Freedom of Speech? Shut up!
On the news today it was stated that the "do not call" list for telemarketers has hit another road bump. They won a small case that allows them to take it to a higher court. They say that this is an infraction on their constitutional right to freedom of speech. Excuse me, what? I have major issues with this.
First, tell me where in the constitution it lists the telephone as an avenue protected by the freedom of speech.
Second, if they uphold this decision would this not also permit people to enter my home to place their flyers, literature and other forms of communication?
Third, wouldn't this give those who send Spam the right to send it?
Fourth, what about my freedom to privacy?
Fifth, are you telling me that I have the right to put a do not solicit sign on my door but not on my phone?
They say that if politicians and charities can call, then so can they. Hold the phone! I consider the politicians and charities telemarketers too. Anyone who calls me to solicit anything without my previous consent or request is a telemarketer.
And don't get me wrong, I have nothing against telemarketers themselves. I used to be one. They are just doing their job, supporting their families, trying to make ends meet without becoming a burden on the state, just like the rest of us. I feel really badly for them, for they are facing major lay offs. I don't wish that on anyone. But did the plight of the tobacco farmer slow any of the anti smoking campaigns? No. Yet those are just people too. Just trying to feed their families. Oh, but that was a matter of life and death. No one is dying here. Maybe no one is, but some things are.
Privacy, peace, quiet, family time, sanctuaries, serenity, romantic evenings, and rest are all being slayed so that someone can "Take just a moment of your time..."
But the bottom line is, it is MY time, and as obsolete as you feel it is, a moment can last a life time. That is one less moment spent with my son, taking in the sunset, reading my book, talking to a friend, resting after a long day, or just staring into space. My space, my moment, my time.
This is my home, my private sanctuary. Even police can not come in without my permission or a warrant. Hell, even vampires have to have consent to enter, according to the 80's hit movie The Lost Boys.
Just because you have something to sell or say does not mean you have the right to personally contact me. I have the right to say no. That IS protected under the constitution. No one has the right to force me to listen, read, watch, or partake of anything.
What is next? TV's and radio's you can't turn off?
Using the constitution so liberally like this, not only leaves the door wide open for other despicable abuses, but is disrespectful to the very principle for which it was written to protect. The freedom of the individual people.
Don't "We the people" have a say in how OUR constitution is used? It affords me the right to bare arms to protect myself against intruders. My home, my family, I, am being intruded upon on a daily basis. I expect my government to allow me the ability to protect myself against these intruders.
The constitution does give me the right to protect myself, my family, and my home. Even if it puts those who intrude at a disadvantage or stops their financial gain. The constitution is not for sale, and neither should our privacy be.
And if they win, will they be required to unblock their numbers for our caller id? Because, I would then like to use my freedom of speech to take just a moment of their time ....
"XYZ, how can I help you?"
"Hello. I just finished eating dinner."
"Um, ok, how can I help you?"
"It was chicken and rice. It was very good. My son ate all of it. It is my own special recipe."
"Is there something I can help you with?"
"No, I just wanted to take a moment of YOUR time in trade for the moment of MY time you took when you called earlier."
Let's see how much money they make when they are busy answering phones rather than dialing them!
POINT, SET, MATCH!

Monday Again?
This weekend, my dear friend, John visited from Detroit. For any of you who don't know, when he and I hang out it is a lot like watching the two old men (Waldorf & Statler) from the classic Muppets Show. We are cynical, crass, and comical. I am not sure what is our favorite past time, people watching, or commenting on the people we watch. It is like a sport to us. And we are very good at it.
To the common ear we might sound judgmental or mean at times. But really, no ill will is meant. We just have opinions, some strong, and some not so strong, about almost anyone or anything. Here are some of the observations we made:
*Far too many woman wear shirts that are intentionally too short, then tug at them because they are self-conscious.
*Far, Far, Far too many women wear tops that are too short, and aren't self conscious, but should be
*People will speed past you, cut you off, just to get stuck behind someone else at a stop light, and end up a car length behind you again.
*We all tend to want to gloat at the jerk we just discussed, and end up stuck behind him for the rest of our journey.
*Far too often we are more polite than those that wait on us.
*There are too many 40 year old white woman with tribal tattoos driving minivans
*People who smoke think we are the ones with a problem.
*While waiting for your movie to start, there will be at least one movie trailer that at the end of you will lean over to your friend and say ".....uh pass"
*There will also be at least one movie that you will say "I can't wait to see that one" and forget all about it and miss it completely when it comes out.
*Ordering your pop corn, drink, hot dog, candy, and then going to the bathroom before going into the theater is a bad idea.
*Placing said order on the bathroom floor for me and everyone else to see is just disgusting.
*Movie and TV plots do not have to be even close to realistic to be entertaining, and to suck you in.
*Eighties music still rocks
*Anyone who is not in the military or hunting and wearing camouflage anyway should be shot on principle alone.
*If you are anything larger than a size A, you should wear a bra.
*Child like things still amuse us.
*People should not have more children than teeth.
*Yelling across the parking lot at your wife to tell her she is acting like a crazy woman for 10 minutes only explains why you are with her.
*As big as some of us are, we appear to be invisible to young, skinny, blonde girls, hence why they walk into us without saying excuse me, fail to ask if we need assistance in a store, and often cut in front of us in a line.
*People are having children at a much older age now, and many of the men look miserable, and the woman just look plain silly sometimes.
*Said people get offended if you mistake them for grandparents. I am sorry, you look like you starred in Tales from the Crypt, how was I to know?
*And finally, we noticed that John and I are damn funny and extreamly entertaining! Just ask us! :)

So, the day continues!
I check the mail and instead found a "FYI" ticket on my car courtesy of the postman. There are 5 mail boxes mounted together in front of the house to my right. I parked the red car curbside in front of my yard. Apparently this is a problem. What does the ticket say? "blocking the approach to the mail box" The approach. Not the mailboxes, the freaking approach!
I am at least 10 feet from the mailboxes. Does he need a run way to deliver mail? I know pilots who need less room to land! Are you freaking kidding me? It isn't like he drives a 15 foot or even and 8 foot truck. It is a mail box on wheels for crying out loud! You could have parked another car in front of me and still not blocked the mailboxes! Did this guy fail parallel parking or what!
I've got a solution to his problem! Pack those envelopes on your back and walk it old school you lazy, cranky, spoiled baby!

Did you ever wake up in the morning and just KNEW it was going to be one of those days?
Today I woke up to a song I hate, realized there was not enough milk for Corey's cereal, and dropped a book on my toe.
Then, Corey wanted to take our red car (for those of you who don't know, this is a small two door beater that we are grateful to have as it acts as a back up to our other older but much nicer car.) My dad had just brought the car from storage at his house for me last night, so the key was not yet on the ring with the others.
We left for school, and when I returned I realized I was locked out. And anyone who knows me, know that my place is as secure at Fort Knox per my history with freaks. It wasn't like I could jimmy a door, or pop a window. I made sure that was not possible the night I moved in.
So I had to call my mom from a payphone and have her call my wonderful (family friend) land lord to let me in.
I have already decided that I will not be going anywhere today. Because I am sure that I will cause a six car pile up, knock over a row of shelves at the grocery store, burn myself with my hot mocha, and lock my self out of my car.
Yep, for everyone's safety, I will stay in my home. The only ones at danger that way are me, our bird, and that freaking mouse!

So yesterday's situation and subsequent discussion with Corey's teacher did get me thinking. I don't think Corey needs counseling, but he does need to talk more. He doesn't talk about his feelings much. And just asking him "How are you" or "How was school today?" is not enough. Because all you get is "good" and "fine". So I sat down with him and had a long conversation. We talked about school, games, friends, fears, things that make him happy, sad, or angry. Anyone who knows Corey knows he has a very extensive and rather impressive vocabulary, so getting him to open up, was actually a treat in many ways.
We made some decisions. No TV on until after 7:30 on week days. I thought I was doing good by not having cable, thus limiting our options. But we just end up watching a movie or reruns. This is just as much for me as it is for him.
Instead we will play games and talk.
He loves Dominos. He has beat me badly (ok very badly) both nights that we have played. The first night I didn't lose on purpose, but I was just kinda playing. Then last night I focused a little more. By the third round I was strategizing and planning. Meanwhile the kid with the great vocabulary is using it to do some serious smack talking. How sad is it that I put all that effort into the game and he still wiped the floor with me? I know we are not talking chess here, but holy crap!
Point? Just sitting down over a friendly (until I get so frustrated by being beat by a 6 year old that throw the game in the trash) game and talking to your child or loved one is a great way to deepen and strengthen your relationship. Maybe that is why I love to play Gin Rummy with my mom, Skip-O with Nicole, Trivial pursuit with TJ, Air Hockey with Joe, and Chicken Scratch with my dad. Even though they all beat me horribly every time. (I am starting to notice a pattern here! Maybe games are not my forte!)
You laugh, talk, and sometimes just sit and play.
Maybe this is why men seem to bond while watching a sport event on TV. Any sport event. It could be under water basket weaving for crying out loud and they will watch it, grunt, and bond. Ladies, I think I just figured a little something out about that dark abyss known as men. When they watch games, yell at the TV, banter about stats, and project bodily gases, they are really saying "Hey dude, you and me, we're tight."
Ahhhhh games, Mattel's little miracle!

Today my son got in trouble at school. They have a program where all the kids start the day at green, meaning doing great. If they get a warning about behavior or something they move to yellow. If they continue they move to red and get a ticket. If they still continue they crash, meaning they go to the principal's office. Today Corey got a red ticket. He was not able to finish his math work (did the whole page, but did it wrong and had to start over because he did not follow directions) so he had to stay for part of his last recess. He threw a fit. So I had to call the teacher after school to discuss how to help Corey deal with his "anger" or "frustrations" better at school. We both understood why he was so frustrated. I hate to repeat work and miss out on my free time too. But how he dealt with it was disruptive to class. "Grunting, hit the desk and pulling his hair."
But how do you express yourself when you are that frustrated? I know I have seen many an adult slap their hand on their desk, growl, pull their hair, and act out in such a way when they are frustrated or stressed. I mean, think about the last time you stubbed your toe. Or the last time your boss told you to stay late because you didn't finish a project. What about typing a long email to a friend and losing it due to a computer error. Do you know how hard it is to try to come up with another way for him to work out his frustration while in class? I don't think the teacher is wrong. He did completely disrupt the class, and that is not ok. But it isn't like he has anger management problems. He didn't hit anyone or threaten the teacher. He was venting. I would have too.
Ever since those rations of school shootings, the schools have really taken on an almost stifling approach to child behavior. I understand why. But like I have said before, this is a country that reacts and reacts with extreme measures. "Have you thought about counseling?" Do you know how many parents have heard that lately? I heard it today. It is almost as common as "Have you thought to have little Joey tested for ADD or ADHD?" I have not heard that one, and if I did I would laugh in their face, as we all know that Corey is a pretty mellow kid.
What ever happened to understanding that they are kids? Again, I don't agree that it is ok to disrupt the class, and Corey is grounded. Why? Because he was warned with a yellow ticket. He did not change his behavior. That is why. He was given the opportunity to modify his reaction/actions and chose not to. Your actions have consequences. But I am not rushing to buy the latest "mute your child's feeling and make him numb to all emotions" book or selling my left arm to pay for a counseling session either.
Am I wrong here? Am I just in denial? Is it just me?

So most of you know that I have settled into my new place in Oregon. It has been a long move, with a lot of work required. I don't mind the cleaning and packing and unpacking and cleaning and more cleaning. But the "little" surprises can be exhausting.
A few days ago I found out that Corey and I have a roommate. He/she doesn't pay for any of the bills, and although eats little, still proves to be a nuisance. A mouse. Not a cute fluffy white Stewart Little mouse mind you. But a simple brown mouse. My grandfather gave me a trap. But, the trap was faulty. However, a small miracle happened when I heard the mouse rustling in a large paper bag in my laundry room. I quickly placed the bag and mouse in one of my empty Rubbermaid storage bins and closed the lid. But I had no idea what to do with it after that.
If I let it go outside, it would just come back, and I had no poison or trap. So I just left it there. I have to say, the guilt of the poor little mouse suffocating, or starving to death was pretty strong. I mean, I don't enjoy being cruel to any creatures (with exception of spiders. If I could torture them I would. But I am too busy dancing around in tearful fear. But I digress...)
Then yesterday I saw another mouse. So, I knew I would have to go out and buy some more traps because although not afraid of mice, I don't want them in my home.
Segue to this morning.
I decided to dispose of the poor tortured mouse in the rubber bin. I lift the lid and no mouse. There was no second mouse yesterday! It was the same damn one! The little tird chewed threw the very thick, large rubber container! That was it yesterday, taunting me. Nicole asked me if I saw it flip me the little mouse finger. GRRRRRR!
This is war!

TOOT - TOOT !
That is me tooting my own horn!
TJ sent me a link to another site that allows you to download the comments template and add it to your site. So on my very own, I went there and followed the instructions. They were easy enough to follow, but they used computer literate terms and I had to teach my self how to do it. After a few hits and misses, BAM BABY! I got it! I think Teej and John should be very proud of me!
Now I am going to call Nicole, direct her to visit and comment. I hope it works. The theory is you click on the word "comment" and it will show you other comments and how to add your own! Now, don't feel obligated to type anything. I often go to Nicole and TJ's site and do not comment. I just get the latest news and go on with my day!
Crossing fingers that my tooting was not gas rather than bragging!

Well, thanks to my best friend Nicole and her wonderful computer savvy husband, I have decided to start my own blog. I know this is new to most of my friends and family, but you will get addicted to it soon enough! I don't know what new path this will open for me, but as opinionated and verbal as I am, I am sure I will have fun with it. This is like an online and "public" journal if you will. Some sites offer you the reader to comment on my entry and post it on my site for me and all others to read. Unfortunately, this (free) site does not seem to offer that option. I will have TJ look into that for me. It is fun to see what others think of the blogger's comments, stories, tantrums, and so forth. But, until then, feel free to send your comments directly to me via email. If nothing else, this will give you a place to get the latest on Corey and will give me the chance to brag or vent, what ever the case may be! So, visit as often as you'd like!