I get dressed every single day and on a daily basis I dress for me.

I shower.  I put makeup on.  I wear clothes.  Jeans,shorts,skirts and cute little tops.  In the winter I have a few cute little warm sweats but mostly I dress every single day.  I love makeup!! Love it!!!! Therefore, I wear it daily!!!

Oh, and I fix my hair but it is straight, so pretty easy.  I wear it in a simple long style bob but it is washed and styled,daily!

I have always done this.  Even when my children were small.

Oh, now I will put my Pink Robe over these things to keep warm but underneath I am fully dressed and I have showered, I have makeup on and my hair is styled!!!  You can bet your bottom dollar

On occasion I like to ‘Doll’ myself up for my husband.  We go out and have fun but it is my choice.  I layer the makeup on a little more.

He will often say, “Lucy, too much eyeliner.  I like your eyes with no makeup!”

I answer, “I know but I love my makeup!”

And we laugh because we both think back to his friend leaving this note. “Hey, queen of eyeliner called, she wants you to call her.” Guess who saw the note later that night?

Who do you dress for?

I can hear her laughing!

Bliss!  I love action pictures.  I look at this and hear her laughter!

Do you like catching the action?

Whiny ass parents today! That is how my 81 year old mother sees it!

Her exact words!

“Parents today can’t take any criticism,even constructive criticism.  In my day I listened to all the parenting advice and then did what I wanted.  Parents today are so touchy and you can’t say anything without it offending them or hurting their feelings or attacking them or judging them.  Goodness, they are so whiny and touchy.  These parents today need to Get over it.  They need to just get on with their parenting and stop worrying about what so and so is saying.  Gosh, I was so busy being a parent I didn’t have the time to worry about what everyone thought. Oh, and once in a while, I actually learned something from a so-called judgement,geesh, touchy,touchy these young parents today.”

(Now, remember, my mom is 81 so she thinks 40 is young LOL)

Like I said, my mother is 81 years old.  She was born in 1931.  Right after the stock market crash.  Therefore, she was a baby during the worst of it,so yes, she lived through poverty.  She will tell you that she wasn’t as poor as some but not as middle class as others. I would say today, we would label her ‘lower middle class’.  My father, on the other hand, was dirt poor. He talks about going days without food. My father went the Marine route and then built a comfortable life through construction. Maybe, tougher life makes you less whiny? LOL

I was lucky! I lived a charmed life.  Born in 1965,my teenage years were the 80′s, I was the preppy girl and spoiled rotten.  But, I was brought up under the life of spankings and groundings.  Please note, spankings were rare and I mean rare.  I think I can count on one hand my spankings.  They were never done in anger.  I was brought to the basement leaned over my father’s knee and given one to three swats.  Yes, I know you will berate it.  I am 46, I adore my parents, Good Luck telling me why I should hate them.  You know, The Parents who gave me the world!  In 46 years I had more love and maybe 5 spankings!  Oh, and I had less groundings, 2 I can really remember. That is another post!  Another thing, teachers and adults were to be respected when I was growing up.  A note from a teacher and I was in trouble.  My aunt,uncle or neighbor lady yelled at me and I was to listen. Period.  The adult was trusted!

My parents cheered me on but I was never told I had to get all A’s, I just knew to do ‘my best’. If I got a B or C it was not the end of the world and I didn’t have a learning disability or was a meeting with the teacher called for.  I never got a trophy for everything I did.  My entire life wasn’t a schedule.  I took ballet and played some sports but I had a lot of down time too.  Oh, and we didn’t have snacks at half time and or at the end of the game.  We didn’t have ice cream socials and Pizza Parties at every turn.  Valentines Day at school was simple.  We passed out our store bought cards, had a cookie or a cupcake with a glass of punch.  It took 30 minutes.  School was about education.  Not parties and movies.  Field trips were very special and educational.  It was not to the local water park with 10 parents chaperoning.

But, we had father/daughter dances and dinner every single night as a family.  Sunday was church day and many times we did a Sunday drive, got ice cream for a treat and had Family time!  Not all day soccer tournaments!

I raised my children under my parents model for the most part! I limited their outside activities and I insisted on downtime.

But it seems that my generation, the one that was given all this love and support and cheering didn’t like any of the disciplining. Listen, I happen to know many were raised, kind of, sort of, like me.  Of course, no one has the exact same childhood.  I gather some would say they had it rougher or easier but societies have a way of conforming during time periods that is the reason for stereotypes and the defining of time periods.

It seems while raising my kids things has changed! It has been all about ‘kid power’. Activities revolve around the kids. No more family dinner and Family Time!  Teachers, Uncles and Neighbors cannot say ‘boo’ to someone’s child. Children are given awards for ‘showing’ up to play. If your child does not get all A’s they have a learning disability. Disciplining? There really is no disciplining.  I love watching parents reason with a two year old. So funny!  I know you all have geniuses but get a grip. Oh, I am not saying you should smack them either but stop the reasoning you look like morons.  I watched a mother try to discuss with her 18 month old why he needed to stop biting!  I laughed my ass off.  Sometimes, no is no!  Oh, I am tired of hearing, “Best intentions”  Parents your best intentions are ruining your kids. Think long term!

For example, my husband has to deal with these grown ‘kids’.  They had to let an employee go.  The employee was too immature.  Couldn’t get beyond wanting constant praise.  The employee would blurt out things in front of clients because mom and dad encouraged them to always say whatever they wanted.  The kids from ‘kid power’ are growing up! Teachers were not allowed to prepare them for the outside world! Parents spoiled and sheltered them! Therefore, BOOM! These so called ‘kids’ are now adults and they are stunned with reality.  Some are trying to use what worked in school, I have ADD, or ADHD or I am a visual learner!  What my husband is suppose to give instructions on a whiteboard? Who is going to pay for that time and effort?  Not a client!

In the end, it begins in the beginning.  If you can’t let go when they are toddlers you won’t let go when they are in grade school and so on. Therefore, ask yourself why you are doing things.  Really doing things! I once had a pre-school teacher tell me to stop putting my son’s coat on and zipping it up.  She informed me she couldn’t do that for all 20 children and it was time he learned.  My goodness, I was stunned and she didn’t sugarcoat it.  She was direct with me.  I was an adult.  I didn’t even realize I was “babying him.” Her exact words. They cut like a knife!  He couldn’t put on his coat and zip it.  He was three years old. Yikes.  I sucked as a mom, or I felt like it when she told me.  It hurts to be ‘judged’! But the coat thing?  It was easier for me and him if I did it.  In the end,I am glad she told me.  Therefore, If you are breastfeeding your child at three, Why?  Is it really nutritional? Or easier, or hard to let go! I am just asking?  If your child is still in diapers at three is it really because they are not ready, you know that genius you have? I love it when a parent is going on and on about their three year old reading, talking and how bright they are but they can’t ‘get the potty’! I secretly laugh my ass off! I tend to think the diaper is easier for all concerned. Oh and yes, I am judging but not out loud. Today I know better,nope, I don’t say a word to a parent with a kid! But, I was glad the pre-school teacher spoke up.  I was hindering my son. At three he was perfectly capable of putting his coat on.  A little slower? Yes! But ready and capable! I am glad that young pre-school teacher took a chance and brazenly spoke up!

In the end,  as a parent you will always need to decipher Judgement or Constructive criticism? You make the call but as my 81 mother says, “Stop whining about people commenting on your choices about parenting, just parent and then live with your ‘product’. If your child flies in the end, good for you and if they don’t well own that too.”

The pretty girl wins every time!

Let me back up.

I was searching for videos and I found one that made me giggle…….

Click here to view the embedded video.

My husband wanted to know what was making me laugh.  He watched but didn’t quite get the entire joke of the video.  He doesn’t know Country Music.

I said well, “Carrie has a song ‘Before He Cheats’.  Here let me show you.

He kind of begrudgingly said, “ok.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

After watching his comment, “I vaguely knew the song but never saw the video, she is pretty, really pretty.”

I think he heard the song, not sure

Anyway, I was looking for this song when all the above happened!

Hope you all had a wonderful Mother’s Day but remember if they were off doing something, living their life, well that is good, you succeeded!! You gave them their wings, don’t ever clip them   But, if they need a soft landing for a moment well, that is ok too!!!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Music Monday

Wouldn’t happen without the wonderful bloggers below! XmasDolly is the founder and leader!!

XmasDolly,  Lorie of  The Shewbridges of Central, Florida,   CALLIE of  JAmericanSpice,  Stacy of Stacy Uncorked, AND Cathy Kennedy !  And, honorary co-conductor, Denise Run DMT.

Join the fun!

P.S. I leave for OHIO in a week, we are driving!  I need songs,please give me suggestions.  I am updating my iPod!!

My Mom!

I am missing my Mom today BUT I am so lucky because I will be seeing her soon!  My mom is a healthy 81 year old lady and when I get back we will go out to eat.  A favorite past time!

If you take a a good hard look at the photo you will notice my mother intently reading a greeting card.  Oh, she loves greeting cards and she has passed that love down to me.  I love to get them and I enjoy sending them too

Me with my son!

Ah,we have hit that point in life where we can’t always be together for everything!  My son is busy living his life in Chicago and I will miss spending today with him but no worries I see him a lot throughout the year!

Today, I will be hanging with….

Me with my husband and daughter!

my husband and daughter in my favorite town!

Bell Rock

And then soon we will be heading back to Ohio where we will all spend Memorial Weekend together!

I hope you are enjoying your Sunday too! Any special plans?

It is Saturday and time to laugh!  This came from my email chain gang.  It is an oldie but a goodie. Enjoy!

And remember…..

Mother’s Day is right around the corner……

Love in the Afternoon!  Have you ever heard that phrase? Does it conjure anything up?  Bring something to mind?
For me, Soap Operas in the afternoon! Unfortunately,The medium is dying a slow death.  There have been many Soap Operas through the years but there were always six or seven on the three ‘big’ Networks,I am talking, ABC,NBC and CBS, each had three Soap Operas in their afternoon timeslots and CBS had an additional 1/2 hour soap,first Capitol,now Bold and Beautiful.  Anyway, now, the Soap Opera world is down to four Soap Operas.  Love in the Afternoon is dying.  Being replaced with talk shows,game shows and who knows what else?

It is sad. Oh, gosh,I am not saying Soap Operas are great television but do we need a ton of talk shows or game shows either?  I have even heard the rumor that the Soap Operas are dying because people love Reality Television better, Really? Now, that makes me sad!  Once again, do I believe Soap Operas are great television? No, but I always thought they were fun and campy.  Like a B movie! Somehow, Soap Operas did the unthinkable,they brought campy fun with a touch of reality. Just a touch of reality and the reality was told in story form.

Soap Operas, somehow melt far out storytelling with a dose of social issues.  In 1973, look at that year again,1973! The character, Erica Kane on All My Children,(played by Susan Lucci) a married woman, chose to have an abortion.  This was a groundbreaking story.  (It was a shame when years later the writers chose to rewrite history).  Oh, and All My Children tackled Alcoholism and drug addiction early on!  One Life to Live,  did a story about prostitution that propelled Judith Light’s career.  God, did she cry on the stand.  It was a trial and she was awesome!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Oh, and then in 1992,One Life to Live did the Aides Quilt Storyline,it was enlightening and heartbreaking,

Click here to view the embedded video.

and then General Hospital brought it home with Robin and Stone’s painful aides story.   Of course, there was the controversial rape storyline on General Hospital with Luke and Laura.  This storyline is still debated years later…..

Click here to view the embedded video.

Oh, and the heartbreaking transplant storyline of BJ dying, General Hospital again. We mustn’t forget The fun stories!!  Cassadine adventures, General Hospital! Time Travel on One Life to Live!
Oh, and Soap Operas bring us the greatest villains.  We love to hate them but couldn’t imagine the afternoon without our villains.  Days of Our Lives, Victor Kiriakis (did you know the actor is Jennifer Aniston Dad?)  Or, the villains that straddle the line?  You know sometimes bad, sometimes good?  The Young and Restless brings us Victor Newman, Jack Abbot and Phyllis. These are just to name a few!!

How about the stars that Soap Operas have produced!  Oh, my it is quite a list. Meg Ryan. I remember her as Betsy on As The World Turns. She was adorable!!  Eva Longoria from Desperate Housewives! She was, Isabella, an awesome crazybitch on Young and Restless. Oh, Shemar Moore,on the hit show, Criminal Minds,well, I still refer to him as Malcolm, his character on Young and Restless, now that was love in the afternoon, talk about wanting someone to take his shirt off everyday!!! Honestly, I could go on and on and name some huge stars!  Many and I do mean many top stars popped in. One of the biggest, Elizabeth Taylor, she played Helena Cassadine on General Hospital. She loved the Soap and wanted to do it!!

And we can’t forget the Love!!!  I mean it is Love in the Afternoon!!

Oh, my, Soap Operas and the Love.  The cheesy, romantic and hot love scenes.  Some came close to being rated R and boy did they get a lot of heat(pun intended) for those scenes!.  Now, those scenes seem tame compared to  Nicole ‘Snooki ‘Polizzi,  on MTV, Jersey Shore, funny where we have gone in life!  But,the weddings and the ‘destined to be’ couples are so much fun on a Soap Opera. They take you away.  Soap Operas give you that fantasy love,romance and hot sex!!  All My Children had Jenny and Greg (by the way Jenny was played by Kim Delaney, now on Army Wives) and Nina and Cliff, what a wedding!  One Life to Live had Blair and Todd, Max and Luna, Vicki and Clint. General Hospital, well they had the ultimate couple, Luke and Laura.  I am not sure anyone can beat those two!!

Click here to view the embedded video.

There was Brenda and Sonny, and Brenda and Jax on General Hospital but still (Brenda was played by Vanessa Marcil, she branched out too)

I mean it is so much fun to watch couples almost die,escape death,land on a beach and then…….

Click here to view the embedded video.

Anyway,Days of our Lives had Roman and Marlena,now John and Marlena and Bo and Hope. The Young and Restless, they have Victor and Nikki! Guiding Light had Reva and Josh!  Oh,Yes, Love in the Afternoon so much fun!!  But,Let’s not forget the hot sex.  Phyllis and Nick on The Young and Restless, Sonny and Carly on General Hospital and Brooke and just about any guy on The Bold and Beautiful!! Yummy!!

Unfortunately, the medium is dying.  We are down to only four Soap Operas.  I watch General Hospital and on occasion The Young and Restless.  I mostly read in the afternoon or Gossip with my husband.

Yesterday while chitchatting with my husband.  I like saying, chitchatting better than gossiping I had a visitor.

Real Snake!

I rather be dealing with Love in the Afternoon! And watching ‘snakes’ as in villains than dealing with visitors LOL  I miss the choices of Soap Operas and I loved to DVR them.  I watched them late at night when I worked or was busy being a mom, and to be honest I never sat and watched the Soap Opera.  They were just on. They got me through my cleaning,folding laundry and making dinner preparations. Awesome background noise. I bounced between them and the radio!! I don’t DVR game shows or talk shows, do you?  I am over the Reality shows, they don’t ‘take me away’ the same way my campy soap opera does.  Actually, reality shows kind of irritate me and get me riled up and I certainly do not want to watch a love scene between real people, can’t explain it but that feels like porn to me, what about you?  Oh, and the Reality shows well they are feeling scripted and those people can’t act. Just weird and uncomfortable.  I rather watch people who can act and have some campy fun!! Oh, well, heavy sigh….

Oh, and Friday, do you all remember the Friday cliff hanger?

So, do you like the new guilty pleasure, Reality Television or are you missing the old one?  I remember when Soap Operas use to be the guilty pleasure, no one really admitted to watching them but somehow everyone knew the storyline?

The Young and Restless has been at the top for years enjoy the little opening credit montage below!!

Click here to view the embedded video.

I am not particularly fond of arising when the sun and moon are still competing for the sky!

See the tiny dot in the beautiful blue sky? The moon slowly leaving us!

But, like, the rest of the world I have responsibilities.  I must arise when the dawn is breaking.  Now, some of you awaken to an alarm clock.  Some to the sound of your children or a loved one getting ready.  Me?  A dog!  My dog,Blackie, and yes, he is all Black, what an original name! Little Blackie cries in my face every morning to get up.  No barking, like a normal dog.  Nope.  He cries.

I climb out of bed and he happily spins but still keeps crying.  I head to the bathroom where believe it or not, I drag a brush, not a comb (if you know the Beatles song then you get the analogy) through my hair.  Take care of another morning duty and then put on my morning walking outfit.  All the while a little doggy is underfoot, crying and spinning.  You would think he is dying.  Nah, he just wants his food but if I feed him first then I need to stall taking him for a walk, so it is easier to stall the food, he won’t have an ‘accident’ without his food!  Strategy my friends it is all a strategy! An important one too, I don’t like ‘accidents!’

While he eats, I make coffee,open blinds and windows and then we head out for the morning stroll and the best part….

It isn’t even 6:30am yet!! Yeah, typically, we head out before 6:30am.  Ugh!!

But the stroll.  Ahhhh!  I must admit if I didn’t have the little stinker I would miss all of this…..

The Sun Taking Over The Sky!

The quiet of the neighborhood!

The Sun Just Beginning to Splash onto the Red Rocks!

Listening to the birds, their singing and tweeting.

The Sun Fully Claiming its position!

Peeking in windows and decks and hearing the murmurings of others awakening!

The Sun Up over The Mountains!!

Feeling the cool crisp morning knowing it will soon be warm!

A beautiful view!

Watching the sun wake up my neighborhood!!

My Neighborhood with the Mountains behind it!!

I am not fond of rising at 6:00am but I would miss all of the above and you know what?  I don’t want to miss the above.  Life could be so much worse.  But, I still might take a nap!

The Sun is just getting ready to hit this Red Rock!!

What brings you mixed pleasure?

Look at the color of the Golden Arch?

Rules are rules! Even, big, bad,corporate McDonald’s must follow the Rules in Sedona, Arizona.  All Establishments within the city limits must adhere to the approved color scheme.  Rumor has it that this is the only Not Golden Arch,hmmmm?

Have you seen this before?

It is a little weird seeing a turquoise M! But it still is the McDonald’s M!! All I  need is my McDonald’s fry,a chocolate shake and I am good to go Not too worried if it has The Golden Arch or a Turquoise one!!  Oh, and yes, I don’t indulge too often that would cause me to have to do even more of those nasty standup pushups!

Do you like McDonald’s or prefer another fast food chain,or are you super good and never step foot in a fast food place

Many moons ago I let someone talk me out of following my dream.  I thought the person had my best interest at heart.  I’m sure they would claim that was the intention.  But now, many years later,that person,the one I respected, held up with so much regard?  Yep,you guessed it.  I see them very differently. Oh,well, you live and learn.

In America we tend to tell our youth, “You must go to college.” Or we at least insinuate that is the best choice! As a former teacher you would think I would shout the college chant the loudest! Nope! I do not believe that every.single.person should go to college.  I do believe that every.single.person should obtain a skill.  Do something you want to do the rest of your life. 

Don’t do something just to be rich.  Don’t do something just because you think it pays a shit load of money.  This will not lead you to happiness.

I believe we fail our children daily.

We need to teach them to do what makes them happy,gives them pleasure and then learn to live within their means.

We need to stop teaching them that the big house, the fancy car and the designer clothes are ‘the top’.  If you work 40+ hours a week doing something you hate in order to have things, why bother?  Are you really going to enjoy the car?  Or will you end up resenting it?

Anyway, I wanted to be a stewardess, in my day they were still called stewardess, today, the proper term, flight attendant.  Oh, a little side note, I get motion sickness but  I would  have found it out,right? You know, when I was puking on someone!  Anyway, I still wanted to be in the travel industry.  I could have been in reservations or something.  I love the travel industry.

Instead I was talked out of that choice!

I went to college.  I picked my major.  Political Science.  The same person gave me shit about my major.  But,I did not back down.  I enjoyed studying Political Science.  I graduated with my degree and went on to get my Masters in Education.  Another love.  Another thing I was questioned about, why didn’t I choose law, that is what most people do with a Political Science degree! Blah,blah,blah!   Oh, well, I was over listening to the ‘advice’ and I did something I loved.  Teaching.  Oh, and I did love teaching.

In the end,I do not regret my degrees but IT should have been my decision!

And when it came time for my children to decide,well, I let them.  I have never once interfered with their choices. I let them choose their schools, they did all the research, not me. They have chosen their career path!!

Now,If my children ask for guidance then by all means I will give my two cents but I want them to live their dream, not mine and I don’t care about dollar signs!  Well, maybe for my son, geez that ‘kid’ can spend money and maybe he should consider making a comfortable amount LOL!

Are you living your dream?