I love quotes. Can't get enough of them. Quotes from literature, movies, public figures...anyone, anywhere. Just love quotes. I have a couple of them on post-it notes at my desk...a Word file in my computer with pages and pages of quotes...whenever I find a new one I put it in that file and, voila, instant inspiration!
Two in particular that I like:
"I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to dance better than myself." (Mikhail Baryshnikov). I really love this...because it's so true and it's something I am trying to work on. I don't have to be better than anyone else -- I just have to be better than the person I was yesterday. It's a reminder to stay away from that trap so many of us fall into -- the trap in which we compare ourselves to others and belittle and berate ourselves for falling short. I'm working on this in my life all the time, and I'm working hard to teach this lesson to my daughters.
But right now, and every August and September (end of the fiscal year), my favorite quote is, "Lack of preparation on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part." Oh, how I wish I could say that to customers who bring requirements packages to me at the very end of the fiscal year and expect me to wave a magic wand and do two thing: fix all of the errors and problems in their requirements package, and then get the requirement negotiated and on contract before midnight on September 30. But the sad political reality of life is that I can't do that. My office is a "quick response" office, which means we get the junk packages that other people didn't want to do, didn't have time to do, or don't know how to do. Not only do we have to do them, but we have to do them quickly, and right. Much easier said than done. Much easier.
And so I work a lot of late nights and weekends in August and September. And our entire family is less than harmonious and happy about the whole thing, since we're all so busy in August and September...school starting, fall sports, work demands, etc.
On the home front, B had her first soccer game of the season today. She has improved so much over the spring season -- it's amazing! In her game today her team scored more points than her other team scored during the entire spring season. LOL I think this will be a much better season for her...for two reasons -- she's kind of figured out how the game works, and she has a great coach (my best friend's husband). It's amazing what a difference great coaching makes. We're seeing that in A's softball season...not that her coaches are great, but they're a vast improvement over the coach she had last year. And A has improved in many ways -- in skills, in leadership on the team, and in sportsmanship.
And in other developments, it's possible that I will get to go visit my sister M for a long weekend next month. I hope it works out -- I'm really excited about the possibility and really need the break and the battery recharge I know I would get from the trip. Keep your fingers crossed that it all works out!
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Updates on the girls....
Just a quick update on the girls...A's team won their game on Tuesday. A is not happy with some things going on with softball right now, but she's handling it pretty well. She's learned a lot about sportsmanship and I'm very proud of her.
B auditioned for school chorus and was selected. She was also chosen as a student council rep for her class. She's so excited about that! A was also on student council and was vice president one year. She did not inherit my love of all things government/political science/civics...social studies is her least favorite class, where it was always one of my favorites. Perhaps B will inherit this penchant? Time will tell.
This week is standardized testing at school and both girls are bored silly. I remember being the same way during testing time. B-O-R-I-N-G!
B auditioned for school chorus and was selected. She was also chosen as a student council rep for her class. She's so excited about that! A was also on student council and was vice president one year. She did not inherit my love of all things government/political science/civics...social studies is her least favorite class, where it was always one of my favorites. Perhaps B will inherit this penchant? Time will tell.
This week is standardized testing at school and both girls are bored silly. I remember being the same way during testing time. B-O-R-I-N-G!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
A thought......
I haven't been able to find the thing I wrote about 9-11. I will continue to look...it wasn't my best writing ever, but I was proud of it.
In the meantime, I spent a lot of time thinking yesterday about 9-11...what it was...what it did...what it meant..and what it continues to be, what it continues to do, and what it continues to mean.
It means my children will never really remember a pre-9-11 world. It means B doesn't remember a time that we weren't at war in Iraq. While I can't think of a generation, ever, that has not been touched by war, I think this one has made the most impact on me. Not because of me...but because of my children.
I remember the panic I felt immediately upon hearing/seeing the news about the first plane hitting the World Trade Center. I watched the entire thing unfold on TV. A was on a field trip about an hour and a half away...in a big city, downtown with big buildings. The only thing I could think about was making sure she was safe and getting her home. And I remember realizing that she would not have a lot of clear memories of the world before 9-11. I remember wanting to shield her from the world, from the news, from reality. As a parent, my job is to keep my children safe. To protect them. To provide a safety net from the cold, cruel realities of life. And suddenly, in an instant, I felt that I had failed. And that I would never again be able to provide that safety net.
I know that I was being somewhat irrational. But that's how it felt -- like I would never be able to keep my children safe again.
I know the war is not popular. That does not change the fact that there are many, many brave men and women who put themselves in harm's way every minute of the day to protect us. To protect my children, and your children. To protect our way of life. To protect the rights of those who vehemently disagree with the war -- to protect their right to speak out and to say mean, cruel, hateful things. Those men and women deserve nothing less than our complete respect and support.
In life, it seems there aren't many absolutes. "Death and taxes," as the saying goes. But there is another set of absolutes -- right and wrong. Unfortunately, the right thing is very rarely the easy thing.
So, allow me to paraphrase the words of a very wise (albeit fictional) man, Albus Dumbledore. I have used parentheses to indicate where I have changed wording:
"It is our choices...that show what we truly are..."
and "Remember (9-11). Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of (evil). Remember (9-11)."
When faced with the choice between what is right and what is easy....remember that there are absolutes. And while the right thing may not be easy, popular, fun, or enjoyable...it is still the right thing.
Always remember.
In the meantime, I spent a lot of time thinking yesterday about 9-11...what it was...what it did...what it meant..and what it continues to be, what it continues to do, and what it continues to mean.
It means my children will never really remember a pre-9-11 world. It means B doesn't remember a time that we weren't at war in Iraq. While I can't think of a generation, ever, that has not been touched by war, I think this one has made the most impact on me. Not because of me...but because of my children.
I remember the panic I felt immediately upon hearing/seeing the news about the first plane hitting the World Trade Center. I watched the entire thing unfold on TV. A was on a field trip about an hour and a half away...in a big city, downtown with big buildings. The only thing I could think about was making sure she was safe and getting her home. And I remember realizing that she would not have a lot of clear memories of the world before 9-11. I remember wanting to shield her from the world, from the news, from reality. As a parent, my job is to keep my children safe. To protect them. To provide a safety net from the cold, cruel realities of life. And suddenly, in an instant, I felt that I had failed. And that I would never again be able to provide that safety net.
I know that I was being somewhat irrational. But that's how it felt -- like I would never be able to keep my children safe again.
I know the war is not popular. That does not change the fact that there are many, many brave men and women who put themselves in harm's way every minute of the day to protect us. To protect my children, and your children. To protect our way of life. To protect the rights of those who vehemently disagree with the war -- to protect their right to speak out and to say mean, cruel, hateful things. Those men and women deserve nothing less than our complete respect and support.
In life, it seems there aren't many absolutes. "Death and taxes," as the saying goes. But there is another set of absolutes -- right and wrong. Unfortunately, the right thing is very rarely the easy thing.
So, allow me to paraphrase the words of a very wise (albeit fictional) man, Albus Dumbledore. I have used parentheses to indicate where I have changed wording:
"It is our choices...that show what we truly are..."
and "Remember (9-11). Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of (evil). Remember (9-11)."
When faced with the choice between what is right and what is easy....remember that there are absolutes. And while the right thing may not be easy, popular, fun, or enjoyable...it is still the right thing.
Always remember.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Never Forget....
Last year (or the year before) I wrote some thoughts about 9-11 and remembering the events of that day, for an e-mail group I belong to. I'm trying to find what I wrote so I can post it here.
In the mean time, I just want to say....I will never forget. We will never forget.
In the mean time, I just want to say....I will never forget. We will never forget.
Monday, September 10, 2007
A quick update....
I hope to have the next installment of our trip report done in the next day or so. Last night I uploaded all of the pictures to an online developing service...even with regular shipping and regular processing the total cost was more than I had anticipated. That's what happens when you take hundreds of pictures! LOL I've already bought a lovely black leather album, paper, some embellishments, etc., so once I have the pictures in hand I really don't have any excuse to not get started on the scrapbook. Well, maybe one big excuse...my scrapbooking room is a complete disaster and I can't even get to my work tables, let alone actually have space on the tables to work! I guess I'll have to deal with that before I can get working on the album. My goal is to have the scrapbook finished by Christmas. We'll see how it goes....
A's team won their first softball game of the season last week. She played really well -- a double play, three runs scored, a fabulous bunt (according to those who know much more than I do, it was perfectly placed), and overall good play. The team really needed the morale boost they got from that win. We'll see how the rest of the season goes. She's learning some good lessons this season...lessons she really doesn't want to learn, but it's good for her and she's finding that she is able to play well at every position they put her in, although her heart is definitely on the pitcher's mound.
B is thoroughly enjoying soccer. She got her hair cut again on Saturday -- I thought it was adorable the way it was but she said it was too long and hot for soccer. LOL We also had an "almost" catastrophe...somewhere along the way Friday or overnight Friday she lost an earring. She noticed it Saturday morning. I had a hard time getting an earring back in that ear but we managed it without her getting woozy and passing out. She has a high pain tolerance...for everything but her ears. Not sure why that is.
Work is in full swing. Very busy. Crazy. I worked several hours on Saturday and the girls came with me. They actually did pretty well. I brought a portable DVD player, they brought snacks, books, and GameBoys, and played hide and seek while I worked. I was pleasantly surprised at how well they did.
A and I sewed a cute tote bag yesterday afternoon. We'll be making tote bags with the Beehives at church tomorrow night so we decided we should probably go ahead and make one so we knew exactly how to do it! It turned out really cute and it was SO easy. The girls won't have any trouble at all making these and I think it will be a lot of fun for them. I have to go tonight to buy the rest of the supplies and then I'll put together a kit for each girl so they don't have to cut anything....just fold, pin, and sew (with lots of adult assistance). The tote bags are so quick and easy...I have a feeling A and B will want to look at placemats whenever we go shopping and pick out new ones for new tote bags! Uh oh! Well, at least they're not expensive...total cost for the tote bag we made yesterday afternoon was about $3 for the placemat and ribbon. Not too bad!
And that's life in my little universe. Not very exciting, is it? LOL
A's team won their first softball game of the season last week. She played really well -- a double play, three runs scored, a fabulous bunt (according to those who know much more than I do, it was perfectly placed), and overall good play. The team really needed the morale boost they got from that win. We'll see how the rest of the season goes. She's learning some good lessons this season...lessons she really doesn't want to learn, but it's good for her and she's finding that she is able to play well at every position they put her in, although her heart is definitely on the pitcher's mound.
B is thoroughly enjoying soccer. She got her hair cut again on Saturday -- I thought it was adorable the way it was but she said it was too long and hot for soccer. LOL We also had an "almost" catastrophe...somewhere along the way Friday or overnight Friday she lost an earring. She noticed it Saturday morning. I had a hard time getting an earring back in that ear but we managed it without her getting woozy and passing out. She has a high pain tolerance...for everything but her ears. Not sure why that is.
Work is in full swing. Very busy. Crazy. I worked several hours on Saturday and the girls came with me. They actually did pretty well. I brought a portable DVD player, they brought snacks, books, and GameBoys, and played hide and seek while I worked. I was pleasantly surprised at how well they did.
A and I sewed a cute tote bag yesterday afternoon. We'll be making tote bags with the Beehives at church tomorrow night so we decided we should probably go ahead and make one so we knew exactly how to do it! It turned out really cute and it was SO easy. The girls won't have any trouble at all making these and I think it will be a lot of fun for them. I have to go tonight to buy the rest of the supplies and then I'll put together a kit for each girl so they don't have to cut anything....just fold, pin, and sew (with lots of adult assistance). The tote bags are so quick and easy...I have a feeling A and B will want to look at placemats whenever we go shopping and pick out new ones for new tote bags! Uh oh! Well, at least they're not expensive...total cost for the tote bag we made yesterday afternoon was about $3 for the placemat and ribbon. Not too bad!
And that's life in my little universe. Not very exciting, is it? LOL
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