Riveroflifelisajoy’s Weblog
Just another WordPress.com weblogArchive for Black Male Children and Poverty
Thanks to the Legend of Bagger Vance….My son played with “POOL PUTTING GAME” from Marshalls!
https://soundcloud.com/joshua-michael-howard/victory
We saw the movie “Legend of Bagger Vance.” I had purchased a “pool” putter game about a month ago for my son. But he did not touch it.
I tried to play it the other day…but I was ill. But atleast I tried. But after he saw the movie, he changed. Will Smith has a uncanny soft voice that paired with the beautiful cinematography…cast a lovely spell on me, my mother and my son.
The end of the movie moved me to tears…to believe for the impossible and hope to see those lost redeemed.
Excellent movie indeed! Thanks Will Smith, it made my day. Especially when my son went into the back yard early in the morning on Saturday and began teaching himself how to get the golf ball into the 6 putter plates for an hour.
He had hit the ball too much and the ball would jump OVER the putter plates. Then he began to sense the “field” and the flow of the earth and feel his own heart beat in time and then he got his swing!!!!
He actually began to hit the ball into the putter plate with the proper angle, speed, and force.
The ball actually stayed inside and did not jump up and out like before. I remembered Will Smith (as Bagger Vance) talking gently to Matt Damon as Juna..explaining how to find himself in the “field.” It was wonderful…beautiful, and made me feel like I had been wanting to speak to my son about his goals and dreams for his life.
So I remembering the way Will’s voice soothingly, yet firmly directed him toward his winning shots in the game.
So either my son ignored me, or he felt that he could relate to that movie. Wonderful, thanks Will Smith for your great acting style.
And thanks Robert Redford for picking a movie to highlight the beauty of golf and the quiet spirit of each of its’ players!
post script….I only paid $5.00 dollars for the “pool putter game”—golf balls and all.–It was originally $16.00! WOW!
Till Next Blog….
FOREOROROROROROROROROE!!!!!!
riveroflifelisajoy`~~
HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILD BECOME A SUCCESS!
UNIVERSE AND WEAVE IN HARMONY
Some people like to tell me to stop focusing on my kid so much. But you know what? If I do not help him now…he may not be able to support himself or his future wife and kids. So what is wrong with being there now?
Oh, some people have told me…you need to keep yourself happy. Look, when I am past the age of 48 that I am now….I would hate to have to look back and see that I did not do all I could to help my child acheive.
Hey, everybody has a diferent reason for what they do in life.
I am sitting here blogging….so am I totally consumed with my son 24 hours a day????? OF COURSE NOT! My son plays tennis with other people. I do not actually play the game.
I am there to help him to stay focused on the actual training.
How do you think Tiger Woods and Venus and Serena made it to the top of their sports and careers?
The parents helped those kids stay focused and become the men and women that they are today.
Last week ( at the Kids Day in Queens of the USOPEN) Serena won $15,000.00 for a charity that she began her own name…to give back to the community.
So all of the effort that the father of Venus and Serena Williams (Tennis Champions) placed and focused on helping the two young ladies paid off and it now helps others!
—– So when my son gets up to play…I am about 200 to 300 feet away from him. I also am either shopping, or checking in on my mother…reading a newspaper, or talking to other parents.
My son has to come to his own conclusions about his goals and dreams.
I AM ONLY A FACILITATOR!!!!!
I drive my son to the golf course in Dyker Brooklyn to the children’s golf course. I take him to the SPORTS AUTHORITY look at tennis rackets, tennis clothing, golf clubs, etc. I take him to Barns and Nobles for books for school, and reading material. I drive him to competitions, and to coaching lessons. But the rest is up to him.
So is that wrong? Hey, look, my child did not ask to be born. My child was a WANTED CHILD!~ I was legally married to my husband for 5 years before I finally got pregnant.
I have not had any other pregnancies, or any other husbands. Soooo for me to sacrifice….is absolutely nothing. My child could not raise himself.
When you have a child you have to consider atleast….20 years or so to help him or her get educated, have food, shelter, training how to live in this life, and be able to get a job or career.
So for me it will not be the EMPTY NEST SYNDROME….it will be happiness that I gave as much as I could to help someone to accomplish his goals.
If he turns around and changes his mind about his goals, and throws it all away…he cannot blame me.—for I have given all of myself to him to become a man… of stature and respect.
If he turns his back on whatever ideals and concepts that have been carefully taught to him….I will bare no shame in this….it will be his choice as a man.
But if I turn away now…as he just enters his 10th grade in highschool and is finishing his 15th year of life…then I will be to blame.
My selfishness will begin later. So right now…I enjoy blogging! Is there anything wrong with that? I am on vacation…when I express my views here with you.
So that is why I challenge all of us parents…focus on HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILD BECOME A SUCCESS…YOU WILL NOT REGRET HONEST HARD WORK….AND PURE LOVE GIVEN TO YOUR CHILDREN.
Remember..even Vice President hopeful Elect Palin has 5 children and her oldest daughter who is 17 is pregnant according to the news reports on 1010 Wins and AOL NEWS MEDIA, she fully supports them in all that they do. She supports her 17 year old daughter in her goals for herself and soon to be new family.
The most important thing is keeping an OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR CHILDREN. NO MATTER WHAT!
That will mean your children should come to you with whatever the condition is.
It is not easy to do that. I know. I am a single parent.
I want the best for my son…but I also know that no one’s kid is an angel. So pray with your kids, and love them…just as the Lord above loves you and forgives you of all your mistakes daily….correct?
Remember no one is perfect, and everyone makes mistakes.
Love your kids….love yourself and don’t be too hard on your kids or yourself.
You and your family will live happier, and longer lives. TOGETHER!!!
till next blog….
RIVEROFLIFELISAJOY!~
SHOW WHAT YOU CAN DO!
UNIVERSE AND WEAVE IN HARMONY
WORK YOURSELF UP
TO A POINT
TO WHERE PEOPLE WILL
SEE YOU
AND SEE HOW MUCH ENERGY YOU ARE
PUTTING INTO WHAT
EVER YOU DO.
SOMEONE MAY TAKE
NOTICE, MY SON…
CONTINUE FORWARD
AND DO NOT HESITATE
IN BUILDING A GOOD
REPUTATION FOR YOURSELF
ACHIEVEMENT CANNOT BE DONE
WITHOUT WORKING HARD
YOU CANNOT SIT BACK ON YOUR
BEHIND AND EXPECT TO
ACCOMPLISH ANY GOALS
GET UP, GET MOTIVATED…AND
TRY, TRY, TRY!
MY MOTHER ALWAYS PREACHES THAT TO ME
AND I WILL PREACH AND TEACH IT TO YOU
MY SON….
REMEMBER, I AM WITH YOU
TO BACK YOU IN WHATEVER
WORTHWHILE GOALS YOU HAVE
PEOPLE WILL SEE THE DRIVE IN YOU…
AND MAYBE THEY WILL HELP YOU..
IF YOU ACT DEDICATED, SOMETIMES IT MAY TAKE YEARS
SOMETIMES PEOPLE WILL SEE THE GO GETTERS…
PULLING THEMSELVES UP BY THE BOOTSTRAPS
IF YOU DO NOT KID AROUND, AND BE
HONEST AND STRAIGHT FORWARD
MAYBE SOMEONE WILL SEE SOMETHING IN
YOU AND BE WILLING TO HELP YOU…
SO WATCH HOW OTHER PEOPLE HAVE ACHIEVED
DIFFERENT THINGS MY SON….
WATCH AND LEARN FROM THOSE AROUND YOU
AND REMEMBER I WILL BE THERE TO HELP
AS MUCH AS I CAN….
I WISH AND PRAY FOR YOU
THE BLESSINGS FROM THE LORD
ABOVE…
‘FINI~~((((((( THIS POEM IS DEDICATED TO MY SON….JAY JEWELS..aka)
riveroflifelisajoy~
A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING….7TH INSTALLMENT….CONCERN ABOUT THE FUTURE OF EVERYTHING…
UNIVERSE AND WEAVE IN HARMONY
At this time…it is about 4am, or 5 am. I was awakened by this stabbing pain in my back. As usual I am blog stat obsessed. So I came down stairs to take my meds..for this “shingles” and I came to the computer to start checking my blog stats.
Low, for the entire summer, except when I wrote about Bernie Mack passing away. I got 519 that day. I would have perferred a different number. But I did love Bernie Mack a lot.
However, I do not believe that I paid the homage to him that he deserved. Anyway, I digress.
I have this stabbing pain from shingles… It feels as sharp as it did 5 days ago…before I knew it was shingles…Ugh…Oh, Lord…what do I do?
I have this ridiculous rash on my stomach and pain. It comes and goes. I do not take pain killers.
I am not one for pain killers. Pain killers can destroy the stomach lining, or cause high blood pressure or worse.
So I avoid pain killers at this time. I am willing to cope …so I just blog…until I get too pain ridden, or tired or both.
I will stop by the emergency room, or go back to the doctor….before Tuesday…(back to work day) to decide what is the next step with this annoying back pain…from shingles. UGH….Lord have Mercy!
NEXT TOPIC-
Alaska has more to offer than just “Northern lights”, polar bears, ice, and wild life….According to John McCain…there is a Vice President up there.
I do not know what to think of this. It is quite smart…but long term committment….long term history or knowlege of government on the part of the recent governor of a “Bible Belt” gun toting state….hard to figure…”just fasten your seat belts…it’s gonna be a bumpy ride!!!”
NEXT TOPIC:
REVISITING HURRICANE KATRINA….
I do not understand the so called NO PLAN OF ACTION PLAN…EXCEPT TO EVACUATE EVERYBODY….NO PLAN OF ACTION PLAN OF NOT TO PREPARE A HOLD OVER SITE INCASE THEY CANNOT GET EVERYBODY OUT PLAN????
Do they always get it wrong I wonder? I hope this is not playing out like some kind of C-list movie…where the main characters…the victims suffer again…like last time.
I remember watching the news on my friends cable TV Weather Channel, and CNN and how those people were stranded on the roofs of buildings and screaming for just some water!
Lord…I hope these elected and state officials,, and city officials have their finger on the pulse of this new hurricane Gustav!
NEW TOPIC:
SCHOOL SUPPLIES…..WHO PAYS FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR MY KID?
Yesterday I was sitting in the park…watching my son play tennis. I was relating my son’s lovely tennis camp experience…and golf experience of the summer to another mother.
She changed the subject to school supplies. She is NOT a single parent like me. So she does not get the point of how hard it is to buy anything after the rent is paid.
She started telling me to go to Jamaica Avenue, Staples, and Office Max to buy school supplies. I told her that I have no money at all.
She started telling me that pencils and things were 20 cents etc. I explained that I was literally sitting there with$5.00 (five dollars in my pocket).
I explained that I pay $1600.00 per month for rent….I am a single parent…(which she knows)
She is not. She and her husband are home owners and have two kids.
I have one child…but I care for my mother and son. I do not receive child support. So you know what happens to me?
I feel like back to school is just like CHRISTMAS TIME IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER! Whether a box of crayons or pencils or pens is cheap means nothing.
I am on a limited income…so it is not PART OF MY BUDGET….I do not have a budget….My income is shot!
Once I pay the rent….I have barely enough money to buy food. I have a nearly 6 foot tall size twelve foot….15 yearold eating maching in the house.
My loving oversize child…needs to eat alot of carbs…or he can get literally SICK….(READ MY OTHER BLOGS…)
So….basically We as a family of three…. live PAY CHECK TO PAY CHECK.
(READ MY OTHER BLOGS ON INCOME DISPARITY….THEN YOU WILL UNDERSTAND MY POINT HERE.—ALSO PROBABLY THE REASON FOR THIS STUPID SHINGLES PROBLEM (STRESS RELATED ILLNESS).
—Thus, my annoyance…when this “woman” who is not struggeling on her own like I am…started pressuring me to get up out of the park and run down to Jamacia Avenue….and get these great sales..
I just started spewing my SAD STORY ABOUT MY LACK OF MONEY….but I did inform her that I would go get my son’s school supplies when I get paid this week.
How could she be so unaware that other people do not have the same set of financial circumstances that she has?
My family tree does not have any uncles, aunts, cousins, husband (due to catastrophic disease ), inlaws( due to total disfunction of my estranged husband’s family)—-Myself, my mother and my son do not possess any family that step in and give any financial assistance what so ever!
When my son graduated eigth grade going into highschool …I was the only person from our family at his graduation! My mother could not attend because the church building has not been made wheel chair friendly.
So…if I do not have the cash on hand…or even a credit card(due to financial ruin from my banckruptcy from my estranged husband)—–WHO PAYS FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR MY SON??????????????????
——-NOT THE PRESIDENT, NOT THE GOVERNOR, NOT THE MAYOR, –=—ONLY MY PAYCHECK…THAT COMES NEXT WEEK.
MY RENT IS PAID ON THE 16TH OF THE MONTH
…SO do the math….life is hard.
Yeah, I can sit here and blog…but guess what…?
I have dial up aol system…$9.00 per month.
School supplies, new shoes, and clothes cost a whole lot more than that!
So as always…this woman turns her back, runs to her family because she owns a home across the street from the tennis courts where her child and my child play tennis, and she continued on her merry way of getting great bargins for ‘BACK TO SCHOOL’ for her kids.
GOOD FOR HER!!! But she needs to mind her business when it comes to me….ya know?
NEXT TOPIC:
UNDERSTANDING LIMITATIONS…..You must wonder what my financial problems do to my son?
He is not spoiled…that is for sure! He is not a couch potatoe either!
WE DO NOT HAVE CABLE EITHER
….BUT MY SON DOES HAVE A TENNIS RACKET.
My son is learning that his possible route out of the financial troubles of his mother….may teach him to develop a skill that is both employable…and scholarship worthy!
My son is hearing how tennis coaches make money….”sometimes too much money”
====he is learning the game of golf….too!((((NYC HAS A FREE PROGRAM OF GOLF FOR KIDS IN DYKER STREET….EXIT #4 OFF THE BELT PARKWAY))))
So, money problems…may teach my kid…how to survive with learned skills, and a good education.
So is it all bad?
Sometimes the best life lessons are hard lessons.
I wish it did not have to be the case…for my child.
But I pray for his strength…and my strength too.
till next blog…
river!
ps….the shingles pain is less and I think I can go back to bed now.
QUALIES!!!! QUALIES!!!! US OPEN! QUEENS NEWYORK….15 YEAR OLD AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUNG LADY ON 8/19/08! GREAT! –A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING 6TH INSTALLMENT!
UNIVERSE AND WEAVE IN HARMONY
I heard that Angela had been to a tennis camp/highschool in Florida. She played with the intensity of a pro!
The young lady and her opponent played a very strong 6 matches or so. It was great to watch….except for the grunts and squeals and “COME ON(S)!!!!!” the youngs ladies would yell during extremely intense moments of their game together!
My son who is working on his skills was so excited from watching the game played the ‘right’ way…could not wait to go get a hold of his tennis racket.
My son has a JAPANESE MADE YONEX! (15 year old Angela played her game with a BABALOT TENNIS RACKET!)
My son…. Jay wants a lighter racket now. He says the Yonex is heavier than most!
My son was inspired to see a young African American the same age as himself playing in the QUALIES….Now my kid has stronger aspirations. Where will his goals take him? To College….to the Pros—who knows.?!!!!
Take out the time and run over to see the US OPEN! TENNIS IS A PROGRAM THAT THE WHOLE FAMILY CAN GET INVOLVED IN AND IT IS A BEAUTIFUL AREA IN WHICH TO HELP BUILD TEENAGE SELFESTEEM!
IF YOU ARE A PARENT…IT IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL THING…TO SEE YOUR CHILD HAPPY IN AN ACTIVITY THAT BUILDS HIS/OR HER MOTIVATION AND GOALS.
I MUST HONESTLY TELL YOU THAT MY FAITH IN THE ONE ABOVE HAS INCREASED WHEN I SEE THE WORLD THROUGH THE EYES OF THE CHILD I BROUGHT INTO THIS WORLD. I SEE THAT AS THE SAY….PLANT THE SEEDS, WATER THEM AND WATCH THEM GROW!
GO OUT TODAY AND GATHER YOUR FAMILY AROUND YOU AND SEE THE MIRACLES TAKE PLACE!—-
AND DON’T FORGET……..
US OPEN IS HISTORY IN THE MAKING!!!!
Till next
BLOG-
RIVER!!!
GOOD FOR WENDY! CONGRATS….SHE MADE IT! A PLUS…PICKED UP AS A REGULAR TV TALK SHOW!—a LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING 5TH INSTALLMENT AUGUST 20, 2008
UNIVERSE AND WEAVE IN HARMONY
yEP! Wendy got handed the golden microphone! She will have her own talk show in 2009!
I hope the scandal nonsense is fixed or handled by then! And where is your movie Ms. Williams? November maybe??!!
Next!
Barack Obama is 5% behind in the polls! Whose polls?
Are you telling me that he is not getting votes from the White Democrates? Strange to me that Hillary Clinton has to be placed on the ballot for the Dems…to discuss.
Personally, anything like this makes me uncomfortable…how about you?
Next!
Martin Lawrence, John Travolta, Macy, and Tim Allen….what a great all star cast in “WILD HOGS!”
Martin Lawrence was great!~ A good look! I know, I know….I purchased it! in Holliwood Video!
Great and funny flick indeed! I loved it! I keep rewatching it over and over.
I love John Travolta…(did you see one of his earliest movies…called “BOY IN THE PLASTIC BUBBLE?” jOHN Travolta was a “sleeper”—and a keeper back then!
Tim Allen….I love his Santa Clause! He is cute in his own little way. I am glad to see him doing well.
Mr. Macy…also another cutie-patoOtie! Very silly, yet innocent and childlike in his mannerisms!
Go rent this flick…I AM almost ready to go out and get a Harly Davidison so I can get on the open road myself..and save gas at the same time!
NEXT!
CHILD ABUSE….PARENTING CLASSES…FOR ALL MOTHERS TO BE …NO MATTER WHAT THE AGE!!!!
The news about the dead toddler is taking my heart away! I cannot voice or write my words of what I truly feel about the circumstances that I heard discribed by 1010 Wins today. But I will say this….can we stop our moments of selfish giddy behavior when we hear that a baby is being born to a family and then run the famiy, the family friends, to PARENTING CLASSES….PLEEZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NEXT!
GOLF….AND COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS….THINK ABOUT IT !
I will fill you in on this later….
A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING–4TH INSTALLMENT
UNIVERSE AND WEAVE IN HARMONY
Well, I have heard it all, and seen it all now! Have we reversed back to the Jim Crow days again?
What is this with the book on Obama? Why are people stating that he is muslim. Is it a crime to be a muslim? Where have the rights, and values of individuals decreased to? How can someone smear a presidencial candate to such a level.
If Barak Obama did not know he was in the furnance of racism…he definitely knows it now. —They are throwing stones and accusations. This is being done because they want power in their hands so that they can do what they want.
They want everybody to believe that they are the good guys. And it would appear that as soon as they get “in” they will turn on us as well. This is a difficult world that we live in. These people who are writing this stuff do not care about Obama’s wife, or children.
They do not care about the effect of this evil campaign on his American Born and raised children. I can see that Barak has strong family values…I hope that he talks openly with his daughters, and of course they know the truth of who they are and who their mother and father are.
But it has got to be difficult to be so young and hear suck terrible things about one’s father….especially in such a public way. You do not have to like Obama….but think about his children for a moment.
Think about his White grandparents and his half sister. What did these people do to deserve this assult on their personal beliefs and values? Is it a crime to be an Mix-race European/Afro American and be in the running for president of the United States?!!!
Let us move forward..according to 1010 wins today 8/16/08..a pigeon was found covered in purple paint walking around in a park yesterday in Queens New York. Why would anyone want to harm an animal is so beyond me. It is so very sad.
A baby was shaken to death yesterday—also reported by 1010wins news this morning. Another news story that I cannot stomach very well. Does anyone get a talk before they take these newborn babies home? When I gave birth to my son, I was told to treat him like a king! Not to allow him to control me…but that he was a little king in the house hold. Give him love and affection. Babies cry…that is normal.
Where is this logic that if you shake a child harshly that it will stop crying? This hurts my heart so deeply. Oh, it is becoming too, too much. The human baby should be placed on the endangered species.
We need to place all expectant parents in parenting schools…I mean it. Proper care and maintance of new borns and what to expect as the child matures and grows. Also the topic on what constitutes CHILD ABUSE. Educate people and then that might decrease some of these very dangerous and fatal actions by relatives and parents.
Yesterday I traveled up to Nyack. I had to run to my college. Nyack College. I went across the Tappanzee Bridge. Strange bridge…really, it was rather odd. It was more like a road across the water…with a little bump, or hump of a bridge formation that they made as the “bridge” part. Nyack College has a GREAT AND EXCELLENT PROGRAM…for ADULTS who want to complete their education. I had 69 credits. They accepted my credits and then placed me in their program for ADULT AND CONTINUING EDUCATION/DISTANCE EDUCATION. The college professors drive all the way from their residence in Weshchester, and come to Queens or Longlsland to teach and great topic. ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGMENT. I give more detail in another blog later…but the course includes a thesis of about 100 pages or more, business ethics, and detailed writing and reports that is completed in 14 months! The College also has a program for Masters Degree as well. I write give more detail later..But go online to www.nyack.org if you want to know more! I loved every bit of the 2x a week course work! Great professors and Great classroom experience as well!
I got lost trying to come back from Nyack. I ended up in Woodbury Commons. Woodbury Commons looked very nice indeed. I could not stay….I had to cash, so no shopping for me. I met a nice lady at the information booth who gave me the directions back home.
Please don’t ask why I could not figure my way out….I never said I was that intelligent. I left home at around 1:30 yesterday and did not walk back into my house until 10:00. Traffic was terrible due to the rain, and storms. But I am home. Thank the Lord! I think my son Jay Jewelz enjoyed the ride…even though we kept arguing about whose fault it was that we got lost…but we talked and laughed our way through it!
As soon as we got home we had pizza with my Mom and just thanked the Good Lord that we made it home safely in all that rain.!
See ya there!
~~~~riveroflifelisajoy!
SUMMER FUN FOR MY SON!!
UNIVERSE AND WEAVE IN HARMONY
MY BABY JAY JEWELZ IS HAVING A GREAT SUMMER!!!
My child just returned from a USTA TENNIS SCHOLARSHIP CAMP IN NEW ENGLAND!!!`
HALLELUJAH!!!
LAST SUMMER HE DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! HE DID NOT GO TO AN AMUSEMENT PARK OR ANYTHING….NOT EVEN THE BEACH!
LAST YEAR SOMEONE HAD STOLEN MY LAP TOP COMPUTER.
BUT IN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR I PURCHASED THIS USED DELL FROM A MAN IN VALLEY STREAM NEW YORK.
I HAD LOOKED UP USTA, OF WHICH MY SON IS A MEMBER…I FOUND THAT THERE WERE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS FOR USTA KIDS FOR SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS.
WHAT A BLESSING AND A MIRACLE.
MY SON WENT AWAY TO CAMP IN PAWLING, NY FOR 13 DAYS!!!!
WOW!
IF YOUR CHILD PLAYS TENNIS ….JOIN USTA!!!!
USTA IS GREAT!!!
MY SON HAS A MEDICAL PROBLEM…AND HE WAS AWAY AND
DID NOT HAVE ANY MEDICAL CRISIS!!!
THERE WAS A NURSE ON SITE, AND A DOCTOR ON CALL!
HE STAYED IN A DORMATORY IN A SMALL COLLEGE UPSTATE
HE PLAYED TENNIS, HAD SPORTS, WENT TO MOVIES, WENT TO THE MALL,
HAD CABLE TV, 3 MEALS A DAY AND ALSO GOT CONSTRUCTIVE
INSIGHT TO HIS TENNIS SKILLS!
USTA IS A GREAT ORGANIZATION!
THANK YOU U
2nd installment: A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING!
UNIVERSE AND WEAVE IN HARMONY
is strange indeed..This JUST IN—AS REPORTED IN NEW YORK CITY…BY 1010WINS RADIO………:
Next, I went to the movies the other night with my son. We also took his friend Michael. My son is fifteen…but he does not mind “Mommy” taking him to the movies sometimes. At times he and his friend Michael, contact their “girl” friends and guy friends from their previous school Grace Lutheran of Queens Village, and they go to the movies.
But the other night it was our turn to go to see THE MUMMY! It started out being a bit corny with the typical English husband and wife characters. Then the interesting part….the Chinese Mummy played by Jet Li!. It was rather interesting. I had really planed on going to sleep during the movie.
But it actually kept my interest. I liked the Yeti! They were cute, appealing….and enjoyable to watch. Great Computer work! I loved the use of the TERRACOTA ARMY! The ending of the movie was not as good as I expected. It ended with everybody dancing. BORING! I mean, like look… This young woman who had been immortal and had guarded the Mummy, now is dancing?! Okay…what happens next?
Let’s move forward. PAWLING NEW YORK. Have you been there? It is beautiful! The Gordon Kent New England Tennis Camp is there. My son received a scholarship from the USTA (United States Tennis Association–Eastern Division) — My son Jay Jewelz ( psudeo name of course) was there for 13 days. He came home a much darker kid, relaxed, happy, and begging for more next year!
He had won a mug for his efforts with name of the camp on it. He received a t-shirt, a tennis baseball cap, thermos with the logo of the camp on it, and even a video of hisskill ability and training that he received. They even had him dance a little on the video so you can see his happiness at being in that location. My son wished he could stay a few more weeks.
That is the best option….better than the fresh air fund. The tennis camp has goals, and ideals. I was never comfortable with sending my son to the FRESH AIR FUND…. only because my child would be living and breathing the air of another family that I do not know. But the Tennis camp was on the grounds of the TRINTY SCHOOL IN PAWLING NEW YORK.
My son and all the other over night campers stayed in dorms. They took the kids to a movie (Batman), the mall, they had parties for them, and most of all…..played…tennis, TENNIS, TENNIS, TENNIS!!! 5 HOURS PER DAY!!!! He received personalized instruction also. My son told me he took two showers per day, had great food. Jay Jewelz told me that the chocolate milk was great tasting.
They woke up daily to the rolling hills and valleys of Pawling New York! America the Beautiful! I enjoyed the ride up there. 65 miles out of New York City! I even enjoyed the ride to get there. My son really loved it. He met tennis players in their teens who were for Europe. Some spoke French!
What a great experience!!! I am so thankful for the opportunity that my son experienced. I will pay for the camp next year….Thanks USTA!—AND PARENTS….LOOK FOR FREE PROGRAMS IN YOUR NEIGBORHOOD FOR TENNIS! IT IS WELL WORTH IT. LOOK UP NYJTL.ORG—-THERE ARE MANY PROGRAMS OUT THERE. (New York Junior Tennis League)
SEEK THEM OUT! YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN WILL BE HAPPY!!!
OBAMA WATCH….This is not news…but a discussion I had the other day while at work. I was talking to a carpenter. This man and I met and agreed on certain topics about life in our current world. However, when he and I discussed Barak Obama…..this man actually stated that he believed that Obama was Muslim.
He was very concerned about this belief. He said that is had nothing to do with race…but that he believed that OBAMA was muslim and that was a cause of concern for him. I tried to explain that Obama was raised by his white grand parents in the United States.
This man did not care…he believed that he was musilim and did not have America’s best interest at heart. I stopped trying to convience this gentleman that his views might be wrong….I let it go. Instead we talked about road rage, dog eat dog…rat race, family, maritial issues, kids, etc.
But I just could not get over his belief that OBAMA is a closet Muslim. This man showed real fear! WOW! Should I really be surprised?
Personally, I have my questions about Obama but, the name he was named by his white mother, his mother was an anthropologist, who traveled the world, his mother did not changer her religion, he was raised in the United States most of his life…because he longed for stability….I wonder, I wonder….”DO PEOPLE JUST WANT TO BELIEVE THE NEGATIVE OR WHAT?”
John Edwards and cheating on his wife? What else is new? I have not seen any politician who has not admitted to having cheating yet! The worse of course is that Mr. Edwards cheated while his wife was ill.
However, my voice teacher who was married to a pscyhologist….her husband cheated also while she was undergoing treatment for breast cancer.
It is unfortunate…but the human EGO…AND SEX drive do seem to have more control over all of us…than we would want. I hope they can recover from this.
MEDICAL MINUTE: I have to tell you I had a MAMMOGRAM THIS WEEK! I was more scared not to go…than to go.
When I heard that Christina Applegate had been coping with illness of breast cancer, and that my doctor had been after me to get it done….I finally gave in. My selfesteem went up.
I felt relieved. But I am still waiting for the test results. I told several ladies at work. Did you know that one woman asked for the information of where I went to get it done?!
Wow! I did not realize that my actions could affect someone else! So that is why I am telling you. LADIES…TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODIES! GO GET YOUR MAMMOGRAMS DONE….It is not painful….it is uncomfortable…but I did not feel any pain.
The technician was pleasant and nice to talk to. The woman was so professional I did not feel embaressed. (((I do not like being disrobed—for any reason except the swimming pool)))—So please go….your life, my life depends upon it!
What is going on in Russia? Stay tuned to your radio!!!—Cable tv etc.
Oh…did you notice the GAS PRICES? I actually paid 4.13 at the pump. Great….keep going down, down, down!
till next rant~~riveroflifelisajoy~
USTA! USTA!! USTA!!!! THE GREATEST SUMMER EVER! HOW A CAMP SCHOLARSHIP CHANGED MY SON’S SUMMER IN THE BEST WAY! NEW ENGLAND TENNIS CAMP! WOW! WHAT A BLAST!!!
MY SON HAS BEEN A USTA MEMBER…FOR SEVERAL YEARS. MEMBERSHIP IS A ONLY $25.00.
I LOOKED FOR A SCHOLARSHIPPROGRAM. I FOUND IT!
MY SON WAS ACCEPTED AND WENT TO THE GORDON KENT NEWENGLAND TENNIS CAMP FOR 13 DAYS!!!
IT IS LOCATED IN PAWLING —BEAUTIFUL PAWLING NEW YORK. 65 MILES OUT OF NEW YORK CITY!
BETTER THAN THE FRESH AIR FUND FOR AN INNER CITY TENNIS PLAYER OF 15 YEARS OLD!
WHAT A BLESSING!
THANKYOU USTA!!!
NEXT YEAR MY TAX RETURN WILL BE USED TO PAY FOR IT!!!
I WILL GIVE MORE DETAILS LATER!
`~~~~RIVEROFLIFELISAJOY
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