Are We Getting Lazier?

My daughter is finishing up a Shakespeare unit at school. She was on the computer yesterday asking me what England was like during Shakespeare's time. 
Well, I walked right over to my office and picked my copy of "Shakespeare's England" off my bookshelves. I handed it to her. "This has everything you need," I said. 
She took one look at it and shook her head. "Who has time to read that? I just need to Google on the computer and paste it." 

She didn't even open the book.
 
I've just discovered a major difference between my generation and hers. Not sure how I feel about that.

I remember going to libraries and getting frustrated because the big reference books I needed couldn't be checked out. They had to stay IN the library. So I had to get pencils and paper and write down NOTES. I had to WORK for my homework. I had to search through dusty card catalogs and go on hunts for the books I needed, and I checked them out. Then I had to READ them at home, and pluck what info I could from them and use it.

Fast forward to now and any info you need is a Google search away--and you can just use it any way you please. You can copy and paste right into your document. Its as simple as that.

I guess I understand why my kids have more homework than I did when I was their age. Because their resources and technology are faster and more accessible, therefore they can get more done in a shorter time. 

I'm wondering if we should even call it "homeWORK" anymore. ;-)

Heart Broken

I'm taking a break from wit today, since I don't have any. I'm upset by the devastation in Oklahoma, but worse, about the elementary school deaths.

Remember as kids, growing up, we'd have the "tornado drills?" The teacher would tell us to crouch underneath our desks? I always wondered what it would be like to be in an actual tornado.

I found out, years later, in my late twenties. I was working at Dillards in Sugarland, Texas, and a tornado tore the side off my store. It was terrifying. It was devastatingly loud. No one was killed, thankfully, but we were all shaken up and freaked out.

My own kids are scared of tornadoes. Whenever we get a "Tornado Watch" or "Warning," I reassure them that they will be safe, that they need to go to sleep and not worry. And they believe me, because something that horrible doesn't happen all the time.

I think of those poor children in Moore. They were in their schools. They knew it was coming. They were terrified. And then it hit them dead on. I can't wrap my head around what they must have experienced.  Makes me want to hug my kids a little closer, today.

My prayers go out to the vicitms and their families. I have some links for donations if anyone feels inclined.

If you want to donate to help the disaster victims, you can donate at the Red Cross: Red Cross Disaster Relief fund

Or, more local to the victims,  the Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief's Website. This organization says donations will "go straight to help those in need providing tree removal services, laundry services and meals to victims of disasters."
It is requesting monetary donations (It says clothing is NOT needed). For more information, and to donate, visit Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief's website.

The Slenderman Costume.

I'm a little "late" posting this, but some years, Thing Two has some REALLY great costumes. You should have seen the "Link" (Legend of Zelda) costume I did for him one year. You can click here to see it.

Anyway, last Halloween he wanted to be Slenderman. Apparently there's this freaky, faceless, black-suit-and-tie-wearing freakazoid out there in Gameland, running around and his faceless face is the last thing you see if you aren't careful and get away from him. Which means GAME OVER. Oh, and he has freakishly long arms.

So, Thing Two wanted to be him. I had fun building this costume. All I needed was a black suit, shirt, black tie, (he already had these for church) 2 yards of black fabric to extend the arms, and a white Morph Suit.

Behold, the end result:

His friends he went Trick-or-Treating with took a few pictures of him in the woods. Because you usually encounter Slenderman in the woods.

Creepy. But awesome.

Antsy Pantsy

School is almost out, Summer weather is officially here, they're opening up the neighborhood pool next weekend (yay!) and I have a SERIOUS case of Ants-in-the-pants. Why, you ask? A lot of things, I guess.

I'm antsy about my submissions. The time an agent takes to get back to you now is about 7000% longer than it was ten years ago.

I'm antsy for school to be out. Summer is the best. I will have more time to write. ;-)

I'm antsy because my mom is having knee surgery Monday. On the other knee. I just want her to be all healthy and bionic already.

I'm antsy because I have about 958363868 things on my To Do list, and none of them are things I want to do.

I'm antsy because I'm turning older soon and I feel about 20 years younger than I am. I don't know if it's the gift of emotional immaturity, or what, but I do NOT feel my age.

I could go on, but I don't want to bore everyone. Just know I'm "antsy" and I have a lot going on.

Scratch scratch.