Bright Side Fri...day, umm... Saturday!

FRIDAY! SATURDAY! Yes, a day late with my Bright Side, but I think it's never too late to share something positive with others. My Bright Side is that I am dog sitting. It's not just that I am dog sitting, it's that I am dog sitting an abused rescue dog.  I can see the notches in the backs of her ears where someone took a razor blade to them. She won't take food out of a bowl and will only eat food that you hand to her or leave on the floor. She is terrified of nearly everything around her, but she has blossomed nicely in our home. She is one of the sweetest dogs on the face of the earth, and all she wants is love and snuggles. It makes me feel good that I am able to be part of the positive part of her life. I am so mad at her abusers and I can never undo what they did to her. But, I can add happiness to her life now, I can give her a loving environment to stay in while her owner is away, and I can comfort her when she is scared. Truly unconditional love from her to me, and me to her.

Now it's your turn. What is your Bright Side?

=J

Words That I Have An Opinion About For No Particular Reason

Every now and then, I hear someone say something or read a word that for some unknown reason gives me a response that is totally unrelated to the word. Reading Blogs, Twitter and Facebook doesn't help me quell this response! Everyone wants to get their words out and sometimes the words they choose speak louder to me than their whole thoughts. Here is a list of just some of those words and my reaction to them.

• Gah! - Not really a word, but for some reason, I find to be funny.
• Methinks - This word makes me crazy. It's supposed to be 2 separate words! Plus, it sounds like I should be wearing a powdered wig when I say it.
• Scrod - Reminds me of "scrotum". Hate this word and I will never eat scrod. Change the name of the fish and I might consider it.
• Slacks - Makes me laugh. It would be a word my grandma would say. Does anyone under the age of 50 say "slacks" anymore? If you do, please, say "dress pants" instead or else risk me laughing at you when you say it.
• Panties - I find this word irritating... wearing them sometimes is too, especially when they get in a bunch.
• Your - Makes me crazy when people really mean you're.
• Uvula - LOVE this word. People always think I'm saying Vulva. LOL
• Moist - I like saying it because people always react with a snicker.
• Snicker - Really? Did I just say that? I am embarrassed that I use that word unless I'm talking about a candy.
• Pamphlet - Awkward to say and to spell. When someone offers me a pamphlet, I feel like someone is trying to give me medical information on some embarrassing topic and they don't want to tell me directly.
• Feminine Hygiene - Could this illicit any stronger thoughts of women needing to go down there to scrub and deodorize? Seriously, it's not really an issue for most women. Thanks for making men think we all would smell like fish every day if it weren't for the daily maintenance we all must be doing.
• Crotchety - Must only be used when referring to a crabby old man.  Good idea old dude, wear boxers to give you some more room. While you're at it, make sure you hike the boxers up above your waist band and tuck your shirt into them.
• Prophylactic - I would never say this word unless I was speaking to a doctor and didn't want to sound like an idiot. Give me a slang term for it over the formal word any day.
• Penis - OK so this is really my son's word. He has told me I can't say it. I can call it ANYTHING else. He squirms if I say it. He laughs if I use any other slang.
• Feces - This is a word you hear your grandmother or doctor say. I would rather call it any of its slang including poop or poo than say feces. When I hear the word "feces" I get the image of monkeys slinging it.
• Snarky - Love the word, and I'm guilty of being snarky from time to time. It also sounds much better than being called a bitch.
• Slore - It's not a real world, but it is a combo of slut and whore. Some how sounds worse than either one. I know a few women that it fits!
• Regurgitate - Again, another word I would only use while speaking with a doctor. Just say "puke" and get it over with in 1 syllable. Vomit is acceptable too, if you feel like using up another syllable.
• Phlegm - I can picture it and it grosses me out. Plus, WHO spells a word like that? Too many unnecessary letters. 
• Expectorate - Similar to my thoughts on Phlegm. Just say "spit" it doesn't sound as gross.
• Lover - I can't hear this word without thinking about the funny SNL skits with the couple that can't keep their hands off of each other. I hear it exactly how they say it too: Lovaar...
• WYSIWYG (wizzywig) - Is it really necessary to make an acronym for "what you see is what you get"? Can you sound any more nerdy throwing that un-word around?
• Shriek - Spelled too close to "Shrek" plus I want to spell it shreak.
• BOGO - It's 50% off people! Do we REALLY need a word for it?
• Gadzooks - Long abandoned and rightfully so, unless you say it and are looking for a laugh.
• Ginormous - Also not a real world. Combo of gigantic and enormous. Love when my kids say this!


So now it's your turn to tell me what words I missed. What words do you love or hate?

=J 

Critiqued with Love

I have been married close to twelve years. It is surprising to me how I can be struck by how much he loves me in unconventional ways. An example of this: I was trying to find the right suit for an interview that was very important to me. I had been out shopping and returned home with a good possibility. (I quite despise shopping and actually buying something is unusual.) My confidence waned a bit as I put the suit on at home. It looked better in the store, yet I still went to show my hubby. He actually risked hurting my feelings by being honest that it did not look very good on me. I knew he was right and I was taken aback by an outpouring of love through an honest critique of my appearance. I certainly didn’t see that coming. I couldn’t even pretend to be hurt because I knew his words were lovingly meant. Go figure!

S-)

30 Thoughts by My Kids' Mom

1. Being a mom is the hardest job I've ever had, but also the most rewarding. Sounds like a cliché, but I have found that to be more than just words.

2. I tell my kids I love them every morning as they leave the house to get on the school bus.

3. I watch my kids go out to the corner and keep watching until they get on the school bus.

4. My younger child and I wave to each other as the bus pulls away. We don't stop waving until I am out of view.

5. I give my kids a kiss and tell them that I love them every night before I go to bed, even if they are already asleep.

6. My kids appreciate the value of money.

7. My kids don't ever ask me to buy something for them. But every now and then, I do anyways.

8. I love my husband, but if I had to choose between him and my kids, I would choose my kids.

9. I love my dogs, but if I had to choose between them and my husband, I would choose my husband. I like to tease him that I'm undecided on that one.

10. Deep down, I believe that if someone did unspeakable things to someone I love, I would be capable of doing unspeakable things to that person. I hope I'm never put in that situation.

11. It makes me angry when people lie about me or accuse me of things that I didn't do and even more so when they do it to my kids.

12. I try to teach my kids to be nice, but strong enough to not be taken advantage of.

13. I hope my kids are never bullied, but they are so nice, I have a sinking feeling that it will happen.

14. I am thankful that I do not have to home school my kids. My kids and I would be a mess if I had to. I am also thankful that we are in a wonderful school district that teaches my kids great things.

15. I love when my kids tell me things that they learned at school, just because they are excited about learning it, not because I asked.

16. I don't over schedule my kids. If they don't want to do baseball, kickball, and soccer simultaneously, that is fine with me and I won't try and make them do it just because others are.

17. I don't send my kids away to camp over the summer. They don't want to go, and I don't want to send them.

18. I trust my kids more than I trust other kids.

19. I don't like when people send their younger kids over to “play” with my older kids “because, they love your kids and look up to them.” What about what my kids want to do? You don't give me the option of saying “no” each time. As nice as my kids are, they don't really want to “babysit” your kids, again.

20. I don't like when people invite the younger sibling to join the older one who was going to play with my kid because the younger one “doesn't want to miss out, and it's not fair.” Umm... what about what you are doing to the older one and my kid? They can't have a play date without a little brother? Is that fair?

21. I tend to be an advocate for all kids in unfair situations.

22. When my kids ask me to sleep in their homemade fort with them, I always say “yes” because I know one day, they will stop asking. I enjoy every sleepless minute.

23. Meal time is meal time. Not come and get it when you feel like it time.

24. I have expected my kids to clear their plates from the table since they were old enough to do so.

25. I have always expected my kids to stay at the table with everyone else, even if they were done eating.

26. My kids are not allowed to get out of their seat in a restaurant. It makes me crazy when other kids do that.

27. I have always encouraged my kids to do things as soon as they were able. I can't stand when other people expect too little from their kids and say things like “Oh, well he's only 'X' years old”.

28. I know that I am a better person than I would be if I didn't have kids. It is important to me that they learn from my example. Sometimes, I catch myself doing what I should instead of what I really want to, just because my kids are there.

29. I don't expect my kids to be perfect, but I do expect them to try their best.

30. I'm thankful for my life with my wonderful kids. I can't imagine it any other way.

=J