Bridgewater Soccer Mom's view of the world

Some of the news that's fit to... um? A HODGEPODGE of News that's fit for Soccer Moms! When I grew up we had my local paper, which we referred to as The Star Regret but my Mom devoured daily. I haven't lived in that area in 20 years or so, but I still check it online every day. We had 2 TV affiliates based in my hometown... CBS and PBS's affiliates were 60 miles away, everything else was out of New York city. When I'm home I never miss the 11pm news, if only as comedic relief, because it always looks more like a college journalism class than a serious news broadcast. There are technical glitches, errors in information and, of course, enough grammar mistakes to make any English teacher cringe. But it's a local broadcast with reporters who speak my home-town accent and I love the sound they make. You can click on the local NBC affiliate here for a sample. In Bridgewater I often feel disconnected. There is no local TV news just for Somerset County, despite ...

I'm waiting for the phone to ring, it's such a cliche! As in high school, I am anticipating the start of my new world (when the phone rings, that is). Also, as in high school the boys (this time they are plumbers) disappoint me. Today is one big waiting game! The antidote? Yard work. Pulling weeds and cleaning up so the place looks more presentable will take my mind off the silent phones.

I have been talking all day. My head is spinning with all the voices. Lots of talk about Everyday math after last night's BOE meeting. Since I didn't attend, I'll share tidbits of today's other conversations instead. On the phone with S: "Don't take no for an answer. Tell them that they need to look at her grades and her work over a long period of time and not just a certain test. Show her report card. Do what you have to do to get her into the e-program. I will help you!" (with moral support) On a walk with M: "D (her son) was saved by a teacher who recognized in 1st grade that he needed more challenge and turned it into a game so that he didn't come home and say he was being punished for being smart. I wish she were still teaching!" At lunch with T: "If X (a 2nd year teacher) had been mentored properly by the principal, R (her son) would have had a completely different year. Now he has co-teachers - one's brand new, the other has o...

It's a foggy morning. There is a ton of laundry - both clean and dirty - upstairs. I have about 20 phone calls to make (2 lawn services, an insurance company, the rec department, Dr. appt scheduling, etc.). Homeland security misspelled C's name on her passport, so I have to download some form, find 2 pictures and then go to the post office to send them with certified mail.... and that is what I remember in the 3 minutes I have been writing this. Are you thinking about your own list when you read this too? Do we have enough to do? Yes. And if you are a person who knows me well, what I haven't included is the pink elephant in the room - my kitchen, the perpetual disaster area is in rare form with all the papers needing to be sorted: recycling/shredding/filing. Here is a shot of about 1 square foot of my kitchen table which is about 6 feet long. So why would I want to work? I'm already overwhelmed. Because I do! I can't wait for a different set of responsibilities to j...

I am a feminist. I believe that women are equal to men, but not the same as men. Although I chose to stay home for a while, I believe that women should be strong in the workforce, running governments and corporations and still able to manage a family. I think that our gender has a long way to go in learning the tricks of the trade. Here are 2 examples of my lack of skills in a so-called "man's world" in the last 24 hours: 1) I had a loose offer on a job yesterday. I told them I was very interested. But I never asked what it pays! So now I have more or less committed to begin a new job next week without any idea of the compensation. I thought that if the interviewer doesn't bring up salary, neither should the applicant. So I went home ignorant and unsure. 2) We have a one-foot square hole in our living room ceiling and our shower has been leaking into the living room since May! I have been begging the plumber to come back all summer. Every week I call. Every week he bl...

My head is spinning!!! 1) My daughter and her friend NR have been hiding a secret: frogs! They have been hiding 5 frogs since God Knows When in NR's room and other unknown places!?! None of them have croaked yet in their care. What is the appropriate punishment for harboring a family of amphibians? 2) My interview went well. I don't think they noticed what I was wearing or my preoccupation with the above-mentioned frogs. They even seemed willing to bring me aboard part-time if I want. 3) And what if they don't want me part time??? Hmm.... Back to the "what if's" I was carefully avoiding yesterday. They seemed interested, but I thought I was a shoe-in at my two previous interviews too. The job seemed cool and I will be bummed if I don't get an offer. 4) What is the next course of action? Tune in next time...