Carnie rides

I have a child who LOVES rides. She loves the carnival, and the more rickey and dangerous it seems, the more she wants to ride it. I also have a kid that's just a l-i-t-t-l-e too short for most of the ones she wants to ride and some of them require an adult or "responsible person" to ride with her. I love rides too - at least, I used to. Seems like the older I get, the less daring I'm willing to be. Carnie rides are especially scary because they just don't look secure. Also, when you're riding side by side with a small child, they are left a little exposed because while the belt or bar might be tight on you, it doesn't come near their tiny waist. I find myself hanging on to Addison. I'm not sure if it's my fear that she'll go flying out (I don't always trust science), or if I'm just holding on to her out of my own terror.
Yesterday we took her to the carnival at Ascension in Kettering. We get on this ride that she called the egg ride. Basically, it's like an open pod suspended from the top and it has two little seats facing each other. There's a wheel in the middle that you can turn around (think tea cup ride) while you're flying around in a circle. This ride was not made for adults and the only way she could ride it was with an adult. I approached this ride very uncertain. We even watched it first. I was hoping she'd change her mind, but alas, she did not. Greg can't do spinny rides - so I'm stuck doing it. Not only is the pod tiny, the seat belt wasn't coming close to buckling. A small teenager - maybe. A grown adult woman? No way. The guy just says "hang on". I imagined he'd walk back and get some kind of extender or something...but no, he actually meant hang on. The ride started and I didn't want to take my hands off the pole in the middle, let alone twirl the damn thing around. What the hell? I am literally flying around unsecured. Granted, it might have been more like a swing but when you're faced with your head possibly being planted in the ground or a sea of people, you're not really thinking logically. Addison loved this ride, but I was glad to get off. Next ride was a rocket ship. Come on people. If you're over 5 feet tall, this ride is too short! I'm by far not a tall person, and this ride was nearly too short for me. I spend a lot of time on rides like this just trying to figure out where to fold my legs into so that I don't lose feeling in them and can safely get off when it stops without falling on my face or getting a limb stuck. These rides need to quit saying adults can ride, when they really can't. Just make them more secure for little people to ride themselves. There was one a few weeks ago that we went on that went super fast and I was literally pressing my body in by pushing my feet firmly at the front of the car. My legs hurt so bad when I got off. How am I always the one stuck riding these things with her? So, we went on a few more rides and there was a big ride that she wanted to go on. No signs anywhere with a height restriction and I saw other small-ish kids, so they went to go on and they said she was too short. What a disappointment. She really, really wanted to ride. Next year for sure I think she'll be big enough for more rides. She's a daredevil! So, she spent the rest of her tickets going down the big slide. We had a great time, but am I getting too old for this? Yeesh.

What's your name again?

I have this disease that causes people’s names to leave my brain as soon as I see their face. When I think of a person, I can recall what they look like and immediately remember their name. But when I’m face-to-face with them, it’s like my brain goes blank and the name escapes me. I tried to be brave and conquer this by vowing to purposefully call a person by their name when they speak to me. This should help right? I’ve read that it’s a technique people use to remember new people’s names. Well, not when you have too long of a pause before you say their name and not when your brain gives you the wrong name. A person passing in the hall says, “Hi Christie!”. I say, “Hi - - - - Kkkkathy!” to a Karen. I even tried associations. There’s a guy named Lincoln. So I think, okay – when I see this guy, I have to remember he’s named after a city and a president. I should be able to remember now. I have 2 things to reference him to. So, he comes by and says hello and I want badly to call him Jackson. I know it’s not right, but by the time I try to remember BOTH the place AND the president, too much time has gone by. I've had that person who looks at me blankly everytime we've met like it's the first time and ask me "Who are you, again?" or "Do you work here?". After 5 or 6 times I start to wonder if I'm so forgettable. I don't want to be that person. Plus it seems a little, I dunno, like dementia or something.

I’ve given up. I won’t even try anymore. Save myself the utter embarrassment. It’s not that I don’t know you – I just can’t remember the name that goes with you. So if I see you and you say hi to me, don’t assume I don’t know your name, just remember that I won’t say it. I might know, I might not. No one will be any the wiser.

Maybe I need some kind of trademark hello like a wink and a point so it’s not so obvious. Maybe that suck of air between your teeth that makes the click sound would round it out nicely. I’ll try that.

Little stinker

Mural is finished!! (although I might make some alterations)

Piggy bank

Addison came to me with her little piggy bank and says "Piggy is hungry. He hasn't eaten all day. He skipped breakfast, lunch and dinner and he's really really hungry! We need to feed him quarters right away!". I remain suspicious of this story and $1 poorer. He somehow managed to weasel me out of .25 for dessert as well. Pig.


-- Post From My iPhone

First face painting

She wanted hair like Agnes on Despicable Me - she's soo excited to have bangs again!

Bike ridin'

Addison made an awesome plate for me!! <3

Me at 4 and Addison at 4

Close-up of the cutest astronaut EVER!!

Cutest astronaut EVER!!

Watching tv with a friend

My QR code...huh? What's that?

That's it. That's my QR code. Everyone should have one, right? It's the newest greatest thing and everyone knows I must have that. One day all business cards will be is a collection of blocks and dots. You'll have a reader that will automatically install it into your contacts or whatever. My QR code brings you right to my blog. I don't really understand the purpose of it other than being like a little treasure hunt, but that takes a lot of time - especially if you don't have a good signal on your phone. Then what's the point? I think mine looks kind of cool though, don't you? It's digitally artsy. :D

I read that Japan has them everywhere. It's a new marketing strategy that is supposed to be a link between print ads and online marketing. Interesting concept, just not sure how this will catch on. In case you were wondering, QR stands for Quick Response. You also need a Smart Phone with a reader to use them. I have a very smart phone, so of course I had to try it out. Currently, I've seen them a lot in magazines, and on sides of restaurants or businesses. It's been speculated that we'll be seeing more of those little QR codes popping up...so for all my readers (1000's, I'm sure) now you'll be in the know.

You're welcome. :)

The Hash Brown

Occasionally, as a special treat, I will go through McDonald’s to get a hash brown for Addison before school. At first, she thought she didn’t like them. When she asked me what it was I told her it was like chopped up French fries smooshed together and it was love from then on. It takes her about the whole ride to school to eat it and it starts the day off nice. A week or so ago, we made the trip. After eating about 9/10ths of the hash brown she decided that she really wanted to share it with her teacher, Ms. Beth. So for several miles she saved all of about a pinch of her hash brown. I tried to convince her that I was certain that Ms. Beth would appreciate the thought, but that she would totally understand if Addison ate that last little bit. But no, she wanted to share. I even told her that Ms. Beth would probably prefer her own hash brown and that perhaps she didn’t want to share. Finally, just as we’re creeping up the last curve in the road before school, that little pinch disappeared. Addison gave in and ate what was left. She quickly forgot about her desire to share. That is, until she remembered this week. Several days we passed by McDonald’s and Addison insisted that we should take her teacher a hash brown. Finally, we settled on asking Ms. Beth if she even liked hash browns and could we bring her one. I wasn’t sure what the rules were for teachers eating food their students brought. So yesterday Addison finally remembered to ask Ms. Beth if she liked hash browns. To her delight, the teacher said she did. We were on a mission today to get one. Of course the line at McDonald’s was the longest I’ve seen in a long time, but the glee from my daughter was worth the wait. We ordered 2 hash browns. One to eat and one to share. By the time we got to school, Addison had devoured hers. Just as we were getting out of the car, I gave her the extra hash brown for Ms. Beth. She carefully carried it into the building and we made a beeline for her classroom. She took it right over to Ms. Beth who seemed genuinely surprised and gave Addison a hug. (Where was my hug? I’m the one who forked out the money! Lol!) That made Addison’s day. Another good start to the morning. Thanks McDonald’s.

And yes, America…I give my daughter the greasy hash brown that can turn a paper bag clear with the grease that drips off of it. That’s my right and I take responsibility for it. She loves it, and I’m smart enough to know not to give her a dozen of them for breakfast. Nor do I take her to McDonald’s for every meal…but if I did, my right and my responsibility. Get off yer damn high horse and quit telling me what’s best for my kid. Another discussion for another day.
Look at all that bubbly goodness:

Happy Easter

Look what the Easter bunny brought!

Too OLD

It drives me nuts when people use age as an excuse to not know something or try something. I hear it so many times – especially at work. This is particularly disconcerting because you have to know stuff to be able to do your job. Mostly I hear this excuse in relation to technology. It’s lame. It’s lame that you haven’t taken the time to learn how to use the computer when you have to use it nearly every day. If you don’t know how to use the computer – take a class! I did! I wasn’t born knowing technology. In fact, I’d say growing up I was rather sheltered from technology. I mean, it was the 80’s mostly and there wasn’t a whole lot of stuff that we have today like cell phones and computers and such. I do remember our Commodore 64, but what the hell does that do?! I took typing in high school just like everyone else. I learned on a typewriter. And I wasn’t very good either. We did have computers, but we had a computer lab with like, 10 computers – MAX. It wasn’t even something that we spent a whole lot of time on. It wasn’t really until the mid-90’s that everything seemed to boom. Everyone seemed to either have a beeper or cell phone (if you had money) and computers were starting to pop up in everyone’s homes. The internet was starting to really establish itself for general public use. I didn’t “grow up” with these things. I learned to use them the same time everyone else did. I learned, first by trial and error, then took some classes in college. Despite already knowing a lot about Microsoft programs, I learned a lot in these classes. So, just because you’re 90 doesn’t mean you can’t learn too. They have free classes at the library! They even have them as basic as learning how to use a mouse. Get out there and learn what you should already know.

I wonder sometimes if people see me as unwilling to help simply because I’d rather teach you how to do it yourself so you can be self-sufficient…but I guess that’s how I’d like to be treated. Some people just want things done for them. Granted, there are times when I just want something done and don’t want a learning moment, but for the most part, if it’s something I might be doing often, I’d rather learn how to do it myself than to continually ask someone else to do it for me. I think I’m pretty good at recognizing those moments and don’t push lessons on people and would appreciate the same. Maybe I’m in the wrong line of work then. I mean I guess the Assistant is supposed to “assist”, but I feel like there are things people need to learn to do on their own.

I’ve become known around work as the “techie”. I do have a lot of gadgets, so I guess I know a lot. I learn by doing, so when I get a gadget I play. That’s how I learn. I don’t think I have a pre-disposition to know ing technology, I think it’s just that I know enough to not make it explode. I can fix phones, computers, printers, fax machines, copiers, shredders, projectors – you name it. At least that’s what people think. What they don’t know is that I don’t know anything either and I’m usually not doing anything that they couldn’t figure out themselves. Maybe I just have more patience.

I can’t think of anything that a person would be “too old” to do. I have reached that milestone where it’s no longer socially acceptable to wear a mini-skirt, so perhaps I am too old for that…but really it’s a personal choice and I think it’s because people’s knees start looking funny after 35 and nobody wants to see funny knees. Perhaps I’m too old to start taking drugs, but I think that’s because it would interfere with my heartburn, cholesterol, thyroid, high blood pressure and diabetes medications. I mean, nobody wants to suffer through heartburn. Again, personal choice. I watched a show a few weeks ago about people over 90 and all the awesome things they are accomplishing. One guy was a multi-medal winner in the Senior Olympics. He even does pole vaulting. I’ve NEVER been able to do pole vaulting. The long jump - I’m just scared my knees would end up coming out the top of my head from the impact. I’m convinced my bones will turn to dust if I jar them too much. Music is another thing. Is there an unspoken rule that once you turn a certain age you can only like or listen to certain kinds of music? Is there an age limit – so once I turn 36 I can’t like music from anyone younger than me? Yikes. That sounds terribly boring and I’d miss a lot of good stuff.

All that being said, age should never be used as an excuse to NOT do something – so get out and DO something! You CAN teach an old dog new tricks. (Disclaimer: I would not recommend pole vaulting unless you have consulted with a doctor first. I will also not be held responsible for any injuries you may sustain while trying something new. You are old – not my fault.)

Paper dolls

Mo' money

Addison got $5 from her great-great aunt and $1.50 from an Easter Egg hunt. She was more excited about getting the quarters at the hunt than the massive amounts of candy she got. So, when we went to Meijer she had gathered her money in preparation of buying a new toy - her very favorite thing. So after much deliberation, she settled on a Strawberry Shortcake set with lots of tiny parts. When we got up to the register, I made her pay for her purchase separately so she could pay with her own money. She handed over her $5 and 5 of her quarters. She got one of her quarters back and a bunch of other change. He delightedly exclaimed "I got MORE money! More than I had!". Then started chanting "money, money, money". Looks like I have a little more teaching to do about money.


-- Post From My iPhone