I would have to say that the biggest things I accomplished yeterday is the discovery of my true Indian name.
Nevermind that I'm Scottish. Everyone should have a name that connects them to Nature - I think - so instead of calling it an Indian name, I'll call it a Nature Name.
Mine may be "Naps with Cats."
There is a HUGE difference between taking a catnap, and taking a nap with cats. I highly recommend the latter.
Exhaustive studies, which were quite refreshing, conducted in my own home, have led me to the conclusion that one sleeps better, deeper, longer, and more snuggly with a cat stretched out on or beside you.
And that's what I did yesterday. It may also help that yesterday was rain rain rain.
Well, I did make a good-sized list of things to do and, let's see, . . . I did three and a quarter of them. Groceries, Bills, Laundry, Bank, Knit. (Laundry and knit are still incomplete).
I will consult the great list today as well.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Stream of Consciousness
Now I find I have time on my hands and no list.
It's my first day of spring break. What to do?
I have lots of creative projects and must-get-done projects and I don't know where to start because I don't have list.
I promised I'd start journaling more and would try a little stream of consciousness writing to see if I could give myself a little direction.
I have been living without a LIST for quite a while now. That doesn't mean I've been idle. It just means that I've been only just getting through without working toward any well-defined goals.
After I finish my coffee today I'll sit and begin making some good lists. Then I'll go back and prioritize and make sublists.
Paint, knit, bills, construction, yard, home, clean, bills, groceries, recycling, family, letter writing, lesson planning, blogging, Prissmas, career planning, . . .
I'm not sure where to start.
Fortunately it's a foggy rainy day so napping will have to be added to the list.
Laundry, new glasses, dental appointment, storage space, reading for fun, book study, recipes, . . .
If I don't have a good list in place soon, before I know it, I'll find myself in my first teacher's summer sitting in this same spot doing the same thing.
Clean Jeep, new Jeep top?, design knit patterns, witch's garden, pagan studies, tarot, . . .
All these things jump in and out of my head while I drive to and from work each weekday, and once I get home, all I want to do is go to bed with a book.
My first thought each workday morning is "Today is [insert day] so I must . . ."
My first thought each weekend is "I overslept! No, wait. No school today so I must . . ."
Know myself. Know my craft. Learn. Apply knowledge with wisdom. Achieve balance. Keep my words in good order. Keep my thoughts in good order. Celebrate life! Attune with the cycles of the earth. Breathe and eat correctly. Exercise the body. Meditate. Respect the energy. (Goals of a witch.)
I also have to remember things that I promised to do for other people, like post the Bush family confession - where did I put that?
This is the most disorganized I've been in quite a while. "Time keeps on slippin', slippin' into the future."
The very first item on my list should be love my husband . . .
Play with my dogs, pet my cats, mark a meandering path through the hillside, rake up the acorns, twigs, and leaves, move some rocks, clear the porch, plant signs in the garden, what to plant with bulbs? . . .
Determine to be happy - celebrate life - enjoy the little things -
Post blog entry and finish coffee.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Focus
I'm listing things in my journal that I like to do.
I swear I'm ADD, because there is such an eclectic list and when I pack my "activity bag" for the day, there's far too much in it than I could ever get to.
I pack my bag for work, in case it's a slow day, and the things I have in there are often knitting, laptop for writing/blogging/playing games, my herbalism book and journal, tarot cards, and much more.
So at work, the laptop is open to a video game, the journal is on the counter, the knitting is on the corner and I hop from task to task to task, never actually making a dent in anything.
I'm at a point now (similar to last December) where I must pare down my activities to a more organized focus. Can I do it? Right now I've got the blog open in front of me, the journal beside me, knitting and tarot behind me and a yard full of landscaping outside waiting for me. When will I get to meditation, bills, and crafts?
I hate to create an activity schedule for myself, but I think that's what it's leading toward.
I swear I'm ADD, because there is such an eclectic list and when I pack my "activity bag" for the day, there's far too much in it than I could ever get to.
I pack my bag for work, in case it's a slow day, and the things I have in there are often knitting, laptop for writing/blogging/playing games, my herbalism book and journal, tarot cards, and much more.
So at work, the laptop is open to a video game, the journal is on the counter, the knitting is on the corner and I hop from task to task to task, never actually making a dent in anything.
I'm at a point now (similar to last December) where I must pare down my activities to a more organized focus. Can I do it? Right now I've got the blog open in front of me, the journal beside me, knitting and tarot behind me and a yard full of landscaping outside waiting for me. When will I get to meditation, bills, and crafts?
I hate to create an activity schedule for myself, but I think that's what it's leading toward.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Okay, Something's Gotta Give
I have been living on the edge.
Three weeks of no school and no running commentary in my brain of what's due next or what must be read or written or filled out. It's been bliss.
I've been rediscovering the Chuck of 3 years ago--the Chuck that has lots of interesting things to do. I pulled out old projects, old hobbies, old books and covered the dining room table. The coffee table. The buffet, the guest room bed.
I look at all these things and think, "what will I do today?" It's overwhelming. It's amazing. It's wonderous. It's fractured. It's scary. I love it.
Being a Gemini, I'm going to have a conversation with myself this week. The other side of my personality is saying "There's just too much. Something's gotta give."
I'm going to have a serious conversation with myself.
"Yes, all of this other stuff is fun, but you have responsibilities as well. Wouldn't it be nice to see the floor? Wouldn't it be nice if the bedroom didn't smell like three dogs, two bears, and a cat? What about the litter that's blown into the side yard? How about putting up some cedar shakes at the cottage, marking the driveway, or clearing out the scrap wood? And when was the last time you poop scooped the dog run?"
Okay, okay, okay. Let's make some lists. Let's make some exhaustive lists. You like lists. We can split them up. Some for me and some for you. But let's not get strict about it.
"Well, if we're not strict about it, how can we be sure to balance fun with responsible?"
Do we have to?
"I think we should. In fact, we should probably be even MORE responsible."
But I've BEEN responsible. I got all A's. I worked hard, I wrote a lot and read a lot and put up with a lot. Why can't I just watch movies, knit, read, and nap?
"You've been doing that for three weeks. AND you have to get a job. I'll give you until 2010. January 1st we start ticking things off of MY list."
I won't like it.
"Yes I will."
Three weeks of no school and no running commentary in my brain of what's due next or what must be read or written or filled out. It's been bliss.
I've been rediscovering the Chuck of 3 years ago--the Chuck that has lots of interesting things to do. I pulled out old projects, old hobbies, old books and covered the dining room table. The coffee table. The buffet, the guest room bed.
I look at all these things and think, "what will I do today?" It's overwhelming. It's amazing. It's wonderous. It's fractured. It's scary. I love it.
Being a Gemini, I'm going to have a conversation with myself this week. The other side of my personality is saying "There's just too much. Something's gotta give."
I'm going to have a serious conversation with myself.
"Yes, all of this other stuff is fun, but you have responsibilities as well. Wouldn't it be nice to see the floor? Wouldn't it be nice if the bedroom didn't smell like three dogs, two bears, and a cat? What about the litter that's blown into the side yard? How about putting up some cedar shakes at the cottage, marking the driveway, or clearing out the scrap wood? And when was the last time you poop scooped the dog run?"
Okay, okay, okay. Let's make some lists. Let's make some exhaustive lists. You like lists. We can split them up. Some for me and some for you. But let's not get strict about it.
"Well, if we're not strict about it, how can we be sure to balance fun with responsible?"
Do we have to?
"I think we should. In fact, we should probably be even MORE responsible."
But I've BEEN responsible. I got all A's. I worked hard, I wrote a lot and read a lot and put up with a lot. Why can't I just watch movies, knit, read, and nap?
"You've been doing that for three weeks. AND you have to get a job. I'll give you until 2010. January 1st we start ticking things off of MY list."
I won't like it.
"Yes I will."
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
He's Baaaaaack ! ! ! !
I'm sure that this dusty old thing (the blog, not me) has fallen off of your radar screens, but here I am again.
I am DONE ! (For now.) With college. Yesterday I did the last thing I had to do. I need create no more, turn in nothing else, and neither write nor read for obligation (at the moment).
All I have to do now is sit back and wait (and fret) for the grades to come in (Christmas), the teaching certificate to be approved (January to March), and the degree to be printed (May).
My summer reading list was nothing compared to what I read in the last quarter. Visit www.gliterature.blogspot.com to get an idea. (Then tell me what you think.)
Student teaching had its downs and ups, but I've found I actually do like middle school kids. They weren't the hellions everyone said they were, and oh, the potential there!
Okay, no more talk of school and schooling (and I won't EVEN go into job hunting).
My new year resolution for the past couple years has been boiled down to one word.
2008 - Simplify
2009 - Finish
2010 - Family
It's the year of the family. For the past 3 years I have been woefully out of contact with family and friends who are family, so this coming year I'm going to do something about it.
I'm going to write letters.
I'm going to send cards.
I'm going to visit.
I'm going to call.
I'm fairly certain I've missed EVERYONE's birthdays for the past three years (and NO, I'm not knitting any retroactive gifts).
(I actually still owe Tammy TWO gifts - one promised for killing the most bunnies and one for her last birthday. I haven't forgotten ! )
College obligations are slowly draining from my mind (contented sigh) and the creative Chuck is coming back to life.
I have fleeting visions of writing, painting, knitting, meditating, oh the places we'll go.
I am DONE ! (For now.) With college. Yesterday I did the last thing I had to do. I need create no more, turn in nothing else, and neither write nor read for obligation (at the moment).
All I have to do now is sit back and wait (and fret) for the grades to come in (Christmas), the teaching certificate to be approved (January to March), and the degree to be printed (May).
My summer reading list was nothing compared to what I read in the last quarter. Visit www.gliterature.blogspot.com to get an idea. (Then tell me what you think.)
Student teaching had its downs and ups, but I've found I actually do like middle school kids. They weren't the hellions everyone said they were, and oh, the potential there!
Okay, no more talk of school and schooling (and I won't EVEN go into job hunting).
My new year resolution for the past couple years has been boiled down to one word.
2008 - Simplify
2009 - Finish
2010 - Family
It's the year of the family. For the past 3 years I have been woefully out of contact with family and friends who are family, so this coming year I'm going to do something about it.
I'm going to write letters.
I'm going to send cards.
I'm going to visit.
I'm going to call.
I'm fairly certain I've missed EVERYONE's birthdays for the past three years (and NO, I'm not knitting any retroactive gifts).
(I actually still owe Tammy TWO gifts - one promised for killing the most bunnies and one for her last birthday. I haven't forgotten ! )
College obligations are slowly draining from my mind (contented sigh) and the creative Chuck is coming back to life.
I have fleeting visions of writing, painting, knitting, meditating, oh the places we'll go.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Summer Reading List
I have perused
1000 Places to See before You Die by Patricia Schultz
Not In Kansas Anymore: A Curious Tale of How Magic is Transforming America by Christine Wicker.
I have read
Simple Spells for Success by Barrie Dolnick
Mirror, Mirror by Gregory Maguire
The Crow: Temple of Night by S.P. Somtow
Dead Sleep by Greg Iles
1000 Places to See before You Die by Patricia Schultz
Not In Kansas Anymore: A Curious Tale of How Magic is Transforming America by Christine Wicker.
I have read
Simple Spells for Success by Barrie Dolnick
Mirror, Mirror by Gregory Maguire
The Crow: Temple of Night by S.P. Somtow
Dead Sleep by Greg Iles
Monday, May 11, 2009
School's out for the Summer!
Not quite a week since I finished my last Final Exam of the Spring Semester . . .
I have perused 1000 Places to See before You Die by Patricia Schultz and Not In Kansas Anymore: A Curious Tale of How Magic is Transforming America by Christine Wicker.
I have read Simple Spells for Success by Barrie Dolnick and Mirror, Mirror by Gregory Maguire.
I have visited Green Man and cleaned up some scrap wood and made work plans for my next visit.
I have sketched, sanded, cut, and started painting a VIP Lounge sign for JL.
I have taken a nap, stayed up late, fell asleep early, played cards, and knitted.
All in all it's been a fabulous near week.
Now I'm going to pay some bills and figure out what to do with the rest of the morning before work.
I have perused 1000 Places to See before You Die by Patricia Schultz and Not In Kansas Anymore: A Curious Tale of How Magic is Transforming America by Christine Wicker.
I have read Simple Spells for Success by Barrie Dolnick and Mirror, Mirror by Gregory Maguire.
I have visited Green Man and cleaned up some scrap wood and made work plans for my next visit.
I have sketched, sanded, cut, and started painting a VIP Lounge sign for JL.
I have taken a nap, stayed up late, fell asleep early, played cards, and knitted.
All in all it's been a fabulous near week.
Now I'm going to pay some bills and figure out what to do with the rest of the morning before work.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Daydreaming
I'm in the library working on a paper . . .
But I've stopped to daydream about the Summer.
I would like to:
Finish the Bunny Board
Paint a bit on the canvas (The Bath)
Knit
Read for pleasure
Open the windows and air out the house
Go camping at Green Man
Get a roof and doors on Green Man Cottage
Get a porch up to the front door of the cottage
Plot my circular garden
Finish Sarah's socks
But I've stopped to daydream about the Summer.
I would like to:
Finish the Bunny Board
Paint a bit on the canvas (The Bath)
Knit
Read for pleasure
Open the windows and air out the house
Go camping at Green Man
Get a roof and doors on Green Man Cottage
Get a porch up to the front door of the cottage
Plot my circular garden
Finish Sarah's socks
Monday, April 13, 2009
Prissmas is Saturday!
Don't forget! ! ! !
This Saturday is PRISSMAS!
It's the holiday dedicated to "I Told You So."
So put on your aprons and leis and pull out all the times you bit your tongue this year and let loose!
Burn something. Spit cheap liquor into it.
Paint a dead tree pink and decorate it with crabs and rats.
This Saturday is PRISSMAS!
It's the holiday dedicated to "I Told You So."
So put on your aprons and leis and pull out all the times you bit your tongue this year and let loose!
Burn something. Spit cheap liquor into it.
Paint a dead tree pink and decorate it with crabs and rats.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
To Do List - 11 Days to Go
DONE
Bobbie Jo's scarf
Mandy's scarf
SOMETHING for Cat.
Catch up with the girls.
Doubleknit project of mine (I frogged it).
Daydream.
Clean up the yard. (As much as I could without the clippers.)
Start and finish a knitting project for ME! (I'm taking it off the list)
Rearrange the furniture.
Sort my yarn stash.
Laundry.
Watch movies.
Go for a walk.
Finish that book.
Refine my online personas
Journey to Jupiter
New Bar Prices
WORKING
Socks for Sarah. (only one 2/3s done)
Clean the hell out of the house.
Declutter, putting everything in its place.
YET TO START
Buy my Spring semester books.
Nap.
Juggle my credit card bills.
Plan the circular garden at the cottage.
Maybe find a letterbox.
Pull together my teacher portfolio.
Get acquainted with the PRAXIS II tests.
Pub Crawl in Buffalo
ISIS puzzle
Painting
New Bar models
Bobbie Jo's scarf
Mandy's scarf
SOMETHING for Cat.
Catch up with the girls.
Doubleknit project of mine (I frogged it).
Daydream.
Clean up the yard. (As much as I could without the clippers.)
Start and finish a knitting project for ME! (I'm taking it off the list)
Rearrange the furniture.
Sort my yarn stash.
Laundry.
Watch movies.
Go for a walk.
Finish that book.
Refine my online personas
Journey to Jupiter
New Bar Prices
WORKING
Socks for Sarah. (only one 2/3s done)
Clean the hell out of the house.
Declutter, putting everything in its place.
YET TO START
Buy my Spring semester books.
Nap.
Juggle my credit card bills.
Plan the circular garden at the cottage.
Maybe find a letterbox.
Pull together my teacher portfolio.
Get acquainted with the PRAXIS II tests.
Pub Crawl in Buffalo
ISIS puzzle
Painting
New Bar models
Friday, December 26, 2008
18 Days to Go
I was working so diligently to get the final knitting projects done for Christmas (that Judeo Christian religious holiday that supplanted Yule) that I haven't thought beyond the 25th. It came as a complete surprise to me that I have to work on the day after.
My SUPER deadlined knitting projects are done and I should probably tackle something around the house. Fiddle dee dee. Maybe another cup of coffee before I decide what to do next.
DONE
Bobbie Jo's scarf
Mandy's scarf
SOMETHING for Cat. She got these.
WORKING
Catch up with the girls.
Doubleknit project of mine.
Socks for Sarah. (only one 2/3s done)
Daydream.
Clean up the yard.
Start and finish a knitting project for ME!
Clean the hell out of the house.
Declutter, putting everything in its place.
Watch movies.
Laundry.
Rearrange the furniture.
Sort my yarn stash.
YET TO START
Go for a walk.
Finish that book.
Buy my Spring semester books.
Nap.
Juggle my credit card bills.
Plan the circular garden at the cottage.
Maybe find a letterbox.
Pull together my teacher portfolio.
Get acquainted with the PRAXIS II tests.
Refine my online personas
Fun things I've added, but probably shouldn't have, but am going to anyway!
Pub Crawl in Buffalo
ISIS puzzle
Painting
Journey to Jupiter
New Bar Prices
New Bar models
My SUPER deadlined knitting projects are done and I should probably tackle something around the house. Fiddle dee dee. Maybe another cup of coffee before I decide what to do next.
DONE
Bobbie Jo's scarf
Mandy's scarf
SOMETHING for Cat. She got these.
WORKING
Catch up with the girls.
Doubleknit project of mine.
Socks for Sarah. (only one 2/3s done)
Daydream.
Clean up the yard.
Start and finish a knitting project for ME!
Clean the hell out of the house.
Declutter, putting everything in its place.
Watch movies.
Laundry.
Rearrange the furniture.
Sort my yarn stash.
YET TO START
Go for a walk.
Finish that book.
Buy my Spring semester books.
Nap.
Juggle my credit card bills.
Plan the circular garden at the cottage.
Maybe find a letterbox.
Pull together my teacher portfolio.
Get acquainted with the PRAXIS II tests.
Refine my online personas
Fun things I've added, but probably shouldn't have, but am going to anyway!
Pub Crawl in Buffalo
ISIS puzzle
Painting
Journey to Jupiter
New Bar Prices
New Bar models
Monday, December 15, 2008
What Have I Been Up To?
Winter semester of Shepherd is finally done. My last exam was Thursday. Whew. Now I just sit and wait for the final grades to be posted.
I'm hopeful but not confident. So no fretting, because it's not productive.
Speaking of not productive.
I worked Friday and Saturday, so yesterday was my first day of unscheduled bliss.
For six hours straight I played Killer Bunnies and the Journey to Jupiter. Two games in six hours. I won the first one and Captain Nerdulon won the second.
Captain Nerdulon is Rick. We have assigned this name because we feel like such geeks when we argue the finer points of play. Imagine the white tape on our glasses that we push up constantly with one finger while we make awkward snorting sounds and say something like "The Beyea aliens are locked onto your ship. Until it's destroyed you can't launch another ship into space. You should use your long-range transporter to transfer your bunnies and markers to the armor-plated ship that has a die power of ten as soon as it comes into a direct line of sight. Now let's move the planets."
That was yesterday. After Captain Nerdulon left, I sat down to knit some more. I couldn't hold out. I started a new project on Thursday and have been neglecting the older projects that are still on needles.
I work again tonight, so I'm torn between raking the yard, cleaning house, and sitting on my but knitting. Oh, and I have a book I could read.
This four week break is going to go by so quickly.
On the needles...
Bobbie Jo's scarf (need to add fringe)
Mandy's scarf (need to knit about 2/3s more)
Doubleknit project of mine.
Socks for Sarah. (only one 2/3s done)
SOMETHING for Cat. She's been begging me to knit her something and I was eager to start a new project. I think it's really neat, and not my colors at all.
Okay so my list of things to do in four weeks (school starts again four weeks from today).
Finish those five knitting projects.
Start and finish a knitting project for ME!
Clean up the yard.
Go for a walk.
Clean the hell out of the house.
Declutter, putting everything in its place.
Daydream.
Laundry.
Rearrange the furniture.
Finish that book.
Buy my Spring semester books.
Nap.
Catch up with the girls.
Watch movies.
Juggle my credit card bills.
Plan the circular garden at the cottage.
Sort my yarn stash.
Maybe find a letterbox.
Pull together my teacher portfolio.
Get acquainted with the PRAXIS II tests.
Refine my online personas.
I'm hopeful but not confident. So no fretting, because it's not productive.
Speaking of not productive.
I worked Friday and Saturday, so yesterday was my first day of unscheduled bliss.
For six hours straight I played Killer Bunnies and the Journey to Jupiter. Two games in six hours. I won the first one and Captain Nerdulon won the second.
Captain Nerdulon is Rick. We have assigned this name because we feel like such geeks when we argue the finer points of play. Imagine the white tape on our glasses that we push up constantly with one finger while we make awkward snorting sounds and say something like "The Beyea aliens are locked onto your ship. Until it's destroyed you can't launch another ship into space. You should use your long-range transporter to transfer your bunnies and markers to the armor-plated ship that has a die power of ten as soon as it comes into a direct line of sight. Now let's move the planets."
That was yesterday. After Captain Nerdulon left, I sat down to knit some more. I couldn't hold out. I started a new project on Thursday and have been neglecting the older projects that are still on needles.
I work again tonight, so I'm torn between raking the yard, cleaning house, and sitting on my but knitting. Oh, and I have a book I could read.
This four week break is going to go by so quickly.
On the needles...
Bobbie Jo's scarf (need to add fringe)
Mandy's scarf (need to knit about 2/3s more)
Doubleknit project of mine.
Socks for Sarah. (only one 2/3s done)
SOMETHING for Cat. She's been begging me to knit her something and I was eager to start a new project. I think it's really neat, and not my colors at all.
Okay so my list of things to do in four weeks (school starts again four weeks from today).
Finish those five knitting projects.
Start and finish a knitting project for ME!
Clean up the yard.
Go for a walk.
Clean the hell out of the house.
Declutter, putting everything in its place.
Daydream.
Laundry.
Rearrange the furniture.
Finish that book.
Buy my Spring semester books.
Nap.
Catch up with the girls.
Watch movies.
Juggle my credit card bills.
Plan the circular garden at the cottage.
Sort my yarn stash.
Maybe find a letterbox.
Pull together my teacher portfolio.
Get acquainted with the PRAXIS II tests.
Refine my online personas.
Friday, October 17, 2008
The End of Summer
I know, we're already well into Fall, but Samhain is fast approaching and that means "summer's end."
I feel better today than I have in quite a while and I don't know if I'm simply in denial of all that needs to be done or if I'm actually in a good place.
I slept in this morning, much to the dismay of Blue (the cat), and I'm sure to the annoyance of my husband. (Just how many times CAN one push the snooze alarm?)
I did eventually get up, let the dogs (and cat) out, set the coffee maker brewing, showered, and sipped coffee. I got my schoolbooks together and headed out the door about 30 minutes later than usual.
I drove to campus and watched the sky lighten up in the east and daydreamed a little about a future art project.
I really didn't feel pressed for time or effort this morning.
I do believe I'm working in an ignorance as bliss sort of mode right now. I don't KNOW of anything that is due immediately for any of my classes because I've not looked at my syllabus since turning in all the stuff that was due this week.
Ahhhhhhh. (Contented sigh.)
I will take all of my folders to work with me tonight and plot out on the lap top all that is due and when it is due for the rest of the semester and try to get a little ahead here and there.
Just to share with anyone who happens to visit...
Today,
Finances: all the month's bills are in the mail, gas tank's full.
School: whatever was due is turned in. Midterms are over.
Home: it's a little messy, but comfortably so.
Heart: he loves me and I love him.
Friends: wonderfully patient and looking forward to spending time with them
8-Ball Outlook? Good.
I feel better today than I have in quite a while and I don't know if I'm simply in denial of all that needs to be done or if I'm actually in a good place.
I slept in this morning, much to the dismay of Blue (the cat), and I'm sure to the annoyance of my husband. (Just how many times CAN one push the snooze alarm?)
I did eventually get up, let the dogs (and cat) out, set the coffee maker brewing, showered, and sipped coffee. I got my schoolbooks together and headed out the door about 30 minutes later than usual.
I drove to campus and watched the sky lighten up in the east and daydreamed a little about a future art project.
I really didn't feel pressed for time or effort this morning.
I do believe I'm working in an ignorance as bliss sort of mode right now. I don't KNOW of anything that is due immediately for any of my classes because I've not looked at my syllabus since turning in all the stuff that was due this week.
Ahhhhhhh. (Contented sigh.)
I will take all of my folders to work with me tonight and plot out on the lap top all that is due and when it is due for the rest of the semester and try to get a little ahead here and there.
Just to share with anyone who happens to visit...
Today,
Finances: all the month's bills are in the mail, gas tank's full.
School: whatever was due is turned in. Midterms are over.
Home: it's a little messy, but comfortably so.
Heart: he loves me and I love him.
Friends: wonderfully patient and looking forward to spending time with them
8-Ball Outlook? Good.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Read a Banned Book Week !
This list of banned books is from Randomhouse.com
BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
LYNNE REID BANKS
Indian in the Cupboard
JUDY BLUME
Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret.
Blubber
Deenie
Tiger Eyes
JAMES LINCOLN COLLIER AND CHRISTOPHER COLLIER
Jump Ship to Freedom
War Comes to Willy Freeman
CAROLINE B. COONEY
The Face on the Milk Carton
ROBERT CORMIER
The Chocolate War
Beyond the Chocolate War
Fade
We All Fall Down
ROALD DAHL
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
James and the Giant Peach
LOIS DUNCAN
Killing Mr. Griffin
S. E. HINTON
Taming the Star Runner
Tex
ANNETTE KLAUSE
Blood and Chocolate
LOIS LOWRY
The Giver
The Anastasia Krupnik Series
Anastasia Krupnik
Anastasia Absolutely
Anastasia Again
Anastasia at This Address
Anastasia at Your Service
Anastasia Has the Answers
Anastasia on Her Own
Anastasia’s Chosen Career
Anastasia, Ask Your Analyst
GARY PAULSEN
Harris and Me
Nightjohn
ROBERT NEWTON PECK
A Day No Pigs Would Die
PHILIP PULLMAN
The Golden Compass
The White Mercedes
THOMAS ROCKWELL
How to Eat Fried Worms
LOUIS SACHAR
The Boy Who Lost His Face
ZILPHA KEATLEY SNYDER
The Headless Cupid
THEODORE TAYLOR
The Cay
BOOKS FOR ADULTS
ISABEL ALLENDE
House of the Spirits
MAYA ANGELOU
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
MARGARET ATWOOD
Handmaid's Tale
RAY BRADBURY
Fahrenheit 451
DAN BROWN
Da Vinci Code
PAT CONROY
Water is Wide
BRYCE COURTENAY
Power of One
BRET EASTON ELLIS
American Psycho
RALPH ELLISON
Invisible Man
WILLIAM FAULKNER
As I Lay Dying
ERNEST J. GAINES
A Lesson Before Dying
ROBERT GRAVES
I Claudius
DAVID GUTERSON
Snow Falling on Cedars
JOHN IRVING
A Prayer for Owen Meany
JAMES JOYCE
Ulysses
MALCOLM X
Autobiography of Malcolm X
TONI MORRISON
Bluest Eye
VLADIMIR NABOKOV
Lolita
TIM O'BRIEN
Things They Carried
CHUCK PALAHNIUK
Choke
BORIS PASTERNAK
Doctor Zhivago
MICHAEL POLLAN
Botany of Desire
PHILIP ROTH
Portnoy's Complaint
SALMAN RUSHDIE
Satanic Verses
WILLIAM STYRON
Sophie's Choice
THE FREEDOM WRITERS
Freedom Writers Diary: Movie-Tie-In
KURT VONNEGUT
Slaughterhouse-Five
Monday, August 11, 2008
Killer Bunnies Board
It's just a card game. Really.
The girls turned us on to it.
The goals are :
1) Get a carrot and
2) Have at least one bunny alive at the end of the game.
Once all the booster packs are acquired, you have an 11.5 inch stack of cards a bunch of dice, pawns, stuff, detritus, and other stuff.
Playing the game gets spread all over a table and there's no set spot for draw, discard, dead bunnies, used weapons, money, cabbage, etc.... so. While others are devising a carrying case, (which was pretty cool) I devised a board...
The black box in the middle is modeled after the Minilith (Bunny geeks would understand). It's about a foot tall and holds all of the cards. It's removable from the board center for easy carrying. And can lay on it's side on the board with a lid over the whole board, hat box sized.
The lid for the minilith, (pictured unpainted below), also doubles as a cribbage-style peg board on the inside for keeping track of which player killed the most bunnies. That's not really part of the game, but we're morbid that way.
This area is fashioned after the Carrot Top Casino (Bunny Geeks would also know this joint), and it's where the dice and detritus sit until needed.
There's a spot for everything I could think of . . .the Carrot/Zodiac/Mysterious Place cards are in the chest on the bank side under the starter cards. And the toxic compost pile for used cabbage/water/defense cards is on the other side.
The whole thing is on a lazy susan. I have more painting to do - like scared worshipping bunnies near the minilith, zombie bunnies in the dead bunny spot, etc. - and may hand it off to the girls to paint while I'm in school.
And here it is in play, featuring a great friend of mine.
The girls turned us on to it.
The goals are :
1) Get a carrot and
2) Have at least one bunny alive at the end of the game.
Once all the booster packs are acquired, you have an 11.5 inch stack of cards a bunch of dice, pawns, stuff, detritus, and other stuff.
Playing the game gets spread all over a table and there's no set spot for draw, discard, dead bunnies, used weapons, money, cabbage, etc.... so. While others are devising a carrying case, (which was pretty cool) I devised a board...
The black box in the middle is modeled after the Minilith (Bunny geeks would understand). It's about a foot tall and holds all of the cards. It's removable from the board center for easy carrying. And can lay on it's side on the board with a lid over the whole board, hat box sized.
The lid for the minilith, (pictured unpainted below), also doubles as a cribbage-style peg board on the inside for keeping track of which player killed the most bunnies. That's not really part of the game, but we're morbid that way.
This area is fashioned after the Carrot Top Casino (Bunny Geeks would also know this joint), and it's where the dice and detritus sit until needed.
There's a spot for everything I could think of . . .the Carrot/Zodiac/Mysterious Place cards are in the chest on the bank side under the starter cards. And the toxic compost pile for used cabbage/water/defense cards is on the other side.
The whole thing is on a lazy susan. I have more painting to do - like scared worshipping bunnies near the minilith, zombie bunnies in the dead bunny spot, etc. - and may hand it off to the girls to paint while I'm in school.
And here it is in play, featuring a great friend of mine.
Monday, August 04, 2008
Fan Mail
I just got a great e-mail from Z in New York. He's a borderline online stalker. (Just kidding.)
He stumbled across my blog a while back, internet surfing for some song lyrics and hit upon my page.
He wrote to me to tell me that he found and read and thoroughly enjoyed it. The craziness, the friends, the hobbies, the fun.
(I'm blushing now.)
Here's why I bring it up...(aside from giving a shout out to Z. HEY!)
I've mentioned it before, and perhaps because we're close to my self-reflection time of the year, it is near the front of my mind.
People are watching.
Not in a sick paranoia kind of way, but people see how you act and what you do. People you know and people you don't know. Your words and deeds travel far and take a bastard life beyond your casual conversations.
What kind of life are you creating?
If your words and deeds are biting and vicious - how do they change or taint others who witness them? Will it encourage them to be kind and good or provide justification for their own biting, vicious deeds?
If one - who is already inundated with bad news on the television and in newspapers - sees only ickiness, what encouragement is there for goodness?
I know, I know, my Blog is an intentional public venue.
However, and here's my thought,
your overheard words and observed deeds are also in the public domain.
How are you changing the world?
He stumbled across my blog a while back, internet surfing for some song lyrics and hit upon my page.
He wrote to me to tell me that he found and read and thoroughly enjoyed it. The craziness, the friends, the hobbies, the fun.
(I'm blushing now.)
Here's why I bring it up...(aside from giving a shout out to Z. HEY!)
I've mentioned it before, and perhaps because we're close to my self-reflection time of the year, it is near the front of my mind.
People are watching.
Not in a sick paranoia kind of way, but people see how you act and what you do. People you know and people you don't know. Your words and deeds travel far and take a bastard life beyond your casual conversations.
What kind of life are you creating?
If your words and deeds are biting and vicious - how do they change or taint others who witness them? Will it encourage them to be kind and good or provide justification for their own biting, vicious deeds?
If one - who is already inundated with bad news on the television and in newspapers - sees only ickiness, what encouragement is there for goodness?
I know, I know, my Blog is an intentional public venue.
However, and here's my thought,
your overheard words and observed deeds are also in the public domain.
How are you changing the world?
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Yo! Where've I Been?
Summer freedom is coming to an end.
Today, I plan to do a MAJOR declutter. Not only put stuff in their correct rooms, but also in their correct places within the rooms.
In addition to that, I have a ton of projects at various states of completion and only two weeks before school starts again.
In the knitting arena,
I've got a shawl/scarf, socks, puppet, and bag on knitting needles. I hope to finish the socks and scarf next week while spending four glorious days away from the computer and television and work. Weeeeee! If I don't finish them before school, they may never get done. (Fortunately, one isn't due until November.)
I've also started charting Sinister Bunny for a scarf. I'll be thrilled if it turns out.
I've got some trim to finish painting in the living room. (Most of which is a second coat so I can probably live with it not getting finished for a while.)
I've been working on a game board for Killer Bunnies. I finished assembling it yesterday and the first coat of paint is drying right now. I want to finish it before the four glorious days next week - because I hope to play!
What else, what else? I have all of my school books for the Fall and I already know where to start reading for two of the classes. Will I start before I have to? I dunno.
Mike has also finished his novel and I'm only on chapter 2. I absolutely MUST finish that before school.
So . . . what's on your list?
Today, I plan to do a MAJOR declutter. Not only put stuff in their correct rooms, but also in their correct places within the rooms.
In addition to that, I have a ton of projects at various states of completion and only two weeks before school starts again.
In the knitting arena,
I've got a shawl/scarf, socks, puppet, and bag on knitting needles. I hope to finish the socks and scarf next week while spending four glorious days away from the computer and television and work. Weeeeee! If I don't finish them before school, they may never get done. (Fortunately, one isn't due until November.)
I've also started charting Sinister Bunny for a scarf. I'll be thrilled if it turns out.
I've got some trim to finish painting in the living room. (Most of which is a second coat so I can probably live with it not getting finished for a while.)
I've been working on a game board for Killer Bunnies. I finished assembling it yesterday and the first coat of paint is drying right now. I want to finish it before the four glorious days next week - because I hope to play!
What else, what else? I have all of my school books for the Fall and I already know where to start reading for two of the classes. Will I start before I have to? I dunno.
Mike has also finished his novel and I'm only on chapter 2. I absolutely MUST finish that before school.
So . . . what's on your list?
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Rock Gap Cottage
We're working on our cottage, one board at a time and have most of the subfloor done!
So far, it's mostly scavanged wood, and right now it's pretty much a dance floor.
Each month we crunch numbers to see if there's anything 'extra' so we can buy lumber or concrete or nails, and right now the answer is 'no.' So camping next week will include less costly, simple manual labor to clear trees and debris and just 'be' out there thinking forward.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Camping this weekend.
Since we'll be camping this weekend....I also had to add this to www.pimpmyouthouse.blogspot.com
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Dear Ellen Degeneres . . .
Dear Ms. Degeneres,
(Obligatory, but subtle, gushing here . . . I really enjoy your personality!)
When I'd heard of the same-sex marriage inroads that California is making and that you plan to marry Portia, I wanted to send you a congratulatory note (so, Congratulations!). My husband and I have been married 4 years this May 20. We were married in Massachusetts, having applied for a license on the first day it was allowed, May 17, 2004. Now we live in West Virginia, where I am a full-time college student and a part-time bartender and although our love is very real, our marriage certificate (at least in W.Va.) is worth less than the paper on which it's printed.
When filing taxes and filling out official forms we must still check the 'single' box and we do not enjoy "the total of 1,138 federal statutory provisions classified to the United States Code in which marital status is a factor in determining or receiving benefits, rights, and privileges.” (GAO-04-353R Defense of Marriage Act - Update to Prior Report).
I think that we are living in exciting and changing times, and am hopeful that you and I and others in the same boat will see the days of marriage equality. I am also hopeful that your celebrity status will add visibility and credibility to our plight. (Our plight being that we are unable to automatically enjoy all those marriage rights without the additional expense of lawyers drawing up legal contracts for privileges that even less committed male/female spouses receive, i.e. medical decisions, visitation, inheritance, etc.)
I am even more hopeful that your marriage and relationship is successful, fulfilling, eternal and full of love and the 'sanctity' of marriage.
The 'sanctity' of marriage, - to me - means the dynamics of building a life together. It's a comfortable melding of personalities and wills and coexistence which offsets the outside pressures of bills, car inspections and evening news. If anyone believes that same-sex marriages will destroy the sanctity of marriage, they probably don't know any life-committed same-sex couples.
Mike, my husband, and I are living 'the American dream,' which means a lot of debt, a few acres of land and building a home, (one board at a time), three dogs, a cat, and looking forward to the rest of our lives together. With or without the marriage license, we are happy together and enjoy the 'sanctity' of marriage (well, not so much enjoying the bills and the evening news), and we wish you, Ellen and Portia, an even greater happiness as well.
Congratulations again,
Chuck Walker
(Obligatory, but subtle, gushing here . . . I really enjoy your personality!)
When I'd heard of the same-sex marriage inroads that California is making and that you plan to marry Portia, I wanted to send you a congratulatory note (so, Congratulations!). My husband and I have been married 4 years this May 20. We were married in Massachusetts, having applied for a license on the first day it was allowed, May 17, 2004. Now we live in West Virginia, where I am a full-time college student and a part-time bartender and although our love is very real, our marriage certificate (at least in W.Va.) is worth less than the paper on which it's printed.
When filing taxes and filling out official forms we must still check the 'single' box and we do not enjoy "the total of 1,138 federal statutory provisions classified to the United States Code in which marital status is a factor in determining or receiving benefits, rights, and privileges.” (GAO-04-353R Defense of Marriage Act - Update to Prior Report).
I think that we are living in exciting and changing times, and am hopeful that you and I and others in the same boat will see the days of marriage equality. I am also hopeful that your celebrity status will add visibility and credibility to our plight. (Our plight being that we are unable to automatically enjoy all those marriage rights without the additional expense of lawyers drawing up legal contracts for privileges that even less committed male/female spouses receive, i.e. medical decisions, visitation, inheritance, etc.)
I am even more hopeful that your marriage and relationship is successful, fulfilling, eternal and full of love and the 'sanctity' of marriage.
The 'sanctity' of marriage, - to me - means the dynamics of building a life together. It's a comfortable melding of personalities and wills and coexistence which offsets the outside pressures of bills, car inspections and evening news. If anyone believes that same-sex marriages will destroy the sanctity of marriage, they probably don't know any life-committed same-sex couples.
Mike, my husband, and I are living 'the American dream,' which means a lot of debt, a few acres of land and building a home, (one board at a time), three dogs, a cat, and looking forward to the rest of our lives together. With or without the marriage license, we are happy together and enjoy the 'sanctity' of marriage (well, not so much enjoying the bills and the evening news), and we wish you, Ellen and Portia, an even greater happiness as well.
Congratulations again,
Chuck Walker
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