Day 3

This shirt is loud and obnoxious.  And so am I :).  Yes, the whole thing is shady, disturbing, disgusting and yes, the shift of this scandal has shifted so inappropriately.  We are talking about children.  We need to protect them, we need to advocate for them.  I still wear my school 'pride' today and 5 more days to show my support for a community that is at a loss.  An academic community, a charitable community, and athletic community (because, again, those kids need some support on that field tomorrow).  Only time will tell what happens.  All the rest of us can do now is focus on the positive, healing, and help the families rebuild, if that's even possible.  I also want to add that it's absurd for people to suggest that the rest of the football season be cancelled.  The football players did nothing wrong.  There is no reason to rip their dreams away from them.  Go out, support the team, you might not support past choices of the coaching staff, obviously they were horribly negligent.  But to suggest that hard working players be deprived of playing a game they love is wrong.

Day 2

Yesterday I had hoped to write about my hopes that the Board of Trustees meeting would come to a better conclusion. I had planned to write that I looked forward to hearing the results of the meeting, originally scheduled to take place Friday. But that was not to be. Nor was Joe Paterno's opportumity to finish the 2011 football season with a little bit of dignity and grace. Today I am a little more subtle in my approach to show support to my alma mater.  I find this whole scenario horrific, from the victims to firing a man who, I am sorry to say, followed protocol, and should have been given the opportunity to resign, not be subjected to a phone call terminating his life long dedication to an entire university...........Don't bother commenting negativity, because I won't be baited in.  I support Penn State, Joe Paterno, and the State College community, and I will support the football players who deserve it on Saturday.  

8 days for PSU

So today begins my first of 8 days of wearing Penn State gear.  8 days for the 8 (and yes I am aware there are more stepping forward) victims of the horrid abuse they endured.  8 days for my support of a university, academic program and community that deserves support.  Haters can hate, but the decisions and choices of a few men should not cloud shame on an entire community and higher learning institution as a whole.  I also wear my pride to support the football team, because it is not THEIR fault. A friend posted this article on her Facebook page and I found it very well written; We Should Support the Team.  The team deserves our support.  Everything they have known and looked up to and counted on has been destroyed and torn from them.  I love Penn State, I love the tradition, I love the 'way of life' and the way football games brings people together.  I love the way past employers have looked at my resume and been impressed that I received my B.S. in Special Education from such a prestigious program.  I am proud of that.  I love that Penn State hosts Special Olympic Track and Field every spring and my brother spent many, many weekends there.  

Even though not many people read my silly little blog this is my way of showing my support.  For the alumni, current students, and prospective students,  'We Are' and I will show you for the next 8 days.  I will comment more on Joe as the days go on, but for now, I can't help but feel sorry for a man who has dedicated his life to Penn State Football and Penn State in general......... 

Throwback Thursday: Food Delivery

For some reason the term Schwan's comes up often in my family.  For example the other day I asked my son if he knew what a picture of something was (it was a swan) and my husband heckled from the background 'Schwan!'  My family had this food delivery service growing up.  I specifically remember the chicken fingers, but not much else.  I assume my parents utilized this service while one of my younger brother's was very sick with Leukemia.  They were often with him at C.H.O.P. and my sister, youngest brother and I were taken care of by one of wonderful au pair's.  One of whom I am still friends with on Facebook, how amazing!  The truck pulls up, delivers your frozen food and off they go to the next family.  Anyway, my husband and I often joke about the Schwan man and wonder if we should utilize the service, I am thinking  Yes please!  This also brings me to another delivery service where I grew up named, Charles Chips.  Literally, chips, pretzels and candy could be delivered to your home via truck.  That sounds like something I could definitely utilize!  Did and/or does your family use Schwan's? I'd love to know!  TTFN!

P.S. I have added a few new tunes to my playlist.  you will have to press play, as it no longer plays automatically :) some birdies have told me that is no bueno

Make You Feel My Love

While listening to Pandora Radio lately, I heard Adele singing a long time favorite song, originally written by Bob Dylan, Make You Feel My Love.  I never really listened to the lyrics the song, or tried for that matter, I just know I loved it.  Now that I have children, I get it.  I tried to search for who Bobby wrote the lyrics for but came up with nada.  I would like to think he wrote it for his children, because that is what it makes me think of.  This song makes me want to cradle and rock my kids until they are 40!  My son has been having a bit of a wild streak lately and we are really butting heads, but that is for another day!
This song really makes me step back and appreciate this time we have together that we will never get back.  I wish he could know I feel this way instead of the disciplinarian I portray in reality.  Someday he can look back and read this and appreciate my motives.  Check out the wonderful lyrics here.  I also found an amazing duet between Alicia Keys and Adele which I have included for your viewing pleasure.  TTFN!!

I love you my little angels!  

No, there's nothing
That I wouldn't do
To make you feel my love

Shout Out

Just a quick shout out to my sister who is starting her own Etsy store.  Check it out here.  She made me some napkins recently, wait maybe I should back up.   Why do we like cloth napkins?  Because we grew up that way. Our mom always used cloth napkins in the kitchen.  We have both carried on the trend in our own families.  Trying to shrink our carbon footprint a bit.  Check out the patterns I chose at Jo Ann fabrics.  Who knew that in a few stolen hours while our mom watched our children, that we would choose to go to Jo Ann.  I mean, we could have totally gone to a bar or something, but no, we are lame mature now and pick out fabric to make cloth napkins and save the earth.  I picked the fabics I liked, I paid, she sewed and shipped.  Team Work :)  TTFN!  and TGIALW.....................

I chose this pattern first.......

And then chose this to complement it

Acknowledgement

I made a pact with myself 5 years ago when I was pregnant with my son at this time of year.  I was assigned to Kiss 'N' Ride Duty at the school I was working at.  If you don't know what Kiss N Ride duty is it's a drop off line for kids who are transported to school by car.  It's usually a big cluster-you-know-what and it takes a few staff members to help it run smoothly.  I thoroughly enjoyed this duty, yelling at people to keep moving or, god forbid pass another car in line, out of turn.  Look out, I was like a Nazi.  Every day this mom would drive up in her SUV and talk on her cell phone, not even glancing at her child (or children, I can't remember).  I seethed at her every moment.  I wanted to scream at her, 'Hey! why don't you hang up your stupid phone and ask your kid how their day was?!"  And from that time on, I made a pact with myself, to NEVER be that mom.  Why am I taking the time to write this today? Because I was talking to my sister, who I love to death, but she is a talker!, in the line to pick up my son.  As it got closer to my turn (and his preschool does Kiss N Ride) I start to panic.  She keeps talking, I have no idea what she is saying, I start to sweat, I am going to break my pact, and the teachers are going to look at me like an as#*o!e mom who won't even hang up the phone to pick up her kid.  I  basically, frantically told her I had to go because I needed to get my son and hung up. AHH....I did not break my pact.  Of course, now I feel guilty about cutting my sister off, but she will forgive me when she reads this.  He hopped in the car and began telling me about his day.  I also am able to exchange greetings with his teacher, another important interaction.  But of course not to the point where I hold her up. I know way better than that, like the parent today who asked me in front of 7 other parents how her child behaves.  Really? Well, she is immature, stubborn and dependent on adults.....No, that was not the time to ask a teacher such a question.  However I professionally answered, "We will talk more about her progress at the conferences in November.  Or you can call me if you have concerns."
Getting back to the point, it is so important to ask your child how there day was, and really important of they can recall at least one thing about their day.  It connects you.  So, please put the phone down when you are picking up your child, give them a hug, ask them if they went to the paint center ;), it will make them feel oh so important.  TTFN!