Babies? No Thanks....

I know how thin the ice I'm treading on is as I write this, but then again, it's my decision to make this choice and to talk about it as much or as little as I want. And as a disclaimer...I love children! I love people who have children! Most of my friends do have children and I love it! Your children are all fantastic and beautiful and I love hearing about them! And really...if people didn't have children, I wouldn't have a job....so with that being said...I am not saying any of this to offend people.

Here we go: I have zero interest in being a mother. Actually...I have a slight interest in being a mother of an adopted child, but I have zero interest in birthing my own child. I have many reasons, most of which have come directly from my friends/families complaints about children/child birth/parenting. The main reason is that I am selfish and I like the freedom of being able to do what I want, when I want to. For a while I have felt bad about this, and then I finally stopped one day and said...."do women who want to have babies feel bad about their decision? No...so why should I feel bad for deciding the opposite?!" Adam for the most part, feels the same way. Every once in a while when he sees a kid and their dad playing soccer or baseball (or wearing adorable Bo Sox baby clothes Mr. Dominic Grasso:) he wants a baby, but then when the dogs wake us up too early to go outside we realize that a baby would be so much worst and we are once again thankful that we don't have children.

I have "a list" which I've never really kept track of, but that I frequently add to as to why I don't want to have children. A few highlights (besides the selfish part) is the pain associated with pregnancy and child birth (and I don't want to hear that it is all worth it because I'm not sold on that), the amount of money a baby/child costs, I spend all day with kids...it's hard to think of coming home and taking care of my own, the world is overpopulated as it is, I like my sleep...a lot, I like my body the way it is, I'm afraid I would be an awful mother, kids can be quite obnoxious, I don't want to neglect the dogs, and so on.

Now, I have thought a lot about adopting. It just seems to me that there are so many children in this world without parents that if we could adopt, maybe we should. At this time, we are pretty unsure of where we are going to "settle down"...if Adam and I really ever do settle down:) And financially we're not ready to add another mouth, or 2 to feed. We're also not quite sure what age/sex/nationality we would want. I would like to adopt a child from the U.S. and maybe a sibling pair. I know that adoption isn't always easy, and that some people wait a long time to finally get a child...I also know that it is not like going to a shelter and picking out a dog. And of course I've heard horror stories (most on TV so maybe I shouldn't believe them!) of biological parents coming back and wanting their children back. All of these reasons make adopting just as scary as having your own child...and we're just not ready.

And you know what...that's ok. Having a child is a big decision. A child is a life long commitment. A child is not a fashion accessory. A child is not necessarily the next thing that you have to do once you're married, especially if you're not ready. And it's ok to wait....it took me a while to realize this, but it is. And if I decide to not have a child, to be "the dog lady", and spoil my neices and nephews rotten, and travel the world with my husband, donating our vast wealth (hehehe, we can dream, can't we!?) to charities, then so be it...and IT'S OK:)

A second chance

Tonight on World News there was a great story about what has happened to some of the Micheal Vick dogs rescued in 2007 from his illegal dog fighting ring and kennel, "Bad News Kennel." The story is of a second chance, which all dogs in pounds and humane societies deserve. Some dogs are beyond help, especially dogs subjected to the trauma of dog fighting, but all deserve a shot at a better life. Many organizations stepped up and most of the dogs rescued are finally getting a happy ending. The story of the dogs is what should be the focus, the important part...not what will become of a monster like Vick. Here is the story, and information on the organizations who stepped up to help...the real heroes of the Vick-tory Dogs.

The Video:
A Second Chance

The Organizations who stepped up and helped:
Best Friends Animal Society

Bad Rap

Virginia Beach SPCA

For the love of the game

Everyone knows that I am a huge sports fan...especially of Baseball and the Boston Red Sox. But you don't have to be a sports fan to enjoy this story. It's of a 100 year old bat boy who truly loves the game. Check it out!

Pre School Earth Day

Earth Day 2009

I wanted to let everyone know about my Pre School class and our Earth Day Adventure. For a while we have been in love with Rhino's, it started last year and has carried into this year. Enter the Smarter Toddler Pre School Penny Drive to benefit the International Rhino Foundation. We are collecting change (preferrably pennies because they are easy for us to count!) from today until April 30 that we will then donate to the IRF. It has been a wonderful experience...we love to see the money in the jar grow, and to know that our efforts have an impact. We have invited the other classes and students to help us, and have a goal of collecting $50. That amount of money "will enable Indonesia’s Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary to provide five days of food, medicine and care for one Sumatran rhino." We will also be recognized on the IRF website as "friends of the IRF." We encourage everyone on this Earth Day to get out and make a difference...whether it be the fauna or the flora...we really are connected and the future (That's US!) needs a planet rich in resources...including the beautiful Rhino's of Africa!

Happy Earth Day! Save the Rhinos!

Antiques Road Show

I love this show! It's amazing the crap people have laying around that ends up being worth some serious cash. A lady just had a pitcher that she kept on a shelf in her bathroom that she bought for $20 and it's worth $8,000 - $10,000!!! What?! Another lady found a $2,500 gold chain in the bottom of a purse she was about to throw away!!! I'm pretty sure that my IKEA vase will not be worth that someday...but hopefully I'll end up with some cool old stuff someday and will live my dream of appearing on Antiques Road Show!!!

Spring in Central Park

Spring has hit NYC...if only for a few days. I am very fortunate to be surrounded by gorgeous green areas near my school. We have a plethora of community gardens, and Central Park is literally in our backyard. We visited the garden on Thursday, and hit Central Park today. Adam and I plan on spending the better part of Saturday in Central Park with the girls. It will be their first visit. We are driving into the city so to avoid taking the girls on the ferry and subway...it would be tough for them. I'll be sure to take lots Central Park pics and all of it's beauty to add to my collection!

Life's (Still) Too Short

I had intended to add to my "LTS" (life's too short) list on Tuesdays...hince the "Life's Too Short Tuesdays" thing, but Tuesday came and went and I forgot...oops! So here are a few more:

*LTS to drink cheap beer.

*LTS to follow the current...instead, make waves!!

*LTS to stay in one place.

*LTS to worry.

*LTS to not leave the Earth a better place. (Thanks Ally!)

And here's a quote from Sasha Azevedo:
"Life is too short not to make the best and most of everything that comes your way everyday."

28 Years

I wake today on Tax Day...but also on my birthday! Here's to 28 years of life!!!

Erin Mosaic

This was sooo much fun! I answered a series of questions, put the answer into google image search, and then created this from the website: bighugelabs.com/flickr/mosaic.php and this is what I came up with! A fun little activity for a rainy Saturday afternoon!!!

5 AM Saturday Morning...

What the hell am I doing awake!?! The dogs woke me up 45 mins ago because Libbey needed to pee...I mean eat the bird seed left out for the birds! So as I laid in bed, trying to go back to sleep, my stomach started growling and I was restless because the girls thought it would be a good idea to cuddle...and they did so while taking up half of the space I already didn't have because Adam is already in it!! Needless to say, I'm awake, enjoying the peace and quiet and munching on some peanut butter toast. Have a wonderful weekend, and a Happy Easter everyone!!

Waiting...

Good things come to those who wait....

That will mess with ppl for a while! My birthday is next week and I got my first gift in the mail today....a "green monstah" red sox shirt from my mom and pop!! I'm wearing it right now! Thanks Mom and Dad....you guys are wicked awesome:) My families and kids at school are also getting me very excited...they have so many little hints to drop! Though my students big plan is a pinata...it doesn't take much to excite 4 year olds:) Off of work tomorrow, but Adam is not...a day of domesticated goodness...I can't wait:) I'm sure I'll get some good blog time in then:)

Life's Too Short

So today in the Daily News I found myself reading the borough paper that they provide...it's Brooklyn's and since I don't live there I rarely read it. There was a column written by Denis Hamill about his birthday, and a list of things that Life is Too Short for. I generally agree with the list....like: "LTS for me to watch even eight seconds of footage or read eights more words about Ocotmom." So in honor of my own, almost birthday on April 15 I am going to start the list of things my Life's Too Short for....every Tuesday will be another one to add to the list...and I encourage all of you to add one or a few to the comments section. Here's the first installment of the LTS list:

LTS to continue working for shady, incompetent assholes.

LTS to waste on facebook...it's time to connect with real friends.

LTS to not explore your creative talents.

LTS to spend shopping all of the time.

LTS for liars and worrying whether or not you can trust them.

LTS to be lazy - get out and be active - it could save your life.

LTS for long commutes...especially by ferry boat!

LTS for regrets and grudges! It happened - get over it and move on.

LTS to live somewhere you hate.

LTS for hours of computer surfing (not including blogging:).

LTS for 45 hour work weeks.

LTS for 15 minute fame celebrities and the shows (TMZ) and magazines that are obsessed with their every move.

LTS to not laugh at something every single day.

LTS for fast food. It's just not good for you, and it's a waste of money.

LTS to be anything but happy:)

Photography

I've been showing a real interest lately in photography. I don't have any formal training, and never really thought I was that good at it either. I'm sure that all of the real photographers out there will find flaws in my "work" but I've found myself stumbling on scenes that just scream to be photographed...mostly of objects, or perspectives. I only have a simple point and shoot, though I'm hoping to upgrade soon and maybe even take a photography class to learn even more. Here are some of my recent photographs, ones that I find fun/interesting/"good" whatever those things might mean to others.

Take me out to the ball game!!!

What a fantastic day!!! Citi Field...the new home of the Mets is gorgeous!! It was wicked windy which meant trash was flying EVERYWHERE, but that didn't dampen our spirits. And Big Papi (David Ortiz) got the "garbage man of the day" award for continually picking up trash as it blew onto the field. The highlight was when he stuffed it into the back pocket of former Red Sox turned Met, Alex Cora's back pocket...Hillarious!!

We scored 6 runs in the first inning against Oliver Perez, one of which was a grand slam by Jed Lowrie!! Varitek had a slow start, but hit a solo home run even after much heckeling by Adam Morris! He calls it tough love...I call it jealousy:) We sat in front of a sweet family with an adorable little guy who really knew his stuff...and let everyone know it! They're raising quite the heckler! I loved him! The Red Sox won 9-3 after our minor, minor, minor league got in! What a day....I can't wait for the rest of the season! Let's Play Ball!!! Go Bo Sox!!!!

Captain America...Jason Varitek

Sporting our necklaces made by Harper...one of my students! (mine is hidden)

The Jackie Robinson Rotunda

The New Home of the Mets...Citi Field

Baseball is here!!

Adam and I are off today to the new Citi Field in Queens for Game 2 of an exhibition outing between the Mets and the Red Sox!!! We are super pumped, though it's supposed to be wicked windy today....40 mph for some parts of NYC. Game time: 1:10pm, we are sitting 19 rows back from the Red Sox dugout, and I'm hoping for a glance at my favorite player...Captain America-Jason Varitek!!! I'll have pics to post later today!!! Go Bo Sox!!