Charlene Ross’ Blog on skirt!  asks the question, should we pay our children for good grades?  I believe in praising not only children but anyone who does a good job.  Positive reinforcement; reinforcing positive behavior, by definition can’t be negative.  A few weeks ago when Matthew brought home an excellent report card, I told him I’d take him to the store to get a treat.  I knew his father was already thinking about putting some money in his Easter card for the holiday and for the good grades but I still wanted to give him a prize.  I instructed my son to start thinking about what he wanted so that we didn’t have to wander the isles aimlessly once we got to the store. Continue Reading »

I wasn’t surprised to find a call tag on my doorknob that read, “Sorry, you were out when truck called.”  I wasn’t supposed to be home but I agreed to have a pile of goods at the end of my driveway for the charity truck.  A pile of too small, too big and too boring clothes and shoes had been growing in my garage over the last several months.   At work, several co-workers read the horoscope in the L.A. Times.  The majority are Capricorns, so they read that one and pass it on.  I’d stopped consulting horoscopes but will still listen in when a fellow Tauraen shares what’s up with the “Bull.”  One day, our horoscope talked about removing clutter, getting rid of old things and making room for new.  In this season of renewal, I heard a voice telling me it’s time to clear out.  So I called the charity I normally donate to to tell them that I had a pick up. Continue Reading »

A very interesting thing happened this week on the “Biggest Loser.”  An eliminated contestant had the opportunity to return to the ranch.  There was a weigh-in and the person who lost the most weight at home was able to come back into the competition.  Nicole, who was eliminated early in the game, was the one who lost the most weight.  She lost a whopping 87 pounds, on her OWN!  She was so successful that her weight loss percentage was second to Tara, one of the strongest athletes in the house.  At the weigh-in, the remaining contestants were shaking in their tennis shoes.  As soon as they had the chance to get Nicole’s ear, they all dumped on her.  People frantically filled her in on the drama and tension of the house.  They talked to her about strategies, alliances and broken alliances.  In addition to winning the opportunity to enter the game again, Nicole had immunity for the week unless of course she gained weight.  Everyone vowed to step up their game to compete with someone who didn’t have the luxury of nutritionists, doctors and trainers and was still able to lose almost 90 pounds. Continue Reading »

Real women in L.A. often talk about the fake women in L.A.  We can’t believe men can really be attracted to collagen injected lips, silicone breasts, hair extensions, tattooed make-up or spray on tans.  Listen to the words associated with products that help women look like plastic dolls; make-up, what are they trying to make up for?  Cover up, again what are they trying to cover or conceal, there, another one, concealer.  Foundation, we all know how important a strong foundation is to building anything.  There is plenty of chatter around the subject of women and self esteem.  After all, look how many magazines are on the shelves telling women how to look better to ultimately attract men. Continue Reading »

A co-worker and I started carpooling last year.  (Read more here)  It’s worked out rather well until one day this week he needed to get somewhere after work that was in the opposite direction of my house.  Luckily another co-worker that lives near me was able to give me a lift.  So I had the unexpected pleasure of sitting in the back seat with his two-year old son.  I was told he may serenade me and I was ready to enjoy some “Itsy Bitsy Spider” or “The Wheels on the Bus.”  However, as soon as the iPod was inserted into the player, my little friend was asked by his parents, “Douglas, what song would you like to hear?”  He responded, “Bad to the Bone.”  Wow, ok, I could go for some George Thorogood.  As soon as the song began,  little Douglas started rockin’ out.  As he sang I thought to myself he’s going to “break a thousand hearts” if he keeps this up.  His mother told me about his playlist and when it came time for the next request, I whispered in his ear, “Rock the Boat,” just to irritate his classical/jazz/rock loving dad.  Douglas was not swayed by my request for disco as he asked for “Me and Mrs. Jones.” Interesting song.  It was also one of my two-year old’s favorite songs.  I have a video of Matthew at twenty-two months singing his rendition of that 1972 hit about an extramarital affair.  He sang, “Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Joooooones, MRS. JOOOOOOOOOOOOONES!”  Douglas stuck to the original arrangement and serenaded me. Continue Reading »

My friend, Charlene Ross, has been blogging at skirt!.com since August 2008.  Charlene’s Blog is listed here in the sidebar.  If you haven’t added it to your “must reads,” I suggest you do it now.  She is hysterical, talented and psychic.  Well, I’m not totally sure if she’s psychic, but she KNEW that skirt! was where she’d  first be published.  Her essay, “A Smaller Version of Our Lives,” was published in the December print edition of skirt!.  She has invited me to join her and the other amazing skirt!setters.  You can now catch my blog on skirt!.com (Ventura).

Charlene was kind enough to introduce me in a flattering post to her blog.  I am grateful for our friendship and am honored to join the skirt!setter community.

My son, Matthew loves to work out while watching the “Biggest Loser.”  He does jumping jacks, weight lifting, sit-ups and push-ups in front of the tv.  It’s really inspiring.  One week, he even asked me to run around the house with him for 5 minutes.  He set the kitchen timer on the microwave and didn’t let me stop until it beeped.  He’s asked me to work out with him other times but I usually can find something else to do instead like doing dishes, laundry or looking busy.  I think he’s concerned about the “Thanksgiving to Valentine’s Day” weight I’ve been carrying around.  I noticed once, he took his half eaten cheeseburger, out to the big trash can because he didn’t want me to eat it.  I’m not sure how many mothers out there do the dreaded, “Oh if you’re not going to finish that…”  He obviously didn’t want me adding his leftovers to my meal, but didn’t want to come right out and say it. Continue Reading »