What We do Week to Week

BIRTHDAYS AND BIRTHS

2008-09-09T10:04:00.000-07:00

Sunday was my son's birthday. My little man is seven years old now. My sister is expecting another baby and she was due yesterday. I knew it was tough on the parents who are 'johnny's on the spot' expecting a child, I even knew what it was being the Aunt of a child who is due, but this is getting nerve wracking.

This is my sister's fourth pregnancy and she plans on at least two more after this one. This just wasn't something I expected, to feel nervous, and this isn't even my pregnancy. I hope things work out, I don't think I can take this much longer.

Time to Catch Up

2008-09-02T11:47:00.000-07:00

02 September 2008

I know it's been a long time since I posted. This is definately not what I had planned. I had planned to keep this up on a regular basis, but now my computer is down and I'm currently looking for another job. I've also had word that my oldest teenager is planning to move in with her boyfriend when she's out of school. Here's hoping I can nip that in the bud.

IMVU

2007-05-05T21:42:00.000-07:00

	I'm MarionIrene on

TESTIMONY, by Darrell Scott

2007-04-04T09:14:00.001-07:00

TESTIMONY, by Darrell Scott

Guess our national leaders didn't expect this. On Thursday, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton , Colorado , was invited to address the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee. What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful. They were not prepared for what he was to say, nor was it received well. It need s to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every so-called expert! These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal. There is no doubt that God sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness. The following is a portion of the transcript:

"Since the dawn of creation there has been both good & evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain Their blood cries out for answers.

"The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used.. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart.

"In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent.

I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy -- it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best. This was written way before I knew I would be speaking here today:

Your laws ignore our deepest needs,
Your words are empty air.
You've stripped away our heritage,
You've outlawed simple prayer.
Now gunshots fill our classrooms,
And precious children die.
You seek for answers everywhere,
And ask the question "Why?"
You regulate restrictive laws,
Through legislative creed.
And yet you fail to understand,
That God is what we need!

"Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, mind, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc. Spiritual presences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs -- politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws. Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts.

"As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, he did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America , and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA -- I give to you a sincere challenge. Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone!

My daughter's death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!"

Do what the media did not - - let the nation hear this man's speech. Please send this out to everyone you can.

SOMETHING FUNNY

2007-03-23T21:55:00.001-07:00

Politician Farm

A busload of politicians were driving down a country road, when suddenly the bus ran off the road and crashed into an old farmer's barn.

The old farmer got off his tractor and went to investigate. Soon he dug a hole and buried the politicians. A few days later the local sheriff came out a, saw the crashed bus and asked the old farmer where all the politicians had gone.

The old farmer told him he had buried them.

The sheriff asked the old farmer, "really, were they all dead?"

The old farmer said, "well, some of them said the weren't, but you know how them crooked politicians lie."

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The Wedding

During a wedding rehearsal the groom approached the pastor with an unusual offer: "Look, I'll give you $100 if you'll change the wedding vows. When you get to the part where I'm supposed to promise to "love, honor and obey" and "be faithful to her forever." I'd appreciate it if you'd just leave that out"

He passed the minister a $100 bill and walked away satisfied. On the day of the wedding, when it came time for the groom's vows, the pastor looked the young man in the eye and said:

"Will you promise to prostrate yourself before her, obey her every command and wish, serve her breakfast in bed every morning of your life, and swear eternally before God and your lovely wife that you will not ever even look at another woman, as long as you both shall live?"

The Groom gulped and looked around, and said in a tiny voice, "yes," then leaned toward the pastor and hissed: "I thought we had a deal."

The Pastor put a $100 bill into the groom's hand and whispered: "She made me a better offer."

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from Out to Pasture

CONTRARINESS

Four Lines of empty grocery carts

And I can't pry one loose!

I pull and jerk and kick and hit,

Feeling like a goose.

They're welded tight together.

If at last I get one free

It has one wheel that's headed north

While the others disagree.

As it bumps along, ker-plunk, ker-plunk

And squeakily complains,

Somehow I feel a kinship

With the aging critter's pains!

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Things ain't always what they appear

A man was flying from Seattle to San Francisco. Unexpectedly, the plane was diverted to Sacramento along the way. The flight attendant explained that there would be a delay, and if the passengers wanted to get off the aircraft the plane would re-board in 50 minutes.

Everybody got off the plane except one lady who was blind. The man had noticed her as he walked by and could tell the lady was blind because her seeing eye dog lay quietly underneath the seats in front of her throughout the entire flight.

He could also tell she had flown this very flight before because the pilot approached her, and calling her by name, said, "Kathy, we are in Sacramento for almost an hour. Would you like to get off and stretch your legs?" The blind lady replied, "No thanks, but maybe my dog would like to stretch his legs."

Picture this: All the people in the gate area came to a complete standstill when they looked up and saw the pilot walk off the plane with a Seeing Eye dog! The pilot was even wearing sunglasses. People scattered. They not only tried to change planes, but they were trying to change airlines!

True story.... Have a great day and remember...

THINGS AREN'T ALWAYS AS THEY APPEAR.

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a frog story

A frog goes into a bank and approaches the teller. He can see from her nameplate that her name is Patricia Whack.

Miss Whack, I'd like to get a $30,000 loan to take a holiday."

Patty looks at the frog in disbelief and asks his name. The frog says his name is Kermit Jagger, his dad is Mick Jagger, and that it's okay, he knows the bank manager.

Patty explains that he will need to secure the loan with some collateral.

The frog says, "sure. I have this," and produces a tiny porcelain elephant about an inch tall, bright pink and perfectly formed.

Very confused, Patty explains that she'll have to consult with the bank manager and disappears into a back office.

She finds the manager and says, "There's a frog called Kermit Jagger out there who claims to know you and wants to borrow #30,000, and he wants to use this as collateral."

She holds up the tine pink elephant. "I mean, what in the world is this?"

(You're gonna love this)

(it's a real treat)

(a masterpiece)

(wait for it)

The bank manager looks back at her and says...

"It's a knickknack, Patty Whack. Give the frog a loan. His old man's a Rolling Stone."

(you're singing it, aren't you? Yeah, I know you are.......

Never take life too seriously! Come on now, you grinned, I know you did!!!
Have a lovely day

***

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WHEN I'M AN OLD LADY

When I'm an old lady, I'll live with my kids,

and make them so happy, just as they did.

I want to pay back all the joy they've provided,

returning each deed, Oh, they'll be so excited.

I'll write on the wall with reds, whites and blues,

and bounce on the furniture wearing my shoes.

I'll drink from the carton and leave it out.

I'll stuff all the toilets, and oh, how they'll shout.

When they're on the phone and just out of reach,

I'll get into things like sugar and bleach,

Oh' They'll snap their fingers and then shake their head,

and when that is done, I'll hide under the bed.

When they cook dinner and call me to meals,

I'll not eat my green beans or salads congealed.

I'll gag on my okra, spill milk on the table

and when they get angry, run fast as I'm able.

I'll sit close to the TV, thru the channels I'll click,

I'll cross both my eyes to see if they stick.

I'll take off my socks and throw one away,

And play in the mud until the end of the day.

And later in bed, I'll lay back and sigh,

and thank God in prayer and then close my eyes

and my kids will look down with a smile slowly creeping,

and say with a groan. "She's so sweet when she's sleeping."

THAT WILL BE THE DAY!

Ultimate Blog Party

2007-03-08T22:15:00.000-08:00

I am a mom of three children, One girl who's sixteen, two boys. One boy is twelve the second boy is five. I am currently volunteering in a bookstore. Come join the Ultimate Blog Party hosted by 5 Minutes For Mom.

Illness, Illness Everywhere

2007-02-08T17:59:00.000-08:00

If it's not children, it's the parents or in other cases, the grandparents who come down with colds. It hits some harder than others, bu they still become ill with a cough and sore throat. The worst part of the grandparents getting ill, especially when they're the daycare person that takes care of the children in the family.

Take my father for instance. He watches my son while I'm gone at the bookstore working. He's gotten a cold over the last week and well, he's not been feeling very well, with laryngitis and the thing is really taking it's toll on him. He's gotten to the point that he's almost ready for me to find someone else to watch my son because he doesn't feel well.

The problem with that is, I don't have a back up...

Living Life Right

2007-02-05T18:15:00.000-08:00

In honor of women's history month and in memory of Erma Bombeck, who lost her fight with cancer. Here is an "angel" sent to watch over you.

Go ahead and pass this on to women that you want watched over.

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck
(written after she found out she was dying from cancer).

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.
I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle. When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner." There would have been more "I love you's" More "I'm sorry's."

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it. live it and never give it back.

STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!!

Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what
Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.
Let's think about what God HAS blessed us with, and what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally. I hope you have a blessed day.

If you don't mind, send this on to all the women you are grateful to have as friends. Maybe we should all grab that purple hat earlier. Please send this to five phenomenal women today in celebration of Beautiful Women's Month. If you do, something good will happen--you will boost another woman's self esteem!

Another Birthday

2007-02-02T23:47:00.000-08:00

Another birthday, another party. This time it's for my older son, who'll be twelve in ten days. I will get to go to his party, just like I was able to go to his sister's birthday party. And at both parties, they're having pizza. Pizza at my daughter's party, and pizza again for my older son's party.

I wasn't ready for my daughter to become a teenager, but I'm surviving her teen years. But I know I'm not at all ready for a teenage son. Having never dealt with teenage boys on a regular basis as a kid myself, well, I don't know what to do with a teenage son.

I guess I'll survive his teen years as I am surviving his sister's adolescence. I just...I'm just having a hard time thinking of what I'm supposed to do. I guess I'll just have to make do, what choice do I have?

About Motherhood

2007-02-01T18:20:00.000-08:00

Someone sent this to me, and I thought I'd share it with you.

BEING A MOTHER

After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman out to dinner and a movie. She said, "I love you, but I know this other woman loves you and would love to spend some time with you."

The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my MOTHER, who has been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my three children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally.

That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie.

"What's wrong, are you well," she asked?

My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news.

"I thought that it would be pleasant to spend some time with you," I responded. "Just the two of us."

She thought about it for a moment, and then said, "I would like that very much."

That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit nervous. When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our date. She waited in the door with her coat on. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary.

She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an angel's'. "I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son, and they were impressed," she said, as she got into the car. "They can't wait to hear about our meeting."

We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and cozy. My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady. After we sat down, I had to read the menu. Her eyes could only read large print. Half way through the entries, I lifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there staring at me. A nostalgic smile was on her lips. "It was I who used to have to read the menu when you were small," she said. "Then it's time that you relax and let me return the favor," I responded.

During the dinner, we had an agreeable conversation- -nothing extraordinary but catching up on recent events of each other's life. We talked so much that we missed the movie.

As we arrived at her house later, she said, "I'll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you." I agreed.

"How was your dinner date?" asked my wife when I got home. "Very nice.

Much more so than I could have imagined," I answered.

A few days later, my mother died of a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn't have a chance to do anything for her.

Some time later, I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant receipt from the same place mother and I had dined. An attached note said: "I paid this bill in advance. I wasn't sure that I could be there; but nevertheless, I paid for two plates - one for you and the other for your wife. You will never know what that night meant for me. I love you, son."

At that moment, I understood the importance of saying in time: "I LOVE YOU" and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve. Nothing in life is more important than your family. Give them the time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off till "some other time."

Somebody said it takes about six weeks to get back to normal after you've had a baby.... Somebody doesn't know that once you're a mother, "normal" is history.

Somebody said you learn how to be a mother by instinct... Somebody never took a three-year-old shopping.

Somebody said being a mother is boring ....
Somebody never rode in a car driven by a teenager with a driver's permit. Somebody said if you're a "good" mother, your child will "turn out good."...

Somebody thinks a child comes with directions and a guarantee.

Somebody said "good" mothers never raise their voices ...

Somebody never came out the back door just in time to see her child hit a golf ball through the neighbor's kitchen window.
Somebody said you don't need an education to be a mother....

Somebody never helped a fourth grader with his math.

Somebody said you can't love the second child as much as you love the first ....

Somebody doesn't have two children.

Somebody said a mother can find all the answers to her child-rearing questions in the books....
Somebody never had a child stuff beans up his nose or in his ears.

Somebody said the hardest part of being a mother is labor and delivery....

Somebody never watched her "baby" get on the bus for the first day of Kindergarten .... or on a plane headed for military "boot camp."

Somebody said a mother can do her job with her eyes closed and one hand tied behind her back ..

Somebody never organized seven giggling Brownies to sell cookies.

Somebody said a mother can stop worrying after her child gets married....

Somebody doesn't know that marriage adds a new son or daughter-in-law to a mother's heartstrings.

Somebody said a mother's job is done when her last child leaves home...

Somebody never had grandchildren.

Somebody said your mother knows you love her, so you don't need to tell her....

Somebody isn't a mother.

Pass this along to all the "mothers" in your life and to everyone who ever had a mother. This isn't just about being a mother; it's about appreciating the people in your life while you have them....no matter who that person is.

What is wrong with people

2007-01-29T23:09:00.000-08:00

January 29, 2007

At times, I wonder if the thing I love to do most is the most hard thing in the world to deal with. Why do people have to make things so blasted hard?

For instance, I'm in command of a Role Playing Fleet group that runs in command with several role playing games based on the Star Trek series of television shows and movies. What makes this difficult? I'd thought to do up a newsletter, with everyone who has command at some level or another making a contribution to the newsletter. What's wrong with that? Well, one of those who has command in one way or another doesn't want to participate.

I understand that he has a lot that he does already, but for crying out loud, it's not asking a lot...but he seems to think so. So I guess I'm just going to scrap the entire thing, newsletter, fleet list, the whole thing... Maybe even ditch role playing altogether... I don't know, I'm just getting tired of it, that's all.

The Day in the Life of a Parent with Teenagers

2007-01-29T01:55:00.000-08:00

It is almost two-oclock on Monday the 29th. It makes me think of that although my daughter had her birthday party last night, her birthday is still not for two more days...And yet, I can't help but think that things are moving far too fast. Far faster than I want them too...

Not that I want them to stay little all the rest of their lives, but well, I guess I can understand a little of what my parents may have felt and still feel with my sisters and I. We're adults, but they are still having a hard time believing that we're adults. It's hard for me to think of my children growing up because, I'm just not ready for them to grow up.

Take my daughter for instance. She's turning sixteen in a couple of days, sixteen...That's hard enough, but put into the works a brother who'll be twelve and another who on his next birthday will be six...I am really having a hard time. My daughter is even more popular than I was at her age. She had invited up to fourteen of her friends for her party, but apparently they couldn't all come. That's understandable all by itself, but I didn't even have half the number of friends that she has.

Put on top of that that she has a boyfriend. A good looking young man to be sure, but do I want her to have to deal with all his issues as well as her own? What's more, in my opinion, he needs to be at least two years older, at the max, for now, four years older...But as it stands, he'll be around seventeen soon, if he isn't already.

Then there's her twelve-year-old brother. He's there, trying to prove he's still a mama's boy...and he is. It's difficult for me to believe that even though he's a pre-teen, I'm still not really ready for him to grow up...Most especially since I have no idea as to what to expect as he gets older.

Just a look into the life of a parent of a teenager... Not always a fun thing to be sure.

"O that I were a man! What, bear her in hand until they come to take hands, and then with public accusation, uncovered slander, unmitigated rancor - O God, that I were a man! I would eat his heart in the market place." - Beatrice - 'Much Ado About Nothing'

100 things about Marion

2007-01-28T10:39:00.000-08:00

I am blond
I am a mother
I have three children
My oldest is turning sixteen
I have been to college
I was married at 19
I got married in 1989
I was divorced at 26
I have two sisters
I have two nephews
One nephew has passed away
I have three nieces
I like to read
I like Science Fiction
I love to role play
I like to write
I have a fake myspace account
I like green, all shades (except for chartreuse and other pukey green colors)
I love pickles
I hate cucumbers
I like cabbage
I like sour kraut
I love Reuben sandwiches
I love pizza
I can't eat dairy
I don't drink
I don't smoke
I volunteer at a bookstore
I am single
I live in Oregon
I grew up in Oregon
I gave birth to two of my children at the same hospital
My older two children are four years apart
My younger two are six years apart
My younger two are boys
I don't like to cook
But I like to eat
I don't have a driver's license
I have a learner's permit
I graduated from high school in 1988
I don't tan
I burn
I prefer Pepsi
I don't like to fight
I don't like hearing people fight
I didn't like high school
I love college
I like to sing
I like to dance
I don't like to exercise
I have a digital camera
My youngest son and my oldest niece are three and a half months apart
I don't have any pets
I don't like cleaning house
I used to live in Wyoming
I hated living in Wyoming
I and my sister were married in the same year
I almost had a Valentine's baby
I love Italian
I don't drink much coffee
I don't drink tea much either
I entered the nanowrimo contest
I missed the final word count by 7,000 words
I had braces
I am a borderline diabetic
I shop with coupons
My parents are divorced
I like tulips
I love candles
I like showers best
I do like a bubble bath from time to time
I love my children
I love my nieces
I love my nephews
I am not a dog person
I prefer cats
If I get a dog, I would like a toy breed dog
I like muffins
I like pancakes
I like candy
I can't eat sugar
I like country music
I like having the internet
I like getting Christmas Presents
I like getting birthday Presents
I tell people I'm twenty-one
I have several email addresses
I like to wear black
I don't much like wearing pink
I like listening to music
I like southwest design
I like History
I like English
I like watching CSI
I like wearing jeans
I like watching DVDs
I like hamburgers
I like Disney Movies
I like to color
I like to ride bikes

Dreaming of a time...

2007-01-28T10:35:00.000-08:00

Dreaming of a time, when the little one was little.
Dreaming of a time, when no one tells me no.
Dreaming of a time when I could hold him tight.
Dreaming of a time, when my heart didn't clench up tight.

A heart that's filling with worry and concern,
looking to that child with love and affection
Looking at him, I can only hope and yern
For the day when he will say to me, "mom I love you."

A young child, so innocent and sweet,
Where did you go my sweet one,
Where is that sweetness that I loved so much?
I keep looking for it but it is buried beneath all the sass.

Dreaming for the time when he's a little more willing.
Dreaming for the time when he's a little more coorperative.
Dreaming for the time when he says, "mom, I'm sorry."
Dreaming for the time when I can hold him and say, "I love you anyway."

*Written after my son said something to me that hurt: Dated - Friday 09 Jun 06

What a wonderful world we live in

2007-01-28T10:17:00.000-08:00

What an awful world we live in when people can just take another's life and not regret it.
What an awful world we live in when people think they have it all together and then realize suddenly that they don't.
What an awful world we live in when a woman is raped ever half a minute or so and it goes unreported.
What an awful world we live in when a child isn't safe no matter where he is because there are people out there who are willing to harm him.

What a wonderful world we live in when you can wake up and think that it's a new day.
What a wonderful world we live in when all of nature re-awakens in the spring and lives on through the summer
What a wonderful world we live in when a child is born and takes the first breath of his life
What a wonderful world we live in when a hero saves someone's life by taking down the bad guy.

Yes there are terrible things that happen in this world, but there is always a silver lining behind every cloud, when you look for it.

A Sweet Sixteen Birthday Party

2007-01-27T23:05:00.000-08:00

What does a sixteen year old girl like in a day when cars and ipods are the biggest things a kid could possibly wish for? Maybe it's getting her driver's license...or that car only used and maybe a little worn down... Maybe it's getting those clothes that her friends are wearing or the name on those clothes. What girl at sixteen wouldn't want to wear an outfit with the Olsen twins names on the label?

Or how about the soon-to-be twelve-year-old? Not only is this child turning twelve soon, but this child is a boy. I'm one of three girls in my family, what do I know about boys? Not a blessed thing, but here I am, the mother of two boys and not a clue as to what I'm doing, or what is to be expected from a boy's mother to her son. And of course what would a pre-teen boy want other than violent video games or Yu-Gi-Oh cards for his birthday? I don't know, and don't even talk to me about telling him about sex...But there's the five-year-old, who'll tell him if I don't? There's his grandfather of course, but...there's a what if...

What if grandpa is up there and his grandson asks him about sex, grandpa's in his seventies then, what could happen? Or maybe grandpa could be in a home for the elderly because mom can't take care of him...Or he'd be living with Auntie...Who'd tell him then? Uncle Rich perhaps, or Uncle Alberto...Even Big brother could, because Big brother will be an adult by then...let's hope if he turns to his big brother that big brother tells him everything, the consequences of his actions as well as what he could do under those actions...

But my teenaged daughter, I know what to expect from her and for her, I know what to tell her, and how much. I've discussed this with her a number of times, even going so far as to tell her that I'm not ready to be a grandmother...and I'm not, I'm only thirty-seven now, I'm just not ready for it. But I feel that that kind of thing tends to run in families. My mother was twenty-six when I was born, I was twenty-one when my daughter was born, I hope she waits till she's at least in her twenties, and married, before she has any children. By then, I'll be ready...

"O that I were a man! What, bear her in hand until they come to take hands, and then with public accusation, uncovered slander, unmitigated rancor - O God, that I were a man! I would eat his heart in the market place." - Beatrice - 'Much Ado About Nothing'

Another Monday Morning.

2007-01-22T00:14:00.001-08:00

It's another Monday morning, and soon my son will be waking up and I'll be getting him ready for school, even as I'm getting ready to go to my volunteer work experience. A bookstore that is willing to allow volunteers to come in and help with the books. That is a job I wouldn't mind continuing.

Soon, my daughter will be sixteen. I've thought of nothing else since the new year. She's my eldest, but no matter how old a child gets, she's still my baby...I know, I'm sure she doesn't want me to call her that, but that's what she is to me.

Then her brother will be twelve next month. He's a pre-teen he keeps telling me, but it's still hard to think of my children as growing up...having some of the same feelings I had as a kid. My daughter has her learner's permit, to drive...and soon as she has enough hours behind the wheel, she'll get her license...my own child has more courage than I do, to do something I couldn't.

I'm just feeling a little down, After the holidays and now two birthdays coming, it's hard not to feel melancholy.

"O that I were a man! What, bear her in hand until they come to take hands, and then with public accusation, uncovered slander, unmitigated rancor - O God, that I were a man! I would eat his heart in the market place." - Beatrice - 'Much Ado About Nothing'