60 Is The New 40, Yeah Right

I keep hearing the statement, 60 IS THE NEW 40.  This is being said by 60 year olds.  Does this mean 30 is the new 10?  The first time I heard this wisdom, my cousin was sharing his wonderful Florida life, with our younger relatives.  He turned to me and said, "  Judy don't you agree"?  My answer, "I wish someone would tell my back"!

 

Even if you color your hair, extend it, wig it, wear spandex, botox your face, and have cosmetic surgery, I suspect your body will still know the truth, and still act your real age, regarding aches and pains.

 

I read that Michael Jackson's autopsy showed he had extreme arthritis, and his hair was really gray. He was still a great dancer, singer and entertainer but if age could effect him, what hope do the rest of us have?

 

As the old commercial used to say, You Can't Fool Mother Nature.  It would certainly be nice to be appreciated and honored for your age and wisdom.  Think what I could save on wrinkle creams alone?  My New Jersey cousin and I had a lengthy discussion about the show Pippin and the role of the Grandmother.  Her memorable line, " maybe if I refuse to grow old, I can stay young till I die"  We are all finite beings, frustrating but true.  I am trying to make the best of my time, I hope it's a long time. Do you think 80's think they are really 60?

When Did We Lose Common Sense?

This was an article sent to me by my good friend Lois H.  It was important enough to share.

An Obituary printed in the London Times.....Absolutely  Brilliant !!

 

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense ,

who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure

how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red

tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

 

- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;

- Why the early bird gets the worm;

- Life isn't always fair;

- And maybe it was my fault.

 

 

Common Sense lived by simple,

sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable

strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

 

 

His health

began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations

were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment

for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after

lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened

his condition.

 

 

Common Sense lost ground when

parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to

do in disciplining their unruly children.

 

 

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer

sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a

student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

 

 

Common Sense lost the will to

live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better

treatment than their victims.

 

 

Common Sense took a beating

when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the

burglar could sue you for assault.

 

 

Common Sense finally gave up

the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of

coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a

huge settlement.

 

 

Common Sense was preceded in death,

-by his parents, Truth and Trust,

-by his wife, Discretion,

-by his daughter, Responsibility,

-and by his son, Reason.

 

 

He is survived by his 5 stepbrothers;

- I Know My Rights

- I Want It Now

- Someone Else Is To Blame

- I'm A Victim

- Pay me for Doing Nothing

 

 

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

 

If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

 

 

=

Vacations Are A Great Place To Make New Friends!

We took a wonderful trip this summer, and were lucky enough to meet interesting, and exciting new friends.  This is a guest blog from my new friend Zulekha.  We found we shared many things including baby sitting grandchildren, and worries about our adult children.  Thank you for being my guest blogger!!!

 

 

 

 

I love to travel.  Since I cannot travel all the time due to lack of money or time, I watch House Hunters International Show on HGTV channel.  Most of the people on show who are relocating want to get away from high stress lifestyle of west or wherever they are living.

 I relocated to USA 35+ years ago from India for better life for me and my family. It is still dream of may be some people to relocate in West for better life.

Is grass always greener on other side?

Zulekha 

The People In The Movies Are Crazy

We waited to buy our tickets for an afternoon movie.  The patron at the booth was having a lively conversation with the ticket clerk.  Two seniors catching up on old times, slowly.  A whole line of people waited, did I care?

 

We entered the theatre, a woman was upset.  The commercials and advertisements were on but there was sound but no picture.  " Where is the picture"? asked a very annoyed woman. The truth I didn't miss the pictures, it was restful...

 

Next in, was another couple.  The man was on his cell phone. " Don't talk on the cell phone, in the movies" said another movie goer." Why not" ? " It's not like the picture is on"!  I said nothing because I did not care.

 

It was about this time I took a stroll to the ladies room.  We couldn't find the ticket stub- who would have checked anyway?  When I returned there was still no picture.  The lady called to me, did I speak to the manager about the picture? No I answered I went to the bathroom. " You should have found him maybe you could have gotten this mess straightened out."  I wonder what that meant.

 

The movie, sound and picture started 5 minutes late.  The people behind me ate candy for 2 hours crinkling their wrappers, loudly.  I enjoyed the movie but let's face it, the people in the movies are crazy, and yes I cared.

My First Special Guest Blogger!

I am delighted that my first guest blogger is my daughter, Jill.   I spent many happy months reading her blog, Bridelines not so many years ago.  As mothers we forgot those early, challenges...

In hindsight, maternity leave was boot camp and bliss all wrapped up in one.” “The Milk Memos”

 I haven’t blogged since 2009.  My best friend and I were blogging about weddings – the horrors, the drama, the humor and the cost of being a bridesmaid..1, 3 or 7 times.  We hoped to get a book deal out of the gig, but apparently the wedding market is too saturated with books, at least that is what the publishers told our agent.  Alas, we gave up.  Partly because we ran out of topics, but mostly because people stopped getting married and started having babies.  I am now sitting in the same office I blogged from in 2009 as the mother of an almost 3 month old baby boy.

 The first month of maternity leave felt like I was studying for the Bar Exam all over again…except there was no end test date.  No after exam party to celebrate all my nights of 3 hour sleep, my crying fits and lack of confidence.  However, one day that all seemed to change.  Of course, sometimes I still have disrupted sleep and some crying fits, but now they are over leaving my baby to go back to work, not because my hormones are attacking my husband’s every word. 

I was really sad for camp maternity to end.  It reminded me of the last days of sleep away camp, where my friends and I cried and reminisced, knowing we could never relive the moments, we'd only have the memories.

 It is my fourth day back at work. I am sad because I won't be able to see my baby all day every day, but part of me knows that is ok and possibly for the best.  It is definitely the best in terms of paying for college, but also maybe the best for my sanity and his growth. I never envisioned myself as a stay at home mom.  I am a terrible cook, dislike cleaning and can only pretend to enjoy cheery music classes for so long.  But the other reason I am sad is because I made wonderful new friends.  My neighborhood in Brooklyn is like a summer camp for moms. We’d meet in the park, on my roof, at yoga classes and discuss our babies, our good days, our bad days and our questions and concerns.  It was a much needed support system and I can't thank them enough for their love and support. 

I wish I could return to camp next summer.  At least I can hope for a camp reunion.     Jill

My Coworker The Convicted Child Molester

 

This blog is about a man I worked with in my last years of teaching.  I came to the school, not knowing anyone.  It felt strange for a long time.  One of the teachers I worked with closely was in his 30's.  he was a family man. His children were young, so was his wife.  I thought he had a nice manner in the classroom.  I have never seen a more organized or neater educator.  His name is Simon.

 

First and third impressions can be deceiving.  Sadly people do not wear signs stating their real intentions.  How wonderful if we could look into the hearts and see their true natures.  Some of my second graders became his third graders. Some moved up to fourth grade with him..When the children both boys and girls starting telling the counselors and parents about inappropriate touching and suggestive language, the school began to investigate.

 

The scandal broke, and many students came forward. It was an ugly time for all.  I could not believe the allegations.  I spent many hours in that classroom, He was my friend and coworker.  I spoke to reliable  people and they insisted the stories were credible.  The evidence was damning. Most of the staff believed he was guilty.

 

Time passed and he was convicted, and will serve jail time. I believe in truth and courts and the justice system.  I cry for my students and innocence lost, which is never found  I wish I could have protected them.  How could I have been so wrong?

Queens teacher convicted of molesting students in classroom 

Simon Watts abused four girls and one boy, ranging in age from 8 to 10 years old

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By Corinne Lestch / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Wednesday, June 19, 2013, 4:15 PM

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Todd Maisel/New York Daily News

Fourth grade teacher Simon Watts, 38, convicted of molesting 8-10 year old children at PS 15 .

A Queens teacher was convicted of molesting five of his students over three years within view of their classmates, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown announced Wednesday.
Hulking sexual predator Simon Watts abused four girls and one boy, all ranging from 8 to 10 years old, during class time while he taught them in third and fourth grades at Public School 15.

The 41-year-old pervert fondled them and forced them to touch his genitals, and then threatened them not to tell anyone. The sick acts took place while he was a teacher at the Springfield Gardens school between September 2007 and March 2010.

Todd Maisel/New York Daily News

Fourth grade teacher Simon Watts, 38, convicted of molesting students.

After the two-week trial concluded, Watts was convicted of three counts of second-degree sexual conduct against a child, two counts of first-degree sexual abuse, one count of forcible touching and five counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
Watts, who had been free on $200,000 bail since shortly after his arrest in April 2010, had his bail revoked and was ordered remanded. He has been terminated by the Department of Education.
Watts, who began working as a city substitute teacher in 2000, faces up to 35 years in prison when he is sentenced July 22. His lawyer, Amy Marion, did not respond to a request for comment.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/queens-teacher-convicted-abuse-article-1.1377199#ixzz2kMe46NCX