Author Archives: Jenni

Unknown's avatar

You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out!

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If I had my life to live over, I would perhaps have more actual troubles but I’d have fewer imaginary ones.  ~Don Herold          

Worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but it gets you nowhere.  ~Glenn Turner          

Wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that weights you down.  ~Toni Morrison      

I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.  ~Mark Twain           

Per Wikipedia, anxiety is “a future-oriented mood state in which one is ready or prepared to attempt to cope with upcoming negative events.”  

Recently, I’ve been mulling over my increasing anxiety about, well, life.  The anxiety scale ranges from blissfully ignorant (1) to obsessive worrier (10) and I have named the midpoint MWE (my husband’s initials).  It’s appropriate because he seems to have the right combination of worry and “let it be”.  I’m constantly striving to be at the MWE point on this scale, but I’m failing on fairly regular basis.  I hover around 8 or 9 which equates to “Cuckoo”.   

Last Friday morning’s Therapy Breakfast meeting provided me with some food for thought on this topic (besides my standing order of french toast and bacon!).  It was basically the nature vs nurture discussion which I always find fascinating.  You know, birth order, environment, DNA, etc.  This led to a discussion of “Why do some people repeat the perceived parenting mistakes of their own parents? ” And “Why do some people break the mold?”  For example, if your mother was critical of everything you did and you hated it, why are you doing it to your own children?  Or Why are you making a conscious effort not to be critical?  

We came to the conclusion that it had to do with the ability to be introspective.  Either you have it or you don’t.  We all know the people in our lives that clearly do not possess this ability – it’s just not within their grasp.     

Now, I’m not trying to brag, but I possess the ability of introspection – I can go on ad nauseum of why I am the way I am (just ask my breakfast buddies!).  I can make my own head spin if I’m not careful!  This skill has been honed over the years as I’ve tried to figure out  why I have the freakish need to control everything, why I see the peril in every scenario, why had the pathological need to get straight A’s in school, why I was/am afraid of failure, etc.  I’m especially interested now because my anxiety seems to be getting worse.  Is it because I’m an adult now with three kids, a marriage, a mortgage, a dog,  impending college expenses, and the fact that I see imminent danger peeking around every corner?    
 
Well, my husband also exists in this same realm  – how come the hubby doesn’t feel the same level of anxiety?    
 
Some people in my life think I can just shut this off.  “Why are you worried  about it?  You can’t change anything!”   “Oh, really?  I thought I could control everything. Well, shoot!  You know what?  I was getting really tired of feeling anxious all of the time so I’ll just stop the worrying right this very second!  Thanks for the info!”    
 
Is it wrong to envy people that go through life swimming around in the blissfully ignorant end of the pool?  We all know a few of these people in our lives, don’t we?  I can feel smug because they really don’t know what real life is like, but what does that get me?  They seem really happy and mostly stress-free . . . . .Ugh!  They can really get on my nerves!   
 
Why am I swimming toward the deep end of the pool? Who really knows!? But it’s obviously a combination of multiple things – people are complicated!     
 
 
 

Birth Order – I am the first born and, as I’ve said before, I think I possess every trait listed in any book about birth order.  Compliant Traits – People Pleasers, Crave Approval, Nurturers, Caregivers, Reliable, Concientious, Cooperative, Team Players, “Grin and bear it” mentality / Aggressive Traits –  Natural Leaders, Perfectionists, Driven, Conventional, Always have things under control, Want things their way.      

Genetics – I come from a long line of professional worriers – my mother, my mother’s mother (I think they were all the first-borns, hmmmm).  I could tell you stories to back this up, but they aren’t that exciting.  

Environment – Our house growing up was very chaotic and unpredictable.  This definitely intensified my need to try to control every facet of my surroundings.   

Since I do recognize most of my shortcomings, I’m definitely working toward creating a stable, predictable, “normal” household for our three children.  Of course, with High Anxiety Mommy, it can be a challenge!   As I’m trying to “break the mold”, I’m sure I’m also creating some unintended environmental landmines for my kids to discuss in therapy when they get older.  What are parents for anyway, right?!

Carpe Diem (but wear your seatbelt)!

 

Unknown's avatar

You Wanna Party?

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My 13-yr old daughter has come up with the best one yet!  I’m talkin’ about a reason for a party – it’s the most innovative one I’ve heard in a while.  Really.  It’s called the “Taco Ring” party and it’s happening TONIGHT!

Descending upon us around 6pm will be 4 to 6 13-year-old silly, giggly, young ladies just dying to taste this luscious, yummy, zippy, melty food-stuff that we call the Taco Ring. Now, I must back track a bit.  This recipe is not one of my own making, but I have added my own twist to it over the years.  I’ve made this family favorite so often that I don’t refer to the recipe so it’s a little different every time.   

The original recipe comes from The Pampered Chef Busy Mom’s Cookbook (home parties are a topic for another blog)- can I tell you what the dedication says?  – “This book is for all the mothers, fathers and caregivers who make careful, loving meal preparation part of their busy lives…”  Oh, brother!  

The original Taco Ring Ingredients:   

1/2 lb of ground beef / 1 pkg of taco seasoning / 1 cup of shredded cheese / 2 containers of crescent rolls / 2 tablespoons of water  

After the meat has been browned, you are to add the cheese, taco packet and water.  Mix this up and put into the crescent rolls and pop into the oven .  

MY souped up version of the Taco Ring (I will highlight changes in blue):    

1 lb of ground beef / 1 pkg of taco seasoning / 2-3 cups of shredded cheese / 3 containers of crescent rolls / as much sour cream as you want (or ranch dressing) / as much salsa as you want      

Step 1:  Brown the meat along with the taco packet (I’m not sure why the original adds it after).  Then, you are to add all of the cheese, as much sour cream as you want, and as much salsa as you want.  Mix all ingredients until it has a nice filling consistency and put into the crescent rolls – the kicker is to arrange the triangles from the crescent roll package in to a circle so you get the “ring” effect.  (see pics). Then pop into a 375 degree oven for about 17 minutes.     

    

Step 2:  Make a circle / Step 3:  Fill Crescent Rolls with Meat Mixture / Step 4:  Flip the Triangles & Seal the Ring

It sounds criminally easy, doesn’t it?  I almost feel guilty about how easy it is for the kudos I receive.  But, they (my kooky family) LOVE it.         

Okay, back to the origin of the Taco Ring Party/Slumber Party.  Maddie recently packed a lunch with leftover Taco Ring and, apparently, her friends at the lunch table went “Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs” over it (“Wow, Maddie, it looks so yummy!”  “Can I taste it?”  “Can you bring me some next time?”, etc).  When Maddie told me about the Much Ado over Taco Ring, I was confused.  What do these girls eat  for dinner that they thought some ground beef & cheese wrapped in a Pillsbury crescent roll was, well,  like eating steak and lobster?  I don’t EVER recall going gaga over my BFF’s lunch box, do you?        

Thus, we are entertaining “THE entire lunch table” tonight with my amazing revamped Taco Ring recipe.  Do you want to know the best part?  Maddie is making the entire dinner this evening!  She hates getting help, especially from the Mahza (pronounces ma-zha: this is funny only if you have seen Austin Powers – Goldmember.  See dialogue below.).    

Goldmember:  Dr. Evil, we still have the ultimate insurance policy. May I present to you, the very sexual, the very toite, Austin Power’s fahza.
Dr. Evil:  His what?
Number 2:  His fahza, Dr. Evil.
Dr. Evil:  His farger? What’s a farger?
Goldmember:  His fahza. You know, the fahza.
Dr. Evil:  You know Goldmember, I don’t speak freaky-deaky Dutch. Okay, perv boy?
Goldmember:  Fahza, his dad, dad is fahza.
Dr. Evil:  Oh, his dad. His *fa-ther*         

Sorry, I digressed. 

Oh, one giggly invitee  just walked in!  OMG!  Now, there are two of them in kitchen cookin’ away (I love spying and listening – you can learn many, sometimes scary, things!).        

                

         

Here’s the final product:        

 

I hope it lives up to expectations!        

Bon Appetit!

Unknown's avatar

Hook Me, Baby, One More Time!

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When I was traveling this weekend to a graduation in West Virginia, I was missing something at every turn. What was it you ask?   It was a freakin’ hook for my purse!  You’re thinking, “Huh?”.  Well, as a feminine representative of human race, I carry a purse like most women.  When entering a stall, I need a gosh darn place to put it!!  The floor is NOT an option! 

On our trek to and from West Virginia, we made A LOT of potty stops (with 3 kids, it happens!), and I have to say I can’t remember any hooks at any of the on-the-road stops.  I’m talking restaurants, rest stops, gas stations – it just didn’t matter.  What the &$*^!?  

According to this ABC news article (I also saw something similar on the Today Show last year), putting a purse on the floor can kill you (okay, not kill you, but make you really sick!):  

Your Purse Could Be Making You Sick / A Microbiologist Found Millions of Germs on Purses / By ELISABETH LEAMY / Aug. 8, 2006

Quote from the article: “It matters because you can move germs that can cause illness from one location to another,” he said. “You can later touch that purse and get them on your hands, or you could put your purse near a food preparation area and transfer germs to areas you may touch during food preparation.”   

Men must design ALL public bathrooms – there can be no other explanation.  It’s a standing joke that there aren’t enough stalls, but COME ON!  In the few stalls that have been made available to us, you can’t put a damn hook in the stall somewhere?  Does it require too much forethought?! Are they too expensive?  Is there a shortage?  

Okay, so at each stop, I consider different methods of keeping my purse off of the floor: 

Should I balance it precariously on my knees?  Hmmm. .  .maybe not.

Should I set it up on top of the tank, if there is one?  It’s probably dirty, but can’t be dirtier than the floor, right?

Should I try to hang it on the corner of the door?  I’ve tried this before and sometimes this doesn’t take and I do worry if someone will snatch my purse.

Hang it around my neck?  Hmmm. . . . that seems potentially dangerous.

Should I balance it on my head?  I’d have to practice this method first before attempting it in a stall.

After mulling over my options, I just get mad that I even have to spend so much time thinking about it!  For goodness sake, I just need to make a pit stop! 

Architects, Engineers, Construction Workers, lend me your ears! 
Hooks, please!?
Unknown's avatar

Do These Jeans Make My Butt Look Fat?

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Aah, awkward moments, what are you gonna do?

What do you say to someone who sees you fairly regularly (about 2-3 times a month) and says, “Wow, have you been losing weight?”

Whoa!  What? Uh, well, now I’m stunned since I haven’t really lost any weight – maybe 4 lbs in the last 3 months (I can lose/gain that in a day from water weight!).  So I say, “Uh, yes. It must be the warm weather and all of the running around I’m doing.”  She’s like, “That’s what I thought! You look great!”

We said our goodbyes and I walked away puzzling until my puzzler was sore (borrowing from the Grinch).  Usually, you don’t say something like that unless someone has visibly lost maybe 10-15 lbs.   What did I look like before?  Or What did she think I looked like before?  Did I look 15 lbs heavier last week?  I asked my daughter (who witnessed the awkward moment), “What would make her say that?  Is it what I’ve been wearing?”.  She was as stumped as I was.

About two months ago, one of my co-workers said to me, “Those pants make you look really thin.  You look great.”  What does that mean?  That I’m not really thin, but that I just look thin?  The pants created an optical illusion? Maybe I should wear those pants all of the time! 

I have literally been the same weight for the last 6 years or so. Hmmm..

At this point in my life, I’m pretty comfortable with who and what I am body-wise.  Would I like rock-hard abs?  Hell yeah!  But, I can’t devote 8 hrs a day to doing sit-ups (or core-building).  I’m lucky if I get in 30 minutes!

But, I have to say that the comment yesterday did throw me off a bit.  I think I’m in pretty good shape for an old broad, but…..Should I start working out more?  Watch my diet even more closely?  Another, Hmmmmm……

Here are some other questions/statements that have been said to me over the years (some more current than others – apparently some have scarred me for life since I still remember them!):

As I’m walking into the lunchroom to get my lunch from the microwave another employee walks in simultaneously and says, “What’s that smell?!”  [Do I admit that it’s my lunch?]  “It’s my lunch – lamb and lentil stew.”  She smiles awkwardly, makes a funny, and slinks out o f the break room.

“That haircut makes your face look thin!” – What did my face look like before?

“I wouldn’t buy that house, but I can see why you guys like it.” – Uh, okay!

“I can’t wear that color, but it looks good on you.”  – I guess that can be true, but why do you have to preface it with the “I can’t wear it”?

“White bread? Oh, my kids have always eaten wheat bread.”  – I guess we suck as parents!

“Do you want to have your eyebrows done?” – Hey, I just came in for a pedicure!  If I wanted my eyebrows ripped out by the roots, I would have said so!  They ask me this every time I go in for a pedicure – they must look pretty unruly, but I think they have character!

I’m sure everyone has heard similar comments – no one is immune.  Also, I’m not perfect – I have uttered careless comments over the years.  And, usually after I’ve uttered said comment, I think to myself, “Ooops, that’s not how it sounded in my head!” 

After yesterday’s awkward moment, I’m adding “think before you speak” as a personal growth agenda item.

By the way, did you have a nose-job because you look great!

Unknown's avatar

Goodbye to the Band!

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Experian Says Goodbye to Freecreditreport.com Band (www.brandweek.com / May 19, 2010 / – Elena Malykhina)

I saw an announcement on the TV regarding the search for a new FreeCreditReport.com band.  Oh, my oldest daughter is going to be sad!  She’d rather watch the commercials than TV shows.  We keep telling her that she needs to seriously consider marketing/advertising for a college major – she has that quirky kind of mind.  She definitely gets that quirky sense of humor from her dad.

She loves the E*Trade babies, Old Navy Modelqins, Old Spice ‘I’m a Man’, . . . . you get the idea.

Back to the FCR Band, you have to admit that the songs are catchy. This is Rachel’s  favorite Free Credit Report Band commercial:

So Long, Fellas!
Unknown's avatar

Lemons into Lemonade? Whatever!

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Yesterday (Monday, of course) was literally one of those days. 

There were no subtle hints – it just started out like any other day:

Showered & dressed for work

Folded a load of laundry

Started a new load of laundry

Got the kids on the bus

Made coffee (gotta have it!)

Ate breakfast

Made my lunch

Unloaded and loaded the dishwasher

Dropped Jasper at the groomers (this doesn’t happen every morning!)

Drove to work in the lemon . . . .

I parked my car in the usual spot in the parking lot, walked in the office, said “Good Morning”  to some co-workers, put my lunch in the refrigerator, and headed toward my cube (this is pretty much the morning routine) – UGH! That is when I discovered my wardrobe malfunction!  The girls were on display – the button on my blouse had failed me!  “How long had I been sporting this look?  Did the ladies at the groomers get a peek? If so, why didn’t they say anything?! Women are supposed to stick together! What about my co-workers?”  Oh, great! 

It did remind me why I don’t buy a lot of button-down blouses (maybe never again) – they’re usually made for flat-chested, pencil-thin women.  That would not be me – I’ve got boobs, damn it!  If I pick a blouse that can contain the girls, it’s too big everywhere else and visa versa!  I want to point out  that I’m NOT in the ranks with Pamela Anderson or Dolly Parton – I’m not!  I’m just a normal-sized woman – that’s my irritation!!  The only store where I’ve had a modicum of success is Ann Taylor Loft – they seem to understand (or sympathize) with women with curves.  However, this ATL button-down blouse let me down today.  😦

 I survived my day at work without any further malfunctions (wardrobe or otherwise) and now it’s time to go! I get into the lemon  –  the air conditioner starts acting wonky.  It was running, but the air wasn’t getting cold (it was hotter than Hades yesterday, too – 90 degrees).  “Really??!! Now, what?!  I just spent $800 on you 3 weeks ago!  What is wrong with you?” 

Aaahhhhh! I’m so sick of this car!  After getting a grip, I call the garage (they know who I am by the sound of my voice) and set up a lemon appointment for Wednesday.  The nice person on the other end of the phone said that it sounds like the freon needs charged – that better be it!  If they call me tomorrow and tell me that  it’s going to be another $800, you will see me on the evening news.  I will the be crazed, wild-eyed woman going postal on my van and turning it into freakin’ lemonade! 

Bottoms up!

BTW, the rest of the day was frantic, but incident-free:  picked up Jasper from the groomers (in hot, oven-like car), cooked and ate dinner with the kids, and then ran off to painting class for some Jenni-time.

Wednesday better be “Good News” day!

Unknown's avatar

An Ode to Weekly Therapy

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“An old friend will help you move. A good friend will help you move a dead body.” — Jim Hayes

“Everyone hears what you say. Friends listen to what you say. Best friends listen to what you don’t say.” — Source Unknown

“A friend is someone who will bail you out of jail. A best friend is the one sitting next to you saying “boy was that fun.” — The Maugles

“A friend is someone with whom you dare to be yourself.”  — Frank Crane

 

My friends and I have started a Friday morning breakfast club of sorts – “the Real Housewives of Suburbia, Midwest”.  However, these four housewives are actually real friends and support each other.  It would not make for good television – it would be similar to this “TV” Show as described in The Onion: New David Simon Project To Investigate Happy, Upper-Middle-Class Streets Of Wilmette, IL May 15, 2010 | ISSUE 46•19 (gotta love The Onion!).

Two of the breakfast buddies have been friends of mine since my freshman year in college (27 years!) and the third breakfast buddy is a neighbor that we’ve known since about 2000-ish.  Our usual means of getting together was going out for an evening of eating, drinking and marathon-talking.  But, since all of us have 3 (or more) offspring with growing time-sucking demands, the chances that all of us are free on the same evening has become as likely as seeing a pig fly.  So, now it’s french toast with a side of bacon and coffee on Fridays (my usual). YUM!

I refer to this weekly get-together as my Therapy Group – I really need it!  I recommend it for everyone – it’s better than prozac (no side effects) and cheaper than traditional group therapy.

These aren’t just ANY friends, these are the people who:

Know all of your junk and still want to hang out with you

Call you to the carpet when you are being a complete b!tch, nimrod, wackadoo, etc.

Humor you and listen to your rants (even when they are non-sensical)

Support you through all of life’s trials and tribulations (major and minor)

Force you to expand your horizons

Push you to consider alternate views

Do the Dr. Phil and tell you to “Get Real”

Make you laugh to the point of tears

The group is not only for me, but for my husband as well!  Noooo,  he’s not invited to the actual therapy sessions, but he receives residual benefits from the group.  Since some of you don’t really know me, ummm, I’ll admit it and just say it, “I can be an handful”. 

Harry Burns (or Mike):   “There are two kinds of women: high maintenance and low maintenance.”
Sally Albright (or Jenni):   “Which one am I? “
Harry Burns (or Mike):  “You’re the worst kind. You’re high maintenance but you think you’re low maintenance.”

When Harry Met Sally is my favorite movie of ALL time.  One of the multitude of reasons is that I can relate (a lot) to Sally in this movie (the way she orders food, puts letters  in the mailbox, etc.) – she is a kindred spirit.

This Group saves lives (not like an EMT, but you know what I mean), keeps me sane and keeps my hubby sane – it’s all good!

Here’s to Friday Morning Therapy!

 

 

 

Unknown's avatar

Who? Me? I was the crazy one?!

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Okay, I think I will probably be the “crazy” person in someone else’s post tonight.  I will admit it – I had an adult tantrum today.  Ugh!  I really hate it when I do that!

My day started out like any other day except maybe even better – I got to have breakfast with my husband (we hardly ever get to have meals alone).  We were on our way to our daughter’s Fashion Show at the high school (the fashion show is where all of the girls from the sewing classes model their class projects – it’s a very cool event).

Okay, we were told that the fashion show started at 9:30am, so we get there at 9:00am – we wanted front row seats!  Well, the show didn’t start until 10:00am!  (Have you done the math?  We were there for an HOUR before the show started).  My husband was sleeping sitting upright (which is an art, by the way) and parents were furiously checking voicemail and emails because some do have jobs!  However, it eventually got underway and it was fun.

Not a bad day so far, right?

Today I’m working from home, but now with 1/2 a day gone.  As I’ve mentioned before, my job has manageable stress attached to it.  But, not today.  My boss has two key presentations – 1 tomorrow at 10am (just found out about this one Wednesday afternoon) and 1 on Monday at 9:00am – he needs both done today in order to review prior to the meetings.  But, I thought that I could pull it together fairly quickly……not so.  Tick, Tock! Eventually, one down, one to go and time is running out.  I have about an hour before my daughter gets home.  I know I can do it!

She had an appointment at 4pm and we have to leave the minute she gets home (usually 3:35pm).  She gets home and I’m about two minutes from being able to hit the “send” button!  I’m done, hit the send button, grab my purse, yell at my daughter to get in the car AND we’re off!  We have 15 minutes to drive a 25-minute drive – I’m driving like a mad soccer mom hyped up on red bull (or adrenaline – I hate to be late!). 

Halfway there, I realize that I left my phone on the charging stand!  @%#^!  @&%*$!  (Oops, my daughter is in the car!)  As I’ve mentioned before, I have a real phone obsession (what if my kids or my hubby tries to call me?).  Okay, we pull in the parking lot (4:05pm), rush into the waiting room breathless only to be told that our appointment is at 5:00pm, NOT 4:00pm!  Huh?  What? 

This is when I had my tantrum – I wasn’t too loud, but I just stood there, let out a few huffy breaths and stared at the receptionist like I didn’t really hear her correctly.  She repeated that my appointment was at 5pm.   “Do I want to come back in an hour or reschedule?”  Dazed and confused – what should I do?  Well, I should call home to let the other kids know that we were going to be late, but oh, wait, I don’t have my phone!  After I slowly snap out of it, I borrow their phone, call home  and no one answers (I’ve told the kids not to answer the phone unless they recognize the number – when did  they start listening to me?).   We have nothing better to do, but drive home and get my phone, so that’s what we do (oh, and I spill my drink on me along the way) – 25 minutes home, 25 minutes back (Bright Side:  1.25 hours of uninterrupted talk-time with my 13-yr old).

 

By the time we get back to the appointment, Maddie and I are laughing.  I’m ready to just sit in the waiting room, do some deep breathing, check a few emails, check my weekend calendar and then read my book (Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel).  I read a chapter and then turned to my iPhone – it had been a while since I’d powered-down my phone (similar to a computer). (nooo, don’t do it!) What was I thinking?!  It locked up on me like an old computer (my phone is about 2 yrs old)!  I had the “apple of death” screen showing.  UGGGHHH!  Now, I’m having my second tantrum of the day, but it’s inner pandemonium.  You can’t make two scenes in the same place on the same day an hour apart, right?  That would be a little over the top.

Now, I can’t focus on my book because my identity (or phone) is imploding in my hands (crying noises).  While waiting for Maddie, I’m pressing the power button (Paddles!!  Clear!) every 3-5 seconds trying to get it to acknowledge me in some manner – it eventually has to respond, right?

Maddie is done, I show her my “apple of  death” screen and she feels my pain (God love her!).  Is it the magic of youth?  She flipped the same button I had been frantically pressing on the entire time and my phone comes alive!

That’s my girl!

Unknown's avatar

How Do You Know When It’s a Slow News Day?

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Well. . . . . . . I think it’s when you read a headline like the one below.  I’ve started a notebook/file of sorts where I write down various ideas for blog topics.  As I was going through this file today, this headline caught my eye again!  How could it not?  I mean, who says “buttocks” any more?  When is the last time you saw it in a headline?

I remember when I read this story aloud to my family on the way home from our Bed Bug Adventure this April, I was in tears from laughing so hard!  I almost couldn’t get through the article (and it’s a short article). The quotes from the students did me in.

I’ve watched a lot of “bloody” shows and read a lot of “bloody” books and I’ve never seen an episode or read a book where a miscreant devolved into a serial “you-name-it” from slapping butts (excuse me, buttocks) while also riding a bike.  I guess it could happen….

Cops alert Ball State campus to buttocks slapper

Click here for link to actual story from WishTV8.

Updated: Friday, 09 Apr 2010, 11:07 AM EDT
Published : Thursday, 08 Apr 2010, 3:01 PM EDT

MUNCIE, Ind. (WISH) – Ball State University Police are investigating two on campus assaults in which case the suspect slapped two women on the buttocks as he rode by on a bicycle Wednesday morning.  According to a public safety notice sent out to students and staff on Wednesday the assaults took place near Worthen Arena and the Student Health Center. The Ball State Daily News reports a third victim declined to file a police report.  “According to Assistant Chief Robert Fey, two women walking in the area reported being slapped on their buttocks by a white male as he rode past them on a bicycle,” the notice read.

24-Hour News 8 obtained a copy of the police reports which show the victims to be an 18-year-old woman and a 33-year-old woman. The 33-year-old woman is believed to be a staff member.  Each report is classified as a “simple assault” that happened between 7:50 and 8 a.m. Wednesday.

Dean of Students, Dr. Kay Bales, said the university is taking this very seriously.  “This is an assault. It’s unwanted touching by another individual. It’s a crime,” she said.  Ball State issued a public safety notice to students and employees after the incidents. Reaction was mixed.

“I thought it was horrible, what happened to these girls,” said student Jenika Garison.

“Somebody got their butt slapped,” said another student, Michael Hole. “It’s kind of funny.”

A Facebook group supporting the bicyclist has sprouted up since the public safety notice went out on Wednesday and has attracted nearly 7,000 fans. An opposing group was created as a protest the formation of the group that supports the suspect, it had 210 fans when this story was last updated.

“It’s not that big a deal,” said student Adam Jermain. “I feel like it’s the Boy Who Cried Wolf and I think no one is going take the broadcast seriously.”  Jermain denied his opinion was because he’s a man and not a woman.  “No, I could be afraid the butt slapper is going to smack me next,” Jermain said.

The university said the assaults should not be looked at as a joke. Authorities are hoping to catch the accused attacker before he smacks again.  “It’s never a waste of time to take seriously reports of assault and to investigate those,” said Dr. Bales.

“If this guy thinks he can get away with hitting someone there then what next,” added Garison.

If you have any information on the assaults, call the Ball State University Police at 765-285-1111.

 

A song & video has already been written and uploaded about this incident – check it out:

Even though I was thoroughly amused by this story, I still have to ask , “Why was that news?!”

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Painting the Town (part of the ‘What If?’ project)

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Are you wondering how I am doing on my “What If?” endeavor?  Me, too!

Ummmm.  Damn!  It’s really  hard to change when you’re in your mid-40s!  Ugghhh! Falling into old patterns is like wearing your favorite old t-shirt – but, the shirt may be faded, tattered, permanently stained and outdated.  Just because something is comfortable, doesn’t make right (see pic to the left)!

I was going to start with baby steps, remember?  Whenever a project or problem would arise in either my personal life or professional life, I was to say to myself, “How can we make that work?” -or- “What can we do to solve this dilemma?” -or- “What can we do differently?”  . . . .  Have I been doing that on a regular basis?  Not exactly.  It has been a struggle to suppress my automatic response of “We can’t do that because it’s too expensive, too complicated; we’re too busy, there’s no time, yada, yada, blah, blah, blah. . . .”  

Hopefully, exercising the right side of my brain will eventually get me thinking in a different way (how long will this take?).

The Painting Project

As I mentioned before, I started taking painting classes in mid-March.  That surprised a lot of people because I’m a die-hard, left-brainer (for left & right brain inventory, click here).  I don’t go anywhere without my lists (and my calculator!).  Never having painted anything but my nails and interior walls, this seemed like the perfect thing to push me outside of the comfy zone.  

After 8 lessons, here are the results:

This is my first oil painting ever!  What do you think?  I think it looks like a 4th grade art project, but my family lies and tells me that it is really good (they want me to continue doing their laundry :)).  See the purplish/gray meandering thing on the left side of the picture?  Is it a river or a path?  Many have commented on the awesome path toward the mountains!  It is supposed to be a wintery river scene.  Oh well. . . . . 

Here is my second painting ever – it’s a still life instead of a landscape.  On the left side is the actual picture of the “still life”  and on the right is my artistic interpretation of the still life.  Before you comment, please note that it’s still a work in progress :).

I thought the still life would be easier, but it is NOT.  You have to worry about shadows and the direction of the “light source”, etc.  Ahhhhhhh!  This class is starting to get on my nerves a little bit because of the flashbacks to Mrs. Rose’s 8th grade art class  – it’s becoming too precise and rule-oriented (“my sun wasn’t artsy enough”, blah ,blah).  I want to do something without right & wrong answers (like street fighting! Okay, maybe not quite that but you get the picture, right?).  I wanted to do something that was less structured like a Jackson Pollock painting.  You know, where you just toss your paints on the canvas like a grown-up finger painting and then get to hang your painting in the Museum of Modern Art?!

It sounds like I’m not enjoying my art class, but I am!  I guess there are rules and guidelines for everything so I just need to chill and learn the basics.  I do look forward to Monday nights – 2.5 hours of me time!  Once I get my station set up, put my iPod earbuds in, it’s all good.

The next big step for me is to start a painting outside the classroom without the safety of having the instructor nearby. . .. . What should I paint?