Becoming a parent

You have to take 4 years of classes and get passing grades to get your high school diploma.  If you go to college, you are also expected to pass tests.  When you get your driver's license you have to pass a written test and demonstrate to someone that you can actually drive the car.  Call me crazy but it doesn't make sense to me that we are allowed to become parents without proving that we are capable in any way.  Don't get me wrong, I don't believe that the government or any other entity should be involved in this very important process.  However, becoming  a parent is THE biggest decision you will make in your life.  You are creating another life and you are responsible for shaping that life for the rest of your life yet SO many people enter parenthood with absolutely no thought.   Grandparents are raising their grandchildren because their children can't put their children's needs before their own.  So many, have children too young and can not delay their parties, trips or other escapades to take the time to dedicate to their kids.  It makes me so sad to see emotionally or physically neglected children.    It makes me mad when people don't stop to consider the responsibility they have undertaken when they create that life.  I don't mean becoming so selfless that you don't take care of yourself, we need balance to be good parents.    Being a parent is a serious responsiblity and it seems to be that there should be more forethought.  I almost think that chastity belts should be required until each woman can prove that they will be responsible for birth control or can prove that they are ready to be a Mother.  Father's have a huge responsibility as well but let's face it--they can't create children without our help and the woman is ulimatley responsible if he isn't there for her.  The baby showers and pregnancy are fun and it's great to feel that special.  Babies are SO adoreable, they are soft and they smell good but they also keep you up all night, they poop and they projectile vomit sometimes.   Think beyond the first few years as you will be a parent for life.  There aren't tests so maybe you should adopt a fish then a cat or a dog and if you can take care of them without any major issues MAYBE you are ready. 

What will they deep fry next?

I went to the Colorado State Fair today to watch my beautiful nieces perform on the good old Pepsi stage.  (I think that thing has been there forever.)  While there, my best friend's son, Tyler, ate deep fried Oreos.  He said they were delicious but I was too afraid to try them.  Many years ago at the fair I convinced my husband to try the deep fried Snickers and soon after that he threw up after going on one of those upside down rides.  My husband never throws up.  I'm a huge fan of most fried foods.  I love fried ice cream.  I thoroughly enjoyed the fried pickles.   I also think that almost everything tastes better when it's fried.  It's not very good for the waistline but it sure tastes good when you are eating it.  An Oreo by itself tastes really good and a Snickers by itself is heavenly.  Why do we have to coat it in batter and drench it in oil by deep fat frying it to improve the flavor.  This also proves that when we go to the fair, we will eat almost anything.

Does money buy happiness?

If someone were to ask if money buys happiness everyone's response would be, "Hell yes!"  If I won the lottery, I wouldn't give the money back but consider this--money can't buy health, it can't buy love (they'll pretend to love you but do they really) and it can't buy peace of mind.  Remember, the contractor in Arkansas (or somewhere like that) that won the lottery twice?  His granddaughter became a drug addict and died from an overdose.  If he could give all the money back to get his granddaughter back, he would but it's not possible.  Look at the "rich" kids, actors, actresses and famous people who are incurable drug addicts.  If money really bought happiness they wouldn't need the drugs.    Let's face it, good health is truely priceless.   Have you seen the story about the Copper heiress?  She died alone in seclusion.  She had everything money could buy but it didn't buy love or peace of mind.   I thought of this today, listening to the writer for People talking about her Elin Wood article.  Of course, the rumours are swirling concerning the divorce settlement, Elin would not discuss this with the reporter but it's rumoured to be $100 million.  Elin's only response to the settlement, something to the effect of money doesn't buy happiness, it will not put our family back together and ultimately, it won't remove the pain and embarrassment she went through.  She is a very classy lady, who appears to be doing what is right for her children and living close to their Father so both of them can be in their lives.  There's a concept--doing what's best for the children!  So many stories in this one very public drama.  I know it's hard to be without money and there are many things that money can fix and many things that money can make easier but seriously, it can't buy happiness. 

I've never used Algebra

It's been many many years since I struggled through Algebra, Science and History classes but I remember asking if we would ever use that information again.  Honestly, the answer is no.  I enjoyed and excelled at English and writing then I started a career in radio where we write to read.  We also write for pronunciation so we don't necessarily have to spell either.  Plus, we have spell check on our computers and phones to prevent a perception of illiteracy.  The MOST valuable class I took in high school was Mrs. Young's typing class--no pecking at the key board for me.  Honestly, when we were in high school, most of us didn't know what we wanted to be when we grew up and most of that learning was a "just in case" I change my mind and decide to be a Doctor.  My almost seven year old son says he wants to be a scientist, more specifically an "evil" scientist.  I hope there is a market for that some day.  My point is this, wouldn't it be cool if there could be a career predicter for high schoolers to help them avoid the torture of those classes and knowledge that they really won't need in the future?  That would relieve a lot of stress for students, parents and teachers.  

"Reality' shows

I'm almost ashamed to admit it but I'm addicted to reality shows.  I was a Real World junkie, then The Hills and now Jersey Shore.  I also watch The Real Houswives of New York City although this year was the last season for me and The Real Houswives of the O.C.  Ditto on the last year of that one too.  First of all, the reality shows aren't real--they have writers!  Real life doesn't come with a script.  Second, the producers have to create conflict to make it interesting so they add new characters, they create rumours and they feed the insecurities of the "actors".  I'm watching Jersey Shore and I'm thinking, "Wow!  These kids get paid to get drunk and hook up."    Their drunken antics of nights they can't remember are then broadcast for the whole world to see.  I would have been mortified if my parents saw some of my drunken antics.  They heard about them eventually but they didn't see it, that's a whole different reality.  Their boyfriends and girlfriends also get to witness the crawling into bed with a roommate--there's no covering up that one!  Then who knows what kind of unused footage they will hit you with at the reunion show.  Personally, I wouldn't want to go through that.  Our minds can actually soften how stupid we were and we don't have to watch the re-runs with our children.  These reality shows are creating a whole new type of celebrity.  They don't really have a talent but everyone knows who they are and we read about them in People magazine.  It makes me sad when a nice young girl like Heidi (what the hell is her last name) became another person in both body and mind because of that douche bag Spencer.  Personally, I love Snookie, she is who she is and she doesn't care.  Through the process of being herself, she's also one of the highest paid stars on the show.  Well , I guess the moral of the story  is, as most of our year books have said, "Stay the way you are and keep smiling" but don't do it on T.V. 

Hormones--you have no idea!

Unless you are plagued with hormonal swings, you can not fathom what I'm about to talk about.  Approximately two to four days per month, I am absolutely unbearable to live with--ask my husband.  I can swing from extremely angry, to totally irrational to a crying baby.  God bless him for being so patient with me.  I'm not a doctor but I think one of the primary ways to deal with hormonal fluctations is to take hormones which I can not do.  When I was pondering my latest mood swing, it made me think of teenagers--they are a ball of raging hormones--no wonder we don't understand them.  No wonder they don't make rational decisions.  It's hard to think back that far because I'm older and I have memory issues but I'm sure most of my teenage "blonde" moments were due to hormones.   I do remember some screaming fits and storming out of the house.  Now when I have my "mood swings" , I want to curl up in my room with a heating pad, hot tea, darkness and silence until I can react in a rational manner.  And  to think, we send teenagers out in the real world all the time.  I know they do some crazy and seemingly stupid stuff but to some degree, they can't help it and sometimes they just have to learn from their mistakes.    This isn't an excuse but believe me, if you haven't been through it--you have no idea.  If my husband decides to start a blog--I'm in big trouble.   

King Tut's Jewelry

So, the earrings that King Tut wore weren't the small posts with backs like we wear now.  They were huge screws with adornments on both sides.  They looked heavy and I'm sure they majorly stretched out the ear lobes.  Those were probably the earliest guage devices.  I've never understood why people want to stretch out their ear lobes especially with the really big circles.  Once they are stretched out and won't stretch back so if you decide you don't like them anymore, what do you do?  AND if they have children what if the baby grabs one of those babies and won't let go?  Ouch!  I know, my mind takes some unexpected turns but that's why you like to read these.  Well, I don't think I have anything else to talk about when it comes to King Tut.

Tomorrow--hormones, you have NO idea. 

King Tut and Make-up

As you know, the Pharoahs were buried with all of their worldly possessions, to have them in the after life.  They had miniature boats which would magically expand when they needed them.  They clothes and shoes and they took extra care to make sure that important body parts could not be destoryed.  King Tut was also buried with his cosmetics.  I can totally understand that because I love make up!  It's so fun--you can create different looks with make up.  I also believe that ALL women should wear make-up.  Make-up is designed to enhance our features and hide flaws.  Some women need a small amount of make-up and they look great.  Other women need LOTS of make-up.  In fact, I've had friends that I did not recognize without make up.  You can definitely wear too much make up--it's a less is more kind of thing.   ANY make up counter will be happy give you a make over.  You can tell them that you need a quick routine or you can tell them that you want a whole new look.  It takes some time and some practice but everyone I know looks better with make-up.    King Tut was buried with his make-up for goodness sake--that's how important it was to him.    Yes, these are the things I think about when I'm looking at artifacts and such. 

King Tut

We went to the King Tut exhibit yesterday and I wasn't sure what to expect.   My baby brother wasn't impressed and we almost didn't go but I'm glad we did.  The time of the Pharoahs in Egypt is very intriguing.  The clothes, jewelry and make-up were fabulous.  The fact that they were buried with all of their worldly possessions fascinating.  Their beliefs and superstitiouns regarding the after life--ground breaking.  The pyramids and statues they built were exquisite.  It made me want to watchthe 10 Commandments and it's not even Easter.   I was looking at one of the King Tut statues thinking to myself, "He looks very familiar."  Then I realized, Michael Jackson was trying to look like King Tut!  The nose, the make up, the slight build---I'm totally serious about this.  Do a comparison and you will see.

My blog is short and sweet--tell your friends!  Tomorrow King Tut and make up.

Drive-in Movies

Man!  When I wrote my blog about Pueblo I forgot one of the BEST things about Pueblo--they have a Drive-in Movie Theatre.  It has three screens and a snack stand with the BEST food.  (Ask my sister.)  When I was growing up there was a Drive-in theatre on the outskirts of Walsenburg.  It was a popular date night event.  I remember getting SO nervous about the whole kissing and making out scenario.  If you didn't really want to kiss through the whole movie, you had to have some moves to ward off the unwanted advances.  Just like Danny and Sandy in Grease.  LOL!  I love that movie.  On the other hand, with the right guy, it got very steamy. You wouldn't know it now but I was very naive in high school.  I adjusted very quickly in college. I'm sure I will blog about that.   I remember walking by cars with foggy windows and giggling.  By the way, we are from a very small town and you knew who it was by the car.  BUT I digress.  If you haven't experienced a Drive-in movie you need to check it out.  Pueblo isn't that far away.  Try to avoid a movie that might have a lot of darkly lit scenes--those are hard to see.   You don't have to worry about rude people who bring crying babies to the movies or the ones that have a commentary through the whole thing, unless you have a big mouth in your car.  

Future posts are my King Tut observations.  Thanks for reading--tell your friends.

Why I love Pueblo!

I hear people making fun of Pueblo all the time and this is nothing new.  I think that most people haven't experienced the true essence of Pueblo and fail to recognize how awesome Pueblo really is.  Here are ten reasons that I love Pueblo:

1.  Pueblo is a melting pot of many cultures--Hispanic, Italian, European. 
2.  Pueblo has THE best restaurants.  Forget the chains when you go to Pueblo there are great local restaurants and we have trouble deciding which one to eat at when we go there.
3.  Pueblo has GREAT neighborhood bars where everyone really does know your name AND you can drink all night and only spend $20 bucks.
4. Pueblo is proud of their community and they are willing to invest their hard earned dollars  for growth and improvement. 
5.  Early in my career, I worked in Pueblo for a few years and the people there are locally loyal.  If you want to do business there, you need to live there.  I love that.  I am not impressed when people come here from Denver to work in our community and continue to commute from Denver.  Commit to live in the community especially in an industry whose cornerstone is community involvement.
6.  There are great boutique stores in Pueblo and I have found the selection of unique clothes and housewares are better in Pueblo than most places I've been.
7.  Pueblo peeps are proud of their heritage.
8.  Family ties run deep.
9.  The Colorado State Fair!!
10.  There are really more than 10 things to list--feel free to add!!!

Medicinal Marijuana--really?

Marijuana for medicinal purposes is legal in Colorado.  For the most part, I am a "to each his own person" and while I have chronic lower back and knee pain I am not a card holder.  I think that marijuana should be legal whether it is for chronic pain, pleasure or nausea.  Haven't we learned via the prohibition that you can't prevent a vice by making it illegal?  We should benefit from the jobs and tax base that can be created.  Once again, I am not a marijuana person however, the fact that there are more medical marijuana dispensaries than McDonalds in Colorado Springs amuses me.  I wonder where the Starbuck's ratio currently stands.   I am also a believer in marketing and saw an ad for a medicinal dispensary that advertised Free Joint Fridays and Munchie Mondays--that doesn't sound like something that is meant to cure illness--that's all I'm saying! 

Once again, my facts are not validated and this is ONLY an opinion for those that may or may not be amused by it.  Tomorrow's topic--Why I love Pueblo!

Ta Da

I'm SO excited.  This is my very first blog.  First of all a BIG thank you to Bobby Adan for setting this up for me!  He's anxious to hear my spouting.  So, unlike Miss Gloria, a very special and prolific person who has a flair for the descriptive, I have a blog simply to state my opinion on a variety of matters.  I am tired of my husband tuning me out and sometimes I just need to release the opinion.   The title of my blog is Spouting Geiser which I think is very appropriate. 

The title for tomorrow's blog will be Medical Marijuana is it really Medical?  My disclaimer is that these are not judgments or facts ONLY my opinion and observations.  Yee-ha!

Welcome.

Welcome to Spouting Geiser: The Blog! Stay Tuned...