Dance Moms-no longer just Abby Lee Miller

Abby Lee move over, Lifetime announced that coming in April there would be another show, Miami Dance Moms.  Abby Lee Miller will be doing some competing of her own. When a show draws in viewers like Dance Mom does, I should have been prepared for the announcement  of the new show.  Miami Dance Moms will probably have a similar winning combination.  For example, a caustic dance teacher combined with kids fighting to be the top dancer, and moms willing to do everything to help their child succeed.

As long as Lifetime doesn't end up with a dance show in every city;  the fans will eagerly watch another dance group.  Unlike the surprise hit Survivor which went into at least ten seasons, Dance Moms cast of characters will only make it another couple years, because there's one thing that money and fame can't stop...puberty.

Love after 15 years requires a ring! Doesn't it?

Love and rings generally equal marriage; but after 15 years with this guy it would just be disgusting!  He even has love in his name-think back to all the Harlequin romance novels you read, only to hide them under the bed or better yet tossed in the trash.  In the novels his name is some weird unused name like,  Drake, or Sebastian, or Sir Galahad the Gross.  Anything to get you to not run into a guy at work with the same name in the book.  I digress--my guy's name is Bonnie.  Yep, you heard that one right Bonnie!  His first true love was Clyde but after ten years her image and cruelty has faded and I am the one with whom he is enamored.

Okay, truth is he bites me; not little love bites either; but then again it's part of his nature.  Bonnie is my 25 year old love bird. The love there is real,  its always been there I just kind of forgot about how endearing and tenacious he can be when he wants to be.  Now if you don't own a bird you probably want get this-- but think of your dog who has gotten white around the eyes, and has a little problem standing up on cold days. Remember yet?

Birds have just as much personality, so it makes it just as hard to decide whether he has lived long enough, and whether it's cruel to keep him alive.  I can honestly say now that the only reason he is still around is because of me...and a ring.

I thought my little guy was a goner.  I even brought my teenager to drive me back if I became too hysterical to find my keys. (I did mention Bonnie had a mate)  I put him in a box with towels to cushion him and air holes and drove the 45 minutes to the avian specialist.

 After calming me down and telling me he needed antibiotics 6x a day(no problem I thought) and with a clear plastic ring around his neck he would be fine.  Bonnie didn't think so at first, and neither did I. When she brought him out with his new collar, I cried.  Acting as all birds do,  when he saw me watching he threw himself around the box and then would stay still until I left.
 Months past, he learned to swing upside down again, get out of his cage and overall just got better.  We  started to have fun together again (i.e. bite me, shred paper and chew on anything).

The down side is that he will wear the collar for the rest of his life.  Every now and then we take it off for a couple of days; but inevitably it has to go on to keep his wing safe.   So the collar stays and what may seem brutal to most  gave me back my bird.

I call it my ring of love.




  

Obama Comes to Town-Gas hits$4

On Wednesday President Obama came to visit Mt. Holly, N.C.  He came singing the praises of  Freightliner 's sale of its 1000th natural gas truck in November. ( Do you think he noticed that its March? ) He was also touting the praises of Daimler Trucks North America for its recent addition of 1000 jobs.

If he could have only taken the time to drive 3 miles down the road.  Literally, it is only three miles before you see the stark empty houses surrounding an inhabited one.   These subdivisions were basically done when Freightliner laid off half the town in 2008.

Everybody in Mt. Holly knew someone who was let go, but while some went to wait on unemployment  checks, others opted out of the uncertainy of working for Freightliner.  So yes it's great that they hired 1000 people,  but most of the "local folks " knew that eventually jobs would come back around, that is how Freightliner works.  Now the rush is to find finished houses to rent, not own, because you never know when Freightliner will flip the switch and cut the jobs off.

My views:
Just a side note:  Obama's constant extending of unemployment benefits didn't really benefit anyone except those that are lazy.  Trying to save everyone's house isn't the right answer either.  People not the government should be responsible for their own actions (like buying a bigger house than they could afford).  I would write more about Obama's visit to town--but right now I won't say anything because its not nice (and I don't want arrested).

Check out Obama's Energy Secretary's comments on how he would be thrilled if gas hit over $10 because then we(the gas guzzling public) would be forced to buy smaller cars, or maybe even walk to work.

Can teenagers write--without texting?

Just yesterday, a group of Juniors at a local High School took the A.C.T.,  paid for and mandated by the state of North Carolina.  To my son this was a  torture test, to me it was vindication.  Currently the North Carolina only requires half a year of English classes for Juniors and Seniors.  Having to take the A.C.T. will give North Carolina a more appropriate view of the skills, or lack thereof, these children are receiving in their final years of High School.

In the age of a new written language, specifically designed by today's teenagers through texting, the written form of English is going through a metamorphosis. The written and spoken forms of English have always adapted to the nuances of each generation, but the ability to express themselves adequately through the written word is in danger. Today's teenagers spend more time learning a second language than they do learning how to write papers, documents and other forms of communication that will be necessary in a business world.  

Regardless of what the state finds out from this mandated testing; I hope they realize how desperately they  need to bring back a full year of English / Writing for each school level. ;)

Bumper stickers-

  While I was growing up, bumper stickers were used to cover the rust spots on cars. Driving through a college campus once, I saw a 60's Beetle completely covered in stickers.  We've gotten smarter.( sometime after  the, "My Child is a Honor Roll Student" bumper sticker was made.)  The magnetic bumper sticker! In fact this weekend I saw one proudly stating that she was a  "Dance Mom." ( soccer moms are so passé)

During an election year bumper stickers supporting candidate choices are everywhere, and they aren't the magnetic kind.  These stickers are meant to stay.  Obviously they last through the election, but often go on to haunt the person 4 years later, when they can't deny their presidential pick.

I'm sure it comes down to cost, and if you are willing to make a" donation."  Just remember if you're not willing to shell out a couple extra bucks now for the "upgraded sticker", your choice may mock you later.

Dollywood healed me!

People say music heals the soul, at Dollywood it healed my legs!  Now if you are not from the South, or have never heard of Dolly Parton, just picture Dollywood as a theme park where the main attractions are country singing, square dancing and food.  For the younger group the fun is in watching the old people play bumper cars with their rented electric scooters.

Now before you blame me for making fun of the elderly, or worse yet, people in wheelchairs, let me tell you how Dollywood healed me. My parents invited my son and I to go with them to Dollywood, while we were vacationing in Pigeon Forge, TN.  Since my only other choice was entertaining a 5 year old in a hotel for 8 hours you can guess why I went.

 It was right about this time that I had resigned myself to the fact that any major walking (i.e. Wal-Mart) I would need to use an electric wheelchair.   I was still  self-conscious, but if I wanted to go I had to use the wheelchair.  I kept telling my best friend that people treated you differently when you are in a wheelchair,  and this trip to Dollywood gave me the proof I needed.

Later in the day at Dollywood, after many musical performances, both my son and I were tired of watching shows. That's when my Dad told me that I should take my son to the other side of the park to  the kiddie rides. My son hopped on my lap, hit the high speed button on my wheelchair and we made our way down to the rides.

My son was off my lap and being loaded onto an airplane ride before I even had stopped the wheelchair.  I watched from a distance as my son was spun in a slow circle.  The joy on his face was mesmerizing and his laughter infectious, and it only lasted for a minute.

When the ride ended my son didn't want to get off.  I asked nicely( at least once), and then yelled at my son to get off the plane. He wouldn't budge. I knewI had no choice but to physically pull my son off the ride. It was at this time that the few remaining parents noticed me, and more importantly the wheelchair.

 I turned off my chair.  I  stood up.

Everyone stopped stared, and gasped.

Actually the sound emitted from my audience was larger than a gasp,  more like the sound of a tornado sucking up houses or at least little kids.  They couldn't believe that I could stand.  I took advantage of the situation.

"I'm healed! I'm healed!" I shouted and shook each leg to prove my point.  "Great God Almighty I've been healed!"

Everyone evaporated, or more likely ran somewhere to hide.  The driver of the airplane ride handed me my fussing son.

 Laughing, I got back in the wheelchair with my son in tow, and took off for a different ride.







I

Dance Moms (Abby Lee Miller Dance Studio), Toddlers and Tiaras

You don't have to go far to hear about the show Dance Moms.  Now entering its second season on Lifetime it is the talk of moms everywhere.
If you haven't seen it, it's worth a watch.  Miss Abby is the owner, choreographer and "self-appointed" best dance teacher in the country. She definitely doesn't sugarcoat anything, and only gives attention to the  child that brings her the next first place trophy.  Her voice is a cross between a drag queen, and a chronic smoker.  Her catch phrase is that "everyone is replaceable."

This is a television show, but what is scary is that the shouting and berating of each child and parent is real.  Miss Abby often punishes these dancers (whose age ranges from the 7-13)  based on their parent's action. Professional dancers have a limited time to dance, and these girls' dancing careers might be over as soon as puberty hits.

Needless to say the constant fighting between the Dance Moms is where "the entertainment" begins.  Much like Toddler's and Tiaras, people are both critical and fascinated by how far mothers will go to get their child one step closer to being a celebrity.  I believe that the moms' from both shows  hope that if their daughters don't go on to be professional dancers, or the next Miss America (Toddlers and Tiaras) that maybe their brief television exposure will give them a ticket to Hollywood.

I guess I will have to keep watching to find out.

Excuses, Excuses ..

Well my thoughts of joining the school's parents board didn't last long.  Actually the plan to run for the board was thrown out the window the minute my husband threw out his back.  Yes, I know this is a weak excuse.  I can't deny it.  Three days into my husband's two week back battle, I realized that my low tolerance for clingy, helpless people ( not you sweetheart!) would not end well with the school.  My friends' fears were also that it my end my children's eligibility to go to the school. ( It's a charter school they can do that)

Just so you know, I will admit most of my flaws (actually just some ).  My husband and countless others can easily tell you the rest. That said, in order to make it to my 20th wedding anniversary, this post won't linger.

You can't say I haven't tried!

I  squeezed and surged my way through the dreaded line today.  Not looking at anyone directly, so they don't think I am letting them cut in line.  It's years of driving through this mess and pure intimidation that had gotten me there first, no I won't be nice and let the person in the KIA cut in. I want to swerve to the side grab two kids (preferably my own) and make it to through the next stop light.

The old saying is that "Opportunity Knocks", tonight it rang.  The school is in need of some help with parent relations, and are seeking applicants.  It does mean stepping out of the security of my SUV,  but it could be for the greater good.  The thought of possibly changing this fledging school and its problems, with the bonus of saving the lives of teachers,  how can I  say "no."

This way I can say I have tried every avenue (& street) to meet the administration half way.  Just to be safe I will probably ride in my three hundred pound wheelchair which can break toes quite easily (ask my husband) and quickly reach top speed.

Don't call the insurance company

Life moves on and out of fear of me being arrested for assault; I have gotten out of afternoon carpool duty.  If I had known that all it took was playing "Chicken " with a high school English teacher I would have done this years ago.

With worries that someday my foot might slip, my husband bought my 17 year old son...a used junker so that he can do the evening pick up.   This way it's a toss up as to who will get our family kicked off insurance coverage first.


If the worst should happen I could always try using my "Trump" card.  It's the bright blue placard that dangles from my rear view mirror.  The handicap sticker.  It is amazing how differently people treat you when you are in a wheelchair.  I'm lucky to be blessed with a wheelchair that at full speed can make  jogger run out of breath.

Just so you know, I have no vendetta against  teachers, my best friend is one and so are other members of my family.  Teachers have enough to do without playing traffic cop.