sahmtojandk

We love the new FOX show Glee.  It is a witty, smartly written, greatly produced show about the experiences of outcasts in high school.  They send so many good messages out, and most of the information is something that should be in conversation between teens and their parents.  I was reading a complaint board that had a lot of fighting back and forth about the appropriate nature of the show.  I made me a little twitchy.  So I read another page, and I developed a big toe tap.  Ok, something brilliant needed to be said, so I added. :)  I just tried to make the point that the show isn't the problem.  It is the parents.  So now I post my speech for you. :)   OOOHhh aren't you lucky.  :/  I would like to know if anyone else watches it..

I find all of the different views posted here very enlightening.  I must just be a complete contradiction unto myself.   I'm a homemaker, former high school teacher, mother of a teen and a tween, a woman reared in the conservative part of TX, and a woman baptized in a conservative religion.  I absolutely ADORE this show not only for its music, its talented cast, and its gifted writers.  I admire its guts to show the reality of my and many others' high school situations.  It was never marketed to young children or tweens.  Yes, it might appeal to them, but many things appealing to tweens are "shameful" or "corrupting".  Alcohol, drugs, tobacco: these corrupt younger and younger children every year.  Those are in kids' everyday lives.  Parents are to keep them away from what their family deems negative influences.   I imagine that some parents on here would let their kids listen to Britney on her CD.  That is a much better choice than allowing a younger child or tween to see her in concert if you are trying to stay away from sexual imagery.  That is a reasonable choice for a parent to make when wanting to keep their child shied away from certain issues/topics/things.  Glee is a show aimed at older teen/20/and even 30s.  From day one it has posted its ratings and described itself as having black humor and difficult topics.  If I were a parent who was really wanting to let my child watch the show, then I would have invested time into learning about the creator/producer/director.  Looking at previous works should give you some idea.  It is very ill-advised for parents to show up with family in tow to watch just because you ASSUME something will be to your liking.  The sex in the show is really nothing different than what happens in many schools.  I won't say all schools because that is a generalization.  I live in a conservative town, but one year I taught a 9th grader who already had a 3 month old child.  Now that is a direct lesson in sex to everyone in that classroom, and I guarantee you there weren't parents to approve that for their children to see.  The show does have great music and fun dance sequences.  I allowed my kids to watch the first episode with me, and I previewed the second and third episodes.  I did let them watch most of the 2nd episode even with the sexual discussion because I don't want them to be shut off from an important topic that they need to discuss with me instead of their peers.  For all of you parents who hope this show would go away and stop dragging your "innocent" children in to its grasp, I guarantee you that they have a pretty good chance of having been exposed to worse already.  For the teens and younger college students it is an entirely different balance of things.  The older the teen the more of these experiences they will have either in a firsthand discussion, relationship, or observation.  Young people who have felt left out of the group or an underdog should feel some relief to see that others have had the same situations that they were afraid to talk about.  Whether it be about becoming sexually active, proudly declaring sexuality, or simply becoming more confident in themselves with the support of others, Glee provides a glorious way for people to open up dialogue while still keeping a "lighter side".  So, here I sit, the conservatively reared, former high school teacher allowing my children to see the sections of the show that I feel are appropriate for them.  My younger child due to her age watches more the musical productions and hallway banter.  My teenaged son is allowed to watch the part about the celibacy club so that he can understand that there are a lot of thoughts and feelings young teens have.  This allows us to be there if he needs to discuss things with us.   Griping about this show is a way to wimp out on parenting.  If you don't want your kids seeing some scenes, then record the program, and show them the allowed sections.  If you don't like it at all, you just keep doing what you're doing in your home, but don't try to condemn a show that can actually be beneficial to so many adolescents.  Sex is not a bad thing.  If a family doesn't want a variant of Sex Ed. (albeit minor) shown to their child, then don't watch and open up your little books at home.

First Bunny starts throwing up...in class...on the cord to the overhead projector.  She missed two and a half days of school.  Now Bear is sick.  He hasn't thrown up, but he has run a temperature whereas Bunny didn't.  So I sit here wearing my beautiful blue mask while watching Bear play Star Wars KOTOR on XBox 360.  I had forgotten how HOT these things can get.  If I am in my room everyone else with cooties has to wear a mask, but if I come out, then it is only fair that I be the one in a mask.  We're having flashbacks to a year ago.  LOL  Its a good thing that I bought hundreds of masks (and thousands of gloves LOL) because I have a feeling that the Fall is going to be one constant mask fashion show. 

We have had quite the rainfall around here for the past week.  I have always loved a good thunderstorm, but I used to dread going out in the rain.  It wasn't because of the fact that I would get wet.  It was because I couldn't breathe.  Humidity was so difficult for me.  When I was younger, I would sit in the bathroom with the shower blasting as hot as it could go.  The steam was supposed to help me cough up the secretions that were making me sick.  Think about what it is like going into a steam filled room.  The air was so thick it, and it would make me cough and cough.  When I would start coughing, it was like a roller coaster zipping down a hill.  It would be a very taxing experience sometimes.  That was when I could actually perform on drill team, miss treatments, be "normal".  (Okay so my normal is still a bit goofy. :)  The last few years brought with them such a low lung function that just a little cough would send my heart-rate skyrocketing, my oxygen sats through the floor, and many times end in me throwing up.  Think about being afraid to move or do anything that could cause a cough.  During the day think about how many times you might cough, and imagine not being able to catch your breath for several minutes.  I'm talking up to 10 minutes.  KalBot was always very amazed at how well I could "hide" my cough.  I could go out to dinner and a movie and never cough; however, the minute I would get back in the car, the dam would burst.  I think that little "talent" had led a lot of people to miss how sick I really was.  They never heard me, and if you don't see/hear something, it isn't really there. Right? Hmph.  ;)  (I wish I could have that kind of self-control in other areas.  Pepsi calls me, and I can't say no. :)  This past week made me think of the rain in a different way.  I walked to the mailbox slowly, barefoot, and with no umbrella.  Slowly, not because I had to lug a tank of oxygen but because I wanted to.  No umbrella because I was actually enjoying myself.  I thought about the little kids who like to play in the rain.  That is a joy of freedom!  Freedom...that is what I have.  For a moment I thought about splashing around in the backyard.  I figured that the kids would think I was nuts and the dog would have too much fun, so I didn't. LOL  Spend time this week and enjoy your "moment in the rain".   I don't think you will be sorry. :)

While I was shaving my legs in the shower this evening, I had my Deep Thoughts with Jack Handy  moment.  One year ago I couldn't shave my legs.  One year ago I couldn't have just finished the 1.07 miles on the treadmill that sent me to take the cold shower.  One year ago I couldn't stand up long enough to take a shower.  I was thinking about what it was like when I got The Call.  Did I get the word out to everyone that I wanted to tell?  I think that I did.  Thank God for e-mail.  I only made four calls ( I think ).  I remember my mom being in Target with Bear and Bunny, and she was arguing with them about what they wanted to get me for my birthday gifts.  Then I called.  Needless to say they got to buy whatever they wanted for me, and I got a cool pink planner and a Scooby-Doo DVD.  :D  Best gifts ever. :)  I remember calling Tinkerbella.  I was not quite freaking out, but I was full of excitement.  I think she freaked out for me.  That was the best feeling ever!  Having known her since 3rd grade, she had put up with plenty of crap from me and experienced a lot of joys with me.  I wanted her to be one of the first to find out because she means so much to me.  My dad was a few hours away at the farm, and I knew that I wouldn't get to see him before the surgery.  He assured me that he was coming up regardless of whether it was a false alarm or not.  KalBot and I had quite an unusual moment where I told him, and that still cracks me up to this day.  I remember being shocked that I was possibly going into surgery within 3 hours.  It ended up being about 5 I think.  I remember being ticked that I had to shower myself with TWO packets of blue disinfecting soap.  Like I could shower myself before anyway...much less two times in a row!  ROFL  That is one of the only times I remember telling E to crank my 02 waaaay up before needing it that way.  I fully remember being wheeled down the hallway thinking "this is too weird".  It is impossible to describe what it is like knowing you are about to have something so significant cut out of your body.  I wish I could remember exactly what I said to everybody before I went in.  One of the last things I remember was Mom leaning over me.  I think I said, "I'll see you later."  I had no fear, and I meant every word.  Now if I didn't actually say that, I meant to!  ROFL  I could have dreamed that.  When I got into the room, it was the most people I had ever seen in an OR.  I had been in a few times before, but this was so busy.  I was unnerved that they were going to have to put an IV into an artery in my wrist.  OK I was about to become human fillet 'o fish but THAT bothered me.  When you face the ultimate moment of your life, you must face it head on...no indecision...no fear...no regret.  I have many more thoughts I will share later, but I think they are more appropriate for the days right before the T-Day birthday. 

October 1st will be my one year transplant evaluation.  It is only two days after the actual birthday.  I prefer to call it my Transplant Birthday.  Anniversary to me means continuation of the same, and Birthday means a new life.  Tinkerbella says it is like I had twins and they are turning one.  LOL  I guess it will be Happy Birthday to My Twins!  :P  I have be rereading the entries from now until T-Day.  I cannot ever forget the sensations of being sick, but I have forgotten a lot of the situations.  After so many years of the same crud, all the days blend together.  One day being out of breath, throwing up, and coughing up blood is just like any other day.  I am very desensitized to anything health related.  I say suck it up when other people are freaking out.  It is the way I am conditioned.  I have told myself for years that it "is the way it is".  There is nothing you can do about most things.  Yes, you can get treatment, have surgery, wish it hadn't happened.  The reality is #$(% happens. You get up and get on with your life.  You can't ignore things like end-stage lung disease, cancer, depression, etc.  You can however REFUSE to be defined by the limits that being ill will try to put on your life.  Life doesn't stop around you when something upsetting or devastating happens.  If everyone just curled up in a ball and felt sorry for themselves, the world would shut down.  There were much more serious things happening in the world than me being sick, but I realize that for many people my illness was a world stopper.   Being stubborn can serve you well...refuse to give in, refuse to give up...instead give it your all.  If you want to reach your goal in life, you can find a way.  It might not be telling yourself you can make it until a set of lungs arrive, but it might be believing that you are a worthy person.  I want every person to realize that a one day pity party is a great thing if you need it, but dwelling on negativity every day of your life WILL ruin your quality of life.   I might have physically had an absolutely miserable situation, but I was still capable of laughing at myself and the things around me.  Next time you are facing adversity, believe in yourself and realize that it isn't the end of the world.   That particular moment or day might suck eggs, but somewhere around the world there is someone in a much worse situation.  Now back to my regularly schedule double feature of GLEE. :D

It feels great to have so much energy, but I can't always do anything.  I can't be outside doing activities at over 85 degrees, so unless we swim or do stuff in the morning....  We went to see Up  this weekend, and we loved the dog Dug.  He reminded us of our doggy Dillon.  Squirrel!  Bear finished robotics camp at Kal's school district, and Bunny starts volleyball camp at my former high school in a few weeks.  She is doing a developmental volleyball league right now with the club volleyball courts.  They have one week left of games.  They have only won one game, but they are still having a lot of fun.  The entire team from the YMCA moved over to the youth league, so they aren't having to get used to new teammates.  Since this is our team's first time doing volleyball here, it took a little bit for them to get used to it.