More Bragging

More stuff to brag about:
In gymnastics, both Sarah and Rachel were promoted one step up the ladder.

  • Sarah is now a member of the Petite Elite Extra group. The next step up after this would be the Jr. High gymnastics team. So, I guess I’m on track to be a gymnastics mom. I’ve warned Sarah that if/when she competes on a team, I will put Debbie Phelps to shame.
  • Rachel is now a member of the Petite Elite group, the group Sarah just left. Once again, she’s totally non-plussed about it.

And in dog news, Laddie finally learned to lift his leg. John is so proud of his doggie boy.
Unfortunately, I think Laddie is also lifting his leg against the piano leg. John’s not so proud or excited about THAT.

oops…

I just came over to the local coffee shop for some Mama Time. I knew there would be a jazz group playing tonight, so parking and tables would be tight.

I walked in the back entrance while the trumpet player was doing a solo. I immediately thought, “That trumpet player really sucks. What kind of band is this?”

By the time I walked to the counter I saw … that this band consisted of 7th graders. Oops.

They’re not bad for a bunch of 7th graders.

It’s nice that the owner of this place would let a bunch of kids play a gig.

The Girl’s a Genius

Maybe not technically a genius, but I know Rachel is pretty darn smart. As I have told some of my friends, she is a frightening child — the depth of her thinking is not typical of her age. That I knew.

She used to repeat back the addition tables when I would drill Sarah. I thought she had a good memory, was an excellent parrot.

Truth is — she actually understood what she was saying. She liked math, enjoyed adding the numbers.

The other day she brought home a request from the school that she join the advanced math class. Totally floored me. I didn’t think they had advanced math in 1st grade. They do now, and my scary smart kid is right there.

What I Sent to My Reps

I’m still fired up about this corporate bailout.  I composed this letter in my head on the way to work, and have now sent it on to Norm, Amy, and Betty  (Coleman, Klobuchar, McCollum).
 
*********
I have to live with the consequences of my decisions.  I have to think through all the possibilities before I decide.  If my decision is a poor one, I have to deal with it.  If circumstances outside of my control make a previously good decision come out bad, I still have to live with the consequences of that decision.  I have no one to bail me out.  I sink or I swim.
The same should be true of these corporations that are now looking for a bailout.  They should have to sink or swim.  If their decisions turn out poorly, they have to deal with it on their own.  No sugar daddy should come in to rescue the corporation.
If the corporations’ bankruptcy is bad for the economy well, the economy already stinks.  The recession is here, and has been here for several months.  I’m working hard to survive the recession.  These Wall Street firms and financial companies need to dig in, garner their internal strengths, and work to survive — or not.
If corporations have rights like individuals, they should also have the right to fail.  True, the corporations actions impact others.  My actions impact my family.  We all have to sleep in the bed we made. 
No bailout.
**********
 
I don’t know if it will make a difference.  But I’ve said my piece.  That’s what democracy is all about.

No Different

Fed chair Bernanke says Congress risks recession if Congress doesn't give Wall Street $700 billion NOW.

I'm here to tell Mr. Bernanke — we're already in a recession. Maybe not according to his tools and calculators. But those are just numbers and guesses. The proof is staring him right in the face. "Recession" is just a scare tactic.

Frankly, I'd like to see all those greedy bastards go down. Yes, it could impact me. But I know we'll be just fine. Because I have confidence in myself.

No one is going to bail me out. I have to get by on my wits. My wealth is not in any bank. My wealth is my confidence.

I'm a survivor. I use my brains, think things through thoroughly. I have to if I want to survive. This is the lesson I teach my kids.

The Wall Street Investment Idiots were too busy caring about profit. Money. Fame. They deserve to fall and fail and have rise from the ashes. Just like any person. (Corps legally have rights as people. Did you know that?)

So… Drop, Baby, Drop. Fail, Wall Street, fail. You're no better than me. I have to work without a safety net. So should you.

Sent using AT&T Xpress Mail

How to Perplex Your Children

… start singing lyrics from Pink Floyd as a part of your everyday conversation.

Right now, I’m quoting heavily from “Comfortably Numb”.
Situation: Kids mumble something after preceeding their mumbling with a frantic “mamamamamama!”
Response: “Your lips move, but I can’t hear what you say.”

Works on spouses, too. You know the situation — they are yacking at you from two rooms away, while you are cooking dinner and running an exhaust fan in the kitchen, listening to Thom Hartmann on the radio. “Your lips move, but I can’t hear what you say.”

Come to think of it, the lyrics to “Money” are pretty appropriate, given the current economic circumstances. It’s a gas.

My New Mortgage and Insurance Company!

Congratulate me! I now own two mortgage companies and an insurance company.

Come to think of it, you own them too. Their names are Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, and AIG.

I’m not sure they were playing with a full deck when they made me an owner. As I frequently tell my co-workers, you don’t want me in charge of anything. I’m too tough. I don’t mind flunking people who won’t pull their weight. I can’t stand liars. My standards and expectations are very high.

Or as my kids say, I’m a Mean, Mean Mama.

Unfortunately, I don’t truly get the option to rule a segment of the financial services world. But if I did, I’m not sure what I would do first to turn these entities around.

It sounds like the government is planning to take away all the bad stuff in Freddie/Fannie/AIG and park it in another entity never to bother Freddie/Fannie/AIG again. Seems like a corporate absolution of financial sins. I wonder how many Hail Marys they’ll need to say.

Humidity

My old friend humidity has returned from its 3 week vacation. I think this is the last hurrah before the Fall kicks in.

Don't know where it came from. Perhaps it's a long distance gift from Ike.

Sent using AT&T Xpress Mail

School Adjustment

Even though the girls are attending the same school they always have, there are some big adjustments for both of them this year. Both girls have been separated from their best friends this year. While Rachel isn’t saying much, Sarah has been cut to the core. She’s been with A & A since Kindergarten; she doesn’t understand how they could be separated.

Sarah’s very cranky, and picking on Rachel even more than usual. Rachel is dishing it right back. I’m glad Rachel is sticking up for herself, but I’m a little worried about her silence re: being separated from her friends.

I’ve told both girls this is a good opportunity to make new friends. No comment from Rachel, but Sarah is dismayed that I would suggest she make new friends. So, I’ve challenged Sarah to either make new friends, or learn how to happily be on your own.

In a way, I hope she works on both, because there will be times where she will be alone, and there will be times when she needs to make new friends. I’ve never been good about making new friends, because I’m such an introvert. But Sarah is not me. I think if she learns to drop her blinders and really look around, her natural extroversion will allow her to easily make new friends.

As the girls go through this adjustment, I know that they feel comfortable coming to me with their problems. I’ve had many one-on-one heart-to-heart conversations with each girl. Occasionally, it’s turned into a trio — usually when I ask Rachel if Sarah can join us to brainstorm a problem. In that situation, I value Sarah’s kid-level input. And I want Rachel to see that Sarah can be an ally, not just a natural enemy.

This is just the start of tough times and adjustments.