Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Darts N Laurels
Seems like i've been a little light on the blogging lately!! I have no idea where this past week has gone. I know I could really use a vacation. Nothing until Thanksgiving, though, and that's still a few weeks away!!
Sooo... here's this week's DART and LAUREL
DARTS... to salesmen who talk verrrry softly & still call even though we are on the "do not call" list - claiming that they are not really trying to sell us something, so it's okay that they have called me.
LAURELS... to the garage door repairman who fixed the door so quickly & so efficiently. I really appreciated it!! And it sounds even quieter now!
What is your DART and LAUREL this week?
Sooo... here's this week's DART and LAUREL
DARTS... to salesmen who talk verrrry softly & still call even though we are on the "do not call" list - claiming that they are not really trying to sell us something, so it's okay that they have called me.
LAURELS... to the garage door repairman who fixed the door so quickly & so efficiently. I really appreciated it!! And it sounds even quieter now!
What is your DART and LAUREL this week?
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
Idiot Moment of the Day
We spent a lot of time together as a family this past weekend. It felt nice - we all got along, had fun, and shared some food.
Probably one of the best things we've done in a while.... so I guess it stands to reason that I managed to follow it up with one of the dumbest things I have done in YEARS.
Since there was so much quality time I got a little behind on my weekend domestic duties, namely the laundry. So after I got home today I tossed a load of whites into the washer. We didn't have quite a full load so I started tossing in some other things that needed a good healthy cleansing, since I usually add (color safe) bleach to this load.
Cut to the stupid part. I added in Bug's sneakers. His black sneakers. That have never been washed before.
Bird's only set of bedsheets, a pair of my khakis, a pair of Husband's khakis, and a stack of husband's t-shirts are all now sporting varying purple stains. So are some socks & underwear, but they don't count.
I am so angry with myself. I know better!!!
I have them all soaking in the washer right now in some incredibly hot water, some Shout & a lot more bleach. Will see what happens. Fingers crossed.
Probably one of the best things we've done in a while.... so I guess it stands to reason that I managed to follow it up with one of the dumbest things I have done in YEARS.
Since there was so much quality time I got a little behind on my weekend domestic duties, namely the laundry. So after I got home today I tossed a load of whites into the washer. We didn't have quite a full load so I started tossing in some other things that needed a good healthy cleansing, since I usually add (color safe) bleach to this load.
Cut to the stupid part. I added in Bug's sneakers. His black sneakers. That have never been washed before.
Bird's only set of bedsheets, a pair of my khakis, a pair of Husband's khakis, and a stack of husband's t-shirts are all now sporting varying purple stains. So are some socks & underwear, but they don't count.
I am so angry with myself. I know better!!!
I have them all soaking in the washer right now in some incredibly hot water, some Shout & a lot more bleach. Will see what happens. Fingers crossed.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Free Rice & Vocab
A friend sent me to this site where you can test your vocabulary. For every word you get right, rice will be donated to hungry people.
As of this post I am up to 1270 grains... dare you to beat me!!!
As of this post I am up to 1270 grains... dare you to beat me!!!
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Darts N Laurels
DARTS.... to parents who think they can do my job better than I can. (In 6 years, I've only had one parent who was a chemical engineer; it's quite probable she knew more than I do.)
LAURELS... to the waitress at Bennegans who very smoothly passed me the cookies that come with the kids' meals - so that the kids never even noticed they were there!!
What's your DART and LAUREL this week??
(PS - Happy 30th Birthday Husband!!!! I love you lots!!!)
LAURELS... to the waitress at Bennegans who very smoothly passed me the cookies that come with the kids' meals - so that the kids never even noticed they were there!!
What's your DART and LAUREL this week??
(PS - Happy 30th Birthday Husband!!!! I love you lots!!!)
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Happy Anniversary
Seven years ago today, I married the love of my life. It was a beautiful day. Not too hot, not too cold, not too sunny...
One of my favorite memories happened rather quick in the ceremony. I was walking into the church on the arm of my father and getting rather blubbery from the sheer emotion of it all. I looked down the aisle at Husband, and to this day I still remember the look on his face. As I panned across to look at all the groomsmen, I realized they also looked kind of nervous too. Odd, I thought, until I looked down at their feet:
Yes, they were all in running shoes (except 1 usher who chickened out at the insistence of his girlfriend). No, I did not know about this, and after being asked numerous times before the ceremony if I knew, they were all nervous about how I'd react.
Quite frankly, I thought it was funny. And hugely appropriate, as all the men - except the guy in dress shoes - were runners, and all the shoes were brand new. So I started laughing as I walked up the aisle - put those tears way back where they belonged! Saw the entire men's side heave a huge sigh of relief, and trade vaguely worried faces for smiles.
Happy Anniversary Husband!! Here's to 7 years and 70 more!!
One of my favorite memories happened rather quick in the ceremony. I was walking into the church on the arm of my father and getting rather blubbery from the sheer emotion of it all. I looked down the aisle at Husband, and to this day I still remember the look on his face. As I panned across to look at all the groomsmen, I realized they also looked kind of nervous too. Odd, I thought, until I looked down at their feet:
Yes, they were all in running shoes (except 1 usher who chickened out at the insistence of his girlfriend). No, I did not know about this, and after being asked numerous times before the ceremony if I knew, they were all nervous about how I'd react.
Quite frankly, I thought it was funny. And hugely appropriate, as all the men - except the guy in dress shoes - were runners, and all the shoes were brand new. So I started laughing as I walked up the aisle - put those tears way back where they belonged! Saw the entire men's side heave a huge sigh of relief, and trade vaguely worried faces for smiles.
Happy Anniversary Husband!! Here's to 7 years and 70 more!!
Saturday, October 13, 2007
How to Waste 10 Minutes
Round and round and round she goes.... but which way is the dancer spinning??
I see her going counter-clockwise, and no matter what I do, that's the only way I see her!
UPDATE: For the longest time, Husband could only see her going clockwise, but he finally managed to see her going the other way.
I could finally get her to spin clockwise by staring at the foot on the ground. Then I couldn't get her back to counterclockwise!! (Finally did it by staring at another part of the page, & leaving her in my peripheral vision.)
I see her going counter-clockwise, and no matter what I do, that's the only way I see her!
UPDATE: For the longest time, Husband could only see her going clockwise, but he finally managed to see her going the other way.
I could finally get her to spin clockwise by staring at the foot on the ground. Then I couldn't get her back to counterclockwise!! (Finally did it by staring at another part of the page, & leaving her in my peripheral vision.)
Friday, October 12, 2007
Update on George
For those of you who were up late at night wondering where George was.... I am happy to let you know that she is alive and well. They were saving her for the uber-athletic; I've now seen her in a white-water-rafting/mountain-climbing escapade.
Apparently there really can only be 2 of the 3 Musketeers in any of these super mysteries - solely because there are only 2 Hardy brothers.
I hope you can sleep now.
Apparently there really can only be 2 of the 3 Musketeers in any of these super mysteries - solely because there are only 2 Hardy brothers.
I hope you can sleep now.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Wise words from a student
Every once in a while I write a scientist/science-like quote on the board & have my students write a response to it. It's very stream-of-conscious, straight-from-the-hip (hmmm... any more cliches in there?!), and they are prepared to share if I call on them.
I was reading the entries from one of my classes today, and one girl opened with these sentences that I absolutely loved:
I don't think knowledge is worthless. I just believe that knowledge without imagination is useless.
I was reading the entries from one of my classes today, and one girl opened with these sentences that I absolutely loved:
I don't think knowledge is worthless. I just believe that knowledge without imagination is useless.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Look at the pretty colors!!!
Today's lab - flame testing. Nothing quite like giving teenagers some chemicals, methanol, & a lighter!!
But the colors were so pretty!
.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Table Manners
Tonight we went out to dinner. Every so often that's just a nice thing for us to do as a family, and the restaurants aren't nearly as crazy as they are on a Friday or a Saturday.
The place was busy, but not crowded. We had ourselves a nice little booth in a mostly-filled section, but nobody in the immediate tables next to us. There was a nice tall brick partition separating us from the elevated section on the other side.
Shortly after we ordered our dinner, a little head popped up over the partition. It belonged to a little girl who was perhaps 4 or 5 years old. She pretty much spent the entire rest of our meal hanging over the brick wall staring at us. And I do mean hanging - the entire upper half of her body was draped over the wall.
As I was getting more & more annoyed, Husband would occasionally ask her to sit down - and she would - but invariably she'd pop back up again in a few minutes.
After we finished eating Bug had to go to the bathroom (We are far more potty trained in public than we are at home!! Go figure.) I decided to take a detour past this little girl's table on the way back to ours, intending on asking the parents to seat their little girl.
However, as I neared their table it quickly became apparent that not only did they know what their daughter was up to - they thought it was cute.
Allow me to speak for the world: IT IS NOT CUTE TO LET YOUR CHILD HANG OVER SOMEONE ELSE'S TABLE.
Keep the source in mind too - I am not an old curmudgeon spinster. We are not a childless DINKs. We do, however, work very hard to teach our children appropriate manners, and would love it if you would do the same.
The place was busy, but not crowded. We had ourselves a nice little booth in a mostly-filled section, but nobody in the immediate tables next to us. There was a nice tall brick partition separating us from the elevated section on the other side.
Shortly after we ordered our dinner, a little head popped up over the partition. It belonged to a little girl who was perhaps 4 or 5 years old. She pretty much spent the entire rest of our meal hanging over the brick wall staring at us. And I do mean hanging - the entire upper half of her body was draped over the wall.
As I was getting more & more annoyed, Husband would occasionally ask her to sit down - and she would - but invariably she'd pop back up again in a few minutes.
After we finished eating Bug had to go to the bathroom (We are far more potty trained in public than we are at home!! Go figure.) I decided to take a detour past this little girl's table on the way back to ours, intending on asking the parents to seat their little girl.
However, as I neared their table it quickly became apparent that not only did they know what their daughter was up to - they thought it was cute.
Allow me to speak for the world: IT IS NOT CUTE TO LET YOUR CHILD HANG OVER SOMEONE ELSE'S TABLE.
Keep the source in mind too - I am not an old curmudgeon spinster. We are not a childless DINKs. We do, however, work very hard to teach our children appropriate manners, and would love it if you would do the same.
The Dystopic Movie Meme
Stole this from Through the Looking Glass. You bold the movies you've seen. I've italicized (sp?) the movies that Husband has seen and assures me I will not enjoy.
1. Metropolis (1927)
2. A Clockwork Orange (1971)
3. Brazil (1985)
4. Wings of Desire (1987)
5. Blade Runner (1982)
6. Children of Men (2006)
7. The Matrix (1999)
8. Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981)
9. Minority Report (2002)
10. Delicatessen (1991)
11. Sleeper (1973)
12. The Trial (1962)
13. Alphaville (1965)
14. Twelve Monkeys (1995)
15. Serenity (2005)
16. Pleasantville (1998)
17. Ghost in the Shell (1995)
18. Battle Royale (2000)
19. RoboCop (1987)
20. Akira (1988)
21. The City of Lost Children (1995)
22. Planet of the Apes (1968)
23. V for Vendetta (2005)
24. Metropolis (2001)
25. Gattaca (1997)
26. Fahrenheit 451 (1966)
27. On The Beach (1959)
28. Mad Max (1979)
29. Total Recall (1990)
30. Dark City (1998)
31. War Of the Worlds (1953)
32. District B13 (2004)
33. They Live (1988)
34. THX 1138 (1971)
35. Escape from New York (1981)
36. A Scanner Darkly (2006)
37. Silent Running (1972)
38. Artificial Intelligence: AI (2001)
39. Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984)
40. A Boy and His Dog (1975)
41. Soylent Green (1973)
42. I Robot (2004)
43. Logan’s Run (1976)
44. Strange Days (1995)
45. Idiocracy (2006)
46. Death Race 2000 (1975)
47. Rollerball (1975)
48. Starship Troopers (1997)
49. One Point O (2004)
50. Equilibrium (2002)
I was kind of surprised I haven't seen any more, cause I've certainly READ far more dystopia (gotta love that phase in high school/college). I'm guessing it's because the screen has a tendency to be far more violent & gory for the sake of being gory than my imagination is.
1. Metropolis (1927)
2. A Clockwork Orange (1971)
3. Brazil (1985)
4. Wings of Desire (1987)
5. Blade Runner (1982)
6. Children of Men (2006)
7. The Matrix (1999)
8. Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981)
9. Minority Report (2002)
10. Delicatessen (1991)
11. Sleeper (1973)
12. The Trial (1962)
13. Alphaville (1965)
14. Twelve Monkeys (1995)
15. Serenity (2005)
16. Pleasantville (1998)
17. Ghost in the Shell (1995)
18. Battle Royale (2000)
19. RoboCop (1987)
20. Akira (1988)
21. The City of Lost Children (1995)
22. Planet of the Apes (1968)
23. V for Vendetta (2005)
24. Metropolis (2001)
25. Gattaca (1997)
26. Fahrenheit 451 (1966)
27. On The Beach (1959)
28. Mad Max (1979)
29. Total Recall (1990)
30. Dark City (1998)
31. War Of the Worlds (1953)
32. District B13 (2004)
33. They Live (1988)
34. THX 1138 (1971)
35. Escape from New York (1981)
36. A Scanner Darkly (2006)
37. Silent Running (1972)
38. Artificial Intelligence: AI (2001)
39. Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984)
40. A Boy and His Dog (1975)
41. Soylent Green (1973)
42. I Robot (2004)
43. Logan’s Run (1976)
44. Strange Days (1995)
45. Idiocracy (2006)
46. Death Race 2000 (1975)
47. Rollerball (1975)
48. Starship Troopers (1997)
49. One Point O (2004)
50. Equilibrium (2002)
I was kind of surprised I haven't seen any more, cause I've certainly READ far more dystopia (gotta love that phase in high school/college). I'm guessing it's because the screen has a tendency to be far more violent & gory for the sake of being gory than my imagination is.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Thought for the Day
All three levels of my chemistry classes have been learning about the dual nature of light in some form for the past week. Two of them (Honors & AP) have been learning about how Max Planck really pioneered the idea that light is not only a wave but also acts like a particle. Thing was, though, that nobody really believed him, even though he had experimental evidence. (and, as far as we know today, he was right).
He was lucky. Einstein came along a mere 5 years later... When he proposed the Photoelectric effect, he essentially confirmed what Planck had been saying all along.
I mention all this because recently I came across a quote by Max Planck that I really loved:
A scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it.
Hmmmmm.
He was lucky. Einstein came along a mere 5 years later... When he proposed the Photoelectric effect, he essentially confirmed what Planck had been saying all along.
I mention all this because recently I came across a quote by Max Planck that I really loved:
A scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it.
Hmmmmm.
Bonks to the Head
After I dug up all those Nancy Drew/Hardy boys books, the libaraian rolled her eyes at me. I asked her (quite tongue in cheek) what was wrong with such wonderful literature.
Her: "Anybody in real life who got clunked in the head as much as Frank and Joe Hardy would be mentally challenged."
She has a point. Though I'm thinking that all the chloroform Nancy's had to sniff can't be good for her either.
Her: "Anybody in real life who got clunked in the head as much as Frank and Joe Hardy would be mentally challenged."
She has a point. Though I'm thinking that all the chloroform Nancy's had to sniff can't be good for her either.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Morning Routines
A friend asked me how on earth I get to school on time every morning. I am a serious clockwatcher. After typing it all up for her I decided what better place to preserve it forever than to put it out there on the Internet?!
I pretty much make it to school by 7:20 every morning. any later (which happens occasionally - like this morning) and i get stuck in car line for a looooong time.
555 - alarm goes off; get up, putz a bit - bathroom, email, etc.
615 - drink glass of sunny delight (yes, i do plan on glowing in the dark after i die!); pack car with all my school stuff; make lunch for Bird if necessary, etc.
630 - wake Bird.
635 - wake Bird again (she sleeps like the dead). convince her she needs to get dressed.
636 - meltdown #1 because i won't take off her pullups
638 - meltdown #2 because her pjs are stuck around her head
640 - meltdown #3 because i will not dress her (this is something i've been trying to work on with dh. he will just dress her himself. i think she's old enough to do it on her own!)
** of course, these meltdowns can vary in style & number on a daily basis. i am not apprised of the schedule!!! **
645 - finally have her dressed, go wake & dress Bug (he is only 2!)
650 - hop in shower
655 - get dressed
700 - herd everyone out to car
707 - pull out of garage (i have no idea why it takes so long... some kind of time warp!)
710 - drop kids off at sitter's; try not to hug & chat too long. race to school hoping i get the green arrow at the 1st light quickly.
720 - careen into school parking lot on 2 wheels (as best as one can in an SUV!!) & fly into my classroom
745 - 1st period begins
I pretty much make it to school by 7:20 every morning. any later (which happens occasionally - like this morning) and i get stuck in car line for a looooong time.
555 - alarm goes off; get up, putz a bit - bathroom, email, etc.
615 - drink glass of sunny delight (yes, i do plan on glowing in the dark after i die!); pack car with all my school stuff; make lunch for Bird if necessary, etc.
630 - wake Bird.
635 - wake Bird again (she sleeps like the dead). convince her she needs to get dressed.
636 - meltdown #1 because i won't take off her pullups
638 - meltdown #2 because her pjs are stuck around her head
640 - meltdown #3 because i will not dress her (this is something i've been trying to work on with dh. he will just dress her himself. i think she's old enough to do it on her own!)
** of course, these meltdowns can vary in style & number on a daily basis. i am not apprised of the schedule!!! **
645 - finally have her dressed, go wake & dress Bug (he is only 2!)
650 - hop in shower
655 - get dressed
700 - herd everyone out to car
707 - pull out of garage (i have no idea why it takes so long... some kind of time warp!)
710 - drop kids off at sitter's; try not to hug & chat too long. race to school hoping i get the green arrow at the 1st light quickly.
720 - careen into school parking lot on 2 wheels (as best as one can in an SUV!!) & fly into my classroom
745 - 1st period begins
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Why not George??
Every once in a while, the school library goes through & weeds out books that are getting too old and put them in the workroom for teachers to go through. I usually don't pay too much attention, as the finds are usually not too interesting.
Last week, however, there was a stack of these in there:
Anybody but me even remember these? Seems to me they weren't out very long; I'd only bought about 3 before I never saw them again. (And yes, I do still have them - right next to my stack of Nancy Drew files & paperback original series books too! I am quite the geek!)
So I took the stack home & have been slowly working through them. On my 3rd now (cause they aren't exactly predictable or all the same plot!), and something has occured to me:
They've taken out George.
Remember how in all the other books, it has always been Nancy, Bess, & George. (c'mon, I know you can see their descriptions in your mind!). Maybe once in a while it would be Nancy & George, or just Nancy & Bess, but usually it was all 3 of them together.
However, in these Nancy Drew/Hardy boys books, George has been mysteriously sick or busy in all of them. What was so bad about her? She was smart, pretty, & athletic - the tri-fecta of a good role model. Bess, on the other hand, was always portrayed as boy-crazy - though she seems to be a bit smarter & not so wimpy in these books. Was it that a dynamic of 3 girls is just too much? Should there be only 2 to pair up with the Hardy brothers? Should our girls want to emulate Bess's flirty ways?
The world may never know. Or care, really! :)
Last week, however, there was a stack of these in there:
Anybody but me even remember these? Seems to me they weren't out very long; I'd only bought about 3 before I never saw them again. (And yes, I do still have them - right next to my stack of Nancy Drew files & paperback original series books too! I am quite the geek!)
So I took the stack home & have been slowly working through them. On my 3rd now (cause they aren't exactly predictable or all the same plot!), and something has occured to me:
They've taken out George.
Remember how in all the other books, it has always been Nancy, Bess, & George. (c'mon, I know you can see their descriptions in your mind!). Maybe once in a while it would be Nancy & George, or just Nancy & Bess, but usually it was all 3 of them together.
However, in these Nancy Drew/Hardy boys books, George has been mysteriously sick or busy in all of them. What was so bad about her? She was smart, pretty, & athletic - the tri-fecta of a good role model. Bess, on the other hand, was always portrayed as boy-crazy - though she seems to be a bit smarter & not so wimpy in these books. Was it that a dynamic of 3 girls is just too much? Should there be only 2 to pair up with the Hardy brothers? Should our girls want to emulate Bess's flirty ways?
The world may never know. Or care, really! :)
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