Bigger Than Me

I feel like my current education is bigger than me.  I mean, while I find it wildly interesting, I feel like it is pulling me along.  Like this is my destiny and I'd better just suck it up and do it.  Maybe because I am beginning year 2 of what will be at LEAST a 4 1/2 year adventure.  I've come too far to quit but I can't yet see the light at the end of the tunnel.  And when the thought crosses my mind that I need to take it easy and spread my classes out more, take more time to finish my degree, I think of the class that just started this semester.  There are almost 30 of them.  That is at least twice as many as when my class started a year ago.  The word is out.  I can't let them get ahead of me, right?

I told my friends once that I would pay the whole tuition just to have the knowledge for myself.  That I wanted to be able to help my family and friends and if I made a few bucks along the way then all the better.  Now I feel threatened that these people, who began their education a year after me, will hit the job market before I do.  That's not ok at all.  So, it doesn't matter if I'm ready or not.  It doesn't matter what sacrifices both my family and I will have to make.  I can't let them beat me to the finish line.  And that is how it is all getting to be bigger than me.  

Pocket Money

O is getting to the point where he can handle an allowance.  I've been pushing for it but we haven't formally sat down to make a plan yet about amount, frequency, what jobs will be done in exchange..

I was folding towels today and O was nearby.  I asked him if he wanted to make a little money and help me out.  "You mean pocket money?" he replied very excited.  I gave him some towels to fold and we sat and negotiated a fee for his help.  He is not very good at the negotiation part.  While he understands money and seems to kind of understand the power of it, he really doesn't get the big picture yet.  He is right on the cusp of understanding and I think pocket money will help him out.  We negotiated $0.60 for him to fold the share of towels I gave him.  After he was finished we talked about negotiating a better price for a job well done.  He talked me up to $0.70.  Then we counted out the change together and put it in his envelope.  Then he started asking what else he could do for some pocket money.  We talked a bit about the difference between a regular, set allowance and earning extra money by doing extra jobs.  I have struggled with this because I feel like there are certain things that every family member should have to contribute towards the household without expecting pay for it.  However, the thought of him taking over some daily jobs that I currently do would help us both.  I would have more time to myself and he would be gaining responsibility (feeding the dog and cats, loading the dishwasher, etc.).  I'm sure it will all evolve as we move through it.  

As with anything regarding parenting, you have these great plans and ideas that never seem to work out once you are there.  I want him to have his own money to do with as he pleases and, hopefully, to learn how to manage, budget, etc before he has to head out into the world and do it for real.  But, he needs to work for it, appreciate what he receives in gifts (for birthdays etc.) and figure out what value he puts on monetary items.  A lesson that can only be taught through living it.  

We all have our own experiences with money and it is often amazing to me the different views people have concerning money.  C and I decided years ago that the bulk of our funds would go towards traveling to see our families (primarily) since we were so far away from them and to see different places in the world.  That is what is important to us.  But don't think I don't notice when we go to the home of a peer and they seem to have so much more than we do.  We can't do it all and we've chosen what is important to us.  I mean, I really would like some nice furniture for the house but not if it means we have to miss Christmas with our families.  Another thing, education.  I don't think it ever occurred to us to set up college education funds for the kids.  Both of us had to work our way through college and apply for scholarships.  Why should our kids have it any easier?!  You can't appreciate something unless you work for it.  Of course, we will help out where and however we can but we won't give the kids the idea that their education is covered.  Our retirement is more important than their education.  Goodness knows I don't want them to have to take care of us one day.  One of my friends once mentioned how upset her husband was at his brother because he hadn't bothered setting up education funds for his kids.  It was something he never had and he is making sure his child has that for his future.  I just don't think that it is a parental requirement to pay for post high school education.

Anyway, how did I get here??  So, the idea of pocket money has hit home with our 6 year old.  I look forward to watching him grow in this realm.  And I really hope I don't screw it up.    

Homesick for France

For some reason I spent the day today thinking how wonderful it would be to have my French family visit.  I'd love to see them all again.  I really miss them and I really miss France.  I ate my truffles from Le Notre (Paris, Las Vegas) and drank one of my favorite French wines for dinner:  Louis Jadot Beaujolais-Villages.  I dreamed that my French family was sitting around our kitchen table, sipping wine and laughing.  Thierry, Isabelle, Regine, Bernard, Marie-Therese; when will I see you again??!!!  Thierry, are you still with Marie-Helene?  I would love to have you all here for a month.  Why does France have to be so far away?!!

Just come for a visit.  All you have to do is get your plane ticket here.  We will take care of the rest.  PLEASE!  Come for a visit!

Explanation on updates

I meant to elaborate on the quote from that man in my update.  I just got distracted so many times I forgot what I was doing!  M is napping now, the DVR is playing Ghost Hunters Live from Halloween night, the dog is snoozing at my feet and all is right with the world!

Anyhoo, there are multiple things I find frightening in his quote.  First off, he is so concerned about the "tax burden" but doesn't seem to worry about this HUGE deficit we are all saddled with.  

I don't understand why he thinks Obama would let Iran or any other country obtain nuclear weapons or why he would allow attacks on other countries.  No one wants that to happen.  Why would John McCain be better at preventing that than Obama?  Yes, Obama is a diplomat but he's no pushover.  It is ridiculous to assume any President would not do everything in their power to prevent that even if it meant calling out the big guns to stop them.  

The gay marriage thing I really don't understand.  I mean, I get that some people believe that homosexuality is wrong/immoral/etc. but you'd think that their "Christian ideals" would prefer that two people commit legally/spiritually to one another instead of "living in sin."  Gay marriage doesn't threaten their marriage/relationship so what difference does it make?  I think what they are more afraid of is having to explain to their children that not everyone believes exactly the way they do.  If you are confident in yourself and your beliefs then it really shouldn't phase you how other people believe as long as they aren't hurting anyone.  Why don't they get that?  Fear.  Fear of the unknown.  Fear of thinking outside of the box.  Marriage is a personal choice.  I know people who are perfect together who choose not to marry.  I know people who bring out the worse in one another who are married.  I know people who cheat in their marriage.  Marriage isn't for everyone and that's ok.  But if two people choose to be married, who has the right to stop them? 

Gun control.  I really have to excuse myself from that one.  I don't like guns.  I don't have experience with guns either so I can't speak out too much on that.  I think people should have the right to bear arms for personal protection or hunting/recreation.  I don't think that people should be allowed to own weapons that are more powerful than that.  I can appreciate collecting guns.  I understand that Democrats have a history of trying to put some control on gun ownership.  I think that people who cannot legally obtain a firearm will find an illegal way to obtain one so many of the laws are not effective.  Just like going through security before boarding an airplane.  I mean, we go through the routine but if someone really wanted to get a weapon through airport security they could.  The same with gun control.

I strongly believe that church and state should always remain separate.  Without going into a huge rant about religion (which is a whole other post!!) I don't get why people are threatened if it doesn't say 'In God We Trust' on our money.  It is not a religious relic.  It has no business being on there in the first place.  Even though it slightly annoys me, it doesn't take over my thoughts.  I don't think about it every time I pay cash for something.  Do people who want it to remain on there think about God every time they use cash?  Seriously?  I feel the same way about the Pledge of Allegiance.  It should be "One nation.  Indivisible.  With liberty and justice for all."  But I don't get all riled up about it.  I just don't say the God part when I recite it myself.  The pilgrims left England because they didn't want to be ruled by a monarch.  They wanted freedom to live and believe as they pleased.  Many of them believed in God and practiced a Christian religion.  Some of them did not practice any religion.  I believe that the Founding Fathers wanted a separation of church and state because of the corruption that historically occurred when the two were intertwined.  That was a very wise decision and very observant on their part.  Many of them were Christians and they may have prayed for guidance as they were creating the foundations of our country.  But I don't believe that they intended for the citizens of this country to be restricted in their religious beliefs.  And that is why I find this man feeling that his religious values are threatened because Obama will be the next President utterly silly.   

Ok, that is all.  I think I covered it.  

O Updates

O finished up his baseball season on Sunday.  As I mentioned before, the coaches weren't all that interested in coaching so I'm not sure how much he actually got out of the experience.  He had fun though and I think we are all happy that it is over.

He also has been loving a new X-Box game his dad got him:  Lego Star Wars II (based on the original trilogy).  He is pretty good at it too.  He and M even sat and watched the original movie on Monday night while I studied.  They LOVED it (I know LW is pleased to hear that).  M even watched it again the next day.  I guess the other two movies from the original trilogy would be good Christmas gift ideas for the grandparents since they've been asking recently. 

He received a very good report card Friday that has him working at or above grade level across the board.  He is doing well, enjoys school and we are very proud of him!

He got to vote at school yesterday.  They got little voter registration cards and everything.  I asked who he voted for and he hesitated.  Then I told him that he didn't have to tell me if he didn't want to since voting is a private matter.  Then he said he voted for John McCain because he felt bad that his plane was shot down.  He thought that Obama looked like a nice man but he felt badly for McCain.  For first grade, that is a good start.  Unfortunately, too many adults vote with the same reasoning!

I am going to sign off for now.  M and I are going to go pick up some lunch and take it to O at school and eat with him.  We all enjoy doing that a lot.  

Updates

I know I posted on Monday but it was a quick one (I even forgot to mention trick-or-treating with TR, PC, AR, DH and RH and having dinner with TR's aunt, ZCM, CM and LW.  I think I have everyone now!).  I was studying feverishly for a physiology midterm that I took last night.  Despite spending much of the day on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday on the subject, I could have spent a lot more time.  You see, we had 14 chapters covering cells thru the nervous system and the teacher asked only 50 questions.  All of that material and only 50 questions.  I really don't WANT to memorize all of that material.  While I find physiology very interesting, I can look up the information if and when I should need it.  Why do I need to know which part of the inner ear hears a whistling sound (one of the test questions)?  It is very interesting and may be good information if you were in a trivia contest of some sort but, seriously?!  14 chapters of information and he wants to know which structure in the inner ear hears a whistle sound.  I know I got it wrong.  It was a tough exam and I can only hope I got at least a C on it.  

Anyway, so I was lost in the land of physiology for a few days and I wanted to update a few things.

First off, the cleanse.  All went well.  I made it the entire 10 days and felt fantastic.  I think the hardest day for me was day 10 (Sunday) because I knew I was almost done.  It was totally psychological.  I was the most hungry and wanting food the most on that day just because I knew I was almost done.  I lost 7-8 pounds and I really feel like it was a valuable tool for me to reset my relationship with food.  I've eased back into eating real food by tracking my calories closely and eating often throughout the day as well as making better food choices and being aware of portion size.  I was amazed that I was so comfortable and clear minded through the cleanse and I don't mind saying that I actually look forward to doing it again in the Spring.  Between Friday and Sunday, the white fur on my tongue began diminishing and was totally gone by Monday afternoon.  Interesting.  So, it was a valuable experience.

Next, the election.  According to an obviously conservative Republican that was interviewed after early voting last Friday (from the Houston Chronicle), 

"I am scared," said Carl Favre, 58, of Sugarland.  "I'm fearful for my children.  The tax burden they'll be faced with will be increased over time," said the lawyer and developer.

Favre said if Obama wins, he will not do what it takes to prevent Iran from getting nuclear arms.  He also fears Israel will be attacked, gay marriage could become "the law of the land," gun control will increase, and Judeo-Christian values will be threatened.

"I could even envision a time when, if they have their way, even on our dollar bills 'In God We Trust' will be gone."

Are these people for real?  That little snippet of that man's thoughts scare the crap out of me.  It frightens me that people with those thoughts walk amongst us.  

I am really happy that Obama won the election but I am not happy that McCain lost.  I really like John McCain and have for years but I felt like he really wasn't true to himself during his campaign as he tried to win over the conservatives.  I look forward to many good things from him in the future and I know he will work well with President Obama.  I would have been fine if either candidate won.  In past elections, the thought of either candidate winning scared me so, all-in-all, I'd say this was a pretty upbeat election year.  I anxiously await the future with Obama leading us.  I love his confidence, his refreshing look on things, his cool headedness and the work he and his wife have done.  No president will ever do everything perfectly but I feel he has similar beliefs to mine and will make decisions to the best of his ability.

Anyway, I don't like politics and I usually don't get too involved so this is a change for me.  

As usual, it seems that there was more I planned on saying but cannot remember right now.  More later.

Halloween

I keep forgetting that I have to upload the photos backwards to how I want them displayed since blogger takes the last one and puts it first!  I could delete them all and begin again but I'll leave it this way.

So, the first photo is the day after Halloween.  The kids are relaxin' with Brody.

Halloween night:  Little Princess Belle couldn't stop posing for the camera!
O lookin' mean as a vampire.  This is the only time he wore the teeth.  They were annoying to him so we ended up tying them to his cape!  Also, he didn't want any make up (white face, dark eyebrows, fake blood etc) so he was basically a 6 year old dressed in black with a cape.  He has always enjoyed passing out candy more than getting dressed up!  I don't think he will trick-or-treat for long.

What a pair!

We went trick-or-treating with LB, AB, and AB from next door.  We also picked up O's friend CM along the way.  The boys made a huge race out of getting to every door.  LB who is 16 weeks pregnant now fears she will have a boy (AB is a 4 year old girl).  The energy of these 2 boys amazed her!  The girls kept up well and we had to keep tabs on who's turn it was to ring the bell.  We covered 2 streets in around an hour and decided that that was enough.  

Then we went to TR and PC's house for some food and fun.  PC has great decorations that are always fun to see.  The kids had a great time sorting through their candy and playing with AR's toys.  They loved staying up late too!

Now the house is full of candy.  C and I went through it all yesterday and tossed at least half of it.  We kept the higher end stuff and the lollipops.  They actually got some Valentine's and Easter candy in their bags.  I don't think those little sugar hearts go bad but just the idea of having candy that old when we had so much new stuff in the house that I bought to hand out....we kept the chocolate stuff over everything else!

The first thing M said the next day, "Is it still Halloween?"  Out loud I said no.  Inside I added, "thank God."  But, with all of the candy in the house, Halloween with be with us for many months to come.