Thursday, January 15, 2009
I'm doing this from work. Technically, I'm on break, but I didn't want to go home. But it feels very weird to blog from here... But I didn't want to go home because the weather is wintery! The snow started coming down hard just before I left for school, and it's still coming down pretty hard. Today would have been a good day for my movie!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
I just found out my childhood nemesis has died, and I feel rather bad about it. I spoke to my mom-in-law, and she'd read it in the paper today.
In middleschool, this boy was the bane of my existence. We were on the same volleyball team in gym. The team did really well and we were in first place. I was a complete klutz and afraid of the ball, and the team always yelled at me. He yelled more than anyone else. I couldn't stand him. It made me want to quit school.
Later in life, Thor told me that this kid had a really messed up life, with strange parents. His life was pretty difficult, and I guess he took it out on me.
I had spent SO MUCH TIME HATING him, it was hard to let it go. I tried to.
Now it's just a funny story, but I'm sorry I never met him again as an adult to say I was sorry for hating him.
In middleschool, this boy was the bane of my existence. We were on the same volleyball team in gym. The team did really well and we were in first place. I was a complete klutz and afraid of the ball, and the team always yelled at me. He yelled more than anyone else. I couldn't stand him. It made me want to quit school.
Later in life, Thor told me that this kid had a really messed up life, with strange parents. His life was pretty difficult, and I guess he took it out on me.
I had spent SO MUCH TIME HATING him, it was hard to let it go. I tried to.
Now it's just a funny story, but I'm sorry I never met him again as an adult to say I was sorry for hating him.
Just got back from the pulmonary doctor... it went well, but Frankie does have asthma (just a little, no big deal.) It's actually Crohn's related. Just add it to the list.
At the hospital, we dropped off a used video game system to the Child Life Department, that his teacher gave him. AND we picked up a really nice letter of recommendation from them, for the scholarship he is trying to apply for next.
I did much less of the talking now that he's 18. And he HATED seeing his own name as the "guarantor" that the bill will be paid! I kinda liked it.
I had a nice easy scifi book I've been wanting to read - "Ender's Game" == that I got to read most of the time I was there. Yay!
At the hospital, we dropped off a used video game system to the Child Life Department, that his teacher gave him. AND we picked up a really nice letter of recommendation from them, for the scholarship he is trying to apply for next.
I did much less of the talking now that he's 18. And he HATED seeing his own name as the "guarantor" that the bill will be paid! I kinda liked it.
I had a nice easy scifi book I've been wanting to read - "Ender's Game" == that I got to read most of the time I was there. Yay!
Monday, January 12, 2009
BRRRRR
Well, we might not have much snow around here, but the arctic blast is coming in quick. It's the perfect weather to come home right from work, put on a big pot of chili, cuddle on the couch with my afghan and my computer, and watch TV all night.
HOWEVER, I've looked at my schedule, and that is not part of the plan for this week! I've got a lot to do and not much time to do it in. Some stuff I can do at home -- paperwork kinds of things that I must catch up with, like filling out the financial aid (FAFSA) form for Frankie for college; some stuff I have to go out for appointments -- like tonights meeting on HOW to fill out the FAFSA, at a local high school; some fun stuff, like a pretty cool plan for Friday Night that I'll tell you all about on Saturday Night.
So, anyway, my point is that I won't have much time for computering this week. I still hope to post once in a while, but it won't be much until the weekend. So, my plan is to just post a sentence or two every few hours... rather like a twitter feed, but without twitter. And, fair warning, I might not have anything to say, and I probably won't be reading anyone else's blogs until the weekend, either.
But on Saturday, well, I should have an EXCELLENT post!
(Of course, I guess that depends on what you think constitutes an "excellent" post!)
Well, check in periodically to see what I mean.
HOWEVER, I've looked at my schedule, and that is not part of the plan for this week! I've got a lot to do and not much time to do it in. Some stuff I can do at home -- paperwork kinds of things that I must catch up with, like filling out the financial aid (FAFSA) form for Frankie for college; some stuff I have to go out for appointments -- like tonights meeting on HOW to fill out the FAFSA, at a local high school; some fun stuff, like a pretty cool plan for Friday Night that I'll tell you all about on Saturday Night.
So, anyway, my point is that I won't have much time for computering this week. I still hope to post once in a while, but it won't be much until the weekend. So, my plan is to just post a sentence or two every few hours... rather like a twitter feed, but without twitter. And, fair warning, I might not have anything to say, and I probably won't be reading anyone else's blogs until the weekend, either.
But on Saturday, well, I should have an EXCELLENT post!
(Of course, I guess that depends on what you think constitutes an "excellent" post!)
Well, check in periodically to see what I mean.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
It was supposed to snow a lot today.
So I thought, wouldn't it be cool to make a movie showing the snow accumulating? I had wanted to try a stop action movie with my camera and the picasa program. So this is what I came up with.
For those of you who haven't been to my house, this is the view out the front window. This is the same view I've been looking at every single day since I was born. It isn't a spectacular view, but I do love it. It could certainly be worse.
Obviously the music is by Eddie Vedder. (That isn't obvious to you? It's obvious to me! It's Tuolumne from his Into the Wild album.)
It took me a while to get this finished, and I don't love it... but I had fun, and I have a great idea for the next movie :) And yeah, next time I guess I'll use the tripod!
For those of you who haven't been to my house, this is the view out the front window. This is the same view I've been looking at every single day since I was born. It isn't a spectacular view, but I do love it. It could certainly be worse.
Obviously the music is by Eddie Vedder. (That isn't obvious to you? It's obvious to me! It's Tuolumne from his Into the Wild album.)
It took me a while to get this finished, and I don't love it... but I had fun, and I have a great idea for the next movie :) And yeah, next time I guess I'll use the tripod!
Waiting for my 16 year old to grow up.
It's 9:30, AM, and I'm sitting here waiting.
It's supposed to be snowing, but it isn't yet. Well, there are a few faint white specks, but not alot. Which is actually good. I want it to snow, but not too much until later.
I'm mostly waiting for Nick to get back. He just left for his first ever driving class. I am not exactly worried about him, but I am a little. But I'm also glad that his first lesson was early enough in the morning, on a day when everyone is planning on staying home because of the snow we're supposed to be getting. The traffic should be light. And it hasn't really started snowing enough to affect his driving.
Nick seems to be feeling very unconfident lately -- maybe he's always felt that way, I don't know. He seems not too thrilled to be learning to drive, and he's not really interested in getting out to get a job -- I think that's because he doesn't want to approach the manager about an interview, more than because he doesn't want to work.
I wasn't sure what to do about it; I want him to get a job. I thought about driving him over to the food store myself, where he wants to apply, and asking to speak with a manager, and pushing him forward and saying "My son wants a job." But I tend to think that won't be a very good way to handle it. If he can't speak up to get the job, he probably just isn't ready yet.
So I've decided to wait a little longer, but I'm gonna make him work much harder around here. Play time is over, and it's time for him to do adult work around the house. I want him to cook a few meals a week and vacuum, do laundry, and stuff like that. Maybe by being responsible for certain things, he will become more confident.
He isn't overly excited about driving, but maybe when he starts driving around some, he will find more confidence.
I don't know what else I can do besides wait.
It's supposed to be snowing, but it isn't yet. Well, there are a few faint white specks, but not alot. Which is actually good. I want it to snow, but not too much until later.
I'm mostly waiting for Nick to get back. He just left for his first ever driving class. I am not exactly worried about him, but I am a little. But I'm also glad that his first lesson was early enough in the morning, on a day when everyone is planning on staying home because of the snow we're supposed to be getting. The traffic should be light. And it hasn't really started snowing enough to affect his driving.
Nick seems to be feeling very unconfident lately -- maybe he's always felt that way, I don't know. He seems not too thrilled to be learning to drive, and he's not really interested in getting out to get a job -- I think that's because he doesn't want to approach the manager about an interview, more than because he doesn't want to work.
I wasn't sure what to do about it; I want him to get a job. I thought about driving him over to the food store myself, where he wants to apply, and asking to speak with a manager, and pushing him forward and saying "My son wants a job." But I tend to think that won't be a very good way to handle it. If he can't speak up to get the job, he probably just isn't ready yet.
So I've decided to wait a little longer, but I'm gonna make him work much harder around here. Play time is over, and it's time for him to do adult work around the house. I want him to cook a few meals a week and vacuum, do laundry, and stuff like that. Maybe by being responsible for certain things, he will become more confident.
He isn't overly excited about driving, but maybe when he starts driving around some, he will find more confidence.
I don't know what else I can do besides wait.
Thursday, January 08, 2009
My eyes...
... are very blurry right now, I can't see a thing.
I just got back from the eye dr. -- a new one, higher up the food chain from the last two eye drs. I went to -- and he said that a bunch of things are making me have eye problems -- I'm allergic to my contacts (didn't even know that was possible!) -- I have rosacia (which I don't know how to spell, but is usually a skin condition) inside my eyelids, they are very dry, and I need bi-focals (That part I figured out on my own.) So I'm pretty happy because none of that is insurmountable, as long as I throw enough money at it (buy new glasses, buy different brand of contact lens, buy prescription.)
Also good news -- Frankie and I finally finished the paperwork for a scholarship he is applying for, for college. Who knows? It's a bit like the lottery. No guarantees, but you gotta be in it to win it.
Also good news -- Thor is going to visit Barnegat this weekend, and taking Nick, so I've the house (almost) to myself. Now, I just have to convince Frankie that he WANTS to go with them. PLEASE. He loves to go to Barnegat, but he wants to spend time at home hogging the computer we are sharing.
I got go so I'll post again one of these days...
I just got back from the eye dr. -- a new one, higher up the food chain from the last two eye drs. I went to -- and he said that a bunch of things are making me have eye problems -- I'm allergic to my contacts (didn't even know that was possible!) -- I have rosacia (which I don't know how to spell, but is usually a skin condition) inside my eyelids, they are very dry, and I need bi-focals (That part I figured out on my own.) So I'm pretty happy because none of that is insurmountable, as long as I throw enough money at it (buy new glasses, buy different brand of contact lens, buy prescription.)
Also good news -- Frankie and I finally finished the paperwork for a scholarship he is applying for, for college. Who knows? It's a bit like the lottery. No guarantees, but you gotta be in it to win it.
Also good news -- Thor is going to visit Barnegat this weekend, and taking Nick, so I've the house (almost) to myself. Now, I just have to convince Frankie that he WANTS to go with them. PLEASE. He loves to go to Barnegat, but he wants to spend time at home hogging the computer we are sharing.
I got go so I'll post again one of these days...
Monday, January 05, 2009
The Mundane
One of the problems with writing a blog, for me and for a lot of my friends, I think, is... what am I gonna write about? My life is not exciting. I go to work, come home, cook dinner, go to a meeting, do some laundry, and go to sleep... every single day (just about.) There are some variations, but that's basically it.
But it really isn't boring. Or at least, it doesn't feel boring today. Today it feels beautiful.
Well, that's not saying that the BLOG isn't boring. Because I guess a lot of days it is boring. Do you really CARE about my laundry?
(I can hear Thor yelling "YES!!! DO IT!!!")
But every one of those mundane days has an additional layer of beautiful things. There is a beautiful sky as I'm driving to work. There is a really wonderful cup of tea. There is a pleasant camaraderie at work, saying the same pleasant "good morning" to about 40 teachers, and "Have a good afternoon" at the end of the day. There is an amazing song on the radio as I'm driving home for my break. There is the time I have for meaningless or deep conversations with my family, and there is the often funny conversations around the dinner table -- well, you might not think they are funny, but Schroedinger's Cat jokes always make us laugh. And there is the relaxation of the couch at the end of the day, watching a good story on TV, reading some interesting blogs from friends all over the world... it's a great thing.
And how much of a blog can you write about that?
But it's there. And when I see a beautiful sunset, in the same spot I see the sun set practically every single night, I am thrilled. But I take a picture of it, and it looks pretty much the same as the sunset I posted last time. So I might not post it. But it's what makes life wonderful. Even if my blog is boring.
Love ya --
Peace
But it really isn't boring. Or at least, it doesn't feel boring today. Today it feels beautiful.
Well, that's not saying that the BLOG isn't boring. Because I guess a lot of days it is boring. Do you really CARE about my laundry?
(I can hear Thor yelling "YES!!! DO IT!!!")
But every one of those mundane days has an additional layer of beautiful things. There is a beautiful sky as I'm driving to work. There is a really wonderful cup of tea. There is a pleasant camaraderie at work, saying the same pleasant "good morning" to about 40 teachers, and "Have a good afternoon" at the end of the day. There is an amazing song on the radio as I'm driving home for my break. There is the time I have for meaningless or deep conversations with my family, and there is the often funny conversations around the dinner table -- well, you might not think they are funny, but Schroedinger's Cat jokes always make us laugh. And there is the relaxation of the couch at the end of the day, watching a good story on TV, reading some interesting blogs from friends all over the world... it's a great thing.
And how much of a blog can you write about that?
But it's there. And when I see a beautiful sunset, in the same spot I see the sun set practically every single night, I am thrilled. But I take a picture of it, and it looks pretty much the same as the sunset I posted last time. So I might not post it. But it's what makes life wonderful. Even if my blog is boring.
Love ya --
Peace
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Sunday Morning
G'Morning, all. Well, for some of you, it may be rather late. But it's morning here at my house, and it's a nice quiet one so far with nobody up but me, which is just how I like it.
Today is the last day of Christmas break. That is a rather sad fact. Also sad is the fact that I haven't really gotten ahead of the laundry that has to get done, or anything else for that matter. It's not just a matter of procrastinating, it's straight out not bothering to even think about that stuff.
But today is the day, I will certainly work my butt of to get ready for the work week. I'm going to make some low carb soup, so I have lunch for this week, (Yuck.) And I'm going to cook a roast for tonight's dinner, and get a crock pot ready for tomorrow's dinner. And I'm going to get ALL that laundry done AND put away.
So far, I've spent the whole new year reading -- and not eating much, just drinking ginger tea, going along with my dieting resolution. But I'm between books now (and my eyes are absolutely BURNING!), so I have no more excuses.
I think I should make a DAILY resolution. And my resolution for today is to restore some order to this mess! Thor will like that one!
Today is the last day of Christmas break. That is a rather sad fact. Also sad is the fact that I haven't really gotten ahead of the laundry that has to get done, or anything else for that matter. It's not just a matter of procrastinating, it's straight out not bothering to even think about that stuff.
But today is the day, I will certainly work my butt of to get ready for the work week. I'm going to make some low carb soup, so I have lunch for this week, (Yuck.) And I'm going to cook a roast for tonight's dinner, and get a crock pot ready for tomorrow's dinner. And I'm going to get ALL that laundry done AND put away.
So far, I've spent the whole new year reading -- and not eating much, just drinking ginger tea, going along with my dieting resolution. But I'm between books now (and my eyes are absolutely BURNING!), so I have no more excuses.
I think I should make a DAILY resolution. And my resolution for today is to restore some order to this mess! Thor will like that one!
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Is it really Saturday?
It still feels like New Years Day! How are your resolutions going so far?
Mine are going ok...
I'm feeling skinnier already!
But I'm CERTAINLY not getting on any SCALE.
PLEASE.
Mine are going ok...
I'm feeling skinnier already!
But I'm CERTAINLY not getting on any SCALE.
PLEASE.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
It's a whole new year!
Here's to a brand new beginning - a new year, a new chance to start over and do everything right this time. It's more symbolic than real, but it's a great symbol!
I'm excited to have a new year beginning, aren't you? I started my diet today. I went to the store and bought a handful of diet like foods that I plan on using to help me. I drank a lot of ginger green tea, and I made "Hopping John", which is an old folk recipe from my Grandma's era and culture for good luck in the new year for money. It's actually pretty tasty and I made a slightly more diet version than I usually do -- and it was good, surprisingly!
I also bought two lottery tickets for Thor and I. But we haven't scratched them off yet. We aren't in any rush to scratch them off, because right now, unscratched, they are pure potential... they are certainly winners.
I have a bunch of books to cuddle up with for the winter, and I'm absolutely excited about THAT! I have the books I bought the other day, and the books that Amber gave me for Christmas, and I bought the next book in the Twilight series, and the sequel to Ken Follett's book "The Pillars of the Earth." Right now I'm reading the Deepak Chopra book which I am totally fascinated by... he's got a very understandable style, and I love what he's saying.
I hope you all find a lot to look forward to for the new year!
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