4.) “Why do we watch them? Make fun of soap operas with a piece of writing.” (inspired by writing fix.com)

Soap Operas, always a controversial topic for some reason; and such judgement that I felt called to address this one! I grew up with extremely limited tv privileges - from after school friday afternoon until dinner time sunday with few exceptions. My parents had the Today Show on in the mornings to catch the news and we were allowed to watch the 6 and 6:30pm new, but that was it. We didn't even have cable until I was in high school - and yes smarty pants out there, it did exist! My parents did watch some tv in the evenings, but we were either doing homework, or I was at dance practice, so once we got used to the rules back in elementary school, it was pretty much a non-issue. That doesn't mean we didn't try! If we were left at home alone, my mom would check the back of the tv to see if it was warm (and therefore had been on when she was gone) and we were totally busted then! During the summer, we were allowed a little more viewing time, although never unrestricted, free reign over the tv! One exception came when we met Mary! Mary came to help clean the house once a week and she was a doll! My sister and I loved her - years later she even came to our weddings! Anyway, Mary LOVED The Young and the Restless and she scheduled her lunch and cleaning in the room with the tv around Y&R! During the summer, we would watch it with her! Truth be told, she got my mom hooked too! Even after Mary stopped coming to our house, mom managed to eat her lunch with Victor, Niki and the Y&R crew! My viewing habits have come and gone over the years - during college I might have watched it here and there - and thankfully you can miss months at a time and still pick it up again pretty quickly! Anyway, after college I worked 3-12 hour shifts and 1-4 hour shift per week so I was home during the weekday sometimes, so I would visit my old friends at Y&R from time to time! Well, after kids, I was often too busy with them to have the tv on and if it was on, it was on kids shows! My MIL has watched Days of Our Lives FOREVER - like I believe she listed to it as a kids on the radio (if I'm wrong, sorry MIL, that's the story in my head!). Anyway, when she visits here or when we visit her, we sometimes get a chance to watch it with her! She dvr's it so it's not like we are forced into anything, but she explains what's going on and BOOM, we are hooked again! Well, this time Big S and I are both hooked! I started watching Days on my own and then started dvr-ing it when I wasn't home, and sometimes I would watch it with her around, and NOW she is hooked too! I apologize. That was never my intent, it just happened. Now, I have to wait until she gets home from school and we watch it while she has her after school snack. Have I scarred her for life? I doubt it! Hopefully not! So few soaps are even left on tv - who's to say how much longer the remaining few will even be around?

As far as addressing the question; why do we watch? I'm sure there are several reasons - the two that I think are at the top of the list are that it is a mindless escape and that their lives are always such a mess that we feel a little better about the much smaller messes we have in our own lives! Those are my theories anyway! Also, perhaps there is a tiny addictive quality to it - they give you just enough to want more, but never enough for you to feel satisfied and walk away! They are tv crack dealers! Just a thought! Over and out!

another writers workshop...

I couldn't quite decide between these two this week on Mama Kat's weekly challenge.... Decisions, decisions, I think it's the lack of diet coke in my system that is impairing my cognition and therefore ability to make a decision, therefore, I think I'll do a mini answer both both if that's ok with you all!

4.) Childhood memory time: Write about something you loved to do as a child: Sadly the one thing I really enjoyed doing as a child was cleaning and organizing my room. I wish my girls had inherited that gene, but sadly, it appears that trait with die with me! I also loved to read - I was the kid with the flashlight under the blankets after my parents had made me turn my lights off! Another strong memory is when my sister and I used to play in the basement and choreograph dances to Air Supply songs! good times!!

5.) “The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned” ~ Maya Angelou -Now write: the ache for home, we all feel that at different times in our lives and for different reasons. As an adult, I believe that I have felt that ache even more often than I did as a child. I am, quite honestly, very much a home-body. I love nothing more than all of us snuggled on the couch with a bunch of blankets, a fire in the fireplace and a good, giggly movie on! I love the comfort and coziness of our home. It is often a mess, way more cluttered and disorganized than I would prefer, but the one thing that it is, that I am proud of, it is our HOME! Not just a house, but OUR HOME, a place where we are all comfortable, where we snuggle, talk, laugh, cry, argue sometimes, act silly a lot of the time and love each other ALWAYS! The doorbell rings, the dogs, tho small in size, can make a lot of noise and the cats have bells on their collars so everyone know when they are around! It is NOT a quiet place most of the time! Kids are sprawled out all over the place - Little S often spreads a blanket on the floor in the front hallway to "play school" and do her homework! If I am on the couch, there is at least one dog, often two and usually a kid snuggled up under my afghan with me - and I wouldn't have it any other way!! There's always some sort of craft in process on the kitchen counter or table! At the moment there is one sewing machine on the dining room table and one in the family room! On the surface, I should do a better job in some areas, but it has always been more important to me for my home to be comfortable, welcoming and feel like a safe haven rather than look like a model home. That's not to say that I would be upset if my house super neat, clean and organized as long as it was still a home and not just a house where some random people live!

wanted.......

so, Mama Kat over at Mama' Losin' it hosts writers' workshops and as you know, sometimes I feel inspired!  Well, there were some good ones last week, but we were crazy busy, so I'm just getting to it now!

write a creative want ad...

WANTED....

a wife for the wife

Looking for someone to be my wife, preferably a little on the old fashioned side, someone who can keep up with the laundry and the cleaning (not one or the other), likes to bake from scratch, prepare properly balanced meals also from scratch.  When those things are taken care of, this person must also be a good companion for this wife - must like to read, knit, sew, photography, hanging out on the back porch, volunteer, participate in moms' groups and Bible studies, hang out with my kids who also enjoy crafting of all sorts!  She must not be too thin or too pretty but able to help motivate me to do a little more in the working out category!  Must have working knowledge of budgeting, bill paying, menu planning, grocery shopping, PTO meeting protocol and teaching PRE.  Must enjoy lively discussions and hanging out with the family!  Ability to teach dogs to stop barking every time the wind blows is an added plus!

Any interested candidates simply apply here!

Writers Workshop....

I love these writers workshops that "Mama's Losin' It" does!  Always a wide variety of topics to choose from - some more challenging than others, some that I would never touch - at least not out here in bloggyland!  This week I chose one that I think could get interesting and as I start, I have no idea where it will take me!!

List 10 things you can do in 3 minutes.... I assume that she meant 3 minutes each and not 3 minutes total for all 10 things!  At least that's the spin I'm taking - hope that's ok Kat!!!

1.  prep the coffee pot and get it brewing at the beginning of the morning

2. "quietly" remind everybody that they are going to miss the bus - 100 times!

3. check my email

4. say a decade of the rosary - on a good day - otherwise, maybe 5 minutes!

5. check my voicemail

6. put on my makeup

7. look at my daily calendar and get overwhelmed

8. look at my to do list and acknowledge that I will never get to it all in one day

9. leave my sister a voice mail at home, on her cell and at work and never actually talk to her!

10. pull clothes out of the dryer (not yet folded), put the stuff from the washer into the dryer and start it, load the washer and start it!!

perhaps it would be easier to say what I CAN'T do in 3 minutes!!

1. drink my first cup of coffee

2. decide what to cook for dinner

3. have a conversation with any of my girls

4. have a conversation with my sister

5. write a blog entry

6. drive Little S to school every day since she won't ride the bus!

7. take a shower

8. decide what to wear for the day

9. fold the laundry fresh out of the dryer

10. decide on a movie at Blockbuster

Ok, that's good!!

The rose, by any other name, is torture......

I just love Mama Kat from Mama's Losin It!  Although I enjoy all her posts, I especially like the writers' workshop prompts every week - there's always tons of variety and creativity and although her husband Pat suggested that we write about the NBA all star game this week, I think I'm going to go with #5 "write about something mean you did to a sibling".  I am however going to take creative licence and instead tell you about the super meanest thing that my one and only beloved sibling did to me.  This story continues to be a source of joy and uncontrollable giggling for her and now also for my husband and eldest daughter - they are all terribly insensitive if you ask me!  My case in point......

When I was in junior high, we lived in this house that had this fabulous little rec room in the basement for me and my sister to play in.  I loved this room and spent a great deal of my time in there during those years.  One of our favorite things to do was to put in a mixed tape of our favorite music and sing at the top of our lungs and dance around the room.  I thought it was an activity that my sister and I enjoyed equally, until that fateful day....  

I had a favorite song that I played over and over again.  Hint....

ok, another hint.....

think the late 70s.......

can you hum a tune?

Ok, so it was....

 yes, Madam Bette's The Rose.  A classic today, I know, but back then my absolute favorite song, recorded directly off the radio onto my cassette tape for my listening pleasure 24-7!!  It was pure joy to sing along with Bette, UNTIL.  One day I was belting it out and about halfway through the beautiful ballad, there is a break in the music and I hear my "darling" little sister's menacing voice saying "Helloooo Gayle", I scream because she has just defaced my beloved Bette in the middle of my favorite song, do you hear me, do you understand the implications?  That evil little girl (4 years my younger, so I'm not even allowed to beat her) has destroyed the only true source of joy I had in my life at that time.  AND she has been sitting on the stairs WAITING to hear this little plot of hers go down and when it does, she is cracking up on the stairs - fits of laughter.  That is until I take off after her!  Then both of us are screaming.  I don't remember much after that - I believe that my mind blocked it out because it was all too painful - but I know I was sobbing and yelling trying to explain this travesty to my mother who I am certain was having difficulty masking her amusement.  Thirty years later, I still bear those scars, tho they are not visible to the naked eye, of my sister's merciless cruelty.

That is my story.