Sunday, March 28, 2010
My car lost
My little red car came out on the losing end with a Land Rover yesterday. Everyone was okay but I'm a little sore today. Amazing how much better Percocet and good chocolate will make you feel though. More later when my back and neck loosen up a bit. Just wish my car would be!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Bragging on my granddaughter
Please allow to me boast a little. TS just told me Roo has the highest sight-read score in her whole Kindergarten. 84! The closest anyone else came was 54 and teacher said this is the highest of any class she had ever taught. The teacher also said it was the best parent teacher conference she had all day because there were no oher problems. Way to go, Roo!
A three-year-old's logic
A recalcitrant Little Bit when I told her she had to leave a particular play area (at home) yesterday: “But I don’t want to!”
Me: “I don’t care. Let’s go. Now!” (Now! added when I saw she wasn't moving.)
LB (still not moving from her spot and crying loudly): “No, I not going!”
Me (seeing her feet dug in firmly): “Stop crying and come on. Don’t me have to pop your hiney.”
LB: “But if you spank me, it will make me cry more.”
Makes sense I guess but some days you just have to keep them from seeing you laugh.
Happy ending: She came with me, albeit reluctantly, when she saw I meant business. Dodged a bullet there, lol.
Me: “I don’t care. Let’s go. Now!” (Now! added when I saw she wasn't moving.)
LB (still not moving from her spot and crying loudly): “No, I not going!”
Me (seeing her feet dug in firmly): “Stop crying and come on. Don’t me have to pop your hiney.”
LB: “But if you spank me, it will make me cry more.”
Makes sense I guess but some days you just have to keep them from seeing you laugh.
Happy ending: She came with me, albeit reluctantly, when she saw I meant business. Dodged a bullet there, lol.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Spring has sprung (sort of)
Well, it's officially springtime in GA and you know what that means: beautiful blooms, longer days, and huge temperature swings in short periods of time. I mean, 70s for two days and snow flurries the following? Seriously!!
Roo is in soccer now and we missed her second practice due to the weather. I e-mailed the coach and said that even though it wasn't called off, I couldn't expose my three-year-old to 39 degree weather and drizzling rain for an hour. She was very nice and e-mailed me back, explaining that they had just essentially played around a half hour since only two others showed up. Glad to hear that I wasn't the only "slacker" parent!
On an entirely different subject, I am amazed at the amount of vitrol I have been witness to the past few days regarding the passage of the healthcare bill. Whether you agree or disagree with it, I mean is it truly necessary to resort to name-calling and incivility? When did we as a people get to the level where the person that shouts the loudest is considered the winner? For myself, I see the pros and cons of it...I am truly concerned about the amount of money involved and how it will impact future generations, but I also see some good points to the bill as well. Regardless, I am finding very few people with whom I can discuss this with reasonably and in an educated manner instead of them channeling the media with inaccurate and what they believe to be pithy quotes, so I am choosing to keep my opinions mostly to myself.
Roo is in soccer now and we missed her second practice due to the weather. I e-mailed the coach and said that even though it wasn't called off, I couldn't expose my three-year-old to 39 degree weather and drizzling rain for an hour. She was very nice and e-mailed me back, explaining that they had just essentially played around a half hour since only two others showed up. Glad to hear that I wasn't the only "slacker" parent!
On an entirely different subject, I am amazed at the amount of vitrol I have been witness to the past few days regarding the passage of the healthcare bill. Whether you agree or disagree with it, I mean is it truly necessary to resort to name-calling and incivility? When did we as a people get to the level where the person that shouts the loudest is considered the winner? For myself, I see the pros and cons of it...I am truly concerned about the amount of money involved and how it will impact future generations, but I also see some good points to the bill as well. Regardless, I am finding very few people with whom I can discuss this with reasonably and in an educated manner instead of them channeling the media with inaccurate and what they believe to be pithy quotes, so I am choosing to keep my opinions mostly to myself.
Friday, March 19, 2010
View from the inside
For the first time in my life, I’m living in a place where many church congregations exceed the population of the towns in which I spent most of my life. I've been in Atlanta for a year now and I still find the constant hum of a vibrant energy exciting.
Despite the differences, Atlanta is a big city made up of small communities and many things are similar, just on a different scale ~ most of the time anyway. After the first few months, reality set in and I've learned just how pronounced those differences can really be, especially traffic-wise. I have also discovered how to translate some of these communications as well as a few tips to help cope.
Even though I can no longer wait until five minutes before I have to be across town, learning your way around really isn’t as complicated as it seems. Especially if you invest in a handy dandy GPS and a good compass if your vehicle didn’t come equipped with these.
With the weather we’ve had this winter, you can’t depend on the sun to tell if you’re going north or south or east or west (this is much easier to confuse than you can ever imagine!), I especially recommend a compass.
A GPS will help you find where you’re going but the best thing about it is when you take the wrong turn or miss yours and wind up in an area that looks like a completely different country, you can pull over and set it to take you home. Double value: I programmed mine with a Hannibal Lector voice and it also entertains me while driving.
I love it when that Anthony Hopkins voice says something like, “Driver, ahead you have a left turn. It’s just as well. Your therapy’s going nowhere,” or “Driver. You’ve reached your destination. Don’t worry. I’ll inform Clarice myself” and numerous other gems like that. Bonus: No one here pays attention to you if you are laughing while driving alone. Either they assume you are on your cell phone or are thinking, ‘Oh, Lord, another nutcase! Don’t make eye contact! Don’t make eye contact!’
I used to wonder why people from the city always spoke of distance in time instead miles, i.e., it’s 30 minutes instead of 3 miles, etc. but now I know. Perhaps I exaggerate a bit. You can make it in 15 if the traffic isn’t as heavy as usual or you get all the lights or there’s no accident or roadwork on the way or donkeys fly.
Just because you checked traffic conditions on the Internet or other sources and found your route was clear just before you walked out the door, that doesn’t mean they will be the same when you get there five minutes later.
The statement, “Traffic is flowing smoothly on the downtown connector,” does not mean it is flowing rapidly or even at the speed limit for that matter. It might be “flowing smoothly” at 19 mph. Or less.
If a flashing sign over the interstate tells you there is a wreck 3.7 or whatever miles ahead, get off immediately even if you cannot see any jams or holdups. I promise there will be one of monumental proportions right around the next curve, about the time you find it’s too late to take another route.
You should also learn the proper answer to certain questions or at least what the asker wants to hear. For instance, when a DeKalb County police officer asks if you know why he pulled you over on I-20 when you were driving 62 mph in a 55 mph zone, “Umm, for slowing up traffic?” is probably not the best reply. For some reason, that seems to make them positively apoplectic.
Always keep a soothing music CD ready to pop into the player when you feel your blood pressure rising. I recommend a quiet Henry Mancini CD. (Enya grinds on me after a while.) And gum. Lots and lots and gum!
I’ve learned to relax and enjoy the changes, not just here but in myself. The times I’ve gotten off the beaten path, literally or mentally, whether I meant to or not (and most of the time I did not), I’ve seen or learned something new. Every day can be a day of new discovery if you let it.
Roll with the punches, go with the flow and all those old adages we’ve heard before and you will be pleasantly surprised. And commit this modern beatitude to memory: Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape.
Despite the differences, Atlanta is a big city made up of small communities and many things are similar, just on a different scale ~ most of the time anyway. After the first few months, reality set in and I've learned just how pronounced those differences can really be, especially traffic-wise. I have also discovered how to translate some of these communications as well as a few tips to help cope.
Even though I can no longer wait until five minutes before I have to be across town, learning your way around really isn’t as complicated as it seems. Especially if you invest in a handy dandy GPS and a good compass if your vehicle didn’t come equipped with these.
With the weather we’ve had this winter, you can’t depend on the sun to tell if you’re going north or south or east or west (this is much easier to confuse than you can ever imagine!), I especially recommend a compass.
A GPS will help you find where you’re going but the best thing about it is when you take the wrong turn or miss yours and wind up in an area that looks like a completely different country, you can pull over and set it to take you home. Double value: I programmed mine with a Hannibal Lector voice and it also entertains me while driving.
I love it when that Anthony Hopkins voice says something like, “Driver, ahead you have a left turn. It’s just as well. Your therapy’s going nowhere,” or “Driver. You’ve reached your destination. Don’t worry. I’ll inform Clarice myself” and numerous other gems like that. Bonus: No one here pays attention to you if you are laughing while driving alone. Either they assume you are on your cell phone or are thinking, ‘Oh, Lord, another nutcase! Don’t make eye contact! Don’t make eye contact!’
I used to wonder why people from the city always spoke of distance in time instead miles, i.e., it’s 30 minutes instead of 3 miles, etc. but now I know. Perhaps I exaggerate a bit. You can make it in 15 if the traffic isn’t as heavy as usual or you get all the lights or there’s no accident or roadwork on the way or donkeys fly.
Just because you checked traffic conditions on the Internet or other sources and found your route was clear just before you walked out the door, that doesn’t mean they will be the same when you get there five minutes later.
The statement, “Traffic is flowing smoothly on the downtown connector,” does not mean it is flowing rapidly or even at the speed limit for that matter. It might be “flowing smoothly” at 19 mph. Or less.
If a flashing sign over the interstate tells you there is a wreck 3.7 or whatever miles ahead, get off immediately even if you cannot see any jams or holdups. I promise there will be one of monumental proportions right around the next curve, about the time you find it’s too late to take another route.
You should also learn the proper answer to certain questions or at least what the asker wants to hear. For instance, when a DeKalb County police officer asks if you know why he pulled you over on I-20 when you were driving 62 mph in a 55 mph zone, “Umm, for slowing up traffic?” is probably not the best reply. For some reason, that seems to make them positively apoplectic.
Always keep a soothing music CD ready to pop into the player when you feel your blood pressure rising. I recommend a quiet Henry Mancini CD. (Enya grinds on me after a while.) And gum. Lots and lots and gum!
I’ve learned to relax and enjoy the changes, not just here but in myself. The times I’ve gotten off the beaten path, literally or mentally, whether I meant to or not (and most of the time I did not), I’ve seen or learned something new. Every day can be a day of new discovery if you let it.
Roll with the punches, go with the flow and all those old adages we’ve heard before and you will be pleasantly surprised. And commit this modern beatitude to memory: Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape.
Missed opportunity?
It was so beautiful out today. Hard to believe it's going to be cold again the first of the week. Yuk!
So many things are in bloom, so much color to enjoy. Cherry trees, Japanese Magnolias, hedges of yellow forsythia, and others I have no idea what they are but like to see them. A nice time ~ still cool enough for the pansies in the landscaping to show off but warm enough for other things to poke theirs heads up. The daffodils have been here a while but they've always thumbed their noses at the cold.
The only thing that spoiled my walk was seeing a mother walking her two children, ages somewhere between 6 and 8, from the bus stop, talking on her cell phone all the time. She ended one call and punched in another immediately. It was only a couple of blocks but apparently she couldn't unplug it from her ear for that short distance. The only time she spoke to them was to yell at the youngest one to hurry up. What a missed opportunity for a little quality time!
So many things are in bloom, so much color to enjoy. Cherry trees, Japanese Magnolias, hedges of yellow forsythia, and others I have no idea what they are but like to see them. A nice time ~ still cool enough for the pansies in the landscaping to show off but warm enough for other things to poke theirs heads up. The daffodils have been here a while but they've always thumbed their noses at the cold.
The only thing that spoiled my walk was seeing a mother walking her two children, ages somewhere between 6 and 8, from the bus stop, talking on her cell phone all the time. She ended one call and punched in another immediately. It was only a couple of blocks but apparently she couldn't unplug it from her ear for that short distance. The only time she spoke to them was to yell at the youngest one to hurry up. What a missed opportunity for a little quality time!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Sam-I-Ain't!
If what I did Sunday does not give me 'Grandmother of the Year' title, perhaps it will negate some of my little-less-than-proper behavior at Verizon the day before.
I was "chosen" to attend an Atlanta Symphony Orchestra production of Green Eggs and Ham with my granddaughters and their Mom. Perhaps I was expecting too much after seeing the ASO and Atlanta Gay Men’s Choir production of Broadway music a few months ago but that didn’t happen! Whatever the case, there was no comparing the two!
The first show was a truly professional production and this one was amateurish in comparison. Not that the simplistic props were all that bad (for the kids anyway) but I have to wonder who thought the narration in an almost-operatic female voice was appropriate for children. Heck, I had trouble understanding her myself. (Wonder what that says about me?)
The children enjoyed it though but I was as happy as they were that it only lasted an hour!
I was "chosen" to attend an Atlanta Symphony Orchestra production of Green Eggs and Ham with my granddaughters and their Mom. Perhaps I was expecting too much after seeing the ASO and Atlanta Gay Men’s Choir production of Broadway music a few months ago but that didn’t happen! Whatever the case, there was no comparing the two!
The first show was a truly professional production and this one was amateurish in comparison. Not that the simplistic props were all that bad (for the kids anyway) but I have to wonder who thought the narration in an almost-operatic female voice was appropriate for children. Heck, I had trouble understanding her myself. (Wonder what that says about me?)
The children enjoyed it though but I was as happy as they were that it only lasted an hour!
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