23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did):
Probably more autobiographies. They take me longer to get through though and aren't always an "escape" which is my primary motivation for reading.
24. Favourite Biography:
I don't think I have one. I can't think of one I have read to be honest.
25. Have you ever read a self-help book?
I'm sure I have at some point. I don't know when or what it was though.
26. Favourite Cookbook:
Baking
27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction):
Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier
28. Favourite reading snack:
Nacho chips, but they make my fingers orange which marks the book pages and I don't like that too much.
29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience:
Probably book 3 of the Hunger Games. To be honest I still can't decide if I even liked the book or not. The hype messed with my head!
30. How often do you agree with the critics about about a book?
I RARELY read what a critic has to say about a book. If it is a book or series that gets a lot of hype I try not to be affected, which sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. I don't usually go so far as to determine it I agree with critics or not. .
31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
I wish I were a better reviewer than I am. I have no problem posting on my goodreads account when I don't like a book and I will often tell people when I dislike a book.
32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you choose?
Farsi, or French.
33. Most intimidating book I’ve read :
Atlas Shrugged. I was intimidated by it until I started to read it, then I loved it.
34. Most intimidating book I’m too nervous to begin:
War and Peace.
35. Favourite Poet:
Elizabeth Barrett Browning or Carol Lynn Pearson
36. How many books do you usually have checked out from the library at any given time?
Between ten and fifteen
37. How often do you return books to the library unread?
Never.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
30 day drawing challenge : Favorite food
Day three of the challenge and I am supposed to draw my favorite food. My absolute favorite is kedgeree but drawing a bowl of rice and flaked fish is kinda hard - and boring, so I chose my next favorite. \Myzithra Cheese.
Here you go:
Here you go:
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
30 day drawing challenge day 2: favorite animal
Day two of the drawing challenge I am supposed to draw my favorite animal. After the wacky attempt at trying to draw myself hopefully this will be more recognizable!
55 Quirky questions for readers Part two.
This questionnaire was put together by Lydia over at the Literary Lollipop, and then filled out by Robbie at Pink Sheep Cafe.
12 .What is your reading comfort zone? Mystery. I have recently started to read Fantasy and find that it is mostly what I read now.
13. Can you read on the bus? Oh hell to the no. Just thinking about it makes me feel motion sick. I would barf for days.
12 .What is your reading comfort zone? Mystery. I have recently started to read Fantasy and find that it is mostly what I read now.
13. Can you read on the bus? Oh hell to the no. Just thinking about it makes me feel motion sick. I would barf for days.
14. Favourite place to read: Pretty much the ONLY place I read right now is in bed. I used to read everywhere in the house but it is not safe to leave books around with the two little ones. I keep my books by my bed and read when the boys are asleep.
15. What’s your policy on book lending? I have no problem with lending books I don't think. I haven't really done it much. I would prefer to loan a book to someone who is going to read it because I have leant books to people who don't care to read them in which case I would rather just have it back. I am not offended if someone doesnt want to read because I know I read a LOT and value it lots more than people around me. I also know I read a lot faster than other people. I would prefer to give a book away than to lend it I guess. I like to pass books on.
16. Do you dogear your books? I used to but not so much anymore. I like to use a bookmark but I can never seem to keep one. Now I tend to fold the whole page in half so it doesnt leave a crease mark. I have found some cool bookmarks on pinterest I plan on making.
17. Do you write notes in the margins of your books? I absolutely write in textbooks, but not in novels.
18. Do you break/crack the spine of your books? I don't but my spouse does. She says I read a book and when I am finished you can't tell it has been opened. You can sure tell she has read a book though!
19. What is your favourite language to read? I have never tried to read a book in any language other than English. I doubt I would get much out of a book in any other language since I don't know any. I do understand pig latin but to my knowledge no book has ever been printed in pig latin.
15. What’s your policy on book lending? I have no problem with lending books I don't think. I haven't really done it much. I would prefer to loan a book to someone who is going to read it because I have leant books to people who don't care to read them in which case I would rather just have it back. I am not offended if someone doesnt want to read because I know I read a LOT and value it lots more than people around me. I also know I read a lot faster than other people. I would prefer to give a book away than to lend it I guess. I like to pass books on.
16. Do you dogear your books? I used to but not so much anymore. I like to use a bookmark but I can never seem to keep one. Now I tend to fold the whole page in half so it doesnt leave a crease mark. I have found some cool bookmarks on pinterest I plan on making.
17. Do you write notes in the margins of your books? I absolutely write in textbooks, but not in novels.
18. Do you break/crack the spine of your books? I don't but my spouse does. She says I read a book and when I am finished you can't tell it has been opened. You can sure tell she has read a book though!
19. What is your favourite language to read? I have never tried to read a book in any language other than English. I doubt I would get much out of a book in any other language since I don't know any. I do understand pig latin but to my knowledge no book has ever been printed in pig latin.
20. What makes you love a book?
Characters. If I like a character I will almost read anything with them in it.
21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?
Recommending books actually makes me a bit nervous. I have reccomended books in the past and had people completely HATE them. I am more likely to tell someone NOT to read a book than tell them TO read a book.
22. Favourite genre: I used to think it was mystery, but now I would have to say fantasy.
Characters. If I like a character I will almost read anything with them in it.
21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?
Recommending books actually makes me a bit nervous. I have reccomended books in the past and had people completely HATE them. I am more likely to tell someone NOT to read a book than tell them TO read a book.
22. Favourite genre: I used to think it was mystery, but now I would have to say fantasy.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
55 quirky questions for readers. Part one
This questionnaire was put together by Lydia over at the Literary Lollipop, and then filled out by Robbie at Pink Sheep Cafe.
I started this meme a very long time ago and never finished it. I am trying to clean up my blog and all of the "drafts" I have and came across this so decided to do it over and finish it this time!
1. Favourite childhood book:
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I used to listen to this read over the radio sitting on a stool in my grandmothers kitchen drinking bush tea and eating marmite on toast.
2. What are you reading right now?
I just finished Catch Me by Lisa Garnder and I don't know what books I have at home to begin. I think I have one by Tamora Pierce.
3. What books do you have on request at the library?
Hunting party by Moon, Elizabeth.
The Shamer''s daughter by Kaaberbol, Lene.
Once upon a river : a novel by Campbell, Bonnie Jo,
The hitch-hiker''s guide to the galaxy by Adams, Douglas,
The Demon King : a seven realms novel by Chima, Cinda Williams
These things hidden by Gudenkauf, Heather
The iron king by Kagawa, Julie
Insurgent by Roth, Veronica
The Crowfield demon by Walsh, Pat,
4. Bad book habit:
I typically do not like to stop reading a book once I have started it. This is bad because I have read some really crappy books that I didnt like but felt compelled to finish. It takes a long time for me to get through them which also costs valuable time I could spend reading better books!
5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?
Factotum, DM Cornish
Catch Me, Lisa Gardner
and some others I can't remember right now.
6. Do you have an e-reader?
Not yet.
7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?
I MUCH prefer one at a time.
8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?
No, because my blog is not about books. I would like to write more about books but there are some great bloggers out there who I could not compete with.
9. Least favourite book you read this year:
Fallen by Lauren Kate or Consumed by Kate Cann
10. Favourite book I’ve read this year:
I've read some good ones but this one got me thinking and talking. It's a cool project and I really enjoyed it.
The Oxford Project by Peter Feldstein.
11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?
not enough!
Another meme.... Why? Why not?
1. Name one book that has really stuck with you.
I read a ridiculous amount of books so to pick one is very difficult. I would say that Orson Scott Card's Alvin Maker series has stuck with me, but books by Enid Blyton (The Faraway Tree) and Frances Hodgson Burnett (The Secret Garden) are the books I remember from the earliest in my life.
2. Name one non-family adult who influenced you for the better.
You know I have been really lucky to have had many positive influences in my life. I feel somehow that to choose one would be doing a disservice to the others? I would say Kathleen L. has been the most influential over the longest period of time. She is the person I see as being successful in every way and the person I would most like to be when I grow up. She has supported me as a student in University and as a professional in my career in a University setting AND personally. She is an AMAZING woman.
3. Name one really great thing about today's teens.
How sad is it that I barely know a teenager today? When I worked in Corrections my whole life was all about teenagers. Now I have two kids under the age of six and I don't even CARE about teenagers. Actually. I would like a really good babysitter, so I hope today's teens are responsible and like babysitting.
4. Who should be the Democratic nominee?
Barack Obama.
5. Who should be the Republican nominee?
Anyone but Mitt Romney!
6. The perfect Spring Vacation would be:
Taking my family to Disneyland
7. You win $50,000 to spend on your house. What do you do?
A. Replace the roof.
B. Redo the bathroom.
C. Add another bathroom.
D. Finish rewiring.
E. Put up a sweet fence.
8. You win another $50,000 but you have to give it away. What do you do?
Give it to my mother to start her new life.
9. Your worst guilty pleasure(s) is:
Sleep? Is that a guilty pleasure? Can it be?
10. You HAVE to go back to school. What do you study/learn?
Gosh. Right now that is the WRONG question to ask me because I am struggling with school so much.
If I could go anywhere and do anything I would go to Ohio State and get a doctorate in African Studies.
I read a ridiculous amount of books so to pick one is very difficult. I would say that Orson Scott Card's Alvin Maker series has stuck with me, but books by Enid Blyton (The Faraway Tree) and Frances Hodgson Burnett (The Secret Garden) are the books I remember from the earliest in my life.
2. Name one non-family adult who influenced you for the better.
You know I have been really lucky to have had many positive influences in my life. I feel somehow that to choose one would be doing a disservice to the others? I would say Kathleen L. has been the most influential over the longest period of time. She is the person I see as being successful in every way and the person I would most like to be when I grow up. She has supported me as a student in University and as a professional in my career in a University setting AND personally. She is an AMAZING woman.
3. Name one really great thing about today's teens.
How sad is it that I barely know a teenager today? When I worked in Corrections my whole life was all about teenagers. Now I have two kids under the age of six and I don't even CARE about teenagers. Actually. I would like a really good babysitter, so I hope today's teens are responsible and like babysitting.
4. Who should be the Democratic nominee?
Barack Obama.
5. Who should be the Republican nominee?
Anyone but Mitt Romney!
6. The perfect Spring Vacation would be:
Taking my family to Disneyland
7. You win $50,000 to spend on your house. What do you do?
A. Replace the roof.
B. Redo the bathroom.
C. Add another bathroom.
D. Finish rewiring.
E. Put up a sweet fence.
8. You win another $50,000 but you have to give it away. What do you do?
Give it to my mother to start her new life.
9. Your worst guilty pleasure(s) is:
Sleep? Is that a guilty pleasure? Can it be?
10. You HAVE to go back to school. What do you study/learn?
Gosh. Right now that is the WRONG question to ask me because I am struggling with school so much.
If I could go anywhere and do anything I would go to Ohio State and get a doctorate in African Studies.
Monday, April 30, 2012
knock knock jokes
It isn't fair.
That seem to be one of Maxies favourite things to say lately. That and "NEVER!"
I am feeling a bit like complaining about fairness myself right this second and so I will!
The boys have started into this phobia about bugs. Anything that flies. They SCREAM if they see a moth or a mosquito or a fly. Little Bit calls them all "BEES" but to my recollection he has not ever been stung and Shel and I are a fan of creepy crawlies and the role they play in the circle of life. OK. So mosquito's and flies not so much, but bees we like !
Anyway, for some unknown reason the boys have started freaking out about flying things in the house. At bedtime they are inconsolable if there is a fly in the bedroom. Last night Shel spent about half an hour swatting everything that might be alive upstairs int he boys room but they were convinced there was still something winged in the room. They would NOT settle down. After HOURS of up and down the stairs they finally came down and slept on the couch ( but this really doesn't make a lot of sense since there is more likely to be a fly downstairs than upstairs, but I was beyond offering that information to the cherubs when they FINALLY began to settle - I think it was around 3 am? Then Shel was WIDE awake. and by wide awake I mean awake enough to keep me awake.
Nevertheless we all got up this morning and went around our business as usual. Numero Uno to school, me to work, and Cherub number two, the worst of the "fly phobia" among us, what did he do? Why HE TOOK A NAP the little fetcher.
Which brings us to my complaint.
Shel is exhausted after a long night of fly busting and is asleep. Max is exhausted after a long night of fly busting and a day at school and is asleep. Little bit however is WIDE AWAKE. I am sitting on the computer and I finally brought him downstairs because his constant yelling for me was going to wake his brother and that would have been the start of another sleepless night.
He is sitting on the couch watching television. I thought he was asleep but he just said to me " KNOCK KNOCK". I replied "Whose there?"
The punch line....." Tootie butt mommy"
Not only am I up in the night with the little punk. I am the brunt of his jokes.
That seem to be one of Maxies favourite things to say lately. That and "NEVER!"
I am feeling a bit like complaining about fairness myself right this second and so I will!
The boys have started into this phobia about bugs. Anything that flies. They SCREAM if they see a moth or a mosquito or a fly. Little Bit calls them all "BEES" but to my recollection he has not ever been stung and Shel and I are a fan of creepy crawlies and the role they play in the circle of life. OK. So mosquito's and flies not so much, but bees we like !
Anyway, for some unknown reason the boys have started freaking out about flying things in the house. At bedtime they are inconsolable if there is a fly in the bedroom. Last night Shel spent about half an hour swatting everything that might be alive upstairs int he boys room but they were convinced there was still something winged in the room. They would NOT settle down. After HOURS of up and down the stairs they finally came down and slept on the couch ( but this really doesn't make a lot of sense since there is more likely to be a fly downstairs than upstairs, but I was beyond offering that information to the cherubs when they FINALLY began to settle - I think it was around 3 am? Then Shel was WIDE awake. and by wide awake I mean awake enough to keep me awake.
Nevertheless we all got up this morning and went around our business as usual. Numero Uno to school, me to work, and Cherub number two, the worst of the "fly phobia" among us, what did he do? Why HE TOOK A NAP the little fetcher.
Which brings us to my complaint.
Shel is exhausted after a long night of fly busting and is asleep. Max is exhausted after a long night of fly busting and a day at school and is asleep. Little bit however is WIDE AWAKE. I am sitting on the computer and I finally brought him downstairs because his constant yelling for me was going to wake his brother and that would have been the start of another sleepless night.
He is sitting on the couch watching television. I thought he was asleep but he just said to me " KNOCK KNOCK". I replied "Whose there?"
The punch line....." Tootie butt mommy"
Not only am I up in the night with the little punk. I am the brunt of his jokes.
30 day drawing challenge
30 Days Drawing Challenge
From Here originally (but I got it from HERE)
I found this a while ago and thought I would really be interested in it but my drawing skills are not so hot. Then I started to play drawsome on my iphone and while I am still not convinced my drawing skills are any good I might as well draw something for my blog considering how much drawing I do for my friends anyway!
So here is the schedule and the first thing I have to draw is myself. I will try to have something ready to scan tomorrow to start day one of the challenge. Anyone care to join me? Jill?
Day 1 - Yourself
Day 2 - Favorite Animal
Day 3 - Favorite Food
Day 4 - Favorite Place
Day 5 - Best Friend
Day 6 - Favoriote Book Character [Can’t be a movie]
Day 7 - Favorite word
Day 8 - Favorite animated Character
Day 9 - Favorite TV Show
Day 10 - Favorite Candy
Day 11 - Turning point in my life
Day 12 - Most Recent accomplishment
Day 13 - Comic
Day 14 - Favorite Fairytale
Day 15 - Family picture
Day 16 - Inspiration
Day 17 - Favorite plant
Day 18 - Just a doodle
Day 19 - Something New
Day 20 - Somthing orange
Day 21 - Something you want
Day 22 - Something you miss
Day 23 - Something you Need
Day 24 - A couple
Day 25 - Scenery
Day 26 - Something you don’t like
Day 27 - someone you love
Day 28 - anything you’d like
Day 29 - A place you want to go
Day 30 - A congrats banner for finishing the Challenge
From Here originally (but I got it from HERE)
I found this a while ago and thought I would really be interested in it but my drawing skills are not so hot. Then I started to play drawsome on my iphone and while I am still not convinced my drawing skills are any good I might as well draw something for my blog considering how much drawing I do for my friends anyway!
So here is the schedule and the first thing I have to draw is myself. I will try to have something ready to scan tomorrow to start day one of the challenge. Anyone care to join me? Jill?
Day 1 - Yourself
Day 2 - Favorite Animal
Day 3 - Favorite Food
Day 4 - Favorite Place
Day 5 - Best Friend
Day 6 - Favoriote Book Character [Can’t be a movie]
Day 7 - Favorite word
Day 8 - Favorite animated Character
Day 9 - Favorite TV Show
Day 10 - Favorite Candy
Day 11 - Turning point in my life
Day 12 - Most Recent accomplishment
Day 13 - Comic
Day 14 - Favorite Fairytale
Day 15 - Family picture
Day 16 - Inspiration
Day 17 - Favorite plant
Day 18 - Just a doodle
Day 19 - Something New
Day 20 - Somthing orange
Day 21 - Something you want
Day 22 - Something you miss
Day 23 - Something you Need
Day 24 - A couple
Day 25 - Scenery
Day 26 - Something you don’t like
Day 27 - someone you love
Day 28 - anything you’d like
Day 29 - A place you want to go
Day 30 - A congrats banner for finishing the Challenge
Knocked his tooth out
Max lost his second front tooth yesterday. Trying to find it has proven to be challenging as he is not interested whatsoever in the tooth fairy coming to visit so there is no incentive for him to find the tooth. When I asked him how he lost it he informed me that his brother knocked it out - which his brother verified. I'm not exactly certain how I feel about this.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
I'm climbing onto a high horse about foster parenting. Yup I am.
We have been foster parents for more than six years. We have had a LOT of children placed with us over the years and we have had a ridiculous amount of funny, sad, happy and heartbreaking things happen in that time. Foster parenting is a HUGE commitment and one not to be taken lightly. I am about to say some HARSH things about foster care. You may not want to read!
It is something Shel and I always wanted to do and something we (for the most part) have enjoyed.
There are some things about foster parenting that are so frustrating words cannot express. I have avoided - for legal reasons - ever posting anything about the fostering experience on my blog. For some reason I have recently changed my mind about that and I AM now going to write about some of our experiences.
In foster parent training there is a lot of discussion about "Grief". A child who comes into your home as a foster parent is grieving. For MOST of these children they have recently experienced something profoundly painful. For many of them there has been a history of pain, of loss, of disappointment, but even if they came from a PERFECT home, one in which they were fed, clothed, nourished and loved right up until the minute they were removed and put in your home, they have suffered something tragic and THEY WILL BE GRIEVING.
I personally do not think that there is enough emphasis placed on the grief of foster children. Something that sticks out to me vividly from the training that I was in specifically spoke to the fact that "the younger a child is, the less grief they experience and the faster they adapt." The part about adapting may be true. A youngster might adapt to a new living situation more rapidly than an older child, but there is NO way a small child does not experience grief.
I recall one of the young children who came to stay with us. This child was young, under the age of two - we have had many children this age. This particular child came into our home and in behaviour was really amazing. From the outside it would have been easy to say this child was calm, quiet, good mannered and so forth. What I know now is that this child was in shock. There were no language skills to give any kind of verbal explanation as to what was happening. This child had NO idea what was happening and in all honestly I believe remained in shock for more than a week.
We become so "matter of fact" about what is happening. Worker calls or someone "on-call" calls to ask if a spot is available for placement in your home, driver comes over, driver drops off kid with bag of clothing (sometimes), Driver leaves, ON-call person says they will have worker call in a few days with details, family and new child are left "to adjust to one another". This explanation may seem harsh and may appear as though I am being callous, but EVERY child who was EVER placed in our care was placed in this way UNLESS we were asked to pick the child up ourselves.
The system is BROKEN. A broken system CONTRIBUTING TO broken families and broken children.
It is something Shel and I always wanted to do and something we (for the most part) have enjoyed.
There are some things about foster parenting that are so frustrating words cannot express. I have avoided - for legal reasons - ever posting anything about the fostering experience on my blog. For some reason I have recently changed my mind about that and I AM now going to write about some of our experiences.
In foster parent training there is a lot of discussion about "Grief". A child who comes into your home as a foster parent is grieving. For MOST of these children they have recently experienced something profoundly painful. For many of them there has been a history of pain, of loss, of disappointment, but even if they came from a PERFECT home, one in which they were fed, clothed, nourished and loved right up until the minute they were removed and put in your home, they have suffered something tragic and THEY WILL BE GRIEVING.
I personally do not think that there is enough emphasis placed on the grief of foster children. Something that sticks out to me vividly from the training that I was in specifically spoke to the fact that "the younger a child is, the less grief they experience and the faster they adapt." The part about adapting may be true. A youngster might adapt to a new living situation more rapidly than an older child, but there is NO way a small child does not experience grief.
I recall one of the young children who came to stay with us. This child was young, under the age of two - we have had many children this age. This particular child came into our home and in behaviour was really amazing. From the outside it would have been easy to say this child was calm, quiet, good mannered and so forth. What I know now is that this child was in shock. There were no language skills to give any kind of verbal explanation as to what was happening. This child had NO idea what was happening and in all honestly I believe remained in shock for more than a week.
We become so "matter of fact" about what is happening. Worker calls or someone "on-call" calls to ask if a spot is available for placement in your home, driver comes over, driver drops off kid with bag of clothing (sometimes), Driver leaves, ON-call person says they will have worker call in a few days with details, family and new child are left "to adjust to one another". This explanation may seem harsh and may appear as though I am being callous, but EVERY child who was EVER placed in our care was placed in this way UNLESS we were asked to pick the child up ourselves.
The system is BROKEN. A broken system CONTRIBUTING TO broken families and broken children.
Some good things happen in foster care - believe it or not.
If you google "foster parenting" it is extremely unfortunate that what you will come across is an overwhelming amount of HORROR stories about foster homes. There is this belief "out there" that foster homes are terrible places to be full of people trying to make a quick buck who treat the kids worse than they would have been treated in their family of origin. While I do not dispute that there have been some terrible things happening in foster homes I feel I must make some counter points to the notion that all foster homes are terrible places.
1. There are as many as 85 THOUSAND children in foster homes in Canada. That's a LOT of children. I believe I am an advocate for children. I wish this world were a perfect place but it is not. Terrible things happen to children in this world. Children are hungry, children are neglected, children are abused, but not all of these things ONLY happen to children in foster care. These things happen to children in "good" homes, in "good" neighbourhoods. The media reports on sensational cases. The media reports on things that happen to children in care - and I think they should - but the spotlight is extremely negative.
2. I have yet to find in my internet search, anything positive about foster parenting. Not ONE story. It would be pretty much impossible for a "good" foster home to be highlighted anyway, because foster parents are discouraged from contacting the media in any way. In fact, contacting the media is forbidden if it involves identifying foster children in any way. This makes it absolutely impossible for anything that is positive within foster care to ever be highlighted.
Here's the thing about kids in care. When you become a foster parent you sign all kinds of documents. You won't put photos of the kids in your home on facebook, or on a blog. You wont talk about the children to ANYONE (this is very difficult). The kids, if they are in school and do something really great - like get a student of the month award - are not permitted to have their photo taken for the school paper, for the local paper or be recognised in any way. If they are in a swim club or on a sports team that wins - no photos. NO recognition in any way in the media. So the kids themselves become invisible. I understand the motivation around protecting the children, but the motivation does not take into consideration all of the ramifications for the kids or consider the possibility that the kids might benefit in some way from being recognised (even within the school) for being a part of something positive.
Now I am not suggesting that I am a perfect foster parent. I am not suggesting that every moment in my home is worth broadcasting to the world, but what I AM saying is that foster parents out there are working hard and for the most part doing an AMAZING job and for NO POSITIVE RECOGNITION.
We have had happy dances, we have had student success, we have taught kids about proper eating, about feeding their brains, about playing and laughing and not needing to hoard food. We have clothed kids, nursed sick kids, cleaned up a LOT of puke, done more lice treatments than anyone would believe, we have shaved our heads AS A FAMILY to make sure kids didn't feel like they were different or disruptive. Would you know it - we have even cared for kids once they were removed from our home and placed back with families who reached out to us for help because they needed it and didn't want the "system" involved anymore.
They have a foster parent appreciation week. Did you know about it? Every year it comes and goes and we are reminded about it when we get the monthly newsletter saying " HAPPY FOSTER PARENT APPRECIATION WEEK" but the week has passed without us even knowing.
What I would like to ask is this - the next time you see something terrible about foster homes, think of the GOOD ones. There are some good ones.
1. There are as many as 85 THOUSAND children in foster homes in Canada. That's a LOT of children. I believe I am an advocate for children. I wish this world were a perfect place but it is not. Terrible things happen to children in this world. Children are hungry, children are neglected, children are abused, but not all of these things ONLY happen to children in foster care. These things happen to children in "good" homes, in "good" neighbourhoods. The media reports on sensational cases. The media reports on things that happen to children in care - and I think they should - but the spotlight is extremely negative.
2. I have yet to find in my internet search, anything positive about foster parenting. Not ONE story. It would be pretty much impossible for a "good" foster home to be highlighted anyway, because foster parents are discouraged from contacting the media in any way. In fact, contacting the media is forbidden if it involves identifying foster children in any way. This makes it absolutely impossible for anything that is positive within foster care to ever be highlighted.
Here's the thing about kids in care. When you become a foster parent you sign all kinds of documents. You won't put photos of the kids in your home on facebook, or on a blog. You wont talk about the children to ANYONE (this is very difficult). The kids, if they are in school and do something really great - like get a student of the month award - are not permitted to have their photo taken for the school paper, for the local paper or be recognised in any way. If they are in a swim club or on a sports team that wins - no photos. NO recognition in any way in the media. So the kids themselves become invisible. I understand the motivation around protecting the children, but the motivation does not take into consideration all of the ramifications for the kids or consider the possibility that the kids might benefit in some way from being recognised (even within the school) for being a part of something positive.
Now I am not suggesting that I am a perfect foster parent. I am not suggesting that every moment in my home is worth broadcasting to the world, but what I AM saying is that foster parents out there are working hard and for the most part doing an AMAZING job and for NO POSITIVE RECOGNITION.
We have had happy dances, we have had student success, we have taught kids about proper eating, about feeding their brains, about playing and laughing and not needing to hoard food. We have clothed kids, nursed sick kids, cleaned up a LOT of puke, done more lice treatments than anyone would believe, we have shaved our heads AS A FAMILY to make sure kids didn't feel like they were different or disruptive. Would you know it - we have even cared for kids once they were removed from our home and placed back with families who reached out to us for help because they needed it and didn't want the "system" involved anymore.
They have a foster parent appreciation week. Did you know about it? Every year it comes and goes and we are reminded about it when we get the monthly newsletter saying " HAPPY FOSTER PARENT APPRECIATION WEEK" but the week has passed without us even knowing.
What I would like to ask is this - the next time you see something terrible about foster homes, think of the GOOD ones. There are some good ones.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
People making up words
I have to laugh when people use words incorrectly. I work with someone who does this on a DAILY basis, but correcting the individual would be an exercise in futility.
Yesterday we were talking in the office about the upcoming election and the signs posted all over the community.
The comment was made "I see these signs up all over and have no idea who these people are. Are they even in my consistency?"
Oh, mylanta.
Yesterday we were talking in the office about the upcoming election and the signs posted all over the community.
The comment was made "I see these signs up all over and have no idea who these people are. Are they even in my consistency?"
Oh, mylanta.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Provincial Election Time
It seems to happen CONSTANTLY.
Driving to work I still see elections signs in the ditches that weren't cleaned up from the last election... wait, that was a federal one?
Whoever it is, it seems like elections in Alberta never end. Federal, Municipal, Provincial, there always seems to be signs along the road to vote for someone. First on the side of the road and then in the ditch. (A pet peeve of mine - you want me to vote for you but you don't care enough about where I live to clean up after yourself?)
And yet, this time around, my interest has been piqued. I'm pretty sure it all started when the Wildrose Party unveiled it's elections bus in March.
I personally thought it was humorous. The party received all KINDS of attention as a result of the placement of the "wheels of the bus" including this statement by NDP Rachel Notley, who said the issue is not about sexism, but bad management. "They need to question the quality of their election team in allowing the bus to go forward like that," said Notley.
REALLY Rachel? Come on.
ANYWAY.
The whole bus fiasco brought the Wildrose party onto my radar screen. Who are these people?
I live in ultra-conservative Alberta. How does this happen to me? First Ultra conservative Utah, now ultra conservative Alberta? I am not a fan of the PC party but living here I feel as though the "tradition" of the PC's has more weight in elections than the issues and though I always cast my vote against them it feels a bit futile.
The other night while sitting at home the phone rang. Not anything new. I answered it. Something new! The person on the phone identified themselves as calling from the Wildrose party. Under normal circumstances I would have thanked them, or not, and hung up. I have been mildy interested in finding out who they are though and so I thought I would take a few minutes to have a discussion. The caller asked if I had decided who I was voting for in the upcoming election. I said I was undecided. She thanked me and hung up!
I suppose all they were looking for was a number of people voting, but I think they missed an opportunity to tell me a little about their stance on issues when I was willing to have a conversation.
So I have taken it upon myself to check into who these people are. Well surprise, surprise they are another right wing political party. Having said that I think it is time that the PC's in Alberta are given a run for their money. All is not well in provincial politics in Alberta!
I am interested to see where this election takes the province, and I just hope after all is said and done the signs are cleaned up!
Driving to work I still see elections signs in the ditches that weren't cleaned up from the last election... wait, that was a federal one?
Whoever it is, it seems like elections in Alberta never end. Federal, Municipal, Provincial, there always seems to be signs along the road to vote for someone. First on the side of the road and then in the ditch. (A pet peeve of mine - you want me to vote for you but you don't care enough about where I live to clean up after yourself?)
And yet, this time around, my interest has been piqued. I'm pretty sure it all started when the Wildrose Party unveiled it's elections bus in March.
I personally thought it was humorous. The party received all KINDS of attention as a result of the placement of the "wheels of the bus" including this statement by NDP Rachel Notley, who said the issue is not about sexism, but bad management. "They need to question the quality of their election team in allowing the bus to go forward like that," said Notley.
REALLY Rachel? Come on.
ANYWAY.
The whole bus fiasco brought the Wildrose party onto my radar screen. Who are these people?
I live in ultra-conservative Alberta. How does this happen to me? First Ultra conservative Utah, now ultra conservative Alberta? I am not a fan of the PC party but living here I feel as though the "tradition" of the PC's has more weight in elections than the issues and though I always cast my vote against them it feels a bit futile.
The other night while sitting at home the phone rang. Not anything new. I answered it. Something new! The person on the phone identified themselves as calling from the Wildrose party. Under normal circumstances I would have thanked them, or not, and hung up. I have been mildy interested in finding out who they are though and so I thought I would take a few minutes to have a discussion. The caller asked if I had decided who I was voting for in the upcoming election. I said I was undecided. She thanked me and hung up!
I suppose all they were looking for was a number of people voting, but I think they missed an opportunity to tell me a little about their stance on issues when I was willing to have a conversation.
So I have taken it upon myself to check into who these people are. Well surprise, surprise they are another right wing political party. Having said that I think it is time that the PC's in Alberta are given a run for their money. All is not well in provincial politics in Alberta!
I am interested to see where this election takes the province, and I just hope after all is said and done the signs are cleaned up!
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Irony in ordering item from Amazon
I ordered my mom a GPS.
I ordered it from Amazon.ca
It was ordered on March 15th and as of today has not been delivered.
I recieved an email today. This is what the email said
"Order ID/Commande N°:
1 of/sur TomTom XL 340S 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
-------------- Begin message / Début du message -------------
Hi Julie ,
From shipment trucking info we have noticed that your address on file was incomplete and therefore the post could not deliver your order on March 23. Could you please confirm if this address was correct:
Your mom
Street Address
City, Province
Postal Code
Canada
We can ship it back if you could please provide a correct address.
Regards
Are you serious?
I order a GPS and the shipping company cannot find my moms house?
Perhaps they should have opened the box and used the GPS.
Idiots
I ordered it from Amazon.ca
It was ordered on March 15th and as of today has not been delivered.
I recieved an email today. This is what the email said
"Order ID/Commande N°:
1 of/sur TomTom XL 340S 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
-------------- Begin message / Début du message -------------
Hi Julie ,
From shipment trucking info we have noticed that your address on file was incomplete and therefore the post could not deliver your order on March 23. Could you please confirm if this address was correct:
Your mom
Street Address
City, Province
Postal Code
Canada
We can ship it back if you could please provide a correct address.
Regards
Are you serious?
I order a GPS and the shipping company cannot find my moms house?
Perhaps they should have opened the box and used the GPS.
Idiots
Thursday, March 8, 2012
the way commercials stick with me
There are some jingles that I would say have been very successful simply because years and years later I can still recall them. Sure I have a strange memory for weird and useless information, but I have to give credit to the advertisers who have come up with some of these things.
Today I was driving to work and listening to the radio, to one of the very few radio stations we pick up way in the north and a song by Stevie Wonder came on.
I am NOT (never have been and never will be) a fan of Stevie Wonder. If I had a choice of multiple radio stations I would have changed it, but I don't so I suffered through the song - as I suffer though many things from this particular station.
As the chorus began I laughed out loud. You see, this song, MANY years ago was used in a commercial. As Stevie sang "You are the sunshine of my life.." I finished it with the commercial at the top of my lungs..." MINUTE MAID!"
It made the painful moment bearable. Way to go Minute Maid on a successful media campaign!
Today I was driving to work and listening to the radio, to one of the very few radio stations we pick up way in the north and a song by Stevie Wonder came on.
I am NOT (never have been and never will be) a fan of Stevie Wonder. If I had a choice of multiple radio stations I would have changed it, but I don't so I suffered through the song - as I suffer though many things from this particular station.
As the chorus began I laughed out loud. You see, this song, MANY years ago was used in a commercial. As Stevie sang "You are the sunshine of my life.." I finished it with the commercial at the top of my lungs..." MINUTE MAID!"
It made the painful moment bearable. Way to go Minute Maid on a successful media campaign!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Lent
Every year as kind of a joke I give up "hope" for Lent.
I am not a Catholic and growing up we never practised Lent or "giving up" anything for 40 days and nights before Easter. I do like the idea of a sacrifice made in remembrance of Christ's sacrifice (even though I do not practise any religion in my life now).
Giving up hope amused me, but this year I decided not to do it. I just want my life in 2012 to be different than in the past, better, more hopeful! and even though it was just a joke I decided to spend my energy putting out positive thoughts and energy and hopefully (ha ha) reap something wonderful.
I was inspired by another blogger Sulli, who set a goal to "pursue things with fearless abandon". So that is my goal.
I haven't actually started yet, which puts me a little behind the 8 ball in terms of deciding what I will actually do and getting down to doing it. I want this Lent period for me to be about creating. I'll let you know how it goes.
I am not a Catholic and growing up we never practised Lent or "giving up" anything for 40 days and nights before Easter. I do like the idea of a sacrifice made in remembrance of Christ's sacrifice (even though I do not practise any religion in my life now).
Giving up hope amused me, but this year I decided not to do it. I just want my life in 2012 to be different than in the past, better, more hopeful! and even though it was just a joke I decided to spend my energy putting out positive thoughts and energy and hopefully (ha ha) reap something wonderful.
I was inspired by another blogger Sulli, who set a goal to "pursue things with fearless abandon". So that is my goal.
I haven't actually started yet, which puts me a little behind the 8 ball in terms of deciding what I will actually do and getting down to doing it. I want this Lent period for me to be about creating. I'll let you know how it goes.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Letter from Max
Yesterday when I went to pick up the mail there was an envelope addressed to Shel and I.
I recognized the handwriting as Maxies.
He went on a class trip to the post office and sent us a letter.
Inside was a valentine for us.
I LOVE being a parent.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
So much has happened, culminating in a visit to the ER!
It's been a while since we spent a day in the emergency room but our track record ended yesterday when CJ fell through a window pane and cut his knee badly.
He was outside and in his Ski pants AND pants and was cut through both of them. My poor little guy was a real trouper though. AS we sat in the hospital waiting for the doctor he played games on my phone. He REALLY wants a motorcycle, but the time to try and convince Shel of that was NOT while we were waiting to get him stitched up!
I must say that the WORST part of parenting has to be seeing your kids in pain. I held him while the doc was putting in the freezing and he SCREAMED. He was looking at me with these HUGE crocodile tears streaming down his face. I was just holding him saying "Sorry buddy, sorry buddy, it will stop hurting soon."
This morning he said his knee was "good" and Max was following him around telling him not to run, so he will be well looked after these next two weeks as we wait for stitches to be removed.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
making a rink
It's shameful I know, we live in the Great White North and our boys don't know how to skate. Give me SOME slack - neither Shel nor I skate either!
We have in our yard a dugout. A perfect place to teach the boys to skate. It does take some work to maintain an outdoor rink though you know. It isn't as easy as opening a tap and letting water flood the yard. (and I dont know how people do that anyway, I am terrified of pipes freezing)
I decided this year that I need to teach the boys how to skate and since we have our own pond we have the perfect opportunity to do it right in our own yard.
When I got home from work the other evening I thought we would clear off a spot and then this weekend get some skates for the boys. Clearing a spot would have been made easier if I had two things - a shovel for myself (we have one shovel but Max is apparently the "boss" of it and so he would not let me shovel more than one row at a time) and easier access to some water - because even a pond does not have perfect ice beneath the snow. I have a feeling I will know more about pond ice by the end of the winter than I ever thought I would know.
The weather has has been REALLY mild lately, so I also hope it stays cold enough to get some skating done before the ice melts.
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