Rocks In My Dryer

Remarkably Painless Swimsuit Shopping

Lands' End has managed me to look un-horrible in a swimsuit.  And I don't know how to give them a finer endorsement than that. 

I've long been a Lands' End fan (their little boys' pants are the only ones I've found that can actually make it through three rounds of hand-me-downs), but I'd never had one of their swimsuits before.  I have one for the first time this season, and I love it. And yes, I know that $100 is pricey for a swimsuit, but I aim to go swimsuit shopping only once a decade.  Ten dollars a year isn't bad.

This top (in navy and white) and this skirt (in navy) are mine.  They are, of course, in a size 4.  [*insert sound of lightning striking me down for that lie*]. 

Because I love you, and because I love Lands' End, and because Lands' End loves you, and because we're all just one big happy swimsuit love-fest, they're offering a $100 Lands' End gift certificate to be given away to one lucky commenter on this post.  Leave a comment, and I'll draw a random winner a tomorrow (Saturday) morning at 9 am CST.

Dang!

I just watched the last five minutes of that episode with my hands over my eyes!  Holy shmokes!

I have felt for a long time that something is amiss where Claire is concerned.  She is too dedicated of a mother to willingly leave Aaron.  If she were separated from him, she would be completely berserk, NOT rocking and smiling in a chair.  Here's the excerpt from an interesting theory on the message boards:

Claire died when her house exploded..the island makes dead people seem like reality, hence Christian Sheppard. Christian took his daughter wherever she belongs (a la the afterlife).

What do you think?  All that time she was hiking across the island with Sawyer and boat guy, she was actually dead?  Plausible?

Another thing--I told Melanie last week (I did!  Ask her!) that I think Christian Shepherd is central to this whole thing.  I'm not sure why or how, but his increasing number of appearances must be significant. 

And back on the boat?  I'm just as lost as I can be.  What in the heck is going on?  Why aren't the captain and Strangely Vicious Military Guy on the same page? 

One last thing.  I thought that the scene where Hurley and Ben shared a candy bar was excellent television.  Perfectly paced at a tense moment.  That is some fine writing.

What a show.

If you're blogging Lost, leave your link below.  Out of consideration for other readers, please link directly to your post, not to the front page of your blog.  Here's how you do it.

What I Did On My Bloggy Vacation

It felt good--really good--to step away from Ye Olde Blogge for awhile.  Most of what I wrote the previous week was pre-posted, so I was actually mostly blog-free for about a week and a half.  And in the intense immediacy of blog years, that's, like, 73 days. 

I desperately needed a tweaking of my perspective on the cyber-world.  If you've been blogging yourself for a while, you know that there is a (perhaps false) sense of urgency to it.  I think all bloggers occasionally get so plugged into their cyber-lives that they lose sight of the real life they're supposed to be living.  It doesn't help that this is the most "connected" generation in history.  We write on our blogs while Facebooking and Twittering and listening to a podcast and receiving our messages (text and voice mail and instant).

And I wonder sometimes, were we really created to be this plugged in?  Are we so connected that we're getting...well, disconnected? 

I know.  There are some really fine uses of technology out there.  I love my cell phone and my Facebook and my e-mail as much as the next person.  I don't plan to chuck it all anytime soon.  I think that it is what it is, and whether we like it or not, we've found ourselves living smack dab in the middle of the Tech Revolution. 

And that's okay.  We'll work with it.  We'll grow and learn and adapt and be thankful for the convenience and enjoy the entertainment. 

But let's not forget (and I'm preaching to myself, here) that the real meat of life, the stuff that really matters, the part that makes it beautiful to be human--well, none of that stuff has a USB port.  You can't really Twitter the music of a child's laugh, and no Facebook page will replace the beauty of taking a casserole to a sick friend.

So blog life, Twitter it, IM it, podcast it...and do it well.

But first?

Live it.

I Have Always Wanted To Live-Blog a Tornado...

...and this is my chance, it appears.  Welcome to springtime in Oklahoma!

7:10 pm -- Tornado sirens go off.  The air looks greenish and it's VERY still.  That's not a good sign.  Weathercaster is beside himself with glee and says it's headed right for us.  He says we should go to our tornado shelter for the next 40 minutes.  Clearly he has never spent an evening in a closet with my four children, or he wouldn't make such an unreasonable request.

7:12 pm -- The kids are in the shelter and I'm on the phone with my dad, who called to make sure I heard the sirens.  Hubs, of course, is out of town, far, far away from tornado alley.  He always misses the excitement.  I'm wondering if I can lie on top of all four kids at once to keep them from blowing away.

7:18 pm -- I join the kids in the shelter (yay for a laptop!) when the weathercaster darn near shouts, "TAKE COVER!"  Rain and wind are seriously picking up.

7:22 -- Adam wants to know if he can sneak out to save his Nintendo DS.  I say no.

7:25 -- Is it bad that part of me is hoping the pet rats blow away?

7:27 -- The boys are tormenting their sister:  "I hear the tornado coming, Corrie!"  That will be a great moment for therapy some day.

7:28 -- Major wind and rain, and the sirens are going off again.  Just heard the weathercaster say a funnel could drop from the sky at any moment.

7:29 -- Corrie is squealing at the top of her lungs.  Did I mention this is a very small closet?

7:32 -- Stephen just shouted, "The BABY BIRDS!"  They're suspended in a flower basket, and the wind is awfully high.  I ran out to check on them, and I'll be darned if their sweet momma isn't sitting on them, keeping them dry.  I'm thinking about sitting on my own kids, though for considerably less noble purposes.

7:35 -- Okay, somebody's tooting in here.  I NEED AIR!!!

7:38 -- The weathercast says the worst is probably over.  And it's a good thing, because Corrie just bit Stephen.

7:43 -- The sounds of family togetherness:

Download tornado.wav

7:49 -- The worst is definitely over.  We're leaving the shelter, in one piece.  The weather is still really bad south of us, though; I hope those folks are okay.

7:53 -- The baby birds are safe!  But we don't see the momma anywhere; we're a little worried.

8:22 -- The momma bird is back.  Wind is gone, rain is mostly gone, backyard is flooded!  But we're safe, and these children are headed to bed.  Hallelujah! 

Interesting Opportunity

BlogHer CEO Lisa Stone is going to conduct a live podcast interview with Carly Fiorina on Friday.  Ms. Fiorina is the former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, and now she's stumping for John McCain's campaign.  BlogHer is actively soliciting questions to ask the McCain camp in the interview.  Head over there and be heard!

What DOESN'T Work For Me

Several people sent in e-mails requesting this particular themed edition of WFMW.  Evidently a good number of you have experience with things that don't work out well?  Surely not.

Anyway, this week is your chance to share with the internet your lessons-learned-the-hard-way.  Here is my own random assortment of non-working things:

Waxing.  Technically speaking, this did work for me in the sense that the hair in question was indeed removed, but not before I screamed in pain and nearly threw the waxing-girl across the room.  Never again.  Never, ever again. 

Putting a baby younger than six months old on anything resembling a schedule.  My hat is off to those of you who managed to do it, but I always found it a little like balancing an octopus on your fingertips.  Survival is the name of the game, and if that little creature wants you to feed him at 3 am while hanging upside down wearing polka dot leggings, then by George, you do it.

Yelling at my child that he should stop yelling so much.  Ahem.

Thinking my purse is safe if it's locked in my car.  Just in case I haven't mentioned it enough.  DON'T DO IT!

Magic Erasers.  I know some people swear by these, but I don't like how they get all slimy and soapy right in your hand.  Give me a washcloth and some 409 any day.

Going to the grocery store without meals planned and an organized list.  I still do this sometimes, unfortunately, but it never works out well, and entirely too many Little Debbies (and not enough green beans) seem to end up in my cart.

Garage sales.  I've never found that they make as much money as the tax deduction you'd receive from just donating (and itemizing) the same stuff.  And a charity gets some benefit as well.

So...what doesn't work for you?  (Leave your link below.  First-timers, please read through the guidelines here.)

Was your link deleted?  CLICK HERE.

1. We are THAT family (Distraction turned Disaster) 2. The Pumkin Patch 3. Mrs. Fussypants (How not to get all frumpy as a mommy) 4. Mammarino (Contact Lens Care) 5. MG (Don\'t Share A Camera) 6. Jenni (how to not waste money at the grocery store) 7. Daily Mish Mash (PMS) 8. Michelle at Scribbit (child activitites) 9. Laura @ Heavenly Homemakers (Please Pass the Butter) 10. Blue Castle (pasta cooker) 11. Cindy (backward face car seats) 12. Capturing Today (Our Lifestyle Don\'ts) 13. The Diaper Diaries (Chinese food) 14. Cara (tips for improving the soil for your garden) 15. The Apron Queen (What Not to Serve for Dinner: Chocolate!) 16. jen @ Land of Lovings -budgeting woes 17. beautifulcraziness (Nursery bedding) 18. Carrissa (new uses for dish detergent, don\'t waste your money!) 19. Lady Why (self-checkout horror stories!) 20. Domestic Spaz (Fly Lady) 21. The Happy Housewife - Credit Cards 22. NotTryingForABoy (felt stickers for chairs) 23. Marcy-The Glamorous Life 24. Green Baby Guide (Resist Cheerios!) 25. karla ~ LTH (****TWITTER TOOLS YOU:VE NEVER HEARD OF***) 26. Need A Nap2 (frugal ideas) 27. Fiddledeedee (Gift Wrapping - for less!) 28. Such The Spot 29. BRC Banter (Crockpot Oatmeal) 30. Joy @ Joy Of Desserts 31. Joy @ FiveJs (Flowers from Hubby? NO THANKS!) 32. Joy @ Joy Of Desserts 33. Corrie (great giveaway) 34. Smockity Frocks(Baby Socks) 35. Mammarino (Choosing a Phone Number) 36. Owlhaven (my Walgreens fiasco) 37. Andrea (slow cooker) 38. Phyllis (washing tie-dye) 39. Jen @ JenuineJen (Giraffe Licking) 40. aunt mommy (the presents that never give) 41. Nicol @ Classy & Sophisticated (Diapers) 42. Koala Bear Writer (disposable diapers) 43. Nichole @ A Call to Higher Places 44. Tamara (Counting) 45. LifeatTheCircus(traveling light) 46. Liza\'s Eyeview (Ezzo Parenting) 47. Many Little Blessings (budgeting, clothing, kitchen gadgets, etc.) 48. Little Home (baking vs Wal-Mart) 49. Staci at Writing and Living (Even in Buggarville) 50. Texastanya (Juniper Trees) 51. abrianna-Play Doh 52. Muddy(grocery lists and white water rafting) 53. DomesticallyBlissed - No such thing as Work Life Balance 54. Happy Geek (40 Clove Chicken) 55. Chaotic Joy (Weed killing) 56. Shari Ellen (homeschool related) 57. OW (de-cluttering my house, HELP!) 58. Beanish & Other Languages I\'m Learning - Early Mornings 59. boysmum2 (Time) 60. Thrifty Jinxy (recipe substitutions) 61. Kate @ A Simple Walk (Talking) 62. Dot (Go Duster) 63. margalit (IEP meetings) 64. Annette@MoreLucyThanJune (Weddings and Small Children) 65. Amanda (OMG! Is that your hair?) 66. Summer (bribing kids) 67. Julie Stiles Mills (scrapbooking alternative for tech lovers) 68. Franticallysimple (my mom did my hair) 69. col @ gigablonde (emotions as GPS system) 70. Kristin @ The Goat (Water) 71. Amy Halleran (How To Get Free Stuff) 72. Tara@Not So Perfect (Free Money) 73. Jane @ What About Mom? (Gift-Giving & A GIVEAWAY) 74. Teresa @ A Life At Home (Making my own dishwasher detergent) 75. Thrifty Karen - the grocery store 76. Dawn- Sweet Pea Cakes, Etc. Blog (laundry) 77. IfOnlyIHadSuperPowers (the phone) 78. Tina in Thailand (breakfast food) 79. Rachel (Wrist Watches!) 80. Fashion Paramedic (A compilation of "doesn\'ts") 81. Jessica (Don\'t forget the dry ice!) 82. Stephanie 83. Robin (washing bathroom rug) 84. Smellyann (rug stick) 85. Runningamuck (coloring your hair at home) 86. Duckabush Blog (Photography Lessons) 87. LeeAnn (AKA FrazzMom) No! Stop! 88. Stretch Mark Mama (Getting Kids to Eat Veggies #3) 89. Amy@Experience Imagination (budgeting with gift cards) 90. Jen M (working it out before bed) 91. pam (insurance, etc.) 92. Elizabeth (couponing) 93. alexsandra (GLUTEN) 94. citystreams (Hubs\' schedule) 95. Mommy-fied (screaming, pacifier, carry baby to sleep) 96. KiddieBlanket (No bedtime stories) 97. Abbey (Antibacterial Handsoap) 98. Mommy Bee/Brightonwoman 99. Becky P (Multiple Blogs) 100. Organising Queen (paper clutter) 101. Stephanie (Dry Beans) 102. Wallet organization 103. Sarah (Cooking in General) 104. Jennifer, Snapshot (The GYM) 105. Liisa (Doing Too Much) 106. JennyV 107. Mommin\' It Up! (baby care timer) 108. Judy (gas prices!!! EW!!!) 109. Suzanne (cheap shoes) 110. Linds (Cleaning the Toilet) 111. Debbie J. (Menu Planning) 112. Activities Coordinator (Food Prices) 113. Luanne at iwantmk (couponing) 114. Megret (MSG and other things!) 115. Edi (Rigid Schedule) 116. Shanda (Parenting Alone) 117. Alana (natural deodorant) 118. Missy (Looking out for #1) 119. TongguMomma (China\'s Great Wall trauma) 120. Heather (2nd Hand Pajamas) 121. Wade\'s World (Campbell\'s Cheesy Chicken and Rice) 122. Jendeis(remembering to comment) 123. Hadley ~ Entertaining 124. Janelle (picky eating, etc) 125. Sister Sassy (FORCEFUL CONVERSIONS) 126. Julie 127. Miche@Coordinated Chaos(baby items/things to avoid) 128. Shalee - Participation 129. Sonshine (afternoon appts) 130. Ames (cheap tools)

131. Untraditional home (budgeeting, scheduling, and American lifestyle) 132. Momala (Laundry) 133. Loral (couponing) 134. Elisa (unschooling/homeschooling) 135. Trixie @ Farmhomelife (groceries) 136. sara l (grocery deals) 137. Momof11 ~ 100 Things We Learned the Hard Way #61-70) 138. Handmade Daily (Once a Month Cooking) 139. Melanie (list of don\'ts) 140. Lavonne @ Economic Endeavors (very cheap hosting!) 141. Kim (Many) 142. Free 2 Be Frugal (line drying) 143. Life with Three (Summer Plan for Kids) 144. Llama Momma (fancy company food) 145. NewYorkChica (Kids & Kitchen Tips) 146. Kaye (No-Nos with Fabric Softener) 147. Victoria (My 1st WFMW) 148. Tania @My Everyday Joys (A Nursing Mother\'s Nightmare) 149. candace (nursing in public) 150. Adena (DON\'T throw away that stained outfit until you read this!) 151. Cammie (computer time) 152. Peggie (Just won\'t work) 153. Frances@Loving and Serving (towel tags GONE) 154. Richelle(Getting rid of rabbits) 155. Kristenkj(church/food/kids) 156. Ann\'Re @ Home (Groceries) 157. Rhen @ YESTHEYAREALLMINE 158. Mother Hen (you must inspect) 159. Amy (television) 160. Abbi (Magic Erasers) 161. Knittinchick (skin care products!) 162. Tanya (thrift stores) 163. The Apron Queen (Not Spay Your Cat) 164. Kristen ( Impulses) 165. Peggie (Don\'t try this) 166. Amanda (Sock Storage) 167. Karen (Trial and Error) 168. Seasonal Learner- Colicky Baby 169. LaLaGirl (lame parenting moves) 170. myRUFlife (Teflon doesn\'t work here) 171. DimpleQueen(Silver Foam Cleaner) 172. Brea in Texas (please help me with my budget!!) 173. Brittany 174. The Thrifty Blogger (No sleep) 175. Fuschia (poorly motivating kids) 176. GP in Montana 177. De\'Etta @Choosing Joy 178. laurieofthesevenstories 179. Bahama Shores Mama (attire, and a few others) 180. SortaCrunchy (Facial Cleansers) 181. Heather (Baby Gates w/Pics) 182. Sarah (Movie group finding etiquette!) 183. GettysburgMom- cribs 184. Sarah (PLAY it forward) 185. Mo (coupons & menu plans) 186. Christine (sucks for me wednesday) 187. Kristine (a few toddler/kid/family things) 188. LinesFromTheVine(Our Digital Camera) 189. Nicole@The Simple Cajun Life(ADHD home remedies) 190. Storytellin\' Mama (Green Paint) 191. sandwiched (Doing Dishes) 192. Franticallysimple (oops, original post got deleted) 193. Christine No Watch Me (stranger danger) 194. Sandy S Zoo (K.I.S.S.) 195. Kisses of Sunshine-Making Homemade Bread (OH MY WORD!!) 196. Jeanette (Always Been Different) 197. Audie (a couple do NOT\'s) 198. Ahorros (CVS brand diapers) 199. Kari @ Just Another Day in Paradise (Assorted Issues) 200. Christine @ Serenity How? (GREEN TEA FRAPP) 201. Heather (pool water in your garden) 202. Crystal @ Biblical Womanhood (infant potty training) 203. chickadee 204. iwantmk (coupons?) 205. Heather (pool water in your garden) 206. Michelle (Appliance Death) 207. mzzterry SOCKS with SANDALS 208. Money Saving Mom (rebates, shopping often, and Walgreens) 209. Alyssa @ Keeping the Kingdom First (random thoughts) 210. Janelle @ Now Play Happy (the phone) 211. amyb 212. Emily (Mother\'s Day) 213. 3cookieday (working too hard) 214. iwantmk (coupons?) 215. ellen stevens (i am a stalker) 216. Heather (pool water in your garden) 217. Tyler (laundry) 218. Amanda (schedules) 219. Mamacita 220. Mamacita (ordering things off infomericals!) 221. lizzykristine (house plants) 222. Abby (Math) 223. Daiquiri (bird nest HELP!) 224. Jenna (Multi-Tasking) 225. Amy (Television!) 226. All Things Cherished 227. Katie (BABY!) 228. sara m. (Homeschooling) 229. Jenna (Multi-Tasking) 230. Elizabeth Sue (Too Much Phone Time) 231. Char (My daughter,the shopper) 232. Veggiemomof2 233. Christine@Lily of the Valley 234. Heidi (Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner) 235. callmetravis (potty training pic) 236. jodi @ backporch reflections (crockpot & coupons) 237. April(domestic doesn\'t agree with me) 238. Ann Kroeker (multi-tasking doesn\'t work 4 me) 239. Kimi@blessed beyond belief (mornings!) 240. Multitasking Mama 241. Tami @ Muddlin Thru Motherhood 242. Everyday Blessings 243. Charity (cooking spray) 244. Everyday Blessing (rollerblades,gardening,swimsuits) 245. Laane (official drop/link systems) 246. Becky (Wedding Ring Woes- Rash, please help!) 247. Sabrina @ Raising Oaks of Righteousness (oh, i have a list!) 248. The Nourishing Gourmet-Make your own veggie sandwich 249. Amber (buying produce from Wal-Mart 250. Betsy (immaculate house) 251. Dana (Flylady, clothing) 252. Kristin (personal peeves) 253. Jen\'s List 254. Kim (my list: WalMart, husbands, dogs, reality tv, etc.) 255. Motherhood and Potatoes (Diaper Changing) 256. Kimberly (overpaying for computer stuff) 257. Sarah (Claritin and Comparison) 258. KrustyTheCat\'s List-coupons, canning, dieting 259. Claire (Not Eating Before a Run)

Powered by... Mister Linky's Magical Widgets.

The links are now closed. Join us next week!

No, Really, I'm Not Here

I'm still on a bloggy break, seriously--just pretend you can't see me.  But I had to share this picture of the sweet little drama going on in the hanging flower basket just outside my backdoor:

They are the sweetest little things you've ever seen.  Their little necks pop up and their mouths open wide when their momma flies in.  And this momma has banned all bats and balls from the backyard until the little ruggers have taken wing. 

Now, if I were here, which I'm not, because I'm on a break, but IF I were, this is where I would remind you that WFMW is a themed edition this week:  What DOESN'T Work For Me. 

See you then.   

Blog Break

I'm in need of a blog break, BAD.  (See?  I'm so stressed out I've stopped using adverbs.)

I'm going to rest my bloggy brain cells, and I'll be back on Wednesay for WFMW.  Incidentally, it will be a themed edition this time:  it's What DOESN"T Work For Me.  Share with the internet some things you've learned the hard way.  (Just remember your kids might read this someday...)

Speaking of sharing things, I have a post up at BlogHer today that invites participation from readers.  Want to tell us the best things your mom taught you?  Head over there.

See you in a few days.

*UPDATED--I WATCHED IT!* Tornado Alley

Tornadoes have been rocking my corner of Oklahoma all evening.  That means all local television has been pre-empted so the weather people can act freakishly excited give us all fair warning.  I think the only tragedy greater than having the roof blown off my house is missing an episode of Lost during sweeps month.

Oh, I jest.  But I did actually call the ABC newsroom to find out when they were re-playing Lost, and I chose to ignore the impatient tone of voice in the man who answered the phone.  Clearly, he felt like life-threatening weather situations took priority over television programming.  Seriously?

So, no Lost post tonight until I have a chance to watch it on-line.  In the meantime, if you've posted about it, feel free to leave your link below.  And for Pete's sake, don't leave me any spoilers in the comments section.

(And, in all seriousness, I hope you Okies out there all stayed safe and dry tonight.)

UPDATED TO ADD--

So, I watched it.

Stupid Jack.  Stupid, stupid Jack.  Doesn't he see he's going down the same road as his dad?  And speaking of Jack's dad, is he alive, or isn't he?  Why did he come for Claire?  Is he the un-dead, coming to claim a victim?  Did I really just type that sentence with a straight face?

But let's hear it for the manly men in last night's episode.  Jin calmly threatening to break Daniel's fingers one at a time may be one of my favorite Lost moments ever.  And Sawyer?  You mark my words, he and Claire are getting together.  Unless, of course, she's being held captive by the un-dead.

And dadgummit if Juliet isn't starting to make me her like it again.  I won't do it.  I won't!

Talk Amongst Yourselves: The Tooth Fairy

I'm just curious: how much does The Tooth Fairy pay when she stops by your house?  I'd tell you about ours first, but I suspect she's way stingier than yours, and, well, I don't want to look like an idiot. 

Works For Me: Audio Books

I love reading picture books aloud to my kids.  But I'm terrible at reading aloud for long stretches (such as chapter books)--I start to sound way too much like Ellie Mae Clampett.  I don't like to hear myself talk that much (my husband might beg to differ, but let's go with it.)

That's why something that's really working for me is audio books with the kids.  I enjoy it more, and they certainly do.  You can get them at your library for free, of course, or you can find a great selection at AudibleKids.  (Let's see...I could spend $20 on a 2-hour DVD starring, oh my word, chipmunks, or I could spend $20 on a 12-hour audio book starring, um, not chipmunks.  Easy choice.)

I just downloaded this, and I can't wait to listen with the kids.  I've heard great things about it, and I'm very sure that Lynn Redgrave sounds a lot better than Ellie Mae Clampett.

* * * * * * * * * *

Have a helpful tip or two you'd like to share with the internet?  Leave your Works-For-Me Wednesday link below.  Please read through the guidelines first! 

Was your link deleted?  CLICK HERE.

*UPDATE WITH WINNER* Oh, I Will Shill For Mr. Darcy ANY Day.

Get ready to swoon like a proper Jane Austen heroine, girls, because I just learned that A&E has put out a mega-pack of their best literary romance classics.  INCLUDING Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice, two of the best movies ever made.  Have you seen them?  I swear, the people at A&E could do a remake of Weekend At Bernie's and I'd have to watch it with a box of Kleenex. 

Anyhoo, they're available in one gigantically lovely boxed set now, and I am just absolutely tickled over it.  And, even better, they're giving one away to one lucky commenter on this post (retail value is $99.95).  Leave any comment, and I'll draw a random winner sometime tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon.  Extra points if you tell me what you love about Jane Austen's Mr. Darcy.  Okay, no extra points, but let's just talk about Mr. Darcy. 

**UPDATE**
Comments are closed, the contest is over, and the lucky winner is Lora Lynn.  Congratulations! 

What We've Learned

Really, this isn't turning into a Miley Cyrus blog.  I don't plan to bring it up again.

I'm still not entirely pleased I was put in the position of having to explain this situation to my kids.  But motherhood is generally all about being put into sticky situations, for one reason or another, and I tried to make the best of it.

The talk, actually, went quite well. We discussed how people can get carried away to the point of making horribly bad decisions.  We talked about how money and fame will never buy good judgment (and usually seems to produce the opposite).  We talked about how poor choices bring heartache today, tomorrow and even years from now. 

I really felt like they got it.  They're shocked and disappointed--and that breaks my heart--but it's not an entirely bad thing for tweens to see, front and center, the consequences of bad judgment.  And it's not entirely a bad thing that I got to teach my kids how to process this situation using our family's filter, not the world's. 

Teachable moments sometimes appear in the strangest places.  A conversation that I dreaded turned out to be very fruitful. 

In the meantime?  I'm praying for Miley and her family, and my kids are too.   We all should.

Regret

I am so absolutely furious, I could spit nails. 

Perhaps you've seen the news breaking all over the internet, that Miley Cyrus has posed topless in Vanity Fair magazine.  Here are the details from the New York Times:

Some parents reacted with outrage over the weekend when the television program “Entertainment Tonight” began showing commercials promoting a scoop: Ms. Cyrus, the star of the wholesome Disney Channel blockbuster “Hannah Montana,” had posed topless, albeit with her chest covered, for the Vanity Fair photographer, Annie Leibovitz.

I don't fault Miley for this.  I know I wasn't always making the best choices at age 15.  But her parents should have known better.  The New York Times reports that her dad was on the set when the photos were taken. 

Can you, as a parent, imagine any circumstances in which you'd let your 15-year-old undress for a photographer?

I'm furious because these parents (and Disney, and Vanity Fair) have exploited a child.  Since when have topless photos of a minor been acceptable?

I'm more furious because they have now put me, as a parent, in the position of having to discuss topless photos with my sons (this WILL be discussed on the playground, you can be sure of it, and I want my kids to hear my perspective first). Thanks so much for that, Billy Ray, and Vanity Fair, and Disney.

And, if I'm honest, I'm mad at myself for what I might have done to enable this situation.  I've been so relieved about the Hannah Montana show as an upbeat, wholesome alternative to some other entertainment, that maybe I've bought into it too much.  I've voiced concern at the same time I bought my kids tickets to the movie.  I feel creeped out myself, that I've somehow contributed to the exploitation of this child. 

So we'll be having an upleasant conversation in our house tonight, about modesty and decision-making and growing up too fast.  I'll be making a hard choice myself, as to whether I withhold an otherwise quality show from kids' viewing.

And I will breathe a prayer for Miley, smack dab in the middle of a firestorm not of her making. 

I'd really be interested to hear your thoughts about this, particularly about how (or if) you plan to address this with your kids.

So This Is How It's Gonna Be

I am the mother of a pre-teen.  This means he is just old enough to be slightly horrified by me.

Recently in the mini-van, the kids and I were jammin' to some tunz (that's "jamming to some tunes", to you poor souls who do not have the street cred of this midwestern, 35-year-old housewife), and we came to a stoplight.

And I proceeded to do what is perfectly reasonable for a midwestern, 35-year-old housewife to do at a stoplight: The Robot.

My pre-teen son, who normally would have gleefully joined in with me, instead raised his hand to his face.

"Mom!" he said.  "Don't DO that!"

"Why not?" I asked.

"Because," he said, glancing around to see if any other motorists noticed.  "A boy has needs."

And evidently one of those needs is for his mother not to do bad eighties dances in the car. 

A new day is definitely dawning around here, as adolescence looms, and I'm trying to be sensitive.  I remember being horrified by my own parents  (who, it turns out, are perfectly lovely people and not at all horrific), and I told my son I understood.  In fact, when his teacher invited me to his class recently to share photos of my Africa trip, I specifically asked him ahead of time: tell me how I can do this in a way that won't embarrass you.

He did not hesitate.  Evidently the ways I'm humiliating are right at the top of his head.

"Well," he said, "don't sing opera."  (If you spent any time in our house, you would know that this is a perfectly valid concern.)

"And don't use the word totally," he said.  I promised him I totally would not.  He rolled his eyes.

"And," he said, pausing nervously, wondering if he was about to hurt my feelings, "just don't try to be cool."

I assured him there was absolutely no danger this. 

The talk to his class went fine.  I shot him a couple of questioning "am-I-doing-okay?" glances, and he gave me reassuring nods.  I think we're going to be okay.  I've promised him that Dad and I are sensitive to the fact that he's not a little boy anymore, and I'm standing by my word, when we're out in public.

But in the privacy of our home?  Opera and bad dancing are the name of the game.  And just before his eyes roll back in his head, I can detect a little twinkle. 

Yes.  We're going to be okay.

Feeling for His Face -- Holy Experience

Eight Days -- YouTube

Are Children Threatening the Earth? -- Albert Mohler (hat tip to Amy)

X-Box-Selling Mom Gets Free Dyson -- Gizmodo  (I didn't know it was possible for me to love Dyson any more than I already do.  It is.)

I Love My Job -- My Quiet Corner

Tulip Time -- Wee Wonderfuls.  I love this site!

Chore Pockets and Chore Tickets -- Balancing Everything (hat tip to Oh My Stinkin Heck)

Bloggy Business

::  Wow, y'all will show up for some free ice cream, won't you?  Hubs asked me if women really get that excited about ice cream.  Poor man, he just doesn't get it.  Anyway, the lucky winner is Melissa.  Congratulations!

::  If you've tried your hand at the knock-off Pottery Barn canvases I blogged about a couple of weeks ago, send me a photo of your finished product!  I've gotten a few already, and I've been working on my own set of them--I'll post them all, for a giant show-and-tell.

::  Shalee has a fun Bite Back-related giveaway going on at her blog--go check it out.

::  My son Joseph just woke up as a six-year-old this morning--for the last time.  I don't like it one bit.  But still...happy birthday (tomorrow), my boy!