Friday, February 18, 2011

Friday Fragments, Episode #134


I'm not going to talk any more about union stuff or the state of education in Wisconsin. I'm exhausted, you're exhausted. Let's just unload, shall we? Welcome to Friday Fragments--Pull up a chair!

[What are these "Friday Fragments" of which I speak? Click on the tab above to learn more.]


***As much as I loved the social scene of Facebook prior to this week, I'm done with it. It has taken on all the charm of an ugly town hall meeting, and I just can't take it anymore.

***My sister, Mary (who happens to be 10 years older than me) read my post, Torture by Brother: One Sister's Perspective [linked up on Saturday Sampling] and wrote this comment for me.

This made me sad that I left you girls all alone to defend yourselves. ( you were 8 when i moved out.)It was simply heartbreaking for me to read....not at all funny. But then, I remember physically attacking our brothers sometimes when i was in charge, so maybe they learned it from me!! It is amazing to me that you broke the cycle of abuse and forged such trusting and loving relationships with your kids. You are an awesome parent and sister. Love, Mary

Isn't she wonderful? I'm so lucky to have four sisters just like her :)

***Yes, I heard about the blogger who was suspended from her teaching job over disparaging comments she made in posts. Freedom of speech is just something you have to keep in check when you're a professional.

***Speaking of curbing self-expression, I recorded my mom reading a shocking (Rated PG-13, not blog-appropriate) story and sent it to everyone I thought would appreciate it. If I missed you and you would like to see it, send an email (mrs4444 a t new.rr.com) and I'll happily share the link. You'll love it--Trust me.

***Try as I might, I can't seem to keep tension out of my shoulders this week. Every few minutes, I take stock of it and realize my neck is two inches shorter again. I'm feeling physical symptoms of stress, and I'm ashamed to be succumbing to it; it goes against my nature. What has always come naturally to me (looking on the sunny side) is now something I have to consciously will to the surface. Many of you know exactly what I'm talking about, as you have suffered great stress due to medical issues, job loss, etc. Whatever my complaints, I know that my worries pale in comparison to many of yours, so please don't interpret this as insensitivity on my part. Thank you for validating how I feel without saying, "Welcome to the real world."  I love you for that.

That's enough of me. How are you? Leave your FRIDAY FRAGMENTS link here:

23 comments:

  1. I think it's time someone bought you a really long 60 minute massage with some sweet aromatic oils and candles all over the room. Phew! Doesn't that sound great right about now? My neck feels better just typing the description of it... :) Hope you have a wonderful weekend including 10 smiles a day.. P.S. your sister sounds like a great woman! :)

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  2. linked-up thanks for hosting
    that stress - from what I've read and seen about your mom (thanks for sharing the clip) I would conclude that she would be a good source of stress relief and wisdom. My mom could do that for me and even now that's she's been gone for years, her memories still have a calming effect.

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  3. Thankfully my FB page has not had any of the things that you you've witnessed and for that I'm grateful. OR maybe I've just hidden all those folks from my page and I can't see them anymore. I have gone on a big unfriending kick a few times, just to get rid of the negativity of some.

    Anyway, if you start to feel tense maybe you should play the video of those kids running in the snow after the Pack won :) or your mom reading that message LOL

    That was so wonderful of your sister to say to you. Heartbreaking and wonderful.

    I'm going to try to link up tomorrow, I forgot and wrote something else for tonight - sheesh - where is my head!

    Love to you,
    Kristin

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  4. I think your sisters are lucky to have a sister like you.

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  5. I agree with Unknown Mami!
    Sorry you are having a hard time right now. I hope it passes and you are more easily able to relax and see the bright side of things. I am the kind of person who always has to work at that so I get it!

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  6. I hope that this weekend brings you relaxation and a chance to recharge.
    xoxoxoxo

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  7. I was going to suggest the same thing Leslie did...a massage!
    Yes, we do have to be careful when we're writing blogs. There are many things I'd like to say but have to keep in check...you never know who may be reading!
    I'm just about done with FB, too. It's beginning to be a big mess.Have a good weekend!

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  8. my hubby and i often talk about how the real world can just suck for adults!! remember those days when all we had to worry about was how far we planned to ride our bikes...if we were going to come home for lunch that day....

    sisters are great!! i only have 2, but i really love having sisters!

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  9. Agreed with the commenter who suggested that you go and get yourself a massage! You certainly deserve it.

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  10. I'm sorry for the stress you've been going through. I've been following what's going on in Wisconsin and I can understand why it's been hard on you. I hope you'll get some much-needed rest and relaxation this weekend.
    P.S. I think you sound like a really awesome teacher by the way.

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  11. I hope that things work out in a positive and beneficial way... and I hate that you're stressed and I think you MUST treat yourself to a massage!!

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  12. You have had quite the week! I'm sorry! My aunt is a union president for teachers in SoCal and they went through something similar about a year ago. It was very stressful and very ugly! I hope things work out!

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  13. It's been a long rough week, my friend, and we are all ready for the new beginnings of Spring! Hope your tension eases soon!

    Hugs!
    Beth

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  14. My oh my you have had a crazy week and I am very thankful you got to rally without being hurt.
    You do no that the unions are the bad guys right? They have sucked up and used all of your pensions and now the thugs are creating chaos which will be going from city to city.
    Our government as a whole has spent more than they had and the well is dry.
    My husband fought a 10% pay cut and guess what he ended up with..a 100% pay cut.
    Seriously I get the point and no one should ever diminish the crap teachers put up with these days but is 10% really worth all of this chaos?
    Does anyone deserve to give up a dime of already to low pay; no.
    But for the sake of peace and calm maybe yes.
    Your sister is wonderful and she is lucky to have you. It was like that in our house too and I refused to allow my kids to EVER hurt one another.
    I hope you get some peace and quiet this weekend.

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  15. Awww sweetie, stress can be a booger. I too hold my stress in my shoulders but hubs can manage to massage it right out and hangin' out with your Mom couldn't hurt any either. She's such a hoot!!! I love her. :o)

    God bless ya and have a stress~free relaxin' weekend!

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  16. I want to quit Facebook, but I don't because it's the only way my cousins communicate. So annoying!

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  17. I think worries are worries no matter how big or small. We all have issues in our lives that stress us out regardless of whatever else may be happening. Don't apologize. :)

    I would love to quit Facebook too but it really is the only way I communicate with a large portion of my family. Sad, huh?

    I am thinking anti-stress thoughts at you. :)

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  18. You have a great list of fragments here :) Many accomplishments, hope the shoulder gets better also
    kim

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  19. Your family makes me smile.

    When I read about that blogger, I thought of you. I think you do a great job sharing pieces of your life (which does sometimes include your job) without crossing the line.

    That video....so awesome! Thanks again for sending it to me.

    I hope that this weekend is a chance for you to relax and recharge and that next weeks goes much better. Also, I hope that everything in Wisconsin stops being insane, but you said we weren't going to talk about that.

    Happy Friday to you!!

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  20. I am so sorry that you are having such a stressful week! I understand why you feel the way that you do. I will say that Unknown Mami is right but I would like to add to her comment and say that I believe that we are ALL "lucky" to have you in our lives! Love you Sis!

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  21. Sorry about the stress and your shoulders. I get the same thing, but it's from online gaming.

    Yeah, Facebook is running its course. Isn't it?

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  22. Thankfully Facebook has a 'hide' option that I use when I don't like what some of my "friends" talk about. Makes life must less stressful in that regard. ;0) Sorry you're having FB issues though!!

    I, too, know the tension in the shoulders feeling. (((HUGS))) Hope your stress is relieved soon!

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  23. I'd admit to having a massage today, but then some dumbass would fault me for being rich enough to buy one :)

    Doreen, I agree with you. The teachers' union may claim to speak for all teachers, but it doesn't. At this point, paying union dues is not an option for teachers, though that will be changing soon, I think.

    For the record, I attended the rally in green bay this week not to necessarily speak out against Governor Walker, but to hear more about the issue and come to my own conclusions. I make a concerted effort to hear both sides. My biggest conflict in all of this is the hatred and venom spewed at ALL teachers. The last time I checked, I was an individual. Jesse Jackson, though he claims to, doesn't speak for all African Americans, for example; Overgeneralizations about certain groups of people are signs of ignorance. Demonizing all teachers is wrong.

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