My Rebellion

Growing up, my parents would tell you I was stubborn, strong-willed and difficult. I was actually a straight "A" student, but I would find just about any way I could to annoy the teachers (for which I am now terribly sorry), parents and just about any authority figure. As far as school, I would argue/negotiate about getting that last point to get a perfect score on a test instead of 98%, purposely arrive to class just seconds after the tardy belly rang - stupid stuff really.



Everyone just assumed I was bored. That could be true I guess, but as an adult I still seem to have a need to not follow the ("unspoken") rules. For some reason, I feel the need to run to the "nice" grocery store in town in my toner stained college sweatshirt with shorts and sandals (in overcoat weather), not shave my legs before my "yearly" exam, not put on make-up for my driver's licence photo and in fact, purposely wear that same college sweatshirt that I had worn for my prior driver's licence photo and hang out with the men around the fish cleaning table outside vs inside with the women cooking dinner or whatever else they do in there. I could go on, but I fear I have already revealed too much.



I think it is these very characteristics that make me who I am and keep me from loosing my hair and my mind while I run a business and attempt to raise 4 kids (okay, so I have a little help from my husband). Friends, but especially family, tease me about my daughter turning out the same way I did and giving me a "run for my money." I can only hope she and I are that lucky.

Man, Woman or the Missing Wheel

Just as I was about to leave to volunteer on the playground at my kids' school, I remembered that I had forgotten to put the stroller in the back of the van for the baby. Already bordering on being late, I quickly ran into the garage and "threw" the double stroller in to the back of the van.
Once we arrived at the school and I was setting up the stroller, I noticed one of the front double swivel wheels was missing. Right at that moment, before I had even fully comprehended what was in front of me, one of the other volunteers (who happens to be a man) approached me. He saw me looking in the direction of the missing wheel and once he realized what I was looking at, he stated something similar to, "wow, look at that - it's standing on it's own with only 3 wheels." He then gave it a push and mentioned that unless a child was going to sit in the front seat (which I wasn't planning on as my baby sits in the rear reclining seat) it didn't seem to affect the stroller at all. He walked away to head over to the playground.

As I was thinking to myself that, yeah, I guess it will still work. I most definitely didn't have time to do anything about it. It was ridiculous looking and I assumed people would think I'm a little nuts, but it's certainly better than no stroller and therefore leaving the infant in the carseat/carrier (which she hates when not in motion) or carrying her around myself. Just then, an acquaintance of mine walked past as she was leaving the school and started laughing. I guess she agreed with me. She then asked me how it happened, what was I going to do about it, maybe I wasn't going to be able to "work" the playground that day and other things of that nature. Well, that as a fine how do you do - was she trying to break my volunteer spirit?

As I mentioned, I didn't have much of a choice, so I put the baby in the rear seat and went on went about my way. As I avoiding flying footballs, swinging jump ropes and the occasional "the boys are chasing me" squeal from a 3rd grader, I was in deep thought about my missing wheel (okay, not really, but it did cross my mind whenever a child would let me know my wheel had fallen off).

As in life, business and relationships, things happen and there's not much you can do about it. I think there is that phrase about how life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react and/or deal with it. So in this example, are you the man, woman or are you still looking for that missing wheel?

Any Other Minnesotans Out There?

Jokes or not, all but 1 of these statements was true for me (a lifelong Minnesotan). Enjoy ...

Here's what Jeff Foxworthy (American comedian) has to say about Minnesota and Minnesotans:

If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September through May, you live in Minnesota.

If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't even work there, you live in Minnesota.

If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you live in Minnesota.

If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you live in Minnesota.

If "Vacation" means going anywhere south of International Falls for the weekend, you live in Minnesota.

If you measure distance in hours, you live in Minnesota.

If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once,you live in Minnesota.

If you have switched from "heat" to "air conditioning" and backagain in the same day, you live in Minnesota.

If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a ragingblizzard without flinching, you live in Minnesota.

If you install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both unlocked, you live in Minnesota.

If you carry jumper cables in your car and your wife knows howto use them, you live in Minnesota.

If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, you live in Minnesota.

If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow, you live in Minnesota.

If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winterand road construction, you live in Minnesota.

If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you live in Minnesota.

If you find 10 degrees Fahrenheit "a little chilly", you live in Minnesota.

If you actually understand these jokes, and forward them to all your Minnesota friends, you live in Minnesota.