August 21, 2010
Today Ariana told that if you are ugly on the outside and gorgeous on the inside, then you are actually gorgeous on the outside too. Then she told me that if you are pretty and on the outside and ugly on the inside, then you are really ugly on the outside.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Memory for August 20th
August 20th, 2010
We went to Cedar Point today seeking thrills and excitement and got a little of both. It was a hot sunny day that left us tired, sticky, sweaty and ripe. When we were in line for the Maverick, the second ride we went on, I commented that my arm pits were wet. Julia agreed with me and said hers were too. Then Ariana said, "
My pits aren't wet." I just about died laughing. She said pits and not arm pits. I thought it sounded funny.
It turned out that the Maverick was the girls' favorite ride. When were riding it I didn't know for sure. I could hear Julia screaming but I didn't know if they were screams of fear or excitement. It turns out they were excitement. After Julia rode it for the first time, she thanked Trevor and I for talking her into riding it. She was hesitant at first and didn't want to get on it. But she ended up liking it after all. Funny how that happens.
Ariana was our brave little woopersnapper and rode the Magnum for the first time. There was so line so we got ride up there and only had to wait for two cars. That made it a little easier since she couldn't really think about the ride and chicken out. When we were going up the hill I looked over the side and said I think she should be sitting on this side. Ariana looked really nervous and asked a little frightened, "Why?" Then I told her I didn't like this side because it just dropped down and her side had the stairs. I liked sitting by the stairs and always sit by the stairs. So she just looked around nervously. I told me later she was thinking, "Why did I go on this stupid ride?"
When I saw we were at the top I told her, "Here we go. We're at the top. Hold on tight." And down we went. I watched her on the way down and her eyes were bulging and her mouth was wide open. Then as we were going up the next hill. I saw her expression change to excitement. I asked her if she liked it and she laughed, "I love it!" That's my girl I thought with a smile.
We had a really great day at the park. I watched Julia and Ariana ride the Wildcat together. Watching them, sisters, on the roller coaster together was a picture perfect moment. Carefree. Summer. Sisters. Happiness. Ahhhhh summer.....
When I was on one of the carnival type rides, Tronka?, I looked over at Julia with Trevor and thought, wow that girl is beautiful. She was laughing and smiling and growing up so fast. She is going to be twelve next month. Where has the time gone?
I asked Ariana, "Do you think she knows how beautiful she is?" Ariana replied, "No." So I told Ariana, her and her sister are very beautiful girls.
At the end of the day we decided to call it quits. We rode the Maverick one last time and then headed home. In the car Trevor said, "Wow that was one full day." Ariana replied, "Dad, everyday is a full day." lol. Ok smarty pants. lol
We went to Cedar Point today seeking thrills and excitement and got a little of both. It was a hot sunny day that left us tired, sticky, sweaty and ripe. When we were in line for the Maverick, the second ride we went on, I commented that my arm pits were wet. Julia agreed with me and said hers were too. Then Ariana said, "
My pits aren't wet." I just about died laughing. She said pits and not arm pits. I thought it sounded funny.
It turned out that the Maverick was the girls' favorite ride. When were riding it I didn't know for sure. I could hear Julia screaming but I didn't know if they were screams of fear or excitement. It turns out they were excitement. After Julia rode it for the first time, she thanked Trevor and I for talking her into riding it. She was hesitant at first and didn't want to get on it. But she ended up liking it after all. Funny how that happens.
Ariana was our brave little woopersnapper and rode the Magnum for the first time. There was so line so we got ride up there and only had to wait for two cars. That made it a little easier since she couldn't really think about the ride and chicken out. When we were going up the hill I looked over the side and said I think she should be sitting on this side. Ariana looked really nervous and asked a little frightened, "Why?" Then I told her I didn't like this side because it just dropped down and her side had the stairs. I liked sitting by the stairs and always sit by the stairs. So she just looked around nervously. I told me later she was thinking, "Why did I go on this stupid ride?"
When I saw we were at the top I told her, "Here we go. We're at the top. Hold on tight." And down we went. I watched her on the way down and her eyes were bulging and her mouth was wide open. Then as we were going up the next hill. I saw her expression change to excitement. I asked her if she liked it and she laughed, "I love it!" That's my girl I thought with a smile.
We had a really great day at the park. I watched Julia and Ariana ride the Wildcat together. Watching them, sisters, on the roller coaster together was a picture perfect moment. Carefree. Summer. Sisters. Happiness. Ahhhhh summer.....
When I was on one of the carnival type rides, Tronka?, I looked over at Julia with Trevor and thought, wow that girl is beautiful. She was laughing and smiling and growing up so fast. She is going to be twelve next month. Where has the time gone?
I asked Ariana, "Do you think she knows how beautiful she is?" Ariana replied, "No." So I told Ariana, her and her sister are very beautiful girls.
At the end of the day we decided to call it quits. We rode the Maverick one last time and then headed home. In the car Trevor said, "Wow that was one full day." Ariana replied, "Dad, everyday is a full day." lol. Ok smarty pants. lol
Memory for August 19th
August 19th, 2010
Looking at the world today I don't feel we have come very far in terms of racism and bigotry, and that sure is a shame. Why is it, that because of a person's skin color, religious preference, sexual gender, or sexual orientation that they can be treated differently? There was a time in our history not that long ago that marriages of black people were not recognized. Then biracial marriages were not recognized. Now gay marriages are not recognized. Why are we fighting so hard against it? Is it because that is what we have done in the past and have not learned from it?
Today I was sitting at the table reading the news on my laptop and it disturbed me to read about the mosque being built two blocks away from ground zero. A religious group is building a community center/masque in New York City. No big deal, right? Lots of things are built in NYC. The mosque was approved in January to be build. Now three months before an election the public is outraged, a mosque at ground zero means the terrorists have won. Really? It think a mosque two blocks away from ground zero means the terrorists have lost. I think the rallies to boycott it mean the terrorist have won.
I called the girls into the kitchen so we could talk about was going on. I felt they were old enough to understand what was going on. I also wanted to instill in them at an early age that bigotry and racism is not okay. I asked them if they remembered what happened oh September 11th. They did. Then we talked about it for a little bit. We talked about what had happened and all the people who were injured and those who lost their lives. We talked about the courageous people who helped others and those who died as well. We talked about the terrorists how they were muslim and were supposedly told by god to do that horrific work. I also explained to them that it is not part of the muslim teachings to kill people and that no god would tell people to kill others. We also talked about how people now don't like muslims, any muslims.
Then I told them about the Oklahoma City bombing and how the person who committed that act was christian. I said after that act of terrorism people still liked christians. Then I told them that there was a beautiful memorial built in Oklahoma City to honor the men, women, and children who died. Trevor, Julia, and I went to the memorial when we lived there and were touched by the simplicity and importance of it.
Then we started to discuss the issue at hand. I asked them if it was okay to hate all muslims? No they replied. I asked them if it was okay to hate all christians? No was the same reply. Then I brought up pictures of what ground zero looks like today. I am still amazed that after almost nine years it still looks like a war zone. No memorial to honor those who died have been built yet.
Then we started to discuss the mosque. I told them muslim religious group wanted to build a community center/mosque/church and how it was going to be two blocks away. We looked outside and tried to determine what was two blocks. Then I told them that there was a group of people who did not want the mosque to be build. How they felt it was a disgrace and dishonor to those who died. The girls were confused by that. They wondered why people would feel like that. Julia said it should be built. That it was okay. Ariana said, "Yea, it should be built. Because it's not like anything else is there. It's just a pile of garbage. You can't even park there." Wow. She thought it was okay if the mosque was built and even went as far as to think it should be built on top of ground zero because nobody had done anything with that land. I explained then that it should not be built on ground zero. That a memorial needs to built there but she was right nothing has been done.
We also talked about how there are people fighting against a health care bill that would help those that got sick because of all the dust and debris from 9/11. Those people were fireman, policemen, emergency workers, and ordinary people like you and me that helped as well. The air was toxic and now the people are suffering and the healthcare they have is not enough to cover their expenses. I told them the same people who are fighting the extended healthcare benefits for the heros are also some of the same people fighting the building of the mosque.
We talked about how bigotry is not okay. Everyone will experience some form of bigotry. I explained to the girls that if they are with their friends and their friends are being racist they don't need to call their friend a racist but just to say that they are not being very nice or that is not cool. I also told the girls that they will also have racist thoughts as well. We all do. So I when they don't like a person I want them to stop and ask themselves: do I not like this person because of their skin color, because of they are a girl or a boy, because of their religion, because of how much money they have or don't have? And if they answer yes to any of those they need to stop and beware of their thoughts and change their outlook. We are ALL equal. I am not better than someone because I am white. I am not better because I am a woman. I am not better because I make more money than someone else. I am not better because I am American. I am Michelle, I am equal.
If only the world was a less hateful place to live it. Can't we all just get along?
Looking at the world today I don't feel we have come very far in terms of racism and bigotry, and that sure is a shame. Why is it, that because of a person's skin color, religious preference, sexual gender, or sexual orientation that they can be treated differently? There was a time in our history not that long ago that marriages of black people were not recognized. Then biracial marriages were not recognized. Now gay marriages are not recognized. Why are we fighting so hard against it? Is it because that is what we have done in the past and have not learned from it?
Today I was sitting at the table reading the news on my laptop and it disturbed me to read about the mosque being built two blocks away from ground zero. A religious group is building a community center/masque in New York City. No big deal, right? Lots of things are built in NYC. The mosque was approved in January to be build. Now three months before an election the public is outraged, a mosque at ground zero means the terrorists have won. Really? It think a mosque two blocks away from ground zero means the terrorists have lost. I think the rallies to boycott it mean the terrorist have won.
I called the girls into the kitchen so we could talk about was going on. I felt they were old enough to understand what was going on. I also wanted to instill in them at an early age that bigotry and racism is not okay. I asked them if they remembered what happened oh September 11th. They did. Then we talked about it for a little bit. We talked about what had happened and all the people who were injured and those who lost their lives. We talked about the courageous people who helped others and those who died as well. We talked about the terrorists how they were muslim and were supposedly told by god to do that horrific work. I also explained to them that it is not part of the muslim teachings to kill people and that no god would tell people to kill others. We also talked about how people now don't like muslims, any muslims.
Then I told them about the Oklahoma City bombing and how the person who committed that act was christian. I said after that act of terrorism people still liked christians. Then I told them that there was a beautiful memorial built in Oklahoma City to honor the men, women, and children who died. Trevor, Julia, and I went to the memorial when we lived there and were touched by the simplicity and importance of it.
Then we started to discuss the issue at hand. I asked them if it was okay to hate all muslims? No they replied. I asked them if it was okay to hate all christians? No was the same reply. Then I brought up pictures of what ground zero looks like today. I am still amazed that after almost nine years it still looks like a war zone. No memorial to honor those who died have been built yet.
Then we started to discuss the mosque. I told them muslim religious group wanted to build a community center/mosque/church and how it was going to be two blocks away. We looked outside and tried to determine what was two blocks. Then I told them that there was a group of people who did not want the mosque to be build. How they felt it was a disgrace and dishonor to those who died. The girls were confused by that. They wondered why people would feel like that. Julia said it should be built. That it was okay. Ariana said, "Yea, it should be built. Because it's not like anything else is there. It's just a pile of garbage. You can't even park there." Wow. She thought it was okay if the mosque was built and even went as far as to think it should be built on top of ground zero because nobody had done anything with that land. I explained then that it should not be built on ground zero. That a memorial needs to built there but she was right nothing has been done.
We also talked about how there are people fighting against a health care bill that would help those that got sick because of all the dust and debris from 9/11. Those people were fireman, policemen, emergency workers, and ordinary people like you and me that helped as well. The air was toxic and now the people are suffering and the healthcare they have is not enough to cover their expenses. I told them the same people who are fighting the extended healthcare benefits for the heros are also some of the same people fighting the building of the mosque.
We talked about how bigotry is not okay. Everyone will experience some form of bigotry. I explained to the girls that if they are with their friends and their friends are being racist they don't need to call their friend a racist but just to say that they are not being very nice or that is not cool. I also told the girls that they will also have racist thoughts as well. We all do. So I when they don't like a person I want them to stop and ask themselves: do I not like this person because of their skin color, because of they are a girl or a boy, because of their religion, because of how much money they have or don't have? And if they answer yes to any of those they need to stop and beware of their thoughts and change their outlook. We are ALL equal. I am not better than someone because I am white. I am not better because I am a woman. I am not better because I make more money than someone else. I am not better because I am American. I am Michelle, I am equal.
If only the world was a less hateful place to live it. Can't we all just get along?
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Memory for August 18th
August 18th, 2010
After work I did a photo shoot taking senior pictures. We were in Milford and saw a movie crew doing some filming. I did some research when I got home and discovered it was for the movie Home Run Derby. I never saw a movie crew before so I thought that was pretty cool. So you never know I might have a cameo in the movie. Hahaha.
I had a lot of fun tonight taking the pictures. I didn't get to see my kids too much today though. When I got home they were in the basement watching tv and stayed there until they went to bed. In fact I went to bed before them. I sure do miss them.
After work I did a photo shoot taking senior pictures. We were in Milford and saw a movie crew doing some filming. I did some research when I got home and discovered it was for the movie Home Run Derby. I never saw a movie crew before so I thought that was pretty cool. So you never know I might have a cameo in the movie. Hahaha.
I had a lot of fun tonight taking the pictures. I didn't get to see my kids too much today though. When I got home they were in the basement watching tv and stayed there until they went to bed. In fact I went to bed before them. I sure do miss them.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Memory for August 17th
August 17th, 2010
Shaking my head. The preteen years. The time when hormones are out of control and brains stop working. When I got home from work today I found out Julia was in trouble. You know the usual stuff; not doing her jobs, tricking her dad into letting her have a friend over before he realizes her work never got done. The stuff every kid does and once in awhile the parent falls for it. lol
Then I made the mistake of shopping for school supplies. Did I tell you I don't like shopping. I despise it actually. The kids love shopping especially school shopping. I on the other hand just get crabby, sad, and depressed.
The evening ended on high note though. Julia, Ariana and I saw the most amazing sunset on the way home from shopping. I pulled the car into Costco's parking lot and we enjoyed the incredible view. It had been raining earlier so the sky was a really dark blue grey. But there was a spot where the setting sun was peaking through that had streaks of purple. I was sooooo bummmmmeeeddd that I didn't have my camera and tripod. I have been wanting to get an awesome sunset picture. Well, I guess I better always have my camera with me. I never know when the perfect shot is waiting for me.
Shaking my head. The preteen years. The time when hormones are out of control and brains stop working. When I got home from work today I found out Julia was in trouble. You know the usual stuff; not doing her jobs, tricking her dad into letting her have a friend over before he realizes her work never got done. The stuff every kid does and once in awhile the parent falls for it. lol
Then I made the mistake of shopping for school supplies. Did I tell you I don't like shopping. I despise it actually. The kids love shopping especially school shopping. I on the other hand just get crabby, sad, and depressed.
The evening ended on high note though. Julia, Ariana and I saw the most amazing sunset on the way home from shopping. I pulled the car into Costco's parking lot and we enjoyed the incredible view. It had been raining earlier so the sky was a really dark blue grey. But there was a spot where the setting sun was peaking through that had streaks of purple. I was sooooo bummmmmeeeddd that I didn't have my camera and tripod. I have been wanting to get an awesome sunset picture. Well, I guess I better always have my camera with me. I never know when the perfect shot is waiting for me.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Memory for August 16th
Julia and Ariana were hanging out with grandma and grandpa again today. My mom brought them home and told me Julia was acting strange today. She told me Julia seemed mad and in a bad mood. So my mom asked if anything was wrong. Julia told her she was in a bad mood and didn't feel good. My mom was concerned and Julia said, "Don't worry Grandma it's only hormones." lol lol lol Ahhhh . . . the preteen years. lol lol lol
This reminds me of a time Julia was with my dad. He was driving her home she told him she felt like crying a lot lately. He got worried and ask why, what was wrong? Julia said, "My mom said it was normal and that it is because I'm starting puberty." My dad, being the kind of person he is, just gripped the steering wheel tighter and reply uncomfortably, "Oh." I'm sure he kept staring straight ahead, hoping the subject changed quickly, and probably counting down the seconds to my house. hehehe
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Memory for August 15th
The girls were in Grand Haven today with their Aunt Renee, Uncle Ryan, cousins, and grandma and grandpa Woodgate. I thought about going but decided against it for a couple of reasons: we had just gotten back from vacation last weekend and I'm still playing catch up, and it's hard to have a long tiring day and then have to work the next day. So I stayed at home and the girls went without me.
While they were gone it was awfully lonely and quite here. I did a little bit of cleaning. Then did a little yoga. Then decided to go for a swim. I finally had the pool all to myself and instead of being able to enjoy it, I missed having the girls in there playing and splashing and having fun.
As the day went on I was very eager to have them come home. I was wishing I had went to the beach too. Then finally they were back. they had a great time. The water was warm. The waves were huge. They had fun with their cousins. I'm glad they had fun but I'm also glad to have them back.
While they were gone it was awfully lonely and quite here. I did a little bit of cleaning. Then did a little yoga. Then decided to go for a swim. I finally had the pool all to myself and instead of being able to enjoy it, I missed having the girls in there playing and splashing and having fun.
As the day went on I was very eager to have them come home. I was wishing I had went to the beach too. Then finally they were back. they had a great time. The water was warm. The waves were huge. They had fun with their cousins. I'm glad they had fun but I'm also glad to have them back.
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