My Daily Rant ~ Can you PLEASE pull all the way over when using cell phone?

So, most of us are in agreement that it can be dangerous to drive while talking on a cell phone, especially when you don't have a hands free set. Got it.

Most of us then agree that if you receive a phone call, you should pull over to a safe place to take that call. Got that too.

Then why IN THE WORLD would someone stop in the middle of a two lane road that gets a decent amount of traffic to talk on their phone. Why could this person not pull over to the SIDE of the road?

Yep, she stopped in the middle of her lane (of course it had to be a woman). Three cars had to wait for other traffic to pass so we could get around her.

Some people are so amazing.

I realize that most of the posts about my children, especially the boys, tend to be on the negative side. Well, we had some GOOD news last week!

The school they go to has a system where when they do something good, a teacher or other school employee, can give them a PRIDE card. The child then puts that card in a bin by the office and every day one name gets picked from each grade level. Then they get something small, like a pencil, or whatever.

Last week BOTH of my boys got a PRIDE card. Michael's name was drawn on Tuesday and he received two pencils. Dylan's name was drawn on Wednesday and he received two pencils. Dylan's name was drawn AGAIN on Thursday and he got a book!

I am so proud of my boys. I am overjoyed that the school is recognizing good behavior this year instead of just focusing on the negative. Kudos to the school and to my boys!!

Relaxation Techniques

I started a support group today to help with recovery. Today we learned about stress relief and I thought I'd share what I learned.

Breathing Exercises:

Technique #1

* Inhale for 4 counts
* Hold for 7 counts
* Slowly let breath out for 8 counts

Technique #2

* Breath in by first filling bottom of lungs, then fill all the way to the top
* Let your breath out slowly while visualizing your tension flying out of your body.

You should do breathing exercises 3 to 5 times a day. More if your stress or anxiety level is higher.

Muscle Relaxation:

Technique #1:

* Tense & Relax - Tense the muscle that has stress and then relax it. Do this 5 or 6 times or until it completely relaxes

Technique #2:

* Body Scan - Star at the tip of your toes and work up to the top of your head. Scan all of your muscles for stress. Be sure not to forget your jaw muscles. When you find a stressed muscle, use your thought process to relax it.

Technique #3:

* Do breathing exercise #2, then make yourself limp. To help your body do this try image a cat lounging in the sun, or butter melting into a biscuit, etc.

Calcium supplements may help to ease stress. (Please consult your doctor before starting any supplements).

We also talked a little bit about "safe places." An example would be, for me, I like to think of lying on the beach with sand between my toes, while I listen to the waves roll onto shore. My other "safe place" is when I think of lying in the tall grass on my grandma's (RIP) property. I imagine the wind rustling the grass. I can hear the birds and the insects fluttering around.
One of the women in the group shared her safe place. She visualizes herself on the moon. She fills all the craters with sand, so no monsters can jump out. What was interesting though, is she always has a magical backpack with her. This magical backpack allows her to have anything she needs at her disposal. If she needs a person or object she can take it out of the backpack. When she's done, she can put it right back away.
I thought that was a really great idea. One I never would have thought of.

I hope you enjoyed my post and I really hope you may be able to use some of the information. May you get relief from your stress or anxiety.

My Rant For The Day ~ Dang Dog!

So, I just yelled at my youngest Labrador, Bogey. It went something like this:

"Bogey! NO, Bad Dog! Eating toilet paper is disgusting. You're so gross!"

The poor thing then dropped the toilet paper and hung his head in shame.

He has this addiction to toilet paper. Any kind of toilet paper. Toilet paper from the trash can, toilet paper the kids have dropped on their bathroom floor, whether it be used or not, rolled up toilet paper. He'll even eat it with the wrapper still on it!! I think I need to get him into a 12 step program because his habit can be very expensive.

He's just lucky I've never run out of it when I needed it most!

Do your animals have any weird or quirky obsessions? I'd love to hear about them.

Swim to Me by Betsy Carter ~ A Book Review

First of all, this was a nice, easy book to read. I really enjoyed it and look forward to ready more of Betsy Carter's books. I think she has only one other published right now by the name of "The Orange Blossom Special."

Delores Walker is a girl who grows up in a broken home. Life started out good for her, but shortly after the arrival of her little brother, things go downhill quickly. Her father, Roy, ends up leaving them, and never contacts them once he's gone.
Her mother, Gail, picks up an extra job to try to support Delores and her baby brother, Westie. Unfortunately, even with two jobs, money soon becomes scarce and her mom tells Delores she needs to get a job to help pay the bills and put food on the table.
Delores is a little put off by this. She'd like to continue high school and finish growing up first. Years ago her family had gone on vacation and saw some "mermaids." Although she's only 15 or 16 she is able to leave home and work as a mermaid. It takes a bit of cunning on her part, but she makes the dream come true.
The main part of the book is about how she grows up and comes of age far away from home in a completely different world than what she was raised in.

I'll let you discover that part of the book. I don't want to give everything away!

Here is a link to an Interview about the book: BookPage Interview

My Daughter Had Boobs!

My 3 year old daughter, Madison, has always had a fascination with boobs.

Why? I'm not sure.

Weird? Maybe.

Yesterday we're at my son's counseling appointment. His counselor is doing play therapy with him and has decided to include the entire family. So, all five of us are in the playroom with him (counselor) watching. We're playing with cars, helicopters, baby dolls - almost anything you can think of. It's awesome.
The dress-up clothes catch my eye. I spy 2 dresses, neither of which will fit me. Of course. So I grab the smaller of the two, a bright pink, sparkly dress. It has gloves and Boas to boot. It would have been perfect for the 80's prom night. I proceed to put the dress on my daughter. What I failed to notice is that the bodice of the dress has formed cups for breasts.
Immediately after getting this dress on, Maddy exclaims, " I have boobs!" We all tried not to laugh, but it was so unexpected. She ends up repeating this phrase 3 times during the session. After the 3rd time I make the mistake of asking her what she's going to do with them.

She says, matter-of-factly, "Shake them."

Is she my little chicken head? For sure.

God I love my kids. Life unscripted.

When I Get Rich....

I got a cute forward today. I don't usually pass them on, but this one made me laugh out loud like a crazy woman. In front of all the other parents at my children's school.

I decided when I get some money I'm gonna take all my friends and family somewhere real expensive. So, pack your bages....We're going to the GAS STATION!!