What Do You Really Want To Do With Your Life?

Yesterday, my son had "career day" at his high school. He had selected his main areas of interest (making sure to tell me he had not chosen any of the four cosmetology options), and was actually looking forward to getting a first-hand account of the selected professions he signed up for. I warned him to take what he heard with a grain of salt. I mean, if you get a disgruntled pharmacist (scary, scary, scary if you think about it), he or she will highlight the bad parts of the career and downplay the good ones. Similarly, if you get a "everything is rosy 24/7" physical therapist, you might go blazing into the field only to feel really cheated when it's not QUITE how you pictured it. Objectivity is key! He really has no set idea what he wants to pursue, career wise, (once I burst his bubble that playing XBOX 360 for a living doesn't exist in the real world), so I was looking forward to his take on things. 

When I saw him after his volleyball practice, I was all excited to see what he thought... if anything had clicked. Much to my disappointment, all he got out of the experience was, "I know I don't want to be a speech pathologist." When I asked why, he told me he didn't know, but he knew it wasn't for him. Talk about bursting my bubble! One down, about ten million careers to go.... guess ya gotta start somewhere. Until he figures it out, I suppose I'll continue selfishly leading him down career paths that would most benefit me now or in years to come, namely psychiatrist, geriatric physician, chiropractor, massage therapist, personal trainer, auto mechanic, plumber and electrician. One of those ought to take if I try hard enough! A girl's got to look out for herself, right? 

Hugs to all... have a wonderful weekend!

Nurse Mom

I'm not sure if I should put a quarantine sign on my front door OR if I should just run out in the street in hot pursuit of my sanity... or BOTH! My son started getting sick about 6 weeks ago, and we'd been riding that almost-bronchitis roller coaster. Finally it hit the fan last week and we ended up in the ER.... now THAT one happy place, isn't it? And where are the hot doctors? Where are the eager interns? Not at our hospital, that's for sure, and believe me, I was looking (nothing else to do for the hours and hours we were stuck back there!). Then they admitted him overnight to pump him full of stuff.

We get over that hump (at least I'm hoping at this point!) and then my daughter starts with the sickness on Sunday. The child who missed one day all last year has been enjoying a three-day vacation from the throes of sixth grade (I don't even remember sixth grade, but I'm sure it was a blast!). And yes, the 11-year-old drama queen has moved her theatrics into high gear, and I expect she will receive an Oscar in the category, "Best Effort in Whining," pre-teen category. Then again, this is the girl that thinks split ends could pose a true risk to her physical well-being.

While I don't know if I am coming or going, I'd gladly take on their sickness. Their suffering is my suffering (in more than one way!). Time to run to Target to hang out in the medicine aisle for a while. commiserating with other sick-kid-weary moms. 

Flu, flu go away.... don't bother coming back.... EVER!

From Marcia to Carol

Waking up is hard to do. Today, I decided my best option was to wake up to reruns of The Brady Bunch on TVLand. Part if it is simple--it takes me back to when I was a kid and livin' was easy... a nice memory. Part of it is that the remote is on the other side of the room, and I ain't gettin' up for nothing, swaddled in my polar fleece blanket, cup of joe in hand (I am thrilled to give in to every last one of my lazy genes before noon on a Saturday when I don't have anything else to do). 

But what's funny, watching The Brady Bunch as a 41-year-old mother of two and not an impressionable 11-year-old, is that I realize that I've officially crossed the threshold -- I have moved from dying to be the beautiful, stylish Marcia to envying the life of Carol. I WANT TO BE A CAROL!!!!!!!! Why wouldn't I?? And you know the number one reason why? ONE WORD -- Alice!!!! I want to be a Carol and have an Alice! Anyone who has ever watched the show knows how unrealistic it is (matching sets of perfect kids, handsome dad, awesome house ... for the sake of this blog entry let's forget all six kids shared one bathroom.... kind of ruins the picture of perfection), but that doesn't mean a girl can't dream, right? Carol had it so good. I wonder if she really ever appreciated Alice? Carol never worked, yet she had Alice to cook, clean, look after the kids and dispense invaluable wisdom (the kind of wisdom that really never TOLD you what to do but caused YOU to think and sort out the answer for yourself..... all too often lacking in today's world, if you ask me). Maybe best of all, Alice had Sam, the butcher boyfriend who hooked the family up with the primest (not a real word, I know, but I like it so it's OK.... creative license) cuts of meat at what I'll assume was a discounted price (not that the Bradys ever worried about money). That Carol was a lucky, lucky girl.

Now that I've come to terms with another facet of growing older, I can enjoy the rest of my weekend..... climbing that mountain one step at a time. Who knows, maybe one day I will have it all figured out (doubt it, but it keeps me thinking until lunch).

Here's hoping one day my ship will come in, and my Alice will be on it! :)

Cindy

Five Bucks for WHAT????

You've probably heard, but just in case you haven't, European-based discount airline Ryanair (I will admit I have NEVER heard of this airline.... and I'm probably not alone) is considering a $5 fee to use its airplane bathrooms. I would say this is the craziest news story of the week, but calling 9-1-1 because you didn't get your Chicken McNuggets probably takes the prize. I'll save that one for another day, as it is just CRYING for me to mock it via blogdom!

But seriously, does the airline realize the ramifications of charging for using their airplane lavatories? Forget the fact that airplane bathrooms are usually creepy, if not plain gross (but please believe me, if you don't already know for yourself, they are model-home wonderful next to those on commuter trains.... still an experience I bear bone-deep scars from). But what are your other options if you decide you don't want to spend $5 for this "luxury"? Are there cans, jars or buckets available free of charge? You just know there will be a wise guy (or girl) who will threaten the flight attendant with a "what if I don't pay" scenario.... what then? If I was a flight attendant, I would not take that chance, even if it came out of my own paycheck!

I guess it's a sign of the times... we seem to be paying for more and more of life's taken-for-granted freebies. But aren't some things sacred? Charge me for the ketchup packets, plastic grocery bags and the rubber band around my newspaper, but don't mess with the queen's throne! Some people will never get it.... 

The plus side of it all? Look for stock in the Kimberly-Clark corporation to go through the roof. Why? Because they make Depends adult diapers, of course! Ah, the bright side of things! Gotta love it....

Have a great weekend!

Cindy