I had to get up at 6am to get everyone moving.  It was cold and rainy, just like the hell that was last night.  You see, Amber had her big play, last night and, because the universe hates me, it was cold and raining, heavily.  It was hell getting 2 kids, one dressed in her pretty, pretty pink flower covered dress, out of the car warm and dry.  We made it through and the night went fine, until it was time to go out to the car where it was, get this, raining harder and seem to have dropped another 10 degrees.  So to wake up to rain and cold wasn’t a huge surprise.

I dressed the kids in their warmest jackets, fought with Sam over whether he should wear it in his carseat or not, and we were off.  Nothing special about the day, until the ride home.  As we crept closer and closer to home, the ice started to form on the car and passing cars.  Odd, I thought.  I mean the weatherman had reported snow on the Northshore, but that is the Northshore.  I mean if you are going to leave that far north {snark} then you must expect some wintery weather.  I know my dad had called early this morning to report 4 inches of snow, but again when you live up north…There were murmurs of snow falling from all the locals on Twitter and a new hashtag was born.  Nothing was going on in my area, so I thought nothing of it, just a bunch of people freaking the hell out over something that doesn’t happen often, in our neck of the woods.  Then…THEN the snow drifts started.  Seriously, we had a steady and pretty substantial snow falling at one point.  It was fun and exciting, because I knew it wouldn’t last.  Funny, Amber was around the same age as Sam when the snow fell on Christmas 2004. 

So, we went out for a few minutes to enjoy the sights and then come inside to resume our normal day.  It was fun while it lasted, but we are happy to be back to normal, whatever that means in the city by the river.

No, the poor boy doesn’t have gloves.  Heck, he is lucky he has that puffy jacket.
Normally, they just wear sweaters or hoodies, because we just don’t get that cold
and it never last throughout the whole day.
Because of his lack of gloves, we had to cut short his adventure into making snowballs
and pelting me with them.

Look!  We even got some reindeers.
Yeah, some poor only able to light half of our bodies reindeers.
They are like family, so we put them out, anyway.

That’s it, folks!  It is really coming down, so close the roads, battin down the hatches
and run to under your beds.  It should be safe to come out come June or this afternoon,
when it has all melted.  Whichever one comes first.

Hey, honey.  What to relax for a spell?
He will be wishing for this come summertime.

 

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Calm before the Storm or Much Ado About Nothing

Yesterday went way better than I had hoped.  I was able to get everything done without much angst, threatening of lives, yelling at wayward children or blood splatter.  All in all a good, but tiring, day.  I will admit I was smug while I sat on the sofa relaxing for the first time that day.  The kids were in bed and the only thing on my to-do list was to surf the Net, eat some ice cream and then fall into a dead sleep.  Ignorance is bliss.

I woke up this morning feeling rather calm and ready for the day ahead.  It was going to be a much lighter day than the one before and I was looking forward to wasting my day doing as little as possible. (Which also includes laundry and minor house cleaning.)  It was going to be an easy going day and, oh look, there is a nice breeze outside.  Again, ignorance is bliss.

I was emailing back and forth with a lady regarding a meet up.  She is new to our area, here for 2 years, and hasn’t found many friends as of yet.  Although, when I opened that first email I read something that I totally didn’t expect.  I was advised to check the newest hurricane, Gustav, and maybe fill up my gas tank or, at least, top it off before gas prices skyrocketed and we are left in long lines at the pump.  I can totally understand this reaction, but simply replied with a “I am not too concerned, yet”.

We are coming up on the anniversary of Katrina.  It has been 3 years and while there has been much progress, there are still reminders of her wreckage that one may pass on a daily basis.  Although, they are becoming more of the normal landscape.  Just yesterday I took my normal route to my therapist appointment where I drive through Lakeview.  While many of the businesses are back and many of the damaged houses are gone and pretty new houses have sprung up, what is there are the reminders of what raced through on the day the levees broke.  After living there for a year, and spending most of our time eating, shopping and general merriment there, I can easily point out the new vacant lots or tell you the house that use to be there or what they changed about the newly renovated house.  The raised houses are the easiest to notice, as they sit well above where they use to.  It makes me sad writing about it, but in day to day life not so much.  Maybe, because it is, finally, looking a little like it’s former self.

Then the knot in my stomach has replaced the hunger that was once there.  After clicking on the link in the email, I realize that we could be headed for another rough storm.  I have purposely not looking at the many reports regarding our newest worrisome guest, because knowing less is best, for the moment.  Many may look at us going about our lives down here in hurricane path while there is another possibly heading our way and think we are a bunch of people who would rather remain blissful in our ignorance.  The further could be the truth.  Just this morning there was a local who Twittered that he was concerned for Gustav.  I told my husband to plan his business week as if we have to leave, soon, real soon.  The News reported that St. Bernard is urging disabled people to please sign up for help in case of an evacuation.  I am sure that our local News well be urging us to get our hurricane supplies and to keep watch.  While on the surface we seem non-chalant, deep down our insides are churning.  What lies ahead?  Will this be Sam’s first evacuation?  Will this be Amber’s umpteenth trip racing away from dangerous weather?  Where will we go?  Should I start packing my evacuation box.  The truth is it is too early to tell.  As of right now, all we have is that Gustav will makes his way into the middle of the Gulf by 8am on Sunday and no telling where he will go from there. 

In the next few days it will be what is bantered about over coffee and dinner.  It will be the talk in homes between parents as their children do homework.  It will set up permnant residence in the back of the minds of people as they shuffle off to work.  It is with us.  All the time.  Everyday.  And it will remain with us until we either leave for higher ground or until it moves on to torture some other state.  All we can do is live our lives and continue on until we are forced to make that move.  There is no reason to put our lives on hold until it is absoluetely necessary to do so.  Others sitting in far away states thinking that we are gullible and setting ourselves up for another Katrina just don’t understand.  This part of our life.  It is the price we pay for living in the greatest city on earth, New Orleans.

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Everyone is Doing It.

I am not too upset over this Miley Cyrus business (I didn’t totally unexpect it), but I am upset with the people that shove it under the rug and then walk around the lump pretending it doesn’t exist.  I have reach a place in my life where I am the very uncool and very old woman.  I am shocked at the lack of respect and blatant disregard for manners in young people these days and that proves I am ready for my cane and adult diapers. 

First off, I have a problem with parents whoring (yes, whoring) their children out for a buck.  I don’t care how wholesome you start out the pressure and lure of show business gets to everyone involved and they start to do stupid things.  Why can’t all these kids with talent stay in the school talent show, play and drama clubs to hone their craft and then when they are adults make their way through Hollywood?  And is it so great to be washed up at 18 yrs old?  Sure you got money, but what else are you going to do with your life?

Back to the Miley Cyrus cover and the out/under rage this seems to be causing.  Why is it upsetting?  Because you got a 15 yr old looking like she is getting up from a nice romp in the sack.  We already got Jamie Lynn Spears knocked up by either a 18 yr old or 30 something yr old.  Can someone say Statutory Rape?  But we are suppose to support and feel pity for her.  Then there is the “Well, they are going to do it anyway” defense.  I guess all of us parents should throw up our hands and stop parenting because it won’t matter anyway. 

I understand that chidren have their own opinions and parents can’t control everything.  Hell, I was down on Bourbon street at 16 yr old getting into clubs and nursing an alcholic drink.  But you know what I, also, carried with me?  The incredible fear of what my mom would do to me if she caught me.  And guess what she ALWAYS caught me.  She ALWAYS knew what I was up to.  Not a bad thing to have in your arensal as a parent?  That fear kept me from sneaking out of my bedroom window at night, getting involved in drugs, drinking until I dropped and getting frisky with some boy in the backseat of a car.  All it took was a little boundary check from mom, which involved removing anything that was of value to me for a lenghty amount of time. 

Does this work for all kids, maybe not, but I am shocked when I hear what parents are doing.  Just in this “What is the big deal” post, the blogger talks of parties where there is underage drinking, parents smoking pot and girls making out with each other to impress boys.  Um, could someone maybe pick up a phone and call the cops, because I am sure 2 out 3 of those things are illegal, at least down here in the state of Louisiana.  

And we wonder why our children act the way they do?  It is not because of Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears or Lindsey Lohan, but because of their parents.  These parents seem so involved in making a buck that none of them have stepped up and put their foot down.  You better be damn sure that if I was faced with my daughter topless with sex tousled hair and a sheet, cameras would have been stopped and my daughter off the set.  What I suspect happen is that the parents, themselves didn’t want to appear uncool or hurt their daughters’ careers?  Why is it okay to throw our children to the lions so no one says a bad word about us? 

In line with being the cranky old lady, I have come to not care what people think.  You say I am a prude?  So what!  You say I am mean? So what!  You say I am out of touch? So be it!  I. DON’T. CARE!  I want my children to know that I am their parent and what I say goes.  And they maybe unpopular with the rest of the teen world, but maybe I won’t have any new babies to take care of or drug rehabs to find.  Never say never, but always be prepared. 

Note: I didn’t provide any pictures, because 1. you can find them all over the Internet and 2. I am not going to add to the freak show that is Hollywood’s kiddie business.  As for Disney, maybe they should stick to the actors that are drawn; they are easily controlled.

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Look at the Wookie

Did you know that we are partners in a law enforcement store?  I am sure I have mentioned it before.  Well, guess what?  We were on the NEWS, TWICE.  On different channels.  The store and our partner who actually runs the place.  Gunman was interviewed, because there seems to be an issue brewing down here in the murder capital of the country regarding assualt weapons.  Don’t ask me what kind of assault weapons.  I hear the name and the numbers and my eyes start to glaze over.  The most I know about guns is which end the bullets come out of. 

One of our Democratic politicans is trying to get this assault weapon banned to cut down crime.  But here is the problem with his big plan:  The people affected by the ban would be people who actually follow the law and buy their guns from legal establishments, like us.  Also, they are the people that register the gun and go through all the proper channels.  Guess what?  That doesn’t stop the criminals.  Criminals buy their guns from whomever and very rarely ( I will even go as far as to say that they NEVER) register their guns.  And wait for it, here is the shocker!!,  sometimes they steal their guns.  I know hard to believe, eh?  There have been a few unsavory people walk into our store and either immediately walk out 1. after seeing one of the near by police districts practically having roll call in there or 2. after talking to Gunman and realizing that this is no place to get a deal on an illegal gun.  If you think it doesn’t happen in gun stores, then you didn’t hear the story about Elliot’s gun.

While I listened to the radio, one of the Republican reporters (I am guessing, but since I was listening to Ameriright on Xm, I think it is a good guess) made a claim that Obama made a statement back in the middle 90′s, that if you carry a concealed weapon (legally) that you are more likely to shoot someone if you get into an altercation.  Now, I haven’t checked this statement out, but I bet you can find it if you are not currently particpating in 3 kid Wednesday.  Whether he said it or not, it is a dumb statement.  There are many citizens in the 40 states that have concealed weapon permits that don’t go around killing someone because they disagreed with them. I would think that there would be far less liberals walking around if this was true.

I call this the “Look at the Wookie” defense.  These polticians can call for more and more gun control and then claim that they are doing their best to combat crime.  What they fail to look at is that they are controlling are the guns of people that are following the rules.  The evidence of this, if every crime involving a gun was committed by someone who obtained their gun legally, then the police would have the easiest job locking them away.  The point is that criminals are criminals because they don’t follow laws.  More laws are not going to make New Orleans any less of the murder capital.  We have drug laws, but there are tons of murders tied to drugs everyday in this city. 

I think our inner city problem is tied more to the lack of parental supervision and a culture that has taught our kids that it is better to kill and deal drugs than to actually work hard and make it the legal way.  Don’t believe it there was a story, maybe last year, about a boy who was beaten up by some other boys.  Apparently, he went home and told his mother and she gave him a gun to go take care of his problem.  That is right, folks, instead of teaching how to properly handle this situation his mother gave him a gun and now they both are arrested.  However, fixing the actual problem is much harder than passing a law that affects law abiding, tax paying citizens.  It would mean that these politicans would have to get their hands dirty and get out there and discover what is ailing our poorer neighborhoods.  And don’t think that I am saying this is a problem only for the poor.  I know the middle class has a problem with drugs and guns, as well.  Again, that is more proof that no matter how much money you have or don’t, you still need to parent your children.  I believe that criminals are not born, but grown. 

All politicans need to stop putting a band aid on our gaping wounds and realize that they need to take it in to be looked at by a specialist.  We are not going to get anywhere if we keep ignoring the realities of the situation.  I guess that would mean they would have to actually work for their large salaries.

One last note:  It angers me that just because someone disagrees with someone that they feel it is okay to make fun of their ailments.  I didn’t know much about Charleston Heston, except maybe basic stuff, like he was in the Ten Commandments and was the head of the NRA.  However, I don’t think it is right for people (George Clooney) to make fun of his Alzheimer’s.  My grandmother had it and it is a slow, frustrating and painful disease.  I believe it is a disease that eats away at your memories, family and brain functions.  It is not pretty to watch.  You can disagree with his politics, but fight fair. 

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