Discrimination or National Pride?

Ok, I'm trying to be understanding, open minded and fair but I'm feeling completely pissed to the max about a few things. 

IF YOU FEEL DIFFERENTLY THAN ME PLEASE COMMENT AND SHOW ME YOUR PERSPECTIVE I am open and want to understand better.

Having said that preamble I will still appear to be prejudice.  Maybe  I am  but in denial?  Either way here goes...

FUCK PRESSING 1 FOR ENGLISH. 

Everything in America should automatically be in English. 

I feel its great and super supportive to offer people to hear or read things in other languages especially with certain products and marketing niches BUT ENGLISH SHOULD BE FIRST.

Seriously. I don't want you to ask me to press 1 for the language of the Country I am calling in . 

I have NEVER gone to France and expected ANYONE to speak English. I am pleasantly surprised and appreciative if they do but key word: I do not EXPECT it.

Nor do I call a Japanese business located IN JAPAN and EXPECT the option to hear things in English. If I do not speak Japanese then I should NOT purchase things from a Japanese company OR I should enlist the help f a friend who DOES speak Japanese.

This also leads me down the bumpy road of discussing people who do not speak English having the EXPECTATION when they drop their Kindergartner off at a FREE public school that the school is solely responsible for that child integrating AND learning English. 

Oh and THOSE people are MOST OFTEN the ones who GIVE NOTHING BACK to the school or community.

I of course do not speak for ALL people in this critical rant but a HUGE majority live near me and this is MY personal experience.

Ok, so there it is. Out there in its red white and blue - lets hear it.....

Contradictions

I am contradicting myself on a regular basis. Its usually because I hear some information that stirs up my passion about a particular subject and then I get a strong opinion and start shooting my mouth off with little or no verified facts.  Then I go get facts (after a few rants usually) and I then more often than not I have to retract or start spouting off the completely opposite view.

This is ignorant.


I know this is ignorant.



I try and try and try not to do this .... I try and try and try to take information I hear, read or see and then research and then develope my strong oppinion about it.  this works 1% of the time.

So if you know me you know that while I *mean well* I am *passionate about important topics of today* I am *intelligent* I can be *well spoken* I am *well read* I am *MOSTLY able to see my faults, apologize when necessary and humbly change my mind* I can often come off like a real ass.

I am a work in progress (some of you will catch that familiar phrase and understand me even more ;).

I am a Jew.

I am a mixture of white Irish, Scottish and Welsh.  Most white people I know have Irish in them because it seems to me the Irish will breed with anyone they deem hot in the sack.

I am dissatisfied with Judaism.  I am now following Jesus.  More on this later.

Shit balls kids are home gotta go cook dinner be back later.....

with love your totally imperfect Erika

Have a Fun NO IMPACT EARTH DAY

Click the link below and go to FUN STUFF

Find a better solution to more crap in your home and in our landfills to celebrate Earth Day

NATURES WAY EARTH DAY

TEN WAYS TO GREEN YOUR
PICNIC FOR THE PLANET

1. Choose a Location Near You 
   Hosting your own picnic? Choose a picnic site close to home, and walk or bike to your picnic location instead of driving. Look for a green space nearby — a local park, a sports field, a Conservancy preserve or a friend’s backyard!
2. Use Re-Usable or Compostable Serveware
   Instead of packing paper plates and disposable utensils, pack serveware that you can wash and use again and encourage your guests to do the same. If this won’t work, many brands are now offering compostable plates and silverware.
3. Bring Healthy Foods
   The lower a food is on the food chain, the lower its impact on the environment. For example, it takes about 634 gallons of water to make a hamburger. So, add more fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes to your picnic meal — those things are good for you and the planet!
4. Pack Local, In-Season Ingredients 
   Nothing ruins an eating-well high in the U.S. faster than seeing a sticker on your apple that says New Zealand (no offense, kiwis!).  Prevent the shipping-around-the-world blues by picking up your produce from a local farmer’s market.
5. Lose the Napkins
   No one wants to walk around with mustard on her face, but paper napkins aren’t the answer. Use the picnic as an opportunity to use that cute gingham handkerchief that came with your cowboy Halloween costume five years ago. Or, you know, any old cloth napkin will do.
6. Compost and Recycle Your Trash
   I bet someone at your picnic has a compost bin (Are you ready to give it a try? It’s easy!). Enlist that person to take home all the compostable scraps from the event, and another person to collect any recyclables.
7. Clean Your Picnic Site 
   A good picnicker is one that doesn’t leave trash at his picnic site. A great picnicker is one who picks up trash at this picnic site. Use the picnic as an opportunity to make your local green space just a little greener.
8. Enjoy Nature
   Once your meal is over, take some time to enjoy your natural setting. Take a hike, go bird-watching or just sit back and enjoy the sounds of nature. Have kids in tow? Try this Nature Treasure Hunt!
9. Use Electronics Wisely
   Picnic for the Planet is about reconnecting with nature, but whether it’s to play some picnic tunes or send us your picnic photos via Twitter (@allhandsonearth), Facebook or Flickr, we know that your electronic devices will make an appearance. Be sure to unplug your chargers when not in use to avoid “vampire power,” which accounts for about 10 percent of household energy usage.
10. Support Nature! 
    Help protect the places that you love to picnic by turning your Picnic for the Planet into a fundraiser for The Nature Conservancy. Simply set up your fundraising page, and tell your friends!

Save the Earth

How is it we can have a million and one crafts celebrating Earth Day that cause more and more junk in our lives and trash and require moms to purchase more craft supplies   ARG

Earth Day Craft EASY

The beauty of this project is that no two will ever be alike! Every child’s creation will be completely unique. You can use this delicate but pretty recycled-crayon craft to teach children that the earth is also delicate and we need to look after it.

Be sure to visit our Earth day crafts, printables, online games and Earth day ideas page for more environmentally friendly fun.

What you'll need:

• Crayons in blue and green, brown and white are optional
• Scissors
• Wax paper
• Paper towel
• Iron
• String

How to make it:

1. Lay a piece of wax paper out flat on the work surface.
2. Use a drinking cup or other stencil to draw a circle on the wax paper.
3. Parents should shave the crayons using the blade on a pair of scissors or the edge of a knife.
4. Have your child place the different colored crayon shavings within the circle however they like. Blue for water, green and brown for land, white for cloud formations.
5. Cut a piece of string about twelve-inches long. Double the string over and place the open ends together, lay them onto the crayon shavings. When the shavings melt in the following steps, the string will be melded into the cooled crayon to form your hanger.
6. Place another piece of wax paper on top of the crayon shavings being careful not to disturb the shavings.
7. Place a piece of paper towel on top of the wax paper.
8. With iron on low setting, a grown up can apply heat to melt the crayon shavings. Allow it to cool completely.
9. Once cooled, use scissors to trim the creation into a circle, trimming off any excess if necessary. Be very careful not to cut your string!
10. Carefully peel off one side of the wax paper, then the other.
11. Hang in a window.

Tips:

• The finished project is very delicate. Use this opportunity to discuss how our Earth is delicate as well and we should treat it with respect by recycling, throwing away our trash (not littering!) and conserving energy by closing doors and turning off lights.
• If you prefer, you can leave one side of the wax paper on the project. This will help preserve it a little while longer and it will not be as vulnerable.
• Before making this project, have a suction cup hook already hanging in the window. That way you can immediately hang the project out of eager little hands that may accidentally break it!

I LOVE the website kaboose

DO YOUR FUCKING JOB

I realize getting paid minimum wage sucks and that many jobs that pay only minimum wage are tedious.

But when you applied did you tell them "oh by the way I will do the bare minimum and at times not even that because I am a lazy self absorbed asshole and I feel like I am justified to do this because I REALLY think I deserve MORE pay an hour (even though I have NEVER worked hard for it).

If you work at Mc Donalds get my fucking order right ok?  I order 3 fries for $3.00 and what ever else I order I am not able to handle it when I arrive home to starving children and a long day to dinner for SOME kids but not ALL the kids.... or fries for SOME of my kids but NOT ALL OF MY KIDS...I WANT ALL THE FRIES I ORDERED. INEED3. IORDERED3. GIVEME3.

If I go to Starbucks and order a tall non fat latte no foam THATSACTUALLYWHATIWANT. I want that latte to be made with non fat milk and a tall size and no foam because I want all the milk I paid for OK?

When I go to VONS I want you to be sure you look around after you bag my order and make sure you PUT EVERYTHING I bought IN my BAG! I need the toothpaste or toilet paper desperately and do not have the time or the energy to go back to this store tonight to retrieve what your missed and I don't want my kids using the washcloth or towel on the rack after they pee (and I can only pray they only use it once and then throw it in the laundry but I cant be sure....) its my business if I ran out of tp its your business to get the shit in my cart when I leave!

When I go to Einsteins Bagels and ask you ever so nicely "please cut the 6 bagels I cannot cut them myself, thank you so much".  And when I arrive home to 6 uncut bagels I want to fucking drive back to that fucking bagel store on Regents and run inside and shank you.

DOYOUFUCKINGJOB its not THAT hard.

DOIT

You are getting PAID if you CANT do your job for that pay QUIT PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I mean really, this fucking city, state country, people what ever, you all suck. You generation F for fuckups DO your fucking job thats why you get paid at all.

Kids / Chores Responsibility

Someone please tell my daughters that:


1)  I am supposed to tell them how to do things correctly.


2) I am supposed to remind them to be responsible for themselves.


3) I am supposed to tell them to do a better job when i KNOW  they can. 


Please also tell them I do this because I AM A GOOD MOM not mean. That I am NOT supposed to be their friend but their guide, leader & mother. 

Oh one more thing could you please let them know that being part of a family means certain innate responsibilities towards the care and keeping of the family and home this is expressed in chores. This is not optional this is real life and when they grow up they will also have to clean their house, their kitchen, their bathroom (including the inside of the toilet) their own laundry, their car, their living room...well you get the idea. 


Any volunteers to do my communicating?


 Oh wait one more thing gratitude goes a long way.


PS this is my SHORT LIST

START AT THIS AGE FOLKS TRUST ME

Bad Mom

Why is it rationally, I KNOW I am a GOOD MOM.  But then something happens and emotionally I feel like a BAD MOM.

When a child does something normal like covet the possessions of others why cant I just use it as an opportunity for growth..and then LET IT GO....I mean I make it a grand lesson (with thanks from Professor Leslie Lewis) of learning how the other child would FEEL if they were to have their precious item taken. Lets say a generally kind and thoughtful 6 year old sees a toy she just has a HUGE impulse to take from a friends back pack and for what ever reason at that moment the nice child isn't able to resist the urge to take the toy even though her conscience is already nagging at her saying "this is probably bad and will lead to trouble" and she takes the toy.

Interestingly enough the child almost immediately feels guilty (this is a good thing) and turns the toy over to the teacher with out an explanation. So the impulse was too strong to resist yet the guilt was too strong to keep the toy and the self preservation and embarrassment prevents the child from fessing up to the teacher the details.

In comes GOOD MOM.  Mom speaks to teacher and is informed that the child gave the toy to the teacher but refused to explain where it came from.  Mom takes 30 seconds alone with child to ascertain the complete story and promptly takes child to the Vice Principal with whom she has the upmost respect for. VP handles it nicely talks about the pain it would cause the other child but also talks about giving the toy to the teacher was a right step in the process of making things right and telling truth to mom too was GOOD but lets say it now...stealing a toy from a classmate/friend is WRONG.

Mom takes child back to class and child immediately apologizes to classmate/friend.  The mom before leaving the child hugs her and tells her "I love you and while I am disappointed in the behavior I still feel you are a GOOD child and understand that urge to covet other peoples possessions. Lets work on ways to resist the impulse in the future like tugging your earlobe or stamping your feet a few times until the urge passes".

Child later that day suggests pretend pulling the bad idea in her head to do something "naughty" out of her ear next time. Cute. Mom feels like child gets message all is well. This is normal childhood shit.

Why do I feel like a BAD MOM.  Why do my emotions tell me "oh this incident means serious problems in the future" and "you should spend every minute of every day reviewing all parenting choices past and present to locate the BAD parenting and FIX it."

SHIT kids take things especially at the age of 6. The child had remorse and the mom handled it beautifully....but yet...I still feel like a BAD MOM. My head is NOT MY FRIEND.