Just a Quick Note

I just finished watching the movie Julie and Julia. This movie dropped a comment or two about how people may have a negative opinion about us bloggers. I write because I can thoroughly express myself, and I hope people in my life are getting to know a different side of me because that is and has always been my goal. So if you are a bleader (blog reader..lol), please don't think we are narcissists! :) Writing is a joyful experience that truly captivates the moment one is living.

Kudos to Julie who worked her way through all of those recipes! Instead of cooking twice a week, I think I'm going to cook three times a week. (Yes, I'm laughing at myself right now)!

Oldies but Goodies

Everyone knows how much I adore the author Emily Giffin. Once I become infatuated with something, I dive into material to find out as many facts as I can. I learned Emily will sometimes listen to a song on repeat while she writes. (I only listen to music in the car, but it must be quiet while I write). But today I decided to put a little spin on my writing and do it the Emily Giffin way! I'm listening to a song on repeat called Reflecting Light by Sam Phillips. This song is not popular, nor would it blend into what I usually listen to, but sometimes I just fall in love with songs because the rhythm makes me think, not because the lyrics are relatable.

It is a song from my absolute favorite scene in Gilmore Girls when Luke asks Lorelai to dance. (Last time I will reference the show, I swear)! I'm a sucker for romance and had to watch this enticing moment a few times because I’m in awe of the innocent romance that unravels during the scene. Lorelai acts quirky, while Luke stares into her eyes. It is within moments that you see this amazing transformation that they have finally realized their feelings for each other. The song Reflecting Light is playing in the background and it sounds beautiful and makes me think of how times have changed.

Times change and simple things such as music change. Lyrics are not the way they used to be. My parents listened to all of the songs that we now categorize as "oldies but goodies". Some current songs involve cursing and even some movies and television shows don't promote innocence. I see how my students are growing up so fast and know things that I didn't know until a later age. Technology has completely taken over and this generation is absolutely obsessed with being on computers and talking/texting on their cell phones constantly. Sadly, the joy of reading and writing is ancient to most young adults.

Romance. How would you define it? What are you visualizing? Are you thinking about hanging out at a diner, drinking a milkshake, and listening to a jukebox play music? Probably not! That was then, what is now? Whatever image it may be for you, don’t ever let romance in your life vanish because you are stuck in your daily, busy routine. As an example, my husband and I will occasionally leave small notes for each other on the bathroom mirror when our morning schedules vary, telling each other to have a good day. Tom and I know that sweet nothings make a dull day brighter.

As a teacher, I try to open new doors for my students. As a wife, I will continue creating special moments. For myself, I read old literature, listen to a large variety of music, and watch classics. I know times will continue to change in a rapid, continuous motion….what do you do to appreciate the past and not always live in the present? Today is a day as good as any to make a change! Some advice….be romantic at any age, teach your children to listen to different decades of music, to see older movies, etc. Expose them and yourself to different eras!

A quick thank you to my mother for incorporating her generation into my own. I listened to oldies in the car with her, I watched black and white movies with her, and she gave me a gift that I still love-my very own jukebox.

Isn't it amazing how one song can make you think so much?!!

The scene from Gilmore Girls if your interested:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dhMIzc1SyA

More blogs coming soon!!

With Love, Heather

Above Average

I'm addicted to Gilmore Girls! There I said it. (I'm a bit embarrassed...I won't lie)!

Yes, I know this show was on years ago and yes I also know the characters are known to talk really fast, but suddenly this show grabbed my attention and made me think a lot about my education.

I have this horrible routine of coming home from work, snacking, and watching another episode of GG. This has been my way of winding down after a day with my students and waiting for my husband to get home from work. I watched the entire series last year and once I started to watch the series AGAIN from the start, I finally had to ask myself, "Do I have a problem?"

Why do I love Gilmore Girls? I idolize the determination of Rory Gilmore at such a young age. This fictional character is one that I would have wanted to be in high school. She is goal oriented, says what is on her mind, and is not concerned with most issues common among that age. In other words, her character is not a reflection of the typical teenager/young adult that most of us are familiar with. Rory cares about her education, reads an abundant amount of books (some I had to purchase) and attended Yale. YALE...I wish! I have a little bit of Rory's characteristics in me now, but this show really made me think about a regret I have and that is not putting forth 100% of effort into my high school education.

I should have challenged myself more. I should have aimed for all honors courses in high school. I just had one AP course and that was English. I don't know what happened over the years. In middle school, I wanted and received straight A's and then come high school I just stopped trying and became an average student at best. Maybe it was the new friendships I formed, useless crushes I wasted time on, and after school activities that steered me away from my studies??? I'm not sure, but I wish I would have been more focused while balancing it all and attended a prestigious university. I'm not saying Yale, but somewhere reputable.

Back to the show, Lorelai (Rory's mother) is young at heart, full of energy (like mine), but what I most admire is the friendship she has with her daughter. They always tell each other everything no matter what the conversation is based on. If I ever have a girl, I would love to have this type of relationship with her. Lorelai states it best, "I'm her best friend first and her mother second."

So I've realized from watching the show, I can't correct the past, but I can put 100% into everything I do from now on. Teaching, reading, writing, just to name a few. I'm going to stop watching the show and take with me the fact that anything you wish to accomplish can be fulfilled at any age.

Regrets are for the past, don't have any waiting for you in the future.

What type of regrets do you have? Is it too late for a change?

PS: Some fan I am, check out this site! http://gilmoregirlsfanatic.com/rorys-book-club/

Frankie

WARNING: FRANKIE MIGHT LICK YOU TO DEATH!

There is one thing I despise and it is when people are so quick to judge. Yes we are all guilty of this to some degree....not aware of the facts, but sure ready to pretend we know it all when we give feedback to others. The lovely thing about life is we can all learn from our mistakes and change our ways.

My husband and I recently adopted a Pit Bull Terrier. WE RESCUED A DOG and one would think that everyone would have the same ecstatic reaction upon hearing the news. We all know we live in a world where there are numerous dogs without homes that risk the chance of being euthanized, right?!

To my dismay, several overlooked this fact and did not show much excitement for us initially. The common reaction was, "A Pit Bull, why a Pit Bull?" Many people are quick to judge without thoroughly knowing much about the subject. They base their opinions on small excerpts heard on television. Unfortunately, I started to believe the criticism and began to doubt my decision. But then I thought before I become one of those that stereotype, I better do a little bit of research first!

The media! How reliable is that source? Even the media can stretch the truth. Just because we see something on the news we think everything is true that they are telling us right? Newsflash! They are able to “edit” information and sometimes give us false information and I found the perfect story that proves it.

There is an article of a news station in Philadelphia that reported two Pits attacking a person. The dogs looked more like a Boxer mix than Pit according to the article. The news station was called and asked if they were purebred Pit Bulls, maybe mutts, etc. Their reply was they were not certain and to call the police station for that information. The article states they asked the media how can they report something they are not 100% sure of? The media admitted to not knowing the exact breed of the dog, but yet they kept calling them Pit Bulls in their reports!! What I found the most interesting is in a lot of cases when the media is reporting about a Pit Bull attacking, it is a mixed breed of some sort, or another bull breed all together. Why do they lie? Because the name Pit Bull will draw out the most attention from the public according to the article. It is disheartening to know that these dogs will never have a good reputation because of some false accusations.

You may be thinking that they are not perfect and this is true. But please keep an open mind. There are situations that occur with other breeds as well and all should know that dogs are a reflection of their owners. It’s the ruthless, awful owners that want their dogs to be aggressive that should be the blame!

Did you know???
Most people falsely believe Pits are ALL aggressive dogs. When actually they are very intelligent, loving, loyal and highly trainable. Here are some more interesting facts from various articles:

1. Pit Bulls are therapy/service dogs. Helen Keller had a Pit Bull as her helper.
2. Petey, was a Pit Bull on the show The Little Rascals. He was one of the most intelligent Hollywood dogs of all times.
3. Pit Bulls are heroes.
http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/articles/petaletter.html

4. Pit Bulls are one of the most people friendly dogs that exist.
5. Another story that I found was about a man walking his Pit Bull in the woods and this dog started to walk off in a completely different direction from his owner. The owner thought this was odd because he trained his dog to listen to his every command. The owner followed him and found his dog licking a face of an autistic boy who had fallen into a deep mud hole and could not get out.

So before you become one who wants to spread the negativity, please do a little bit of research first!