Monday, October 12, 2015

Something worth watching: The Killing

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian patriots, friends, family, followers, readers and everyone in between.  Lucky for me, I have the whole weekend off, except Monday. Being in thank-ful mode,  I do appreciate what I am able to.

The kids will be coming over, with the Stepdaughter bringing a ham, my middle daughter, a fruity baked creation (yummm) and my adorable son.  Sadly, my baby is still in Vancouver yet will be celebrating it with my mom, brother, his wife, their daughter and certainly her beau.  We'll see if she heeds my advice from our long chat last night:  to have Matt pick up a bouquet at Safeway and have it split and wrapped into two wrappings (to be economically wise) and have the ladies swoon.


NEEDED:  Someone who can animate or GIFF this?  Full CREDIT .This art was created by Markam Shrak


Why are guys so dumb sometimes?  It IS spelt out to them everything:  in commercials, in the supermarket, on television.  It won't mean anything until they run banners along the bottom of videogames - streaming branding.  Can you imagine Coca Cola do a 15 ministrobe flash on your device - why is it that shortened names to only keep the original names i.e. Coke?


You aren't getting it yet?   This blog was a kinda talking myself out loud thinking some fellow women and sisters would think I was talking with her.  A friend.  Right there.  Hey you felt lost between vegging watching TV and then rolling a joint and then just see what takes shapes.


I seriously should have interjected because my friend Wasp (replaced to protect anonymity)has jumped on the keyboard and chill out with you.
"KEEP SMILING" my ode to you 



You're hear so far.  So, I'm guessing, go far so good.  Woman, girlfriend, daughter, niece, friend, maybe even follower.  You're here because you'r a bit unsettled.  Ajusting to the feeling that age is around the corner and it's really scary.


Hunkster Hubster and I first started marathon watching, or binge watching was when he had a much younger set of kids.  Four of them living together, our roof.  Me and the hunkster hubster figured out pretty soon that our really awesome individual kids were great big panksters whenever we never around.  On each other, an innocent communication to get attention.


SIDEBAR
Every time we have them over.  There always seem to be a new tale.  I started it about 7 years ago when Hunkster Hubster and I had a family.  His one daughter who was a fifteen year old that it amazed me could walk with that big giant chip on her shoulder weighing her down.  Times like that were such good times.  These sidebars will be my saviour.  Saving my ass from going on a tangent of nothing relevant to what I'm writing, but a burst of a though or memory that needs to be shared.  This wisdom that I imparted to all my three daughters have worked out.  Desiree is getting married next summer.  She is marrying a super buy.  If you were to try to set up the perfect guy and get by order, wouldn't that be something.  I don't know how many times I've told them all that they are going to have to kiss a lot of toads before you find the worthy one.  The worthy one is who I am going to define men in your lives as such:


  • Bread winners:  they make decent money (nix millionaires)
  • They like their music:  but they are not necessarily musicians because I perceive being in a committed relationship with a musician would be really hard. Often they are so good looking they could be looked at twice, having others think he must be a retired rock star.
  • They are good with their hands:  Well, ummm, this is no Sisters Shades of 50 Grey.  I guess, unless that is one of the topics we want to explore.
  • Alrighty then.  Forcing myself, and if you're still ready, probably to think of the asshole(s) who broke my heart.  That was like a splash of cold water, cool awakening.


I need you to have a listen to this music video.  Have a lot of good vibes watching it.  If it makes you want to stand and dance, just go ahead and doing.  Hunkster hubster is fast asleep on the couch.  Hogging the remote in case I grab it to watch "Magic Mike with Tatam hearthrob what's his name.  F*** I always transposed that:  Channing Tatam.



Plenty of you out there.  I guess you're the same.  You are a pretty good person, work oriented, kids oriented, family oriented, smart, curious, inquisitiveness, creative, idea persons, musicians, artists, players, actors, You believed that whole getting married in the 80s means.  Ha ha ha ... t'would appear I'm assembling my audience.  Are they going to come check this out and subscribe willingly:





Carry on reading now as we both listen to the song together.  So, it's going to be the new Women's Conspiracy Theory.  A group of women by invite who dispense their own conspiracy theories on life, women in career, Lean In Chicks, Life Coaches and really around basic nice, smart lady thing you have going on.  Listen honey, they're looking for tigers all around you and themselves and all they see is those tigers.  Yet there you are, in the very midst of all of them and are unique.  Not in a wallflower, stand and tap music kinda of a thing.  More like day dreaming about this sort of thing:




So what do you normally do on a Sunday night?  And way way back to my starting to watch marathon movie shoes.  I'm blasted away and so surprised.  The Killing is the best I've watched since Sons of Arnarcy (what the heck, how do you spell that think??)  and before SAMCRO (that's easier) it was BREAKINGbad.  Somewhere in the midst of it, we realized that with the new OPTIK TV (copyright TELUS) we can rewatch series that were televised, not that very long ago the wonderkind emergences of #Netflix.

Now, I'm really not what you would call your typical TV or MOVIE watcher.  I didn't start watching movies or on TV until I hit 50.  Stop falling on the ground and yank yerself to your feet, you dumb moron.


SIDEBAR
I rarely watch TV.  I was born in 1961.  We started living in Germany by 1969.  Norm was an airforce avionics specialist.  Take that stat now.  What are the chances that my dad chose a career in the military that universities weren't even carrying yet.
He was the equivalent of a phD in that field. 


There are so many people of its kind out there.  Wasn't big philanthropist take on this cause.  For example, if you have been a sales professional for 15 years with a stellar track record.  They are The Women's Conspiracy.  Only a true member will uncover what their's may be.  Yes, it could be a FOODIE MARKETER SPEAKER manager, educator, performer, administrator. 




 Do we really care?  We're going to hang out and read, write, watch and collectively decide what matters.  If I create other sites where we women decide what matter.  We don't need admirable Mrs. Obama, Ms. Fiorini , Lean In *insert name* Oprah Winfrey (respectfully).  I think we're a little bit more special.  We're a fraternity of girls who have grown into women, have had a women's lib melt down once or twice before. 

We've been on a rollercoaster ride during our lives and now we've come around to be inspirators, creators, artists, poets, writers, journalists, beauty designer, clothes brands, shoe fettishes, and way too many pieces.  Now don't force me to give up buying accessories:  which we gave birth, in the sixties no less on offcast of groovy styles while we had mothers who first appeared as the wife in Mad Men *insert name*.  

So are you keen?  Are you a Woman Conspiracy Theorist?  Let me know. If I like your blog (blogs that help on life matters, foodies, beauty, fashion, artists, creators, artists, musicians, vocalists, poetry or lyrics.  If you want to be here, find me.

Even if you won't ever come back and read or visit again, I sure hope you had as much of a blast as I did making this tonight.  Yeppers, after midnight when all accountants, lawyers, construction workers, administrators, stocktraders, sales professionals, transportation drivers, barge captain or professional athlete .... we be all up writing, listen to music, flipping through videos, reading up on the latest interest.  Sharing a sleeplessness of how is tomorrow going to be?  


Growing up in the 60s/70s you hit your stride in the 80s.  LOL at those styles, good heavens.  I bet you're a bit of a style horse still.   We were kids in the most optimistic of times.  All our dads were working, our moms sometimes while often taking care of the family was her full time job ad priority.  Our personal wellbeing, a direct advertisement on how life has treated you.


Noooooooooooooooo, I don't want to bet you.  GHEeshh.  That's not who I am.  I'm a direct talker.  Imagine that, I decided right then I no longer wanted to ever see, read or write "direct shooter" again.  Why would I listen to to the news being devastated as though it happened to me.  I think I was given an extra dose of empathy from my creator.  





So how else can I attract a strong, dynamic, smart, professional, got the world by the *alls, and know you haven't done your very best "thing".  Have you figured out what that is?


Well, I know the main thing.  We can't do it alone can we?  The sidebars on my Blog page can always be updated, even if I can't always right as much as I'd love to.  There will some among of us that would like to jump in.  Respond.  Say what you think?  Can we create an online fraternity of women who are beyond average, have a lot to offer, and with the right support and mentoring by the right role models.


The rules will be very few but unbendable, without exception a forum for gender rights, feminism, and female issues by vote.   As your leader, scribe, and promoter, I will profess to promise to be a good example for anyone anywhere, without notice.  Not drunk, stoned, lonely or melancholy.  We want to help each other.

We will come up with a pledge so that only those who are voted in and qualify, will be given an emblem to share wherever they want.  As a bumper sticker, on all their social media profiles, author pages, artists pages, musicians pages, We will give each member a chance to present themselves, their bios, their likes, their favorite flowers, movies, music, best ever book they're written, read and highly recommend and why?


Another promise I can almost assure.  If it catches on, we'll create ways that we can identify our members.  That's where I need people who have hidden talents and can get things done.  They'll be SEO pros, IT gurus, CLOUD masters, APP developers, smartphone geeks.

Eek, I guess I went off on a real meandering about a bunch of different things.  I'm sure if I keep coming back and reading, I will want to continue editing it, tweaking it.  More, different photos, quotes and outside links.  Maybe I can make money off of links rather than ADworks from #Google. 


Well, I did include Heinz Tomatoe, maybe they'll dish out some do shopping money because it was an artistic statement used as an example without any intent to infringe on any copyright, and to only use it as a creative example of getting a message across by borrowing an image that captures the point you are making.  In fact, I'm sharing the coolest image I found today ...

SIDEBAR

My favorite day of the week is Saturdays.  It has long been my chillax day.  The best part is rolling out of bed any where between 9 am and 12:30 pm.  I love it when the Hunkster Hubster has it made and sends our dog, Buddy, upstairs.  Buddy's jobs is to wake me up.  As a natural herder, he is talented at digging his wet cold nose on my face, not liking me, but ending up nuzzled in my neck.  Which is by no ways a way you want to be shock into becoming awake.
Then I do.  

I cannot believe it.  Still, I have meandering and carried on.  Completely omitting the reason why I wrote this Blog.  How the Hunkster Hubster and I forayed into our first binge watching or weekend marathon with The Lord of the Rings.  From his collection.  We were having this conversation where I said I hadn't seen the movie when it was the biggest book of my life:  my Grade 5 teacher Mr. Quinn, started reading it to us every Friday afternoon for the last couple of hours of class.  Then based on behaviour criteria, he  chose one of us students to go to the front of the room and read the next number of chapters of The Hobbit. That person also was given a stamp.  Yes, most of us were engaged, well behaved students, gloriously best with the best teacher, if not ever, the best teacher in its time.  I went on my own and read the Lord of the Rings.  That may have seemed quite an accomplishment for Grade 5, but it launched my love of reading.

Hunkster Hubster is these days playing "Farga" that
driving game that is new to X-Box.  That is, if the Seattle Seahawks are playing on the NFL.  I get to spend an hour to three just looking at what is on the web.  Quite often, I could be on a mission after reading a book that I was so pleased with:  The Girl in the Spider's WEB by David Lagercrantz, who has masterfully carried on the same feel and story as though it were still written by the Stieg Larsson's series that hooked me: "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo."


Let me see, what draws me first?  I'm going to say Facebook, then Twitter, if Pinterest or Linked IN haven't grabbed me beforehand.  Then I'm Jeannette in just chill mode.  Absorption ready. Eyes sharp for that great image or idea that ignites my imagination. Then this overwhelming feeling takes over like I'm being dragged to either of my blogs and writes something about what needs to be written.



I don't expect you to like every selection of music I chose.  Then again, it is MY blog ... lol, giggles. 

I chuckle, here I went, sidetracked on telling you about the series I highly recommend watching.  I'm a fan of detective, mystery, thrillers, and "The Killing" on NETFLIX is masterful. It grabs you really early on and you are transfixed on the events that unfold.  The trailer won't do it justice.  

Don't be discouraged that there are four seasons.  You will only regret if you don't give it a try.  The acting, script, setting from Seattle should be getting a lot more attention.  True Detective was at the top of the game when they launched it.  But I hardly think those fans will mind watching this one.

I wonder if I'm on the right track?  Will I be able to attract new subscribers or followers?  It sure is a matter of self discipline.  I like what I'm writing, I see how it is evolving and decided what it can be about.


Send me a note on Twitter, Facebook or Google if you're on board and/or whether you want to be  @optioneerJM Women Conspiracy member.  We've got lots to talk about.  My main goal is to help it avoid being a lonely, isolated one.  You know, you can be surrounded by people, do a lot of things, even accomplish a lot.  Where's your safe zone?  

This can be it.  We'll be focussing on the positive force of being pushed into 50.  Neither a Baby Boomer yet likely a parent of a Millinnial.  People should paying attention to us.  We've been squished from both sides.  We're the ones making a difference while faded into the background on the tidal wave of events happening in our world.

It is like an open forum, mic turned on, and people tuned in to what is really going on.  This is not gender specific, it is gender influenced.  The issues facing both ones, are sometimes very similar, and in some unresolved ones.
"Stay inquisitive"
~Jeannette Marshall
Until next time ... have the sweetest of sweet dreams: 

 


  

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Short and sassy trends

I keep going back and forth between letting my hair grow out or cutting it short short.  The last time I did that was two summers ago and the hunkster hubster just about had a coronary.  He said:  "Why would someone do THAT to you?"

I don't think men like change much and even more so, they gravitate towards lasses with long tresses.

Then there is color.  My experiment with going silver instead of the in grey, ended up fading into platinum blonde.  I had even waited three whole days before I washed my hair, to ensure the color would last.  (Guess that is the last time I go to an "expert" stylist at the place that rhymes with "matters".)

Whenever I'm on the verge of a change, I scour the web for images for something that I think will work.  Goodness, the ones I seem to move towards are not only short, they're of the reddish variety.  Here are some that stood out, for young or old:



Miley Cyrus has thankfully settled down and realized that no attention is better than freak attention.  This look, without the fru fru on the top, would work nicely with my already platinum color.


Haley has shown us for quite some time:  if you find a look that suits you, stick with it and work around it.  The way her cut frames her face compliments her great cheekbones and make her eyes pop.



Dramatic yes.  Wouldn't it be great for your seasonal events, office parties, customer appreciation events?  This is not a wallflower look.



What a wonderful way to say, I'm the "girl next door, friendly, positive, with a sparkle in her eyes".  I don't have any freckles but it would work well with green eyes.


This is a messy that says its on purpose look.  The warm tones really compliment the pale complexion.  My skin tone has a little more color and may make it look reddish.  A professional stylist would know best.


This shows me how great a short looks on any skin tone or age.  The cut seems to lift her face and make her look vibrant.  That's a cheap face lift.



This says:  "I've got my eye on you and I know how to handle you."  Short wavy auburn with bursts of red make it quite dazzling and reminds me how great short dos show off those long earrings!


A half shaved head is all the rage.  I guess my age did show when my youngest daughter's friend came over this summer while she was in town, with this look.  I was a bit alarmed because she looks similar to this model and I did think to myself, why would you destroy a feminine look?


Just when you think it was just a twist of a trend, you see the likes of Demi showing off her half man head (my opinion).   I guess it's cool.  Yet I don't think it suits anyone, not even a pop star.




 This may be considered a little more key but the holed ears remind me that kids nowadays are fascinated with the 80s ... I thought punk.


I found this and threw it in here because men are known to want to make a statement with there, um, heads.  All I could think of here was:  "did he have to poke holes in his head for them to stay, or are they glued?"  Seems like a lot of work for a weird image.

So, there is a lot of choices out there.  I know that I have to do something.  My clue is when I don't blow dry or style my hair, but just pin it back.  It seems to me that it screams to everyone that I'm in an "in between stage".

Whatever color or style you chose, after all, has to suit you.  If you go for more trendy or dramatic statements, you have to be able to pull it off with the rest of your looks.  I guess the easy part of the shaved look would mean all you have to do is pull on those torn and tattered jeans with a t-shirt with a Nirvana print to show your finger is on the pulse of style and you have an affinity with the 80s.


My "before" look.  See what I mean about the pinned back hair?  That bump on the top back turned whispie darn it!  Well, at least I'm smiling.  Could be because the earrings and necklace set shows I love my accessories!

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Magical mystical POLYVORE tour

Polyvore gives me a creative outlet while at the same time I surf through outfit combinations, new products, great clothes, and just plain experiment.  Here I share a few of my latest creations.  The nice part about Polyvore is that it gives the product makers, prices, and links to websites where, if you're inclined you can buy anything shown.
Dreams of Autumn #COLOR


I let the creative juices flow when creating this whimsical tribute to fall and winter accessories.  I do adore the dress though (a Chanel piece that was scooped from Pinterest)!
strangeVISITORS

strangeVISITORS by jeannette-marshall featuring fall centerpieces


Here are some of my favorite temptations to buy: 



285 CAD - liberty.co.uk








73 CAD - beauty.com






85 CAD - glassesusa.com



If that's not enough, I get ideas for makeup and nail polish finishes that appeal to my style sense.  Oh, and jewellery galore for the accessory mad mrs that I am:


16 CAD - japanla.com






Nail polish
9.81 CAD - etsy.com




Augustine Jewels stud earrings
170 CAD - jewelstreet.com





Bling Jewelry pearl earrings
44 CAD - blingjewelry.com





Turban headband
33 CAD - etsy.com



Plaid shawl
17 CAD - romwe.com


Strike me up for getting into the spirit of Halloween early.  After all, careful planning creates masterful looks.  We dress up at work for Halloween, even having a contest.  I guess this looks like I'm leaning towards being a witch (which is work friendly and business appropriate).

#Halloween style



Bright nail polish

17 CAD - etsy.com





Urban decay eye shadow
25 CAD - urbandecay.com





Vegan lipstick

12 CAD - etsy.com





Haircare

66 CAD - amazon.com


I dream of a tropical vacation where the waters shimmer like blue topaz.  I can't right now, so I dip into Polyvore to take me away anyhow.

TAKEmeAWAY




Zimmermann sleeveless top
635 CAD - zimmermannwear.com

High-waisted shorts
51 CAD - pinkice.com

SwimSpot blue sandals
35 CAD - swimspot.com

Dolce Gabbana leather handbag
1,305 CAD - thecorner.com

White gold ring
3,220 CAD - firenzejewels.com

Amour stud earrings
265 CAD - bluefly.com

Ice sterling silver jewelry
195 CAD - iceonline.com.au

Eyeshadow
16 CAD - japanla.com

Louis Vuitton travel bag
3,920 CAD - therealreal.com

Nail treatment
19 CAD - etsy.com

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Fall for entertainment

Saying your bored is something that I avoid at all costs.  Granted, now that our kids are all young adults, aged 21-26, they don't live at home any longer.  We no longer are woken up in the middle of the night because someone is sneaking their entourage into the basement.  Nor are they having big fights with boyfriends that startle us out of slumber into referee, or my hunkster husband, defensive Ninja mode.



There are many things one can do.  Heck, I have so many on my TO DO list it isn't worth having one any more because the only thing standing between me and that list is me.

Routines like housework are automatic and done on autopilot now.  It isn't like there is a collection of left overs in the fridge -- two of my daughters pet peeves of mine:  going for dinner with their beaus, bringing home a doggy bag, that they'll never eat, just so I eventually throw it out.

Being a parent and having a family, you are pushed into tidal waves of activities that you neither wanted nor asked for.  Yet that is par for the course.  Being an empty nester is an adjustment.

Thankfully, I'm an avid learner and knowledge junkie.  There never seems to be a loss for things to do when I'm on my days off or I have a window of time in the morning before my shift starts just after noon.

My biggest weakness is once I get started, I want to finish.  I don't like pulling everything out, taking inventory and laying the tools for the ready to only be able to barely get started and have to leave it.  It is a gravitational pull away from creative to responsible.

I love to blog.  To write.  It is therapy and it is giving back.  It is sharing things that I hope others will like or discussing matters that are bubbling at the surface of my mind.  I have a hard time stopping once I've begun.  There is attractive complimenting photos to source.  Facts to look up.  Sharing on social media so others may gravitate and read my hard worked musings to attract.



Then there are the many things that can distract me:  Finding the perfect photo from all the great ones accumulated since the last time I wrote.  Singling out the perfect quote that captures what the blog is all about in harmony with my mantra.  Updating the books that I have just read or am reading, so that others may consider reading one or all of them.

When I find a movie that suits family or female audience, I want to post it on here so that others may consider watching it.  

I goof around a lot on Polyvore, because it reaches my creative corner with style statements.  I can get lost on there for a while, just looking at the ensembles that others have put together.  Then that means rooting through my wardrobe to find that treasure piece that will work the ensemble around into a worthy look for that day.  (Yes, mounds of clothes is a weakness for a clothes horse, and finding a certain pair of shoes or purse is often a challenge).

Calgary skyline during fall
I love painting.  I find all kinds of things to paint and paint on.  It started as a quirk and now resides in my daily consciousness of putting paint to either a canvass or an item to transform it.  For my amusement, to appeal to my creativity, not for a critical eye or definition of worth.  The time it took to come up with either the idea or piece for transformation is priceless.

I can't always go shopping and buy things endlessly and by galore.  I have to be ruthless and responsible on purchases.  I avoid drugstores because they have beauty counters that scream and beckon me to explore.  I can't remember the last time I went to a mall, content to avoid parking nightmares.  Recognizing that I may have not the discipline to avoid pulling out my wallet and do a "purchase".  In my attempts to be more responsible and thrifty, I am that much more proud of a great find at a bargain.  Reworking clothes with accessories is a sign of a champion disciplinary new soul.

The least expensive entertainment for me is to write.  So here we are.  You can sit back and relax and read.  That is all that is asked of you.  If you feel inclined to click on anything recommended on the side banner, shows endorsement that you, too, may like it.  

After all, sharing is entertainment in itself.


Saturday, September 19, 2015

Advocacy for education

Education is a right for every child in our hemisphere.  In my opinion, it evens the playing field.  We are often reminded by great achievements by those who climbed out of despair, poverty or abuse to rise out of the shambles.  Education has a way of doing that.  It is something that we perhaps take for granted.

I often volunteer to help kids in education.  For almost three years I have been volunteering for Junior Achievement, where one is armed with teaching aids, representing major companies in the community as a way of giving back.  The skills covered are economics, budgeting, finance, credit, applying for jobs, understanding expenses and so on.  As volunteers, we are also setting positive examples for kids aged 14 and 15.  

I have also volunteered to prepare and distribute lunches to kids in an elementary school with demographics that show much lower than average household finances.  This was under United Way, another great organization that helps the community thrive.

Recently, our organization, did a fundraiser within our department about a month ago under the charity Stephen's Backpacks  It was set up as a contest among about 10 teams of about 13 individuals on each.  Basically, we were given two backpacks and filled it up with supplies for students, given suggestions by breakdown by group of elementary, junior high and high school (as needs vary).  As our social prime, we also raised funds, some donated filled backpacks, others supplies and others money.  It was a worthwhile cause, helping kids in education.  It helped build team work.  Sprinkled with a little competitive spirit to make it charged.   

I grew up with advocacy for education.  My parents gave each of us the opportunity to go beyond high school to post secondary education.  I was the only one of four to take advantage of it.  It wasn't always easy.  Sure, my tuition, housing was covered while I had to become innovative to get food.  I ended up volunteering on the Yearbook Staff, then moved into the Student Union as its Secretary.  Part of the reward was monthly meetings and afterwards a paid dinner at the cafeteria.  I also was a Floor Senior in the Students' Residence.  There must have been a free meal in their somewhere.  Both allowed me to attend social events for free, and there must have been free food in there as well.  I worked part time for a while but the hours of 5pm to 2am didn't always compliment getting up for 8am classes.  

I am thrilled that my second youngest daughter is attending University.  Her father had tried to take her to the Armed Forces recruitment office to subsidize her education.  I advocated her to follow her passion and dreams.  Both her father and I contributed towards an education fund the moment all three of our children were born.  It certainly helps today.  My daughter says that she knows how lucky she is to be getting an education without the cloud of graduating with massive debt.  She took a gap year off, traveled a lot, played competitive soccer and partied some.  I was always nervous that she would get too used to money and put off going back to school.  

I surveyed lots of friends and associates on the matter.  Was a gap year wise?  Looking back, I can see why she did do it.  She is a January baby, very articulate early, starting preschool in French emersion at age 3.  It wasn't playschool it was PREschool.  Then, she was a year younger at graduation than most of her classmates.  I understand she needed a break before she buckled down and went to school.  She took the time to explore her interests and decided on Fine Arts.  That was after Marine Biology, Meteorology, etc.  

What kids have today in some of the schools is career planning early.  Taking quizzes and skills tests to cross reference attributes with career paths.  She was advised to be a stock broker, given the reason that she was in strong in math and had personal integrity and honesty.  Her dad would have done back flips since he had taken the Canadian Securities Course from interest and built knowledge for investing.

My stepdaughter was all set on going into nursing from the time I met her.  She started work as soon as she could and glided from that into a strong position with a strong organization that provides ongoing on the job training which is not the same as a post secondary education.  We can foresee her working her way up as she has already moved upwards a fair bit for someone her age.  

Our youngest has moved cities, expanded herself and spread her wings.  She is starting to say that she has started to settle on an education direction now.  Communications.  I hope she does.  At least I've learned that they have to make the decision themselves even if the expectation is deep rooted and money set aside.  

The best thing we did, was start from the get go with an education fund.  It allowed the opportunity to always be there to back up the encouragement.  Their father and I met at college but didn't graduate with student loans.  

In the long run.  Education is the distinguishing factor that can set anyone apart.  It takes sacrifice, discipline and intelligence to start and continue.  If our governments really wanted to avoid political positioning by playing with education, they would encourage parent or organization finance for post secondary education for all.  

I understand that many US citizens consider the government paying for things like education and health means gravitating towards a socialist state.  I'd say, put your paranoia aside, it doesn't have to mean you're on the brink of communism.  It simply means that you are investing in your future.  Your children.  Their education.  A better chance of survival and financial security than some of their parents.  Educated households, I would imagine, statistically have less abuse of drugs, alcohol or domestic violence.  

We can break the chain of disfunction by protecting all of our futures by investing in our children's education.