Superpower-ed Softies ...

WHAT THE FOOLISHNESS?! So with this being our fist kiddo and all, we're beginning to watch the news or at least our ears perk up when someone says or writes something about kids. The main concern right now, since we were attempting to register for stuff, was what kind of recalls are going on. We don't wanna knowingly ask folks to buy stuff that's unsafe for Kiddo. That's the responsible thing to do right? Yeah. So anyway, at first I just kinda took the recall as what it was and tried to make sure nothing was on the list. However, now that there has been so many, I needed to really pay attention and read about why these recalls were going on. The most recent one with Fisher Price states that they recalled a trike or something like that because

The most serious injuries involved small girls who rode the trikes and had genital bleeding from colliding with a protruding plastic key. [See full article from WalletPop: http://srph.it/d8wS5B]

And honestly, I just had a meltdown of sorts. This simple sentence just changed my view of all of these recalls. I was fine with the crib thing even though I remembered drop side cribs for my little cousins (I don't remember my own) and they are alive and kicking it today; no side effects of it either. Then there's the whole lead paint issue ... I get it. It's not safe for kids or anybody else for that matter. It's cool. BUT recall a toy because a kid MIGHT hurt themselves - I'm not exactly moved by this. And not to mention that most of these toys are made in China, which apparently a memo was sent out to discourage supporting this. [Side Note: Don't get me wrong. I'm all for more jobs in America for Americans. I'm all for American-made things because I am a strong believer in supporting your own. End of side note.] However, we can't blame everything on where it is made or even the company that decided to market it.

If your kid doesn't know how to ride a trike, teach them. If there is a key in the ignition & your kid doesn't understand that that's NOT the seat, then you have some work cut out for you. If this toy is too mature for your kid, then you need to be real about it and buy stuff more age appropriate. Put the trike (or whatever toy) away until your kid is ready for it. But people, don't ... don't just immediately blame someone else or even get hysterical when your kid gets hurt. It's alright for kids to hurt themselves some times in some cases. I hurt myself and did plenty other things that kids shouldn't do (i.e. eat dirt, touch the iron, etc) as a kid and I made it out of childhood a bit scathed, but alive. As a matter if fact, my scars are like battle wounds of sorts; I can tell you exactly how I got them and the lesson I learned from them. So let your kids fall sometimes. Let them get dirty. Let them do things that they'll live to regret because you're gonna tell all of their friends when they get older. It's OKAY!

Plus, how we gone claim to be a Superpower (or want our Superpower status back) if we keep raising these kids to be softies? Theses jokers are learning at a young age that crying & whining gets Mommy & Daddy's attention and other people in trouble so let's do that instead of standing up for myself. WRONG! All that crying & whining is just that ... crying & whining! It's alright to cry every now & again, but let's not get out of hand with the water works. Suck it up sometimes. It's no wonder that we hear about more bullying going on these days. I'm not condoning bullying ... I'm just saying that it didn't seem as rampant when I was in school, which wasn't long ago. I'm also not condoning violence of any kind, but just know that my kid won't be being bullied and just crying & whining to me & the teacher about it. That's for sure. They're gonna learn how to deal with difficult situations properly. We're not gonna raise Kiddo to be a bully, nor will we raise Kiddo to cry & whine over everything ... doggone softies - just saying!

Are We Friends?

Sssoooo ... as many of you may know, I value my friendships more than most. It take me quite a while before I call someone my friend and years matter not to me. You can be a lifelong associate and I'd be just fine with that. I am secure enough in myself and I have a big enough family where friends are not a necessity. BUT I have been blessed to have some great friends surround me. [Now there is usually about a 4 year turnover for such a title, but never-the-less, they are generally GREAT friends during those 4 years.] And, I can't lie, my associates are usually pretty good folk too - I just have a hard time letting too many folk in my bubble.

I bring this up because I have noticed that some how, with the pregnancy, I have some new "friends", but I missed the memo informing me of it. People want to touch me without asking as if they know me like that. I would think that's a violation of my bubble. Who do you think you are? Yeah, I was warned about you belly rubbing, wannabe friends with the new prego lunatics, but it is still not cool with me. I appreciate those who ask, but they're the ones I'd consider at least an associate. But boo if we just barely speak to one another on Sunday when you happen to pass me at church, don't act like now we're friends. I still don't know you and probably still have a hard time even remembering your name. Honestly, I may not even LIKE you so touching me is a huge NO-NO in my book.

Sounds mean eh? Well, I am not trying to be mean. I'm trying to be real here because let's face it - I'm not the only one that does not appreciate unwanted touches from randoms. Yes, I may be pregnant, but that does not make any part of me (including my belly) public property to be touched at will. Please sir, please ma'am ... keep your grimy paws to yourself. You didn't touch me before so please don't touch me now. It's very awkward especially since I've been working real hard not to be that evil prego lady. I could be that way because apparently people just write it off as the pregnancy, but I don't think being pregnant gives me a right to be rude so I won't. BUT you randoms who have decided that now is the time to be my "friend" ... be forewarned.

• I don't want you to place your arm around me like you know me.
• I don't want you to take my hand and squeeze it while looking into my eyes; it's weird and you're not my husband so it's not acceptable.
• If we didn't hug (even those random polite hugs) before now, please spare me; it's awkward enough trying to maneuver a normal hug with the normal folk I hug.

These bullet points are just a guide so please read between the lines and most of all understand touching me is just not cool whether I am with child or not. I have no idea where your hands have been. Also, since I missed the memo that we were friends, don't be upset when I start correcting you about these unwarranted actions. I'm thinking of polite ways to do it as I type this.

Now that that's out of the way, maybe I should put a forewarning out there as well. Once Kiddo arrives, please don't take the liberty of ASSUMING that you can touch him or her. That's rude especially if we're not that cool (and if you don't know if we're that cool or not, just ask - I'm pretty good at being honest - but be ready for an answer of "no"). And please, please, please, please, please don't kiss Kiddo because we don't know where your lips have been. We will be teaching Kiddo to do "cheeksies" with people. Yes that's made up, but it works just fine and is just as intimate as a kiss. Think of it as a cheek to cheek kiss. That's what I do with the babies right now and will teach Kiddo to do with other folk. I happen to think it's not cool to kiss a baby on the face if you're not family so take that into consideration when approaching us about Kiddo. Also, everyone can't hold our kid ... Kiddo is NOT a doll so please don't pick up and pass around as such. This is serious business and we don't want Kiddo being okay in every one's arms. Kiddo will start early discerning who to be okay with because some folk just ain't right.

I'm pretty sure I could go on and on about this because of how strongly I am against people assuming they should hold and kiss on all babies, pick up every lil' kid they see running around, etc. And I love kids, but I have to get to know people before I ask to hold their baby or before I will pick up their child. I respect folk's boundaries especially children because they have to know when a person is out-of-order with them. There will surely be other quirks concerning Kiddo as time goes on, but just know that one main rule governs:

Don't be inappropriate with your touches! 

Side Note: If you're reading this, you're probably not one of the randoms referred to in this post, but I just had to get this out of my system.

Vacation - The preferred drug of working people

What up Party People?!
I come before you with quite a burning issue in my head - Vacation Time. I've been blessed to be working now for about 4 years straight. Not something to take for granted in these times. As time has gone on now, I have accumulated a significant # of vacation days. As I have always tried to practice, I've used my days sparingly, opting for a long weekend here and there as opposed to a long stretch of days without coming to work. But last year, I decided to splurge, and took off 3 weeks, in a row (I also got married, so that added to the reasoning behind it).

Well, it's been one year since that happened and I've taken off some more time that required me missing a number of days in a row when me and Wifey went to Florida to visit the folks. MAN I LOVE THE FEELING!!! As you can see now, I've started to enjoy being out of the office multiple days in a row.

Hopefully you can see where I'm going with this, but if not, let me break it down for you. Ya see, when you're not at work, especially if you have a high stress job or work with high maintenance people, you look forward to getting away for a few days in a row, you get a "high" from not having to deal with the issues that plague you "Monday through Friday, 8 - 5", so to speak. But eventually, you will have to return to work, in order to get paid and begin to accumulate more vacation days. Have you ever said to yourself "Man sometimes it's more work to take a few days off than it's really even worth..."? I know I have. All the prep-work you do to make sure all your projects are completed in a timely fashion and all the emails you have to read after being out of the office for a few days, it's a lot of work! You get so tired and drained within a few days of coming back that you yearn to be back on vacation.

With all this, I say that taking a vacation is similar to the effects of drug; Think about it... Generally (not all, some) use a drug and get high, then they sober up and come down, a little bit "lower" than they were before they started using the drug. At first, they use very sporadically. Then they find themselves using again and again, trying to reach that original high, to the point that they "need" the drug just to get back to an "ordinary" state. Vacation is the same way - You start off with one day during the week, then you go to a long weekend, before you know it you want a whole week off. Only to feel a little bit more down when you return to work.

Now, sure, there are things that can be done to alleviate this feeling of constant need of reaching that "high" of not having to be at work:

Retire, but if you are under a certain age, or you haven't "put in your 30" then that just doesn't make sense...

Win the lottery, the chances of that are about as good as George W winning a Rhodes Scholar award.

Call in Sick, a lot, ok, don't do this, because when your dumb butt gets fired you're gonna ask me to borrow money, and I don't have it...

Suck it up and deal with it, this is what most of the normal working citizens are doing right now, you really are no different. Keep on counting down until your next vacation, when you can retire, or Friday night when you can play the numbers again.

Now, if you will excuse me, I need to go record my "Out of Office" message for all my co-workers...

Holla y'all!!!!

Standing in the Way of progress

Good day all,
Today I would like to bring forth a very significant issue that I have encountered quite heavily over the last few days. Initially looking at the problem, you might not think of it as a "big deal" but when you dig a little deeper, you'll see where this issue can grow and mature to catastrophic levels if not addressed immediately and properly.

The issue I speak of is people standing in the way - specifically drawers, cabinets, even the sink. Now it's not so much a problem if people need to use a item, or get to the sink to wash something off. The problem comes in to play when these same people are done using the sink, and continue to stand in front of it like there isn't a line of people waiting for the same thing.
The issue really is when I (or anyone for that matter) enter into a break room with limited time on my hands for a snack, coffee, or maybe even lunch, you, so callously and selfishly, want to remain in front of a very common item. You may be standing in front of the cups. You may be standing in front of the plasticware. The reasons, which I will address in a bit, aren't very important. The main issue is that you are standing in front of something.

Now, I understand, I was raised right. My mama always told me to say "excuse me", "please" & "thank you". I have no problem doing so either. But it really irks me to no-end when YOU KNOW that people may want to get to a particular item (say the microwave) and you just stand there with no regards for others time. That's rude if you ask me!

Now, you could be standing in that particular area for a reason. You might be involved in a conversation with someone else, using a similar item. You might be day dreaming, you might even be in a rush yourself and just want to finish the last bit of your health shake before you go back to your desk. All of these are understandable reasons. Believe it or not, I do not have a problem with them at all. Where my major concern comes in is when you deem it necessary to frown at (some times subconsciously) people trying to get by to use the microwave, or what-have-you. In addition to that, I find it even more bothersome when you repeat the offense, daily. Once every now and again, it could happen - BUT EVERY "FRAGLE-NAGLE" DAY?! Come oooonnnnn, that's just ridiculous.

Now, I have also been taught, don't complain about something unless you have a solution on how to fix the problem. Fortunately for all that are reading this, I do: I would like to take the concept of "Standing Room Only" to a new level. I would like to propose that just like business's have a "smoking section" (all MI are located out doors now) I suggest that we have a "Standing Section". Now it should be out of the way of commonly used items (see beginning of rant) but not necessarily next to the smoking section, not everyone that stands, smokes. If people want to smoke, they can go to the smoking section, light up and puff one real quick, and then come back over to the standing section. This is just a suggestion of one man, but I'm curious as to what it could lead to one day...
Holla

Eve & The Hell That Followed

So everyone knows the biblical story about Adam & Eve. Adam came 1st, Eve was taken out of his rib, Eve ate the fruit and then gave it to Adam (who ate it too), they both lied to God and punishments were given out. This is when I see all Hell broke lose right? Wrong it was already here of course because Satan (the serpent) was already here. He was just waiting on his time. But anyway, that's not what I really wanna discuss cause yeah that's just not the topic of discussion in my head today. Today we'll discuss the following questions:

1. Why did Eve really eat that fruit?
2. Why did Adam oblige her & eat it too?
3. Why the 2 different punishments?
4. Why we should stop blaming each other & focus on the betterment of the whole?

Before I get started, let me ensure you understand that this is not biblical based and is not to be used in that way. These are just thoughts that I've been tossing around to help myself put it together in essence so that I may get to number 4. That is all. So don't put too much stock (if any) into what I'm about to say.

Now that that's out of the way ... here it goes:

Why did Eve really eat that fruit?

Yeah so many men like to blame Eve cause she ate the fruit first. Well, how about you not be so judgmental. Yeah she ate it first, but what made her do it. Was the serpent just that sly? There's a notion that the serpent tried to get to Adam first, but Adam was too busy about his work to pay the serpent any attention. Okay ... let's say I can agree with that. Logic would have it that Eve was distracted, which made her more susceptible to the serpent's tricks. Right? Eh, I'm not totally convinced of that. I think that Eve could have been going through some emotional issue dealing with Adam. He was a  very hard worker apparently so maybe he wasn't paying her enough attention. We all know that women crave the attention of their man (and some times others who aren't theirs). So that could be believable. OR it could be that she was made as the weaker vessel that needed more protection than Adam understood at the moment. Whatever the case was, maybe ... just maybe ... the serpent was able to somehow tap into that and provide here with whatever she was wanting because of her emotional nature. Maybe she wanted to better understand Adam to be a better wife ... the list could  go on. The point is maybe the serpent tapped into it and told her what she wanted to hear. He may have used this to lure her into believing that eating from the tree was a good idea and it wasn't as bad as she had been told. I'm not sure, but I'm thinking we're missing some vital info like when people cheat on a person that seems to be doing everything right; something is missing from the story that would explain not only why, but how it happened. I am in no way saying that the victim of the cheating is responsible. I am just saying that there were signs of a problem. That is all.


Why did Adam oblige her & eat it too?
I look at it this way. It was just the 2 of them plus the serpent right? Adam and Eve were husband and wife, which in my mind means best friends. Eve wanted to share everything with Adam just as he wanted to do the same with her. And although he knew it was wrong to eat the fruit, he didn't want to be left out of the loop on the new "revelation". His ego may have blurred his thinking and made him think that it couldn't be that bad since the woman hadn't already been struck dead after eating it. Maybe he had always wanted to taste it but didn't want to face the penalty so instead he waited the woman out too; figuring she would fall for it eventually, he could have a taste and blame it on her. Eh, I don't know. This is all speculative, but I think it has some validation solely based on how we are today.


Why the 2 different punishments?
They are 2 different people. It's like how parents know how to treat each child differently based on that child's personality and other life factors. I also think, based upon the punishments, that God held each one accountable for a different part in the disobedience. At the moment there's no need in focusing in on them for this discussion. The thing to focus in on is that the punishments have been built-in to our lives and that if we focus on Jesus then he'll take care of the rest.Who wants to dwell on a punishment anyway .. isn't the point to focus on doing what you need to do so that you don't repeat that again? And it's very clear that in this day and age we are to be seeking first the Kingdom and all other things will be given onto us (including understanding of that previous punishment). Just keep in mind that God is not focused on that punishment because he is looking at us through Jesus (whom has paid for that original sin).

Why we should stop blaming each other & focus on the betterment of the whole?
 Come on now ... don't you see it. We do better when we stick together. Haven't you ever heard the saying: "United we stand, divided we fall?" That's exactly what this is about. The devil is all about dividing families so that he might reek havoc upon them all. The best way to get back at him is to be supportive of one another and work on keeping God first so that he may fight that battle that you would never win on your own. Also, look at the main benefit aside from the spiritual ramifications: life is so much less stressful without that added pressure of placing blame and expecting someone else to make up for whatever it is. So stop blaming each other and work on how to get each other up to the next level ... lets encourage one another and quit the bashing!