My Parents React to the New Justin Bieber "Believe" Movie

**************** **************** *** The parents are actually friends of one of my friends, and that's how I came to watch this video. It. is. hilarious. I promise.

Pet Hospice?

Really?

People have a lot of money to spend. That was my first reaction to the idea.

But after reading an article about the subject, I figured if the families are going to be spending thousands on chemotherapy and other treatments anyway, might as well let the vet have a nice few visits, get the animal relaxed and comfortable, and the "final" visit will allow the animal to die peacefully in his own home.  Makes sense.

Not the spending thousands on doggie chemo, but maybe a more streamlined version of the hospice program, would be a more reasonable middle-class option.  A couple of visits, a really great steak dinner for the pup, and a loving good-bye. 

When our cat died, it was absolutely horrible watching her suffer for days.  We just didn't want to take her out for that stressful car ride, plunk her on that cold table and have the doc shoot her up, you know?

Right now, we're done having pets.  Emperor is allergic to dogs.  Woodjie is allergic to cats.  And I?  Am allergic to both.  I'm thinking that means it's not gonna happen.  Maybe a pet rock later.

Guidelines for My Children While They Endure the New Common Core Curriculum

A Guest Post by Gwendolynn Britt, copied from the facebook Common Crud group with permission.

- Math is a LAW, it is not subjective. If the final answer is wrong, then it’s wrong. It doesn't matter if everyone feels good about the steps you took to get to that wrong answer.

…By the way, ‘Mental Math’ is done in your head. Don’t write out your steps, I don’t care what the assignment says, I’ll deal with the teacher if need be.

- Once you've learned cursive, you will continue to write in cursive, regardless of your teacher’s instructions.

- You will only take tests that measure your skills so that the teacher may review your progress. That’s it! You will not waste time on tests that are meant to measure others.

- If you see the word ‘Citizen’, you are being manipulated.

- There is no such thing as global warming or climate change, it has been dis-proven. Any references to these are attempts to manipulate your behavior.

- Do not allow anyone to take ANYTHING from your body, finger prints, hand scans, eye scans, saliva…and anything else I didn't think of.

- The Constitution is the supreme law of the land (not the United Declaration of Human Rights). It’s not there to feel good or to ensure fair results. It is there, in part, to make sure no one takes away your God given rights (or natural rights of man).

- Do not reveal personal information about our family, it’s nobody’s business. This includes things like our political affiliation, whether or not we possess firearms, our religion and so on.

- If you see anything that you think is strange, wrong or inappropriate, bring it to my attention immediately.

Oldies = 1980's Music

I've found that my older teens enjoy these "oldies" and have discovered them on their own.  Sometimes I'll hear Patrick humming a tune and get an eerie feeling.  That song is almost 30 years old! 

Now, the music we used to listen to is called "Oldies."  Which must make my own parents feel terribly, terribly old.  

I came across this article today, which seems to indicate that children have some sort of instinctive memory of the music their parents, or even grandparents, listened to years ago.

I don't know that I buy this stuff, although when I was in college we were taught that each of us has within us a collective unconscious.  We understand archetypes via the lens of our culture and more than that, through a psychic memory that's been passed down somehow (hopefully I'm relating that accurately).

Does that explain why my parents were never keen on Elvis, I positively hate his music, and none of my children have picked up on his tunes?  Or is it simply that there is a "good taste" gene out there, undiscovered?

Happy Christmas to You!

                                                                                          I'm leaving you with a short video of Woodjie and Rose working with Hot Dots.  I bought these at an educational supply store and on Amazon.  :)

We're Iced In! So I'm Blogging.

Early Christmas presents

Someone stole Emperor's stuffed turtle at school and he was devastated.  Just when you think the worst of humanity, someone comes along and does something sweet.  The school librarian crocheted this little finger puppet stuffed turtle just for Emperor. 

Woodjie is learning to enjoy eating new foods!  He made this pizza and even (inexplicably) tried pork chops and liked them!

Rose has always wanted to go to Africa.  She says that it is the most beautiful place in the world and she wants to see it.  This Dover sticker book of an African village will have to do for now.   She was thrilled.  She loves it so much, she even got all her glitter pony stickers and stuck them in the African village, too.

Hokey Military Family Reunions Damaging?

They're so cute, aren't they?  Poor kid is totally not expecting to see his Dad and suddenly, there he is!  He's a football player for the other team!  I'm sorry, but I just can't imagine the psychological damage it does to someone to have surprises like this popped on them.  Why?  Because I think that when someone is away at war, that it requires a special sort of fortitude from the family.  You just try not to think on "what is happening to Dad" as you go about your day to day, although obviously you do miss him.

It just seems so jarring, seeing these reunions.  I suppose I have nothing in theory against them, and they'd actually be much more fun to watch if I knew the war was over and Daddy was coming home for good.  If he goes away again, wouldn't this poor child (and some much younger I won't link to) always wonder if Dad can surprise them, where is he really, he could be anywhere. 

I dunno.  I think it sets kids up for trust issues down the line. I also think it hurts other families who miss their family member, especially at times like Christmas. It builds up a vague "maybe dad will surprise me, too!" expectation. Oh well, that's just my opinion.