07 Sep 2010
by in Books Tags: ferrari, forgiveness, holding a grudge, parents, religious faith, story author
Full title: “A Season of Loss, a Lifetime of Forgiveness: The Dan Snyder and Dany Heatley Story”
Author: John Manasso
In the fall of 2003, Dany Heatley and Dan Snyder were two of the best young players on the Atlanta Thrashers. but in a week in September 2003, all of that changed.
Heatley was driving Snyder home from a gathering the two were at, and his Ferrari was going well over the speed limit. Heatley lost control of the car, and both him and Snyder were thrown from the car. Heatley suffered extensive injuries that kept him out of the 2003-2004 season until January 2004, but Snyder died six days later.
Manasso wrote this book to take readers inside how much Heatley’s life changed after. After he described the accident scene and the conditions of both players, he went into detail about the charges and consequences Heatley was facing as well as the problems he dealt with in his professional life.
However, the book is more than that. It also talks about what Dan Snyder’s parents go through after losing their son. Instead of holding a grudge against Heatley, Snyder’s family focused on the positive. They used their strong religious faith to forgive Heatley and support him during his court trials rather than calling him names and blaming him for Dan’s death.
Review:
Three out of five stars.
The story of Snyder’s family and Heatley doing everything he can to move on is a touching one.
However, when Manasso went into the Snyders’ religious background, I temporarily lost interest in the story. The explanation of the Mennonite religion seemed to go on longer than necessary, and I would’ve preferred some of the space be used to go into further into the aftermath of the accident and any long-term consequences Heatley faced.
Authors: Martin Brodeur and Damien Cox (photos by Denis Brodeur)
Although I am a Penguins fan, Martin Brodeur is one of my favorite players. When I saw this book in Barnes and Noble, I was eager to read it.
This book takes us through Martin Brodeur’s NHL career. It was published in September 2007, so the content in the book comes before Brodeur’s officially broke the NHL shutouts record and even before the opening of the Prudential Center.
If you want to get this book, you will read about all three of Marty’s Stanley Cup wins with the Devils (1995, 2000, and 2003). He even takes you in to the locker room with him before a game. You’ll read about what he does to mentally and physically prepare himself for a game, right down to the order in which he puts on his equipment.
One of the interesting parts of the book describes Brodeur’s decision to let go of his agent and represent himself. It is an admirable, yet difficult, choice by an NHL player, and Brodeur describes the pros and cons of his decision.
Finally, there are some goodies for hockey history buffs. There is some background on Denis Brodeur’s hockey career and his accomplishments. Denis, Martin’s father, also provided some photographs for the book.
Review:
From learning about the way the game has changed over the years to following Brodeur’s career all the way to the modern era, there is something in here for everyone.
Author: Shawna Richer
Shawna Richer, a sports reporter from Toronto, moves to Pittsburgh for the 2005-2006 NHL season to follow Sidney Crosby during his first year in a Penguins uniform.
The 2005-2006 season was the first year the NHL returned to play following a lockout that cancelled the entire 2004-2005 season. with it came new rules and a talented class of rookies, and Richer was there for all of it.
She documents every milestone of Crosby’s first season, including his first professional goal during Pittsburgh’s home opener against the Boston Bruins, and his 100th point at the end of the season. After each game, she talks to Crosby about his thoughts on what the team could have done better or what was spot on for the Pens.
Some of the moments really show Crosby’s dedication to winning and being there for his teammates. For example, he plays in an 8-1 loss against the new York Rangers while fighting a sore throat that is so severe he can barely talk. He also runs up and down the arena steps after another particularly rough game.
The Penguins of 2005-2006 struggled greatly, so there are a lot of down moments discussed. Richer takes us into the firing of then-head coach Eddie Olczyk and the promotion of Michel Therrien. We also learn about how Crosby is perceived by opposing fans and players around the league.
Review:
Five stars. this is a must read for any Penguins fan, and it is great to see how far Pittsburgh has come after being the laughingstock of the NHL such a short time ago.
On a slightly humorous note, I suggest this book to anyone who thinks Crosby is a whiner. It will hopefully change your impression on who he really is.
Author: John Gilbert
Gilbert, a sportswriter for the Minnesota Tribune, tells the story of Herb Brooks’ illustrious coaching career in this book.
Gilbert and Brooks first formed a relationship when Gilbert covered the University of Minnesota Gophers hockey team that Brooks coached during the 70s. from behind the scenes action in the locker room between periods to the atmosphere at a college hockey game, Gilbert starts off the first few chapters of the book by recalling the ups and downs of Brooks’ time with the Gophers.
Of course, there is no way you can write a book about Brooks with talking about the Miracle on Ice. Gilbert tells us about what Brooks went through to pick his team and how he got them ready to take on the mighty USSR team at the Lake Placid Olympics. this part is especially interesting, because Gilbert even discusses differences between the movie “Miracle” and how things played out in reality.
Although many don’t think about Brooks’ coaching career after the Olympics, it is also a part of this book. Gilbert tells stories about Brooks’ stints with the new York Rangers, the Minnesota North Stars, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. He also went overseas to coach for a brief period of team and again coached the U.S. Olympic Team in the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Review:
Four out of five stars.
Before I read this book, I knew almost nothing about Brooks’ career before the 1980 Olympics. I enjoyed the stories about Brooks coaching in the NCAA and the NHL.
Needless to say, this is a must read for every hockey fan.
Author: Kevin Allen
It is hockey’s most prized possession and is possibly the greatest trophy in sports history.
This book is filled with over 50 years of stories about the Stanley Cup. You will get hooked from the beginning when the foreword talks about what it means to players to win the Cup.
Dallas Drake of the Detroit Red Wings felt his legs turn to Jello when he finally lifted the Cup in 2008.
Teemu Selanne, who had been in the NHL for over 10 years when he won the Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007, cried on the bench when Anaheim defeated the Ottawa Senators to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.
Ray Bourque’s teammates and Colorado Avalanche fans devoted the entire 2001 playoff campaign to winning a cup for the veteran defenseman who had not yet won a Cup in his career.
These are just some of the stories you will read about in this book.
You will also read about the places the Cup has been over the years, a great time for anyone who was drawn into a story such as Patrick Kane taking the Cup to Niagara Falls.
There is a lot of hockey history to absorb. back in the mid 20th century, players did not have a day with the Cup as they do today. You will get to find out what players did with the Cup back in those days, and there is still no shortage of fascinating stories to tell. You will even learn about the first time a winning team took the Cup around the ice and even let fans touch it.
There are also some great stories about the Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers, and new York Islanders dynasties.
This book covers each Stanley Cup win up until 2009, when the Penguins captured their first title in 17 years.
Review:
Simply put, if you are an NHL fan and want to curl up with a good book, buy this one.
I can’t think of another book that is as essential to a hockey fan’s bookshelf as “Then Wayne Said to Mario…”
Hockey Books All NHL Fans Should Read
01 Sep 2010
by in Stieg Larsson Tags: childcare centers, department of social services, florida boulevard, nbsp, parents
By David Spunt – bio | email
BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) – more than 800 childcare centers across Louisiana are pulling the plug on a popular state-offered security service.
What if a stranger tried to pick up your child from daycare? With a scan of your fingerprint, a new machine named TOTS will make sure that never happens.
The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), formerly known as the Department of Social Services, announced Thursday 837 childcare centers across the state have decided to stop using the state's TOTS program.
The program is an electronic machine that allows a parent to scan their fingerprint when they drop off their kids at daycare. It's used strictly for security and attendance purposes.
Sandra Chenevert co-owns “A Place To Grow” on Florida Boulevard. She, along with thousands of daycares across the state, began using the new TOTS technology this week. The voluntary program was put in place in daycares that accept children whose families get CCAP funding from the state. Parents who get the funding must scan in every day. Parents who don't, simply type in a code.
“I've had a few parents express that it was a little humiliating to use and they were embarrassed because they were scanning and other parents were asking why they didn't have to scan,” Chenevert said.
According to DCFS, if you don't use TOTS, you don't get the funding. So, why drop out of a free program with money attached? Ruth Johnson, secretary of DCFS, said the losers are the daycares who have decided to opt out of the free program.
“One of the main reasons I think people may have dropped out is there has been some fraud and we have seen cases in other states,” she said.
DCFS believes some daycares inflate numbers to get more funding. Johnson said TOTS will eventually stop that kind of fraud.
Click here to view a list of daycare centers canceling the program
Click here for more on TOTS
Copyright 2010 WAFB. All rights reserved.
WAFB Channel 9, Baton Rouge, LA
21 Aug 2010
by in Books Tags: concentration, decade, new addition, parents, relatives
About this time a year, I get a lot of calls from friends and relatives buying PCs for their kids for school. this time, I’m noticing a new addition to the list as an alternative that some of the kids are pitching: the iPad. My general rule for parents is that they should buy what the child needs; if the child wants something unique and special, they should earn the difference because, in my experience, they will take much better care of any device they had to work for and these things aren’t cheap.
Check with the SchoolFor this question, you start with the school your kids will be going to and find out what it is set up to support. In the 90s, most schools actually seemed to prefer Macs. last decade, they switched to PCs, but started getting much more balanced by the end of the decade. However, particularly in college, some areas of concentration still favor one or the other, with Macs most consistently favored for art-related studies and some social sciences, and PCs most other areas. Find out what the power and networking requirements are, and what brands the school has a relationship with. If there are any group buying plans in place, that could save you money.
PC vs. Mac vs. TabletIf the school prefers a Mac, then bite the bullet and go with that. But, if not, then a PC is cheaper, and if your kid wants a Mac, or any premium product, find a way to help her or him earn the difference. Macs, and this is true of most premium boxes, have a higher chance of getting stolen or trashed, and once again, that skin in the game is important.
A tablet, and for now we are only talking iPads, is an interesting alternative, but it can’t be used entirely to replace a Mac or PC, and would be used in conjunction with a desktop or full-featured laptop. These things are actually pretty good for notes, but make sure you kid actually takes them and won’t sit in class playing with the device, rather than paying attention. In addition the Wi-Fi setup on an iPad can be troublesome, and virtually no schools I know of fully support it yet (Update 8/18/2010: Apple has recently added a patch update that addresses these WiFi issues). So, for now, unless you child is very technically proficient, I’d suggest they buy the iPad and you focus on a more traditional machine.
Size and ConfigurationThis depends on how it will be used. If it will be going to most every class, then smaller laptop (which generally is cheaper) is better. your kid may want something with a huge screen and massive power, but coupled with the mass of books they also have to carry, you might actually cause them to do harm to their backs. on the other hand, if it will just be sitting on a desk , then you might want to consider an all-in-one or a desktop computer instead, with a 23-inch screen. you can actually buy one of these for less than most notebooks, they are harder to steal, and they can better double as an Internet TV in a dorm or bedroom if needed.
You can get pretty good buys on big laptops, but I’d generally favor a smaller laptop, and if the student needs a big screen add get a monitor and keep the weight down. there is a lot of discussion about cores, but few applications can use more than two, and even in gaming rigs, it is still more of the exception than the rule that three or more cores are needed. However, the market is beginning to move to higher-resolution browsers, so for those not buying Macs, I’d look for products that support DirectX11 (which is the new graphics standard for everything Microsoft) to avoid premature obsolescence. for a Mac, just get the current model. a minimum of 2GB of memory is advised, knocking out some of the low-end netbooks, and anything you look at will likely have more than enough hard drive. Avoid high-gloss plastics without a pattern, and real metals if you have a choice, because these tend to require more care than metallic plastics and pattern finishes.
Look for battery life of five hours or more, or plan to pick up a spare battery if you chose a laptop and the school hasn’t been upgraded for power to the seats. If it has, then battery life doesn’t matter as much.
Brands and UpsellingCurrently, I’m not aware of any blacklisted brands at the moment, but I would avoid store brands or unbranded machines because there is no way to assure quality, and lugging or shipping it back home for you to get fixed at the store where you bought it will be no fun for either of you. Lead with whatever the school has a buying program for, but always check to see if you can get a similar configuration cheaper at best Buy or on the Web. sometimes, school discounts are out of touch with reality, and prices may be lower at a normal store.
Be careful about upselling; remember that if you buy a more premium product, it may make you child a target for a thief who will tend to select the most valuable products to steal. it isn’t the cost of that laptop that is important, it’s that your child could lose too much of their work to recover.
Backup Solution and SecuritySchools often offer backup offerings and recommend security software products. Remind your child to use them, and if a school-sanctioned version of either isn’t available, use an online backup service (I prefer Mozy) and an anti-virus product (Microsoft security essentials is free for Windows users). I would recommend the computer be password protected, so other kids can’t get easy access and pull pranks like formatting the hard drive and it does make the computer less attractive to a thief.
Wrapping UpWhile it is fun to spoil our children, it is actually better to have them pay for part of a purchase if they want something special, because it will be more likely to be lost or stolen if they don’t take better care of it. If they help pay for the computer, they generally will take better care of it. Remember to start with the school, and what they recommend for the course of study your child it taking. Make sure the computer is properly secured. I’d recommend a Kensington lock but only if you can get your kid to use it. maybe reminding them that they will be buying the next one or working out of the library if they don’t lock it up will help that.
Eventually, iPad-like devices may be a better choice for students than laptops, but not this year. they are probably more of a distraction and magnet for thieves than anything else at the moment, but that may not be true everyplace, and if you go that route and find it works, well I’d love to hear from you.
Good hunting, and lets all be glad it is our children and not us that are going back to school. I still have nightmares about being late for class or being lost on campus.
Picking a Computer for Back to School
16 Aug 2010
by in Sookie Stackhouse Tags: ball bat, nbsp, parents, safety equipment
Spring is well underway, which means its T-Ball season. One of the most common questions that parents and coaches of new players have concerns purchasing equipment for their teams and for their children. we thought it was time to address many of those questions, in order to give you some guidance on how to go about selecting the right equipment for your players.
For those of you who are new coaches and are wondering what kind of equipment you can expect to receive for your team, typically, your league’s equipment manager will contact you and they will give you instructions on where and when to pick up your team’s equipment. you will normally receive an equipment bag with a tee, a box of tee-balls for practices and games,3 to 4 helmets with chin straps, and a tee-ball bat or two. Actual number of items will vary based upon your leagues discretion.
One piece of safety equipment to be aware of is a heart guard. this piece of protective gear, when worn properly, will prevent a player from receiving serious injury if hit with a batted tee-ball in chest around the heart area. if the league requires a heart guard be worn, each parent or coach must abide by this rule. however, eve if the league does not require a heart guard, I would make sure the parents of your players are aware of it so they can decide if they want their children to wear one.
Glove sizes range from a size 8 to 11 in ½ increments depending on the size of your child’s hand. the size is normally indicated on each glove. a good bench mark is to have your child try on the glove and ask them to squeeze it. if they are having trouble closing the glove, it is probably too big. the glove should also adequately cover the lower portion of the palm at the beginning of the wrist. Glove manufacturers have made great improvements over the years in which most gloves do not require a tremendous amount of “breaking in”. ”Breaking in” a glove is opening and closing the glove to remove some of its initial stiffness. there is nothing like the feeling of a broken-in glove. its always good to keep a baseball or tee-ball in the glove at all times when not in use. the beauty of glove leather is it has a memory and by placing a ball in the glove when not in use, the glove pocket will take the shape of the ball.
Most tee-ball leagues will provide one tee-ball bat, so if parents would like to purchase their own bat, I would recommend doing so. Tee-ball bats range in length and weight. To find the right size bat for your child, have your child pick out a bat they like and hold the bat in their power hand (the left hand for right handed batters and the right hand for left handed batters) with the arm and bat fully extended and parallel to the ground. the child should hold this position for 30 seconds and if the arm and bat do not sag and lose their parallel position with the ground, the size is correct for your child. in general, we always have our players err on the lighter side.
Coaches and parents should check their league’s national and local rules to determine if there are any restrictions on bats, as some national and local league rules only allow official tee-ball bats. other leagues have no restrictions, therefore, youth league bats are permissible. Parents should read the verbiage on the bat to determine if the bat is a tee-ball bat or a youth league bat. Youth league bats are a bit longer and heavier than tee-ball bats and these bats are usually intended for older children in tee-ball or in coach pitch levels. Youth league bats are measured by a length to weight difference (e.g., a -14.5 youth league bat can be 28-1/2 inches in length and weighs 14 ounces). Weight and length can vary in each bat.
We tell our parents that batting gloves are optional. we really would not recommend them at this age because we feel the player should just use his or her bare hands to get the feel of the batted ball . the player can experiment with batting gloves when he or she moves up to coach pitch level where the impact of the batted ball and caught ball come more into play.
Rubber-cleated baseball shoes (never metal-spiked baseball shoes) should be used in lieu of sneakers to assist in getting a good firm grip on the field when running, batting, and fielding. we want the children to have confidence when they are running and making plays and a wet field without cleated shoes can lead to slips and falls.
I would also suggest ALL tee-ball players wear a protective cup. there are protective cups for both boys and girls, each a bit dimensionally different. Players should get used to wearing protective cups as they will be required or recommended at the next playing level also. Check your local and national league rules for information on this protective gear.
Some parents buy batting helmets for their children for sanitary reasons (potential sources of hair lice). we recommend a batting helmet that can be adjusted to fit players of different ages and head sizes. Batting helmets for girls usually have a curved-diamond-shaped hole at the back of the helmet for their pony tails. many leagues require helmets to include chin straps. As a child reaches the next two levels of play, coach-pitch and kid-pitch, a wire face guard is available for installation on the helmet model you purchase. Fasteners and plastic/metal anchors are supplied with the wire face guard for easy installation. Some leagues require this wire face guard when you reach these levels. Check your national and local league rules.
Finally we recommend that you purchase a small equipment bag to store and transport your player’s equipment. please be sure to write each player’s name in indelible marker on the player’s glove, bat, helmet, and batting gloves. Equipment Identification makes it easy for players to claim loose equipment after practices and games.
We hope you found this article helpful and we wish you and your children the best T-Ball experience possible!
Coaching T-Ball – Choosing the Right Equipment
14 Aug 2010
by in Uncategorized Tags: parents, what the heck
what are your opinions on Kirklands diapers? they have wonderful prices…..how r they as far as holding in everything?? Would you recommend using them or not? thanks.
I don't know about the infant diapers, but I used to work for a daycare where I overlooked a bunch of 2 year olds. After nap they can fill those things up really well! lol
A couple of parents provided kirkland brand diapers, even though Pampers seemed to be the most popular. I noticed no difference! Every once in a while a diaper will leak, but the kirkland brand held up just as good as all the others.
I used them for my last two babies. they work just fine….
You know what to be honest. they hold up really well. when I first had my daughter I always had to buy her pampers. then as she got older and now things are really expensive. I thought what the heck, lets try them. And they are great. I would try them if I were you and if you don't like them just don't buy them again.
my mother in law bought me a huge case of them. they aren't great, honestly. they don't hide smell at all and they leak. they are ok for frequent changes during the day, but if your baby sleeps in one, they will literally wake up in a puddle. I buy LUVS now. cheap, good leak protection, lightly scented. just all around better.
If your baby had basic bowel movements than it should be fine. I stopped usisng kirkland when my son was having explosive movements. they just didnt hold it in. other than that, they are fine, and thier prices are great. Did you see the kirkland wipes at costco. 8 packs for 15 dollars. Now THAT is a deal.
They really do work great. I can put my baby in one at night and by morning there is still no leaking or anything like that. they hold liquid well and since I have started using them I have saved money but also my baby has had very few diaper rashes. I would definately recommend them.
i love these diapers. my boyfriend works there so it seem right to try them. i have tried other because everyone gave me diapers for my baby shower but these are the best. she has had a few leaks of poo when she was younger. but these seem to fit the best around her. we have used them since she was born. she is now 10 months old. i have had to put other diapers on her when i ran out before my bf could bring another case home and they all sucked.
these diapers are a great deal and one case usually lasts for about a month for us.
get the wipes too. they are sturdy and cost effective. in 10 months i think i used maybe 2 cases. (they work great for cleaning too though)
Kirkland (costco brand) diapers ?
27 Jul 2010
by in Uncategorized Tags: cell phone, dad, parents, sleep
In my 11 years of watching children this might of happened twice- when I was 15 and after the kids were in bed. it just so happened that the parents came home while I was resting (incredibly ironic). instead of waking me they just let me sleep until I woke up- I was only down for about 20 minutes with my cell phone and baby's room near by. the father was there when I got up and acted strangely but didn't say anything. (I heard someone near the room but I thought it was the house creaking). the baby slept on for another 45 minutes after I woke. before I left for the evening they both (mom and dad) cornered me (literally) and made me feel about an inch big. I felt awful and after they grilled me for 20 minutes I burst into tears. of course I apologized and understood why they confronted me but I felt like it was a little harsh and still can't understand why they didn't wake me when they saw me sleeping. I am a full time evening student and work 45 hours a week. it was a bad day for me but I want to know how other people feel about this situation. was I severely wrong? has this happened to anyone before?
I think they overreacted. I don't know any parent who hasn't gotten a case of the sleepies when the baby went down. taking care of a baby is exhausting. Often, the only time you have a moment to yourself is when the baby is asleep. perhaps if they were around to parent thier child for themselves, they might actually know this.
Well, if I were them I would have woke you up when I saw you sleeping. but they had a right to be mad, but at the same time their baby was asleep and stayed asleep too. It's not like the child was running around the house getting into things.
My (ex) best friend used to watch my baby and she used to fall asleep on the couch, but my baby would be awake jumping in his exersaucer (and he was always in that thing from the time I left until I came home on lunch, like he never moved). so needless to say I yelled at her and she's never watched him since……but this is kinda different from your story.
If you haven't smoothed things over with them, I would suggest you say sorry again so you can keep the job.
I don't know why they had such a problem with that. I would see if the baby was crying and you were sleeping through that, but they should have woke you up. if I were them I would not have cared as long as my daughter was sleeping also.
Hey …I nap when my son is napping…so I can totally understand using the downtime to recuperate…then again…I'm not "on the clock" when I'm doing it. but still I don't think it's a huge deal.
Personally…I think they probably over reacted…I'd be much more pissed if I came home and baby was AWAKE and you were sleeping…lol.
I think I would explain to them that it had been a hard day and baby was sleeping…
You took a cat nap, while the child was safe in her crib sleeping…it's not like you were dangling the baby from an open window while doing tequila shots…my god.
I am a nanny as well but my family is great. (sorry) I am allowed to nap if the baby is sleeping as long as I have the monitor. They sleep at night right? I would not beat myself up about this. I mean, don't make it a habit but everyone has their days. They should have woken you up and talked to you in a respectful way. I'm sorry and maybe you should find a more understanding family.
I don't see it as a problem at all, it's not like the child was still awake or anything, nothing went wrong at all, and if they were really angry, they probably should've woke you. maybe they were having a bad day or just really protective of their kid, but I have baby sat before and when you fall a sleep, some things can go just as wrong as when your awake.
What they did was wrong, you were not putting the baby in any danger. the baby was sleeping and i am sure if the baby would have cried you would have gotten up! They did not have to corner you and make you feel so bad. Things happen and life goes on they should be more understanding!
You Didn't do Anything Wrong and Don't Ever Think that.
If They Were so 'Excellent' Then Why Dint They Stay with the Children?
Your Human at the end of the Day Not Superwoman.
Don't go Back To Them and Apologise They Sound Like over Protective Parents that need a Reality Check.
X
i dont think u were wrong this can happen to anyone but try to understand the parents they were probably just worried for their child although if he was in his crib i cant think of anything bad that would have happened even if he did wake up while u were nappin,they were a little harsh on u
Wow. As a parent, I still fail to see the huge problem here. you would have woken up if the baby woke up, and you could hear the phone. As a mom, when my baby son slept, so did I. do they go to sleep at night when the baby sleeps, or do they sit up all night watching the baby sleep? I babysat a lot as a teen, and when the kids went to sleep and I stayed really late, I would fall asleep on the couch and the parents would wake me up when they got home. and that's what they told me to do. sometimes they said it would be so late just to bring my pajamas and spend the night so they wouldn't have to wake me up and drive me home in the middle of the night. It's not like you were watching toddlers and fell asleep while they roamed the house getting into things and endangering themselves. seriously, these parents need a little perspective. Sounds like they took their bad days out on you.
I did some baby sitting when I was younger and I can't see why this was such a bad situation for you as long as the children were in bed and asleep. I do believe that everyone over reacted to this incident. Try to catch yourself a nap before you go babysitting next time so you don't run into this problem again.
Perhaps they had a bad day and took it out on you by overreacting. honestly it's not that big a deal as long as the baby was asleep too. I once had a sitter that watched my son for 9 hours and didn't change his diaper once! and to top it off when I got home my houes looked like a tornado hit it and I found batteries on my floor that my son easily could've put in his mouth; yet the sitter was playing video games!! Your better believe I fired her A$$!!!
You however did not deserve to be yelled at for something so silly.
Depending on your track record I would say that is a little harsh. I nap often when my kids go down for naps. especially if it was a long night, long day or whatever. the fact is, as long as you are present and the children are asleep, I don't see it as a huge deal. People do go to bed at night while there children sleep. so I don't see why a little nap was a terrible thing.
If that was me in that situation, I would of likely woke you up, asked how the kids had been and made sure you got home safely. Now if the kids were running around, playing with the pots and pans while you had a nap then that would of been a different story. but if it was bed time, I don't see why its a big deal as long as you have a good track record and the kids were fast asleep.
Back in my babysitting days I used to nap after the kids were in bed. usually because the parents were staying out fairly late. As soon as I heard them wake up I would tend to them, but if they were out, there was nothing on TV I wanted to watch, it could get pretty boring and it wouldn't take long before the eyes start to droop.
Anyhow! with a good track record and the more important stuff checking out, I would definitely hire someone like you. so don't worry about it =)
i think they overreacted. i watch my neighbors 22 month old a few times a week at night. ive been watching him since he was born. since i watch him at night, i almost always fall asleep after he goes to bed. the parents don't mind (they are also good friends of mine tho). when you are sleeping in the same house as a baby, you are always aware of the smallest noises you hear. i always wake up when i hear him cry and i put him back to sleep and i go back to sleep. its no big deal. as long as you're not sleeping while the kid is playing in the living room or something then i don't see a big deal.
Yes its happened to me too. I've only been watching kids for a few years. Right now I'm watching a pair of sisters from 2:30 in the afternoon till midnight the older one is 18months and the younger one is 7 months. the older one is quite a handful, she's all over the place and into everything I think (just my opinion) that she has some hyperactivity or something going on(it runs in the family). the little one is the best baby she only fusses when shes hungry or wet and doesn't mind just watching and entertaining herself. so when I get them both to sleep at the same time it's like a silent blessing. I have fallen asleep with them, lucky for me their mother is very understanding, she didn't say much just that I needed to make sure I was alert and listening for them. Why wouldn't they have woken you? That's very odd on their part. and in my opinion if it was a little baby nine chances out of ten if you point them down for the night they most likely will stay asleep. and they are in a crib they can't crawl out yet so what was the harm? for what your going threw with school and working no I'd say your not wrong. it is very hard to do it all and still keep going, we all run out of steam at some point. I don't think your wrong, don't dwell on it and make yourself sick. Things happen it could have happened to anyone. I mean what if one of the parents was there with the baby by themselves and they fell asleep while the baby was sleeping? What's the difference, nothing. Everything will be ok. Hope I helped.
I don't see a problem with you sleeping if the kids were. I mean, I do this all the time at home. someone with kids should have understood. so, no, you didn't do anything wrong. if you were looking after my daughter, I wouldn't have had any problem with you sleeping if she was.
I just went home on my lunch break and my son was playing in the bathroom while his dad had dozed off on the couch. Welcome to adulthood; sometimes you are just tired. this is no biggie and I bet that they have done it; they are just peeved that they cannot sleep on the job. you were only severely wrong for taking them as clients.
I think they extremely overreacted. I use to always nap when my daughters napped, but always woke up when I heard them. All moms/nannies need a nap once in a while. I see nothing wrong as long as the child is not being neglected for you to sleep, but it doesn't sound like this at all.
I don't know about the protocol for nannies, but as a teen babysitter it was ok for me to sleep on the couch after the kids were in bed if the parents were out late, AND every mom I know of, and most parenting books advise it, naps with the child. I don't see what the problem was, but then again, they are paying you to be alert and awake. I would say its THEIR opinion of what is expected that really matters because they are paying you (and that is the only point, that you were getting paid to sleep).
If it was your child you were in the right, way right.
You may talk to them about it calmly. explain your being tired. ask if they could just deduct that 30 min a day from your pay or something. Then again, they may be those paranoid parents that think that if someone isn't staring at their child 24/7 they will not survive. Remember, they pay you so if you have issues with them you are free to go find someone else to be your boss.
Again, napping with a child is acceptable if you are the one calling the shots, but when being paid you are under someone elses standards.
I have been a nanny for 6 years and have a great track record except recently I feel asleep during nap time.?
20 Jul 2010
by in Uncategorized Tags: dreams, parents, staying home, swing, true success
Josh Hamilton is a true success story. he has had it all, hit rock bottom, and now he is truly back at the top of the mountain. As a boy, he became interested in baseball at a very early age, and was so good at the game that he was placed in much older leagues before he was even ten years old. he had such a strong arm and powerful swing that he was thought to be a danger to the boys his own age that he played little league baseball with.
As he became older, he carried on the strong morals that his parents instilled in him while still a young boy. he was taught that family is the most important thing in life and found joy in staying home on nights when his friends were out risking trouble. he entered high school and began to realize immediately that he had major league potential and made it his goal to reach the big leagues. his dreams came true when he graduated high school and was signed number one in the major league draft, accepting an offer and signing bonus of over four million dollars.
Hamilton’s transition to stardom and becoming a man was awkward. his parents followed him through the minor leagues to make sure he did get into trouble and some of his teammates and coaches found this strange. he was sheltered all of his life, and now at his job, they were still sheltering him.
When his parents finally gave him freedom, Hamilton began to exhibit questionable behavior. he got over a dozen tattoos within a short period of time and started to experiment with drugs with the men who gave him his tattoos. Hamilton hit a slippery slope and began doing more and more drugs. part of it was the feeling of the drugs, but the drugs also took his mind of back pains he was experiencing from a car accident.
Josh Hamilton eventually started hanging out with the wrong crowds. he started becoming paranoid about buying drugs and spending enormous sums of money to gain access to hard drugs. he passed out in random trailers and blacked out on many occasions due to the large amounts of drugs he was consuming, but always had the love of family and the natural talent in baseball to bring him back into the light.
He eventually went to his grandmother’s house in the middle of the night, and she was responsible for changing his life. she constantly told him that he would be playing baseball again one day with a reassuring confidence. she fed him all the food he could handle and gave him a place to sleep. Josh gained weight rapidly and began thinking that a comeback to baseball was a good possibility; but he had no idea who would want to give a worn-out drug-addict another chance.
Hamilton found his answer in a religious baseball group that forced him to perform janitorial chores during the day in order to gain field and batting cage practice in the evenings. he noticed that he still had an amazing swing and with weight training he was back into top shape in no time.
Josh knew the right people in the right places at the right time, and was called upon by the Cincinnati Red’s major league organization. he made an impact right away, but was eventually traded to the Texas Rangers. while in the Ranger’s organization, he began to start every game and made the All-Star Team. he proved that he had his swing all along; he just needed a push in the right direction to realize his true potential.
One thing to take away from beyond Belief is that family is the most important thing a person will ever have. Sometimes you may not notice it, but it is easy to be lost in the world without family and the assurance that someone is there for you. Luckily for Josh Hamilton, his parents and wife stuck with him throughout his entire addiction and recovery process. his wife has proven to be a remarkable woman and his grandmother showed strength that no one else could. This autobiography is an excellent read if you like baseball or not. Hamilton’s story is an amazing success story that makes you appreciate family and living a healthy life. This book is rated an easy 5 out of 5.
Book Review – “Beyond Belief” by Josh Hamilton
20 Jul 2010
by in Uncategorized Tags: 15 minutes of fame, delinquency, mtv, music, parents, tough guy
(Page 1 of 10) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | most Recent | Next 15 Comments 3.
Clean house! Get rid of that fugly Snooki mess first. these people are all a joke. Their 15 minutes of fame should have ended last year
4.
They are all gay, who cares. this show is personally responsible for the recent delinquency of my wife. I swear she is “stupider,” with a direct correlation to this show. -Texas
5.
NEXT!!! MTV is just playing tough guy. They will not get rid of any of them, MTV are a bunch of p*ssies. Kill the show already!!! it sucked when it started and it sucks now.More than have of them will be dead from skin cancer in a year or two anyway.
6.
They ACTUALLY all SUCK.
THis is American youth at it’s worse; the parents must really be proud to have raised DOPES.
7.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SUCESS GO TO THERE HEADS I WOULD JUST REPLACE THEM OR SHUT DOWN THE SHOW
8.
just cancel the show and put something of worth on-they all need to go. MTV needs to go back to “PLAY SOME MUSIC!”
9.
I can’t be the only person who doesn’t watch any form of reality tv, but the press tmz gives these tools makes me wonder.
FFS, of *course* they are expendable. It’s not like they are A list crème de la crème talent.
I really hope that a day comes when trash like this is off the airwaves.
10.
I am sure there are a lot of immature people with over sized egos who act irresponsible they can find to replace them.
11.
MTV..I agree-what happened to the music? Come on-get those fools off of there! I havent watched MTV since the music died.
12.
Hey MTV, very few people were watching this show initially – and you know it. Snooki got punched in the head, it got a lot of publicity, and people tuned in to watch. A few of them stuck around to watch the rest of the season and then the season rebroadcast because these Jersey idiotse are freaks. it was like slowing down to see a traffic accident. you didn’t catch lightening in the bottle, it was simply a fluke. Get over yourselves. move on to the next thing. We’re bored with these losers.
14.
please drop the entire show. I dont want to see any of their faces ever again. They are retarded; and I dont understand why the show is still on!
15.
I agree… pull the plug and put back on the music videos. MTV get back to the music and stop with the crap!!!
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | most Recent | Next 15 Comments
'Jersey Shore' Producers — They're All Expendable
16 Jul 2010
by in Uncategorized Tags: intoxication, mustang high school, mustang school, parents, suggestion
Copyright ©2010. The Associated Press. Produced by NewsOK.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 
Schools and drug experts are warning parents to beware of "digital drugs" that Mustang High School students blamed for their apparent intoxication.
Three students were sent to the principal’s office when they appeared to be high on drugs or alcohol in March, said Mustang School District Superintendent Bonnie Lightfoot. She said the kids explained that they had tried something called "i-dosers."
Young people plug into i-dosers through putting on headphones and downloading music and tones that create a supposed drug-like euphoria.
The technology is designed to combine a tone in each ear to create a binaural beat designed to alter brainwaves. Whether it was kids faking it, the power of suggestion or a high wasn’t clear to administrators who investigated the students’ claims. Adding to the mystery was the fact that these kids weren’t troublemakers. So the worried Lightfoot sent parents a letter warning them to be aware of this new temptation to kids.
"The parents’ reaction was the same as mine. Just shocked," Lightfoot said. "You’ve got to be kidding."
Now other schools and drug experts are concerned about this trend just hitting Oklahoma.
"I think it’s very dangerous," said Karina Forrest-Perkins, chief operating officer of Gateway to Prevention and Recovery in Shawnee. While there are no known neurological effects from digital drugs, they encourage kids to pursue mood altering substances, she said.
Some parents have called the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and dangerous Drugs Control worried about i-dosing, said OBN spokesman Mark Woodward. he said the i-dosing effect is likely sort of a placebo rather than a valid threat to children’s brain waves.
"The bigger concern is if you have a kid wanting to explore this, you probably have a kid that may end up smoking marijuana or looking for bigger things," Woodward said.
The digital drug website features advertisements enticing young people to buy dangerous pills, the hallucinatory herb salvia and synthetic marijuana.
"It’s going to lead them to other web sites that will get them in trouble," Woodward said.
When young people go to one website to download digital drugs, they’ll find a product line featuring titles such as "alcohol," "opium," "marijuana" and "orgasm." The website shows the digital drugs have been downloaded more than 1 million times.
To sell more, the websites encourage users to write about their experiences on the site. One user said animals popped up and paint seemed to fall from the wall. Another user wrote, "I feel nothing. I’m starting to wonder if this is just a big ploy to get money from gullible customers." still others said they experienced euphoria or sensations similar to getting high on crack and other drugs.
A site says that the i-doses may not be downloaded by anyone under 18 years of age.
"Come on. You know they are," Forrest-Perkins said. "no one over 18 is trying to get stoned on a song."
Kids disappointed in their digital experience might try huffing paint or another chemical, or smoking marijuana or drinking alcohol, Forrest-Perkins said.
Woodward and Forrest-Perkins pointed out that no studies have concluded that binaural beats actually chemically alter the brain.
A 2005 University of South Florida study looked at whether children and young adults with ADHD could better focus by listening to binaural beats. But the results were inconclusive. The University of Virginia recently received a $357,000 grant to look at pain and anxiety therapies, primarily binaural beat stimulation.
Mental health counselor Jed Shlackman said he has successfully used CDs featuring binaural beats to help treat ADHD patients. he said binaural beats are relatively safe and no more dangerous than activities such as shopping or exercising done in excess by young people.
He said the binaural beats lack the intensity or withdrawal effects of some chemical drugs.
"If a parent notices a child is sitting around all the time with headphones on, they should look into what stresses are happening in the child’s life … and deal with it in a constructive way," Shlackman said.
Lightfoot said like Mustang High School parents, she’s shocked over the digital drugs.
"what worries me is the ease in which some people can sell things to kids by saying that it’s supposed to be mood altering," she said. "It’s a real moneymaker out there."
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‘Digital drugs’ at Mustang High School have experts warning of slippery slope
27 Jun 2010
by in Uncategorized Tags: darkness, heading home, mule creek, parents, san angelo texas, toad
SAN ANGELO, Texas —How often do you wake up and find a toad hippity-hopping across your bed?
The medium-sized toad jumped out of the ice cream pail that Inkwell (a.k.a. Jim) had set on the bed. around here, a person never knows what to expect, even when you are taking a siesta.
The little feller came hopping in from nowhere last night and stooped for a spell about three feet from Inkwell. The busy character didn’t like the pail or the house, of course, so we put him on the porch. He hopped away in the darkness and was probably heading home, eh?
—
It was the grandest day to meet mrs. Smith, born in 1913, at the Opera House in Miles last Tuesday. as soon as I said Tennyson is home, she told us about walking to Mule Creek School with my daddy and his siblings and the Corley children.
What is more fun than hearing about your parents when they were kids? It is mind-boggling to say the least. I made 12 enlarged copies of a 1930 photo of 20 students and their instructor standing on the big porch of the Tennyson school (now a community center.) I’ll carry a photo to her later this week; and again she and her daughter and I will chat about the old-time day til the cows come home (or the opera house closes.)
I bid you farewell and happy trails until next time.
Send your column to: my Turn, P.O. Box 5111, San Angelo TX 76902. Columns may be also sent by fax to 325-659-8173 or e-mailed to mysanangelo@gosanangelo.com. please include a daytime telephone number.
© 2010 San Angelo Standard Times. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 
MY TURN: Latest visitor was a little bit jumpy
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