A happy New Year to all of you. Let's all look to bigger and better things in 2007.
We're celebrating New Year's Eve by watching brainless movies. A great tradition.
31 December 2006
2 is the new 4, 0 is the new 2
And I'd do well to remember it.
We are visiting Sam and Melissa right now, and we've been having fun. We're watching Family Guy right now.
Melissa asked Jeff and me if we are going to have New Year's Resolutions. Neither of us is inclined to do that sort of thing, but Jeff said he'd like to lose weight.
I don't have any New Year's Resolution, but if I did, it would be something along the lines of:
-Get a healthy, balanced lifestyle that involves nutritious food, regular exercise, and plenty of alone time and fulfilling activites.
-Become competent at the guitar and improve my flute skills.
-Watch 20 Academy Award-winning films.
-Be accepted to graduate school.
-Learn to sew, and improve knitting skills.
-Achieve competency in another language, to be determined.
Detailed, step-by-step plans to accomplish above to follow.
We are visiting Sam and Melissa right now, and we've been having fun. We're watching Family Guy right now.
Melissa asked Jeff and me if we are going to have New Year's Resolutions. Neither of us is inclined to do that sort of thing, but Jeff said he'd like to lose weight.
I don't have any New Year's Resolution, but if I did, it would be something along the lines of:
-Get a healthy, balanced lifestyle that involves nutritious food, regular exercise, and plenty of alone time and fulfilling activites.
-Become competent at the guitar and improve my flute skills.
-Watch 20 Academy Award-winning films.
-Be accepted to graduate school.
-Learn to sew, and improve knitting skills.
-Achieve competency in another language, to be determined.
Detailed, step-by-step plans to accomplish above to follow.
Weird
I tried to switch to the new Blogger, but my blogs didn't show up. I'll try again later when I haven't had a green apple Smirnoff.
29 December 2006
AZ update
My ability to post has been hindered by the fact that Jeff and I have been on the road for several days now, and I don't always have reliable internet access. =(
We made it to Arizona yesterday, and spent a few hours in the afternoon with Dan and his guest K-W (who just happened to be passing through AZ at the same time as us). We chatted about theology and our planned takeover of the academic world.
We headed out to Claim Jumper to meet Jen and Todd, and we enjoyed chatting with them, but the restaurant took almost an hour and a half to get us our food, and when it came, it was cold, so the manager ended up giving us free meals, plus a slice of the motherlode cake to take home. Bravo, Claim Jumper! They may win back our business with that shrewd move.
Then we went on over to Sharon Campbell's house, where we were to spend the night. I had a great time chatting with Sharon until late in the night. Then I crashed into bed and slept soundly.
We made it to Arizona yesterday, and spent a few hours in the afternoon with Dan and his guest K-W (who just happened to be passing through AZ at the same time as us). We chatted about theology and our planned takeover of the academic world.
We headed out to Claim Jumper to meet Jen and Todd, and we enjoyed chatting with them, but the restaurant took almost an hour and a half to get us our food, and when it came, it was cold, so the manager ended up giving us free meals, plus a slice of the motherlode cake to take home. Bravo, Claim Jumper! They may win back our business with that shrewd move.
Then we went on over to Sharon Campbell's house, where we were to spend the night. I had a great time chatting with Sharon until late in the night. Then I crashed into bed and slept soundly.
26 December 2006
Dear Readers, I know that you have been neglected for the past two days. I have been so good about posting daily through December so far, and then on the most exciting days of the month (Christmas Eve and Christmas Day), I fail. Tragic flaw, indeed.
Well, what do you want to know? During the day on Christmas Eve, I spent a lot of the time cleaning and doing laundry, in preparation for going out of town for several days. In the evening, Jeff and I went over to Debbie and Jerry's house, where we had Christmas celebration with the Feely family. It was a nice and tasty dinner, as well as a fun time with the relatives (Rob and Candace and Olaf and Rosalee were there, of course). I was excited, in particular, about the Hello Kitty tote bag that Debbie MADE for me, as well as a precious pastel blue Hello Kitty lanyard. I'll be sporting the Hello Kitty bling when I go back to the classroom in January!!!
Christmas morning, we did stocking with Debbie and Jerry, and then sped south to LA area to see my family, stopping in Gorman along the way to exchange gifts and Christmas greetings with Josh and Laurel. [Shout out to Laurel, just because I love her!!!] We arrived at my parents house, where the whole clan was assembled: Mom and Dad, Dan and Jen, Mike, Mia and Tim. We stood about for a while, then opened presents. A few highlights:
-Dad cried when Mia and Tim gave him a guitar.
-Mike and I gave each other identical presents: copies of After the Ice, by Steve Mithen. My adik and I are birds of a feather.
-Mike received a book on Egyptian hieroglyphics, but was unable to explain how he was planning to fit Egyptology into his current plans of shrimp farming and market analysis.
-Jeff received duplicates of Halo novels and the fourth season of Family Guy. That's the result of posting his wish list on his blog.
-Mum gave all the girls handmade felted purses. Authentic Willow's Cottage merchandise. Order yours now, deliverable some time in the summer!!!
The we had a family dinner, with a guest named Dorothy, and it was tasty and involved all sorts of questionable dinner-table topics, including politics and tapeworms. Mike, true to form, nabbed and hid the salmon before dinner even started. Bless his heart.
Today, it was lowkey. We had a late breakfast at IHOP, went to Borders (to spent those gift certificates) and Best Buy in Manhattan Beach, ate at Red Sesame, then moseyed to Pier 1 and Barnes and Noble, still in Manhattan Beach. It was nice to see a lot of the family. We are obviously addicted to books.
Well, what do you want to know? During the day on Christmas Eve, I spent a lot of the time cleaning and doing laundry, in preparation for going out of town for several days. In the evening, Jeff and I went over to Debbie and Jerry's house, where we had Christmas celebration with the Feely family. It was a nice and tasty dinner, as well as a fun time with the relatives (Rob and Candace and Olaf and Rosalee were there, of course). I was excited, in particular, about the Hello Kitty tote bag that Debbie MADE for me, as well as a precious pastel blue Hello Kitty lanyard. I'll be sporting the Hello Kitty bling when I go back to the classroom in January!!!
Christmas morning, we did stocking with Debbie and Jerry, and then sped south to LA area to see my family, stopping in Gorman along the way to exchange gifts and Christmas greetings with Josh and Laurel. [Shout out to Laurel, just because I love her!!!] We arrived at my parents house, where the whole clan was assembled: Mom and Dad, Dan and Jen, Mike, Mia and Tim. We stood about for a while, then opened presents. A few highlights:
-Dad cried when Mia and Tim gave him a guitar.
-Mike and I gave each other identical presents: copies of After the Ice, by Steve Mithen. My adik and I are birds of a feather.
-Mike received a book on Egyptian hieroglyphics, but was unable to explain how he was planning to fit Egyptology into his current plans of shrimp farming and market analysis.
-Jeff received duplicates of Halo novels and the fourth season of Family Guy. That's the result of posting his wish list on his blog.
-Mum gave all the girls handmade felted purses. Authentic Willow's Cottage merchandise. Order yours now, deliverable some time in the summer!!!
The we had a family dinner, with a guest named Dorothy, and it was tasty and involved all sorts of questionable dinner-table topics, including politics and tapeworms. Mike, true to form, nabbed and hid the salmon before dinner even started. Bless his heart.
Today, it was lowkey. We had a late breakfast at IHOP, went to Borders (to spent those gift certificates) and Best Buy in Manhattan Beach, ate at Red Sesame, then moseyed to Pier 1 and Barnes and Noble, still in Manhattan Beach. It was nice to see a lot of the family. We are obviously addicted to books.
23 December 2006
Taste
I think I'm an undertaster. I eat more than I should because I crave taste. I need to add lots of flavor to my food, so I add salt and hot sauce. I can't handle bland food!
22 December 2006
Sad
Our shopping is pretty much done, and our holiday plans are good. But I'm still not in a holiday mood. Not festive. Certainly not ready to deal with people.
Ack! I am a prisoner in my own home! There are a lot of young men at my house, playing Halo, as part of Rob's birthday party. I am happy to celebrate Rob's birthday, but feel compelled to point out that I was not consulted on either the generals or the particulars of this party, until after they had been planned. I didn't have to cook, so that was nice. The thing about me is that I don't feel obligated to be nice to people merely to fulfill the narrow requirements of propriety, so I mostly ignored the people around me and read my book. Now I am ignoring them and posting on my blog.
Note: There have now been TWO young men who have come into my house and neglected to remove their hats. This pisses me off so much. Odd that men removing their hats indoors is a requirement of propriety that I actually DO wish to be observed. Chalk it up to eccentricity, I suppose. But seriously, guys, just take off your hats when you enter a building, especially a home or a church. It's a mark of respect and good breeding.
Note: There have now been TWO young men who have come into my house and neglected to remove their hats. This pisses me off so much. Odd that men removing their hats indoors is a requirement of propriety that I actually DO wish to be observed. Chalk it up to eccentricity, I suppose. But seriously, guys, just take off your hats when you enter a building, especially a home or a church. It's a mark of respect and good breeding.
21 December 2006
Note to self
When I become an evil superpower, I need to remember to breed lots of goblins and trolls to do my hard labor and dirty work. They seem to ask little satisfaction other than gratuitous violence and gore, and as for feeding them, well, all indications are that they eat each other, so they'd be fairly easy to maintain.
On the minus side, they are volatile and appetite-driven, and tend to turn on one another with little or no provocation. Labor relations will be key. But they're none-too-bright, so keeping them somewhat motivated should be a cinch (further note to self: collect tips on crowd-pleasing yet non-commital rhetoric from liberal Democrats), and, in-fighting aside, they do not generally question or rebel against their superiors to whom they own allegiance.
When outsourcing even to India becomes prohibitively expensive, outsourcing to Mordor could be our next alternative.
On the minus side, they are volatile and appetite-driven, and tend to turn on one another with little or no provocation. Labor relations will be key. But they're none-too-bright, so keeping them somewhat motivated should be a cinch (further note to self: collect tips on crowd-pleasing yet non-commital rhetoric from liberal Democrats), and, in-fighting aside, they do not generally question or rebel against their superiors to whom they own allegiance.
When outsourcing even to India becomes prohibitively expensive, outsourcing to Mordor could be our next alternative.
20 December 2006
Understanding engineers
I read somewhere that there are three kinds of people in the world: men, women, and engineers. I left my engineering post at the Humungous Anonymous Technical Company, but as my dad would say, "Once an engineer, always an engineer". It's an INTJ thing, too. I find engineering humor and geek humor to be irresistible.
For example, the following tidbit is funny because it's TRUE.
Engineers have different objectives when it comes to social interaction. "Normal" people expect to accomplish several unrealistic things from social interaction:
1. Stimulating and thought-provoking conversations
2. Important social contacts
3. A feeling of connectedness with other humans
In contrast to "normal" people, engineers have rational objectives for social interactions:
1. Get it over with as soon as possible.
2. Avoid getting invited to something unpleasant.
3. Demonstrate mental superiority and mastery of all subjects.
For example, the following tidbit is funny because it's TRUE.
Engineers have different objectives when it comes to social interaction. "Normal" people expect to accomplish several unrealistic things from social interaction:
1. Stimulating and thought-provoking conversations
2. Important social contacts
3. A feeling of connectedness with other humans
In contrast to "normal" people, engineers have rational objectives for social interactions:
1. Get it over with as soon as possible.
2. Avoid getting invited to something unpleasant.
3. Demonstrate mental superiority and mastery of all subjects.
19 December 2006
Not idly do the pants of Lorien fall
We are watching The Two Towers. A few years ago, when the LOTR films came out, there was a little word game that I heard a few times: the "pants" game. Take a line from the books or films, and replace one of the nouns in the quote with the word "pants". Much hilarity ensues.
For example, the real quote from which the title is drawn is, "Not idly do the leaves of Lorien fall". See? Hilarious!
I make it a point of pride to know that I have been a Tolkien fan for more than 20 years. I was obsessed with Tolkien and Middle-Earth long before it was fashionable to be so. I read the Silmarillion when I was in fourth grade. I studied Elvish scripts and languages. Oh, dear, I've been a geek since childhood. Oh, well, I'll just embrace my destiny.
For example, the real quote from which the title is drawn is, "Not idly do the leaves of Lorien fall". See? Hilarious!
I make it a point of pride to know that I have been a Tolkien fan for more than 20 years. I was obsessed with Tolkien and Middle-Earth long before it was fashionable to be so. I read the Silmarillion when I was in fourth grade. I studied Elvish scripts and languages. Oh, dear, I've been a geek since childhood. Oh, well, I'll just embrace my destiny.
Vacay
I'm still working on switching over to the new Google-compatible Blogger. It's just so hard to commit.
I started my official vacation time today. I spent it cleaning the lower part of my house, as well as cooking lentil soup and biscuits. Whee.
Now, Jeff and I are watching Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, as he wanted to do something relaxing while he does important computer-type stuff on his laptop. I'm always torn between enjoying the pure visual spectacle of these films and disliking them because I love the books so much. I especially dislike the casting of Liv Tyler. Ugh!
I think I'll be shopping tomorrow, as well as doing more cleaning. Such excitement.
I started my official vacation time today. I spent it cleaning the lower part of my house, as well as cooking lentil soup and biscuits. Whee.
Now, Jeff and I are watching Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, as he wanted to do something relaxing while he does important computer-type stuff on his laptop. I'm always torn between enjoying the pure visual spectacle of these films and disliking them because I love the books so much. I especially dislike the casting of Liv Tyler. Ugh!
I think I'll be shopping tomorrow, as well as doing more cleaning. Such excitement.
18 December 2006
A good Sam Cooke fan is hard to find
Sam Cooke was a seminal artist in the early rock-n-roul/soul music scene, but he is hardly remembered today, it would seem. I am a fan, and have been since high school. My dad is also a fan. Anyone else out there?
Cupid (Draw Back Your Bow) and (That's the Sound of the Men Working on the) Chain Gang are two of his best-known tunes, but he did some great gospel and catchy songs such as Everybody Love to Cha-Cha-Cha and Another Saturday Night.
Cooke just had a unique voice. My dad identifies it as achieving its tone by somehow resonating air in his sinuses a certain way; listen for it when he does long, drawn-out vowel tones, such as when he sings:
"Cupid, draw back your bo-o-ow, and let your arrow flo-o-ow,
Straight to my lover's heart for me-e-e..."
Had he lived longer, I suspect that Cooke would have become one of the great singers of the 20th century, and his memory would not reside in semi-obscurity.
Cupid (Draw Back Your Bow) and (That's the Sound of the Men Working on the) Chain Gang are two of his best-known tunes, but he did some great gospel and catchy songs such as Everybody Love to Cha-Cha-Cha and Another Saturday Night.
Cooke just had a unique voice. My dad identifies it as achieving its tone by somehow resonating air in his sinuses a certain way; listen for it when he does long, drawn-out vowel tones, such as when he sings:
"Cupid, draw back your bo-o-ow, and let your arrow flo-o-ow,
Straight to my lover's heart for me-e-e..."
Had he lived longer, I suspect that Cooke would have become one of the great singers of the 20th century, and his memory would not reside in semi-obscurity.
17 December 2006
The weather here in the Valley has been getting colder, and the sky is often grey. I hate cold and grey. The saving grace is, it doesn't rain a lot. Oh, well. Perhaps some day, I will move back to the equator and live on the coast of a tropical island. I can dream.
Anyhoo.
We did our usual Saturday thing of sleeping in, and I made eggs and pancakes for breakfast. Then Jeff cleaned his computer nook and I did some dishes and several loads of laundry. And then Jeff taught me how to play Magic the Gathering. And then we went to the gym and exercised. And finally, we came home and watched a movie or two while I folded laundry.
Jeff has gone to bed, and I am just waiting for one last load to finish in the dryer. And watching F List on Fuse TV.
Saturday, in a nutshell.
Anyhoo.
We did our usual Saturday thing of sleeping in, and I made eggs and pancakes for breakfast. Then Jeff cleaned his computer nook and I did some dishes and several loads of laundry. And then Jeff taught me how to play Magic the Gathering. And then we went to the gym and exercised. And finally, we came home and watched a movie or two while I folded laundry.
Jeff has gone to bed, and I am just waiting for one last load to finish in the dryer. And watching F List on Fuse TV.
Saturday, in a nutshell.
15 December 2006
Par-tay!!!
NO MORE JUVENILE DELINQUENTS UNTIL JANUARY 8!!!!
Have I mentioned that "vacation time" is a good reason to work for a school district?
Hypothetically, I am moving into a new classroom for the next quarter(s), but we'll see if that becomes reality.
Meanwhile, I'm working on figuring out goals for the next semester and year.
More grad school?
Learn a new skill?
Lose some weight?
Have I mentioned that "vacation time" is a good reason to work for a school district?
Hypothetically, I am moving into a new classroom for the next quarter(s), but we'll see if that becomes reality.
Meanwhile, I'm working on figuring out goals for the next semester and year.
More grad school?
Learn a new skill?
Lose some weight?
Best. Clip. Ever.
Ginger Rogers dancing the Charleston.
Chipmunk-face Zellweger, eat your heart out! You are not Roxie Hart.
[By the way, I'd like to embed the videos in my posts, but for some reason, the coding is not working. So, please, please click on my links.]
Chipmunk-face Zellweger, eat your heart out! You are not Roxie Hart.
[By the way, I'd like to embed the videos in my posts, but for some reason, the coding is not working. So, please, please click on my links.]
I still need to switch to the updated Blogger. Maybe I'll figure that out this weekend.
Meanwhile, I'm discovering the treasures of Youtube.
Vintage live performances:
Marlene Dietrich singing "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?".
A link Jeff shared with me a while ago, that I found again: Halo footage set to a nonsensical yet catchy tune about a kitty cat.
Open your Christmas present early:
The great Eartha Kitt and the original Santa Baby.
Meanwhile, I'm discovering the treasures of Youtube.
Vintage live performances:
Marlene Dietrich singing "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?".
A link Jeff shared with me a while ago, that I found again: Halo footage set to a nonsensical yet catchy tune about a kitty cat.
Open your Christmas present early:
The great Eartha Kitt and the original Santa Baby.
14 December 2006
Moving backward
Well, now that my laptop is mostly resurrected, I will resume some of the wedding narratives. Here's a morsel to whet your appetite.Christina's wedding was at the end of October. I was concerned about the strapless bridesmaid dresses (hey, for many years, I might not have been able to keep the top up), but mine turned out to be okay. In fact, it was more than okay: I ended up liking it a lot, and Christina gave her bridesmaids very lovely jewelry (a silver brooch) to accent the dresses.
Here I am with super-beautiful Sharon Campbell and Kristin Nassau. We had fun partying it up together, bonded by joyful spirits and a love for Christina.
12 December 2006
School Daze
I haven't blogged about work/school for a while. It's sad, because I have all kinds of funny stories. Honestly, juvenile delinquents (especially the less-than-intelligent ones) can be hilarious.
Names have been changed to protect the underaged-but-far-from-innocent.
Let's talk about "Andrew". I know which students are supposed to be in my Transition class on any given day. If the students don't show up, I call their first period classes to ascertain whether they've gone to class instead, and if so, I have them sent over to me and proceed with business as usual. Andrew has a problem with attending school regularly, which is one of the reasons why he got sent to Transition in the first place. One morning, I called Andrew's Period 1 teacher, and he had indeed gone to his class. His teacher (who is a very good teacher, by the way) promptly sent him over to my room, except... somehow, he never arrived... How stupid is it to ditch school when both your regular teacher AND your Transition teacher know that you are ditching? Exactly.
Now let's talk about "Robert". Robert also has a problem with chronic ditching of school. On another fine morning, he wasn't in Transition as scheduled, so I checked in with his first period teacher. No Robert. Following my established routine, I then called his home to see if he was there, or at least to discover what his mom or dad would have to say.
Me: Good morning. I'm calling from xxxxxxxx Middle School, and I'm trying to located Robert xxxxxxxxx.
Dad: Oh, he should be in class by now.
Me: Well, he's supposed to be with me in Transition, but he failed to show. I called his first period class, and he is not there, either.
Dad: I don't understand. We sent him to school more than an hour ago.
Me: Let me explain. Your son is ditching school.
Uh-huh. There's our problem right there, folks. Robert gets away with everything short of felonies because Dad is totally clueless... Robert was SO BUSTED this time, though. Aside from his attendance problem, of course, he is unpleasant, disrespectful, and had the gall to start a food fight in the cafeteria when I was standing RIGHT THERE. Of course, he didn't get to have any real fun with the food, since I put an immediate stop to it. I have it on good authority (i.e., some middle school kid told me all about it) that Robert just hates me. Mwahaha. [No, Mom, I don't think he will bring a gun to school and try to off me; he's not that organized.]
And "Leonardo"? He's my Tracking Anklet Boy. Yes, he's on parole. No, I don't know why. That's police business. But I think the whole thing is extremely funny, even though I know I shouldn't. Teehee.
Never a dull moment in Transition, I swear.
Names have been changed to protect the underaged-but-far-from-innocent.
Let's talk about "Andrew". I know which students are supposed to be in my Transition class on any given day. If the students don't show up, I call their first period classes to ascertain whether they've gone to class instead, and if so, I have them sent over to me and proceed with business as usual. Andrew has a problem with attending school regularly, which is one of the reasons why he got sent to Transition in the first place. One morning, I called Andrew's Period 1 teacher, and he had indeed gone to his class. His teacher (who is a very good teacher, by the way) promptly sent him over to my room, except... somehow, he never arrived... How stupid is it to ditch school when both your regular teacher AND your Transition teacher know that you are ditching? Exactly.
Now let's talk about "Robert". Robert also has a problem with chronic ditching of school. On another fine morning, he wasn't in Transition as scheduled, so I checked in with his first period teacher. No Robert. Following my established routine, I then called his home to see if he was there, or at least to discover what his mom or dad would have to say.
Me: Good morning. I'm calling from xxxxxxxx Middle School, and I'm trying to located Robert xxxxxxxxx.
Dad: Oh, he should be in class by now.
Me: Well, he's supposed to be with me in Transition, but he failed to show. I called his first period class, and he is not there, either.
Dad: I don't understand. We sent him to school more than an hour ago.
Me: Let me explain. Your son is ditching school.
Uh-huh. There's our problem right there, folks. Robert gets away with everything short of felonies because Dad is totally clueless... Robert was SO BUSTED this time, though. Aside from his attendance problem, of course, he is unpleasant, disrespectful, and had the gall to start a food fight in the cafeteria when I was standing RIGHT THERE. Of course, he didn't get to have any real fun with the food, since I put an immediate stop to it. I have it on good authority (i.e., some middle school kid told me all about it) that Robert just hates me. Mwahaha. [No, Mom, I don't think he will bring a gun to school and try to off me; he's not that organized.]
And "Leonardo"? He's my Tracking Anklet Boy. Yes, he's on parole. No, I don't know why. That's police business. But I think the whole thing is extremely funny, even though I know I shouldn't. Teehee.
Never a dull moment in Transition, I swear.
11 December 2006
It's a great day for America
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