Stomach Flu Strikes. Poor Indy! I had just made lunches for tomorrow and laid my weary self down when she called me. She's got a fever and everything. She is a puddle of misery. I hope she gets better soon - she has AP Calculus exams coming up that are requiring alot of time and mental stamina. Please be praying for her! Oh, and Joe was sick today too. He has an ear infection. Wonder what horrible germs were all over Prom?! Ewwwwww.
I always shudder to think of a nasty stomach flu going thru the whole house. Usually we are fairly fortunate and it only hits one or two of us. A time or two though there wasn't a soul left standing. Ugh. My mom leaves for San Diego day after tomorrow. There's just something about being exposed to a contagious illness just before you go on a trip that makes it seem more likely you'll get it. Makes me think of Bobbie being sick at Katy's - it's so awful to be sick at somebody else's house!
Well, it's going to be a long night and I'm working the next two days at the preschool. Timing and Murphy's Law being what they are, what do you think the odds of that happening are?! I can't tell you how many times I was scheduled to go in (crash day for one) and had to cancel. I just accepted a two day a week job there next year too...they'll understand, but I hate doing that nonetheless (wow, it's been a long time since I've used that word).
2023
Monday, April 21, 2008
SMS or Text Messaging
From Text messaging affects student relationships
...Like many things in life, what's extremely convenient is often less effective than what is real. It's like fast food: we all eat it, but we know it's not good for us, it's just there and convenient.
When our children turn 14, they get a cell phone. I do this for our benefit as parents. I want my children to be able to keep us informed of where they are, who they are with, plan changes etc. Also, I want to be able to contact them should I need to. They in turn receive the benefits of using the cell phone for their social purposes.
However, I have never had SMS as a part of our cell phone plan. My original thinking at the time Indy got her phone was that the cost was too high and I did not want my children to be "available" on a 24 hour basis. We originally set a window of 6am to 10pm for cell phone use if they were at home, but have since relaxed that as they have gotten older.
Since that time, I have read several news articles that have reinforced my belief that SMS opens up a can of worms that I would clearly like to remain shut:
From For teen daters, a cellphone can be an abusive leash
...for a substantial number of teens who are dating, communications on cellphones and computers are taking a turn toward obsession and abuse.
...When you add the technological piece, there are more ways to track someone, to keep someone on an 'electronic leash,' if you will.
...parents have an obligation to limit cellphone and computer use to something reasonable. She advises blocking the computer and taking away cellphones overnight.
From Tech a tool in teen dating abuse, survey finds
...About one in three teens surveyed who have been in a relationship said their partner had text messaged them 10, 20 and up to 30 times per hour to find out where they are, what they're doing, or who they're with.
From R Teens Txt Msg Addicts?
...Indeed, 31 percent of 18- to 28-year olds -- more than any other age group -- feel the need to answer their phone, even when it interrupts what they are doing, according to the Pew report.
From Teen Driver Menace: Text-Messaging
...Nearly 50 percent of teens admit to text messaging while driving -- an alarming statistic that now rivals driving and drinking in terms of danger and prevalence.
And the newest one Trading Nude Photos Via Mobile Phone Now Part of Teen Dating, Experts Say
...said he's received such unsolicited messages, including one from a classmate while he was sitting with his girlfriend.
...This happens a lot, it crosses every racial socio-economic group. Christian kids are doing it. Jewish kids are doing it.
...Adolescents are not known for thinking things through — that's a generational constant. Now, with the technology that is out there, instead of taking a picture and passing it around the classroom, it's online, which is a whole different ball game. (Teens) don't see it that way.
Most if not all cell phone companies allow you to disable the IP address on individual cellphones so that it cannot be used for internet access or text messaging. While I can see the convenience provided by text messaging, for me the potential risks outweigh the convenience factor. And though our children do not necessarily agree with the lockdown, it has not proven to be a social inhibitor, only an "inconvenience".
Just my thoughts on Text Messaging...
...Like many things in life, what's extremely convenient is often less effective than what is real. It's like fast food: we all eat it, but we know it's not good for us, it's just there and convenient.
When our children turn 14, they get a cell phone. I do this for our benefit as parents. I want my children to be able to keep us informed of where they are, who they are with, plan changes etc. Also, I want to be able to contact them should I need to. They in turn receive the benefits of using the cell phone for their social purposes.
However, I have never had SMS as a part of our cell phone plan. My original thinking at the time Indy got her phone was that the cost was too high and I did not want my children to be "available" on a 24 hour basis. We originally set a window of 6am to 10pm for cell phone use if they were at home, but have since relaxed that as they have gotten older.
Since that time, I have read several news articles that have reinforced my belief that SMS opens up a can of worms that I would clearly like to remain shut:
From For teen daters, a cellphone can be an abusive leash
...for a substantial number of teens who are dating, communications on cellphones and computers are taking a turn toward obsession and abuse.
...When you add the technological piece, there are more ways to track someone, to keep someone on an 'electronic leash,' if you will.
...parents have an obligation to limit cellphone and computer use to something reasonable. She advises blocking the computer and taking away cellphones overnight.
From Tech a tool in teen dating abuse, survey finds
...About one in three teens surveyed who have been in a relationship said their partner had text messaged them 10, 20 and up to 30 times per hour to find out where they are, what they're doing, or who they're with.
From R Teens Txt Msg Addicts?
...Indeed, 31 percent of 18- to 28-year olds -- more than any other age group -- feel the need to answer their phone, even when it interrupts what they are doing, according to the Pew report.
From Teen Driver Menace: Text-Messaging
...Nearly 50 percent of teens admit to text messaging while driving -- an alarming statistic that now rivals driving and drinking in terms of danger and prevalence.
And the newest one Trading Nude Photos Via Mobile Phone Now Part of Teen Dating, Experts Say
...said he's received such unsolicited messages, including one from a classmate while he was sitting with his girlfriend.
...This happens a lot, it crosses every racial socio-economic group. Christian kids are doing it. Jewish kids are doing it.
...Adolescents are not known for thinking things through — that's a generational constant. Now, with the technology that is out there, instead of taking a picture and passing it around the classroom, it's online, which is a whole different ball game. (Teens) don't see it that way.
Most if not all cell phone companies allow you to disable the IP address on individual cellphones so that it cannot be used for internet access or text messaging. While I can see the convenience provided by text messaging, for me the potential risks outweigh the convenience factor. And though our children do not necessarily agree with the lockdown, it has not proven to be a social inhibitor, only an "inconvenience".
Just my thoughts on Text Messaging...
Sunday, April 20, 2008
There's a New Volvo in Town
Yay! Our new to us Volvo arrived Saturday! We had a real smooth drive to church today. The car's nice performance unfortunately didn't improve the backseat shenanigans, but I guess there's only so much you can expect from a Volvo.
Prom Photos
Taryn and Mike were working the photography set up and enlisted Gib and Mariah's help. They were glad to stop what they were doing and have their pictures taken so our Prom photos would turn out well. Can't you tell? (OK this is funny, Mariah just walked in as I was doing this and yells, OH NO! They're putting it on their blog! That's exactly what I didn't want to happen!! This is positively torture!!!)
My Favorite Smirk
Gib showing Taryn how Indy will descend the stairs
Indy & Joe
My Favorite Smirk
Gib showing Taryn how Indy will descend the stairs
And now for Prom Night!
Here goes the REAL photo blogumentary:
Indy's Grand Entrance
Indy & Joe
(It is hard to get Joe to smile for a photo)
Another pose, still no smile.
Another pose, still no smile.
But look at Indy, she's a natural
I couldn't take it anymore, cracked a joke,
and Taryn captured it! A smile!
Of course his eyes closed, but look at the smile!!!!
A few shots later, we even got a laugh
They had a fun time at Prom and Joe returned Indy home right on time...at 2 a.m.
They had a fun time at Prom and Joe returned Indy home right on time...at 2 a.m. Prom Dinner
The dinner turned out great. Mike did an awesome job on his new BBQ - couldn't have been better at a restaurant! I did well too, if I don't say so myself. We're a great team! We used my grandmothers wedding set china from Japan. It looked really nice. We served Ribeye Steaks, Tangerine Chicken, Salmon, Baked Potatoes, Steak Fries, Green Beans, Corn, Rolls, Ceasar Salad and had hot brownies with ice cream and topping for dessert.
Back in the kitchen: I got kinda get distracted when I was setting the table and never did get back to put out the silverware, but Taryn and I flew around the table and got it set before anyone got back from the kitchen with salad on their *chilled* salad plates. When everything was coming down to the wire, everyone in the kitchen getting their salad, Taryn & I returning from our mad dash to put out salad and dinner forks, steak knives and butter knives, it was time to start taking several things out of the oven before they burned. The kitchen was full of people and I'm looking all over for my pot holders. I wondered if Mike took them, because I could have sworn I left them next to the oven. Tayrn looks outside and says he did. So I grab two dish towels from under the sink and say "alternate pot holders!" and whisk the Sister Shubert rolls out of the oven. One of the boys goes, "you're my hero" and for a second there I couldn't decide if it was because of the pot holder thing or the food, then I saw him and a couple other boys eyes glaze over at the rolls! Everyone was salivating over the bread, not my amazing adaptability in the kitchen! Oh well, I was impressed with myself.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Crazy for Catnip
Mariah went to a garden nursery with Grammy last week and came home with catnip. I knew trouble when I saw it, shook my head, and planted it in a spot where we'd have front row seats. Chino follows me wherever I go and has been with me helping me plant everything all week, so he was first to experience real live catnip in the plant form vs stuffed in the mouse toy he's enjoyed in the past. Well, now that Mariah's hooked 'em up with the Good Stuff, I'm sure those toys will be beneath them. I will be back at the nursery later this week to buy more catnip. As you can see from Gib's photo blog we need one per cat: (I may be prejudiced, but I think you need to full screen these works of feline photographic art!)
4. Licking it, Loving it
5. OD'd on it
6. After a short drug induced nap, 
1. Chino helped me plant the catnip and got first sniff
2. Zoom-Out so you can see what a little catnip
can do to a BIG cat
3. Rolling in it
4. Licking it, Loving it
5. OD'd on it
6. After a short drug induced nap, Chino awakens with a renewed sense of his own importance as
The King of the Catnip
7. What's This?! Intruder Alert! Intruder Alert!
9. He tries to be cute to get a little more than 
11. Several swipes later, Diego leaves in a huff
8. Diego follows his nose, takes one sniff, and flops down
"Can't we share?"
9. He tries to be cute to get a little more than the measly paw Chino was sharing.
10. Cute definitely didn't work
11. Several swipes later, Diego leaves in a huff
12. And goes under the deck to sulk
13. Gib felt bad for him, so I yelled "Kitty Meat!" and Diego came running out
13. Gib felt bad for him, so I yelled "Kitty Meat!" and Diego came running out That's how he got his nickname Kitty Cow
14. Mariah came home from school and wanted Pixie to have a turn. Boy next door was helping Gib take pictures, and Pixie was not happy with the extra noise. She needed a hand to be introduced to the catnip...what a dirty hand it was too
(remember I WAS gardening during all this!)
15. Pixie was starting to jump away, then got a whiff
16. Ooooooh yeah......
17. Look at her eyes, she's starting to.....
17. Look at her eyes, she's starting to.....
18. GO WILD!!!!!
19. Gotta go, BUT.....I'll be back!
19. Gotta go, BUT.....I'll be back!
20. MY CHINO - Isn't he beautiful?!
Note: Artistic license was taken in the order in which the catnip-documentary photos were presented to you, our faithful blogging audience, to enhance the actual events of the story line. Those of you who nitpick these things apart, will notice that the Chino fluff, did in fact, appear much sooner than the actual fight scene.
Note: Artistic license was taken in the order in which the catnip-documentary photos were presented to you, our faithful blogging audience, to enhance the actual events of the story line. Those of you who nitpick these things apart, will notice that the Chino fluff, did in fact, appear much sooner than the actual fight scene.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)