Hanging With Mrs. Cooper

And you know what that means.  Spring cleaning.  Whether you have a big house or a small one, the work is still massive when you are the one who's doing it.  Here's what I would like to do but not sure when it's all going to get done:

• When I finally do open the windows, vacuum the screens and window sills with the dust buster which is dying by the way (note to self, on next shopping spree to Walmart, get a new mini vac).
• While mini-vacuuming, I might as well get those dust webs in the corners where the ceiling meets the wall.  I dare not call them cobwebs cause those are created by spiders and if my mind even has me thinking that those are running around the house.........let's just say, the mini-vac is going to be busy this year.
• Oh and one more thing with the mini-vac, once done with the ceiling, might as well get the dust in the corners where they wall meets with the floor molding in the corners.  
• Then there's always dusting.  But now that the sun is on full blast, I can't get away with surface dusting.  Now the sun shows what's underneath the DVR and the sides of the tv and all those cracks and crevices.
• Then theirs the drapes that are going to have to come down and be washed and folded and put away.  I'll also take down the sheers and wash them. But right after I dry them, they'll go on the higher curtain rod.  Oh yeah, I'll pull out the lighter curtains for the kitchen too.  But I won't worry about that until the leaves are on the trees.
• Then there's the sofa covers.  They need to be watched cause it's just time.  So I'll toss them in with the drapes.
• And why did I look inside the china closet.  How does the dust get inside of there? Eventually, I'll get to that.  That takes a lot of energy.
• Now for the comforters and quilts I'm going to have to haul to the laundromat cause there's noooo way I'm using my washing machine and getting uneven loads and water spillage.
• And of course from all the baking and casserole dishes, roasts, etc, gotta clean that oven.  That's the most strenuous thing of all.  Takes a lot to take out the racks and push two buttons.

My aplogies for last week. It was just a heckofa, heckofa, week. But this week is starting off great and as one of the Ambassords of the View it is my job to tell you what's coming up this week. So without futher ado:

MONDAY, MARCH 8 – The day after the Oscars!!  It Isn’t over till the co-hosts have spoken! Guest co-host Vanessa Williams (“ABC’s Ugly Betty”); Day of “Hot Topics”; co-host Sherri Shepherd will Skype live from Hollywood post-Academy Awards and share her Oscar experience; Chris Cuomo breaks down crimes in the headlines. First time musical guests – Lady Antebellum perform

TUESDAY, MARCH 9 – Guests -Andy Garcia and his daughter Dominik Garcia-Lorido (“City Island”); Elissa Stein and Susan Kim (author, Flow: The Cultural Story of Menstruation).

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10 – Guests: Forest Whitaker (“Our Family Wedding”); Jesse Ventura (author, American Conspiracies).

THURSDAY, MARCH 11 – Sir Elton John will be sitting with the women at the table and partaking in “Hot Topics”; Guest - Eric McCormack (“Who Is Clark Rockefeller?”).

FRIDAY, MARCH 12 – Co- Host Kate Gosselin is back and will join the women and the return of “The View: Fashion Friday” with designer Carolina Herrera.


You can find me on twitter tweeting during the show under the hashtag #theviewmoms. 

Kinda like the new show "The Parenthood", which I love by the way.  It's like the show Brother and Sisters but on steroids.  Lots of stories going on all over the place.  It's your job to keep up.  But one of the story lines hit so close to home.  The character being played by Peter Strauss, loved him in Dirty Sexy Money and Six Feet Under.  Okay enough of my tv obsessions.

Anyway, in the Pilot episode he and his wife are finding out that "Something is Wrong with Their Child". I  remember that feeling when I felt it with our Son. When he was diagnosed with autism it was up to Mr. C and  I to either take it like a kicked mule or to stand up straight, hold our heads up high and do what was right for our child. We took the second option.

Having a child with a disability can be such a rewarding experience as you can learn the world through a different set of eyes.  It can also be very difficult when a child just "Doesn't get it".  This week has been one of those, "Doesn't get It", kind of weeks.  And can I also say puberty and testosterone are not helping the matter.

My son is in a special program where all the kids in his class have some form of autism.  About 8 boys and 3 girls.  The boys are all around the same age, and even though they have disabilities, that doesn't stop them from acting like normal boys.  One of the boys is non-verbal and has a very high pitched shrill.  He has figured out that this shrill agitates my son and therefore being the boy that he is, he keeps it going.  Well, my son being the red belt that he is, pounced on the boy.  Just like the scene in the parenthood.  There's only so much a person can take.  Now don't get me wrong, I don't condone violence but I was glad to know that my son can kick some ass........ I mean handle himself.  This has happened a few times this week and then the agitation just stays with my son.  He doesn't know how to bring himself down.  It's like a rush of adrenaline I would imagine.  That's where I get the phone call from the Principal saying, "Hi Mrs Cooper, we have a situation with Manny and we're going to need you to come in".  Well, of course I'm going to be there for my baby.  But my first concern is always to the other little boy to make sure no blood was drawn as I don't need to deal with a parent issue.  Both boys are at fault but neither of them understand that what they are doing to each other is wrong.

This is only one of the mysteries of the brain and autism.  They don't know how to comprehend what you are telling them is wrong.  Let alone the fact that puberty is setting in and good grief, how do even being to explain that to a child when they don't comprehend as well as they should.  I remember when my girls were at that age and it was the question of can I still get a doll for Christmas or will my friends laugh at me and say, "You're not a baby".

It's hard enough being a parent these days isn't it??? So if you don't see me around for a couple of days it's because I've been called to the Principal's office.  And yes, when the Principal calls, it feels the same way  it did when you were called when going to school.

The Whale. What to do with Tilly the Whale.  Now let's analyze this the Mrs. Cooper way.  Here we go:

KILLER WHALE need I say anymore.  Now I'm not trying to be a smart ass, and believe me, my heart goes out to the family of the girl who lost her life.  In my opinion, "How Dare Sea World Put The Blame On the Trainer".  Gonna have the nerve to say she shouldn't have gotten in the Shallow pool section.  Yeah, maybe she shouldn't have been in that section of the pool, but please reflect on the uppercase bolded letters above.  She was in a tank with a Killer Whale. 
Tilly has killed not once, not twice but 3 times.  3 times.  I think the trainer was brave just for being in the water with such an animal.  I can definitely definitely definitely tell you, I don't have that kind of nerve.  I mean, I feel for people who have to feed wild animals in the zoo. They are wild being held in captivity.  A dog as a pet has been know to turn on it's owner.  It's their nature.  Heck, sometimes my cat looks at me crazy when I don't feed him fast enough.


So what should be done with Tilly?  Well, Tilly's been in captivity now for 3 decades.  That equals 30 years.  At this point you cannot release him back into the ocean or he will die.  They already said he wouldn't be able to survive the organisms that are in the ocean.  So my suggestion is keep him at Sea World for show but build another tank for shows.  Do not have Tilly perform anymore.  It's time for Tilly to retire.  Just let him swim in happiness, eat fish and bask in the sun.  No more shows.  You want to have shows, do it with Dolphins, Seals, Otters.  Put the Dolphins and friends in the newly built tank (that I'm suggesting) and let them work with the trainers.  I've never heard of any kinds of problems with Dolphins and friends.


I know Sea World is a big money maker, but something is going to have to change.

Ok ya'll here's the new eyeglasses. What do you think? I'm growing up now as my optician says because I needed BIFOCALS.  Oh, that's right, I don't have to type large fonts now because I can actually see what I'm typing.  It's true what they say, "Everything starts going downhill after 40".  I guess the first thing to go is the eyes.  Only mine left when they were 6 years old.  That's how long I've been wearing eyeglasses.  I remember the day so clearly.  I was watching Happy Days when all of a sudden I couldn't see The Fonze.  I squinted but to no avail. Then the worse thing of all happened.  Mom saw me squinting.  From that point on, the agony of wearing eyeglasses started.  

Now people would think I was a nerd, I thought to myself. And those thick lenses......Good Lord, the thick bottle cap lenses with those heavy plastic frames. How in the world was I supposed to be cute with those things on.  Guys don't make passes at girls who wear glasses. So glad technology has improved over the years.  My eyes are no longer tired 10 minutes after looking at the computer straining to see.  I kept adjusting the light and that worked for a while but I had to face the fact that I needed a reading lens.  When I saw what the lowest range of Bifocals could do, it was cause for celebration.  No questions asked, "Let's go with the Progressive Lens" I said.  If I have to wear these things from dawn til bed time on a daily basis, I might as well be cute and stylish.  These are Gucci frames and we went with the thinnest lens possible.  Yup, I paid a small mint for them, but I'll be wearing them daily so it's worth it.

Don't second guess your vision folks.  If you can't see as clearly as you used to, go do something about it.  Squinting ain't cute.