July 2009 Archives

Alexis got a "butterfly garden" for her birthday. You got the "garden" and then sent off for the caterpillars. This was our big science project for the summer. They ship 5 and guarantee that at least 3 of them will become butterflies. Lex got lucky and all five made it!

We decided to release 3 of them and keep two to see if they'll lay eggs. Today we let three of them go! All of the butterflies that came out of the "garden" were more than happy to sit on Alexis' finger while they acclimated to being outside and this suited her just fine!

Who says science isn't fun? ;oP

I ran into a friend when I went to go pick up Lex from drama/dance/music camp.

Friend: Your hair looks fabulous! What did you do?

Me: *confused* Um, I slept on it?

F: Well it looks great! Do it again!

OK then! ;oP

I made a comment on Twitter/FaceBook yesterday about wanting to make a new quilt, but not wanting to cut out blocks. You see the cutting part is my least favorite part of the entire process! That led us down the who does, who doesn't, who wants to path, so I thought it would be fun to share the quilts I've finished for Alexis and ones that are still works in progress. So here it goes!

So click below the fold and let's talk some quilts!

I'm often shocked by what some people let their kids do in public. This morning Alexis and I went to the library and there were several things that went on that really bugged me!

Number one, the shelves at the library are NOT there to be climbed. If your child is trying to climb, or even succeeding to climb the shelves, then you need to stop them! You are NOT on a playground! What if one of those shelves fell over on them? You've easily got several hundred (if not more!) pounds of books on those shelves, not to mention the heavy shelf itself. Oh and did I mention shelves shouldn't be climbed in the first place? You know back to the it not being a playground and all thing.

Number two, if the librarian asks you to stop your hellion child from climbing aforementioned shelves then don't get all haughty and call her a "bitch" for pointing out something that you should have figured out yourself. She's not being a "bitch", she's trying to keep not only the books on the shelves, but also your child from getting hurt and if I had been her I would have kicked your sorry a$$ out the front door!

Number three, libraries are supposed to be quiet places. Why do people not teach their children to whisper in the library? Alexis and I have been going to the library since she was three and the first thing I told her was "If you're in the library and want to say something please whisper!" and every time we go in I tell her "Remember to whisper!" to which she replies "Mooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmm I know that already!" and you know what she does know....Because I taught her!

Number four, books are not toys to be thrown, torn, written in, etc. Who let's their kids do that? Oh right...I saw two mothers today who were letting their kids do all three! I just don't get people!

I know I'm not the only one that feels this way? Why do some people think it's ok for their kids to do whatever the hell they want?? Because you know what? It's not!

It's a feeling some African-Americans say is all too common, even to this day in America: No matter your status or prominence in society, you're still typecast. That's why the recent arrest of Henry Louis Gates Jr., one of the nation's most prominent African-American scholars, has stirred outrage and debate.

Jelani Cobb, an author and professor at Spelman College in Atlanta, says it's troubling on many levels when "one of the most recognizable African-Americans in the country can be arrested in his own home and have to justify being in his own home."

How is it possible that things like this can still happen in 2009? No one, regardless of race, should be treated like this standing in THEIR OWN HOME! Assuming something about someone based on race is just beyond astounding. We as a country have a lot of work to do to ensure that all humans are treated the same regardless of the things that we try to label each other with and these labels are certainly not limited to only race. We are one whether everyone likes it or not and it's high time we started acting that way!

Found via CNN.

Two Military Daughters Start Sisterhood For Teens

"During my dad's deployment, it was a really tough time for my family," Hern continues. "And the more we identified with other military youth from across California, we saw they had the same need."

The high school girls, who will start their senior year in the fall, have decided to do something that nobody has done before -- not Pentagon officials, not governors, not mayors (at least, NPR can't find a record of it). They are trying to organize the first major get-together for the children, specifically daughters, of troops who have gone to war.

"We'd like to boost these girls and their self-esteem and their self-confidence," Deakin tells the camera.

"We are growing the sisterhood, with our mantra: unite, inspire, lead," Hern adds.

They call their conference "The Sisterhood of the Traveling BDUs" -- a play on the title of a popular novel and Army speak for battle uniforms.

What amazing young women these are with remarkable spirits and intentions. We often hear about the bad things that teens do, but rarely do we get to see what teens can do when they put their minds to something. Not only did they find each other to support, they want to cast their net wider to make a support system for other teens from military families. What a strong, nurturing thing for them to do!

Check out their video:

Hat tip to Jamison for the link. Found via NPR.

It's definitely Monday.

(CNN) -- Walter Cronkite, the CBS anchorman known as "Uncle Walter" for his easygoing, measured delivery and "the most trusted man in America" for his rectitude and gravitas, has died, CBS reported Friday.

Cronkite was 92.

His career spanned much of the 20th century, as well as the first decade of the 21st. The native of St. Joseph, Missouri, broke in as a newspaper journalist while in college, switched over to radio announcing in 1935, joined the United Press wire service by the end of the decade and jumped to CBS and its nascent television news division in 1950. He also made his mark as an Internet contributor in his later years with a handful of columns for the Huffington Post.

"He was the consummate television newsman," Don Hewitt, the onetime executive producer of the CBS Evening News, told CNN. "He had all the credentials to be a writer, an editor, a broadcaster. There was only one Walter Cronkite, and there may never be another one."

Mr. Cronkite takes me back to my childhood. That indelible persona, that trademark soothing voice, his head on dealing with the news and the facts surrounding the stories that is often overlooked in today's world of sensational journalism that more times than not glazes over the facts and simply focuses on mindless sound bytes, all made up the character of the man. He will be greatly missed.

Found via CNN.

Scene: Coming out of the grocery store there is a handsome man standing on the sidewalk talking to a friend.

Alexis: (Looking at the man, blinking and then and giving him the best sweet grin you've ever seen.)

Dude: (Gives Alexis one of those melt the earth type of grins that only those drop dead gorgeous guys, who know they're handsome as sin, can do.)

Alexis: (In a loud voice): Mom he's hot!

Me: Alexis!

Dude: (Cracks up laughing and winks at her.)

Alexis: Well he is!

Me: Don't say people are hot when they can hear you!

Alexis: But Moooooooooooommmmmmmmmmm, he's cute!

Me: (Shaking my head as she and the dude keep grinning at each other.)

Can you imagine her teenage years? I don't think I want to! ;oP

Some water might have even gotten on the plants too! ;oP

Scene: Alexis sneaks up behind me in my office forty minutes after she's been put to bed.

Me: Alexis why are you still awake?

Lex: Because I love you so much that I just had to come tell you!

Nice try kid....To bed with you! ;oP

I'll probably regret posting this picture, but I figure since it doesn't show her face we're OK...

How cute is that??

I was thinking back this morning to the first time we met, a few days after your 23rd birthday...My what a road we have traveled! We've had many celebrations in between, the first real celebration being your 24th birthday when we were actually together on the day. While I know you aren't a big fan of birthdays themselves, or even celebrating for that matter, I appreciate that you put up with Alexis and my enthusiasm for the day none the less.

Happy birthday my love! May you have many more happy days and may all your wishes come true!

Wallops Island, Va. -- - There isn't much to see yet at the grandly named Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, just the skeleton of an old launch gantry on a piece of oceanfront leased from the federal government.

But promoters expect something remarkable to blossom on this sun-baked spit of sand and scrub on the Eastern Shore.

David Smith, a state official from Virginia, which joined with Maryland six years ago to operate a commercial spaceflight center with the lofty acronym MARS, says the area is on track to become "the Cape Canaveral of the North."

I knew they had been testing a rocket over on the Eastern Shore in Maryland, but I didn't know VA/MD were partnering for this. How cool is that?

Found via the Baltimore Sun. Hat tip to Jamison for sharing the story with me.

But I totally want a pair of these shoes! ;oP

Wishing everyone a safe, happy and fun filled 4th of July!

NEW YORK (CNN) -- The crown of the Statue of Liberty will re-open to tourists on July 4, the Interior Department said Friday.

The crown was closed after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, for safety and security reasons.

The National Park Service closed the attraction amid worries that it would be difficult for visitors to evacuate quickly in the event of an emergency.

Visitors must climb a narrow 168-step double-helix spiral staircase to get to the crown.

Access to the crown will be limited to 10 people at a time, guided by a National Park Service ranger.

If you ask Alexis where she wants to go the first two places that she will likely tell you are the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower! We're hoping to take her to New York soon. France will have to wait for a while! Mom needs to go to Ireland first! ;oP

Found via CNN.

Jamison is supposed to have the day off today. He got called around 4 am this morning and has put in two hours of work already....

I'm thinking that might not bode well for his day off or the weekend...I'm just saying! ;oP

Sometimes 24/7 support sucks.