7 Quick Takes Friday

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My QUICK TAKES for today:

1) Actually, Jennifer's last week's Quick Takes is still on my mind (about offensive material being hung off of the tail gates of trucks)...I find myself thinking that everyday GOOD MANNERS are so lacking in this modern world of ours. I think back to the times when even SPOUSES called each other Mr. and Mrs. ~ then fast forward to today when we are discussing anatomically correct ornaments that hang from trucks.........What has happened? Why has "decency" been given the drop-kick out of the door? I believe that we can restore a sense of etiquette and and good manners by beginning in our own families at home. Steer clear of sarcastic remarks and bickering...if there is name-calling, let it be that you are calling someone's name in a loving and respectful way...bring back the "please" and "thank you" of yesteryear...teach your sons to open doors for ladies or hold a chair out at a table...Perhaps if we raise our standards a bit...the offenders will not feel so free as to taint the world with such garbage.

2) Continuing that "manners" theme, my mother recently told me that it is a new trend to take girls to a "fancy and proper" tea party for birthday parties. People have created a business opportunity by creating these "tea rooms" in their homes and then charging a fee to host the birthday party girl and her guests. I would much rather my girls get invited to party of this sort, rather than the ones I have heard tell of where the "mommies" take the "party girls" for WAXING at a spa...UGH!

3) Wouldn't it be great to reinstitute more of the classes on proper skills for dining, receiving guests, dancing, etc... Some years ago, my teenage son and three of his friends agreed to take Ballroom dancing lessons as a Fine Arts elective! They were AMAZED at how difficult it was!
But, all in all, they were glad they had participated and actually enjoyed it once they learned a few things.


4) I'm really looking forward to some of the tasty treats and meals of Autumn! You know...the ones that you wait until there is really a biting chill in the air to enjoy? LIKE:

Spicy Chili with melted Cheddar Cheese on top

Hot Cider and Hot Chocolate

Steaming hot Chicken Noodle Soup
and
Beef Stew with Biscuits

What are your favorite colder weather treats?


5) Spread sheets frustrate me to no end. Most of my computer skills are self-taught through hours of reading and study...AND also are taught by loving and knowledgeable friends and daughter or know way more than I do....however, try and try as I might...I just CAN'T get spreadsheets. WHY? What is my problem? WHY can I not do this? I can birth ten individual children naturally, I can teach 6 different students on various levels at a time, I can run a business online from home, I can organize and operate numerous blogs at once...but I can not, for the LIFE of me...understand spreadsheets! Grrrrrrrrr

6) We are studying the Westward Expansion and Manifest Destiny. I find that it becomes very difficult to teach American History when the cold reality of the situation sets in with older students (and myself!)...As the kids learn more and research further, they are beginning to grasp that much of the expansion was driven by greed and selfish desires to own more, acquire more, and conquer more...I hear them making comments such as : "Americans can be so awful" or "This country was built upon stolen land", etc... The Trail of Tears troubles them deeply...they grieve for these Native Peoples who died because a president chose to disobey the United States Supreme Court that had ruled in their own favor. Sure makes a person think.

7) My son broke out in a horrible and painful rash today...since he's only two and was quite uncomfortable, I thought it best that he be checked at the doctor's. We were half way through our school lessons...and we knew we had to be at football practice by evening...my husband was out of town and several other kids were achy with colds...As I was packing up and planning and trying to organize the events of the day in light of the sudden change of schedule, I turned to find my other son presenting me with a warm bowl of buttered pasta, seasoned with garlic powder and oregano...with a few jalapeno peppers sliced on top...he said "Here Mom, I know you won't get lunch and probably will miss dinner too so I wanted to give this so you'll have something to eat before you leave". ~ Aaaahhhhhhhhh, the BLESSING of a wonderful son! A mother can't ask for anything more ~