Can a bully be forgiven?
Do we want a bully in the White House? | Mitt Romney (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
We were all young once. I’m sure we all did things in high school that we aren’t particularly proud of. If you were a bully, you might even feel shame or horror for the pain that you caused. Or you would if you’ve grown up since and developed a sense of empathy for others.
If you were ever bullied, you may wonder if the bully remembers the things that he or she did to you. You probably hope that person is human enough that such horrors wouldn’t easily fade from his or her memory.
Mitt Romney was recently accused of bullying a gay student when he was in high school back in the 60’s. When I first heard the news, I was willing to give the man the benefit of the doubt. I mean, I wasn’t even born when this event took place, and I know I’ve changed a lot since I was in high school. (more…)
Ann Romney hasn’t ever worked a day in her life
If I had 5 housekeepers and nannies to help me raise my children, I don’t think I would dare compare myself to the average stay-at-home mom in America. Yet, when Hilary Rosen told Anderson Cooper last week that, “Ann Romney hasn’t ever worked a day in her life,” stay-at-home moms across the country took it personally.
Why? Ann Romney’s version of stay-at-home mommery in no way compares to the average American homemaker’s life. I’ve been a stay-at-home mother myself, so I would know. Maybe I’m not the average American housewife, but I’m pretty sure my story comes a lot closer to the norm than Romney’s.
I am a veteran of the United States Air Force who decided to separate from the military and stay at home with my first new baby 13 years ago. I spent about the first whole year at home with each of my children, partly because I didn’t want to miss out on those first months of their lives, and partly because my economic situation at the time dictated that I do so. (more…)
2012 Sigma Tau Delta induction
Sigma Tau Delta (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Yesterday, I officially joined the International English Honor Society at the 2012 Sigma Tau Delta induction ceremony which took place in the beautiful Caroline Hall student lounge at Mount Mary College.
According to the Sigma Tau Delta website, “Candidates for graduate membership must be enrolled in a graduate program in English, or one of its specializations, have completed six semester hours of graduate work or the equivalent, and have a minimum grade point average of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale.”
I lured my children to the induction ceremony with the promise of food, and they were actually very well behaved throughout the ceremony. Perhaps it was the promise of a slice of the huge cake sitting on a back table that kept them in line. My boyfriend came along as well to keep an eye on the kids and man the video camera (he kept the camera trained on me for pretty much the entire video!) (more…)
My Dream Career: A 5-paragraph essay
Could I survive on writing alone? Or would I get too bored? | Image via Wikipedia
Earlier this morning, I wrote a post on teaching the 5-paragraph essay. In that post, I promised to share the essay I wrote for my Written Communication students this week. So, here it is…
My Dream Career
If you could have any job, what would you do? This is a typical first date question, job interview question, or composition class free writing topic, one whose answer may provide a great deal of insight into the life of the respondent. If you were to ask this question of me, my answer would surely provide insight into my psyche simply because the way I would answer is far different than the average American. (more…)
Separation of Church and State
Image via Wikipedia
I have a confession to make. I have a 2-foot stack of back issues of National Geographic and Smithsonian magazine that I have never read. I am working my way through them slowly, but I finally let my subscriptions expire this year because I was feeling really guilty about just how large my stack had grown. Anyway, I just finished reading the October 2010 issue of Smithsonian in which I found a very timeless article that I would love to share with you now. The full story is available online for your perusal. (more…)
Lying is futile
Image via Wikipedia
I don’t get liars, never have. What’s the point? The truth always comes out in the end, no matter how hard you try to cover it up. Truth is afraid of the dark. It doesn’t like to be hidden under a brown paper bag, and it always finds a way to escape.
Back when I was in basic training in the Air Force, our TI’s (short for training instructor, that’s what we called them in the Air Force, as opposed to a drill sergeant in the Army) put us through long, excruciating exercises in paying attention and following instructions. One day, we spent several hours putting our laundry marks in every item of military clothing we’d been issued. (more…)
Taste of Soda on Poetry Friday
Image via Wikipedia
My poem for today’s Poetry Friday is a commentary on the state of the American welfare system. As I was searching for related articles to share at the bottom, I found that Newt Gingrich has apparently made some interesting comments lately about people on foodstamps. Just to let you know, I just now learned of this and have not yet had the time to read what was said and develop an educated opinion. But I am interested in hearing what others have to say on the matter. So, please feel free to share your comments below.
With that said, here is my offering for today’s Poetry Friday:
Taste of Soda
When Mom and
Dad split,
we got food stamps
to feed our
newly-formed
family of three. (more…)
Amtrak and the Grand Canyon: What You Should Know
Image via Wikipedia
First off, the Grand Canyon trip I was planning via Amtrak is a scratch. I’ve got a new plan in place now, but I’ll get to that in a future post. At this point, I feel the need to put some info out there to help out future vacay planners. So, here are a few things I’ve learned about planning a trip to the Grand Canyon via Amtrak. (more…)
Wisconsin Automotive Museum
Saturday morning, I took my son out to the Wisconsin Automotive Museum in Hartford, WI. This Wisconsin Automotive Museum is home to one of the largest collections of one of the only “true classic” cars made in the United States: The Kissel Kar.
Upon entering the museum, you’re immediately met by the sound of train whistles, as model trains zip by on one of the largest model train displays I have ever seen. The museum also boasts a 1913 locomotive. (more…)
Wagon ride and campfire at the Grand Canyon…
Image by Al_HikesAZ via Flickr
Check out this article I found which lists the Grand Canyon as one of 10 places every kids should see.
According to the article:
During the day, stroll the 4-year-old Skywalk, a U-shaped, glass-bottom observation deck that juts 70 feet over the canyon’s West Rim and sits 4,000 feet above the Colorado River. Come sunset, hit Grand Canyon Apache Stables, where, for $25.50 per person, you can hitch a one-hour ride on a horse-drawn wagon that ends around a campfire. Tip: BYO marshmallows and hot dogs so you can cook up a nighttime snack. Skywalk Package including mandatory Legacy pass. (more…)
My first post… A trip to the Grand Canyon
Image via Wikipedia
My new blog… I wanted it to be the “Write on the Road” blog, but someone else already has that name. 
Anyway, this is my blog for planning and taking trips and writing as I go. I’ve always loved to travel, but haven’t been able to for years. But now that I’m divorced, I have more money (even though my total household earnings is far less than it ever was while I was married, go figure!) and more freedom. So, I’ve decided to start showing my kids the world, or at least the small corner of the world I can afford to show them for now.
A few weeks ago, I asked my older son, Corbin, where he would like to go on vacation this summer. I’d just socked away a few dollars from my tax return so we could take a trip and wanted to let Corbin have some input on our first ever “real” vacation. (more…)
Write to me!