Sandwich Generation - I wanna be cheese!

And pass the latte please?

My kids are treasures. It's amazing what great, wonderful kids I have. I know it's amazing because I grew up in the root system of my family tree.

The roots are rotten. (Sorry, Grandma and Granddad, but you spawned a herd of very angry children who seriously lack the ability to live on a planet with other creatures successfully.) The next generation, those of us who came along after about 1959, in what's commonly known as the "me generation" all seem to have good attitudes and congenial relationships with most people.

I'm looking at the sandwich of which I'm definitely the middle, thinking there's some crusty bread on one side at least (I think it may even be a little old and stale). Then there's some wilted veggies, ewwww....

A slice of meat. Um *shaking head* definitely NOT me. And cheese. There I am, sharp cheddar with some age, but agile enough to take on even the smartest apple. And another slice of fresh tender bread slathered with a thick layer of mayo. Yup, I'm definitely the cheese. Don't wanna go near that crusty loaf on the other end.

I'd explain this post a little better, but... I'd have to kill you and I need my readers... Leave a comment if you really wanna hear the story and I might tell you tomorrow, after I've calmed down.

Corn-dog Lunch on the Run

You may be one of those moms who always has it together, prepares the right kinds of foods for every meal and never dares to feed your kids junk foods, but that's not me. I love junk food now and then, and I don't think it hurts kids to have some of the fun foods the rest of the world grew up on. And shoot me if you must, but I don't think junk food is the reason kids these days are FAT.

I personally believe that kids are fat because they sit in front of the TV playing video games too much.

So, stop chastising yourself if you don't always have a healthy meal and get your kid out from in front of the Television. Let me suggest a few alternatives for the healthy meal routine.

Corn-dog lunches on the way to the park for an afternoon of play time. Good idea, here! Just stick those corn-dogs in the oven for 20 minutes while you wrap up your tykes and get 'em ready to go. On the way out the door, hand each of them a corn-dog and grab one for yourself. Then walk to the nearest park with your dog on a stick. All the neighbors will sniff the air as you go by, and honey, I can assure you, they're not turning up their nose. They'll be heading out to the store within the next few days to get some Corn-dogs. Those things can be addicting, and if you haven't had one in a while, you're probably drooling by now.

It's okay! It isn't rocket science that you can bake a corn dog at home in the oven, add on some yellow mustard (the cheapy French's variety) and enjoy a corn dog now and then. They're tasty and delicious. You'll enjoy it and you won't crave them forever if you have one now and then. If you must have something healthy, drink a V-8 and stop smacking yourself on the forehead.

By the way, if you think I'm nuts. I don't have fat kids and I've fed them corn dogs once or twice a month at least for the past twenty-five years. We didn't pork out on them, we had one or two with some mustard or catsup and some veggie sticks, a V-8 (I really do love veggie juice), and a piece of fruit for desert. The kids love 'em, they're easy to prepare and the clean up is minimal. What a better way to spend a day than playing with your kids instead of cleaning up after a meal!

Go play! Have some fun.

Decadent, Frivolous, & Defiantly Feminine

Yes, dear, there is a definite relationship between feeling loved, getting roses, and eating chocolate on Valentine's Day. If you haven't figured that out and you're a guy in a relationship, you're probably not going to be in one for long. EVEN if your lady says don't get me anything for Valentine's Day, you'd better do something special to remind her she's loved - BY YOU.

Guys go on the fritz all the time for not getting their lady something special on special days, and it's simply not acceptable for you to forget. It doesn't always have to be a whole dozen roses, or even a whole box of chocolates... But seriously, if you can't remember to get her something special, you don't deserve her. Even if you're FLAT BROKE without a dime to your name, you can STILL do something special for your lady.

And, when you DO get your girl something, don't come home and brag about how impressed the SALES LADY was with your generosity. It isn't the sales lady you're buying for - or is it?

Ladies want to be treated to special gifts, not just on special days, although - special days and special gifts need to be remembered - the most effective way of remembering your lady is to send her something outrageously decadent, frivolous and wonderful - just because. Your pickle won't fall off if you do something frivolous. Get the girl what she really wants, something that will remind her of those sweet little nothing gifts you gave her when you were dating. Way back when you were trying to win her heart - those things are important! Do them again.

Try a picnic at midnight under the stars on a warm summer night.

Get the kids all tucked into bed and have the basket prepared so all you have to do is grab a blanket and carry it out to the back yard. If you have done your gardening chores, you should have a nice private cove in the corner somewhere with a vine, some nice shrugs and enough cushy grass to have a picnic. Take a candle in a glass and enjoy the moonlight. You might get lucky and find there are fire flies lighting up your bushes.

If it's chilly outside, build a fire in the fireplace, or just light some candles around the room. Make it extra special, extra decadent, frivolous & defiantly feminine. Your lady will know you're thinking of her.

Ladies, just a little tip. If you've been hearing him talk about something special he wants, but hasn't gotten for himself yet, that's the exact thing you should get him for Valentine's Day. Go all out, take that extra step and give him something he won't EVER forget this Valentine's Day! You won't regret it!

One Day at a Time on the Third Rock from the Sun

Most mornings, I rise to the sunlight happy to greet the day and ready for whatever comes my way. And most days, what comes my way is pretty good stuff. I have healthy kids, except for the one with chicken pox. I'm a healthy specimen of womanhood, except for the killer head-cold from hell. And life has been kind to me. I've been well blessed.

But some days, those moods catch up and the lows hang on. Life gets the best of you at dawn and you're not good for anything other than maybe sunset. This week has been that day.

This Charger-Mom lives in a trailer house about 6 months out of the year, most years. And this is one of those months. I have a strong "writer support network" and we email each other on a daily basis, for support, encouragement, and inspiration. Earlier this week, I started an email to the group and realized about half way into my tangent that I was on a real tare and stopped. I deleted the post and wrote instead,

"Perhaps I should return to bed and get up on the other side (the fact that I must go through a wall to get up won't matter much - in this mood, it probably won't even slow me down)."

Several have commented back, "I understand that thought." or "Gee what are you like on a bad day?" or "Let me know when it's safe, I'll come help rebuild the wall." and my very favorite, "Put the coffee on, I'll come rant with you."

The reality is, sometimes in these days of stress and strife, the frustration and stress build up and it has to go somewhere. As writers, we have the option of killing someone in a story (y'know you've done it), or blowing up a building, or writing a terrorist event in a screen play. Nobody really gets hurt. But what happens to those poor saps who aren't writers, who have those same feelings, how can they let out their rantings safely?

I'd suggest we get them all a journal to write in and the whole world ought to have a favorite pen. Perhaps everybody ought to have a blog. They don't have to be public. You can write a private blog if you like.

Better yet, write poetry and submit it to Poetry.com they'll publish your work and sell it back to you for mega big bucks! You won't make any money, but you'll be published.

Writing with Purpose - The Joy of Words from a Journaling Mom

Journaling started for me about the time I learned to hold a pen. Those first spiral notebooks in the early sixties held my dreams, my sketches, and my paper-doll creations. Did you know if you draw the face above the top line, there's no blue lines across their anatomy? I could cover up the rest of the blue lines with striped clothing. Long sleeves if their arms hung down, or their arms rested between the lines horizontally. (Just in case you ever need to draw paper-dolls on lined paper.)

And, everyone knows, paper-dolls do "Pharaoh, Pharaoh" with hand motions in long sleeve striped body suits with colorful skirts.

But, you're probably wondering what that has to do with YOU. And you'd be right. There should be some use of this information for you as a Mom, reading my blog. Definitely, keep reading.

Probably the biggest issue I've had with my boys is getting them to WRITE. As a home school mom, I've struggled with a few "assignments", because kids just don't like assignments, but none so much as getting them to write. My oldest daughter started writing about the age of seven and hasn't really stopped yet. She's a stellar marketer, and absolutely stunning in her sales position.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Marketing Friend has had an accident and can use our prayers, see Silver Linings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My next daughter didn't like writing "the usual things" but she loved blogging, writing in her forums, and sharing her opinions on such things as political candidates, teen pregnancy, abortion, parenting and education. She's currently using her many skills for work and promotion of her own business.

My oldest son hates writing, but he's creating a video game with characters that speak using a historical foundation. He's having to research his characters and the time frame to make them historically correct, and his writing skills are improving dramatically.

My youngest son is a published author working on more books. (He's only fourteen.)

If you're a home school mom, or even if you're not. These suggestions may come in handy for encouraging your children to write more. Paper-doll designs could come back eventually, too.

Your Impact Matters

Sometimes, you just have to know that who you are has an effect on what you do.

When I first realized that my life counted for something more than just what I did, I was surprised. It just didn't seem like I'd had that great an impact on the world around me. But... As my children began to get older, I recognized tremblings of my impact on their lives.

My daughter is an awesome mom. She's got a perfect angel for a daughter, but sometimes... Lizzie (you'd never believe it) has a mind of her own. I watched as my daughter reprimanded her gently and shifted her attention to what Lizzie should be doing instead of what she wanted her to do. Lizzie followed directions well.

My next daughter reflects values I've lived my entire life. Her purpose and strength include family first commitments that empower and enrich her life. She's a treasure and at the same time, a mysterious adventure.

My boys, never interchangeable, often surprise me with their independence and struggles to be mature. I see the resistance in their teen aged hearts, and watch them strive for excellence. Then I watch them follow directions or ask my advice.

My impact has come full circle. I'm not alone. I have the power of a mother, and the backing of grown children. Life is good.

Your Impact Matters too. You've made a difference in someone's life and it has made you a better person. Click on over to Your Impact Matters and see if you can't get a Scandle Candle because you deserve to be pampered!

A Day in the Life of Charger-Mom

You probably aren't too concerned about what happens in an average day of my life, but then... you might find it entertaining.

Waking up is usually my favorite part of the day. The glimmer of light that's peeking through my window is pre-dawn and I get to watch the sky color with light through my east windows. I'm a barefoot person, so I pad to the kitchen listening to the pity-patter of bare feet (I love that sound). With the tea pot turned on (or the coffee pot, whichever I choose for the morning) I disappear into the bathroom for a nice hot shower before everyone in the house arises for the day.

My daughter gave me this awesome body and bath gel that I love in the shower. It smells like primroses in full bloom.

Breakfast consists of wheat or rye toast with real butter, and fruit. I'm a fruit girl too. I love sliced apples on my peanut butter sandwiches. This morning, it was sliced banana - YUM!

My favorite morning tea is Earl Grey, so I had breakfast with Earl this morning at my computer. I wrote four articles, two for ezinearticles.com and one each for a couple of my blog sites. Just click on the link to my profile on ezinearticles.com to find my articles there.

I redesigned my blog header at Jan Verhoeff as a part of the new marketing project I've been working on. It's now a waterfall and I love the majestic presentation it gives. I'm manifesting my waterfall of prosperity!

After that, I reward myself. I love spending time with my "nature walker" so I do 30 minutes of hauling butt up the mountain on the treadmill with a view of Princeton before me and the world behind me, I can go fast! Of course, I'm always gearing up for the next project, so I came up with ideas of what to write on my blogs today (that's where this brilliant idea just came from).

I worked for a while on my term paper (I have three due in less than a week). I've been moving through my blogs, checking content and sending out info. Still have to work on the auto-responders today. Lot's to do...

Mom stopped by for some books from Amazon.com so I spent a while reviewing books with her and ordering, not ordering, ordering, not ordering, waiting until she checks the books at the library to decide if she wants to order them. Decisions!

I wrote three chapters on The Ruskin Adventures earlier --- I'm refocusing a book onto a different "feature character" and imparting his affliction on the story. Or not... It's hard to explain. I changed his name and made him a bigger part of the story - I may share part of the story here - later. I worked on editing some more of the same book.

Reviewed paperwork for a tax client. Prepared chili burritos for lunch with cheese and made a pot of coffee for me - I NEED CAFFEINE!

Janeen called about her website, Your Impact Matters, because someone said it wasn't working. It's working just fine and she's got a stellar give away on her site - go check it out!

My son is getting a reflexology treatment. I played Dr. Jan for a friend who wanted some natural cure information for her husband. And... I still have those term papers to write... So it's off to the keyboard (wait! that's where I am) to write some more.

And the afternoon lingers on...