Try it out!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
New favorite internet addictive site...
I learned about this Web 2.0 site at eMints class last night... a better class than normal! Go to http://wordle.net, and create your own! You can put in a blog or another website that has rss feed, or paste in a bunch of your own text. This is what came up when I pasted in the text of my last post. You can play with the layout, colors, and fonts... cool stuff!
Try it out!
Try it out!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Continually strive ahead...
Happy Birthday, Grandma!
If she were alive, she'd be 100 years young today!
Pictures to come later... (she passed away before my digital camera days, I'm working on getting some scanned...)
Some memories I shared with Grandma:
Grandma's School - reading, writing, math, piano, drawing, cooking, dancing, playing - everything!
Piano lessons - I was not the concert master that Grandma thought I could have been... but it was a great experience learning to play the piano and organ with Grandma as my teacher. She was a wonderful teacher - even if I wasn't a wonderful student.
"Continually strive ahead, even when you are as old as I am." Said by Grandma at age 89. I interviewed Grandma for a school assignment, and this was the advice she had to give my class. Continually strive ahead she did! She loved learning new things, reading, listening to books, visiting teaching, and going places.
Paying for college... one quarter at a time... Grandma's weekly hair-do cost whatever dollar amount, plus 75 cents. She paid cash, and gave me the quarter every week for a while.
Happy Day, Grandma! We miss you!
If she were alive, she'd be 100 years young today!
Pictures to come later... (she passed away before my digital camera days, I'm working on getting some scanned...)
Some memories I shared with Grandma:
Grandma's School - reading, writing, math, piano, drawing, cooking, dancing, playing - everything!
Piano lessons - I was not the concert master that Grandma thought I could have been... but it was a great experience learning to play the piano and organ with Grandma as my teacher. She was a wonderful teacher - even if I wasn't a wonderful student.
"Continually strive ahead, even when you are as old as I am." Said by Grandma at age 89. I interviewed Grandma for a school assignment, and this was the advice she had to give my class. Continually strive ahead she did! She loved learning new things, reading, listening to books, visiting teaching, and going places.
Paying for college... one quarter at a time... Grandma's weekly hair-do cost whatever dollar amount, plus 75 cents. She paid cash, and gave me the quarter every week for a while.
Happy Day, Grandma! We miss you!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Inconvenient Commute #1
What a change a week brings in the weather in Utah! Last week the weather was beautiful! I had recess duty and was glad to be out in the sun and warmth and play Speed with the kids (and beat 'em at their own game!). Today was a different story...
I heard it might snow this morning in time for the commute, so we were all up early. Holly and I left the house at 6:30! I took Holly to Trax, and then made my way to the freeway. The freeway wasn't so bad... but it was snowing more as I got further south than it had been snowing in Midvale. The point of the mountain was awful... but my trusty car got over fine. Lots of people, going slow, which is good... but does not work well when you have to get on down the road!
It was about the point of the mountain that I realized that I probably should have gotten gas last night... (though if it hadn't been snowing I probably could have made it). It was also around this time that I realized I forgot my purse at home in the rush to get out. So I scrounged around in my ashtray and found enough money to make it worth my time and effort to stop at the Lehi Mav for gas. Properly fueled, I made my way east on the Highland Highway. Way worse than I-15! More people, going slow, and no recent plowings...
The worst part was the block before turning onto 4800 West. Lots of high school traffic - again, good that everyone is cautious and going slow, but not when we all need to get to school! I thought about calling Ryan about then to watch my kids in case I didn't make it on time to school, and remembered that I had forgotten all about faculty meeting! Urg. It's not like I didn't leave with plenty of time to get to school!
I finally arrived at school, 10 minutes before the kids got there! I heard that I didn't miss anything at faculty meeting (then why have one, people?), and quickly got my desk recovered from the sub yesterday and got things ready for the morning.
Whew! Made it. Wishfully, this will be the first and only 'inconvenient commute' of the season... but I'm not going to hold my breath.
I heard it might snow this morning in time for the commute, so we were all up early. Holly and I left the house at 6:30! I took Holly to Trax, and then made my way to the freeway. The freeway wasn't so bad... but it was snowing more as I got further south than it had been snowing in Midvale. The point of the mountain was awful... but my trusty car got over fine. Lots of people, going slow, which is good... but does not work well when you have to get on down the road!
It was about the point of the mountain that I realized that I probably should have gotten gas last night... (though if it hadn't been snowing I probably could have made it). It was also around this time that I realized I forgot my purse at home in the rush to get out. So I scrounged around in my ashtray and found enough money to make it worth my time and effort to stop at the Lehi Mav for gas. Properly fueled, I made my way east on the Highland Highway. Way worse than I-15! More people, going slow, and no recent plowings...
The worst part was the block before turning onto 4800 West. Lots of high school traffic - again, good that everyone is cautious and going slow, but not when we all need to get to school! I thought about calling Ryan about then to watch my kids in case I didn't make it on time to school, and remembered that I had forgotten all about faculty meeting! Urg. It's not like I didn't leave with plenty of time to get to school!
I finally arrived at school, 10 minutes before the kids got there! I heard that I didn't miss anything at faculty meeting (then why have one, people?), and quickly got my desk recovered from the sub yesterday and got things ready for the morning.
Whew! Made it. Wishfully, this will be the first and only 'inconvenient commute' of the season... but I'm not going to hold my breath.
No Vember!
In middle school, I had the same English teacher all three years - Mrs. Yates. We memorized a poem each month in her class, reciting it every day as part of taking roll. This means that I should have roughly 27 poems going through my head... but I don't. I can still recite a few, remember parts and titles of a few others, and have totally forgotten even more. Here's one that I do remember, and reminds me a lot of this last weekend - the first weekend of November.
(I remember slightly different lines... I don't remember my line of the poem, though I do remember Rick's purely because of how he said it when he said it - No knowin' 'em!)
No!
No sun--no moon!
No morn--no noon!
No dawn--no dusk--no proper time of day--
No sky--no earthly view--
No distance looking blue--
No road--no street--no "t'other side this way"--
No end to any Row--
No indications where the Crescents go--
No top to any steeple--
No recognitions of familiar people--
No courtesies for showing 'em--
No knowing 'em!
No traveling at all--no locomotion--
No inkling of the way--no notion--
"No go" by land or ocean--
No mail--no post--
No news from any foreign coast--
No Park, no Ring, no afternoon gentility--
No company--no nobility--
No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease,
No comfortable feel in any member--
No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,
No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds--
November!
~Thomas Hood
(I remember slightly different lines... I don't remember my line of the poem, though I do remember Rick's purely because of how he said it when he said it - No knowin' 'em!)
No!
No sun--no moon!
No morn--no noon!
No dawn--no dusk--no proper time of day--
No sky--no earthly view--
No distance looking blue--
No road--no street--no "t'other side this way"--
No end to any Row--
No indications where the Crescents go--
No top to any steeple--
No recognitions of familiar people--
No courtesies for showing 'em--
No knowing 'em!
No traveling at all--no locomotion--
No inkling of the way--no notion--
"No go" by land or ocean--
No mail--no post--
No news from any foreign coast--
No Park, no Ring, no afternoon gentility--
No company--no nobility--
No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease,
No comfortable feel in any member--
No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,
No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds--
November!
~Thomas Hood
Monday, October 27, 2008
How Strong Are You Now?
1. Put your iTunes on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
4. Commentary is fun too!
IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
“Better When We’re Together” – Jack Johnson
True, true...
WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
“You Raise Me Up” – Josh Groban
Sure!
WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
“One Rock ‘n’ Roll Too Many” – Seyesha Mercado
That's right! One rock 'n' roll too many, one night's sleep too few...
HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
“Let’s Dance” – Miley Cyrus
Actually, no, I'm feeling pretty uncoordinated today...
WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE??
“Wind Beneath My Wings” – Bette Midler
Yes, I can fly higher than an eagle...
WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
"Secret Smile” – Rascal Flatts
Can a smile be secret?
WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
"Home Life” – John Meyer
Yes, probably true. I'm either home, or someplace exotic like the middle of nowhere China, or in central Ohio...
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
"I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” – U2
Yes, all the time!
WHAT IS 2+2?
Track 7, “Every Saturday” - Sweet Haven
Yup - I can add!
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
"Sing, Sing a Song” - VoiceMale
She does sing a lot...
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
"I Can Sing” - BNL
I'll have to look for that quality!
WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
"As I Am” – Miley Cyrus
Yup - all about me!
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
"No Reins” – Rascal Flatts
That's right, baby!
WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
"First Dance” – Jim Brickman
Yes, this might be what I think...
WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
"Break Away” – Rascal Flatts
I'm sure they'd love that!
WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
"Never Give Up” – Ryan Shupe & the Rubber Band
Hmmm... no comment!
WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
"New Shoes” – Paolo Nutini
This one might be better for Joee!
WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
"One Step At a Time” – Jordin Sparks
Walking? Running? No! Following patterns or craft directions? Yes!
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
"I Know Where I’ve Been” – Queen Latifah, Hairspray
That's right - I know, and you don't!
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
"Hungry Like the Wolf” – David Cook
Yes, definitely starving!
WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
"Go to Hell” – Ryan Shupe & the Rubber Band
Very true!
HOW WILL YOU DIE?
"Start All Over” – Miley Cyrus
Reincarnation?
WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
"Help Me Remember” – Rascal Flatts
My memory's not that bad, is it?
WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
“Here’s To You” – Rascal Flatts
Do you make me laugh?
WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
"Popcorn” - BNL
Yup, I'm a sucker for a big bowl of popcorn...
WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
"You Are the Music in Me” – HSM 2
Kind of goes along with that 'I Can Sing' with the person I like question...
WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
"Always Be My Baby” – David Cook
A baby who always is one? Yeah, that's pretty frightening!
DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
"Good Morning Baltimore” – Nikki Blonsky, Hairspray
Maryland, here I come!
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
"How Far is Heaven” – Los Lonely Boys
I don't get it...
WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
"You’ve Got a Friend” – Brooke White
Yes, I do have friends, so that's not the problem...
WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
"How Strong Are You Now?” – Rascal Flatts
That's right - aren't you stronger now that you've read to the bottom? :)
I either need to re-shuffle my iTunes and try again, or load on a different variety of music!
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
4. Commentary is fun too!
IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
“Better When We’re Together” – Jack Johnson
True, true...
WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
“You Raise Me Up” – Josh Groban
Sure!
WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
“One Rock ‘n’ Roll Too Many” – Seyesha Mercado
That's right! One rock 'n' roll too many, one night's sleep too few...
HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
“Let’s Dance” – Miley Cyrus
Actually, no, I'm feeling pretty uncoordinated today...
WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE??
“Wind Beneath My Wings” – Bette Midler
Yes, I can fly higher than an eagle...
WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
"Secret Smile” – Rascal Flatts
Can a smile be secret?
WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
"Home Life” – John Meyer
Yes, probably true. I'm either home, or someplace exotic like the middle of nowhere China, or in central Ohio...
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
"I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” – U2
Yes, all the time!
WHAT IS 2+2?
Track 7, “Every Saturday” - Sweet Haven
Yup - I can add!
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
"Sing, Sing a Song” - VoiceMale
She does sing a lot...
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
"I Can Sing” - BNL
I'll have to look for that quality!
WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
"As I Am” – Miley Cyrus
Yup - all about me!
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
"No Reins” – Rascal Flatts
That's right, baby!
WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
"First Dance” – Jim Brickman
Yes, this might be what I think...
WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
"Break Away” – Rascal Flatts
I'm sure they'd love that!
WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
"Never Give Up” – Ryan Shupe & the Rubber Band
Hmmm... no comment!
WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
"New Shoes” – Paolo Nutini
This one might be better for Joee!
WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
"One Step At a Time” – Jordin Sparks
Walking? Running? No! Following patterns or craft directions? Yes!
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
"I Know Where I’ve Been” – Queen Latifah, Hairspray
That's right - I know, and you don't!
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
"Hungry Like the Wolf” – David Cook
Yes, definitely starving!
WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
"Go to Hell” – Ryan Shupe & the Rubber Band
Very true!
HOW WILL YOU DIE?
"Start All Over” – Miley Cyrus
Reincarnation?
WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
"Help Me Remember” – Rascal Flatts
My memory's not that bad, is it?
WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
“Here’s To You” – Rascal Flatts
Do you make me laugh?
WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
"Popcorn” - BNL
Yup, I'm a sucker for a big bowl of popcorn...
WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
"You Are the Music in Me” – HSM 2
Kind of goes along with that 'I Can Sing' with the person I like question...
WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
"Always Be My Baby” – David Cook
A baby who always is one? Yeah, that's pretty frightening!
DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
"Good Morning Baltimore” – Nikki Blonsky, Hairspray
Maryland, here I come!
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
"How Far is Heaven” – Los Lonely Boys
I don't get it...
WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
"You’ve Got a Friend” – Brooke White
Yes, I do have friends, so that's not the problem...
WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
"How Strong Are You Now?” – Rascal Flatts
That's right - aren't you stronger now that you've read to the bottom? :)
I either need to re-shuffle my iTunes and try again, or load on a different variety of music!
Tubby
I've got to face it... Tubby isn't coming back...!
Tubby... Fuzz Bucket... Fuzz Butt... Fur Face... Tubastian... Snuggle Bunny... Tubster... has left us! (Maybe it was the awful nicknames that drove him away!)
Where he's gone, who knows? Hopefully he just decided to move on to another house, or was carried off by someone who will appreciate him for the nice cat he is. We'd gladly take him back if he finds his way! I'll miss his nose prints on the front door, looking in the back windows, jumping up on the car, scratches, playing with bugs, and trying to keep him out of the house when getting the groceries in. I'll miss snuggling with him, taking pictures of him, watching him humor Zoey and try (unsuccessfully) to get into Regina's stash.
I'll miss you, little buddy! Come back any time!
Tubby... Fuzz Bucket... Fuzz Butt... Fur Face... Tubastian... Snuggle Bunny... Tubster... has left us! (Maybe it was the awful nicknames that drove him away!)
He came into our lives in December 2006. He was hanging out at a house across the street, sleeping in a flower pot and looking in their windows longingly during their dinners. Our neighbors knew we were looking for a new cat, and so we tried enticing him over. He'd have none of our cans of tuna (he ate it, eventually, but not willingly), but came right over for the cheapest box of dry food money could buy. He was so hungry and so skinny, he hardly chewed, and he snuggled right in with us. We decided to keep him around, but not inside... We tried that out, and let him back outside after he leaped on top of the piano with the greatest of ease. So we let him sleep in the bathroom during that winter to keep warm, and would often find him in the mornings, sound asleep and spread out in the bathtub. He also put on quite a tummy that winter - so we named him Tubby.
He loved sitting with Dad with a blanket over them, and liked sitting in between legs on a recliner, or even propped up to 'watch' TV with us. He enjoyed snuggling in bed with me in the mornings after Mom left for school and before I got up. He often 'helped' Mom grade her papers by sitting all over them. This summer, he spent a good deal of his time in the yard keeping Mom company. If she was in the backyard, so was he, sitting among the flowers. If she moved to the front, he snuggled into 'his' camp chair to enjoy the evening. He loved being around us, and was a nice person to have around.
Where he's gone, who knows? Hopefully he just decided to move on to another house, or was carried off by someone who will appreciate him for the nice cat he is. We'd gladly take him back if he finds his way! I'll miss his nose prints on the front door, looking in the back windows, jumping up on the car, scratches, playing with bugs, and trying to keep him out of the house when getting the groceries in. I'll miss snuggling with him, taking pictures of him, watching him humor Zoey and try (unsuccessfully) to get into Regina's stash.
I'll miss you, little buddy! Come back any time!
Friday, October 24, 2008
Happy Birthday to Joee!
Joee beat me to the punch on her blog to celebrate our birthdays... so now I've got to fill in what she left out!
22 MORE reasons we're sticking to 22!
1. "One time I hired a monkey to take notes for me in class..."
2. Movies... good ones, bad ones... in the theater when we were rich and single, and from the Redbox now that we're poor and one of us is married...
3. Old Navy
4. Piano boys at FAO Shwartz
5. Frankie and lounges in Vegas
6. Watching Utah Brides
7. Notes in institute... about institute... and not about institute...
8. Making CD mixes for ourselves (and our boys...)
9. Counseling sessions
10. New Year's Eves at the Tabernacle
11. Helping me get my classroom set up (and packing it all away)
12. Getting me in top card and Apples-to-Apples condition for the pageant
13. EFY counseling (different years and experiences, but still very bonding)
14. Joee's wedding and wedding showers and the appropriate drama and trauma associated with each
15. Loooooong talks on the phone
16. Colors and Ryan Shupe & the Rubber Band
17. Blogging and emailing
18. Curtain-making
19. 'Relief Society' in sewing class in high school!
20. Road trips to see our boys
21. 'Watching' ER together
22. Experiencing first hand that speaking slower and louder does not help you understand Chinese!
And about a hundred other things...
Next time you want to be 22, let me know!
22 MORE reasons we're sticking to 22!
1. "One time I hired a monkey to take notes for me in class..."
2. Movies... good ones, bad ones... in the theater when we were rich and single, and from the Redbox now that we're poor and one of us is married...
3. Old Navy
4. Piano boys at FAO Shwartz
5. Frankie and lounges in Vegas
6. Watching Utah Brides
7. Notes in institute... about institute... and not about institute...
8. Making CD mixes for ourselves (and our boys...)
9. Counseling sessions
10. New Year's Eves at the Tabernacle
11. Helping me get my classroom set up (and packing it all away)
12. Getting me in top card and Apples-to-Apples condition for the pageant
13. EFY counseling (different years and experiences, but still very bonding)
14. Joee's wedding and wedding showers and the appropriate drama and trauma associated with each
15. Loooooong talks on the phone
16. Colors and Ryan Shupe & the Rubber Band
17. Blogging and emailing
18. Curtain-making
19. 'Relief Society' in sewing class in high school!
20. Road trips to see our boys
21. 'Watching' ER together
22. Experiencing first hand that speaking slower and louder does not help you understand Chinese!
And about a hundred other things...
Next time you want to be 22, let me know!
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