NJ Standardized Testing

I keep seeing these ridiculous commercials in the Philadelphia tri-state region about standardized testing in the state of New Jersey. Mostly, it’s a bunch of parents and teachers whining and complaining about how standardized testing is the Greatest Evil this world has ever known! At least that’s what I’m getting from them. And if I’m totally off-base in my understanding, I would love for someone to let me know.

Wait Until Thanksgiving!

For the past month, I’ve continued to be bombarded with this wild fancy to start playing my Christmas music and playlists; and quite frankly, it scares me. I’d never really gave it much thought in past years; and the urge rarely came up until the start of the Advent Season. As a child, Mom would always take a couple days off to do her Christmas preparations – full-scale cleaning, decorating, cookie mixing and baking (at least 12 different kinds every year!) – all of which was done with a stack of Christmas LPs on the record player blaring through the house.

The Online Profile Picture Controversy

If you’re reading this, chances are you have at least one online profile with a picture. Long before the dawn of Facebook, people have existed behind online profiles. I still remember back in the day before broadband, people would construct their profiles with just a few words (there were no pictures, because everyone was using dial-up and it would have taken f-o-r-e-v-e-r for the picture to download). But as internet connection speeds have increased, so did the need for profile pictures.

My War Against Christmas

I’ve launched a full-on assault against Christmas this year. It’s war, and I’m hoping others will also take up the standard. Well, in all honesty, it’s more of a partial assault this year, but brewing to the full-scale assault for next year and in the years to come. The war I’m talking about is the fight against the incredible commercialism that has become “Christmas.” Not the Christian Holy Day, but the Hallmark- and Toys-R-Us-created holiday.

Is It Because There’s Something in the Water?

As you may recall, recently, Philip Chism, a freshman at Danvers High School (Massachusetts), was charged as an adult with first-degree murder of his 24-year old math teacher Colleen Ritzer. I was left positively speechless by this news. But what left me most speechless was the fact that there still (at this writing) no motive mentioned. Not that a motive would make any difference in the case, but it made me wonder why a 14-year old boy – a child – would do such a heinous act the majority of adults wouldn’t commit, then go to a movie and dinner before getting caught.

Happiness Is…

There are times in our lives when we reach a state of happiness – that state where we look at our lives, and though not perfect, we can at least say we’re happy. I was thinking about this the other day, and started taking stock of what makes a happy life, when Hubby and I came strolling out of the grocery store bumping into each other through the doorway like an old Three Stooges short, then laughing, and one of the employees of said grocery store (as she was entering) said, “You guys are always happy and laughing together!” Our response: Life’s just too short to be taken too seriously.

An Open Letter to People at the Diner

Gabriel Metsu – Man Writing a Letter

Dear Fellow Diner Patrons,

It was indeed a pleasure to dine with you for breakfast on Mother’s Day. The food was delicious, as I’m sure everyone will attest, and the company was (as always) outstanding. However, there were a few things I noticed and thought I would bring them to your attention before the next major holiday.

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod

I don’t know what made me think of this the other day, but a memory of my childhood resurfaced during my morning ablutions. It was a very fond memory of me with my father when I was a wee child, and I thought I would mention it in hopes that other fathers (and mothers) of today might take this up and continue it like my father did with me (but then again, that was in another age that existed long before the Internet, iPhones, iPads, and iConsciences; but I digress).

Did Everyone Get Their Gold Star?

I’ve been noticing more and more that people, in general, are less concerned with anyone else in the world. Their focus is completely on their own, little, limited world and how it relates to who they are and what they want and what they need. Anyone else’s needs – if they don’t directly relate to their own – are outside of that scope and are of no importance. It’s plain and simple; black and white; cut and dry.

Sandusky, Paterno, and Sanctions – Oh My!

Life doesn’t seem very happy in Happy Valley these days.

Now that Sandusky was found guilty and is awaiting sentencing, the focus of the media and everyone else has shifted to the famed statue of Joe Paterno, and the NCAA’s sanctions on the university. The Pedobear has been spotted (and photographed) next to the statue of Paterno, and comments have been made and posted that perhaps the statue should have a yellow spine painted down its back, that his head should be turned the other way, or should just be completely removed. The university decided to have the statue removed and placed into storage. I think they did the right thing.