"I'm Tipping My Hat To You: You Better Ask Which One" by At Random / LJWorld.com

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I'm Tipping My Hat To You: You Better Ask Which One

I guess my first hat would have been that silly little head warmer that we wear home from the hospital - anyone who saw us would know we were wearing, "The Newborn Hat", to keep our little bodies toasty. So that means we probably all start out wearing the "baby" hat because their isn't much we can do about it except cry our eyes out!Some of us go on to wear the sibling hat and it is usually followed by the school yard cap or hat depending on if we are the bully or the victim. Remember moving the tassle on your graduation hat from one side to the other before removing it and joyfully tossing it high into the air? After high school some of us put on one hat and wear it for almost the rest of our lives. I tried the marriage hat twice, but it didn't fit well either time - I knew I didn't like it from the beginning so I wish that I would have listened to my inner thoughts instead of thinking I needed to wear a hat that society thought would fit me.In the northwestern community of St. Francis, Kansas the old timers looked down on anyone who changed hats too often. Once you settled into your working hat you were expected to wear it for the next fifty years; until you retired or dropped dead, and then your hat was probably buried with you!I am fortunate in all of the different hats I have been able to wear so far in my life-time and I expect to don a few still before I pass through "that door" to find out what hats await me on the other side.I have worn a fork truck driver's hat, a teamster organizer's hat, a waitress hat, a secretary's hat, a fashion model's hat (this was fun because I changed colors of hats frequently), a college student's hat of academia, a police officer's hat (this hat didn't suit me well and sometimes I would see friends with their mouths dropping open when I drove past them in my patrol car), a childcare provider's hat was fun and silly, my Life Coaching hat I wear with pride, my friends' hat with pleasure, my Community Emergency Response Team hat of green with satisfaction, but I wish it fit me better. Recently I have been putting on my thinking cap when I write blogs for this site. Of all the hats I have worn though, my parenting hat has been my favorite. It has been the most fun, the most challenging, been stretched to the point of tearing numerous times, but I hope to wear it for many years to come.What about you? What hats do you keep in your closet that you are willing to tell us about and which is your favorite hat?

By Ronda Miller

July 8, 2008

At Random

From the Citizen Journalism Academy

Discussion

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9 July 2008
at 9:06 a.m.

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geekin_topekan (Anonymous) says…

I wear my academia hat with pride.I have hung up my homeless hat but I still hold onto it.Too many good times and life lessons in it to through it away.Same goes for my Ramones and SeXPisToLs phase hat.Sometimes I put them back on.Just to see if they still fit.Interesting topic Ronda.
9 July 2008
at 9:32 a.m.

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geekin_topekan (Anonymous) says…

throw…Coffee.Now.
9 July 2008
at 10:18 a.m.

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liggyon (David Lignell) says…

I wear a lot of hats, as I suppose we all do. All of mine are a bit worn, but made of good fabric. Here's a quick list:1.Husband2.Father3.Son4.Brother5.Friend6.Colleague7.Writer8.Dreamer9.Dog Day's runner10.Weekend Mountain Bike Warrior11.Worrier12.Traveler13.Human Resources Professional14.Instructional Designer15.Facilitator16.Instructor17.Mentor18.Curmudgeon19.Healthy Skeptic20.Homeowner fix-it / odd jobs guy21.Driving Coach (for 14-year-old daughter)I'm sure there are more that others can think of for themselves. No wonder we're all so darn tired all of the time. We'll, clearly, there is a seller's niche market for hat racks. It's hard to wear 21 hats at the same time. And then there are those rascals, like Moby Dick's Ishmael, who try to knock them off my head. Gotta run now, I have to wear my direct report hat for a project update meeting.
9 July 2008
at 11:03 a.m.

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SusieCreamcheeze (Anonymous) says…

Well I have 7 hats hanging in my bedroom, but I am about to put on my travelin hat. And when I get to OKLA I will wear my “I'm so country from Kansas” and my “I'm such a cool old hippy chick” hats. As an artist I am more into what these hats would look like, more than anything else. As I drive I will change hats frequently,” angry driver you are in my way”, “Hello are you traveling alone”, “I am so hungry I could eat a horse”, Gas prices….#@$#@%”, and “Hello Officer How are you” hats.Perhaps My Orange and Black Kubota cap, or the goat helmut I made for Halloween as my Kansas is so wonderful hat. Then perhaps hummmmmmmmm something broad ( to keep off the sun) and colorful (to catch your eye) and engaging ( conversation with the unknown) for the hippy hat with a secret pocket.And when I return I will put on my writers cap.In truth I will only wear these hats in my head not on it. Well maby a ball cap to keep off the sun.I wonder what hats Lawrence Peters my traveling companion will wear?
9 July 2008
at 1:16 p.m.

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snap_pop_no_crackle (Anonymous) says…

Hats I've worn at various times:Newspaper reporter/photographer as an internSecurity guard at a chicken processing plantInfantry Platoon LeaderLogistics Project OfficerTank Platoon LeaderBowling Alley MechanicSawmill workerGraduate teaching assistant Hospital laundry workerMotel night clerkPizza cookCollege instructor, Electronic Media, Radio Announcing Proofreader at a printing plantGrocery store cashierClothing/sporting goods salesmanProcess serverCollege instructor, Journalism, Student publications advisor, Coordinator of Instructional Media College instructor, Oral Communication Sheet metal workerPallet makerYearbook service/sales repCar salesmanElectronics salesmanTelemarketerAppliance salesmanInformation operatorLong haul truck driverWalMart cashierTrainerSoftware Support AnalystData Miner& maybe more to come…..
9 July 2008
at 1:21 p.m.

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justbegintowrite (Ronda Miller) says…

Thanks for sharing some of your basic hat tricks and treats with me. We are all over loaded with hats it seems. If there were any hats you could put down for awhile - a long while - what would they be, David? Susie?I think teaching my children how to drive was about as stressful a job as one can have so I am glad I am not wearing a driver's ed teacher's hat on a steady basis although everytime I ride with one of my children driving it kind of plops back on! :)geekin - explain “throw coffee now” phrase please? I didn't catch it in any of my hats!I think a variety of hats has been great in my life and most of them I would not have changed for anything, but I agree, David that sometimes we try to wear too many hats at the same time. You have quite a list and I am sure as the day goes on you will be able to think of others.Susie, let us know what hats your friend does wear!
9 July 2008
at 2:02 p.m.

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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…

My most dominant hat is my “learn from misadventure” hat. Good for survival, but it would be nice if my “happy times” hat held the same dominant ranking. A friend recalled a bathtub rendezvous that he rates as his most erotic memory ever. I, on the other hand, was not able to recall it at all, until he mentioned the bath tub nearly overflowing with the displacement of two bodies. This triggered a slight memory of fear of the mess I'd have to clean up. The “worry of the event” totally erased the pleasure memory, for me.My “thinker” hat would crash and burn if I tried to list all my 'hats'.My “forget-or” hat would be at work, and later my “ruminator” hat would inform me of things that my 'old wonderful worthy self” hat would have liked to been acknowledged for. Then my “self-deprecator” hat would join up with my “miss-or of opportunities” hat. With that in mind, my 'remember this off and on for the rest of my life' hat is one I can't take off.It would be more kind to ask up to list old lovers. That only takes many of us a stack of blank index cards to shuffle around, and a few days:perhaps a few beers.

9 July 2008
at 2:24 p.m.

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dancemomx2 (Anonymous) says…

great blog ronda! I don't post to often on here, but i like to read a lot of the comments. i'm always afraid to post anything,don't want to hurt anyone's feeling and i hear enough whining and complaining most of the day. it's amazing how many hats you can think of once you start. i to wear the mother,sister,daughter,accountant,cleaner,day care provider,fast food worker,cook,nurse, trainer, cab driver, mother of a soon to be college student, etc. etc. The last one is the most recent. and probably the hardest for me. i would love a day to put some of my hats down, but would i be able to find it when i need to put it back on?
9 July 2008
at 3:35 p.m.

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geekin_topekan (Anonymous) says…

“geekin - explain “throw coffee now” phrase please? I didn't catch it in any of my hats!”++++I was correcting my mistake in my original post.”through it away”should have read”throw it away”.I was typing and my brain was listening to the coffee pot chug away.You kinda have to be perfectionistic on this board otherwise the trolls will rip you a new one.
9 July 2008
at 3:41 p.m.

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justbegintowrite (Ronda Miller) says…

Wow, snap - and I thought I had done a vast variety of jobs. I could add a few after looking at your list: I was a checker at a Walgreen's many, many years ago and also was a teaching assistant at KU many years ago. I sometimes wonder how my hats would be different now if I would have kept some of those old hats on for a longer time. Thanks for taking the time to list your hats!!!multi, I am not, will not, could not, would not list a list of lovers in my shower, with or without my hat, in my bathtub, up at bat. I would not, could not, shall not, forgive me not? :)dancemom, I am wearing the college kid mom hat too, but I am lucky that he is living at home this semester - I had a nearly full of tears hat thinking of him being away so I relate to what you are saying. Don't want to lose any of those all important hats that have made us who we are today! And, we do have a lot of hats to go = better knit a granny hat. :)
9 July 2008
at 5:07 p.m.

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angell (Marlo Angell) says…

My favorite hats are filmmaker and mommy and I've been known to wear both at the same time.
9 July 2008
at 5:57 p.m.

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justbegintowrite (Ronda Miller) says…

Thanks, Marlo - I can see you wearing both at the same time and they should go nicely together. Your films are your little babies too and your two sons are worthy of catching on film. I am sure at times it is difficult though trying to do both at the same time with the ages of your boys. How much help are they? :)
9 July 2008
at 6:03 p.m.

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justbegintowrite (Ronda Miller) says…

geekin, thanks for the clarification and I understand about correcting mistakes - it is great I can do that on actual blogs, but I wish I could on comments too; make em disappear sometimes too!
9 July 2008
at 7:12 p.m.

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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…

dancemomx2That was a great last line, and a good post.Post more often. You'll find anyone who doesn't like your post and says anything, is typically someone you wouldn't respect their opinion anyway. If you write mostly nice or funny posts, they will treat you with respect even when you do make an oops in their opinion. If someone does decide to 'dog you', then you know to just never read a post from them again. Simple.Sometimes we all post off the top of our heads based on the feelings of the moment, and aren't politically correct!:D
9 July 2008
at 7:54 p.m.

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RETICENT_IRREVERENT (Anonymous) says…

What about you? What hats do you keep in your closet that you are willing to tell us about and which is your favorite hat?Trophy husband…

9 July 2008
at 9:13 p.m.

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justbegintowrite (Ronda Miller) says…

Good going, reticent! Thanks for sharing information about your trophy husband - but still keeping him in the dark so to speak. It is nice to know what is good for the golfer's hat is good for the feathered plume hat as well. :) Another way of saying what is good for the goose is good for the gander - do a lot of people gander in your direction when you take him out? Or do you keep him in your closet!
9 July 2008
at 9:15 p.m.

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justbegintowrite (Ronda Miller) says…

dance, I agree with multi - comment and post away. Life is short, we don't know who you are so even if we don't agree with what you say (and there will always be those who do not) we won't be able to find you! Have fun with it. About the time I think I know what a variety of opinions will be, there comes a new idea or thought that surprises me in a great way.
9 July 2008
at 9:21 p.m.

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RETICENT_IRREVERENT (Anonymous) says…

Ronda,I'm a bit confused by your response…The “him” is “me”.
9 July 2008
at 9:32 p.m.

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tangential_reasoners_anonymous (Anonymous) says…

Tin foil (by all accounts).
9 July 2008
at 9:37 p.m.

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justbegintowrite (Ronda Miller) says…

sorry reticent, I can not tell what sex one is by these posts. I didn't mean to insult you. So how is life as a trophy husband? Do you get taken out and shown around a bit?tin foil - hat?
9 July 2008
at 9:48 p.m.

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tangential_reasoners_anonymous (Anonymous) says…

“tin foil - hat?”Yes, apparently.BTW, in *my* initial exchange with reticent, I made the same gender error. Such an effeminate trophy husband. ,;-D
9 July 2008
at 9:53 p.m.

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theyards (Bradford Hoopes) says…

I love hats!Current hats are daddy, hubby, boy, bro, musician, teacher, recycler, builder, biker, hiker, triker! … to name a few. Favorite hat is whichever I'm wearing at the moment!
9 July 2008
at 10:15 p.m.

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justbegintowrite (Ronda Miller) says…

tang, ouch, trophy husband might take offense at that one - if trophy husbands ever take offense. :) I don't know any personally, yet!yards, you also wear an interactive game winner hat and I forgot I wear an interactive game show host hat. you wear the buzzer's hat and I wear the buzzee's hat.

9 July 2008
at 10:30 p.m.

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tangential_reasoners_anonymous (Anonymous) says…

“tang, ouch, trophy husband might take offense at that one”I think it a foregone conclusion how R_I will respond to my *irreverence*.( BTW, I was wearing my propeller hat when I penned that one. )
9 July 2008
at 10:31 p.m.

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RETICENT_IRREVERENT (Anonymous) says…

tang,The pet funeral question with the Leslie rotating at full speed?
9 July 2008
at 10:34 p.m.

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theyards (Bradford Hoopes) says…

OMG…totally awesome Hammond reference!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
9 July 2008
at 10:40 p.m.

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justbegintowrite (Ronda Miller) says…

Too amusing! I just love the ability to observe and listen in on you all.
9 July 2008
at 10:45 p.m.

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tangential_reasoners_anonymous (Anonymous) says…

“The pet funeral question with the Leslie rotating at full speed?”Close…”I realise a miracle is dueI dedicate this melody to youBut is this the stuff dreams are made of?If this is the stuff dreams are made ofNo wonder I feel like I'm floating on airEverywhere…”… and Leslie… *best* when she was rotating at full speed….
9 July 2008
at 11:10 p.m.

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RETICENT_IRREVERENT (Anonymous) says…

The lyrics to “Second Skin” by The ChameleonsOhh.. saving the world… The red jammies reference from “America's greatest Hero”?Anyway… Maybe the confusion helps my anonymity? Besides, what would my parishioners think?
9 July 2008
at 11:28 p.m.

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liggyon (David Lignell) says…

You wrote:”If there were any hats you could put down for awhile - a long while - what would they be, David? Susie?”Sorry, Ronda, I missed this earlier. I like the question, though. Hmmm. I guess if I really had a choice, I would lay down all of the hats associated with my bill-paying job. I know that sounds self-defeating, but isn't it something most of us would do…if we had a choice. I believe we would want to be free to make choices away from “the man.” Maybe it's clearer if I tell you the hats I would like to acquire. Of course, this assumes that I would retain the father, husband, son, friend, colleague set of hats, which I like a lot. If I were to dream, Ronda, this would be my priority list. (And that makes me wonder if I really ever understood my priorities.)1. Comedy writer2. Hollywood screenwriter (humor; action-adventure)3. Singer (old standards / ballards)4. Jewery / watch maker-fixer5. Shoe cobblerYa think I forgot about the income? Nope. Only thinking of the satisfaction; the pleasure I would received as a result. What do the rest of you think? Hiding any real hats you'd like to wear because you're:1. shy2. unconfident3. bought into your parents' reality voice4. bought into your significant other's reality voice5. otherCome on, let's here it, okay?
9 July 2008
at 11:59 p.m.

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tangential_reasoners_anonymous (Anonymous) says…

“OMG:totally awesome Hammond reference!!!!!!!!!!!! :)”Years ago, my kid picked up an antique at a garage sale, Leslie intact. ( What a beast to haul upstairs! ) Surreal.

10 July 2008
at 2:10 a.m.

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SusieCreamcheeze (Anonymous) says…

I think I like all my hats. I have grown to fit them all, and can't drop one without picking up a new one.My single hat for a partner hat….Working hat for retirement cap…..No I think I am complete this way.Do I trade my baby cap for a wig hat……roflmao
10 July 2008
at 8:25 a.m.

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dancemomx2 (Anonymous) says…

thanks multi and ronda. it's nice to feel welcome. sorry it to so lone to catch up. i've been wearing my dog days hat. i agree with susie i like all of my hats. one the one hat that is my lifes dream is a bakers hat. if this was all i had to do the rest of my life, along with the mom hat, i would do it.
10 July 2008
at 9:17 a.m.

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justbegintowrite (Ronda Miller) says…

dance, funny you mentioned a baker's hat as I was thinking yesterday that I should have added a chef or baker's hat also. I had a three day weekend over the 4th and remembered just how much I love cooking when I have the time. David, I would love to put down the “rushing around stressed to the max” hat! I think my biggest problem is wearing too many hats as you mentioned in your first post.Comedy, huh, that is quite interesting. There have been times I thought it would be fun to be a stand up comedian also. Well, you have a captive audience in us so you are welcome to be a sit down comedy act! :) I have not wanted to be a shoe cobbler or a watch maker, but I have wondered what it would be like if I went into corporate America instead of being self employed the vast majority of my life. And as a fellow writer I sure have had (and still do) those fantasies of making it big with a wonderful novel, memoir, screen play. I also think what a stressful life it would be in that business if it were to be a full time occupation instead of a hobby or love.I know a lot of times I think of all the good and wonderful things I could do if I didn't have to pay bills, but the reality of the people I know who do not have to worry about it is that they really still aren't doing anything more grand or larger than we already are. It would be nice to have less stress about how to keep things managed and paid though. David, I wish we all had the freedom to be bill free for a year or two to find out how it felt to us - I hear people who win the lottery have their lives destroyed because their existence and routine of work is taken from them. I say, let me try it and I think I would be happy and stay quite busy! :)
10 July 2008
at 10:53 a.m.

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dancemomx2 (Anonymous) says…

ronda- i love my bakers hat. i pretty sure anyone who knows me likes it too. i can make one mean cheesecake. not to brag. i agree with susie to that it's fun to move up to a knew hat. the hat i love to wear the most is my mother hat. it maybe sad moving from the mom of a senior in hs hat to the mom of a soon to be college freshman. omg!! that means i'll have to put on my worry hat. maybe i;ll just wear the bakers hat more that is how i de-stress. it'll just be fun to have the memory of wearing my red dog days hat with my 18 yr old baby. she would hate me for saying that but that is just me putting on the mom hat.
10 July 2008
at 12:43 p.m.

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justbegintowrite (Ronda Miller) says…

dance, I suspect you have had the worry hat on enough times that you know how fast you can find it! I tend to wear mine to bed these days and rarely put it down. Hopefully over time that will change.Mean cheesecake, huh? What kind is your favorite to make? I love one that you bake for a time and then add a sourcream mixture to the top and rebake. I had a white chocolate cheesecake with raspberry topping at Wheatfields recently and it was to die for! :)I love trying on new hats so I'm with Susie on that one also. She is a great leader in adaptation to hats! I think we all need to put on the clown hat and have fun more often. I did that much more when my children were young and I need to make time for it.
10 July 2008
at 1:01 p.m.

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dancemomx2 (Anonymous) says…

I think I wear the worry hat every second of every day. with kids it's hard not to worry. I'm glad I have the job I do b/c i get to wear the clown hat most of the day,along with the painters hat, crafters hat, teacher hat, cook hat. I love them all though.I actually recently started making a white chocolate raspberry and all my friends love it. I make many different ones and love trying out new ones. lemon,snicker,reese's,plain,strawberry,turtle,the list goes on. I love the bakers hate b/c I can bring a smile to peoples faces.
10 July 2008
at 1:05 p.m.

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justbegintowrite (Ronda Miller) says…

Maybe you'll want me to wear a “tasters” hat? :) Sounds as though you work with childlren?
10 July 2008
at 1:12 p.m.

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dancemomx2 (Anonymous) says…

it seems all of my friends and family like to wear the tasters hat also:) I like to consider them my guinea pigs, that gives them a chance to also wear an animal hat. yes i do work with children. that way I can wear my act like a child hat more often.

10 July 2008
at 3:51 p.m.

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tangential_reasoners_anonymous (Anonymous) says…

“yes i do work with children. that way I can wear my act like a child hat more often.”… so much “work” with children… so little “play.”
10 July 2008
at 3:58 p.m.

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justbegintowrite (Ronda Miller) says…

It is pretty much all play when working with children - that is why it is so fun. I know it is always great to have someone laugh at my silly jokes, draw on the same level that I do, and accept me as I am unconditionally. Hard to beat that!
10 July 2008
at 4:37 p.m.

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dancemomx2 (Anonymous) says…

completely agree, ronda:) i love my job and what i do. everyone looks at it differently. my hope is the children see it's okay to be silly, dance in a funny way,act like elephants,lions,bears,frogs. i want them to see it doesn't matter what people say about you. just be happy. thats whats missing in a lot of people lives. they always wear the i am the judge hat.
10 July 2008
at 5:01 p.m.

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justbegintowrite (Ronda Miller) says…

Yes, dance, the judge hat had not come into play as yet! Thanks for bringing it up. Think how different all of our hats would fit us, how much more willing we would be to wear different hats, if we didn't worry about the judge hat, the dunce hat. We would be free to be who we are - more like the uncondtional love that children give. Having said that I know it is important in a society to have a judge because we have to live by some rules. There are just times when we are judged when we should not be. We need to put on the hat with blinders on those occasions! :)
10 July 2008
at 6:07 p.m.

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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…

For those of you with homeowner hats, (or any home you called your own) I've started a blog about “Housewatching”Come share your 'housewatching' stories!Either when you were the vacationer or the watcher!http://www2.ljworld.com/weblogs/multidisciplinary/2008/jul/10/vacation-housewatching-stories/
10 July 2008
at 8:02 p.m.

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justbegintowrite (Ronda Miller) says…

I just shared one in which I was wearing the “bad watcher” hat. Yeah, and I forgot to add that I was baby sitting when I was quite young and found a small can of Hersey's syrup in someone's refrigerator. I drank the entire thing down. God I love Hersey's syrup. Do not ever leave something like chocolate or pistachios around me and expect me to resisit.