Land o'Lessa

Hi! I know, I know, it’s been pretty silent around here, and I am totally 100% to blame. You see, after I pulled my hermit bit, I then did something silly, and got myself a day job. In doing so, I went from spending every waking moment sitting on my (considerable)ass in front of the Computer Screen like a NORMAL person, and instead spend 9 hours a day on my feet in the Digital Photo Lab at our brand new Walmart. It’s been quite the switch, as I’m sure you can imagine, and I’ve been missing my daily games, and doing the unthinkable and actually going to bed at decent hours. Sometimes even before the teenagers.

INORITE?!

But, today? I had to write, because I just got a few text messages from Peppermist that made me so INCREDIBLY PROUD of that girl of mine. She is AMAZING in every sense of the word, and some days, I wonder how she’s managed to grow up so perfectly. And then I take all the credit. Because I’m her mom. And I can. Even if I’m a bad blogger and should have known about this already.

You see, today is apparently a National Day of Silence, to protest against Gay Bashing in schools. Today, across the nation, hundreds of thousands of students took a vow of silence to bring attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in their schools.

And my daughter? was one of them.

If you only knew how that girl LOVES to talk, you’d know what strength she possesses to take such a vow! She and Micki wore signs all day today, and though she’s going to the movies after school with the Twins, who would like her to talk after school, she has decided to continue on because according to her text to me: “That’s not the point, to just do it during school. I’m not going to stop until tonight.”

Damn, but that girl makes me proud to be her mom! So tell me, what will YOU do to end the silence?

So, by all accounts the Band is having a SPLENDID time in Florida. Of course, I’ve only the OH SO GIDDY hundreds of text messages to go by, but I’m pretty sure it’s a safe bet that if Peppermist could somehow live in Miami and Alaska at the same time? She totally would.

Observe:

Peppermist: OH! HEY! I’m in FLORIDA! ooooooooh lookit the pretty lights… SHINY.

Peppermist: HAPPY ME! We walked in a THUNDERSTORM. Real rain, mama! Lightening and thunder! Next to a highway! Kept getting splashed! Three miles! I’m DRENCHED! I LOVE THE RAIN!

Peppermist: Two Words. COLLEGE BOYS.
Me: One word. DEAD.

Peppermist: College student walked by on phone – all we heard was “It’s fuckin’ DIAGONAL!” HAHAHHHAHAHA!
Me: O_o.

Peppermist: My hips hurt!
Me: Why?
Peppermist: IDK. I have the insides of an 80 year old man.
Me: Well give them back! I’m sure he NEEDS his insides!
Peppermist: HAHAHAHAHA! I love you.

Peppermist: I’m watching the OLYMPIX! FROM THE FUTURE!
Me: What’s it like in the future?!
Peppermist: Full of stupid teachers and homework. Just like always. WHERE’S MY FLYING CAR?
Me: Hey! THAT’S MY LINE!
Peppermist: I stole it. FUTURISTICLY.

Peppermist: You need sleep?
Me: ….usually. Why?
Peppermist: Cuz I’m SO COVERED IN SAND that I could be the SANDMAN!
Me: Happy Beach Day!

Peppermist: I TOUCHED AN ALLIGATOR!
Me: WASH YER HANDS!

Peppermist: Uh. Sunburn. Also? Hives from sunscreen.
Me: Benedryl.
Peppermist: ow.ow.ow.ow.ow.ow.ow.

Peppermist: LOTS of pictures of Gators! And? I CAPTURED ONE! I’m bringing him HOME! He’s FEISTY!
Me: O_o….he’s living in your room.
Peppermist: Nah, the dog will eat him. He can live in the crawl space!
Me: SCORE. Home security!
Peppermist: That’s what I thought! Cant get him through airport security though. Have to ship him home UPS.
Me: Feed him first. Don’t want him to eat the UPS guy.
Peppermist: Of course. We won’t need the chaperons anymore by then, right?
Me: O_o.

That’s mah girl. I can’t wait till she comes home. My life is EVER so boring without her.

Wow. Today’s the last day of school before vacation for my rugrats, and others around the country are being let out tomorrow – and you know what that means… only a few days left to shop, and also? The kids will be HOME for TWO WEEKS.

I give it less than 24 hours before I hear the first “I’m bored!” But that’s Ok, because I’ve a WHOLE LIST of “Honeydos” for when they’re silly enough to say such things. You know, “honey, do this… honey, do that…” – it works for more than just husbands!

One thing I’ve noticed about the kids as they enter pre-teen and teen years, is that while the presents get smaller, they’re more expensive! But here’s one for your (and my!) girls who are ages 8-14!

It’s called the “New Moon Girls“, and there is an online community and a bi-monthly print magazine, too. The chats are moderated, and there’s a staff member online at all times to ensure the safety of the girls. It’s an ad-free space that’s by girls for girls, where they can share their thoughts, opinions, poetry and artwork in an environment meant to help boost their self-esteem, positive body image and confidence.

You can get a 30 day free trial, and then it’s just $29.95 for a full years access, which includes the bi-monthly magazine too. (You can see the current magazine here.)

You know me, I’m all for safe and positive places for our girls, where they can express themselves and be the strong amazing people we know them to be! So check it out today!

So, The Boy dropped Peppermist off for her auditions, where she was to meet her friends. I got a call about five minutes later, to direct her where to go, where the auditions were being held, and talk her through a couple things. Then? A second call, where she tells me her friends bailed on her and didn’t show. Since the boy had my car, I had no ride, so I offered to call Gramma and have her stop by on her way home from work, and got:

“Have her come get you? I don’t want gramma, I want YOU…”

Awwwwwwww. Needless to say, I dropped everything, stole Papa’s car, (with his and Nana’s blessings) and dashed to the school. And checked out her audition form, and patted her arm and gave her a hug, and encouraged her to be assertive and pick a dance group, and applauded when she sang, and did all the good Mama things that good mama’s do on such an occasion – including pointing out that she was FAR from the worst singer there, despite what she says.

Before the audition, the Director talked a bit about the roles available, the songs that would need sung, the fact that they need more boys to try out, and then the kicker: They have whitewashed it according to School Board Policy. Among some of the changes: Rolling up gum in their shirt sleeves instead of cigarettes, drinking cola instead of beer, a few word changes in some of the songs, ‘Dad space’ between dancers, and the requirement that Parents sign off their permission on Sandy’s final outfit – the uber leather get-up.

It’s the word changes that had me protesting – loudly – however. In front of the group. You see, in the Sandra D song, they had to change the word “virginity”.

VIRGINITY.
PEOPLE. VIRGINITY IS NOT A BAD WORD.
In fact, I’d rather my daughter not only KNOW the word but STILL POSSESS IT until she’s oh, 87! These are the same people shoving “abstinence only” education down their throats, and they thinks VIRGINITY is too racy to be in a play.

VIRGINITY!

I… I am SPEECHLESS. It’s ridiculous to the extreme. Instead of Lousy with virginity, the words now read “Lousy Miss Prudidity”, which ISN’T EVEN A WORD according to FireFox.

AUGH. It’s RIDICULOUS.

The only thing making me smile in terms of Sandra D this morning is this little guy – who’s parents CLEARLY are AWESOME.

I’ve mentioned him before, so all you fine folks are following Josh Shipp now, right? RIGHT? What do you mean, no….

Alrighty, let me introduce you to him again! Josh Shipp is, as he says, a guy who shouldn’t be here. He grew up in foster care, and until one teacher and one foster family got him, and proved to him that he had something to say – he was headed down the wrong road. He’s also a success story for those of us with kids that get in trouble for talking in class – he did too, and now he’s one of the most sought after Teen Motivational speakers of our time.

He’s amazing – he really is. His tagline is “In your face, but on your side” and his no-nonsense advice is almost 99% of the time exactly what I’d tell a teen that came to me with the same problem. He’s a very big advocate of teens and parents TALKING, and you know that’s my number one statement around here!

He also has a new Josh in a Box Identity program, to help teens as they struggle to find their own sense of self – and from what I’ve seen, it’s really good, and worth every penny.

Now, don’t think Josh is just for the teens – because he opened a special Grown-up section of his site for us parents too.

So here’s what I want you to do: Send your Teenager to HeyJosh.com and let them poke around. It’s a good place for them to ask for advice on things they might not be able to talk to you about yet, and I’ve yet to see Josh stumble in the advice department.

Don’t believe me? Check it out. This is the latest on his weekly advice show:

See? He talks good game, and backs it up with good advice. So get you’re kids over there – send them the link today.

Then? Go to the grownup section, and sign up yourself. LIsten to his message, sign up for the email list, get the PDF “Five Mistakes” and watch that video too. It’s a great primer for the Parent of a Teenage Human, and well worth the watch/read.

You’ll be glad you did – and tell Josh I sent ya.