One of my favorite things that I get to do is volunteer as a chaperon for my boys' field trips. We get to go to exciting places, I get to know their friends better and all in all it's usually a great time. Recently, we went on a field trip to the Ordway Theater to see "A Tribute to James Brown". I was thrilled. Although, I didn't think that a group of 7-10 year old children would enjoy it quite as much as me. Now this production was supposed to show Africa's influence on funk music through the use of traditional, tribal, African songs; slavery folk songs, and James Brown funk. I think most of the children were lost on the message but they all enjoyed watching, listening and "seat" dancing.
Overall it was a great experience until we were back at the school. I took all the girls to the restroom where I ran into one of the teachers who was also at the concert. He politely asked me what I thought of the production. I responded that I really enjoyed it to which he replied, and I quote, "Yeah, I never knew James Brown had so much influence on Africa." I stopped, dumb founded. I didn't know what to do, what to say or what to think. I read his facial expressions and he was dead serious. I gauged my surroundings and decided against dropping a "WTF" in front of 25 small children. I didn't really think now was the time or place to give a history lesson and then I thought even further...this guy is teaching kids...this is the best for our children's futures. So I decided on the most appropriate act at the moment. I immediately turned, grabbed all the girls and walked away while he stood there wondering.
I hope someday he realizes that James Brown did not influence Africa but really I just didn't have the time to fix him. He seemed as though he might be one of the lost causes. So maybe it's really not the kids just their educators.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Grown-ups and Fire Drills
We all know the importance of our children knowing and understanding fire safety. We expect that they will have fire drills in school, have a discussion with a fireman on the importance of an action plan and what to do if you or your home catches on fire, and have a family meeting on what happens if the fire alarm sounds. But what about adults?
Is it necessary that adults go through the motions of completing a fire drill at work? Didn't we complete enough fire drills in our youth to be set for life? By the time you reach adulthood don't you know what a fire alarm sounds like and where to go if the building you are in catches on fire? If you don't, I'll help you out. The fire alarm is the loud screeching siren that doesn't stop, letting you know you are in danger and you need to get outside quickly. Now we all are informed on what to do during a fire emergency so what exactly is the point of a fire drill for knowledgeable adults?
I ask this because the other day while at work we had not one but two fire drills. I can't wrap my head around the importance of one fire drill and I got th privilege of participating in two on the same day!! I work in a two story building in which 40% of the exterior is covered in windows. I enter through the main entrance everyday which also happens to be my emergency exit. If the place goes up in flames, I'm fairly certain I can get out and if you can't see an obvious solution to getting out of this burning building than you my friend are a moron.
It was mid-October in Minnesota and the temperature was in the high 30's and someone decided it was a great time to have a fire drill. Always remember safety first. However, it would seem that the bigger safety concern was not how to get people out of the building during an emergency but rather how to treat frost bite after two 30 minute romps in the parking lot.
Now these fire drills are planned, obviously not by anyone who lives in Minnesota, so wouldn't you schedule them in...oh, I don't know April through September when you can be fairly certain that the weather will be cooperative when having your employees stand outside for an hour. Not to mention, as an employer wouldn't you prefer that the idiots that couldn't figure their way out of a burning building just expire. Obviously, these are not the best and brightest that one would want to staff their company with. I know that seems rather harsh but really it's just natural selection at its finest.
Perhaps they should start using fire drills as a way of weeding out the job pool candidates. If you are too stupid to figure out how to get out of a burning building you are too stupid to work here.
Is it necessary that adults go through the motions of completing a fire drill at work? Didn't we complete enough fire drills in our youth to be set for life? By the time you reach adulthood don't you know what a fire alarm sounds like and where to go if the building you are in catches on fire? If you don't, I'll help you out. The fire alarm is the loud screeching siren that doesn't stop, letting you know you are in danger and you need to get outside quickly. Now we all are informed on what to do during a fire emergency so what exactly is the point of a fire drill for knowledgeable adults?
I ask this because the other day while at work we had not one but two fire drills. I can't wrap my head around the importance of one fire drill and I got th privilege of participating in two on the same day!! I work in a two story building in which 40% of the exterior is covered in windows. I enter through the main entrance everyday which also happens to be my emergency exit. If the place goes up in flames, I'm fairly certain I can get out and if you can't see an obvious solution to getting out of this burning building than you my friend are a moron.
It was mid-October in Minnesota and the temperature was in the high 30's and someone decided it was a great time to have a fire drill. Always remember safety first. However, it would seem that the bigger safety concern was not how to get people out of the building during an emergency but rather how to treat frost bite after two 30 minute romps in the parking lot.
Now these fire drills are planned, obviously not by anyone who lives in Minnesota, so wouldn't you schedule them in...oh, I don't know April through September when you can be fairly certain that the weather will be cooperative when having your employees stand outside for an hour. Not to mention, as an employer wouldn't you prefer that the idiots that couldn't figure their way out of a burning building just expire. Obviously, these are not the best and brightest that one would want to staff their company with. I know that seems rather harsh but really it's just natural selection at its finest.
Perhaps they should start using fire drills as a way of weeding out the job pool candidates. If you are too stupid to figure out how to get out of a burning building you are too stupid to work here.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Time versus Money
Have you ever asked yourself, how much is your time actually worth? I ponder this question a lot and I always seem to come up with different answers. For example, I think I am worth much more per hour than my job is willing to pay me but we have come to a compromise, if I show up at least they will pay me. But I also realize that there are things that you couldn't pay me to do like go to the movies to watch a horror flick. I don't want to waste two hours of my time doing something I hate only to have nightmares when I go to sleep. And there are things you wouldn't have to pay me to do like read a good book or go swimming at the beach because I love these doing these things.
Then there is the other perspective, how much would I be willing to pay to have someone else do some of the things I have to do, in order to have more time to do the things I like to do? I suppose I would pay someone $5 to wash my dishes because although it's not my favorite thing to do it's really not that bad nor does it take that long but I think someone else may find that $5 is a bit on the low side and probably won't want to take the time to drive to my house and wash my dishes for $5. So, I guess, I'll probably have to keep washing my own dishes.
As my list goes on, I realize that there is no real answer or so I thought. Sometimes I realize in order to understand the wisdom that comes with life you just have to listen to a child. The child in this instance is my youngest son, Kylen. Now that I have reentered the workforce on a full time basis, I realize that it is a big adjustment for all of us. My children miss having me around all the time, I miss being around all the time, and I don't always have the time for all the things I want to do like bike rides, play dates, and field trips but we have a much more secure future because of the sacrifice.
As adults we all understand the reasoning but sometimes it's hard for children to grasp the concept. So as much as I tried to explain all the "reasons" that mommy went back to work it just didn't seem to help. But kids are so much smarter than we adults give them credit for.
Because of Kylen, I now know that my time is worth a nickel...Yep, that's right a whole whoppin' five cents!! You see Kylen does understand why I have to go to work, to him I work in order to get paid. Kylen was willing to pay me for my time. He was willing to pay me five cents so I wouldn't have to go to work and I could just play with him. Now I couldn't not go to work but I could drop everything right then and there in order to spend some quality time with my son.
Now, maybe he knows that for him my time is always free but now I know that all it takes is one shiny nickel to turn me into mush and drop everything for the two most wonderful people I know. Now that we've mastered Time vs. Money, our next lesson is going to be about business and how to drive a hard bargain. Perhaps, Kylen will teach me a thing or two about that as well!
Then there is the other perspective, how much would I be willing to pay to have someone else do some of the things I have to do, in order to have more time to do the things I like to do? I suppose I would pay someone $5 to wash my dishes because although it's not my favorite thing to do it's really not that bad nor does it take that long but I think someone else may find that $5 is a bit on the low side and probably won't want to take the time to drive to my house and wash my dishes for $5. So, I guess, I'll probably have to keep washing my own dishes.
As my list goes on, I realize that there is no real answer or so I thought. Sometimes I realize in order to understand the wisdom that comes with life you just have to listen to a child. The child in this instance is my youngest son, Kylen. Now that I have reentered the workforce on a full time basis, I realize that it is a big adjustment for all of us. My children miss having me around all the time, I miss being around all the time, and I don't always have the time for all the things I want to do like bike rides, play dates, and field trips but we have a much more secure future because of the sacrifice.
As adults we all understand the reasoning but sometimes it's hard for children to grasp the concept. So as much as I tried to explain all the "reasons" that mommy went back to work it just didn't seem to help. But kids are so much smarter than we adults give them credit for.
Because of Kylen, I now know that my time is worth a nickel...Yep, that's right a whole whoppin' five cents!! You see Kylen does understand why I have to go to work, to him I work in order to get paid. Kylen was willing to pay me for my time. He was willing to pay me five cents so I wouldn't have to go to work and I could just play with him. Now I couldn't not go to work but I could drop everything right then and there in order to spend some quality time with my son.
Now, maybe he knows that for him my time is always free but now I know that all it takes is one shiny nickel to turn me into mush and drop everything for the two most wonderful people I know. Now that we've mastered Time vs. Money, our next lesson is going to be about business and how to drive a hard bargain. Perhaps, Kylen will teach me a thing or two about that as well!
Saturday, October 8, 2011
The Difference Between Living There and Visiting There
Last week, the family and I decided to take a drive up to Duluth and head up the North Shore for some fall foliage spectating and hiking. This is not a new adventure for us as we do it every year. We take a tour around Duluth, check out Canal Street, pick up smoked salmon at Russ Kendall's, and pick a few state parks to go hiking through. I love it!! I absolutely look forward to every fall for our little get away.
However, I realized that as much as I love going up there in the fall and checking everything out, I would probably shoot myself if I ever lived there. What a God Awful place to live!! I can only imagine how barren and desolate of a place it is in the winter. Not to mention you are even further north, where it is colder longer. The area was built up around mining and logging, so career opportunities leave something to be desired. All this combined with the lack of Vitamin D could quite possibly make me go insane.
After putting the North Shore into perspective of visiting compared to living, I realized many places are like this. Take Mexico for example. They have beautiful beaches, tons of activities, snorkeling, yummy drinks with umbrellas, and cheap souvenirs, but I wouldn't ever want to live there. The cartel runs rampant, you can't flush the toilet paper or drink the water, small children are put to work selling Chiclets to tourists, and many of the people have a standard of living far below what me or my family has become accustomed to.
And the list just continues. Africa has safaris but if you live there you might get AIDS. Greece has beautiful architecture and sightseeing but if you live there you might want to reconsider seeing as your country is about to be bankrupt. Then there's Afghanistan and they have well...nothing, never mind Afghanistan but you do get my point most places are better if you just visit them.
However, I realized that as much as I love going up there in the fall and checking everything out, I would probably shoot myself if I ever lived there. What a God Awful place to live!! I can only imagine how barren and desolate of a place it is in the winter. Not to mention you are even further north, where it is colder longer. The area was built up around mining and logging, so career opportunities leave something to be desired. All this combined with the lack of Vitamin D could quite possibly make me go insane.
After putting the North Shore into perspective of visiting compared to living, I realized many places are like this. Take Mexico for example. They have beautiful beaches, tons of activities, snorkeling, yummy drinks with umbrellas, and cheap souvenirs, but I wouldn't ever want to live there. The cartel runs rampant, you can't flush the toilet paper or drink the water, small children are put to work selling Chiclets to tourists, and many of the people have a standard of living far below what me or my family has become accustomed to.
And the list just continues. Africa has safaris but if you live there you might get AIDS. Greece has beautiful architecture and sightseeing but if you live there you might want to reconsider seeing as your country is about to be bankrupt. Then there's Afghanistan and they have well...nothing, never mind Afghanistan but you do get my point most places are better if you just visit them.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Dollars and Sense
We all know that children don't necessarily have the best grasp on the concept of money but this week Kylen takes the cake. I have recently rejoined the American work force. In Kylen's mind I have done so in order to make money to buy him treats. Makes sense! I was so glad that Kylen understood that I was going to work for the betterment of the family!! However, I was a little presumptuous in my thinking.
Kylen really does think that I go to work simply to buy him treats!! He has decided that if he is able to give me money for treats than I won't go to work and that is precisely what he has been doing!! To date he has given me all his birthday money, change he has found on the ground, change I have given him from the washing machine, change from my purse (this takes the cake) and the $5 grandpa gave him specifically to buy himself a treat!!
As heartwarming and heartfelt as his gestures are not to mention a little funny, too, I hope he starts to understand that I still have to go to work. Otherwise, I might just give in for a Starburst!!
Kylen really does think that I go to work simply to buy him treats!! He has decided that if he is able to give me money for treats than I won't go to work and that is precisely what he has been doing!! To date he has given me all his birthday money, change he has found on the ground, change I have given him from the washing machine, change from my purse (this takes the cake) and the $5 grandpa gave him specifically to buy himself a treat!!
As heartwarming and heartfelt as his gestures are not to mention a little funny, too, I hope he starts to understand that I still have to go to work. Otherwise, I might just give in for a Starburst!!
Thursday, September 8, 2011
The Great Minnesota Get Together
For Labor Day my family and I decided to get out and enjoy the state fair. I know everyone talks about all the food they eat and what new sort of edible crap they can put on a stick but that is not why I love the state fair. I love the state fair for people watching. It just doesn't get any better!!
You see it all, tourists, crabby kids, crabby parents, inebriated, wannabe gang bangers, rednecks, hillbillies, tweekers, skanks, extremely large people in little clothes, people in costume for no apparent reason, and my favorite this year the un-handicapped all in one fenced in area.
I call them the un-handicapped because if you were truly handicapped you wouldn't have to rent a wheelchair or an electric mobility scooter. This phenomenon is truly a testament to the laziness of Americans (specifically Minnesotans, today). If you are too fat to walk the state fair grounds, perhaps you should spend the next 51 weeks preparing and lose some weight or stay home next year. If you are just plain lazy, again I suggest you stay home next year. I normally do everything in my power to make room for people in wheelchairs, whether it is in a public restroom, grocery store aisle, shopping mall, etc. but I had a really hard time sympathizing with the fat and lazy at the state fair and they were easy to spot they had the cart rental number posted to the back of them.
Seriously, what has to happen in an able bodied person's mind to decide that they are going to rent a wheelchair or power scooter? Did they consciously decide to be a drain on society? Did they think no one would notice that they rented they wheelchair/power scooter? Did they think they were automatically going to get the "perks" associated with being in a wheelchair/power scooter with out the sacrifices that actually handicapped people have to endure? I really just wanted to scream at these people, "What is wrong with you? Get up and move your able legs!! Have you no pride?" and then when I was done berating them I would push them down maybe then they would be a little more appreciative of the gifts they possess such as being able to walk!!
You see it all, tourists, crabby kids, crabby parents, inebriated, wannabe gang bangers, rednecks, hillbillies, tweekers, skanks, extremely large people in little clothes, people in costume for no apparent reason, and my favorite this year the un-handicapped all in one fenced in area.
I call them the un-handicapped because if you were truly handicapped you wouldn't have to rent a wheelchair or an electric mobility scooter. This phenomenon is truly a testament to the laziness of Americans (specifically Minnesotans, today). If you are too fat to walk the state fair grounds, perhaps you should spend the next 51 weeks preparing and lose some weight or stay home next year. If you are just plain lazy, again I suggest you stay home next year. I normally do everything in my power to make room for people in wheelchairs, whether it is in a public restroom, grocery store aisle, shopping mall, etc. but I had a really hard time sympathizing with the fat and lazy at the state fair and they were easy to spot they had the cart rental number posted to the back of them.
Seriously, what has to happen in an able bodied person's mind to decide that they are going to rent a wheelchair or power scooter? Did they consciously decide to be a drain on society? Did they think no one would notice that they rented they wheelchair/power scooter? Did they think they were automatically going to get the "perks" associated with being in a wheelchair/power scooter with out the sacrifices that actually handicapped people have to endure? I really just wanted to scream at these people, "What is wrong with you? Get up and move your able legs!! Have you no pride?" and then when I was done berating them I would push them down maybe then they would be a little more appreciative of the gifts they possess such as being able to walk!!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Other People's Kids!!
Here's the story. We were having dinner at Dairy Queen on their fenced in patio, when two little boys, twins about 4 or 5, burst out of the door. They proceeded to leave the fenced in area and run around like chickens with their heads cut off. Their mother soon followed and was calmly telling them to come back. They answered her with a "NO" and proceeded to climb over the fence, onto a table occupied by two women having a conversation, child free. The mother responded by calmly asking them to stop doing that and come to her.
Does anyone else see a problem with this situation? I was so appalled, I briefly considered beating my own children so they didn't get any ideas that this type of behavior was acceptable. Apparently, this mother thought young children have a right to misbehave, not listen and tell their mother "NO". Where was her urgency to control the situation? Why was she not upset? Has society become so lackadaisical that we can't have control over our children and bad parenting is acceptable? This was not a case of children just being children. This was a case of bad parenting. When do you ask a child to listen to you? You don't and you shouldn't have to. You are the parent, you are the authoritarian, you are the boss, and you make the rules.
To make this story worse, the mother just shrugged. Really?!? You allowed your children to disrupt 5 different groups of people, allowed them to be rewarded with an ice cream treat, allowed them to put themselves in danger by running by a busy street when they left the gated area and all you do is shrug?
Because of this situation, I think I am now in favor of strangers disciplining children when their parents have obviously failed miserably. We've heard people talk about "white people not beating their kids" and now I know why.
Does anyone else see a problem with this situation? I was so appalled, I briefly considered beating my own children so they didn't get any ideas that this type of behavior was acceptable. Apparently, this mother thought young children have a right to misbehave, not listen and tell their mother "NO". Where was her urgency to control the situation? Why was she not upset? Has society become so lackadaisical that we can't have control over our children and bad parenting is acceptable? This was not a case of children just being children. This was a case of bad parenting. When do you ask a child to listen to you? You don't and you shouldn't have to. You are the parent, you are the authoritarian, you are the boss, and you make the rules.
To make this story worse, the mother just shrugged. Really?!? You allowed your children to disrupt 5 different groups of people, allowed them to be rewarded with an ice cream treat, allowed them to put themselves in danger by running by a busy street when they left the gated area and all you do is shrug?
Because of this situation, I think I am now in favor of strangers disciplining children when their parents have obviously failed miserably. We've heard people talk about "white people not beating their kids" and now I know why.
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