Well it’s been a while! After a couple of years in the wilderness, bear tribe net is back online.

Are you happy to see me? Hope so!

It’s been raining a lot here in Clinton, Tennessee. I’m not complaining. I actually like and enjoy the rain. It’s been a peaceful and quiet day. The surrounding landscape from the back porch is gorgeous. This morning after feeding the dogs I took a little video of Reighn playing in the rain.

She loves her ball. Enjoy the rain and fog. The video is about a minute and a half. I have installed Movie Edit pro 14 on my computer. My last version was movie edit pro 11. It’s taking a little while to get used to the new controls.

Memories From 2008

Stephanie is working hard at school. I am very proud of her dedication. I think she is slightly stressed out. I copied the following directly from her live journal.

I’m tired and moody.

Today I did my informative speech and I really had no idea why I was so nervous. I mean, I’m always nervous but I think this is the most nervous I’ve ever been and I have no idea why. Rationality tells me that everybody else in the room is just as nervous as I am and would feel pity……so I should be comfortable..but I wasnt.

My topic was alternatives to photoshop and dear god..I think everybody on my friends list would have no problem at all talking forever on that subject, especially me. But I had no idea what I was talking about the entire time.

I did better afterwards when asking questions..if the whole thing was “ask me questions!” then I would have done better.

in the end, instead of feeling relieved its over with..I’m really irritated with my presentation. I’m not happy at all and I had so much I wanted to say ;;

A Day at the Mall, March 22nd, 2008

As I have said before, my husband is retiring from the Air Force the first week of May 2008. Yesterday, the five kids and I went shopping for clothes to wear to the retirement ceremony. The closest Mall is about 45 minutes away depending on the traffic. We had to take two cars. It was a good trip. The mall wasn’t too crowded. Customer service was very good especially at JCPenny’s men’s department.

My 17 year old son is 6feet tall and as big around as a twig. What he needed was a pair of slacks that was 28w 32long. Ok! They don’t make that size in casual slacks in the men’s department. At least, not in any of the brands on display. My son is too tall for the clothes in the boys department. For some reason, they think boys are short and squatty. Anyway, we had lots of help at JCPenny’s.

Ethan was measured and the hunt for a pair of pants began. We found a nice black pair that was 30w 32long. They fit very nicely and not to0 baggy in the butt. And they were on sale for 55% off. That is always a plus. Then we had to find a shirt and tie. Ethan was set on a white shirt. I would have preferred a color of some kind but he wanted white. I have never bought a dress shirt for Ethan so I had no idea what size to look for. Apparently, he is a 14 neck with 32-33 length.

The men at JCPennys were a bit surprised at how short Ethan arms were. LOL!! It’s because he is so skinny and has no shoulder width. Morgan located a beautiful purple tie for Ethan but it was $28 dollars on sale and I was trying to keep cost down ’cause remember I have 5 children, four of those I have to buy clothes for. We settled on a lovely redish tie that was also on sale for $12. We also located a black belt that was on sale for $10. All we have to do now is find Ethan a pair of shoes.

OK, I admit it, they’re not strictly speaking my tips, but they are handy for all you young guys and girls looking to succeed on a date.

You can also search around for some handy dating tips, and if you’re looking to meet someone online, have a look for some reviews and offers from the best dating sites online.

So that’s my attempt to play cupid – and I hope it helps you find someone special.

If your child is dealing with bullying problems, it can help immensely to keep the lines of communication open by talking about the problem and sharing any experiences you may have had. Familiarize yourself with the school policies and ensure that your children know who they can go to for help when at school.

It is important that you keep to a routine each night when getting your child ready for bed. Establishing a bedtime routine allows your child to get his mind ready to go to bed and get to sleep. For example, your routine could be made up of putting his pj’s on, brushing his teeth and reading him a story. At that point he understands that sleep comes soon. Your child is less likely to show opposition if he knows what to expect.

Do you have difficulty trying to calm your baby? Try rubbing a little lavender on your neck before you hold the baby. The gentle fragrance will have a calming effect on your child. This also works when you want your baby to nap, as lavender oil is quite calming.

Removing unhealthy foods from the house is the first step to instilling healthy eating habits. If you don’t keep sugary snacks in your home, your child most likely won’t ask for it. Use these items as treats that are only consumed on holidays.

Build some time away from your kids into your schedule. Get a trusted family member or friend to care for you kids so you can enjoy your time without having to worry about them. If you do not take breaks, stress will build up and the tensions will keep you from developing a healthy relationship with your children.

As your child get older and spends more time alone with friends, they may pick up on some bad language. If you hear him use inappropriate words, let him know that this is not the way he should speak in the family. Only correct them when they’re alone to avoid embarrassing them in front of their friends.

When you take the time to improve your skills as a parent, it proves that you take the job of being a parent seriously and that you would do anything to be better at it. If you use the advice provided in this article, your confidence with parenting will continue to improve. No matter what stage of parenting you are in, you can always learn new parenting information.

Stop often when driving long distances with toddlers or young children to stave off boredom and crankiness. Although it might seem like getting to your destination quickly is the best decision, taking things slow and recognizing the needs of everyone in the vehicle can really salvage the trip. Take your travel breaks at restaurants with a place for the kids to play, or parks and open areas with plenty of grass for them to burn some excess energy.

Positive reinforcement is often the best option when dealing with children who are difficult or have repetitive behavior issues. You have to keep in mind that your children are experiencing new things and new feelings every day, and sometimes do not have the tools to express themselves. If you encourage communication, you will help your children express their feelings.

Do your best to have your children eat and go to bed at the same time while traveling. Small children and infants are often stressed out by traveling. The bedtime rituals especially will help your child feel more comfortable in the new space and allow him/her (and you) to get enough sleep!

Keep your eyes peeled for the family line at the security checkpoint if you’re traveling with kids. You will find a family line at most airports. Then, you won’t have to worry about rushing or getting annoyed by impatient travelers in line behind you. Everyone must remove their shoes and all items must go on the belt for x-ray examination.

Before administering medicine to your child, it may be helpful to mix each dose in something sweet. Put a little sugar in the medication, or mix it with orange juice. When you need to administer eye drops, ask the child to keep their eyes closed while you apply the drops to their eyelid. This will allow the medicine to enter the eye more gently than if dropped while the eye is open.

Give your child plenty of opportunities to develop his or her senses. Whether your child is smelling the dinner ingredients before you add them to your plate, touching whatever you are touching or putting their teething toys in their mouth, they are sure to enjoy every opportunity you are giving them to explore the world around them. Always look for activities that expose them to new tastes, smells, sounds and textures.

Hopefully, your are now equipped with a few more tools to improve your parenting performance. Your children are a gift, and applying the suggestions in this article can enable you to enjoy and care for them well. You now have some of the tools it will take to be successful and enjoy this great period of your life.

If a parent has a child who suffers from ADHD or other behavioral disorders, the parent may find it hard work to keep the child busy. If these children are not always kept busy, they may not behave appropriately. Simple solutions include expending energy with long walks or bicycle riding for up to an hour every day.

Children in the preschool years do not handle transitions well. An abrupt switch from on activity to the next can induce stress, and it will end in a melt down.

If you are going to take your children on a long road trip, stop as often as you can to keep them from getting too cranky. You will have a far more pleasant trip if you take your time, with frequent breaks to relieve the tedium for everyone. Have fun stopping at parks or play areas so children can tire themselves out.

Extracurricular activities can offer your child many benefits and advantages. These encourage your child to become more social and make more friends, which can help your child all the way through adulthood. Keeping your children busy with after-school programs will also stop them from getting into trouble instead.

When disciplining your child, you should never use words that are insulting or cruel. These types of words only hurt and humiliate a child and will not improve behavior. Try to use words that are encouraging to motivate him to have better behavior.

Sometimes being a parent can be a difficult task, but with the advice in the article you should be better prepared to make good decisions. Pay attention to the facts presented in this article, so that you can celebrate your greatest gift. You can enjoy this wonderful experience and feel prepared to take on the responsibility successfully.

Think about what message you are sending your child! You want your children to know you can be trusted.

Do not keep junk food in the house. Your child probably won’t ask for junk food if you don’t have any around. Use these items as treats that are only consumed on holidays.

While devoting time to your children is important, taking time for yourself is essential, too. Drawing and enforcing this boundary allows you to maintain your individuality while still being an excellent parent.

You can clear an area on the counter in the kitchen, roll up a soft towel, lay the child back on the towel with their head over the sink, then gently run the water over their hair and scalp. This can help alleviate the fear of being dunked and their dislike of water in their face.

Each child has different needs and expectations. The methods that are effective for one of your children might not work on another. Not only does this include rewards, but punishments as well. Do not try to follow a cookie cutter format when raising your children, instead experiment to find what works best for them and you.

Team sports should help your child develop their self-esteem. Going to your child’s games will be a great occasion for bonding and will show your child you care about their passion.

Develop a loving and supportive relationship with your partner. Your children learn a lot from you and you should show them you have a good relationship with your husband or wife. This will ensure he is a happy child and happier adult. You’ll see that your hard work building a relationship with your spouse pays off when your child is able to have positive relationships himself.

As you have read in this article, parenting correctly can make a chore seem like a breeze. There is nothing wrong with following the advice of those who have been through similar problems before and building on their success. So, you should listen to these tips.

Some things I’ve learned about the most difficult job in the world…

Never smoke in the house if you are a parent. You should even think about completely quitting smoking. Breathing secondhand smoke can be just as harmful as smoking. Children who are exposed to second-hand smoke on a regular basis are at greater risk for developing respiratory illnesses, asthma and cancer.

Giving into all your child’s demands is not a wise idea. Only accede to their demands if it is reasonable to do so. You don’t want your kids to think they’re controlling you or that they can use their emotions against yours.

Set up a basic list of house rules for your kids. Clearly communicate the negative consequences associated with failure to abide by those rules. Seeing the rules in place will provide your children necessary boundaries, and also reflect your love and good intentions for them. Having a set of rules in place will also make the job of parenting easier for yourself, as well as your partner.

You can have your child lay face up on the counter with their head over the sink and a towel under their neck and let them have a small towel for their face and eyes. Doing this can help alleviate the anxiety countless toddlers have about being submerged underwater.

Make sure to pack comfort items for your child if you take them on a trip. While most of the family views a vacation as a fun break, to a very young child it seems like a needless disruption of their normal day. Having a familiar blanket or favorite toy can help your child to be more comfortable in an unfamiliar place.

It is important to consider the message that you could potentially be sending your child. It’s important for your kids to feel that what you say is true and that they can trust you.

Even though it is important to spend plenty of time with your kids, take time to relax alone. This helps you be yourself and a great parent too.

A good parent understands the importance of praising their child whenever they are doing something well. Kids want lots of attention. They will do whatever they can to get it, including engaging in bad behavior if doing the right thing garners them no attention at all. Parents who fail to provide their children with positive attention on appropriate occasions are actually encouraging potentially bad behavior.

Learn about the various stages of maturity and milestones before your children start living them. You can always learn more about being a good parent.

Beautiful lawns are great, but you can’t live on them! If you have a decent amount of space around your home you might want to consider devoting some of it to a vegetable garden. I’ve just finished planting mine and we’re really looking forward to what it’s going to bring into our lives. So here are a few of the benefits…

There can be so many reasons why you should plant your own garden that there should be nothing stopping you from doing it. You will save money simply by growing your own vegetables, but it requires a lot of hard work. It takes effort and patience but you will see the results when the vegetables appear. A particular good thing about having your own garden is you have control of what chemicals or products are going into your soil. It seems quite feasible that much of the illness and obesity issues are caused by what’s in our foods.

The rewards from consuming fresh, healthy vegetables, cultivated in your own yard, are so numerous that having a garden shouldn't take much thought. Feeding on vegetables, that happen to be packed with nutrients, are low in fats and calories, along with containing no cholesterol. An additional benefit happens to be dietary fiber which helps to keep you regular. Eating plenty of vegetables could lower your cholesterol levels which could also reduce the risk of heart disease. Roughage, which comes from such vegetables as spinach, cabbage, peas and carrots, gives you the feeling of being full much quicker.

A few of the nourishing substances you will receive are potassium, which is important for anyone who is concerned with their blood pressure. This is additionally great for building the brain and muscles. Celery, potatoes, eggplant, squash and tomatoes usually are fresh vegetables that have lots of potassium. Needless to say vegetables tend to be packed with vitamins like vitamin A, which helps the skin and eyes and can be found in carrots, asparagus, broccoli and green pepper. With regard to energy, vitamin B is tremendous and can be found in broccoli, peas and beans. Vitamin C can assist your defense mechanisms and you can get it in kale, parsley, turnips and red cabbage.

Vegetables can just about offer all the essential vitamins and minerals you need to live healthy. Become good to yourself and all your family by starting a vegetable garden. Not only will it save you money, but your health will improve, while you lose weight.

I got an e-mail yesterday from my old buddy Pete, who I have known for over 15 years. Pete moved to Europe nearly 2 years ago now. Turns out that Pete has got himself a job working for a betting company, Paddy Power. Yes in Europe they are allowed to bet online and in bookmaker shops, his job is part of the online branch of the company, some technical stuff with the computer systems there, that I have to confess I don’t understand fully. But never mind.

So I looked into the company just out of interest to see who they were, and it turns out they are a pretty big name in sports betting over there. They also have shops in the UK and do business online with people from all over the world. He also mentioned they had done a load of crazy, surreal and sometimes controversial TV ads, so I looked them up on Youtube as well and yeah they are pretty surreal. Take this one for example:

OK I guess it might be quite funny to the right person but you have to wonder whether it makes them want to bet on sports! The guy is called Carlton Palmer and as far as I can make out he is a former soccer player in the English league. Guess maybe he did not invest his money too wisely if he is now making these commercials?

But what does get the customers is the promotions they offer, which is part of the work Pete is doing. He says the do an offer called the paddy power free bet which is like an introductory promo thing, and everyone who joins them gets something like $50 or maybe 50 euros, for free. So this sounds like a pretty crazy offer, maybe they can just take the money and never spend any of their own? Or perhaps there are some Ts and Cs that safeguard against that.

Anyway you can probably tell that this is not my area of expertise but in any case I did tell Pete I would write up a blog post with a shout out to him and also a few words about his new job which he seems pretty pleased with, so here you go Pete. Best (or should that be bets) of luck with your career at Paddy Power, and hope those punters keep signing up for the free bets. But maybe you should have a word to your bosses about some of those TV ads, because I really am not sure that two men in the bath together is going to sell many sports bets.

Take care for now, I will blog again soon. M.

I could not believe this story that I read online at the National Review website.

I know there are rules, legislations, someone has to pay etc, but how, in America, can this be allowed to happen? I don’t know of another developed country where this would be allowed. Do you?

OBION COUNTY, Tenn. – Imagine your home catches fire but the local fire department won’t respond, then watches it burn. That’s exactly what happened to a local family tonight.

“I thought they’d come out and put it out, even if you hadn’t paid your $75, but I was wrong,” said Gene Cranick.