Thursday, May 27, 2010

Ring Tone Psychology

While recently sitting at a dinner with a lot of people I didn't know, most everyone at the table got a cell phone sometime during the evening. I had an opportunity to observe the people and hear each of their ring tones. I realized that a person's ring tone is a glimpse into their personalities.

My ring tone is Peruvian music. Why did I choose it? I know that for me personally, I picked it because it is unique and easy for me to hear among other noises. A stranger might think I choose foreign music because it's my culture or a culture that has special meaning to me. While Peru and it's music have no special hold on me other than I like it, I am a fan of cultural folk music. I'm not sure what that says about me, though.

My husband's ring tone is a Pep Shop Boys song. He likes the Pet Shop Boys. He likes 80's music. I guess he is an 80's punk at heart.

One gentleman's tone, who was at the dinner table with us, had an old fashioned telephone ring. He is a traditionalist. After pointing out this observation to Hubby, he told me, the gentleman at the table was talking about how much he missed the old ways of life. My observation was correct. He likes tradition, but since being forced into a modern world of cell phones, he choose to make his ring tone a tradition telephone ring.

Another gentleman's ring at the table was a disco song. It's funny to look at him because he had a neat military hair cut, a white shirt and conservative tie. Have you ever seen the movie Hoodwinked? It's a great family flick. One of the characters is named Nicky Flippers, who is a respectable detective. At one point during the movie, you get a 3 second glimpse into Nicky's past and he is doing John Travolta disco moves on a disco floor. I think this gentleman is probably like Nicky Flippers, a respectable, conservative man with a disco past. He hasn't forgotten his disco years, but his professional life requires a very different demeanor. He has found his ring tone to be a personal way of keeping in touch with that inner John Travolta.

Then, there are those, like my mom, who kept the ring tone that came with the phone. She never changed it or personalized it in anyway. These are no frills people. They don't need anything fancy or fun. Just the basic. Let stick to business, people! You know the kind.

So, what kind of ring tone do you have? What psychology is revealed about you when your cell phone rings?

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

It's Summer!

It's summer vacation here! Today was the last day of school. This year went by fast and my daughter is now a 1st grader. It's hard to believe. She had such a fantastic year. Now she has decided she wants to learn cursive. I showed her how to write her name in cursive and now she is a pro at it. She can copy just about any thing I write in cursive. She is already better at it than my middle schooler.

Tomorrow we will have our annual Monkees Marathon! We love kicking off our summer by watching the old Monkees TV show on DVD. I can't wait.

It's time to make the summer chore chart. You know the kids are excited about that.

There isn't much time off before the summer activities really begin. Lots of scout camps and such.

I haven't done any weaving in about 3 weeks. So, I'm starting that again. I need a project. Anyone have a project idea? I'm thinking of weaving some shaws or wraps to take to church. It's often cold and while I like the cool rooms, some poor ladies shiver their way through church. I thought it would be fun to make some wraps and whenever one of the ladies gets cold, she can grab a shaw and keep warm. I just need to decide on what threads I want to use for that project.

There has been so much going on to blog about - funny little things the kids are up too, but I can't think of any right now. Oh well.

One thing I'm really going to have to work on this summer is keeping up with the really good exercise program I've started. It could be so easy to get out of the habit.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

getting ready to walk

I feel good when I'm out walking and even though I'm tired when I get home, I feel good knowing I did something good for my body.

However, today, I'm having a hard time getting myself ready to head out the door.

Come on, Molly... just put on the shoes!

YOU CAN DO IT!

Sunday, May 16, 2010

bathroom ideas

I've mentioned that I recently toured a parade of homes. I love looking at homes. I've enjoyed looking at house plans since I was 12 or 13 years old. I would get graph paper and draw out floor plans. I even had the idea of becoming an architect just so I could professionally design house plans. I still enjoy designing house plans, but now I do it on the game The Sims.

Then, on Sunday I got to thinking about house plans and bathrooms. In a typical 3-4 bedroom house, the master bedroom has a master bath. In some homes (like the nice ones I saw on the tour of homes), the master bathroom is very large and has all the luxuries a bathroom could offer - whirlpool tub, large shower with two shower heads, the commode in its own little room with a door, double sink.... you get the idea.

The other three bedrooms are expected to share a smaller bathroom that usually has a tub/shower combo, a commode and one sink.

WHY?

I must say, most of our family's bathroom time is spent in the master bathroom of this house. It is quite large. The tub, while normal sized and plain, is separate from the shower. The commode is in it's own little room and there is lots of counter space for hair stuff, and everything else that goes on a bathroom counter. The shower is large enough for several small children. It is a nice, spacious bathroom. It is where my two youngest bathe. It is where we are potty training Peanut.

I was wondering, why isn't this the other way around? I wish it was the kids bathroom that was the larger one. If three bedrooms and their occupants are expected to share one bathroom, the ideal bathroom would be the large one.

The tub area must be large enough for me to put a chair in. Sitting on a chair, looking at a magazine while my kids take a bath is much more pleasant that sitting on a closed toilet seat while they bathe.

Well, if I ever get to design a house for us, or have any say in our house design, the main bathroom that is used by all the kids is going to be a big bathroom! That way I can re-claim my bathroom.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

snobs

My children are snobs. About certain things that is.

Snob Thing #1 - Hot Dogs
In years past, when we only had two kids, we would always get the cheese dogs. Yum. My second son couldn't get enough of them. Then, one day, this same son decided he no longer liked cheese and hasn't eaten much cheese since.

(I would say never eats cheese, but he does get some when he eats pizza, but he isn't a huge pizza fan and will usually try to pull off the cheese first, but this post isn't about pizza.)

OK, no more cheese dogs. Instead we got regular dogs. Often, I would buy the cheap ones on sale. The kids were happy to eat these. My husband was the first hot dog snob. He didn't like the cheap ones. He started buying beef franks. These are very yummy, but very expensive. My kids loved them.

Now when we have hot dogs, the first thing I hear is, "Are these cheese dogs?"
"No"
"Are these beef dogs?"
If I say no, they are regular dogs, they groan and complain how they only like beef dogs.

Hot Dog Snobs.

Snob Thing #2 - books
My oldest son didn't want to read for years. Nothing we presented to him would he read. Often he would see books and tell us he wanted to read them, so we would get them for him and he wouldn't read these either. Then suddenly, he began reading! Reading like there was no tomorrow. He will read through thick novels in 48 hours (which is hard to do when you are in school for 16 of those hours, and sleeping another 12 - 16 of the hours.) We were so happy to have him read!

Hubby would buy most of the books for him. Well, that can get expensive, especially when then are new and in hard back. So I suggested to my son that we get books from the library. They are free and if he doesn't like them, we've lost nothing. I also suggested that we check out book sites on the Internet where you can buy a book for $3-5 (includes shipping). He didn't like either of these ideas. He claims that second hand books are usually beat up and have pages missing. I've never gotten a book from a library that was missing pages. Sure, books from those types of establishments tend to have some wear, but not to the point that you can't read them.

He is just being a snob and wants a fresh, crisp, new book that he is the first to open. Once he is done, they tend to be a bit beat up. Especially if he puts them in his back pack when he goes to school. Books are expensive and he is ready to spend his own money, but the problem is, he doesn't make enough babysitting to buy new books as often as he would like to.

Book Snob.

Friday, May 14, 2010

pens and paper

I think there are a lot of us out there.

I love a good pen!

My favorite pens are smooth flowing gel pens. Once in a while at the dollar store, I can find a pack of two gel pens for $1. I usually buy three. Then I hide them throughout the house. I don't want my kids to get a hold of them!

I also love a book with blank pages. Imagine all the possibilities that await in a blank book. What stories can be told. What crazy ideas can be thought up? What memories can be recorded? What pictures can be drawn or doodled? (I don't draw. Not because I don't like it, but because I can't.)

I love to hold a book of blank pages and a nice gel pen. There is a feeling of creativity and mystery. Yeah, I know. It's weird.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

What did he learn?

My middle school experience has been quite different from my son's first year in middle school. It's probably been better in someways, but there have been a lot of things I really don't like in their methods.

There is 2 weeks of school left - 8 1/2 days.

While chatting with my son this morning, I asked him if the teachers were busy doing reviews for final exams, remembering how when I was in school the last two weeks were spent finishing the final chapter of work for the year, going over study sheets and reviews for the big exam that would happen the last two or three days of school. He said no, they have already taken most of their end of year tests.

WHAT?

When did you study for these? I don't think he did. What are you doing in school these last two weeks since you've already done your finals?

Well, in English, they are walking laps around the football field, reading the book Holes and they will be watching the movie soon.

In math they are doing fun math projects. (What did you learn in 6th grade math? My son still has a hard time with fractions, decimals, and basic multiplication and division since they did very little of this.)

In science they are creating creatures that might be found on other planets in the solar system.

Anything else he told me about school, I didn't hear. I was too dumbfounded plus my son mumbles a lot and it is hard for me and my bad ears to understand.

I think only in Orchestra is he still doing anything productive. Tonight is their final concert, but I know music teachers will keep their kids playing until the last day.

This year, I only saw him do homework a couple of times. He had a science project, and a social studies project (that he didn't tell us about until the night before), and he did lots of free time reading in books of his choice. I don't think there is anything wrong with letting the kids choose their books for free time, I wish my teachers had let us choose more often, but not requiring them to read any of the classics is odd. He didn't study for tests, didn't have mid-terms that I know of and if he did, he didn't study for them. Like he didn't study for his finals.

Really, I'm just amazed at what I've seen this year. I know it isn't the teacher's fault. They must teach to the majority and the majority here doesn't speak English as a first language. Well, home school is looking more desirable each day. I say that until this summer is coming to an end and I will be wanting them to go back to school.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Light at the end of the diaper tunnel

I've had kids in diapers for almost 12 years. That's a long time. My youngest is beginning her potty training adventure. I don't have a method to the potty training madness, but I've managed to successfully potty train 4 children, although the verdict is still out on my 4 year old who wets his beds most nights.

We might have months of training ahead of us with Peanut, but it has begun. It's nice to think that by the end of this year I will be diaper free. I hope it happens long before the end of the year, but by 2011, I will not be toting diapers in my purse anymore.

It's the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. In 2011 I will enter the world of teenagers.

Being nervous of the future and comfortable with the past, I think I would rather deal with the diapers than the teenager. As hard as I try, though, I can't ignore the fact that my almost 12 year old is almost as tall as I am. He is growing up and I must put the days of diapers behind me.

Well, teen or no teen, I'm almost done with diapers! Now that is a milestone worth celebrating!

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Busy to do list

There is a million things going on. Some of them are fun, some of them are chores and some are just things that need to get done.

I need to write a to do list!
TO DO Today:

*stretching video
*shower - VERY important
*clean kitchen
*wash kitchen floor
*get end of year presents for teachers (can wait until tomorrow if I run out of time today)
*write my "statement of purpose" for grad school application (I've been putting that one off for a month)
*call grad school to ask a question about the application (also been putting off for a few weeks)
*take Tiki to appointment
*pick up kids and take them to various places
*laundry
*pick up milk and a few other grocery items (can wait until tomorrow if I run out of time today)
*mail letter of recommendation info to a couple of people
*mail brother's b-day card. His birthday is past, but I didn't have his address until yesterday.
*write in future activities on calendar, so as not to forget them
*plan our annual Monkee Mania day to be held within 5 days of school getting out for the summer!
-This year we will include Monkee related foods, like cream of root beer.
*plan menu for rest of the week. I'm tired of searching through the fridge/pantry at 5:00 and saying, if I had thought of this sooner, I could have started something yummy in the crock pot.
*start the crock pot

If I manage to get a lot done on my list, perhaps there will be time for writing or weaving.

Well, it looks like a busy day. First things first, I'll do my stretching video (my legs feel cramped this morning) and then shower. We'll figure out what's next in priority list after the shower.

Monday, May 10, 2010

New banner and badges

Do you like my new title and badge on the side? Do you?

I made them myself. My husband has taught me some basics on Photoshop and last week I went a little crazy and made a bunch of badges.

I think they look pretty good. Hubby was good to help me. I'm usually embarrassed to do my projects with his help. He makes really amazing products with the program and mine are flowery and girly and not very impressive. Still, he was very good to help me and was very enthusiastic with my efforts, even if they are girly.

Thursday, May 06, 2010

Oldest son

My oldest son turns 12 soon. It's hard to believe.

We reached a major parent/kid milestone recently. My oldest son received his first cell phone.

It's just a basic phone with minutes on it. It doesn't have a camera or texting capabilities. It is to be used when his schedule changes at school, like when he plans to stay after school to do some music practice and then the teacher can't be there. He can call me and I will pick him up rather than him waiting for 45 minutes or so.

He has been very responsible so far. It's handy to ask him when we leave or he leaves, "do you have your cell phone?"

Still, it was strange to buy and hand over a cell phone to one of my children. It's a modern day milestone.

Tuesday, May 04, 2010

First video!

My son, the singing blockhead.

He is so funny.

(OK, I'm not sure what this second box is about, but it doesn't do anything. Just watch the video and laugh.)

Blockhead

My oldest son.

I'm so proud.

Sense of style

My 6 year old daughter has style. She has always loved clothes and wearing whatever makes her feel beautiful.

When she was 2, she loved frilly dresses. She wore her prettiest, frilliest dresses everywhere. We would go to the grocery store and people would ask if we just had her picture done and I would have to explain, no, she just loves to dress her best. Someone else said she would never let her daughter wear her best dresses everyday. My thought was, if she wear them only on Sundays, they won't get much use before she grows out of them. I knew that one day she would grow out of that stage and there might even be a day when I have to fight her just to get into a dress. Plus, she just looked so gosh-darn cute in all those frilly dresses.

Now, she is 6. She is in school, she can read and is educated. She still loves to wear pretty dresses, but not everyday. Her style is quite different. It's more hip now than frilly. This morning she came out in an unusual outfit. She had on a long sleeve, pink leopard print shirt and a hot pink short sleeve shirt on top of the leopard print. The pinks worked well together and the print under a solid was cute. Then, she had on a pair of long pants with pink hearts and on top of that was a turquoise blue skirt. It didn't work. The pants with the hearts on them were a different shade of pink, plus the hearts and the leopard print just don't work together. I kind of liked the turquoise skirt. It really popped out among all that pink.

I suggested that she take off the long pants and wear the two shirts with the blue skirt or take off the leopard print shirt and just wear the hot pink shirt with the pants and skirt. She didn't like either suggestion and was quite upset with me to telling her to change.

What did she end up doing? She removed both the pants and the skirt and put on a pair of black pants instead.
It looked good.

At this point we were running short on time. I asked her to get her socks and shoes on. The socks she put on were yellow. They didn't match at all, but I'm not going to battle sock color when her long pants and tennis shoes cover most of the socks anyway. It wasn't worth our time or energy to coordinate socks.

Monday, May 03, 2010

18 school days left!

It works out to 3 1/2 weeks left until school is out, but it is 18 school days. Well, 17 now, today is done.

My kids are very excited. I love my kids and I always look forward to when school gets out, but this year, I'm not so much. When my kids are home, my second son starts asking to play on the computer as soon as he is done with breakfast. When I tell him no, go play for a while, and he will return about 15 minutes later telling me he has played and can he play computer now.

The thing is, when he is not on the computer, he and his older brother are picking on each other, sword fighting and running through the house. They tend to hurt each other, the smaller kids and either destroy the house or break something. It's easier and quieter to let them play computer.

Then, I always regret it. Their eyes turn red from playing too much and they get really moody.

It's always such a battle. We don't have a yard for them to play in and any swimming costs money. Well, I guess I'll be setting up the chore chart again.

Still, we do have fun in the summer time. I'm going to plan a Monkees Mania day. I love the Monkees (the old TV show) and we don't watch the show during the other seasons, just summer. I think this year I'll plan some tasty Monkees related treats to go with our marathon. I'll have to think of other fun things we can do to go along with the day. It will be fun.

Saturday, May 01, 2010

Parade of Homes

I LOVE going to a parade of homes. I love seeing the houses, the styles, the millions of details and ideas that I had never thought of before.

I think we saw 19 or 20 of the homes in the showcase, plus a few others that were just opened. Some I saw and didn't like much. Some had wonderful ideas and parts that I liked, and a few were just so wonderful I kept wondering if there were any way we could arrange to buy it. (Not really, but I loved them that much.)

One home had only 2 bedrooms, but everything else about the house was amazing! Especially the outdoor spaces. It had a jacuzzi and a miniature putt-putt space. Fabulous!

Another home had a beautiful view and was at the foot of the mountains. Oh how I would love a view of the mountains like that one had. It had a pantry that opened out into the garage. Isn't that the smartest idea? After going to the store, you just pull your car into the garage and load all the groceries right into the pantry! This home also had a sitting room off the master bedroom with a large window that looked out to the mountains. It would be perfect for my loom.

We saw another home for sale, but it wasn't open to view. We picked up it's flier. It was HUGE! It had a 11 car garage. Can you imagine? Eleven car garage! We decided that if we could afford to buy that home (no way since it was $1.25 million), we would dig up the floor in a part of the garage and put in an indoor pool! Then on hot days, you could swim in the pool and not worry about sunburns, but you could also open up the garage doors to let light and breeze in.

I love touring luxury homes!