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2009 Holiday Card Exchange

Nile — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:47:11 +0000

I am a little late on this, but I better say something before it is too late to mention Holiday cards.

Yep, I am offering to send a Holiday Card to anyone who wants one. It is not much, just a card, but I know some people really like to receive things during the holidays and what better way to do it than mention it to those who read or comment. It does not matter where you live, whether within the US or outside, I will sent you one. All you do is send me an email at nile AT blondish DOT net or use my contact form here.

I plan to not send any cards out later than December 21st (I mentioned December 20th on my LiveJournal blog, but that is a Sunday…oops), so I guess that will have to be the last day to accept requests. If you wish to exchange cards, please mention that in your email so I can include my address. Otherwise, exchanging is not necessarily a requirement.

Single Versus Married, And Mingling With Friends

Nile — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 08:19:21 +0000

When I was married, it was like all my single friends avoided me. I made myself available at times, but I guess taking about my son or my ex husband put a wedge. However, even though I am single now, my friends who are married, are the same.

It is quite confusing. Even being in a relationship with my boyfriend, some of my single friends I have met out here in Centralia have just faded into the background. It is kind of annoying since we hung out on the weekends.

Being in a relationship does not necessarily mean a person is on the backburner. It is a time to learn how to be a better friend. Of course, with being a mother, it might be hard to not involve talk about children. I have found it a touchy spot, and made sure my family life more brief and ask about my friend more. However, for me it is a challenge. Sometimes it is disheartening to not hear from one of my best friends for some time. I have felt a bit betrayed, but in the time I do get to talk, I try to ask about my friends.

I know from other mothers that this has been a big issue. It sucks when you think you are losing a friend. You might even think you were being used. However, it is not. Your friend is just unsure to approach the situation. Being single and being married or in a deep relationship is different. Even being married or deep in a relationship with children is much more of a difference then just being married or in a relationship.

What are your thoughts if you are single and have friends who are married? – married and have single friends…?

Movie Theater Peeves

Nile — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 08:14:40 +0000

So the boyfriend and I finally got the chance to go out to the movies. We went to see Paranormal Activity. By the way, it was not scary and I thought it sucked. My boyfriend said the movie had an okay plot, but overall, it sucked. And yes, they tried to imitate the Blair Witch Project documentary angle, which was FAIL in my opinion. (To me, the Blair Witch Project was not scary.)

Anyway, the movie theater was packed, which we usually catch thethe movies that have a sparse crowd, but I felt like I was back in the city again where people actually do things. Well, with the crowd came the smooching teens, and cell phones. That is not what bothered me. What did was the constant traffic during the movie. I am wondering if people in Centralia have bladder problems. People were up and walking around like they drank several gallons of- beer, tea, soda or whatever beverage you want to insert here. It got so annoying that my boyfriend said out loud.

“How many times do you have to go to the bathroom during a movie!”

I wanted to laugh. I really did, but I elbowed him, and sent him a half-glare/ half-apology for elbowing. I was just as annoyed. When I was younger, I was told to try to go to the bathroom before leaving home. Public restrooms are frightfully dirty and you can get STDs from sitting on the comode. That should be enough to deter people.

Maybe they should put before the movie starts, since the previews take almost 10 minutes- to put a note up for people to kindly try to take a bathroom break before the movie.

What are your movie peeves?

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A Sense Of Accomplishment

Nile — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:14:20 +0000

Title for my car

Just short of three years, I finally paid off my car. It was not easy. Before my Impala, I owned several cheap cars, but nothing as good as what I have now. I use to own a 1991 Chevy Geo Metro, a 1989 Chevy Celebrity (was given to ex-husband), and a 1997 Chevy Geo Metro. All of which have either been sold or given away. My first car, the 1991 Chevy Geo Metro was actually given to me by my parents, so it never felt like an accomplishment. It feels good to at least own something to my name, that I paid for, and not have to pay for it anymore.

It has not been very easy since my divorce. After almost being married 5 years, it was hard to adjust. It was hard enough to financially support myself at first. However, I am hoping with things like this, things go a lot better. I can show my son my own accomplishments and instill the lessons I have learned so he can be prepared when it comes time for him to be a responsible adult.

Although I feel accomplished, I am still humbled. I am reminded of when I was younger and it was hard to afford anything. My own father worked hard and today it has paid off for him. I strive to do that as I want him to be proud even though I am an adult and a mother myself now. I know he already is, but in doing so returns the favor he did in teaching me the value of responsibility.

Do you have any accomplishments you are really proud of?

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Thoughts On Cell Phones Usage While Driving

Nile — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:01:35 +0000

This is a sore topic for me. I have heard the statistics on the percentage of accidents caused by driving while talking on the cell phone. In fact, for me, a person who went from seeing pagers as a thing that was banned in schools to seeing teens be freely given cell phones, this hits a sore spot since even before I had a kid. In fact, I saw an 10 year old girl with a Blackberry and I had to wonder who in the world was she talking to or why did she really need a phone?

There are so many times I have almost been hit by someone using a cell phone. Usually it was merging over into my lane, and sometimes running the red light or stop sign. My younger sister texts while driving and it scares me because the car veers to one direction or the other and her eyes are not on the road. It got so bad I refuse to ride in her car, but I worry for my niece’s safety.

I remember watching the news recently and heard that driving while using the cell phone was apparently the equivalent to driving under the influence of alcohol. I am not the perfect driver, but I usually refuse to use the cell phone unless I have a hands free system. It is a risk I cannot afford for myself or when I have others in my car with me.

I know a lot of people do use them and I am not condemning people, but wanted to know – is it a concern of yours as well?

Fast Food, Not The Best Deal For A Family On The Road

Nile — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 05:09:00 +0000

Receipt

This past weekend, my boyfriend took his son, my own son, and myself up to Springfield, Illinois. Along the way we ate breakfast at McDonalds on the road, and then later on we dined at a Chinese buffet. Until we were done and paid the bill, I realized something – McDonalds was becoming increasingly expensive to eat at, especially for families. (We went to the Chinese buffet, as my boyfriend knew they also had a sushi bar too.)

Our breakfast bill was under $23, while our buffet dinner including drinks was just under $28. We got more for our money at the buffet. It kind of got me thinking back to the days when I was growing up and my family just made sandwiches, put some food in a cooler, and overall, saved money. Though the Dollar Menu would have saved money, some McDonalds do not offer what other stores do. For example, some allow 2 hash browns for a $1 or even a Double Cheeseburger for $1, but other McDonalds locations do not.

I am certain this can be said about others, but this just happened to be a particular incident that came to me. I am beginning to feel like I should do what my family did when I was younger and just do picnics for dining on the road. It may be healthier too.

What do you usually do on car trips? Do you always eat out when on the road?

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What Is “Free”?

Nile — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 20:06:52 +0000

It is a fairly common thing to see the following online: free Ipod, free laptop, free digital camera, free money. What person does not like something that is free?

The dictionary says that the word ‘free’ is the following:
a. Costing nothing; gratuitous
b. Publicly supported

Many of these ‘free’ items that are offered can be seen in emails, pop ups, or banner ads on a multitude of websites. Of course, the word ‘free’ has always been an infamous buzz word in advertisements for many years, perhaps many milennia as well. When a person is approached with a product under the pretense that it is free, naturally that person would be happy to accept the item. Many of the items offered for free online are for items that are expensive luxuries.

The disturbing part of this situation is that it is a gimic. Once the person is drawn into seeking out how to receive the free item, they are asked to choose a few programs, some costing money and requiring a subscription. However, the actual item that was free says that no purchase is required to obtain it. This is disturbing in a few ways. For one, if the offers are not completed, then the person who signed up will never receive the gift. This contradicts the whole concept of the word ‘free’. It is misleading.

The other disturbing factor is that this allows those who complete the offers to become thieves. Where a person can sign up for an offer towards receiving the free product, like CDs or DVDs, those people can cancel those offers and still receive the product. The original goal of the gimic it to draw the person in by offering an item under the pretense of free and getting them to purchase subscriptions or other services to get it. In the end on both sides of the coin, the companies behind the gimic and the person seeking to get the free item are both in the wrong. The company is in the wrong for lying and misleading the public that their product was free, without having to pay or do anything. Some of those gimics even ask those who sign up to refer other people. No offense, but I am pretty sure this constitute along the lines of chain letters and pyramid schemes. That activity has been brought to court and those companies have been fined or punished accordingly. As for those who signed up and got their item, but slyly cancelled their subscriptions and sent back the offers they selected, they are stealing, just like stealing from the local store.

Instead of saying ‘free’ or even adding an asterix to explain the company’s concept of the word, they should put something like “Get Your Ipod!” or something to that sort. Of course it does not have the buzz word ‘free’, but really, it is not free and therefore should have been brought to court. It is false advertisement.

Of course, on the side of those who would defend the companies that have been supporting this behaviour, the anyone who signed up would obviously know what they were getting into when they did. But, this is not the full issue. A lot of the surfers online are between 12 to 30 years old, a younger generation. An even larger amount cannot even own a credit card, and thusly unable to sign up for the offers.

In the end it boils down to the whole concept of an item being free. If it were free, nothing would have to be done to acquire it, so why sign up in the first place. For signing up for the deals, not only do the hopeful subscribers sign up for the product, but are welcoming spam through email and even through phone telemarketing. That is a pain! So, next time when coming across such a page, just say ‘no thanks.’

Have you tried these ‘free’ opportunities? What do you think about them?

Photo: Dragged to the Altar

Nile — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 02:12:55 +0000

Wedding Cake topper at Walmart

Found this while shopping at Walmart around here. I could not help it – too hilarious to pass up and not take a picture of.

Parenting And Music: When To Turn It Off

Nile — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 08:25:10 +0000

Now, I love to listen to music. However, I am finding it difficult to listen to music with my son present. For example, Lady Gaga’s “Love Game” ( http://blip.fm/~7u6se from Blip.fm. It is free to listen to. Lyrics found at MTV.) song is upbeat and catchy, but if you truly listen to the music, you will find some things that you might not want your children to hear.

Excerpt from Love Game:

Let’s have some fun, this beat is sick
I wanna take a ride on your disco stick
Don’t think too much just bust that thick
I wanna take a ride on your disco stick

The term ‘disco stick’… well, that is self-explanatory. In fact, when my boyfriend first heard the above verse, the kids were with it. He turned the station immediately. When my son recited Flo-rida’s “Low” (lyrics from MTV found here), it did not seem so bad, but the innuendo is there.

I admit listening to this without children is fine, but this music is now quickly spreading to radio and television and easy for little eyes to see. I almost feel like I have to use parent control all the time. It sounds dramatic, but is this the type of message we want to convey to children? Yes, I could shut it off and I would, but what about the other children? There are countless songs today. How much is considered too much? Is just turning it off enough or do you need to explain why before you do?

The Internet And Child Safety

Angel’s Tee-ball Pics

Nile — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 05:04:08 +0000

I got to go to my son’s teeball. I missed his first year, but vowed not to miss many games this time. In fact, I went to a practice of his and enjoyed it just as much as his game. The teeball these days are much different from what I remember. Everyone gets to bat, and run all of the bases. There are no outs, even if the batter is tagged out. There is no score. It is kind of fun and to try to get the kids more comfortable with the field, batting, throwing, and a few basic rules.

Below are some pics of Angel. I took these with my cell phone, so excuse the quality.

Angel With his new helmet and bat

Angel running to home plate

Angel in the dugout

Angel at third base