Between the 29th of September and the 3rd of October, The Podcast Network web site will be undergoing some major server work that will increase (fingers crossed) both the speed and the reliability of the service you have come to love and cherish ;)

Access to the web site and the functionality of the RSS feed will at best experience a small blip of down time… and at worst…well..it could vanish into the bermuda triangle that is tech land for upto four days. I have also had to switch of the ability to post comments on all the sites till we are fully operational as well.

Stick with us through this little hick-up and I promise we will return to normal transmission as quick as possible.

Thanks guys and gals…

Mick Stanic
Co-Founder of The Podcast Network

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE

Welcome back to the Real Women Show. We are all filled up and ready to grace the airwaves with our wit and charm…..oh barf!

This week we talk (again) about bad service at restaurants and how they should NOT handle certain situations. Find out exactly what a “helicopter mom” is. Shopping with a teenage daughter - ugh! We also talk about an interesting article that recently appeared in The St. Petersburg Times regarding “Blogging in the Classroom“. It was very interesting to hear how SuZan is planning to implement this into her lesson plans.

From here we venture into a discussion about an article that appeared in a recent addition of “The Oprah Magazine” regarding how our nation is becoming over medicated. The article was based on a book entitled “Selling Sickness”.

SuZan then shares some great “Tips N’ Tricks” and shares an easy way to get left over candle wax from a candle holder as well as how to remove that nasty smell that sometimes gets left behind in the ice chest! (You are not going to believe this-I tried it-it works!)

After a brief “Pause For The Cause” we come back and share some awesome things that were on our “Blog Pick Of The Month“. We finish out the show with a brief discussion on the book we’re reading regarding raising teenagers. “STEP-Systematic Training for Effective Parenting is a great book filled with a lot of information.

Or not! SuZan asked me how I slept being my husband is out of town. In answer to her question-ha. Dogs wouldn’t go out last night before bed (11:30 p.m.). At 3:30 a.m., Oreo (little dog) starts whining, licking my face, then eventually gives a low growling bark. I told him to go back to bed because it was not yet 5:00. He just kept looking at me with those serious eyes while wagging his tail. OK, up I go to let him out. Meanwhile, Bradley (big dog) was already standing at the door. We go outside, Bradley runs off to take care of business while Oreo sits on the patio looking rather smug. I tell him “you better go do something”. So, he lifts his leg and pees on the pillar while standing on the patio. Bradley comes running back, we go inside, Bradley runs to his bed-out like a light. Oreo and I go to my bed; Oreo stretches out in James’ spot-out like a light. Sheri on the other hand tosses and turns for about an hour realizing how much she misses James’ snoring and also she hears every crack and creek in the house. Sheri fell back asleep at 4:30. She was not happy when the alarm went off at 5:00! Then, as she is taking the dogs for their morning walk (she is half asleep), the sprinklers kick on. It’s dark, so she can hear them, she just can’t see them. That is until they spray her from all sides! What an interesting morning. You just have to laugh!

P.S. Don’t you just love the switch from 1st person to 3rd? Blame it on sleep deprivation!

This was my reaction last week when I made that call. After a couple of days of trying different parts in my hair (you know…to cover up the roots as best you can); tease the bangs up since they now go down to my chin (can’t go without the bangs you see there is just too much grey to part and go); not to mention that there is no way to tame the “lion’s mane” affect going on here. So I finally just pulled it back and wore it up for a week (and everyone just thought I was getting in the swing of summer; yeah right).

I wondered why I just didn’t feel right and I have concluded that finding the right hairdresser is just as hard as finding the right doctor. I know personally I would change doctors before I would give up my hairdresser. But I lived through it (silly me), disaster averted, and the hair is back in place!

Always one to practice what I preach, I get to work. My “in-box” was overflowing. There’s only one way in and one way out of my office and the in-box sits on the corner of my desk for easy access by my boss. I tried moving my in-box. Didn’t work. It was still overflowing. I tried staring at a focal point on my wall as I walk into my office. Nope, still overflowing. In an effort to not lose my positive outlook I knew I needed to come up with a plan. I got a big cardboard box and put everything from my in-box into the cardboard box which I shoved under my desk. I placed the now empty in-box back to its spot. Yep, worked like a charm. I am no longer overwhelmed by my in-box! Guess I can take off early today since my in-box is empty! Just kidding!

Happy Friday,
Sheri

She has to be completely washable, but not plastic, have over 200 movable parts, all replaceable
and able to run on diet coke and leftovers, have a lap that can hold four children at one time, have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart

-and she will do everything with only two hands.”

The angel was astounded at the requirements. “Only two hands!? No way!
And that’s just on the standard model?
That’s too much work for one day.
Wait until tomorrow to finish. But I won’t,” the Lord protested.
“I am so close to finishing this creation that is so close to my own heart.
She already heals herself when she is sick AND can work 18 hour days.”

The angel moved closer and touched the woman.
“But you have made her so soft, Lord.”
“She is soft,” the Lord agreed, “but I have also made her tough.
You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish.”

“Will she be able to think?”, asked the angel.
The Lord replied, “Not only will she be able to think, she will be able to reason and negotiate.”

The angel then noticed something, and reaching out, touched the woman’s cheek.
“Oops, it looks like you have a leak in this model.
I told you that you were trying to put too much into this one.” “That’s not a leak, “the Lord corrected, “that’s a tear!”
“What’s the tear for?” the angel asked.
The Lord said, “The tear is her way of expressing her joy, her sorrow, her pain, her disappointment, her love, her loneliness, her grief and her pride.”

The angel was impressed.
“You are a genius, Lord.
You thought of everything!
Woman is truly amazing.”
And she is!

Women have strengths that amaze men.
They bear hardships and they carry burdens, but they hold happiness, love and joy.

They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in.
They stand up to injustice.
They don’t take “no” for an answer when they believe there is a better solution.

They go without so their family can have.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about a birth or a wedding.
Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They grieve at the loss of a family member, yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart.

Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
They’ll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show how much they care about you.
The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.
They bring joy, hope and love.
They have compassion and ideals.
They give moral support to their family and friends.

Women have vital things to say and everything to give.

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN, IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

We are Sheri and SuZan. We live in Cypress, Texas, USA and have been friends for approximately ten years. Sheri is a mother of three children from a previous marriage, ages 16, 15, and 12. She has been married to James (jkOnTheRun) for six years and has 3 step daughters. She is currently employed as an office manager/bookkeeper for a law firm; member of the High School’s Booster Club and has been past PTO President of the area Elementary School. SuZan has been married for 18 years and has one 16 year old son (she swears he counts for 3). She is a therapist in the local school district; also a member of the High School’s Booster Club and is Advancement Chairman in a local Boy Scout Troop. We are both passionate about our lives and aim to bring different perspectives on various subjects and how life impacts everything we do.

The purpose of this blog and our podcast is to celebrate women, real women, chaotic, turbulent, frazzled, extraordinary women. Extraordinary women are women who work, play, live, raise children, married or single, who do it all, sometimes by choice, sometimes out of necessity, to make life rich and full.

One of the best things about doing this project is that we are very different individuals that approach things in very different ways. We do however share one passion, our families. Our goal with this blog and our podcasts is to have a forum to share our thoughts, feelings, goals, desires and passions with other people, at the same time allowing them to share with us. We feel that women play such a strong role in the world, but tend to forget one very important thing, themselves!

What you will not find here is the image of women that advertisers and suburban life want us to project. You will find truth, honesty, and a sincere view of what is on our minds from incidents in everyday life, questions that arise, and even product reviews. We believe that it is O.K. to cry a little but laugh a lot to help keep our sanity. As we progress through this adventure, we hope that something said or shared via this forum will touch someone in a positive way.

We are not Martha Stewarts; we are not Queens of Clean, we are real women in an unrealistic world…..trying to keep it Real!