Friday Flip Offs

Posted on August 27th, 2010 by Jean

Friday Flip Offs is the brainchild of my friend, Kludgy Mom. It’s my pleasure to take part this week.
 
To my husband, flip off! I can no longer store the cocktail glasses you are intent on collecting from casinos. Our cabinets overfloweth. Did we really need the complete set of Fat Tire glasses? Or the Dos Equis ones? We don’t even drink those beers!
 
To my housekeeper, flip off! That might seem insensitive, especially since you are recovering from a heart attack, but why can’t you return my calls? I am calling to see how you are doing, not to lament over my filthy house. Are you feeling better? Put your feet up. (Call me.)
 
To the lady in line behind me yesterday at The Cupcakery, flip off! I wanted to try that orange julius variety, but not after you told everyone (ok, maybe just your friend) how disgusting the flavor was, and how it didn’t sit right with you. I couldn’t bring myself to order it with you eavesdropping behind me.
 
To the sudden burst of wind and rain in Vegas yesterday, flip off! My gawd, couldn’t you see I just had my hair done? You tousled it every which way and back. Not to mention the show you forced me to give as you got all up in my wrap-around dress. Geez Louise, you suck.
 
• Who or what are you flipping off today?

Tags: cleaning, cocktails, cupcakes, flip off, Friday, Humor, husband, Kludgy, mom

River Regatta

Posted on August 22nd, 2010 by Jean

I’m so proud of Tom (above in yellow shirt) for filming the Bullhead City River Regatta 2010. He took great video of the festivities. It was originally estimated that 11,000 participants floated nine miles down the Colorado River between Laughlin, Nevada and Bullhead City, Arizona. Now numbers are closer to 15,000 people floating for 3-4 hours in 109° heat.
 
If you’d like to take part next year, visit the regatta’s official website or like it on FaceBook.
 
It took me a few days to edit the 90 minutes of video down to 4 minutes of highlights. So far, we’ve had over 3,000 views on YouTube. Everyone has been very positive, stating how much fun they had or how they won’t miss it next year.
 

 
If I were to float down the river, I’d need a buoyant tube, good friends, and cold beverages.
 
• Would you rather hover or float?
• If floating, what would you need to enjoy your day?

Tags: AZ, Bullhead City, laughlin, NV, regatta, River, Video, youtube

Farewell Montessori

Posted on August 14th, 2010 by Jean

Two weeks ago, I was blinded by fury. I’m no longer mad, and can again see the benefits of the Montessori school system.
 
Our daughters have been on a waiting list for a local, celebrated academy. Montessori also receives high accolades for teaching and socializing children, but they have a hefty tuition whereas the academy is free. While on the wait list, we placed our children in Montessori. Our oldest daughter attended kindergarten through first grade while our youngest attended pre-K in the spring of 2010.
 
This past June, we received the call from the academy that our youngest had been accepted to start kindergarten. We were overjoyed! This bumped our oldest from the middle of the second page, to a prime slot on the first page of the wait list.
 
When I phoned the owner/teacher of Montessori, I was told since both daughters were not attending, our oldest daughter was not welcome. She feared the discussions our daughter would have with the other students, and talks we would have with the other parents. Our good fortune of attending the free academy could poison the waters of her private school.
 
A child who had done nothing wrong was being punished, leaving her friends and curriculum behind.
 
Thus our oldest was thrust into the public school system. To say my stomach was in knots would be an understatement. Her new campus was immense, complete with gym, cafeteria, media room, playgrounds, multiple grade levels, and even a school nurse. Montessori, in comparison, was a 2-room schoolhouse, intermingling grade levels from pre-K to 3rd, sharing one playground, one certified teacher and a few aides (parents).
 
Now that we have two weeks under our belts, I can safely say that Montessori did teach both of our daughters sound reading, math and social skills. This solid foundation will carry them well into their future. They love their new schools, are eager to learn, and have adapted well.
 
Things Montessori did NOT teach my children:
1) How to navigate a large campus.
2) How to establish a hot lunch account, and enter their 4-digit pin to pay for meals.
3) How to bring home school books.
4) How to do homework.
5) How to share food with your friends.
6) How to take a bus.
7) How to borrow books from the school library.
8) How to use a backpack.
9) How to hunt for ghosts in the school bathrooms.
 
Speaking of #9, I can’t believe Bloody Mary is still around! Who perpetuates that rumor?
 
• If you were a ghost, would you hang around a smelly, school bathroom?
• Have your children surprised you by adapting so well to a situation?
• Do you adjust well to change?

Tags: academy, children, discrimination, hurt, Montessori, school, teach, teacher