I decided to check into the holidays that occur at this time of year. I knew about Halloween, and about Day of the Dead in Mexico. What other groups celebrate a holiday at this time of year? Is it anything like the Halloween I grew up with?
Halloween-Halloween currently a day kids dress up as ghosts and goblins and go from house to house, begging for treats. There are also an abundance of haunted houses and such, the point of which seems to be to scare the hell out of you, or at least make you lose bladder control. Modern day Halloween seems to be derived from the Celtic holiday of Samhain, which is still practiced by some groups today.
Day of the Dead-This holiday is celebrated in some parts of Mexico. It is a time when the spirits of deceased loved ones return to visit their families. It is not meant to be scary or spooky. It is more about remember those who are gone.

Samhain-I believed this to be a Wiccan holiday. In researching it, I was surprised to find some similarities to Day of the Dead. According to a site that I read
(http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Cafe/1614/Celtwicc/Wicca/Wicca04.htm)
it is a time when the separation between the physical and spirit world is the thinnest, meaning that communing between the living and the dead would be easiest. Interesting. I believe the Day of the Dead was a part of the culture before Columbus came to the new world, so I don’t believe the old traditions in Ireland and Scotland were transferred, yet they do have some similar beliefs. Could there be a grain of truth here?
All Saints’ Day/All Souls’ Day-This holiday was put forth originally by the Catholic church. Again, the intent is to remember those who have died and to pray for them and their souls.

These are the only holidays I found. I thought perhaps there would be more, but I was disappointed. Anyway, if you are celebrating, may you have a happy, blessed day.

This is soooooo tempting…

City Considers Grading Parents
Manchester May Give Parents Report Cards
POSTED: 3:23 pm EDT October 29, 2007
UPDATED: 7:11 pm EDT October 29, 2007

MANCHESTER, Conn. -- A member of the Manchester Board of Education has proposed grading parents of the district's students with report cards.
Steve Edwards said the idea is meant to get more parents involved in their children's academic careers and to make them more responsible.
"There are people who see it as anti-parent, I see it as pro-parent," Edwards said.
The idea stirred controversy in Chicago after a short-term implementation.


Parents who spoke to Eyewitness News said that they are considering the idea.
"I think it's a good idea because I don't think parents step up to the plate these days," said Manchester parent Maureen Madrak.
If passed, teachers would keep tabs on parents in five different areas. Teachers would evaluate whether students are doing their homework, arriving at school on time, eating a good breakfast, dressed appropriately for the weather and if parents are actively participating in parent-teacher conferences.
"This isn't a program to evaluate a program or someone's lifestyle -- this is a program to help figure out how kids can succeed in school," said Edwards.
Edwards said currently the plan is just an idea and that he plans to discuss it more at future Board of Education Committee meetings.

I found the above on CNN. Boy, it’s tempting. We in schools know that often poor students have poor parents. Isn’t it tempting to say, look, your kid is failing because you as a parent are failing! Sometimes we just want to tell it like it is. But I suppose it would be incorrect. I could imagine there would be backlash. How dare you tell me how to raise my kid!!

I am not a perfect parent, but I think I could get passing marks on the proposed report card mentioned above. More importantly, I require my kids to try in school and to behave themselves appropriately. Is that too much to ask? Apparently, for some parents it is.

I have a question that I have wondered about for literally years. I have never asked it because I don’t want to look stupid. But since this blog protects my anonymity, I thought, why not? With the collective wisdom here on the stream, I thought perhaps I could find the answer.

My question concerns…sex. Now, know that I am 44 years old. I have children. I have been married twice and have been privileged to find the love of my life in Master Bennet. I am not without some knowledge of sex. But what I want to know is, where the hell are the bases????

In my last post the guy in the song says he’s “never been to second base”. Where is second base? How far do you have to go to get to first base? What about third? Is there common agreement as to where these stepping stones are? I feel pretty confident saying I know where a home run is.

So, have I hit a home run with Master Bennet? Well, not exactly. With Master Bennet it is a GRAND SLAM!!!!!!!

I work down at the pizza pit
And I drive an old Hyundai
I still live with my mom and dad
I'm 5'3 and overweight

I'm a Sci-Fi fantastic
Mild asthmatic
Never been to 2nd base
But there's a whole nother me
That you need to see
Go check out MySpace

'cause online I'm down in Hollywood
I'm 6'5 and I look damn good
I drive a Maserati
I'm a black belt in Karate
And I love a good glass of wine

It turns girls on that I'm mysterious
I tell 'em I don't want nothing serious
'cause even on a slow day I can have a three way
Chat with two women at one time

I'm so much cooler online
So much cooler online

I get home, I kiss my mom
And she fixes me a snack
I head down to my basement bedroom
And fire up the Mac

In real life the only time I
Ever even been to L.A.
Was when I got the chance with the marching band
To play tuba in the Rose Parade.

Online I live in Malibu
I posed for Calvin Kline, I've been in GQ
I'm single and I'm rich
And I got a set of six pack abs that'll blow your mind

It turns girls on that I'm mysterious
I tell 'em I don't want nothing serious
'cause even on a slow day I can have a three way
Chat with two women at one time

I'm so much cooler online
Yeah I'm cooler online

When you got my kinda stats, it's hard to get a date
Let alone a real girlfriend
But I grow another foot
And I lose a bunch of weight everytime I log in

Online I'm out in Hollywood
I'm 6'5 and I look damn good
Even on a slow day, I can have a three way
Chat with two women at one time

I'm so much cooler online
Yeah I'm cooler online
I'm so much cooler online
Yeah I'm cooler online

I love this song. It’s hilarious! Many people come online to get a chance to live a life they don’t have. Instead of being the pimple-faced kid who makes pizzas, he logs on and becomes MR.COOL!

Unfortunately, it’s true. Many people want to be someone other than who they are, so they pretend to be something else when they are online. These people are so busy pretending that they don’t live life. They live only in their fantasy world in cyber-space. They must have no real life if cyber-fantasy holds more of a thrill for them than the real world does. How very sad.

Personally, I have never seen the thrill in living an online lie. I am not 5’ 10”. I don’t weigh 102 pounds. I don’t have long blond hair. I don’t pretend to. Why would you send someone a fake picture of yourself, anyway? If you were to ever meet in person, the truth would come out. I have at times withheld information to protect my anonymity, but I don’t pretend to be someone else.

It seems to me that anyone who pretends to be he is not doesn’t like himself very much. The guy in the song has not come to terms with the fact that he is 5” 3’. Chances are he’s not going to grow any taller. He might as well learn to live with it. By creating an online personality he is putting off dealing with his low self-esteem. Retreating into fantasy is not going to help him.

Yes, I think the song is funny. But I think the reality is pitiable.

Recently one of my bosses commented that it didn’t surprise him that I went above and beyond. I forwarded that email to Master. Why did I want him to have it?

Well, he does know the boss in question. But that’s not the real reason. I want Master to enjoy my successes. If it is good for me, it’s good for him, as well. It’s good for us. I wanted him to be a part of it.

But mostly, I know when I do something well or receive kudos, it reflects back on him. I did well, and I belong to him.

But, perhaps most of all, I want him to be proud of me.