Today's word is "Criterion"

According to Yahoo, today's educational expand your mind and sound intelligent word is "criterion" and it's definition is stated as: (noun) a standard of measurement or judgment.

I think today this is quite an insightful word to have posted. Mainly because, in the last week, my husband and 14 people employed by my parent company have been let go - cut off - given notice - chopped off like a bad limb.

How, you ask, does the word "criterion" then fit into you feelings on the state of the economy and that of those who know who are now on unemployment? Well, eager reader who stumbled upon this blog, I will enlighten you. I ask to the Economic Powers That Be - what was the CRITERION taken into cosmic consideration when my husband was pegged to be downsized? What measurements were take to cut off useful and good people, while leaving morons and idiots to remain? I, alas, do not have the answer.

I could consult Webster and his dictionary for the words to aptly express the state of "crapdom" that we, as inhabitants of the 21st Century, are living in. What CRITERION will be considered as our leaders, or more closely, we ourselves, navigate this uncertain time and look for a good tomorrow? Mind now, these are just questions, and I am not the one with the all powerful answers (though my son thinks I am THE genius). I would just hope that we all, great and small, consider this in our list of CRITERION we use to live our lives in these tough times:

1. Love thy neighbor - and barter...we are facing a time when our abilities that we have to share are going to outweigh the money we can offer. SO hey - trade milk for eggs, help shoveling for help raking, and kind smiles for friendly waves.
2. We all poo sitting down...remember we are all equal in our basic forms. Money buys status, but at the end of the day, we have to work together to make it thru life, so don't be a weiner...you are NOT better than anyone.
3. Kids rock...adapt their smiles, free way of thinking and imagination. It helps.
4. Love - all you can. Then if you end up in a box on the corner, at least you are not alone.

SO there ya go - that's my list of CRITERION for making it thru 2009. Take it as you will. Insight, words of wisdom, ranting, or perhaps just the mumblings of a tired working mother.

My Three-OH Face

Yeah - so tell me...when did 30 become THIRTY? I other words, when did the little number 3 and the little number 0 combine in such a way as to attach themselves to me so soon? I hear "Thirty is only the beginning" "It's all easier from here" "This is when your life begins" - really? C'mon now. Let's not be that bold. If life begins at 30, then what was the purpose of my twenties? Hmm? I ask this of the cosmos - if my life is beginning NOW, then what significance did the events of my twenties that STARTED my life hold? Graduating college. Getting a career. Getting married. Buying a home. Having a child. I'd say these are pretty big things. So then I guess I need to look at this wisdom from another angle.

IF life begins at 30 - perhaps those wise humans imparting this wisdom upon me didn't mean the above mentioned milestones. Perhaps they mean that at 30, you KNOW who you are. You KNOW what you want. You KNOW where you are going AND you KNOW why you pay $30 for a good bottle of Zin and scoff at the $4 Arbor Mist. I'm talking the onset of Wisdom my friends. Pure, honest, life-affirming Wisdom.

By saying "Life begins at 30" those already into their 40s are basically telling me that I now KNOW the crap that I spent my 20s trying to figure out, and THAT knowledge will alter my path in positive and upward ways (or that's what I would like to believe). SO -

Here then, is my nod to my 20s. They were good to me. I learned a lot. Grew a lot. Found ME and tested my limits both physically and mentally. I learned my weaknesses and how to turn them into my strengths. I learned that I am worthy of love from others and myself. I learned that appearances fade, and a person's soul is really the heart of who they are. I learned that your priorities can change the instant a little person looks to you for care and protection. I learned that my husband loves me more than I ever thought possible to find. You were good to me 20 thru 29. I respect each year and the growth in me that came from them.

SO THIRTY - I'm here. Take me down whatever road you see fit. Mold me, challenge me, but most of all, give me the heart to hold onto the important things, dismiss the material things, and grow with my little family to a better, brighter tomorrow.

...and, keep the wine coming!

Lisa Gifford is My Pimp

OK OK OK - I'm what, 29 (soon to be 30 in 11 days) and I know - I KNOW - this is going to sound cheesey and very "teeny-boppy" but I would totally have relations with the character of Edward Cullen from the Twilight series. You see, last month Lisa, my fab sis-in-law, game my other sis-in-law, Leah, the books in the Twilight series. I was out of books to read, so I swiped the first one. Jake was even so kind as to check out the CD version from the library so I could listen on my way to/from work. In the beginning, it was just an interesting yet cheesy teen novel. The usual teen problems that have spanned the ages were there - coping with friends, crushes, teachers, parents..yadda yadda yadda...

Then Stephenie Meyer (the author) introduces you to the mysterious vampire, Edward Cullen, and BOOM BANG - I am 17 years old, with a crush, hoping for THAT kind of love.

I blame Lisa for introducing me to this fictional non-human who, through the authors detailed descriptions, caresses and seduces my new source of vicarious living, Bella Swan (the main character) - thanks, Lisa.

SO yeah - I am hooked now on this series which all in all is really, really good. However, I worry that this addiction to the books may speak volumes about my desires in a man - I mean, it's very Buffy-and-Angel-esque (the TV series I loved thru high school and college). Perhaps I am looking for Jake to one day become a blood-lusting undead man with a soul and compassion for humanity and the ability to melt my resolve with a look. (Not that he doesn't already - minus the undead part).

SO at nearly 30, I am still susceptable to the cheesey longings and first emotions felt by a 17 year old girl in a piece of contemporary fiction about fantastic creatures of the night mixed with the every day worries of growing up.

Unitl the day legends become reality and Jake develops a taste for mountain lion blood (and I seriously check my sanity), I shall read the books and wait for the movie to come out on November 21st.

SIGH