In The News

I think it's kind of cool that the whole world has been captivated by the wayward whales that appeared in our fair state and who now, apparently, have made it safely out to sea. Bon Voyage!In this world of high-tech, fast-paced, technology-based entertainment, it's refreshing to know that nature can still have a pull.

And speaking of technology and entertainment, I heard on the radio the other day a line-up of all the shows coming out (for summer, I guess. I'm ignorant about these things because I don't have a t.v.) Anyway, they were listing all the shows so that everyone could "plan their evenings and weekends." Are you kidding me? People actually plan their lives around their t.v. shows? Something doesn't seem right about that. It makes me think of something Bryan said on his blog recently: "Go outside; the graphics are amazing." Get real, people!

And this might be one of the grosser things I've read in a long while! Blech.

But for something a little more lighthearted and fun, there's this. How do you put that on your resume?

Good thing for the news. It makes some days quite colorful!

From Lips Of Babes (the baby kind, that is)

My little nephew---picture-perfect cute, of course---says the funniest things. His dad (my brother) was holding S. on his lap, but apparently that wasn't good enough.

"Put your holders around me!" he said.

Now, isn't that just the cutest thing ever?

Be A Lert. The World Needs More Lerts.

Two days ago I was driving behind a woman on a small street near my home. We were approaching an intersection---to our right I noticed a young boy on a bike heading west to our north. He was approaching the intersection; the car in front of me was approaching the intersection. One of them had to stop. My mind has completely blanked out whether we had a green light or a red light.

At any rate, the bike went through the intersection AND the car went through the intersection. They met in the middle with the car broadsiding the bike rider. I went back later and there are definite skid marks showing that the car tried to stop (I also wasn't able to remember if she'd had time to brake). It was awful to see and to hear. I was able to see the boy stagger to his feet twice, like a wounded animal, and then just lay on the ground.

BUT! He's okay apparently. Immediately on the scene was a fireman who lives three houses down from the intersection. He's a friend of ours and I went back later and asked him how the boy seemed, if it seemed he was okay (nobody, of course, could know about internal injuries). He said, "It was definitely not his time to go!" The boy, 11, (who wasn't wearing a helmet--too uncool I'm sure), didn't even have any abrasions! Nothing seemed to be broken; he seemed to be fine. They transported him to the hospital as a precaution, but on the surface of things, he seemed fine. Amazing.

I felt sorry for the woman in the car. How many many times could it have been me?? How many times could it have been any of us? I don't know that she was driving too fast, but I know that many many times people drive too fast down these little residential streets. There are children chasing balls, riding their bikes (without helmets and against the light), playing too close to the street---just being kids. I'm glad this reminder to SLOW DOWN came without any horrible consequences. That might not be the case next time.

Let Me Just Say This

If I survive the raising of a teenager, give me an award. Not because I did anything great or, with wisdom, raised him correctly---no, just because I survived. And this is a kid who isn't particularly a "problem" kid (drugs, alcohol, crime, etc). But the battles over limits, the lack of motivation to get out there and prepare for the future, the fundamental basics of being polite and respectful and aware of others----it becomes draining and discouraging. I feel like I'm doing it all wrong; I feel like there's so much more I should be doing. It's frustrating to see a kid with so many good qualities and such great potential limiting himself by short-sided vision. Let's just live for the moment! Let's just play because work is so boring!

To all parents out there with teenagers, you are not alone. I know lots of you have a great relationship with your teenager, he or she is an amazing kid and responsible and works hard and helps out. To the rest of us with something a little less than that scenario: keep on keepin' on.

(And it isn't always so bad as it probably sounds. We have lots of good times, pleasant conversations, etc. If the less-than-stellar times could just be minimized more and more so the good and profitable, productive times could dominate, that would be primo. Is there some magic solution I don't know about?? I'm sure there are lots of them. Feel free to share.)

A Is For ARROGANCE

This just steams me. Paris Hilton---the poster girl for Rich, Pampered, Shallow (Useless?)---recently received an appropriate and well-deserved 45-day jail sentence for violating her probation in a reckless-driving case. She clearly thought that because she was PARIS HILTON she would never actually have to follow the rules or get into any trouble if she didn't. A judge saw things differently. And so now panic sets in! You mean I have a consequence for completely and utterly ignoring the law?? You mean I'll have to pay for what I did like some, well, like some commoner????

But get this: Now she's appealing to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to pardon her. I beg your pardon. Are you kidding me? An online petition from her fans "decries the prospect that such a singular visionary as Paris, who provides beauty and excitement to most of our mundane lives should be caged like a beast." ???? Oh please! And better yet, this: "she provides hope for young people all over the U.S. and the world because of her position as an heiress to a share of the Hilton Hotel fortune." What?? It's never explained how her inherited wealth could possibly in any way benefit those millions of us common folk who live such mundane lives.

And "she provides hope for young people" ??? That makes me want to puke. She's a neon example of what is going to wreck the youth of this generation---the ME ME ME attitude and mindset and lifestyle. A recent video was released showing her flinging racial slurs, calling people names, being condescending, etc....This is providing hope to young people all over the world? She's a nightmare.

I have to believe that the governor of our fine state has more important things to do than to spend FIVE MINUTES considering this ludicrous petition. If she gets a pardon from Schwarzenegger it will be a blatant abuse of his power and make a mockery (yet again) of the legal system. Just say NO, Arnold. You can do it.

Words Of Wisdom

When I go to a Chinese restaurant and get a fortune cookie, that's what I want. A fortune cookie. NOT a statement cookie. I want to read something like, "You'll soon be getting a big wad of cash" not: "You are a nice person."

The other day I got one of my favorite statement cookies ever:

"Sometimes the wisest person wears the rudest clothing."

That's the best. What exactly, say, does a rude shirt do? Stick out its tongue? Curse as you walk by? And how exactly does it make you wise?

Well, we figured that it was a translation thing---rude meaning basic, perhaps; or crude, mean, base, poor. Regardless, I like to think of it as the rude we know today. It's much funnier that way.

Despite the entertainment value, however, I still prefer the wad of cash. Thanks anyway, though.

Truth In Advertising

I stood in line tonight behind a guy who was wearing a great shirt. I need three, one for each of my kids. It said:

BEEN THERE, WRECKED THAT

Love it! It was a No Fear shirt. I wonder if I could find it somewhere.