Mean Girls

I absolutely LOVED and STILL LOVE the movie "mean girls". It is just the epitome of high school. In fact, most of us, NEVER really leave high school, we just leave the building. In fact, I am STILL in the freaking building. There are still cliques, and gossip, and slander, and criticizing no matter how old you get. I, for one, was a "plastic" in high school (shocking) though at the time we were called "jets". And not after the movie West Side Story, but after the term "jetsetter" meaning a person of importance. We were "pop", short for popular. We had "jocks", "geeks", "nerds", (not sure now why those weren't the same except I think the "geeks" were smart), "thugs", "band nerds", and "hoods". Can you hear the smile in my voice as I write this. Oh yeah. It was classic mean girl world. Oh yeah and the "wannabes" which we still have today in every area of society. I can't imagine NOT BEING popular and while I know that makes me sound shallow and vain, high school was wonderful for the"jetsetters/plastics". Any drama we had was within ourselves and even though we were mean, when it came to the down and dirty, we took care of our own. We could be mean to each other but no one could be mean to us. We were imitated and people wanted to be like us or be liked BY us. Just like the "plastics". We also wanted to be like each other. A lot like Gretchen in the movie. One girl would wear something "new" and by weeks end everyone was wearing it. And yeah, what does that say about individuality and independence? Not much, but we were in high school. In fact, today we ALL still IMITATE stars, or "popular people" or people we admire. That is where all the fashion ideas come from for pete's sake. Women dress for women. We don't care what men think of what we have on or how we do our hair. We care what the "ladies" are going to think. Yeah, there is a little "plastic" in all of us. As a "plastic" gets older they are no longer mean-spirited like high school but just plain mean. I choose to think of it as sarcastic, sharp, and witty with a broken "give a damn" meter. So are you a mean girl? These might help you decide:
YOU MIGHT BE A MEAN GIRL IF:

1) you notice what others are wearing and have an opinion about it
2) you're appearance (at ALL times) is important to you
3) other people's appearance is important to you
4)you can't stand annoying people and don't even try to
5) you know the fashion "dos and don'ts" and live by them
6) you have a BFF that is also a mean girl
7) you and above mentioned person talk about other people and what they are wearing and how good/bad they look
8) you are smart and informed about important things............like fashion and what is in the latest issue of People magazine
9) you like yourself A LOT
10)and last but not least...........other people like you too...and if they don't it is because they are jealous!!!!

Welcome to Texas Tech!!

Well it is official.......we are part of the Red Raider family as of Friday afternoon about 2:30 pm. I am a little overwhelmed. Katie has wanted to go to Tech for as long as she has been old enough to know that she wanted to "for sure" go to college. And as most of you know, we wanted her to stay here a year to "get her feet under her" before we sent her THOUSANDS of miles away....okay only 200 miles or so but still. So, she has fulfilled her frantic family requirement and now she has been accepted into a Division I school WAY UP in the Panhandle FAR from home. We went up this last week for orientation and let me say that it was quite an eye opener. The first thing they told us (the parents) was to "relax" AND "release". In other words, GET OUT OF THE WAY AND LET YOUR CHILD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR COLLEGE EDUCATION. Of course MY FIRST THOUGHT was......yeah but I'm paying the bill. But as they continued to speak, I realized that what they were saying made sense. When she goes in August, I won't be there to hold her hand, or help her with decisions or TELL HER WHAT TO DO!! Kind of disconcerting for what I like to call "hands on" parenting which Katie likes to call "mom, I can't breathe, your arms are suffocating me" parenting. Anyhow........as they began to talk about the enormity of her college education..how many kids actually finish, and what percentage actually pursue their degree without having to start over, and how many are successful, I began to feel a little overwhelmed. Had I been Katie, I would have RAN back to the car and to Angelo State University, hearth and home. But she was not deterred in the least. When we got through with the degree plan for becoming a lawyer, I asked her if she was still sure and she confidently said yes. As I took a break outside, by myself, I saw literally hundreds of students going around the campus to class, or jobs, or some jogging, or just hanging out. NOT ONE OF THEM was crying or vomiting. In fact, the only person I could find who felt a little nauseous was ME. So, when it was all over, I asked Katie how she felt and she said I am excited and can't wait to get here. I said "me, too" because that is what a Red Raider mom would say. But inside I thought.........oh my gosh what have we done? So, there you have it. She is going to Tech in August. I am proud. I am scared. I am already a little lonely. But I came home with a "Texas Tech mom T-shirt." As for Katie................she is counting the days.

I'M BACK BABY!!

Okay not really. I mean I did run twice this week after laying off for almost three weeks to rest the shin splints. (Note to potential runners/joggers/speedwalkers; they don't heal or really go away, just feel better for a while and then are right back). So, I missed being on the road, wind in my face (okay I am lying... I HATE the wind, especially when you are running into it and this last week it was like, what, a thousand miles an hour?) but I digress. I like to run because for that amount of time my mind is blank (no easy shots here dear reader!) I don't worry, wonder, or think about anything, unless of course it is keeping my pace, staying up with my niece, who by the way has become a SPEED DEMON the three weeks I have been off, or simply breathing. So, I am back. Ran easy on Thursday, and a little more distance and speed on Friday. Felt good to be back. I have A LOT of running to do in order to get ready for the Texas State 5 mile Run in the Sun in May. So, I am having banana pudding for supper. I know that is good for you because after every run they bring out the bananas by the truckload. So, there it is...........I am BACK!!! (and my leg hurts even as we speak)

What A Blessing

My daughter has grown up so much the last year that I can scarcely get over it or at times comprehend it. All those times I thought I was the "worst mom ever" and of course she was agreeing with me 100%, I never thought I was getting any of it right. BUT I WAS!!! LOOK AT HER!!! She is gorgeous, smart, a good student, ambitious, determined, responsible, and FIERCELY INDEPENDENT. I couldn't be prouder. Seriously!! And look at "the boyfriend." Not so bad either. Cute boy, solid Christian, good student, morally upstanding (no kidding), an athlete on a scholarship to a Division I school for tennis. Plays SEVERAL musical instruments, is active in his church, and likes his family. Shoot, he even likes us!! I don't know where they are headed and don't really care and I don't think they do either. They are so mature about their relationship, which has been long distance, and yet there is no drama there. I just feel blessed at this moment.