Halloween Haunts

Is there a harder day for mom's to step up and create miracles than this Dubious holiday we call Halloween? Entire industries thrive because of this day and they want, no, mandate that we participate. Escaping town is an option if you're a grinch.

We are free not to celebrate, you may say, but that is a scar on your children if you're not careful. (I won't bring up those goulish scars and tooth decay right now). I did know a family that refused carving pumpkins, seeing that as degenerate. I have never been that ruthless.

Are we free,... to avoid the 'Brash' Halloween things? Yes, if it's not what you want; don't do it. But childhood warrants some pretend and make-believe and when, if not in childhood?
So my original premise is this: you must save, plan, organize months in advance, shop wisely and well. You may escape without buying those spendy Disney suits, nice name-brand candy, fanciful decorations. But unavoidibly you need to participate.

My hat is off to those having 6 or more kids to get ready, making it respectable, (cool enough that the kids are happy), with a budget that doesn't seem like early Christmas. Then calmly face the face paint, hair color additions or hot masks, and accessories, and finally creative bundling, when it's freezing cold outdoors. (This part particularly was very depressing as a child for me, I can still remember ruining my 'look' with boots, leggings, and hat and gloves).

But in the end most scars fade and perhaps this may explain my warning and end of my rant. Someone once said, "all you need is to get dry ice in a caldron and you'll not have to worry", doubting the simplicity of that, get a black and orange feather boa, and get by... at least your husband will be impressed!

Finding Happiness

Well tonight Chris taught a great FHE on 'Finding Happiness'. He posed a question," how do you make yourself happy, what do you do to make happy come into your life?

I want you to think about that too. What do we do when we are low, to feel better? Other than Chocolate and sweets it was an interesting question. He said I gave the best answer. I hope you give the best answer too!

His text was from Bro. Scott's Ed Week address August 1997. I hope you have a happy week! And go ahead find happiness...

Good news

Good news for the economy?! My family tells me the Yankee win means things are looking up. I guess they have the thing figured out! All I know is every night there's a playoff game I need to make and give out more food, and stay up longer, and get up earlier, and get to bed later, spend more money on my budget and wear out finally to get a good nights sleep before it starts again.
It's a rat race around here, everyone has the family manners down, (or lack thereof) reminiscent of "Dogs and Cats living together.....' whew!
In the end it's good work and though I often feel invisible here, seldom feel heard or listened to by my own, they have all married fabulous folks and families.
I also often feel like; "I'm a stranger here" and "have wandered from a more exalted sphere".
Many years from this night we will cherish the results of the games far less than the company we kept and fun memories of these nights.
With the exhaustion behind me and the bad moods gone with enough sleep, I hope we'll remember the new snack mix was a hit, 'the pooled "Celebration Sundaes on Sunday". The pumpkin carving amid the cheers and gasps of the viewers, the lap visits of little Sadie and Izze, the special guest Bubba, and lots of people all talking at once. Our trademark.

I Am A Dinosaur

Well last night I wrote the greatest entry yet. When I asked Jim to proof read he said, "It sounds pretty victimy to me." So I was sad, and then he told me to take out my comic "even." And when I tried to edit that out as per his instruction, my worst fear was realized... It blew out of the system. Just as my first ever attempt at blogging blew out. Wasted brilliance. Bummer.

This is my attempt to re-write that entry because Cecily discovered my blog and thought I was funny. AND became my first follower. Thanks Cecily for all you do. Including being scribe for this. Not to mention helping me the day I came home from my appendix operation.

My sweet Cecily found the origional I AM A DINOSAUR.

So in the end "even" as no one appears to be looking for my skills. I followed the Brethren, and am afraid I'm feeling almost extinct. Here's hoping somewhere, sometime, someone will exume this deceased spirit and use it as fuel for the future, you go mothers!

The even is for you Jim, and Dave!

Am I A Dinosaur?

I have followed counsel, I have stayed at home to raise, nurture, and nourish my family. I have experimented with inborn skill and attempted to add talent and knowledge at least yearly. I have admitted my wrongs to most of you and have repented (probably not often enough). Now I find myself with minimal hours earned in the social security system. And my talents are not that marketable since I left the workplace in 1975. Typing is a newly acquired skill? (I actually typed tuped and tyoed). I have learned to use the mouse and cursor, to underline and make BOLD print, admittedly I have a lot yet to learn and these skills are second nature to children who seem born to compute!
Now my dilemma is this; where are all the employers who want a middle aged mom who can react to crisis in an instant, and want someone with the master skills of distraction and pattern interuption? Not to even mention adaptability accumen that can create something from nothing (surprizing the most fussy diners), all the while brainstormimg brilliant campaign slogans while nursing an infant, monitoring a tantrum, and folding and stacking laundry. I HAVE skills but where is the market for these?

Or am I just a dinosaur, unneeded now, but perhaps my fodder will help make fuel for the future? I guess that's a contribution that will be meaningful a few generations from where I exist. And I hope someone will remember the Suzisaur.