Yo, RM. Are you there? Are you listening, plugged into the collective consciousness? I thought I’d let you know what’s on my mind recently, since, in the words of the 7-year olds we know, you “took your toys and went home”. (more…)

Lori Stofft, Marketing Manager, The Sun and YumaSun.com

Look, I know whatshisname did it first with All I Really Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten, but it occuried to me Thursday, whilst perching in a 6″ chair in room V at Roosevelt Elementary School (built like 100 years ago), that Ms. J could revolutionize the way I work with her classroom rules.

So, the upshot for those of you who don’t want to read any farther: how did my workday get so complicated?

For those of you who want to read on (work-avoiding-, nothing-good-on-tv-, bored crowd):

How First Grade Could Revolutionize My Work Day:

• Be prompt

• Start on time

• Make use of every available moment for learning

• Get chatter out of the way before the bell rings

• If it distracts your learning or work, it’s confiscated (bye-bye cell phone)

• Potty early and frequently (really - have you ever had one of those busy days, where you’re working like a mutha and you get irritated and then you realize it’s because you’ve forgotten to pee? No? I guess it’s just me then.)

• You ARE good at what you do, but I must see you apply yourself

• Praise is important

• Fun is important

• We’re all friends here

Yay, Ms J - so glad you’re back in room V, reminding 6-year olds to believe in themselves and their abilities.

Now, can you come to my office and teach our staff that?

Lori Stofft, Marketing Manager, The Sun and YumaSun.com

I had a realization the other day, and it stopped me cold as I was chewing my vitamins and chasing with V8: I’m an adult.

Most of my friends are adults. The people I work with, mostly adults.

More fascinating than the realization that I am an adult was the comprehension gap I’ve evidently been experiencing for the last, say, 16 years. Because this year, I turn 40, and it’s just dawned on me that I’m all grown up.

It could be the conversation I had with my (more youthful) sister-in-law, Susan, about the southward progress of my neck. It could be that for this decade birthday, all I”m yearning for is a new BBQ grill, not a Harley, not a sports car, not a cruise. It could be that I’ve been spending a lot of time this past year figuring out what we should do for retirement, should we move to a bigger home, or be conservative and hunker down for the predicted economic downturn people are moaning about.

I shared this thought with two friends recently. One, TS, advised that whatever I thought I was, say last week, and then again after my EFFING REALIZATION of AGE (ERA) probably it was all personal smoke and mirrors, because, after all, I’ve had the same job for like 17 years, and I have a 23 year old son and a 6 year old daughter, so I was an adult to SOMEBODY for quite a while.

Another friend, CG, sort of glossed over my ERA and said something placating like we don’t ever have to REALLY grow up.

I wonder if feeling like an adult all of the sudden is akin to loosing your baby teeth, no more flying dreams, no more silly escapades. Too much time with financial planners. Hell, last week, I even made a list of dinners we were going to eat. For like 5 days in a row. And posted it on the refrigerator.

I swear I don’t recognize me.

Lori Stofft, Marketing Manager, The Sun

I did a blog a while ago about a pink house. This blog is about floors. I don’t know why I think about color and texture and mopping a lot, but it seems I do. My mom said to work with what you got, so here I go. (more…)

Lori Stofft, Marketing Manager, The Sun

Over Thanksgiving we swam with the sharks.

We were visiting family in Atlanta and spent an afternoon at the biggest aquarium in the world.

It was fabulous.

Here’s Mary with the Piranha, which by the way, apparently won’t eat you whole if you fall into a school of them on the Nile….

I loved the clever area names (River Scout, Tropical Diver, Ocean Voyager) and clearly marked displays. Each view had a sign with a code number on it that corresponded with a pod cast you can download for free - me and niece Hannah both enjoyed listening to the :30 or :45 second intro to the displays.

Another great feature were these touch ponds that were located around the venue. You could touch things like shrimp, sea stars and anemones, and small rays. It was funny, because they take a break every 45 minutes for 15 minutes, so as not to over handle the animals. You can bet they’re down there, in their watery homes, just counting down the seconds ’til small fingers and grabby hands retreat out of the tank, and they can breathe (?) easier for 15 minutes.