Darling Hubby and I share a passion for many things; a love of hiking and the outdoors, strategic board games, and a fondness for the Canadian band Rush all come to mind. What we choose to watch on television stands in stark contrast. Case in point: the other night I knew he was viewing some form of sporting event because I'd hear an occasional sigh, slamming down of the remote control, or abrupt profanities. Trying to be a good wife and at least feign interest, I eventually sucked it up and asked what he was watching.

"Baseball, football, some hockey, and uh, the World Series of Poker is on too," he happily enthused.

I think I may have managed a "That's nice, honey," without rolling my eyes but you'd have to check with Jim to know for sure.

While I've been known to play the occasional sport, being forced to sit still and watch televised play requires serious bribery or at the very least, heavy sedation. Tailgating, I'm there; Super Bowl parties, count me in; actually watching a game, ain't gonna do it. No big surprise that I stick to chick fare and spend my evenings bonding with the Duggar, Gosselin, and Roloff families. Yeah, you ladies know who I'm talking about...but let me help out the men: that means I watch 17 Kids and Counting, Jon & Kate plus Eight, and Little People Bigger World.

If I get depressed watching Michele heard all those gorgeous little kids like so many Stepford ducklings, Kate and Amy's down-to-Earth attitude towards mothering always reassures any residual parental guilt leftover from my day. And if I'm really feeling down, a quick visit with Nanny 911 always cheers me. Where in the world do they find these people?

Being a far more patient person, Darling Hubby will occasionally sit through one of my shows. And this Fall, we had a few tender moments together under that flickering cathode ray glow courtesy of the Presidential debates. Thankfully, who we vote for is a carved-in-stone commonality in our marriage, unlike my parents. Though to save time, they have agreed to expedite the entire judicial process by not voting at all since, to their logic, their two opposing votes cancel each other out.

Outside of this self-imposed political dissonance, ironically what my parents do share is a love of sci-fi programming and they choose to spend most evenings watching television...together. What a concept!

Laura Douglass writes for The Seven Lakes Times where this column originally appeared.

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According to America's finest news source, in a reluctant statement the 80's heavy metal giant Twisted Sister announced they are now willing to take it.

This credible tidbit was sandwiched in between reports from The Onion that the "I am under 18" button was clicked for the first time in Internet history and the U.S. Debt outgrew the debt clock. 

While deeply profound, all that satire put me to thinking.

Will Queen no longer rock us and what if Snickers no longer satisfied? Or there was no relief after I plop, plop, fizz, fizzed? Can I still reach out and touch someone if AT&T is now wireless? And what kind of world would this be without that 'across the pond' conceit that BMW is the ultimate driving machine or that British Airways is the world's favorite airline?

What if I can't get no satisfaction because I don't deserve a break today or can't have it my way at Burger King? What if my soup isn't Mmm Mmm good? And if I don't know how to cook, can I still trust Crisco?

I don't know about you, but the overplayed rock anthems and the crush of promotional overkill makes me a bit nostalgic for those illiterate Dark Ages. You know when homeless minstrels entertained with poetry and historical sagas and folks were attracted to favorite pubs or bakeries by following their nose rather than a shrewd and slick marketing plan crafted through a careful study of consumer behavior and habit. Face it, these days you can't turn on a computer or television, flip through a magazine, or even get through a quiet dinner without an advertising intrusion. [Authors note: If anyone is worried about their vehicle warranty expiration or the latest satellite dish offers, give me a call. I'll be happy to forward my phone to your number every evening between six and nine.]

At least when I'm online, I have control over my cookies and have figured out how to limit SPAM in my mailbox. Now if I could only get the post office to do the same thing! I recall Seinfeld's neighbor Kramer tried to opt out of mail. That didn't work out so well after his Absence of Malice moment with the Postmaster General: yup, just another government conspiracy controlling us dweebs.

So in preparation for the avalanche of holiday shopping catalogs, I've made extra mail box keys and emptied out our two-car garage. I figure that should be enough to hold a week or two's accumulation while I review bids from hauling contractors to take the whole mess to the nearest recycling bin. Quick, alert the press! In another stunning reversal of policy, I too have decided I'm ready to take it.

Laura Douglass writes for the Seven Lakes Times where this column originally appeared.

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After many years of just buying thousands of dollars worth of scrapbooking supplies, I have decided to sell it finally!  I am so excited.  Now I am able to share my passion with everyone else.  Not that I didn't before, now I just am able to help them with their passion! 

I joined Creative Memories in September and I have already held two big events.  One was the annual CroptoberFest that Creative Memories holds each fall, and the other was a Kids Card Making Class.  Both events were so much fun. 

The next big thing for me will be my first Crop!  I will be having it on Nov 22, and I am excited to see how many people will come. 

After that, I will have my first annual Open House.  I will be showing all the new items that are available for holiday gifts and a surprise bonus of a preview of the new Valentines Day products.  They are so beautiful!

My website is updated weekly with the new specials and the new products.  www.mycmsite.com/theresacorbe 

This is going to be a great new venture for me.  I can't wait for it all to start coming together for me!  Wish me luck!!

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The changes that kids have to endure when parents divorce and houses are scrambled are the most drastic of all.  This is bravery that needs to be acknowledged by all.    One of the most important things for our kids to do is to verbalize in civil and appropriate fashion the fact that they have strong feelings about the changes that are happening.  As parents, we must model the way of doing this right from the start.  Let the kids know that it is O.K. for them to have these strong feelings in the first place and then tell them that it's a good thing if they talk to us about these feelings.   It is hard for kids to communicate in this new family because: Nobody is comfortable opening up with people we don't trust yet.  Getting to know and trust new people takes time. Strong feelings aren't always easy to share, especially in a non-confrontational way. The family rules may not be clear to them.  This is a very important duty that co-parents have; define and explain how the new family rules will be implemented. A loss of the feeling of control always contributes to an insecure relationship.  Kids did not cause this life change in the family, and co-parents need to be sensitive to the reasons kids feel so out of control when adjusting to a new family. In my October newsletter I told you about the Step-Tween Survival Guide hoping that you would be able to use it as a resource for your tweens.  I want to tell you about a resource for your teenage children.  "The Color Code" by Taylor Hartman, Ph.D. is a book that is not only helpful to teens, but to everyone who is trying to understand personalities they are in relationship with. The preface reads:  "It happens to all of us.  In social, business, and even family encounters, we meet some people and instantly establish a rapport--laughing at the same things, concerned about the same issues, discovering, perhaps, that we have had similar life experiences.  Then we meet others and just making conversation is a struggle--we're on guard, uncomfortable, inexplicably hostile.   Why?   In 'The Color Code', I group various aspects of personality and behavior into four color categories:  Red, Blue, White, and Yellow.  While few of us are completely one color or another--we are potential rainbows within--these categories represent a useful guide to personality types.   I use color codes for personality because color is already an established metaphor for emotion and behavior.  We 'see red' when we're angry.  We 'feel blue' when we're sad.   Using this color guide to personality, readers will be able to 'see' the motives behind their own and other people's behavior, which will help anyone establish and maintain relationships with greater ease.  They will be able to accept others for what they are.  And, most important, they will learn to incorporate within themselves the best of all the colors of life."   This book was instrumental in growing a healthier relationship between my own bio-daughter and myself after 14 years of difficult life together!  I recommend that all stepfamilies with teens order two copies of this book.  One for the teen to read and one for the parents.  This book will change your steplife.

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This weekend, the 25th, my son's school, Pinehurst Elementary is having our Fall Festival.  We have chosen to "Go Green".  Therefore a lot of the things there to do will be green.  We will even have visitors from the county to help us promote Pinehurst being green.

We will also have the brand new Beautiful Sandhills Kids Guide for sale. 

 So, if you have time, come see us from 11am to 4pm and "Go Green" with Pinehurst Elementary School!!

This Family Guide is a "must-have" for any parent, grandparent & anyone who deals with kids in the Sandhills.  Hats off to the SandhillsKids Staff for a thorough and very well written book that is full of great information.  I love all the little "Good to Know" tidbits found throughout the guide.  I didn't realize there was so much in my own backyard that I never knew about! 

And it's a fundraiser, too!!  I was so excited to get my copy at the Vass Lakeview Fall Festival on Friday knowing that half of the proceeds were going directly to my daughter's school.  A much better fundraising idea than candy or wrapping paper.  lol.  It'sno wonder that the Sandhills is such a great place to live and raise a family with community partners such as SandhillsKids.

Don't get left out of the loop and get a copy of the Family Guide through your school now  - before they are all gone.  And if your school is not on board to participate in this fundraiser - speak up and  have them contact SandhillsKids today!!  They will be glad they did.

Happy Fall!                          RG of Vass

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I've come across some pretty strange phenomena in my life but a few weeks ago I encountered something completely new.

"Laura churns through the North Atlantic" screamed the headline.

Huh?

Reading more I discovered I have a maximum sustained wind of sixty miles per hour and would only be a threat to shipping interests in the far north. Well, that's good to know. I mean if I'm going to blow around some hot air the least I can do is knock a few ships and migrating birds off course.

But the real irony is that those cold ocean waters are, quite literally, the last place on Earth you're likely to find me. This Laura can't swim, gets motion sick, and wears wool when it's seventy degrees. Not exactly a hardy seafaring soul: hence, why you, dear reader, will find me living happily here in the drought-ridden and abundantly warm Sandhills. What's not to like?

For the sake of my kids, I admit I pretend to enjoy water sports. You know, throw on a swimsuit, grab some shades, and try to look casual on the boat. It's a sham. I'm actually white-knuckling the seat, completely absorbed as I focus on the horizon, trying not to notice the bobbing...up and down, up and down. Ugh.

And don't even get me started on my teen angst terrors after spending too many weekends sailing the Chesapeake with the ‘rents. Come to think of it, I really hate flying too. I guess I'm just a terra firma kind of gal.

Certainly astrology didn't get it right. With a late July birthday, I'm not an earth sign but rather fall on the cusp of Cancer and Leo: one water, the other a sun sign. Hmm, a confused water and sun-borne baby who favors dirt.

That's it, I'm mud. I knew it!

At birth the doctor should have warned my mother, "Yup, look at the calendar, looks like mud to me." Maybe I could have avoided damaging childhood traumas such as fishing trips, flying the friendly skies, and sleeping in the v-berth.

Oh well. The weather service said Laura drew energy both from the atmosphere and the ocean surface. Yeah that's right: the great sucking sound isn't NAFTA from the south but Laura gathering strength in the north. Now if I could just figure out which way to blow the wind down Wall Street.

Laura Douglass writes for The Seven Lakes Times where this column originally appeared.

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After 9 long months, 3000 hours of labor and multiple due dates, the Sandhills Family Guide is finally here! The 160 page publication is packed full of everything a family needs to have fun in the Sandhills and beyond. Whether you're looking for sports, activities, museums, parks, playgrounds, area events, education, school calendars, family friendly businesses, coupons or just want to learn about the hidden treasures in your own backyard, the Family Guide is perfect resource for you. Although the publication was initially created by by the moms at SandhillsKids for parents, it is also ideal for anyone - parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers, administrators - connected to children or families. The book is available through local schools and parent groups as a fundraiser for$12 (Don't forget, the selling organization keeps half!) The Family Guide is also available at area merchants. Check back often, because we keep adding new locations! Help us support area schools and purchase your book today. The Sandhills Family Guide is sponsored by SandhillsKids, LLC and Communities In Schools.

On a personal note......Monica and I (with the help of several other local mommies!) have spent countless hours researching our community as well as the entire region. We have worked hard to consolidate some of the best resources locally and online into one publication. Although we will try to include most of this information on SandhillsKids.com, it will take several months to up load it all to the website. We also realize that the book is not free, but have done our best to make sure it is reasonably priced and are donating a significant amount of our proceeds back to our community. We believe that philantrophy is an important part of being a business.

If you like what we do online, please take time to check out our Family Guide. You won't be disappointed!

Rollie

Mom-In-Charge and Jack-of-all-trades (master of none!)

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Are the headlines making you angry?  Making you depressed?  I have found myself both angry AND depressed over the past couple of week.  So I went looking for something else to read.  Check out this website to help reverse your mood.  www.happynews.com  They list ONLY happy, uplifting stories.  Stories found in the major papers but not prominently displayed.   Today there was an article about making Halloween Green and saving penguins.  It's my new favorite website.

Still looking for Halloween costumes?? Come check out our selection of gently-used kids Halloween costumes for infants - XL! We have some of the cutest costumes around - And - costumes you won't find anywhere else around!  If you want your little one to be different this year - come on down!  Right now, we have beautiful Disney Princess gowns w/accessories from the Disney Store, Monster's Inc. - Sully, dinosaur's, witches, Snow White, Dorothy dress from Wizard of Oz, cute puppy dog set, the Rock from Fantastic 4, and the list goes on . . . These are good quality costumes at a fraction of the original prices. These are going fast, so hurry in for the best selection. Store hrs: Mon-Sat, 10-5:30 pm. DOODLEBUGS is located at 940 Old US Hwy 1, S. (near Bill Smith Ford). VISA/MC accepted. Military discount proudly offered.

Hope to see you soon!

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