I Am Not *Your* Mother

I am a firm believer in that adage, ‘if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.’  Perhaps more accurately, if I don’t have anything constructive to say, I don’t say anything.  Usually.  

Sometimes I get aggravated though, just like anyone else.  I frequently get aggravated at myself, but more often, I get nerved at other people.  Especially at other people who should be behaving better but aren’t.  

When my kids leave the door open to the outside, letting the same-price-as-a-new-car air conditioning flow unimpeded out into the humid, South Texas swelter, I have been known to holler (because that’s what we do here in Texas, holler), “Did your mother raise you in a barn?”  But there is perhaps a more constructive approach wherein I tell them how much the open door costs, both in terms of our actual dollars and in terms of the negative effect on our human habitat to waste electricity. 

I can do that with my children though, because I’m the mama and that’s my job.  It is my responsibility to teach them what I think is the right way to navigate their way through childhood in order that maybe, perhaps, hopefully when they are the grown-ups, they will make thoughtful, responsible decisions.  

I can’t really do that with everyone I encounter, no matter strong my urge to correct and instruct.  People look at me funny (at best), or tell me to mind my own !@#$% business (at worst).  Ok, no one has ever actually told me to mind my own !@#$% business, but I credit that to me not actually dispensing unwanted advice to people who are not my children.  

Still, the urge is there.  When I see people doing things I think they ought not do, well, I want to offer constructive suggestions.  And since this is my blog and I can say just about whatever I want, I have a few things to say to people who should behave better.  Let’s see if I can make it an ongoing series.  I’ll call it “I’m not your mama, but…”  

My first admonishment goes out to Amazon.  

[GoogleNews results for #amazonfail]

You should treat your customers like human beings.  All of them.  Not just the heteronormative ones.  And if you’re going to make it your business to sell books and be successful at it, labelling LBGT-related books as “adult” by default, glitch or no, might diminish your customer base.  Something to think about.  

And shut the door when you go in or out.  

Books, music, who could ask for more?

This is what I want to do all day long. Anyone with me?

Shake it up, Shake it down

I’ve missed sharing several things the past few weeks for general chaos and too-many-directioning.  Some of these items may get their own posts in the coming days and weeks, but I’m going to splash out a bulleted updated here.

—There was a cool Spring Pageant in which one of the Sonars was the star, as well as a science fair.  And coming up we have a Bike Rodeo, two egg hunts, and Easter mayhem.  

—I’ve done some sewing (a cool tote bag and apron for school auction baskets, and a ridiculous quantity of backlogged mending and hemming and finishing).  I’m in the early planning stages for some full-sized quilts for the Sonars.  They’ve gone and outgrown their baby quilts.  

—In knitting there has been some teaching (third graders, including Sonar X8.  Yay!!), frogging (mystery stole), steaming and winding (the wool/silk from the MS), finishing (flame socks), casting on (checkerboard lace scarf), laughing (did you see the merkins at TheAnticraft??), and dreaming (socks? sweater? frisbees?).

—In other craft, I’ve worked up a prototype crocheted frisbee made from reclaimed medical tubing, electrical tape, and some neon-bright nylon twine I found in the garage.  Flies well and is really flexible.  Just not sure how well the innards will hold up to heavy play.  

—April is Script Frenzy month over at the Office of Letters and Light.  I finished my first script ever back in 2007 during the first Script Frenzy.  Last year I tried, but was derailed by the flu.  This year, I’m trying again, but threatening to be derailed by my own lack of focus.  I have 14 pages written, and three weeks to go.  If I can get my head into it, I can get there.  I’ll try to put a counter widget over there in the sidebar.  Anyone want to join?  

—In other writing news, I have been reading more about the publishing industry, following agent and publishing blogs and tweets and generally trying to get a feel for how the industry works and how I need to plan and prepare to throw myself in there (someday).  My first step involves working my way toward a coherent platform, or as we are calling it around here jokingly, my IMI (integrated media identity).  I’ve selected Squarespace as my playground, and soon will lay down a personal domain onto this baby.  

I hope all of my old friends and visitors will hang with me through the transition.  It could be bumpy, but eventually I’ll get it all smoothed out.  I imagine a space that includes the same blogging style I’ve had over at Alert the Pizza on Blogger (in fact, all of that content is already here), but with new features and content thrown in as well.  

Leave some words behind when you visit and help me build!!