The big time is just around the corner

In what has become the norm for Manchild and I, we took Kidlet out to hear some blues last weekend. We went to hear a friend that we've been following for a while. He's an amazing guitar player and I like for Kidlet to hear him because his story is inspirational. You see, he's only been playing for 6-7 years but he's phenomenal. I mean, he's got skills like someone whose been playing for 20 years. I keep hoping that Kidlet will be super inspired to practice like a fiend so that she too can become a good player. And I will be the proudest stage mom there ever was. (I'd probably even ask to get onstage with her so I can sing backup and relive my glory days.)

This particular musician has seen us listening to him multiple times and he knows Kidlet's guitar teacher so he knows that my girl wants to be a future blues shredder. This time when we were hearing him he offered the most amazing thing - he planned on asking her to join them onstage and play a song with them!

Oh...mah...GAWD!!!!! REALLY?!?!?!?!?!?!? How freakin' cool is that????? A 13 year old girl being asked by a group of "grown up" band dudes to join them!!!! I already loved the guys but I loved them even more at that point. BUT   there was one small problem...Kidlet doesn't know a song yet. She's been practicing and has learned a chord or two but not enough to play an entire song.

Besides that, she's pretty shy. I think she would have just melted into her shoes if he had actually announced out loud that he wanted her to play with them. Thankfully he had asked Manchild first and was told that she wasn't ready yet so she didn't have to be embarrassed in front of everyone. Now that she's had an offer, she's going to have to up her game and stop talking smack about how much she'd like to get up on the stage. Because that's an option now. If she ever learns more than a chord or three. Go rocker girl, GO!!!



Honey's in danger!



http://digital-art-gallery.com/picture/10248

My honey man is in law enforcement. I never EVER thought I'd wind up with one of "those" but he is and I am. I'm nervous every day that he's on the job. Lately, things have been even scarier because there's been some bad, bad things going on the the area where he works. Like MURDER bad! So far he hasn't been directly involved in the investigation but the department did assign him the task of foot patrol right where someone was murdered! He was a walking target and boy, was I pissed. At least give the guy a car to sit in. That would offer a little bit of protection! Everyone in the department and departments related to law enforcement are on edge. Understandably so.

Even though those guys carry big guns and wear bulletproof vests, they can't be safe 24/7.  Each time they approach a vehicle or house, there could be a bad guy waiting to take a shot at them. Being on guard and keeping a sharp eye open takes its toll on a person. But they never get the recognition they deserve and that makes me mad. My hubby puts his life on the line every day to protect and serve but his is a somewhat thankless job.

A few posts back I wrote about the herd of sexy firemen that roared into my neighborhood. If Manchild knew how much I was ranting and raving about those dudes he'd probably throw up. He hates firemen! Not really, but he dislikes how they get all of the attention and glory and cops get such bad raps. If people behaved and did what they were supposed to do, cops wouldn't have a reason to get them into trouble! And yet, they get the blame for being jerks.

I have great respect for the police now that I have an up close and personal picture of the dangers their job entails. Imagine walking up to a car, not knowing what kind of person you're going to encounter? Do they have a gun? Are they running from the law? Are they crazy on drugs? Or imagine having to go up to a house and knock on the door to find someone, not knowing if that someone is inside aiming a loaded weapon at you. Sometimes, the news being delivered isn't what the person wants to hear and they want someone to take their frustrations out on. Who are they going to go after? The person delivering the news! It's always an unknown for the law enforcement people out there.

Believe me, those guys and ladies have compassion contrary to popular belief. My guy carries a trunk full of stuffed animals to give to kids when he encounters families in crisis. He's rescued animals, fed people, given people rides and much more and none of those things were in his job description. He'd much rather give a warning than have to arrest someone. Now, if the person is being a belligerent asshole then sure - throw their butt in jail. But for the most part, cops just want people to walk the straight and narrow.

I'm sure that my honey is going to have to work some long, dangerous hours to protect and serve the community in the upcoming weeks and months. The murders that have been happening have rocked the community so not only does he have to avoid getting killed by some crazy murderer, he's got to calm down lots of trigger happy, nervous citizens. And that's on top of the regular stuff he's supposed to do. So if you see a cop, rather than tossing attitude or hate their way, think a moment about how much they do and have to deal with. Don't act sketchy or make sudden movements. And for Pete's sake, a smile or a 'thank you' goes a long way for these people. Every time someone thanks my man for doing what he does, he comes home and tells me about it. Unfortunately, I don't hear those kind of stories very often. I sure would like to see that change.