Big Shout Out To Tough Judges and Fourth Grade Teachers

I've been following the Casey Trial, and was actually not that surprised that the young man was stupid enough to give the finger to the attorney on the stand. As a teacher over the years I have been told by children to "F--- Off", "Shut the F--- UP", "F--- You", and given the middle finger, or as the judge said the "sign of affection." I was happy that the judge gave him 6 days in jail and fined him $400.00 plus court costs.  I had Rob watch the replay of the judge giving the young man his judgement and told Rob I thought every parent and child should watch this segment.  Why???  Because I think ALL of us need to return to a certain level of decency. This young man had read the sign, and had the rules explained before court started.  As I watched him say his action was stupid and he was sorry, I sensed that like many young people he thought that was the end of his problem.  As Rob was watching the replay, people's Twitter remarks were flashing across the screen on Channel 6.  Rob said, "Did you read that?" "What?" I said.  Someone just Twittered that the Judge reminded them of their fourth grade teacher. "YES" I said.  "There is another me!"  Most of my former students can attest to my lectures. Lectures that at some point in their lives that they will be held responsible for their actions and Mom and Dad will not be able to get them out of it. I care deeply for my students but part of caring is teaching respect and responsibility.  Too many kids do not think they should be held responsible for any of their actions.  They will tell teachers that they can't do anything to them, that they will tell their parents and get the teacher in trouble. that they are going to sue you, and their parents always get them out of trouble. The young man in court today obviously thought that the sign, the warning, the rules did not apply to him.  Maybe he thought he would just get by with it. Maybe he thought court would be as passive with punishment as the public school system has been in the last 20 years. I don't know what he thought the Judge would do but I don't think he was thinking jail. I'm not totally innocent myself but I know that none of us should really be giving anyone the finger, especially your elementary teacher or an attorney or judge in court.  People do yourself and your kids a favor. Teach them appropriate behavior and the consequences of bad behavior and poor choices and foremost let them suffer consequences before they are say 26 years old giving the finger on national TV in a court room.  One of the last lectures I gave my students before school was out was at the Preston County Courthouse on the fact that there are cameras everywhere. I guess the young man in court today wasn't paying attention when his fourth grade teacher gave that lecture.

Double Date Night

I thought if Rob and I went on a double date with Kathy and Barney, Rob may be just a little more classy with ideas.  I have no idea why I would think having two men together would make it better. The evening started out OK with shopping, but rapidly digressed when ROB said he was hungry. Wouldn't you know, right at the same moment, a bill board appeared for wings at HOOTERS, yes I said HOOTERS. Now, I am not stupid.  I know you can get wings a million other places, but Barney insisted that you could get fat free, low cholesterol wings at HOOTERS. Kathy had never been to a HOOTERS so she had no idea about the decor. Not to seem slutty but I had been to a few so I knew what was coming, but I will do anything to stick to my diet. We walked into HOOTERS and quickly found a table. Rob and Barney seemed happy with our choice immediately. Kathy not so. Quickly our waitress appeared and Kathy asked her if she was old enough to be serving beer. She said yes, she had just turned 18 fifteen minutes earlier. OK, good to go.  I preceded to ask about the fat free, low cholesterol wings. She looked at me with that stupid "I just turned 18 look" and laughed. I knew I had been had, AGAIN. Rob insisted the wings were really good and it was all you could eat. So we ordered. Rob and Barney seemed preoccupied the entire evening choosing to spend their evening looking around, paying very little attention to me and Kathy. Our wings were finally served with were OK, but the fries arrived late. The boys didn't seemed upset at all over the service but continue to call Samantha's name over and over, while Barney did Rob kept calling her Amanda and wondered why she didn't come to wait on him. I found this rather annoying.  There was at least 15 minutes during my 17th summer that I probably could have fit into the HOOTERS uniform, but Rob didn't know me then, and I have no desire to starve myself to death for him now. Actually, I have very little desire to do anything for him. So on with the story, Samantha informed us it was her first night on the job.  Barney and Rob took it upon themselves to explain to Samantha how to get bigger tips, at this point I was just so ready to leave. Rob preceded to leave a big tip and I preceded to plot my revenge.

Rob Tries to Make Up For Last Nigt's Date

I gave Rob a second chance today to make up for the Goodwill/Tool Store Date Night.  This is how today went.  Up early and breakfast at guess where?  You got it, Checkers!  Then on to Old Navy Tank Top sale. He told me I could buy all the tanks I wanted.  Big spender! It was the $2 Tank Sale, but I did buy 8 for me, 4 for Brandy, 2 for Korin and matching outfits for Justin and Cassie.  Justin didn't seem too excited but I told him David and I dressed alike for years and look how we turned out. I also found a cute skirt. I really don't look too good in tank tops but when it is 100 degrees I really don't care how I look.  Plus no tan lines on the arms, and one good thing about 53 is no one is really looking at you unless there are looking for their Mom or in Julie's case, grandmother. OK, back to date make up day. Next, on to Sam's Club where I bought Lady GaGa's album (CD) "Born This Way", Blue Crab Dip, because it was good and I miss Julie, and an apple pie, because I have been craving apple pie. Rob actually found the CD for me to try to make up for the tool store. Lunch was at Sam's.  We walked around and tried the free food. Which allowed Rob to get buy with little money and no clean up. He even treated me to a free sample of wine, which I usually hate wine but this one was good enough we bought a bottle. The wine sample came in one of those little cups you rinse your mouth out at the dentist when you have dental work done. On the way home I listened, sang, and did a few dance moves to my new CD. That was until Rob said someone at the bus stop was watching me. They probably had never seen someone with such remarkable talent just randomly driving by their bus stop. Once home, I had a piece of my apple pie, and then I took a nap because it was too rainy to go to the beach. I think Rob let me sleep because he thought that would be a good end to our date, but I don't know who that gift was for exactly.

Tips for wanna be Diva's, recipes, and photos

I need to do a little more with my blog. Justin will be visiting in a couple of weeks and I'm going to have him help me update and reinvent my blog.  First, I need photos, not for every blog but some.  Dan was hoping that there were photos with the blog" Rob and the wet tee shirt contest", but Dan changed his mind after that special "look" from me and said he had errands to run. I think a couple of photos would be nice now and then but the writing needs to be the main focus. Justin, from the beginning, has said that I need recipes with photos.  That would involve cooking wouldn't it?  I guess I can try.  I want to start including tips for Diva's because this just comes so naturally, being a Diva and giving advice. My first bit of advice I stole from the Diva site.  Tip 1 ........  Don't compare or compete. Divas just are!!!! I mean really do you know anyone else exactly like me?  Chris, please, no comments are needed from you at this point. I think I should also, maybe, start including shopping tips, good reads, just the right thing to say (not that I ever do this), but we can all learn together. Landscaping tips would be good don't you think or how to name your pets.  Julie and I have always dreamed of starting a company. I could give tips on starting a business, because I really don't want to work. Movie reviews would be good but I have to warn you I don't like any of the movies that
Rob does. Candy, now I know candy. Tonight I have been obsessing about toffee. Organization tips. I might show you a photo of how Brandy and I organized my jewelry, which could also fall under Diva, if it was all real. Thunderstorms and lightening safety ........ really my tips could go on and on.

Circle of Life

Most folks my age have begun to understand or experience the circle of life. I've been the kid, the rebellious teenager, the young adult, the parent, now in middle age my brothers and I are in the stage of life of helping out our parents more and more. I don't know about others but I just feel like  you are never really ready to deal with this part of the circle. Our Dad is no longer driving and living in a very rural area requires both parents to be driven to all appointments and activities.  They have also reached the point where housework, yard work, shopping and many other chores have to be done by someone else. This is not easy for their kids to accept, and I don't think any of us were ready or realized how much it entails to take care of aging parents. First, everyone had to accept Mom and Dad's physical decline, which was easier for me living down the street, seeing them almost everyday, and watching the decline for the last 10 years. Second, everyone, even them, had to accept that they need help.  This is not an easy phase and my brothers and I tend to disagree and ague just like we did when we all lived in the same house, which is one main reason our parents are so tired. I don't know who this stage is harder on the aging parents or their children. It is hard for the parents to admit they need help and to depend on their children, who they still probably view, somewhat, as those irresponsible teenagers that drove them crazy for years. My Dad thinks I'm bossy when I tell him he needs to do something.  One of the most difficult decisions that all of us had to make was telling Dad he couldn't drive anymore, plus we knew it would all change our lives because it meant us doing the driving for them. This is not a quick or easy process or at least it wasn't for us. It took months of conversations between us and his doctor. We started out limiting his driving and then finally saying enough is enough.  This decision had to be made not only for our parents safety but the safety of others. We are lucky in the fact that all of us live within 40 miles of our parents and that there are also grand kids willing to help chip in.  On the other hand our parents own multiple properties that need to be checked on and kept up and our goal is for our parents to stay in their own home as long as possible. One great help has been to get additional help for my parents. They have someone to help with cleaning and laundry and someone to check in on them a couple of times a day for meals, meds, general up keep and chores. Senior citizens also delivers meals at noon. The big plus is Justin and Cassie across the street from our parents, that allows someone to be there in seconds if needed. This circle in life takes some getting use to from all parties and is an eye opener to what our future may hold. Aging also brings on short term memory loss for some so we have found ourselves going to the doctor with our parents to make sure medication, and other health concerns are being followed correctly. We also call and check in daily and make frequent trips to our parents home. We schedule vacations so that someone is always available to our parents, and we generally have daily e-mails and phone calls to update everyone in the family as to what is going on with our parents.  We also have come to realize that you have to plan ahead and we have already started looking ahead to the difficult Preston County winter. I know young folks who may read this may find this blog boring or distant to them but some day you too will be there with your parents. The best advice I can give anyone is find yourself some support because it is very difficult to do it alone.

Not Too Cool for Coupons

I use to do coupons before I got too busy with work and Justin's activities but now I'm finding myself back into coupons, in part, thanks to Cassie and Justin who take it very seriously. Now some of you may think you are too cool for coupons or saving money. I am very cool but I love coupons and saving money so I will start sharing some of my deals on my blog.  This may sound cheap but saving money has allowed me to get things I really want like a beach house. Today's first bargain I discovered on line last night.  It was a free meal at IHOP, so I took Rob there for his Father's Day breakfast.  Rob eating free saved us $8.00.  I had their 400 calorie Smart Diet breakfast of eggbeaters, turkey bacon and pancakes. Remember I am watching fat and cholesterol so you will also be hearing about that. Exciting isn't it??? My present to Rob for Father's Day was I took a nap for 2 hours which gave him 2 hours of quiet. This evening we tried out Giovanni's Restaurant.  Rob had Shrimp Diavola and I had a veggie calzone, which I only ate 1/2 because of trying to eat less and better. We came home and changed clothes and went for a walk on the beach. I called Dad a couple of times today and he asked me when I was coming home.  I told him when he quit saying I was bossy.  His reply was I guess I won't be seeing you for awhile. My Dad and I use to do all kinds of things together, now we mainly talk.  Do things with your parents while they are still young enough to do them. Time goes by so quickly and before you know it you have time to cut out coupons and write blogs. Need to go cut out some coupons for Centrum Silver.

A Day in the Life of Debra

Very surprising to myself and Rob, I got up at 7:30 AM. Breakfast consisted of toast and milk. Not too exciting or fattening. I decided I should probably clean so I swept and damp mopped  the tile floors, did a little laundry and had Rob hung some pictures. Julie came over at around 10:00 or so to borrow the car.  She needed to take Karma shopping for Father's Day.  She asked me to go with them but I needed to stay focused.  I called and checked in on Mom and Dad, and them finished some more chores around the house. Julie came back from shopping.  Karma and Julie bought me a starfish ornament which is hanging in my living room.  Rob got the beach cart ready.  I chose snacks for the afternoon and off we all went to the beach.  There are new sunscreen recommendations so I'm just sticking with 50 SPF and 70 SPF on my face.  I also wear a cap and sun glasses to protect my face, which is showing signs of aging and sun damage. My beach chair always has a drink in the cup holder and sunscreen in the bag compartment. We stayed at the beach for about 4 hours and then had to come back to take Julie and Karma to the airport. Things were going pretty good loading Julie  until Karma wasn't allowed to go to the dumpster with Julie and then she had a meltdown.  Julie is not having good luck today because there is a storm in Atlanta and their flight is delayed.  I think she is probably in the air to Atlanta right now, maybe not. She has a lay over in Atlanta until around 11 tonight and then hopefully on to Pittsburgh. I'm glad I'm here and she is there on the plane. We did a Checkers stop for a quick sandwich before heading to Walmart for groceries. I don't like to shop hungry because then everything looks good.  We picked up enough for dinners for a couple of weeks. When we came out of Walmart it was raining, which is good because I don't have to water plants tonight. I called Mom and Dad on the way home to check on them, then I called Justin.  I like checking up on people. I really like checking up on people from a distance. We put all the groceries away and I had a snack of Ritz crackers, low fat cream cheese and pickles.  I'm going back on my low fat, low cholesterol eating regimen Monday. I thought I'd better write a blog before Chris complained but nothing really happened today so I thought I would bore him with this and maybe he would get off my case for a couple of days. Rob is now watching the Dark Knight for 100th time but that reminded me that Cassie mentioned on Face book about a Batman movie being filmed in Pittsburgh today.  I think that is something I kind of want to do when I retire is be an extra in films.  Rob just informed me that I'm having yogurt for breakfast in the morning.  He had to get up off the couch because Midnight is chasing the second hand on the wall clock and then jumped up on the kitchen counter. He finally came out from underneath our bed.  Midnight that is not Rob.  I allow Rob to sleep on top of the bed with me but he has to stay on his side. I still have to wash my bathing suits tonight. I just finished the menu for the next two weeks and we are having a thunder and lightening storm here now so I'm not going to start laundry until it is over. I think I'll have some more crackers, cream cheese and pickles.  I got the pickles at the flea market, which will be a blog someday, but not today because I didn't go there.