Balloon Boy Attic Boy Pretending Boy

It's always disappointing when you find out you've been duped. I refer to Balloon Boy, as he's referred to....but like Bill Maher said, maybe he should be called Attic Boy. But then the sheriff even said---who knows where he was. He could've been down the street on a swing in the park.

It's rather pathetic on so many levels, but to me the worst two are:

1) you've just taught your kids (probably not for the first time if this is the kind of thing you do) that you can just make up stories and lie to people if it's for something you really want. I suppose the parents presented it like a fun pretend thing, knowing the kids would likely not understand the serious level of police involvement, etc. But it's still a little heartening to realize that even in the midst of that, a little 6 yr old still spilled the beans of truth, even when he wasn't realizing it.

2) without any thought for the inconvenience and maybe even disaster it wrought for others, you decided to pull your stunt. Because flights were grounded during the time they were chasing the balloon, people likely missed important meetings, important events---things that they can never go back and do or get again. I can only imagine how enraged some of them must be to find out it was all over nothing?? A prank? A ploy? A hoax? Maybe someone missed a career-changing meeting, a grandmother's funeral, a wedding..... Oh, I bet the blood is boiling for some, and I kinda hope these parents get lambasted by a few of these folks who were directly impacted by the whole farce. Maybe it'll make the Heenes pause before they try something else stupid. Maybe....but likely not. The pursuit of fame can make some people lose all common sense and, apparently, integrity.

Does This Mean I'm Old?

I cannot figure out why Justin Bieber is such a big deal. He can't sing---sometimes he's hardly able to carry the questionable tune he's singing, half of the song is mechanical sounding, there's nothing original about it....I don't get it. Oh, the girls scream his name and ooh and aah...seriously?? This is considered amazing music? He's rocketed to stardom now based on these songs? Wow. The bar is pretty low, and I must be getting pretty old.

FAREWELL (to the King of Pop and the Queen of Hair)

searching, but nothing so far

Is there anyone on the planet right now more irresponsible than Glenn Beck and his ridiculous War Room?

21st Century?

Miss California, Carrie Prejean, gets to retain her crown. I'm so relieved (you can't hear the irony/sarcasm in my thoughts). There was talk of her possibly being "de-throned" because of recent photos that have been released. Mr. Trump, who owns the pageant, says she can keep her crown, dismissing the photos, saying that she's a model and "this is the 21st century." I have no interest or care in whether she keeps her crown or not, but I did wonder: Speaking of 21st century, why are we still having something as goofy as BEAUTY CONTESTS anyway? Have we not moved past this idea that what's on the outside is so important? That because of the luck of the gene pool, this one person is somehow "better"? Is it helpful to still be sending the message that it matters if you're beautiful, that somehow that makes you on top of the heap? Oh, I know I know, there's this talent and that talent and so on. But it's called a BEAUTY pageant. If these women were unattractive, it wouldn't matter how talented or smart or inventive they were.
I know it's just that I'm envious. But still. 21st century, people. Isn't this a wee bit archaic?

baby girl :)

it's always fun until somebody loses an eye.....or breaks an arm.

and she's not even embarrassed?

Her name is Marie Douglas-David. She's been married to CEO George David (whomever he may be) for seven years, only two of those being good. She now claims, upon the inevitability of divorce, that she's unable to live on $43 million. It's not enough. When you think of what you're going through right now or someone close to you, what they're going through with these hard times, don't you just feel so sorry for her?

Here are some of her weekly expenses (see if you can relate):

$700 - limousine service
$4500 - clothing
$1000 - hair and skin treatments
$1500 - restaurants and entertainment
$8000 - travel

A WEEK!!!

I suppose a person should pity her but it's hard to muster pity 'neath the weight of all this disgust.

a long rambler again

My oldest son is very smart (cough cough) and will be able to do whatever he sets his mind to. It's a matter of getting focused and figuring it out---he's already doing that; he'll be fine. My youngest son, who is deaf and was implanted with a cochlear implant at 22 months, is hardly any different than a hearing kid. He's at the top of his class, just recently found out he made it to the county level of the spelling bee; I don't really worry about him. My middle son; my middle son---he has a harder struggle, and sometimes I so mourn for him. Deaf as well, but oh so smart (cough)---from the very beginning he was quick and bright. (okay okay--spoken like a true mom, I know). When he was very small---four, maybe five---he loved numbers. If you asked him how many zeros were in almost any number, he could tell you. He would count them in his head. "How many zeros are in a million?" He would know. "How about ten million?" He would tell you. "How many in a billion? 100 billion? A trillion?" I figured his dad taught him, he figured someone at school had taught him (he was going to a fantastic oral school for the deaf)....but no one had. Somehow numbers just came easy to him. But language was harder. He didn't get implanted until he was 3 1/2, after language development has basically happened for hearing children. Everything had to be spoon-fed to him regarding language and sentence structure and words. He didn't pick up expressions and subtle language nuances through incidental hearing like everyone else does from the moment of birth and even before. So language has been harder, and yet he does amazing. He's made so much progress; he's come so far. I'm sure I can't even know the effort he expends every day, going to school, doing well, listening, trying to piece together what he maybe didn't hear, and on and on and on. I'm sure I can't even begin to know what this process has been for him through the years (I know it's a similar process and struggle for my youngest son as well, but having received the implant so much younger, the work and effort is SO much less). So I marvel at him, at where he is, at what he does. But I also mourn sometimes at where, maybe, he could be if he had been hearing from the beginning. There's so much potential, so much intelligence there----it doesn't seem fair that he should have to struggle. Opportunities missed. School activities and groups he probably would've been a part of if his whole story had been different. And I know. I know there's nothing to be gained in wondering "What if." Nothing accomplished by pondering the end of "If only." And it takes away from what he's accomplished.

I guess more and more I'm aware of this inequity as schoolwork gets harder and more advanced. As writing requirements move beyond the basic into the more intricate. As his peers become involved in various academics groups and activities. It's torture getting my son to get his homework done; there's no way he's going to add on an extra activity. How does one succeed in this world without good and even excellent writing skills? How does one excel without high-level communication skills? If kindness and empathy and care for fellow man was on a par with those other tangible skills, I wouldn't worry at all. He would be president. As it is, I must have trust that I don't need to worry anyway. He is a deaf boy who does almost everything his peers do and he does many of them better than a lot of them do. All parents have a tender part that mourns something, I suppose. It's folly to focus on that, and I want to never take my eye off of all the amazing progress he has made.

And in acknowledgment of my other sons---all I've said here applies to them as well. I don't mean to diminish their own accomplishments, for many of them have been gained through adversity and struggle as well. My oldest son had so many things on his plate when he was little---a mom who was overwhelmed with the care of two deaf babies, so she wasn't always there for him like she wanted and needed to be. Two deaf brothers who sucked up all the attention and energy and resources. Yes, my other two sons have had their own set of struggles too. I guess it's just that their place seems more solid---their opportunity more secure. But life is interesting, isn't it? Sometimes worry is misplaced and just a waste of time. Sometimes things are more solid than they seem. I want to focus on what is great and good, on accomplishment and opportunity. I want to teach my kids to do the same.

anyone want to try for 6001?

'Most-Pierced Woman' Breaks 6,000

Elaine Davidson, the Guiness World Record holder for the "most-pierced woman" just broke her own record, according to the U.K.'s Telegraph. When she was first awarded the title in 2000 she had 462 piercings. In this photo from May 16, 2008, Davidson poses for the camera in the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland, showing some of the 5,920 piercings she had then.

love your babies

This is so sweet and so wrenching at the same time:

I'm going to pay him later

My youngest son just commented on his friend's mom. They live next door to us and are super neighbors. The said mom is---well, let's just say that I've been looking for a flaw and haven't found one yet. Model cute/pretty, perfect shape, friendly, etc. etc. So my son says, "B's mom is so skinny." Sigh. And I say archly, "So what's your point??" and give him a smile and make some comment about how maybe someday I will be too, or something like that. And he says, "I don't want you to be that skinny." "You don't? Why?" "You look good the way you are; I like you the way you are." Awwww. I wish I shared his sentiment but it was priceless to me nonetheless.

a spot of good news

In these days of doom and gloom, stories like T-H-I-S are so great to read. I love these kinds of accountings...paying it forward. So inspiring and refreshing.

ooh! ooh! pick me, pick me!

I just want to say that I volunteer to be "fat" like Jessica Simpson. Give me a break!

and now this?

Now there's the 60 year old woman who just gave birth to twins. Again, her deep and selfless reason: "I always said 'There should be a baby. I had my heart set on it. I wanted a baby." Me. Me. Me. I want. I guess it doesn't matter if your child wants his or her parent at graduation or other milestones like that? I guess it doesn't matter if your child doesn't want a parent who's too old to play or run or go shopping or help with college applications? I guess it doesn't matter if it would be heartbreaking for your child to have to bury his parent before he's old enough to really be on his own? I guess those things aren't nearly as important as what YOU want.

one more word on all those mouths

The mother of the 14 children that I last posted about was interviewed. I was struck by a statement she made several times about having a large family. "It's all I ever wanted." I'm wondering if what she wanted is a sufficient reason to bring 14 kids into the world. It's not like collecting dolls or something.

a lot of mouths to feed

Recently in the news has been the story of the woman who gave birth to octuplets. Amazingly they're all doing really well. The controversy that has sprung up is two-fold: 1) she already HAS 6 kids and despite this, she 2) got fertility treatments. I guess there's a third fold: some believe that implanting her with 8 embryos is akin to medical malpractice. The ethics of the whole thing is somewhat in question alright, but for me it's centered more on the mom: why on earth would you have 8 more kids when you already have 6? Is that responsible? And it's not like they're all staggered in ages. To top it off, this woman is 30 and single. 30 and SINGLE!!!! How can one person adequately parent 14 kids? How can two people even do that? Who has that kind of energy and stamina? And, relating to that third fold, who would implant her with 8 embryos when there are 6 children already at home, and she's single? How is she taking care of these kids? How is she feeding them? It doesn't seem sufficient that she lives with her parents: they're still outnumbered significantly. AND they live in a 3 bedroom home. In light of the economic times we're currently facing, in light of the fact that this woman isn't married (I'm sure for some this is irrelevant), in light of the fact that she's not exactly set up room-wise for 14 kids....this just seems extremely irresponsible and self-centered. Am I completely off-base?

how does it happen

that a man who has 26 tickets still has a license and is still driving a vehicle? How does he live with himself after rear-ending a van, killing the three children inside? How is it possible for the mother who lost her 3 children to say that she forgives him? I know that's it's possible---I even know how it's possible; I just can't imagine it. I can't imagine what they're going through. Hug your babies.

And then you have this other man who can never hug his babies again, and maybe he wishes he had made a different choice? Times are so hard but there must be better alternatives.

the clicking boy

Ben Underwood was an amazing boy, an amazing human being. Cancer stole his vision and now has claimed his life. In 16 short years, he did what couldn't be done; he accomplished what shouldn't have been possible. Truly an inspiration and an unbelievable story and worth the time to explore. Here are a few places to find out more.

cutting off the nose to spite the face

I hesitate to bring this up but it's been on my mind; I'll get it off my chest and then move on. We have a new president; there will be some changes---good and bad, depending on one's viewpoint. There will be policies and positions that won't be popular with everyone. I understand that. But it seems unbelievably narrow-minded, short-sided, immature and spiteful to be able to say: "I hope he fails." If the President of the United States fails, where does that leave us, its people? Don't we fail too then? It's hard to get how you can wish for the first thing without understanding that surely the second one follows.

it gets better, right?

Having a puppy is like having a toddler. You get nothing done; you don't get much sleep, and she doesn't speak your language. Good thing she's cute.

history being made

cool!

"Go The Distance" Danny Fong

Dem Phones

So we know that almost on a daily basis our lives become more technologically-driven. Someone on Facebook (to ironically prove my point) shared T-H-I-S clip. It's very clever!

so far so good

The first night was bearable---a bit of whining and pint-size howling for awhile around 3 a.m., but after a few stern "no's" from ole Papa, we didn't hear another peep. She's sweet and silly and playful and loooves her new soft plush bed. It's pink with little brown hearts on it---I'll have to post a picture soon. I finally get to buy little girly things---even if it IS only for a dog. "Only", I say, when I'm totally smitten.

The lovely Elaine has helped me soooo much to get what I need and even gave Tasha a little bath this morning cuz she had a little minor potty problem. So glad E. lives around the corner....she might be sorry about that soon, though. :)

So I promise I won't lay out every boring detail!

sweet babyface

meet tasha

goin' to the dogs

So we're still trying to figure out if we're going to get a dog. I think tomorrow we might go to a local animal/rescue shelter and just see what's there. We each have some criteria---from something as simple as floppy ears (my youngest son's input) to a non-shedder (mine and my husband's). It seems like every kind of dog has something that keeps it from being "the perfect dog." So we'll see.

When our oldest son was young, he wanted a dog so badly but I knew there was no way I could deal with a dog. I had two young deaf sons at the time, I was dealing with the emotional aspect of that, not to mention the everyday stuff--looking for thrown hearing aids, driving long miles every day to the school for the deaf, recovery from surgeries, etc. I wanted so badly to be able to get him a dog, but the thought was overwhelming. I carry the guilt of that still today---is that a mother's portion? I know I can't make it up to him, I know I can't go back and get him the dog he so needed and desired. I guess I just don't want to make the same mistake with my two other sons. And hopefully my oldest will maybe someday understand that I wish I could go back now and give him a boy's best friend.

2 0 0 9

It's a new year, and I'm in a new place, so it seemed like a perfect time for a new look! I love where I am; I love our new spot; I have plans for some personal progress in this new year; and perhaps if some of it is halfway interesting, I'll share it in this new space.

Here's wishing everyone a great new year, a productive and adventuresome 2009.