Hey there. Not much to say, but I kinda felt like it's been awhile since I wrote... let's see...
Joel McHale was funny. Duh right? He's a comedian...so yeah, he'd be funny. One night last week me & Kametia (the girl I'm mentoring) went to a hockey game. That was fun. Right now I'm just ready for Thanksgiving, more so I'm just ready for the time off work. I'm so exhausted just from work, the second job, and with my classes starting back up again. I think I might be back in the groove a bit. The first week back I was like...wow...I'm never going to graduate because I don't want to do the work one bit! It's getting better each week. I don't have to work at all this week for the second job and it's so weird...I keep looking at my calendar and thinking, "Ok what night do I have something going on" and then it's NO night!! Such a great feeling :) And to know only one more day of work, ahhh.
***Ok, so I started writing this last week and apparently got sidetracked. The 4 day break was exactly what I needed. Wednesday night me & Ivan went out with Breigh, who is a friend from California. She was in town visiting her boyfriend's family. So that was so much fun. On Thanksgiving we went over to Ivan's friends/co worker's house (Chris & Heidi) to eat with their 2 kids, and Ivan's friend Ryan, his fiance Kathy, and their 2 kids. The food was awesome, and we all totally knocked out on the couch after we ate. Perfect. Friday Ivan & I braved the sales to see what we "needed." Needed clearly isn't the right word for a new TV! hah But since Circuit City is closing they had everything like 40% off. So that was our big purchase for the year :) We also looked at furniture and put a couch on layaway, so I'm pumped for that. Then I went on a slight splurge at Pier One, which was very exciting. You can just never have too many vanilla candles right?
I think that kinda catches us up. Only 3 weeks until Christmas Break, can you believe it? I'm pumped. Before all of that though we have a Christmas Party at one of my co-workers and I'm pretty excited about that, we're going to see Chelsea Handler, going to a Suns game, going to Vegas for 4 days, AND celebrating our 7 year anniversary! So much to be excited about. And then, I'll be coming home too :) And can you believe it's been 7 years? Me neither. I'm very happy with us and how well we work together. YAY!
Just wanted to take a second to remind everyone to be in that giving spirit this holiday season :) I know, I know, that we're in "hard times" but I GUARANTEE you can afford to give a little money and/or time. Ivan & I are able to and we don't have anything on you guys, so trust me that I know you can do it. And with the hard times, that means we need to more than ever. If you're hurting, just imagine how bad someone else is. A friend of ours has recently come on hard times and was informed that government services we've always depended on just aren't there! Either no money, or the manpower to process the amount of help that is needed right now. The charities are suffering too, because those who normally give, aren't in the best position to do so, and there's a growing number of people in need also. Now is the time to help each other out.
Ok, that's my two cents for the moment. Peace!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Sound familiar?
Here's an article from the Pantagraph that goes along with my posts about kids needing to be able to play more:
No fooling: Experts bemoan loss of kids' play time
By David CraryAssociated Press
Advertisement
NEW YORK -- In one classroom, a group of preschool teachers squatted on the floor, pretending to be cave-dwelling hunter-gatherers. Next door, another group ended a raucous musical game by placing their tambourines and drums atop their heads.Silly business, to be sure, but part of an agenda of utmost seriousness: To spread the word that America’s children need more time for freewheeling play at home and in their schools.“We’re all sad, and we’re a little worried. ... We’re sad about something missing in childhood,” psychologist and author Michael Thompson told 900 early childhood educators from 22 states packed into an auditorium last week.“We have to fight back,” he declared. “We’re going to fight for play.”After his keynote speech at New York’s 92nd Street Y, the teachers dispersed into dozens of workshops, some lighthearted, some scholarly — but all supporting the case that creative, spontaneous play is both vital and endangered.It’s not a brand-new cause — two years ago it was endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. But social changes and new demands on kids’ spare time confront free-play advocates with an ever-moving target.Among the speakers at last week’s Wonderplay conference Y was Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, a Temple University psychologist who contends that lack of play in early childhood education “could be the next global warming.”Without ample opportunity for forms of play that foster innovation and creative thinking, she argues, America’s children will be at a disadvantage in the global economy.“Play equals learning,” she said. “For too long we have divorced the two.”Some of the factors behind diminished play time have been evolving for decades, others are more recent. Added together, they have resulted in eight to 12 fewer hours of free play time per week for the average American child since the 1980s, experts say.Among the key factors, according to Thompson:— Parents’ reluctance to let their kids play outside on their own, for fear of abduction or injury, and the companion trend of scheduling lessons, supervised sports and other structured activities that consume a large chunk of a child’s non-school hours.— More hours per week spent by kids watching TV, playing video games, using the Internet, communicating on cell phones.— Shortening or eliminating recess at many schools — a trend so pronounced that the National PTA has launched a “Rescuing Recess” campaign.— More emphasis on formal learning in preschool, more homework for elementary school students and more pressure from parents on young children to quickly acquire academic skills.“Parents are more self-conscious and competitive than in the past,” Thompson said. “They’re pushing their kids to excel. ... Free play loses out.”The consequences are potentially dire, according to Thompson. He contends that diminished time to play freely with other children is producing a generation of socially inept young people and is a factor behind high rates of youth obesity, anxiety, attention-deficit disorder and depression.Many families turn to organized sports as a principal non-school activity, but Thompson noted that this option doesn’t necessary breed creativity and can lead to burnout for good young athletes and frustration for the less skilled.Vivian Paley, a former kindergarten teacher at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools and now an author and consultant, argues that the most vital form of play for young children involves fantasy and role-playing with their peers.“They’re inventing abstract thinking, before the world tells them what to think,” Paley said in her speech to the conference. “It gets them thinking, ‘I am intended to have my own ideas.”‘She worried that preschools, in the drive to prepare students for the academic challenges ahead, are reducing the opportunity for group fantasy play — and thus reducing children’s chances to learn on their own about fairness, kindness and other social interactions.“The theater of the young receives the least attention from those planning the curriculum of our nation’s schools,” Paley said. “This very activity is being dismantled in our schools to make room for early phonics. ... Preschoolers are being asked to practice being first graders.”Fretta Reitzes, director of the 92 Street Y’s youth and family center, which serves more than 6,000 children, says many of the parents she sees are struggling to find the right balance for their kids’ schedules, asking “How much is too much?”Preschool teachers need to lead by example, Reitzes said.“Bringing play back into the lives of children, it’s not just OK,” she said. “It’s really good for them.”
No fooling: Experts bemoan loss of kids' play time
By David CraryAssociated Press
Advertisement
NEW YORK -- In one classroom, a group of preschool teachers squatted on the floor, pretending to be cave-dwelling hunter-gatherers. Next door, another group ended a raucous musical game by placing their tambourines and drums atop their heads.Silly business, to be sure, but part of an agenda of utmost seriousness: To spread the word that America’s children need more time for freewheeling play at home and in their schools.“We’re all sad, and we’re a little worried. ... We’re sad about something missing in childhood,” psychologist and author Michael Thompson told 900 early childhood educators from 22 states packed into an auditorium last week.“We have to fight back,” he declared. “We’re going to fight for play.”After his keynote speech at New York’s 92nd Street Y, the teachers dispersed into dozens of workshops, some lighthearted, some scholarly — but all supporting the case that creative, spontaneous play is both vital and endangered.It’s not a brand-new cause — two years ago it was endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. But social changes and new demands on kids’ spare time confront free-play advocates with an ever-moving target.Among the speakers at last week’s Wonderplay conference Y was Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, a Temple University psychologist who contends that lack of play in early childhood education “could be the next global warming.”Without ample opportunity for forms of play that foster innovation and creative thinking, she argues, America’s children will be at a disadvantage in the global economy.“Play equals learning,” she said. “For too long we have divorced the two.”Some of the factors behind diminished play time have been evolving for decades, others are more recent. Added together, they have resulted in eight to 12 fewer hours of free play time per week for the average American child since the 1980s, experts say.Among the key factors, according to Thompson:— Parents’ reluctance to let their kids play outside on their own, for fear of abduction or injury, and the companion trend of scheduling lessons, supervised sports and other structured activities that consume a large chunk of a child’s non-school hours.— More hours per week spent by kids watching TV, playing video games, using the Internet, communicating on cell phones.— Shortening or eliminating recess at many schools — a trend so pronounced that the National PTA has launched a “Rescuing Recess” campaign.— More emphasis on formal learning in preschool, more homework for elementary school students and more pressure from parents on young children to quickly acquire academic skills.“Parents are more self-conscious and competitive than in the past,” Thompson said. “They’re pushing their kids to excel. ... Free play loses out.”The consequences are potentially dire, according to Thompson. He contends that diminished time to play freely with other children is producing a generation of socially inept young people and is a factor behind high rates of youth obesity, anxiety, attention-deficit disorder and depression.Many families turn to organized sports as a principal non-school activity, but Thompson noted that this option doesn’t necessary breed creativity and can lead to burnout for good young athletes and frustration for the less skilled.Vivian Paley, a former kindergarten teacher at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools and now an author and consultant, argues that the most vital form of play for young children involves fantasy and role-playing with their peers.“They’re inventing abstract thinking, before the world tells them what to think,” Paley said in her speech to the conference. “It gets them thinking, ‘I am intended to have my own ideas.”‘She worried that preschools, in the drive to prepare students for the academic challenges ahead, are reducing the opportunity for group fantasy play — and thus reducing children’s chances to learn on their own about fairness, kindness and other social interactions.“The theater of the young receives the least attention from those planning the curriculum of our nation’s schools,” Paley said. “This very activity is being dismantled in our schools to make room for early phonics. ... Preschoolers are being asked to practice being first graders.”Fretta Reitzes, director of the 92 Street Y’s youth and family center, which serves more than 6,000 children, says many of the parents she sees are struggling to find the right balance for their kids’ schedules, asking “How much is too much?”Preschool teachers need to lead by example, Reitzes said.“Bringing play back into the lives of children, it’s not just OK,” she said. “It’s really good for them.”
Monday, November 17, 2008
News from Vietnam/Cambodia
Remember my friend the Scot--Heather--who is traveling the world still? (So jealous might I add). She sent this email and I wanted to share it. There's a couple links to another blog and a website about an orphange and a hospital in Vietnam and Cambodia. Heartbreaking! Again, just raising awareness. So here's her email:
"OK y'all listen up. This is not my usual official group mail- this is an extra just cos you are lucky people. Here are a couple of websites that I want you all to visit. Thats all you have to do is look andr aise your awareness. If you want to do more than that then great. The first is http://vietnamorphanagedonation.blogspot.com. This is ablog written by Jack Sanderson who I volunteered with in Vietnam. Heworked full time at the Ky Quang orphanage for special needs kids. I'msure you all remember my statements in the email about this place andanyone who has read by blog will be left in no uncertain term abouthow I feel about it. Jack is only 18 but thinks behaves and writes assomeone much older. Please check it out.
The second is www.beatocello.com. This is a website set up by Dr BeatRichter, a Swiss doctor living in Cambodia. He raises funds andprovides medical services free to the poor families and children ofCambodia. He has been doing this tirelessly since the 1970's. He holdsBach concerts once a week for free in the hospital in Siem Reap mailyfor tourists to let them know more about the hospital. I attended oneon my last night in Cambodia and he was wonderful, warm and humourous.I donated blood and also a small amount of money- but I just wanted tolet everyone else know and hope that they check up on these 2 sites."
"OK y'all listen up. This is not my usual official group mail- this is an extra just cos you are lucky people. Here are a couple of websites that I want you all to visit. Thats all you have to do is look andr aise your awareness. If you want to do more than that then great. The first is http://vietnamorphanagedonation.blogspot.com. This is ablog written by Jack Sanderson who I volunteered with in Vietnam. Heworked full time at the Ky Quang orphanage for special needs kids. I'msure you all remember my statements in the email about this place andanyone who has read by blog will be left in no uncertain term abouthow I feel about it. Jack is only 18 but thinks behaves and writes assomeone much older. Please check it out.
The second is www.beatocello.com. This is a website set up by Dr BeatRichter, a Swiss doctor living in Cambodia. He raises funds andprovides medical services free to the poor families and children ofCambodia. He has been doing this tirelessly since the 1970's. He holdsBach concerts once a week for free in the hospital in Siem Reap mailyfor tourists to let them know more about the hospital. I attended oneon my last night in Cambodia and he was wonderful, warm and humourous.I donated blood and also a small amount of money- but I just wanted tolet everyone else know and hope that they check up on these 2 sites."
Friday, November 14, 2008
Kathy Griffen Update
It just occurred to me that I never wrote about how amazing Kathy Griffen was! I realize she's an acquired taste. Some people can't stand her. I used to think she was annoying and all of that. But then I started watching her show, "My Life on the D-List" and I quickly started falling in love with her. And then here and there I would catch one of her specials...and again...she had me laughing my ass off.
So we went and saw her and she was so flipping funny. I think the reason she's so appealing is that her comedy is like no other. It's literally like you are catching up with an old friend. Like she just runs into the room and is like, "OMG! I love you, I haven't seen you in forever, we have 2 hours to catch up, let me tell you everything!" And away she goes, and everything just happens to be hysterical.
The other thing Ivan and I think...is that a typical comedian will say--they take everyday situations and make them funny. With Kathy is just seems like her everyday situations just ARE funny. She doesn't even try. I don't know. She's the number 1 female comedian in the world right now, and I know why :)
One funny thing to note--Kathy has a huge gay following--men & women alike. On the way to the show I told Ivan that just to see if he'd react. I probably didn't even need to tell him because within 2 blocks of the theatre you could just tell ya know? And when Kathy came out she always says, "Ok, where are my gays at?" And I swear to you, at least 75% of the audience was on their feet cheering. I thought it was too funny. Ivan did too...probably not as funny as I did though. And then she asked where the women were, and finally, "Where my straight guys at?" Just a few people in the room. She follows up with, "Yeah I got nothing for ya! Sorry, I know you were bribed here tonight"..etc etc etc. Too funny.
Tonight we're off to see Joel McHale. I'm anxious to see his comedy style because I only see him hosting shows ya know? Regardless, he'll be funny, and hot, and I love him.
So we went and saw her and she was so flipping funny. I think the reason she's so appealing is that her comedy is like no other. It's literally like you are catching up with an old friend. Like she just runs into the room and is like, "OMG! I love you, I haven't seen you in forever, we have 2 hours to catch up, let me tell you everything!" And away she goes, and everything just happens to be hysterical.
The other thing Ivan and I think...is that a typical comedian will say--they take everyday situations and make them funny. With Kathy is just seems like her everyday situations just ARE funny. She doesn't even try. I don't know. She's the number 1 female comedian in the world right now, and I know why :)
One funny thing to note--Kathy has a huge gay following--men & women alike. On the way to the show I told Ivan that just to see if he'd react. I probably didn't even need to tell him because within 2 blocks of the theatre you could just tell ya know? And when Kathy came out she always says, "Ok, where are my gays at?" And I swear to you, at least 75% of the audience was on their feet cheering. I thought it was too funny. Ivan did too...probably not as funny as I did though. And then she asked where the women were, and finally, "Where my straight guys at?" Just a few people in the room. She follows up with, "Yeah I got nothing for ya! Sorry, I know you were bribed here tonight"..etc etc etc. Too funny.
Tonight we're off to see Joel McHale. I'm anxious to see his comedy style because I only see him hosting shows ya know? Regardless, he'll be funny, and hot, and I love him.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
How can it be?
How can it be that I am so in love with a freakin' TV character? That would be Denny Duquette on Grey's Anatomy. It was love at first sight. And if you're watching you'll see that he's back. I could watch this show for the rest of my life with no other characters at all. Just Izzy and Denny hanging out all the damn time. I love this man. It's pretty freakin' pathetic. I mean I love the real man too, Jeffrey Dean Morgen...but I love love love Denny Duquette.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
WE DID IT!!!
YYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!
I couldn't even speak when Charles Gibson said, "It's 11:00 o'clock on the east coast, the polls are closed in California...ABC can project that Barack Obama will take California and several other western states, Barack Obama will be the 44th president of the United States of America..." Believe it or not I started crying. Which shocked me!!! I didn't realize how much I wanted it I guess. I'm so happy. And I'm happy Obama won by soooo many votes. We needed that. We needed it to be a clear win.
And now we're at that point where the bitter McCain supporters spew their feelings, judgements, and skepticism for the future. Which although is hard to stomach, is only natural and expected.
But McCain himself said it best in his speech tonight. Now is the time to come together. That is exactly what we need. What we've always needed. It may take a minute for people to get over their loss, but the end result is that we all need to come together. No matter what my views have been I've always believed in a united front.
Did I mention I'm happy?
I couldn't even speak when Charles Gibson said, "It's 11:00 o'clock on the east coast, the polls are closed in California...ABC can project that Barack Obama will take California and several other western states, Barack Obama will be the 44th president of the United States of America..." Believe it or not I started crying. Which shocked me!!! I didn't realize how much I wanted it I guess. I'm so happy. And I'm happy Obama won by soooo many votes. We needed that. We needed it to be a clear win.
And now we're at that point where the bitter McCain supporters spew their feelings, judgements, and skepticism for the future. Which although is hard to stomach, is only natural and expected.
But McCain himself said it best in his speech tonight. Now is the time to come together. That is exactly what we need. What we've always needed. It may take a minute for people to get over their loss, but the end result is that we all need to come together. No matter what my views have been I've always believed in a united front.
Did I mention I'm happy?
Monday, November 03, 2008
Election Jitters!
I'm pretty anxious right now about how this election is going to go down. Regardless of who wins, all I want is for it to be a clear winner. If there's any kind of funny business I will be pissed.
I got an email this morning from a friend with a video dissing Obama. I won't even go into what the topic was because it's pretty ridiculous. And this is what ticks me off the most. People grasping at straws. If you are really talking about issues and truly agree with McCain, ok, I can't argue with you, you have your legitimate beliefs. It's the people voting against Obama simply for that reason-- not to vote FOR McCain, but to vote AGAINST Obama. Does that make sense? The people grasping at little bits and pieces they've heard in the media...Obama's a Muslim, Obama isn't a U.S citizen (really??) At least get a true reason to stand by.
I also think there's a good number of people who are just afraid of change. Change is hard. With McCain we know what we're getting and we can complain if things don't start looking up but at least we're comfortable with that right? If Obama comes in, it's something we're unsure of. Could things improve?? What if they worsen?? What if nothing happens??
Which leads me to my other point. I know a lot of people who like Obama but don't think now's the right time for him. He could waste his potential because change is hard, and if there's no changes in 4 years (which is a very good chance, not because of what he wants/believes/or tried to do but because it takes a lot to change government and turn around the messes we're in) everyone will badmouth him and blame him, and not give him another term. All of which is true. I agree with those possibilities and know it's a very likely. But what I also believe is that it will never be a good time. I believe if McCain wins we'll be dug even deeper (and if we're not, hallelujah!) Whether the promises are kept, or we make any progress it's a risk I think we need to take. I'm willing to bet on Obama and hope for the best. I just believe someone's gotta get in there and take a shot.
And going back to my point about listening to the rest of the world---let's say nothing changes or things get worse...I still wouldn't want anyone but Obama representing us.
The scary thing is that this is just the beginning. It's been such a bloodbath throughout the entire election and because we're so divided and so passionate about it, the insults, judgements, and opinions are going to keep up, full steam ahead for 4 years. Rest up! Ready your defenses! hah
I got an email this morning from a friend with a video dissing Obama. I won't even go into what the topic was because it's pretty ridiculous. And this is what ticks me off the most. People grasping at straws. If you are really talking about issues and truly agree with McCain, ok, I can't argue with you, you have your legitimate beliefs. It's the people voting against Obama simply for that reason-- not to vote FOR McCain, but to vote AGAINST Obama. Does that make sense? The people grasping at little bits and pieces they've heard in the media...Obama's a Muslim, Obama isn't a U.S citizen (really??) At least get a true reason to stand by.
I also think there's a good number of people who are just afraid of change. Change is hard. With McCain we know what we're getting and we can complain if things don't start looking up but at least we're comfortable with that right? If Obama comes in, it's something we're unsure of. Could things improve?? What if they worsen?? What if nothing happens??
Which leads me to my other point. I know a lot of people who like Obama but don't think now's the right time for him. He could waste his potential because change is hard, and if there's no changes in 4 years (which is a very good chance, not because of what he wants/believes/or tried to do but because it takes a lot to change government and turn around the messes we're in) everyone will badmouth him and blame him, and not give him another term. All of which is true. I agree with those possibilities and know it's a very likely. But what I also believe is that it will never be a good time. I believe if McCain wins we'll be dug even deeper (and if we're not, hallelujah!) Whether the promises are kept, or we make any progress it's a risk I think we need to take. I'm willing to bet on Obama and hope for the best. I just believe someone's gotta get in there and take a shot.
And going back to my point about listening to the rest of the world---let's say nothing changes or things get worse...I still wouldn't want anyone but Obama representing us.
The scary thing is that this is just the beginning. It's been such a bloodbath throughout the entire election and because we're so divided and so passionate about it, the insults, judgements, and opinions are going to keep up, full steam ahead for 4 years. Rest up! Ready your defenses! hah
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