Shopping

My mother, my niece and I went shopping today.  We had a wonderful time except for a few small things.  My niece is 13 years old and has her heart set on wearing Missme shorts this summer.  Of course, they are  priced outrageously in my opinion, but I told her we would look.  The shorts are in the junior section so I assume the manufacturers know that young girls are wearing them, so can anyone explain to me why they make daisy dukes look long?  Of course , she was not allowed to purchase them which she took with a disappointed sigh and a "but everyone else is wearing them".  I just don' t understand why anyone would let their young daughter wear these shorts in public. They can't have a 1/2 yard of fabric in them.  It's ridiculous. 
 I started really noticing what the clothes in the junior department consist of.  One shoulder , sheer shirts seem to be the "in" thing.  Now I know if you wore this, hopefully you would put a tank or some other type of camisole on under it, but seriously,  Is this what we want to teach our 13-16 year old girls?  The sexier you dress, the better ?  I really don't understand.
Well, unfortunately for my niece, she has an aunt who will not allow that to happen. We found her a pair of Missme capris and she's just going to have to live with those and her regular khaki shorts.  I hope she knows why I said no, and I hope she understands how much I love her.  But even if she doesn't, she's still not wearing those shorts.

Let the Games Begin

I should start by saying I've never read the Hunger Games trilogy, but my neice has. She loves them. I will probably read it at some point, but for now I'll just talk about what I've been told. 

The female lead is strong, smart, and capable.  It's always nice to see a movie or read a book with a strong female character, but it's doubly nice when it's aimed at a younger audience.  I am blessed to have a family that taught female independence before it was cool or accepted. So while we  love to look at the latest fashion  or make up trends, we also preach education and self-reliance.  From my neice's exuberant conversations, these books promote those same qualities
 
 So,  a large number of my family will probably be at the theater watching a movie about a group of teens fighting to the death on reality tv next weekend. Let the games begin!

Silver Lining

Usually when I decide on a blog topic, it seems to become a gripe or a whine session.  If something has irritated me during the week, I take the opportunity to share the problem and my feelings . If I'm tired and stressed , I share that with everyone. So when thinking about what to write today, I decided to take a different tack.  I want to talk about my workplace, but the good things. 

First and foremost, I like everyone I work with. Really!  We have an office  with, give or take, 40 employees, and I like everyone.  I'm not saying that I want to be best friends, but in a work environment, it is incredibly easy to get along. 

Secondly, I have a great boss.  He is easy to get along with and knowledgable about my work so when I have a problem, he knows the answer.  I would think that would be a necessary requirement for management, but I have found that to not always be the case.  Management as a whole appreciates what I do and makes sure that I know it.

Third, and my favorite thing, we laugh!!  Laughter is not only accepted, it is encouraged.  Friendships have been forged over the sound of uncontrollable mirth which, I hope, will last a lifetime.

So while the stress is high and the hours are long, I'm incredibly blessed to have the job that I do.  Sometimes I need to remember that.

Clearing the Fog

Einstein is reported to have said  we only use ten percent of our brain.  I googled this and most websites said that the "ten percent" myth was completely untrue. I have to admit, I'm a little disappointed, because the last few weeks I feel as if my brain has reached capacity. I was hoping there was some reserve that I could use.

The last few weeks I feel as if I'm in a fog.  I'm usually a very organized person who completes work competently and timely, but lately my mind won't settle.  One minute, I'm thinking of work, the next I'm wondering about my blog, my family, or what I'm going to have for supper.

I'm hoping that this is just a phase, and that I'm able to get my act together soon. My work load has increased at my employment and the semester is cruising along. There seems to be little time for lollygagging or daydreaming. 

So, the fact that I don't have a large percentage of my brain  just waiting for me to tap makes me sad.  Apparently, I'm just going to have reach deep down and center myself so that I can accomplish all the tasks in front of me.  Maybe, I'll try yoga.

New Baby!!

I am from a very close and large family.  I have so many cousins that I don't even know how many I have.  We usually try to get together once a year, but there are always some who can't make it, so now we are a technology family.  We text on our cell phones, and we post pictures on facebook.  It's a great way to keep up with cousins who live in Delaware or Alabama.

Last week, I recieved a phone call giving me the good news that one more angel had joined our family. My cousin's daughter had delivered a little boy, 21 1/2 inches and 8 lbs 7 oz.  Both Mother and son are doing great.  Of course, my phone has been dinging off the wall with pictures of the newborn, and he is amazingly beautiful. No, really! I'm completely impartial. :)  I am thrilled that I could see his picture minutes after he was born and it has been wonderful to get new pictures every day.
But when I look at those pictures, the only thing I can think about is planning a trip so I can kiss those chubby little cheeks.

It might have been easier before all of this technology.