Ooooh, Shiny: When girls like tech gadgets, too.

by Jillian @ http://blueshelled.com . March 30, 2009 . 3:02AM

Hey, this journal isn’t just a flaming ball of negativity! Like anyone else, I get excited when I find something new and shiny that catches my eye because of the coolness factor. It doesn’t happen often because, due to the amount of time I spend on the internet daily, I see a lot of nifty gadgets, but there normally isn’t an entire site of them that makes me think I need to open my pocketbook in an otherwise nasty economy.

Today, I was introduced to mytagalongs. This site has a shiny factor of 8.5 because of the coolness of it’s gadgets. Boys have tool sites, girls have tampon cases and purse organizers. I do have several men who read this site, so I’m not writing you guys off. There were also some cool items on there that were gender neutral such as running bands to keep items in while you are getting your fitness on as well as inexpensive shaving kit cases or even an entire office to go for your briefcase.

Also, if you want to make your wife really happy, I cannot tell you how much a wife would appreciate The Handywoman’s Kit for her purse. The Swiss Co. makes another version of this for about $20 more and it’s certainly not as pretty.

I have gone forth and spread the word and I urge you to check it out. The prices are VERY reasonable as is the shipping. I placed an order today, so I will let you know if it takes forever to get here. I’m looking forward to the purse organizer. Anything that cleans out my purse can’t be a bad thing.

Children are growing up too fast

by Jillian @ http://blueshelled.com . March 29, 2009 . 10:04PM

Natalie and I have been friends for many, many years. 10, at my last guess. We have followed essentially the same path in life with few divergences, but have managed to stay in touch and close throughout marriages, births, extreme joys, extreme hardships, loss, grief, many moves, new homes, new states, new careers, new degrees and new opportunities. She is one of my favorite people ever and is one of the very few people I can tell ANYTHING and know that, as gross or wrong as society thinks, or even I think, she’ll think it’s cool or ok or hilarious. And then she’ll make fun of me for it. There is no judgment and even in friendships, that lack of judgment between two people is really rare. We’ve just been through too much and really, we know know way too much about each other.

Around 9 years ago, Natalie and I were pregnant around the same time. Natalie was pregnant with one of the most gorgeous dark-haired, gypsy featured beauties I’ve ever seen in my life. Bee (as she will be known), is a precocious, tell it like it is, intelligent girl child. She’s a mini-Natalie and is amazing. I was pregnant with AJ, a sensitive, athletic, science-minded, all-american featured boy child who is currently sporting a pumpkin grin. From the time they were womb fetuses, these two were jokingly betrothed. Natalie and I greedily planned grandchildren and enjoyed the idea of not fighting over the rights to grandchildren.

When AJ and Bee met, it seemed all plans were falling into place. They were like two peas in a pod and AJ and Bee’s little brother, Mee, are best buddies. Our plans for world domination by living vicariously through our children were imminent.

However, today I hit a snag. One I never saw coming and the ton of bricks didn’t fall at once, rather one at a time they fell on that sensitive spot. Someday, AJ, Bee & even little Mee, will all GROW UP. In order for betrothed to get married, THEY HAVE TO GET MARRIED. To have grandkids, they have to…well, YOU KNOW. NO NO NONONONONONONONONONO. MY CHILD WILL NEVER YOU KNOW!!!!!

Ok. Ok. I can handle this. He may or may not you know. We aren’t Catholic, but he could decide to be a priest but then I don’t get grandchildren. This doesn’t seem fair.

So the question is, how does one of my very best friends factor into this? Well, Natalie recently had twins (Holy wow!) and she took a picture of Bee holding one of the babies. Bee is sitting in a hospital bed holding the baby and for all purposes looks like a new mother. Our babies are growing up and it’s happening sooner than we ever intended.

It occurred to me that children are doing things more quickly now. Statistics are showing that children engage in non-penetrative sexual contact as early as 12-13 years (7th grade). AJ and Bee are 8 years old. We could be forced to deal with this stuff within the next 5 years. NO. Children can be parents as early as 13. Our children will be adults in 10 years. This is all overwhelming. I know that we can handle this stuff as it comes, but that seems so FAST.

The only thing I know about all of this is that I thank God that Natalie and I will be going through all of this at the same time because there is no way that I would survive it without her. Of course I have Husband, but he’s not as sentimental about this as I am. He’s a BOY. Natalie will get it. She always does.

Happy Thoughts Compilation from the last week

by Jillian @ http://blueshelled.com . March 28, 2009 . 11:38PM

I don’t know if anyone actually comes to my blog or if everyone just reads through a reader of some sort, but every day or every other, I make changes to my sidebar. They are just little thoughts that aren’t big enough for a whole entry, though they might eventually make up an entry. They are still things I want to remember, however, so here they are.

Sunday, March 22, 2009
When I’m sick, my dogs are as concerned as any human being I’ve ever met.

Monday, March 23, 2009
When I’m away from home and feel sad, upset or stressed out, the only place I want to be is at home and cuddling my dogs or talking to my family. They are my happy place.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Every time I teach my class teaches me more than I teach them. And they make me smile. A lot.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009
A test is really just a piece of paper with an ink on it. The only importance it has is the importance I give it and my self-worth isn’t based on how I do on it. Thank you, Dr. Chris Blazina for the cognitive reframe today.

Saturday, March 28, 2009
Life DOES come with extra credit. It’s called McDonald’s reduced fat vanilla ice cream.