This past weekend has been rather productive for me which is really a good thing. Usually by Friday--Wednesday is worn completely out from the weeks tomfoolery and can not wait to get home, take off the face (aka make up) get out of the tortuous bra and wear PJ's until Sunday morning. Saturday started out pretty much the same way until Daddy Bear and I decided that since my friend Breathe Chick's Sister's Prom is rapidly approaching I needed to find my Prom dress. Please allow me to elaborate. I am rapidly approaching the big nasty 40, have not been to a prom in ummh like 20 years and have quite a bit of wear and tear on this old body. But the Sister's Prom is for a good cause and the Prom dress will be donated at the end of the night for local high school girls to wear and use for their actual special night, which I think is awesome. So despite my disdain of my physical appearance Wednesday can take one for the team when needed.
I went to a local store that specializes in mature women's clothes that surprisingly also has prom gowns and I found a beautiful red full length dress that I fell in love with, but this fairytale was not to be. First I had Daddy Bear in the dressing room with me trying to push, pull and tug myself into the top part--this was not happening mind you. Oh and the strange looks you get when you ask the sales people that you are looking for a prom dress is often very priceless. Sort of like "you're kidding right? This is not for you but your daughter?" Again not the scenario so I just go along with the "she's done lost her mind" looks that I received because on a typical day I do feel like I've lost my mind; I believe it's because I'm a mother and wife and I blame it on the boys.
The stars aligned for Wednesday when Daddy Bear and I went to a Goodwill shop that he claims is "high end Goodwill". Ok didn't know there was such a beast but we'll go with it. We asked the sales lady at Goodwill if they had any prom dresses (insert the above said look at me) and was told "just those few hanging on the rack in the back.They had nothing and I thought ok well I will back up and punt (since I love football I apply this analogy a lot BTW). So when I was getting ready to exit Goodwill this really nice lady stopped me and said "I overheard you're looking for a prom dress and I'm with a organization that's having a huge prom dress sale right now and no dress is over $25!!!" Score one for the good guys. I explain to this lovely angel what we are doing and she gives me the location and the name of the lady running the show and since it's for charity I may get an even better deal on a dress. I'm on the right track now Sisters.
So I go to the Prom Dress sale and meet with another lovely angel running the show and explain again what I'm doing and she's all about this and jumps into action to help me immediately. She even finds me a "mature" looking formal dress and informs me I can buy this dress and get another dress (more appropriate for a teenage girl going to the prom--translation a lot smaller, with sleek lines and beading) and all for the price of $20 dollars for both dresses! I'm telling you all there are angels that do walk among us everyday. Side bar here: my helper Daddy Bear by this point has found the Girl Scout cookie table and is walking through the prom dress sale eating, handing out cookies and assisting his crazy wife with the newest endeavor I have dragged him to and of course socializing with all the women. We paid for the two dress-did I mention $20 for both formal dresses?--and thanked these wonderful people profusely and also exchanged information so that Wednesday can get involved in their charity project as well. I mean really, what's better than helping a young high school girl who herself or her family can not possibly afford 300-500 dollars for a prom dress but has just as much right to wear a beautiful gown and go make some memories with her friends?! Only happens once or twice during your high school career right? Or in my crazy life when you're middle age but hey it's all good!
I want to leave you with this thought that I took away from this amazing experience. Good people who are charity/community oriented really do still exist wanting to make this often dark world better for others. I believe that our good Lord above has a hand in it and everything that happens when we try to pay it forward he facilitates for us when things come together.And lastly, you're never too old to go to a Prom and shake what your Momma gave you!(or at least I will try with my crappy knees :) Thank you all you Angles out there for helping Wednesday out this weekend!!! Now go make your projects and dreams come together!
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Scary Times for Our Kids
I decided to use my blog as a sounding board and make an attempt to make some sense about recent events in our small country community of Gray Station. I'm not a native to Gray and have lived here for almost 17 years and this is definitely home to us. What's unbelievable frightening and tragic is the recent overdoses and untimely deaths of our teenagers to this whacked out new drugs of K2-synthetic marijuana, bath salts and incense. These currently legalized items are being sold in "head shops", tobacco stores and even at the local gas stations and are simply labeled "not for human consumption" but trust me when I say that's exactly what is killing our children! I've been told by local police officers that they are smoking or snorting these drugs and the reactions or side effects include elevated body temperature, psychosis, brain damage and multiple organ failure and the worst death. These drugs do not show up in urine or blood drug screens and the local hospitals are so overwhelmed with these patients that they are currently working on opening up new ICU and ER beds just to deal with in influx of patients that they are seeing EVERYDAY from this crap.
Sadly this really hit close to home this past Tuesday when two Boone students had tragic outcomes from "allegedly" using bath salts and incense. A beautiful young lady that was a junior has died and a sophomore is in a drug induced coma and on a ventilator with an outcome that is unknown at this time.What's even more outrageous is that these stores are perfectly within the law (currently in Washington County TN) because these substances are not banned and I pray that does come very soon, there's always the good old internet where you can order these demons.I've also been informed that lawmakers are considering making marijuana legal in the hopes that people will not have to buy synthetic drugs for a high. Now listen people I am not saying in any way that I was a model teenager and I know my friends will back me up on this too, however I really don't remember knowing any of us in high school doing things like this and someone dying from drugs. Of course I still worry about Mr.drinking and driving, or getting into a car with someone that's been drinking and of course of meth, Lortab, oxycodone, etc. but I am here to say that this new thing of K2, bath salts and incense scares the ever loving life out of me and I think it's a sure bet it does other parents, not only in our community but also everywhere else.
My friend Annie Bug asked me today and our other partner in tomfoolery (we both have teenagers) if we weren't terrified and simultaneously we both said "YES!" and we talk to our kids everyday about what's going on. You can try your best to keep the lines of communication open, pray, stalk your children and their friends and all but threaten bodily harm but ultimately my worry is that the peer pressure and the kids not really understanding or taking the negative outcomes seriously might lead them down that road. But I plan on doing this each and every day and protesting these places, politicians, lawmakers, schools and whoever else will listen that this madness has got to stop. Even one child's death is too many!
I hope what you take away from my blog about the synthetic drugs is that they are out there, it is popular with the teens and younger adults and education about these drugs and the side effects and the very real possibility of death with even one use and trying whatever it takes to reach your children and the policy makers has to be done and parents take a firm stand. I truly believe this is going to be a very worthy cause to take up and wave the flag of attack and for the communities, rather it be big or small, to say this has to stop now and be heard by the Big Dogs. I also want to applaud Kingsport TN for recently getting these synthetic drugs banned, however a short drive to Gray or Johnson City and the kids can get them. Also several area churches and high schools are having open forums provided by law enforcement and educators open to anyone who wants to learn more and what to look for as far as warning signs and prevention. My prayer this evening is that we come together as a whole community and fight this battle together because I truly believe my child and your child is worth it and so another family will not know this heartache of losing their precious one.
I will update my blog and Facebook when our community awareness projects and protests have been arranged and I hope everyone will join us in fighting the good fight. My prayer is that with this increased awareness that the lines of communication between parent and kids will begin or continue and that we will truly listen to their voice.
Sadly this really hit close to home this past Tuesday when two Boone students had tragic outcomes from "allegedly" using bath salts and incense. A beautiful young lady that was a junior has died and a sophomore is in a drug induced coma and on a ventilator with an outcome that is unknown at this time.What's even more outrageous is that these stores are perfectly within the law (currently in Washington County TN) because these substances are not banned and I pray that does come very soon, there's always the good old internet where you can order these demons.I've also been informed that lawmakers are considering making marijuana legal in the hopes that people will not have to buy synthetic drugs for a high. Now listen people I am not saying in any way that I was a model teenager and I know my friends will back me up on this too, however I really don't remember knowing any of us in high school doing things like this and someone dying from drugs. Of course I still worry about Mr.drinking and driving, or getting into a car with someone that's been drinking and of course of meth, Lortab, oxycodone, etc. but I am here to say that this new thing of K2, bath salts and incense scares the ever loving life out of me and I think it's a sure bet it does other parents, not only in our community but also everywhere else.
My friend Annie Bug asked me today and our other partner in tomfoolery (we both have teenagers) if we weren't terrified and simultaneously we both said "YES!" and we talk to our kids everyday about what's going on. You can try your best to keep the lines of communication open, pray, stalk your children and their friends and all but threaten bodily harm but ultimately my worry is that the peer pressure and the kids not really understanding or taking the negative outcomes seriously might lead them down that road. But I plan on doing this each and every day and protesting these places, politicians, lawmakers, schools and whoever else will listen that this madness has got to stop. Even one child's death is too many!
I hope what you take away from my blog about the synthetic drugs is that they are out there, it is popular with the teens and younger adults and education about these drugs and the side effects and the very real possibility of death with even one use and trying whatever it takes to reach your children and the policy makers has to be done and parents take a firm stand. I truly believe this is going to be a very worthy cause to take up and wave the flag of attack and for the communities, rather it be big or small, to say this has to stop now and be heard by the Big Dogs. I also want to applaud Kingsport TN for recently getting these synthetic drugs banned, however a short drive to Gray or Johnson City and the kids can get them. Also several area churches and high schools are having open forums provided by law enforcement and educators open to anyone who wants to learn more and what to look for as far as warning signs and prevention. My prayer this evening is that we come together as a whole community and fight this battle together because I truly believe my child and your child is worth it and so another family will not know this heartache of losing their precious one.
I will update my blog and Facebook when our community awareness projects and protests have been arranged and I hope everyone will join us in fighting the good fight. My prayer is that with this increased awareness that the lines of communication between parent and kids will begin or continue and that we will truly listen to their voice.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Reality TV is real?!
I have a few guilty pleasures such as this blog site, napping whenever I can and "Reality TV shows". I really don't discriminate against what type of show I like to watch and I have a few current favorites. I think this practice for me was born a long time ago when I was at my beloved Great Aunt/babysitter and every week day at 12:30 we were front and center (and all the other kids which were also girls quiet?!) watching Young and the Restless aka Y & R. I can personally tell you all the twists and turns of Victor and Nicki's torrid relationship, when Mrs. Chancellor had an actual face lift on the show and Jack was always trying to one up his arch nemesis Victor. I might have previously mentioned that my Mom tells me my name came from a character on Y & R but obviously I don't recall this being just a babe. Anyway I'm thinking this started at a pretty early age for me.
Fast forward 30+ years and when I compare my love for the soaps, which now is a dying breed and please Dear Lord keep my Y & R on daytime TV, the new reality shows are pretty much in my humble opinion a soap opera. There are multiple characters and situations of every sorted thing you can dream up but when you get down to the meat and bones of these shows it's all about the drama. I love Bravo channel and The Real Housewives of.......(NY,NJ,Atlanta,Orange County, Beverly Hills, Washington D.C--maybe more but that's all that comes to mind now). These women claim to be "friends" or are true siblings but they have more drama, more cat fights, more problems, more madness in 1 hour than most of us have luckily in a lifetime. However, I am not condemning these shows, quite the contrary I am sucked into this craziness. Like the car accident that you can not avert your eyes from. Another friend and I also love watching Jerseylicious and were scream laughing when Olivia and Tracey got into the throw down at Sonic about an old boyfriend that was back on the scene. I also love me some reality ghost hunting shows,E! reality shows, Tabitha's Salon Take Over,etc...ok I am a reality show TV addict and I admit it!! The latest and greatest I have found in the past two weeks is Bayou Billionaires and My Big Redneck Vacation on CMT channel. I'm usually screaming with laughter over these two show's tomfoolery. See even the music channels like country music television is in on this too!!
I was thinking just the other day "Wednesday why do you watch this trash?" echoed from Daddy Bear,and my only explanation is that I need it for a mental break from the everyday chaos and stress of my life. Now obviously I could be doing more productive things, like stalking Mr and trying to see what hot mess he has recently cooked up, housework (side note here I will take any distraction to keep from doing this nonsense), read evidence based medical journals "yawn" or fight for world peace or something better than mindless TV. But I need this kind of distraction of seeing people act out their "reality" and let my mind just travel along with them. No harm no foul right? I only partake of this trash TV as Daddy Bear calls it in the evening after I've worked my tail off all day delivering the best nursing care and skill I am capable of and going a couple of rounds with Mr about school, homework, latest Boo drama (translation of Boo drama--teenage girls) and where in the hell are your soccer cleats and shin guards for the millionth time!!! I think everyone should have a harmless, guilty pleasure and I would also like to support my TV choices in viewing with this: I do not believe this is really how "normal--whatever that is" people live their lives everyday. I mean really? that much drama would cause a massive coronary in even the most burly of folks. I just enjoy watching it, not thinking about what I need to do in clinic for my patient, why Mr has decided to drive me to the brink yet again, and Daddy Bear fussing about who knows what.
So I say to all you closest reality TV watchers out there I'm right there with you and loving every minute of it and I refuse to be ashamed of it. Everybody I know needs some kind of outlet from their daily stressors and if it's these shows, who really cares?? So program your DVRs, put on your favorite Pj's and enjoy the madness and crazy talk these "characters" provide us each week and don't worry about it probably being all rigged and staged, etc. Just eat your snacks, lose your intrusive thoughts of the day and take a little mini mental break from it all. But please keep this in the back of your mind, its not really real and I wouldn't suggest acting like those wild women on the above mentioned shows and take it to heart or maybe, just maybe Bravo will be contacting you to pitch a show :)
Fast forward 30+ years and when I compare my love for the soaps, which now is a dying breed and please Dear Lord keep my Y & R on daytime TV, the new reality shows are pretty much in my humble opinion a soap opera. There are multiple characters and situations of every sorted thing you can dream up but when you get down to the meat and bones of these shows it's all about the drama. I love Bravo channel and The Real Housewives of.......(NY,NJ,Atlanta,Orange County, Beverly Hills, Washington D.C--maybe more but that's all that comes to mind now). These women claim to be "friends" or are true siblings but they have more drama, more cat fights, more problems, more madness in 1 hour than most of us have luckily in a lifetime. However, I am not condemning these shows, quite the contrary I am sucked into this craziness. Like the car accident that you can not avert your eyes from. Another friend and I also love watching Jerseylicious and were scream laughing when Olivia and Tracey got into the throw down at Sonic about an old boyfriend that was back on the scene. I also love me some reality ghost hunting shows,E! reality shows, Tabitha's Salon Take Over,etc...ok I am a reality show TV addict and I admit it!! The latest and greatest I have found in the past two weeks is Bayou Billionaires and My Big Redneck Vacation on CMT channel. I'm usually screaming with laughter over these two show's tomfoolery. See even the music channels like country music television is in on this too!!
I was thinking just the other day "Wednesday why do you watch this trash?" echoed from Daddy Bear,and my only explanation is that I need it for a mental break from the everyday chaos and stress of my life. Now obviously I could be doing more productive things, like stalking Mr and trying to see what hot mess he has recently cooked up, housework (side note here I will take any distraction to keep from doing this nonsense), read evidence based medical journals "yawn" or fight for world peace or something better than mindless TV. But I need this kind of distraction of seeing people act out their "reality" and let my mind just travel along with them. No harm no foul right? I only partake of this trash TV as Daddy Bear calls it in the evening after I've worked my tail off all day delivering the best nursing care and skill I am capable of and going a couple of rounds with Mr about school, homework, latest Boo drama (translation of Boo drama--teenage girls) and where in the hell are your soccer cleats and shin guards for the millionth time!!! I think everyone should have a harmless, guilty pleasure and I would also like to support my TV choices in viewing with this: I do not believe this is really how "normal--whatever that is" people live their lives everyday. I mean really? that much drama would cause a massive coronary in even the most burly of folks. I just enjoy watching it, not thinking about what I need to do in clinic for my patient, why Mr has decided to drive me to the brink yet again, and Daddy Bear fussing about who knows what.
So I say to all you closest reality TV watchers out there I'm right there with you and loving every minute of it and I refuse to be ashamed of it. Everybody I know needs some kind of outlet from their daily stressors and if it's these shows, who really cares?? So program your DVRs, put on your favorite Pj's and enjoy the madness and crazy talk these "characters" provide us each week and don't worry about it probably being all rigged and staged, etc. Just eat your snacks, lose your intrusive thoughts of the day and take a little mini mental break from it all. But please keep this in the back of your mind, its not really real and I wouldn't suggest acting like those wild women on the above mentioned shows and take it to heart or maybe, just maybe Bravo will be contacting you to pitch a show :)
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