The Talk 1300 Blog » Angela Austin

In no particular order….

Patrick Ryan — Sat, 30 May 2009 16:42:03 +0000

It’s been a few days since I have blogged so permit me to blablog (oooo new word?!).

Angela – Working out and working hard to shed a few…publically on this blog platform. Keep up the good work and I will continue my love affair with Oreos.
Kowalski – John has moved more times in a few years than I have moved in a lifetime. He found a place closer to work but I would be good money he will move before the year is up.
Melody Burns – Congratulations to MB on the article in this month’s Visions Magazine from the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber. Click the link and go to page 24.
Friday’s mixer – We didn’t know what to expect and were pleasantly surprised at the attendance at the OTB Teletheater. Paul decided on the date of the next one (someone asked me about it already)…more info coming.
Golf – Took a great lesson (best lesson I’ve every had) and have not put it to much use except at one scramble.
Cohoes Music Hall – The Producers (wraps this weekend) was unbelievable. I don’t think I’ve laughed so hard in a long time. The scene was the old ladies/walkers bit towards the end of the first act. GREAT JOB! I’m going to get a season pass for two to all of their upcoming shows.
Calling a cab vs taking a limo – Danielle Brown from Premiere Limo was on Chamber Chat Friday – great guest!! I was so pleased to hear you can purchase limo time sort of ala carte. I am to a point in my life (and you are too) that having a limo pick up and drop off is the only way to go. I mean if my neighbors see a cab dropping me off in front of the house they’ll be thinking one thing. BUT if the limo drops me off its a whole other perception. You know what I’m blabloging about.
Blablog – The more I look at the word the more I pat myself on the back for creating it. Does anyone remember sniglets?!

Guest poster – Angela Austin on Dora!

Patrick Ryan — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 19:06:51 +0000

Mattel has announced that come fall Dora The Explorer will now be Dora the Tween. When will this madness stop? Why does a character that young children have grown to love have to suddenly become a “tween”. Children are forced to grow up way to quickly these days to begin with – and now one of their childhood icons is being forced to grow up too fast as well? A press release from Mattel states “As Tweenage Dora, our heroine has moved to the big city, attends middle school and has a whole new fashionable look.” Why is my question? I understand that it is marketing tool, a way to gain more revenue, but have they considered the number of parents that they are going to alienate by doing this? In addition, I doubt that the “tween” market is going to go for a Dora doll even if she is “spiced up”. Dora has traditionally been a younger child’s icon, and I am guessing that middle schoolers are not going to want to play with a “baby” toy. What do you think? Is this just another way to make our children grow up too fast? Or do you think the right decision is being made? What are your thoughts?

Guest Blogger- Angela Austin

Patrick Ryan — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:29:39 +0000

When I first heard the news of, Nadya Suleman I must admit, I was a bit intrigued. The longest living set of octuplets, what a miracle. So, I started researching her, that is what I do, I research, research and research some more until I find out enough information to satisfy me. That is when I began to get more and more disturbed. First, I discovered that she already had 6 children. Then, I learned that she was single mother. Finally, I found that she was unemployed, had little to no support system and had made the conscious decision to bring 8 additional children into the world. I was baffled and upset. Before my husband and I decided to have our daughter, we worked our finances and made a plan. We are fortunate in the fact my husband has a solid career and that I was given the opportunity to work from home so that I could be with my daughter and have a career. But, we would have never made the decision to have a child if we were not financially stable and did not have a support system in place.

I agree with Suleman in fact that she could not have had selective reduction. I too believe that, that once those embryos were fertilized they are children and choosing to selectively remove one of them is wrong. However, the mere idea that Suleman placed herself in that position to begin with is appalling. Also inexcusable is the fact that a medical professional allowed this to happen. From what I understand, the typical number of embryos implanted is 1 or 2 yet he implanted 6, knowing full well her home and financial situation. He should in the very least have suggested some sort of counseling as to what more children would bring.

As a work from home mother of a boisterous 3 year old, I am the first to admit that mothering is an extremely rewarding experience and nothing can compare to it. But, I am also that first to say that it is my opinion that being a mom is the hardest job in the entire world. To have one child, nonetheless, 14 children, to fill some “emotional void” as Suleman has described it, makes absolutely no sense to me. I don’t know what is going to come next for these children, and I just pray that they will be taken care of well. They did not choose to be born into this situation but yet they will be the ones to suffer, not their mother.