Lesson #35 - Try Something New
My dad is the king of trying new things. From flying a plane to scuba diving to starting a business, he does it. And he does it with great success.
THAT is a great lesson and a GREAT example.
Thanks, Dad!
I love you!
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Lesson #34
Lesson #34 - Gag gifts are the best.
First let me start with the disclaimer that I don't want this post to be misinterpreted. I love real presents, but boy, is it fun to laugh.
This trait for finding the humor in gag gifts runs strong and deep in my family tree. A prime example of this was for my father's birthday a few weeks ago. Unbenownest to me, my mother and I were plotting for the very same purpose. Her gift to him? A helmet and Speed Racer t-shirt poking fun at his obsession, er, enjoyment of the Wii. Our present? A Wii survival pack...picked out by the boys and I on a shopping trip. There were Wasabi Cashews for energy (because, as the boys said, "Poppop, likes his nuts hot."), a box of tissues to wipe his tears when Mommom beat him, a personal fan to cool himself down, a water bottle cooler to keep his beverages cold, and band aids for his blisters.
Then there was the Christmas that my oldest niece (my brother's daughter) gave us all fake lottery tickets. Yeah. Funny kid. Let's just say, we were a bit upset...impressed with her sick sense of humor, but disappointed nonetheless. I'm still trying to figure out how to get her back.
Then there was the Christmas my kids got my brother bright orange underwear. Slightly disturbing, but they howl with laughter every time they think about it. Sick kids.
So, to both of my parents, who so firmly implanted this genetic need to give wacky gifts, thanks. Because truly, those are the ones we still laugh about and bring up time and time again.
I love you both!
First let me start with the disclaimer that I don't want this post to be misinterpreted. I love real presents, but boy, is it fun to laugh.
This trait for finding the humor in gag gifts runs strong and deep in my family tree. A prime example of this was for my father's birthday a few weeks ago. Unbenownest to me, my mother and I were plotting for the very same purpose. Her gift to him? A helmet and Speed Racer t-shirt poking fun at his obsession, er, enjoyment of the Wii. Our present? A Wii survival pack...picked out by the boys and I on a shopping trip. There were Wasabi Cashews for energy (because, as the boys said, "Poppop, likes his nuts hot."), a box of tissues to wipe his tears when Mommom beat him, a personal fan to cool himself down, a water bottle cooler to keep his beverages cold, and band aids for his blisters.
Then there was the Christmas that my oldest niece (my brother's daughter) gave us all fake lottery tickets. Yeah. Funny kid. Let's just say, we were a bit upset...impressed with her sick sense of humor, but disappointed nonetheless. I'm still trying to figure out how to get her back.
Then there was the Christmas my kids got my brother bright orange underwear. Slightly disturbing, but they howl with laughter every time they think about it. Sick kids.
So, to both of my parents, who so firmly implanted this genetic need to give wacky gifts, thanks. Because truly, those are the ones we still laugh about and bring up time and time again.
I love you both!
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Lesson #33
Lesson #33 - Families look alike.
My mom purses her lips like her mother did. My dad and his sister could pass for twins. My brother looks just like my dad did at his age. I look just like my mom when I straighten my hair.
Of course, in one picture of me that I saw this weekend, I also resembled a Chucky doll when I was about 2 years old. So, maybe this lesson should be taken with a grain of salt. (No comments from the peanut gallery, please.)
It's comforting to know that we resemble the people we came from and that those who come after us will carry a little bit of us with them. Because in my dad I see his mom and in my mom I see her dad. And in me, I see both of them. And that's a good thing.
Thanks, Mom & Dad. =)
I love you both!
My mom purses her lips like her mother did. My dad and his sister could pass for twins. My brother looks just like my dad did at his age. I look just like my mom when I straighten my hair.
Of course, in one picture of me that I saw this weekend, I also resembled a Chucky doll when I was about 2 years old. So, maybe this lesson should be taken with a grain of salt. (No comments from the peanut gallery, please.)
It's comforting to know that we resemble the people we came from and that those who come after us will carry a little bit of us with them. Because in my dad I see his mom and in my mom I see her dad. And in me, I see both of them. And that's a good thing.
Thanks, Mom & Dad. =)
I love you both!
Monday, July 21, 2008
Lesson #32
Lesson #32 - Compassion goes a long way.
While cleaning this weekend we came across a letter that had been sent to my dad after he'd been in a car accident while in pursuit of another vehicle. It was written be a woman who he had helped the week before when her vehicle was almost stolen. The woman wrote how she had just been about to write to the police department commending my dad for the compassion, kindness and professionalism he displayed when assisting her when she saw news of his accident in the newspaper. She wished him a speedy recovery, but it was more than that that made the letter special.
It was a lesson about how being compassionate can truly make things better, and in this case feel safer, in any situation. The genuine heartfelt gratitude that you could feel coming from this 30 year old letter was as real as if the siutation had happened just yesterday. It was a great reminder about how great my dad is, and how wonderful he is at providing calm in the midst of chaos.
So, to the woman who wrote the letter...thank you!
I love you, Mom & Dad!
While cleaning this weekend we came across a letter that had been sent to my dad after he'd been in a car accident while in pursuit of another vehicle. It was written be a woman who he had helped the week before when her vehicle was almost stolen. The woman wrote how she had just been about to write to the police department commending my dad for the compassion, kindness and professionalism he displayed when assisting her when she saw news of his accident in the newspaper. She wished him a speedy recovery, but it was more than that that made the letter special.
It was a lesson about how being compassionate can truly make things better, and in this case feel safer, in any situation. The genuine heartfelt gratitude that you could feel coming from this 30 year old letter was as real as if the siutation had happened just yesterday. It was a great reminder about how great my dad is, and how wonderful he is at providing calm in the midst of chaos.
So, to the woman who wrote the letter...thank you!
I love you, Mom & Dad!
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Lesson #31
Lesson #31 - Being a pack rat runs in the family.
Really, this is a lesson from my mom. While cleaning out the crawl space of the house where we grew up, I discovered that I tend to hang onto things....just like my mom.
There was the Michael Jackson pin from way back when he was black, the Easter Bunny Smurfette, and just about every paper I had ever written in college and high school. In my mom's boxes were the cards from their wedding (with gift value amounts penciled in), a feather doll (now complete with mouse droppings) and just about every trinket my brother and I ever made for her. Obviously, hers had more sentimental value than the Michael Jackson pin, but overall, we're both afflicted with a touch of pack-ratness.
So, the lesson was more of one that I'm not alone in my compulsion to "save things". Thanks, Mom. I feel better. =)
I love you both!
Really, this is a lesson from my mom. While cleaning out the crawl space of the house where we grew up, I discovered that I tend to hang onto things....just like my mom.
There was the Michael Jackson pin from way back when he was black, the Easter Bunny Smurfette, and just about every paper I had ever written in college and high school. In my mom's boxes were the cards from their wedding (with gift value amounts penciled in), a feather doll (now complete with mouse droppings) and just about every trinket my brother and I ever made for her. Obviously, hers had more sentimental value than the Michael Jackson pin, but overall, we're both afflicted with a touch of pack-ratness.
So, the lesson was more of one that I'm not alone in my compulsion to "save things". Thanks, Mom. I feel better. =)
I love you both!
Friday, July 18, 2008
Lesson #30
Lesson #30 - When you're sick, rest.
It's been a long week of not feeling well (summer colds are the worst), but I tried to follow the lesson I learned about being sick while I was growing up. If you're not feeling well, just rest.
So, I did and will continue to do so until I'm feeling not so yucky.
Good lesson, Mom & Dad!
I love you both!
It's been a long week of not feeling well (summer colds are the worst), but I tried to follow the lesson I learned about being sick while I was growing up. If you're not feeling well, just rest.
So, I did and will continue to do so until I'm feeling not so yucky.
Good lesson, Mom & Dad!
I love you both!
Monday, July 14, 2008
Lesson #29
Lesson #29 - If you're going to buy a parrot, make sure it doesn't curse (or think it's a vampire).
We grew up with a variety of pets. We had parakeets, parrots, fish, dogs, cats, my brother (hahahaha!), and we even had finches (or something that my dad was trying to raise in our garage once). Our most colorful pet was a parrot named Cassie.
She was a nasty parrot with a sailor's mouth and a mean streak that never ended. Of course, when we got her we knew none of that. Let's just say she made her true colors known rather quickly, but not quickly enough to give her back!
You'd think I would have then learned to make sure that any pet, but any bird especially, that I wanted to get was friendly and rated G. Well, sorry to say that lesson took awhile to learn.
I decided, the year after I graduated college to get a Sun Conure. Sweet looking little thing. His name was Sunny. Although, the morning I tried to put him back in his cage before I left for work and he jumped up and LATCHED his pointy, sharp as all get out beak on my NOSE, I had a few other choice names for him. Turns out he only liked men.
He adored my boyfriend, who is now my husband, and soon found a home at his apartment. The darn bird would be sitting on my hubby's shoulder and literally RUN across the back of the sofa to bite me if I was sitting to close...like 3 feet away. I seriously hated that bird.
SO, lesson learned the hard way, but hey, I learned, right? Thanks, Mom & Dad!
I love you both!
We grew up with a variety of pets. We had parakeets, parrots, fish, dogs, cats, my brother (hahahaha!), and we even had finches (or something that my dad was trying to raise in our garage once). Our most colorful pet was a parrot named Cassie.
She was a nasty parrot with a sailor's mouth and a mean streak that never ended. Of course, when we got her we knew none of that. Let's just say she made her true colors known rather quickly, but not quickly enough to give her back!
You'd think I would have then learned to make sure that any pet, but any bird especially, that I wanted to get was friendly and rated G. Well, sorry to say that lesson took awhile to learn.
I decided, the year after I graduated college to get a Sun Conure. Sweet looking little thing. His name was Sunny. Although, the morning I tried to put him back in his cage before I left for work and he jumped up and LATCHED his pointy, sharp as all get out beak on my NOSE, I had a few other choice names for him. Turns out he only liked men.
He adored my boyfriend, who is now my husband, and soon found a home at his apartment. The darn bird would be sitting on my hubby's shoulder and literally RUN across the back of the sofa to bite me if I was sitting to close...like 3 feet away. I seriously hated that bird.
SO, lesson learned the hard way, but hey, I learned, right? Thanks, Mom & Dad!
I love you both!
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