Katdish.net

Philippians 2 Imitating Christ’s Humility
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Shining as Stars
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

What is your blog about?

Assuming you have a blog, how often have you been asked that question? My answer usually goes something like this: “Um, well, that’s sort of hard to explain. It’s sort of like talking to me, without so many random obscure references to subjects we’re not even discussing.

Also, while writing, I’m not distracted by blank stares or someone constantly interrupting with questions pertaining to what on God’s green earth I’m talking about. Seriously, my blog is about about thoughts and commentary from my ADD mind. At least, that’s how it started out. But I was reading an old book by Robert Fulghum called “It Was on Fire When I Lay Down on It” that sums it up much better in the introduction:

Show and Tell was the very best part of school for me, as a student and as a teacher. Not recess or lunch, but that special time set aside each week for students to bring something important to class to share and talk about.

As a kid, I put more into getting ready for my turn to present than I put into the rest of my homework. Show-and-Tell was real in a way that much of what I learned in school was not. It was education that came out of my life experience. And there weren’t a lot of rules about Show-and-Tell — you could do your thing without getting red-penciled or gonged to your seat.

As a teacher, I was always surprised by what I learned from these amateur hours. A kid I was sure I knew well would reach down into the paper bag he carried and fish out some odd-shaped treasure and attach meaning to it beyond my most extravagant expectation. It was me, the teacher, who was being taught at such moments.

Again and again I learned that what I thought was only true to me…only valued by me…only cared about by me…was common property.

Show-and-Tell was a bit disorderly and unpredictable. What the presentations lacked in conventional structure was compensated for by passion for the subject at hand.

The principles guiding this [blog] are not far from the spirit of Show-and-Tell. It is my stuff from home — that place in my mind and heart where I most truly live.

And so, to my old friends and new; to my lurkers and my prolific commenters; to those of you whose blogs I read on a regular basis and others I check in on from time to time — Thank you. Thank you for allowing me to share my stuff and for sharing your stuff with me. Thank you for allowing me to be silly, sarcastic, serious, sappy, self-righteous, and a bunch of other “S” words. I’m a better writer, listener and dare I say better person for the experience.

This is not a “Goodbye Hey Look a Chicken” post. Just a “Thanks for the Memories So Far” post.

More random silliness from me and the gang on the twitter this week. I’ll admit I didn’t spend much time there this week, but I still managed to tweet more than I thought I did, which is typically the case. I imparted some valuable advice to top literary agent Rachelle Gardner, and at the moment Billy Coffey is no longer dead to me, but there’s always tomorrow…

@Brian_Russell wrote a great gripe piece about social media on his blog this week. You should check it out: Social Media, What a Fad.

The best (or not) of me on the twitter:

Gotta go interface with the non-virtual world. Miss me.

@redclaydiaries Clowns, blue man group, mimes, televangelists, etc…And frogs – but that’s another story… (in response to: @makeadiff21 I love your avatar. Has @katdish talked to you since you changed it? I hear she’s skeered of clowns…)

@redclaydiaries Yes. I am afraid of clowns – Well technically not clowns per sea, just people with make up covering their face…(cont.)

RT @br8kthru: @billycoffey there are plenty of days I’d love to be sweating rather than stuck in a cubicle (TWSS)

@marni71 Also, @weightwhat just informed @sarahmsalter what TWSS meant. How could anyone follow us & not know that?

@marni71 @herbiegookins has a mouse in her house & I wrote a post about her socks in a box. #drseuss

@sarahmsalter Do you speak pig latin? Because @herbiegookins can probably translate if not

@HerbieGookins That’s why…

On my blog today, @herbiegookins will stroll down memory lane w/ @rachaelmphillip & her dad’s sock. http://bit.ly/QztuC

@sarahmsalter You know, @weightwhat is pretty crafty herself. And yes, I mean that in more than one way.

@HerbieGookins Hey! What’s your mom’s twitter handle again? Is it @rachaelmphillips?

@muchl8r Not really. I’m doing some behind the scenes stuff. Very hush, hush…I could tell you, but then I’d have to – well, you know…

@Helenatrandom Thank you, sweet Helen. I’m expounding on Beth’s comment from my Socktacular post.

@Helenatrandom Yes. Despite that fact that he delights in annoying me, he has his redeeming qualities (referring to @PuriChristo)

@muchl8r Yes. I’m actually painting children

Dear blogs in my sidebar: I’m really sorry. I’ll catch up soon. I promise.

RT @marni71: The ball was on the cart path. Why don’t you look up the rules…shankapotomus. //I love that baby!

Hey Y’all! Miss me? Well miss me some more. I got some stuff to do.

@billycoffey Yes, you do. Is today garbage day? Perhaps you could wrestle a garbage can bear. (in response to: @katdish I do need some gratuitous violence, don’t I?)

@billycoffey Which has more gratuitous violence? I’m guessing the Bond movie.

@br8kthru We never talk anymore Jason.

@shrinkingcamel Hmmm….don’t know about that. (in response to: Yesterday I referred someone to @katdish as @billycoffey’s “Handler.” Was that inappropriate?)

Do you like the book “The Giving Tree”? Read my blog and find out why you’re wrong. http://bit.ly/3b8H6D

Okay. I’ve got to get off the twitter. @weightwhat @Helenatrandom – stop talking about @billycoffey via DM. I know how you are…

@Helenatrandom In reference to your DM – Bahahahahaha!!!!!! That’s what she said.

@CandySteele Have you tried duct tape?

Oh, nevermind….there she is. Hey @marni71!

Okay. How come I can’t see @marni71 on my tweetdeck! Head will ROLL, people!

I hereby claim intellectual property rights on the aforementioned tweet.

Thank you, @redclaydiaries . AHEM! @katdish – enriching lives thru the power of social media (R with a circle around it).

@redclaydiaries I’m enriching lives thru the power of social media. You know, the usual…

@weightwhat Sitting here contemplating my day. Waiting on some stuff…(She says mysteriously)

@RachelleGardner feel free to use my escalator pitch. That’s pretty much golden. (in response to: Speaking to writers group tonight about elevator pitches, taglines & synopses. Guess I’d better think about what to say.)

RT @billycoffey: @HerbieGookins I’m not that transparently childish, am I? // Wow. That’s too easy.

@PeterPollock Are you trying to make me angry? Do you really want to face my wrath?

I big pink fuzzy heart @badbanana I know I’ve said that before, but it bears repeating…

RT @badbanana: We need more solidarity in this country. Like in the 1970s when we all joined together to defeat Ring Around the Collar.

@RachelleGardner I have a escalator pitch, where I talk to you while running up the down escalator. Very effective, and quite the workout. (in response to: @katdish Especially if you’re planning to pitch ME.)

@prodigaljohn You need to write a post about puppet ministry, but warn me first. Those things freak me out

@RachelleGardner Especially if the conference is held in a hotel with an elevator.

RT @RachelleGardner: If you’re going to a conference anytime soon, be SURE to polish your elevator pitch!

@PuriChristos Oh, he’ll come groveling back. They all do…(in response to: @katdish did you hear that @billycoffey is taking back his apology?)

RT @billycoffey: @katdish ((sorry)) // LADIES & GENTLEMEN, My public apology from @billycoffey. Carry on…

RT @redclaydiaries: @weightwhat Me and triple the Jonas… Yes, that sounds strangely soothing. And yes, TWSS.

@billycoffey Shhhh! Don’t talk. (in reply to: @PeterPollock @katdish Again?! This has happened before?!)

@PeterPollock I don’t know what happened. I tell you, I’m dangerous (in reply to: @katdish again?)

@PeterPollock Well, somebody messed up the contact page on somebody’s website. Sorry.

RT @godhasablog: I’m mentioning @katdish in this tweet only because I want @BridgetChumbley to RT it.

@PuriChristos Remember what? Oh, you mean that writer guy that I used to be helping? He’s dead to me.

@godhasablog That explains @purichristos (in reply to: @PuriChristos Actually, I’m quite squeamish. I Created the really gross things because they’re vital to Life, but I kept my eyes closed.)

RT @InkPanther: I was in the middle of writing this tweet when Kanye started yelling at me that @katdish has better tweets. //Snort!

RT @godhasablog: @katdish Um…. ew. //What? They’re kosher…

I want a hot dog. Just thought I’d share that little tidbit of information. You’re welcome.

@billycoffey You wish…(in reply to: @BridgetChumbley @katdish sent me a DM and apologized profusely. Since I’m the forgiving sort, I let it slide.)

@sarahmsalter The neti pot is wonderful. Don’t be a hater…

Dear people sending me “get more followers instantly” tweets. Stop doing that please.

Me: Did you put the dog up on the stool? Daughter: I’m helping him conquer his fear of heights.

RT @llbarkat: @katdish lol, re: Brad’s poetic inspiration // I bet it was a good box wine.

Please do the EXACT OPPOSITE of whatever @PuriChristos says. Thank you, kind and wonderful followers whom I appreciate immensely.

@PuriChristos He will most likely never recover. (in reply to: @katdish @billycoffey must really feel bad for calling u evil now that that truth is out there)

@PuriChristos Sort of like Nicholas and Ridiculous? (in repy to: @katdish hmmm awesome rhymes with possum, yeah anone that was a child of the 80s should know that one. Awesome Possum.)

@BridgetChumbley Don’t worry, Bridget. I’ll talk to @billycoffey again when he makes a public apology & writes a book of my awesomeness.

RT @shrinkingcamel: Has anyone else noticed that “Possum” rhymes with “Awesome?” Cool, right? //Enjoying a bottle of wine tonite Brad?

@PuriChristos I left to get ice cream. @billycoffey left bc he knows I’m right. (in reply to: Where did the @katdish @billycoffey throwdown disappear to? someone said someone was evil and they weren’t apologizing cuz they are stubborn)

I’m going to get some icre cream….

RT @PuriChristos: @katdish u stole that from me but I stole it from someone else so I guess it’s ok //banjo tweet credit to Nick.

RT @billycoffey: @katdish YOU CAN’T QUIT ME KATDISH!!//You may commence groveling.

@billycoffey I’m sorry….I see your lips moving but all I can hear is banjo music…(in reply to: @katdish You wouldn’t say that if you weren’t evil.)

@BridgetChumbley Well, it was just fine until @billycoffey said I was evil. He’s dead to me…

RT @billycoffey: @katdish That’s because you’re evil. //You are so in trouble…

RT @PuriChristos: Sometimes I like to RT tweets that mention RTing. //Me too!

Sometimes I like to RT stuff that makes no sense unless you’re privy to the conversation.

RT @HerbieGookins: @katdish My friend had free eggplants. So I took two! 🙂

@HerbieGookins Why? Why would you do that? (in reply to: I’m going to attempt eggplant parmesan this evening. And I’ve never eaten eggplant before?? Oh well…)

RT @n8sant: The second tower falls at this moment, 8 years ago. #DoNotForget.

RT @n8sant: The first tower falls at this moment, 8 years ago. #DoNotForget.

@mylestones Ah, yes. My children always say please and thank you when they’re insulting me

@MattTCoNP Can’t get ANYTHING past me, can you?

RT @MattTCoNP: I know what ‘Stuff Christians Like’ is going to be about tomorrow. How do I know this…? //BC you’re guest blogging?

Follow @inkpanther because….Oh, just do it because I said so

@mylestones Aren’t they just adorable? When my daughter was 4, she would say, “Mom, would you please stop talking to me?”

Stuff Christians Like is high on the list of Top 100 Church Blogs! Numero (whatever the Spanish word for 4 is) Baybee! @prodigaljohn

And again…Sorry/You’re welcome.

To celebrate the fact that I’m still busy, I thought I would expound upon my post on Tuesday. Because you see, not only were there frigintastic comments about that dumb book “The Giving Tree”, there were also numerous other tangents and rabbit trails within the confines of the comments section. As a matter of fact, that comments section could provide me with blog fodder for the foreseeable future and beyond.

Of course, no one call pull off a tangent with quite the style and grace as my good friend Beth (aka @HerbieGookins). Here’s her comment from my post, The Creative Process: A Step by Step Guide. (Which if you haven’t read yet, you totally should.):

I missed out yesterday…This sign rules in so many ways. If I let other people see my laundry room, I would totally want one.

I have a box of socks.
Call me Dr. Seuss. When the box gets full and no one has clean socks anymore, I recruit my kids and call it the sock matching game. So far they haven’t caught on to the fact that they are helping me do a chore.

Incidentally, my mom came up with a great use for lonely socks. She took them to one of her writing classes and made her students make a puppet out of them and write about it. So someone out there has a sock puppet that used to be my dad’s sock. That’s weird.
I am nothing like my mother….

Thank you, Beth for that uh….Thank you, Beth!

Now, if you don’t know me very well, you may not know that I will employ just about any creative outlet in order to avoid doing laundry. It is my arch nemesis. Well, actually math is my arch nemesis, but laundry is a close second followed by balancing a checkbook. (Okay, not really – I never balance my checkbook. Who the heck writes checks anymore anyway?) But I digress…

When I read Beth’s comment, my creative/avoidance juices really started flowing. Ladies and Gentlemen, for you viewing pleasure I give you

Socks in the Box:

(And no, I can’t make you one. Like I said – I”M BUSY! Besides, the laundry is really starting to pile up…)

Just in case I’ve failed to mention it, I’m a big fan of the twitter. It’s tons of fun, a great place to share and gather information, and best of all, it’s a great place to catch up with old cyber friends and meet some new ones. Bonnie is one of my new cyber friends. She’s a great writer who writes with a wonderful perspective on faith. Oh, and coffee…that woman loves her some coffee! Here’s Bonnie:

My son is not a kid with idle hands. From sunup to sundown, TJ puts the pedal to the metal the moment he jumps out of bed.

I’m one of those weary mommies whose child loses his naps by his second birthday.

Parents have advised me to institute “Quiet Time” in lieu of a nap.

“Mommee! Is it time yet?”

“Mommee! Can I come out now?”

After a few bangs on the door and some loud crashes resulting from acrobatic attempts from the bed to the floor, I give up.

Thankfully, there are a few special items I can wave in front of TJ, that arrests him to a screeching halt: books, TV and puzzles.

Books are usually consumed throughout the day, for the times I can’t play another round of crashing cars or making construction truck noises.

And because TV viewing is limited to one showing a day, it is saved for the late afternoons, when I’m prepping up a frenzy to put dinner on the table.

Ah, and then there are… puzzles!

There is something magical about dumping colorful pieces of wavy, irregularly shaped parts on the floor, moving them all around until …

Click!

The puzzle pieces lock in. An innie meets an outie.

Two jigsaw parts fit together and a little bit of mystery transforms into a recognizable fragment of the picture.

Watching my son hover over the pieces in quiet concentration, taking turns trying out different pieces, I can’t help but see myself in the same position as a child of faith.

Heavenly Daddy, this puzzle is too hard. I can’t figure out what piece goes where.

Puzzles take time, Bonnie. Be patient.

Oh, good! I think I’ve got it. Is this what you want me to do?

Well, maybe. For now, at least. But, the puzzle’s not done yet. You’re just working on the corners. Keep going.

Wait a minute! I thought I saw the piece that had some green and grey in it. Where did it go?

Why don’t you clean up around where you’re sitting. There’s too much clutter around you and it’s distracting.

I give up! It’s no use!

Just like I do when TJ teeters on the edge of giving up and drowning in Woe-Is-Me discouragement, God reaches His hand under dusty hiding places and swoops down next to me.

With a gentle touch to my shoulder, God hands me what I need , “Look here! Is this what you were looking for?”

Gee, thanks, God! Mesmerized, I return to the task at hand.

This puzzle analogy breaks down at some point though, because in God’s plan for us, we don’t get to see the finished picture. We actually don’t have any idea what this puzzle God has for us looks like.

Sometimes the parts of the puzzle we’re working on might seem boring, filling in shades of blue for the sky or brown for the mountains. Still important for a beautiful picture, though, don’t you think?

Other times, it’s exciting when we find a brick to pave a path or a knob to open a door.

But only God knows the whole picture. He is also experienced enough with putting puzzles together to remind us: it’s just no use forcing pieces together that almost, but don’t quite fit.

Ultimately, we have to trust God for all the pieces.

We might think the answers to our problems or the gnawing “why” questions will never be answered.

God may just surprise us by turning a moment in our lives around just enough for us to understand how things work out for good.

But the truth of the matter is that there are difficult parts to our lives we won’t ever understand until we finally get to heaven.

There, when we’re back home, God will finish the picture for us. We will no longer be staring at a puzzle.

We will look into the picture and find that we’ll see something amazingly beautiful.

I think we will see Jesus.

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12

What part of your faith puzzle are you working on currently?

How has God handed you a missing piece?

Care to share how God turned a moment around in a way that helped you see how things came together for good?

How is God asking you to trust Him in the bigger picture of faith?

To read more from Bonnie Gray, visit her at Faith Barista and follow her on the twitter at @TheBonnieGray.

Okay – I’m going to fess up here. I’ve been super busy lately, and I was simply going to do a repost for today. So I was looking through some of my old posts and found one of my favorites: The Creative Process: A Step by Step Guide. If you’re new here and haven’t read it, I would highly recommend doing so. It’s me at my raging ADD best.

Now, where was I? Oh, yes! So I search my blog and find the post. Now, don’t get me wrong, I crack myself up. But what cracks me up even more is the fact that my friends who comment on this blog don’t feel burdened with the weight of staying on topic. It’s pretty much a free for all.

For those of you who don’t check the original post, here’s a brief summary:

My laundry needed to be done, I had some mismatched socks, I made some sock art and posted the process here. The end.

I also briefly mentioned that I hate the book, “The Giving Tree” here:

“You notice a metal sign that you bought at Ross on the clearance aisle a couple of months ago. It says “Children are the anchors that hold a mother’s heart.” Which you hate, because it reminds you of that children’s book “The Giving Tree”, which makes you want to leg drop that selfish little kid/man in that book. But, it was 2 bucks, and there’s no law saying you have to keep that dumb saying on there once you own it free and clear, now is there?”

There were a total of 37 comments related to this post. The comments (as often is the case) were WAY funnier and/or insightful than the original post. If you get some time, you really should go back and read them. But here’s the ones related to that wretched book.

Without further adieu, I give you, The Peanut Gallery:

January 2, 2009 5:32 PM
vanityofvanities said…
Kathy, you are hilarious! I love your sign.

WARNING: I am going off on a tangent and it will be story-length.

I hate The Giving Tree, too. You see, I was sitting in “the wives’ section” at a church softball game talking to one of my dearest friends, Erin. She is forever talking about little kids because she is a kindergarten teacher. That day was no different. We were discussing our favorite books as a child. (Incidentally, mine was Pokey the Little Puppy, but I digress.)

Hers was The Giving Tree. To her utter shock and dismay, I had never heard of the story. She began retelling the story and started crying as she spoke of the beautiful generosity the book teaches. (Oh yes, I was laughing at her the whole time.) She vowed to bring the book to the next game so I could appreciate the beauty and cry with her.

She read it to me (in true kindergarten teacher fashion). It did not make me cry. It made me furious. I then gave this impassioned speech about how the book teaches children two very awful things: 1. To take and take and take to the point that you actually kill (spiritually, emotionally, and physically) your victim, and 2. To enter into lopsided relationships whereby you completely lose your identity in that other person and only feel fulfillment as that person uses and abuses you.

It should either be called The Selfish Child or The Enabling Tree.

katdish said…
Angela – You’re such a bad*ss. I’m glad you’re my friend. I had the exact same reaction to that book. My daughter read it to me and I was like – “Well, I hope you don’t think it’s okay to treat people like that!” That tree needs some serious therapy!

January 2, 2009 9:32 PM
helen said…
I taught primary grades in a Catholic School for twelve years. Let me tell you something about The Giving Tree……I never read it to my students even once. It was read to me when I was a child by my teachers. Didn’t like the boy at all. Felt physical pain when the tree was being cut. Felt mental anguish that even as an old man, all he did was sit on the stump. No big revelation of what his selfishness cost Tree. If the tree represents God, and the boy/0ld man us, shouldn’t there at least be some sort of epiphany boy/Old man/we go through in order for the story to have a point. When other teachers would tell me how much they like the book, I would reply. “That’s nice……Have you ever read Bunnicula? Now that was a good story..” Think about it. At least Bunnicula had a point.

No, I am not just kissing up to Katdish because she is going to be the next SCL guest blogger or anything. Although if I were, I would be scoring higher on the SCL commentor score sheet. Dang. I’m not kissing up. I never liked that book. It made me cry, but not in a good way.

wv. debuti-when your first guest post on SCL is a short one, it is a debuti, rather than a debut

January 3, 2009 9:04 AM
Jeff said…
These comments are hilarious! One of the things that I love about your blog is that people can find so many awesome tangents in a post to comment on- you know I’m a tangent person.

I give a hearty “right on!” to the anti Giving Tree-ers out there; as a child, I was always thought the tree was shafted and the kid was an idiot. And I agree with Helen- this is nothing like what God has done for us- Christ’s sacrifice does NOT give us license to sit around on our butts.

w.v.- cramsto: How the car gets packed on the way home from camping.

January 3, 2009 11:23 AM
Mare said…
I had an incredible ethics class my junior year of college. We spent a good three hours one day ripping apart the giving tree. I think in the process we ripped apart a few of the students entire world perspective. That book…its not pretty. Don’t feel too bad for the tree though, she’s just as guilty. Very passive…possibly codependent

January 4, 2009 10:35 PM
Helen said…
Twitter? Where is it on your blog? Why haven’t you twittered today? Twitter.

(Did you notice that last comment? Ironic, no?)

To read more from Billy Coffey, visit him at What I Learned Today and follow him on the twitter at @billycoffey.

“I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do.” John 17:4

Surrender is not the surrender of the external life, but of the will; when that is done, all is done. There are very few crises in life; the great crisis is the surrender of the will. God never crushes a man’s will into surrender, He never beseeches him, He waits until the man yields up his will to Him. That battle never needs to be re-fought.

Surrender for Deliverance. “Come unto Me and I will give you rest.” It is after we have begun to experience what salvation means that we surrender our wills to Jesus for rest. Whatever is perplexing heart or mind is a call to the will – “Come unto Me.” It is a voluntary coming.

Surrender for Devotion. “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself.” The surrender here is of my self to Jesus, my self with His rest at the heart of it. “If you would be My disciple, give up your right to yourself to Me.” Then the remainder of the life is nothing but the manifestation of this surrender. When once the surrender has taken place we never need “suppose” anything. We do not need to care what our circumstances are, Jesus is amply sufficient.

Surrender for Death. John 21:18-19. “. . . another shall gird thee.” Have you learned what it means to be bound for death? Beware of a surrender which you make to God in an ecstasy; you are apt to take it back again. It is a question of being united with Jesus in His death until nothing ever appeals to you that did not appeal to Him.

After surrender – what? The whole of the life after surrender is an aspiration for unbroken communion with God.

(From “My Utmost for His Highest” daily devotions by Oswald Chambers)

Believe it not, I actually figured out how to add a column to my blog without destroying everything else! I’m feeling pretty techno-geeky at the moment.

This will be a brief post. But because I realize that many of you come here seeking wisdom and discernment when raising children (snort), I wanted to post this brief advisory.

I am a firm believer that you should allow you kids to fail. If you bring little Johnny his homework every time he forgets it, he will learn that he never has to be responsible and/or accountable for anyone because someone will always be there to bail him out. Which sometimes can mean literally bailing him out of jail.

Having said that, I do think it is important to occasionally check your children’s homework to ensure that they are grasping the concepts being taught in school and that they are not rushing through their work before I-Carly comes on. (I’m speaking in generalities here, of course.) If you review their homework, say, once or twice a week, you will not find a spelling paper three weeks after the fact that has the following spelling errors:

I really must end this post, I hear my daughter calling me. She probably needs help getting her sh*t off…

(Click on image to enlarge)

Monday, September 11, 2001

My day began as most did back then. Awakened by the soft cries from the baby monitor, I dragged myself out of bed and made my way upstairs to tend to my baby girl, just over a month old. With a full tummy and a clean diaper, she fell asleep in my arms and I enjoyed the few precious moments of quiet before my four year old boy came bounding down the stairs.

My husband was enroute to the airport. He had reservations for a flight to California. A flight that would not take off that morning.

By 7:00 a.m. CST, my son had eaten his breakfast and was watching Franklin the Turtle on Nick Jr.

A few minutes before 8:00 AM, the phone rang. I correctly assumed that it was my husband calling to check in.

“Good morning,” I said.

“Are you watching TV?”

“Cameron’s watching Nick Jr. Franklin’s on and…”

“Turn on the news.”

“What’s going on?”

“Turn on the news!”

“Okay, but…”

I watched in stunned silence as smoke poured out of the north tower of the World Trade Center.

Moments later, still on the phone with my husband, my mind tried to compute what my eyes were seeing on the television screen.

I thought to myself, “Are they showing a re-run from a different angle? No, that’s not the case because the building beside it is already burning.”

What I and millions of others were witnessing live on television was United Airlines Flight #175 crashing into the south tower of the World Trade Center.

“What does this mean? What does this mean?!?

“It means we’ve been attacked. It means we’re going to war.”

• 8:46 a.m. EST American Airlines Flight #11 strikes the North Tower of the World Trade Center
• 9:03 a.m. EST United Airlines Flight #175 strikes the South Tower of the World Trade Center
• 9:37 a.m. EST American Airlines Flight #77 strikes the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.
• 10:03 a.m. EST United Airlines Flight #93 crashes in a field near Shanksville, PA.

Where were you the day the world changed forever?