Two Old Ladies

Had to post this ... it's great!!

Sheriff's Car

Thought this was funny - a policeman in my class sent this to me:

The Kern County, California, Sheriff's Department orders plain white patrol units and has the graphics applied locally. In this case, what they ordered was not quite, what they got.

This car was driven for 1 week before an officer noticed what the graphics company employee did on the passenger side of the car.

The employee did this on his last day working for the graphics company before he retired.

New Layout!

Bryan informed me this evening that the previous blog format was boring and Cam agreed with him, (yeah, I know - that's weird). So Cam decided he'd help me pick a new template out. This was his choice, and I have to admit he did a fine job! Not much planned for the weekend ... Cam has a skateboarding lesson tomorrow (he's doing awesome, and maybe someday I'll figure out how to post a video clip from my camera on here), I've got a team project to work on but I might also just have to grab some sun by the pool, and of course, we're gonna do our best to keep our faith in the Suns for the game on Sunday. That would be the extent of it. Gotta love it!

Nickelodeon Stigma

Just wanted to share a letter I sent off to Nickelodeon today. NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) is full of great information, and includes a section on how to fight the stigma of mental illness. StigmaBusters shares many of the stories of how mental illness is portrayed, both good and bad. If you have a minute, I encourage you to take a peek!

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Dear Nickelodeon,

Your network received a black mark in my book this last weekend (April 20, 2008) with the recent airing of a “Back to the Barnyard” episode. This animated episode, “Saving Mrs. Beady” focused on the delusions of Mrs. Beady and addressed psychiatric hospitals, mental illness and treatment for mental health in a most inaccurate and inappropriate manner.

This episode merely instigated the stereotypes surrounding the issues of mental health. I am surprised you would air an episode with this sort of content given the circumstances of one of your leading stars, Jamie Lynn Spears (Zoey 101). Jamie Lynn faces issues surrounding mental health with her sister (Britney Spears) on a daily basis. How disrespectful to expose one of your biggest moneymakers to the already sensitive subject? In any other workplace, members of the Legal and Human Resources Department would hand out discrimination and/or harassment suits faster than imaginable for subjecting an employee to such a situation.

As a family member of persons with mental illnesses, I did not appreciate the stigma this created. The information was inaccurate and the stereotypes were undignified. Nickelodeon’s portrayal of mental illness only propagates the struggle, prejudice and discrimination millions of people experience on a daily basis. The U.S. Surgeon General has not only condemned the actions Nickelodeon has taken with this episode, but under the Americans with Disabilities Act, I imagine you could face legal liabilities.

A network that focuses on children as a target audience is certainly not preparing appropriate content for airing. How many of your child viewers have a parent with a mental illness? I know of at least two. An even more important question is how many of your child viewers suffer from a mental illness themselves?

I highly recommend you refrain from running any further episodes of this cartoon. Perhaps it may be necessary for your writers to further research sensitive subjects before actually airing an episode. Advocates of any mental health organization, such as NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), would gladly offer suggestions for more positive content.

Thank you,

Alicia Peterson

Casual Friday

A friend sent me this the other day, and thought it was appropriate timing for my telecommuting news. Funny. Very funny.

Stop Breast Cancer For Life.

Hi everyone - I received this today, and wanted to pass it along.

Be my support. Be my strength. Be my Bra. There is currently a bill called the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act which will require insurance companies to cover a MINIMUM 48-hour hospital stay for patients undergoing a mastectomy. This is all about eliminating the "drive-through mastectomy" ... many women are forced to go home just a few hours after surgery, against the wishes of her doctor, and usually still groggy from anesthesia. Lifetime Television has put this bill on their Web page with a petition drive to show your support. Last year over half the House signed on. Please click here to sign the petition, you need not give more than your name and zip code.

It's official!

As of June 1, I will be working from home! It was blessed by the Chief HR officer of the company and everything is a go. Right now we're just working out the logistics like the phones, laptop, etc. I will have shaved off at least 10 hours of commute time per week, and 400 miles of driving in rush hour traffic (and that's just to and from work) per week. I'm REALLY looking forward to starting my day earlier and ending it sooner. Kind of tough now when Cam's school starts at 8:30, I've got to drop him off and hope that I'm to work by 9:30. If you need to, grab a calculator. Yep - that means I have maybe 2 hours with both of them by the time I get home, and before they hit the hay. I'll still go into the office, once a week for a few hours, probably Wednesdays, and from 9-1 or so to take care of meetings, pick up mail, etc. Other than that, I will be home!

Oh - and my dress code? Might have to head out and buy some more flip-flops. :)

Is THIS the first to go?

I'm beginning to think that turning 34 also means the onset of the stereotypical signs of old age. I'm referring to my hearing. It might just get me into trouble, or my son, if I don't watch it. Cameron and I were shopping yesterday at Kohls when I picked a shirt off the rack. It was green: darker than lime, brighter than olive ... that's the best I can describe it. Anyway, I ask Cam what he thinks of it.

What I THOUGHT I heard him say was, "It's nice if you want to look like a hooker." Jaw to the floor, looking around to make sure no one else heard, I tell him not to say that. I then ask him if he even knows what that means and where he heard it from. I proceed to tell him that he shouldn't say words if he doesn't know what they mean.

He looks at me and says, "Who doesn't know what a booger is?" Well if that wasn't a relief. Then he asks me what I thought he said.

"Nothing ... let's go look at shoes ..."

Phew. That was a close one.

Skate Exhibition

Saturday was Cam's skateboard exhibition at Desert Devils ... the facility he takes his lessons from. He did FANTASTIC! He has really been looking forward to it. As promised, here are some pictures from the event!

Cameron getting ready to show us his stuff!

Here he is on the mini-ramp catching some more air!

Okay, so this next picture would be the Mega-Ramp. And for good reason. You'll notice how high up they are (hence the flight of stairs to the right?) Cam is the one on the far right, and this is his FIRST attempt at this thing. I wanted to vomit. He practiced a couple of times with the mat and nailed them both times!



After that, the coach told him he was ready to go without the mat. You can't see it in the picture, but once he drops in, (they've got some pretty good speed) he'll hit the other side which is like the half-pipe in our yard and somewhat of another ramp, that takes them into a big foam pit.And here he is ready to go! (Like I said, no picture of the end result and dismount. The photographer was trying to self-administer CPR.)

Apparently Cameron didn't think it was as funny as Bryan and I did. I snuck in behind him and Bryan took the picture. I don't know, maybe we embarrassed him or something? Nah, that couldn't be it ...

And here is with his trophy! He received it for trying the Mega Ramp and succeeding! He was so excited ... I promise. (Take a look at the next picture! ) The seemingly lack of interest and focus elsewhere was due to the fact that he was STAAAARRRRVING. He was scoping out the BBQ burgers and hot dogs ...

This was after we got home - about four hours later. He was STILL smiling and oh so proud of that trophy - now can you tell? :)

Air Cam

Hi everyone! Thought I'd post a quick update of Cam's skateboarding, of course! :) This picture was taken last night at his lesson - he's catching some pretty good air! This is the first time he's done this in class. And let me tell you - he is STILL pumped up about it. Just can't believe this is my little boy. (He asked me this morning on the way to school - because he was talking about it again - if he "did a good enough jump for me on my birthday." So I guess that one was for mom! :)

His skate facility, along with Red Bull is hosting a Skateboard Demo on Saturday, which is comparable to a dance recital, I suppose. It gives the kids the opportunity to perform the skills that they have been working on in class. The demo consists of three different shows, one for each of the skill levels. Each class skates for about an hour. Cam's in the top of these three classes, the Shredders, which means we don't have to be there before daybreak. He is so excited to do this. They have an awards ceremony and BBQ afterward, with trophies, huge bonus for Cam. Of course I'll post pictures of that. :)

Elton John

Right now, as I'm typing this, I'm listening to Elton John ... Live! Mom and dad are at his concert in Vegas, mom called me from her cell and set it down for me to enjoy! So far I've heard about 50 minutes of the concert. It gives me the chills to know that the songs I'm hearing are sung live! He's singing one of my favorite songs, Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me, right now, so this is the highlight of my day! Just wanted to pass along! Thanks for bringing the concert to me mom! (Now he's on to Candle in the Wind ... ). Hope everyone is having a great day! (Quick update: I listened to 1 hour and 24 minutes of Elton John. I figured I'd only missed a song or two ... asked mom if he opened with Crocodile Rock... she said no, Bennie and the Jets was my next guess. Right on! And apparently I only missed the first song before Dad suggested to mom that she call me. I love him!)

One year ago today

In the one year since Grandpa's death, there are numerous times I have found myself actually forgetting for a moment that he is gone. I thought this weird at first, but then decided that I was (and am) so truly blessed with his presence - that he is never really gone. I think about him ALL the time. There is no time frame for mourning, and there is no right or wrong way to do it. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. And just because the mourning ends, doesn't mean you've forgotten. Grief ends when you resolve that you can live again; when you can focus your get-up-and-go on your life as a whole, and not on the hurt, or guilt, or pain.

I’ve stopped focusing on the what-ifs and should have’s and could have’s. They will always be there. Replacing them with gratefulness is so much easier and happier! When Cameron was born, Grandpa told me that he couldn’t wait to take him fishing. He never got the chance, but there were so many other incredible memories that did take place! He was here for my wedding and he was here for the birth of his first great-grandchild. Cameron was lucky enough to know his great-grandpa and have that special relationship Grandpa shared with all his grandkids. I also know that there is nothing I would change about the weekend he passed away. Being in Seaside for the funeral prompted so many “I’m sorry you couldn't be here, or I wish you could have been at the hospital.” The picture below was taken the last time I saw him - Dan & Kim's wedding, which was a week before our 7-year wedding anniversary and about a month before he passed. I cannot imagine this image being any different. I would not have wanted it any other way.

A great amount of love and family support is happening today ... just wanted to say that I'm thinking about all of you and sending big hugs and kisses your way! I want to take this opportunity to tell you all how proud I am to be part of this family and grateful to have you all in my life! Since it is supposed to be around 83 degrees here today, I thought I'd post a pic of Theresa and Big Al showing the GPM support. It was from last May, and we certainaly honored Grandpa on the Lake. (Or was that obvious??) :) Here's to Grandpa!

You can shed tears that he is gone
or you can smile
because he has lived.
You can close your eyes
and wish that he'll come back
or you can open your eyes and see all he's left.
You can remember him
and only that he's gone
or you can cherish his memory
and let it live on.

Love you all!

Alicia