Stop Racism Today

Holiday Hugs

Have Some Holiday Hugs!

Let's Dance!

Let's Dance! Promote holiday happiness and release your inner dancing kitty...

Cheery Christmas Prep

Happy December, 2006...

Such a beautiful moon, as we prepare for the winter holidays! Finding the perfect recipes, choosing the perfect gifts and planning the perfect occasions? You bet! A teenager asked me today,"Isn't it boring to have Christmas with babies?" "Weren't we boring, then?"

I cracked up, saying "No! It is SUCH a blast! Everything is new and exciting!" Babies' eyes are wide with wonder and excitement. They love the stories, the lights, the wrapping paper and the familiar gatherings of people who love them well.

A little boy I know, used to call Christmas trees, "Pretty Pretties!" And let's not forget all of the other little things... I hope we all will rediscover our wonder during this holiday. Peace on Earth and Joy to you...

Tip Off for Teens

Zoom! Zoom! Zoom! Zoom!

So... every adult we know has said "What WERE you thinkin'?" for getting a used 2002 Audi TT for our 16 year old son ... Gotta tell you that both his dad and I drove sports cars when we were 16, with manual transmissions and mine was a ragtop (Datsun 2000), while his was not... I got zero tickets and no wrecks...

Why have we done this?
This teen is very responsible, gets excellent grades, excels at challenging sports, does a lot of community service without fussing at all, is generally kind to his sister and to us (meet the parents) and is cautious (although he times his jokes for when I am drinking my milk, I swear).

Do the work, earn the treats. Any questions?

My-Oh-My... What a Surprise!

Did you hear the story about the healthy 52 year old guy who had a heart attack without any chest pain? No... It is not Chuck Norris, although our teens LOVE that one!

And, you can only guess what saved him! Thank you to the alert and fabulous firefighters at Fire Station #6 in San Jose, California and the wonderfully gifted cath lab and ICU staffs at O'Connor Hospital.

So... Here are lessons (from Friday, the 13th of October) :)

*Real Men CAN have heart attacks on tennis courts without pain and/or shortness of breath (even if they can run like bunnies and play as a 4.0!)

*Real Men CAN ask for HELP at the firehouse nearby (versus going home to "rest," where they often die!)

*Real Men CAN head for the firehouse "because I thought if there was a REAL problem, I didn't want to hear you say: 'So, Sweetie! What the hell were you thinkin'?'"

Great idea. This expression is one of shock and awe (with wild-eyed gratitude!)

Mouse On My Tummy - Cute Kitty Love

Mouse On My Tummy - Cute Kitty Picture

Sooo, What a Crazy "Trip It's Been!"

Just so you know,
I've been out of the office and almost out of....
I've had a recent reminder about how fragile life can be... not MY life, but the life of one of the VERY DEAREST to me. So, I thought I'd send you a laugh and a hug, at the same time. And I hope everyone remembers Jonee Mitchell singing: "... laughing and crying; it's the same relief!..."

My Cubicle - Yahoo! Video: Can Anyone Relate?!!

MSy Cubicle - Yahoo! Video: ""

Just My Favorite Animal!

You are Such a Thoughtful Listener...

"You Are Such a Thoughtful Listener..."

"Can't you just read it in their face,

from the kindness in their eyes,

even though in every case,

they wish they could only BE more wise..."

We always take our work very seriously, but we cannot afford to take ourselves too seriously. I just love his sweet expression, don't you? Are we speaking with kind words? Listening with kind ears?

Now, THAT little guy knows how to REEELLLAAAAXXXX!

So, Who Needs Family Therapy?

Funny Videos

So, What's This All About?

Welcome to Valerie's Blawg..

Since everyone laughs at how I trail off my sentences with the phrase "bla bla bla," it is only natural that this could only have one name.

I'm actually originally from a place not too far (that would be "faw") from Boston. I love Boston and everything about that town! But, ... I digress...

Actually, I have a cast of characters who are helping me to write this for you (that would be "Y'ALL," from my years in Austin) and we're going to invite you to help steer us in the direction that interests you...

I'd like to talk about a few items on my mind:

1. I am a Democrat and I like Laura Bush. I am married to a Republican who still likes to give me a hard time about Jimmy Carter. It's not about the party, it's about "What have you been doing for us, in your role as a public servant, LATELY?" Show me more integrity, less dental work. I admire good dental work, but that's not my "everything"...

2. I do not believe that our beloved country is immune from Post Partum Depression. Even England, with their socialized medical system, has public health nurses that go out into the community and check on new mothers and their babies. I respect the fact that some public figures have written about their own experiences with this disorder. They have done wonders for many families, by talking about lives and their journeys through this often shrouded disorder.

3. I am so annoyed by how the media generally portrays therapy/therapists. I understand that there is new annoyance on the horizon! My favorite movies' portraits of "Therapy Land" (my name for it) are: Ordinary People and Good Will Hunting... What are yours?

4. I watch people all of the time. We all do. Do we really see each other? Do we watch each other with kind eyes? How difficult would it be for us to shift our focus?

5. Do you know how most people first encounter a legal setting? They usually first experience it as a child... either through the divorce of their parents or someone else very close to them. What do they see, through their childlike eyes? What do we show them? And what can we do to raise the bar?

Have You Ever Seen THIS From YOUR Your Teen?

Dear Sally ...

...The (14 yo) daughter got her BRIGHT BLUE orthodonture installed... the parents are OVER fifty (that translates into a bit fatigued by 9) ... and at dinner last night, the child/teen said she had prepared a POWERPOINT PRESENTATION about why she believed she should NOT have to attend school today. MUSIC and everything... even her older (16 yo) brother was supportive! After all this jazz....the parents turned her down. They hate that. Guilt, heart twist......Or could it be chest pain? Dementia, et tu?

So, they gave her the Jamba-Juice-Love-Treatment. It broke their parental hearts how much the "BLUETOOTHBANDS" were hurting. Even Mr.CoolBro broke a sweat.

Parental take-away:

Our teens' needs are parallel to the needs that they had when they were toddlers. Teens = Toddlerhood 2nd x around.

We spent their babyhoods, toddlerhoods, childhoods and teens WITH them... so... guess what... they need us... still. These teens are getting ready for their launch and we are on CALL. Ten... nine... eight...