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    theresa


    Theresa Lode or, simply “T”, had her world turned upside down and inside out when her son was diagnosed with ADHD and a few other goodies. Her choice- follow the doctor's orders....or trust her heart and delve into the world of Free Range Education. She chose the latter...

    Curious? Want to know more? Read on ...
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Men in spandex

“I was just standing there when this man turned around with this..this… thing right there.”  Reported by a friend, who will remain nameless, recalling her moment of horror when a spandex-clad man turned to greet her in the weight room of the local YMCA.

What was most disturbing about this encounter, she said, was the fact that in church he seemed like such a nice normal man. “You had no idea what was underneath that blue leisure suit,” she added with a shudder.

And then this….from my Facebook friend, Skip.  Brace yourself….this ain’t pretty:

Thanks but no thanks, Spidey....I'd rather take my chances with the Green Goblin.

Lord, have mercy.

What are they thinking?

Interesting factoid:  The word spandex is an anagram of the word “expands.”

Like you needed me to tell you that.

So they do…..What?

I dunno about you, but I get so weary of blah-blah-blah language.  You have to translate as you read.  And then I, the cynic that I am, feel compelled to hang onto my wallet when I read such blither blather because I figure about the time I finish reading an ad that promises some new “Benefit” to ….they’re going after my money.  Or they’re reducing services.

Or consider this.  It’s an ad for….for what?  (I love the way they add the little “TM” after their verbal creation.)

“Tatum helps companies maximize the Office of the CFO with a singular focus on accelerating business performance to create more value™. (?!) Using a unique blend of executive services, executive consulting and executive search, we provide human capital solutions (What the heck does that mean?)  to meet your needs with velocity. (Huh?) Organizations of all sizes call us when critical business challenges arise because we understand the urgency of NOW.” (And btw- no one but NO ONE understands the urgency of NOW like a mother with a toddler who has to go potty NOW.)

I would like to propose a new business: Theresa’s Uncluttered Copy Writing.  I can reduce all that verbosity to a few simple, BS-free words:

Tatum’s—We Connect Employers With Employees

Yes.  Much better; I think I can breath easier now.  Think I should trademark it?

Oh, to be like Erma

I think the transformation is coming along nicely….what do you think?  Maybe I should change my name to Theresa BomLode.

Aliens will eat the fatties first!

I set my doughnut down while I read this one.  (It was a very small doughnut, OKAY?!)  A new ad campaign in Great Britain has alienated those they meant to inspire.  Actually,  it “sparked outrage” the article said.

So perhaps this ad campaign wasn’t in the best taste.  (Har!)   I still found it amusing though.

But still….I find it sad that it’s acceptable to poke fun at overweight people.  (And don’t get me started about the availability of all the cheap food crap that fuels the obesity epidemic.)

What about an ad campaign that would say, “When the aliens come, they will eat the GOSSIPS…or the GREEDY…or the ???”  (Certainly, politicians would be the appetizer.)

Nah.  Don’t think that would really work either because it’s all shame based.  But the marketing world is full of this sort of exploitation.

But still.  This ad made me laugh.  Now back to that doughnut….

An Eggo update

Fear not my friends.  Guess what I found!

The bidding will start at $49.95

But now (shudder) I hear there’s a pumpkin shortage!  Too bad someone didn’t tell the local fruit market—he seems to have plenty.

And finally, before I bid you adieu and quit procrastinating on another project,  check out this article.  I’m sure it will tug on your heartstrings.  Won’t you please help?

The Mother Lode’s Kick Butt Workout!

When I headed into the YMCA the other day I was ambushed by a ninja looking chick.  She was dressed in black from head to toe and had a blond pony tail pulled through her cap and looked incredibly firm and agile.

“Would you like to try a boot camp demo?” she asked.  Behind her, I saw there was another similarly dressed man (minus the pony tail) doing arm curls with a VW Bug.  He was barking at a well-nourished middle-aged woman who had collapsed on the pavement and was sobbing.  “Gimme FIFTEEN more push ups lady!  You didn’t think I was paying attention, did you?!”

A couple of college kids, who also looked very firm, were huffing and puffing around what looked to be a trebouchet and I was wondering if they were getting ready to launch off somewhere.

I regarded Miss Pony Tail and adjusted my Wal Mart bag which contained my swimsuit.  And a baby Snickers. Lap swimming can be exhausting.   I said,  “How about the ‘camp’ part?  Can I just do that?”

“You should give it a try!” she offered.  Her pony tail swung when she spoke.  I hate that.

I replied, “When you have a ‘slipper’ camp….gimme a call.  Until then, I’ll just stick with my laps, thanks.”

She tossed her pony tail back and hopped over to a yoga-mat-toting potential victim participant.

My days of boot camp, step aerobics, “power pump” and long distance running have been over for some time.

I had a friend recently invite me to a “Zumba” class (“Zumba”- from the ancient Mayan language which, as best as linguists can tell, means…”Can’t get out of bed in the morning.”)

I was actually considering attending, when, I swear I’m not making this up, her daughter sent me a chilling warning.  “Don’t go Theresa!  My sister went and it made her cry!”

This is a conundrum for me.  I love exercise….love being in shape.  But my range of choices keep shrinking with each year that passes.

Which is why I’m excited to announce a new workout routine that’s bound to bring new hope and health to the physically unfit. I’m calling it, “The Mother Lode’s Kick Butt Workout”…so called because you’ll kick yourself in the butt for not trying this sooner.

Daniel will be my technical director and then… watch out You Tube!  I’ll keep you posted on this exciting new development.

In the meanwhile,  if you’re heading to the Y anytime soon, I’d approach that building very carefully if I were you.

theresa_sig

 

Was it just me?

Or does ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons in his appearance on the CMA Awards last night remind you of anybody?  Well, here…you look:

billygibbons
cousin itt

Just sayin’….

We had fun watching the CMA awards last night.  Though I will admit that after  number 57, I quit counting Carrie Underwood’s dress changes.

It was delightful to see the humble Taylor Swift take home the goods.

It was great to see Lady Antebellum get an award too.  (Little known fact: Lady Antebellum had considered calling themselves “Lady CEREbellum” [meaning from Dictionary.com: a large portion of the brain, consisting of two lateral lobes and a central lobe,] but their marketing dude shot down the idea (“too brainy”) and insisted on Lady Antebellum, which means literally, Before the Bellum, a reference to a small, little-known battle that took place in Bellum, TN,  during the Civil War while the much more famous Battle of Franklin was raging.)

Jay’s theory was shot to pieces last night.  He’s long contended that Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman are actually THE SAME PERSON since they are often seen separately.  Well.  There they were side by side last night.

Or where they?????  Again….just sayin’….

theresa_sig

The Mother Lode to appear in Success Magazine!

darren

This man, yes, THIS man was emailing ME!

Imagine my shock when I saw an email from Darren Hardy, editor of Success Magazine in my inbox.  This can only be good news. Success Magazine is one of my favorite reads; it’s bursting with encouragement and helpful teachings from some of the leading Zig Ziglar’s of the world.

But back to the email.  I’ve once again started trolling around  for paying magazine gigs.  And since the editorial calendar is usually several months ahead of time, one loses track of what’s submitted when it comes to articles…or simple article proposals.

So in a nano-second this is what runs through my head:

OMG.  SUCCESS MAGAZINE.  DARREN HARDY.  I wonder if I should get a new headshot?  Press release kit?  How many magazines should I ask for.  Oh!  The years of writing!  I’ve struck gold!  Woooo-hooooooo!  Or perhaps he discovered my witty repartee on Facebook and wanted to offer me a column.  Perhaps…..

Then the next nano second came.  And the party ended.  Marcella, my bad, annoying angel spoke up:

Uh.  You knuckle head.  You didn’t submit squat to Success Magazine.  Back off on the coffee woman.

Whoa Betsy!  I pushed back my coffee cup.  It does make me a little excitable.

It occurred to me then that perhaps I should OPEN the email.  Yes!  Open it. And I did.

Ahem.  Well, it’s not quite a column offer.  But he DID like a comment I left on Facebook regarding a darn-good piece on Edison.

This justified a miniature snoopy dance, I thought.  Not the whole enchilada…maybe just a little foot shuffle.

So now ladies and gentlemen, in January’s issue of Success, Yours Truly will be on the Letter’s to the Editor page with this brilliant comment:

“I loved this article about Thomas Edison! It encourages me as I raise my 15-year-old Edison. I often wonder what HIS mom went through.”
—Theresa Lode

Takes your breath away doesn’t it? Not quite enough for a publishing credit but hey, despise not small beginnings, eh?

And Mr. Hardy, if you’re reading this,  I’m ready any time you are for that column.

theresa_sig

My deodorant understands me

Finally, in this harried and crazy world I’ve found someone, err, something that really understands my needs.

It’s my deodorant.

I made this pleasant discovery only this morning as I was getting dressed.   “Extra responsive in emotional moments” the sticker reads on the bottle.

Golly, what else does a woman need (besides a good, er, support system….if you get my drift)?

So I pulled on my new “These-won’t-make-your butt-look so-big” (TWMYBLSB  Brand) jeans and started my day full of confidence and zest.

And then I encountered a cockroach in the kitchen.  I swear the thing was swaggering.

Well, he’s got another thing coming to him.  The exterminator is due any moment now.

In the meanwhile….I want my money back on that deodorant.  It was most definitely NOT responsive to my emotional moment .

theresa_sig

Making the world a better place…

….one cupcake at a time.

Earlier this month, on Jay’s birthday we stopped in at “Naticakes” in downtown Franklin.  We had been in there for coffee before and enjoyed the environment….but a cupcake?  I don’t think so.  If I’m going to have indulgent calories, a cupcake isn’t even on my list.

But hey….this was his birthday so we thought we’d indulge.  I braced myself for the first bite.  There is nothing more disgusting to my palate than frosting made with shortening and crystallized sugar.  And this cupcake had some serious frosting swirled and piled high.  I took a cautious nibble.

Oh. My. Goodness!

If you’re in Franklin….Nashville….Montana….it’s worth the trip to check it out.

We chatted with the owner, a beautiful energetic young woman named Nicole.  She started Naticakes in memory of her niece who died when she was a toddler.  A portion of of their proceeds  go to a The Natalie Wynn Foundation in order to help children in Nati’s memory.

theresa_sig

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