It's Not Easy Being Green

The cheerleaders were jumping about and shaking their pom poms. The band was playing. The football players were standing proudly. The students were cheering and pounding on the bleachers. This was the scene at the high school pep rally. And then, seemingly out of nowhere, someone dressed entirely in lime-green spandex - even covering his head and face (think Fluorescent Green Power Ranger) - came running and dancing out onto the floor. The students laughed and applauded, and the principal quickly grabbed the pep rally crasher and escorted him out.

Now, had this happened when I was in high school, the offender would have likely received a D-hall, everyone would have had a good laugh, and that would have been the end of it. But it happened last week at Daughter's high school.

The Green Man, as he has come to be known, was suspended for three days. AND! He got a ticket. Yes, as in a citation from the police. Something about disrupting educational time. It's costing him $500.

Find this ridiculous? Well, you're not the only one. The students rallied behind Green Man, and one day last week, everyone wore green to support him. This is a school with over 3500 students. That's a lot of green.

I don't know the fate of Green Man. I have to say that if I were his parents I'd be fighting this one tooth and nail. Yes, he deserves to be punished. Some kind of detention, or even a day of suspension. But a $500 ticket that will go on his record? That just seems a little extreme.

I think back to the things we used to do in high school and how it would be handled today. Like the massive, school-wide game of Assassin we played when I was a sophomore. One student - I don't even remember who - was the "Godfather", and the students paid money to play. Each player was assigned another player to "assassinate" - we all carried suction-cup dart guns around with us all day, and if you saw your target in the halls, you could "shoot" at them. If you hit them, they were out of the game and you then got their person to go after. You could also fire in defense if you were drawn on. The last person standing won the pot. It was a lot of fun.

If that happened today, it would likely go down as an act of terrorism. All students caught with suction-cup dart guns would be expelled and thrown in jail. It would be all over the news.

What do we have to blame for this "zero-tolerance" attitude they have in schools today? 9-11? Maybe. But gone are the days when a couple of guys could have a fistfight after school then be buddies again the next day. Today both kids would be arrested. No disruptions whatsoever are tolerated, for fear that they be a serious threat rather than a fun game or prank.

Yes, these are the time we live in now. While I certainly want my students to be safe at school, it does sadden me a bit that punishments are so harsh for kids just being kids. I think the Green Man was kinda funny.

I'm just glad he wasn't nekkid.

Hungry vs. Sleepy: A Night-Time Battle

Does anyone else have the Hungry vs. Sleepy Battle? It usually starts around bedtime. Am I more sleepy or more hungry? Do I want to go to bed or get a snack?

Tonight Sleepy won for me (it usually does), but somehow Hungry fought back and Sleepy has raised the white flag. Which is why I am up eating a bowl of Frosted Flakes and blogging at 1:00 in the morning. Just to give Sleepy a fair chance, I took an Advil PM. We'll see if that gets him back in the game.

I think part of Sleepy's problem is that my brain doesn't cooperate. I can be utterly exhausted, but lie in bed awake, thinking of a million different things. And there's ALWAYS a song going in there - usually it's Taylor Swift's "You Belong With Me", which drives me buggy, but tonight it's David Cook's "Time of My Life". Have I heard that song recently? No. It just pops in there for no reason. Sigh.

So while the background music is playing, our busy schedules are running thru my mind. Have I done all that I need to do for my position of Treasurer of the Drama Booster Club? Do I remember Daughter's drama rehearsals and Little Son's band practices? What about church stuff? And Daughter's drive times with the driving school? And my business - I have three clients going to Disney in September - have I done all I can for them? Did I pick up the cleaning? Pay all the bills? Remember everything at the grocery store?

And what about all these people acting like jackasses lately? Joe Wilson, Serena Williams, Kanye West......why can't people just behave themselves? What happened to manners and respect? What happened to the Golden Rule? This is troubling, for sure.

Then there's the whole matter of Swine Flu. I already know several people who either have it or their kids have it. I don't know if the flu we had over the summer was H1N1 or not - but I certainly don't want anyone in my household to be stricken with it this fall! This, too, is troubling.

So while Hubby is blissfully snoring away and I'm munching the Frosted Flakes and trying to clear my mind, Sleepy and Hungry are still at it. Hungry is giving in - Tony the Tiger can get him every time. Sleepy may be getting a little stronger now that I've reinforced him with drugs. Now if I could just get David Cook to shut up.........

Scary Stuff

I am not one to follow politics very heavily - certainly not enough to spout my political views, because I'm not really sure what they are. However, when I heard about the uproar over the President's speech to America's school kids, I had to ask, "Why?"

Since then I have seen and heard the following:

• Obama is a liar.
• Obama is going to brainwash our children with his political agendas.
• Obama is going to tell kids to have abortions.
• Obama is the "Anti-Christ".
• Obama is going to ask children to "pledge allegiance to Obama".
• Obama being compared to Hitler
• Friends who also don't understand all the hooplah being called Socialists
• The speech today being called an "indoctrination"
• Being "un-friended" on Facebook because I simply asked why people were opposed to their children hearing the President speak to them.

Scary stuff, indeed.

My Love Affair with Chuck Norris, Or How I Spent My Labor Day Weekend

I have a "thing" going with Chuck Norris. We meet up twice a year, usually once in the summer and once over Labor Day weekend, and spend time together in the Piney Woods of Texas. We especially enjoy morning walks thru the woods. It's such a peaceful time, and we love being together. It's perfect. I saw her just this weekend, and I'm counting the days until I can see her again.

Wait. What? Yes, I did say "her".

Chuck Norris is a HORSE!

I met her about a year and a half ago, shortly after the REAL Chuck Norris donated her to Camp Allen. I go to Camp Allen for weekend retreats twice a year - a Summer Camp for Moms and a Labor Day Family Weekend. And I always ride Chuck Norris. She's my favoritest horse in the world - so well behaved and gentle, but enough spirit that she doesn't just plod along in line during the trail ride - we meander from the course a bit, and sometimes trot or even lope along. She loves me. And I love her.

We spent this Labor Day weekend at Camp Allen, the family and I, and we had a GREAT time! Two other families from our church small group went, too, and we enjoyed all the activities and even some relaxation time together. It was a nice getaway to finish up the summer.

We arrived Friday afternoon and got checked in and signed up for our various activities. Friday night at the pavilion by the lake they had a hoedown! The kids learned some rope tricks and enjoyed a friendly tug of war with the other kids before we had a delicious BBQ dinner.

After dinner we enjoyed an evening of square dancing and line dancing - cowboys' favorite ways to dance!

Saturday morning Hubby went fishing, and the kids and I rode horses. It was a magic moment when Chuck and I were reunited - as soon as they brought her out of the stable our eyes met and it was magic!

The kids enjoyed the ride, too. Daughter rode Tealight:

And Little Son rode Junior:

It was a beautiful ride through the woods and alongside the lake - what beautiful views!




After a delicious lunch, we decided to try our hands at archery. Hubby and the kids are quite good! Me? Notsomuch.

(Notice my funky hyper-extended elbow - that made for some nasty bruising on my left arm from the bow string striking it whenever I released. Ow!)

Then we did some canoeing before dinner.

The evening's entertainment was magician John Star - he was very funny and entertaining!

Sunday morning Hubby went fishing again, the kids went to an orienteering class, and I went and rode Chuck again. Then Hubby and I shot some skeet before we ate lunch and headed for home.




I hit 5 of the 25 rounds I shot. Hubby hit 1. Hee hee. (To his credit, he is an excellent marksman - it just wasn't his day.)

So we're back at home now, getting laundry done and preparing for back-to-work and back-to-school. It will be many months before I see Chuck Norris again - there is a Camp Allen "Holiday In the Pines" weekend in December, but we didn't get signed up in time, so it will be summer before I get to ride her again. Sigh. Until then, we'll always have Labor Day weekend.......

Texas History

Part of living in the Great State of Texas is that our kids learn Texas History at school. They take it in 4th grade and again in 7th grade. I even took it again in college because it was so much more interesting to me than any other history course offered. I got an A.

I really love Texas history. I'm proud to be from such a great state, one that was once its own country and is rich in culture and heritage. Texas brings us the amazing stories of the Alamo, the Battle of San Jacinto, and Spindletop. We have great heroes like Sam Houston, Davy Crockett, and Stephen F. Austin. It's cool to be a Texan.

So this year Little Son is in 7th grade, and taking Texas History. He's in a magnet school for Gifted & Talented kids, and they go quite deep into the subjects they learn. He brought home a letter today from his Texas History class that goes something like this:

"Dear Parents,

This year we would like to offer your 7th graders an opportunity to enrich their study of Texas History with a field trip to Dallas and Fort Worth."

Let me stop right here a minute. We live in HOUSTON. That is over 200 miles from Dallas/Fort Worth. That's quite a field trip. When I was in 7th grade we went to the San Jacinto Monument. It's 20 minutes away.

"Students on this field trip will travel via coach bus to Dallas to experience the historic buildings and costumed interpreters of the Dallas Heritage Village, visit the Fort Worth stockyards, ride a steam train with the Grapevine Historic Railroad, visit the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame, explore the assassination of President John F. Kennedy at the Sixth Floor Museum, and enjoy corn dogs, fried Oreos, and other Texas delicacies at the Texas State Fair."

The letter goes on to explain their itinerary, rules, fees, etc. I'm wondering where they're going to spend the night. Don't see that in the letter. Wait a minute. All this is going to happen in ONE DAY.

One day?!?! Seriously?!?

Now I know these educators are trained professionals, and experienced in taking children on field trips such as these. But I am having trouble wrapping my mind around them driving 200 miles to Dallas, doing all that stuff, and driving 200 miles back home in one day. Granted, it will be one VERY LONG day, but still. I just don't think it's gonna happen. They're gonna have to skip something. Hopefully not the corn dogs and fried Oreos.

Little Son, of course, really wants to go. No matter that we have family in Dallas, have been to Dallas dozens of times, have done some of that stuff already, and can do ALL that stuff on our own (and on our own time schedule!). He wants to go with his class. And I don't blame him.

So Hubby and I are talking about it. They're going to have to leave very early in the morning and get home very late at night. If Little Son is willing to get up that early to go, I know he must really want to do it. Altho I'm sure he's planning on sleeping on the bus.

Oh wait - here's something in the letter about what they'll do on the bus....

"In keeping with our studies of Texas History, we will watch the HBO series 'John Adams' based on the book by David McCullough."

Wait. What?!?!? Isn't that American History??

Outing Myself

Authenticity. I've been thinking a lot about it lately. We talked about it in our church small group last week, expressing a desire to be a truly authentic group of Christians. We asked ourselves some serious questions: Who do other people say you are? Who do you say you are? Who does GOD say you are? Are they the same person? Where do we find our true identity? Thru the media? Thru the eyes of others? Or thru God's eyes?

I've spent a lot of time on Facebook lately. I love Facebook. I have reconnected with a lot of old friends thru Facebook - friends I probably never would have seen or heard from again if not for the wonders of social networking. I have to admit, it is a bit self-serving. I mean, who doesn't feel good when they look at their profile and see they have 183 friends? Wow! People must really like me! I also have to admit that I have "friended" people from my past that were not necessarily "friends" when I knew them. And OK, one or two that I really have no recollection of knowing, but we have 24 friends in common and they apparently remember me and want to be my friend, so why not?!?

One of big differences between Facebook and blogging for me has been the authenticity. Here I am Bubba's Sis. I have shared what's in my heart and written openly, and only a few of you know my true identity. This is my most authentic self, I believe. Because I am "anonymous" to a degree, I can open up and truly share the real me.

On Facebook I am Jill Barron Cartwright (Look me up! Friend me!). The people that know me come from many different groups - old friends from high school, church friends, blog friends, dance friends, even a couple of ex-boyfriends! And I wonder if I am the same person to all of them? Have I worn a different mask for each group that I am a part of, not ever revealing the real person that I am?

That's not what I want. God made me who I am, faults and all, and I should be proud of that. I want to be authentic. I want you to know the real me. Because wearing masks is just silly. That's not what God wants. It's not what I want my children to see me do. I Timothy 4:12 tells us, "Don't let anyone look down on you....but set an example.....in life, in love, in faith...."

So this is who I am. I am Bubba's Sis. I am Jill Barron Cartwright. They are one and the same. I'm far from perfect, but God loves me. I hope ya'll love me, too, and will walk this journey thru life alongside me as my friends. My Facebook friends, my Blogger friends, my LIFE friends. We're all in this together, folks, and no one gets out alive. Let's make the best of it!

Hiatus Terminus

Where has the time gone? I have neglected my blog for a long time. Even considered just deleting it. Just couldn't seem to find the time for it. But then it nags at me - niggling at the back of my mind - I WANT to write again - I NEED a creative outlet - and so here I am. Back again.

So what have I been doing the past five months? Here's a brief summary:

• I've grown my business, and am happy to report that it is going extremely well. Much better than I ever anticipated, actually!
• I've enjoyed a summer of not having to drive kids around here and there - in fact, most of the time we had no routine at all, and that was nice. Now the kids are back in school and we have routine again, and that is nice.
• I've learned to knit.
• I've had the flu. Might have even been Swine Flu. Don't really know.
• I've reconnected with old friends on Facebook, and gotten to know new friends better - in fact, many of you I met right here on my blog! I love you all, and I'm so glad we've gotten to know each other! I've met some of you "in real life" and hope to meet more of you in the future!
• I've accepted the position of Treasurer of Daughter's High School Drama Booster Club, and gained confidence that I actually CAN do it and not screw it all up!
• I've discovered how much my dogs love going to the dog park, and how much I love taking them.
• I've watched Daughter learn to drive.
• I've watched Little Son grow to be not-so-little anymore.
• I've enjoyed a visit from Navy Son, and realized again how proud I am of him.
• I've toobed down the Guadalupe River, bumping my butt on rocks at times because the river is so low right now due to the drought we've been having all summer.
• I've enjoyed a weekend retreat with my BFF.
• I've sent Navy Son off to his sophomore year at the Naval Academy, Daughter to her sophomore year of high school, and Little Son to 7th grade. I feel old.
• I've celebrated as many of my friends have turned 40 - and prepared myself for that day in October that I will join them.

The summer is technically coming to an end next weekend (altho it will be summer weather here well into October). I've blogged before about how much I love this time of year - how it is so much like New Years to me. I'm looking forward to a new year of possibilities - to seeing Daughter's drama performances and Little Son's band performances, to going to high school football games and cheering for my alma mater (it's pretty cool to have your daughter go to the same high school you did!), to a fresh start in my Bible study group, to planning Disney trips for new clients, to counting the many blessings in my life each and every day.

I resolve in this "New Year" not to neglect my blog any longer. Even if no one reads it, it's a great way for me to get all those thoughts out of my head that bungle around in there so much. And believe me, there are a lot of them!

Stay tuned. I've got a lot to tell you about.

Hey look! My blog's still here!

With everything going on lately, I am glad to see that my blog is, indeed, still here! I can't even tell you where the time has gone. We are all finally healthy here at the Bubba's Sis house, and my Disney vacation planning business is keeping me busy. But the best part of my hiatus from blogging is that I got to be here:

Paradise, indeed.

I went a WHOLE WEEK without touching a computer, people. No e-mail. No Facebook. No blogs. Nothing. Didn't look at a screen or touch a keyboard. And you know what? I didn't even miss it.

Which has me contemplating whether or not I want to keep blogging. I adore all the friends I have met here in the Blogosphere, and I keep in touch with many of you in ways other than blogging now. I can't say for sure whether it is a lack of time or simply a lack of motivation, but I can't seem to get around to putting together any blog posts lately, not to mention reading anyone else's. I hesitate to give it up, because I love having a place to share my thoughts and experiences, and read all of yours. Perhaps this blogging slump will pass and I'll be back to regular posting and reading soon. Until then, be patient with me. My mind is still laying on a beach somewhere in the Caribbean....

My son made his own birthday cake.

Good golly - life has been so busy that a whole week has gone by since I've posted here, and I've gotten WAY behind on reading blogs. I miss ya'll! I really do! Be patient with me and I'll get back around to everyone. I still love you!

So, the whole family has taken turns being sick. I've been planning a vacation for a client. I've been getting ready for our OWN vacation. There have been TAKS tests and orthodontist appointments, errands to run and phone calls to make. I've spent a little time on Facebook. And oh yeah - Little Son had a birthday on Monday. My baby is now 12 years old!

Yes, he did make his own cake, but not because I was too busy to do it! Geez, what kind of mom do you think I am? He WANTED to make his own cake - he's into that now, you know. And since his birthday present from Bubba and Katie Lady was cake decorating supplies a-plenty, he was in hog heaven creating his masterpiece birthday cake! He designed it and everything - and I think it turned out great! What do you think?

It was quite detailed, with musical symbols and trombone stuff all over it. The top layer was chocolate, so labeled with the musical staff with the C note on it. The bottom layer was French vanilla - with a musical staff with the F note on it. The notes to the "Happy Birthday" song are really on top of the cake. All black and white - very classy! Oh - and it was deee-licious!

The real reason I haven't been blogging? I've been stuffing my face with cake all week.

Camera Critters #47

A Letter to My Dogs

Dear Jax and Tango,

The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Racing me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort, however. Dogs can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other, stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out on the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is no secret exit from the bathroom! If, by some miracle, I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge in an attempt to open the door. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years - canine attendance is not required.

The proper order for kissing is: Kiss me first, then go smell the other dog's butt. I cannot stress this enough.

Finally, in fairness, dear pets, I have posted the following message on the front door:

TO ALL NON-PET OWNERS WHO VISIT AND LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR PETS:

(1) They live here. You don't. (2) If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. That's why they call it 'fur'-niture. (3) I like my pets a lot better than I like most people. (4) To you, they are animals. To me, they are adopted sons/daughters who are short, hairy, walk on all fours and don't speak clearly.

Remember, dogs are better than kids because they (1) eat less, (2) don't ask for money all the time, (3) are easier to train, (4) normally come when called, (5) never ask to drive the car, (6) don't hang out with drug-using people; (7) don't smoke or drink, (8) don't want to wear your clothes, (9) don't have to buy the latest fashions, and (10) don't need a gazillion dollars for college.

Love,

Mommy




** I found this letter over at Fleming Family Circus and thought it was so cute!