Bad Year!

It has been an especially bad year for our town of Butler. Parents in each of our elementary schools have passed away, a student in the middle school was taken advantage of and abused by “friends”, the husband of a beloved teacher suddenly passed away, a stabbing at the local dunkin donuts, armed robbery in a bank just down the street, a neighbor commits suicide…the list goes on.

“But that kind of stuff happens everywhere, Jenn!”

Really….really????

I am so tired of hearing "these things happen everywhere"! Yes they do happen everywhere, but how does that make it ok? How does that make it any less tragic? When did we as a community become so apathetic to the troubles of those around us? When did we stop wanting to change things and make things better for the people in our town? When did we decide to just sit back and accept it as "happening everywhere" and dismiss it as part of how life should be?

You know what I hear when I hear “it happens everywhere”?

I hear: “it didn’t happen to me, so it doesn’t matter”!

Sun?

Hey there, not too much to say...this weather's so DREARY! Just thought I would share some pretty flower pics I took in my garden to brighten your day!

SAHMOCTMS (Stay at home mom who’s on the computer too much syndrome)

So, I was driving to Wendys yesterday to get the kids dinner…cause lets face it, at times I am a really lazy mom…and on the radio I hear a commercial for “Shift Work Sleep Disorder”….WHAT? Seriously…is EVERYTHING a disorder or a syndrome now? Restless Leg Syndrome, Foreign Accent Syndrome, Superior Wife Syndrome…the list goes on! When did our society become one where there’s a diagnosis for everything? Is it the fault of the Pharmaceutical companies looking to turn a profit or is it we the people looking for any way to medicate ourselves out of an issue? Interested in your thoughts on this one! Please post a comment!

Idiosyncrasies

A recent “conversation” on Facebook with friends over word usage/spelling was an eye opener! For as long as I can remember I have been getting “skeeged” out over things, only to learn from what seems like EVERY friend I have on FB, but brought to the forefront by 2 delinquent Pennsylvanian n’er do wells, that the proper word is SKEEVED….HUH? REALLY? Kind of the same feeling you get when you realize you’ve been singing the wrong lyrics to your favorite song!

Anyway…it got me to thinking about other idiosyncrasies of mine and I came up with so many I was a little scared, so for the sake of a shorter blog post and, lets face it…so I don’t feel like a total wing nut, I am only going to list the stand outs:

1. I have a major “thing” for office supplies! Nothing can get my heart beating like a sales circular from Staples…as I type there is a “15% off your entire purchase” coupon burning a hole through my desk top. I especially love a brand new, college ruled, 5 subject spiral notebook…ooooooh baby! It should be ME in this commercial!

2. I LOVE promotional pens! Pharmaceutical company pens seem to be the cream of the crop, not sure what it is, but they write wonderfully and I have been known to swipe a few from random Doctor’s offices in the Northern NJ area…SHHHHHH! If you ever needed to win my favor, a primo drug company promotional pen might indeed do the trick. (At last count I have 22, there is SURELY room for more in the collection, bring em on!)

3. I am a closet Real Estate Agent! I am not moving now or anytime in the near future, yet check the Garden State MLS page (along with a few other RE sites in Port Washington, NY and Lewistown, PA) at least once a day for the latest on the market. There is very low turn over right now, so it’s really a futile task as I am staring at the same listings day in and day out, but there is always the excitement lurking that there might be a new listing to peruse!

4. I am Doctor Doolittle! If I had my way we would have all the animals my house could fit (except snakes…can’t make me!) Of course I know this isn’t rational or feasible from a monetary or space standpoint, but what can I say? I am an absolute sucker for a sweet furry face, so right after I check my real estate sites I am on to the Petfinder site to check out the latest and greatest additions to my local shelters.

Like I said, the list could really go on, but let’s face it…I want people to read my blog, not recommend professional help for my issues!

Is it just me?

PARTAY!

It’s a GORGEOUS Friday on the Porch, not conducive to getting much done, but I figured out how to keep my laptop plugged in, so the dishes will wait (that’s for you Karen!). Nothing to do but sit back relax, watch the world go by and BLOG!

“MOM is it time to go to the party YET?”

(BUBBLE BURST)

Oh yeah…the party…JOY! Kenzie is thrilled of course, one of her little classmates invited her to “Jump on In” one of those party places with a bunch of inflatable bounce houses to play in. Let’s face it; she’s been raring to go since 6:52 this morning. Me on the other hand, not so much. Not sure what the hang up is, I get to chat with the other moms – it’s not like I actually have to DO anything, but…well…ok…

(stands up) My name’s Jenn (“hi Jenn”) and I hate kid’s birthday parties….

There I said it! Yes it’s true and yes even my own kids’ parties, just don’t like em one bit. Doesn’t matter where they are or how many kids, I would rather sit in the dentist chair and get drilled! I have tried to figure it out…was I mentally scarred at a young age? Was there some piñata mishap? Did I feel inadequate for not getting the tail on the donkey? Not sure, but can’t figure it out now, cause it’s time to leave for the PARTY!

Is it just me?

JOY!

The sun is finally out after a couple of days of rain! YAY! It’s pretty windy and only about 50 out, but I’ll take it. Let’s face it, the sun makes me happy, the rain and dreary days do not! I should probably live in San Diego, Phoenix or some other perpetually sunny place, but well….my life is in NJ so here I am!

I’m not sure if it’s the turning 40 this year thing or just an introspective streak, but I have been thinking a lot about what makes me happy. It’s odd; it’s really a crazy mish mash of things. It’s sitting in the sun on my porch in the morning. Its hearing Spencie laugh…that kid has THE most infectious giggle you’ve ever hear! It’s sitting on the couch next to Matty playing Scrabble on our IPOD touches. It’s so many things really…a good song on the radio, “Picture of the Week” on the MSNBC website…I could go on and on.

I came across a video again today on YOUTUBE that to me just really personifies joy! It’s a group of people that I sure would love to have as friends. I’m sure you’ve seen it; it was all over the news when it first came out last spring/summer, but I am going to share it again. I am sure it makes you smile too!

Shuffle

You never realize quite how eclectic your taste in music is until you set your ipod to shuffle thru all songs. WOW, kind of eye opening actually. Sunday it was rainy and I spent the better part of the day working around the house and doing laundry (see yesterday’s post) and I decided to just put the touch in my Klipsch sound dock (no reason to tell you the brand of the sound dock other than I like saying the name, it sounds cool…) and hit shuffle and here are the first 10 songs I got:

1. “Spinning Wheel” – Andrew Strong
2. “GO (remix)” – Asia
3. “Hollywood” – Nickelback
4. “This Cowboy Song” – Sting
5. “Journey to Peace, pt. 2” – Liquid Mind
6. “Come Back to Bed” – John Mayer
7. “Rock of Ages” – Def Leppard
8. “Scars” – Papa Roach
9. “Chains of Love” – Erasure
10. “When I See You Smile” – Bad English

That’s a pretty interesting mix out of a possible 923 songs! An oldie, some 80’s tunes, a couple of hair bands and of course gotta add some new age music in there to balance it out! It’s really fun…why not try it?

Hamster Wheel

I am not sure where I learned it…maybe Sunday school? I thought Sunday was supposed to be a day of rest! It seems to be the complete opposite for me. I suppose if I planned better during the week (read, didn’t sit and enjoy my porch so much) I wouldn’t be running around like a crazy person on Sundays, but alas…

I don’t know how many people all of you out there in blogger land do laundry for, but 5 people generate a LOT of laundry. I think I lost count at load 9 today (and the washer’s still spinnin’). I truly do think the laundry is mating when I’m not looking, it has to be or I wouldn’t feel like I am constantly sorting, lugging, washing, drying, lugging, folding and putting it away. There have been more than a few times that I have considered allowing 2 outfits per family member to cut down on the laundry chore, but that didn’t go over all too well.

Sunday also almost always ends up being grocery day (along with the rest of the free world it seems.) This is probably my least favorite of household chores. It’s funny, planning and shopping really doesn’t take much time…especially if I DON’T do it right. Let’s face it, doing it “right” – consulting the sales circulars, clipping coupons, etc can save a LOT of money, but it takes a LOT of time and I’ve got a ton of laundry to do afterall!!! I really have tried to get away from shopping on Sunday; next to Tuesday (free movie night at the theater next door) it’s the worst day to shop. Why you ask? Let me preface this by saying I love living in Butler! I have lived here for about 13 years now and I have met a lot of people and made a lot of friends – this however, does not translate into a speedy shopping trip thru the local grocery store…especially on a Sunday. Some days, like today, are better than others and I get through pretty quickly, others take a bit longer. Longer as in…have to head back to the freezer section and swap the stuff in your basket for items that are actually STILL frozen before you get to the checkout because you have stopped to chat with so many people throughout the store. Again, I love seeing my friends and talking to them…it just doesn’t make for an efficient shopping excursion.

I know it’s nothing extraordinary I am doing…all of you are doing it too, we’re in this together after all, but sometimes – today in particular – I feel like a hamster on a wheel doing the same thing over and over again.

Sigh… (DING!) Ooops, another load’s done…am I the only one who looks forward to Monday?

Nirvana

I am in heaven...after many years my "office" is finally complete. Since we bought our house in 1997 I have been dreaming of my office and what it would look like...it was a wonderful vision that is now realized! My office is unique, I can only use it about 7 months out of the year, it's my front porch. This is where I read, write and just watch the world go by. It's one place I am at my happiest! Ahhhh.....

Books

It's not going to be the focus of my blog, but I really want to get reading more...especially new Authors I haven't yet read. SO...I am going to turn to the NYT bestseller's list. First book will be the #1 on the paperback trade fiction bestseller list: "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" by Stieg Larsson.

If you care to join a long, I'll post every week what book I will read, it might be fun to get some discussion going.

Hmmmm.....

Been brainstorming ideas for this blog. Seems like the blogs I look at and read all have a "slant". They focus on a hobby or cooking...they have a definite purpose. I would like my blog to have a focus too I just haven't hit the nail on the head yet. It just seems, at least to me, that the life of a stay at home mom isn't all that exciting. One idea I just came up with was "Reflections on a Facebook Free Summer"! It would definitely give me lots to blog about...let's face it...Facebook is probably my biggest addiction, my connection to the "real world" and it would be incredibly hard to give up and a VERY big adjustment. Hmmm....dunno...I think it's a great idea, but not sure I want to go there. Need to think about it some more.

"Sigh...."

"There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest." - Elie Wiesel

I'll say it again.....

I know you’re probably sick of hearing me say it already…heck, I will admit I am getting tired of saying it! VOTE YES! Vote yes for our kids! Vote yes for our community! Vote yes for our property values!!! I know the taxes are going up, but guess what…if the budget gets defeated they’re gonna go up anyway! Yep, that’s the truth. When a School Budget gets defeated (at least in Butler) it then goes to the Town Council and they set the budget. Historically they make relatively minor monetary changes and life goes on, translated that means your taxes still go up!

Is the system perfect? No! Does there need to be reform? Yes! But in my humble opinion, this is not the way to do it. A parent said to me the other day “well if the taxes are going to go up anyway, what’s the point of even voting?” I’ll tell you what the point of even voting is! If the budget passes my kids schools stand to lose 17 full time staff members. However, if the budget is defeated my kids’ schools could lose double that or more, not to mention cuts in sports and other “Extra curricular” activities.

Butler is not a school district with extravagant “extras” that can be cut and hardly felt! We are not cutting the “Under Water Basket Weaving Club” or the “Equestrian Club” here…we’re talking Basic Skills teachers. We’re talking Art and Music and Library. We’re talking about cutting basic foundations of a well rounded education and in the end cutting our kids chances of being more successful than we are (cause isn’t that really what we want?)

I’ll say it again, vote yes…give our kids a voice and a chance at a bright future! If we give them the opportunity to excel, they will…just watch em!

Is it just me…Monday morning confessional!

We all have our demons! We all struggle with our own addictions! There is something I have been hiding for a long time and can’t bear the weight of this monkey on my back any longer….I, Jenn Cain, am a snooze-a-holic. Yes you heard that right…gee I hope you’re not incredibly disappointed right now, but it’s the truth. You know that evil little button on the top of the alarm clock…the SNOOZE! Come on, they totally set you up to use the thing, it’s the largest button on the clock!! Our love affair probably began some time in college I am sure…ask a past roommate…Cindy? Deb? Was I an abuser then? It has only been in the last few years that my problem has become so dire. You see I have an enabler…its Matty, my husband. Now I’m sure he’s reading this, mouth open with that “no way are you pinning this on me” look on his face, but it’s the truth. Matt gets up at an ungodly hour to go to work every morning. I’m not exactly sure of the time, somewhere between WHAT? and NO WAY IN HELL? So since I don’t really know, let’s call it “O’dark thirty”! He is showered, says goodbye to me and is on his way before my alarm even goes off most mornings and I feel this is the SOUL reason this addiction has flourished and gone on for so long, you see…I would never subject this ridiculousness to another human being (the cats and dog don’t count) so it is therefore Matty’s fault (you buyin it? Didn’t think so…)!

The alarm is set for 6:15…but I don’t get up til 7:05…but it’s really 7 cause the clock is 5 minutes fast – I know, I know…this illness runs deep!!! What I have to tell you next I am not proud of! I, Jenn Cain, then proceed to hit the snooze button 5 TIMES before actually getting out of bed (stop judging me!! You know you are!) Now, there is a ritual to the snoozes and they all hold their own purpose – some would call it OCD, but I am gonna stick with ritual because it sounds better: Snooze #1 is a gimme, I think I actually fall back asleep to this one. Snooze hit #2 comes at 6:25 and this is a more task oriented snooze, I grab my ipod and check mail and Facebook, that’s an addiction better left to discussion on another day when I have more strength! Snooze #3 is 6:35, grab the clicker and turn on “TODAY in New York”. Snooze #4 6:45, actually put glasses on because usually at this point in the news broadcast is a detailed weather report and it’s not acceptable to just hear that it will be sunny, I need visual proof and must see the little sun graphic on the 5 day weather planner for it to actually be real. Snooze #5 6:55 my last ditch effort to eek out a smidge of rest before starting the day, but I usually end up checking Facebook again (I know…I know). Finally we arrive at 7:05, which if you remember from earlier is really 7am. As soon as Matt Lauer and female co-anchor for the day get thru the morning headlines…I am up and at em!

So I ask…is it just me? Am I the only snooze button abuser out there?

Do SOMETHING!

I can't just sit back and wait for someone else to do it...I have to do something, I have to do whatever is in my power so I don't feel like I failed my kids! I didn't do much...I attended meetings, I made some signs, I made some calls, I had some conversations, and I wore a button on my jacket. But the most important thing I can do is VOTE! Will it be enough? Will my one vote make the difference? It might...YOURS might! VOTE - if you don't, you have no right to complain about the outcome!!!