Monday Musings: Women

I just read a book: "Princess: A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia. It was by a member of the Saudi Royal Family. It got me thinking about my girl's lives. They are very lucky not to have to worry about a father or other figure in control of their lives. Telling them to stay at home, not being able to go out alone, or forcing them to marry whoever they choose. What an awful life! Yes the princess had everything she needed growing up that money could buy, but she didn't have freedom of choice. Luckily the man her father picked turned out well, but it could have been quite a different life for her.

Why do women have to live this way?

Another Monday!

I know I haven't kept up my Monday Musings, but I've been busy working for the Census. Right now I'm on a lunch break, and hoping it doesn't storm so I can get more hours in today.

I think it's time for me to make a committment. It's something I've been thinking about. I do get scared because of things that happened in my past, but I think it's something that will be good for me and my kids. It is kinda scary for me, because of my past committments that didn't work out. But I have to think positively. More on this later.

I have a confession: I'm an avoider. If someone is calling me and I think they are mad at me or I am going to get in trouble of some sort, I don't answer it. I know, pretty cowardly to do. It's hard for me to not do it. Sometimes even when I have the money for a bill, I don't pay it. I need to stop avoiding things.

Things I've learned from working for the census:

Come on people, put your house number on your house! How do you expect people to find you otherwise?

Please don't leave your dog not tied up if you are not home. Esp. if he barks and/or looks really mean.

Don't put those cute signs that look like street signs with your name on them. It's really not that cute. They are very annoying.

Housing Developments are very annoying to get around in. My old car sure doesn't fit in there!

I am not trying to sell you anything. I am just doing the job I am paid to do. I don't need anything from you (unless you're one of the aforementioned people who don't have their house number on their house), I just want to let you know why I am on your property.

My lunch break is almost over, time to go back to work and hope it doesn't storm! I will work in the rain, but prefer not to work in storms.

What is the last number? and other musings

The other day my 5 yo son asked me "What's the last number?". I told him there is no last number. Numbers go on forever. Took him a while to think about that. Sometimes kids ask the deepest questions that adults think we don't have time to think about. Sometimes we're so busy living our lives, and worrying about money and things like that, that we don't stop to "smell the roses" along the way.

An example of the way kid's minds work: This was when my older 2 (currently 12 and 14) were about 7 and 9. I would take them to McDonalds and Burger King that had play places so they could play there, esp. in winter and bad weather. We got started thinking about having one of those for dogs and cats. What kind of food would they have, how would they order (like a picture menu, for example), what kind of stuff they would like to play on. It went on for over an hour. I wish I had a tape of that, it was so fun using our imaginations.

I read in the newspaper about a woman's support group meeting at my local library a couple of times a month. I called and got info on it, and am going to go at the next meeting. I don't have many friends in this area, and have been up and down the last few months.

Things have been up and down. Nothing much going on. Next week is spring break, ugggh! Home with a 5 yo and 2 teenagers. Maybe I'll run away from home lol.

Another Manic Monday

Another Monday rolls around. Time is sure flying this year. It has warmed up, and I hope the warm weather stays. I am really tired of the winter.

A place closed that I liked to go to. The economy sucks when it affects local businesses.

There might be a job prospect in the future. It's not certain, so I'll wait to find out if it pans out. It is something I could do from home and something I'd enjoy doing.

Things have been up and down at home. Spring break is in 2 weeks. I have to find stuff for the kids to do so they don't drive me nuts. The week after that I start working for the census. That will really help me catch up on some bills.

I love finding old friends on facebook, seeing what people have been up to since grade school or high school.

A.

Monday Musings on Race, the Election, Christopher Columbus, etc.

I actually did write this on Monday, but I couldn't to the internet until today.

Tomorrow our new president takes office. Today Martin Luther King Jr's life was celebrated. I think it's appropriate for the new President to take office on the day after we remember a great man. He wasn't just a great black man, or a great black leader, but one of the greatest men of this country. Whites, too, can appreciate all he did for our country. Yes, I don't know how it is to be discriminated against because my skin color is dark. Yes, some of my ancestors did own slaves. Some of my ancestors also fought in the Civil War against the slave owning South. He helped free everyone in this country from racism and hate, not just African Americans.

I believe this country has come very far in the 41 years since MLK was assisinated. Did he imagine that it would take about 40 years for a man "of color" to get elected president by the majority of the country? Did he wonder if it would ever happen? To me it was a surprise only because Obama seemed relatively unknown (at least to some of us outside Illinois). I thought if an African American man had a decent shot at the presidency, it would be someone more well known in politics, such as Colin Powell (not the only example, of course).

Does it matter to people in this country that Obama is "only" half black? In my opinion, it's an asset. Not that I wouldn't have voted for him if his mother were black. But he grew up part of more than one culture, which is good experience for dealing with leaders of the world. His living in a Muslim country for part of his childhood to me was also an asset. He may have more respect for the beliefs of Muslims (and other religions) than W, and more experience around "ordinary" people of different cultures, not just kings, presidents, etc. And as a "mixed mutt" (which he called himself), he represents many Americans who are the same, such as me.

On the subject of race...I was reading a friend's book called "A people's history of America". Most stories of Columbus "discovering" the Americas (forgetting that there were people already here!) glosses over his treatment of the natives. This book shows how unjustly they were treated, how many were killed, enslaved, and driven off their land. Why did the Europeans think they were a superior society to the Native Americans, and other minorities in the world? What made them think that white was better? This is something that I cannot fathum. One's color doesn't make them better or worse, smarter or dumber than someone else. Why is race such a big deal? Maybe I can't understand it, not having been through racism myself. Just because I didn't descend from slaves doesn't mean I can't appreciate and rejoice in the equality of races. Yes that's not totally here (yet!), but it is close. Our presidential election proved that.

Obama. A President for all races.

A.

Monday Musing (on a Tuesday)

We've gotten a ton of this past weekend (at least 1 foot, maybe more), and it's supposed to snow more tonight and get really cold. I hate winter! Today I was digging out behind my car (the plows push snow from the street into my driveway), and a truck with one of those plow things on the front was driving by. He stopped and backed up, then got it clear for me. Really nice of him! I really didn't NEED to go anywhere, but I wanted to get on the internet at the library.

I've been going to parenting classes, learning how to give my older kids rewards and limits consistently without arguing over it. The class is almost done, then we get coaching at home for 6 months. I hope this works so there's a lot less arguing and yelling in my house. I'm really tired of it. Some days I want to run away from home.

I'm looking at the big 40 in a couple of weeks and feeling really old. Uggg!

A., 39 forever

Monday Musings

I’m trying to post more than I have been lately. If I don’t get around to posting during the week, then this will force me to do it on Monday.

Our Christmas was ok. I had to spend a lot of $ on fixing my car. I hope it appreciates the new timing belt and tie rod I had to have put in it! It’s an old POS car, but at least it gets me around (for now at least, knock on plastic). My dad sent something but when I got it, the box was opened and it was opened and empty. Le Sigh. He couldn’t afford to replace it. I signed up for a gift exchange on a website, and I got a couple of neat books. Thanks Steph! That was the only thing I got to open on Christmas. I coughImeanSanta put a few things in my stocking.

Well it’s a new year. Last year we had a lot of downs, and a few ups. I really want to get my life on track. I am working, albeit part-time. I only get 2 shifts a week. The winter is the slow time around here. Summer is busier, as tourists come to the area. I need to figure out how I am going to start college, and actually start this year, instead of just talking about it. I think I have decided to take paralegal, and perhaps minor in psychology. I think the local community college doesn’t have a paralegal degree per se. It’s pre-law but can be used like a paralegal degree.

Someone put a cute note on my car last night. I thought I saw a car there (just saw the headlites), but then it drove off. I figured it was just someone lost or looking at a map. Then this morning I go out to warm up my car and there’s a note under my windshield wiper. It was addressed to “fellow earthling”. It said that they liked my orange door. They thought it looked pretty. It was signed “love, some weirdo”. I do have a bright orange door. When I order pizza and give my address, I tell them to tell the driver it’s the house with the orange door, then they can’t miss it.

I am glad the kids are back in school. I did some good organizing of my laundry/storage room, but still need to do some more. I hate this cold weather. I get cold easily, but my daughter is always warm. We fight over the heater.

Well the week has begun, let’s see what it holds!