1. I have a Secret Garden. Tom built it just for me.
2. Every morning I drink 2 cups of coffee with 2 packets of Splenda and my secret vice - a nice dollup of ultra-pasteurized premium cream.
3. This spring I bought a pair of olive green mules. The kind you wear on your feet, not the kind that pull your plow.
4. I liked high school and loved college but I hated my elementary school. After I graduated I did not look at the building for about 10 - 12 years. Everytime we drove by I averted my face and (unless I was the driver) closed my eyes. I think that's how my parents finally figured out that I had hated the school that much!
5. I have a green thumb. Most stuff I plant grows too well so my gardens keep expanding and every year I have to put a giant houseplant out at the street with a "free" sign on it. The biggest houseplant I ever put out was an 8 foot tall fiddle-leaf fig tree. This year I was going to put my banana tree out but instead I think I will plant it a garden and treat it as a really big annual.
6. I like rainy days.
7. I am slowly becoming uninformed because I can't stand to watch news or read anything about Iraq, Geo. W. (will not type his name), the middle east in general, or the latest celebrity meltdown. I.Don't.Care. I think the media are all pussies and patsies and no longer engage their critical thinking skills. Even my newspaper is losing its edge.
8. Today, I am going to order a bunch of books from Amazon (again.)
I think most people have been tagged, however I will look north and tag Meemo, Coco, Seana and Lights. All people who need to get out in blogland more!
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Mr. Kerr
I've been thinking about Mr. Kerr today, after emailing with a friend. Mr. Kerr was a 6' 7" red-headed beanpole who taught math and science at my high school, and was brutally killed there during a football game.
Mr. Kerr loved geometry. He was one of those teachers who lit up the room when he taught. A tall guy so full of energy the front of the room could barely contain him, and he loved to teach. His students were his whole life. In his mid-thirties he still lived with his mother. He was one of the first teachers to arrive at the school and one of the last to leave at the end of the day. He went to just about every game - football, basketball, whatever, just so he could cheer his students on.
At football games he always sat on the top row of the old metal bleachers we had. He liked to be up top there because, as he often said, he wasn't used to people looking down at him. On the day he was killed he was sitting on the top bench as usual.
It was a hot day, with thunderstorms in the distance. In the first half of the game, out of nowhere, a lightning bolt exploded out of the sky and slammed into the metal bleachers. It entered the bleachers through the top of Mr. Kerr's head. Some students sitting on the lower seats were thrown off. A few had serious burns. Mr. Kerr? Toast. Burned toast. Totally unrecognizable - all the energy of the lightning had passed through him while going to ground.
He was such a good teacher.
So sad.
Mr. Kerr loved geometry. He was one of those teachers who lit up the room when he taught. A tall guy so full of energy the front of the room could barely contain him, and he loved to teach. His students were his whole life. In his mid-thirties he still lived with his mother. He was one of the first teachers to arrive at the school and one of the last to leave at the end of the day. He went to just about every game - football, basketball, whatever, just so he could cheer his students on.
At football games he always sat on the top row of the old metal bleachers we had. He liked to be up top there because, as he often said, he wasn't used to people looking down at him. On the day he was killed he was sitting on the top bench as usual.
It was a hot day, with thunderstorms in the distance. In the first half of the game, out of nowhere, a lightning bolt exploded out of the sky and slammed into the metal bleachers. It entered the bleachers through the top of Mr. Kerr's head. Some students sitting on the lower seats were thrown off. A few had serious burns. Mr. Kerr? Toast. Burned toast. Totally unrecognizable - all the energy of the lightning had passed through him while going to ground.
He was such a good teacher.
So sad.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Theater of the Absurd
While we were out and about this weekend, Tom and I stumbled over a little gallery in St Paul that had these lovely bronze Humpty Dumpty statues sitting on a wall. They were so droll and cute! I loved them! And? While walking back and forth staring up at the little guys (they're about 2 ft tall) I managed to trip over nothing and fall. Yes, Swami went ass over tea kettle right in front of Humpty Dumpty!
Tom was hysterical. "Get up! Get up!!" he said while kind of prancing around me, but I just wanted to lay there for a minute and take inventory because I felt a bit stunned. I'm sure the passing cars thought we were extreme idiots but I don't care. And I managed to get up without the aid of any King's horses or any King's men. Just a helping hand from Tom.
Look at these guys! Aren't they glorious? I so want to go back and buy one, even if I have to build a fence for it!
Speaking of theater, one of the shows Tom and I saw this past week was a recreation of Fritz Lange's 1927 B & W silent movie masterpiece Metropolis. I have seen that movie before (parts of it are lost & forever missing) and tried to appreciate it, since it is one of the classics of early cinema and was totally futuristic and extravagant for it's time. But I never really felt like it was that special. I just couldn't get into it.
Well, this production was exceptional! The movie was projected onto a special semi-transparent screen, so depending on how or if the back-of-screen lighting was engaged you could see some activity behind the screen image too. So while the movie was playing various actors, dancers and performance artists did their thing--sometimes in front of the screen and sometimes seen dimly from behind. There were aerialists, people climbing Chinese Poles, people hanging from the ceiling, people doing odd tasks - all this done mostly during the scenes of the 1927 Worker's Class doing their jobs. And not directly in front of the screen, but on the edges and then moving beyond the edges so the effect was to explode the visuals right off the projection screen! It's hard to describe, but it was so well done! It always enhanced the original movie, never distracted. When the most dramatic scenes of the movie were playing the 21st century "extras" disappeared so as not to distract.
Best of all was the music. Electropolis (a local, fully electrified band) put together a rendition of Lange's original 1927 score that just took your breath away! It was fully electrified of course, so the sound quality itself just rocked. But the interpretation? Powerful, sexy, ominous, and live. The liveness of the music made the score immediate & meaningful. It was so much better than listening to some tinny, canned musical track.
Now I love this movie! I can appreciate the power of the story. Finally. It was wonderful!
And some asides:
--German actors of that era always look like gay Nazis to me. I'm not sure if that's because they were the models for Hollywood when our cinemas began to portray evil, conflicted Nazis - or if that is how German people's body postures and body language were back then. Could also be the heavy-handed eye make-up men of the silent era wore.
--Tom maintains that this was not an avant garde experience because nobody got naked. I say it was avant garde because whenever people in black body stockings and bare feet run across a stage in the dark while holding sheets of plastic you are allowed to stamp the production with that label. He just wanted to see naked people is all.
Tom was hysterical. "Get up! Get up!!" he said while kind of prancing around me, but I just wanted to lay there for a minute and take inventory because I felt a bit stunned. I'm sure the passing cars thought we were extreme idiots but I don't care. And I managed to get up without the aid of any King's horses or any King's men. Just a helping hand from Tom.
Look at these guys! Aren't they glorious? I so want to go back and buy one, even if I have to build a fence for it!
Speaking of theater, one of the shows Tom and I saw this past week was a recreation of Fritz Lange's 1927 B & W silent movie masterpiece Metropolis. I have seen that movie before (parts of it are lost & forever missing) and tried to appreciate it, since it is one of the classics of early cinema and was totally futuristic and extravagant for it's time. But I never really felt like it was that special. I just couldn't get into it.
Well, this production was exceptional! The movie was projected onto a special semi-transparent screen, so depending on how or if the back-of-screen lighting was engaged you could see some activity behind the screen image too. So while the movie was playing various actors, dancers and performance artists did their thing--sometimes in front of the screen and sometimes seen dimly from behind. There were aerialists, people climbing Chinese Poles, people hanging from the ceiling, people doing odd tasks - all this done mostly during the scenes of the 1927 Worker's Class doing their jobs. And not directly in front of the screen, but on the edges and then moving beyond the edges so the effect was to explode the visuals right off the projection screen! It's hard to describe, but it was so well done! It always enhanced the original movie, never distracted. When the most dramatic scenes of the movie were playing the 21st century "extras" disappeared so as not to distract.
Best of all was the music. Electropolis (a local, fully electrified band) put together a rendition of Lange's original 1927 score that just took your breath away! It was fully electrified of course, so the sound quality itself just rocked. But the interpretation? Powerful, sexy, ominous, and live. The liveness of the music made the score immediate & meaningful. It was so much better than listening to some tinny, canned musical track.
Now I love this movie! I can appreciate the power of the story. Finally. It was wonderful!
And some asides:
--German actors of that era always look like gay Nazis to me. I'm not sure if that's because they were the models for Hollywood when our cinemas began to portray evil, conflicted Nazis - or if that is how German people's body postures and body language were back then. Could also be the heavy-handed eye make-up men of the silent era wore.
--Tom maintains that this was not an avant garde experience because nobody got naked. I say it was avant garde because whenever people in black body stockings and bare feet run across a stage in the dark while holding sheets of plastic you are allowed to stamp the production with that label. He just wanted to see naked people is all.
Friday, May 25, 2007
Vacation to Nowhere Pics
Turns out we only have a few photos. It was only a one day vacation, or daycation as we like to call it.
No midwest road trip is complete without seeing several giant roadside statues. This is Tom in the LeSeur Valley with the Jolly Green Giant. Ho ho ho!!! If you remember the old series of TV commercials that featured the Valley of the Jolly Green Giant - this is where they were filmed.
No midwest road trip is complete without seeing several giant roadside statues. This is Tom in the LeSeur Valley with the Jolly Green Giant. Ho ho ho!!! If you remember the old series of TV commercials that featured the Valley of the Jolly Green Giant - this is where they were filmed.
Here is Tom by one of the Buffalo Ridge windmills. This is what we really wanted to see in western Minnesota. There are hundreds of windmills, stretched over an area of a few miles where the prairie winds blow non-stop. Each tower costs about one million dollars to build. They make an intense, low level humming/whooshing noise as they spin. Seeing them en masse was way more fun than I expected. They're huge!
Can you see my little 6'2" hubbie standing at the base? We didn't see any "no trespassing" signs so we just drove on the dirt access roads right up to them.
Here are the blades laying on the ground, ready for the next set of towers. They are about 120 ft long.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
My Vacation to Nowhere
I don't have any pics ready yet, but I should in a day or so.
Toma and I went to SW Minnesota because I haven't been there since 1983. Mostly we wanted to see the forest of windmills that has grown on Buffalo Ridge - an area known for steady 20-30 mph winds. They are huge! (Pics later!)
We stayed overnight in Pipestone, then headed back. Isn't that exciting? SW MN is flat, flat prairie (except for Buffalo Ridge.) It is also the Lost Home of the White People. What a homogonous lily-white bunch they are! And they all believe in Jesus.
Hotel was meh. Dinner was fabulous! I had the biggest darn sirloin tip steak ever cut. It was HUGE!
We drove through the Valley of the Jolly Green Giant. And that's all there is time for in a daycation. But it was fun and I got to be with Tom nonstop for almost 40 hours! Yay!
Now men are ripping up my driveway. And Tom is home so my computer time will be limited for the rest of the week. I hope to catch up my blog reading here and there as time & Tom permit.
Apolo won!!!!!
YAY!!!!!!!
Toma and I went to SW Minnesota because I haven't been there since 1983. Mostly we wanted to see the forest of windmills that has grown on Buffalo Ridge - an area known for steady 20-30 mph winds. They are huge! (Pics later!)
We stayed overnight in Pipestone, then headed back. Isn't that exciting? SW MN is flat, flat prairie (except for Buffalo Ridge.) It is also the Lost Home of the White People. What a homogonous lily-white bunch they are! And they all believe in Jesus.
Hotel was meh. Dinner was fabulous! I had the biggest darn sirloin tip steak ever cut. It was HUGE!
We drove through the Valley of the Jolly Green Giant. And that's all there is time for in a daycation. But it was fun and I got to be with Tom nonstop for almost 40 hours! Yay!
Now men are ripping up my driveway. And Tom is home so my computer time will be limited for the rest of the week. I hope to catch up my blog reading here and there as time & Tom permit.
Apolo won!!!!!
YAY!!!!!!!
Monday, May 21, 2007
And I'm Off Until Wednesday
Tom and I are about to leave on a two daycation. I think everyone should take a little driving vacation to celebrate the new, high gas prices - don't you?
Saturday, May 19, 2007
It's HOA Day!
Our annual spring one, which is opposite the annual fall one.
Hot topics today? A bunch of people want to start adding covenants to our charter. It's like an attack of the control freaks. I? like the status quo, wherein we are organized to maintain the private roads and private marina the HOA owns. Where people put their doghouse or park their off-road vehicles is kinda their business, IMO. I hate control freaks.
I mostly want to be sure they repair a culvert on the road which leads to my house. We've been discussing it for 1 & 1/2 years so far. Enough discussion - just fix the damn thing!
Hot topics today? A bunch of people want to start adding covenants to our charter. It's like an attack of the control freaks. I? like the status quo, wherein we are organized to maintain the private roads and private marina the HOA owns. Where people put their doghouse or park their off-road vehicles is kinda their business, IMO. I hate control freaks.
I mostly want to be sure they repair a culvert on the road which leads to my house. We've been discussing it for 1 & 1/2 years so far. Enough discussion - just fix the damn thing!
Friday, May 18, 2007
Tacky or No?
Soon I have to send my good sister (the one in Hawaii) a birthday present. Most years I have given her clothing but this year she has lost some weight and I don't have a good feel for what size she is anymore.
She loves to read and we have many similar tastes in books. She buys tons of paperbacks but never hardcover. I buy many hardcovers, so I read the books of some shared favorite authors well before she does. So I am thinking of sending her some of my already read hardcovers. Is this too tacky? (I would tell her they were previously read.) I can't decide if this is smart or stupid idea. I think it would be stupid to buy her new books when I have perfectly good, read one time books sitting on my shelf. What do you think?
Thursday, May 17, 2007
I Pee In My Cat's Water Dish
It's a nasty habit, I know. Not my habit - my cat's! Everytime I turn around Graycie is drinking from a toilet. When did cats start doing that? It drives me crazy. She lurks outside the door while I'm going, then when I open the door she springs inside, all thirsty!
Maybe she's part dog.
Maybe she's part dog.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Going Critical
My mouse is. I think the cordless mouse people have a deal with EverReady or something. You are supposed to change the battery when you get a "battery critical" message, but I am now on Day Three of the "battery critical" situation. How long do you think I can push it?
Also, this weekend I planted a little Norway Maple tree at the end of our private road - right across from this family (not on the road, just across from it) that doesn't like us for reasons unknown to me. They have cut holes in our POA road's fence, which they fixed after we called the cops. We planted an oak tree there two years ago and somebody killed it by continually stripping off all the leaves. Kind of a slow torture death. They also broke off all the little branches. I'm sure it was them, but nobody ever saw anything. I hope the little maple isn't doomed!
Also, this weekend I planted a little Norway Maple tree at the end of our private road - right across from this family (not on the road, just across from it) that doesn't like us for reasons unknown to me. They have cut holes in our POA road's fence, which they fixed after we called the cops. We planted an oak tree there two years ago and somebody killed it by continually stripping off all the leaves. Kind of a slow torture death. They also broke off all the little branches. I'm sure it was them, but nobody ever saw anything. I hope the little maple isn't doomed!
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Glowie's Long, Long, Endlessly Long List of Questions
1. If you went to dinner with Jesus who would pick up the check?
His Daddy. I figure God must have deep pockets.
2. If you had to eliminate one state from the United States, which one would it be?
New Hampshire If they want to Live Free or Die then why do they keep sticking us with such crappy presidential candidate choices?
3. If Spiderman and Superman were forced to fight to the death, who would win? Why?
Superman. Spidey doesn’t have superpowers, just a couple of good tricks. Superman is made of steel.
4. Sawyer, Jack or Sayid?
Sayid. The other two just annoy me.
5. Mohinder, Nathan or Peter?
Probably Nathan.
6. For the next hour you have to listen to one song on repeat. What song is it?
One hour? That’s too long for any song I can think of.
7. What is your favorite movie? Why?
I like Air Force One & Shawshank Redemption. No chick flick lover, me!
8. Who is your favorite actor/actress?
Favorite actor would be Johnny Depp or Harrison Ford or Morgan Freeman. Favorite actress would be Kathy Bates or Frances McDermot.
9. Avril Lavigne. Yes or no?
Not so much.
10. Do you have a job or a career?
A job. My career died when I stayed home with the kids I had late in life.
11. Would you move out of state for a job?
I’d move out of state for any reason. I’ve decided I’m sick of Minnesota.
12. Have any sharks been jumped by American Idol?
No. Simon Cowell is too scary for sharks so they'd get out of the way.
13. Have you ever gone to a concert by yourself? If so, would you do it again? If not, would you?
I don’t think so, not a big one anyway. I prefer going to stuff with people.
14. Did your mom and/or dad make you do chores? If so, what were they?
Yes. Set the table, clear the table. Dry the dishes. Fetch. Weed.
15. Would you go to a sex toy party with your mom?
No.
16. If you were to have a sex toy party, would you invite your boss?
Since I currently work ‘for’ the DH I suppose I might. If he promised to be good.
17. How big is too big?
If you need stitches.
18. What is your favorite reality show?
TAR, Survivor, Project Runway, Top Chef, Big Brother.
19. Do you have a favorite reality show contestant?
All time facorite? No.
20. Could you whistle that little tune at the beginning of Peter Bjorn and John’s “Young Folks” for me right now?
Uh – huh?
21. Howard Stern. Yes or no?
No.
22. Do you know any local bands that you would like to pimp?
No. I rarely go to clubs these days.
23. Name one state you would like to visit that you have not visited.
Colorado. Mountains.
24. Why would Pink perform on American Idol after adamantly not giving clearance for the contestants perform her songs?
She does it for money.
25. Multi-grain, wheat or white?
I like white, carbs be damned
26. Carrots dipped in peanut butter?
Sounds gross. But I do like carrot soup and carrot fudge – go figure.
27. Do you add extra butter to your popcorn at the movie theater?
Never! I rarely get popcorn and when I do I request that they leave off that yellow “butter” syrup stuff..
28. Do you have a favorite pair of underwear? What do they look like?
Yes. They are turquoise cotton briefs that just feel so darn good. They came in a packege of 3 assorted colors and for some reason that color feels better.
29. Name one country song that will help convince non-fans that it isn’t all bad.
There is no such song.
30. What is in the trunk of your car?
Evidently, a murder kit. I have everything that crazed astronaut lady had in her murder kit, plus a folding knife, folding shovel – and snacks!
31. What is the first thing that comes to your mind when I say Marky Mark?
Fucky fuck.
32. Which character from a movie or television show would you be?
I’d be Allison DuBois from Medium only her kids are brats so I’d have to beat them and then the show would be cancelled.
33. Who was the last person you hugged?
My Tom – hug him every day!
34. Have you ever been on a cruise?
No. I have been on overnight boat rides but they were ferries – not a cruise.
35. Will I be able to sleep in a tiny closet-sized room on a cruise ship with no windows while constantly worrying and missing my kids?
If Glowie drinks enough she will eventually sleep. (No windows would freak me out big time because I need fresh air.)
His Daddy. I figure God must have deep pockets.
2. If you had to eliminate one state from the United States, which one would it be?
New Hampshire If they want to Live Free or Die then why do they keep sticking us with such crappy presidential candidate choices?
3. If Spiderman and Superman were forced to fight to the death, who would win? Why?
Superman. Spidey doesn’t have superpowers, just a couple of good tricks. Superman is made of steel.
4. Sawyer, Jack or Sayid?
Sayid. The other two just annoy me.
5. Mohinder, Nathan or Peter?
Probably Nathan.
6. For the next hour you have to listen to one song on repeat. What song is it?
One hour? That’s too long for any song I can think of.
7. What is your favorite movie? Why?
I like Air Force One & Shawshank Redemption. No chick flick lover, me!
8. Who is your favorite actor/actress?
Favorite actor would be Johnny Depp or Harrison Ford or Morgan Freeman. Favorite actress would be Kathy Bates or Frances McDermot.
9. Avril Lavigne. Yes or no?
Not so much.
10. Do you have a job or a career?
A job. My career died when I stayed home with the kids I had late in life.
11. Would you move out of state for a job?
I’d move out of state for any reason. I’ve decided I’m sick of Minnesota.
12. Have any sharks been jumped by American Idol?
No. Simon Cowell is too scary for sharks so they'd get out of the way.
13. Have you ever gone to a concert by yourself? If so, would you do it again? If not, would you?
I don’t think so, not a big one anyway. I prefer going to stuff with people.
14. Did your mom and/or dad make you do chores? If so, what were they?
Yes. Set the table, clear the table. Dry the dishes. Fetch. Weed.
15. Would you go to a sex toy party with your mom?
No.
16. If you were to have a sex toy party, would you invite your boss?
Since I currently work ‘for’ the DH I suppose I might. If he promised to be good.
17. How big is too big?
If you need stitches.
18. What is your favorite reality show?
TAR, Survivor, Project Runway, Top Chef, Big Brother.
19. Do you have a favorite reality show contestant?
All time facorite? No.
20. Could you whistle that little tune at the beginning of Peter Bjorn and John’s “Young Folks” for me right now?
Uh – huh?
21. Howard Stern. Yes or no?
No.
22. Do you know any local bands that you would like to pimp?
No. I rarely go to clubs these days.
23. Name one state you would like to visit that you have not visited.
Colorado. Mountains.
24. Why would Pink perform on American Idol after adamantly not giving clearance for the contestants perform her songs?
She does it for money.
25. Multi-grain, wheat or white?
I like white, carbs be damned
26. Carrots dipped in peanut butter?
Sounds gross. But I do like carrot soup and carrot fudge – go figure.
27. Do you add extra butter to your popcorn at the movie theater?
Never! I rarely get popcorn and when I do I request that they leave off that yellow “butter” syrup stuff..
28. Do you have a favorite pair of underwear? What do they look like?
Yes. They are turquoise cotton briefs that just feel so darn good. They came in a packege of 3 assorted colors and for some reason that color feels better.
29. Name one country song that will help convince non-fans that it isn’t all bad.
There is no such song.
30. What is in the trunk of your car?
Evidently, a murder kit. I have everything that crazed astronaut lady had in her murder kit, plus a folding knife, folding shovel – and snacks!
31. What is the first thing that comes to your mind when I say Marky Mark?
Fucky fuck.
32. Which character from a movie or television show would you be?
I’d be Allison DuBois from Medium only her kids are brats so I’d have to beat them and then the show would be cancelled.
33. Who was the last person you hugged?
My Tom – hug him every day!
34. Have you ever been on a cruise?
No. I have been on overnight boat rides but they were ferries – not a cruise.
35. Will I be able to sleep in a tiny closet-sized room on a cruise ship with no windows while constantly worrying and missing my kids?
If Glowie drinks enough she will eventually sleep. (No windows would freak me out big time because I need fresh air.)
Monday, May 14, 2007
Unschooling
This is the education my grandson is receiving.
First my daughter said that she wanted to home school him because her work and travel schedule are so erratic. This made sense to me. He's a bright, curious, cooperative boy and seems like a good candidate for home schooling.
Then DD said, well what we're really doing is called un-schooling. I had never heard of it. Whn I Googled I got info like this:
"This is also known as interest driven, child-led, natural, organic, eclectic, or self-directed learning. Lately, the term "unschooling" has come to be associated with the type of homeschooling that doesn't use a fixed curriculum. When pressed, I define unschooling as allowing children as much freedom to learn in the world, as their parents can comfortably bear. The advantage of this method is that it doesn't require you, the parent, to become someone else, i.e. a professional teacher pouring knowledge into child-vessels on a planned basis. Instead you live and learn together, pursuing questions and interests as they arise and using conventional schooling on an "on demand" basis, if at all. This is the way we learn before going to school and the way we learn when we leave school and enter the world of work."
I dunno. It sounds like dilettante learning to me. Maybe fine for KG, and maybe fine up until 3d grade or so. But after that? I think learning needs a direction. There's a lot of wonderful stuff you might never happen upon without a teacher providing some comprehensive introduction.
Evidently, unschooling is all the rage in home schooling circuits now.
First my daughter said that she wanted to home school him because her work and travel schedule are so erratic. This made sense to me. He's a bright, curious, cooperative boy and seems like a good candidate for home schooling.
Then DD said, well what we're really doing is called un-schooling. I had never heard of it. Whn I Googled I got info like this:
"This is also known as interest driven, child-led, natural, organic, eclectic, or self-directed learning. Lately, the term "unschooling" has come to be associated with the type of homeschooling that doesn't use a fixed curriculum. When pressed, I define unschooling as allowing children as much freedom to learn in the world, as their parents can comfortably bear. The advantage of this method is that it doesn't require you, the parent, to become someone else, i.e. a professional teacher pouring knowledge into child-vessels on a planned basis. Instead you live and learn together, pursuing questions and interests as they arise and using conventional schooling on an "on demand" basis, if at all. This is the way we learn before going to school and the way we learn when we leave school and enter the world of work."
I dunno. It sounds like dilettante learning to me. Maybe fine for KG, and maybe fine up until 3d grade or so. But after that? I think learning needs a direction. There's a lot of wonderful stuff you might never happen upon without a teacher providing some comprehensive introduction.
Evidently, unschooling is all the rage in home schooling circuits now.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
For Bravie
Who knew there were so many lovely flip flop themed accessories for the home? I picked out a few of my favorites for you. Because you can never have too many flip flops.
Firstly, here is a lovely stained glass wreath you can hang by the front door with pride:
A little throw rug to share with someone special.
You can put these lovely hooks out by your new pool.
If you and Michelle ever decide to get married you can proclaim your love with every step. Isn't that cute?
And a place for your wedding photos.
(These are all from Terrysvillage.com.)
Enjoy
Firstly, here is a lovely stained glass wreath you can hang by the front door with pride:
A little throw rug to share with someone special.
You can put these lovely hooks out by your new pool.
If you and Michelle ever decide to get married you can proclaim your love with every step. Isn't that cute?
And a place for your wedding photos.
(These are all from Terrysvillage.com.)
Enjoy
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Should I or Shouldn't I ?
Should I or shouldn't I keep coloring my hair? I have been adding color for about 10 years now.
Upside:
--I really like the highlights & lowlights foiled color look. It is very saturated and rich looking color.
--Tom likes the color and doesn't want me to get old.
Downside:
--My hair doesn't like long-term dye. Hair falls out so my hair is overall thinner. (So far it has grown back in when the dye starts wearing off but I look at my older sisters and know that some day it may not! :( They both have thinner hair.)
--My mom and both my older sisters had/have white hair. Snow white hair, which I love! My hair seems to be "fading" right now, going from light brown to pale beige. (That sounds weird but I don't know how else to describe it - my evil sister's & mom's hair did that as it faded to white. My older sister, who had black hair went from black to gray to white.)
--It's expensive (altho I can afford it, but still...)
--I dislike what I read about the general health affects of hair dyes. Nothing scientifically conclusive but the trend is there.
Also - do you or don't you?
Upside:
--I really like the highlights & lowlights foiled color look. It is very saturated and rich looking color.
--Tom likes the color and doesn't want me to get old.
Downside:
--My hair doesn't like long-term dye. Hair falls out so my hair is overall thinner. (So far it has grown back in when the dye starts wearing off but I look at my older sisters and know that some day it may not! :( They both have thinner hair.)
--My mom and both my older sisters had/have white hair. Snow white hair, which I love! My hair seems to be "fading" right now, going from light brown to pale beige. (That sounds weird but I don't know how else to describe it - my evil sister's & mom's hair did that as it faded to white. My older sister, who had black hair went from black to gray to white.)
--It's expensive (altho I can afford it, but still...)
--I dislike what I read about the general health affects of hair dyes. Nothing scientifically conclusive but the trend is there.
Also - do you or don't you?
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Hair care
I used that new Dove Pro Age haircare shampoo & conditioner this morning. Boy, is it ever nice! My hair feels & looks more youthfully full today and feels so soft and bouncy. So yay! A new product I like! And boo! I'm freakin' old because otherwise it wouldn't work, right?
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Stoopid Google
Yesterday I couldn't post on anyone's blog. Eventually I couldn't even open the comments boxes - not even my own! Google could not "verify" my source or something. My "source" is the same computer I have been using for almost three years now. WTF is up their butt?
I felt so cut off and alone. I had to take a drink before lunch. It was terriblehorribleawful. Stoopid Google.
I felt so cut off and alone. I had to take a drink before lunch. It was terriblehorribleawful. Stoopid Google.
Monday, May 07, 2007
Blown Away
What a windy weekend! Two days of constant blow with regular gusts over 50 mph. My big beautiful Boston Fern blew off the deck :( Poor baby got one side kind of smooshed altho she seems to be recovering nicely.
Funniest thing seen blowing down the road? One of those pop-up tents - you know, the ones with memory springs sewn in so they always hold their shape? They make great tumbleweeds! By the time it crossed my path it was a filthy, fairly ripped-up ball of blue. Too funny! I think it blew in from South Dakota!
There were power outtages everywhere; we lost power at noon on Sunday so I took Max out for a movie and early dinner. Tom phoned me at about 6 to report that our power was still off. On TAR night!!! So we had to scramble and wound up going to the Fire Hall so we wouldn't miss the finale. A couple of deputies were watching something else on the big screen so we watched in on the Chief's "little" 32 incher. TG the people I hated didn't win! See, I had to watch the finale to be sure they didn't win.
Funniest thing seen blowing down the road? One of those pop-up tents - you know, the ones with memory springs sewn in so they always hold their shape? They make great tumbleweeds! By the time it crossed my path it was a filthy, fairly ripped-up ball of blue. Too funny! I think it blew in from South Dakota!
There were power outtages everywhere; we lost power at noon on Sunday so I took Max out for a movie and early dinner. Tom phoned me at about 6 to report that our power was still off. On TAR night!!! So we had to scramble and wound up going to the Fire Hall so we wouldn't miss the finale. A couple of deputies were watching something else on the big screen so we watched in on the Chief's "little" 32 incher. TG the people I hated didn't win! See, I had to watch the finale to be sure they didn't win.
Friday, May 04, 2007
Oops. My Bad.
So yesterday I phoned Mr Swami at work and told him I was going to make him talk v e r y - s l o w l y using the slow talk feature I mentioned in my new phone post below.
He said, "What?"
So I explained that our new phone had a button you could push and it slowed down the speed of people talking when they talk too fast. I pushed the button! Then I heard a funny clunk and an odd swishy, burbley sound which it turns out is the actual sound of one man, rolling on the floor and laughing his ass off. Turns out, the button only works on recorded messages - you know, when people leaving a message suddenly talk real fast and leave their number at hyperspeed because they think they might run out of time. That's when it works. Recorded messages.
I feel so embarrassed.
He said, "What?"
So I explained that our new phone had a button you could push and it slowed down the speed of people talking when they talk too fast. I pushed the button! Then I heard a funny clunk and an odd swishy, burbley sound which it turns out is the actual sound of one man, rolling on the floor and laughing his ass off. Turns out, the button only works on recorded messages - you know, when people leaving a message suddenly talk real fast and leave their number at hyperspeed because they think they might run out of time. That's when it works. Recorded messages.
I feel so embarrassed.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Stupid Instructions
Mr Swami and I just bought new phones - Panasonic KX-TG6074, which is a base unit plus three handsets (all cordless of course.) So I popped them out of the box, installed the batteries into the handsets and set the units to charging. Set-up was entirely self-evident.
Then I looked at the 55 page 'Operating Instructions' booklet which accompanied the phone set and explains the obvious in mind-numbing detail. What a hoot! Not until page 16 does it explain how to use the phone:
1. Push "PHONE"
2. Dial the phone number
3. When the other party answers, speak into the MIC
4. Speak alternately with the other party
5. When you finish talking press PHONE again
LOL - I've been doing it wrong all these years! Who knew you had to "speak alternately" with the other person! I just like people to listen to me.
It has one feature I want to try: Handset Slow Talk. "This feature works to help slow down the incoming audio when you are having a conversation with an outside party." WTF does that mean? You can slow fast talkers to a Texas drawl? If so, I want one of those devices to strap to my belt so I can understand the waitress at Three Seasons. She speaks way faster than I can hear.
Then I looked at the 55 page 'Operating Instructions' booklet which accompanied the phone set and explains the obvious in mind-numbing detail. What a hoot! Not until page 16 does it explain how to use the phone:
1. Push "PHONE"
2. Dial the phone number
3. When the other party answers, speak into the MIC
4. Speak alternately with the other party
5. When you finish talking press PHONE again
LOL - I've been doing it wrong all these years! Who knew you had to "speak alternately" with the other person! I just like people to listen to me.
It has one feature I want to try: Handset Slow Talk. "This feature works to help slow down the incoming audio when you are having a conversation with an outside party." WTF does that mean? You can slow fast talkers to a Texas drawl? If so, I want one of those devices to strap to my belt so I can understand the waitress at Three Seasons. She speaks way faster than I can hear.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Plan B
It occurs to me that pretty much my entire life has been Plan B.
Well, I did get into the college of my choice - but after that? Plan B all the way. Of course Tom is the best part of Plan B, but still - plan A hubbie did not work out. I wound up in a different career than I planned for in college - Cultural Anthroplogy degree does not necessarily lead to medical research, my post-college Plan B career. Plus, how the fuck did I wind up living in cold cold Minnesota when Plan A was definately live in Hawaii?
There are more Plan B compromises than that, but you get the picture. Yep. College was the last time Plan A worked out for me.
Are you a Plan A or a Plan B? In
1. College Choice?
2. Career Choice?
3. Partner Choice?
4. Residence Choice?
5. Something Else?
Well, I did get into the college of my choice - but after that? Plan B all the way. Of course Tom is the best part of Plan B, but still - plan A hubbie did not work out. I wound up in a different career than I planned for in college - Cultural Anthroplogy degree does not necessarily lead to medical research, my post-college Plan B career. Plus, how the fuck did I wind up living in cold cold Minnesota when Plan A was definately live in Hawaii?
There are more Plan B compromises than that, but you get the picture. Yep. College was the last time Plan A worked out for me.
Are you a Plan A or a Plan B? In
1. College Choice?
2. Career Choice?
3. Partner Choice?
4. Residence Choice?
5. Something Else?
My PJM Rhododendrons Are in Full Bloom!
I love my PJMs, with their hot lavender-colored clusters of flowers - they just scream Spring!!! For years I always hoped they would bloom by Mother's Day. Then they started to always bloom before Mother's Day. Now they bloom in late April. Thank you, global warning.
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