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Whether or not these are the top 13 depends on my mood, but they are definitely among those that I like to read again and again. Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! |
Mojo Brew bio
6 months ago
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Thursday 13
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
NaBloPoMo "A"
A is for Alphabet
There were a few lessons in school that I learned better than others. Second only to "Never get involved in a land war in Asia" was how to recite the alphabet backward.
It was in 4th grade (interestingly, the grade MJ was in when our kids decided they had had enough school). My teacher was Mr. Hassenstab. He was my first male teacher, and, while I liked him well enough and was fascinated that he was "Dad" to my friend Mary Jo, I spent most of the year wishing he were female. I was in need of nurturing, I suppose, and Mr. H. tended toward the businesslike.
Anyway, this was back in the time when elementary-school students were allowed to have fun occasionally, and Mr. H. encouraged us to learn our backward ABCs. I loved doing this, and it's a
I also triumphed over the multiplication tables in 4th grade.
But it wasn't until middle school that I memorized the helping verbs. I can still do those, too. Ready? Here you go:
is am are was
were be being been
have has had
do does did
shall will should would
may might must can could
Voilà.
Z to A, 12x12, and the helping verbs. Those and a little Spanish might be the only things I really remember from school.
Which brings me to the real point of this blog post.
The theme for National Blog Posting Month this month is "Letters." Since 26 letters will not do for a month that has 30 days (even when I skip one day due to stomach flu), I plan to incorporate a few extras from the Spanish alphabet. That should be fun, since I don't know the ASCII codes for those letters, but I'll figure them out in time, fear not.
Welcome to NaBloPoMo, folks!
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
MJ is pregnant
I bet that got your attention!
Actually, MJ wouldn't help me think of an April Fool's headline for this blog post, so she got picked on. :-)
Actually, MJ wouldn't help me think of an April Fool's headline for this blog post, so she got picked on. :-)
Monday, March 31, 2008
Slave mentality
Rue just posted this razor-sharp quote from John Holt on the unschooling boards:
So many people have said to me, ‘If we didn’t make children do things, they wouldn’t do anything.’ Even worse, they say, ‘If I weren’t made to do things, I wouldn’t do anything.’
It is the creed of a slave.
When people say that terrible thing about themselves, I say, ‘You may believe that, but I don’t believe it. You didn’t feel that way about yourself when you were little. Who taught you to feel that way?’ To a large degree, it was school.
~ John Holt, How Children Fail
So many people have said to me, ‘If we didn’t make children do things, they wouldn’t do anything.’ Even worse, they say, ‘If I weren’t made to do things, I wouldn’t do anything.’
It is the creed of a slave.
When people say that terrible thing about themselves, I say, ‘You may believe that, but I don’t believe it. You didn’t feel that way about yourself when you were little. Who taught you to feel that way?’ To a large degree, it was school.
~ John Holt, How Children Fail
The Doings Report
Let's see, where were we?
Oh, yes, I started off the week sick. This was not a great start to the week, since it put me behind on work hours AGAIN. I hate that. In some ways, my manager's flexibility regarding my hours is a drag, since I then feel compelled to make up every hour I miss. This means a sick day or, heaven forbid, two can turn into a week or three of pressuring myself to CATCH UP.
On Monday, Frank drove MJ down to Corvallis to visit with the Zen ones and Patrick G. She spent three days there and had a really good time. They talked, laughed, bowled, ate pastries, slept very little, and bonded with Karma.
Frank then caught my cold and MJ was opposed to riding the bus, so I drove down to pick her up Thursday night after work. (This is called putting your money and time where your big fat unschooling mouth is.) The drive down was lovely, uncrowded, and efficient.
And then I tried to check into the Motel 6.
It was just after midnight. The office was deserted. There was a little bell on the counter that said, "Ring Bell for Service," so I did, politely. Tink tink tink. No response. Then I noticed that the word "Loudly" had been penned in at the bottom of the sign, so I rang the bell again with more force. Ding ding ding. Still no response. Ding ding ding dammit ding. Nada.
Brainstorm! I looked up the phone number for the motel and used my cell phone to call. Phones rang everywhere but nobody came to answer them. I pounded on the office door. I called out. I yelled. I whaled on that stupid f***ing bell. I stuck my fingers in my mouth and released my best "Kids, it's time to come home" whistle. And, finally, I went into the hallway and pounded on the door marked "Private."
Why? Why did I work so hard? I have no idea. Looking back, this is my main regret.
Anyway, the hallway knocking seemed to do the trick. I heard noises from the back, called out again, and was answered with a terse, "Yeah." Seconds later, a very sleepy looking man appeared. He didn't respond to my cranky "Hi," didn't look at me, and didn't apologize. Instead, he began shuffling papers on the desk. He shuffled for quite some time. I'm thinking, "Is he sleepwalking? Is he trying to figure out what rooms are available? What?" But after several minutes, it dawns on me that I am being jerked around. This is my punishment for waking him.
Deciding to test this theory out, I said, "Do you have rooms available?" Without turning from his very busy paper-shuffling work, he said, "Yes." Pause. "Can you help me get into one?" I asked. He smirked a little, said "Yes," and turned toward me. Oh, hell, no. I asked, "Did any of that paper shuffling get you closer to helping me?" His smirk widened, and he said, "No."
So, I turned on my heel and left. Unsurprisingly, he made no effort to stop me.
Ten minutes later, I was tucked into a comfortable room at the Best Western next door, out an extra $25 bucks and STEAMING MAD. I haven't felt rage like that in a long, long time. It took me hours to cool off enough to sleep, which pretty much filleted my carefully planned schedule for not missing any more work hours due to this foray into central Oregon.
Friday morning, I called Motel 6 HQ and had my (sizable) say. They are sending us a voucher for a free night's stay, and I have been assured that the regional manager will be contacted regarding this clerk's behavior. These efforts at restitution have calmed my ire somewhat, but not so much that I refrained from telling this story here. A weekend's free stay and assurances that his ass is fired might have taken me farther.
Anyway, it was a nice morning after that. Mary, Conor, Qacei, Patrick, MJ, and I headed to Sunnyside Up for breakfast sandwiches (yum!) and a much needed machiatto. (Is that how you spell machiatto? I just drink them.) I also bought a SSU t-shirt so I could go to work in a clean shirt. (Yeah, that was the reason...not 'cause I've wanted one for months.)
And then MJ and I drove to Redmond. This drive was less fun, since we hit traffic jams in Portland, Tacoma, and Renton. It was 3:00 by the time we got to Microsoft, and I was wrung out. But I put in a decent four hours anyway, while MJ cruised the 'net. So, with the extra hours I put in mid-week, I am still "only" 8 hours behind.
On Saturday, the four of us drove over to Yakima for cousin Alicen's wedding. It was a lovely ceremony and a fun gathering, even if all you Maiers did leave the girls and me hanging to do the Time Warp alone. What would Dr. Frank-N-Furter say?!
And Sunday we drove home. MJ drove the climb up to the pass, so she got some more roadtrip experience under her belt, and then I took over and got some more completely unnecessary I-405 experience. (sigh)
I've just realized I've completely left Chloe out of this report. She was here all week! She has spent the week filling up on time to do just whatever she wants. After our very social first three months of 2008, she has been feeling pretty desperate for some of that. "Just whatever she wants" has included reading, writing, anime viewing, and quite a bit of conversation with Mom and Dad.
Happy Monday, everybody!
Oh, yes, I started off the week sick. This was not a great start to the week, since it put me behind on work hours AGAIN. I hate that. In some ways, my manager's flexibility regarding my hours is a drag, since I then feel compelled to make up every hour I miss. This means a sick day or, heaven forbid, two can turn into a week or three of pressuring myself to CATCH UP.
On Monday, Frank drove MJ down to Corvallis to visit with the Zen ones and Patrick G. She spent three days there and had a really good time. They talked, laughed, bowled, ate pastries, slept very little, and bonded with Karma.
Frank then caught my cold and MJ was opposed to riding the bus, so I drove down to pick her up Thursday night after work. (This is called putting your money and time where your big fat unschooling mouth is.) The drive down was lovely, uncrowded, and efficient.
And then I tried to check into the Motel 6.
It was just after midnight. The office was deserted. There was a little bell on the counter that said, "Ring Bell for Service," so I did, politely. Tink tink tink. No response. Then I noticed that the word "Loudly" had been penned in at the bottom of the sign, so I rang the bell again with more force. Ding ding ding. Still no response. Ding ding ding dammit ding. Nada.
Brainstorm! I looked up the phone number for the motel and used my cell phone to call. Phones rang everywhere but nobody came to answer them. I pounded on the office door. I called out. I yelled. I whaled on that stupid f***ing bell. I stuck my fingers in my mouth and released my best "Kids, it's time to come home" whistle. And, finally, I went into the hallway and pounded on the door marked "Private."
Why? Why did I work so hard? I have no idea. Looking back, this is my main regret.
Anyway, the hallway knocking seemed to do the trick. I heard noises from the back, called out again, and was answered with a terse, "Yeah." Seconds later, a very sleepy looking man appeared. He didn't respond to my cranky "Hi," didn't look at me, and didn't apologize. Instead, he began shuffling papers on the desk. He shuffled for quite some time. I'm thinking, "Is he sleepwalking? Is he trying to figure out what rooms are available? What?" But after several minutes, it dawns on me that I am being jerked around. This is my punishment for waking him.
Deciding to test this theory out, I said, "Do you have rooms available?" Without turning from his very busy paper-shuffling work, he said, "Yes." Pause. "Can you help me get into one?" I asked. He smirked a little, said "Yes," and turned toward me. Oh, hell, no. I asked, "Did any of that paper shuffling get you closer to helping me?" His smirk widened, and he said, "No."
So, I turned on my heel and left. Unsurprisingly, he made no effort to stop me.
Ten minutes later, I was tucked into a comfortable room at the Best Western next door, out an extra $25 bucks and STEAMING MAD. I haven't felt rage like that in a long, long time. It took me hours to cool off enough to sleep, which pretty much filleted my carefully planned schedule for not missing any more work hours due to this foray into central Oregon.
Friday morning, I called Motel 6 HQ and had my (sizable) say. They are sending us a voucher for a free night's stay, and I have been assured that the regional manager will be contacted regarding this clerk's behavior. These efforts at restitution have calmed my ire somewhat, but not so much that I refrained from telling this story here. A weekend's free stay and assurances that his ass is fired might have taken me farther.
Anyway, it was a nice morning after that. Mary, Conor, Qacei, Patrick, MJ, and I headed to Sunnyside Up for breakfast sandwiches (yum!) and a much needed machiatto. (Is that how you spell machiatto? I just drink them.) I also bought a SSU t-shirt so I could go to work in a clean shirt. (Yeah, that was the reason...not 'cause I've wanted one for months.)
And then MJ and I drove to Redmond. This drive was less fun, since we hit traffic jams in Portland, Tacoma, and Renton. It was 3:00 by the time we got to Microsoft, and I was wrung out. But I put in a decent four hours anyway, while MJ cruised the 'net. So, with the extra hours I put in mid-week, I am still "only" 8 hours behind.
On Saturday, the four of us drove over to Yakima for cousin Alicen's wedding. It was a lovely ceremony and a fun gathering, even if all you Maiers did leave the girls and me hanging to do the Time Warp alone. What would Dr. Frank-N-Furter say?!
And Sunday we drove home. MJ drove the climb up to the pass, so she got some more roadtrip experience under her belt, and then I took over and got some more completely unnecessary I-405 experience. (sigh)
I've just realized I've completely left Chloe out of this report. She was here all week! She has spent the week filling up on time to do just whatever she wants. After our very social first three months of 2008, she has been feeling pretty desperate for some of that. "Just whatever she wants" has included reading, writing, anime viewing, and quite a bit of conversation with Mom and Dad.
Happy Monday, everybody!
Manic Monday
Here's another one I am trying out, just for its conversational bent. Here are Lisa's questions for this week and my answers.
What is the sexiest part of the body?
Brain. Eyes. Well toned arms.
If you kissed a frog, who would you like it to turn into?
Johnny Depp was my first thought (she admitted sheepishly).
What do you have stuck up on your refrigerator right now?
A magnet that my best friend gave to me. It's a drawing of a cat, fur sticking straight out, with a caption that reads, "I am perfectly calm." Yes, she knows me well.
What is the sexiest part of the body?
Brain. Eyes. Well toned arms.
If you kissed a frog, who would you like it to turn into?
Johnny Depp was my first thought (she admitted sheepishly).
What do you have stuck up on your refrigerator right now?
A magnet that my best friend gave to me. It's a drawing of a cat, fur sticking straight out, with a caption that reads, "I am perfectly calm." Yes, she knows me well.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Sunday scribblings
http://sundayscribblings.blogspot.com/
I don't know if I really want another weekly blog "assignment," but anything with the word "scribblings" in it is going to catch my attention.
So let's give it a try. I'm not terribly interested in this week's theme (space aliens), so I'll go with last week's:
As the mother of two teenagers, I've discovered that there is a segment of young adult (YA) literature devoted to tragedy. Fathers murder mothers. Best friends go crazy. Parents abandon their children. Everything bad that can happen does. And these books seem to do very well: they garner rave reviews, win awards, and receive special attention from their publishers and, subsequently, the newspapers and major book-store chains.
I just don't get it.
I don't deny that many of these books are well written. They can be compelling stories with moving conclusions. And maybe it's therapeutic for the authors to write them. But why would people really want to read them? Doesn't life have enough sad times for you? The depressive pall that reading one of these books casts over my life can last for days. It's just not worth it.
And why aren't the happy books receiving the rave reviews and awards and special attention? Why is it that tragic stories seem more worthy somehow?
It's like the Oscars. Comedies are very rarely nominated for Best Picture, and even more rarely win. I don't think this is because they aren't as good as their more dramatic counterparts, and it's certainly not because the actors and filmmakers and crews and studios have worked less hard to produce them. It is simply that because they make us laugh, we take them less seriously. So, Juno—a perfectly delightful "little" film about family, humanity, and love—loses out to a (no doubt excellent) movie about a very murderous psychopath on the trail of some drug money.
I just don't get it.
Why shouldn't we embrace the things that make us smile? Why shouldn't we look for the laughter, and joy, and happy times in life?
I am not an advocate for censorship in any form, of course. People can write what they want, read what they want, create and view and recognize what they want. And I am not an advocate for turning our eyes away from the real horrors in the world; evil happens and should be faced and fought.
But in my free time, when I'm plunking down my money for a couple hours' entertainment, I'll keep giving the happy story more of a chance. How about you?
I don't know if I really want another weekly blog "assignment," but anything with the word "scribblings" in it is going to catch my attention.
So let's give it a try. I'm not terribly interested in this week's theme (space aliens), so I'll go with last week's:
I just don't get it
As the mother of two teenagers, I've discovered that there is a segment of young adult (YA) literature devoted to tragedy. Fathers murder mothers. Best friends go crazy. Parents abandon their children. Everything bad that can happen does. And these books seem to do very well: they garner rave reviews, win awards, and receive special attention from their publishers and, subsequently, the newspapers and major book-store chains.
I just don't get it.
I don't deny that many of these books are well written. They can be compelling stories with moving conclusions. And maybe it's therapeutic for the authors to write them. But why would people really want to read them? Doesn't life have enough sad times for you? The depressive pall that reading one of these books casts over my life can last for days. It's just not worth it.
And why aren't the happy books receiving the rave reviews and awards and special attention? Why is it that tragic stories seem more worthy somehow?
It's like the Oscars. Comedies are very rarely nominated for Best Picture, and even more rarely win. I don't think this is because they aren't as good as their more dramatic counterparts, and it's certainly not because the actors and filmmakers and crews and studios have worked less hard to produce them. It is simply that because they make us laugh, we take them less seriously. So, Juno—a perfectly delightful "little" film about family, humanity, and love—loses out to a (no doubt excellent) movie about a very murderous psychopath on the trail of some drug money.
I just don't get it.
Why shouldn't we embrace the things that make us smile? Why shouldn't we look for the laughter, and joy, and happy times in life?
I am not an advocate for censorship in any form, of course. People can write what they want, read what they want, create and view and recognize what they want. And I am not an advocate for turning our eyes away from the real horrors in the world; evil happens and should be faced and fought.
But in my free time, when I'm plunking down my money for a couple hours' entertainment, I'll keep giving the happy story more of a chance. How about you?
Friday, March 28, 2008
Hooked for ten
Okay, all I want to do is crash, but now I see the 10 things meme on Frank's and Scott's blogs, and I just gotta!
The idea is to note things you've done that you think might be unique or, at least, rare. You might be surprised by how many people end up saying "Hey, I've done that, too!" List them in your blog and let the fun begin. (Alternatively, you could add your list in comments here or put a link back to any entry you write.)
So, here you are...
1. Spent the night in a tent, with one eye and both ears open for flash floods, on a little spit of beach down one of the side canyons of Lake Powell.
2. Did a so-called deep dive (~100 feet) and floated above the Cayman Trench to learn what deep really is (~25,000 feet).
3. Sat in the cockpit of a sailboat while the crews of two Costa Rican shrimping boats argued over the privilege of selling us (my dad and me) the freshest shrimp I had/have ever eaten.
4. Sailed through the Panama Canal. Did you know it's mostly lake? But the locks are the exciting part.
5. Made a passage across the Gulf of Mexico, during hurricane season, with a wild bird sitting on my shoulder for part of the time.
6. Went bungee jumping. We have video tape of this. I could sell my scream to the sound guy for a horror movie. (Hey, somebody ask James if he does any work in horror!)
7. Went swimming with a remora. On two separate occasions, while anchored off of two different islands, on two different trips to the Caribbean.
The second time, we were such a good "shark" to the remora that he followed us as we zigzagged upwind halfway through Sir Francis Drake Channel, anchored overnight, and zigzagged the rest of the way to The Baths the next day.
8. Wrote the Help file and user-interface text for an entire software program.
9. Fell in love with, married, made babies with, and am still very happily married to a man 17 years my senior.
10. Did 36 hours of labor without drugs, loved it and the reward, and 9 months later signed up to do it all again (or at least was a willing participant in the, er, spontaneous moment in a Yakima motel). Fortunately, the hour count 9 months after that was less by more than two thirds.
The idea is to note things you've done that you think might be unique or, at least, rare. You might be surprised by how many people end up saying "Hey, I've done that, too!" List them in your blog and let the fun begin. (Alternatively, you could add your list in comments here or put a link back to any entry you write.)
So, here you are...
10 Things I've Done that You (Probably) Haven't
1. Spent the night in a tent, with one eye and both ears open for flash floods, on a little spit of beach down one of the side canyons of Lake Powell.
2. Did a so-called deep dive (~100 feet) and floated above the Cayman Trench to learn what deep really is (~25,000 feet).
3. Sat in the cockpit of a sailboat while the crews of two Costa Rican shrimping boats argued over the privilege of selling us (my dad and me) the freshest shrimp I had/have ever eaten.
4. Sailed through the Panama Canal. Did you know it's mostly lake? But the locks are the exciting part.
5. Made a passage across the Gulf of Mexico, during hurricane season, with a wild bird sitting on my shoulder for part of the time.
6. Went bungee jumping. We have video tape of this. I could sell my scream to the sound guy for a horror movie. (Hey, somebody ask James if he does any work in horror!)
7. Went swimming with a remora. On two separate occasions, while anchored off of two different islands, on two different trips to the Caribbean.
The second time, we were such a good "shark" to the remora that he followed us as we zigzagged upwind halfway through Sir Francis Drake Channel, anchored overnight, and zigzagged the rest of the way to The Baths the next day.
8. Wrote the Help file and user-interface text for an entire software program.
9. Fell in love with, married, made babies with, and am still very happily married to a man 17 years my senior.
10. Did 36 hours of labor without drugs, loved it and the reward, and 9 months later signed up to do it all again (or at least was a willing participant in the, er, spontaneous moment in a Yakima motel). Fortunately, the hour count 9 months after that was less by more than two thirds.
Friday fill-in
I wanted my theme today to be "Sleep Deprivation," but it didn't lend itself as flexibly as chocolate did. Or maybe I'm just too sleepy to be creative. I'll post the whole story behind my sleep deprivation another day.
1. Some relationships are meant to restore us even when we're cranky.
2. Kimya Dawson is the last concert I saw; it was shiny.
3. Spring should not be snowy (but it is today).
4. Oh no! I forgot to carry a toothbrush and clean underwear with me everywhere, just in case of unplanned trips to Corvallis!
5. I've recently started calming down after my battle with the nefarious Motel 6 jerk—er, I mean clerk. Actually, no, I mean Jerk.
6. Sleep never fails to make me smile.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to sleeping for a million years (okay, maybe not that long), tomorrow my plans include attending Alicen's wedding unless it's too snowy for us to get over the pass to Yakima, and sleeping, and Sunday, I want to have a safe drive home, snuggle with my girls, reconnect with Frank, and SLEEP!
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Thursday 13
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You know the ones. Those smiles that add sizzle to a scene—or even an entire movie. Here are some of my favorites and the actors who pulled them off. Warning! Mild spoilers follow. 1. Verbal smirks. While Agent Kujan's back is turned, Kevin Spacey's Verbal Kint indulges in a small smile of secret amusement. The Usual Suspects 2. Vivian shines. With a certain spark that brought the world to attention, Julia Roberts uses her smile to show us the sweet romantic inside the brash prostitute. Pretty Woman 3. Vivi glows. In just one in a string of brilliant examples, Ashley Judd lights up the screen with her pearly whites. The contrasting scenes of Vivi's anguish only make that smile brighter. Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood 4. Wednesday frightens. Trying to blend in with the perky terrors at summer camp, Christina Ricci's Wednesday Addams tries on a smile. The result is chilling. Addams Family Values 5. Hannibal terrifies. Anthony Hopkins said once that he found it easy to play Hannibal Lecter. If that's the case, he certainly tapped into his inner psychopath. Hannibal's smile still gives me chills 17 years later. The Silence of the Lambs 6. Maximus takes the next step. Remembering the wife and son he lost, Russell Crowe's Maximus speaks of seeing them again. Then he smiles, just a little. "But not yet." Gladiator 7. Everett chortles. "Baptism!" George Clooney. O Brother, Where Art Thou 8. Dr. Einstein is relieved. Fully prepared to be arrested, Peter Lorre's not-so-good doctor giggles with hysterical relief as he makes his exit. Arsenic and Old Lace 9. Ray loses his composure. Having entirely too much fun for someone getting paid for what he's doing, Dan Aykroyd can't quite keep a straight face as he delivers the line, "You never studied." It makes for a vibrant scene that always makes me smile. Ghostbusters 10. Shoeless Joe anticipates. "What are you grinning at, you ghost?" Ray Liotta's Joe has a secret he can't wait to share. Field of Dreams 11. Mathesar gets the joke. Ideals intact and his people saved, Enrico Colantoni's Mathesar cracks up, in true Thermian fashion. Galaxy Quest 12. Hicks doesn't need to be told. Unnecessarily reassured of Ripley's competence, Michael Bien's Corporal Hicks smiles wryly and says, "Yeah, I noticed." Aliens 13. The Pimpernel surprises. An elderly Frenchman asks Leslie Howard's Percy Blakeney if the woman he's in love with is another man's wife. Smiling with great charm, Percy replies, "No, it's my own!" The Scarlet Pimpernel And three irresistible extras: 14. Nikita breaks our hearts. Anne Parillaud's Nikita, as part of her assassin training, attempts a smile for her beauty coach (the stunning Jeanne Moreau). Nikita hasn't smiled in years and doesn't quite have it in her after all she's been through. Ouch! La Femme Nikita 15. Jack Sparrow succeeds. Our second-favorite cap'n tosses a perfectly devilish smile over one shoulder as members of the British Navy (and their fastest ship) fall neatly into his trap. Johnny Depp. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl 16. Zula prepares to kick ass. Freed from her tether by one charitable stroke of Conan's sword, Grace Jones' Zula smiles with the sure knowledge that now it's a level playing field (even though she's outnumbered about 30 to 1). Rumor has it that Grace enjoyed filming this scene so much, she injured stuntmen and had to be asked to pull her punches. Conan the Destroyer |
Monday, March 24, 2008
The Doings Report
I'm sick. That's the big news in *my* world. And I'm feeling quite pouty about it, because I had thought I was being successful fighting off this cold with Emergen-C. Of course, there's no telling how awful I'd feel without the Emergen-C.
We had a pretty quiet week. MJ and Chloe finished off "Buffy." I watched most of the last episode with them, so I, too, know how it all ends. It's pretty nervewracking watching a Joss Whedon finale, because he does not hesitate to kill off the characters we love most. And Mal (Nathan Fillion, beloved captain of the Firefly Serenity) made a brief appearance as a very badman entity. Evidently a few of the actors from "Firefly" had roles in "Buffy;" the girls filled me in on all the connections. The word (?) "religiosity" is used in both series, too.
Frank got the house caught up after whatever it was that was our most recent excuse for not tidying up after ourselves. And then on Friday I didn't have to work much, so I puttered around "helping" him (not really very much).
On Saturday, we had our lovely dinner and egg-dyeing party. Frank outdid himself with the menu. We had some Cajun boiled shrimp as an appetizer, French onion soup, chicken breats with a yummy mushroom-and-pâté sauce, sides of bread and mashed potatoes and sautéed carrots, and then bread pudding in whiskey-rum-amaretto sauce for dessert. We kind of forgot to have salad between dinner and dessert. And, needless to say, none of the Easter eggs got eaten that night.
We had a very fun night. Lori and Brian went to Italy for their honeymoon a few years back, so we picked their brains a bit. Also, Brian is really into fantasy novels and D&D, so he and Frank and the girls had a lot to discuss. And we covered a lot of cinematic territory, debating the relative merits of various films, secret girl- and boyfriends, and so on.
We also traded some brainteasers. Here's the one that Chloe figured out much faster than the Dungeon Master was prepared for a week ago:
The chamber you're in is filling with water, and there's an alphabet on the wall that you can use to enter your answer. There's no escape. If you don't figure out the riddle, your entire party will drown. The riddle is:
I live in fear but not in light,
I dwell in darkness but not in spite.
What am I?
And here's one Lori actually had presented to her (and solved) during her job interview at Microsoft many years ago:
You're on a deserted island and you're bitten by something poisonous. A witch doctor *poof* appears and gives you two bottles of pills. He tells you, you will die unless you take one pill from each bottle every day for 50 days. Then he *poof* disappears. You do as he says, but on the 48th day, you remove a pill from the first bottle, then accidentally shake two pills from the second bottle onto your hand. Now all three pills are in the palm of your hand. You can't tell them apart; they are identical in every way. If you take the wrong pills, you will die. What do you do?
I got the first one, but I wouldn't have gotten the job, or at least not after three glasses of wine. If you know the answers, put them in a Comment and save me some typing!
On Sunday, we woke the girls up to find eggs (there's a switch), and then they thoroughly explored their Easter baskets (after being testily informed that of course the Easter Bunny wouldn't have forgotten their Cadbury Eggs). Then we went out to Grandma and Papa's for Easter dinner (pesto!) and a rousing game of Cranium.
Then we came home and collapsed.
Happy Monday!
We had a pretty quiet week. MJ and Chloe finished off "Buffy." I watched most of the last episode with them, so I, too, know how it all ends. It's pretty nervewracking watching a Joss Whedon finale, because he does not hesitate to kill off the characters we love most. And Mal (Nathan Fillion, beloved captain of the Firefly Serenity) made a brief appearance as a very bad
Frank got the house caught up after whatever it was that was our most recent excuse for not tidying up after ourselves. And then on Friday I didn't have to work much, so I puttered around "helping" him (not really very much).
On Saturday, we had our lovely dinner and egg-dyeing party. Frank outdid himself with the menu. We had some Cajun boiled shrimp as an appetizer, French onion soup, chicken breats with a yummy mushroom-and-pâté sauce, sides of bread and mashed potatoes and sautéed carrots, and then bread pudding in whiskey-rum-amaretto sauce for dessert. We kind of forgot to have salad between dinner and dessert. And, needless to say, none of the Easter eggs got eaten that night.
We had a very fun night. Lori and Brian went to Italy for their honeymoon a few years back, so we picked their brains a bit. Also, Brian is really into fantasy novels and D&D, so he and Frank and the girls had a lot to discuss. And we covered a lot of cinematic territory, debating the relative merits of various films, secret girl- and boyfriends, and so on.
We also traded some brainteasers. Here's the one that Chloe figured out much faster than the Dungeon Master was prepared for a week ago:
The chamber you're in is filling with water, and there's an alphabet on the wall that you can use to enter your answer. There's no escape. If you don't figure out the riddle, your entire party will drown. The riddle is:
I live in fear but not in light,
I dwell in darkness but not in spite.
What am I?
And here's one Lori actually had presented to her (and solved) during her job interview at Microsoft many years ago:
You're on a deserted island and you're bitten by something poisonous. A witch doctor *poof* appears and gives you two bottles of pills. He tells you, you will die unless you take one pill from each bottle every day for 50 days. Then he *poof* disappears. You do as he says, but on the 48th day, you remove a pill from the first bottle, then accidentally shake two pills from the second bottle onto your hand. Now all three pills are in the palm of your hand. You can't tell them apart; they are identical in every way. If you take the wrong pills, you will die. What do you do?
I got the first one, but I wouldn't have gotten the job, or at least not after three glasses of wine. If you know the answers, put them in a Comment and save me some typing!
On Sunday, we woke the girls up to find eggs (there's a switch), and then they thoroughly explored their Easter baskets (after being testily informed that of course the Easter Bunny wouldn't have forgotten their Cadbury Eggs). Then we went out to Grandma and Papa's for Easter dinner (pesto!) and a rousing game of Cranium.
Then we came home and collapsed.
Happy Monday!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Happy Spring Celebration!
Here are some photos from the first part of our celebration, last night. We had our friends Lori and Brian over for a most convivial evening.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Lost and found
Did any of you NCN'ers leave behind a Samsung charger? It's gray and looks like it might be for a cellphone or game unit.
The Boys Project
Oh. My. God.
Laureen, one of Frank's cruising/homeschooling online buddies, has summed up my horror over this (or rather, the need for this) quite nicely.
Laureen, one of Frank's cruising/homeschooling online buddies, has summed up my horror over this (or rather, the need for this) quite nicely.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Indexed
I've been tagged by Zenmomma for the alphabet meme. Frank and MJ have done theirs, too.
For those who don't know, I was an indexer in a former (reoccurring) life. For those who don't know, an indexer is a person who has as her job/calling/passion the creation of the lists of page-referenced keywords you find in the back of your nonfiction books. This is a surprisingly compelling occupation for those of us who take to it, and after more than a decade as an indexer, it took quite some time to become accustomed to writing in full sentences again. Writing style, restoration of.
Anyway, as you might imagine, having things alphabetized is just *right*. My books, movies, CDs, records, and often my shopping lists run from A to Z.
Imagine my surprise, then, when MJ organized our homeschooling shelves in a complete jumble of topics, authors, and genres and I LOVED it. It's a wonderful hodgepodge, a sign of unschooling at its finest. I will post a picture of that space someday.
But I digress. It's a Maier thing.
Here, appropriately, is "The Index of Ronnie," aka "Ronnie from A to Z." Enjoy!
A-Available? Of course! (Oh, for that? Only to Frank.)
B-Best friend: Stephanie
C-Cake or Pie? Pie! Especially cream pie!
D-Drink of choice: Strawberry Margarita but only on special occasions (aka, any visit to the Mexican restaurant)
E-Essential thing used everyday: I like Mary's answer ("My brain (hopefully)"), but I'll strive for originality here. My GORE-TEX rain jacket, which really ought to have been included in my list of items I'm glad — GLAD, I tell you — that I own.
F-Favorite color: I like 'em all, tend to prefer dark and bright shades (not pastels, in other words), and will tell you "purple" if pressed to pick just one.
G-Gummi bears or worms: Bears, I guess. But I'm with Qacei on this: Swedish Fish!
H-Hometown: I was born in Ellensburg, remember fondly the house in San Francisco, (mostly) grew up in Marysville, spent very memorable teen summers in San Diego, and am now very much at home in Everett.
I-Indulgence: Yes, please. Not this kind. And not this kind. And not this kind (but more power to ya, Sisters!). But maybe this kind.
J-January or February: They both make me shiver. January for its distance from tax day. February for its proximity to Spring.
K-Kids and names: MJ, Chloe, Chiara, and nephew-son Jerry.
L-Life: Lovin' every minute of it!
M-Marriage date: The ceremony and small kickass party were on August 24, 1990. The big kickass party was on August 25, 1990. Did you really think a single day of celebration was enough for us?!
N-Number of siblings: 1 sister, 1 half-brother, 1 step-brother, 1 sort-of sister, 4 sisters-in-law, and 2 brothers-in-law. And I really hope I didn't forget anybody.
O-Oranges or apples: Mandarin oranges or caramel apples, and either will do nicely, thank you.
P-Phobias: I have this mild claustrophobia that is related to my shark blood (if I stop moving, I'll die). If the way out is blocked, I get a little panicky. And I am afraid of unexpected explosions. I have no idea what the Greek for that is.
Q-Quote: "I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul." — William Ernest Henley, Invictus
R-Reason to smile: Oh, too many to choose from! My family. Friends. Only 304 days left. Unschooling. Our plans for this year. The small kids in my life. The teenagers in my life. MY LIFE!
S-Season: Summer.
T-Tag three people: I'llpick on honor some family members this time: Mom, Scott, Randi.
U-Unknown fact about me: I don't think there are any, or if there is one, I'm entitled to it, don't you think?
V-Vegetable you don't like: Canned peas and canned spinach.
W-Worst habit: Oh, too many to choose from! Saying "no" to my kids. Biting my nails. Staying up too late reading when I have to get up early the next day. Speeding. Coming home from work with low blood sugar. Procrastinating. Being superstitious.
X-X-rays you have had: Teeth only, I think. (knock wood)
Y-Your favorite food: Oh, too many to choose from! Chocolate. Cilantro. Frank's fried bananas. Bread.
Z-Zodiac: Gemini Air Yin Wood Snake. No wonder there are so many people inside me!
For those who don't know, I was an indexer in a former (reoccurring) life. For those who don't know, an indexer is a person who has as her job/calling/passion the creation of the lists of page-referenced keywords you find in the back of your nonfiction books. This is a surprisingly compelling occupation for those of us who take to it, and after more than a decade as an indexer, it took quite some time to become accustomed to writing in full sentences again. Writing style, restoration of.
Anyway, as you might imagine, having things alphabetized is just *right*. My books, movies, CDs, records, and often my shopping lists run from A to Z.
Imagine my surprise, then, when MJ organized our homeschooling shelves in a complete jumble of topics, authors, and genres and I LOVED it. It's a wonderful hodgepodge, a sign of unschooling at its finest. I will post a picture of that space someday.
But I digress. It's a Maier thing.
Here, appropriately, is "The Index of Ronnie," aka "Ronnie from A to Z." Enjoy!
A-Available? Of course! (Oh, for that? Only to Frank.)
B-Best friend: Stephanie
C-Cake or Pie? Pie! Especially cream pie!
D-Drink of choice: Strawberry Margarita but only on special occasions (aka, any visit to the Mexican restaurant)
E-Essential thing used everyday: I like Mary's answer ("My brain (hopefully)"), but I'll strive for originality here. My GORE-TEX rain jacket, which really ought to have been included in my list of items I'm glad — GLAD, I tell you — that I own.
F-Favorite color: I like 'em all, tend to prefer dark and bright shades (not pastels, in other words), and will tell you "purple" if pressed to pick just one.
G-Gummi bears or worms: Bears, I guess. But I'm with Qacei on this: Swedish Fish!
H-Hometown: I was born in Ellensburg, remember fondly the house in San Francisco, (mostly) grew up in Marysville, spent very memorable teen summers in San Diego, and am now very much at home in Everett.
I-Indulgence: Yes, please. Not this kind. And not this kind. And not this kind (but more power to ya, Sisters!). But maybe this kind.
J-January or February: They both make me shiver. January for its distance from tax day. February for its proximity to Spring.
K-Kids and names: MJ, Chloe, Chiara, and nephew-son Jerry.
L-Life: Lovin' every minute of it!
M-Marriage date: The ceremony and small kickass party were on August 24, 1990. The big kickass party was on August 25, 1990. Did you really think a single day of celebration was enough for us?!
N-Number of siblings: 1 sister, 1 half-brother, 1 step-brother, 1 sort-of sister, 4 sisters-in-law, and 2 brothers-in-law. And I really hope I didn't forget anybody.
O-Oranges or apples: Mandarin oranges or caramel apples, and either will do nicely, thank you.
P-Phobias: I have this mild claustrophobia that is related to my shark blood (if I stop moving, I'll die). If the way out is blocked, I get a little panicky. And I am afraid of unexpected explosions. I have no idea what the Greek for that is.
Q-Quote: "I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul." — William Ernest Henley, Invictus
R-Reason to smile: Oh, too many to choose from! My family. Friends. Only 304 days left. Unschooling. Our plans for this year. The small kids in my life. The teenagers in my life. MY LIFE!
S-Season: Summer.
T-Tag three people: I'll
U-Unknown fact about me: I don't think there are any, or if there is one, I'm entitled to it, don't you think?
V-Vegetable you don't like: Canned peas and canned spinach.
W-Worst habit: Oh, too many to choose from! Saying "no" to my kids. Biting my nails. Staying up too late reading when I have to get up early the next day. Speeding. Coming home from work with low blood sugar. Procrastinating. Being superstitious.
X-X-rays you have had: Teeth only, I think. (knock wood)
Y-Your favorite food: Oh, too many to choose from! Chocolate. Cilantro. Frank's fried bananas. Bread.
Z-Zodiac: Gemini Air Yin Wood Snake. No wonder there are so many people inside me!
Friday fill-in
For this week's fill-in, I chose "chocolate" as my theme before seeing the questions. Here's how that worked out.
1. German chocolate cake is so exciting!
2. Strawberry fields provide fondue.
3. A chocolate meringue swirl sounds like it would taste delicious!
4. Why does chocolate make me feel so good?! (Oh, yeah, it's the 'happy' chemicals!)
5. A chocolate river like in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" is something I've always wanted to see.
6. It's sad when the chocolate's gone.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to getting off early from work and some chocolate, tomorrow my plans include dinner with friends and some chocolate, and Sunday, I want to help my kids eat all the chocolate they receive from the Easter Bunny!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Movies of course
Inspired by my inspired TT for next week (yes, it's written already), I have corrected a foolish oversight and added a new label to the blog: movies. It already has quite a few posts attached to it. Next week's TT will be one more.
Oh no we didn't
I just noticed the price tag shown on the Toto Washlet page I linked to in my last post. No, ours was not that expensive. Oy!
Thursday 13
|
(or share ownership in) We have some friends who are gearing up to set sail on their catamaran, the s/v Don Quixote. They've been purging belongings, in stages, for several months, realizing with each purge that the things they found essential last time are just not. I lack their perspective. I have many, many essential belongings. Here are 13 of the most essential. My MEBs. 1. My books. I am not one of those people who can read a book and call it done. No sirree, Bob. I read decent books at least twice, and I read good books... well, I haven't found a limit yet. 2. Ten thousand photos. They're jumbled, stacked, piled, stuffed, tucked away, saved to disc, boxed up, packed up, scattered about, and even occasionally framed or put into albums, and every one of them is precious. Especially photos of my babies! (at any age) 3. My bed. Our bed. The marriage bed. Haven, heaven, honeymoon, home. This is where I sleep, enjoy my books, read with my kids, talk with my kids, snuggle with my kids, sleep with my kids (rarely these days), contemplate the universe, and, above all, revel in and renew the force and solace and source that is my precious marriage to Frank. Plus our new bed is damned pretty. 4. The Super Toilet. Yes, it's sheer indulgence. Yes, it was too expensive. But oh how I love our Toto Washlet! Try sitting down on a heated toilet seat in the middle of a cold January night, just once, and then tell me it isn't an essential item! (And our friends like it, too!) 5. The computer. As a kid, with a dad in the industry, I had the privilege of playing with one of the first personal computers ever. I've been hooked ever since and now can't imagine life without one. This is where I WRITE, people! 5b. The wrist brace that lets me use the computer without agony. 6. Our video entertainment paraphernalia. Compared to the more video-oriented members of my family, I barely watch any TV at all, but our TVs and players and library of movies are cherished possessions nonetheless. We have movies to suit any mood, and having them *right there* when I need them is a pleasure. 7. My eyeglasses. The trees have leaves. My daughters have eyelashes. I can proofread billboards. I can see the computer screen without squinting or leaning waaaay forward. My eyeglasses are a wondrous thing. 8. My Crocs. Actually, all my shoes. But especially my Crocs. Hmm, it's about time for a new pair... 9. Certain treasured items of clothing. My Seahawks jersey, my Firefly t-shirt, my LIFE is Good t-shirt, my ancient but comfortably oversized "Windows 2000 Resource Kit" button-down shirt, my plush and racy-red bathrobe that Frank bought for me. Wearing these items never fails to make me feel good. Comfort clothes. 10. Our Sonicare toothbrush. I haven't had a cavity since we went sonic years and years ago. (knock wood) (yes, I know an atheist shouldn't be so superstitious, but I am ever All About the Contradictions) 11. The washer, dryer, dishwasher, microwave, and refrigerator. I lived on a boat without these for a while. (No, the boat refer does not count.) I appreciate them very much now. Very much. 12. The stuff in my hopechest. Mementos, letters, dried wedding flowers, newspaper clippings, baby clothes. It's our accumulative time capsule. 13. The jewelry Frank has given me over the years. Especially my wedding ring. This was one of the easiest TTs I've done. :-) Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! |
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
This time
If you missed Barack's speech—the entire speech and not just the soundbites—you can watch or read it here:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/samgrahamfelsen/gGBbKG
Here are the soundbites I like:
"I have brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, uncles and cousins, of every race and every hue, scattered across three continents, and for as long as I live, I will never forget that in no other country on Earth is my story even possible."
"I can no more disown [Reverend Wright] than I can disown the black community. I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother – a woman who helped raise me, a woman who sacrificed again and again for me, a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world, but a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe."
"The fact is that the comments that have been made and the issues that have surfaced over the last few weeks reflect the complexities of race in this country that we’ve never really worked through – a part of our union that we have yet to perfect. And if we walk away now, if we simply retreat into our respective corners, we will never be able to come together and solve challenges like health care, or education, or the need to find good jobs for every American." (emphasis mine)
"But the anger is real; it is powerful; and to simply wish it away, to condemn it without understanding its roots, only serves to widen the chasm of misunderstanding that exists between the races."
"Just as black anger often proved counterproductive, so have these white resentments distracted attention from the real culprits of the middle class squeeze – a corporate culture rife with inside dealing, questionable accounting practices, and short-term greed; a Washington dominated by lobbyists and special interests; economic policies that favor the few over the many. And yet, to wish away the resentments of white Americans, to label them as misguided or even racist, without recognizing they are grounded in legitimate concerns – this too widens the racial divide, and blocks the path to understanding."
"The profound mistake of Reverend Wright’s sermons is not that he spoke about racism in our society. It’s that he spoke as if our society was static; as if no progress has been made; as if this country – a country that has made it possible for one of his own members to run for the highest office in the land and build a coalition of white and black; Latino and Asian, rich and poor, young and old -- is still irrevocably bound to a tragic past. But what we know -- what we have seen – is that America can change. That is the true genius of this nation. What we have already achieved gives us hope – the audacity to hope – for what we can and must achieve tomorrow."
"For we have a choice in this country. We can accept a politics that breeds division, and conflict, and cynicism. We can tackle race only as spectacle – as we did in the OJ trial – or in the wake of tragedy, as we did in the aftermath of Katrina - or as fodder for the nightly news. We can play Reverend Wright’s sermons on every channel, every day and talk about them from now until the election, and make the only question in this campaign whether or not the American people think that I somehow believe or sympathize with his most offensive words. We can pounce on some gaffe by a Hillary supporter as evidence that she’s playing the race card, or we can speculate on whether white men will all flock to John McCain in the general election regardless of his policies.
"We can do that.
"But if we do, I can tell you that in the next election, we’ll be talking about some other distraction. And then another one. And then another one. And nothing will change.
"That is one option. Or, at this moment, in this election, we can come together and say, 'Not this time.'"
"This time we want to talk about the fact that the real problem is not that someone who doesn’t look like you might take your job; it’s that the corporation you work for will ship it overseas for nothing more than a profit."
"I would not be running for President if I didn’t believe with all my heart that this is what the vast majority of Americans want for this country. This union may never be perfect, but generation after generation has shown that it can always be perfected. And today, whenever I find myself feeling doubtful or cynical about this possibility, what gives me the most hope is the next generation – the young people whose attitudes and beliefs and openness to change have already made history in this election."
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/samgrahamfelsen/gGBbKG
Here are the soundbites I like:
"I have brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, uncles and cousins, of every race and every hue, scattered across three continents, and for as long as I live, I will never forget that in no other country on Earth is my story even possible."
"I can no more disown [Reverend Wright] than I can disown the black community. I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother – a woman who helped raise me, a woman who sacrificed again and again for me, a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world, but a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe."
"The fact is that the comments that have been made and the issues that have surfaced over the last few weeks reflect the complexities of race in this country that we’ve never really worked through – a part of our union that we have yet to perfect. And if we walk away now, if we simply retreat into our respective corners, we will never be able to come together and solve challenges like health care, or education, or the need to find good jobs for every American." (emphasis mine)
"But the anger is real; it is powerful; and to simply wish it away, to condemn it without understanding its roots, only serves to widen the chasm of misunderstanding that exists between the races."
"Just as black anger often proved counterproductive, so have these white resentments distracted attention from the real culprits of the middle class squeeze – a corporate culture rife with inside dealing, questionable accounting practices, and short-term greed; a Washington dominated by lobbyists and special interests; economic policies that favor the few over the many. And yet, to wish away the resentments of white Americans, to label them as misguided or even racist, without recognizing they are grounded in legitimate concerns – this too widens the racial divide, and blocks the path to understanding."
"The profound mistake of Reverend Wright’s sermons is not that he spoke about racism in our society. It’s that he spoke as if our society was static; as if no progress has been made; as if this country – a country that has made it possible for one of his own members to run for the highest office in the land and build a coalition of white and black; Latino and Asian, rich and poor, young and old -- is still irrevocably bound to a tragic past. But what we know -- what we have seen – is that America can change. That is the true genius of this nation. What we have already achieved gives us hope – the audacity to hope – for what we can and must achieve tomorrow."
"For we have a choice in this country. We can accept a politics that breeds division, and conflict, and cynicism. We can tackle race only as spectacle – as we did in the OJ trial – or in the wake of tragedy, as we did in the aftermath of Katrina - or as fodder for the nightly news. We can play Reverend Wright’s sermons on every channel, every day and talk about them from now until the election, and make the only question in this campaign whether or not the American people think that I somehow believe or sympathize with his most offensive words. We can pounce on some gaffe by a Hillary supporter as evidence that she’s playing the race card, or we can speculate on whether white men will all flock to John McCain in the general election regardless of his policies.
"We can do that.
"But if we do, I can tell you that in the next election, we’ll be talking about some other distraction. And then another one. And then another one. And nothing will change.
"That is one option. Or, at this moment, in this election, we can come together and say, 'Not this time.'"
"This time we want to talk about the fact that the real problem is not that someone who doesn’t look like you might take your job; it’s that the corporation you work for will ship it overseas for nothing more than a profit."
"I would not be running for President if I didn’t believe with all my heart that this is what the vast majority of Americans want for this country. This union may never be perfect, but generation after generation has shown that it can always be perfected. And today, whenever I find myself feeling doubtful or cynical about this possibility, what gives me the most hope is the next generation – the young people whose attitudes and beliefs and openness to change have already made history in this election."
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