professional

What a depressing state of the union... literally.
Most of the hubbub boils down to not trusting us to be professionals and do the jobs we were hired to do. The fall of the union is the bickering between members of questioning what the person standing next to you is doing or not doing and is it fair. Question the individual not the group. Coaches put in a ridiculous amount of time and yes they choose to do it and yes they get paid. If they choose to not do it your kid will go without. The community will lose out.

Be NICE

I think we should be able to choose classes as adults:
mythology (it comes up all the time!)
budgeting
balancing life
meal planning
how to talk to a teenager without getting the stink eye

Everyday I am reminded of how it all comes down to nice people. It does. I need to be surrounded by people who are giving each other support and the benefit of the doubt. Mean people stink- big time. Why do you want that kind of negativity out there? Don't throw around meanness. Kindness is free. If you feel hate toward another human being, if you want to get even or posture to get the advantage- who are you? It says more about you than about the person you are directing that toward. Just because you hold the power to make a decision doesn't mean you should mess with that. That crap will come back to you- or it should. I don't want to spend my time planning how to mess with somebody, how to show someone how much power I have, how important I am. I don't need to. Do you?

Country Living

I'm wondering if all new YA books are required to have the word 'immortal' in them or be about getting wasted? Seriously... looking for more depth...

When the back covers say things like 'Stephenie Meyers meets John Green'  Meyers and Green must think they are the bomb to be THE NAMES

This year's Country Living Fair highlights:

Wine on High- New Age White

La Rousse Malbec

Haiku Poetic food and Art- Eastern Rose, Lettuce Wraps, and a Harvest Roll

humanity

Alrighty. Who's found my blog? No one visits for a year and then I check in today and BAM! Visitors. How does that happen? Anywho, doesn't matter. I write on...
This has been a tough week. This being an adult business. This parenting business. Tough. It is toughness I would never have imagined. If it weren't for voices of reason, snippets of conversations while doing hall duty, messages sent from parents of a classmate, a former student coming home and being proud of his journey, a leg swung over mine on the couch... I don't know how I'd proceed sometimes. Luckily this business of being a human is a group endeavor. 

Bewildering

It has come to my attention that maybe I bewilder people. They don't know what to do with me. That's ok.
I spent the better part of 2 hours putting together a few outfits and packing for a few days. I considered where we would be- shopping at an upscale outdoor plaza, when- August but cool for August, who- the people I would be with but also around, and then I added things I couldn't wear to work or other places. I added jewelry, bags, and shoes for walking. That is what I do. I like to use my creativity in my creation of an outfit. And people openly consider me. This has happened to me several times lately. A few weeks ago a lady sitting across from me, who I did not know, kept openly staring. At least she was smiling but I kept catching her looking at me. Ok. Thanks for appreciating the outfit :) Yesterday my companion said, 'now is that something you would wear to work?' yes. not sure if that is a good thing or again- bewilderment. Ok.

Also after spending several days lately with wonderfully loving, giving, generous, gracious, nonjudgemental, encouraging, uplifting, intelligent, funny, insightful, spirit led, good good people I found my self rethinking some people who are just not that I spent too much time with. 

Dwindling

Summer is dwindling down to nothing but I've decided I'm not going to let it.
Things I can still do once school starts to make summer last....

walk the dogs
swim with the dogs
SUP
kayak
read books and magazines on the pontoon
porch: put cushions/tablecloth/lights out, sit/read, facebook/instagram/pinterest
put the hammock in the back yard and read in it
fix summer food and drinks

Thursday Bub went with me to Yo's pool and the family gathered for some end of summer fun. Of course he conned me into taking him to Dick's to buy lures for his HS fishing tourney and Plato's to just look for shoes. He found stuff. Huh. Surprising. We also went to Walmart to pick up snacks and drinks for him to take.

Saturday I participated in Cincinnati's Color Run with 3 friends. Afterward we ate at The Tin Roof with what seemed to be the rest of the runners. Great place with quesadillas and nachos.

Hilton Head

At the Apple Barn...
Do you make your own applesauce? no.
What's in this? apples.... onions....noooo
5 min farts
hot air balloon
After 3 wineries you get a free wine glass after 5 you get a free stemless wine glass. Margaret says I want them today!!!
Free wine glasses are in the car.
Sometimes I just feel inadequate with the amount of products Yo uses and I don't. - Margaret

Super 8 motel... Yo- The shower is made for a troll.