Little Monsters

Why are kids so mean? Yesterday I read an article about a man that boarded a school bus and went off on some mean kids that had been harassing his disabled daughter while riding the bus. It makes me sad to think of that girl enduring any type of harassment and not be able to defend herself against these bullies. What kind of heartless kids are riding that bus? Where there no kids on the bus with compassion –to stand up on her behalf? I know that nobody wants to be picked on, but there is usually one or two willing to help out. Where were those kids and why didn’t they step up? And why didn’t the bus driver do something about it?

The fact is, bullies are all around us. Take a good hard look at your kid and honestly ask yourself –is my child capable of that? You might be surprised and embarrassed at the answer. Don’t kid yourself. Most of our kids are totally capable of bullying another child and probably have on occasion. For the parents who think that their kid “would never do that”, stop being so naïve. Your kid isn’t perfect and neither is mine. But the difference is that I know my child is capable (we are all capable) and because of that, I’m watching for the signs and can make sure it doesn’t happen. Meanwhile, you have your head in the sand while your child is bullying my child.

Stories like this make me sad and I feel bad for the father that was blasted for what he did on the bus. Yes, he may have used profanity and inappropriate language, and it definitely wasn’t the best way to handle the situation. I understand why he is making a public apology for his actions –but where the hell are the public apologies by the bullies, their parents, and the bus driver? They should all be held accountable for their actions (and for the parents, inactions).

But this particular story hits too close to home for me. Just yesterday afternoon, my daughter gets home from school and tells me that some of her friends have decided that they don’t want to be her friend anymore. Yep, just like that. Out of a group of 5 girls, two said that my daughter was too needy (wth? Aren’t they all needy at 12?) and another said it was because a third party friend (who doesn’t even go to the same school) told her not to be friends anymore. Sheesh. Soap opera-style drama for tweens.

I say good riddance to these three “friends”, but my daughter still feels ousted and that’s a sting that really hurts at this age. I want to hold her and tell her it will be okay, but that won’t make her hurt stop. I also want to march right down to the school and give these little twits a viral tongue lashing like they have never heard. No, it won’t change the situation, but it will make me feel better. I want to pull her out of that horrid school and send her somewhere safe where nothing like that will ever happen again.

I can’t control who my daughter befriends and I know that she will have to deal with whatever happens. I know I can’t protect her from all the snotty little girls in the world and that she will have to face these and more in her school years. But I can secretly wish for them to have really bad acne!

My Long Lost Loves

Why is it that I always seem to be on the tail end of a product’s lifespan? Over the years, there have been quite a few products that I fell in love with, only to have them discontinued or changed. You know, as in “new formula” or “new and improved.” Blah, blah, blah.

So there I was, desperately trying to squeeze out the very last of the Philosophy Kiss Me Very Emollient Lip Balm. I threw down the empty tube and went straight to the computer to order more. Knowing that I can get 3 free samples with each order at Sephora.com, I log onto my account and search for the lip balm. I found similar products in a variety of colors and flavors (gingerbread anyone?) but I could not find the original, colorless and flavorless product. Hmmm. No problem. I'll just order it directly from Philosophy.com. Just a quick search and... aww, cr*p! They changed the formula.

The new formula was better -now with SPF! But then there were the reviews -some good, many not good. {panic begins to set in} As I read through the pages of buyer reviews, I find that die hards, like me, who had used the product for years, were not happy and were begging for Philosophy to change it back to the original SPF-less formula. I had heard, err, read enough.

I quickly grabbed my purse and keys and flew to the nearest Sephora store (the only place in my area that carries Philosophy products) and purchased the mere three tubes they had left in stock. I even asked if they had more in the back, but sadly they did not. However, the other Sephora store across town had another 4 tubes -which I snatched up also. Upon asking if there were more in stock (there weren’t), the lady at the register commented on how much I must like the product. Fighting back tears, I explained that it was truly the best lip product ever and because of it, my lips were never, ever dry or cracked, not even in the dead of winter, and my husband said they were very kissable, but now Philosophy has gone and messed up the product by adding in SPF and it’s not good anymore. (I should do commercials for this product. Hey Philosophy! You listening?) Want to guess what her response was? “Wow. I wish I had known about it. Are there any more tubes left or is this it?” Sorry lady, these are mine and I’m not sharing! Muahahahahahaha.

This Can't Be Good

Face·book Ob·ses·sion

noun \äb-‘se-shən, əb-\

Definition: When you start the water for your morning shower, dash to the computer to read last night’s late posts and tend your crops and livestock, then realize 15 minutes later that the shower is STILL running and there probably isn’t much hot water left!


:::sigh::: What have I gotten myself into…

Look Out Paul Bunyan

In my newly found venture called Farmville, I’ve discovered that I don’t like all the waiting. My farm has a small number of crops, two foals, and a pig (I sold the cow and bought the two new animals), a bale of hay and a rest tent (both gifts I received), and a newly purchased barn. The barn is really in the beginning stage of being built –mostly only framework –as I do not yet have the hammer and wood needed to finish the job. It’s a slow process and I get bored easily.

But I’ve discovered another Facebook offering: Frontierville!! Yep, I’ve got my own homestead. A plot of land covered with trees, brush, rocks, and critters –just waiting for me to clear it all off and start a home. This offers more to do, but at a cost. Each activity cost an energy and you only get so many at a time. It’s grueling work, but it has to be done. I’ve cleared about a fourth of it, have a small garden going, and even planted a few cherry trees. My house is just a frame but I have a few chickens and a sheep that gets lost in the brush now and then. Somebody get me an ax!

Look At Me! I'm Farming!

It all started with a harmless post on Facebook. Last Saturday afternoon was the first time I really got into exploring my new Facebook account and how it works. I was only on for a short while before I saw it. It was an innocent post by my sister and I really didn’t know what it was. Something about her getting a great deal on pumpkin bushels at the market. Huh? I thought maybe she was using them for something at work, but what do I know. So I thought I was being funny when I replied “Now don’t you go all Martha Stewart on me.” Then a short while later, another odd post about harvesting her pumpkins. WTH? Now I know my sister doesn’t have any pumpkins growing in her garden. I don’t even think she planted a garden this year! So this time I simply commented “Who are you and what have you done with my sister.” Well, that prompted her to respond by laughing at me and then she explained that it was part of a game on Facebook. What? Facebook has games too? So I head off to explore Farmville –where you get a piece of land (your farm) and you basically tend it. You can plant crops and trees, build houses and barns and all the while you earn money and climb in the rankings. The higher you rank, the more things you can do. And people share rewards they earn with their Facebook friends which creates this whole community thing. So I begin by planting some crops which have to be harvested when they are finished growing. And repeat, this time with more crops. Someone sends me a gift –it’s a foal and then I receive a brick (to use when I start building). Another friend has a lost cow up for adoption so now I have livestock. And then it’s time to plant more crops. Hey! This is actually kind of fun.

I Only Did It For The Freebie

Truthfully, I registered months ago, but I only did it for the freebie. A freebie that I have yet to receive. But I digress. I have taken the leap and am now one of the millions of people that have a Facebook account. It’s not that I didn’t like Facebook. I just didn’t feel the need to participate. Why? I guess I just didn’t get it. But my sister mentioned that an old friend was looking for me on Facebook and had contacted her for help in reaching me. I believe the message was –tell your sister that she needs to get on Facebook –or something along that line. So when the freebie offer came around, I justified signing up (the freebie was not a good enough reason in itself) by telling myself I was also doing so because a friend was trying to reach me.

Setup was basic –as little information provided as possible, no pictures, no location, and only the initial of my first name plus my last name. I located the friend that was looking for me, friended her, and instantly I could see all kinds of stuff from her on my wall. I really didn’t understand how it all worked, but there it was. I posted a quick hello message and that was it.

And after that, I really didn’t do anything –until my sister called last week. Apparently I have another friend that contacted my sister because she couldn’t find me on Facebook. So, I log onto my account and, to my dismay, find 30+ friend requests. But after scrolling through the first 5 or so, I realize that these people are my family and friends and I kind of got excited. I felt liked. I felt loved. I felt connected.

I can visit with my family and friends across the country by simply chatting. Most of it is fun and silly, but I’m beginning to feel like I’m part of something. Instead of having to get updates from my mother and sisters on how family members are doing, I can see and ask them myself. I’m thrilled to see my aunt on Facebook. With her grown kids spread out all over the states, she can easily stay in touch where a daily (or even weekly) phone call to each of them would be difficult and unrealistic. She stays involved.

So I am no longer on the outside of my family’s affairs. I am a part of the big picture. I’ve located a few other long distance friends that I usually only contact for holidays via Christmas cards. I have even edited my name to reflect my whole name and added a picture. And I get more and more friend requests each day. I’m off to a good start.

Facebook. I think I like it.