Random Thoughts...

Hello, Readers! Have you met Tracey? I bet you have, since we share the same readers. She has a cool mom-centric blog (click on her name to visit her blog). She posted some pix of her kids and I commented that her son with the glasses resembles my Son#1. Even though Son #1 is 11.5 years old, he's small for his age and looks younger. Even their glasses are similar. Tracey, if you're reading this, take a look at my handsome fellow.











To Flip Flop Mamma, who also has a cool blog, this is for you. You commented a couple of posts ago that "Ok, I do not think Llama's are cute!!" Take another look below. How could you NOT love those eyelashes?? (Just a little gentle ribbing FFM, it's okay that you like the camels better! I just needed an excuse to post this one last picture from our outing.)





Now, to Ashley, who just recently posted a comment on my blog. Whenever I someone visits my blog, I return the courtesy and take a peek at theirs (and more often than not, I become a regular reader). Today I visited your blog. Um. Wow. I'm not sure I'm your target audience, given that I'm old enough to be your mother. I mean, legitimately, to be your mother. Dear Hubby and I were married 17 years ago, after a 3 year engagement (we were both in our early to mid-20's). Had we married earlier and started our family earlier, we could easily have a child your age (17). Am I surprised by the postings on your blog? Actually, no. Not much surprises me.

Some folks on your blog have theorized that your postings are a hoax. Perhaps they are. Wouldn't it be interesting to learn that a 12 year old geeky boy assumed the fake persona of "Ashley," created an elaborate internet hoax and got the most Blogger comments ever!!!! I, however, tend to give people the benefit of the doubt for this reason alone: it takes me less than a minute to read a lengthy post, probably a minute and a half to draft a comment, and another another minute to say a sincere, earnest prayer. I figure I can afford to spare three minutes out of my oh-so-glamorous life (ha ha!) for you.

So for now, I'm voting that you're real. I hope you'll be able to use your blogs to work through your self-esteem issues. You seem to be bright, witty and kind, based on your writing, as well as your very well restained comments to the derisive comments on your blog. There's a difference between stupid (you aren't) and foolish (okay, hard to argue against that). I'll make a deal with you. I won't be condescending and judgmental if you at least listen to what I have to say without writing me off as an old fogey. Deal? As one snake to another (Chinese zodiac)? Although my marriage isn't perfect, it's damn good. If nothing else, I hope you might read my blog and come away with the feeling that "Wow. I want that. I deserve that." And I hope you find the strength to stand up for yourself in all of your relationships, recognize your worth and say, "ENOUGH!"

Lastly, why do I blog? Hmmmm..... I enjoy bragging about my family. I also enjoy telling stories that I might otherwise tell my gal pals if they were not so busy with their own lives. I also enjoy reading other people's perspectives. I'm lucky to have found other like-minded women who, although we may not share the same religions, we at least share the same faith in our Lord, and our love for our families. So to Sue, Tracey, Nadine, Flip Flop Mamma, Nicole, Anna, Jules, ~d, Jen, Ms. Big Dubya, Nikki, Les and That Chick Over There, and my non-blogging buds (Debbie, Lisa, Renee and Mom), you're the reason that I blog.

Cheers!