Do You Remember Me?

A MUST SEE!

Hope you will take a few minutes to watch. The following is the hottest thing on the internet and on Fox News today. Lizzie Palmer who put this YouTube program together is 15 yrs old. There have been over 3,000,000 hits as of this morning. In case you missed it, here it is. Watch all of it.......and, pass it on!!
http://www.youtube.com/v/ervaMPt4Ha0&autoplay=1

Those Were the Days--Or Were They?

"Last night, my friend and I were sitting in the living room and I said to her, 'I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine and fluids from a bottle. If that ever happens, just pull the plug.' So she got up, unplugged the TV, and threw out my wine. She's such a *@^&#....."

You know, this is often true of all of us. We as Americans, in general, spend way too much time in front of the TV and we eat and drink way too much! But we have been raised that way. Can you remember when you spent most of the day OUTSIDE playing? Can you remember when a big box was as much fun (if not more) than the toy that was in the box? Can you remember when cowboys and indians was a game instead of two football teams? Can you remember when playing cops and robbers didn't involve someone getting hurt or worse? Can you remember that if you wanted to go somewhere you walked or rode your bike? Can you remember when the only TV channels only went from 2-13 and the only stations were ABC, NBC, or CBS? Do you remember when the TV series families always included a mom AND dad? Do you remember when the mom and dad NEVER slept in the same bed in those shows? Do you remember when getting a jar of jelly required you to go downstairs to the basement and get a jar that mom or grandma had canned last fall? Do you remember when the Mickey Mouse Club was a show that didn't include microphones, bass guitars, fancy clothes, etc.? Do you remember when Saturday morning was the only time you could watch cartoons--and they were all G rated? Do you remember when Johnny Quest was the most adventurous show on Saturday mornings?

What has happened to those days? What has happened to the active little kids in the neighborhood going from house to house? Drinking from garden hoses in the summer? Going to the store with mom or dad was a big deal? Going to church every Sunday was not an option? Buying anything but groceries or medicine on Sundays was forbidden--and the other stores weren't open anyway? Getting together on Sunday night in front of the television to watch The Wonderful World of Disney and Sing Along with Mitch was a family routine that most all families did?

Unfortunately, those days are gone. We have grown into a world that only prays when everything else has been tried and nothing has worked. Our jobs are often more important than our families. Our communication now entails a vast computer network instead of paper, envelopes and a trip to the mailbox or post office. Our phones are now seemingly attached to our heads and nothing keeps the phone from ringing--or answering, even funeral services, weddings, baptisms, dinner with your sweetheart, etc.

We have become an instant society. We want everything NOW!!!! We want it with all the bells and whistles. It's amazing how teachers are able to get children to stay still and learn anything without putting on a show. If it is on TV or a video game, is it real? Ask many children and they will tell you, "I saw it on TV so it must be true." How about all the spoofs and spam you receive? Junk mail in your snail mail box is bad enough--but now we have to wade through tons of it in our email boxes as well.

Who of you remembers writing a diary that was sacred and private? Diaries are now called journals and blogs--to which this would be included! Nothing is private anymore--we put all of our thoughts out into cyberspace where anyone can read them. We've become a society where knowing your neighbors is a rarity instead of the the norm. How many of you can say that you not only recognize your neighbors when they are "out in public" but can call them by name as well? I've lived in the same neighborhood for almost 16 years and I only know the ones directly next to me or those that my children played with when they were little. I'm sure that my neighbors would be appalled if I had one of the kids go next door to borrow an egg because I was one short.

Society today is not trusting--when was the last time you had car trouble and everyone drove on by and you were glad they didn't stop? Or you saw someone that needed help on the side of the road and you were afraid to stop? Has the reporting of kidnappings, shootings, rape, etc. gotten so out of hand that you can't trust anyone today? Did the same kind of things happen when we were young--but we never knew because it wasn't reported on the TV every 30 minutes or the newspaper in glaring headlines? What ever happened to reporting GOOD news? Is there good news anymore? Do good things happen anymore? I know they do--and the media down plays those acts of kindness, goodness and instead harps on all the bad.

See if you can find some goodness today. See if you can find something kind or good to write about in your blog today. I know that there is something out there that is worth writing about! So, no matter how much you hate having to do the blah, blah, blah of everyday life take a moment to look for the good things happening around you. Find something that is miraculous or spectacular. You know, it doesn't have to be something earth shattering; it might just be something as cute as a kitten.

My good thing today: My daughter brought home a stray kitten last night--he's probably just barely 6 weeks old. The first reaction I should have had was, "Oh no, not another critter! What are you going to do with it? You can't keep it in the dorm with you." Instead I asked, "Where'd he come from and where are you going to keep him?" She told me he was an abandoned kitty on her campus--there is no sign of Momma cat anywhere. One of her suite mates got him (scared and hungry) and brought him to the dorm. They fed him and gave him some much needed love and comfort. The suite mate who would take him home or she'd have to send him to the humane society. Well, my girl immediately said she'd bring him home. And now this loving, very cute black & white bobbed tailed kitten has a new home with 5 other cats amd 2 dogs. Did we need another four legged mouth to feed? No. But he needed us. He needed someone that would love him and keep him safe (even though he'd make a bite size snack for my dogs).

So, I challenge you, find at least one good thing today that you can write about! Have a great Saturday--and enjoy the love of your children, spouse, significant other and/or friends and animals! And I want to share a little "happy" with Jewels--the rest can just enjoy the smile! You can find this photo at http://www.angelsrotary.org/images/FIREMAN-FROG-WELCOMEPAGE.jpg

Is it Friday YET????

Why is it that it seems like the short weeks are the longest weeks? The students have all come back from a four day weekend and have acted like they were given one-on-one attention, allowed to do what they wanted, not made to do anything that they didn't want to do, and don't have to or want to listen to anyone in an athoritarian position the entire time. We (my assistants and I, the teachers in rooms up and down the halls, the therapists, nurses and the principal have all heard enough yells, cries, screams, and temper tantrums to last us a life time--just in two days! Several of us have been kicked, hit, swung at, spit at, thrown up on, and anything else that they could manage in the middle of their tantrum tyraids. Enough is enough! Oh, and let's not forget that they are fixing to go home tomorrow afternoon to be with the same loving, doting, easily manipulated families for another two days.

I'm not saying that the parents don't love them. I'm not saying that the parents don't care what their children do. I'm not saying anything against the parents. I just know the mentality of several parents in our schools think that if the child is a special needs child that they should not be told 'NO", should not be disciplined, should not be expected to do too much, should be allowed to do what they want just to make them happy. However, that attitude is what defeats the purpose of all that we try to do at the schools to make them as independent and "normal" as their general education peers. It is that kind of parental attitude when the children are young that totally ruin and make the child uncontrollable, unbearable, unmanageable, and down right nasty as they grow to be teenagers and adults. When the "cute" little kids do things and are not disciplined or taught right from wrong, then when they get to be larger than you, how will you control their actions? It is just down right aggravating. OK I'll get off my soap box now!

So in essence, in answer to my question--NO, but it is almost Friday (especially since there is only 1 more hour before it is Friday morning!). That means today is/was Thursday. It also means that we went to see our daughters in the Band of Gold at one of the last two remaining games at the MGCCC campus. The game was a close one; ending in overtime with the Bulldogs defeating Northwest MS junior college 27-20. The Band of Gold performed a musical tribute to Star Wars. I must say, I was very impressed with their performance. Of course, I have seen bits and pieces of it (well at least the flag routines) as one daughter comes home to practice each weekend. Of course, by going to the game we missed Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy and whatever the show after that is (Big Shots?????). but that is perfectly fine. Watching my daughters perform and perform so well is well worth missing the "favorites" on TV. My own children can out do and will come first any time on the priority list--especially when comparing to TV!!!!

And if Today is Thursday, that means tomorrow will be Friday! Hip Hip Hooray! Maybe we will be able to get through the day without any major tantrums and we can start over on Monday. And as tired as I am tonight and before Cindy's carriage turns back into a pumpkin with little mice falling off the sides and back of the "carriage" and with the dog no longer able to be a footman, I am going to say good night and I'll see you all in your own Blogs, the discussion board and maybe even in a Wiki!?!

"Monday, Monday Oh What a Day"

Monday, Monday, Monday.

Yes you see that right. It does say Monday. Whenever we have a three day weekend, it feels like Monday is on its correct day as well as Tuesday feeling like a Monday (teacher's workday--so I had to go to work). Now this week, I can put in the third Monday as tomorrow will be the first day the students and assistants will be back at school. So everything we do will be laced with the "What is today?" question to be sure we do the right stuff on the right days! It will also feel like so much longer of a day with us only having 3 days of school with students this week.

Don't get me wrong--I was grateful the students weren't there today. I had too many other things that I had to get done today. And I still didn't get them all done. But I did get the important things done!

I was excited to find out that the article I wrote up for our Johnny Appleseed Birthday Celebration was published in the local paper on Sunday. I don't get a paper, so I didn't see it. But someone brought it to me this morning. I don't really care that they published what I wrote--they have full editorial rights to whatever I submit. I WAS excited that one of the pictures I took to accompany the article was there.

OK, I promised to give information on the Pony Patch to a classmate. So here it is. The Pony Patch is a family operated business that originally was just in the "game" to go entertain children at birthday parties. They have horses that they used to bring to people so the children could ride them. The owner, Karen then met and married a man with a beautiful son with Down's Syndrome. She saw how he went from being very frightened of the horses to having a very special relationship with them. As they added animals to their farm, she saw how the animals were able to help bring him out of his shell. Since then, they have hosted parties for special needs children and especially school groups. She invites them--well technicallythe teacher arranges a field trip--to her home. they then are allowed to ride the horses, pet the goats, chickens, rabbits, pig, and whatever other animal happens to be around that day. Karen and her staff have grown to love our special needs children and love to work with them with the animals. The reactions to the animals vary from child to child, animal to animal. But no matter what, you can see an acceptance in the faces of both the animals and children that each of them is special.

You can contact Karen and her menagerie at:

"The Pony Patch"
Karen Davidson-Travis
16037 Grafe Homestead Road
228-623-2888 / 228-239-0560 / 228-588-0709
www.theponypatch.net (Site is Under Construction)
Email: theponypatch@bellsouth.net

What's in a Name?

Everyone has to go by something--and it is usually the name their parents have given them. There are some that go by well known knick names--Tricky Dick, of course if you're old enough (and I feel some of you reading this are not) will know that man as President Richard M. Nixon. There are others that are known by only a first name--Cher or Oprah for instance. There are those that are known by stage names--Englebert Humperdink, NO that is NOT his real name. There are some that are known by a name others give them--Johnny Appleseed was born John Chapman. Some names when called bring to mind horror movies--Vincent Price or Bella La Gosi (forgive me if that isn't spelled correctly). Other names bring to mind comedy--Bill Engvall or Bill Cosby. Some names bring to mind "the hottest person on Earth"--for women that could include Sean Connery, Harrison Ford, Tom Cruise and a mile long list of others; for men that might include Raquel Welch, Beyonce, Angelina Jolie and another mile long list. For most people, they have a name they go by that most people know and call them. When a person marries, one may then be known as "John's wife" or "Sarah's husband". When one has children they are often more known as "Adam's Mom" or "Susie's Dad" than actually having a name of their own. Some names incite power when thought of--Winston Churchill while others don't have much affect at all on people. Some names infuriate people--say for instance any of our modern day enemies, especially ones that are in Persian Gulf area--you all know who I'm speaking of. I just don't want to show my true ignorance of spelling their names! Some people name their children after Biblical figures while others prefer the latest, greatest sports or entertainment names, and still others try to have the most bizarre combination of consonants and vowels to make up a name that no one can pronounce and the child has to struggle to say let alone learn to spell.

So is it the name that makes the person or the person that makes the name? I really could not tell you the answer to that question. I have my theories. In most cases the person makes the name into what it provokes in people. When someone says "George Washington", what comes to mind? Proud. Patriotic. Founding Father. Strict Disciplinarian. Shy. General. There are so many things that come to mind. It was the man that made his name known as all of these things. He and the people around him made his name one that even elementary school children will tell you, "He was our first President." The name "John Smith" on the other hand means a world of different things. If one is a historian, one might think of John Smith as a great leader that brought the Indians and the English together. To movie buffs, John Smith might bring visions of Brad Pitt in Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Others might think of it as just a name to tell someone when you don't want them to know who your really are. So I suppose the answer is both! What is your take on it?

All of this to answer someone that asked me "What is Dragon's Dolphin?" I have so many names that I am known by--legal name, knick name, first husband's last name, second husband's last name, a hyphenated combination of both last names, screen names, ebay ID name, none of which are really the same. But in the realm of privacy and not wanting to let everyone that has access to the internet who I really am--Dr. Lecter you should be proud--I have called myself Dragon's Dolphin. For those that know me very well, they would say that I have been known by this name for 2 years. It is the combination of the item my husband collects and the item I collect. He is often referred to as Dragon and I as Dolphin. Therefore, I am Dragon's Dolphin. No I'm not his possession, but it would be the same as saying "I am Sam's wife." And no, my husband's name is not Sam. So now "you know the rest of the story." Thank you Paul Harvey for making that a line that would almost ultimately bring your name to one's mind.

Another Sunday....

OK, so once again, I've got another virus this weekend. Either that or my stomach is paying me back for not taking all my medication on schedule this week. But who could blame me? It has been such a full week. Not that you can tell that by what has gone into this blog this week. Oh, but that is because we have been busy building a classic car. Do I mean a real one--heavens no! But we have had a blast getting things ready for my students for the contest of our Cruisin' the Coast CDC Style! In case you want to know about our contest, keep reading--as I'm putting in the article I'll be submitting to our local papers for the event. My computer is acting up today, so there won't be pictures of the winning cars, but you'll get the gist anyway.

Cruisin’ the Coast Child Development Center Style


The Harrison County Child Development Center joined the Mississippi Gulf Coast
in its annual Cruisin’ the Coast on Friday, October 5, 2007. Thanks to a suggestion by one of the staff members, the classes were given the opportunity to build their own classic cars that were judged on their originality and the most authentic to the design and style of the original car. Cars that were made included two cars made as the ’57 Chevy, ‘55 Pink Cadilac, classic fire truck, ’31 Ford truck, ’37 Studebaker truck complete with operational lights, ’29 Ford Roadster, ’29 Ford Woody Station Wagon, the “prehistoric Barney Mobile”, ’57 Ford Mustang, ’57 Ford Thunderbird, a car to represent the 1909-1914 Model T Fords, ’58 Corvette and the ‘49 ZZ Top Ford Coupe.

Two of the cars were made with the class students’ pictures incorporated into the
designs as passengers. Most of the cars used a combination of small and large cardboard boxes as their main chassis. Other cars were made around strollers or buggies that allowed for the students to ride in them. Other building materials included aluminum foil, poster board, bulletin board paper, foam pipe covering, Styrofoam, plastic cups, aluminum ashtrays, plastic plates, fabric, stuffing material or batting, and lots of paint and hot glue.

The “Most Authentic” award winner, Ms. Robin Bates, Ms. Deanna Meyers and
thier class, was the miniature 1949 ZZ Top Ford coupe complete with driver,
steering wheel, gear shift, upholstered seats, fuzzy dice and engine. The “Most Colorful” award went to Mr. Mark Nagell and Ms. Heather Lindberg and their class with Elvis Presley’s 1955 Pink Cadillac, complete with flaming print upholstered seats. With the help of Mr. Jeff Holland, Ms. Sharon Malley and Mrs. Marilyn Hale and their class won the “Best Overall” award with their 1958 Corvette.

Mrs. Vicki Carter, principal, presented each of the winners with a certificate of their award at the school’s Sock Hop. The students then “bopped ‘til they dropped” before returning to class and then to their buses. Several of the staff and students dressed in ‘50’s style apparel and enjoyed the music from the 1950’s to dance to. Ms. Betty Ann Albert and Ms. Terra Brazeale impressed the staff and students with their modified jitterbug. Mrs. Teresa Franklyn, the school’s Activities Committee Chairman, was the unofficial disc jockey for the dance.

All in A Mom's Day

Do you ever have the feeling that a Mom's Day never ends? Well, I often have that feeling--even when I don't have kids at home. There's always someone calling home asking for something. "Did you pick up my medicine?" "Can I go with....to....and then stay at....?" "Can you fix my.....?" "Have you seen my....?" "Did I leave my.....at home when I left?"

Do you ever feel like you are turning into your own Mom? When did you look in the mirror and decide that you were your Mom? When did you realize you were saying the things that she did? I started realizing I was my own Mom when I had my first child. I have taken my revenge though. I've already given my children "The Curse". Anyone that is a parent knows what "The Curse" is." When you tell your children, "I hope that when you have children, they will be just like you!" My future daughter-in-law has already decided that her children are going to be double cursed! She already acts so much like me. And she calls my son (well, my stepson) a clone of his Dad. She knows what we are like and she has already declared that she's scared to have children.

Now if you ever feel like you're hearing yourself say things that you swore you'd never say; take a look at "Mom's Song" at http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=1197846&fr=&cache=1. You really will decide that you say way too much that your mom said to you. However, how she gets 24 hours worth of "Momisms" into 2 1/2 minutes and all sung to the William Tell Overture I will never know. But if you're a Mom, or even a Dad, or even those that plan on having children one day; I think you will get a big kick out of this video. It really is a hoot!

Have a smile on me today and enjoy the rest of the day!