Kids' Blogs

Christyne has a blog now.  It is:

http://tynetiny.blogspot.com/

Andreya also has a blog.  It is:

http://minimackids.blogspot.com/

I have links to them in my blog on the right side.  You can also add them to your blog for easy access.  They would love to have you read it and comment.  

Finally PC Free!

My husband got me a really nice iMac in January, and ever since, he has wanted one really bad.  He is a PC guy, and knows all about how to fix them and put them together, but he is tired of it.  He wants something modern and easy to use with out all the problems.  Kind of like a "car" guy wanting a nice new sports car, because the old VW beetle keeps breaking down. He can fix it, but does he want to??  

Anyway, his PC finally died last week, and he tried to fix it, but hoping he could not, because he wants a Mac so bad.  We can't affort to buy a new one (almost $2000), so he searched around Craig's List, and found one that was $450.  It is the model before mine, but it is almost the same, it just is white instead of aluminum.  He is going to pick it up on Monday.  It was owned by this Techie, who has a whole bunch of computers.  He is moving to San Diego, and can't take all his computers with him.  He took good care of it.  I am so happy for Ossil.  He has been completely converted.  He even has an iPhone now.  Soon we will have no PC's what so ever in our home.  Macs are just so much better, that my throughly PC husband is now a throughly Mac man.  He does have a small PC net book.  A small laptop that he can use when he goes places.  But I am sure that when that dies, it will eventually be changed for a Macbook.  Sometimes, even the deeply PC can see the light and be converted to the true OS (operating system) - Mac!

My family's first ever computer was a Mac.  Back in 86 or 87.  The one with the tiny screen that was small, but it did amazing things.  I remember doing a report for one of my classes, and putting a drawing of a frog on the front (printing it from the computer).  My teacher was amazed.  I thought it was nice, but not great.  He was amazed.  He could not believe a computer could do that.  Let alone a kid.  My 5 year old brother knew how to do everything on that computer.  Of course those were the days before the internet, so you could just let kids try everything.  I have been a Mac user ever since.  I actually had a PC laptop once, when Ossil got his new laptop, but I never used it, so I gave it away.  I have always had a Mac desktop, and I always will (unless something better comes along).  

If anyone is ready to try it out, you might consider a Minimac - a small cheap mac that you can use your own screen and keyboard, or try getting a Mac at Craig's list, the penny saver etc.  My dad even got an older one (blue) at a garage sale for $25.  My smart husband wanted one really bad, realized we didn't have the money, and found a way to get one we could afford.  Great job Ossil!!!  Actually, we may end up buying all our future Macs from Craig's list.  There were some really good ones at really good prices.  

School Talent Show

Last night was the elementary school talent show.  The kids had to try out a month ago.  Andreya wanted to be in it, and she wanted to sing, "God bless the USA".  So we searched iTunes and found a karaoke version that sounded nice, and we burned it to a disk and put it all together.  She practiced over and over, and then we went to try out.  At tryouts, she sang so nicely.  She is not one of these ultra talented kids that you see on TV, but for a 3rd grader, she did pretty well, and just her little girl sweetness, made it very touching.  After the tryouts, she was told that she could be in the talent show, but she could not sing that song, because someone else at the previous day's tryouts had that song and were already accepted into the talent show.  She could be in it if she came up with a different song.  Of course we were disappointed, but we had a long time to figure out what song we would do.  

I thought of every nice Disney and Barbie song I knew, as well as every kid, or fun song I could think of.  She could not decide, then she said she wanted to do a song about America.  We went through a whole bunch, and she picked "America the Beautiful".  We found several karaoke versions and instrumental versions of it.  The only problem was that they were too high, or too long.  So finally we found one that was a kid's karaoke version.  I learned a lot from this, for a kid, always look for the Children's Karaoke version first.  It will best match a kids voice, without being too high or too low.  So we downloaded it, but it was way too long, and she didn't think she could memorize all those words in the week (we took a while picking a song) she had to learn it.  I had downloaded this free program called Audacity that you can use to edit music you already have.  It is not like garage band, you can't make music, but you can slice it up and use parts, or extend it if you need it to last longer, etc.  It is really good for making videos if you need the music just the right length, and many other things.  I have used it for DVD's before.  Anyway, using this program, I took out two verses but made it sound like it was not choppy or unnatural.  Then she practiced and practiced.  In the car everywhere we went she was singing that song.  She actually learned it very fast, and when it came time for the talent show, she was prepared and not nervous at all.  

The talent show had a dress rehearsal for all the students on Friday morning.  There was almost no parents there, and it was really hot (outside).  I came to watch her, and I video taped her at that time.  It was quiet, and I could get upfront and get a good video.  So I will upload video, but it is from the performance for the students, not the one last night.  

The actual talent show is a big money maker for our PTG.  People can come and only spend $1 per person to get in if they want to bring their own chairs and blankets (that is what we did).  Also, people in the talent show get in free and so does one parent.  If you get there early enough, you can get a good spot for your blanket and chairs.  (it is kind of on a hill looking down at the "stage".  People who wanted upfront seats (parents video taping the performance etc.) Could pay $7.00 a ticket, and people who wanted chairs, but not right up front, could pay $5.oo per ticket.  We ended up only paying $3 total to get in.  Also, people could bring their own food if they wanted.  So for some families it was a very inexpensive evening.  There was lots of ways to spend money however.  We had pizza, nachos, ice cream, sodas, juices, water, glow bracelets, etc.  Then there was a raffle of donated items, and a silent auction of donated items as well.  We got a lot of nice things donated.  They also were selling the last of the yearbooks, too.  I was manning the food ticket table.  It was just too hot, and we made a ton of money just from selling food tickets.  At the beginning of the night, the food was $1 for each item, except pizza was $2.  Then about 10 minutes before it ended, pizza was $1 a slice.  About the time the talent show ended it was free.  Then the other items were 2 for $1.  Then about 15 minutes after it ended and everyone was cleaning up, the ice cream and nachos were free.  Some people had boxes of ice cream sandwiches and were just passing it out.  We ended up with about 5 on our way out the door.  We hurried home to put it in the freezer.  It was so funny.  So if you go to an event like this, its a gamble, but sometimes if you wait and they have left overs, you can save a lot on food.  Maybe even get it free.  Sit by the food area, or loiter there alot.  We paid about $23 dollars for our family for food.  Of course it was all junk, but it was fun, and it was for the PTG.  

As for the talent show itself, it was pretty good.  Because Andreya was singing, "America the Beautiful," They wanted to have her sing first, right after the pledge to the flag.  It was nice to have her first, because I could stop what I was doing and watch her sing.  She sang very nicely, even better than the morning.  I really think she did, not just because I am her mother either.  I am not that kind of mom,  I tend to be a realist when it comes to my children and their abilities.  I am not in parent la-la land.   Most of the kids did a good job as well.  There was singing, violin playing, piano playing, guitar playing, a comedy act, dancing, break dancing (that kid was amazing), the blues brothers act (funny!), and clarinet playing.  The blues brothers act, and the break dancing were really good, and not your typical talent show acts.  At the end, all the kids in the talent show did a song together.  There was one thing that drove me crazy.  All the people who sang did pretty well, and some were really good (a boy who used to be in my ward sang "Rockin' Robin" really well), but the brother and sister who sang "God Bless the USA" were horrible.  I mean people were covering their ears horrible.  They were way off key, and they were screaming into the microphone at some parts.  It reminded me of American Idol - the first few weeks.  I could not believe they were allowed into the talent show.  Lots of kids who tried out sang better then them but were not allowed to be in it.  I wonder if their mom was friends with the people organizing it.  It made me frustrated, because Andreya really wanted to do that song, and they did it, but totally butchered it.  She can do it next year.  I wonder if their mother realized how horrible they sounded.  It was just embarrassing.  I think if my child sounded like that, I would not even let them try out.  Just being honest with them.  And if they did try out, I would hope that the judges would be honest with them, and not let them in the talent show.  

We had a similar situation with Tae Kwon Do.  The teacher said only certain students could try for their yellow belt.  I asked her if Andreya and Christyne were ready and what they should know.  She said that only Andreya could try out, and that Christyne was being kind of lazy.  She was right.  Sometimes when it is time to do the push ups, sit ups, etc, Christyne does a few, and when the teacher isn't looking she stops, and when the teacher is looking, she starts again.  I like it when people are honest.  I was glad she told me that.  I told Christyne.  Now she knows that she can't get away with being lazy in Tae Kwon Do, and still advance.  I would rather someone tell me that my child isn't ready, or not good enough, then to have them lie, just to not hurt my feelings, or my child's feeling.   

Any way, the night was a lot of fun, Andreya did great, and we were very proud of her.  It was a lot of fun.  Christyne liked it too, maybe she will be in it next year as well.  It is all up to them.  

Friday the 13th! Our lucky day!

I know today is not Friday the 13th, but Friday the 13th is my favorite day.  It is one of the most special and wonderful days, because 15 years ago on Friday the 13th, Ossil and I got married, and it has been wonderful. 

Actually we didn't get married that day because it was Friday the 13th.  We did it because that was the date that best fit our schedules, with my school and his work.  And the temple was packed all the other weekends in May, so that was the only day open.  Gee, I wonder why nobody wants to get married on Friday the 13th.  May 13th was also his mother's birthday.  So it was special for that as well.  

I like it, because not only do we have our anniversary each May 13th, but we also consider each Friday the 13th our special day as well, no matter what month it falls into.  

I married a wonderful man, and we have had a great marriage.  Is it because Friday the 13th is lucky for us, or is it because we made good choices?  It is because we made good choices.  We don't have any kind of superstitious beliefs.  It is kind of fun to go against the superstition though.  It makes it memorable.  

Ossil, I love you, and I am so thankful that you are my husband.  Thanks for putting up with me all these years.   You are a wonderful man.  I am so glad you are the father of my children, and my sweet husband.  

Thoughts on a Few Movies and TV Shows: Communism and Swimming

Today I saw a movie called "The City of Ember."  It was kind of a kids adventure.  It was OK as far as writting, and acting, etc.  It actually wasn't a great movie.  There were several plot holes, and important things that aren't explained, but I absolutely loved it.  The reason I loved it, was because it is a perfect example of what happens when capitalism is shut down, and a type of communism takes over.  Things slowly start to fall apart, nobody does a job that isn't theirs, and no one tries.  No one knows how to or tries to solve problems.  Every one gets poorer and poorer, except for the corrupt government officials.  People just live with everything the way it is.  If you ever want to explain to your kids why capitalism is good, and socialism/communism is bad,  show them this movie.  I loved it just for that.  It is also fine for kids as far as language, sex, violence, etc.  There is none of that at all, just a touch of violence as part of the adventure.  

A few days ago I saw the movie, "The Guardian."  It is about the National Guard ocean rescue teams.  They are called "swimmers",  and they drop from helicopters and swim out to people, grab them, and hook them to a cable and help them get up to the helicopter.  Usually they work when a boat or ship is going down in heavy storms, etc.  Pretty scary stuff.  There were also a lot of them during Katrina.  Sometimes they don't swim, they just grab the person.  Anyway, the movie talked about he training they go through.  It was really interesting.  these people are incredible swimmers.  Again, the movie is OK.  Some plot holes, the ending could have been better.  But very interesting, because I learned about a branch of the military that I didn't really know about before.  In the movie, there is a lot of swimming.  Mostly with them fully clothed, because they are swimming in the cold ocean or practicing to swim in the cold ocean.  I was watching the skill of the swimmers, and I was really impressed.  The quality of the swimming was great.  I found out later that they hired olympic swimmers as body doubles and minor cast roles, and extras.  I could tell.  

I also like to watch "The Amazing Race."  This last episode, they were in China where they had to do a swimming or diving challenge.  The diving challenge was that they had to do a synchronized jump from two 3 meter boards.  I thought that was pretty hard.  The other option was to swim a 2x200 meter relay, 100 meters at a time (400 meters total) in a new speedo super fast olympic swimming suit.  I could not believe how hard people thought that was.  These two sisters who are college athletes were the worst ones.  One of them could barely swim.  She started crying and freaking out.  It was pitiful.  She could have just pulled herself across on the lane line.  Everyone in the show made it seem like the hardest challenge they had ever had.   Their strokes where so bad.  400 meters is a warm up, a short warm up (each person only had to swim half of that).  They didn't have to swim fast either, they just had to complete it.  I guess my expectations of swimming are really high since I swam for years on a team.  Even when I am out of shape, I know I could swim that in my sleep.  They could have just floated with some kicking and finished it.  It was really pitiful.  It made me realize how much I miss swimming, and how important it is for me to make sure my kids are decent swimmers, wether they join a swim team or not.  So if they ever find themselves needing it, they can do it easily.  

On the topic of swimming, I hear that the CC 24hr Fitness is probably going to build a new building when their lease runs out, and put in a pool.  I hope that information is correct.  CC really needs a swimming pool of some sort.  As of now, RM, CC both have nothing.  When that happens, I will probably join that fitness center.  We will see.  I will have to think about the price, and distance etc.