Have we gone too far?

This morning on local talk radio, the topic was Halloween festivities for children. I live in Central Ohio, north of the Bible Belt, in a position I refer to as the Bible Garter Belt. (its above the actual position of the panties (the bible belt) so hence the name.)

Yes, I know I’m not funny – its one of many crosses I have to bear in life.

Locally there has been a movement to eradicate Halloween from the schools. Instead of having a costume party, schools are now having a ‘fall festival’. One lady called in and said that her children’s school had declared halloween themed plates and napkins as verboten. (Hey, what did Caspar the ghost do to these people?) She laughed and said that she liked to throw them a curve by slipping a few of the contraband plates in the mix of autumn themed plates.

Good woman – a little civil disobedience is good for the soul.

Of course next year I expect them to frisk the plates before allowing them into the classroom. If I had children I’d do the same thing but I’d volunteer to help hostess the party then show up dressed as Glenda, the good witch. I’m devious like that.

First off, WTF? I agree, heartily agree, in a parents right to choose for their children. Children should not be allowed to play with loaded guns, drink liquor, or run the streets at midnight. Yeah, I get that – but Halloween? Candy? Costumes?

Secondly, as a tree hugging pagan, I can state with some authority that if one was to celebrate a Fall festival – that should be done on September 21st – the Autumnal Solstice or the beginning of fall.

What has happened to imagination in this country? When did fantasy become a bad thing?

Yes, I understand there are some who don’t want their child exposed to the ‘dark side’ they imagine Halloween to be – but that’s a lie. Samhain, for us pagans, signals the end of harvest. The Celts (not the basketball team) divided the year into two halves, the light and the dark. It signals the beginning of the dark half of the year – the time in which nothing grows and the earth lays fallow, gathering nourishment for the coming growing season. Some even believe it is the time in which the dead come to visit the living.

I don’t know about anyone else but if you watch TAPS or MOST HAUNTED then you know ghosts are around all the time, not just one day of the year.

I guess for me, the bottom line is that I feel there is no darkness in the holiday. If you want to talk about darkness, read up on the origins of Passover – that day is much bloodier than Halloween.

I and millions of others grew up with Halloween parties, going trick or treating and all the crazy fun that makes up the holiday. Guess what, I’m not a serial killer and it didn’t warp me in any lasting way. (At least not that the courts could prove) So let the kids have their fun and liberate the candy!!!

OH the ABUSE!

http://www.jibjab.com/starring_you/receipt/1996587

Lori Foster is a very sick woman…

Men never change…

Every morning I hit the local rec center to use to use the pool. That early in the morning, the only other people there is a group of retired swimmers. Seeing that I’m the youngest person there, they constantly call me The Kid.

In this group there are several married couples and I swear, these men still haven’t grown up. they splash the pretty girls, play around and giggle like four year olds. They are great fun and when I spend time with them, it always starts my day with a smile.

I think men are genetically predisposed to being perpetual four year olds – or maybe they regress to that stage when they hit retirement. Whatever it is, I hope I have that much energy when I’m their age.

No Kids Allowed!

From the time I was very young I knew I didn’t want to have kids. I’m not saying I don’t like children, I do – they’re great on toast. (just kidding) I simply don’t want to raise one. I can remember my mother laughing at me and saying, “you’ll change your mind.”

Uh, no, I won’t and haven’t.

I’m 42 and completely happy with my decision to remain single and child-less. I didn’t have a normal childhood – my father was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis before I was born and when I turned 14 he broke his hip and that was that. He remained in a bed for 17 years until the day he died. I spent most of my child and young adult-hood taking care of my parents and guess what – I don’t want to take care of anyone else.

It’s always funny to me how society believes that those of us who choose to not have kids are unfulfilled in our lives. While it is more acceptable now, I still see it when I meet someone new and they question almost always comes up.

Do you have children?

No, I have dogs instead.

The double whammy comes in when they learn I’m not married. That’s when the look turns pitying and they try to determine what is defective about me that no man would want to marry me or breed with me.

Whatever!

Society still harbors the mistaken impression that a woman cannot possibly be fulfilled if we don’t have a man in our bed and children underfoot. And to add to that antiquated picture, we now have to have full time, high-powered careers and drive a Lexus. Of course personal trainers, manicures and charity work – let’s not forget that part.

It’s crap and I personally blame that stupid television show, The Housewives of Orange County, for keeping those myths alive. What a bunch of empty-headed, boob obsessed women! The end all be all of life isn’t a perfect waistline of being seen in the ‘right’ car LADIES.

Sorry, had a moment.

Anyway – I laugh when people jump to their own conclusions about how I live my life. I’m fine with not having kids, between my sisters and my best friend I have about 10 children of various ages in my life. I love them, I play with them and I hand them back when I’m done. It’s a perfect system.

As for marriage – its very rare that I feel lonely. I’ve had some amazing men in my life and I know that if I had married my soulmate then I wouldn’t be a writer. (there’s always a price to be paid for everything isn’t there?) Am I willing to give up writing to have a man in my life?

Uh, no.

Maybe someday I will settle down (kids are still out of the question), but not anytime soon. I’m having way too much fun.

So tell me…

is it a bad thing when you go to get a cloth duster out of the box and the box is So Dusty that you have to dust it first?

The art of being subtle…NOT

Words cannot express…

My latest obsessions

I’ve always had the attention span of a gnat. I don’t even consider myself the MTV generation – a generation of people who have been tested and determined to have shorter attention spans than average thanks for four minute videos – I’m just interested in everything and I’m easily distracted by shiny objects.

Some of my latest obsessions are:

America’s Next Top Model – I’ve always loved this show. Early in my working career I was a stylist and I actually dressed people for a living. I love the clothes, the makeup – the process I guess.

Project Runway – Same as above. I love this show so much that I’ve actually purchased a new sewing machine and I plan on designing my own clothing for conferences. So watch out! Who knows what I will end up wearing.

Hershey’s Dark Chocolate – Hey, it’s chocolate – need I say more? I have finally made the switch from milk to dark, but it took a while. Now I truly enjoy the bite of dark chocolate.

Reading – some of you will laugh. I haven’t had time to read the past few years and its really been breaking my heart. There are SO many good books out there and I just couldn’t get into them or find the time to devote to reading. Now I actually make time to read and I’ve fallen in love all over again.

Eating Well – Yes, I am now obsessed with eating well. Scary isn’t it? I’ve lost 22 pounds since early September and for the first time ever, I’m obsessed but in a good way. Before I’d beat myself up over eating a mouthful of anything ‘bad’. Now, I realize there isn’t any food that is bad, its all about how you look at it. I no longer live to eat, I eat to live. Will I keep this up? I hope so as I’m feeling better than I have in years.

So what’s your latest obsession?