Sorry for the long break between blogs. I've been on vacation in Jamaica. Yeah, I know. I'm a lucky girl. :-)
Today is a important day in our house. Today my son is going to the DMV and getting his drivers license. It also happens to be the day I head back to Montana for my 20 yr class reunion. I would like to thank the scheduling Gods for giving me this "damn you're old" double whammy. I mean seriously, like turning 38 wasn't enough to make me take a look in the mirror and wonder where time has gone, but I get to say I have a teenage driver AND I've been out of high school for 20 years. Are you freakin' kidding me? Now some of this I did to myself. I know lots friends who are just having children now so the fact I had them in my early 20's (hence them being teens now) was a decision I made so really it shouldn't really have anything to do with feeling old. But it does. And its not that I feel "old", just middle aged, which I am so its appropriate I guess. I just don't like it. Who would?
I got a card for my birthday that said something to the effect of "don't look at the number, look at the accomplishments". I'm trying....
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Saturday, July 10, 2010
The English Invasion
They're coming.
I met my friends Vince and Helen about 5 years ago through the internet. Although they live in England, Vince and Helen were friends with a few other people I knew at the time and then we started chatting via instant messaging. Over the years, my husband and I have developed a very close friendship with both Vince and Helen. In 2006, I flew to England, for the first time I might mention, by myself to spend a week with them and then last year Paul and I both went over for two weeks. Vince and Helen came to the States in 2008 and now, will be here again in a few hours. This time they are bringing their son Mike and our other good friend from England, Dave. We are spending time here in KC and a week in Jamaica. It will be a fantastic vacation!
As I was thinking about their visit and trying to plan things to do I started to realize how lucky we are. I remember when I was a kid how cool I thought it was to meet anyone who wasn't from Montana, hell anyone who lived in a different town than I did. They were "different" and I loved that. I didn't know anyone who knew people from out of the country with maybe a few exceptions to Canada because we lived just a few hours from the border. I feel like we are lucky because many people become adults with still never knowing anyone from a different culture. Now I realize England isn't a far off nation that is SO different from ours. They are very similar and yet very different from us here in the States. Yet I see how excited the kids friends are when we tell them we have visitors from England coming because its still such a novelty to know someone from outside the USA. I think we are so lucky to not only have found these wonderful friends, but also to be able to expose the kids to a different part of the world.
We are going to England in 2012 for Hayden's graduation present and my -gulp- 40th birthday. It will be so fantastic for the kids to see England and other parts of world but mostly it will be great to spend such important celebrations with some of my favorite people. We are lucky indeed.
I met my friends Vince and Helen about 5 years ago through the internet. Although they live in England, Vince and Helen were friends with a few other people I knew at the time and then we started chatting via instant messaging. Over the years, my husband and I have developed a very close friendship with both Vince and Helen. In 2006, I flew to England, for the first time I might mention, by myself to spend a week with them and then last year Paul and I both went over for two weeks. Vince and Helen came to the States in 2008 and now, will be here again in a few hours. This time they are bringing their son Mike and our other good friend from England, Dave. We are spending time here in KC and a week in Jamaica. It will be a fantastic vacation!
As I was thinking about their visit and trying to plan things to do I started to realize how lucky we are. I remember when I was a kid how cool I thought it was to meet anyone who wasn't from Montana, hell anyone who lived in a different town than I did. They were "different" and I loved that. I didn't know anyone who knew people from out of the country with maybe a few exceptions to Canada because we lived just a few hours from the border. I feel like we are lucky because many people become adults with still never knowing anyone from a different culture. Now I realize England isn't a far off nation that is SO different from ours. They are very similar and yet very different from us here in the States. Yet I see how excited the kids friends are when we tell them we have visitors from England coming because its still such a novelty to know someone from outside the USA. I think we are so lucky to not only have found these wonderful friends, but also to be able to expose the kids to a different part of the world.
We are going to England in 2012 for Hayden's graduation present and my -gulp- 40th birthday. It will be so fantastic for the kids to see England and other parts of world but mostly it will be great to spend such important celebrations with some of my favorite people. We are lucky indeed.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
400 Years In The Making
I have mentioned to many of you that I have been working on my genealogy. I have found lots of interesting facts and non facts, and a few surprises, but what I have found mostly is comfort. It is somewhat comforting to find out who you are and where you come from. My family has its few dark spots, skeletons in its closets, things that don't add up, as do all families, but in general I have a wonderful road map of where my family comes from and who we are. It was the where I'm from that really gave me the biggest surprise of all. I always knew I was Irish and English. I have a great x3 grandfather that came over from Cavan County Ireland in 1850, another great gram and gramp from Ireland who came over in 1870 and a great x2 grandfather who was born in England. But what surprised me the most is not my European ancestry, it was my American ancestry.
As kids we are often asked "What are you" with an expected answer of something like "I'm 1/2 Irish, 1/2 English" for an answer. No one ever says "I'm 1/2 Irish, 1/2 American". We don't usually think of American as part of the answer because its not exotic enough. Well come to find out, my answer as a child should have been 1/2 American, 1/4 Irish, 1/4 English. Let me introduce you to a few people.
John Vause, born in Virginia in 1595. He is a great grandfather a million times over on my paternal grandmothers side. All we know about his family is that his mother was English.
Jane Morgan, born in New York, 1628. Her father was from Wales as was the man she married, Thomas Ragland.
Henry Tandy, born in Viriginia in 1630
John Quarles, 1665 Virginia
Prisilla Watson, 1669 Virginia
The list goes on and on, and that is just my paternal side. The same thing happens on the maternal great grandfathers side. I have to say I was overwhelmed. I loved being able to find that I had a Sheriff of Nottingham in my ancestry but just as thrilled to find that I had a distant cousin that was involved in the underground railroad. My American information excited me beyond belief because I realized I had a huge stake in THIS country. My family belonged here and had been her for over 400 years.
Now I'm the first to admit I not a huge patriot of this country. I don't get all "yee haw" over the military and am definitely not a gal who sings Lee Greenwood songs on the 4th of July. I have respect for all things American, but you won't see an American flag in the back window of my car. It is my opinion that we, as Americans, have a general arrogance that is overwhelming to the rest of the world and I don't like to add to that. However since discovering my history I do take a bit more pride in the history of our country. I am proud to know that my ancestors were a part of what this country is and what it has become.
So with all that being said I would like to wish everyone a very Happy Independence Day and say thank you to our military, including the 14 men in my family who fought in the Revolutionary War, who have helped keep us an independent nation.
As kids we are often asked "What are you" with an expected answer of something like "I'm 1/2 Irish, 1/2 English" for an answer. No one ever says "I'm 1/2 Irish, 1/2 American". We don't usually think of American as part of the answer because its not exotic enough. Well come to find out, my answer as a child should have been 1/2 American, 1/4 Irish, 1/4 English. Let me introduce you to a few people.
John Vause, born in Virginia in 1595. He is a great grandfather a million times over on my paternal grandmothers side. All we know about his family is that his mother was English.
Jane Morgan, born in New York, 1628. Her father was from Wales as was the man she married, Thomas Ragland.
Henry Tandy, born in Viriginia in 1630
John Quarles, 1665 Virginia
Prisilla Watson, 1669 Virginia
The list goes on and on, and that is just my paternal side. The same thing happens on the maternal great grandfathers side. I have to say I was overwhelmed. I loved being able to find that I had a Sheriff of Nottingham in my ancestry but just as thrilled to find that I had a distant cousin that was involved in the underground railroad. My American information excited me beyond belief because I realized I had a huge stake in THIS country. My family belonged here and had been her for over 400 years.
Now I'm the first to admit I not a huge patriot of this country. I don't get all "yee haw" over the military and am definitely not a gal who sings Lee Greenwood songs on the 4th of July. I have respect for all things American, but you won't see an American flag in the back window of my car. It is my opinion that we, as Americans, have a general arrogance that is overwhelming to the rest of the world and I don't like to add to that. However since discovering my history I do take a bit more pride in the history of our country. I am proud to know that my ancestors were a part of what this country is and what it has become.
So with all that being said I would like to wish everyone a very Happy Independence Day and say thank you to our military, including the 14 men in my family who fought in the Revolutionary War, who have helped keep us an independent nation.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
The Pampered Life of Cinema Suites
The main thought behind this blog has very little to do with the title, however if you've never taken the time or money to go see a movie at the Cinema Suites in the AMC 30 you really should do yourself a favor and go. Suck up the price and enjoy it. Huge cushioned reclining seats, full bar, full pub food menu and, the best part in my opinion, NO KIDS! You must be 21 to go. Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy taking my kids to a movie. I loved hearing all the little ones gasp and giggle at Buzz Lightyear. But if I am going to see a movie without my children, I would rather not have to listen to my neighbors 3 1/2 yr old talk, cry and throw a fit because he is bored out of his brain in a movie he doesn't belong in. Oh and PS....your 18 month old doesn't belong in a movie theatre. They don't get it, they don't appreciate it, and they don't have the attention span for it so they will cry and throw fits that annoy the rest of us. Period. End of discussion. Anyway, Cinema Suites rule.
My real reason for this blog is to discuss Twilight. Now before you click the back button on your computer, hear me out. No I am not a Twilighter, Twihard, Twimom, Tweek, whatever the hell they call over zealous insane Twilight fans, nor am I here to bash those people. I get it, tweens love the insane romance of a 18yr old girl and a vampire. Moms love the "depth" of their relationship...blah blah blah. Whatever. I read the books, liked the first one and have seen all the movies. What shocks me is the obsession level that adult women have gone to with these books/movies. Now yeah, my girlfriends and I went to see the new movie last night. We enjoyed it as much as you can enjoy tween/teen movie with half naked boy toys and Kristen Stewart in it. Sidenote: I will someday post a blog as to the reasons of my absolute distain and hatred of Kristen Stewart's acting. There are however this very large group of women, ages 20-70, who are OBSESSED with Twilight. To the point of wondering if they go to Forks WA, yes there really is such a place, they might find their own Edward or Jacob. Example. I read a story online about this woman in her mid 40's who quit her job and sold her house so she could "fully explore the Twilight life". The Twilight life?? WTF? To her that meant going to Washington, searching through Forks and the indian reservation. Going to Italy to try to find the Volturi. Picking the books apart to find every little hint of WHERE they might be. Yes you read that right, WHERE they are. This woman truly thinks Stephanie Meyer is giving hints to where these people are because they are real. Of course the woman obviously has mental issues but that is the tip of the ice berg. There are examples everywhere. The Twilight Book Club for women over 50 in South Carolina who get together once a week to discuss parts of the books. Ladies, there are only 4 books and they really weren't that good or so deep they need to be dissected weekly. Or the lady I saw in line at the grocery store who was about 30 decked out in her Team Jacob t-shirt, Twilight handbag and was discussing the newest movie with the maybe 17 yr old check out girl. I personally know a woman who left her 10 yr anniversary dinner with her husband early so she could get in line for the midnight showing of the newest movie. Realy? Really really?
Now before a few of you get your panties in a wad and start throwing my Potter obsession in my face I want you to understand my point. I get being a fan of something. I understand that we all need a distraction from our everyday lives. I love to be so involved in a new book that you can't wait to read the next words on the next page. Remember I am the girl who locked herself in her bedroom the morning the new Potter books were delivered and didn't speak to anyone or come out till I was done with the whole book. I GET IT. What bothers me is this. These people invest so much time and energy into a fantasy world and not their real world. Edward, Jacob, Bella...they aren't real and have no impact on your life, or at least they shouldn't. But I am betting that if you asked that woman in line at the grocery store to name all the members of the Volturi she could, but ask that same woman who General MacChrystal is and why he was recently fired from his job? Yeah you see where I'm going with this.
I don't know, maybe its just me being high and mighty but seriously people look around at the real world and get involved. When an involvement in a fantasy world starts to replace your involvement in the real world something needs to change. I know this happens in other things besides Twilight and not all people who like Twilight are social morons who don't know anything about the rest of the world but seriously folks, read a newspaper. Look around and know there is more good vs evil or love and romance in the real world than there ever will be in a book.
Sorry about going on and on about this, but hell it is my blog so I can do what I want. :-)
Go Team Jane!
My real reason for this blog is to discuss Twilight. Now before you click the back button on your computer, hear me out. No I am not a Twilighter, Twihard, Twimom, Tweek, whatever the hell they call over zealous insane Twilight fans, nor am I here to bash those people. I get it, tweens love the insane romance of a 18yr old girl and a vampire. Moms love the "depth" of their relationship...blah blah blah. Whatever. I read the books, liked the first one and have seen all the movies. What shocks me is the obsession level that adult women have gone to with these books/movies. Now yeah, my girlfriends and I went to see the new movie last night. We enjoyed it as much as you can enjoy tween/teen movie with half naked boy toys and Kristen Stewart in it. Sidenote: I will someday post a blog as to the reasons of my absolute distain and hatred of Kristen Stewart's acting. There are however this very large group of women, ages 20-70, who are OBSESSED with Twilight. To the point of wondering if they go to Forks WA, yes there really is such a place, they might find their own Edward or Jacob. Example. I read a story online about this woman in her mid 40's who quit her job and sold her house so she could "fully explore the Twilight life". The Twilight life?? WTF? To her that meant going to Washington, searching through Forks and the indian reservation. Going to Italy to try to find the Volturi. Picking the books apart to find every little hint of WHERE they might be. Yes you read that right, WHERE they are. This woman truly thinks Stephanie Meyer is giving hints to where these people are because they are real. Of course the woman obviously has mental issues but that is the tip of the ice berg. There are examples everywhere. The Twilight Book Club for women over 50 in South Carolina who get together once a week to discuss parts of the books. Ladies, there are only 4 books and they really weren't that good or so deep they need to be dissected weekly. Or the lady I saw in line at the grocery store who was about 30 decked out in her Team Jacob t-shirt, Twilight handbag and was discussing the newest movie with the maybe 17 yr old check out girl. I personally know a woman who left her 10 yr anniversary dinner with her husband early so she could get in line for the midnight showing of the newest movie. Realy? Really really?
Now before a few of you get your panties in a wad and start throwing my Potter obsession in my face I want you to understand my point. I get being a fan of something. I understand that we all need a distraction from our everyday lives. I love to be so involved in a new book that you can't wait to read the next words on the next page. Remember I am the girl who locked herself in her bedroom the morning the new Potter books were delivered and didn't speak to anyone or come out till I was done with the whole book. I GET IT. What bothers me is this. These people invest so much time and energy into a fantasy world and not their real world. Edward, Jacob, Bella...they aren't real and have no impact on your life, or at least they shouldn't. But I am betting that if you asked that woman in line at the grocery store to name all the members of the Volturi she could, but ask that same woman who General MacChrystal is and why he was recently fired from his job? Yeah you see where I'm going with this.
I don't know, maybe its just me being high and mighty but seriously people look around at the real world and get involved. When an involvement in a fantasy world starts to replace your involvement in the real world something needs to change. I know this happens in other things besides Twilight and not all people who like Twilight are social morons who don't know anything about the rest of the world but seriously folks, read a newspaper. Look around and know there is more good vs evil or love and romance in the real world than there ever will be in a book.
Sorry about going on and on about this, but hell it is my blog so I can do what I want. :-)
Go Team Jane!
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