So, my husband and I took the kids to the park to play. The kids were having a great time. We met up with Mike's sister and her little one. One would say, " what a great day here at the park. No kids crying, getting hurt..." Well, the kids were fine! I was chasing my son around the park. We went up and down the bridges and ramps and slides. And then, my son made his way down the fire pole. I thought, ok I can do this. My fat ass can handle going down the pole. Pulse, pole dancing is fun and is considered exercise...Right? Well about a quarter ways down the pole, my fingers were burning. At this point, with my fingers burning, I thought to myself, better make it all the way down, b/c if I let go here, I could hurt my knee or some other part of my body. By the time I got down the pole, my finger prints had been rubbed off and left at the top.Pain rushing through, tears have not yet formed. I told my son that my fingers were burning and all he did was, laugh, "HAHA." sounding like Nelson from the Simpsons. Thinking to myself, what a little snot he was. I told my husband and sister-in-law and all they could do is laugh at me. Now, my fingers didn't hurt badly, just my pride! I went to the park bathroom, to run my hands under water. Boy, it felt great, for a short time. The pain rushed back when I took my hands out from under the water. I told Mike and his sister that I had to go and get ice or something. And then, my, ooooh soooo “sweet” sister in-law chuckles, "Only you!" and Mike adding in, "Only you, on a playground, full of kids and adults. You get hurt! It's a padded playground! How on earth could you pull this off?!" Let it be a padded playground, a short bus and I am wearing a helmet, I will find a way to have a Homer moment. Moral of the story, never pole play or dance at a playground. Leave it to the Pros at Double Vision! Personal Goal: Find a new husband and sister-in-law to show some love when hurt and send my son off to Boarding School..

"Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancing." --William James

~~ "Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancing." --William James Humor is a state of mind. If you have the humor gene, you will find something to laugh at. Whether it is your late arrival at the office, or your boss' temperamental behavior, or your teacher's drab lecture... It is important to look at the funny side of things if you want to enjoy life each day. Although, I find it is amazing how some people know when and how to be funny. Their mannerisms, their words, and their acts make them funny whenever they choose to be. Perhaps it is their sparkling wit, their casual demeanor, or perhaps their caustic remarks that make them famous and funny. One form of humor I enjoy is the Bumper sticker. Do bumper stickers enhance the aesthetic appeal of your car? I do not know about that, but I do believe that they make a statement. "Caution: I drive like you do!""I brake for scholars, priests, and no apparent reason.""You've obviously mistaken me for someone who cares.""My other car bumper sticker is funny.""I'm in no hurry; I'm on my way to work.""I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing.""I just got a new car for my wife today. Best trade I ever made.""Back off! I'm not that kind of car.""I may be slow but I'm ahead of you!""I'm not deaf... With the Bumper Sticker, here are few of my favorite sayings. If it be from a movie, a book, or the radio, these are sayings I pass on. The beginnings are scary, the ends are sad, but it’s the middle that counts the most. You will travel through the valley of rejection. You will reside in the land of morning mists. And you will find your home, although it will not be where you left it. If you have one foot in yesterday and one foot in tomorrow, then you are pissing on today. Take your weakness and make it your strength. Be careful of whose’ back you walk on today. That will be the *butt* you kiss tomorrow. “Dear God, please forgive me for the fornications that have been committed her today on the kitchen table…washer…car…swing set...pool.” Where the Heart Is. “Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards” Unknown "Go to your bosom: Knock there, and ask your heart what it doth know." -- William Shakespeare "The difference between a smart person and a wise person is that a smart person knows what to say and a wise person knows whether or not to say it." -- Quote found on the wall of a recreation center office in Berkeley, California. "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 "I never forget a face, but in your case I'll be glad to make an exception.” --Groucho Marx "Santa Claus has the right idea - visit people only once a year." – Victor Borge ***My all time favorite*** “You know, some animals eat their young.” (This works best when food shopping and the lady next you has a child who is out of control because of their own doings or the lack there of.)

First Real Week of Summer

In the middle of the first real week of summer, Wednesday, I dropped my son off at the TWP Camp and my daughter off at daycare, just so I could go off to class and to work a few hours from home. When I really wanted to be with my kids, taking them to the park, swimming with them, or even watching a bad Wiggles show. To my surprise, on my journey to class, I run into one of my prior, FIRST YEAR, students. The feeling overwhelmed me with warmth and satisfaction, just for seeing her on a college ground. I smiled at her. She smiled back. I wanted to talk to her and to see how she is doing, but with time crunching as it was, for the rush of getting to class, I was unable to talk with her. We shared a friendly glance and headed to where we needed to be. A half hour into my class, for some reason, some how, we were talking about Paris Hilton and her impact on the kids today. And when my professor called on me, to give my input on her, all I could say is, “I am scared.” After that, my classmates and I were on our way to our next location, where-ever it maybe. I then had the feelings of warmth and satisfaction come over me again, I saw the my “FIRST YEAR STUDENT”. I said hello. She said hello back. I asked her how she was doing; she said she is doing well and that her baby is cutting his first tooth. She continued on saying, that I am one of the reasons she is going to school. She wants to change herself for what others “know” her as. Or for what she once was. I told her not to change too much, because she is one of my reasons I love doing what I do and that this is who she is. She is a light that shines. That got me to think about what/who were the reasons as to why I am doing what I am doing, going back to school (after I have my CJ degree, completing it in four years after I had my child in high school with knowing what my teachers at the time thought of me or so what I thought they thought of me) My son is one reason, a few teachers from my own place of high school, (to this day, I still can’t find myself to visit) my dreams of my mom, and my brothers hopes/wants for me and the satisfaction of knowing that I had an impact on one person. A Thought: Am I doing this school thing for me, for my family, or for the dreams of what may come? I know that being a teacher will let me to be home with my kids and to guide others to their dreams. And at the same time, college debt is back. S.O.O.L. Or am I doing this to be selfish for my wants, in hope or continuing to change others and their ways? I gathered my children from their day location and receive a kiss and a hug and listened to how their day was. An Answer: I am happy, so that means I am diving a perfect meet in hopes of not hitting my head on the diving board on my way of leaping into the air and into the water.