Teen Brains and other news...

I read a very interesting article this morning about teens and their brains in The Home School Court Report. It was talking about how young kids and teens act out in anger and frustration over being kept from doing things because of their age by parents, teachers, rules and regulations, etc. The author's point was that teens are very capable of thinking and behaving like adults when given the opportunity to do so in a positive way. But by preventing them, teens lash out and rebel in negative ways. He wrote a book about it called The Case Against Adolescence: Rediscovering the Adult in Every Teen. I plan on picking up a copy to check it out as I find his theory very interesting. He says he feels that "...we do not want young people socializing with each other. We want them to learn to join the community that they'll be part of their whole lives. We want them to learn to become adults. Right now, they learn everything they know from each other -that's absurd, especially since teens in our society are controlled almost entirely by the frivolous media and fashion industries." I think he has a point.
Example: One of Hailey's friends who goes to public school got down on Hailey for not behaving differently in front of a boy in her friend's neighborhood. Hailey calmly stated that she would not act like someone or something she is not just to impress a boy, or anyone else for that matter. A very reasonable and grown up response for a thirteen year old if you ask me. So my question is, where did her friend get the idea that you have to behave differently around the opposite sex? Could it be the media? Other kids at school? Yep, but it could be her parents too. I just find it interesting.


In other news, I will be doing a presentation in about 2 1/2 hours on alternatives to coal mining. My main focus is on alternative energy sources. Its riveting I tell you! So I guess I should go practice. Two years of school down, four years to go! Whooohooooo!

The Adventures of Ninja Mouse

Once upon a time there was a mouse who became a ninja. He lived in a house with a family of four and a dog with a broken smeller. It had to be broken because this dog never even indicated that he knew a mouse was ever in the house!

Anyway, one day Ninja Mouse made the decision to go out in the daytime to forge for food. What a mistake! Although he made no sound, one of the occupants in the house saw him skillfully glide along the baseboards. Eeeeekkk!!!! was the scream he heard, then suddenly a giant broom started coming towards him. Ninja Mouse quickly ducked behind the giant book case for cover, and just in time too, for the giant broom quickly came crashing down where he had just been. As ninja mouse tried to think, there was a ton of commotion going on in the house. Books and boxes being moved, and the large couch being flipped over. It was total chaos! Finally, things seemed to calm down a bit. This was his chance to get away. Swiftly and silently Ninja Mouse moved towards the grate he had entered through and finally he was safe. For now. His brush with death made him reconsider ever going out during the day again. No, it was too dangerous. He would have to wait until things calmed down and try again when it was dark out. That was his best chance to survive.

After a day and a half had passed, Ninja Mouse felt that it was time to try again. He was hungry, and didn't know how much longer he could stand listening to his little stomach grumble. Slowly Ninja Mouse stuck his little head out of the grate. No noise, no movement. The coast was clear. As Ninja Mouse entered the room, he began to smell something. Something irresistible that caused not only his stomach to growl, but his mouth to water. It was the smell of peanut butter! The smell was intoxicating. Ninja Mouse no longer cared whether or not he was to be seen, the only thought in his mind now was how to find the place where that irresistible aroma was coming from.

As he crept into the little plastic house of delicious smell, ninja mouse never noticed the large metal bar looming overhead. At last! Ninja Mouse had found the source of the wonderful smell that was calling him. He quickly and silently ate his meal, making sure not to miss a drop of the delicious and creamy substance. With his mission accomplished, Ninja Mouse turned to leave and WHAM!!!!!! The metal bar above him came slamming down in less than a second, quickly breaking the neck of Ninja Mouse. And there he lay, with the smile of satisfaction still on his face.


In other words, we caught the mouse! THE END or is it..................................?

Turtle Surfing!

No, we didn't take the turtles to the beach. Too cold. But that would be so awesome to see wouldn't it? Surfing turtles!

Anyhoo, we did make it to the beach for the first time since we moved here. It was so much fun. Very cold, but a lot of fun. My sister and her daughter were with us and that made the trip more exciting. It was great watching the girls explore the beach and running away from the waves. They also made sand castles and buried each other. Later we went to dinner and we saved our strawberry tops for the turtles to munch on. They love strawberry tops as you can see in the picture.

New story:

So yesterday I was sitting on the recliner working on my computer when out of the corner of my eye I noticed something scurry along the baseboard across from me. I was in total denial at first, thinking that I must have been seeing things, but no. I truly saw something, and that thing was a mouse. A little brown mouse who has a death wish because I am not about to share this place with a disease carrying mouse. So, after I screamed a bit and finished freaking out, I proceeded to tear up the living room trying to find it. No luck. Those little bastards can truly hide like a ninja.

Eventually it ended up escaping the way in probably came in which was through the vent under the fireplace. I have nick-named him Ninja Mouse. And ninja mouse is going down! Shad went and found some traps and we have them in the house now and I am just waiting for them to go off. I will also make a call to the rental company to inform them of the issue. Ninja Mouse will die. One way or another. I will update on the progress later.

What's on Your Mind?

I woke up at 6am! I know, crazy but true.
Today we are headed out to spend some time with my sister and niece. This should be an interesting trip as we haven't really seen each other in over a year or so. As a matter of fact, we really haven't spoken much either. Hmmmm......

Things on my mind lately:

Money
School
Getting a job
School
Family
Suzie QZ
School
God
Friends
School

Can you guess which one keeps me up at night? Yep, it's money.

Sunsets and Snails

My kids are growing up and I am getting older. There, I said it. Don't you just love a good sunset? Me too. This one was while we were in Vegas. I miss the way the sky glows just before it gets dark there. The sunset is just different here.

So here is a funny story. I went up to my room to change clothes for the night and was greeted by MacKenzie who introduced me to her pet snail Sally. Now this snail was unlike any I have ever seen. Its shell was made of a toilet paper roll and the small trail of left over tissue still stuck on it. And her eyes were made of bamboo skewers that were poking out of the "shell". She even had little bendy straws that slid over her eyes "to keep them warm and block out the light when she sleeps" according to MacKenzie.

I said hello to Sally with a little giggle and praised MacKenzie on her creativity. Then as I passed the bathroom I stopped laughing as I noticed that our trash can was full of toilet paper. It took me a moment to accept the reality of what I saw but there was no doubt that someone had unraveled an entire roll of T.P. and dumped it into the trash, and I was pretty sure I knew who it was. Upon further investigation it was confirmed and MacKenzie admitted her guilt but defended her position. This led into a little refresher lesson on the cost of T.P. and a comical lesson on it's importance.

She's 13 now! sniff, sniff....sob...........

I am now the mother of a teenager. Did you hear what I just said? A teenager. Yes I knew this was bound to happen some day. As a matter of fact I knew exactly on what day and time it would happen. But this doesn't change the fact that I am still having a hard time coming to grip with the reality of it all.

My life just became a little more complicated by this daughter's change in status. Not a lot complicated, but just a little. Now I have two separate age groups to deal with. It was so much easier when they could do everything together. Those days are gone now. Flown right out the window! And now there are going to be outings with friends like trips to the mall and movies. And boys! Oh my gosh I just realized that I met the man I married when I was 13!!!!!!!!! Oh brother! I think I need to lay down.