Answer to Thought for Thursday

Answer: Michelangelo played a part, the question is how much of a part did he play?

If you'd like to read more, please click here.

Thought for Thursday

Question: What artist is sometimes considered crooked for having played a part in the Cupid Case?

Do you know the answer? If not, take a guess anyway.

Come on, it's more fun when people play.

(Stop back by around 3:00 to see the answer)

Masks People Wear

When I was young I had a dream . . . or really it was more of a nightmare. And I had the same dream more than once.

I'd fall asleep and, in my dream, my family would gather around me and take off their masks. They'd finally reveal who they really were, which was usually an alien or a monster. I make it sound like my family was horrible-they weren't. I don't know what that dream meant but it was scary.

But what's REALLY strange about that dream and how frightened I was of masks, now-after I've grown up, my family is very "into" masks. We have them hanging all around the house.

Jake did this tiger when he was in middle school, Luke did the anime-guy, and Kara did Mickey. I don't know if you remember the death masks I posted a while back but we have those hanging around too.

So, what's on your wall? And, which mask would you wear?

Stop by Grits and Glamour to see other wall ideas.

TIME-OUT

Gloria Steinem had the foresight to say, “I have yet to hear a man ask for advice on how to combine marriage and a career.”

But, I say, “Marriage and a career – sheesh—that’s nothing, try adding kids into the equation.”

Pru, Piper, and Phoebe can’t even compete with most Moms because it takes more than magic to make a good Mom.

Sometimes I think I’m living the easy life, in this world of high technology where everything is right at my fingertips. But as I travel down this overcrowded information highway, using my Blackberry, mapquest, and gps, somehow I’m still lost.

No electronic gadget can make parenting EZ and even with so much help right in my hands, it's that four-letter word that keeps running through my head:

T. I. M. E.

Maybe it’s because becoming a “Mom” doesn't come with a handbook and there are no rules. What other job offers no training, has you on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and doesn’t even provide a bathroom break . . . ? There's no pat-on-the back here and this one job offers no financial incentive to compel a person into this chaotic career, no motivational paycheck, commission, or bonus at the end of the month.

Instead this career calls for extreme patience because there are a few unwritten realities of parenting, which I will willingly point out for any unsympathetic people out there:

1) Cranberry juice never spills on linoleum;
2) A child only falls down and rips his pants - when he’s dressed in his Sunday best;
3) Kids never spill anything on a dirty floor - somehow - they always wait until it’s just been mopped, swept or vacuumed;
4) Children are never thirsty and don’t have to go to the bathroom until after they’ve been tucked into bed;
5) Children only complain about their earache after the clock strikes 5:00 p.m., when the doctor’s office closes;
6) Children always remember to tell someone they need a disposable lunch for the fieldtrip, as the school bus approaches the house;
7) Children will make sure you get the picture order form - the morning pictures are scheduled to be taken which just happens to be two weeks past the time he needed a haircut; and last but not least,
8) On vacation, children never have to go to the bathroom unless the nearest rest stop is more than fifty miles away.

Yet educated people actually choose this occupation. And, when they finally are initiated into this sisterhood of the traveling or “elastic waist-band” pants, they happily celebrate the onslaught of morning sickness and nightly trips to the toilet with a party – called “a shower”, which they gladly share with a bunch of other women.

And, what could be worse, with all that extra weight to hide?

Adults go to great lengths to celebrate this event – correctly called “labor”.

Parenting is like playing in the stock market – it’s all about patience and long term investment.

With such a simple goal and no rules, it should be easy - right?

Wrong!

I’ve heard it said, “Parents just need to set limits.” What people don’t realize is that sometimes the limits need to be on the parents – not the kids.

One thing is for sure: Parents need to practice a little discipline, and give themselves a “time-out”. So take a hot bath, go for a walk, or just sit for ten minutes and do . . . nothing.

It's Time-Out Tuesday :)

GREEN QUEEN

I am joining forces with a group of ecofriendly cyber-women who blog about ways to help protect the planet from pollution and waste by recycling, reducing and reusing.

We are ECOwomen Protectors of the Planet and you can visit us here.

My super secret identity is Green Queen or GQ and I will post on the fourth Friday of each month and my first post will include an interview with Certified Master Gardener Diane Cooper. So, if you have any gardening questions you'd like answered, please leave them in my comments section. I'll try to get as many answered as I can.

('tooned by Jake)

National Cancer Survivor's Day

This is a day to celebrate everyone who has battled the beast and survived. This is National Cancer Survivor's Day.

June 7th is a worldwide Celebration of Life. The National Cancer Survivor's Day Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports cancer-related organizations with free education and networking.

This year's corporate sponsors are: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Lilly, and Coping with Cancer Magazine.

So, if you know anyone who has survived cancer - remember today is a gift.

Rose Festival-Ever Wanted to Become a Princess - How About a Queen

This is Rose Festival season in our city. It was voted the best festival in the World in 2007 by the International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA).

During the celebration, there are three Parades: the Junior Rose Festival Parade, The Starlight Parade, and the Grand Floral Parade. The Grand Floral is one of two all-floral parades and begins at 10:00 a.m.at the Memorial Coliseum and weaves its way around the downtown city streets.

The Rose Festival has been an annual event here in PO for over 100 years. And the Royal Rosarians have learned a lot over the years.

It begins when the City selects a Court of Rose Festival Princesses. So any girl attending one of the local high schools can actually become the Queen of the Court.

Every high school selects their own court, and a Rose Festival Ambassador (or Princess) is selected to represent her school. From all the ambassadors a Queen is selected to Rule over the Festival-it is a young woman's dream come true. And to top off the journey, the Queen also receives a scholarship for college.

This is a celebration of many things but one thing Portland is famous for is being the City of Roses.

But this is more than a celebration of flowers. It is also a festival of floats. The Grand Floral Parade is June 6, 2009. This is a festival of ships and a festival of fun. There are carnival rides and games along with craft displays and exhibitions of talent. But, I've only begun to describe the fun to be had and the food to be tasted - like corn dogs and cotton candy.

This weekend is the end of Fleet Week here in Portland, Oregon. So, if you're anywhere near Portland this weekend, come down to the waterfront and check it out.