*SIGH* Just Like Old Times

In my never-ending quest to find a way to pass Biology (Oh, that class!), my lab group and I went on an extra credit field trip to a local zoo, wildlife preserve, and animal sanctuary.  We spent the day classifying animals.  Baby Boy came along as my official tutor and tour guide.

We had so much fun! 

I mean, it was so reminiscent of our homeschool field trips!  I think Baby Boy and I may have irritated my lab group because we had so much fun together and almost forgot that we were supposed to be there in an academic capacity.  A lot of them are very young and I don't think they're used to young adults and their parents getting along so well.  Actually, for the first time in almost a year, we forgot about classroom  academics and went back to learning as fun and exciting and doesn't need to take place in the confines of four walls.  It was such a liberating day!

I usually hate to see animals in cages of any kind, but this particular zoo is actually made up of retired circus performers, confiscated exotic pets, and abandoned animals, so I know that this is a safe place for these animals to live out their golden years. 

  There were tigers.  They were very big and scary, until they started whining and crying like kitty cats when the zookeeper showed up with a bunch of pumpkins.  Apparently pumpkins are delicious to tigers.  

Baby Boy took this close-up of a lion.  I was too scared to get that close. 

 The tortoises were HUMONGOUS!

Lots of peacocks roamed free.  

 Some parrots even talked to us.  

  Oh, my new love affair is with this potbellied pig!  She wagged her tail at me and even posed like a model for several photos.  I wanted to give her a big kiss and bring her home.

 Look at the little chicken family.  Aren't they cute!

 Llamas!

 The goats are the only animals that they'd let us pet, so we petted them for about an hour, LOL. We LOVE animals. 

I'm not sure if this was a good trip or a bad trip for me.  I've been really going through homeschool withdrawal lately.  I'm seriously missing all the time Baby Boy and I spent learning, living, and growing together.  I do love the young man he's become, but, boy do I feel old and useless most days.  

Actually, now that I think about it, it was a very good trip.  An amazing trip!  I'm trying to focus on cherishing  all the time we have together instead of mourning the time we spend apart.  At least that's what I'm telling myself.  ;-)

Now I'm off to write that report.  Oy!

Until next time . . .

Freaky Foods

I had two separate freaky food experiences this weekend:

First of all, Baby Boy convinced me to try sushi.  Here's what it looked like.

 

It tasted . . . interesting.  Baby Boy ate all of it, so I guess he liked it. 

I don't think I'm cut out for raw . . . whatever that was. If anyone can enlighten me on that pile of green stuff and that folded mass of pinkish-orange meat-type substance, feel free.  As much as I consider myself a well traveled and fairly educated woman, I'm a simple meat-and-potatoes type eater. 

Then, we ran out of the potatoes we grew in our garden, so we had to buy some from the store.  Imagine our surprise when THIS rolled onto the kitchen counter.

All together now, can you say GMO foods?

As you can imagine, we only needed one potato to feed all of us, LOL.


Until next time . . .

Shock and Devastation

I hate to break my extended silence for such a depressing topic, but I need some blog therapy right now. Please feel free to stop reading now.



Today I have tears, tears, tears.

A very sweet, handsome, artistic, caring, funny, homeschooled friend about Baby Boy's age took his own life very recently.  He's been in our home, to Baby Boy's birthday parties, and to many functions where homeschooling families hang out.  I wouldn't say our families were super-close, but I think we can confidently call ourselves friends.

I'm taking this terribly hard.  It really saddens me that a young man felt his only option was to end his own life before it really had a chance to begin.  I just feel so sorry.  Sorry for him.  Sorry for his Mom.  Sorry for his family.  Sorry for his friends.  Sorry for Baby Boy.  Sorry for myself.  

I'm actually surprised at all the emotions that have been stirred up.  I suddenly feel all those aches and pains that I went through as a young person.  You know, I was a bonafide freak when I was a teen.  Not a mild freak, a REALLY freaky freak.  I was the one who ate lunch in the hallway on the steps to keep from getting picked on.  Shoot!  I still am, I just don't care what anyone thinks anymore.  I struggled with sexual identity, weight issues, poverty embarrassment, and just plain old-fashioned puberty.  Mom #2 and I both had separate struggles that led us to and from the brink of suicide, but luckily we had forces in our lives who pulled us back.  I wish this young man had been so fortunate.

I'm not sure what I'm trying to say here.  Just . . . if you know a young person who is struggling with who they are, please encourage them.  Let them know that it will certainly get better. 

I'm amazed at all the beautiful young people who feel hopeless.  What's going to become of the future if all the sensitive, creative souls are snuffed out?  We NEED them!

Live! Love! Laugh! Come out of the shadows and be yourselves!  WE NEED YOU!

I guess I just want everyone to hug their children a little tighter today and, if they want to talk, listen.  Even if they don't want to talk, talk to them.  I just don't want to hear about another life lost. 

I don't even know how I'm going to look into this Mom's eyes.  She just lost her precious baby boy. 

Please keep her family, and ours in your hearts today.

That's all.


Until next time . . .