Think you can overcome teen angst?

Have you ever "Googled" yourself?   I know, it's a  narcissistic waste of time.  But sometimes I just can't help it.

I have a friend, Robert, who believes Google is evil.  Something about ripping off iPhone development, yada yada yada.  So, this morning while wasting time doing research I decided to test Bing's research prowess.

Of course, the first search involved myself.

Lesson learned.

A quick Bing image search pulled up 6 images of what Bing thought was me.  One from the school's website, bad picture... but me.  One was of a co-worker several years my senior, also from the school's website.  Two keyed in on my last name and grabbed shots of Rhett's cousin, an environmentalist and author in New Mexico, at a conference.

 And, then there was....  

THIS....

In the old days there was hope you could someday get away from that "angst filled -- ugly -- no hair products in 1979 -- Oh, my God it's a surprise party for my 14th birthday, I am SO glad I'm wearing my best jeans" picture.  By now, those old pictures should have faded into amber nothingness thanks to those handy "magnetic" photo albums.  But no. 


To the young people of today, be afraid, be very afraid.

Facebook will come back to haunt you.

I think I was born 20 years too late. 


Why does this picture touch me?



Happy July, on Cape Cod or hanging here in the south.

4th of July - Part Deaux

What can I say?  Can you experience the 4th in any better way? The only thing better would have been a soundtrack.  But I did enjoy feeling the fireworks.  Maybe we were  a little too close.

4th of July

I love celebrating the 4th.

The other day my sister asked me why?  She doesn't share the same affinity for this holiday.  We all suffer from holiday let down.  I gave up on New Years around 15.  Too many expectations, too many movies depicting engagements, reunions and confessions of true love just at the strike of midnight.  That is too much to handle on a teenage/twenty something brain.

But the 4th is ... well, not full of expectations.  It just is. Here are some random musings....

• it is always a day off from work-- OK, well for most of my adult life I have been a stay at home mom and now I work in the school system.  I have it off anyway.  OK, and yeah, all through HS and college I worked as a swim coach and lifeguard.  Never had that day off.  
• the 4th always meant NEW BATHINGSUITS!   They get their first mark down on the 4th.  Nothing like a new, non-Speedo bathing suit to break in at the neighborhood party.
• the 4th was usually spent at the neighborhood pool -- and nothing spells fun like silly poolside games.  As teenage lifeguard watching the dads in the neighborhood wrassle that greased watermelon up from the bottom of the deep end was strangely satisfying yet terrifying.  I was pretty sure I didn't want to put my skills to the actual test.
• greased watermelons aside, the 4th is synonymous with food.  Enough said.  Red, white and blue food...can it get any better?
• Um, yeah... cause the 4th means FIREWORKS!  And I mean the BIG explosions in the sky kind, not the blow your arm off kind.  Sparklers were as wild as things got in our household.  Fireworks were a no-no in our house.  Apparently, my dad had one blow up in his hand as a kid.  Thank you to the Chinese for discovering a beautiful use of gunpowder.  And, a little known fact... the Chinese shot off fireworks to scare away evil spirits... so the 4th is spirit free!  
• But thankfully, not spirit free.  The 4th screams cold beer and fizzy red cocktails. For kids, it was coolers full of soda we only got on special occasions.

My childhood 4th was usually marked by a neighborhood bike parade, a party at the pool -- or the lake depending on where we lived at the time, and a few sparklers in the back yard.

(actual film from back in the day circa 1980, when kids decorated their bikes and rode around the block to celebrate the fourth)

My kids' 4th memories are different.  Especially the fireworks part.  Just ask them, they'll tell you the story of dad shooting bottle rockets off his back in a PVC tube.  Hey, he was the tallest, it was the most logical.  HA. They won't have memories of decorating their bikes and riding around the neighborhood; or of watching the drunk neighborhood dads fight over a greased watermelon.  There will be no reminiscing about which neighborhood girl looks the best at the pool.   We don't live neighborhood with a community pool  and we choose not to join the Country Club in the neighborhood.  (Can't imagine what greased watermelon pulls look like with an unlimited bar tab). Hopefully, the majority of their memories will include picnics with good friends,  HUGE fireworks displays in our neighborhood (hey, that Country Club does come in handy sometimes-- despite having a golf cart parade) and family.

Star Wars

I have grown a little complacent in my parenting.  I have grown used to the pre-teens and teens in my house.  It's summer, I get up early and have some time- maybe a few hours to myself.  I kinda like it.  Even if I have to get up early.  This morning, I was beat out by my nephew.

"Aunt Kathleen, you said last night when we couldn't watch a movie that we could watch one in the morning.  Do you have Empire Strikes Back?"

So, here I sit at 8 am watching Empire.  And learning a thing or two.

Did you know that Lego makes 4 Millennium Falcons?  I did not.  Did you know that there are FIVE AT-AT walkers?  And that you do not pronounce it as it is spelled but as an an acronym?  AT stands for attack transport!  If Darth Vader was a girl he would have a pink light saber.  So much to learn.

I do know that Princess Leia calls Han a stuck up scruffy looking nerf herder.  I am all about the relationships.

Kinda reminds me of my own little geek-ess when she was 14.  Just after Lucas released the new digitally re-mastered Star Wars Series on DVD,  I caught her simultaneously watching the VHS and the DVD of the first three movies to see EXACTLY what had been changed.  The general consensus in this household?  Don't mess with perfection.  All my kids are now quick to point out the new digitally added creatures or explosions.  But our real wish?  Can we edit out JarJar?

Quick Take Friday

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-1-

Is it really Friday?  Wow.  Summer is in full force if I can't remember the days of the week anymore.  I guess that is a good thing. This week has been full of  the car search  STILL.  I swear, no one can blame anyone in this household with being an uniformed buyer.  I feel like I am in information overload.  The search continues.

-2-

Yesterday I was supposed to go up to the lake and celebrate a good friend's 50th birthday.   She deserves to be celebrated.  Besides being a great mom and educational advocate she is my favorite librarian... No, not this one.

 

But instead my crazy life got in the way.  Couldn't leave by 1:00 with everyone else.  Too busy taxiing the working kids -- back to "need a car!"  Around 5:00 I got hit in the head with a 2x4 that kicked my ass.  Sorry Sara. Tell your net-nanny that that is the only way to describe a headache like that.  Twelve hours of sleep and 1600 mg of Advil later and I am a little happier this morning.  But, I missed out on all the fun.  I wonder if Nan did  dance on the dock last night?

-3-

I have really enjoying my daughter's blog -- despite her recent efforts to oust the family skeletons due to her resignation that she will never be able to run for public office with a family like hers.  I had a great comment, so witty and insightful.  But it was eaten by Blogger.  Such is my life.

-4-

This morning is gloriously dark and rainy.  I am sitting on the sofa doing nothing but blog-rolling and watching Netflix instants like Veronica Mars. Watching old reunions has become a family tradition-- this has been the Buffy summer.  I guess I look at it as a way to remind my kids that girls can kick ass too.

-5-

My friend Robert has a love affair with all things Apple.  He is constantly reminding me how user friendly it is.  Well even though I really like my i Phone, I am ready to throw it out the window!  Trying to sync with my Google contacts has resulted in 47 EACH!  Help!  I mean, really, help... anyone....

-6-

This weekend we have my niece and nephew with us.  I am excited.  Really.  Growing up we were never really around our cousins.  We moved too much.  I really want my kids to know their extended families.  From both sides.  Come July we are headed to Gulf Shores with DeBuys cousins.  I think.  Not looking forward to this:  Thanks BP.

 

-7-

Well, the day has brightened up -- reminding me that I actually have housework to do today.  But at the moment I am enjoying listening to my oldest chastise her 13 year old brother about who he is friends with on x-Box live.  She'll make a good mother.

Don't forget to stop by Jen's for more Quick Takes!