Best left to professionals

I'm one of these people who is constantly torn between do it yourself and let the professionals do it. The older I get the more I tend to say "let's get someone professionally to do it."  First, haircuts and coloring, better left to professionals. There have been times in my life when the first thing Rob said when he walked in the door was "Cut your own hair again, didn't you?"  To this day, I'm not sure how he knew. Second, dental work. NO comment  needed here, but I will add that my endodontist is hot. Third, home repairs and remodeling are better left to the professionals, and from my experience the best thing is to go on a vacation and come back to the finished project. If you have to be present, as I was when work was being completed on our house in Florida, I advise to grab a drink and a good friend, your beach chairs and sit in the sun and watch. I'm sure the contractor in Florida enjoyed my company and comments. Plus, he wasn't too bad to look at either. Fourth, medical care. Although, I think since Web MD, I am capable of diagnosing most things.  I am still unable to prescribe drugs (legally) so I have found my family doctor and shrink most useful. Fifth, plumbing and electrical work. Need I say that electricity and water don't mix. Sixth, taxes. I hate to pay them and hate to do them, so I never have.( I do pay taxes.)  Seventh, fingernails. There is nothing better than a professional manicure. Eighth, car wash. I use to like to do this on a sunny summer day, until I found Sparkle Shine.  I sit in an air conditioned room with a Diet Pepsi and watch young guys, wash, polish, vac, and detail the inside of my vehicle. I always pick the Pina Colda air freshener when they give me a choice on how I want the vehicle to smell when they are finished.  Ninth, pet care. I love my Midnight, only the best for him.  Tenth, clothes/fashion. I could make my own clothes, but I think Rob would know.

Give me a break !!!

Style mistakes add years. I read this little piece on the yahoo news line tonight against my better judgement. GIVE ME A BREAK. Style mistakes don't add years. Kids add years. Crazy bosses add years. Laundry adds years. Husbands add years. Paper work adds years. Holidays add years. Stepping in a mud hole with your new flip flops adds years. Trying to be nice to people who drive you crazy adds years. Listening to people in "Positions" lie to you add years. High heels add years. Trying to look like you know what you are doing adds years. Trying to get your hair to look right in the morning adds years. Getting up before 9 o'clock adds years. Trying to fit into a pair of skinny jeans adds years. Root canals add years. Realizing the middle age guy lying beside you in bed is your husband adds years.  Looking down and seeing that you are wearing socks with sandals adds years. Learning that your designer sunglasses are bifocals adds years. Reading an article about style mistakes adding years to your look and realizing YOU DON'T CARE if you wear Mom jeans, sandals with socks, or twin sweater sets.   PRICELESS

So really what is important?

What really is important in life? I think the older a person gets the more they ask themselves this question. I ask myself this question often. Watching the news tonight is rather depressing for me. Another state is slashing their education budget to balance the state budget. The news announcer mentioned schools may be closed, teaching positions cut, arts and sports programs eliminated. The budget in our county education system is also making cuts. It is sad. I and many teachers already fund our classrooms and fill in the gaps with needed items that aren't supplied. So what is important in life, if not kids and education, what is important? At night watching TV and doing school work, I see where the rich, celebrities and famous have spent thousands on clothes, millions on homes and I think what just the cost of one of their gowns would buy for my classroom. Maybe I'm crazy but I think about being able to hire someone to strip and wax my classroom floor. I think of the millions that some have and how they could fund a field trip and really wouldn't miss the money at all. How many closets full of clothes do people need?  How many rooms in a mansion is enough? Do people become so removed from the reality of life in public schools that they really don't have any idea what daily life is like there? Maybe after almost thirty years I'm tired. Maybe after thirty years I just don't understand what others think is important or why?

Viewing a segment of your life

Cold, snowing, Sundays give me a time to reflect. So I am. A lesson I've learned in life is to stop and take a step back and view yourself as an outsider. Listen to yourself and what others around you are saying. Look at your actions and the actions of others you choose to be around. Examine your deeds and those of your friends. What do you hear and see? What do they say? In my later years, I have also asked myself what explanation would I give to God if he plays these segments back to me when deciding whether I'm worthy of him. Am I really as compassionate as I can be? Do I look out for others like I do my own family? Do I judge others and think myself better? Do I honor my mother  and father? Do I look out for the weak?  Do I take up for those who can't take up for themselves? Should I speak up more when others are judgemental and cruel with their words? I think too many of us never see the big picture. We get caught up in material things, our own kids, our own neighborhoods, our own families, our looks, our homes. We forget that we are all in this together. The older I get the more that I think words or lip service is not enough. Standing by quitely, while others discriminate, play favorites, judge others, and generally do wrong is not acceptable. I have the ability to upset others when I stand up for others, make a stand, or take up for others that some feel not worthy, but I think I have to answer only to one when the final segments of my life are played back for me to explain. There really is a bigger picture, much bigger.

Just Do It

I'm one of those people that just tend to do things. I start out with good intentions of making a list of pros and cons but I just never get to the pros or cons. I just make a decision and do something. Funny thing but my quick decisions have all turned out pretty good. Although, I wouldn't recommend this decision making style to others. Rob and I moved in together after only knowing each other two weeks. That will be 34 years ago in November. That didn't work out too bad. I'm not sure Rob would agree, but then again this is my blog. We bought our home on Oak Street on a whim and with no money per say, but 29 years later we still like our old house and enjoy hanging out there together. It is filled with memories and heirlooms from both sides of our families. Then there was Justin.  I don't remember making a pro or con list that morning. Cutting my hair or changing hair colors generally is a split second decision. I tend to just wake up on mornings proclaiming some change that is going to happen that day. Rob has become very accepting of my decision making process or lack of. The beach house purchase took us about 15 seconds because I couldn't even think of one con. When I decide to switch positions or schools, it usually just hits me like a bolt of lightning. I just tend to do things with out thinking much about it. I don't have a much patience's for decision making so maybe that is part of it. I don't like when there are 50 different choices of peanut butter so I just choose one. Rob and I definatley do not have the same style of decision making at times. Take shopping in the grocery store when decisions have to be made. He wants to walk up and down every aisle systematically and check out all 50 different jars of peanut butter. I want to randomly run around the store getting what we need, check out the candy aisle and get out of there. I'm thinking about retiring and people ask me when. I don't know. I'll decide some morning when I feel it is right. I'll probably just wake up, decide I don't want to work any more and tell Rob to call me in retired, then everyone will know.

Advice for Charlie Sheen

Hey Charlie, just a little advice. You need help, professional help. You have a high possibility of being mentally ill, which means you need professional help from a psychiatrist and medication. You are also a drug addict, so ditto that professional help. The girl friends in your house were called bimbos in my Mom's generation and just plain sluts in mine. None of you are fit to be parents or role models to the twins, and let's face it the nanny is probably the real person raising the kids. Please get off of TV. I'm beyond being irritated with your nonsense. Media, and for you, quit putting drug addicts on TV as entertainment.  Charlie, shame on you for throwing away a career and salary that other people can only dream of. If your girl friends had to really raise those twins, clean house, cook, take out the trash, do laundry and have a real job on the side, I really doubt if they would be there for more than say a week, if that. As a teacher, I really wonder who will help the twins, in future years, with their homework when you are drugged up and partying? Forget it, I already now the answer to that. Somebody seriously needs to tell you the same thing I tell my fourth graders at times, "You are not cute, or funny." One more thing, if you have so much money to throw away on drugs, I could use a few things for my classroom. You think you are so great, come live with me a month and I'll give you some free attitude adjustment therapy. Seriously, be a real hero to your kids, GET HELP!

Sunday dinner

Today while my cousin was giving the eulogy at my Uncle Jim's funeral, he mentioned how he missed Sunday dinner at the Grandparent's house. I've seen black and white, scalloped edged photographs of Sunday dinners at my maternal grandparent's home in Grafton. I'm one of the youngest cousins so I have few memories of the Sunday dinners there but many memories of Sunday and holiday dinners at my paternal grandparent's home in Rowlesburg. We are "common folk" so family meals were homemade with love and homegrown vegetables and fruits, canned during the hot, humid summer days, and stored away for meals like these. Adults surrounded the dining table and kids find space wherever to consume their plate. My Grandmothers were great cooks and we grew up with treats like homemade desserts and root beer made and bottled at home by my Grandmother. Grace was always said and plates were cleaned. There was talking, sharing, and playing. My cousin, Terry, made me think about what we have given up with not making time for Sunday dinners and what are our children missing from this tradition. Modern society has placed great emphasis on sports and organized activities for our kids that flow through the week into the weekend and then some. We grab fast food meals to fit into our fast paced life. So, as Terry said, the cousins only see each other at weddings and funerals now, and lately, way too often at funerals. We reacquaint ourselves, try to catch up, reminisce, and introduce the younger cousins to each other at these ceremonial events. Everyone has grown up and aged, and one can't help but  reflect on where the time has gone. My Mom made the statement yesterday that she has everything she needs. I know that that she didn't mean material things. I hope I'm intelligent enough to make more time for my family and cousins. Terry also reminded us that none of us know how much time we each have on earth or with our families.  It could be years or just a few moments more, so choose your moments and memories wisely.