Dear Curly,
I hear that tonight is scheduled to be your first night in a big girl bed. Poor thing, you're probably in for a rough few nights. I know how cozy your crib is and that it will be hard to leave it behind. But, take it from someone older and wiser--once you get used to the new arrangement, I promise you will love it. There's nothing in this world to beat dropping into your comfortable, familiar, friend-of-a-bed at the end of a long hard day. Or waking up on a Saturday and then snuggling back into the comfy mattress, the covers twisted around your legs and your toes feeling the breeze, knowing that you can go back to sleep if you want.
So, dear little one, I'll be thinking of you during your transition. It will be difficult, but you'll be in a happier place when all is said and done.
Lovingly,
Auntie K
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Cool
I'm not as good as finding cool fun stuff on the Web as Starr is, but this idea for a piece of home exercise equipment is pretty neat. What is even neater is the creator's idea of exercising for slightly less than the smallest amount of "schedulistically significant time," defined as 15 minutes. Scheduling calendars usually don't work at a level smaller than 15 minutes. So to exercise for 14 minutes, you're not even using real time out of your calendar. Pretty fab!
If you have more time to browse after reading about Shovelglove, check out Shovelglove's host site, Everyday Systems.
Happy Surfing!
If you have more time to browse after reading about Shovelglove, check out Shovelglove's host site, Everyday Systems.
Happy Surfing!
A Bright Spot
Guess who has an interview for a part-time librarian position at a city library next week?
Oh dear - I'm much too fat to wear any of the interview-worthy clothes I own. What am I going to do? Shopping for clothes is not much fun when you are so round. Does anyone who knows my [current] body shape and [lack of] height have a suggestion about where I can go to find a hopefully flattering interview outfit?
Oh dear - I'm much too fat to wear any of the interview-worthy clothes I own. What am I going to do? Shopping for clothes is not much fun when you are so round. Does anyone who knows my [current] body shape and [lack of] height have a suggestion about where I can go to find a hopefully flattering interview outfit?
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Happy Birthday, L.!
Believing hear, what you deserve to hear:
Your birthday as my own to me is dear . . .
But yours gives most; for mine did only lend
Me to the world; yours gave to me a friend.
Martial, Epigrams, Bk. ix, epig. 52.
in Burton Stevenson, Home Book of Quotations, Classical and Modern, New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1934, p. 165.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Severe Crisis
It's 1 am and I really have to get home from work and to bed, so I can return in less than 9 hours. However, I was just thrown into an absolute catastrophe, so I had to stop and tell you.
While I wasn't looking, THREE of my audiobook holds at the library came in, and all three are waiting to be picked up. How on earth am I supposed to listen to four audio books in the space of three weeks? (I'm already on Disc Two of Anne of Green Gables.)
On top of that, one of the books is a sequel to Night Work, and if you've been paying attention to the sidebar, I've been sitting in the middle of that for weeks.
5 minutes later:
Oh, cancel that. I looked more closely at my account before I finished this post, and only one of the three is an audio. The other two are print versions of The Fourth Bear and Break No Bones. That's much better. I didn't really plan on reading those two anyway, because I'm on the list to get both audios. But I'll pick them up anyway, and we'll see what happens.
It's obvious that 1) I need some sleep and 2) work is starting to interfere with my "real" life.
While I wasn't looking, THREE of my audiobook holds at the library came in, and all three are waiting to be picked up. How on earth am I supposed to listen to four audio books in the space of three weeks? (I'm already on Disc Two of Anne of Green Gables.)
On top of that, one of the books is a sequel to Night Work, and if you've been paying attention to the sidebar, I've been sitting in the middle of that for weeks.
5 minutes later:
Oh, cancel that. I looked more closely at my account before I finished this post, and only one of the three is an audio. The other two are print versions of The Fourth Bear and Break No Bones. That's much better. I didn't really plan on reading those two anyway, because I'm on the list to get both audios. But I'll pick them up anyway, and we'll see what happens.
It's obvious that 1) I need some sleep and 2) work is starting to interfere with my "real" life.
Don't Despair
Please don't wring your hands with worry or give up reading Auntie K's blog, thinking she's dropped off the face of the earth. Locals can attest that all is ok and I'm still in one piece--I've just been extremely caught up in work (and the commute to work) for the past week. And we all know I don't blog much on the weekends.
Will return to usual witty wordiness before too long.
Will return to usual witty wordiness before too long.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Card Carrier
I'm usually happy to rush home and collapse in front of the TV after work, but last night, I instead exercised my mind and signed up for a library card in Rowlett.
Rowlett is adjacent to the city in which I live, and I know you find it hard to believe that I didn't already have a card there, since I have cards in three other adjacent cities. But, I didn't. In fact, I had never even visited the Rowlett library until last night.
It's very cute, a small building, with nice furniture, lovely art displays, and a cheerful look about it. I stink at spatial estimation, but I would say it's somewhere between 6,000-9,000 square feet.
One interesting thing is that the nonfiction media (DVD's and videos) appear to be intershelved with the books, all in their appropriate subject area. Libraries usually segregate the two, so I thought this was interesting. Makes no difference to me personally, since I could find them either way, but I think it's a great idea for people who are browsing.
Rowlett is adjacent to the city in which I live, and I know you find it hard to believe that I didn't already have a card there, since I have cards in three other adjacent cities. But, I didn't. In fact, I had never even visited the Rowlett library until last night.
It's very cute, a small building, with nice furniture, lovely art displays, and a cheerful look about it. I stink at spatial estimation, but I would say it's somewhere between 6,000-9,000 square feet.
One interesting thing is that the nonfiction media (DVD's and videos) appear to be intershelved with the books, all in their appropriate subject area. Libraries usually segregate the two, so I thought this was interesting. Makes no difference to me personally, since I could find them either way, but I think it's a great idea for people who are browsing.
With acquisition of my Rowlett card, that brings to 14 the total number of North Texas libraries of which I am, or have been, a card-carrying patron.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Horrifying
Unemployment is imminent, and this weekend I came to a truly awful realization:
When I'm no longer driving 80 miles to work every day, I won't have an excuse to listen to all the audio books I have on hold at the library (waiting on four right now).
Yeah, I suppose I could listen at home, but I'll be too busy watching TV.
When I'm no longer driving 80 miles to work every day, I won't have an excuse to listen to all the audio books I have on hold at the library (waiting on four right now).
Yeah, I suppose I could listen at home, but I'll be too busy watching TV.
Friday, August 18, 2006
My Day So Far
- Arriving at work to see that there was no water in the building - Thumbs Down
- Realizing I didn't need to be at work until 1 pm, even though I arrived at 11 am - Thumbs Down/Thumbs Up (could have slept in/need the hours)
- Walking across the Library Mall to use the bathroom in another building - Thumbs Down/ Thumbs Up (it's hot outside, but their bathrooms are much nicer than ours)
- Finishing a stint of weeding on the 2nd floor and walking toward the elevator at the exact same time as a patron wheeling a suitcase and carrying an armload of books - Thumbs Up (I ran into the same person last week in the same situation, and she remembered me. Called me her "fairy godsister" for helping her downstairs with her books.)
- Friday Afternoon Headache - Thumbs Down
- Friday Afternoon Headache Remedy - Thumbs Up
- Changing a twenty dollar bill for twenty crisp new one dollar bills - Thumbs Up (I feel rich with all that cash.)
- Spending two of my new crisp dollar bills on Headache Remedy - Thumbs Down
Word to the Wise
If you're going to put your water bottle inside your bag or backpack, first check that the cap is tight.
Then, check again.
Then, check again.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
If You Think You're Having a Bad Day...
I haven't gotten much done this week because I'm deep in the middle of watching 24 Season Two from the library. I've had it on hold for several months, and it finally came in. Of course, 24 Season Three came in last week, so I watched some of that and then put it aside to come back to Season Two.
Anyway, that's what I've been doing this week. The show isn't terribly realistic, and most of the actors are not long on dramatic skill, but I do like Kiefer Sutherland, and this show has a hook like you wouldn't believe. I watched one episode, and I was sucked in, just because I had to see how it was going to end.
If you don't know, the pretense of 24 is that it depicts events in the life of Jack Bauer (Sutherland), a government agent who works with the elite Counter Terrorist Unit in Los Angeles. Events occur in real time, so that one episode encompasses one elapsed hour in the life of the characters. Hence, one season is one 24-hour day on the show.
If you're ever feeling like too many bad things have happened to you in a day, just watch this show. If you were Kim Bauer, Jack's daughter, here's what might have happened to you in the past 13 hours:
1. Boss walked into your bedroom of the house where you live as an au pair and saw you in your underwear.
2. Boss hit on you at breakfast.
3. Estranged dad came to visit you and asked to reconcile (your mom died a year ago and whenever you look at your dad, you think of her).
4. Boss came home, beat up wife, knocked over daughter, hit you, threatened to kill you.
5. Boss chased you down when you and his daughter fled the house in his wife's SUV, beat you with a crowbar, you had to abandon the SUV.
6. You and the daughter rode the bus to CTU headquarters to find your dad, only to be caught in the middle of a bomb explosion.
7. The daughter started seizing and was rushed to the emergency room.
8. The ER doctor accused you of injuring the child and called the police.
9. The dad showed up at the hospital and you called your boyfriend to come help you kidnap the daughter.
10. The dad confronted you, your BF, and the daughter in the parking lot, your BF karate chopped the dad and you escaped in the dad's Lexus.
11. The local sheriff pulled over the Lexus as you were driving out of LA to escape an imminent nuclear disaster. He opened the trunk when he spotted blood dripping from it, and you discovered your boss had killed his wife and put her in the trunk.
12. You and your BF are arrested for murder and kidnapping (not to mention car theft).
13. You cause a car crash while the police are transporting you and your BF back to LA, then you escape into the mountains only to be terrorized by a cougar and caught in an animal trap.
14. After nightfall, you are rescued by a kook who tries to trick you into staying with him in his bomb shelter by telling you the "big one" has gone off.
15. You escape from the kook, are hitchhiking with a nice lady to get out of town, and your dad calls you to say he is flying the nuclear bomb to the Mojave Desert so it doesn't harm LA, and he will be killed when the bomb detonates.
16. You see the nuclear explosion on the horizon and know your dad is dead. You get out of the car you're hitching in because you "need to be alone."
17. You get the owner of a closed liquor store to let you in to use the bathroom. A guy breaks in to buy food because he has to flee to the mountains to avoid the fallout, there's a struggle and the guy shoots the store owner with the gun the kook gave you for protection. The police show up, but the guy takes you hostage.
See, makes your day sound pretty tame, doesn't it?
Anyway, that's what I've been doing this week. The show isn't terribly realistic, and most of the actors are not long on dramatic skill, but I do like Kiefer Sutherland, and this show has a hook like you wouldn't believe. I watched one episode, and I was sucked in, just because I had to see how it was going to end.
If you don't know, the pretense of 24 is that it depicts events in the life of Jack Bauer (Sutherland), a government agent who works with the elite Counter Terrorist Unit in Los Angeles. Events occur in real time, so that one episode encompasses one elapsed hour in the life of the characters. Hence, one season is one 24-hour day on the show.
If you're ever feeling like too many bad things have happened to you in a day, just watch this show. If you were Kim Bauer, Jack's daughter, here's what might have happened to you in the past 13 hours:
1. Boss walked into your bedroom of the house where you live as an au pair and saw you in your underwear.
2. Boss hit on you at breakfast.
3. Estranged dad came to visit you and asked to reconcile (your mom died a year ago and whenever you look at your dad, you think of her).
4. Boss came home, beat up wife, knocked over daughter, hit you, threatened to kill you.
5. Boss chased you down when you and his daughter fled the house in his wife's SUV, beat you with a crowbar, you had to abandon the SUV.
6. You and the daughter rode the bus to CTU headquarters to find your dad, only to be caught in the middle of a bomb explosion.
7. The daughter started seizing and was rushed to the emergency room.
8. The ER doctor accused you of injuring the child and called the police.
9. The dad showed up at the hospital and you called your boyfriend to come help you kidnap the daughter.
10. The dad confronted you, your BF, and the daughter in the parking lot, your BF karate chopped the dad and you escaped in the dad's Lexus.
11. The local sheriff pulled over the Lexus as you were driving out of LA to escape an imminent nuclear disaster. He opened the trunk when he spotted blood dripping from it, and you discovered your boss had killed his wife and put her in the trunk.
12. You and your BF are arrested for murder and kidnapping (not to mention car theft).
13. You cause a car crash while the police are transporting you and your BF back to LA, then you escape into the mountains only to be terrorized by a cougar and caught in an animal trap.
14. After nightfall, you are rescued by a kook who tries to trick you into staying with him in his bomb shelter by telling you the "big one" has gone off.
15. You escape from the kook, are hitchhiking with a nice lady to get out of town, and your dad calls you to say he is flying the nuclear bomb to the Mojave Desert so it doesn't harm LA, and he will be killed when the bomb detonates.
16. You see the nuclear explosion on the horizon and know your dad is dead. You get out of the car you're hitching in because you "need to be alone."
17. You get the owner of a closed liquor store to let you in to use the bathroom. A guy breaks in to buy food because he has to flee to the mountains to avoid the fallout, there's a struggle and the guy shoots the store owner with the gun the kook gave you for protection. The police show up, but the guy takes you hostage.
See, makes your day sound pretty tame, doesn't it?
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Public Service Pet Peeve
OK, this really bothers me:
Phoning a public service phone number in another department at the UNT Libraries, and the staff member who answers does not give his or her name. It is very frustrating to not know with whom I am speaking. The department head? Some flunkie who isn't likely to be able to help me? I would like to know the staff member's name so I know how to best frame my question. And I feel so rude asking, "to whom am I speaking?" (but I still ask anyway).
I know that library employees are often wary of putting their name on a nametag or telling their name to people in case they might attract a stalker. If that's the case, they shouldn't be working in a public service profession. Besides, giving out your first name isn't likely to cause earth-shattering repercussions.
So come on, just tell me who you are, please. I told you my name!
Phoning a public service phone number in another department at the UNT Libraries, and the staff member who answers does not give his or her name. It is very frustrating to not know with whom I am speaking. The department head? Some flunkie who isn't likely to be able to help me? I would like to know the staff member's name so I know how to best frame my question. And I feel so rude asking, "to whom am I speaking?" (but I still ask anyway).
I know that library employees are often wary of putting their name on a nametag or telling their name to people in case they might attract a stalker. If that's the case, they shouldn't be working in a public service profession. Besides, giving out your first name isn't likely to cause earth-shattering repercussions.
So come on, just tell me who you are, please. I told you my name!
Coincidence or Not?
A few days ago, my co-worker Zoey and I were working the reference desk together. She had just been to the circulation desk to check out a book, and was back at the desk looking at her library account on the computer. She exclaimed over the fact that the book she had just checked out was not showing in her account. I mused that perhaps it takes a few minutes to update, and I glanced at her computer screen, which showed the titles of the items checked out to Zoey's account. One of the titles caught my eye, and I told her that I checked out the same book a few months ago. We laughed over the coincidence.
Then, I looked more closely, only to realize that I had checked out all 3 of the books Zoey currently had checked out. Isn't that funny?
Incidentally, all three books were about reference services. So, nothing extremely "fun," like a Laurie R. King novel or anything. One of the titles is Reading and the Reference Librarian: The Importance to Library Service of Staff Reading Habits. I checked it out thinking it might be pretty interesting, but it mostly talked about how reference librarians should read newspapers and such.
Boring.
Then, I looked more closely, only to realize that I had checked out all 3 of the books Zoey currently had checked out. Isn't that funny?
Incidentally, all three books were about reference services. So, nothing extremely "fun," like a Laurie R. King novel or anything. One of the titles is Reading and the Reference Librarian: The Importance to Library Service of Staff Reading Habits. I checked it out thinking it might be pretty interesting, but it mostly talked about how reference librarians should read newspapers and such.
Boring.
Monday, August 14, 2006
Not a Morning Person
Do you ever wake up in the morning not quite sure about what day it is? Sometimes I have to run through several days of the week before I settle on the correct day.
Not today. I knew exactly what day it was as soon as the alarm went off.
Having a time and temperature projection atomic clock, however, offers the potential for other confusing moments.
When I woke up this morning, I couldn't for the life of me figure out what had gone wrong with my clock and why it was saying it was 77.0 o'clock. Don't (non-military time) clock numbers stop at 12? I had to stare at the display for at least 20 seconds before I determined that it was in fact 77.0 degrees F, and that the time was a normal 8:00.
Yup, it was Monday.
Sunday, August 13, 2006
The Report
I don't have anything spectacular to report about Commencement, other than it was a nice ceremony and everything went well. We drove two cars to Denton, me and Mom in mine, Dad, Jen, Adam, and Allie in another. About halfway to Denton, we drove into quite a rain storm, that didn't stop until sometime during the ceremony, which started at 9 am. Commencement was held at the Winspear Performance Hall in the Murchison Performing Arts Center, a beautiful 1100-seat hall with a glass panel above the stage. Allie and Jen stayed in the lobby the whole time, but they were able to watch everything on a flat-panel TV out there. I counted 153 master's graduates in the program, considerably less than the 170'ish who took Capstone in June and were supposedly eligible for graduation. There were probably about 60 graduates who actually attended, including one BS candidate and one Ph.D. candidate. In case you are wondering, I earned a master of science degree in Library Science.
For me, the highlight of the morning was when Dr. Chandler, my advisor, stepped up from the back of the stage to hood me. Two other professors did all the hooding, unless others wanted to hood particular candidates. I was hoping, but not really expecting, that Dr. Chandler would step up when they read my name. It's been 3 years since I had a class from her, so we're not exactly close. But she apparently knows me well enough to have come forward. As they read each candidate's name, they also read the faculty advisor name, and I did note that Dr. Chandler didn't hood all of her advisees, only a select few. That helps assuage some of my disappointment at not being invited to join Beta Phi Mu.
Here are a few pictures you can laugh at or admire, as the case may be.
Here are the cute and cool gifts Starr gave me on Thursday. The cap came from Michaels, and the tote bag is from the Overdue Media site, home of the funny library comic, Unshelved.
My gown and hood were the "economy" kind, without button and loop with which to secure the hood. Hence, I looked like I was wearing a choker.
Here's Dad, me, and Mom, post-ceremony:
Once home, most everyone (including me) took a nap, and in the evening we went for dinner at Cathy's Wok, followed by yummy gelato at Paciugo and a quick trip into Ulta. The service at Cathy's was far slower than usual, they forgot Adam's order of fried rice, gave Jen noodles instead of rice, failed to leave the pepper out of Mom's and Jen's orders, and Dad was mightily disappointed in his egg fooyung, but I was perfectly happy with my sesame chicken and noodles.
One last picture. In addition to buying me a lovely diploma frame from the sales table outside the performance hall, Mom also presented me with this at dinner:
Yes, as you can see, a good time was had by all, and it is satisfying to have completed such a milestone. Thank you for all of your encouragement and support!
For me, the highlight of the morning was when Dr. Chandler, my advisor, stepped up from the back of the stage to hood me. Two other professors did all the hooding, unless others wanted to hood particular candidates. I was hoping, but not really expecting, that Dr. Chandler would step up when they read my name. It's been 3 years since I had a class from her, so we're not exactly close. But she apparently knows me well enough to have come forward. As they read each candidate's name, they also read the faculty advisor name, and I did note that Dr. Chandler didn't hood all of her advisees, only a select few. That helps assuage some of my disappointment at not being invited to join Beta Phi Mu.
Here are a few pictures you can laugh at or admire, as the case may be.
Here are the cute and cool gifts Starr gave me on Thursday. The cap came from Michaels, and the tote bag is from the Overdue Media site, home of the funny library comic, Unshelved.
My gown and hood were the "economy" kind, without button and loop with which to secure the hood. Hence, I looked like I was wearing a choker.
Here's Dad, me, and Mom, post-ceremony:
Once home, most everyone (including me) took a nap, and in the evening we went for dinner at Cathy's Wok, followed by yummy gelato at Paciugo and a quick trip into Ulta. The service at Cathy's was far slower than usual, they forgot Adam's order of fried rice, gave Jen noodles instead of rice, failed to leave the pepper out of Mom's and Jen's orders, and Dad was mightily disappointed in his egg fooyung, but I was perfectly happy with my sesame chicken and noodles.
One last picture. In addition to buying me a lovely diploma frame from the sales table outside the performance hall, Mom also presented me with this at dinner:
Yes, as you can see, a good time was had by all, and it is satisfying to have completed such a milestone. Thank you for all of your encouragement and support!
Saturday, August 12, 2006
It's Official
Yay! Just left the "graduation exercise" and am at the office for a few minutes to copy a file I need to take home. Pictures to follow later this afternoon.
The other good news is that we got some rain this morning. Our house probably didn't get anything, but we got a good soaking here in Denton.
The other good news is that we got some rain this morning. Our house probably didn't get anything, but we got a good soaking here in Denton.
Friday, August 11, 2006
Stay Tuned
Graduation is tomorrow, so stay tuned for exciting details about the festivities, and watch for the wording in my Blogger profile to finally change!
Thursday, August 10, 2006
I Was Afraid of This
After taking the Star Trek personality quiz Starrlett made note of today, I decided to look for a Simpsons personality quiz. This isn't a cool one that gives you the results code to post on your own site, but it was short.
I'll give you one guess as to which Simpsons character I'm most like.
I'll give you one guess as to which Simpsons character I'm most like.
Where's the Calamine?
Will someone please tell me how I managed to get bit on the knee by what appears to have been a mosquito while I was wearing long Levis and sitting inside the library?
Something is not right about this situation.
Something is not right about this situation.
Happy to Stay Home
Very glad I'm not traveling by air today or in the next few days.
You know, don't you, that after a thwarted terror plot in Britain, airports in the U.S. have banned liquids and gels from carry-on luggage? Yes, you now have to travel without water, toothpaste, hand lotion, or lip balm.
Uh-uh, not this girl. I'll stay home, thank you.
You know, don't you, that after a thwarted terror plot in Britain, airports in the U.S. have banned liquids and gels from carry-on luggage? Yes, you now have to travel without water, toothpaste, hand lotion, or lip balm.
Uh-uh, not this girl. I'll stay home, thank you.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Ugh
Starr and I have previously discussed the disgusting nature of public access computer keyboards. Now, I can go even one better. How about the disgusting nature of public access computer monitors?
Yes, after nearly a year at the library, I've finally had a run-in with pornography on a public computer. Now, I'm not talking about people looking at pictures of scantily clad women on MySpace or a dating site. That happens too frequently for me to bother about.
No, what I saw today was full-out obscenity, on a 15" monitor. Looking at such stuff in a public place violates Texas Penal Code. It also violates computer use policy at UNT and at the UNT Libraries, though it's hard to figure out exactly how (illegal activities or failure to comply with laws is my guess. Pornography isn't against the law, but if you're violating the Texas Penal Code...).
Luckily, I didn't have to confront the offender myself. I just called Circulation and had them do the dirty work. On the lucky staff member's first pass, he didn't see anything beyond Google.com on the computer monitor. A few minutes later, however, he approached from another direction and apparently saw enough to stop and talk to the person, who left the building a few minutes later. As the staff member walked past me on his way out of the room, he commented, "I really didn't need to see that."
And I did?
Yes, after nearly a year at the library, I've finally had a run-in with pornography on a public computer. Now, I'm not talking about people looking at pictures of scantily clad women on MySpace or a dating site. That happens too frequently for me to bother about.
No, what I saw today was full-out obscenity, on a 15" monitor. Looking at such stuff in a public place violates Texas Penal Code. It also violates computer use policy at UNT and at the UNT Libraries, though it's hard to figure out exactly how (illegal activities or failure to comply with laws is my guess. Pornography isn't against the law, but if you're violating the Texas Penal Code...).
Luckily, I didn't have to confront the offender myself. I just called Circulation and had them do the dirty work. On the lucky staff member's first pass, he didn't see anything beyond Google.com on the computer monitor. A few minutes later, however, he approached from another direction and apparently saw enough to stop and talk to the person, who left the building a few minutes later. As the staff member walked past me on his way out of the room, he commented, "I really didn't need to see that."
And I did?
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Native Daughter
You are 84% REAL Texan!!
You're way more Texan than average. Your parents were probably from here too. We're glad to have you. You probably go to the border for Christmas shopping and are well versed in BBQ, Mexican Food and ... well, that's pretty much it.
How Texan Are You?
Thanks to Starrlett for the pointer to this quiz. Since I am a native, I'm relieved to know I scored higher than she did. Maybe if I had answered "yes" to "You've gotten drunk on 6th Street?" I would have scored 100%.
Of course, take the quiz yourself and you'll find out how much editing I had to do to the poor grammar and punctuation in the display above. So, since the quiz author doesn't display correct answers or tell you which questions you missed, who knows if the whole thing is accurate or not.
Monday, August 07, 2006
Calling all Food Lovers
Blogger's Blog of Note today is The Fanatic Cook. If you are interested in food, great digital photos, nutrition, or even just interesting observations, I urge you to take a look. At the beginning of the year, the author blogged about the experience of brining her bird (in a gallon Ziploc bag--must have been a small bird). Unfortunately, the experience didn't turn out to be a happy one.
Saturday, August 05, 2006
A Poem
When sleep enters the body like smoke
and man journeys into the abyss
like an extinguished star that is lighted elsewhere,
then all quarrel ceases,
overworked nag that has tossed the nightmare grip
of its rider.
Nelly Sachs (1891–1970), German Jewish poet and translator; relocated to Sweden. “When sleep enters the body like smoke,” lines 1-6, translated by Michael Hamburger, et al. (1967; first edition in German: 1949)
The Columbia World of Quotations. New York: Columbia University Press, 1996. www.bartleby.com/66/.
and man journeys into the abyss
like an extinguished star that is lighted elsewhere,
then all quarrel ceases,
overworked nag that has tossed the nightmare grip
of its rider.
Nelly Sachs (1891–1970), German Jewish poet and translator; relocated to Sweden. “When sleep enters the body like smoke,” lines 1-6, translated by Michael Hamburger, et al. (1967; first edition in German: 1949)
The Columbia World of Quotations. New York: Columbia University Press, 1996. www.bartleby.com/66/.
Friday, August 04, 2006
Simpatico
I don't really like that word, "simpatico." In fact, until I looked it up, I thought it was spelled the same way as the prefix sympatico-
But I like the meaning: sympathetic; congenial; being on the same wave length.
It's so wonderful to have friends with whom I can share similar experiences and who articulate my own feelings and opinions even better than I myself can.
Don't get me wrong--variety is the spice of life, and it would be a dreary existence if we were all carbon copies of the same person. But sometimes when you're feeling a little beat down, it's nice to hear someone utter a sentiment or make an observation that makes you think, "exactly!"
A friend told me that, "the only thing that periodically kept up my confidence during the job search . . . was remembering that every job I've had has been better than the last, and each one was more related to what I wanted to do than the previous one. That whole sense of divine direction kinda helps. "
Yes. Exactly the same for me.
Even though I didn't really know what I wanted to do for a long time, and I'm still feeling my way through it, I know that I've been moving in the right direction all along. And I know that I will continue to do so, even if it appears from this spot in the road that the bridge ahead is out.
(please send me a link to this post the next time I start freaking out)
But I like the meaning: sympathetic; congenial; being on the same wave length.
It's so wonderful to have friends with whom I can share similar experiences and who articulate my own feelings and opinions even better than I myself can.
Don't get me wrong--variety is the spice of life, and it would be a dreary existence if we were all carbon copies of the same person. But sometimes when you're feeling a little beat down, it's nice to hear someone utter a sentiment or make an observation that makes you think, "exactly!"
A friend told me that, "the only thing that periodically kept up my confidence during the job search . . . was remembering that every job I've had has been better than the last, and each one was more related to what I wanted to do than the previous one. That whole sense of divine direction kinda helps. "
Yes. Exactly the same for me.
Even though I didn't really know what I wanted to do for a long time, and I'm still feeling my way through it, I know that I've been moving in the right direction all along. And I know that I will continue to do so, even if it appears from this spot in the road that the bridge ahead is out.
(please send me a link to this post the next time I start freaking out)
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Apology Tendered
Dear me. If you're a regular reader, I know you might have been frightened, bored, or disgusted (or all three) by last night's (this morning's) messy display of self-pity.
Thank you for being so indulgent. Things look much better in the light of day, of course, and I'm sure that I'll soon be back to my sunny, cheerful self. After a good night's sleep, that is. Right now, I already have the Friday afternoon symptoms of dull aching head, misfiring brain synapses, and small lapses of attention, and it's only 6 pm Thursday. Guess the old body just isn't capable of what it once was.
Thank you for being so indulgent. Things look much better in the light of day, of course, and I'm sure that I'll soon be back to my sunny, cheerful self. After a good night's sleep, that is. Right now, I already have the Friday afternoon symptoms of dull aching head, misfiring brain synapses, and small lapses of attention, and it's only 6 pm Thursday. Guess the old body just isn't capable of what it once was.
I Knew It Was a Good Idea. Or, She Drowned in Self-Pity
Why, oh why did I not carry out my plan to torch the place a month ago when I first dreamed it up?
I'm suddenly in full-blown exploding head stage once again. This time, however, it's a combination of things:
1. My friend Starrlett just keeps coming up with more interesting stories, cool sites, fun "timewasters," and just plain-weird oddities on the Web, all of which I want to check out and few of which I ever do. If I can't even look at what she's already found, how on earth does she find it all in the first place, and make it look so easy in the process? Also, I see one of her cool finds like What's That Bug? and it makes me think of stories I want to share on my own blog, but don't really have time to be sharing right now (or maybe you've all heard about my brush with bedbugs, in which case I don't need to share).
2. It's 1:50 am, I must find a critical item before 9:30 in the morning (and also get some sleep before then), and I believe it is somewhere in the rat's nest of stuff (all belonging to me) that came out of the "guest" bedroom when we had company visit in June and ended up in various trash bags and laundry baskets in the garage. I'm too ashamed and embarrassed to tell you about everything contained in the bags and baskets. Let's just say that the situation is grim.
3. I wanted to look up a word in the dictionary a few minutes ago, but had to resort to Merriam-Webster Online after I determined that I could not physically reach the dictionary on the bookshelf in my bedroom because there are too many obstacles in the way.
4. I'm really starting to get nervous about the job search, and it's sort of been consuming my thoughts the past 36 hours or so. That leaves little room in my brain for processing the necessary tasks of daily life. This in turn leads to the "exploding head" feeling. I know temporary unemployment is not an uncommon occurrence, but I just realized that I have been steadily employed for the last 14 years. As someone who craves stability and tries very hard to avoid personal risk-taking, facing even a day of unemployment is frightening.
So, does anyone have a bigger brain they can send me? Or perhaps a bigger bedroom? Or maybe just a stronger back or a stiffer upper-lip to replace mine.
I'm suddenly in full-blown exploding head stage once again. This time, however, it's a combination of things:
1. My friend Starrlett just keeps coming up with more interesting stories, cool sites, fun "timewasters," and just plain-weird oddities on the Web, all of which I want to check out and few of which I ever do. If I can't even look at what she's already found, how on earth does she find it all in the first place, and make it look so easy in the process? Also, I see one of her cool finds like What's That Bug? and it makes me think of stories I want to share on my own blog, but don't really have time to be sharing right now (or maybe you've all heard about my brush with bedbugs, in which case I don't need to share).
2. It's 1:50 am, I must find a critical item before 9:30 in the morning (and also get some sleep before then), and I believe it is somewhere in the rat's nest of stuff (all belonging to me) that came out of the "guest" bedroom when we had company visit in June and ended up in various trash bags and laundry baskets in the garage. I'm too ashamed and embarrassed to tell you about everything contained in the bags and baskets. Let's just say that the situation is grim.
3. I wanted to look up a word in the dictionary a few minutes ago, but had to resort to Merriam-Webster Online after I determined that I could not physically reach the dictionary on the bookshelf in my bedroom because there are too many obstacles in the way.
4. I'm really starting to get nervous about the job search, and it's sort of been consuming my thoughts the past 36 hours or so. That leaves little room in my brain for processing the necessary tasks of daily life. This in turn leads to the "exploding head" feeling. I know temporary unemployment is not an uncommon occurrence, but I just realized that I have been steadily employed for the last 14 years. As someone who craves stability and tries very hard to avoid personal risk-taking, facing even a day of unemployment is frightening.
So, does anyone have a bigger brain they can send me? Or perhaps a bigger bedroom? Or maybe just a stronger back or a stiffer upper-lip to replace mine.
Check this Out
Have I told you how clever Starrlett is? If you aren't convinced, take a look at this nifty dictionary entry she made!
Actually, even if you are already convinced, you should still look: What some people can do on a computer is so neat. Scroll to the bottom of Starrlett's post to find a link if you want to know how to make your own groovy dictionary entry.
Actually, even if you are already convinced, you should still look: What some people can do on a computer is so neat. Scroll to the bottom of Starrlett's post to find a link if you want to know how to make your own groovy dictionary entry.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Wonders Never Cease
I read through my latest credit card statement last night and determined, to my astonishment, that I apparently did not shop at Target even once in the last month.
Actually, I think there must be some mistake on the statement, because such a departure from normal routine seems unlikely.
Or, perhaps I went into Target but didn't actually purchase anything (this does happen upon rare occasions). Too, it could be that I did buy something at Target but that I couldn't find my main credit card at the register and had to use the backup (which, incidentally, is a Target Visa, but I don't use it often).
Yes, it has to be one of those things. A month without a Target purchase, if it really did happen, probably would mean I'm dead.
Actually, I think there must be some mistake on the statement, because such a departure from normal routine seems unlikely.
Or, perhaps I went into Target but didn't actually purchase anything (this does happen upon rare occasions). Too, it could be that I did buy something at Target but that I couldn't find my main credit card at the register and had to use the backup (which, incidentally, is a Target Visa, but I don't use it often).
Yes, it has to be one of those things. A month without a Target purchase, if it really did happen, probably would mean I'm dead.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Horrifying
Since my local readers are more news-savvy than I, they probably already know about this story, but I felt compelled to share it with the rest of you.
A couple of weeks ago a 4-year old boy in Pleasant Grove died of apparent heatstroke while on a day care center outing to the park. Coincidentally, the day care center was the same one where last year, an underage driver crashed a car through the center's storefront, severely injuring several children.
A few days ago we heard that the day care center owner had left the park during the outing to go to the bank, without informing the other workers she was leaving. We also learned that the owner has a past conviction for assault that would have kept her from being licensed as a daycare center worker if it had been discovered in her background check. The owner apparently submitted a false name and social security number for the background check.
Now, the Dallas Morning News is reporting on a police affidavit that states the boy in fact never left the center's van after they picked him up at home at 7 am and drove to the center. After his brother commented on his absence "sometime after lunch," day care workers found the boy, already dead, still inside the van in the center's parking lot. He then ended up at the park, which is where the day care center owner was when she called emergency services at 2:11 pm.
I won't comment on the horror of the criminality of the attempted cover-up, because that speaks for itself. Stories like this, however, always make me think about the inevitability and irreversibility of some of our actions. Take your eyes from the task at hand for one second, make one choice to go someplace you know you shouldn't be or do something you know you shouldn't do, say something in the heat of the moment without thinking, choose A instead of B, and none of it can be undone. Often, nothing remarkable comes of the incident. Occasionally, however, the consequences are devastating.
True, this boy's death was obviously the work of more than a second. In a hot car in 90+ degree temperatures, however, it was probably only the work of an hour or two. One hour of someone not being on their guard is all it took.
A couple of weeks ago a 4-year old boy in Pleasant Grove died of apparent heatstroke while on a day care center outing to the park. Coincidentally, the day care center was the same one where last year, an underage driver crashed a car through the center's storefront, severely injuring several children.
A few days ago we heard that the day care center owner had left the park during the outing to go to the bank, without informing the other workers she was leaving. We also learned that the owner has a past conviction for assault that would have kept her from being licensed as a daycare center worker if it had been discovered in her background check. The owner apparently submitted a false name and social security number for the background check.
Now, the Dallas Morning News is reporting on a police affidavit that states the boy in fact never left the center's van after they picked him up at home at 7 am and drove to the center. After his brother commented on his absence "sometime after lunch," day care workers found the boy, already dead, still inside the van in the center's parking lot. He then ended up at the park, which is where the day care center owner was when she called emergency services at 2:11 pm.
I won't comment on the horror of the criminality of the attempted cover-up, because that speaks for itself. Stories like this, however, always make me think about the inevitability and irreversibility of some of our actions. Take your eyes from the task at hand for one second, make one choice to go someplace you know you shouldn't be or do something you know you shouldn't do, say something in the heat of the moment without thinking, choose A instead of B, and none of it can be undone. Often, nothing remarkable comes of the incident. Occasionally, however, the consequences are devastating.
True, this boy's death was obviously the work of more than a second. In a hot car in 90+ degree temperatures, however, it was probably only the work of an hour or two. One hour of someone not being on their guard is all it took.
Currently Eating (and Shopping)
Since the "currently eating" sidebar is so ephemeral, I thought this find deserves its own post.
Have you tried Cocoa Booty from Robert's American Gourmet? Someone left a package on the community table in the office, so of course I tried some. It's a puffed rice snack tossed in chocolate syrup. Cocoa Booty has no real nutritional value beyond a bit of fiber, and it has too much sugar to be considered "healthy," but it is tasty. It definitely hits the spot if you're craving something sweet and crunchy. The 4 oz bag in the office cost $0.99 at Vitamins Plus.
You can order a case of Cocoa Booty from Robert's Web site, but I probably won't because I feel a need to conserve funds after having recently purchased an exercise ball, resistance bands and a small ball to go with the exercise ball, various books to entertain Curly on her next visit, and these shoes.
Perhaps a shopping spree was not the best choice for someone who may be unemployed soon. On the other hand, if I am soon unemployed, I'll have plenty of exercise equipment and books to keep me busy, and I'll already have a new pair of shoes to wear if I ever get an interview!
Have you tried Cocoa Booty from Robert's American Gourmet? Someone left a package on the community table in the office, so of course I tried some. It's a puffed rice snack tossed in chocolate syrup. Cocoa Booty has no real nutritional value beyond a bit of fiber, and it has too much sugar to be considered "healthy," but it is tasty. It definitely hits the spot if you're craving something sweet and crunchy. The 4 oz bag in the office cost $0.99 at Vitamins Plus.
You can order a case of Cocoa Booty from Robert's Web site, but I probably won't because I feel a need to conserve funds after having recently purchased an exercise ball, resistance bands and a small ball to go with the exercise ball, various books to entertain Curly on her next visit, and these shoes.
Perhaps a shopping spree was not the best choice for someone who may be unemployed soon. On the other hand, if I am soon unemployed, I'll have plenty of exercise equipment and books to keep me busy, and I'll already have a new pair of shoes to wear if I ever get an interview!
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